Definition - Irony

Irony (ˈī-rə-nē), noun, ironies; a) the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning; b) a usually humorous or sardonic literary style or form characterized by ironic expression or utterance; c) incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result.  Example:  Young child (aka Ben) running into mother's room in order to tell the mom that other older child (aka Caroline) called him a tattletale.

A Nice Log and a (Not-So) Gran Rodeo

Abby, Caroline, Scott and I went to Longwood Gardens on Sunday since I thought the daffodils and magnolias might be blooming.  It turns out that we were a little early for those flowers, but we did get to enjoy the Orchid Extragavanza event they were having instead.  (Ben was busy exhausting playing with Grandma and Grandad at their house for the day.)

Of all the beautiful and varied exhibits at Longwood, I think the girls' favorite part was running/dancing across this large 'balance beam' that was nearby one of the treehouses. A close second favorite was the scavenger hunt cards in the children's garden in the Conservatory. By the way, if you have a chance to visit Longwood, the Conservatory is especially spectacular right now. Scads of bright blue delphiniums are an especially welcome site after dark gray rainy skies.

Since the cafeteria at Longwood closed early (and we had promised to take the girls out for dinner), I thought it would be fun to try the Mexican restaurant, El Gran Rodeo, located at the intersection of Rts. 202 and 1.  I'll give it a mixed review.  The chips and guacamole were delicious.  The dinners were kind of....um.... ploppy.  My dinner also had a nice piece of plastic embedded in the lettuce (the lettuce bag wrapper), which wasn't so great.  The waiter looked horrified when I told him and then ran to get me about 20 napkins.  I don't know exactly what the napkins were for, but it was a nice thought.  I sort of figured he'd take my dinner of the bill, but instead he discounted my dinner by $3.75.  I was wondering if they have a set discount for dinner mishaps?  Fortunately, the margerita I ordered was very, very tasty, so no harm done!  (I would probably recommend trying a different restaurant if you're in the mood for Mexican food.)

It was very strange to be without Ben for a whole day.  We really missed the little guy.  Ok, we didn't miss the diapers or the unpredictable running around or safeguarding the toothpaste, but I missed all my hugs and kisses and all his lovin' (his word).

Heard and Seen Around the House

It's Sunday morning and Frank Sinatra's Coffee Song is playing right now on the radio. Scott likes to listen to Sunday mornings with Sinatra, with Sid Mark on 1210AM.  After 10+ years this seems normal to me now, but clearly this program is geared for older generations and/or people with Italian heritage based on the advertising.  Current sponsors are for the program include great deals on caskets, wills, life insurance, medicare, Pica's restaurant, and Cento Fine foods.  Lest you think I exaggerate, please check out the sponsors on Sid's site (http://www.soundsofsinatra.com/). 

Have you ever heard the Coffee Song?  It's peppy and fun!  It's one of the family favorites -- and it's about coffee (one of my favorites)!  You know who really loves coffee?  Ben.  If you ever come over, keep a close eye on your mug or wonder boy will sneak over to your cup and drain it.  You think 2-year olds are active?  Try a 2-year old on a few sips of caffeine.  I learned my lesson the hard way on that one. 

In other news, it must be getting close to Emmy time at our house since the kids are making their respective cases for lead actor/actress in dramatic series.  However, it's hard to stay in the character of devoted mother when the kids tweak their expected lines into something unexpected.

Ben (pathetic, sad voice) :  "Mom, I have a cold."
Mom:  "I'm sorry to hear that buddy."
Ben (even more sad):  "Mom, I have a stuffy nose."
Ben (close to tears):  "Mom, I have tea for two."

Caroline (after rousing game of tickling):  "Let's eat breakfast now, I'm staaaarving."
Dad:  "Ok, let's head down for pancakes."
Carline (Shakespearean tone):  "Ooooh Grief!"

Without my even noticing exactly when, Abby has passed the line of childhood when you stop using words in charming and unexpected ways (sad!).  She's a master of her vocabulary nowwith more words being added all the time. 

Abby (irritated):  "Caroline, stop being so impulsive!"
Caroline (looking confused) :  "What?"
Mom:  "Abby, do you know what impulsive means?
Abby (authoritatively and accompanying eye roll):  "Yes, Mom.  Impulsive means acting without thinking first.." 
Mom (thinking wistfully):  Goodbye Abbyisms!  Sniff, sniff...

Fortunately, we still haven't passed the line on visusal surprises for all the kids.  We never really know what to expect when the kids round the corner in terms of clothes.  The combinations of strips, prints, polka dots and colors are always surprising (and at times jarring).  But, the real question is whether or not the kids will be wearing clothes or not.  Ben surprised me a few days ago with pajama pants, yellow rubber rain boots, a winter snow cap with ear flaps and no shirt.  I didn't even know Ben could take his shirt off!

Finally, guess what was at the bird feeder this morning eating suet?  BLUEBIRDS!  I didn't title the blog BLUEBIRDS so you're eyes wouldn't glaze over from too much birding news.  But, I'm absolutely thrilled at the prospect of seeing bright bluebirds in the yard this summer.  We're still a couple of years from taking the kids on long woodland hikes, so I have to enjoy my nature close to home.  I never could have hoped for bluebirds at the old house.  I think some nest boxes might be a good Easter week project.

Too Many Meetings!

I am offically all meeting-ed out for the month of March.  Overall, nine meetings down, and one more to go. Since I've been home from work for so long, I clearly have lost my stamina for meetings.  By hour #2, I just want to run out of the room and play with Legos.

Tonight is the sixth of six Planning Commission-related meetings for the month of March. Usually there are only two Planning Commission meetings per month, but due to some super riveting zoning ordinance training, this month's total will be much higher.  I'm going to be honest, I'm fairly sick of zoning at this point.  I need a zoning break.  And, probably another cup of coffee too. 

I know that I volunteered for the Planning Commission, so I really shouldn't complain out it.  But, it's tough when the level of required effort is so much higher than initially expected!  I am very much looking forward to Spring Break next week when the schedule slows down a little and we can relax.

Feel free to remind me that I said that next week on Tuesday around 10 a.m., when my kids are driving me crazy, ok?

On a happier note, I thoroughly enjoyed volunteering in Caroline's preschool classroom this morning during her Easter party.  My job was to select a "game" to play while the teachers hid Easter eggs on the playground.  The classroom is too small for a very active game, so instead we pretended to build a giant bird's nest out of large sticks, small sticks, and twine.  The kids seem to enjoy the game, and I got a chance to observe Caroline in her classroom with her peers.  I wish that I could be a fly on the wall and watch her sometime without her knowing I was there!!  I am happy that she is so happy in her school and is a confident little girl.   

Birthday Cake

....was about the only thing that saved the party yesterday.  Although I'm usually a half decent cook, my birthday dinner for Scott yesterday bombed.  Hard.  It was so bad that I stooped to the level of bribing Ben with extra cake if he would eat my fish.  During the meal, I actually whispered in Ben's ear and said, "Ben, if you will eat some of my fish, I'll give you an extra piece of cake for dessert. "  Ben whispered back, "OK Mom, I'll do it."  He was even discreet about it!  That is definitely a sign of a baaaaaaaad dinner. 

The family tradition is to have the birthday person select the birthday dinner and type of birthday cake.  Scott chose whole fish, rice, and asparagus for dinner. He selected German chocolate cake for dessert. By the way, did you know that German chocolate cake is a tough cake to make from scratch!? When you have some free time, check out how many steps are to that cake in Joy of Cooking -- you have to melt some chocolate on the stove, sift some other ingredients, fluff the butter, make meringue with the eggs....good grief! And then there is the clean-up!  Anyway.....

Whole fish.  Sigh... Only Scott.....  So, no one in the family really likes to eat whole fish (except Scott), but he says it "makes him feel like a king" and why wouldn't you want to do that on your birthday?  (Well, one reason I can think of is that the fish is staring at you through the meal, but I digress).  So, I went to the local fish store to purchase a whole fish yesterday -- a seafood specialty store, no less, only to find out that they don't have any whole fish at that location, only fillets.  Part of me though, hmmmm, no fish at a fish store.  Strange.  The other part of me thought, darn, I was so looking forward to deboning a fish. So, instead, I got some salmon fillets stuffed with crab cakes.  I thought that would be a nice fishy birthday treat.  I paired the fish with broccoli rice au gratin and steamed asparagus.   

The asparagus were tasty, but the fish and the rice were just plain awful.  1) I definitely need to find a new seafood store. You know, like one that sells fish.  2) The rice was like eating a cheesy salt lick.  I don't usually make rice from box kits, and we had all forgotten how salty it is!  Ewww! 

Poor Scott asked after dinner, "Have I been extra bad this year?" No dear, I just forgot how to cook yesterday.  Sorry!!  Fortunately, the cake was tasty, even if it does have coconut in it.  Happy Birthday again, Dear!  (Enjoy your economic tome and unassembled wheel barrow too!)
 
(Here's a photo of a VERY happy Ben eating his second piece of cake.)

Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers

What a glorious weekend we just had!  Seventy degrees in March -- what a treat!  We were so active this weekend that Monday's rain is almost a relief to have to sit inside for a little while, at least for me.  Maybe even for the kids too, who spent just about all day Friday through Sunday outside exploring the yard and playing with the neighbors' kids. 

Scott and I also played outside too -- cooking on the grill, eating for the first time outside on the deck, and even tackled what will be the first of many, many (many...) yard tasks by trimming and bagging all the low-hanging branches from a super thorny tree.  Although it's hard to ID without foliage, I'm pretty sure the thorny trees are common honeylocust, and they have these crazy 3-4" long (yes, really 3-inch long) thorns on the branches.  You could get seriously hurt on these things -- farmers out west use these trees as natural fences for cattle!  By removing the low branches, we've hopefully prevented the kids from impaling themselves on them. I'm really happy that the first phase of yard safety is over since those thorns really hurt!   

I've been looking forward to the spring to see what sort of birds live in our yard. Since we have some large hardwoods in the neighborhood and a very large meadow habitat pretty close, I'm hoping we have an even wider variety of backyard birds than at our previous house.  One of my neighbors, a hard core birder, mentioned that our town is along the migration route for hawks so the fall should be pretty spectacular too. 

It's been a few years since I've noticed any new species of bird at the feeders or in the backyard, so I was very excited when I spotted something new climbing up the sweet gum tree outside the window.  I grabbed the binoculars hung by the window to check it out.  A long running family joke, Scott said in his most authoritative tone, "Is it the yellow-bellied sapsucker?"  (Scott guesses yellow-bellied sapsucker for everything.)   I ran upstairs to a higher window for a better look.  Would you believe it really was a male yellow-bellied sapsucker?  Imagine our surprise!  That's fun birding humor, right?  Is anyone going to read this blog anymore if this is what passes for funny?  Regardless, Scott is going to have to pick a new random bird species to guess for the next years. Perhaps a yellow-throated vireo...

Opening Day Jitters

It's finally here!!!  Opening day for lacrosse umpiring!  My first game was supposed to be tomorrow, but my assignor asked if I could take an extra game this afternoon, so now today is opening day (huge thanks Pete for last minute babysitting!). 

I never think that I'll be nervous before early season games, but yet I am.  Today is not even a "real" game -- it is a scrimmage so both the players and the umpires can get the feel of the game.  Still, it's about 1:30pm and the nerves just kicked in.  Big time.

I really don't know what I'm worried about.  I know the rules and arm signals.  I am sure of field positioning and foul position setups. I'm in good shape. Overall, I'm ready.  And, I have an excellent 'mom' voice (and a shiny set of yellow and red cards) if anyone really acts up, so things will be under control -- and hopefully will even be fun since it is a game and it's 60 degrees outside in MARCH!  So, why the nerves?? It's only high school lacrosee right??

Hmmm.  I'll have to ponder that one.  Maybe the nerves have to do with being so conspicuous after so many months of hiding indoors.  Maybe I'm secretly worried what people think of me in my little black kilt and oh-not-so-stylish all black turf shoes.  Who cares -- it's 60 degrees and it's time to go get ready!