Seven Quick Takes: Inaugural Edition

So…I am not known for being quick about getting to my point, so I must confess that the idea of “Seven Quick Takes” is somewhat daunting.

And perhaps it is the very reason I have chosen to avoid it for lo, these many months.

But the pressure is getting to me and I cannot avoid it any longer.

OK, that’s a lie…no one is pressuring me except myself. To see if I can do it.

I shall not belabor the point any longer. My Seven Random Quick Takes:

1. Sometimes I like to imagine that my boys are more mature than their compatriots (I’m not 100% certain about the word choice there but I’m going with it…you know what I mean). But last week-end they proved me wrong. While at a sleepover birthday party, they were witnesses to (although supposedly were not involved in the actual “miscreant activity”) the birthday boy receiving a moustache and various smiley faces on his face while he slept. This very same birthday boy was the one who, just a week prior at a church middle school retreat, had been cautioning the other boys “You NEVER want to be the first one asleep at a sleepover.” Point made…you DON’T want to be the first one asleep at a sleepover.

2. Bible Time at our house always brings up good fodder for discussion. One day this week we had the following discussion, as we were reading about Noah and the flood, and all that “good” stuff.

12yo: So if we’re all from Noah and part of the same family, should we REALLY be marrying each other?

Me: Well, yeah, I think we’re ok now, but the beginning seems a little weird, doesn’t it?

10yo: Mom do you ever wonder which of Noah’s sons you come from?

Me: Um, no not really…Do you?

12yo: I wish I was from Ham…I love ham.

Ah, my child with a serious love of the salted, cured meats.

3. Just a tip for you, if you are ever in my house and find yourself without sufficient supplies in the bathroom. “Mom, we’re out of toilet paper!” is a very different statement than “Mom, could you get me some more toilet paper please? I don’t have any more!” This difference could, possibly, elicit a different response from “Mom”.  Also, contrary to common belief in my household, if you find yourself in a true bathroom emergency, facial tissue (commonly called Kleenex in our house, regardless of brand) will do in a pinch. Pardon any pun regarding "pinch" you may be thinking there. (Christine, I'm thinking of you specifically...)

4. As my boys were reading their history together one day, I overheard the following conversation:

10yo: What does that word mean?

12yo: You could look it up…

10yo: (voice full of shock and horror)Oh my gosh, you sound like Mom!

I assure you, my darlings, there ARE worse things than sounding like me.

5. We learned about V-mail this week. Do you know about V-mail? It was used in WWII to save space (and weight) in the planes transporting supplies. You can read a bit about V-mail here, but basically V-mail letters were transferred to film, transported home to the US, and then printed out on a special paper measuring about 60% of the original size. And we have one tht my grandpa sent to a neighbor. Here it is 

First folded up in the envelope...I LOVE that the neighbor kept that too!

Standard-size paperclips, just to illustrate size of the letter.

The PBA were interested to see it also…we are just entering WWII in our history, so this has practical application…always a good thing, especially for my kinesthetic learner.

See, you DID learn something from me today...I'm nothing if not educational.

6. I got my first paid-writer gig. Now, it’s not much money and it’s for a local magazine, but I am still OVER-THE-MOON about it. The articles won’t appear until December and January. Thanks to all of you for all the encouragement to start writing again and to keep writing. I will be sure to include the links once they actually make it to print!

7. I have a new button, all for me! (I’ll share more very soon about the “whys & hows”!) Feel free to grab it and attach it to your blog. And share it with others.

This beautiful creation was made by Elizabeth Bradt at Rocks No Salt Mommy. Please visit her if you're looking for a great blogger, a fantastic button-designer, or both!

Have a fabulous day!

Follow me on Facebook!