Well the beginning of the week has been a whirlwind, but since when has my life been anything but. I had a dental cleaning this morning, but realized yesterday that the girl child's band concert (read: event created to abuse parents) was at 10 am. I should have just told her I couldn't go, but I had hubby on deck to take over, but really felt bad that he would have to leave work, where he was busy, to attend a useless concernt. I know I sound harsh talking about how kids' band concerts are useless, but in this case it is. She just started Clarinet this past September, and I do not think she will continue this, and really very few of these kids are really musicians, so i just think it's an exercise in futility. It's good if she walks away knowing how to read music, and having some appreciation for it, but I just think the genetic mix of hubby and I did not yield any muscial prodigies. It hurts to admit, seeing I was a talented muscian and spent time at Tanglewood (where I met one of my closest friends to date!!) and Mannes College of Music (pre-college division). However, I know when time spent is wasted time, and realize that the second chromosome had some sort of musical blight on it. I have come to terms.
Yesterday was a big day for the boy child AND the girl child. If this gives you any indiciation...
...it was a good day for him. His combined birthday & report card gift was Verizon's new 3 am offering, the iPhone 4. And to those who ask, "will you go to the dark side?" (i.e. get my own iPhone)....the answer is no. Touch screens = bad. Blackberry Messenger = good. Period.
This past Sunday we attended our usual Super Bowl Party and I brought my amazing yet diet-friendly chili. Not one person knew it was turkey (until I told them). I don't know what the interest is for a receipe, but this was a real winner. For the first year (I've brought this the last 5 years to the same crowd) it was almost gone! I had a HUGE crockpot full, and it was eaten to the bare ceramic bottom! :) I don't cook with recipes most of the time, and just figure it as I go, but I can, if wanted, post another receipe card for this winner!
As for the girl child....
She has, in the past, struggled a bit in math, and she is presently KICKING ASS! For those of you who don't know, our local school system grades on a different scale until middle school. F (fail), P (pass), G (good, probably like a B- or so), VG (B+ or A-), E (A). When a kid who has to work very hard to get this grade finally gets it, it is even SWEETER. The amazing part - she does it all on her own. I don't make practice tests, or hold her hand thu every problem, and I am just as proud that she is a self-starter, as I am that she is an excellent student. Score one for the 2nd child.
I hope those of you who are here for the nutrition/weight loss info, I want to see where you all are. Exercise? Super bowl is NO excuse not to work out. A workhout can be had anywhere, at any time, and should be done even on event-days. I got my run in, in the AM, after starting the chili. Today I saw the temp dropping, like 2 degrees in 20 minutes (no joke) so I raced out and did my 3 miles while I wouldn't lose my fingers to frostbite. I hear the temp is dropping, and will be in the teens after today. Get out while you can.
Food records - DO THEM. This means you. HEAR ME???? One of these days I want to reach out and ask you to post your day's food records. I can then pull some lessons from that and blog about it. I know not many feel comfortable posting comments, since my blog hits are very high, but comment to hit ratio very low....so if you don't feel comfortable, change your name and post. I can only help if I know what your nutritional & metabolic shortfalls are. Any takers?
I'm going to close with a quick story...
Clearly this is a stuffed dog toy chipmunk, but it reminds me of what I'm about to share.... A while before Thanksgiving, I was driving down a local road and saw a chipmunk running in front of my car. I slowed down to let it pass, but it froze in the middle of my lane. I veered off a bit, so I wouldn't catch it with my tire (I couldn't stop b/c there was a car right on my rear bumper). I passed and looked in rear view - no chipmunk so I was very relieved.
Fast forward two days, when I went out for a run, and was at the end of our driveway turning into the street. I see a flattened and rather revolting sight - a squashed chipmunk. Like REALLY squashed. I felt sad, but realized it must have come off my tire at that point, from when I ran it over two days prior. I hate killing ANYTHING, even bugs, so I was pretty bummed. I did my run, went inside, and texted hubby to get rid of the chipmunk when he gets home. He didn't, that day, and it sat there for another 5 days until he got rid of it. I breathed a sign of relief and went on with my life. About a week later, the landscapers came and what blew back on to my driveway's end??? A flat- and now almost dried out chipmunk. Frustrated, I asked hubby again to get rid of it (clearly pusing it into the front plantings didn't work). So two days later he got rid of it..... until it resurfaced on the corner sidewalk, about 30 feet from our driveway. Street cleaners came, thought it was gone. It re-appeared in the middle of our street, 5 yards from our driveway. Big snowstorm. Plows. Shoveling. Finally no chipmunk. Plowing. Another three snow storms. Ice storm. No chipmunk.
Well, I went out for my run yesterday, and what was about 5 yards from my driveway? THE DAMN FREEZE-DRIED FLAT AS A PANCAKE CHIPMUNK. At this point, I don't know what to do, but laugh. It is no longer gross because it's literally like a piece of paper, but it's STILL THERE. Never did I think that day looking back in my rear-view mirror, affraid i may have it hit, that it would STILL Be a part of my daily life months later. It is, and it continues to be. Ugh.
OK I know I may be a cynic, but I'm thinking it was more than one chipmunk.
Yay girl child
Studies show that music ed and math acheivment are related, perhaps that flute was helping the math?
Posted by: Scott | February 08, 2011 at 03:24 PM
I would love the chili recipe Barb! Still giggling about the chipmunk, too...
Posted by: Kim | February 08, 2011 at 06:59 PM
well, you wanted another fur hat...
Posted by: amy | February 10, 2011 at 05:26 PM