Must Have Monday: facebook

Nuff said.

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The Illness Economy

I have this little game I play in my head about being sick. Sometimes I choose when I want to be sick and in the grand scheme of things I only allow myselef about two good ones a year.

I’m talking about sicknesses like the common cold, strep throat, seasonal stuff.  Stuff that over the counter stuff can knock out.

Sometimes I’m really busy and I don’t have time to be sick.  You all know how that goes.  So I load up on my NyQuil and ibuprofen and whatever else.  I do that religiously until I’ve beaten it.  Working even when I can’t breathe through my nose and my head feels like it will topple over my body.

But then there are times when I feel like I do have the time to be sick.  Or that I need a break and a couple/few days of sleeping anyway, and why not do it now? So I let myself get full blown sick and manage the symptoms a little.

I barter with sickness.

I let it in when I can and let it know in no uncertain terms, that this is one of your two times this year Mr. Sicko…make it a good one and then move on.  You see, I somehow came up with this idea that it’s good to be sick once in a while.  Not only to make you stop and recharge, but because it builds your immune system.  I’m one of those mothers that doesn’t call the doctor right away…unless I know the kid before just had it and needed antibiotics.  Or if it’s a Friday and I know the regular doctors are out on weekends.  It’ll make you stronger and teach you fortitude.  Mind over matter.  (I hated that when my mother was that way but here I am).

So, I chose to be sick this Christmas break.  I mean…what better time?  Home for two weeks, no work, no travel, lots of time for sweat pants and unwashed hair.  Sickness got in a good one this time.  I should be good for another year, yes?

Ahhh-Choo!

Unidentified Uvula.

Who’s been snapping pictures on my camera? I know it’s not one of my kids because the teeth are just too grown up. It’s too blurry to get a good read. Or was it me when I was doped up on NyQuil, trying to see if I had white spots on my tonsils? Although, I don’t see tonsils, so it wasn’t me. Maybe it was my husband. He thinks he remembers having his tonsils out when he was young. Is that something you forget?

Hubby doesn’t have a space between his teeth though and his teeth aren’t quite as square. I thought my cameras were safe all the way in Arizona away from my Indiana family. They’re the ones you have to watch out for. Do not. I repeat, DO NOT leave your camera unattended at a Dixon family gathering.

Must Have Monday: Wondra

Do you avoid meals that might include making gravy because you’ve either had a bad experience or heard how hard it is to make? Do you add the flour first or the water? No one wants to bite into a clump of flour. And no one wants their guests to either.

Enter: Wondra.

And it surely is Wondraful. If it weren’t for Wondra, I wouldn’t make gravy. It would be mashed potatoes with butter and dry turkey…if I made turkey.

But now, I’ll make gravy with anything. Roast a chicken? Want some gravy with that? Meatloaf? How about some gravy? French fries? Something to dip them in? Ok…maybe that one went too far but I’m tellin’ ya…if you’re a gravy phobe, Wondra will change your life.

Just get all the broth you can and bring it to a boil. Start slowly whisking in some Wondra and watch it thicken magically. Not enough broth? Add some water and a little more salt for flavor.

For things like meatloaf where you’re really getting grease instead of broth…just make it from ’scratch’ with the recipe on the side of the canister. Milk, Wondra, salt and pepper. Add any additional spices you might like in your gravy.

Easy as gravy.