7 Quick Takes Friday (#11)

1. Remember that time that I was so excited about Jeremy's new job? Well, guess what Jeremy's current school system has done? After first telling Jeremy that his job was going to the department "coordinator, " they offered him a job in middle school science because that was "all they had left". Seriously? I mean, the man has a Masters degree. In Physics. From Virginia Tech. A governor's school offered him a job teaching Physics. Jeremy says yes and tells the current school goodbye. Thennnnn... the current school system says, "Oh wait! We have a Chemistry/Physics position available at the hoity-toity magnet school." Drama.

Now we have to investigate a bunch of crap and make another decision. That's the part that bothers me most.

2. On a happy note, we took dinner to Charlottle and Rob Melton tonight and met little Bobby. What a joyful little family!

3. After hounding us to death, Verizon finally offered us a deal that was too sweet to pass up and we renewed our contract. That means... I got a new phone. Yay!

4. Until about 2 months ago, Samuel slept great! Usually slept 9-3 and then 3-7. I didn't mind getting up and doing that middle of the night feeding AT ALL. Fast forward to... last night. When he was up 15 times. 7-8 of those were with in 10 (ten! TEN!) minutes of each other. I gave him some Tylenol tonight, hoping that it was teeth. Oh God, I hope this fixes it.

5. One of the things that I look forward to now is September! One of my favorite bloggers is helping to host a mommy-blogger get together in Sacramento, and I have every intention of attending. I also want to visit Mary in San Diego that week, since I'll be on the West Coast already. I just need to figure out what to do with my 10 month old that week...

6. Oh my God... I'm too tired to do anymore.

Oh No!

For Christmas, I was crafty and frugal. I made microwaveable heat bags out of corn-- you know, the kind you heat and put around your neck/shoulders, midsection, etc.

I have enough stuff to make about 50 more of them. Including a big 50 pound bag of feed corn sitting in my office.

I was on the floor playing with Samuel when I heard this strange noise. I thought it was the plastic bags rustling.

I kept hearing it. So... I moved the plastic bags.

Then, I put some of the corn in a clear Ziploc bag for Samuel to play with.

To my shock and horror, I saw BUGS crawling around in the bag a few minutes after sealing.

My gross conclusion?

Enough time has passed that BUGS have infested my bag of feed corn... and I can HEAR them CHEWING!

Time to throw away the corn.

Ew!

7 Quick Takes Friday (#10)

1. I wish I could have stolen this shopping cart from PetSmart... and that it was collapsible like my current stroller. I just popped Samuel's car seat onto that upper ledge (which is difficult to see in the sunlight) and loaded the bottom and the basket up with stuff. SO EASY. Seriously, it was the best shopping cart/car seat I have ever experienced.

I guess it would be almost just as good if my current stroller had a grocery basket attachment. It does have a basket underneath... but people tend to think that you're stealing if you start putting things down there before you have paid for them.

2. When I was a senior in high school... we got a new band director, whom most of us judged (probably wrongfully) and disrespected a lot. The one good thing that came of this-- several of us started to crochet. In rehearsal. To date, I have finished 2 (TWO!) blankets. One of them was a 16th birthday gift for my sister... 8 YEARS ago. The other one, I finished last night.

After browsing my friend Meghan's Etsy shop, ThreadedGoodness, I was inspired to start a really nice project. I do pretty decent casual work (read: EASY and FAST), but Meg's work is beautiful. I like to think that I'll commission her to do a piece for each of my children... someday.

Did I mention that Meg was in band with me?

3. That said... I wish people would learn to PUNCTUATE. Seriously. When the directions the really nice project that I'm starting look like this:

"Rnd 4: Ch1, sc in same st as joining, sc in each sc, dc and ch 1 sp around working (sc, ch2, sc) in corner ch3 sps, join to first sc (44 sc, 4 ch 2 sps)"

I am bound to have issues. I started my FIRST SQUARE about 6 (SIX!) times! Every time I got to the part I emphasized in my sample above, I got so confused. And then... I read the directions out loud. And I got it. In fact, I made 2 very nice squares last night.

4. I feel like this is turning into 7 Quick Takes, the Arts and Crafts edition. Oh well. Yesterday, I was researching appropriate toys for 6 month olds... because Samuel will be 6 months on Thursday. And he seems to be totally disinterested in several of his toys. The first thing I saw on the list was these soft blocks, made of organic wool felt. For $30. Six blocks for thirty dollars. $5 each... for blocks.

So, I took myself over to Hobby Lobby (the name of which, always makes me giggle) and purchased some plain, manmade, not-organic felt. Then, I had an intensive session with the hot glue gun. This picture is the end result. These are filled with whole feed corn... which I also use to fill microwaveable heat pads... which means I have a 50 POUND bag sitting behind me here in the office.

5. Speaking of Samuel... he's getting SO big! And sturdy. And I think I hear him rolling around in the crib, even though he's supposed to be napping and I put him down almost 30 minutes ago. Anyway. I put him in the shopping cart seat for the first time this week. SO!CUTE! I'm excited because now I can use the shopping cart cover that I bought. I don't really care about the germ-protection aspect... it just looks like it will be comfortable and entertaining.

6. Baby Bobby Melton was discharged from the hospital and sent home on Wednesday! YAY!! I'm sure that prayers are still wanted and welcome.

7. At some point in her college life, I gave my sister a moka pot. I found it, still in the box, in her things last week, while I was sorting through some boxes she left with us when she went to live in Spain. Since I know she has another one in her apartment in San Diego, I knew she wouldn't mind donating to the cause of my sanity. I've never been so glad to take back a gift in all my life.

Disparity

Hi. My name is Sheila.

I went to Culinary school.
I spent a lot of time writing menus with fancy descriptions of entrees,
Prepping for huge banquets,
Making ice carvings,
Serving opera stars,
Learning about garnishes and folded napkins,
Designing concept kitchens for fabulous imaginary restaurants,
etc.

Tonight, we are having...

Baked potatoes with canned chili and steamed broccoli--
the kind that comes in a bag from the freezer section.

What is the world coming to?

And yes, I did end that sentence with a preposition.

There is nothing IRONIC about SHOW CHOIR!

Since the season finale of Battlestar Galactica a few months ago, I was convinced that I would never fall in love again. All my other shows have declined drastically in importance. American Idol? Eh. Stargate? Eh. Doctor Who? Hmmm... there is a new Doctor, but until I see him in action I can't really make a call on that one.

But wait!

Last night, I watched the "preview" episode of Glee on Fox. I was really afraid that it would turn into High School Musical Infinity. No offense to those who love HSM. I digress. Glee was...

FABULOUS! The music is awesome. The satire is satisfying. It reminds me of all the reasons that I'm glad to be done with high school, without making me grouchy or bitter. Did I mention the music? Seriously. As they change scenes, personal views, etc. they play... vocal percussion and warm-up sounds. Last night's soundtrack included: Respect, I Kissed a Girl, On My Own, Can't Fight this Feeling, You're the One that I Want, Rehab, and Don't Stop Believing. If nothing else, I will watch this show every week just to listen to the music. Like a weekly musical pick me up.

Huzzah for a new show... doesn't doesn't start until FALL.

7 Quick Takes Friday (#9)

1. Even though I am a Mary Kay consultant, I just ordered from the Neutrogena skinID website. It came in the mail today, and although I've only used it once... I am impressed! No burning. No itching. No medicine-y smell. Hallelujah, somebody got it right at last!

2. Jeremy has been offered another job... a true answer to prayer. This job is better and pays more. The benefits are better. Now our only concern is trying to figure out whether we should try to move this summer... or if Jeremy should commute 1.5 hours EACH WAY all year and try to move NEXT summer.

3. Sometimes, I meet new people and I think of them as my friends... but I wonder if they consider me their friend. You know? I've been wondering this about my daily Mass/Lunch/stroller walking friend Katie. We missed each other the past 3-4 Masses. Today though, while we were eating lunch, her statements were peppered with, "Oh, I thought about you because/when/etc." and "I saw/heard this and thought of you" and etc. And to me, this was a wonderful confirmation. Maybe it's silly. That's okay.

4. Where ever we wind up, I'm going to do my dead level best to start a dinner prep group. Everybody pitches in a percentage to pay for food purchased in bulk, then we work together to prep it all-- brown meats, peel/chop vegetables, mix marinades. Then, we sort and pack everything so that it can be stored in freezers and pulled out on an as needed basis. What a great way to save money and encourage community! AAAaaaaaannnddd... since it's summer we could buy massive amounts of the produce locally at the Farmer's Market, and enjoy them all year!!

5. I would like to take an NFP class.

6. Baby Bobby was finally able to move to a regular room with his mother and father! SO EXCITED!!

7. My sister is in town for a wedding reception this weekend, and I get to see her. This thrills my soul beyond belief!!










Okay... I just have some additional things on my mind, so we're going to have extra quick takes.

8. Has anybody noticed that ALL of Old Navy's swimwear is either a standard bikini or a halter? I know halters are supposed to be flattering on most people but... the girls need support. Seriously.

9. I saw multi-destinational tickets-- here to San Diego to Sacramento back home for $377! However, such purchases will have to wait.

10. Jeremy took the day off (whee!). I want to know why HE is the one taking a shower during Samuel's nap!

Container Herb Garden

I feel accomplished!

I have always wanted to plant herbs, and now I have. Granted they're in planter boxes. But that's for two excellent reasons, which follow here:

Jeremy's job, and thus our location, is still up in the air. I mean, I would hate to go through all the trouble of planting (and buying!) the herbs, only to move and leave them behind. Possibly to somebody that will not love them :(

I have seen many herbs grow totally out of control and figure it will be easier to maintain them if they are in boxes. I want an herb garden. Not an herb forest. Though I expect a heady herby smell to permeate my yard, either way.

Hopefully my little herbs will grow big and strong, and yield many a fragrant dish... which I will of course tell you about!

Here's a list of what's growing:
Lavender
Oregano
Basil
Cilantro
Parsely*
----
Rosemary
Thyme

*Note the order here... I have left a blank spot for sage. I thought about getting all four of them and putting them in a specially designated Simon and Garfunkel planter. But I'm just not that big a fan of sage.

If you get it, you get it. If not... it's really not that important. It's just me being a bizarre music-type.