I’ve talked to my kids many, many times about doing a Guest Post for my blog. My younger son is about to leave for college so I thought I’d appeal to him one more time:
Me: You know, this is such an interesting time of transition, I think you should write about it. How about a Guest Post for my blog?
PurDude walks away.
Me: Come back here, I’m talking to you. Why are you walking away while I’m talking?
PurDude: You’re just spouting nonsense.
Me: So I guess this means that you want to think about it?
We had one of our cars being fixed (ouch). Hubs took mine to work and I needed a few things at the store. Son came home from work and I told him I was taking his car and running to the store.
I come back 10 minutes later with a few bags of groceries and I walk in the house:
PurDude: I know you want me to let you know when we run out of things so you can put it on the list. We’re out of mozzarella.
It’s a very good thing that the words in my head did not escape through my mouth.
It’s not always easy having College Boy home. He’s been off doing his own thing, making his own choices and schedule.
One day last month he woke up and we had an argument about a long-standing issue.
I was telling him what the rules are in my home and he was telling me why they didn’t apply to him.
And the argument went on until College Boy walked away to call his dad at work to tell on me.
College Boy decided that instead of the dorms he’s going to live in an apartment. I can’t see this working out for him for many reasons, including doing his own grocery shopping and laundry. So I stopped doing his laundry and told him that he couldn’t use my washer. The hope was that he would take responsibility for getting himself to a laundromat. A sort of trial period.
College Boy: Mom, do you want to go to the clothes store with me.
Me: No. I know what you’re doing. You’re going to try to buy new clothes because everything you own is dirty.
College Boy: No, that’s not what I’m doing.
Me: What ARE you doing?
College Boy: I’m going to try to get YOU to buy m new clothes because everything I own is dirty.
Me: Oh, that’s much better.
Back in April I talked to PurDude about Skyping with me next year. He doesn’t like Skype and won’t use it.
Me: But I want to talk to you and see you.
PurDude: There are other options, Skype isn’t the only one.
Me: OK, but you need to set me up on whatever we’ll use and teach it to me so we should do it soon.
PurDude: I’ll let you know.
Me (in May): So what are we going to use to talk when you go off to college? I need to get set up and learn how to use it.
PurDude: I’ll let you know.
Me (in June): So what are we going to use to talk when you go off to college? I need to get set up and learn how to use it.
PurDude: I’ll let you know.
I’m thinking “I’ll let you know” has a similar meaning to “the check is in the mail”.
Chicken Brunch Cups
PurDude usually mows the lawn but he’s working more hours this summer than College Boy so a few times I’ve asked College Boy to mow. He hates doing it, feels like he did it for 2 years and now it’s his brother’s turn but when his brother was a work a week ago and I asked him to mow and he agreed.
About 95% of the lawn was done and he came in to tell me that the mower stopped and wouldn’t start again. I took a look and the cable had snapped.
I would have thought that he had done it deliberately, but I know this kid, he’d do it when the lawn was 5% mowed, not when it was mostly done, so I guess it really did break.
So now our lawn has a Mohawk. Wonder if I should spray paint it blue or something. If I’m stuck with it I may as well go with it, right?
We have a double garage and a single garage. In between the two I have a flower pot:
One day, Hubs was leaving and I was going out to water the plant. He saw me standing in the garage holding the water and waiting for him to pull out. He pulled out, I walked out and started watering the plant. He put the garage door down and left.
And that, my friends, is why you always keep a fresh battery in the garage door keypad.
Here's something that doesn't work. Think of it as my version of a Public Service Announcement:
Make a casserole, heat up the oven. When the oven beeps that it's up to temperature, take the casserole off of the counter and put it into the fridge. An hour later, abracadabra: no dinner!
Make a casserole, heat up the oven. When the oven beeps that it's up to temperature, take the casserole off of the counter and put it into the fridge. An hour later, abracadabra: no dinner!
Me: I think there’s something wrong with my phone.
PurDude: What’s wrong?
Me: It has a lag. When I’m on FB and when I play my games.
PurDude: How many programs do you have running at once?
Me: Just the one I’m using.
PurDude grabs my phone, presses some magic buttons in some secret way.
PurDude: You have 46 programs open including BlueTooth.
Me: Well I didn’t open them.
I think he rolled his eyes so hard I actually heard them.
I have a pretty sullen (at times) teenager at home. So I just love when I earn a smile, a fist pump and a “yesssss” from him. Unfortunately I’d rather it not come after this short exchange:
College Boy: What’s for dinner?
Me: Dad’s not home tonight so I’m not cooking.
Now click on the links below for a peek into some other homes:
PS: See another version of this recipe here: Toasted PBJ Cups
Chicken Brunch Cups
©www.BakingInATornado.com Printable Recipe
Ingredients:
6 slices of bread (I removed the crust)
Approximately 1 cup of cooked boneless skinless chicken, chopped
6 slices of fresh ripe peach (with or without the skin)
12 leaves of spinach
6 sharp cheddar squares
Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Either spray a 6 cup muffin tin with non-stick spray or grease the cups with butter.
*Using a rolling pin, flatten the bread slices.
*Pinching the sides in, fit the bread slices into the muffin cups. Tamp down the sides and bottom.
*Divide the chopped chicken amongst the bread cups, top each with a slice of peach, 2 leaves of spinach and a square of sharp cheddar.
*Cook for 15 minutes.
*Remove from oven, run a knife gently around the sides of each cup and carefully remove from pan.
I think that you and I could be long lost relatives Karen! I wish you had taken a picture of your mohawk on your lawn. Yes you should have painted it just to be different! :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're right, I should have painted it and taken a picture. How fun would that have been?
DeleteOh-oh, you need a thick skin and a great sense of humor around those guys..!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you and your watering can were being locked out. How long till somebody came home?
Those chicken/peach thingies look delicious!
PS: are you aware that since the one time I googled "Purdue", Google+ wants me to follow Purdue? Tell your son he's to blame.
Yes, the Chicken Brunch Cups really went over well. I'll be making them again soon.
DeletePS: I think you SHOULD follow Purdue. I do!
I love that you put the casserole into the fridge instead of the oven. It means we're normal. It also means you'll have a fresh meal for the next day :)
ReplyDeleteMy son always takes my phone and tells me I have 30+ windows open. How can I keep track, I ask? I'm just living my life...
I have to laugh at College Boy. He sure knows how to "plan for" the laundry situation...
Tell PurDude that we are eagerly awaiting his post!
I gotta tell you, on the post thing, make sure you don't hold your breath!
DeleteLOL. My mom and the kids FaceTime all the time. It's the new thing apparently.
ReplyDeleteI love the recipe for today. Adding it to my list.
FaceTime, I need to look into that.
DeleteIf you try the recipe, take a pic for me and post it to my FB page.
Will do!
DeleteLOL! Loved that last one about you not cooking. Plus the clothes being dirty. Haha. Boys. Gotta love them.
ReplyDeleteI do? I gotta love them? 'Cause sometimes it's harder than you'd think!
DeleteI have a husband and three male cats. 'Nuff said.
DeleteMy son gets on my case all the time about having too many tabs open at once on my computer---and always shakes his head at me. Guess I'm still a dinosaur after all.
ReplyDeleteWell it's good to know I'm not the only dino still alive.
Delete46 things running at once! Aren't smartphones a little crazy?! I liked that exchange!
ReplyDeleteThat recipe looks awesome too - I pinned it to try sometime!
I hope you do try the recipe. Feel free to post a pic to my FB page if you do.
DeleteYeah, my smartphone is crazy like a fox. I swear that thing has a mind of its own.
LOL... where do I begin? Garage, laundry, "check is in the mail" story, 46 programs... oh gosh. I can so relate. I needed a good laugh today and you never fail to deliver.
ReplyDeleteSpatulas On Parade
Thank you so much for "getting" me. I love to amuse with these Fly on the Wall posts.
DeleteI had a very similar experience with my phone and my oldest the other day. LOL He really needs to teach all of this stuff before he decides to move out.....
ReplyDeleteYes, I keep reminding my younger son to show me how to do things instead of just doing them for me, but he'd much rather just get them done than have to explain them to his Mom.
DeleteOMG...46 progams...I can't stop laughing...I am so guilty of that. love the lonely flower pot babe.
ReplyDeleteSo sad and so true. I honestly think I'm going to have to fly him home from college once a week to keep me from permanently screwing up all of my electronics.
DeleteYour boys would not fair so well in my house. I may be small, but there is a healthy sense of fear I instill in my children. All it takes it a look.
ReplyDeleteWhy wouldn't they want you to cook? Your stuff always looks so yummy!
I've tried to instill fear. Turns out they just roll their eyes. I think I need to send them to your house for a while.
DeleteI'm stuffed and these still look great. Yums.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol, they really were quick and easy and flavorful.
DeleteI enjoys your stories. (Confessions). I wondered what the fly would talk about when the guys left for college. Sounds like you and hubby will still have plenty to tell.
ReplyDeleteOh, my guess is we'll do just fine. Of course, it's way more fun talking about how the kids drive me nuts but I think I'll adjust.
DeleteI'm pretty sure we live in the same house and don't know it. I laughed at every single one because this is my life too! I've been trying to get my son to write a blog post too - and he literally just stares at me - no commentary, nothing. I am going to make this recipe for my husband, and he will be so impressed - maybe he won't lock me out :)
ReplyDeleteLOL, let me know what he thinks of the recipe. So simple but really good.
DeleteBoy, you're really surrounded by testosterone! Might as well beat your head against a brick wall, Karen.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite line? "I was going outside to water the plant". Plant! :D
Yes, I'm afraid I beat my head up against a brick wall pretty much daily. I thought my spotty memory was my age, but now I'm thinking maybe it's the head banging.
DeleteNext time you get that yesss and the fist pump, inform him you are not cooking because HE is.
DeleteDinner should be interesting......
Dinner would be take-out fast food. Guaranteed.
DeleteI love your style - as always, this was no exception to being funny and so real! How do you manage living with ALL males? The garage door thing, I think I will use that next time I speak to one of the groups I lecture at -- it should get some big laughs. PMS = permanent male stupidity. But, shhh, don't say anything.
ReplyDeleteThen I get to be a part of your lecture. Cool!
DeleteI love this post. I liked the one about the college boy not doing his laundry and wanting you to buy him new clothes since his were all dirty. typical teen.
ReplyDeleteYes, typical teen. And typical my kid.
DeleteOh, I remember those days of bringing my dirty laundry home to have my mom help out. Yup, we used to go to the mall too. I did need some new jeans and underwear anyway!
ReplyDeleteI also had those battles with my parents and their rules. Good times.
Yeah, I remember those days too. Have to admit they're a little less fun on this end of the whole situation.
Delete