About Me

Basic Information

Gender
Female
Hometown
Vancouver, BC
About me
Karen (aka Scattered Mom) has been passionate about food since the 1970s, when she created tasty treats from her Easy Bake oven. Literally thrown into the kitchen at the tender age of 21 when she became foster Mom to 4 teenagers, it was pretty much a do or die situation.

Her specialty? Cookies. Her real passion? Writing. Put them together with a marriage to a guy 20 years older, their own teenager, and life on the West Coast of Canada, and you have her blog, Notes from the Cookie Jar.
About my kid(s)
Jake, our 14 year old, keeps us on our toes. With a passion for anything mechanical or scientific, he's always asking us "why?" or taking things apart. His current projects include becoming the next "Survivor Man", and then the next Bill Gates when he invents some cool new computer software.

He's also bigger than me AND Hubs and is eating us out of house and home. Help!

Contact Information

State / Province
BC
City / Town
Vancouver
Country
Canada
Website
http://cookienotes.blogspot.com
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/scatteredmom

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Yesterday
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re:Tweet Ups! in the forums.
It was so much fun to meet you in person, and I'd love to see you again when I'm over in the city. I think you're right-the more I go, the less self conscious I'll be.
01:31 PM
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re:being a parent with in-laws around in the forums.
Atula, in my case we did try this. It became very frustrating for our son and he began to really resent his grandparents because they wouldn't listen and continued the same behavior.

At one point he cried and asked why they always offered him things that he couldn't have, and I could see that the relationship was becoming more destructive than anything.

It's very hard for a child to have to choose between obeying their parents and pleasing their grandparents. I think that responsibility should fall squarely on the grandparents, and if they can't respect the wishes of the parents, then there's a bigger issue.
01:29 PM
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re:Kindergarten blues in the forums.
What I find strange is that as the mom of an older kid, I don't see why this responsibility is being placed on 10 year olds. They are young too-why do they have to take care of the little kids? They aren't mature enough themselves to handle it! And if a little one is upset or has a disability or something, then what?

I would want to see the classroom and know what is going on. Like someone already said, if the school treats the parents like this I'm not sure I'd trust them either.

And I'd start looking somewhere else.
01:25 PM
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re:Favorite place for finding Organizing stuff? in the forums.
Orrymain, I do that too. I'm a real tosser-if it's not being used, I get rid of it. Then there is LOTS more space!
01:45 AM
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re: Kindergarten blues in the forums.
What?! That is really seriously weird. Yes, I'd be wondering why that is. What have they got to hide? Can you change schools, or are they all like this?
01:43 AM
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re: Ever started to have feelings for someone in the forums.
I think these days it's much easier to have a long distance relationship, given the use of twitter, facebook, etc. I have a online friends who live in Australia and I'm in Canada!

The only caution that I have is that sometimes, we tend to build up what with *think* a person is like from their communication (online or through letters/phone calls) and they are actually a bit different in real life. But it sounds like you've known each other for awhile, so I'm not sure that would be a problem.

Besides, what have you got to lose?
01:09 AM
2 days ago
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re:Tweet Ups! in the forums.
It was a LOT of fun. The ladies were amazing! One thing that is sort of strange is that they don't look familiar but know all about you. AND, I kept wondering who was 'scatteredmom' that they kept referring to. Oh! ME! lolol..
10:51 AM
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re: Disability in the forums.
My son has dyspraxia as well! He also has a learning disability in math. For me it's been the opposite-he's gotten so much easier as he's gotten older (he's 14).

I have also worked as a special ed teacher's assistant for about 17 years now. Feel free to ask me questions or just chat if you need to!
10:48 AM
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re:being a parent with in-laws around in the forums.
I had a lot of issues with my own parents when Jake was young. We would say no to something, and my Dad would then immediately hand to to him anyway. He would encourage Jake to disobey us, and poor Jake would not understand why he was in trouble. The last straw was when they told me that they didn't want us to discipline Jake at all when they visited.

I told them they were not welcome in my home then.

You don't have to go that far, but it is best if you both sit down with them and discuss just how hard it is on you AND your child, how confusing and frustrating, to change the rules when grandparents visit. Sure, they can be bent a little, but you need to decide when that happens. It is your house, after all. They need to respect that-and you.
10:43 AM
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re:Laundry? in the forums.
I'm not sure if the thumb drive works because the computer is at the shop since it got messed up by an particular anti virus company. *cough*

The worst thing I put through the wash was a pack of gum. I didn't even notice until the clothes were in the dryer. Gum is very hard to remove from a dryer barrel.
10:37 AM
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re: Ever started to have feelings for someone in the forums.
I met a boy from San Diego when I was 17, and lived in Northern BC (we were on vacation). For years we wrote each other, called, and at one point he even flew out and visited me. The attraction was HUGE.

But then, he joined the Marines and went to North Carolina, Japan, and I wasn't sure if I could handle a relationship like that. We went our separate ways. At one point, he was finished his time in the Marines and asked me if he should come see me in Vancouver. Was there anything there? I didn't answer. I wanted to say yes, but I was dating another boy at the time who was very jealous and who had scared me with his temper when he found out.

I didn't reply. When I finally did, he had married someone else. Over the years, I used to wonder now and then what my life might have been like if I had taken that chance.

If you have the chance, why not go for it? Better then wondering years later.
10:34 AM
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re:Meal planing? in the forums.
I don't do a lot of coupons. And, there's only two stores in town for me to go to, so that's easier. I do check the fliers to see what's on sale and I may buy extra chicken or steak, or something that is on sale and plan it around that. Usually I plan around what I have on hand and what we feel like eating.

Mostly it's just habit. I've been doing it so long I don't think I could go with NOT meal planning.
10:24 AM
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re: Kindergarten blues in the forums.
Wow, that's just a bit weird. I've worked at schools for years and have never seen that. I don't think it's over reacting to say no, I want to walk my child myself. There's no reason why you can't walk your own child to their class and have to leave at the front doors. I would be the same way myself.
10:21 AM
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re:How long did it take you? in the forums.
I was trying when I was 23 and it took a full year before I got pregnant. I guess it depends on the person. Funny thing is that as soon as I forgot about it, I got pregnant!
10:01 AM
1 week ago
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re:What are your thoughts on the Closing Ceremonies? in the forums.
I liked the beginning with the mime, and how they "fixed" the cauldron. From there it kinda went downhill. The music choices were weird (really? Avril and Nickleback?), and then the giant beavers and flying moose balloons? I don't know, I thought it could've been a lot better. This was just....silly.
Mar 02
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re:Tweet Ups! in the forums.
I have confidence with the cookies because I've made them for other people before. Otherwise I wouldn't bring them! But ya, I'm a bit nervous. Knowing me I'll get lost trying to find the place, lolol!
Mar 02
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re:Canada vs USA-who are you cheering for? in the forums.
Despite our complaining over the high taxes, the cut programs, etc they were exciting. Now we'll be stuck paying for them for years. *sigh*
Mar 02
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re:Packing for vacations? in the forums.
I don't forget much anymore. My problem is that usually I pack too much.
Mar 02
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re: homework in the forums.
I was talking about this on Twitter with another person who has a little guy with ADHD.

We had all sorts of strategies with Jake. Mostly we set the time (always after dinner), kept a timer, had a big box full of supplies, and I'd be around to help if he needed it. Sometimes I needed to scribe for Jake or adapt things, which was a lot of work. Over the years we've slowly backed off though and he's doing okay now.

WHEW!
Mar 02
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re:How much sleep do you need? in the forums.
That's partly why I'm so stoked about Spring Break. SIX days IN A ROW of sleeping in. It's like winning the sleep lottery!
Mar 02
Scattered Mom created a new topic homework in the forums.
I was having a conversation with someone on Twitter about homework. What do you do with your kids? Do you help them, or is it their deal? Do they get too much homework? Spill!
Mar 02
Scattered Mom replied to the topic Re:Too Many Toys! in the forums.
People used to always say to us how spoiled an only child is and how they have so many toys. We've noticed though that people with more than 1 kid always have MORE toys because..um...helllllo....there's more kids! I've always thought that was funny.

If there's one thing we can't do without and have a ton of, it's BOOKS. And now computer stuff too.
Mar 02
Scattered Mom created a new topic Tweet Ups! in the forums.
Next weekend I'm traveling into the city for my first tweet up. I'll get to meet other bloggers-for the first time in my life! I'm really excited. Any tips or comments? I'm a bit nervous. I do plan on bringing a name tag with my twitter handle so that people know who I am, and of course....

...cookies for all! So far I decided on white chocolate macadamia and dark fudge brownie.

Suggestions?
Feb 28

Wall

CA, Saturday, 25 July 2009 22:08
CA
But now that you know it's in NY, you have plenty of time to get someone to sponsor your travel! I really want to go, but I'm such an introvert I'm worried I'd spend most of my time hyperventilating!
Scattered MomScattered Mom on Monday, 27 July 2009 23:15

I think a group of Everything Mom-ers should go together. :P

 
jenaferlm, Sunday, 19 July 2009 23:09
jenaferlm
oooh tell me the fix!!!
 
Michelle, Friday, 19 June 2009 01:08
Michelle
Scheduling posts is all set up now! :)
Scattered MomScattered Mom on Friday, 19 June 2009 08:03

Yay! Thanks, Michelle! :)

 
Scattered Mom, Wednesday, 17 June 2009 22:19
Scattered Mom
Oh I like this new wall...
 
giftof2, Sunday, 31 May 2009 08:44
giftof2
I can't seem to find you blog on Teacher's gifts. Can you post a link?
 

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Blog Title: Notes From the Cookie Jar

In the Zone at the 2010 Olympics

February 15th, 2010

They told us we were crazy. Insane. That nobody in their right might would venture into Vancouver, of all places, the day after the opening ceremonies. At first I almost listened to them, but Hubs, being the insistent guy he is, wouldn’t have it.

Sort of ironic coming from a guy who has not been quiet about the fact that he is NOT happy with our provincial government over the whole Olympic thing in the first place. We needed to get our Toyota looked at so why not?

Our venue of choice was Richmond’s Ozone!

We were amazing by the light traffic. AMAZED. It may have helped that we went around 1 pm in the afternoon and that the gates open at 12 pm. Also that most of the entertainment doesn’t even start until around 5 pm, AND that it was raining.

Rain doesn’t bother us Coastal folk. We know we won’t melt so we get out in the rain anyway. While we’re there, I have to say that I find it somewhat hilarious that all these news people (looking at YOU, CTV) keep complaining about the rain and lack of snow. Uhhh….where have you people been all these years? Didn’t anyone check the weather stats before deciding on holding the Winter Olympics here? We get snow maybe once or twice a year for a day or two, and the rest of the time it rains. Hard. For weeks. Right now is actually GOOD weather.

Anyhow, the O Zone! We started out by walking around and checking things out on the Richmond Public Library side. Fun! Not too crowded. Things for kids to do in some of the tents, but all a bit young for Jake.

Best moment? A Canadian was racing LIVE at the speed skating oval. EVERY person on the field stopped and watched the gigantic screen; cheering, clapping, and collectively willing him to go faster.

Thing that gave us the biggest giggle:

Ice skating. Outside, in the rain. Only someone from Vancouver would see the joke in this because we do everything out in the rain, but ONLY in Vancouver would you see someone skating, outside, in the rain, in shorts. What a dedicated Dad! I would’ve told Jake he could skate at home. Indoors.

At Richmond City Hall, they filled the fountain with cranberries as a tribute to the agriculture of the area. As I stood there and chatted with the farmers, we suddenly realized that we had met before. Years ago I took a field trip with a bunch of kids to a cranberry farm near Comox, and turns out…it belongs to the gentleman on the left!

We had a fantastic time. The Ozone wasn’t crowded at all by Richmond standards, and everyone was in a festive mood. It would be well worth taking the kids and looking around for a few hours.

In fact, traffic was light where ever we went. Want to see what it was like downtown? I made a video of our drive through the down town area-past the free stuff at the Vancouver Art Gallery, and past the outdoor cauldron. You might get a laugh out of our conversation, but I won’t spoil it for you.

Readers will just have to wait and see!

Valentine Chocolate Cupcakes

January 16th, 2010

Looking for a Valentine’s Day treat?  These cupcakes are delicious, and so easy!  Just throw everything together, mix, and bake.

Keep reading for the recipe…

Dear 2010,

January 2nd, 2010

When I was 12 I used to dream about you. I’d sit during class with paper hidden under my books, doodling Garfield and figuring out how old I’d be when you arrived. People used to think I was working so hard, but even to this day as soon as I’m bored, I begin doodling or writing down ideas. Doesn’t everyone do that? These days I’d be called “distractable”, or maybe even “off task”, and probably assessed for ADHD. What they didn’t know was that I could listen and write at the same time, still absorbing everything that was being said.

Back in those days when we watched Michael Jackson videos, wore jelly shoes and acid wash jeans, you seemed so impossibly far away. So romantic. At lunch time I’d play games with my friends where we’d choose what kind of cars we wanted, how many kids we’d have or what type of house we’d live in, and I think that in some ways, I believed that some of those things might be possible.

So here we are, 2010. I drive a sensible Toyota, live in a rancher, have one kid, and didn’t marry Harrison Ford (although Hubs is the same age, does that count?).

You are officially just days away and I’m staring down the last year of my 30’s.

That’s a bit scary. Thirties seems young, sort of like 20’s more sensible sister but still just as pretty and fun. Forties makes me think of fifties, which signals things like becoming a grandparent and qualifying for the seniors meals in some restaurants.

Forty seems old and I’m so not ready for that. In fact, it’s almost the same age Hubs was when we met. Where did all that time go?

I spent my twenties raising other people’s children, trying to figure out who I was, and then becoming a parent myself. When I turned thirty I felt like I had finally arrived as an adult.

Now, I’m grown up. Whoa, was I in for a shock. What was I thinking?!

Thirties were when I finally had to act like an adult, and take on all the things that comes with it. Job losses and career changes, almost losing Hubs, becoming sick and injured myself, and the business of morphing from the girl that wanted to please everyone to the Momma Bear that would tear your head off should you go after my child. Yep, I grew up alright, and it was damn hard. Thirties, you were not fun. Oh you had some fun parts, yes. Overall you slammed us with some serious lows and not much in the way of extreme highs. You tested me in ways that I never thought were possible and at times I never thought I’d see the other side. I can’t say I’m that sad to see you go.

2009 was a good year, though. I really figured out that I want to make a career of writing, and all the hard work that I’ve sunk into this blog has begun to pay off. My family is all doing well and we’re happy, healthy, and together. The drama that was my 30’s is tapering off, and things have smoothed out into an easy rhythm. That’s all I could ask for, really.

Well. I would like to win the lottery and be a billionaire, like I had predicted in that stupid game but since I’m grown up now, I know the odds are just not in my favor.

So 2010, I’m planning to enjoy you and the last year of my 30’s. Maybe you don’t look as romantic and shiny as you did when I was 12, but I’m okay with that. You have laptops and iPod Touch, apps, downloads, Twitter, Blogger, and all sorts of fun things I would’ve given my right arm for at 12. I’ll never forget the Christmas I desperately wanted a computer, and the idea of owning a computer was about as impossible as buying a Ferrari.

Now that I’m grown up I’ll happily settle for peaceful and happy, with no big surprises or drama along the way. Deal?

They do say that life begins at 40, after all.

PS. But if you really feel generous, the lottery thing would be cool. Just sayin’.

Adventures in Boxing Week Shopping

January 1st, 2010

Do you do Boxing Day shopping? We claim we don’t, but the reality is that since we discovered Best Buy, we do. Somehow it just seems so wrong to pass up some of the incredible deals that are available after Christmas.

I mean, hello? DVD players for under $50? Are you joking?

This week we made a trek to Best Buy in Richmond, BC. For those of you that don’t know the Vancouver area, Richmond is just over a bridge from Vancouver. The Vancouver International airport is there, and now there’s the new 2010 Olympic speed skating oval. Hubs and I met at the Three Road Starbucks, were married in Minoru chapel, and Jake was born in Richmond Hospital. It always feels like coming home when we head over the Oak Street bridge.

We were in the market for a laptop for Jake this time. Before I get e-mail stating how terrible I am for spoiling my merely 14 year old child with his very own bling-y lap top, just know that there is a huge, un-blogable reason for it.

Anyway we walked through those Best Buy doors and the drooling commenced. Despite my claims that we aren’t really a techie family, I guess we actually are. We may not do the whole gaming thing, but over the past few years we’ve (okay, *I’ve*) really gotten into it. If you see me out and about now I have my camera, Flip, cell, and possibly the iPod AND, I’m now drooling over the bigger, badder, SLR cameras.

I admit it, I’m totally hooked.

After 3 long hours of wandering in the store, research, choosing, talking, looking at cameras (ya I fit that in there because I’m just so clever), we finally settled on a way cool HP laptop. Took us forever because not only had we decided to take advantage of some awesome deals, but so did half of the population of the entire Lower Mainland (if you’re not from Vancouver, the term Lower Mainland refers to a huge area surrounding Vancouver.)

What we didn’t know was that Best Buy needed 24 hours to configure and format the thing.

Um…ya. We had been planning on catching the 5:30 ferry. Best Buy said that possibly they could have it ready in an hour and a half, since we weren’t having that much done anyway, and since it was waaaaay past lunch time we decided to go to Tim Hortons.

Well that was the plan, anyway. Instead we went and danced around a traffic jam for 45 minutes because half of the city had the nerve to go and have a power outage.

A few hours later, Best Buy wasn’t finished, and Hubs? He wasn’t willing to leave the store to go get a coffee or whatever and kill time doing something other than sit and watch the Geek Squad format the computer. So we waited.

And waited.

Waited some more.

Waited until around 7 pm at night. It wasn’t that bad, really. They were super apologetic and even gifted Jake with a $20 gift card to say thanks for waiting. When they saw how techie he was, the Geek Squad let him go in their super secret back room and watch them format his computer. He looked like he fit in back there, among all these guys and loads of tech equipment. His eyes glowed with delight and we giggled as he shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from touching everything, which is a trick Hubs taught him when he was little and around lots of breakables.

Have you ever spent hours in a Best Buy? I really got the chance to check out all the camera gear, accessories for my iPod, and we ended up picking up a new HP printer/scanner and some phones in the process. We also decided that dude, instead of buying our Christmas gifts before Christmas, next time we’ll wait until Boxing Day weekend and shop.

We also had a chance to watch other customers. Like the middle aged guy who picked up his laptop, immediately turned on Skype, and began preening right there in the store, grinning into the computer with smouldering eyes and posing like he was just so hawtly sexy.

Finally, we were done. It was time to go. Best Buy was totally apologetic, but we had been fine with it all along. Apparently their network had been acting up (maybe because of that power outage) and things had taken far longer then usual. Computers are finicky and sometimes, it’s just beyond their control. The staff were great and getting all angry wouldn’t have helped things along away.

With a huge sigh of relief we loaded up the car and were all ready to go, when…

Hubs put the key in the ignition and turned it.

“Oh, SHIT.” He held up the key and in the evening light, I could see what he was talking about. The key had come out of the ignition switch, with part of the CAR attached to it.

You may not be able to see the panic that this would cause. First off, we were just going to make the very last ferry of the night. If the car was broken, there is no way we’d make it to the ferry terminal which would mean an impromptu overnight stay, then a tow truck home, which would cost PILES of money. Being stranded in Vancouver miles from home isn’t on my “fun things to do” list.

With Hubs old clunker car, which he insists we have to take to the city because he’s terrified the pretty newish Toyota will become scratched on the ferry, we have had exactly THREE near break downs; all in December in Vancouver.

The car is telling us something, people. Maybe like “I’m old and tired and hate the city,” ?

Hubs shoved the key and whatever was attached to it in the hole where the ignition is supposed to be and as we all fervently offered prayers to the Gods, the car started. I’m guessing it must have been from me petting the dashboard and talking to the car gently, begging it to please get me home and I will make sure we never, ever, force it to go to the city again. At least not with me in it.

The prayers didn’t help when we finally were in the ferry line up and Jake and I hoofed it to Trolls for take out (since we hadn’t had dinner and all of us felt like we were going to die from hunger), only to discover it was closed. The bartender cleaning up took one look at us and laughed. LAUGHED! Then we couldn’t find an ATM because you can’t use debit on the ferry, and we had resigned ourselves to eating ferry food for dinner.

You can imagine my relief when I discovered they took Visa, though.

Thank GOD for Visa, which allowed us to have big sloppy burgers and crispy fries, which normally wouldn’t be my first choice but to be in Best Buy all day without food or water would make me ready to eat just about anything. (To be fair, it was pretty yummy.)

I admit, we were all nervous when it came time to drive off the ferry. Would the car start? Would we have pieces falling off in our hands again? Did we need to call a friend and lug all that newly bought computer equipment off? My cell phone had run out of juice as well and all the phone numbers were IN it, so how would we even do that?

Hubs gingerly turned the key as I whispered sweet nothings to the dashboard and Jake clutched his new toy in the back seat. We collectively held our breath and the car roared to life.

Whoo! High fives all around! We’re going to make it home!

The next day I was at work when Hubs called with a fix it report.

“I don’t know what the hell happened, but that piece is stuck on there again. Won’t come off. I don’t know how or why it came off in the first place.”

Maybe the car was just trying to tell us something, like “Look you stupid humans, I’m too old for this shit. Take the younger car. Besides, if you had planned things better you’d have had snacks, drinks and some cash on you. Remember that for next year or I’ll strand your asses in Richmond and you’ll be hitch hiking home. Don’t you remember the LAST two years when I broke down? Do I have to spell it out for you?”

Point taken.

Butter Tarts

December 29th, 2009
Butter Tart

Butter Tart

Absolutely THE favorite Christmas goodie in my house.  With a sweet sugary filling and buttery pastry, they are often the first thing to go off the tray of Christmas goodies.  I like them right from the freezer, nice and cold.

More…

Love Notes: A Christmas Story

December 28th, 2009

Once long ago, when I was in my 20s and we lived in the city, I worked at a tiny school out in the middle of the blueberry fields. There were about 50 children attending from kindergarten to grade 7.

The class that I worked in was filled with kids in grades 5-7 and on my first day, the teacher pulled me aside and gave me a quick run down on the kids.

“That one,” he pointed to a sandy blond boy in torn, scruffy jeans and a t-shirt, about 12 years old. “is a brat. Don’t bother. He’ll just give you a hard time.”

I stood there, studying him as he joked with his friends, then reached over and shoved a smaller student with a sneer. He looked up at me and for a split second across the room, our eyes met.

His were filled with suspicion and anger.

I’ve never believed that there are just “bad” kids. After having worked and lived with some of the most difficult teenagers that the city has to offer, I have learned that they are kids who have survived bad circumstances. They have taken on behavior that might be needed to survive and what they don’t realize is, in some circumstances they don’t need that behavior. Then we just need to work on changing it.

I think Jason hated me at first. Every interaction was laced with sarcasm, and he would never do what I asked him to do. Ever. Until one day after school, I decided to start leaving the kids little “love notes” in their desks. I praised how they handled things at lunch with their friends. I told the girls how valued they were. They were just little scraps of paper with kind words on them, but the effect was magical.

I told Jason that he brightened my day with his smile. He did! I didn’t see it often, but when I did, it was like catching him unaware.

The next day he went to get his math book out of his desk and the note fell in his lap. As I watched from across the room, he carefully unfolded it. Our eyes met across the room and slowly, self conciously, he smiled slightly. The next day, he helped me carry some books. After school, he stopped at my desk to chat. The next week, he sternly told some rowdy kids to settle down for the substitute teacher. We worked hard on his math to bring his grades up, and celebrated with high fives. That anger he had seemed to just melt away when he walked in through the doors.

“You are here to work with these kids, not be their friend!” the teacher sternly chided me after school one day. What he didn’t understand was that in order to work with these kids, you had to be their friend. They wouldn’t open up unless they trusted you first.

Christmas came that year, and unfortunately so did an end to my time at the school. The kids showered me with gifts and cards throughout the day, but Jason held back. When finally everyone else had left, he approached my desk; his blue eyes filled with tears, his sandy hair rumpled.

“I didn’t have anything else. It’s not a Hallmark card,” he thrust a piece of lined paper at me.

On a folded piece of paper from his notebook, he had carefully drawn a beautiful winter scene, and on the inside had written,

“You are the best teacher I’ve ever had. I’ll miss you. Merry Christmas.”

Tears welled up in my eyes and began to drip down my cheeks.

“It’s not a Hallmark card, ” Jason apologized and looked at his shoes. “It’s not a nice one like..” he gestured towards the stack of expensive, glittery cards and boxes of chocolates on my desk.

Our eyes met once more. This time, his were uncertain and a bit sad.

“No Jason, it’s not, ” I smiled through my tears, “THIS kind of card is a million times better.”

It’s been fifteen years, three districts, about 100 schools since that Christmas. Jason is probably about 27 years old now, and has kids of his own. The glittery, expensive cards have long since been recycled and the chocolates were eaten.

I still have the card that he made me, all those years ago.

Photo credit: Keep Waddling1

Rum Balls

December 27th, 2009
rum balls

rum balls

So Christmas is over and now we’re on our way to New Years, but now you might have some time to whip up some last minute nibblies.  Or at the very least, scope out some tasty things to serve for New Years.  These were my first rum ball attempt, and oh my…not only are they super easy and require no cooking, but they taste delish.

The recipe….

Peanut Butter Brownies

December 3rd, 2009

So I did the lazy edition a few weeks ago and directed you to these really yummy looking squares, right? I eventually made them.

You likely know that and have heard me rant on twitter about how yummy they were.

Let me just say that they are the most delectable morsels of peanut buttery chocolate goodness in the universe. Not just that, but the recipe can be halved and so you can make a small pan if you want, even.

They would be really good with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and a cup of coffee.

Keep reading for the recipe…

PS…Recipe Tuesdays has been moved to Thursdays, because it just fits my schedule better. You’re still going to get recipes! Just on Thursdays instead.

Saved by a Sloth

December 2nd, 2009

I think I’ve talked about my commute to work before. The narrow, winding highway is so curvy that if you are prone to car sickness, you’ll be turning green at the half way point. Logging trucks bounce along (I always have visions of them losing their load and crushing me like a bug), and crazy people in a hurry have no problem passing you on a double solid.

It’s an interesting drive, which is why I always give myself a ton of time to get to work, just in case. Well. That depends on if my teenager, who is exceedingly hard to get out of bed, will be ready on time. I have resorted to threats of keeping a squirt gun in the fridge, loaded and ready to go just in case he’s extra lazy.

Last week he was.

“Jake, get UP!” I bounced on his bed for good measure. He yawned and mumbled something before pulling his covers over his head. “UP! UP! NOOWWWW!”

This slothfulness was getting out of hand. I would need to really buy that squirt gun and actually use it. After nagging and threatening to make him walk, I finally got him to school and was feeling the pressure to get moving. Burning down the highway at 80 km/hr, I took the opportunity in a slight straight part to adjust the stereo before I rounded a curve.

As a looked back at the road, out of the corner of my eye, something moved up on the hill to my right. Was that…? What on Earth was a tire doing over there?

A tire, complete with a hub cap, was bounding down the hill to my right, poising to land smack in front of the car.

It happened so fast; I had barely enough time to avoid the tire, but then I noticed what had happened. A jeep coming in the opposite direction was missing it’s driver’s side front tire.
That tire? It had literally flown off, across the highway, hit a tree on the opposite side of the road, and rolled down the hill.

If I had been any faster that morning, I would have been closer to that oncoming jeep. That tire just might have hit ME instead of the tree.

Suddenly, Jake’s slowness in the morning didn’t really look like such a bad thing. His slothfulness just might have saved my life.

Smokin’

December 1st, 2009

Christmas music was blaring over the loudspeakers at the store as I searched for odds and ends that Hubs had asked me to pick up.  Not really in a hurry but not wanting to waste too much time, I was moving with purpose.

I sort of expected the guy standing in the middle of the aisle, looking right at me, to move over.  He didn’t.  He stood there, looking me up and down, so that I cold barely get by.

“Um, excuse me.”

I waited.  He moved slightly, and gave me a grin.

Usually I don’t even notice when men check me out.   Do they?  Hubs says they do.  He says I’m charmingly oblivious to the whole thing, but this time I noticed and this time, it completely creeped me out.  It wasn’t like the guy was just a friendly, “hey you look kinda cute,” sort.   I can’t put my finger on it, but this one gave me the eebie jeebies.  Big time.  Like, crazy stalker better run for the car kinda creepy.

Once my shopping was finished, I stood in line to pay and out of nowhere, creepy guy is suddenly right behind me.

Oh my god, I need to move.  This guy is going to mug me in the parking lot. Or ask for my number.  At the very least, he’s standing really close and I’m not okay with this.

Thankfully another cashier appeared and said she could help the next person in line, who happened to be me.

“Oh, go ahead,” creepy guy grins at me again.  He motions for me to go to the other cash register.

There’s one thing about this store-they only sell cigarettes at particular cash registers, and Hubs had asked me to pick some up for him.  So I couldn’t move to the no-tobacco products line because arriving at home without Hubs sticks o’ cancer would not go over well in the least.

“No that’s okay, I need to get cigarettes.   You go ahead,” Suddenly, his face changed from creepy grin to absolute disgust.  Obviously by that one statement, I had gone from “hawt” in his view to a disgusting lowlife.  His eyes narrowed as he looked me up and down.

“That’s a BAD HABIT,” he snorted as he changed lines.

The backlash that I get when I pick up cigarettes for Hubs is incredible.  People lecture me, and nobody ever believes that I have never even tried a cigarette in my entire life.  Usually I get really annoyed because come on, do you drink?  Do I bug you in the liquor store?  No.

On the other hand, if thinking I’m a smoker gets rid of creepy people?

Totally works for me.

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Waaaaaay back in January I was chatting with Nicole and mentioned how disappointed I was that all the blogger get togethers are always in the evening or during the week and I can't go.

Then it struck me. Quit complaining and just arrange our own, already! So we did-and being so new to this whole blogger socializing thing, I was a little naive about the numbers. The tweet up went from five to twenty people in a matter of minutes, as I sat there with my mouth agape. Wow!

Saturday came much faster then I expected, and pretty soon there I was, following directions from Google maps to Commercial Drive in Vancouver. The closer I got to the restaurant, the more I nervous I became.

What if they don't like the real me?
Is my hair okay?
Will they notice the zit?
Should I have worn this?
Oh my God, I baked cookies, what if they hate them?
What if they are polite and say they love them, but they really hate them?
Why am I doing this?
Will I even know anyone?
Will anyone know ME?
What if I end up sitting in the corner and nobody talks to me?


Can you say....terrified? I'm not really a very outgoing person. Once I get to know you, I'm fine but until then, I'm pretty quiet. I can pull off the socializing friendly-like, but inside I'm completely freaking out.

I walked into a full restaurant and didn't recognize a soul.

"OH! You must be Scattered Mom!" I guess my arms full of tins of cookies was a dead giveaway, huh? Getting used to being called Scattered Mom was something I didn't expect. I've never been called by that name in real life before so at first I was all, "who the hell are they talking to? Oh! ME!"

There were so many wonderful women (and Dads!) there, all of who were so friendly and amazing, and welcomed me just like an old friend. Really, I had nothing to worry about even though I admit I was really self conscious. Suddenly Michelle came up and hugged me, and I knew that I knew who she was but...I couldn't place her! At ALL! I was so embarrassed.

(It's not surprising, actually. I am REALLY BAD with names. There are people I worked with for three years, ate lunch with every single day, and I STILL can't remember their names. Please don't be insulted. This is why I have the name "Scattered Mom", you know.

And, while we're off topic, can you even imagine going to Blog Her? This was just a small group of people. Blog Her would be down right frightening, I think. My plan is to work my way up to larger groups of people. Next stop...Northern Voice!)

We chatted, ate the most amazing crab cakes eggs benny ever, I got to hold the cutest Pop Tart I've ever seen while she noshed on all my fruit, and generally just got to meet everyone in person. It was amazing. And a bit weird, in a good way. Everyone was asking about Jake, Hubs, things that I've blogged or tweeted about lately, and it was a little strange to have people I've never seen know so much about me. So who did I meet? (If I forgot anyone, please let me know so I can add you.)

Musings From Mt. Rogo

Strocel.com

Resolving Timeline Issues

Michelle Kent Photography

The Tsunami Mommy

A Lot of Loves

See Theo Run

Muggabug

Crunchy Carpets

Left Coast Mama



Also? I brought my camera and only took ONE photo because I pretty much forgot about it.

These ladies were so kind, they even called me the "Canadian Pioneer Woman." Which is, to me, the biggest compliment ever because she is just....wow.

One thing I probably repeated about a million times was my awe at all the delicious, huggable babies. Mostly because they were all so cute and I wanted to take them home with me (not all at once) but also because I felt a bit old, being the only one with a teenager.

After we ate, and visited, Michelle and I took off to find a park so Cookie could run around in the sun (it was so gorgeous outside!) and she had a taste of my really wickedly bad sense of direction mad driving skills. Marilyn joined us and there we sat; enjoying the spring sun and talking about our families and blogs.

Of course I felt incredibly guilty for not reading their blogs that much-not because they aren't awesome bloggers, but I haven't read anyone lately. (*hangs head in shame*) That's been quickly changed though, because since I came home I've checked out everyone's blogs and subscribed to them!

Later the evening when we finally parted, I sat in the ferry line up waiting for the boat to arrive and began to get a bit nervous again.

-what if they hate the cookies?
-what if they were just being polite?
-now that they know me, will they still like me?

Then at last, it suddenly came to me who Michelle and some of the other bloggers were. (yes, that's me. Reaaalllly slow on the uptake)

*smacks head*

Somehow I don't think I have anything to worry about.
After I wrote that nasty Norton post I began to hyperventilate.

At first, it really felt good to just LET it OUT but as time passed, I remembered the whole Dooce and Maytag incident and the stance that I had taken on publicly being the "customer service police".

*gulp*

So I sat there, and I thought about it.

Hard. For days.

Days while Norton obviously scrambled to do something about it. Within hours, Dave Kim tweeted me and asked me to follow him, so that we could talk. I admit my first response was a cheeky,

"Will I get my $100 back?"

I was still smarting from my previous Norton encounters, and the thought of yet more corporate babble was just too much. My life is busy, and even though I told Dave that I was going to be unavailable for a few days, Norton still called every single day. Dave tweeted at me to send him my e-mail address (which I did).

Did I blog it for traffic? To stir up controversy? No.

I blogged it because I felt, at best, completely violated. A computer is, to me, a very personal object. Inviting someone to work on it is like having someone work on my car.

This computer is not some frivolous item. Jake has a motor disability and without the computer, he can't do his school work. We can't even connect to the school's network without proper anti-virus software, which is how the whole thing started. All I ever wanted was anti-virus software that worked. Is that too much to ask? I trusted Norton implicitly.

That was a colossal MISTAKE.

The reason I wrote about it is that I believe as blogger, or someone who works and spends a lot of her life online, that people need to know what can happen if you use Norton Live. While some of their techs seemed okay, the risks far outweigh the benefits. If I knew a mechanic would leave my car in worse shape when he's supposed to fix it, would I allow him near it? No freaking way.

The same goes for my computer.

I think that all of us have a line that can't be crossed, and for me, it was being lied to, my money taken, and then my computer messed up.

Sure, Norton has agreed to refund my $99, after three agents, being put on hold, and telling my story numerous times. What really irritates me though is that they seem like they could really care less that my computer was actually damaged and I have to pay another tech to fix the damage that THEIR employee caused.

The best that they could come up with was excuses that sometimes viruses damage things, or that possibly it's a software issue.

Nobody ever acknowledged that what the tech did was ridiculously out of line, that they never even stopped to say, "your software might be conflicting with Norton" or "if I delete this, _____ will happen to your computer. Do you want to proceed?". Honestly? I don't think that the people I've talked to even know what I'm talking about when I say the tech deleted registry keys and drivers.

All I keep hearing, repeatedly, is "I'm so sorry for whatever happened to you." as I wait for them to forward my story to yet another person.

Bullshit.

They aren't sorry. I know it, Jake knows it, and THEY know it.
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