I Am Turning Into My Dad

I know, it's Halloween. I should be writing about something Halloweeny. Unfortunately, I have other things on my mind right now. Mainly....I am turning into my Dad!

Oh the horrors. It's bad enough I have his ugly toes. I also have his nose and of course, I am getting proficient in his greatest trait, procrastination. Now I have reached the point of no return. I have gone across the line and I don't know if I can ever come back.

Brace yourselves, people. What I am about to confess should frighten all within the sound of my typing! Don't blame me if you have nightmares! Ok, here it is: I have started to put ketchup in my soup! There! It's now out in the open! Is there a 12-step program for this?

It started with the leftover lentil soup I blogged about recently. The leftovers just needed some zing. It was missing something. It wasn't salt, or pepper, or even more veggies. Finally, I reached for it. The big red bottle of Heintz Ketchup. After a liberal dousing, I found Nirvana. I kept this a dirty secret. I wasn't going to tell anyone. Maybe it was just a fluke. I could stop any time I wanted. I didn't have a problem.

Then, temptation was again brought before me. I thought I could be strong. I failed. Ron made chicken soup recently. Yes, every bowl I had included some of the delectable condiment. It was good! I liked it! I made Ron try it!

Now, I have turned him over to the dark side. Ron had some chicken soup tonight for supper. With ketchup! My Dad will be so proud!

Bad Me!

I can't believe it's been a week since I've posted! Talk about writer's block. Well, part writer's block, part moody. Just had a busy week along with a week of a serious case of "I don't wanna's".

So, I'll sit here and write down a few miscellaneous thoughts that are running around in my head.

We had a "fright night" last Sunday night. We watched one scary show after another. I did good Sunday night, no nightmares for me. Although showing up at my office at 7:00 a.m. on Monday was another story. I sat in my car awhile to work up the nerve to walk into a very dark, very empty building. I'll be glad when Halloween is over and I can go back to avoiding scary movies and books. Something about this time of year, I can't resist them.

I have roses on my dining room table. Some are the last blooms from our own rose bushes! Some are store bought. Either way, a gal can get used to having roses on her table!

Tuesday I had a date with brother Mike. Chinese take out and a selection from Blockbuster! We used to do that pretty often, although it's been awhile. I've missed them nights! Next time I'll call for the Chinese, you stop at Blockbuster!

Wednesday, my contact from my last audit came all the way up here for dinner. Ron made dinner and I made margaritas. This worked out much better! Mainly because Ron is a great cook. Other than that, all I had to do was worry about stumbling up the stairs to bed. She had to make that long drive home. Although, it seems like there was a lot less drinking this time!

Finally put the electric blanket on the bed. Still futzing with finding my right number. I like a four to get the bed warm before I crawl in, but once I'm in, a four will become too hot for me and I throw off the covers. Then Ron steals them all and eventually I get cold again and by then I'm all outta luck. Vicious cycle, I know.

I cooked tonight. Chicken - good. Carrots - good. Mashed potatoes - thrown out. Don't ask. How can anyone screw up mashed potatoes? Only me.

Can you see why I haven't blogged for a week? Not much exciting

One thing happened this week I seem to be blocking out. It's the time of the year to change insurance plans with my company. Our new plans go into effect on Tuesday, so the drop dead date that I have to have my paperwork in with my choice of coverage is Monday. One new plan that they came out with is the new HSA plan. (Health Savings Account) The only problem with this is, they don't have many answers as to how this plan works! I have tried to do my research on this on my own, only to be thwarted at every turn. grr I am so frustrated. They give us one day to make a decision, and they don't give us all of the facts so that we can make an informed decision.

Enough complaining. That's it for now, I need to go make a decision on my insurance! Then again, maybe I'll go play Pogo.

5:15 a.m.

I have been up today since 5:15 a.m. HELLO??? What's up with that?

It was an emotionally draining day yesterday, complete with a couple of good cries. That's usually good for the soul now and again, but it just took it all out of me. By the time Ron and I got home, I was pretty much spent.

I got into my jammies while Ron heated up some of his home made chicken noodle soup. That's another thing that's good for the soul! We had a little soup and sat down to watch a movie. Arsenic and Old Lace with Cary Grant! It can't get much better than this! Unfortunately, I don't think I lasted an hour through the movie. My eyes started getting so heavy I was started to doze in my chair. Enough was enough. I headed to bed around 9:00. I couldn't fight it any longer.

Now it's Sunday morning. I've been up about a half hour now. I think I'm hungry. Should I wake up my weekend farina maker for some breakfast? Naw, I have a feeling if I do that I may never get farina again. I guess I'll stick to playing Pogo and watching all my taped tv shows from the week.

Good note for this early: Per MLB.com this morning, the Astros lost game 1 of the World Series! Yeah!! That news alone was almost worth starting a Sunday this early!

Rest In Peace, Stanley

Linda is our friend. Linda's Dad Stanley passed away this week, and today was the funeral.

We have met Stanley a few times. Stanley was a quiet man who enjoyed his family, enjoyed his friends, enjoyed life. I have learned more about Stanley since he passed away than I knew about him while he was alive.

Stanley went right into the U.S. Army from high school and became a decorated veteran. He was attached to the 101st Airborne Division in Normandy, the Rhineland, the Ardennes and Central Europe. He received the Purple Heart, Distinguished Unit Badge with oak leaf cluster, four Bronze Stars and Bronze Arrowhead, and the American Service, European-African-Middle Eastern Service, Good Conduct and World War II Victory medals. They don't make many men like Stanley anymore! A true American Hero. He received full military honors today at the funeral.

Rest in peace, Stanley. You sure do deserve it.

Stop, Thief!

With all that is wrong with today's world, I know I should quit my biatching and get over it, but it really peeves me.

We had a theft at the house. Someone walked onto our front porch and stole the ashtray. To add insult to injury, they dumped the contents of the ashtray on the steps on their way out.

It's a $1.00 ashtray from The Dollar Store but that's beside the point. Someone walked on to MY porch and stole something. Did they try to steal the glider before they realized it was chained to the porch? (The chain was Ron's idea. Probably the only reason the glider is still there!) Did the piece of crap thief try my front door to see if it was locked? The back door?

I know it's a small thing, but I'm peeved nonetheless.

Thanks for listening. I just needed to vent.

Can You Hear Me Now?

I am moving up in the world.

No, my boss still won't give me a promotion or a raise, but what he did give me was . . . a cell phone!

Yes, I now have a cell phone paid for by work. I have hit the big time! A few problems though with the new acquisition.

Bells. Whistles. Buttons. Aargh! Read back....I'm sure I've mentioned in a post or two that I am technically challenged. Yes, my friends, this includes cell phones.

I got the phone on Friday. I spent a good part of the weekend and this morning figuring out how to set the voicemail. And, how to dial a call. Anything else, I'll make someone else figure out or just forget it. Before anyone suggests it, no I can't just read the manual. Corporate obviously didn't think I needed one. All I got was the phone and a charger.

Let's review. New cell phone, don't know how to work it. Ok. On to my real story.

I am on the audit site today, working away like a good little worker bee. My boss decides to use my new cell phone to call me! Hey, I appreciate that. However, I heard something ringing and just looked around like everyone else was doing. No one could figure out where that ringing was coming from! My personal cell phone is always on vibrate, so I knew it wasn't my phone.

Um. Well, you probably guessed. By the time I figured out it was MY laptop bag that was ringing, I missed the call! Oh great! Now I had to figure out how to check the voicemail.

What a day. Hopefully by the end of the week, I'll recognize what my cell phone sounds like. Welcome to the big time!

What Was I Thinking?

I have a lot of ideas running around in my head.

Some are good ideas, some are bad ideas. Some are good ideas that turn into bad ideas. Case in point.

I had big ideas for our Saturday night. While watching TV on Saturday afternoon, I saw some previews of movies coming on Saturday night. Since we were having company for dinner Saturday, I figured I'd record these movies. Then, after everyone left, I wanted to turn off all the lights and watch the movies! Wanna know what I taped?

Movie # 1: Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis

Movie # 2: Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave

C'mon now! Isn't that just a great night in the making???

Well, after company left, I had second thoughts about watching any movie that starts with "Return of the Living Dead" in the title. After all, it was dark outside. In case anyone is confused, I am one big wimp who is afraid of my own shadow. I figured if I waited until the light of the day on Sunday, the movies would be more palatable. Um, again, I changed my mind. (Read "chickened out" here.)

Ron says he'll watch these with me if he HAS to, but I can tell he'd rather not. So, anyone out there up for it? I still have them taped! It's almost Halloween! Anyone out there brave...I mean want to sit next to me for a few movies? I'll even make the popcorn!

Let's Go Shopping With No Money

Last night, Ron and I made a stop at a dollar store. You know, for some things, you just can't beat a dollar store.

We just had a few items in our hands when we headed to the checkout counter. Paper plates, batteries, an ashtray (there will be a blog about that to come) and a couple of other things I can't remember right now. The line at the counter was through the store! There had to be eight to 10 people in line at one register.

The woman at the register finally said she couldn't ring anyone up until someone came back from the ATM with money! Hello?? Why couldn't she cancel that sale and ring up the rest of us in line? Because the person with no money tried to purchase 82 items and she didn't want to have to ring all that up again! When I asked her why she couldn't just open another register, she just walked away in disgust.

Heck of a way to run a business. Me, being the hard head that I am, put my items by the register, stated my opinion about the cashier hiding from the line of people and maybe a comment or two about the idiot that got over on the dollar store and walked out.

I wonder how long the dollar store employees waited for this person to come back with the money for their 82 items. I'm still willing to bet they never did.

Dean Koontz

I have been very lucky with my last few choices from the library. Well, with the story line choices anyway.

I am anal retentive in everything I do, even reading a book. When I read, I don't like to put the book down unless I am at a proper stopping point. My favorite stopping point is the end of a chapter. Some people I know, will stop reading at the end of any sentence or maybe paragraph. I can't do that. I like to read at lunch at work, so when my hour is up, I try to reach the end of a chapter. Reading before bedtime, same thing.

Well, Dean Koontz has really messed with my feng shui. As mentioned above, lunch is only an hour! Bedtime has to come sooner rather than later when your alarm clock starts blaring at 5:00 a.m. Dean Koontz has single handedly made me take a loooong lunch as well as not get enough sleep at night. Yes, I've said it. I am holding him personally responsible.

To justify my stance on his responsibility, just take a gander at how he's ended some of the paragraphs of the last book I finished, Life Expectancy.

End of Chapter 6: "He shot Lionel Davis in the head."
End of Chapter 8: "Checking his wristwatch, the maniac said, "This has taken too much time. I've got a lot of research to do before the explosions start."
End of Chapter 9: "In time, the premonition eventually proved true, and nothing I did was able to alter the trajectory of the bullet."
End of Chapter 10: "The maniac brightened at the sound. "That'll be Honker and Crinkles. "You'll like them. They have the explosives."
End of Chapter 18: Punchinello shot Honker in the chest, Crinkles in the back, then pumped two more rounds into each of them as they thrashed, screaming, on the floor."

Get the idea? The end of a chapter should close a thought or a section, put it to bed so the next chapter could start a new idea fresh. Not in this book! Cliffhangers at almost every turn! What's that about?!! Yes, I took long lunches and yes, I lost sleep. It was worth every page turning moment!

The Student Becoming the Master

Yesterday was Ron's first Microsoft certification test on his way to his MCSE (Microsoft Certified System Engineer).

You have to pass a series of seven tests to get your MCSE. He needed a score of at least 700 out of 1,000 in order to pass this test.

What was Ron's score?

968!!!

Can you believe it? Way to go honey!!

What a great start!

Washing Away the Blues . . . er . . . Grays

I was doing laundry tonight. Ron happened to go into the basement with me for a smoke while I folded and fluffed.

He has this shirt, he wears when he paints. I happened to be folding it and mentioned, "you know, no matter how much I bleach this shirt, it may never be white again."

Can you guess Ron's reply? It went something like this . . .

"That's ok because it never was white. It used to be gray."

Duh!

Call me Betty

October has definitely been a month of parties. Last night was no exception, nor was it the last party planned for this month! Suddenly we have a social life. What's up with that!

Last night was an awesome night. We had over Mike and Mary Jane as well as most of their family. Mike, Jo and Isaiah were in town, and that was sure cause enough for the festivities!

I am not Betty Crocker. Generally I don't even like to cook. However, if it's an occasion, that all changes. Ron and I scoured the internet looking for new things to make. We decided on a couple of recipes that seemed within our scope of abilities, but totally using ingredients that we were not familiar with. It was going to be an adventure in cooking!

The menu was set, with one last minute addition. Since the weather has turned cold, we decided to start with a nice, warm soup. This was the only thing I didn't have a "recipe" for. I remember a long time ago, Jo trying to teach me how to cook lentil soup. Her basic instructions were just to throw in there whatever would make you happy! So, we tried to follow that idea and I think we were pleasantly surprised with the results.

We ended up with a great pot of lentil barley soup with tomatoes, onions, carrots, celery, peas and potatoes. Holy cow! Add a little salt and viola! (The leftovers are going to be our supper tonight!)

Our main courses were wild. Keep in mind, that everything we made was from scratch. I've done things with food I've never done before. Knowing that my specialty is orange spaghetti, you should realize I am totally out of my box with this menu! I even cut fresh herbs. Does anyone out there realize what chopping fresh basil and parsley can do to a white cutting board?? Eww!

We made Raw Vegetable Lasagne Extravaganza! This was marinated (home made garlic and herb marinade) sliced zucchini (I'm such an idiot, I had to call Jo and ask her if I was supposed to peel the zucchini first!) layered with Artichoke Pate, Tomato and Herb Paste, marinated chopped peppers, carrots, onions, topped with another slice of zucchini. This was a big hit! Very tasty.

Our other main dish was in my opinion, the big winner - Spicy Fried Tofu with Peppers. WOW! It wasn't so spicy that I wouldn't eat it, just spicy enough to make it so tasty. Here is a picture of both of the Spicy Fried Tofu with Peppers and the Raw Vegetable Lasange Extravaganza:



Trust me, the picture doesn't do it justice. I thought it was quite a feast.

Ron and I had so much fun getting ready for this. We would each grab a recipe, a piece of counter and we went to town. We made one heck of a mess! But, you wanna know what? Mike and Jo even volunteered for K.P. Hello?? Does life get any better than this??

One thing I definitely did realize last night. I am glad to be home. Sometimes I contemplate my decision of leaving Texas. I was making a lot more money there, the job market was booming. On down days, I ask myself if I did the right thing. Then last night happened. Our house was filled with family, filled with laughter, filled with baby giggles, filled with toys all over the floor. Trust me, it does NOT get any better than that!

If anyone is interested, the recipes were taken from http://www.veganchef.com

All I Want for Christmas is my GPS

What a day.

I finished the audit at the hospital yesterday and today I was on to a new audit. This client is a client we audit every year. This is my third year working with them. The first two years however, they were located downtown. This year, they moved to a relatively new building that is much easier for me to get to! That part I like a lot.

The building is huge, bright, colorful, and I was foolish enough to have the opinion that it would be cool working there. After my first day there, I'm rethinking my opinion. Y'all know I get lost turning around, I have absolutely no sense of direction.

The entire place is full of cubicles. Ok, that's not unusual in this day and age. However, these cubicles are the short cubicles; the walls are only about waist high. That means there are no real "walls". Everything looks the same. You see from one end of the building to the other. I was so confused!

Today, I'm sitting there working and what am I hearing? Country music. Loud country music. Now, it is not my intent to offend any country music fans. I just don't happen to be one of them. At first I thought someone's radio was turned way up. Until I made a trek to the ladies room. Then I realized that the music could be heard everywhere. It was coming from speakers in the ceiling. It was EVERYwhere! What the heck is that about? Finally, I asked someone who is the country music fan. I was told that the music changes every week. Sometimes classical, sometimes oldies, sometimes country. How innovative! Muzak at work. And, cycling the music every week, everyone gets to hear their favorite station at some point.

One more story about my day. Like I mentioned already, this place is truly a sea of cubicles. I made the mistake of going to the ladies room which seems to be in the next county. While walking back, I realized I was lost. Can you believe it? I couldn't find my cubicle! I searched and searched and searched! I finally saw someone I knew and had to ask directions! How embarrassing is that!

Luckily, it was pointed out that all of the cubicles are numbered. Just like leaving downtown, the numbers get bigger the farther away from the bathroom you get. Duh. That did make it a little easier. I swear, things like On*Star were made for people like me! Either that, or I'm sticking a big white flag up where my cubicle is so I can find my way.

It's Another Party!

Unlike the last party we attended (thrown by our friends, Larry and Linda! That's for you, Phil!) tonight's party was thrown by us! We were celebrating Mike's birthday a few days late!

In attendance were Mike and Mary Jane, and Jim and Dad made the trip in. We had a great time! At least I think we had a great time.

Ron and I slaved all day over a hot stove. Um, sort of. Ok, I picked up the phone and called for pizza and ribs from Pizza Pan. Hey, that counts! The store was really warm inside and I had to wait about five minutes for my order to be ready!

We all ate our fill. Dad had barbecue sauce from head to toe. You know it's good food when you're a mess after dinner. So, it was good food, good conversation. A great evening that filled me with that nice, warm fuzzie family feeling. You know, the kind you get when there is no blood shed, no shootings, no body parts missing! Ok, you know I'm kidding. I think the older we all get, the more we seem to cherish each other. Maybe I'm just speaking for myself, but I know that's how I feel.

So, from the bottom of my heart, thanks everyone for coming over tonight and spending the evening with us. Y'all did my heart good.

Happy birthday, Mike!

What a Party

We went to a party last night. And what a party!

Any party that goes through 80 lbs of ribs and 40 lbs of chicken is my kind of party!

This was an outdoor party, they have it every year about this time. We couldn't have had a better night for it either. It did start getting a little chillier after the sun went down, but there were two big fire pits that were going strong. If you got too cold, you just moved a little closer to one of the fires. Or, you could have hit the dance "floor" and danced to what the DJ was playing.

You know, I've been to parties before. I have even thrown a few sorry excuses for a party myself. This party though, was a party that was so text book right. The party was kinda in an alley. That's not exactly right, but I don't know how to explain it any better than that. Sort of a parking area between some apartments and a house. One 2-car garage was designated refreshments. A full bar, a lot of beer, and soda as far as the eye could see. The other 2-car garage had the food. Holy cow, what food. Aside from the ribs and chicken, were tables of steamers with side dishes. There was a noodles and cabbage one even! However, this noodles and cabbage dish also had ham in it. In theory that sounded good, but my taste buds really haven't decided yet if I liked it or not. There were so many different kinds of salads, pastas, veggies, chips and dip, cookies, candies, cakes, pies and yes....even brownies.

We ate all we could eat and then went back for seconds. We really had such a good time last night! We started the night only knowing a handful of people at this party. We left knowing quite a few more. One guy we found out is even our neighbor! Small world, huh? Anyway, it was a great way to end the summer season.