Wishing Wednesdays

Week 8: Still wishing... it's one of those BLUE days.

• I wish "week 7" hadn't gotten lost in the chaos of my life.
• I wish that babies came to the people who are sitting and wishing and all too prepared to have them.
• I wish that words could be said / heard without guilt lingering around afterwards.
• I wish that when a friend shares their pain - they would instantly feel the relief from the amount of that burden that I carry with me for them.
• I wish that smiles and laughter would win over tears and silence.

Wishing Wednesdays

Week 6

• I wish my best ideas for wishes didn't come seconds after making my wish list.


• I wish for good hair days with a reasonable amount of effort.


• I wish for clarity.


• I wish I was better at meditation.


• I wish I could make time go faster and slower simultaneously.

• As a bonus wish: Tara, I wish you were still here. It would totally take care of wish #3!

My Life In A Box

This week, work involved a pretty big event. And gave me reason to reflect on how my work life seems to be overwhelmed with boxes, packing and unpacking. On my last self-evaluation, I listed that boxes were one of my least satisfying aspects of work - sometimes I swear I work for a delivery or moving service. (and that wouldn't be a problem - if it weren't for the fact that I really DON'T- or so they say. I'll let you decide.)

1. Shop for items needed.
2. Pack them in bags.
3. Pack bags in cart.
4. Unload from cart.
5. Load in to car.

At office:
6. Unload materials to pack into participant bags.
7. Fill each bag.
8. Realize that boss has additional suggestions of materials to be included.
9. Pack bags again with these materials.
10. Ugh. Forgot "gifts" to be included.
11. Pack bags a final time.
12. Pack the packed bags into boxes for easier transport.

Table decorations:
13. Unpack previously shopped for materials for decorations.
14. Make flower arrangements.
15. Pack finished arrangements into box for transport.

16. Pack ALL listed boxes into car.
(Also, pack all personal items needed for event / required paperwork / misc supplies needed.)
17. Go to event site to set up - only to find room is being used and set up will not be possible until tomorrow. Grumble, grumble, then give up and go home.

Next day:
18. Unpack car enough to fit child in to transport to school.
19. Repack car to go to event site.
20. Unload car.
21. Set up site / unpack all materials.
22. Repack car with empty boxes (no room for out-of-site storage).
23. Have event.
24. Mid-event, receive (against my will) delivery of MANY huge boxes that I am now in charge of should the intended parties NOT pick them up - for which they were NOT pre-warned.
25. Pass off boxes to unsuspecting participants.
24. Unpack boxes from car.
25. Repack items that are left.
26. Repack items into car.
27. Return to office.
28. Unpack boxes from car.

29. Still left to do - unpack all those boxes.
30. Sort through materials.
31. Repack those that are re-usable.
32. File or dispose those that are event specific.
33. Recycle boxes that are now empty and no longer needed.

Take into account that I have about 8 more events (smaller - but packing is still involved) in the next 20 days and you begin to see why I am a Chick in a Box. (weak reference to Man in A Box song).

Wishing It Was Wednesday

So, somehow Wednesday blew by me without a moment to sit and wish - what a crime...but with a little blog magic, let's pretend anyway. Maybe Thursday wishes are more potent because they've been simmering a while?

• I wish I wasn't a day late.
• I wish I could rub up against people (like a cat) and take the best parts of them and add it to myself.
• I wish / hope that my big event at work goes off with a hitch (may have something to do with my recent lack of time).
• I wish my brain wouldn't work overtime and impose on my dreams.
• I wish for a natural and lasting feeling of ease.

Thank You For the Germs

Tis the time of year for illness to spread. I understand that this is going to happen to the best of us as we are often contagious before we even know that we are carriers.

But in particular, I'd like to thank those that make it possible, that ignore the symptoms and push forward to maintain their daily routine - all the while spreading a little piece of themselves onto you and I - it warms my heart.

To the "perfect attendance" child. Thank you so much for prioritizing your record over the safety of others. I admire the fact that while most people recognize that the flu is contagious for 4-7 days, you manage to return to school in only 1 day all the while letting your classmates know that you have the flu. Thanks so much. I hope we can return the favor- we'll be sneezing on your valentine. Sent with love. XOXOXO-Ah-choo!

To the mother that sends her child to daycare - even though she's pretty sure the child has RSV. Thank you for systematically causing a decline in the infant classroom attendance as all of the children fall victim to your personal germ warfare.

To the line of people waiting for the pharmacy at Wal-Mart. Thank you for choosing to personally come into the store to get your scripts for your contagious conditions. We know you don't feel well, we wish the lines were faster, and that you might consider sending someone else to do your dirty work.

To the designers of Wal-Mart (and all other super store chains with pharmacy inside) - I challenge you to walk by the pharmacy area one time a week for an entire year - after you have contracted every disease known to man - would you please consider a different design on future stores? Perhaps one that contains the sick people to one corner of the store? Or maybe the idea of having an entrance that comes straight to the pharmacy, instead of having to aimlessly wander through the entire store to get there? Or how about a drive through so they can just stay in their own little germ bubbles?

To the children of the "nurse". How did you make it through medical school and yet you fail to understand how to prevent the spread of illness? Just because the school day is done does not mean that your children are no longer contagious. Thanks for letting them run around and play football with all the neighborhood kiddos - shall we all send you all of our medical bills?

Just some things to consider while we wait for the germs to forfeit their attack on our household. We'll do our best to keep it to ourselves - though we may have accidentally spread the infection on to Grandma. It's like the horror movie that never ends without the potential for a sequel.

Wishing Wednesdays

Week 5: The one where I mostly wish about the dogs.

• I wish that my pups would start sleeping through the night again - midnight potty breaks in a sleepy-stupor are no fun!



• I wish my pups would get over their insane jealousy of the new dog next door. I can not convince them that he is here to stay.



• I wish I could read the pups minds - I just know they have something to tell me (there is something under the couch, this thing on the floor is alive, hello - feed us!).



• I wish they could behave at the front door - change that to a wish for a visit from Cesar, who I am sure could fix this problem in about 2 minutes and be mighty charming while doing so.
  



• I wish that people who hurt sweet animals like mine could be faced with punishments that come close to a fraction of the pain they cause.



• If it's not too much, I also wish I knew why my blue fish insists on changing colors to match his tank-mates- and more to the point, how exactly does he have this power? Part chameleon?

What are you wishing for this week?

Banana Bread

I love this banana bread. It's so quick and easy to whip up. A slice is very filling!
I have used bananas that were so past ripe that you would never eat them and you can never tell. Also, I'm not sure how I got this far in life without knowing that you can freeze bananas (after peeling) if they are going to go bad before you can use them. Such an eye-opening discovery for me! Since learning this trick, I have not had one banana go past it's prime in my house! I freeze 3 in a bag so that they will be ready for this recipe. Just defrost in fridge overnight and then use - it won't look pretty, but I assure you the taste is the same.


Here's the recipe with my notes.
Ingredients
3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed (I find that 3 creates the right amount of moisture)
1/3 cup melted butter (This equals 5 1/3 tbs - I replace 2 1/3 tbs with applesauce)
1 cup sugar (I always reduce to 3/4 cup you won't miss it)
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt (I have forgotten this with no adverse effects)
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour (I have replaced 2 TBS of this with wheat germ)

Method
No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

If I could catch up with how quickly we eat these - I would like to get several in the freezer for summer months when I don't want to be baking.

This recipe has been linked to:
Tuesday at the Table
Tasty Tuesdays