The Bovinity of Moo-vember
 

Whatever that means.

It's another rainishy day, but apparently dry enough for the guys to get started on the roofing. They are starting with the barn which shouldn't take more than a day or 2, then the kitchen! I am optimistic. Slap me.

Kiwi

Love the thread title. Not sure what it means either, Kiwi, but I like it. It's not rainishy here, just grayishy. I'm not gonna ask why the barn gets priority over your kitchen. Just happy that they're getting started.

I did a 1 mile walk w/ Leslie this morning. I know, only one mile, but it's better than the zero miles I've been putting in. Maybe I should do the one mile walk 2 or 3x's a day. :running:

Cherry, you asked my user name at Spark People - it's MizJoy, but I've never posted on the boards there. In fact, the only place I usually ever post is right here.

Half hour until lunch. I have a Lean Cuisine and a bunch of cauliflower waiting for me in the fridge. Yum. and I mean that seriously.

thirteen pounds!!!! wow wabby--that is wonderful!!! i tried counting points for the last month and managed to get rid of five pounds----------imagine that---i went from around 159 or 160 to 153-4----------it seems to fluctuate---AND THAT'S COUNTING POINTS----22 PER DAY=----I WAS DAMN NEAR STARVING!!! FIVE POUNDS IN A MONTH-----------when i was in my twenties i could looose five pounds in a week-------------now all i am doing is trying NOT to gain it back---i just don't think i can stay on the points wagon---it's kind of depressing======what is the 21 day challenge????---i would like to type more but Miss New Brunswick is trying to bury her nose in the keyboard so she can force my fingers to scratch her chin---and now she is trying to type--------------sigh------------ i guess i better stop bragging about loosing two hundred pounds!!!---------it has rained her for a week as well miss aussie fruit.

hey!! my avatar worked---it's from a sunny day in the winter of 2004,down by the used clothing store i like!!!i wish i could get the pic uploading to work when i try to post photos--------------don't worry kiwonkers--------i have given up===you always try to help me and i never figure it out----don't have a math brain i guess!!

I will simply have to believe you about the lean cuisine and cauliflower. I myself have decided to try out a Rachel Ray recipe for brussels sprouts with bacon and balsamic glaze. DH hates brussels sprouts, so I'm hoping they will be unrecognizable.

Wow, I made the best dinner the other night; I should have written it down. I wanted to make fried rice because I had a small amount of napa cabbage left from the asian slaw I made for the twin's dinner on Saturday (did I tell you what they made for us? It was awesome), and DH is not especially crazy about cabbage so I figured if I stirfried it in fried rice, he would not notice (I was right). Anyhoo, I didn't have any pork to put in the rice, but I did have a small package of beef "short ribs" in the freezer and they didn't look like anything you'd bother grilling so I sliced them up and marinated them in some serious homemade teriyaki marinade for a couple of hours. Then I decided they would probably be really tough if I just stir-fried them, so I browned them and cooked them in the pressure cooker (not having time to actually braise them). When they were done, I was afraid they would really suck--they were too salty--but I took a chance and threw them in with the stir-fried cabbage, onions, garlic and celery and made the fried rice. It turned out really really good; the plain rice absorbed most of the extra saltiness and the whole thing was a piece de resistance! :chef: Perfect! And not so awful bad in the healthy food department either, although I'm sure white rice is on everybody's Bad List. Perhaps making it with brown rice would work, but I can't be bothered...

Apparently I can't think of anything but food.

Oh yeah, the roofing guys started with the barn because the idiot lumber store, or wherever they ordered the roofing materials from, delivered the wrong stuff, and will have to redeliver tomorrow. The reason they delivered on Monday in the first place was because they had a partial load going to a town not too far from here and they combined the loads. The store is really far away from here, but they will now have to make a special trip to replace the stuff. Dumb-dumbs. Measure twice, cut once, as I always say. (to dh, who first taught me that, but doesn't listen to his own advice) Or more to the point, double check your freaking order before you drive 100 miles to deliver it!!

However, not my problem. Tomorrow I'm going on a little jaunt with my dog-person friend. We are driving up into the Woods to surprise a mutual friend on her 70th birthday. She is working at a woods gate this month and hasn't a clue we are coming. Of course I just saw her 3 days ago when we celebrated our birthdays together, but I didn't tell my dog-person friend that. Well, not in detail anyway. Do you all find you have to "manage" some people in order to be friends with them?

Kiwi

Is a dog-person friend something like Goofy? Does that make you Minnie?

I got email from lcp telling about the trip. She makes it sound legitimate.

Will SOMEBODY please TELL me HOW to GET this STY ready FOR visitors NEXT week? Don't get all snotty, clean new people. Messiness is a disease like alcoholism and shoppingaholicisism and cat scratch fever. I need HELEPEPEPPPP.

I've been putting liquid vitamins in my Coca Cola. Doesn't that seem like a great idea? Now I NEED to finish the coke as it's good for me.

My mom used to cook brussel sprouts. While working in the supermarket, I've noticed that most of the people who buy them say they hate them. They've read how healthful they are and will eat 2-3 for a serving. They actually will buy 2 or 3. A few like them and act all superior for it, but most want to gag at the checkout stand while they're being rung up. I don't mind them but then I have't eaten them in decades. They can be bitter can't they?

Can I confess that I like Brussels Sprouts? Lightly steamed (about 15-18 minutes in the steamer), salted, with just a touch of olive oil. If you like cabbage, there's no good reason not to like Brussels sprouts, except that most eating establishments boil them until they're slimy and dead and then drown them in butter to hide the stench.

Peachie, I wish I could help with the cleaning issue. I'm fighting it too. Always.

So you're asking the blind to lead the blind out of chaos, Peachy? This is how I do it when I have to - Get up early and clean in your jammies. Put on good music. Loud. Assemble cleaning stuff. Start in back of the house and move to the front (or front to back, your choice.) Anything not belonging in that room throw in a laundry basket by the door. Trash and good stuff. As you move into other rooms, unload the good stuff where it's supposed to stay and when you're done, throw away the trash stuff. Don't stop to read the magazines you're cleaning out. Don't start looking at old photos and getting all nostalgic. Hmmm. Can't think of anything else. You could hire someone, but they don't pick up your stuff, which is the hardest part. I relate to the messiness being a disease. Some ppl are naturally neat. Not me and definitely not DH. I can clean all day and the next day we have it all wiped out again.

Your avatar looks like a professional photograph, Bagzie. Very purty.

I love, love, love brussel sprouts. Steamed like Cherry says w/ some squirt butter. In fact, I had them for dinner last night. mmmmmmm. The thing is, I like just about all food. That's how I got fat. :hun:

Kiwi, if I have to "manage" someone in order to be friends w/ them, they're not really a friend. Is this person just difficult? Pouty? Not saying you can't do stuff w/ them sometimes, but they don't really move into the friend catagory if you have to tip toe around them.

We're having a calm, sunny day here, which is wonderful b/c it's been stormy for the last week. We had a tree blow down in the back pasture and it smashed the fence. Luckily the cows aren't smart enough to try and escape. These stormy days are hard on Gpa Jim b/c his trailer house is surrounded by huge fir trees and it's scarey when the wind blows. He won't come over to our house to sleep, though. Stubborn old geezer.

Anyone addicted to Dancing w/ the Stars? Big football player who was light on his feet beat out the cutey patooty latin heartthrob. Yea. I love an underdog.

Your avatar looks like a professional photograph, Bagzie. Very purty.

Howdy :wave: Purty :moo:ladies!

Bagzz- you really could be a professional photograher.. I remember the purple Lupine pic you took - just breathtaking!

Cowpie: U Been Gone long time.I missed you. Where did lcp go? Never underestimate the power of the Swiffer! Perhaps fer xmas you will get a RoombaRosie and her brother Scooba..You can knit them matching sweaters.

Cherry: I confess to hating brusselsprouts..little cabbage wannabees... They always taste so bitter to me :shrug: and they are most stinky. I don't like lima beans or turnips either.

oooh Kiwi, dinner sounds deeeeVine!!! Methinks there's a gormet chef hiding in you. How did Dh's job thing go? And :cp: on the new roof!!!

Wabby: oooh, I like yer cleaning tips... That is if I can get Darby outta the laundry basket...silly dog has taken to sleeping in the dirty hamper.. It skeeved me so the dirty clothes are in a pile and there is a pillow and a blanket in the basket for her! Casey on the other hand sleeps in the guest room... it's her room and she sleeps on the queen sized bed :lol: I never got into Dancing with the Stars...but it sure seems mighty popular! I watch way toooo much TV...I'm watching Americas Top Model .. its a hoot... TopChef on Bravo.. I love the new show Ugly Betty and Heros... Bones NCIS, CSI, Men in Trees... see what I mean?? Tooooo much TV!!!!

No. And No. Goofy would be a dog friend. Timmy would be a dog-person. I am not Minnie; there is nothing mini about me. I did have a mini skirt once.
You're having visitors? I think my FIL came over today; I'm glad I wasn't here--that way I can pretend that nobody saw this pigsty. I have no advice for you. I am worse than anyone.
That's a horrible idea. You should put the vitamins in the brussels sprouts.

By the way, the brussels sprouts were not bad. There weren't actually enough of them (it was the end of a frozen package) so I also put green beans in with them. The whole balsamic vinegar thing was interesting, although not really my favorite sort of thing. I did like the bacon bits and onions. Frozen sprouts are really not the way to go anyway. Nice fresh ones I like fairly well, even if they are a tad bitter.

No, not pouty. Just difficult. Hmm, I hesitate to go into detail just in case of eavesdropping or something, you know? We had a good time, but let's just say it must be on her terms.

I do find that nobody seems to listen to other people any more. Well, actually I usually do, but I don't get to talk much.

Well, I haven't asked, but he said he was going to get the whole application package finished today. I hope he did (I was gone); it's been about a week since they sent it to him. Please give this man a job.

Must go clean my car insides; we are going on a road trip tomorrow with DDbf and his mom. Not that she is picky or anything, but I am reminded of the time DD and I borrowed BF's car and left mine in his driveway because of a problem with the door -- not only did BF fix the door, but he also washed and vacuumed the car before we got back. I really cannot transport them in a car with dognoseprints all over the windows, you know?

Later, dolls

Kiwi

I think brussel sprouts get bitter if you cook them too long. I don't like frozen brussel sprouts, but this is what I do like - cold brussel sprouts leftover from dinner last night, dipped in low fat ranch dressing. What I love is cold brussel sprouts dipped in full fat blue cheese dressing. yummers.

I'm guilty of not being a good enough listener. I think it's b/c I'm cooped up here by myself too much and when I get around live ppl, watch out - maybe I'm just self concious of it b/c that's my dad's worst habit - he never listens to anyone. All conversations are one sided. Kiwi, you'd be a very good friend to go on walks with. I wish I lived close by, we could walk our doggies together. Dotty doggie would love Jett. She's kind of rambunctious too. You may complain about your kitchen, but I imagine it to be the kind of kitchen that would be nice to hang out in and sip a hot toddy or two.

I went to lunch w/ my little sis today, even though I'd already eaten my Lean Cuisine and cold brussel sprouts. I had a salad while she ate. We talked about growing up in our disfunctional family. There are 9 years between us, and she said that I was the person who nurtured her when she was growing up. I do remember dragging her around like she was my live dolly.

Schatz, I'm guilty of waaay too much tv too. It seems to be the thing to do on these dark and stormy nights. I'm spoiled w/ the DVR, though. I can't stand watching commercials anymore, so I seldom watch "live" tv. I record it and watch it later so I can zip through the commercials.

Oooo. time to go home. See yas!

I don't know how to make that Orignally Posted by Shotsy thing.

BUT A BIG FAT LOL !!! Shots is a neatnack and does not understnad there are piles of mail on the chair by the door. What would Swiffer do for that? People like Shots and Painty and such think a messie house is a few pieces of lint on the floor. !!!! We (Well, I) used to run people like you off!!!! I have grown more tolerant.

So ... if Kiwi is not Minnie and her friend is not Goofy, then can Kiwi be Goofy? I want to call someone Goofy. I like the name Goofy. I am not getting another cat and I did call one of the kids that but he had the nerve to point it out. "Did you call me Goofy?" Yes.

I made paperdolls to entertain them. The kind that hold hands across the page and one of the little girls grabbed her scissors and went for their necks. "Are you going to cut their heads off?" I asked. "Yep." she said. But she didn't. I made her her own paperdolls to snip at.

One of the little GIRLS repeatedly says that Santa is bringing her guns. One of the boys wants a baby doll and I get that. They have baby dolls in the room and the little boys cuddle them just like the girls. Some of the kids want "Trick or Treat" for Christmas. Someone explained this means candy.

Lush could help me clean. Ever since our mom said I would inherit the wooden shoes whittled by an Amish ancestor in 1882, she hasn't spoken to me. Lush is getting the wooden spoons. She can't have it all. I would trade the shoes for a clean house althought as Wabby said, clean it one day and it's all a-mess the next. Why is that? I am sick of this. Why does Shots' house house stay neat????? Why???? It's not fair. WHAAAAAAAAA

DS and LCP will be here for T-giving.

I'll bet you are not a bad listener at all, just very aware of it when you don't listen because of your dad. I feel really badly if I find myself interrupting or not listening because I know how much I dislike it when it happens to me.
Jet is goofy. So am I.

I think those kids sound as though their parents don't talk to them enough about anything and everything. 4-year-olds ought to know that trick or treat is a special event and candy is candy. But it's kind of cute anyway. Trick or treat for Christmas. Reminds me of DD when she was that age and the only thing she wanted for Christmas was a magic wand and a nutcracker. Of course they both had to really work. It was a very tall order.

Yay!!

We're off in the morning to Boston. Bye
Kiwi

I fergot to say how nice it was to get messiness help from Wabby who understands that trash and clutter all go in the same basket. This makes perfect sense as they are both on the same desk right now.

And you are a good listener or you wouldn't have known what I meant. So there. After you get me straightened out with the clutter and trash, tell me how to trim my waistline.

Bye Goofy.

We have cable tv w/ on demand programming, which means there are some shows that you can watch like a dvd - you can start them or stop them or rewind them. They have some Leslie Sansone walking programs that I do sometimes. They have one Turbo Jam show. I've been trying to do the Turbo Jam, but I've only gotten through the first 10 minutes. I'm trying to figure out if it's b/c I'm out of shape or because (Peaches don't smack me) I'm old!!!! Do you think if I keep working at it I could actually manage to do the entire thing?? I'm seriously thinking of buying the Turbo Jam dvds. It doesn't seem to require the coordination that the Firm tapes do........ or should I figure if I'm over 50 I should get the Sit and Be Fit tapes?

I've got to remember to buy canning jars. Remember weeks ago when I was supposed to buy my pears for Ginger Pear Butter? Well I finally did last weekend and now I have a bunch of overripe pears I have to get processed before the fruit flies take over. That's my exciting friday night. :stir:

Peach, the only problem w/ the clutter-trash basket is sometimes it's hard to tell them apart..........you can't believe everything those little 4 yr olds tell you. My friend's little girl told her Grandma that her mommy (my friend) wouldn't read any stories to her. Grandma was aghast and thought the little girl was being neglected. Little girl forgot to say her mommy wouldn't read a bedtime story until she brushed her teeth first. Kids. Speaking of such, enjoy DS and lcp while you have them, Peachpie.

I suppose I'm too late to say Bon Voyage to Kiwi ----- :wave:

Oh Dear lord, you girls have me on the floor :rofl:

Here's a hysterical article about Fritolays new healthy snack foods... It's got some rough trucker language so if that bothers you .... be forewarned... I near peed myself!
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/54916

I think that Fritolay thing is from Paintyville.

Lies needed please:

1. Had a manadatory class this weekend Friday night and Saturday all goldurned day. Went there. Didn't take the official paper that said what suite number ... it's a huge strip mall ... and didn't find it. Should I say I got sick on the way? "I forgot the instructions" doesn't sound good.

2. Have an interview for a real teaching job Tuesday morning. Should I go? I like this job fine but teaching is more $ and fewer hours and all that. Should I admit they'll hire somebody subbing for them and it would be a waste of time? Or what lie should I use to go?

I suspect that Shots is finding it so funny that my house is a mess. I have noticed that neatniks think that is joke. Remember when Lush used to post lists of what should was gonna do and all the people would post how funny they were when they are ACTUALLY WHAT SHE WAS GONNA DO. 1. change laundry to dryer; 2. vacuum public rooms .. etc.

I am back! What a day. Or 2 days I don't know. We left yesterday at 9 am, picked up dd'sbf'smom, let's just called her T, dropped Jet off at the vet (our vet is an hour away and yes, it's the closest one, you'd think I lived in Montana or something), drove to southern Maine, picked up BF, and finally got to Tufts at 4 PM. BFtw also drove up and met us, and we all took DD out to dinner in Cambridge. DD had to get back to the auditorium well before the performance started, so she and BF went back and the rest of us took the subway to the North End and our favorite bakery. We bought a dozen cannoli for Thanksgiving, and a treat for each of us for later. Truly decadent stuff, half of mine is still in the box waiting for me to finish it.

Then we went back to school for the dance performance. It was soooo good!! Absolutely incredible the talent and creativity there -- there was a dance troupe (actually a student club) that put on the show and their dancers, mostly modern and jazz, performed in about every other number. In between were the "guest" clubs, also entirely student run, each doing one performance. DD's Irish dance club was on 2nd, and they were great -- she was so grown up and poised up there, it just blew me away. Their piece was way too short, I wanted to watch it again! They also had a stomp type group, a step-dance group which was indescribable, sort of precision hip-hop or something, really wow! And improv, and Latin jazz, and mime, and a bollywood type group and more. All very entertaining and extremely good. Amazing the participation in this thing, and none of these kids were doing any of this for academic credit, these clubs are all extra-curricular.

Anyway, we hung around to eat our fab desserts and then said goodbye to DD. BFtw went off in one direction and we headed north. We had to switch off in Portland so BF could pick up his car, so he and his mom went in his car, and DH and I in ours. I decided I would need wait around in the Vet-town to pick up the dog (they opened at 8am) so we met up there and I sent DH home with them and I took a very very cold nap in the car while waiting for the vet to open up. And then I got Jet and brought her home and climbed into my cozy warm bed and didn't get up until about an hour ago. And now it's almost dark. Where did my Saturday go? It's the first dry day in a week and I wasted it.

Don't you just love my blow by blow accounts of every damn thing I do? You do realize that you are my captive audience for my diary, right? God I'm a bore.

Love the FritoLay article. I totally agree with them. Have you tried those puffed veggie worm shaped things? Taste like packing pellets.

I'm glad we can amuse Schatzi while we try to work out our messiness. Neat people are a total mystery to me. I like neatness, but it eludes me. Some of my best friends are cleanies. :dizzy: Too bad it hasn't rubbed off.

Here's my recommendations for lies, Peachie:
1 -- I couldn't find it, I looked everywhere. Won't make you any worse than I forgot the instructions and sort of unloads the responsibility onto the obscurity of the location.
2 -- I have an appointment, can I have the morning off? And when they ask what kind of appt., your response is "Oh, you know" and :rolleyes: Not really a lie, just a "misdirection". Also perfectly legitimate, in my opinion.

By the way, since you already have a teaching job, they will probably want to hire you -- you know, just like they'll give you credit if you don't need it.

Gotta go rescue the pupster from the dark yard.

Kiwi

How do you do that quote thing? This was a lot of work. I like neatness, too. It's nice but sort of like Prince Charming ... it isn't for me.

I spent the day learning about little kid education. Was good.

DS has told me what he wants for Christmas and wants to know what I want. All I know is NOT a cat. Did you read those Scientology marriage vows? Cats are mentioned as something the "girl" might need.

ONE CD LATER The S-o-W and I made a dent in the lr. S-o-W left me for a bit when I took some clothes out of the dryer. "You're Supposed to Stay on Task," I could hear her scolding. I am thinking of calling up the S-o-S (Shots) but am concerned about what would happen when a spirit passes out from shock. I will stay with my bud, S-o-W, right after this break for a snack.

The S-o-W and enjoyed Rosemary Clooney singing Cole Porter and we picked up some odds and ends hiding behind furniture on the floor. I need more help though. How can I reach Mary Poppins?

Should I go to this interview tuesday?:
PROS:
More $
Better benefits

CONS:
Would like to make a difference where I am
Unlikely to get the job
Would leave understaffed center more understaffed and would feel guilty
Beginning to get comfy where I am

OK, I am using S-o-B (Bagz) this time. We are going into the kitchen.

S-o-B was not good at all. Bad bad bad. Turned off Cd and sat down in front of puter and answered emails.

C'mon S-o-W ... to the br.

Not getting far enough. TAking a break then going to beg S-o-s to help. Maybe Shots herself could come over. I am so tired.

What are you talking about? Hit the Quote button. I've seen you do it. Are you talking about splitting up the quote into separate boxes the way I do here-->That actually is a lot of work, you have to copy the quote and paste it as many times as you want different quote boxes and then cut out what you don't want on each one.

I went out for a long walk -- really more of a hike -- with Jet and 6 other dogs, 2 other people, this morning. I'm wiped. Jet is still raring to go. I love the puppy, but we are not a very good match for energy level. :rolleyes:

I hope you have accomplished lots so far, Peachie. I've done a load of laundry. Whoopdedoo. I can see why you are having trouble deciding about the interview, but it really can't hurt to apply and see what happens. You certainly can't be blamed for trying to earn more money, although if you love the job you have and can get by on the salary, I guess you might not want to change anyway. You could always stick with this for a while and apply for another job down the road.

Of course, you knew that...

I downloaded some photos from my camera. I'll put up a couple from the dance show. DD's group did special makeup for it. Cute, eh? Like the way the red-eye matches the makeup? She did her hand because she was bored waiting backstage... The stage shot is the best I could do during the performance, but that's DD right in the middle.

Kiwi

DDGoofy is beautiful. I have been summoning up S-o-G in between cleaning just for someone to tak e breaks with. We went to the store and got Yohos and Chips. Did you know Kiwi likes Yoohoos? She does. I swear.

There is so much to clean. I hate it. What does Shots do? Does she ever find a pile of dirty dishes in the sink? How would she handle it? Ohhhh, Shots, how do you do this?

Goofy likes YooHoo and HoHos. Therefore, Goofy must like Yohos. Also chips.

I am curious too. I don't have any ambition for cleaning. When I think I will start cleaning, usually I don't get any further than emptying the dishwasher or doing a load of laundry or wandering around looking for a place to put something. I spend a lot of time staring at messy places feeling clueness.

(Warning -- grossness)
By the way, the cat threw up last night and the dog ate it. This is what I call delegating responsibility. If I were still counting System Goddess points, I would take a point for that.

DD spent 12 hours yesterday working for the univ. event staff, setting up and lugging equipment and selling tickets etc for the symphony orchestra concert. She ought to get a tidy paycheck for that stint.

Later dearies
Kiwi

No, you're not a bore, and yes I do love your blow by blow accounts.

It's no wonder I didn't get any housework done this weekend - my spirit was off helping Peach....... actually I cleaned house on Saturday, but by Sunday I'd mostly managed to wipe out any progress in that regard. I made my Ginger Pear butter on Sunday, but I'm sad to report it turned out too runny as opposed to gooey. Maybe I should just label it Ginger Pear syrup --- except it's not quite that bad. It still tastes yummy. I also made the world's toughest pot roast along w/ the world's driest potatoes. The cooking Gods were against me.

I babysat Kayden on Saturday because it was DS & wifey's first anniversary. She was good as gold the whole time, but when I left she started crying. She didn't want her Grandma to leave. For some reason this made me happy --- isn't that terrible?

Aww, little Kayden loves her Grammie!! Of course you are thrilled at that (even though I know you don't want her to cry)!

It was nice of you to lend your household skills to Peachie this weekend. Apparently she should have done some cooking too, since she must have had your culinary skills as well!

Wow, first anniversary, amazing!

My nephew is home for Thanksgiving--this is the Marine who returned from Iraq last spring. He was supposed to come home for Christmas, but it looks like he will be re-deployed to Iraq instead. They had told him he wouldn't be going back. Stupid stupid government :censored: .

Gotta go accomplish something before it is completely dark. I think I'd really better get going on this 21-day challenge (getting to sleep earlier) -- I'm wasting too much daylight because I go to bed too late at night!

Kiwi

Wabby's spirit did help but has a short attention span. Why didn't Shots help? I mean with a name like S-o-S, Shouldn't she be required to come to my aid?

Hi to DNKiwi and sorry the stupid government is so stupid.

"Might as well be eating Cool Ranch Doritos with cheese dip when you go."
 

Schatz - That article was SO funny. I love The Onion.

I'm baaack. Did you notice I was gone? The interesting thing about my absence is that I ACTUALLY WENT SOMEWHERE. On a train, no less. And I stayed in a hotel. Whoooo!

It was time for the Annual Whiney Expat Bloggers in Germany Meet-Up and this year it was in Bonn, which is somewhere down south. I just got off the train after a few hours and there I was. Nice city. Lots of museums, lots of restaurants and cafes and bars, many of which we visited. There were 15 people there, one of them a 7 year old girl who is SO cute. Some people I knew from last year, some were new and they were all great - New Yorkers and Virginians and Californians and Pennsylvanians and Londoners and even a fellow British Columbian! Awesome.

The one thing that killed me was the cigarette smoke EVERYWHERE. Oooog. I don't take to that at all. My nose is still stuffed up. And if you book "non-smoking section" on the train, that means there's a thinnny thin thin glass partition with a door between you and the smokers and the smoke seeps through anyway. Yum. Had to endure 4 hours of that on the way home.

And when I was home again, I decided in a fit of stupidity it was high time to get rid of all these trojans that were infecting my computer so I did one of those online scans and deleted them, BUT it seems like I also deleted something else because I can't open any of my "exe" applications. For some heaven-sent reason, my internet connection still works, but I can get into Outlook Express or open anything esle, including anti-virus programs. Can't download, can't install, can't open. I don't know if the file names are all changed or what, but the files are there, they just don't do anything. What should I doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo? Will the Windows XP recovery CD help? I'm afraid to try it. One of you geniuses guide me , please.

the pressure is off
 

Never mind. I fixed it. :carrot:

Glad I could help. :rofl:

I missed you, Sug. But the nice thing is that whenever I miss you here, I can go to your blog and there are adorable new things to look at or yummy food pictures, and of course I find out why you are missing and all is well. I am still trying to figure out why that stuffed animal is wearing your shoes, but I'm glad you had a good time in Bonn! Isn't that the capital city?

Should I make green bean bundles or green bean casserole for my in-laws for Thanksgiving?

Our roof is supposed to be done today. Wow.

Flyball tonight. Also DD coming home late. I've got to strip her bed, do some grocery shopping, cleaning. Eww.

Kiwi

The Spirit of Kiwi came over me and I found the solution! Where, you ask? On an old internet message board where no one has posted since 2001. It was some kind of registry corrupting thingie and the guy had a fix for it and now everthing works again. Phew! Thought I was in big trouble for a minute there.

Bonn used to be the capital city, but they changed it to Berlin for some reason unbeknownst to me. I think Adenaur or someone was from Bonn and he chose that location but it's not really capital city material. Very cute and old fashioned. Berlin is more hip, I guess.

Green bean bundles are kind of fiddly with wrapping with the bacon and all that but you can marinate them ahead and then just pop in the oven. The question is, will the guests appreciate your hard work or say "Eeeeew, what's this? I though you were bringing green bean casserole like every year."

I keep forgetting to mention how gorgeous Jett is. The daughter of friends of ours just got a chihuahua/Yorkshire terrier cross and he is SO cute - light brown fluffy fur, little brown nose and blue eyes. From behind he looks just like a kitten. Last time we were there he fell in love with ds10's leg and wouldn't let go. :D

Good luck with the roof! A guy is coming to measure our kitchen on Dec. 1. Must scrub off 18 years of accumulated goo before that. :o

Green bean bundles all the way.... I never did care for the green bean casserole.... unless it's this green bean casserole http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/reci..._35139,00.html I saw them prepare this on tv the other day and it looked yummy. Cream and sherry are always yummy.

I'm cooking dinner for 14 on thursday. gobble. gobble.

Sugar, I knew eggzactly where you were b/c I read your blog. Did you know that you have an interesting blog? Not too many ppl do, you know. Peaches blog would be interesting but she doesn't update enough. Also she should give knitting lessons in her blog.

Congrats on the roof, Kiwi. I think we should toast it w/ margies.

Oh Contrare mon Peachpie-- I sent you so much of my energy that I doth not pick up a swiffer this weekend.. But I pledge that I sent you vibes to enddust and have your house looking fantastic...(corny eh?) I like Lush am a list maker...I start here:
1) Make a list
Imagine my feeling of accomplishment once the list is complete and I can mark off #1.

Sugar you must send me linkage to your bloggette, as I had to rebuild my laptop and lost all my favorite bookmarks.. (you too Peach and Wabs)..

Kiwi, your blow by blows never bore me ! I love to hear every detail!

Wabby, we are that much closer to getting that 10 acres... the developer filed the plat and we went out this weekend to have a relook see .. I still like it and it will take about 10 years for it to be completely developed affording us peace and quiet! So the negotiations begin!

Did I ever tell you cows about my aversion to sticking my hand in turkey carcasses?? Kiwi, you're in charge... see if there is a name for this phobia.....
Anyway this has led me to creative ways to cleaning out the carcass which I will now share in list form.

1) Using Tongs remove the bags of innards
2) Grabbing Tom's legs, sit him upright using the Sprayer to spray out loose bits.
3) Turn top upside down and shake out the water
4) Wrap a hundred Bounty towels around a potato masher secured with a rubber band, and use masher to dry the innards.
5) Using a long handled spoon, sling or catapult the dressing into the bird
6) Using the un-bountied toweled Potato masher, mash the stuffing into the bird
7) Repeat steps 5 and 6
8) Using my embroidery skills I then use a split satin stitch to secure the neck thingy.

Ok it's been absolutely miserable here with flooding high winds and ice.. Time to hit the books!

Turkeycarcasaphobia????? I have to admit, it doesn't bother me - I think I was a surgeon in another life - do you wear rubber gloves when you operate? I rather like preparing our friend, Tom Turkey for dinner. He always looks so pretty, all dressed up for the meal. :thanks1:

Schatzi, I want pictures of your new piece of ground. That would be so exciting. Developer guy still hasn't given us our schedule so we have an idea when the big move will take place. I hope not too soon, because there isn't much on the market here this time of year.

My blog address is http://www.joyfulpursuits.blogspot.com/, but I don't update very much and I don't really have anything to say. I think Mz. Schatz should start a blog. with lists.

My old boyfriend was on the Today Show 2 weeks ago
 

DD & BF blew in last night about 1:00 AM. She with a dozen roses and he with all her bags. :dunno: Today they both went with DH "hunting" -- which is what you call riding around on bumpy roads in unfashionable clothing.

I will be nursing my damn elbow and cooking stuff for tomorrow. I finally "failed" on 2 medicines so I can start the "preferred" drug. Evil. Thanks for the extra pain and expense, Anthem. Ha. "Anthem". Like you'd sing about them.
Way to go! Yeah, we always do that too when we have a computer problem -- it's a surprisingly useful way to get answers. I don't know how I lived without the internet.
I think capitals should be like that. Well, I suppose maybe not national ones, but lots of US state capital cities are truly minor cities. You should see Augusta, Maine. Small, with a cute downtown.
:headache: Oh well, I already bought the ingredients for bean bundles. Let's face it, these folks don't expect much out of me anyway. They like my dip (which is really tricky -- add vegetable soup mix to sour cream... :rolleyes: ). Guess they'll put up with my culinary experiments. I'm also foisting stuffing muffins on them. I will enjoy them, anyway. I'm really not crazy about my dear MIL's dressing. I am mystified by it, actually. It seems to be a baked paste of onions, potatoes and glue. I mean it is tasty in its way, but mystifying.
Why thank you. She is a sweetheart. Today I called DD "Jett".
Yes! :woohoo: :cheers: I think they are actually done. It's lovely.
You're brilliant!


While I don't share your aversion, I do like some of your solutions. And I always sit the feller in the sink on his arse to clean out the cavity. Seems only decent, dontcha think?

Here are some possibilities of phobias to choose from:

1. Catastrophobia -- natural and man made disasters
2. Nosophobia (Pathophobia) - disease
3. Microchemophobia - toxicity in air, water, food
4. Kakorraphiaphobia - failure
5. Katagelophobia - ridicule
6. Decidophobia - indecisiveness
7. Arachibutyrophobia - peanut butter sticking to roof of mouth
8. Giraffeophobia - fear of sticking your neck out

Kiwi

Wabby, please don't tell me your turkey looks like this

(amazing what you can find when you use The Google on the Internets:rolleyes: )