>Savory meatballs, spaghetti, and chunky spaghetti sauce

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>Ellen Degeneres had Heidi Klum on as a guest to make meatballs. Of course! That’s what Heidi Klum does best, right? When I looked up the recipe, I said to myself, “Self, these are almost exactly the meatballs you already make. The only major difference is that Heidi uses half beef and half pork.” I had about a pound and a half of ground sirloin (on sale last weekend!), so I decided not to tarnish it with pork, but to make incredibly delicious meatballs Daisy style and top them off with a chunky marinara sauce.
I cheat on the sauce – a little. I use spaghetti sauce in a jar. But to make it chunky, my garden coughs up a few goodies. I wash off the garden ingredients, saute them, and add them to the jarred sauce.

Daisy’s Home Style Meatballs
1 lb. to 1 1/2 lb. ground beef (or turkey or pork, if you wish)
1 egg
1 slice of bread, cubed
assorted herbs, fresh (I use basil, thyme, and rosemary)

Mix bread, egg, and herbs. Let sit until the bread absorbs the liquid.
Add ground beef. Mix with hands or forks until the bread and egg mixture is thoroughly absorbed.
Let sit in refrigerator until ready to cook.
Use spoons or small scoop ( I love my small scoop for meatballs and cookies and more!) to drop into pan. Turn frequently until done.
Serve with spaghetti and chunky sauce with a salad on the side.
Oh, the sauce ingredients? That varies with the season. This week it was green pepper, green onion, and spinach. Yes, they ate it and pronounced it good.

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>Where’s the tooth fairy when I need her?

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>I just got back from the dentist’s office. At my routine cleaning a few weeks ago, we spotted an abscess at the root of one tooth. Dr. DDS was on vacation, so the support staff set aside the notes and records for him. Now that Dr. DDS is back in the office, he reviewed the X-Rays and photos and called me for a consultation.

Next step: endodontist. The tooth that has an abscess has already been treated – root canal, crown. There are two possibilities: either there is another root that needs to be sealed, or there is a fracture somewhere in the tooth or root structure. If it’s the first, they’ll seal it. If it’s the second, they’ll pull the tooth.
If the tooth has to be pulled, there will be two options: implant or bridge.
So at this point, I’ll wait for the appointment with the endodontist.

The strangest thing about the situation is this: I feel mild discomfort, but no major pain. Here’s the history, perhaps. I called our family doc in late April for treatment of my Annual Spring Sinus Infection. The pain was worse than usual, and it took two rounds with antibiotics to get it treated. The antibiotics probably also took care of any infection in the tooth. Who knows? The tooth may have been the reason for the additional pain in the same area as the sinus infection.

In the meantime, I’m thinking these crazy thoughts that teachers think at this time of year. How soon will I know which problem is the problem? Can I get the treatment done now? I don’t want to wait until the end of August when I’m setting up my classroom and getting ready for the new year to start. And if it needs to be pulled, what next? Do I need antibiotics now, or wait until it’s sealed/pulled?

Too many questions without answers. I think I’ll make coffee. And wonder what the going rate is for a grown-up’s fractured, root-canal treated tooth on the Tooth Fairy market.

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>The To Do list and the Ta Da! list

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>I once worked for a principal who replaced her inbox and outbox with “to do” and “ta-da!” The title of “ta-da!” increases the feeling of accomplishment in a major way, so I adopted the phrases myself.

A standard to-do list gives readers a little insight into the blogger’s life. A to-do list with commentary could be a wee bit more interesting. So here goes: to-do, eventually to become Ta-Da!

My to-do list, as noted while waiting for my hearing exam this morning (one of the items on the list):

Audiologist appointment for basic maintenance and updated hearing tests. Results: very little change, hearing aids reprogrammed to reflect those changes, consider replacing these in 1 – 2 years.
Stop for coffee on the way home. Including positive self-care (i.e. fun) in the to-do list makes it more likely to get done. Consider the coffee from a local shop both a personal treat and an investment in our downtown. The parking meter only cost a dime, coffee and muffin under $5; how many cities can claim that kind of bargain?
Strip beds.
Wash and dry sheets. Should this be two items, since I need to go downstairs twice in order to get it done? No, three times! The third trip down the basement brings up the clean sheets for folding.
Fold and put away sheets.
Re-dress beds with fresh, clean sheets. Well, really, if I stripped them in the first place, am I not dressing them now?
Clean the rabbits’ litter boxes. Another multi step chore, this requires emptying said boxes, hosing them out, letting them air dry, and then refilling them with clean litter, all the while hoping the bunnies don’t feel the need to use them while the boxes are outside. If I’m lucky, they’ll nap through the whole process and never know the difference.
Laundromat. Start with Amigo’s sleeping bag from camp, add a few other pillows and blankets, and I have a load worthy of the Big Washers at the Laundromat. But do I have enough quarters? If not, add a trip to the credit union to the list on the to-do side.
Water plants. Yesterday’s storms passed north of us (again), so I need to water the deck plants and probably the vegetable garden, too.
Garbage. Empty wastebaskets, take garbage outside, take garbage can to the curb tonight to be picked up tomorrow.
Homework. Yes, homework. I have one assignment left (out of four) for the graduate class I’m taking. When that’s done, I’ll print everything and send it in. That will feel so good! This will be a major Ta-Dah!! on the list.

If there is more time and if I have additional energy, the bushes in the front yard are overdue for trimming, the clover is taking over the lettuce’s space (if only clover were a cash crop!), and there’s always more de-cluttering to do.

Here goes — I just reheated the coffee (see above, treat + investment), so off to the races! Charge!

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>Pottermania calms, but never dies.

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>Dumbledore’s wisdom. Voldemort’s evil. Friendships, deep and true. Competition, academic and athletic. Popularity, haves vs. have-nots, social class and financial class statements.

J.K. Rowling knew what was coming. Rereading the entire series reveals the foreshadowing, hints that can hold for several books before the results turn up.

I own all but one (The Goblet of Fire) in the series. Last summer I borrowed a copy from the library so I could reread #1-#6 before The Deathly Hallows reached stores. This time, I borrowed a copy from my mother. La Petite thinks I need to get serious and just buy it. She may be right.

I finished The Half Blood Prince last night and took a break before starting the final installment in Potterland. Amigo is at camp; I might wait until he’s home and ask if he wants to read it together, the way we’ve read so many. He reads the Braille copy out loud, and I read the print silently along with him. We talk and react as the events unfold, and that makes the reading process even more enjoyable.

Yes, I think The Deathly Hallows will have to wait a few days, at least until Amigo gets home.

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>Language, language

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>It seemed like a small point, a parenthetical reference, but it stuck out.
“…try to identify problems. If you cannot find the solution to these problems (you must see some, unless you are perfectly blind), then here is your opportunity!”
I addressed it with this comment: “Using the term “blind” as a synonym for clueless is offensive. My son is blind, but he’s very observant. He pays attention and has an excellent memory. If you were playing Trivial Pursuit or working on a project, you’d want him on your team – vision or none.”
The writer responded, letting me know that she had intended no insult or offense, that the term was merely a metaphor. I replied, suggesting other less offensive metaphors such as “rose colored glasses.” This time, the writer threw a hissy fit with a note full of exclamation marks, accusing me of putting words in her mouth, insisting that it wasn’t a big deal to use a metaphor such as “blind” to make a point.
I’d rather not link you to her article because she doesn’t need more readers. I’d like to advise, however, that writers in any professional field watch their language. I’m not asking for excessive political correctness; I’m suggesting accurate language with a sense of consideration for others.
I’ll use my own disability as an example. In previous centuries, hearing impaired people might have been referred to as Deaf and Dumb. Deaf, unable to hear well, Dumb meaning unable to speak.
In today’s world, Dumb usually means stupid or unintelligent. Nonverbal would be the accurate term for someone who doesn’t speak. Deaf describes some people, but Hard of Hearing or Hearing Impaired describes a group that includes many, many more.
Using a descriptive label as a put-down insults two groups: the target of the insult and the group being named in the put-down. Anyone who uses “deaf” to insult someone obviously hasn’t met me or interacted with other people with hearing impairments.
Here comes the writing teacher in me. The statement above would have been more effective, not just less offensive, without the use of the word blind. Instead, I suggest the following.
“Identify problems and weaknesses. If you are honest with yourself, you will see areas in need of improvement. If you cannot find the solution to these problems, then here is your opportunity!”
Another option, using more colorful (but not insulting) language, would be this.
“Take off your rose-colored glasses, leave the optimist behind, and seek out problems. Finding the solutions to these problems will provide great opportunities.”
Would you respect a co-worker who thought nothing of insulting disabilities? I wouldn’t. Think twice, and use decent and respectful descriptive language.

(This post is also posted at MidCentury Modern Moms because frankly, many bloggers need to read it.)

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>Perspective, it’s all in your perspective

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>La Petite had a chance to hear Obama speak earlier this summer. She brought her camera, of course, and filled the memory card. But she didn’t just fill it with Obama. She was, as always, keenly observant of the scene around her, including the regular, ordinary people.

Little girl realizes she’s sitting near the governor.

The young “future voter” may be the focus of this picture, but look closely. All ages are represented in the crowd.

Politics? Fascinating – if you get the picture.

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>Mom! I only like CREAMY Peanut Butter!

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>Since La Petite wsn’t happy with the jar of crunchy peanut butter in the cupboard, I had to do something. You guessed it: cookies!!

Peanut Butter Cookies
from the Good Home Cookbook

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup shortening or butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs (or 1/2 cup egg substitute)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl and set aside.
3. Beat together the shortening, sugars, peanut butter, and vanilla extract. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir the flour mixture into the bowl and blend thoroughly.
4. Shape the dough into 2-inch balls and place them 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Press each with the tongs of a fork twice, in opposite directions, to make a criss-cross pattern.
5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until golden brown.
6. Let stand for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

These are delicious. In fact, I don’t have any pictures; the cookies are gone. We ate them for snacks, dessert, and breakfast.

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>It’s not funny. Or is it?

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>Funny can take on many different meanings. It’s all in the context, and in my life, there’s a great variety in context.

It was frustrating (not funny) that I couldn’t get online while visiting my brother. He uses a dial-up or a neighbor’s wi-fi, and I couldn’t get either one to work well enough to get anything done. Perhaps there is humor in the level of my Internet addiction. My solution was to visit a Starbucks and Panera down the road, knowing that odds were good I could get wifi in one or the other, or perhaps even both. La Petite and I bought smoothies at Starbucks, and I asked if I needed a password or log-on to get online. The barista told me that it was easier to simply log onto the Panera network, since it came through the walls to both stores. Ironic (but not funny); I couldn’t hijack on my own brother’s hijack, but I could hijack on Panera’s at Starbucks.

It was silly (not funny, just lame) that instead of using a map to get there, I jotted down the highway numbers on a sticky note. La Petite stuck it to the dashboard and called it our GPS.

It’s ironic (and certainly not funny) that my brother’s accident happened on his first day of real summer break. He’s done with his professional commitments and was taking a ride to relax a bit. Now he’s spending the next month or more recuperating from a broken leg and wrist instead of relaxing. Well, he says it himself, it could be worse. To which I add (you guessed it) — could be raining!

It’s amazing (not funny) that even at an outlet store, prices can shock me. Costs of living in the Midwest average significantly fewer $$$ than on the coasts and in the big cities. Daughter and I walked into the Coach factory store, loved the bags, but couldn’t afford them even with the markdown. We had better luck at Fossil, and of course, Converse.

It’s typical (not funny) that we found reason to be sarcastic even in road signs. “Bridge may be icy.” “Okay, I’ll be careful.” “Mom, watch for blowing snow, too.” Give us a break, we’d been on the road for hours and it seemed like days. Ah, road trips. They bring out the best and the worst in us. Sometimes, they bring out our sense of humor. While brother was coming home from his surgery and we were going the opposite direction on I-90, he called La Petite (in his post-anesthesia stupor) to see if we could wave to each other on the highway.
Now that’s funny.

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>Date night – kinda

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>I left a voice mail on Husband’s work phone. “Honey, how would you feel about going out to eat tonight? I have a coupon for Chicago pizza.” he called me back later, asked for directions, and met us (me and La Petite) there. He was waiting in the bar when we arrived.
It seems my phone call left at least one person, his co-worker, confused.
“She wants to go out to eat? Are you in the doghouse? Is she mad?”
“No, she sounded happy, in good spirits.”
“Are the kids driving her crazy? Is something wrong with the kids?”
“No, one is at camp, one is home from college and working a lot.”
“So…why going out? All of a sudden like this?”

It seems the coworker caught on to all the potential for innuendo, all the underlying reasons for a husband-wife dinner out, except one: I just didn’t want to cook. I had a lazy, tired, low energy day. Slept late, spent most of the day lazing on the couch with my laptop on and CNN in the background, and finally got out of the house to run errands just before 4:00. That left me with virtually no time to cook anything decent even if I did have the energy or inspiration to play in the kitchen! So I took my $5 coupon for Uno Chicago Grill and decided we were headed out to let someone else cook.
It was perfect. Appetizer, good meal (rosemary chicken: I highly recommend it), and husband had a beer or two that we don’t have in the fridge. He swiped the Trivial Pursuit box off the bar and we entertained ourselves and each other while we waited for the food. La Petite, now a young adult, joined us in dinner and the Pursuit of Trivial Knowledge.
After eating a meal I didn’t have to cook myself we split up. La Petite went in to work for a while, and Husband and I searched the nearby Goodwill store for a deal. Then we went home, satisfied and relaxed, and watched the Brewers game while a brownies baked themselves in the oven (Okay, I stirred the mix first) and Husband snored on the couch. I woke him with my cheering when Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer in the ninth. Oops!
No one was mad. No one was in trouble.
All was well with the world. We even brought home leftovers.

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>A grad’s future in this (*&^%$) economy

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>Does she have enough credits to graduate? She declared a minor rather late, so it might take her a summer session or an additional semester. Not a problem; my degree took 4+ years.
Will she need interview clothes? Somehow, attending an interview in Old Navy jeans and Converse All-Star sneakers doesn’t seem professional.
What constitutes interview attire these days in her field? In any field?
What kind of portfolio will she prepare? She’s a journalist and photographer.
Does she need a web page? Does she need to revise her Facebook page in case her employer sees it?
How long can she survive without her own set of wheels? I keep hoping she holds off as long as possible. Once she starts paying insurance and repairs and gas, well, it’s an awful lot of money.
Will she keep her summer job at least one more year? I hope so. Today’s economy is so weak, it’s not a good time to jump into a new career.
Has she started creating a resume? It takes a lot of tweaking to make one look just right.

I keep having random thoughts about her impending leap out of college and into real life. When Husband and I leapt out of our graduation robes and into our wedding clothes, the economy was a lot like today’s recession/depression. Jobs were hard to find, and starting a career was even harder. We defined a “good job” as “one with a paycheck.” La Petite has shown some entrepreneurial skills in the past, including one rockin’ lemonade stand en route to Lambeau Field when she was only 7. I saw a small store building near our neighborhood go up for sale and immediately thought “Photo studio?” It’s okay, I didn’t buy it.
Maybe I could start a coffeehouse in the storefront until she needs it…

cross posted at MidCentury Modern Moms

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