Houdini

One of my small pleasures in life is watching "CBS Sunday Morning". I never watch it live--always on DVR. This morning was no different. I made some quick cinnamon rolls and started the recording. There was a story on Houdini and how he garnished crowds with his escape artistry. The story made a brief reference to disappearing. An observation was made by my husband and I about how Paxton "disappears" every time a chore needed to be completed. Gabby remarked that having Paxton gone would be like having a "hole in our house". For a brief second I was humbled by her affection for her brother and how she would miss him. Then she continued. "And then the light would shine through and the angels would sing!" I told you--it was only for a second.

Paper Products

When I left for work Sunday afternoon, the Sunday paper was still on the driveway with another publication. I didn't much worry about it because I left 2 teenagers and and 1 adult (to the adults defense--he was under the weather) home with no responsiblities or chores for the remainder of the day. Shocker! The papers were there when I rolled up at 11:30pm. The next morning, when I went to bring in the papers, they weren't there--nor were they in the house. They had been taken to our recycling bins on the side of the house. Who could have done this? My mother-in-law, whom we have a strained relationship. You see, she collects cans on her morning walk and deposits them neatly on the side of our house. She rarely comes to the door to chat or say hi. Her service is all done in stealth. So today, I would like to thank her for her stealth service.

Today I wake up to a dish towel that looks like it was used to clean up a murder crime scene lying next to a roll of paper towels, still in the package, inches from the empty roll still on its holder. And you thought sitting on the toilet to find an empty roll when there a freshly packaged roll in the vanity infuriating. Men might me simple and are most happy when they are properly "loved" and fed. Women would just like our landfilling paper products replaced properly. Perhaps as a punishment they could repeat that 5 times fast! As a personal note--could my family add paper plates, cups, plastic spoons and tissue to the list.

Claim checks or ID's please

I work for the best airline in the USA. They train us on policy and procedure, thoroughly, and expect us to adhere to those guidelines. This was the case in the baggage office the other day. We often get bags in on earlier flights than the passengers. Our policy dictates that when we have retained possession of any bag we must ask for identification or claim ticket to retrieve the bag from our possession. There is a specific employee assingned to monitor the unclaimed bags and follow the procedure as outlined by the company. Just the other day, our office encountered about 20 large sports duffel bags. They all looked the same in color and logo. After we had them for a short time a young man in a sports suit in the same color of the bags and same logo on his shirt approached the mountain of duffels and gestured to the other 19 team mates that he had found their loot. Knowing that the bags belonged to them, they went to grab the bags. The employee monitoring the bags lept into action, asking each team member for an ID or claim ticket. I thought this almost comical. I have seen pictures of the people who have been caught stealing bags, and I'm here to tell you--they do not travel in packs, wearing sport suits and furthermore--other than golf clubs, sports equipment does not yield a hefty price at a pawn shop. My mind raced at the thought of an Ocean's Eleven type of group planning their theft--coordinating the outfits, manpower and arranging for the getaway box truck. But this employee did what she had been instruced to do perfectly and each bag was matched to a player.

How often do we teach our children personal policy and procedures for thwarting the adversary. We tell them to ask questions about ratings on movies and games at friends houses, but how often do they think to ask those questions at an obviously "good" household. To often we and our families become complacent with our surroundings and scoff at those that are doing as they'd been taught when it seem obvious there is no danger. There is always danger. Anyone of those bags could have been given to a perfect stranger. Anyone of our childrens friends could receive a text, game or email from a third party and pass it along in innocence. We must constantly reinforce our personal policy and procedures when it comes to overcoming the adversary. He constantly has an army of Ocean's Eleven type groups waiting and coordinating their efforts to lead us astray. I hope we can all follow the example and diligence of that one faithful employee, and check ID's and claim tickets every time--obvious or not.

Halloween Candy

I'm not at work 30 minutes when I get a voicemail from Paxton. "Hey, why did you take my candy! What about Gabby's candy! That's messed up!" I took three pieces of his trunk -or-treat candy, which he was probably too old to participate in anyway. I quickly responded, "Yours was the only candy left in my room. Had Gabby's been there I would have gladly helped myself to hers as well." Lesson learned--keep YOUR candy in YOUR room--please.

Coming soon--how motherhood and marriage is like an alien abduction!