Fuzzy Wuzzy

Ya'll know the Fuzzy Wuzzy rhyme - ya know Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear... Well, Calvin has a different take on it.

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear
Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair
'Cuz somebody pulled it all out and shot him.

I don't know where he learnt this, but it's cute as can be when he says it! I think it's the hunter in him that thinks the bear needs shot. :-)

2nd Annual Walk To Remember

Come join us for the 2nd Annual Walk to Remember.
Enjoy a serene walk through T-Town park remembering friends and family that have gone before us. 
If you were there last year, you can attest to how special this walk is. 

Sunday, October 4, 2009
11:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
at the Teutopolis Park.

Click here for more information. 

I can't get you sick from my computer!

I'm sick.

I've been under the weather since Monday evening. I haven't been to school since Monday. I don't remember the last time I was this sick for this long. It all started with a runny nose. Next thing I knew I had sinus pressure, body aches, fatigue, and a headache. Yesterday the coughing got worse than before. Today, I woke-up with a tight chest and a bad cough. Talking makes me cough. Ugh. Have you met me? I'm a talker... so not talking sucks!

The absolute worst part is that I have a new nephew and I'm too sick to go see him. Ugh. It's killing me!

Anyway, I'm wondering if a breathing treatment would help with my chest. I have an appointment at the VA Clinic this morning to be checked out.

Sugar Sweet Designs is expanding!

Morning Smiles

Early this morning my sweet little angel snuck into bed with me.  He snuggled and was full of morning hugs and kisses.  He even said, "Mom, I want to hug you to the sun!"  That's a lot of hugs! 

On another note, my pal Rachel started a blog.  She's funny so expect good posts in the future!  Check her out!  :-) 

At this time I want to publically announce that Gretchen is the worst blogger ever!  J/k!  I love ya!  But, I miss your blog posts.  Not sure if you realized it, but you haven't blogged since May!!!  You have an amazing daughter, a military husband, a brother that just got married and also had the eye thing, another brother that's just plain funny, a mom that's a hoot, and a dad that could write the book.  You have tons of stuff to write about... please come back!!!  I miss you! 

I cried as they turned off The Light...

Today was the end of CBS's daytime drama, Guiding Light.  I have been a faithful follower of the Lewis, Cooper, and Spaulding family dramas all of my life.  I grew up with a mom and step-mother that both watched and naturally as I grew, I kept up with the Guiding Light. 

I was saddened when they announced the end was near.  We all wondered how it would end - a cliff hanger?  They bowed out gracefully with a week full of episodes packed full of heartfelt and tearful good-byes.  And the very last scene completed Josh & Reva's love story. 

After 72 years on the air, I wonder how daytime t.v. will never be the same. 

School Picture Day

I forgot today was school picture day. Some may call it fate that Calvin showed up to school in his favorite faux vintage Indiana Jones shirt for picture day. Lucky him, right? Not really 'cuz I rushed home, sprayed Wrinkle Release on a polo, and promptly returned to school with it.

Although we're not using the school pic as the official pic of the year here - other kids will have wallets of him and there's the class picture... and well, Calvin is usually very well dressed and I wasn't letting his first school picture be any different.

On my way home from his school, I thought about how rushed I was for a Wednesday... then... I remembered... it's Thursday! YAY! Have a Terrific Thursday!

"Hey Jackass..."

Dear Jackass,
You are a complete dumbass for trying to pass 3 trucks at one time! If I wouldn't have slammed on my breaks to avoid the head on collision, you'd likely be road kill right about now. You better count your lucky stars that I saved your life today!

Sincerely,
Driver you nearly had a head-on collision with today.


Dear Wal-Mart Employee Jackass,
Watch where the heck you're going! You came 2 inches from running my son over with a flat panel t.v. on your flat bed cart at the entrance of Wal-Mart today. The customer you were taking care of noticed and kindly apologized. You walked right on by. You're a jackass! Then, when I caught up with you by the door greeter and called you out - you acted like a bigger jackass! How dare you look at MY son like it was HIS fault for YOUR stupidity!!! I wanted to.... Ugh... kick you in the shins or give you a titty twister or something really mean like that! I was pissed! By the way, Todd (I think that was his actual name), you are freaking ugly! You're so ugly you think you have to go to the gym to bulk up to get women. And still you look like a fat ass hog! You disgust me!
Consider this your warning! I'm a crazy-ass mom... and next time I might not let you get away so easily!

Sincerely,
Crazy-ass Mom that wants to whoop your ass!


Ladies and Gents in the area - if you are at the Effingham Wal-Mart and come across this jerk, Todd, I kindly ask that you please step on his toes or run into him with your cart! Thank-you.

Hi-Ho-The Dairy Oh - Our Couches Are Finally Here!

The much anticipated new additions to our house finally arrived!!!  We custom ordered our Natuzzi furniture from Jodi at Wright's Furniture in early March with an expected delivery date 4-6 months later.  The wood came from Brazil while the leather and assembly was in Italy.  Then, over the big pond it came.  Across many states, and finally... by the hands of my cousin Aaron and another delivery guy - it made it to our home. 

People get furniture every day... so why are we so excited?  For starters, we had never seen the shape of couch and sofa in our leather choice.  So, it was a little bit of a mystery.  Also, in June we were accidentally misinformend that our couch was coming sooner.  So, we bought a 50" flat panel and hung it above the fireplace.  Since then, we've sat on a recliner and lawn furniture (in an undecorated room) to enjoy the t.v.  Trashy, right?!? 

For those of you that have met my sectional couch - don't worry, we still have it!  It's in the front living room/office.  I'm not sure I will ever part w/ it.  However, we appreciate all of the generous offers to take it off our hands!  :-)
 

Special thanks to Mom for helping us decorate after the sofas arrived.  With her keen decorating sense, and Chris's engineering/carpenter perfectionism, it looks nearly perfect - just a few more things needed to polish the look.  Now, on to decorating the rest of the house!!!

Big News!

My gal pal, Billi Lou - from Walnut Street Cards - has some BIG news over at her blog! If you're in the need of cards, stationary, announcements... or now... a wedding/event planner - CHECK HER OUT!

Today's Creative Recipe

For my Today's Creative Blog post, I'm sharing my loaded baked potato soup recipe. For this recipe, I combined a few different recipies to come up with something that makes my mouth water! ENJOY!

INGREDIENTS:

• 
  
  5 cans diced potatoes
• 2 cans chicken broth
• 
  
  2 cups water
• 
  
  1 tsp salt
• 
  
  3 cups milk
• 
  
  4 tablespoons melted butter or margarine
• 
  
  4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 
  
  2-5 tsp steak seasoning - I use Weber's Chicago Steak Seasoning
• 
  
  4 cups shredded cheese of choice - I use cheddar cheese
• 
  
  3oz Oscar Mayer bacon bits or any fried bacon

DIRECTIONS:

1. 
   
   In a large pot over medium heat, combine potatoes, chicken broth, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer until potatoes are tender, apx 30 minutes.
2. 
   
   Once tender, stir in milk. Continue to cook for 5 minutes.
3. 
   
   In a small bowl, combine melted butter, flour, and steak seasoning.
4. 
   
   Stir into soup. Increase heat to medium-high and cook until thick and bubbly (apx. 25 minutes). Stir often. Soup may not get really thick, and that's okay. It will thicken when you add the cheese in next step.
5. 
   
   Remove from heat and stir in cheese and 3/4 of bacon.
6. 
   
   Garnish bowls of yummy soup with sour cream, leftover shredded cheese, and remainder of bacon.

Other ingredients you could add: Celery, carrots, green onions, chives

A negative calorie cookie theory! I'm a freaking GENIUS!

Monday Calvin and I made my famous chocolate chip cookies - ya know the ones with the pudding in them to keep them soft for months. I have to give Carolyn credit for introducing me to this delicious recipe years ago. All gazillion calories were scrumptous!

I ate a few... okay... like a half dozen on Monday.

Then... my tummy rumbled and I made a mad dash for the loo.

Same thing happened Tuesday, Wednesday, and today.

It's obvious that it's the cookies.



So... my new theory is: Eating my delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies will result in a positive response from your tastebuds, cardio work-out from the mad dash, a colon cleanse to say the least, and ultimately - by my skewed calculations - amount to negative calories.

Just call them celery with an added flair! :-)

Weekly Writing Assignment From Mama Kat

Mama Kat's Weekly Writing Assignment

This week, I'm choosing prompt #5:  Share your friendly advice for someone you think needs it (ie your mother-in-law, other drivers, cell phone users, etc.) (inspired by Jill from Scary Mommy)

My friendly advice is for my mother. 

Mom, your job sucks.  The people stress you out to the max.  You had a recent trip to the E.R. after the stress got so bad you got hives - and that was like the 30th time you'd gotten hives at work!  It's just not worth it.  The people aren't worth you getting upset about.  They clearly don't give a crap about you.  I dearly admire you're "I give a shit" quality.  You are so passionate about everything you do and you take things to heart.  These are commendable qualities... but they're taking a physical toll on you. 

The whole family has listened to countless hours of the disappointments you've faced at work.  We truly care about you.  However, nothing is changing.  We can't fix it and we don't know what to do for you.  So, either bear your cross silently - or - Quit your job.  Get motivated to prepare for the next great adventure in your life. 

OLIVE JUICE*

Writings on my back

Today in Interpersonal Communications, we did an exercise where everyone taped a piece of paper on their back and all of the students wrote 1 thing/phrase to describe what they thought of the person.

As we were getting started, I jokingly said, "Write nice things about me. I'm not a fan of constructive criticism!" Later, on the drive home I thought about that line. Ever heard the phrase, "There's some truth in every joke?" Well, that was never so true as today. I hope my classmates said nice things about me!