Posts

Showing posts from February, 2019

Come to the Cabaret

Image
Good art inspires...and I'm so happy that I was inspired to drive out I drove out to my alma mater ( Cedar Crest College ) on Sunday afternoon  with my son to see the musical, Cabaret.  Many years ago, I was very active in the school's theater program. I minored in theater.  (I should have double majored...I was so close...but I didn't and I DO regret that.)   I was on stage and behind stage.  Seeing and learning from all angles gave me an appreciation for theater.   Since my son is showing some interest in theater, I've been wanting to expose him to more, but on a budget.  (Yes, I'd love to take him to see a slew of Broadway shows, but that's out of my price range.)  I want him to appreciate everything that makes (or can make) theater so exciting.  It's not just the performers; it's the details that make the experience:  sets, lights, costumes, sound...when it all falls into place you get an experience like no other.   Cabaret is a musical

It's MY Garage

Image
Set back and down the hill (although not ALL the way down) from my house is a smallish one car garage.  Like the house, it was built in the 1920s.  I know this because I have a photo of it from 1928 or so. (The photo above was taken today)  It almost looks the same as it did then...only a little worse for wear.  The original barn doors (which I LOVED, but were not practical) have been replaced with a sliding (up & down) door that most garages have.  Its white wood. It once had a weather vane on top of it, which was broken when it was last painted...which was in the past 20 or so years.  I only recall this because I know it was before my son was born, which means it was more than 14 years ago. I supposed it's a typical garage.  It houses various things...including my car.  Yes, I DO park my car in the garage.  Not all the time, but most of the time.  It also houses various tools (like a broom and rake), outdoor furniture (in the cold months), and general crap. (I do mean

It's Those Little Irritations...

Image
You know the saying, "Don't sweat the small stuff..."  I don't think we're sweating it, it's just driving us crazy.  Or maybe it's just me???  It's those little things that drive me up a tree and set my teeth of edge.  Things like... It's going to snow later today.  It's going to snow A LOT.  Then it's going to rain and be a major mess.  Not the end of the world, but certainly irritating!  Especially when you deal with traffic. And these days is there ANY area where traffic is not an issue?  There is no such thing as rush hour anymore because it's ALWAYS rush hour.  Ok, maybe not at 3 AM, but... As stated above, it's going to snow.  As a result, school is letting out early today.  (Good planning!)  My son (who if you've been reading this blog lately, you know has been sick) is heading back to school today.  Usually he'd walk, but I drove him this morning.  No sno

Tales Of The Pink Bowl: And Then The Plague Descended...

Image
If you read my previous blog post:   https://bfthsboringblog.blogspot.com/2019/02/vomiting-and-love-letter-to-math-teacher.html , you'll know that they day before Valentine's Day, my normally healthy son came down with the stomach something.  After the 5 o'clock disaster though, the kid seemed to be much better.  He took it easy during the day.  He drank tea and chicken soup. I did laundry. He took a nap (a definite clue to him being sick).  My husband made his bed. He took another nap.  He took a shower.  He went to bed.   He got up and went to school the next day; which was a half day.  He hung out with some friends after school and ate pepperoni pizza. As a family we had dinner together.  It was Valentine's Day and nothing shows a mother's love more than leftover spaghetti and meat sauce.  (Which I had made on the snow day.)  He had the next day off and I had taken the day off as well, making it a four day weekend for us. All seemed well with the worl

Vomiting and a Love Letter to a Math Teacher

Image
I'm thinking the title of this post might catch your eye.  I hope you'll read this whole post and share it with others.  (Actually I always hope that, but I particularly hope it for this one.) Let me state this clearly; although I had good math teachers when I was in school, I am NOT a math person.  Honestly, I hate math. (Sorry!)  I have math anxiety.  I have math-phobia.  I am TRYING not to pass this on to my son... Back in the beginning of the school year (actually before the school year actual began) when I saw the list of teachers my son was going to have for the year, I was a little apprehensive (ok, maybe more than a little) about his math teacher.  There was no information on her on the school's website, but digging around I found that she had taught for only 2 years at our high school.  Immediately, I RUSHED to judgement.  (You can already see the wrongness here, right?)  She's young.  She's doesn't have a lot of experience.  What does she kn

"With Malice Toward None...

Image
with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." Obviously not my words, but the words of one of our greatest Presidents.  (In my opinion; and yes I am EXTREMELY biased as my Great, Great Grandfather was part of his security detail...no comments on that one.) Today marks Lincoln's birthday.  On the news this morning there was a story about a woman starting her prison term for involuntary manslaughter as she sent her "boyfriend" texts encouraging him to commit suicide, which he did.  Now there is more to the story I am sure, but it resonated with me today as I thought of  Lincoln's words. We are so quick to show malice and slow to act in a charitable way.  If I

The Age of Misplacing

Image
We all do it at some point in our lives.  We all do it more than once.  And it's annoying as hell... It's when you misplace something.  You haven't LOST it because you know it's there SOMEWHERE.  You just don't know WHERE. I'm sitting here frustrated as HELL because I KNOW I purchased 2 Valentine's Day card in January.  I can't pinpoint the exact day, but I KNOW I did it.  I know I pulled into a parking spot right in front of the Dollar Tree. (Because that's where I get my cards...call me cheap, but that's what I do because MOST cards don't last that long.  They are enjoyed and then tossed and I'm not spending $4+ for something that is going to be tossed.  Now, if it's TRULY a special occasion, that's a different story.  But NOT all holidays call for a Hallmark moment.  Sorry that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)  It was before work because the Dollar Tree opens at 8 and I don't have to be in until 9 (and I&#

Call me? The Wacky World of Phone Spam

Image
I work in a small office suite.  Most of my co-workers are remote.  Our main number(s) is currently directed to my extension. (This was not always the case and changed a little over a year or so ago...if I recall correctly)  When I am not physically in the office, I usually forward my extension to my cell phone.  The phone rarely rings; things are usually more email or text based.  It would not be extraordinary (or all that unusual) if a day went by without the phone ringing at all. Over time, I've come to know what calls are "real" and what are not.  MOST of the time, if my phone reads "wireless caller" it's my boss or one of my reps.  If it comes up with a person's name (Smith, J) or a legitimate sounding business (Smith Family Pharmacy), I pick up the phone, but I don't say anything until the person on the other end says hello. Maybe that sounds rude to you.  If I did it at home, I'd say it WAS rude.  But there is a method of my madnes

Total Control

Image
I'll be venturing out of my little comfort zone this week to head into the city for business.  I'm not all that happy about it and I'm definitely nervous about it.  Why?  It's no big deal.  People do it every day.  (Though how they manage I haven't a clue!)  It's just not for me. Once I knew I was going, I started thinking about why I was so uncomfortable about it.  I realized that had little to do with the actual city.  Though I don't go in often (financial reasons), I DO love to wander around the city and I especially love going to see a show.  (Again, something that I haven't done in 10 years or so because it's expensive and darn it I really want those good seats.)  What is it that unnerves me? The first thing that I came up with is the unknown factor.  I like to plan; I like to know exactly what I am doing.  I don't take the bus regularly, so that's a bit of an unknown.  I have taken the subway even less frequently.  I've nev