Okay, I admit it, gardening is not my strong suit. My husband likes to say that I have a brown thumb. I do manage to keep my rose bushes alive, but that's about it. The tulips I planted two years ago never came up, and then there was the disaster with Grandpa John's whatever-they-were flowers I tried to transplant, after three weeks they were all dead. Anyway, putting all of that aside, I was inspired by the smell of jasmine last year and decided to give it another try. I planted them in big pots because after researching online I found they would not survive the harsh winters where I live, and I would need to bring them inside while Jack Frost visited. They spent all winter in my kitchen where I took loving care of them, even going so far as to make a chicken wire like barrier so that my cat wouldn't use them as litter boxes, since we never could convince her that that's not what they were. About a month ago I took them back outside.
As of now I have no blooms, no new growth and they are starting to look a little fragile, but this time it's not my fault, I think that the gods must be against me when it comes to horticulture. This spring has been so crazy with temps all over the place, two days ago, we were in the lower 80's and tonight it will be below freezing again. I ran outside with two large garbage bags to cover them and hopefully ward off the chill. I haven't given up, as long as there is still green left in them I will keep trying, but I could use any advise anyone out there has to give. My poor jasmine, they must have drawn the short straws.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Best casual shoes ever!
One of my favorite things right now are my Converse All Star High Tops. I have two pairs one is black with gothy red skulls all over them. The other pair is black with punky graffiti looking writing. People always seem to be noticing them and loving them as much as I do. I don't get to wear them as often as I would like because I have an office job but I occasionally sneak them in at work anyway. TTFN
Monday, April 28, 2008
America's new dumbest criminals...
I often stop by my local gas station for a Diet Dr. Pepper on my way home from work and two out of the last three times I've been there they've had a 'Drive off'. Pretty self explanatory, a drive off is when someone fills their tank and drives away without paying.
With gas prices soaring I can understand the impulse but aside from the fact that stealing is wrong because the government hates competition, to quote one of my all time favorite bumper stickers, I can't believe people actually think they are going to get away with it. I know that people are stupid, but really! So, just in case there are any more people considering being stupid, let me let you in on a little secret. There are cameras everywhere! It's that simple, as soon as you pull up to the gas station you are on camera. You, your car and your license plate duh! You know, those things they use to keep track of which cars belong to who, well as soon as you 'drive off' they know who you are and where you live, don't be stupid. Look, we are all feeling the pinch right now, but there are other things you can do. Trade in your Gas guzzling SUV for a more efficient vehicle to start with. Or if you don't like that idea there are of other things you can do to save fuel. Anyway, I'm done ranting, it's time to watch House.
With gas prices soaring I can understand the impulse but aside from the fact that stealing is wrong because the government hates competition, to quote one of my all time favorite bumper stickers, I can't believe people actually think they are going to get away with it. I know that people are stupid, but really! So, just in case there are any more people considering being stupid, let me let you in on a little secret. There are cameras everywhere! It's that simple, as soon as you pull up to the gas station you are on camera. You, your car and your license plate duh! You know, those things they use to keep track of which cars belong to who, well as soon as you 'drive off' they know who you are and where you live, don't be stupid. Look, we are all feeling the pinch right now, but there are other things you can do. Trade in your Gas guzzling SUV for a more efficient vehicle to start with. Or if you don't like that idea there are of other things you can do to save fuel. Anyway, I'm done ranting, it's time to watch House.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
You know what Calamari is right?
I picked up a frozen seafood stir fry in a lemon butter sauce at the store today to try for dinner. I didn't notice the calamari until I got home. Calamari is one of those things that I've always been hesitant to try. The idea of tentacles makes me a little nauseous, but I had already loaded it into the pan before I seeing the ingredient on the box. I don't know how I missed it at the store, I read the label's ingredients like I always do before trying anything new, and skipped past that one without it registering.
I briefly considered throwing it out but inspected the contents of the pan and noticed that thankfully, there were no tentacles to be found, just strips of white meat. I decided it would be worth a try. It was excellent, I served it on top of brown rice and my children, including my 10 year old daughter seemed to be enjoying it. I should have let her finish but I couldn't help it. Bad Mommy. "Do you know what's in there?" I gestured toward my daughter's plate as she took another bite and swallowed, then shook her head. "There's shrimp, scallops and calamari. Do you like it?"
"It's good" she answered nodding and taking another bite.
Bad Mommy again, "Do you know what calamari is? It's squid."
My daughter's large blue eyes became gigantic, her mouth hinged open and forgetting all pretense of table manners she slowly began to scoop the half-chewed contents out with her fingers. "I think I'm going to throw up." she dramatized.
She now says she hates calamari. It didn't matter that she liked it before I told her what it was, if fact it might have made it worse. All I know is that I will never forget and always giggle when remembering dinner tonight. Bad Mommy!
I briefly considered throwing it out but inspected the contents of the pan and noticed that thankfully, there were no tentacles to be found, just strips of white meat. I decided it would be worth a try. It was excellent, I served it on top of brown rice and my children, including my 10 year old daughter seemed to be enjoying it. I should have let her finish but I couldn't help it. Bad Mommy. "Do you know what's in there?" I gestured toward my daughter's plate as she took another bite and swallowed, then shook her head. "There's shrimp, scallops and calamari. Do you like it?"
"It's good" she answered nodding and taking another bite.
Bad Mommy again, "Do you know what calamari is? It's squid."
My daughter's large blue eyes became gigantic, her mouth hinged open and forgetting all pretense of table manners she slowly began to scoop the half-chewed contents out with her fingers. "I think I'm going to throw up." she dramatized.
She now says she hates calamari. It didn't matter that she liked it before I told her what it was, if fact it might have made it worse. All I know is that I will never forget and always giggle when remembering dinner tonight. Bad Mommy!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
It was raining on my plasma screen TV
Today I finally laid the last planks on my kitchen floor. I've been putting the floor down little by little, it was the final repair after my dishwasher supply line disaster.
One Saturday morning a couple of months ago my husband and I awoke at an obscenely early hour to the sound of rushing water. At first it was that sound you hear in the back of your mind while you're dreaming, in fact I don't think it would have woken me if my husband hadn't gotten out of bed. I heard "Holy Shit!" and shot out of bed, instantly completely conscious and yelled "Holy Shit!" as I arrived into the kitchen wading ankle deep in water. My husband was rummaging under the sink for the shut off valve.
Immediately I turned on my heels and ran downstairs, headed for the main water shut-off, pausing momentarily to look into our family room. What I saw there brought forth another "Holy Shit!" It was raining on my plasma screen TV. My 60 inch High Def Plasma Screen TV with a built in DVR, we hadn't even had it a year. Actually it looked more like a small waterfall pouring down directly into the vent on the top/back of the TV. I tore myself away and shut off the main.
I won't bore you with all of the cleaning-up details but in the end we had to replace the ceiling and carpet in the family room, the floor in the kitchen, which was actually only 4 months old, the entertainment center, and of course the TV. We figured out that the water could have only been running for about twenty minutes, I don't even want to think about what would have happened if it had happened while we were at work.
I ended up having to file a homeowners claim to pay for everything, there was a $1000 deductible, but I just about broke even since I did all the grunt work myself.
Anyway, I'm just so relieved that the whole thing finally over so I just wanted to say WOO-HOO!
One Saturday morning a couple of months ago my husband and I awoke at an obscenely early hour to the sound of rushing water. At first it was that sound you hear in the back of your mind while you're dreaming, in fact I don't think it would have woken me if my husband hadn't gotten out of bed. I heard "Holy Shit!" and shot out of bed, instantly completely conscious and yelled "Holy Shit!" as I arrived into the kitchen wading ankle deep in water. My husband was rummaging under the sink for the shut off valve.
Immediately I turned on my heels and ran downstairs, headed for the main water shut-off, pausing momentarily to look into our family room. What I saw there brought forth another "Holy Shit!" It was raining on my plasma screen TV. My 60 inch High Def Plasma Screen TV with a built in DVR, we hadn't even had it a year. Actually it looked more like a small waterfall pouring down directly into the vent on the top/back of the TV. I tore myself away and shut off the main.
I won't bore you with all of the cleaning-up details but in the end we had to replace the ceiling and carpet in the family room, the floor in the kitchen, which was actually only 4 months old, the entertainment center, and of course the TV. We figured out that the water could have only been running for about twenty minutes, I don't even want to think about what would have happened if it had happened while we were at work.
I ended up having to file a homeowners claim to pay for everything, there was a $1000 deductible, but I just about broke even since I did all the grunt work myself.
Anyway, I'm just so relieved that the whole thing finally over so I just wanted to say WOO-HOO!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Things I just don't understand...
The thing I don't understand today is... Why my fourteen year old son would rather sneakily shovel handful after handful of powdered sugar into his mouth and lie about it, than to ask for a snack. Sometimes I just don't get this kid.
It was actually pretty funny watching him deny it considering the evidence was all over the front of his shirt. I can't believe how stupid this kid thinks I am.
Other weird stuff he has been busted sneaking? About two dozen Splenda packets. He swiped them, ripped them open and ate them all in one sitting. Throat drops too, you know the kind that numb your throat and entire mouth? I don't think he thought they would do that though, he was used to nicking the Halls, one of those times I wish I had been a fly on the wall.
Anyway, his whiny response when questioned as to why? "I was hungry and I wanted something sweet" Now I'll admit, I don't keep candy around and only occasionally buy it (I have this thing against High Fructose Corn Syrup) but you can't tell me that fruit isn't sweet, and I'm sure it is a hell of a lot better at filling your stomach than a Splenda packet, even a bunch of Splenda packets, can you imagine-Ick! Or, he could have a granola bar if he wanted, but no-o, he would much rather sneak handfuls of powdered sugar and lie about it.
Maybe he just likes the idea that he's getting away with something, you know, it's more fun because it's against the rules. If that's the case, I'm in for a hell of a ride in the next couple of years. Wish me good luck, I'll need it.
It was actually pretty funny watching him deny it considering the evidence was all over the front of his shirt. I can't believe how stupid this kid thinks I am.
Other weird stuff he has been busted sneaking? About two dozen Splenda packets. He swiped them, ripped them open and ate them all in one sitting. Throat drops too, you know the kind that numb your throat and entire mouth? I don't think he thought they would do that though, he was used to nicking the Halls, one of those times I wish I had been a fly on the wall.
Anyway, his whiny response when questioned as to why? "I was hungry and I wanted something sweet" Now I'll admit, I don't keep candy around and only occasionally buy it (I have this thing against High Fructose Corn Syrup) but you can't tell me that fruit isn't sweet, and I'm sure it is a hell of a lot better at filling your stomach than a Splenda packet, even a bunch of Splenda packets, can you imagine-Ick! Or, he could have a granola bar if he wanted, but no-o, he would much rather sneak handfuls of powdered sugar and lie about it.
Maybe he just likes the idea that he's getting away with something, you know, it's more fun because it's against the rules. If that's the case, I'm in for a hell of a ride in the next couple of years. Wish me good luck, I'll need it.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Politics at Secretaries' Day Lunch?
My boss took a couple of co-workers and I to lunch at the Prairie Schooner, a local steak house, today for a belated Secretaries' day treat. After ordering drinks and appetizers my well intentioned boss began breaking the ice with, "So, who is everybody standing behind for President?" There was an audible pause. Let's just say my super-conservative LDS boss is not exactly the most open minded, he tries, but often times, just can't see how anyone with an opinion other than his can be anything but an idiot.
I'm working on him, and he's slowly opening his eyes. He can now accept that being a good person is not predicated upon being a Christian, but only because he got to know me first and then found out about my non-Christian status. He doesn't understand it, but he's grown to accept it. My eventual goal is to have him see that he can have his political leanings and I can have mine and we can still co-exist with neither one of us having to be an idiot. Don't get me wrong, my boss is a great guy. He's very considerate and treats me well, but he can be a bit stubborn.
Anyway, back to the audible pause. Poor guy, no one at the table answered him. Well, better put, no one at the table answered his question. My answer was "You don't really want to know where I stand on this one do you?" My co-worker answered "I thought you were never supposed to discuss religion or politics at a business lunch" and my other coworker answered with silence. The antagonist in me however wanted to answer that question, and then add, "I would also like to see marijuana legalized, and gay marriage allowed. Not that I'm a pot smoker, or gay. I just happen to be of the opinion that for the most part unless we're doing real harm, we should be able to do as we wish and government should mind it's own business.
I'm working on him, and he's slowly opening his eyes. He can now accept that being a good person is not predicated upon being a Christian, but only because he got to know me first and then found out about my non-Christian status. He doesn't understand it, but he's grown to accept it. My eventual goal is to have him see that he can have his political leanings and I can have mine and we can still co-exist with neither one of us having to be an idiot. Don't get me wrong, my boss is a great guy. He's very considerate and treats me well, but he can be a bit stubborn.
Anyway, back to the audible pause. Poor guy, no one at the table answered him. Well, better put, no one at the table answered his question. My answer was "You don't really want to know where I stand on this one do you?" My co-worker answered "I thought you were never supposed to discuss religion or politics at a business lunch" and my other coworker answered with silence. The antagonist in me however wanted to answer that question, and then add, "I would also like to see marijuana legalized, and gay marriage allowed. Not that I'm a pot smoker, or gay. I just happen to be of the opinion that for the most part unless we're doing real harm, we should be able to do as we wish and government should mind it's own business.
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