Taste it

Youngest sits on the couch. We're watching something or other.

Me: Oh, look at this smudge on my glasses. What is that? (I think somehow my ice cream sandwich got crazy on  me or someone wasn't watching where their Drumstick was going.)

Youngest with that all familiar gleam in his eye: I bet it's bird poop.

Me: Yeah? Why don't you taste it?

Youngest: No. But I'm pretty sure it's bird poop. I can smell it. *giggle*

Me: Well, if it looks like bird poop, smells like bird poo then you should taste it to make sure it tastes like bird poop. Go ahead... taaaste it.

 I would like to thank Cheech and Chong for that bit. Who knew it would come in so handy?

The time has come

I wasn't quite as worried as I thought I'd be, but the time has come.

The oldest has discovered... cruising.

And I've discovered that scaring teens can  be fun.

He was late coming home last night at NINE! Oh, noes. He called and let us know that he was going to be late. He had to call again because he changed plans on how to get home on time. I was really annoyed. Because my phone was charging in the bedroom and I had to run to get it both times. He thought I was really ticked that he was late. Heh, no, because I had to run pounding across the floor which means all neighbors had to endure the noise. Ah, apt. living.

His friend driving him felt bad and walked up the dark steps with him to apologize. Aww, now that's nice. I don't think any of my friends ever gave a crap about if I was late or not. He says "I apologize. That was my fault."

I happened to have a mini flash light in my hand (stupid reason for it) so I flashed it in his face, "Yeah, what's up with that!?" I said it in mock indignation.

For  just a split second, in the blue tiny light, he looked frightened. Then he laughed because he got I was joking.

Whew, I was going to feel really bad if he didn't get the joke.

Runza!

I made runza's yesterday. They aren't pretty. Until I get them to look "right" I prolly won't be sharing my efforts in picture, heh.

I will share the recipe.

RUNZA DOUGH
2       cups warm water
2       packages active dry yeast
1/2    cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1       egg
1/4    cup margarine, melted and cooled
6 1/2 cups flour


HAMBURGER FILLING
1 1/2      lbs hamburger
1/2        cup chopped onion
3           cups shredded cabbage
1/2        cup water
1 1/2     tsp salt
1/2        tsp pepper
         Dash of Tobasco (more or less to taste)

Mix water, yeast, sugar and salt. Stir until dissolved. Add egg and melted margarine. Stir in flour. Put in refrigerator for four hours. Roll dough into an oblong shape and cut into 16 squares.

Brown hamburger and onion. Drain off excess grease. Add cabbage, seasonings and water. Simmer 15-20 minutes. Set aside and cool completely before putting on dough.

Pull four sides up and press edges together. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Can be frozen to be used at a later date.

Trepidations

I've been experiencing dreams I don't like, nightmares of windshields and screeching tires or seat belts that don't work. Brought on by drivers education classes for my oldest. He is of age to get a license so when he finishes and gets a waiver he can very well have his license next week.

Friends who were in car accidents are too numerous for the law of averages. The theory I hold on to is that the town was on too accurate of an east west grid. Sunset and sunrise were blinding times to be on the road. Add on small town life livened up by a party school Jr. College and we're talking trouble.

I knew a host of teenagers killed too soon or injured due to accidents. It creeps me out a bit.
-My brother's friend who had to have his jaw wired shut at 17 due to a roll over.
-A couple of friends going over the hood of a driver who didn't even see them on their motorcycle. They hit the curb on the other side. One was in a coma and passed away the next year, the other recovered.
-The brother of a friend crushed in his car as he did a head on with a pick up. He was driving too fast after a party in the country. The fragility of the car plus the speed left no chance.
-Another friends sister in a head on with a drunk driver before I even knew of her existence. An odd revealing moment when I found out there used to be three children instead of two.
-A young co-worker driving home in the morning, a man had a heart attack, met his car head on just as he was clearing construction and killed him.
-A 15 year old cousin in a car driven by someone else who rolled the car in a ditch on a country road.

I think of my own stupidity, leaning down to grab a cassette off the floor, watching the dirt fly up behind me as I try to get back on the road.

The bad boyfriend who buried the speedometer because he was being pissy with everyone. The car was old and floated at the front. The only time it slowed down was when we went up a slight rise.

Sitting in the back seat of the hot red car with the t-tops off going 125 because they wanted pancakes NOW.

Getting stuck because the girl wanted to test out her new four wheel drive. She went right into a shallow ditch and stopped just short of the hill behind it. We got out, luckily.

Getting mud in a friend's mothers SUV because we went too far out on an inlet at the lake. The only way to get out was to back up. It had been raining all week, he couldn't see out and had to unroll the windows. It was such a tight squeeze he asked everyone but one other passenger to get out because he was uncertain if he was going to slide off into the lake. The other passenger watched the other side to tell him if he got too close.

Letting my fifteen year old friend drive in the country. We fish tailed around a corner and headed for the deep ditch before she found the brakes. I took the wheel position back.

Trying to do a 'Y' turn on a mountain outlook almost getting hit by a car going the other way. It saw us just in time as it came around the corner.

I know teenagers do stupid things. It's part of being a teenager. My husband tells me about the stupid things he and his friends did and I review the stupid things I did. And that makes me worried.

I think about the moment of inattention my oldest had while driving a go cart when he was four. He ran right into a wall. Even with the seat belt and padded steering wheel, his appliance replacing his front teeth made his gums bleed. I find more reason to worry.

I take comfort in the fact that he's a good kid. He's a smart kid. He'll know the rules of the road.

But I'm still going to worry.

New Type of Camera?

Not often I find something before everyone else out there. A new camera that let's you focus AFTER you take the picture. Hope it's for real and not a load. I've been frustrated by my lack of skill with my camera and the slowness it can take to snap pictures. And trying to focus on what I want to has been a bit of a problem. I certainly have enough pictures not worthy of showing. 

Treasure in the Darkness

Tornadoes. We got 'em.

Lightening, thunder, we got 'em.

Unbelievable sun set. Oh, yeah. Got that too.

 

The camera couldn't capture that sunset quite like I'd like it to. There was a violet purple in the sky that no matter how I fiddle or how I took the picture, it just wouldn't capture. And I never caught the lightening in those dark clouds. Always went off just before or just after I snapped, no matter how many times I hit the button, heh. I know I could probably put some fake lightening in the clouds but to me it's just not the same as capturing the moment that bolt skipped across the clouds.

Another One Bites the Dust

Drat! Didn't get that job.

Back to the salt mines of looking. But first, I'm going to step outside that zone again and go swimming at the BIG pool. Weee haw!

Quips from Kids

"Oh, no," I said over my shoulder to my teen. "My video has been blocked in some countries." First time that ever happened. I was a little surprised. It's because of the music I picked.

"Oh, no!" he replied. "Someone in Backwateristan won't be able to see your video."

Ha!

Comfort Zones

One reason I enjoyed moving from such a small town to a much larger one is I can take myself out of my life. Now, I know it's hard to believe, but I sometimes get sick of myself. I take this as a sign that I need to go do something new. See a new horizon, new neighborhood or heck, even a new grocery store. I need to explore.

In a town of under 6000 people it was hard to find something new to explore after ten years. Two grocery stores, maybe five restaurants, hard to keep track because they kept closing due to retirements, two parks designated North and South. It was hard to find something around town that would take me out of myself for a bit. I wanted hills too. There were no hills. I could see one end of town from the other. Total dullness.

We moved. 24,000 more people. A newer part of town, an older part of town and some hills to hike. Parks with biking and walking trails, interesting horizons, more restaurants than I can remember and stores to explore. Even the library got an update  and is something to explore.  When I get sick of the same old, same old I can step out of the dull and find something different.

We went to a new to us Chinese restaurant looking for a good Crab Rangoon. We had never been there before, didn't know what they offered or what the best time to go there would be. We were the only two in there. The employees seemed like they were annoyed at us or with each other, still haven't figured which way. I can't tell you what they were saying because they weren't speaking English. Their body language was tired, hurried and nary a smile crossed an employee's face. Hell, for all I know they were annoyed at something minor that had nothing to do with business.  I wondered if a plate was about to fly across the kitchen. The atmosphere began to make us distinctly uncomfortable. We had found a step outside our comfort zone which in it's own way was thrilling. Almost an uncomfortable thrill. I had stepped outside my zone for awhile. I didn't think I'd need to do that for awhile yet.

On the upside,  I can recommend their Crab Rangoon.

Whoo hoo!

Hey! I got a job interview!

That was so nice. Made me feel good just to be considered. I'll go over the moon if I actually get it.

Little Birds, Big Problem

I first saw these little ones hovering at the balcony in a strong wind. Aww,  how cute! They were looking for a place to settle in the wind. Only I can delete every single source of that first video I took.

I went back and got more. Then I realized WHY they were there.

They weren't weary travelers looking for a resting spot before moving on. They were dangerous little feathery squatters!  Besides driving the cat nutso, they could cause some real problems with the sprinkler system. Well, the video says it all.

NIrvana, eventually

My very brilliant neighbors decided to have sex at two thirty last night. I wouldn't mind so much if there was any rhythm to the bed trying to bore it's way through the wall. I finally had to go to the living room to sleep. Where the cat, who has been banished out of our room for a bit, decided she was overly happy someone joined her. Commence purring and cuddling. I finally feel asleep about three thirty.

And woke about six thirty. I swear, it is a plot to keep me up. I felt obligated to buy me some quality donuts since it's Doughnut day. Took a shower, that will wake me, went downtown and got some yummy pastry. Came home, had a treat, watched some TV. My phone went off. A text from Hubby about what kind of doughnuts he wanted. Then youngest woke up. I texted back, greeted youngest and watched a little more TV NOT sleeping. Around ten I was just on the verge of getting settled down when there was knocking at the door. One of the oldest's friends needed a place to roost for a bit. I let him borrow my phone to call his mom and explain what was going on. The local pool wasn't open when he thought it should so he had to come back home.

While the friend thanked me profusely and I let him know it's no biggie, the oldest got ready for the day. The friend said there were some kids at the pool here at the complex which surprised me. I didn't think it would open for another hour. Kids there meant there was probably an adult on sight already. As long as there is a responsible adult around anyone's kids can swim. Oldest,  friend and youngest decided to go swimming here at the complex. I helped youngest get his tan lotion on and out the door. NAP time! I figure I could get a few winks in while they are away.

Five minutes later they are back. The kids that were there did not have an adult. They all got kicked out. I  grabbed a bargain book, my phone and keys. I know when I'm whooped. I'm not getting extra sleep. "I'll be your designated adult."

We were there for about an hour and a half before I found an excuse to leave. They were spraying around the grounds for something. I don't get along well with chemical death whether for bugs or weeds. I needed the excuse. My eyes weren't focusing well when I went from reading my book to looking at the pool. Oldest is 16, as is his friend. I made him go ask if it was OK for him to stay because the rules say it should be. The lady who kicked them out the first time didn't realize they were that old. Baby faces, both of 'em.

I marched on home with the youngest. Hubby's car was here. Must be his lunch time. Still no sleep for me, at least for another thirty minutes or so. I come upstairs and discuss the day. I've been talking to him for about five minutes before I realize he's not in his work clothes.

Me: You home for the day?
Hubby: Yeah, I decided that I just didn't need to work there anymore. Their attitude didn't agree with me.

They recently had a manager quit and he has been working six days in a row. Sleep deprivation means I'm not fast on the uptake today.

 I stare at him for a few seconds.

Me: Are you kidding?
Hubby: Yeah. I got my forty in already. They have enough people so I could come home for the day.

Oh, sweet nirvana! That means I can sleep the rest of the day. I can get myself a few more hours.

I've never been so glad someone quit before.

Ultimate Touche

Conversation of boys contemplating what kind of candy to get at the store:

Oldest: Oh, why do you have to get the same flavor as mine?

Me: He can get whatever kind he wants, it doesn't matter.

I'm the youngest so I've seen this conversation before. Both candies go through the line at the same time and the cashier hands them to me. I hand them to the kids.

Oldest, knowing he's being a smart ass: This one isn't mine.

I don't know where it came from,  I blurted out: Yes it is. I know it is because I spit on yours.

Oldest: Touche, mom. Touche.