TW-3 for November 24-27, 2005.....

[poltr1]

Wed 11/23: Can't remember what I did or what I ate. So I'll skip it.

Thu 11/24: Missed the coverage of the Macy's parade so M could watch her "Baby Wordsworth" and "Toy Story 2" DVDs. (This was all she watched all weekend.) Dragged out the old Proctor Roast-or-Grill and cooked the turkey breast, once again using the tried and true "Scarborough Fair recipe". You know the tune, you know the recipe. M said "Yum!" when she had a piece of turkey. I can't think of a higher compliment. The meal also included spinach salad, sweet potato casserole, stuffing, cranberry sauce, Pillsbury crescent rolls (sorry, they don't fluff up well enough to be called croissants), and pumpkin pie for dessert. I washed it down with some Woodchuck Amber Hard Cider.

Fri 11/25: Tried to observe "No Shopping Day". But the lure was too much for R. And so we drove down to the Coldwater Creek store in the Deerfield Town Center, and made a side trip to the Wild Oats market. Dinner was spaghetti.

Sat 11/26: R took M for her afternoon nap and went to visit with her friends in Monroe. Meanwhile, I went shopping at Sam's Club (yes, I know they're part of the Evil Empire), and the local Sears Hardware store, which is closing and liquidating their in-stock merchandise. At Sears Hardware, I picked up a Euro-Pro Steam Shark II for $60 (saving 15%, or $10 from their sticker price). This wasn't an impulse buy; I've been wanting a steam cleaner for a while. I took it home, filled it with distilled water, and proceeded to steam-clean part of the kitchen: the range top, the counter top, the microwave oven, and the floor. Sweet! I always liked using hot, nearly-boiling water to clean countertops and surfaces. because it dissolves hardened stuff so well without harsh or nasty chemicals. Now I can do it with the power of steam. And all I have to do is mop up the water with a paper towel or disposable cloth. Dinner was take-out Chinese. (Discovery of the evening: M likes wonton soup broth!)

Sun 11/27: My day to take M for her afternoon nap. So I put on the Bengals game on the radio and drove around for a couple of hours while M napped. Meanwhile, R had a girls' afternoon out with amazon_42 and clydar. Dinner was leftovers for me; a sub from Subby's for R.

Comments

[yourmommma.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a nice weekend. I've wanted a Euro-Pro Steam Shark for awhile and am glad to hear they work as well as advertised. I want it for the reasons you bought yours--clean with no asthma inducing chemicals.

And I am just imaging the joy of going through the holidays with a little one again. Our M was home from college and we got to share ideas about literature, watch some movies and tv and do some shopping, but it seemed like the 6 days she was here were too short and long at the same time. She left a little early to get back to do some work she has due this week.

I'm envious that you are close to a Wild Oats. We got nothing like that out here. Closest to it is Trader Joes. When we first moved to this neighborhood, someone opened an upscale independent "Wild Oats" type market. We loved it, but they didn't get enough business in the area. Too bad. One of my favorite things was to take M and get her something from the bakery and get myself a cappuchino and just sit and have time together--she was very little then.

Sounds like your mood is a bit better? And you are less despairing? I hope so. We crazy people have to support one another. I was berating myself for being a failure last night and then I thought of you. I would never say that to you, so why would I say it to me? I need LOTS of reality checks.

[poltr1]

The only problems I had with the Steam Shark is that it kept tipping over, and that the steam still in the plastic nozzle would condense, resulting in the steamer dripping/spraying water for about a second before the steam would come out.

The folks who posted opnions at epinions.com had even more negative experiences with their Steam Sharks.

I wouldn't call the Wild Oats "close"; it's about 25 miles away from me, give or take a few miles. But that's probably closer than the nearest one to you.

Mood is somewhat better now. It helps to remember to eat and take my meds.