Our new home backs up to a nice wooded area. The many windows often gives us the sense we are outdoors when we sit in our family room. It was even more true when rain water from last night’s storm started dripping from our ceiling. Ah, gotta love that sound. So serene. That drip, drip, drip could lull the fussiest baby to sleep. The weatherman says it is supposed to rain for the next 3 days straight too. Try and buy that kind of luck.
One With Nature
June 8th, 2008
Because God Said So
June 4th, 2008The Select Quote Life Insurance Company gets a giant eye roll from me today. I happened to catch one of their commercials where a pastor, who does not have life insurance for his family, learns about the death of another pastor who had no benefits to help the family he left behind. It was a “sign” that it was time for him to look into life insurance. Other people from his church recommended Select Quote. He called and was happy to learn he qualified for a $350,000 policy for under $25 a month. It’s amazing how God inserts himself into our daily lives and sends us messages on what we need to do (my words, not theirs). Groan.
Very clever ad campaign. I’m sure some will respond and call Select Quote. It’s God’s will, afterall. It is a bit ironic to see a pastor (or was an actor who plays one on T.V.) promoting life insurance over faith. Not that there isn’t a place for both in life. It did strike me as funny.
Who Knew
June 4th, 2008Good grief. In trying to show my 2 year old her world I am learning how much I don’t know about it myself. Now I see why it is said the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else. Can you believe I was actually stumped this morning over whether or not a penguin hatches from an egg? Thanks to Google, I now know for sure it does. Sounds stupid, I know. Doubting something that seems obvious occurs more often with me these days. As I attempt to explain everything to Olivia though, I am finding myself doubting every little thing I’ve taken for granted or assumed to be true. It seems so important to get it all right. I’m actually enjoying paying attention to these kinds of details about life again.
Are You Okay To Drive
June 4th, 2008Last weekend I overheard my neighbors asking a person who was leaving their home if he was “okay to drive.” From the giggles and loud banter, it wasn’t hard to guess alcohol had been a part of their day. Though asking if a person feels able to drive is better than nothing, it seems if one has the urge to pose the question the person on the receiving end probably shouldn’t be behind the wheel. It’s no secret judgment is compromised by alcohol. Of course, in situations where everyone has had a few, there really is no one with a clear head to make the right decisions. The person being asked isn’t of the mind to say he shouldn’t be behind the wheel. Those questioning his ability to drive aren’t of the mind to know when a “yes” really should be a “no.” It really reinforces the importance of electing at least one non-drinker for every occasion.
There Comes A Time…
June 4th, 2008I like Hillary. Really, I do. I understand her reluctance to concede defeat to Barrack Obama. There is probably a bit of shock and denial that a relatively new figure on the political scene has managed to capture enough delegates to secure the party’s nomination. And it has been a close contest. Wanting to wait until there is a clear and indisputable winner makes sense. I do think we are at that time and place, however. Hillary has painted herself as a leader who knows when it is time to get out of Iraq. Seems like she would also be able to know when it is time to get out of the race for president.
Stuck in the Middle
May 30th, 2008Our new neighborhood has impressive lawns. Most are landscaped to the nines. Our neighbors on either side of us both rely on a lawn service for weekly cuttings. They use the same company, actually. Every Tuesday their lawns are freshly trimmed with a machine that leaves their grass looking like it belongs on the fairway of an exclusive golf resort. This happens whether or not the grass really needs to be cut. As a result, our lawn ends up looking like the fairway rough. It is noticeably longer and lacks the fresh mowing lines that create the amazing linear patterns our neighbors have. We cut our own lawn with a push mower as needed. If the grass hasn’t grown much, it seems like a waste of time and energy (literally) to mow. We’d be doing it for the sake of having pretty lines on our lawn. So, it is fair to say we will likely be known as “that house with the meadow for a front yard” to our neighbors. Never mind our grass isn’t long enough to feed even one cow. Ooh, maybe we should really let it grow and invest in a little milker of our very own.
It’s Not What You Say…
May 30th, 2008“It’s not what you say, but how you say it.” We’ve all heard that before. So true when it comes to cable news channels these days. What is actually being said is lost on me because I’m so distracted by the ballooning lips of the female commentators and anchors. Don’t get me wrong. I have full lip envy just like many women. The Angelina Jolie’s of this world with their full-figured smackers are definitely blessed, in my opinion. There is something lacking and slightly freaky, however, when mini-mouths try to join the club. They are easy to spot. Their inexperience with large lips is highlighted by the decision to dress up those collagen pillows with heavy gloss and liner. Oh man! Coupled with the growing trend to whiten their teeth to a white Clorox can’t even achieve, the overall affect is so gripping I often rely on the commercials to break my trance.
I wonder how many women will seek out enhancement as more television personalities establish plumped pouters as the norm? I know I won’t. Or shall I say I can’t. I’m too cheap and we are doing what we can to watch our spending. There simply isn’t room in the budget to double or triple my lipstick/lip balm expenses.
4 Year Old Honesty
May 27th, 2008My sister’s family stayed with mine over the holiday weekend. The weather was great so we spent a good deal of time outside playing in the yard. During one of our play sessions, my neighbors decided to get into a verbal spat in front of their house. It was pretty intense at times. My 4 year old niece piped up, “what are they doing?…adults aren’t supposed to fight.” I explained sometimes adults get mad too and don’t always handle it well. I told her it really wasn’t any of our business and we shouldn’t watch. She responded in a relatively loud voice, “I’m trying not to watch but I can’t seem to look away.” It was priceless and so true. My neighbors wrapped up their argument shortly after her comment. I hope they heard her and had the good sense to be embarrassed.
Where could it be?
May 22nd, 2008There is a commercial on television that talks about a cat litter that is so good your cat will even have a hard time finding the litter box. Um, I’m not sure that is really a strong selling point. A cat not being able to find the litter box kind of makes having one pointless. I’ll pass on that one, thanks.
I’m Back!
May 22nd, 2008I know it has been a ridiculously long time since I’ve written. I shared the birth of my son 6 months ago. That wasn’t the only major change going on with me though. My husband and I had been planning a move from Maryland to Michigan. The past few months have been filled with all the details of moving a household while tending to two young kids. As of last Thursday, we are officially Michigan residents again! Our move is over. We are settled. Life is good.