Getting There is Half the Fun

Somehow, Google Map's estimate of 9 hours ending up taking 12 or 13, but we did see some interesting sights and had some fun along the way.

First a tip… When traveling by car with a child or children, you must have plenty of snacks and activities. I packed crackers, rice cakes, oatmeal cookies, grapes, peanuts and water, all in large quantities. Her activities were a set of ten twistable crayons, a pencil, an activity book, a pad of plain paper, three Candy Pop Girls dolls with their pets, a small stuffed bunny and a unicorn and books on CD.

It all went smoothly until just before the George Washington Bridge connecting New York City with New Jersey. It didn’t help that we were there during rush hour, but it took us about an hour and a half to go three miles. The questions reached a fever pitch…”How much longer?” “When will we be there?” “How many miles have we gone since I asked last time?” We were so close (we were spending the night in New Jersey), but yet, so far.

Finally, after leaving Vermont about midday Thursday and driving through Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York, we arrived at our resting spot in Summit, New Jersey about 7:30 pm. Pipsqueak got some good cous’ buzz playing with her cousins, and I got to check out how my sister-in-law is doing with her breast cancer battle. While her breasts are looking amazingly good three weeks post-op with the tissue expanders in for her reconstruction, her face tells the tale, as she seems to have lost a little brightness and twinkle she once had. With five weeks of radiation to come, I don’t think I’d look very bright and twinkly either.

About midday Friday, we were southbound again. We left New Jersey and drove into Pennsylvania. A friend of ours recommended Pat's King of Steaks in Philadelphia at the corner of Wharton and 9th to get a Philly cheese steak, so we got off the highway for a little side trip. While in line, we were told by a local that it was the best cheese steak in all of Philly, and he wouldn’t even look at the flashier spot across the road.

He also instructed us in the art of ordering. If you’re familiar with Seinfeld’s soup Nazi, these are the cheese steak Nazis. If you don’t order the right way, you’ll be ignored and they’ll call “Next!” We got our order accepted with my, “Two Americans, One Wit.” I have to admit, I was a little frightened at the prospect of being rejected. They lived up to their reputation, and we were plenty satisfied even though we shared with Pipsqueak.

Back on the highway, we left Pennsylvania, drove through Delaware, Maryland, and around Washington DC on the beltway where we’re were again delayed by commuter traffic and into Virginia where we’re staying with Sweetie’s cousin. Tomorrow, the D.C. adventures begin.

My Wandering Mind

With a martini in hand (very dry, very dirty, shaken) and my mind racing, I'm not sure how coherent I'll be. This could be a lesson in the reasons why you shouldn't drink and blog.

Vacation

We're leaving Thursday for a week in Washington, D.C. I haven't been there since 1978, and I'm looking forward to sharing all my favorites with Pipsqueak and discovering some new things. Why does going away have to be so stressful? I wish it was as simple as marking out the time on the calendar and throwing a few things in a bag. Instead, there's all this planning and preparing: how will we get there, where will we stay, what will we do, who will watch the dog and the fish, are the bills paid, how warm/cold will it be there... don't forget to hold the mail, take the garbage out, pay any bills that are do.

And I hate packing! It's not the act of putting clothes in the bag; it's deciding what to bring. I don't want to need something I don't have, but I don't want a lot of stuff I don't need either.

Portuguese Water Dogs

Pirates are threatening retaliation, the economy is still in the gutter, unemployment is skyrocketing and we're still fighting a war. But what is making headlines today? The president's dog, and whether or not it is a rescue! Come on. Who really cares. It sounds like going to the pound and getting the one that tugged most at their heartstrings was not an option because of their daughter's allergies. Give them a break, people, and let's concentrate on what's really important.

Taxes

Tomorrow there will be a giant sucking sound as the IRS removes money from our account. I hope they make good use of my money. I was thinking a new kitchen floor and/or lighting. Perhaps I should invite the IRS over to have a look at my ugly yellow linoleum that's starting to crack, take pity on me and return my money. Fat chance!

I'm going to try to blog about my trip while I'm away providing that I can tap into a wireless internet connection. Since I travel with my own private IT guy, who is also the guy I sleep with, chances are good.

Perfect Little Cupcakes

I saw Giada De Laurentiis making these cupcakes on the Today Show last week. There were a couple of little girls helping her, and I thought, "Ooo, how fun for Pipsqueak and me." It was one project that did live up to the expectation. The cupcakes are delicious and simple and, we did have fun making them.

Mascarpone Mini-Cupcakes with Strawberry Glaze

• 8 ounces mascarpone cheese, softened
• 2 egg whites
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 box Duncan Hines white cake mix
• 1/3 cup frozen strawberries, thawed and drained
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 4 mini muffins tine (a total of 48 muffins) with paper liners.

In a large bowl combine cheese, egg whites and vegetable oil. Using a mixer, beat the ingredients until combines and creamy. Add the cake mix and 1 cup water and mix until smooth, about 3 minutes. Fill the muffin liners to just below the rim and bake until puffed and golden about 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, let cool slightly in the tins, then transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.

Meanwhile, puree the strawberries in a blender or small food processor. Sift the confectioners sugar and place in a medium bowl. Pour in the strawberry puree and whisk until smooth. Either dip the tops of the cooled cupcakes into the glaze or spread glaze on muffin. Let the cupcakes sit for a few minutes for the glaze to firm up, then serve.

Happy Easter

from me...

Pipsqueak...

and Sweetie....

Easter Peeps

Ever wonder where all the unsold Peeps go? On vacation, of course.

Pipsqueak is going to wonder how her Polly Pocket playset got sticky, but that's what happens when Peeps go on Spring Break.  (Click on image to enlarge for a full peep peak.)

Freebie Friday

Here are a couple of freebies for you:
Here's one for a Mr. Clean Eraser
http://www.cleanupthatfilthyhouse.com/apr_01.php

And another one for Quaker Rice Snacks
http://www.quakerricesnacks.com/offers/

More Evidence that They're from a Different Planet

Remember the whole "Women are from Venus, Men are from Mars" stuff that was going on eight or ten years ago? I read a couple of the books. They made a few good points, but mostly I found them.... well.... boring and repetitive.

Mostly, Sweetie and I see eye-to-eye on things. Sure, we have our little squabbles, but he is my soul mate and my best friend. But (of course, there had to be a but) every once in a while, something will happen, and I'm in disbelief at his reaction, and I wonder, "What planet is he on?" It's not that I'm right, and he's wrong; it's just that we seem to see it completely differently.

For instance, early this week I got a letter from Pipsqueak's school. She's in a multi-age class of K-2. Next, year the kindergartners will be separate and Pipsqueak's teacher, Mrs. W, will become a straight K teacher. We had expected to have her for a third year. Her class will be split between two other teachers, and Pipsqueak will be in a 1-2 class. I filled Sweetie in so we could tell Pipsqueak after dinner. "Why do you sound so grave?" he asked. "Grave" may have been a stronger word than what I was feeling, but I wasn't happy about the news. I love Mrs. W and the way she teaches, Pipsqueak loves her, too. She would be in a different room, with a different teacher, with different ways of doing things, with different kids and separated from some of the kids she's been with for two years, two of which are her best friends. I knew there would be tears, fears, questions and adjustments.

We told her, and I tried to sound upbeat about it. Of course, she cried. I comforted her and made suggestions for adjusting to this, like her and I meeting with her new teacher, touring the classroom and discussing how she does things. Sweetie said things like,"Change is good," and "Life is full of changes." I don't know who helped more or if it was the collaboration, but she seem to have accepted her fate.

The next morning at school, one of the other moms, Leah, and I got teary while talking to Mrs. W. Leah called me later and we discussed the whole situation: what we knew about the other teachers and the students in the other two rooms. She said her husband, like mine, thought it wasn't a big deal, and had said the same things Sweetie had said.

I didn't understand his laissez faire attitude when I felt in such turmoil and cast into a sea of change and uncertainty. Is it a woman's way to overreact and over analyze, and a man's way to shrug their shoulders and take what comes? It hard to believe that one chromosome can make so much difference sometimes.