Where we discuss bread bags, butter and beds among other things
39 VIPs have spoken »
Today I have some basic questions about life in general. I’m hopeful that someone can enlighten me on current customs and/or explain the origin of some of these weird habits.
We’ll go chronologically just to be orderly.
As a child I vividly remember putting empty plastic bread bags on my feet (usually Wonder Bread bags) before slipping them into my boots. This was done every time I wore boots in the winter whether it was walking to school or just frolicking in the snow outside.
I’m not positive about this, but it seemed like something a lot of other kids did as well. It doesn’t feel like I did it because we were poor. It seems like it was an accepted custom. Were boots so poorly made back then that none of them were waterproof? I guess the current politically correct CYA term is water resistant.
I also remember sliding around on the carpet in my bread bag shoes. Now that was fun.
The point is that my kids’ boots and my own boots work just fine now that we’re living in the 21st century. I throw away empty bread bags routinely. And with abandon.
Did you use bread bags inside your boots as a kid? Or was it just me and my classmates? And if so, why and when did this stop?
Side note: Speaking of Wonder Bread, didn’t everyone mash a piece of Wonder Bread until it basically became a ball of dough? If I’m not mistaken, the crust had to be removed or the ball o’ dough had brown spots inside of it. Sadly, I remember working the piece of bread into a ball. (Cringes) And then eating it. Gross!
Eventually our family starting eating wheat bread. I have no idea why because my parents were not health conscious when it came to food. Anyway, I don’t remember ever trying that experiment with a piece of wheat bread. I wonder if it would work today. Damn, I don’t have time to try it right now because my deadline is fast approaching and I’m going to have to get the kids up soon.
Oh! Ten brownie points to whoever has the time and the desire to conduct the Wheat Bread Experiment for me. Be sure to post your results and conclusions in the VIP Lounge.
Next topic. As a kid I remember seeing my friends’ mothers make bologna sandwiches. They always, always buttered the bread before they slapped a piece of Oscar Meyer Bologna on it. (Gags a bit at the memory.) I don’t remember if they added mustard after that or not. And isn’t mustard the only condiment that goes with bologna? I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone use ketchup or mayo.
Anyway, do you remember buttered bread being part of the sandwich recipe? And if so, what was that all about? You know, I just remembered seeing someone butter a piece of bread and then put peanut butter over the butter.
I’m sure we all remember getting vaccination shots, right? How did you respond to getting a shot? Clearly no one enjoyed it, but when it happened did you scream and yell? Did you cry? Did you fight the nurse? And how do you respond today, as an adult, to having blood drawn or getting a shot at the dentist?
I always sucked it up and sat quietly. I may have cried very quietly with nary a sob but tears rolling down my face. But honestly I’m pretty sure I did then what I do today: turned my head away and closed my eyes. I’ve heard many a medical professional tell me they have adult patients who freak out when the needle appears.
I have also asked my dentist about adults’ responses to shots. She said I am great when it comes to receiving numbing shots (straightens in her chair and beams like a proud first grader.) Again, I close my eyes and take calming breaths, but I make no sound and no movement. Yes, I occasionally wince by squeezing my eyes shut.
But she told me I’d be surprised at the negative responses she gets from adults. Yelling, screaming, fidgeting, fighting. She said she’s seen a lot.
How ’bout you? Are you a compliant patient or not? Let’s be honest, I have no way of tracking you down. My assumption is that all adults take it like a man and sit quietly while the needle is brandished.
And finally, when you make the bed do you put the top sheet on upside down, with the outer seam showing so it can be folded back down over the comforter thereby revealing the correct side of the seam? Or do you put the top sheet on right side up so the correct side of the seam shows as it lies flat?
And what about the bed pillows, not the decorative ones, the actual pillow you put your head on to sleep. Do those go under the comforter with a small indent all the way across the horizontal lump — like they do at a hotel? Or do you put the blanket flat on the bed and then put the bed pillows on top resting against the headboard so you see the pillow case in its entirety?
I put the flat sheet on so the correct side of the seam is up. I then put the blanket and quilt over that. And then I place the pillows on top of the sheet/blanket sandwich, slightly propped against the headboard for aesthetic reasons. The pillow case is showcased in all its glory at my house.
Thank you for your participation. Your thoughts on these matters are greatly appreciated.
Now discuss.
We never did the bags in boots thing. I could see how it would keep your feet dry so it’s probably a good idea.
Mom always buttered the bread for the sandwiches, regardless of what kind of sandwich it was. As an adult I never butter the bread for a sandwich. My bologna sandwiches do get mustard AND ketchup AND the long sliced dill pickles.
Shots have never fazed me. The only thing I can remember about them is being lined up for the school vaccines and there were always a couple of kids that fainted. One kid would faint while we were getting them and then again when we got back to class when he was thinking about it again. Another kid fainted butt first into a trash can. It was like out of a cartoon.
Sheets just go on the bed. Comforters go over the top of everything. Giving it any more thought than that means you haven’t got enough to think about. I’m such a guy about stuff like that.
Ketchup, mustard AND pickles. On bologna?! Yuck, joe.
I don’t remember ever getting shots at school, but I think I’m five or six years behind you (graduated high school in ’86). But that’s crazy about kids fainting and I would have had to laugh at the kid who fell into the trash can.
Well, at least you make the bed, right? I only make it if I’m sorting laundry. And the laundry is really far behind schedule. You’re just going to mess the sheets up again in 15 hours anyway, right?
What is bologna please? Is it a cultural item this visiting Aussie needs to sample sometime in her life?
Injections of all sorts are quietly sucked up, I was a human-pin-cushion when pregnant each time, due to ‘clashing’ parental blood types. And much dental work has been inflicted upon my person. sigh.
Bedsheets are folded over the blanket and quilt correctly in imitation Cardiogirlesque fashion, pillow cases on top; except not propped up. (it’s always done in a rush before I leave of a morning).
Also I iron pillowcases since they will be seen – and for that matter usually my linen Teatowels/dishtowels too. And I detest ironing – silly. non? Still do it though…
Wow, I didn’t realize bologna wasn’t worldwide. It’s just lunch meat that has a very benign taste, not spicy kinda bland. Really when I add cheese, bread and mustard the bologna just adds texture. It’s the cheese and mustard that I taste. It’s really not something I would seek out, but I would be interested in hearing your palate’s opinion on it, if you were so inclined :)
Two of my sisters had that clashing blood thing, something about the negative Rh factor. Luckily I did not have that.
I’m actually impressed that you iron the pillowcases. I think that’s a cultural thing though (meaning most Americans don’t.) And well done on correctly making the bed!
I remember the bags on your feet thing! What the heck was that all about?! I can even remember the neighbor girl using a bread bag for a kite when she didn’t have one and the rest of the kids did. Poor thing. She’s probably a billionaire or something now.
No, we didn’t butter the bread for sandwiches. But I do remember some kids doing the bread ball thingy. I don’t think wheat bread works because I think it is the gluton that makes it bind and wheat bread doesn’t have that. That stuff sticks like glue to your insides too–that’s why you aren’t supposed to feed white bread to ducks and birds–it gets all clumped up in their insides.
Don’t know about shots–I take them like a trooper and get my teeth done without novocaine because I hate that shot. I can recall the penicilin shot in the butt when you were sick as a child–that sucker hurt like the dickens.
I do put the sheets on upside down to fold them over. I don’t have a bedspread, but if there is, I fold the top over, put the pillows on there, then fold the spread over the pillows. I’m nutty when it comes to making the bed look nice–but I also have no life.
I’m sorry to admit that I laughed out loud when I read about the girl who had to use a bread bag for a kite. I’ll give her props on being McGuyver-esque.
That’s quite a visual regarding the bread sticking to the insides, yuck. If I didn’t already eat wheat bread I would start today after thinking of that image.
I actually bow down to your pain threshold Lin. NO novocaine!! No chance I could do that.
And I wouldn’t say you have no life since you make your bed look nice. You have a keen eye for aesthetics. How’s that for a positive spin?
I was born and raised in California, so no info on the bread bag in the boot thing. I do remember making the ball of dough out of Wonder bread though! I did not know you weren’t supposed to feed white bread to ducks!
I never ate bologna as a kid, so not sure on that one. I can say that I did not like PB and J, so my mom would make me butter and jelly instead. Butter with bologna does sound disgusting though!
I take the shots like a champ and always did. I almost passed out a couple of weeks ago when I was getting a cortisone shot in my foot. It hurt so stinkin’ much I was practically hyperventilating. I did not flinch though. As an aside, I have attended alot of deliveries as a pediatrician. It would seriously crack me up when I saw those moms screaming during the delivery and backing off the table, like they were trying to get away. Before anyone skewers me, I have had 4 kids, all naturally. I am not saying it didn’t hurt, just the backing away part that was a crack up to me. Can’t get away from that!
I put the sheets on upside down so that you can see the pattern when folding over. I pull the bedspread to the top, then place my pillows and shams on top. For our King we have 4 pillows and 2 shams for a total of 6 pillows.
I didn’t know you were a full-fledged California girl. Isn’t that funny the stuff you learn on the internet — I didn’t know about the ducks either. I guess it’s sort of like feeding birds rice. I was still a tiny bit bummed that we couldn’t throw rice at our wedding.
Eeew. Butter and jelly, just cold on the sandwich, not on toast? ‘Cause toast with butter and jelly is tasty. But not cold.
I remember reading about a certain time during labor where most women consider leaving because the thought of having the baby is too much. It didn’t cross my mind to even attempt to leave.
Okay on the sheets. That sounds wrong to me, but I’m open to hearing about new things.
I remember the plastic bags over the socks. It was definitely because boots sucked so much.
I always put margarine or butter on bread before the rest of the stuff. Two reasons…makes it easier to spread, and because if you don’t, some condiments (jam, ketchup, mustard, mayo, etc) end up soaking into the bread. And God knows, putting a tomato slice or two over unbuttered bread is just wrong. The bread ends up a soaked mess.
I hate needles. I watched myself being stitched up; watched my oldest son’s toe operation (in fact, due to an emergency, I was the “nurse” and handed the doctor swabs, etc. But you show me a syringe and I get light-headed. Strange, huh? My youngest son is 5 and he watches the needle. The last shot he got, he turned to his mother and said, calmly, in french “C’est mal, huh?” (trans: “it hurts, huh?”).
Your kid is bilingual?! Are you bilingual Steve, because now that’s all I can think of (except I’m still disgusted by the butter barrier on your sandwich.)
er…that should be “you SHOW me a syringe…” sigh…I hate not being able to edit comments :)
It is a drag not being able to edit comments when you leave them BUT I got your back, dude. I changed it for you. So it’s our little secret.
Bread bags – I remember kids doing that, but don’t remember doing it myself.
Bread balls (AKA “That’s It Sandwiches”, cuz they’re made with bread and that’s it) -It works with wheat bread, but it’s just not the same.
Butter – How can you NOT put butter on a sandwich, Betch?!
And I sleep on a hide-a-bed, so my pillows and blankets end up in a closet.
I figured you would have done that more than me, being up there in the Great White North (the bag in boots thing). I just can’t get behind butter on a sandwich. Nope, not gonna do it. Yuck.
man, this is like… homework! OK… I think the reason we did the bread bag thing was more to be able to slide our feet in and out of the boots rather than to keep our feet dry.. but boots have come a long way since we were kids. I remember the ones with buckles, and they were never watertight.
I never did the bread thing, as we always had homemade bread, and mom would have killed us if we’d balled it up. Besides, it was too good to do that with. I doubt whole wheat would work for that.. and no, I’m not going to try.
Ick. My bologna sandwiches always had butter. I don’t eat bologna AT ALL any more. Ew.
Never cried for shots, that I remember. A high pain tolerance runs in my family…
I put the top sheet on upside down, so when it’s folded back, you don’t see the seam of the edging. Plus on patterned ones, the pattern of the bottom sheet then matches the top. If you’ve ever had waterbed sheets, they are sewn together on the bottom, and that’s the way they are made. But I rarely make my bed, other than when I put fresh sheets on, and I just throw my pillows on top of the bed when I do.
Phew!
Well done beanie. You get an A++. And now that you mention it, it makes sense that the bags would allow your feet to slide right in.
Can’t believe your mother always made HOMEMADE BREAD! AUUUGGGHHHHH on the butter with bologna. (shivers)
That’s crazy about water bed sheets. Never had one, not interested in getting one, but I find that interesting.
Hey CG!
We did the wonder bread bags in the boots in Ohio too. This was in the pre-Gore-Tex days so boots weren’t nearly as waterproof as they are today. Per Wiki patents for Gore-Tex were issued in 1976 & 1980. So it probably wasn’t until the mid 80′s that the technology got cheap enough (or generics were developed) to go into kids boots.
We didn’t do the butter on sandwiches although I had friends that did. As for bologna, my family is a Miracle Whip family and that’s what goes on bologna. The only time I remember butter on sandwiches is when my Dad made grilled cheese. His version is basically a heart attack waiting to happen but is delicious. He buttered the outside of the Wonder Bread, but thick slices of Velveeta inside and spread Miracle Whip on the inside….YUMMY Another family recipe from my Dad’s side is peanut butter with Miracle Whip sandwiches. I know it sounds gross but it really is good. This may be why I have a weight problem…lol
No problems with needles here. I just look away like you. I do know of adults that basically have full blown panic attacks and faint at the sight of a needle.
In regards to the sheets, I only make my bed on the rare occasion that I have visitors coming over. In that case I put the sheet right side up (no folding over) with the pillows on top. I don’t have any pillow shams or such to worry about.
Miracle Whip, Buf! Miracle Whip?! AUUGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
I hear you on the grilled cheese MINUS the Miracle Whip. Ugh, Kraft Mayo is the only way to go. I prefer the tart of the lemon to the sweet of the Whip. But even Kraft with a grilled cheese isn’t really doing it for me.
Surprisingly, my dad used to eat peanut butter and Kraft Mayo. I will admit I’ve had a couple of those as a kid and it wasn’t quite as gross as it sounds. But none as an adult.
(whispers) I hardly ever make the bed either. And usually I shut the bedroom door when visitors come over.
Hey girl how are ya been a bit,,, I am on my way to getting ready for work but this is about you not me…
Yes Wonder Bread (was there any other brand) bags inside the boots as far as I knew was to keep your feet DRY.. Butter,, left on the table NOT in the fridge,,, at my friends house was put on Bologna too I have put Ketchup on mine always,, and now as an adult sometimes mayo. but back then you used miracle whip NOT mayo.
I only got 1 shot when I was very little got very ILL so never got any more. Lucky me! Today I curl my toes and squeeze my eyes..hehe
The top sheet,, for years I did not use them THEY MAKE YOUR BED COLD,,, but now that I am old and I make so many beds in my days,, I put it ummm the correct side of the seam shows. Pillows out,, but at my old peoples homes the pillow is tucked NEATLY in. WOW didn’t’ know when I thought I would check on you that I would have to take a test so early in the morning,,, but it has been like an alarm clock I am now fully awake and ready to go ready myself and get to my ladies house.
I hope you are CALM the holiday season,, I am a bit stressed but this has nothing to do with the holidays but that is neither here nor there as they say. I am just a bit stressed waiting until after the “holidays” to see what my life holds a far as change comes… You have a great week,,, keep warm,, and I will be back after I get home to catch up.
I’m glad I could help you wake up this morning, jam :) I believe you are correct — I don’t think there ever was any other kind of white bread back then. Yes, yes! I remember being left on the kitchen counter not stored in the fridge. On the counter it was always soft and ready to spread.
I didn’t start using top sheets until college. When I learned about them. My mom said she tried to get us to use them and we hated them. So she stopped trying.
Wow, lots of discuss here in the Lounge today!! We never did the bread bag thing when I was a kid, but I do remember my feet getting really wet in my boots when it would snow. I think it’s a great idea!
Re: sandwiches. My father puts butter on EVERY sandwich he makes, regardless of whatever else is on it. He used to gross us out by making one sandwich containing butter, peanut butter, jelly, bologna, and ketchup. Ew. I’ve only really had tuna fish sandwiches with the protective layer of butter on it, and that wasn’t bad. But I don’t do it for my own sandwiches. I don’t mind stuff soaking into the bread; none of the condiments I have used have ever made the bread THAT soggy. You’re supposed to use some kind of fat on a sandwich or burger (like butter or mayo) to prevent the bread from getting soggy. I just don’t like mayo (and let’s not even go into the foulness that is Miracle Whip). Also, in my family a bologna sandwich contains bologna, ketchup, and cheese. We don’t buy bologna now, though. We go for fancier luncheon meats, like turkey and ham.
I never fuss when I get a shot or have blood drawn. Kurt gets all tense, though, because he hates needles. He won’t say anything, but it’s subtle enough that the nurse almost always ends up using the pediatric needle on him to make it hurt less. Grace is really good about it too. She doesn’t like it, but she rarely makes a fuss.
I make the bed the same way you do, only I add extra pillows with shams on them in front of the pillows we sleep on. The shams match the comforter, and so everything looks coordinated. My sheets never match the comforter, though. I’m not that organized.
One mind on the Miracle Whip, blue. I think I threw up a little when reading about your father’s “special” sandwich. And now that I’m an adult I never buy bologna. I, too, go for ham, turkey or salami.
Bread bags- I have never heard of such. Although I live in Texas and it rarely gets cold enough to truly warrant boots. Except today! It is 30 something degrees outside and apparently in my office as well, I am so cold I can barely type.
Butter on sandwiches? Gross. The only time I can think of putting butter on a sandwich is for grilled cheese which you cook so it’s totally different. It’s not like you can really taste the butter.
As far as shots go, I am a grown up about it. I hate them but I deal and look away. When I get blood drawn it is rather unpleasant as I have what nurses and doctors call “bad veins” and they end up sticking me a half dozen times to get a vein. That totally sucks and sometimes make me feel faint.
I do the same thing you do with the pillows but we also have decorative shams and small accent pillows. Our bed doesn’t get made everyday unfortunately because I get up about 2 hours earlier than Mr. S and he doesn’t make it.
I would love to have cold weather so infrequently that I never had to buy boots or a winter coat. Hopefully your weather will warm up again soon. I’m with you on the grilled cheese. Ouch on the bad veins.
Regarding your comment on my page — I’ve only ever danced the Electric Slide to “Electric Boogie” by Marcia Griffiths.
I’ve never heard of that chick and never heard that song before. Again, I learn something new every day on the internet. Internet, I love you.
We never put bags on our feet but sometimes we put newspaper in our boots – somehow it kept our feet warmer. There were some kids in the neighborhood who did use bags. Perhaps, we were too poor to afford bags. Just kidding, we actually had the bread and milk delivered to our door.
We always put mayo (actually Miracle Whip) on every sandwich except PB&J. Some kids next door had butter on their sandwiches (even liver sausage sandwiches). Imagine that.
Don’t care much about blankets, just so long as they are on the bed. Like you, I was the look away kid – prefer to be distracted by the nurse or doctor rather than face the needle. I don’t get flu shots !!
Keep up the good posts – love your blog
Seriously? You put newspapers in your boots?! That one is new to me.
I don’t ever remember having milk or bread delivered. However, in the house I grew up in there was a small little box with a door in the kitchen that opened to the front of the house. My mom said that’s where the milkman left the milk. That seems so crazy to me.
Again, yuck on the Miracle Whip Frank. I just can’t deal with the sugary after taste. Thanks for stopping by!
I never did the bread bags on my feet, but it’s never too late to start. Wasn’t it awfully slippery?
I DID squash the bread into a ball and eat it (sans crust, of course).
About the dentist….I am a model patient. They swab some sort of numbing stuff on before they give the injection, so it’s not that bad for me. I just went through the removal and replacement of six amalgam fillings, so this memory is very fresh.
It really was slippery, but I’m thinking that whoever said it helped the boots go on easier might have the answer right there. That numbing gel does help quite a bit. Unfortunately I am a frequent flyer at the dentist’s office so I’m very familiar with the gel and the shots.
Oh….I forgot. My boss brings peanut butter and butter sandwiches to work all the time. Talk about gagging!
Yes ma’am. That is gag worthy all on its own. Yuck.
I never used bread bags inside my moon boots.
I’ve heard of peanut butter & butter sandwiches, never bologna & butter. I only ever had bologna & cheese (I didn’t eat mayo until about 10 years ago) or fried bologna sandwiches.
I used to make those bread balls all the time! :-)
Oh baby! Forgot all about moon boots.
And I, too, partook of the fried bologna sandwich. After I fried it in butter I then used my Wonder bread to sop up the left over butter in the frying pan. Mmm, good. I wonder if it would still taste good if I did that today. Sounds like an experiment waiting to happen…
Did not wear plastic bags in our boots, but I’m sure my brother put a magazine or two in his shoes because we were poor. Why the magazine? They kept his feet from scraping the ground from the hole in the bottom of his shoe.
Yes I remember mashing bread until it became a ball, but not just wonder bread, I don’t think we could afford that, but any bread.
Uh Cardiogirl, hello there. I use mayo on my b-o-l-o-g-n-a. I prefer it over mustard. You know I have to go back and ask about my childhood…it’s so freaking hush hush, like I’m adopted, that would be fine. Heck, it would make sense.
Today, I don’t mind shots in my arm. In my mouth, I’m very sensitive. I tell the dentist to please give me extra of everything, numbing agent, cause I feel everything. I’m a model patient, in fact, one time, I cried so quietly, the doctor was like what’s wrong, allergies. I’m like no ____ _____, that hurts. Hey we cry alike, quietly streaming tears.
Yes, top sheet goes down but lately, I haven’t cared, but the bed does get made everyday. The pillows go on the floor or get tossed around on the bed.
Oh Natural. No, no mayo on the bologna. Yuck-ey. I can’t even imagine putting the *thought* of those two tastes together in my mind.
Not to dictate posts, but all the info you find out about your childhood would make interesting posts…
Thanks for fixing up that typo, CG :)
Yes, my two youngest are bilingual…I am a little bit.
No sweat, Steve. Fixing typos comes with the VIP membership.
Wow, that’s impressive about your kids. I’m trying to teach my older two pig latin. That’s as much of another language that I know.
Hello again, VIP Lounge! I’ve missed you.
Re: boots /bread bags — here, no boots, so no bags. I guess bags inside RAIN boots wouldn’t have the same effect — we did however, keep our shoes on inside the rain boots…
Re: bread balls. Oh yeah. No Wonder Bread in the area, it was always Bunny or Evangeline Maid, each equally as squishy and good for ball-molding. Wheat bread, uh no. Apparently the fiber and goodness prohibits the near-gooeyness required for a good bread ball. Moistness and density so so important.
Re: butter on bologna sandwiches. Ew. Ew. EWWWWWW. (accompanied by involuntary shivering for a few seconds.) All I ate as a child for school lunch was bologna and american cheese, mustard on the bologna side, nothing on the cheese side. Thusly, I have had my quota of bologna.
Re: shots. I’m a stoic, although I cannot watch. I have gotten weak during a blood draw for a blood drive – I was unceremoniously flipped head down in one of those chaise lounge things they let you recline in. What fun. Not.
RE: bed, pillow, sheet. I put the sheet on inside out; my mother always did this, presumably not just to let it show above the blanket, but also so you’d be in the right-side sandwich of sheets when you were sleeping. Why that mattered, I can’t fathom, but that’s my story. Oh, and pillows, I have a circus of “show” pillows in shams and throw pillows that I pile on the bed when it is made (and I might offer that is made about the same frequency with which the circus comes to town… I am a slug, I know) so the regular everydays we sleep on get buried at the bottom of the pile of prettier, never out of their sham fluffies that usually reside next the bed.
I am so impressed with your line-by-line itemization, Elle. And I’ve missed you! Although I know you are toiling away at work and I’d rather you be gainfully employed than surfing the net.
I never did have rain boots. Just wore my regular old shoes.
I had. Exactly. The. Same. Sandwich. All of my school days up through my high school graduation. I just never tired of the mustard, bologna, cheese combo.
I thought Wonder Bread was at least nationwide. I guess not. You do have Coca-Cola and Pepsi down there, right?
Bags in Boots — Yes
Wonderbread balls — Yes. It made good bait for catching the less discerning species of fish.
Butter on the sandwich — Never in my family. But my wife’s mother did that. Bologna meat is a lot like hot dog meat, so I can see ketchup being used. We’d have buttered bread with supper. I couldn’t eat my (canned) vegetables without it. Incidentally, I’d have liverwurst sandwiches with “green” (mint) jelly on them.
Vaccinations — I think I was whiny when I was a 3yo or younger. But I somehow developed the ability to remove my Self from my body whenever it got poked, probed, incised, dissected, etc. Now I watch the needle go in during blood draws. I don’t get the flu vaccine, but I don’t mind the triennial tetanus shot. However, I’m a complete wuss at the eye doctor. Any kind of close proximity exam causes my eyes to water and shut tight. I’d rather have a cavity filled without Novocaine than go to the eye doctor.
I make the bed the way you do. My SIL was a, um, domestic helper. She told me that her client complained that she put the sheets on wrong. “I didn’t even know there was a top or bottom,” she told me. I discretely rolled my eyes inwardly and nodded sympathetically. Actually SIL doesn’t even use a flat top sheet. I guess she and my bro sleep directly under the comforter. Ugh, gross.
I was disgusted at my memory of eating the Wonder Bread ball, but hearing that you used it as FISHING BAIT has taken my disgust to a new level — a level I actually didn’t think possible.
You just reminded me of a dream I had about the dentist last night. It must have come about because of all this talk about Novocaine. How funny!
And I don’t know why I find this so amusing, but I do: “I guess she and my bro sleep directly under the comforter. Ugh, gross.”
Ready? – parkay with bananas on wonder bread, or ham with parkay on wonder – ewww. Yes, in the bronx, we did the bag inside the boot too !
Like a Hitchcock film, I am hearing theatrical music and mentally seeing close up, repeated shots of parkay and bananas. (rubs eyes with fists) At least you gave me a tiny bit of a warning, maryd!
I am so happy to see so many of your VIPer’s and you being all caught up on the ” Season” that we can take the time to comment on these very important things in life!!
Butter on everything, now you couldn’t get me to touch a piece of white bread or bologna. Remember Moon Boots?, it was the plastic inside the boot that kept your feet warm. Hate the shots, but the blood taking is worse. We had some girls who had to go into a closet to get their vaccinations some where other than on their arms.
Making the bed, you are so funny. Happy Holidays.
Hi Carol! We must all take time from this busy season to discuss the finer points in life, methinks. And to get away from the incessant Christmas music, bah humbug.
That’s crazy about the closet. I’d much rather close my eyes and then bam! have it over with in a couple of seconds instead of worrying about the, uh, “closet” preparation.
OMg Cardiogirl, I had completely forgotten about the bread bag thing until I read your post. We used to do that too! Now as far as bologna, YUCK! I never ate it, so I’m not sure how it’s supposed to be prepared. But since I was a child, we have always eaten toast with butter AND peanut butter on it. My kids eat it now too.
I’m fine with getting shots, no problem there. But my husband isn’t. He has a full-blown phobia about it and practically goes into cardiac arrest every time he has to encounter a needle!
And just the thought of that Wonder Bread ball makes me gag. Can’t you just picture it in your stomach like that? My kids have never eaten Wonder Bread, but that’s all I ate until I was a grown-up and started to buy wheat bread for my own house.
Interesting post today!!
I’m totally with you on the toast. In my opinion adding butter on toast before the peanut butter, or jelly for that matter, is a huge treat. But as usual, I’m always counting calories and I only add butter very occasionally.
That’s so interesting about your husband. As I actually consider it, I feel like I never had the choice (as a kid) to squirm or freak out. And so I actually feel that way today. Issues, Cardiogirl? Yes, a boatload.
Oh, we certainly did put bread bags over our feet. One time, while walking across a frozen lake with my brother, my boot was gobbled up by a particularly slushy spot, and I walked about 6 blocks with the bread bag as my outermost footwear.
My mom still butters the holy living daylights out of every sandwich. Tuna, chicken salad, and peanut butter included. She used to put butter AND jelly on our toast, and I have to admit that that’s kinda delectable.
Sheets: they go the way they happen to fall, which is great, because I’m right either way.
Oh Suzi we’re talking about Minnesota, right? And bitter, bitter winters. I am actually impressed that you walked six blocks with just a bread bag on one foot. Yeah, my priorities are really skewed. Still impressed though.
You know, just when I think I’ve been as disgusted as I could be regarding the butter/Wonder Bread thing, I keep hitting new heights. Tuna fish is one of the most vile creations I have ever met. And now we’re adding butter to the mix. (Takes a minute to calm her stomach)
Oh man…this is going to be lengthy!
I’ve never heard of the bread bag thing. It makes good sense though…old boots suck.
(I still fed the ducks white bread as a child. I was going for the geese, those things are jerks.)
Bologna always goes with cheese, not butter. Ew.
I take shots fine, but I’ve never had Novocaine and would imagine that to be pretty awful. I have braces right now and never had an aversion to the dentist/ortho until I got them on. Ouch.
As for sheets…well I’m in college with 8am classes, I think you can see where this is going.
I actually wonder if anyone likes geese. They’re too cocky and mouthy, I think. And when I lived in my apartment complex they took their sweet time crossing the street. Punks. If I had known about Wonder Bread and the reaction back then I would have bought bags and bags of it for the geese.
Now ducks are another story. I’m cool with ducks.
“Not to dictate posts, but all the info you find out about your childhood would make interesting posts…”
well maybe after i have my first therapy session, we’ll see. i’m sure there’s some more trauma and funny stuff in there. i just don’t remember it until you blog about yours and i’m like oh yeah. lol
yep mayo. yum yum yum. has to be hellmans!
Why did I chuckle when I read “i’m sure there’s some more trauma and funny stuff in there”?
Gates of Hell, save a seat for me. One with a bed of nails and extra fire because I know I’ve earned my spot. And sandwiches slathered with Hellman’s (interested choice of name, since in my opinion eating Hellman’s is Hell on earth.)
I never did the wonder bread bag thing, but I know lots of friends who did. We always had wheat bread at our house, but when I went to my Grandma’s she would buy the white bread for me as a treat. I DO remember mashing it up into little balls but I never ate it afterwards; ick, ick, ick. My boys, however, do it all the time.
Can’t stand bologna. *shudder*
Re: bed-making: I never make the bed unless I’m planning on having company. *cringe* Quite interesting, in fact, because I was trained to make my bed every day growing up. But somehow when I began having kids and thus, nursing fantasies about my warm, comfy bed that I never seemed to get enough time in, I stopped making it on a daily basis. I always thought at some point during the day I would get to go lay down and take a quick nap (you know, the three to four hour kind) after being up all night with one kid or another, so I just kinda stopped making it altogether.
I figure the only people who are going to see it are those who live in my home anyway, and it’s not like they care. (All boys except me; boys don’t care.) So I’m lazy, even though my mother would be appalled. I guess I’m just domestically disabled. Three boys, two big dogs, and three cats will do that to a person. :)
I have to say Soonerchick I am struck by the fact that you grew up making your bed every day. I can’t even imagine that — any facet of it. I can’t imagine my mother mentioning it, I can’t imagine doing it and I can’t imagine telling my kids to do it. It’s sort of like Sisyphus and his rock, methinks.
Now that I think of it though, my MIL makes her bed daily and (cringes and hides under the chair for a minute) she makes my kids make their beds each day when she stays here to visit over Christmas. But just for the record, her son never makes his bed. Evah. Except when he helps me change the sheets which is pretty rare. Just sayin’…
Bread bag feet? BWAHAHAHA!!! Ummm… I mean… We didn’t do that when I grew up in Kansas City.
Buttering bread intended for a sandwich. Negative. Just on grilled cheese, like someone else mentioned. And, in my opinion, ketchup ONLY belongs on french fries… Or, here in CA, ranch dressing trumps ketchup.
Side note: I haven’t eaten Wonder Bread or bologna in at least two decades.
As for shots, I have track marks from my blood and plasma donation days when I was in my mid 20s. I was an avid giver because 1) I felt it my civic duty and 2) I got paid, and it supported my shoe habit. :p
The sheets on the bed thing ALWAYS has stressed me out. I put the sheet so the print/seam is facing up. Yet I know the print/seam is intended to face down so that when you fold it over, it’s right side up. This crazy dynamic short circuits my OCD brain. So, long ago, I resorted to simply never making the bed, even when I get in it to go to bed. I just pull the blob of covers up over me until Tim comes in, complains about me never making the bed, and tucks me in. :)
(Takes a full minute to laugh about your brain short circuiting.) I never knew the print is actually intended to face down. This is going to attempt to blow a fuse in my brain the next I change the sheets. It’s actually supposed to face down?! I might actually have to email Martha Stewart’s website to get a more detailed explanation of this phenomenon.
I really am going to be turning that fact over in my head all day today. OCD-ers unite!
Oh yeah… p.s.: I TOTALLY want that sudoku low top!!!
Aren’t those fun! I keep trying to come up with a new adjective for my mood so I can have a new design. And then I angst about never feeling that mood again and never being able to use the design again. Maybe I need to throw caution to the wind and start changing my mood with abandon. Just for the hell of it.
I didn’t do the bread bags in the boots thing but we probably should have – I remember my feet getting really wet in my Sorels.
My mother hates butter so she wouldn’t have put it on anything. I was given bologna and mayo sandwiches.
I have a high pain tolerance and am an obedient patient. I’ve even learned that a lot of dental work can be done without Novocaine. I prefer the discomfort to the numb mouth.
Making the bed? I don’t think so ;-)
Had to Google Sorels, Kim. I know mine are not the original brand, not even close, but I always called those duck boots. Auuggghhhhh! On the mayo with bologna although it seems to be quite popular here in the Lounge.
Again, anyone who accepts dental work minus Novocaine is a superstar, in my opinion. And, way to go, another (mostly) non-bed maker!
You know your mind is muddled, when you log onto Cardiogirl and read yesterdays’ post hoping to see her response to your comment, only to realize you must have made that comment in your brain only. Ugh! May it reverberate through the VIP lounge now:
Don’t remember doing bread bags.
Remember my SIL drawing attention to the fact that my mother put butter on a sandwich before adding peanut butter, and my mother feeling slightly offended that her ways were questioned, so we probably had butter on all our sandwiches. My least favorite was when Mom would send liverwurst sandwiches in our lunches. I also seem to remember some weird kid at school who mashed his bologna sandwiches onto a plate and then poured milk over them before he ate them. What’s up with that?
I fondly remembered the balled up pieces of bread. Grew up on white bread, but never do it now as hubby kindly informed me that even rats won’t eat it because of its lack of nutritional content. I think I did try to ball up a piece of whole wheat bread as an experiment but it flopped. Didn’t have that gooey doughy taste!
Shots! Oh brother, I’m such a wimp. I thought they were going to freeze the wart off my sole (shortly after my 3rd son was born). I had the two littles in the room with me. All of a sudden that nurse whips out a mammoth shot of novocaine and I screamed so loud my sons began crying. The nurse quietly said, “I wasn’t expecting that.” I do think they were talking about me in the reception area as we were leaving. But, if you read my miracle story post, you would know that I suffered 64 shots in 8 days when I was 3 and ever since have had quite the phobia of doctors and intense medical situations (however, I can boldly say that I did a colonoscopy with no problems whatsoever and I know I wasn’t put to sleep because I remember watching the whole thing).
Making the bed? Only do that when company is coming (rare) or when I’m feeling like hubby is growing weary of my slovenly ways! Or perhaps when trying to encourage my kids to be more tidy so my husband won’t go and have a heart attack on us. Int, he still won’t start the meds. I’m hoping they work as a chill-pill-charm!
Wendy, you made me laugh and say, “OMG” when you told me about the kid who mashed his sandwich and then added milk! And liverwurst?! Do they still make it? I’ve never looked for it and never eaten it, but I don’t think I’ve ever run across it at the lunch meat section at the grocery store. Yuck.
Actually laughed loud and heartily at this: “…but never do it now as hubby kindly informed me that even rats won’t eat it because of its lack of nutritional content.” When I got over laughing, I actually wondered about that because I thought rats were massive scavengers that ate *anything.* Kinda like goats, I guess.
I do remember your story about all of those shots. Ouch. And I can see how that would leave a lasting impression. Int indeed regarding your hubby. Would he try it as an experiment in an attempt to prove you wrong, thereby seeing the benefits? Even though he’d be sure he was right and you were wrong.
My dad and I used to go to a bakery every Sunday morning and get fresh bread, all different kinds. When we got home, he’d let me take out the entire middle of a kaiser roll and ball it up. This was so he could load up his now cavernous roll with salami (no butter or other dressing, I might add). Those rolls did double duty. Somehow the idea of balling up the belly of a roll disgusts me now. But then it was fun and filling.
Butter does not go on a bologna sandwich. It says so in the sandwich manual.
I never scream at getting shots. I do not even flinch. I am awesome. Now, giving blood is another story. No one can ever get a vein to ooze quickly for them, and so I bear down and deal with the pain until they can. It involves some measure of toe-curling. Whatever gets ya through, you know?
I’m a complete slob when it comes to making the bed. I do not care how the sheet lays, Sam I Am.
Thank you for the little quiz. I enjoy these posts so much because I love how your mind works. It’s a thing of beauty, that brain of yours.
Now that is an impressive mind, Kathy. I send kudos to your dad for coming up with that idea! And sadly, the thought of rolling up the insides of a fresh bakery roll sounds appetizing to me. And then using the shell for a sandwich also sounds tasty.
I thought that was one of the first commandments of the sandwich manual. Thank you for verifying that.
I take it you are not a regular visitor to the local Red Cross. Me neither. But my husband actually is a card carrying member. It makes me feel guilty when I see flashes of the card in his wallet. And then I quickly get over it.
Thank you, Kathy. Most people think my mind is … well less than a thing of beauty. I tend to disagree and I’m glad you’re with me!
Ok, to answer some of the questions…Bologna, I use mayonnaise and mustard as an adult, it’s once in a blue moon that I eat bologna. I don’t remember eating it as a kid. My mom always buttered the bread when making tuna, apparently to keep the bread from getting soggy from the tuna. I have never really liked them with the butter and I don’t use butter on my kids’ sandwiches now. I know they wouldn’t eat them if I put butter on them.
In regards to the mushing white bread into a doughy ball, I used to do that and eat it as well. I think I used to do it with wheat as well, the cheap wheat bread so not even sure that counts as wheat bread. Sad to admit, but I occasionally still mash it and make a ball out of it and eat it. Gross I know.
Finally, when it comes to bed making, we don’t use top sheets. We have a duvet with a cover on it so we only use the bottom sheet and the duvet which I wash (the cover) when I wash the sheet. The kids don’t have top sheets either, just comforters or duvets that get washed often.
Ah, the memories that this post brought back. thanks.
No problem, chaos3. I love hearing what other people remember, especially because some of these things seem to be so universal — especially the ball o’ dough. I still haven’t tried my wheat bread experiment … yet.
Oh Cardiogirl, you do crack me up. So cute and funny. Ok, here goes…
No idea about the bread bags, although I did have a good laugh about the idea of that being normal behaviour. I would laugh a lot if I saw someone do that. It would be fun to slide around the carpet though.
I’m sure we squished bread into a ball and ate it too.
I still don’t know what bologna is. I guess I never looked it up because it sounds like bolognese so I guessed it was something similar. Now I’m doubting that.
I used to love butter and peanut butter. In fact, I used to beat soft butter into the peanut butter so as to sneak it onto my bread (as we weren’t allowed to spread both).
I sit quietly when getting an injection, grit my teeth and bear it. When giving blood, however, I look away at first when the needle goes in, then I like to watch. It’s fascinating.
It always entertains me to read about ‘comforters’ as that sounds like something for a baby or small child to me. We don’t use a separate sheet, just one duvet with a duvet cover, so it feels like a sheet. This is definitely better than a sheet+blanket combo, by the way, if you’re listening hotel chains of the world. So my making the bed technique involves fluffing up the duvet and landing it central to the bed. Pillows go underneath.
I think Frank or SPG (can’t remember which one) nailed it saying bologna is very similar to hot dogs, only it’s flat and circular.
Hmm, no flat sheet, eh? Do the stores in England sell fitted sheets and flat sheets together? That’s how it’s done here, usually the fitted and flat sheets are in one package. Then you have to buy a separate package of pillow cases. Unless you go for the whole enchilada where they pack everything together (sheets and pillow cases.)
Yes, they still make liverwurst and sometimes hubby buys it. It looks like a small tube of hamburger meat (wrapped similar) and is pate-like in consistency. Sometimes it is called liversausage. Next time you pick up bologna, look for it (but don’t buy it – take my word for it – it is NASTY!)
Cate is so right about British duvets. They are absolutely wonderful. I loved making my bed over there because it was so gosh darn easy! Plus, I wish I could find duvets cheaply over here because think how handy that would be when your child throws up. Instead of having to take the comforter to a laundromat (because it is too large to fit in a standard machine), with the duvet, you simply remove the duvet cover and throw it in the wash (although I would probably hang the duvet part out in the sun and spray that bugger with lysol).
Having just dealt with the throw-up scene, I merely remove those darn comforters (and the endless Spiderman stuffed pillows which little boys insist on taking to bed) and cover them with their washable sleeping bags. I did read once of a family with many children (was this the family in all the news with 18 or 19 kids???? can’t remember) who don’t use sheets or comforters. Each child has a sleeping bag on their bed which is washed as needed (I’m sure not daily or even weekly).
Your description of liverwurst makes it sound even more disgusting than I imagined, Wendy. And I will take your word for it.
I was wondering about the duvet part in your explanation, but then you told me. Thanks for that :) I just dealt with vomit this morning, now that you mention it. So far all three girls have experienced it. I’m just waiting for my turn, while frantically swabbing my hands with rubbing alcohol.
I dream of a day when a post of mine gets 37 comments (repeats or not)! You just know how to write about the common stuff of life and get us all talking amongst ourselves!
Oh Wendy. This is certainly not typical, but it is fun!
*hurl* I never used any oil or anything to fry the bologna. EW. I think I got a pimple just reading that.
Wow. I didn’t realize you could cook bologna without a little grease to make it slide around. Doesn’t it stick directly to the pan? Remember I fried this stuff a long time ago, before non-stick teflon pans.
But maybe this explains why I usually battle acne. Even though I’m 40 now and haven’t had a fried bologna sandwich in decades.
Nope, I’ve never seen fitted and flat sheets packaged together, because here they’re seen as alternatives rather than complimentary products. Normally you’ll buy your sheet separately, then your pillowcases will come with your duvet cover, as they tend to match.