Sprite's Keeper

Spin Cycle: Dear friends and family, (Read before recycling!)

The first Holiday Newsletter Spin is in!

Pseudo over at Pseudymous High School Teacher

Joanie M over at Joanie's Random Ramblings

Maureen over at IslandRoar -Updated Tuesday!

Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar -Updated Wednesday!

Erin over at The Locals Love It -Updated Wednesday!

Hollywood Farm over at Hollywood Farm -Updated Wednesday! New to the Spin Cycle! Thanksgiving Spin!

Stacey over at Stacey's Random Thoughts -Updated Thursday!

Laufa over at Morgan Madness -Updated Thursday!

Vandy over at The Testosterone Three and Me -Updated Thursday!

Mama Badger over at Out of the Boondocks and Into the Burbs -Updated Thursday!

Remember to lick that stamp and send in your Holiday Happenings before Friday, December 4th or no one will ever find out how many pounds you've lost this year or how many trophies JR has won in his math club!

Because that's what you see on a bear hunt.

I peaked into the room, checking for Sprite's brown curls. Finding her, (and confirming she was wearing the same outfit she came in with, that's how I know it's been a good day) I smiled when she screamed my name in recognition.

Opening the door, I was immediately tackled by loving limbs.

 "Mommy!"

"Hi, love!" I responded and ducked in to peck her a kiss before she started telling me about her day.

"We went on a bear hunt!"

"You went where?"

The teacher walked over. "The kids went on a bear hunt and looked for paw prints."

I grinned down at Sprite, who was hopping in front of me, catching my attention. "That sounds like so much fun!"

"I made a footprint, Mommy!"

"You did?" Her maniacal energy was infectious, I noticed myself pulsing on my own feet to keep up with her furvor.

"I show you!" She pulled on my hands and led me to where a long rectangle of paper lay, the purple splotches still wet in their freshness. 

"Now, we can't touch the prints, Sprite," the teacher warned, knowing that she would be reaching to do exactly that," but we can show your Mommy your footprint."

Turning her attention to me, the teacher explained the exercise. "The kids went on a bear hunt in the hallway and throughout the hunt, they were asked what they saw."

Looking down at the various footprints, I could read different quotes. Some of the children saw elephants, some saw the obligatory bear since it was obviously the star of the show, going off of the visual cues from the dozens of colorful pictures lining the hallway. "Sprite, what did you see?"

The teacher let out a chuckle and pointed to Sprite's splotch. "Read it."

I leaned closer and laughed as it made sense. 

Right above her footprint, it read, "I saw Daisy Duck!"

"Sprite, you saw Daisy Duck?"

"Uh huh, and Mermaid? And Sleeping Doody? I see them too!" She ran to the door. "Come on, Mommy! We go to blue car! I watch Toy Story!"

And I complain when The Biggest Loser layers on the product placement. My own kid is a walking Disney ad.

Spin Cycle: Doorbuster Thanks Good until 10AM!!!

 

All right, these sales better be good for me to get out of bed before dawn..

 

Does the Disney Store have any sales going on?

 

Wow, these prices ARE good! Minnie's are discounted! I can now collect all ten for under $10!

 

Yes! Exactly what I was looking for! I am so there! Hm, supplies are limited, camping out may be necessary...

As you can guess, I am right now (probably now if you're reading this before Noon) (probably sleeping if you are reading this beyond Noon) (drooling may be involved..) participating in Black Friday. For a taste of what I usually deal with, check out this ode to Black Friday from last year.

Any Spins added today will be linked when I get home in a responsible fashion until I keel over from exhaustion. (and possible wounds if you have any clue about the caliber of women I will be shopping with..)

Hope your day is full of thanks, great sales, and leftover turkey sandwiches!

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Here are the other Spinners just bursting with gratitude! (And maybe some gravy, but definitely gratitude..)

Stacy over at Stacy's Random Thoughts

Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar 

Stacy over at Stacy's Random Thoughts 

Jen over at Sprite's Keeper (Totally allowed.)

Raven over at Superhero Extraodinaire 

Vandy over at The Testosterone Three and Me 

Mama Badger over at Out of the Boondocks and Into the Burbs... 

Erin over at It's Only A Movie 

Rikki over at Cowgirls Like Me 

Mary Anne over at The Stiletto Mom 

Maureen over at IslandRoar 

Stacy over at Stacy's Random Thoughts 

Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar 

Jen over at Sprite's Keeper  (This one may be pushing the limit a bit..)

Erin over at It's Only A Movie 

Rachel over at The Ramblings of Rachel 

Lisa over at Boondock Ramblings 

Stacy over at Stacy's Random Thoughts 

Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar 

Mama Badger over at Out of the Boondocks and Into the Burbs... 

Kendra over at Life in the Slow Lane 

Erin over at The Locals Love It 

Ginger over at When Ginger Snaps... 

Meli over at Randomosity - Mommy Style! 

Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar 

Stacy over at Stacy's Random Thoughts 

Gretchen over at Second Blooming

Pseudo over at Pseudonymous High School Teacher

Stacy over at Stacy's Random Thoughts -Updated today! Fresh Spin!

Ginger over at When Ginger Snaps... -Updated Sunday! Fresh Spin!

Makes you all warm inside, huh? (You may want to check the oven to make sure you remembered to turn it off..)

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Next week's Spin assignment: Holiday Newsletters

We did it last year! We're doing it again this year!

Time to bust out your calendar and take a look at all the great things that has happened to your family this year. Brag about your accomplishments! Gloss over the negatives! Take a picture of your green grass so your relatives have a visual aid while they silently curse your good fortune!

Anyway, Spin out your holiday tribute! Make it serious, funny, (snark always welcome here) or even full of pictures!

Just have it here at the Spin Cycle by Friday, December 4th!

(Sorry, COD's not accepted.)

Week of Thanks: Thankful for today. (And last year too..)

(Yes, I am phoning this one in. I looked over last year's Thanksgiving post and we're doing the exact same thing THIS year, so there you go! Only this year, Sprite is old enough to reach for the appetizers without my help, so instead of standing guard over the breakables, I'm going to be defending the m&m's since she will most likely try to make a three course meal out of them.)

(On behalf of John and Sprite, let me steal this quick tangent to say "thank you" to you all. Thanks for reading, and thanks for allowing me to follow some of your journeys. Your words and comments have saved me a lot of money in therapy..)

Culture Clash (Originally published November 27, 2008)

Gotta love the holidays.

I'm on the other side of the state, John and Sprite in tow, for Thanksgiving with the family. We'll start the festivities at my parents' best friends' home which we've been going to for years. The shindig over there begins at 1pm. Around 8:30PM, we break away from the party as it begins to wind down and head over to John's parents' for their celebration which begins at 9PM and lasts until the final reveler is down for the count.

This is the only holiday during the year which lets us be with both sides of the family on the same day and also lets the familial feathers stay unruffled.

It's almost pure poetry the way one party segues into the other one with nary a burp to disrupt the merriment. For our little entourage of 3, it's nonstop chatter, hugs, and pie from the earliest of the afternoon to the latest of the night. It's a blessing. It's also a curse.

You see, while both sites today will be hosting a Thanksgiving meal, the title of the feast alone is as far as the similarities go. John's family lays out the Thanksgiving spread quite differently from the average American buffet. This can lead to an often humorous culinary culture clash.

At our first stop, the menu includes one big turkey, stuffing, potatoes, brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, rolls, and of course dessert which embraces pies of the pecan, pumpkin, and apple descent. You're probably going to or just did look at the same food yourself.

At our second stop, things change. A lot. Sprite and I are the only non-pork consuming people at the second stop, so my father-in-law makes the effort to have a little turkey available, but MAKE WAY FOR THE HAM! It conquers the table, but is gracious enough to make room for caesar salad, beans and rice (the purple variety), plantains (fried or baked until it's carmelized, YUM!), yucca, and heaven forbid we leave out the dessert. Maybe one pumpkin pie might be present, but the main guests' names begin with "Tres" and end with "Leches". Of course, flan is always invited because they have to invite it, but no one really makes any time with it. You would think that gelatinous goop would get the hint, right?

So, from one destination to the next, we trounce along, getting more stuffed with every passing "You have to try the sweet potatoes!" and "I made this just for you! I know how much you like (insert weird food combination you thrilled over five years ago just to be nice)!".

Through it all, we will be surrounded by the ones we love the most.

We're going to try to be good, resist most of the bad things, but you know what? It's Thanksgiving. So, today, we're giving thanks for stretchable fabric, Tums, and hopefully a nap somewhere along the way.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I hope you're spending it exactly as you want to, whether a quiet meal with a select few, or jockeying for space at the kiddie table where the food fight always starts. Whichever way you celebrate, I'm raising a glass for you tonight and adding you to my prayers.

Gotta love the holidays.

I'm on the other side of the state, John and Sprite in tow, for Thanksgiving with the family. We'll start the festivities at my parents' best friends' home which we've been going to for years. The shindig over there begins at 1pm. Around 8:30PM, we break away from the party as it begins to wind down and head over to John's parents' for their celebration which begins at 9PM and lasts until the final reveler is down for the count.

This is the only holiday during the year which lets us be with both sides of the family on the same day and also lets the familial feathers stay unruffled.

It's almost pure poetry the way one party segues into the other one with nary a burp to disrupt the merriment. For our little entourage of 3, it's nonstop chatter, hugs, and pie from the earliest of the afternoon to the latest of the night. It's a blessing. It's also a curse.

You see, while both sites today will be hosting a Thanksgiving meal, the title of the feast alone is as far as the similarities go. John's family lays out the Thanksgiving spread quite differently from the average American buffet. This can lead to an often humorous culinary culture clash.

At our first stop, the menu includes one big turkey, stuffing, potatoes, brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, rolls, and of course dessert which embraces pies of the pecan, pumpkin, and apple descent. You're probably going to or just did look at the same food yourself.

At our second stop, things change. A lot. Sprite and I are the only non-pork consuming people at the second stop, so my father-in-law makes the effort to have a little turkey available, but MAKE WAY FOR THE HAM! It conquers the table, but is gracious enough to make room for caesar salad, beans and rice (the purple variety), plantains (fried or baked until it's carmelized, YUM!), yucca, and heaven forbid we leave out the dessert. Maybe one pumpkin pie might be present, but the main guests' names begin with "Tres" and end with "Leches". Of course, flan is always invited because they have to invite it, but no one really makes any time with it. You would think that gelatinous goop would get the hint, right?

So, from one destination to the next, we trounce along, getting more stuffed with every passing "You have to try the sweet potatoes!" and "I made this just for you! I know how much you like (insert weird food combination you thrilled over five years ago just to be nice)!".

Through it all, we will be surrounded by the ones we love the most.

We're going to try to be good, resist most of the bad things, but you know what? It's Thanksgiving. So, today, we're giving thanks for stretchable fabric, Tums, and hopefully a nap somewhere along the way.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I hope you're spending it exactly as you want to, whether a quiet meal with a select few, or jockeying for space at the kiddie table where the food fight always starts. Whichever way you celebrate, I'm raising a glass for you tonight and adding you to my prayers.

Week of Thanks: I'm thankful for a healthy child.

Being your oridinary average run of the mill (redundant much?) three year old, there's not much going on in Sprite's World that can throw me for a loop.

She mostly suffers her colds in cheerful silence, never complaining about the sniffles or coughs that come her way. Most of the time, we learn of her illness through her sneezes and the resulting color of the dangling participles (sorry for the visual, but that is our child's way. We've learned to stop gagging. You should too.) (Veteran parents are probably rolling their eyes, thinking, "You want disgusting? I can show you disgusting.") (No, thanks though.)

She scratches the hell out of her skin thanks to Eczema, but oh well. Here's a band aid and long sleeves. Stop yer bitching. (We're talking about my bitching of course.)

She feeds off the energy of her older cousins, but what kid doesn't? It's attention! From an older kid! Let it go unless you start to hear the older role models practicing their cursing skills, then remove the sponge-like small one from their presence. (We're talking about- yeah, you get it..)

Here's the point. I can't complain. She's a textbook child. (The attitude may be abnormal, but the pediatrician says I have no case.)

Most of the time, if you watch a child on the playground for about 10 minutes or so, (keep in mind, obviously watching a kid who is not yours may mean the child's parent is probably watching YOU, but we all do it.) you can get a good clue about how that child is in general. Factors will pop up and notify you of a possible physical or mental condition because the child is acting normally and some of these conditions will present themselves naturally.

But what about the kids whose conditions are invisible?

You wouldn't be able to tell if someone has Epilepsy unless they say something, right? Or unless they have an episode.

It is National Epilepsy Awareness Month and Kirsten over at Gone Bananasis promoting the hell out of it. Of course, her reasoning is close to the heart. Her daughter Meg was diagnosed with Epilepsy at a very young age, and while she lives the life of a normal child and loves everything about Hannah Montana, (By the way, is it just me or does Miley Cyrus slur her words? Oh, sorry, back to the more important topic) Epilepsy still is a very foreboding shadow on an otherwise sunshine day.

Kirst makes it her mission to keep Meg's life as carefree as possible (although she can't shield Meg from homework. That always sneaks in somehow.) while also educating others and raising funds to find a cure for (or at least a way to prevent) Epilepsy.

She's hosting a give away to drum up some buzz about getting the word out about epilepsy and the little known facts.

So go on over, say hi, and get acquainted with a cause that needs more support.

And be thankful for the health in your body, your child's body. Suddenly, childish angst doesn't carry so much weight, does it?

RTT: Thankful it's not Monday.

Seriously, where has this year gone? I'm not ready for 2010. My nephew is excited that he's turning ten and "entering the double-digits!" Does every kid focus on that? I seem to remember getting all jiggity for it myself when I was ready to pounce on a decade..

But let's tackle Thanksgiving first!

Last week was my office's potluck for Thanksgiving. While I was deciding what I would contribute to the spread, a conversation was struck up about the merits of boxed potatoes versus mashed potatoes from scratch.

I'm sorry, there's even a debate about this?

A pox on the box! (If you want my official statement on the matter.)

I've been making mashed potatoes by scratch since I found out how disgustingly easy it is. It's just so much better than freeze-dried flakes and involves sheer minutes of peeling the skins (or leave 'em on for added vitamins and laziness!) and cutting up the chunks for boiling. How hard could that be? Once they're fork tender, just drain, dump into a bowl, add some milk and butter, and turn on the beaters until they're smooth. Even I can't fail at this! (And I've failed at a lot, even the boxed taters!)

So, I decided to prove my point in spud-ology and made the side dish for the office, even adding some fresh chopped parsley to make it pretty. Ending result? They were liked, but the guy who made his case about loving the walled in veggies that resembled the cardboard packaging they came in didn't even try them.

I'm still calling it a win. (I'm thankful he's not calling me out for that.)

John sent me an email last week uncovering the harsh truth behind movie theater popcorn. It turns out there's a lot more fat and calories in it than we thought. (Actually, I've known about this for a while, but it may be news to you.) I sent back a reply accusing those movie theater bastards of a-salt and buttery. Then I had to re-deliver the punch line over the phone since John didn't get it in its written form. Really. I DO talk this way. (I'm thankful my family still speaks to me..)

It's okay though. I sneak my own snacks in. Any concession stand that offers layaway plans for their m&m's is probably overcharging anyway. (I'm thankful they don't check purses at the movie theaters...yet.)

I have this friend whom I've known for 14 years. While we used to be in each other's back pockets, lately, our friendship has evolved (as all friendships worn by time and distance do) into more of a Facebook friendship. I rarely get phone calls from her and, my bad, I don't make the effort either. But I can't help but feel a little jaded by our already faded friendship when I open up my mailbox to recieve a fundraiser form to support her kid's cirricular activities. A fundraiser form in which the lowest denomination I can check off is $25.00. A fundraiser form I have no guilt over throwing into the wastebasket with the prepped rebuttal that I conveniently didn't recieve it should she call to make sure her stamp was spent wisely. (I'm thankful my friend does not read this blog.)

Ever since Sprite took on the new role of a three year old, it seems this job now has more responsibilities. Every Monday, in her new classroom, I pick up a news sheet of what to expect that week, and what's expected of us parents. I've been taking MY new responsibilities seriously, getting any and all materials ready to come into class Tuesday, even if they're not due for another week. I add any special events to our calendar at home so she doesn't forget her necklace to show for "N" presentation on Thursday. I wanted her teachers to think I am a responsible parent who is either ahead of the game or due a free spin for the one time I may screw up.

Unfortunately, I got my free spin handed to me on Friday when John called me at the office while dropping Sprite off for school.
"Did you know that today is Picture Day?"
My responding gasp was all he needed to hear as I remembered writing it down on the fridge calendar and then completely disregarding it by dressing her in a stained Mickey Mouse Clubhouse shirt for her school day. It was too late. (I'm thankful that we weren't planning on buying the school pictures this year. Last year's was bad enough and I STILL got suckered into dropping a Benjamin on them. This year, the family is getting an updated Sprite picture that John and I actually APPROVE of.)

You know what else I'm thankful for? Keely and The Un Mom for hosting this amazing forum called Random Thoughts Tuesday. Head on over and wish her a happy week since Canada has already celebrated their Thanksgiving, but that won't stop her from raising a glass with you.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Aren't you thankful this was a short post?

Week of Thanks: You'll thank me for this.

Welcome to the Week of Thanks! Thanks for coming!

Since the Keeper family has a lot to do in getting ready for the Holidays (capital on the H this year since Sprite now knows who Santa is and was last seen constructing a trap of sorts for the fat man when he comes for her cookies.) I'm reposting some of my tried and true Thankful themed posts. I immediately thought of this one since it was posted the Monday before Thanksgiving last year and, I have to admit, has some pretty funny lines in it. Yes, I actually get a kick out of my own writing. What? You don't go back into your Archives to peak in on some gems and wonder What the hell was I on to come up with THAT play on words? how you thought of such genius?

So, being that we're still 2 weeks out from the next HASAY update, I thought I definitely me Get that scale away from me! This weekend was difficult.. some of us could use some helpful reminders when we face off against the buffet table.

HASAY Week 6: Tips for the Turkey (I come bearing lists) - Originally Published November 24, 2008

Don't know what HASAY is? Click here. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Accessories sold separately.

Okay, people. This week begins the actual "Holiday Season", or in mostly everyone's case, the "Holiday Glutton". Parties usually begin around Thanksgiving and don't serve "Last Call" until after the New Year. Food is spread out for the taking and the only thing they ask in return is a pound of flesh. Or two. Or- um, put down the eggnog, please.

Diets are tested, insulin levels are challenged, the effects of tryptophan, you know, triple. Cookies and candies and cakes become a common sight everywhere from the office to your doctor's office to the post office to your home to your fridge...and dude, it's 3 in the morning. Show some restraint!

It's tough out there. Sweaters, meant for hiding your skin from the cold, serve double duty to hide the extra skin that came a caroling as well.

Where does HASAY fit in all this? (Heh heh, get it? FIT?) (What?)

I've had a couple of temptations lately, the next one being Tuesday for our office's Thanksgiving brunch (Oh yeah, can someone remind me? I'm supposed to bring my griddle tomorrow to make pancakes. Not me making the pancakes. They're using the griddle, not me. I mean, we all know what I'm capable of, right?) and then of course, Thanksgiving itself.

I'm pretty good about staying away from the bad things and keeping my cheating down to a "treating" once a week. I usually reserve these treats for Saturdays when I'm not stressed with work, I don't have to exercise, and I can enjoy myself. The rest of the week? Get your bread the hell away from me.

Of course, this week, my treat will be used for Thursday since I have not one, but two Thanksgiving dinners to attend. (More about that on Thursday.) So, John and I have talked about it and came up with our tried and true methods for indulging in the sweet and savory holiday goodies. Here they are, some you've heard before, but hey, they work!

1. Eat a small meal before going to parties. It DOES help you think twice about visiting the buffet table and keeps the nibbling to a mininum.

2. If the meal will be at the party, grab the smallest plate you can find (like the kid's cabinet? So what if Scooby Doo is staring up at you? It's still less room for Scooby Snacks!) and only use that plate for your food. The smaller the plate, the smaller the serving, the bigger the space between your belt and gut.

3. Bogart the protein and fill up on that. Trying to ration so everyone gets some turkey? Screw that! This is your waist on the line! (Get it? Waist-... Never mind.) They'll understand. After the New Year. After they've started talking to you again. Oh yeah, and the entire white meat/dark meat thing? Busted. (It's true. I heard it on the John Tesh Radio Show. Has anyone listened to it? Does it sound like he's barking his words sometimes or is it just me?)

4. Limit the alchohol. Sure, the mojitos are kick ass, but empty calories as well. They add up. Plus, when someone (always) breaks out the Trivial Pursuit game, you want to be able to recall those empty facts a bit quicker than everyone else. Being smarter than a bunch of drunk people is awesome. (I would say awesomesauce, but sauce is fattening.)

5. Indulge. Huh? What the hell kind of food limitation list is this? I said "indulge". Go to the dessert table. Pick out the one sweet you're looking forward to most and save your "points" for that. This means, you need to be good during dinner and only have a small piece. But you still get your cake! And the feeling of heaven when you swallow that bite of forbidden bliss.

6. Not a sweets person? Neither is John, really. So, he recommends limiting your servings of the side dishes which he counts as one of his vices. Mashed potatoes? Keep it down to one scoop. Small scoop. In fact, if the hosting couple has a little girl who has an Easy Bake oven or fake food utensils, use HER scoop. That way, you have some potatoes, the fake scoop has an actual use in life, and the contamination you may have picked up from the Chinese made scoop which was probably recalled YEARS ago will only burn more calories when you're fighting off a new unknown strand of Avian flu. (Best. Diet. Ever.) (Quick! What movie is that from?)

7. Stay away from the butter! What is so wrong with naked potatoes? And broccoli? They DO have a taste, you've just been jaded by the constant use of the cow's culinary curse that you don't know a floret from a floor tile anymore. If you don't like the taste naked, then why are you eating it? (Hm?) (This also applies to the ranch dressing you drown your carrot sticks in.)

8. Drink lots of water. In fact, John says to drink two glasses of water before the food comes out. This will help fill you up a little, keep the food shoveling at bay, and lessen the chances of asking for another go round with the green bean casserole. (The fried onions fight dirty too. And give you gas. Come on, how many times can you blame it on the dog anyway? Worse, what if they don't have a dog? Blaming it on old Aunt Mildred is just evil and Santa will remember that.)

9. Exercise that day. You pretty much know your resistance is low. The force is strong with the brownie. Use the fork, Luke. So, kick your own butt hours before, take a shower, because your goal is to make conversation with family, not start family traditions over who has to invite "the smelly one" next year, and go to that party with your fork held high, knowing that the calories you burned will at least be a wash. And you can wear the same nice slimning outfit next month to the holiday party! (Washed, of course.)

10. Bring mints. It's proven somewhere, not here, that when you've just brushed your teeth or had a mint, you're less likely to eat. Something about the subliminal hint that you just cleaned your teeth, therefore the kitchen is closed. Or maybe it's about the nasty aftertaste mints give everything you eat. (Except coffee. Ever had a drink of coffee after chewing up a mint? Oh, yeah...)

So there you go. A list. You don't have to use all the tips. You've probably seen these tips plastered all over the women's magazines anyway. But, remember! When you're about to bite into a flaky piece of apple pie covered in whipped cream and caramel sauce, think about what you're eating. Think about your clothes and how you really don't want to have to work it off come January. Or just think about the children. Won't someone think of the children?

Got some tips of your own? Don't be a scrooge! Share here!

Now, if you'll excuse me, someone just placed a bowl of M&M's near my desk and I need to go shove this list down their throat share my tips with them for holiday nibbling.

Don't know what HASAY is? Click here. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Accessories sold separately.

Okay, people. This week begins the actual "Holiday Season", or in mostly everyone's case, the "Holiday Glutton". Parties usually begin around Thanksgiving and don't serve "Last Call" until after the New Year. Food is spread out for the taking and the only thing they ask in return is a pound of flesh. Or two. Or- um, put down the eggnog, please.

Diets are tested, insulin levels are challenged, the effects of tryptophan, you know, triple. Cookies and candies and cakes become a common sight everywhere from the office to your doctor's office to the post office to your home to your fridge...and dude, it's 3 in the morning. Show some restraint!

It's tough out there. Sweaters, meant for hiding your skin from the cold, serve double duty to hide the extra skin that came a caroling as well.

Where does HASAY fit in all this? (Heh heh, get it? FIT?) (What?)

I've had a couple of temptations lately, the next one being Tuesday for our office's Thanksgiving brunch (Oh yeah, can someone remind me? I'm supposed to bring my griddle tomorrow to make pancakes. Not me making the pancakes. They're using the griddle, not me. I mean, we all know what I'm capable of, right?) and then of course, Thanksgiving itself.

I'm pretty good about staying away from the bad things and keeping my cheating down to a "treating" once a week. I usually reserve these treats for Saturdays when I'm not stressed with work, I don't have to exercise, and I can enjoy myself. The rest of the week? Get your bread the hell away from me.

Of course, this week, my treat will be used for Thursday since I have not one, but two Thanksgiving dinners to attend. (More about that on Thursday.) So, John and I have talked about it and came up with our tried and true methods for indulging in the sweet and savory holiday goodies. Here they are, some you've heard before, but hey, they work!

1. Eat a small meal before going to parties. It DOES help you think twice about visiting the buffet table and keeps the nibbling to a mininum.

2. If the meal will be at the party, grab the smallest plate you can find (like the kid's cabinet? So what if Scooby Doo is staring up at you? It's still less room for Scooby Snacks!) and only use that plate for your food. The smaller the plate, the smaller the serving, the bigger the space between your belt and gut.

3. Bogart the protein and fill up on that. Trying to ration so everyone gets some turkey? Screw that! This is your waist on the line! (Get it? Waist-... Never mind.) They'll understand. After the New Year. After they've started talking to you again. Oh yeah, and the entire white meat/dark meat thing? Busted. (It's true. I heard it on the John Tesh Radio Show. Has anyone listened to it? Does it sound like he's barking his words sometimes or is it just me?)

4. Limit the alchohol. Sure, the mojitos are kick ass, but empty calories as well. They add up. Plus, when someone (always) breaks out the Trivial Pursuit game, you want to be able to recall those empty facts a bit quicker than everyone else. Being smarter than a bunch of drunk people is awesome. (I would say awesomesauce, but sauce is fattening.)

5. Indulge. Huh? What the hell kind of food limitation list is this? I said "indulge". Go to the dessert table. Pick out the one sweet you're looking forward to most and save your "points" for that. This means, you need to be good during dinner and only have a small piece. But you still get your cake! And the feeling of heaven when you swallow that bite of forbidden bliss.

6. Not a sweets person? Neither is John, really. So, he recommends limiting your servings of the side dishes which he counts as one of his vices. Mashed potatoes? Keep it down to one scoop. Small scoop. In fact, if the hosting couple has a little girl who has an Easy Bake oven or fake food utensils, use HER scoop. That way, you have some potatoes, the fake scoop has an actual use in life, and the contamination you may have picked up from the Chinese made scoop which was probably recalled YEARS ago will only burn more calories when you're fighting off a new unknown strand of Avian flu. (Best. Diet. Ever.) (Quick! What movie is that from?)

7. Stay away from the butter! What is so wrong with naked potatoes? And broccoli? They DO have a taste, you've just been jaded by the constant use of the cow's culinary curse that you don't know a floret from a floor tile anymore. If you don't like the taste naked, then why are you eating it? (Hm?) (This also applies to the ranch dressing you drown your carrot sticks in.)

8. Drink lots of water. In fact, John says to drink two glasses of water before the food comes out. This will help fill you up a little, keep the food shoveling at bay, and lessen the chances of asking for another go round with the green bean casserole. (The fried onions fight dirty too. And give you gas. Come on, how many times can you blame it on the dog anyway? Worse, what if they don't have a dog? Blaming it on old Aunt Mildred is just evil and Santa will remember that.)

9. Exercise that day. You pretty much know your resistance is low. The force is strong with the brownie. Use the fork, Luke. So, kick your own butt hours before, take a shower, because your goal is to make conversation with family, not start family traditions over who has to invite "the smelly one" next year, and go to that party with your fork held high, knowing that the calories you burned will at least be a wash. And you can wear the same nice slimning outfit next month to the holiday party! (Washed, of course.)

10. Bring mints. It's proven somewhere, not here, that when you've just brushed your teeth or had a mint, you're less likely to eat. Something about the subliminal hint that you just cleaned your teeth, therefore the kitchen is closed. Or maybe it's about the nasty aftertaste mints give everything you eat. (Except coffee. Ever had a drink of coffee after chewing up a mint? Oh, yeah...)

So there you go. A list. You don't have to use all the tips. You've probably seen these tips plastered all over the women's magazines anyway. But, remember! When you're about to bite into a flaky piece of apple pie covered in whipped cream and caramel sauce, think about what you're eating. Think about your clothes and how you really don't want to have to work it off come January. Or just think about the children. Won't someone think of the children?

Got some tips of your own? Don't be a scrooge! Share here!

Now, if you'll excuse me, someone just placed a bowl of M&M's near my desk and I need to go shove this list down their throat share my tips with them for holiday nibbling.

Spin Cycle: Thank You!

Our week of Thanks begins now!

Stacy over at Stacy's Random Thoughts

Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar -Updated Monday!

Stacy over at Stacy's Random Thoughts -Updated Monday!

Jen over at Sprite's Keeper -Updated Monday! (Totally allowed.)

Raven over at Superhero Extraodinaire -Updated Monday!

Vandy over at The Testosterone Three and Me -Updated Monday!

Mama Badger over at Out of the Boondocks and Into the Burbs... -Updated Monday!

Erin over at It's Only A Movie -Updated Monday!

Rikki over at Cowgirls Like Me -Updated Monday!

Mary Anne over at The Stiletto Mom -Updated Tuesday!

Maureen over at IslandRoar -Updated Tuesday!

Stacy over at Stacy's Random Thoughts -Updated Tuesday!

Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar -Updated Tuesday!

Jen over at Sprite's Keeper -Updated Tuesday! (This one may be pushing the limit a bit..)

Erin over at It's Only A Movie -Updated Tuesday!

Rachel over at The Ramblings of Rachel -Updated Wednesday!

Lisa over at Boondock Ramblings -Updated Wednesday!

Stacy over at Stacy's Random Thoughts -Updated Wednesday!

Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar -Updated Wednesday!

Mama Badger over at Out of the Boondocks and Into the Burbs... -Updated Wednesday!

Kendra over at Life in the Slow Lane -Updated Wednesday!

Erin over at The Locals Love It -Updated Wednesday!

Ginger over at When Ginger Snaps... -Updated Wednesday!

Meli over at Randomosity - Mommy Style! -Updated Wednesday!

Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar -Updated Thanksgiving!

Stacy over at Stacy's Random Thoughts -Updated Thanksgiving!

Gretchen over at Second Blooming -Updated Thanksgiving!

Pseudo over at Pseudonymous High School Teacher -Updated Thanksgiving!

Remember, you have until Friday to Spin up what makes you thankful!

And have a happy Thanksgiving!

Spin Cycle: Not a hero, just human.

February, 1997

"Don't lose Eddie's car."

"Don't worry, Mom. I'm tailing him as closely as I can."

"But they're going to-"

"It's OKAY."

We were on our way to Orlando to deposit my sister, her then husband Eddie, and their cat onto a plane bound for Hawaii where Eddie, the Army Private, had been stationed for the next two years.

Eddie and Lee Ann led the way in their car, my mother riding shotgun in my vehicle, and my father bringing up the rear a few miles back in his, all three transports loaded with the newlyweds' worldly posessions, and one cranky feline. The drive up I-95 Northbound was pretty steady, being that it was a weekday and between rush hours, in fact, if I hadn't been driving, I would have been napping since there's not much to look at on the flat expanse of the Florida plains.

Something in the Southbound lane drew my attention. "Mom, look!"

We both watched a late model sedan going backwards in the lanes to our left, neck and neck with us, separated only by the 50 yards of grassy median between the two directions. Suddenly, it swerved to a stop on the shoulder and then continued its trek in reverse across the median into the Northbound side, how it avoided hitting anyone as it crossed the 4 lanes I'll never know.

The brake lights of my sister's car lit up as Eddie yanked their car onto the shoulder. I slowed down to pull in behind them, thinking it was due to the weird spectacle we had just seen.

"Why are we stopping?" my mom asked.

"I don't know, maybe because-" My words cut off when Eddie jumped out of their car and started running for the median.

I opened my own door to hear him shouting, "Call the cops! It's a baby!"

I didn't hesitate. Grabbing my cell phone, I turned to my mom. "Stay here." I unbuckled my seatbelt and stumbled my way after him through the tall weeds as my fingers numbly punched in 9-1-1.

The line was busy.

Eddie was about 20 feet ahead of me and in great shape due to the Army's requirements, but I caught up somehow, propelled by my own nerves.

I saw him.

Eddie and I both crouched down in front of the little boy, barely a toddler, lying in the middle of the median.

He was crying softly, more out of fear than pain.

I reached for him.

"Don't move him," Eddie ordered. I didn't snap back like I usually would when Eddie was short with me. This was what Eddie was trained for.

An older woman joined us as I held the boy's hand, running my free one over his blond hair, asking him questions that even someone like me who wasn't a mother knew he couldn't answer.

"What's your name, sweetie?"

He whimpered.

"You're okay, Everything is okay." I looked down at the large Simba character gracing his shirt and back into his stunning blue eyes. "Do you like the Lion King?"

He called out for his mother.

"She's okay. Everything is going to be okay."

Eddie kept running his hands down the boy's torso, arms, legs, looking for breaks, for pain. I looked for comfort as I did the only thing I could do to help this boy.

I sang.

I sang every Lion King song I knew, encouraged when he squeezed my fingers. When that was done, I went on to the Little Mermaid, until I was startled by my father's voice.

I looked up into his eyes. How had he gotten here so quickly? How long had we been kneeling on this wet ground? Where the hell were the paramedics?

I went back to trying to soothe the boy, crooning "Everything is okay", barely hearing the approaching sirens.

Finally, the ambulance came to a stop a few yards away.

Eddie and I were pushed away and the technicians took over this scared child, whose cries increased as they jostled him to eventually find the fractured wrist and broken ribs.

Once a police officer had taken our statements, we were free to get back to making our way to Orlando.

I walked to my car where my mother sat waiting, about thirty minutes after I had left her in a rush. Sitting down, I buckled my seatbelt and stared straight ahead to see Lee and Eddie's car start in front of us.

"Are you okay?" my mother asked softly.

My face crumpled. I couldn't answer.

(The woman who had been so careless with the young boy was his mother. She had been neglecting her medicine and was hallucinating badly, badly enough to cause harm to her own child. My dad, while Eddie and I were helping the boy, walked over to her car while some beefy truck drivers kept the shouting woman away from her son and found a very large rock in between the driver's seat and passenger side where his car seat was. Eddie and I were called upon for years to testify in court as she tried to regain custody of her son, court dates that were repeatedly pushed back until they simply stopped calling. I don't know what became of them.)

****************************************************

Thanks to all these Spinners who really know the meaning of the words "hero" and "bravery".

Libby over at Libby's Logic

Kate over at Recommended Daily Dose -New to the Spin Cycle!

Casey over at Half As Good As You -A Free Spin!

Gretchen over at Second Blooming -New to the Spin Cycle!

The South Dakota Cowgirl over at The South Dakota Cowgirl 

Erin over at It's Only A Movie 

Maureen over at IslandRoar 

Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar 

Pseudo over at Pseudonymous High School Teacher 

Mama Badger over at Out of the Boondocks and Into the Burbs... 

Stacy over at Stacy's Random Thoughts 

Wicked Step Mom over at Life and Times of a Wicked Step Mom -Updated today! Fresh Spin!

Joanie M over at Joanie's Random Ramblings -Updated today! Fresh Spin!

****************************************************

Next week's Spin Cycle Assignment: Three guesses.

Of course it's being thankful! In fact, I'm feeling so thankful I'm going to dedicate the entire WEEK to what I'm thankful for! (You don't have to, but it's always nice.)

What are you thankful for? WHO are you thankful for? Spin it up and send it my way and I'll thank ya!

I'll also be taking part in that yearly tradition of Black Friday. (That's where I'll be thankful for mall security..)

See you next week on the Spin Cycle and Happy Thanksgiving!

Too Young For Tact

The wrapping paper flew in an effort to identify the prize lying beneath. Small heads obscured my vision as I weaved around, trying to watch Sprite actually open presents without aid. (Before now, she would simply push the brightly colored gift toward John or me with the prefunctory request, "Open this.")

She unearthed a Sleeping Beauty doll complete with accompanying  pony.

"Hey! You already got that!"

I looked toward the voice as its five year old owner turned to point accusingly at the exact same toy sitting nearby, shards of torn paper still attached to its surface.

"Someone got you the same thing!" 

My friends and I rushed for the chairs, all set in a semi-circle around the small pile of gifts. One chair was placed directly behind the mound, my chair. My gifts. Everyone chattered excitedly as I assumed the position. Which would I open first?

The rectangular boxes were surely Barbies, the girls had concluded while we had been eating cake. I would open those first to see which themed doll would be added to my growing collection.

I aimed for those first, three in all. Barely slowing down to acknowledge the giver on the card, I immediately tore into the green colored foil and revealed a Doctor Barbie.

"Cool!" The chorus of girls in our eighth year glory echoed. The newest Barbie on the scene was now mine.

Setting it aside, I dived for the next sure to be a Barbie box. Ripping the paper, I uncovered the front of the box to see.... another Doctor Barbie?

"I already got this!" I bellowed, sure my snark would amuse the others, and tossed it down to join the now slightly less prized twin. Such a show off.

I never saw her coming.

My mother entered the round and grabbed my arm, looking to my friends with a smile. "Excuse us," she commented and led me away from my party.

I followed behind her, my eyes on the blurring green shag carpet beneath me. My (sometimes caustic) sense of humor had gotten me into trouble again.

Mom led me into her bedroom and my father, resting on the bed, no doubt with a headache from the gaggle of screeching females, eyed us and quietly closed the door behind him, thinking the party would be more soothing than whatever tongue lashing I was due.

I looked up at her, ready for the party to be called off.

"You're not in trouble," she said, her poker face not giving up exactly what I WAS in.

"I'm not?"

"No, but you will be if I hear that out of you again."

"I didn't-"

"Yes, you did."

There went THAT defense.

My mother sighed. "You need to appreciate what you're being given, even if you already have the same thing. Your friends picked those dolls out thinking you would like them. How would you feel if someone opened your present and said they already had one and tossed it aside?"

I knew what I had to say. I was learning a life lesson at the tender age of eight.

"I don't care if every one of those presents is the same thing. You'll thank your friends and be nice about it. If you're rude, the party's over."

I believed her.

Once released from my after-school special moment, I went back to the party and indeed came upon another dual gift, two Monchichi's, both in tennis outfits. My mother standing close by, I said a gracious "Thank you!" for each ot them, careful to show equal enthusiasm for both, not wanting a replay of the earlier abrupt departure. My mother had quite the grip.

Sprite paced in front of her opened presents, as if inspecting them. "Look, Mommy!" she chirped. "I have TWO ponies!" Her beam told me she thought she was the luckiest girl in the world.

Maybe history won't repeat itself.

Then again, I have five years to prove that theory wrong.