It's a weird colloquial thing that I hear way too often in this little corner of the world. But maybe it's not just here. But it happens here a lot.
Sort of like people who say they don't live in Pennsylvania, they live in Philadelphia.
If I cared more, I'd introduce the Venn Diagram to these people.
These people.
Them.
I love categorizing people with whom I don't want to be associated as "those people".
I wonder how many people categorize me as "one of them" or "one of those" because they don't like something I do or something I stand for or something from which I separate myself.
***
Seems like the good juju sent along regarding Jacob's childcare situation is working so one thousand thank yous for that. I think the organization that runs his afterschool/summer camp has found a new home base. Hopefully. Maybe. So they say.
They.
Those people who act like they know stuff but can't really give you any details when you ask.
I'm breathing easier these days. It's scary when you aren't sure where your kid is going to land once school lets out. Summer vacation, like daylight savings time, is one of those archaic throwback things invented because of farmers. And while there are several farms dotting the Pennsylvania countryside, Philadelphia doesn't exactly have a need for children to be at home and awake at 4.30am to help in the fields. I would love to have year-round schools here. But half the schools don't even have nurses anymore, so I'm guessing that a re-vamped post-agricultural era calendar isn't high on the docket at the school board meetings.
***
I've put a call in to the Guidance Counselor and a letter in to the Kindergarten Teacher regarding Jacob and his current state of distress resulting from the Cat Death. I think that's the one that drained the camel's waterlump when it comes to his feeling safe and secure and sound. He is afraid to be away from Dave and/or I because he thinks one of us is going to die while he is at school. I don't blame him. In the past year and not-even-one-half he has seen the loss of my grandmother, his grandfather, his great-grandfather, his grandparents' dog, a friend of Dave's, and now Tyler. That's hard for the grown ups in the family. I can't imagine what it's like for a child who is only three or so years into his Awareness of All Things Going on around Him.
I'm 35 and I'm a little worried that someone else is going to die.
Just saying.
Please don't die.
***
Davy Jones is dead, I'm sure you've heard. Yesterday afternoon, I was caught in a conversation with a group of people who knew who Davy Jones was, sort of...
Yes Davy Jones was in a band that sung silly songs. No he didn't sing the silly song about living underwater with an octopus or maybe in a submarine or something.
Yes Davy Jones recently married a younger woman. No she wasn't missing a leg.
Yes Davy Jones was British. No he wasn't knighted.
***
I had a really hard day at work the other day. Not work load hard, but emotionally hard.
Those are coming more often these days. Whatever the opposite of "fewer and further between" is, that's how they are coming.
There are some really shitty parents in this world who think they are doing the right thing.
Cover with foil. Bake for like an hour or so. Ish. At, gosh, I don't know. 375? 425? You know your oven better than I do. Uncover for ten minutes and continue baking. You can turn off your oven at this point if you like to cook green. Another green tip is to not preheat and just throw the pan in when you're ready. I wouldn't recommend that with baking sweets, but with casserole type things it's fine. Let it sit (set?) for fifteen minutes or so before cutting.
It's amazing, even for meat eaters.
Those are coming more often these days. Whatever the opposite of "fewer and further between" is, that's how they are coming.
There are some really shitty parents in this world who think they are doing the right thing.
***
I'm making vegetable lasagna for friends tomorrow night.
That sounds like a new gaming app.
I like to buy the fresh homemade ricotta cheese and sharp provolone from the cheese shop around the corner but store-bought is fine too. You can even go with the low fat stuff.
I use those oven-ready noodles.
And I prefer sauce from a jar. Trader Joe's Tomato Basil Marinara I think it's called.
I don't have any at the house, I need to get to TJ's somehow today. Ours is super convenient, at the edge of downtown and right on the trolley line.
Mix a whole bunch of ricotta cheese with a whole bunch of shredded mozzarella and add an egg, some black pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, italian seasoning, and a thawed/well-drained block of frozen spinach. Trust me on the nutmeg and cinnamon. Measurements? I don't know. Just put some in until you can smell it. I'm not good with measurements.
Put some sauce on the bottom of your lasagna pan. Then a layer of noodles. Then some shredded carrots. Then some of that cheese mix then some slices of provolone. Then some sliced zucchini and yellow squash in lieu of another layer of noodles. Carb smart! Then sauce. Carrots. Cheese mix. Provolone. Sauce. Noodles. Cheese mix. Sauce. Provolone. Keep going until you reach the top, it doesn't matter what order. Parmesan cheese on top.
Cover with foil. Bake for like an hour or so. Ish. At, gosh, I don't know. 375? 425? You know your oven better than I do. Uncover for ten minutes and continue baking. You can turn off your oven at this point if you like to cook green. Another green tip is to not preheat and just throw the pan in when you're ready. I wouldn't recommend that with baking sweets, but with casserole type things it's fine. Let it sit (set?) for fifteen minutes or so before cutting.
It's amazing, even for meat eaters.
16 comments:
It's probably ALL the Always Sunny I've been watching but the whole Philly vs. PA and Catholic vs. Christian thing sounds to me like you have a whole crew of Mac's in your area. See... I'm comparing everything in life to Always Sunny... I need help.
Jacob sounds like he's feeling a bit like I did when I lost my mother, best friends father and an ex boyfriend all in one year, three months apart it was a rough start to that year... Mike was amazing - I cried over an ex I really didn't have true feelings for, afterall Mike and I were together at that time for over 4 years, maybe 5? Anyway... I started to freak out, my life was amazing and kept worrying something would happen to Mike. I wanted to be with him 24/7. I guess it's a natural thing to feel that way, or maybe that part of my brain that deals with loss is still a bit childlike, not sure. I'm glad you made people aware of how he's feeling though, it will help him to have help and support all around.
I was sad to hear about Davy - but then today I find out that my all time favorite football player had been released from the steelers after 14 years. I'm more sad about them passing on Hines for another few years than I was about Davy's passing. Sorry Davy.
I don't like emotionally draining days at work, they weigh too heavy on my brain. I'd rather have labor intensive days.
Veggie lasagna - totally writing this down. I have been trying to do at least 1 veggie meal per week. So far, so good and I think this sounds amazing!
Wow that sounds good Lora! And I feel for Jake.... I really do.... poor guy. Death is a really unsettling thing for all ages.
That's funny, I am constantly assuring people that Catholics are Christians. In the south, that is a question sometimes.
I'm a Catholic and a Christian... Just not one of THOSE Christians
I'm also a Californian, but not the kind you see or read about
I had to look up Venn Diagram... shoulda know ;-O
I know stuff, but if I gave you any details... well, you know
We need those summer vacations for the teachers... so they can go work on the farm, or fish in Alaska
Just the fact that you're aware of Jacob's distress will help him get over it sooner ...really, I know this
Can't address the bit about Davy Jones; wasn't a fan because I was too sophisticated back then
Can't address parenting, either; only know we need to see more of it
Love me some veggie lasagna; may try yours
So glad your son's summer care is working out!! Keeping fingers crossed that no one else goes kaput on you in the near future, I unfortunately am at that age where, well, too many calls, Anyway, Davy Jones, I remember that guy being on the Brady Bunch one time and I think Marsha or Jan had a big crush, he was a Monkee, I think, "Hey,hey,were the monkees!" Now, that song i stuck in my head.
Oh, and the Catholic thingy, what the heck? How can you be Catholic and not Christian, are they serious? How did you keep a straight face? That is when you NEED a Catholic standing next to you (like me) when they are saying such shit, so the Catholic can say, "Hey, moron, I am a Catholic and last time I checked we were Christians because the entire faith is based on Christ, go chat with your local priest dumbass" See, sometimes I do come out of my introvert shy shell!
Growing up, I heard a lot of the same thing - "They aren't Christians, they're Catholics." In the minds of my parents and our anti-Catholic minister, the two were mutually exclusive. Christians good, Catholics evil.
We have some kids in year round school here. "We" is maybe the opposite of "those people" - meaning "I" don't have kids in year round school but our local school system offers that and some parents seem to really like it. I haven't polled the kids.
I remember once getting in trouble at recess and they didn't punish me because my cat died and I was Acting Out. No, not really - he was a barn cat and it seemed like we lost one of those a week. Not at all the same as your Tyler or my furfreaks now. I just wanted to play in the creek.
Trader Joe's Tomato Basil Marinara is amazing. I'd save you the trip and give you my jar but that's an even longer less convenient trip.
I need Philly like yesterday. Not Pennsylvania, just Philly. I want to make that, but more for you to make it for me. Death is not my friend this days. Oof. Must be a 6 thing. The kinders here are writing about cats for Dr. Seuss's birthday and she wrote about our dead cat that she still misses. :( Miss you!
Speakings of Apps, ovens, and Catholics, not to mention daylight savings time, whatever happened to the cute picture of Lora at the top of the blog, on the left, by "What a lovely way to burn"?
The picture has always been like a road direction marker that I have arrived, and now, you are not home.
Where did you go?
Also, you took a picture of you, in a car (presumed your car, but I could be wrong) and the picture was not like the Lora picture of arrival on Internet at Fever.
There were TWO Lora pictures on that post.
I think you were gabbing on skin, but wearing too many coats for me to tell if your skin was ok.
(your hair was very nice in it; nothing bald).
Anyway, if you lost the Lora picture with your face at a 45 degree angle to the sun, like a sundial telling me daylight savings time, I was wondering if you would NOW post the car Lora shot....use the second picture as your skin looked ok in that one, if you are skin worried as part of your stress regimin/regimen?
I am in Pennsylvania too and if you recall Three Mile Island, you know we can not produce electricity well in this state.
Mine went out 5 times this week...FIVE! This has a bad effect/affect?? on my oven clock, which goes into "Clapper mode" each time the juice comes back. It is dark in there and all of a sudden flashes of light fill the room, and then disappear. This happens over and over and over until I find the plug in the wall and yank my stove into the Dark Ages.
Daylight savings is coming. My cell phone seems to know the trick of self fixing of time. But my house is horrid at doing this same event, especially my oven clock, the Clapper. Is there an App for daylight savings clocks in the house, especially an oven one???
If you can not find the Lora picture I need to arrive at the right blog, will you ask a catholic, or even a christian to pray you find Lora in a picture in a car checking skin, so you can post that one???
Not all parents are shitty. Most are accidents of birth long ago, by parents who were shitty at birth control, but died since. THOSE were the shitty parents.
I would Venn Diagram your blog post as it would be a good wall paper in my daughter's room. Probably cover all four walls too. Do Catholics Venn Diagram in Latin? Or only in the missionary/missionery?? position? Is there an App for that?
Don't forget...I need to see the lovely way to burn Lora pic again soon. Otherwise, it will fade in my mind, like Jack in the Titanic, sinking to the ocean floor as Rose unleashed his death grip from her frozen fingers.
Dammit. My clock just started blinking in the stove again. Bye. Say a prayer. Ask a catholic if you don't know clock prayers. I am gonna commit a mortal sin in a venial way with that damn clock!
Keystone- Picture is back up! I noticed it the other day at work, but I thought it was just our filters blocking the image for some reason. Anything for a fellow Erieite!
Geez...you're 35? You could be my daughter (oh, wouldn't that be fun!). Please jump all over me if I EVER sound like I'm giving motherly advice!
Never been to Philly, or PA, for that fact, but seem to be getting closer to it. Came from CA to MO and now to Chicago this summer!
I'm a Dutch Reformed and a Christian! I married a Catholic and had to swear to the church that if they allowed me to marry inside their walls, I would raise my children as Catholics. I did, and they turned out okay.
You can never be too big of an advocate for your child. Stay on top of stuff, especially when there are changes. Oh, crap, there I go, behaving like a mother!
I love hearing you talk about Jake, and I know that you are doing everything possible to make sure he has a good life.
I work at a school, and I can see such a big difference in parenting from my parents, to me, to now. Sometimes I just want to throw hot oil on them when I see how ridiculous they are with their choices. But...I bite my tongue, like you, and do my job while secretly eating M&Ms to calm my nerves!
I'm not on the same page with a lot of your views, Lora, but I love you and get really excited when you write about what's going on with your life.
I would love to see the car picture of you!
Lora-- THANK YOU!
That is a good picture of you, and your skin looks ok in it too. The dimple on your index finger could get you on the Bachelor, since Lindzi C. has a dimple like that, and it worked for her. [This is only a Plan B if Dave misbehaves, or forgets your birthday].
Now, I feel like I have arrived at your place when i open the blog page.
I was worried I would have to give you up for Lent, but now you are home again. I like that shot better than the car shot too. Life is good.
The same can not be said for my former stove clock.
I am surprised how much it resembled Jack sinking in the Atlantic, as my clock sank into Lake Erie.
There will be no menopause for that sucker ever!
Unusual winter Lora. I saw snow only 3 times all winter, instead of the usual 18 feet or so. I never once cleared the driveway.
Global warming has been good to Erie.
Please forgive my mistake above. I called Pennsylvania a State and we are not. We are a Commonwealth. like Kentucky and Virginia and maybe Puerto Rico.
We have a lot of common, and very little wealth around here.
Thanks for finding you.
Now I can too.
Happy Lent.
Don't Give up The Ship/Shit! as we say in these parts.
For the record, you face shines nice 450 miles away.
Better than my damn clock ever did!
Keep it up. Makes me feel at home again.
Keystone
Once upon a time, there was the Born Christian movement. It started somewhere in the 60s as I recall. Before that there protestants and catholics, but they were all christians. I didn't know that the born again christians felt that catholics were not christians until a friend of mine confided in me that she was worried because when the rapture came, her mother, a Catholic was not going to heaven.
I was floored. What?
Catholics are Christians, I asked her? "WE" (I am a recovering Catholic) say that we believe in Jesus Christ the only begotten Son, etc. etc. SO that makes Catholics Christians.
I never did understand the logic of church people...Catholics, Protestants, Born agains, Arabs, Jews...you name it, I don't get religion. I mean I get it, but I don't accept it.
It is not uncommon for people to think that Catholics are not Christians on both sides of the fence. TOO funny!
On another note, I watched Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and I don't get what it has to do with Philadelphia. It does not seem to be a very authentic portrayal of the South Philadelphia I grew up in.
My son and I made be the only ones around think the show is not very funny!
Death...for anyone is difficult espeically a little boy as sweet and sensitive as Jake.
Poor Jake. Extra love coming your way.
When I first started dating my husband I had to convince him that I, at the time Catholic, was a Christian. And what the word "Christian" actually meant.
And how Catholics and the Orthodox were the first pillars of the Christian faith and on and on and on. And the reason the Pope was so 'fancy' was because the Catholic faith was centuries and centuries old and if you looked at the leader of his denomination he probably wasn't living in a dump- probably a mansion. And yes the Catholic Church has had it's share of controversy but HELLO! Jim Baker... I hate having to explain religion to 'religious' people.
Just a funny: I was once asked by a Christian "When the end of days come did I want Jesus to find me in a bar??" it was such a weird question. My only response was "Well considering that Jesus would probably pull up the stool next to me and talk to me WITHOUT judgement, I'd say it would be fine."
And the lasagna sounds amazing.
I want you to write a cookbook. I love the way you tell recipes.
Catholics don't like to be referred to as Christians in Ohio either. I don't get it. All of the hub-bub out there about separation of church and state but people fight for separation of church and church so really, it's all just jibberish.
Real Housewives of St. Mary's vs. Real Housewives of First Baptist. That's how I see it anyway.
I'm sorry Jake is having difficulty with all of the death, but he's a smart kid. He'll find some cool way to rationalize it all.
The lasagna sounds amazing. Would have never thought to use nutmeg and cinnamon. I'm going to try it.
Sorry work has been tough(er). Maybe you'll land an acting gig that pays tha billz. Maybe even call it a career someday. Then you'll only have to put on your Superhero cape to deal with cruel world stuff in between films, shopping, charity events, photo shoots, and spa days.
It could happen.
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