Today is April Fools Day. I am not one for pranking and my brilliant idea of a picture of a positive pregnancy test on Facebook was stolen by Adela. Okay, at least one of my friends does that EVERY year and I didn't think of it first.
My friend Carmelita actually posted a picture of her newborn son this morning. I was just waiting for her to day "April Fools!" but she didn't. I guess she was being serious since she posted that she was in labor yesterday and her due date is a mere 6 days away. It would have had to been an elaborate April Fools prank indeed. Congrats Carmelita even though I'm sure you aren't reading this.
Bailey went to feed her betta fish Ruby this morning and Ruby decided to play the ultimate April Fools joke on Bailey. Ruby was sitting on the bottom of the tank. That is how Shirley was found dead about a year ago. Ruby perked right up and Bailey said that she should be called "Ruby the Great" for her hilarious prank.
When I was in Toledo last weekend, my friend's betta fish played the same prank on me except he was floating upside down at the top of the tank.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Sucks being 8
My child consistently impresses me with her intelligence pretty much daily. She is great and some days she reminds me she is a real 8 year old.
Today was presentation day for the 2nd grade biography projects. Bailey didn't get to present today. She was bummed because she didn't get her turn until tomorrow. I asked her how they picked which kids got to go. Bailey said the teacher drew names. Bailey was disappointed because she wasn't picked and she wrote her name really big on the paper. I tried to explain that writing your name large on the paper does not increase your chances when your teacher is drawing names out of a hat.
Bailey corrected me. She was drawing names out of a heart-shaped basket.
Today was presentation day for the 2nd grade biography projects. Bailey didn't get to present today. She was bummed because she didn't get her turn until tomorrow. I asked her how they picked which kids got to go. Bailey said the teacher drew names. Bailey was disappointed because she wasn't picked and she wrote her name really big on the paper. I tried to explain that writing your name large on the paper does not increase your chances when your teacher is drawing names out of a hat.
Bailey corrected me. She was drawing names out of a heart-shaped basket.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Sarah's Guide to Toilet Repair
Our toilet isn't running all night or anything, it just has a thing-a-majig inside that gets stuck and won't fill the toilet at all. Lately, I have left the lid of the tank off which is a temporary fix to the problem. All you have to to is give this lever a nudge almost every time we want to flush. Now I am ready to fix the problem and replace the part completely. It is plastic and toilet parts are really cheap from my limited knowledge. I have replaced handles and levers in the past.
I am woman. I repair toilets!
By the way, my wonderful husband would love to help, but he works out of town a lot and there isn't room for 2 people in our micro tiny bathroom. I also enjoy the challenge more than he would. Don't hate. He just married well.
I want to remove the mechanism from the toilet before I go to the home improvement store so I can carry it around in a plastic bag and compare. This works best for me. So step one is to turn off the water to the toilet. It is just a knob right? NO. It is a magic knob that is very hard to turn for my lady-like hands and zero upper body strength. I can get it MOSTLY shut off, but not all the way. Meanwhile, it is maintaining a trickle of water that is slowly dribbling into the toilet.
I head downstairs and can't find another shutoff knob just for the bathroom. I know where the ones for the outside spigots are. I know where the knob for the clothes washer is. I just can't find one for the bathroom. I say "screw it" and shut off the water to the entire house. NO PROBLEM. I disassemble the toilet with glee only to realize that the little bit of water left in the bottom of the tank is a lot more than I anticipated.
I grab the nearest hand towel and dry some of the water, but you will quickly realize that I am NOT a man and I love my pristine white bath towels too much to ruin on a toilet repair. Instead I grab the pile of old undershirts that I am meaning to turn into rags anyway and dry the bathroom floor. I have the part in hand, and now I am ready to head to the store!
I need a shower first. But I shut off the water to the house and if I turn on the water, the valve I couldn't shut off will just start trickling all over the bathroom floor. No shower just yet. I have to go shopping all dirty. I do have some chilled drinking water in the refrigerator. I will brush my teeth with that and go shopping.
Hopping in the car sounds soooo easy most days, but the car has an electrical problem that will be repaired tomorrow. This means I have to open the hood and reconnect the battery before can go anywhere. Wow, this whole project is taking a lot longer than I thought. I'm so glad I thought ahead enough to use the bathroom before starting the project.
(Trip to the store happens)
Okay, I had a few errands to run while I was out so it took me 2 hours to pick up the part for the toilet. I stopped at:
Joanne Fabrics
Hallmark
Lowes
Carters
PetSmart
Pet Supplies Plus
Veterinarian
The part I was looking for is called a toilet fill valve. It cost me $7.48 and was very easy to find. By the time I was done, I wanted to pick up lunch too, but I had to use the restroom and this was a trip I only like to make at home if you know what I mean. I don't want to eat until I use the restroom and I can't use the restroom until the toilet is fixed. I had some real motivation by now.
I got home and had the toilet put back together and the water on in about 19 minutes.
I am proud of myself. That was fun.
I am woman. I repair toilets!
By the way, my wonderful husband would love to help, but he works out of town a lot and there isn't room for 2 people in our micro tiny bathroom. I also enjoy the challenge more than he would. Don't hate. He just married well.
I want to remove the mechanism from the toilet before I go to the home improvement store so I can carry it around in a plastic bag and compare. This works best for me. So step one is to turn off the water to the toilet. It is just a knob right? NO. It is a magic knob that is very hard to turn for my lady-like hands and zero upper body strength. I can get it MOSTLY shut off, but not all the way. Meanwhile, it is maintaining a trickle of water that is slowly dribbling into the toilet.
I head downstairs and can't find another shutoff knob just for the bathroom. I know where the ones for the outside spigots are. I know where the knob for the clothes washer is. I just can't find one for the bathroom. I say "screw it" and shut off the water to the entire house. NO PROBLEM. I disassemble the toilet with glee only to realize that the little bit of water left in the bottom of the tank is a lot more than I anticipated.
I grab the nearest hand towel and dry some of the water, but you will quickly realize that I am NOT a man and I love my pristine white bath towels too much to ruin on a toilet repair. Instead I grab the pile of old undershirts that I am meaning to turn into rags anyway and dry the bathroom floor. I have the part in hand, and now I am ready to head to the store!
I need a shower first. But I shut off the water to the house and if I turn on the water, the valve I couldn't shut off will just start trickling all over the bathroom floor. No shower just yet. I have to go shopping all dirty. I do have some chilled drinking water in the refrigerator. I will brush my teeth with that and go shopping.
Hopping in the car sounds soooo easy most days, but the car has an electrical problem that will be repaired tomorrow. This means I have to open the hood and reconnect the battery before can go anywhere. Wow, this whole project is taking a lot longer than I thought. I'm so glad I thought ahead enough to use the bathroom before starting the project.
(Trip to the store happens)
Okay, I had a few errands to run while I was out so it took me 2 hours to pick up the part for the toilet. I stopped at:
Joanne Fabrics
Hallmark
Lowes
Carters
PetSmart
Pet Supplies Plus
Veterinarian
The part I was looking for is called a toilet fill valve. It cost me $7.48 and was very easy to find. By the time I was done, I wanted to pick up lunch too, but I had to use the restroom and this was a trip I only like to make at home if you know what I mean. I don't want to eat until I use the restroom and I can't use the restroom until the toilet is fixed. I had some real motivation by now.
I got home and had the toilet put back together and the water on in about 19 minutes.
I am proud of myself. That was fun.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Is this what 30 is supposed to be like?
We seem so old! Nick and I will both turn 31 in a matter of weeks for the record.
I'll set the scene: 8:30pm on a Saturday night. Tonight to be exact.
Since SOMETIME this weekend, daylight savings time begins, Nick goes to bed early.
I was resetting the clocks and nagged Nick (who was already tucked into bed) about not changing my alarm clock. He claims that daylight savings time doesn't start until Monday. I start telling stories about this time in my life when I played cello in a church orchestra and I remember people being an hour late or early for church. Hence, proving that daylight savings time begins on Sunday morning.
This then reminds me about one overly fun Halloween weekend back around 1999-ish when daylight savings time ended and we ended up setting our clocks back at 2am. I was enjoying a rowdy evening at Kamikazes in Bowling Green Ohio proving that it was indeed a Saturday night. I was more than ready to go home at 2am when we had to re-live the whole hour over again and all I wanted to do was go to SLEEP. I clearly remember my friend dressed as Austin Powers forcing me to dance for one more hour because the bar didn't close. I couldn't stick it out for ONE MORE HOUR when I was 19?? Dang, I'm lame. Well, I proved my lameness when I mentioned Kamikazes. :)
So, back to the bedroom scene between Nick and I-this does not get saucy in any way. Nick didn't make the bed correctly before trying to sleep and I had to strip him of the blankets so I could re-make the bed with him in it. Then Nick and I have the same conversation we've had a TRILLION times about how he and I differ about bed-making. I had to stop tucking in the edges of the sheets when we were married and it drives me bonkers. He has to live in hotels a few weeks a month where they refuse to stop tucking the edges of the sheets.
We are going to be a super couple when we are in our 80's. Still chatting it up about how to make a bed.
I'll set the scene: 8:30pm on a Saturday night. Tonight to be exact.
Since SOMETIME this weekend, daylight savings time begins, Nick goes to bed early.
I was resetting the clocks and nagged Nick (who was already tucked into bed) about not changing my alarm clock. He claims that daylight savings time doesn't start until Monday. I start telling stories about this time in my life when I played cello in a church orchestra and I remember people being an hour late or early for church. Hence, proving that daylight savings time begins on Sunday morning.
This then reminds me about one overly fun Halloween weekend back around 1999-ish when daylight savings time ended and we ended up setting our clocks back at 2am. I was enjoying a rowdy evening at Kamikazes in Bowling Green Ohio proving that it was indeed a Saturday night. I was more than ready to go home at 2am when we had to re-live the whole hour over again and all I wanted to do was go to SLEEP. I clearly remember my friend dressed as Austin Powers forcing me to dance for one more hour because the bar didn't close. I couldn't stick it out for ONE MORE HOUR when I was 19?? Dang, I'm lame. Well, I proved my lameness when I mentioned Kamikazes. :)
So, back to the bedroom scene between Nick and I-this does not get saucy in any way. Nick didn't make the bed correctly before trying to sleep and I had to strip him of the blankets so I could re-make the bed with him in it. Then Nick and I have the same conversation we've had a TRILLION times about how he and I differ about bed-making. I had to stop tucking in the edges of the sheets when we were married and it drives me bonkers. He has to live in hotels a few weeks a month where they refuse to stop tucking the edges of the sheets.
We are going to be a super couple when we are in our 80's. Still chatting it up about how to make a bed.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Birds go to the vet
Kate has been looking rather shabby and it was time for a trip to the vet. A special avian vet on the other side of Amherst! Road trip!
I had to buy them a new extra small cage for easier travel. The trip in the car was fun. Jack was singing to the radio and Kate was pestering him as usual. I almost had to threaten to pull the car over if they didn't cut it out. I buckled them into the car in case of sudden stops and I thought it was so cute, I took a picture:
The birds were quite chirpy despite the new cage and new surroundings. The didn't seem bothered at all. Here they are being happy waiting for the vet to some examine them:
The vet put them in a small plastic container to weigh them. Both birds were quite irritated with the whole experience, but Kate looked like a crazy demon bird:
Kate had her stool tested and it looked good. They did an antibiotic injection and asked to see her back next week. If we get lucky, she will get better and we can avoid further x-rays and bloodwork. Kate was a heinous bitch toward the vet (her usual mood) and got a few good nips in to show that vet who was boss.
Jack was an angel as usual. He was very laid back and healthy. When the vet returned a VERY ruffled Kate back to the cage, Jack was highly attentive and gave her lots of kisses. It was the cutest thing ever.
Get well soon Kate!
I had to buy them a new extra small cage for easier travel. The trip in the car was fun. Jack was singing to the radio and Kate was pestering him as usual. I almost had to threaten to pull the car over if they didn't cut it out. I buckled them into the car in case of sudden stops and I thought it was so cute, I took a picture:
The birds were quite chirpy despite the new cage and new surroundings. The didn't seem bothered at all. Here they are being happy waiting for the vet to some examine them:
The vet put them in a small plastic container to weigh them. Both birds were quite irritated with the whole experience, but Kate looked like a crazy demon bird:
Kate had her stool tested and it looked good. They did an antibiotic injection and asked to see her back next week. If we get lucky, she will get better and we can avoid further x-rays and bloodwork. Kate was a heinous bitch toward the vet (her usual mood) and got a few good nips in to show that vet who was boss. Jack was an angel as usual. He was very laid back and healthy. When the vet returned a VERY ruffled Kate back to the cage, Jack was highly attentive and gave her lots of kisses. It was the cutest thing ever.
Get well soon Kate!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Good Morning Sports Fans!
My daughter woke me up 15 minutes early this morning and was standing over my bed. The first thing out of her mouth was "Did you know Nate Robinson was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder?" It is days like today when I dream about her getting a job on SportsCenter so she can tell someone who cares. It is really hard to pretend interested so early in the morning.
I replied with "I have never heard of the Oklahoma City Thunder". She launched into an explanation about how they used to be the Seattle Supersonics. Good Morning to you too Bailey!
Bailey's is interested in Nate Robinson because up until this week, he was number 4 on the Boston Celtics. Bailey is number 4 on her Celtics team. We are anxiously waiting to find out what baseball team she will be drafted to for this season. Last year she was number 8 on the Yankees which belongs to Yogi Berra. Even though Yogi doesn't play anymore, she was still proud.
I replied with "I have never heard of the Oklahoma City Thunder". She launched into an explanation about how they used to be the Seattle Supersonics. Good Morning to you too Bailey!
Bailey's is interested in Nate Robinson because up until this week, he was number 4 on the Boston Celtics. Bailey is number 4 on her Celtics team. We are anxiously waiting to find out what baseball team she will be drafted to for this season. Last year she was number 8 on the Yankees which belongs to Yogi Berra. Even though Yogi doesn't play anymore, she was still proud.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Brush your teeth!
Bailey hates to brush her teeth. She has a partial set of braces and it is very important for her to do a good job. I suspect we have always done an okay job. Bailey has never had a cavity. The hygienist usually says she does a good job, or she needs to work on one specific area.
When Bailey got braces, we had to start seeing the orthodontist every 5 weeks and the torture began. The ladies at the orthodontist office refuse to tell Bailey she is doing a good job. She can't have the colors on her braces because they are only decorative and they collect more debris. Bailey uses a timer twice a day and brushes for 2 full minutes.
They gave us a sand timer at the orthodontist and Bailey being the vigilant child she is, compared the "two minute" sand timer to a kitchen timer and declared the sand timer to be inaccurate. So, she uses a kitchen timer IN THE BATHROOM. Believe me, this was a huge mental hurdle for her to get over, but we are dedicated.
We had our semi-annual dental cleaning yesterday. The appointment was at 3:30 and I finally remembered the appointment at 3:28. We sprang into action and I thought Bailey was being oh-so annoying by falling all over the house, but it turned out, she was practicing her baseball slide because she feels it is an efficient mode of transportation. I think a brisk hustle out the door would have been sufficient, but we made it to the dentist by 3:35.
Bailey and I both got out of there with a clean bill of dental health. No cavities and we are both doing a great job brushing. I wish I could get that in writing and bring it to the meanies at the orthodontist.
When Bailey got braces, we had to start seeing the orthodontist every 5 weeks and the torture began. The ladies at the orthodontist office refuse to tell Bailey she is doing a good job. She can't have the colors on her braces because they are only decorative and they collect more debris. Bailey uses a timer twice a day and brushes for 2 full minutes.
They gave us a sand timer at the orthodontist and Bailey being the vigilant child she is, compared the "two minute" sand timer to a kitchen timer and declared the sand timer to be inaccurate. So, she uses a kitchen timer IN THE BATHROOM. Believe me, this was a huge mental hurdle for her to get over, but we are dedicated.
We had our semi-annual dental cleaning yesterday. The appointment was at 3:30 and I finally remembered the appointment at 3:28. We sprang into action and I thought Bailey was being oh-so annoying by falling all over the house, but it turned out, she was practicing her baseball slide because she feels it is an efficient mode of transportation. I think a brisk hustle out the door would have been sufficient, but we made it to the dentist by 3:35.
Bailey and I both got out of there with a clean bill of dental health. No cavities and we are both doing a great job brushing. I wish I could get that in writing and bring it to the meanies at the orthodontist.
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