iPhone Photo Dump 

 my little rockstar!

Christmas Eve

New Year's Eve Dinner at Onami's

Chocolate suicide dessert

2010 Christmas Tree

last day of the year

the day we wonder what the future will bring

the day we decide to change our ways

the day we consider what ways CAN be changed

the day we predict what we hope will get done

the day there's so much pressure on what you're doing for New Year's Eve

i'm coloring my roots and we're going to Onami's for dinner and then the grocery store

wahoo hold me back.

Top 10 Diet and Nutrition Resolutions

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/top-10-diet-and-nutrition-resolutions?ecd=wnl_wmh_123110

felt


depressed.  tired.  cold.  angry.  lonesome.  fat.  tense.  need a pedicure.   On the flip side, which should VOID all those <---- things.  


grateful.  lucky.  humble.  




heard


i heard a bunch of the Tudors today.  jamie isn't feeling well so our home was closed to the sun most of the day and very quiet.  


too much time for my thoughts




read


I am reading Tammy's blog.  She sent me an invite and I love the way she can put her thoughts on paper.  My thoughts run around my head and search for words but find only feelings.

I LOVE ETSY!!!  Here's just an example of things I love at etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/tags/statement,fashion?utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=+Make+a+Statement+&utm_content=etsy_fashion_122910&utm_campaign=etsy_fashion_122910

Another day of rain!  At least it's not snow.  East coast is getting hit hard and I am so glad I'm not trying to travel by plane this holiday. 

Today I will try to make country biscuits.  I will master it by the end of the year so I think I will be making ALOT of biscuits.  Here's the recipe I found:

Ingredients

    2 cups all-purpose flour

 1 teaspoons sugar

 1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

8 tablespoons butter, cubed

 3/4 cup milk

Directions

In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together. Cut butter into mixture until it begins to look likecornmeal.

Make a well with flour mixture and slowly add milk into the middle.Knead dough with your fingers and add milk when necessary. Roll out dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll out to desired thickness. Cut with small biscuit cutter.

Butter bottom of skillet and place biscuits in pan. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown.

So wish me luck and watch out Paula Deen!

News Flash!


Mom locked her keys out of her car at the post office and may have met her future handyman/movie date but he didn't usually hand out his phone number.  But he stayed with her in 30 degree weather for two and half hours and did give her a phone number.  Kasey says my Mom is a cougar.   OMG  WTF

Very, very relaxing holiday for the two of us and with the weather so cold and all the rain.  At least we aren't getting snow like everywhere else.

Now for the month of January!  

Reflections:

As sad as I felt that Mom was alone on Christmas Day, her heart was warmed by calls and cards from unlikely people.

Her youngest son's oldest son has reentered her life at a very important time in his life.  He just became a father and he is sharing baby Ava with her great grandmother.

And my other brother's daughter called her and she hasn't stopped beaming about that.

Today she said that she hasn't left the house in four days because of the snow.  The roads are clear but wet and she's afraid of ice.  I can only hope that she doesn't try to drive.

I am almost always sad for her.  At 79, did she ever think her life would be like this?  Things could be so much worse than they are.  I keep telling her that.  Her younger sister is sick with Parkinson's disease in Japan and no one there to take care of her.  Neither one is able to go live with the other.  Her youngest son in prison and dying of liver cancer who she will never see again.  Her middle child has proven that he does not care about her.  It's easier for him to care about a stranger than to show tenderness to her.  And then there's me.  The oldest.  I call her every day.  Sometimes more when I know that she is feeling low.  I can tell in her voice that she's missing us.  I am thankful that she has her walking friends and church group ladies that give her lots of entertainment.  As soon as we can leave here for the east coast, I will feel better.  She can come and visit.  She can cook for people again and take care of someone besides herself again.  She really does enjoy that but as of late, she has enjoyed her solitude.  I'm still tempted to get her a dog.

I am thankful for:

For Jamie, when I asked if he was lonely this Christmas since we were all alone, he said "I have you here. How could I be lonely."

For a daughter that whatever I did wrong in or to her life, she made it all right.

For breathing in and out

and I talked to Don tonight.  I am so happy that he got to call me on Christmas.  I could hear how happy he was to hear my voice.

I am thankful that I can make him happy.

My wishes for the new year (I'll start my list now!):

That next Christmas, we will be near our daughter and family.  I want to be near Toyoji.  I want to be near Kasey.  I want to be near Mom.  At least on the same fuckin' coast.  thank you 

I want to lose weight and quit smoking,   Sheeeesh, both of those in one breath.  Already feel defeated.  Stop it, can't think like that.

Merry Christmas to us!  Could it more laid back than this?  What an enjoyable morning with sweetie!  We outdid ourselves with our "stocking stuffer" gift giving.

food


jamie has added a new item to our menu list.  mini-angus burgers!!!  cute, little sliders with onions and cheddar cheese.    hello? delicious




early wrapped little package


i got a little piggy keyfab equipped with light and sound effects.  Too cute and pink.

Food (new category!)


We've decided to  go to Onami's for Christmas Day Lunch.  Doesn't that sound good?  And then some nice "cow" and a spinach salad with shrimp appetizier.  Should they be raw shrimp or should i do sumthin' with them?  I'll have to think on that one.


I need to make more snow balls and peanut blossoms to eat eat and eat and to also give away.  

Read


I did my research on liver tumors and i'm more confused now than I was before.  Are they cyst or tumors?  What kind of tumors?  What is liver blood test results?  What about cirrhosis?  See where I'm going with this?


Felt








Heard


Willow Smith on Ellen doing "I whip my hair back and forth".

It's STILL raining~~~~~!!!!!!!

PF Chang's Lettuce Wraps

i'm gonna make this real soon

ingredients needed:

• 8 shiitake mushrooms
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 2 tsp dry sherry
• 2 tsp water
• and pepper
• 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken
• 5 tbsp oil
• 1 tsp fresh minced ginger
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 onions, minced
• 2 small dried chilies, (optional)
• 1 (8 oz) can bamboo shoots, minced
• 1 (8 oz) can water chestnuts, minced
• 1 package cellophane Chinese rice noodles, prepared according to package
• Sauce:
• 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp dry sherry
• 2 tbsp oyster sauce
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 tsp. sesame oil
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 2 tsp. cornstarch
• "Lettuce Jammers" lettuce wraps

That's a lot of shit.

Instructions

Cover mushrooms with boiling water, let stand 30 minutes then drain. Cut and discard
woody stems. Minces mushrooms. Set aside.
Mix all ingredients for cooking sauce in bowl, and set aside.
In medium bowl, combine cornstarch, sherry water, soy sauce, salt, pepper, and
chicken. Stir to coat chicken thoroughly. Stir in 1 tsp. oil and let sit 15 minutes to
marinate.
Heat wok or large skillet over medium high heat. Add 3 Tbsp oil, then add chicken and
stir fry for about 3-4 minutes. Set aside.
Add 2 Tbsp oil to pan. Add ginger, garlic, chilies(if desired), and onion; stir fry about a
minute or so.
Add mushrooms, bamboo shoots and water chestnuts; stir fry an additional 2 minutes.
Return chicken to pan. Add mixed cooking sauce to pan. Cook until thickened and hot.
Break cooked cellophane noodles into small pieces, and cover bottom of serving dish
with them. Then pour chicken mixture on top of noodles. Spoon into lettuce leaf and roll.


That's about the same prep work as sukiyaki


Maybe I'll wait until next year to try this one.

When I need to buy a gift for anyone in the future, I will go here first:

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/tags/holiday+fashion?sort=creation_date&order=desc&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Holiday+Fashion&utm_content=etsy_gifts_122110&utm_campaign=etsy_gifts_122110


I mean seriously, they have EVERYTHING and it's handmade and it's helping out some fantastic artist with amazing talents and did I mention SERIOUSLY, you can find ANYTHING for anyone.


http://www.etsy.com/treasury/tags/upcycled?sort=creation_date&order=desc&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=+Upcycled+&utm_content=etsy_gifts_122110&utm_campaign=etsy_gifts_122110

Seen

It's still raining and I've become a mermaid.

Read

Page 7 of 23 on liver tumors

Watched

Then I watched Ellen with her wife, Portia.  I really like them both.

Seen

Rain and rain and rain and more rain.  Coming down in sheets and waves.  More importantly, I saw Mamie Graber and Janice's daughter Lydia today.  Mamie is Wendy's mom who is my bestest friend from high school.  I haven't seen Mamie since I was in high school and Lydia was in diapers.  Lydia is now in the Navy and 27 years old!!!  It was an enjoyable lunch at Seaport Village except for the RAIN.


Mamie is an incredible woman.  Still checking off things in her bucket list and driving herself all over the country with her dog.  She's almost 80 and amazing.

Felt

I felt really old when I was remembering my high school years.  Just seems like another lifetime.  It would take me a week to just write down everything that has happened to me since then.  Too many events; too too many.

Tonight I felt sad when I started hearing about my close friend tonight about her boy and his troubles.  Sad because she's realized that there's no use in continuing to play with that boy.  And better because I think she understands why this is all just a waste of time.  If it's meant to be, it will return.  If it's meant to be, then things will feel "fair".  If it's mean to  be, then things will be about compromising and not about selfishness.  If it's mean to be.

Tasted

The blandest clam chowder I have ever had in my entire life.  Do not order chowder at the Embarcadero Grill at Seaport Village.

Heard

Rain, rain, rain, rain

Wind and more rain.

Read

The first chapter of Dead Reckoning, of the Sookie Stackhouse Series.  OMG!  I'm in love with a viking named Eric!  Can't wait for the book to be released.  See link below.

http://www.charlaineharris.com/DeadReck_1.html

seen

watched the voting of the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" saga.  it's about time something has started.  get it over with.  common sense people, common sense. 

tasted

toasty pancakes with syrup and warm strips of pig.

heard

early this morning, when i was trying to fall asleep, around 3pmish, anvil-ass decided to listen to music in her living room.  i hate this part of being a building of people.

felt

scared again and I absolutely hate it when I do this but Jamie went to the post office to mail package to Toyoji and took longer than usual.  and then the sirens started.  and they were close.  No answer to my text and I begin to worry.  I HATE when I do this.  HATE HATE HATE

read

still catching up on the What We Feel blog.

In the style of my new fav bloggiest, I will try updating my bloggy in a new format.

We shall see.

seen

i watched Wizard of Oz with Jamie while making a nut-free batch of fudge for Toyoji to pack with the SnowBalls that she reminded me to send.  and how funny that she LOVES the peanut blossom flowers as much as Jamie AND Amy too.  

smelled

what i didn't smell was the rain while it was raining.  Too many damn cars.

tasted

We had really really good french fries from Der Weinerschnitzel.  Fresh, slightly crunchy outer layer and soft hot something that is supposed to be potato inside.  Yummo!

heard

i just hate hearing lots of sirens when it's raining.  The hair everywhere on my body stands straight up and if Jamie is running errands, I sit and wait to hear the direction they are going or coming.  please don't be Jamie, please don't be Jamie

felt

happy to hear Kasey's voice while she drove home from work at midnight.  "Call me if you need help driving home", I tell her.  Two hours is a long drive after a ten hour work day and even more so when it's fucking dark AND you're in the mountains.  Really?  How does she do it?  To be in my thirties again....... only for the stamina and absolutely NOTHING else.

read

Entertainment magazine, The Best and the Worst of 2010.  sameolesameole

I found a kool blog.  I like her.  So far.

What We Feel Most Has No Name

http://whatwefeelmost.tumblr.com/


She writes:  " ...  in love in a big way, in a complicated relationship with food, and in an ongoing sometimes unruly conversation with myself."


I wish I could write like her.

I STEAL PICTURES FROM THE WWW

I know it

I can't help it

Really, I'm just sharing an emotion or illustrating a mood by using a photo FROM THE WORLD.

I am not taking credit for it.

I am only sharing it with someone that may have not seen it before.

Same as sharing on Facebook.

Now

Really?

REALLY???

Laissez les bon temps roulez!!!.

It's raining and it may rain through NEXT WEDNESDAY!

OMG, what the hell am I going to do?

Wait, I won't have to do anything.  I can continue my routine like normal.

Jammies and never leave the house!!

When... and I mean, When I get a puppy, he/she will have jammies like these!!!

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will.

You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time.

You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken.

You'll fight with your best friend.

You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.

You'll cry because time is passing too fast and you'll eventually lose someone you love.

So take too many pictures, laugh too much and love like you're never been hurt.

Because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

favorite unknown websites:

http://www.dailycandy.com/

http://www.grandmastonestore.com/
(from Joss Stone)

http://fabfitfun.com/welcome.php

and

http://www.realsimple.com/

The emails sent by fabfitfun and realsimple are great and so useful.  Jury's still out for dailycandy; just signed up today.

Raining!

I declare this to be Nap Day!

"Some days are meant to be counted, others are meant to be weighed"

Balls are done:

Christmas Picture

Do you like his skull and crossbones sweater?

 One of our trees....... didn't I post this already?

 Dining Room table.

Cya and Smile!!