Author: Lenore Diane

I am married. We have two boys, two dogs, and two cats. I am on the Oxford Comma team. I look forward to my first large cup of coffee, black, every single morning, and I look forward to that second large cup of coffee, still black, every single afternoon.

Laundry and Notes

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

So, I am realizing two more components to Phase 3 (when kids begin school) includes an increase in laundry and notes.

When my boys were first born, we received countless outfits from friends and family. Because my boys had such a large wardrobe, I didn’t have to do laundry more than once a week. And, life pretty much consisted of changing diapers, nursing and napping. I was not overly active, during the first 12 months of my boys’ life.

Today? Well, the boys have fewer clothes, as the baby gifts are a thing of the past. The boys are also more active than their pooping, napping and nursing days. Having to change their clothes more than once a day is not uncommon, due to playing in the mud, water, etc. And, due to the smaller wardrobe, laundry is done at least twice a week.

In addition to an increase in activity for my boys, my activity level has increased. My paid gig keeps me busy, as does tending to the boys, tending to Rob, keeping house, etc. Today, while starting the third load of laundry, I realized I had notes scattered throughout the house. Little reminders here and there, helping me to keep from forgetting what tasks I have to tackle.

Call prospects for paid gig. Check paid invoices for paid gig. Get bday card for Dalton. Order cakes from Brusters. Pay bills. Mail insurance paperwork. Pick up flea/tick meds from vet. The 3×3 notes are everywhere. Sadly, these lists don’t ensure proper processing. After I dropped the boys off this morning, my first task was to go to the grocery store (list in hand). And now, I realize I forgot to buy something that was written on the list, which means I am creating a new note, reminding me not to forget what I forgot this morning.

Now, please excuse me. The bedsheets are dry, so I need to move what is in the washing machine into the dryer, and add another load to the washer. Then I need to make the boys’ beds. First, I had better write the note about what I forgot this morning. What was it again? Don’t hate me because of my glamorous life.

Thoughts About Sandwiches

~ Lenore Diane ~ 1 Comment

Have you ever tried a grilled cheese and apple sandwich? I had my first taste of one at my friends German restaurant. Yummy. You make it like you would a traditional grilled cheese, only you add thin slices of granny smith apples. Try it; you’ll like it.

Kids typically want the crusts cut off their sandwiches. However, I have found if I make my boys’ sandwiches a certain way, they will eat all of it, including the crust. The trick? Spread the peanut butter and jelly to the point that it oozes off the sides. And, use enough peanut butter and jelly so it will ooze even more when you put the slices of bread together. Try it; they’ll like it.

Do you like cinnamon? Do you like honey? Do you like peanut butter? Well, if you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you must try the ‘cinnamon/honey/peanut butter’ combo sandwich. Spread peanut butter on one slice of bread, and spread honey on the other slice of bread. Then, before putting the slices together, sprinkle cinnamon on either the peanut butter or honey slice. Put the slices together and enjoy! Try it; you’ll like it.

Another combo to try brings together jelly, peanut butter and marshmallow creme. Of course, I share this with you, assuming you’ve had both a peanut butter & jelly sandwich and a peanut butter and marshmallow creme (fluff) sandwich. If you haven’t tried a fluffernutter, please do so now. Go ahead. I’ll wait.

So, once you have enjoyed the traditional PB&J, and you’ve experienced the Fluffernutter, you are ready to shake things up a bit. On one slice of bread, spread out a good amount of peanut butter. On the second slice of bread, spread out a good amount of marshmallow creme. Finally, on the peanut butter slice, spread a good amount of jelly. Place the two slices together and enjoy! One of my sisters made this sandwich for me when I was a kid. She’ll make it for me, to this day, provided she is in town and the ingredients are available. Go ahead. Try it; you’ll like it.

It’s summertime, which creates all sorts of sandwich cravings. During the summer, I find I crave two specific sandwiches more than others. I’m not a huge fan of meat, though I’m not against the consumption of meat or other animal products. I prefer getting my protein through soy-based products, nuts and beans. Still, sometimes I find it hard to refuse freshly made bacon, grilled to a crisp, which creates the craving for a freshly made bacon, lettuce and tomato (BLT) sandwich. Mmm… And, in addition to my love for summertime BLTs, I crave freshly made gyros with [*sigh* processed] lamb. Mmm… tzatizki sauce.

I had hoped to post this earlier in the day, alas I had to break for lunch. I was hankering for a sandwich. Yum! What’s your favorite sandwich?

From Ben Stein’s Lips to My Blog

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

The movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” was my first introduction to Ben Stein. I remember various commentaries by Mr. Stein after the Ferris movie, but my next big memory of him comes from the game show ‘Win Ben Stein’s Money’. Suffice it to say, I was drawn to Mr. Stein, not by his wisdom and intellect, but by his involvement with mainstream and pop culture. Thankfully, over time, I learned more about Mr. Stein, his history, his philosophies, etc. He is more than The Shaq’s Comcast buddy. He is more than the bland teacher in the Ferris movie.

I heard Ben Stein’s commentary on CBS Sunday Morning (a show I love). If you didn’t see or don’t watch CBS Sunday Morning, I encourage you to click here, and read Ben’s commentary.

Mr. Stein, I have decided to live. Well, I’ve been living, actually. I’ve lived over 40yrs so far, and I hope to continue living for many years to come. But more to your point, Mr. Stein, I am writing. And, I am sharing my writings with the public, for better or for worse.

Since I was a kid, I have wanted to write and share my writings with anyone and everyone. As I have stated in previous blogs (and will state again and again in future blogs), I’d like to seek and obtain a book deal. And, I say ‘I’d like to’, because fear holds me back. The though of putting together a manuscript and sending it off to various publishing companies is a daunting task. Who knows, maybe I will be offered a book deal by some publisher who stumbled upon my WordPress blog. That probably happens all the time, right?

Do I really expect to have my big break because the right person stumbled upon my writing? No. But, that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. To what Mr. Stein said in his commentary, I did not pursue my writing dream via the job market with vim and vigor. Instead, I took jobs where writing opportunities could have been classified as ‘other duties as assigned’. And now, though  my current job has proof-reading opportunities, it has less writing opportunities than all of my previous jobs.

Still, I love my current job, and I have no intention of leaving it. Plus, the flexibility of my current job affords me time to write. Plus, I am at a point in my life where I actually take advantage of the time I have and use the time to write. I treasure my writing time, and I milk it for all it’s worth. Moreover, I am putting my thoughts out there – in the blogosphere. I no longer feel the need to hide my written creations. (Though I suppose some readers may want me to get back into the closet.)

In the video commentary by Ben Stein, he referred to feedback he received from his therapist. And, his therapist was of the opinion that happy people are people who pursue their dreams. So, Ben summarized the overall viewpoint by saying, “Choose to live a life you want to live, not one that’s safe or what someone else thinks you should do. Decide to live.”

I started this blog earlier this year, when my marriage was floundering and my depression had a stronghold on me. Through my writing (and medication, and ice cream, and . . .), I’ve reconnected with the love I have for my husband and our marriage, as well as the love I have for life. Through my writing, I have decided to live. And Mr. Stein, because I have decided to live, I believe wholeheartedly that my blogging will lead to a publication or publications. Well, just because I have decided to live does not a book deal make, but I’m working on it. Oh yes, I am working on it.

“Hey, you wouldn’t happen to be a publisher, eh?” Just thought I’d ask.