Wordless Wednesday::A Break From All the Healthy Eating

A nice bowl of Cocoa Krispies is just what I needed.

First Day of School

Lunches are packed.
Backpacks are at the door.
Pencils are sharp.
What are you waiting for?

Time to see your friends, old and new
Tales of summer happenings are waiting
Sharing routines, schedules and books,
It is now time for creating!

Testing your math, grammar and science
will seem trying at first
but with a little time
in all subjects you will become well versed.

The clock always rings at dawn
Being up early is always a fuss
It's the First Day of School
Now hurry up or you'll miss your bus!

Drivers Ed FAIL

I am a patient person....but that patience can be tested at times as I go from point A to point B. So to ward off the the "What are you doing?!" and the "Where did you get your license, a Cracker Jack Box?" comments to fellow drivers I may take up teaching Driver's Ed refresher courses.

If I were a Drivers Ed instructor, the following points would be on my clipboard:

DON'T ride the tail of car in front of you traveling in the center lane when it is apparent they cannot move left or right to get out of your way. Flashing your high beams is not recommended.

DO: Merge into traffic when seeing the sign stating that RIGHT LANE MERGES 1/2 mile AHEAD. This means that you should move now. Not in the last meter of the cones. No one will want to let you in. No one like a line-butt-er.

DON'T: Travel 10 miles per hour under the posted speed limit, unless you are a cute 90 year old lady/man.

DO: Use your turn signal when you want to turn. No one is a mind reader.

DON'T: Stop while yielding onto the highway. It's just plain dangerous.

DO: Give a wave of Thanks when someone lets you into the flow of traffic after you have been sitting and waiting. It's just a nice thing to do.

DO: Be sure to have all makeup applied BEFORE you leave the house, unless you are a passenger, then car application is perfectly ok.

DON'T block an intersection while trying to make the yellow light. If your car length will not fit, wait for the next light cycle. It's only a few seconds...you can handle it!

Anything you would like to add to my clipboard???

Guess Who's NOT Coming to Dinner!

Want to know how to drive an Italian woman crazy?

Take away her oven.

Last weekend we had my brother and his family over for dinner. We were not expecting company for dinner, but as it is a no-brainer-like breathing-a place is always welcome (for ANY meal) at our table.

So, as I said- not expected, but that was ok...it was Sunday, meal prep would be easy, because EVERY Sunday is pasta in some shape or form in our house.  I had already taken the last of the frozen homemade sauce out of the freezer and instead of making macaroni, I decided to make a lasagna. I set the timer to preheat the oven and went about assembling while chatting with my daughter as she prepared the salad. I timed it perfectly...I had exactly one hour to cook and let it cool before company arrived. I whipped open the door and as I went to put the dish in the oven I said out loud

"Why is the oven cold?"

I looked at the control panel and it still read "PRE". Hmmm.

I asked my son to go get Dad. My husband came in and checked, pushed buttons, turned on burners, banged and double checked and said "Nope. It's "cooked", Bwaahaahaaahaa." Under normal circumstances, I would have found that punch line hysterical, but right now I am stressing. I can't freeze the dish because it won't fit in my freezer and I can't make a new pot of sauce because I don't have enough time. My neighbor saved me. I called her and asked:

Me: "Are you using your oven for dinner tonight?"

Friend: " No. We are having tacos."

Me: "I know this is going to sound crazy, but can I cook lasagna in your oven? Mine just bit the dust and I have company coming for dinner in an hour!"

Friend: "What should I set my oven to?"

I *so* owe her a bottle of wine!

My husband grabbed the dish and drove it down.

While the next 60 minutes ticked by, I went down to the laundry area and started a new load. Oh, and did I tell you that my washing machine is now on the fritz too? Uh, yeah.

Want to know how else to drive an Italian woman crazy?

Take away her washing machine.

For two weeks now, I have had to turn the dial a certain way and then hold it on while the cycle begins. If I don't, it won't agitate. Gremlins. I just had them here for a visit for my dryer, when the Laundry Fairy Returned as Gremlin!

And the third?? Because you know everything happens in three's...

Take away her dishwasher.

The night before we would learn about our oven, I turned on my dishwasher and it made the most horrible noise. I opened the door and checked to make sure nothing was blocking anything. Not that I could see. Turned it back on and "GGGGGGRRRRRUUUUMMMMPPP". The sound actually woke my husband and he came down from bed like the Grinch- "Noise! Noise! Noise!?" I pointed to the dishwasher and he opened the door and could not find anything either.

The next morning I checked carefully and pulled out a piece of thin plastic....the top of a tortilla package that you rip off the top. How the heck did it get in there? Gremlins.

Can't they find another house to party in?

Between the washing machine, dishwasher and now my oven, they have definitely overstayed their welcome. For the record...Gremlins are NOT welcome at my dinner table!

Luckily, my brother and his family are cute and not mischievous in any way and we were able to sit down to a nice homemade meal, something I hope we can do again soon.

How does an Italian woman get her revenge on Gremlins?

She starts with lots of garlic, a novena and a repair man. If that doesn't work, she braves the waters of the appliance store, salesman and all and buys a new one!

Damn Gremlins.

MGB- Blogger of the Month is Here!

All the months that have gone into the planning- I can't believe that the day has finally arrived!

Today is the day that the new feature MGB-Blogger of the Month begins!

So many great blogs exist on the web and it can be daunting to find one that you like to read.  This is why I created Blogger of the Month- to help you find some of the jewels that are out there that maybe you would not have found otherwise. On the 1st of each month, I will introduce you to a blogger that I enjoy and I think you will enjoy too. There will be a main post highlighting our blogger, an article or two throughout the month and a place on my sidebar which will give you a quick link to their site so that you may visit at your leisure. Please feel free to also visit the  Blogger of the Month tab on the top of this site where you will find a link to the current Blogger of the Month and all past recipients.

So, with no further ado, it is my honor to introduce you to:

The Crayon Wrangler 

http://coloringoutsidetheline.blogspot.com/

Alycia, who has been blogging since October of 2005, is a writer that I only very recently met through the "31 Days to Build a Better Blog Challenge." I was immediately drawn into her blog as she shared her stories laced with truth and humor. She commands your attention and before you know it you have finished her post nodding in agreement, laughing or both and wanting to read more. She is a gifted writer and a fabulous storyteller both in word and image-she also takes amazing photographs! You will find a woman who cooks, has written a book and even vlogs (video blogs!) A woman of many talents who is down to earth and as real and laid back as they get. I wish we were neighbors, because coffee talk or cocktail hour would always be a hoot!

I asked the Crayon Wrangler a few questions and here is what she had to say:

MGB: Why did you start a blog?

CW: I started a blog because if I couldn't remember to close the lid on the washer for it to start its cycle, there was no way I would remember moments of childhood, first tooth or funny things that might have happened with my girls. I saw it as a way to have a diary that saved hand cramping writing, came with spell check and easy to insert pictures/videos. As I have added two more kids; it is even more imperative that I write before I forget their names along with everything else.

MGB: What is your favorite & least favorite thing about blogging?

CW: My favorite thing about blogging is the creative outlet and the sense of community among the bloggers. My least favorite things about blogging is the constant second guessing about what my readers might want to read that day instead of just writing what I feel like writing. It's a constant struggle to write only for myself.

MGB: What is one of your personal favorite posts? Why is it your favorite?

CW: OK this was a hard question to answer. I have so many that I enjoy re-reading, but I saw this one and had to pass it along to you.


Twas The Night Before Thanksgiving

I love this one because I love writing poems or doing song parodies on my blog. For me, its a fun way to tell you what is going on in my life in a fresh and exciting way. Although I am a "serious writer" there is nothing (well, almost nothing) on my blog that is serious. I love being silly and have found that even years later, I can still surprise a reader with a goofy stunt.

MGB: What would you like readers to know about you?

CW: I think they probably know most of it. I have tried very hard to be authentic on my blog. I am just like all of you. I have good days and bad. I laugh and I cry. I love my kids and I want to strangle them. I forget the clothes in the dryer and I burn dinner. I try very hard to look at every hiccup in life as an adventure and I actively seek out the laughter in it. When I was younger I was way too serious and let everything bother me. I haven't grown up (because I refuse to) but since I have gotten older I have made it my motto that "if you can't laugh at it, you can't live with it" So I strive to live a life colored in bright laughter.

And laughter is definitely threaded throughout Alycia's wonderful blog.

Please join me and welcome Alycia, The Crayon Wrangler as our very first MGB Blogger of the Month!