My Latest Science Experiment

My boys take sadistic delight in telling their friends that I don't know how to cook. I take exception to this sentiment; I am an excellent cook but I don't do it often. I worked in a restaurant kitchen in high school and used to have nightmares about the dinner or lunch rush. I cooked enough meals to last several lifetimes. Also, with sporting events on multiple evenings each week 12 months out of the year, concession stand food and fast food are my friends (unless, of course, I need to get on the scale).

Their friends will tell you that I make outstanding pancakes, french toast, and scrambled eggs. Breakfast and baking are my specialties. I have a great spread on holidays as well, when I cook for 20 people.

Last night, after going a little stir crazy being snowed in most of the day, I decided to make a meatloaf. This is another of my prize recipes. Except I don't really use a recipe--at least not as it's written. I have a friend I'll call "Kate" who is a very good cook. She will tell you, though, that she almost always uses a recipe and prefers one with a picture. I figure if I don't know what it's supposed to look like, no one else does either, so if it comes out looking lopsided no one is the wiser.

I view the cooking process--especially with pancakes and meatloaf and other such meals--to be something of a science experiment. Measuring spoons and cups are guidelines, not precision tools. I have secret ingredients that I use in my pancakes that mean no one else will ever make them the same way. Same goes for the meatloaf, and frankly, both of these are kind of like snowflakes: no 2 batches are ever the same.

I got mixed reviews for my meatloaf last night. The eldest and youngest were torn. I mixed so many things together that every taste was a new adventure. They weren't too certain they were ready for that. The 17 year old, on the other hand, was very appreciative. I'll give you all my ingredients, but since I didn't measure anything, I can't give you proportions. My megaloaf contained:

Ground beef; sausage; 2 eggs; milk, clubhouse crackers; honey bbq sauce; chicken wing sauce, seasoned salt, onions, tastefully simple onion onion and garlic garlic, Worcester sauce, oregano, basil, cilantro, and mozzarella cheese.

Any suggestions for my next experiment?

Back in Black!!!

Tonight was the first annual Black Out game for the Bedford Basketball program, following in the footsteps of the football White Out. It was a spectacular night, to say the least.

The freshman team has been struggling this year but they managed to take the Hornets into overtime before bowing out right at the end. To say that it was a physical game would be an understatement--I think I saw 6 ice bags after the game.

The JV game was also exciting--it didn't go into overtime, but it did come down to the wire for the win (I think it was a 1 point difference). Then came the main event...

Michelle, Dagmar, and I have spent the better part of the past 2 months peddling special event shirts to be worn tonight. We managed to sell somewhere between 400 and 500. We had enough bodies filling the gym that we had to have seating open on both shelves--it was a full house. The pep band got the music for AC/DC's Back in Black for the occasion. It was raucous good fun in the gym--the student section was HUGE, and they were exceptionally animated. And the game certainly did not disappoint. After falling behind by a dozen in the first half, the varsity Mules took the lead in the 4th quarter, then the score seesawed back and forth. Like the freshmen, the game went into OT. I have to admit that I was banned from the gym in some point in the 4th quarter because every time I walked in, Saline rallied, and every time I left, the Mules edged ahead. So when the AD nudged me into the lobby at the end of OT, we all had a good laugh. While I was out there, Joe Martin had a beautiful assist to John Harmon, who put it in at the buzzer for the 2 point win. Now what makes this even more special... John is the one who caught the touchdown pass with 45 seconds left to tie the football game in the fall (with a nice 2 point conversion by TJ for the win). When the "Just Like Football" chant started, it had special meaning.

ALL of the boys on ALL of the Mule teams played their hearts out tonight. Congratulations!!!

The Beauty of a Public Education

I have heard much criticism of the public education system over the past few years--how a private school education is superior to a public school education-- and to that I say hrrrmph. I am not saying by any means that a public education is better. Rather, I am a firm believer that a wonderful education can be gained anywhere if the student is truly interested in learning. I, myself, attended Detroit Public Schools (Peter Vetal Elementary) for my K-8 studies before moving to Bedford just before I entered high school. I could have gone to any university based on my academic and extracurricular activities in high school (I was recruited by West Point to be in their second class with female cadets--thanks but no thanks!). I went to a MAC university where I had first rate teachers. I've done just fine with my life.

Just to challenge myself, I decided to take a little test out on blogthings. I surprised myself, actually. (and I'll admit to guessing at one or two). But here's a testament to public education...

There Are 0 Gaps in Your Knowledge

Where you have gaps in your knowledge: No Gaps! Where you don't have gaps in your knowledge: Philosophy Religion Economics Literature History Science Art

Do You Have Gaps in Your Knowledge?

I'm #2, but that's ok

As the mother of teenagers, I know I can be the enemy. With our church youth group, I am the "bad cop"--the one who reins it in when things get a little too crazy. I'm ok with that--especially since I don't have to do it often.

My boys will tell you that I go out of my way to embarrass them, which is true. Actually, they tell me I'm embarrassing myself, but I'm not. I don't care if people think I'm crazy or eccentric. I'm going to wear my Santa hat and holiday socks at Christmas regardless. I'm going to sing along (very off-key) to my radio or ipod. That's just who I am. Deal with it.

So, when the 17-year old told me he considered me to be the 2nd best mom around, I was pleased. I think over the past couple of years he's realized that he has it good. We don't always get along--we both are at rather hormonal stages in our lives--but our little arguments tend to be over fairly insignificant things in the grand scheme. I think he also realizes that I remember what it's like to be a teenager, and while I need to point out bad decisions, as long as certain rules are adhered to, I'm pretty flexible. Some day I'll relate my escapades during the blizzard of 1978 (or not).

His favorite mom? That would be Carol. If you go back in the archives (adventures with...), you'll see that Carol was the one who encouraged me to get my then-16-year-old son a Mustang. She's an insurance agent--it's good for business. She's the mom that's been known to be out baja'ing on the golf cart in the wee hours of the morning (lol). And I could go into the whole burping thing (which would be embarrassing to my boys if I did it) or the text messages... But she's of the same vein--have fun, but be smart. You don't need the extra, less-than-legal stuff to have a good time. Truthfully, if I were a teenager, Carol would be my favorite mom too. As it is, she's one of my favorite people for the same reasons my kids love her.

So I'll settle for my #2 rating, grateful that at least I made the list.

New Year, Renewed Me

Well, the calendar has rolled over into 2009. I can't say I'm sorry to see 2008 go. It was an up and down year. I lost a few friends (Steve, Sherry, Steve). Made a few new ones (my football moms!). I still have a job even if I don't always like it, my kids are great--the younger boys were successful in both academics and athletics. Andrew had a bit more of a tumultuous year, but I'll leave it to him to tell that story.

With the change of years generally comes the traditional New Year's resolutions. I swore them off a couple of years ago. Sure, I could stand to lose 20 pounds (ok, 30 pounds), but I'm at an age where my inner workings are making that more and more difficult. I'll do what I can, but I can't let that rule me. I'll eventually get around to using that Y-membership.

Instead of things to change, I like to set out a list of things to do and see how many I can check off. This year I will:

• Pray. Daily.
• Set aside "me" time to recharge my batteries. This will include things like getting lost in a good book while soaking in a bubble bath, and doing girls' night out (or weekend retreats) on a regular basis.
• Visit my parents more often. I am blessed to still have them, and they live around the block--yet I do not see them very frequently.
• Do things with my sister more often. She also lives within a mile of me, and I see her even less frequently.
• Catch up with my friends. I owe Dave, Monica, and Jenny lunch; Bob, Kim, and Michelle dinner. I have a good friend Margo who was my partner in crime for many years, but life got in the way and we haven't seen each other in forever--we owe each other one of those girls' weekend retreats.
• Help those who need it--continue to volunteer for whatever beckons.
• Help those who may not need it--random acts of kindness--doing the unexpected--can change a life.

I should probably also include more mundane things like organizing my garage and basement store room, and maybe my closet and sock drawer. um, maybe not.

Here's to a wonderful 2009 for all my family and friends (and me!).