Post Turkey Day

I just realized I haven't posted in awhile. I get busy and think I am going to sit down to post and forget. Cluttered mind? I think so.

I needed a new computer. I had an ancient Gateway that my brother kept running, barely, and it was time to put that poor thing out of it's misery. I had a very hard time deciding but ended up buying a Mac Pro last weekend. Since Apple NEVER puts their products on sale, I ended up going to Best Buy and got a $125 gift card and $40 credit on my Best Buy rewards card.

I am soooo happy with my new toy!! It is the best thing in the world to sit on the couch and play with my computer and not have to sit in my office. I look up recipes and don't have to print them...I just use the laptop on the kitchen counter. I am a bit of a messy cook so this may not be the best idea but still :D Yeah Wireless!!!

Oh, an author I like writes a blog at www.lilithsaintcrow.com/journal. She has been writing the funniest story about the squirrels and birds in her backyard. It sounds like she has a wild animal battle field going on back there.

I will post pictures from my goofy family Thanksgiving later in the week.

Happy Friday

I miss my spunky little monkey! Her new hair cut is too cute. She wanted it as short as her brothers but I can't see her parents shaving her head! My mom and sister and I are going to descend on them like locust the end of January. I hear the weather will be a bit rainy but we really aren't going for the weather. I CAN'T WAIT!

So, Bob is better. He got out of the hospital last Friday and has had a quiet week. He started putting up the Christmas lights while the weather is mild and has been looking for things for Jim to do at our house. Jim and Jeff are working on shoring up my roof. It is sagging in the middle. I can't explain how worried I have been about my roof caving in during the next big snow. Bob and Jim have been telling me for about 4 years, "it's fine. That roof will last for years." Somehow I am not convinced. Jim also took out the old wrought iron posts/supports on my porch and put in new wood columns. It looks great and I will post pictures sooner or later. My camera is not working. I guess I should tell Santa :D

Speaking of posting.. I am finally getting a new laptop. I have been debating about PC vs Mac and had a Toshiba all picked out but 2 of my brothers have been telling me how much they LOVE their Mac's. I have sort of been craving one but thought them pricey. They convinced me of the value and I am going to get it this weekend. I am pretty excited!!! (you can tell by the multiple exclamation points).

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. Eat whatever you want and enjoy!

The Bobster's latest

Bob ended up in the hospital again Tuesday afternoon. He has what is called a GI bleed. Some where in all those intestines and stomach and other yucky stuff, something is bleeding. Not heavily but enough to notice (and I am not going there). He is having a scope today to see what they can see and hopefully stop the bleeding. His doctor thinks he will only be in the hospital a few days this time.

He was in the ER almost 24 hours along with 27 other poor souls waiting for beds in the hospital. I think he should just have his own room reserved him so I can just drop him at the door and tell them to take him to his room!

Only in Michigan?

I think this must be an only in Michigan kind of menu. We go to Apple Annie's about once a week. They have homestyle food, well homestyle if your mother is an old Polish woman who can cook! Mine is not. :D Bob loves their pot roast, meatloaf and fish and chips and I love that Bob eats that stuff there so I don't have to make it! Last week our bill was about $15. I am pretty sure we have never spent $20 there at one time.

I am in holiday mood...not so good. What is it about the holidays? When I was younger we had most if not all the holidays at one grandparents house or the other. When I was older and got married I lived out of state for many years. Now my sister and one brother live out of state so my entire family is rarely together. I feel the need for a tradition that is lost. Do I just have crazy expectations? Sigh...I could go on and on with the reasons why this has happened but hey, that would just make me maudlin. Every year I am off for about 11 days over the Christmas break and lately I have been telling the Bobster, "screw Christmas, let's go out of town." To which he replies, "you HATE airports on the holidays and swore you wouldn't fly over Christmas break EVER AGAIN". So true, dammit.

I am trying to figure out what to take to the Thanksgiving dinner we are attending. I have a few ideas, one being a nice cheesecake. The problem with cheesecake is I don't really eat it. Everyone else seems to love it though so maybe I will dig out my recipes.

So what are you doing for Thanksgiving this year?

Uh oh

I am still having issues with this blog. I can't edit or remove the "books I am reading" section and it is making me crazy. I am also having a hard time adding pictures. ARGH!!!

So, let's see, what has been happening? hmmm, well Halloween was a blast. I went to a party Saturday night with friends. Nice time and really yummy food. The best costume goes to Staci as the Red Queen from Alice. The pig foot rest was hilarious.

Sunday, Halloween, we went to my cousin Jill's house. She and her hubby Scott go all out with a scary grave yard in front, tons of candy and a potluck for whoever shows up. Great time.

I start Pilate's on Monday and than working out with my trainer on Thursday. I think I am in for a world of hurt. I really haven't been all that active since August when I hurt my back. I gained 10lbs and have been slowly turning into a puddle of pudding. With my birthday right around the corner I am feeling the need to DO SOMETHING before I still feeling my age. I refuse to become one of those decrepit old ladies who aren't active, dammit!!

My biggest issue lately has been glasses. I ended up getting 'progressive" lenses. Ha! Didn't they used to be called TRIFOCALS? They are actually great for driving in the dark and reading but I just can't get used to wearing them at work. Too much glare off of my computer.... and they have glare coating.

Oh these pictures were taken with my phone. My camera refuses flash. I think it's finally gone on strike. Time to bring in a scab.

Not much news on the Bobster. He is doing ok. He was in the hospital twice over a months span, Aug-Sept. with infections in his blood. He is taking a bit longer to bounce back this time and never feels well once it gets cold out but overall he is doing ok.

So, what have you been up to?

Soup's On!

I am having problems with my blog and can't edit parts of it. Not sure what to do about it but hope to get it fixed in the next few days. I am posting my recipe for every easy chicken and noodles. Perfect for these cool days we are having. I base this on a recipe posted on The Pioneer Woman website.

I buy a package of "pick of the chick". It's a whole chicken, cut up without the yucky pieces. Put it in a pot and add water and 3-4 quarts, I like my broth thick so use a little less. Boil for 30 minutes and remove from pot. Wait until it cools a bit and they peel off any skin and shred the chicken a bit as you pull it from the bones.

Put the bones back in the pot and simmer for another 30 minutes. In the mean time, dice up a couple carrots, a couple celery and 1/2 of an onion (some people don't add the onion).

With a slotted spoon or strainer take all the bones out of the pot and add the veggies, salt and pepper to taste, 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric (makes your soup very yellow) and sprinkle with a little dried parsley. Simmer for 10 minutes

Add the egg noodles (I use Mueller's and 1/2 of the package or more. I like a lot of noodles. The recipe I took this from uses the frozen kind and 16 ounces) and chicken.

Now the important part - mix about 2-3 tablespoons of flour with a little water until smooth and add to the pot. This will thicken your broth. Cook for 10 - 15 minutes more until broth thickens and ENJOY!

Poor blog

My poor blog has been neglected lately and I am not sure why. Well I guess I do know why. I have been pretty damn busy the last few weeks and just haven't gotten around to it so here I am again!

I have had a big project at work that is eating time. Our department has an annual lecture for Urologists on some urology topic. This year it is stones. .. kidney stones.. doesn't that sound exciting? I am in charge of all the arrangements and the dinner we have in the evening. After doing this for 3 years one would think it would get easier, nope. Still a hassle working with doctors and their schedules. The lecture is tomorrow so I should be able to breath easier next week.

The other thing that is keeping me busy is physical therapy. I have been going to Dynamic Rehab for sciatica since August! 3 times a week for 1 1/2 to 2 hours each visit. It is draining but thankfully today was my 20th and last visit. I also had an eye doctor appointment today. I have been relying on reading glasses more and more and figure it's time for glasses. Well, yes, I need glasses but not for what I thought, I have cataracts. Talk about feeling old, I dropped my cane and my teeth almost fell out when they told me :D Mild cataracts at this point but COME ON, I am not THAT old.

And finally, the Bobster was in the hospital again. He had a fever so I took him over to the ER and as always, he had an infection. This time it was Staph and probably resulted from having an IV line in his arm for a month from the last infection. Open wound, bacteria moves in. He was only in for 5 days this time and is doing great now.

So what is keeping you busy?