Ever notice there are some things you can never have enough of? Okay all you pervs...get your minds out of the gutter! I'm talking actual things/items/products/consumables. I swear, there are certain things I desperately try to stay on top of and no matter what I do, I run out of them. Anyone know what I mean?
Here are just a few things I never seem to have enough of:
1. Band aids. I don't know what my kids do with them. Do they peel them off to show off their wounds or is it for the sheer joy/pain of whipping them off? I can buy, say, three boxes and it seems that before long, there's never one left for me if I cut my finger on a knife or get a blister from a pair of shoes. I think if I ever get any extra cash, I'm totally investing in which ever company makes band aids.
2. Bar soap. I know it sounds weird, but our family totally goes through bar soap in massive quantities. Are we really that dirty? I don't even have any bar soap for hand washing!!! It's strictly for the shower. Back when I was single, I thought it ridiculous that bar soap was sold in packs of three or six. "Who the hell uses that much soap?" I used to wonder. Now I know.
3. Sales. I will probably never buy a vacuum from a vacuum store and I doubt I will ever buy an entire room of furniture from one of those giant Rooms to Go places but I read their sale flyers every frickin week, like my life depends on it. I just love reading about sales. It excites me, even if I know I'll never purchase anything from that particular store. Is it mass consumerism at its worse or is it just me?
4. Clean Undies. My kids informed me yesterday that there was absolutely no clean underwear in their undie drawers. I swear I just did their laundry!! How does that happen? Do they put a pair on and then throw them in the laundry a minute later just for fun? Do they change out of their undies every day when they change out of school uniforms and then change again at night when it's time for bed? I know they both have more than 7 pair each and I do the damn laundry every week. Must be one of those laundry mysteries, along with the Bermuda Triangle of lost socks.
5. Pencils. This one really gets me cause I think Keller might actually be eating them. Someone is. In the past six weeks or so that school has been in session, we have bought three, I repeat three, bags of pencils for the kids. Yes, they have a lot of homework; but I don't remember seeing that many pencil shavings around the house! And, here's the kicker; my son's teacher at school says he doesn't ever seem to have pencils in his desk. Maybe if I put more snacks in his lunch box?
6. Smiles. I love to disarm grumps and mudges with a smile. Lots of times I don't really feel like smiling at the person but I do it anyway just for the reaction. Example - there's a woman in the car pool line at school who has NEVER cracked a smile once. Not to any one, any car or any staff member. Believe me, I watch! This morning I gave her a huge smile and she was forced to sort of smirk back. Ha!
7. Donuts at staff meetings. It doesn't matter if you're on a diet, or already had breakfast or don't really like donuts; you'll still eat one at a staff meeting. And, it makes the meeting all that much better if there's a sweet wad of dough involved, doesn't it? There will always be that one holdout who will pass on a donut at the beginning of the meeting. But, if it runs past an hour and they are waning, you know they are going to reach out and grab whatever is left on the plate and shove it in their mouth cause it will stifle the yawn or scream of boredom. I know; I'm that person.
8. Bottles of wine. Don't like wine? Doesn't matter; it's still vital to have wine at home. Unexpected guests or girlfriends in crisis require a bottle of wine, so always have one at the ready. I like the look of un opened bottles of wine. They make me feel like a civilized human being and I know that if I'm totally over it or particularly stressed out by the end of the night, I can always open a bottle of wine and the world will be good again.
9. Paper towels. I'm guilty of polluting the world just a little by using lots of paper towels. I'm not down with wiping the counters with the same stinky cloth that just finished cleaning a load of dishes. Even if I rinse it in bleach somehow I still feel like I'm wiping left over egg all over the counter. So, I use paper towels to wipe stuff down. But, I'm learning with this one. I now buy them in bulk.
10. Blogs. I love reading them. I really like the ones with lots of pretty pictures too. I know you do too or you wouldn't have made it to #10. So, thanks.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Dog Days of Late Summer
There are only a few more days until Fall is officially here but you'd never know it in NOLA. It's still stankin hot. People have cause for celebration if the temperature stays in the 80s. My neighbor said she actually kept her windows rolled up on the drive to work the other day because it was so lovely and cool (80 degrees). When, oh when great heat gods will you release us? For the record, 80 degrees does not register as cool to most normal people.
Today while out picking up freebie movie tickets hubby and I accidentally found a great flea market. I picked up various items, including a light sweater jacket. Did I think out loud that it would be perfect for cooler weather? Nope. But I bought it anyway. That must mean that I'm totally ready for cooler weather.
I'm appreciative of the warmth, sun and greenery it produces. I am. But, I am also a lover of the change of seasons and I haven't had my fix in a while. September (one of my favorite months) is supposed to represent back to school, leaves changing color, apple picking and light sweaters. Down here in Louisiana I'm not really going to see many leaves change, the kids went back to school in August and there aren't apples around except for at the grocery. Can't I least just get the light sweater part???
The cooler weather also means its time for mini road trips. I prefer them in the fall than in the summer, especially since we haven't had the A/C in our car working since last year. It didn't matter much until about May of this year. The kids have been troopers but we've sweated our asses off for months and it would be nice to open the windows because we WANTED to, not had to. A side note - apparently Honda Elements (older versions) are known for A/C units that blow up and cost thousands to fix. Why didn't anyone tell me this back in 2008 when we bought the bloody thing?
There's a drought back in North Carolina which is funny to me, cause we've been experiencing the typical summer tropical rains here in New Orleans. Every day in the afternoon it seems as though the skies just open up and pour down on everyone. We've done our fair share of getting caught without umbrellas. Normally rain makes me shiver and cold to the bone; here it just cools me off. I've gotten to where I almost enjoy it.
Our summer was a tough one with the move and lots of stress at my previous job. Things in NOLA have been good and are getting better. Maybe that's why I'm so eager for a change; to embrace our new life here in a new season.
Today while out picking up freebie movie tickets hubby and I accidentally found a great flea market. I picked up various items, including a light sweater jacket. Did I think out loud that it would be perfect for cooler weather? Nope. But I bought it anyway. That must mean that I'm totally ready for cooler weather.
I'm appreciative of the warmth, sun and greenery it produces. I am. But, I am also a lover of the change of seasons and I haven't had my fix in a while. September (one of my favorite months) is supposed to represent back to school, leaves changing color, apple picking and light sweaters. Down here in Louisiana I'm not really going to see many leaves change, the kids went back to school in August and there aren't apples around except for at the grocery. Can't I least just get the light sweater part???
The cooler weather also means its time for mini road trips. I prefer them in the fall than in the summer, especially since we haven't had the A/C in our car working since last year. It didn't matter much until about May of this year. The kids have been troopers but we've sweated our asses off for months and it would be nice to open the windows because we WANTED to, not had to. A side note - apparently Honda Elements (older versions) are known for A/C units that blow up and cost thousands to fix. Why didn't anyone tell me this back in 2008 when we bought the bloody thing?
There's a drought back in North Carolina which is funny to me, cause we've been experiencing the typical summer tropical rains here in New Orleans. Every day in the afternoon it seems as though the skies just open up and pour down on everyone. We've done our fair share of getting caught without umbrellas. Normally rain makes me shiver and cold to the bone; here it just cools me off. I've gotten to where I almost enjoy it.
Our summer was a tough one with the move and lots of stress at my previous job. Things in NOLA have been good and are getting better. Maybe that's why I'm so eager for a change; to embrace our new life here in a new season.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Takin Care of Business
There are so many reasons to love this city, including its attitude toward the musicians. In this town, it's not shameful or embarrassing for my kids to tell their friends their dad is a musician. It's an honor. I don't have to worry about long pauses after explaining what my husband does for a living, nor does he get asked "what do you do in the day time?" when he shares his profession with others. The reply here is always "Cool. Who does he play with?" People here get it.
Not only are musicians revered, they're also well taken care of thanks to the New Orleans Musicians Clinic, through LSU Medicine. That's right, a special clinic and set of doctors who see musicians at little or no cost. Where else on earth would that happen? To boot, their families are taken care of too. Though it's constantly facing possible closures due to scarce funding, people here rally behind it and see to it that musicians get medicine, lab work and check ups like the rest of us.
It's not just charity however, it's an investment. Music is the soul of this city and a huge industry-driver too. JazzFest, French Quarter Festival, Satchmo Fest... there are tons and tons of festivals that rely on musical talent to bring tourists and visitors out. It's one of the main reasons people come here and stay here. You gots to take care of business to get any business.
Several times a day the local jazz radio station plays the day/evening's concert listings and it still amazes me every time I hear it. There are dozens of bands playing every night, all across the city. There's some kind of festival, celebration, parade and gathering every weekend here and almost all of them have live music. In fact, I think there's more live music now than 10 years ago when we were last here.
Some cities have great momuments to past leaders placed all around their metropolis. We have those too. But our real treasures are living and breathing, blowing sweet and funky sounds throughout the crescent city.
Not only are musicians revered, they're also well taken care of thanks to the New Orleans Musicians Clinic, through LSU Medicine. That's right, a special clinic and set of doctors who see musicians at little or no cost. Where else on earth would that happen? To boot, their families are taken care of too. Though it's constantly facing possible closures due to scarce funding, people here rally behind it and see to it that musicians get medicine, lab work and check ups like the rest of us.
It's not just charity however, it's an investment. Music is the soul of this city and a huge industry-driver too. JazzFest, French Quarter Festival, Satchmo Fest... there are tons and tons of festivals that rely on musical talent to bring tourists and visitors out. It's one of the main reasons people come here and stay here. You gots to take care of business to get any business.
Several times a day the local jazz radio station plays the day/evening's concert listings and it still amazes me every time I hear it. There are dozens of bands playing every night, all across the city. There's some kind of festival, celebration, parade and gathering every weekend here and almost all of them have live music. In fact, I think there's more live music now than 10 years ago when we were last here.
Some cities have great momuments to past leaders placed all around their metropolis. We have those too. But our real treasures are living and breathing, blowing sweet and funky sounds throughout the crescent city.
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