Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Pot Luck

So my mom, sis & I are making a little cookbook for my brother and future sis-in-law.

Some family favorites & some easy dinner ideas and such.....

Penuche frosting
Pul Go Gi
Beer-cheese soup
Porcupine meatballs
Chicken enchiladas
The amazing chocolate frosting
Ramen casserole
Fisheye salad
Stovetop stuffing
Taco soup
Spinnin' chicken salad
Ziplock omlettes
Calzones
Steak sandwiches
One Ton fried rice
Hamburger pizza
Pigs in blankets (aka weiner wraps)
Cukes-n-onions salad (vinegar, water, sesame seeds, soyo sauce.... refrigerate)

Just listing all the "family favorites" has me realizing something... we are damn weird people.

Monday, February 25, 2008

40 Things in 40 Days 2008

  1. Make duvet cover for master bedroom.
  2. Clean master closets.
  3. Take in plastic recycling.
  4. Write thank you notes.
  5. Send out holiday cards.
  6. Do another issue of family newsletter.
  7. Mail in tax stuff (bonus: by Valentine’s Day!)
  8. Read Dave Ramsey and create a livable budget.
  9. Pay library fines.
  10. Schedule car shampoo.
  11. Create recipe book for Brother.
  12. Brush & Bathe Gunnar once a week.
  13. Paint ceiling edges in Tuff’s room.
  14. Do photo collage for Brother & Sis-in-Law to be.
  15. Hang up branding iron.
  16. Research property history.
  17. Write Histo grant.
  18. Sew pockets on Sweet’s bedspread.
  19. Reorganize kid toys with rotation cycle.
  20. Scan old photos.
  21. Paint chalkboard wall & touch up paint chalkboard dresser.
  22. Prime & paint laundry room/playroom cabinets
  23. Paint laundry room/playroom blue
  24. Hang laundry room/playroom cabinets
  25. Schedule eye appointment
  26. Take bags in garage to donate.
  27. Recycle cans to Humane Society.
  28. Clean car.
  29. Make new dust ruffle for master bedroom.
  30. Shop for new linoleum.
  31. Put up coat hooks for kid coats.
  32. Take pallets to friend for basement.
  33. Get a hair cut.
  34. Call to get an energy audit.
  35. Put all kid coats in one place in shed.
  36. Put money in IRA’s.
  37. Sort and use up scrapbooking supplies.
  38. Do creative project with kids and shredded crayons.
  39. Reframe Roy Rogers pics in Tuff's room.
  40. Order prints in black & white.

40 days of Lent. 40 things to do. A few of these might be a bit ambitious but you never know what you can do......

Clarification

I need to clarify that I didn't WRITE the post below. It was emailed to me. Just so you know I'm not taking credit for it.

And I'm not going to say I agree with EVERYTHING in the post.... but I do agree with a lot of it.

And, yes, I have been told I have a lot of isolationist tendencies.

I do believe in starting local. With a lot of things. The food we eat. The issues we deal with. The causes, charities & organizations we support.

Stepping, carefully, down off of soap box now.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Truth in Advertising

I hate the commercial on tv that has a smoke detector sound on it.... gets me every time.

I also dislike the meth commercial with the screaming girl.... it never fails to come on about 8:30 and scare the sleeping children.

And a local new radio station does one with a newborn crying.... made my milk let down every time.

Or the one that has police sirens in it.... great to hear that one by the speed trap on Henderson.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

TALK AMONGST YOURSELVES....

PLEASE DISCUSS:

WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE TV AND HEAR ANY U.S. PRESIDENT, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN GIVE THE FOLLOWING SPEECH?

My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of the Iraq regime has been completed.

Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is complete.

This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq This action will be complete within 30 days. It is now time to begin the reckoning.

Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short . The United Kingdom , Spain , Bulgaria , Australia , and Poland are some of the countries listed there.

The other list contains every one not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.

Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war. THEN EVERY YEAR THERE AFTER GO TO OUR SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM SO IT WONT GO BROKE IN 20 YEARS.

The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hellholes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.

Need help with a famine ? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France

In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home . On that note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth

Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France or maybe China

I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France, Germany , and Russia Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well. Bonne chance, mez amies.

I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicle s will be stripped, shredded and crushed. I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York

A special note to our neighbors. Canada is on List 2. Since we are likely to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us off for a change.

Mexico is also on List 2 its president and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple extra thousand tanks and infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I am going to put 'em? Yep, border security.

Oh, by the way, the United States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty - starting now.

We are tired of the one-way highway. Immediately, we'll be developing alternative energies to free ourselves from oil dependency and do our part for global warming.

It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens. Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, 'darn tootin.'

Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America It is time to eliminate homelessness in America To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thank you guys. We owe you and we won't forget.

To the nations on List 2, a final thought: You might want to learn to speak Arabic.

God bless America Thank you and good night.

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, thank a soldier.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Great googly-moogly. My camera is in the shop... again. It might be time to consider an upgrade.....

Snot Walrus

Those of you with kids already know what this post is about by the title. The dreaded snot walrus is visiting. It's been a while but I've got two little ones with slime running out of their faces. The littlest one, Tuff, sneezes and then just stands there, petrified, going "uh, uh, uh" until someone brings her a tissue..... play the game too slowly and she wipes it, delicately, on her sleeve. I become suspect when she comes up wanting a hug... I know she really just wants to wipe her tiny little button nose on my shoulder.

So we have used up the vapo-bath (note to self: Email Elle and ask her the name of that natural vapo stuff she was talking about...). We read the directions for the temporal scanning thermometer. We are officially out of tissues. We polished off the last bits of (expired) liquid generic motrin & tylenol. I know Sweet is watching too much tv when he grabs my face with both hands, looks me deeply in the eye, and says, "Mama. I need delsym." And he can spell it. Damn commercials. We've eaten every can of "emergency" soup in the cupboard.

The three-day weekend allowed us to wallow in it. The kids took long baths and then put on fresh jammies regardless of the time of day. We went outside (fresh air. I believe in fresh air.) with snowsuits over jammies. We watched movies and read every book in Tuff's book case. We opened a brand new pack of markers. Sweet & I are working our way through "Farmer Boy" and we made a good dent this weekend. Hot Stuff & I gave ourselves permission to read.... trashy novels and magazines.... saying we were saving our strength so we didn't come down with anything. We painted the laundry room wall black (what? How did that sneak in there? Black? In the laundry room? More later....). We didn't go ANYWHERE. Well, Hot Stuff ventured out for movies and an egg from his mom. (For baking bread.)

Tuff does this hilarious full body shudder when she takes medicine. Sweet likes to chase his with a shot of juice. Hot Stuff & I drank whiskey... medicinally, of course. Several days later and we are both still snot-free so it MUST be working.....

Friday, February 15, 2008

VD Wrap Up

It was a great evening.

Steak. Salad. Steamed veggies. Wine.

Hot Stuff got home early and the house was tidy and there were presents on the table. I got THE SWEETEST card from my son. My in-law's came down with cupcakes, cookies, candy & cards and had a glass of wine with us. My sis-in-law (you over-achiever you) sent cookies, brownies and cute homemade cards.... Which makes me feel totally guilty but we all already know I can't keep up with her in the cute-family-moments department so I've forgiven myself and I don't worry about it.

Normally I don't think of Valentine's Day as a big gift giving holiday but, like so many of my perceptions, kids are changing that a bit.... Sweet got a new puzzle, an activity pad & some candy. Tuff got watercolors (so she stops using her brother's), notepads & some candy. We love the dollar store. Hot Stuff got a new chain for his wedding ring & St. Florian medal and a gc to his favorite store. (See honey, I do listen!) I got a bracelet I've been hinting heavily about.... (Lauren's Hope Medical Id) and....

A GIFT CERTIFICATE TO GET MY CAR CARPET SHAMPOO-ed. OMG. That's true love. I love you honey. Seriously. The SMELL in my Beautiful. New. Car is completely overwhelming. I've cleaned and cleaned and can't find the source. Professional cleaning is the only thing that will fix it... I hope. I have no idea how much it cost... too much, I'm sure... but I don't care.... it MUST BE FIXED. (Preferably before the weather warms up because I have a sneaking suspicion the smell is milk-based... ew.)

That, my friends, is true love.

He's a funny boy....

So the FamDamily is in the process of buying a new combine. Let me rephrase... newER combine.

And my brother is in charge.

You see the problem already, don't you??

They've been "shopping" for a deal for several years now and he found them a winner..... I won't go into the whole process because it will bore the hell out of you.... but, basically, he bought a combine -sight unseen- for, well, a price tag that would make you flinch.

So I get an email last night that says:

Well, the good news is they screwed the ad up, it's actually a 2388, not a 2188. The bad news is it's in a little rougher shape than we were hoping -

See attached photos.


ha-ha. Funny Boy.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

The Celebration of Love

Traditionally, we make lasagna for Valentine's Day.

One year, when I was preggo with Sweet, we went "out" for dinner. It was, um, an experience. Delayed seating, delayed service, rubbery lobster legs, run-outta shrimp, cold steak.... it was FUN.

And we swore... never again. (I feel kinda like Scarlet saying that... but it was fun dressing up..... I broke out the cute red maternity top (Elle... you know the one....) for the occasion... even though I was in no way large enough for maternity wear at that point.... I'd like to think sympathy for the preggers woman is what FINALLY got us service that night....)

Now we make lasagna and salad and drink wine.... except tonight.

Tonight we are having steak.

There are 3 reasons we are having steak.

1. We can't afford lasagna.
2. Steak is quick.
3. Hot Stuff is dieting.... again.

I think we are having round steaks... I can't quite remember what package I pulled out of the freezer..... We will probably stick them under the broiler.... or pan fry them. It is too miserable to dig out the bbq. Turn off the tv, turn on the ipod. Put the kids to work tearing up lettuce for the salad.

Add red wine & dark chocolate.

Serve.

The Game

We are playing the game... again. The "are my folks visiting or not" game.... I don't exactly mind this game it is just that we play it so often.

I blame my parents for my commitment issues.

No trip or project is ever scheduled until the last minute. Then it is a mad dash miserable fight scurry to get things to work out.

I like to think that has made me easy-going and flexible.

The truth is it makes me neurotic, over-planning, and unable to commit.

It isn't like they don't have good reasons.

The pickup has a flat tire. The roads are bad. The heifers are due to start calving soon.

They have to go half way by 2:00 today because dad has an mri. The plan was to come the rest of the way, spend the night, load up a bunch of junk they are taking from my work basement (a long story) and go home tomorrow afternoon.

I'm lucky my work schedule is flexible because at this point my schedule is.... "Um, I'm coming in tomorrow.... sometime. Probably early afternoon.... or in the morning.... or something...."

So we may or may not be having company tonight. They usually stay in Sweet's room and I have clean sheets for that bed but I haven't committed enough to put them on just yet....