¿Now What?

Excessive or Not?

Gabe's daycare just installed a new security system.  They will now keep all the doors locked except for the ones that lead to the main office area.  In order to move from the main office area to the classroom areas, you have to pass another set of doors.  In order to pass through these doors, each custodial parent will have their fingerprint scanned into the security system and will have a unique four digit code.  All other visitors will have to be escorted by an office member.

When I first read the notice that explained the new process, I was all, "Wait a minute, what?  Maybe I didn't read that right.  Did that say fingerprint scan?".  I'm all for safety, but doesn't that seem a bit excessive?  If someone wanted to snatch a child without this security, they would have to pass the office (and trust me, the office staff knows the parents by name).  They would know if someone who didn't belong was wandering about.  Let's suppose this child napper did make it past the office, then what?  Would they bust into a classroom, nab a child, and run off?  Call me naive, but I just don't see it happening.  OK, maybe if there was some kind of custody battle going on, but how often would that happen?

Its true I'm a less is more type of parent.  I think the issue of safety has been skidding a bit out of control (and by out of control I mean the next step will be to cover them in packing peanuts, a layer of antibacterial foam, and the seal them with saran wrap).  I think that the funds for this crazy system probably could have been used for something better.  I suspect I'm not the only parent who thinks this.  I'm probably not even in the minority.  However, since I already made a few suggestions, I will probably just keep quiet about this one.  Don't want to be labeled the difficult parent.  Maybe I will just pretend I'm part of the CIA, entering the super secret lab...like I'm on Frin*ge or something.

First Snowfall of the Year

I have a tendency to wax poetically about the first real snowfall of the year (see here and  here).  This year will be no different.  This afternoon I did what should always bedone during the first snowfall (if at all possible).  I remarked on the beauty of it and then grabbed a blanket and took a long nap on the couch.  It was lovely.  Gabe and Ben went out and played in the snow for about an hour and afterward we had some hearty, warm beef stew.  I love the snow in November....not so much in March.

This was several hours ago, we now have an inch or two completely covering the ground and everything else.

Not My Kind of History

Oh Michigan.....poor, poor Michigan....why are you so very bad?

That is just embarrassing.

NaBloPoMo Cop Out Post

I would like to take this time to thank the UAW for negotiating hunter's Friday as a paid holiday.  My hats off to you folks.

Happy Friday everyone.

Talk Soup

I am a lover of soup.  I love it, love it, love it.  As soon as the weather turns the slightest bit cold, I start making a pot of homemade soup a week.  There is nothing better than a hearty soup and warm rolls if you ask me.  So, in honor of my love of all things soup, I bring you my all time favorite meal ever.

Black Eyed Pea Sausage Stew

Ingredients:

• One pound of smoked sausage or kielbasa (cut in half lengthwise and sliced)
• One onion diced
• Two cloves of garlic minced
• Two cans of black eyed peas (drained and rinsed)
• Two cups of frozen corn (partially thawed)
• Two cups of beef broth
• 8oz of tomato sauce
• One can of diced tomatoes (drained)
• 1/2 tsp of cajun seasoning (I double this because I like it spicy)
• 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper ( I more than double this...again...spicy)
• 1/2 tsp of hot sauce (I double this as well)
• Salt/Pepper to taste

Cook sausage and diced onion over medium heat until onions are soft and sausage is cooked through.  Add the garlic and cook for a few additional minutes stirring frequently so garlic doesn't burn.  Drain any excess grease.  Add all remaining ingredients (except for the corn) and bring to a gentle boil.  Reduce heat slightly and simmer for about 10 minutes.  Stir in corn and heat for a few additional minutes until the corn and soup are nice and toasty warm.

So yummy.  Enjoy!

Good Game and Good Tricks

A few weeks ago, in a fit of frustration, I said to my son, "I am not in the mood for you games today!"  Of course, as these things go, I am now getting a taste of my own medicine...well...sort of.  Since Gabe cannot quite remember the phrase (I've only used it once), he has his own interpretation.  He now likes to tell me, "Mommy, I'm not in a good mood for your good games or your good tricks."  I suppose I deserve that for losing my cool.

Speaking of good games (oh, look at that segue)....

In the last week, we have started playing structured games with Gabe.  We started with Go Fish which was a big success.  Although, you do have to keep an eye on him because he does like to cheat...against himself.  In an effort to prolong the game, he won't put down his matches.  It can make for some long games if you don't have someone looking over his shoulder.  Spurred by the success of Go Fish, we moved on to Memory.  I was really astonished at how well he can play the game.  In fact, the second day, he legitimately beat me.  That was a little freaky.**  Today, we started with Candyland which also went pretty good.  I do have a sore spot with Candyland though.  When I was younger, I was a horrible sore loser.  If I didn't win I would lock myself in the bathroom so my friends would rig the cards so that I would win.   I was such a bad loser that I knew they did this and would let them.  Thankfully, Gabe is more gracious about losing than his mother.  Of course, just as I typed that sentence Gabe started crying because Ben beat him.  Oh well, it started off good anyway.

Ben and I have always enjoyed playing board or card games together and we are both very competitive.  Its been fun now playing games with Gabe.  I have to confess that playing unstructured pretend games is not my favorite part of parenting.  I do it anyway of course, but its been fun doing something we both enjoy.

But if he beats me again in Memory, you can find me in the bathroom.

**The thing that strikes me a interesting with this is that he is having trouble remembering his letters.  A large part of that could be disinterest on his part.  This would say to me that his visual memory is very good, but then tying a visual memory with a verbal memory is not as good.  The brain is a mysterious thing.

Tuesday Night Stand Up

OK, this should be the last of the video posts for awhile.  I had planned on writing a real post today but instead found myself mad dashing out to the pharmacy during rush hour traffic on a freeway that was backed up and down to one lane to reach the "big" hospital by my work.  Just to find out that when the nurse practitioner called in the Rx, she didn't leave the dosage for the pharmacist.  Sigh.  So now I am too frustrated to write some thing meaningful.  Instead, I will leave you with some chuckles.  Below are some videos of a few of my favorite comedians.  I hope you enjoy them.  Ben and I are huge stand up comedy fans, and in fact bought tickets to see Mike Birbiglia when he came to Royal Oak.  The show was outstanding.  We were a little nervous when we bought the tickets because we already own his CD's and have watched his comedy specials on TV.  However, he did mostly all new material and I had tears dripping down my face it was so funny.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find any good material on YouTube for Birbigs, which was surprising.

First up:  Brian Reagan - Poptarts (well, really its someone's reenactment of the skit, but you can hear the joke as done by Brian)

Dane Cook: Brain Ninjas (WARNING!  A lot of swearing on this one so if you are offended by swearing, you might just want to skip this one). 

Finally, Jim Gaffigan:  Hot Pockets

Oh Shoot, That is Nothing

I know Gabe may seem crazy in that video from yesterday, but this is what happens in our house at least once a day.  Sometimes I feel very outnumbered in my house.

Tunes

Bonus points to anyone who recognizes the second song.

Saturday

I have to apologize in advance because this is going to be a quick post.

Today was a fun day because after watching UofM win (YEAH GO BLUE!), we took Gabe to see his first movie in a theatre.  We saw Madagascar 2.  He did pretty good until about the last 15 minutes when he got antsy.  If the previews hadn't been 30 minutes long, he would have been OK.  What's up with that many previews at a kids' movie?  Shouldn't they know better?

Well, if you've watched the news or read online at all, you probably already know that MAM is cutting 10% of its North American workers.  No specifics have been laid out (and I don't expect to receive any before they just start cutting people).  The actions must be taken by the end of January, therefore, I have a job today....I can't speak for next week or the weeks to come.  About two years ago, they cut 35% of NA workers, then last summer they cut 15%, and now 10%.  That adds up to 60% of the mainstay of Michigan's economy.  I don't think people who live outside the state understand just how devastating its been.  These aren't just factory workers either, this also includes 60% of white collar workers.  That is over 20,000 people.  Buy American has a totally different meaning when you read those statistics.