by beagoodmom on July 1, 2009
Our ceiling fan broke the other day. Oh great. At least $100 for a new one, I thought. Then BAGD decided to take it apart and poke at the innerds. He found what broke and took it over to Home Depot. $2.89 later, he returned with some electric doo-hickey that he promptly replaced. Fan fixed. Hooray for us!
We have 2 giant windows in the basement. Real sun-magnifying windows, “raise the temperature 25 degrees in the summer’ windows. They are covered in really cute curtains I bought at IKEA a few years ago. The whole theme of the basement walls and their murals comes off these curtains. Plus, I really like them. Problem is that they are paper thin and they do nothing to block the sun, even when closed. So, I bought 10 yards of light blocking curtain liner at Fabric.com and sewed giant panels to the back of each curtain. Just attached the panel at the top and let it drape behind the window. The liner was $5.98 a yard (free shipping) and I bought too much. But I think if I had measured better the whole thing could have been done for $45-50. They really work, the basement is very dark when the curtains are drawn. Its been cool here for a few days, but I cannot wait to see how they do on a sunny day. I priced new light blocking curtain panels on Amazon and they would have been at least $150 for the set of windows.
Its so easy to throw something out when its “broke” or “wrong”. It makes me proud of us when we take the time to stop and think about how we can fix it, or make it do. I am trying to do that more.
by beagoodmom on July 1, 2009
I am already sick and tired of these billboards, and Summer just started.
How about we make a deal? I agree that everyone who uses the public streets and highways should be kept safe. I agree that we all need to respect other drivers. I agree that we all should drive defensively, with less personal arrogance.
So, when can I expect to start seeing that from the motorcyclists? And before you go off on me because you are a safe and courteous motorcyclist, know that I am a safe and courteous Minivan driver, yet somehow there are people out there who aren’t as nice as you and me. I meet a few bad motorcyclists; I am sure you meet a few bad car drivers.
If the motorcycling community wants me to be more aware of them in the Summer and make the roads safer for their mode of transport, how ’bout we agree to the following rules which are important to me and my kind. We do not have a billboard or any bumperstickers, so I will have to lay our case out here:
1. A Motorcycle is ONE vehicle and is not automatically connected to any adjacent motorcycle by a thread visible only to other motorcyclists. If 2 or more motorcyclists choose to travel together, they must remember that they are not physically connected. If I let one motorcycle merge in front of me, I am not required to let his “bro” merge in too. Similarly, when a gaggle of motorcycles comes to a 4 way stop sign. Its one car, then one motorcycle, then one car, then one motorcycle. NOT one car, 15 motorcycles, one car. What is the worst thing that would happen if you got separated from your “riding buddy?” Its like when a gaggle of teenage girls all try to squeeze into the same slot of a revolving door as they leave the movie theatre. It will be OK if you and your friend get physically separated, I promise.
2. Just because you are outside in the elements, living life, you still need to act as if your motorcycle has an invisible Popemobile dome around it. No reaching up to drag your hand thru tree branches. No dropping your foot to kick a misfit shoe in the middle of the lane.
3. If you want to socialize, buy Wii Motorcycling and stay on your couch. Driving side by side is not necessary. I thought you were all loners anyway.
4. Don’t you dare pass on the shoulder or between lanes. If you do, then you are forfeiting any right you have to a safe environment where cars and motorcycles live in harmony. I don’t care if, technically, you can fit. That’s not the point. Those little yellow and white lines are all that keeps us from anarchy and mass chaos. We are living in a society people!
5. Finally, I am going to go out on a limb here and make a personal declaration. I am doing so, just in case you care, but realize you probably don’t, or won’t admit it. I do not think motorcycles are cool. I do not get heart palpitations and R- rated tingling whenever I see a man on a motorcycle. Maybe some people do, but not me. Please ask the other women (or men, whatever you are into is cool with me) on my block for their opinions. If there is a clear majority who agree with me, I ask you to respect it and stop driving down my 400 foot long street at 45 miles per hour. No one is impressed. Clearly you do it to impress someone, since you make such an effort to get up to 45 miles per hour and then squeal to a halt at the stop sign a block later. Who is it?
So, there you go. I will start “seeing” motorcycles, when they start “seeing” me.
by beagoodmom on June 30, 2009
Thank you for the giant loaf of bread Dennis (and all the other reasonable sized ones). You probably intended for us to make sandwiches, which we did with the smaller loaves. But when we see a giant loaf of bread on the table next to a tiny little girl, only one thing comes to our minds……..Time for a Humorous Photo Shoot!
by beagoodmom on June 30, 2009
Just a cute story…
BAGD and I were feeling pretty good about ourselves; the laundry pile in the bathroom had not been out of control for a week. Then today….oh my gosh! How did it pile up so quickly!?
As I picked thru it, trying to lug it into a basket to take downstairs, I am shocked at the clothes I am pulling out of the pile. Sweatpants….flannel shirts….fleece pajamas….corduroy jeans….where did all this come from?!
Then I realize. I go looking for the perpetrator. He confesses.
Pookie took all these clothes out of the hutch I use for winter storage, so that he could play inside the cabinet.
At least he was tidy about it. Every piece of that clothing was stuffed neatly under the bathroom counter, in our laundry basket.
Instead of putting it back, I bagged it up and will try to find room for it in my closet, so that he can play in the cabinet again tomorrow. Silly Pookie.
by beagoodmom on June 30, 2009
BAGD has Strep Throat too!
Isn’t it nice to know that we are a family that shares?
by beagoodmom on June 29, 2009
Me= Strep throat diagnosed on Saturday, feeling better, no longer contagious.
Giggles= tested today, no strep throat.
Geetle= tested today, no strep throat.
Pookie= tested today, STREP THROAT! Just started antibiotics and will be contagious until noon tomorrow.
BAGD= came home from work to help me keep the sickies and the wellies apart. He feels a little sick, is going for a test at 2:30.
On a related note, Pookie hates medicine. Hates it. But deep down, he is a good boy, so he will take it if we tell him he has to. We try to work with him and get the chewable tablets, because he prefers them. They discontinued the chewable version of the antibiotic he got for his Strep, so he had to get the good old fashioned pink liquid amoxicilan. 1 and 1/2 teaspoons! Instead of forcing him to drink it, BAGD sat him down and told him all about what it was and why he had to take it. Then he let him sip it a half squirt at a time. After each sip, Pookie shivered and looked like he was turning into the incredible hulk, but he got all the way thru. Then they made a 10 day medicine chart so we can put an “x’ in each of the 20 boxes, until we are done. Hopefully that will help Pookie understand the process.
That BAGD. Sometimes I forget how important it is to have 2 collaborative parents. I am more the “hey, is that a kangaroo over there?”/squirt the medicine in their face while they are not looking sort of parent. Luckily, he is not. Its good that he takes control in these sort of situations.
by beagoodmom on June 28, 2009
Yep, Strep.
I don’t think I have ever had Strep Throat before, not that I can remember, at least. Boy, its a pretty serious thing. Hurts ALOT. On Friday, every time I had to swallow, I couldn’t help but squint my eyes shut, ball my fists and wince when I did it. It hurt so much on Saturday that I actually took myself to the doctor, which is quite a rare thing. So rare, in fact, that when I called Saturday morning to make an urgent appointment, I considered asking them if they could throw in a Pap Smear, since I am overdue and unlikely to make a separate appointment. But I decided against it.
When I got there, the doctor made a joke about my being alone. I see her about once every 2 months or so, for some reason or another, but its always one of the kids, never me. I was totally out of my element, being there alone; I almost forgot to sit on the little exam bed. I started out sitting in my usual spot, on the chair next to the exam bed. But I remembered at the last minute and hopped up into the bed before the doctor came in. Yipes.
Luckily, none of the kids seem to have caught it from me, and I am not contagious any more. (I have been taking the antibiotics for 36 hours). We are watching Giggles, however. She has a little fever and we know she is getting a new tooth. We hope the fever is from the tooth, but if its still there Monday morning, I will take her for a Rapid Strep Test at the doctor’s office. She is eating and drinking normally so it does not appear that she has a sore throat. I tried to look in there and see if its red, but she was not keen on that idea. She definately has some tooth pain. She saw me with our bandaid bag and asked me for a “bababababa”. I gave my usual response “Sorry, no blood, no bandaid. Where is your boo-boo?” She pointed to her new tooth. I told her I could not put a bandaid there. So she sat right down and started to inspect her feet for a boo-boo (in order to be like Geetle, who stubbed a fraction of her toenail off a few days ago and is wearing a bright yellow bandaid around one toe).
Here is what I learned from my experience with Strep Throat (your experience or doctor’s opinions might differ):
1. Contrary to popular belief, you can be the first person you know to have Strep Throat. I always figured I would know where I got it from, but that is not true.
2. Grownups can get Strep Throat and it will clear up without antibiotics, although the medicine will shorten and lighten the symptoms. Some lazy grownups like me just do not go to the doctor and suffer thru, not knowing they have Strep. That’s Ok, but probably not the best idea, since Strep bacteria can also cause other illnesses and its contagious. Remember, Jim Henson died of an aggressive and rare form of Strep bacteria.
3. I told my doctor I had a sore throat for 3 days, no cold symptoms, no fever. She looked at me and said “you have strep throat.” Then she went to verify it with the throat swab. She was right.
4. In kids, they look for sudden fever, sore throat, upset stomach and no cold symptoms. Kids always need antibiotics.
5. You are contagious for 24 hours after starting the antibiotics.
(For those of you concerned, I have identified the perfect kid-free day for me to go get my PapSmear and I will call for an appt next week. Thank you for your concern. You are right.)
by beagoodmom on June 28, 2009
Thank you for the horse costume SueBee. His name is Bob and he likes to trot laps thru the dining room.
by beagoodmom on June 27, 2009
Garage Sale Friday again!
Here’s our haul:
It was actually 5 of these books, but Geetle was reading the other two and I could not get them away from here. $.25 each. Super Bargain.
A copy of today’s paper for BAGD. No, not really. Its the cape that is new. $1.
2 Lands End coats, One a lined rain coat and one a fleece jacket. $1.50 each.
a dance costume, including arm bands, a skirt, top and hair piece. $1
3 hats for Giggles. $.25 each.
3 paper hats, for us to wear at the $th of July Parade, so says Geetle. $.05 each.
What is this? Some sort of Mr Potato from Star Wars. Geetle bought it with her own money. $5.
a quarter collection book, Geetle is excited. $.25
a galvanized steel tray and coasters. It happens to be covered in AstroTurf, not sure why. I am hoping I can peel it off. I am looking forward to using this to help me carry picnic lunches out into the backyard. $3.
We found some good sales today. We could have done more, if our fatigue and hunger did not get the best of us.
by beagoodmom on June 26, 2009
on the Jon and Kate Plus 8 episode with the “shocking announcement.” Sorry I am so late with this, but I had a busy week.
I knew they were getting a divorce, so I have no comment on that. My comment is on the part of the episode in which they celebrate Mother’s Day by going out for Brunch. Did you notice that the 5 year olds all wear bibs?! Big Vinyl Bibs. In segments that show them eating at home, they also wear bibs and sit in restaurant style wooden high chairs.
Sheesh. 5 years old. Bibs and Highchairs. Let them live a little. We know you get all those clothes for free at Gymboree, part of an exclusive product placement thing. So, don’t worry so much if they spill a little. Its kid stuff.
The 8 year olds do not wear bibs, so I guess that means the sextuplets can expect to graduate to being bibless sometime between ages 5 and 8. Something to look forward too.