Monday, March 29, 2010

Unprotected Left Turns

Hello, all!


Welcome to another exciting edition of:


Questions.


And Their Answers. 


Do you freak out when your son pees on your major appliances?


Yes.


Yes, I do.


Why do I freak out?


Because having someone pee on your washing machine is just nasty-wrong.


What is one thing you wish you were better at?


Sewing.


I loathe sewing.


My lovely sister-in-law, Lisa, tried to give me lessons once.



You see, my girls started in the Awanas program.


And darn my luck, they progressed in the program and were awarded badges.


Horrible, awful, thick, tiny badges that must be sewn onto their vests.


I didn't want to admit to my sister-in-law that I completely forgot one vital part of her lesson:


How to Thread a Needle.


I could not admit this to her.


So, one day, when I was behind about 8 patches, I was determined to figure this out on my own.


So I Googled:


"How to Thread a Needle."


And I found a helpful instructional video!


The Internet.


So helpful.


So, there I am.


Sitting with needle and thread.


I must pause this helpful and informative video many, many, many times, as I cannot get it right.


The stupid thread is too big to go through the stupid holey thing.


I kid you not, I do this for 45 minutes.


Finally, I thread the needle.


I sit back and let the helpful video finish.


At the very end, the guy holds up a curious little trinket and says,


"Or you could just use this."



Hello?


Sewing Dude?


Information that would have been useful at the beginning of your helpful instructional video.


*sigh*


Want to know something sad?


The Lumberjack gives his sister all his mending.


I.


Am.


A.


Shamed.


Mommy! 


Why didn't you teach me how to sew?


Oh the humanity.


Do you cook every night?  Do you like it?  Do you have a signature dish?


Yes, I cook every night.


I do like it.


I would like it more if I didn't have to rear 4 children while cooking.


Signature dish?


Probably Chicken Stir Fry.


It is my Lumberjack's Favorite.


That and Chicken Piccata


Other family favorites are:
Pizza (I use PW crust), Lasagna (from PW), Taco Salad, Mini Meatloaves, and Chicken Burritos.


Interruption:  PW=www.thepioneerwoman.com


Please note that my Lumberjack's two favorite dishes involve chicken in some way.


For those of you who are new-ish to my blog, you may not know that my handsome husband bought us one whole entire cow (or steer,  for the technical reader, such as MindyLou).



So, I started cooking beef.


Seems logical right?


And now, gentle readers, I would like to present to you:


A Conversation Between The Lumberjack and I About 3 Weeks After He Purchased Aforementioned Cow:


LJ (short for Lumberjack!  Focus, people!):  What's for dinner?


Me:  Beef roast.


LJ:  Hmmm . . . you sure have been cooking a lot of beef lately.


Me:  Seriously?


LJ:  What?!


Me:  Dude.  You bought a whole animal.  You helped to end its life.  You assisted with driving the remains to the butcher shop.  You picked up the packaged animal.  You loaded in our freezer.  You told me how much you spent.  I gasped.  You told me I would save all year on the grocery budget because I would not have to buy meat.  What do you want from me?


LJ:  Well, I didn't mean you had to cook beef every night.


So, I bought some chicken, cooked him his favorite stir-fry, and all was right with the world again.


Whatever, Lumberjack.


Whatever.


Fact:  Daisy Mae recently informed me that I make the best homemade salad.


So, there you go.


I am a culinary genius.


You are having a bad day.  Who do you talk to?


Hmmm . . . .


Well, that depends on the situation that has arisen to cause my bad day.


But, I generally talk to the following people, depending on the circumstances:


Amanda:



Amanda gets me.


Fact:  Amanda has known me since kindergarten.


Fact:  Amanda gives it to me straight.


Fact:  Amanda also has 4 kids.  She can identify with my woes.


Amanda and I have an unspoken agreement.


Whenever one of us is pregnant, which seems to happen often, we always call each other first.


And the conversation usually goes like this:


Unpregnant one:  Hey!


Just-found-out-she's pregnant one: Hey.


Unpregnant one:  What's up?


Just-found-out-she's pregnant one:  Well  . . . um


Unpregnant one:  Oh, dear.  Pregnant again?


Just-found-out-she's pregnant one:  Yup.


Unpregnant one:  Let us pray.


 


Melissa, aka Bimlissa



We have girls the same age.


We share recipes, clothes, and lots of inside jokes.


She even gave me her Perfect Black Sweater that Even Has Ruffles.


Just because I liked it.


And since she got me started on the whole blog thing, she gets to listen to all my questions/concerns/paranoia regarding said blog.


She loves it.


My Mom.


mom and me


I can talk to her about anything . . . except things that would involve phrases such as, "wink, wink."


Mom!  My kids are ruffians!


Mom!  How do you seperate eggs?


Mom!  What is the difference between gross and net on a paycheck?


Mom!  Why do I still have acne?


Mom!  Why didn't you teach me how to sew?


And, finally, if I am feeling really desperate, I talk to this stud-muffin:


IMG_3023


I kid!


I jest!


I talk to him the most.



 


What is your quirkiest habit and how long have you had it?


I refuse to make unprotected left turns.


I literally plan out my driving routes to ensure that, if the need for a left turn arises, I will be making said turn at a helpful,and safer, traffic light.


How long have I done this?


Ever since my driving instructor informed me of the dangers of unprotected left turns and scared the living daylights out of me.


Why anyone would want to avoid a traffic light is beyong me.


You know that old lady who drives 58 mph on the freeway and starts signaling for her exit 2 miles in advance?


I want to be her when I grow up.


 


Happy Tuesday!

28 comments:

  1. I am totally becoming that old lady. I will make an unprotected left turn but I obey the speed limit - even on the interstate. Even when it is making my husband froth at the mouth.

    Perhaps, especially when it is making my husband froth at the mouth.

    ReplyDelete
  2. May I ask what is PW? I know.... everytime you write about food I have a question. I guess I am just not up to speed on cooking terms :)

    My mother did not teach me how to sew either. And threading needles is not fun. And I am very good at poking myself. I am ashamed to admit that my 14 year old son can sew better than I. My mother taught him how when he wanted to sew some patches on his clothes. Go figure!

    ReplyDelete
  3. that should read *nice not mice!! thats a whole different thing!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ha! That is so funny that you mention the cow in your freezer...Buster's dad just brought us a box of cow this morning for our freezer. It is mice to not have to worry about buying meat as it is so expensive!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sorry! PW is short for Pioneer Woman. I have her cookbook, but she also posts recipes on her site:
    www.thepioneerwoman.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am totally Jealous! I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.... LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am with you on those unprotected left turns! and how about crossing those highways where you have to stop in the middle section!! craziness!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I had the most serious car accident I've ever had making an unprotected left turn when I was in college. Had to have glass picked out of my head and everything...ewwww...I stay away from them as well now.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Two years ago my husband bought 1/2 a cow and a whole pig... he complained about the lack of chicken in his life too... Ironically, now that the meat is gone and we eat mostly chicken, guess what he is complaining about....

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've suggested the no unprotected left turn to my youngest. That's how she had her recent accident. I guess I should have given that piece of advice up front. Kinda like the sewing video.

    Have a nice week!

    ps-hot glue used to work on the girl scout badges. Just sayin'

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ha! Sounds like you are already that woman now! Just kidding, really, mostly, a little. Any-whoo, how is he feeling about the beef now-a-days?

    ReplyDelete
  12. And here I thought I was the only one who avoided unprotected left turns! I will go completely out of my way to avoid them...especially when crossing the freeway or something like that. Traffic lights for the win!

    ReplyDelete
  13. thelumberjackswifeMarch 30, 2010 at 3:15 AM

    Whatever, Erin. Whatever.

    ReplyDelete
  14. thelumberjackswifeMarch 30, 2010 at 3:16 AM

    We have a healthy rotation of beef and chicken as to not overload my Lumberjack on a specific animal product.

    ReplyDelete
  15. You are the only person I know that does the left turn thing besides my aunt....she is an awesome person...so I'm kinda liking you tons already!!
    Rene'
    ps...not sure how I land here, but decided to jump in and comment..

    ReplyDelete
  16. Perhaps we could do a wife swap for a while, but only where it involves dinner. *wink, wink*

    My hubby would much rather hear that we're having beef for dinner (seldom) than chicken (often).

    ReplyDelete
  17. I wasn't sure where the whole protected thing was gonna go.

    Have you heard of OCD? You may call it quirkiness, some call it OCD!

    I kid!

    I jest!

    100 meaningless points to the first person who guesses who I'm quoting!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Are you telling me some left turns are protected? I've got to get out more...

    ReplyDelete
  19. Of course! Thank you :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm with Joyce...super glue to the rescue!

    I've always wanted a box of cow.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Girl you crack me up! Great questions and even better answers. I totally dont know how to sew by the way, but I wish I did! ;)

    Blessings-
    Amanda

    ReplyDelete
  22. We have Awanas. I thankfully do not have any children young enough to be in it. You would think the badges would come with sticky, iron-on stuff. It's not like they are wearing those vests into the forest and you might lose the patches!

    ReplyDelete
  23. #1 Awana Cubbies badges ARE iron-on able...and have been since my oldest was in Cubbies about 5 years ago....sorry. The rest of the ranks are just little "jewels" to stick in little doo-hickies. Hope that helps for any future Awana patch earners.

    #2 Forget the little old driving lady. I hate driving. Period... and I want a chauffer.

    ReplyDelete
  24. My mom has the same kitchen! Literally! LITERALLY! same colors, same placement, same everything. I bet I could come cook there and know exactly where everything was. I don't know if that is super cool or crazy!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I am glad that you have told us that Bimlissa is Melissa. All along, and I'm not sure why, I have been pronouncing her name (in my head, I don't read your blog out loud to myself) Bim-lisa. I feel silly.
    The conversation about the beef-hilarious.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Taylor....you always make me smile. Thanks for sharing your crazy life with the rest of us crazies.

    ReplyDelete