Friday, October 28, 2005
Every Day ... with Rachael Ray.
Rachael Ray's new magazine is in stores now - it's got recipes galore and tons of other super-cool stuff. Check it out!
Her new cookbook 365: No Repeats : A Year of Deliciously Different Dinners hits stores November 1.
Hmm...365 new recipes? As in, a recipe for each day? That gives me an idea... ;o)
(her new t-shirts are great; i'm ordering "YUM-O")
Her new cookbook 365: No Repeats : A Year of Deliciously Different Dinners hits stores November 1.
Hmm...365 new recipes? As in, a recipe for each day? That gives me an idea... ;o)
(her new t-shirts are great; i'm ordering "YUM-O")
FREAKIN' COOL.
If you guys wanna see something cool .... go back to LW's review of Julie & Julia (Julie Powell) at The Washington Post ... then look to the links just to the right of the article ... you'll see someone you know!!
Thursday, October 27, 2005
wheeeee!
kd's coming today!! i love when she comes on thursday, because then i don't work on friday! which is good for me, because i got up @ 430 this morning... so i'm gonna be reeeally tired and will hopefully sleep in tomorrow.
i should probably think about working a bit now... i've been here 3 hrs and only accomplished printing payroll checks :o)
i should probably think about working a bit now... i've been here 3 hrs and only accomplished printing payroll checks :o)
elaboration.
So I'm going to elaborate on my previous post...
We (Mom, Dad, Bonnie, Brian and myself) met out at the house (1726 Linmore) at 4pm yesterday. We ended up poking around until 6! Since we don't have a digital camera, we didn't take photos, but I will try to detail the layout as much as possible.
The driveway is to the right of the house, and there are a few steps going up to the porch from the driveway (quite a large, covered porch). There are two windows on either side of the front door - which is beautiful oak, like the rest of the woodwork in the house. Walk in the door, the living room is straight in front and to the right, and the dining room is to the left. The living room, which has a brick fireplace on the left, has the stairs to go up - up the stairs there is a small landing, with a door that goes out onto an "airing deck;" up, I think, a few more stairs, and the bathroom is to the right. It's your basic bathroom - shower/tub, toilet, and pedestal sink (if we buy the house, we would completely re-do the bathroom). Next is the first bedroom, then second (the hardwood floor would need a bit of repair in this room), then a small third bedroom (or office). The hallway has a good sized built-in laundry closet, with drawers (think in Mom & Dad's upstairs). Okay, back down the stairs, through the living room ... that's the dining room. There's a tiny alcove that would be perfect for a buffet. The kitchen is to the right - the flooring (no hardwood in here) and countertops seem fairly new and would not need to be replaced at all. Tons of cupboard space (which would be painted, ugly wood with crap hardware). There's a small empty space at the end of the kitchen, for a table, but Bri & I would like to add a dishwasher and perhaps more countertops. On the right-hand side of the kitchen there is a dutch-door, and stairs to go to the backyard and down to the basement. The basement was a little frightening; mostly, I think, because I dislike all basements. This one could be nice, with a coat of paint and tons of cob-web-removing and scrubbing of the floors. There's a washer/dryer hookup and the boiler is also down there. It's also nice because it's pretty much the entire size of the upstairs. Okay, back up the stairs, out to the backyard. Small covered concrete patio, and a really good sized fenced-in backyard. We were really amazed at the size of the yard. There's a storage shed, and a 2-car garage (yes, in the fenced in area; it's kind've weird). There are about 4 big trees (I didn't really check to see what kind) in the back, and two in the front of the house. We would definitely need a privacy fence (the neighbors to the left have a decent looking house, but the backyard leaves much to be desired), and the house has been vacant a while, and is in DESPERATE need of a thorough cleaning and lots of paint & fixtures. But all in all, we really love the place... it has SO much potential, and hardly anything needs to be fixed (just the bathroom and 2nd bedroom floor). Obviously we would get in inspected, but Dad was poking around with his trusty flashlight and said this house is in better shape than theirs! The thing we really love most about the house is all the hardwood (there is carpet in the dining/living rooms that we would definitely rip up), and the windows and trim are gorgeous. Dad talked to a guy walking down the sidewalk (imagine that... Dad talking to a stranger) and asked him how he liked the neighborhood. Apparently the guy has lived on that street his whole life and there has never been any problems with people/robberies or anything, and is a relatively quiet street (for being RIGHT on the e-way... seriously this particular house is just across the street from the on-ramp) - that was good to hear! We walked down the street and most of the houses are very pretty and look to be well-taken care of.
Bonnie did a comparative report on other houses on the street and all that looked really good. She also said that it's to our advantage that the bank owns the house... since they only have x amount of money put into it, she seems to think that we'd be able to get it for a lot less than what they're asking. So all good stuff!
Now we just have to start making phone calls and trying to get somebody to find us some 1st-time home buyer money! (And see if we can get out of our lease!! We will :o)
We (Mom, Dad, Bonnie, Brian and myself) met out at the house (1726 Linmore) at 4pm yesterday. We ended up poking around until 6! Since we don't have a digital camera, we didn't take photos, but I will try to detail the layout as much as possible.
The driveway is to the right of the house, and there are a few steps going up to the porch from the driveway (quite a large, covered porch). There are two windows on either side of the front door - which is beautiful oak, like the rest of the woodwork in the house. Walk in the door, the living room is straight in front and to the right, and the dining room is to the left. The living room, which has a brick fireplace on the left, has the stairs to go up - up the stairs there is a small landing, with a door that goes out onto an "airing deck;" up, I think, a few more stairs, and the bathroom is to the right. It's your basic bathroom - shower/tub, toilet, and pedestal sink (if we buy the house, we would completely re-do the bathroom). Next is the first bedroom, then second (the hardwood floor would need a bit of repair in this room), then a small third bedroom (or office). The hallway has a good sized built-in laundry closet, with drawers (think in Mom & Dad's upstairs). Okay, back down the stairs, through the living room ... that's the dining room. There's a tiny alcove that would be perfect for a buffet. The kitchen is to the right - the flooring (no hardwood in here) and countertops seem fairly new and would not need to be replaced at all. Tons of cupboard space (which would be painted, ugly wood with crap hardware). There's a small empty space at the end of the kitchen, for a table, but Bri & I would like to add a dishwasher and perhaps more countertops. On the right-hand side of the kitchen there is a dutch-door, and stairs to go to the backyard and down to the basement. The basement was a little frightening; mostly, I think, because I dislike all basements. This one could be nice, with a coat of paint and tons of cob-web-removing and scrubbing of the floors. There's a washer/dryer hookup and the boiler is also down there. It's also nice because it's pretty much the entire size of the upstairs. Okay, back up the stairs, out to the backyard. Small covered concrete patio, and a really good sized fenced-in backyard. We were really amazed at the size of the yard. There's a storage shed, and a 2-car garage (yes, in the fenced in area; it's kind've weird). There are about 4 big trees (I didn't really check to see what kind) in the back, and two in the front of the house. We would definitely need a privacy fence (the neighbors to the left have a decent looking house, but the backyard leaves much to be desired), and the house has been vacant a while, and is in DESPERATE need of a thorough cleaning and lots of paint & fixtures. But all in all, we really love the place... it has SO much potential, and hardly anything needs to be fixed (just the bathroom and 2nd bedroom floor). Obviously we would get in inspected, but Dad was poking around with his trusty flashlight and said this house is in better shape than theirs! The thing we really love most about the house is all the hardwood (there is carpet in the dining/living rooms that we would definitely rip up), and the windows and trim are gorgeous. Dad talked to a guy walking down the sidewalk (imagine that... Dad talking to a stranger) and asked him how he liked the neighborhood. Apparently the guy has lived on that street his whole life and there has never been any problems with people/robberies or anything, and is a relatively quiet street (for being RIGHT on the e-way... seriously this particular house is just across the street from the on-ramp) - that was good to hear! We walked down the street and most of the houses are very pretty and look to be well-taken care of.
Bonnie did a comparative report on other houses on the street and all that looked really good. She also said that it's to our advantage that the bank owns the house... since they only have x amount of money put into it, she seems to think that we'd be able to get it for a lot less than what they're asking. So all good stuff!
Now we just have to start making phone calls and trying to get somebody to find us some 1st-time home buyer money! (And see if we can get out of our lease!! We will :o)
house.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
errgh.
this morning was good, but this afternoon has been very trying. hopefully things will be okay when we go look at this house @ 4.
heheheheheh.
"... it's like drinking a My Little Pony."
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
digital brandon
Saturday
Put on your party hats, people!
Saturday is our Food & Game & Celebrate Craig's Birthday Night at the Stroll's!
It will be us, the Burghardts, the Merkis, (maybe) the Hoiles, (maybe) the Wilburs and KD. We're having cakes (birthday cake!) & pies (apple & pumpkin) and yummy dips (spinach/artichoke, chili/cheese, etc) for chips and hot chicken, steak bites, and oh so much more!
For games we have Apples-to-Apples, Scruples, Phase 10, Yahtzee and whatever KD brings.
Oh, and did I mention booze?
Saturday is our Food & Game & Celebrate Craig's Birthday Night at the Stroll's!
It will be us, the Burghardts, the Merkis, (maybe) the Hoiles, (maybe) the Wilburs and KD. We're having cakes (birthday cake!) & pies (apple & pumpkin) and yummy dips (spinach/artichoke, chili/cheese, etc) for chips and hot chicken, steak bites, and oh so much more!
For games we have Apples-to-Apples, Scruples, Phase 10, Yahtzee and whatever KD brings.
Oh, and did I mention booze?
good morning.
what a beautiful day!
Monday, October 24, 2005
sandy's birthday
happy birthday, ma :o)
sick seester
aw, my poor seester is sick!
sick, sick, seester.
i think i am having sympathy sickness for you! i woke up hacking and snotting again today. blech.
i had to get some blood drawn this morning, and i spent like 5 minutes on the phone with the nurse from the dr's office, arguing about the lab i was going to go to. "is that the one IN port sylvania?" (IN port sylvania? there is no port sylvania) "um... alls i know is it's behind the aaa on central, by meijer." "is that where our old office was?" "uh... i don't think so." :pause: "what's it called?" "it's a promedica lab... there are two on central, one across from cricket west, and the one by meijer. i'm going to the one by meijer... i think that's technically sylvania." "do you have the fax number?" "uh, no. don't you?" "yes, we have it here." "okay." "so it's the port sylvania office?" so by this time i wanted to pull my hair out AND hers. i just said, "yep, that's the one." and it turns out it was. i didn't realize the road was called port sylvania... if i had, it would have been a much easier conversation.
so i get my blood drawn, and i hate those phlebotomists. they can obviously SEE that i have hairy arms and they put so much freaking TAPE around the cotton ball so i don't bleed. so it takes me like an hour to get up the courage to rip the tape off (and taking with it at least 100 hairs). i hate them. i do like seeing them put the needle in though... heehee. it's cool.
oh! bonnie made us an appt to go through the house on wednesday afternoon. yay! the only thing we aren't crazy about is the fact that it has radiated heat, and it'd be really expensive to put a furnace in and run duct-work...but the radiators aren't freaking huge like they are sometimes. and it does have a lovely fireplace!
sick, sick, seester.
i think i am having sympathy sickness for you! i woke up hacking and snotting again today. blech.
i had to get some blood drawn this morning, and i spent like 5 minutes on the phone with the nurse from the dr's office, arguing about the lab i was going to go to. "is that the one IN port sylvania?" (IN port sylvania? there is no port sylvania) "um... alls i know is it's behind the aaa on central, by meijer." "is that where our old office was?" "uh... i don't think so." :pause: "what's it called?" "it's a promedica lab... there are two on central, one across from cricket west, and the one by meijer. i'm going to the one by meijer... i think that's technically sylvania." "do you have the fax number?" "uh, no. don't you?" "yes, we have it here." "okay." "so it's the port sylvania office?" so by this time i wanted to pull my hair out AND hers. i just said, "yep, that's the one." and it turns out it was. i didn't realize the road was called port sylvania... if i had, it would have been a much easier conversation.
so i get my blood drawn, and i hate those phlebotomists. they can obviously SEE that i have hairy arms and they put so much freaking TAPE around the cotton ball so i don't bleed. so it takes me like an hour to get up the courage to rip the tape off (and taking with it at least 100 hairs). i hate them. i do like seeing them put the needle in though... heehee. it's cool.
oh! bonnie made us an appt to go through the house on wednesday afternoon. yay! the only thing we aren't crazy about is the fact that it has radiated heat, and it'd be really expensive to put a furnace in and run duct-work...but the radiators aren't freaking huge like they are sometimes. and it does have a lovely fireplace!
poor mabel
i couldn't find the fish food this morning.
i hope she doesn't starve to death!
i hope she doesn't starve to death!
Sunday, October 23, 2005
some good news.
brian's got a lead on a good job (@ walgreen's distribution) and we found a house we *think* we love. we're going to get in to see it this week, but we loved the outside and what we could see from peering into the windows. it has 3 beds, 1 bath, a 2 car garage and a decent size fenced in backyard... and is a price we *think* we can afford.
oh, and brian's buying me chinese for supper :o)
and we got a goldfish ... her name is mabel :o) (we really want a saltwater tank with clown fish, but we have to start out small - mabel used to live in my parent's fountain)
and we're watching a scalp re-attachment - it's very bloody :o)
oh, and brian's buying me chinese for supper :o)
and we got a goldfish ... her name is mabel :o) (we really want a saltwater tank with clown fish, but we have to start out small - mabel used to live in my parent's fountain)
and we're watching a scalp re-attachment - it's very bloody :o)
The ER.
we were at the emergency room @ st. luke's last night til 1am.
we were at brian's cousin's home and kelly had an asthma attack and couldn't breathe at all. she turned bright red and kept gasping for air. she's been sick for quite a while, and gotten worse since her mother died, and she's been on steroids and antibiotics and nothing's helped. she was getting chest pains from using her inhaler so much, but didn't want to go to the er because they don't have insurance. i said, "um kelly, you are going to die. let's go to the hospital." so craig packed her up and we followed them to the hospital, where they gave her a breathing treatment and more steroids. we saw them this afternoon and she seems to be doing a lot better ... hopefully the medication the dr prescribed will help a bit more. her pulmonary specialist has been booked for weeks and she hadn't been able to get in, but we're hoping now that she was in the hospital, they'll make room for her.
it was so scary watching her gasp for breath.
:o( poor little kelly.
we were at brian's cousin's home and kelly had an asthma attack and couldn't breathe at all. she turned bright red and kept gasping for air. she's been sick for quite a while, and gotten worse since her mother died, and she's been on steroids and antibiotics and nothing's helped. she was getting chest pains from using her inhaler so much, but didn't want to go to the er because they don't have insurance. i said, "um kelly, you are going to die. let's go to the hospital." so craig packed her up and we followed them to the hospital, where they gave her a breathing treatment and more steroids. we saw them this afternoon and she seems to be doing a lot better ... hopefully the medication the dr prescribed will help a bit more. her pulmonary specialist has been booked for weeks and she hadn't been able to get in, but we're hoping now that she was in the hospital, they'll make room for her.
it was so scary watching her gasp for breath.
:o( poor little kelly.
reading for this week!
the secret life of bees is crap, mindy. you were right.
so i am going to re-read a favorite, emma. i love jane's world of emma woodhouse, mr. knightley (whom one of our sons will be named for), the churchills, miss smith, and jane fairfax. love love love love love it. emma has to be the most endearing (elizabeth bennet is second, i should say and then fanny price - i simply despise the dashwood women) of all jane austen's heroines. my favorite part about each of her books though is the men - seriously, even through their faults, they are simply wonderful. mr. knightley, mr. darcy and edmund bertram.
also i am going to re-read julie & julia. it's just so good, i have to read it again this week.
so i am going to re-read a favorite, emma. i love jane's world of emma woodhouse, mr. knightley (whom one of our sons will be named for), the churchills, miss smith, and jane fairfax. love love love love love it. emma has to be the most endearing (elizabeth bennet is second, i should say and then fanny price - i simply despise the dashwood women) of all jane austen's heroines. my favorite part about each of her books though is the men - seriously, even through their faults, they are simply wonderful. mr. knightley, mr. darcy and edmund bertram.
also i am going to re-read julie & julia. it's just so good, i have to read it again this week.
Friday, October 21, 2005
crap on toast
that sort've sums up how i'm feeling right now
tasty, huh.
so last night KELLY came over! she just stopped in, and had dinner with us and the mar. we had the opening of the party-lite boxes (and i'm sorry, but whoever would order a resin candy shop has got to be a weirdo) and delighted in the aromas that were within. we also watched CSI and cried because of how wonderful george is. (he really is that wonderful, AND heartwrenching).
a few random things going through my head:
1) should we continue looking for a house
2) what if we buy a house, and then have to move to bulls gap, tn for brian's job
3) what if we don't buy a house, move to bulls gap, tn, THEN do we buy a house, or do we rent
4) should i continue considering school with not knowing what will transpire in the next few months
5) what if we move to bulls gap, tn, buy a house, and absolutely hate living there
6) do we keep putting off foster parenting classes until everything job related is permanent
7) what if we decided to not move to bulls gap, tn, but he still can't get a job here... do we move somewhere else
8) if we decide to stay here, should i forget about an english degree and let my boss pay for me to get my realtors license, knowing it's gonna cost me $200/mo
i think that's it right now. oh wait. now i'm thinking about food again ...
tasty, huh.
so last night KELLY came over! she just stopped in, and had dinner with us and the mar. we had the opening of the party-lite boxes (and i'm sorry, but whoever would order a resin candy shop has got to be a weirdo) and delighted in the aromas that were within. we also watched CSI and cried because of how wonderful george is. (he really is that wonderful, AND heartwrenching).
a few random things going through my head:
1) should we continue looking for a house
2) what if we buy a house, and then have to move to bulls gap, tn for brian's job
3) what if we don't buy a house, move to bulls gap, tn, THEN do we buy a house, or do we rent
4) should i continue considering school with not knowing what will transpire in the next few months
5) what if we move to bulls gap, tn, buy a house, and absolutely hate living there
6) do we keep putting off foster parenting classes until everything job related is permanent
7) what if we decided to not move to bulls gap, tn, but he still can't get a job here... do we move somewhere else
8) if we decide to stay here, should i forget about an english degree and let my boss pay for me to get my realtors license, knowing it's gonna cost me $200/mo
i think that's it right now. oh wait. now i'm thinking about food again ...
Thursday, October 20, 2005
my last entry of the day, i swear
i'd just like to say that this blog is merely a means to let people know what's going on with us, an outlet for my energy, if you will. and although i may not post anything of real significance doesn't mean that i don't THINK of significant things, or have intelligent conversations with others, or anything of the sort.
sorry, i just had a "katie" moment.
by the way, just as a side note here, and yes, i know i've said it before...
but i'd really like to start back to owens and work on an english degree.
STOP LAUGHING. i said stop it.
i've just been thinking about it a lot more lately. again.
so someone encourage me, dammit.
sorry, i just had a "katie" moment.
by the way, just as a side note here, and yes, i know i've said it before...
but i'd really like to start back to owens and work on an english degree.
STOP LAUGHING. i said stop it.
i've just been thinking about it a lot more lately. again.
so someone encourage me, dammit.
them were the good ol' days
when brandon would post funny things on my blog
or call me and ask me if i wear shoes
"this is jack from jack shoes .... do you wear shoes? what kind of shoes do you wear? what size feet do you have? where do you live?"
or send me a letter full of clip art, like a volcano, or horses, or a picture of a castle with the caption "this is our new home"
SOMETIMES he would even take me to mrs. field's and buy me a samwich and a cookie, if i was good
and always, always would let me rent movies, especially harrison ford movies
"If what you want isn't washed up on this beach, you probably don't need it. " - Allie Fox
we would stand in line for hours at garrett's, just aching for a taste of their cheddar caramel corn
when we would be walking down the street, in the middle of the night, in downtown chicago, we would laugh when mindy tried attacking the poor homeless men
"hey man, why dontcha gimme one of them little ladies you got there... whaddya need two for"
when he would tell me that i'm his favoritest little sister in the woooorld
when he would tell me "after your sister and your mother and your grandmother... you're the best cook i know"
when i'd stay with them and we'd all be laughing and he'd say "i'm not sure if you're funnier late at night, or in the morning"
(turns out i'm funnier at NIGHT)
when i'd go christmas shopping for mindy with him
we'd stay up late watching letterman, or snl or cheers reruns (mindy always konked out early)
OH OH OH... when we'd email each other long chain letters, starting with "i am a 9 yr old boy and i live in kuala lampur and i have no arms or no donkey..."
AND THOSE, MY FRIENDS, ARE JUST A FEW REMEMBRANCES FROM THE BRANDON/SARAH DAYS
or call me and ask me if i wear shoes
"this is jack from jack shoes .... do you wear shoes? what kind of shoes do you wear? what size feet do you have? where do you live?"
or send me a letter full of clip art, like a volcano, or horses, or a picture of a castle with the caption "this is our new home"
SOMETIMES he would even take me to mrs. field's and buy me a samwich and a cookie, if i was good
and always, always would let me rent movies, especially harrison ford movies
"If what you want isn't washed up on this beach, you probably don't need it. " - Allie Fox
we would stand in line for hours at garrett's, just aching for a taste of their cheddar caramel corn
when we would be walking down the street, in the middle of the night, in downtown chicago, we would laugh when mindy tried attacking the poor homeless men
"hey man, why dontcha gimme one of them little ladies you got there... whaddya need two for"
when he would tell me that i'm his favoritest little sister in the woooorld
when he would tell me "after your sister and your mother and your grandmother... you're the best cook i know"
when i'd stay with them and we'd all be laughing and he'd say "i'm not sure if you're funnier late at night, or in the morning"
(turns out i'm funnier at NIGHT)
when i'd go christmas shopping for mindy with him
we'd stay up late watching letterman, or snl or cheers reruns (mindy always konked out early)
OH OH OH... when we'd email each other long chain letters, starting with "i am a 9 yr old boy and i live in kuala lampur and i have no arms or no donkey..."
AND THOSE, MY FRIENDS, ARE JUST A FEW REMEMBRANCES FROM THE BRANDON/SARAH DAYS
it seems as though...
... my whole life right now is FOOD.
bonnie and i got a pepperoni & mushroom pizza from ROSIE'S.
it is oh-so-delicious.
by the way, what the hell is up with lost? last night's episode sucked. it just kept dragging on and on, and nothing was happening. boohoo, sun lost her wedding ring. boohoo, here come the others. they have an entire hour and nothing was going on. it just irritated me a bit. my mood lightened, however, when i got to see dennis farina and jesse martin solve yet another murder :o) dennis is so surly; i love him.
i mailed a package to YOU - my seester - today - the p. o. promised me it'd be there (westminster) by monday... so let me know if it doesn't get there. i will kick their heinies (they are usually good at my p.o. though... they always give me the ronnie reagan stamps :o) anyway, it's a most special surprise, so i hope you like it!!
it has been so quiet the last two days here at work ... oh man. i love being busy, but sometimes it's nice to just sit back and get paid to relax. and really, al doesn't mind so much, just so long as my work's done :o)
speaking of work, hinkle's is hiring again ... i'm thinking of asking them for the job. it's early morning, so i could work there before i come into the office. plus it's just like... 2 feet from my front door, so that'd be really convenient. i really don't want another job though... so i probably won't ask them about it. we're getting a lot of cleaning jobs, so that's keeping us busy anyway. not like i need three jobs. i might shoot somebody if had three jobs.
i found a few more houses in our area we're gonna look at. some of them seem really nice. there's a house that al has listed over by starr ave, and the people that own it really fixed it up nicely, and he said he could totally get us a great deal on it, because they really wanna sell, but brian thinks the neighborhood is too scary. "SCARY?!" i said. it's way better than some of the places we've looked! anyway, al and bonnie both know we're looking & interested, so it's nice to know we have two dynamite realtors looking after us :o)
gramma, uncle jeff & aunt carol are evacuating to macon, ga. i was so terrified that gramma wouldn't want to go, what with her legs/foot and all, so i'm glad they're going. mar said that if the hurricane goes through englewood, they're going to drive down there and help with the clean-up ... and would we watch schuyler for them? lol. she is a basketcase, my mar, God love 'er. also, bonnie's sister in law is down in chile, building an orphanage, so we're hoping that she'll be able to still make it home on saturday. i think bonnie said the hurricane isn't as bad where she's at, thank goodness.
after work i'm going to go home, drink a HUGE glass of delicious fresh cider and get to work on cleaning up the house and making dinner. actually brian will probably clean while i make dinner. he vaccuums everyday. it's so cute. and a little irritating :o)
i'm starting to bore myself with this post, so buhhhbye.
bonnie and i got a pepperoni & mushroom pizza from ROSIE'S.
it is oh-so-delicious.
by the way, what the hell is up with lost? last night's episode sucked. it just kept dragging on and on, and nothing was happening. boohoo, sun lost her wedding ring. boohoo, here come the others. they have an entire hour and nothing was going on. it just irritated me a bit. my mood lightened, however, when i got to see dennis farina and jesse martin solve yet another murder :o) dennis is so surly; i love him.
i mailed a package to YOU - my seester - today - the p. o. promised me it'd be there (westminster) by monday... so let me know if it doesn't get there. i will kick their heinies (they are usually good at my p.o. though... they always give me the ronnie reagan stamps :o) anyway, it's a most special surprise, so i hope you like it!!
it has been so quiet the last two days here at work ... oh man. i love being busy, but sometimes it's nice to just sit back and get paid to relax. and really, al doesn't mind so much, just so long as my work's done :o)
speaking of work, hinkle's is hiring again ... i'm thinking of asking them for the job. it's early morning, so i could work there before i come into the office. plus it's just like... 2 feet from my front door, so that'd be really convenient. i really don't want another job though... so i probably won't ask them about it. we're getting a lot of cleaning jobs, so that's keeping us busy anyway. not like i need three jobs. i might shoot somebody if had three jobs.
i found a few more houses in our area we're gonna look at. some of them seem really nice. there's a house that al has listed over by starr ave, and the people that own it really fixed it up nicely, and he said he could totally get us a great deal on it, because they really wanna sell, but brian thinks the neighborhood is too scary. "SCARY?!" i said. it's way better than some of the places we've looked! anyway, al and bonnie both know we're looking & interested, so it's nice to know we have two dynamite realtors looking after us :o)
gramma, uncle jeff & aunt carol are evacuating to macon, ga. i was so terrified that gramma wouldn't want to go, what with her legs/foot and all, so i'm glad they're going. mar said that if the hurricane goes through englewood, they're going to drive down there and help with the clean-up ... and would we watch schuyler for them? lol. she is a basketcase, my mar, God love 'er. also, bonnie's sister in law is down in chile, building an orphanage, so we're hoping that she'll be able to still make it home on saturday. i think bonnie said the hurricane isn't as bad where she's at, thank goodness.
after work i'm going to go home, drink a HUGE glass of delicious fresh cider and get to work on cleaning up the house and making dinner. actually brian will probably clean while i make dinner. he vaccuums everyday. it's so cute. and a little irritating :o)
i'm starting to bore myself with this post, so buhhhbye.
yay!
my mama comin' fer dinner and the opening of the party-lite boxes!!
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
more food.
i have been looking through my recipes all afternoon. here's a few things that will make an appearance on our dinner table this week:
cranberry turkey burgers (and, i think, cheese straws)
spanokopita (rolled up version)
cream of mushroom casserole (- tonight's winner - which is a lot tastier than it sounds, since it uses fresh mushrooms as opposed to actual canned cream of mushroom soup)
chocolate fudge cake with vanilla buttercream frosting and chocolate ganache glaze
cranberry turkey burgers (and, i think, cheese straws)
spanokopita (rolled up version)
cream of mushroom casserole (- tonight's winner - which is a lot tastier than it sounds, since it uses fresh mushrooms as opposed to actual canned cream of mushroom soup)
chocolate fudge cake with vanilla buttercream frosting and chocolate ganache glaze
mm.. food.
tonight we're either having chicken & dressing, or chicken w/mushrooms & egg noodles.
either way ...
yum.
last night i baked gingerbread cookies.
pretty good, with a glass of cold milk.
i tried making up a list of meals to alternate, but it's not been working. i just like trying new things too much to make the same things over and over.
either way ...
yum.
last night i baked gingerbread cookies.
pretty good, with a glass of cold milk.
i tried making up a list of meals to alternate, but it's not been working. i just like trying new things too much to make the same things over and over.
TN
Does anybody know anything about Bulls Gap, TN?
I only know it's halfway between Knoxville and Bristol.
I only know it's halfway between Knoxville and Bristol.
more Julie/Julia project
Read Lauren Winner's review of Julia/Julia in The Washington Post.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
oh well.
so i wasn't supposed to work today, but we're having a phone conference this afternoon that i have to be at ... so i'm here, for just a little bit. i did get to sleep in this morning, though, so that was SUPER.
last night brian and i saw charlie and the chocolate factory. we both really liked it. especially since johnny depp AND freddie highmore are in it (also both are in the BEST movie ever made, finding neverland). anyways, we ran to tjmaxx and bri picked out socks and undershirts, while i drooled over the handbags. we cleaned after we got home and watched csi: miami. that show is getting worse by the week, i tell ya.
so i'm feeling MUCH better, thankyouverymuch. my tonsils are no longer the size of golfballs and no longer do they burn!! i am still a bit groggy and my equilibrium is still whacky, but i'm mostly feeling back to my old self. brian was feeling a bit under the weather the other day, but he's okay now.
tonight in between dinner and gilmore girls i'm starting the secret life of bees. oooooo.
last night brian and i saw charlie and the chocolate factory. we both really liked it. especially since johnny depp AND freddie highmore are in it (also both are in the BEST movie ever made, finding neverland). anyways, we ran to tjmaxx and bri picked out socks and undershirts, while i drooled over the handbags. we cleaned after we got home and watched csi: miami. that show is getting worse by the week, i tell ya.
so i'm feeling MUCH better, thankyouverymuch. my tonsils are no longer the size of golfballs and no longer do they burn!! i am still a bit groggy and my equilibrium is still whacky, but i'm mostly feeling back to my old self. brian was feeling a bit under the weather the other day, but he's okay now.
tonight in between dinner and gilmore girls i'm starting the secret life of bees. oooooo.
Monday, October 17, 2005
ew.
so it's my tonsils that are swollen and infected....
ew.
i am actually feeling a bit better today, but i may still have to break down and go to the dr for antibiotics. tomorrow i don't have to work at all, so i may try to go then, or i might just try to sleep it off - yeah like that'll work. sleep sounds good though.
ew.
i am actually feeling a bit better today, but i may still have to break down and go to the dr for antibiotics. tomorrow i don't have to work at all, so i may try to go then, or i might just try to sleep it off - yeah like that'll work. sleep sounds good though.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
mmm.
my hubbin is at a pig roast tonight, so sicky (that's me) is lounging at mar's house. we're watching one of the best movies ever - the wedding singer. "cuckoo's nest, cuckoo's nest!" we're ordering mancino's and bein' girlies. i was going to finish our laundries, but she already had them done when i got here! what a good little marmee.
btw, m or b - mar's good with the 11th-13th, so i just gotta clear it with al.
btw, m or b - mar's good with the 11th-13th, so i just gotta clear it with al.
teehee.
for sweetest day, my sweetest surprised me with beautiful diamond studs :o)
julie & julia
stayed up half of last night reading julie & julia.
very good read.
very good read.
Friday, October 14, 2005
High Flight
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumblign mirth
of Sun-split clouds, - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air . . .
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew -
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
- John G. Magee, Jr.
This is a favorite poem of mine, first heard in the 1992 Russell Crowe film For the Moment. John Magee enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force when he was just 18 and quickly rose to the rank of Pilot Officer. In September of 1941, he flew a high altitude test flight in a Spitfire V - this poem was written during that flight. Once he landed, he wrote a letter to his parents saying, "I am enclosing a verse I wrote the other day. It started at 30,000 feet and was finished soon after I landed." Three months later (only 3 days after the US entered the war), at age 19, he was killed as his plane collided with another. The first and last lines of the poem are engraved on his gravestone.
On beautiful days like today, this poem always comes to my mind.
and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumblign mirth
of Sun-split clouds, - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air . . .
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew -
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
- John G. Magee, Jr.
This is a favorite poem of mine, first heard in the 1992 Russell Crowe film For the Moment. John Magee enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force when he was just 18 and quickly rose to the rank of Pilot Officer. In September of 1941, he flew a high altitude test flight in a Spitfire V - this poem was written during that flight. Once he landed, he wrote a letter to his parents saying, "I am enclosing a verse I wrote the other day. It started at 30,000 feet and was finished soon after I landed." Three months later (only 3 days after the US entered the war), at age 19, he was killed as his plane collided with another. The first and last lines of the poem are engraved on his gravestone.
On beautiful days like today, this poem always comes to my mind.
Note to Self:
Must buy Julie and Julia this weekend.
Eyes are falling out of head due to frantic reading of author Julie Powell's blog.
Eyes are falling out of head due to frantic reading of author Julie Powell's blog.
sick & miserable
the title about sums up how i'm feeling right now. i could probably sleep for at least another 11 hours. i struggled to stay awake through csi and without a trace and totally konked out right after that. i'm glad i didn't have to come in until 12 today, or else i would've had to call off. thank goodness for flexible hours.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
still searching...
... for a vehicle. i've found a few i like, but haven't decided on anything yet, mostly because my car hasn't sold. brian's car is also for sale now. i think we'll end up putting both of them in auto trader, if we don't get any calls in the next week or so.
bleh.
me sicky.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
i hate ...
... being poor.
oh yeah
we went to the apple butter festival on sunday ... why do we always go to those kinds of things? there were like 20,000 people there and you couldn't get up close to look at anything cos of the crowds. the lemonade was good though, and the coffee. we were only there for like a little over an hour ... we ran into roger & chris, talked to them a while and hurried home for the open house.
it got me in the mood for caramel apples. i'm gonna make them this week :o)
it got me in the mood for caramel apples. i'm gonna make them this week :o)
Monday, October 10, 2005
weekend.
friday night, brian and i camped out at larry & tina's with kelly, craig, francie & mike. it was FREAKING cold. fun, but really cold. kelly took an electric blanket and extension cord and ran the cord all the way from their garage to their tent. the rest of us roughed it. larry made us a hobo dinner and then we roasted marshmallows and the guys played poker.
saturday morning, we rushed home to let out our poor dogs (who had their legs crossed) and then cleaned that house... then we went grocery shopping. we spent most of the afternoon sleeping (since we didn't really sleep friday night!) and then i made mindy's famous sausage chili & corn muffins, and for dinner, roasted veggies (carrots, candy onions, brussel sprouts and turnips) with chicken. that night we went out to the mall and wandered around (brian bought me a pretty plum sweater and some jeans) and then just lounged around at home.
sunday i had an open house, which nobody came to, then we went to mar and dad's for supper with them and the grandkids. we left right after that to go home for more lounging. for our desperate housewives viewing, i made hot chicken bites and sirloin steak bites with bloody mary dipping sauce (yum!)
this morning and afternoon have been busy, busy here at work... lots of things to do. i had to run to the perrysburg office and had a lot of paperwork to sort through. bonnie and al are at the "sulphur springs university" today and tomorrow, so i have plenty of time to get all my stuff done.
i'm making gramma's corn chowder for supper! yummy!
saturday morning, we rushed home to let out our poor dogs (who had their legs crossed) and then cleaned that house... then we went grocery shopping. we spent most of the afternoon sleeping (since we didn't really sleep friday night!) and then i made mindy's famous sausage chili & corn muffins, and for dinner, roasted veggies (carrots, candy onions, brussel sprouts and turnips) with chicken. that night we went out to the mall and wandered around (brian bought me a pretty plum sweater and some jeans) and then just lounged around at home.
sunday i had an open house, which nobody came to, then we went to mar and dad's for supper with them and the grandkids. we left right after that to go home for more lounging. for our desperate housewives viewing, i made hot chicken bites and sirloin steak bites with bloody mary dipping sauce (yum!)
this morning and afternoon have been busy, busy here at work... lots of things to do. i had to run to the perrysburg office and had a lot of paperwork to sort through. bonnie and al are at the "sulphur springs university" today and tomorrow, so i have plenty of time to get all my stuff done.
i'm making gramma's corn chowder for supper! yummy!
# posted by Sary : 6:20 PM
Friday, October 07, 2005
so....
... we're not gonna get the house. after poking around and REALLY looking through it ... it's gonna need about $30k worth of updates (siding, windows, flooring, etc) ... not exactly the kind of money we have lyin' around. but it's okay ... we'll keep looking.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
money money money moneeey
jolene just hooked me up with a cleaning job at one of their listings ... all i gotta do is sweep the new carpet and swiff the hardwood floors and i get $50.
sweeeeet.
sweeeeet.
ew!
house.
tonight dad & mar are going to look at the house with us. we still have to find out if we can actually get the money and we're hoping to find out if the abandoned school & lot next door to this house would be available to purchase. if so, that'd give us like an extra acre ... and we'd be able to add on if we wanted to (like a big porch, sunroom, etc). it already sits on a double lot, but there isn't tons of room and it'd be nice to have the extra yard space. OR we could try talking to the guy that owns & rents the house next door if he'd be willing to sell. anyway, we have a lot of options and it's nice knowing nobody else will be buying the house before we make up our minds. we're trying to decide between a 5 or 10 yr mortgage (we'd still be paying less than we do now and we REALLY don't want to be stuck with a mortgage for the next 20 or 30 years) and how much money we'd need for updates and repairs.
last night was the official start of hockey season - the red wings pummeled the blues @ the joe - 5-1. brian was soooo happy.
okay... time to get back to work.
last night was the official start of hockey season - the red wings pummeled the blues @ the joe - 5-1. brian was soooo happy.
okay... time to get back to work.
family members
for those of you who like keeping a schedule of things, mark on your calenders that the rice family christmas eve is at the stroll home this year
(that'll give m & b a real reason to come home :o)
(that'll give m & b a real reason to come home :o)
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
yummy.
the carrots, potatoes & candy onions are in the oven, roasting away; the applesauce is in the microwave, and the chicken is ready to go on the grill as soon as mar and dad get home.
yum.
i rushed over here after work, thinking i'd have to clean up and finish laundry and start dinner before they got home ... i got here, and the whole place was spotless, thanks to my ever-diligent husband.
now i get to kick back and relax!
yum.
i rushed over here after work, thinking i'd have to clean up and finish laundry and start dinner before they got home ... i got here, and the whole place was spotless, thanks to my ever-diligent husband.
now i get to kick back and relax!
Magic Wok
so i got magic wok for lunch (s&s chicken and what else - crab rangoons!) and totally got gypped ... my fortune read : keep healthy, eat more magic wok!
how retarded!
how retarded!
Totally forgot...
... to list our monthly events
(not that much stuff for this month)
Events for October 2005
10 - Columbus Day
13 - Yom Kippur
15 - Sweetest Day
24 - Mom's (Sandy) birthday
28 - Party-Lite show at Mar's
29 - Amber's 17th birthday
30 - Daddy's birthday
31 - Halloween
31 - Shaylynn's 6th birthday
(not that much stuff for this month)
Events for October 2005
10 - Columbus Day
13 - Yom Kippur
15 - Sweetest Day
24 - Mom's (Sandy) birthday
28 - Party-Lite show at Mar's
29 - Amber's 17th birthday
30 - Daddy's birthday
31 - Halloween
31 - Shaylynn's 6th birthday
yay!
mommy and daddy are on their way home!
hassles.
instead of hassling with trying to sell my car privately, we may end up trading it in... i'll take a hit on it, but it has such high mileage that i wouldn't end up being able to sell it for what i owe anyway. brian also said yesterday that he's going to take a look around and see what maybe he'd be able to get for his car on a trade-in. we've both been looking at hondas, but i'd prefer a small sport utility with 4-wheel drive. i found a nice, very clean 1991 wrangler in our price range that i really like ... brian hates jeeps, but kelly & craig have a wrangler that they absolutely love (also a cherokee), plus i like the look of them. so we'll take a look-see and try to wheel & deal with them.
# posted by Sary : 1:42 PM
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
house.
brian and i are going to look through another house tonight. it's the house that belonged to his ex-mother-in-law, but the girls really want to sell it and they're offering it to us at a great price. the inside has pretty much all been re-done, but the outside needs work - new siding, some paint, new porch and new fence ... all things brian is able to do himself. it has a two car garage, which is he absolutely loving. we've both obviously been inside before, but this time there's no furniture and we can poke around into the little nooks and crannies and really see what it's like. we're excited about the possibilities, but we're trying not to get ahead of ourselves.
the old man & the motorcycle
yesterday on my way home from work, i was driving down reynolds road and in front of me, in the left hand lane, was the oldest man alive, driving the oldest motorcycle in the world. he was cruising at a nice 25 mph with his right turn signal on ... the entire time.
probably on my top ten list of cutest things ever seen.
probably on my top ten list of cutest things ever seen.
Monday, October 03, 2005
sleepy.
we had a fun weekend - kd came down on late thursday afternoon and we went out for groceries for friday's party. brian and i both had friday off, so we slept in (like 'til 9) and went to the zoo with the kids. that was a hoot! after that we came home and made the hors d'oeuvre (veggie pizza, spinach & parmesan balls, sausage-stuffed mushrooms, shrimp cocktail, mini-cheesecakes and brownies... washed down with lots and lots of smirnoff!) the party was a smash... we had quite a turnout and people spent money :o) kd also got 2 more bookings!
saturday brian helped his cousin & her family move, while kd and i slept in and then went shopping (levis commons, target, pier 1) ... then we met up with brian @ dad & vicki's and played with hannah ... then we met mar for chinese.
kd left on sunday :o(
brian and i are house-sitting for mar & dad til either tomorrow night or wednesday. i didn't sleep well last night (3 hrs) and ended up leaving work early because i was so tired & sick to my stomach (probably from lack of proper eating). i am sooo going to bed early tonight!
saturday brian helped his cousin & her family move, while kd and i slept in and then went shopping (levis commons, target, pier 1) ... then we met up with brian @ dad & vicki's and played with hannah ... then we met mar for chinese.
kd left on sunday :o(
brian and i are house-sitting for mar & dad til either tomorrow night or wednesday. i didn't sleep well last night (3 hrs) and ended up leaving work early because i was so tired & sick to my stomach (probably from lack of proper eating). i am sooo going to bed early tonight!
Sunday, October 02, 2005
congrats :o)
