Thursday, August 28, 2008

Four Foods

It's been awhile since I played Four Foods on Friday so I'm trying to get back into the circuit. This week's topic is potatoes. Play along if you like by visiting Fun, Crafts and Recipes.

#1. Potato Chips. What kind of chips are your favorite?
I love barbecue potato chips with whatever is my favorite pop at the time. I can remember way back when I was 18 and living in my first apartment, ending my day with these delicious chips and a bubbly coca-cola. I can't do that anymore... too much fat and cholesterol.

#2. What’s your favorite thing to dip chips in?
All dips are great and it's hard to pick a favorite, but the very best is probably a ranch dip. Personally, I'd rather have tortilla chips and salsa.

#3. What’s your favorite way to eat a baked potato?
With all the toppings!! Butter, sour cream, cheese, chives and even some bacon bits if you've got 'em.

#4. How do you make mashed potatoes?
Even though my mother's mashed potatoes are very delicious, I've always kept mine as low fat as possible by adding only skim milk, salt and pepper. They've always been incredibly delicious and I've never missed adding butter or any other fattening ingredient.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Shelf work

I got a little distracted today on my day off from work, so it turned into a day of work at home. I reorganized my oversize pantry.

I hate this pantry because the shelves are too deep for food storage on one side. I'm making better use of that space by storing my cookware and other large items that I had in a bottom cabinet, where they were previously very hard to reach. This is a work in progress since I now have some empty cabinet space. I hope to put my Tupperware and plastic storage containers at an eye level area so that I'm not on my hands and knees digging stuff out that I need. I'm not finished but I think this is a good start.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Sir, do you have ANY manners??

While on my lunch hour from work, I took my car to get a hole in one of the tires fixed where a piece of metal had wedged itself into the rubber and allowed air to seep out ever so slowly, but enough to be a problem. Instead of waiting while they worked on it, I walked next door to grab a bite to eat at Arby's. I had to dine in since the drive through option was no longer an option with my car waiting its turn to be repaired. I'm not a big fan of dining in at fast food restaurants because they aren't especially clean and there is just something about it that makes me lose my appetite. But what choice did I have this time?

So as I begin to enjoy my curly fries and Arby's roast beef sandwich, I hear someone blowing their nose. I look up to see a man across the room with his napkin or maybe a hanky (please don't let it be a hanky!) pulled up around his face blowing away. I'm fully disgusted that this "person" has no regard for the other customers and myself who are trying to enjoy their lunch while he makes disgusting noises and digs at his nose. I don't use the word "dig" loosely. This was the work of an artist. I knew this after watching him work that napkin wrapped finger around and around every inch of that nostril, poking, pushing and jamming for the longest time I've every witnessed this task. Not something that I like to witness but if I see anyone doing anything in public that's disrespectful, I like to give them the attention they seem to be begging for, so I stare and make faces.

It was a horrible thing to see and I had to look away when he repeated the same actions with the other side of his nose. This was his Olympic event and he was going for gold!

Monday, August 18, 2008

Exercise for the brain

I'm still here. I've just been getting the kids to school and adjusting to my work schedule. On my days off, I'm getting the laundry caught up and a few other things around the house. I'm also staying a bit secluded these days. It's something that happens to me when I'm on a diet, kind of like hibernating. I'll come out of it in another month or six weeks.

I've been working on logic puzzles, crosswords, and other similiar type puzzles lately. It gives my mind something else to do besides watching tv. Not to mention it keeps me occupied and out of the kitchen looking for a snack.

I have a big decision to make soon. Dylan graduates from the Air Force during the same weekend that Caitlin is suppose to be gone to a tournament. We can't really afford both trips and I don't want to miss his graduation ceremony. The soccer tournament is not anything special except for the location... sunny California. I wish I knew how important of an event that the Air Force graduation will be. I don't want Dylan to be the only one who doesn't have his parents there to support him and Ray has no interest in attending, if you can believe that. The question of the day is what do I do?

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

And now, back to our regularly scheduled program

The past week or so has been all about working and getting the kids ready for the first day of school. My part time job has so far been me working everyday for the training part of my job and when you have to be there at 6:00 in the morning... it's very tiring. I want to get this part over with and get to my regular schedule of just two days a week. I'll learn the job much better when they leave me on my own. As far as the kids starting school, I'm a little bummed that I won't be taking them on their first day.

I found out yesterday that Dylan leaves for boot camp on October 13th. If he graduates 6-7 weeks later, then that is going to conflict with a soccer tournament that Caitlin is suppose to be attending. She may not go since we will all be going to Dylan's Air Force graduation.

My life does not consist of a firm schedule of events right now and I like to know where I'm going.

Saturday, August 09, 2008

All these words are so confusing

Here is a conversation between Ray and Hayden while driving home from soccer practice.

Hayden: How do you spell ammonia?
Ray: a-m-m-o-n-i-a.

Hayden begins texting to one of his friends.

Ray: Why do you want to know how to spell that?
Hayden: I'm telling one of my friends that Bernie Mac died.

I'm not making fun of this sad situation, but it's funny how kids can be so mistaken sometimes. Of course it's sad that Bernie Mac died of pneumonia today. My kids knew of him and enjoyed his character in his last sitcom, "The Bernie Mac Show".

Strong views

Cody comes in my room and announces, "I'm voting for McCain". The funny thing about this statement is that he's 10 years old. Apparently he saw an ad on tv that said Obama is going to raise taxes and stop the war. I'm guessing those are things that Cody is against. I didn't inform him that he doesn't have a vote.. at least not this time.

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Breaking Dawn

The fourth and last book in the Twilight series is out and I can't wait to read it. Caitlin is almost finished with Breaking Dawn and then I'll be getting to read what I hear is the best book in the entire collection. I can't wait!!

I heard last week that the sales of her books were breaking records and have or will have out sold the Harry Potter books soon. I've not heard one person who has read them, say they didn't love it.

Monday, August 04, 2008

Sharp as a Tack or Dumb as Dirt?

I started my training at Lowes today. The part where we had to watch a video on safety... yeah that was boring. Well most of it was boring but not in a way that I was miserable. It was actually a pretty good day. So far the people that I'm "in training" with and the people that I've met or interviewed with have been very nice. I'm afraid to let myself think that this is going to be great because I haven't even started doing the job that I'll be doing. So I'm hoping it will all work out and be all good.

I worry that this old dog (43 years) is not going to be as sharp as I was when I was younger, starting a new job. I always caught onto things real quick. What if it's not like that this time? Eek! I shudder to think.

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Four Foods

This week's Four Foods on Friday is about travel and vacationing. Play along at Fun, Crafts and Recipes.

#1. If you could travel anywhere to have a meal, where would you want to go and what would you want to eat.
Since pastas are my all time favorite food, I would have to say that I would go to Italy... pasta capital of the world. :-)

#2. When you go away do you make your own meals or eat out?
Any time that we travel it's because of soccer, so we pack light and eat out.

#3. While traveling if you have to stop for a meal do you go in or do you go through the drive thru and eat in the car?
We eat in the car because it gives us something to do to pass the time during our long drives and we get to our destination quicker.

#4. Share a recipe or food related tip for people making a long trip by car.
I usually buy snacks and drinks to take with us in the car and it lessens the stops during the trip. Except for those potty breaks due to the drinks.

Saturday, August 02, 2008

Friday, August 01, 2008

He'll be paying me back to get it fixed

This is what happens when one of your children has a temper and gets mad while hitting the tennis ball against the wall in the garage. He couldn't get the tennis ball to do what he wanted so he hit it so hard that it ricocheted off the wall and into my side mirror on my car.