I Should Have Known

Driving back from my parents’ house last weekend, Ethan uttered, “I hate long car rides.”
This statement was no surprise to me. Ethan, whom only stops moving long enough to watch a 30-minute episode of Transformers Animated, complains routinely about being strapped down in a car for more than 31 minutes. Sure enough, 10 minutes later, Ethan stated, “Man, I hate long car rides.”
I didn’t respond, hoping that by not saying anything, Ethan would drop the topic.
A few minutes later, Ethan asked, “Mommy, do you know what?”
“What?” I said.
“I really hate long car rides.”

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I’ve received this award from Tanya of Teen Autism for being a creative blogger. Tanya's writings about raising a kid on the spectrum are filled with such honesty, integrity and hope that I can’t help but feel inspired even on my most challenging autism days. Thanks, Tanya, so much for the bloggy love.

Bloggy Love

Just when my SAHM life gets boring, something my bloggy life makes my day. I received The Honest Scrap blogger award from Cookie, whom always puts a smile on my face. Thanks so much!
As part of the award, I need to reveal 10 things about myself. Let me startle you with this information:
1. I bought a pair of Earth sandals and I hate them. The “negative heel” technology makes it impossible to chase after my kids.
2. I bought a pair of black swim shorts and I love them. No more tugging down my swim suit while I chase after my kids at the pool. 3. I’m hoping our cucumber plants do well this year so I can attempt pickling them.
4. Right now, my kids are fighting over which flavor of Jell-O to make: Berry Blue or Blackberry Fusion.
5. My diet was going great until I got too lazy to make dinner last night and my husband ordered a pepperoni pizza. One slice of cheese pizza is 6 Weight Watchers points, but who the hell can eat one slice of pizza?
6. I also admire people, like Cookie, whom can drink just one cup of coffee every morning.
7. Last week, my cable, Internet and phone were out for a day. I’m really proud of myself for not hyperventilating over it.
8. I’m also proud of myself for getting up at 6 am every morning this week to do the exercise show, Priscella’s Yoga Stretches.
9. I’m addicted to the reality show, The Next Food Network Star. I’m rooting for Melissa D’Arabian, whose only cooking experience is feeding her family.
10. Ethan saw a commercial for Clorox’s Greenworks cleaner and wants me to buy it. I should have him read this post.

I’m passing the award onto Jabblog, A Corgi, Lceel and Jan. Now you just need to award it to four other bloggers and share some bloggy love.

Gotta Have Friends

Yesterday I took some old electronics we don’t use to a recycling facility in Boulder. I pulled up to a drive-through window to pay the facility to recycle the electronics, which included a broken phone, an electronic address book (pre-pre-cursor PDA) and an actual PDA. I also had a Brother’s electronic label maker that doesn’t work.
The lady in the window pointed to the label maker and asked, “What’s that?”
“It’s a label maker,” I said. “Do you recycle them?”
“No,” she said, “but it’s awfully Seinfeld of you to do so.” I had no idea what she was talking until my husband reminded me of the Seinfeld episode in which Jerry re-gifts a label maker.
I guess she wasn’t exactly complimenting me, but that’s ok because later that day I got a compliment from Jen at Never A Dull Moment. She gave me the Friendship award:

“The Friendship Award is given to blogs that are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. The winners must choose at least 5 more blogs that embody the feeling of friendship, and include this cleverly written text into the body of their award.”

Thanks so much Jen! I’m so glad I found your blog. I lapped up your posts about going home to Chicago, my old stomping grounds, over Christmas. Not to mention the post about needing to find good summer camps for your sons to keep your sanity intact—let’s just say, ditto!
Now I’d like to recognize some blogs I enjoy reading every week:

The Days are JUST Packed
StaticVox
Confessions of a Quirky Mom
I’m a Pixiemama
Stimeyland
Katydid & Kid and
The Zen of Motherhood.

Your insights and kind words make days when I'm dissed by the recycling lady OK after all.

Blogging, A Meaningful Time Waster

I spent the past week trying to clean out my closets for a consignment sale, and my house is trashed. I would seriously be embarrassed if anyone saw the mess I’m living in now. I meant to cut back on blogging to make time for cleaning, but I’m not disciplined enough to do that. Plus, I reason, the laughs I get from reading blogs are good for my mental health.
And laughs are just the beginning. I also get tips, like which brands of lead-free lunch boxes to buy, or how to make a skirt out of old pants. Indeed, just this week I was inspired to take up knitting again, buy a used bread machine to cut back on trips to the store for bread, and lose weight to get “hot for the holidays.”
The blogosphere has done so much for my well being, it’s a real treat to hear that people enjoy reading my blog, too. Thanks so much Honey Mommy for this adorable award!


And now it’s time for The Clothesline to “spread the love.” Here are some blogs that I meaningfully waste my time at:

The Mamabird Diaries
The Wayfaring Wanderer
Maggie’s Mind
Eat Play Love
The Green Baby Guide
The Soapdish
The Coal Mine

The rules of this award are:

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from
3. Nominate and link to at least 7 other blogs
4. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you've nominated