Friday, April 18, 2014

Fly on the Wall, April 2014

Welcome to a Fly on the Wall group post. Today 12 bloggers are inviting you to catch a glimpse of what you’d see if you were a fly on the wall in our homes. Come on in and buzz around my house.

Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics



I like candy, I admit it, but I don't eat a whole ton of it. But this month I bought Skittle eggs, unique flavors, and I really liked them.
Me: I really like those Skittle eggs, I swear between yesterday and today I'm going to finish them off. Then I'm totally going to blame you.
High School Senior: {{ blink . . . blink . . . blank surprised stare . . . blink }}
Wow, and I thought there couldn't be anything left that I could say that would surprise him.


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Talking with customer service at most companies is a lesson in futility lately, or so I find. Our coupon circular arrived ripped with one side gone, so I had to call the newspaper office and ask them to bring another.
Me: My paper arrived today and the coupon insert was ripped with half of it gone. Can someone bring me another one?
Representative: Which side is ripped?
Me: Ummm, is there a correct answer here? It’s the left side, which side does it have to be to get another one?
Representative: What’s the insert called?
Me: It’s the coupon insert.
Representative: What’s the name, though?
Me: I hadn’t really thought to name it, I’m not going to keep it.
Representative: Is it Kmart or Walgreens?
Me: It’s the coupons.
Representative: What’s the name on the front?
Me: Mr. Coupon Insert? If it’s that confusing I can email you a picture of what it is so you’re sure to send me the right thing.
Representative: No that’s not necessary, we just drop off another entire paper.
Me: Well then why don’t we just do that?
Representative: Yes, we’ll have one sent over.
Sheesh.



My Coupons | picture taken by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com

Mr. Coupon Insert 

Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

It’s becoming very real that High School Senior is going to college in about 4 months. I told him I’d like to take a few pictures of him before he goes. So far this is how I’ll be remembering him:



Don't Take my Picture  | picture taken by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com



Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

We have a window in our master bath and I keep the blinds open in there, even when I shower. It’s on the top floor and the windows of no other house face it so really, someone would need to be driving a hovercraft to see in.

Last week I came out of the shower, dried off, got dressed and started brushing my hair. I turned to look out the window and I could see a ladder up to the roof of the house next door.

I don’t know and I don’t want to know.

Lesson learned: driving a hovercraft OR working on the roof next door.  


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics
 

I’m a trend setter, I know, but I’ve come up with a new 5 second rule for old ladies like me who don’t see as well as we used to. It’s called the “take as long as you need to find the damn thing on the floor, THEN you have five seconds to pick it up” rule.



Spicy Cajun Grilled Chicken | www.BakingInATornado.com
Spicy Cajun Grilled Chicken


April Fools Fail:
On April Fools Day I decide I'm going to punk High School Senior. No such luck.
Me {{trying not to laugh, playing it cool, getting him caught in the trap before giving it away}}: You know what, you've only got a few months of school left and you know how sad I am about you probably going far away to college next year. If you want to spend the day together, just you and me, I'll call the school and say you're sick.

High School Senior:  I'd love to, Mom, but I have a test in Zoology and  I don't want to miss Physics either, there's a test coming up on Friday.
Damn kid and his sense of responsibility.


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


The word “competition” has a whole different meaning in our house. Here’s a conversation that took place during March Madness at our house:
Hubs (to High School Senior): There’s a really great basketball match-up on at 6:45pm if you want to watch it with me.
Me: He can’t, the Red Sox are on at 7:00pm.
Hubs: This is March Madness, the Red Sox are just playing a pre-season game.
Me: He’ll watch the Red Sox with me.
Hubs: How do you know what he’ll want to watch?
Me: I made cupcakes. What did you make?
Hubs: Wow, you fight dirty.

Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


College Freshman was home for Spring Break. This kid now has in his dorm room an oven, a microwave, a fridge (came with the room), a mini oven and one of those Panini type indoor grills. This is a kid who won’t make a grilled cheese or an egg for himself in my home.

I do have sympathy for him though, after the horrendous week-long bout with food poisoning that resulted in my bringing him home to keep him out of the hospital, it’s hard to blame him for eating in the cafeteria as infrequently as he can.

While he was here I asked him if there was anything special he’d like to take back to school with him. He tells me he’d like me to make up a batch of his favorite cookie dough. Just the dough. Apparently the kid who doesn’t know where I keep my pots and pans is entertaining his friends in his dorm room and would like to make them hot cookies.

As I’m making the dough I find myself wondering: am I standing here doing a lot of extra work making this cookie dough, or am I getting off easy since I don’t have to bake them?


Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

High School Senior is in his last semester and after much cajoling and discussion we finally let him drop one class, sleep in and go in to school late. We were reticent because college acceptances are provisional and we don’t want them to see him slacking off in his last semester. It will also result in his class ranking taking a hit.

They only take 4 classes a semester and I’m not sure it was the best idea that the class he dropped was a computer class since that’s his expected field of study in college, but he’s still in AP Physics and Zoology so he’s still got some challenging classes. He dropped the class and started the semester.

And then I looked at the last class he’s taking. It’s a “learn to swim” class. He’s a trained Life Guard, has worked year round at an indoor pool for almost a year now. This is on his college applications, of course. So a Life Guard who wants to major in computer science dropped a computer class and is taking a beginning swim class. Nope, no slacking off here.

Fly on the Wall, a multi-blogger writing challenge | developed and run by www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


Lately I’ve started to tear up as I drive by the high school. It’s just a half mile up the road from my house and on my way back from doing errands for the past 2 years I’ve watched for my son’s little red BMW as I drive home. It’s starting to dawn on me that next year when he’s away at college I’ll drive by that school, look for that car and not find it. sad face - BakingInATornado.com


Now click on the links below for a peek into some other homes:




Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics






Spicy Cajun Grilled Chicken
                                                                            ©www.BakingInATornado.com
 
Printable Recipe

Ingredients:
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
3/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp thyme
1 1/4 tsp paprika
3/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts halves cut in thirds
 
Directions:
*Place chicken pieces into a gallon sized resealable bag.
*Mix together the seasonings and the oil. Pour into the bag with the chicken and massage to be sure that all of the pieces of chicken are completely coated. Refrigerate from 4 hours to all day.
*Prepare the grill by spraying the grates with nonstick cooking spray. NOTE: only spray the grill when it is cold and not turned on.
*Heat the grill to medium and place the chicken pieces on. Cook, turning once, until the chicken is fully cooked and the juices run clear.

38 comments:

  1. Awwww! You had me LOL so many times… but then! Punch into the stomach. The High School Parking. I think I want a cookie now. But I guess that dough is long gone. Some of that yummy chicken perhaps? Big hugs, Karen!

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  2. :( This post gave me a case of the sads.........I hate seeing how much you're going to hate not having either boys around. I wish I could move there and hang out, to help fill up that time a little.

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  3. I'm so proud of you for winning the battle with customer service! That deserves a standing ovation (or at least a vodka martini.)
    I'm still scratching my head about the cookie dough, though. A microwave, a fridge, and a panini grill. Is he going to grill the dough???

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    1. Oops, forgot to add the mini oven. Updated the post to add that.

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  4. I can't seem to get my older kids to let me take their pics, either... Must be a thing... At least they aren't taking a ton of selfies everyday! LOL

    HUGS HUGS HUGS!!!!!!!!!!

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    1. I know, really? Selfies are fine but Mom taking a picture isn't allowed? Kids!

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  5. Not sure I could have kept my temper in check with the newspaper people. How dumb is that?? That pic of your son blocking the photo---yeah, I have quite a few of those myself. What is it with these 18 yr. olds? They take selfless all day but when mom wants a pic…..NOOOOO! Your story about the shower and the ladder---OMG! Might want to pull those blinds if the neighbor is doing any kind of renovation work, LOL!

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    Replies
    1. I am STILL freaking out about the shower and the ladder. Now I get out of the shower, wrap my towel around me and peek around the corner before going to the mirror. I've been traumatized.

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  6. Replies
    1. DO NOT satisfy that curiosity. Just a friendly warning.

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  7. Love the interaction between the members of your family! It reminds me so much of when my boys were growing up.

    I realized recently that my veggie garden kind of feeds my 'need to nurture' gene. I expect to see photos of your garden in a couple years and will enjoy the recipes you come up with that incorporate your harvest! ;)

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    Replies
    1. Interesting, thought, gardening. I'll have to consider that. Not sure I have the yard for it but I may need to give it a try.

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  8. I can't imagine what it feels like to be sending your youngest off to school - it seems SO far off for me & my family right now! I'll have to remember bribing with cupcakes. Funny about making the cookie dough for your oldest son too! And I DO hate it when you really want a picture of your kid, and they don't cooperate! ugh!

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    Replies
    1. It felt far off for me too. And it feels like yesterday that it felt so far off. Don't blink. . .

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  9. Wow - I remember those days before I went off to college. My mom also wanted to take a lot of pics.

    Yes, sometimes I think customer service people are hired to drive us insane!

    You could bribe me with cupcakes and that grilled chicken any time. I'm easy.

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    Replies
    1. OMG, this customer service woman STILL has me shaking my head. What an absurd conversation.

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  10. Your grilled chicken sounds wonderful!
    Two more years before our first goes off to college but I am not looking forward to that day.
    Then they'll all be gone within 5 years. :/
    You are a far better woman than I am capable of. When an outbreak of stupid crops up in costumer service I waste no time chatting with the supervisor.

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    Replies
    1. I seriously didn't know what to do with that woman. Everyone excels at something, she seems to excel at asking inane questions.

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  11. Love this fun/nostalgic peek into your life, Karen! Thank you!

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    Replies
    1. I have to admit, these Fly on the Wall posts are so much fun to put together.

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  12. I can't stop giggling at Mr. Coupon Insert. Did the customer service rep have to file a worker's comp claim for the coupon book? Too bad it wasn't carrying an ID when it was delivered to your door. ;)

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    Replies
    1. Damn, I wish you had been here when I called, I definitely would have asked her that.

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  13. Oh girl, we are already going through kid-withdrawal! What is it about them leaving that makes us less-sick of them?? We'll need to e mail each other during the woes that are coming.
    I LOVE the story of taking swimming. Hey, he'll be in perfect shape by summer.
    The inset thing drives me crazy. If they were going to give you a whole paper, why put you through all of that? Mr. Coupon Insert. LOL
    Take it all in, woman. I feel like it's going to fly by :(
    Love you.

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    Replies
    1. I know you're feeling a lot of what I'm feeling with A's upcoming wedding. So glad to have you there, just an email away. I'm gonna need it.

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  14. Throwing cupcakes at a man when he's down... I like your style!

    Hugs for you - I'm not looking forward to the days when my kids go off to college. :(

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  15. Loving all your vignettes! Does "punked" mean ditching?

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    1. I don't know, does ditching mean punked? I'm going to have to google that.

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  16. oh teenage boys, I have several photos of mine that look just like that, maybe we're kin? lol
    OMG about the bathroom window! I'm paranoid about someone seeing in, this would happen to me.
    Coupon...really people? ugh customer service is NOT what it used to be.

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    Replies
    1. Kin? Does that mean I'm coming to your house for Thanksgiving?

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  17. The Chicken & Noodles look delish!!! Love the ladder story & the swim class story. Basketball or Baseball??? Too cool!!! Take care, Slu

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    Replies
    1. Although I love most of these stories too, I'm still cringing over the ladder story.

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  18. Karen you crack me up! Love the son's response to photo snapping too!

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    1. I love that your kids are your models. Mine barely ever let me snap a single picture.

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  19. LOVE IT -- LOVE IT -- LOVE IT -- now I get this kind of post. Great snippets into your life (there's no turning back now!)

    Carol @ Battered Hope

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    Replies
    1. So glad you're going to do one. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

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