Goodbye, John. You've served us well.

It's time to say farewell to John Edwards. He brought up some important issues, but couldn't quite make it stick. But, I have become more and more impressed with Obama. I was having serious doubts about who I would support on Super Tuesday and now I don't have to decide. I really think Obama's the one who can turn around politics as usual. I think Clinton would be more of the same. I'll vote for her if I have to, but I'll support Obama with joy.

Rhonna's Treasonous Proposal

I have an idea! My proposal is that we all take our rebate checks from the government and spend them on reducing our energy usage. That's right, we subversively force the government to spend money on reducing global warming. I know, I'm evil! Kirk & I have talked about buying a new back door that is less seive-like and a whole-house fan. You could buy insulation, a programmable thermostat, a bike to transport your body, a clothesline, a greenhouse, flourescent light bulbs (just be sure to dispose of them properly). The possibilities are endless! Join me on this underground saving of the world.

Checking In

We've been neglectful of our blog lately. We've been too busy passing colds around to each other and trying to keep warm. It's 8 degrees as I type! I'm also studying for the GRE! Wish me much luck. I will need it. Why would one say asperse when slander is a perfectly effective word. The computer even marked it as misspelled!

Good movies we've seen: 7 up and The Namesake. Quality film experience.

I'm revving up for the Jane Austen Festival at the library. There's lots of chatter, so I'm hoping for good numbers and great fun.

Isaac has started blowing on his food when we tell him it's hot. Joe says amazing things every day. Last night I was changing Ike's diaper so he was fussing loudly. I heard Joe say in the other room, "Lucy (our dog), Isaac is very frustrated."

Kirk is still cranking out bread and muffins. He's also made some yummy main dishes lately. His potato leek soup is absolutely dreamy.

Food for thought....

A little creativity goes a long way. Yes, everything in this scene is edible. See more here.

Ramen to the Rescue

Big thanks to my brother-in-law, Craig for the cheap, easy supper idea. Make up Ramen noodles with half the seasoning packet and add a scoop of peanut butter. We altered his recipe by adding some veggies. We had been looking for a substitute for going out for fast food. Sometimes there is just no energy left for cooking. This was yummy goodness at a much lower price and even healthier. Note, I didn't say healthy, just healthier than fast food.

Must-See Movie

We watched a great movie last night. Once is the story of a street musician in Dublin who meets an immigrant housekeeper/flower seller and they make great music. Even if this movie had no plot whatsoever, it would still be worth seeing for the music, but the story is actually pretty good.

Cleaning Up

For those of you who have known me for any length of time, you will laugh to see me writing about how to keep a house clean. My response to you is that if I can keep a house clean, anyone can. I know that it is extremely sad that it took me 37 years to figure out how to clean, but nonetheless, I have learned and I must share my joy.

I've been frustrated for some time that I can never achieve an entirely clean house. I finally realized that that isn't going to happen until my boys go to college. I now just try to prevent buildup.

Every day I try to get each room clean just once. I get the toys and dirty clothes off the floor, put away books and magazines and mail off the dining room table. The rooms do not stay clean, but if I get things picked up once, then we can keep toys generally sorted. Then on my days off I change the beds, sweep the floors, clean the bathroom and call it good. I should note that the kitchen is entirely Kirk's domain.

So, if you stop by, the house may not look perfect, but I know that basic cleaning has been done within a reasonable length of time. And when I do real cleaning, it isn't the huge, overwhelming task that it used to be.

Decisions, Decisions

I am once again debating grad school. I angst over this every few months. I love my current job, but I wonder about the security of planning to do the same job for the next 30 years. There's also the factor that there's no where for me to go from here without a degree. So, I'm exploring my options. There is one university close by with a Library Science program, but they aren't currently accredited by ALA. So, it looks like I'll be going online. For now I'm studying for the GRE. Wish me luck!