Thursday, March 31, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 31, 2011

Today is a very important day to millions of people, many of them my friends. It's a day we've waited for through the long winter months. It's a sign that this bitter cold won't last forever. It's a day that turns calm book worms into screaming maniacs. What has us so excited? Is it Tater Day? Bunsen Burner Day? Or Clam on a Half Shell Day? No! While all of those are the 'holidays' for March 31; this year it is a much more interesting day. March 31, 2011 is Opening Day of Baseball! Baseball. America's past time. The boys of summer are back. It was in the low 40s in Cincinnati today, and possibly colder in the Bronx. But it felt warmer hearing the cracks of bats, the roar of the crowd. As one of the weathermen in Cincinnati said tonight 'The fans won't remember how cold it was. They'll just remember the win.' As a child, I was not a baseball fan. My sister was the baseball fan. She liked baseball and pro football. I liked NASCAR and hockey. Between us, Dad had all his sports covered. My father, a die-hard Yankees fan, took a bus trip with my grandparents and my sister to Shea Stadium to see the Mets play. My grandparents and my sister were big Mets' fans (she has since converted from the dark side and is now a Yankees fan). He took me to the Montreal Forum during one of the last seasons it was open to see our beloved Canadiens play hockey. I had no interest in baseball, I thought it was dull. I don't know what changed my mind. About 10 years ago, I started watching the occasional game when it was on. It was hard to get Yankees games living in SW Ohio! For the past five or so years, I have ordered the MLB Extra Innings package- which allows me to watch all the Yankees games from my house in Ohio. Once I was able to do that, I was hooked. When the Yankees organization started talking about building a new stadium, I asked my Dad to take me to Yankee Stadium, the house that Ruth built. Dad was thrilled! We went to the stadium in June, 2007. We went to the new stadium in December, 2009 and took a behind the scenes tour (courtesy of a Christmas gift from Mom). The start of baseball season means Dad and I have something to talk about again. The past couple of months, we haven't had much to talk about. Yes, we still have hockey, and I ask him about NASCAR, even though I'm really not into it any more. Neither of us watch all the hockey games (I always forget to order the hockey package which would allow me to watch them just like I do the baseball games, until it's too late in the season to bother). We watch most of the baseball games. So we rehash the games, cheering the wins and lamenting the losses. Mom gets annoyed with Dad that he only talks sports and weather with me. I don't mind. We do occasionally talk about other things, but those are the bonds we have. At least we are talking. I have an equally great relationship with both parents, but we express them differently. Mom and I talk for hours. Dad and I don't have to say a lot. So welcome back Derek Jeter and the rest of the Yankees. Good to hear your voice again, Michael Kay. It's so great to see the YES network, and see commercials from NY again. Makes me feel right at home. Let's go, Yankees! 2011 is the year for 28. We're off to a good start: 1-0 for the season!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 30, 2011

March 30 is 'I am in Control' Day. That sounded like a really fun day! There is some historical significance to it. 30 years ago today, an assassination attempt was made on the US President, Ronald Reagan. Apparently, in the confusion following Reagan being shot, the Secretary of State said 'I am in Control here'. His quote was taken out of context, and created a scandal that eventually led to his resignation. I was not quite 5 when Reagan was shot. I wasn't even aware of it until years later when I started studying US History in school. I mean, four year olds have much more important things to worry about. My day probably included going to nursery school and playing with my friends. I like the idea of having a day for being in control. Sometimes it feels like things are out of control with families, jobs, home. It's good to take time to regain that control. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and let it out slowly. Pick one thing, focus on it, and regain control. The pieces will slowly fall into place around you. You might need to cut the drama out of your life, and let go of things you can't control. But you'll feel better in the end. And if you still feel frazzled, take a walk in the park. For today is also 'Take a Walk in the Park' day. I think taking a walk in a park is a good way to put yourself back in control.

A Year of Blogging: March 29, 2011

March 29 was National Mom and Pop Business Day. It is a day to celebrate small businesses and the people who own them. Small business owners pour their blood, sweat, tears and dreams into their businesses. They know their customers. They know their products. There is a connection. It seems small businesses are getting harder and harder to find. There are so many chain places and big box stores. And while I love Target and Kohls, I also appreciate small businesses, and try to frequent them when I can. America was built on small businesses. Every big business started out small: one store, one restaurant. Small businesses are the fabrics of their communities. The small town I grew up in had a couple of small businesses. There was the small grocery store, which made fresh subs in the small deli. The subs were delicious! The store had been there when my mother was a child, it was always the Cash Market. It was owned by several families throughout it's existence. When we were teenagers, it was owned by a nice family who had moved in from out of town. The mother and one of the older sons usually ran the checkout, and the dad worked the deli and meat counter. My sister and I went there after school to pick up something mom needed for dinner. Or maybe we bought a pepsi and a snack. A lot of the time in the summer, we would each get a sub for lunch. Turkey sub with cheese and lettuce. My sister got hers with extra mayo, I went for just a little bit of mayo. Fred knew how each of us liked the subs. If one of us were at the store without the other, Sue worried about the other one. It gave us an extra sense of security, that they were looking out for us. There was also a 'general store' in town. Officially, it was called L&L Corner store. L&L for the owners, Lionel & his wife, Laura. No one remembered it was the L&L Corner Store. It was just the Corner Store. Or Lionel's. Lionel had a little bit of everything- greeting cards, gum and candy, newspapers, hardware, crayons and craft supplies, replacement glass for broken windows, and even some jewelry. You could find almost anything there. You dropped off your film and in a few days picked up your pictures. And Lionel knew you and what you needed. He knew what size glass you needed for the window you broke again. He knew if we had a big project in school and needed poster board (possibly because all of the kids your age had already been in). He knew when your parents birthdays were, and what to suggest as a possible last minute gift. He knew the day I got braces, and that I was not allowed to chew gum with braces. That was a very powerful deterrent! See, Lionel and my dad were best friends. I knew, if he saw me buying gum, he would tell my parents. I could not have my sister buy the gum for me, because he knew I liked Big Red and she usually bought bubble gum. So in the three and a half years I had braces, I didn't buy one stick of gum. As soon as the braces came off, that is another story... Both the Cash Market and the Corner Store are gone from Berlin's landscape. It is a shame. When they closed, the town lost part of itself. That last minute school project requires a trip to a neighboring town. There's a Subway 20 minutes away, but it's not the same. And the kids can buy their gum anywhere, regardless of whether or not they have braces.

Monday, March 28, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 28, 2011

March 28 is 'Something on a Stick Day'. I think it probably means food on a stick. What food comes on a stick? Well, there's all kinds of frozen treats: Popsicles, fudgesicles, jello pudding pops, Dove ice cream bars; so many options. Corn dogs come on a stick. If you are roasting marshmallows over a fire, you put them on a stick. Lollipops are perhaps our first treat on a stick. You can put almost anything on a stick. You could make yummy kabobs on the grill. Cut up pieces of cheese and put toothpicks in it, and you have a cheese tray for a party. My favorite food on a stick would have to be the Beef Teriyaki at a Polynesian restaurant near my Mom's. I don't really care for Chinese food (I eat it rarely), but I love the Polynesian food. I wish we had a Polynesian restaurant near my house in Ohio. The Beef Teriyaki is served on a stick. It is well marinated, but not covered in heavy thick sauce. It is served with a personal sized hibachi grill. You can put the stick of meat on the grill to warm it. The hibachi gives a soft glow to the table. I also love the sizzling sound the beef makes when you put it on the grill. Now I am really wanting some beef teriyaki, and my next trip home isn't until June! Eating food on a stick makes everything seem easier. No silverware to clean, you really don't even need a plate unless you are extremely messy. It's kind of an easy way to slip back into childhood in the midst of the hassle of adulthood. So leave the silverware in the drawer, put your food on a stick, and enjoy!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 27, 2011

Today is "Joe Day". The idea is that everyone who doesn't like their name can be called Joe. Apparently, the creators of this day thought everyone liked the name Joe, rather than Bob or Jim or Mike. So that's fine if you're a guy. Don't like Malcolm or Winston or Herman? Go by Joe. But what about the women, who don't like Amy or Jennifer or Keisha? Well, I guess we can choose Jo. Or Josephine. Joan, Joanne, Jody. I guess we have a lot of options. But it's a lot of work to go through for just for one day. Changing your name is not a pleasant task- ask any woman who has gotten married and taken her husband's name! I guess, if you don't like your name, today you can go by anything. Maybe just stick with 'Hey, You!'.

On a side bar, I have a funny Joe story. One of my father's best friends is named Joe. My parents were having a party at their house, and Mom was introducing Sydney to everyone. My parents have another friend named Mary. Sydney has met these people many times, but in the world of a preschooler, every time is the first time. Sydney had already met Mary that day, and then she met Joe. She asked if his name was Joseph, and he told her yes, that was his real name. Sydney goes to a Catholic pre-school, and she is very familiar with Mary and Joseph and Jesus. When she met both Mary and Joseph at my parents' party, she was amazed. Mom said Sydney's eyes got very wide, and she looked at mom & dad's friends, trying to take it all in. She already thinks my parents are the greatest thing next to ice cream covered in cherries; and to find out they know Mary AND Joseph-- I'm pretty sure it sealed their place in her eyes!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 26, 2011

Today is Make Your Own Holiday Day. I guess the holiday makers were too lazy to think of something. There are so many options for make my own holiday! I could make it Maple Syrup day, because my cousin and her fiance had the open house at their Maple Farm today. I didn't get there of course, but a lot of the family did. I am sure my mom bought some for me, and will bring it out to me in three weeks. Then I may just have to eat pancakes with Sydney! I could make it a Day of Organization. I have done a couple of projects today. I finished sorting pictures from the old laptop and the new one, plus other pictures from the past couple of years, onto three different flash drives (one for Syd & Drew, one for ancestry information, and one for other pictures, like vacations and the beagles). Then I organized both freezers (and we have a lot of frozen potato products!). I thought about cleaning out the frig, which needs to be done. But then I sat down and now it's 10:00pm, and I really don't want to start cleaning out the frig now. I also thought about organizing my closet. The previous owners of the house installed closet organizers in the master closet. There is a shelving unit for my sweaters. It is three tiers. As I wear the sweaters and they go through the laundry, they end up migrating out of the neat stacks in the shelving unit. There are now more on the pile on the floor of the closet than there are in the sweater unit, so I need to get them re-folded and re-stacked. I also know there are some clothes in my closet that don't fit. And I probably need to be realistic and realize if they haven't fit in a couple of years, they won't fit without some drastic changes to my body. So it's probably time to put together a bag for Goodwill. Then there are fun things that I could make today: Cuddle with a Beagle Day, Plan a Shopping Trip Day, or Eat Comfort Food Day. I think, perhaps the best day is Enjoy Your Life Day or Celebrate What Makes You Wonderful Day! Whatever you chose to make today, I hope you enjoyed it!

A Year of Blogging: March 25, 2011

March 25 was Pecan Day. So we have the same dilemma as with Apricot Day. How do you pronounce it? Is it puh kahn or pee can? I guess it could also be pee kahn. I'm really not even sure what else you can do with it, other than make pecan pie. I recently found a pecan pie recipe, and thought I would try it for my mom. She loves pecan pie. She is the only one in the family who does, so she doesn't make it. My Grandpa Primeau makes a great pecan pie. He likes it as well, and he makes it for my mom. Yes, I said Grandpa. My Grandpa Primeau was always the one who did most of the cooking. Grandma couldn't cook. Grandpa did most of the cooking. March 25 was also Waffle Day. For most of us, waffles are probably Eggos. That's what waffles were for us growing up, Eggos. When I went to college, they had a waffle station in the cafeteria. The batter was there, you poured it into a waffle iron, flipped the iron, and waited. You could have it any day of the week, but I usually had it on Sundays. I didn't want something that heavy during the week when I had to go to class. Because eating a whole waffle made me so full I wanted a nap! I usually didn't make it to breakfast on Sundays, so I had a waffle as my brunch at lunch time. Can you make pecan waffles?

Thursday, March 24, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 24, 2011

Today is Chocolate Covered Raisins Day. That's it. There are no alternates today. That's a bummer. I don't like raisins in any form: plain, in cake, or covered in chocolate. I am not a person who sucks the chocolate off the raisins just to get the chocolate. To me, the chocolate still tastes like raisins, and is therefore contaminated. If you like chocolate covered raisins, buy a big box today and enjoy them!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 23, 2011

Today is National Puppy Day. You know I've got to write about this! (Besides, my other options are Chip & Dip Day, Organize Your Home Office Day, or Near Miss Day.) I have to admit, I'm a sucker for puppies. I always have been. While Beagles and Basset Hounds are my favorite puppies, especially when they are so little they trip over their ears, Golden Retriever puppies are a close second. I used to make people scout out a pet store before I would go in. If they had beagles or bassets, I didn't go in. One time I didn't send in a scout, and I brought home Cobalt. I think by now everyone knows I got both dogs from the pet store. Next time we will try the shelter, but we got very lucky with both dogs. It was December 13, 2001. I was the jewelry manager at JCP, and since it was Christmastime, it was incredibly hectic. I walked through the mall on my lunch break, and to relieve some stress I went in the pet store. There was a blue beagle puppy. I had never seen a blue beagle, and asked to hold him. They put us in a little boxed area, and the puppy grabbed the hem of my skirt and tugged playfully. I was hooked. I called Erich, he came to see the dog as well, and that night our house welcomed Cobalt. I had never had a puppy. We didn't have pets growing up. My parents had a German Shepherd when they got married, Sarge. They say he was a big dog, even for a German Shepherd. When Mom & Dad watched tv on Saturday night eating popcorn, he dragged his 50 lb bag of dog food into the living room and chowed down with them. My mother had him trained as a guard dog. When neighborhood teens trespassed through Mom & Dad's yard on their snowmobiles, Sarge pulled one off the sled and held him until Mom told him to release. Mom and Dad have many stories of Sarge. They said he was a great dog. They had to get rid of him when I was a baby. My Grandpa leaned over my playpen to pick me up, and Sarge locked his jaws around Grandpa's wrist. Mom and Dad were afraid to have him around me after that, so they called a family friend who had always admired Sarge, and that night Sarge went to his new home- where he lived happily for another 12 or 13 years. I had no idea what I was getting into with a puppy! The housebreaking, the teething, the training. Cobalt had a lot of anxiety issues. We thought having a friend to occupy him during the day would help him. So we went back, thinking maybe they had a litter mate of his. They didn't, but they had a litter of black and white beagles. The sign said 'Just like Snoopy'. Erich picked out Onyx, and I brought her home that night. She was so little, I could hold her in one hand. I bought a carrier for her, and she rode home in the carrier on the front seat next to me. I talked to her the whole way home. When we got home, I brought the carrier into the living room and set it on the floor. Cobalt came over to sniff it. I opened the door to the carrier, and Ms. Onyx took a step out, looked at Cobalt, and slapped his nose with her paw. As he whimpered and wondered what this thing was that had invaded his happy home, she trotted into the room and promptly became the alpha dog. Beagles are perpetual puppies. They are still as energetic as they were when they were puppies, even though they are 9 now. They play, fight, cause trouble, and can be the most lovable creatures you've ever met. Every day they cause me to laugh. A bad day is better with a beagle kiss. While that trip to the pet store changed my life, it changed it all for the better.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 22, 2011

Today is Goof Off Day. It was a beautiful day in Ohio. The mercury rose over 70*. It was a little cloudy, but still pleasant. It would have been so easy to play hooky today and stay home. I could have spent the day sitting on the patio with a book in my hands, listening to the birds chirping in the trees and the dogs playing in the yard. But I didn't. I went to work. And was bored, because it was pretty quiet today. Good thing I didn't know it was Goof Off day until after I got home! I think I will observe it now by playing solitaire on the computer instead of blogging.

Monday, March 21, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 21, 2011

Today is Fragrance Day. Perfume is not something I wear. Most perfumes are too strong for me, and send my allergies into overdrive. I found Vanilla Fields was mild enough to wear but I gave up wearing it years ago. I am one of the few women in my family who doesn't wear perfume. Each woman has their special fragrance- one that I associate with them. Aunt Vera wears Youth Dew. Grandma Wager wore Knowing. Mom wears many Estee Lauder scents- Knowing (when she wants to think of her mom), and Beautiful are the two she wears most. But mom's favorite scent is Chanel #5. Dad indulges Mom's love of perfume. Each year for Christmas, he buys her perfume. It is one of the sweet traditions they have. If he sends her flowers for her birthday in August, it's gladiolas. If he sends them for their anniversary in December, it is yellow roses. Gladiolas are the flower for August, and Mom loves them. She also loves yellow roses. And each year at Christmas, Dad goes into Macy's and walks up to the perfume counter. While some men may not know what to buy, Dad does. When I worked at JCP, I helped him out. On Associate night we were able to get 40% off everything. That made Chanel #5 extremely affordable! I do remember the first time Dad tried to buy Chanel #5 for her. He wanted to buy her the biggest bottle, and just about fell over when they told him the price. We had to explain to him that she doesn't use a lot at a time, and therefore, even a small bottle can last her at least a year. Dad usually asks me what mom wants for her birthday, or for Christmas. He lives in the same house with her, yet he asks the daughter who lives 700 miles away. He always does fine with the perfume. If he'd just pay a little more attention to other things mom says or does, he'd have it under control. While you might think only of perfume or cologne, there are plenty of other options for fragrance day. Scented candles are my choice. I love Yankee Candles, specifically the fall scents. Macintosh, Apple Cider, Cinnamon Stick. It gives the whole house a warm, inviting aroma. There are room sprays as well. Another favorite of mine is Febreze. It helps eliminate some of the funk that accumulates in the house when all the windows are closed up. If you can't handle candles, perfumes, or air fresheners, maybe you can get your fragrance fix from body washes and lotions. Even me-allergic to everything- has found something that works for me. Some scents I can't use because they make me sneeze, others may have citrus and makes me break out in a rash. But Vanilla works well. Currently I use Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar. It's at least the third vanilla line they've come out with. Thankfully, it hasn't been discontinued like the other vanillas. Someone once told me I smelled like cookies. I thought that was quite appropriate- given how much I enjoy baking! And everyone likes cookies!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 20, 2011

Today is International Earth Day. Wait! I thought Earth Day was on April 22. Turns out, that is US Earth Day. Today all nations should have an awareness of their environment. Americans can wait a month. Does that mean we shouldn't observe it today? Or do we observe it twice? Today is also Proposal Day. If you're hoping for a ring, maybe today is your day! I don't know why a day in March is proposal day. I know a lot of people who propose around Valentine's Day, or Christmas. Birthdays are probably another big day. I never thought of March 20 as a big day for it, but supposedly it is! Today is also the first day of Spring. Kind of. Spring arrives tonight at 7:30 0r so. I have a love-hate relationship with Spring. I love the pretty flowers, the animals returning, the awakening of life after winter's hibernation. I love the smell of dirt after a good spring rainstorm. I hate the pollen that the beautiful flowers put into the air, driving me indoors. I try to enjoy Spring though: driving with the windows down before it gets so hot you have to use the A/C, opening the house windows and airing out the house (before the allergies attack), sitting by the fire on the patio in the evening, and letting the dogs run and work off some energy (the mud, however, I could do without). So goodbye, Winter. It seems like it will be an eternity before you come back, but I know it will fly by!

A Year of Blogging: March 19, 2011

March 19 was National Quilting Day. I know a lot of people who quilt. My great-aunt Vera quilts. I have several friends who quilt. My great-grandmother Primeau quilted also. She made each of her grandchildren a quilt in the wedding ring pattern for their weddings. I remember when my youngest uncle got married, a few years after Great-Grandma died. When the happy couple opened their gifts, there was a quilt from his Grandmother. I remember the silence and tears that filled the room. I am in awe of people who quilt. Their creations are so beautiful, so meaningful. I love to look at quilts and imagine the stories behind them. While I do a lot of knitting, I can't sew. I can sew buttons back on shirts, but that is the extent of my sewing ability. My grandmother was a beautiful seamstress. It didn't get passed to the future generations. It's actually a bit of a joke in our family that the women cannot sew. When I was home in last month, my sister said something about 'we can sew this...' and was talking about making something for one of the kids or her home or something. I looked at her, then at my mom, and said 'who is this we?' Yes, we have great ideas for sewing, but someone else must do it! March 19 was also Poultry Day. We celebrated poultry day by having Parmesan Dijon chicken for dinner. I enjoyed the leftovers on my salad for lunch today!

Friday, March 18, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 18, 2011

March 18 is Johnny Appleseed Day. Although I've also read it was March 11. He died on March 18, 1845, so we'll celebrate it today. He is credited with introducing apple trees to Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. These states were still wilderness in his time. I imagine him walking, introducing this foreign fruit to the natives and pioneers. After all, you couldn't just walk into Kroger and pick from a large selection of apples from all over the world! I love apples. They are a big part of living in the Northeast. Apples mean fall. Or maybe fall means apples. When I moved to Ohio, I had to find an orchard. The first orchard we found has since gone out of business. It was a small family orchard, and we had a couple of years of very dry summers followed by a hurricane in 2008. What the drought didn't kill, the hurricane did. I was very sad to see them go. I found another orchard closer to home, and we've been going there for a couple of years. It is more of a touristy place- getting people from Cincinnati who's only farm experience is walking into this barn, or seeing the goats in the children's area. But they do grow the apples, and it is a nice place. And they have the best apple cider donuts! So thank you, Johnny Appleseed, for walking through Ohio. Perhaps some of your roots are still here! On a humorous note- today is also Goddess of Fertility Day. I would like to ask her to stay FAR away from me!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 17, 2011

I think everyone knows what March 17 is. It is St. Patrick's Day. The day we're all Irish. Or so they say! Here in the US, it's a big deal. I think it's more of an excuse to drink and party, because so many people who aren't Irish partake in the festivities as enthusiastically as those who are Irish. In school, I remember children pinching each other if you weren't wearing green. You could try to get away by saying you had green underwear on (or the pattern had green in it), but in my school, they'd want to see proof! As an adult, no one seems to care. At least not at my work. I think only two of us were wearing green today. Most households in the US probably had Corned Beef & Cabbage for dinner tonight. It's really not one of my favorite meals, and I thought I had gotten by without it this year, but we were in the store the other day and they had Corned Beef on sale, and Erich noticed.... so we had it for dinner. Well, sans cabbage. I don't like cabbage, and he didn't want to fix it just for him. So we had corned beef, potatoes, and carrots. Now we don't have to have it for another 365 days! I know this is a day to celebrate your Irish roots. But what if you don't have Irish roots? The one Irish root I have is so minuscule, it's hard to find in my big tree. One of my great-great (or maybe it's 3 greats) grandfathers came from Ireland. So it's like 1/16th of my genealogy is Irish. There's more Native American (or so I'm told- I have yet to confirm that) in me than there is Irish. This great-great grandfather married a woman who immigrated from Germany. I wonder how they got along. Perhaps she spoke English. They had at least a dozen children, so they must have found some way to communicate! I am hoping my world-wide readers will comment on this blog. Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day in your country? I have been wondering if it is a world-wide celebration, or if it's just the US and Ireland. If you do celebrate it, how is it celebrated? Do you drink green beer and wear green from head to toe? Do you make an Irish dinner? Inquiring minds want to know!

A Year of Blogging: March 16, 2011

March 15 was Everything You Think is Wrong day. So it's only fitting that March 16 was 'Everything You Do is Right Day'. That's how things go. One day is bad, the next seems better. Yes, there are times that you'll have a couple of bad days in a row. Or that the next day will still be bad, but won't suck as much as the first one. Life is like an ocean wave. There are ups and downs. The key to life is learning to roll with that wave. We all need balance in our lives. Too much bad isn't good, but there is also too much of a good thing. Need proof of that? Think of the moments after you've finished eating Thanksgiving dinner, when your body is so stuffed you think you will explode! Whenever someone hits a ripe old age, of say, 100 or so, someone asks the person for their secret to a long life. The Centenarian being interviewed might say something like they didn't smoke or drink. I've read of women saying they didn't get married. And then there are the spunky ones who admit to drinking a few shots of Jack Daniels and smoking a pack a day. Especially funny if it's a woman saying this! But really, I think the secret is learning to cope. You have to be like the tree, bending in the wind. Yes, there will be bad times, but there will also be good times. Being able to flex and go with it will keep you going. You just have to remember even if today is the worst day, things will get better. Hopefully, it will be tomorrow. But it might be next week, next month, or next year. But they will. You will get through this too. I am very glad the people who created all these silly days put Everything You Think is Wrong Day and Everything You Do is Right Day next to each other on the calendar. It reminds us to keep things in perspective!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 15, 2011

March 15 is known as the Ides of March. Have you ever heard people say 'Beware the Ides of March' and wondered what they meant? For any non-history buffs, the Ides of March is the day Julius Caesar was stabbed by Marcus Brutus. He had been warned to 'Beware the Ides of March', but perhaps he wasn't careful enough. If ancient history isn't your thing, maybe you would like to know March 15 was also 'Everything You Think is Wrong' day. It's the day when everything goes wrong. Or maybe it's the day to acknowledge that some days- everything will go wrong. What if you had a good day yesterday? And do you really want to celebrate a day when everything is wrong? There are days you want to crawl back under the covers and request a do-over. It's ok. We all have those days. It's part of being an adult. Hopefully though, every day isn't one of those days!

A Year of Blogging: March 14, 2011

Many friends on Facebook pointed out that March 14 was Pi Day. I am not a mathematician, and really had never thought of Pi Day before. It was one of the days I knew without having to look it up. I remember one of my high school math teachers writing out Pi on the blackboard all the way across the front of the room. When he told us the number had no end, I imagined it wrapping around the room. March 14 was also Learn About Butterflies day. Seems like a good day to learn about Butterflies. Soon they'll be flitting through the air again, adding a touch of beauty every place they land. If you enjoy butterflies, maybe it's a good day to think about planting a butterfly garden. Or at least a few plants that will attract the butterflies to your yard. Finally if neither of those options interest you, March 14 was National Potato Chip day. Did you know potato chips were invented in Saratoga Springs, NY? That is not far from where I grew up. Well, about an hour or so. I love finding things that started in NY. There is a lot of history in NY, some major and some quirky- like the potato chip!

Sunday, March 13, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 13, 2011

Today is Jewel Day. The idea is to give or receive jewelry. Well, now, this is a day I could really throw myself into! I love jewelry. I have an armoire full of jewelry. And yet, I still drool over the pretty ads that come in the paper, and dream about pretty pieces. I probably would not have as much jewelry if I hadn't worked in the jewelry department at JCPenney. I started working at JCPenney in 1996, during my junior year of college. I actually started in the Men's department, which at first was very intimidating. Sure, I'd shopped with Mom for clothes for Dad. But I knew nothing about fitting men for a suit. I had the benefit of having an assistant manager who was incredible. He taught me how to fit men for a suit, how to measure their neck and sleeves to get the right dress shirt size, and even how to match ties to suits. I learned you could match patterned ties with striped suits. I actually became really good at it, and worked with the male customers easily. We were in a predominately farming community, and often men would come in to buy a suit when they had a funeral to attend. These were men like my father and grandfathers- who consider neckties to be a noose and only put on suits when it is absolutely necessary. I was able to relate to these men, and they were comfortable with me. They left no happier that they had to wear a suit, but feeling better that they could do it. I also learned how to tie a tie, something that has remained a valuable skill. More importantly- I learned to tie a tie, and then loosen it enough so that you could hang it on the hanger. When you put the tie on, you only need to tighten it and not worry about making the knot. This was something my customers appreciated too. After a couple of years, I moved to the jewelry department. Although, even after I made the transition, I was frequently called to the mens' department to help. I loved all of the pretty things in the jewelry cases. While people are buying clothes as necessities, jewelry purchases are luxuries. The customers are happier. It's an entirely different mindset. I transferred to a JCP in Ohio when I moved here to Middletown, and was promoted to department manager. I also became one of our best customers! I like to color coordinate my jewelry to my outfits. So I have a lot of sapphires, amethysts, tanzanites, and diamonds. Diamonds go with everything! The purples and blues cover 90% of my wardrobe, and the rest is covered by diamonds. I also have a lot of pearls. Pearl is June's birthstone, and I happen to love pearls. I don't wear my jewelry every day at my current job. We have a very casual office, I wear jeans to work. No one sees my jewelry because I work in the basement, and the only people I see on a daily basis are the handful of employees. So right now my jewelry sits in the armoire, waiting to be worn on special occasions. Someday, it will probably all go to Sydney. She already loves jewelry. Between my mom, my sister, and I; she'll have more than she could ever wear!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 12, 2011

Today is Girl Scouts Day. The first Girl Scout group was created on March 12, 1912. It seems everyone has a story about being a Scout (either Girl or Boy, depending on your gender). At least here in the US. I was a Brownie, which is one of the younger age groups. Girls in Kindergarten or First Grade can be Daisies. Those in Second or Third Grade are Brownies. Fourth and Fifth graders are Junior Girl Scouts (although, I think that may be a new addition. I remember it as Daisies, Brownies, and Girl Scouts). Brownies wear brown. We had meetings, just like the big Girl Scouts. We went to day camp. And most importantly- we sold cookies! I always rocked the cookie sale. There are advantages to having a big family. Dad called his brothers & sisters, and told them I would be at Grandma's that weekend. If they couldn't come, they'd give us their order by phone. The great thing in our family is that even though there are 8 granddaughters, the oldest one is 5 years older than me, then there are two who are four years older, the next one is two years older, then me, my sister two years younger, and then the other two are 7 and 9 years younger than me. So when I was a Brownie, no one else was in Girl Scouts. I had the family to myself! I also had an Uncle and a Father with a weakness for Thin Mints. They were each good for a case of Thin Mints. Yes, a whole case. This was before Dad was diabetic. We'd fill the sheet, and then my dad took it to work. We had the same kind of thing at his work that we had in the family- others had daughters who were either older or younger, but there wasn't a lot of competition. Which made up for the competition we had in our small town. I still hit my neighborhood, but most of it was done through the family and Mom & Dad's work. I routinely filled several order forms. We did not sit at a store and wait for people to come to us. We hit the pavement, took orders, then the troop master submitted the orders to Girl Scouts. We waited a while for the order to come in, and then we hit the pavement again, delivering the cookies and collecting money. I remember mom storing cases of cookies in every spare corner of the house- including her bedroom. It was a lot of work. I am not proud of this, but I quickly tired of Brownies. I went to Camp Is-Sho-Da in the summer. I wasn't into hiking, playing games, and all that outdoor stuff. I've never been interested in camping, and Girl Scout camp was no different. The end of my Brownie career came after one of our meetings. It was in the winter. We met at the Firehouse in town. Our troop leader rolled out large rolls of brown paper, like the grocery bags. We partnered up, and each of us had to lie on the paper while our partner drew our outline. Then we switched, and had to draw the outline of our partner. I do not remember why we were doing this. I am sure there was some purpose, to teach us something great. I, at the age of 8 or so, found it to be incredibly lame. I went home and told my Mom that I had better things to do with my time than to draw my outline on a paper bag. Yeah, I was a bit precocious. Mom made me finish out the year, since she had already paid the fees and we had the outfit. But then I was allowed to quit, or not go back another year. My sister was much more successful in Girl Scouts. She joined Girl Scouts in Third or Fourth Grade. She stayed in for a few years. Her uniforms were the green we are more familiar with. She attended the weekly meetings, marched with her troop in the parades, and of course, rocked the cookie sale. I celebrated Girl Scouts Day the best way possible today. Some local Brownies were set up at Lowe's. When we walked out of the store, they looked bored. It was mostly men coming out of the store, and they weren't giving the little girls any attention. The little girls saw us and asked 'Would you like to buy some cookies?' and their faces lit up in surprise when I said 'Yes, I would!'. We bought two boxes of Samoas (as I have already finished off the previous two boxes) and two of Thin Mints. The moms were wonderful- they made the girls take our order, give us the cookies, and figure out the total. The girls also took the money and thanked us. I say this is wonderful because the cookie sale is supposed to teach girls lessons. I have seen mothers who do all the calculating and all the work, and just use the girls as the cute faces to get you to the table. I prefer to see the girls do most of the work. The Brownie who was helping us paused a minute as she figured up how much four boxes was, but she did it. As we walked to the car, I told Erich 'I love helping the Girl Scouts'. He laughed and said 'Yeah, right. You like the cookies!'

Friday, March 11, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 11, 2011

Today is 'Worship of Tools Day'. Tools have always been a part of my life. My father was a heavy equipment mechanic. That means he worked on earth moving equipment: bulldozers, bucket loaders, excavators, you get the idea. He worked for Caterpillar for as long as I can remember. Not quite my whole life. He started at Caterpillar in May, 1977; about a month before my first birthday. He retired 2 years ago. I do not like the color yellow, with the exception of Caterpillar Yellow. It is one of my favorites! Before Dad went to work on the bulldozers and other fun equipment, he worked in the truck shop. He worked on school buses and eighteen wheelers. If we were near his work on a Sunday, he'd take us into the yard and show us the pretty trucks waiting to be serviced. It was always so much fun. As a mechanic, Dad had a lot of tools. He used to work on our cars, before they became computers on four wheels. When it was Dad's birthday or Christmas, there was a good bet he'd get a tool. Or a gift certificate to either Sears or the 'mom & pop' auto parts store nearby. Sears carried Craftsman tools, which had a lifetime warranty. This was incredibly helpful for Dad- sometimes he was hard on his tools. The nearby store could special order hard to find items for him. Dad taught us about the tools. We knew the difference between a flat-head and philips head screwdriver when we were toddlers. We also knew about various wrenches, and their uses. Being female was no excuse in Dad's mind. My mom knew the tools too- often she had to go to Sears to buy something for him, and she had to know what she was talking about. The tools are one reason I have told my parents when they do decide to sell their house, that I will not come to help them move. They think I'm joking. Even though Dad sold a lot of his tools when he retired, their garage is still full. See, Mom's father was also a mechanic. He also tinkered in carpentry. When Grandma and Grandpa Wager moved to Florida in 1980, Grandpa left most of his tools- with my dad. Grandpa had tools from his father, and possibly more generations of Wager men. My dad doesn't do any carpentry, so many of the tools haven't been used in 30 or more years. When they do sell their house, they'll likely be downsizing to a condo or apartment. I'm not going to help them pack up all those tools!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 10, 2011

Today is 'Middle Name Pride Day'. Twice in the last week, a coworker has asked what my middle name is. The one wanted to call me Amy Jo. Which sounds very southern. I am not a southern belle. I am a proud Yankee. The other wanted to know to put it on a name tag, and I wouldn't tell her. She thought it was a secret. No, I just don't think it needs to be used every day. The truth is, I love my middle name. I have always loved it. There was a large chunk of time that I preferred my middle name to my first name. It is such a beautiful, old name. It looks so pretty written in cursive. It is a name held by queens. And it is three times longer than my first name. Give up? My middle name is Elizabeth. It was a popular middle name for girls my age. Elizabeth is my middle name because it was my Grandma Wager's middle name. I've already told you how my parents chose my first name. My mom thought Elizabeth went nicely with it, and it was a great way to honor my Grandmother. My Grandmother was actually named for the funeral director's wife. My great-great grandfather died as a young man, leaving his widow with four young children. The oldest two were farmed out to friends. My great-grandfather was sent to live with the funeral director. It was thought he could help in the funeral parlor as an apprentice. He was driving the wagon (horse drawn) out of one of the hollows with a body in the back, and when he hit a bump, the body rose up out of the wagon and spooked him. That ended any hopes of him becoming a funeral director. But he continued to help with the funeral director's farm and around the house. He lived with them for years, and when my grandmother was born, she was named Ruth Elizabeth after the wife of the funeral director. I was close to Grandma Wager, and I always loved that I shared her middle name. The only problem is my monogram. When I was about 10, I asked for a monogrammed sweater for Christmas. When the sweater came, it had APE on it. I didn't realize that with a monogram, the order is first initial, last initial, middle initial. It was such a pretty blue sweater monogrammed with a darker blue. But it said APE. I was mortified. I forgot this lesson, and in high school, asked for monogrammed stationery. As soon as I opened the box on Christmas morning, I remembered why I don't like my monogram! I had 200 pieces of expensive linen stationery to use. I still use my middle initial, but I have not bought another monogrammed item.

A Year of Blogging: March 9, 2011

March 9 was Ash Wednesday. As a Catholic, Ash Wednesday is a very important part of our religious calendar. It is the start of Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter. It is a time of reflection and sacrifice. Growing up, I did not understand the importance of Ash Wednesday. I thought it was an annoyance. We went to 7:30am Mass at our church. It was one of the few days we did not ride the bus to school. We went to Mass with Mom, and then she took us to school. There were not many Catholics in our school, and my sister and I were ridiculed for having ashes on our forehead. My father and the Priest told us it was not a source of shame- and we should not try to cover it with our bangs. Yet, children being children- it was something that set my sister and I apart from the others, and therefore, resulted in teasing. Modern Catholics do not eat meat on Ash Wednesday or any Friday during Lent. Years ago, meat was not allowed at all during Lent, but that has changed. They also now make exceptions for young children, pregnant women, and those with special dietary concerns. However- not liking fish is not an excuse! I know this first hand. I do not like fish, or seafood of any kind. Chicken is considered meat, so it is out of bounds for Friday nights during Lent. I solved this problem by making pizza! Every Friday night while I was in high school, I made pizza. Possibly in Junior High too. My mom worked at a bank, and banks were open until 6pm on Friday nights. Fridays were her late night. To help her, we made dinner. When I was too young to cook, Dad made dinner. Which meant we had hot dogs and macaroni and cheese. Except during Lent. Then it was fish sticks and macaroni and cheese. Once I was old enough to cook (I would say learned to cook, but my family thought I hadn't learned), I made homemade pizza one Friday night. It was a hit, and became a tradition. I made two pizzas each night- one for my sister and I and one for my parents. Dad's had gross things like peppers and mushrooms. He also like sausage and pepperoni. My sister's and my pizza was either pepperoni or half cheese and half pepperoni. I mastered pizza making. It was fun, and a nice dinner for us. Mom didn't have to cook, Dad could eat and go bowling, and it wasn't a lot of effort. Even then, I was about doing it quickly and easily. During Lent, Laura and I shared a cheese pizza and Mom and Dad shared a veggie pizza. But it was better than fish!

A Year of Blogging: March 8, 2011

March 8 was International Women's Day. I also saw it as Working Women's Day. This year was the 100th anniversary. Yet I wasn't aware of it until I started this project. While some days have me scratching my head (Crown Roast of Pork day, Umbrella Day, Toothache Day), others don't seem to get enough attention. Women are unsung heroes. For so long, our history was written by men. Or at least, that is what we learned. Our history books were full of George Washington, Ethan Allen, Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR and JFK. For so long, we thought women's role in history was sewing the flag. Yet women have been side by side with the men, shaping our history. Not just the women behind the men. Women were carving their own place. Professions that we think of as predominately female today- nursing and teaching- were males only 150 years ago. The women who broke those ranks made history. The suffragists, the women who posed as men to go to war, the WAVES and the women's libbers- are all a big part of our history. I love reading books about women's history. Many of them are the unknown stories. It's a shame. Women should not have just one month a year to celebrate our history. Women's history should be celebrated year round. Even the women who stayed home raising children while the men were at war or exploring a country- those women are remarkable. I guess I sound like a feminist. I did not appreciate being a woman until I became one. Until I had a house to keep up, a job outside the house, and dinner to prepare. I am in awe of my mother who worked full time outside the house, kept an immaculate house, always had dinner on the table, kept up with the activities of two very different daughters and a husband. I don't know how she did it. I asked her once for her secret, and her response was 'I don't know how I did it either'. Women are remarkable. And we all need to spend more time appreciating that.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 7, 2011

March 7 was Crown Roast of Pork day. It's one of those days that has me scratching my head and saying 'Really?' Worse- there were no 'alternate' days to write about. Some days have four or five titles, things I really want to write about, and then I get to Crown Roast of Pork day. If you don't know what Crown Roast of Pork is, you can google it. It's a round pork rib roast, with the ribs exposed. You can put little hats on each of the ribs to make it beautiful when you present it. It is a lot of froufrou if you ask me. Let me assure you, I will NEVER cook a crown roast of pork. If you want food wearing hats, don't come to my house. Actually, I read somewhere that the little hats are called panties. Which is really disturbing if you ask me. I don't want my food wearing underwear. I see foodie types cooking this on the Food Network. My mother has made it for special occasions. For me, it's too much work for too little appreciation. I may occasionally fix a pork roast- but it's done in the crockpot where I don't have to worry about it. More likely than not, if you're coming to my house for pork- we're having shake & bake pork chops and a side like scalloped potatoes or macaroni & cheese. Though I will open a container of homemade apple sauce for your enjoyment!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 6, 2011

March 6 is Frozen Food Day. I don't eat solely out of the freezer- there's a good blend of ingredients from the pantry and fresh things like proteins and vegetables. But the freezer comes into play a couple of times a week. If we're having Italian, I cook a couple of pieces of garlic bread. If we're having burgers, or something similar, I bake french fries or tater tots as a side. And then, there are the nights I'm too worn out to really cook, and I use the frozen ravioli or stuffed shells for a quick meal. The freezer is great for lunches too. I have an hour lunch. Since I work about 3 minutes from home, I am able to come home for lunch, grab a bite to eat, play with the dogs, and take my all important power nap. I get in a routine for lunches, and will eat the same thing every day for a couple of weeks, and then I get sick of it and want something different. Last week, while searching for Elio's frozen pizza (which I used to have all the time in NY and it is wonderful), I bought some french bread pizzas. I had that for lunch every day last week, and had Erich buy more at the store today, so I think that will be my lunch this week too. I have a lot of food in the freezer that I have prepared myself. In the fall I make homemade apple sauce and apple pies. I freeze the apple sauce in individual serving containers, and then I can enjoy it year round. I also freeze the unbaked apple pies. Then, whenever I want a fresh apple pie, I take one out of the freezer and bake it. Sometimes when I bake quick breads or cookies, I make extra and freeze them. Then when I need something for breakfasts for the week, I have a loaf of homemade bread without the work. Our freezer is good for stocking up on food too. Kroger had the skinless boneless chicken breasts on sale for $1.79 a pound today. They put this on sale frequently- but usually it is $1.99/lb. So I sent Erich to the store, and he bought 7 or 8 packages. This will keep us a couple of months, and the next time I see the price so low, we'll buy more. We stock up on steaks, pork roasts, frozen vegetables. The money we save by buying in quantities has more than paid for what the extra freezer cost. My most favorite frozen food is ice cream. Not just ice cream, but all the yummy treats. Ice cream sandwiches, Popsicles, Dibs. Dibs are wonderful. They are bite- sized pieces of ice cream covered in chocolate. A serving size is some incredibly high number like 26. I never eat that many- so I feel satisfied and like I'm dieting! I think, next to my dishwasher, my freezer is my favorite appliance.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 5, 2011

March 5 is Multiple Personalities Day. I can mildly identify with this day. No- I am not Sybil. There are so many parts to my personality though, sometimes I seem like different people. A few years ago, Erich and I drove to Niagara Falls, Ontario, to meet my parents. We went out for dinner one night to a dinner theater. Before the show, the entertainers came around asking if it was any one's birthday. It was about a month before my birthday, but I wasn't going to see my parents again for my birthday. So we were celebrating it that night. A lady seated at the table with us (it was all done family style) said she was celebrating her birthday early too. I forget what day her birthday was, but she was a Gemini. A fact she found fascinating- that both of us were Geminis. She asked me 'Do you have multiple personalities?' She informed me that she did. I thought about it, and told her 'I have multiple facets of my personality, but I wouldn't say I have multiple personalities'. I am very happy sitting at home, reading a book or snuggling with the dogs. I enjoy quiet activities such as knitting, reading, blogging, working on the ancestry. But I am also in my element at a hockey game, cheering for blood and banging on the glass, getting as rowdy as can be. I am passionate about all my sports teams, though nothing gets my blood pumping like hockey. I can be a very sweet, caring person, and I can be one of the biggest bitches you'll ever meet. I am like a fine gemstone- there are many sides to admire and love. I don't put a lot of stock in horoscopes, although I do read them from time to time. I once found a little gift book about my birthday (there was one for every day of the year). I found it amusing that some of the traits of a June 6'er are shared by my brother and law and I- namely that we are chatterboxes. Yet other things didn't define either of us. Since Gemini is the sign of the twin, I frequently joke that I have an evil twin. You never know which Amy is going to appear- good Amy or evil Amy. And yes, even though some scientists have recently realigned the zodiac, I am still a Gemini. I am NOT going to be a Bull (Taurus)!!! I joke, but I know that people with multiple personalities suffer a lot. I have a hard enough time turning off my brain, and there's just one of me. I could not imagine having multiple people inside your head. Or knowing which personality is going to show up that day. At least most of the time, my evil twin stays home.

A Year of Blogging: March 4, 2011

There were several 'days' celebrated on March 4. The first was Employee Appreciation day. This is always the first Friday in March. Apparently, it's been around for 16 years, but this is the first I've heard of it. As an employee who has felt anything but appreciated lately, it would have been nice for this day to get more recognition. March 4 was also 'Holy Experiment Day'. Apparently the idea is to try something religious- even if it is praying for your team to win. Seriously. That is what is suggested on the website www.holidayinsights.com. I take offense to this. I have never been a bible thumping, testifying person. My faith is a private matter. I do believe in the power of prayer, but I don't think that power should be used to make the Yankees win their spring training game. The website also suggested to try saying Grace at dinner. I live with an atheist. I know how that would turn out. Most importantly, March 4 was 'Hug a GI day'. Personally, I don't think we have enough of these days. We take our armed forces for granted. My Grandfather served in WWII- first in the Canadian army (he lied about his age), and then in the US Navy. I recently found out his father served in the US Army in WWI (even though he was still a citizen of Canada at the time). Uncles served in Vietnam, my cousin was serving on 9/11. I am eternally grateful to all the GIs who have sacrificed to protect us. We should show our appreciation to them every day!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 3, 2011

Today is 'If Pets Had Thumbs Day'. Imagine what they could do! I am pretty sure mine would find a lot of things to get into (more than they already do). Some things I think they would do:
~Onyx would be able to hold onto the boys as she dominated them. ~Cobalt would be able to actually climb the lower cabinets and get to the food on the counter. ~They would hop in the car and go to PetSmart when they thought we were running low on biscuits. ~They would have already written the Great American Novel. (Yes, they can type now, but they can't type for a long period of time. Thus they limit it to the annual Christmas letter.) ~No trash can would be safe from Cobalt ~Our phone bill would be large, because they'd be on the phone with their friends all day. ~Texting. ~They could pull the blankets over their heads. ~Each of them could actually hold their favorite toys while they sleep.
Of course, if they had thumbs, they might need me less. That would not be good, so I'm glad they don't have thumbs. Today is also my Dad's birthday. The man who bought Tonka trucks and steel Caterpillar bulldozers for his girls. He took us to baseball games, hockey games, football games, NASCAR races, concerts, and even a Monster Truck rally. He wore blue, green, pink and purple. Dad's rule is if his girls bought it, he'll wear it. We tested this rule time and time again by buying colors other men wouldn't be caught wearing. And Dad wore each piece. He tried to take us fishing. He never tried to take us camping (I think Mom decided that). When it was time for Laura and I to make our First Communion, we went as a family to JCPenney. In the end, Dad was the one who picked our dresses. He still managed to find dresses that fit our individual personalities- although my sister hated having to wear a dress, and a white one at that. He came to our concerts, plays, track meets, and award ceremonies. Dad stood next to us, his arm protectively around us as guys came near. And he drove us to college, carried our belongings up three floors, and gave us our wings. My Dad was my first hero. He remains my hero to this day. I am so proud of him. You can't pick your parents, but if I could, I'd still pick him. Happy Birthday Dad!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 2, 2011

"Would you eat them in a box? Would you eat them with a fox?" "Not in a box. Not with a fox. Not in a house. Not with a mouse. I would not eat them here or there. I would not eat them anywhere. I would not eat green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am." ~Green Eggs and Ham "I meant what I said And I said what I meant... An elephant's faithful One hundred per cent!" ~Horton Hatches the Egg "You must not hop on Pop" ~Hop on Pop
Have you figured out what today is? It is the birthday of Dr. Seuss. I have always enjoyed his stories. I have several of them for myself, and bought many more for Sydney. I just realized that I haven't bought Drew any books yet. Wow- I was much better at this Aunt thing the first time around. So Drew will get books for Easter. There will be some Seuss for sure! It seems like Dr. Seuss' birthday should be a light hearted day. Have a party and invite Thing One and Thing Two. Cook some green eggs & ham. Sing with all the Whos in Whoville. Just remember not to hop on Pop!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

A Year of Blogging: March 1, 2011

I've made it through two whole months on this blog! I am proud of myself, because there have been many times I wanted to throw in the towel. But I've kept pushing through, even when I recently found myself almost two weeks behind. It seems like a victory. A small one, but a victory no less. March begins 'National Craft Month'. This has me very excited. I love crafting. These days most of my crafting comes with knitting needles. I still scrapbook- or I have the intentions of scrapbooking. I have a scrapbooking tote full of partially finished books, and things that need to go into my scrapbooks. I've made scrapbooks for many family members, yet mine are unfinished. In the past, I have created designs on clothing and bags, made my own stationary and cards with rubber stamps, and worked with plastic canvas. My greatest desire for the house, other than having a kitchen with enough counter space to work on my cookies, is to have a dedicated craft room. There is no room for it in this house, but it's on my wish list. You know the list. The 'someday if we ever have a different (bigger) house....' list. I am hoping the craft stores will react to this month with excitement equal to my own. Sales at craft stores are great. Yes, they are dangerous too because I find myself getting inspired at every corner. So I'm hoping for great big sales on yarn and scrapbooking materials and anything that I want to work on. March 1 is National Pig Day. It is also Peanut Butter Lover's Day, but I'd much rather write about pigs. I must provide a disclaimer though: my vegetarian readers might be offended by this. You have been warned! Why would I choose to blog about pigs rather than peanut butter? Pigs actually are a part of my childhood. I grew up in the country. We weren't farmers, but we had friends who were farmers. Two generations back in my family tree, we were all farmers. My Grandpa Primeau wasn't a farmer, but he did raise pigs. Every year he got piglets from a farmer friend. I think he brought the momma pigs too, to nurse the piglets. Our first visit to Grandpa's house after the piglets arrived was always fun. My cousins and I ran to the barn, excited to see the cute little piglets. There were pink ones, white ones, white and black ones. We climbed onto the fence surrounding the pigpen to watch the pigs. It was fun to feed them. We put the food into the trow and then watched as the pigs came running. All summer long, we went to the barn to see how they had grown. I don't think we ever named the pigs. I know I never did. I don't think my cousins ever did either. We knew better than to get attached. Grandpa raised the pigs every year for one reason. To feed the family. He had a deal with the farmer. The farmer raised beef cattle, Grandpa raised pigs. When the time came each year, Grandpa did the butchering for the farmer. In exchange, the family was able to enjoy the beef as well as the pork. Yes, I said butchering. Growing up in the country, we never had the issues that some city kids have, when you realize what the hamburger you are eating is made of. We always knew where our food came from. My grandparents had a meat locker in their basement, complete with all the necessary butchering equipment. It took a few years before I realized this wasn't standard basement decor. The beef and pork filled our freezer for the winter. I am sure it was a big supplement to my parents' income, and took a little of the worry away from them. When it was time to butcher in the fall, we loaded every cooler we owned into the car. We took masking tape and markers, and went to Grandma & Grandpa's. One weekend was usually beef and another pork. The men did the butchering, the women packaged the meat and wrote the description on each package, and the children ran the packages to the various coolers- packing up each family for the winter. There was always lunch- a pot of chili or goulash, something that could be made to feed a lot of people and kept hot. And while it sounds like a great time for the family to get together, it was dirty, messy, and lets be truthful- nasty. But it was tradition, and we continued to do it for years. Grandpa stopped getting pigs somewhere along the way, I think I was a pre-teen. There are a couple of distinct memories from our butchering days. The first involves my Grandma. She was a very passive person, and Grandpa was always just the opposite. To this day, I can count on one hand the number of times I saw my Grandmother upset. One year when we were butchering, we went upstairs for lunch. Grandpa expected lunch at 1pm on the dot. 12:59 was acceptable, 1:01 was not. My Grandparents have always had a meat slicer in their kitchen- the kind you find in delis. It was most frequently used to slice bread. On this day, lunch was not quite ready at 1pm. The butchering had not been going well, and Grandpa was in an especially foul mood. When he got upstairs and lunch was not ready, he blew his top. My Grandma stood there, slicing the bread on the slicer. She had had enough too, and she took the loaf of bread and fired it at Grandpa. The 30 some people crowded into the kitchen fell silent instantly. Grandpa backed down, saying something like 'take your time' and meekly sat down in his chair. The rest of us quietly pulled chairs out, sat in them, and waited. Grandma picked up another loaf of bread and kept slicing. It was the quietest meal our family ever had! My other memory of butchering time is a little more bizarre. The tails of the pigs were cut off, and given to my cousins and I. We thought it was great fun to run around holding the curly tails. I have NO idea why. All I can say is, to quote Erich, we were 'weird ass rural people'. I don't remember what the attraction was. Maybe one of my older cousins will read this and remember. I just remember we were thrilled when Grandpa handed us our pig tail. At the end of the day, it was wrapped in butcher's paper and we took it home. The first year our neighbors (and childhood best friends) Drew and Joylane lived next door, Laura and I came home from Grandpa's and showed them our treasure. Drew and Joylane ran screaming in horror back to their house (which, in hindsight, is probably much more appropriate than running around with a severed pig tail in your hand). I have 13 cousins. The fifteen of us range in age from 39-23. Any of us above a certain age have common memories when you mention 'pigs'. The younger ones are not so fortunate. They can only hear the stories. You don't have the same appreciation for it if you didn't live it. So I dedicate this post on National Pig Day to my cousins- it only takes hearing that one three letter word to cause us all to cringe!