Field Trip?

Today’s question is:  Why would someone agree to attend their child’s field trip and then spend the whole time on their smart phone?

Background:  A couple of months ago I attended a 1 hour field trip with one of my children.  We went to this really cool place and got an inside view of something really cool.   Field trips can be so fun and informative.

Right after we arrived we were standing around this man who is telling us all about how the plant runs and he was showing us all sorts of things on his computer.  It was really interesting (I really loved it, can you tell?).

So…….

Out of the corner of my eye I see one of the moms frantically clicking away on her smart phone.  She isn’t paying attention to anything going on in the moment, only whatever she is doing on her phone.  Then I notice her child.  Her child saw her.  Her child watched her as she totally ignored all that was going on in the present and clicked away at that phone.  And it made me think “what is so important it can’t wait 1 hour?”  Why do people think what is happening somewhere else is more important that what is happening right in front of them?

For all of you out there that want to say, well maybe she works, here is what I have to say.  If she took the time off from work to attend this field trip she should be able to NOT work for the 1 measly hour it trip took.  It all comes down to a decision, she decided to attend the field trip, so she should have been there, more than just physically.

December 5, 2011 @ 2:37 pm

Chili?

Today’s question is:  Why is stumbling on a new chili recipe always such a treat?

Background:  In my world, chili makes my day.  I love when the days begin to shorten and I start to crave warm hearty chili again.  I have many different chili recipes that I go to when I’m craving, but on a Monday a few weeks ago, I went looking for something different, something meatless.  I stumbled on a quinoa chili recipe from Savvy Vegetarian.  With the changes I need to make it my own I came up with a simply delicious meatless chili perfect for meatless Monday.

Quinoa and Bean chili


1/2 Cup uncooked quinoa, soaked and rinsed
1 14.5oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 14.5 oz cans kindney beans, drained and rinsed
1 28 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 6 oz can tomato paste
1 32 oz container of vegetable broth
1/2 of an onion, chopped
1 jalepeno, chopped finely
1 green pepper, chopped
2 stalks of celery, chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic, chopped finely
1 1/2 tsp cumin powder
2 1/2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp paprika
1 tbl dried basil leaf
1 tbl dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried marjoram
1 tsp chili powder (or more depending on spice preference)
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper to taste
Soak quinoa in water for 15-30 minutes and rinse thoroughly.  Next add enough vegetable broth to cover the bottom of a dutch oven.  Add the onion, jalapeno, green pepper, celery, and garlic and saute until tender, adding more broth as necessary.  Add spices and mix well to incorporate the flavors.  Rinse beans well and add them to the vegetable/spice saute and mix well.  Add diced tomatoes, remainder of the vegetable broth, tomato paste and quinoa and bring to a boil.  Cover, simmering for about 30 minutes more while the quinoa cooks.  Serves 8.
I made this again for a bunch of neighbors for Halloween last night and they gobbled it up, it’s that good.
November 1, 2010 @ 1:00 pm

cucumber soup?

Today’s question is:  Why does an over abundance garden inspire?

Background:  Of course I know why, if I grow it it must be used.  Therefore, after cutting up cucumbers and dipping them, eating cucumber sandwiches and making tomato, cucumber, olive and feta salad I had to think of something new for my over abundance of cukes.

Soup.  I decided to try cold cucumber soup and I am so very happy I did.

If you have never had cold cucumber soup you must try it.  On a hot day it hits the spot like no other.  And it has been hot here in Chicago.

Chilled Cucumber Soup (adapted from Epicurious)
5 cucumbers
1/2 cup chopped parsley or 2 T dried parsley
1/2 of 1 onion
1 T dried dill or 2 T fresh dill
1/4 Cup freshly squeezed lemon
1 quart buttermilk (4 cups)
1pint plain yogurt (2 cups)
Salt and pepper to taste
Peel the cucumbers and cut in half, scraping out the seeds.  Sprinkle the cucumbers with salt and let them stand for about 30 minutes.  Drain off excess water.
Chop the cucumbers coarsely and place them in a bowl or a blender.  Saute the onion in butter and add it to the bowl or blender along with the dill, lemon juice, buttermilk and yogurt.  Blend or use a submersion blender until smooth.  Season with salt and pepper.  Chill well before serving.

Enjoy!  It’s simply delicious!
August 15, 2010 @ 1:23 pm

dirty look?

Today’s question is: Why do people love to give dirty looks?

Background: Not that I couldn’t have a 100 stories to go along with this one, as I’m sure many of you have. The other day I was doing the pick up portion of our camp carpool. The whole dance camp has a car pick up lane. The carpool line lines up in this parking lot, behind parked cars. Now, me being me, I think, I hope the people who are parked here don’t get all irked that I’m parked right behind them if they want to leave. I figure, it’s been like this all summer, if they parked there they just don’t want to leave at 3pm. So, I’m sitting in line, I’m first and I’m waiting for the girls to exit the building. It’s very near 3pm and I’m looking toward the door to see if they are coming. Just as I see their heads get to the door, this older woman (think grammy age) is standing close to my passenger door looking at me through the window with a stern and dirty look.
I was shocked. I probably gave her a look like “what you looking at me like that for?” At that, she stomped (my perception) away into the very door my girls were coming out of. Clearly I wasn’t blocking her way out so what gives?
What’s up with people? If they aren’t hurting their little ones they are passing judgement on to innocent car pool moms.
August 26, 2009 @ 11:30 am

drivers?

Today’s question is: Why do people feel the need to yell at others while in their car?

Background: I was attempting to be on the ball this year and buy all my school supplies early. I went to the local Office Depot the other day to do just that. As I was pulling into the parking lot, which for the record is one way in and one way out, this older man began yelling at me from his car because of my “big truck”.
Now he wasn’t really yelling about the truck per se, it was more like mocking me “oh what do you think you’re so special? driving that big truck?”. Feeling completely irritated, because he was right there wasn’t really enough room for both of us in the in lane, I, ever so nicely, rolled down my window, to take more verbal abuse from the guy and kindly pointed to the “ONE WAY” sign and said “sir, it’s one way going in and you are going out”. To that he mumbled something and drove off.
I had the right of way, truck or no truck, but dang why do people just have to start yelling at you for no reason? I get that trucks can be a little annoying to people, but surely no less than a gas guzzling old cadillac boat like he was sportin’ (he should talk).
Pay attention to the road signs and stop yelling at people already!
August 13, 2009 @ 10:16 am

Crazy parents?

Today’s question is:  What’s up with the crazy parent drivers?

Background:  Seriously, what’s up with people?  Why on earth do they all have to drive around like they own the road?  It’s painful to sit at school waiting for the kids to get out and watch a bunch of parents act super entitled to park, drop off and idle where ever they want.  It’s like they do not care about the safety of any of those kids.
At our school we have a pick up/drop off line.  The sole purpose of this line is to pick your child up or drop your child off.  There is no parking, you keep your car running and your kid jumps in or jumps out, period.  There is absolutely no exiting the car by the driver, period.   
Yet everyday when I stand there with my dog, waiting for my gal pals to walk to the neighborhood java joint, countless parents break all the rules because they are oh so important.  What the hell is up with people?
May 10, 2009 @ 4:26 pm

Waiting?

Today’s question is:  Why would someone make you wait really long when they know you are waiting?

Background:  I went to a lovely surprise 75th birthday party for Paul’s work partner the other night.  Once we all talked a little in the vestibule, we headed into the private dining room for our dinner.   After a good 40 minutes of toasts and reminiscing about the good old days I really, really had to go to the restroom.  I mean, really, I had been waiting through all their speeches and I finally decided it would be OK to get up and go.  Well, the waiter/party planner stopped me on my way to double check Paul’s food allergies (nice that he didn’t want to send him into anaphylactic shock, since as usual I left his epi pens at home, the good little wife that I am).  In the one minute I spoke with the guy these two ladies from the main dining room snuck past us and walked into the bathroom.  I was on their heals and tried to enter with them, realizing at that point that the bathroom was a private bathroom.  So the two ladies went in and I was left in the hall to wait.  
Wait I did, indeed.
Ten minutes after they went in I was still waiting.  I heard one flush and then I heard endless talking, and talking and talking.  I got pretty frustrated and decided I needed to flag down the waiter/party planner and see if there is some other place I could go, I mean I was dying, I had to pee so bad.  
Finally, the door opened, I thought “oh thank God”, but only one girl came out. The other girl locked the door and stayed in.  I was shocked.  At that point I accosted the next waiter coming out of our private room and said “I need to find another bathroom this lady is just not coming out, I do not know what’s going on in there but I need to find another one”, to which I heard vaguely through the door, “I’m applying my make up”.  All I could think was yeah right, your make up.  Who applies make up when they’ve already been in the bathroom for 10 minutes knowing there was someone waiting outside?  Why didn’t she apply the freaking make up when her friend was peeing?  I think it was more like drugs, but whatever.
I was quickly escorted through the entire restaurant to the front where there was a ladies room with multiple stalls.  I’m still wondering why they just didn’t bring me there to begin with (although I guess they had no idea two freaks would be in there forever).  I took care of business and then on my return to the private dining room I made sure to tell the waiter/party planner guy that I’m pretty sure those two ladies were doing drugs in there and that I couldn’t believe how long I had to wait.  Which apparently prompted him to inform the entire staff of the restaurant that they were no long allowed to send anyone to the private bath in the back! 
Ha, anyway, what a night.  I swear I just have never made anyone wait when I know they are out there.  I am one of those bathroom goers that tries to take care of business and get out so the poor ladies waiting don’t need to wait too long.  I wish everyone thought that way!
April 27, 2009 @ 7:29 pm

Remember?

Today’s question is:  Why are some things so hard to remember??

Background:  I find it so odd that I can remember some things and not others.  As I’ve mentioned before I’m a birthday savant.  Seriously, I remember all these birthdays of people I haven’t seen in 20 years.  The birthdays just don’t want to leave my brain.  
I remember other things too.  Weird things.  Like what you may have said to me verbatim 7 years ago about your friend.  I find you looking at me weird when I bring up the odd fact I remember about your life, that seriously, you don’t even remember.  
My mother in law passed away in the beginning of April.  When she died pw and his brother were trying to figure out where they were going to bury her.  When pw told me I said, “well, why wouldn’t you just bury her with your dad and sister since you bought 3 plots when your dad died?”  His response was “we did?”.   Why would I remember this when his brother and he couldn’t?  Isn’t that strange.  And it’s a vivid memory for me, vivid.  
Memories are strange things aren’t they? 
Now if I could only remember what I walked into the kitchen for, I’d have it made.
October 18, 2008 @ 8:25 am

Some like it hot?

Today’s question is:  Why do people want to argue when it’s clear there is no argument?

Background:  Yesterday, late in the afternoon I dragged the kids by foot to the local grocery store to get a couple of items and get myself a cup of starbucks.  I just wanted a nice hot cup of latte, that’s all.  I ordered up waited for him to make it and made small talk with the guy behind me in line.  When my coffee was finished I went to pick it up (no sleeve) and it wasn’t even remotely hot.  I took a sip and slightly gagged (luke warm lattes gross me out).  I got the ‘baristas‘ attention and asked him to make it a bit more hot.  This began a longer than necessary discussion/argument about how hot I really wanted it.  
He began with asking me exactly what temperature I’d like it if I didn’t like it at the 160 degrees it currently was at.  
Dumbfounded, I just said “I’d like it as hot as it normally is when I get a cup of coffee here.”
He said, “the normal temperature is 160 degrees, how hot do you want it?”
I said, “If the normal temperature is 160 degrees and you say this cup is normal temperature than I think your thermometer is broken.”
He said, “well, how hot do you want it?”
I said again, “I want it as hot as it normally is.”
He said, “it’s normally 160, how hot do you want it?” (like I’m some sort of dumb ass that didn’t get the question).
HUMONGOUS LY frustrated I said, “OK then, I guess I’ll take it at 180, but I think your 160 thermometer is broken.“
He started remaking my latte.
I added, “if the coffee was really 160, I’d burn my tongue, but this coffee isn’t even hot to the touch, it tastes like it’s been around for a while.”
He ignored me and got me the new coffee that cup was all of 180.  I could barely touch it.
About 15 minutes later I took the first sip and boy was it good.  It was still hotter than the first cup an hour later!
October 1, 2008 @ 4:14 pm

Wild??

Today’s question is:  Why are some kids like wild animals?

Background:  Today my little munchkins had a half day of school.  So, me being the nice mom I like to be sometimes, said they could all have a play date (they don’t have school tomorrow either).  After we ate lunch 3 friends came over.  For the next 2.5 hours it was like a pack of wild animals were let loose in the house.  At one point I could only think, 45 more minutes, I can handle this for 45 more minutes, when the mom was due to pick up two of them.  The 3rd friend is fine.  But after I made them clean up the pigsty mess they made, I gave them  mandatory downtime with a movie.  Ahhhh, the sound of silence, it’s just so pleasant sometimes.
September 29, 2008 @ 3:44 pm