I can build that!

I’m sure many wives know that uneasy feeling when their husband announces

     “I can build that…actually, I could build one that is even better!”  That is the situation that I found myself in on Saturday while examining a garden shelf at IKEA.

Me: When will you build it?

Husband: Tomorrow.

Me: Tomorrow, really?

Husband: Yes…well that’s if I can get all the supplies I need to build it…

Me: So probably not tomorrow?

Husband: I don’t know we’ll have to see.

Me: Sigh

I’m sorry I ever doubted him because my husband built a lovely and sturdy garden herb shelf all in one day.  Impressive still, is that nothing is attached to the actual fence because the fence isn’t ours so we can’t drill holes into it.  Instead he placed supports behind the fence and used those to hold the main beam and brackets into place.  I also have a few other places in the yard where my herbs can bloom.  

I'm aware that the Basil looks pathetic but I think it can make a comeback.

For cooking purposes I’m growing

Oregano

Basil

Parsley

Cilantro

Chives

Rosemary

I’m growing other herbs with the hopes of drying them and using them for tea.  Those herbs will be

Mint

Lavender

Lemon Balm

Chamomile (I've found that a cup of chamomile tea is helpful when my intestine is unhappy)

Last year we had so much rain we didn’t end up with much of anything (also the herbs were previously located on our wasp infested balcony so once I started seeing the wasps I abandoned the herbs completely for fear of a vicious attack) so I’m hopeful that this year will yield just what I need and maybe a little bit to share.

*Note to husbands – A very good way to get your wife to enjoy a trip to Home Depot is to take her out to the home made ice cream place across the street when you are done.  At least it worked for me.

Writing Excuses Love?

I have a love- hate relationship with the podcast Writing Excuses.  I love that their topics and discussions are always interesting and often I find myself adding books recommended by the hosts/authors to my books to read list.  I hate that they give, what seems to me anyway, an overwhelming list of “to don’ts” with regards to writing.  It feels so vast that by the end of an episode I’m ready to tie a white flag to the end of my pen and wave it in the surrender of all hope that I will ever be an even mediocre writer.  Their latest episode giving writing “advice” left me smiling and I listened to it a second time just to partake in one more good laugh.  I thought I would share some of their brilliant pieces of “advice”.

-          Spend at least 40 years world building before you start your novel.

-          During those 40 years be sure to spend a lot of time watching TV shows and YouTube videos (for research of course)

-          Grow a beard because that seems to make you a better writer (Bearded women have proved to be excellent short story writers).

-          Do something different-write a novel that uses no pronouns or plurals.

-          Do something that stands out-make up your own alphabet and then use it to write your entire novel.

-          Re-write your first page at least 50 times.

-          When re-writing your first page, be sure to swap out all of your ordinary words with fancy words from your Thesaurus. 

And my personal favorite

-          Be sure to take time to vacuum your cat or else all that hair could clog up your keyboard.

Sadly this is not a picture of my cat.  My cat is extremely afraid of "Mr. Dyson."

If you are a writer or even an avid reader the podcast is worth checking out (It mainly deals with the Sci-Fi and Fantasy genres).  If you are a writer just keep in mind that no good writer ever thinks their own writing is good, or at least that is what I tell myself when I listen to the podcast to make myself feel better.

A Case of the Envies

Every so often when I’m out and about for work I like to treat myself to a really nice lunch. This week there was such a day and I indulged in some fare from The British Fish and Chips eatery in Haddonfield. 

While I was there a mother about my age came in with her three little boys.  The oldest looked to be about nine, then there was Charlie who was about two and a baby boy who was old enough to sit up on his own but not old enough to walk or crawl.  The later two boys had heads full of fluffy blonde curls (the nine year old had very short hair and I imagined he was blessed with the same curly mop, but being nine he felt himself too old and mature for curls).  As I watched this mother get everyone situated at a table I felt a pang of envy rise up into my chest.

How nice is must be to have three such wonderful little boys. Sigh. I wonder if I will EVER have a little boy of my own to take to lunch. 

I continued to steal wistful glances at them in between reading paragraphs from the book I had and taking bites of my creamy cheesy Welsh Rarebit. 

About twenty minutes into the excursion that I’m sure the mother thought would be quite interesting and fun for the boys, the young little gentlemen became restless.  Charlie no longer wanted any parts of sitting still in a seat and decided to use his stroller as a jungle gym.  The baby thought it great fun to test out his vocal capacity and the oldest became sullen and annoyed with the antics of his younger siblings.  The exasperated mother rushed through eating and finally decided that it was best to pack everyone up and leave.  A few times I saw her throw a wistful glance in my direction and I could only imagine she was thinking…

How nice it must be to sit at a table all by yourself with no distraction or interruptions savoring lunch and enjoying a book.

I chuckled to myself and decided to change my attitude. I was determined to be completely and absolutely grateful right in the moment that I was in, because yes it was nice to be enjoying a quiet yummy lunch while reading an interesting book.  And who knows someday I may be the one trying to wrestle a wiggly uncooperative toddler into his stroller reminiscing about the days when I enjoyed quiet peaceful lunches. Likewise that mother may be having a peaceful lunch by herself reminiscing about the days when she had three lovely little boys who wanted nothing more than all of her love and attention.

In which I propose that there be a Max Brenner's at the Hospital

Yummy hot chocolate from Max Brenner's that I really wouldn't be able to enjoy post surgery but it's nice to have a dream.

I finally got my call today regarding when my surgery will be.  As someone who thrives on schedules and plans I was anxiously (though patiently) waiting for this call.  The surgery will take place on June 14^th (very happy I won’t miss the church picnic).  I’m excited because it will be at the fancy new Virtua Hospital in Voorhees and since there is a possibility that I may have to stay for a few days post surgery it would be nice to have a natural light filled private room (or so the website promises)

Fancy Hospital Room

I pass by the behemoth of a building at least once a week and I’ve been curious as to what the insides looked like; it’s kind of like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory but not quite as fun or cool because after all it is a hospital. Maybe they should send you home with a bag of candy or even better maybe they should put a Max Brenner’s in the hospital. That would make the experience even better! Hopefully my curiosity will sustain and offer a smidgen of distraction from the reality of having to have people jab around at my innards and take out the rotten bits and pieces.

Big Fancy Hospital

    

Chocolate Factory.  Okay maybe they aren't really alike

I’ve had to juggle (jugglers at the hospital would be fun too, but not clowns. NEVER clowns) scheduling various appointments.  I need an ultrasound one week prior to the surgery, a dexascan a week before the ultrasound because I may not be able to lie that still after the surgery and the dexascan needs to be completed before my next rheumatology appointment which is two weeks after my surgery.  I already scheduled my post ultrasound/ pre-let’s talk about the surgery appointment with the surgeon.  I’ll also have to schedule all the pre-surgery paper work and have labs done at the hospital.  Whew, that’s a lot but so far it is going smoothly.  I like having things that I have to do while I’m waiting because I can focus more on my to- do list and I ruminate less on the scary taking a nap while people poke holes in my belly button part. 

Juggling Dr. Mario- Yes
Clown Doctor-NO