Lessons from the Lunch Room: Misc.

• "Boys sure do come in strange packages" (that's a direct quote).

• It's probably best not to accept Facebook friend requests from 56-year-old men you don't know.

• Ignoring the person who's bugging you is the surest way to bug them.

• There's no shame in asking for help, even if it's just to tie your shoe or open your milk carton.

• Just because your brother is sweet and longsuffering doesn't mean you should take advantage by draping yourself all over him in front of his friends.

TV Land

Admittedly, I watched a LOT of television over the weekend...more than I usually do and probably should. I blame most of it on the NFL season's kickoff. I'm in a Fantasy Football league this year and it's taken my interest in the NFL from fascination to infatuation. Among those on my team are Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald and Ladanian Tomlinson. I'm still in negotiations to get the Steeler defense. Go Seahawks!

I also watched the finale of HGTV's "Design Star" (yes, I'm a real Renaissance girl). Dan didn't win, but he should've.
I realize he didn't have a lot of exciting tattoos or make a lot of jokes during his reveals, but the guy could design your socks off. (It doesn't hurt that I have a 2-degrees-of-separation connection with him, like I did with that guy who almost won "America's Most Beautiful Person.") Antonio (who prevailed) always had one or two great concepts with every design, but Dan came to play and out-concepted Antonio every time. The HGTV judges should have taken a cue from Food Network and awarded star status to the person with the overall most talent, even if they're not the most "camera-ready."

The best thing I watched Sunday was the series finale of the most underrated comedy on network television: "King of the Hill." I didn't get teary at the end, even though it was an exceptional finale (sitcoms, take note!), but I did get a little sentimental thinking about Hank Hill -- arguably the most moral character on television is off the air and "The Family Guy," Hank's antithesis in every way, remains as popular as ever. Go figure. If you never got into "King of the Hill," I highly recommend you rent/Netflix/RedBox a season or two. I didn't have any interest in watching for the first few seasons it was on. But once you've seen a few episodes, you'll recognize the honest-to-goodness goodness and big heart of this little cartoon about a Texas family.

And lastly, a quick shout-out to Juan Martin Del Potro for doing the impossible and defeating Roger Federer at the U.S. Open. Hooray for the underdogs!

How to Stay Married 101

First, and perhaps foremost, never (under any circumstances) allow a camera crew to follow your family around and air the footage as a reality show.

Class dismissed.

Linda's Meme


This is one straight 2nd Cup of Coffee. Feel free to answer it in the comments or copy it on your own blog!

1. When you go to Wowmart, what one thing do you get every single time, besides a funky-wheeled squeaking cart full of frustration?
Parents Choice organic, biodegradable baby wipes. It's not easy being green..oh wait, it is!

2. What is something that people are currently "into" that you just don't get or appreciate?
"Big Brother." I think I'd literally rather watch paint dry.

3. What is something that really hoists your sail that other people might feel "ho-hum" about?
Starting a magazine -- well it used to be, anyway, before I had to give it up. The people I wanted to be most excited about it were "ho-hum" and sometimes vice-versa. Oh well. As the Stones would say, "You can't always get what you want."

4. Favorite song to sing in the shower or car?
Pretty much anything by Keane for the shower (their songs were tailor-made for awesome acoustics) and anything by David Crowder Band in the car. "Total Eclipse of the Heart" is pretty darn good, though.

5. A really great salad must have this ingredient:
Walnuts.

6. Advice in a nutshell to new bloggers (one or two sentences):
I am really not qualified to advise bloggers since I barely count as one!

7. What was the alternate name that your parents almost named you? Do you wish they had chosen it instead of the one they gave you?
Reagan. And I would've been fine with it. But I love my name -- my real name.

8. What in your life are you waiting for?
Word from the bank about a short-sale house we put an offer on. Boo short sales!

9. You get a package in the mail. What is it, and who is it from?
It is probably cloth diaper paraphernalia.

10. Today--what song represents you?
"Changes" by David Bowie.

11. What is one thing that blogging has taught you about yourself?
Two things: 1) I can be incredibly lazy and neglectful. 2) There is always something to write and write well about it if you're looking for it.

12. How are you going to (or how did you) choose the clothes you're wearing today? What do they say about you in general or specifically how you're feeling today?
I chose today's outfit based on what was clean and what looked nonpedestrian enough to wear in an elementary school cafeteria. I have exactly four shirts that fit the bill and two skirts (I need to hit Goodwill this weekend!). But it's a pretty little outfit, so I think it says "I feel pretty, Oh so pretty!"

Lessons from the Lunch Room: Forgiveness


I've taken a very part-time job at a local elementary school as a lunch room monitor. That means I get to walk around with a walkie-talkie for about an hour and a half and make sure the kids get safely from the kitchen to their seats to the playground. It also means I interact with grade schoolers on a day-to-day basis. People are so interesting -- at any age.

My third day on the job and I had my first "mediation." Here's how it went down...

Boy 1: "That guy is telling everyone not to play with me."
Me: "Which guy?"
Boy 1: "That one" (pointing).
Me: "Hey, you in the white T-shirt, come here...Are you telling people not to play with him?"
Boy 2: "Yes."
Me: "Why?"
Boy 2: "Because he came to my house and showed me something he wasn't supposed to and said something else he wasn't supposed to. That's all I can say because there's people around. But I'm just trying to warn my friends."
Me: "This sounds like something you should discuss with the principal."
Boys 1 & 2: "No!"
Me: "OK...well, did he apologize for doing that?"
Boy 2: "No."
Boy 1: "Yes I did!"
Me: "Well, apparently he didn't hear you the first time. Why don't you apologize again."
Boy 1: "I'm sorry."
Boy 2: "OK."
Me: "There. It's over with now. You (looking at Boy 2) don't have to play with him, but you need to stop telling other people not to."
Boy 2: "OK."