Thursday, October 30, 2008

Put'em in the freezer!




What Your Love of Snickers Says About You



You are a very popular person. People can always find something about you to like.

You are friendly and approachable. It's easy to feel comfortable around you.



You are lively, playful, and sweet. But you are also substantial too.

No matter what the situation is, you are good company... and the ideal best friend.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

I'm not complaining.

Really, I'm not. It is just going to take some getting used to.

The Cold! (And it isn't really that cold yet!)

Things that bother me so far...

1. Cold nose. I hate having a cold nose.

2. Leather furniture is very cold in the morning.

3. When you walk to the football concession stand and buy some crazy delicious concession stand nachos? By the time you get back to the bleachers, your cheese is cold. (I ate them anyway.)

4. I can't wear a stocking cap for any length of time. I put one on and about ten minutes later, I yank it off and start scratching my head like I have cooties. I've tried stocking caps, wool caps, caps with fleece lining, etc. I guess it is the tightness around my head. I don't itch on the top of my head, just around the sides and my forehead. I can wear a sweatshirt hood and have no problem, but a cap, no go. Any suggestions my peeps from the land of the coldness?

___________

A couple of photos of our trip to the patch...




__________

If winter is slumber and spring is birth, and summer is life, then autumn rounds out to be reflection. It's a time of year when the leaves are down and the harvest is in and the perennials are gone. Mother Earth just closed up the drapes on another year and it's time to reflect on what's come before. - Mitchell Burgess, Northern Exposure, Thanksgiving, 1992

Friday, October 24, 2008

Into life, a little rain must fall.

And a lot of leaves...

I raked some.



But a lot were left.



And then...







You can't tell by the photos, but it was spitting rain. And cold. That didn't stop him though...

Old Reliable

Your result for The Harry Potter Husband Test...

Mrs. Longbottom

Your perfect HP man is Neville Longbottom.


You like the nice guy. You don't need the best looking guy, or the most talented, or the most popular, or the most powerful. You want a guy who'll be there when you need him, who knows how to stick through the hard times, who isn't afraid to do what needs to be done, and who stands up to even his friends when necessary. You can't go wrong with a guy like this.




(fanart by jeremia http://jeremia.deviantart.com/ used with permission)

Take The Harry Potter Husband Test at HelloQuizzy

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Rant

I pink puffy heart House Hunters, but the people on the show are starting to really work my nerves.

Waaaah. It doesn't have granite counter tops. (I have never had granite counter tops. Never will. I'm hoping for quartz if I ever get to remodel.)

Waaaah. It doesn't have stainless appliances. (These either. Magnets don't stick.)

Waaaah. There's carpet in the bathroom. (I like carpet in the bathroom. The house we built had carpet in two of the bathrooms. You just have to be careful.)

Waaaah. There's only one sink in the bathroom. (We went from two to one. We had to adjust.)

Waaaah. This room is Pepto Pink. (We accidentally had one of those rooms (It was supposed to be mauve.) We repainted it Sugar Cookie.)

Waaaah. There's no hardwood flooring. (Three. Count them. Three rooms in this house had 1970s red/orange shag. One even had (still has) red/white flocked wallpaper and grey/white paneling.)

One thing I have noticed is that the less money people are spending, the less picky they are. Usually the hundreds of thousands of dollar purchasers are the whiny babies.

Did you know I agreed to purchase the house I live in without ever seeing it in person? Just some iffy photos The Commander took? Did you know I never stepped foot into this house until after I signed the mortgage papers?

Do you know what I got excited about? Double ovens (One is a convection oven.). Double ovens that now anger me because I can't fit a jellyroll pan in either one of them?

Probably the one thing that is bothering me the worst about House Hunters? For whatever reason, St@r J0ne$ has been popping up as host. Gag. Why HGTV? Why?

__________

One thing is clear to me. You can't know everything you'd like to know. You can't do everything you'd like to do. You can't read everything you'd like to read. You must hold onto some things and let go of others. Learning to make that choice is one of the big lessons of this life. - Real Live Preacher, Real Live Preacher.com weblog, September 9, 2003

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Got Tongue?


Got Tongue?
Originally uploaded by Sherrypg
Cooper plays hard to get.

Click on the photo to check out some more I just added to flickr.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Chillin'

Unlike some people, I've turned on the gas fireplace for the last 14 mornings or so and have turned on the heater in the bedroom for the last 5 evenings.

But you know what? I can light the fire or throw on a hoodie and I'm good. For now. Ask me in a couple of months.

__________

I stepped outside just a few minutes ago to take some photos of the full moon and when I opened the door, I thought, "It smells like snow!" Maybe it was just my imagination.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Unemployment - Too good to last.

So, uh, guess who got a part time job?

{{{sheepishly raises hand}}}

Up front I want you to know that I didn't go looking for it, it came after me.

You see, it is harvest time up here (soybeans and corn) and a lot of wives drop whatever they are doing to help their husbands out on the farm. This leaves some businesses (and bowling teams!) short handed.

I was asked to come in 2-3 days a week for just an hour or and hour and a half over dinner (or what we Okies like to call "lunch") and help out. I probably will be there through the end of the year.

The place where I will be working is, get this, a coffee house. 'Cause who loves coffee more than me?! Everyone. (Except The Commander.) It is a small place, six tables. Family owned (My husband's aunt's son's wife's mom). They have a lot of coffee drinks and smoothies. And they serve soup, sandwiches, and salads. They also have daily specials like creamed chicken on biscuits and hot beef commercial (Yeah, I had to ask too. Open faced roast beef sandwiches.)

So in addition to my earnings (Enough to pay for my bowling and gas money to get to bowling every week.) I get a free lunch on the days I work! Woooooo!

The plus for The Commander is that at least three days a week I will be showered before noon.

__________

The human race is faced with a cruel choice: work or daytime television. - Unknown

Thursday, October 09, 2008

How well does my husband know me?

He was reading the questions off of my blog and wouldn't let me have the computer to record his answers as he gave them. So here are the answers to the best of my recollection. There may be some embellishment, but not much.

1. Sitting in front of the TV, what's on the screen?
Some stupid sitcom. Probably The Big Bang Theory. (CORRECT! But it's not stupid.)

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does she get on her salad?
Blue cheese. (CORRECT!)

3. What's one food she doesn't like?
Any good vegetables like peas, green beans or lima beans. Me - I like green beans. Him - I mean green peas. (CORRECT!)


4. You go out to a bar. What does she order?
Bloody Mary or a Slippery Nipple. A Buttery Nipple. (INCORRECT! A margarita. If I go to the Biting Sow, I would get a Buttery Nipple.)

5. Where did she go to high school?
Coweta High School. Go Tigers! (CORRECT!)

6. What size shoe does she wear?
I don't know what size shoe you wear. (CORRECT! He doesn't know what size anything I wear.)

7. If she was to collect anything, what would it be?
I don't know what you would collect. (CORRECT! I don't either.)

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich?
Chicken Salad with grapes, raisins, and pomegranates. (ALMOST CORRECT!) Me - Chicken Salad with Fruit Salad in it? Him - Yeah. (Chuckles) And nuts. Chicken Salad that has been tampered with. (VERY CORRECT! And he can't stand it.)

9. What would this person eat everyday if she could?
Your mom's Banana Pudding. (CORRECT! Also, donuts.)

10. What is her favorite cereal?
You've got 17 boxes in there! Probably honey cluster crunch. Me - Honey Bunches of Oats with almonds? Him - Yeah. (CORRECT!)

11. What would she never wear?
A dress. (CORRECT! I will if needed, but I even wear jeans to church.)

12. What is her favorite sports team?
I don't think you have a favorite sports team. (CORRECT!)

13. Who will she vote for?
We have the same answer. (CORRECT! Or will we?)

14. Who is her best friend?
Lynette (CORRECT!)

15. What is something you do that she wishes you wouldn't do?
Spend so much time on the History Channel. (CORRECT! Oh how correct.)

16. How many states has she lived in?
Three - California, Oklahoma, and Iowa. (CORRECT! And evidently, he is counting his time in Texas (two years) as living there. I think of it more as a temporary thing.)

17.What is her heritage?
French. (OUI!)

18. You bake her a cake for his birthday, what kind of cake?
Any. (CORRECT!)

19. Did she play sports in high school?
Softball, track, and basketball. (CORRECT! 4th place in State in Discus my Freshman year!)

20. What could she spend hours doing?
Sitting on the internet. (CORRECT! Or reading.)

21. Does she belong to any women's organizations?
You don't belong to any women's organizations. Wait. Your book club. Me - And...? Him - Oh, Presbyterian Women. Me - And my bowling team. Him - I don't think that counts.

Monday, October 06, 2008

I've been called a "Donut Whore"

And I'm not ashamed.

The Commander took the little Honda motorcycle down to a town about 35 miles from here to be worked on a couple of weeks ago. This morning, we headed down there to pick it up. I asked him if there were places we could shop there. He said because we will have the trailer hooked on, we couldn't stop.

After we picked the motorcycle up, he drove through downtown so I could see the sights.

Me - "Antique shop, computer shop that sells Macs, antique shop, scrapbook store, Daylight Donuts....STOP THIS CAR RIGHT NOW!"

He whipped around the corner and found parking. I jumped out of the Element and said, "Do you want anything?" He replied, "What? You were just going to get you something?" Uh, yeah. Duh.



Since it has been more than four months since I have had a donut, I tried not to go too crazy - five Bear Claws (No apples. Just cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. But still....), two chocolate and bavarian cream things, three glazed, and one huge something or the other with cream and coconut.

So what is the proper procedure for eating the ginormous box of donuts on your lap? Do you slowly savor them? Space them out through the day? Or dive right in and eat every freakin' one of them before you drive the 35 miles back home?

(I managed to just eat two (still warm) bear claws. The Commander had one glazed. It was tough.)

Saturday, October 04, 2008

How well do you know your husband?

Judy did it so I thought I would too!

1. Sitting in front of the TV, what's on the screen? History Channel, History International, The Military Channel, or The Beverly Hillbillies. If he's watching a movie - Phantom of the Opera. According to my friend Craig, that's how we know he's gay.

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Blue cheese

3. What's one food he doesn't like? Tomatoes

4. You go out to a bar. What does he order? Corona with a lime or a Bloody Mary

5. Where did he go to high school? Armstrong High School. Go Tigers!

6. What size shoe does he wear? 12 wide

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be? Anything with Harley Davidson on it. Oh wait, he already does that.

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? Reuben

9. What would this person eat everyday if he could? Pizza

10. What is his favorite cereal? Grape Nuts with half and half. (blech)

11. What would he never wear? Sandals

12. What is his favorite sports team? Iowa State Cyclone football

13. Who will he vote for? That's between him and the vote counting machine. (I know (boy how I know), but I'm not saying.

14. Who is his best friend? Outside of this house, Richard.

15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do? I spend too much time on the computer. (Oh yeah?! Well, he won't replace the damn toilet paper!)

16. How many states has he lived in? Three - Iowa, Colorado, and Oklahoma

17.What is his heritage? Scottish, English, and German.

18. You bake him a cake for his birthday, what kind of cake? Yellow cake with chocolate frosting

19. Did he play sports in high school? Football

20. What could he spend hours doing? See question #1. He also likes to be outside puttering around in the yard, but he really loves to be on his Harley.

21. Does he belong to any men's organizations? Veterans of Foreign Wars

Friday, October 03, 2008

Why men shouldn't write advice columns...

Dear Walter:

I hope you can help me here. The other day, I set off for work leaving my husband in the house watching the TV as usual. I hadn't gone more than a mile down the road when my engine conked out and the car shuddered to a halt. I walked back home to get my husband's help. When I got home I couldn't believe my eyes. He was in our bedroom with the neighbor lady. I am 32, my husband is 34, and we have been married for twelve years. When I confronted him, he broke down and admitted that they had been having an affair for the past six months. I told him to stop or I would leave him. He was let go from his job six months ago and he says he has been feeling increasingly depressed and worthless. I love him very much, but ever since I gave him the ultimatum he has become increasingly distant. He won't go to counseling and I'm afraid I can't get through to him anymore. Can you please help?

Sincerely, Sheila

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

Dear Sheila:

A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of faults with the engine. Start by checking that there is no debris in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the vacuum pipes and hoses on the intake manifold and also check all grounding wires. If none of these approaches solves the problem, it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the carburetor float chamber.
I hope this helps!

Walter

P.S. ... have a great weekend

Hey Grandpa, What's For Supper?!

(Bonus points if you can name the source of the title.)

Wow. I am totally little Susie Homemaker today.

Yesterday afternoon, one of The Commander's aunts and I went out to a friend's farm and I brought back two sacks of apples, yellow squash and (ack) horseradish.

This morning, after The Boy got off to school, I sliced up three apples and put them into the dehydrator.

The Commander and I drove over to his aunt's house and trimmed up a tree for her then came back home and unloaded the brush into the pile.

I came back into the house and started supper in the crock pot - Brown Sugar Chicken. (I noticed there wasn't any salt in the recipe, so I salted down the chicken. As I was dumping in the second tablespoon of soy sauce, the little light went on above my head. Soy sauce = salty. Crossing my fingers.)

Now I am going back into the kitchen, turning the exhaust fans on and attempting to make, for the first time, prepared horseradish.

Wait, I might make Coconut Ice first.

__________

This weekend is going to be busy, busy.

There is a kids' program at the library tomorrow morning and then door-to-door Boy Scout popcorn sales.

I'm headed to coffee in the morning and then on to Mankato, MN with the aunts to meet my MIL and SILs and other assorted women for my MIL's birthday lunch at THE OLIVE GARDEN! Yummmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Sunday is church and Sunday school*. Then The Boy's scout pack is headed up to an apple orchard for orchard/pumpkin patch fun.

I need some B12.

__________

*A lady at church asked me if I wanted to teach Sunday school. Uh, thank you, no. A few weeks later, she told me the pastor was going to contact me about teaching Sunday school. Still no.

No one ever contacted me and what do you know - the church's newsletter came out and there was my name listed with the other Sunday school teachers. Not a happy camper. At all.

Being the trooper I am, I jumped right in and am teaching the crud out of this class. It isn't too bad. Class only lasts 40 minutes and I have yet to finish everything I had planned for the day. I only have three third graders. Thank goodness. If I had more kids, I might have to turn in my scissors.