annie blog

Once, On Cleaning Up Eggs, and How PBS Won Me Back

Three things:

1. Once the movie that I wrote about last week is up for an Oscar for best song. I love that movie and think that they totally deserve to win — even though I’ve not even heard their competition. And, if you want to hear the song Falling Slowly, then just click here and you can download it for free.

2. My sons have decided, thanks to the movie, Ratatouille, that they would like to have cheese omelets for breakfast. And, given that we’re always challenged in the breakfast category, I’m thrilled. Sometimes my early riser wants to help me crack the eggs for the omelet. And that works brilliantly when he remembers to crack them over the bowl instead of, say, the kitchen floor. So, here’s my tip, the next time you or one of your sweet little helpers cracks an egg on the floor, sprinkle it with a heap of salt and let it sit for a few minutes. The salt makes the egg much, MUCH easier to clean up and might make you a little less frustrated with yourself or your little assistant.

3. PBS scored two thumbs up from me with their adaptation of Northanger Abbey on Sunday night. It was just really well done. The casting was great — especially Catherine and Mr. Henry Tilney (who, by the way, looks a lot like Lee Pace). Watching it actually made me want to read this novel again. That is, I think, the ultimate compliment. The only thing that I can’t figure is how the same screenplay writer can be responsible for this wonderful adaptation and the terrible Persuasion from last week.

Once, On Cleaning Up Eggs, and How PBS Won Me Back

Three things:

1. Once the movie that I wrote about last week is up for an Oscar for best song. I love that movie and think that they totally deserve to win — even though I’ve not even heard their competition. And, if you want to hear the song Falling Slowly, then just click here and you can download it for free.

2. My sons have decided, thanks to the movie, Ratatouille, that they would like to have cheese omelets for breakfast. And, given that we’re always challenged in the breakfast category, I’m thrilled. Sometimes my early riser wants to help me crack the eggs for the omelet. And that works brilliantly when he remembers to crack them over the bowl instead of, say, the kitchen floor. So, here’s my tip, the next time you or one of your sweet little helpers cracks an egg on the floor, sprinkle it with a heap of salt and let it sit for a few minutes. The salt makes the egg much, MUCH easier to clean up and might make you a little less frustrated with yourself or your little assistant.

3. PBS scored two thumbs up from me with their adaptation of Northanger Abbey on Sunday night. It was just really well done. The casting was great — especially Catherine and Mr. Henry Tilney (who, by the way, looks a lot like Lee Pace). Watching it actually made me want to read this novel again. That is, I think, the ultimate compliment. The only thing that I can’t figure is how the same screenplay writer can be responsible for this wonderful adaptation and the terrible Persuasion from last week.

Once, On Cleaning Up Eggs, and How PBS Won Me Back

Three things:

1. Once the movie that I wrote about last week is up for an Oscar for best song. I love that movie and think that they totally deserve to win — even though I’ve not even heard their competition. And, if you want to hear the song Falling Slowly, then just click here and you can download it for free.

2. My sons have decided, thanks to the movie, Ratatouille, that they would like to have cheese omelets for breakfast. And, given that we’re always challenged in the breakfast category, I’m thrilled. Sometimes my early riser wants to help me crack the eggs for the omelet. And that works brilliantly when he remembers to crack them over the bowl instead of, say, the kitchen floor. So, here’s my tip, the next time you or one of your sweet little helpers cracks an egg on the floor, sprinkle it with a heap of salt and let it sit for a few minutes. The salt makes the egg much, MUCH easier to clean up and might make you a little less frustrated with yourself or your little assistant.

3. PBS scored two thumbs up from me with their adaptation of Northanger Abbey on Sunday night. It was just really well done. The casting was great — especially Catherine and Mr. Henry Tilney (who, by the way, looks a lot like Lee Pace). Watching it actually made me want to read this novel again. That is, I think, the ultimate compliment. The only thing that I can’t figure is how the same screenplay writer can be responsible for this wonderful adaptation and the terrible Persuasion from last week.

A Trip to Sam’s…
can be so very interesting. On Friday, I took my oldest and youngest sons with me on several errands. The last stop on our list was Sam’s. And, even though we had been having a pleasant and uneventful day with errands so far, I was only cautiously optimistic. After all, my oldest was off of his meds. And when he is off his meds the barrier between what he is thinking and what he will say is very faint — if it is there at all. Much to my surprise, it went fine. And, all except for one close call when I had to get J away from a very interesting looking biker-dude before he could remark about his tatoos and one brief moment when J was doing some interpretive dancing in the middle of the produce department we were having what was, for us, a unremarkable trip.

We checked out and were heading for the door when we had to stop for the employee at the door to check our receipt against the purchases in our cart. Now, I had never seen this employee before. He was named — and I’m not making this up — Talon. And the visage that went with this name was pretty impressive. He definitely looked like he could hold his own in any scuffle. He had just finished counting the things in my cart and handed me my receipt when he turned around and came face to face with J, who was very interested in Talon. J half-whispered, “Hey, Talon, are you………..tough?” Talon smiled really big and replied, “Not really, no.”

And I laughed all the way to the van.

A Trip to Sam’s…
can be so very interesting. On Friday, I took my oldest and youngest sons with me on several errands. The last stop on our list was Sam’s. And, even though we had been having a pleasant and uneventful day with errands so far, I was only cautiously optimistic. After all, my oldest was off of his meds. And when he is off his meds the barrier between what he is thinking and what he will say is very faint — if it is there at all. Much to my surprise, it went fine. And, all except for one close call when I had to get J away from a very interesting looking biker-dude before he could remark about his tatoos and one brief moment when J was doing some interpretive dancing in the middle of the produce department we were having what was, for us, a unremarkable trip.

We checked out and were heading for the door when we had to stop for the employee at the door to check our receipt against the purchases in our cart. Now, I had never seen this employee before. He was named — and I’m not making this up — Talon. And the visage that went with this name was pretty impressive. He definitely looked like he could hold his own in any scuffle. He had just finished counting the things in my cart and handed me my receipt when he turned around and came face to face with J, who was very interested in Talon. J half-whispered, “Hey, Talon, are you………..tough?” Talon smiled really big and replied, “Not really, no.”

And I laughed all the way to the van.

A Trip to Sam’s…
can be so very interesting. On Friday, I took my oldest and youngest sons with me on several errands. The last stop on our list was Sam’s. And, even though we had been having a pleasant and uneventful day with errands so far, I was only cautiously optimistic. After all, my oldest was off of his meds. And when he is off his meds the barrier between what he is thinking and what he will say is very faint — if it is there at all. Much to my surprise, it went fine. And, all except for one close call when I had to get J away from a very interesting looking biker-dude before he could remark about his tatoos and one brief moment when J was doing some interpretive dancing in the middle of the produce department we were having what was, for us, a unremarkable trip.

We checked out and were heading for the door when we had to stop for the employee at the door to check our receipt against the purchases in our cart. Now, I had never seen this employee before. He was named — and I’m not making this up — Talon. And the visage that went with this name was pretty impressive. He definitely looked like he could hold his own in any scuffle. He had just finished counting the things in my cart and handed me my receipt when he turned around and came face to face with J, who was very interested in Talon. J half-whispered, “Hey, Talon, are you………..tough?” Talon smiled really big and replied, “Not really, no.”

And I laughed all the way to the van.

Coming to You from Loopyville
Well, I’m not actually in loopyville, but my oldest son is. And, yes, for those of you who know him personally, this is exponentially more loopy than you’ve probably ever seen him. Hard to imagine, but it’s true. Why is this? Well, he is off of his meds. Why? Well, after a week of some very rapid heart rates and talking to and visiting lots of doctors and having some tests run we’ve determined that the meds are doing it. So he’s home with me today, instead of going skiing with his class. And now we reevaluate everything and ask ourselves what we are trying to accomplish with meds. The “is this really worth it” question is definitely there.

So we’re off to errands now. I’m already preparing for the “what is with that kid?” looks that I’m sure to get today. I’ve found that preparing for those looks ahead of time is really, really important. Because being blind sided by the way someone is looking at your child can be really distracting even though I’m way better at dealing with it now than I have been in the past. Mine is not a take-your-so-called-normal-and-shove-it attitude really, but more of a oh-my-did-your-world-get-a-little-stunned-today-you’re-welcome-it’s-good-for-you sort of attitude. And, I’m telling you that this attitude is going to help me. Why will it help me? Because today the circus has come to town…..and, lo and behold, I’ve brought it with me.

Coming to You from Loopyville
Well, I’m not actually in loopyville, but my oldest son is. And, yes, for those of you who know him personally, this is exponentially more loopy than you’ve probably ever seen him. Hard to imagine, but it’s true. Why is this? Well, he is off of his meds. Why? Well, after a week of some very rapid heart rates and talking to and visiting lots of doctors and having some tests run we’ve determined that the meds are doing it. So he’s home with me today, instead of going skiing with his class. And now we reevaluate everything and ask ourselves what we are trying to accomplish with meds. The “is this really worth it” question is definitely there.

So we’re off to errands now. I’m already preparing for the “what is with that kid?” looks that I’m sure to get today. I’ve found that preparing for those looks ahead of time is really, really important. Because being blind sided by the way someone is looking at your child can be really distracting even though I’m way better at dealing with it now than I have been in the past. Mine is not a take-your-so-called-normal-and-shove-it attitude really, but more of a oh-my-did-your-world-get-a-little-stunned-today-you’re-welcome-it’s-good-for-you sort of attitude. And, I’m telling you that this attitude is going to help me. Why will it help me? Because today the circus has come to town…..and, lo and behold, I’ve brought it with me.

Coming to You from Loopyville
Well, I’m not actually in loopyville, but my oldest son is. And, yes, for those of you who know him personally, this is exponentially more loopy than you’ve probably ever seen him. Hard to imagine, but it’s true. Why is this? Well, he is off of his meds. Why? Well, after a week of some very rapid heart rates and talking to and visiting lots of doctors and having some tests run we’ve determined that the meds are doing it. So he’s home with me today, instead of going skiing with his class. And now we reevaluate everything and ask ourselves what we are trying to accomplish with meds. The “is this really worth it” question is definitely there.

So we’re off to errands now. I’m already preparing for the “what is with that kid?” looks that I’m sure to get today. I’ve found that preparing for those looks ahead of time is really, really important. Because being blind sided by the way someone is looking at your child can be really distracting even though I’m way better at dealing with it now than I have been in the past. Mine is not a take-your-so-called-normal-and-shove-it attitude really, but more of a oh-my-did-your-world-get-a-little-stunned-today-you’re-welcome-it’s-good-for-you sort of attitude. And, I’m telling you that this attitude is going to help me. Why will it help me? Because today the circus has come to town…..and, lo and behold, I’ve brought it with me.

Morning Announcement
E stumbles into the kitchen this morning. He has slept late and it is 7:30. He looks up at me, and while rubbing his eyes, emphatically says, “Mommy, I been sweepen and sweepen and I JUST CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!”

You know, for some reason, the sleeping part of my life is the easiest part to take. Perhaps that is the where the 30 year gap in our ages shows up.