Wednesday Chat

 hmm I totally need the house cleaning fairy - I forgot that a friend's daughter AND her friend are coming on Sunday through Wednesday

I have been so busy prepping for today, plus other work duties and assorted other responsibilities that I never really cleaned last weekend or food shopped.

I am taking B to a NAVHDA training day on Saturday (North American Versatile Gun Dog Association) so its looking like I have a busy Sunday LOL

I am ready for this demo training to be done - I had to quit last night as I could tell I was getting to that point of hating it. I have plenty to review this morning and I'll leave just about lunchtime.

Good thoughts appreciated

If anyone can track down that cleaning fairy send my way too.  I've been so confused about what day of the week it is since yesterday.  I cancelled the cleaning people at work because I thought that today was going to be Thursday which is their normal day.  Then I realized that if today was Thursday we missed the freaking bid opening which is today.  OK, now that I've made everyone's head hurt I'll stop. lol

Karen, sending you lots of good thoughts for today.  Send some back to me. 

Julie, good luck with that ****storm at work.  Take the 2 x 4 in case you need it. 

Our work BS isn't caused by any of my coworkers.  It's all about this bid and the government entity we're dealing with. 

I finished a memoir yesterday and highly recommend it to any dog lover.  The name is 'The dog lived (and so will I)'.  I really didn't think I'd be able to read about a dog with cancer since I'm still so heartbroken about Twister.  I enjoyed every minute with this book.  The dog is a Beagle and her descriptions had me howling. It is sort of like the book' Marley and me' but much better writing, IMO.  I really didn't like Marley and me much though I know I'm in the minority on that one. 

 One of my favorite lines from this book is one I'm stealing as often as possible.  "caution, meet wind."

I typed a long post and hit a key and lost it all. Guess it wasn't that interesting anyway ;)

Gorgeous cool morning here and only mid-80s for the next few days - yay!!

Jewlieee

And I didn't get the dog poop picked up either. Is there a fairy for that? The poop scooping fairy?

I don't know about a fairy, but there was a guy here who started a poop pickup company. A few years ago, I was out walking one of my dogs in the early morning and the guy stopped his van to give me his spiel as well as his business card. I don't know how well the idea worked out for him.

We had some major thunderstorms roll through early this morning. I slept through most of it.

Good thoughts for successful bids, contracts, etc.

Back to figuring out petty cash.

We had major thunderstorms last night, parts of the area had hail and we had very heavy rain and thunderboomers for about 4 hours, starting just after Little Man went to bed. He actually slept though it all! Monroe curled up into his favourite hidey spot and Morrison was his normal, goofy self. I sat on the deck, under an umbrella, playing Settlers of Catan on my iPad and enjoying myself thoroughly.

I am SUCH a prairie girl!

All good thoughts to Karen and everyone else facing some interesting **** at work today.

DH is away at a customer in CA who is facing some issues that I am contracted to fix. DH will be calling me today to talk the customer through what we are doing to help them. It will be the first time that we connect with each other on a business only level so I hope it goes well.

Here is my question to you all......

Our mornings take a long time because Little Man eats a full, cooked breakfast (cheese omelette, waffle with honey, banana, juice and, if he is still hungry and we have time, cereal). Others have said to me, "Why don't you just give him a bowl of cereal?"

This is his major meal of the day and one that includes food he is familiar with from his first culture, so he eats it all. He can be pretty picky during the rest of the day with new, American food. Should I listen to others or stick to my guns?

Opinions welcome!

VanMorrison

Should I listen to others or stick to my guns?

That is a healthier breakfast by far than just a bowl of cereal. I would look to find ways to speed up the prep well before I'd change things up too much.

VanMorrison

Our mornings take a long time because Little Man eats a full, cooked breakfast (cheese omelette, waffle with honey, banana, juice and, if he is still hungry and we have time, cereal). Others have said to me, "Why don't you just give him a bowl of cereal?"

This is his major meal of the day and one that includes food he is familiar with from his first culture, so he eats it all. He can be pretty picky during the rest of the day with new, American food. Should I listen to others or stick to my guns?

Do what works for you and for him.  Can I come for breakfast sometime if I promise to do the dishes?  

Tina, we've got several companies that offer poop pickup service.  I would think this is much more successful in a large city.   I think some are national franchises and some are local peeps with small companies.  The signage on some of the vehicles is pretty funny.

I would definitely let him eat that much if he wants it. From the pics I've seen on fb, he doesn't seem to have a problem with his weight and is an active little guy. Protein, grain, and fruit seems like a great breakfast to me.

I know a bowl of cereal won't cut it for me in the morning. Two days a week Sonja has daycare. On those mornings, she eats breakfast at home, then again at daycare an hour or so later.

sharismom

 there was a guy here who started a poop pickup company. 

Jen, sounds like your dog-sitting charge will get some improved food and behavior lessons while at your house.  The pup's owner may not recognize him when he/she gets home!

Jackie, I've not heard of that book, but it sounds like a good one.  I prefer some humor in a book that ultimately involves a sad ending.  I didn't read Marley & Me; my neighbor offered to loan it to me, but once I knew the dog died in it, I decided not to read it.  It was relatively soon after Tonka died, so maybe I'd be able to handle it now, but I'm not sure.

Sarah, I'm not a parent so I don't have experience with feeding kids, but I grew up with a working mother who left the house before we did in the mornings.  Breakfast was a box of cereal and/or a loaf of bread (for toast) on the counter for our own preparation.  I think it would be better to be raised with a routine of well-rounded, homemade breakfasts like the ones you feed your son.  I'd say stick with it, as it can be a start to good nutritional/diet habits.

Good thoughts for successful bids, contracts, job "storms" and other workday stresses!

tacran

Jackie, I've not heard of that book, but it sounds like a good one.  I prefer some humor in a book that ultimately involves a sad ending.  I didn't read Marley & Me; my neighbor offered to loan it to me, but once I knew the dog died in it, I decided not to read it.  It was relatively soon after Tonka died, so maybe I'd be able to handle it now, but I'm not sure.

This book does not have a sad ending. I promise. :)  It's a story of surviving and not just surviving but living through and with cancer. It's a memoir written by a woman I'd love to know in real life.  I didn't think I'd even read it because I thought it would make me sad but it had the complete opposite effect.  Totally different type of book from Marley and Me.

eta for clarity if that's possible for me today. lol

I'll have to add that book to the list I keep in my pocketbook for trips to the used book store.  I do like to read memoirs (whether or not a dog is involved), especially if they're well-written. 

Last night our block had our annual BBQ for National Night Out.  It's in the cul-de-sac where our house sits, so the "crowd" is in view from our dining room windows.  Ruby comes out for a quick hello to everyone, but then we bring her inside while we're eating.  She was howling at us from the window, so DH went inside and put her in her crate so she couldn't watch us. 

I didn't know he did that, and a while later, I saw her with her paws on the windowsill, messing with the blinds.  I said something to DH about it, and he said, "I put her in her crate."  I said, "Well she's not in it now!"  She somehow pushed out the hinged door from the non-latch side (where it swings out).  She was so stressed when we went inside.  When she finally settled down, she crashed all night.  This morning, she hasn't even left her favorite chair to share my oatmeal, she just kept snoozing.  I'm hoping she's just worn out from the "excitement" last night.  Now I'm heading to work and hoping she doesn't try to get out of her crate while I'm gone!

VanMorrison

Here is my question to you all......

Our mornings take a long time because Little Man eats a full, cooked breakfast (cheese omelette, waffle with honey, banana, juice and, if he is still hungry and we have time, cereal).

Sarah:  if you google "freezable make ahead breakfast recipes"  you'll find tons of sites of stuff you can make ahead of time (maybe on a rainy day or something) and freeze.  Some you can make in individual servings and some are casseroles, quiches or stratas that you can that you can portion into individual servings and freeze.  Then you can just pull a serving out of the freezer and microwave or heat up in a toaster oven, etc.  A piece of fruit and a glass of milk - and bam!!  Breakfast is ready. 

Here's a couple of sites to get you started:

 http://busycooks.about.com/od/breakfastmenus/a/Make-Ahead-Frozen-Breakfast-Recipes.htm

http://www.wisebread.com/9-make-ahead-freezable-hot-breakfast-recipes

http://www.ivillage.co.uk/freezable-make-ahead-breakfast-recipes/153461#3

http://cookeatshare.com/popular/freezable-breakfast-casserole-recipes

This is what my cleaning fairy looks like these days:

But, I'm nice and give him the weekends off.

Deb W.

ETA:  Good luck on all the work stuff, Julie, Jackie & Karen !!!