Guilty Pleasures

My cousin Jen posted her guilty pleasures on her blog so I though I’d give it a try. In no particular order:

1. Granny Smith apples with peanut butter. If I could choose any snack this is what I would pick.
2. My gray Looney Tunes hooded sweatshirt. I cannot relax at night unless I’m wearing this. It is the perfect comfort apparel.
3. The Real Housewives of Orange County on Bravo. I can’t help myself. I know I should not be watching these selfish, self-centered, mean-spirited women. I just can’t turn the channel when it’s on.
4. My Birkenstocks. I don’t care that Michael Smerconish used to say on his radio show that hippie libs wear these. I have a perfect Birkie foot and they are the most comfortable shoes ever. Unlike Jen’s Croc’s they do not, however, keep my toes warm. Like Jen’s Croc’s they make my feet look even more enormous than they really are (size 9 ½).
5. The Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel. I can’t wait ‘til April when the new season starts.

Quote for the day: Short is the joy that guilty pleasure brings. ~Euripedes - Greek tragic dramatist (484 BC – 406 BC)
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Things I'm Thankful For

Dedicated with love to the four or five people that currently read this.

• my mother: for everything. I'm also so proud of the fact that she finally figured out how to comment on my blog. WAY TO GO MOM!
• my husband: for putting up with me and for the incredible things both large and small that he does for me. Someday I'll post pictures of the amazing furniture that he's made me.
• my Auntie Beth: for taking such good care of my Gam.
• Gam: for her incredible attitude towards life despite her handicaps. We'll ignore the January 9th prediction.
• my cousin Jen: for inspiring me with her creativity.
• my friend Cheryl: for reminding me to "never let anyone rent space in my head" and to appreciate the fact that I have a husband to be annoyed with.
• Crystal: for graciously sharing Kayden and Jordan
• Kayden and Jordan: for making me a "Ree".
• Jack: for showing me that life can be exciting just because the fireman "letted" you blow the horn on the fire truck.
• all my friends: for putting up with me.

Quote for the day: God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?" ~William A. Ward

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Cooking Dinner

I cooked dinner tonight. We had chicken croquettes, mashed potatoes with gravy, and french cut green beans. I say cooked but I really think it was more like "reheated". The chicken was from the *fabulous* meat store by Mom's house and had to be heated in the oven for 20 minutes. The mashed potatoes were real but from a pouch that you dump into some water and microwave for 3 and a half minutes. The green beans were, of course, canned and were heated in the microwave. The "gravy" was actually cream of chicken soup. I actually mixed it with water and put it in a pan on the stove to heat; even used a whisk to mix it properly! Frank had tea and, you guessed it, the water was heated in the microwave. I opened a can of Diet Coke for myself.

We did eat it all on real dishware with real flatware!

Quote for the day: "I do wish we could chat longer, but... I'm having an old friend for dinner. Bye." - Hannibal Lecter

Snow Day

I never thought of myself as spoiled until this morning. Frank got called out at 1:30 a.m. to plow and salt the roads. I had to get up early, get dressed and go outside in the snow, rain and slush to clean off my car. There was about a quarter-inch of ice covering about an inch of snow. I'm fanatical about clearing the roof of my car so it took me over half an hour. I then run inside, hang up my wet clothes and very quickly shower and get re-dressed. All the while paranoid that the car would cool down and re-freeze. The last time it snowed I walked out the back door, kissed Frank goodbye and was off in my nice clean and warm vehicle.

I'm beginning to rethink this whole "working for the township" thing he's doing :)

Quote for the day: (actually my favorite poem of all-time, I memorized this in 4th grade in Mrs. McCormick's class and can still recite it perfectly).

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

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Whose woods these are I think I know,
His house is in the village though.
He will not see me stopping here,
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer,
To stop without a farmhouse near,
Between the woods and frozen lake,
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake,
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep,
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

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-- Robert Frost

Long Distance

Remember when the big bad phone company divested and all of sudden all these new companies were begging for your long-distance business? That was when we first heard of MCI and a bunch of others that are now gone. I knew someone who changed his carrier regularly because one of the companies would offer him $25 or $50 to change. I think he went back and forth several times. I don't even have a long-distance carrier now. Unless you count Sprint/Nextel which I have on my cell phone. Now most people I know have one of those 5 cents-a-minute plans on their home phones with free nights and weekends on their cell phones. I don't even really think about it when I make a long-distance call; then again, I rarely make them outside of work. I'm still waiting for a call back from the last long-distance call I made. *HINT, HINT*

So reach out and touch someone, it probably won't cost as much as it did ten years ago.

Quote for the day: "Reach Out and Touch Someone" (and stop humming that old commercial Auntie Beth) - advertising slogan used by AT&T (1979)

TV Land

I am most definitely not looking forward to the TV changeover to digital. My husband is still shopping around for a TV that will be compatible with the new format. He's not really cheap, he's just very careful. He is waiting for the exact TV that he wants to be available for about 1/2 the regular price. He had the TV he wanted all picked out. Then he heard that Circuit City would be going bankrupt and figured that he could get a good deal there. He has since found out that CC isn't offering any deals, they merely jacked up their prices and then reduced everything by 10%; still higher than what it was before the bankruptcy.

So, getting back to TV Land. I can live without the big three networks, QVC, Bravo and maybe even the Food Network. I don't think I can live without my daily dose of The Andy Griffith Show, The Cosby Show and the upcoming new season of High School Reunion.

Quote for the day: "Television is simply automated day-dreaming." Lee Lovinger

Sunday

I have a love/hate relationship with Sundays. I love them because it's a day of relaxing and no work. I hate it because once it's over then it's back to work again. It was heavy on the relaxing today. Frank wanted me to go down to Buttonwood with him. I managed to convince him that I really was happy staying here and just vegging on the couch. He was going to check for mice and blow/rake leaves. What fun would that be for me? I stayed home and watched Cast Away and made dinner.

I'll finish the night by watching a "Very Duggar Wedding".

Quote for the day: "Calgon take me away"

Baking... or Not

So, I decided to do some baking today. Frank really likes the Tassies that I made from Gam's recipe so I decided to make them. Made the regular recipe with pecans and they turned out great. Then I decided to try the peanut butter filling. Once again, I learned that not all Tassie recipes are created equal. They bubbled over and were, therefore, impossible to get out of the pans. They taste fine but don't look so appetizing. Next time I will definitely use the little cups that I bought at the market.

Going over to the Anderson's tonight to play cards and visit. I haven't been there in two weeks so I can't wait to see the kids!

Quote for the day: Houston, we have a problem. (Apollo 13)

Eating Healthy

Frank still isn't feeling well so I brought him home a treat. We had Bruster's ice cream for dinner. Frank had Oreo and I had Peanut Butter Cookie Dough. I always kind of let Friday be my big cheat day but today I went a bit overboard.

On another note, had a nice chat with an old friend on the way home from work. We were good friends up until I got married and then kind of drifted apart. She got married and moved further away. She recently came back to town and came back to church. It was so good to talk to her and catch up on things. It's as if no time has passed. Hoping to have a chance to go out with her soon.

Quote for the day: "After all... tomorrow is another day." (Gone With the Wind)

The End of an Era

Today was the end of an era at QVC. Nothing any of the millions of customers would notice but something very important nonetheless. My favorite person at QVC is no longer there. Today was her last day and it will never be the same. She was the person who was there for me when I was having a good, bad or horrible day. She was the first person I told that I was leaving. She was the last person I saw on the day I left. She was the kind of friend that everyone needs at work. She had HUGE shoulders and was always available in times of trouble. She could help you solve any problem big or small and she had the ability to make those big problems smaller just by being there for you. She could make me laugh and she let me cry. I know she will always be my friend because that's the kind of person she is. The "Q" will keep on selling and time will pass but they let one of their best walk out today.

Quote for the day: "SOMEONE GIVE ME A NAPKIN!" (the lunch table)

Still Boring

As predicted, another boring day.

Didn't get much sleep last night because Frank's heel was bothering him and he kept waking up and then moving around and waking me up.

Hopefully I will soon be able to figure out how to add pictures (HINT, HINT to Aunt Beth and Jen) and then spice this thing up.

Quote for the day: "A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others" (The Wizard of Oz)

Boring...

Well, Aunt Beth told me I had to post something every day so here it is. My life is boring. Went to work, came home, did laundry, made dinner, watching "Real Housewives" then going to bed. Will repeat tomorrow except I will be watching "Top Chef".

Oh yeah, I totally boycotted all things inaugural today. I'm a poor loser.

Good night, and to quote my famous cousin, Jennifer - "go wash your hands... now!"

That's all.

Still going...

Well the final fever broke at about midnight and I've been feeling pretty good since. Had a serious case of cabin fever and wanted to go out. Frank said that the roads were fine so I could venture forth. Went over to my Mom's and spent the afternoon on the couch with Jordan watching Swiss Family Robinson. Believe it or not I've never seen the movie so it was really interesting. Stopped at WaWa to get dinner (I'm not feeling that GOOD). The roads were starting to get a little slick so when I got in I told Frank to be ready for the call from the Roadmaster. Sure enough, he was about halfway through his hoagie when I heard him laughing saying "my wife told me I'd be going out!". Hopefully they get it all nice and dry for when I go back to work (YUCK) tomorrow.

A Vicious Cycle

I've been sick since yesterday afternoon. It's a vicious cycle; burning up with fever, taking Advil, sweating like you wouldn't believe when fever breaks, chills, then start all over again. I can't believe I have a long weekend and I've spent 90% of my time on the couch either sweating or covered in afghans. Took a shower during the chills phase 'cause I thought that would make me feel better. It worked... for about ten minutes and then the sweats started. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow and can enjoy my day off.