Cookin' On All Four Burners

Nablopomo # 9

Today was a blur. Was at work before 7:30 and didn't leave until 5:45. Don't think I stopped moving once all day but I sure did cook through the pile of work on my desk. I will be working from home the next couple of days. I was supposed to find an Executive Assistant type seminar to attend for continuing education, but nothing of any note has been given in the area, so I am taking the next couple of days to do some on line work; lots of tutorials, tips and tricks etc that I've been saving until I 'had time'. That hasn 't happened so I'm taking the time and having a couple of do-it-yourself seminar days! I learn best on my own anyway.

Came home and used my new birthday skillet to make a huge batch of Pasta Fagiolo! It's been simmering on the stove for an hour and my house smells SO GOOD. I think I'll ask Mike and Hef down for supper. I've got a loaf of crusty bread to bake up and some fresh Parmesan to grate over it. If it sounds good, I'm posting the recipe on Molly Bee's Kitchen. Delicioso!

Off to work more on my BSJ. I think I'll be able to finish it tonight and put the buttons on tomorrow night and have both of them in the mail by the end of the week. Then it's on to my secret Thanksgiving project for Sweet Willie Browne! G'night all!

I Broke My Dog

Nablopomo Day 8!

Mr Ben and I just got back from a rousing game of fetch....er... that is to say....a rousing game of 'You Throw The Ball And I'll Go Get It, Bring It Half Way Back And Then Head Off Into The Tall Grass With It Causing You To Chase Me, Catch Me and Call Me A Bad Dog And Making Me To Feel Bad Until You Throw The Ball The Next Time And I Bring It Half Way Back Only To Head Into The Tall Grass Again'. Lather, rinse repeat as needed. He's now laying on the floor wheezing like a bagpipe, but I suspect he'll re inflate in time for supper. It's so hard to be a big doggie.

Did a whole bunch of not much today primarily focusing on procrastinating about finishing the BSJ. Why is it that when you HAVE TO (self-imposed HAVE TO or course but still...) knit something, you don't want to, but when you should be doing something else, all you want to do is knit. I am my own worst enemy.

Off to order the new John Irving Book from the library before you can! Neener Neener! Have a good night!

Queen of Productivity

Went to Knit Night at The Ear last night. Did everything I could to talk myself out of it but the lure of my buds and Chocovine was too great. I didn't stay a whole long time, it was too crowded and hot, but they lifted my spirits immensely in the short time I was there. They are the best. I'm a lucky girl.

I even managed to finish these:
I like this Trek yarn. If I can't decide what color sock to wear, I'll pick these since they seem to have ALL of the colors in them!

With a little help from my friends, I am finally beginning to crawl out of my self-imposed funk today. Ben and I got up at 5:45 and took a walk for about an hour and fifteen minutes. We watched the sun rise and enjoyed the warm temps. I even had to take my fleece jacket off and tie it around my waist. Ben didn't take his coat off but he did pee on a lot of things to stay cool.

Came home and had some yogurt and fresh berries for breakfast, stripped my bed and loaded the linens into the washer, cleaned out the fridge and did the dishes. Then it was off to Wal-Mart to pick up a whole list of things. I HATE to go there so I tend to wait until the list is loooooong. It was pretty quiet today so it wasn't that bad. Got a nice deep dish frying pan, and a CD player so I can listen to my hypnosis CDs again, with b-day money from my Mum. Thanks Mum!

I stopped at Brennan's Market on the way home and picked up some aged cheddar and honey. Tonight is earmarked for my favorite comfort food; Molly Bees Special Toasted Cheese. (That's right Michael! I said 'Toasted Cheese rather than 'Grilled Cheese' ...'cause that's how I roll! If you want to try it here's what you do:

Take good bread (not packaged fog like Wonder Bread) Put in a slice of aged cheddar, and several THINLY sliced apples slices (with or without the peel-I do with). Drizzle with honey. Coat the outside with butter or margarine and put it in the 400° toaster oven for about 8 minutes. Take it out and sprinkle 2 tsp of Parmesan cheese on each side and out back in for another 6 minutes or so. YUM!

At any rate, I digress. I'm going to meet a friend for lunch later at Quivey's and then my afternoon will be devoted to getting me and big doggie outside to enjoy the last of the decent weather. Tonight will be finishing my Baby Surprise Jacket-over half done and watching The United State of Tara on Showtime On Demand. That show is hysterical! Anyway, that's all the news that's fit to print for now. So far I've reached my Nablopomo goal!

Thankful

On days like this when I feel less than wonderful and it seems like the whole world is coming apart at the seams, I try to concentrate on the little things. There's so much to be thankful for:

• My family who loves me no matter what
• My doggie who is a snuggler-most-excellent
• My cozy nest
• A hot pot of rose tea and a warm blanket
• A wonderful book
• Knitting
• My journal

And the knowledge that life has a way of working itself out and that tomorrow will be better

Guest Blogger: Ben-the-Dog

My Mommy is sick tonight. She has a bad tummy and feels yucky. She says it must be from eating healthier and says she is going back to eating cheeseburgers tout de suite. I don't know what that means. I, Ben-the-Dog, find cheeseburgers quite savory don't you? They are not too sweet at all. Anyway. She asked me, Ben-the-Dog, to write a blog guest post since she joined Nablopomo (National Blog Posting Month) and is supposed to make some sort of entry every day for the month of November. So I sat down and thought about it...

(This is me thinking about it.)

but couldn't think of anything to write so I, Ben-the-Dog, will just issue an invitation to all of you to come over and see my toys and maybe throw the ball. If you throw it, I, Ben-the-Dog will go get it and if you throw it I, Ben-the-Dog, will go get it, and if you throw it I, Ben-the-Dog will go get it, and if you throw it I, Ben-the-Dog will go get it....ahem...times infinity! You get the picture. And if we are extra cute, Mommy will give us cookies. Please come by soon.
Love,

Ben-the-Dog

Beluga Babble

I went to Chicago with friends yesterday. It was a gorgeous day. The sky and the lake were both so clear and blue it hurt your eyes! Since I was on his turf, I looked around for Franklin. Obviously I didn't look everywhere, but I covered quite a lot of ground and never find him. He's a pretty good hider that Franklin.

If you happen to see someone who looks like me on the National News some night soon, it IS me! I got interviewed by an Associated Press camera man about the new holiday airfare taxes while we were dropping a friend off at O'Hare. I had a lot of opinions on the subject, especially that $25/bag fee. I thought it was funny that he chose me, especially since I wasn't even traveling. If you see me on the News in regards to grand theft auto, kidnapping or generally running amok in some other way, please disregard. That whole business has been cleared up now.

The highlight of the trip was a visit to the Shedd Aquarium. What a beautiful facility.
We saw some amazing animals, including this flirty guy. Handsome devil isn't he?
And this one. I have always been fascinated by sea dragons. They had two varieties at the aquarium. This one is the graceful leafy kind. They don't even look real. I think they are really from outer space and that Torchwood should be called immediatly. Anyone have John Barrowman's telephone number?

(Click to biggify. You won't be sorry!)

Interestingly enough, while there, I discovered yet ANOTHER superpower! I KNOW! I'm collecting them all right? I was using my 'all-purpose animal noise' (make fish lips and suck in making a high pitched squeaky noise and punctuate it with all kinds of 'here babys' and ' you're just the cootest widdles' you can throw in there) when this little lady came scooting right over and looked at me and started making all kinds of whistles, clicks and burps. She'd turn her head this way and look at me with one eye...


Then she'd swim off a little, come right back over and turn her head back the other way and scope me out with the other eye...

Then she'd toss her head back and squeal...
It was then that I realized, that all of these years, I have been speaking fluent Beluga and didn't even know it! I'm a bonified savant! I suspected that I was speaking Humpback once, but it was actually the man standing next to me on the boat. Anyway, she stuck around and gabbed with me for ten full minutes before she had mined all of the day's events out of me and swam away. It was so surreal. It was one of those special moments that you'll always remember.

Show Me The Money!

When my dad passed away 10 years ago, I inherited a piggy bank that he had. It's made out of an old postal/mail box combination door...you know...the ones with the dial with letters and you turn it this way and that, stopping on letters or in between them to open it up? [It's a wonder anyone could access their mail at all in 'the old days'. It's much like trying to remember the password on my Yahoo account now a days; trial and error. ] Someone had mounted the door on the front of a wooden box and put a coin slot in the top. It's a handsome thing and it reminds me of my dad. It's one of my few prized possessions.

Whenever I have change I put it in and then on November 1st (his birthday) and April 1 (the day he passed) I take it down to the bank and cash in all of the coins for 'real money'. November 1 was a Sunday this year, so I took it to the bank today. I came away $86.90 'richer'. It always feels like it's 'free money' or that I won it or something, even though I have been the one saving it all along. I think Dad would get a kick out of that!

Normally I put 'my winnings' in savings, but as luck would have it I am having a 'day vacation' in Chicago soon so will take it along for a little extra spending money. Daddy would approve. Gosh I miss him!

I love you Daddy! Happy Birthday!

Costumes! Costumes! Costumes!

I hope Cousin Crystal doesn't mind me pinching this picture from her blog. I think this is the coolest costume ever! She is expecting twin sons any minute now. In fact rumor has it that she hasn't delivered before now just so she could wear this for Halloween! I don't blame her! Too cute!

Our office party was decidedly dark this year.....The grim reaper and Draculetta showed up...

Genghis Kahn was in the house

Dave didn't wear a costume. He just came as...well... Dave.

And even I came as the scariest think I could think of....my driver's license photo!

I won the prize for the funniest costume but believe me, my driver's license photo IS NOT funny! Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!