Saturday

I'm a little restless this morning. It could be from paying bills. That's always enought to rip the feeling of content right out from under you. It could be that it is Saturday and I am at work and as usual it is a dull, slow day. I've got to do the usual Saturday cleaning and I am totally unmotivated. It rained a little yesterday (Thank you, Lord!). But we could use more. Rain has left the forcast, however, and it is blue skies all the way. I know my friend AtHomeDaddy has complained about the amount of rain he has gotten in Austin, Tx. It's unfair really. I would gladly take some off his hands. Can you email it?

On the bright side (always, always look for the bright side), tonite I'm having Rosie's and watching qualifying for the French Grand Prix. So if I can entertain myself for the next 9 hours then I'll be home free and happy.

Turnip Truck

Hubby has posted this picture of what we are now calling the turnip truck and which I told you all about in this post. Please, serious offers only.

Books, Books and More Books

Somebody send me some books, I am quickly running out of anything to read! Oh, great Amazon delivered some today. I'll be okay for a week.

I've read some good books lately. I'm trying to go back and read some classics and best sellers that I missed earlier. I read Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. First published in 1959 as a novella it was made into a movie titled, Charlie, in 1968. It is written in diary format from the eyes of the main character, Charlie Gordon. You can read further reviews at the length above. I really enjoyed it and recommend it to you.

Also, written in diary format I read, Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl. I don't know why this wasn't required reading in school. It was a very honest and compelling story. It definitely deserves a slot on the 100 best books list or whatever.

I also finished Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. I've really got to say this only a short story. My edition finished at 106 pages. There is a lot of swearing which I don't remember in the two previous Steinbeck books I read (Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden). The story is compelling and worth a read if you enjoy Steinbeck and come across a free copy.

I also a really good movie based on a book that I wish I had read first, The Prestige by Christopher Priest. I must warn you to pay attention in the beginning. I didn't and had to go back and watch some scenes again because I got confused. The movie bounces forward and backward in time using different methods and it is easy to lose the flow. After watching it the second time I understood a lot I missed the first go-through. It was a good movie and stayed with me for several days.

Thursday

Yesterday, I took the kids to Point Mallard for the day. We went with another family from school. This park has a wave pool, an Olympic pool, and several water slides. Lots of fun was had by all and we returned sunburned despite the sunscreen.

Today, my daughter had a dentist appt. We went by the elementary school on the way to register for fall and by the University fitness center to register for swim lessons. We tried to feed some ducks lunch but mostly fed turtles (Too hot for ducks? Maybe they've flown north for the summer. Smart ducks!!!) We went to Cracker Barrel and had breakfast for lunch.

In a little while when the sun starts to hide itself behind the trees I've got to go out in the 90 degree heat and fertilize the flowers. The drought has not been kind to my garden. I'm glad that summer flowers here usually bloom well into October.

Tuesday

I worked yesterday at my other job. You know the one that I told you I was considering going back to full time. Why was I considering that again? Oh, yeah, because I was suffering from some form of insanity. (No offense intended to those of you who are actually insane). Anyway, yesterday I worked 13 hours (excepting the 20 minute lunch). I was on my feet that entire time. Today I feel much like I imagine I would feel if indeed I was run over by a Mack truck. They were shorthanded as usual. The other pharmacist that was supposed to be working went home sick. At least here at this job there is no one else but me. Of course, it gets lonely, but I don't have to worry about not having help. So I'm not going back there full-time (at least not right now). Don't worry there will be other opportunities for them to throw money at me and try to entice me back.

We had a really good weekend. Friday night (without the kids, Yipee!!) We went to see the new Pirates movie and we went to a new restaraunt in town called Grille 29. It was quite good. I had the crab alfredo and even had some left over to take home.

Saturday morning we went to Tuscumbia for the Helen Keller Festival to see my SIL in her first 5mile race. My lovely son counted the number of people that crossed the finish before her. Isn't he a great encouragement? Afterwards, we went to lunch with hubby's family. We ate at a country place called The Rocking Chair. I had hamburger steak with fried okra and hasbrown casserole. Again, it was quite good.

Monday I went back on my diet. I sure am getting hungry.

Friday Weigh-In

Okay. We all know that all good things must come to an end, right? So how many Fridays could I weigh in at the same weight? 3? 4? This week I had gained 2 lbs. So Monday I'm back on my diet. I was beginning to feel bad about the amound of junk I was eating anyway. Why not now? Well, it's the weekend and I have big plans. Better to start on Monday, anyway. I also, need to try and exercise more. This morning I took the kids to a local park that has a walking loop and they were bored before I did the loop twice. I had wanted to do 6 laps (I think that is 3 miles) but had to give up after 4. Next time I told them they would have to bring a book to read. We have a busy week next, so I'm not sure how much exercise I'll get in.

Tonite? Dinner and a movie. With. Out. The Children. Yeah, be excited for me!

Barbecue

And just to get this off my chest because I've been perturbed by some commercials I've heard lately. In the South the term Barbecue refers to a way of slow-cooking meat (most often pork) which is consumed either by itself with fixins' or on buns as a sandwich. The act of inviting friends over and grilling food (of any sort) on a grill in the summer time is called a "cook-out", not a barbecue. If you said you were having a barbecue people might assume you were preparing the slow-cooked delight yourself with your smoker. And just to confuse any northerners out there we also have fish-frys. It's like a cook-out only we deep-fry fish in a cooker outdoors and serve it with hushpuppies and coleslaw (which are actually good with barbecue, too.) Please see this for a better example of how these terms are used elsewhere.

Presidential Visit

The President is visiting our lovely state today. He is flying in to Huntsville to visit the Browns Ferry Nuclear Facility. I'm not sure why. A reactor has been 'restarted' after a 22 year hiatus. Something about Bush promoting his stand on alternative fuels. The visit was only announced early in the week. He will not make a public appearance while in Huntsville. He is then scheduled to fly to Mobile for a political ($1000/plate) fundraiser for U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions. The President visits our fair state very seldom. In the past 30 years most presidential visits have been either hurricane related (touring the disaster area) or political (campaigning for himself and others). Our governor, Bob Riley, is out of the country and will miss the visit. Our mayor, Loretta Spencer, had to cancel a trip to be present. Some friends of mine last night mentioned trying to get near the airport for a view of Air Force One or the motorcade. I am sure the interstate and many secondary roads will be closed during the commute to the Nuclear Facility. (Which incidentally is in a remote, rural area of Limestone County.) I wouldn't hold much hope of getting a glimpse of the Chief but I wouldn't mind seeing the plane. I've always been fascinated by Air Force One. At any rate, I will be at work during the 2-3 hours of his visit and will not be inconvenienced by the traffic hold-ups. There will be protests held (with permits, of course) both in Huntsville and Mobile. Approval ratings here in Huntsville with our strong military presence is not high. We support our troops, but we are ready for them to come home.

Rain and Frito Pie

Yesterday morning I decided to head to a nearby park to walk their loop. The kids went along to play on the playground. It had rained a little bit during the night and looked like it might rain again. I figured risking the rain was doing my part for the drought. Afterall, my getting wet is a small price to pay. Sure enough into my 4th trip around the park it started to rain. I finished the loop and we headed to the car. It rained several times throughout the day. It rained while my lawn man was mowing the yard (this was no deterrent to him, however.) I am very thankful to the rain. Today it is blue skies again but the temperature is not quite as harsh as the previous days.

Last night I fixed 'Frito Pie' for supper. I only recently discovered that my children enjoyed this dish which I had previously called Taco Salad and had not fixed for many months. After finishing his first helping my son went back for seconds. I know, I was pretty shocked myself. It is so nice to stumble on something the boy will eat and not complain about.

Monday

We had a good weekend. Friday night I took the kids to Jump Zone. (Basically, it's a warehouse filled with giant inflatable slides and moonbounce type structures.) It isn't terribly exciting for parents. But the kids had a blast. Saturday we spent the afternoon on the Tennessee River with my cousin and her family. We boated and rafted and swam and generally enjoyed ourselves. Sunday morning we went out to bruch and Sunday night we had our VBS program. I found time to dig up and replant my New Guinea Impatiens trying to give them a better chance of staying moist. We are experiencing a serious drought. Sunday afternoon I watched my new hero, Lewis Hamilton, win his second Grand Prix. We looked hard for hubby who attended the race but didn't catch sight of him. Despite all the activity I felt well rested and relaxed. It was just over too soon.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

4 Things About Me

I got this one as an email but it seemed like good blog fodder when I had nothing else. I'm not going to tag anyone. We've all done these memes a lot lately. Just participate if you have nothing much else to write.

Four Jobs I've had in My life:
1. Pharmacist
2. Nurse's Aid
3. Cashier/Clerk
4. Living Model

Four Places I have lived
1. Pleasant Grove, Alabama
2. Boaz, Alabama
3. Auburn, Alabama
4. Huntsville, Alabama

Four Places I have been on Vacation
1. Disney World
2. Aspen, Colorodo
3. Snowshoe, West Virginia
4. Maryland

Four Foods I love
1. Chocolate
2. Pasta
3. Barbecue
4. Banana Bread

Four Places I would Rather Be Right Now
1. Ft Walton Beach
2. At home in my spa
3. Gatlinburg
4. Memphis (where my mother is)

Restaurant Meme

I thought I might do something like this Restaurant Meme that J did a while back and recently Gina did. They didn't tag me and to be honest my little town is not that interesting food-wise. I mean it is not L.A. or San Francisco. But we have a few good places here and I have a few favorites that I'm gonna share.

1. Ol Heidleberg. This is a locally owned German restaurant. It is small and cozy with a good atmosphere. We first went there when we were dating and I had never before eaten German food. Now it is my favorite place to go without kids. We always ask for the same waitress which ensures wonderful service. The food is very good although I usually stick to a few favorite dishes. They are always presenting new wines to try. The desserts are also great and we often get ours to go.

2. Victoria's Cafe. This is very much a "ladies lunch" place. In fact, they are not open for dinner. It is always busy at lunch with different groups of ladies and only the occasional man dining with them. It is not a good place to take children. My favorite dish is the Poulet de Normandy and I have that everytime. It is an elegant place, great for going out with the girlfriends.

3. Greenbriar Restaurant. Don't confuse this with Greenbriar Barbecue located just a few miles away. GR is primarily a barbecue restaurant but they also serve fried catfish. It is a "downhome" place where they always refill your hush puppy basket. The service is usually quick and always friendly. It is a large building and you can usually get a seat quickly even on Saturday night. They give you huge glasses of tea. It's a family atmosphere (alcohol & smoke free), very casual. I especially like the barbecue pork. This is where we go often on the weekend because it is so hassle-free.

4. Rosie's Cantina. I know there enough of these around now that it might qualify as a chain. But the restaurant was started in Huntsville. It is THE mexican restaurant in Huntsville. Nothing else compares no matter how hard they try. It is always busy and there is a wait for a table even on weeknights. We often get take-out on Saturday nights when the wait time gets up to an hour. They have outside dining in warm weather. It is especially nice now that all area restaurants are smoke free. I love the chicken quesadillas and also the Mexican Ribeye. The queso is excellent. They have a full bar with frozen and mixed drinks. It is a little loud because it is always busy but the service is usally quick. Currently, they are building a larger restaurant across the street, hopefully with more parking.


I'm only going to list 4. I know there are alot of fancier restaurants here and I've even eaten at several of them. But to me a good restaurant has to have more than just really good food. It has to have good service and a good atmosphere. You have to feel like you got your money's worth. I don't mind paying more for a better place to eat but not if it's just the same stuff dressed up and served with better presentation. We have some decent chain restaurants too, but I didn't want to mention them. My husband's list would probably be different because he eats out at lunch frequently and likes Asian food more than I do. I'm not going to call a place a favorite until I've been there 3 or 4 times and it's been consistent.

Employee Appreciaton Week

On Tuesday, I was feeling a little dejected by the gray t-shirt I received as part of our company's employee appreciation week. Of course, any free thing is appreciated right? Well, today I was surprised to receive a gift basket with food, candy, mug, key chain, etc and also an insulated cooler/lunch box. Now I am feeling really appreciated.

Weekend Plans

I am currently trying to plan a little getaway for Hubby and me next month. The kids have been invited to Grandma's for all day Friday and Saturday. I think that if I throw in a car show I can convince Hubby to spend the night in a B&B. There is a car show in Chattanooga that Saturday and I have been reading about two different B&B located there: Mayor's Mansion Inn and Stonefort Inn. Both have received good reviews at Tripadvisor. Chattanooga is only a two hour drive from here. They both have hi-speed internet which Hubby cannot seem to live long without. Both are located near a lot of restaraunts and other Chattanooga attractions. It actually sounds quite wonderful.

Temporary Insanity

There was a short bout of insanity where I may have said yes when actually I didn't even hear the question. Last week my husband got a new vehicle that is older than either of our parents. I think I said something like, "only if you can get it in the garage without inconvienencing me too much. It is amazing how industrious a man can be with some encouragement. Now we have more vehicles to our name then we have people in our household (and two of them are not old enough to drive.) And yes they are all parked in a garage.

Edited to add: Actually, we have two garages - the one on the house and a detached garage. Since the GMC truck is diassembled it is actually divided between the two garages.

Book Update

I just finished reading the new Elizabeth Berg novel, Dream When You're Feeling Blue. I was very dissapointed. I've read all of Berg's novels and have found them often thought-provoking and insightful. They are intriguing in their own way and I eagerly waited the release of her new novel. I should have waited and read this one in paperback. It is far from Berg's usual style, the majority of the novel is written with dialogue. It is set in the early 1940's during WWII and the central characters are young women writing to men fighting the war. It is a short novel as most of her's are but not very filling. If you are a big fan of hers you probably still want to read this one but otherwise you can plan on skipping it. Sometimes, I think the pressure on an author to churn out a new novel each year causes their work to suffer. I know that all of John Grisham's novels are not of the same caliber. But is it so much to ask an author to give us at least one good book a year? (What else are these people doing with their time besides book tours once they start making the big bucks!) I know many of those romance writers churn out several and I don't expect that. But especially, if a writer is publishing a series and we are waiting to find out what happens to our characters, a book a year is expected. I know lots of good books have been written by an author with only one or two others to his/her credit. That is too bad, too. But once you have become accustomed to their work you come to expect the greatness to continue.

I also, recently read two of Michael Chricton's earlier works, The Andromeda Strain and The Terminal Man as part of a collection. The books were written in the late 1960's - early 1970's. If you've read any of Chricton's other novels then you might be dissapointed with these. You can really tell how his writing has improved over 3 decades. They were both written about technology that has long since become obsolete (or commonplace). But I enjoyed both of them and would recommend them if you are a fan of Chricton's other novels. (If you haven't read his novels I would recommend Prey or Sphere to get started.

Saturday

I went out and walked this morning for the first time in over a week. I tried to think of all kinds of exuses not to even after I got out of bed and got dressed. For example, I haven't fertilized my plants this week. But in the end I could not convince myself otherwise and set out. It was very humid but not too hot because of the short rain storm yesterday.

I finished reading Ethan Frome again. I read it in high school and had forgotten how short it was. I read on someone's blog that it was their favorite book, I can't remember who now. But anway, I thought I would give it another read. You can read through it in one sitting. I think I enjoyed even more this time then last. I might be encouraged to give another Edith Wharton book, Age of Innoncence, for which she won the Pulitzer a try.

My daughter and I went out shopping on Thursday mostly just for fun and she wanted to go to Barnes & Noble. I warned her that I would probably buy books if we went in. When I had picked up 3 I told her we had to leave but then she still had to drag me to the register to keep from picking up more. (Sometime soon I'm going to check out the used book website that Chichimama told me about.) So I'm excited to have the new Elizabeth Berg book as well as another Martha Grimes. I'll let you know how they turn out.

Friday

I got on the scale this morning for the first time in 2 weeks and despite the out of control eating I've been experiencing I was weighing in within 0.2lbs of 2 weeks ago. I should use this as incenitive to diet for a week and try to lose another two pounds. But I have that potato soup leftover that has to be eaten (it was really good, folks!) and next week is our VBS. I do have to get back into exercising again soon! I think I would be happy, though if I could maintain this weight. My clothes are fitting nice and I can still eat the things I like if I just exercise some and use some restraint. The important thing is to keep weighing because that is where I have gone off track (and gained 15lbs) before.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things To Do With My Kids This Summer

1. Pottery By U - done

2. Bowling - Mom took them

3. Vacation Bible School - done

4. Point Mallard Water Park - done

5. Jump Zone - done

6. Picnic in the Park - too hot

7. See Aunt Terry run her first 5mile race - done

8. Go out with cousins on the river - done

9. Free Movie

10. Go out to lunch with my Grandmother Esther - done

11. Go to Atlanta and visit Aunt Terry and do #12 & #13 - done

12. Visit Whitewater - rained out

13. Visit The Georgia Aquarium - done

Food Questions Meme

I saw this first on Crazy Dust in My Coffee.



1. Can you cook? If yes, do you like to cook? I suppose I can cook as well as the next person and this is to say I know the basics and can follow most recipes. I wouldn't mind taking a cooking class because I do enjoy cooking and would like to learn more techniques so I could tackle more difficult recipes.



2. When does the whole family come together to eat? I work a lot of evenings and usually my husband feeds the kids before I get home. When I am off work, I usually cook the evening meal and we all eat together.



3. What do you have for breakfast? If I'm going to work I'll have a WW muffin in the car. At home, with more time, I prefer cereal. Our favorite cereals include: Frosted Flakes, Cheerios, Captain Crunch, Rainsin Bran Crunch & Corn Pops.



4. When, How & Where do you eat throughout the week? Usually for lunch even if I am not working I'll have a frozen entree.



5. How often do you eat out? We usually eat supper out once a week, and I tend to eat out for lunch once every other week.



6. How often do you order in or get take-out? Usually, at least twice a week.



7. Re: #5 & #6 - If money were no object, would you eat out more often? No, it seems we eat out enough as it is.



8. Are there any standards that make a regular appearance at your table? Spaghetti and Breakfast (as the evening meal) are pretty regulars.



9. Have you ever tried a recipe from a blog? Yes, I tried the Fish With Pistaccios from Thinking About.



10. Are there any quarrells because of food? Yes, lots. I read recently that you needed to introduce a new food 8-10 times to children before they would eat it. I see the problem is that I give up long before we reach 8 times. I am definitely paying for being a picky eater as a child.



11. Are you a vegetarian or could you imagine becoming one? No. I am definitely a meat-eater though not as much red meat as my husband prefers. I am really a big chicken eater. I could not imagine giving it up. Especially, because frankly, I don't like a lot of vegetables.



12. What would you like to try that you haven't dared? I would like to go to a Chinese Buffet and try a lot of different things. My husband has only in the last year introduced me to Thai food and I am afraid to order something if I'm not sure what it is.



13. Would you rather cook or bake? Well, baking has the advantage of getting it ready and then going off somewhere else while it bakes. But I can't say I prefer either. I like easy things, though. I do not like to spend hours in the kitchen.



14. What was the most terrible mess you've ever made in the kitchen? Hmm? That one is hard. I've certainly burned a lot of things over the years. I guess mostly when I bake cakes or use the electric mixer I tend to make the biggest messes.



15. What do your kids like to eat best? J - chicken fingers (but not homemade). B - just about any pasta dish (especially if creamy). What would they never touch? Oh, the list is endless.



16. What do you dislike the most? I absolutely hate celery. And chicken livers.

Tuesday

Yesterday I worked at my other job at Wal-Mart. It was a long, hard, tiring day. I had vicious leg cramps last night and dreamed all night long about filling prescriptions. It's hard to understand then why I am seriously considering going back there full-time. The pharmacy manager at the store I have been working at for the last 3 years is moving and her position has become available. It would mean a raise of 25% over what I am making at my current job plus a bonus in the spring. Of course, there are lots of drawbacks. The work is definitely more demanding and stressful. I wouldn't have long hours to read blogs and play Mahjong. Although, I have enjoyed getting paid to do very little the long boring hours are starting to take their toll. (I also have to wonder how long my current employer will continue this operation at a loss.) Plus, my dad, tells me that you can tolerate just about anything (job-wise) for two years. In two years, if our plans work-out, Hubby will be finished with his teaching degree. Maybe, then I could go back to working part-time. Also, sometime in the next two years a new supercenter is scheduled to open up even closer to my home. I really enjoyed starting a new store once before and would welcome that opportunity again. I am starting to think about what demands I should make in order to come back. I already have 3 weeks vacation at the company. I would also like to work no more than every 4th Sunday. So, if you know me, you may be thinking I am crazy to even consider this. However, if you don't know me you may have a hard time understanding why I wouldn't take the job. At any rate, chime in with your opinion.

Nine Dangerous Words Women Use

I borrowed this from Old Horsetail Snake with his permission. I thought it really rang true.


1. Fine. This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.


2. Five Minutes. If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.


3. Nothing. This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin in Nothing usually end in Fine.


4. Go Ahead. This is a dare, not permission. Don't do it!!


5. Loud Sigh. This is not quite a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about Nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of Nothing.)


6. That's Okay. This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make to a man. That's Okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.


7. Thanks. Don't read anything into this. Do not question it. Do not faint. Just say, "You're welcome." Sometimes that works.


8. Whatever. V., meaning screw you!Don't Worry About It;


9. I Got It. This is something a woman has told a man to do several times but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking "What's wrong?" For the woman's response, refer to #3

8 Random Facts

My mother at Bears in Exile tagged me to do this meme. Here are the rules:



Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.People who are tagged write a blog post about their own 8 random things and post these rules.At the end of your blog you need to tag 8 people and post their names.Don’t forget to leave them a comment and tell them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.



The first thing I thought was, 'Are there 8 people reading my blog'? Then I realized if there are 8 people reading it then she tagged at least 4 of them. And I can't tag her, either. So who does that leave. I'm sorry to do this to you, because I know you've done them before and may not like it but I have to listen to my mother. I tag: Gina, Autumn's Mom, Rachel, Mel, Chichimama, Allybean, Terri & Megs. Okay, I'm not certain that last one has read my blog. But it was hard coming up with 8. Let's see how many respond.



8 Random Facts

1. I bite my fingernails. I always have. I don't really have a desire to stop, either. It only annoys other people, not me.

2. I really like to take naps. My son tries to understand this but it will take another 20 years or so for him to get it.

3. I rarely add salt to my food. Sometimes, I even forget to put it in if I'm cooking.

4. I don't like to talk on the phone. I would rather email. I think this comes from having a job for so many years that required a great deal of phone use.

5. I often let my cell phone go completely dead before remembering to recharge it. Sometimes I turn it on silent (for the dentist or church) and it's a week before I remember to change it.

6. I hate tomatoes. I don't mind them cooked in dishes or as a sauce, etc. But fresh tomatoes in a salad or on a sandwich or in my quesadillas - NO!

7. I don't spend a lot of money on clothes or shoes but I have a really nice pair of sunglasses.

8. I drive 70 miles (one way) to get my haircut. This lady has been cutting it for over 10 years and I am too chicken to try someone here in my city (plus it would be a lot more expensive). Luckily, with long hair I don't have to get it cut or permed very often.

Friday

My daughter's Kindergarten graduation was Tuesday night. I had planned to post a picture but none of them turned out real well. The graduation was fun and I didn't even cry. J's last day of school was yesterday. My kids are enrolled in a Summercare program and will attend that at least 3 days a week. They go on field trips and swim and do a little academic work. It's not school but it's not exactly summer vacation, either. They seem to have excepted the necessity of it, though. I am hoping on the two days a week I'm off work, we can do some fun stuff together. I envy SAHMs for getting to sleep late all summer, but how do you fill the time? We've got Vacation Bible School week after next. They start back to school on Aug 2, so it really is a short summer. I'm longing for a vacation.