Don't Pee on the Bee

What's a culture snob to do?

Still working my way through that pile of magazines!

That's the title of a thought-provoking article in the August issue of Vanity Fair.  (One of my vices--reading about the terrible lives of the incredibly wealthy!)

This article by James Wolcott asks how will the highbrow distinguish him- or herself from the masses with the digitization of books, music and movies?  Although highbrow is not a word that I would use to describe myself or most of the people I know, the point is if everyone starts reading on their Kindles and iPhones, how will we see what they are reading?  How will we know if we want to start a conversation with someone?  Ask them if they've read the other books by that author?  And on and on and on . .

Wolcott writes, "Books not only furnish a room, to paraphrase the title of an Anthony Powell novel, but also accessorize our outfits.  They help brand our identities.  At the rate technology is progressing, however, we may eventually be traipsing around culturally nude in an urban rain forest, androids seamlessly integrated with our devices."

Although the idea of a Kindle thrills me to no end when I pack 20 books to take on vacation with me--since I'm not sure what I'm going to feel like reading--I will say that I do like to see what the people around me are reading.  It makes them interesting!  It makes ME feel interesting to know that either I've read that book, or I haven't, or I've chosen to never read it, or it's next on my list--whatever!  Seeing what other people are reading adds to who we are too.

I'm interested to hear what you have to say on this too!

If you're intrigued, check out the full article at
What's a Culture Snob To Do?

My addiction: Magazines

So in my first post, I told you flat out that I am a magazine junkie.  Let me show you the evidence now.

The stack on the left is the unread pile.  The stack on the right has been read.  Pages are thoughtfully turned down on articles, ad, ideas that intrigue me or that I want to share. Last night my husband graciously asked if he should carry them out to the recycling for me!  After nearly falling off the couch, I walked his little butt into my office and showed him the Ikea magazine organizers on my bookshelf with every single title of each one of those magazines.  He just said, "Oh." and turned and walked out.  Later on he tried again and nicely asked if I was going to move the stack out of the livingroom and into my office.  I just smiled.

So this afternoon, while both kids are asleep (one having just been hit over the head with a rubber mallet!), I am working on the pile.

I just paged through the Spring edition of Hybrid Mom and laughed out loud as I reread an article by Dena Blizzard. I Love Being a Mom (Just Don't Ask Why)  (When the magazine cover comes up, click on the "Go To Page (blank) in the upper right hand corner and type in 59.  To turn the pages, click on Next.  Click Zoom to make it readable.)  She wittily writes about The Top Misconceptions of Motherhood.

1. We like to hold things.
2. We like kids.
3. We are not bothered by throw up.
4. Moms know things.
5. Moms prefer homemade presents

If any of these ring a bell for you, you should read her article.  The part about feeling like a human  hanger rings a zillion bells for me lately.  And the part about throw up?  I've cleaned up other peoples kids' puke for more than 20 years, and it STILL grosses me out!  For the sake of your child care provider (or anyone who may be taking care of your child for you), PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE NEVER SERVE GRAPE JUICE AND CHEDDAR CHEESE IN THE SAME LUNCH!

And for another funny look at mom's real life, read the short "Coffee Break" article at the bottom of the page.  Let's just say that it has to do with nipples in cyberspace.  I love her final words of wisdom:  Leave your bras on and the texting to pimply faced teenagers, where it belongs.

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Pancake days

On weekends, when Daddy is home to make breakfast, he makes pancakes.  So Saturdays and Sundays around here are known as "pancake days."  Last night when JJ was going to bed, he asked us, "Is tomorrow a pancake day?"  His daddy said, "No," to which JJ asked, "Why not?"  My husband said that he had to go to work tomorrow.  JJ sadly said, "Why doesn't Daddy have more pancake days?"  Why indeed?

A little gross out!

Let me just start out with "Sorry!"  I just couldn't resist posting this after reading it! 

I'm getting to the Summer edition of another magazine, Hybrid Mom.  It's kind of a weird name, and they just changed their tagline to "Mother your ambitions" from "It's a revolution."  They answer the question "What is a hybrid mom? with this response:  We've evolved into a new generation of moms who embrace their multiple identities.  It's beginning to grow on me.

So this article "Battle the Summer Blahs" is written by Tom and Cynthia Papa who are stand up comedians who have been on practically every late night show there is.  Cynthia has listed several things that she and her husband do with their children in the summer to keep them from driving them bonkers.  This is one suggestion. . .

Let's Look for Snails

When the kids get whiny, I just say, "Let's find a snail friend!", and our afternoon is set.  The kids put them on each other for snail piggy-back rides.  They have slow-motion snail races on paperplate snail running tracks.  Sometimes the magic marker lines get blurred by the snail slime, but that's what the snail referee is for.  They make snail amusement parks with empty spools of thread and plastic spoons..  Let's face it, you haven't experience fun until you see a snail see-saw in action.  My sister tells me that the whole snail activity thing definitely isn't for everyone, but I say thumbs up.

When the snails seems to be done with the fun (you can tell because they foam up when angry), it's dinnertime.  The kids put them in their bug habitat or, as we call it, "The Snail Spa and Resort."  They feed them tomatoes, a favorite.  The snails find them delicious, and children find that the red poo that follows brings the shole snail day to new heights.

***Warning: Do not clean "The Snail Spa and Resort" with disinfecting wipes as this causes mass fatalities in the snail community.  Trust me, you don't want to spend bedtime going over the pleasures of snail heaven.  Take it from someone who knows!

 

Is it the poo?  The warning with asterisks?  I'm not sure, but I just found this hysterical.  And I'm with the sister, no snail play for me!

And for a nicer ending . . .check out these cool salad servers
from www.plumparty.com as seen in Hybrid Mom.

 

 

A great sounding recipe with a really good-looking picture too!

Still making my way through August's Cookie magazine and saw this amazingly delicious looking picture and recipe for Quick Paella.  See what you think!

Quick Paella

Hah!  While adding the photo, I realized it was actually the picture for Fried Rice that looked so good!  So here it is too!

And here is that recipe. . .

Fried Rice

Hope you enjoy!!!

Great book title!

I was reading the August issue of Cookie magazine today and saw promotion for a book with one of best titles I've heard in a long time!!!   If You Give a Mom a Martini:  100 Ways to Find 10 Blissful Minutes for Yourself
It makes me laugh just to say it!  The authors are Lyss Stern and Julie Klappas.  I checked it out on Amazon, and it got 6 really good reviews from the women who read it.  All said it would be a great gift for any mom. 

Guess I'll have to put this on my list. . .

Traveling in a ton-ton

Yesterday my husband took JJ with him to the hardware store.  On the way home, they stopped at the gas station to fill up my rig.  (Now wasn't that nice!)  JJ saw an old-fashioned car there getting gas and pointed out the "ton-ton" to Daddy.

(As an aside, for some reason that neither I nor my brother can remember, when we were little, we called really old cars "ton-tons" (rhymes with "on-on"), and so naturally, my kids do too.)

My husband walked up to the car and started talking with the woman inside who was waiting for her husband to come out of the gas station.  She said the car was a 1930 Ford Roadster, and that they had just returned from a trip to Eugene, Oregon.  My husband asked, "In this?" and she replied, "Yes!"  He asked her more about the car, and she said that her husband has kept it stock, so their top traveling speed is about 45 miles per hour.  Did you get that???  45 miles per hour from here to Eugene, Oregon?  As he expressed his amazement, she told him that they had even driven the car all the way to Alberta, Canada.

When he came home and told me the story, at first I thought, "Oh my gosh!  How could anyone bear to travel that slowly for that distance?"  And then as I kept on thinking about it while cooking dinner, I realized that that might not be such a bad thing!  Now I definitely would not want to do it with my kids in the car!  But you would definitely be noticing the scenery as you drove on by!  And to be so leisurely!  What a luxury in this day and age!  Made me think about how I wanted to move through my day today!  We'll see how I do!  What about you?