So here we are in the land of 10,000 auger holes drilled into the ice with care, in the hopes that St. Walleye soon will be there. This year we will have a white Christmas to go with the white July we had, watching softball in mittens and blankets. I still shake my head at that craziness. 2009, the year without a summer pause. On the other hand we’ve only had the snow thrower out once thus far. The other snowfalls were dustings and ok to simply shovel. To all you non-Minnesotans it is indeed called a snow thrower, as a snow blower doesn’t cut it, they are too small. We can’t blow the snow around, we must throw it high and far, and hopefully throw it away from your face as when I do it, it inevitably gusts right back at me and I turn into Frosty the Snow Gal. We have the blower that has hand brakes and is a Harley handlebar mega snow thrower, one upgrade shy of the one that comes with its own heated seat and a street legal permit. We could drive that baby to the store. Tammy usually drives our red almost rider as I stay a safe distance behind, with visions of missing thumbs dancing in my head.
Speaking of thumbs as in I’m usually all thumbs, I hung my first ceiling fan by the window with care, right over the dining room table and chairs. I was so proud. I’m so butch now. Who knew? It really wasn’t even that hard. There was only mild panic when the drill dropped from the ladder and Tammy sprang up to see what was the matter. Oh blasted, Oh Rancid, Oh Friggin, Oh flitzen, you know the drill (pun intended) It looks awesome too.
Christmas Eve will be at our house this year, but early, like at two in the afternoon. So what do you call that? Christmas pre-eve? If you do that twice is it a Re-prieve? Anyway, Tammy’s family will all be coming over, eleven in all I believe, plus us four. Quite a houseful of Sundbergs and Grahams, with one little ole Cannon. We’ll exchange token gifts and ingest huge amounts of food and sweets. Well, except for me who chooses to pass up on the sweets to celebrate the alternative holiday season also known as the Festival of Miller Lites. It should make for a very merry time. I’m making my not quite yet to be challenged to the Booby Flay throw down world famous pulled pork. Pearl's bringing the ham and we’ll have sweets and cookies and all that kind of stuff. Everyone will get to see our newly painted kitchen (and fan of course) before they dash away, dash away, dash away all, to other pastures and rooftops. The kids will be going to their dad’s for midnight mass and to spend the night but Santa will be filling the stockings at our place. It will probably be me with my round little belly, stuffing the socks with bowlfuls of Jelly…Beans. They’ll be back on Xmas day to see what Santa brought. I can tell you there will be no maids-a-milking or lords-a-leaping this year. There will be something though for everyone to enjoy, dogs and kitties included.
Once Christmas is over we don’t have to be to work until the next Wednesday so we are going to be sanding and painting the kitchen cabinets. At least that’s the rumor I read in the Ramsey Rag. Though lazy that I am the thought makes me bristle, and sticks in my craw like the thorns of a thistle. So we shall see… Actually it won’t be too bad.
That’s about it for this blog. Snowmobile safely everyone. This year for us, Christmas is especially about family and love. We are here and gone so quickly. The wink of the eye, a turn of the head, love is too special for us not to spread. So hear me exclaim as you click from this site, HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Drive Thru Live Nativity Scenes...Seriously...
Hey there comrades in alms. Bell ringers everywhere (well, except Target stores of course, though Christmas musak abounds EVERYWHERE, and there's the garland wrapping it's seaweed-like arms in a grip of death hanging all over everything and I don't mean garland as in Judy (from Minnesota doncha know). If she only had a brain... Must be that time of year. If you look closely though Valentine accoutrements are whispering out loud begging to be placed on end caps and in aisles..
So today took us once again to Home Depot. This is now a store that I actually know my way around. This was not a goal of mine, yet one I can add to my sash of unexpectedly earned merit badges. It will go next to the "I can get dried coffee stains out of a shirt" badge, but underneath the "I can dig a fence post hole" badge. It resides along side my newest badge called the "I can actually switch out electrical outlets without getting electrocuted" badge. I never woulda thought. I swear if I get a callous, heads will roll. Where are my millions? I know they are out there I just haven't found them yet. Darn you Captain Jack Sparrow. Darn you to heck.
Anyway, during our trek out to earn badges and collect paint cans that once empty will sit for years in the pole barn, garnering a "we really need to do something with those" every other spring or so, in the meantime we were out and about today and I saw at least seven different cars with Christmas trees tied to the top. Pardon me, but is that green? I get beat up daily with the GREEN monster. Save the planet this, emission that, my carbon footprints are leaving tread marks on the planet, no burping in the library, whatever (insert eyeroll here). I thought tree killing ranked up there with smoking in public these days. I hope penance is in the mind of all those choppers. Green penance too. And that's penance not green peace. I don't mind green peas in my salad but not in my ocean or up in my business. You can tune a piaono but you can't tune a fish. REO told me so. I am kiddng in case anyone is squirming.
OK, so what is my point? My point is I live in Anoka County. In Anoka County there is an on going fight between the city council and business owners over those rent-a-signs on trailers that are large and flourescently lettered that you can place near the road to advertise bands, or specials on meals at Zebra Pizza, french tip nails at You Got Nailed, or whatever. Business owners swear they are helpful and the council feels they are eyesores. Well, today while driving past all the tree killers there appeared before me a giant sign in pink letters informing me of the drive-thru LIVE nativity scene on December 12th at "X" church. Yes, a Lutheran one. What ones aren't up here? It's like advertising LIVE nude girls (yeah those dead ones? Borrring). LIVE fake Mary and Joseph complete with a donkey and freezing parent volunteered baby (stage mothers already? HMM). Oh, LIVE petting zoo extra I'm sure. I don't know. Struck me as very odd. I have a non-live nativity scene in my living room.
I guess that's all I have to say for today. I love Christmas as much as the next Judeo-Christian person, just sometimes the whole thing seems overdone by our pseudo capitalistic bent. I know I can drive-thru to get a Whopper or Filet-O-Fish, but Nativity? Am I just that Naive? Perhaps. Until next week. HAPPY ALMOST CHRISTMAS EVRYONE. GOD BLESS US EVERYONE (said Tiny Tim, doing his best Gregory House limp)
So today took us once again to Home Depot. This is now a store that I actually know my way around. This was not a goal of mine, yet one I can add to my sash of unexpectedly earned merit badges. It will go next to the "I can get dried coffee stains out of a shirt" badge, but underneath the "I can dig a fence post hole" badge. It resides along side my newest badge called the "I can actually switch out electrical outlets without getting electrocuted" badge. I never woulda thought. I swear if I get a callous, heads will roll. Where are my millions? I know they are out there I just haven't found them yet. Darn you Captain Jack Sparrow. Darn you to heck.
Anyway, during our trek out to earn badges and collect paint cans that once empty will sit for years in the pole barn, garnering a "we really need to do something with those" every other spring or so, in the meantime we were out and about today and I saw at least seven different cars with Christmas trees tied to the top. Pardon me, but is that green? I get beat up daily with the GREEN monster. Save the planet this, emission that, my carbon footprints are leaving tread marks on the planet, no burping in the library, whatever (insert eyeroll here). I thought tree killing ranked up there with smoking in public these days. I hope penance is in the mind of all those choppers. Green penance too. And that's penance not green peace. I don't mind green peas in my salad but not in my ocean or up in my business. You can tune a piaono but you can't tune a fish. REO told me so. I am kiddng in case anyone is squirming.
OK, so what is my point? My point is I live in Anoka County. In Anoka County there is an on going fight between the city council and business owners over those rent-a-signs on trailers that are large and flourescently lettered that you can place near the road to advertise bands, or specials on meals at Zebra Pizza, french tip nails at You Got Nailed, or whatever. Business owners swear they are helpful and the council feels they are eyesores. Well, today while driving past all the tree killers there appeared before me a giant sign in pink letters informing me of the drive-thru LIVE nativity scene on December 12th at "X" church. Yes, a Lutheran one. What ones aren't up here? It's like advertising LIVE nude girls (yeah those dead ones? Borrring). LIVE fake Mary and Joseph complete with a donkey and freezing parent volunteered baby (stage mothers already? HMM). Oh, LIVE petting zoo extra I'm sure. I don't know. Struck me as very odd. I have a non-live nativity scene in my living room.
I guess that's all I have to say for today. I love Christmas as much as the next Judeo-Christian person, just sometimes the whole thing seems overdone by our pseudo capitalistic bent. I know I can drive-thru to get a Whopper or Filet-O-Fish, but Nativity? Am I just that Naive? Perhaps. Until next week. HAPPY ALMOST CHRISTMAS EVRYONE. GOD BLESS US EVERYONE (said Tiny Tim, doing his best Gregory House limp)
Sunday, November 29, 2009
The Bears are Von Trapped...
In the words of Owen Meany, from the incredible book by John Irving, A Prayer for Owen Meany, I trust these words immensely. THERE ARE NO ACCIDENTS. Such is my case in point when last night I watched the first half of, The Sound of Music, on DVD. I talk about the movie at times, I reference the movie occasionally, but when was the last time I actually sat and purposely watched the movie opening credits included? I do not recall. Like I said, I watched the first half last night while Jake and Tammy did something which now escapes me, and then he wanted to watch a comedy and Maria Von Trapp gave way to Uncle Buck with John Candy (hilarious by the way). But, since watching the first half of the movie and both halves of the Bears game that just ended in a lopsided blahdeeblah, it comes as no surprise that my head is full of new lyrics...
(To the tune of "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?")
How do you solve a problem like the Bears?
How do you catch a ball and bring it down?
How do you find the wins that mean a title?
A fumble dee bum, a will of the wrist, a bomb
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell them
Many a thing they ought to understand
But how do we make them play?
And listen to all we say?
How do we keep the wave up in the stands?
Oh, how do you solve a problem like the Bears?
How do you hold a football in your hand? (recall nun wooOOooOoooo voices here)
Ok, ok I'm done. Ugh. I lost two bets on that game, darn it. There goes two bucks and I don't mean deer up here.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I am thankful for everything I have and everything I don't have. I am blessed. Now, if only someone would bless the guy at Home Depot before I go there and poke his eyeballs out ala Larry Stooge. Why? Well, Tammy and I went to Home Depot last weekend to buy paint to paint all the ceilings upstairs (ick) and then paint for the living room, hallway, and basement stair way. Tim, the Depot dude, captured us and told us of the new Behr Ultra paint that has the primer right in it for the walls, and produced the sample board to prove you will only need one coat even if painting over red. Hmm...sound too good to be true? He assured us that in the long run we will save money by not buying primer. Cut to Thursday. Kids are with their dad. We are all set up for painting. Dogs are locked outside, music on the iPod speakers is filling the house with eclectic artists, including but not limited to Kitty Wells and Bob Dylan. We are ready to paint. The ceilings came and went no problem. Tammy rolled, I trimmed. Now we begin the living room walls in what they call Summer Moon, but to me known as truck stop butter pat yellow. Long story short this paint sucks. It runs, it's thick, it's the Log Cabin syrup of paint. It ran like a sprinter. We had to do three, count 'em three, coats. We used all the paint we bought just on the living room. I don't think I've ever heard Tammy swear as much since I've known her. It was George Thoroughgood, Baaaaaaad to the bone. B-b-b-b-ba-yud. The room looks fantastic though but never again will we use that paint. Nick's coming tomorrow to patch and mud and then we will do the kitchen and hallways this weekend most likely. It never ends...
We did get the tree up as you can see in the picture. You won't know but I do, that the walls are painted nicely. Tipsy the cat only has five lives left though since she likes to walk the room as close to the wet walls as she can get, but other than that...
Satruday we went to Tammy's sister's for the family Thanksgiving. It was super delicious and part of the reason I lost no weight this week. My weigh-in is on Sundays but today it registered no change. I'll take that as a positive since I packed in the turkey and dressing and all of that stuff and no change means no add-on. I'll take it.
I'm thinking this is all I'll write for now. My Bears are done for the playoff picture. Vikes are looking good I have to say. I think we need to rename the Timberwolves the Twigpuppies for now and the Wild, the kinda rowdy but not missing curfew guys. Let's hope Tubby Smith can get some wins from his felons!
Take care everybody. Happy Thanksgiving to all and to all a good night!
(To the tune of "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?")
How do you solve a problem like the Bears?
How do you catch a ball and bring it down?
How do you find the wins that mean a title?
A fumble dee bum, a will of the wrist, a bomb
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell them
Many a thing they ought to understand
But how do we make them play?
And listen to all we say?
How do we keep the wave up in the stands?
Oh, how do you solve a problem like the Bears?
How do you hold a football in your hand? (recall nun wooOOooOoooo voices here)
Ok, ok I'm done. Ugh. I lost two bets on that game, darn it. There goes two bucks and I don't mean deer up here.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I am thankful for everything I have and everything I don't have. I am blessed. Now, if only someone would bless the guy at Home Depot before I go there and poke his eyeballs out ala Larry Stooge. Why? Well, Tammy and I went to Home Depot last weekend to buy paint to paint all the ceilings upstairs (ick) and then paint for the living room, hallway, and basement stair way. Tim, the Depot dude, captured us and told us of the new Behr Ultra paint that has the primer right in it for the walls, and produced the sample board to prove you will only need one coat even if painting over red. Hmm...sound too good to be true? He assured us that in the long run we will save money by not buying primer. Cut to Thursday. Kids are with their dad. We are all set up for painting. Dogs are locked outside, music on the iPod speakers is filling the house with eclectic artists, including but not limited to Kitty Wells and Bob Dylan. We are ready to paint. The ceilings came and went no problem. Tammy rolled, I trimmed. Now we begin the living room walls in what they call Summer Moon, but to me known as truck stop butter pat yellow. Long story short this paint sucks. It runs, it's thick, it's the Log Cabin syrup of paint. It ran like a sprinter. We had to do three, count 'em three, coats. We used all the paint we bought just on the living room. I don't think I've ever heard Tammy swear as much since I've known her. It was George Thoroughgood, Baaaaaaad to the bone. B-b-b-b-ba-yud. The room looks fantastic though but never again will we use that paint. Nick's coming tomorrow to patch and mud and then we will do the kitchen and hallways this weekend most likely. It never ends...
We did get the tree up as you can see in the picture. You won't know but I do, that the walls are painted nicely. Tipsy the cat only has five lives left though since she likes to walk the room as close to the wet walls as she can get, but other than that...
Satruday we went to Tammy's sister's for the family Thanksgiving. It was super delicious and part of the reason I lost no weight this week. My weigh-in is on Sundays but today it registered no change. I'll take that as a positive since I packed in the turkey and dressing and all of that stuff and no change means no add-on. I'll take it.
I'm thinking this is all I'll write for now. My Bears are done for the playoff picture. Vikes are looking good I have to say. I think we need to rename the Timberwolves the Twigpuppies for now and the Wild, the kinda rowdy but not missing curfew guys. Let's hope Tubby Smith can get some wins from his felons!
Take care everybody. Happy Thanksgiving to all and to all a good night!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Deer me, it's a Wild life
Greetings and salutations fellow blog travelers. I have been remiss in keeping my weekly updates weekly. In life we either have results or reasons. I have many reasons why I am behind and the results speak for themselves. One reason being the basment has been torn up and my computer lives there, and had to be covered daily to keep the sheet rock dust from infiltrating the be-bopper-thingees that make computers go hmmmm. We had a water leak, well, actually the hose was left on a trickle by a mysterious physical phenomena (since no one will own using the hose, it must've been magic) for close to a week, and it leaked into the wall between the foundation and basement wall, so Tammy's nephew got it all fixed up and we purchased the paint today to cover the "new" spot, yadda badda bing. Of course that led to discussion of what we want to do with the house in general since we are not moving for a while (we looked at the possibility of going north the 7 miles into the kids' school district but that's not feasible right now since all the foreclosures and short sales have diluted the market prices, etc.) and what to do with the basement and kitchen, and that led to more paint being purchased, currently scheduled to be applied this week and weekend. And THAT led to discussion on painting the kitchen cabinets and buying new counter tops. And THAT led to discussion of remodeling the basement and turning the bedroom down there into a master bedroom for us, expanding the bathroom down there and adding a walk-in closet. And THAT led to me popping this beer and starting my blog... I can't take it...... bwahahaha
Long story short (too late I know), Tammy and I took her mom and brother Dan to the NHL Wild game a couple of weeks ago. I scored the tickets from my work since all the guys were tied up with deer opener. You know, going unshaven for days, dipping the Skoal or Copenhagen, drinking beer, guy bonding chest pounding tall tale telling; my co-workers live for it, and you get my drift. Minnesota goes crazy for its hunting, that's for sure, and most of the guys I work with hunt. Well, except Kenny, but he trolls the happy hours for all the hunter widows during the season so in a sense he's a hunter too. That said, we had a ball at the hockey game. Great seats and a good game and we won against the Dallas Stars, which were formerly the Minnesota North Stars. Sarah opted not to go becuase she is crazy (my opinion lol) and Jake did not go because he was hunting (of course) with his dad down near Winona. Andy got a deer this year, a 13-pointer. The term, "Nice rack," has a different meaning up here you know. Hence the photo of Jake with a decapitated deer head in his hands. How sweet.
Right now I just got done on the treadmill, or the hampster wheel, as I call it. I'm up for losing a few pounds this winter and fitting into some older jeans I remember fondly. Wish me luck. I'll either get there or not; results or reasons that's for sure.
Tonight the Bears take on the Eagles for the late game. Jake loves the Eagles. McNabb is even his screen saver. So I'm about to embark on making jambalaya from scratch and donning my Urlacher jersey to settle in and watch. I'll also have my autographed Gayle Sayers mini-helmet on display and my Bears koozie and...ok, that's enough. He'll sport his McNabb jersey (that I bought him by the way - hope he remembers that if the Eagles are thumping them - lol)and use his Eagles drinking glass. Oh how I wish the Bears were playing better this year. Oh well, it should be fun anyway. Let the taunting begin.
I guess that's about it for this week. Take care everyone. I love you all. GO BEARS!
Love,
Diane
Long story short (too late I know), Tammy and I took her mom and brother Dan to the NHL Wild game a couple of weeks ago. I scored the tickets from my work since all the guys were tied up with deer opener. You know, going unshaven for days, dipping the Skoal or Copenhagen, drinking beer, guy bonding chest pounding tall tale telling; my co-workers live for it, and you get my drift. Minnesota goes crazy for its hunting, that's for sure, and most of the guys I work with hunt. Well, except Kenny, but he trolls the happy hours for all the hunter widows during the season so in a sense he's a hunter too. That said, we had a ball at the hockey game. Great seats and a good game and we won against the Dallas Stars, which were formerly the Minnesota North Stars. Sarah opted not to go becuase she is crazy (my opinion lol) and Jake did not go because he was hunting (of course) with his dad down near Winona. Andy got a deer this year, a 13-pointer. The term, "Nice rack," has a different meaning up here you know. Hence the photo of Jake with a decapitated deer head in his hands. How sweet.
Right now I just got done on the treadmill, or the hampster wheel, as I call it. I'm up for losing a few pounds this winter and fitting into some older jeans I remember fondly. Wish me luck. I'll either get there or not; results or reasons that's for sure.
Tonight the Bears take on the Eagles for the late game. Jake loves the Eagles. McNabb is even his screen saver. So I'm about to embark on making jambalaya from scratch and donning my Urlacher jersey to settle in and watch. I'll also have my autographed Gayle Sayers mini-helmet on display and my Bears koozie and...ok, that's enough. He'll sport his McNabb jersey (that I bought him by the way - hope he remembers that if the Eagles are thumping them - lol)and use his Eagles drinking glass. Oh how I wish the Bears were playing better this year. Oh well, it should be fun anyway. Let the taunting begin.
I guess that's about it for this week. Take care everyone. I love you all. GO BEARS!
Love,
Diane
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Knock it off
Another Halloween has come to pass. Wow. My dad even called to see what I created for costumes this year. There was a time Halloween was my favorite holiday. It was so primal and rough. So, so early scrapbooking. Now it's as commercial as Christmas so I'm not so anxious to, "get my pumpkin on". I still appreciate my Oingo Boingo theme song, "Dead Man's Party" and like to carve pumpkins and all of that but I don't get all het up for it. Now I just watch old Roseanne halloween episodes. I think that surprised my dad. But that's life, the evolution of it. It's like my Grandma Jane still putting out green onions for me as a snack because I loved them when I was five and she thought that was so cute. I was like, Grandma! I'm 18. I kiss people now. She never did get it. Or maybe she did. Heh heh heh. She always was a sly one, my grandma.
We pause this blog for a Special Report: Here's an interesting tidbit for you all. A recent study from a controversial unaccredited school shows that telling someone to, "just calm down" when they are extremely agitated or angry only works about nine percent of the time. "Knock it off" doesn't work at all and there is no proof that "hey, settle down" works and in fact, "take a deep breath" and "sit down and relax" work even less. And if you want to get punched in the forhead try telling someone irate to, "just mellow out". Hey, I read it in The Onion so it must be true. It was right next to the article by the woman claiming that if God had intended her to love and tolerate gay people he would have given her the warmth and compassion to do so and that he works in mysterious ways. I love The Onion.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog.
I myself never did fall victim to the over hyped H1N1, being impervious to such infections by a steady influx of Miller Lite. However, I have been battling a cold and cough for over two weeks now. In fact we had to cancel our long planned outing with Cathy and Andrea last Friday night. I was bummed, bummed I tellya. And Saturday we had no trick-or-treaters at all. What the? We are "a little rural" but still. So we watched a movie instead. "The Painted Veil", with Ed Norton and Naomi Watts. Two thumbs up. Good heavy drama. Segue alert - bam - On Tuesday I am going for my annual physical, so I got that going for me. Yeah, now I have five days to worry she's going to find that hidden festering globule that's been slowly growing deep inside my torso since the day after my last physical. That used to be kind of funny until I realized I am now in my mid 40s and that stuff really happens. Oh well. If she does find a grapefruit or some other kind of fruit, maybe an ugli fruit or pear, I'm sure I can sell it to Ringling Bros. or on eBay.
Sunday we went to Tammy's sister's house to surprise her for her 50th birthday. She sure was surprised since she's only 39. That was awkward. We'd always been told she was the oldest. Actually, it was a super nice surprise and about 20 or so people were there and we think she was genuinely surprised. We came early and decorated while they were at church and her daughter even came to town and surprised her from North Dakota. Yeah, it was a surprise all right. She didn't know she had a daughter. I told her to "just mellow out". The doctor said the goose egg on my forehead should fade in about a week. Go figure.
I better end this now. Bears won. Vikes won. Phillies on TV now, losing the series 3-2. Come on Utley. Have a great weekend everyone. Until next time.
Love,
Diane
Back to our reg
We pause this blog for a Special Report: Here's an interesting tidbit for you all. A recent study from a controversial unaccredited school shows that telling someone to, "just calm down" when they are extremely agitated or angry only works about nine percent of the time. "Knock it off" doesn't work at all and there is no proof that "hey, settle down" works and in fact, "take a deep breath" and "sit down and relax" work even less. And if you want to get punched in the forhead try telling someone irate to, "just mellow out". Hey, I read it in The Onion so it must be true. It was right next to the article by the woman claiming that if God had intended her to love and tolerate gay people he would have given her the warmth and compassion to do so and that he works in mysterious ways. I love The Onion.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog.
I myself never did fall victim to the over hyped H1N1, being impervious to such infections by a steady influx of Miller Lite. However, I have been battling a cold and cough for over two weeks now. In fact we had to cancel our long planned outing with Cathy and Andrea last Friday night. I was bummed, bummed I tellya. And Saturday we had no trick-or-treaters at all. What the? We are "a little rural" but still. So we watched a movie instead. "The Painted Veil", with Ed Norton and Naomi Watts. Two thumbs up. Good heavy drama. Segue alert - bam - On Tuesday I am going for my annual physical, so I got that going for me. Yeah, now I have five days to worry she's going to find that hidden festering globule that's been slowly growing deep inside my torso since the day after my last physical. That used to be kind of funny until I realized I am now in my mid 40s and that stuff really happens. Oh well. If she does find a grapefruit or some other kind of fruit, maybe an ugli fruit or pear, I'm sure I can sell it to Ringling Bros. or on eBay.
Sunday we went to Tammy's sister's house to surprise her for her 50th birthday. She sure was surprised since she's only 39. That was awkward. We'd always been told she was the oldest. Actually, it was a super nice surprise and about 20 or so people were there and we think she was genuinely surprised. We came early and decorated while they were at church and her daughter even came to town and surprised her from North Dakota. Yeah, it was a surprise all right. She didn't know she had a daughter. I told her to "just mellow out". The doctor said the goose egg on my forehead should fade in about a week. Go figure.
I better end this now. Bears won. Vikes won. Phillies on TV now, losing the series 3-2. Come on Utley. Have a great weekend everyone. Until next time.
Love,
Diane
Back to our reg
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Shepherd's Pie Anyone?
Here we sit at Sodium Manor, with a light drizzle tapping against the windows, enjoying the warmth of our home on a quiet Sunday October morning. Jake's next to me here at the computer and Tammy's upstairs making a breakfast of eggs and hashbrowns. Sarah's at her friend Mariah's and all is well. It's going to be an all sports day today with the Vikings playing at noon, the Bears, ON TV baby, at 3, and then the Yanks and Angels tonight. Hence, the blog cometh early today. This is the season that I live for, Fall. Sweatshirt weather and lots of sports and the blessings of a roof over my head and a family to share it with. Let's not forget all the animals too... They are now for sale by the way. See Fido's List for details.
Speaking of animals, Jake got another fish to replace McNabb, the world's largest beta (seriously a big fish in a little pond. That sucker was HUGE) who passed away from old age a few months ago. Before you judge me as I swore off any new animals and have kept the hampster conversation at bay thus far, I washed my hands of the whole thing. It's his fish and his alone. His reward for surviving H1N1 I guess. There will be no tank cleaning or feeding from this chica. Well, I'll feed him if Jake is gone, but if the tank turns black from lack of attention it will not be my deal. (Uh, yeah, right. I'm so mean that way.) His new red beta has been named Yoshi after the Mario charcter who's butt I kicked over and over in Mario Kart, oh yeah! I have all gold's and one silver, but alas, I digress.
Yes, and speaking of animals part two, we are having shepherd's pie tonight and it will include Neka, the American shepherd as the main ingredient. Work that Iron Chef Mosimoto. I'm going to skin and cook her up along with Buck the golden, also known as "the doorknob". He was the one holding the door when God was passing out dog brains. Don't get me wrong he is a sweetie-pie (which will fit nicely in my shepherd's pie), but he is a dim bulb. He is also food obsessed. So much so that when I got home from work on Friday the first thing I noticed was Jake's fish food container lying open and empty in the hallway. Jake prefers to use the beta balls for his fish and as soon as I walked in Neka plopped herself down to guard the mess, licking the carpet to get the deep down balls of brown. Nice. So I gingerly advanced into Sarah's room like a big busted floozy in a horror film, and no surprise, could not find her yellow plastic container of fish flakes. I found one trace that it had been there at all. On the floor was a small chewed up piece of yellow plastic. Oh look, he left a crumb I thought. There was no container to be found. I even looked under the bed knowing it wouldn't be there but I did find a live cat napping, so that was a bonus. That is, until Jake found the evidence in our bedroom, a yellow chewed on tube lying amongst the now red stain of artifically colored fish food that they had licked into the beige carpet. Anyone want a 65 pound shepherd and 70 pound golden? We just had the carpet cleaned in August and now the bedroom looks like a murder scene from CSI. Billy Mays where are you? I need my OxyClean. Sans the coke please.
Last night we finally got our Serum's fix with Bruce and New Nancy and Dexter and "Bob". When you don't go to Serum's for awhile it is a treat, no trick. I love that place in all it's grimy goodness. Since Anoka IS the Halloween capital of the world (Google it if you don't believe me), Serum's is all decked out with spooky decorations and cobwebs, some of them are even fake unlike a normal day, and they put up all these old time photos that if you look at directly are like regular old brooch wearing ladies and collar stay sporting guys of olde, but from an angle are ghosts and skeletons and such. It's pretty cool. My wings were delicious and I brought home the leftovers to nosh on during all the sports today. Life is good. Tammy's still coughing though and has a sore throat, so her illness is not completely gone. That's a bummer, but she is still breathing so that's a good thing.
Guess that's about it. Oh, but if someone could explain to me cross multiplication of fractions in easy to interpret language so I can explain it to Jake, that would be helpful. Sufi? Heinsohn? Anyone? In the meantime, I have to go sharpen my utensils to begin my shepherd's pie. Neka? Buck? Come here please...
Love,
Diane
PS. Is Jake's costume from 2007 the coolest or what? Oh yeah.....
Speaking of animals, Jake got another fish to replace McNabb, the world's largest beta (seriously a big fish in a little pond. That sucker was HUGE) who passed away from old age a few months ago. Before you judge me as I swore off any new animals and have kept the hampster conversation at bay thus far, I washed my hands of the whole thing. It's his fish and his alone. His reward for surviving H1N1 I guess. There will be no tank cleaning or feeding from this chica. Well, I'll feed him if Jake is gone, but if the tank turns black from lack of attention it will not be my deal. (Uh, yeah, right. I'm so mean that way.) His new red beta has been named Yoshi after the Mario charcter who's butt I kicked over and over in Mario Kart, oh yeah! I have all gold's and one silver, but alas, I digress.
Yes, and speaking of animals part two, we are having shepherd's pie tonight and it will include Neka, the American shepherd as the main ingredient. Work that Iron Chef Mosimoto. I'm going to skin and cook her up along with Buck the golden, also known as "the doorknob". He was the one holding the door when God was passing out dog brains. Don't get me wrong he is a sweetie-pie (which will fit nicely in my shepherd's pie), but he is a dim bulb. He is also food obsessed. So much so that when I got home from work on Friday the first thing I noticed was Jake's fish food container lying open and empty in the hallway. Jake prefers to use the beta balls for his fish and as soon as I walked in Neka plopped herself down to guard the mess, licking the carpet to get the deep down balls of brown. Nice. So I gingerly advanced into Sarah's room like a big busted floozy in a horror film, and no surprise, could not find her yellow plastic container of fish flakes. I found one trace that it had been there at all. On the floor was a small chewed up piece of yellow plastic. Oh look, he left a crumb I thought. There was no container to be found. I even looked under the bed knowing it wouldn't be there but I did find a live cat napping, so that was a bonus. That is, until Jake found the evidence in our bedroom, a yellow chewed on tube lying amongst the now red stain of artifically colored fish food that they had licked into the beige carpet. Anyone want a 65 pound shepherd and 70 pound golden? We just had the carpet cleaned in August and now the bedroom looks like a murder scene from CSI. Billy Mays where are you? I need my OxyClean. Sans the coke please.
Last night we finally got our Serum's fix with Bruce and New Nancy and Dexter and "Bob". When you don't go to Serum's for awhile it is a treat, no trick. I love that place in all it's grimy goodness. Since Anoka IS the Halloween capital of the world (Google it if you don't believe me), Serum's is all decked out with spooky decorations and cobwebs, some of them are even fake unlike a normal day, and they put up all these old time photos that if you look at directly are like regular old brooch wearing ladies and collar stay sporting guys of olde, but from an angle are ghosts and skeletons and such. It's pretty cool. My wings were delicious and I brought home the leftovers to nosh on during all the sports today. Life is good. Tammy's still coughing though and has a sore throat, so her illness is not completely gone. That's a bummer, but she is still breathing so that's a good thing.
Guess that's about it. Oh, but if someone could explain to me cross multiplication of fractions in easy to interpret language so I can explain it to Jake, that would be helpful. Sufi? Heinsohn? Anyone? In the meantime, I have to go sharpen my utensils to begin my shepherd's pie. Neka? Buck? Come here please...
Love,
Diane
PS. Is Jake's costume from 2007 the coolest or what? Oh yeah.....
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Cliches Cause My Nose to Wrinkle
Unfortunately for us, the "Takes One to Know One" virus did indeed turn into H1N1. Ugh, so cliche. For so long I have embraced the unique and in the end we get the massive fear mongered virus. Boo and hiss I say. How convenient though I had just received my new load of vacation from my work. It is added to my time bank every year at the end of September, my anniversary date for donning the golden handcuffs. Oh Andrea, the devil doesn't only wear Prada, sometimes the devil wears Wranglers and Red Wing boots, ah but that is a discussion for another day. In any case once Sarah was officially diagnosed (this conspiracy theorist IS still skeptical, just sayin...) last Monday morning I took vacation the rest of the week to prepare. Jake came home from school on Tuesday with a 102.5 and Wednesday Tammy went down with a 102 and a cough hoarse enough to make Brenda Vaccaro blush. Me? I had a bad cold this whole time but never did get the H1N1. Since I was the best of the worst I did my best to meet everybody's needs. It was tough and we were self quarantined. Luckily I always have my cataclysmic "just in case" beer supply on hand and Butterfingers. Everybody at one time or another was pretty much reduced to a puddle of goo and the weepys hit each at different times. Boy, did we watch a lot of movies too. That is not a complaint as I have always thought I should be paid to watch movies anyway and in a sense I was. Guess we joined Netflix at just the right time. What an unusual "vacation". Anne Frank and two whole families were in that small attic for two years and a month and we barely made it a week in a four bedroom house with a finished basement. I was about to call the SS myself, anonymously of course. Any bald spots you might notice are from pulling my hair out at various points but I have been told it will either grow back or you all can call me Bozo. The kids go back to school on Tuesday and all are back to healthy. What a weird weird week. One for the books. I was jonsin for some Serums wings by Wednesday and Dexter did offer to do a drive by and toss them in the driveway but I passed. We'll go this weekend.
Today was actually gorgeous outside and I just finished some grilling of T-Bones. We had T-Bones and steak fries tonight. My best grill of the season I think. Yes, I am tooting my own horn. It's taken me a couple full summers to master the art of charcoal grilling versus gas. Am OWN my Weber now. Carcinogens for everyone!!
Oops, I better go. BEARS ARE ON IN FIVE MINUTES!!!
Love,
Diane
Today was actually gorgeous outside and I just finished some grilling of T-Bones. We had T-Bones and steak fries tonight. My best grill of the season I think. Yes, I am tooting my own horn. It's taken me a couple full summers to master the art of charcoal grilling versus gas. Am OWN my Weber now. Carcinogens for everyone!!
Oops, I better go. BEARS ARE ON IN FIVE MINUTES!!!
Love,
Diane
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