Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Best Advice Ever
When Martin and I got married, a lot of people gave us advice. The best came from Martin's mom, who said, "Be kind to one another." I think it's the best advice I have ever received.
The Contraband Closet
The contents of the contraband closet are growing:
2 sets of linens for the spare bed
Towels for the guest bath
a bunch of cookbooks
1 food processor
a Monopoly game
a Scrabble game
a Cribbage board
2 decks of cards (Snoopy ones)
an air freshener (one of those yummy plug in things from Bath and Body Works, which we no longer use since Martin is convinced it causes cancer)
a few candles (ok, more like a few dozen)
spare soap for the kitchen
6 boxes of girl scout cookies
1 box of Moonstruck chocolates
2 boxes of Cadbury's creme eggs
5 Cadbury's flakes (make that four as Martin just read this and went over to the closet...sigh)
2 sets of linens for the spare bed
Towels for the guest bath
a bunch of cookbooks
1 food processor
a Monopoly game
a Scrabble game
a Cribbage board
2 decks of cards (Snoopy ones)
an air freshener (one of those yummy plug in things from Bath and Body Works, which we no longer use since Martin is convinced it causes cancer)
a few candles (ok, more like a few dozen)
spare soap for the kitchen
6 boxes of girl scout cookies
1 box of Moonstruck chocolates
2 boxes of Cadbury's creme eggs
5 Cadbury's flakes (make that four as Martin just read this and went over to the closet...sigh)
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Moral dilemma
Have you ever been grossly undercharged?
Recently, I purchased something that was special ordered. We special order things at this particular location all the time. The manager recognizes me by name, and he has our phone number and address. The manager of the store rang up my things. On the way home, I realized that I was charged for four of something, instead of four cases of it. This is a difference in cost of about $500. The manager even rang it up twice, because he made a mistake the first time.
I feel bad for not telling him about this mistake. I believe in karma, and can't decide whether:
1. I should just accept this mistake as my good karma coming back to me; or
2. Be fearful that if I use the merchandise without fessing up, then the karma bus will come and roll right over me.
What would you do?
Recently, I purchased something that was special ordered. We special order things at this particular location all the time. The manager recognizes me by name, and he has our phone number and address. The manager of the store rang up my things. On the way home, I realized that I was charged for four of something, instead of four cases of it. This is a difference in cost of about $500. The manager even rang it up twice, because he made a mistake the first time.
I feel bad for not telling him about this mistake. I believe in karma, and can't decide whether:
1. I should just accept this mistake as my good karma coming back to me; or
2. Be fearful that if I use the merchandise without fessing up, then the karma bus will come and roll right over me.
What would you do?
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Give me a break
Allergic Colitis. It means that Chloe has icky diapers. It means that she is allergic to soy -- the only thing she ingested for the four days prior to the icky diapers. And it means that I have to stop weaning her, and start nursing her again. A vegetarian who can't eat dairy or soy. Hmmm..beans anyone?
Anyway...so now she is allergic to milk, soy, and butternut squash. Yes, you read that right: butternut squash. That gave her a fat lip. This kid is ready for a break. Her mom, and her dad are ready for a break. Even Maverick is ready for a break.
Seriously though, I am really not too upset about this...I figure this time in her life will go very quickly. I don't want to look back on this time and have it be defined by her allergies. She is happy, she is sleeping through the night. She is meeting all of her milestones. She makes us laugh every day. That is what I am focusing on.
Anyway...so now she is allergic to milk, soy, and butternut squash. Yes, you read that right: butternut squash. That gave her a fat lip. This kid is ready for a break. Her mom, and her dad are ready for a break. Even Maverick is ready for a break.
Seriously though, I am really not too upset about this...I figure this time in her life will go very quickly. I don't want to look back on this time and have it be defined by her allergies. She is happy, she is sleeping through the night. She is meeting all of her milestones. She makes us laugh every day. That is what I am focusing on.
Why I love my dog
I am just finishing the book Marly and Me. Sounds like such a cliche, but I laughed, and I cried.
When Chloe came home from the hospital, Maverick quickly accepted his place as second fiddle. The bulk of my attention went to her, and I have not been as loving or as patient with Maverick as I used to be. This book made me realize that, and also made me realize just how much I love my dog. So, in no particular order, here are the things I love about Maverick:
1. When I am sad, he tries to sit all 100 lbs of himself in my lap, tilts his head, perks his ears and nudges me with his nose.
2. When Martin and I are having a disagreement, he gets between us, sits down and whines. It always makes us laugh and forget what we were disagreeing on.
3. When we get home from being out, he does a lap around the first floor and brings us something...a shoe, one of Chloe's toys...anything really, then dances around with it trying to get us to chase him.
4. When you say "squirrel" he jumps to his feet and runs to the nearest window, skidding as he tries to stop himself on the wooden floors. It doesn't matter how often we tease him with this...he still does it.
5. When you are putting away the groceries, he follows you around the kitchen, sits and looks up at you expectantly every time you stop moving. He wants the paper bags to "recycle". Once you give them to him, he moves toward the recycling bin and looks back at you every two steps to be sure you are following. It's his favorite trick...probably because the recycling bins are about 5 feet away from his treat jar.
6. He is eternally faithful. He's always willing to give hugs despite the number of times I have yelled at him for nothing during my more stressed out moments.
When Chloe came home from the hospital, Maverick quickly accepted his place as second fiddle. The bulk of my attention went to her, and I have not been as loving or as patient with Maverick as I used to be. This book made me realize that, and also made me realize just how much I love my dog. So, in no particular order, here are the things I love about Maverick:
1. When I am sad, he tries to sit all 100 lbs of himself in my lap, tilts his head, perks his ears and nudges me with his nose.
2. When Martin and I are having a disagreement, he gets between us, sits down and whines. It always makes us laugh and forget what we were disagreeing on.
3. When we get home from being out, he does a lap around the first floor and brings us something...a shoe, one of Chloe's toys...anything really, then dances around with it trying to get us to chase him.
4. When you say "squirrel" he jumps to his feet and runs to the nearest window, skidding as he tries to stop himself on the wooden floors. It doesn't matter how often we tease him with this...he still does it.
5. When you are putting away the groceries, he follows you around the kitchen, sits and looks up at you expectantly every time you stop moving. He wants the paper bags to "recycle". Once you give them to him, he moves toward the recycling bin and looks back at you every two steps to be sure you are following. It's his favorite trick...probably because the recycling bins are about 5 feet away from his treat jar.
6. He is eternally faithful. He's always willing to give hugs despite the number of times I have yelled at him for nothing during my more stressed out moments.
