Five Question Friday

Well since I have ignored this blog for a while, I have been feeling guilty.
I am going to give Five Question Friday a try... You can find all the info you need at: My Little Life

1. What is your worst memory of your siblings?
This one is easy - no siblings for me

2. What was YOUR naughtiest childhood memory? (Must be something YOU did, no pawning it off on someone else!)
I was an angel! Really if you don't believe me just ask my Grandpa! No seriously... probably my naughtiest memory took place in a hospital. I was spending the night for a simple surgery and prior to my surgery, they let me build a marshmellow town (but I couldn't eat any). When I came back, the kid in the next bed had ate my town! I spent the next several hours being snotty, poking him, throwing stuff and blaming him until he had a tantrum and they had to move him to a different room.

3. Where do you like to go to relax?
Hot bath, wine, bubbles, candles, book - you get the idea

4. What was the last thing you won?
....................stumped...................
ummm probably winning the Lego Indiana Jones on the X-Box.

5. If you could be on a game show, which would you choose?
I would so totally own Cash Cab. I know the answers to almost every question they throw out.

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How the times have changed!

I stumbled across this a few years ago, printed it out and framed it in my kitchen. It has since become a family joke (one which my mother see's no humor in).

The Good Wives Guide

Have dinner ready.
Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favorite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself.
Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

Clear away clutter.
Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives. Gather up schoolbooks, toys, papers, etc. and then run a dust cloth over the tables.
Over the winter months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

Prepare the children.
Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces, comb their hair, and if necessary change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.

Minimize all noise.
At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

Be happy to see him.
Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

Listen to him.
You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the right time. Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

Make the evening his.
Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, and his real need to be at home and relax.

Your goal.
Try to make sure that your home is a place of peace and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.
Don't greet him with complaints and problems.
Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

Make him comfortable.
Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or a warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.


Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is master of the house and as such, will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness.

You have no right to question him.
A good wife knows her place

Needless to say, this is not how my house is ran....

I gots a job!!!

OK so I tried to remain positive through the days after being laid-off, but when you get rejection after rejection after rejection, your self esteem starts to take a hit.

I somehow managed to be one of the lucky one, I was only out of work for three months. I have friends and family who are working on six months, and I know of many people who have been looking for 9-12 months. I know families who are split apart because one got a job in another state and they felt they had to take it.

This Map shows the scary reality of the recession; I knew it was bad but daaaamn.

Anyway on to happier stuff... I gots a job!!! I will be doing business analytics for a large ISP here in Seattle. The pay is good, the hours will be long, and it sounds like I can telecommute after a while. Spoiled I am...

On the lighter brighter side, My house is basically clean, my toenails are painted pink, and (just for my cousin) I am listening to Bon Jovi -"Livin' on a Prayer". Life is good, my karma is clean, I have a loving family, a husband who loves to tease and spoil me, and the diet is even going good.

I am going to go play some Lego Indiana Jones :)

Enjoy Life's Adventures!

Autumn

The Mischief Makers

I recently read a post on my cousins blog where she talked about a favorite picture of her grandma. Her story inspired me to dig out my favorite.

I call this picture:

The Mischief Makers


I can see the mischievousness in all their faces. There is 70+ years between these men that I love... 70 years in which the world has changed tremendously; multiple wars, altered family values, new forms of recreation, and new types of support networks.

I was talking with a co-worker a few years ago, and he mentioned that his grandfather had passed away the day prior. I became choked up just thinking about, and offered my sympathy; my co-worker shrugged and said he barely knew his grandfather and probably wouldn't even attend the funeral. After discussing this with close friends, I realized that quite a few people in my generation do not know their grandparents.

My memories of my grandparents are a rich tapestry that still to this day is being woven. My children's lives are richer for knowing not only their grandparents but also some great grandparents! After all, who else can tell them the stories about dynamite, WWII, Hawaii before it became a state, life without TV, and a horse named Colonel, a dog named Skip, a pig named SaraLou, a rabbit named Thumper, and a talking cat named Snowball. I will share all these stories in later days, for now just know that the stories are some treasured moments for me.

Enjoy life's adventures!
Autumn

Our Ancestors

Consider for a moment how difficult life is in 2010! Now think about this ladies life...

We get in our cars and drive to the market where we pickup everything for dinner in less than 30 minutes. We then drive home and can have a "homemade" dinner on the table in 10 minutes if we choose to use processed food.

My great great great great grandmother was born in Connecticut then she walked to Utah - yes walked... Dinner for her was a gathering and hunting, cooking over a fire, and washing dishes in cold water affair.

Were it not for our ancestors tremendous efforts, where would we be now? The 19 century brought us the lightbulb, sewing machine, stethoscope, electromagnet, matches, typewriter, braille, revolvers, telephone, telegraph and morse code. These are just a few of the discoveries my great (times 4)grandmother saw in her lifetime.

As I sit here, I am using the 21st century version of a typewriter. I talked to my mother today (she is 1500 miles away) using my cell phone, my lamp is turned on, I sewed my wedding gown on a sewing machine, and my doctor uses a stethoscope on me... I could continue, but what is the point. We tend to think that our ancestors were non-technical, but where would we be without the technologies they created.

Enjoy life's adventures!
Autumn

What do I have now?

I recently read a book in which one of the main characters started her chapters with "What do I have now?"* She went from being thrilled over a couple dresses and ribbons to being complacent about lands, homes, all the clothing she could want, and let's not forget the title of Queen; then she lost all with a melancholy few dresses, and her head detached from her shoulders.

Why do I bring this up? I was struck every time I saw that chapter opening with how self absorbed this character had to be. All of us are at times narcissistic, however, the depth of your own personal narcissism appears to be ruled not so much by the accumulation of material objects, as by a false sense of pride.


So, what do I have now?
...I have my family, that is what truly matters to me


What do you have?

Enjoy life's adventures!
Autumn

*Philippa Gregory - The Boleyn Inheritance