A Year of Blogging: August 31, 2011

August 31 is 'National Trail Mix' Day. Trail mix is a combination of dried fruits, nuts, grains, and sometimes chocolate. It is meant to be a high-energy snack when you are hiking. You can buy trail mix already made, or make your own. There really is no wrong way to do it. I've never made trail mix, and never found the mix to be as appealing as the individual ingredients. But, if I were to make a trail mix, I'd probably put in banana chips, honey roasted peanuts, and M&M's. I'd have to skip the grains, since I can't eat whole grains or cereal. But I could cover the fruit, nuts, and chocolate. There would have to be chocolate. Then again, I don't go hiking so I guess I don't need to worry about making trial mix! Today is Richard Gere's birthday. The Hollywood sex symbol is 62 today. I've never really understood his appeal. I prefer Robert Redford. Even though he's 40 years older than me, there's just something about him that has always made my heart skip a beat. We've come to the end of another month, leaving just four months in this experiment. It also means we are nearing the end of my least favorite season, summer. And entering into one of my favorites: fall. Soon it will be time to go apple picking, and to get those scrumptious Apple Cider Donuts. I'll get to pick out this years' pumpkin. The air will have a nice crispness to it. The world will become the canvas for nature's paintbrush; heavy on orange, red, and yellow. Of course, this weekend is supposed to be in the low 90s- a far cry from the crispness I'm craving!

A Year of Blogging: August 30, 2011

August 30 is 'National Marshmallow Toasting Day'. I kind of already covered toasted marshmallows on National S'mores day, and really, how much can you say about toasted marshmallows? August 30 is also Frankenstein Day. The author of Frankenstein, Mary Wollenstonecraft Shelley, was born on August 30, 1797. I know it's a classic, but I have never read Frankenstein. It was one of the 100 free books I got with my Nook Color, and even then I still don't think I'll read it. It's never been something that appeals to me. On August 30 in 30 B.C., Cleopatra committed suicide. I've never really studied Cleopatra very much, but I didn't know she committed suicide. Or maybe they specifically don't teach us that in school. Maybe there is a fear of glorifying or romanticizing suicide. Or maybe, I just don't remember learning it! So it looks like August 30 is a slow day. I am grateful. I returned early this morning from my most recent trip. I was up for 20 hours straight before arriving home, and today my body has reminded me I'm no longer young enough to pull such crap. It wasn't that long ago that I could get by on just a couple hours of sleep. No longer. I've had that weird tired feeling all day. That one where you feel like you are floating outside your body. Everything has a slight tingly feeling to it. Although, I should point out, the 20 hours wasn't something I planned. Due to the damage near my parents' from Tropical Storm Irene, I was up at 4:30am to go into work with my Mom because I had a flight to catch in the afternoon, and we weren't sure we'd be able to get out later as most of the roads are destroyed. Then I spent the day babysitting my very active five year old niece, and then it was off to the airport. My original flight was for yesterday morning, but it was canceled and I was rebooked on a flight for 7:20 last night. Then, the plane was supposed to come from Philly, and was delayed due to mechanical issues, and the delay meant I would miss my connecting flight in Philly, so I had to quickly get rebooked on a flight to La Guardia and connect through there to get home to Dayton last night. It was either that or stay a few more days. I've never been to La Guardia, it's one I try to avoid. It was old and dirty, and not so impressive. But flying over Manhattan at night was beautiful! I saw the Empire State Building all lit up, and I also saw Citifield (where the Mets play). Then on my flight into Dayton, there was a bomb-sniffing dog sitting directly in front of me. She was a beautiful German Shepherd, and she was the best behaved dog. She hopped up in her seat and put her head on her handler's leg and rested. When we touched down in Dayton, she sat straight up. Then she looked out the window and knew she was home, and was very eager to get off the plane. So I would have missed that, and seeing Manhattan at night by air, if I had to go to Philly. A couple of bright spots in the otherwise dreary night of traveling. It's good to be home. Now to get back to my routine here, which includes blogging. It won't be long til I'm off on my next adventure.

A Year of Blogging: August 29, 2011

August 29 is 'More Herbs, Less Salt Day'. The idea is to season your food with herbs, which is a healthier alternative to salt. I have been trying to consume less salt. Which is funny, because I've never considered myself a person who consumes a lot of salt. I never pick up the salt shaker and pour it over my food. But I've been learning that there is a lot of hidden salt in foods- especially the convenience things like boxed scalloped potatoes. Too much sodium (salt) is not good for you, so I've been trying to cut back. Which means resisting the temptation to buy potato chips. Potato chips make an excellent accompaniment to a sandwich, but I'm trying not to buy them every time I go to the store. I'm not an herbs person either. I don't use a lot of spices. Actually, the only time I use spices is when I'm baking. I don't like herbs. There is an email that has circulated before about being from Upstate NY. One of those 'You know you're from Upstate NY if...' and one of the qualifiers on this list is 'you think ketchup is spicy'. Even though I don't like ketchup, I get it. I don't use spices or herbs. I guess most people would think my cooking is very bland. I do, however, always remember to put salt and pepper on the table for others. I don't get upset if Erich adds herbs to his meal- just don't add it to mine. I wish I could give you some advice about which herbs will turn your meals from ordinary to extraordinary. To me, herbs are all green weeds. So I can't help you, but today would be a good day to experiment with fresh herbs in all of your dishes.

A Year of Blogging: August 28, 2011

August 28 is 'Dream Day'. I couldn't find any information about it though, so I'm not sure if it's a day you are supposed to spend daydreaming, taking long naps and having crazy dreams, or if it's a day to think about your dreams, plans and hopes for the future. However, my alternative to write about was 'Race Your Mouse Day'. The object of this day is to race your computer mouse around the desktop while you are waiting for something to load. Not worthy of a full blog post. So Dream Day it is. A day to think about your hopes and dreams. As a little girl, I had so many dreams. I was going to marry the boy next door, who was also my best friend. He was going to be a famous engineer (with his degree from RPI), and I was going to be a lawyer (with my degree from Albany Law School). As I grew, and my world expanded, my dreams changed. I wanted to be a Marine Biologist saving dolphins from tuna nets. Then a truck driver. Then I decided I would be the next Connie Chung; anchoring the nightly news. There has been one dream that has stuck with me since fourth grade. No matter what other career path I saw myself taking, it always included being a published author. In high school, I had poems published in anthologies. That was a good start to my dream. The dream has sat dormant for the past couple of decades. Earlier this year, I helped a friend edit her second book. Her second! That old dream came clawing back, like the voice inside your head that you can't ignore. What was I waiting for? So I promised myself I'd get it in gear and do it. Finally write that book. The thing is, life keeps getting in the way. I am incredibly envious of my friend who seems to write and read all day long. If I didn't have to work, I'd have so much more time for my hobbies. I did actually force myself to sit down and start writing. I decided I'd write for 30 minutes each day. I'm sad to say, that lasted less than a week. Some nights I come home from work so exhausted I fall asleep on the couch after dinner. There's not enough energy to go around for all the things I want to do (how many times do I skip a day or two writing in this blog?). I need to be cloned. One clone can go to work, one can stay here and write. I haven't given up on my dream. I must keep trying. And I am. The dream just seems a little more out of reach than it did when I was so gung-ho about it two months ago. Yet, until I win the lottery and can quit my job, I have to find a balance between work and pleasure; between the present and my dreams. I need to figure out a way to bottle the energy Sydney has so that I have time for everything I need to do and everything I want to do. And when I do win the lottery, I'll be fulfilling another dream: buying a Great Camp in the Adirondacks and having a pack of beagles to serenade me! What a great inspiration that would be.

A Year of Blogging: August 27, 2011

August 27 is 'Just Because Day'. I don't think you need me to tell you what to do. Do whatever you want, just because. In case you haven't already figured it out, I've been on vacation for a couple of days. I prepared my blogs ahead of time so that I didn't have so much to catch up on when I get back to Ohio (many thanks to my friend Birgit for telling me how to post them when I'm not here). I'm in New York, again. I realized it's my sixth trip in 14 months. Two of those trips were unplanned due to my Grandmother's illness and death. But still- I seem to spend an awful lot of time traveling back and forth. I don't mind. Right now, moving to NY isn't really an option. The cost of living is so much higher in NY. Erich doesn't want to leave his parents. His father has a lot of medical issues, and Erich feels better knowing he is nearby. I couldn't separate the dogs, and I couldn't leave them behind. I also couldn't take them away from Erich. So right now, I do a lot of traveling. This means I've gotten great at packing, and I'm a pro at going through airport security. So this time I'm home for Sydney and Drew's birthday party. Drew just turned one and Sydney will be five in another week. My sister is having one party for the two of them, and last I heard, there were going to be about 80 people at the party (friends & family). I don't think I had 80 people at my Sweet 16! My sister chose a zoo theme for the party, and I think that's what it's going to be! There's going to be a bouncy house and cotton candy. Sydney told me there were masks for the kids, and she promised me I could have a lion mask. I might just put on my mask and hop into the bouncy house- just because! Don't waste today. If there's something you want to do but haven't because it's silly or too expensive or you are too old: today's the day. Throw caution to the wind and just have fun!

A Year of Blogging: August 26, 2011

August 26 is 'Women's Equality Day'. This day commemorates the passing of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution. The 19th Amendment was passed on August 26, 1920. It grants women the right to vote. Women have come a long way. My Grandma Wager was born in 1917. When she was born, women couldn't vote. Whenever I think of that, I am amazed. My mother tells of having to wear skirts or dresses every day to school, they even had special skirts for gym class. I was born in the 1970s, when women were fighting for equal rights and equal pay. My sister and I were always told we could be anything we wanted to be. My Grandmother wasn't told that, and I doubt my mother was. Yet we still have a long way to go. Men are still making more, although the gap is getting more narrow. If women are aggressive in the workforce they are considered bitches. If they try to balance motherhood and a career they are accused of wanting it all. We are not equal, but we are a lot closer than we have ever been. My hope is that by the time Sydney is an adult, we will be equal. There will be no more 'firsts' for women: it won't be so unique for women to do something. The borders will have been knocked down. People will be judged based on their character, not their gender.

A Year of Blogging: August 25, 2011

August 25 is 'Kiss and Make Up Day'. When we were children, if my sister and I had a fight, when we resolved the issue Mom told us to give each other a kiss and make up. When you get older, you kiss and make up with your spouse or significant other. The media loves to ask couples who have been married for a long time, like 60 years, what the secret to a good marriage is. I frequently hear people say 'never go to bed angry'. I don't know if that really is the secret. I remember times my parents were upset with each other when they went to bed. And the cynic in me finds it hard to believe these people never went to bed angry. Maybe they really did resolve all their disputes before bed, or maybe that's just what they think people want to hear. If you are having a spat with someone, today's the day to bury the hatchet. It doesn't matter if it's a recent quarrel or a long-standing feud. And if kissing is too awkward or not your thing, then extend the olive branch. However you do it, just make peace and move on.

A Year of Blogging: August 24, 2011

August 24 is Vesuvius Day. On August 24 in the year 79 A.D, Mount Vesuvius exploded. The cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were buried in the ash. The cities were never rebuilt. It is estimated that 3,500 people were killed in the volcano. Vesuvius has erupted many times since then, including in 1631 when an estimated 3,600 people were killed. Today 3,000,000 people live nearby, making it the most densely populated volcanic region in the world. It is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world because of it's history and the amount of people who live around it. If there were to be another eruption of the magnitude of the one in 79 A.D. or even 1631, it would be catastrophic. August 24 is also 'Waffle Day'. This seemed like a repeat, so I went back through and found we had a waffle day in March. Turns out March 25 is 'International Waffle Day' and August 24 is 'National Waffle Day'. On August 24, 1869 the waffle iron was patented by Cornelius Swarthout of Troy, NY. For those who don't know, Troy, NY is the county seat of Rensselaer County- where I grew up. Troy is about half an hour from my hometown. I am always amazed at the industriousness and inventiveness that came from the area. If you are interested, I encourage you to do some research on Troy, NY. While it's not much today, in the 1800's Troy was an epicenter of industry, fashion, and culture. I always feel a stab of pride when I find something that originated in Troy.

A Year of Blogging: August 23, 2011

Today is 'Ride the Wind Day'. As we are nearing the end of summer, today is meant for you to enjoy the day. There are several ways to ride the wind. You could go parachuting or hang gliding. You could take a hot air balloon ride. You could feel the wind in your hair by hoping on a motorcycle or rolling the windows down in your car. Finally, you could fly a kite, although then technically *you* wouldn't be riding the wind. Get out, relax, and enjoy a nice summer day. Store the memory away to warm you when you are bundled up against the January chill. Today was a bit of an exciting day for me. I experienced my first earthquake! I have lived in the Northeast and Midwest, both of which are areas that can experience earthquakes, but rarely do. Today, I was working in my office at work, and suddenly everything started shaking. The floor, my chair, my desk. I've heard people describe earthquakes as 'things started rattling and falling'. Nothing rattled, and nothing fell. Everything just shook. My mind raced. My first thought was 'What the...?' Then I thought 'It's a gorgeous sunny day out, it can't be an earthquake.' Ok, don't laugh at that. It is perfectly reasonable. When you hear thunder, the sky is usually dark with storm clouds. If it's a blizzard, it's gray and miserable out. Weather things don't usually happen on nice sunny days. And I know, an earthquake isn't actually a weather event. But as my whole office shook, my mind was trying to figure out what was going on. I even wondered if I was having some sort of medical event- like a dizzy spell but so much worse where things were shaking instead of spinning. I am not sure how long it lasted. I know things shook for at least 10 seconds. It seemed like a long time and it seemed to be over quickly. Just as it was ending, my phone rang, so I took care of the phone call and then set out to see if anyone else felt it. No one else in the office felt it. I work in the basement, so it kind of makes sense that I felt it. They were looking at me like I was a little crazy (by now they should know the answer to that), and then one of my coworkers received a call from his girlfriend. She asked 'did you feel it'. So I didn't imagine it. Soon it was all over the Dayton and Cincinnati news outlets, and of course, Facebook. The epicenter was over 500 miles from here. I'd hate to find out how bad the shaking was if it were closer. So now I've got 'earthquake' on my list of experiences. And I can say, I'd be fine if it were a one time occurrence. One more tidbit about today. Today is my nephew Drew's first birthday. It seems like just yesterday that my sister called me to tell me she was having a boy. He's crawling now, and starting to babble more. While right now he's a handful, I'm looking forward to him getting older. I'm waiting for the day when he's old enough for me to take on an outing, like I've been doing with his sister for a couple of years. I'll take Sydney and do something with her, and then take Drew and do something with him. My trips home will take longer, because I'll need more time with the children. I don't know what I'll do if they both want to share the bed with me- we may have to get them sleeping bags and they could sleep on the floor next to me. For now, I'll settle with getting some Drew snuggles and giggles!

A Year of Blogging: August 22, 2011

August 22 is 'National Tooth Fairy Day'. The Tooth Fairy is an American tradition. After a child loses one of their baby teeth, the Tooth Fairy comes in the middle of the night and takes the tooth away. She leaves a prize in it's place. The reward is usually money, but could be a little treasure as well. Since the tooth fairy comes every time you lose a baby tooth (or until you get wise to her), it's important for parents not to set the bar too high, especially if you have multiple children. You could go into the poor house leaving treasures! I have several friends who have children in the tooth-losing age. In the past few months, I've seen the question 'what's the going rate for teeth?' posted on Facebook a lot. Before long, Sydney will be there too. I am very glad I don't have to worry about the Tooth Fairy. It's hard enough keeping up with Santa & The Easter Bunny. My sister and I each had a 'tooth fairy box'. It was a round wooden box with a top that screwed on. You put your tooth in the box, and could either put it under your pillow or put it on your nightstand next to your bed. In the morning, the tooth was gone and a dollar bill was folded up into the box. Our Tooth Fairy also left a pack of sugarless gum, and crayons or coloring books or another similar 'treat'. We had a very generous Tooth Fairy. Some people believe the Tooth Fairy is a man. I don't. The Tooth Fairy is a female. She's a Fairy. I always envisioned her as this sweet, bubbly grandmother type- kind of like the Fairy Godmother in the animated version of 'Cinderella'. Apparently, the Tooth Fairy tradition started because losing a tooth can be traumatic for a young child. I don't remember being traumatized by losing my teeth as a child, but when I was 13 and had four perfectly good adult teeth ripped out of my head as the starting point for braces: THAT was upsetting!

A Year of Blogging: August 21, 2011

August 21 is 'National Senior Citizens Day'. Unlike many other days that have 'National' in them, this actually is a National day. On August 19, 1988; President Ronald Reagan issued Proclamation #5847 declaring August 21 as National Senior Citizens day. It is a day to honor the elderly members of our families and communities. It is a good day to spend time with the older lady who lives next door. Maybe help out the elderly couple from your church. You never know when your one small act will brighten someones day. It seems that after eight months of blogging, I've woven many of my own stories into the daily events. I know I already wrote about helping our elderly neighbors when I was growing up, so I'm not going to bore you by repeating it. I think all children would benefit from helping the elderly in their community. We might just end up with a more pleasant society. Middletown High School requires students to do so many hours of community service helping the elderly. It is a wonderful requirement, and this summer the girl across the street mowed several of the neighbors' yards one week. That is the only time I've ever seen her help the neighbors. It's a shame that she only did it because she had to. The lessons my parents taught us by having us help the neighbors or elderly members of our church have stuck with me. Erich and I have several elderly neighbors, and we help them when we can. We should all help our seniors a little more. After all, someday we'll be the seniors!

A Year of Blogging: August 20, 2011

August 20 was 'National Radio Day'. The radio seems to play less of a role in my life than it used to. There was a time that I didn't go a day without listening to the radio for hours at a time. Now, I catch it when I'm in the car. My commute is about 3 minutes each way, unless I get stopped at the train. So I only hear snippets of conversations or songs, sometimes I just hear commercials. When I was 10 or 11, I bought a boombox. It had detachable speakers and a dual tape deck. It took up most of my dresser, but it was state of the art! I could carry it outside and set it up so that I could read or sunbathe (yes, I used to do it a little). My alarm clock was a clock-radio, so I had two radios in my room. I woke up in the morning to the radio. Our school started at 7:15am, and since Mom, Laura, and I all had to get showers and get out of the house at about the same time, and we had one bathroom, I got up at 5:15. My alarm went off at 4:30, to allow myself time to wake up. I've never been a person who could jump out of bed when the alarm goes off. I have to ease into it. So I heard the farm report and the trucking report on the radio. Then I went downstairs, where Dad had the AM station on. 810 WGY was always the best with school closings, sometimes reporting them earlier than other stations. It was always on in the mornings, even on weekends. We ate our breakfast in the kitchen listening to the radio. When I went upstairs to get dressed and do my hair and makeup, I turned on my boombox to the country station. I loved listening to the morning show, The Breakfast Flakes. I was a huge fan. Listeners could submit their loved ones' birthdays, and the Flakes would call people and wake them up on air for their birthday. They sang a song to the poor birthday person. It was kind of cheesy, but I had the honor of having it done several years on my birthday. Dad usually went to work before we left for school, so he often did it so he could hear me on the radio. When I started driving, I always drove with the radio. I can't drive in silence. At school, my friend Jason and I parked next to each other and cranked up our radios. We both drove station wagons that had been handed down from our Moms. His was a Chevy and mine was a Ford, so we tried to outdo each other with the radios. After school, I went to my room to do my homework with the radio playing in the background. Mom quickly learned that sending us to our rooms was not an effective punishment. I was happiest in my room- I curled up on my beanbag chair, grabbed a book, and turned on my radio. I needed nothing more! How times have changed. Even four years ago, I relied on the radio in the car to give me information about traffic or weather on my commute. Now, since I have such a short commute which is basically through my neighborhood, I don't need to know. There are no traffic jams, no accidents closing the roadway. And if there are, I'd know it before the radio station does. I don't listen to the radio at home. My parents no longer rely on the radio for the news in the morning- they turn on the TV. I wonder when their kitchen radio was last turned on. I do listen to the radio at work a lot, because it gets kind of boring being in my part of the building alone for several days a week. But even that isn't the traditional radio. I listen to Pandora, a free Internet radio. I get to choose the music, and it plays only what I like. It's a long way from the big boombox, and waiting for hours to hear your favorite song.

A Year of Blogging: August 19, 2011

August 19 is 'National Aviation Day'. When I first read that, I was a little discouraged. It just didn't seem that interesting. Then I found out why today is National Aviation Day. On August 19, 1871 Orville Wright was born. And do you know where he was born? In Dayton, Ohio. In case you are wondering why Orville's birthday was chosen for National Aviation Day, I would guess it is because he was the one who manned the Wright Brothers' first flight. I have to say, growing up, we didn't learn an awful lot about the Wright Brothers. We learned about the first flight at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina in 1903. I always figured the Wright Brothers were from North Carolina. North Carolina's license plates used to say 'First in Flight'. I was shocked when I came to the Midwest and learned the Wright Brothers were really the pride of Dayton, Ohio. It is something that Ohio has not marketed very well until recently. Sure, our license plates used to say 'Birthplace of Aviation'. You can tour historic sites associated with them. And the Wright Brother's Airport is in Dayton- sort of. The Dayton International Airport is known as the James M. Cox International Airport. James Cox was the 46th and 48th Governor of Ohio, and a Democratic candidate for the US Presidency in 1920. He was actually born not far from Middletown, where I live. I'm sure he was a great Ohioan, but I don't understand why Dayton's airport is named for him. The Wright Brother's airport is actually in Miamisburg, a suburb south of Dayton. It is for small planes like Cessnas. When Sydney and Drew start learning about the Wright Brothers in school, I will take them to Dayton. We'll go to Huffman Prairie, where the Wright Brothers conducted many of their test flights and visit the Wright Cycle Shop. I'm hoping they will think it's as cool as I do that Dayton is home to such influential people. I hate flying. I really do. But the Wright Brothers amaze me. When I think of how they changed the world, it is incredible. The 725 mile trip between my house and my mother's used to take weeks by horse & wagon. Maybe even months. Now, I can hop on a 7am flight and be in NY for lunch. Our world has become so much smaller, and what was once considered impossible has become part of our every day life. We have two brothers from Dayton, Ohio to thank for that. Today is another special birthday- my Mom's. Mom has always been my biggest cheerleader. She believes in me when no one else does. She always told us we could do anything, and she believed it. She patiently answers our silly questions about cooking or laundry. Even now, there are times I just want to talk to my mom about something, and she's there. We do a lot of our communicating by email lately, but we can still talk up a storm on the phone. Mom taught me many things: how to cook, how to do laundry, how to be kind and compassionate, to give it your all, to stand up for yourself and what you believe in, and that shopping is better when you get a great deal. She is a hero to me. She is an incredible woman; if I am half the woman she is then I am doing well. I'm sure Mom would think it's neat that she shares a birthday with Orville Wright, although she'll cuff the first person who makes a comment about them being the same age. She always rolled her eyes when she heard it was also Bill Clinton's birthday. But perhaps most fitting, it is also the birthday of Coco Chanel (August 19, 1883). Mom's favorite fragrance is Chanel No. 5. In many ways, Mom is like a Chanel suit or a Chanel little black dress. She is casual, but can be elegant, classic, and everyone should have one!

A Year of Blogging: August 18, 2011

August 18 is 'Bad Poetry' Day. As a writer, I cannot understand why we need to celebrate bad poetry. And as a writer, I will not participate in this day by writing bad poetry. If you want to read some bad poetry, you only need to find my super secret stash of poems written in high school. You know- back from when I was a teenage girl with crushes on teenage guys. I think that says it all. Instead, I will share with you a poem from my favorite poet, Robert Frost. I wonder, did he have a notebook full of bad poetry?

Fire and Ice Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.

A Year of Blogging: August 17, 2011

August 17 was 'National Thriftshop Day'. Holiday Insights (www.holidayinsights.com) identifies Thrift shops as stores that sell merchandise at deeply discounted prices. It cautions that the merchandise may not be the best quality, but the price is good. Holiday Insights cites Dollar stores as an example of a thrift store. This more closely resembled what outlet stores used to be. I remember as a child, we went to the outlets in Reading, PA. The clothes were often 'slightly irregular' but as long as it wasn't something drastically noticeable like one leg being two inches longer than the other, it usually wasn't bad. It was a great place to get jeans! Then outlet stores started stocking last year's merchandise. Now, outlet stores are just like regular stores, only brand specific. If you go into the Carter's outlet, all you will find is Carter's. You can find the same merchandise in Kohls, but sometimes the prices are better at the outlets. Sometimes. Many outlet stores have special loyalty programs, which make return trips rewarding. I have always thought of thrift stores as stores like The Salvation Army Thrift Store and the Goodwill store. Stores that sell gently used merchandise. A quick google search for 'thrift store' confirmed this opinion. I've never really shopped at a thrift store, although I do make donations to the local Goodwill store a couple of times a year. I don't know why I haven't shopped there- I know some people who love to go to thrift stores and find all kinds of great things. On HGTV, various celebrities encourage you to check your local thrift store for inexpensive home decor. So thrift stores are trendy, especially in this depressed economy. I've never really enjoyed going to garage sales either. Maybe I should give it a try- I always love a bargain!

A Year of Blogging: August 16, 2011

August 16 is 'Roller Coaster Day'. It was on this date in 1898 the roller coaster was patented. And thrill seekers have been rejoicing ever since! I am not a roller coaster person. I get motion sickness very easily- sometimes, even at age 35, I still get carsick if I sit in the backseat for too long. I can sort of handle the kiddie roller coasters, but anything beyond that: forget it. A few years ago, a college friend invited me to go to Kings Island with her. Kings Island is an amusement park nearby. Her company was hosting an event for the employees, and she didn't want to go alone. I had never been, so I thought it would be fun. After we had made our way around most of the park, she wanted to ride The Beast. It is the world's longest wooden roller coaster. I told her 'I don't like roller coasters' and she said 'this one isn't bad, it's wooden.' I reminded her that it was named THE BEAST but she convinced me. Well, she grew up in this area, so I thought she knew what she was talking about. Turns out, she had never been on the ride either. As our bodies hurtled along this rickety coaster, I issued death threats to her and she alternated between apologizing and praying. We were both an awful shade of green when we got off the coaster. Some interesting facts about roller coasters. The fastest is in Abu Dhabi and reaches a top speed of 149.1 mph. The highest roller coaster, 456', is located in Jackson, NJ. As I looked at the coasters listed on Roller Coaster Database, many of the coasters at Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH make the lists of 'fastest, highest, biggest drop, etc'. I will try to remember not to ride the coasters there, no matter how convincing my travel partners are.

A Year of Blogging: August 15, 2011

August 15 was 'Relaxation Day'. While it may seem very odd to have this on a Monday, which is usually the most stressful day for people, it's actually a fixed date. Relaxation Day is always August 15. Only once every few years does it fall on a Monday. Of course, if your Mondays are as stressful as mine are, you need the time to relax. People have different ways of relaxing. My mother likes to work in the garden. For her, getting on her hands and knees and tending plants is soothing. I guess it's her nurturing nature. Funny though, she can't keep houseplants alive. But her flowerbeds are beautiful. People in town comment on how pretty her yard always looks. It's a source of pride for her. My father relaxes by watching sports. Dad is the classic armchair coach. When his team is not playing well, he screams at the tv and offers suggestions. One might wonder how this is relaxing for him, but it is. For me, I am always trying to achieve a state of relaxation. Physically, it is nearly impossible because the pain in my muscles and joints is ever present. I succeed in relaxing my mind, and that's better than nothing. Sometimes I play bejeweled or solitaire games on the computer. Other times I settle in with a good book. And yes, there are times I completely veg: curl up on the couch with the dogs, watch tv, and usually doze off. The oddest ways for me to relax are to create things. I'm sure it seems a little odd to relax by knitting an afghan. Especially if you see me feverishly counting stitches trying to follow a pattern, and ignoring all who talk to me so I don't lose my concentration. The afghan I'm working on now has two rows of 'knit one, purl one' all the way across 105 stitches. This means I am constantly moving the yarn back and forth, and in order to keep my place I must block out the world and talk my way through the row. Relaxing at it's best! When I am really stressed, I bake. Most people have found this incredibly strange. Following recipes, standing in a hot kitchen making cookies or cupcakes or brownies. I can't explain why it works, it is just the best stress release for me. My favorite way to relax is soaking in a hot tub. The problem with this is I don't have a hot tub. My one neighbor does, but I don't go use his. Even if we were on friendly terms, I think it would be weird to use your neighbor's hot tub. So this relaxation method is saved for the times I'm staying in hotels. In fact, if when making a reservation, I check to see if the hotel has a hot tub. Then I make sure to enjoy it every day of my stay. Maybe someday we'll have a hot tub at home. We've talked about it. And I think when things are better at Goofy Grape, we will get one. Right after we finish the upstairs bathroom!

A Year of Blogging: August 14, 2011

August 14 was 'Creamsicle Day'. A Creamsicle is a frozen ice cream treat. It is shaped like a Fudgsicle, with a thick layer of vanilla ice cream in the middle. The outside is covered with a thin layer of flavored ice. Creamsicles can come in many flavors including orange, blue raspberry, lime, grape, and cherry. I didn't realize until today that Creamsicles came in other flavors. All I've ever seen is orange. I can't remember ever eating one. Orange has never been one of my favorite flavors. I don't like orange ice cream or popsicles. I always kind of imagined Creamsicles tasting like orange soda and milk, and that was enough to deter me from ever trying one. See, as a child, orange soda made me sick. Orange and Grape sodas seemed to be the beverage of choice at birthday parties in my childhood. It's no wonder I like to drink water- I frequently found myself asking Susie or Jimmy's Mom if I could please have a glass of water instead of the soda. Mom seldom had orange soda in our house because I couldn't drink it. If you don't like Creamsicles, you could cool off on a hot day with a Fudgsicle or a good old-fashioned Popsicle. All will cool you off, and probably take you back to childhood- before your palet was used to the more sophisticated flavors of Graeter's ice cream!

A Year of Blogging: August 13, 2011

August 13 is 'Left Hander's Day'. It's the day to honor the 10% of the population who are left-handed. I seem to know quite a few left-handed people. Erich is left-handed. My brother-in-law is also. Two of Dad's four sisters are. I have no doubt some of my cousins are, but I've never noticed it. In fact, I didn't realize Dad's oldest sister was left-handed until February, when I saw her writing something. She held Drew over her left shoulder, with her right hand supporting him, and wrote with her left hand. I remember friends in school who were left-handed, and as they wrote, they ended up with big pencil or ink smudges on their left hands because they dragged their hand over what they had already written. I tease Erich about being left-handed. He gets annoyed that all of my scissors are right-handed. He could easily buy a left-handed pair, but he doesn't. He thinks the refrigerator opens the wrong way, although thankfully, the only place it fits in our kitchen means it has to open to the right. If we are working on dinner together, we end up bumping into each other until we remember to switch sides. When we go out to dinner and are seated at a two person booth, we have to sit so that neither of us are bumping elbows on the side. After all these years, we have learned there are some things we cannot do together. Painting for instance. I start on the left side of the room and work my way over to the right. But he starts at the right and works his way to the left. Eventually, we run into each other. When it's time to give the dogs a bath, they go into the bathtub. I normally put the lid down on the toilet and sit on that so I can help bathe the dogs. Erich sits in front of the tub, and since I'm on his left, we work against each other. So I've learned that one of us holds the dog, the other scrubs. We still bump elbows, but it works a little better. Holiday dinners pose a problem. I have a round table, and when you put the leaf in it, it becomes oblong. Once you get six or more people around the table, you have to crowd. When one person in that group is left handed, I have to sit him so that hopefully he won't bump elbows with anyone else. I haven't told Erich that today is Left Hander's Day. He'll probably want a gift or something. Since he never reads my blog, I don't have to worry about it! To any other readers who are left-handed- today is your day!

A Year of Blogging: August 12, 2011

August 12 was 'Middle Child Day'. Middle children apparently often feel slighted in the family. The oldest will always be the first born. The youngest will always be the baby. Middle children tend to be more introverted. If you think of Middle Child Syndrome, you only need to watch an old episode of the Brady Bunch. Jan gets so frustrated following in the footsteps of her seemingly perfect sister when she says 'Marcia, Marcia, Marcia'. She is sick of hearing about Marcia! So today is the day to celebrate all the Jans in the world. I've never really been sure if I'm a middle child or an oldest child. I am the middle by birth, but the oldest living. I guess I could be either. I have always identified more with oldest children. I am the experimental child. I was the first to do everything. My parents were strict with me. They loosened the reins a bit on my sister. I think they decided I survived, so it was ok to be less strict with Laura. Not that she got away with murder, but she did bend the rules a lot farther than I ever did. My sister says I'm bossy, which she equates with being the oldest. I've never thought of myself as bossy. I'm determined, responsible, and I know how I want things done. Oh wait, maybe that is bossy! We could debate Middle Child Syndrome for hours. But here are a few famous middle children: JFK, Madonna, Donald Trump, Barbara Walters, and Bill Gates. Wow. I would say, if you are a middle child, try to be less like Jan and more like JFK or Bill Gates. Make the world take notice of you! Surely, then your family will too!

A Year of Blogging: August 11, 2011

August 11 was 'Play in the Sand' day. I can't remember the last time I played in the sand. It has to have been 20 years or so. When we went to the beach as a teenager, I was more concerned with stretching out with a book (before I had to wear reading glasses, that is). So I must have been around 10 the last time I played in the sand. My sister and I used to play in the sand when we went to the beach with my Grandparents. We attempted sand castles, but were never very successful. It was much more fun to bury Grandpa in the sand. We buried each other too. And we spent a lot of time searching for seashells. I heard a story on the news the other day about burying people in the sand. Apparently, the sand can undermine and you could either get swept away or be buried alive by the sand and suffocate. That sounds really scary. I am so glad my Grandma didn't know about that risk. She was always overly protective of my sister and I, and a bit, shall we say paranoid? If she knew the sand could undermine she probably wouldn't have taken us to the beach at all! In a couple of weeks I'm going back to NY, and one day we might go to the State Park. They have a beach there. It's not the ocean, but it's a nice beach. If we go, I'll be able to play in the sand with Sydney and Drew, and relive part of my childhood. While it's not cool to play in the sand as a teenager, once you get to be a mid-30's Aunt, it's acceptable! If I don't get to play in the sand in a couple of weeks, I get another chance this fall when I make my first ever trip to Myrtle Beach. I don't think I'll actually be playing then, but it will be nice to wiggle my toes in the sand.

A Year of Blogging: August 10, 2011

August 10 was 'National S'mores Day'. For my international readers who may not know what a S'more is, let me explain. It's a popular treat to enjoy around a campfire. You'll need graham crackers, a chocolate bar, and marshmallows (not the miniature ones). Roast the marshmallow over the campfire. Make a 'sandwich' using a graham cracker, a piece of chocolate, the toasted marshmallow, and another graham cracker on top. The heat from the marshmallow helps to melt the chocolate. I found conflicting reports about whether this dessert was created by the Campfire Girls or the Girl Scouts. At any rate, people were sitting around a campfire and must have had these ingredients handy, so they put them together. It has inspired a lot of copycat desserts- people try to fancy it up to make it a dessert worthy of a five star restaurant, rather than something to enjoy by the campfire. What happens though, if you can't eat graham crackers? I am not able to eat them. So I roast the marshmallows on a metal skewer over the grill after we have cooked dinner. Sure, it's not an open fire burning wood, but it's a charcoal grill so it's close. Then I break the chocolate bar (a Hershey bar to be exact) into pieces, and stick one piece into each hot marshmallow. I still get to enjoy the marshmallow and chocolate, and can skip the part which makes me sick. I never eat too many though- it gets a little too sicky sweet after just a couple. When we were children, marshmallows were stuck on the end of a stick, and you held the stick over the fire. As an adult, and a bit of a germaphobe, I prefer the more sterile metal skewer. Some people, like my mother, like to catch their marshmallows on fire, then blow them out. This makes the marshmallow very toasty on the outside. It also of course turns it black. Some people barely get the marshmallow warm. I am somewhere in the middle: I don't like it to catch fire, but I do like it to get a little brown. When I slide the marshmallow off the skewer, the inside kind of separates from the outside because the inside has liquefied. Then it's perfect. And as so often happens, now I could go for some s'mores. We don't have any Hershey bars in the house. Which is a problem- in more ways than just the inability to make S'mores.

A Year of Blogging: August 9, 2011

August 9 was 'Book Lover's Day'. What a wonderful day! I have always been a bookworm. Some people might take offense to the term 'bookworm', but I cherish it. For my 16th birthday, my sister bought me a t-shirt that said something about being a bookworm (I forget what it said, that was almost 20 years ago!) from our town library. Everyone else laughed when I opened the t-shirt. I loved it! My Grandpa Wager loved to read. I remember him reading the newspaper daily. He subscribed to both the Daytona and Orlando papers, and read both cover to cover each day. Then there were books! Which is funny. I remember him reading, and I remember we were always buying books for him. But I cannot remember where all those books were stored. You would think he had a library filled with bookcases that stretched from floor to ceiling. He didn't. I don't even remember a single bookcase any place in Grandma's house. Yet he had tons of books. Grandpa and I could get lost in a bookstore. If we went to the mall with Grandma and Grandpa, Laura and Grandma usually went in one direction and Grandpa and I headed for Waldenbooks. We both could have spent hours in the bookstore. Books (or gift certificates to book stores) have always been on my wish lists for birthdays and Christmases. My love of books and of reading was given to me by Grandpa. I have no doubt about that. I suspect he had a hand in my learning to read at the age of 3. My mother read to me a lot too. She used to take my sister and I to the library each week. I would have checked out the entire Children's section if they had let me. By the time I graduated from high school, my library card was several pages long. Each year the Book Fair came to school. For one week, rows of books were set up in the gym or cafeteria. They were all for sale! For me, it was the most exciting time at school. The week before the book fair, we were given the list of available books. I poured over that list, circling the items I wanted, then narrowing it down so that it could fit in the budget Mom & Dad gave me. Which was generous compared to what most of my classmates were allowed to spend. But for a devoted bookworm, it was never enough. I have often thought the greatest gift Grandpa gave me was the love of books. I am trying to share that with Sydney and Drew. Sydney already has more books than children twice her age, and I'm working on Drew's shelf. Sydney, not quite five, loves to go to bookstores. I don't know if Drew will as well, but I'm hopeful. I have made a silent promise that I will buy them books as long as they want them. I'm a little behind blogging about this because I've been exhausted the past couple of days. And on Tuesday, I spent what little energy I had reading rather than blogging. Seems rather appropriate!

A Year of Blogging: August 7, 2011

The first Sunday in August is Sister's Day. I've already covered a great deal of my relationship with my sister on Sibling's Day. She is one of my best friends. She gets me. We don't have to say a word to know what the other one is thinking. She knows most of my secrets and loves me anyway. There are a lot of sisters in my family, and our dynamics are as unique as each of us. My sister and I are probably the closest of any sister pairs in the family. I credit my mom for that, more than I do the mere two and a half years between us. Mom forged a bond between us, from the time Laura was born. She told us boyfriends and friends would come and go, but a sister is forever. She also told us 'that's the only sister you'll ever have', which seemed almost like a threat. We better get along or else. My parents never made us feel like we were competing against each other. I excelled in academics, my sister was the sporty one. Mom and Dad didn't tell her 'Amy gets A's, I don't know why you can't.' Likewise, I wasn't forced to go out for basketball just because Laura did. They recognized that we were individual people, with our own unique talents. All they asked is that we did our best. If our best translated to As for me and B's or C's for Laura, at least we gave it our all. They didn't pit us against each other by saying one was prettier than the other. And while there is no doubt to anyone that I am Daddy's girl and Laura is Mommy's girl, my parents loved us both equally. We never thought one or the other was the favorite. Sadly, I know sisters whose parents did play favorites, and one sister never has been able to measure up to the other. I feel badly for these women, because they are missing out on such a wonderful relationship. I have long thought that my mother's desire for her girls to be close stems from her own relationship with her sister. Mom is four and a half years younger than her sister. My Grandmother was a mother who played favorites, and Mom wasn't it. I really think the only thing my Mom did right was give Grandma grandchildren. I loved my Grandma, but she was a very hard woman and she could be unkind to my Mom. Grandma did not see the need for Mom and her sister to be close. It has only been in recent years that they have gotten closer, especially after my Aunt moved back to NY. But they can't make up for all that lost time. Both of my Grandmother's had sisters. Grandma Wager and her sister were 10 years apart in age, while Grandma Primeau and her sister were 14 months apart. Both Grandmother's disowned their sisters for getting divorced and remarried. Grandma Wager reconciled with Aunt Vivian just a couple of months before Aunt Vivian died from MS. Their brother kept intervening, trying to get my Grandma to go visit their sister. He finally told Grandma that Vivian was dying, and it was now or never. I don't know when Grandma Primeau and Aunt Edna reconciled, but they went years without speaking to each other and they lived about a quarter of a mile apart. Laura and I have had our spats and arguments. All siblings do. We've gone from playmates to mortal enemies to best friends. Overall, our relationship is good. We have a lot of wonderful memories. We used to spend the summers in Florida with mom's parents. Wednesday was the Farmer's Market day. The Farmer's Market was on the way to the beach, so Wednesday was also beach day. We got up, went to the Farmer's Market when it opened, and then headed to New Smyrna Beach for the morning. We only spent a couple of hours at the beach, leaving around noon before it got too hot. On the way home from the beach, we stopped at Hardees for lunch. I tried to eat at Hardees as an adult and didn't care for it. But it was a big deal when we were kids. I can still picture us in that restaurant. When we got back to the house, it was into the tub for us while Grandpa washed the sand out of the car. This picture isn't my favorite of the two of us, but it has a great story. It's from my high school yearbook. At our school, it's tradition to take pictures of Seniors with their cars. Mom and I had actually switched cars. She was working in the city, and she came out one night to find a hobo sleeping across the hood of her brand new car. So she came home and said we were switching. She took the old station wagon- which had been given to me, and I was given the keys to the brand new one. I was actually mad, I wanted MY car. Hers did have a better radio though. The students were supposed to park in the back row. People wouldn't park near me, because they were terrified of scratching Mom's new car. When it came time for Senior pictures, I had to take my picture with Mom's car. I was in a bit of a rebellious stage that year, wearing my cowboy boots all the time. I wanted my boots in the picture, so my sister and I sat on the hood of the car. Mom was ticked when the yearbook came out- and there were her two girls sitting with their boots on the car! I still have the jacket I'm wearing, but I don't know if it fits. It's a bomber jacket I bought at Hard Rock Cafe in Madrid when my sister and I were there, and I haven't been able to bring myself to get rid of it. I am so fortunate to have a sister. I wish everyone could have what we have, because it's a treasure.

A Year of Blogging: August 8, 2011

August 8 is for me, a very special day. It is the day I celebrate my independence. On August 8, 1998, I got married. On August 8, 1999, I told him I wanted out. He moved out five days later, and I filed for divorce one week later. When people first hear that my marriage lasted one year, they look at me and start to wonder. "You didn't even give it a chance!" "Why did you get married in the first place?" They start forming opinions of me before I say anything more. So I quickly tell them why it only lasted a year. I got tired of being thrown into walls. My ex-husband wasn't much taller than me, but he was a big guy. He was a bully, who used his size to intimidate people. I had witnessed him get physical with other people, including his mother. That made me pause, because I had always heard the way a man treats his mother is how he will treat his wife. But when I told him this, he assured me I was nothing like his mom. He had never been violent with me, and I guess I believed I was too smart to let it happen. Until he came along, I had always been one of the guys. Guys saw me as a great friend, but it was other girls they dated. He was the first guy who showed an interest in me beyond friendship. I don't remember when the marriage turned violent. I don't think it started right away. I don't remember much about it. I am a klutz, always walking into walls and stuff, so the bruises on arms and legs were easy to dismiss to others. About three or four months into the marriage he had a mental breakdown and lost his job. He wasn't able to get another one. Then things went downhill fast. We were living on what I made at my retail job, putting basic things like groceries on my credit cards (because he didn't have any). I remember sitting there looking at him and hating him. Not just in an 'I can't stand you' way. I actually felt this overwhelming hatred for every part of him. When people kept calling to wish us a Happy Anniversary, I couldn't take it any longer. I still don't know how I got the courage to stand up for myself. I worked with several women who were in their 50's or 60's at the time, and had been in bad marriages. They had stayed for years, because that's what you did. I was very good friends with all of these women. I listened to their stories about their husbands holding guns to their pregnant bellies, of beatings, of being cheated on. They had spent their lives being the dutiful wives, and in the end, the husbands moved on to someone else after about 30 years. I knew I couldn't go through that. I didn't want to. So I think these women gave me the courage. It wasn't easy. He moved out, leaving me with the $500 a month plus utilities apartment. I had Olde Faithful, my 12 year old station wagon that was falling apart. We divided our few belongings based on which family had given it to us for our wedding. He took the silverware, I got the dishes. I was left with the living room furniture, because I had the good credit. We bought it on a payment option, using my credit. So I had to continue to make the payments on it. He took the tv and computer, as they were his. He took the beds. Our apartment was a two bedroom apartment, and both beds had been his. He offered to leave one for me, but I didn't want to be indebted to him for anything. I went to Walmart and bought an air mattress and slept on it for more than a year. I had my dresser and desk from my childhood home, but the twin bed that matched it had been passed on to other family members. Our lawyers decided that anything that was mine going into the marriage was mine coming out, which meant the credit cards. Since we had been putting basics on the cards, on top of everything else I was left deep in debt. I don't remember the exact figure, but I think it was close to $10,000. People said I got the short end of that deal, I should have made him pay some of it. He didn't have anything since he wasn't working, and I just wanted to be done. So there I was, in Southeast Indiana where my only friends were the women I worked with. I was 800 miles away from my family and in such a deep hole, there was no sunlight to be found. My parents offered to come get me and let me move home. I refused. I knew I needed to do this on my own. I knew if I leaned on my family, I wouldn't ever be able to stand on my own. I stayed, working as much as I could. I moved to a smaller apartment that was about half the cost. I lost about 50 pounds because I bought food only after the other bills were paid. When Erich bought this house in Ohio and offered to let me move in, it was a blessing. I was able to pay off the debt, get a better job, and buy a new car. It was the start of good things, and I know there was some divine intervention that put him into my life. I look back now, 12 years later, and am amazed at how far I've come. People always ask if you have regrets, or if you could do things over again what would you do differently. I know each experience in my life, whether good or bad, has helped to make me the woman I am today. Maybe if I hadn't had such a horrible marriage, I wouldn't be as confident and independent as I am. I would be a very different person. And I like who I am. I wish I had been able to stay in touch with the women who helped me, but I think they were in my life at that time and place because I needed them. Anyone can find themselves in a bad relationship. The important thing is to trust your gut and know when to get out. Yes, what lies beyond may be scary and unknown. But holding on to something bad just because you're afraid of the unknown is unacceptable. If you don't respect yourself, no one else will. Today, I proudly celebrate 12 years and counting of freedom!

A Year of Blogging: August 6, 2011

The first Saturday in August is 'National Mustard Day'. So in 2011 we celebrate this yummy holiday on August 6. Mustard is my favorite condiment. I put it on almost everything. The foods other people put ketchup on, I put mustard on: hamburgers, hot dogs, ham & cheese sandwiches (cold or grilled), and french fries. Yes, french fries. My family is really big on ketchup. Many people in my family put ketchup on steaks and even on their scrambled eggs. I have an Uncle who puts ketchup on his corn flakes. So to be a person who uses mustard instead of ketchup makes me stick out more than I already do! I used to eat ketchup. I was a typical American child. And then, I read the back of the ketchup bottle one night at dinner and found ketchup was made from tomatoes. I have never liked tomatoes. When I discovered they were in ketchup, I was in second or third grade. This news shook my world. I banned ketchup from my life. I also realized spaghetti sauce was made from tomatoes, and for a while, I didn't eat spaghetti sauce either. I substituted mustard in place of ketchup and found I liked mustard much better. I outgrew the ban on spaghetti sauce, because I like Italian food too much. But I had gotten so used to mustard, I didn't go back to ketchup. Even now, the only things I eat ketchup on are my mom's meatloaf (Mom's a wonderful cook, but her meatloaf sucks. When I was dating my ex-husband, she made it one night and he said it tasted like dog food. We all thought it was her best one yet! And yes, I would, and have, said this to her face.) and hot sausage grinders (I don't know why I put ketchup on those, but I do). Other than that- it's mustard. When I'm in a restaurant, if my meal comes with french fries, the server always brings ketchup. I thank them and say I don't need it, but could they please bring some mustard? I think mustard takes second billing to ketchup, and it shouldn't. While watching a program on people who are extreme coupon shoppers, I learned that mustard is a favorite to buy in large quantities because it never spoils. When I went for the allergy testing, the nurse told me mustard is a good condiment for people with food allergies. You can use it in recipes (my favorite being the raspberry chicken). It just adds a nice bite to everything. There are many types of mustard. My favorites are the classic yellow mustard and honey mustard. It's hard to say which I prefer- it depends on my mood. I have several types of mustard in the house at all times. And, since Erich likes ketchup as much as I like mustard, you'll also find ketchup in the house. Celebrate today by fixing your favorite sandwich or a hamburger or hot dog and covering it with mustard! Or, you might want to check out the Mustard Museum, located in Middleton, WI. You could even try the Mustard Custard. I think I'll pass on that.

A Year of Blogging: August 5, 2011

August 5 is 'Work Like A Dog' Day. It's a day to honor those who work hard, and carry more than their share. Not to be confused with 'work-a-holics', who are always working. I feel like I work like a dog every day. When I started this job four years ago, I was hired to help the current members and get new members for the organization. We had someone else doing the accounting and processing all the payments, another person handling the marketing and shipping, and we sent the monthly mailings of collection letters and invoices to an outside firm. In the course of two years, the accounting person left, the marketing person left, and we stopped using the outside firm. All of these duties were absorbed into my position. Well, my coworker, K., and I absorbed all the extra duties into our positions. But now K. has gone part time, and I honestly feel like I'm single handedly running the organization, and the wants and needs of the approximately 3500 domestic members. It's no wonder I'm so worn out when I come home. I like my job. I like talking to people, either current members, or those who are looking at joining. When I am at work, I give 200%. My health has caused me to miss a bit of time, but I give my all. I try to be pleasant and helpful. There are times I know I'm not, but thankfully, I have the option to let calls go to voicemail if I'm feeling less than courteous. I know what I'm talking about, and that is evident when I talk to members and prospects. In fact, many of them mistake me for an actual financial planner, and then they start talking about securities and annuities and things way over my head. There is no doubt in my mind that I do a good job, every day. But there are some days when I have one of those 'I rock!' moments that leaves me feeling triumphant. Today was one such day. I spoke to a prospect yesterday from Cincinnati. He was going to be in the area today, and wanted to meet me in person to speak about the membership. This rarely happens. We have members all over the world, so most of the time I am able to communicate with them by email or phone. Usually the only time I meet with them in person is if I'm at a conference or if we have training at the office. So I was a little nervous. I always get nervous, even though I know what I'm doing. The good thing is, the people I'm meeting never know that I'm nervous. I guess all the public speaking as part of my Communication major paid off! When the prospect arrived, I stood tall (which in itself is an accomplishment!), offered my best handshake (many thanks to my father who taught me women can still have a firm handshake), and smiled. We talked for maybe half an hour. I explained the benefits of membership, listened to him talk about his practice, and then illustrated how his vision fits with that of the organization. The one advantage of talking to a prospect face to face is I have the chance to read their body language (yet another part of my Communication degree). I knew long before he left that I had been successful. It was a wonderful feeling. I wanted to jump up and down and shout. I was jubilant. I told my boss that the prospect was 'very impressed' and my boss told me 'I would be impressed when I met you, too. You're a good spokesperson for the organization'. Praise! A raise would be better, but I'll take the praise because it comes so infrequently. But, as a dog Momma, I wonder why it is called 'Work Like a Dog' day. I've got to say- these guys don't do a lot of work. When I get up in the morning, they are sleeping. Sometimes I get one eye opened to watch me as I walk past. When I come home for lunch, they are sitting in the window watching traffic. They follow me to the kitchen, hoping I'll share my lunch with them. Then they follow me to the living room and sit next to me staring at me, begging. When I stretch out to take my cat nap, Cobalt curls up on my feet. When I get up to go back to work, he stretches out on the end of the couch. Onyx probably works harder than Cobalt, because she is the guard dog and barks at anything that trespasses on our sidewalk. Sure, they work hard grabbing special treats out of their bowls or making their beds, but overall, they've got it pretty easy. In fact, I'm a little envious of them! Perhaps instead, it should be 'Work Like an Ox' day.

A Year of Blogging: August 4, 2011

August 4 was 'U.S. Coast Guard Day'. The Coast Guard's roots trace to August 4, 1790 when the first Congress authorized the construction of ten vessels to prevent smuggling and enforce federal tariff laws. It was given the name 'Coast Guard' in 1915. It was the only armed forces afloat in the US until Congress established the Navy in 1798. The Coast Guard is one of five branches of the United States Armed Forces. The other four: Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines fall under the Department of Defense, but the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security. I know very little about the Coast Guard. According to the official website of the Coast Guard, www.uscg.mil/ , on an average day the Coast Guard does the following: ~Saves 12 lives ~Investigates 13 marine accidents ~Responds to 64 search and rescue cases ~keeps over 800 pounds of cocaine off the streets ~responds to and investigates 10 pollution incidents This is only a partial list. If you want to see all they do, visit their website. The Coast Guard plays an important part in keeping our country safe day to day, and in keeping smuggled items off our shores. They are not only patrolling the oceans, but also the Great Lakes, Saint Lawrence Seaway, and all major marine transit areas in the US. Take this day to learn more about one of the branches of our military, and be sure to show Coast Guard members some appreciation for all they do!

A Year of Blogging: August 3, 2011

August 3 is Watermelon Day. Another tasty day. I've already eaten dinner, but writing all these blogs about food is making me hungry! Watermelon is one of those wonderful things about summer that you can enjoy regardless of age. What is a party or picnic in the summer without watermelon? I remember my mom carving an oblong watermelon into a basket with a handle, and then filling the watermelon basket with fruit salad. It became the centerpiece on the table, and was always a conversation piece. She hasn't made that in years- I think it takes too much time and she's just too busy. So how do you choose a watermelon? My Grandma always said if you started to cut a watermelon and it split the rest of the way open, that it was a good melon. It's not like you can slice one open at the market, though. Watermelons should be heavy for the size. They should also have a symmetrical shape. The skin should be bright and the 'field spot' should be creamy to yellow or even orange. If the 'field spot' is white, pale green, or nonexistent; find another melon. For those who don't know, the 'field spot' is the part where it touches the ground while growing. Think about it. Pumpkins usually have a flat side- it's the same idea. There are many things you can do with watermelon. You can make soup, salsa, ice cream or sherbet, drinks, sandwiches.... so many options. I'm a bit boring, I like to eat mine either straight or in part of a fruit salad. If you haven't already gone to www.watermelon.org ; I encourage you to check it out. There are some incredible carving ideas on that site, and lots of recipes. The crafty person in me is feeling inspired!

A Year of Blogging: August 2, 2011

Continuing our food theme this week, August 2 was 'National Ice Cream Sandwich' day. There's very few ice cream products I haven't made friends with, and ice cream sandwiches are no exception. I love ice cream sandwiches. According to Wikipedia an ice cream sandwich is any flavor of ice cream sandwiched between two biscuits, cookies, or pieces of cake. There is something satisfying about an ice cream sandwich. It satisfies the chocolate craving and the ice cream craving, or perhaps the cookie and the ice cream cravings. It is also portable, so you can go anywhere with it. Last year, I was watching The Food Network, and they were making homemade ice cream sandwiches. I had never thought of doing that- I always bought them at the store. They are incredibly easy to make. You'll need cookies- they should be about the size of the palm of your hand or bigger, and ice cream. If you don't want to bake the cookies, go to the local bakery (or the bakery of your grocery store) and buy cookies. You could use sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies- any kind that you like. The ice cream should be a little soft, so that you can 'mold' it into a layer between the two cookies. You can use any kind of ice cream too. Get creative! Once the sandwiches are assembled, put them back in the freezer so the ice cream can harden back up. My sister recently made homemade ice cream sandwiches using brownies as the cookies. She made them for Mom's 4th of July party. When she told me about them, I swear I was drooling. Doesn't that sound just heavenly? I think I may have to make those soon!

A Year of Blogging: August 1, 2011

We've flipped the calendar up to August. August begins the end of the year special days unbalance in our family. It used to be just Mom's birthday, now it is also Drew's. From August to January, I feel like most of my budget goes to gifts. I know that's an exaggeration, but that's what it feels like. Summer is winding down. For children, school is right around the corner. Maybe that's why August is National Family Fun month. It's time for one last hurrah as a family before the stress and routines of school. It's a good time to take a vacation: hit the beach, go to an amusement park, or take that greatest of family adventures- a road trip. August is also National Picnic month. Picnics were always a nice chance to get away for our family, and something special we could do that didn't cost a lot. We frequently packed a picnic lunch and went some place nearby. Our favorite location was to drive to Bennington, Vermont (which is about 30 minutes away) and go to the Veteran's Home. The Vermont Veteran's Home has a beautiful park on the grounds known as the Deer Park. At any time of year, you can see whitetail deer in that park. While we picnicked, we watched the deer frolic nearby. It was always so incredibly peaceful. It's in the middle of a small city, but it is so easy to forget where you are. Picnics were always special because Mom puts as much thought into a picnic as she does a party. She took one of her older tablecloths from the buffet in the dining room. A cooler was filled with drinks, fruits and veggies, and maybe some pudding for dessert. Sandwiches and chips were piled into the picnic basket with plates and utensils, and of course, napkins. It was a wonderful treat. Our ordinary sandwiches tasted so much better when we took them out of a picnic basket! For my golfing friends, August is National Golf Month. Go out and play all day! Well, as long as it's ok with your spouse- I don't want to cause any marital problems. If your game isn't the best, you might want to take the time to get your eyes checked during National Eye Exam Month. We started off the month with National Raspberry Cream Pie day on August 1. I've never had Raspberry Cream Pie- in fact, I've never heard of it. I suppose it is like other cream pies, only with raspberries. I'm not very fond of cream pies (not even chocolate ones). I like fruit pies, and raspberry pies are good. Whether you choose to celebrate August by golfing, going on a picnic, having fun with the family, or eating a raspberry cream pie, be sure to take time to admit you are happy, after all, August is also 'Admit You're Happy' month!