Fried Egg Whites

     Yes, I am almost 40 and I have had a strange relationship with eggs for most of my life.  There were periods of complete avoidance as they disgusted me at all turns.  This changed throughout my life in different phases.  I know which restaurants are safe for ordering certain styles of eggs and which are to be avoided at all costs.  I have also grown up a bit and am venturing into egg cooking methods I wouldn't have bothered with as a kid.  As a kid I would envy the enthusiasm in which people would dunk their toast in the golden flowing river of yolk...but not enough to get past the white.  Eeewww.  My nephew was visiting once and we realized that we were simpatico with eggs...he liked only the white while I preferred the dipping.  We would share.  All of the years later I become friends with the egg.  I make all sorts of things with them.  Our house is no stranger to the quiche or frittata.  I have embraced deviled eggs as well as egg salad.  I still can't get past a hard boiled egg on its own but I will sneak it into a salad if the dressing is good. 
     The fried egg white has always been on "ban" mode...until now.  I threw a little salt and pepper on it and scooped it up onto my rye toast and sure enough it wasn't that bad.  I know it holds less fat and lots of protein compared to its yellow partner so I thought I should go for it.  Now, I'm not promising anything about my future and the devouring of the whites but though this might sound simple enough as a new thing it is actually quite momentous.  It's another one of those moments when you realize you can be different if you just decide to be.  I don't like being held back by what "always was" a certain way.  I have the power to change things.  It's just an egg white on a plate but it's an even bigger shift in the paradigm in my life.  I guess that leaves the poached egg. Let's not get crazy, people!

New Timeline on FB

     I'm not thrilled with the new format.  I know change is good and all but I've had my fill these days.  Today was a day with many new things and my checks on my big fat TO DO list are a-plenty.  Tomorrow the timeline goes live without my say so...so I chose to do it myself today.  Maybe it is part of the new wave of making things happen myself as opposed to allowing them to happen to me.   So though it may seem like a weak new thing it is actually quite symbolic.  Here is to creating more than just a new timeline but a new way to spend my time!!!

Cheez Doodles at the Welcome Center

     We have no water at our house.  The well pump is busted...again.  So one must get creative as a parent.  Mommy Macgyver  if you will.  Luckily, we live close to a welcome center.  Through many a power outage we have ran there for a safe place to brush our teeth or take a bathroom break.  Today, I picked up the kids from school and headed right there for a little "rest".  Ethan remembered my daily announcement of the National Food of the Day....Cheez Doodles.  He walked over to the vending machine and said, "Hey, let's get those to celebrate the day!".  I have to give him credit for listening.  So I did.  We sat on a bench in a sunny window and passed the tiny bag back and forth to one another.  We talked about school and our week.  We laughed as our fingers grew orange.  Clever mama knew to stay right there where there was running water to take away the cheezy hue. 
     In these quiet and sweet little moments with my children I realize that I am teaching them so much more than the basic skills.  I am teaching them adaptation.  Strength.  Creativity.  I am teaching them that a positive attitude can take a challenging situation and make it an adventure.  I am making the mundane something special.  I hope that when they grow up that this is a normal thing for them.  Maybe they will learn to cherish the simple and see the importance in the truly valuable things.   These days I sometimes feel badly that I can't offer them more.  But most of the time I know that what  I am offering is really the stuff that matters.  Hugs are more important than toys.  Time is more valuable than junk.  Love is all we really need.  It is the stuff that will make them whole and strong when things are tough.  They can't all be days at Disney but sometimes they can feel even more special. 

Morning Chat with Shelley

     I was checking out some blogs early on this Sunday morning when all of a sudden a little bubble popped up.  It was my pal, Shelley, saying hello.   We talked about the state of our lives and caught up a tad on the everyday.  It was nice.  We are all super busy all of the time with life.  It is hard to schedule time and events together.  I don't think any of us fault one another for the lack of time we have...but it is always nice when we find the time.  Dig for it.  Carve it out.  Some of us do that.  Some of us have tricky priorities.  So a little spontaneous shout out can be a real treat.  A text takes a moment.  A chat can be quick and still wonderful.  A little card in the mail can send a hug from anywhere.  We all need to know we are loved and supported.  I passed this sentiment on to someone else later on in the morning.  I am no longer shy about butting in and being heard.  I have learned that I am always open for support.  Advice.  A hug.  I also want others to know that I am genuinely concerned when they need a little boost themselves.  We should all be there for one another.  There is nothing like the realization that others are feeling what we are.  There is nothing more validating than someone understanding.  There is nothing like the push that we get when someone holds up up when we have a moment of weakness.  Let me take this time to say thank you again to those of you who have held me up.  I hope I have done the same for you. 

The Lorax

     We had reason to celebrate today and we stretched it as long as we could.  The morning included a trip to the movies to see the long awaited Suess story, The Lorax.  A bold and beautiful cartoon held the usual Suess magic and lessons of life.  I believe it even poked at politics and religion.  Gave us all something to think about. 
Twas a great story. 
A great movie to see.
About all that is precious...
Especially a tree.

Ride the Library Elevator with Greta

     My kids are getting older.  It pains me to pack up clothes that are too small.  It hurts me to know that my daughter is hitting double digits in about a week.  But before the panic of "mommyhood lost" kicks in...I look to friends and family with their own little ones.  I look to their milestones as a field trip back to the moments that I cherished so long ago.  I tag along sometimes.  It is a celebration of them as well as a little hug for my soul.  Today, I spent some time with my girls at the coffee shop.  Jenne and I talked about grown up stuff one minute only for Greta and I to giggle over silly stuff a moment later.  It was all leading up to a special moment in a childhood...
     We headed to the library where a certain little someone got her first library card.  We then looked for some books.  Little Greta used her new card already and we celebrated with a ride on the elevator...up one whole floor...and back down again...without even stepping out of the doors.  A simple enough ride but somewhere around floor 1.5 I took a mental photograph of this sweet little moment.  I snapped it and thought about how someday when she was older I would dig it out of my memory bank and think of the little blond pigtails and our giggly little ride up and down one floor.  Everyday can be magical if you just learn how to give life a ride...even if it's only one trip on an elevator. 

Sparring at Karate

     The kids have loved karate since they started it.  LOVED it.   They have picked up the forms quickly.  Ethan was told he had a little body but a big mind.  Then there was sparring.  Emily seemed to jump in.  Ethan was brought to tears at the thought.  I have put an extra special effort into encouraging him to try.  I also understand the feeling of being pushed when you aren't ready so I was careful not to do that.  His instructor is a brilliant man who was clever enough to offer him the choice of "champion of forms or champion of sparring".  All of this ease and a stripe on his belt to boost his confidence and Little Man has been brewing the excitement for the battle.  Tonight, I got to watch both of them as they warmed up, took punches and kicks with eyes closed and then sparred with an opponent.  When they were finished they were full of sweat and smiles.  Tonight I said the words that I thought were impossible just a few weeks ago..."Your sparring was awesome...I am so proud!".