The View From Mrs. Sundberg's Window

Spa time, only cheaper

June 16, 2009

Listened to the show Saturday and it was not bad. Not bad at all. After a long and lovely spring day, it was good to sit back and listen awhile. The kids were gone for the weekend, visiting their grandparents, without whom I might simply curl up and blow away, and Mr. Sundberg was out of town on a speaking engagement, this time on the merits of Awareness, and Clarity, its cousin.

When the kids got home Sunday, it was a good several hours before they were settled in again. There's always laundry up the wazoo, and trinkets to put away, and the many stories to listen to and nod to and wonder about. This time around there were tales of an eighteen-inch walleye one of the kids caught, and how they cleaned it up and fried it and ate it Friday night. And there had been a trip on a pontoon boat and a lot of swimming and a meal of waffles and Grandpa's loudest belch ever. For real.

What just about undid the kids was when I informed them of our Monday morning road trip to the dental office. Departure time: 7:45 a.m. Be there. Of course a long silence ensued, followed by various degrees of whining, bargaining and vowing: "I, personally, will never make my kids go to the dentist because it is pure torture."

I, on the other hand, find dental visits not unlike visits to the local spa. (Where I have had the privilege to spend time only twice in my life, mind you.) You're greeted at the door by a happy person, you read magazines while you wait, and are ushered to a soft recliner under warm lights where you may very well doze off to the sound of music. You're offered water at some point, and a choice of flavors — grape or mint or berry — and you're asked how you're doing more than once.

When you leave, you feel a bit out of it, perhaps, but refreshed, and glad to be alive, and very often you're given a parting gift and an offer to schedule a future appointment.

Nothing like a dental visit on a Monday morning to make the second week of summer vacation come alive. Just ask the kids. They'll tell you. Spa time, only cheaper.

Chocolate Brownies
Some things are essential on a hot summer afternoon, and a good gooey brownie is right up there with root beer and a snorkel. Give this one a go, and see if it's not a keeper.

2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 and grease an 8" square baking pan. Beat eggs in medium bowl. Gradually add sugar and vanilla. Beat well. Blend in melted butter. Gradually add flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt, blending well. Pour into pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or so.

Enjoy!

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