Fun at the pump

Who knew that pumping gas could be such an ordeal? Let's start with getting the gas tank door open. Apparently it's been a long time since I've had to fill up our '96 Nissan Sentra. When I couldn't get the door open with the pop-it-open latch by the drivers seat, and couldn't pry it open with the key (there are marks from previous attempts) I called Bill. He laughed at me! Hysterically. He had to compose himself before he could explain to me what to do.

Step 1: Open the trunk.
(Step 1 1/2: pull out half the crap back there because when I told Bill to put my van stuff in the car, I had no idea it would fill up the whole trunk!)
Step 2: Pull back the felt lining.
Step 3: Pull on the little white springy latch.

Whatever! If I hadn't been running on empty for 20 miles already, I would have driven away. I was so annoyed at the car that I gave in and bought Tasha a sugar-laden, blue-dye injected, slushy inside while it filled up.

But wait! It takes far less time, and far less gas to fill up that little car than it does the van. Oh my heck...$32?! I don't remember the last time the van took less that $40. Yipee! Hmm, let's divide that my the number of miles that I drove and low and behold....(drum role please)...over 30 miles to the gallon!!!

Yes, call me a spoiled little brat of a wife that has been driving fairly new vans since Kyra was born. I don't change tires and lock my keys in the car ALL the time. I switched to driving the car a couple of weeks ago because of the stinking environment. Bill now has the shorter commute so he gets the gas-guzzler, and takes the bus at least once a week. Where does that leave me?! The junker car with good gas mileage. Wah. I don't even lock the doors to the thing because I'm too lazy to unlock the door manually. Maybe someone will steal it and we can buy a hybrid.

I think of Crystal and her broken drivers-side door during the summer. Then there is Briget changing breakers and fixing vacuum cleaners. How lazy am I? Or is it Bill's fault for spoiling me? You know, I USED to know how to fix a leaky sink faucet and tell you thread gages on nuts and bolts. Now I can't even take out the trash. Hah.

Opening our Eyes

In the garden of Eden, Eve was tempted by Satan to eat of the forbidden fruit so "her eyes might be opened". Although it was the right choice, it was seen as a sin and the rest of the story is history. If she didn't do it, neither would Adam, we wouldn't be here and we would not know the good from the evil. But then let's face it, in this world there is a lot of good, a lot of evil, and a lot of in between. Don't worry, this isn't about all the evil in the world. It isn't even about the good. This is about finding good, better, best, and incorporating the ideas together. Because, let's face it, we can't always have the best so we have to work it in to the good that we have and know.

April is a brilliant woman who rediscovered Waldorf Education for the both of us. Right at a pivotal point in our children's lives, she directed me back to the ideal way for children to learn that was taught in one brief glimpse in college. As I recall, Waldorf is what we all strive for, want and need but rarely find. But April found it...right here in Phoenix! WooHoo! I wasn't in love until I read the book, but I found the best and want it for my child. Now, I just have to see if Desert Marigold will deliver what the philosophy promises. (I have been advised that it might not, but I'm not casting judgment as of yet.)

So I deviated from my point...letting the best meet the good. I tutor reading and found a great way to help kids with auditory processing problems. I use the LindaMood Bell Phoeneme Sequencing (LiPS) program. It works, without failure, even with kids who don't really want to learn. You've heard of phonics? I call this super phonics plus some. I have this kid that forgets everything and LiPS has given him some tools to help him retrieve the information he knows. Often times I have to intervene, but he's learning to do it on his own now and when I see it I'm amazed! The other day he forgot what a C sounds like. He could get the sssssss part, but not the kkkkkkkk sound. What the heck? Who forgets that?! This kid does. So I remembered the story from the Waldorf book about the cat, I drew a cat with a big swishy tail, and made sure the outline of the tail was a darkened letter C. Wa-la! The best meets the good, or best to best. Whatever, the kid got it and I didn't have to tell him outright. Maybe he'll remember the cat, maybe not, but now he has just one more thing to help him out. Brilliant.

So, my eyes are opened and I'm looking at everything through a different frame of mind. I know my work is good, and works for all my students. They can read now, and couldn't before. That's good, but is there better?!

Freaky photo

Look closely at the picture on the right of Kyra and Tasha...there is something amiss. I didn't notice it, even when I took the picture, but now it is really freaking me out.

Estrogen Issues

My good friend in Scottsdale emailed this to me and it was too funny not to post:

10 WAYS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE "ESTROGEN ISSUES"
1. Everyone around you has an attitude problem.
2. You're adding chocolate chips to your cheese omelet.
3. The dryer has shrunk every last pair of your jeans.
4. Your husband is suddenly agreeing to everything you say.
5. You 're using your cellular phone to dial up every bumper sticker that says: "How's my driving-call 1- 800-".
6. Everyone's head looks like an invitation to batting practice.
7. Everyone seems to have just landed here from "outer space."
9. You're sure that everyone is scheming to drive you crazy.
10. The ibuprofen bottle is empty and you bought it yesterday.

I don't know about you, but I can relate to 1,3,4,5, and 9 especially! I'm trying to lay of the chocolate chips and ibuprofen and I try not to think about hitting people...I could do real damage with a softball bat.

'Til we meet again...

President Gordon B. Hinckley, passed away Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008 at age 97. Our sweet Prophet of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is now together forever with his wonderful wife in the Celestial kingdom. He has been the prophet for almost 13 years now, and clearly the prophet that I most remember. Although he wasn't the President of the Church when I was baptized, he has been for most of my active years. He told me not to wear more than one pair of earrings, so I don't. I will never forgive him for that, but I will always honor his council because I know it came from the Lord. I know President Hinckley would laugh with me if I told him how mad I was when he said that, and hopefully he is now. I look forward to the day when I can meet him in heaven as my brother and thank him for the guidance and direction he gave to me, my family, and so many people in this world. He was truly an inspired man with a great sense of humor, vitality, and love for life. The press ate him up and he spit them out :) He more than doubled the number of temples that are in the world today, making it more accessible and convenient for members all over to attend and do work for their ancestors. I will always remember that when I see any temple, anywhere. I have a testimony that this Church is true. I know that Gordon B. Hinckley was a Prophet of God. I know that we have revelation in these Latter Days and that a new Prophet will be given to us through that very revelation. I love you President Hinckley and will miss your shining face at Conference. I say these things, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Guacamole

Combine:
15 oz can shoe peg corn, drained
15 oz can black eyed peas, drained
2-3 avocados, chopped
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
1 bunch green onion, chopped

Dressing:
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, chopped
3/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 tsp cumin

Pour the dressing over avocado mix. Serve and enjoy with tortilla chips.

You can make it ahead and add the avocado at the last minute if you prefer. That is what I usually do since it gives everything some time to marinade. If you can't find shoe peg corn you can substitute as small of a kernel of corn as possible. Black eyed peas can also be replaced with another small bean, like great northern.

15 hours

That's how long I have spent in the last 2 days talking with my friends in person. Seriously, just sitting there and talking. OK, there was food involved at different points, but mostly just talking...about everything. I guess that is what happens when you have a birthday, GNOut, and a parenting class all in the same week! You can learn a lot from and about your friends in that amount of time. You can also pick up their habits and the way they talk and act. I've caught myself saying and doing the following: 1) elbows bent and arms waving in the air; 2) "ya,ya" in agreement with someone, also referencing that you don't have to go into the whole story; 3) "yeah..." with a long sigh, head tilted, and a sympathetic look. I know there were others but I've forgotten them by now. Now that I think about it, I've talked with friends more than I've slept! (that would be 10 hours) Goodnight...