conversations with aidan

The Art of Negotiation: FOOD/Conversations with Aidan

Aidan does not get a lot of variety in his diet. Part of the reason is that he is super picky, and has a list of five foods he’ll eat with gusto. Part of the reason is that I’m not a creative cook at all, and when I’m hungry, I’m HUNGRY, so waiting forever for a meal is not an option. It has to be quick and easy. So last night, I made creamy chicken rice (Aidan thinks rice is short noodles LOL), peas, tator tots, and chicken nuggets. As soon as Aidan saw his plate, he began the whining: I DON’T LIKE PEAS. (I know that this is a full out lie. He eats peas all the time for my mom with full gusto). So, I made a deal. I said to him “If you eat ONE pea, you can have root beer.” Thus the bargaining began.

Ronni: One little pea. And you can have root beer.
Aidan: No, I eat one CHICKEN! Then I have root beer.
Ronni: No, one pea.
Aidan: No, I eat one tator tot, then I have root beer.
Ronni: No, one PEA. Just one little pea.
Aidan: I DON’T LIKE PEAS!
Ronni: They’re sweet. Just try one pea. And you can have root beer.
Aidan: One noodles.
Ronni: One little pea.

At this point, I got up, went to his side of the table, and put a pea on the fork. Aidan started to freak out, but then I calmly repeated my offer:

Ronni: All you have to do is eat one pea, and you can have some root beer.
Aidan: One pea?
Ronni: Just one.

Aidan ate the pea. I gave him a little bit of root beer. He asked for more, and I told him not until he ate more peas. Then I told him the more peas he ate, the more root beer he could have. He then ate several fork fulls of peas. A few tator tots. One chicken nugget, and a few forkfuls of rice/noodles. I felt good. πŸ™‚ He didn’t finish his plate by a long shot, but I got some veggies in the boy (and myself, for that matter).

He got hungry around 9:30pm and ate two packets of oatmeal. He’ll always love his staples.

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Fuki-san!

It’s Christmas Eve 2005. Can’t believe it’s here already. In a few hours, we’ll be heading up to see Aidan and celebrate Christmas with my mommy and stepfather. Then we’ll come back with presents and my little boy. It will be weird, getting back into the swing of things after not having to worry about him for two weeks. I miss him but not the work and I know I say this every time my “vacation” comes to an end.

Bizzy came over and we exchanged gifts. She got me stuffed a Mickey and a stuffed Minnie all dressed up in Christmas outfits. πŸ™‚ They’re on display in my family room. I got her a gift card to Forever 21. Then we ate spaghetti for dinner, watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and a bunch of Food Network/HGTV.

Going back to normal after the holidays will be hard, as it always is. I was spoiled the last week–early release days, parties, presents, treats, food. I hope things will be slow next week, but we’ll see.

I did this last year and wanted to see how my answers changed:

Original: http://www.livejournal.com/users/lilrongal/129462.html#cutid1

Current:

bolded ones have changed from last year…

LAST…
movie you rented = I don’t rent movies
movie you bought = Finding Nemo and The Sword in the Stone
song you listened to = Popular – Wicked Soundtrack *
song that was stuck in your head = Let’s Just Get Naked – Joan Osborne
CD you bought = probably a Christmas CD
CD you listened to = one of my many Harry Connick Jr Christmas CDs
person you called = Bizzy
person who called you = Chris
tv show you watched = $40 A Day
person you were thinking of = Aidan πŸ™‚

DO…
you have a crush on someone = NOPE
you wish you could live somewhere else = somewhere it doesn’t snow
others find you attractive = I guess…
want more piercings? = navel
you like cleaning = not really
you like roller coasters = yup
you write in cursive or print = a mixture of both
long distance relationships = I’ve done
using someone = I’ve done
killing people = no
teenage smoking = nope
driving drunk = not a smart thing to do
soap operas = no

HAVE YOU…
ever cried over a boy/girl = yes
ever lied to someone = yep
ever been in a fist fight = nope
ever been arrested = no

WHAT…
shampoo do you use = Optimum Care
shoes do you wear = my oxfords from Target, my pink and grey Champions from Payless
are you scared of = something bad happening to Aidan

NUMBER…
of times I have been in love? = 3
of times I have had my heart broken? = too f—ing many
of hearts I have broken? = *shrug*
of times my name has appeared in the newspaper? = at least 3
of scars on my body? = 1
of things in my past that I regret? = shutup

DO YOU THINK YOU ARE…
funny = sometimes
hot = sometimes
friendly = yes
amusing = sometimes
loveable = umm…
caring = very
sweet = yes
dorky = oh FOR SURE!
humble = yes

PERSON WHO LAST…
slept in your bed = uh… me?
you went to the movies with = Tina
yelled at you = not sure…
sent you an email = Ivy!

HAVE YOU EVER…
said “I love you” and meant it = yes
gone out in public in your pajamas = not yet
kept a secret from everyone = yes
cried during a movie = yes
planned your week based on the TV Guide = no
been on stage = yes and I miss it
been to New York = not yet
been to California = yes!
been to Hawaii = not yet
been to Japan = not yet
been to Canada = not yet
been to Europe = not yet
been to Asia = not yet
been down South = well, I’ve been to Florida by way of Georgia–does driving through it count?
what time is it now = 2:08AM
apples or bananas = BANANAS. of course.
blue or red = blue
walmart or target = Target!!
spring or fall = fall
what are you gonna do after you finish this = sleep or read or write
what was the last meal you ate = spaghetti
are you bored = no
last noise you heard = my typing
last smell you sniffed = what the f— kind of question is that?

FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE…
do you believe in love at first sight = lust, for sure!
do you want children one day; if so, how many = I have one. THAT’S ENOUGH
most important thing to you in a friendship is = loytalty and fun

OTHER INFO…
criminal record = no
do you speak any other languages = no
last book you read = Shopaholic Takes Manhattan
name some of your favorite things in your bedroom = my laptop, Pandernoodle, books
who you love = some people, Jesus
who you miss = Monica, Katie, Jennifer
nickname(s) = Ronni
initials = RLD
how old do you look = HAHAHAHAHAHA. About 16, SUCKAS
how old do you act = the question is how YOUNG do I act! Hmm, probably between 12 and 19.
glasses/contacts = yes
braces = no
do you have any pets = 3 cats
you get embarrassed = mmmhmmm
what makes you happy = my friends, music, shopping, computers, gifts
what upsets you = hurt, being told what to do or being judged, cruelty, and yeah.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love my little Lucy? She’s the sweetest little kitty ever. When I got home from work, I immediately changed into some comfy clothes and climbed into bed. She was right there, cuddling with me and purring. I just love holding her and petting her little head. πŸ™‚

I also love Iron Chef–the original one. I mean, I like Iron Chef America, but it’s not as good as the original–and the American version doesn’t have the guy calling out “Fuki-san!” every thirty seconds or so. Tonight’s battle was lobster. Some of those dishes looked unbelievable and delicious. I don’t even really care for lobster, or any seafood, actually. I do like fried flounder from Red Lobster, and from time to time I enjoy crab legs or cooked shrimp. Oh yeah, and orange roughy, but it has to be fried as well.

Anyway, why am I on the subject of seafood? I once worked at a seafood counter. From that job, I remember:

– Swordfish or tuna steaks marinated in teriyaki sauce = YUM
– Boston Scrod often comes in with worms in it. If the worms are alive, the fish is fresh. If the worms are dead, throw the fish out.
– Scallops stink to high heaven, as does creamed herring.

I got loads of Christmas cards today, and Aidan got a package from Aimzy! I set it on his new Ohio State table and chairs set so he can open it when he comes home. Ooo, my little guy is going to be so spoiled. And the ironic thing? He and I had this conversation a few weeks ago:

Ronni: Do you want Santa Claus to bring you toys for Christmas?
Aidan: No, I already have toys.
R: How about clothes?
A: No, I already have clothes.
R: How about candy?
A: No, I already have candy.
R: How about chicken and french fries?
A: No–mmmhmmm.

HA HA HA. I can’t wait to squeeze him tomorrow today.

Anyway, I’m going for now. ‘Til next time! πŸ™‚

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Conversations with Aidan

Aidan: PRAY FOR US! My-yi-yi-yi. Thank you DE-DUS. Thank you FOOD. AMAN.
Ronni: Where is Jesus?
Aidan: In my DITTY MOUW HAR (Mickey Mouse heart).

My son. πŸ™‚

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