Category: Family Matters

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Spring Break 2008

It’s finally here. I had to jump several hurdles (24 parent teacher conferences, anyone? anyone?) to get here, but I’m here now. No working for me til April 14th. No big plans, but that’s ok. We’re heading north to see family, and I’m hoping to hit the outlet mall for some wardrobe updating….rumor has it there is a new Croc outlet.

It’s been a weird long week, but I did learn two important things about red wine this week.

1) Red wine splashed in the eye STINGS like a mo-fo. Just pour vinegar for the sensation, it’s cheaper. Damn, that really did hurt.

2)Borax rocks the red wine stain–I threw my clothes immediately in the washer with Borax and let them soak, and then ran it through a wash cycle-good as new. I also got the stain out of the couch this way too (the couch is purple, so who knows really).

Other random thoughts–
*I am stunned that Democrats are actually campaigning in Indiana. Who knew that primary would last so long that Indiana might actually MATTER?!
*I am stunned at the third graders in GA who plotted to kill their teacher. Seriously, there is something very, very wrong in today’s word.
*MAM’s new thing when she passes gas is to say, “I gassed you!” (and the other day, she was sitting on my lap when I passed gas, and she said, “I get down! You gassed me mama!!”). It’s completely freaking hilarious. But we try not to let her know we think so.
*MAM’s still all about her frog boots. She almost missed dance class yesterday because she didn’t want to change into her slippers. Thankfully, she was able to be talked off the edge.

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Frog boots, my first ham and more


Not one particular thing is jumping out of my head for an even remotely put-together post, but since I have a few minutes, I feel like I should go through the motions anyway.

The snow we played in last Saturday was gone by Tuesday, and the ground is now completely saturated with water. But with temps in the high 30’s up through the 50’s, this was PRIME recess time at MAM’s daycare and my school. After swimming in flooded mulch for two days, we went to Target and got great rubber boots–froggy boots for her, and b & w polka dot boots for myself.

Since Tuesday, MAM has taken her boots off to sleep, and that’s about it. She wears them all the time, and loves them with a love that only a toddler can have for the special items in her life.

This week we also made the decision not to trek north for Easter–with limited time off, and Spring Break just a few weeks away, we decided to stay put. It will be nice to go to our church on Easter Sunday, and to have a holiday at home, I think. My parents and grandmother are coming for the weekend, which will give us access to an indoor hotel swimming pool, which I think will be fabulous. I will cook dinner on Sunday–thus my first purchase (and baking of) a spiral sliced honey ham. All sides and desserts will be things I’ve made before, but the ham? Not so much. Is there anything I need to know about cooking such a beast? (or heating it, I guess, it appears to be already cooked)

Last night we got together with friends and celebrated three 35th birthdays, illustrating once again how fast time flies…it feels like we just got through with the 30th birthdays….surely it’s not time for 35, is it?? (I checked my calendar–it most certainly is) Anyway, due to a late night, we are now enjoying an exceedingly rare weekend nap time.

So I am off to start cleaning in anticipation of Easter Sunday company. Surely I can get it together in a week, right? Right? Please tell me I’m right!

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The thing about DST

You can’t really live in Indiana (the part that’s in the Eastern time zone) and not have an opinion on daylight saving time. That’s because we Hoosiers have only recently jumped on the DST bandwagon. And here’s the thing–I LOVE DST when we are on vacation. What’s not to love about going for ice cream at 9pm in Northern Michigan in June, and it being light out? What’s not to love about the fact that it’s dark til close to 7am–that’s awesome when I’m on vacation and not going anywhere anyway.

It bites to actually have to be employed, and worse yet, have to have your kids on a schedule while observing DST. Why don’t people in New York complain about such things? Well, partially because it’s the norm there, and partially because they are in the eastern part of the time zone. The most eastern portion of any time zone gets fewer extremes when springing forward (sunrise/sunset times) than the western part (the opposite it true in the fall). The extremes are enough for the stat of Indiana to spend another $8.6 million in energy costs.

So here’s the thing–here in Indiana, I’m thinking it would make more sense for the whole state to be in the Central time zone, like our Chicagoland counterparts in the northern part of the state. Then I’d save this sort of post for “falling back”, when it gets dark at 4pm–you know, when we are on ‘standard time’. Which is actually for only about 4 months a year anymore, so much for standard.

Another reason why I’m glad I am OFF all summer long….