Drink at Home or With a Designated Driver

I love to drink my wine. I prefer to drink at home. I would love to say that I have never driven buzzed, but that would be a complete lie. I not only did it, I was lucky on more accounts than one. It was foolish, childish and one of the few things I regret in my life. The fact that I didn't kill anyone, including myself is just plain luck. Those times are many years behind me and yet every time I hear of an accident involving alcohol, I think how lucky I was.

Now I'm a Mom. I may drive after a drink or two and I will ride in a car with someone who has had a drink or two (still withing legal limits)...

What I will NOT do is to put my children in the car with myself or anyone else that has had even a drop. I don't believe it's my choice to make for them. As they get older we will enforce the "never getting in the car with someone who has been drinking" rule. Right now we can only make sure that they don't. If we go to dinner and I decide to have a margarita, Hubster drives. If he decides he wants a drink with dinner, then I refrain and become the driver.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Ad Council are encouraging everyone to travel safe over the holiday by signing a pledge. Sign it yourself and get your young adult children to do the same. You can also follow them on twitter @buzzeddriving. I can't think of a better way to remember NOT to drive buzzed than getting tweets about deadly statistics.

With New Years upon us, I can only try to teach from my own mistakes. If you plan on drinking, make arrangements for a ride home with someone who isn't. Find a designated driver in the group or call a cab. The money will be well spent. No amount of money can bring back a life. We all think it can't happen to us...it can. Be safe, be responsible, and bring in 2010 at home or with a sober driver getting you there.

What the Hell Wednesday 4~ The Inappropriate Customer

Here's another installment of What the Hell Wednesday. I've been saving this one since Sunday and it was hard. If you would like to play along, click the image above and head on over to Elle and Stacy's place and link up.

So. I was working on Sunday. A man came into the store and like everyone else that enters I said hello and asked him how he was doing. As I was cashing out another customer I heard him respond (or so I thought) "I'm doing well, and yourself?" I replied I was doing well too, and Thanked him. Here's the conversation that followed. What the Hell?

Him: "Really?"
Me: "Really what?"
Him: "Did you even hear what I said?"
Me: "I believe you said you were doing well."
Him: " That's not what I said at all. That just goes to prove my point that all you people in the retail business like to ask people how they are doing but never pay attention to the response because you don't really care."
Me: "I'm sorry. I was cashing someone out and may have been distracted when you answered. I thought you said you were doing well and I really do care about your response. so what did you really say?"
Him: "You don't really care. If I told you I was having a crappy day are you going to offer to not make it crappy?"
Me: "If it's life in general that's got you down, probably not. But I can empathize with you and say I'm sorry your having a bad day."
Him: "But you don't really care to fix it."
Me: "I'm not sure it's my place. What did you really say?"
Him: "I said "I'm horny as hell, and yourself?"
Me: "Hmm. What I think happened then is this. I asked how you were doing and maybe you're right, I should have waited until I could give my full attention to your response, but I didn't. In trying to listen to you and help the people at the register I listened to your response, but I believe my brain translated what I heard into a normal response. Does that make sense? Now what can I help you with in the store today?"

What the Hell? I think he realized he messed with the wrong woman. I took offense to what he said...the part about being uncaring. It's one day a week, I can care for that long. I do care.

I spent the last couple days glued to the couch. The flu finally caught up with me, What the hell?
While I was laying there in a daze my mind wandered to the neighbors little pond in front of their house. I have no idea why. I was wondering what the hell they did with the fish? I'm sure the pond pumps continuous movement of the water kept it from freezing but it's only a foot or so deep, so it has to be cold. Did they take the fish out? What the Hell do they do with them until it gets warm? I may just have to march on over there today and find out.

Holiday Consideration

It's Christmas Eve. 5 years ago I spent my last Christmas Eve working in the restaurant business. Four days later I was DONE working. While there have been some challenges, both financial and adjusting to staying at home, the choice is one of the best I ever made. I don't think Puddin' Pop would be here if I hadn't stopped working. There just wasn't enough time for working 50+ hours a week, taking care of a toddler, taking care of a household and taking care of a husband. I just didn't have it in me.

As I sit here typing this, while baking a cake and playing Lego Batman with Boog, my heart goes out to all the poor souls that have to work today. Be it the restaurant business, retail, or an ever-so-busy fulfillment center, these people are working hard for us to be able to have a great holiday. I think everyone should be a little extra nice while out shopping and eating today. Be nice to those that have to work. Be grateful if you're one of the lucky ones that gets to spend time with your family, be considerate to those that don't.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year

WTH Wednesday 4

Joining the girls over at Blue Monkey Butt for another What the Hell Wednesday. Click the image, grab the button and rant away.

Last night we had dinner and the snuggled up to watch a movie. About half way through I started feeling like crap. Hot...cold...nauseous. What the Hell? It came on all the sudden and the last thing I need right now is to be sick. I feel better this morning but Hubster says I'm "burning up". I refuse to believe him and will NOT take my temperature. I am not getting sick (*whisper* I am not getting sick)

All my shopping and wrapping is done. What the hell? This has never happened before. I'm usually scrambling on Christmas Eve and then spend the entire night wrapping gifts. Not this year. I'll be drinking.

What the hell is the proper formula for getting gifts for kids? Do you try to spend the same amount on each kid, or is it more important that they have the same number of gifts. We're just getting to the point where they are both asking for stuff. Well, one is asking for everything Lego and the other is asking for everything she sees. My MIL is going for dollar amount but this means PP will have more gifts from Grandma and Papa then Boog will. She (MIL) always wants to get them one "big" gift and then lots of smaller ones. PP doesn't really want anything that could be considered "big" ($100) so Hubster has picked her up a couple things for the money his mom gave him. We have spent less on PP too, but I don't think either kid will notice. Should we spend the same anyway?

Another year of cake balls for the neighbors. These are so yummy. While they are relatively easy to make...they seem to take forever. What the hell. I just need to commit and spend a couple hours rolling and dipping and be done with it. I usually start a couple days out and spent some time here and there. 18 dozen little chocolate covered cake balls are tedious...just saying.

When did blogger change the editing buttons and where the Hell is the spell check button?

Thanks for stopping by. From our family to yours... Happy Holidays!

Random Tuesday Shopping and a GPS

My first official Random Tuesday Thoughts. Go over to The Un Mom to grab a badge and play along.




Yay. I'm always excited to go wine shopping. I'm putting together a gift box of various items for my parents for the Holidays and the box wouldn't be complete without wine. Last year I sent Chateau Morrisette's Service Dog Red and Service Dog White. I always try to find unique wines (labels) to send them. My step-mom has a service dog (she has MS) and I thought those choices were appropriate. My parents are definitely wine lovers and border on "snobs" but are slowly coming around and know that there are under $10 bottles that are thoroughly enjoyable. I thought I would pick out a selection of my favorites from Trader Joe's and send them along in the box. I only know for sure that I'm putting in a Tempranillo, the rest I will decide when I get there.

I need a good life insurance lead. I'm thinking more and more about NOT having a policy covering myself. Hubster has one through work and both kids have been covered since birth with the Gerber Grow-up plan x3. I always had a decent policy through employers, that my family would benefit from (not secret ones like Wal-mart takes out on their employees) but now I sometimes have visions of my family surviving without me and know that a little money would help. Where do I begin? Any insurance sales people available To talk options??

I'll leave you with this Random Tuesday Thought...

I bought Hubster a GPS for his birthday last month. He's into gadgets so I knew he'd like it. Last week he called, as he always does, to let me know he was on his way home (from work). I heard a voice and asked "Can you turn the radio down?" He said, "That's not the radio, it's my GPS." I asked "You need the GPS to tell you how to get home?" He said "No. But it helps me get ready." "Ready? For What?" He says "I have a woman telling me what to do the minute I get home, I may as well have a woman telling me how to get there." Maybe I should be offended. But I'm thinking...SMART MAN!

link up your Random Tuesday Thoughts.

Fine Wines to Enhance My Mood

I must concede.

I tried a bottle of Louis M Martini Cabernet last night and LOVED it. This is bad...very bad. This bottle retails for close to 6 times what I'm used to paying for my wine. Worth it? Heck Yeah!
I realized a couple things.

I tend to sip more expensive wines, really letting all the flavors and aromas sink in. The cheap stuff...I gulp it right down and head for another glass. I've tried to let the flavors create an experience for me, but sometimes they're just not there. That's not to say that I haven't had some yummy $5 wines, or that I don't enjoy the less bold flavors of others, it's a mood thing...I guess.

Last night I was in the mood to treat myself. The kids were working on their Gingerbread house and I wanted to sip on a fine glass of wine. With the aroma of dark cherries, vanilla and tobacco, I knew I had picked the right bottle. The cherry-vanilla-tobacco was also part of the bold flavor. It was smooth, spicy and had a lingering finish. I almost felt full after one glass. I don't get that with my less expensive varietals.

I'm seriously thinking about taking a class on different wines. I'm fascinated by the complexity of different flavors some wines produce and would love to learn more about how that is achieved.

A course in wine tasting, like GMAT prep , would position me better to talk about and enjoy finer wines. I envision the prep work to consist of sampling tons of wine...oh wait. I already do that. Maybe I'll just continue to hang out with and read other amateur wine lovers and we can figure this game out together. Do you really need a wine degree to enjoy and talk about it? Obviously not!

Wine and Christmas Specials

The last few days are a blur. We've been trying to get in all the Christmas Specials and I've been sampling a lot of wine. It's a blur not from the wine, but because it seems to go by so fast. We still have all the Christmas decorating to do. I'm done shopping, but we still need a tree, to decorate it, put out the lights outside, and put Frosty out on the grass. It saddens me that Frosty has to sit in the grass, maybe this year he'll get to see some snow.

I went shopping and to lunch with a friend yesterday. We stopped to look at the laptops. I never thought I would like a laptop. I was comfortable with our desk top and was pretty sure the mouse pad on a laptop would piss me off...especially when playing games. But now I am hooked. I only wish I had another. I'm thinking one for posting and one for games would be a good idea. Maybe a cute little Sony VAIO mini notebook? Santa. Are you reading this? We also had lunch at Olive Garden. It's been so long since I've been there. When did they get a fourth soup? The chicken gnocchi was wonderful. I was still full at dinner time.

It's almost time for Christmas break. I may be a little sparse on the posting, but I'll be sampling more new wines and make sure to tell you all about them. I love this time of year.

Double Standard with Regards to Stupid Retail Associates

What did we do before all these social networks popped up? I'm "in touch" with all sorts of people from high school and admittedly don't even know who some of them are. Every once in a while I get a friend request and after looking at "mutual friends" I have to ask someone who they are. I've even gotten responses like, "Oh, you wouldn't know him(her), they lived in my neighborhood but didn't go to school with us." Should I be flattered? Did I say something witty that they saw and thought I would be fun to be friends with? Cool. I'm a chatty person anyway, even more so after a couple glasses of wine. It's fun to chat and comment with others after the family goes to bed. Who did I talk to before FB?

Nothing going on on FB? I can usually find some interesting topics over at TwitterMoms or MBC. There is always somewhere for my voice to be heard. I think it's a good thing, others may think otherwise. I have no problem stating my opinions on these social networks so...why do I hate dealing with complete strangers over the phone or in the retail arena? If I'm calling the cable company to resolve a problem or pay a bill I WANT the automated system. The minute I get "Please hold while we connect you with a live representative", I hang up and try again...to resolve the issue...using the automated system. Why is that? If I'm having an issue while placing an online order and get a message to contact merchant services, chances are I'm just going to try and re-place the order. I don't want someone to help me figure it out. Here's the catch. I've been working part-time in the retail arena. Selling stuff I know absolutely NOTHING about...and I love it! I crave the interaction each week. Do the shoppers feel the same way? Or are they, like me, trying to avoid personal contact...with a stupid associate... who knows nothing?

Wine as a Hobby

I was thinking last night about my love for wine. I guess it's like loving art or music. It's a learning experience as well as a delight for the senses. We have the right to choose what we like and enjoy to our hearts content. We can choose to share our passions with others or keep them all to ourselves. Unlike relationships with people, we can choose to stop loving a certain varietal or choose to just love a new one more...and no one gets hurt.

I find that I'm not as stuck to one grape over the other as I thought I was. I also find similarities that I previously didn't notice. Take for instance the One Hope Merlot I was enjoying last night. If I had been blind folded, I would have sworn it was a Zinfandel. It's aroma was light and of oak, pepper and wild berries. It had the flavor of spicy cherries cooked over oak chips. The finish was smooth and medium. Not only did I enjoy the flavor of this wine, but the fact that 50% of the profits of this Merlot go towards Fighting Aids made it even more enjoyable.

My newest curiosity is whether or not the "pros" can tell the difference between the different grapes or if all the different blends have them as perplexed as I am. I just like to enjoy wine. I like the experience. I like the flavor. I like to learn about the different wines and grapes they come from. Call it a hobby of sorts.

What's your favorite part about wine?

New Roof and Fun with Legos

Yay! After 3 weeks of intermittent rain, the roofers have finally arrived and started taking the old roof off. We've been tole the new roof will be done by tomorrow. We've waited a long time and now they have finally started. That's one less thing to worry about...for the worrier in the family (not me).

The Holiday weekend was fun. We took the kids to a Winter Wonderland and let them see all the decorations. I got to sample some new wines and just relax with the family. You know what I found out is really fun and relaxing. Building with Lego's. I've mentioned before that Boog has really been getting into it. Lego's are so much more than when I was a kid. They have "kits" with simple directions (mostly) on how to put together different vehicles and command centers. Some of the boat and truck accessories in these kits are amazing. Ejecting seats, flick-to-fire missiles, and all sorts of attachable weapons. We decided this weekend to just do some "free play". We took apart some of the vehicles and decided to just use our own creativity and imaginations and built our own boats and motorcycles and command centers. I really thought I would suck at it. It turns out I'm not too bad. I'm mainly using all the "old school" pieces and not the new technology rotating pieces, but I still thought my boat was pretty sweet. I was going to show you a picture but Boog decided it was sweet enough to take apart and build something else with before I could get a pic.