The Burger King was wrong: you can not have it your way November 3, 2008
Posted by Janet Dwight in : janet_dwight , add a comment
I’m voting for Barack Obama tomorrow. I’ll just get that out of the way right up front.
What’s really on my mind is the have-it-all vs. give-it-all-up hypocritical crap that’s been in the news regarding Michelle Obama and VP nominee Sarah Palin. It’s been said that Michelle Obama sacrificed her job (salary 273K) to be with their children and to work side-by-side with her husband as he tries to become the next President of the United States. She has been criticized for doing that. It has been suggested that ’sacrificing’ her job warmed her image. Apparently working would have made her hard, i.e. a bitch.
On the other hand you have Sarah Palin, a woman who is criticized for putting job before family in her attempt to become the first woman VP. I despise these double standards. Despise.
Women just can’t win. When will people understand that these are decisions are personal and that there is no right or wrong. Just the spin.
Oh yes I will eat some of your candy October 31, 2008
Posted by Janet Dwight in : holiday , add a commentI took my babies trick-or-treating when they were infants because I wanted all the candy. People knew this. I could tell. I mean really. Nice people would say “What kind do you want?” to the baby. So, I’d answer in a baby voice, “I think I’ll try a Reese’s.” Not-so-nice people would give me the stink eye.
So now the kids are older. I’m subjected to kids that take inventory. “Who ate my DOTS?” Mom!!!!
So this is why I choose to buy all the candy I like and then hope no one shows up.
Favorite:
Reese’s, DOTS, Milky Way, Snickers, Mounds
Least Favorite:
Mary Janes, Skittles, Smarties, Apples, Toothbrushes (I mean how lame)
You?
Quick take a picture…this is bloggable October 23, 2008
Posted by Janet Dwight in : WTF, blog, janet_dwight , add a commentTotally unrelated to the source of this image I just couldn ‘t help thinking about the times I’ve taken photos solely for a blog entry. Do you do that?
Kitchen: Before and After October 6, 2008
Posted by Janet Dwight in : janet_dwight, kitchen , 2commentsOther than putting in the hardwood floor, hanging light over the island, and hanging some pictures on the wall, kitchen is done. I put some before pictures up previously, but wanted to show the side-by-side difference here. Total time: 3.5 weeks. Total cost: 25K.
One in 2.7 men will cheat…oh, and it’s not the sex thing October 3, 2008
Posted by Janet Dwight in : lack of time, love of my life, marriage , 3commentsMy husband and I just celebrated our 19th anniversary. Well, we didn’t really celebrate a whole lot. I was traveling on our actual anniversary so we went out to eat the weekend before (Red Lobster of all places) and now it’s the weekend after our anniversary and we have no plans. We really dropped the ball.
So I kind of freaked out when I read this article. Basically, M. Gary Neuman, the author of The Truth About Cheating, did a study that suggests 1 in 2.7 men will cheat.
Why? He says it’s because men feel:
- emotional disconnection (underappreciated)
- insecurity (don’t feel valued, admired)
- like they ‘just can’t win’ (always being told they screwed something up)
- their wife shows lack of interest in their life (in work, interests)
Signs he is cheating (or is about to cheat):
- He spends more time away from the house
- You have less sex
- He avoids contact
- He does not answer his cell phone
- He criticizes you more
Over the 19 years, we’ve gone to a ‘let’s not do anything big for each other’ thing on our anniversary, for birthdays and holidays, etc. I just think it’s wrong. I’m changing it. Regardless of money, time, competing things like kids/work, etc. there is no reason to miss out on simple celebrations around appreciation, admiration, and general interest in one another.
What an insult to all Hockey Moms September 29, 2008
Posted by Janet Dwight in : hockey , 2commentsI used to proudly wear the ‘Hockey Mom’ label despite the fact that it is a marketing term (IMHO). Sarah Palin has soured the label. She’s no hockey Mom. Please. Proof is here.
Via More Hockey, Less War
A gutted kitchen: the during photos August 27, 2008
Posted by Janet Dwight in : ceilings, janet_dwight, kitchen, love of my life, restoration, walls, wine , add a commentThe kitchen has been demolished and the contractor arrived today to begin the work of remodeling the kitchen. The cabinets arrived today too. Here were the before pictures. This post is the during.
I thought the contractor was showing up tomorrow and I was the only one up when he showed up. Coffee, PJs, the whole works. Slight hangover. We talked about some details and I was on my way to the shower when much to my surprise, the KraftMaid semi shows up out front about six hours early. A couple more burly guys to talk to while I’m in a total state of yuk. Anyway, here are the photos. My husband pulled out the remnants of a chimney, cabinets, floor, walls, and a ton of rock wool. It filled a U-Haul truck. Un. freakin. believable. What a man.
Political incorrectness 101: e.g., “do you work outside the home?” August 25, 2008
Posted by Janet Dwight in : I bitch, WTF, driving, janet_dwight, this sucks, women, work , 5comments“And Janet, do you work outside the home?” he asked while writing up the contract for the van (yes fucking minivan)!
Let’s break it down.
On the 11th hour of the eve of the leased minivan return, we nixed the idea of getting a nice five-speed car for me. It became quite clear that a car simply would not only hold four 14-year old boys and their bikes, as mine just had. So another van it was. Sucking less - that’s what I call this.
I throw my hands up. We settle on a 2001 Toyota Sienna. I know right? WTF? Anyway, the salesman is a really nice guy except for his stereotyping while finalizing a sale. First, he writes my husband’s name on the contract (the original van is in my name and he’s holding the registration card), then he gets only my husband’s income (mine is greater), and asks me if I work outside the home. What woman with children does not? We all work all the freakin’ time. In the home, outside of the home, and now in a car dealership.
My husband did not even negotiate the sale. He was there to give me a ride home.
“Do you work outside the home?” I hate that politically incorrect statement. It’s about money, power, and stereotypes.
I’m horrified to say that I played another stereotype though - the soccer Mom. And, I’m pretty sure I got a better deal than if I had been myself; e.g. the equally horrid stereotype: bitch a/k/a the assertive woman. Whatever. My ride is a 2001 minivan and I’m so looking forward to that. Damnit.
3,276 hours…that’s never coming back August 19, 2008
Posted by Janet Dwight in : garden, janet_dwight, restoration, women , add a comment
Interesting article in the Telegraph yesterday that said women spend 3,276 hours over their lifetime “getting ready” for a night out. Interesting that it’s in the ‘weird’ news section. I would think it’s more “lifestyle” stuff or whatever. Weird it is. I don’t go out often so I’m apparently I’m wasting my time in other ways. Like blogging during the men’s gymnastics finals. I wonder how long they spend getting ready for meets. Probably not 3,276 hours.
Sometimes I just want to be like Christie Brinkley in the National Lampoon movie August 15, 2008
Posted by Janet Dwight in : driving, janet_dwight , add a comment
I’m feeling like the female equivalent of Clark Griswold from the National Lampoon Vacation movie series. But I wish I was more like the Christie Brinkley character in the little red convertible from the Wally World. Yes, I’ve been car shopping.
My leased minivan is scheduled to be returned within two weeks. I’m so freaking happy to be getting out from under it.
Anyway, the other family car has been with us 10+ years. It’s a real beater. The family decision was to replace the minivan with a more gas-efficient Subaru Outback that was capable of carrying kayaks and/or bikes on top and even limited towing.
I mucked things up pretty good last night by thinking about my first “new” car, a Volkswagen. Oh, how I loved my little red car. How I loved driving stick instead of automatic. I visited a VW lot and found a nice little silver five-speed Jetta that’s no Lamborghini but sure would be sweet. I’m sure it can be retrofitted with a bike/kayak rack. And towing? Who are we kidding? The two times per year that might happen means that it makes more sense to get what I like and rent something for those few times I need to tow something. WTF would I tow anyway?
Damnit. I want a five-speed sporty vehicle after 10+ years of minivan driving. Damnit. My husband doesn’t want five-speed because he doesn’t want to deal with it when he drives long distances for work (the plan was that rather than take the beater car, he would take the newer car). Damnit. I hate these arguments that I will eventually win but feel really bad about. Is it my time or am I being selfish?
