I spent a lot of time in the kitchen today. Dave's out-of-town so I made the usual breakfast followed by parmesan noodles for lunch. Then I made brownies for a playdate and went to town with chicken pot pie and a special dessert made from the leftover pie dough smothered in butter and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. Everything was perfect - until I called the kids to supper and was dishing up the pot pie and suddenly realized I left the piedough in the oven too long and it was burned - as in smokin' black.
Sophie was in the kitchen with me and I grabbed the pot holders to get the pan out but when I opened the oven door flames started shooting out. I quickly shut it and tried to think, "Baking soda or not. What am I not supposed to do? I know there's something that seems logical to use that you're not supposed to...was that water or baking soda? Should I use the fire extinguisher?" I went to the cupboard and grabbed the soda - almost empty. I told Sophie to get the other kids and go to the front porch and then grabbed the phone, dialed Mom in Arizona, and got the extra baking soda from the fridge. Got the answering machine at Mom's. I hung up and dialed Anna's number and Matt answered. I yelled, "There's a fire in the kitchen - what do I do?" Matt: "What?" Then Anna got on with him, my panic rose as I opened the oven door again and flames shot out, higher than before, so I yelled again -"There's a fire in the kitchen , what do I do?"
Anna, calm Anna, said, "Leave it alone, I'll be right there" and Matt advised, "Put a cover on it." I hung up, got a cover, opened the door to more flames but got the cover on to get enough flames out so I could get out the cookie sheet. Then I grabbed another cover and smothered it some more and looked up from the stove to see Anna running to the back door, baking soda in hand. Matt was 15 seconds behind her. She grabbed the potholders from me and took immediate charge of the baking sheet while Matt started opening doors to get the smoke out of the house.
They're my heroes - my real-life heroes. And now my plan is to print out this link and post it in the kitchen cupboard. Feel free to do the same.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Friday, April 04, 2008
Spring School Pictures
When did we become a society that is so egocentric? I know it’s been coming for a long time but it just seems like we keep finding new ways to go over the top. The latest for me is spring school portraits. Last year was the first time our school offered them – and my kids were crushed that I didn’t order any pictures. Well guess what – it’s that time of year again. Yesterday Lucy came home with a sheet of paper announcing that Spring Portraits were coming – it was time for parents to schedule haircuts for their kids and pick out outfits. When I told the kids we wouldn’t order any, one of them got very upset and said, “These are the best pictures ever – you get to sit on rocks and pose.” Another went on to say that all the other kids would get them. Well, I know for a fact that a lot of kids at their school won't get them - because they're too busy worrying about putting food on the table to buy pictures. I didn't say that, but I did lecture them. I said that their dad and I choose to spend our money on other things that we feel are more important - like spending time in Arizona with grandparents or going hiking in Colorado. Or on books. Then I added, "We buy the pictures in the fall but we don't need to be so frivolous and buy the pictures again in the spring."
Then I really went off on the whole, "When we were young..." and told them about the one time I got to have a real portrait taken - when I was a senior in high school and I got to pick out two outfits - one for the formal pose and one for the informal pose - and went with a photographer into real-live woods and had my picture taken. I pointed out that happened once and it was a huge deal and that I really don't think we need to have our pictures posing in front of rocks - real or fake - any more than that.
But now I'm thinking - even though I argue for the craziness of spring portraits - don't I still value pictures of the kids? Each year between October and December aren't you likely to find me shopping for matching outfits for the kids and making arrangements for our Christmas card photos? Don't we, each year on the first Sedona hike, stop at the "picture rock" (as John named it) and take a picture of the kids? Finally, just look at this blog - it's all about the kids and their activities and the way they make me laugh... or scream. So, really, how egocentric am I?
Maybe the difference is I value the pictures of them engaged in activity - like cooking or drawing or hiking or reading. But then again, maybe I'm just justifying my own actions.
The other possibility of why I'm so irked is that this is a school-sanctioned event. It may even be a fundraiser for PTO - I can't say for sure because I've been an on again/off again PTO parent this year. But really, there are far more exciting things for Lucy to be sharing with me than the announcement of Spring Portraits. In her backpack, along with the portrait flyer, was a telescope she made out of a cardboard tube that showed various constellations. We oohed and aahed over that. Also in her backpack was her newest library book - a new Magic TreeHouse book she was anxious to read aloud to John. (The day before she and John snuggled on the couch and she read to him for a whole hour.) So, my point is: shouldn't we, as parents, be spending our time with our kids reading or talking or doing homework vs. prepping them for their portrait session? I certainly think so.
Thanks for listening.
Then I really went off on the whole, "When we were young..." and told them about the one time I got to have a real portrait taken - when I was a senior in high school and I got to pick out two outfits - one for the formal pose and one for the informal pose - and went with a photographer into real-live woods and had my picture taken. I pointed out that happened once and it was a huge deal and that I really don't think we need to have our pictures posing in front of rocks - real or fake - any more than that.
But now I'm thinking - even though I argue for the craziness of spring portraits - don't I still value pictures of the kids? Each year between October and December aren't you likely to find me shopping for matching outfits for the kids and making arrangements for our Christmas card photos? Don't we, each year on the first Sedona hike, stop at the "picture rock" (as John named it) and take a picture of the kids? Finally, just look at this blog - it's all about the kids and their activities and the way they make me laugh... or scream. So, really, how egocentric am I?
Maybe the difference is I value the pictures of them engaged in activity - like cooking or drawing or hiking or reading. But then again, maybe I'm just justifying my own actions.
The other possibility of why I'm so irked is that this is a school-sanctioned event. It may even be a fundraiser for PTO - I can't say for sure because I've been an on again/off again PTO parent this year. But really, there are far more exciting things for Lucy to be sharing with me than the announcement of Spring Portraits. In her backpack, along with the portrait flyer, was a telescope she made out of a cardboard tube that showed various constellations. We oohed and aahed over that. Also in her backpack was her newest library book - a new Magic TreeHouse book she was anxious to read aloud to John. (The day before she and John snuggled on the couch and she read to him for a whole hour.) So, my point is: shouldn't we, as parents, be spending our time with our kids reading or talking or doing homework vs. prepping them for their portrait session? I certainly think so.
Thanks for listening.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Relay for Life
I don't normally do any solicitation on my blog - but here's one I feel is so very important.
On April 18th and 19th a group of us will meet at the Memorial Stadiuim at UND and walk/run for breast cancer. The money we raise will go to toward research and care for breast cancer patients. If you'd like to donate, follow this link and you can make an online donation. Thanks so much.
On April 18th and 19th a group of us will meet at the Memorial Stadiuim at UND and walk/run for breast cancer. The money we raise will go to toward research and care for breast cancer patients. If you'd like to donate, follow this link and you can make an online donation. Thanks so much.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Belly Dancing and Breast Cancer
Each year UND sponsors a Belly Dance Expo. During the event the belly dancing group demonstrates the beauty of the dance - and fundraises for a cause. This year the fundraising efforts went to fight breast cancer. Theresa was asked to talk about breast cancer awareness, but as she's still in the throes of treatment, she declined and asked me to talk for her. We came up with the following and this evening I stood in front of about 75 men and women and spoke. The information, I believe, is important for all of us to hear so I pasted the speech here. Feel free to share the information with any other women friends.
Four months ago a close friend was diagnosed with Stage 2B breast cancer. We were all in shock because we thought surely there should have been signs – like a lump or just a general “not feeling well” vibe. But there were no signs – none at all – as is often the case with breast cancer.
Here are some facts about breast cancer: 1 in 8 American women will develop breast cancer within their lifetime. That’s lifetime – so all the way up to ninety-year-olds. Of the 240,000 women diagnosed each year, close to 40,000 of those women will die.
Thinking about breast care now and what you can do to ensure your health will make a difference. Upon her diagnosis, the first words I said to my friend were, “I can’t believe it – you’re the healthiest person I know.” She’s an adventure racer, a belly dancer, a yoga teacher, and cared about the trans fat in foods long before anyone else. But all that proves is that we can’t take our health for granted and that there are some things we, as women, can do to further ensure our health.
For example,
For all women, but starting with young women, perform a monthly physical exam. If you’re unsure about how to do it there are cards available at your doctor’s office. It’s not enough to rely on your annual doctor’s visit and his/her examination.
Get regular exercise – at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes. Brisk walking is a good example and is enough to lower your chances of getting breast cancer by 18-20 percent.
If you smoke, quit. There are all kinds of reasons to stop, but the possibility of breast cancer just adds one more.
If you drink alcoholic beverages, do it in moderation. Two alcoholic drinks/day greatly increases your chance of breast cancer.
Get a baseline mammogram by the age of 35 unless you’re nursing or pregnant.
Then, at forty, get annual mammograms. Without a mammogram, because my friend had no lump, there wouldn’t have been any detection of her cancer until it had spread much further.
Reduce the stress in your life – activities like yoga and meditation go a long way toward stress reduction.
Finally, maintain a healthy weight. You can do this by eating well with a plant-based diet rich in fruits and whole grains. 10 foods that are known to help with breast health are: almonds, beans, broccoli, soy beans, spinach, salmon, flax seed, garlic, green tea and olive oil. Incorporate these into your diet.
For my friend, she’s got an 82% chance of surviving. But the amount of money and research and support for breast cancer is one of the highest funded areas of research and for that, we’re fortunate. But it’s still up to each of us to maintain our health.
Four months ago a close friend was diagnosed with Stage 2B breast cancer. We were all in shock because we thought surely there should have been signs – like a lump or just a general “not feeling well” vibe. But there were no signs – none at all – as is often the case with breast cancer.
Here are some facts about breast cancer: 1 in 8 American women will develop breast cancer within their lifetime. That’s lifetime – so all the way up to ninety-year-olds. Of the 240,000 women diagnosed each year, close to 40,000 of those women will die.
Thinking about breast care now and what you can do to ensure your health will make a difference. Upon her diagnosis, the first words I said to my friend were, “I can’t believe it – you’re the healthiest person I know.” She’s an adventure racer, a belly dancer, a yoga teacher, and cared about the trans fat in foods long before anyone else. But all that proves is that we can’t take our health for granted and that there are some things we, as women, can do to further ensure our health.
For example,
For all women, but starting with young women, perform a monthly physical exam. If you’re unsure about how to do it there are cards available at your doctor’s office. It’s not enough to rely on your annual doctor’s visit and his/her examination.
Get regular exercise – at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes. Brisk walking is a good example and is enough to lower your chances of getting breast cancer by 18-20 percent.
If you smoke, quit. There are all kinds of reasons to stop, but the possibility of breast cancer just adds one more.
If you drink alcoholic beverages, do it in moderation. Two alcoholic drinks/day greatly increases your chance of breast cancer.
Get a baseline mammogram by the age of 35 unless you’re nursing or pregnant.
Then, at forty, get annual mammograms. Without a mammogram, because my friend had no lump, there wouldn’t have been any detection of her cancer until it had spread much further.
Reduce the stress in your life – activities like yoga and meditation go a long way toward stress reduction.
Finally, maintain a healthy weight. You can do this by eating well with a plant-based diet rich in fruits and whole grains. 10 foods that are known to help with breast health are: almonds, beans, broccoli, soy beans, spinach, salmon, flax seed, garlic, green tea and olive oil. Incorporate these into your diet.
For my friend, she’s got an 82% chance of surviving. But the amount of money and research and support for breast cancer is one of the highest funded areas of research and for that, we’re fortunate. But it’s still up to each of us to maintain our health.
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