Sunday, January 27, 2008
BOYS!
Yes, another boy. We are having another boy. It's a boy. Just one boy. So that will bring us to a total of THREE boys. Yes, we are very excited. Ernie is jumping for joy. He is building his "clone army"...
Vladimir Learns to Blow His Nose
Not to be outdone by his brother - Vladimir soon learned how to blow his nose. He also mastered the concept of recycling, using the same tissue more than once!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Fuel Economy = Big Bucks?
Here is whay I read today in an article about the North American Auto Show in Detroit:
Every automaker has given a glimpse over the past two days of its strategies for dealing with tougher U.S. fuel economy regulations, rising oil prices and a surge of global warming rules around the globe. While Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. have pledged new hybrids, General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC have touted a variety of approaches. Ford Motor Co. has bet big on a single technology.
But in interviews with the Free Press, Detroit executives said the technical hurdles to meeting a 35-m.p.g. standard by 2020 were less difficult than getting customers to accept the changes and extra costs that come along with the goal.
GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told reporters at the show that the new U.S. rules would cost the industry $5,000 to $7,000 per vehicle, with much higher costs possible for some models.
Yeah...right.
Funny that I own a 2001 Hyundai Accent, 4-cylinder, hatchback that STILL gets more than 30 MPG. Know what I paid for it NEW? $9,700. Does Hyundai know something that Ford and GM don't about fuel technology? Is my car made out of some super light material with a hyper-aerodynamic design? I think not. Maybe the technology in my car cost Hyundai $7,000 and the rest of the car only cost them $2,500? Maybe.
You can get a brand new Hyundai Accent for $10,700 - list prince - and the MPGs listed on the web site are 33. This is with NO Hybrid technology, mind you. Just good, efficient design.
So how come it is going to take another 12 years for the American automakers to catch up to the Koreans? It is such a joke. Just another excuse to jack up car prices and stick it to the American consumer while continuing to support our dependence on foreign oil while harming our environment.
Greed - priceless.
Every automaker has given a glimpse over the past two days of its strategies for dealing with tougher U.S. fuel economy regulations, rising oil prices and a surge of global warming rules around the globe. While Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. have pledged new hybrids, General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC have touted a variety of approaches. Ford Motor Co. has bet big on a single technology.
But in interviews with the Free Press, Detroit executives said the technical hurdles to meeting a 35-m.p.g. standard by 2020 were less difficult than getting customers to accept the changes and extra costs that come along with the goal.
GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told reporters at the show that the new U.S. rules would cost the industry $5,000 to $7,000 per vehicle, with much higher costs possible for some models.
Yeah...right.
Funny that I own a 2001 Hyundai Accent, 4-cylinder, hatchback that STILL gets more than 30 MPG. Know what I paid for it NEW? $9,700. Does Hyundai know something that Ford and GM don't about fuel technology? Is my car made out of some super light material with a hyper-aerodynamic design? I think not. Maybe the technology in my car cost Hyundai $7,000 and the rest of the car only cost them $2,500? Maybe.
You can get a brand new Hyundai Accent for $10,700 - list prince - and the MPGs listed on the web site are 33. This is with NO Hybrid technology, mind you. Just good, efficient design.
So how come it is going to take another 12 years for the American automakers to catch up to the Koreans? It is such a joke. Just another excuse to jack up car prices and stick it to the American consumer while continuing to support our dependence on foreign oil while harming our environment.
Greed - priceless.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Happy New Year
Yes...I know I am late. Sorry. I have been finding it increasingly difficult to get to the blog these days. I don't think I can really be called a blogger anymore.
So, a couple of things that you all most likely already know.
1. I am pregnant. Again. No, it is not twins again. This time there is only one, and yes, I am sure. However the interesting thing is that the doctor says it began as two...identical yolk sacs seperated by a membrane. One developed and the other didn't. So - we came very close to another set of identical twins. Weird, isn't it? I wonder if this new baby will feel all of it's life like somebody or something is mising? This newest addition to the Adzentoivich clan is due to arrive July 9th or thereabouts. So I don't know if we will be able to hold the Second Annual AdStock at the end of August. But I will keep you posted.
2. I don't know if there is a number two. Hmmmm. Well, my grandfather just turned 90 and we are having a big wingdig this weekend for him. That's pretty impressive I think.
3. Ernie got himself a nice shiny new Mac laptop. You know, the cool little white kind? I am having a little bit of computer envy.
4. I had a birthday.
The Adzentoivich Super Twins are doing swell. Big. Real big. They weigh 27 pounds and then some...each. Almost three feet tall. They don't sleep in cribs anymore. They are in their toddler beds, or the floor, or the IKEA couch, wherever. But the point is they are sleeping better. Yes, Waylon climbed head first out of his crib and that was the end of the cribs. They love playing Landscaper's Challenge outside since the weather has been mild. Vladimir digs in the garden, removing leaves to the grassy part of the yard, while Waylon moves the bricks that form the garden "wall" border from place to place around the patio. I haven't seen their master plan yet but I am sure it must be quite crafty.
That's it really. I am just working and trying to eat large amounts of protein to grow another Super Baby. This proves a little bit of a challenge as every time I eat in the presence of the Wonder Twins they end up consuming at least 2/3 of my cereal, sandwich, ice cream, pie, cheese, enchalada...you get the picture. So I have to hoard my food at the office or late night (like 9pm!) after they have gone to sleep.
So, a couple of things that you all most likely already know.
1. I am pregnant. Again. No, it is not twins again. This time there is only one, and yes, I am sure. However the interesting thing is that the doctor says it began as two...identical yolk sacs seperated by a membrane. One developed and the other didn't. So - we came very close to another set of identical twins. Weird, isn't it? I wonder if this new baby will feel all of it's life like somebody or something is mising? This newest addition to the Adzentoivich clan is due to arrive July 9th or thereabouts. So I don't know if we will be able to hold the Second Annual AdStock at the end of August. But I will keep you posted.
2. I don't know if there is a number two. Hmmmm. Well, my grandfather just turned 90 and we are having a big wingdig this weekend for him. That's pretty impressive I think.
3. Ernie got himself a nice shiny new Mac laptop. You know, the cool little white kind? I am having a little bit of computer envy.
4. I had a birthday.
The Adzentoivich Super Twins are doing swell. Big. Real big. They weigh 27 pounds and then some...each. Almost three feet tall. They don't sleep in cribs anymore. They are in their toddler beds, or the floor, or the IKEA couch, wherever. But the point is they are sleeping better. Yes, Waylon climbed head first out of his crib and that was the end of the cribs. They love playing Landscaper's Challenge outside since the weather has been mild. Vladimir digs in the garden, removing leaves to the grassy part of the yard, while Waylon moves the bricks that form the garden "wall" border from place to place around the patio. I haven't seen their master plan yet but I am sure it must be quite crafty.
That's it really. I am just working and trying to eat large amounts of protein to grow another Super Baby. This proves a little bit of a challenge as every time I eat in the presence of the Wonder Twins they end up consuming at least 2/3 of my cereal, sandwich, ice cream, pie, cheese, enchalada...you get the picture. So I have to hoard my food at the office or late night (like 9pm!) after they have gone to sleep.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
The Magic of Bumbo
Yes, I did post about how these seats had a safety recall. I think this little video explain why!
(no, none of these are my kids. Wish I had thought of it though)
(no, none of these are my kids. Wish I had thought of it though)
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Posts #22 - 26
OK OK. So I fell off the NaBloPo wagon. Sorry about that folks. Here is the story.
Thanksgiving was at my house this year. This was my own doing. I wanted it this way. And it was fine. My grandfather came from his nursing home with my parents and it was just them and us and my sister. A small gathering. Intimate. My mother made some green bean caserole, some sort of cauliflower caserole and two pies. My sister made corn bread and bought the wine. I did the rest. It was quite a spread and very traditional.
The boys were not interested in anything remotely Thanksgiving-y. All they wanted to eat were cinnamon graham crackers. Much of their dinner was left on the floor. Half way through the meal they began to fall asleep so we knew it was time for them to visit Swingtown and napping ensued.
This was actually excellent timing because I was able to enjoy my feasting using both hands and taking time to taste the foods. Perfect.
Later, we realised that Waylon was wheezing and that his breathing was very labored. I pulled out the nebulizer from when he had pnemonia at 6 months old. This helped him for about an hour and a half, then we needed to do it again. Poor little guy was miserable.
Company departs and we try to put the boys to bed. Waylon would have none of it and his breathing seemed to worsen. So I become, once again, that woman who calls the pediatrician on every single holiday with some sort of question or concern. (remember the one last year when I called to say I had dropped a box of chocolates on the baby's head while we were in Target?!)
Doctor says to keep giving him the medicine every two hours through the night and if he gets worse to go to the hospital. Then to bring him to the office first thing in the morning.
Nobody got any sleep that night. Baby spent all night in mommy and daddy's bed, not sleeping. Other baby was in his own room and woke screaming to find his brother missing.
Go to doctor. Doctor says, "no more monkey's jumping on the bed" - no he says "sounds like he has some pnemonia again and definitely is wheezing". More meds. Antibiotics, steroids, asthma stuff. Great.
Second baby has chronic runny nose that ends in his mouth every time. Gross, but at least he is able to breathe so he gets very little attention over the next several days.
So, the next night, nobody sleeps. Try to get Waylon to sleep in his own crib. It doesn't work. Spend the night alternatingly putting him back to his crib, carrying him into my room.
Next day, back to doctor. Doctor says "Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla, bing bang..." - no he says "sounds like he is doing better. Keep him on the meds and bring him back on Monday."
That night, nobody sleeps....blah blah blah.
Monday, we all go to the doctor for a scheduled 15 month check-up. Sick baby gets no shots but his poor, neglected brother gets two for good measure. Plan of action is to keep sick baby on nebulizer through mid-January to prevent him from getting more phnemonia. Problem is, sick baby HATES nebulizer more than he hates eggs (just like his daddy).
Other piece of adivice from pediatrician at 15 month check-up - create a room in your house where they can play. Take out all of the furniture and put a light in the ceiling. Put pre-school-type padding on the floor and pad the lower half of the walls if you need to. Put lots of pillows on the floor. Oh yeah, and the room should have no windows. Why you may ask? Well, this is because one boy likes to bang his head on things like the floor or the wall and then his brother follows along and they both think it is hysterical. They both also enjoy breaking every gate we have in place to confine their world, and crawling up and down the stairs ar breakneck speeds is a favorite passtime. Also, slamming one another's fingers (and on occassion, one's own) in the piano is great fun! And lastly, the best time these days is had by shaking the gate that seperates them from the flat screen TV and the cabinet it is on so that both the TV and the cabinet shake and teeter precariously. And the floor lamp has already been knocked down, broken and removed from the room.
Did I happen to mention that this is my livingroom?
Does this sound like a fun place to play or solitary confinement?
And, by the way, we live in a 100 year old house. Every room has windows, mostly they are only 2 1/2 feet off the ground (perfect for boys to bang on), and every room has weird angles and corners. There are no simple, square, one point of entry rooms in our home. So, unless we move this isn't going to happen.
Today mommy is back at work and babies are having a daddy/baby-sitter day today. Mommy is a wee bit tired after such a fun filled few days at home with the family, but wouldn't trade it for anything.
Now, if anyone knows of a house with a room like that for sale, let me know.
Thanksgiving was at my house this year. This was my own doing. I wanted it this way. And it was fine. My grandfather came from his nursing home with my parents and it was just them and us and my sister. A small gathering. Intimate. My mother made some green bean caserole, some sort of cauliflower caserole and two pies. My sister made corn bread and bought the wine. I did the rest. It was quite a spread and very traditional.
The boys were not interested in anything remotely Thanksgiving-y. All they wanted to eat were cinnamon graham crackers. Much of their dinner was left on the floor. Half way through the meal they began to fall asleep so we knew it was time for them to visit Swingtown and napping ensued.
This was actually excellent timing because I was able to enjoy my feasting using both hands and taking time to taste the foods. Perfect.
Later, we realised that Waylon was wheezing and that his breathing was very labored. I pulled out the nebulizer from when he had pnemonia at 6 months old. This helped him for about an hour and a half, then we needed to do it again. Poor little guy was miserable.
Company departs and we try to put the boys to bed. Waylon would have none of it and his breathing seemed to worsen. So I become, once again, that woman who calls the pediatrician on every single holiday with some sort of question or concern. (remember the one last year when I called to say I had dropped a box of chocolates on the baby's head while we were in Target?!)
Doctor says to keep giving him the medicine every two hours through the night and if he gets worse to go to the hospital. Then to bring him to the office first thing in the morning.
Nobody got any sleep that night. Baby spent all night in mommy and daddy's bed, not sleeping. Other baby was in his own room and woke screaming to find his brother missing.
Go to doctor. Doctor says, "no more monkey's jumping on the bed" - no he says "sounds like he has some pnemonia again and definitely is wheezing". More meds. Antibiotics, steroids, asthma stuff. Great.
Second baby has chronic runny nose that ends in his mouth every time. Gross, but at least he is able to breathe so he gets very little attention over the next several days.
So, the next night, nobody sleeps. Try to get Waylon to sleep in his own crib. It doesn't work. Spend the night alternatingly putting him back to his crib, carrying him into my room.
Next day, back to doctor. Doctor says "Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang walla walla, bing bang..." - no he says "sounds like he is doing better. Keep him on the meds and bring him back on Monday."
That night, nobody sleeps....blah blah blah.
Monday, we all go to the doctor for a scheduled 15 month check-up. Sick baby gets no shots but his poor, neglected brother gets two for good measure. Plan of action is to keep sick baby on nebulizer through mid-January to prevent him from getting more phnemonia. Problem is, sick baby HATES nebulizer more than he hates eggs (just like his daddy).
Other piece of adivice from pediatrician at 15 month check-up - create a room in your house where they can play. Take out all of the furniture and put a light in the ceiling. Put pre-school-type padding on the floor and pad the lower half of the walls if you need to. Put lots of pillows on the floor. Oh yeah, and the room should have no windows. Why you may ask? Well, this is because one boy likes to bang his head on things like the floor or the wall and then his brother follows along and they both think it is hysterical. They both also enjoy breaking every gate we have in place to confine their world, and crawling up and down the stairs ar breakneck speeds is a favorite passtime. Also, slamming one another's fingers (and on occassion, one's own) in the piano is great fun! And lastly, the best time these days is had by shaking the gate that seperates them from the flat screen TV and the cabinet it is on so that both the TV and the cabinet shake and teeter precariously. And the floor lamp has already been knocked down, broken and removed from the room.
Did I happen to mention that this is my livingroom?
Does this sound like a fun place to play or solitary confinement?
And, by the way, we live in a 100 year old house. Every room has windows, mostly they are only 2 1/2 feet off the ground (perfect for boys to bang on), and every room has weird angles and corners. There are no simple, square, one point of entry rooms in our home. So, unless we move this isn't going to happen.
Today mommy is back at work and babies are having a daddy/baby-sitter day today. Mommy is a wee bit tired after such a fun filled few days at home with the family, but wouldn't trade it for anything.
Now, if anyone knows of a house with a room like that for sale, let me know.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Post #21
OK, I admit this wasn't written by me - but I had to pass it along.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Who's Sitting At The Children's Table?
Lifetime Products, based in Clearfield, Utah, commissioned a survey in October about American trends related to the ubiquitous kiddie table. Here are key findings:
More than nine in ten adults surveyed (94%) have sat at a kiddie table during Thanksgiving, while 83% have sat at the kiddie table for Christmas and 47% have sat there during Easter meals.
More than one in four adults (26%) and almost half of the children surveyed (44%) think the kiddie table is just plain more fun than the adult table.
Most often, adults ages 18-24 years old say their kiddie table was a plastic folding table (37%), but only 6% of respondents ages 45 and older can make that claim.
Forty percent of adults ages 18-24 say their kiddie table was set with disposable plates and utensils, while only 11% of adults ages 45 and older make that claim. Also, 84% of adults 45 and older report that their kiddie table had a tablecloth on it, but only 54% of people in the 18-24 age group say their table was set that way.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Who's Sitting At The Children's Table?
Lifetime Products, based in Clearfield, Utah, commissioned a survey in October about American trends related to the ubiquitous kiddie table. Here are key findings:
More than nine in ten adults surveyed (94%) have sat at a kiddie table during Thanksgiving, while 83% have sat at the kiddie table for Christmas and 47% have sat there during Easter meals.
More than one in four adults (26%) and almost half of the children surveyed (44%) think the kiddie table is just plain more fun than the adult table.
Most often, adults ages 18-24 years old say their kiddie table was a plastic folding table (37%), but only 6% of respondents ages 45 and older can make that claim.
Forty percent of adults ages 18-24 say their kiddie table was set with disposable plates and utensils, while only 11% of adults ages 45 and older make that claim. Also, 84% of adults 45 and older report that their kiddie table had a tablecloth on it, but only 54% of people in the 18-24 age group say their table was set that way.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Post #20
This post was supposed to be a video from YouTube but for some reason it didn't post. Darn technology!
Go to YouTube and search on How To Sleep (or try clicking here) by Robert Benchley. I wonder if Lucy and Ricky know this guy was sleeping in their bedroom?
There are some good tips on how to get a good nights' sleep after Thanksgiving dinner too.
Enjoy!
Go to YouTube and search on How To Sleep (or try clicking here) by Robert Benchley. I wonder if Lucy and Ricky know this guy was sleeping in their bedroom?
There are some good tips on how to get a good nights' sleep after Thanksgiving dinner too.
Enjoy!
Monday, November 19, 2007
Post #19
Must...sleep.....sooo......t-i-r-e-d.......
dinner...in...city...with..google.....
just...got...home.....
must...blog....damn...na-blo-po-mo.......
night...night...dltbbb
dinner...in...city...with..google.....
just...got...home.....
must...blog....damn...na-blo-po-mo.......
night...night...dltbbb
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Post # 18
First, have you seen Josette and Anne's blogs today? OMG...for a dose of the funnies, click here now. And then here.
Finished laughing yet? Wow. Those are good photos. I myself never indulged in the perm craze due to my naturally curly hair and all that. MY sister however, she was all about the perm. Unfortunately, I have no photos from the past to share with y'all. But I am going to keep it in mind the next time I am at my parents' house and have access to the family albums. That's funny stuff.
So, today what did we do? We had a little Thanksgiving of sorts, early-like. Jen and Steph from the perm era came over with their kids (three in all aged 10 mos to 7 years) and our new friends Joe and Marnie with their son (age 2yrs). We all got bundled up cuz it was cold here today don't ya know, and trekked down to the UBS Thanksgiving Parade Spectacular!
Husband and I have gone for the past two years. It is right down the street afterall. Last year we brought the Wondertwins in their Baby Bjorns, but they slept through the entire thing. This year, they were all bright eyed, demanding to sit atop daddy and/or mommy's shoulders. Lucky for me I had Uncle Steve standing by to do shoulder duty. I mean, have you ever tried to carry close to 30 pounds on your shoulders?
So, all the kiddies loved it. The Baranello family brought thermoses filled with hot cocoa. The kids all got to see Santa at the end. All of the favorite balloons were there; Kermit, Ms. Piggy, Beetle Bailey, Betty Boop, Big Bird, and of course Elmo and Dorothy.
Back at the house we continued the festivities with hot chili, warm apple cider and brownies. Yummm. Kiddies played (fought) with toys and the living room became a preschool for the afternoon. It was really a scene right out of Family Vacation or something like that. No, really the kids played together really nicely, especially giving their wide-range of ages. It was so nice to see them all running around, laughing and playing. At the end of the day it really felt like a special holiday moment. And yes, I am cheesy, I can't help it.
I promise to post some pics of the day (no, I didn't take that aerial shot of Elmo, I lifted it from the Parade site...psyche!). And I really hope you all have a wonderful and memorable Thanksgiving this year surrounded by friends and family!
Finished laughing yet? Wow. Those are good photos. I myself never indulged in the perm craze due to my naturally curly hair and all that. MY sister however, she was all about the perm. Unfortunately, I have no photos from the past to share with y'all. But I am going to keep it in mind the next time I am at my parents' house and have access to the family albums. That's funny stuff.
So, today what did we do? We had a little Thanksgiving of sorts, early-like. Jen and Steph from the perm era came over with their kids (three in all aged 10 mos to 7 years) and our new friends Joe and Marnie with their son (age 2yrs). We all got bundled up cuz it was cold here today don't ya know, and trekked down to the UBS Thanksgiving Parade Spectacular!
Husband and I have gone for the past two years. It is right down the street afterall. Last year we brought the Wondertwins in their Baby Bjorns, but they slept through the entire thing. This year, they were all bright eyed, demanding to sit atop daddy and/or mommy's shoulders. Lucky for me I had Uncle Steve standing by to do shoulder duty. I mean, have you ever tried to carry close to 30 pounds on your shoulders?So, all the kiddies loved it. The Baranello family brought thermoses filled with hot cocoa. The kids all got to see Santa at the end. All of the favorite balloons were there; Kermit, Ms. Piggy, Beetle Bailey, Betty Boop, Big Bird, and of course Elmo and Dorothy.
Back at the house we continued the festivities with hot chili, warm apple cider and brownies. Yummm. Kiddies played (fought) with toys and the living room became a preschool for the afternoon. It was really a scene right out of Family Vacation or something like that. No, really the kids played together really nicely, especially giving their wide-range of ages. It was so nice to see them all running around, laughing and playing. At the end of the day it really felt like a special holiday moment. And yes, I am cheesy, I can't help it.
I promise to post some pics of the day (no, I didn't take that aerial shot of Elmo, I lifted it from the Parade site...psyche!). And I really hope you all have a wonderful and memorable Thanksgiving this year surrounded by friends and family!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Post #17
Since I spent the entire day with the boys, on my own, and they completely wiped me out, I am going to follow the advice of the late, great Red Skelton and "give the people what they want" (well, one person anyway). Following are more pics of the wonder twins. Enjoy!
Vladimir smiles for daddy while mama is in Orlando at a nasty hotel...
Vladi is ready to play catcher.
Waylon in his new favorite helmet, poses for the lens.
Oh yeah. P.S. - they are that tortellini, pumpkin, tomato paste stuff for dinner again tonight! Left overs from a few nights ago. And hot dogs worked well for lunch. I guess they like processed meats. Go figure.
Vladimir smiles for daddy while mama is in Orlando at a nasty hotel...
Vladi is ready to play catcher.
Waylon in his new favorite helmet, poses for the lens.Oh yeah. P.S. - they are that tortellini, pumpkin, tomato paste stuff for dinner again tonight! Left overs from a few nights ago. And hot dogs worked well for lunch. I guess they like processed meats. Go figure.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Post #16
Today I spent the day in NYC. Boy, was it cold. It felt like winter. Brr. And it is only supposed to get colder over the weekend. Sunday is the Thanksgiving Parade in town. With the big Macy's Day Parade balloons. Or I should say the rejects from past Macy's Parades that didn't make the cut this year. They also fly some that are brand new and need a test run before the Big City parade on Thursday. Either way, it is a fun spectacle and the entire town, and more, come out for it every year. I am really looking forward to the boys' reactions this year. Last year they slept through it.
I spent the day at Yahoo! today and got to see all of my former colleagues. Most of us have moved on to different agencies but we all keep in touch via email from time to time. When I walked into the room it was like I had stepped back in time to my former office. Some of the folks there I hadn't seen since the day I left. It was really nice.
Yahoo! gave us each a big flippin' umbrella as a parting gift at the end of the day. Not so sure what to do with such a huge umbrella in the suburbs seeing as we don't play golf. In the city we used umbrellas like that when we had to walk around town during a downpour. Now that we are suburbanites we take the car everywhere. Not all that much walking to do. Maybe we can take it to the parade on Sunday?
OK. Gotta run. I just heard Mrs. Jinx puking in the dining room and I'd better go clean it up.
Mrs. Jinx is the cat...
I spent the day at Yahoo! today and got to see all of my former colleagues. Most of us have moved on to different agencies but we all keep in touch via email from time to time. When I walked into the room it was like I had stepped back in time to my former office. Some of the folks there I hadn't seen since the day I left. It was really nice.
Yahoo! gave us each a big flippin' umbrella as a parting gift at the end of the day. Not so sure what to do with such a huge umbrella in the suburbs seeing as we don't play golf. In the city we used umbrellas like that when we had to walk around town during a downpour. Now that we are suburbanites we take the car everywhere. Not all that much walking to do. Maybe we can take it to the parade on Sunday?
OK. Gotta run. I just heard Mrs. Jinx puking in the dining room and I'd better go clean it up.
Mrs. Jinx is the cat...
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Post #15
I am back at home. Regular day at the office today.
It feels good to be back at home with the family. I missed the boys so badly. It is great to be back with them. I love getting to put them to bed and read them their stories.
They haven't wanted to eat anything for the past month or so. I thought at first it was because of the teething (they each have about 14 teeth already) but now that they are all in and they still don't want to eat I don't know.
I am so desperate to get them to eat that I made a gross concoction tonight with the hope that they would get some of it into their gullets. It went something like this.
Meat Tortellini
Corn
Canned Pumpkin
Tomato Paste
Bread Crumbs
Wheat Germ
Cinnamon
Mix all together, put in casserole dish and bake for 25 minutes (or dish out lukewarm before screaming gets too loud).
Believe me, I do not believe in torturing my children. I ate the stuff first. I stood in front of them pretending that it was "sooooo Delicious!" Blech. But it ended up being my dinner too. I am a team player don't ya' know.
Waylon actually ate quite a bit of the glop. Vlad, not so much. I redeemed myself with garlic bread which we all enjoyed very much.
This culinary delight was topped off with one Empire apple, that nobody really ate.
Ah well. I will keep on trying new mash ups until I find something that they will eat. In the meantime, I don't think we have to worry about either of them wasting away....
It feels good to be back at home with the family. I missed the boys so badly. It is great to be back with them. I love getting to put them to bed and read them their stories.
They haven't wanted to eat anything for the past month or so. I thought at first it was because of the teething (they each have about 14 teeth already) but now that they are all in and they still don't want to eat I don't know.
I am so desperate to get them to eat that I made a gross concoction tonight with the hope that they would get some of it into their gullets. It went something like this.
Meat Tortellini
Corn
Canned Pumpkin
Tomato Paste
Bread Crumbs
Wheat Germ
Cinnamon
Mix all together, put in casserole dish and bake for 25 minutes (or dish out lukewarm before screaming gets too loud).
Believe me, I do not believe in torturing my children. I ate the stuff first. I stood in front of them pretending that it was "sooooo Delicious!" Blech. But it ended up being my dinner too. I am a team player don't ya' know.
Waylon actually ate quite a bit of the glop. Vlad, not so much. I redeemed myself with garlic bread which we all enjoyed very much.
This culinary delight was topped off with one Empire apple, that nobody really ate.
Ah well. I will keep on trying new mash ups until I find something that they will eat. In the meantime, I don't think we have to worry about either of them wasting away....
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Post #14
Well here I am at the end of my trip to Orlando and I managed to post every day! Granted, yesterday's post was sort of lame...but at least I logged on and typed something. I feel very accomplished!
Last night we went to the House of Blues at the Magic Kingdom and had dinner and saw a Keller Williams show. Judy and I took the client. It was a pretty good dinner. The atmosphere at House of Blues is pretty cool. The entire place is a follk art piece. Folk art on the walls, ceiling, floors....we were trying to figure out if it was authentic art or "Disney" art. I still have no idea.
The show was pretty good. I guess Keller Williams is popular with the hippie kids and the older generation of Dead Heads. The kids were dancing the free-style and the older folks were in the balcony (more expensive seats) swaying back and forth. It was actually more entertaining to watch the crowd than to watch the show.
Today I planned to sleep with no alarm and then have breakfast and grab a cab to the airport. I guess I didn't fill-in my better half because at 7:15 my phone rang and there he was. I heard the boys in the background tearing apart the kitchen. Ah, well. I guess I didn't really need the extra sleep.
It was a productive few days and enjoyable too. I can't wait to get home anc see the family this afternoon. I miss them so much!
Last night we went to the House of Blues at the Magic Kingdom and had dinner and saw a Keller Williams show. Judy and I took the client. It was a pretty good dinner. The atmosphere at House of Blues is pretty cool. The entire place is a follk art piece. Folk art on the walls, ceiling, floors....we were trying to figure out if it was authentic art or "Disney" art. I still have no idea.
The show was pretty good. I guess Keller Williams is popular with the hippie kids and the older generation of Dead Heads. The kids were dancing the free-style and the older folks were in the balcony (more expensive seats) swaying back and forth. It was actually more entertaining to watch the crowd than to watch the show.
Today I planned to sleep with no alarm and then have breakfast and grab a cab to the airport. I guess I didn't fill-in my better half because at 7:15 my phone rang and there he was. I heard the boys in the background tearing apart the kitchen. Ah, well. I guess I didn't really need the extra sleep.
It was a productive few days and enjoyable too. I can't wait to get home anc see the family this afternoon. I miss them so much!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Post #13
Last night I ate Gator. It was pretty good. We had a great dinner with Yahoo.
Everyone hates this hotel. It's not just me.
Everyone hates this hotel. It's not just me.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Post #12
To answer Steph's question - yes, we are in Celebration. Though not in the cute little town. We just drove through there and it was so bizarre - clean, orderly, art-deco architecture mixed with PLantaion homes. My co-worker Judy keeps calling it the Truman Show. And would you believe I saw billboards advertising condos starting in the $100's?! I mean, can you really buy a place to live down here for that little? It is very tempting.
And to answer Steph's other question - the cab driver said he hated Haititans because he is an American who has been driving a cab since April 1980 and in the past 5 or 6 years he has seen the Hatians take over the taxi cab business in central Florida. He said they are terrible partners and he has to share a cab with one because there are no other Americans to choose from. He said they all lie and cheat and can't speak the American language (please believe that I am not making any of this up). He asked me if all of the taxi drivers in the Northeast were foreigners too. I was like "um...yes?"
Then the guy told me about his father who was in "that generation that Tom Brokaw wrote about". He fought in WWII and lost a lot of good men. He was a "seer" or a "psychic" and my cabbie felt that he had inherited some of his father's gift of sight. He also told me that when he was 18 he was a hippy-wannabe and that he used to use the Lord's name in vain and say GD all the time. And now he wishes he could take all of those bad words back (the guy was like 60). He also told me that he began reading scripture when he was 18. And it dawned on him then, and it becomes clearer to him each year, that in America people are too self-centered and materialistic. And what did I think about that? He also told me that he forgets stuff and thinks it might be early onset Alzheimers. And by the way, he hates computers and doesn't own one and doesn't believe in them and Bill Gates is a theif and a liar and so are all of those other people who made computers and "that internet" - HELLO! I am here to attend a conference about INTERNET MARKETING!!! I was so glad that we got to my hotel before he asked me what sort of business I was travelling on.
I was just happy to make it out of the car in one piece. Maybe this isn't the scary part of Florida, but that guy was one character that will go down in the books.
Today we went to the hotel where the conference was. We were unable to get a room there when we booked ourselves for the conference because it was sold out. Well my lordy. It is soooooo beautiful! The Omni Champions Gate (or something like that). There is no comparison between the two hotels. I don't know why the conference organizers chose this dump as second to the conference venue.....
But all else is good. The weather is nice. We had breakfast with the client at Shoney's - which was delicous in a gross way. Biscuits and gravy. Yummmmm. And we had an excellent lunch at the conference hotel. And in about an hour I will be off to dinner with Yahoo and the client at Charley's Steakhouse, so I am sure it won't be a low-cal dinner. Though the sinus infection and antibiotics will keep the alcohol at bay, I am sure I can find other empty calories to take it's place - like maybe Dessert!
And to answer Steph's other question - the cab driver said he hated Haititans because he is an American who has been driving a cab since April 1980 and in the past 5 or 6 years he has seen the Hatians take over the taxi cab business in central Florida. He said they are terrible partners and he has to share a cab with one because there are no other Americans to choose from. He said they all lie and cheat and can't speak the American language (please believe that I am not making any of this up). He asked me if all of the taxi drivers in the Northeast were foreigners too. I was like "um...yes?"
Then the guy told me about his father who was in "that generation that Tom Brokaw wrote about". He fought in WWII and lost a lot of good men. He was a "seer" or a "psychic" and my cabbie felt that he had inherited some of his father's gift of sight. He also told me that when he was 18 he was a hippy-wannabe and that he used to use the Lord's name in vain and say GD all the time. And now he wishes he could take all of those bad words back (the guy was like 60). He also told me that he began reading scripture when he was 18. And it dawned on him then, and it becomes clearer to him each year, that in America people are too self-centered and materialistic. And what did I think about that? He also told me that he forgets stuff and thinks it might be early onset Alzheimers. And by the way, he hates computers and doesn't own one and doesn't believe in them and Bill Gates is a theif and a liar and so are all of those other people who made computers and "that internet" - HELLO! I am here to attend a conference about INTERNET MARKETING!!! I was so glad that we got to my hotel before he asked me what sort of business I was travelling on.
I was just happy to make it out of the car in one piece. Maybe this isn't the scary part of Florida, but that guy was one character that will go down in the books.
Today we went to the hotel where the conference was. We were unable to get a room there when we booked ourselves for the conference because it was sold out. Well my lordy. It is soooooo beautiful! The Omni Champions Gate (or something like that). There is no comparison between the two hotels. I don't know why the conference organizers chose this dump as second to the conference venue.....
But all else is good. The weather is nice. We had breakfast with the client at Shoney's - which was delicous in a gross way. Biscuits and gravy. Yummmmm. And we had an excellent lunch at the conference hotel. And in about an hour I will be off to dinner with Yahoo and the client at Charley's Steakhouse, so I am sure it won't be a low-cal dinner. Though the sinus infection and antibiotics will keep the alcohol at bay, I am sure I can find other empty calories to take it's place - like maybe Dessert!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Post #11
Hubby and I had a very romantic, relaxing evening at the Doral Arrowwood Hotel in Rye Brook, NY. It was a beautiful resort. Our room was OK. Ernie used the gym and the sauna and steam room. We went to Tarrytown, which is an adorable little village on the Hudson River for lunch today. There is an amazing Greek place on the corner of Main Street that had a 20 minute wait. We sat outside and ate with our coats on to avoid the wait. The gyros were amazing. Like the best I have ever tasted. Wow.
Then Ernie dopped me off at the airport (conveniently 10 minutes from the rresort) and off I flew to Orlando, which is where I am right now. In a crappy hotel. One mile from Disney. The hotel is the Radisson ORlando Celebration. I arrived at 7pm. I have three nights accomodations which had been reserved for more than a month. I check in and they tell me at the front desk that I only had two nights booked. I was like, um, please check again. I am tired and hungry and still suffering from a sinus infection.
I convince them to give me a third night. After a few minutes in a back room, the front desk person came back to tell me "no worries", they would have a room for me.
I get to my room and unpack. OK. Starving. I tell my boss and coworker that I am not going to join them for dinner because I need a good nights' sleep. I call room service, about 100 times, and realize there is no room service. I call the Guest Services number and they ask if I want to speak to a manager and I tell them no, I want some food. Can you get me some? Again "do you want to speak to a manager?" So I hung up.
There are two menus under my room door from local pizza joints. Visions of a creepy delivery guy from central Florida coming to my hotel room gives me chills. Plus, I gave almost all of my cash to the super-creepy, bible-thumping, Hatian-hating, ex-hippie, army brat taxi driver on the way to the hotel.
An hour later I switch out of my comfy sweat pants back into my travel clothes and make the treck across the tropical waterfall area to the next building where a deli and Pizza Hut are. Gross. Starving. ??? What would you do?
I ordered a veggie lovers pizza and bring it back to my room. Gross. But at least now I'm not hungry.
That's it. Again. Don't ever stay here. Terrible service and I have only been here for two hours.
Oh yeah, and the up button on the TV remote doesn't work either. Geesh.
Then Ernie dopped me off at the airport (conveniently 10 minutes from the rresort) and off I flew to Orlando, which is where I am right now. In a crappy hotel. One mile from Disney. The hotel is the Radisson ORlando Celebration. I arrived at 7pm. I have three nights accomodations which had been reserved for more than a month. I check in and they tell me at the front desk that I only had two nights booked. I was like, um, please check again. I am tired and hungry and still suffering from a sinus infection.
I convince them to give me a third night. After a few minutes in a back room, the front desk person came back to tell me "no worries", they would have a room for me.
I get to my room and unpack. OK. Starving. I tell my boss and coworker that I am not going to join them for dinner because I need a good nights' sleep. I call room service, about 100 times, and realize there is no room service. I call the Guest Services number and they ask if I want to speak to a manager and I tell them no, I want some food. Can you get me some? Again "do you want to speak to a manager?" So I hung up.
There are two menus under my room door from local pizza joints. Visions of a creepy delivery guy from central Florida coming to my hotel room gives me chills. Plus, I gave almost all of my cash to the super-creepy, bible-thumping, Hatian-hating, ex-hippie, army brat taxi driver on the way to the hotel.
An hour later I switch out of my comfy sweat pants back into my travel clothes and make the treck across the tropical waterfall area to the next building where a deli and Pizza Hut are. Gross. Starving. ??? What would you do?
I ordered a veggie lovers pizza and bring it back to my room. Gross. But at least now I'm not hungry.
That's it. Again. Don't ever stay here. Terrible service and I have only been here for two hours.
Oh yeah, and the up button on the TV remote doesn't work either. Geesh.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Post #10
Today hubby and I are going on a mini-vacation! Woo-hoo. We are going to a resort two towns away. Though very close to home, it IS in another state (NY). So we can feel like we are "esacaping" for the first time in 14 months.
We were supposed to spend a long weekend in Orlando since I am going there on business tomorrow. But the airfares were so high it made no sense for Ernie to pay that much for a couple of days away.
So Aunt Dee and godparents Carleen and Jeff are going to be home with boys for the night.
Husband is stressing because I am online. I'd better go before he explodes. Then I might have to kill him.
We were supposed to spend a long weekend in Orlando since I am going there on business tomorrow. But the airfares were so high it made no sense for Ernie to pay that much for a couple of days away.
So Aunt Dee and godparents Carleen and Jeff are going to be home with boys for the night.
Husband is stressing because I am online. I'd better go before he explodes. Then I might have to kill him.
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