"Grocery Shopping" written by Janelle on estrip.org

12/31/08 01:55 - 16ºF - ID#47229

Grocery Shopping

My dad had a surprise visit to the hospital over the holidays resulting in abdominal surgery due to an infected something or other that needed to be removed.

I'm home to help out as the all purpose go-and-fetch girl. Today I grocery shopped for my dad. He should be set to go for the next 2-3 weeks. A good thing considering he can only move around the house for three hours before crashing on the couch.

I went to the old familiar Jewels-Osco and wandered around muttering under my breath about the strange set up of the store and cursing at the ridiculously high prices for basic food items. The fun part of the trip was introducing new items to my father's meal plan. Organic fair trade coffee, frozen white pizza, and vodka pasta sauce were snuck into a cart full of traditional stand by foods.

For years my father simply ate whatever my mom put in front of him. Mostly bland food since my mother has no taste for spices and seasonings. Now's my chance to slowly reform my dad's dietary habits. Not for any real reason but for the fun of it. It's the ultimate challenge. Can I take a meat and potato man and turn him into an Indian Vegetarian Food man?

Clearly the fact that white pizza and vodka sauce for pasta is a new thing for him means I have a long road to go!

Permalink: Grocery_Shopping.html
Words: 240
Location: Buffalo , NY

12/23/08 03:24 - 22ºF - ID#47154

Pastors Wife Post

I don't spend a lot of time prattling on about being a "pastor's wife". In part, because I hate the term and all it implies. Also because it doesn't mean that much to me. I'm married to a great guy. He happens to be a pastor.

But this time of year we're out and about at the parties socializing with new people, many of whom want to know what I do as a pastor's wife.

Nothing, is my usual response. It's not entirely true, but it makes me laugh to see people drop their jaw. I watch them imagine the mind boggling possibility of a pastor's wife who doesn't do it all at the church.

A response that my "pastor's wife" friend has used before is, "My job is to keep my husband satisfied in a way no other church member can". I'm a little to shy to work that line, but maybe I'll give it a try sometime.

So for everyone who wonders what a pastor's wife does in her spare time, I'm not sure about the other pastor's wives, but I like to spend snowy days off work making miniature igloos and snow angels.

Note the moat with the drawbridge around the igloo. There's just enough room inside for a small rabbit or squirrel to shelter through a Buffalo storm.

theecarey writes at 03:55:45 12/31/08 - Comment #43914: awh! I used to make little igloo animal shelters all over my yard growing up; can't believe that was forgotten about until your post.

I do love your friends response- it would be great to pull it off with a straight face, haha

tinypliny writes at 02:04:55 12/31/08 - Comment #43910: Cool!! I have always wanted to make snow angels and igloos! ;^)

lauren writes at 08:37:33 12/29/08 - Comment #43847: Hey Janelle...sorry this is a little late in response to your comment on felly's journal...but, we are leaving tomorrow night (hopefully) by 7/730 so if you have time you can stop by to get your key...also, if you feel so inclined, we will be gone from tomorrow night through Sat evening so if you wouldn't mind checking in on our kitties once to make sure they are still alive and haven't burned down the house, that would be awesome (although completely cool if you can't as well). either way, let us know.

ladycroft writes at 03:58:10 12/24/08 - Comment #43707: haha! i dated a PK who's mom was exactly the stereotype PW you're talking about. guess it must be hard to break the mold!

james writes at 04:33:12 12/23/08 - Comment #43682: Well, having your own pet computer programmer is a big responsibility. You have to feed it, take it for three walks a day, and give it plenty of love. Pet pastors are similar with the exception of making sure their robe is clean on Sundays.

janelle writes at 04:07:33 12/23/08 - Comment #43681: Really? I always assumed Jim was a rather spiffy computer programmer due to your constant maintenance and upkeep.

What a mind boggling revelation!

jim writes at 04:05:47 12/23/08 - Comment #43680: Can we watch that Star Trek trailer again tonight? I haven't seen it this week yet...

james writes at 04:01:00 12/23/08 - Comment #43678: I get the same thing. People are amazed that as a computer-programmer's husband I don't have to remind him to bathe, refill his mountain dew, or force a smile while watching a trailer for the latest Star Trek movie.... well, I do the last one.

carolinian writes at 03:49:39 12/23/08 - Comment #43677: Growing up as a non-christian in the bible belt, my envisioned stereotype of a pastor's wife's duties involved the wearing of large, gaudy, sombrero-like church hats.

Permalink: Pastors_Wife_Post.html
Words: 226
Location: Buffalo , NY

12/17/08 11:23 - 31ºF - ID#47088

Work conversations

My supervisor popped in my cubicle to ask about the whereabouts of my neighbor in the cubicle next to me.

He then looked at me awkwardly for a few seconds. He's so transparent. Inside his head, I saw him thinking: I have ignored Janelle for two solid days. I have barely acknowledged her existence. I haven't even said hello. Quick, think of something to say so she doesn't think I'm completely socially incompetent and indifferent to her.

"So ... Janelle ... How are you?"

"Great, Mr. Supervisor"

The exchange went on a little longer than that and I managed to make a joke. But then off he went. And I just cracked up at my desk. Probably sounded crazy to the ladies on the other side of the cubicle. Oh, well.

Permalink: Work_conversations.html
Words: 129
Location: Buffalo , NY

12/16/08 09:38 - 18ºF - ID#47079

Pet Sitting

We are looking for a pet sitter on Dec 26th and Dec 27th. You would only need to come in on the afternoon/evening of the 26th and then twice on the 27th.

The lucky volunteer might receive goodies from Trader Joes in Pgh!

Permalink: Pet_Sitting.html
Words: 44
Location: Buffalo , NY

12/09/08 11:02 - 40ºF - ID#47005

Illinois Politics

As happy as I am that the governor of Illinois is finally getting his comeuppance, I hope that this is just one more stepping stone to taking down the dynasty of Chicago and upstate politics known as the Daley family which has worked every which way to screw over downstate Illinois.

Go downstate!

Permalink: Illinois_Politics.html
Words: 60
Location: Buffalo , NY

12/04/08 08:02 - 28ºF - ID#46960

The Plumber

We had a fixture in our bathtub break off. It is the fixture that controls the plug to make the tub drain or retain water. It was beyond our ability to repair, sadly. After a couple of months of a do-it-yourself fix using a wire coat hanger (hat tip to Drew on that one), we finally called a plumber.

We got charged a lot of money for the plumber to put two holes in our wall. Whatever homeowner put the plumbing in must have been awfully optimistic that there would never be a plumbing problem, because they didn't put in an access door to the plumbing. I guess they won, because we're the ones stuck with the problem.

Apparently, putting holes in the wall was a hit or miss kind of thing because here's hole #1 leading to nothing:

And here's hole #2 which led to what he needed:

And here's the two fixtures that he replaced in the bathtub I now need to clean:

Apparently the large sum he charged us didn't include putting a door on or replacing the plaster or tidying up a bit in the bathroom. So, we'll be doing those fun little projects ourselves.

Permalink: The_Plumber.html
Words: 203
Location: Buffalo , NY

12/03/08 03:19 - 43ºF - ID#46937

House Assessments

Any of you fellow homeowners receive the new assessed value of your home? Any of you have experience in challenging increases in your assessment before? Any assistance would be appreciated.

I have the basic forms and information on how to do it. But I'm looking to see how others have approached their argument for a decrease in the assessment. So far, I'm not sure we have grounds to challenge it on the basis of current real estate prices. Maybe I can only challenge it on the basis that the house needs a lot of updating. We have an outdated electrical system, a roof in need or repair, etc....

I just can't believe that our house would increase in value by $15,000 in 20 months, a little less than two years.

Permalink: House_Assessments.html
Words: 128
Location: Buffalo , NY

11/29/08 10:17 - 36ºF - ID#46881

Home

I enjoyed my drive to Illinois.

I spent time over beer with my good high school friends.

I've had my Steak n Shake fix.

I'm gonna go to Avantis to grab some food for the drive home.

I had fun with my family, but I also endured my family.

And now I'm ready to go home to Buffalo.

Permalink: Home.html
Words: 58
Location: Buffalo , NY

11/26/08 09:33 - 33ºF - ID#46845

Thanksgiving in Illinois

We're driving to Illinois for Thanksgiving.

This afternoon we're driving to Indianapolis and tomorrow morning we'll be up at the crack of dawn to finish the trip to Illinois.

Flying to my hometown would be more convenient and take less time, but more expense and less fun.

We'll be driving out of western New York and into the hills of Ohio. Then come the flat farmlands of Indiana and that's my first signal that we're almost home. The vast farmland stretching out as far as I can see is warm and comfortable. At this point, I put down my book I'm reading and I just watch the landscape and wide open sky go by.

In Indiana, we stop at the Amish cheese store. A little shack. With its own exit off the interstate. Every cheese imaginable. All made by the Amish. Incredibly good. We buy all the favorite cheeses for ourselves and my family.

We cross the state and eventually come to the Indiana Visitor Center at the Indiana-Illinois border. I feel nostalgic and happy when we cross the state line. We'll drive by small towns where I traveled for track meets and basketball games and marching band competitions. A nice way to spend a childhood.

We'll spend a few days in my childhood home. It feels comfortable, but new at the same time. After my time there, I'll remember why I needed to leave it behind. But I'm happy that it's a warm place to return.

mrmike writes at 10:41:06 11/26/08 - Comment #42639: I've made a similar drive a few times. Best part is since the geography is so flat you can almost see Illinois while you are still in Ohio. Hope it's a blast and you can enjoy that anticipatory feeling of "almost there" in the final few minutes of the journey.

Drive safe

drew writes at 10:17:43 11/26/08 - Comment #42637: I can't believe I forgot about the Amish cheese shop! Now I can't wait to go home!

We are going to have to drive fast, in case they close at night (which they probably do.)

Maybe we should bring a crow bar in case we have to break in.

I know some of you may be shocked but:

1. this is really good cheese.

2. they are Amish. It's not like they will shoot us. They won't even hit us.

jenks writes at 10:14:39 11/26/08 - Comment #42636: ooooh I love that part of the trip home when you're finally almost there... You get in total autopilot mode and could make it with your eyes closed.

i drove home once and surprised my parents- The anticipation for the last ten miles or so was so awesome. [until i got a *^&^% speeding ticket! I made it 500 miles, and then 3 miles from my house I get pulled over??]

I love going home. It's too bad I never get to. :(

lauren writes at 10:09:18 11/26/08 - Comment #42634: oh janelle...this reminds me so much of my trips "home" to my birthplace...we would travel through Columbus, then to St. Louis...the mini arch that welcomes you to Missouri was always the "we're almost there" sign...flat flat flat for as far as the eye can see. Missouri (miz-er-ah) was the last stretch before reaching Oklahoma...I haven't been back there since mid-high school but i always feel a strange connection to that place, even though i only lived there for the first two years of my life.

oh and...totally jealous of your cheese store. I <3 cheese. happy thanksgiving!