Wednesday, December 26, 2007

After Christmas Meme

UPDATED!

I got a Bacon Press! I knew my mom would come through for me!

I also got another LNT gift card, leopard print flannel PJs and matching slippers, and SIX (6) boxes of chocolate covered cherries. My dad, he's a giver that one.

_____

1. What did you get for Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate)?

A Linens N Things gift cards (woo and then hoo!), Lowes gift card, bubble bath, Godiva chocolates, measuring spoons, a three tiered hanging basket thingie for the kitchen, a digital tire pressure gauge, and a jar of pickled garlic. (We haven't opened gifts from my mom and dad yet. We go over there tomorrow.) I bought myself a battery operated glitter lava lamp for $1.00 at the megamart. I love it. I also got a almost poster-sized sheet of homemade paper with flowers and stuff made into it from an artist friend of mine. The Commander and I got ourselves a sectional sofa and recliner as our gift.

2. What was your favorite gift?

I may have to go with the sheet of paper. I have been harping on him for years, years I tell you! about him giving me something he has made.

3. What was the favorite gift that you gave?

Long story. Got a minute? My aforementioned artist friend (The Artist) was jonesing over a little Snoopy magnet I had made. You know, the kind that you make out of a magnet, a picture, and a flat-bottomed clear marble? Anywho, he kept drooling over it, so I found some more Snoopy photos, made three more magnets, got a Altoids tin from The Artist (sneaky, no?), put the magnets (including the one he jones about) in it and gave it to him. He was so stinking excited about it.

4. What was your favorite decoration?

Chancho the Feliz Navidad singing donkey. (His real name is Cisco, but we call him Chancho.)

5. What was your favorite holiday food this year?

One of the ladies at work made homemade Cherry Mash that was crazy delicious. But my mom's Amish Friendship Bread was pretty tasty as well. Nom Nom Nom. Wait! She's making Granny's homemade Banana Pudding tomorrow! That's my favorite to be.

6. What was your favorite holiday candy?

The Cherry Mash mentioned above.

7. What didn't you get to this year?

A bacon press. Was it too much to ask for?

8. Did you have snow?

No, but it snowed pretty much all day today. Didn't stick though.

9. Are the holidays too much stress?

Nope.

10. New Year's Resolutions - do you make them? If so, what are yours?

Eat more. Exercise less. Cuss more. Clean the house less. (That way when I break them, I don't feel so bad.)

Friday, December 21, 2007

I would, but it would blend with the walls.

You Should Have a Pink Christmas Tree

For you, the holidays represent a time of friendship and sharing.
You're happy as long as you're spending time with the people you care about.

You are passionate about the holidays, and that start of the holiday season makes you very excited.
You sometimes go a bit overboard in your celebrations. You just can't help it!

Passionate, easily excited, sweet, giving, love, friendship, sensitive, caring

Your pink tree would look great with: More pink!

You should spend Christmas Eve watching: The Muppet Christmas Carol

What you should bake for Santa: Rice krispie treats with red and green food coloring

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Eating Tips for the Holidays

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can and quickly. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an "eggnog-aholic" or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it!!!! Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand-alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.


4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello???

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, pumpkin and sweet potato - have a slice of each. Or, if you don't like apple, have two sweet potatoes and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips: Start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

RIP

Rocket has passed away. Farewell Rocket. You were a good fish.





Monday, December 17, 2007

Lucky You

If you want a Christmas card from me, send me your mailing address pronto!

sherrypg a t gmail d 0 t com

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Update on the Commander.

The Commander is finally done with Ft. Bliss! He came home last Thursday night, but this morning he headed out to Camp Robinson. Boo. Hiss. Luckily, he will only be there until Thursday or Friday. Then he should be home FOR GOOD!

People have asked if he is getting out of the Army once he gets home. I don't really know. More than two years ago he told me he was retiring as soon as he had completed the assignment he had then. But nooooo. He ended up applying for the Command position of a Unit in Kansas and got it. That's when my troubles began. Army Strong. One Team, One Fight. Hooah. Etc.

I think he is waiting to see if he gets promoted to Colonel this Spring. If he does (cha-ching), he probably will stay in a little while longer. If he doesn't get promoted, he will probably retire sometime next year.

I will tell you these past two years have been really hard on me. I went on anti-depressants when he first left. Once I got over the hump of him being gone, I went off of them, but when they told him he would be staying another year, the depression came back. It wasn't as bad as it previously was and I managed to muddle through it without chemicals. There were days though, like today, I was thanking the nice folks who invented Miller Chill.

I was also very dissapointed in my church family. (The church you just joined, BGirl.)

I had one couple, just one, volunteer to come to my house and help me out. He offered to help mow (I mow about five acres) and she offered to come and help however she could. She even specifically said laundry! I never took them up on the offer because they live about 20-30 minutes away and I felt bad about them coming from so far to help. But no one else offered anything. They would all make noises asking about him or even how I was doing, but that was it. Empty gestures.

The Commander had to go to Kuwait for a meeting. He was only gone about a week, but it was nerve racking. My Pastor asked me one day how I was doing. I told him the Commander was in Kuwait and I was a nervous wreck. His answer? "That sounds nice." WTH? THAT SOUNDS NICE? My husband is in Kuwait, I am a nervous wreck and THAT SOUNDS NICE? Please.

People kept coming up to me almost every Sunday and saying, "I thought you moved to Texas." Then once when the Commander had come home on leave we had went to chuch. While we were getting ready to leave, I heard the Pastor ask the Commander, "So, did Sherry move down to Texas with you?" WHAT? I'm here every stinking week. I teach Sunday School. I go to Wednesday at the Well. What do you mean DID I MOVE?

So that was it. I rarely go to church anymore. I still go and teach Sunday School when needed, but I find if difficult to mingle with people who really don't give a flying fig. When the Commander makes it home, I will probably go more often, but I'll see.

Am I being petty?

My friend/co-worker, V, used to come mow for me, but he got a girlfriend and I ceased to exist after 5:00pm. My friend, L, came over and mowed some. Thank you both so much.

Our friends, R & D, would have us over for supper and The Amazing Race or Survivor every week. That was much needed as well.

Now I'm getting down off of my soapbox. Thanks for listening.

--------------------------

The Boy squeezed in between my chair and the wall a little while ago and rested his cheek on the wall.

Me - What are you doing?
Him - I really do not know.

Nice.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Half Pint

Laura Ingalls: Hard working folks only smell bad to people who have nothing better to do than stick their noses in the air! Well, whenever you stick your nose in the air with me, Nellie Oleson, it's going to get punched!

______________


I felt like we were living in the little house in the big woods this morning. My son went to school with biscuits and beef jerky for lunch. (And a tin cup to get water from the well. Not Really.)

(Hey, it is what he wanted. He also got some goldfish and some Hershey's 100 calorie something or the others.)

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Christmas Quiz!

You Are a Bright Christmas Tree

For you, the holidays are all about fun and seasonal favorites.
You are into all things Christmas, even if they're a little tacky.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Presenting Mrs. Hughes


Friday, December 07, 2007

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
What was the last game you purchased?

PS2 Star Wars Lego something or the other.

Soup
Name something in which you don’t believe.



(stolen borrowed from from scribblersleague)

Salad
If you could choose a celebrity to be your boss, who would you pick?



Yes Sir! I'll get right on that, Sir!

Main Course
What was a lesson you had to learn the hard way?

Don't lie. I got one of the worse whippings in my life when I lied to my Dad. He said I didn't get the whipping for the thing I said I didn't do, but for lying to him about it.

Dessert
Describe your idea of the perfect relaxation room.

Comfy, comfy chair or couch, fire in the fireplace, cat on my lap, good book in my hand, side table and lamp.

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Thank You Mother Nature


Thank You Mother Nature
Originally uploaded by Sherrypg
Wow.

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Size Matters

So I *finally* found a place online to get some of these. The Boy loves boiled egg whites and I thought these would be awesome.



But, the eggs were only large and not jumbo so they didn't fill the molds well.



Next time, we are getting bigger eggs.



I still want the molds that are in the shape of a bear and a car and any others that they make. If you know where I can get some, let me know!

Monday, December 03, 2007

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Cat Head Biscuits

I was talking to the Commander today about biscuits and gravy. Where he grew up, they never had biscuits and gravy (or fried okra or black eyed peas or Frito pie, but that's three whole other stories). I told him I needed to get my Granny's recipe for cat head biscuits.

Him - What?
Me - Cat head biscuits.
Him - What?
Me - You know, you squeeze off a lumps of dough about the size of a cat's head and bake them.
Him - You're nuts.

We have a small family cookbook, but the recipe wasn't in it. So, I called my mom and asked her for the recipe for cat head biscuits.

Her - What?
Me - Cat. Head. Biscuits.
Her - Where did you hear that?
Me - I remember one of you guys talking about making cat head biscuits.
Her - I've never heard of them.
Me - I didn't just pull it out of my hind-end.
Her - Well, I don't know whose hind-end you pulled it out of, but I have no idea what you are talking about.

Sigh, my family. They loves me so.

Any of you internet lovelies ever heard of cat head biscuits? Was it your hind-end I pulled it out of?

___________________

The Boy and I were movie watching fools this weekend.

We put the tree up, built a fire in the fireplace and watched The Santa Clause 3 on Friday night.

We watched Shrek 3 and Deck the Halls on Saturday.

Sunday, I got up early (Not by choice. My internal clock radio hates me.) and watched Waitress. ( Nathan Fillion is a cutiepie.) You must see this movie.

Later that evening...Hairspray! My favorite lyric? Maybelle's "Who wants a twig when you can climb the whole tree"!

To top it all off, Sunday evening I made Sarah's Mom's Chili again and Pink Stuff. This, I know my mom knows about. It is her recipe in the cookbook. Cool Whip, cottage cheese (the only way I will eat it), dry strawberry jello, bananas, and crushed pinapple. Nom, nom, nom.

Saturday, December 01, 2007

Photo Hunt

Topic: Red



Taken at a the War Eagles Air Museum in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.