Friday, March 25, 2005

Questions Answered

One of my favorite bloggers and friends - Average Jane - introduced a blogging game a couple of weeks ago (and is this similar to a drinking game? Or at least can I drink while playing?)
ANYWAY, the gist is that she gets to ask me questions and I, in turn get to ask questions of any willing guinea pigs who sign up here in my comments.

So, to my belated list of answers:

1. What's the sneakiest thing you've ever done to get your husband to eat vegetables?

This odd question becomes not-so-strange when you learn that Mr. Me's idea of the sum total of edible vegetables consist of peas, corn, and potatoes. This is to the exclusion of everything - and I mean everything - else.

The sneakiest thing I've done to get him to eat vegetables is to mince them into meals - chili, meatloaf, etc. Except, I got caught. He can detect the slightest iota of onion, pepper, or squash and a hour of cooking is kicked to the curb in a matter of minutes. If he knows there's a non-approved veggie lurking on his dinner, he'll decline and go fix himself a hot dog.

This forray into forcing health down Mr. Me's throat occurred within the first year or so of marriage. In the years since, I've decided that it's more important to me that the stuff I cook gets eaten than embarking on a crusade to improve the health of his meal choices.


2. How are you most different from the rest of your family?

Hmm, this is a tough one. I guess mostly because my family is so diverse that it would be much easier to answer this about one member than the whole (very, very large) group.

The only answer that comes to mind is that I'm snarkier. And have a blog. So, that's gotta be it then.

3. Carnival/fair food on a stick: delicious or disgusting?

Depends on time of life. It was one of the most delectable, delightful treats of my younger years to eat anything on a stick (or off, as long as it was fried) at the State Fair. It was actually something I looked forward to all year (we always spent at least a week at the State Fair helping my Grandpa show his dairy cows).

Now, though, I'm finding that my aging stomach can't handle those treats of yore. Whenever I try one of these items that should just be awesome - like cotton candy, or fried Wisconsin cheese on a stick, or fried pickles - I get myself all excited about the special treat, and my mouth waters in anticipation, and my gastric system makes me pay for days. So, on the whole, now it's mostly just disgusting.

4. If you had the choice between another baby or another cat this time next year, which would you choose and why?

I notice that neither is not an option here . . . Probably another baby. The cats have taken to peeing in my office, and I have been tempted to round them up and take them away more than once recently. Not that the baby doesn't pee in inappropriate places too - the bathroom floor, on my clothes, in my face - but there is a glimmer of hope that in a few years I can make him (ok, and the new one too) understand that peeing is done in diapers or potties, and no-where else. The cats will always have that dumb "who, me?" card they can play as they'll never talk back (though I SWEAR they understeand what I tell them).

5. Via what medium do you get most of your news?

The Internet (Yahoo mostly), the radio and Newsweek. Sadly enough, though, I am having less and less time to soak in news from any source, so I am becoming stunningly uninformed. My new source is beginning to be friends that tell me what's going on.

And, if you're interested, here's the official game rules:

The Official Interview Game Rules

  1. If you want to participate, leave a comment below saying "interview me."

  2. I will respond by asking you five questions - each person's will be different.

  3. You will update your journal/blog with the answers to the questions.

  4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.

  5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Entertaining

My entertainment schedule has become significantly more delightful recently. I went to a movie--Sideways--within the last couple of weeks (yes, that's recent according to my current schedule). Not always a big indie film buff, but it was excellent. There are also a few other films out that I want to see, mostly mainstream stuff like Hitch and Ms. Congeniality 2 - I'm not holding my breath that the stars will align for that to happen. Also purchased the Incredibles - it was as cool as I remembered, and great extras!

The big news is in my TV world - Deadwood is back! I'm again being assaulted weekly by terrible language and debauchery, and I'm loving it. I've also become quite fond of a new find, House. The writing is just too fun - the lead character is a grade-A smart ass and I love him.

And of course, there's Desperate Housewives, which I've been in mourning for new episodes for the last few weeks. And another guilty pleasure - Boston Legal. I know, I know, it's The Practice + Ally McBeal= yet another David E Kelly cookie-cutter production. But Shatner over-acts his character perfectly, and I like the addition of Candice Bergen to the cast. What's with her always wearing turtlenecks or really chunky necklaces? Did she have a tracheotomy at some point? Or does she have some severe "wottle" that she's hiding? Inquiring mind wants to know.

I bought the soundtrack to Garden State, which is good. And have started using iTunes as one of the last true holdouts. I LOVE it, and now I'm coveting an iPod and more new CDs (curse you Steve Jobs!)

And finally, books. I've read a new one from James Patterson, and an older Mercedes Lackey within the last week or so. I've also started reading the new Super Nanny book - gotta get some advice on those tantrums. I need to come up with a few new reads while I'm awaiting the new Harry Potter & Stephanie Plum books this summer (So Excited!) Also looking for the new Jasper Fforde to come out sometime.

What have you been doing lately? Any shows, movies, books, cds that I need to add to my list?

Can you Fire an Uncle?

Went to dinner with my brother the other day and he informed me that the Little Man is "cute again". When pressed about the meaning of this, he said that for a few months there he looked at photos of the Little Man - MY LITTLE MAN - and said "poor, homely kid". But now, he's cute again, so there's no worries.

This is the same uncle that gave my son the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition for his first birthday, and has been trying to get him to say "hooters" since birth.

I think he's officially fired.

Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Egad!

This past week has been full of Egad! moments. A select few. . .

  • The Little Man decided to start throwing throw-himself-back-kicking-and-screaming tantrums on his very first birthday. I thought these weren't due for another year or so?


  • Talking to my best girlhood friend this week, I realized that under her influence I am able to contemplate having another Little Person without covering my ears, screaming and running from the room.


  • Talking to the same girlfriend, it occurred to me that she was in some ways reminding me of her mother. And it also occurred to me that maybe I am starting to remind people of MY mother. Which I immediately decided that I really don't want to know.


  • Studio photography prices are INSANE! Sticking with Penney's from here on out, thank you!


  • I now unfortunately have first-hand knowledge of the inspiration for the Exorcist vomiting special effects. Funny, they didn't show the cleanup of that in the movie, which is actually the scariest part.

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

One, Little Man

The Little Man is ONE today, yeah! I can't tell you amazed I am at that, and how proud (and secretly relieved) that he's a healthy, happy, handsome little guy - and still alive despite my clumsy parenting skills!

I've read countless wonderful, sweet, full-of-love-and-joy Happy First Birthday son/daughter messages on various parental blogs. I was really planning on writing my own sappy, full of love message to broadcast to the world at large as well about my Little Man's first year, but I just don't have it in me tonight.

For starters, the Little Man decided to wake up at 5:00 a.m. this morning and not go back to sleep. So, he screamed in bed on and off for an hour-and-a-half (thank you, Ferber) before I finally decided to get my lazy bones up for the day and ease his misery. Took his now-crabby self to daycare early with hopes of leaving work early and taking him to a local kiddie joint that has an area for crawlers to go wild in. Of course, I didn't end up getting off work until 1/2 hour before the kiddie joint closed, topped off with a very dissatisfying conversation with a co-worker before I left. So, this afternoon ended up with Mommy guilt topped off with disappointment and a little dash of Gee, I hate my job today. Not a recipe for a great birthday evening.

Yet I soldiered on, still trying to find someplace to take him to have some fun. Too cold for the park, the newest kiddie gym in the area doesn't open for two weeks. Aha! McDonalds PlayPlace! We met Mr. Me at McDonalds, where we ended up with the very most unhealthy dinner ever (as you get at McDonalds) and it turns out that you must be 3 in order to play in the playplace. Not that I was terribly heartbroken as the Little Man still has a tendency to mouth everything and EEK! the germs in that place, but still, NO fun to be had on the birthday. Yet another wave of mommy guilt.

So, we ended going home and playing with new birthday toys at home. Not a horrible day, but not as special as I wished my Little Man's first special day to be. With any luck, though, I'll have lots and lots of chances to get it right.

Happy Birthday, my darling Little Man. I love you very, very much.