Thursday, July 30, 2009

How to Be Cool

When a heat wave strikes your area, you want to make sure you can keep cool. It's really hard to stay cool in the house when it's 107 degrees outside and you have no air-conditioning. You can try the following suggestions--all have been tested. I cannot guarantee their effectiveness, because many weren't and the ones that were tended to be expensive.

*Don't cook.
*Buy prepared, convenience foods.
*Eat "out." (Can be expensive especially if you do it continually. Duh.)
*Hang out in air-conditioned stores and establishments. (Also can be expensive if you're tempted to shop.)
*Go to the movie theater. (Also can be expensive if you watch movies, buy popcorn, etc.)
*Search stores for fans and air-conditioners. (My search was unproductive as every store was sold out.)
*Keep the windows and curtains/blinds closed especially when the temperature outside gets as hot as the temperature inside your home.
*Run the stove hood fan continuously.
*Wet down the concrete surrounding your house. (Surprisingly, this is mildly effective.)
*Sit in front of the fan (when it's on, of course).
*Stay hydrated.
*Apply cold, wet compresses to your neck and head.
*Find lots of errands to run in your air-conditioned vehicle. (Be careful that your car doesn't overheat. They're sensitive to heat also, surprisingly.)
*Visit a friend who has air-conditioning.

But the most effective way to keep cool when all else fails:
*Call your parents who live out-of-state, whine about the heat and share your plight. They will come to your rescue, buy you an air-conditioner (at 40% off, too, because they live in an area where nearly all homes have air-conditioning), and ship it to you ASAP. They will do this because they love you and even though they've begged you for years to purchase air-conditioning.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Free as a Bird

Last night while we were eating our pizza dinner in the front yard, a bird flew into our storm door. Literally. It slammed into the glass and fell onto the cement porch right behind where I sat. It sat dazed and confused until it hopped with its limp wing onto the grass where it remained in the same spot until Sara rescued it.

We were all concerned about the tiny creature. Would it live? Would it recover in time to fly away before it became a cat's meal?

Sara lined a shoe box with a washcloth, tissue, and cotton balls. She placed food scraps and a small container of water in the box. She easily caught the bird with her bare hands and took it to its new temporary home/hospital in the box atop her dresser. We all resumed our normal activities.

When Sara checked on the bird later, the shoe box was empty. A thorough check of her room provided no clues. The family was alerted, and everyone searched. No luck. I had visions of a bird landing on my face while I was sleeping. Not a pleasant thought.

Everyone headed to bed except me because I had to take a cool shower so I could sleep better in the 90-degree house temperature. As I was drying off, I heard Lance shout, "I found the bird!" It seems that the little fowl found its way to our bedroom window and hid behind my newly-sewn curtains. Lance saw it as it flew to the top of our door. Obviously, the bird was well enough to fly.

Lance caught the bird in the shoe box, and much to Sara's dismay, took it outside to release it. Would it survive? Sara's mind was eased when the bird climbed onto Lance's finger and flew up into the cherry tree.

Despite the heat, I slept better than I would have had the bird still been loose in our house.

AN AMMENDMENT, WRITTEN BY LANCE:
Actually, Natalie failed to mention that I instructed Sara to *not* bring the bird in the house. Despite that instruction, the female "motherly-care" instinct prevailed and a shoebox was obtained for a mini-bird-Hilton experience. I would say hospital, however, Sara found every type of food that the bird might like and put it in there along with water and soft cushion material as well. Later in the day, Sara came to me with a quizzical expression on her face. "Did you release the bird?", she asked. The bird had evidently checked out of the bird-Hilton and didn't notify management. Later after I had caught the bird flying around in our bedroom (note: no living animals were harmed in this exercise), and had taken the bird outside, Sara and I had an exchange that went something like this:

me: "OK, I'm going to release the bird" (I take the lid off the bird-Hilton shoebox).

sara: (pointing at the fact that the bird is still crouched down in the corner of his/her luxurious bird-hilton suite) "Look, it's afraid. I'll put holes in the lid and we can take it back inside."

me: "No! The bird is fine, it flew around our bedroom" (I set the box on the ground and slightly tip it so that the bird must leave the presidential bird-Hilton suite. The bird jumps to my finger, and then flies to a nearby tree. In the process of tipping the box so the bird will leave, the bird buffet spills around the box leaving food and water all over.)

sara: "You've ruined the box".

There are lessons here …

Thursday, July 23, 2009

X-BOX Withdrawal

"I'm going through withdrawal from X-Box," reported Mark. (Lance and I temporarily removed all video-game systems from our home.)

"What are your symptoms," I asked.

"Upset stomach, light-headedness, loss of interest, shorter attention span, depression," Mark answered.

Yes, he's got it bad. There may be no cure.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Mr. Observant

"Looks like you have a lot of dishes to do tonight, Mom," Mark announced as he was eating his late bedtime snack.

I gave him the "evil eye," and he continued, "I'm just stating a simple fact."

As he reached to put a dish towel on the removable metal towel rack, he said, "Oh, this thing needs to be cleaned, too."

My reply was, "When you see something that needs to be done, it's a good idea to just do it yourself instead of announcing that a job needs to be done and then walking away."

His answer: "Yes, I could do that unless I see something and say, 'This needs to be welded.'"

He cleaned the towel rack, placed it back on the cabinet door and left the kitchen.

I have a lot of dishes to do tonight.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Bathroom Call

I was downstairs yesterday afternoon when I answered a phone call from Zachary.

"Hi, Mom. This is Zach. I'm in the bathroom. Could you bring me a towel?" he asked.

A word to the wise: always take your cellphone with you into the bathroom in case you are caught without a towel after showering.

No pictures will be posted.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

I Recommend . . .

If you're going to "do" Disneyland and/or San Diego, here are a few of my favorite rides/attractions/hotels, etc. I've also tossed in a couple of things/establishments that I do not recommend. This is free advice.

RECOMMENDATIONS/FAVORITES:
*Disneyland fireworks ("When You Wish Upon A Star") through August. Position yourself on Main Street.
*Pirates of the Caribbean (my favorite ride), Splash Mountain, Matterhorn, Soaring Over California, Grizzly River Rapids, Haunted Mansion
*Castle Inn and Suites (on Harbor Blvd. within short walking distance to the Disney parks)
*Check at the Disneyland main entrance for a list of menu items that are designed for those with food allergies and sensitivities.
*Bring your own water to the park. And plenty of snacks.
*Buy souvenirs at the END of the day.
*New Orleans Square (my favorite area in Disneyland).
*Get "fast passes."
*Wear lots of sunscreen and a hat.
*BYOB (bring your own Band-aids).
*Comfortable shoes are a MUST!
*Hampton Inn on Pacific Highway in downtown San Diego!!! (Great rates and just across from the harbor)
*If you request a non-smoking room at a Best Western Inn, be sure to check the room before you pay.
*Use your AAA card whenever and wherever you can. (At Disneyland, you must purchase at least a 3-day Park Hopper pass in order to receive a discount.)
*Whole Foods catering service.
*Make sure your camera is in working order.
*Get to Disneyland early in the morning!

DO NOT RECOMMEND:
*Gluten-free hot dog and hamburger buns in Disney restaurants
*The famed El Indio restaurant on India Street in San Diego. (The Food Network was wrong!)
*Counting on Motel 6 to supply you with shampoo and/or conditioner and/or a hair blow-dryer.
*Leaving the interior lights on in your car overnight.
*Getting a hotel that is right next to the train tracks (unless it is Hampton Inn in San Diego).
*Waiting until late evening to enter Fantasyland.
*Riding dizzying rides if you're prone to dizziness or motion sickness.

Monday, July 13, 2009

A Most Unusual Gift

Today my mother received the gift I mailed to her--an envelope full of Zachary's shorn, curly locks. For years Mom has envied Zachary's hair and has frequently expressed her desire to "have" his hair. Well, now she has it. I saved nearly every bit of the hair I cut from Zach's head last week, sealed it in a Ziploc sandwich bag and mailed it off.

The hair has already been put to use. Dad fashioned it in to a mustache. I hope he posts pictures.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

It Pays to Know History








On our last morning in San Diego, Lance went to the San Diego Temple with his brother Lane and sister Laurel. Cindy (Lane's wife) and I took our kids for a short walk to see the ships docked in the harbor. The oldest 5 wanted to tour the ships, boats and Russian submarine, so we paid the steep admission and the rest of us (Cindy, 11-year-old Noah, 7-year-old Makenzie and I) waited on the sidewalk while the 5 toured the boats.

A cleverly-costumed and lovely female docent approached our small "captive" audience and began a conversation with us. Actually, docent Anne conversed mostly with Noah. Noah knew nearly every answer to every question Anne asked him. Not only did Noah know the correct answers, he expounded on his knowledge. Anne was impressed. Heck, I was impressed! Anne complimented him and said that most 8th-graders don't know the information 5th-grade Noah knows. This only increased Noah's confidence and he became even more engaged in the conversation.

About an hour into the docent-Noah interaction, a male docent showed up and joined the fun. Docent Al, too, was impressed. He presented Noah with a gold-plated coin replica. Then Anne asked Cindy if she could borrow Noah, and she took him aboard the Star of India (the oldest active sailing vessel in the world). Soon Anne collected Cindy and Makenzie to board the ship. Then it was my turn.

Cindy, Noah and Makenzie (along with a few others) helped hoist the main sail while I snapped away with my trusty digital camera. Somehow, our other 5 kids showed up along with Lane and Lance, and all but Lance boarded the Star of India with us. (Lance had to keep our van running because the battery had just been jump-started. That, of course, is another story. Plus he had to rent a projector for the night's slide show.)

Al and Anne spent the next hour and a half with just us giving us a private informational tour and a history of the boat. In the bilge, the kids even got to slide into the belly of the boat on a board attached to a track. Mark and Noah took turns sword-fighting with Al. Turns out, Al was an extra and a production assistant on the movie Master and Commander. He let the kids hold Russell Crowe's "real" sword. All the kids got the special coins. We were treated like celebrities. Both docents were quick to point out that the reason for our special treatment was that Noah knew history.

This is a story for our family history book.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

A California Adventure











We're back from our California Adventure/Delano family reunion in Anaheim and San Diego. A marvelous time was had by all most of the time. The highlight of the trip was spending time with Lance's parents, siblings, and siblings' families. Sara's feet will recover from the beating they took, and Zachary will recover from the flu-like illness he contracted the last day we were there. Once I think of a clever way to document our trip, I'll share it with you. Stay tuned.