Head's up!!!

If I had a dollar for everytime my mom told me "head's up" I would be a very rich woman. It is her way of saying, "be careful, look both ways before crossing the street, pay attention to what is going on around you." It is classic for me to hear this as I leave the house. In addition, it has been the departing line to goodbyes we have said over the years at the airport, when I left for college, or over a long distance phone call.

Even if I have previously mentioned it, I will remind the reader that my mother is the owner of a successful home daycare. Working with kids all day provides a host of stories, but I recall one in particular Mom told me some years back. A cute boy of about 7 years, A.J. (name has been changed) was someone my mom would refer to as "wango." (More on that later!!!!) That is, at times he was a little distracted, maybe even a little dopey. As all the children would hold hands and pay attention just before crossing the street, mom wanted to be sure A.J. was alert.

"Head's UP A.J.!!"

I never said he couldn't follow directions. Little A.J. immediately stuck his nose in the air and started out across the street. He did exactly what he was told...he brought his head straight up! Mom caught his hand in time in the midst of laughter. She held on to it as the crossed they street.

=)

Picture credit www.bbc.co.uk/.../ansell_direction.shtml

"Food-Food"

Mom has a huge sweet tooth. I have been to dinner with her when she finishes eating, I am still working on my plate and she is already scrutinizing the dessert menu. She loves ice cream, and often will say..."Hmmm...I want something creamy!" Chocolate is her favorite treat, and is the vice that she gives up every year for lent.

On the other hand, meals are very important to my mom. She would never be one to grab a snicker bar instead of salad or sandwich at lunch. And as much as she loves sweets, she has never been a big fan of pancakes, French toast, or other options that involve syrup. Meals are a time for savory choices.

"I had my coffee and slice of banana bread this morning...now it is time for food-food."

Never convinced on Belgian waffles or oatmeal with cinnamon and sugar - mom always opts for eggs on a Sunday brunch. Cereal and fruit suffice for the weekdays, but two eggs sunny side up with sliced tomatoes and one piece of wheat toast is her favorite.

"and a little salsa?" she playfully asks the waitress.

Being in California this is usually not a hard request to fill.



Today I had a late breakfast which consisted of an oatmeal cookie, peach yogurt and fruit. I thought of mom, a few hours later I was ready for "food food" and I knew I could not last until dinner. In my opinion one of the world's greatest meals, as it can be served anytime of the day, is the fried egg sandwich. Mom makes the best ones, but I have to settle for second best when I make it myself. Two pieces of wheat bread slightly toasted, dressed with mayo and mustard, a couple of slices of fresh tomato, crisp lettuce, and one hot over-medium egg with salt and pepper. (Mom likes her's runny, but I like it a little more cooked.) Something about the hot egg, fresh tomato, creamy mayo, and toasty bread. Mmmmm. "Its a winner."

Picture source : www.wpclipart.com/food/meats_and_eggs/index.html

Casablanca

Mom is definitely a homebody, and she would admit it any day of the week. When I was in highschool and looking for something to do on a Friday or Saturday night, she would undoubtedly suggest, "just stay home with your mother." Often my girlfriends and I would stay in - drinking tea, eating brownies and staying up all night gossiping. We were happy doing this and my mom was content her daughter was in the house.

There were other nights when mom and I would stay in together. I remember for a long time wanting to see the movie Casablanca. At the time my mother had not seen it in years, so we rented the classic. It was not only entertaining, but also educational with respect to my mother's "1950's" expressions. SO many of them had debuted in Casablanca.

I imagine I will slowly hit on most of them of the course of my posts, but for now I bring tribute to "Here's looking at you, kid." Recently, I saw a movie called the "The Holiday" starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, in which a fictional character "Arthur Abbot" was said to have added the "kid" onto the end of the expression. I was a sucker and believed it, but after a Google search it seems that no Arthur Abbot really existed in Hollywood!
Still, a cute movie. Mom, I think you might like it. Just cover your ears when they talk about sex or say a bad word.

After all, "they just don't make 'em like they used to".

Well, if there is nothing else....

Most of my phone calls with mom are "updates" which I truly do not mind at all. She gives me an update of what she is doing for the week, what activities she has planned for her in-home daycare, what the family members are up to, and maybe even what was on Oprah that week. I like the reports, as they are often filled with some funny story about what happened with one of her kids, or how she won three out of the five prizes at the latest bingo game (more on my mother's amazing luck in future posts!). To finish up her stories she usually pauses to think if there is not anything else she was meaning to tell me. Then she very casually says, "Well, there is nothing else earth shattering I can think of..."

It is funny, because I am so accustomed to hearing her say this that I have not realized until recently that she is perhaps the only person I hear use this phrase. At least the only person that uses it so casually.

Great way to end a conversation, don't you think?

*Picture Source http://www.whitestones.org/earth/earth.htm

I'm feeling...

I love how my mom has a way of putting a positive spin on things, even the word anxious. Usually when someone says they are anxious about something, it invokes a negative feeling. They are worried, preoccupied, and usually are not happy or excited about whatever it is that they have to do.
Then you have my mom, who weekly, perhaps even daily uses the word "anxious" But instead of saying it as a synonym to worry, it carries of meaning of readiness or excitement. For instance,

"I am anxious for my Pilates class to start."
"I am anxious for my new garden to be planted."
"I am anxious to hear about how the party was last night."
"I am anxious to hear from my daughter in Uruguay!"

I have to say I love hearing that my mom is anxious about something.

*Picture credit http://home.att.net/~boyym/Feelings.html

Mom's not only reading Oprah Magazine

Recently there was an article in Real Simple magazine with some of the origins of a few common phrases. I always used to ask my mom where she learned her phrases from. Hardly did I receive an answer, but here is some history to some. Enjoy.


From Real Simple Magazine, compiled by Claire Sulmers

*Scholars think "spill the beans" originated in ancient Greece, where voters cast ballots with white or black beans. If a clumsy voter knocked over the jar or helmet that held the beans, the secret was out.

*The origin of "raining cats and dogs" is a little murky. According to one account, heavy rains in 17th century England turned city streets into rivers that carried trash, along with dead cats and dogs. A less grisly story attributes the phrase to howling wind, which sounds like cats and dogs fighting.

*In ancient Rome, the general and politician Pompey believed salt was an antidote to any potential poison in his food, so he added a grain of it to everything he ate or drank. That's why when people are skeptical of something, they "take it with a grain of salt."

*In the Middle Ages, scholars wore a square cap similar to our graduation mortarboard. People believed the hat actually helped the owner think - and the term "thinking cap" was born.

*No one knows the origin of a "skeleton in the closet," but here's one theory: Until the Anatomy Act was passed in England in 1832, it was illegal to dissect a body (executed criminals excepted), and doctors were allowed to work on only one cadaver during their careers. Those who didn't want to get rid of the skeleton kept it hidden in a dark corner or hung in a closet.

*Picture credit to realsimple.com

On a slow boat to China

Mexican food is practically non-existent here in Montevideo, Uruguay and finding ingredients to make our own authentic food has been equally as challenging. I knew of some acquaintances traveling from the states to Montevideo, and asked Mom to buy few items that they could bring us. Among others, one item was masa, or cornmeal to make tortillas. Well, mom asked her sweeetheart to buy a small bag, but what he brought back was a good couple pounds. The considerate woman she is, Mom felt bad about asking our new friends to carry it back in the suitcase among the other smaller things we had asked for them.
"No problem mom, we really don't have to have it. We can stick with flour tortillas for now."
"Oh but I want to send it! I will. I'll just use the slower route of postal service. It will get there, but on a slow boat to China!"