"Serve the people whole grains of delight!"

So I was rotating our food storage today (I can't believe I'm saying that...) and came across several boxes of granola bars we need to eat. They are best by 09/2009, but I think that's more of a suggestion. Besides, I wasn't a huge fan of these to begin with, so the best by date is really irrelevant.

While I was switching the bars to our "to eat" cupboard (as opposed to the "save for times of extreme famine" bins in the closet), Abe pointed out that the back of the box looks like a 1950s Chinese propaganda poster.



"We will progress into the bright future of nutrition!"
"Serve the people whole grains of delight!"
"Forever march on the victorious path of Nutri-Grain!"

i'll admit it - i'd never know who molly ringwald was if i didn't have older sisters

The good news is the weather is changing! The bad news is that usually comes with a spring-time cold.

After lots of sleep and working from home this afternoon, I decided to end the day with an episode of 21 Jump Street on hulu. For no better reason than the last time I was sick (back in August - go immune system!) I did the same thing. Tradition makes decisions so much easier.

This inspired me to make a list of TV shows I was addicted to growing up. As I made this list, I found myself secretly hoping that more classics from the 80s would show up (I never even watched 21 Jump Street before last August). But I have to admit that I really am a child of the 90s.

Has anyone else noticed that people my age (almost 26) tend to talk about the 80s as if it was their childhood? It's like we have some complex about wanting to belong to the ugliest decade in history. Clearly, by the time we were autonomous humans, we were beyond moussed bangs and shoulder pads. We're the generation of "wassup" and "sweet" not "psych" and "bogus".

So, for all those ashamed of being part of the 90s generation, here's a list of TV favorites that you know you secretly loved.

Salute Your Shorts
Boy Meets World
Clarissa Explains It All
Blossom
Hey, Dude (Okay, I may have been the only person who watched this one)
Home Improvement
Sabrina, The Teenage Witch
Ren & Stimpy
Saved by the Bell
Full House
Family Matters
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Animaniacs
Rocko's Modern Life
Rugrats
Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Bobby's World
Pepper Ann

this is what they mean by weekend getaway

A few weekends ago, Abe & I had what I think was our first true weekend getaway. We headed 2.5 hours north to a cabin in the middle of nowhere. We had no TV, internet, or cell phone reception - but it did come with a full kitchen, gas fireplace, and puzzles.

Our plan was to cook lots of food, read, and stay in our pajamas as long as possible.

We had Chinese Shrimp and Walnuts one night and Chicken Tikka Masala the next. One morning was an omelet breakfast, the next was classic pancakes and sausage - always accompanied by a mug of hot cocoa.








We put together 2 puzzles while enjoying the view from the dining room window overlooking the lake. We also went on a few hikes.








I think I look 12 years old in this picture.


The cabin was called a "Sportsman's Lodge" and was quite nice. The owl was a good touch.

too cool for drool

I've mentioned my No Bodily Fluids rule before. And, technically, this post breaks it, but I think with one of the least harmful of fluids.

Saliva.

I produce a lot of saliva. It's one of the reasons I don't like going to the dentist - we have to spend a lot of time with the suction tool. After one particularly long and noisy sucking session, the hygienist informed me that I have very viscous saliva. This amazing saliva make-up protects my teeth against cavities, with the small downside of creating more plaque.

The problem with my overactive viscous saliva is my unrelated problem of not being able to breath well through my nose. So, when I sleep, I am a mouth breather. Combine this with the zealous saliva glands and ... well, nights get soggy.

When I was in sixth grade, I got new green flannel sheets. I was so excited that I used them before washing them. One day I got to school and one of my friends said, "Why do you have green stuff on your cheek?" What? Huh? Green? Sure enough, there were a few green smudges on my cheek and the corners of my mouth. I washed it off and thought nothing more of it. The next day it happened again. When someone else pointed it out to me, I realized my drool-seeped green pillow was rubbing off on me.

Jump to today. We got new sheets a few weeks ago. And I've now noticed that my pillow has bleach splotches all over the corners. You know, the corners where my head usually rests at night. I don't have experimental proof, but I'm pretty sure that the drool that protects me against cavities is also combining with toothpaste residue in my mouth at night and bleaching my pillow out.

I suppose I'd better rinse better.