If I Owned a Gas Station ...

If I owned a gas station, I would own two.  The two stations would have different names, and look completely different.  I would place the stations on opposite corners of the same four way intersection.  I would price the gas at one station at least 8 cents per gallon more expensive than the other.  This accomplishes a couple of things.

1. Drivers would stop at the cheaper station and not drive on to another intersection or freeway exit.  By comparing the two available stations, they can feel they have adequately comparison shopped and found the cheaper station.  They can feel peace as they buy gas from the cheaper station.
2. The business losses on the more expensive gas station could be claimed on my tax return, thus offsetting the increased taxes for the increased profit on the other station.

........ Yep, I have too much time to think when there's no traffic driving home.

Mom Tip: Washing a Car Seat

The only setting for washing a car seat is deep clean sanitize (hottest water possible), heaviest soil, maximum spin.  Yep, two hours in the washer should kill anything.  Include anything you can possibly remove from the seat without breaking it.  And just because she's a cute little girl with no "dirt" or chocolate on her car seat does NOT mean there isn't dried milk/formula lurking underneath.  Glad I'm washing them both.

Soak the buckles in the hot soapy water in the sink for 30 minutes.  Scrub with an abrasive sponge.

Vacuum the base.  Now that its safe to carry over carpet, carry base to bathroom tub.  Use a high pressure shower head setting with hot water to power wash the base.  Now that its okay to touch with both hands, use a table knife to scrape the melted crayons out of the pockets or "cubbies".  Rinse with the shower head.

Then spend another hour remembering how to put the thing back together.

Put child back in car seat next morning, ready for them to spill yogurt, milk, punch, or whatever they decide is most appropriate that day.

This should be done at least every 6 months, if not more often.

Memorial Day: Thank You for Your Service

We drove today, returning from Granny & Grandpa's to our home.  We bought gas, fast food, and ice cream.  We drove without being stopped to have our papers investigated, without passports, government approvals, or visas.  We used a small amount of cash to take our children hours away to see their grandparents without fear or despair.  We travelled at our pace and schedule.  Walking the kids when we stopped, playing Simon Says -- the prize, if Mommy lost, was ice cream for everyone, "mooing" at the cows along the way, and pointing out the American classic cars to our son.

We enjoyed our freedom today.  Our ability to go or stop as we please, to vacation even when money is tight, to enjoy our lives and our children in the sunshine of the day.

So, if you are a veteran or volunteer, whether you served overseas or state-side, thank you.  Thank you for your service.  For granting my little family this beautiful day free of fear and concern.

Working in the Yard

I have these wonderful childhood memories of working in the yard side-by-side with my parents.  Weeding was never fun, but I remember having fun being outside together in the fresh air.

Now that I have a 4 year old, I realized this weekend that "working side-by-side" is really just a euphemism for parents working until they are exhausted while their children play nearby.  ;)

Mom: "Can you pick up that stick I dropped?"
Kid has one of three answers:

1. (silence) .... "Hey, its a rolly-polly bug!"
2. "Yeah sure, Mom." (five minutes later stick is still in the way)
3. "Yeah sure, Mom." "Hey Mom, look its a sword!" (swish, swish, swish)

What gave me the impression that I was actually useful in the yard below the age of 16?  That's when I realized I should let it go.  As long as he wasn't getting hurt, he could "help" nearby all he wanted.

And no child, you can't use the man-sized lopers.  And no, you can't use the small ones either.  No one is losing a finger today.

Preschool Homework

My 4-year-old has to write his name 7 times on lined paper.  7 times.  He's now been sitting here an hour and has written his first name four times and his last name 3 times.  An hour!  He's completely missed the TV show I tried to bribe him with.

He then proceeds to tell me how his pencil doesn't work -- by doodling with his sharp pencil, how he hates school, and how he doesn't want to do homework all day.  (WELL, it wouldn't be ALL day, if you'd finish!!!)

I hope he speeds it up before we send him to college ..... (sigh)

Househusband vs. Housewife

I'd like to celebrate some differences that I have come to love and cherish over the last eight years of marriage.  Differences which I also acknowledge change frequently.

Moving in ... she worries about cleaning out the old dirt left by the previous owners, he worries about changing the locks left by the previous owners.

Cooking dinner ... she worries about whether there are enough fruits & veggies, he worries about whether there is enough meat and if there is bread with the rice dish.

He replaces faucets on a free Saturday.  She displaces cobwebs.

He thinks about mowing "the back 40", she thinks about turning over the garden.

Experimenting in the kitchen ... she cooks vegetarian shepherd's pie, he cooks brussels sprouts.

He makes sure she occasionally receives flowers from him.  She cuts the flowers, fills a vase with water, and puts the flowers on the table.  Then he runs the garbage disposal after she cuts the flowers.  She never will remember, no matter how many times he reminds her.

She makes salad, he runs the garbage disposal.  She cuts apples, he runs the garbage disposal.

She keeps her hair long, he occasionally calls the plumber to clean the shower drain.

He stays home for dinner, she buys Beano for him.

She runs out of hair conditioner, he loses his conditioner to her bathroom.

He replaces the door, and calls the job done.  She worries about the paint and trim.

She cleans out the lint trap, but doesn't replace it.  He envisions dismantling an entire dryer.  She imagines no laundry for a week.  She walks out in the yard, and finds the troublesome socks and dryer sheet.  Marital bliss is restored.

She thinks about a late night blizzard from Dairy Queen, decides he is tired, so she doesn't call -- saving him a few minutes on his drive home.  He's driving home, and thinks about Dairy Queen as well.  Knows his wife would be happy, but he convinces himself out of it.
Eight years -- and we're ALMOST getting the telepathic ice cream request figured out!!!

Working on it.

I did better this week at a few things, and could have done better at others.

+1 +2) I was embarrassed by someone, and then angry at them.  I refrained from writing them a scathing e-mail.  (I initially marked this as a plus one, but I'm giving myself a 2.)
-1) I complained about a situation at work and worried about it without trying to solve it, initially.
+1) After watching a peer take leadership to solve the problem, work it, and move forward, it reminded me to do the same, and I think I did so.  I now consider him a mentor.
+3) I got off my "kiester" and packed up the Christmas decorations (which have been partially down for weeks) and put them up in the garage.  Got down the Valentine'sDay/St.Patrick'sDay/Easter box.  Put away the baby swing, and got down the ExerSaucer.  And swept up the broken glass in the garage.  (Many thanks to my husband for his help.  Its much easier when one adult is on the ladder, and the other is on the ground handing stuff up.)
-1) Could have been a better Mom.  Won't get specific, but I was okay this week, not outstanding.  I know I have it in me to do better.
+1) Put together the ExerSaucer.
+1) Bought some food storage, and put it away. (Tuna fish, chili, and soups.)
+1) Did an art project with my son.
-2) Didn't do a couple things I need to do for Primary (my church responsibilities).

Like I said, I'm working on it.  I have a positive total, but it doesn't matter.  The things I didn't do so well on are just as important to me as what I did better on this week.  BUT, I'm working on it.