We drove up to Nashville today and stopped and ate at McDonald's on the way. I try my hardest to avoid taking my newly potty trained child anywhere near a public restroom. He's a boy so it's a little easier on me, being the germ freak I am, than it would be if he was a girl and had to actually sit on the toilet. I'll probably end up holding Riley over the toilet as she goes IF I ever get stuck in a situation like this again while she's potty training/trained and still small (a.k.a. unaware of the nastiness that sits on ANY surface in a public restroom).
Anyways, Jack announces in the middle of our meal that he has to go potty. I run through the options in my head: a) pack up our lunch quickly and take both the kids outside, put Riley in the car, and let Jack pee in the parking lot as I hide him so no one can see that I'm letting my child go right where people walk. (this really was my first thought) and then there was the only other thing I could think of b) leave our lunch there, take both my children and my giant diaper bag into a McDonald's restroom, and try to get Jack to pee without touching any surface while holding Riley and my giant bag and protecting them from the germs that lie within those bathroom walls.
Regretfully, I chose option b. We get into the bathroom unscathed. Then I see that these toilets are the giant, tall kind that are close to impossible not to touch, even as an adult. The door is one of those that you have to hold open or it will close on you. So here I am, holding Riley in one arm, my giant bag on the other, propping the door open with my knee, reaching out for Jack with my free hand so he doesn't get too close to the toilet, while shouting warning after warning about what not to touch.
"Jack, DO NOT touch that toilet. DO NOT touch ANYTHING. Just pull your pants down, stand on your tippy toes, and use the bathroom really fast. OK?!"
Everything's going pretty smoothly. He finishes going and I've already decided that I'm not gonna be able to squeeze into the stall to flush the toilet with my foot, and there's NO WAY I'm letting him flush it, so it's not getting flushed. I think he's about to pull his pants up and walk back out when the unthinkable happens.
He touches the toilet seat...............with his bare hand. I freaked out; I totally did. I'm glad no one else was in the bathroom although I'm pretty sure the lady that was about to clean it was standing outside the doorway listening the whole time.
"Jack! I can't believe you just did that! That is disgusting! UGHHHHH! Gross! Don't touch anything! I have to wash your hand! DO NOT pull up your pants! DO NOT touch anything! I HAVE to wash your hand first! I'm about to throw up! That was so disgusting!"
I put Riley down, hoping she won't touch anything. Then I instruct Jack to hold his hands out a certain way so as not to touch the dirty counter top, but what does it matter now. He touched a public toilet seat. I wash his hands thoroughly, and then notice Riley's hands headed for said countertop.
"Riley! Stop! NO! Do not touch that! COME HERE!"
Riley starts crying, but miraculously does not fall to the floor as she usually does in her drama queen style. She must have a developing germ sense like her mother. I finish washing Jack's hands and turn the water off with my elbow (no papertowels, only those dirty dryer things). I pick up my girl and lead my family safely out of the condemned place with my foot opening the door. That's where I was greeted by the cleaning lady, waiting to get in. I give a quick smile and quickly walk back to our table.
Next time, he's going in the parking lot. By the way, if you ever see a puddle on the ground, don't automatically assume it's water........
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
"She's Just Being Riley!"
Setting: I was about to eat some food I'd just heated up and Riley walks towards me with her mouth open. No words, just an open mouth.
Me: Riley, it's very hot.
(I feed her a small piece that I've blown off.)
Riley: I want more "very hot."
Last night at supper:
Jack: I want some tea.
Riley: I want some tea party.
Oh, and one for Jack:
Last night I had a cupcake that was actually for the kids, but I split it into thirds so I could eat some. I gave Jack his piece of the cupcake and he responded, "Thanks Mom. That is so nice for you to share."
Me: Riley, it's very hot.
(I feed her a small piece that I've blown off.)
Riley: I want more "very hot."
Last night at supper:
Jack: I want some tea.
Riley: I want some tea party.
Oh, and one for Jack:
Last night I had a cupcake that was actually for the kids, but I split it into thirds so I could eat some. I gave Jack his piece of the cupcake and he responded, "Thanks Mom. That is so nice for you to share."
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Grace
I haven't really had much to post about recently, but then I remembered a book that I read a couple of weeks ago. After reading the first Twilight book I got on this reading kick, but didn't have access to the second one yet. Well, I ended up reading like three books in three days. They were good, but not books that I'd normally read that fast. I think the reason I read them so fast was because I really wanted to read New Moon (Twilight, #2) and didn't want to be in the middle of a book when I finally got hold of a copy of the twilight book. Sad, but true.
So, I'm here to review the best of the three that I sped through. It was Richard Paul Evans' new book, Grace. My mom is a big fan of this author, and she's gotten me to read all of his books. They're all pretty short, but very, very good, and once you read one, it's hard to stop. This one was about this 16 year old girl, Grace, who runs away from an abusive home. The main character, whose name I've forgotten, runs into her and offers to let her stay in a little clubhouse that him and his brother built. Anyways, it's a really sweet book. It's sad, but also inspirational in a way. Grace has been through so much and still has such an upbeat attitude and is just a cool girl all around.
Let me note one thing I noticed though in all 7 of the books I've read in the past few weeks. Yes, seven! That's crazy! Okay, we'll count the Twilight series as one book because it was written by the same person. So four books. Three out of the four were written by women. In all of the books written by women, the guys were hot and the girl's were kind of average-looking. In the one written by the man, the girl was hot and the boy was dorky. Go figure. I definitely think there's something there. I mean, women like writing/reading about hot guys and men like writing/reading about hot girls. I need further evidence to back up my theory, but I'm sure it's true.
If you want a synopsis or other information about this book go here. I just found this while looking for an image.
So, I'm here to review the best of the three that I sped through. It was Richard Paul Evans' new book, Grace. My mom is a big fan of this author, and she's gotten me to read all of his books. They're all pretty short, but very, very good, and once you read one, it's hard to stop. This one was about this 16 year old girl, Grace, who runs away from an abusive home. The main character, whose name I've forgotten, runs into her and offers to let her stay in a little clubhouse that him and his brother built. Anyways, it's a really sweet book. It's sad, but also inspirational in a way. Grace has been through so much and still has such an upbeat attitude and is just a cool girl all around.
Let me note one thing I noticed though in all 7 of the books I've read in the past few weeks. Yes, seven! That's crazy! Okay, we'll count the Twilight series as one book because it was written by the same person. So four books. Three out of the four were written by women. In all of the books written by women, the guys were hot and the girl's were kind of average-looking. In the one written by the man, the girl was hot and the boy was dorky. Go figure. I definitely think there's something there. I mean, women like writing/reading about hot guys and men like writing/reading about hot girls. I need further evidence to back up my theory, but I'm sure it's true.
If you want a synopsis or other information about this book go here. I just found this while looking for an image.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Twilight Finally! Edward......wow!
I finally caved and read Twilight. I love reading and I don't know why, but when something gets so popular, I somehow get myself to thinking that I wouldn't like it. I know this makes no sense. The more people like something, the less likely I am to like it? Logical? No. I did the same thing with Harry Potter, but then I saw the first Harry Potter movie, and then read all the books as fast as they could put them out. And I loved them!
The surprising thing is that I love Twilight even more! I read the book in a very short amount of time, just a week ago. (By a very short amount of time, I mean within a period of hours. Yeah, it's that good. You probably already know this though, because I'm sure most of you have already read it.) Anyways, I already miss reading it and want to read it again. I've never wanted to reread a book right after I've finished it, but now I do. I just started the second one today and am trying to pace myself. That's why I'm taking a break to write on this blog. Not that there's a million other things I need to be doing right now.
This post was supposed to be my "book review," but instead I seem to be gushing over how much I enjoyed the book. I probably sound like a teenager. By the way, I went in the library to check out some books because after reading Twilight, I've gotten on this reading kick. So, I asked the librarian to suggest some good reads and she said that since I liked Twilight, I might want to go look in the teen section. Thanks! A nice good kick to my trying-to-be-an-adult-raising-two-kids-while-living-with-my-parents self-esteem. Oh, well.
Review:
Everyone should read this book, obviously. I think one thing I enjoyed about it is that the main character, Bella, is so relatable. She's so normal and the fact that this amazingly gorgeous, supernatural, and seemingly perfect Edward wants only to be with her has great love story written all over it.
There's more I could write about it, but I think I'll save it all until I've finished the whole series. Which won't be long, considering my recent track record of book reading.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Happy Birthday Ryan!
Today is my brother Ryan's 30th birthday!!! Happy Birthday Ryan! I hope it's a good one and we can't wait to see you soon!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Wear Sunscreen!
I was listening to this song yesterday on my trip back from Nashville, and it reminded me of being in 9th grade since that was when it came out and was popular. I can't remember how, but recently I found out that the song was actually originally an essay titled "Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young" written by this lady in 1997. She wrote that if she were asked to give a commencement speech, this is what she'd say. Eventually Baz Lurhman turned the essay into a song and released it in 1999. Just a little background for ya.
Anyways, every time I listen to it I'm like, there's some really good advice in here. So, become sentimental with me as we travel back to '99 and recall the lyrics/advice (in list form):
"If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists
Whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…
I will dispense this advice now.
1) Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; Oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….
2) You’re not as fat as you imagine.
3) Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
4) Do one thing everyday that scares you
5) Sing
6) Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
7) Floss
8) Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
9) Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
10) Keep your old love letters,
11) Throw away your old bank statements.
12) Stretch
13) Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at twenty-two what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.
14) Get plenty of calcium.
15) Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.
16) Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.
17) Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own..
18) Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.
19) Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
20) Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.
21) Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
22) Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you should hold on.
23) Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you
knew when you were young.
24) Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard;
25) Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
26) Travel.
27) Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
28) Respect your elders.
29) Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.
30) Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.
31) Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.
32) But trust me on the sunscreen…"
Anyways, every time I listen to it I'm like, there's some really good advice in here. So, become sentimental with me as we travel back to '99 and recall the lyrics/advice (in list form):
"If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists
Whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…
I will dispense this advice now.
1) Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; Oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….
2) You’re not as fat as you imagine.
3) Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
4) Do one thing everyday that scares you
5) Sing
6) Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
7) Floss
8) Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
9) Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
10) Keep your old love letters,
11) Throw away your old bank statements.
12) Stretch
13) Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at twenty-two what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.
14) Get plenty of calcium.
15) Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.
16) Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.
17) Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own..
18) Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.
19) Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
20) Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.
21) Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
22) Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you should hold on.
23) Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you
knew when you were young.
24) Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard;
25) Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
26) Travel.
27) Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
28) Respect your elders.
29) Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.
30) Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.
31) Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.
32) But trust me on the sunscreen…"
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