pet peeves

I am trying to get our holiday adventures into written form, but in the meantime I had to drop in and say "Happy New Year" to all who are hoping to hear from the Kenobi family.  I also have to tell a story about a simple moment in an otherwise normal day.

We've had a winter wonderland out here in the rain forest, complete with road closures, over a foot of snow, sheets of ice, and other white-Christmasy weather.  There were special all-day news coverage teams, and poor journalism interns standing out in the cold in order to report "live" from somewhere.   There were graphics for the "Arctic Blast 2008" and cancellations of nearly every activity in the city.  Even the yarn shop had to close and change hours - just days before Christmas.  

Needless to say, over the weeks of crazy weather, many local drivers' patience wore thin.  Now that we're back to the predictable rain-and-sunbreaks we all love so much, (sarcasm dripping...) area drivers seem more at ease.

Except, that is, for a gentleman who was creeping along the freeway yesterday as I lined up to merge into traffic.  Many trucks slowly inched their way along in front and behind him, and those of us coming onto the freeway began the search for friendly faces who would actually allow us into the line.  As most drivers do, I concentrated mostly on my own space and opportunity, keeping a side glance on the driver in front and beside me and pacing with the others on the road.

When it came time for my "turn," if you will, I looked out my window to confirm the driver was actually letting me in.  He was not.  As it turns out, he had sped up to wave furiously at me (and anyone else looking).  With both arms (yes, he was determined to make the roads very safe) he admonished clearly that only one car at a time can merge into traffic.  Oops.  In my attempt to merge, I'd nearly made him later to his destination.  It was not my turn.

Evidently, I nearly made a mistake and had tried to merge with the person in front of me (who had not been able to get kindness from the truck in front of us).   This, I suppose, is a fair pet peeve.  However, given the speed of traffic and importance of the 1-at-a-time rule, I felt like my new friend was overreacting a little.   Fortunately, he had kept me from my error, and completed his favor with a hand-gesture lecture.   So, I braked slightly and let him continue on, merging in behind him.

This should have been the end, but he didn't feel I was properly educated.  From the car in front of me, a furious driver continued to lecture with both hands waving to indicate that only one car at a time can merge into traffic!!   "Good grief," I thought.  "I didn't even merge in front of him."  After what seemed like a long time of a driver waving and yelling into his rear view mirror, I finally flashed him an "OK" sign and he seemed satisfied.  

I admit, it wasn't the first sign I thought of flashing, but grace won the day and I smiled with a "please forgive me" attitude while letting him know I'd received the message.  He begrudgingly moved forward (both hands on wheel, finally) and cut off a semi coming up on his left as he lurched past the slower traffic.  Apparently, having to remind me about my driving inadequacies had forced him to inch along much longer than he'd planned to stay in that lane.

I'm sure I wasn't the only one to do this to him yesterday, or in general.  Merging into traffic is not an gift of northwestern drivers.  It bugs my husband, too, that folks tend to do this inefficiently - perhaps even unsafely.  And in case you're wondering, I'm usually good at sticking to the "one at a time" rule.  

This story reminded me something about new years, new opportunities, and new habits.  Perhaps you have a pet peeve.  It could be other drivers, or that coworker beside you, the in-law or family member you love, the person you married, or the child you're raising who offends you today.

Please, on behalf of me and others who make mistakes once in a while, forgive and move on.  It's really not worth a long lecture on the freeway or in the kitchen.  It's not helping that resolution to lower your blood pressure or show more kindness.  It's not valuable enough to hang onto and pull out in the list of things that prove we don't love you enough.  It's simply an annoyance, and here's a little secret: once in a while, you're not perfect, either.

Happy New Year,

MamaToo

thank you, mr. weatherman

I usually complain about the weather here.  Global warming promises an arid climate, but as of now this area remains a bona-fide rain forest.  When it doesn't rain, the mildew and mold and pollen send my allergies into overdrive.  You know this if you visit here often, or if you see that there is an entire category of my posts devoted to "weather."  For the record, I'm not complaining today.

It has been blissfully sunny lately.  Bright blue skies, green everywhere, and sun, sun, sun.  We've had 65 degree afternoons.  It's full-on biking and hiking weather, and the mulch at the playground is dry!  We've celebrated outside a lot, and I've even washed the car.  You know this is big when I wash my car.  

The boys have been decked out in paparazzi-ducking sunglasses and hats, and I've even contemplated sunscreen.  I feel a rush of Vitamin D to my system, and not just because I switched vitamins.  This is what I imagine it was like when God said, "It is good," after creating sunlight and daytime.

The rain will return.  It always does.  However, this is beautiful, and so I owe a great big "THANK YOU" to the Weatherman upstairs.  :)  

never too cold for steak

The neighbors were over yesterday -  kids on scooters and bikes, guys chatting on the lawn, and a splash of blue skies overhead.  It makes me ready for summer!  Unfortunately, that season is several months off.  I guess we'll have to wait to of pull out the grill...

But wait!  I have a wonderful recipe for steak that was published a few years ago in Sunset.  It requires no grill, but offers reliable, delicious company (or big promotion or sweet date) -worthy dinners.  Perhaps you have somebody you'd like to treat this week?  If you're dreaming of sunshine and charcoal, this will help get you motivated to finish shoveling the snow before dinner's ready.

Multicolored-Pepper Steaks with Balsamic Onions

Notes: 

1. to crack peppercorns, whirl briefly in a spice or old coffee grinder, or crush with a flat side of a large knife or flat bottom of a heavy glass.

2. entire dinner takes 45 minutes - roast some potatoes in the oven ahead of time for a midwestern-style meal.  Add a salad for a little color, of course. :)

2 Tblsp butter

2 Tblsp olive oil

2 sweet onions (1 1/2 lb total) - like Walla Walla, Vidalia, or Maui, peeled & slivered lengthwise

1/2 tsp salt

1 - 2 tsp sugar

2 Tblsp balsamic vinegar

1 Tblsp fresh thyme leaves

4 tender beef steaks (each about 1 - 1 1/2 in. thick & 9-12 oz), like top loin or rib eye

1/4 C fresh-cracked multicolored peppercorns (see notes)

1. Preheat oven to 375.

2. Melt 1 1/2 Tblsp butter with 1 1/2 Tblsp olive oil in a 12-inch frying pan over medium heat.  Add onions and stir with 1/2 tsp salt.  Cover and cook until onions are limp, about 8 minutes.  Uncover and sprinkle with sugar.  Increase heat to medium-high and stir often until onions begin to brown, 5-7 minutes.  Add balsamic vinegar & 1 1/2 tsp thyme leaves; stir often until liquid has evaporated (1-2 minutes longer).

3. Rinse steaks and pat dry.  Sprinkle both sides lightly with salt, then coat with pepper.  Melt remaining 1/2 Tblsp butter with 1/2 Tblsp olive oil in a 12-in oven-proof frying pan over medium-high heat (divide among 2 pans if there's not enough room in one).  Add steaks and cook until browned on the bottom (around 4 minutes).  Turn steaks over and cook until beginning to brown on other side (about 2 minutes).  Transfer pan(s) to the oven and bake until medium-rare (still pink in center; cut to test), about 7-8 minutes, or as done as you like (steaks will continue to cook a little after you take them out of the oven).

4. Transfer steaks to warm plates.  Spoon onions over the top & sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 tsp thyme leaves to garnish.  Enjoy!

humanitarian relief

Do you ever think it's not if, but when, you will go crazy? A friend recently said this to me, and I laughed but agreed. This week, it feels like the end of my sanity is truly drawing near.

Last night, I suggested to my husband that we do a humanitarian trip to the place we last visited on our honeymoon (Playa del Carmen, Mexico). As that city is ravaged by Hurricane Dean today, I think of the days ahead. The sun will return, and the people will come back to survey the damage and try to move forward. Many, undoubtedly, will need help.

As altruistic as my idea sounds, this idea is not utterly selfless. See, I'm a weather girl - finding ways to integrate it in ways like here and here. Not that I predict weather (though I've been known to do that). It's just that... I'm affected by weather. I try not to be, but I am. I like sunshine - no, I really, really, really love sunshine. I love hot, sunny days of summer, but even in the winter I love the glitter of sun reflecting off snow.

This is a problem because I live in the veritable rain forest, also known as northwestern US. Yes, it's lush and beautiful here. It's like that because of the abundant months (9-10 each year) of rain we get. It's also green because of the relatively mild temperatures, cool enough to keep from scorching plants, but warm enough to avoid freezing their roots. It's also green because usually we get a few months where the sun shines and photosynthesis reigns.

This year is different. We have not yet had more than seven - ! - consecutive days of sunshine. We've had some sunshine, and we've even had heat, but no summer (by my definition). We've had many days where the sun "burnt off" the morning cloud cover around 3 pm. That is not a sunny day, folks, even if you want to argue that sunset wasn't until 8 pm. Mostly, we've had a few days of sun, followed by a few more days of clouds and "scattered rain" (different, in some weird twist of comedy, from "patches of rain." Don't ask my why. Someday I'll write a TT on all of the odd meteorology terms used in this area!) The clouds will clear, we'll get a few days where it gets hot - like, over 80 degrees - and then back comes another system of clouds.

I'm seriously creeping into crazy. What makes this most unbearable is the sheer volume of people who have loved this weather. Many of them don't think there's anything wrong - perhaps it's even one of their favorite summers in memory. These people, though I love them, think I am the odd duck. Some have very unsympathetically retorted, "but that's why we choose to live here. We love this weather." Maybe true. Maybe it's delusional. Maybe this is just an incredibly well-populated area of water-logged brains. Or perhaps, as they've implied (or said directly), I'm in the wrong place. I hope not, because Mr. Kenobi loves his work here and is very unlikely to move, and I'm not interested in living several states away from him.

If you are thinking, "buck up, little camper," or "sheesh, she's an ungrateful little gal," or "wow - that sounds like paradise," please keep your comments tucked away for a while. I need sympathy. I need prayers. I need a sun dance. I need some real, honest-to-goodness, sun-drenched heat.

So I look at the destruction of this hurricane, the despair facing those whose lives have been completely uprooted and blown across their city, the water everywhere, and I think it would be good to go help. Perhaps, in the midst of that service, I'd even get some much-needed solar therapy.

tagged: eight things, plus five more

I spoke to my mom, back in South Dakota, today. They were enjoying the "pleasantly warm" and "comfortable" temperatures. The forecast for our two towns are approximately the same tomorrow: somewhere in the upper-90's. :)

On a seemingly unrelated note, a dear fellow writer, Proverbs 31, tagged me to write a list. It seems that this whole "tagged" business is both a compliment by the "tagger" and a kick-in-the-pants for me to write more. Keep the compliments flowing - I love compliments. I really, really, love compliments. Even sarcastic ones. But I must ask that you all, like my friend Proverbs 31, kick lightly, okay? I've been writing a lot lately - look here! (Yes, honestly, most were just finishing drafts, but still - it counts, right?)

Her list was about her faith, written with honesty and beautiful vulnerability. As I mentioned, however, t's hot here, so my brain is not geared toward writing especially beautiful or vulnerable posts. In honor of the brain-melting temperatures, I'm keeping things light.

So, here are eight reasons I love the hot weather of summer. For all of you rainy, cool-climate loving neighbors of mine, much love and sympathy (somewhere behind my giggles at your complaints!) Come over and we can make ice cream. And don't worry, the clouds will return soon. They always do.

Okay, I'm cheating & doing a Thursday Thirteen rather than just a "Tagged 8" list. If you just wanted eight things, watch for the stop sign.

1. Sprinklers. As much as I hate wasting water, there is something really fun about jumping through the spray of an old-fashioned sprinkler, slowly getting wetter and wetter until your shorts are gripping your thighs as you run. Not pretty, but very fun.

2. Sun screen. I love the smell. Weird? Probably, but it makes me think of making castles on the beach while sand stuck to the Coppertone lotion on my legs and back. I also like writing letters or words on the boys' backs as we put on the sunscreen.

3. Boating. We live on a river (actually, 2), here and there are tons of boats. Unfortunately, we do not have one, but I have fond memories of boating and...

4. Water-skiing. I miss the tug of a ski-rope in my hands, the spray of the wake, the tension and balance of cutting back and forth behind the boat. Water skiing holds a bit of magic in my family; once upon a time, a young guy didn't believe his friend's claim that a girl in town could ski so well she'd start out of the water backwards & barefoot. She could, and she proved it, and he was so impressed he asked her out on a date. A bit later, they married, and then had me... and my brother... and my other brother... and she still water skis today (maybe only a little bit more cautious!) My mom taught us all to ski, while dad drove the boat. She even taught Mr. Kenobi to ski - way back when he was just that cute college "friend" of her daughter's. Someday we will get to go boating again, and MamaToo will show her boys how to water ski!

5. Salads. I love fruit & veggies, and summer brings out the freshest produce. When I was a kid, we had an enormous garden, and I had to help with all of the hard work of planting, weeding, tending, watering, weeding, etc. before harvest. You'd think I would have grown-up to love gardening, but no! I grew up to love shopping at farmers' markets. :)

6. Ice Cream. Good thing I like salads, eh? Ice cream is a staple in the summer... somewhere between dinner and breakfast, Mr. Kenobi & I enjoy a heaping bowl of Breyer's. Believe it or not, I love vanilla best. Chocolate, strawberry, mint chocolate-chip, or coffee are other favorites. (Someday, I must share a funny story about the question of favorite ice cream flavors. It involves my friend Maria and a church visit, but that's the only hint for now.)

7. Sunglasses. It is my little way of feeling like a celebrity. My boys wear theirs inside as much as outside, and it makes me giggle to walk through the grocery aisles as if we're hiding our identities from the paparazzi.

8. Air conditioning. We don't have it in the house, but I sure love the stores that do. Not that I really need an excuse to love shopping...

IF YOU ONLY WANTED TO KNOW EIGHT THINGS, STOP HERE. :)

9. Skirts. True, I could wear them anytime, but there's something about hot days of sumer that makes me want to pull out a favorite linen skirt and tank top and pull my longish (getting longer!) hair up into a ballerina-style bun. And, as long as we're talking what-not-to-wear...

10. Flip-flops. Again, probably could wear these all the time (who am I kidding? I do wear them all the time!), but there is no better thing to keep your tootsies off the hot pavement while strolling around the block.

11. Sitting in my basement and playing with the boys. Our playroom is in our basement. Yes, it is a definitely luxury to have a playroom. And a basement. But normally I feel a little guilty if we hang out down there too long, like I should be getting them outside. In the hot days, however, I'm really happy to just hang out and build train tracks or play instruments (like the drums!) with the kiddos.

12. Cool nights. Just when the house is getting too stuffy to handle any more, evening hits and the temperatures begin to drop. Usually, by the boy's bedtime, we can throw open windows, put fans in front of the screens, and let the night air in. I love that feeling of fresh, whoooshing air breezing through the house.

13. Slowing down. Some people have to keep up their hectic daily pace or work & activity, with no difference between February and July. I know it's a luxury to have the freedom to re-vamp my schedule and just hang out when the weather gets hot. I appreciate it. Hot weather calls for a slower pace, sipping cold water, and deciding that finding the shady spot for a picnic or filling up the kiddie-pool is your highest priority of the day.

Thanks, Proverbs 31, for some good reading & an excuse to write again today. Thanks, too, for all of the Thirteeners out there with lists of your own. Enjoy the heat! And now, since I completely tossed most of the rules, here's one more twist: if you've read this, and think you're up for the challenge, write your own list and link it in my comments. :)

if you give a girl some rain

If you move a sun-loving, midwestern girl to a northwest city, she'll want a yard. If she gets a yard, it will be soggy from the 300+ days of rain per year.

All of that rain will encourage mold & mildew to grow in the soil. She will call it M&M-land. Thinking of M&M's will remind her that she loves chocolate & baking. She will stay inside during the winter, making & eating cookies.

Eating cookies will make her gain weight. She will want to lose the weight. She doesn't like to exercise in the rain, so she'll look wait for sunny days.

When the sunny days start, they will dry out her yard. She will want to play outside with her boys. She will start to think she likes the northwest.

Playing outside will remind her that the yard must be mowed. She will ask Mr. Kenobi to mow her yard. He might do it. Mowing the yard will make Mr. Kenobi want to go for a walk or ride bikes. He will take his wife & children out on adventures.

All of that playing, mowing and bike riding will stir up the mold & mildew that was growing outside. It will mix with the dust that is already in the air. The girl from the sunny midwest is allergic to mold, mildew, and dust.

She will sneeze a lot and start taking Claritin. Claritin will aggravate her contacts, which she needs to wear, because her boys have broken her glasses. She cannot see without contacts or glasses. She will take out her contacts and stay at home.

Being at home will remind her that she needs to clean out the closets and vacuum under the furniture. This will not help her allergies. Her eyes will start watering and her nose will run constantly. She will buy kleenex and let her boys watch Sesame Street and Bob the Builder.

People will ask her if she's in crisis, because she'll look like she's been crying for days on end. The girl will become so frustrated by it all that she may actually start crying for days on end. She will probably make audacious statements like, "I'm allergic to this place!" and "I hate living here!" and "I want to move to Arizona!"

She will be kidding... a little. Kidding around will remind her of how much she likes playing in the yard. She will want to go outside.

And chances are, if she goes outside, it will start to rain again.