A Grown Up Night

Log Haven Night

Originally uploaded by benevolentdictator

The MOD and I went out last Friday night to a restaurant that had no chicken fingers nor grilled cheese on the menu. Its a beautiful place built into the side of a mountain up Mill Creek Canyon here in Salt Lake City. It was lovely all around from the views to the wine to the creme brulee.

Light posting this week and last due to the tying up of a variety of loose strings.

 

On Men, A Rant

On Men, A Rant

Originally uploaded by benevolentdictator

I am a heterosexual woman.  But, if only to avoid situations like this one pictured, I can see why women would want to be together.

There is no way a woman would come home after work, walk into the kitchen to greet her significant other who is actively preparing dinner and throw her coffee cup into a colander of fresh veggies. 

Especially when there is a dishwasher in good working order closer than the sink. 

I’m just saying…if there’s anyone out there trying to make some lifestyle decisions, this might be the tipping point.

 

 

The Bow Chicka Wow Wow Effect Strikes Utah

As amusing as this entry is from the Tiny Kingdom, I felt really guilty.  At least her boys are older than my seven year old daughter. 

Yes, the Bear has been going around the house singing “Bow Chicka Wow Wow” constantly. When I asked her where she heard that since I am assuming that there aren’t any dimly lit low budget films being screened at her Catholic school, she said that she heard it on an Alvin and the Chipmunk’s commercial. 

But, the relative catchiness of that tune hung on around the house, and now the Llama is singing it.  Last night at dinner, the Llama busted out with “Chicka Wow Wow Chicka Wow Wow.”  Our little neighbor, age 10, was eating over and seemed surprised to hear that particular selection at our dinner table. 

The kids went downstairs, and the MOD and I were cleaning up and I asked him if he was bothered by our seven and two year olds constantly singing “Bow Chicka Wow Wow, Wow Wow.”  He said no and asked if he should be.  I looked at him and asked him if he knew the porno origin of that particular phrase.  You know- bad lighting and the air conditioner repair man that makes a “service call” on a hot, hot, hot day.

He looked at me and said, “Well, I doubt that’s where they got it.” 

“That’s odd, because the last few pornos that I rented for the Llama and the Bear had that exact track on it,” I said.

I’m glad that my husband is aware of the fact that I don’t regularly pick up porn from Blockbuster for our kids. 

 

The MOD’s Christmas Party

Work Christmas Party 2007

Originally uploaded by benevolentdictator

If I ever really get to be a benevolent dictator in a realm other than my own house, my husband’s title would most certainly be the Minister of Details.  He takes care of all of life’s little details that I would normally gloss right over. He is one of those people that actually reads the reports that the home inspectors give you and then follows up on everything. He installs closet systems, batteries in the smoke detectors & the kids’ toys, and worries about the 401(k).                                                                                                                                                                                      Maybe its because he is an engineer.
I probably don’t tell him enough how wonderful he is and how lucky I am that I am married to him.
Last night, we went to his work Christmas party- he actually works for a very large company and he puts in a lot of hours. Its really healthy for relationships when you can see your significant other through a fresh lens. I love and admire my husband, but it is really great to see that other people have positive feelings about him too because he really works hard and tries his best to be a good manager and a good employee. It makes me even more proud of him.
So many times, when I’ve been at home with kids all day, I neglect to remind myself of the hard work that goes into paying the bills. He works hard and he deserves all the great things, and even more, that result from that.
Next time, when he is obsessing over whether the floors in the house are level and, if possibly it means that the house foundation is off, I will remind him that I love him in spite of that- or maybe because of it.

 

Just Say No to the Pottery Barn Christmas

Christmas Catalogs

Originally uploaded by benevolentdictator

Let me just preface all of this by saying that I actually love Pottery Barn. I love looking at the catalogs and trying to replicate it all, just on a Target budget. Sometimes successfully, sometimes not. And, also Pottery Barn isn’t the only nor the worst offender of this phenomenon.

What it is…its the commercials and the catalogs that seem to infer that you must be perfectly coiffed, deeply in love, and have the perfect centerpieces and place settings to enjoy the holidays. The commercials that show a couple walking in a snowstorm picking out that “perfect” Christmas tree-apparently they haven’t heard of global warming or lived in most of the United States. C’mon, I lived in Wisconsin- the chances of having a White Christmas even there are pretty slim. Much less a snow falling, sleigh riding excursion to the tree farm. The Minister of Details and I still laugh about the commercials that show a loving couple opening gifts on Christmas morning where the guy unwraps a set of car keys, has a stunned look on his face, and runs outside to the waiting Lexus complete with an enormous bow (what was up with those bows anyway?) on top.

Where are the commercials that show the three kids tearing through a mound of gifts where, very quickly, the once clean living room erupts in a cacophony of screams and Christmas carols with a tornado of wrapping paper, ribbon, and the occasional ornament knocked from the tree? That’s great for the Lexus drivers, and we still laugh about those ads. But, what if deep down, the Minister of Details thinks that the sweater I got him is boring and would like for me to get on personalizing our guests’ table settings?

Maybe I’ll just order one of those Lexus bows and stick it on his VW.