Well this was a first...

I lost my wallet this weekend. I am 44 years old and I have never lost my wallet before. Never. Luckily it was only my wallet and there wasn't really anything of value in it other than the $30 cash. I had a couple debit/credit cards and my drivers license and 14,000 membership cards to every freaking store in the tri-state area. I was kind of tired of carrying all of those cards around anyway, so now I have eased myself of that extra weight.

The last time I know I had my wallet was Saturday night when we had been moving large pieces of furniture and driving all day. Sheldon was doing all the driving and all the heavy lifting so don't feel too bad for me, but I was exhausted. We got the fridge and the dishwasher out of my condo and then realized that we didn't have anything to use to tie them down. There is a Lowe's right across the road from the neighborhood so we walked over there to buy some straps. I know I took my wallet because I expected to pay for the straps. On the way back down the hill to the truck a thunderstorm was brewing to the west and we were getting splattered with occasional raindrops so we were walking double-time. I know that when we were almost to the truck I handed Sheldon the bag of straps. I know that I opened the truck door but didn't get in. I think I put my wallet down at that point. I know I helped him tie down the fridge.

After that we got in the truck and drove back to the new house. We (he) unloaded the two appliances into the garage and I went inside to let the dog out. I carried my totebag and all the trash and such out of the truck and into the house. We stood talking in the kitchen for a moment and decided that he would drive the truck back to the uHaul place and get my car and I would go to bed. Cause you know, I was so tired.

I didn't realize that my wallet was missing until late Sunday. I kept thinking it was somewhere else in the house, or out in my car. It took a while for my brain to process the fact that the last time I had seen it I was not in my car, but in the rental truck. At 9pm Sunday I was searching every nook and cranny of my purse, my tote bag and my car. No wallet. Monday morning I called the uHaul place as soon as they opened. They had not seen my wallet and the truck was out on another rental but was due back within 30 minutes. I called back 30 minutes later. Not back. I called back every 30 minutes until noon. Still not back. The last call I wailed to the clerk "They are NEVER coming back because they have my credit cards and they are Living Large!" He laughed. I gave up calling until after 3pm. I get off work at 3pm and was waiting on the corner for my bus when I realized that I hadn't called in a few hours so I proceeded to dial and redial the number but Couldn't Get Through! Now I was picturing all the guys from the uHaul store out partying with the rental customers and my mastercard. Finally about 6pm the call went through and the bad news. The renters hadn't found it and the guys had gone over the truck with a fine toothed comb and it was not in the truck.

So...I started calling credit card companies and I went on the DMV website to see what the hours were to go stand in line tonight. Today I walked down to Filene's Basement on my lunch break and bought myself a new bright green wallet. (My old one was brown which obviously equals invisible.) While I was there I decided to treat myself to a new purse as well. I would love to show you a picture of it but I can't find one on the net. If I can upload one I will later today. It is adorable. The brand is Tignanello which I have never heard of before...but then I usually buy my purses at KMart so what do I know?

I really think that Sheldon is going to regret introducing me to this whole world of girlie things like shopping. :)

The only way I like crab

Crab Dip

Sheldon needed an appetizer for a work function so I made him a crock pot full of this. This is actually the only way I'll eat crab, and I totally love it!

2 8oz pks of cream cheese
2 cups (16oz) sour cream
4-5 (6.5oz) cans of crab meat
chopped onion to taste
salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon worchestershire sauce
tabasco to taste
1/2 to 1 cup of cheddar cheese

Throw all the ingredients except the cheddar into a crock pot and set on high til everything melts together stir and turn to low for 3-4 hours before your party, then when the party starts throw the cheddar on top, stir it in and dig in. You can leave it in the crock pot or serve in small bowls for dipping. I like the triangular Triscuits dipped in it! Sheldon didn't even taste it but the crock pot was empty, so I'm thinking everyone else enjoyed it.

Lightweight

Yes, it is true, I am a lightweight.

Last night Sheldon and I went out to his favorite restaurant for date night. This restaurant just happens to be less than two miles from our new house. It is called The Dock and they have Fabulous food! He ordered a beer and I ordered a Maker's Mark Manhattan, because although I don't drink much, I do insist on the best. Our appetizer was shrimp wrapped in bacon which were sitting on rounds of fresh mozzarella and tomato slices. He got roasted pork chops over garlic mashed potatoes and I got filet tips over pasta with asparagus and cream sauce. For dessert we split the "sampler" which included small servings of chocolate mousse cake, key lime pie and apple pie a la mode. Let me just tell you that every bite from start to finish was scrumptious and we ate every single bite of everything.

Now as I stated I am a lightweight. I actually managed to finish my drink which for me is rare, but boy I could feel it. Sheldon was tickled because I was goofy. I was red in the face as though I had a sudden sunburn, my southern accent was ratcheted up about 6 notches, and I just thought it was the most beautiful night of my life. The funny part was I could hear how ridiculous I sounded but I couldn't stop it.

Can you imagine how goofy I'd be if I actually did drink two or three? Lord have mercy!

Mind Control is just one of my Super Powers

Did I ever tell you about the time that Miles thought I had mind control over Target workers?

One day when Miles was about six years old we were in the car headed to our new Target. I can't remember why we got on the topic but I referred to Elvis as "The King". Miles dismissed my comment by saying that I didn't even like Elvis so why would I call him the king? I laughed and said that I had no control over it, that Elvis was known around the world as the King. Miles was sure that I was teasing him. He reminded me that we didn't have a King in the US, we have a President. I agreed and said he was the King of Rock and Roll.

All the way to the store I tried to convince him that I wasn't lying or teasing, but telling the absolute truth. We parked the car and got out and I offered to walk up to anyone in the parking lot and ask them "Who is the King?" and they would say Elvis. He hates it when I embarrass him like that so I knew he would back down on this argument if I made that offer. He didn't back down though, he was completely convinced that I was making fun of him or of Elvis, or both. As we walked into the store a young clerk was arranging the carts and I said "I bet we could ask that young lady right there!" The girl who was barely 18 looked over, all eager to help in her new job at the new store and said "Can I help you?" Miles was tugging on my arm now, begging me not to do it, but how could I not? I asked her "Who's the King?"

Considering that this was in the suburbs of Washington, DC and she was most likely one of those girls who couldn't decide which Hanson brother was the cutest, it was a pretty bold choice on my part. It could all have blown up in my face at that moment. She looked a little panicky as she was expecting a question like "Where are the towels?" and then very slowly she said "Elvis Presley?" Miles looked at her dumbstruck and then looked at me and said in a very hushed voice "How'd you do that?"

Big Mama will you be my friend? Please?

Big Mama makes me laugh every single day. I am reading through her archives because I just discovered her recently. Today I read this:

Caroline was riding around on her scooter and came to a stop right next to me.

She said, “Emily and I are in our very own club. You can’t be in our club.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s a club for four year olds and you’re not four.”

And since I am very, very mature and have read many parenting books chockfull of parenting wisdom, I said, “Well, that’s fine. Daddy and I have our very own grown-up club.”

P piped up from where he lay dying in the bedroom and said, “That’s right, it’s called MARRIAGE and there’s no escape. It’s like being part of a street gang.”

If I had been drinking anything I would have had a perfect spit-take.

Go here to read the blog...you'll thank me later.

Moving is a drag...but that's not why I was crying.

I hate moving and I speak from experience. I have moved a lot. I haven't moved very FAR mind you, just often. In fact, I have been in my current condo for 11 years and it is the longest I have lived anywhere in my entire life. I was born in Roanoke, Va moved to Toms Brook, VA when I was 4, moved to Strasburg, VA when I was 12, moved to Fairfax, VA for college when I was 19. During my college years I moved an average of every 5 months and not because I was moving in and out of dorms. I never lived in the dorms. George Mason was (and still is to a point) a commuter school and very few people lived on campus. When I left school (without graduating) I moved to Baltimore, Md. (I had an adorable one room apartment there that only cost me $280 a month!!!!) Then I met the X. He and I moved to VA Beach, Strasburg and Leesburg within a year. The next year we moved to Harpers Ferry, WV. The next year we moved to Winchester, VA. The next year we moved to Chantilly, VA where I have lived ever since. I have been in the same neighborhood in Chantilly for 15 years, but this is the third unit I have lived in there.

Moving sucks, but that being said, this is probably the easiest move I've experienced. Neither Sheldon or I have to be out til the end of the month so we have plenty of time. The furniture is all being moved by professionals, so we don't have to do any heavy lifting. We have had time to paint and unpack boxes as we go. Well, he painted, I unpacked boxes. So at this moment, the upside is that my kitchen is clean and put away. My closet has my clothes all sorted by type and hung neatly. My shoe boxes are all neatly stacked. The bathrooms all have toilet paper and the sinks all have soap. The bad news? Well a minor inconvenience is that I can't do laundry at the new house yet, but all my dirty laundry is already there. I'm sleeping at Sheldon's house, but my clean and dirty clothes as well as my shoes are at the new house. Last night as I was leaving the new house to go to his house I realized that I had nothing to wear, so I doubled back and grabbed a skirt, top and jacket that I love and the boots that go so well and help keep me warm in my freezing cold office. Only it wasn't the skirt I usually wear with the outfit and I didn't realize until I was at Sheldon's that the boots were not gonna go with the changed skirt...so I had to dig through a trashbag of rumpled but clean clothes and find an outfit that would go with the shoes I left at work and throw it into his dryer for de-rumpling. Cause I'm not gonna iron!

Are you tired? Or is it just me?

I am proud to say that so far there has been no yelling or tears. Not that yelling or tears are a normal part of our relationship, but moving can be stressful. Moving in together can be stressful. Blending two entirely separate households into one can be stressful. Yelling and tears seemed to be on the horizon. I did cry in the car driving between houses last night, but it wasn't because of yelling, it was because of this beautiful song...



See! Even that poor guy is crying! Tim McGraw kills me when he gets sappy. I am old enough now that I am not losing peers in Iraq but three people I know have lost sons over there.

This song also made me cry this week.



Darius Rucker, you kill me.

I believe in you!

I am absolutely having the best birthday ever! My darling Sheldon is sitting at the settlement table at this very moment buying me a house for my birthday. My co-workers have given me flowers, cards, breakfast and lunch today. I have gotten calls, emails and facebook posts from all over the country and all over the world today. It is a beautiful day. I was reminded of this song and looked up this video and it almost made me cry. So here, I'm sharing some happy birthday tears with all of you!

Who's the April Fool Now?

Well, I am still not entirely convinced that my brother isn't pulling my leg. Pun intended. But he did send this hideous picture of the his leg this morning. Turns out he is back in the hospital due to what they think is an allergic reaction to the betadine they slathered him in before surgery last week. While he also has friends who are experts in make-up and special effects, I'm thinking this is real. I truly expected a phone call this morning where he said April Fool and then chuckled himself silly. After I got this photo I called the hospital and asked if they had a patient by the name of CAB. I became more suspicious when the operator started snickering, but she assured me that something funny was going on at her end. She gave me his room number and asked if I wanted to be transferred. Being no dummy I asked her what part of the hospital this room was in. See, if he was in maternity or something the jig would be up. The woman answered, and I kid you negative: "He's in the old wing." I explained that no, I needed to know what department he was in and she assured me it was orthapedics. She started to transfer me but just before she hit the button I heard her say "JEEZUSSS". I think I may have ticked the poor thing off. It is all CAB's fault. I spoke to him and he assured me that he wished fervently that it was a joke. I now think that it is poetic justice that this happened when it did and caused us to doubt him. HA! I say. HA. HA. HA.

Monthly Resolutions Month 3

I got so excited about my resolutions last month that I actually looked at the handwritten list that I wrote on January 1st and realized that there were originally ten instead of six. So this month I worked with ten resolutions. I posted it on my bulletin board at work so that I could keep track of what I was supposed to be doing.

I have to say that I really do like this new "system". I am most definitely a "system" girl. I don't accomplish much in this life until I have figured out what my "system" is. Are y'all tired of the "quotes" yet? So to recap...


Here is the February List.

Monthly Resolutions for March:

1. Meet Someone New - I sat down on my morning train into the city yesterday and hefted "Breaking Dawn" out of my tote bag. The guy in uniform in the seat beside me was suitable impressed with the SIZE of this hardbound book of wonderfulness. He struck up a conversation with me. Now I don't know how many of you commute by train in the DC area, but I can assure you that talking, on the train, in the morning, is pretty much not done. Anyway, this lovely gentleman made some funny remark about my heavy reading and I laughed and then showed him what it was. We ended up getting into a whole conversation about the Twilight series. His son's "little girlfriend" has read them all, and his son read them to be supportive. Mr. Soldier said that he should probably read them too since everyone talks about them so much. I encouraged him as I believe they are fabulous and everyone should share the love. Then we talked about other books we liked. I ended up recommending that he read "The Time Travellers Wife" As I do to all my male reader friends. Sheldon first recommended it to me and I loved it. Anyhow, as with last month, I didn't get his name, but we had a moment on the train.
2. Go to a Museum - Tuesday evening I went walking a mile or so to my local library (which I will soon be leaving far behind, as I move into the wilds of Loudoun county, wah) and I ran into my friend Kiki who just happens to work there. She and another librarian started talking about the American History Museum which is where Kiki used to work. The museum just re-opened after a few years of being closed for remodeling. The other librarian was talking about the long lines at the First Ladies exhibit which reminded me of this very resolution and I thought, OH, if I go on a weekday I won't have to wait in line, and I all but shouted I'm Gonna Go Tomorrow! I'm sure that Kiki and her friend thought I was nuts, but I did go less than 24 hours later! I saw the First Ladies gowns, the original Star Spangled Banner, a lovely doll house that was amazing in its scope and detail and, last but not least, Julia Childs' Kitchen. I love going to museums by myself so that I can read each and every description and take all the time in the world without someone huffing over my shoulder about how hungry or bored they are. Sigh.
3. paint a room - FAIL, but mostly cause I'm moving in a couple of weeks and I know I'll be doing lots of painting in the new house!
4. spend time with an old friend - Got to visit with Wren AND Kiki in the past week!
5. try a new recipe - Oh Lord the goodness of Grandma Iny's Cake.
6. go dancing - FAIL, this one just makes me sad. I really need to get off my butt and GO! It will be such fun and I will burn so many calories too!
7. sushi - lunch at my favorite "fast food" sushi place in DC. Yum!
8. sell old stuff - FAIL, damn, again.
9. lose five pounds - COLOSSAL FAIL. I think I gained five instead of losing five. Sob.
10. spend time with a family member - Had a smoothie with my cousin AJ last week. She is going through a rough time. Her husband of five years informed her that he had a girlfriend and wanted out of the marriage. She is in the process of moving out of her house and is understandably crushed. We hadn't seen each other in a while and it was nice to catch up and hopefully give her a boost.

Hobnobbing with the wealthy.

Yeah, that's me, I'm a big hobnobber! I had a dream last night where I was working for a friend of mine. In real life my friend is a baker and a caterer, she lives in my neighborhood and is the first friend we made when we moved here 15 years ago. Her name is Marjorie but her grandchildren and all the neighborhood children call her Gramarg. This is not a name I made up, like most of the other names in this blog. This one is too cute, I had to use it.

Anyway in my dream instead of being a caterer Gramarg owned an upscale paper and stationary store in Middleburg. In case you have never heard of Middleburg, VA it is a tiny boutique of a town full of rich horsey types. Gramarg had hired me to be a calligrapher, rich women with too much money would come in and buy invitations or notecards from her and then they would hire me to write out their information or their letters cause they were just too stinkin' lazy to do it themselves. I'm sure I dreamed about expensive notecards because I was just reading a back issue of Real Simple where they were showing stationary examples that cost like $150 for 50 cards or something crazy like that. I love the Magazine, but my idea of cool new stationary is whatever I can find in the $1 at Target!

Anyway, in the dream, One lady hired me to write a note to her daughter for every month that she would be away at college, along with a check for pocket money. $11,000 a month. Pocket money. For a college kid. She gave me the wording on the note which she wanted to be the same every month, she gave me the 6 signed checks. I had to write all the notes and all the checks, being careful to date them starting with November 11th and working my way month by month through the 11's on the calendar. As I sat there writing her note over and over and then writing the checks one after the other I realized that I was not charging this woman near enough. I even had to mark it on MY calendar when to mail them for her each month.

The funniest part about this is that I have HORRIBLE handwriting and NO ONE would pay me to write anything down for them!

It was quite an entertaining dream. I am often entertained in my sleep. I have long elaborate dreams that could totally be blockbuster movies if I could only recall them in the morning.

You can tell exactly what Sheldon and I are obsessing about these days, we are both thinking of all the possible second jobs we could work so that we can afford to do everything we want to do to the new house. My current home has one bathroom and his has 2 and a half, the new house has 4 and a half. That's a lot of soap dishes and hand towels and hand soap, not to mention toilet paper!!

I did enjoy seeing Gramarg in my sleep, and it prompted me to email her asking to get together which is always a good thing!

God Bless Grandma Iny!!

I never had a Grandma Iny, but after making one of her recipes last night, I wish I had! Pioneer Woman is the one with the Grandma Iny, and she and her grandma are genius in the kitchen.

I read this recipe on PW's blog a few weeks ago and the idea of it had been haunting me ever since. I made sure I had all the ingredients about a week ago. I only had to buy the buttermilk as I keep everything else on the list in my kitchen anyway. I had the pan and the ingredients that weren't refridgerated out on my counter all week, just waiting. I spent the weekend at Sheldon's wishing I was home so I could make it.

Last night I got home from work and exercised first, but then I went into the kitchen and set to work. It wasn't work though. It was truly a joy. There is something about baking from scratch that puts you in touch with all the women who came before you. As I mixed the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients and folded in the secret ingredient, I just felt such peace. And excitement. It smelled SO good while it was baking. So Good. Miles came home while it was in the oven, he knew what the secret ingredient was because he had seen the recipe on the counter, so he was very suspicious. But he couldn't get past the smell, it smelled GOOD!

Miles loaded the dishwasher while I cleaned up from the cake and starting making the icing. He was still suspicious, but the smell was pretty magical. I took the cake out of the oven and poured the icing over it as instructed and we left the kitchen. Miles went into his room for a while and when he came out I was eating some cake with a big glass of milk. He asked if it was good. I assured him it was. He hesitated. I offered him a bite of mine. He tasted it. His eyes rolled back in his head and he turned and sprinted for the kitchen. He was back in a flash with his own piece and his own glass of milk.

I cut some for a neighbor who I always share yummy stuff with. I cut another piece for the mom up the street who drives Miles to school everyday, I cut another piece for Miles and I took the rest to work. It has been a hit on all fronts.

Here is the recipe. Don't let the secret ingredient scare you! I promise, you'll be blessing Grandma Iny too!

I heart Katie Couric

Did y'all see this article about Katie Couric in Elle Magazine? Loved it. She has always been one of my heroes since she was a local reporter here in the DC market. I would love to hang with her. I think we could be buds. I'm from Virginia, she's from Virginia. I love NY, she loves NY. I have a teenager, she has two teenagers. She's cute, rich, talented, smart and funny, I'm from Virginia.

My Tiny High School

I just called my hometown high school because even though I have been going to college for 26 years and have been in and out of my current institution at least 5 times, they need my HS transcripts again! Anyway, while looking up their number on the internet I found out that they currently have 625 students. Woo, imagine that. They had 500 when I graduated in 1983. Town has grown a lot since I left. High School has completely remodeled and grown since I left. Student body? Not so much. Wonder why that is?

My Crazy Ass Brother has cried wolf toooo often...

Hello Dear Readers,
I hope you had near the fun and sunshine that I did this weekend! Sheldon and I went to the DC Home and Garden Show and got all kinds of good information and ideas for the house. We also ate a delicious lunch on the waterfront and went for a lovely drive on the GWParkway. Sigh. It was a perfect day.

My brother didn't have such a great weekend, or so he says. My brother claims to have a broken leg from a motorcycle accident. But we are not sure we believe him. Why on EARTH would we doubt said brother? Why do we not trust him? Let me count the ways:

1. likes to play elaborate April Fools jokes
2. often starts early, mid March is not unheard of and we are already past that point this year
3. often uses accomplices to help him pull his prank
4. he usually calls my mother with these pranks in the middle of the night when she is muddled and sympathetic
5. often these pranks have involved accidents and hospitals
   

In this case he sent my cell phone a picture of motorcycle that I ignored because I had never seen it before.

He emailed me and asked why I hadn't weighed in on his leg situation. He had already called my mother late on Saturday night to tell her of his plight. He claims to have bought the motorcycle 3 weeks ago, but didn't tell anyone. He claims to have two fractures, one of which is a spiral and needs a metal rod. What facts in this story make me suspicious?

1. he called mom in the middle of the night to share the story of his plight which had supposedly happened more than 10 hours previous
2. he is allegedly in the hospital where he used to work and still has plenty of friends who would help him
   
3. he sent pix of the bike the day AFTER he supposedly wrecked it
4. he is sending pix and emails from a hospital room
5. he has had his girlfriend call and assure us that this is real and question our fealty for doubting him
6. he sent pix of "a" leg in a "cast" that may or may not be HIS leg

In case you still wonder how I could be so mean let me tell you a little story from about 1992. Keep in mind that this is just one in a long list of April Fools Pranks he has pulled.

The X and I lived in a little cabin in the woods of Harpers Ferry, WV the second year that we were married. At this point my Crazy Ass Brother or CAB as he will now be known, had not yet moved to Florida and had a girlfriend in Charlestown, WV.

One day in mid-March, out of the blue CAB dropped by our house for a visit. Now you have to understand that CAB and I have never been particularly close, he is 5 years younger and we don't exactly have the same circle of friends or interests. At that point I was an old married lady and he was just barely out of his teens, so why on Earth would he drive all the way out to our house unannounced?

Anyway, he stopped by for a visit. During said visit our telephone rang. (This was the days before cell phones.) It was his girlfriend calling to ask if he was there. Odd. Why would his girlfriend call me looking for him? I had had little interaction with her and barely knew her name. She asks for CAB and we put him on the phone. They have a little back and forth conversation and then he says "Oh, the results came back?" and then there are a couple "uh huhs" and such and then, and I kid you not, the boy went white. All the blood drained from his face and he looked a little sick. He said he understood and he was on his way and he hung up. Now being the nosy older sister I immediately asked him if everything was alright. He assured me that it was and then he beat feet out of my house saying that he had to get over to her house right away.

The X and I discussed this weirdness a little and decided that if it was something serious we would hear soon enough, I decided not to call my mom since I didn't know for sure and didn't want to get her in a tizzy over nothing, and then we never gave it another thought.

Two weeks go by and I have completely forgotten about this little visit; I drive into my driveway one evening to a bouquet of flowers with balloons by the door. The X worked midnight shift at that time so he was in bed asleep. I carried the flowers in the house and opened the card. It said something to the effect of "Congratulations, you're an Aunt".

I was floored. He had gotten the girl pregnant. The test results, the white face, (such acting) the whole thing. I was also furious. How could he be so stupid. I called him up and started reading him the riot act and was met with hysterical laughter. When he could breathe again he said it.

April Fool.

You see?

Do you understand the depth of his deviousness? The acting job, the accomplices, the $50 bucks spent on flowers and balloons?

I ask you, why should I believe him this time????

All Concerts All The Time

Since Sheldon and I have been going to so many concerts lately I thought I'd better find my list of concerts I have attended to update it. Woo, some of these I had forgotten. I'm sure I've left some out, so I will update this as I remember more.

Bacon Brothers x4

Billy Joel

Bon Jovi

Bonnie Raitt

Brian Setzer Trio

Bruce Hornsby

Danni Leigh (went to high school with my brother)

Eddie from Ohio

The Fixx

Fountains of Wayne

Garth Brooks x2

Goo Goo Dolls

James Taylor x7

Jeffrey Gaines

Jewel

Justin Townes Earle x2

Kasey Chambers

The Kennedys

Kenny Chesney

Kenny Loggins

Kenny Rogers

Lovell Sisters

Marc Anthony (met him before the show)

Maroon 5

Martina McBride

Moody Blues

Nanci Griffith

OAR

OJays x2

Paul McCartney

Poco

The Police

Pure Prairie League

Red Molly x2

Roberta Flack

Rick Springfield x2
Ricky Skaggs

Sammy Kershaw

Shane Nicholson

Temptations x2

Toby Keith (met him before the show)

Tom Petty

Whispers x2 

 

I'm eating like it's my JOB!

Oh Lord, please make the eating stop! I am down 7 pounds from my all time high, but Sheldon and I haven't been to the gym in a couple of weeks so I have been stuck at 156. Yeah, that's right, I just gave my actual weight on the internet. Whatever. It is currently 2:36 in the pm, or 14:36 for those of us in military time...and I have a headache. I keep thinking it is a hunger headache and I keep eating, but the headache isn't going away. Why do you think THAT is?

Actually, now that I think about it my eating hasn't been THAT bad today. I have had:

1. the white of a hardboiled egg.
2. a brownie that my darling son made.
3. an Entemann's choc covered donut
4. caesar salad with bacon bits
5. another brownie that my darling son made.
   
6. leftover buffalo chicken casserole (why yes, I DID make it twice in the same week, why do you ask?)
7. caffeine free Dr. Pepper

Really now, since 5am? That is not so bad!

New Caledonia

So we found a house!!!! We are referring to it as the New Caledonia House. Well, actually, Sheldon is referring to it as such. I guess to differentiate it from the Old Caledonia House, wherever that may be. After weeks of searching and falling in love with short sale after short sale, we finally found a house that was ACTUALLY FOR SALE!! And we bought it. That very night. A couple of days later we went back to take pictures. (I couldn't even remember what the dadgum thing looked like because it was the last of 8 houses we viewed that night and I was so tired and cross eyed and grumpy from stupid short sales.) While Sheldon was taking the pictures and I was poking into every nook and cranny realtors kept showing up to show the house to other prospective buyers. I would run to the front door and breathlessly inform that the house was no longer on the market. Sold! Sold! Sold! It made me very happy! We may actually be able to move in by the first week of April. It was a relo and the other family is already ensconced in their new home somewhere far far away. I am so happy that they left this behind for me. :)

Romantic Movies

I was reading Big Mama's archives today and she had a Valentine's day entry about her favorite romantic movies. She didn't list several of my favorites so I started my list and then I started reading everyone else's comments to the blog and my list got longer and longer and longer. After I wrote all this up as a comment for her, I decided to go ahead and make it an entry here as well! :) These are in no particular order...

1. Ever After
Went to see this with a girlfriend years ago while our husbands watched all the kiddos and football. Near the end when the prince was marrying the wrong girl we were both holding our breath. I turned to her and said "WHY are we holding our breath? It is Cinderella we KNOW how it ends!!!!

2. P.S. I love you
Saw this just recently and absolutely adored it. Denny from Grey's Anatomy is in it! What the husband does to comfort his wife after his death is just amazing.

3. Notting Hill
love the scene at the end when they are reading in the park and she is pregnant. Sigh.

4. 4 Weddings and a Funeral
don't know why...just like it...

5. Steel Magnolias
an all time favorite. "Mama, I'd rather have 30 minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special."

6. Say Anything
John Cusack and Peter Gabriel, need I say more?

7. City of Angels
Oh Lord, as a library girl, the angels in the library always makes me tingle.

8. Shopgirl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG, If you have not seen this movie, go. rent. it. now!!!! Steve Martin and Claire Danes. So sweet.

9. Dirty Dancing
Say it with me..NOBODY PUTS BABY IN A CORNER.

10. Sliding Doors
what a great little movie. Love that guy...scottish accents just slay me.

11. Lakehouse - loved it

12. On Golden Pond
I don't think anyone else mentioned this one, but the love between Mr. Fonda and Ms. Hepburn was palpable.

Yummy New Casserole

I just made a casserole for dinner for me and Miles that was SO yummy! I took a Rachael Ray recipe and made it even simpler if you can imagine that!

Buffalo Chicken Casserole

Cut up boneless skinless chicken breasts or strips into bite size pieces. Saute the chicken in a little olive oil. Toss the cooked chicken with enough buffalo wing sauce to coat and spread it out over the bottom of a casserole dish. Mix up a box of Jiffy Corn Bread according to directions, fold a quarter cup of bleu cheese crumbles into the batter. Pour the batter over the chicken in the casserole and bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees.

That is IT! So easy! So yummy!!!! I highly recommend it if you are a buffalo chicken fan you will love it!

My Smart Sister

My sister Cricket is so smart. No really, I mean it. She has introduced me to VERY valuable websites like hotmail (back int the day before anyone else had ever heard of free web based email). Then a few years ago she upgraded me to gmail, which is the best! She got me hooked on Pamie one year when she was a camp counselor and needed me to mail her Pamie's journal posts because she was in the woods all summer and didn't have access to the internet. She taught me about Amazon Wishlists and got me on myspace to help me find a man. Then she upgraded me to facebook when that became the way to communicate.

I've helped her a time or two as well...she has a Mazda, a laptop and TiVo because of me.

This year she has introduced me to a whole new concept. This one has nothing to do with communication or the internet. It is a little more personal and close to home. She introduced me to the concept of brushing your teeth in the shower! I know! Sounds weird doesn't it? It is the GREATEST thing! I love brushing my teeth in the shower so much, I almost hate to do it at the sink. I now have 4 toothbrushes and 4 tubes of toothpaste! One in my shower, one at my sink, one in Sheldon's shower, one at Sheldon's sink! Sheldon and Miles both think I am bananas and refuse to take part in this crazyness. Frankly, I thought Cricket was crazy when she first mentioned it to me...but I was wrong. So...try it. Then you'll see how smart my sister Cricket is!

Birthday Wish List for Sheldon

Okay so my birthday is coming. I love birthdays. Not as much as my sister who starts reminding people 6 months in advance, but still, I'm giving you 28 days notice. I'm making a list of things I would like. Don't worry if you weren't planning on getting me anything, I'd rather do something fun with you than get a present anyhow...BUT, if you wanted to buy something these are the things I'd RATHER have:

Perudo (Liar's Dice)
Packrat Tickets
A walk amongst the cherry blossoms (ooh a free one!)
Anything on that Amazon Wishlist in the upper right hand corner of the screen.

Peacock, Heather, Evergreen, Ivory, or Chocolate Fiesta Dishes
A new cupcake stamp for letterboxing.
KISSES, lots and lots of KISSES!

a bodybugg so I can track my workouts!
ummm...a new house?
a trip to Germany to see pregnant Jeannette!!
A lapframe for cross stitching.
This gorgeous shoe cabinet.

No Pain for Miles

Ha, that's a pretty funny sentence.  Cause it doesn't mean what you may think.  My son Miles has absolutely NO PAIN TOLERANCE.  I mean none.  I have said this for years but I was reminded again last night how true this is.  Whenever he has pain of any sort it is the end of the world.  To him a papercut is like a broken arm.  No joke.  Any pain whatsoever causes immediate vomiting.  

This means if he has a headache he is miserable and can't keep pain meds in his tummy.  Right now he is suffering with a killer ear infection and can't tolerate tylenol or motrin or anything.  Luckily the last time this happened our doc gave him ear drops instead of oral meds and they worked like a charm.  I had forgotten all about the drops but after 24 hours of suffering he asked me to take him to the doc for more drops and when I checked the medicine stash, low and behold they were still in there and they were not expired!  Today he feels much better.

This pain issue was most clear when he had his appendix out at age 10.  He woke up in the night in horrible pain and I knew from the location and symptoms that it was his appendix cause I had mine out when I was 10.  We took him to the ER and they checked him out and although nothing seemed to be showing up in their various scans they opened him up and took it out.  The surgeon told us that in 20 years of appendectomies he had never seen one LESS inflamed!  That's right, the INSTANT that little bugger started to flare up, my kid was in agony!

I'm not sure how he will handle this as an adult.  Right now a headache is enough to put him in bed for days and this ear infection has kept him out of school for two days already.  He will have to figure out how to deal, cause no boss is gonna put up with this!

Monthly Resolutions - Month 2

I started a new habit this year, setting monthly do-able resolutions.  

Here is the January list.

Monthly Resolutions for February:

1. Meet someone new (I had a lovely conversations with the people around me in line every time we went to the Birchmere last month.  I didn't get any names or numbers, but I'm sure I will see them again, the Birchmere is a small family of fans!!!)
2. go to a museum (FAIL)
3. paint a room in the house (FAIL)
4. spend time with an old friend (Kiki and I hadn't spoken in 8 years and we talked for 4 solid hours last Tuesday)
5. try a new recipe (Sheldon and I tried two new recipes on Valentines weekend!  Nos 108 and 111 in Rachael Ray's 365: No Repeats Cookbook.  Park City Cashew Chicken and Pork Chops with Grainy Mustard and Raisin Sauce.  Both were Yummo!)
6. go dancing (FAIL)

I wanna go to Madrid too!!!

If you don't already enjoy the lovely and funny Crazy Aunt Purl you should hop right on over there. I wanna be her when I grow up!! I wanna be smart enough with my money that I can hop on over to Madrid for a long weekend!


http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/archives/2009/02/the_email_machi.php

Red Molly Tonight!!

Sheldon and I are going to see Red Molly tonight. Can't wait! Hoping they play this for us again!!!!!



Oh and this one too!!!