Sweating in the 90's

I mentioned a couple posts ago about the hot weather we are having here.  I should say, unusually hot weather for this time of year.  In my post, I talked about how when it's in the 90's F, you should avoid a lot of outdoor activities.  Like yard work, for example.

Yard work is a strenuous activity that should not be performed in extreme heat.  There are always warnings from local governments stating that there are extreme weather conditions and best to stay indoors in a cool place.  I think most people would agree that hanging out in a cool place on a hot day is ideal.

Then, there's my husband.

RT must look at the weather for the week and pick the hottest day and decide that's when we are going to do a large outdoor project (usually yard work).  Also, we have to start the project during the hottest part of the day.  I don't mind doing yard work.  I mean, I can spend hours outside pulling weeds, etc., but, I prefer to avoid it during the 90F days.  Well, I have been known to do some in the early morning, when it's still cool.

On these large project days, I help out.  I don't know why.  I take breaks by going inside every once in awhile.

Last weekend, RT started discussing an outdoor yard work project.  I finally spoke up.  I questioned his need to do large outdoor projects during the hottest days.  I think it shocked him that I brought it up.  His excuse is that it's his only time to do projects (on the weekend).  I said, maybe we can do the project in the morning, when it's cooler?

I think it fell on deaf ears.  He proceeded to put in a little brick area for our grill.  I, of course, helped.   It was my idea, so, why not, right?  We got most of the work done but ran out of bricks.  Something that RT forgot to tell me was that during the process of his labor, he severed the Internet cable.

So, last night I realized that I forgot to run to the store for lunch stuff for the week. Then I remembered that school is out for the summer and the kids can make their own lunches with whatever they can find here at home. It was such a relief to not have to run out last minute. *

* I gave up making lunches for them a long time ago. I got tired of hearing them complain about what was in their lunch so, they are on their own if they want to eat at school.

Hot and Sweaty

It's been in the 90's here the last few days.  I find it difficult to go from 50F to 90F, but, that's what you get when you live in Chicago.

Days like this, you try to avoid being outside.  The yard work  can wait another day (or six).  So can the laundry, cleaning, etc.  It's a lay around the home and do nothing kind of day.

We had a party to attend yesterday (during the 90 degree heat).  Of course it was an outdoor party.  I made the mistake of doing yard work prior to the party (yes, I showered before attending).  Normally, I'm OK with outdoor parties in the summer, but, on a 90F day.....not so much.  It was so hot out I thought I was going to melt.  I stuck it out for a couple of hours and then decided I would be a lot happier (and comfortable) inside my own home after a nice cold shower.

It's supposed to be in the 90's again today.  I'm planning on hiding in the cool basement all day.

How to use a Chip Clip

Believe it or not, there are some people in this world that do not know how to use a chip clip!  I should know because I live with them.

I can't tell you the number of times I have found bags that are kept closed with a chip clip, but, the clip wasn't doing anything at all.  The bag is folded over and the clip is just attached to the side of the bag.

The guilty parties are the same ones that complain that the chips are stale.  Well, if you put the clip on correctly, they wouldn't be stale!

I thought I would put together some easy instructions for those that are chip clip impaired.

1.  Find an open bag of chips.

2.  Fold over the opening on the bag of chips several times.  Make sure that it's a tight fold over and not a loose one.

3.  Take chip clip and secure it onto the folded over area of the bag.

4.  Make sure that air can not enter the bag while the clip is attached.

5.  If air can enter, please go back to step #2.

6.  If air can not enter, put bag (with chip clip attached) into pantry/cupboard.

I'm hoping this will solve any and all Chip Clip problems in the future.

Cheerleader on the Sidelines

Growing up, my parents made me feel like I was the most important person in the world.  They were at sporting events and school events.  I could pick them out in the crowd.  The two people with huge smiles on their faces.  Beaming with pride.

I really didn't think much about it.  I mean, everything I did, every occasion, happy or sad, my parents were there for me.

I graduated High School.
I graduated college.
I got married.
I had kids.

My parents were always there.  Cheering me on.

My kids were/are involved in various sports and activities.  They join(ed) clubs.  They participate(d) in school and church events.  They moved on (or graduated) to different schools.

Here I am, in the stands, at Alex's High School Graduation and I'm cheering for him as he walks in with his class.

And, then, it hits me.

Helping out at preschool.
Watching him play soccer, baseball, football and basketball.
Watching him move on from 8th grade.
Watching him get ready for High School dances.
Taking him for his Drivers License.
Watching as he prepares for Air Band with his friends.
And now, watching him graduate High School.

I'm the one on the sidelines now.
I'm cheering my heart out.
I'm beaming with pride.
And I have the biggest smile on my face.

I'm the one that gets a hug or flower during a soccer or baseball game.
I'm the one cheering after he scores a basket.
I'm the one smiling when he starts a potential friendship club in High School.
I'm the one who beams with pride when visiting him at work.

I realize my kids are going places.  Where?  I don't know.  All I know is that wherever life takes them, I will be there too.  Sitting on the sideline.  Their own personal cheerleader.

Full of pride.
Smiling and...
Cheering them on.

My Weird Dog

I usually take Pippen along on my morning walks.  He adds a whole new element to my walk.  Giving me a little upper body workout  - Also known as - trying to restrain him from attacking another dog or squirrel.

Some days I walk solo.  My reason can be as simple as I just want to take a quick walk and not have any side dog drama.  Or, it can be as complex as he drives me crazy on a walk one day, trying to chase a squirrel and tires out to the point where I'm practically dragging him to finish a decent walk.

On the days that Pippen stays home, I get a real good workout and I am able to walk far and at a fast pace.  The down side is he follows me around until I let him give me "the sniff down."  I'm sure you can figure out what that entails.  It's usually done to make sure I didn't pet any other dogs on my walk.  Petting a dog is hard for me to resist, so, a lot of the time, I'm guilty.  I will usually confess and let him smell my hands right away.

The dogs I pet are ones that I know (and ones that he would probably try to attack if he was walking with me).  I figure if he smells them on me, maybe he will be nice to those dogs when we see them.  Or, maybe he will try to attack them because they let me pet them......

DMV

It all started with me having to renew my Driver's License.  I made the journey to the DMV, took the eye exam, got my picture taken and was told my license would be mailed to me in a couple of weeks.

Yea.  That's what they do now, in Illinois.

I patiently waited a couple of weeks for my Driver's License to arrive in the mail.  When it was going in to the third week, I started to worry a little.  Then, my brother called me and told me that he got a letter in the mail for me from the Secretary of State.

I should back pedal a little here.

My brother moved last fall and had all of the mail forwarded to my house.  When he was in his new place he had the mail forwarded again to his new address.  Let me clarify, he had all mail with his last name (my maiden name) forwarded to his place.  Little did he know that I still get mail addressed to me with my maiden name.  And, one of those things is my Driver's License.

We made the trip to the Post Office to straighten things out.  They said to give it a couple of weeks before having the license sent.

So, I waited.

In the meantime, Alex tells me that he lost his Driver's License.  He was driving to work with out a license.  So, off to the DMV we went.

Luckily, his visit wasn't that long.  A picture and proof of residency and we were out of there.  He even received his license in less than a week!

I mailed a letter to myself with my full name (well, how it appears on my license) and it actually made it to my house.

So, off to the DMV (for the third time) to get them to try sending my license once again.

I can think of a million other things I would rather do than go to the DMV.  I won't list them, though.  You're welcome.

The final result is:  I did get my Driver's License (three times a charm, right?).

I'm hoping not to have to visit the DMV for a LONG time.

Senior Ditch Day

The key to having THE BEST Senior Ditch Day is to make sure that you tell your Mom about it the night before so she's not yelling at 7:00 AM telling you that you missed the bus and complaining because she has to drive you to school.

Can Opener

My "Hot Tip" for you today is to buy stock in Can Openers.

We started out our marriage with one can opener.  It was a decent can opener and had a long life.  I'm glad I didn't get too emotionally attached to it.  You see, It met it's demise when my children started learning how to use them.

A manual can opener is not very difficult to use.

Put the two gears on the can lid 

squeeze the handles until you hear a "pop" 

and start cranking.


Enter my children.

When they were little, maybe their little hands couldn't quite squeeze the handles.  They "usually" asked for help at this age.  Or, they just went ahead and tried to open the can which led to an unopened can and a broken can opener.

For awhile, I kept an extra can opener hidden, just in case this happened.  Eventually, that extra can opener became "the" can opener, and then, well, may it rest in peace....

We had one of those electric can openers that you placed on the lid and it did it's thing, cutting the can on the side, so you don't cut your hand.  That one lasted for awhile, until....well, I'm sure you can guess what happened.

RT and I were at a baseball game when I got the urgent text from Bella.

Yea.

Another one bites the dust.

Nick did put it back together for me.  And, I bought a backup, because we know it's only a matter of time...

When you make your millions from my stock tip, I hope you remember me and, maybe you can buy me a can opener or three?

Vegan Diaries - Vegan Brownies

Still doing the Vegan thing over here.  I'm not strict about it, but, try to avoid dairy when I can.  In fact, we stopped buying milk.  Only Alex was drinking it.  The gallon went bad, and I decided if he wants milk, he can go buy it.

Found this recipe here.  Bella loves brownies and thought I would make these for her after her dance recital.  They turned out pretty good.

Vegan Brownies

ingredients:
1 cup chocolate chips, melted
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 flax eggs*
3/4 cup brown sugar **
1/2 cup melted coconut oil
1/4 cup water
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips (not melted)


directions:
Oven to 325F.

Melt chocolate chips in microwave.
In medium bowl, whisk flour and bakings soda until combined.  Set aside.
In a separate bowl, mix flax eggs, sugar and oil until combined.  Add water and vanilla.
Add this to the dry mixture and stir for a few minutes until completely combined.
Stir in the chocolate chips.
Pour into greased (or parchment lined) 8x8 baking dish.
Bake for 35 minutes.
Let cool before cutting.



*for one flax egg:  1 TBSP ground flax to 3 TBSP cold water and let sit
 (obviously, for two you will have to double this recipe)

** I used a little over 1/4 of brown sugar

Tastes a little coconut because of the coconut oil.

Optional:  Add chopped nuts.

Enjoy!

Dance Recital 2018

The videos are up on YouTube.  I know.  I'm actually getting the hang of this uploading thing.  The recital was yesterday, and, lo and behold, I've uploaded the videos already!

Bella's hair came out of the bun when she was doing some of these dances.  It makes it easy to pick her out.



Advanced Ballet

Toccata & Fugue

Defying Gravity


Jazz Hip Hop

Glorious

The Greatest Show

Outta Gas

I know I've mentioned how my family members are willing to lend me their car when it needs gas.

I had a bunch of errands to run and RT said I could use his car.  I was excited because Alex took my car and I had things to do (people to see and places to go).  As I'm walking out the door, RT yells, "Sorry!  It needs gas!"  It didn't just need gas eventually, it needed gas NOW!   I was afraid I wouldn't make it to the gas station.  Luckily there's one that's about three blocks away.

I'm not sure what it is with running the car down to empty and taking a chance on whether or not you will make it to a gas station in time.  I think my family enjoys the thrill it brings them.  I just wish they wouldn't share this "thrill" with me.

It Worked

I think my letter to Winter has worked!  Spring has sprung around here.  Flowers are blooming.  The sun is out a lot more.  The temperature has warmed up.

I'm still keeping the boots and winter coat around.  I don't want to jinx anything.

My Weird Dog

With all of these "My Weird Dog" posts, I'm starting to realize that Pippen really is weird.  I'm also worried how people say that dogs are just like their owners.  Does that mean I'm weird?  I hope not.

Pippen is pretty good when left at home alone.  Well, really good, I guess.  He doesn't get into any trouble (tear things or do his business in the house).  All he does is sleep.

If left for long periods of time, he can be quite clingy when we return.  It's either that or he gives us the stare down while we are watching TV.  His face says, "You left me!"

If everyone is gone during the day, for two or more days in a row, Pippen will go in the dirty clothes bins in the laundry room and pull out a pair of RT's socks.  At first, I would find RT's dirty socks in random places.  Like, in the middle of the basement.  I thought, "Why does he throw them there, when he could walk a few more feet and toss them in the laundry room?"  Then one day, my dirty socks were in the middle of the basement and I realized I knew the culprit.

Not only do we find dirty socks in the basement, I've found them in the family room.  Our laundry room is in the basement, so, Pippen is carrying around RT's dirty socks throughout the house.

Bella came home from school the other day.  Pippen was laying in his usual spot in the living room.  Next to him was a pair of RT's dirty socks.  She took a picture of him with the socks.  He didn't move at all.  Again, probably upset that Bella interrupted his nap.

I try to remember to tell everyone to give Pippen extra attention on days when no one has been around all day.  It's hard to remember, though.  I'm thinking maybe he should just get a job sorting laundry.