Category Archives for Videos

This is a public service announcement.

I’ve never given much thought to my smoke detectors other than a) making sure they have batteries, and b) trying to avoid having the fire department show up (again) when Ben burns the bacon.  Well, I think it’s time we all gave them some thought.

One of the amazing things about social networking and blogging is the people you “meet” (virtually) along the way. My work blog will have over 6,000 visits this month.  That’s a lot of connections.  I made a connection last week with a fire chief in California, who is working incredibly hard along with some other passionate guys, to get the message out about photoelectric smoke detectors vs. ionization detectors.

The way I understand it, ionization detectors will sound if there is a flaming fire, but not if it’s just a smoking, smoldering fire.  That’s obviously a problem since the window of opportunity to escape from a fire is before the flaming stage.  The ionization detectors also sound false alarms frequently, leading people to remove the batteries so they are unprotected if there’s a fire.  The World Fire Safety Foundation’s message is that ionization smoke detectors are not safe, and should be changed to photoelectric detectors.

Take 10 minutes and watch this video:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKOaL84gbYE?rel=0&w=480&h=390]

And if you’re curious about the “Aquarium Test” mentioned in the video, here it is:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnlkiZC0dd0?rel=0&w=480&h=390]

Now, go check your smoke alarms.

I’ve Lost Count

Where does the time go?  Seriously!  I have tons of photos to post for my daily photo project, although I’m beginning to think I should have done a “Project 52” instead of a “Project 365.”  I’m behind, but screw it.  If I wait until I have time to catch up, it’ll never happen, so I’m just going to handle today for now.

You know what really sucks?  When you’re having a great day and then BAM! somebody F’s it up.  I’d really rather be having a crappy day and then when more crap gets added on it’s not a big deal.  When it’s a good day you’ve just got farther to fall.

Today was a good day because I finally replaced the family room rug that I have hated since it arrived in 2005 and hate even more now that it has permanent wrinkles, 2 Hawaiian Punch stains, and various other issues.  It’s kind of sad that I classify getting a new rug as something that makes it a good day, but there it is.

My friend and coworker Shelley’s husband Stuart (did you follow that?) was in the rug biz for many years and is selling off his stock.  After shopping around last weekend I was just about ready to buy a crappy bound remnant from Building 19 for the kids to ruin, but I decided to check in with Stuart to see if he had anything that would fit the room and the budget.  Well, he did.  He actually had several rugs that we LOVED – really gorgeous and great prices, but he had one large rug in particular that fits perfectly in our family room.  It’s from Turkey and he bought it about 30 years ago.  I picked it up today and Ben and I heaved it into the house and got it all situated.  We love it.  If any of you are looking for a rug, let me know and I’ll hook you up with Stuart.  Check it out:

Then…Adlani ran away from home, because I don’t understand him, he doesn’t get any respect, I never do anything for him, I don’t appreciate him, and I lie all the time.  At first it was kind of funny, but after we dragged him back from in front of the house 2 doors down from ours I had to listen to him go on and on about how rough he has it and how sucky I am.  At some point I went from amused to annoyed, and then annoyed to mad to upset.  I thought I would have at least a few more years until the kids started telling me I was a crappy mother.  Here’s a little video clip from when I was still in the amused stage, including Aliya encouraging Adlani to go and Ben unpacking his getaway bag:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me8bw2exU-Y&w=640&h=390]

Mom’s Music

I made a very important discovery a few weeks ago – one that will change the morning drop-off forever.  Every morning we get in the car and the kids immediately want the radio on – KISS 108.  Then they complain that there’s too much talking, they’re not playing the songs they want to hear, continuously ask to hear their favorites (they don’t get that I can’t control the radio), and eventually they ask me to turn on the iPod.  That’s when the real fighting begins…they each want to hear specific songs, including a Christmas song about a cat who dies out in the cold but saves a mouse in the process.  What a depressing way to start the day.

Finally, one day I just decided to play my own music.  I hadn’t focused in on the fact that I had done away with listening to music in the car because I use that as some of my “thinking time.”  That’s when I plan upcoming meetings, think about what’s on my to-do list, and pre-write blog posts.  Well, I’m obviously not getting any of that done during morning drop-off, and I think it’s time to get back to sharing the ride with my favorite artists…Susan Tedeschi, the Dixie Chicks, Eva Cassidy, Bonnie Raitt…basically whatever I can sing to.  My parents must have figured this out too, because I still know the words to every John Denver song, and have memorized the Carpenters Greatest Hits, Joni Mitchell – Blue, and Hey Jude (the album) by the Beatles.

In addition to helping me relax, turning on my music means that nobody is fighting over which song is played next, asking me to turn it up or down, or wanting to know what it means to brush your teeth with a bottle of Jack.  If there’s anything going on in the back seat I just turn the music up loud and avoid looking in the rear-view mirror.  I think the kids are actually starting to like my music, and I’m sure they like to hear me singing rather than yelling or crying.  It’s a win-win.

Speaking of music, I ran across this singer on YouTube last weekend – Lisa Scinta.  She has recorded a whole bunch of covers and some originals in her bathroom, and has millions of views on YouTube.  I think she has a GREAT voice, and coincidentally, she is the daughter of Joe Scinta, who is a member of a musical act called The Scintas.  We used to go see the Scintas multiple times every summer when we were in Alexandria Bay.  They were fabulous – I just loved them.  Give Lisa a listen and cross your fingers that more traditional (and lucrative) fame and fortune will come her way.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLsT86nbAVQ&fs=1&hl=en_US]

My Lucky Day

Every year at this time I consider, at least briefly, whether I can handle the Pathways holiday gift drive again.  This is the 6th year I’ve decided that even though my life is perpetually crazy and some of my own family’s gifts don’t get wrapped until Christmas Eve, organizing the Pathways drive is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season.

If you’re new to my blog, Pathways is the local family shelter, and I organize a small army of family, friends, and coworkers to help make Christmas happen for the kids who live at Pathways, and those who have recently moved to permanent housing.  I get a wish list from the shelter and divvy it up between the enthusiastic volunteers, and then host a brunch at my house on drop-off day.  It’s complete chaos, but so much fun!!

Anyway, one of the things on my to-do list for Saturday was to buy 45 Christmas stockings at the Christmas Tree Shop.  On my way there I remembered that last year someone had offered me a coupon but I had already bought the stockings.  I didn’t have a coupon this year either, but figured I’d have to just bite the bullet.

Norah and I had made a full circuit around the store and I had the cart overloaded with stockings, stocking stuffers, gift wrap, etc., when one of the moms from Aliya’s soccer team came up to us and asked if I had a coupon.  I swear, I got a little misty!  I was able to save almost $50, which equates to a gift and stocking stuffers for one extra kid.  🙂

As I was driving Norah around the store in the carriage, she entertained herself and the other shoppers by singing one of her favorites, “From This Moment.”  It cracked me up because it must have been so funny to hear it coming out of a carriage of stuff.  Usually she just makes up her own words but I think she was distracted by the camera.  Here’s a short clip:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjNeqm9VV78&fs=1&hl=en_US]
 

My (Little) Man

To some of you, this may look like a random collection of letters, but if you sound some of the consonants out as the letter names (B= “be”, R = “ar”), flip over the M in the second line because it’s actually a W, squint, tip your head to the right, and concentrate, it’s actually a note of apology from Adlani to his gal-pal Madeleine (you can just hover over the note to see the translation).  Why is Adlani apologizing to Madeleine?  Well, because he hit her.  Why did he hit her?  Because she (allegedly) told him to “try it.”

Ok…so he doesn’t always use the best judgment, has more energy than a litter of golden retriever puppies, and has a very short attention span unless he’s talking about Pokemon, but he’s really a good boy.  A little naive, yes…this morning I heard him singing “Hey Soul Sister, ain’t no banana-kisser…” which he apparently learned at school (he has no clue that it’s not a literal reference to fruit).  Last week he asked me if he was half Moroccan and when I said he was, he confirmed, “So I’m half Moroccan and half Spanish.”  I could NOT convince him that he isn’t half Spanish.  I guess he’ll figure it out someday.

Then there was the report that came home from school about his fixation on pirates killing Indians.  I decided to get to the bottom of it.  Well, I tried anyway…