electronics overload

Currently in my house there are:

3 people
1 cat
1 desktop computer
3 laptop computers
2 printers
2 iPods
3 cell phones
3 DVD players
5 televisions

We either have way too many electronics, or we need to learn to share.

Personal trainer

If you've met my man, it's obvious he knows his way around a gym. I asked him to go with me tonight and show me the proper way to use some of the equipment in the gym. He works odd hours so I don't get to see as much of him as I'd like, so it was good to just be able to spend time with him, but then to spend time with him doing something he's passionate about was really special. But, oh boy, did he kick my bottom (as Sienna would say). I'm gonna be feeling it tomorrow!! It'll be a good kind of hurt, right?

Don't make me cry

They did it again. They made me cry. I know . . . . you're all thinking, "what's new? you cry at TV commercials." I get that genetically from my Dad. My kids went way above and beyond for me this Christmas. They totally ignored me (gee - what a surprise). They were given a $5 limit for Christmas and they had to spend that $5 at a Dollar Store. They didn't. Instead, they pooled their resources, called in some favors and got me a SWEET laptop WITH a custom paint job.

Equal Opportunity Tree

Every year, Jeremy and Jenna get a new ornament for the tree. I try to pick one that matches what they are interested in or something they've done that year. It's easy to tell which ornament belong to which child. For the last couple of years, Jeremy wasn't living at home, so there were no boy ornaments on the tree. It was a GIRLY tree: bears, shoes, Barbies. This year, when they decorated the tree, Jeremy was trying to counteract the girly. That last Barbie looks kind of peeved that she has to share the limelight with a Superman lunchbox.

Home again

My house is once again inhabited by my babies. Jenna moved back from NAU today. She has decided she would rather go to Scottsdale Community College. She can work on the same degree (Hotel/Restaurant Management) at Community College rates. I borrowed Jeremy's truck and my lovely mother-in-law, Jeri, drove up to Flagstaff with me to bring back 4 months worth of . . . . stuff. It will be . . . . .interesting(!) having everybody under one roof again.

Missing Mom

I get really emotional around Christmas time. I don't know why - if I knew why, I would fix it. But I get very sentimental, and sometimes I get kind of weepy. Last night I was driving home from work and got very sad because I miss my Mom.

I mentioned "the book." A lot of the recipes in "the book" came from a magazine that Mom sent me a subscription for. It's called Simple and Delicious. She ordered it for me several years ago when I was working, going to school, raising two kids and was trying to figure out what in the world I was going to feed them that wouldn't take hours to fix. I've really enjoyed it, and every year she kept renewing the subscription. The January/February issue would come in December with a note attached to it that said "Someone who thinks a lot of you sent you this subscription. Enjoy." So I stop at the mailbox last night and there is the January/February issue, with the note attached, "someone who thinks a lot you sent you this subscription. Enjoy. Love, Mom."
I had a big boo hoo over it. A really big boo hoo. For quite a while. My absolutely fabulous Daddy keeps renewing the subscription, because that's what Mom would do. And I really appreciate it. And it got the reaction you thought it would, MisterG.

It goes in the book

Years ago, whenever a recipe I made turned out well and met with Jeremy and Jenna's approval, I would add it to my "Recipe" file on my computer. I print them out and put them in a three ring binder (with the plastic sheet protectors so it holds up well in the kitchen). It has become the ultimate compliment when I try something new and one of the kids says "It goes in the book." When Jeremy moved out of the house a couple of years ago, I printed his favorite recipes, put them in a binder and gave it to him with a few kitchen essentials as a housewarming gift. Since he's moved back into the house - he was looking through my book and decided he needed the 2008 updated version - I've added some yummy stuff.

So last night, Jeremy and I are watching Guy Fieri on the Food Network. Guy was making a grown up version of one of my staples when the kids were little and I was working full time AND going to school: chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese. He was making Awesome Pretzel Chicken Tenders and Mac Daddy Mac' and Cheese. You can get the recipes here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/guy-off-the-hook/downhome-diner/index.html Jeremy and I made this for dinner tonight. Oh MAN is it good!!! Man oh man oh man!!! The best part: Jeremy said, "It goes in the book."

Happy Birthday, Jeremy

Tomorrow, November 21st is my baby boy's birthday. He'll be 23. It doesn't seem possible! Where was I and what was I doing when this happened? Parent's always say, "it was just yesterday when he was a little boy" and it's TRUE!! It was 20 years ago when he met Mickey Mouse for the first time. 20 years!! He was the sweetest, cuddliest little boy with a smile that lit up a room. Now he's a big teddy bear of a guy - and his smile still lights up a room. I'm so proud to be his Mama. I love you, my boy!!!

Must Have Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Strawberry-Pretzel Salad

2 cups coarsely crushed pretzels
3/4 cup margarine, melted
3 Tbsp + ½ cup sugar
1 pkg. (8oz) cream cheese, softened
1 container (8oz) frozen Cool Whip, thawed
1 pkg. (6oz) strawberry Jell-O
2 cups boiling water
2 pkgs (10oz each) frozen sliced strawberries, thawed

Combine crushed pretzels, margarine and 3 Tbsp. sugar; mix well. Press into a 13x9x2 inch baking dish. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely.In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat cream cheese andremaining 1/2 cup sugar until well blended. Fold in whipped topping. Spread over cooled pretzel crust. Refrigerate until chilled.In a mixing bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Add strawberries with their juice. Pour over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate until firm. Cut into squares to serve.

Serves a bunch. If Rachael AND Ashlynn are coming to dinner, better make two pans.

Date night

It's not very often that I have an actual date on a Saturday night. I was lucky tonight that one of my favorite dinner companions was free. He's always fun to spend time with. He has great stories, he's a good listener, he can talk to ANYBODY about anything - never a lull in the conversation. And he knows a lot about a lot of stuff! A change in plans doesn't faze him a bit. I had wanted to go to a favorite place for chicken fried steak. When we got there - we found it's no longer open for dinner. It's open for breakfast and lunch. Not a problem - he could name several other places that serve good chicken fried steak, plan B at the ready. I don't know how he does it, but all the girls want to spend time with him! He was bragging about picking up a sweet young college thing just last weekend and having dinner with her. He had lunch with a different college girl the month before. I don't know how he spreads all that love around without making anybody jealous. He has a knack for it - and he keeps us wanting more. I love you, Daddy!

Must haves

My list of Thanksgiving must haves (in order of importance):

• my family
• turkey
• mashed potatoes and gravy
• stuffing
• pumpkin pie with whipped cream
• strawbery pretzel salad (yes, this is a SALAD, not a dessert. If it was a dessert, it would be called strawberry pretzel dessert)
• green vegetable (I don't REALLY want a green vegetable, but you have to have one, Mom said)

What's on your Thanksgiving must haves list?

Civic Duty

I got a summons for jury duty. I don't know anybody who gets it in the mail and thinks, "Yeah!!! It's FINALLY my turn!" But we go, because it is our responsbility. I was sent in a group of 45 potential jurors for a criminal trial: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The defendant allegedly tried to run down his former girlfriend with his car. The judge asks all kinds of questions designed to eliminate anyone who would not be a fair and impartial juror. It amazes me how much detail people volunteer! Alcohol might have been involved in the incident, so the judge asks if anyone has had, or if someone in their immediate family has had a DUI. People were volunteering things like their sister-in-law's cousin's uncle's niece's best friend's ex-boyfriend had 3 DUI's in 1985. Huh?!! Then he moves on to asking if anyone has ever been arrested. Juror number 44 addresses the judge as "dude" and uses a lot of "you know what I'm saying" to announce that he's been arrested for DUI, drug possession, domestic violence, driving with a suspended license and on and on. You know what I'm saying? The judge asks if all of those charges have been cleared up. Juror number 44 scratches his head and says, "umm, I think so." Right after this, the judge gives us a 10 minute break. We are to leave our Juror numbers on our seats and sit in those same seats when we return. When we come back in ten minutes, Juror number 44 is not with us. The bailiff removes the number 44 from the seat, know one says a word about it and the elimination process continues. I'm just guessing that someone did a quick computer records check and Juror number 44 had some outstanding issues that needed to be cleared up. Ten jurors were chosen for the trial - I didn't get picked. I didn't know there would ever be an advantage to always being picked last for the team!!!

Chili weather

It's going to be under 90 degrees today!!! Brrrrrr!!! Time to make some chili! Brenda posted a beef chili recipe on her blog. Yummy!! This is my favorite "White Chili". It's not really white - the chili powder makes it red - but it uses chicken and white beans - it's the ingredients that are white. And it cooks in less than 30 minutes - my kind of cooking.

White Chili

2 tablespoon olive oil
1 ½ lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14 ounce) can chicken broth
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
¼ cup cilantro
shredded Monterey Jack cheese


DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook chicken, onion and garlic in oil 4 to 5 minutes, or until onion is tender.
2. Stir in the chicken broth, green chiles, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and cayenne pepper. Reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Stir in the beans, and simmer for 5 more minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro. Garnish with shredded cheese.

Put a chunk of corn bread in the bottom of your bowl, pour the chili on top and garnish with the cheese. Yumm!

Singing in my head

Because I am the Payroll Goddess at work, part of my job is overseeing our companies open enrollment for benefits. Everybody hates open enrollment. Insurance is expensive, it's confusing and it sucks. And because I'm the Payroll Goddess, I have to hear about it. ALL DAY. I've been singing that song in my head, "It's the most wonderful time of the year". That's pretty much the only line I remember, so it's been on repeat, all day long. I know it's a Christmas song, but I'm choosing to apply it to open enrollment. I've been absorbing a whole lot of negative energy today and to get rid of it I'm singing Christmas songs in my head. If you've heard me sing, be thankful that you're not in my head, too!

Art Student

This is just for Brenda. I have TWO college students now! Jenna is at NAU, Jeremy is going to the Art Institute of Phoenix. For his Elements of Design class, he needed to create shapes for his project - curves, ellipses, circles. He was using a template, tracing the shape and cutting it out, and wasn't happy about how long it was taking. I got out my Creative Memories cutters and it went sooo much faster! He was done in time to go have a beer with his buddies.

Who?

I called my older brother recently and said, "Hi, it's Lori." His response was "Who?" You know you're out of touch when your family doesn't know who you are! So here I am. Signing on, reading about their lives via the internet, because I don' know who they are, either. And learning a lot about them that I didn't know. And loving them all the more.