Pet Peeves

A lot of things have been bugging me lately...maybe I'm just getting older and grumpier.

My Pet Peeves

• At the top of the list is a grammatical pet peeve. I hate the use of unnecessary apostrophes. The girl's gave the toy's to the kid's. I especially hate when apostrophes are used improperly on signage: Luigi's, The Best Pizza's in Town. Please have someone proofread a sign in which you are investing big money.
• Chain emails, email forwards, text forwards, and Facebook post forwards. 97% of people won't have the guts to repost this. Really? Did you do scientific studies on that? My guess is that you randomly picked a number close to 100. If you have the best spouse in the world, forward this to show your love. Nah, my spouse is only the 2nd best spouse in the world. So I'd better pass.
• People who do NOT use their turn signals. Why? How hard is it to push that little stick down to let me know you're going to turn? No, you would rather stop suddenly in the middle of the street and slowly begin your turn into a driveway. Maybe you should put down your cell phone and stop texting long enough to use a turn signal.
• People who don't return their carts at the grocery store but instead shove them toward the cart return dock from a great distance. I was recently walking to my car at the store when I saw a woman shove her cart from about 20 feet away. Of course, my car was parked a couple spots down. The cart took a turn and slammed right into my vehicle. She noticed, grabbed the cart, and shoved it in the cart dock. No, she did not check for damage. With a snotty attitude, I proclaimed, "Actually, that's MY car." She one-upped me with attitude and answered me "It's FINE." I asked if she would mind if I checked first and she acted like I totally put her out. (It was fine but that's not the point!)
• The neighbors who insist on parking right at the bottom of my driveway. Our side of the street is not known for simple driveways. We sit at the top of a hill and have windy, steep driveways. The neighbors could park in front of their house but they choose not to. They like parking right at the bottom of my driveway. So when it's icy in the winter, we have to drive like we're avoiding land mines to miss slamming right into their car.
• People who go out in public wearing their pajamas. I don't live in the classiest of towns and I'm aware of that. Actually, I'm reminded of that every time I go grocery shopping. There will always be one low-class loser who must grocery shop right after rolling out of bed. If they can't change their clothes, is there any way they brushed their teeth or put on deodorant?
• People in my family who do not push their chair into the table when they're done eating. Actually, I'll go ahead and throw in people in my family who do not clean up after themselves. How hard is it? I am not your maid, although I feel like it most days.
• People who litter. They should be shot.
• Political robo calls, political junk mail, political signs...if you read my post from a few days ago, you already know this.

That's all I have for now. I'll keep you posted if the level on my Grumpy Meter rises.

Phrasology...

This morning's conversation on the way to school...dialogue between the 9-year-old and myself.

Him: "It looks like day out today."
Me: "It is day."
Him: "No, it's morning."
Me: "There's a difference between day and morning?"
Him: "Yeah."
Me: "So, there's morning, day, and night?"
Him: "And afternoon."
Me: "OK, so what time does day start?"
Him: "10 o'clock."
Me: "And what time does morning start."
Him: "1 o'clock in the morning."
Me: "When does night start?"
Him: "About 8 o'clock."
Me: "So when is afternoon?"
Him: "1 o'clock in the afternoon."
Me: "So, morning is from 1:00 AM to 10:00 AM, day is from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, afternoon is from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and night is from 8:00 PM to 1:00 AM. Do I have it right?"
Him: "Yep."

So glad that was clarified today. Maybe I need to report this information to the higher authorities. I'm not sure they have it down.

Wordless Wednesday...Indian Summer

Remembering...

Each time I sit down and remember my childhood, I think to myself, Wow, I had a great childhood! I'm glad I didn't grow up in the present day of video games, computers, iPods, and multiple televisions in each home. Today's kids are missing out on what being a child truly is, my kids included.

The family and I recently had the opportunity to visit a childhood location...a state park where I spent a week every summer of my life. Here is the kiddie pool and beach where we used to spend hours and hours. My mom would sit on a lawn chair or blanket in the grass (there was no fence back then) while she watched us. Days would go on forever. A picnic would refresh us when famished. Sometimes I would give anything to relive one of those days. True bliss.

Halloween Tradition

My family loves Trick-or-Treating, school Halloween parties, and pumpkin carving. But our all-time favorite Halloween tradition is going "Booing." Yes, boo-ing. If you've never heard of it, you definitely need to give it a try.

The first step to a successful Booing adventure is to fill 3 paper lunch sacks with Halloween treats: candy, pencils, baked goods, toys, etc. Fold each bag shut and staple the Boo! sheet on the front. Next, select 3 lucky recipients. We try to pick families with children who are likely to keep the tradition alive. Then, very quietly, approach their front door while the rest of the family hides, giggling in the car. Place the bag of candy on the porch so that the sign is visible and loudly rap on the door. Then you run as quickly as you can, ducking behind a bush or turning the corner. Sometimes the haunted family finds the bag right away. Sometimes, you'll drive by hours later, only to see the bag patiently waiting to be found on the door stoop. It's a great rush and clean family fun! The poem requests that the finder pays it forward...finding 3 more people to Boo!

The poem reads as follows:

The Halloween Phantom haunts you happily from now through Halloween,
And was delivered by a friend who was not seen.
The spirit of the neighborhood has come to wish you well,
Someone, somewhere, selected you to receive this happy spell.
You must display the Phantom on your door so all can spy
That you’re already haunted by this happy little guy.
Then fix 3 sacks with goodies like the one given to you,
Ring someone’s bell and leave a bag and make them happy too!
Happy Halloween!

Download the ghost picture here.

Have you ever heard of or taken part in this activity? I'd love to hear from you!

Easy Chicken Nachos/Chicken Quesadillas

One of our favorite "junk suppers" and football party food is Chicken Nachos or Chicken Quesadillas. They're so easy to make and super delicious! Paired with homemade potato skins, chicken wings, and stromboli, they liven up any finger food party!

Chicken Nachos/Chicken Quesadillas
1. Cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite sized pieces. (If the chicken is still slightly frozen, it is much easier to cut up.) Allow 1 chicken breast per person for a generous portion.
2. Marinate chicken in Italian dressing for as long as time allows. (Sometimes I leave it in the refrigerator several hours, sometimes I only have a few minutes.)
3. Melt a couple tablespoons of butter in a skillet. Pour in chicken along with the marinade. Brown chicken until cooked through.
4. Sprinkle cooked chicken with taco seasoning according to your taste (I like a lot) and stir.
5. For Nachos, line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Lay out unbroken tortilla chips (I use white corn Tostidos) in a single layer. Cover each chip with chicken mixture and sprinkle generously with Cheddar Jack or Mexican cheese. Bake at 350 until cheese is melted and slightly brown. Serve with sour cream.
6. For Quesadillas, butter one side of a flour tortilla. Fill half of unbuttered side with chicken mixture and sprinkle generously with Cheddar Jack or Mexican cheese. Fold tortilla in half and fry on both sides until browned. Cut into thirds, making triangles. Serve with sour cream and salsa.

Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree...

...with anyone else but me!

We took the family apple picking on a recent, beautifully warm fall day. It was a day that I hope lives in our good memory banks until the end of time. And the best part is that good apples = good apple pie! We plan to make this an annual tradition. Living in the heart of America has its advantages.

This time of year

This time of year is so wonderful for many reasons! Those wonderful things are some of the reasons I've been too busy to blog lately. I could sit outside for hours, staring at the brilliance of God's imagination and handiwork. But with the good comes the bad.

There is one thing I totally HATE about this time of year (and I don't use that word often). I absolutely despise political phone calls! They make me want to rip the phone right out of the wall. I consider them a great invasion of my privacy and the normalcy I strive to achieve in my hectic life. We get several of these calls a day, either endorsing a candidate or an automated survey wanting to know who I plan on voting for on election day. I'm not political. Yes, I vote, but I don't spend every waking moment dwelling on who stands for what issue and why.

I am looking forward to the day AFTER election day. And please, people, remove your yard signs before the Christmas decorations go up!

Budding Little Artist

Baby Girl is at it again. I feel like I should make her a scrapbook entitled Why I Have Gray Hair. The beautiful art washed off easily on the dining room table but still remains on my Grandmother's chair that was part of their dining set when they married in 1950. Thanks, Sweetie.

10.10.10

Happy 10.10.10!