Murphy's Law and TV

Finger paint is so yummy!

Murphy's Law has struck!

My friends have made it back from their side trip to Porto, Portugal. Only they both got sick a day into their trip up there. One with a cold and one with a mild stomach bug that won't go away. On top of it, my kids came down with pink-eye. Fortunately, here, I don't have to call the doctor to pick up certain prescriptions. I can just go to the pharmacy and pick it up and get reimbursed later when I go back with an Rx from the doctor. I didn't really want to treat the pink-eye because I'm told it goes away on it's own in a week. However, it is contagious (Liv gave it to Lila) and it's not really fair to let your kids run around with pink-eye at swimming lessons or when guests are visiting you. I guess I didn't ask for the "good stuff" at the pharmacy and got the kind of medicine that takes a bit longer to it clear up than the "good stuff." So, both kids have eyes that are still a bit puffy and I'm wondering if I should skip out on swimming lessons tonight. Our friends are now at a hotel - so, we're not exposing them. Like they need to contract anything else!



So, what have the kids and I been up to the past couple of days (Matt's in Norway on and off over the next week - or two - I can't remember)? We've been finger painting, coloring, playing with play dough, reading and listening to lots of music. I've been making an effort to keep the TV off, for the most part.

Notice Olivia's "pink" eyes.

I believe I mentioned, a while back, that Olivia stopped watching most cartoons and kids shows and became obsessed with home videos. Well, not much has changed. However, we were keeping the videos on all day. I'd allow them to be played over and over again. Since I bought an audio system for my Ipod, I've been keeping it docked and we play music most of the day. It's easier then going through CDs and putting them in. It's been so nice! The kids are so much more creative with the TV off. On top of it, I've been reading a lot of articles about TV (stuff I knew already - but, it was good to reread the evidence that we all know - TV isn't really good for kids. In all forms. Most experts suggest no TV or extremely time and content-restricted viewing).

Recently, a friend inspired me to keep the TV off all the time. I'm not sure if I should include home videos in that or not (ideas anyone?). I know I should put a time limit even on home video viewing. Maybe I'll work toward only viewing the TV on the weekends (not restricted to just home videos) for one hour each day. Or, every morning for 15-20 minutes while I get breakfast ready and let Olivia get through the morning grumpies. Then, again for five-10 minutes while I put Lila down for her nap (Liv gets put down after Lila). That would equal no more than a half hour of viewing a day. Suggestions, ideas anyone?

Speaking of naps, and being that sleep is my nemisis, I should join the girls in the last 20-minutes or so of nap time. A cat-nap does me wonders!

Pet Peeve: Helmetless Parents

This has been on my mind for some time. Please sound off about this. I'd love to know what you all think about this:

Over the past few years (read: since becoming a parent), I have frequently noticed parents riding a bike with their child in the bike seat. Child is wearing a helmet, parent is not. This includes on bike paths and on very busy, sometimes dangerous, streets. What the heck???

So, you'll protect your child's brain but you don't mind if your brain matter ends up on a car or curb? You apparently think your head is a lot harder than your child's? You're such a smart person that your head is bigger than normal and you couldn't find a helmet in your size?

I don't care if you're Bill Gates or a Nobel Prize winner. You're a moron if you're not wearing a helmet and you're really not playing with a full deck if you have your kid wearing one and you aren't. I just want to come up to you and knock some sense into because you obviously don't have any.

Why don't you take a long walk though a traumatic brain injury clinic. I used to work in one. Spend a few minutes talking to some of these patients (or trying to) and you'll not only think twice about not wearing a helmet, you'll may start to think you should wear one when you're out jogging.

This is a pet peeve I'll never get past!

Great Company and Great Wine

The six of us enjoy climbing around the Moorish ruins, Sintra

My best friend from high school, Laura, and her husband, arrived on Thursday afternoon. We've been busy catching up and enjoying food, wine and sites.

Last night, as we dined at a Fado club, Laura commented on Portugal by saying, "I knew Portugal was nice because I had read your blog and seen so many pictures. I just didn't know it would be this nice." Her husband had also mentioned that there were a few people he talked to, prior to the trip, who had went on a European cruise and stopped in Portugal. It was their favorite spot. I am under the impression that most Americans know little about Portugal and, therefore, have no desire to visit. Paris, Rome, Barcelona and London top their lists of European vacations. I see that; understand it a bit and was guilty myself (guilty isn't the right word I'm looking for-I still want to go to Rome and London! But, I now consider Portugal a "must-see" to any European itinerary). However, I hope that readers to this blog will remember Portugal when they plan their trip to Europe. Some consider it a "best-kept travel secret." The British and Northern Europeans already look to Portugal for their "holidays."

Performer of Fado

Liv bares her bottom during a sea-side lunch break

We spent the first few evenings of Laura and Lee's trip here dining out and introducing them to the cuisine and wine of Portugal. During our trip to Germany, I was reminded how expensive wine is in the States (I was shopping for wine at the PX on Post). German wine was shockingly expensive too. Here in Portugal, good wine is cheap. As in, 4 Euro a bottle (Approx., $6) for enjoyable wine and 8-Euro a bottle for very good wine (according to my palate). Therefore, I was shocked to find that the 4-Euro bottle of wine Matt and I typically drink at home, was 22-Euro at a restaurant. That's over 5X's what I buy it for at the local grocery store. Usually, at a restaurant, Matt and I consume the inexpensive "house wine." Of course, we didn't purchase wine at a restaurant with our friends that I knew was so much cheaper elsewhere. Instead, we purchased a bottle here or there that came highly recommended by the staff, albeit, quite pricey, only to later find out that those too were marked up 4-5x's as much. I think we'll stick to the house wine at a restaurant from now on! Though, I did discover a couple of new wines that I love and can purchase inexpensively at the local supermarket. So, the price tag at the restaurant didn't equate to a total loss.

If you're interested in trying out the wines we're enjoying currently, click the links in the "Now Drinking" section on my sidebar and see if you can find them locally. I don't think Portuguese wines, aside from Port wine, are well known in the US, however, they are worth trying out.

Laura and Lee have headed to Porto to tour Port Wine country for a few days. They'll return at the end of the week for a few more days. We're having such a great time. Laura and I have been friends for nearly two decades and still enjoy each other's company! She and her husband traveling here is such a wonderful treat!