TToT – Glad to be Alive!
As you may be able to tell from the title, I’ve had a couple of near-miss moments this week.
So first and foremost, let me say that I am extremely thankful that the FIVE times this week someone in another car on the road nearly hit me in my car (yes, five) the result was a scary near-miss and not an actual crash. These include a bus, a bus, a tractor trailer, a car and a car. Not. Fun. These were great reminders of why I really just hate driving.
I am certain that I get to ice skate past the Guard Virgins (because it’s icy…what else would I do?) and invoke the powers designated in subsection 42.e. that say when you almost die five times, you get to count it as five individual items of thankfulness OR one big huge item of thankfulness and still only need five more to have a full week.
Should I note here that in four of the five cases the cause was blatant stupidity on the part of the driver of the other vehicle and in the last case it was stupidity of a global nature? Just saying. People really need to think about driving. It’s an active process, not a passive expenditure of your time.
Honestly.
What else…
After spending a few months with what has been by far the cutest haircut I’ve ever had, I decided that I just miss having hair long enough to toss up in a mess or a ponytail when the need arises. Especially when it’s hot out. So I’ve been growing it back out again and it’s finally long enough to put up without much ado. Barely, but it’s a positive milestone.
Kidzilla’s had only three days of school this week (thank you, snow and ice) but all three were great days in terms of behavior and focus, so that’s a great win.
A couple of long-overdue projects are in the works. It’s not by any stretch a totally de-cluttered or fully organized home, but we’re plodding a long little by little. Which always turns out to be a lot. We didn’t get cluttered and disorganized overnight and we aren’t going to get de-cluttered and organized that way, either!
I had a great salad for lunch today. I haven’t had a kale salad for lunch in forever. It felt really good to have that today.
I have a soup of the week plan ready for tomorrow and ingredients on hand. PLUS I have at least two more soups on deck and ready to be given the AOK. (Thanks to Sarah for one of them!) I also have a menu plan on the kitchen calendar for this week, some of which will flow into next week. That’s a good feeling – we do much better around here in the evening when we don’t have to spend an hour or two debating the meal choice.
And on that note, I have a pizza guy to call. Because everybody needs a little takeout pizza on a Friday night every now and then. Happy weekend, everybody, and I hope your week has been full of great moments! Share them with some comment love or link ’em up!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Love this? Share the love and tell someone!
73 Comments
Comments are closed.
First comment! Totally ignoring my children right now to read your post. Must go change a diaper.
But, I am also thankful for your FIVE near-misses, and they most certainly count as five thankfuls.
I hope you like the soup!
You are first, indeed! I do hope you handled that diaper. 🙁
I’m way thankful for those near-misses. Too many scares in one week for me. And I am quite looking forward to that soup – trying to figure out where to put it in next week’s menu plan. 🙂
Nothing better then pizza on Friday nights and will say one of my favorite things to eat on Fridays. That said we too had 2 snow days this week and my girls only had 2 days of pre-school. And we may be getting more snow next week. Just no end in sight it would seem, but I am truly just getting used it and seriously not sure what I will do when we finally do have a full week of school again. Anyways, the near misses would have freaked me out, but just glad they were misses and that you are ok. Here is to a better weekend and week ahead, too!! 🙂
Yes, true – I think none of us knows how to go to school for a full week anymore!
Have a happy weekend!
I always say if everyone drove as well as I do, then we wouldn’t have any problems on the roads…. Glad you are safe and sound, though. I have a near miss at least once a week on my way to take my daughter to school. Someone either runs or nearly runs a stop sign at the same intersection every time. Blatant stupidity.
I used to do weekly menu planning, and we ate so much better then! The only problem would be when I would, say, make a roast for one meal and plan to use the leftover meat for beef stew another night, then as I prepared to make the stew would find that someone (i.e., husband) ate the leftover roast, thereby ruining dinner.
Glad your de-cluttering is still a work in progress for you!
Sounds like that intersection has a problem. Aside from the stupid people, that is.
I’ve had that menu planning/leftover problem, too. Drives me nuts. After a few screaming matches with my husband (and yes, there’s a Steel Magnolias quote in there…) I decided to make sure everybody knew it was for leftovers and put the leftover meal on the list for later in the week, too. So far, that’s working better!
Fridays are always pizza and movie night here! It feels good to get to the end of the week and just relax with some comfort food and a silly movie. I imagine it feels even better knowing no one can crash into you while you’re hanging out at home!
LOL – that’s true, Jessica! We were going to go out for pizza and movie tonight, actually, but voted it down because we all just love being home on a Friday together.
Growing up, Friday nights were always pizza and family TV nights.
I’m glad you’re alive too!
Whenever I decide to chop off my hair, I always tell the hairdresser to keep it just long enough to tie back. That’s my limit!
Yay for Friday night pizza!
I used to have that limit, but I guess I figured out that I was wearing it up and not doing anything nice EVERY day and I felt like a tired old Mamma. I figured this would make me do my hair in the morning and take a few minutes to take care of me. I was right – it did. It was sassy and I loved it. It still is kinda sassy, but it needed to be longer because I definitely went past my limit of being able to put it up. But I’m going to stick with the shorter length and loads of layers and continue to “do” my hair in the morning. But I’ll be grateful for having the up-do option again when the weather is hot. If the weather is ever hot… I miss being hot…
Many thanks to the powers that be for staying alive!
It never fails to amaze me how poorly people drive in bad weather. Really people, it’s not hard to drive attentively and with concern for others around you. Slow down, pay attention, and don’t do stupid crap! Here in Vegas drivers tend to go a little nutso over just a few drops of rain. I don’t get it but hey, what are ya gonna do?
Here’s to a better week next week!
I think it’s just another example of how over-stimulated and distracted people are in general.
Thanks for coming by, Kim!
Okay, you just gotta be more careful when you’re behind the wheel. I just drive fast and slide to a stop every once in a while, daring the others to hit me. So far, none have taken me up on my offer! lol Still, the cold weather isn’t any fun, especially when everyone is looking at their phones while driving to see if more of it is on the way. I’d thought about a pizza tonight, but then I remembered that after years of searching, I’d finally found a frozen Mexican pizza yesterday and cooked it last night. I enjoyed the change, but my Italian side caused my stomach to act like Mt. Vesuvius all day long! Enjoyed!
Hah – that’s a good approach, Rich. Maybe I need to try that. The drive and slide, that is, not the Mexican pizza. Pretty sure my Italian side would protest, too.
Whoa, whoa, whoa Lisa…I’m glad that you’re alright and that it was a near miss! Blessings!!
Thanks, Michelle! I can use a few blessings after all those! The one with the dump truck was especially disturbing.
This is precisely why I’m scared to death to let my kids drive. Now that they are getting closer to driving age, I point out every single time I would have been in an accident if I wouldn’t have been paying attention. Something along the lines of, “AaAAaHHHh!!! Did you SEE that? If I had been on my phone, we would be all tangled with that person who WAS on her phone!” I hope I’m not crossing the line into making them scared to ever get behind the wheel.
Good for you, getting back to meal planning. I can’t plan specifics for each day, as plans change as each day goes on and activities are added or removed. (It is crazy how it happens as kids get older!). I just buy things so we have a certain number of options for the week, and make them when it fits. We don’t have the “someone ate the leftovers” problem, as there are never enough leftovers to make another full meal for the 8 of us. We can polish off a whole chicken in one sitting!
Glad you made it through the week not dying. Here’s to less excitement this week!
I’m pretty sure I can never let Zilla drive. Of course, I may not have to worry about it because I’m pretty sure the Hub is already looking into bars and chains and locks for the house to keep the boys out. 😀
That’s exactly how I do my menu plans – I shop/plan for several options for the week and we choose from them, rather than commit to a particular meal on a particular night. Life changes. And I never plan for as many meals as there are days because you never know when you’ll get an invite out with the grandparents or decide on a last-minute pizza or just have leftovers.
Yes, I’m very glad not to be dead and am looking forward to a calmer week ahead! And maybe with no snow…BAHAHAHAAAAAA! (cracks self up and says “yeah, right…”)
OMG… so glad you are still in one piece… and yes I do believe the guard virgins have made allowances for those who escape death at least 2 times with a maximum of 12… I believe if you look that is in subsection g of said ruling… so whew… another crisis averted…
WHat a freaking week! Well, as is seen by your lengthening do it will be spring soon, right?
Yup, still one piece, Zoe. And Thank goodness for that subsection rule, right? I feel like one of my cats…
And yes, spring must be coming. Some people cut their hair short for summer; I grow mine long so it can be off my neck. (That drives me nuts!). We are on the way, I think!
One near miss is enough to get your heart pounding out of your chest. I can’t imagine what your blood pressure must be after five in one week!!!!! I’m so glad you are okay and hope you were able to take some “me” time to calm yourself!
Yeah, we had a nice quiet at-home night on Friday. Today we’re out doing all sorts of things, but enjoying it together. IN fact, we’re off to the next thing in about 20 minutes. Busy day! But after this last one and after Zilla is in bed…it’s a glass of wine and a book for Mom!
Well, I’m terribly glad that you are alive too! Once is way too many times to come that close but FIVE! I think you definitely get to skate past the virgins because that is an awful lot to be grateful for!
The other thankfuls on your list are lovely and tame and safe, especially the salad and the pizza!
Yes, thanks, Sandy! (Me too!) I couldn’t believe that many, really, but I’m certain that it’s due to the bad roads (damn winter ice and snow) which are poorly cleared in some areas, and just plain old stupid cranky drivers.
Hah- yes, the rest of the list is a nice contradiction! The pizza was great and I didn’t realize how much I missed my salads!
I love kale salad! Kale soup, and kale stir fry. I only discovered kale in the past year or so and I’m so enjoying it.
Hi, Susan, and welcome! I really do love kale. I find it so much more flavorful than regular old lettuce. I love how it holds up in salad dressing and keeps its crunch. I also would never have enjoyed cooked or wilted greens in my life, but the kale works. I’ve also used Swiss chard and been pleased. Kale is great in soup – really holds up well. And I have it in my breakfast smoothie pretty much every day!
Susan, I just got done reading your post and I would love to comment, buuuut…it won’t let me unless I create a Google +. I don’t have Google +. Is there a way for me to visit and comment without? Loved your post – especially the part about your husband and kids letting you live after your week! 🙂
Oh, my. I can’t imagine driving on slippery ice and snow. I get scared just driving on the freeway in dry, California weather. It’s a phobia that I just cannot seem to knock. I’m so glad you are okay and that none of the near misses connected.
Pizza is always a good idea!
I used to love to drive. Not anymore. The older I get, the less I enjoy it. And after Kidzilla was born, I just got nervous on a whole other level. But driving on ice and snow just plain stinks. And we’ve had our fill around here this year! I’m good – thanks! 🙂
YOW! Okay yeah I reckon the GuardVirgins made a good call there, letting you have that one. And if they’d kicked up a fuss I would’ve overruled them cos OWZER nearly dying that many times in one week is NOT GOOD!
I’m glad you’re alive.
Friday night pizza sounds awesome, and I’m glad so many other things are going well for you. Including the kale (still don’t understand about kale, in spite of having had arguments about it on Twitter…)
I know, right? And because it’s so blasted icy everywhere, the skating was the only way to go past those Guard Virgins.
Pizza was awesome – our favorite place. It’s from the place we used to go for pizza and Italian before we got married. The place where one day over pizza I realized that the guy across from me might not make such a bad partner in life. That place. Only now it’s in a new building, not the other location. Still – their pizza is amazing.
I really like kale. It has more flavor (more nutrients) than plain old lettuce and it holds up in dressing well. I hate nothing more than I hate soggy lettuce.
Soggy lettuce is the pits. Yet I’ve never had kale.
I love that you decided the guy across from you mightn’t be a bad partner for life in a pizza parlour. I think I decided that thought in a coffee shop.
Yup, I did. We used to go there to eat between work commitments – we started out just working together. So during the “not-dating” phase, we often ate together because people gotta eat! And one day, we were talking about all kinds of heavy topics and that was it.
Remind me never to get in a car with you. OMG. Five?? OOf. I’m glad you are OK if not a bit shaken from the experience.
Truly, not one was my poor driving skills. People just do not think and the roads around here are still nasty in many places, besides – at least they were on a couple of those days. I’m all fine. Just trying to figure out how to do my job from home and never have to drive again. 🙂
FIVE near-misses? I’m impressed you are still venturing out; I think I’d just hunker down in my house for a week or two! So glad that everything is OK.
Seriously. The leftover snow and ice on the roads is bad enough, but the way people drive is just ridiculous. I’d be happy to stay home a couple of weeks – will you call my boss? 🙂
*5* near misses? Augh – be careful out there. I also hate driving. I love kale, love pizza (unfortunately), and like keeping my hair long so I can “stick it up there” and forget about it!
Yeah, can you believe it? I’m convinced it doesn’t matter how careful I am, there are ten people around me who are not.
Pizza is terrific. Are you a leftover pizza for breakfast fan, too? And being able to forget about my hair is the best thing ever!
It was jean on ice all week here…I don’t know if just existing counts as TEN thankfuls…I was only in a car once but I managed to fall down in the snow at least 3 times everytime I went outside. What is the deal with the kind of snow where it is crunchy on top and then it pulls you down in a soft fluff and pulls your boot off as you try and take your next step and you go flying and get your sock and everything else wet?
As you can tell, I am as lithe and graceful as a cheetah. stuck in a snowbank.
Good on the soup and great on the pizza!
xox jean
Oh, yeah, that is a particularly annoying kind of snow. Although at this point, I’m calling all kinds of snow that. Sorry to hear you ended up in the snowbanks so many times! It feels kind of insulting, doesn’t it?
I could so and totally go for a huge slice of greasy veggie lover’s pizza right now!! But soup is what I actually had. What soups are you going to make? Even though hubby says it’s not cold enough for soup, I say it is, so I may get my pumpkin soup out of the freezer tomorrow, as hubby and the kiddos will have steak. I’m glad you got more snow days, I wished we had snow!! At least a little.. But please not in April! Have a great weekend, Lisa!
I have a corn soup on deck that Sarah sent me. And I found – get this – a cheeseteak soup or something to that effect. Sounded kind of bizarre at first, but when I read it, I thought it actually sounded amazing. Bread bowl, beef, lots of cheese – can’t be a bad thing!
I will be happy to send you our snow…how much would you like?
so is it inappropriate to wave, smiling and yelling to the cars hurtling by, ‘hey!! thank you!! of the excellent Grat Item!!’
I don’t do the menu planning, except to mention the status of the Frito* supply in the house, fritoes being a staple of my diet, i.e. 1/2 of lunch and 1/2 of most dinners
*why the dip sized, of course!
Ha – I don’t know. I should try it. Although I’m hoping not to have another occasion to do so!
Have you had Fritos tacos in a bag? If you like Fritos, I highly recommend it.
Wait a minute..Fritos tacos?! Where can I buy ’em!!
LOL – You have to make them. It’s like a taco in a bag – I’ve seen them at stadium snack bars and fairs, etc. Basically, you open a single serve bag of Fritos, add taco meat and toppings, and eat it out of the bag with a fork. They’re kind of cool.
I think it’s a good thing I wasn’t on the roads much this week for the exact reasons you mention! Other people’s driving on bad road conditions scares me! Today I had my near fender bender. Thankful for antilock brakes!
We had pizza takeout last night too :)!
Yes, thankful for antilock brakes – glad you’re OK! And it sounds like a whole lotta pizza was had in the TToT community Friday night! 🙂
I am not sure when we decided as a society that driving was a no brainer and rather dull and should be supplemented with a minimum of three electronic gadgets ( music, video, phone spring to mind) running each time the engine is on!
I am glad you made it past the idiots on the road to return safely to your family each time you had the close calls.
Neither do I, May, but it’s disturbing how many people I see talking, texting, and READING of all things. Never mind the music and the GPS and the rest. I seem to remember being taught to drive with the first lesson being “remove all distractions.” Guess I’m getting old…
5 near misses of the automobile/traffic variety is enough to send me looking for the secret of the number 5! lol Surely it is a magic number:)
The challenge of organizing and de-cluttering…lifelong. It is a perpetual activity for me. Somehow I think “if I can just get organized, everything will be better”…one day right?!
Pizza? Any day, every day and I feel the same way about soup!
You know what? I DID just read something about the number 5…going to have to look that up again.
Organizing and de-cluttering is definitely a lifelong process. Personally, I don’t think it’s truly possible to be completely organized and de-cluttered 100% of the time. My Mom comes pretty close, but she is supremely good at it. I think it’s something to strive for, though. Perhaps the mindset is to always work at keeping on top of things a little each day so we don’t end up huge projects. I’ve often said “if I could just get organized it would all be great,” but the truth is that I’m never quite finished and so that ends up feeling like a huge fail. That doesn’t help anyone. So I’m sticking with the step by step approach and so far it’s working!
If you like soup, check back in the first part of each week for my Soup of the Week recipe!
Ooh my goodness re: five almost accidents! I wouldn’t be handling that very well at all! I’m not a lover of driving either. I’m also not looking forward to figuring out the blind spots in a new car as of next week (although I’m thrilled for a new car….).
As for meal planning – I bow to your supreme organizational prowess. I’m not there yet, but aspire to be able to meal plan….
And now I want pizza. So thanks for that too 😉 I figure there’s a good chance it will feature at the kiddie birthday this afternoon though …. glass half-full!
Oh, figuring out a new car is kind of scary, isn’t it?
Thank you for the honor, but please do not bow to my organizational prowess – I have zero, really. I’m just working at it! The first step to meal planning is easy – figure out a handful of meals you think you’ll like to eat in the next week or two, and shop accordingly so you have everything on hand. Make a list and keep it visible. Choose from the list when you are trying to decide what dinner is on a particular night. I don’t lock us into certain meals on certain nights – it never works – just have choices available and ready to go. Baby steps!
Have fun at the kiddie party – and enjoy the pizza!
EEEP!!! 5 near misses DEFINITELY count as 5 items! Glad they were near misses. Phew!
Every so often I come up with a menu plan for the week. SO MUCH EASIER!!! Too bad I don’t do that more often. *sigh*
Seriously – five in a seven day span was ridiculous. And the two that were within seconds? Ridiculous.
I have gotten out of the habit of the menu plan, but I’m happy to be back to it – it really helps.
People really drive like they’ve forgotten what ice does when it’s nasty outside. I’ve had those near misses as well–though not as many in one week! I’m glad you came through it unscathed.
Yeah that was way too many for one week. It’s really not so hard to just think a little bit when roads are bad, but it seems like people just go bonkers.
What a week you’ve had. All those near-misses. Definitely I can see why you are thankful to be alive. Hope your coming week is calmer for you! And contains lots of soup and pizza!
The pizza night was great and I am looking forward to this soup – doing cream of mushroom. I haven’t had that in ages! I am definitely hoping for a much calmer week.
Yes, one does need take-out pizza on a Friday once in a while. And really, just the title of your post is awesome!
Thanks, Jennifer. It pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it?
Glad you are alive!! Driving on ice is the ONLY thing I miss about snow and cold. People here freak out if it is raining. We have a regular pizza/movie night here. It started as an occasional thing, then the kids decided we do it every weekend. Default dinner plans.
I cannot wait to hear about the soup.
Soup is coming soon – probably going to be Tuesday this week, rather than Monday. It’s a good one – cream of mushroom. 🙂
Boy did your list make me smile. Salad and soup and pizza–three of my favorite things. I have the first two several times a week. The pizza? well I only get that a couple times a month. But I love, love, love it.
I totally understand growing your hair out. I get a short haircut and enjoy the heck out of it but when I go to the gym or some hot climate, the long hair just works better. Like you, I can pull it back and whip it into a ponytail. Not sure when I’m ever going to cut my hair (short) again.
And as far as driving-WOW! All those near misses in one week. I used to be a liability insurance adjuster and I can assure you stupid people are driving all over the place. I couldn’t believe how many accidents occurred everyday. Glad you were safe. Let’s hope it stays that way.
I love soup and salad! My favorite lunch is a salad and when I don’t pack one for a while, I really miss it. And soup is like my best friend lately. I make a soup every week that we eat at least once for dinner, maybe twice, and I use the rest for lunches or freeze. I absolutely love having homemade soup ready to go and I can’t tell you the last time I bought any in a can! If you love soup, check back for my Soup of the Week posts – I do a soup usually every Monday (this week is Tuesday).
That is exactly why I am growing my hair back out – and I’m pretty sure that was the last experiment with a short cut!
Eesh! I am so with you there.. I hate driving for the same reason! (btw, I am SO HAPPY they were all near misses and not even a fender bender, but..so so so scary! SO glad you are ok) I hate interstate-highway driving the most. My son who just got his driver’s license last June informed me that there are fewer accidents on the interstate..but when there are they are more likely to be fatal. Thank you…that makes me feel soooooo much better. ack!
We finally had one and our first snow day this week. …is winter over yet!?!?
We did did delivery tonight …well, actually it was DiGiorno’s…but according to the commercials, same thing. 🙂
My Hub says the same thing! “The highway’s much safer, hon,” he says. Yeah. OK.
Haha – not delivery – it’s DiGiorno’s! Funny. And still good.
Wow, five close accidents lately! That may be a sign to stay off the road whenever possible. yeah, I know it’s not always possible to stay away from driving, but still. Yikes. It kind of reminds me of Houston driving here. The people here are crazy and I feel like I get close to an accident on a regular basis. Seriously, people here are stupid, reckless drivers. Oh well, I just try my best to stay safe. I guess that’s all anyone can do.
My Grandfather always used to say “it doesn’t matter how safe a driver I may be – everybody else out there is not.” Too true.
So glad you’re okay! Driving in the winter is hair-raising. And so is staying at home for endless snow days with kids who should be at school! 😉
The roads around here are still a pretty big mess…there’s just nowhere left to go with it and it keeps coming! I think the jury’s out on Tuesday and Wednesday this week – snow and ice predicted the next two days at least in the morning. Let’s see how this plays out…