My Son, The Car Thief

On Monday, I checked Matthew's cubby at daycare when I picked him up. There was a Hot Wheels car that I didn't recognize, and we aren't allowed to bring toys to daycare. I asked if it was Ms. Alicia's car, and Matthew said, "No, it's mine. I always play with it." I was pretty certain it belonged to daycare so we asked Ms. Alicia, and she said it belonged at daycare. Matthew gave it back, after a few tears.

Today, after dinner, Matthew reaches down into his cargo pants pocket and announces "I brought my car home from daycare, and I'm going to play with it now," and pulls out the car!



Stealing cars at age three... I'm raising a hooligan that has a taste for old low riders. Oh no!

1 Second of Fame

Matthew made it on "Man vs. Food" for the Seattle episode... for one second. It's right after the introduction to Beth's Cafe, about 19-20 minutes in, almost as soon as the show cuts to interior shots. Matthew's moment of fame is super quick - don't blink or you'll miss it.

That's my chest on the right. Good thing I was wearing a turtleneck and a vest that day! It was the first day it snowed in Seattle this past December.

Here's the story of how we ended up at Beth's that day. We were supposed to go to Ocean Shores with our friends Mike and Chrissie, but a huge storm blew it, and knocked out the power to the resort. Although there would have been really great storm-watching on the beach, we had no idea when they would be able to restore the power, and I can freeze for free at home. So instead we decided to go up to visit Mike and Chrissie in Seattle. We stayed the night, and went to Beth's in the morning.

The film crew came in after we had been seated - we had passed them outside, but didn't think much of it. The producer came up and asked if we wouldn't mind talking with them. The host sat and chatted with us, and the crew came back a couple of times to take extra shots. It must be hard editing all of those hours of film, and deciding what to use. We were there at 11am, and the host didn't start eating the omelet until 4pm. That's a whole lot of interviews and tape!

And no, the host was not able to eat the 12 egg omelet. He was so close - two bites away!

Man vs Food

Tonight on the Travel Channel (check your local listings for time and channel) will be the Seattle episode of "Man vs. Food" that might briefly show Matthew, Mike, Chrissie, Marcia, and/or Phil. It will likely be during the portion of the show shot at Beth's Cafe.

Tune in and find out what happens. 10pm PST. I have a feeling the omelet might win.

25 Random Things

From Facebook. Since I spent so much time trying to think of 25 things about me, I thought I should share them here as well.

1. It sounded like a good idea at the time... I was my high school mascot. Most of you know that, so I guess it's not too random. However, most people were not their high school mascot.

2. I regret... not going on the Germany trip with the GAP Program in high school. I can't remember my reasoning. It must not have been very good logic.

3. Home is... Binford, North Dakota. When I refer to a nostalgic "home," I really mean North Dakota, even though I only lived there for a few months. My mom was raised there, and my grandparents live there. I'm not especially close to them (which is sad) but as a military kid it was the only constant place in my life.

4. When I grow up... I wanted to be: a disc jokey, a marine biologist (and go to UCSB, of course), to go to Texas A&M to become an Agriculture Teacher (and join the Parsons Mounted Cavalry - seriously), and a middle school social studies teacher. Am I any of those things? No.

5. This one time, at band camp... I didn't go to band camp. I did go to Girl Scout horseback riding camp in Texas. My horse's name was Bugsy. It was one of the best experiences of my childhood.

6. I have been corrected... Apparently I did go to band camp. I forgot about being Uniform Manager for the WSU Marching Band. I did have to work for the band during Hell Week.

7. I've always wanted to know... if I could sing. Or learn how to not sing badly.

8. It sounded like a good idea at the time... I cut my hair super-short before my senior year in high school. It was a horrible idea, and I'll never, ever do it again.

9. Sometimes I... wonder if the people I consider to be my friend, think of me as their friend.

10. Every day I... hug my little boy. Sometimes it's the best thing I do all day.

11. I wish... I could spend more time working on craft projects. I love being creative.

12. I crave... Phad Thai from Mini Saigon in Olympia. And Chicken Palak from Curry Corner in Lacey.

13. I love... the Olympia Farmers Market, and can't wait until it opens again. My weekends seem incomplete from December - March.

14. The number thirteen... is not unlucky. Silly people. It's my birth date.

15. I am... very insecure.

16. I have... no piercings, and I don't want any either. I never had any reason or desire to poke extra holes in my body. People seem so shocked when I tell them I have no piercings.

17. I am... running out of ideas. This doesn't happen to me very often. My brain is constantly running in multiple directions. I have a hard time going to sleep at night because of this.

18. I wish... I was going on Summer Tour with Phish. Oh how I wish I was with Phish.

19. Believe it or not... my first concert was Guns and Roses in 1992 in eighth grade. Oh hell yes.

20. I did not go... to your middle school. My high school friends forget this on a regular basis.

21. I did go... to the Hard Rock Cafe in London. In fact, I insisted on it, and would have been an unbearable 12 year old brat if I didn't get to go.

22. I do not... like to watch movies more than once. There are very few exceptions to this rule.

23. I did not... turn thirty this year. I had the first anniversary of my 29th birthday.

24. I have... a blog. Did you know that? Check it out. I update it on occasion (I'm getting better). www.marciazitzelman.blogspot.com

25. I do not know why… I did this all with a ... after the beginning of every sentence. I guess because I can. That’s all I’ve got. Thanks for reading. Love ya - mj