What to blog about when you don't know what to blog...


We eat food. Maybe I can tell you about some of our family's food favorites...
My snack of choice is a handful of raw almonds and...a packet of True Lemon in a bottle of water. Daphne's is my fast food preference. And I go crazy for ElTorito's Mexican Ceasar Salad. James wishes he had a churrascaria (pronounced [ʃuxaskaˈɾiɐ]) (or sho-HAAS-kar-eeya), which is a Brazilian B-B-Q.

Monica and Amanda are salad lovers and wouldn't mind camping out at a Souplantation. Just don't even attempt to put onions in Monica's food--- she just can't stand 'em.
Brielle is the dream child---she will eat anything to make you happy.
Jenna's needs are also simple. Make the meal almost nutrient-free, with little color--and it works for her. Chuck E Cheese? Heaven for Jenna.

Well. That was a strange post...but I'm not deleting it. I feel it is necessary to document this because I don't scrapbook.

Amanda's Summer Love

Well, if you were thinking a HUMAN love, then you'd be wrong. Our sweet Amanda turned 14 and the only item on her gift list was a turtle. Ugh.

Even after a kind pet salesman discouraged her from the turtle due to lots of maintenance, she was not deterred altogether. She had her eye on a tortoise. Rumor had it that they practically take care of themselves!

I was a little more practical.

Me: Do you realize you need to feed it a couple of times a day?

Her: Yep.

Me: ...and let it run around safely in the yard?

Her: I know.

Me: This kind of tortoise lives 50+ years! Do you have plans for taking care of it that long?

Her: Yeah. When I go to college, Brielle will have it. After she goes to college, Jenna will have it.

Me: .........that is only 10 years, ya know.....

Well, we brought the little guy/girl home and put it in a large storage tote. Apparently, the tote's sides are not tall enough. Our little Ninja Tortoise escapes. OFTEN. James built a little pen out of chicken wire, but it has escaped that also.

We are sure ninja skills were used. No one has seen the escape yet.

As with all pets and children, the love-fest is quickly over. Amanda has had the critter for about 3 weeks. It's going to be a long 50 years for all of us involved.

The video below shows a very slow tortoise. Don't let the little guy fool you. He sprints when he wants!