UYW June 2020: It's NOT Mac N" Cheese

Hey-O friends!

Today's post is a writing challenge created by Karen@Baking In A Tornado. 10 participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words for someone else to use in a post. All words must be used at least once. All posts will be different as each writer has received their own original set of words. No blogger knows who received their words or in what direction the writer will take them. Until, today.  

My words are: control, grass, medical, rebate, furious

They were submitted by Karen@ Baking In A Tornado Thank you, my friend!

*** 

I've never been the kind of person who likes to shop just for the sake of "shopping." All of the people, all of the choices...it makes my anxiety go through the roof just thinking about it.

The introvert in me appreciates the conveniences and solitude of online shopping. This has never been more true than in these past few months with the Covid Pandemic. Some online stores deliver within a few days, some even take coupons and rebates. Others can come to your car and drop off stuff in your trunk! It's borderline magical. We've been able to buy our groceries, clothing, medical supplies, and many other things without crowds or time limits.  Hey, online in April, we even bought a new bed!Who knew shopping could be that easy?

My favorite thing about online shopping though, has been the ability to keep my Grams (age 90), who lives back in Michigan, well fed, adorably dressed, and hopefully needing for nothing more than company. She'll always call and update me with the food that she made from her Amazon pantry boxes, or about the conversations she has with the delivery people that are kind enough to put her boxes safely on an indoor porch. 

***

I was returning to my house from a doctor's appointment when I saw that I had 2 voicemails. One was from my brother, Charley (who also lives in Michigan) and the other was from Grams. 

Charley: "Hey Shell, Grams called me because she got some large boxes and can't bring them in the house. She's worried because the delivery people left them outside on the grass. It's raining here and she needs my help. Just wanted you to know that's what's up."

I text Charley: "No worries. I was trying to surprise her with that Mac N' Cheese she loves. I bought a 24 pack. It's probably awkward to lift. Thx so much for taking care of it. Wear your mask!"

Then I listen to my Gram's voicemail:
Grams: "Shelly, some boxes came and they're really big. It's starting to rain. Charley is going to try to help me...Did you buy me a new piano or something?...Call me, this is Grams." (She always tells me who she is at the end of her messages.)

That's weird, I thought. I was starting to call Grams back when a text came in from Charley.
Charley: "Um, it's NOT Mac N' Cheese."

When I saw the photo, my heart fell into my stomach. I knew exactly what was in those boxes. I could NOT believe it.

I must have accidentally sent my Grams the new bed I ordered for our home!

To Michigan, Not Utah. 

You know, in all these years, I could have mistakenly sent her a yoga mat or some pop-tarts, but no. It had to be three boxes of an assemble-yourself bed! 

It was completely my fault. I had sent Grandma something from this same online retailer before. When I ordered the bed for me, I must have seen her address and never thought twice about it. Grams had no control over what to do with the bed, so my brother brought it to his house until we could straighten everything out. I was beyond furious with myself. I told my husband that we'd just keep the same bed we've had for 20 years and I'd give this new one to Charley or Grams. But, truthfully, it was never going to fit in Gram's cute house and it definitely wasn't a style my brother would embrace. It's a green four poster. Yep, green.

So we returned it back to the retailer. When they credited our account, my husband said to order another one if I really loved it and he'd stand OVER me while I bought it, but they didn't have another green bed. I tried again a few days later and guess what? They did have one! (pretty certain it was the one I returned). After three weeks of back and forth, with me holding my head as low as it could go, that bed finally arrived at my house.

"You sure you want to go with green?" asked the man, while unpacking the boxes.
"Are you kidding me?THIS is the last green bed we are ever buying! Ever!" I say.

Or, you know, until one of the kids needs a bed.


BTW, my Grams laughed at the whole thing and asked when her Mac'N Cheese would arrive. 
"Sooner than my bed, Grams."

Have a restful weekend, friends!

Love, Michele

Check out the posts from this month's participating bloggers!

             Baking In A Tornado

             Spatulas on Parade

             Wandering Web Designer

             On the Border

             Sparkly Poetic Weirdo/        

             Climaxed    

             Part-Time Working Hockey Mom   

Use Your Words: Small Celebrations

Hey-O friends!

Today’s post is a writing challenge created by Karen @ Baking in A Tornado.  8 participating bloggers picked 4 – 6 words for someone else to use in a post. All words must be used at least once. All posts will be different as each writer has received their own original set of words. No blogger knows who received their words or in what direction the writer will take them. Until today.  

My words are:

music ~ magic ~ dispel ~ dime ~ day-to-day basis ~ punish

They were submitted by the extremely creative Jenniy@ https://climaxedtheblog.blogspot.com  

***             

This little man is graduating with his engineering degree in a few weeks. 

Now, as if by magic, he IS a man. I never can get over how quickly time passes. He's been working so hard in college, and now he's going to be on to his next endeavor.

We'd have to dispel the rumor that COVID-19 is ruining any graduating ceremony or party for him. It doesn't feel like a punishment to call off rounding up family, sending out invites, and expecting gifts from people he never sees.  We've always been a family without grandiose plans. For his high school graduation, Christian wanted to go to...a buffet. No joke. And he was as happy as a clam. I get that it is going to be truly difficult for many graduates this season; I'm so sorry for that.

I decided to plan out a truly grandiose party invite, and then change it up ala our "Stay At Home" orders that are in effect for the next little while.

Congratulations, Christian. Can't wait to celebrate with McDonald's or something. 

Happy Friday, friends. Please stay safe.
-Michele

Be sure to check out the other cool kids participating in this month's challenge:

                   Baking in a Tornado

                   Spatulas on Parade

                   Wandering Web Designer

                   On the Border

                   Part-Time Working Hockey Mom

                   Sparkly Poetic Weirdo    

                   Climaxed 

Fly On The Wall May 2019: Young at Heart

Welcome to the May Fly on the Wall Group Challenge. This month, 5  bloggers and I are describing what it would be like if you were to take a peek inside our homes...

Have a "look" around mine, and then go visit the other blogger's pages. There's always something fun, sentimental, or better yet, embarrassing going on. It's like your house, only we're admitting to the craziness. You have our permission. Buzz on over!

The cast:
Mark: the man
Me
Alex: Oldest daughter
J.: The teenager
Christian: son (21)
3 grandkids :)

Young at Heart:

***

I'm not sure if it's because the man and I are now grandparents, or if we've always been this way, but I've decided the adults in our family often act like kids; in the best way.
Here are a few examples from the blur that has been Spring:

After Easter, I found a 12-pack of Bunny Ears that I forgot to use. Mark and I, our three kids and 3 grandkids put them on (because, BUNNY EARS!) After 5 minutes, the little ones and the teenager (not cool, man!) took theirs off. The adults, however, kept them on for the remainder of the night. One of us almost wore hers to bed.

Only serious adults wear Bunny Ears.

***

For a million reasons, I haven't been back to my hometown in years. A lot has been going on back there, so Mark and I decided to fly out to Michigan for a short 48 hours. For health reasons, I haven't enjoyed making that long flight. Mark surprised me and upgraded our tickets to first class. WooHoo! Although I'd like to think it was for me...

Priorities

Mark: "Isn't this nice? Watch closely as I put this tea away and enjoy 17 Bloody Marys". 

For me, having a restroom so close and being able to move around made the flight much more pleasant. I'm sure that the other "regular first-classers" weren't thrilled to watch Mark and I trade up our pretzels and almonds like they were marbles or golden treasures. 
Me: (later, out loud) "A warm washcloth and Ben and Jerry's for dessert? Where has first-class been all my life?"

***

Even though our time at home was short, I was able to accomplish most of what I came for. Including stopping at my childhood mall to see if the large bronze hippopotamus still existed. And it did. It's the little things, people.

Priorities 

***

Me: (Yelling downstairs) "Hey Mark? Can you help me move this desk?

Mark: "Yes, in about an hour. I have some things to finish up with work."

The teenager: (5 seconds later)"Hey Dad? How does this video game work again?"

(all I hear is running)

Priorities

***

Our foster granddaughter's birthday party fell on Mother's Day. I asked my daughter if she was okay celebrating it at our house on that day. She was thrilled. Plus, I promised the granddaughter a dinosaur cake. I wasn't able to find a "dinosaur bones" mold, even though I swore they existed. Five craft stores and one disappointed grandma later,  Christian used some fondant and created the bones. He's the real MVP. I'll always be amazed at the incredible abilities of my children.

I put crushed cookies and graham crackers on top so the kids could go looking for bones. Mark and I figured the granddaughter would love it since he and I had so much fun trying it out first.

They seemed to like the cake!

She found the bones and the boys ate them.

***

See that small table in the bottom right corner of the next pic? That was for the grandkids. Notice that they aren't at any table during the birthday craft time. Instead, the rest of us (minus the teenager) were engrossed in coloring wood dinosaurs.

***

The culmination of the day was to be a "paleontologist" and carefully break open an egg (made of plaster) to find a toy dinosaur inside. It was 10 times harder than any of us thought. We eventually opened all of the eggs, but it was a ton of work. Alex's face says it all.

"Thanks, mom, for this super fun idea."

***

Mark made a run to the store and asked if I needed anything. I told him I'd love a candy bar. I know I shouldn't eat them, but I'm weak, man!

Mark: "What kind do you want?"

Me: "I don't care. Just something chocolate."

After shaking his head at my indecision, he left for the store and returned with a big smile. He poured out a bag of various chocolates as if whatever he brought home would be wrong.

Trying not to take offense, I look at the pile. 

With the most serious face, I ask, "Where are the Almond Joys??"

Again people, priorities. 

Are you young at heart? Let me know in the comments.
Have a sweet weekend, friends. 
-Michele

Buzz on over and visit other participants of this month's Fly :)

                  Baking in a Tornado

                  Never Ever Give Up Hope

                  Menopausal Mother

                  Spatulas on Parade

                  Bookworm in the Kitchen

Fly on the Wall April 2019: Shall We Play A Game?

Welcome to the April Fly on the Wall Group Challenge. This month, 5  bloggers and I are describing what it would be like if you were to take a peek inside our homes...

Have a "look" around mine, and then go visit the other blogger's pages. There's always something fun, sentimental, or better yet, embarrassing going on. It's like your house, only we're admitting to the craziness. You have our permission. Buzz on over!

Cast Members this month:
Me (the blogger)
Mark (The Man)
J. (age 14)

S. (grandson, age 4)
Have a wonderful Friday, friends!
-Michele

1st and Goal  Done?

J. begged The Man to take him to see our city's 1st (semi)professional football team. The Salt Lake City Stallions were playing on the University of Utah's football field. The league was called the AAF (Alliance of American Football) The man gave in, the Stallions won and both dad and son had a great time. As the game progressed, I received pictures from the guys. My only comment was, "When is the game going to begin?"

Hardly anyone was there. It was clearer to see why J. was trying to hustle the man to a game. The league, without followers, was bleeding money. J. bought a hat, came home, and raved about the team. Three days later, with the opposite vigor, J. announced that the league did, in fact, go under. Players visiting other cities had to pay for their own ways home. Very sad for all involved. I'm glad, however, that the man and J. had a chance to make a special memory together.

What Bracket are you in?
J. was the last child of ours to get braces. (Photo not here because the 14-year-old isn't ready to show his latest look.) Anyway, after getting the braces on, we take him to a restaurant to celebrate. It took all of 30 minutes for him to break a bracket. He wasn't even eating anything thick or sticky. I call and make the appointment for the next day to get him back to the orthodontist. As I'm giving him the spiel on how braces aren't cheap and how we have to be more careful, I pop the wire on the back of my own teeth. In the end, he's all bracketed up perfectly and I'm here feeling the glue stuck to the back of my upper teeth. The ortho is going to think we chew on tin cans, rocks, and aluminum foil.

Here is a cute pic of J. 13 years before the braces.

Sugary Slam Dunk

Since he's in preschool, our grandson, S. doesn't always have the same school schedule as his big brother. So sometimes, he gets to hang out with the coolest kids in town, his grandparents. The man and S. have made it a tradition to stop for donuts before we head  home. I always go with them because, and I'm serious, watching those two walk hand-in-hand makes my heart swell. Know this though. S. loves to go with Grandpa to Dunkin Donuts, but his real love is right in those boxes. Just look at his face. That's grandma's boy.

Finally, a Word game.

I've started writing again (obvi). I find myself  searching for "appropriate" words that describe various situations. Often, the word just doesn't convey what I want to write/say.  I've decided that this crazy English language of ours could use some new words. Let me show you what I mean by using the ridiculous word,  FLARATHOSOUS. (pronounce it however you like, it's not real).

*You go to apply deodorant and as you do, the last of the stick falls out and onto the ground. This is usually the day after you've gone shopping and have picked up everything you've ever needed, except for deodorant. What's the name for the scraping feeling you get while rubbing the empty container on your soft, underarm skin? It's more than scraping or scratching. It's heavier than disappointment but lighter than disgust. I need to know. Share, people. (noun/verb?)

"Dang it, Debbie. Do you have an antiperspirant with you? I FLARATHOSOUS-ed mine this morning!"

*By the way, maybe it's the same word that describes applying chapstick and your lips hit that middle pole-thingy that keeps the balm from, I don't know...smooshing? (noun?)

"Man, is my lip bleeding? I put my chapstick on and hit the FLARATHOSOUS!"

*You absolutely need to talk with someone about something important. They call you and you run around like a maniac trying to locate your phone before the last ring. You miss the call. There HAS to be a word for that. Right? (verb?)

"SueAnn, that's my boss! Help! I've been FLARATHOSOUS-ing him every day this week!"

* You receive a set of ballpoint pens in a box big enough to put a teenager in. Thanks, Amazon. (noun)

"I'll show them a FLARATHOSOUS! Where's that refrigerator box? I have a spool of thread I need to return."

Hey, it was a slow month.
Happy Friday, Friends.
-Michele

Buzz on over to these homes:

                  Baking in a Tornado

             Never Ever Give Up Hope

                    Spatulas on Parade

               The Crazy Mama Llama

             Bookworm in the Kitchen    

Fly on the wall: March 2019

Welcome to the March Fly on the Wall Group Challenge. This month, 7  bloggers and I are describing what it would be like if you were to take a peek inside our homes...

Have a "look" around mine, and then go visit the other blogger's pages. There's always something fun, sentimental, or better yet, embarrassing going on. It's like your house, only we're admitting to the craziness. You have our permission. Buzz on over!

Dream Big, Kid

J., (our 14-year old)  told me that local bank was sponsoring a "Career Day" at his school. In the a.m.,  each child would be given a portfolio based on their current grades and behavior. With certain requirements of a job and bills, the point was to see how to balance finances. (Awesome skill, right?) He'd seen other students go through the program before, earning hi-rise jobs and buying fancy cars. With his 4.00GPA, he thought he'd be in the big league. 

J. :(Looking Glum after school) "I should have stayed home."

Me: "Wasn't the career fair today? Weren't you going to have an "unreal" time?"

J: "It was UNREAL all right. They made me a teacher! A college teacher, but still."

Me: "You're the second person today to make fun of MY career choice, J."

J.: "It's not just that, mom. I have great grades and they made me have a wife who doesn't have a job!"

The Man: (Watching me jump from my chair) "Maybe she's living off of an incredible inheritance. Maybe she put in her work years early, or maybe she's raising the kids."

J.: "That's the other thing. I have two kids! Other students get to drive fancy cars to their jobs. I have to drive a sedan. What's a sedan?". (The same kind of car your parents drove for years with three kids!)

The man and I are laughing now.

J.: "I had to choose the middle-level grocery plan and health insurance. I didn't even say I wanted kids and I didn't know you HAD to have a health plan."

The man to me after J. left. : "Wow, he learned finance, sex-ed, and disappointment in one day. Public schools are teaching the important stuff."

I'm old.

Alexandra (my eldest), has always had her own bank account and credit/debit card but realized she recently needed to order some checks. You know, the paper things we used to pay bills with. A few texts of hers from our conversation made me laugh:

A.: "I just got my first box of checks! I've never felt more adult in my life. I keep looking at them and I'm just like, 'This is it. This is the peak of adulthood greatness.'"

A: " I mean, I can pay for school pictures and lunches without envelopes full of pocket change!"

A.: "Let me get this straight. You paid credit card bills with checks?".

A.: "What happened if you lost a check?"

Me: What if I lost a check? This comes from the girl who auto-pays for everything and takes pictures to deposit their checks? Trust that you have more faith in the system than me. Now, show me how to online deposit like that."

Matte is the new black.

I thought it would be a fabulous idea to paint every one of my interior house doors black. It would be a big project so I could break it up into pieces. No big deal. I buy this creamy automotive paint because I know someone who tried it on their doors and loved it. Good enough for me. One weekend I paint 7 of the thirteen doors. I hoped I could do more, but the paint and my energy ran out. 2 weeks later I start on the rest of my doors with the second can of paint I just bought. Not only did I paint the remaining doors, I decided to do touch-ups on every other door. I was a bit upset because the newly painted doors weren't drying the same way the others had. It took my big brain another hour to realize that the paint was shiny, not wet. I had painted the second set of doors (as well as touched up the others) in a gloss, not a matte like the first can. Now I have 13 black doors. Some are shiny and the rest look like someone wiped chicken grease all over them with their greasy-arsed hands. Help me.

Grandbabies!

When little A. (age 5) was introduced to us, he was a non-verbal child. In the past year, his words have added up, but in the most meaningful ways. I love that he uses his words as he needs them. Nothing extra, just important enough to get his point across.  I was making marshmallow men with the boys and S. (age 4) was getting frustrated because his candy eyes wouldn't stick. A. took his marshmallow, got really close to S. and said, "grab it like dis," (he pinched out a piece of Marshmallow) "and push em in like diiiiiiis." (he gritted his teeth and pushed the candy really hard into the Marshmallow man's face) 

S. looked at his brother like he was freaking Mr. Wizard and the making of the Marshmallow Men commenced and were eaten.

Learning the letter M with Marshmallows.

Perfect.

Finally, Karma.

Remember the adorable story I told last week regarding the man and his queasiness for needles? Well, to make up for that, here's a pic from Monday. I was having a procedure done and the (very kind) nurse couldn't find a vein in my arm(s) for sedation. She tried my hand a few times before saying out loud, "Your skin is really tough." I tell you she said that exact sentence because it was the last thing I remember her saying before I passed out. Instead of the man laughing, he joined the nurse in waking my green self up.

I once said I'd never talk about my health. So much for that, eh? Honestly, I think at this age, I just need to see more people in backless gowns.  Let's face it. I owed this ridiculous photo to the man.

Happy Friday, friends!

-Michele

Please check out this month's participants:

             Baking in a Tornado

             Never Ever Give Up Hope

             Menopausal Mother

             Spatulas on Parade

             The Crazy Mama Llama 

             Go Mama O.