Smiles

The neighbor of "Giant Frosty" fame is moving! Hurray! No more barking dogs and horrible Christmas decorations! Oh Happy Day!

Birthday

So, my birthday is fast approaching. My husband asked if there was anything special I was hoping for as a birthday present and I really had no ideas to suggest to him. Other than a surprise ultra-romantic fifteen day (or more) cruise around the Greek islands, coupled with the deluxe spa package at the five star hotel we would be staying in for awhile after our cruise, I really had no thoughts on the matter.

Washing Up

So, if you use a knife to remove the foil seal on, let's say, an unopened bottle of aspirin, does that constitute actual use whereby you now are required to WASH the knife before you put it back into the draw? I say definitely NO. Now, let's say you use that same knife to try and slice some bread that happens to be frozen solid. To me, using a knife to slice FROZEN bread does not make the knife un-clean. A simple wipe with a paper towel to remove the condensation and the few crumbs allows me to, with a clear conscience, replace the knife in its CLEANED condition back into the draw. Whereas slicing UNFROZEN bread soils the knife sufficiently to not only qualify for washing with actual SOAP, but in most cases will require a run through the dishwasher at super high sanitizing temperatures. Similarly, do pot lids have to be washed if they have only covered a pot of boiling water and their only sin is a water splattered inside? Absolutely YES. That is because the pot will always need to be washed, and there is certainly no sense in washing the pot and not the lid, too. So with my thoughts on this topic so clear cut, you may be wondering why I simply don't put EVERY item in the dishwasher - Well, sometimes I do. I frequently put the cans and jars destined for the recycling bin in the dishwasher RATHER THAN RINSE THEM OUT. Silverware I have removed from the drawer but wind up not using because I have grabbed the inappropriate item sometimes go in the dishwasher, rather than being replaced, unused and decidedly still clean, in the drawer. I will put what ever will fit into the dishwasher. This irritates other household members to no end, as there is frequently no glassware, no dishware or no eating utensils available for use in our house until the dishwasher stops. And let me tell you, it is no easy task to prepare a PBJ using a meat cleaver to spread the peanut butter.

Fishing for Thought...

So, over the weekend I went fishing. I did not catch anything. I still had fun. I will fish again tomorrow and I will probably not catch anything again. I will still have fun. Obviously, I am not a very "goal oriented" person. Maybe that's why I can't find a job. Prospective employers recognize that for me, its the challenge of actually GETTING the job, not the final event that keeps me interested. I have never been one to rest on my laurels, so to speak. When I have accomplished something, I always feel like 'okay, it's time to move on'. Which is great if it's a renovation project, or planning an event or learning a new skill. But, for job seeking purposes, and ultimately my actual employment, maybe that's not such a great thing!

Tax Day

My goal every year in January is to have all of our household tax stuff pulled together in some usable format by February 1. Well, today is tax day and all I have succeeded in pulling together is a panicked telephone call to the guy who does our taxes to confirm that our extension forms have been filed...I have rifled through the "INBOX" on my desk (which is really just a sorry excuse for a magazine rack, truth be told) looking for receipts and the like which might be useful. I gather up what I can find, scrape some unknown substance from the mortgage statement and attempt to organize all this paper and stuff in the "INBOX". Here is some of what I find: A chain of paper clips that is approximately 4 1/2 feet long (thanks, son). A switch plate that belongs on the wall in the Dining Room. Approximately 50 of my child's completed and graded homework assignments. A spiral notebook with absolutely NO paper in it. A guide to offshore fishing. A pair of 3D glasses. A broken plastic ruler. A greeting card congratulating a first time father (incidentally, I have no idea who the intended recipient of the card is/was - one of my friends became a Daddy for the first time about four years ago - maybe it was for him?). Nine magazines. A portfolio of counter top samples. And, I finally find a receipt, but it's for a pair of socks from Target, purchased in August of 2007. Hmmm, come to think of it, I don't know if the typical 6 month extension is going to be long enough...