My Weekend Away

For Christmas, Steve and Debbie gave Shawn and I a weekend getaway to the Zermatt Resort. If you ever have the chance to purchase or use The Gift of Giving Certificate, please do so. This had to be one of the best presents ever. Especially since they took the kids so we could have a weekend alone. We decided to go during Shawn's spring break since he would be back in summer semester during our actual anniversary.

We got to the hotel about 6:30 and dropped off our stuff in the room and went to dinner. While we were standing outside our room, we noticed a smoky smell coming from the room next door. We didn't think anything of it other than it sucked to be next to a smoking room. We went to dinner at Mattie's Bistro and that was great; we got an appetizer, Shawn had steak and I had a brat, Cokes and then chocolate cake for dessert. Dinner was a whopping 7 dollars! We ran to Wal-Mart in Park City to get a DVD Player 'cause there wasn't one in the room and we brought movies to watch. Then we went back up to our room. As I was standing there waiting for Shawn to get our door opened, the smell from the other room was getting really strong and it was really starting to not smell like cigarette smoke.

Just then the door opened and a guy stumbled out, knocking the Do Not Disturb sign off of their door. He is giggling as he tries to get the sign back on the door and then kind of stumbles off down the hall. We get into our room and I can hear the other room talking. Not just mumbles, but actual words that they are saying. I am starting to get uncomfortable and so we go down to the front desk to complain. The front desk tells us that he will call the manager and let her know about the room, but that is pretty much all they can do. So, we go back up to our room and see the manager standing down the hall. When we get about 5 doors away from our room you can smell the smoky sweet smell of pot along with incense burning. When we get into our room, you can smell it everywhere. So off I go to the manager to tell her that it's not cigarette smoke and she offers to find us another room. Thank heavens that we hadn't unpacked yet!

We get up to our new room, which is one floor up and kitty corner to the other room and when we looked out the window, we could see that they had their windows open and they were fanning trying to get the smoke out!!

Next morning, we wake up and have breakfast, which was FREE, and we went walking around the grounds looking at the Ice Castles that they had built.





Then it was time for my Massage, which was great. After that we went into Heber and got some BBQ and brought it back up to the room. At 2:30 Shawn left to go to the reception for Mitt Romney with Brian.



I hung around the room and watched 2012, read and ate more BBQ. At 6:30 I went down to the spa and had my pedicure which felt really good. Then I went back up to the room and read and channel surfed until Shawn got back at 10:30. Then we munched and went to bed.

Check out was at 11:00 (actually 10, stupid daylight savings) and so we put our bags into the car and headed over to Schneitter's for their Sunday Brunch. Which was HUGE. Then we went over to the outlets to see if we could find Shawn some shoes, which we didn't and then we headed home.

It was really great to get away and to spend some alone time with Shawn, but I really missed my kids.

Conversations with Kirra

Shawn had just taken the garbage out and put in a new bag when he noticed that Kirra was tugging on the bag.

Shawn: What are you doing?
Kirra: Just checking.
Shawn: Just checking what?
Kirra: To make sure it's a Glad Forceflex bag.
Shawn: How do you know that?
Kirra: I saw it on a commercial.



(Please just know that Kirra does not watch that much TV, we are pretty sure she has a photographic memory and can recall just about everything she sees. She still talks about things that we did before she turned 2.)

Kirra

Yesterday I am at Sam's Club with Kirra. We are in the pet isle getting rawhides for Toby and I am turning the cart around. Here is our conversation:

Me: Looks like we don't need anything else from this isle.
Kirra: We don't need cat food anymore do we?
Me: Nope, we don't
Kirra: 'Cause we ran all out of Kitty huh mom.

I love how her little mind thinks.

Oscar

So, there is no easy way to put this. Oscar is gone. He was fine last night. I caught him curled up on Kirra's bed fast asleep. He was the inspiration for all her bedtime stories (Oscar was secretly an Astronaut and had wonderful adventures to Mars).

Shawn found him this morning creeping out of the hole in the side of the couch (whole other story there, I will have to post about it later) acting lethargic and whining. We kind of brushed it off thinking that he must have picked up some of the crap that has been floating around our house this past week. Well, around 1:30 I get a call from Shawn saying that he was taking Oscar to the vet. I really didn't think anything of it, he's only 10, which in the way of cat's is relatively young. 2:30 Shawn calls me and says that they have found a bloody mass on the inside of his thigh and they had just done some blood work and were going to do a biopsy on the mass. 3:00 Shawn calls and says that I have to get down to the vet's office. I rush down and there is my wonderful cat curled up in the corner not moving. He cries out as I pick him up to pet him. He doesn't even purr. He settles down and just lets me pet him as we listen to the vet lay out our options, which pretty much meant putting him in more pain just so we could have 6 more months to a full lifetime. At that point, I am thinking, okay we could have YEARS more with him, but then he tries to stand and his back legs collapse under him. That's when I realize that I can't make him live like that.

So, here is to my wonderful cat, who even though he drove me nuts and made me do more laundry that I would have liked. Who would crawl under the covers to cuddle and purr (the vibrations from him would make your chest rattle), who loved being held like a baby and was my comfort. I will miss you dearly, but I am glad that you are with your friend Andy.

1939 Marital Rating Scale

So, I found this HERE. I thought it was pretty funny.

Marital Rating Scale
Wife’s Chart
George W. Crane, Ph. D., M.D.
(Copyright 1939)
In computing the score, check the various items under DEMERITS which fit the wife, and add the total. Each item counts one point unless specifically weighted as in the parentheses. Then check the items under MERITS which apply; now subtract the DEMERIT score from the MERIT score. The result is the wife’s raw score. Interpret it according to this table:
Raw Scores Interpretation
0-24……………Very Poor
25-41…………..Poor
42-58…………..Average
59-75…………..Superior
76 and up……….Very Superior

DEMERITS
1. Slow in coming to bed — delays till husband is almost asleep.
2. Doesn’t like children. (5)
3. Fails to sew on buttons or darn socks regularly.
4. Wears soiled or ragged dresses and aprons around the house.
5. Wears red nail polish.
6. Often late for appointments. (5)
7. Seams in hose often crooked.
8. Goes to bed with curlers on her hair or much face cream.
9. Puts her cold feet on husband at night to warm them.
10. Is a backseat driver.
11. Flirts with other men at parties or restaurants. (5)
12. Is suspicious and jealous. (5)
13. Uses slang or profanity. (5)
14. Smokes, drinks, gambles, or uses dope. (5)
15. Talks about former boy friends or first husband.
16. Squeezes tooth paste at the top.
17. Reminds husband it is her money they are living on. (5)
18. Tells family affairs to casual acquaintances, too talkative.
19. A chronic borrower–doesn’t keep stocked up.
20. Slows up card game with chatter and gossip.
21. Opens husband’s personal mail.
22. Frequently exceeds her allowance or family budget. (5)
23. Eats onions, radishes, or garlic before a date or going to bed.
24. Tells risque or vulgar stories. (5)
25. Wears pajamas while cooking.
26. Talks during movie, play or concert.
27. Is more than 15 pounds overweight.
28. Often whining or complaining.
29. Discourteous to sales clerks and hired help.
30. Shoulder straps hang over arms or slip is uneven and shows.
31. Fails to wash top of milk bottle before opening it.
32. Corrects husband’s speech or actions before others. (5)
33. Saves punishment of children for father at night. (5)
34. Serves dinner but fails to sit down till meal is half over–then wants husband to wait for her.
35. Wears pajamas instead of nightgown.
36. Fails to bathe or brush teeth often enough. (5)
37. Puts stockings to soak in wash basin.
38. Serves too much from tin cans or the delicatessen store.
39. Visits mother too often–a spoiled child.
40. Is snobbish or too much concerned in “keeping up with the Jones.”
41. Dislikes husband’s hobbies as fishing, baseball, etc.
42. Tells lies–not dependable. (5)
43. Doesn’t want to get up to prepare breakfast.
44. Insists on driving the car when husband is along.
45. Smokes in bed or has cigarette stained fingers.
46. Cries, sulks or pouts too much.
47. Makes evening engagements without consulting her husband.
48. Talks too long on the phone.
49. Is a gossip.
50. Walks around house in stocking feet.

MERITS
1. A good hostess–even to unexpected guests.
2. Has meals on time.
3. Can carry on an interesting conversation.
4. Can play a musical instrument, as piano, violin, etc.
5. Dresses for breakfast.
6. Neat housekeeper–tidy and clean.
7. Personally puts children to bed.
8. Never goes to bed angry, always makes up first. (5)
9. Asks husband’s opinions regarding important decisions and purchases.
10. Good sense of humor–jolly and gay.
11. Religious–sends children to church or Sunday school and goes herself.
12. Lets husband sleep late on Sunday and holidays.
13. Encourages thrifty–economical. (5)
14. Laughs at husband’s jokes and his clowning.
15. Ambitious for her family–urges higher attainment.
16. Belongs to parent-teacher club, or child study group.
17. A good cook–serves balanced meals. (5)
18. Tries to become acquainted with husband’s business or trade.
19. Greets husband at night with a smile.
20. Has a pleasant disposition in the morning–not crabby.
21. Keeps snacks in refrigerator for late eating.
22. Likes educational and cultural things.
23. Reacts with pleasure and delight to marital congress. (10)
24. Faithful and true to husband. (10)
25. Has pleasant voice–not strident.
26. Has spunk–will defend her ideals and religion.
27. Praises husband in public.
28. Writes often and lovingly when away from husband.
29. Writes to husband’s parents regularly.
30. Willing to assist husband at office or shop.
31. Sympathetic–likes children and unfortunates. (5)
32. Keeps hair neatly combed or shampooed and waved.
33. Often comments on husband’s strength and masculinity.
34. Good seamstress–can make her own clothes or the children’s clothes.
35. Gives husband shampoo or manicure.
36. Keeps husband’s clothes clean and presses.
37. Bravely carries on during financial depression.
38. Healthy or courageous and uncomplaining.
39. Keeps self dainty, perfumed and feminine.
40. Is of same religion as her husband. (5)
41. Has minor children to care for. (5 points per child)
42. On friendly terms with neighbors.
43. Fair and just in settling the children’s quarrels with others.
44. Likes to vacation with husband.
45. An active member of some women’s organization.
46. Often tells husband she loves him. (5)
47. Polite and mannerly even when alone with husband.
48. Willing to get a job to help support the home.
49. Praises marriage before young women contemplating it.
50. Is unselfish and kind-hearted.

This test represents the composite opinions of 600 husbands who were asked to list chief merits and demerits of their wives. They talked frankly. I have summarized the most frequently voiced flaws and virtues and have weighted those items which, in my judgment as a psychologist and physician, are especially important in marriage. I commend this test to the attention of all intelligent women who aspire to make their marriages both permanent and happy. Young women contemplating matrimony might very profitably use this test as a practical guide.
Dr George W. Crane


So, wives, where do you stand? Please let me know what you think about the standards of housewifery (is that a word?) then and now. Do we have it easier, harder?

Meeting Santa

Saturday was my office's Kids Christmas Party. I am so lucky to work for a company who takes care of their employees the was that Founders Title does. Not only do we have the regular Christmas Party, but they make a special day with cookie decorating and treats and they have Santa and Mrs. Claus come and visit for the kids. How cool is that? Shawn decided to stay at home since we can't leave the puppy alone for too long, so my in laws met us at the office. Deb helped Kirra decorate a cookie for everyone and Steve kept Collin entertained.

10 am and Santa is here. Steve puts Kirra on his shoulders so she can see over everyone and it's Collin's turn on Santa's lap. I walk him up and hand him over and he just sits there staring at this strange man. Doesn't cry, doesn't fuss. Take the picture and he's looking happy as can be.

I take him back by the grandparents while we wait for Kirra's turn. Deb says that Kirra just sat there "Oh, look it's my Collin, look Grandma it's my Collin being so good!"

Now on to Kirra's turn, I carry her up 'cause there are so many people I don't want her to get lost, she sees Santa, she tenses up, she starts to tear up when she realizes that I am going to put her in this strange man's lap. I promise her that I am not going to just leave her there with him. I put her on his lap and have to keep my hands on her the whole time. She's trying really hard not to cry, but she wont look at him and when he asks what she wants for Christmas, she wont speak. Take the picture and she's all red faced looking ready to bolt.

Back to the Grandparents and she's back to her normal self. She said that his beard scared her. But the whole way home she chatted up what a great time she had and that Santa was really nice.

The pictures were taken with a Poloried Camera, so hopefully soon I will scan the pictures in of the kids meeting Santa.

The Christmas Spirit

Okay, so I was having an email conversation with a friend of mine who has older children that are starting to question the existence of Santa Claus. She was thinking that maybe she should start emphasizing the importance of the Christmas Spirit instead of Santa and the presents. So me and my smart mouth came up with this:

"Well, if we want to take Santa into account, he can be the perfect example of giving. Here is a man that has to take care of a wife, who knows how many elves and 9 reindeer. Yet he still finds time to make toys and deliver them to every child in the world. All for nothing and doesn't expect anything in return. So, while we might not want to focus on the toys, at least we can use him for an example of selfless giving."

I so just made it up, but it makes sense. We all want to teach our children that it is better to give than to receive, but how do you start the conversation, especially if you have small kids who still believe?

What are your thoughts?