Perfectly Shelly

I hate Powking!!

2011-12-27T16:56:00.000-06:00

So, I just got a text from my 8 yr old great niece. Here it is verbatim: "Hay shely its maddi my mom is powking she has the flow. I dont no want to do"

Awwwwww. Poor little chickadee!! To translate, it says: Hey Shelly, it's Maddi. My mom is puking. She has the flu. I don't know what to do.

How does one instruct an 8 yr old how to care for their mother who keeps POWKING? I feel so bad for them!! I just told her to take her mom a Sierra Mist and to tell her that I said she had to drink it even if she can't keep it down.

Besides the obvious of the 8 yr old worrying about her mom, there is the whole germ thing. Y'all know how I hate the stomach flu germs! Pee Pee (my niece) had already called me this morning to let me know she wouldn't be coming to work (we work in the same department), and now Maddi has the phone! Germ transfer big time. I didn't tell Maddi about germ transfer because that would freak her out. She's freaked out enough, so I'll freak out for her. I just know she'll get this in a day or two. Yuk.

Mr. P took some Gatorade over and we are hoping Pee Pee is drinking it...........yikes. If she gets dehydrated, she'll end up in the hospital.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I really missed my dad, but it was quite nice otherwise. I got a Kindle Fire (yes, I've read 2 books since Sunday and working on the 3rd and have the 4th purchased and ready to read). I also got a KitchenAid stand mixer, which I've wanted for years and couldn't afford. The Kindle came from Mr. P and the KitchenAid came from my stepmom. I was off Thursday thru Sunday, so I had a lovely 5 days off.

Toodles for now!!

Advance Apologies

2011-12-15T08:28:00.001-06:00

Is it possible to be excited for Christmas, yet at the same time feel blue? I am so sad that I lost my dad, and I'm ticked off that the world just keeps on chugging along and I don't want it to. I WANT everyone to still gather around me and provide support!! However, his loss, while sad just doesn't impact others the way it does those of us that were closest to him. On the other hand, it's a beautiful time of year, my kids are adults and will be fun to hang out with at Christmas. I have a great family and lovely friends. Mr. P and I are exchanging gifts, which we normally don't do, so this year will be especially nice. And especially SAD. How is that even possible?

I have a new job where I make more money!! We got a new car in October!! We were able to afford gifts, and we have a lovely home, utilities are on and a freezer and pantry full of food. What more could I ask for? MY DAD.

Emotions are tricky little suckers. On one hand I am so grateful for what I have, and the people in my life. On the other hand, I'm sad and ticked off that everything won't be the same. Sometimes the contradiction is overwhelming. Why can't things just be simple? I'm impatient and logical (sometimes---even though now it seems like I may be a tad on the 'over the edge' side) and I know that things are what they are and I need to accept them. It's the emotions that kick in and screw it all up. They make grief more pronounced.....they make things like holidays CONFUSING, rather than lovely.....they trick you into going to bed at 8 pm just to turn your mind off!! Emotions SUCK.

Okay, I'm taking a deep breath and trying to move on to other things.

Things like old friends. I got a friend request on facebook from an old friend. Practically ancient now. When I was 14 or so, I 'loved' this guy. But as childhood wanes, so do those old feelings and I'm left with fondness. It makes me happy to know that people I knew all those years ago are still around. That they are still interested in my life, as I am theirs. I love to brag on my marriage and my kids and love to hear about other's lives, families, accomplishments and low times. It's comforting in a way to know that even though there isn't 'love' or
'attraction' or whatever that people still feel connected. Hey, I guess that's what facebook does, right?

My Step-Mom, Pee Pee and I all made cookies this past weekend. OMG, you guys. You wouldn't believe the number of cookies and candies that we made in a matter of 6 or 7 hours. Put 3 people in a kitchen with a stand mixer and we made MAGIC!! It was alot of fun. Now I have a bazillion cookies at my house, and only one son living at home to eat them!!

So, see? Christmas is nice, it is fun and it is exciting! It just stinks that that sadness permeates everything.

That is why you have my apologies. I would imagine I'm going to be stuck on this for a while. Hang with me and I know things will ease a tiny bit.

I have been looking for one of those 'sound machines'. You know...they were all the rage 8 yrs ago or so. It's a little machine that plays nature sounds or white noise. At my job, we've adopted several residents at a nursing home for Christmas, and that is the gift that I need to buy. I've looked at all the usual places..discount stores, drug stores and I can't FIND THEM. It's so annoying. However, I keep seeing them on store websites, but they don't appear to be in the stores. I took a chance and purchased one from Wal Mart.com. I chose the pick up in store feature, so we'll see how that goes. They took my money, so let's hope they have them in stock!! It is supposed to be turned in by tomorrow!!

That's about all I've got for now. Hang with me internets!! This grief thing has kicked my ass and you all seem to be the ones I'm talking to.

Toodles for now.

Genius Squelched

2011-12-12T19:31:00.003-06:00

So, today I talked to Crissy for a brief moment on facebook. I've been thinking about blogging again, and I was inspired!!

First, some business to attend to: Perfectly's Dad passed in September. I am devastated. He and I were extremely close. He had a stoke, so it was pretty sudden. I got a new job the week after he passed. I realize people are going through worse, so I often feel guilty, but MAN have I been stressed!

Anyway....enough about that.

So, Crissy mentioned her Christmas tree and that nobody understood her vision. And my first blog post in MONTHS came to mind! I totally had the same issue!!!

We have a puny little tree. 6 ft., cost $25, and is sparse. I looked for a new tree, but apparently everyone and their brother buys a Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving! Who knew? All but the ginormous and uber expensive ones were left. I decided to glam up Mr. Puny instead.

I bought bows, birds, and silver thingys to "poke" out of the tree as a topper! I've seen designer trees and thought to myself "I could do THAT"! I was wrong. Apparently, when the designer/creative gene was being handed out, I was off picking my nose, or reading up on Boone's Farm vs. Arbor Mist.

My Step Mother came over and helped (um, basically did the whole thing) decorate my tree. Now it's a beautifully decorated tree that doesn't appear as if it has antennae sticking out of it, as my 8 yr. old great niece thought. Or that it doesn't look like a crown, like my son thought.

My foray into the designer world was no more. I'll stick to other things like coupons and blogging to fill my time. I am not a Designing Woman.......

Toodles for now. Leave a comment if you like. It may encourage me to keep doing this.

The Family That Medicates Together Stays Together

2011-03-27T15:38:00.003-05:00

Soooooo......secrets revealed!! BWHAHAHAHAHAH...Actually many of you KNOW already, but since I've invited all my Facebook friends to read this, this may be news!!

I began taking prozac about 3 yrs ago for some major PMS stuff I had goin' on. Hmmmmm. I realized quickly that the Prozac helped out in alot of areas in my life. HMMMMMMM....again!! Jump forward to November and some things happened (that I won't discuss.....yet) and it was suggested I begin some therapy to try to figure myself out. Why I'm impulsive....why I have a "I want it when I want it" attitude, and maybe some low self esteem mixed in? Maybe some issues in living in D.E.N.I.A.L.? Hey, as I've discovered, Denial is a TOTALLY COOL place to live! You don't have to face the UGLY in your life while living in Denial! I LOVE Denial! He and I are like THIS (see my crossed fingers??).

Well, recently, Denial and I have broken up. I still long for him, and still retreat to him when I'm all wigged out, but for the most part he and I are FINITO!! Done. Mr. Perfectly couldn't be happier. Denial was getting in the way of our lives! Mr. P. didn't like Denial nearly as much as I did, (and sometimes still do). Anyway, during this time, I had a mini-meltdown over nothing really........just my life, and the Doctor put me on some additional medication to help 'boost' the Prozac. HOLY STEMWARE, Batman!! Does it work!!! I practically JUMP out of bed, I DO STUFF other than watch TV....I started making jewelery! I cleaned my kitchen this week without complaining too much to the men in my life how much I HATED doing it and that they should help. I haven't put all of my piled laundry away, but BABY STEPS, folks......baby steps. I'm workin' on it!

Oh, and the stemware I talked about in my last blog? And mentioned so fondly here? Stemware and vintage jewelry may have taken Denial's place in my life. Sadly. Denial doesn't cost money, however, jewelry and stemware does! Shit. Backslide again.

Anyway, I have this weird obsession for stemware (and other dishes). I never knew it until we moved. When I packed up cabinets in the old house, I found all this STEMWARE. I divided it and wrapped it in boxes labeled for the boys. I figured if they ever have a house or apartment, stemware would be appropriate once they reach 21.....and their wives or girlfriends will appreciate my efforts, RIGHT? So, I kept the stuff I wanted, and boxed up the stuff I didn't and made a little 'bar' area in my new kitchen. The top cabinets house my stemware and the bottom cabinets house the BOOZE. It's all very cute and tucked away. That is until my cookbooks, french onion soup crocks and the George Foreman sucked the Booze space.....sheesh. Selfish of them, don't you think?

So, two weeks ago, we went to an auction. You'll never believe what I did? Denial and I joined hands and he THREW UP my bidding card at some stemware. 54 pieces of stemware to be exact. Denial is such a Bitch. He bid and bid and bid. He got a set of 3 blue anchor/hocking mixing bowls (my kitchen is blue, BTW, so Denial has good taste). I got a set of 8 Blue stemmed water (or wine) tumblers, and a set of 46 matching glasses. There are 12 wine, 12 water, 12 dessert and 10 juice glasses that all match. That all have STEMS....that are all SOOOO cute. Oh, and Denial ALSO bought me a juice pitcher set with 4 juice glasses. Only he wants to use it for Mai Tai's. Damn Denial!! I think he's gay. He KNOWS how I love the gays and want an entourage of gay BFF's!!

So, I ended up packing up all the stemware that I originally kept and will divvy that up between kids and friends, and I washed and put up all the NEW stemware in the cabinet. I also made Mai Tai's in the pitcher. I made Mr. P use the little juice glasses to drink my Mai Tai's as well. He thinks Denial may be gay, too.

After we moved and after dad was sick and we were never home, our Kitty Joe decided that he wouldn't pee in his litter box anymore. He much preferred towels on the floor. Or blankets. Or dog beds. We took to locking him up in the room WITH his box every day, and he peed on the floor. Still does. Right in front of the door so inevitably someone STEPS in it as we come in or out.

Mr. P. is unofficially in charge of Kitty duty. He's fed up beyond belief that Kitty Joe is peeing in the house and not in the box. He Poopies in his box, so why not make the Pee Pee there, too?

We decided to have him checked for a urinary tract infection, and GUESS WHAT? It was negative. His failure to use the box is BEHAVIORAL, and not bacterial. Great. How does one teach an OLD cat to use his box again? The vet says it's not likely to happen. I really don't want to put him to sleep. It seems like such a LAME reason to lose a pet. A really COOL pet. I am a huge pet lover/advocate so you all must be asking WHY would we even ENTERTAIN the idea of putting him down? Because, we now live in this bigger, lovelier home. It's got CARPET in nearly half of it. We can't afford to mess up another house. We really put the screws to our old house and this one deserves some love....and no cat pee! Besides, my dad owns it, and dad and cat pee aren't' seeing eye to eye.

Therefore, we are trying an alternative to euthinazation. KITTY PROZAC! Studies have shown that 75% of cats that stop using the litter box go back to using it while taking the kitty Prozac. Now, Stacey, the Vet, says in her clinical experience, 75% is way too high, but she has seen about a 25% improvement in cats. Well, since we moved to a farm, and since we left him alone all those weeks when Dad was sick, maybe this will work! He already has a Gay BFF (Buster, the dog) so he doesn't need Denial! So, I'm hoping the Kitty Prozac will work. We are tiptoeing around the house today, because it's 4 pm and so far there's no sign of any cat pee around.

Wish us luck, Internet!! We need it and the Pharmaceutical companies are Banking on all of this working for Kitty Joe and Me.

Toodles for now!!

Smells Like Teen Spirit

2011-03-20T07:10:00.003-05:00

Last month, when I went to THE MISSION to meet up with some classmates, I was quiet, and sat in a seat and 'people watched'. There was another planned get together last night, and this time, Mr. P went with me so I had a driver.

I don't know how many cosmos I drank.....either 5 or 6. Mr. P thinks 6, I think 5, but regardless, at this point, does ONE difference really matter? I do drink alcohol, but not generally to excess. So, this was quite in excess!! But HOW FUN was it?

First of all, I'd like to thank Casey, Wendell and Teenie for buying me drinks and Gary for offering. You guys BOYS were buying me drinks (except Teenie....she's not a boy)!! Now, I'm thinking Mr. P wasn't so thrilled, but it was polite, not like a 'pick up'. They were generous and thoughtful and I found it charming. Here I go a bit with my convoluted memories of my youth compared to now:

As a teenager, I was very tiny and 'cute'. Not stunning, not beautiful, but 'cute'. I always wanted to be the Homecoming queen and a cheerleader, but I didn't fit the popularity bill OR the athleticism that cheerleaders needed. I desperately wished I was popular. As if that would 'make' me or something.

Now, I'm a grown up. Still cute (LOL), however not so tiny. I'm the one in the class that gained the weight and feels self conscious. I'm the one who worries that people judge---even though I have NO reason to feel this way.

I'm also so ashamed of me as a young person and I'm sure OTHERS as young people. We were abhorrent to one another in High School. You had to fit in with certain 'cliques' to be recognized, or to be thought highly of. We JUDGED one another based on looks, not personality or if we 'clicked' with anyone. I look at my teen (and 20's) kids and know that they, too, will realize that friends are made way differently in LIFE than in High School.

The group of people that tend to come most of the time are awesome. And we've had many people that drop in that we haven't seen in years! The beautiful thing about it is that FINALLY we treat each other as people and not as high school pigeonholed stereotypes. Well, there are SOME that still gravitate towards the same 'types' of people that one may think is 'supposed' to be, but even those individuals are happy, and seemingly interested in everyone. EVERYONE....not just the 'popular' kids or the 'rich' kids or the whatever label we had back then.

Teenie came with Mr. P and me, and PeePee came for a while, which totally THRILLED me because she's so beautiful, and so many people there know her dad....my brother...who is 3 full years younger than me, so it always funny to me to see the reaction to my YOUNGER brother having a 25 yr old daughter. Sorry, Jeff....but it is entertaining to see people's eyes when I tell them.

My dear friend Bill knew PeePee right away without being introduced. Bill( (who is a female) and I have been friends for 25 years, and she knew my family well. She knows Jeff and that he was a teenage father. She stopped next to PeePee last night and said how BEAUTIFUL she is and that she's a perfect mix of her mother and father....which is very true. She certainly inherited the good stuff.......I was impressed with Bills ability to know EXACTLY who my beautiful niece was, because of resemblance!! lol.

Anyway, despite the fact we 45 year olds were playing out a teen 'coming of age' movie, it was so fun. Oh, except for when I got choked and spat my mouthful of COSMO onto Teenie. God, that was mortifying. I mean I guess I'm glad it was her, but still.......despite the fact I was pretty tipsy, I had my bearings enough to know how AWFUL that was! I just coughed at the wrong time and looked like a fool. Sorry, Teenie. I know you probably had to shower off the sticky residue of my cosmopolitan.

So, here's a shout out to the class of 1984....and the classes surrounding that have people that stop in.....it's a blast and THANK GOODNESS we behave far differently now than we did then. For me, it's appreciated and noted that just because we may not have been close years ago, doesn't mean we can't become friends now. And thanks for Mr. P for sitting there looking smokin'hot. I got a good one, girls!! He says he didn't like the boys buying me drinks, but he had his share of girls trying to talk to people at our table and um, MAN handling him and pressing all over him to get close to hear people, so I think we're even. He now knows one girl far better than I ever will!! lol! He hates the social scene, so I hope he goes with me again. My core group of friends tried to help and make sure he was comfortable, but still.....he's leery of this type of thing. It's awesome that he cares enough to come with me and be my driver so I can act a fool now and then!!

Toodles for now. I'm going to try to convince Mr. Perfectly to take me to an auction. More on that later.

Onions are not my friend.

2011-02-28T18:12:00.002-06:00

I made some kick-ass potato soup last night, AND some homemade bread.

Now, despite my adoration of cooking, and complete enjoyment of SOUPS.......I don't enjoy a THICK, creamy soup. Commercial clam chowders? blech. Chain restaurant soups that are anything "cream" or "cheese"? gag.

My problem with soups in a restaurant is to me many taste canned. Fake. PROCESSED. It makes me shudder. For me, this holds especially true for cream soups.

Anyway, I make an untraditional potato soup. I like it, my family likes it, so you all can sneer if you choose, because it works for me. I basically only use onions, celery, LOTS OF BUTTER, milk (skim), salt and pepper (oh...and of course potatoes). It's a brothy soup that is yummy.

I used a pretty big onion this time, and the soup was oniony, but it was SO good. I ate two bowls.

This morning, I was in the shower and kept smelling the deep sulphur-ish smell of onion. I smelled my fingers, and scrubbed them........holy COW, y'all....I realized that it was my BREATH.......my breath hanging in the droplets of steam in my shower. I barely TOUCHED the onions and my fingers were as Hawaiian Coconutty as my body wash allowed!! It could have been nothing else but FUNK emitting from my MOUTH!!! C R IN G E!!

I have issues with things like garlic and onions (AHEM) "staying" with me. But I knew if I could smell it so could half of our county.

I gargled and kept to myself today---kept more than a polite distance from my co-workers and PRAYED that I was bearable. Sans the steam, I had NO CLUE if I was offensive or not.

Sheesh, guys. How mortifiying! All from an innocent bowl of soup. Okay TWO bowls of soup. I'm not sure all the Listerine in the world would combat my issue today.

Let's hope that tomorrow's steam doesn't reveal more than I bargain for in the Morning.

Toodles for now.

Have you ever wished you were Mennonite?

2011-02-21T11:03:00.004-06:00

No? Me either. However, I live near a Mennonite community, which I think is totally cool. It's awesome to see those living a different lifestyle just by driving down a country highway. I see people riding their bicycles as transporation, and people using the horse and buggy. I see laundry hanging out to dry most times of the year, and children running and playing.

I would say it's a simple life, but seriously? How can I? I've never lived it....I've never used just the basics to live. I understand that the Mennonites do allow some modern conveniences into their lives, however, I assume it's not to the extent I am used to.

Anyway, the local Mennonite community also has really cool stores. They have a wide range of items sold in bulk. It ranges from spices to pasta to flour! They have frozen veggies and pies for sale, too! It's the NEATEST place. I love going. The one most commonly known around here is Weaver's Country Market, near Versailles, MO. Remember, Internets, we've HAD this conversation before....round these parts it's not called "VER-SAI", but "VUR-SALES" I only live about 15 miles or so from this market. It's totally adorable. They have a small machine in there and they grind their own nuts to make peanut butters! Flavored ones! Like Chocolate, and cappucino! They make cashew butter, too! I can't eat that....I'm allergic to cashews......sucks for me, huh? Anyway, despite the fact they get their food from suppliers like most retail businesses, I like to think of the lovely Mennonite people packaging this cool stuff from scratch......why? Because it adds to the simple life fantasy that alot of us have. We want our tv's and car's and ready made food, BUT we think we want to life off the land. To grow our own stuff.....to make bread.....NO PRESERVATIVES. Well, if you all are like me, it's a nice thought, but not realistic. So, for the sake of my fantasy world, I'll continue to think that cute Mennonite women and girls are doing all of this so we "English" customers can have a taste of the simple life.

Anyway, Heather, my niece and I are going there today. We are also going to Burger's Smokehouse factory store. I am not sure, but I think Burgers has smoked hams and sausages that they sell all throughout the US. Oh, and bacon. Yum. Anyway, they have really good deals on 'seconds' at their store. I know, as weird as I am about food, why would I buy a defective ham? Well, because the HAM isn't defective, it's the way they cut it.....like the spiral cuts are off or soemthing. They sell pieces and ends of bacon for like $2.99 or something. Bacon is 'SPENSIVE people, and Burgers Bacon is good. Last time it was pepper bacon. MMMM...and despite it's 'pieces and ends' disclaimer, it was meatier than the streaky crap I buy at the grocery!!

Speaking of Heather, she wants a nickname like most others on my blog. She and I have a running feud as as to who's status reigns highest in the family hierarchy. She has not, and will not realize that my status is 20 years her senior, and I was the FIRST at just about everything. First child in the family...first GRANDCHILD, etc. That alone wins. She calls herself the Princess, which of course was my title, so I changed it and tell her frequently that QUEEN totally trumps Princess.....but she's not buying. She thinks she should be called Perfectly Princess in my blog. I've told her NO WAY.....but she pouts and pretends as if I'm hurting her in some way, so I will go with it. Just for her. However, y'all know that I don't type out all my nicknames all the time....just like Mr. P. I don't call him Mr. Perfectly all the time......just MR. P, and you know who I mean, right? So from here on, Heather will be called PeePee....short for Perfectly Princess. World, Meet PeePee!!

I know....the thought process would be to call her PP, but PeePee has finer comedic value, so what the PeePee wants, the PeePee shall get.

PeePee and I will be off to Burgers and to Weavers when she gets here. It should be pretty fun!!

Toodles for now!!

Social Studies

2011-02-20T16:44:00.002-06:00

I went out with High School pals last night! At THE MISSION, a local venue for live music. In my community, there WAS no such animal, so I think it's awesome to have a place like this, and to have it owned by some really cool people!

The Mission is small, and is set up to highlight live music in our area. They are open to all types of music, so it's really cool. I'd say maybe 20 or so of my age group classmates showed for the event and it is SO NICE to see everyone. I, of course, wore too much eyeshadow and made my thinning hair too poufy on the sides, but still......it was FUN!! Mr. Perfectly didn't go with me. He really hates stuff like that, so he knows he's generally off the hook for social engagements with my friends.

For my personal tastes, I would have enjoyed drinks somewhere quieter.........the music was really good, but it was LOUD!! And made it hard to talk. So, instead I spend much of my evening people watching. Whoo Boy.......was it an education!!

Early in the evening a girl that I recognized from either school or around town was there. She was....well.....um.....ACTIVELY trying to dance with her boyfriend. He seemed resistant, but she used his barely swaying body as a vessel for her dance. She swung her hair, squatted to the ground, ground her hips, etc........all on what originally appeared to be a semi-unwilling subject. It was quite the display of dance technique, on an empty dance floor. As time moved on, she went to a more willing dance partner, although, he didn't move as 'energetically' as she did either. It seemed odd to be dancing with your pal this way. But who am I to judge? Maybe she just likes to dance? Soon, she went back to her orignal dance partner who seemed a little more willing to join her (beer induced, maybe?). I was facinated by this, Internets......facinated. I have so may self image issues, I wondered how it was that she could be so FREE on the dance floor!! So open....so not worried. I watched my friends around me, and they too were watching intently to see what would play out. Remember, we live in a small, conservative community (it's hard, Internets,...really it is sometimes) and this isn't what we normally see!!

Well, as the informal co-ordinator of this meet and greet finally explained, she is a local HOOKER!! A Prostitute!! In our fair ciry! UNBELIEVEABLE! I hear tales of prostitutes coming 'round because of the politicians we house as the State Capitol, but I assumed those were the 'pros' you see on TV that are all professional looking and whatnot. This girl just looked like a girl.

So, it was totally fun watching the antics around me and seeing old friends and familiar faces. Everyone looks awesome.....of course!! I was thrilled to be there and can't wait to do it again. Even if I do learn that hookers exist.......that's ok. Everyone deserves to make a living!!

Toodles for now.

2011-02-15T18:09:00.001-06:00

The PRESSURE. The WORRY. Oh, Internets, I outed myself on Facebook. To all of my facebook friends. I told them about this blog and invited them to read it…..AND COMMENT!!! Now instead of worrying about offending the 3’s of you, I’ll have to worry about offending maybe 10’s of you.

I decided I needed a good motivator for writing, so after I wrote my little post last night; with a stylus; on a touch pad, I decided to tell Facebook that I had a blog. I thought maybe that would motivate me to write more. If I had MORE READERS and MORE COMMENTERS, that maybe I’d want to write again. With fanfare and passion. With MEANING and joy. To people who would hopefully ‘GET’me. GAH. What have I done.

It occurred to me about the millionth time I checked my sitemeter to see who all may be reading, that I was far too worried about who might be looking, than WHAT I wanted to say. For the Newbies (HI, FACEBOOK!!!), I live in mortal fear of saying something offensive to someone. Politically, emotionally, etc. Since most of my newbies are high school friends, they will also learn that when I come to class get togethers, or see you in public, I cringe because I certainly don’t look like I did in high school. I’m the one that got fat. No……really. F A T. It’s okay….I can see it for myself. I try to delude myself into being cute, but I know. So, I tend to want to be the ‘real me’ on here, but I often am not for fear of alienating my readers. Sheesh, since I hardly post anymore, the alienation has taken place, so I’ve asked a new crop of readers to enjoy this. AND YOU ALL KNOW ME!! That’s even worse! Believe me, it’s easier to be judged by strangers than the high school crowd. **sigh**

Besides that, I’m secretly thrilled when someone reads!! Thrilled and Mortified. I’m such a contradiction in emotion. No wonder I need therapy. And wine.

With the panicked rant aside, I do want to welcome anyone who wants to read this. I do try not to be offensive. I try not to be controversial, however, if I feel strongly about something, I do mention it. Even if other’s won’t agree. I honestly believe that is what makes our Country great. That we are all allowed to have opinions and feelings. Even if yours may be wrong…..(oh boy!!! Did I say that out loud??) hahahaha , just kidding!!

So, apparently there is an informal meet and greet this weekend? Am I allowed to mention that? Well, I’ll just say that some of my pals from childhood, junior high and High school will be gathered at THE MISSION in town. I’m totally excited, especially (Hi Richie and Jenny) that it’s now smoke free. (gah….one of those controversial subjects). I know they don’t hold my opinion against me, and this new ordinance is of concern to them. I hope as many people as can will patronize that business. They are good people and THE MISSION is a cool place. I have a cute new outfit that I could wear, but it’s out of the box for me. I’ll have to think on it to see if I’ll do it up cute or dowdy. I wore it last Friday to dinner with family and friends. Heather, my niece bought me a crown, a sash and a button. Which is decidedly proper for the royalty that I am! Hear that Heather? Queen totally trumps Princess.

Xxxoo. Toodles for now.

HAPPY VD!!!!

2011-02-14T19:59:00.003-06:00

Yes, that was my greeting upon Mr. P's arrival home after work. Good thing I don't get too sentimental about Valentine's Day.

Our birthdays our 3 days apart. Mr. P's is the 10th and mine the 13th. By the time Valentines day rolls around, we are celebrated out. I'm not a romance girl. I'm good with a comfy chair and a date with the teevee. I suppose a lot of men would be relieved about no expectations on Valentines day. I think, however, that Mr. P wishes I were more romantic...I know, what a terrible dilemma, huh? A husband that LIKES the sentiment of Valentines day!!

I turned 45 yesterday. Huh. I think I'm not loving how that sounds. I'm too YOUNG to be 45!!! I'm just figuring out who I am! It sounds old. I'm not ready for old. I should be grateful for my happiness. I am grateful. Just not geriatric happy!

Dad and Marty took us and family and friends to dinner. It was lovely. Many of those I love the most were there. So, despite my fear of aging, this was one of the best birthdays ever.

Son #1 has a best girlfriend that had a devastating accident in September. They've been pals since they were in kindergarten. She suffered a traumatic brain injury. He brought her to our birthday dinner! I think secretly, that was my favorite part. I hadn't seen her since her accident, and to have her with us recovering as well as she is was priceless. She's beautiful in every way. She's a wise soul, and has been since we met her all those years ago. She made the evening perfect.

I hope everyone has a swell VD!!!!!

Toodles for now!

Sunday, Sunday.

2011-02-06T20:14:00.004-06:00

I got a touchpad thingy so I could blog more. The thing is....I love blogging. I compose them in my head......write lists of ideas and even think of titles that are cute so can develop blogs that way! But here I sit.....doing nothing. So, tonight, while I await the GLEE premier, I thout I would blog.

Son number 2 has friends over....and they are fun. We are watching the superbowl. I'm bored. Even the commercials are dull. We had some good food, bu my attempt at having an imprompteau party backfired. I am not a 'planner'. Why does everyone else have to be? Everyone already had plans. *pout*

Although, next week are our birthdays. Just in case you are one of those planner people and want to send presents! My dad and Marty are taking us out to dinner on Friday. The boys...in-laws and various friends are going and I am sooooooo excited. I adore big get togethers. Especially when its about me!

Although its cool, and I'm grateful to have it...this touchscreen keyboard is small and I am using a stylus...and its so ssllooww! So, my blogging is taking forevah!

Hey, its been nice visiting with you, but I have gas and think I will take it to the bedroom so as not to embarras my son or his friends.

Toodles for now!

What I learned from Lawrence Welk

2011-01-20T19:25:00.004-06:00

It's been a rough year, Internets....ROUGH.

My beautiful Mom had triple bypass surgery. YEP!!! Second parent in 6 months to have bypass. Seriously! WTF? As if the summer didn't suck....now the new year!!

I know.....I sound like a brat.....but I can honestly say that stress is my new BFF!

So.....little Mrs. insecure managed to DRIVE HERSELF to Des Moines to be with her MAMA. Surgery.went well and Mom is doing splendidly.

The first trip, I stayed with my grandparents. Yes, my grandma and grandpa are still living. He's 93, and she's 88! How awesome is that? They are healthy and active.

Saturday night is what mom calls 'date night'. They eat their dinner at 4:30...do the dishes, and sit down for their favorite programs of the week; Guy Lombardo and Lawrence Welk. A rousing hour and a half of the finest of PBS.

I was tired, stressed and had a sore throat. I hd no desire for old fashioned shows. Grandpa clapped after each numberO and talked to grandma throughout. I texted my bff Teenie about the FOOLISHNESS!!. I wanted to watch some true crime...or a Comedy! Anything but what was on!

Then her return text came. Containing a gentle, yet swift kick in the ASS. She told me to enjoy every moment of time with my adorable grandparents......that they wont be around forever.

Wow. I certainly needed to hear that. I learned my my much needed lesson and totally enjoyed my grandparents. What a joy to see their faces and hear their voices when remembering the 'old' days.

I'm so ashamed that I was EVEN so selfish to be wishing something different than what I was doing. I may never do that again. Sit with my 93 and 88 yr old grandparents as they re-live a life they've loved for 70 years together (yes.....seventy years).

I was able to go to bed at 9 pm and thank my friend for allowing me to get over myself and to enjoy what I was seeing.

thanks Teenie. Thanks L. Welk!!

toodles for tonight.

The Effects of Effient

2010-11-21T12:37:00.004-06:00

HI!!!!!! We are back. Sadly. Hawaii is BEAUTIFUL. Very beautiful. There is SOMETHING to say about home, but wow. What a vacation. The wedding was BEAUTIFUL. And the week (almost week) was nearly perfect.

So......I can't remember what I've shared with you since I started this blog 3 years ago (3 years? ), but in 2000, I had a huge blood clot in my leg. It went from my groin to my knee. It also broke apart and travelled to my lungs. EEEKKKKK. Anyway, that is over, I survived, and that is that. HOWEVER, you KNOW what they say about flying. And Blood Clots. And since we were on an 8 hour flight to Hawaii from Dallas, I chatted with my Doctor, and even though my current treatment does NOT call for blood thinners (except aspirin), we (ahem....paranoid me) thought it would be good to maybe delve into the world of blood thinners to protect myself on the trip. He put me on Effient because the side effects are less cumbersome than coumadin. It also isn't as restrictive on eating and DRINKING as coumadin is. So, we went for it.

Sheesh.......talk about B R U I S I N G!! Did I ever bruise. Lovely egg sized bruises on my knees and thighs. I am SURE I was totally cute in Hawaii sporting my shorts and bruises. HOWEVER...I didn't CARE. I was in Hawaii!! And even though I wish I didn't have one on my shoulder that showed during the wedding........I guess the alternative would have been worse.

So.....I don't even know where to begin, so I'll begin with the boring Beginning. We went to Kansas City on the 9th and spent the night in a hotel close to the airport. They offered a shuttle, so we could leave our cars parked at the hotel lot. This was NICE considering how much airport parking is.

We grabbed the shuttle around 5:45 am and headed to KCI. We met with the baggage handlers and inspectors, etc right at the curb and headed in to wait. We flew into Dallas/Ft. Worth for a layover of about an hour and a half. In hindsight, it would have been nice to have been more on the ball, so I could have arranged a meet up with a blog friend. However with our short time there, and the fact it was during her work day, it probably wouldn't have been possible.

We got on the BIG plane to Hawaii and settled in for the LOOONNNNGGGGG 8 hour flight. And although complaining is the LAST thing I want to do, suffice it to say that the plane trip was not my favorite part of the vacation. The first 5 hours were fine, but the last 3 or so got a little long.

We landed on Oahu 3:30 their time, which was 8:30 Central time. Which is what I'm accustomed to. The weather was beautiful. Marty arranged for vans to pick us up, and we all got LEI'D by the drivers. It was so fun. I'm guessing by my research of watching 80's tv growing up that everyone back then got leid when they disembarked the plane upon arrival to Hawaii.

However, now, with tourism and commercialism being what it is, you have to ARRANGE and PAY for the pleasure of being lei'd. I was lei'd at baggage claim, as were most of my family. It was by the charming shuttle driver, however, and it was still as exciting as I imagined.
Even IF I am not smiling...it was still awesome!!

So, aside from huge ugly bruises and a really long flight, the trip was one of a lifetime. So, Effient.......you DID NOT ruin my trip with your bruises!

Toodles for now, folks!! Have a lovely Sunday!

So, where are YOU travelling this week?

2010-11-07T10:42:00.002-06:00

Me? Oh, just Hawaii. Oahu to be exact. Waikiki beach to be even MORE exact. **sigh** I am so very excited. We've been to Mexico as a family 6 years ago, but this will be a different trip altogether. My boys are adults. Well, son #2 is NEARLY an adult at 17. We can plan ADULT things without worrying about the 'kids'. They can trek to sites themselves if they wish, and we'll all have a super fun trip.

Perfectly's Dad and Marty are getting married on the 12th, and it will be lovely. He is very happy, so that makes it all the more awesome.

I went yesterday for a last minute nail fill and pedicure and left with entire facial wax. I was really embarassed. The nail shop does waxing too, and she convinced me that I needed my whole face waxed. Now I'll admit, I'm hairer than I'd like to be, but I'm also fair haired and fair skinned. The peach fuzz on my face has been there forever and I've never really had a problem with it, but apparently she did, and embarassed me into waxing my face. Ugh. Will I now get stubble?

But the weekend has been filled with packing type chores, and getting things READY to pack, and bottles of hair products ready to pack, etc. It's not been as daunting as I worried it would be. I am worried about the clothing situation. What if I take too much? Not enough? I'm taking my summer stuff, so what if it's too cool. I don't have any cute little jackets or sweaters. EEEEEKKKKKK. And how does one pack shoes? I dont' want the smelly shoes in with my clothes, but I need alot of shoes for the chance of many different outfits.

I'm off to make bread and pasta for suppper. And pour over my travel books again to see if I've missed any spectacular detail!

ALOHA, Internet! There will be photos! Even though I promised bathing suit pics that I've not gotten posted, i will. I really will.

Have a great start of the week!

Toodles for now!!

Is 5pm too early for wine and putting on my nightgown?

2010-09-29T17:16:00.003-05:00

Sooooooo......where the hell have I been? Yeah....about that. We got new security software at work, and can't get to many sites. I'm lazy about going ALL. THE. WAY. TO. THE. OFFICE. to use the computer at home. I didn't like having a computer in the living room at the old house, and now that we are in the bigger, better house, and we have AN OFFICE, I don't like to get up and go to another room to use the computer. I feel isolated, and can't watch my shows. So, I've been self indulgent and lazy and have not blogged. My bad. HOWEVER, today, when it's TOO LATE, I thought of a solution!! Son #1 has a LAPTOP!! And we have WIRELESS!!! Duh! Why haven't I thought of this before??

So, I called him and he doesn't care if I use it, so I get the best of both worlds!! I'm blogging AND watching my re-runs of NCIS. I am 5 years behind, you know.

How are y'all? I've missed you so. My son says he's moving out this weekend to his own place. That means JUST when I've figured out a solution to my surfing/tv issues, he's going to take the solution!! Oh well, I'll use it while I can, and ENJOY IT!!

There's been lots going on........nothing bad......it's all been pretty nice. My anniversary was on the 26th......Married to the same fabulous guy for 23 years!! My kids are okay, and the new TV season has begun. We are still going to Hawaii, and can't wait.

I came home this afternoon and made chili. Mr. P wants chili, and when we went to the grocery to buy stuff it was COOOOLLLLDDD.....but today is beautiful. 75 and sunny. My kind of day. Since we live in the middle of nowhere, I threw on my nightgown, and ran around chopping onion, browning burger and pouring wine.

OH!! Ghost Hunters!! They have NEW EPISODES! And tonight they will be investigating the Lemp Mansion in St. Louis! I mean, they've already done it, but the episode airs tonight! This is SO COOL! I've read alot about the Lemp Mansion, and it's scary stuff!! You can stay at the Lemp mansion and I've thought about at least TOURING the place but I'm too much of a chicken. I'm facinated with it, but too chicken to check it out. Therefore, this episode of Ghost Hunters should give me an idea of what's there.

Oh, I made some more Lemoncello!! This stuff is awesome guys. This time, I took half the liquor and made one bottle of Lemoncello and one bottle of GINGER-cello. I steeped fresh ginger in with the everclear and added the simple syrup to round out the recipe, and it's AWESOME!! It's sweet and Gingery!! It' awesome in Lemon flavored sparkling water. I can't wait to try it in other drinks.

My dad seems to be doing beautifully. He's working, driving, running errands! It's so cool! He is happy and looking forward to getting married. IN HAWAII!! OMG.....can you imagine how awesome this will be??

Oh, and it's a disappointing fact that the new season of NCIS and Glee are opposite one another and I don't have a DVR. However, Glee has won out in my choice of tv fare. Despite my unfortunate couple of weeks of medication change induced obsession over Mr. Shuester, I nearly went against the grain and took up NCIS.....but Glee was too appealing. After Glee is a new quirky sit-com tht has me hog tied to the chair.......it's called "Raising Hope" and either it's the lamest show ever and I'm the lamest middle aged tv addict, OR it's a smart, HILARIOUS comedy about real people in real life. I opt for the latter, because I totally don't want to be lame.

Well, I still have alot rambling around in the dusty cavity that holds my brain, but I suppose I'd better let you guys off the hook and leave my random observations for another day.

Oh, does anyone have any tips for getting a normally litter trained cat to stop peeing everywhere but his box? He poops there, so he OBVIOUSLY knows where it is, but he apparently is having adjustment issues or something. I don't want my new house to reek of CAT!!

Toodles for now. I really missed you guys!!

Bloomers

2010-09-02T16:49:00.004-05:00

I bought a dress. A DRESS!! A FANCY DRESS!!! Probably a waste of money, because I generally don't wear dresses, let alone a party type dress, but it was TOO CUTE and it was 50% off plus an additional 10% off.....I couldn't resist.

Why, you ask, don't I wear dresses? Well, Internet, let's face some brutal facts. Pantyhose are so OUT, and wearing shorts under a dress is so kindergarten......but being heavy, the thighs sort of rub together. Ugh..I KNOW!! How dare they!! But the rubbing causes near immediate sweating (which CERTAINLY is NOT cute) and the sweating leads to ultimate CHAFING. Neither of which I'm fond of or want to sport while wearing a dress.

So, I've been looking for something to wear under a dress.....something appropriately underwear-ish....and gals..in the big girl catalogs they have BLOOMERS!! A girl version of boxers! I couldn't have been MORE EXCITED!! They come in nylon...like a slip.....which makes it appropriate for under skirt wear....and it elimates the skin touching fat skin, and the solution was FOUND!! So I bought the fancy dress, and the bloomers.

HOWEVER....(isn't there always with Perfectly??) I apparently ordered the wrong thing. I ordered cotton, which isn't slick and silky like nylon, and may not work as well under said dress. Crappity crap. Now I have to send them back....and wait on the nylon ones.

As I just this very moment discovered one style only comes in cotton....duh.....stupid me for not reading. So, I'll keep those, but I'll have to return the others for nylon.

So, I'm being like a guy and wearing a t-shirt and my bloomers around the house! What? It's no different than men's boxers!!

Well, I learned a tequila lesson this past weekend. Remember? I told you I met up with my high school/college friend? Well, I went to her house to a pool party on Saturday. Margarita's and wine in tow.........didn't touch the wine...I wore my new pink swimsuit.....and drank the margarita's. On an empty stomach. In the sun. WOWZA......that was a mistake! I toddled around her yard going to and fro the bathroom I'm sure looking like an ever-loving fool. Luckily Mr. P had chauffered me there, and picked me up, but, Internet? Let me tell you. Tequila is some wicked stuff! I think for a while I'll stick to my wine spritzers and girly type drinks. Whoo Boy! The hard stuff is....well....HARD!!

I found out today that PhD is COMING FOR A VISIT!! Um......so what that her family lives here and I have to share her? Who CARES!! PhD IS COMING FOR A VISIT! And her hot husband!! AND her hot husband wouldn't care ONE TINY BIT if I walked around in my bloomers. Now, MY husband, on the other hand may not appreciate it. He doesn't appear anywhere but around me in HIS bloomers. Even though people may not know the difference in shorts and his boxers. AND he won't wear his pajama pants anywhere where people may see him. He's such a prude. Son #1 brought in some dude he works with earlier this week, and I'd done my change into my nightgown, and oh well.....it is what it is.........momma in her nightgown.

I made some friend requests on Facebook and so far, all but one HAS ACCEPTED ME! The one who hasn't may not remember me, although he should. He knew me, then he met Mr. P at college, and then I met Mr. P the NEXT year at college, and realized he knew this guy, and we all were happy....so I assume he'll remember me, but who knows.

Well, that's about all I've got for now. I really do have drunken photos from the SWIM SUIT shoot of last week......but Mr. P is messing with *sigh* football pictures and hasn't gotten around to putting MY photos in a format that I can get to. Disk. Or email. Or directly in my photos folder. I'll post them someday. Really. I know you are DYING to see what I look like in my suit. GAH! You'll be sorry! or maybe I'LL be sorry!

toodles for now, peeps!!

Holy Moly!

2010-08-26T17:26:00.003-05:00

Yeah, yeah....WTF ever...I know I was supposed to get on a normal blogging schedule (does anybody else write SCHEDULE while in their mind thinking of the prounciation of a snotty British butler saying SHHHEDGULE??)

There's SO much to talk about today. I should be cooking dinner. Because I invited Teenie and her son to eat with us.....and everything is still in the freezer, and it's 5:20 pm. Now....she hasn't responded to my hurried request for her companionship at dinner, so she may not come. But I ought to cook SOMETHING for my family, don't you think? Friend? fancy dinner. Family? Peanut Butter.

Okay, Monday, I got 4 moles removed. Well 3 moles and a skin tag. Holy Shit. SKIN TAGS! I'm OLD!! See, I'm all worried again about the blog. I've been so lacking in content, I've lost 2 of my 5 readers, and I may have gained another....in the form of Perfectly's Dad's bride........we have a name for her, however.......MARTY....Hi Marty....if you read this. Glad if you do, but worried if you do because you know.....I worry about the verbal vomit that just flows.......but that's part of blogging. Not everyone likes what I say.

Anyway, I wanted my big gnarly pencil eraser sized mole removed from my back so it would look prettier in my Hawaii wedding attire!! I'm a moly person...is it moley or moly? Anyway......I have lots of moles. I'm fair skinned and moley. But I got the worst offender removed, and a (hork) skin tag taken off too. I should be toned and hot...I'm still 22 in my HEART........dammit.

And, I've got bathing suits. I ordered 2 for the trip. Or do you call them swimming suits...or swim suits? Whatever........it's all awkward when stuffing a size 22 body into these bad boys. I've got 2 styles, and yes. I'm going to show pictures. Obviously I'm not doing much to lose the weight, so it is what it is. I need to learn to LOVE myself, right? I can be a fat hottie, can't I? I'll do it later. After some wine, maybe. The Hawaiian people can be a little on the chunky side so maybe some people will APPRECIATE my rubenesque-ness.

Oh, guess what? The warm fuzzies came on again today!! I chatted with my college roommate on Facebook for a while! Y'all know how I love to connect with old friends. I wasn't a very nice college roommate. I got a boyfriend right away, and we were inseperable. Looking back, I realize that maybe one shouldn't be such an asshole to friends when you get a boyfriend, but I snagged a good one! 26 years later we are still together! But anyway, I failed Chrissy as a roommate. She moved out 2nd semester.......I still feel bad that I ran her off. But anyway, we've kept in touch some over the years. We were in each other's weddings, etc......and we visited today. It's just so cool. We plan to get together and get drunk. I mean.....visit over some appetizers and a scant glass of wine.

Okay, back to Marty. We had her birtday Dinner a couple of weeks ago, and it was so fun. I asked her if I could introuduce her to you guys and show pictures on my blog, and she said I could!! YAY!! She's more conservative than I, so I wondered if she'd be put off, but she was on the bandwagon........as long as she gets to approve any photos of herself that I post. I think that's pretty fair. Especially since I didn't really give Perfectly's Dad that option. Although he's not been on here alot, I've snuck a picture or two of him here, and he's been none the wiser. So, I worry that my bad words and irreverent attitude towards drinking and hot men will offend her. I haven't had the 'talk' with her like I did my mom and explain that this is MY blog and I write what I want (sort of....I do worry alot about offending people...I've been worrying for PARAGRAPHS now that I'm going to offend some lovely Hawaiian soul that's rail thin.....), and I expect not to be judged. Unless it's positively and that she think's I'm totally cute. Then she can judge. I hate to have that conversation, because we were sort of THROWN into this blended family thing with dad's Cardiac Arrest......and I like her.......and I hope she likes me.......and you know...what if she STOPS after reading my prattling?

And I'm mildly ticked off at Perfectly's Dad. He watches NCIS ALL. THE. TIME. Even before he got sick. I'd never seen an episode. EVER. I can't get past Mark Harmon playing Ted Bundy in that 80's tv movie. It's always creeped me out a bit, but you know what, Internet? He's kind of HAWT......even as he ages........and the show is actually funny!! And interesting. So I come home from work and turn it on and usually watch two episodes!! It's kind of weird. Gibbs and Abbey are my favorite characters. Then Ziva. I can't believe I got sucked into ANOTHER show....that's been on for like 5 years, and I've missed ALL OF THE EPISODES!!

Okay...I've gotta go try on my bathing/swimming/swim suit and pour some wine. Seriously...I can't believe I committed in writing and in my brain to showing pictures of ME....IN A BATHING/SWIMMING/SWIM SUIT! Being FAT!!! omg!!

Toodles for now.

HI!!!

2010-08-12T10:26:00.001-05:00

I’m sorry I’ve lagged so in my blogging. Things have finally calmed down a bit in the Perfectly world, but I was being lazy. At the farm, our computer is away from the family room, so to have to get up, and go into ANOTHER ROOM to blog just seems like a chore sometimes, so I’ve been putting it off.

But, now that I’m here, I’ve got some REALLY BIG NEWS!! I’m so excited. WE ARE GOING TO HAWAII!! (HI…get it?…..my title?…..it says hi, as in hello, and HI as in HAWAII!!!!!). Yes, thanks to Perfectly’s Dad, my family gets to go on a lovely vacation…again! We went to Mexico 6 years ago, and now Hawaii. Oh, did I mention that there will be a tropical wedding? I didn’t? Oh……well, MY DADDY IS GETTING MARRIED!!! IN HAWAII!!!!

He’s been though one of the roughest health crisis’ I could imagine. This was planned pre cardiac arrest, but obviously, with his health in a tenuous balancing act, we didn’t know how it would pan out. But he’s feeling better, and getting stronger every day, and by later this year, he is confident that he’ll be ready to make the long trip to Oahu for a wedding and vacation. The proposal is official, and we’ve even been DRESS SHOPPING!! The girls that are going all get to be dolled up in more formal beachy attire, and they guys will be in khakis and either polos or long sleeve white shirts. Here is my dress. Mind you, it’s a size 22 and maybe I won’t look as awesome as the skinny model, but still…..A LONG DRESS…….oh, click on the color ‘pool’ (like pool blue in the color swatches) and you’ll see what color I chose. Perfect for tropical weddings, I think!! Of course, I’m hung up on my weight and looking like a popsicle instead of a member of a small wedding party, BUT, I’m still excited as all get out to wear a fancy dress. IN HAWAII!!! The other girls all chose chiffon dresses as well…….and the colors are guava, canary, wisteria and watermelon….so we’ll all look similar but different, and have our own tropical colors to brighten it up. Some dresses are short, some are long…..there are only 3 adults and 2 kids with dresses….and of course the BRIDE (her dress.....I have to get permission from her to show her pictures and identify her....she doesn't even know I have a blog)!!

We will go to a nice restaurant on the resort property afterwards, and call it done. I think they want SOME glitz and glamour, but yet quiet and simple, too….so there won’t be any crazy dancing or flowers braided into our hair (although the Hippie in me thinks that would be AWESOME). It’s going to be a totally fun, and exciting day and week!! There will be pictures and I’m sure lavish descriptions. They are getting married at one of the resort wedding venues, and not on the beach, but it OVERLOOKS the beach from what I gather. How exciting is THAT? It will be just family…12 of us, I think, including Dad and Bride……

My brain is spinning from all the excitement of a vacation and the glamour of a beach WEDDING!! I can hardly contain myself.

My 17 yr old son can’t wait to buy a t-shirt that proclaims “I got lei’d”. And my eldest is being a little more reserved on his expression of any excitement. I can’t wait to see the sights and beauty of Hawaii. Of course Mr. P is practically VERKLEMPT at the photo opportunities. Or at least I’d like to think he is. He’s pretty reserved, too. While I’ve been buying travel books and whooping it up, he’s been quietly sitting back and watching me be a fool.

So, there. That’s some GOOD news coming from my world…..compared to the latter half of June and beginning of July, this is AWESOME………

Happy Wednesday……Toodles for now!!

What a difference 3 weeks makes!

2010-07-12T10:01:00.000-05:00

Well, my dad is home recuperating. It will be a long, slow process, but he’s home……doing alright and should make a full recovery.

There are still a lot of things to do and milestones to surpass. Even small things are tough right now……but each day he is better, recovering and will get stronger.

His heart stopped. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is what they call it. And 95% of people who suffer this at home do not survive. NINETY FIVE PERCENT. The reason being is because once the heart stops, then no oxygen gets to where it needs to be….and people perish. A defibrillator is necessary to ‘shock’ the heart back into rhythm…..and generally speaking, people do not have these conveniently stowed away for use! He now has a defibrillator/pacemaker in his chest………..portable, and convenient, so should this happen again, he has that immediate response that should get the heart started.

You guys, this was scary. Life altering, scary. I am sure I haven’t dealt with all the emotions this stirred up, and of course my own weight issues will worry me…….it has been a stressful several weeks. I am more than grateful that he’s okay, and considering this DID happen, it’s the best possible outcome, but man…....what a difficult trip it’s been.

In other news…….well, there really is no other news. We are finally just in the last several days beginning to get back to a semblance of normal in our lives………..Dad is at home and we don’t go over all the time like we did when he was in the hospital. He needs to get to a semblance of ‘normal’ himself…..and us hovering isn’t ‘normal’. Nothing about his life is ‘normal’ right now….but it has to be ‘normal’ for now. Taking a shower is a chore, right now, and healing is of the FIRST priority. In the next couple of weeks he’ll have cardiac rehab set up and the onslaught of follow up doctor visits will begin.

So, that’s it. Update over. Let’s hope I can get back to a normal blogging schedule!

Happy Monday!

Toodles for now!

Out of commission

2010-06-23T08:59:00.002-05:00

Well, I will be out of commission a while longer, internet........My dad has been in the hospital for over a week, and will be there probably a week longer.

He suffered a cardiac arrest on 6/15/10 (which was his birthday) and they said he wouldn't make it. The first responders, EMT, and hospital provided resuscitation and CPR for 35 minutes, and shocked his heart 17 times in that 35 minutes.

He made it, and is doing well, believe it or not. However, he has bypass surgery tomorrow, and we've been told we aren't out of the woods yet. *sigh*

I have been at the hospital most of that time. We've gone out to eat twice, and other than that picked up food that can be taken there. This is my first opportunity to let you all know where I've been.

My Text buddy, Ms. Darkstar has been there all week, and I can't tell you how I appreciate her, and of course Jakki. Jakki came over to the hospital at 11 pm when all of this happened and was 'there' for me. She's been my rock!

I'll be around, but how much? I don't know. Think positive thoughts that his bypass will be successful and he'll be the same ornery, sometimes crotchety Perfectly's dad that I know and love.

Toodles for now.

Bottle Baby

2010-06-11T13:59:00.001-05:00

Well, Internet….what…it’s been 3 weeks since we moved to the farm? We’ve already got a calf that needs to be bottle fed. As in a cow sized bottle with a teat sized nipple. And a baby momma that doesn’t take kindly to people feeding her offspring. I guess baby momma isn’t making milk for the baby. So, I was sent last Sunday to the city of Eldon, Mo, to purchase calf formula. And it’s EXPENSIVE stuff! I wonder if they have bovine WIC or milk replacement food stamps or anything?

Baby cows (or calves as they are supposed to be called) are really cute. They aren’t all crusty with other cow’s shit yet. Their hide is soft and their little noses are wet like a dog’s. They frolic in the cooler evenings and like all babies, want to suck CONSTANTLY. Those poor cow momma’s. How it must be to have a several hundred pound baby suckling at your udder.

Son #2 broke his collarbone last Friday at the Mizzou Football Camp. Yeah, that was an experience. We took him to the Orthopaedic doctor on Tuesday for a follow up (after going to Urgent Care). And since I don’t have a flair for comedy or words, I won’t be able to artfully articulate what happened there. But is really was totally funny. A young man arrived in the room and introduced himself as the Ortho doctor’s resident. He reviewed Son #2’s x-ray, and turned to face him and asked (rather, confirmed) that it was the LEFT clavicle that was broken. He sat on the stool and proceeded to exam the RIGHT collarbone. For a second, I thought maybe he wanted to compare the non broken to the broken one, but it soon became apparent that he was going by HIS left and not my son’s left. I looked at Mr. P and his expression and immediately lost my cool. I laughed so hard that tears were streaming……belly was jiggling and generally making a complete FOOL of myself. Mr. P got tickled as did son #1. Nobody could regain their composure enough to TELL the resident that he was examining the GOOD collarbone! Finally, after getting kind of a bewildered look from the resident, I tried to stop laughing in this man’s face. I breathed; I bit my lip and finally settled down just a touch. Then, Mr. P finally composed himself to tell they guy he had examined the wrong bone, and I lost it AGAIN. It’s like laughing in Church…you know you shouldn’t….but you can’t help it. The ‘preacher’ (doctor) is giving you dirty looks and all it serves to do is make you laugh HARDER.

Then the real doctor arrived and we had to pretend like we hadn’t behaved like a pack of hyenas in front of his resident. That was 10 minutes of my life that I wish I could take back, FOR SURE.

So, what have YOU been up to? It’s been a rough few weeks at the Perfectly house, so my blogging has kind of waned a bit. Not that the fives of you would really miss it!

Anyway, Happy Friday….y’all KNOW how I love Friday nights!

Toodles for now!

I AM a winner!

2010-06-04T12:05:00.002-05:00

Guess what you guys? I WON SOMETHING. I entered a contest HERE and was the winner of some AWESOME Rachel Ray casserole dishes.

I read her site today (I was a bit behind) and saw my name!! As the WINNER!! She said that I would get an e-mail...which of course I didn't have...so she re-sent it, and out of the TONS of junk mail I get, I actually remember seeing her name...with the subject of YOU HAVE WON or something to that effect. I get so much junk mail from girl on girl websites, payday loans,etc, that when I saw a 'girl' name with that as the subject, I figured it was porn.....or a loan......

hahaha...the joke was on ME......it was LEGIT!

So, I sent her a rambling note back referring to lesbian pay day loan sites (jokingly, of course), and now worry that I've offended. Cause y'all KNOW around here, the gays and lesbians are a facinating topic for me...in a good way, not a judgemental petty way. LOVE THE GAYS!!

So, I'm a bit blue because none of my buddies want to hang out tonight. There's a 'foam party' at one of the clubs at the Lake tonight. Yes...I know I'm old....and fat....which makes me NOT a candidate for one of these places, but it would be so fun to go watch........just to SEE what it's all about!'

OH...speaking of the Lake of the Ozarks...Son #1 got a MAYBE job there....a PROBABLY JOB??..in a nightclub....as a fry/grill cook. Keep your fingers crossed that it will really happen. They said they'd call him this weekend after the schedule was made, but no words of 'you are hired' were uttered, so it PROBABLY is okay, but I still worry. It's an ON THE WATER dance club.......meaning they have the dance floor and club out by the lake (I assume).....so what a fun place for an almost 20 yr old to work, huh? I hope it works for him.

Son #2 is at the MIZZOU football camp...and Mr. P is going up to shoot photos. So I'm on my own...no husband....no kids....and apparently NO FRIENDS!!! I'm looking for someone to go to the ANIMAL SWAP MEET with me. It's a weird mix of people, animals, and junk that people sit around and sell...or swap......some of the folk are quite a site. Different than the folk in my world!! It's quite the people watching experience..for sure!

We've not solved our dog containment issue on the farm yet. We need an undergound fence...which aren't terribly expensive. HOWEVER the collars are OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive...like up to $129.99 each!! Even though the systems come with one included, we still need to buy 2 more compatible collars.....and it's expensive! They've been pretty good. We take them out on a leash (which they hate) and sometimes just let them out with us in the yard watching. KNOCK ON WOOD this has worked well for now. No darting off after Cows or Cats, yet. Actually, I don't think they've SEEN any cats........so the jury is still out as to how this will work if/when they catch site of one. One that isn't their inside cat!! And, if we can sneak them out one by one...it works even better, because they THINK they are getting something special!

Well, I'm out of here. Thanks SARAH for having the contest!! And wish son #1 luck with his nightclub cook job! God, I hope he gets it!!

This post promises to be even more random than normal

2010-05-27T08:51:00.004-05:00

OMG you all!! I have SOOOOOO much to talk about, yet none of it is really any big deal. I don’t know EVEN where to start.

Okay, we’ll start with Moving. It sucks. I hate it. We have half of our stuff at the farm and half in the old house….that is filthy and awful right now. I’ve lost my underwear (I can’t say panties, because I wear the granny ones….and those are UNDERWEAR). I have a few pair that I have to wash a lot, but my regular drawer full of choices is GONE. So, who knows where it’ll turn up. We lost money too….and found it in a garbage bag. Maybe my unders are there, too!

I have boxes everywhere, and am losing steam to get them unpacked. We’ve got so much to do that it isn’t even funny anymore. There is really no rush, except in my head….because I want it DONE…..but I don’t WANT to do it….it’s a bizarre state of affairs right now.

Oh, and I was FRUGAL earlier this week. Maybe farming will make me that way. I wanted to make a stir fry recipe and didn’t have any chicken breast. The store had BONE-IN chicken breasts on sale for .99 a POUND, so that was far more economical. I bought a couple of packages and went home and began butchering. I cut away the breast meat from the bones (well most of it….I am not a very good butcher) and threw the rest into a baking pan with onions and pepper parts and asparagus ends and ROASTED the bones to make STOCK. I boiled the stock and put it into 5 freezer containers for future use. THEN we took the boiled bones/skin down to the barn for the cats to snack on. Oh, and I used my fresh herbs that I harvested from my herb garden to flavor the stock. I am like PIONEER WOMAN or something!

Then on Tuesday night I had an embarrassing moment. I wanted to watch Idol. The last couple of weeks, I’ve not watched as much and just read who was kicked off….and watched highlights and so on. But I was tired and wanted to relax. I turned on the humongous television that was left for us and pulled up the ‘guide’. I typed in AMERICAN IDOL and it told me what channel it was on. As I was looking at the guide I realized the Glee was on (duh…how could I forget GLEE???). I tried to turn the channel, and it said ‘no subscription for this channel’. OMFG. No glee? I can live without AI, but GLEE? No freaking way. I called Direct TV to find out how much a new package would cost so I could see Glee. THAT NIGHT.

The customer service lady pointed out, while chuckling at me, that we probably had a local FOX affiliate. I asked her to look and tell me the channel. Whew. I had it after all. She thought I was nuts for not wanting to miss Glee. Mr. Schuester is HOT you guys. Hotty Mc Hot!! Take a look at this photo…..WHO KNEW that under his teacher-esque wardrobe of Glee that Matthew Morrison looked like THIS?? Yowza. Then they showed previews from next week’s Glee episode and he’s trying to ‘fake’ seduce Sue Sylvester (if you don’t’ watch the show, then you won’t understand how funny that is). And let me tell you…….YUMMY. Can’t wait.

So, that about wraps up my week. Moving, frugality, lusting after Mr. Schuester and I’m tired. Oh, during the move, my special lady time arrived. That could be the reason for the crazy setting in this week, to!

Although, I have to say. Mr. P and Son #2 worked themselves to the BONE last Saturday to move us. They worked HARD y’all. Somehow they didn’t get the crazy like I did. I know they are more tired than me, but I’m still gonna say it. I’m tired. My knees and feet hurt, and I don’t know where to put shit. I JUST DON’T KNOW!! I just want it magically done. Can someone arrange that for me?

Have a good weekend, Internets! I need to work (like at my job) and obsess about moving and Matthew Morrison some more.

Toodles for now!!

Daisy Duke is IN DA HOUSE!!!

2010-05-19T09:18:00.012-05:00

Well. Remember when I talked about Perfectly Dad’s farm here? Well, it’s about to be Mr. P and Perfectly’s farm!! Well, not exactly the whole farm, but the house that sits on the farm. I KNOW!! Perfectly will be a farmer! Yep……Elly May here.

My dad has had this farm for 15 years. My whole life I heard him talk about wanting a farm. There are cattle on it…..a hay field…..a garden! However, he has purchased a house in my city and has moved back to town. He doesn’t want to give up his farm completely. He knows how much Mr. Perfectly loves to putter around the farm, so he suggested in January that maybe Mr. P and I buy the house and maybe 10 acres or so of yard/land and do the day to day stuff to deal with the cows, and he could still be a ‘gentleman farmer’ and come out on weekends and help during really busy times…..hay time……etc.

Mr. P is beside himself with excitement. He loves the solitary time at the farm. He’s not a terribly socially active person and prefers to hang out with just family----so this farm thing is totally for him!!

The house is actually bigger than our current house. It’s a ranch style home, built in the 1980’s, so it’s a little newer than the one we live in now. I am guessing it’s around 1700-1800 square feet. Here’s the thing. It’s ALL ON ONE LEVEL….come on ladies…..you KNOW how awesome that is! No more lugging groceries, or laundry!! We will have 2 full bathrooms for the first time ever----and the master bath? ……DRUMROLL PLEASE……… is as big as our current BEDROOM is! Can you IMAGINE? It has a 60 gal Jacuzzi tub-----it’s round, and is set into the floor---not just a Jacuzzi tub that looks like a tub….this is like a SPA tub or something. The kitchen is HUGE (by my standards) and was remodeled several years ago…with custom cabinetry! There is a 20x20 (roughly) family room with a fireplace.

Now, this may put a crimp in my social life. The farm is 25 miles away from Jefferson City. I won’t be able to just ‘run’ to the grocery, or just ‘run’ to do something with Teenie or Jakki. It will require a little more planning, which is something I don’t do well. However, the pros far outweigh this potential ‘crimp’ and I’ll have so much more room that more people can maybe visit me and we won’t have to go ‘out’.

We will take this kind of slow……my current house needs A L O T of work. A lot. It will get remodeled and eventually sold. So there is no ‘closing’ or deadline to get every thing out and clean and what not. We can be more leisurely about that.

However, I’m beginning to get more emotional than I thought. I think of the stereotypical moving day/days. You get a bunch of family and friends together to move. Your family and friends are cussing you because they don’t WANT to help you move, but dammit someone had helped THEM move before so they are obligated. The people moving are stressed, everyone tries to be polite, but dread the day, and end it with beer and pizza…..right? I don’t have anyone. My family (except dad) lives in Iowa. I have a very small group of friends…..and one will be on vacation and another lives in Iowa, too! Who does one call to help? I’ve unfortunately been a little weepy over that today. I’m sure Freud or someone who understands the psyche would explain that my weepiness is due to other factors……like MOVING, but manifesting itself into something different. My oldest son has been such a downer lately, and doesn’t want to be in the same ROOM with us, so I don’t even know if I can count on him. It makes me so freaking sad. I’ve always wanted a huge social network, and it’s not meant to be I guess. So, me, Mr. P and son #2 at least will plug along and start the moving process. Hopefully son #1 will jump on board, too.

And y’all thought my goat and chicken posts were odd, huh? I actually have a place to PUT them should I want to! I am fortunate to have such an awesome dad that it will afford me the luxury of moving to a bigger, newer house. How exciting!!

Here are some photos taken w/ a cell phone, so sorry for lack of clarity.

I will admit that the 'style' of decor is a little dated....and not my style, HOWEVER, that can be changed in time, so no making fun of emerald green and copious amounts of wallpaper and paneling people......2 FULL BATHROOMS.........got it?

Toodles for now

Cleaning Frenzy

2010-05-17T10:08:00.000-05:00

Hello, Internet!! I need your STELLAR advice.

Um, do you remember the pesky little issue I have with not being a very good housekeeper? Well, the proverbial ‘THIS WILL BITE YOU IN THE BUTT’ moment has arrived. My house STINKS. Yes, the humidity exacerbates the problem, but frankly, when I can smell my own house….musty basement, doggie smell and the KING of HOUSEHOLD ODORS…..cat pee, you KNOW you have a problem, because face it…..you don’t smell your own house………so when you CAN smell it, and smell it A LOT….it’s a real problem.

So, what are some cheap, tried and true remedies for elimination of odor? In my basement, I don’t care about how it affects flooring. It will have to be replaced at some point, so if it requires horrible chemicals, and so forth, then BRING IT…because the cat pee is the most pungent and identifiable.

Now, here’s the thing. I’ve googled this. And I’ve gotten some really good ideas. On top of actual IDEAS, I’ve heard to call your veterinarian to see how THEY manage pet odors. So, I call my trusty vet. NOTHING. Just the receptionist with her own “this is what I do at home” stuff. Not what I was asking. So, I thought “who better than the Animal Shelter”????? Same damn thing. No shelter tricks, but she told me to use Febreeze. That’s what she uses at home.

Well, folks, febreeze is not the solution for my problem! Why wouldn’t a shelter have some amazing thing they use? Even if they can’t sell it to me…….

So, Jakki brought out the BIG GUNS and suggested I call a Restoration company…….like Service master or something. So I did. Basically the same damn thing. He at least told me that they use Service Master products and can’t sell them, but no home grown tricks that I hadn’t read on google.

So, here’s what I think I will do. Google has several ‘recipes’ in varying combinations using vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and a couple of drops of dish soap. I think I’ll try it. Here’s the plan. Douse the floor with baking soda and top it with the vinegar. Let it bubble. For quite a while. Then, clean it up.

THEN, take the peroxide with soap mixed in and allow IT to set on the floor for 15 minutes or so. Then clean THAT up. I’ve heard it works.

What do YOU think? The cat pee is pretty limited to a 2x6 foot area that we have blocked off for his use. He get perturbed when his box gets messy and sometimes uses the floor around the box. Hence the soaked in odor.

Now, I need solutions for getting dog/cat smell (general smell not necessarily urine) out of the rest of the house. HEEELLLLPPPPP.

Oh……why now? Why so up in arms? Well, we are moving. That’s part of my big ‘secret’ I’ve alluded too. And a large part of my anxiety…….but that’s all I can say. For now. That’s a little tidbit of info. No city changes, etc. Just a house change. However, that means that my house will need to be sold at some point. And I doubt a potential home buyer will desire a house with that pesky pet odor.

So, bring on the home remedies. Mind you, they need to be pretty cheap…..I can’t afford professional restoration people or cleaning people.

Oh, are any of you antique buffs….or know anything about antiques? If so, let me know so I can e-mail you a photo of something I bought as a gift……….again, can’t say more as the recipient reads this!!

Thanks! Happy Monday….toodles for now!!

Ch Ch Ch Changes

2010-05-06T10:15:00.000-05:00

Turn and face the strange………..

It has recently come to my attention that I do not like change. Hm. How could I have gone SO MANY YEARS and not figured it out before now?

I tout myself as being free wheeling…….spur of the moment……….roll with the punches kind of person. And in many ways, I am. But true CHANGE isn’t settling well with me. Lifestyle changes. Relationship changes. BIG things.

I guess I consider my life to be warm and fuzzy. A comfy blanket that I can keep wrapped around me for security. And suddenly, the blanket needs to be washed, and I’m WITH OUT IT for a while…..and when it comes back, it smells different.

Now, this whole realization has STOMPED on my already trampled world. And I think I don’t like it. I should be able to adapt to anything. To gracefully accept what comes my way. I can’t BELIEVE that I thought I already mastered this. Change is ROCKING MY WORLD, people. And it’s not pretty.

Obviously, I have hinted at some things today and in earlier posts, which I STILL cannot discuss, *sigh* But the really sad part of it all is that some of the change in my life IS NOT BAD. It is GOOD!! But it’s change….and it triggers my anxiety like NOBODY’S business. I hate it.

I like the things in my life to be constant. I didn’t like the NCAA tournament messing with my TV schedule. Same with breaking news and weather reports; I don’t LIKE that my kids won’t listen to me anymore. That they have to make their own decisions and fail if necessary; I don’t like things not going my way! There. I said it. I am a big baby brat.

But one of the BIGGEST changes that freaks me out is realizing that I don’t DEAL WELL WITH CHANGE. I’ shocked, dismayed and embarrassed! I thought I did! Oh…..I also like to be right. A lot. I go to great lengths to assure that I am right when I feel the need. Again…not a very becoming characteristic.

So, Internet….I have a new self help project. DEAL WITH CHANGE! Happily! Gracefully!

Who’s taking bets on when my next meltdown will be? Does the Kitty get split with me?

Happy Thursday---this is my Friday as I’m off work tomorrow!! A 3 day weekend!! And one not without controversy, either. Read the Missouri news…..we are off for Harry S. Truman’s BIRTHDAY….and due to budgetary issues, people are up in arms….lots of commenting on news stories in the papers, etc.

The holiday is being removed from our official holiday rosters next year because of budget cuts……but there are lots of ‘for’ and ‘against’ us taking it this year.

So, Happy end of the week !!

She's a Beauty

2010-05-04T17:31:00.003-05:00

She's one in a Million Girls!!

Well, Internets.......Son #2's truck got hit. He wasn't in it, thankfully. He was in weightlifting. I got the COOLEST phone call. A cell phone number that I didn't recognize right off hand called, and I answered (you know....one of the kids) and son #2's girlfriend was on the phone.

She was quite tentative at first saying "I really don't' know how to tell you this"...and I'm thinking that something happened with her and #2 or something. She was calling to tell me that she was going to put her things in his truck, while waiting for him to get out of weightlifting, and realized that someone had hit his truck. She was trying so hard to explain the scenario.......I couldn't wrap my mind around it.......where he was parked, etc.

As it turned out, he parked in a completely different place. He didn't go into school until around 11 am because he had strep. He had to wait 24 hours on antibiotics to go in. So he couldn't find a place to park.

Anyway---girlfriend was calling me....the MOM to tell me about the accident. That #2 didn't know about it, that the police were being called, and what should she do?

I can't tell you how impressed I am by this. Many girls AND buddies would just stand there slack jawed, with their fingers up their nose wondering....'dude....wow' or something. Girlfriend was level-headed and awesome to think to let me know. I was able to get there, talk to the police and the parent of the other car driver, and get things figured out. #2 was even able to finish his lifting session!

So, back to my post of a couple of weeks ago.....don't give teens a bad rap. Some of them are smart, funny, level headed, kind and thoughtful. Some teens are confident and care enough about things to call a parent.

Girlfriend is always a pleasure to have around. She's not shy around us, she's not embarrassed when #2 is driving to call us and tell us their plans or to keep us abreast of plans.

It's a pleasure to know responsible teens. Hat's off to Girlfriend!

Now, for the details. He had to park on a street space which is under a parking lot with a hill. A car rolled down the hill and hit him in the passenger side door. Hard. The girl tried to stop the vehicle, and it rolled over her. She wasn't injured badly, but was pretty scraped up.

Here's a diagram that I made in Paint.net. No laughs or anything. I can't sign my own name or make a stick figure, so deal with it!! Seriously, a young child could do better than this.+

The blue car came backwards down the hill and hit his burgundy/tan truck.

So, now we have a damaged truck. Just after we got the drive shaft fixed. If the insurance company totals it, then we are S.O.L. he won't have transportation and it will suck. SUCK.

I'd like to point out that I was grousing over the financial stuff....and Ms. Darkstar reminded me that a broken truck can be fixed but a broken kid is hard to mend. So, thanks a ton Ms. D for putting my woes into perspective. I needed that.

So, two posts in a day from Perfectly!

Hope the evening is easier than the afternoon.....oh and thanks to Girlfriend. She made this SO much better!!

Toodles for now.

Mother Earth

2010-05-04T10:56:00.005-05:00

So. The Farmer’s Market. OMG!! Can I just say that I need some Birkenstock, a peasant skirt and some beads? Oh, and some armpit and leg hair?

Teenie and I went slightly unprepared, but in a pinch, we worked it out. We realized that we didn’t have any natural fiber bags. Or ANY bags….we thought. I had brought an insulated grocery bag for the goat cheese we were planning on buying, and dug up another re-usable grocery bag in the depths of my Explorer, and off we went. Bags empty…..waiting to be filled with natures bounty. Granted, these were polyester bags, but they were re-usable. We found some hippy lady dancing behind a table selling natural fiber bags for the bounty at $10 apiece. We just stared at her dancing and moved on. There were plenty of OTHER people with their re-usable, polyester shopping bags, so we weren’t out of place.

We bought nitrate free hot dogs..goat cheese…..greehouse/pesticide free tomatoes…….lettuce……asparagus………eggs……..and some Parmesan/sesame seed cracker bread. Oh, and she bought baguettes. OH, and sauerkraut!! Obviously, the end of April doesn’t bode well for full on vegetables, HOWEVER, despite the chill in the air, and the early season, it was still so much bigger than our market here in Jeff. City. It was packed and people were everywhere. It was amazing.

We went home, and grilled Perfectly’s dad’s hamburger, the nitrate free hot dogs. We used the fresh lettuce and sauerkraut and tomatoes for our burgers and dogs. We didn’t waste anything, because geez……..it’s ‘SPENSIVE!! I know markets are supposed to be supportive of local growers and stuff, but isn’t it also supposed to be cheaper for the consumer? I realize there’s a lot I don’t know, but apparently, you must be ‘certified’ by some agency to call yourself ‘organic’. *snort* Anyway, there was one earnest looking young man with his mixed greens BEAUTIFULLY displayed…in a basket….with some sort of cloth lining the basket. I asked how much his greens were. $12 a POUND. A pound. Twelve Dollars. We quickly moved on and bought our pretty head, butter lettuce for $2.50. We had enough for dinner that night and the next. For $2.50. Not $12. Seriously? I was disappointed in that.

So, now I’ve got 2 bunches of asparagus to use, and 2 tomatoes to find something to use in, and we will be done with our vegetable bounty. I will make quiche with the fresh eggs, and asparagus. I will add turkey and shallot and my oh my it makes a great quiche. With the tomatoes, I’ll make a guacamole. I have an awesome recipe for a guacamole with avocados and CUCUMBERS!! It’s yummy. However, I think I’ll add tomato to the mix, and snack away with my quiche tonight.

It is days like today that make me reflect upon how lucky I am. How happy I am. The skies are blue...and people pop into your life that mean so much. You know who you are! Thank You.

Happy Tuesday!!

Obsessions

2010-04-30T14:03:00.000-05:00

Okay. I am going to self-medicate my desire for organic, self sustaining farming by going to a Farmer’s Market in Columbia, MO!! I’ve heard that they had a Farmer’s market, but I didn’t know much about it.

I go to our local farmer’s market here in Jefferson City. It’s situated in the K-mart parking lot. There are probably a dozen vendors, and of course, the selection is based on season. Right now, the local farmer’s market has baked goods and bedding plants, mostly.

However, it appears that the Columbia Farmer’s market has WAAAAAAYYYY more vendors. Lots of eggs, fresh cut flowers, baked goods (baked with stone ground wheat that they grind themselves!!), herbs, veggies, and meat. We eat a lot of Chicken, so I am going to buy fresh, antibiotic/hormone free chicken! And goat cheese. There are even vendors that sell MUSHROOMS!! M.U.S.H.R.O.O.M.S!! Cultivated, I am sure, but FRESH!! I didn’t even know people GREW mushrooms around here!

Of course, there are honey vendors, berry vendors, ASPARAGUS vendors!! Omg….we love asparagus! I’ve heard it’s a bitch to grow, so we’ve never tried so I always treasure this time of year when it’s less expensive at the grocery store……..but people GROW IT AND SELL IT!

I don’t have a huge budget this month, so I will have to shop wisely, as I am sure fresh, organic, home grown, picked this week stuff is more expensive than the grocery mass market, but I am bound and determined to see what I can get for my dollar! I am so excited, that I for once am anxious for this day/night to be OVER so I can go tomorrow to Columbia!! I love my Friday Nights, so this is surprising!

We are supposed to get a round of severe storms this afternoon/evening. I don’t like storms. Another reason to move on from tonight into TOMORROW!!

I guess I’d better go prepare a menu this week that offers an opportunity for my farmer’s market fare!

Happy Friday! Toodles for now.

Conundrum of Catchphrases and Contradictions

2010-04-27T09:45:00.002-05:00

Well, kids, the only way to say it is that the weekend sucked. I want a do-over. It was rainy, cold (well, not COLD, but chilly and damp, which does NOTHING for my hair), and it just was generally sucktastic at every twist and turn.

For TWO CONSECUTIVE evenings, my plans of grilling burgers and hotdogs and adding my own touches to canned baked beans and making cole slaw were THWARTED!! And tonight we have the annual Football Booster spaghetti dinner. So, my plans will be put aside once again. Have y’all ever had school cafeteria spaghetti? It’s not very appetizing. And to purchase the greasy, flavorless heap o’ noodles is a whopping $8! Yes, it’s for the football program, which we support, because our kids play it, but ewwwww. I think I’d rather pay the $8 to the program, and stay home and eat grilled burgers with green onions in them. If son #2 wouldn’t be offended at our lack of appearance, I think I’d do that. Actually, he wouldn’t be OFFENDED, but he seems excited about the event, and I hate to not let that thrive in him……..so greasy noodles it is. I appreciate the thought behind the event, but it seems like GREEK to me that a simple, more FLAVORFUL tomato sauce can’t be created by SOMEONE with little effort and/or cost………I do it at home all the time.

So. Check out this website
Isn’t it COOL? We’ve eaten this very goat cheese at a cool Bistro in Rural Missouri. RURAL Missouri. If people in a town with less than a few people can cook, why can’t the BIG CITY (HAHA) SCHOOL CAFETERIA?

This Bistro we go to is the neatest place to eat. They take reservations only, and they make homemade GOURMET fare. He makes ricotta cheese FROM SCRATCH an makes FROM SCRATCH ravioli served in garlic and olive oil and OMG……O.M.G. They have only a few things on the menu each weekend and you eat what they are offering. They serve those yummy ravioli as an appetizer as well as warm GOAT CHEESE with herbs and toast points.

So, the goat cheese. From a sustained farm. Fresh. Goats. Grass. Fresh Air. Can we say HELL. TO. THE. YEAH.???? I am so enamored by ‘fresh’ and ‘organic’ and ‘self sustaining’ and all these buzz words of the day. Now I want goats to make cheese. And chickens to lay eggs. I really, REALLY want chickens. To lay eggs and to eat. We already get beef from Perfectly’s Dad. No hormones, no antibiotics. Fresh. Grass. Fresh Air.

Here lies the problem. I don’t want to DEAL with the goats, or chickens or the eggs. Or a garden. Or a compost site. I just want to reap the REWARDS of these efforts. Actually, I could see myself taking food scraps to a compost pile or bin. I could see myself feeding chickens, and maybe even checking for eggs. What I cannot see is cleaning a chicken coop, or for SURE not butchering or de-feathering a chicken. No way.

I am such a citified girl…..no blood….no feathers…no scalding water……..nope….not for me. No turning the earth with compost….no weeding (hey…I’m allergic), no goat hearding or milking……..I just WANT the stuff…….and I want it to be MINE--from MY animals and plants (cheaper…and I know it’s for real).

It’s a sad state of affairs. I want to be a hippie. A bohemian type. A true planet saver. A fresh food forager/getter. But that’s HARD y’all! Really Hard. And it takes A LOT of TIME!

I already TRIED the Shark Steam Cleaner to do my part in saving the earth, and it SUCKED! I’m back to bleach and Lysol and Febreze. Ha!! Gotcha! Not really....I just don't clean much!

So, what's a girl to do? I guess, I'll have to hit the farmer's markets and Mennonite stores for a stash of organic, huh?

Toodles for now.

Marijuana is an Herb!

2010-04-19T16:28:00.002-05:00

Huh! Who knew!

We planted our herb garden this past weekend. Not marijuana, however, but the gold standards....Mint, basil, chives, parsley, thyme, lavendar and rosemary. Oh and one sneaky catnip found its way into my cart.....just to freak Perfectly's dad's farm cats out! I bought some for home and some for the farm...so we'd all have PLENTY of herbs this summer....and I can puree/chiffonad them and freeze them for winter soups, stews and other stuff I want to put them in.

I want a siamese cat. I don't know much about them, but they are stunning.

That's about all I've got today folks.

Oh, wait....I made a batch of hooch over the weekend, too. Not 'hooch', but limoncello. I just call it hooch....'cause that's more fun and folksy and all. I'll let you know how it turns out after a couple of weeks of the everclear steeping with the zest of 12 lemons. Then simple syrup gets added, and it's frozen. Of course, everclear won't freeze, but it makes this syrupy, cold digestif!

Happy Monday, all! Toodles!

Jump the Shark

2010-04-16T12:41:00.002-05:00

So.....I've detailed my housekeeping deficit frequently on this blog. Y'all don't understand. I know that people say "oh, my house is a WRECK" and you find a glass in the sink and a towel neatly draped over the tub. HORRORS!!

I seriously am a loser regarding housekeeping. If 'company' is coming, we make an effort to try to make things presentable, but upon even a cursory inspection, one can see that it's NOT clean and neat.

When I do clean, I want it to be DISINFECTED. I am a firm believer of using bleach and Lysol products to disinfect surfaces. Therefore, I broke down and bought a gadget that I was seriously convinced would aid in my halfhearted housecleaning attempts. One that promised a sanitized and fresh smelling home! One that I researched extensively on frienemy, Google. One that got SHITTY reviews, but there were still those GLOWING reports of how well this gadget did the TOUGHEST of jobs.

I bought a Shark Hand Held Steam Cleaner. One that bursts forth
steam from a small jet to force the 'ick' from the tightest, hardest to reach areas. One with oodles of attachments. One with microfiber pockets to put over the attachments to clean everything from mirrors to pillows!!

Guess what? Huh? Just Guess???......it sucked. Sucked Big Hairy Donkey Balls. I spent over 20 minutes splooshing hot steam into a window sill that hadn't been properly cleaned since we lived here----18 years!! It's been casually wiped, but not deep down, shiny white CLEANED. I just knew this Shark would do the trick. And it didn't. It just blew wet dirt around. It loosened some of the deep in-the-cracks grime, but woo hoo. Bleach and a toothbrush would have done the same thing. My bathroom still faintly smells like stale pee and my windows/mirrors/toilet etc are no cleaner than I could have done it with a Lysol wipe. And the worst part? 86 EFFING DOLLARS!! $86!!! I'll be visiting Target later this afternoon to return it.

I guess I'll have to buy some dollar store brushes and get after the yuck, huh?

I HATE cleaning.

happy Friday!!

Gut-Wrenching

2010-04-13T11:07:00.001-05:00

How do you say “I’m Sorry” to people you don’t know? Son #1 lost two friends to a horrific car accident Sunday night. TWO. BOYS. 19 and 20 yrs of age.

This is the phone call in the night that every person imaginable dreads; but parents especially. Parents worry unendingly about this ‘call’.

I don’t know the families of the boys involved, however, I wish I could just find them and hug them. How tragic to lose your child.

I lost twin daughters in 1989. I was 5 and a half months pregnant when I went into premature labor. I was devastated. D.E.V.A.S.T.A.T.E.D. I didn’t know how I’d ever go on. Someone I worked with told me how sorry they were, but that I should be grateful that I didn’t ‘have’ my twins for long. I was furious. How could anyone make such a COLD-HEARTED remark? Did this woman not UNDERSTAND that I’d just lost my BABIES?

Now I understand. 21 years later, I understand. Losing your babies IS devastating, and it changed who I was! But to bear, raise and love a child for 20 years, then lose them? Unimaginable. The dreaded ‘phone call’. It sends fear down my spine.

I may complain about the trials of parenting, and the antics my kids do and the heartache they cause. But they are alive. They are healthy. They are ABLE to be difficult! They are able to BE whatever they want! For this I am grateful.

One of the boys was a close friend of Son #1. I know he is grieving. As much as it pains me to think of using someone else’s tragedy…..I hope if ANYTHING can come of it, that the kids can see what happened, and LEARN from it. Learn to be a safer driver, etc. That the kids can all see how families and friends are suffering right now. Maybe, if nothing else, those kids will learn.

As a stuffy parent, learning her way back into the teenage world 30 years later………I will say…don’t judge. Don’t roll your eyes at the pierced, tattooed, orange haired teen you pass on the street. This is someone’s CHILD. This may be just a person who loves to express himself!! Don’t judge the ‘nerdy’ kids, or the ‘popular’ kids, or the ‘hick’ kids, or the ‘goth’ kids. They are all just kids. Trying to feel their way through life. A teenager may have it right. Express yourself….let your inner talents FLOW….don’t conform…..stay true to yourself and what you believe. We as adults may learn a lesson from those teens that we shy away from…………….the teens that we sometimes fear. They may actually ‘get’ it in a backwards kind of way. Be loyal to your friends……..live life to the fullest. The sad part, is that these same teens that ‘get it’, don’t ‘get’ the fact that there are CONSEQUENCES.

Ah, consequences. Isn’t that why as adults we become stuffy? We know if we pierce or tattoo our bodies and dye our hair wild colors that our co-workers will judge us. We may not get a promotion….our clients may turn away from us. We conform. Because if we don’t …there are consequences.

How we HATE the consequences! We stay in a dead end job, because we HAVE a job…and ‘what if’ we went and did something we were passionate about? Maybe we’d LOSE our jobs! Does a teen care? No way……..it’s a CHALLENGE! Parents of small children(especially) may not go out for an evening or weekend with their friends, because *gasp* they are a PARENT….and couldn’t POSSIBLY leave the baby! What would others THINK if I went and had ‘FUN’ and left my kid! Not a teen…..they’d go on and have fun with their friends, rather than isolate themselves.

Consequences. Somehow we as PEOPLE need to grasp the need for consequences, and the differences in that as opposed to perceived consequences….the standards we hold ourselves and others to because that’s what we THINK is right. So, here’s my challenge. LIVE LIKE A TEEN! LOVE LIKE A TEEN! Bear in mind the serious consequences of things, but let societies restraints go for a while. We’d all be better for it.

Rest in peace, boys. You will be missed greatly by the HUGE group of teens and adults that loved you.

Drive Shaft on the GROUND....looking like I'm BROKE with a DRIVE SHAFT ON THE GROUND!!!

2010-04-01T19:11:00.003-05:00

Seriously Ellen. Call me. Make me Laugh. Have me and Son #2 to your show and all the little teenagers and tweens will think he's ADORABLE. I am still on my mission to meet you and have my adorable son meet you too. He has a serious Ellen crush!

Today, I had an eye Doctor appt. Our weather man promised it to flirt with record breaking high temperatures. The birds were singing, the grass is practically growing before my eyes! I was off work, even if it was for an eye Dr. appt.....how awesome was THIS going to be?

Then PERFECTLY luck kicked into high gear. When I got into the car, I saw the vet had called. They don't randomly call....so I did something I DETEST...and called the vet and said "Hi....this is Perfectly, and I saw you called my cell phone????" Yes...I was one of THEM. Anyway, they informed me that one of my dogs was down the street at a neighbor's house. I was supposed to call the guy...Ross. I'm asking the Vet how Copper got to Ross's....as if she'd know......but instead I just got a phone number. I called Ross and found out that he lived a couple of doors down...I inquired to see if he happened to notice two OTHER dogs, and he didn't. I sped home, made sure that the other two were in the house (they were). I picked up Copper, and took him home. I think the guy may be a police officer. There's a house right there that a cop lives in.....and I think that may be it. So Copper did the right thing when he got lost, and found a policeman.

So, I set off to Hy Vee to pick up ingredients for an awesome veggie sandwich that I'd seen. I was in the liquor aisle (WHAAAATTT??? I was just looking....sheesh), when Son #2 called and said that his truck was broken. I asked HOW was it broken. He said that the Transmission fell out of it. Holy Crap....the TRANSMISSION? I inquired "fell out??"...and was told Yes...FELL OUT.

I crazily tried to reach Mr. P while trying to get to my kid, with a gazillion transmission parts all over some street. Mr. P and Son #2 talked and they determined that it wasn't really the transmission...but the drive train...or drive shaft...or SOMETHING necessary to make the truck GO. Apparently this is bad, but not nearly as bad as a whole transmission.

So, I abandoned the thought of lovely grilled eggplant and red pepper sandwiches with pesto and goat cheese and went to a fast food place (I hadn't eaten since 10 am....what of it??) It was sort of just okay. Oh, and who happened to drive up behind me? My Oldest who was there to buy a soft drink...who graciously hopped out of HIS car and ran up to mine where I was ordering asking me to buy his large drink.

So I came home, and waited the result of the truck. They are out doing boy things like probably looking underneath and trying to diagnosis it (yep.....SOMETHING fell off........nope...it won't START). Then we'll take it somewhere to see if it can be fixed, or if we'll have to put it down.

Now, I know we are LUCKY. We have two working vehicles. But the sheer convenience of having the boys having their own vehicles is because WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE them EVERYWHERE...Which makes our lives so. much. easier. I should grouse.....we have transportation, we have a home, we have everything we need, but sometimes the Princess in me STILL wants to shout that I am ALREADY STRESSED. I have two teenage boys.....a full time job......a 'secret' that I have to fret about.....my eldest teenage son that I worry NON-STOP about (that friends is fodder for another post), and now a stinking drive SOMETHING or other that is on the ground. Hey....maybe I could get Ellen to let me sing 'Drive Shaft on the Ground' on American Idol and become an overnight success!! I could GET a newer vehicle for me and pass the older one on to the boy!!

So, now the house is hot and humid. Outside is LOVELY, but there's no-one here to sit out there with me...and the dogs aren't the best conversationalists.

So I'm grousing here. Admittedly, I shouldn't. I have so many PERFECT things in my life...I shouldn't let teenagers, a stressful change, or a truck get me down.

But it does....oh, and I have bi-focals. This is not new but they had to 'up' the strength of them, and I'm mildly nauseous from weird glasses and contacts.

C'mon Ellen......don't you FEEL MY PAIN? Oh..I'll twitter you too...or tweet you, or whatever......I'm on a QUEST!!

Happy Summer when it's still early Spring!!

The Glitch

2010-03-30T11:25:00.000-05:00

Yes, the Sprint Glitch is BAAAACCCKKKK! I’ve contacted Brandon in Executive Services…..who actually is nice, he just isn’t doing what I want, so I’m ticked. I’ve spoken to a manager ABOVE Brandon…a Richard Layne and he’s none too pleased with me, either.

Yea….the saga continues. The ‘glitch’ is a billing glitch. So after I chewed everyone I could POSSIBLY get hold of on Friday, on Sunday, amazingly, Mr. P’s phone stops working. K.A.P.U.T. The keys won’t make anything happen. Incoming calls can be seen on the screen, but not answered….texts can’t be sent or received, etc. I’d used the phone myself on Sunday morning…then he went to use it and it was fried.

We took it to a Sprint repair shop, and they say that the phone got wet, thereby voiding the manufacturers warranty. Wet. My Techie husband who never allows ANYTHING to cross contaminate his electronics (he has cases, skins, carriers, etc) got his phone wet? I don’t think so.

I called Sprint back yesterday accusing them of not giving the right diagnosis, or having flagged our file to be a persistent offender and a problem child…or SOMETHING. WE have no idea whether or not Sprint caused the ‘wet’ to be in the keyboard or not. All we know is that it worked, then it didn’t and then they said WE got it wet.

So, then I get up this morning, and check on things and the GLITCH is back. Again. Fourth time in a shade over a week. I got on the horn with Brandon, and he stayed on the line with me during the call to the billing department. Where I talked to a representative, a supervisor AND A MANAGER. I was on with them for over 15 minutes and THANK GAWD Brandon got to hear some of what I was told. It was completely contradictory to the notes previous reps had put onto the record.

Sheesh. So, Mr. P is without a blackberry, the glitch came back and has been fixed. I’ve accused Sprint of rigging my account to disable Mr. P’s phone and still no service credit for any/all of the hassle. I even went to AT&T while on HOLD with Sprint and it would be too expensive to chuck Sprint and their contracts that we are locked into.

I’m baffled folks. Baffled.

Oh……..and I kicked son #1 out of the house. I didn’t stick to it, but I got the nerve to utter the words.

Needless to say, I am a nervous wreck. Hold me Internet…..pleeeeeezzzzeeee?

Toodles for now.

Who you are DOES matter!!

2010-03-26T09:31:00.001-05:00

Remember how I’ve prostituted myself for comments and a wide readership? TODAY is a day that I really wish I was Crissy popular! If I were popular, maybe Sprint would READ THIS and act!!

We carry Sprint service on our cell phones. We’ve recently eliminated our landline (which we’ve had for 20+ years…hyperventilate!!!!), and use our cells almost exclusively. We have a ‘MagicJack’ number to give to people who NEED our phone number on file, but we don’t use it much for calls.

Anyway….Sprint it is. And although we have liked their phones and services, their customer service SUCKS. They are rude, incompetent, and condescending.

This morning (I will try to make this brief….but y’all know how that goes) We had a major glitch. The THIRD glitch this week…..the SAME glitch……three times. This Week.

Each time I’ve called, the people have assured me that the ‘glitch’ is fixed….no worries…..the people before them didn’t fix the ‘glitch’ right…..BLAH BLAH BLAH.

This morning, the GLITCH was back. I dug through my scraps of paper (I have hoarding tendencies for scraps of paper with numbers and notes on them), and found my TRUSTY number for the TOP GUN customer service staff. You have to go through receptionists, and have case numbers and all that shit to talk to these people.

THREE TIMES this morning I called and asked for the Escalation area………..that I did NOT want Account Services or Customer Ser vice…I wanted CORPORATE ESCALATIONS!!! Each time I was transferred, Internets, I got Account Services. HOW MUCH CLEARER DO I NEED TO BE WHEN I SAY ‘I DO NOT WANT ACCOUNT SERVICES’????? Account Services did fix the Glitch, but she was quite Testy in doing so. Therefore, I wasn’t done with my Sprint quest for satisfaction. I was going to TRY to get the corporate people to HEAR ME OUT!!!

Before the fourth time I called, I’d gone to my frienemy, Google, to try to find the number for the President of freaking Sprint these days, and saw a term of ‘Executive Services’. I called my handy number back and asked for Executive Service…..not Account services, or Customer service. Lo and Behold….I got BRANDON in Executive Services.

Yes, he can hear and certainly understand my frustration. But no. He can’t provide me a monetary service credit on my account. The can only do that in cases where Sprint has erred.

Hmmmmm……I asked HIM…explain how Sprint didn’t ‘ERR’?? The GLITCH happened 3 times…in one week, despite 4 phone calls from me to make every effort on my part to FIX the glitch??

He said now that the GLITCH is fixed, the problem was resolved. So I brought out the big guns……asking him TOUGH questions, like ‘so apparently Sprint is okay with your customers receiving crummy service’??

No, ma’am……but we fixed the problem.

(me) Again…after I had to call FOUR TIMES….IN A WEEK to fix the glitch because Sprint didn’t ever take care of it….how is that not Sprint’s fault?

(Brandon) I know you are frustrated, but my area doesn’t get involved with the GLITCH area….we can only intervene in behalf of the customer. Now if you had called Executive services while the GLITCH was still going on and not corrected yet, then I could have intervened for you.

(me…….head spinning into ORBIT): I did try to reach your department….3 times this morning. One of those times was before the GLITCH was corrected, but your operator kept sending me to Account Services when I asked for Corporate Escalations!! The last time, when I finally got YOU, I asked for Executive Services.

(Brandon) see, that’s the problem. You asked for Escalations and not Executive Services. Our operator knows that Escalation starts with Account Services.

(me…..practically screaming) What is WRONG with you people? I may have used the wrong TERMINOLOGY with the word Escalations, but when I told your operator that I DID NOT WANT ACCOUNT SERVICES…maybe something should have clicked with her that I didn’t want to speak to that department, huh?

(Brandon) I don’t know what you want me to do. We can’t get you a credit on your account, because the GLITCH was fixed.

(me) OMFG……are you serious. I’ve had to call your office 4x this week to fix the GLITCH. I NEGELECTFULLY use the incorrect WORD when telling your operator who I wanted to speak with about the GLITCH…..even though I specifically said I didn’t want Account Services…that’s where she sent me. Account Services fixed the GLITCH, but were rude. I finally get ahold of the CORPORATE EXECUTIVE SERVICES…after researching on Google the right term, and because the Glitch was fixed, you can’t offer me any compensation for YOUR ERROR and my HORRIBLE frustration?

(Brandon) Well, I will speak to my managers about your dissatisfaction and will call you back. It ‘should’ be later today.
See, Internets?? If I were popular, Sprint would eventually get this blog and happily handle my customer dissatisfaction. They’d make it right……Apologize all over themselves and credit my account for my near heart attack in trying to communicate with their IDIOT staff.

However, I’m just a shlub……..not popular, or anything. (sad face) So my rant will stay with you all. But I know you all love me and will at least feel my pain.

I thank you for that.

Toodles for now.

To branch out or not to branch out

2010-03-12T11:39:00.001-06:00

I work in a job that pays $25,000 per year. I get good benefits, decent security, some cool co-workers (and then the totally off kilter co-workers, too), and a job that I really do like.

Our State Government is probably going to have to cut another 1000 jobs in the near future. Here’s to hoping mine and Mr. P’s are not on the ‘list’. I have 15 yrs of experience in THIS job, and another 7 in other State Government offices….for a total of 22 years…..

There’s a job in our department that is open. It pays $2800 more per year. In a consumer service position that I would probably do well in. However, with job cuts looming I am fearful of being put on 6 months of probation after all this time to change jobs. Probationary positions can be cut for no reason during the probationary period and are not up for appeal.

So, do I branch out and take a risk for less than $3000 more a year…..oh, yeah…I’d lose my flex time, which I love. I ADORE. However, due to circumstances, I may need to change my schedule ANYWAY. I just don’t know that for sure yet.

So, loss of a great flex schedule (7 am to 3:30 pm), risk while on probation, and risk of the security I feel in doing the same job for 15 years. Oh, and I’d move to a different area from my beloved Jakki.

The Pros are moving up, taking a risk, making more money and showing the Department in which I work that I am flexible, valuable and up for any challenge. Oh and moving away from the few INSUFFERABLE co-workers.

What would YOU do? This is all for naught if I’d be turned down for the job. Put that in the negative column, too.

I’m conflicted and nervous. 15 years ago, I would have applied in a heartbeat. I felt like I could do ANY job with ease. That I was GOOD! Now, as a 40 something person, I’ve gotten soft (yes......fat joke can be inserted here). I’ve gotten complacent. I’ve grown into a big CHICKEN.

Do you all have any exciting weekend plans? Really? Me either. I’m just excited it’s a weekend!!

Toodles, Kids!

Okay….I am weighing in

2010-03-11T11:10:00.000-06:00

On American Idol. Yep, I’m a watcher. Last year I was bound and determined NOT to adore Adam Lambert….because everyone loved him. That’s how I roll, people. I tend to inwardly shun convention. Outwardly, you’d think I’m the biggest conformist ever…….everything kind of blah about me and my life. But INSIDE I’m a rebel. But as it turned out, he ended up being my total favorite. Despite my decision (without regard to his talent) that I wasn’t going to like him, I did. He should’ve won. And I DO adore him.

This year, I have chosen my faves already. Crystal Bowersox in the lead!! The girl is awesome. I love her voice . And Lilly Scott….and Didi B (can’t remember her last name…..and too lazy to look it up). I usually like the boys better, but not this year. The boys are a little blah.

A girl here at work has a second cousin competing currently in American Idol. Yep….he’s one of the contestants that sang LAST NIGHT. I was BOUND AND DETERMINED not to like him……you know……being FORCED into liking him by way of knowing one of his family members. I wasn’t gonna do it. I was not going to be obliged to like someone. But guess what happened? I like him. I genuinely like him. He’s got a good voice. A REALLY good voice.

My original decision not to like the guy is no reflection of my co-worker…….I just didn’t want to find myself needing to make nice about the kid if he wasn’t good. Well, he is. And in my opinion he’s the best of the boys. Internet, vote for Alex Lambert. OFTEN. He’s shy…..he’s scared, but he’s GOOD!! He’s unique!! I feel guilty for judging him before the fact, but I didn’t want to have to pretend. I wanted my decision to be MINE instead of a pre conceived notion that I HAD to like him. Well, I don’t have to pretend. He’s my favorite of all the boys.

The internet makes fun of his nervousness, but rarely is his TALENT mentioned. Because he doesn’t have the stage presence of some of his competitors, he may lose out. Which will be a shame. If we get another teeny bop pop singer, or blues rock boy, or hip hop man I’ll be sick. What about a little old time, gravelly voice, good singer for once!

My bets are still on Crystal Bowersox to take it all, which is really a shame. She should be as lucky as Chris Daughtry to be cut late in the game and avoid the Idol contractual crap and get her own agent and record an album. Can you see her singing the pansy ballad they always have for the winner?

Anyway, that’s my AI take this year. And if Alex L makes it through tonight, VOTE FOR HIM! Keep him on there so he has a SHOT!

Oh, and on a separate note, Mother Nature roared into our town last night. Around 10:30, TORNADO SIRENS went off…I was in a DEAD SLEEP…….I wandered around all foggy for a while, and headed downstairs at the urging of Mr. P. When my creaky old knees and fat butt made it down, he announced that our county had been cleared and I could go back to bed. So, I trudged back up and watched the weather for a while, to see if any other Mid Missouri town would get hit by a rogue storm….then gave up and went to sleep. 6 am came way too soon this morning. I slept well, went to bed early, and other than a brief interruption of sleep at 10:30, slept clear through the night!! So, why am I so TIRED today?

Well, that’s my Thursday babble. Enjoy the day!!

I spend a lot of time petting my Wiener.

2010-03-10T12:53:00.000-06:00

He’s so soft and cuddly. He burrows under my blanket, up close to me. When I scratch him he gives big, wet kisses. He’s warm, and LOVES to hide in dark warm places. Of late he’s gotten fat. I’m hoping with the nicer weather coming, that he’ll get more exercise!!

I know…….my 3’s of readers know that I have a DACHSHUND, but those of you who don’t know me, I was hoping to be funny! We’ve made entire evenings funny at the expense of poor Dex, the dachshund. He can’t help it that he’s a fat wiener! Well, he CAN, if he’d eat less, but, he can’t help being a wiener at any rate. We particularly make these poor wiener jokes around my 16 yr old son, who thinks we are totally lame. We think we are really hysterical.

So, I haven’t talked about the canine boys in a while. Probably because they, just like the rest of my life, are still the same as ever. Buster is snappy, and humps the cat daily…while the cat just patiently waits for it to all be over. Copper is the ever patient, sweet gentleman, who obsessively licks himself. Dex is a goofy, loving, even tempered, and ADORABLE. It’s hard to play favorites, but I think Dex may be the cutest dog we’ve ever had. And the sweetest. I mean, they are all sweet, but have quirks in their personality. Dex is just a doll. A totally UNTRAINED doll, but a doll nonetheless.

Speaking of training, does anyone out there have an opinion on underground fences? How hard is it to train stubborn and/or older small dogs to obey the boundaries? Is the correction strong enough to keep them from flying through it to chase a cat..or squirrel, or rabbit? Mind you, we do not have well trained dogs. Two of the three will sit on command ONLY for a treat. That’s it. Dex is hopeless with training. He just submits, pees and goes CRAZY if he sees/smells/ hears treats. Buster knows when he goes on a car ride he has to go pee on a bush first……….so I know HE is capable of learning, but the other two? Especially the Doxie…I’m not sure. I worry.

So, tell me what you know about underground fences. Are they humane? Do they work? Can a stubborn, untrained dog be trained? Even if the stubborn dog has semi-lazy parents? They need a bigger place to run, so an underground fence far cheaper solution than new fencing.

Do you know if you can train dogs to doodie in a certain place in the yard? Easily train them?m Right now they go all over the yard, and it’s a bitch to clean, when we do so. Right now, after the snow, we’ve sort of just left it all, and the yard is naaaassssstttyyyy. 3 little boys make a lot of doo!!

So all you dog experts, weigh in……I need opinions!

Happy Wednesday………..

The $22 Tomato

2010-03-09T08:41:00.001-06:00

Perfectly’s Dad has a farm…..ei ei OHHHHH. And on this farm he has a GARDEN! Ei ei OHHHHH! With a Tomato plant here, a zucchini plant there, here a plant, there a plant, everywhere a plant plant.

I guess you get the picture. And as you all know, Perfectly isn’t the outdoorsy sort. At all. Ever. Unless it’s under an umbrella (patio, or beach) with a pretty, sparkly drink in her green nailed hand. But do I ever love the garden. Actually the PRODUCE from the garden. I don’t work in it. I break out easily, and don’t enjoy the laborious nature of garden work. Oh, I may go on a pleasant afternoon and casually gaze at the budding veggies, but that’s about the extent of my gardening interest. Other than preparing and eating the bounty

However, I am mildly obsessed with gardening from afar. As in, things I want IN the garden and organic compost that I want Mr. P and my dad to deal with to provide me with healthy, yummy produce. I want home remedy pesticides, and compost (luckily Perfectly’s dad has plenty of Moo Manure on his place to help the compost cook). I want HEIRLOOM tomatoes, and other heirloom veggies.

So, as it happens sometimes, my dad and I actually shared a similar thought. As we were discussing the items we (as in Mr. P and me) would like to add to his garden, Perfectly’s dad mentioned that he’d like some heirloom tomatoes this year. Say WHAAATTTT?? My dad wanting something kind of hippy and trendy? Something other than Big Boy, and Big Bertha beefsteaks?

Armed with this information, I began perusing the internet yesterday looking for information on heirloom tomatoes. Somehow, buying an heirloom tomato plant from Lowe’s or Wal Mart seems so…well, not right…….like fake or something. What about REAL heirloom tomatoes?

I ran across a site—freakishly called heirloomtomatoplants.com! Run by a seemingly VERY nice lady named Laurel. And on her site she has HUNDREDS of heirloom varieties! And her descriptions need to be academy award winning…….the words bountiful, luscious, juicy, velvety, fragrant, complex…..ABOUND in her site. It’s too much for a wanna be hippy/bohemian to take!! I was drawn to her purple colored explanation that she had some ORIGINAL ‘Purple Haze’ tomato seeds…..only 300. And she was taking pre-orders for this FABULOUS…..RARE…..top of the line plant! Only ONE PER CUSTOMER.

Well-----nobody is going to deprive Perfectly of a RARE, purple tomato plant…NOBODY!! I was going to get my one per customer plant!! So, as soon as I thought she may be open for business (she’s in California, which is 2 hours behind us in time), I called her. She excitedly told me that there were very limited supplies of the Purple Haze………and she was SO EXCITED about them……and yes, I could just order one item……..she’d be happy to send it out according to our planting ‘zone’ here in Missouri. How would I like to pay? Debit card? No problem!!

That will be $22.75 with the plant, shipping and handling. Thank you for your order. I hope you decide to order more plants from us later on!!

Holy seeds, Batman. I now have a Hella expensive tomato plant on order. One that cost quadruple of one I could have gotten from Lowe’s or Wal Mart---which I’m sure are chock full of pesticides. Sigh. I’ve informed Dad and Mr. P that they WILL lovingly support my Purple Haze tomato Plant, and make it grow. Baby it…nurture it…..love it. DAMN IT….I will get purple tomatoes!!!! Won’t I?

Guess, what, though? I plan on ordering more next week!!! Mr. P will kill me. So will Perfectly’s dad. But OMG….how fun are the rare varieties of plants? The fruit that is BURSTING with luscious flavor?

Oh, yes folks. I’ve got my list started. Hawaiian Current, Marianna’s Peace and German yellow. I may even get a book from the Library about heirloom tomatoes.

Tomorrow, kids, we’ll discuss composting from afar. Mr. P will be THRILLED!! I’ll have to buy some drink umbrellas l so I can watch the gardening with STYLE!!

Toodles for now…….

Okay, so I missed the ENTIRE month of February…………

2010-03-02T09:44:00.000-06:00

What can I say….it was my Birthday! Technically speaking, my birthday was only one day, but still….I think a month celebration/hiatus was alright, don’t you? Besides, I don’t get many readers anymore, so I’m feeling blue.

Hey….I got my nails done. Yes, it’s been since 2-12, but I got them done in the ‘french’ manicure style, only with brown tips…..I KNOW!! So out of my Midwest mom comfort zone! You know the even cooler thing? When I went in Saturday to get them filled, I changed the tip color to GREEN!!! Sparkly green!! For St. Patrick’s day! And yes, they ARE totally a St. Patrick’s day green!!

So, what’s new with all of you? Nothing and everything on this end. Yes, we are still experiencing the ‘unknown’ of worry……still a potentially good thing, but we are still in the dark about if (for sure), when, etc … our new ‘good thing’ may happen!! I’m still not at liberty to discuss, BUT when I can, I’ll be sure to fill you all in! I usually don’t keep stuff a big secret, but since this involves other people, I have to keep my mouth shut. For now.

So, I guess I don’t really know why I didn’t blog for the WHOLE MONTH OF FEBRUARY. Work has been really busy….and I’ve been totally un-motivated at home. You should see my house. It’s really awful. As Y’all know, I’m not a good housekeeper anyway, BUT my strange state of mind has somehow kept me from doing even the BASICS. And it shows. Wowza, it’s a mess. Clutter AND dirt abound.

My doctor changed my meds, however, and I think I feel a touch better……….he actually prescribed Prozac for me 2 years ago to help with some really UGLY pms symptoms. And it WORKED! Not only did it work, I noticed some changes in my overall outlook on life…….I laughed more……..etc. However, I noticed my tendency to revert back to unmotivation, and dwelling on stuff, and seeming a little less perky……..so he changed it. I’m now on Paxil which is supposed to help with anxiety at the same time as other Pms-ish and minor deperession symptoms. Over the weekend, I noticed I actually did a couple of things. Like help Mr. P clean out some basement cabinets. Like swiffering the bathroom floor……….

So, maybe things are back on the upswing……..maybe I can get some of my MOJO back, and get some crap DONE in my life. Maybe I can go back to prostituting myself for COMMENTS!! Maybe I can be FUNNY…….maybe I can turn the WORLD ON WITH MY SMILE!! Okay, maybe that’s a bit much, but I feel Spring coming, and hopefully things will look up. Not that they were down, but I suppose I was a bit blue.

I keep looking at my green nails!! How fun are they! This is my little rebel moment…..proof that I want to be left of center….not the ‘norm’…..FUNKY……..bohemian (sort of). I get weird looks from all the other ‘mom’ types, but I really don’t care. Convention is generally not my style.

So….enough make up babble…….I really don’t have much important to say, but I thank those of you who checked my blog during the hiatus!!

Toodles for now!

Lavania

2010-01-29T07:46:00.002-06:00

I was quite the naïve child. I didn’t know that THEN, of course, but looking back, I totally was. My parents did a pretty good job raising me. My father was far too strict with some things, but he was doing what he thought was right at the time. He tells me now that he can see how he was too hard on me. But that’s ANOTHER therapy session.

Growing up, I do not recall my parents being politically outspoken, religiously outspoken or prejudiced. I grew up thinking the world was totally cool, totally normal everywhere. I remember when I was in the 4th grade and asking my mother what an abortion was. Funny, I don’t remember the conversation, but it was in the news ALL THE TIME, so I asked. I may have to ask her if she remembers her answer to me.

Anyway, in the 4th grade, I had a slumber party for my birthday…..what, probably 10 in 4th grade? I had several classmates over, including my friend Lavania. Lavania always ran her hand from the top of my head to my middle back…over my hair…..ALWAYS commenting on how soft it was. I would barely run a brush through the mop of hair…I didn’t care about hair…….I didn’t understand why she thought it was interesting. But as long as we were friends, I didn’t care if she liked my hair……or touched my hair…..I just liked being with her.

Anyway, my grandparents were also at my house for a visit at my birthday. They helped mom corral us little squealing girls. At some point I opened presents, and we were going to change into our jammies. Lavania forgot her jammies, so I gave her my brand new nightgown. Right out of the plastic……..I had other jammies, since this was my house, so who CARED if she wore my new ones? I certainly didn’t!!

Lavania’s mom drove by and brought her daughter her own jammies. We immediately changed, and I took my new gown from her and put IT on, and she put her own on……..we were cool….a bunch of squealy girls in our jammies.

Apparently, my grandmother was not as excited. You see, Lavania was black. Apparently my grandma had a real problem with me putting on the same gown that she’d just taken off………I didn’t know this until years later. My mom handled it. I didn’t even know my grandparents were PREJUDICED until I was in college and got to hear my grandpa spout off about the how the world was crumbling due to all the crime caused by blacks.

I argued and argued and argued with him…..thinking he’d CERTAINLY begin to understand my position. Finally Mr. P…who was my ‘boyfriend’ at the time made me realize that all the arguing in the world would never change my grandparents view. Never. I was crushed.

Now, I adore my grandparents. They are still living…grandpa will be 92 next week and he’s quite a pistol. To this day, I’ve never been brave enough to try to bring up race with them again.

My dad is politically conservative……and somewhat homophobic and a tiny bit racist. I was FLOORED when I was old enough to realize it. My mother is very religious. Who knew?

I am not religious, I am more liberal in my politics, I am not prejudiced ( I hope), and I am not homophobic. I think my parents did a MARVELOUS job of managing to keep me out of the fray of politics and religion. Letting me make up my OWN mind about things. And accepting me and loving me despite my adult disagreements with some of their ways of life.

I don’t know if me being naïve was a product of parenting, or just my nature, and I didn’t see what was right in front of me. Either way, neither of them forced their ‘will’ onto me and I am forever grateful to them for that.
I hate that my grandparents are racist. But I love them, so that is a part of them I have to accept, despite my complete offense to that mindset. I have no idea how I grew up as closely with them and didn’t realize it until college.

My mom told me the story about Lavania, and it broke my heart. It still does. Why in the world should it matter if two little girls share a nightgown? We weren’t dirty, we weren’t infected with chicken pox, and little girls share clothing, hair accessories and the like ALL THE TIME. I can’t imagine why in the world anyone would think it was wrong to switch jammies. It’s heartbreaking.

I thank my mom in my head all the time for not allowing that negativity to seep into my party. We didn’t know there was any dissent in the family…and I forever appreciate that. And my naivety continued on into my adulthood. I didn’t realize the ‘hair’ issue between African American and Caucasian individuals…………now I know that Lavania really did like my hair, and probably wished hers was more like it. I don’t remember for sure, but I imagine probably wishing my hair could be put up in some braids and left ALONE………I didn’t want to mess with long hair………ugh……..now as an adult, I see there was a lot more too it.

So, internet, take some time to look around you and appreciate others for who they are. Let your kids find their OWN way in the political/racial world, and leave the negativity out of your teachings………I am so happy my own parents did.

And, Lavania? I think of you all the time, and wonder who you are today, and if you have kids, a husband, a wife…….where you work………I just wish you knew how much of an impact you had on my life.

Happy Friday, everyone!!

The Hamster Wheel

2010-01-26T10:11:00.002-06:00

I have anxiety issues. Self diagnosed, of course, but that’s what I’ve decided it is.

Years ago, I worried constantly. About everything. I considered every scenario, and what I would do to combat the ‘worst’ case. I thought, and thought, and thought about things in my life. Some major, some not so much. I drove my family and friends nuts sometimes with my insane worrying.

I don’t know what happened, but I got over some of that. I didn’t completely, but I lead a much calmer existence, and let the chips fall where they may. Most of the time. And when I DO ‘worry’ it usually IS not as extreme as it was one time in my life.

Until this weekend. My brain has kicked into overdrive, and I’m making up for lost worry time! I am anxious, nervous, antsy and want to RUN!!! Run where? I don’t know, just run. Home, I guess, Where I feel secure. I can worry and pace and make lists and fret and all the other ridiculous stuff I do in private. With warm fuzzy dogs and a cat to alleviate my stress level. I know it’s stupid. The anxiety doesn’t go away just because I run from work, or wherever I may be. I waste time, and stare at the television like a useless fool, then regret taking my leave time from work because I’m worried about stuff I CANNOT CONTROL.

It’s a vicious cycle…….like a hamster wheel…..squeaky, squeaky in my brain. I HATE IT. I want to be like my dad (well, not all the way like him,,,,). Seemingly calm, able to make firm decisions, able to STICK to his decisions, doesn’t’ seem to let the what ‘everyone else’ thinks bother him.

Instead I’m a hand wringing, hamster wheel brained person who feels lost.

Now with all the whining said, not a thing I am anxious about is bad!! THAT’S THE THING. It’s a potential change in the way things are in my life, but NOT BAD THINGS………it could be construed as GOOD, even!! But it’s all up in the air, nothing is definite, nothing is settled and the first stages of talking has just begun. So, this isn’t even anything I know FOR SURE!! Which makes the hamster wheel all the more frustrating.

I should save that worry energy for if or when things DO change!!

Yes, I know I’m being all cryptic and non-revealing. I have to be. This involves other people outside my immediate family, therefore, I can’t say. Not that anyone that reads this blog knows me, but JUST IN CASE. I did learn that cautionary sense from my dad. And my husband. The two most conservative people on the PLANET. Unlike me who would love to be a bohemian princess……peasant clothes, poetry and free living would be my choice!! How I was borne to, then married the conservative ones is BEYOND me……..Although, they are pretty nice to have around .

So, internet. My worry wart is BACK in full force. I hate this part of me the most. That and fear of what ‘everyone else’ thinks of me and my life. If I could get a permanent grip on these negative traits, I think I would have a great life.

They say duct tape works on warts….I wonder if I ensconced myself in duct tape, if that would work!!

Well, kids….I’m off to hop back on the wheel.

Toodles for now.

Slamma Jamma Parking Wars

2010-01-22T07:49:00.002-06:00

So, I’ve said before that parking at work for me is an issue. There are several parking lots that are free for employees and the public, BUT, they are further from the building. My DELICATE sensibilities don’t LIKE walking further than I need to. Especially in the cold, rain, snow or extreme heat.

So, I often scrounge for quarters to pay a meter that is quite close to the building entrance. I don’t LIKE to pay money to park, when there are free spots, but remember, my DELICATE SENSIBILITIES!!!

We had a bitterly cold snap a couple of weeks ago. Stop. It does TOO get bitterly cold here. It was hovering at ZERO degrees. I know that some of you live in places like MINNESOTA and shit like that where zero is balmy, but this is Missouri. Middle of the road……we don’t often HAVE bitterly cold temperatures. Anyway, during this time, I found a parking meter that is JAMMED. Yeah, Baby!! No quarters coming from my pocket!

I have smugly been parking there for a couple of weeks now. Happy as a clam to take FULL advantage of the meter being jammed. Then, earlier this week, an INTERLOPER was in my spot. A white car with TINTED WINDOWS!! There were all sorts of empty spots around it! I was IMMEDIATELY suspicious, but simultaneously hoping that it was merely a coincidence.

The following day, I pulled in, and my spot was there. EMPTY….waiting for me to park there. Like an old friend. I took the spot. As I was gathering my crap, the white, window tinted car abruptly pulled in right next to me. Paid the meter and walked into the building. I knew that we had a competition!!

Yesterday, I conned Mr. P into making my coffee, so I could leave the house those few precious minutes early to CLAIM MY PARKING SPOT. And Damn if white tinted windows wasn’t there already.

It was ON!!

This morning, I got up, rushed to get ready, asked for coffee help again and raced from the house. I sped (just a little) to work so I could be VICTORIOUS!! I pulled into the row of metered parking and that little devil inside of me began to chuckle…IT WAS OPEN….THE JAMMED METER SPOT WAS MMMIIIINNNEEEE!!!! Buahahahahahaha!

I sat and waited to see if white tinted windows showed up. And she certainly did. The evil laughter of VICTORY bubbled up from my chest!! Then, she pulled into the metered spot directly in front of me. And this BADASS, oldschool, Margaret Cho looking person got out of the car and strolled to the passenger side of her vehicle with a cigarette dangling from her lips. DAMN….this girl could KICK my pansy ass!! I busied myself looking in my purse, grabbing my stuff trying to not draw attention!!

She toughly walked up to HER meter…..casually glanced at it, and walked away. Not paying for the spot!! I hurried out of my car and tried to be all cool and casual, and looked at THAT meter…..son of a bitch…it was jammed too! I didn’t have such a coup!! I wasn’t VICTORIOUS!!

According to Jakki, there are several meters that are jammed up, or at least on occasion are jammed up. People apparently KNOW about this, and scour the meters to find those that aren’t working correctly. And I thought I had found SUCH a secret gem.

What is REALLY sick about this whole thing is that I work flex hours. I come in at 7am. I get off at 3:30 pm. We were told several months ago that in order to KEEP the privilege of flex hours we had to be at our desks WORKING at 7, not walking in the door at 7. Well, true to my nature, I often walk in the door at 7.

The threat of discipline on the JOB didn’t make me rush out of my house any quicker, but a damn parking spot did. I really, REALLY like to win……and this was a competition….one that I would CONQUER…AND WIN!!!

Now, I will have to go down and scour early one morning to see which meters are jammed and make notes of their numbers. So I can continue to be victorious in my poor little crazy mind.

Happy Friday!!

A Shameless letter to the Ellen show

2010-01-19T17:41:00.004-06:00

So, I just composed a generic message to the Ellen DeGeneres show via their website. A shameless, SHAMELESS request to see her show with son #2. Of course, on their dime....which is what makes the request utterly SHAMELESS.

She's on a quest for World Domination...I'm on a quest to see/meet/mingle with Ellen and my kid (and Portia......son #2 has heard she's HOT)...who adores her as well.

Not much to ask of her, now is it? (hangs her head in SHAME).

Oh, I may 'SORT OF' mentioned this little blog here and invited her to read it. You know how that goes...one day you have fives of readers, and suddenly you are up to SIX!! woo hoo!! Anyway, in case she or her staff reads this, I figured I'd better mention my shameless request to her. You know, so as not to appear TOTALLY rude.

Oh!! I totally forgot to tell Ellen in my e-mail.....we've adopted our dogs and cat (sort of.....that's a different story)! That makes me have something in common with her!

Well, what did your Tuesday bring? Mine was back to work after the long LAZY weekend. Other than that, it has been pretty quiet. A chat with Teenie, which was fun, and writing this blog. It was a quiet day, which was nice. It actually went by quite quickly......again NICE!!

Well, I really don't have any new news.........

Toodles for now!

Mocha Latte

2010-01-18T14:48:00.004-06:00

Mr. P. is painting the interior of our house. We've lived here for 18 years, and have never painted. We (traslates into he) painted the bedrooms when we moved. We painted our Foyer several years ago, and we painted our kitchen. But the main living area is just dirty white. Blech.

We have been experimenting with color. We had one disaster, and the rest is all okay. We've been shopping in the 'oops' paint sections of Lowe's and Wal Mart. We call it 'oops' paint, but it's just paint the people have purchased that they dont' like or that the store mistinted, or the people that ordered it had no clue what color was on that tiny little swatch that they took home. The oops paint is so much less expensive. And since we are on a budget, and since we needed something to be done with the paint, we decided to not be picky.

It started with an oatmeal color that we bought for $5.22 for a gallon. We painted our stairwell/entry area. It turned out pretty good. The paint really freshened up the area. Then he painted a couple of small walls in the basement. This took alot of paint because it is a paneled basement, and that dry paneling sucks up the paint. We found some olive green for $5 a can, too! We bought both gallons of it. What a mistake that was. It was a flat paint, and it looked like an olive colored chalkboard! It was bad. Luckily we'd only invested $10 in the paint. He used it as a primer on that dry paneling. We went out searching again, and found some deep rust colored paint. I was leery. After the green fiasco, I was worried about any color that was bright, dark or 'different'. It turned out really nice. The basement paneled walls took it well and it's quite pretty next to the tan we used on the first couple of walls down there.

We bought a 5 gallon bucket of 'oops' paint. It was probably bought by a contractor or homeowner, and they ended up not liking it. It's kind of a hot chocolate color. Mocha.......Latte....whatever. It's dark, but SO MUCH BETTER than the dirt that was up on the walls.....SO MUCH BETTER. So bit by bit....wall by wall.....he's been working on painting. Suddenly it looks like a house who's owners have a modicum of taste.

Decorating is not in my genes. I must have been distracted by something shiny when that was being handed out.

In other news, we are having ham 'n' beans for dinner. We had a Ham bone in the freezer, and some ham pieces frozen, so we've now made it into ham and beans. I'll make tex mex cornbread to eat with it. Yummy. YUMMY.

We are off work today, and it's a been a LAZY, nice 3 day weekend.

Toodles for now!!

I need a Will for my inner Grace!!

2010-01-12T16:17:00.002-06:00

So, what do I come home to? Ellen has BETTE MIDLER on her show today!! SQUEEE!!! B.E.T.T.E. M.I.D.L.E.R!!!!

I would SO be the perfect BFF for a gay guy or two! BETTE MIDLER!! I could tear up about now.

I'm defrosting chicken, which requires several trips to the Microwave to turn the defrosting meat so it doesn't begin to cook. So, I decided to pause Ellen, and take care of the chicken, so I can feed my family tonight and blog to you guys about BETTE MIDLER!!

I must confess....I missed out on some of the great Bette years. I was a young girl when 'The Rose' came out......I saw previews and thought Bette was a druggie girl who sang ballads. I wasn't impressed.

Then as I got older, and watched her in 'Beaches', I totally girl crushed on her. What a VOICE!! I begin to cry at the SAME PLACE in that movie and don't stop until it's been over for a while. Therefore, I can't watch it anymore.

I really, REALLY have an aversion to movies that make me cry. Me and Mr. P went through a rough patch in the mid 90's, and I resolved to not let him see me get emotional...so I avoided any and all tv, movies and commercials that could make an easily weepy Perfectly cry. For whatever reason, even though things are great on the home front, I still keep that little shield around my heart.

I got into trouble one time when I watched 'Stepmom'. Yeah. Nobody told me it wasn't a light comedy about how two women have to learn to interact after divorce and when the husband begins a new relationship.

NOBODY TOLD ME IT WAS SAD. I remember sitting in my living room SOBBING behind a kitchen towel, while my boys and husband watched. Wary and confused. OMG...I learned my lesson there, Internet......I haven't gotten caught YET unawares in a movie/tvshow/commercial.

Except sometimes Extreme Home makeovers and stuff.

So, Beaches is now on the banned list, but when I see it's on tv...I watch parts that I know aren't sad, and I never, EVER watch the last 20-30 minutes. ever.

That, people is how I fell in love with Bette Midler.

So, when I hit the DVR record button today so Son #2 could have his Ellen to watch, I saw who was on and was all like..."SQUEEEEEEE". Mildy teary eyed, because the THOUGHT of Bette Midler brings up Beaches, which is sad.......anyway........I sat down to watch without my kid.

Then the chicken called, and I knew I had to put SOME effort towards a meal so I'm blathering to you WAITING FOR THE CHICKEN to thaw so I can Cajun Inject it and bake it up for dinner.

Ok, oven is pre-heating, and I'm ready for Ellen.

Hey.......I mean no disrespect when I say I love the Gays........a gay friend would be just the coolest! Maybe he'd even take me to see Bette Midler or Kathy Griffen!!

Toodles for now.......

Reality Blues

2010-01-11T12:27:00.002-06:00

Well, I didn’t win anything on Ellen’s Christmas giveaways. That makes me sad.

I see these shows…..and all these terribly deserving, totally humble people are given prizes, cash and brand new houses. They all give TOTALLY of themselves and take nothing.

Well, what about me? Are there giveaways for really nice people? People who really don’t have a REASON per se for their house falling down, or being behind in bills? Maybe except poor money management? Do you think the producer’s at Ellen would UNDERSTAND? And see fit to fly me and Son #2 to her show? Because we are nice….and he’s really funny…and he’s really cute. Maybe he could be a famous teen star someday or something.

Anyway—I feel so selfish for wanting these things to trickle down my way….but I don’t have a ‘story’. Don’t get me wrong………really, I’m glad I don’t have a ‘story’. I am very grateful my life has been relatively free of tragedy…..I mean I’ve had a major tragedy in my life….but nothing like some people are facing. So, I’m grateful. But I still want my house to be nicer, and my furniture better, and to have money in the bank so I didn’t always WORRY.

Is that so wrong? Ellen….if you are out there……I still adore you….even though I didn’t win any of your Christmas giveaways. And even though I haven’t gotten a car full of cash…..I still totally record your show, so my son and I can sit together and crack up and watch your show. It provides a nice bonding hour for us. He is cute….all curly blonde hair and blue eyes……….so if you see fit….we still want to wrangle a seat at one of your shows………..oh, and his buddies all think Porche is ‘HOT’ so it would be cool for him to meet her too……so he can go back with pictures or something and show his friends.

Otherwise he’ll have to settle for a pair of Ellen underwear.

And Extreme Home Makeovers? I like my house………but an addition would be GREAT…..and some siding or paint and a new porch. That’s all. I don’t need a BRAND NEW house….just a few upgrades.

So, if Ty Pennington reads this……give me a shout out……..I’ll give you my address and we can go from there!

Hey, guys---thanks for taking notice!! Hopefully your bosses will see that I’m totally fun….and have a cute son…….making me eligible for SOMETHING!!

Toodles!!

It’s been a Xanax week, y’all

2010-01-08T11:49:00.003-06:00

Hey. I really, really work on being upbeat…..and non-judgmental…….and all the other pc stuff that I totally agree with. Unless I’m blue and anxious….then all the UGLY comes to the surface.

Like earlier this week. I was minding my own business when met in the elevator corridor area by a woman who works in another department. She seems quite nice. But her personal style is, well…..let’s say eclectic.

It was bitterly cold and snow was predicted. She had on a tank top. Not a young, perky-breast tank top, but an embroidered at the scooped neck grandma tank top…that’s loose. It was burgundy. She had on Burgundy knit pants, carefully tucked into her WINTER SNOW BOOTS. Oh, she also wears a Bluetooth headset in each ear, and sings in the bathroom stalls. Even if there is an audience.

Why? Why do seemingly nice people need to wear their quirks on the outside? It makes it so easy to be all judg-ey and stuff. People should keep their quirks carefully hidden, and once you’ve got a friend snagged, THEN reveal your passion for bathroom singing……..or for knowing that the reason rescued dogs eat their own poop is because they were probably puppy mill dogs, and that was the only way to keep his or her cage clean…………

Whip those nuggets of crazy out AFTER you’ve garnered someone’s trust!

And what about those people who talk on the PHONE in the bathroom. There is a gal that works here in the bldg. that has lengthy conversations whilst on the pot. We are all flushing and washing and chatting in the echo-ey bathroom, and she still talks away! WHY???

We’ve all got some of the crazy coursing through our veins---BUT HIDE IT….at least for a while. Until people are OBLIGATED to like you---crazy and all!!

Oh, and you want to hear of my OTHER holiday related faux pas? In addition to our Secret Santa, we also have a ‘larger’ group gift exchange and we gather for food and gift exchanges. WE draw names and the limit is $15. I drew the name of the person I was to buy for, and obsessively studied her ‘wish’ list, posted on the break room wall. I thought it was kind of weird that I kept going back to the list….I’m pretty quick, and pretty good at remembering stuff…..I THOUGHT.

So I bought the scented candle and scented lotion she wanted…..wrapped it all purty and brought it to the party. It was my turn to present my gift, and I gave it to the gal I’d chosen. Quickly my co-worker hissed at me “I drew her name…..”. With a moment of awkwardness, we told the gift recipient to HOLD UP…and we went and looked at our names we’d drawn. HAHAHA…the joke is on PERFECTLY this time. I drew another person’s name. yep……somehow I got it in my pea brain that I’d drawn one person’s name when I’d actually drawn another. The person I’d really drawn didn’t have lotion or candles on her wish list.

So, I went in and snagged the gift from the wrong person, gave it to the right person……..we didn’t even explain……and my gal got stuff she didn’t want. Sure hope she’s not allergic to Bath and Body works or something.

What stupid stuff did Y’ALL do over the holidays?

Tell me……let me feel not so stupid for my wrong email recipient and wrong gift recipient antics in December.

Toodles for now!!

You want I should bring you some SOUP??

2010-01-03T18:18:00.004-06:00

Yes, fan's I am BACK. I've been totally unmotivated, and feeling un-blog worthy. But my buddy Stoogie noticed my absence, therefore, I thought I'd better get back into the game.....

So......How was your Christmas? New Years? Good? Good. Back to me.

So, a couple of weeks ago Teenie had a DOOZIE of a cold. Probably something more vicious than a cold, because she was really sick. I berated her for being at work (she has work ethic), and then proceeded to send her this really funny e-mail. One that may have offended many of our population......it went something like this:

******Yo! You want I should bring you some SOUP? (that was my attempt at being tough Italian....or is it Jewish?).

I seriously will bring you some semi-homemade soup if you so desire. I deliver!! NO Charge!!****

Can you figure out the punchline here? Huh? Can you?

You guessed it. I sent it from my work e-mail. I sent it to some Insurance Agent out there in the world that I'd been working with----yes....I DID!!!

I noticed where Teenie's name would normally have pre populated, it was instead pre-populated by someone else in my address book that had the same first letters of her name.........and just as my little finger hit SENT...I noticed immediately it wasn't Teenie....but random Insurance Agent.

Holy Jobs, Batman.....what do I do now? I immediately hit the 'recall' button from my e-mail provider, but when did further checking, realized that the recipient had to have Outlook, too....which he did not........so the recall failed. I in the meantime sent an apology e-mail AND made an apology phone call (leaving a message) and HOPED that he didn't see fit to call the Governor or something about how State Workers abuse their time and resources.

In the meantime ALSO hoping he wasn't Italian OR Jewish, or easily offended.

Luckily, over Christmas, I got a funny reply from him saying that he'd had a really bad day, and I made him laugh....and that he may take me up on the offer of soup someday.

Whew.....that's a relief. I'd recently helped him out, so I was hoping that would overshadow the faux pas I made. But, DAMMIT....Now I may be delivering soup to St. Louis sometime!!!

But that aside, my days have been uneventful. Christmas was nice...quiet, but very nice. I've been keeping up with a few of my fave blogs.........

Oh...I got a comment from an 'anonymous' on one of my blogs. I am leery of them because they are often spam...but this one said: "Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up! "

That and Stoogie looking far and wide for me made me jump up and want to blog again.

So, peeps...keep reading...and KEEP COMMENTING......

Toodles for now!

Ellen DeGeneres!!

2009-12-10T16:20:00.004-06:00

Have I mentioned that I love Ellen? ADORE Ellen?

Well, I do.

I tried to e-mail her because Son #2 loves her too, and maybe I'm wrong, but on average I would suspect not many 16 yr old boys want their Mom to DVR Ellen for him.

Anyway, I tried to e-mail her to see if he could somehow get tickets to her show. Then I fretted about airfare, hotel fare, and food. She hasn't responded yet, so maybe that's a good thing. Tickets to her show would be great, but let's face it....if we can't fly there, we probably can't go.

I just entered her 12 days Giveaway contest.........that's always exciting. I entered our local giveaway too........needless to say, I haven't won.....but I'm banking on Ellen....because my odds of winning would be SO MUCH HIGHER than our local contest, I'm certain.

I really want Ellen to be in my circle of BFF's. I think that's a doable thing, isn't it? Seriously? I am near her age....I can be funny if I try, and let's face it....I LOVE HER. What else does a girl want?

So, can you believe I haven't put up a tree yet? Or commanded the men in my house to put up the tree for me? I usually CAN'T WAIT to dig into the depths of our basement closet under the stairs and unearth all of our Holiday decorations.

OH....ALL....RIGHT.......I usually can't wait to send Mr. Perfectly to the depths of the closet to empty it out, carry it upstairs for me to dig through and unearth my treasures. Then he takes it back.

But this year? Meh.....Bah Humbug....kind of. I love looking at decorations.....I want a turquoise tree with all brown and silver ornaments (yes, that is so last year, I know, but tough.....I wanted it then, too). Instead, I have a cheap 6 1/2 ft tree with my Hallmark and child made ornaments. Oh and the ones I've gotten as gifts from the office.

I'm just not that excited this year. Once again..I'm BANKING on Ellen.

So, is your tree up? Is hour house decorated? I know Crissy's is. But my other 4 readers..........hahahahah....I know, I know..there are at least 7 of you!! I want to see pictures. maybe...if I get around to it, I'll have pictures of my husband carrying stuff about and me digging........and rejecting.......

Happy December all! I NEED you to get me into the Holiday spirit.....come on peeps.......help a friend!!

Toodles for now....

TURKEY LURKEY DOO

2009-11-24T14:36:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone! Be sure to go over and holla at Ms. Darkstar!!

So, what are your Thanksgiving plans? I’m kind of blue this year for some reason. My maternal family isn’t as vocal and noisy as my paternal one was. With Grandma Winnie being gone, I’m not ‘told’ what to do and when to do it regarding holiday visiting by my dad anymore. We used to travel en masse to Des Moines. I’d see both families, and all was good. Now that Grandma Winnie is gone, half of the family isn’t travelling there to meet up, so I tend to not travel either….even though my Mom, Uncle, cousins (all 3) and maternal grandparents are still there, and doing quite well.

I feel guilty that I’m not going to Iowa, but I also feel a small relief that I don’t have to travel. Feeling that relief makes me feel guilty. It’s a circle of MADNESS in my brain, Internets!!!

Anyway, my dad wants to do a big Turkey day on Sunday, the 28th. I of course want to do something on Thanksgiving day….so I went and bought a turkey. We will smoke it on the grill……I’ll make dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans and dessert (I don’t know what yet). Then on Sunday, we’ll have ANOTHER big dinner……..sounds like a weekend to me!! Lots of food, family and LAZY!

Oh……have I mentioned that son #1 got a JOB? That’s right, a J.O.B! It’s not without some issues, butit’s a job. He’s moving home and will go to the Columbia Campus of Moberly Area Community College in January. With all the worry about partying and whatnot, it’s kind of hard with a moody one back in the house. I say all I want is some respect, but if I got that, I’m sure I’d add SOMETHING to the wish list, huh?

Anyway, he’s working at Kohl’s. He’s completing orientation and has to arrive at work at 3:45 AM on ‘Black Friday’. Hmmmmmm, I wonder where employees park that day? People line up at all hours waiting to get into that store…the lot will be full I am certain by 3:30 am………..I’ll have to ask him….then endure his eye rolling and accusations of being too nosy and ‘involved’ in his life. **sigh**

I took Ms. Darkstar’s advice and am participating in the various Holiday exchanges at the office. We shall see how things pan out this year.

Well, that’s really all I have for the time being. I’ll be back with Holiday tales, I am sure!!

Toodles, and Happy Thanksgiving…..just in case I don’t get something posted tomorrow.

Wow....how the time flies!

2009-11-19T15:02:00.004-06:00

Oopsie! I had no clue it was the NINTH the last time I posted. That's a REALLY LONG TIME. Even for me!

Or, maybe I just wanted you to look at my cute, blurry dachshund again and again.

Wow, where do I start? Not much has happened, really, but then again, I've proved that I can certainly talk about NOTHING in great detail.

We had Veterans day off. Woo Hoo.....except it sort of sucked that we were off on a Wednesday........I prefer Monday or Friday holidays....for the obvious reasons. Not that I'm knocking ANY type of holiday, but if I had my druthers, I perfer the loonnnggg weekends.

Um......We lost the state quarterfinals in football......and that is about all.

I am debating whether or not to participate in our work gift exchange. It has come to my attention, in the most unsettling way, that I don't think the other kids around here like me very much.

One person in particular co-ordinates the gift exchange each year. I am usually the first on the list......excited at the prospect of searching and buying the perfect gift for my co-worker. The event co-ordinater has picked my name for the last several years in a row. We've laughed at this funny chain of events.

Well, last Thursday, when I began hearing things that maybe the kids have ostrascized me, it hit me like a TON OF BRICKS.........maybe the co-ordinator is 'taking one for the team' and allowing people to put my name back in the kitty......she always asks as we choose if the name we drew is 'okay' for us. I never put mine back....that is part of the charm of the event.......but since she's gotten my name all these years, it's suddenly ALARMING. The realization that she may be forced by fate to 'pick' my name hit hard!!

So, should I pout and not participate for fear that my co-workers are Cherry Picking names and I'm the pit? Or should I participate like I'm stupid (which I've obviously been for years) and participate like I always do (albeit with a dark cloud), or do I participate and load up my wish list with things that would make a seasoned SAILOR blush?

Um......I may need a little help with the last one. I'm not up on all the hip porn stuff these days.

You guys, I'm really bummed about this. I hate being blue and spouting all of my downer moments here. I don't want to be the pouty blog....I want to be the fun one..the blog with OPTIMISIM...and ROSE COLORED GLASSES!!

But seriously, what if the kids don't like me and are putting my name back and forcing the event coordinator to choose it? The mere thought sends my self esteem plummeting.

And see? Here's the thing....I wanted to try a secret Santa event last year. I put it together, and there were only 5 of us that participated. I thought the low number was due to it being new....the extra money people would have to spend, etc....but amazingly the girl who organizes the OTHER gift event got my name. Maybe the low participation was due to them not liking me.

I am putting two and two together and coming up with REJECTION from my co-workers.

So, Internets, what should I do? If I am to be spiteful, I need ideas!!

Toodles for now, peeps.

Look at the cute widdle baby puppy!

2009-11-09T09:28:00.006-06:00

So. Mr. P will be frustrated with me for placing photography that isn't his earthly best on my blog for all of the Fives of you to look at......but too bad.

He's so cute!

Here's our little Dex.......all happy and running in the sunshine yesterday!

Yes, he's a little blurry, but still so cute.

He's a year old now......we got him from the Crazy Lady last October......he's the sweetest dog EVER!

Happy Monday, Y'all!

**Edited to add....look at what the FRACK Jakki found in her basement this past weekend. A SNAKE.

We think it's a Midland Brown Snake.

I am hyperventilating for her. Seriously. OMG....in her HOUSE.

Cry To Me

2009-11-08T13:35:00.002-06:00

Okay---the sexiest scene in any movie EVAHHHHH is in Dirty Dancing. The little cult classic chick flick. You know the one......with Johnny and Baby?

Yeah, just the first strains of the song Cry To Me get me all tingly.......No porn, no sex, no gratuitious nudity.....just young people......all romantic and sexy. **sigh**

Obviously, there's not much going on this Sunday afternoon. Sure, I've got cleaning that desperately needs to be done, but WHY? Why, when I can rewind Dirty Dancing and watch Johnny and Baby tentatively get it on OVER AND OVER?

I am in the Holiday mood people. I went to the dollar store and to Wal Mart looking for cute, kitchy ideas for inexpensive gifts for co-workers and Mr. P's staff. He's got like 13 or 14 people, so we keep the price tag WAYYYYYY low, but we want it to be thoughtful and appropriate......

He never likes my ideas, but I'm hoping this year for a little set up of a small serving bowl, with a dip spreader (holiday, of course) and several cute packages of dip mixes. We will see.

I am headed to Pier One to look for a gift for someone special, and to see what holiday stuff they have.

Okay---that's it for now......it's nearly 80 degrees here today. It's beautiful.

I'm off to discover new holiday decorations!

Toodles for now!

People let me tell you 'bout my BEST FRIENDS.....

2009-11-04T09:00:00.003-06:00

They are my up my down; my pride and joy.

Crissy commented on my blog recently and said 'you want to hang out?". I couldn't have been more thrilled. I seriously have become attached to my blog group of friends. As scary as the cyber world may be, I would have no qualms about putting on my pj's and hanging out with any or ALL of you for an evening....or longer. Snacks....wine.....fun and frivolity? Doesn't that sound fun?

I have found over the years that I tend to become far more emotionally attached to people then they do me....or at least that is my perception. It goes back to high school. It was very difficult for me to understand the ebb and tide of friendship. I understand better now, but still, I tend to cling more than my fair share.

I have learned that people tend to drift and come back together, and your true friends will always be your friends. Those that you had an intense, presumably inseparable relationship with, usually are not the strongest.......hence, why first loves generally don't last....

AnyBFF's, I want to talk about my friends. And how I'm attached to them. And how much I love them....seriously love them. I count on them, I tend to monopolize conversation, and make it all about me. But they still come back for more. I can't tell you how important that is.

First, there is Ph.D. We've been friends since we were 11. With the exception of a short stint in Junior High when she told me I needed to fix my hair better to be her friend, she's stuck by me without fail for 32 years. She's gonna hate that I mention that..........Although it was terrible at the time, it's one of those things that make me appreciate her.........it was her own brand of honesty......sucky as it was......but it really never changed our friendship. I've never had a bond with another person outside of family like I do her. She is like family to me. Her parents are wonderful to me, and my kids.....I see her dad monthly out and about and he ALWAYS stops to talk.......her brother works in the same building I do, and her sisters are kind of like my own.

I could spend an entire blog just about her....us.....and our lives. Aside from my own family, I've know her longer than anyone. Better than anyone, and she knows me better than anyone....she was with me when son #2 was born. Not because I didn't have support...I did....Mr. P....my parents....my in-laws....but because she wanted to be there. She just wanted to experience the birth......and just BE there.......now really, how cool is that? She and I laugh harder than just about anyone when we find things really funny.....and I love her like a sister.

Then my BFF that you know best, Internets......Teenie. She's my near constant companion on our down time.......our oldest sons were in the same class. Son #1 got a birthday invitation at the ROLLER RINK for her son's 7th birthday. I dropped Son #1 off and this adorable girl said "Hey...I think we're neighbors..." we chatted for a brief moment, then I ran away. Freedom from one of the kids for a couple of hours......I felt kind of bad, but she SAID she didn't need any help at the party......so I took her up on the free moments!!

Shortly thereafter, she and her husband divorced. He remained in the house up the street from us, and I actually became relatively close to him. Then later on in the year, our kids would play YMCA basketball together......I chased after Teenie like nobody's business. She was so CUTE...and FUN.....she was a party in a person!! I wanted to be friends with her. I'd try to save her seats at the games.....I'd try to wave her over to me in the stands...I'd follow her around talking about the boys......and the moment that sealed my love for her? The time she actually took me up on my crazed waving, and sat by me at a game. Her son made a basket....and in the quiet clapping of the gym she stood up and screamed as loud as she could "THAT'S MY SON!!!!". I've never admired anyone more.

Teenie, as I've learned, isn't like me. She's a party in a person, alright, but she's very reserved on a personal level. Her hesitance to hang with me wasn't because she found me strangely nuts....saving her a seat like in grade school....trying to talk when she was intently watching her kid play ball......she just needed to learn IN HER TIME that she could trust me.

We maintained a casual friendship, but when the trust kicked it........it kicked in in full force. We are each other's backups for emergency calls from school and events. She hangs out with my family......and although our boys grew up to be different kids, and have different friends, they, too still seek each other out on occasion for a conversation. We are close enough that my relationship still remains pretty friendly with her ex, too.........I mean he was the one I sort of bonded with first............and despite his flaws, and my undying support of HER.....she doesn't have any issue with me being friends with him.....

As far as my go to girl, that's her. She's the one I want to hang out with, to call when I'm in a pickle, to laugh with, to cry with. I may not have known her as long as Ph.D., but I love her as dearly.

Annndddd....Jakki. I chased her too. Why in the world I am attracted to the most reserved people on earth, I don't know. EVERYONE loves Jakki. EVERYONE thinks Jakki is their closest friend. I've got news for them. She's not. She's slow to trust.....but once trust is established, you've got it unconditionally. She's full of laughter, insight and spirituality. She's funny and smart as hell. She totally 'gets' me. And I get her. We can finish each other's thoughts. We know what kind of a day the other is having. I tend to be aggressive....to try to pry infomation out of her if she's down, or blue. I've learned, though, where to draw the line....and let her have her space. Most of the time ;).

Jakki is my rock....my advisor, and best of all...my friend. A title she doesn't hand out readily........a title that I accept with deep pride and love.

And the New Kid on the Block..........the one I've only said is my re-discovered friend from High school.....BILLYE!

I guess she's not really the new kid, is she? I've known her since Junior High. In high school we lived near each other and became good friends. Billye is strong, resolved, fun as hell, gorgeous, and straightforward. Again, Billye isn't one to just hand out trust to everyone. She's friendly to everyone she meets, but, once again, you have to earn her trust.........earn the ability to know her on the INSIDE.....Billye was probably my first experience in the ebb and tide of friendship....we'd have this INTENSE fun, and friendship for a while, then it would sort of go away...not away, but Billye's strength is doing what she wants to do......and just because you are running after her wanting to do the same thing you did last week, didn't mean that she wanted that. She was always one that wanted space, too (again....clingy me, wanting friends that are so not clingy...hahah). But, our friendship has stood the test of time. Long periods of time have passed between seeing one another, but the familiarity is always there. Like time has stopped or something......her memory is great...she remembers things I certainly don't. I am eternally grateful for our newest ebb of friendship.

And then there's my 4 bestest blog buddies.....so far, that is. Crissy, Ms. Darkstar, Daisee (who doesn't have a blog, but is a great commenter!!), and Stoogie.

Again, I find myself becoming all squishy inside when I get comments or e-mails, or packages from you. I think of you as my friends....not just someone I communicate with. Oh, and WhiskeyMarie! And MelissaLion!! I would so love to hang out with ANY of you.

So, when I offer my shoulder, or wish we could meet, I really mean it. Obviously, I'm trustworthy or the crew above would have never let me 'in'........sheesh......I will say it again...I'm amazed at my friends. Reserved wise, we are all polar opposites.........

My friends.......I am who I am partially because of you......Thank you.

If You're a Lesbian and you know it CLAP YOUR HANDS!!

2009-11-03T08:23:00.002-06:00

Have you all ever wondered why I never go out for my stupendous adventures with Mr. Perfectly? Have you thought judgementally to yourself "maybe she's a Lesbian?"? Then felt ashamed, because, really, it shouldn't MATTER?

Well, I am about to tell all.

Teenie, Jakki, Ph.D., and my recently rediscovered High School Friend and I are.......wait.......can you STAND IT........

Good Friends. In some cases, BFF's!!!! I think it's okay to have more than one BFF.....I suppose technically, the definition of BEST is just that....best....but you can have more than one 'best' something, can't you? You best going out outfit? Your Best work outfit? See where I'm going?

Anyway, Mr. Perfectly is nearly the most UN-social person I know. He's happy behind the camera lens.......not interacting with people........or holed up at home. He even comes in the house during yard work to avoid alot of neighborhood interaction.

He's the NICEST guy you'll ever meet, but unless you happen to be in my personal inner circle.....it'll take you a while to know it....because you'll probably never see him. And if you do, he'll be all formal, and uncomfortable.....for the first million times he meets you, THEN he may be able to relax a bit and have some fun.

So, he seems content to let me run around acting like a late blossoming teenager with my friends. That also gives him the opportunity to take control of the remote, which I am not willing to give up when I'm in the house. He can watch all his car shows, his action movies, and sometimes stupid BROMANCE comedies with Son #2.

He likes to take me to El Jimador....he loves Mexican food and beer...and we have a great time. He enjoys dinners out with Perfectly's dad and the Fam; both mine and his. Both families tend to hang out together, which is really fun, too. In laws who like YOUR family too? Wow.......but really...that's about it. You could see the look of panic on his face when that one time we got invited to a New Year's Eve party....with people we've casually known for YEARS.

So, no Lesbian action here.......sorry for those of you that were hoping, or speculating.

I do have friends that seem to exclaim at every opportunity that we aren't lestbian when we are running around town........I think it's funny. If people are so shallow to assume that, then it's THEIR problem, not mine.........I really don't care if someone thinks that of me. I sort of take it as a compliment...because the Lesbians and Gays are AWESOME. What cool groups of people to be with. They are less judgemental, and tons of fun.

Unlike uptight so called 'straight' people who find it necessary to judge everyone and everything around them........making themselves feel better by an inflated sense of superiority.

I do worry, however, about offending my few gay and lesbian friends. I live in small town USA, remember, so if I have a large group of said friends, I certainly don't know it...but the few that I do have, I don't want to offend....but I really do love them. Not because they are GAY, but because they are real. And fun....and don't care if I'm fat......so if you read this and don't like me calling you guys Gays and Lesbians for the sake of convo....then I'm sorry....but really.......how else can I express my admiration?

Toodles for now!!

Where do forty somethings fit in?

2009-11-02T10:53:00.005-06:00

Well, thirty and forty somethings. Fat forty somethings. But the forty something feels twenty something in her HEART!!

Our small city is lacking in night life. Which, is good, because many places that there ARE to go are less expensive than big city stuff......but it tends to get BORING doing the same thing EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I. WANT. TO. VENTURE. OUT.

El Jimador for Margaritas. Woo Hoo. It's what we do. It's what y'all hear about ad nauseum.......but I'm here with yet ANOTHER story.

Since there isn't much to do, and we must eat, and it's cheap, Teenie and I went to El Jimador Friday night. Mr. P was at a Football game in Columbia taking pics, so we were on our own.

We walked into El Jimador and it was PACKED......Friday night...good margaritas....not so surprising. We entertained the thought leaving and going to one of their other 2 locations in town (yes, they are that popular), but decided to wait it out...and am I glad we did!

Guess who (or what?) was there? A mariachi band! I'll be honest....to begin with, I was disappointed. I'm not into LOUD places, and believe, El Jim is pretty loud to start with. Then I got with the program, and was FASCINATED! Teenie and I ordered our standard half pitcher of Margaritas (hey......there's only TWO of us, and Teenie is....well....TEENIE....and they are STRONG. SUCKERS.), and our food. She ordered her tacos and I ordered my standard Camarones El Jimador. Suddenly the mariachi band stopped. I was so disappointed. I asked the waiter if they left, and I got a vacant stare, a half smile and a 'yeah'. I am not certain he speaks fluent English.

Anyshrimpandonions, we were laughing, and talking and totally enjoying the margaritas, food and some awesome salsa verde----when we heard strains of guitar and trombone music. I got up and wandered for a sec, to see if it was canned music, or if the band had just taken a break. Our waiter walked by, and I exclaimed "they are BACK??". I got the same vacant stare, half smile and 'yeah'.

So, pretty soon, they band wandered to the front of the restaurant, where we were. I ended up ordering another margarita, and Teenie and I split it...so it was a half of a half of a pitcher........and I was trying to video the band on my phone and they came over to US!! The guitar player sat on Teenie's side of the booth and she said if they played the Chicken Dance (again) that she'd stand up on her side of the booth seat and do the actual CHICKEN DANCE. Well, I had my camera phone primed and ready.....she did the chicken dance in front of the restaurant, and it was the most fun thing we've done FOREVER........I got it all on video.

But now the video is gone. GONE, INTERNETS.....G.O.N.E. Mr. Perfectly was going to do the techie thing and post it here so you all could see what fun we can have in our small little city, but did I tell you? IT'S GONE!

I had tried to e-mail the video to her college aged son, and because the file was too big it wouldn't send. But we SAW IT......we LAUGHED at it......the video was LOUD as we watched it in the restaurant!

Did I somehow delete it? Or was it the Halloween Ghosts?

Because, there is MORE mystery, people. MYSTERY.

After we were done Mariachi-ing, eating and drinking and sitting a spell to let the tequila wear off, we decided to go somewhere else. But where? We tried to find a club that we could go to and fit in. There ARE NONE in town. They are all country bars, or college-ish bars. Or old people bars. We wanted a gay bar, because the gays don't care if two older than 20's age people arrive. One Teenie and one Fat. If the girls wanna have fun, the gays are all for it.

But nooooooo....no gay bars around here.......only in Columbia, and we didn't' want to go that far, so do y'all wanna know what we DID DO?

We went bowling. COSMIC bowling. We even got over our own gross out factor and put on the rented bowling shoes! They are NEON Pink, Green and Yellow. It's awesome during cosmic bowling.

I won....all three games. We took pictures of our scores to prove it...because I bowl so terribly Mr. P never would believe me. And guess what. The bowling pictures are G.O.N.E.

Yep..gone.

I think the Halloween goblins did something with my prized video and WINNING proof photos of our bowling adventure.

So, Blog Buddies...I thought of you all weekend. I couldn't WAIT to show you the fun and frivolity of my weekend.......and the proof went POOF.

So, you'll just have to believe me when I tell you that it was a blast....Teenie said she felt like Barney in the restaurant doing the Chicken dance, because all the little kids in the place did it with her, and then we went cosmic bowling. Of which I WON all three games. My scores were 58, 81 and sixty something. See, I have MAD skillz in bowling.......

So, back to my question. Where to fun loving 30 and 40 somethings go for fun? We can only eat Mexican and bowl so often, my friends....we need to add to our repertoire!

What are some suggestions? I welcome them ALL!!

I got my flu shot!

2009-10-29T16:52:00.002-05:00

At the GROCERY STORE!!

I guess I'm a tiny bit of a snob regarding such things.

I mean, I admire anyone who wants a flu shot, but through our insurance and doctor, they are FREE, and being broad minded as I am, I assume everyone elses is, too! Now, there are people without insurance, and the corner drug store and grocery flu shots are great for those who can't pay a doctor, or whatever.

But I reserve my plump upper arm muscle for my doctor. Actually, his nurse. She administers the shots, not him.

Anystickofaneedle, I was in Schnucks. The one with the awesome wine tastings in their deli department, and the one that son #1 was fired from in the first 10 days of his employment?

The nice nurse lady was standing right in the entryway of the store. I asked how much flu shots were, because I'd been putting off my nurse visit, and was curious. They were $24.99. Well forget that shit! I'll call the doctor TOMORROW and get one before Nov. 1. For FREE. Free to me, that is.

Then she pipes up and lists a few insurance plans that do not require you to pay ANYTHING upfront.....even at the GROCERY! My insurance plan was one of them! So, Internets, I cheated on my nurse. I filled out the paperwork, signed my name, and let some STRANGE nurse grab my plump upper arm and stick me. In front of the service desk and any customer that happened in. I got my band aid, went about my shopping, and I feel so......PROTECTED!

I am sorry for pitying any of you who use grocery store or corner drug store flu shot clinics. Who knew it was so convenient to get a shot, and buy some asparagus, shallot and cheese for a Quiche....all within a few minutes? Seriously....WHO KNEW??

So, here I am. Toasting up bread cubes and carmelizing onions for French Onion Soup. Tyler Florence says in his recipe that it only takes 25 minutes to carmelize onions, and he's full of HOO HAAAAA. It takes FFFOOOORRRRREEEEVVVVFVEEEERRRRR!

But, his recipe is the best, and we love it. I toast bread cubes, because I'm a carb addict that puts mostly bread and cheese in her bowl, topped with some broth an onions.....OMG...it's good. And the best part? I don't use leftover wine as he suggests. I buy a bottle FOR the soup, and the leftover wine then becomes MINE....WITH DINNER!!

Oh, and you guys.....the little girl that was murdered recently in our little community? It's so sad. The town is overrun with rumors....and everyone is ready to hang the girl that is a suspect. If guilty, she obviously need to be punished, in the proper way, meted out by the justice system. Her family isn't getting support and funds set up for it. It sad for TWO families. Not to diminish the girl who died.....her family must be suffering greatly, but people don't think about what if this was THEIR kid that killed....alledgedly killed. Or their Niece......or grandchild.

No doubt it's tragic. The family with the loss must be in unspeakable pain. I can't imagine. But stop lynching the other family.....they must be in pain, too. How awful to know that your child/grandchild/neighbor could have done such a horrific thing.

People are absolutely RABID for information....they want to BLAME so bad, that they can't see that this girl deserves justice........her punishment will arrive if found guilty. The town need not worry.

Well, I'm off to babysit my carmelizing onions, and toasting bread.

Toodles for now.

Football is over......sort of.....(now edited)

2009-10-27T16:51:00.003-05:00

Well the boys played their last JV game last night. Son #2 got a little more play time than he has been of late. It was a grass field, and it was very misty (rain earlier in the day) and cold. I'll be truthful...it was far less cold than I expected it to be. It was still cold, though.

Anyway, son # 2 MADE A TOUCHDOWN!!

it was so awesome!

go here to see a pic of the muddy boy {#41)!!

I'm looking forward to a quiet night at HOME tonight!

**edited** Hey, I never explained the 'sort of' in football being over is.......duh.....

He still dresses out for varsity home games----they are playing district games now, and depending on the powers that be, he may dress out for the away game that is in a town just 30 min away, and any home games we have left. He gets very little play time in varsity, BUT he has made a play here and there.

And THEN if we make it past all the big bad teams, then we go to finals, then the hopeful event of the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP......so, football isn't totally over, but it's over for the JV squad.

Okay, I feel better for clarifying.

Toodles for now!

Football Monday Night

2009-10-26T08:43:00.003-05:00

Well, we are off to the St. Louis area (O'Fallon, I believe) for a JV football game.

It will be cold and wet. COLD AND WET. I'll be going to wal-mart to buy my yearly stash of gloves, rain poncho and ear coverings of some sort. I am certain I have multiples of these items already at home, but, since I am disorganized AND a slob, I have no earthly clue where they may be. And if I did find them, chances are they are in a dank corner of a closet which never gets cleaned, and since animal hair blows to the edges of hardwood, they would be COVERED in animal hair and dust.

It's just easier to buy new stuff. Really.

I will leave work at noon, hightail it to wal mart or k-mart, and make my purchases, and go home and bundle up like the Michelen man, and go.

Oh....and the little girl that was missing last week? Her body was found Friday afternoon, shortly after I blogged about it. I am so sorry for her family. There are oodles of rumors about her demise, but the authorities are mum.......with the exception that the suspect is a 15 year old. Rumor has it that it's the 15 yr old sister of the playmate she'd been playing with that afternoon.

I can't help but feel for the suspect's family as well. I can't even imagine son #1 (who is just recently 16) being involved in something like this. This family will be ostrascized and forever known for this. I mean punishment is in order for the perpetrator, and everything, but two families are suffering greatly today, and it makes me sad.

I don't have much more to talk about........

Happy Monday!

A lesson in bad decision making

2009-10-23T09:56:00.001-05:00

So, this morning the alarm went off. As I do every single work morning, I avoided getting up. I told Mr. P that I wanted to ‘sleep a little longer’. He asked me how long, and I replied “oh, I don’t know”……thinking to myself just a few more minutes. Soon, I heard Son #2 banging around the house, and realized if he was up, then I most certainly needed to get moving. I looked at a clock and realized it was a FULL HOUR since I’d proclaimed I wanted to sleep. I was supposed to be at work ONE MINUTE from the time I looked at the clock. Oopsie.

Lesson learned: No decision making while half asleep.

So, what have you all been up to this last week? Honestly, I can say nothing exciting has been going on around here. Nothing at all.

I ended up last night glued to VH1’s top 100 hits of the 80’s. I knew I shouldn’t have turned the channel. I knew once I saw the awesome clothes and hair and music that my genre had to offer, I’d be hooked, but I did it anyway. Hook, Line and Sinker….I sat there all evening watching the highlights of the 80’s. I kept texting my high school friend, and Teenie with squeals and exclamation over things like DURAN DURAN…….and omg….OMFG….Prince. AC/DC and Def Leppard……..when the drummer guy was in a car accident and lost his arm….BUT HE STILL DRUMMED? Swoon.

The biggest 80’s surprise for me is that I love Guns-n- Roses. Who knew? In the 80’s, I proclaimed my dislike of them, but wondered how Axl Rose was such a good freaking singer…….even in the stupor of my youth, I could hear that the man could actually SING if he didn’t scream………..but now in my 40’s, I’m nostalgic for my era, and suddenly Guns-n- Roses are awesome! The ringtone for my kids calls is ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine”………

Oh, and what about “You Spin Me”…back in the 80’s it was just a cool dance song…….now some dude has re-made it into a song about a sex act. No…..don’t explain to me if that was the meaning back then too….because I don’t want to know…….I prefer to think it was an awesome, catchy tune that we all could dance to.

Oh, and what about Wham? They were so CUTE! And once again….DURAN DURAN……and the baddest bad ass of the 80’s? PRINCE. I totally ‘HEART’ Prince. I never cared about his name changes, his anger at his label, or him converting to a Jehovah’s Witness……he’s a BADASS, and always will be.

So, there. It ought to prove that I have been doing NOTHING for days. Nothing but sitting in front of the Tee Vee—watching VH1, and squealing to my friends.

Oh……and locally, there is a 9 year old girl missing. She’s been missing since Wednesday evening. She was walking home from a friend’s house, and never made it home. Please keep this family in your thoughts…….I can’t imagine what they must be dealing with right now.

Toodles for now….Happy Friday!

Pickles!!

2009-10-14T15:30:00.006-05:00

Oh, hey, Y'all!!

Sorry, I've been unmotivated to type of late. But, excuses aside, I am BACK, and happy to be here!!

So, this weekend was a LLOOONNGGG weekend. I was off Monday, for Columbus day. Woo HOO!!!! How cool is that? Mr. P and I cooked a BIG dinner on Sunday and canned some Pickled Green Tomatoes! YES....CANNED!! Can you imagine? I've neer canned anything in my LIFE!! I've 'put up' veggies in baggies to freeze, but never 'put up' as in CANNED.

I hope we don't get the botulism.

Anywho.....my beloved Aunt Jessie used to pickle green tomatoes. My dad LOVED them. She always sent quarts home with us, and as a kid, I remember loving them. She put a hot pepper in them, and like all peppers, some are unpredictable, so some jars were SCREAMING hot and others just right. I couldn't eat the real hot ones, but I always loved the spicy, sour taste of the tomatoes.

I went to the internet and looked for recipes, and didn't have to look far to find one that held the ingredients that I remember being in Aunt Jessie's jars. Pickling spice, dill, garlic and a hot pepper. Of course, the pickling brine is just pickling salt, water and vinegar.

So we sterilized the jars, filled them with the tomatoes, onion, garlic, spices and poured the hot brine over them. We let them sit now for 2 weeks to see how they taste. I can't WAIT!!!

So, how do they look? As you can see, we also canned some red tomatoes. Perfectly's dad thinks they will be mushy. They are small roma tomatoes, so they are quite firm and meaty, so we'll see what the brine does to them.

We also pickled a jar of hot red peppers. Mr. P loves the hot. I can't do lots of hot stuff....but I like things with a mild kick.

I'm excited, people. I can't wait to see if I was as successful as Jessie.

Toodles for now!!

Boy Howdy, it was cold last weekend!

2009-10-08T14:26:00.016-05:00

I guess cold is subjective. I am cold natured. I don’t enjoy the cold. However, I also detest the heat. I’m a fickle girl, as you’ve been able to see over the last 2 years (can you believe it’s been 2 YEARS since I started this??)

We went to the Olde Tyme Apple Festival last weekend in Versailles, MO. According to my frienemy, Google, Versailles, Mo. has a population of around 2700 individuals. I’m assuming this is in Versailles proper. The apple festival is purported to be the largest one day festival in Missouri. This little community of 2700 people expected 30,000 ATTENDEES at this festival. I think ALL of them, and their dogs were trying to make our rounds as DIFFICULT as possible. People are idiotic…wandering around with a smoked turkey leg dangling from their maw, pointing out the latest in crocheted Kleenex boxes, or wood carved name signs, completely oblivious to me, Mr. P and Perfectly’s dad trying to bob and weave through the crowd.

I was looking for this or these. That was it. I am sure the Sisters Café wasn’t at the Apple Festival, but there’s a cart that roasts up pecans and almonds that look like these right on the spot and sells them in wax cones….twisted shut at the top. They are hot and DELICIOUS!!

Anyway, the people pushing their baby strollers, carrying dogs and bunnies, and dentally challenged people eating an above mentioned turkey leg, were wandering, stopping on a dime, and weaving back and forth making my mission of finding the two things I wanted to see nearly IMPOSSIBLE. Yes, I saw a toothless, whiskered man gumming a HUGE turkey leg. I still am unsure if I am amazed or concerned.

Anyway, here is what the Olde Tyme Apple Festival looks like on a cool, cloudy fall day in October.

Me and my Daddi-o

The SAME day, Homecoming 2009 took place, and Son #2 and his cutie pie girlfriend went off to dinner, and dancing. Ah....remember those days?

Come on, Y'all....you know he's adorable! And so is she!!

It's been pouring all day, so it's been soggy, and cold. This weekend is the Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival...it's a two day deal, so I can't wait to see what's going on there!!

Toodles for now!

The Manly Look

2009-10-01T09:37:00.003-05:00

Internets, I am a slob. I’m a poor housekeeper, and I love NOTHING more than a baggy pair of sweats and tee-shirts from 1997. Chock full of dinginess and holes. To me, this is comfort. Loose, who cares if it gets mangled type clothing. I go to the grocery looking like a refugee, and I DON’T CARE. Well, I care…I always shower and try to tame the frizz that is my hair, but I often toodle around town sans makeup and in my loosest closthes

Over the years, I’ve curbed my enthusiasm for oversized clothing. Teenie has coached me that despite the fact that I am heavy, I should accentuate the features I do have, and not hide them under baggy clothing.

A couple of weeks ago, I went off the wagon. I bought a 2X tee shirt to wear at my son’s football games. It’s a school sports shirt, and it was CHEAP. I had a choice of the 1X that fits, or the 2X that swims. I folded and took the 2x. I don’t know why, Internets…the sleeves come clear to my elbows, and the armpits hang loose. The boobs are filled out, but the body of the shirt sits widely over my belly and hips and down to mid thigh.

Today is a special day at work. It’s a theme day. Some sort of Sports day where we get to wear tee shirts in support of our favorite team---professional, college or high school (GO JAYS!!), and JEANS!! So I wore the oversized number. Today I have no evidence of a waist.

AND I got suckered into buying a football sports bracelet (look at #7641--that is the bracelet!!) with Son #2’s photo in 2 charms, and the JC high school logo in a third charm. It wasn’t what I thought it would be. I squealed at the cursory glance at the photocopied flyer (what you saw is not what I saw) sent out for the $30 bracelets, and immediately put my order in. I love bracelets. I love Son #2….WHAT COULD BE BETTER? I assumed it would be a dangly charm type bracelet. I was wrong. It’s more of a flat, stretchy charm bracelet. With 2 rows of beads, some football beads and 3 HUMONGOUS square charms holding the photos and logo. Heather, my niece thinks it looks similar to a man’s watch. I concur. Especially on my non dainty wrist.

So, today, I’m sporting the manly look on the job. But, at least I’m comfy, and supporting my high school team! It’s homecoming week anyway, and the parade is tonight, so I ought to fit right in with the town.
Go Jays—son #2’s Momma supports!!

I’ve got the FEVER!!!

2009-09-30T11:48:00.001-05:00

Festival Fever! Cooking Fever!! I’m afflicted with BOTH….someone help!!

First of all, the cooking. OMG…the cooking. I want to cook everything I see and hear about. Especially if it’s SOUP. I’ve always enjoyed making soups and stews. In the last couple of years, the desire for huge pots of soup seemed to dwindle, but IT’S BAAAACCCKKKKK!!!! I made hearty beef vegetable over the weekend, and sort of went overboard. Which I always do with soups.

When I set out to make a pot of soup, rarely do I follow a recipe. I just make it. One of the talents I seem to possess is cooking. I’m not offput by ingredient lists, or prepping (cleaning? Now that’s a different story). I have the ability to put ingredients into a pot and have it turn into a meal. WHO KNEW? I sure didn’t when I was younger---well, maybe a little bit………..I cooked once a week (when I didn’t forget and have to throw together some pasta and sauce) as a teen.

I actually learned some of my cooking skill from my dad. My parents divorced when I was a younger teen. I lived with my dad. Not because my mom isn’t awesome, but during their decision making, they thought it would be better for us to choose who we wanted to live with. I chose my dad because I was afraid he’d be lonely. As it turned out, my brother followed because he was torn, and didn’t know what to do, so that left mom by herself. Not an ideal situation when both parents are great people. My opinion on having to choose is not a good one. I think it’s far easier on the kid for the parents to just say ‘this is how it is’…….but it is what it is, and I harbor no resentment towards them. They were my age now ( or a tad older) when they divorced, and they did what they thought was best at the time. Just like we all do as parents. I adore both of my parents and am quite fortunate that they still have a relationship that enables us to get together at family functions with no animosity. Like son #1’s graduation. All of my maternal family came from Iowa, and we all mingled at Perfectly’s dad’s farm for the day. Now to me, that’s security. Knowing that your family is always family----even if marriages and life events don’t always go the way we envision.

So, there’s the back story as to how I came to live with my father and learned to cook (sort of) from him.

I began with soups right after college, when I had my first job. I’d throw stuff into a pot and MAN….it turned out GOOD!! My cooking skills improved, and now…I’m a pretty decent home cook! My latest obsession is with clam chowder. I watched FOODTV one day, and saw one of the hosts making clam chowder, and it wasn’t complicated AT ALL!! The only problem was our being landlocked and all….oh, and a small community..I was SURE I wouldn’t be able to purchase fresh or frozen shucked clams. I was right. None to be found but frozen packages of breaded ones for frying. I hesitantly went with canned clams. And as far as my unsophisticated palate goes? It was really GOOD! My son loved it, my husband loved it……it’s a hit at my house. I also make Parmesan/garlic soup crackers to pile onto the chowder. It’s great.

Also, I am so not a baker. But I found this recipe for lemon filled chocolates that I’m just going to have to try. I’m already varying the recipe in my head. ORANGE…..MINT……RASPBERRY…….the possibilities are ENDLESS.

Now the festivals. I am in full festival mode. I want to go to all the festivals in Missouri! Obviously, in the fall, that’s not a reality. They are EVERYWHERE. The dilemma is do I go to the old standbys? The ones we’ve gone to for YEARS? Or do I branch out and do something new, and different? What if new and different is a disappointment? And I miss the familiar standby? CAN YOU SEE MY PROBLEMS HERE, PEOPLE? This weekend is a choice between the Olde Tyme Apple Festival in Versailles, MO., or the Chalk Art Festival in Farmington, Mo? It has Wine, chocolate and chalk artists featured. They say there are craft vendors too. WINE? CHOCOLATE? Sounds tempting! But the Apple Festival is 4 square blocks (I think) of vendors galore. Besides, there’s the animal swap meet where we got Dex last year that takes place at the same time as the apple festival. I really can’t have another pet, so maybe I ought to skip that…….

See how my crazy works? My brain just goes non-stop in circles like that. I could continue the crazy debate in my brain if you’d like. I’m sure you’d just love it.

Look at the links and let me know what you think. I need ADVICE…!!
Toodles for now.

Who wants a Turkey Squirt?

2009-09-27T09:58:00.011-05:00

Yeah, so I met up with a few of my classmates from the class of 1984 at Woody's Pub and Grub in Ashland, Mo. HOW FUN WAS THAT? It was totally fun! It is so much nicer gathering as adults.......we don't judge, we don't care about who's popular, or who's a star athlete, or musician........it was a relaxed, fun, gathering of people. I TOTALLY LOVED IT.

Here are a couple of pictures....courtesy of Mr. Perfectly......he came out for a while after our son's football game, and took pics on all of our camera's......aren't we a FUN looking group? I am not going to identify anyone yet....because honestly, some people don't want to be all over the internet, and although their PHOTO is all over the internet, I won't tell you their names, unless they give me PERMISSION TO DO SO....so mini reunion folks? COMMENT and let me know if you care if I talk about you by name, or if you want me to come up with nicknames for you like I do some of my other friends and family.

I drank some sort of cooler thing which tasted good, but meh....not alot of punch to it....made by Parrot Bay, and since I love their coconut rum, I'd hoped it would be too awesome for words. It wasn't. Tasty, yes.......not what I wanted. I tried a margarita, which was pretty good. I still Love El Jimador Margaritas for their sheer strength and being very tasty, but for a margarita elsewhere, it was pretty good. Then someone ordered a bubblegum vodka shot with Red Bull. Can you all believe I've never tasted a Red Bull IN MY LIFE?? The bar had these little plastic cups (you can tell I don't get out much) that had a shot well in the middle of it, and you could put the chaser part around that well, so when you sipped, you could get some of both...how cool is THAT? I thought the bubblegum vodka was sort of interesting......but according to the guy that met up with us 5 fabulous girls, it's better with Sprite.......so I'll have to try that.

One of the girls there was telling us about a drink that SHE likes.....made with Wild Turkey (whiskey, I think) and Squirt soda! They call it a Turkey Squirt. How funny is THAT? I don't do whiskey, but I may have to just to say the name of the drink.....it's too funny!!

Yesterday, we didn't make it to the Oktoberfest. I know, I know......but something alot more fun came up. Then Perfectly's dad took my family and friends to dinner last night for our anniversary.. 22 YEARS, folks. It was a lovely dinner.

Heather, my niece came, and it's always fun with her around. She's lost 40+ lbs, and I couldn't be more proud of her. She's stunningly beautiful regardless of her weight, but this is something she's been wanting to do for a while, and she looks great.

Today, I am making a hearty beef, vegetable and barley soup/stew. I ran out to my dad's house to pick up a good chuck roast to use in the stew and I was totally traumatized. THERE WAS A SNAKE IN HIS DRIVEWAY. Just sitting there. Sunning himself. Son #2 says he (the snake) lives by the house....in a patch of ivy...I think he was of the garden variety, but I really don't care. I don't do snakes. Perfectly's dad has also suffered from a massive flea issue in his garage. He has a cat that lives in there part time, and apparently brought a family of fleas to multiply rapidly in his garage. He's bug bombed it, cleaned it with bleach and had an exterminator come out...and last I heard they were still a problem. I had to GO THRU THE GARAGE to get to the freezer to get my roast. So I've been DOUBLE traumatized........I don't know if any fleas are still in the garage, but I certainly didn't want to find out. Fleas and snakes. Two of the things in life that totally freak me out.

So, this has been an awesome weekend, and tomorrow is more football. Son #2 plays again, this time for JV....he dressed out on Friday for Varsity, but didn't play. Hopefully he'll play tomorrow. We're traveling to Kansas City....ugh.

Toodles for now.

Woody’s

2009-09-25T09:29:00.001-05:00

So, tonight I am going to a pub type place in rural central Missouri. It apparently has pool tables and dart boards. I am SO EXCITED!! Some people from high school are gathering at Woody’s Pub and Grub for an informal get together.

Y’all KNOW how much I love to go do stuff with people…so last night I went and got my hair all ‘DID’, and colored it with a box color---It’s supposed to be light chocolate brown, but it’s got some red going on……..so now my head is a faintly reddish brown mess o’ curls with bangs. Bangs that won’t cooperate---because I have THIN HAIR on top, so I’m very scalpy where bangs need to be. So this afternoon, after I get off work, it will be a mad dash for home so I can try to make the hair cute……and retouch the makeup……..accentuate the eyes with dark shadow----and GO TO WOODY’S. Oh…and Ph.D.?? I’m hurt. Hurt that you wouldn’t want to accompany me on this endeavor. My first rural pub experience? With people from HIGH SCHOOL? I partied with you in the illegal eve of our lives………I want to party with you in the waning middle of our lives too! It’s legal….and who knew it was MORE FUN when it was legal? So, therefore, I’m hurt. And Pissed. And I might cry. (UM…..…I’ll call you either during or after with updates……so ANSWER YOUR DAMN PHONE!).

Then tomorrow is The Old Munichburg Oktoberfest in our fair city……..in years past they’ve had FREE WINE SAMPLES and fried oreo’s. MMMMMMM. They also sell some sausage that is made only for this particular festival….it’s an old local recipe that is made up and sold once a year. It sells out QUICKLY, and I missed out last year, so this year my intent is to go by there early and get some sausage. Then I’ll take it home to properly refrigerate, and go back at a more appropriate time……oh….like 11 or 12? For FREE WINE!!! Maybe if I bring a couple changes of clothes, the vendors won’t notice me coming back….and back…..and back…..AND BBBAAAACCCKKKKKK!!!! Think?

Again, Ph.d…..if you came for the Woody’s, then you could also come for the FESTIVAL too! Your babies would have a blast, and so would your hubs!! They have BEER there! *sigh* the weekend would be PERFECT if you came. Pubs, Festivals, old friends and YOU!! Oh, and my anniversary! My weekend would be PERFECT!! Now it will be only semi-perfect. And that is your fault. You’ll have to live with the paralyzing guilt. (is my contrition inducing post working? Huh? Huh? I know….you are planning to SURPISE ME by showing up, right?????).

So my work day seems interminable…my hair is too plastered with hair spray, and I’m as anxious as a 4 year old waiting to go to Chuck-e-cheese! I need you all! Entertain me! Keep my mind off of pending excitement! DO SOMETHING!!

Happy Friday, All!

Toodles for now.

Holy Touchdowns, Batman!!

2009-09-22T13:26:00.000-05:00

Oh, what a difference a day makes. I still felt SO CRUMMY yesterday. Today I feel much better. Much, MUCH better!
I’ve got so much to say, yet really not much to say, you know? Just a lot of my usual blather over nothing that interests anyone but me!!

First of all, the football game last night was potentially a miserable evening. Although, not cold, it was RAINING…….but luckily, the stadium we went to has parking right up to the bleachers, so we were able to park right behind some low bleachers, and I spent most of the game in the car watching. I spent a quarter in the rain, but the rest all dry and out of the weather…..but still got to see the ACTION!!

Speaking of action……….I was brought back to Dingo’s post about birds……..hahaha. You should have seen the BATS last night. HUNDREDS of bats……flying through the rain, catching bugs from the night lights over the football field. I was FASCINATED by the sheer number of BATS…….squeaking and diving…..it was really cool. I tried to video it on my cell phone, but being the non savvy techno person in the house, I don’t really know how to use it…..so I’m sure any video of bats sucks.

It’s FESTIVAL TIME in Mid Missouri. This weekend is the Old Munichburg Oktoberfest here in Jefferson City. Don’t ask me why it’s at the end of September, when it’s called Oktoberfest. I’ve wondered the same myself, and have NO ANSWER. Needless to say, it’s a small little festival with Dachshund races, and Dachshund costume contests…….My friend and I are trying to come up with cute costume ideas for my Mini Doxie so we can enter him into the contest and become city known WINNERS. Now, it is also my 22nd anniversary. I am worried that Mr. P may get his undies in a wad if I trounce around town with friends and dogs……well, not really worried. We’re not big anniversary celebrators……I mean we recognize the anniversary, and we reminisce, but we aren’t candles and dinner types. I am proud to be married to such a great guy---and that we’ve weathered our struggles and still are pretty happy.

And, on Friday night, there is a get together with people I went to High School with. You all know how I get all warm and fuzzy over classmate connections!! Mr. P won’t be joining me, however, because he will be using his great talents photographing the varsity football game against one of the BIG TIME teams in the state…..Kansas City Rockhurst. Son #2 will probably get to play and score a winning touchdown, while I’m drinking with my friends at “Woody’s pub and grub”. My luck.

Let’s see………I had a dream that one of my high school boyfriends (of sorts….I liked him, and he only sort of liked me…….but we are still friends, actually. He was an usher in my wedding to Mr. P…..so for the record, Mr. P approves of the continued friendship) gave me a tattoo. Yes…..it’s weird. No, I don’t need any dream analysis…..especially if my dreams are a symptom of the crazy.

Oh, and remember a while back when I’d left a rambling message for my friend from 4th Grade? Yeah, well I didn’t’ hear back from her and got up the nerve to text her over the weekend…AND SHE TEXTED ME BACK! It’s so fun to catch up with old friends……like I said, I get all warm and fuzzy about friend connections. I can’t wait to get to know her some more-----again. I may show up here with pictures……of 4th grade!!!

Toodles for now!

Hey, Y’All

2009-09-21T14:15:00.000-05:00

I’ve been sick. I do not know with what….one would assume the flu since Son #1 had it and recuperated at our house. But, since I never ran a fever, or never KNEW I was running one, you could also argue that maybe I didn’t have the flu.

Anyway, I’m swamped at work, so I’ll leave you with this heartwarming GEM! Make sure to watch the video after you read the article. It is SO worth it.

We are off to a JV football game in Columbia tonight. I am not sure I’ll survive going back to work AND a game….after 4 days of being locked up at home sick. So wish me well………..remember, liquor is NOT ALLOWED on school grounds. Sheesh.

Toodles for now.

OINK OINK

2009-09-14T10:57:00.002-05:00

One must think, according to the media blitz of information, that the H1N1 virus is upon the Perfectly household.

I am kind of a germaphobe. I microwave sponges, and change them FREQUENTLY. I obsessively wash anything that has touched chicken or other raw meats. But chicken especially. If people are vomiting, I clean all common areas with bleach.

Therefore, I am surprised at my relative lack of concern over the swine flu…….I mean not LACK of concern, but lack of my normal paranoia. I have tried to educate myself regarding this flu, and so far, it seems quite widespread (in our area), but relatively mild (miserable, but mild).

Son #1 called yesterday and announced that he was coming home for a few hours….that he wanted to spend some time with his girlfriend, that he wanted to go to dinner with her……could he have some money???? Oh, by the way……”my throat hurts, and I ache”. He is coughing, feverish, and achy. According to the tee-vee, that can mean only ONE THING……………H1N1.

Upon his arrival at home, he appeared to be in decent health…to me he felt warm, but assured me that his temp was low. 97 degrees. I had no reason to question this as we’ve always thought his ‘normal’ body temp is lower than average. He went to his girlfriend’s house. I never did determine if they went out to eat, but 4 and a half hours later he was back, burning up with fever (101.7……which if his body temp is lower than average, means his fever is higher on him than average). Yeah!! I tried to get him to just stay, but he wants his computer, and maybe some books and needed to take his roommate back to school, so he left, saying he’d return home today. We go to the Dr. this afternoon, and as any over protective mother should, I shall insist on a flu test…they are publicly announcing (and have been for some time) that nearly all type A flu positive tests are H1N1…that’s all they’ve seen. So, if he has a positive type A test, then we’ll notify his school that he’s got the swine flu. According to them, they’ve not had any reports of any flu at all on their tiny campus. OF COURSE, my kid is the one to bring it on.

I called their student services department and asked (anonymously, of course) if they’d had any known flu on campus. The answer was “NO”. I bet that will change this afternoon, once we get the Dr. Diagnosis.

I feel bad for the kid. Son #1 is my tough guy. The one who never says he’s unwell……EVER. If he says he’s sick, then he’s usually TERRIBLY sick. The last time he said he was sick was Christmas of 2006. My Grandma was terminally ill, and we knew this would be our last Christmas with her. She was in an assisted living wing at a nursing home. We spent the time with her. Son #1 kept telling me he didn’t feel well, and kept wanting me to feel his back……that he was feverish. I just kept giving him Ibuprofen and telling him to stay away from Grandma. 2 days later we got home and he had a temp of 104 and we took him to the ER……and he had Pneumonia. FABULOUS parenting, wouldn’t you say? I was so tied up in my Grandma’s well being that I sort of ignored my kid’s health. I mean, I didn’t COMPLETELY ignore it, I just didn’t think he was as sick as he was. Poor guy. I felt terrible.

Anyway, we now are having the same type of illness, but since flu season is in full swing here…..and he’s had the vaccination against pneumonia…..we’ll assume it’s the Piggy Flu.

I’ve had the seasonal flu before, and it’s the sickest I’ve ever been as an adult. I was pregnant with Son #2, and remember laying in bed..I felt him kick for the first time, and was too sick to even be excited about it. I was too sick to care for son #1, whom I caught the flu from, and Mr. P, who’d just started a new, fancy job had to take off work, while on probation to take care of both of us. Luckily he didn’t get it……

So, this should be quite the eventful week…….son #1 back home….sick, and exposing all of us…….but I’d rather he be here under my care (um…no, I’m not a control freak….why do you ask??). I worry about him.

Oh, in other pink news….I GOT MY PENIS….and it certainly is vanilla scented! It came in the mail on Friday, and son #2 didn’t understand why I received a penis in the mail. The greatest parenting moment EVER was when I put the balls up to the young athlete’s nostrils so he could smell it. All vanilla-ey and all. MMMMMM. I even got a grin from him. WOOT WOOT for MAMA!!

Toodles for now, y’all.

p.s. Don’t stop reading my blog. Despite what the media is saying, the flu is NOT contagious via computer. Really. It isn’t. Don’t worry.

Hey everyone!

2009-09-11T10:41:00.003-05:00

I know, it’s been a week. My tens of readers must be DISAPPOINTED!!!

So, I went out for Sushi last night! It was totally fun and TOTALLY good! I guess I have to confess that I didn’t eat any raw fish---yet…….but I ate some sort of roll filled with crab meat, scallops, and cucumber. It was really good.

I’ve mentioned before that raw or rare meat sort of skeeves me……..but I’m determined to try a spicy tuna roll at some point at this place. When you enter the restaurant (which is an old KFC---that looks like a run down KFC on the outside, but Japanese on the inside!), the sushi dudes behind the bar greet you with a resounding yell of some sort of Japanese greeting…….and a bow. It’s so CUTE!!! The menu has a lot of choices, and there are things that Mid Missourians have never SEEN before….like octopus…just waiting to be eaten!

The guys behind the sushi bar were very sweet and tolerant and let us sit there and watch while they prepared our sushi rolls. They said business had been good, but not on that day. The ‘Tour of Missouri’ was in town, and maybe that’s why the lack of early evening business…..all the people were watching the bike race!!

As much as this place is refreshingly different, I am truly afraid in our little, conservative, meat and potatoes city, that it will fail. People love Applebee’s and Bandana’s…..but throw a little Sushi at them, and everyone freaks out and gets squeamish. Or don’t provide them a buffet of westernized ‘Chinese’ dishes that they can gorge themselves on, and it’s ‘weird’ and ‘too expensive’. My sushi roll was $11.95. Compared to McDonalds or Taco Bell, yes, it’s pricey, but you get more than just a sushi roll. You get an experience that maybe you haven’t had before! You get flavors that maybe you’ve never experienced! You support a local business that is just starting up!! And in the meantime, you may find a new favorite food! And what people don’t realize is that in our fair city, in the Midwest and $11.95 sushi roll is probably a bargain compared to the East or West coast!!

I get frustrated at the non-progressiveness of this city. It’s a lovely place to raise kids, and rural farmland abounds! Fresh air! Open spaces!! People who think that Chili’s is FINE DINING!!! We need a mix of good social places to gather and eat, drink and be merry all the while keeping the more rural quality hometown feeling! Surely that’s possible isn’t it? We need theatre, and art! We need culture!! The closest thing to culture we’ve seen is the Tibetan Monks that performed for us on the Capital Lawn several years ago. Sponsored by the local library. Now, that may be an eensy exaggeration, but not much of one. There’s just NOTHING happening around here! The craft festival is tomorrow at the Fairgrounds………..it’s kind of fun, but it’s really a bunch of sweaty women trying to be first in line for flower arrangements , doll accessories, and cheap jewelery.

I know….I am lucky to live in a lower cost of living area. Lucky to have wide open spaces for my kids, good schools and modest housing prices. It would just be so cool to have really great food, and really cool activities to do on a more regular basis. And not have to travel to larger cities to see things!

I for one will frequent the Japenese sushi place in town. It’s GOOD!!! It’s my kind of food and flavors, and I’m excited to go back!

Oh…tonight, the varsity Football Jays (son #2 is JV right now….so he’s not going) will be travelling to Fayetteville. Arkansas. The game is being TELEVISED on CBSCS………so if you’ve got a dish, or a sports pack on your cable, or whatever is required to get these types of games, WATCH THE JAYS!!! Jefferson City, MO vs Fayetteville Ar. The boys being televised is a BIG DEAL! They’ve been on the local TV live, but this is NATIONAL coverage. And if the cheerleaders are there, you’ll see Son #2’s former girlfriend! She’s the cute blonde!!!!

Go Jays!!!! Vote for JCSports as the best SportsBlog!!

Human Rights

2009-09-04T11:24:00.000-05:00

I don’t delve into politics much. I’m a VERY casual observer. I know what I believe and what I would like, but I am not hardcore for anything. I think it’s every American’s right to believe what they want. Period.

HOWEVER, I have encountered an ugly situation. Where do personal rights of one overshadow the personal rights of another? We are taking common sense out of the equation…..like what is better for MOST instead of FEW, etc. I’m talking about black and white. Yes and No.

In a group setting, when the group as a whole is trying to keep a common group area clean with antibacterial wipes and cleaners to try to stop the spread of serious illness to the best of our limited abilty, what does one do when a group member claims a ‘chemical sensitivity’ and doesn’t want anything with an odor used near her…..or anywhere she frequents?

Do her rights as a sensitive individual get trounced on, or does the majority of us lose our battle to try to not spread illness? This endeavor is to try to do our human best to keep flu germs at bay, and to try to protect us as a whole. This is a limited setting. We are all going to frequent other places where germs may be rampant. But in this one limited situation, we were given a directive from an administrative individual to try to do our very best in keeping common areas clean. Wiped…sprayed….disinfected. I think this is smart. It’s proactive, and even if it fails in the long run, the empowered feeling that a group can get from trying to be in control is important too. Besides, cleaning stuff isn’t such a bad thing.

Yet, one person is crying foul that her individual rights are being violated and it’s not right.
This goes against my general liberal feeling that people SHOULD be allowed their own preferences. However, in a small setting, this isn’t always possible. Do we go with the majority, and OUR rights and preferences? Or do we go against one’s preferences and rights?

The general feeling is that this is for the good of everyone. There is no malice towards anyone. However, the person in question feels maligned and outcast.

I hate this. What is right? What is proper? How does one confront the fact that no matter what some or one will have their ‘rights’ violated???

Tell me, what do YOU think?

Toodles for now.

Frustration, still

2009-09-02T18:12:00.002-05:00

I just talked to the woman who owns the car that Son #1 was hit by. She pretended not to know anything. Even though I have a letter from her insurance company that there was NO COVERAGE at the time of the accident. Even though, the adjuster from HER insurance company told me on the phone that he'd spoken to the vehicle owner and gave her the SAME INFORMATION that I was given. Even though I have a police report that says her daughter's 'fiancee' displayed innattention.

I am sure she doesn't have $2200 any more than I do....but my son had insurance to PROTECT OTHER PEOPLE in the event of an accident that he caused. They did not. It is a requirement in the State of Missouri to maintain minimum coverage on your vehicle.

I tried to remain pleasant, and not engage in any sort of argumentative behavior, or ugly tactics. I did try to get her to understand that I ALREADY HAVE the denial letter, and have had conversations with her adjuster, as had she. I tried to tell her I needed a means to pay for the repairs to my son's car. She was pleasant as well, but evasive.

It's just frustrating. She says she's not seen the police report, that she needs to talk to the boy driving, that she needs to talk to her insurance company........blah blah blah.

I need to stop kvetching over it.....what happens will happen....I can't FORCE anything.....but it makes me so DAMN ANGRY to have so many uninsured drivers.....and she's an ADULT....she OWNS the car...why would she let some unsuspecting young man drive an UNINSURED CAR??? Why would he drive it with an expired insurance card in it? Why not make her provide a CURRENT card at least?

Sigh. Enough already, right?

It's Ghost Hunters Wednesday!!!! Mr. P is grilling chicken and burgers. Son #2 has a raging cold, and he's really cranky-----blech.

Toodles for now.

12 steps to nowhere

2009-09-01T17:26:00.008-05:00

Hello!

I'm at it again. Taking a FoodTV recipe and trying it out. Yes, I am obsessed with FoodTV....kind of. Like I am obsessed with A&E's 'Hoarders' and 'Intervention', and Syfy's 'Ghost Hunters', and CBS's 'Big Brother', and 'Survivor'.

'Hi....I'm Perfectly.....and I'm addicted to television' (come on...say it....you KNOW you want to.....'hi Perfectly'.....)

Okay, now that I've gotten THAT off of my chest (and in no way want to diss the recovering individuals out there.....please don't hate), I'd like to talk about cooking.

I'm not a huge fan of Ina Garten...I mean she's okay and all, but somehow, I just don't fit into the 'Hampton's' set, you know? I'm not rich, I eat canned chicken broth in my dishes, and sometimes....gasp...I eat pre made stuff...like boxed pizza, and chinese!!!

So, although I find her pleasant, I hear a teensy weensy little undertone of snobbery from Ms. Garten (although her goofy professor husband Geoffery...or is is plain ole' Jeffery?? is adorable).

However, I did watch her make a tuna roll recipe over the weekend that made my mouth water. I'm a big chicken and undercooked meat of ANY sort sends me into the 'what disease can I catch' mindset, however, I know, from watching FoodTV and from experience that some meats need to be eaten less well done. Like steak. I don't like it bloody rare, but pink and juicy in the middle is the way to go. Tuna is the same way!! I know this logically, but mentally, I am blocked. Perfectly's dad had a seared tuna appetizer one evening at the LAKE OF THE OZARKS for dinner one evening, and I forced down a seared on the outside, raw on the inside slice of tuna on a cracker thingy. It was good. GOOD. A scary undertaking for me, but GOOD!!!

So, when I saw Ina (I can call you Ina, can't I.......that may make me think less snobbery of you.) make this tuna roll, I knew I HAD to try it. Except my family doesn't like fish. Or avacados......*sigh*

So, I went and bought the ingredients. I decided to try to surprise Perfectly's dad and offer to share the bounty with him!! He's taking it, but not after lecturing me about how I shouldn't make something to eat that I'm not making for my family. Except I want it. And my family doesn't....so THERE Daddie-o.....take THAT!!

I followed the recipe pretty carefully.....except I used shallot instead of red onion, because mine needed to be used, and maybe an eensy bit more soy---and maybe a little less tuna (it's EXPENSIVE, people!!). And so far, I'm totally impressed. TOTALLY. I even overcooked the Tuna, which Ina said NOT TO DO, and it's still good. Maybe it's mental and I see pink inside and not blood red, and feel better...I don't know, but it's still good. I seared it too hot on one side, so it's a little black over there, but actually, it gave it a charred taste....and it's GOOD!!!!! Not burned at all....and I'm NOT being sarcastic...for once.

I even bought the expensive arugula that I've never tried before. By itself, I'm still on the fence. It's bitter, and tasty all at the same time, but in the middle of chewing, the bitterness gets a little rough...then it's all good and earthy again...so I'm waiting to try it with the tuna......on a roll.....for my dinner.

I was also SHOCKED to see that cranberry flavored Sierra Mist is back....that's a holiday drink, Kids!!! FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!!! I decided to try it with coconut rum....because nearly EVERYTHING fruity is great with coconut rum. And it's due to be a tension filled Big Brother night.......it's not bad. Not perfect, but not bad.

OH...OH....OH...in other news...I won Crissy's picture caption contest!! Go look!! Well, maybe I didn't win COMPLETELY, but I won SOMETHING!!!!!!!! Tell me who's captions were funnier would ya? Because I know for SURE she was just trying to be nice and not send me 6 pink, vanilla scented penis soaps. She wanted to share the wealth.

And.....son #2's football season is off to a good start! The Junior Varsity team travelled to Florissant (a suburb of St. Louis), and they won!! By ONE POINT...it was a nail biter right down to the last few seconds!!

Mr. P's blog is up for the best Sports Blog contest this year. Go vote. He needs a win. He got in trouble with the coaches last week. I can't tell you why, because he said not to in case Coach reads this, but it was kind of legit, but mostly NOT legit.......especially since it's Mr. P that got his SIDELINE PRIVILEGES taken away because he was trying to be funny. So, if you want the whole story, you'll have to ask Mr. P. He reads my comments. Just in case any one is curious. But anyway, go vote for him. ALOT. I guarantee he won't pose nude if he wins, though. You'll just have to know that you made a really nice guy happy for winning something.

Whew...we covered lots of topics today........I'm off to eat my TUNNA ROLL dinner!

Toodles for now!!

Dancing with the Perfectly’s

2009-08-27T12:52:00.001-05:00

Mr. P needed to mow the lawn. He’s been needing to mow it for weeks now, and has sort of, oopsie, been too busy to deal with it.

A few nights ago he mowed the little patch of grass that is in our fenced area for the dogs. Dex’s poor wenis was dragging along the potentially sharp blades of grass. We couldn’t see where the poopie was anymore. Unfortunately, we’ve been lax in gathering the poopies outside this summer. So even though we NOW CAN SEE the poopies, they remain at rest on the lawn.

Anyway…..last night he rushed home, only to find me in my nightgown already---I am my mother and have taken to my ‘gown’ earlier and earlier of an evening. So, I politely asked him to go forth and purchase me some white wine for our SHRIMP FRA DIAVALO (or however it’s spelled). He was flustered, but being the nice boy he is, ran to Wal Mart to buy the REALLY cheap stuff I keep on hand for cooking. It’s $2.97 for Pinot Grigio.

He came home, and began the arduous task of mowing our large yard. That is mostly thick, THICK zoysia grass. I made sure he didn’t mind if son #2 and I went ahead and ate my fabulous pasta before he was done, and he didn’t, and he merrily skipped to do lawn boy chores.

Son #2 and I ate watching a fun re-run of Ghost Hunters ( of which I missed the new one….read on and you’ll see why. It’s DVR’d, though). Soon, my normally work til it’s done hubby came in the door exclaiming ‘WHEW’ and seemed mildly excited (which is super excited for my mild mannered man)…I asked what, and he mentioned he was hot, and oh yeah….’I just got stung by a bunch of bees” or something to that effect.

I jump up, and follow him into the bathroom where he’s quickly stripping to get into the shower. He slams the door in my face, as he realizes that there are what we now think were yellow jackets still on his clothing. Son #2 came down the hall to offer any teenage assistance he could. We could hear Mr. P in the bathroom cussing and swatting at the yellow jacket (herein called wasps) with a towel. ‘Thwack……Thwack……..shit….shit…..THWACK…….’

He opened the door again (little bathroom that is HOT) and continued to undress. Son #2 is worried, I’m worried....I’m trying to determine how many stings he has, and as he reaches down and unlaces his boot, there’s a wasp resting on his foot. He gingerly steps into the tub to try to corrall the sucker, and it breaks FREE. Once again he’s yelling for me to shut the door!!! He’s wildly waving his towel around again, slinging sweat, profanities and trying to kill the offending wasp. I pull the door closed again, and ZING….I was stung on the neck, right below the chin. He’s yelling “where is it, where is it???”, and I’m trying to calmly explain that it’s out in the hall with me, stinging my neck. He yanks the bathroom door open again wielding his towel to protect his wife, and we couldn’t find the wasp. Soon, as he was disrobing some more, I realized it was DOWN MY NIGHTGOWN and trying to go into my armpit. I pull the top of the nightshirt away from my body and am mouthing to my son….”help….help” and he’s yelling to his dad “it’s still on Mom….” And Mr. P runs to the rescue. The little wasp flew off of my armpit/chestal area, and was immediately THWACKED and killed.

By this time, I could see angry red welts on his ankles, and his arm. He sat down on the toilet seat to take off his other boot, and lo and behold….there was a freaking wasp in his drawers and he SAT ON IT, thereby having his butt cheek stung. Hard. He jumped up and ran around the tiny bathroom some more…..I honestly think the judges of Dancing with the Stars would have been UBER impressed!!!!

He finally was undressed, all rogue wasps were dead, and he jumped into the shower to wash himself and the stings……..I’m sitting on the toilet waiting for him…I wasn’t going to leave him in there to go into anaphylactic SHOCK…….his poor butt cheek was on fire.

Ultimately we counted 11 stings on him, and one on me. He had one on his arm, one on his butt and the rest on his legs. Apparently he’d run over something or disturbed something as he was mowing. He couldn’t go back and move the mower, because the wasps were SWARMING the bag of the lawn mower…….so hopefully, we can get it out of the way today…….and get some spray!!

Happy Thursday!

Viva Las Vegas!

2009-08-26T13:37:00.002-05:00

So Perfectly’s dad was in Las Vegas on a business trip. He brought me back a PURSE….a totally awesome purse. I adore purses/bags/handbags…or whatever you prefer to call them.

I never purchase really expensive, name brand, leather purses. I generally get them from the clearance racks at places like Kohl’s and J C Penney. I tend to gravitate towards bright colors (although, black is good, too). Patterns are often awesome as well. So a REAL LEATHER purse is quite the luxury for Perfectly…… it’s buttery yellow and all soft and has lots of metal hardware. It’s amazing what a bag does for my mood. Just LOOK at it!!!!

Then….another day of work. Today is the kickoff of the Charitable Campaign for the year. State Employees can donate to the charity of their choice (through the United Way) via payroll deduction. I’m a big proponent of this. I think it’s awesome when someone gives $1 per paycheck….and you may multiply that by 60,000 State of Missouri employees, that we can actually make a change somehow, somewhere. Obviously, many give much more, and some choose not to give, but either way, we provide a large offering to the United Way organizations every year.

With that said, there are SOME organizations that I don’t necessarily choose to contribute to. Actually, I don’t contribute to most, because I only give a small amount each month, so I pick and choose the organizations that I want my few dollars to benefit. So, I suppose I should say that there are organizations that I just plain don’t agree with. I gravitate towards the Humane Society and other animal rescue organizations………

I don’t dabble in politics. Working where I do, it is NOT forbidden to have a political view, or support a party. It is forbidden to do any politicking on work time, and using work resources. However, I firmly believe that peoples politics are their own, and it’s not right for me to stick my neck out for any party, cause or ‘thing’ of the moment. I don’t like confrontation, I don’t like people telling me I’m wrong, when I don’t think I am…I don’t like disdainful looks of people who are unwilling to waiver on any opinion that isn’t their Minister’s.

So, anyway…back to the Charitable campaign….Jakki and I wandered around looking for the bundle of free bootie that we usually get. Remember the loot from last year? Mini cutting boards, lots of paper and pens? Little gadgets? Yeah…this year pickins’ were slim. I managed to get 9 pens, and a snack bar. I try not to take the brochures from the tables, because I really am only interested in the free stuff (unless it’s a booth I want to donate to), and because it’s a waste of that organizations money, because I usually pitch them….If I can’t write with/on them or eat them….then they generally are trash.

But there are organizations that rely on donations to support causes that I patently disagree with—I try to avoid those. Most people are gracious when you politely turn away from their spiel about whatever good they try to do. Today, a pro life organization ignored my polite pass by of their table, and handed me a flyer. I politely returned it to them. Their table was full of propaganda and actual plastic models of babies in different states of gestation. I had no interest in supporting them…..although I support their right to request donations-----if people want to buy into that organization, then so be it.

I am pro choice. CHOICE, people. That means whatever CHOICE a woman or couple makes that is best for them is what I support. I do not support fear mongering and videos of partial birth abortions, and photos of fetuses, and the like scaring the daylights out of a possibly lesser educated person…or someone who doesn’t know that there are other options for them, and if abortion is what they want to consider, than they should be given supportive, solid FACTUAL information to ASSIST them in finding their way. Not bullying or scaring them into a decision that supports the beliefs of others.

I’m sorry, I have dear friends that may not totally agree with me on this topic. I mean no offense to them. That is the beauty of our country and of friendship…it’s OKAY to disagree and still have an awesome relationship with someone. So, for those of you that I adore, but don’t agree with me on this topic, please understand that I respect your personal decisions about it as much as I respect my own….and to please not be offended that I support something that is such a controversy.

See? THIS is why I don’t voice my views out loud, because I always backpedal worrying that I’ve offended SOMEONE. I want to be strong and say what I support, but I don’t want it to interfere with my work and work life, and my sense of fairness for everyone. Ugh. I’m a contradiction.

I’m also nervous as a cat because I brought a co-worker some clam chowder for lunch. No, sillies, not the clam chowder from 2 weeks ago (although, I’ll keep that in mind for people I don’t like…..), and again, my WANT TO PLEASE thing kicks in and I worry that she’ll hate it and choke it down out of obligation. Or something.

It’s Ghost Hunters Wednesday---and I’m looking forward to an evening of Ghostly suspense!!!

Toodles for now!!! Oh, it’s also apparently stinky feet day for me. Phew…..any ways to combat it in sandal type shoes that I wear ALL THE TIME. Icky!!!!

White Wedding

2009-08-25T10:50:00.003-05:00

Have I mentioned lately that I live in quite a rural area? I mean, our city is almost 40,000 people. Our Mall is going to the dogs, and will probably be gone in the next several years. We have Columbia (100,000), Kansas City and St. Louis. The rest of our little state is pretty much rural.

Saturday, I went to a local winery with a good friend. They have my favorite wine of the moment …”Captains Red”, which of course is a sweet red wine. I’ve decided that I don’t care much for whites. Even sweet ones. I much prefer the sweet reds. Anyway…….this particular winery and brewery is FOR SALE!! Now how totally fun would it be to run a winery? Think of all the fun events you could host!! And the bistro-is type FOOD you could serve!!!

We ordered a salmon spread and a quesadilla….and both, frankly, were nasty. I mean, edible, but edible as Mc Donalds is edible……..the Salmon Spread seemed to be canned salmon mixed with some mayo and capers to put on crostini. It wasn’t what I wanted to eat. The quesadilla was, well….a quesadilla. Cheesey……it was supposed to be a mushroom quesadilla, but there weren’t many mushrooms to be found in the kind of gritty cheese. **Sigh** at least the wine was awesome.

We decided, impulsively, to head to ANOTHER winery a few miles away, in a tiny town called Hartsburg. Hartsburg is known all throughout Mid Missouri for it’s annual PUMPKIN FESTIVAL, and the fact that the Katy Trail runs right through it. It’s a river bottom town, with acres of pumpkin and squash fields. They have a tiny little winery in the center of town. We got there, ordered ANOTHER bottle of wine, and went outside to see what happens in little Hartsburg on an early Saturday evening.

Guess what? A LOT!! There was to be live music at the winery, and a WEDDING across the street! They’ve got a tiny city park and a gazebo that was all decorated with Christmas lights for a WEDDING!! A caboose sits next to the gazebo…and apparently, it can be rented for $55.00 per night---attached to the caboose is a little house thingy—and apparently, there is a shower and bathroom in that abode, that the caboose dwellers can use.

We got to the winery around 5:15, and the wedding didn’t start til 6:30 (we were told), but by 5:45, we saw food that was catered being carried into the caboose. We spent our evening imagining what was about to happen. We watched as guests began to arrive and mill around. The musician arrived, and we could see lots of young men attired in cargo shorts, flip flops and a white dress shirt (untucked) The first couple of boys we saw, we thought may have been just a fluke. Young men in the wedding that hadn’t changed yet, or something. The walked over to the winery and purchased a bottle of wine, and went on into the caboose. They didn’t LOOK old enough to buy wine, but then again….I’m 43, an everyone seems to resemble a young whipper-snapper these days.

We began to see a photographer, guests, and a young girl in an off-white dress running around hugging more of the cargo shorted, flip flop wearing, untucked dress shirt sporting fellows. My friend and I were taking bets on who was getting married. I voted for a very young couple. She voted on an older couple…..maybe a 2nd marriage?

The musician came to the winery, and set up. Much to my chagrin, he had at least 2 if not 3 speakers. I don’t like loud music that keeps me from talking. I don’t mind music in the background, but if it impedes my ability to chat…I get really annoyed. Again, my friend was betting on his acoustic guitar not being loud, but I worried nonetheless.

As it turned out…..his first number was a James Taylor song. He had quite a pleasant voice. It was all very background-ish and soft. I was THRILLED. Unfortunately, after nearly 45 minutes of the James Taylor wanna be putting his own unique, one trick pony spin on EVERY SONG HE SANG got really old, really fast.

Anyway, we were watching the cargo, flip flop clad crew and realized that near 7pm (must not have been a 6:30 wedding), that some of the boys had red CARNATIONS on their shirts. Still no ties….no pants…..no dress shoes…….

At one point, one of the young men decided to unbutton his shirt to show some girl in a brown tube top dress his abs, and lo and behold….his tattoo leading down to…..well…….um……..DOWN. Okay? Just down.

We saw another white shirted boy hugging EVERYONE in sight. Not just a quick air hug….but long, deep HUGS. We were FACINATED! The guests wore everything from cowboy hats and jeans, to cute summer dresses……..it wasn’t a large crowd, but they all seemed to come and buy wine!!!

We began to focus on the house right next door to the winery (yes…….the house is tucked between a restaurant and a winery……but there are many houses on this street, so with their 100 or so residents, I guess you put a business where there are people.

There was a lot of people coming in and out. Especially a couple sitting on the porch to smoke and their dachshund. We spent WAY too much time trying to figure out all the particulars. We were as excited as the young cargo short crew appeared to be!!!

As the event began to take shape, we realized that the deep hugger was the GROOM!!!! He, too, had on cargo shorts, flip flops, a white shirt and carnation. We watched a grandma be escorted up the gazebo steps by two of the boys, and before anyone could even begin to hear the wedding music (thankfully, wanna be James Taylor took an appropriate break), we saw a NEW GIRL….in a red dress walk from the house next to the winery…..across the street. She was escorted by one of the cargo short crew. So, we now realize that the other similarly dressed boys must be GROOMSMEN…….!!!!!!

Suddenly I heard a gasp! It was ME!! The bride was emerging from the HOUSE NEXT DOOR!! By now we could hear faint strains of a guitar…….she was escorted by two more of the cargo crew…….She was in a white princess type dress, and a TIARA!!!!! She was brunette and lovely.

These two young escorts stood behind her…so were they bridesmen? There was only one bridesmaid, and the assemblage of cargo shorted boys far outweighed the girl in numbers, so we assume that some must be bridesmen.

The ceremony took all of about 10 minutes. The officiant wore a red St. Louis Cardinals hat during the ceremony. I could not see much of his other attire, but my imagination told me denim was involved.

We got commentary from the gal working at the winery, and apparently the newly wedded couple were step brother and sister? I think she said the parents of the youngsters had gotten married a few years before, so although they were not truly related, it seemed like a relatively odd thing for the kids to marry too!!

To me, it seemed like a quaint, perfect evening wedding. Not much fuss---casually dressed young men representing their friends/family. A catered event without the cocktails and fanciful waiters……just a buffet line through the caboose. It appeared to be small, and intimate. It was apparent that a platinum budget wasn’t used, but it was also apparent that the group involved were closeknit and comfortable.

Champagne and chocolate fountains are nice…..but really? Other than one evening and a memory, who really cares? I think people should take a more cargo short and flip flop attitude……enjoy the MOMENT with people you love, and in a setting that works. It doesn’t matter if you have Christmas lights adorning a wood gazebo, instead of crystal chandeliers. What is important is whom you are marrying, and how happy you are.

Who knew we’d be headed to a wedding on Saturday? It was TOTALLY fun and refreshing. Welcome to rural Missouri, where groomsmen in shorts, and ministers in hats make for a FUN wedding.

Toodles for now!!

Frustration

2009-08-21T09:47:00.001-05:00

On top of the stress of sending the eldest duckling to college, and the fact that he’s behaving like an ingrate, he also had a traffic accident the evening before he left for school. No tickets were given, and the ‘contributing circumstances’ on the police report show that the other driver was inattentive, and was following too closely.

The police report showing that information is a GOOD thing……except the other driver DIDN’T HAVE ANY INSURANCE. That’s right. No insurance. Well……let me revamp…..he has insurance NOW, because he or somebody on his behalf obtained coverage for him 17 MINUTES AFTER THE CRASH.

And there is no ‘retroactive’ coverage….so if he wasn’t covered at the moment of the accident, HE WASN’T COVERED. Despite his efforts to cover his ASS…it would appear that we are stuck with the bill.

Yeah…good times ABOUND this week.

I am terribly frustrated. Eldest duckling has no car, therefore no way to obtain a job. He has some speeding tickets, so his insurance is OUTRAGEOUS, so we covered him with liability ONLY, because of the cost, so of course, our coverage doesn’t repair his car even with the fact the other dude isn’t insured.

I am trying not to cry. The bill is $2266.46. I don’t have it. I know that eldest duckling should hold some responsibility for his own vehicle, but…with no job…….he doesn’t have it either.

The person that hit him is a young man as well. I halfway want to report everything to the proper departments and have his license REVOKED and then sue him for the amount of repairs if he doesn’t pay for them. But the mom half of me feels bad for the kid…I’m sure he doesn’t have a dime to his name either……and to take his license and to obtain a legal judgement on him would be hard on HIM too…….

The thing that bothers me the most is that he’s fraudulently trying to appear as if he had insurance. But he got it AFTER THE FACT of the accident. This makes me think he’s not quite on the up and up……..

We can have just the suspension fixed and leave the dented/scratched bumper and fender cover for much less. But the investment that grandpa made for a lovely vehicle for the kid will be totally devalued if that happens. But even the suspension fix, which is necessary for driving, is $1000.00, which is as bad as the $2200 to have it fixed. If I don’t have it, it doesn’t matter if it’s $1000.00 or $10,000.00 in the moment.

Obviously in the long haul, the smaller amounts are easier to swallow, BUT……..it still sucks. Sucks.

And speaking of things that suck….Mr. Perfectly has gotten word that he (and every one else, we assume) is being denied access to the football field sidelines this year. Every year since The oldest has been in 6th grade, Mr P. has maintained a sports blog with photos and info for the kids sports endeavors. For some reason they aren’t letting him take his normal, awesome sideline photos. We’ve not been given a reason why, either, which I find strange.

I don’t know why, but it seems like I always end up sounding like a whiny, negative Nellie. I’m sorry if that’s how I come off…..I try to stay positive, but some weeks just stink.

Happy Friday---toodles for now.

It's Back!! Drunken Ghost Hunter's Wednesday's!!!

2009-08-19T14:42:00.001-05:00

Yep.....that's right!!! Ghost Hunters is supposed to begin airing it's new season TONIGHT. I can't wait. It's been a nerve wracking few days, and it will be enjoyable to sit down, with a glass of wine and watch the guys try to catch ghosts.

It'll be doubly nice, because the plan for dinner is BLT sandwiches which aren't terribly taxing. Easy and wine are the theme for this evening's dinner and entertainment.

I dont' have much to add today. It's been a relatively quiet day---not much drama, or anything out of the ordinary.

I hadn't mentioned that on top of the college drama, son #1 had an accident on Friday evening. One would think by looking at the car that it may not be damaged too much, BUT when driven, it's all swimmy and shimmying.......like the suspension is damaged. I suppose there is some DRAMA in that story---because of course, I don't want MAH BABY to be at fault, but that is what it's looking like...........so I've been a little worked up over the outcome of the accident. And hoping beyond HOPE that the repairs will be able to be paid in payments. I dont' know if the shop will do that for us or not, but I've asked. The owner said he'd see what the damages are to the car, and we'd see what we could work out. I take that to be a positive sign.

I've been wanting peanut butter cookies with M & M's in them. I bought some at a local farmer's market a few weeks back and they were GOOD. I just don't want to mess with making them......I want some to just appear....fresh, hot, yummy cookies.

I'm out of here for now. We'll talk ghosts tomorrow, if the hunters find any..

toodles for now.

Moved In

2009-08-18T06:53:00.006-05:00

No. I'm not obsessive over my baby being gone. Nope. I'm doing just fine. Fine...you hear me? FINE.

I don't call him or text him very often. Really, I don't. He doesn't complain over the frequency either. He's polite like that.

this is his dorm room...that will stay neat...you know, because he's a responsible young man.....

He'll manage to get up tomorrow for his classes at 8 am, too...I'm SURE of it. Again, that inherent responsiblity.

The Zoo I call Life

2009-08-17T16:41:00.003-05:00

I live in a nutty, nutty world.

I'd like to point out a few things that are CRAZY in my life. I don't do bullet points, so y'all will have to deal with it my way...the not computer literate way.

1) My oldest son (whose now in college) doesn't want to talk to me. Unless he needs something. Like how to bake a frozen pizza without a pan. THE INSTRUCTIONS SAY HE NEEDS A PAN...HE DOESN'T HAVE A PIZZA PAN. What should he do? Can he bake it right on the rack? AM I SURE IT WILL BE OKAY BAKED RIGHT ON THE RACK??? Really sure????

2) Despite the fact college boy didn't want to converse with me, I decided to call him back to check the result of the pizza being baked on the rack instead of IN A PAN. And to make sure he turned off the oven and wasn't burning the dorm down on night #2. He was harried and out of breath when I reached him. He was freaked out because he didn't have any way to get the PIZZA OUT OF THE OVEN. He didn't have an OVEN MITT. I wanted to tell him to man up....that Bobby Flay just pulls crap out of pans and ovens with his BARE HANDS.......but instead of paying for a hospital co-pay, I reminded him that he had brand new hand towels in his room that he could use in lieu of an OVEN MITT.

3) When waiting to check him in to the dorm (prior to being able to move in), I sat next to a girl who'd apparently been waiting longer than she wished to for her turn to check in. She commented very softly that the people BEFORE the ones in the room at that time were there for 45 MINUTES. And she sighed real big. She kept talking in this little tiny mousey voice....I never could hear her....and after asking her to repeat herself several times, I just got up and left. I still was never sure if she was talking to me or to herself.

4) When moving son #1 INTO his dorm room, he was totally appalled that I was not going to be carrying his stuff into his room for him while he unpacked his clothing from a suitcase. He couldn't understand WHY he had to carry all that stuff in when he had UNPACKING to do.

5) My husband walked into the bathroom to put something away for Son #1, and encountered one of the OTHER guys from the OTHER room using their shared bathroom......yeah...dude..we'll shake hands later........sorry for the AWKWARD moment!! Learn to lock common doors before you take a whiz.

6) After a week of loud arguing, and packing and me freaking out over the move to the dorm....we left. We were on the road....I texted son #2 to let him know we were on the way to the college. He was at football Practice, and I thought it to be a nice mom thing to do to let him know we were leaving town. So I texted something like " We are on the way to Moberly....see you later!!". His response? "What are you doing there?". Seriously..........did you miss the fact that your brother graduated, packed and moved out of the house? That the shouting wasn't all for fun?

7) Today, Son #1 texted me asking me for some information regarding his internet access.....I called him (because texting is a pain in the ass), and he was annoyed to be talking to me. I gave him the place where he needed to go, and tried to talk to him and was met with a resounding "I don't want to talk to you!!", and a hang up. Literally a minute later a text from him came through "What room did you say it was?". If I wasn't such a wuss, I'd have said "you didn't want to TALK TO ME....remember??". But of course, I didn't. I saved his ass and gave him the info.

I am sad, nervous and wished he could live me forever. I'm also worried that somehow he WILL live with me forever. I don't understand how our lives seem so crazy when other's seem quite normal and easy.

Maybe other people have the same things happen to them........they just hide it and live the percieved 'perfect life' that I wish for. I swear........it's amazing that he managed to get out of his room by himself.........but yet he's old enough to hold a cigarette, or if ever drafted a freaking GUN.......it amazes me that people so young are expected to SURVIVE. It's scary, people.

Toodles for now.

SO MUCH on my MIND

2009-08-14T08:41:00.000-05:00

My baby leaves for college tomorrow. It’s been a rough few months. He’s been less than gracious in his attitude, and it makes me want to SCREAM. Yet he’s my son, and I adore him, and I tend to go overboard to try to smooth things over. This upsets Mr. P to no end. Which causes the cycle to go around and around and around.

Son #1 has always been VERY demanding, strong willed and difficult. He also can be loving and understanding. He’s funny and handsome. For whatever reason, he feels he’s entitled, and there’s no making him understand our point of view. Our family has gone overboard in their quest to make his transition from a teen living at home, to a young man entering college a smooth one. His grandparents have purchased nearly EVERYTHING he needs to set up his dorm room……….we’ve bought a refrigerator and all his life necessities. Yet, he’s balking at the task of cleaning his room and clearing out the 9 or 10 baskets of LAUNDRY that he has scattered around his tiny little room. His room will remain his, but I want the room to be neat and orderly so we don’t have to keep the door shut all the time.

I want guests to sleep there (should we ever have any), and I want him to have a cozy, CLEAN place he can come to when he returns home. He swears it will be done, but he’s not moving an inch to work on it, so the frustration is mounting. All he cares about is partying and making sure his move is bought and paid for. By us. Our effort. Our money. And our time. He doesn’t want to give anything or show any appreciation. It’s a vicious, ugly circle right now.

Then yesterday, I went for a pedicure, and had a good one for once. The little girl actually used one of those razor things on my heels to scrape all the dead skin from them. The foot and leg massage were quite lovely, and my purple toenails are so cute. I have tiny stubby toes, with tiny stubby toenails. My feet are very small—as in short. But they are chubby and I have a high instep, so shoes are a bitch for me to find. A high instep, double wide size 6? It ain’t happening.

The little girl doing the pedicure looked at me and immediately suggested I get my brows waxed…..nice. Is it a sales pitch or are my gnarly brows really THAT bad? I suspect it’s an even combination of the two. After my toes were done, I went into the BACK room for my brow waxing. I laid on a table, where the female version of Tony Soprano took hold of my forehead and whipped my head around like nobody’s business. Commenting “oh wow” when I was laid back for a good view. She roughly applied the wax and put so much pressure on the fabric strips, that I thought most certainly my eyeballs would pop out of the socket! Amidst the flurry of head and neck whipping to rid my face of rogue eyebrow hair, she muttered “LIP?” while she was ripping hair out of my brows. I declined. I can’t decide if I’m THAT hairy, or if these people were into sales in a MAJOR way? She managed to wax my brows, and give me a mirror for a short peek in a span of ……oh, I don’t know……3 minutes? No Joke……it was the quickest brow wax EVER!!!!!! All in all, it wasn’t a bad job, either………but she was a LITTLE rough.

Mr. P and I then went to the NEW Wal-Mart Supercenter to buy son #1’s stuff for his new life. Son #1, of course, didn’t want to join us. We wandered around and around that store trying to no overbuy…which for us is a difficult task. Mr. Entitlement had called ‘dibs’ on the hair cutting clippers that we have. He keeps his hair cropped short----and just assumed that he’d get the clippers. Not thinking or caring that Mr. P, who also keep his hair cropped short, may need them as well. So, Mr. P just bought himself a new set in a nice carrying case. Son #1 can have the old ones…..that have all the pieces scattered in a shoe box.

We then went home and had frozen pizza and watched the exciting episode of ‘Big Brother’ on CBS. I’m a reality show junkie……and Big Brother is one of my favorites……unfortunately. I tried to pick up some of the trash littering son “#1’s room, but got bored quickly of that task and quit.

I realize much of my stress is self imposed. I want everything to be ‘perfect’ and I want my son, Beaver, to happily skip off to school, and want his mom to help him get all set up in his room….to help him buy books, and then go out to dinner and have a lovely send off for his high achieving goals to be reached in college.

Instead, it’s a scene from a bad teen movie. Harried parents trying to please angst-ridden son who JUST WANTS THEM TO LEAVE ALREADY…so he can find the first and nearest PARTAY……forget dinner, forget cute bedding sets…and stocking his brand new fridge..JUST LEAVE SO HE CAN GET DRUNK!!!!!!!!!! Don’t tell him how to prevent swine flu……..he wants to get with his new found dorm buddies and discuss hangover remedies!!

I’m sad, nervous and quite anxious over this endeavor. Wish me luck, and if anyone wants to come help with the move, and to corral an angst ridden teen who thinks his parents are lame…..come on. We could use the help.

Happy Friday……………we’ll see how mom survives today…..Friday…her FAVORITE day (normally).

Toodles for now.

Floppy

2009-08-09T10:51:00.002-05:00

I do not know why I choose one of the hottest days of the Summer to be in the mood to cook. I get sweaty and huffy when it's hot and I'm cooking, but the OUTCOME is usually so awesome.

I am making clam chowder for dinner. I know....traditionally, folks don't eat steaming hot bowls of rich soup in the middle of summer, but it sounds good. With crusty bread or crackers? MMMMMMMMM

I am also making salsa. I have some beyond able to use in anything else tomatoes and peppers, so salsa it is. Mr. P. loves my salsa, and I've not made any at all this summer, so this will be a treat.

I am a little slow on the draw regarding jokes and humor. I tend to not get jokes and am unable to deliver them AT ALL. I am not quick with the comeback, or witty on a dime. However, I do crack myself up sometimes. This isn't a difficult task, but somehow nobody else seems to appreciate my own brand of humor.

When I was a little girl in Des Moines, Ia., there was a local afternoon kids program called FLOPPY. It was every kid's dream to be on Floppy. When I was 6 or 7, my cute, blond self was ON THE FLOPPY SHOW. My allergies had apparently kicked in, and I spend most of the show wiping my nose on the hem of my totally rad 70's polyester dress. Yep, my 15 minutes of fame consisted of snot and embarassing my family.

Anyway, 35 years later, my beautiful mommy brought me a FLOPPY t-shirt when she was here recently. I love it. It's too big and comfy. I wear my sloppy t-shirt to the grocery store and around the house. Mr. P brought it to my attention, that with folks here in Missouri not knowing about Duane Elliott and Floppy, it may be regarded as a testament to my breasts. Yeah....again....me and Floppy doin' myself proud.

So, I'm off to the grocery......to shop for my soup and salsa, and me and Floppy will be strutting PROUDLY through the aisles.

See you there!!

Artsy News!!!

2009-08-02T12:07:00.002-05:00

So.....remember Mr. P's Worldwide Photo Walks he went on a couple of weeks ago? One in Columbia, MO., and and one at the Lake of the Ozarks, MO.???? The object of this was to have as many communities that wanted to participate in a photo walk all on the same day.

Each participant submitted their two favorite photos to the local walk co-ordinator. They and/or the ones deemed in charge chose their favorite shot of the whole group and that shot will be submitted to the WORLDWIDE contest of photos. I showed you here the photos that Mr. P submitted to each walk.

He got notification on Friday that one of his photos from the Lake Walk was chosen to be submitted to the WORLDWIDE contest. AND, his second photo, was chosen for an honorable mention. The Honorable Mention photos don't get anything, but it's still a testament to his ability, I think!!!

So, go check it out! The winning photo from the Lake is the "Lonely Bumper Car" and the "Skee Ball" was the honorable mention. Personally, my favorite was the 'Skee Ball', but I think his was the 'Lonely Bumper Car".

He won a digital photography book and an 8x10 print of his winning photo.

He's over the moon with excitement. This is something he LOVES, and although family and friends all love his photos, this is just an additional boost to his own knowledge that he's good.

He's not heard from the Columbia, MO. walk coordinator. He feels like he won't win anything there.......although I don't know why, but that's the sense that he personally has. But it really doesn't matter, because one of HIS photos will be submitted to the WORLDWIDE walk contest. That is just too cool for words.

Go Mr. P!!!!!!

Go the Artsy post and check them out. Which is YOUR favorite?

Toodles for now.

Drunk Dialing

2009-07-29T20:10:00.002-05:00

Jakki gave me an assignment to look up 'drunk calling' this evening. Apparently I'm not nearly as drunk as she thinks I am, because when you google Drunk Calling, one finds that it's actually called DRUNK DIALING.

Now......I never get drunk. I'm afraid of throwing up, but I do enjoy a little happiness at the expense of my wine spritzers sometimes. , So, Jak, I'm unsure why you thought I needed a lesson in drunk dialing, but just for you I looked it up. I do not think I fit the criteria of drunk dialing, since google said something about outrageous propositions and making a fool of onesself.....I think I was just fine.

While trying to find something on the tee vee tonight, I was drinking my wine and watching the STYLE channel....who hosts the show "Ruby", that I adore. She's funny and beautiful. But anyway.......Noah Wylie was on with some damn commercial about the plight of the polar bears......how food is short, and the momma bears may not be able to provide for the baby bears. It showed a momma (I assume...) and her baby floating on a lone piece of glacier that most probably broke off due to global warming. They look all lonely and hungry. Of course, they want money to send to the wildlife foundation to save the polar bears.

The stupid commercial people do this to those of us who may be VULNERABLE (i.e. drinking wine alone in a dark house) and will send money that WE DON'T HAVE to save the MOMMA AND HER BABY. It's a sick and twisted game.

Here's a shoutout to a childhood friend that I sent a facebook message to! HI!!!!!! Just in case she reads this.

I've known this girl since 5th grade. She's funny, and I miss seeing her. She lives in another city now, and Jakki and I have found out over the years that we BOTH know her.....seque into the chorus of 'IT'S A SMALL WORLD'.

Anyway, if she reads this, she'll know I'm talking about her.

I know I've promised photos. I haven't delivered. I just feel so BLAH about pictures. They seem so lame compared to the exciting lives I read about on my blog friends' pages. I didn't go to blogher...I didn't recently have a baby...I'm not remodeling my house and am just getting a fabulous doggie.........I'm not planning a work party and I'm not pregnant. I'm just me. Boring me. Drunk dialing my friends in hopes they'll understand my polar bear dilemma!!!!

Stoogie...You haven't been reading lately....but I need to know if YOU know anything about photography as art. Mr. P is a good photographer, and how does one get their work 'out there'???? Our city has a couple of small local galleries, but i don't know the LEAST about art, photos or how to get something set up for him.......do you?

I'll send you an email, too, begging for your expertise!!

That's it for now, Kids.

Toodles!!

Artsy

2009-07-27T17:35:00.010-05:00

My husband is artsy. I am not. We sort of switch roles in certain situations. Like I have an obsession with the remote. I must be in control of it, otherwise, well...I feel......out of control........he tends to want to re-arrange the furniture, and make things nice. Whereas I am happy if it is relatively clean. Decorating is nice...and I definately have a particular 'style', but it 100% is NOT reflected in my house.

He went on 2 photo walks on July 18th. It was the Worldwide Photo Walk. He loves photography, and is pretty good at it. For lack of sophisticated equipment, he does a really nice job. One was early in the day in Columbia, Mo., and the 2nd was in the evening at the Lake of the Ozarks. He's entered 2 photos from each walk to try to win like $1700 in prizes.

Here are the photos he entered (click pic for larger version):

Lonely Bumper Car - Lake Ozark, MO Photo Walk

Skee Ball - Lake Ozark, MO Photo Walk

Vespa - Columba, Mo Photo Walk

Reflective Window - Blue Shutter

Aren't they GOOD?

Toodles for now......

OH, Deer!!!

2009-07-23T10:28:00.003-05:00

Last night I was not my usual self. I was up past 10 pm!!!! I’d been watching the DVR’D recording of Big Brother with Mr. Perfectly. We decided to watch the evening episode of REAL WORLD when we were done.

I’m an early to bed girl. I enjoy my sleep…….I think I must be a crazy sleeper, since I wake up and have blankets piled in the middle of my body with my head and feet sticking out. I don’t GO to bed like that…so I must wrestle the hell out of the sheets all night long.

Anyway, Son #2 was supposed to be home by 10:30. I get a call at 10:27 that he’s ‘just leaving’ because he ‘lost track of time’ while they were in the pool. He was in a rural community about 12 miles away, and still needed to stop and get gas. **SIGH**. So, I have him the mom lecture about being late……..keeping track of time……..not being allowed to drive if he habitually ‘lost track’ of time…..yada yada yada…….

10 or 15 minutes later, I get another call from an excited sounding Son #2. I was making small talk….like ‘Hello”…..”what’s up” when he interrupted me and said “MOM….I hit a deer”. Talk about the gut hitting the floor, and the heart leaping into the throat. He was breathing kind of heavily so I tried to ask calmly….as CALMLY as a parent can be when they are FREAKING OUT……”are you okay?” Which, of course, sent Mr. P into the depths of worry….giving me the eye…..shaking his hands….BEGGING to know what happened…….by this time, I’d determined that Son #2 was fine….the truck SEEMED fine (to a 16 yr old with 3 weeks of driving under his belt), and that he was at the gas station.

Mr. P. rushed to put on some jeans and a t-shirt while I talked to Son #2…He was coming over a hill, and the deer jumped into the road in front of him, and they had an unfortunate collision. One in which the deer didn’t fare quite as well as the truck.

The truck, according to Son #2, had a bent up license plate, but no other visible damage. We told him to stay put, and we went to ‘rescue’ him. Mr. P wanted to see and drive the truck just to be SURE it wasn’t damaged in some way that would hurt it worse by driving it.

We jumped into the car and drove to the small community that is about 7 miles from us that son #2 stopped at to get gas and call us.

I’m proud of the kid. He’s my more emotional kid…he didn’t stop on the dark TWO LANE highway (over the crest of a hill no less) to check on the deer or the truck. He kept driving to a lighted spot, THEN checked out the truck….and got gas.

We picked him up and went to see if the deer managed to get off the road. Son #2 said he didn’t think there was any way…it was a baby, and he’d hit it then run over it. He said he felt bad for leaving the deer in the road.

As we checked on the deer, we found his remains in the road still……it looked like maybe he’d been hit again….so we notified the local police and they said they’d go dispose of the deer carcass.

As it turns out, the alignment to the truck is now OUT of alignment. We just had it aligned in May……but if that is the only damage…….that and a slightly bent plate…then we are lucky.

Son #2 seemed to remember the coaching we gave him about what to do in this situation, and thankfully he wasn’t hurt…..just a little shaken. Deer being hit in this area is commonplace. Even in our small city………you’ll see deer in the city roads sometimes. But you ALWAYS see deer along highways around here….we’ve told him a MILLION times if we’ve told him once, to try to remain calm, DO NOT SWERVE, and if you have to hit it head on, then do it….to avoid hitting other cars, or careening out of control. To apply the brakes firmly, but try not to fishtail…..He seemed to handle the truck well, and although shaken up a bit, stayed relatively calm. Not bad for a kid who just literally got his license 3 weeks earlier.

Speaking of Deer, we have deer in our backyard at times. And we live quite close to a main thoroughfare…..so although we are a small city……we have all sorts of wildlife to view right in our OWN backyard…….literally in our backyard.

Toodles, my woodland friends!!!

It’s a RABBIT…….It’s a RABBIT…..I KNOW it’s a RABBBBBIIIITTTTTTTT

2009-07-22T10:41:00.001-05:00

So, I’ve mentioned on many occasions that my house is pretty small. This is fine with us, but when we have people over, it can become an issue. My house is also sort of the dumpy one on the block. The one that needs painting and to have a front porch replaced. We’re probably reducing the property values of all of our neighbors.

Ph.D. and Hubs came over last night for dinner. I tried to be prepared, so I could hang out with them instead of run around sweating and cooking and huffing……because, I huff when I’m agitated.

Ph.D. is my lifelong best friend. I’ve known her since I was 11 and probably other than my own family and husband, I feel the most comfortable around her. She knows me….I know her…..we ‘get’ each other…..all that stuff. So to have her at my not so picture perfect abode is fine with me. She’s seen it all with me……

But, for some reason, last night, I was nervous. Nervous about the food….about the fact we are BORING people…I don’t know what to do to entertain…….It just seemed all wrong for some reason. Not them, but me. Why was I nervous around Ph.D. of all people? I felt like I should be putting on a dinner party…when we aren’t dinner party kind of people. We are TV addicted people.

Their puppy, Lester, horked on the dogbed we have in our living room. I think they thought I’d freak out….because you know I’ve that issue w/ vomiti ng. I SWEAR, other than it’s a little gross, dog and cat puke doesn’t set me off like people puke. I can’t catch anything from the dogs……..whereas, I can from people. They fretted a little over me and the dogbed, which made me fret that they were fretting…….now if the Hubs had horked on the dogbed, we may have had to discuss their immediate departure….but aside from a little cleaner and some papertowels, the dog hork was a non incident.

I guess it’s like when your kid does something at someone elses home…….you feel like your kid did something wrong or whatever…….so, Ph.D……don’t worry about dog hork.

Anyway, my cutsie retro dinner was fine, but not spectacular. I guess I wanted 60’s hippies dancing in the room or something…I don’t know. They ate, so I suppose that’s as successful as necessary……..

Let’s back up a little to their Sunday afternoon visit. They brought Stella and Lester over and our cat, Joe, who is quite used to OUR dogs, decided to hide under Mr. Perfectly’s chair. He’s normally not a hidey cat, but then again, we don’t normally have bigger dogs hanging out in the living room either. Dogs that are strangers to Joe. The afternoon went smoothly, except for our sweet natured pup, Copper, decided he was going to go all ALPHA DOG on Lester…….Copper was being a bully and it wasn’t nice.

Then Lester realized there was something FURRY under the chair. He’d cautiously peer, trying to get another glimpse of whatever resided there. He let out these hysterical hound-ish, baying barks. He was obsessed with whatever was under there. He and Stella LOVE chasing rabbits, so we can only imagine what he must be THINKING was under that chair. Was it a RABBIT of his very own?

We coaxed Joe out and took him downstairs, but pretty soon he crept up the stairs and peeked through the railings……..he sat there for quite some time. Joe is ornery. Joe knows when our own dogs will be annoyed by him. He pounces on them, then looks around the room with an expression that says “Whhhaaattt??? I didn’t do anything”. His ears were back, so we know he was wary of the strangers, but he had that GLIMMER in his eyes , the little pot stirrer.

Lester caught sight of him, and ran to the stairs……Stella following. Joe ran away from them , but the hunt was on. They didn’t go downstairs at first…..but they stood at the top of the stairs and whined. Pretty soon, Joe crept back up the staircase and peeked through at them (the little shit that he is) and it was OFF TO THE RACES…..Lester and Stella chased Joe down the stairs and over to where his food dish sits. At one point, Lester had Joe cornered….with Joe hissing and smacking his clawless paws at the pup.

Later we tried to get them to officially ‘meet’, but Joe wasn’t having any of it.

So, last night during most of the evening, the cat was locked up in our room. He began to scratch to get out, so son #2 quietly took him downstairs to where his litter and food are. We didn’t see him for a while, so we hoped he realized the dogs were there, and was minding his own business.

During dinner, here comes Joe. He must not have known that Stella and Lester were there……..and CHAOS ensued when he ventured into our tiny dining room……..dogs running, barking, cats racing to safety……..people jumping to corral dogs, lights being unplugged by racing animals……it was FUN!!! Again, I think Ph.D. and hubs were worried that their dogs were misbehaving….they have them trained well. And once again, we are the backwards ones with the poorly behaved dogs….the ones that bark, jump up on guests and try to LICK them……

Stella and Lester just thought Joe was a rabbit to chase…..they don’t know he lives there….they probably didn’t even know he was a cat….it was a furry creature that RAN FROM THEM………what else were they to do?

Joe can get away…he can jump up on things so he can’t be caught…….easily, at least. It serves him right for being such an adorable little cuss……..maybe next time he’ll leave the big dogs alone!!

Toodles for now………..

Old School (edited)

2009-07-21T12:17:00.004-05:00

Ph.D. and her hubs are coming for dinner. I've been worried about what to serve. I'm not a (and neither are they) 'dinner party' type. We are having Burgers. Remember, Perfectly's dad has beef.....fresh, lean, non-hormone, non-antibiotic beef. He requests his hamburger to be ground relatively lean. I know...I know....all the foodies out there will bitch at lean burger, but FRESH lean burger is DA BOMB.

Anyway, what to serve with burgers? Chips? Nah...that's too easy. A salad? Nice alternative, but again....YAWN. Pasta Salad? Now THAT'S a thought....In fact, that's the thought I was going with. But once again, Dad came through, and sent some fresh veggies to the house. His garden was late getting in and is late producing--so I have a Zucchini. A nice one, too. So, we are having a squash casserole. It's Paula Deen's recipe. I've made it before, and it's always a hit with my family, at least. Hopefully Ph.D. and hubs don't hate squash or something. I don't think our lovely medium zucchini will yield enough, so I'll make a trip to the farmer's market for another, but still....it's yummy.

Ph.D. wanted watermelon......so it's in the cooler on ice. But I wanted something REALLY dessert-ish. What's more old school than the STRAWBERRY PRETZEL DESSERT??

So, welcome to the 60's. We're having burgers, squash casserole and strawberry pretzel salad. Wanna Come? (edited to add) Oh...how could I FORGET...the cucumber and onion salad marinating in sugar, vinegar and water? Equal parts....salt...pepper, and you've got some drippy, yummy cucumbers!!!!

Now, Ph.D. is very private, so I doubt she'll allow any pictures, but do y'all remember me needing a BASSETT HOUND name about a year ago? This is THAT Ph.D.!! In case you forgot, they went with Lester as a name....and Stella is their Bassador (Bassett Lab mix)...so I'm sure at least I'll be allowed to show the puppies off.

Stella's story is sort of a funny one. She wanted a Bassett 2 years ago at Easter. Me,being slightly obsessive, scoured the local want ads and found a local family with bassett puppies.

We went to their farm and looked at the 2 remaining pups. They were exclaiming over how UNUSUAL these bassets were....they were all black. She assured us that the momma hadn't been bred with anyone but the daddy basset....and they were happily surprised at these black bassett pups. Ph.D. was skeptical.....she's kind of like that. Anyway, she decided against the pup.....and at the last minute, she couldn't stand to leave one there, and took the female.

We now have an adult dog with a basset body, feet and tail, and a black body and a labrador head. SOMEBODY snuck into the momma's pen and had a go with her, because this baby's daddy is not bassett. She suffers from some anxiety but is a really sweet girl.

Mr. P wanted them to name her ANGELA (he...he....he...Angela Bassett??? heheheheh), but they chose their own name of Stella.

Then last year, they went to a local family where THEY live and got a male bassett. So, when they come by, we have 5 dogs in the house, and it gets a little busy.

Okay, gotta run. I've taken allergy medicine and am loopy. About 1 am this morning I woke up as a complete snot ball....my eyes were running, swollen, I was sneezing and blowing my nose. I was a huge mess. I stayed home since this morning I got up and my eyes were watering so badly it looked like I was crying constantly.

I'm sure many people don't think allergies are really a big deal, but they can be. It's miserable at times.

Toodles for now, folks!!

Horny Toad

2009-07-14T16:45:00.007-05:00

Hey everyone!!!!!! Y'all know how I talk sometimes about events at the Lake of the Ozarks? That's it's a big midwestern 'tourist' stop? That I live only 45 miles from the Lake? That Perfectly's dad used to have a boat at the lake that the kids would tube and ski behind?

Yeah......tourist city......there's a place called PARTY COVE at the lake and there are all sorts of Naughty Things that happen on many, many boats that tie together for the Lake's equivilent of a BLOCK PARTY......(for swingers). There is something about being on the lake, in a boat, in a bathing suit, consuming copius amounts of alcohol that somehow makes people lose their inhibitions. WARNING: if you look at the website, there are graphic photos, so don't open if you are easily offended or with kids around. Um....yes, I'm pretty uninformed about these things......the GIRLS.....they are very......OPEN.....and ACTIVE....it's a little shocking.

There are various bars and lakeside establishments....some fine dining....some just big bars. Now....you have to realize that we are in Mid Missouri....so the bars are not the big city clubs........but, they are Lake Bars. Lots of bikini's, swim trunks and beer. Lots and LOTS of beer.

A seemingly popular place is the HORNY TOAD. They attract a summer concert series, and kids.....guess who's going to be there in August? BILLY SQUIRE!! Get a bunch of drunk college kids and boobs and him singing 'STROKE ME; STROKE ME' and they'll have a PARTAY on their hands, I'd expect. I missed Air Supply earlier in the month. I somehow think that maybe they didn't attract the same type of CROWD that Squire will. Who knows.....maybe 80's ballads and beer do the same thing for people?

The Lake is actually quite fun. People are friendly, and it's a small town atmosphere, and there is quite a bit to do. Lots of bars, and shopping and even family entertainment....boat excursions, putt putt golf, and GO KARTS. There are some really nice places to eat (we eat there about half the time we go out with Dad and Teenie)...........there's something for everybody. Resorts, private houses for rent, condos, and hotels.

So, who wants to hang out with me and Mr. Perfectly and go see Billy Squire!!! I promise not to wear a bikini.

Happy Tuesday, people!!!! Toodles

P.S. This is for Whiskey.....today I wore brown cotton capri pants with a cute little tie at each leg. A cute, swishy, 70's-esque knit top....and brown sandal flippy shoes. We are eating chicken quesadillas tonight for dinner, using the leftover grilled chicken from Sunday. I am getting ready to head into the kitchen and make my wine spritzer.

See ya!!!

COCKTAIL TIME!!!!

2009-07-13T15:21:00.000-05:00

Do any of you food lovers ever watch Simply Homemade with Sandra Lee (I think that’s what it’s called)? It worries me that she has ‘COCKTAIL TIME’ freakishly often. However, it also worries me how often I refer to myself consuming wine or other imbibments.

Anyway, I made up my very own cocktail recipe the other day. It was AWFUL. I had awesome intentions……and really thought it would be successful. How woefully, and expensively wrong I was.

I am growing Chocolate Mint. Actually Mr. Perfectly planted it for me, but I go cut it when I want to use it. So, one Saturday I was thinking of ways to utilize my Chocolate Mint. I decided that some sort of Raspberry/Chocolate cocktail would be lovely.

Now, I don’t do frozen drinks. I get the Ice Cream Headache when I drink them, so I avoid them at all costs, but I particularly love fruity RUM drinks. I decided to make a version of a MOJITO…and I muddled together some fresh (frozen) raspberries, a little sugar and my chocolate mint. MUDDLE, MUDDLE, TOIL AND TROUBLE…or something like that.

I added some rum and some sparkling soda (Yes, I used diet 7-up---I don’t like club soda).

The result was something tasting like children’s cough syrup. I’ve tried regular mojito’s and they fail as well.

What am I doing WRONG?

Paula Deen even took mint and covered the individual mint leaves with chocolate and made her own little mints—and I’m SCARED Internet….I’m afraid that I”ll have little cough medicine nuggets!!

HEEELLLLLPPPPPP

Who says pork fat rules?

2009-07-10T18:16:00.002-05:00

Okay, so I'm not a huge pork fan. I know, I like to cook, therefore, I should love the pig. But I don't. Pork is, well.....I don't know....tough, dry and many times 'BLECH'. I know, I must not be preparing it properly, but I just don't love it. I love it crock potted and pulled in a sauce topped with COLE SLAW, but grilled, baked or pan fried? Nope.

I do like bacon. But apparently I'm a bacon snob, because I ran to Wal-Mart today to avoid 5 pm traffic, and didn't know what kind of bacon to buy. I decided on the Wal-mart brand...it looked meaty and was reasonably priced. YEAH......NO. It was like frying up some tissue paper strips. It's thin, and stuck to the pan, and I am NOT happy. I buy KRETSCHMAR brand bacon. I do not like sweet bacon. I do not like thick sliced bacon. I like Kretschmar bacon.

This foreign stuff was just not what I am used to. (pout)

Anywho, it was Farmer's Market day again. I got a whole bunch of tomatoes, some peppers, some onion and some cucumbers. Who says farmer's markets are cheap? I spent $20.....$10 on tomatoes. I can't wait til Perfectly's Dad's garden grows and we get our own........

So, we are having classic BLT sandwiches for dinner.....with substandard bacon.

Oh well.......the cheap wine spritzer's I'm making will make up for it!!

It's Friday night!! Toodles!

Marsupializing the submucosal nodule

2009-07-08T17:41:00.005-05:00

Son #2 had what we thought was a canker sore on his tongue. More specifically on the bottom of his tongue. We used hydrogen peroxide on it to try to clear it up (isn't peroxide a fix all for many ailments??). The next day it was HUGE. Like maybe a 4th of a grape tomato in size huge.

Mr. Perfectly took him to the doctor, and we found out he had some sort of infection....something regarding the mucous gland or something (this is how they explained it to me). So, I went to my frienemy...Google to see what I could find abou such an odd thing. And sure enough, there is an infection...of the submucosal nodule. He needed to be seen by an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor so they could remove it, otherwise it may just come back.

We had our ENT appointment today, and the doctor looked at it, said it was a submucosal nodule, and that he could marsupialize it or my son may do it naturally in the course of things like chewing.....ewww.

Speeding forward for a moment....MARSUPIALIZE? WTF? I came home and went to my frienemy AGAIN and had to look that word up...I mean really....what does a WALLABIE (see comments, please) have to do with my son's tongue nodule that's filled with mucous? As it turns out, this means to open, or to break. Like popping a zit. So the next time you want to impress your family and friends, discuss in detail how you MARSUPIALIZED your zit that morning.

So, back to the doctor. He gave son #2 a numbing solution to put on his tongue, came back with a needle, popped the submucosal nodule, and squeezed it like a pimple. Gross. I gave up watching, because I don't do well with spit.....and spit and mucous was all stringy from the gauze........blech. He goes back in a month. Oh and will be taking an antibiotic, which I haven't filled yet. Bad Mommy!!

So, now that the medical speak is over, what are YOU having for dinner? We are havinga concoction of zucchini, tomato and onion over rice. This is a dish that my dad thought he came up with years ago from our garden produce. It's awesome. Anyway, as I got older, I realized, that lots of other people make this too. Oh, well....our feeling of originality still lingers in my mind. We must have had SOMETHING to do with local folk liking this so much.

Anyway, you take an onion, and chop it to the size of your liking. Same with a zucchini and however many tomatoes you want to add. You brown the onion a little, add the zucchini, and at the end the tomatoes. You cook it until the veggies breakdown to your own personal softness liking. I like mine soft and soupy. Add some salt, pepper and a little FRANK'S hot sauce and you've got a meal.

Spoon it over some rice, and HOT DAMN...you've got dinner.

Awwwwwwwww....I wish I could video quicker and better, because my kitty is grooming the dachshund. Oh wait....now they are wrestling....or like they say around these here parts.....WRASSSSLIN'.

Toodles for now. Enjoy the bounty of your garden or farmer's market....I'm SURE I'll have more recipes for you!!

The Remote Starter

2009-07-06T18:30:00.002-05:00

So.

Son #2 turned 16 last Wednesday. He got his driver's license (with a 94%), and is insured (ouch). We are slowly letting him drive on his own (scary).....

We celebrated with a family dinner on Friday night at the local Italian place that we all like (Dominico's), and had ALOT of fun.

The 1991 Ford truck that Son #1 drove for 2 and a half years has been passed down to Son #2. We bought a keychain and put his keys on it, and presented him with his very own keys to 'his' truck. He looked at the keychain--which has a LED flashlight in it--and said "I didn't know the truck had a remote starter".........to which the entire table CRACKED UP......because it's a NINETEEN NINETY ONE.......no fancy fobs from the vehicles of the 'old days'.

Ah, the joys of youth.......he was clueless until we shined the flashlight in his face.......hahahaha

So, how was your Fourth of July? Ours was fun---rainy, but fun. We went outside around 8:30 and proceeded to have a HUGE thunderstorm pop up......it lasted around 30 minutes, and we went back out to the bug filled, hazy air, and the kids (and Mr. Perfectly) shot their fireworks. We watched the bats dive bomb the bugs, and watched the supposed FABULOUS fireworks fizzle out.....

But that's what home-set fireworks are supposed to do......be laughingly disappointing! The boys had fun.....boys....fuses.....explosive powder and fire always is fun for them!!!!

We had family come in from Nebraska to join in, and had good friends over, too. You can't beat that.....good family...good friends....good food and fun.

I swear, I have dorm room pictures, Hooters pictures, and Dock Dogs pictures. I've just been TOO LAZY to deal with the undertaking of uploading them (or is it downloading....I never understand that). Although great strides have been made in the computer age, it still takes a while to load pictures.......and I have a short attention span.......so I've been avoiding my promised pictures.

I must say, it's been an exciting week, with driver's licenses and all, but it's still remained relatively quiet.

I'll post pictures soon.....really.

Toodles for now!!

MAH BABY is 16!!

2009-07-01T09:24:00.003-05:00

Just LOOK at him. Isn’t he adorable? He’s a great kid. He’s funny, smart, handsome, engaging, and all around awesome.

We will be going this afternoon to get his driver’s license. YIKES. That means I’ll have to deal with adding him to our insurance. OUCH. He went to six flags yesterday, so this week will prove to be a fun one. It usually is since his birthday falls near the 4th of July!! There’s always FIREWORKS and BARBEQUE in the mix, too!!

Today is my Friday. I’ll be leaving work today at 1 to get the driver’s license, and from then on….I’m free!! Until MONDAY!!
My uncle will be coming here for the 4th…so that will also be fun!!

Send good 16th birthday wishes this way, and of course MONEY!!

Toodles, and happy Wednesday to everyone!!

Waiting for Stoogie to comment

2009-06-25T08:15:00.001-05:00

I am constantly amazed by the blogging community I belong to. When I embarked on this blog endeavor, I never expected ANYONE to EVER read my posts except maybe my husband and friend, Jakki. I do not have a huge following, BUT the people that do follow me are like real FRIENDS…….they seem to respect me….they seem to laugh with me, and support me if I’m down. It’s amazing. I know everyone always talks about the dangers of ‘putting’ oneself ‘out there’….on the INTERENET…..that it’s DANGEROUS.

And, I suppose it could be. But since my little blog title is a portion of my name, and I often refer to where I live, and where I work….it’s not hard to find me. And so far, nobody has been untoward, stalkerish or frightening in any way.

I truly enjoy the rapport I have with many of my online friends. I feel like I could drop in on any one of you and have a cup of coffee and pick up like we really KNOW each other. I like that feeling.

I read a blog earlier today from one of my good blog buddies. One that would like to MEET ME in real life……..and she’s struggling right now…….which makes me sad. I think she’s awesome. And true to form, StoogePie (who’s my Stoogie) left her a beautiful comment. So, now I’m waiting for mine (hint hint, Stoogie).

I love you guys……and thank you for the chance to meet up with all of you….and for sticking with me and what I figured would be a boring little blog. I mean, who cares about a Midwestern mom of two teenagers in an incredibly happy marriage……….who likes to cook…….I mean, really…..YAWN. But y’all seem to ‘get’ me……..and I love that. I know a real AUTHOR because of this blog………I know fun people, and highly educated people. And they all still like my frumpy, un-educated self.

My struggling blog friend made me retrospective, I guess. Now….back to the fluff that is my life.

Sorry I was gone for so long. There’s nothing wrong…..no lack of material…….or no real reason for not blogging. Except I was lazy. I started a couple of posts, and deleted them……..Meh…they were just too hard to think about. I was not in a funk…Or angry….Or depressed…….just plain old LAZZZYYYYY assed-ness.

But, I’m sort of over it……maybe…….and I do have TONS of stuff to tell y’all about! Like My son’s dorm room/Dorm area!! Like celebrating PerfectlyShelly’s dad’s birthday at Hooters!!!! Oh, and we can’t forget our trip to the Lake to see the DOCK DOGS competition!! I have pictures of EVERYTHING!!! Even MY Hooters. Although, I discovered, when putting them on display for my husband’s camera when we were at HOOTERS…I neglected to put down my napkin….so I have my hooters and a napkin in my hand. I am such an old lady. If I’d had long sleeves, I guess I may have had it stuffed up in a sleeve for later use. Sheesh. OH…..and Brandon cut my hair that day, and it’s shorter than normal, and I’m not sure I like it.

So, be watching. Oh….and yes….My Hooters are clothed……I just wanted to give our cute hooters girl a run for her money. She had hooters too, and a cute body, but remember, I’m a big girl, and MY hooters out did hers FO’ SHO’……

Oh, and we’ve got son #2’s 16TH birthday coming up, and the fourth of July!! And an informal gathering of my class of ’84 classmates….AT THE WINERY!!!

So, there will be lots to see and talk about in the coming days.

I missed everyone….although if you check your site meters I have been reading. I’ve not commented much. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I was LAZY ASSED. I just didn’t. So, I’m sorry, and I hope this doesn’t mean you all will not comment on mine. ‘Cause you guys know how I love to get comments.

So, I’M BBBAAAAACCCCKKKKK!!! Bring on the comments! I missed y’all!!

Toodles!

Dog Days

2009-06-12T08:45:00.000-05:00

I’m bored internet. B.O.R.E.D.

Yes, I have tons I could do……clean my house from top to bottom. Do the gazillion loads of laundry that I have waiting. Clean the couch that smells like a dog……….yep…I have a lot to do. But none of it is FUN. I want to GO PLACES, and DO THINGS. Alas, we have a kid that just graduated (expensive) and going to college (outrageous), and another turning 16 on the 1st of July (EEEKKKK!!!), so, it’s not like I can just drop everything and book a trip to Puerto Rico (ahem, Stoogie….). Besides, I’ve got things like WORK, and KIDS to worry with as well.

Anywho…….I’ve been scouring the internet for things that interest me. Like the Soulard Farmer’s Market in St. Louis. It’s less than a 2 hour trip, and unless one goes bat-shit crazy buying produce, bakery items and meat….it ought not be terribly expensive. And then there’s the Canine Cannon Ball—which is a fundraiser for the Dogwood Animal Shelter in a community south of my town. It’s held at the Lake of the Ozarks (at the Dog Days Bar & Grill), and tonight they have an Extreme Vertical competition…….and to me it sounds LIKE A BLAST. Order some decent sounding food, a drink and watch the dogs.

Tomorrow they have a Speed Retrieve Heat, 3 Big Air WAVE competitions, and on Sunday, the Finals.

And, best of all, other than the food and drink….the Canine Cannon Ball is FREE!! So, I may go out on a limb and actually try to DO SOMETHING tonight. I always think about doing stuff, but I never seem to get off my butt to actually DO IT. Luckily, Mr. Perfectly is really good about indulging my whims, so he’ll grab his camera and do whatever I want. Which is nice. He’s good to me like that.

I’ll see if Perfectly’s Dad wants to go. He’s grumpy, so he’ll probably say no, but maybe. JUST MAYBE he’ll want to tag along. Next week is his birthday, so Teenie and I are putting our brains together to try to come up with a PARTAY for Daddy-o. So far, all he wants to do is go to Hooters, and said he wants it arranged to take a Hooter’s Girl home. Um…….NO. He can arrange his OWN Hooters……

Hee Hee, we’ll buy him a stuffed Owl (aka HOOTER) to take to bed with him at night. GREAT IDEA number one has emerged. Thanks, Internet……..you are ALWAYS good for bouncing ideas off of.

Okay, Internet…here’s your assignment. Think of fun, FREE things for me to do to entertain myself this summer. Secondly, think of additional fun things for my Dad’s birthday. He’ll be 65.
See Ya!! Happy Friday!!

COUGH, COUGH, RATTLE, RATTLE, SSSNNNEEEEZZZZEEE.

2009-06-08T14:18:00.001-05:00

I am sick, Internet. I expect a great deal of sympathy and well wishes. I don’t do sick well. Really, I don’t. Ask Mr. Perfectly. He’ll tell you.

I have bronchitis. And fluid behind my ears, and according to the Nurse Practitioner, ALLLLOOOTTTT of drainage running down the back of my throat. I knew you’d want to know that. So you can feel SORRY for me, and not to think to yourself ‘ewwwwww’.
I am coughing and crackling in my chest. I don’t like to crackle in my chest. It keeps me awake. I can hear myself crackling, and it’s a) disgusting, and b) NOISY. She put me on a steroid pack. Apparently, according to my co-workers who are, like me, trained in family medicine, I won’t sleep for the next week, and I’ll eat everything for the next week. The eating thing? Not new for me, but the SLEEPING thing? Yeah. I like my sleep. I do not like to be interrupted from said sleep. So what is one to do? Crackle all night long and cough like your 65 year old Uncle that smokes cigars? Or take the steroids and not sleep. And eat.

Speaking of eating, we are having hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner tonight. From the grill. I do enjoy a grilled hot dog……..and even a burger on occasion. I’m really not a huge beef fan….or a pork fan for that matter. If I do eat a burger, I do not like the uber thick ones. It needs to be thin. As thin as possible. I like the middle to be barely pink, and the outside sort of charred and crispy. I know, I don’t ask for much in particular in the preparation of my food, huh?

Son #2’s new girlfriend is coming over for dinner tonight, so yippee. I can cough it up in front of her, too.

I spent a lazy weekend alternating between dozing in my chair and hacking up a lung. I’m certain I was pleasant to be around.

Well, since I’m not doing anything other than complain, I’ll let you off the hook in reading about my misery, and trying to be empathetic (if you are’T’ FAKE IT!!).

Toodles for now.

Now accepting donations!

2009-06-03T17:26:00.002-05:00

WOO HOO!! YIPPEE!!

Son #1 got word today that he's OFF THE WAITING LIST for a dorm room. HE GOT ONE!!!!

I couldn't be happier! Seriously!! He wants an apartment SO BADLY that he can't even stand it. I guess an 'apartment' sounds far more grown up, huh? But, Mom wanted a dorm room. It's cheaper, it's got some security and some basic rules to follow.

And, you know what one of the BEST THINGS about the dorm is? Huh, Internets? FREE LAUNDRY!!!!!!!!!!!! Have any of you ever heard of FREE LAUNDRY in a dorm? It's a new fancy set of washers and dryers that all the boys on their floor share. All 12 of them (or however many are on a floor). And there are 4 boys to 1 bathroom. SWEET. Only 4 pee splatters to deal with rather than 24.

OH...OH....OH.....and a big deck looking over some woods for gatherings and an air hockey table, stove and fridge in the commons......OH AND FREE WI-FI, AND/OR INTERNET ROOM HOOK UP!! HELLLOOOOO...no paying for DSL!!

Yes, it's a small dorm....only 24 men and 30 women (good odds, there, boys!!). It's a COMMUNITY COLLEGE, so having dorms at all is a dream for a parent.

Son #1 is pretty ticked that I won't consider an apartment now that the dorm situation has opened up. But he'll survive. He'll get a taste of the 'real' college experience.

Now, that means paying for said dorm room. At community college, things are way less expensive than University life, BUT it still costs.

And their meal plan is less than stellar. Monday thru Friday....Breakfast and Lunch ONLY. $600 a semester. Ouch.

Oh, Internets...I am so happy. Things have been so....difficult...with son #1 lately this is a breath of fresh air. A worry no more. A safe/monitored place to live.

Oh...then he asked to go to a strip club tonight. OY!! Hold me, please.

Congratulations to Crissy....she had TACO!! woo HOO.

Let me know if you need my address for donations.

Thanks!!