Looking For An Echo

So, there I was,
standing in front of the DVD collection at the public library,
midway through the Day-Quil cycle,
'cause it was too early for Ny-Quil,
feeling all stuffy-headed and blegcchy,
just wanting some movie that I could veg out with,
not requiring too much concentration,
nothing scary or creepy,
nothing too violent or R-rated in any way,
nothing too cutesy,
sophomorish,
or full of irritating-humor-which-I-don't-find-funny-only-stupid,
just about ready to give up and just watch a little kid movie with my 4-year-old,
when I saw it.
"Armand Assante" sort of just jumped out at me.
Now, I am no expert on Armand Assante films, but I've seen a few.
Mostly, I have liked what I've seen. There's just something about the guy.
I feel almost like I know him. He's like so many guys I've known in real life, sort of.
So, anyway, I got the movie, "Looking For An Echo."
And it was perfect.

First of all, it starts with lots of black and white pics of Brooklyn in the early '50's,
with doo-wop music in the background. You see, my mom grew up in Brooklyn, and so I grew up on her stories about Brooklyn...she was a die-hard Brooklyn Dodger fan (and those fans could never really appreciate another team once they defected to another state.) The music was from her era, her time, and it reminded me of that series we used to watch together, "Brooklyn Bridge."

So, that got me hooked.

The rest of the movie was good. Not too anything-I-didn't-want. I cried a little in the sad part, and wished my mom was with me to share it. Or my Grama. An authentic Brooklynite, she would've liked it, too. And the theme song was awesome...as was Edoardo Ballerini, playing Armand's son.

So...my rating of this movie is a solid 4 stars. It's not tremendously flamboyant about anything, just a good, solid story, about some characters I felt I could relate to.

Whether you have any kinds of roots in Brooklyn, or just like Armand Assante, or doo-wop, or a movie about growing up and dealing with what life gives you...check it out.

The library movies are free.

Memories of Christmas 2007

- Little Sir insisting that his stocking was a slipper, wearing it, and wanting the mate

- Yummy delicious fish feast with fresh marinara and filletto di pomodoro

- An amazing puzzle book from DD for Little Sir on the continents...very cool!

- Nothing burned, ruined or forgotten at dinner. (But I did find out that my dad doesn't like calamari...oops. I never knew!)

- No arguments.

- Time to laugh.

- Time to talk.

- No. One Son's gift to Little Sir of Prince Valiant on DVD. Also, very cool!

- 3 gift certificates from students of mine to Starbucks. (Hmmm...now, I have to think of exactly how to order...soooo complicated.)

- DH surprising me with a gift, after we'd agreed to go shopping together after Christmas for each other's gifts.

- Quiet time to read...books of my own choosing, not homework!!!

Now, if only I didn't always have to pay for the good times. Little Sir woke up around 2 a.m. Christmas morning with a rip-roaring fever. Croup turned into an asthmatic episode, nebulizer and all that. Then went into a stomache virus. Night after night of high fevers. Cranky, cry-y, whiny boy, alternately very snuggly cuddly, "I love you"-y.

No more sickness! I declare 2008 the Year of Health!

Benazir Bhutto

I just had the strangest thing happen to me. I opened Yahoo, and the top news story was today's assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Tears filled my eyes as I read.

Who was she, and why is this important? you might ask.

Part of my job as student teacher in the high school placement, was coming up with regular journal assignments for the kids, based on current events. I had them write about natural disasters in the news, and other things, trying to find stories relevant to their lives here and back home.
My last assignment to them was on women world leaders. I gave them brief bios on Hillary R. Clinton, Angela Merkel, Michelle Bachelet, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Benazir Bhutto...all very intelligent, politically powerful women, all very significant on the world scene. In writing these bios, I had to do a lot of research, then boil it down to bite-sized pieces, on 4 different levels (differentiated instruction.) I learned a lot about them, and gained new respect for each.

This morning, when I read the headlines, I felt like I'd been kicked in the stomach. This woman, educated in Harvard and Oxford, former prime minister of her country, following in her assassinated father's footsteps, with so much to say, and so much yet to do, recently returned from self-imposed exile, who knew she may be killed for coming back, did so anyway, for the betterment of her Pakistan People's Party, and for her people.

And now she's dead.

You see, 6 months ago, she was barely more than just another name in the news to me. But, in becoming an ESL teacher, I am learning in order to teach my students, to make them more knowledgeable about so much more than just English. I am growing as a person, discovering more about this world of ours, from biology to earth science, geometry to algebra, history to current politics.
Now, I wish I was still in that classroom with those kids so we could have a follow-up lesson on Benazir Bhutto. I hope they remembered what we learned about her, and that when they see or hear her name on the news, it will strike a chord.


So this is what being an ESL teacher is all about, huh?

Bogged Down in Paperwork

I just realized it's been over a week since I've posted anything. I had no idea how time consuming all this certification paper-processing could be. Just when you think you're finished, there's another stack to deal with. Ugh. I just want to clear off my desk already! I have company coming!

My last day of student teaching at Sachem High School East was yesterday. I have some nice photos, and the kids gave me a card that they all signed, and a gift certificate to the teacher supply store. (I also got a Starbuck's gift certificate from Secret Santa!)

I am soooo glad it's over. All in all, both my placements (elementary and secondary) went pretty smoothly, and I met some great professional people and some pretty cool kids, too. There are some who are ESL success stories...like little Vietnamese Tracy who came in 9th grade not speaking a word of English. Now, she's out of ESL, in 12th grade, and taking AP Chemistry and other challenging stuff. She's on her way to a medical career.

But there are others, SIFE kids, mostly, (Students with Interrupted Formal Education) who came with little or no prior educational experience. Some of these are just biding their time in school, bewildered by the work, wishing they were elsewhere. The system as it is now is not doing them any favors. Take the Regents? Are you kidding? Why not just give them a trade...anything...so they can function in the real world.


As in any career, there are real frustrations, and rewarding moments, too. I'm glad I've landed in this profession, and trust I'll have a full-time job soon. Until then, I have time to reconnect with people and catch up on my life. I also have to prepare for the April TESOL convention, where I am going to be a presenter (ugh.)

Happy Holidays, everybody. I hope 2008 is wonderful for all of us!

Done With Grad School!

Yippee! Yay! (You may now envision me singing and dancing.) Last night I had my very last grad. school seminar class at Stony Brook, to finish this degree for certification to teach ESL. I feel like a tremendous weight has been taken off my shoulders. There is still a ton and a half of paperwork to do, things to process, official errands to run, blah blah blah, but one really big item has been crossed off The List.

Graduation is Sunday. It's probably strange, but that ceremony and all the pomp and circumstance does not mean nearly as much to me as the little get-together I had with my friends and co-survivors last night, AND that little piece of paper that's coming really soon saying that I am certified! (no...not certifiable...)

this is me heaving a great big sigh of relief...

Fact For The Day

Just when I thought I was caught up with the latest in whether-it's-a-planet-or-not, I learned something new in our first issue of National Geographic Kids magazine. Here goes... the order of the planets now includes 3 dwarf planets (Ceres, Pluto, and Eris.) Here is the official order:

Mercury Venus Earth Mars Ceres Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto Eris

They're having a contest for a slogan (mnemonic device) to help us remember them. They've suggested
My Very Excellent Mother Can Jump Slowly Under Nelly's Plastic Elephant.

Enter the slogan contest at kids.nationalgeographic.com, and click on planet contest.

Thanksgiving, Part II

Well, just to complete the air travel adventure package, DD's trip back to college was not uneventful. She was fogged-in. The flight kept getting delayed and delayed, and finally cancelled altogether. She got her luggage back (again,) I went to the airport to pick her up (again) and we went home for a 4 hr. night's sleep, got up and out before the sun to be back there bright and early. The lines of people on rescheduled flights was pretty incredible. I've never seen so many people there, before.

But, she is back in college-land safe and sound, back to classes, studying, and waitressing on the side. So life returns to normal (??). Or our version of it.

Home for Thanksgiving

My Dahlink Dawtah is home for Thanksgiving. Her university has one of those extended Thanksgiving breaks, which is lovely, especially since she comes all the way from Florida for this visit!

I had been listening to all those warning shows about the airlines and holiday travel, what to do and what not to do. Well, DD had a great deal...she'd finally logged enough miles with her rewards program to earn a free ticket (yippee!)...so, there were really no decisions to be made. She flew back, we stood by the luggage belt to pick up her bags and...
only one bag. Wait a minute. There were two.
Suddenly, we are aware that several other people have that same look on their faces, and are making the same sort of comments were are. Hey! Look at the luggage carts of people going around...maybe somebody grabbed yours by mistake (or NOT by mistake...that's another whole topic for a later blog.)

Ever notice how many people have BLACK luggage? Makes everything look awfully similar!

So, anyway...the airline's story is that it's the government's fault. Ok. I know we like to blame everything on them...but, this? It seems the feds have to check every piece of luggage, but they have a limited amount of inspectors assigned to each airline, and if not all the bags are examined, then only the approved ones go with the flight. The rest stay behind until checked out, then go on a different plane.

Does that sound stupid to anybody else?

So, the airline gave us 2 options: either we could come back when they called us in several more hours to pick it up, and get a nifty $40 travel voucher for our troubles, or have it delivered to our doorstep for free.
DD wanted the delivery. It was promised (in a later phone call) by 11:30 pm. So, by 12:30 we were in bed and snoozing.

3:30 a.m. I am awake. The porch light shines around the edges of my bedroom blind and drives me crazy. Call the airline again. Get a machine. Leave a message. Is it possible they dropped it off at the wrong house?

Turn off the light. Go back to bed. Get all warm and snuggly and just about to drift off, when...


Knock, knock, knock. It's the luggage delivery guy (parked up on my LAWN.) Here's the bag. What about 11:30??? Yeah, well, that's about when they called him to come get all the bags. God only knows where all those other people live, and where on the list we were.


So, DD is home, safe and sound, with both suitcases.

Another holiday's travel adventure over.

New Advice

I was just talking to one of my student's moms today, and she was telling me her tale of woe concerning her 3 kids' medical issues. It started sounding very familiar. Everywhere I turn, I am hearing stories much like ours, and...if I had stock in Albuterol, I think I'd be a really happy investor right now. After some really horrendous experiences, this mom came to a conclusion, which she shared with me as the advice for the day:

When your child has any kind of medical problem, go straight to the specialist. Call the pediatrician, get the referral (if that's how you have to do it with your insurance), and head straight out...tell them to send it, fax it, phone it, 'cause you're on your way. She saved her daughter's life that way, after 2 pedes said she "just had a cold"...weeks of it...5 minutes with the pediatric pulmonologist and mom's gut feeling was confirmed...the tonsils were so enlarged, the girl was slowly choking to death. Whizz, bang, up to the OR, out they came...and she's ok, now. Other scary stories, too.

So, that's my second-hand advice for the day. I think I'm gonna check out who the specialists we may need are, have their numbers ready, and, if God doesn't choose to spare us from another round of medical problems, we'll be ready.

A New Concern

My Little Sir has been prone to different allergies, and has had "allergy-induced asthmatic episodes" in the past, sometimes accompanied by croup. Anyone familiar with this sort of thing knows how scary it is to sit with a small child in the emergency room as they gasp for air and cough their lungs out.

We've been back and forth to the pediatrician in the past few weeks, with what was first diagnosed as "just a cold." We had to go to the emergency room one night, with Little Sir using a nebulizer/oxygen/steroids, etc. Then, the ER doc. prescribed an inhaler of Albuterol, along with an antibiotic, which he said I could use, or not use, at my own discretion, since the x-ray showed no pneumonia so far. (So far???) The ER doc and our regular pediatrician do NOT agree on almost all the treatments. (oh, goody.) Back and forth, back and forth, phone calls galore...thank God, CVS has a drive-through. (What a concept!)

Anyway...long story, shortened...

Talked to another mom of a 4-year-old (this one's in kindergarten.) Her son's been through the same thing...she brought the inhaler (with the spacer...I'm learning all kinds of new skills here...oh, joy...) She said she got a prescription for an extra one to keep at the school nurse's office. When she brought it there, the school nurse opened the closet and showed her BASKETS full of the same thing for many other children in younger elementary grades.

Ok. So...the media tells us about the killer viruses around, particularly the one in Rochester area which manifests itself as an ear infection in little kids, but does not respond to any antibiotic known to work on pedes. Only works with a specific adults-only antibiotic, and the only way to tell if your child has this, is to request the pediatrician do an ear tap. (Ouch.) If not treated properly, deafness results. (Again, oh joy.)

My school mailbox is almost daily manifesting the latest warning from the administration. It MRSA, it's scabies, it's______...you name it.

The "experts" say we are over-run with all this because of overuse of antibiotics, and the viruses just get stronger. The mom I spoke about was wondering if her son's school might have particular environmental issues, as well, as soooo many little kids are sick enough with lung problems to need inhalers...the school nurse said, "Hmmmm...never thought of that. Maybe I should bring it up to the administration." (Ya think???)

It's not my imagination. The bugs are getting stronger and more diverse. The international community does not necessarily agree on how to treat these things. (When we were in Turkey, they seemed to use stronger drugs than we do here (when I brought our scrips back, the pediatrician told me we couldn't even get that stuff here, but that it was really good.) And, my mil was told not to let the U.S. hospital but him on any kind of inhaler (???) because it would cause other lung problems. I asked the dr. here, and he had no idea what I was talking about. (Nothing like discussing 4th hand info...))


So...I am exhausted from running from dr. to dr., dealing with medicines and treatments, making nutritious remedies like chicken soup, herbal teas, honey & lemon drinks, shower treatments, Vicks Vapo-rub...take him outside so he can breathe...no, he's cold...take him in the bathroom with the steamy shower running...make sure you dry his hair right away...
Oh, and DH has been sick with several viruses too (including gastro-intestinal. That's just loads of fun.)

Everywhere we go, wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands...

sigh

Interviews and Other Surprises

Got a call back to another round of interviews, yesterday, which I hear is a good thing. One is a leave replacement (not really what I want...only get sub-pay, no benefits, etc.) and one is a real job opening in Sept.

The same day, I got an email which flattered and terrified me. Let me back up a bit...

Last semester, I had the blessed fortune to bond with 3 other ladies in my program, who had pretty much the same college schedule. 2 are also married mommies, the other an engaged-mommy-wannabe. As this department is especially fond of assigning group projects, we decided to get ahead of the professors and make our own group. (We've all had the horrible experience of being assigned to a partner(s) who does no/terrible work, and have had a stressful time of it, with grades suffering because of it.) It worked out great for us, as our talents compliment each other, and we had a blast working together (at someone's house over wine and cheese...doesn't get any better, right?) Sometimes the kiddies came along and had their own fun time in the other room. Well, one particular project took us months to do, as it counted as 40% of the grade, and was to be part of our professional portfolio...we wanted it to be awesome. We designed a high school math curriculum for English language learners of multiple levels of English proficiency and from diverse first languages. It was very involved, with lots of hands-on, kinesthetic learning, different technology media and translated/adapted texts.

Well, our professor (who, it turns out, is in a very influencial position in this particular discipline's international community) was quite impressed, and instructed the rest of the class that this was the model lesson, what to strive for. She asked us a lot of questions, how we did each phase, and seemed very pleased. Afterward, she took us aside and told us she was on the committee for 2008 international convention, which happens to be in NY this time, and asked if we would present there. Wow! My friend (very quick on the uptake) said, "Sure, if you give us all letters of recommendation!" She said she was already doing that, this was beyond that. Ok ... sure, why not?

I promptly put it on the back burner, and got on with my life, on to the next assignment for the next class, etc. Didn't exactly forget about it, but really didn't think about it. I figured it was going to be a small thing off in a corner room, not so important.

Ha! Well, got an email from the organization, saying our proposal (what proposal???) had been accepted by the committee and that they were very excited about our presentation, blah blah blah...did we need a projection screen, any other tech. devices??? Lots of info, etc.

sigh

so, it's for real.

ok.

I can do this.

You see, I do NOT like being watched, don't
like being front and center, don't like being judged...and here, we will be on display before hundreds of people. Oh, goody.

Procrastinating Again

Ok...I've read everybody's blogs and commented where I found something vaguely appropriate to say. I've cleaned out junk email and done a survey. I went through the mail from the real-life mailbox (mostly junk) and done a load of laundry.

I am tempted to reread the blogs to see if anything new's posted.

I have homework to do and I just don't wanna do it. I just can't make my mind settle into it, much less open the required books, plug in the flashdrive, put paper in the printer, and ink, or anything else required to do this chore. If I was one of my kids I'd get on my case about this. I just don't wanna do it. I know I will be sorry tomorrow.

sigh.

On Posting

Ok. It's happened again. I published a post, and it didn't show up. But then, there it is on the list on the side, but not in chronological order.

I't s On Writing. Can you see it?

White Tornado

Does anybody remember the White Tornado? Not sure, but I think it was an old Ajax commercial from when I was a kid..you'd open the bottle, a white tornado would come out, swoosh around your house, and leave everything sparkling clean in its wake.

When my older kids were little, I'd suddenly yell out "white tornado!", and we'd go scurrying around the house, picking up, vacuuming, dusting, etc. Usually this was when someone was about to drop by, with little warning.

Well, right about now, I'd really like the original kind. With my school/work schedule, and DH & I working opposite shifts, the house is in desperate need of a white tornado to swoop through. I saw a spider in the bedroom this afternoon, in the corner of the ceiling, so I dragged out the vacuum and went to work...did all the ceilings, corners, etc. in the house. Then, I saw how dusty it was behind the dresser, so DH & I started dragging everything out, shaking stuff outside, cleaning behind everything, etc. with the windows wide open. (It was one of those gorgeous sunny days.)

I feel so much better about my bedroom, now. And I'm outta time...the real life schedule is back, and the rest of the house is still waiting to be rescued.

Where is that white tornado, now that I really need it?

Re-Discovery of Blegchhh!

"How is student-teaching going?" you ask. Well...I am in a kindergarten for now...going to a high school placement soon. I love the school I'm in, my cooperating teacher is great, the relationship between teachers is wonderful and supportive, there is a strong home/school connection and much outreach to the parents/community. I have survived my initial official observations, and have more to come. I have submitted my resume (which I am constantly revising) to some districts, and went on my first job interview yesterday. There is definitely light at the end of this particular tunnel (and it is NOT a train.) All looks well.

But...

I am also re-discovering Blegchhh. Yes. Blegchhh. That is the official term (which I have just invented) for the feeling one gets while working with very small people, who are as yet naive to the social graces of:
covering one's mouth when one sneezes
covering one's mouth when one coughs
using a tissue, when appropriate (as opposed to one's sleeve, or someone else's...)
discarding said tissue in an appropriate container
WASHING ONE'S HANDS THOROUGHLY, so as not to spread icky germs

These same small people are quite affectionate, and not averse to giving spontaneous hugs and kisses, thereby further spreading icky germs.

Blegchhh has been invading my psyche and my personal space. I am aware of its particular greenish cloud out of the corner of my eye, creeping up on me. As these small people, and others, around me in this new work environment complain of headaches, tummy aches, fatigue, and a general feeling of malaise, I have an almost uncontrollable desire to swallow large doses of Vitamin C, echinacea and goldenseal, and whatever else they put in those Airbourne tablets. (I do find that sparkling beverage a bit nauseating, but better to chug it down, and have eight ounces of prevention, so to speak, then massive doses of DayQuil/NyQuil and other OTC remedies later.)

And now Blegchhh has invaded my home. Even though I have been faithfully scrubbing my hands with soap and hot water after every "small people" session, and after touching doorknobs and other public items in the workplace, and regularly using the antibacterial gel in my totebag, my poor DH and Little Sir are down with symptoms of the not-so-niceness I've been hearing complaints about. I was up at 3:30 a.m., dispensing preventions and cures, and then started a big crockpot of homemade chicken soup, with lots of vitamin-rich veggies.


Blegchh is not going to win, here! We will triumph!

The Pink Panther

I have been reading blog entries and other things about writer's block (or "blog block" as "Six" calls it.) I don't exactly have writer's block...I have started several things, blogs, lesson plans for my portfolio, papers for college, and otherwise, but am having trouble finishing what I've started. So, we have drafts, works in progress.

But, I have been thinking...one of the things I love about having a 4-year-old is that I get to experience things I loved as kid all over again. I loved the Winnie-the-Pooh books, movies (especially the relationship between Tigger and Roo), and other paraphanalia. I liked slinkies and coloring books, building with blocks, dressing up in all kinds of costumes. And my favorite character was the Pink Panther.

Now, originally, if I recall correctly, he started out as a cartoon character who dragged the credits across the screen for the Peter Sellers movies (the real "Pink Panther" was a diamond.) I was really little, and probably saw the movies from the backseat of the car at Flanders Drive-In, and most likely fell asleep before the movies were over. But the Henry Mancini theme song really caught me, and my parents got a Mancini album, which we'd play on the hi-fi. (yes, I am dating myself, here.) Mom would put on a stack of records, and we'd dance around the house. My dad and I had a special little Pink Panther dance we would do. I loved it. Then, the Pink Panther got his own cartoon slots, which developed into a show, and so on.

Well, I was looking for something to keep Little Sir 4-Year-Old busy at the doctor's office, and found a Pink Panther coloring book. He loved it, and we have spent many happy moments sitting together going through that book. I am not the world's best artist, but I can color more-or-less in the lines, so we do ok.

Now, what is it about the Pink Panther that I love so much? It's definitely the music, without a doubt. But what else? He never speaks, but gets one-up on the bad guys, just like Road Runner. He's clever, a little sneaky, and knows how to get back up after being clobbered. Now, if I was taking some psych. class or something, maybe I'd do some sort of paper analyzing all this. For now, I'll be non-academic for a change, and just color with Little Sir. (Hey, do you know how many different versions of pink there are in a Crayola crayon box?)

On Writing

Sometimes I get the itch to write. The death of Madeleine L'Engle, one of my favorite authors, has made me want to read any of her books I never got to, and re-read old treasures. I am currently reading Certain Women. It makes me think of so many characters from my life that I would love to put on a page, to save my memories of them, saving a part of them forever. Even if nobody other than me ever reads it, it would be worth the effort.

So, who would I write about? My maternal grandmother and my mom, without a doubt. They were such rich, unique characters, I could fill volumes about them. Does anybody remember Thyra Fere Bjorn's books? She wrote Papa's Wife, Papa's Daughter, and others in that vein. I'm not sure I'd write exactly that way, but sort of.

There are others who should get at least a chapter of their own...people who have had tremendous influence in my life, who have been there for me in a crisis, at a crossroads, without whom I may have made disastrous choices. (Dr. Z is at the top of that list!) Others, were just really good friends in times of awful pain. Some have been good friends who've made me laugh, who've made me see my life more clearly because of the pain in their own lives, who've made me feel more valuable, because they needed me, and who have shared different facets of my life, those little areas of my life that make me "me."

And it wouldn't be all women. Some men would be there, and some children, as well. I definitely would not have survived some of the most awful things in my life, if my children were not there for me to hold it together for, and to give me perspective when I needed it most. Some of the choicest bits of wisdom has come to me "from the mouths of babes."

At the very least, I should start writing this...jot down notes, outlines, lists, about specific people and what they have meant to me. At this stage of my life, it might take me a very long time to even finish one chapter, but I think just the writing of it will do me a world of good. Remembering one's blessings is a wonderful thing.

Surgical Woes

I thought I broke a tooth, or a filling, and called the dentist. He fit me in right after school. DH was on his way to work, and I figured he'd give me some temp. thing and reschedule a real appt.

Uh uh. I broke a top wisdom tooth. Yup. 'Way back there. One I'd had a root canal on. It was nice and brittle, and the roots were rotted. Great. It took him over 2 hours, contorting my head, face and neck in all impossible positions in a wrestling match with this impossible thing. Turned into a major deal. I got told, yet again, that my mouth is really small, and difficult to work in, and too small for all the teeth I have. (Yes, I have not been accused of being a big-mouth in a realllly long time.) And my teeth, even in this state, are really strong with deep roots...so, hard to remove. I am an enigma to myself, yet again.

All this wondrousness was experienced with Little Sir sitting looking on, working on his new Curious George puzzle & coloring book. (Had I known this was gonna happen, I'd've gotten a sitter, or made DH stay home and/or come with me!) I was very conscious of not letting all my emotions and physical discomfort too evident, so as not to scare this 4-year-old away from dentists permanently.

The simplest things can turn into such a mess with me. Happens all the time.

So now, half of my face is swollen and distorted, my throat hurts, can't swallow, can't talk, and even with Tylenol 3 w/ codeine, I am in serious pain. (Makes ya wonder what I'd be like without it.) I hope tomorrow is better, but I'm sure my neck will need some help,even after the mouth heals.

Here's the tip of the day: Take good care of your teeth, and they'll take care of you.

By the Way...

By the way...I did find my Martha Clara post...it isn't in sequential order, date-wise, but if you look along the side column of entry titles, it's there ... from Sept. 24. I don't understand this, but such is the Mysterious World of Technology.

A Tribute to Fresh Tuna

I just had a wonderful dinner, and thought I'd share...

Bought enough fresh fish Sunday to take us through the middle of the week. (I hate supermarket shopping, and do as little of it as possible...do the farmstands and fish man, instead, whenever I can.) Tonight's entree was fresh tuna. I came home around 8:30 p.m., exhausted, and not energetic enough to make anything elaborate. I threw Little Sir (who barely touched his dinner at the babysitter's) in the tub, then threw the fresh tuna steaks in a frypan, lightly buttered enough to not stick, then generously sprinkled teriyaki over them. When half-way done, I flipped them over, and threw some frozen peas in with them. A true lazy woman's dinner. Made a quick salad, grabbed Little Sir, dried him and handed him p.j.s, put fresh Portuguese bread and grape juice on the table and "Voila!" I was done.

I thought my last minute-thrown-together-dinner was delicious, but then, I was so hungry and tired, I was past caring. Little Sir, on the other hand, is about the pickiest eater I've ever seen. He devoured everything on his plate. Then he asked for a banana for dessert. I am a happy Mama.

There's enough left over for DH's dinner tomorrow. (He is working the night shift.) It just doesn't get any better than this.