Thursday Thirteen – In and Out
In reverse order, the last thirteen people to walk through our door.
1. Daughter’s friend, we’ll call her Friend A
2. Daughter’s friend, we’ll call her Friend B
3. Friend A
4. Friend B – the first one, she keeps coming and going.
5. Me – I went grocery shopping.
6. Friend B – the first one again. I’m getting tired of her.
7. My daughter coming home from school.
8. My son’s girlfriend.
9. Some little kid who is always trailing after my son’s girlfriend.
10. My son
11. Mr. Al – he came back in after forgetting his keys
12. Mr. Al – went out to pick up the mail.
13. Mr. Al – ran some errands
My kids are so much more popular than I am. Sigh.
In order to get the permalink from this post you must both put your URL in the Mr. Linky thing and leave a comment.
More Thursday Thirteen participants can be found here
And here.
As always, I welcome the link to your Thursday Thirteen in my comments as well as in Mr. Linky.
Featured T13 post from last week:Eaton Bennet
Kristen
Jackie
Toni
kandyblossom
On a limb with Claudia
Emily/Randomability
Julie@Cool Mom Guide
Mary
Havingfunathome
Nicholas
Karen @ If I Could Escape
Thorne
By George! It's Time to Party!
At long last Prince George had been made regent. (See last week’s post for details) Any guesses what he did first?
And now that the long awaited Regency had finally begun, there was but one thing on the Prince’s mind. Napoleon? Don’t be silly. Reconciling the Whigs and Tories for the sake of better government? Oh puleeeeeeeeze! The Prince Regent wanted a party. The grandest party that ever was, ever had been or ever would be.
Alas, it was pointed out to him that a party to celebrate his regency might smack of celebrating dad’s illness. That wouldn’t do at all. The Prince agreed and nothing more was said of the idea. Officially. Unofficially, the Prince didn’t stop planning for it. When the moment was right, like, maybe after dad snuffed it, the Prince Regent would be ready!
There wasn’t much in the realm of government that the Prince had any talent for. There was damned little in the realm of adult relationships that the Prince could handle. But the Prince had a genius for parties. The Prince could handle every detail of the biggest blow-out and pull it off like no one else. And this was going to be a BIG party.
Finally, the Prince set June 9 as the date for the party. Was dad better? Nope. It wasn’t going to be a party to celebrate the Prince’s Regency, it was going to be a party for those poor French aristos that got chased out of Paris by The Mob.(wink, wink) Wasn’t it just too, too, sad what had happened to them? (nudge, nudge) Of course it was. That’s why the Prince wanted a party for them!(wink, wink, WINK.) To buck up their spirits!
He even remembered to invite a few of them. Far be it for my humble pen to describe the scene. I’ll turn it over to someone who was actually there. In a letter to his mother, Thomas Moore describes the party…What? Who was Thomas Moore? I dunno, some guy. But he was invited to the party and wrote to his mom about it. That’s the important thing.
“The extraordinary part of it was that so large a number should have been served (2,000 people had been invited) in such a style. Tureens, dishes, plates, even soup plates, were everywhere of silver with as many changes as were wanted.
There were hot soups and roasts, all besides cold, (hot and cold dishes served together) but of excellent and fresh cookery. Peaches, grapes, Pine Apples, and every other minor fruit, in and out of season were in profusion. Iced champagne at every three or four persons, all the other wines also excellent. Their was no crowding, hurry or bustle in waiting; everything was done as in a private house…Nothing was ever half so magnificent! It was in reality all that they try to imitate in the gorgeous scenery of the theater…Such an assemblage of beauty, splendor and profuse magnificence…Women outblazing each other in the richness of their dress…I really sat for three quarters of an hour in the Prince’s room after supper, silently looking at the spectacle… The Prince spoke to me, as he always does, with the cordial familiarity of and old friend.”
At 2:30 that afternoon, the Prince sat down to dine with two hundred or so of his very closest friends. “On the table in front of him was a miniature fountain whose waters flowed in a silver bedded stream to the right and left of him. The stream was bounded by mossy banks, water plants and flowers; Tiny gold and silver fish swam through the arches of miniature bridges or, sadly, lay dead, floating on top of the water. A model lake was surrounded by miniature urns from which rose breathes of fragrant smoke.”
The Duchess d’ Angouleme sat on the Prince’s right, the Duchess of York on his left. Mom wasn’t there because she knew damned well why her boy was throwing his party and she wanted nothing to do with it. And, because she wouldn’t go, none of the Prince’s sisters were allowed to go although they had all been invited and were desperate to attend.
Princess Caroline was not there because she hadn’t been invited. But then, she didn’t expect to be. Her Ladies in Waiting had been invited and in keeping with her nature, not only said they could go, but bought new dresses for them so they would look their best. The Prince didn’t deserve the women in his life. Speaking of which…
Mrs Fitzherbert was invited. When she asked if Lady Hertford would be present, the Prince replied “Sure. Why shouldn’t she be?” Mrs Fitzherbert demanded to know where she stood, not only with the Prince, but in society. When she pressed him, he finally told her “You know, Madam, you have no place.”
“None Sir, but such as you choose to give me.” Was her reply. She didn’t attend the party nor did she and the Prince ever speak to one another again. Mrs Fitzherbert, who had put up with the Prince for 24 very long years, had been dumped for good. The Duke and Duchess of York, as well as all of his sisters begged him to reconsider. Maria Fitzherbert was practically a member of the family. Even mom and dad liked her! And he was dumping her for another man’s wife? The Prince refused to reconsider. Lady Hertford was in. Mrs Fitzherbert was out. Forever.
– Mr. Al
Fibs
more animals
I’ve never been good at figuring this out. What do you do when your kids tell you lies?
I’ve kind of assumed that having my kids try to get out of things by not telling the truth – things like “No, I don’t have any homework tonight” – was simply part of being a kid. I try my best not to accuse them falsely, and to at least make them realize I’m aware of when they are in the wrong, but I’m beginning to think maybe my stance isn’t strong enough.
It seems to me that other people’s kids don’t try to lie as often as mine do. But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it seems that way to me because, you know, the grass is always greener in someone else’s yard.
So I’m wondering. If you have kids, what do you do? If you don’t, what did your parents do? When is it OK to lie, and when not?
If anyone has any really good suggestions in the comments, I’ll add them to the poll.
Lemonade Award
Michelle gave me a great award.
See? Cool, huh?
The way the “When Life Gives You Lemons, make Lemonade” Award (for short, The Lemonade Award) works is:
1) You must link back to the person you received the award from.
2) You have to nominate 10 bloggers who are deserving of this award!
Paige Tyler Warning, this site is racy.
Toasty Meatloaf
1 ½ c hamburger
1/2 c ketchup
½ c onions
2 slices of toast
1 egg
1 Tbsp steak sauce
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
another 1/3 c ketchup
Saute onions. Combine everything except the last bit of ketchup in a mixing bowl. Mold into a
bread pan. Smooth ketchup over the top. Place in oven at 375 F until done – approx 45 min.
If you did a recipe today, leave your link in the comments and I’ll link to you here.
Sharrie with a skillet Corn Bread
Tamy with Chunky Apple Banana Sauce
Mimi with a bacon cheese roll
Kristen saved the potatoes
Angela with PB Krispies
Chipper
Jill: Come on, Jack, you used to do the dishes all the time. Please do them now? Look I chipped a nail!
Jack: A nail? Darling, that’s nothing. I think I chipped a tooth!
Jill: A tooth? How did you…. Oh, yeah. Never mind.
Today’s theme is chip
Previously in Jack and Jill Fur Hat
Saturday photo scavenger hunt
The rules for Photohunt can be found here.
Be sure to visit the home page.
Suzie’s House 101: Serious Matters
“I know! I know! Mom, just leave me alone.” Ben grabbed his papers and books off the kitchen table in a huff.
Whatever happened to her care free boy? Suzie hesitated for several seconds while she processed this latest shock. Ever since he came back from his father’s house, Ben had been different, and not in a good way. When he lost his temper, she didn’t know how to handle him. It was like giving up an angel and getting back a changeling.
She had assumed everything would straighten out over time now that he was where he belonged, but if anything his outbursts had become more frequent, violent, and easily triggered. Something had to be done.
With a twitch of her shirt, she girded her loins and took a step in the direction he’d taken. Before she could get further than the hall, Drew caught her.
“Suzie,” he said uncomfortably. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
“Can we talk later? I need to talk to Ben.”
“I don’t think you’re going to get anywhere with him right now.” Drew looked at the stairs with a speculative air. Obviously he must have seen Ben going up to his room.
“Well I have to try. Lately I haven’t been able to talk to him about anything. He’s so short tempered! He never used to be like that.”
“Didn’t he? Maybe he was afraid to show you before, and now he isn’t.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Consider it a mark of maturity.” Drew took her by the arm and guided her back into the kitchen. “I always got the feeling he was a little too sweet and too polite. He’s a teenager now, isn’t he?”
“He turned thirteen right before we meet you.”
“I’ll bet there was a lot he kept bottled up inside.”
Could it be? Thinking that Ben might not have trusted her entirely even before she’d sent him off to his father made her hurt inside. “You don’t really think that, do you? That he felt he needed to be careful around me?”
“I’m sure he loves you. Consider it a mark of his trust in you that he’s willing to say what’s on his mind to you even though you could send him back.”
“I will never!!!”
“Exactly. You know it, and I think he knows it, even if he hasn’t really thought it through. Just give him a few minutes, then go talk to him. Once he’s calmed down I’m sure he’ll be reasonable. Ben is a good kid.”
Suzie nodded. Drew held out a chair for her at the kitchen table. She took it automatically.
In the meanwhile there’s something I need to tell you.
“Is it about one of the O’Connors?”
“No, although that is going well. Sean is in custody with more than enough evidence to put him away, thanks to Christina. Joseph disappeared, but I talked to someone yesterday who says he’s planning on trying to get Sean out through a prison break.” Drew smiled indulgently at the absurdity of that plan.
Suzie smiled too, though the news didn’t really comfort her. “Is there anything I can do to help out?”
“Maybe.” Drew nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll let you know. In the meanwhile, I have to tell you something.”
“Yes?” Suzie tried to be patient, but her eyes went toward the doorway, and her mind kept turning to Ben.
“I know I promised to be with you for the court date in a couple of days.”
She raised an eyebrow, trying to figure out which court date he was referring to.
“The hearing over custody of Ben.”
“Yes?” He wasn’t really going to back out, was he?”
“I’m not sure I’ll be able to be there for the whole thing. I’ll be in court as a witness down the hall for a local matter involving Sean O’Connor. It should be over in plenty of time, but in case it isn’t…”
Suzie sighed in resignation, then nodded. She understood. A part of her regretted his absence, but another rejoiced that he was following through with the man who tried to kidnap Ben. She got up from the table. When she reached him, she paused long enough to put her hand on Drew’s shoulder.
“It’s all right. You do what you have to. Right now, I have to talk to Ben.”
He stayed in the kitchen as she made her way down the hall then up the stairs to Ben’s room.
If you enjoy Suzie’s House and would like to see more, please leave a comment. Suzie’s House is powered by its readers.
Thursday Thirteen: Just Why?
In the last two weeks I’ve linked to all kinds of people who are still doing Thursday Thirteen. There are scads of us out there. Clearly, if you still want to do them, there is no reason to hold back!
Since I’ve made my point, I’m going to go back to doing them the way I have in the past.
Here are thirteen times this week that I caught myself thinking “Just why”
1. Just why did the county send back my property tax check. They say it’s because I didn’t include the interest charges for having been a couple of days late, but if that’s the case, why didn’t they cash the check, then charge me the interest? Could it be they wanted to make more interest money off me? The clerk’s reaction when asked why not (in a horrified voice) “Oh no, we couldn’t do that!”
2. Just why does my daughter insist on going outside in sub-zero weather without her coat?
3. Just why are my eyes so wonky? See Tuesday’s post for more on that.
4. Just why did the city insist I be present before they would turn my water back on? They didn’t need me there when they turned it off. The do it from the outside. They didn’t hang around to make sure it all worked. So why did I have to cool my heels for two hours in a vacant house waiting for them?
5. Just why did my son, who previously refused to wear his coat at all, suddenly decide he couldn’t possibly go to school without it?
6. Just why can’t they make sox that are big enough for my enormous calves, but still small enough for my feet?
7. Just why can’t I make myself revise this non-functional scene? I swear, I’d rather clean the toilet.
8. Just why does the house smell of natural gas? I mean the kind that should trace back to my stove but doesn’t seem to be doing so, not the kind the percolates from various members of the family after Bean Soup night.
9. Just why did the teachers call me in for a big high-falooting meeting if they didn’t intend to follow through with even the simplest of remedies? All I ask is the the girl get a little help packing her back pack. Skip one day of picking her up and the entire system breaks down.
10. Just why can’t Mr. Al FILL the tank, rather than putting in only a couple of gallons? I’m having a heck of a time trying to figure out what kind of millage I’m getting.
11. Just why can’t I seem to get an IT guy lined up. I mean besides the fact I’m broke.
12. Just why did the neighbors suddenly decide to clean their yard of dog poop? They literally had to use a pick ax to get it out of the ice. Not that I mind! Just wondering, you know?
13. Just why did everyone get so quiet yesterday? I went visiting, but it seemed like everyone was busy. I only know of one person who was at the actual inauguration and wasn’t trying
This week’s featured Thursday Thirteen post:
Kristin at Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker
As always, please leave the link to your TT post with me. You can put it in Mr. Linky and/or in the comments.
By George! He Would Be King! Almost.
With so many unpleasant things happening in the royal family; Amelia’s death, the Duke of Cumberland’s scandal, you know something has to give, and it won’t be the Prince.
The death of Princess Amelia, following so closely on the Duke of Cumberland scandal, had a very bad effect on the King. His relapse was so severe than many feared for his life. Even before the relapse, he was almost completely blind and deaf.
No one held serious hopes that he would recover soon; if he recovered at all. That meant that the Regency Bill of 1788 had to be dusted off. The Prince had been behaving in a manner that everyone, except for the women in his life, found exemplary. He kept his mouth shut about his fathers condition, he didn’t seek out big “loans” in exchange for government offices, He didn’t discuss politics at all unless invited to do so.
Can I Ignore It?
Any time a medical problem comes up, this is my first question. Can I get away with ignoring it? Is it going to kill me if I just work around it?
Most of the time the answer is yes. Is this time the same? Here’s what I’ve got:
It’s a psychedelic little swirl a bit smaller than this and not so clearly defined that keeps catching my attention. I don’t notice it all the time; mostly when I’m looking at the computer screen. It seems to be in my right eye and not the left.
So what you think? Can I ignore it and hope it goes away on it’s own?
Driftwood Horses
Don’t they look real?
I wonder how long it takes to make them? The email these came in didn’t say.
Cream Cheese Crab Ball
I pkg (8 oz) cream cheese
1 1/3c imitation crab
1 tsp lemon
½ c slivered almonds
paprika
Combine cream cheese, crab, lemon, and paprika in a bowl, squishing together until everything is evenly distributed. Pour almonds on a plate. Form cream cheese mixture into a ball. Press the ball into the almonds so that they coat the outside of the ball. Place in refrigerator until ready to serve.
If you did a recipe today, leave your link in the comments and I’ll link to you here.
Lynn with Gingerbreadwith Lemon Sauce
Tamy with Chocolate Carrot Cake, and as always, the Simply Delicious hub
Karin with Peach Kuchen
Fur Hat
Jill: Brrrrrrr! I am soooo cold!
Jack: Would you like my hat?
Jill: No thanks. I can’t believe you wanted to come out here when it’s so cold, and foggy, and
Jack: I was planning on holding your hand. I thought it would be, you know, romantic or something.
Jill: No you didn’t. I know exactly what you were planning on doing, and it isn’t going to work.
Jack: Oh come on! It’s the warmest fur hat you’ll ever have.
Jill: Of sure. But then I’ll never be rid of it!
Jack: Please. Please, I’m begging you. She hasn’t gotten off my head since I caught her when she jumped off the bell tower. Please, take her off my head!
Jill: Well. Maybe if I…
Gin: Meow! Pffft! Pfft!!!
Jill: Um…. Maybe not.
Today’s theme is hat
Previously in Jack and Jill Good Catch, Jack
Saturday photo scavenger hunt
The rules for Photohunt can be found here.
Be sure to visit the home page.
Suzie's House Index
As of today Suzie’s House has reached 100 posts. Some of my readers have complained over the life of this story that it is hard to get from one episode to the next. I hope to have that problem solved soon, but in the meanwhile, I hope this helps people find the episodes they missed.
Suzie’s House 1: A Matter of Economics
Suzie’s House 2: Friend or Roommate?
Suzie’s House 3: Rules Are Made to Be Bent…
Suzie’s House 4: …Or Broken…
Suzie’s House 5: …. Or Completely Devastated.
Suzie’s House 6: Back to Work
Suzie’s House 7: There’s No Place Like Home
Suzie’s House 8: If You Can’t Stand The Heat, What Are You Doing In The Kitchen
Suzie’s House 9: Dinner!
Suzie’s House 10: Rub A Dub Dub
Suzie’s House 11: Good Morning
Suzie’s House 12: All In A Day’s Work
Suzie’s House 13: Of Duty and Honor
Suzie’s House 14: Mouth to Mouth
Suzie’s House 15: Resusitation
Suzie’s House 16: Crying Over Nothing
Suzie’s House 17: Visitors
Suzie’s House 18: For Want of a Band Aid
Suzie’s House 19: Drew’s Decision
Suzie’s House 20: Miranda’s Decision
Suzie’s House 21: Well? What Did You Decide, Drew?
Suzie’s House 22: Should Something Arise
Suzie’s House 23: The Forgotten One
Suzie’s House 24: A Mother’s Love
Suzie’s House 25: The Times, They Are A Changing
Suzie’s House 26: The New Chef
Suzie’s House 27: The Taste of Defeat
Suzie’s House 28: Hey Babe
Suzie’s House 29: Guilting the Lilly
Suzie’s House 30: The Confessional
Suzie’s House 31: A Sympathetic Ear
Suzie’s House 32: Respect
Suzie’s House 33 : Suzie and Drew Sitting in a Tree
Suzie’s House 34: Lost Boy
Suzie’s House 35 : A Tale of Two Brothers
Suzie’s House 36: Mata Hari
Suzie’s House 37: A Dark and Balmy Night
Suzie’s House 38 : the Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth
Suzie’s House 39 : Good Intentions
Suzie’s House 40: Cat Scratch Fever
Suzie’s House 41: Coming to the Point
Suzie’s House 42: A Little Understanding
Suzie’s House 43: To Clear the Air
Suzie’s House 44: A Little Get Together
Suzie’s House 45: A Party with a View
Suzie’s House 46: Peas in a Pod
Suzie’s House 47: For the Greater Good
Suzie’s House 48: Birth of a Scream
Suzie’s House 49: Unraveling
Suzie’s House 50: On the Case
Suzie’s House 51: Something to Think About
Suzie’s House 52: Mixed Up With Muffins
Suzie’s House 53: A Little Conspiracy
Suzie’s House 54: Miranda Takes Steps
Suzie’s House 55: Ladie’s Night Out
Suzie’s House 56: Dancing Around the Subject
Suzie’s House 57: Miranda at the Caribou
Suzie’s House 58: At Cross Purposes
Suzie’s House 59: Chance Encounter with the Ex
Suzie’s House 60: Taking Advantage
Suzie’s House 61: A Compromising Position
Suzie’s House 62: You Can and I Can’t?
Suzie’s House 63: Brothers in Arms
Suzie’s House 64: Something to Watch
Suzie’s House 65: Grilling Out
Suzie’s House 66: Little Red Corvette
Suzie’s House 67 : On Our Side, Sort Of
Suzie’s House 68: When the Cover is Blown
Suzie’s House 69: So Lonely
Suzie’s House 70: Ratatouille
Suzie’s House 71: The Outsider
Suzie’s House 72: If the Shoe Fits
Suzie’s House 73: Time to Go
Suzie’s House 74: Decisions, Decisions
Suzie’s House 75: One Toe Over the Line
Suzie’s House 76: On Suzie’s Mind
Suzie’s House 77: Men!
Suzie’s House 78: In the Heat of the Moment
Suzie’s House 79: Nothing Has Changed, Indeed
Suzie’s House 80: In Comparison
Suzie’s House 81: Mrs. D’s Revenge
Suzie’s House 82: Breaking Point – The First
Suzie’s House 83: Heavy Weighs the Crown
Suzie’s House 84: Reconciliation
Suzie’s House 85: Home Sweet Home
Suzie’s House 86: To Break a Mother’s Heart
Suzie’s House 87: Drew Steps In
Suzie’s House 88: Man to Man
Suzie’s House 89: With Head High
Suzie’s House 90: To Reconsider
Suzie’s House 91: Crashers
Suzie’s House 92: A New Direction
Suzie’s House 93: Getting a Handle On It
Suzie’s House 94: Guess Who
Suzie’s House 95: What About You Guys?
Suzie’s House 96: Ms Spring
Suzie’s House 97: Trust
Suzie’s House 98: One Handshake Away
Suzie’s House 99: Breaking Point II
Suzie’s House 100: The Reign of Insanity
This thing isn’t working. I’m going to have to take it down.
Suzie’s House 100: The Reign of Insanity
In the last couple of weeks Ben has really gone through the ringer.
“You aren’t really going to do it, are you?” Gene asked Ben, but he already knew, and he wasn’t so sure how he felt about it.
English class was almost over, and still the story Ben wrote was in his folder. When was he going to give it to Mrs. D? And what would Mrs. D. do? Whatever she did wasn’t gunna to be pretty, and would probably splash all over Gene as well as his friend.
Why couldn’t Ben have written about someone else?
(more…)
