Suburban Matron

Maybe it's best to consider pesto in the food ...

2012-02-12T15:37:12.566-05:00

Maybe it's best to consider pesto in the food group known as " almost but not completely unlike food " and that's why Hank rebelled . He is from the old school that thinks pasta should have a nice cheese sauce over it. Can't argue with that . I love his comment about the badness being hard to taste.

If any of my kids ate pesto, I would look to the s...

2012-02-12T06:52:27.368-05:00

If any of my kids ate pesto, I would look to the skies, assuming that Jesus was about to return. Seriously!

Ever since my mom died, my dad's mantra has be...

2012-02-11T23:05:31.980-05:00

Ever since my mom died, my dad's mantra has been "and so we go on...." and I supposed that's what we're doing. I'll be praying for Amy and your family!

My son's karate school recommends that each ki...

2012-02-11T23:02:17.026-05:00

My son's karate school recommends that each kid create an "honor wall" at home displaying each belt and certificate, which they give out for 3 months of perfect attendance or other nonsense. At this rate, our entire house will be wallpapered by the time he's in middle school.

Thank you for sharing...all my best wishes and hop...

2012-02-11T14:56:22.779-05:00

Thank you for sharing...all my best wishes and hopes.

Another great post!

2012-02-11T14:42:08.512-05:00

Another great post!

Will ya'll come by Texas to pick me up? We cou...

2012-02-11T09:55:05.757-05:00

Will ya'll come by Texas to pick me up? We could do the sites on the way to pick up Gretchen and Beth.

Go Hank! A boy that eats pesto and has an advanced orange belt is a super hero.

I'll drive. Cos I am good at that part, and no...

2012-02-11T08:37:46.033-05:00

I'll drive. Cos I am good at that part, and no way am I missing out on that road trip.

Hey Becky. I sent loads of love to Amy! I'd lo...

2012-02-11T06:40:17.637-05:00

Hey Becky. I sent loads of love to Amy! I'd love to send you some swear words, but being a good Christian gal and all, the best I can do is think them really hard! ( although one did "slip" out when Amy emailed me about the FreakingFracking cancer.....)

MANTRA: can't unscramble eggs . I know-- profound.

You have A MEDAL? You're definitely in the gir...

2012-02-11T02:23:38.179-05:00

You have A MEDAL? You're definitely in the girl band on the strength of that alone.

Do your boys know of your strong Kung Fu?

I'm jealous. I want to be on the imaginary gir...

2012-02-11T01:58:30.808-05:00

I'm jealous. I want to be on the imaginary girls' magical singing tour. It'd be like Riding in Cars with Boys, but without boys.

Hank is about to surpass my kick-assability. I was a martial artist way back when, and achieved my red belt with two brown stripes (@Gretchen, it is a thing...). That was in Tar Kwon Do. Y'all, I have a medal from the Garden State Games. No, I am not kidding.

Go Hank! I'll take you on when I'm back in GA. I've got a mean roundhouse.

I agree that sounds like a great group! And Gretch...

2012-02-11T01:35:44.485-05:00

I agree that sounds like a great group! And Gretchen, as we have shared the stage in the past, we can call it a reunion tour!

Ooo, you, me, Elizabeth and Aimee! This is an exce...

2012-02-11T01:23:42.852-05:00

Ooo, you, me, Elizabeth and Aimee! This is an excellent driving group. Though I have to admit, I get a little bit grabby when a microphone is being passed around.

I am seldom a LOLer, but "A home cook loves to receive a rave like that" almost made me pee myself. I'm pretty impressed that Hank will eat pesto in any form. Jude will eat no sauce or pasta with anything vaguely green in evidence.

Yeah, Jude's tai kwon do class had an advancement from the green belt to the "green stripe belt" which I thought was highly suspect. Hmmm.

I'm up for the drive, too! Off to look up th...

2012-02-11T01:04:27.873-05:00

I'm up for the drive, too!

Off to look up that group. I like Arcade Fire...and happier is a good thing.

I'm in on the drive around the country trip, c...

2012-02-11T00:42:41.232-05:00

I'm in on the drive around the country trip, clapping. Maybe we can all stop for some www.cabinporn.com?

Feel the tension. I like that! It makes me realize...

2012-02-10T23:53:31.597-05:00

Feel the tension. I like that! It makes me realize that I have a similar thought about social situations sometimes, something like: Let the awkwardness happen.

I think we spend most of our young lives dreading awkwardness or a feeling of social disharmony. But having an awkward moment will not hurt us. Something good may come from it. Just stand there awkwardly in the awkwardness.

Then blog the shit out of it.

Anyhoo, I came in to say, Amy texted me tonight and said how much she and Jason were enjoying reading everyone's mantras. Me too. I think we should just take to greeting each other this way. Like, "hey girl, bird by bird." Or, breathe out and smile.

Totally weird place. "It is what it is,"...

2012-02-10T22:10:46.420-05:00

Totally weird place.

"It is what it is," is also on of my mantras! Like you, it helps me just accept a situation and move on from it.

I actually have three. One I learned from my mothe...

2012-02-10T16:03:00.894-05:00

I actually have three. One I learned from my mother that has been in frequent use thru the years,"This too shall pass." I have used that in situations ranging from a dentist visit to illness to a bad day at work. Second is " Don't sweat the small stuff." kinda puts things in perspective , don't you think? Third is a gem from Amy," Build a bridge and get over it!". As I think about these, I realize they are all speaking to our need to keep in mind what is important and what is true and get about living your life. Maybe we all should ponder on that.

In the immortal words of Jeff Goldblum in "An...

2012-02-10T15:24:07.830-05:00

In the immortal words of Jeff Goldblum in "Annie Hall"..."I forgot my mantra."

That said, I have found nothing better than the good old AA Serenity Prayer, which my Daddy kept in a frame over his bed...

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

But then, "Just Do It" works too.

My own mantra for getting through yucky things lik...

2012-02-10T13:37:26.672-05:00

My own mantra for getting through yucky things like dentist appointments or childbirth is "This won't go on forever." I started using it before my daughter was born to remind myself that labor would have an ending point, the pain wouldn't last forever. Now I repeat it to myself and my kids when we're facing something we don't want to do. It kind of helps us grit our teeth and get through it.

'Feel the tension'- taken from Josh Waitzk...

2012-02-10T13:36:04.691-05:00

'Feel the tension'- taken from Josh Waitzkin on the psychology of chess. Sometimes a situation is tense and complicated and our natural inclination is to simplify it in order to make things easier for ourselves psychologically (e.g. trading material in chess). However, this often brings less rewarding results.

One of my favorites, from my boss, Sam Wells...&qu...

2012-02-10T13:18:58.230-05:00

One of my favorites, from my boss, Sam Wells..."if it can't be happy, make it beautiful."

The Tao of the Cow! I love it! Plus it rhymes, for...

2012-02-10T12:03:02.138-05:00

The Tao of the Cow! I love it! Plus it rhymes, for extra mantra-ness.

Dad, you fell victim to the autocorrect's inability to allow even mild swear words. I can't seem to get it to learn that I'm saying "hell" much more than I ever say "he'll."

That which doesn't kill you sometimes just hur...

2012-02-10T12:00:58.793-05:00

That which doesn't kill you sometimes just hurts like He'll.

We are currently deep into "we are where we a...

2012-02-10T11:13:34.485-05:00

We are currently deep into "we are where we are", which is a derivative of it is what it is. I am also embracing "the Tao of the Cow" wherein I ruminate, gaze placidly at the horizon, and quit fuming about stuff I can't control. There has been much of that lately. All the best to you and yours.