Family Fun, the Challenge of Meals, and New Glasses

We went skating last night, and boy was it fun, though we are itching to do some outdoor skating to get a bigger rink and more variety in our skating. We saw B&N, and as much as I like that guy, he's a bit of downer with his grim forecasts for the state of the world and his deflated manner. I think being a hardcore business person takes a little magic out of your world, and unfortunately, when you're around them, they deflate you, as well. Maybe it's a good thing we don't see each other so much.

I think I'm getting closer to finishing my piece for WAHM, with my goal being to submit it before the new year. I'll keep plugging away. I've found that in order for my freelance work as well as my blog to have a fighting chance, I've got to change tactics. As much as I enjoy writing my blog, I'm afraid it's going to have to take a backseat to what I consider to be the real stuff. It's hard, because I'm the freshest in the early morning, and that's when writing this blog is the most enjoyable, but that's time taken away from stuff that might further my goals. And yet, here I am, blogging in the early morning hours, though I feel I've neglected my blogs, and there is some degree of utilitarian purpose to keeping a blog. I just don't know what it is.

I've learned a couple of new tricks to make meals interesting, especially when leftovers are involved. The first is gravy, it makes leftover chicken into a meal. And, it's easy to make. Secondly, know how much your family can eat. I tend to make too much food, and leftovers don't always make back to the table, though they do take up space and resources. Cooking less means less work, and that's a good thing.

Did I mention we went skating last night? Today my wife has her yoga retreat, so we'll hang out at home but will probably find a way to the library at some point. We love that place. The librarians there tease us that we keep their cirulation numbers up, and we're more than happy to oblige. What I find amazing is how so many parents severely limit the number of books they let their kids check out. Why would you discourage your children from reading more books. In my opinion, the more the merrier, and there they are, telling their sons or daughters that they can only have one or two books, even when they're begging for more. It amazes me and makes me think there are some serious control issues going on, not that I'm not guilty of the same.

Oh well, live and let live. It has no bearing on our lives, it's just interesting to see.

As I may have mentioned in the past, I'm in dire need of new glasses. I broke two pairs in the span of about four days, and the bummer part of it is that I really loved my glasses. I'd had them for about eight years! I will confess, however, that how I broke them is a great story, and one I'll share with you right now.

I was shoveling snow in our driveway, there must have been about two feet of the stuff, and as I dug my shovel in, there was a 4 foot wooden stake buried in the snow. Of course, I didn't see it, though in the back of mind I knew it was there, and this is the beautiful irony of it all. Before the big snow fall, I saw the stick on the ground and thought I'd better pick it up because it might present a problem when Kurt plows. Of course, in true character, I didn't deal with it and left it there, eventually forgetting about it. When I dug my shovel in, I must have caught the stick, because when I pulled the load out, the stick came flying out of the snow and nailed me right in the glasses, shattering them. In retrospect, they probably saved me from a much worse fate.

What's beautiful about this is that I did have an old spare pair I keep in the glove compartment of our car, and when I was wearing them one morning clearing the snow (it was -10 degrees outside), I was trying to clean them and snapped them in half. Can you believe that? I glued the two halves together, but they aren't perfectly in line, so they make me a little dizzy when I wear them. I've been wearing my contacts a lot more because it dawned on me that it I were driving and for some reason they broke again, I'd be in big trouble.

Anyway, yesterday I went to West Leb and stopped by Provision and got new glasses. One thing that really struck me was how exhorbitant glasses are. You're looking at $300 out the door, easy. I was shocked, but that store has a bargain shelf that has great deals. Sure, the selection is limited (an understatement if there ever was one), but you can't beat the price. Best of all, they still had my prescription on file, so I didn't have to spring for a new exam, even though I probably should get over to my optometrist.

I'm glad I got new glasses, it's one less thing to worry about in a world filled with worry.

Gotta run, the kids are awake and todays is Sunday, so I've got to make sausage. Until the next time, thanks for reading.