One For The Road

Happy 4th of July!!

2008-07-04T15:10:00.007-05:00

And while I am *not* throwing our usual 4th of July bash - we are continuing a few traditions.

The Parade for one...
Complete with Horse plop bingo...

Hey - for a buck you get the pot if a horse "plops" on your outline! No joy this year - so they donated the money to the fire department. It's all good...

Lots of candy and freezy pops...
Many many many tractors - but this one was cool!

And one Marine I would have liked to have thanked - but he was across the street.
I hope the standing ovation and cheers the color guard and veterans received was enough...

Now we are chillin' at home - the girls with fruitsicles.

And I have a glass of wine and some patio time... It's all good.

Happy Fourth of July to you!! I bid you pretty explodies and all of the patio time you can get!!

Going shopping....

2008-07-02T09:56:00.002-05:00

Looks like just the place, eh? I think I will stock up for the long haul...

I continue to paddle upstream this week. Lots to do - lots of folks coming. So having more paddles is better, right?

Last weekend...

2008-06-30T13:59:00.003-05:00

We helped to throw a luau!! Whoohoo!!

There was dancing...

And this guy was having a LOT of fun. But it you've got it? Go for it!! Why not!?!?

And I forgot to take a picture of the food - but I made PLENTY and there were no leftovers. Yay!

And the evening ended like this....

Not a bad way to kick off the 4th of July celebrations if you ask me...

This week I am preparing for more company to arrive. My folks are here as my Pop is getting treatment at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and more are on the way... All and all its nice to have a little something something to celebrate. And blowing shit up always makes me feel better!!

Wonder why that is... Huh. ;)

I just want my tummy rubbed...

2008-06-29T16:48:00.005-05:00

Hey you! You over there! Got a minute??

Awwwww... C'mon! What's a dog gotta do to get a tummy rub around here??

: ) Made me smile - thought I'd share. (And she did get a tummy rub - FYI...)

More tomorrow about my busy busy busy week! Now with video!! Later....

Covered up....

2008-06-24T08:46:00.003-05:00

Note to self - watch out for antlers...

Back soon.

I report...

2008-06-20T09:24:00.005-05:00

...you decide.

Check out WxMan's new gear...

Basically, it's a back pack beverage delivery system. It can be hands free, as there is a clippy thing that will attach the tube / straw to your shoulder in case you're riding your bike or whatever...

It reminds me a little bit of the hunters flasks my dad would use back in the day - though they looked cooler and mountain-manish. I am not quite sold on this thing.

So what do you think? Neato idea?? Or major dorkitude?? I can't decide...

Wonder if I could fill it with wine...

Update: Okay - So both Teresa and Abbadon let me know that this thing (a camelback) is used by our guys in Iraq and Afganistan. That makes it cool! Even if it *is* a bit over the top for lawn mowing... But that's just my opinion. ; )

Slammin' Jammin...

2008-06-18T08:03:00.004-05:00

Seriously.

And you would think that I would have oodles and scads of bloggable stuff. The reality is that I am not getting much computer time at all...

Or when I *do* my brain is just fried.

The good news is that the Grad Party I catered last Saturday went over quite well. I thought the Watermelon Basket came out particularly nice...

She didn't have nearly as many people show as she had insisted - so Holy Leftovers, Batman!! But better too much than not enough...

The girls will return - grandparents in tow - this weekend. And my folks will be arriving as well. So I am getting cowboyed up for a houseful and am ever so thankful to have the extra space that I have... And that I don't live near ~~the~~ any river.

So there you go... I have beds to make and menus to plan. And plenty of fun to look forward to...

What more could I ask for??

On the links...

2008-06-16T16:50:00.005-05:00

That is where I spent the afternoon.

Not playing - but I took my book and was happy to ride along... The weather was just perfect for a day of golf. (At least that's what WxMan said - at least when he wasn't cussing....)

The fact that the golf cart had "Holy Crap" handles amused me - until I needed them. Good grief!

All in all, not a bad way to spend a Monday. Hope yours was just as nice....

On the train!

2008-06-12T13:04:00.006-05:00

The girls got off on their trip to see parts unknown with grandparents. Heading for the Atlantic Northeast they were sooooooo excited (even if Computa isn't showing it)...

I was surprised at the number of people with bikes taking the train - but then I guess I would pretty much ALWAYS rather ride the train than ride a bike...

As they waved goodbye (you can see WxMan in the refection) we watched the train pull away...
Ready for their adventure to begin...

What? I just got something in my eye. I'm fine...

That's EXACTLY it!!

2008-06-09T14:51:00.002-05:00

You know, I thoroughly enjoy James Lileks.

Love his books.

Look forward to The Bleat daily.

Buzz.mn is totally fun.

And today he described what has been the state of my my mood for some time...

Woke Sunday morning with the heavy hand of Monday pressing down – felt the Sunday night deadlines approach, and I resented the hell out of it. I like what I do, but there are rotating fortnights in which the amount of Stuff required exceeds the reservoir of enthusiasm. Yes, I know: welcome to adulthood, enjoy your stay.

Nailed it.

Anybody else remember when you thought being an adult meant choosing your own bedtime and eating ice cream whenever you wanted to??

Yeah. Me too...

Needless to say, I am busy as hell this week. As I just wrote to a friend in an email: "between the end of school stuff (now over - yay!), Pop's diagnosis, more new clients, family phone calls, church obligations (priest just called to make sure I am on top of things), getting the girls ready to go to Maine, and the grad party I am catering on Saturday (130 people) I am surprised I know my own name."

That's basically it. Welcome to adulthood, enjoy your stay.

Word.

"I'm gonna go Storm Chasin' - do you mind??"

2008-06-07T16:17:00.008-05:00

Announced WxMan as he got home from work.

Not surprising - given that WxMan is the tv call sign for Weatherman and that Hubby has a degree in Meteorology.

So far so good... And I am glad I like my basement. :)

Update 4:50 - All is well.
But a river runs through it...

(Sorry - the video won't load properly. Guess the siren is too loud for the blog. ;)

21 seconds...

2008-06-05T18:49:00.002-05:00

And it made *me* laugh...

Heh. C'mon... It's good to see the humor sometimes. :) (And if the video doesn't work here is the link...)

Have a great weekend!

News...

2008-06-04T09:04:00.003-05:00

Both good and bad. But isn't that always the case??

My dad's surgery went relatively well. I spoke to him, and he sounded pretty dang good yesterday afternoon. The bad news is that they found a LOT more going on in there than they had anticipated.

So it's time to cowboy up.

Thanks for all of the well wishes and prayers. I am going to leave Princess Fluffybutt in charge here for a while...

Have a good day.

Today, if you have a minute...

2008-06-03T09:59:00.002-05:00

...to say a little prayer, or think good thoughts, or whatever it is that you do - it would be much appreciated. My Pop is going in for surgery this morning.

They found another mass (unlike the cancerous one almost two years ago, but still suspicious) and today they are going to get in there and excise anything that looks like a bad animal. After pathology, a course of treatment will be decided.

But for today, a little good juju would be nice... His name is Martin. Thank you.

Runnin' and Gunnin'...

2008-06-02T09:39:00.006-05:00

That's been me since Thursday. Good grief...

And while we got a LOT accomplished, there is still a great deal more to do. Isn't there always??

At any rate, we took a few hours yesterday and enjoyed some R&R...

Is it me - or does ice cream just taste better when you have your feet dangling in the water??

We even got to see some cute geese!

And I was entertained as well...

Today it's back to the salt mines.

Company arrives tomorrow and I have a host of other projects begging to be completed. (Ironically only *I* can hear their voices - that's interesting.)

So, off I go to run some more - though I wouldn't mind more time with my toes in the sand and a good book... I am lazy like that.

On the run...

2008-05-28T11:34:00.001-05:00

...again.

Dang. Just got a call to take a last minute client.

Who knew that this whole having a job thing would cut into my blogging and patio time so much?!?!?!

10 Degrees Forward...

2008-05-27T14:56:00.000-05:00

.... 22 Degrees Back. (Alternate title - Where the hell is *my* Global Warming, huh??)

**sigh**

This is getting silly now. You see, yesterday I spent a good part of my day puttering on the patio. It was sunny, it was over eighty degrees, and it was time.

Time to plant some flowers. Time to figure out where in the heck I was going to put my solar fountain (since I didn't have the "perfect spot" like I did at the old house). -->

Time to make the place not just habitable but welcoming. And have things look like they were there for a reason - not just shoved out the door.

It was TIME! And look!!

Fast forward to today where the expected HIGH is 58 degrees. 58! Sheesh!

Somehow it's just not as much fun shivering on the patio, drinking hot cocoa to fight off the chill when it is dang near June. I may have to go for it anyway.... My flowers are pretty and the fountain is burbling happily.

I speak burble, don't cha know...

Saturday...

2008-05-24T12:19:00.002-05:00

Seriously??

Already??

How the heck did that happen!?!?

Gee.... I must have been busy. (You think?) Either way - I am going to relax on the patio. Even if it's just for a little while...

Have a great weekend, y'all!

Gin!

2008-05-21T17:01:00.003-05:00

Not just for drinking anymore!

And proof that Simon does indeed have a heart. He likes dogs... (Even though he likes this one because Gin was amazing and he sees money making potential.) But still!

I looooove border collies. :) And just in case the video doesn't work, here is the link. Enjoy!

Tents...

2008-05-20T14:26:00.002-05:00

I cannot be the only one who is beginning to think that moving the girls to a tent in the backyard while giving them one bucket, one blanket, and a change of clothes... oh... and weekly access to a hose - isn't such a bad idea...

Right - WxMan thinks so too.

Sometimes the things that they do boggle the mind. Really.

Monday...

2008-05-19T14:02:00.003-05:00

And whoohoo - we are CLEANING THE GARAGE!!

My inner domestic engineer is quite happy, actually.

Yes, I realize I have probably gone right over the edge... And that's okay.

p.s. The Chicken Marsala was fabulous - I will post the recipe sooner than later. With pictures!!

Friday!!

2008-05-16T09:45:00.002-05:00

And I am running with my hair on fire...

Company is coming.

I have some other drama keeping me occupied.

I agreed to help with the Parish Garage Sale tomorrow. (What was I thinking??)

Sunday School awards stuff on Sunday - oh and I am cooking for the Relay for Life kickoff fundraiser for 50. Brats and Dogs.

Part of me just wants to hang out on the patio soaking up sun - but there's no time for that. I am on a quest to find prosciutto. Chicken Marsala is what I am making for dinner tonight. (And if it comes out any good, I'll post the recipe. Mmmmmmm....)

Happy Friday, y'all!

A tisket... A tasket...

2008-05-14T08:30:00.004-05:00

A watermelon basket...

Well... It could have come out looking worse. Reason number 4,536 why I like to do a test run before cooking for an event. It's good to remind yourself of some of the whoopsies that can happen along the way. Saves time and money and sanity. Most importantly...

And the girls got to eat a whole lotta watermelon - an added bonus.

And what's the gig?? Well, it's a graduation party. For the daughter of Hostess Gal. You remember her??

Sporta (who was invited): "Miss Hostess Gal? Would it be okay if *I* had something to eat??"

HG: "Well, since your mom isn't eating, I guess it would be okay."

She could probably use my help. You think??

And no - this gig will not be pro bono. Not by a long shot...

This is appropriate today...

2008-05-13T13:44:00.003-05:00

Why yes, I *am* working on the church newsletter!! (And you know just how much I enjoy that...)

How could you tell??

Bleh...

Rite of Spring...

2008-05-13T09:06:00.005-05:00

At least it is here in Wisconsin.

I am talking about the annual glove/mitten sort and purge. Behold...

It sounds kind of mean, but those without mates were unceremoniously disposed of in the interest of making my eye stop twitching. And we definitely have plenty of paired gloves left! Yay!

And that means that I have one closet done!

Only four more to go...