lizardblog ( the blog of liz creech

September 14, 2006
Stuff and stuff and more stuff

Do you remember the Rough tote commercial where the family is all disorganized and cluttered? Then they go out and buy Rough Totes to store all their stuff. At the end of the commercial they say something about going and getting more stuff.

When I think of all the stuff I have spent money on because I thought I needed it, or more specifically because I just wanted it, and then eventually it tore up, got destroyed or in general was just left somewhere in the house forgotten because it wasn't something I was actually going to need to use in the first palace, it makes me kind of sick. Since I have moved into this house, which is almost twice as big as the last one, in this nice new development, I have seen a lot of the garages open. You know what is in most of those garages? Stuff, and not just a little bit but a big 2 car garage full with barely a path to a door. What the hell are we thinking? What purpose does having all that crap actually serve?

I guess what bothers me most is the fact that I have literally wasted so much money on stuff just so I could have it. Thinking I really needed it. I have gotten better about realizing when I actually need it or when I won't use it but want it because I think it is cool. Here is a good example. I had read a lot about the Hoover floor mate. It cleans and washes hard floor surfaces. They are kind of expensive and I decided to find one on ebay for "cheap". I have to tell you I am glad I didn't buy one new. Doesn't perform quite as well as it had been hyped up to. You know what? I prefer the broom and a good old mop or scrub brush. They work quite well and I don't have to do all the extra stuff the cool new machine requires. With a broom I just pick it up and sweep the floor. Then I can just run a sink full of water and scrub the floor or get a bucket.

Anyway, here I sit wondering why I thought I needed so much stuff that I can't park a car in the garage. And why we as a society think we have to have the nicest newest cars or houses or furniture. Nice and new are not the same thing.

Ok, I think I am done for now.

posted by Liz at 8:59 AM - permalink - -

September 13, 2006
I wonder if we realize what we are doing...

Working in a restaurant I see a lot of things that make me wonder if, as a society, we actually realize what we are teaching our children. It would appear that we are losing the ability to actually communicate properly. That we are being lazy and taking the easy way out that, in the end, will be a surprising bite in the butt. You might be interested to know just how many families bring in portable DVD players and almost instantly turn them on for a child to watch a movie during dinner. How come we don't teach our children to talk to us and communicate while we are having dinner? If you don't want to deal with your children, why did you have them? If you don't want to teach your child how to behave in public, why do you bring them out?

Another interesting phenomenon is adults just letting children run, literally, around a restaurant. Without any form of supervision, while they sit and talk, sometimes for hours. It is rather dangerous for all involved just to let your kids run around out in a restaurant. They could fall, they could cause someone else to fall, they could get run over by a fast moving server, they could cause a tray full of food to get dumped on someone, and mostly they in general cause people to not enjoy their dinner due to the extra noise. I am all about letting the kids play after dinner AT HOME, where that is acceptable. But what are parents thinking? How do children learn ANYTHING, unless we teach them the proper way to do stuff?

From my own experience, and please understand I am my own worst critic, I have found that lazy parenting only frustrates YOU, the parent. We wonder why children are they way they are, how come they don't talk to us, how come they are hoodlums, how come they have no respect for anyone, how come they DON'T KNOW HOW TO ACT? Even I know the answer to that - WE THE ADULTS HAVE NOT TAUGHT THEM PROPERLY, TALKED TO THEM PROPERLY, NOT SHOWN THEM RESPECT OR EARNED THEIR RESPECT, AND WE ALLOW THEM TO ACT LIKE HOODLUMS!!

What I find really interesting is that the people who are going to read this aren't the type of parent who even needs to hear this. It is just one of the things I have been thinking about lately.

posted by Liz at 9:25 AM - permalink - -

September 07, 2006
Monkey Bread

I was going to take some pictures to post of the Monkey Bread I made this morning. My older children, however, have purloined the batteries from the camera. For musical devices I am sure. I am sure someone out there has at least heard of Monkey Bread, if not eaten or made said delicacy. It is simple and taste very good. The recipe is as follows:
3 Cans of regular biscuits
1 cup of sugar
2 tsp. of cinnamon
1 cup (2 sticks) of real butter - margarine WILL NOT do.
1/2 cup packed brown sugar

Mix the sugar and cinnamon. Take biscuits and cut into quarters and drop into the sugar mixture to coat. Place coated pieces into a well buttered bundt pan without squishing.

Put 1/2 cup of left over sugar, brown sugar and butter into a sauce pan on medium heat and let mixture come just to a boil and take off heat immediately. Carefully drizzle over biscuit pieces.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min. Cool slightly after baking and then tip onto a plate.

Eat and enjoy!!

posted by Liz at 8:54 AM - permalink - -

September 05, 2006
10 Things I COULD have been

I have been thinking about a lot of things here lately. Pretty deep things, and I am a horrible communicator, so I thought I would just do something kind of light and interesting until I get the rest worked out in my head. As you all know Alan is in Ireland and I am a single parent for a week and I don't care for it much. God love all those single parents who have to work and figure out what to do with kids without "back up".

Ok, so 10 things I COULD have been:
1. A police officer - Actually started my college off in Police Administration - Changed my major.
2. Corrections officer - This is what I have a degree in.
3. Model - everyone thought I would be one since I had the figure for it back in high school.
4. Served in the Armed Forces - I assimilate very well and would have been the perfect soldier.
5. Public Speaker - You all - I LOVE getting up in front of people.
6. Slap stick comedian - you have to be smart to do the stand up, I just like being stupid and could have made a living at it if I had been encouraged in that direction.
7. A Rockette - seriously I loved to dance and was in Show Choir in high school (where you sing and dance)
8. A preachers wife - I dated a PK in high school and we were "serious" well as much as you can be at that stupid age
9. A single divorced mom with several kids by different fathers - If I hadn't married Alan, that is EXACTLY where I would have ended up - Thank You God that I married him!!
10. Dead due to complete ignorance and complete trust of everyone in the world. Glad I finally wised up.

posted by Liz at 9:24 AM - permalink - -

spiritual

> vine & branches
> vineyard central

blogs

> Garden Escapades
> Trish Hiduk
> Maryann
> Alan Creech
> The Vine
> Little Houses
> Amber Bishop
> Jody Nixon
> Laura Ogle
> Debi Warford
> Jason & Brooke Evans
> Eric Keck
> Beth Keck
> Pete Matthews
> Trudi Matthews
> Brian Phillips
> Bryan Sherwood
> Malie
> Kim Johnson

Homeschool

> vegsource homeschool
> discovery school channel
> saxon math and phonics

general interest

> john rosemond's affermative parenting
> lisa welchel
> thunderstruck
> Homestar Runner

gardening

> Kids Gardening

books i like

Here are some books I suggests if you are looking to homeschool or just for information. I gleaned a lot from them. Our church gets credit if you buy through these links.

In their Own Way
by Thomas Armstrong

Seven Times Smarter
by Laurel Schmidt

How to Talk So Kids Can Learn
by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

Teen Proofing
by John Rosemond