Out on a Limb

News

2008-06-25T14:44:00.002-05:00

Momma went back to see her oncologist yesterday. She will not have to undergo anymore chemo treatments. It's a huge relief! We were worried that she'd have to begin the chemo all over again after such a long hiatus, but the doctor won't even consider it. He said she was obviously too highly allergic to the chemo to try it again. She will, however, most likely have to have radiation treatments in about 3 months.

I'm just so happy that she's still with us. The chemo did it's best to kill her, but she didn't let it. And we're going to do all that we can not to let the cancer have her, either.

I don't know if any of you remember my post a few months ago when I wondered how her hair would grow back. I know the answer now. Dark. My born blonde mother has a lovely cap of nearly-black, very wavy (and very soft) hair. I love to rub my hand over it and feel how soft and fine it is.

Cinnamon Rolls

2008-06-23T11:21:00.003-05:00

This recipe used to be on Susan Meier's website, but the last time I was over there, she had revamped things and the recipe was gone. So, since I have spent the past couple of hours making Susan's Mother's most awesome Cinnamon Rolls, I'm going to share the recipe. If you try it and love it, be sure you thank Susan for sharing it in the first place. I'll be posting the recipe just as she did.

Cinnamon Rolls

If you've read more than two of [Susan's] books, you've probably noticed that [she] love[s] to throw in a scene with cinnamon rolls for breakfast! That's because [her] mother makes the best, mother-watering cinnamon rolls on the planet! Believe it or not, people wait for her rolls to arrive at picnics and for bake sales. [She's] seen small fights break out over these tasty treats.

But they're best served warm, with the maple icing sliding through the layers of sweet cinnamon coated dough...
If you bake, here's the recipe. Icing, too. You'll note that some of these measurements aren't carved in stone. That's because you may prefer a different amount of cinnamon and sugar or may need more or less flour depending upon humidity. You good bakers know all this though!

[SUSAN MEIER'S] MOTHER'S CINNAMON ROLLS
1 qt. milk
3 level tbsp. of yeast (or one 3-package strip)
4 egg yolks
1 lb. oleo
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp. salt

10-12 cups of flour. This amount varies. You add flour until dough is very soft. (Remember dough loses stickiness when it rises.)

Cinnamon and sugar blended for shaking onto rolled dough. (This should be a ratio of cinnamon and sugar that suits your taste!)

DIRECTIONS:

Heat milk until it's hot to the touch, but not so hot you can't keep your finger in it (though I'm not sure why you would want to) and add yeast.

After yeast has grown "fuzzy" and milk is cool, add egg yolks, oleo, and sugar.

Mix.

Begin to add flour until dough is very soft--remember you must be able to roll it, but it should be very soft.

Knead well.

Set aside. Let rise until double in bulk. Knead again. Let rise.

Take about 1/3 of the dough, roll out on flat surface (some people can do this with their fingers, others will need a rolling pin), then sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Use your fingers to spread the sugar and cinnamon evenly. Remember: This is to your taste. If you like more cinnamon feel free to add!

Roll into a jelly roll.

Cut into 1" segments.

Place segments on greased cookie sheets, leaving at least one inch of space between rolls.

Continue until all dough is used.

Let rise on cookie sheet until a little more than double in size. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes.

ICING:

1 lb. powdered sugar

4 tbsp. non-dairy creamer of your choice ([her] mother uses Coffeemate...but it's your choice...and shhh...don't tell the other manufacturers [they] have a favorite!)

1 stick oleo

1 tbsp. maple flavoring

Enough water to make spreading consistency you desire.

Blend powdered sugar and non-dairy creamer in mixing bowl. Blend in oleo with hand mixer. Once sugar and oleo are creamed, add maple flavoring. This may be "spreadable" as is. If not, add water to the icing in increments of one teaspoon until you have the spreading consistency you need.

Then spread this wonderful icing on your rolls. If you spread on when the rolls are warm, icing will melt between the layers. Some people (like [Susan]) love this. Other wait until the rolls are cool for a less sticky roll. Especially if you plan to serve them to company!

Enjoy!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Now it's time to add my own notes to the recipe. I use real butter in all my recipes. I always have, it's just my personal preference. When making the icing, I never have any non-dairy creamer on hand, so I use evaporated milk to thin the icing instead of water. It doesn't take much. And I always make extra icing. For me, this is not enough for all those yummy rolls!!!

Lastly, this makes a LOT of cinnamon rolls, so I bake them in round aluminum cake pans, then slip them in gallon zipper top bags and freeze them, after they've cooled. I also put some (sorry I don't measure this, I just plop some in) icing in a zipper top sandwich bag and put it in the gallon bag too. When we want cinnamon rolls for breakfast, I pull a bag out of the freezer, take out the pan and pop it in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes. While the rolls are warming, I put the bag of icing in a glass of hot water. When the rolls are warm, I cut the corner out of the bag of icing and squeeze over the warm cinnamon rolls. Talk about quick and easy!

did I say I'd be back?

2008-06-18T19:52:00.001-05:00

I really did mean it, but my internet provider had other ideas. Yes, we were internetless for a few days. And since we use Vonage phone service, we were also phoneless. Well, almost phoneless--we do have our cell phones, but very little signal here where we live.

I guess you'll just have to wait a few more days to find out what I'm reading. Oh the suspense. Do you think you can stand it?

I know I said I was back

2008-06-12T22:45:00.001-05:00

but between writing and the migraines that have been plaguing me, I just haven't found time for blogging. Besides, y'all really don't want to hear about how bad my head's been hurting, now do you?

I will do better in the future, I promise.

I'll try to get back this weekend with a list of what I'm reading now. After all, I'm sure you're dying to know what's on my nightstand this week. <g>

Back

2008-05-26T22:10:00.003-05:00

Hope everyone had a great weekend and a wonderful Memorial Day Holiday, for those whom it applies to. Mom has been home for about a week or so now and she is doing fairly well, though she is still weak, as you can imagine after such a long hospital stay. I will admit that she wasn't in the hospital all this time, but spent about 3 weeks in a recovery center where she underwent physical and occupational therapy, but returned to the hospital for another procedure just before she came home. Chemotherapy has not been kind to her body. Unfortunately, she will most likely have to start her chemo treatments over, once she has fully recovered from this illness.

I have continued to try to write through all of this ordeal, but it's been hard. I've slowed my pace considerably. And cooking and cleaning have been done only sporadically. I long to get back to some semblance of a schedule, but probably won't see one until school starts back in August. Yes, the kids got out last week and are officially underfoot 24/7 now. But that's ok. Means I don't have to rush them out the door everyday now.

I'm up too late. I have to work tomorrow and should be sound asleep by now!

Vacation

2008-03-24T09:13:00.002-05:00

I'm putting the blog on vacation until Mom gets out of the hospital. I hope I'll be back real soon!

tilt-a-world

2008-03-17T15:43:00.002-05:00

The world has tilted on its axis again! Yesterday Momma had to have emergency exploratory surgery. They found that she had a dime-sized rupture in her stomach wall. It has been repaired, but she is in ICU for the time being. They took her off the ventilator today, but the doctors say that they will just take it one day at at time as to how long she will be in ICU. She will be on a feeding tube for a while, too. Until her stomach heals. She looks so frail, lying in the hospital bed, hooked to so many tubes and wires. You've heard it described countless times. But as cliche as it sounds, it's entirely true. And all you can do is stand helpless by the bed, stroking an arm, forehead, holding a hand, spending your twenty minutes trying to swallow around the fist lodged in your throat, then you wait until they will let you in again. It sucks!

topamax adventures

2008-03-15T17:18:00.003-05:00

Well, I've been on the topamax for a week now. The doctor warned me that carbonated beverages would lose their taste, they would taste flat while on this medication. When hubby came and sat next to me on Tuesday night with a glass, I grabbed it and took a drink. Flat. Completely flat. But hubby said it came out of the bottle that way. I don't know why he was drinking it.

Thursday night our daughter had a band concert. He wanted to run through Taco Bell before heading to the concert. Again, I grabbed his Coke (I'm in the South, down here they're all Coke). OMG!! I've never tasted anything so foul in my life! You know how the carbonation mixture can get off sometimes and make the cokes taste funny? It was sorta like that, magnified about 100 times. Plus, it burned.

And you know what I was worried most about? What will I drink at conference in the bar? I generally stick with beer, because it's cheaper. But it's also carbonated. Other than that, my drink of choice is Turkey (Wild Turkey) and Coke. Again, carbonated. Looks like I'll have to stick to screwdrivers or something. Got any suggestions?

On the up side, my appetite is fading. Just a few bites at mealtime and I'm full. But if I'm not eating much, I've got to make the little bit I do eat count, nutritionally! I don't need to get run down, on top of these migraines!

Did you know

2008-03-12T11:38:00.003-05:00

that if you don't spell your name right, you won't be able to get to your own blog?

A friend of mine pitched her Harlequin American aimed WIP this morning and got a request for a partial! I'm buzzing with excitement for her!

I'm still having troubles getting up in the mornings. I'm beginning to suspect the culprit is something other than the time change. I think I'll investigate the side effects of my new migraine med and then call my doctor, see if he thinks that may be the problem.

Happy Hump Day!

spring forward

2008-03-10T11:46:00.001-05:00

Anybody else suffering extreme exhaustion from losing that hour of sleep this weekend? I feel like I lost an entire week of sleep. How can one hour seem to make such a difference? I'm going to take a nap!

Back again.

2008-03-03T15:30:00.003-06:00

I knew I hadn't posted in a while, but it's been longer than I realized. What can I say? Life, ya know?

Hubby is deep in the middle of an English Comp class. He's finding it a bit frustrating, being so long out of school, to have to re-enter that world. And the same goes for me. I've been trying to help him out, but haven't really been much help beyond some grammar suggestions.

Mother has had her second chemo treatment. She is doing fairly well. This time she's been a bit sicker than the last, but she continues to go to work most every day. She doesn't always stay all day, but she does what she can. She's very tired, though. The chemo has sapped her energy.

We had a great time at the "Look Good, Feel Better" class, sponsored by the American Cancer Society . She got all sorts of makeup tips and a bag chock full of high end, and skin friendly, cosmetics. It was really a lot of fun!

My son's basketball season is over, my daughter's soccer season starts this weekend. It never ends. *smile*

My appointment with Kathryn Lye was postponed, due to bad weather. I will meet up with her in San Francisco this summer to pitch my book, and hopefully she will want to hear about more of my stories!

Oh, and I got new glasses today. I like them, they're a bit bolder than my last pair. And it seems that my right eye is trying to catch up with my left eye. When looking at my old glasses, it was obvious that the magnification for my left eye was more than the magnification for my right. In this pair, I can't tell any difference between the two. Guess I'm just getting more symmetrical.

I will do my best to get back to my M, W, F posting schedule.

Nothing new

2008-02-18T16:04:00.002-06:00

I really have nothing new to say today. Nothing old to say, either. I'm knee deep in writing my paranormal romance and it's coming along at a slow, but steady pace. I'm also attempting to help my hubby through an English Comp class. Boring!! But a lot of work.

Unfortunately, when I'm bored, I like to eat. I'm trying not to do that today, because I need to shed some pounds. What do you do when you're bored?

Farewell, Friends

2008-02-13T19:25:00.002-06:00

This week we've said a sad goodbye to Toni and Aurora. I'll miss their little wheel squeaking all day. May they Rest in Peace.

Wigging out

2008-02-11T17:11:00.000-06:00

Momma's hair has started coming out, so we went wig shopping today. Don't ask why, but I wound up with her wig at my house. I don't think I like myself as a blonde...

Tennessee Twisters

2008-02-08T15:46:00.000-06:00

I had planned on posting several pictures of the tornado damage to the area, but there are already so many on the web, I'll just direct you to them.

These pictures were made by someone who lives near some of the damage. There are 6 pages of them, if you feel like looking around.

This blog is chock full of pictures and videos.

The Jackson Sun has several pictures to see as well.

I took these pictures on my way home yesterday. If reports are correct, the tornado hit here just a few minutes after I drove through. It was a long drive home that night! (Sorry for the poor quality. I forgot my camera and had to use my phone.)

Wednesday Wanderings

2008-02-06T16:09:00.000-06:00

I don't have a lot to say today, so we're going on a little tour.

I'm doing Fast Draft this week and next, hoping to push through to the end of this WIP. And Candy Havens, the Fast Draft guru, is celebrating the release of her latest book today.

Chapter-mate, Patrice Michelle, has a great cover for her latest book.

Here's an interesting interview another chapter-mate posted to her blog. Psychics, anyone?

Go join my friend Vanessa Jaye and the other Southern Fried Chicas in a discussion on dialogue.

Enjoy your trip!

Happy Super Bowl Sunday

2008-02-03T11:20:00.000-06:00

Here's a couple of clips to keep you entertained, while you wait for the pre-game show to start:

and:

(you have to click on the picture to watch Ickey Woods do his Ickey Shuffle.)

treatment

2008-01-30T13:55:00.000-06:00

Today is momma's first chemo treatment and I'm just about to jump out of my skin waiting to hear how it went. I'm sure she'll call when she feels up to it, or dad will call when he thinks of it. ::sigh:: I hate waiting.

edit: Momma made it home, well, actually, she went back to work. She called and said she was feeling fine for the moment. She picked out a few hats and scarves while she was there, they said that she would be losing her hair. I'm curious how it will come back. Will it remain the wavy, blonde locks I'm used to? Will it come back straight, and gray? Will it be as curly as mine and as beautifully snow white as my grandmother's was? Anyway, she's in good spirits and I think that's half the battle!

Into the Night

2008-01-27T10:56:00.000-06:00

I know I don't usually post on Sunday, but

Sasha had this on her blog and it looked like fun!

Directions:
1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, iPod etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS

1. IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Fallin On (Finger Eleven)

2. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Hell's Bells (AC/DC)

3. WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Red High Heels (Kelli Pickler)

4. HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Before He Cheats (Carrie Underwood)

5. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Beautiful Girls (Sean Kingston)

6. WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
White and Nerdy (Weird Al) *too funny!*

7. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Pickin' Wildflowers (Keith Anderson)

8. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Figured You Out (Nickelback)

9. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
The Carpal Tunnel of Love (Fall Out Boy)

10. WHAT IS 2 + 2?
Cyclone (Baby Bash feat. T-Pain)

11. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR EX?
In the End (Linkin Park)

12. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Break My Fall (Breaking Benjamin)

13. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Eruption (Van Halen)

14. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
You're Crashing, But You're No Wave (Fall Out Boy)

15. WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
I Hate Everything About You (Three Days Grace)

16. WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
4^th of July (Shooter Jennings)

17. WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Never Again (Nickelback)

18. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Heart-shaped Box (Nirvana)

19. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Catch Me When I Fall (Ashlee Simpson)

20. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Hero (Chad Kroeger feat. Josey Scott)

Now press Next one more time and use it as your title.
Into the Night (Santana feat. Chad Kroeger)

Scattergories

2008-01-25T10:28:00.000-06:00

I was looking for a way to extend my morning procrastination this morning, and Heather had just the thing on her blog:

SCATTERGORIES…it’s harder than it looks! Copy and paste into a new email/blog. When you are done, send it on, including to the person who sent it to you. *Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following… *they have to be real places, names, things…nothing made up! Try to use different answers if the person in front of you had the same 1st initial. (WHICH BY THE WAY IS HARD IF YOU ALREADY READ THEIRS. You CAN’T use your name for the boy/girl.

1. What is your name? Trish
2. 4 letter word: Time
3. Vehicle: Tank
4. City: Trenton
5. Boy Name: Tom
6. Girl Name: Tina
7. Alcoholic drink: Tequila
8. Occupation: Taxi driver
9. Something you wear: Tie
10. Celebrity: Tom Cruise
11: Food: Turkey
12. Something found in a bathroom: Toothbrush
13. Reason for being late: Tree Down
14: Cartoon Character: Tigger
15. Something you shout: ta-da
16. Animal: Tiger
17: Body Part: Teeth
18. Word to describe you: Talented

do you heel?

2008-01-23T08:41:00.000-06:00

Heeling used to be something you sent your dog to obedience school for. Now it is riding on the wheels in your heels in your Heelys shoes.

Last week my son found a pair on e-bay. He's been begging for these shoes. I gave in and he got his Heelys. It took him about 2 days to become a pro at heeling.

Last night my daughter gave them a try. She was heeling across the floor at lightning speeds in about 10 minutes.

Now it's my turn. I can roll across the floor with them, but I'm not sure the awkward motions I make could be termed heeling. It's more like trying to balance on a tightrope without any grace. But I'm not going to be outdone by my kids. I'll practice while they're at school and I WILL learn to heel like a pro. If I don't break any bones first... Maybe I'll wear them to Wal-Mart this afternoon and wheel around the store like a kid.

What's on the Nightstand this week?

2008-01-21T17:00:00.000-06:00

Yeah, I'm still reading these two. ::rolls eyes::

What's on Pocket Tunes:

What's on Adobe:

Been away too long

2008-01-20T09:56:00.001-06:00

I meant to get back in here on Wednesday, but it's been a busy week. Here's a taste of what awaited me when I got in from work on Tuesday night:

My entire family was also here. It was a real surprise party, and they got me good! I still haven't figured out where they hid all the cars!

On the Nightstand

2008-01-14T08:20:00.000-06:00

I never read just one book at a time. Do you?

Some days it's really hard to get any work done....

2008-01-11T15:24:00.000-06:00

She's just too pretty to be ignored, isnt' she?

I think she wants her nails done....