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Inspired by my Toaster

By
Real Estate Attorney

 I never know when a spur of inspiration will hit me to write a post.  (Yes Dan.... I'm writing a post.... not a blog!)  This morning, while giving my kids breakfast, I was hit.... right there in front of the kids.

As is typical in our household, I wake up and feed the kids. (It amazes me sometimes because they just ate the day before... and again... they're hungry!)  This morning, they asked for english muffins.  I popped them into the toaster and we waited.

Our toaster isn't one of those quiet, mind your own business toasters.  No.  Our toaster makes a bit of a racquet while slaving away creating our meal.  It tends to sound something like this....

"tic, tic, tic, tic, tic, tic, tic, tic, tic, tic....."

This got into my head and it wasn't long before I was sounding something like this.....

"tic, tic, d'tic ... tic..... tic.   tic, tic, d'tic ... tic..... tic.  tic, tic, d'tic ... tic..... tic"

Soon, the kids caught on.... and we ended up dancing in the kitchen at 7 AM to the beat of the toaster.

I realized that so many things in life just pass us by.  Not only do we not stop to smell the roses.... but we don't stop to dance to the toaster.  Be aware of what is happening around you.  Don't let the little things bother you, rather, maybe make a dance out of them.  Force them to make you smile. 

Don't just follow the crowd.  Sometimes you just need to follow the beat of a different drummer toaster.

Comments(31)

Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)
Martin - Your house sounds like mine.  That is a big compliment from me to you as a dad.  I am going to feature this one in Family Ties.
Jan 24, 2008 08:49 AM
Mike Frazier
Carousel Realty of Dyer County - Dyersburg, TN
Northwest Tennessee Realtor

Martin,

 Great post! I have two daughters 10 and 14 that bring me alot of joy. My wife and I adopted them at birth. One is hispanic and the youngest looks like she is from Sweden. Yes my friend we truly have to remember what is really important. Sometimes hard for me but reading your posts reminds me!

Jan 24, 2008 08:49 AM
Gayle Balaban
The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E - Chattanooga, TN
E. TN Waterfront Real Estate
You win the prize Martin.  Of all the things to inspire; a TOASTER?
Jan 24, 2008 12:24 PM
Natalie Langford
Realty Negotiations - Winchester, VA
Winchester, VA Real Estate

Hey, it's the toaster poster!  I have to laugh at Gayle's comment...sounds remotely familiar...hmmm...

Honestly, dancing to that tune sounds like something my husband would do...He can hear music and make fun in many situations...DADS are special...

Jan 24, 2008 03:22 PM
Dan Forbes
Bradenton, FL
Martin - I can just see you guys in the kitchen dancing to the toaster.  What fun.  Hey, put some tinfoil in the microwave and watch the show!
Jan 24, 2008 09:04 PM
M A
Boston, MA

Cindy- I agree.  My kids (and wife) get perturbed at me at times when I do things in public that are 'silly'.  As you say.... Life is way to short for us to worry whether anyone else things were nuts. 

Al - Always a kid!!!!

Adam - If you rip the lid off correctly.... there's probably a beat there to go with.

Christina - It's when the toaster starts dancing back that it's time to worry!

Cait- There have been mornings when I go into the kitchen and the toaster and coffee maker are causing trouble together.... I had to separate them!

Kathy - As they say up north... thanks!  :-)

Danny - I try to observe often.  I hate missing anything!

Gail - It was an enjoyable morning. 

Linda - When you have a day where things aren't going right.... run home and make toast!  :-)

Chris - Oh... we to often break out into song in our house.  It seems that there's always a life soundtrack playing in my head just itching to get out.

Jan 24, 2008 10:47 PM
M A
Boston, MA

Lisa - Oh.... I'd do anything for those beads!!!!  You can have the whole toaster!

Jason - From your posts, it sounds like you and I are cut from the same 'daddy' cloth.

Mike - Have to keep it all in perspective and appreciate these little humans.  They don't stay little for long.

Gayle - Just wait until I write my 'Inspired by Belly Button Lint'

Natalie - I try to make it fun for me the kids.  Thanks!

Deborah - I'm sure you could train the toaster.  It's the coffee maker you have to look out for!

Dan - What exactly happens when you put tin foil in the microwave?  Can we dance to it?

Jan 24, 2008 10:51 PM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)
Martin - I am including this post in the Family Reunion today.  Thanks!
Jan 26, 2008 04:46 AM
Sarah Eubanks
Hill Valley Financial Services - Oregon City, OR
Preferred Oregon Loan Consultant & Notary Public
Martin ~  I love it!  Creativity is key and you are going to have well adjusted kidlets compared to the masses...  Thanks for the smile.
Jan 26, 2008 04:52 AM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)
Martin - I actually ended up including two of yours this week.
Jan 26, 2008 05:06 AM
Jolynne Photography, Creative Wedding Photography, Family Portraits, Bar Mitzvahs
Jolynne Photography - Hemet, CA
Bat Mitzvahs, Senior Pictures, Event Photography

 Martin - Way to capture something that could just have slipped by!

One time my wife opened my mom's house with the key, only she forgot the alarm code.

When the alarm went off, my son Kyler (who was 2 at the time) started dancing!

He also danced to the sound of an approaching helicopter.

I guess Gloria Estefan was right...the rhythm is gonna getcha.

Jan 26, 2008 07:08 AM
Ginger Wilcox
Sindeo - San Francisco, CA
This is very cute.  I often dance with my little ones.  They think it is hilarious if I spin them around and I get exercise too! Of course, I can honestly say I have never done the toaster dance.
Jan 26, 2008 11:14 AM
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552
Martin, I had to read your post just because of the title!  It reminded me of a cuckoo clock in our house when I was a kid.  It ticked loudly, but after a while we got so used to it that we couldn't even hear it unless we purposely paid attention.
Jan 27, 2008 02:27 AM
Trey Thurmond
BCR Realtors - College Station, TX
College Station , Texas Homes
Hey everyday little noises trigger a response in my parrot. He loves music. Sometimes things really get to rockin in our house when he is really fired up about a particular song. Makes our day!
Jan 27, 2008 02:38 AM
Marzena Melby
Coldwell Banker Burnet Realty - Richfield, MN
Realtor, Twin Cities Minnesota Real Estate

Martin - great to you like to have fun and engage the kids. 

Have a great weekend. 

Jan 27, 2008 02:51 AM
Rob Baldwin
US ECO-GREEN REAL ESTATE INC. - Santa Clarita, CA
REALTOR, Santa Clarita
Nice fun post or blog. Isn't a "post" the act of presenting what you have written known as a blog? I need some help!
Jan 27, 2008 10:16 AM
M A
Boston, MA

Jason - That's awesome.  Thanks.

Sarah - I hope so... I hope so!

Joey - I know that the rythym has me and it looks like it's getting my kids too!

Ginger - If you haven't danced with the toaster.... then you've really never danced.

Brian - Funny how after some time... you just block things out.  Like people that live near train tracks.

Trey - When the parrot is a rocking.... don't bother knockin?

Marzena - I'm just one of the kids!

Rob - A blog is the big picture.... all of your posts put together.  Blogging is the act of putting posts on your blog.  :-)

Jan 28, 2008 08:46 AM
Jackie - computer-training-atlanta.com
770.498.7333 - Atlanta, GA
Learn to leverage technology to get more done.
Martin, I had to bookmark this one.
Jan 29, 2008 12:06 AM
Joanna Schlansky
Showcase of Homes, Realtors - Burlington, MA

How does your microwave feel about you dancing with the toaster?  Have you found any jealousy there?

Jan 29, 2008 05:59 AM
M A
Boston, MA

Jackie - Glad you liked it!

Joanna - Shhh... we don't tell the microwave!

Jan 29, 2008 10:41 PM