Whole Foods, Mac & Cheese, and Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

Hip is sick for the third time since we moved to Michigan. It's no wonder considering how stressed he has been over his/our life changes and the fact that every single one of his friends has been sick in the past three weeks. We've stayed indoors for the most part and did not go anywhere yesterday so he could heal and rest.

This morning, after a long night of Hip not sleeping much he seemed to be feeling quite a bit better. An hour after he woke up I asked him if he felt up to going to Whole Foods and I explained to him it is a grocery store. Hip loves to grocery shop and he quickly agreed this was something he would very much like to do today.

I spent the next hour or so doing some household chores and had forgotten about going to Whole Foods because it was raining quite hard and I figured I probably should not take Hip out in the rain. The rain here is like Oregon rain and even though I like the memories that come with it, I hate getting wet to do the simplest task like check the mail or take the garbage out.

Becoming impatient with my dilly-dallying Hip came to find me. We had the following conversation:

Hip: Mom, I'm sick and I need medicine.

Me: You don't have a fever anymore and so we'll wait to see if you need more medicine.

Hip: Mom, we need to go to Whole Foods.

Me: I'm not sure if we should go because it is raining and you've been sick.

Hip: We need to go to Whole Foods and buy Mac and Cheese.

Me: We have Mac and Cheese here and I don't think you would like the kind they sell.

Hip: I want to go to Whole Foods Mo-om.

Me: Well okay, go get ready to go.

I wanted to go to Whole Foods in the first place to get Red Raspberry Leaf Tea which helps "tone the uterus" and can help labor go quickly and smoothly supposedly, as all herbal remedies go.

When we got to Whole Foods Hip insisted we find some Mac and Cheese. So I promised him I would make him some for lunch, some we have at home already. At the herbal tea section, which was packed with all 10 patrons, I began my search. If you would like a hearty selection of herbal teas hit up your local Whole Foods, seriously. It took me 20 minutes to find it, scanning the shelves and shelves and shelves of tea. While Hip patiently, only because he is under the weather, waited he made a friend with another little girl who was maybe 4 years-old. After the toddler introductions were made this is the conversation:

Little Girl: I'm getting a snack. Do you want a snack?

Hip: Yes I do! Mo-om, I want a snack.

Me: That's just great.

Little Girl: You're cute. Are you cute?

Hip: Yep.

Little Girl: What do you want for a snack?

Hip: Mac and Cheese.

Little Girl, to me: You should get him a snack.

Me: Okay, I'll make sure to do that.

Five minutes later:

Store worker: Oh, your going to have your hands full soon. That is I hope soon.

Me: Yep, that's what I'm doing here (pointing to the only items in my cart, 2 boxes of tea).

Store worker: Oh?

Me: I'm trying to cheat nature.

Store worker: Oh (looking concerned).

Hip: Baby needs to come out!

And I laughed as I walked away realizing that my comment was truly offensive in a place like Whole Foods.

Walking the final few aisles of the store we came upon some samples: baguette, the best tortilla chips I've ever tasted and almost bought until I realized a small bag cost $7, apple cider, crackers and brie. Hip ate everything happily and loved the cheese, which was surprisingly sharp/spicy--and delicious--as bries go. I wondered if my monthly WIC cheese allotment would cover brie...and was happy that I was able to keep my promise to the little girl about getting Hip a snack.

***

Later in the day I returned a phone call to my health plan. They needed to do a pregnancy screening questionnaire over the phone with me and one of the questions was, "Is the father involved?"

Me: Yes

Lady: Do you feel he is supportive of you and your emotional needs?

Me, after a loooooooooooong pause: Well yes. I certainly have my complaints but I have made them VERY clear to him already.

Lady, laughing very hard: That's good!

Seriously, why do they ask questions like this? Can you really please a woman, let alone a pregnant woman in the emotional needs compartment? Especially if you are a male and are the pregnant woman's husband? Especially if you just moved your pregnant woman and child across the country resulting in selling her beloved home and leaving her lovely career and her dear friends? Especially if that cross-country move resulted in the emotional breakdown of the existing child? Especially if the woman had to move twice in said pregnancy? Especially if she is required to make new friends where there are few things she hates more than socializing? Especially if she is a therapist and emotional needs are a pretty important discussion point to her?

I could go on and on and on about needing to change doctors, accepting the destruction/damage of many of my belongings in the process of moving, and having to change my financial lifestyle so significantly that I can hardly recognize this new life as actually being mine...

BUT, I found my emotional-thought response to the question endearing because I no longer feel traumatized by any of it and I am glad I have the insight to know that I am emotionally needy at this point in life and that is my issue to work out, not anyone else's.

HOWEVER, I know L will read this and try and use the above paragraph against me in our next battle of the wills and so I will add this to deter him: there is a lot he can do to help the situation and I will continue to make those things VERY clear to him:)

***

P.S. You should have seen the meat selections at Whole Foods. B-E-A-U-T-I-F-F-U-L. Maybe someday...

And the cheeses were awesome too.

Today's Highlights

This morning Hip told me, "I want to watch Sponge Bob."

This mid-morning Hip told me, "I want to go swim in the toilet."

I have spent approximately 13% of the day in public with my barn door open.

I have had 4 conversations about my pregnancy with perfect strangers today.

I came down with my third sinus infection in 36 weeks.

L had his first day in the Operating Room and says it was a success.

"Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times with no libraries." Anne Herber

Beautiful

After Relief Society today a young woman I have not yet met, maybe 21 years-old, approached me and said, "You are the most beautiful pregnant woman I've ever seen. You know, most pregnant women get all fat and then their cheeks get fat and it's not very pretty anymore."

Besides when people at the gym ask me if I am a trainer, I've never been more flattered. I should have had L snap a photo of me today to post but I forgot. Since Freud says there are no accidents, maybe I don't quite believe the young woman...

Some Call It Dumpster Diving

We call it, "Being Resourceful."

The neighbors call it, "Curbside Specials."

While driving down 12 mile the other day I spotted this on the curb and began begging L to turn around. Several of Hip's friends have similar "Cozy Coupes" to this one which he loves, but being a fire truck made this one very special.

As an outsider when you see things out on the curbside in Detroit you may think, "Oh, the family that lives there accidentally left that item there." Insiders know, however, that this is no accident and the item(s) are up for grabs. You just gotta get em before the trash collectors.

I used my extraordinary powers of convincing and negotiating to get L to pull up to the house, knock, and ask if it really was there for trash pick up. (L admitted later that his anxiety level was a ten doing this--mine would have only been a five)

Luck was with us, and sure enough the fire truck was ours to take! I've never seen L throw open the hatch back so quickly.

On closer examination the fire truck is indeed well worn and used. A quick trip to Mommy's car wash and then to Daddy's mechanic shop cleaned it up quite nicely, Hip says. I sheepishly admitted to how we happened upon the fire truck to the neighbors who in turn gave me high fives for getting an awesome deal. The one neighbor said her girls scouted it out first thing in the morning asking her, "Where did Hip get that fire truck? Can we go over and play with it?"

Later in the week I found a lawn spreader while on a walk. I was super tempted to haul it home to see if it worked but my better judgement (?) told me to keep walking.

We May Have Made A Big Mistake

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(I don't know why this is so grainy)

I actually thought he would look cute. I began tearing up when I realized I was terribly wrong, after L's first few clipper swipes off the top. Fortunately when we lifted him up to the mirror to check himself out he loved it! He pranced around the house the rest of the day like Narcissus.

Here are the top three white-trash hair do's:

1. The mullet, of course

2. The rat tail

3. Shaved head

How could I have not had the foresight? It's like Detroit is already altering my better judgement.

Godforsaken

I've been breaking one of my cardinal rules, "Do Not Watch the News".

I figure if I watch the local news then I can get to know the Detroit area/culture/lifestyle, which has been true.

Unfortunately, local news is not just depressing here in Detroit, it is horrifying. A couple of weeks ago it was reported that a man's body parts were found strewn across an East Detroit neighborhood. About a week ago a teenager stabbed and killed a peer; the perpetrator's mother said the violence was warranted. Yesterday, after school on the first day of the school year, two high school students were shot by another student after an argument. This week would be the Michigan State Fair but it has been shut down due to major funding issues. Yesterday dozens of fires broke out in Detroit's city limits. Due to budget constraints fire fighters and trucks have been cut back recently and therefore there were not enough resources to adequately fight these fires. The reporter interviewed very tearful residents of a neighborhood that lost at least 9 homes. This particular fire started small, says a tearful middle-aged man, and numerous 9-1-1 calls failed to produce help. High winds swept the fire throughout the entire block. It took fire fighters one hour to get there, after the neighborhood was lost. The reporter ends the story by stating that this particular fire district lost at least one truck and 3 fire fighters taken out of commission that day.

Equally shocking was how one of the other fires in the city allegedly started: from illegal power use. Several residents in a Detroit neighborhood noticed two men, the other day, re-routing electrical power lines (apparently it is common to steal power around these parts). They called the power company to report this and got hostile responses, including one woman was told if she called again they (the power company) would charge her a service fee!? Days later, yesterday, a major fire broke out as a result of the live wire.

Our neighborhood is now concerned because across the street there is a power pole in the back corner of a lot which is slanting terribly, toward two homes in which three small children live, and is popping regularly. The two households have called the power company numerous times over the last several days with promises to send a technician but with no follow through.

What is wrong with this place?

***

P.S. (9/8/10) In a news report tonight Detroit's Fire Commissioner stated the city needs at least 200-300 more fire fighters to safely maintain the city. Further, approximately 60 districts have been closed all due to Detroit's financial crisis which has spanned a decade now.

The Good

We have found some really good things in Michigan. Today we found the Franklin Cider Mill, and its annual Labor Day Parade and Arts Festival. We've heard talk about the mills in the area and the cider since my first trip to Michigan in June.

This experience rivals a trip to Tillamook Cheese Factory because you get to see the water wheel, the pressing of apples, and of course samples! Oh the smell of pressed apples, freshly baked apple pie/bread, and apple spiced donuts frying!

The water wheel is used to power the press

I am explaining to Hip that this is a water wheel used to create power to make really good food like apple cider and donuts. This made him very excited.

Pressing the apples

(That is not a plumber's crack, even though it looks like it)

A parade can make my entire summer. A tractor in a parade can make Hip and L's entire summer.

I like this picture of Hip watching the parade. When he is bored he will often ask to go to a parade.

The world stops turning once Hip spots a fire truck. He begged the fire fighters to sit in the trucks and he also got a fire fighter hat.

Police horses are also really cool, but not quite as cool as fire trucks.

Hip fell into an exhausted sleep, finally, after the parade and festivities and after dumping the contents of his drawers onto the floor and after getting into trouble for kicking his bedroom door for 15 minutes straight.

Hip is still holding the balloon he was given at the cider mill five minutes before bed--he attempted to eat with it as well as played with it all waking hours this afternoon. When he refused to allow me to tie it to his wrist at the parade I showed him a balloon floating away and told him that the kid who lost that is really really sad. He didn't let go of it all day! And when he saw several floating away he exclaimed, "Oh no! A kid is sooo sad!"

We have found other really amazing things around the Detroit metro area in addition to the cider mill. We've had a really good time exploring and finding treasures. We've discovered the local library, parks, lakes, cheap movie theaters, etc. Keep posted.