Kids? What kids?

So I'm in some trouble for having too posts about non-kid parts of my life lately. And I realized I never mention my job (and if you're a dooce.com fan you know why), the new class I'm taking (Photoshop at DCAD...no results to show just yet), the classes I normally take (Toning at the JCC...no results thanks to my post-workout cool down with Ben and Jerry), or most importantly, the TV I watch.  And TV is just really an extrememly important part of my life, so I'm actually quite surprised about that one.  WE ARE SO MARRIED.

Anyway, so to pacify those who are interested in the goings-on of the under-4 set, here you go!

Gabe is really amazing us with all that he can absorb and understand at such a young age.  He knows his letters, numbers to 100, all the planets, continents, and states - and for the latter knows some fun little detail about each one (and is EXTREMELY disappointed when we don't know anyone in a state, so if you have any friends in Kansas please introduce me).  And his so-grown-up vocabulary is simply hilarious. Hearing "Hmmm...I suppose we could go there for dinner", or "Excuse me, Mama, but I really need to talk to you. It's very important.", or "I think I'm just having a bad day" couldn't be funnier coming from someone in dinosaur pajamas and a Pull Up. 

But as much as he wows us with his smarts, we are completely overwhelmed with his ability to talk back, throw tantrums, cause injury and chaos, and generally make you want to head for the hills.  Today for example we went to see "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" at the Dupont Theater and went for lunch with friends afterwards.  In the mere 45 minutes we were in Quiznos, he a) flung 14 oz of apple juice all over himself, me, and about 20 square feet of table and flooring, b) had to potty twice, c) threw a tantrum because the paper towel in the bathroom ripped, d) threw a tantrum because he could only have 1 cookie instead of 2, e) received a spanking, and f) ran away from me despite threats of another (e), fell, and scraped his hands.  I actually had high hopes for this particular outing, but all it did was make me want to head back into the office.  Forever.  It's a good thing he's knows those states.

Riley is developing a mind of her own as well, but luckily can't talk back yet!  She has a few words, namely MAMA!, uh-oh, and dadadada, and is such a happy girl she spends at least a few hours a day clapping. But the weather has put us outside a lot lately where Riley sees all the mulch, rocks, and acorns and thinks: lunch!  It matters not how many times she hears NO or has this stuff fished out of her jowls, she is undettered:  there WILL be a rock in that diaper.  Stay tuned.

Is Applebee Systems Sexist, or Just Stupid?

In this bad economy, it seems that everywhere I turn I read about how small businesses are struggling to keep on workers and stay afloat. And if you look at the numbers the economic downtown has hit Wilmington doubly hard.  But it seems each time I have tried to hire someone for a home improvement the exact opposite has proven true. I mean, it took me six months to find someone to put in a 5 foot long fence!  But yesterday took the cake.  We signed up for a few window replacement estimates at the Delaware Home Show last week (air pours in the windows in our 100+ year old home) and so our phone has been ringing all week with contractors calling to offer estimates or confirming appointment times.  Last night I was scheduling one appointment, and after 10 minutes on the phone during which I confirmed a) that I work, b) that we have 13 windows on the ground floor alone (cha-ching!), and c) we're interested in started work right away, the gentleman from Applebee Systems explained that he looked forward to meeting my husband and I on Friday afternoon - and could I confirm that my husband would be there too?  Actually, I replied, my husband would be out of town on Friday but not to worry, I would be here and I'm the decision maker for these kinds of things.  (Let's face it:  I could replace every window in the house, as well as all the furniture and probably the children and it would take poor Ryan at least a week to notice. Love him, but he's not into the details!) And the man actually said - YES RIGHT HERE IN THE YEAR 2010 - said that he would need to reschedule so that my husband could be there.  And I confirmed, let me make sure I understand you, your company will not come to my house and give me an estimate unless my husband is here.  At which point the gentleman from Applebee Systems, knowing that IT IS 2010 should have explained why on earth that could possibly be their policy, but instead just said "yes, ma'am, that is correct".  And I literally gasped, then calmed myself, and explained that I could not consider doing business with them.  And again, this person had the opportunity to regain his footing on this extremely, dangerously slippery slope, but instead HUNG UP.  Which makes me thing that some small businesses are probably deserving to go the way of the dinosaurs.