I'll admit it. I was really on the fence about sending the kids to a Catholic school. I grew up in a public school... and oh yeah, not Catholic... so it was a very strange transition for me to get used to. But I gotta say, I think it was the right call for us. Peyton loves her school. The people seem really nice. And the uniforms! My goodness, how great are uniforms!
But the best thing I'm finding at this time of year is to say "Merry Christmas" to parents and friends and not have to worry. It's permitted. Heck, even welcomed to say it.
I shared my excitement for this fact with my husband just yesterday. "Isn't it great to be able to say Merry Christmas and not Happy Holidays at school, honey?!".
"Uh, sure", said the born-and-raised-Catholic-guy-with-12-years-of-Catholic-school.
Well I was excited. I don't have to be the a-hole who accidentally says Merry Christmas to someone who doesn't celebrate it. Well, until the day I was exactly that a-hole. And that day came yesterday.
Heading to the local pharmacy, I greet the man at the drive-thru and go about my business. He had a really great tie on. It was shades of purple and he had on a matching dark purple shirt. He really looked sharp and I thought to myself, "I need to tell this man that I like his tie." As if this will be the best gift he could possibly receive. But whatever. It was a great tie and he needed to know that it wasn't lost on me. So I proceed to tell him, "I really like your tie." (Said in a tone similar to when Ben tells me I'm pretty, so immediately after I said it, I felt dumb.) But the guy flashed a huge smile and said, "Thank you!".
I'm on a roll. I just made the guy feel kinda good. Yay! It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!
"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" I said, as I drove out of sight.
"I'm Jewish." he replied.
And to all, a good night.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Sports candy, Marc's and the difference between plastic and glass
While watching an overly annoying children's TV show, Lazy Town, with my son the other day, they hit on something brilliant. They called apples and other various fruits "sports candy". Ben is no stranger to fruit and is a sports fanatic, so marrying those two words was music to his ears. I immediately had to go get him an apple so he could eat his sports candy. This lead to a conversation about all of the other fruit... err... sports candy we could eat. Strawberries, bananas, grapes, etc.
The apple was the last piece of fruit in the house, so the next stop was Marc's. (Retirement has made me frugal.) We made our way to the sports candy section and Ben started flipping over the strawberries. He was grabbing at the packages and, well duh, spilled a package all over the floor.
So at this point, I find myself on hands and knees on the floor of the Marc's produce section cleaning them up. And strawberries roll. Under things. Like the display the strawberries sit on. It was gross, but I'm a human with a strong conviction that if you make a mess, you clean it up. Plus, I knew I was armed with Purell. Isn't everyone like that?
Apparently, no. The Marc's man who I handed the package to (and apologized to about 5 times for ruining the strawberries) proceeded to thank me about 5 times for actually cleaning them up. "Most people would have left the mess" is what he tells me. Really?!
Maybe I take it too far. Like the time I was in a dollar store, picked up a glass and I couldn't quite tell if it was plastic or real glass. What does one do in that situation? Well, squeeze the GLASS until it shatters in their hand, of course. (This incident led to 3 stitches in the webbing between my thumb and first finger. Such an idiot.) At the time, I apolgized about a million times to the dollar store clerk and offered to pay for the glass. This was as she collected paper towels from aisle two to sop up the blood on the floor and all over my hand.
She handled it well... politely said there was no need for me to pay for the destroyed merchandise... and then suggested I hit up the nearest ER. In hindsight, she was probably thinking, "Get the hell out of my store before the shock wears off and you sue us for faulty merchandise.".
I would never do that. It was my stupidity. But maybe I'm among the minority of humans in this world. I can only hope that is not the case.
The apple was the last piece of fruit in the house, so the next stop was Marc's. (Retirement has made me frugal.) We made our way to the sports candy section and Ben started flipping over the strawberries. He was grabbing at the packages and, well duh, spilled a package all over the floor.
So at this point, I find myself on hands and knees on the floor of the Marc's produce section cleaning them up. And strawberries roll. Under things. Like the display the strawberries sit on. It was gross, but I'm a human with a strong conviction that if you make a mess, you clean it up. Plus, I knew I was armed with Purell. Isn't everyone like that?
Apparently, no. The Marc's man who I handed the package to (and apologized to about 5 times for ruining the strawberries) proceeded to thank me about 5 times for actually cleaning them up. "Most people would have left the mess" is what he tells me. Really?!
Maybe I take it too far. Like the time I was in a dollar store, picked up a glass and I couldn't quite tell if it was plastic or real glass. What does one do in that situation? Well, squeeze the GLASS until it shatters in their hand, of course. (This incident led to 3 stitches in the webbing between my thumb and first finger. Such an idiot.) At the time, I apolgized about a million times to the dollar store clerk and offered to pay for the glass. This was as she collected paper towels from aisle two to sop up the blood on the floor and all over my hand.
She handled it well... politely said there was no need for me to pay for the destroyed merchandise... and then suggested I hit up the nearest ER. In hindsight, she was probably thinking, "Get the hell out of my store before the shock wears off and you sue us for faulty merchandise.".
I would never do that. It was my stupidity. But maybe I'm among the minority of humans in this world. I can only hope that is not the case.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Back on the grid
I've recently been reminded of just how "on the grid" I am. So in the spirit of my love for Internet people stalking, I decided to stalk, well, myself.
I was quickly taken to my abandoned blog site, since it was the very first search result when you Google my name. How embarrassing that it's been 2 years since I've updated this thing. I don't need people thinking I'm a quitter, so I'm gonna dive back in and see what happens.
So where to start? Saying there have been some changes in my life in the last two years is a gross understatement. We sold our old house. And while building our new one, moved our family of 4 in to a 900-square foot apartment for 5 months. It was the summer of forced family bonding. The kids thought it was a vacation. I thought it was exactly what 4 people in a small space would be like. At least it had a pool.
I also quit my job. After working at Key for 15 years, I decided to call it quits to spend time with my kids while they still like me. And while they think I'm cool to hang with. Best decision I've ever made and I'm a very fortunate soul for being able to do it. That's not to say that I don't lose my mind every so often, though. Like right now. They're upstairs and it sounds like either of them will drop through the ceiling at any moment. Hopefully the construction crew did a good job on our new place.
A new house for us meant a new neighborhood, new school, new activities, new friends. I love it where we live. Love it. I've met some really cool people and have already hosted, and have been hosted to, my fair share of play dates with school and neighborhood friends. These are exciting times, for sure.
As follow up to earlier posts, Peyton no longer does soccer ball. She's a gymnast now and loves it. (She may have been switched at birth.) Ben is an all-sport athlete and has never met a ball he doesn't love. Thank God.
As for my running, well, it's come to a halt for now. My "good Achilles" is on the fritz and since I really want to avoid snapping another one, I've slowed my speed to walking. But that's kinda boring as hell, so I'll probably start running again in the spring, I'll get back to working my way up to a 5K. The Achilles issue will work itself out. Or it'll snap. Either way, I can't just stop moving. That's good for no one.
It's nice to be back on the grid. Until next time...
I was quickly taken to my abandoned blog site, since it was the very first search result when you Google my name. How embarrassing that it's been 2 years since I've updated this thing. I don't need people thinking I'm a quitter, so I'm gonna dive back in and see what happens.
So where to start? Saying there have been some changes in my life in the last two years is a gross understatement. We sold our old house. And while building our new one, moved our family of 4 in to a 900-square foot apartment for 5 months. It was the summer of forced family bonding. The kids thought it was a vacation. I thought it was exactly what 4 people in a small space would be like. At least it had a pool.
I also quit my job. After working at Key for 15 years, I decided to call it quits to spend time with my kids while they still like me. And while they think I'm cool to hang with. Best decision I've ever made and I'm a very fortunate soul for being able to do it. That's not to say that I don't lose my mind every so often, though. Like right now. They're upstairs and it sounds like either of them will drop through the ceiling at any moment. Hopefully the construction crew did a good job on our new place.
A new house for us meant a new neighborhood, new school, new activities, new friends. I love it where we live. Love it. I've met some really cool people and have already hosted, and have been hosted to, my fair share of play dates with school and neighborhood friends. These are exciting times, for sure.
As follow up to earlier posts, Peyton no longer does soccer ball. She's a gymnast now and loves it. (She may have been switched at birth.) Ben is an all-sport athlete and has never met a ball he doesn't love. Thank God.
As for my running, well, it's come to a halt for now. My "good Achilles" is on the fritz and since I really want to avoid snapping another one, I've slowed my speed to walking. But that's kinda boring as hell, so I'll probably start running again in the spring, I'll get back to working my way up to a 5K. The Achilles issue will work itself out. Or it'll snap. Either way, I can't just stop moving. That's good for no one.
It's nice to be back on the grid. Until next time...
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