Time

I am pretty sure that it was just Friday night, wasn't it? I have no idea where the time went - it is now Sunday evening and I still have a ton of things that I wanted to get done this weekend. There is so much to be done before we leave for vacation on Saturday that my head is positively spinning. There are all of the regular vacation type things like laundry, shopping, packing, etc; plus, Paco and I each have to get 15ish signatures on some (local, political) petitions before we leave and I have a picnic tomorrow night that I cannot miss. Incidentally, I am currently in the process of hydrating/cooking some black eyed peas for Texas Caviar to take to this picnic.

1 lb. dried peas Hydrate overnight, drain. Add fresh water, cook for 40 minutes. Drain and cool.

Add 1 chopped onion, 3 cloves chopped garlic, 1 chopped bell pepper, 3 bunches chopped scallions, 1 bottle zesty italian dressing and 3T hot sauce. Serve with chips or crackers.

Anyway, I know that I am really going to enjoy getting away next week. But, I also know that I am going to HATE this coming week just as much!

My Faith and A Woman I Don't Know

I had a few things in mind that I wanted to write about, but it appears they are going to have to wait due to a subject that has caught my attention. I link to a blog from here that I enjoy reading. I have never met the woman, although I appreciate her humor and she has recently passed the bar in California and is practicing law, which is something I am hoping to do someday (here in NY, anyway). Anyway, she posted about some events in the Anglican/Episcopal church that sparked some debate. What really caught me, and what caused me to keep going back, was the discussion that was going on between her and a reader. I consider myself a faithful person; I pray at night and am trying to teach my children about God. However, I am generally rather internal with my beliefs and do not discuss them with very many people. In fact, I do not even pray out loud - my religious practice is very internal. While reading this woman's blog entry and the comments that followed, I found myself in awe of her ability to discuss her faith and defend herself against someone who was bent on making her mis-speak and look stupid. Religion is often a very touchy subject, which is a shame. I enjoy learning about other faiths and trying to understand different points of view. (I took several religion classes while getting my BA, but that was a while ago.) I don't know, though, how I thought that was going to happen if I am not occasionally willing to bite the bullet and talk about it myself. This whole thing has caused some soul searching on my part - how about you?

My Garden

Princess and TBell had a dance recital this past weekend and rather than buy them flowers that day, my mother took them shopping for flowers for our garden. Now, I have mentioned before that a gardener I am not. But, since my mother spent the money, I figured I should make an attempt at planting them.



This is part of the garden right next to the entrance to our house. I need to buy some more soil and I certainly need to remember to water. But, I don't think its half bad for a first attempt. The next big project is to plant the daisy's I bought for the backyard next to my rose bush. (If I am not careful, I am going to start sounding like a woman from garden club!)

While we were getting the flowers, I decided to buy oregano and cilantro plants. I know that I could have replaced the herb garden (see the May 27 post), but that seems like too much right now. I bought these plants yesterday and used the oregano in our lasagna today. Mmmmmmm!

On a somewhat unrelated note, although it does pertain to the above mentioned lasagna...do you think that making lasagna is cooking or just preparing? Do you even see a difference? (To make the lasagna tonight, all I did was cook the noodles and layer them with canned sauce, pre-shredded mozzarella, canned parmesan and my special ricotta mixture.) The reason I ask is that my sister is currently running a cooking discussion and this is precisely what she is talking about. Any thoughts?

Hell Hath No Fury

I typically try to stay away from political and religious discussions in situations where they are likely to get out of hand. Consequently, I thought that I would avoid those subjects on this blog unless mentioning them in the most general terms. However, if you are not outraged at this story (specifically at the so-called church), then I think you need help. Regardless of what religion (or not) you practice or what political party you belong to, human decency should be the most important value you possess. If those people don't like our country that much, then they should get the hell out.

The Dinner Fantastic

Last night, Paco and I went to The Buffalo Chophouse for dinner with someone from his office and a vendor that is in from Philadelphia. I had never been there before and was very excited to go; it did not disappoint - the food was SO good. It may have been somewhat overpriced, but it was not out of the park compared to similar restaurants. The crab cakes with goat cheese fondue were fabulous and I can't say enough about the bacon wrapped scallops. But, the highlight of my evening was definitely the chardonnay by Villa Mt. Eden. It was from their Grand Reserve and it was absolutely phenomenal! I highly recommend you try it when you get the chance. However, since I did not pay for any of the meal or drinks, I cannot give you any indication of the price.

One Good Deed...

Don't have a lot of time, but this is an interesting read.

Sports

Well, the Sabres lost the Stanley Cup semi-finals...but not before forcing a game 7 in the series. While it certainly would have been wonderful if they had advanced in the play-offs, I am so excited about the mood here in WNY. In the past, Buffalo has very publicly lost play-off games in many sports and it has always been embarrassing. (Wide Right! No goal!) This time, however, the entire region is standing behind the team that wasn't even supposed to make the play-offs this year, let alone get as far as they did. Not even excessive injuries to their best players kept them from showing up at the games and giving it their all. The days after a big loss in Buffalo are usually spent moaning and complaining about how all of us (read: the men in Buffalo) could have done it better and that we were ROBBED of a victory. The past few days I have heard nothing but what a great team the Sabres are and what a fantastic season they had...we're Talkin' Proud!

Coffee Coffee Coffee Coffee

I read an article last night that women who drink 4 or more cups of regular coffee a day are less likely to have breast cancer. I have no idea how accurate this information is, although it did reference a study at a decent university (I can't remember the name). I have decided that I am going to wholeheartedly believe the findings, though, because I am a coffee lover and the daughter of a breast cancer survivor. The article did say that two cups does seem to provide some protection if four is more than one wants to drink, but I feel that if a person is going to do something she should do it with gusto. Coffee deliciousness - here I come!

Eating and My Family

I had lunch today with a friend from high school; she called me out of the blue and said that she was in town and wanted to know if I was available. It was a very welcome break from work and we had a great time. Among the things we discussed were our eating and fitness habits. (This was done while eating incredibly fattening and delicious tacos from Burrito Bay, which is what started the whole conversation. I realize that eating this food is counterproductive to a healthy lifestyle, but seriously, these tacos are amazing!) While confiding some of my body image-related issues, I had a revelation: my attempts at dieting or working out are not working because I am still doing them like I am single and have no children. I used to run and I used to spend a lot of money on groceries. While running is certainly an option, it's not always the best fit for me right now. Spending a lot of money on groceries would be great, except that there a million other things that need my attention and checkbook, too. Any time I try to diet or eat healthy now, I buy completely separate foods for me than my family; this never works. I inevitably stop dieting because this is to difficult to maintain. (For instance, my kids don't like soy based meats and they have always been a staple when I am trying to be healthy.) So, while talking to my friend, I realized that I need to introduce health and fitness into my entire family. And, I need to realize that I am going to have grilled hot dogs sometimes because that is something my family does...I just don't need to eat two!

In other news - in case you missed it, the Sabres are forcing Carolina to game 7. It is 90 degrees out and I am writing about hockey. I can't believe this is happening in Buffalo! (I am talking about the playoffs and the heat!) Go Sabres!

Starting Over

Here is a picture of my herb garden taken just about 45 minutes ago. I cannot believe that I successfully grew something!



Sadly, about 30 minutes ago, Princess wasn't paying attention and accidentally knocked the little greenhouse off of the window sill; the little sprouts are no longer. I do still have all of the little pots and extra seeds, so I just need to buy more dirt and I can start over. If I did it once, I can do it again; right?

Anyone Else Tired?

I really can't figure out why I am so tired. There is no good reason for it; it just is. Being tired makes me feel depressed (I will briefly acknowledge that perhaps being depressed makes me tired, but that's too much for right now!) which then makes me difficult to be around. Tonight, however, I found the perfect remedy in glasses of wine (a nice sauvignon blanc from the neighborhood Italian liquor store-slightly fruity with a hint of effervescence) and two episodes of Friends on TBS. Really, I was feeling miserable at 8:00 and by the time 9:00 rolled around, I was a new girl. (Yes, the kids were already in bed.)

Dinner this evening was pork in the crock pot. All I did was put 8 boneless pork chops in, add about 1 cup of water, some chicken stock powder - maybe 3 or 4 tablespoons, 2 tablespoons of chopped garlic and several generous shakes of lemon pepper. I served them as sandwiches, as Paco had a softball game tonight. I thought they were fine, but Paco said they were the best ones I have ever made. It was good, but I am hungry again.




Apparently Pirate was also tired today; this picture was taken right before dinner. I couldn't resist sharing it.

The Outdoors

I do not have much of a green thumb. But, I decided that this year Paco and I must take more pride in the outside of our house. I had a friend come over and talk to me about the rose bush in my backyard; she showed me how to cut it back and explained which branches needed to be removed entirely. The same friend also lent us a spreader, which we used to weed and feed our lawn. (I think we have already done more this year than in the past!) In order to make things even more attractive, I bought a new mini-flag (to replace the Easter one that was still up) and a very nice, inexpensive wind chime. The wind chime has clear and blue beads and is topped with a beaded hummingbird. I was so excited that I opened it as soon as I got in the house tonight - and then cut the wrong part and ended up cutting the string that holds the middle noise maker thing (very technical terms). What is wrong with me?!? Paco found the whole thing quite amusing. I ended up using some clear medical tape to try and fix it. It looks fine, but not great.

In another gardening endeavor, I have started an herb garden in a little plastic greenhouse; it is sitting on one of my kitchen window sills. Oh how I want this to work! I can just imagine using my own basil and cilantro! I welcome any tips people can give...

I forgot to mention that I made sloppy joes yesterday. I know one of my friends has been dying for me to post that recipe and I just haven't had time. I typically use this one, but I don't follow it exactly. For instance, I never have vinegar, so that is always omitted. I also prefer things spicier rather than sweet, so I don't ever include the brown sugar. Regardless, I have had a lot of success with this recipe and highly recommend it.

Hockey Fun

I only have random thoughts to share this evening:

1. I think it is still cold in WNY because Mother Nature is enjoying the hockey playoffs.

2. Paco is MISERABLE due to the Sabres game tonight - why are men so emotionally responsive to this stuff? I mean, I love the Sabres...I do! But, Paco and our friend won't stop swearing at the TV.

3. I had a meeting tonight and a local police lieutenant spoke about identity theft and I learned that there is pretty much nothing we can do to prevent it. So, go ahead and shop and dine out and do everything you normally do...it simply won't matter.

4. Did I mention that the men in my house are miserable right now?


The next game is Wednesday - what fun!

Entertainment Issues

The other night, I watched the series finale of Will & Grace. As I mentioned, I haven't really watched that show in a number of years. But, it seemed important to watch the last one. During the one hour retrospective prior to the last show, I realized That 70s Show was also airing the series finale. So, I switched back and forth between the two and found:

1. that Will & Grace is not nearly as funny as it used to be. The hour of clips that they showed beforehand were hysterical! The interviews with the cast were fine, but the clips definitely reminded everyone why we watched the show to begin with. I can't decide between Jack and Karen as my favorite characters. The other issue I had was the outcome of the show. It is always difficult for writers to come up with a good ending; I don't think anyone is ever satisfied with the decisions. In this case, Will & Grace ended up apart for almost 20 years and I think that is ridiculous. While the characters may have "grown up" making them less compatible, I find that maturing unacceptable. We watched that show because they were all immature...don't make them more like us now!

2. that That 70s Show is still so very lame. They were good in the beginning, but that was a long time ago. Fez and Jackie ended up together, which is HORRIBLE. That story line makes no sense and the acting (?) seemed forced. Also, Kelso was brought back for the final episode. His performance was fine, although I don't think it really lent anything to the show. Finally, Eric came back for the last five minutes. (Is he too famous to lower himself to TV for longer than that?) I guess I am happy that he and Donna finally seemed to be on the road to mending things. But, it's too late. I think the show should have ended a long time ago.

And if you think I finally out of opinions...I need to talk about American Pie: Band Camp. If you're asking why, that's a very good question. We watched it because Paco's cousin is in it. Said cousin has made some TV guest appearances and did a pretty good job. I admit that I was stunned that another American Pie was being made and really didn't think it was going to be very good. Only a couple of the original cast made it back, making it kind of dumb. Anyway, the cousin did fine, although I enjoyed him in other things better. I do wonder if his performance can be blamed on him or the terrible characters within the movie. Also, the movie was almost light porn. This didn't really make me too uncomfortable, until Paco and I realized that his parents, grandparents and very religious family had all watched it and were going to want to discuss it with us. So, grandma...what did you think of those *#(%@?

One very funny thing: the band in American Pie was all set to play at graduation at the beginning of the movie. After Pomp and Circumstance, they were playing Laid by James. Laid is one of my most favorite songs ever and never fails to make me happy. But, a graduation song? Played by some flutes, oboes and trombones? I am not so sure...

A Big Day

There was a farm field trip today with TBell's preschool. Originally, my mother was supposed to take TBell and Pirate. But, everything got screwed up and I ended up working from home this morning and then taking them myself. I am waiting for some work to be sent over to do some things this afternoon and decided this is a perfect time to update.

The farm was cold and wet. It is in the 50's here and the rain just made it worse. But, the farm really does a great job with the kids, who had a good time despite the weather. There were pony rides, hay rides and lots of animal petting. While I have never desired to live on a farm, the visit today was nice.

I have just made a fresh pot of coffee and am hoping to get a few hours of work in. Then, it is fish for dinner. (Paco was supposed to have a softball game tonight, which meant that I could just make sandwiches or something. But, the game is rained out...now I have to make dinner and deal with a miserable husband!) I may just make a fish fry, but am somewhat undecided. I have a bottle of chardonnay and a bottle of merlot, so I may end up planning a meal around one of them. It is so chilly, I am tempted to open one right now!

Hey - is anyone watching Will & Grace tonight? I haven't really watched in a year or two, but feel compelled to watch the last one...

Eating

I really need to get to bed as I am extremely tired. Tonight I have made dinner, grocery shopped, cleaned (to the best of my ability!) and did some work for an outside client; I think I have been very productive. However, I felt the need to share my dining plans for tomorrow...

Lunch: Sadly, a co-worker of mine is leaving our company because he and his wife and child are moving much closer to their original family home. While this is a great thing for them, we are certainly sad to see him go...he is a great guy, fantastic co-worker and always good for a laugh. Anyway, to give him a proper send off, the department is going to 5 de Mayo Mexican Grille. I have always wanted to go there but do realize that the experience will be bittersweet.

Dinner: I am having a group of women over in the evening for a stamping party. So, rather than have a lot of dinner dishes to do, I am using my crock pot. My original plan was to make sloppy joes, which is definitely my favorite crock pot meal. But, while shopping this evening, I found a frozen bag of meatballs with pasta for the crock pot - I only need to add water! Now, this is probably not going to be a culinary masterpiece, but I think it will be just the ticket for a busy night. (I still have to clean the bathroom and mop the floor when I get home from work tomorrow!)

So, I am looking forward to my day. You?

Happy Mother's Day

It is not quite 10:00am, and I have already had a lovely Mother's Day. I spent most of the morning making cards for all of the mother's in our lives. (One could argue that this should have been done before. But, I am nothing if not a procrastinator!) Princess "helped" me and talked the entire time. I also received a beautiful painted flower pot with a as yet un-blossomed pink flower from Princess; I will keep you posted as to the type of flower it is. TBell gave me a fantastic rock painted to look like a ladybug to keep in my garden - she clearly does not know that her mother doesn't have a garden! Then, Paco took TBell and Pirate for a walk; all three came home with breakfast and coffee. Now, I am happily playing on my computer while Paco peels the eggs so I can make deviled eggs to take to the in-laws for lunch this afternoon.

On a completely unrelated subject - here is a picture of my kids dancing at the family party in Philly. I wanted to post it before, but blogger wouldn't let me. So, here it is - everyone get their groove thing on!

It seems that there are times that I am so frazzled that I can't think straight; times that my children, husband, work and commitments become so overwhelming that I fear a total meltdown. This week, for instance, TBell had snack day at school. She wanted to bring homemade cupcakes. I also had to remember that she needed $15 for a farm field trip next week. It is also Teacher's Appreciation week at Princess' school; she needed to bring in $5 on Tuesday and a special gift just from her on Thursday. As it happens, TBell ended up with a box of vanilla wafers and Princess didn't bring her special gift until today. (I had two evening meetings this week in addition to normal life stuff.) I still have to get a gift for a school birthday party that is happening tomorrow - today at lunch is the only available time for this. Where am I going with this?...you may be asking. I am writing to say that today, I am okay with it all. I am okay with the boxed cookies and the late teacher gift. I am okay with not being the one on the farm trip. I am okay with life. So okay, in fact, that I am volunteering to possibly be another committee within my community. Live on, Supermom!

*******Very important side note: I often talk about my love of soda fountain beverages...if I am going to have a soda (pop, Coke, Pepsi), I prefer it with ice and a straw. For some reason, I have completely ignored my workplace ice machine - I have pretended it wasn't there. Today, however, I remembered and am having a Pepsi One with ice...oh, Happy Day!

Life v. Hot Dogs

There are times in my life that I wish I could just breeze home, make delicious meals and have happy family time. Today, I made hot dogs in the microwave. They were Ball Park...not even the Western New York staple, Sahlen's. I will admit the kids had no problem with them, though. I will admit that we break some parenting rules when we have hot dogs: we give them to our kids on chop sticks as if they are corn dogs - they love them!

I was in Philadelphia over the weekend and should have had a great cheesesteak and a great hoagie, but I did not. We were so busy with family obligations that we had no time for anything regional (which to me, is a hoagie). Right before leaving, we had lunch at a local restaurant - my father and I split a hoagie and a cheesesteak. The hoagie was a on a toasted roll, which isn't anything like a hoagie should. The cheesesteak was fine, although it wasn't great by any means. Sigh.

Be Persistent

The law professor wrote back and gave me his home number; he is "looking forward to my call." I suppose I shouldn't be to surprised that he wrote back, but I am. All of the normal nervousness is setting in and I am wondering what the %^&&!# I am doing trying to go to law school. I will keep at it, though - I must! The other thing mentioned in the email was to be persistent, something I don't think I am often enough.

I exercised horrible judgment last night and went to the casino with my mother. We had a good time, but did not get home until almost 2am! Now, I am absolutely exhausted. After work, I have to go home and pack for a trip to Philadelphia (we leave early tomorrow morning), which means no rest in the near future. Plus, Paco is not going on this trip with me - it's just me and the kids! What was I thinking?

I think that's all I have, folks. I may check in again later with a crock pot recipe, as a friend of mine has been asking for some. If workflow allows, perhaps I will post one of them here.