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.)

October 27, 2009

grace in small things: forty nine

Charlie is home sick, for the second day in a row; he has an ear infection and a disgusting cough. He’s too sick to go to school but not sick enough to fall asleep, which means we’re camped out on the sofa watching a lot of television. Specifically, we’re watching “Catch That Kid,” for the second time in two days.

Spoiler: OMG this is a horrible movie. Unless you’re a seven-year-old boy with a hacking cough, in which case it’s a pretty good movie. Good enough to watch twice.

Oh Kristen Stewart. Seriously.

(I would recommend “Stormbreaker” if you’re looking for kid-friendly action movies. James Bond for tweens. With Alicia Silverstone as the quirky housekeeper.)

So I’m sitting here thinking about movies I really could watch two days in a row, and realizing that it’s a pretty short list. Five, in fact. How’s that for coincidental?

1. Pride and Prejudice. The Colin Firth version, of course.

2. Persuasion. I’m a sucker for Jane Austen.

3. Clueless. Based on Austen’s “Emma.” So there.

4. School of Rock. See, not all highbrow!

5.  Sweet Home Alabama. “Look at you, you have a baby… In a bar.”

Your turn: What movies could you watch over and over? Say, if you were trapped at home with a sick child? Or if that sick child coughed on you and possibly got you sick, too? Because you know that’s what will happen.

To you, not to me. God I hope not.

Photo: BBC.co.uk

October 17, 2009

grace in small things: forty eight

1. Charlie calling Rita, all on his own, and saying, “Can I come play at Will’s house?”

2. Henry reading Pat the Bunny to Rita’s baby toddler.

3. Rita breaking a cheddar bunny cracker in half and handing it to me. Instead of to the baby.

4. Handing the boys their laundry and going upstairs to find it all put away.

5. Getting boo’d! Thanks, neighbors.