Tuesday, December 28, 2010

More gifts exchanged and a scary but happy victory

So last night after work HDT's dad and stepmom came over for us to exchange gifts. Normally we go to their house on Christmas Day but since he had to work the rest of the weekend that didn't happen this year. So we ordered some dinner and sat around visiting then finally opened gifts. I got the whole Ally McBeal dvd package which makes me one happy girl!

Not long after that Jim and his girls came over to get their gifts for both Christmas and birthdays. His youngest daughter's birthday is in November and it falls within a couple/few days of Thanksgiving so we never get together for it then. And his oldest daughter's birthday is on 12/23 so again, we never get together for it. So every year they get all their presents on the same day, usually after Christmas.

Shortly before the Saints game started his dad and stepmom left so they could watch the game at home. HDT tried to convince them to stay but his dad had to get up at 4:00 to get ready for work so he said he was gonna watch the game in bed so he could just fall asleep when he got tired enough. Jim and the girls stuck around.

It was a really good game but a nail biter that's for sure. We were hootin and hollerin pretty much the whole time; yelling the tv several times too. HDT commented a few times on how Hartley had to be feeling really badly because of his missed field goal in OT the last time they met. But when Brees threw two interceptions in a row I said that Hartley was feeling better now. But luckily and mightily they pulled it out and won the game. Very happy.

I went to bed pretty much right after but they all hung out a little longer. I think it was around midnight when I heard them leave. HDT didn't crawl into bed until 4:30 and then it felt like I had only slept for about 10 minutes before my alarm went off. Ah well.

Media quote of the day:

Who Dat!?!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Christmas/Weekend update 12/23-26/10

So we got out of work early on Thursday after having our company Christmas Luncheon. I brought my blueberry fluff and some of the carrot cookies I made last weekend. All but a couple pieces of the fluff was eaten and I gave the rest to my coworker since she didn't get any and I had two more whole ones left anyway. Only a few of the cookies were eaten but that's ok, there were plenty of other sweats for people to eat so that didn't bother me. We were out of there by 2:00 after having a one and half hour luncheon and then I helped clean up.

I got home and HDT was wrapping a few gifts but was ready for the most part to take off and do some errands and get the other last minute gifts we needed to get. Which now included gifts to three of the chicks that ended up getting me something. Chris, my coworker, let me know that most of them don't do anything so I didn't have anything to worry about, especially when it came to her. UGH! It ended up snowballing, first our office manager gave all us girls a gift; then our insurance chick gave us all something and the receptionist felt bad (because Chris had told her the same thing) so she ran out on Thursday real quick to get gifts. Chris and I figured she was just getting something for the other two since neither Chris nor I got her anything. No such luck, she got us all a box of chocolates. Double UGH! So now I felt totally obligated to get them all something. Luckily Chris was still all about her and I not doing anything. Heh

So anyway, we headed out a little after 3:00 and ended up not getting home until almost 8:30. I was not a happy camper. I tend to worry and start feeling anxious when I feel like, and I know, I'm running out of time. So when I mentioned for the millionth time that we needed to hurry and start to wrap presents and that HDT STILL needed to go to the store to get the pop that he had to bring to work on Christmas Day he snapped which of course made me snap. It was ugly for about 10 or so minutes but he calmed down first and gave me a big hug and made me breathe and we were better after that. We didn't finish wrapping until after midnight though.


After which we gathered all the presents up and took them over to his grandma's so we wouldn't have to worry about them later. We had already dropped off my families gifts at my mom's house earlier when we were running around. After we had done what we needed to do at his grandma's we were just chatting before heading out. I was sitting on the floor with my back to the rest of the house and he was standing in front of me but facing the tree so his back was also to the rest of the house. Next thing we know we hear, "So what do you think?" We both jumped and sucked in our breath. His grandma had walked up behind us with her ninja like gate and scared the piss out of us. It was quite funny when we were able to breathe again. We got home a little after 2:00 and I crawled right into bed with HDT not far behind.

Friday morning we got up and were at my mom's house by 11:30 or so. Wayne's family was already there so that was nice. The rest slowly came in and everyone was there by 1:00ish I think it was. Which was pretty good timing as the food was ready not long after so we all grabbed a plate and filled up. After the table was all cleared and everyone was ready we grabbed the $5 gift for the girls and we all sat around the table to begin a game mom had found on the internet. We had one of the nephews read and every time he said left we passed the gift in front of us to the left and then same for right. It was a lot of fun, especially when the words were said one right after the other. When the story was done only two people knew what the gift was in front of them so we had them switch with the person that was sitting directly across from them. I ended up with a pretty purple fleece blanket and chocolate covered cherries. Then the boys grabbed the male gifts and did the same thing with a different story. HDT ended up with some water bottles that are similar to the
Sigg water bottles that he really likes. So he was happy with that.

After that we all headed over to the tree and Scott was chosen to hand out the gifts. I received several smell good items for the house and myself along with a couple books and a Josh Groban cd from Roy who had my name this year. HDT received his first garden gnome. He got it from Wayne and it's a Saints solar powered gnome. The football will light up and there's a fleur-de-lis on the little guys hat. It's very cute. One of his other gifts, from one of the nephews, was a glass cleaner/wiper thingy for the inside of the windshield, I think I might have to steal it from him.

I believe it all started after the very first gift was opened, maybe the second, but next thing we all knew the balled up wrapping paper war had begun and lasted throughout the whole unwrapping of the gifts. We've pretty much always tossed balls of wrapping paper around but for the last few years it seems to have become a war. But a fun one. My nephew got me good in the face so after that I kept trying to get him back. I finally succeeded but it wasn't easy since I'm a horrible shot and he was sitting right next to my mom. So I course was trying to make sure it wouldn't curve and hit her so most of the time I missed big time. Oh well, I did end up getting him so that's all that matters. Hee!

Not long after all the gifts were open and the place cleaned up we packed up and headed over to his grandma's house for his mom's side of the family get together.

Shortly after we got there dinner was ready so we all sat down to eat. Jess and Kylie weren't there yet but they got there right after everyone finished eating (in fact there were still a few of us at the table just chillin). They both got a bite to eat and not long after that we got ready for the gift opening. It mostly went off without a hitch, a little snapping here or there but not much. They went in order from youngest to oldest although since grandma can't hear she didn't realize that's what we were doing and she opened all of hers right away. But that was just fine. When it was time for Jess to open hers I told her to hold off on the one from HDT and me. So when she finally got to it I had Jenn sit next to her and they opened theirs together. Both were quite confused by what they had, Jenn had a motherboard and Jess had a video card. We then told them to pull the couch away from the wall, which confused them even more, but eventually they did what they were told and looked behind and saw the computers sitting there. Both were very excited and happy so we did good there. We let them know that what they opened was now garbage, they were just symbols for what was put into the computers for them.

We got out of there shortly after 11:00, later than what we wanted since HDT had to work in the morning, but he had been trying to hook up grandma's tv that we got her and found out that a part was missing. We bought it from Jim and somehow we all forgot to put the power cable in the box. Silly, silly us. So he'll have to get that and hook it up another day.

Saturday morning he went to work for the day and I slept in some. Took my Saturday ritual bath and then cleaned up all the wrapping paper, bows, etc. that was still all over the basement. Then watched a Christmas movie I had recorded from the Hallmark channel - was pretty good. Tried to take a nap but failed so sat back up and continued to watch more tv until HDT got home. Made us dinner and then watched a little tv with him until he had to go to bed. I went up with him expecting to read until I was ready to sleep but he asked me to lay down with him until he fell asleep. I ended up feeling tired enough so just ended up sleeping myself.

He had to go in at 2:00am so we got him up and on his way. Shortly after he left Poydras let me know he had to go pee so I took him out. The sky had opened up during those few hours we had been asleep. There was a good foot of snow on the ground. Way too much for him to be able to go into the yard to do his business, he ended up having to pee on the sidewalk. So when we got up later on (around 10:00ish) I went out to shovel into the yard because I knew he'd have to go poo and besides, I didn't want him to keep peeing on the sidewalk. While I was shoveling I hear a snow blower come up behind me and I turn around and my neighbor is snow blowing our driveway. I thanked him profusely. I let HDT know we owe him big time.

So after that I was lazy for the rest of the day. I watched more of the Hallmark movies, then I watched the last half of the Bears game. Started feeling awfully tired so laid down on the couch while the Packers game was on and proceeded to doze off for a good 1/2 hour or so. Then did my Sunday ritual bath/read and was just finishing getting dressed when HDT made it home. He had leftovers for dinner and I heated up some soup. We watched a show or two of recorded shows then he went on the xbox to just play a game or two. But a couple of his friends were on so he ended up on a little longer than planned and I grew bored so went up to bed to read until I was ready to go to sleep. Which was around midnight which was also when he came up.

Media quote of the day: From Labyrinth - We got this for his niece Kylie and she was so damn happy. Her eyes got huge and her mouth went into a big O and she went up on her toes and then she got the biggest grin and waved it at her mom to show what she got. Yep, big hit!

I ask for so little. Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave. - Jareth

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Oh Christmas Tree Indeed - W/ pictures now



So I just realized I never posted about my fucking DEAD Christmas tree. I'm so disappointed, saddened, frustrated, etc., etc....

We got a beautiful tree, fat as all get out, pretty green, smelling great - I was a happy girl. But in one week's time, ONE FUCKING WEEK, it was already dying. Back on the 11th I noticed I was smelling it again. Usually after just a few days of putting a fresh tree up the smell will go away or at least you get so used to it you don't notice anymore. And then when it starts to die as the needles start falling off the smell returns. So yeah, on the 11th I started smelling it again and told HDT that it seemed very weird that it was happening. On Sunday I took a really good look at it and noticed it was starting to turn brown and it hadn't taken any water in a few days.

By Tuesday it was way more brown than it was green. I sent an email to the tree farm that we got it from. Told 'em that it was already dying, that I didn't know what I wanted done about it if anything even could be. Let 'em know we didn't add anything to the water, gave it a brand new 4" cut when we got home and put it in water directly and that it's on the opposite side of the room from the heat vent. It's been a week since I sent that and I haven't heard one word from them. I gave my cell phone number and of course they had the email address. Nothing at all.

So although HDT and I believe it's actually his fault that it's dead (which I did not tell them) I still expected a call or a response to the email. And for that reason alone we will never go back to that tree farm again and won't be telling friends and family to go there either.

Why do we believe it's his fault you may ask. Well, we've had this same tree stand for several years and for the last two maybe three years our trees seem to die fairly quickly. None have died as quickly as this one but then we normally get Fraser firs which naturally last longer than Douglas firs which is what we got this time. Anyway, the last two maybe three years they've died fairly quickly. Well HDT can remember that one year when he grabbed the stand to prepare to put the tree in he saw that it was all gunky from the previous year's tree and decided to try to clean it as best as possible. He believes he used Pine Sol thinking its made with pine so therefore it should be fine, not thinking about all the other chemicals in there as well.

So, yeah, we're throwing the stand out this year and will get a brand new one next year.

If it weren't such a hassle I would've taken this one down and put up the fake one we have from several years ago that we used when I wasn't working. But I just didn't feel like doing that, too depressing. So we've left this one up and only now and then turn the lights on because that's pretty damn depressing as well - having nice cheery lights twinkling away on a dead tree.

Media quote of the day: from The Petrified Forest (1936)

Petrified forest is a lot of dead trees in the desert that have turned to stone. Here's a good specimen. - Gabrielle Maple (Bette Davis)

Normally I use quotes from movies, songs, etc. that I already know but nothing fit very well for my dead tree except for this so I'm using it. Besides, I like Bette Davis, so....



Monday, December 20, 2010

Weekend Update 12/17-19/10

So this weekend was really, really good. One of the best we've had in a while, although busy it was a lot of fun.

Friday after work I had a couple quick errands to run and when I was at the last traffic light before the house HDT texts me that the food is getting cold. HE MADE DINNER! Yippee!! So I get there and he's downstairs with a couple burgers and the soda all ready to go. We quickly ate and chatted for a bit then headed out to the local theater to meet up with friends since we were seeing Tangled. Which I have to say was a lot more fun then I expected it to be. I mean I've read some decent reviews of it and the commercials were ok but I just didn't expect a whole lot more than cute from it. But the songs were good, the story was fun and moved along and the animation was really good, especially the facial expressions on the horse. Everyone loved it including the 49 year old cynical man that was with us.

After that we all went our separate ways; HDT and I went home. But not long after Jim came over to help HDT work on the computers that we're giving his two sisters. I bought them from my work when we upgraded and they just needed to clean them up and upgrade a few things and they'll be all good to go as gifts. While they did that I went and got all warm in the tub while reading. Then sat all warm in the bed reading some more before finally going to sleep a little after midnight. I believe HDT came to bed around 4ish.

Saturday I got up at 9 and started getting ready. At 9:15 I started in on trying to wake him up. Finally around 9:45 he was ready to get up. I finished getting ready and he got ready and we were out of the house and at the first store by 11:30. We decided to start out at Target and ended up getting all but 4 people completed there. How happy were we!?! Jim met us there to help with his oldest daughter's gifts. We wanted to get her clothes but needed to make sure of sizes and get his opinion on a couple of them whether she'd like them or not. He was also getting a cd from us, don't remember what it was though, and his youngest daughter's hat that she left at our place.

Then we all went to lunch and rested up a bit before HDT and I headed back out. We went to a hobby shop to try to find a specific game to give to one of my nieces but unfortunately they had just sold the one they had just two days before. So we got her a couple other games and headed out to Best Buy where we found an iPad holder for his dad then headed over to Toys R Us where we got a leapfrog item for HDT's youngest nephew. And then we were all done because the 4th person is my mom and we're getting her a plant from Home Depot to go with the other stuff we already got for her. But since it's a plant we didn't want to get it yet since we don't know if it'll be harmful to the cats or not and don't want to take a chance. So we'll go get it either Thursday night or Friday morning on the way to her place.

Oh yeah, we also still had to find a $5 gift for a female for some game that my mom is wanting to play with everyone. We need a female and male gift in the $5 range. We already have a really nice deck of cards that we'll use for the guys. We were going to give it to Jim but since we bought him Madden 2010 for the Xbox he's all set.

On our way home HDT called Jim up to see if he wanted to come hang out to watch a movie and when he got there I was heading back out because I had to go to Walgreens for a prescription. While there I found some really warm and fuzzy socks that they had 2 for $3 so I bought 4 of them to use for the female gift. Then I had to run over to the grocery store for the frozen orange juice I was going to need for the frosting for the carrot cookies I planned on baking on Sunday. And while there I decided to get some ice cream from Baskin' Robbins just down the sidewalk. When I was on my way home I glanced at the clock, it was 7:30, we had pretty much been going nonstop for 8 hours. Whew!

By the time I got back home they were working on the computer we planned on giving to Jenn. So I peeled, cut up and started boiling the carrots for the cookies tomorrow and by the time I got downstairs while the carrots were starting to cook they had decided what to have for dinner (Popeyes) and went to get it. I stayed home and flipped channels until I found Miracle on 34th Street (the original) and watched it until they got home. Then we decided to watch Resident Evil 3 on and off while they were continuing the upgrades to the computer. But after the last install was all done both HDT and I were pretty well exhausted and since he had to go to work for 4 hours overtime at 6am we called it quits for the night.

I woke up around 8:30 and saw that he'd been calling me since 8:00. But I don't have the ringer on my phone very loud and had slept through them all. Gave him a call back and the after snuggled in the bed petting Poydras until I finally made myself get up around 9:00. Took care of the animal's needs and then did my Sunday morning ritual of soaking in the tub while reading. I was going to start in on the cookies before the game was to start but by the time I was finished with the bath and getting dressed and all I decided it wasn't worth it because there's no way they'd all be done cooking before noon and I didn't want to have to keep leaving the room and not being able to watch.

So I just watched some tv while waiting for HDT to get home which he did a little before noon. I made us lunch and we proceeded to watch the game. Jess was supposed to come over to watch it as well but ended up not getting there until almost the end of the 3rd quarter. She was coming over to watch it and wrap presents. But HDT was working on another computer while the game was going on so no wrapping of gifts happened.

After the game I headed upstairs to start in on the cookies, not sure exactly what they were doing in the basement but at some point Jess got all the gifts she was giving out spread out on the table. But before she was able to start boxing things up they decided to get us dinner. I was on my third batch of cookies by then. And by the time they got home I was taking the last tray out of the oven to let cool. I ate my dinner and chatted with them for a little longer then when upstairs to start frosting the 1st batch which had cooled completely by then. When I was finally all done frosting it was after 8:30. I was one tired girl.

I had to lock the cats up at one point because both were trying to get at the cookies. Cry Baby actually did. He nommed on two of them and dropped two others. Was not a happy momma. But between those 4 and the ones HDT, Jess and I had I made around 155 cookies. No wonder it took over 5 hours to complete. This is why these cookies only get made once a year and are so coveted by my family.

Afterward I went downstairs to visit for awhile. Jess had almost finished boxing up all her presents, she just had a few more to go. HDT was finishing up on the computer as well. After he was done with that he started organizing some of the jewelry we had bought for several of the nieces and by then Jess had started in on boxing up the clothes we had bought for gifts. I also did a little bit of laundry while chatting with them. Finally around 10:30 or so I couldn't take it anymore and headed up to bed. HDT finally came up just before midnight.

Jess stayed up till around 2am and then hunkered down on our couch for the rest of the night. She was still there when HDT got up at 5:00 to get ready for work. She was still there when I got up 2 hours later. I figured he would've woken her up and she would've left because I thought she was supposed to get Kylie by 8:00 but oh well. I didn't wake her up either, figured she knew what she was doing.

When I went home for lunch she was still there finishing the wrapping and Kylie was with her. So after eating I visited with them for bit before heading back to work.

Yep, really busy but got a lot accomplished and had fun doing it.

Media quote of the day: From Tangled - you really should go see it.

I have made the decision to trust you. - Rapunzel
A horrible decision really. - Flynn Rider

Friday, December 17, 2010

Christmas shopping (sort of)

So we attempted to do some Christmas shopping on Monday night. We headed out to Toys R Us to get a couple Xbox light up game controllers for two of my nephews and also a few other things that we saw in their advertiser for some of the other kids. We decided to go to the controllers first and sure enough they were out of them for the Xbox, still had plenty left for the PS3 though. So we go to ask one of the kids working the electronics section. I tell him right away we looked on the shelf but there weren't any there but of course almost form the moment I started to talk he takes off to go look himself. I tell him again when we catch up to him that we already looked, including through all the PS3s and there aren't any there. So HDT asks him if they have any in back and we get the standard answer of, all that we have are here on the shelf, so if there aren't any here we don't have any. And then says nothing else, so we ask when they expect to get more. He says he doesn't know, that a truck comes in every day but they have no idea what will be on it until it's unloaded the best thing for us to do is come in every day to see if they get anymore. He doesn't offer to take our name and number or anything else that would be helpful. So HDT tells him there's no way we'll come in every day to check we'll just go somewhere else.

We ended up sort of wandering around looking at other things but nothing else that we went there for. We were both pretty much deflated by the unhelpfulness of the kid. So we decided to leave and get some dinner. We decided to go to Chili's which made me happy.

On our way out HDT mentioned needing to go to Target for something but on our way we took a detour to Petsmart for the safe for pets snow/ice melt pellets. And of course we can't go in there without looking around at other things including the cats. There was a lady in there cleaning out the cages and litter boxes so all the cats and kittens were running around. There were about 5 little kittens that were just too damn cute and a couple of the cats would swat/play with them as they ran past. I so wanted to get in there and snuggle them like crazy. But oh well.

We got Poydras a couple outfits to wear. One was a Christmasy sweater and the other was a blue hoody with a fleur-de-lis on the back so we of course had to get that. Neither ended up fitting him, too small, so we'll have to take them back. By the time were finished there all I could think about was how badly I needed to pee. We both completely forgot about going to Target so of course didn't go and now I can't remember at all what he wanted to go there for.

But when we got home HDT went on line to see if he could find the controllers anywhere else and found out that Sears had some. According to the website they had 6 in stock. So on Tuesday as soon as I got out of work we headed over to there and luckily they still had 3 left so we got the 2 we needed and headed home.

We haven't done any other shopping since. We are bad. So tomorrow is supposed to be the big shopping day. We're going to have to get most if not all of it done tomorrow as Sunday is football day so there won't be any shopping being done then. I plan on making carrot cookies this weekend so I don't know if I'll get any wrapping done either but I'd certainly like to start on it if at all possible. We usually end up wrapping until 2-3 in the morning of the 23rd just about every year. I really don't want to do that this year.

Media quote of the day:

Christmas shopping, never an easy or a pleasant task - Harry in Love Actually

Monday, December 13, 2010

Weekend Update 12/10-12/10

So we had plans to start our Christmas shopping this weekend but when I got home from work on Friday I was informed that we'd be watching Kylie on Saturday. We already were going to be doing it on Sunday. But I guess Jess' sitter for Saturday fell through so she asked us. HDT says he still planned on doing the shopping anyway on Saturday but I knew it would fall through. She'd be the perfect excuse for us to stay home plus the weather was supposed to be bad.

Friday night after having a bit of a heated discussion about us putting our plans aside whenever Jess or Jenn or his mom calls we watched a few dvr'd shows and then he went to bed and I read for awhile before finally turning in around midnight.

Saturday he had to work from 6:00 - 2:00. I got up around 9ish I think it was and did my usual soak and read for awhile. Then I watched my Ghost Hunters shows that he doesn't watch. After that I started to clean the kitchen, he got home shortly after I started. Had him finish loading the dishwasher while I started to prepare us some mac and cheese. Then I mentioned how the fridge needed to be vacuumed because we haven't done that in years and with all the cats and dog it's got to be awful. So we pulled it out and was working on the back when Jess showed up with Kylie. After he was done with the fridge and I finished making the food he looks out the window and sees that it's raining pretty hard and says that he thinks we shouldn't be going out in this bad weather with Kylie to do the shopping. All I said was, "I know" and let it drop.

They went downstairs so he could start working on the tv and stuff with some new HD cables that he got and she could play with her toys while I finished washing the dishes that couldn't go in the dishwasher. At some point while we were all still upstairs we found out that she'd never seen Bambi or Lady and the Tramp so we watched those and then put in Labyrinth which she's fallen in love with. But we let her know that we'd only be able to watch a little bit of it because we had people coming over for the UFC fights and she'd have to go to bed then anyway. Luckily she didn't put up a fuss at all about that and when I took her up to our bed she went right to sleep.

All the boys came over as usual along with two of HDT's coworkers to watch the fights. Wayne, my youngest brother, was the last to show and he comes walking in with his title belt that his kids gave him for father's day this year, holding it up in the air chanting Koschek, Koschek, Koschek. I picked up the water bottle that we use to spray the cats when needed and start spraying him with it. Most of us absolutely can't stand Kos and for him to come in chanting that was just wrong. But we had a good laugh. Especially when GSP kicked the shit out of him. We would've liked to see GSP finish him but seeing him kick his ass for 5 rounds was good too. The rest of the fights were really good as well and all the talking that was going on during the 3 hours was fun so we had a great evening. Jess showed up a fight or two before the GSP/Koschek fight and was glad she did because she can't stand him either and has a little crush of GSP.

After the fights everyone left but Jess. She had let us know during the fights that Kylie's dad finally called Jess back and said he'd be happy to take her on Sunday so we got out of that at least. She got on the computer to do some WOW stuff and HDT played a few Call of Duty games but then saw me playing on my phone so he quit so we could watch something together before I went to bed. But then as soon as he switched to tv Jess called him over because she needed help with something and they were over there doing whatever it is they were doing for long enough for me to say that I had to go to bed now. I told her not to worry about getting Kylie, that I'd just snuggle in on HDT's side of the bed which is what I did.

Somewhere around 3:00 she came and got her and then HDT came to bed. Said they were staying the night on the futon downstairs.

Sunday morning I woke up around 8:30 or so but just couldn't make myself get out of bed so I stayed there petting on Cry Baby and Poydras. Around 9 or so I heard the backdoor open so I knew Jess was getting ready to leave but I also had a feeling she shut the backdoor and didn't realize the inside handle will turn while locked. Sure enough she starts knocking on the door. Poydras flew off the bed barking and growling and started towards the door with me right behind. Her car doors had frozen over. I gave her something to chip at the ice with and she was able to get her passenger door open and started the car. While it was warming up she and Kylie were giving Poydras lovings and I stayed in the kitchen talking with 'em.

Eventually the car warmed up enough that she was able to get her driver door open and be on their way. I was debating on grabbing my book and getting in the tub for a soak and read or just grabbing the book and reading on the couch or watching more of my shows that HDT doesn't watch until he got up. As I was standing there shivering I decided on the tub since it'd be nice and warm while the house was heating up and all warm by the time I got out. HDT woke up while I was still in there but almost done with my book. So I finished that and while I was drying my hair he placed an order for pizza since neither of us felt like eating what we had and I for once said I was in the mood for it.

We grabbed it and came back home to start watching football. He flipped between a couple games because of his fantasy football guys and then at 3:00 we switched over to watch the Saints game. They finally had a sound win after several weeks of really having to fight for it. Was fun to watch. I was really tired at the beginning of the game, even joked about taking a nap during it, but about half way through the 2nd quarter I was wide awake and cheering.

After that we watched some dvr'd shows, had dinner and a little after 9:00 his dad called so I turned on the Dallas/Atlanta game since we couldn't watch anything while they were talking. They got into a discussion about some things that are going on with HDT's other sister Jenn. After the game ended I was expecting HDT to get off the phone when he realized how late it had gotten but he didn't. In between talking about Jenn they discussed the game since both were watching it. So after it ended they still hadn't finished talking about Jenn because of all the interruptions.

But I started to get tired so got up to go to bed, HDT told his dad he had to get off the phone then. He looked at the time and saw that he'd talked to him for over an hour and still doesn't think he got through to him. I told him that maybe he'll think about everything that was said and will see the logic in it. HDT told me to come over to his desk and when I got there he hit play on his itunes player on the computer. It was a Christmas song but when he saw that I didn't recognize who it was he told me it was the album I've been looking for/wanting for years. He had the whole thing. He found on Ebay someone who had recorded it onto cd's from the album but he also bought the album as well. I'm so, so happy. Now if only I could remember what the other Christmas album is that I used to listen to all the time I'd be even happier. Oh well, this will do.

Media quote of the day: This is the record he got me. I grew up with this album and when we moved to Louisiana the record got left behind and eventually lost. I've been wanting it for years, so so happy he was able to get it for me. And the Little Drummer Boy is my favorite Christmas song so Yay! for me!!

The Little Drummer Boy - Don Janse and His 60 Voice Children's Chorus

Little Drummer Boy

Come they told me
Pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see,
Pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King
Pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
So to honor Him
Pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby
Pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too,
Pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give our King
Pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for you!
Pa rum pum pum
On my drum.

Mary nodded
Pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time
Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him
Pa rum pum pum
I played my best for Him
Pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Then He smiled at me
Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.


"The Little Drummer Boy" is a Christmas song from 1958 - words and music by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati, and Harry Simeone. The best-known and most standard version is by the Harry Simeone Chorale. It is also known as the "Carol of the Drum".

Friday, December 10, 2010

Oh Christmas Tree

So we finally got our tree decorated last night. We were supposed to do it Sunday but both ended up feeling pretty darn lazy so decided to do it on Monday. His sister Jess decided to come over to hang out and also cut his hair. So it didn't get done then. Tuesday he spent most of the day with his friend Jim because Jim had loaned his car to his ex wife for the day and night so HDT had to chauffeur him around and after I got off of work I met them at Jim's house and we all went out to dinner, including his two kids. Then they came over to get one of the presents we already got them because it's an ornament for their tree. They were also going to help us decorate ours.

HDT and I started putting the lights on, that we had just purchased on Sunday, and discovered that they were not to our liking. They were supposed to be warm white LED lights. One whole string was pretty yellow, one was really bright white and the others were white with some yellow ones mixed in. I think it was the plastic that was surrounding the light that was actually yellow. But at any rate it looked really bad. So we took them all off and packaged them back up to take back to the store. By then it was almost nine and we still had to take the kids and Jim back home. So we did that and then went to Target to take the lights back.

We looked at all their other LED lights and the ones that we wanted they were out of so we went over to Walmart but they didn't have what we wanted either so we ended up just going home since it was already after 10:00 and I was really tired.

He went online to see if Home Depot or Lowes might have what he was wanting and found that Home Depot should have some. So yesterday after I got off work we turned right around and went out to the store to see what they had. They're selling Martha Stewart brand lights and they had plenty of the kind he's been wanting. He's wanting ones that'll blink on and off. The ones we got have something like 10 different functions, they're multi color instead of white too. We put 6 strands on and they look good so we're happy.

We had bought glass icicles and plastic snowflakes at the Christmas store on Sunday. Those are the only ornaments we used except for the one we have for our first Christmas as a married couple. I figured we'd need to put some bulbs up to add color or contrast but the icicles and snowflakes look really good all by themselves. So I'm very happy with our fat tree.

Media quote of the day: O Tannenbaum by:
TEXT: Ernst Anschütz, 1824
MELODIE: Volksweise (traditional)

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blätter!
Du grünst nicht nur
zur Sommerzeit,
Nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blätter!

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
Wie oft hat nicht zur Weihnachtszeit
Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Dein Kleid will mich
was lehren:
Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit
Gibt Trost und Kraft
zu jeder Zeit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Das soll dein Kleid
mich lehren.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Weekend Update 12/3-5/10

So let's see, we had a pretty busy 3 days this weekend.

Friday HDT had to watch his niece Kylie while Jess had to work. They were watching Labyrinth when I got home. Ever since I played that for her, after she told me she didn't like even though she'd never seen it, she's wanted to watch it every time she comes over. She calls it the movie with the baby. After that ended HDT put Happy Feet in but she didn't care much about that one. She'd look every now and then but mostly she was either drawing a picture for Jess or playing doctor on my leg. She kept giving me shots and transferring blood. Jess got there at the end of it and bundled her up to get picked up by her dad.

Jess stayed over after Kylie left discussing some things and at some point Jim called to see what we were doing and HDT told him not much so invited him over to watch a movie. Since Jess and HDT never got to Star Wars: Return of the Jedi the other day she decided to stick around and we watched that. Afterward she took off and I went to bed not long after. Not sure what HDT and Jim did, probably played X-Box or WOW.

Saturday I got up a little after 9:00 or so and took my soak while reading. HDT woke up right at the end of it and so after I finished up I made us some breakfast. Made bacon and scrambled eggs. YUM! We watched some dvr'd shows while eating. Just before 1:00 I told him we had to start getting ready to head out to go get our Christmas Tree. It had started snowing just after midnight and we already had a couple inches by this time so we had to get his Jeep uncovered and the sidewalk shoveled before we left and he still needed to get ready. By the time we got ready, the sidewalk cleared, his jeep uncovered he was wanting to do the driveway as well. I huffed and puffed because it was now almost 1:30 and we still hadn't left yet.

But it didn't take him long to do it and while he was I had to go look for the twine and his winter hat. Couldn't find the twine anywhere and the only hat I could find that would cover his ears was a spiderman hat. I figured he could turn it inside out. Turns out he couldn't cause the tag was huge and we had nothing to cut it off with, besides with all the stitching it didn't look so good that way anyway. We also couldn't find his saw so on the way out we stopped at Ace to get all three. We finally made it out to the tree farm around 3:00. I was worried that they'd be closed since it was snowing so hard for awhile there. But they weren't but luckily they weren't really busy either.

We went through all their fields but one looking for just the right tree. I didn't want a real fat one and he didn't want a real tall one, not that we could go tall anyway since our basement ceiling isn't very high. Anyway, we found one at the 1st field that wasn't too bad, right height and width but there were a couple holes that I didn't care for too much. So we moved on. The next field only had a few trees but nothing that was really ready to go so we moved on. As we were heading to the next field a family was heading back the way we came without a tree. I was worried they'd snatch our tree back there but since we still had a couple more fields to look at I figured we'd find something. So, the next field did have another decent tree but still it didn't say "this is it" to me so we moved onto the last field. We looked at one and then decided to see if there was yet another field because into the woods was another trail. On our way to it I spied another tree. I was a little worried because it was pretty fat but the shape with all the snow on it looked good. So after we shook all the snow off and walked around I said, "yep, this is it." And HDT says that it's fat and he thought I didn't want fat but I told him that apparently it didn't matter. This was the one I liked, I just have to deal with it.

So he cut it down and we hauled it back. It was not a lite tree, no sirree. But it sure is pretty. After stopping a couple times to readjust and get a breather we finally made it back to the main area. We had them bundle it up and then chose a precut tree that was $35.00 for Jim. We decided that could be his Christmas gift. It's a nice one, Balsam, nice and dark green and in good shape. Hope his girls like it.

I called Jim on the way home to ask him to come over to help HDT with our tree while I got the stand ready to go. Didn't tell him about the tree, we wanted that to be a surprise. So they transferred his tree to his car and the prepared our tree while I found and cleaned out the stand and got a pitcher of water to go. Got in the stand and put some towels down to catch all the snow that had turned to ice on the trip home as it melted. Once again, that is one fat tree!

HDT had to go to Best Buy for something so Jim went with him. On their way home they picked up dinner from Chili's and while eating we watched Predators (2010) since none of saw it when it was in the theaters. It wasn't bad, we'd all like to see a sequel if they're gonna do one. We watched some of the extras and then Jim mentioned how watching the extras and the people mentioning the original one made him want to watch it again. HDT said the same so we put that in but I didn't make it too far in to it, got real tired real quick. So I left them watching it and went to bed.

Sunday we got up pretty late but again I was up before him so took my Sunday morning bath while reading again. I set a time for an hour so I don't over do it. HDT got up about 35 minutes in and I was just finishing a chapter so I went ahead and put the book down and washed up. He was downstairs by the time I got out of the bathroom so I started the oven for some food and we prepared to watch the pregame stuff until the Saints game started at noon.

That game was a real fight. Although the Bengels have been in every game they've played it still shouldn't have been such a struggle. We barely won that game and only because of the "trick" of pulling them offsides. But a win is a win and we'll take it. I certainly hope they find their groove before all the division games get going.

After the game we decided to head over to a Christmas ornament store in the mall to see what they had. HDT was wanting to get LED lights for the tree since none of ours are plus we wanted to see what ornaments they had. We got one that was a miniature pincher holding a ribbon that we had Merry Christmas 2010 put on. We'll be giving that to Jim's girls. We also found some bird ornaments that we'll be giving to my mom. Her favorite is a blue bird and Les' was the wood duck, luckily they had both. HDT thought it'd be nice to honor him in some way and since they love(d) to watch the birds and ducks in their yard it was only fitting. We also got some icicle and snow flake ornaments for our tree.

But they didn't have any lights so we headed over to Target to get those. Got a few other things and then picked up some Chinese food for dinner and headed home. Of course by the time we finished eating neither of us felt like decorating the tree. So we finished watching the Tampa Bay/Atlantic game cheering for TB all the way. But unfortunately they lost. The Saints really could have used a win by TB but oh well.

After that we got about an hour into the UFC fights that had been recorded the night before when HDT started to fall asleep. So we headed upstairs just after 8:00 and he was asleep before 8:30. I was reading and by 9:30 was starting to feel pretty darn tired myself. Was asleep by 10:00 and of course woke up at 3:00 and couldn't fall back asleep for anything. Dozed on and off until his alarm went off and then finally after he had left the room to get ready I actually did fall asleep for most of the time left before my alarm went off.

So I nice busy and relaxing weekend.

Media quote of the day: From Predator (2010)

What happened to you? What made you so fucked up? - Isabelle
"There is no hunting like the hunting of a man. And those who've hunted armed men long enough, and like it, never really care for anything else thereafter." - Royce
That's pretty poetic. Did you come up with that all by yourself? - Isabelle
No, actually. That was Hemingway. - Royce


A whole helluva lot of the dialog was pretty cheesy but it was still a pretty fun movie to watch. This exchange was one of the better ones.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

First Snow

So it's been snowing since I left the house this morning. Nothing really big, they started out those tiny hard white balls but since then they've fluffed up some.

It basically looks like powdered sugar covered ground. Nothing to get excited about but still, since there is some accumulation I guess it could be considered the first snow fall of the season.

HDT texted me a while ago saying he wants to be there when I go home for lunch to let Poydras out. Every year he freaks out with the first fall. But I don't think it'll be as big a deal today since there's not much to speak of as it'll be with a bigger snow fall. But we shall see.

Media quote of the day: - Snow by Silverlight Chen found on
PoemHunter.com

Snow, snow, gently drifting to the ground,
For when winter comes, snow will come as well,
Snow is the messenger of winter,
From skiing to tobogganing to making snowballs.

Snow, snow gently drifting to the ground,
Falling in the form of unique white snowflakes,
A pure natural blanket,
Sparkling under the sun.

Snow, snow, gently drifting to the ground
TREASURE THIS GIFT BEFORE IT MELTS! !

Monday, November 29, 2010

Weekend Update 11/26-28/10

So Friday we got out of work at 3:30 and I headed over to the grocery store to start getting some of the ingredients for the cookies. I decided to try out 5 of them but one of the ingredients is cake flour and our grocery store doesn't sell it. I've since learned a substitute for it but I of course didn't look that up before I did the cookies so the one recipe that called for it I just didn't do. Another one needed a pastry bag and since the store didn't sell that either I skipped out on that one as well.

Anyway I got the ingredients for the ones but didn't do any baking on Friday. I read my book for awhile and then watched some tv until HDT got home. We had dinner and watched some shows. I had a headache all day that refused to go away and I don't know if it was the 4th piece of pizza or what but my stomach had started to feel upset as well. He got on the elliptical and tried to make me feel guilty for not exercising too but I just didn't feel good. Pretty much after he was done working out he cleaned up and then went to bed. I stayed up a little while longer reading some more then finally felt tired enough to go to bed around midnight.

HDT went to work and I stayed in bed sleeping for a few more hours. Got up around 9ish and decided to go ahead and workout then rather than wait for HDT to get home, especially since he was working his full 12 hour day and then was going to be turning right back around and going in at 2am for a full 16 hour day. Didn't want to take the chance that he wouldn't be working out in the evening and me not wanting to then. My headache and stomach ache was gone so I was happy about that, so drank a protein drink and got on the elliptical. I did an hour on the treadmill and 35 minutes on the elliptical for over 600 calories burned. Good workout. Finished watching the show that I had started while on the treadmill then went and soaked in the tub finishing my book.

After that I believe I watched one of my recorded shows, maybe two. Then I went up to start in on the cookies. I did some melting moments which are very similar to Mexican wedding cakes but there aren't any nuts in the melting moments. HDT said they were good and everyone liked them but I didn't care for 'em much. I don't know if I cooked them too long or what but instead of melting in the mouth they turned to a paste. Maybe because the ones I tried were still warm, I don't know but at any rate I threw out the recipe, I won't be doing those anymore. Although they were easy to make.

I also did a chocolate chunk cookie and an M&M cookie. The recipe for both was exactly the same other than no M&M's in the CC cookie and no chocolate chunks in the M&M cookie. But they came out all crispy instead of soft and chewy. I think it's the cookie sheets that HDT bought last year. Because all my carrot cookies I made last year were too done as well. They seem to make them bake much quicker than what the time called for. So when I did the M&M cookies I took them out a full 5 minutes before the shortest time mentioned and they were still over done. But once again, everyone at HDT's work liked them and he said they still were soft in the middle, just crispy along the edges. But then, I did put a hamburger bun in each of the containers to soak up all the air to keep them that way. I kept 3 out for ourselves of the CC cookie, sent all the rest and all the M&M and melting moments with him to work.

I was trying to surprise him with the M&M ones. Last January we had ordered several bags of the do it yourself type M&M's. We got Saints M&M's for the Superbowl. They were brown, white and gold candies and the white and gold ones said either Saints or had a fleur-de-lys on them. The brown ones were just the normal MM candies. They were the only ones that came out, the fleur-de-lys and Saints ones all melted off. The candies themselves stayed intact at least. I guess whatever they use to put your personal saying on isn't the same as what they use for the MM's, very disappointing.

Oh well, live and learn with it all. That's why I decided to start now, I want to know which recipes will work and which ones won't; and what adjustments I'd have to make to make the ones I really want to work, work. And now since I've found out what I can do to substitute for the cake flour I'll be able to do the one recipe that calls for it. Maybe I'll do more this coming weekend. I'm just glad his coworkers liked 'em enough to eat 'em and they didn't go to waste.

Sunday I got up around 9ish again but this time I took my time getting up and doing things. I ate breakfast and after watching a show or two finally decided to get on the elliptical. I didn't work as hard as yesterday though. Between the machines and being on my feet for several hours doing cookies my body was sore. So I did just over 1 1/2 miles on the elliptical (exactly 200 calories burned) and then did just over 2 miles on the treadmill. But on that I at least did a few 1 minute jogs and a few high inclines as well. Watched The Ref while I was working out. Love that movie.

After I finished the movie recovering from the machines for the last 15 minutes of it I went up to soak in the tub and started in on book V of the Dark Tower: Wolves of the Calla. I decided I wasn't going to be baking any more cookies this weekend so after the bath I went and watched more of my dvr'd shows - Private Practice and Hoarders until HDT came home.

Made dinner of garlic dill potatoes, green beans and some prime rib that one of HDT's coworkers gave him. It was already cooked so I just had to reheat it so I put it on the George Foreman grill. HDT had brought home some bread that someone had brought in on Thanksgiving that was just sitting there now. I liked everything but the meat. I'm not a big fan of left over meat unless it's in a stew or spaghetti or something like that. I don't know if it just wasn't heated enough for me or that there wasn't any seasoning on it or what but I just didn't care for it so after just 3 bites I gave the rest to HDT to have. By the time I was done with the rest of my food I was full anyway so it wasn't a big deal not to have it.

We watched the night game (Colts vs Chargers) until 9:00 when The Walking Dead came on. We actually watched it live, besides football and award shows we don't watch much of anything live. But it's such a damn good show that we had to. He was texting with Scott, the cop that came to New Orleans with us, the whole time we were watching the show because Scott watches it as well. Only one more left for this run, not sure when the next "season" will start but I hope it's not too long. One of the best shows on the air right now. Many people have likened it to Lost. I could see that in many of the things that's going on and since I loved Lost I'm not surprised I'm loving this show.

Media quote of the day: The Walking Dead - Show #2: Guts

Nice moves there, Clint Eastwood. You're the new sheriff come riding in to clean up the town? - Glenn
Wasn't my intention. - Rick Grimes
Yeah, whatever. Yeehah. You're still a dumbass. - Glenn

Friday, November 26, 2010

My puppy is all tuckered out from Thanksgiving Day

So Wednesday night and Thanksgiving day went well. We got out of work at 3:30 on Wednesday and rather than go straight to the store to start getting cookie ingredients I decided to go home to see if HDT would like to come with me. But he made a good point. He asked if we had any plans for the rest of the day and I said other than making some cookies no we had no plans. He said since we wouldn't be seeing his grandma on Thursday and it's been such a long time since we have seen her that we should take her out to dinner. I agreed and he called her up to make sure she hadn't eaten yet. Then about 15 minutes later she calls back to say that his mom would be coming over there soon 'cause she's staying the night in preparation of the next day and wanted to know if we would be ok if she came as well. So of course I said that would be just fine. We picked them up and took 'em to dinner. After that we went back to the house so HDT could have a slice of pecan pie, his favorite.

Thursday I got up at 9:00 and started gathering everything that would be needed to take to mom's and just as I was getting in the shower HDT woke up. We decided to take our new tv over to her house since it's bigger than hers and would be easier for people to see in different parts of the rooms for football watching. Especially since the Saints would be playing that afternoon. Kind of funny but it looks bigger in her house than ours. But that would make sense, we're so used to seeing a huge tv where it's sitting now and also the the big empty wall behind that was mostly taken up before.

So while HDT watched the Lions game mom and I tooled around the kitchen with Poydras following me around the whole time. Every time I told him to go to Papa he'd run over to HDT and jump in his lap but he'd still follow me with his eyes the whole time. And he'd only stay there for a few minutes. Silly dog.

The rest of the family got there just before 2:00 except for Wayne and his family, they were going to his MIL's house for dinner. We sat down to eat just after 2:30 and everything was really really good. The white meat was very moist. HDT hit it on the head, he said it just fell apart in the mouth like fish does it was that moist. I made green beans with toasted almonds. I've never toasted almonds so was a bit worried but they turned out just fine which is good cause one of the cookies I'm thinking of making calls for toasted almonds.

We were all done eating just in time for the Saints game. I helped mom start to clean up but when we got down to the time of packing up the food and finishing cutting up the turkey she told me to go sit and enjoy the game cause she had to think about how she'd pack it all up anyway so it'd just be easier for her to do it herself. So that's what I did.

At half time HDT got ready to leave for work since he had to work overtime 6:00-10:00. Although it was just 5:00 he wanted to be there early enough to be able to get the game up on the tv before the 2nd half started. We texted back and forth about what was going on. I hate, hate, hate when Brees throws long and sure enough he threw one and it got intercepted. But then with just 4:00 minutes or so left he threw another one and this time it was caught by our guy. Without it we probably would'nt have won the game. Besides the fact that Malcolm Jenkins took a ball right out of a Cowboy's hands for a terrific turnover. Which set up Brees to be able to make that long ass throw.

Wayne and his family showed up about the middle of the 3rd quarter. Mom visited with them while the rest of us finished watching the game. After that we turned the tv off and headed to the basement where a tournament was going on at the pool table. While that was happening we set up the the Pictionary game and the rest of us played that. We took a break at the beginning of the 2nd game cause several of the kids were saying they were hungry. Just about everyone grabbed something to eat and I took Poydras out one more time as well.

But pretty much just after we had resumed the game Scott says he and his kids would have to be leaving real soon because he had to have his two back to their mom by 10:00. Drives me up the wall it does, but whatever. So yeah, they left and the rest of did our name draw for Christmas having mom and Wayne's kids standing in for Scott, his wife and HDT. After that we cleaned up the game stuff and we headed out for the night. HDT called me on his way home to see how soon I'd be leaving, let him know I was packing up the truck then and would be home soon.

By the time I got there he was in bed already but not asleep so we chatted some while I was washing up and getting ready to join him. Poydras had been up all day, from the time I got up to the time we got home. He's like any dog, sleeps a lot during the day but yesterday he didn't take a nap at all. I could tell he was tired and cranky but he refused to just settle down and take a nap. When I got home I let him in the house first then started unloading the truck. After I was finished with that and feeding the cats I headed to the bathroom to start washing up and I glance in the bedroom and he's already curled up between HDT's legs ready for sleep. Too funny.

Then this morning I have to coax him out of bed to go outside. He did his usual thing when he came in, went straight to his food bowl waiting for breakfast. I put the cats' food in their bowls and turn to put his in his bowl and he's not there anymore. I call him and I hear him come trotting in from the bedroom. He sits down in front his bowl and I tell him to eat his breakfast but he just keeps sitting there looking at me. As I'm walking around doing my morning ritual he still just sits there watching me. Then next thing I see is him trotting into the bedroom to go back to bed. He didn't even eat one morsel of food. That is one tired puppy. By the time I go home for lunch he should be mostly rested up and ready for breakfast.
Media quote of the day: two from Buffy the Vampire Slayer (tv show) which I use quite a damn bit. And whats funny is that both are from my beloved Spike, he seems to have a thing for puppies.

I'm saying that Spike had a little trip to the vet, and now he doesn't chase the other puppies anymore - Spike - Pangs (1999)

What's this? Sittin' around watching the telly while there's evil still afoot? It's not very industrious of you. I say we go out there and kick a little demon ass! What? Can't go without your Buffy, is that it? Too chicken? Let's find her. She is the chosen one, after all. Come on! Vampires! Grrr! Nasty! Let's annihilate them, for justice, and for... the safety of puppies... and Christmas, right? Let's fight that evil! Let's kill something! Oh, come on! - Spike from Doomed (2000)

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Cookies, I just may make some

So I was tooling around the Internet yesterday and found the Joy of Cooking site and found 14 cookie recipes I want to try out. There're also a few that I found in my Southern Living and Country Living mags and then there's my carrot cookie recipe that's been in my family for years. I've been thinking about doing a lot of baking this Christmas time. Last year would've been better since I wasn't working and had all the time in the world. But no, this is the year that I feel like doing it. Heh

Anyway, some of them seem to be pretty damn easy, others a little more involved. I'm thinking maybe I'll try a couple out this weekend while HDT is working. We shall see.

If we get out of work early today, as our office manager is hoping for, maybe I'll even do one or two of the real easy ones to take to mom's house tomorrow. It's her first Thanksgiving without her husband so we'll spend the whole day there. Well, I will, HDT has to work overtime from 6:00pm - 10:00pm which sucks but it's money at least.

As I'm looking at more and more and printing out more and more of the recipes I'm thinking to myself there's a whole hell of a lot of ingredients in all these. So I opened up excel and went through each recipe and listed the ingredients and as I came across the same ones I'd put how much was needed. Shit loads turns out, 51 in all. And unsalted butter is the most common one. Yeah, these aren't going to be diet friendly one bit. But it's the holidays and when else can you indulge. We'll just have to keep up the work outs and eating as good as possible in between.

Media quote of the day: two from Home for the Holidays (1995) and one from Lost "Hearts and Minds" (2005)

I'm giving thanks that we don't have to go through this for another year. Except we do, because those bastards went and put Christmas right in the middle, just to punish us. - Adele - the late, great Anne Bancroft

Nobody means what they say on Thanksgiving, Mom. You know that. That's what the day's supposed to be all about, right? Torture. - Claudia - the still living but still pretty great Holly Hunter.


Locke? Guy's a freak of nature, highly disturbed. Chances are he probably killed all his mates at the Post Office the day his mum forgot to put a cookie in his lunch tin - Charlie the always great and so damn cute I just wanna pick him up and squish him Dominic Monaghan

Monday, November 22, 2010

Weekend Update 11/19-21/10

So our weekend definitely was a busy one but it was good.

Friday I got out of work at 3:15. Got home and HDT was working on the leaves, let him know he'd have to quit soon to start getting ready to get out of there for the company holiday party. I packed our overnight bag and got our outfits together. We were on the road after 4:00, not sure when exactly, but we were trucking on down the road. Looked like we were going to make really good time but then about half way there we hit the traffic going into and around Chicago. It was stead going but it was slow, only around 20/25 mph.

At one point when I was just gliding along not using the gas or brake my car died. At the same time the battery light came on I realized there wasn't that usual vibration that you barely feel happening anymore. So I said to HDT that the car just died, he said to put the blinkers on so I did. And then looked to my right to see if I could get over, luckily the car that was over there was far back enough to see me put the lights on and they slowed enough to let me slowly coast over and then onto the breakdown lane. It wasn't easy going either since the power steering was gone. But as soon as I got there I put it in park, turned the key into the off position then turned it back on and it started up right away, no issues. I got back on the highway and didn't have another problem for the rest of the way there.

We got there about 5:45 or so and had to wait forever it seemed to be able to check in. The two guys behind the counter were helping the family in front of us. But we finally got checked in and went up to our room to change. I asked the guy behind the counter where we needed to go for the party and he pulled up a piece of paper with the info. It showed that the cocktail time was 6:00 to 7:30 so I wasn't feeling like we had to hurry much. Made me feel better when I saw that. We got down to the cocktail area about 6:30 or so and Chris, my coworker, was there already with her sister. So we talked with them for awhile then a few others came up and we chatted with them. Then HDT and I got in line for a drink. We each got one more when they opened the doors into the room where dinner was going to be.

Dinner was really good. We had lobster bisque for the soup, never had it before, I really liked it; salad, which I was a good girl and are some of the leaves, I mean lettuce, but that was about it. Sooo not a salad person. The main course was a small piece of chicken breast - moist; small filet mignon - tender; garlic mashed potatoes - yummy; 3 asparagus stalks and two small whole carrots - both just the right amount of crunchy and tender. Desert was a toffee/cookies and cream type pie with almond shavings on the top. All in all a very good meal.

There was a silent auction that we did not take part of, no money don't'cha know. Although there were a few things I would've liked to have had. We did buy a few tickets for the raffle which was for a free night there at the resort. But alas, we didn't win. I guess in previous years there was a band and dancing after dinner but not this year. Supposedly the music they piped in over the speakers that we could barely hear was supposed to be the music for dancing. Yeah, no one realized that because they had turned the lights up all the way and what party has the lights up all the way for dancing? They did have a group of kids 11-15 play their violins for us just after dinner but before the desert. Actually while the desert was being served. Anyway, they were really good, they were also accompanied by a pianist. I thought she was a kid as well cause I could see was a small portion of her face but HDT had a better view and said she was an adult. Anyway, they were all really good, played a bunch of Christmas songs.

After all that bunch of our group were heading down to a bar in the building for the "after party" but HDT and I didn't feel like going. I was trying to convince him to go back to the room for a little something something without really saying it but he knew what I meant, but someone had mentioned the Harry Potter movie and he looked up movie theaters on his phone and found one just down the street that had a showing starting at 11:00. Since it was just after 10:00 we went up to the room to change clothes and we headed over to the theater. I was worried that our seats would be really low but got lucky, it wasn't that full and we got some good ones right in the middle of the row and on the lower middle of all the rows. Was really good, I was not disappointed. There were a few things that I had to explain to HDT since he hadn't read the books, but for the most part he was good, he wasn't lost at all, just had a few things he wanted explained so they'd make more sense.

Went back to the hotel afterward and as we're getting ready for bed he realizes we didn't bring his C-Pap machine. Just great. He snored most of the night which made me take forever to fall asleep and woke me up plenty of times throughout the night, including waking himself up. One of those times when I woke up I felt really hot so in the dark I went over to the thermostat to turn it down. I was warm when I woke up in the morning but not overly uncomfortably so when he woke up not long after he complained about how dry and sore his throat was and not just form snoring. So I tell him I turned it down in the night and I go over to see what it says and it's 76 fuckin degrees. Yeah, you'd think the down button would've been the one on the left, but nope, it was the up button. Yeah, we were a bit hot.

Anyway, I got him up and we got ready to go to breakfast. Found a nice family restaurant down the road and had a good breakfast. We had Jim let Poydras out for us since it was going to be awhile before we got home. That way we were able to stop off and get our niece and nephew their birthday cards and pick up my birth control pills. Went home and spent a little time with the puppy and HDT played a game or two of Black Ops then we headed out to Wayne's house for his daughters 18th birthday party. Although she's 18 she still sounds and sometimes comes across as much younger. She has a very babyish voice that sometimes bothers me cause I think she should sound more mature but to each there own I guess.

After that we headed home to do the last minute straightening up for whoever was going to be coming over for the UFC fights. Everyone that normally does did end up showing - which is to say all my brothers and 3 of Scott's kids and HDT's friend Jim. Wasn't sure if Scott and his kids were coming because it's his son that was supposed to have a birthday party on Saturday as well but Scott ended up canceling it in a childish fit because Wayne had to have his daughters on that day. Anyway, Scott was pretty pissed and since he didn't respond to me or HDT when I emailed and he texted asking if he was coming we figured he wasn't. But sure enough they came walking through the door just before 8:00. But although he didn't talk as much as he usually does he did good by not causing a fight which I was worried about. All the main fights were done by 11:35 so everyone packed up and left except for Jim but he didn't stay too much longer.

Sunday I woke up much earlier than I expected to after not getting good sleep on Friday and staying up so late on Saturday but I was awake by 9:30 and couldn't fall back asleep. So I got up and did my usual weekend soak in the tub. When I was washing up I heard HDT talking to Poydras so I knew he'd be up in a minute or so. And luckily I didn't have to say anything, he actually did as I was drying off. He says, "Are we gonna do this?" and I said, "Yep." He asked me what I meant when I said that I said doing the lawn as we planned and then asked him what he meant, he meant the same thing so yippee for me, I didn't have to nag to get it done!

He grabbed the leaf blower to finish the leaves in the front yard that he had to abandon on Friday and I grabbed the lawnmower. He lowered the machine so we'd get a good low cut cause he was going to put down the fall weed eater/grass fertilizer stuff. Our yard has never looked so good at the end of the leaf falling time. It was a good thing that Jim had come over on Friday morning to help him start with the backyard. Because I was able to start in on the mowing there while HDT finished the front yard. And by the time I was almost done mowing the front yard he was done putting that crap all over so he had to wait for me to do the last few swipes before finishing and then we admired our work for a bit.

Jim came over right when we were finishing putting things away and then I left to go pick up the lawn stickers for the grass cans. When I got back they had finished taking the garbage out to the curbs and were relaxing on the computer and watching the Packer/Viking game. Saints played at 3:00, just before it started his sister Jess showed up as well. We all had a good time watching the game, especially since they won. Was really tired though from not enough sleep the last two nights.

Afterward we were all hungry and the two boys wanted cherry dr pepper so those three went to the store to pick that up along with some stuff for dinner. I made us hamburgers with HDT's help for dinner, we watched The Office while eating and after that HDT and his sister played Black Ops against each other. Finally she left and HDT took Jim home. My stomach had started feel queasy so I wanted to stay home in case it got worse. Luckily it never did. We got into bed just before midnight.

Yep a very busy but fun weekend.

Media quote of the day:

Well, well, well, look what we have here. It's Harry Potter. He's all bright, and shiny, and new again, just in time for the Dark Lord. - Bellatrix Lestrange - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1

Monday, November 15, 2010

Weekend Update 11/12-14/10

So our weekend went well. It was HDT's weekend to work but he had an 8 hour day on Saturday so that was nice.

Friday evening we did our workout after dinner as usual. Watched more dvr'd shows as usual and that was about it.

Saturday he went to work and I slept in. Then took a nice long bath while reading Wizard and Glass - Book IV of the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. Love these books, can't even tell you how much. Although this is my least favorite of the 7. I read some more after getting out the tub. Then around 1ish I made myself presentable and went to the grocery store to get some much needed supplies. Was still there when HDT called to say he was on his way home.

I put the groceries away and made us lunch. Also made a marinade for some pork chops that I was going to be making for dinner. I used most of a recipe I had found on Cooks.com. But added soy sauce to it along with a couple spoonfulls of cream of chicken soup. Stuck those in the fridge to marinade then took our lunch downstairs where he was playing the new Call of Duty: Black Ops game. After he was done with that we pretty much vegged for the day watching more dvr'd shows and he also at some point went on his computer to play WOW.

We were planning on raking up the leaves after he got off work but it was rainy on and off all day so we opted out. So now he's pretty much gonna have to do them by himself or see if his buddy Jim will come over to help. Neither of us ended up working out Saturday. He was having ankle issues and I just got lazy. I was planning on the raking being my workout and when I knew that wasn't happening I just decided to be lazy. But I've lost two pounds which is the goal - to lose 1-2 pounds a week. So YAY me!

The marinade for the chops ended up working out really well, tasted great. Next time I'll make extra so I can add it to them as they're cooking. Although they weren't dry by any means being able to add the moisture as they cooked would make them better. And maybe having some on the side for dipping in too.

Sunday he went to work. When I got up I did my usual Sunday morning long soak while reading. He texted me right after I sat down in the tub asking if I'd bring by the laptop and Poydras for a visit. Let him know I had just gotten in the bath, that I wasn't going to hurry but we'd be there, probably around noon. While I was finishing up getting ready he texted again about having lunch together. We decided to get chinese so I picked it up and visited with him and his partner for awhile. One of the CSO's (community service officer) came in that I know so she visited as well.

After awhile I took Poydras home and then I went to the mall. I needed to get an outfit or at least a top to wear to our company's holiday party this Friday. I found several tops I really liked for the party and for work but had to narrow it down to just a few. The one I got for the party is black and white and sparkly. I'm still debating on it being the actual top I wear. I still like the top I wore to HDT's class reunion last August and my mom has a top that's really nice and might fit me. We shall see.

I walked the mall from one end to the other, it's two miles from end to end, listening to piped in Christmas music. Why oh why does the season start earlier and earlier every year? Hell, the Chicago Lite music station is already playing the music 24/7. They started on Friday!! DAMN. In between walking the whole thing I went into a couple stores to try on outfits. Got the previously mentioned blouses at the first store. At the second store nothing looked good on me so didn't get anything there. I was so tempted at the cinnabon and cookie places but was able to resist. I also thought about getting one of the Auntie Ann's almond pretzels until I looked them up on my weight loss app I'm using and found that one of those is around 400 calories. Yep, no way was I getting one. But I was really thirsty and dieing for something sweet so looked up a McD's chocolate shake, found that the kids 12oz size was over 300 but my walking of the mall burned up that and I knew I'd be on the treadmill later in the evening so I indulged in one. It tasted really really good too, I don't regret it at all.

I got home just after 4:00 so I decided to start catching up on my Private Practices since HDT doesn't watch that one. After the 2nd one it was 6:00 so I headed up to the kitchen to start making the spaghetti that I've been craving for awhile now for dinner.

HDT came home while I fixing it and after changing clothes he went down to play a game or two of the Black Ops while I finished up. We had dinner while watching some more dvr'd shows. I think we've made the decision of not watching Hawaii 5 0 anymore. Although we both like it we're not attached to it the way we are with our other shows and since we watch way too many already it's gonna have to be cut.

My mom called shortly after dinner was completed and we chatted for a little while. My aunt, her sister, passed away this weekend. This has been a bad year for our family: two aunts, two cousins and my step dad all passed away this year. Very sad.

My two brothers who have kids each have one with a birthday this month. They're 2 years and 1 day apart. My niece will be turning 18 and my nephew will be turning 16. Scott sent us all an email a couple weeks ago letting us know his son's party would this Saturday the 20th. Just last week Wayne sent out an email letting us all know that his daughter's party will be the same day. With her going to school and working it's the only day she has off and would be able to have it. Scott is really pissed at Wayne, so pissed he was considering sending a nasty email telling him what he thought of him and his decision. UGH! Mom and I both figured we'd go to Wayne's house for an hour or so (her party starts an hour earlier) and then leave there and end the day at Scott's house. For me it makes the most sense since we closer to him and I'd rather have a shorter drive home then drive out. But he was threatening canceling his party and just taking his wife and kids to Chicago for the weekend. UGH again!

So after I got off the phone with her I got on the treadmill to do my 3.0 miles. I was just putting the incline to go up all the way to 15 for a minute trek when my cell phone starts chirping again (my ring is crickets) and I see that it's mom again. So I answer and she tells me she just got off the phone with Scott and he's still pissed. She tells him to listen for a minute and tells him what both she and I planned on doing. That seemed to calm him down some so he might go ahead and keep the party going. We shall see.

When I was about half way done HDT got onto the elliptical but was only able to do it for a couple minutes before his ankle started to give problems again. I think he's overdoing the treadmill. He's doing 1 minute jogs every now and then which is fine, I think he should but he's doing them at too fast of a pace right now. We just started, have only been doing this for a week so far, I think he needs to wait a little longer to go that fast. When I did my jogs it was tiring but I didn't get hurt so yeah, he needs to take it a bit easier. But whatever, he's gonna do what he's gonna do, being the bullheaded man he is. Heh

After I was done I took a breather on the couch to finish the show we were watching and once that was done I gave him a kiss goodnight and headed up to take a muscle soothing hot bath. I got into bed just after midnight. I was worried that even though I took the relaxing bath that having worked out so late in the evening that it would keep me awake. But it didn't. I'm definitely sleeping a lot better since we've been doing these exercises.

Media quote of the day: - We Wish You a Merry Christmas by we don't know, but it's traced back to the 15th century

We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

So we've used the elliptical and treadmill every day but one since Saturday. We decided to take Tuesday off to recoup. I was sore on Monday but I had HDT massage my back, which was the most sore, and that did the trick. It loosened up the muscles and I was good to go and it hasn't hurt that way since. His feet were hurting pretty bad on Tuesday and it doesn't help that he stands for most of his 12 hours at work. So to make sure my back was able to keep healing and his feet could get a rest we skipped Tuesday.

But we got back on yesterday. He did a few good sprints on the treadmill and a few times he kept the pace at 3.0 (I think it was anyway) but put the incline up as high as it would go. That worked him pretty good. I also put the incline up as high as it would go on the elliptical (20) for a couple minutes but then kept it around 7 for most of the time. Also had the resistance around 7 as well.

His youngest sister was over and at one point she walks behind the machines to get to his desk/computer and unplugs my machine. Fortunately it was during my cool down time so I had already reached my goal of working off 300 calories. Unfortunately I don't know my exact time, strides, calories and distance. But I remember looking at the calories about a minute or two before she did it and it had just reached 305 so that was good enough since that's what we're keeping track of more than anything else.

Today my upper and middle back are a little stiff but otherwise I'm feeling good. Yep, very happy we're back on track. And just like I knew I would, I'm more inclined to make myself eat healthier. I so wanted McDonald's for lunch yesterday but I was good and turned into my neighborhood rather than going straight to the arches. And proceeded to have a crappy bologna sandwich. It's the 98% fat free kind, normally I just get the lite but I couldn't find any so settled for this stuff. I didn't think it would be much different but OMG it is! But even as picky as I am I'm still able to eat it. But every time I eat a sandwich I wish I liked condiments or cheese or something to help hide the taste other than just the bread. Oh well, I'm almost done with the pack so so be it.

Media quote of the day:

You so broke your bologna has no first name. - Shortie #1 in a Shark's Tale

Monday, November 8, 2010

Totally confused - Updated

So I do my weekend update post and then go to view it the site and lo and behold my blogrolling list is back!! So I got to their site to see if they have anything to say about coming back and nothing. It just looks the same as before. I'm totally confused.

So this is one of the times that I'm glad I'm such a procrastinator. Otherwise I would've already taken the stuff out of my template and would never have known they're back up and running.

I guess we'll see how long it lasts.

______________________

So it's a few hours later and the list is gone again. So I go back to their website and it's back to the same thing about they've ceased operation.

This is too damn funny. I guess it was glitch for an hour or so. I suppose I really will have to use another bloglist from somewhere else. Bummer

Weekend Update 11/5-7/10

So Friday the treadmill was delivered but of course when I got home from work I had a headache and was just too damn tired to work out so we didn't. I thought for sure he would've used it earlier in the day but he hadn't. Jim had come over in the afternoon, they were supposed to go out to the garage to lift weights but they decided it was just too cold to do so so they didn't do that either. So he and I just hung out watching more dvr'd shows while he also played on his computer.

Saturday we both woke up a little after 9:00, I think anyway. We got up and decided we better work out now otherwise we wouldn't want to later. So I got on the elliptical and he used the treadmill. We decided we'd go 3 miles. We've discovered that we burn way more calories on the elliptical than the treadmill. At least doing the treadmill with no incline and an average of 3.0 miles an hour. Normally I shouldn't burn as many calories as him in the same time since he's a male and weighs over a 100 pounds more than me. But that elliptical kicks your ass! I did have the resistance on the elliptical at 3 for most of the time but did go up to 5 quite often and up to 7 once, it was like walking through sand, UGH!

The last 10-15 minutes of it I was beginning to die and said that maybe an hours time was just too much to start out with. But as he said, we only had 15 more minutes to go, that we could do it. And of course we did.

After that he took a shower and then I took a nice long hot bath to relax my muscles. After that I got ready and went to do some shopping at Target. While there HDT called to say that Jim called him to see if we were doing anything cause he was bored and would like to know if we'd be ok with him coming over. I said that it was fine with me since we weren't gonna do anything but continue catching up on the dvr'd shows anyway so why not. When I got home less than a 1/2 hour later he was already there.

I made us hamburgers for dinner and we watched The Invention of Lying and after that was The Informant. Both were pretty good but as fun as The Informant was to watch it was kind of fucked up. But I love me some Matt Damon and he was really good as usual. Both of those are Netflix movies we've had for over a month because we kept forgetting we had them along with the fact that we have so many dvr'd shows. Yep, again, we watch too damn much tv. Heh

After The Informant I went to bed and they hung out for a little while longer playing x-box games. I think HDT came to bed some time after 2:00. And that was after I had set the clock back so really it was some time after 3:00.

Sunday we woke up around 9:45 or so but decided not work out right away. We each had a bowl of cereal for breakfast, watched one of the Mediums and then turned on the pregame show since it was 11:40. Watched the Saints game, this time they had a resounding win. It was great to see and the Panthers 3 points only happened because Brees threw an interception right at the beginning of the game. But our defense was able to hold them to just those 3 points and then nothing for the rest of the game. So that was pretty awesome.

Right after the game ended we got on the machines. This time I took the treadmill and he took the elliptical. For awhile he didn't use any resistance and was just trucking along. At some point he started changing his resistance and his incline, not sure to what though. I started out at no incline and 3.0 mph. Then I went up to 3.3 for most of the time. Every now and then I'd go up to 3.5 and twice I went up to 4.5 to jog for a minute. At one point I put my incline up to 5.0 and then adjusted it between 4.0 and 5.0 for the rest of the time.

He ended up burning over 600 calories and I did 353.3. See what I mean by burning way more on the elliptical? That's closer to what it should be normally, him so much more than me. I think he had burned over 500 when he did the treadmill and I was close to him, definitely over 500, when I was on the elliptical. So I think that's what we'll keep doing, switching back and forth every day so we get the benefits from the elliptical, until we're ready to really do some changing on the treadmill to get closer to the burn. And also so we don't get static with always doing the same motions on the same machine.

Afterward I went up for another long hot bath to soothe the aches, finished my book finally as well. Then I put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher and prepared a good dinner for us of chicken breasts, green beans and corn with a piece of french bread. Cooked enough so he could take a whole meal to work with him today and stay healthy.

We watched some more recorded shows, finished some laundry and then got into bed just after 10:00. I kept waking up because my back is hurting. It hurts like I've been working it out as well. I'm thinking it's because I was trying to have the proper posture while on the treadmill and since that's not my normal walking stature I am actually working the back muscles. Anyway, I kept waking up because I was uncomfortable and kept turning over to put it back in order. But in between the wake ups I slept really well so I still feel like I got plenty of sleep.

Media quotes of the day:

From The Invention of Lying:

Hi, this is Mark. - Mark Bellison calling Anna
Oh, hi Mark. Didn't you get my email? - Anna McDoogles
The one about being not good enough for you? - Mark Bellison
That's the one. - Anna McDoogles
Yeah, got that. Cheers. - Mark Bellison

From The Informant:

There should be a tv show about a guy who calls home one day and he's there, he answers, he's talking to himself, only he's someone else. He's somehow divided into two, and the second one of him drives away and the rest of the show is about him trying to find the guy. - Mark Whitacre (voice over)