If only...

I have often heard grandparents say they wish they had skipped parenthood and gone straight to the grandkids, and I must agree with them save on the adoption front.  We should have adopted a second time before we adopted a first time; having done all the gruesome interviews, background checks, biographies, psychological tests... already and only needing to update things since our last attempt has made this time around much much easier.  And now we wait...

Italian Enchiladas?

Yes, this is a weird recipe, but very tasty.  I was in the mood for spaghetti but wanted tortillas instead of noodles.  Two worlds collide for one great taste?  Or maybe I'm just desperate!

Brown 1/2 pound ground beef with onions and sweet peppers, seasoned to taste (garlic, seasoned salt, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, basil).  Add 8oz frozen corn and a 14oz can of petite diced tomatoes (drained) to the mix and heat through.  Fill 10 6-8 inch flour tortillas with the mixture and place seam side down in a cake pan.  Cover tortillas with a 24oz can of spaghetti sauce and top with shredded and parmesan cheese.  Bake at 375 until hot and bubbly.  Let sit 5-10 minutes before serving.

Modern Chivalry?

My son took me out to lunch for my birthday (yes, he's 2 and we went to McDonald's, no, that is not what this post is about).  Strangely, when you live in the hinterlands, eating fast food is actually kind of exciting (we live 80 miles from the nearest 'city' with a population of more than 2000).  Anywho, my birthday is coming up and we both like chicken nuggets and french fries and were in town running errands, so why not?  Lunch passed nicely enough, but then it was time to go home (the plot thickens). I was balancing a 40 pound toddler on one hip and juggling purse, keys, french fries (something to keep him busy on the road home!), and sippy cup with my free hand while somehow pushing the door open (and obviously not exactly speedy in exiting) when a young guy in his twenties comes up behind me, walks out the precariously open door, and says, 'thank you,' as apparently my sole purpose in this phenomenal act of door opening was to hold the door for this carefree individual!

It is a rather interesting commentary on modern social customs when the lady with her hands full holds the door for the guy with his hands free.  Didn't it used to be the other way around?  I don't expect anyone to hold the door for me in this day and age (feminism sadly killed that gallant custom) and gladly do it for others (the elderly, the infirm, those with their hands full, moms with infant car seats…) but this seemed downright odd, not to mention vastly amusing!

"For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors, and laugh at them in our turn?" 

 Mr. Bennett, Pride and Prejudice.

In Jane Austen's day, men actually had to stand every time a lady left the table, let alone hold doors, etc.  I am not sure we have evolved socially as much as we think we have, in many instances we are probably worse off than we were a hundred years ago.  I wonder what sort of a novel Miss Austen would write today?