Today I took my kid to the ballet...

    Today I took my twelve-year-old boy to the ballet, and we both had a fabulous time.  It was his second time in the Kauffman Center, and my first.   The headline show was Carmina Burana, but End of Time just about stole it's glory.  This was only the opening weekend!  If you're in KC, it's an opportunity that shouldn't be missed.  The symphony, chorale, and ballet of KC collaboration was a breath-taking experience.  You can get more information and tickets here:  http://ticketing.kcballet.org/single/psDetail.aspx?psn=4331

  After parking on the street and climbing a lot of stairs (come on mom!  I am.  oof.), we admire the view from the top of the hill, go in to retrieve our tickets,  & sit in the "Footnotes" chat to learn more about the show...Then the real fun begins.  First, he inspects the stairs, how wide they are and the shape of them.  Then we look at window wall and ceiling.  We look at the same view we had outside from the various height balconies.  Seeing that spark and interest in his eyes made my day.
  Then we find our seats, and blessed be, we are next to a music teacher.  She chirps about how nice the high seats are, since they allow us to see into the pit.  She's happy to explain what the various instruments in the orchestra are that he's not familiar with before the show.  (He had never seen an oboe before, or the timpani drums.  He was quite impressed by the showing of his instrument, the cello.  They had four of them, right in front of the conductor.)  We were definitely starting on the right foot.
   The first piece began, leaping and lifting, and color everywhere.  The music was Haydn.  A showy piece to bring excitement in from the very beginning....and lots, and lots, of male dancers.  Just what my ballet boy needs to see.  He's not alone.  He's also not the only boy his age in the audience.  That didn't hurt either.
   There is a short break between the first two pieces, where we stay in our seats.  The lights kind of come up.  This is where restless tween syndrome kicks in.
 "Is this intermission?"  No it's just a mini-break.
"Can I play on your phone?"  It won't be that long.
  Just when I feel the energy about to explode the magic begins again.  The curtain parts.  There's glorious starry back-lighting.  A spotlight is on the only two instruments on the stage, a piano, and a cello.  We both are entranced by the piece.  What feels like 30 seconds later, the lights come up and it's intermission.  We stretch our legs, admire the glass shelving built into the wall around the concessions stand, and people watch for a few minutes.  We spread out a little more since there are empty seats next to us, and settle in to watch the "main show."
   E1's reaction to Carmina was at first a "what?"  Then as it progressed into less intense and lighter fare he enjoyed it more.  I did not enjoy explaining the "roasting of the swan" after though.  I fully admit the "nude" scenes made him bury his head in my shoulder, and I was okay with that too.  The show was not over the top, it just was pushing the boundaries of what my very proper pre-adolescent  could handle.  We brought the topics back down to earth in our discussion after the show.  (He kept the latin/english translations of the poems too.  I think the show made an impression.)
  What he was most excited about after the show though, were the elevators.  We climbed up to the top level so after the patrons who needed it cleared out, we could go down it and see the view of our hill through the glass sides.
While waiting he had questions.
"What kind of glass do they use in the ceiling to protect it from hail?"
"How much does the elevator weigh?"
"How does it work?"  (I showed him the pulleys.)
After we took it down, we looked at the lower elevator.
"Look mom!  It works differently."
(I *think* it has a hydraulic lift...but don't quote me on that.)
We look at the angles of the windows.  In some ways, I think he was more excited about inspecting the building than seeing the show.  I think a cellist who majors in "architectural engineering" has a nice ring to it.
But he's only 12.  Who knows what the future really holds.

So, what is NaNoWriMo anyway?

    NaNoWriMo is for National Novel Writing Month.  It's a place for everyone whose ever "wished" they could write a book to do it!  It's a mass literary madness support group.  Since they wish to make the process as masochistic as possible, they choose the month of November for this project.  Anyone who'd like to learn more about NaNoWriMo just follow the link here:  http://www.nanowrimo.org/

   Why yes, I've decided to participate in this event this year.  Thanks for asking.  What do my kids think about this decision?

"Hey, I'm doing NaNo this year.  You want to do the teen version?"

"Nah, I'd never win."
"Sure you could.  It's just like the spiral "book" you were writing with your friend A."

"But it would never get picked."

"Dude, you win by finishing.  It's 50 thousand words in 30 days."

"When would I do this?  I have school, and football, and stuff."

"I have to feed you, drive you, and stuff too.  What's your point?"

"Mom, writing a novel in 30 days is just crazy.  WHAT is that?"

"Those books are my research materials for the novel."

 Hey, Greek Wars?  Gimme that book!"

Gee, thanks for the support kid.  NEXT!

"A fifty thousand page book in a month?  Why would you want to do that?"

"Gives me something to do while waiting for you in rehearsal."

"Oh.  What are we going to eat?"

Good question son.  Good question.

"Mo-om.  Why are you we-search-ing?"

"For my book."

"My teacher must be smarter than you.  She never has to look anything up."

"No computer for a month?!  Mom, you can't do this.  Or at least Dad should buy you a laptop."

Dad?  What does Dad think about this?

"Whatever you want to do is fine with me honey."
"Are you sure you don't mind?  It's not like I'm a great housekeeper to start with."

"We'll be fine."

"I'll still feed you."

"We'll be fine."

"This doesn't seem fair to you.  You already do more than your share."
"Honey, do it.  You want to.  WE. will. be. fine."

There you have it.   They'll be fine.

Salisbury steak: a walk through on recipe conversion

Tonight, this was what I was craving for dinner.  Trying a new recipe in our house is always an adventure, because well...we just don't eat the same way as everyone else.  Ingredients in a typical salisbury steak recipe I can't use include, "cream of whatever" soup, worcestershire sauce, "onion soup mix", bread crumbs,  and flour.
It doesn't help that as soon as I start to plan a recipe, someone walks in and says "Mushrooms?  Do we have to eat that?"  or "brown gravy.  yuck.  Can I have tomato sauce instead?"

Tonight the minions were lucky.  I was feeling benevolent.  I needed two pans to make enough for our crew anyway, so doing one with mushroom sauce and one w/ our typical meatloaf red sauce was no big deal.
That was step one.  Break down the recipe into it's elements.  Salisbury steak has 2 elements really, a browned meatloaf patty for the "steak" and the gravy.
Step two:  What are the primary flavorings.  In Salisbury steak, they are beef, onion, salt, and mustard.

So for the "steak"  I started w/ a basic meatloaf blend, 1 egg per # of meat, a couple of forgotten UDI hamburger buns broken into crumbs by the food processor, an onion and four cloves of garlic chopped in the food processor, and two carrots grated in the food processor.  To make it more salisbury, I added Penzey's toasted onion and Rachel Ray beef stock to the mix, along w/ dry mustard, salt, and pepper.
Then I dredged it in potato starch w/a dash of salt and 1/2 sharp paprika, and browned the oversized hamburger/min-meatloaf on the stove in some oil & put them in a 9x13 pan.  Steak part, done.
Now it was time to make the gravy. :)
1) Drain oil out of browning pan.  Put 2-3 Tb potato flour into pan w/ an equal amount of solid fat of your choice.  (Butter, Palm shortening, lard, etc.)  Once the flour looks "sandy" and brown, start adding about 1/2 box of beef broth and a bottle of sorghum beer, and about 2T of brown sugar, and more dry mustard and paprika.  Throw in the onion/carrot bits that were stuck to the sides of the food processor and a package of sliced mushrooms.  Let it simmer a couple minutes and we're good to go.  (Add more liquid/thickener to whatever floats your gravy boat.)

2) Dump over "steaks."  Throw in 375 degree oven for thirty minutes.
3) Let cool about 10 minutes, then stuff face.

All things work for the good

   I really do try to see the rainbow in every hurricane.  It keeps me almost sane.

Yesterday was no hurricane, but it wasn't a picnic either.  While I volunteering at a local clothing center, my phone walked away.  There's not much to make you feel more miffed than something bad happening when you're doing your "good deed for the day."
   After my initial outrage/panic/disbelief, I switched modes.  It is, after all, just a "thing."   We were out of contract w/ the phone company, so I'd get a good deal on a new phone.   The only mild sense of panic I had left was because my entire calendar was stored on that thing.  I was determined not to make that mistake again.  My next phone would have an off-phone calendar of some sort to back it up, and e-mail access, and a decent camera.  So there!
   One advantage of having a spouse with flex-time that works at home is being able to derail their day too for minor emergencies.  In this case I needed him anyway.  The phone bill is under his name after all.  So yes, after lunch I kidnapped my husband to go phone shopping.  Bonus:  the teen had stayed home sick today so the kindie could be left with him.  Woo-hoo! A date!  I'll take any time alone with my husband where a hospital isn't involved.  So we were off....

   Step 1:  Look at what Sprint had to offer.  It was pretty good, but the store couldn't figure out if we were out of contract w/ T-mobile or not.  Fine, we'd run across the street to check w/ T-mobile.
   Step 2:  Get better offer from T-mobile.  Stay with T-mobile.  End up with 4th phone in the process.

     This two step process took about 2.5 hours.  I am forever grateful I let the "maybe sick, maybe allergic" teen stay home from school yesterday.   That kind of time frame without outside entertainment would have been a disaster for Si Guy.  He'd much rather eat junk food, watch t.v., and jump off the couch onto a beanbag chair with his brother "watching" him.
   What, exactly, took so long?  Well, the first forty five minutes were wasted with step one.  Maybe not totally wasted, because by the time we entered the T-mobile store I had a pretty good idea what I wanted for my phone.  So it only took me another thirty minutes to settle down on my final choice...a Galaxy SII.  The 8 megapixel camera did me in...or perhaps, the Android factor.  My calendar would be synced w/ Google online, never to be totally lost again.  Mr. Man upgraded his phone too, so the tortured, babysitting teen could get his phone back.  We also added a "no-frills" call only phone for the elementary age kids to tote to their activities.  It just makes a mom feel better.  Another note, our bill will be about the same as it was before.  Thank you T-mobile for free kid lines, and PTA for a 14% discount I didn't know about for the past 5 years.
 
So here is the proof all things work for the good.
Bad thing:  Phone disappears
Good things:  time alone with husband, better phone than I ever dreamed of, peace of mind with the kids.
Oh, and a kindle app.  Excuse me while I go play with my new phone.

My middle son is (deca)dent!

Happy 10th Birthday Mr. Sunshine!  Glad to see you're enjoying your day.

This morning we started the day with donuts.  He chose oreo and lemon-filled  for his two.
He still calls me mommy when we're alone, but ignores me when we're around his friends.
He has girl friends, but is mortified at the idea of girlfriends.
He blends in with the group, yet stands alone.
His actions comply, but his thoughts are his own.
He's still a whirlwind, but maturity is starting to peek through.
He's always been kind, but recently he's been learning patience too.

Tonight, we went to a birthday party for a friend.  He didn't seek attention for himself.  He was just happy to be there.  Go Karts, Laser Tag, and heights with harnesses.  It was fun watching him up there.  Some of the kids were swinging from their harness.  He didn't.  He practiced walking the ropes until he knew it was there, but he didn't need it.  I kind of hope that's how this parenting gig goes with all our kids.  They know we're always there, but they practice the skills they need to be "grown" until they just know we're there for them, and they're glad we're there,  but they don't need us.

Happy Birthday to me, about a week ago.....

     Just taking a moment to celebrate how fabulous it is to be me.  My birthday this year started with a kids dentist appointment, complete w/ cavity, and almost ended with meetings.  Then I was surprised at  the last minute with a late night date at Steak n' Shake w/ my husband.  That  definitely ended the day on a good note.  
     My favorite part of the day though, was the afternoon.  Hands down.  A mom of six kids doesn't have much quiet, don't touch me time.  I spent the morning with my husband, picked up the mini-minion from kindergarten, and walked him home.  
     After lunch, it was bye!  I'm off for two whole hours by myself.I stopped at my favorite "forgotten" strip mall.  I decided to window shop in my favorite consignment store "Revival Home Furnishing" to poke around.  We could use a night-stand or two, a couple more dining room chairs, and oh yeah, a table.  Our table needed  some serious repair, and we had neither time nor inclination to do it.  I had been shopping for a new dining room table unsuccessfully off and on for a couple of years, due to my exacting requirements:

• big enough to seat 10-12 
•  not too formal 
• preferably a medium to dark finish.  
• Oh, and not pine.  I really, really, dislike pine.  

Buried in a corner, with it's leaves, a stack of dishes, and a folded up table cloth on top of it, was the table below.  It's hard to see, but this table has great legs.  They even have little brass "shoes" on the bottom.  Maybe it's because I'm a stay at home mom, or quirky, but I really fell in love immediately with the 1950's art deco with a cherry finish.  I called my husband.  We came back for it the next day.  Bonus:  It didn't break the bank.  $98 suited my inner bargain hunter just fine.

If the table wasn't fabulous enough, next door to this furniture store is a 1/2 Price Books.  I counted the table as my "family gift", and had a birthday check from my in-laws to spend.  Nothing is more therapeutic to a bibliophile than an hour alone in a bookstore.  I spent that hour wisely, walking out with five books from the $1 clearance and two regular "1/2-price" had to haves.  This with two more books off Amazon did in the splurge money quite nicely.  What were these titles?

The Time Traveler's Wife- AudreyNiffenager; I've read it before, but wanted it to be MINE.
In the Shadow of the Ark-Ann ProVoost; kind of has a Red Tent vibe.
LOST-Gregory Maguire; creepy, but not gross, better than Wicked IMHO
The Secret Life of Bees-Sue Monk Kidd;  awesome, relatable "sisterhood" 
Fire & Bitterblue-both by Kristin Cashore; fantasy w/ strong women which  doesn't tear down the men!            amazing, isn't it?  
A Ring of Endless Light-Madeleine L'Engle; haven't read this one yet.  I realized  it was book 4 in a series I haven't started.  My OCD side demands finding the first three, then reading them in order.
PEAK-Roland Smith;  This one disappeared into my teenage son's room.  It hasn't reemerged yet. 
Daughters of Rome-Kate Quinn;  I'm a sucker for historical fiction.  I'm going to read this tonight.  It's sitting right here by the keyboard.

All these glorious books, and my  husband even gave me a week off housework to read them.  Did I mention I think he's fabulous?  

One week down for Si Guy!

Short week it was.  The verdict:  School is GREAT mom!
Upon pickup his teacher informed me how transformed he was by his haircut.  So transformed she thought he was a misguided full day student, and sent him on down the hall.  He was returned.   Doh!  Note to self, schedule haircuts for before school starts.
Walking home he was full of chatter.
"What did you do today?"
"We had art! "
"What did you do in art?"
"We read a story." Okaaay.  A few minutes later...
"Mom, a bug!"
"It's okay.  It's just a cicada."
"Wow!  That's a big bug.  They're loud."
"Mmm,hm.  See that hole in the ground.  That's probably where he came out."
Then the inevitable...
"Mom, can we go to Quick Trip?"
At Quick Trip, "Look mom!  A bird!  A hummingbird!"
"Uh, no Si.  That's a dragonfly.  But the way it uses it's wings to hover is kind of like a hummingbird."
So now we're home.  He's eating hot dogs, running back and forth between the living room and his room singing random songs.  I'm glad he's back.