You Know You’re a Great Role Model When…
I’ve been trying to get across to the members of my family that Curlytop and Snugglebug are like over-sized camcorders these days. Anything we say or do is likely to be played back for us by one of our little cinematographers – most likely at the most humiliating or improper moment. So far, this has … Read more
Soup, Interrupted
The code word… Do I have to spell it out for you?Photo source When Mr. Wright and I were cultivating our first crop of kids, we crafted a code word for Grown-Up Time: soup. As in, “If we can get all the laundry done, the dishes washed, the kids to all their appointments, dinner made, … Read more
Cheesecake is a Privilege, Not a Right
Do any of you parents have wrestlers? While I’m pretty sure I’ll pack on an extra fifty pounds before this cookbook is done, I feel super-sorry for The Dude. He’s borderline for his weight bracket and Mr. Wright (former state wrestler) has been training The Dude hard and serving as the food police. So sad… … Read more
Recipe: Vegan Peanut Butter S’mores Cheesecake
Nearly every vegan cheesecake recipe I found called for silken tofu. Here’s the thing… I hate silken tofu. I hate the feel of it. I hate its strange, gelatinous texture and the slimy way it slurps out of its aseptic packaging and sits there, quivering and staring at me until I blend it or run … Read more
Recipe: Vegan Vegetable Manicotti
I’ve had some discussions over the past few days with vegan mamas who are chefs to omnivorous families. One of the frustrations moms have shared with me is their kids tend to want “regular” dinners (which I take to mean “not vegan”). Now, Sexy Vegan Mama does the lion’s share of the cooking around these … Read more
Tricks of the Trade-Off
Getting what you want from your spouse is easy…if you know how.(Photo by Dean’s Photography, Everett, WA) You’ll never hear Mr. Wright speak an unkind word against me. Well, from my point of view, anyway. See, I don’t think it’s unflattering to be described as “wily, calculating and manipulative.” In fact, I think it’s just … Read more
Running on Empty
“I left you enough to get to the gas station.” Is yours a two-car family? Do you, like me, have a spouse who runs one car nearly out of gas, then takes the other vehicle with the full tank, leaving you stranded? I’m just asking. Mr. Wright considers himself thrifty when it comes to paying … Read more
Dude, Where’s My Zucchini?
If you leave your car unlocked, with the keys in the ignition, do the police still say it’s a crime if someone takes it? Here’s the deal: The police say you’re stupid for leaving your keys in your unlocked car, but they do not say you’re not the victim of a crime. How do I … Read more
“My Dad has a Yacht of Girls”
Curlytop and Snugglebug have made great strides in their language development since we first consulted with a speech therapist over three years ago. Still, there are some words they use which can only be understood by family; and Curlytop still serves as a Snugglebug-to-English translator all too often. Music Store Bob’s wife, Brenda, watched the … Read more
The Bookies Lost Their Shirts AGAIN. We Made it Another Year, Mr. Wright!
I’m reviving this post from last year, because nothing’s really changed, except that we are older now. Not a lot older, but older, nonetheless. Enjoy the flashback! Look… I had long hair once. That’s me, June 30, 2004. Any guess what I was doing that day? Let me tell you, readers: Mr. Wright’s list of … Read more
Meeting Mr. Right… Or was it Wright?
Mr. Wright and I will celebrate a number of years of marriage next week. Unfortunately, there is some question as to exactly how many years we’ve been married. The number of years isn’t actually in question by anyone but me, but I’d never admit to Mr. Wright that I can never remember what year we … Read more
Get the "F" Outta Here!
That’s right… You know what word I’m talking about. It’s that four-letter word that makes you feel dirty; makes you feel like running and hiding, lest anyone see how uncomfortable it makes you. C’mon, now, spell it with me… F – E – A – R! Confession: I am terrified to read in public. I … Read more
I Wore Flowers in My Hair; They Made Me Sneeze
Growing up, I always suspected I was born about thirty years too late. I imagined I would have been a wonderful flower child; barefoot, braless and sticking daisies in the barrels of rifles. Now that I’m grown up, I hate going without shoes, and my post-nursing breasts demand a brassiere. As if that weren’t enough … Read more
Bad Gratitude Monday: WEEDS
That’s right – I said it. I’m grateful for weeds.Ordinarily, I try to ignore them. I tend to adopt a “live and let live” principle, and I’ve even been known to opine weeds are just flowers that no one wants. Unfortunately, Mr. Wright does not share my opinions. So, this morning, I took an antihistamine … Read more
A Girl and Her Dog… Meat?
In our house, the source of meat is no secret. Mighty, mighty hunter that he is, Mr. Wright is very forthcoming with the kids about what they’re eating. Plus, our kids visited the Angus in our freezer, back when it still walked the pastures of Bullet Bob, our friend and proprietor of Gyurkovics Ranch and … Read more
I Think I’ll Curl Up and Diet
For years, I’ve said weight, much like age, is just a number. “What matters is how I feel,” I’ve said. Do I have enough energy? Can I move around comfortably? Do my clothes fit? As long as I could answer “yes” to those questions, the status quo sufficed. My bathroom scale – otherwise known as … Read more
New on My List of Cool Places
SweetRiver Bakery. Deliciously funky, amazingly friendly management, excellent service and a wonderful menu. What’s more, Mr. Wright’s band, Waterdog, is performing at this very minute in the courtyard. Also – and this is important – beer, wine, and superb coffee. Near Pateros? Head on down!
The Princess and the Frog Rescuer
Being married to an animal rights hobbyist takes its toll on a hunter like Mr. Wright. I’d go so far as to say it serves to make him the subject of abject ridicule among the gun-toting Bambi stalkers who used to invite him on weekend outings. I say “used to” because many of Mr. Wright’s … Read more
Perhaps We’ve Been Married Too Long
A few days ago, I found myself with some extra time. Instead of contemplating the rose garden I never intend to plant, outlining my next novel, or polishing my shoes, I decided to take a shower. That’s right – it was before bedtime for the toddlers, and I managed to steal away into the shower. … Read more
