November 26, 2009

grace in small things: fifty three

Thanksgiving seems like the perfect day for a Grace in Small Things post, doesn’t it?

Today I am thankful for my family and friends (of course), for snow, for turkey, for fast WiFi, for comfortable shoes and a warm sweater dress. I’m thankful to be starting my day at the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, and thankful that I will end it at home with my babies.

Your turn — what are you thankful for this year?

Want to see what I’ve been up to this morning? Check out the Butterball blog for live updates and photos!

November 9, 2009

grace in small things: fifty one

Tonight I was sitting in the pharmacy drive-through line, waiting for the tech to enter my insurance information into the computer AGAIN, because even though I just filled this same scrip two months ago, somehow the computer says I have no insurance. Again.

Hooray!

(Fortunately, I have insurance AND my insurance covers this drug, which is great because before the insurance, it’s $250. Which seems like a lot for something that isn’t actually erasing my wrinkles entirely but only making them a little less noticeable.)

(Differin, you all. I love it. But I love it more when it’s only $25. Insurance FTW!)

ANYway …

While I’m waiting for the man to  v  e  r  y   s   l   o   w   l    y   enter my insurance  information in the computer, the Go Go’s come on the radio, and suddenly I’m 12 again, bobbing my head to “We’ve got the beat.” But driving, and in need of something to take care of my crow’s feet. You know what I mean, though.

And I started to think about music that makes me feel young again. For example …

1. “Happy Hour Again” (The Housemartins)

2. “Hymn to Her” (Pretenders)

3. “I Love You Suzanne” (Lou Reed)

4. “Roam” (B52s)

5. “Personal Jesus” (Depeche Mode)

I could keep going (how about some Erasure, you all?) but it’s your turn. What songs make you feel young?

(Only sort of distantly related: I heard Frank Sinatra singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” tonight on satellite radio. Ho ho ho! Or something.)

November 4, 2009

grace in small things: fifty

Today the boys had cereal for their snack (eh, they almost always have cereal for their snack — it’s fortified, so it seems healthy. Do not judge). This week, they choose Corn Pops (Henry) and Cap’n Crunch (Charlie) (again, DO NOT JUDGE).

So I’m telling them, as I always do, that I remember when Corn Pops were Sugar Pops. “And there was another cereal,” I say, “called Super Sugar Crisp, but now it’s called something else, without ’sugar’ in the name.”

And Henry sighs and rolls his eyes and says, “Yes, I know, you’ve told us a million times.” Yes, well, I owe you, son, for the constant Star Wars plot recaps.

November 2006

Anyway, remember when sugar cereal wasn’t a big deal? I do! My brother and I used to get up on the weekends and get our own cereal and take it in the den and watch television. My mother would leave the bowls out and put the milk in a little pitcher, instead of letting us pour out of the big jug. The rule was that we were not supposed to wake my parents up until 9:00 am; until then, it was all cartoons and sugar cereal.

The 70s were great, man.

1. Life. Mikey liked it! And no, he did not die from eating Pop Rocks and drinking Coke.

2. Lucky Charms. They’re magically delicious, you know, because they have marshmallows in the cereal!

3. Cap’n Crunch. But not with those weird berry things, just the plain cereal.

4. Cocoa Puffs. Chocolate milk! In the bowl! Perfect.

5. Apple Jacks. Do they even still make those? My brother loved Apple Jacks.

Some days, I think that the best reason to have kids is the cereal. Truly.

What’s your favorite sugary breakfast treat? Or are you a Grape Nuts in the morning type? (Nothing against the Grape Nuts — they’re delicious. Especially with sugar.)