How can it be?

I know I have mentioned my de-cluttering phase to you....as a matter of fact, that's probably ALL I've been blogging about.  hOw CaN iT bE i stiLL hAve sO muCH cLuTTeR???  I just don't get it.  Is clutter like dust bunnies?  Or like Chinese food?  It keeps growing and expanding?  Maybe it's a Murphy's Law.  The more you give away the more you hoard.  I don't know.  I'm feeling helpless here in Rural, USA.   I can see how those traveling out west packed themselves up in a covered wagon and took the essentials.

I might have also mentioned I have a deep affection (okay, call it obsession) with office supplies.  WHY?  I don't know. I love notebooks and colored pencils and crayons--remember my coloring phase?  Oh my gosh, don't get me started on colored paperclips or beautifully decorated file folders or fabulous designed specialty paper.  I love it all!!!!

Years and years ago our church women sold decorative rice paper napkins.  Yep, I bought a boatload of them and guess what?  The boatload is still stored in my closet.  I've been saving them "for nice."  Well, nice has arrived and I'm planning to use them up.  No more waiting for the special moment.  My kids are grown and 3/4 of them are out of the house.  Next time I see them, they get a TV dinner with a beautiful rice paper napkin.

How about you, Grainiacs?  Holding on to something for nice?  Let nice arrive and enjoy!

Thank you, Grainiacs!

Wow!  Thank you for responding.  I am very relieved to know I am not the only strawberry to run across that type of behavior in the workplace....or anywhere for that matter!

I think when we get right down to it, if we don't want something repeated...no matter how benign... we should just keep our mouth shut.  Or to quote my Grandma Aline "When in doubt, DON'T!"  Or to quote my hilarious Grainiaunt (sorry, but this is too funny not to share)  "When you've let the cat out of the bag, don't try to explain it away as the more you shovel shit the more it stinks!"  LOL  So true; so true!  Love it.  How will that look in needlepoint?  But seriously, it is a problem at my workplace so I will be on my guard.

Speaking of en garde (so to speak!), the family watched "The Scarlet Pimpernel" on netflix this past weekend.  I LOVE that movie with Jane Seymour, Ian McKellen, and Anthony Andrews (whom I just found out was in The King's Speech- the prime minister).  What a cast!  It is wonderful entertainment.  I can't stop thinking about it.  I never read the book, but it was one of Boy's suggested reading for Language Arts.  He chose Frankenstein instead.  Imagine that!

Well, time to get to work, but again I thank each and every one of you who wrote (I do believe it is my whole readership!).  You all are the greatest.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho....it's off to work Strawberry goes.

A reminder to myself!

I should have known better.  I mean one would think that by the time one reached 50 years of age one would realize when to keep one's mouth.  And would realize you can't trust anybody not to say anything you've told them.  You'd think I'd know that by now!!!!

At work the teller line is all a-buzz about this certain situation.  Basically they just want to be in the know.  I don't blame them.  The teller line will be changing employees and they want to know what to expect.  No one is telling the inside tellers anything about what's happening.  I, too, work beside them and yes, I got caught up in all the hoopla.  I decided to ask a drive-through co-worker if she knew anything about it.  After all, we worked really well together and have (had!) a great working relationship.  Plus she is a Christian friend so I thought I could covertly get some intel... not to pass along...please understand....but to be in the know too!  For me it is more curiosity than wanting gossip (maybe there is no difference...I'll need to think about this more).  My grandmother was this way too.  She didn't repeat info but she just wanted to be in the know.  Is that wrong?  Let's think on it together, okay Grainiacs?

I recall a time (ahem, decades ago)  in high school, I made a pledge to myself not to get caught up in all the gossip.  If someone told me something in confidence, I didn't repeat it....still don't actually.  If they wanted to "diss" on someone, I wouldn't participate (I've gotten kind of lax on this one!  <sheepish grin> ).  One friend exclaimed "You aren't any fun to talk to anymore!"  I smile thinking about that.  Let's face it, in high school that type of activity is easy to do.  Well high school is over, sister strawberry.  We've all grown up.  I can hear something and choose not to repeat it.  Again, I ask, is that wrong?  Well if it gets back to you totally convoluted; if it gets back to you when you were asking a question out of sheer nosy-ness and it sounds like gossip!  Then yeah, in my book it's wrong.  If you don't want something (ANYTHING) repeated....don't say it or ask it.  Period!!

I am disappointed in my co-worker whom I thought I could trust.  But I'm more disappointed in myself.  I should know better.  I will work on not having to be in the know..starting now!

Write me back, Grainiacs.  I would love for you to weigh in on this topic.  Speaking of weight, mine is creeping down slowly....slowly.  (need to buy the Halloween candy on Halloween and not a minute before!!!)

A fleeting thought

I woke up with something specific to talk about this morning and now it's gone.  That is happening more and more I'm sad to report.  In the mornings, I'm usually worried about getting ready for work and what will my hair look like.  I'm not much of a hair stylist.  Never have been.  As a matter of fact, while in high school, one grainiac came over to style my hair because she wanted me to make a good impression on my date.  When my kiddos were young, they begged Daddy to do their hair when they saw me with a brush and comb.  Yep, that's how bad I am at hair styling.  Each day I wonder what 'do I'll be sporting.  Yesterday a co-worker asked if I had a new hair style.  That is the usual question from them because every day my hair decides to "do" something different.  

I also wonder what I'll have for breakfast.  Several times I've skipped or missed breakfast and by 10:30 I'm gnawing on the corner of my desk.

As luck would have it, it's time for the United Way nut fund drive and guess where all the nuts are being stored.  You got it....in my nuthouse of a cubicle.  I am sitting in a field of chocolate covered various nuts.  And then to add insult to injury, my co-worker (the baker) brought a homemade cherry cobbler.  Have I mentioned what an excellent cook this girl is?  She bakes and cooks and even sells her wares on the side.  I couldn't handle the pressure by 3:30!!  Yes, I dug into that gooey yummy cherry cobbler.  It was free; the nuts cost money!!!  I'm nothing if not a cheap strawberry.

So today is back to my healthy "eat like a queen" breakfast.

I'm leaving work early if she brings in another baked delicacy today.  I just can't handle the pressure.

I'm giving myself fair warning.  Ya hear that, Mona????  No more delving into the cobbler!

Hands On

I believe it is my internal wiring or my age but I am finding that I have a hard time retaining anything I'm reading on a Kindle...specifically seminary books.  For my field-based learning (FBL) course I am reading a book about food--believe me, you'll be hearing more about this course as I continue to blog this semester.  And guess what?  I have to blog about it!!!  Perfect...you all are my guinea pigs, er rats, I mean chosen few.  =)

One assignment is to write a book report on this book.  I started reading it less than a week ago and put the Kindle down to finish a previous project.  Guess what?  I can't remember a word or thought I read.

I really think I need to hold a book in my hands and underline and highlight and flip back and refresh.  Not too easy with a Kindle.  Please understand: I LOVE my Kindle.  I love playing solitaire and suduku and I love the thought of saving trees and using less space in my bookshelves for...knick knacks.  But I just don't think going to seminary and buying books I have to read for assignments and grades on my Kindle is going to work.

I wonder if I can re-program my brain and get with the times.  Can you teach an old dog new tricks?  Hm

Day is Done...

It's Monday....already.

Did you awake and exclaim "Good; it's Monday, God!"  or "good God, it's monday."  I chose the first one because that means Sunday is done and my sermon was delivered and now it's all over.

Actually I don't fear being in the pulpit.  Our little church in Rural, USA is well, little.  And being true Presbyterians, everyone sits towards the back.  I was a good mile away from anyone so if they chose to throw tomatoes at me, there was a good chance they wouldn't get far past the first row!  Honestly, I think them sitting so far back has more to do with being as close as they can to the exit.

"FIRE!" from the pulpit and they are outta there! Being true Presbyterians, ya get my drift.

So, I am happy to see Monday.

Boy, video-taped my sermon for our church's FB page.  You know how they say the camera will add 10 pounds?  I'm thinking it added that 10 pounds plus another chin!

The one thing I have NOT been doing that I keep saying I'm going to do but I haven't is....da da da da........exercise.  I really need to move a whole lot more.  Since I have a desk job during the week and little time to exercise in front of the bank customers, I HAVE to exercise at home.  I've been lazy.  I've made excuses.  I've blogged about getting off the couch and exercising but I just have not done it.

Please send happy "move your butt" thoughts my way, please Grainiacs.

It's time to get moving, Strawberry.  

What does your exercise routine look like?  Anything to share with me?

Success

Yesterday I took a personal day to crank out some personal stuff....namely all my seminary writings.  I over-stretched myself (what's new?) but this semester is nothing, and I do mean Nothing, like last semester.  Looking back at last semester I didn't have any time to reflect and soak in what I was learning.  I was reading hundreds of chapters daily and spitting out some sort of logical, dare I say, theological writing each week.  How can one remember to dot the "i"s and cross the "t"s and truly be reflective and theological when 2 or 3 assignments are due that same week?

I'm preaching in Hubby's stead this Sunday.  Yesterday I took off to complete my assignments and then work on the sermon.  Thankfully I looked closer at one of the syllabi and realized another blog post was due!  Whew, that was close, but it didn't get me any closer to my sermon.  LOL

Have I told my story about how I love to procrastinate?  I didn't exactly get the sermon typed out but I'm a little closer to getting there. The text is Mark 10:32-45- where James and John take Jesus aside and ask for seats of honor next to him in his messianic kingdom.  I'm going to talk about that or the upcoming election or saving the earth!  I'm all over the place, I tell ya.  Sidebar: I really won't preach solely on the election but it is current and relevant to today's goings on.

Success!!!!  Boy finished ALL his school work yesterday and is now on Fall Break.  I asked if he would write my sermon.  Why is he still laughing?

Happy Thursday, Grainiacs! The weekend is almost here.

P.S.  I am having success with my diet too!!!  I am striving to remain stress-free.  I firmly believe stress sabotages a weight-loss plan.  Get rid of some stress and lose some weight.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it like the fat is sticking to me!

Yipee!!!

Grainiacs!
Yesterday was a great day.  All the employees made goodies for the bosses for Boss' Day and as y'all know, all the goodies are laid out close to my station.  I walked in the front door and could smell yum all around. Sure enough, there was enough food to feed a small army....all around me!  Biscuits and pork gravy....cakes....bread pudding.....sopapillas and honey.....more cake....donuts.....sweet dip with nilla wafers....apples and caramel sauce.....and my lone veggie tray!  And guess what?  The bosses had a meeting in Oklahoma City!!!! hahahahahaha They weren't even there.  Someone messed up on the scheduling of this shindig.  LOL

So I wished every employee who passed by my desk a Happy Boss' Day.  After all, we are ALL a little bossy.  And why waste a perfectly good party just because the guests of honor aren't there?

Here's the good news: I chose the veggies every time I got the hankering to graze.

But then 4:00 p.m. hit.  I mean I had been good ALL DAY LONG!  So I chose the apples and caramel.  I bit in to that delicious red apple with the caramel dip dripping from it. Oh la la...such delight.

I asked the caramel maker, "This is fat-free, right?"

She replied, "Oh yes. There isn't any fat in that stick of butter."  I asked for the ingredients.

1 stick of butter
1 1/2 cup of dark brown sugar
1 can of sweetened condensed milk

Gulp!

Well, I stayed away from the other sugary things.

I stepped on Kaaa this morning and he went down a little.  So today is a no sugar day.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed-- that is my resolve for this a.m.

I'm showing you photos not to tempt you, but to show what a good little (big) strawberry I was!

Sopapillas- almost gone.  Veggie tray- looking the way I brought it!

homemade apple turn-overs. I'm telling you...I really drummed up all my courage to resist!

Pop Ups

Not talking about my pretzels again nor anything that comes out of the toaster.  Nope, I'm talking about those pesky pop ups that show up on your computer monitor.  Yesterday I was trying to check my emails and delete all those "enhance your penis size" or "Strawberry! There are singles in your area just dying to meet you."  Uh, no thank you.  I've seen just about everyone in my small rural town and there is a reason those guys are single!!!!!

Something else popped up yesterday and that was a full-blown headache.  Granted I started my commando diet (she sheepishly admits...wasn't I going to start it a few days...weeks ago!) and I hadn't had my caffeine in the form of coffee [still haven't had a dark cola...diet or otherwise since July 23rd] yet, but there was crap blowing through Oklahoma and it all wound up in my sinus cavities!  Eeeeee-ouch.  My head was pounding.  Oh, that reminds me...more Tylenol or Ibuprofen for the office.  I'll be back...

Back!  Hey, if I don't do it while I'm thinking about it, the thought is gone.

So yesterday amidst my throbbing headache and thinking about papers to write and books to read, etc. a certain customer calls.  Now this guy (ahem, "single" I might add) calls almost everyday to get his balance.  Most of the time he wants a certain employee who will banter with him (not me!) and make lewd comments with him...until HE goes too far and then HE gets in trouble.  Ah, that's a different story for a different day.

So John Q Sleezeball calls yesterday and his favorite employee is busy.  He asks for a balance.  I give it to him and AS ALWAYS (I mean every single time) he says "That's not right!"  Every time.....like clockwork... this guys says this and every time the balance IS always right.  This guy thinks I'm the idiot.  Uh, I'm not overdrawn for the upteenth time arguing with the bank employee!!!  Sheesh, this guy gets on my nerves can you tell?

Usually I'm nice.  I mean I answer the phones and I'm expected to be nice, right?

 So I say "Well, I'm looking at your account and this is what it's showing."

And he says, "You don't understand, I haven't written any checks.  This can't be right."

I retort, "I'm looking at a check for $250 to a certain bar."  (sidebar: don't go to a bar and hand them a blank check and say "keep a tab!"  Duh)

"I'm looking at your check for 93.00 to same bar.  I'm looking at a check to a chinese restaurant and a check to Subway, so yes, John Q Sleezeball, you DID write some checks and now you have an NSF fee!"

He asked to speak to another employee!  Hahahahahaha

So he calls back even later in the day and talks to his favorite employee and she chews him out for bothering me.  He tells her, "She didn't know what I was trying to say."  Yeah, right.  It doesn't take a genius to look at your account and see that all your money goes to a strip joint and the casino!  Gee, I'm glad I got my BBA so I can argue with you about business.  But hey, I don't know what I'm talking about. 

Oh Lord, thank you that it is Tuesday and a whole new day to argue with John Q "Brilliant" Sleezeball!

No, really, I AM in a better mood.  No headache....but no coffee yet either.

P.S. I'm really mad at myself too.  I had my picture taken on Sunday and I don't like what I see.  Commando Diet, here I come.

P.S.S. Happy Boss' Day, if you are bossy.  Everyone at work is bringing a snack.  This is going to be a long day to stick to my diet.  I'm bringing a veggie tray.

Tempting?

Saturday was the day to make pretzels!  I asked College Girl which type dough I should make...regular or 9-grain or even glutten-free dough.  She is changing up her cuisine all the time so naturally she picked (I thought it'd be glutten-free...but what do I know....I'm just the mother!)....9 grain.  Yea! Healthy pretzels.

Look Ma, I made a doodie! was not exactly the statement I was going for; but there they were....those little piles of ....well....you look and see!  They looked something like the fake dog poop you buy to trick someone.  

LOL  I have to laugh.  With Halloween coming up, I could have kept my mouth closed and pretended I MEANT them to look that way.  But due to my recent geometry-shaped homemade tortillas, the only one being tricked would be me!

This one doesn't look too far off the mark.

G-R-O-S-S looking but yummy tasting

I think I better keep my day job.  Auntie Anne's Pretzels won't be knocking at my door anytime soon.

Happy Monday, Grainiacs.  How was your weekend?

Good Early Morning

Believe it or not, I'm up at 3:20 a.m. on a Saturday morning typing on my blog.  This waking up early is beginning to be a Saturday habit, I do believe!  Friday night I ate dinner but had not been feeling well and by 7:00 p.m. I had pjs on and was reading in bed.  By 7:30 p.m. I was out like a light.  Now you do the math.  What time did Strawberry wake up 6 hours later?

At 1:30 a.m. I tried the going back to sleep.  I tossed and turned.  The potty was calling my name and then the laundry started yelling out....hey! what about me?!

All the family is asleep.  All is quiet in the house except for the washing machine and the clicking noise of the keyboard.  I'm having flashbacks to last semester's extreme reading and writing assignments!  Let the games begin...my seminary semester started this past Monday.

Hope you have a wonderful and restful Saturday, Grainiacs.  As for me, I'm off to the garage to see what mischief I can get into....or...I'll go "raid" the deep freeze.  I think there's ice cream in them parts!

All In A Day's Work

Life is anything but boring in my strawberry patch!  Tuesday night I transferred my Life Screening exam over to Hubby.  He balked but I told him fasting for a morning test is good for you.  Plus I didn't want to lose my money and I couldn't ask off from work.....again!!!

Wednesday night we had Bible study- remember on Revelation?  In the middle of the study an older woman I'd never seen walked in and sat at the table and joined our study.  Hallelujah!  We are meeting the needs of the community.  I thought about who might have asked her to come and I was thrilled that someone was doing some evangelism!  About 10 minutes later another woman came in.  She was a short little thing and obviously had a little harder life than the previous woman.  The first woman looked to be in her mid-to-late 70's and had pearly white skin.  Her hair was styled in pretty curls above her head- think 1960's.  The second woman didn't look like she'd make it to 65 much less 70.  Her skin was dark and leathery and she obviously put on her make-up with a brush and a dash- electric blue eyeshadow and rouge streaked across her cheeks.  When she got close enough I smiled at her and she smiled back the biggest toothless grin.  She went and sat at a different table.

Two woman visiting; two VERY different backgrounds.  Jesus calls each and every one of us.  Amen!

After the study, the second woman came over to Hubby and said "I come in and you just ignored me."  I thought, he must have helped her in the past and that's why she was kidding with him.  She asked him to come and talk to him.  I continued with my gathering books and child and off I went.  Rev. Hubby had a meeting after the study so he was surrounded by witnesses, er I mean, people.  Come to find out, he had never seen her before.

Update to the story:  the Session took a collection to feed this hungry soul and then when they found out she was homeless, they offered shelter at the nearest motel.  A female member offered to drive her over to the motel and she looked at Rev. Hubby and said "You are just trying to get rid of me!"  To me, warning bells should have been ding-donging in his head, but he agreed to drive her over to the motel!  Oy Vey.  I told Hubby the next time she wants to be driven somewhere, please call me and I'll drive with you or ask the church secretary to drive with you.  You are not only protecting yourself but her too.  Thankfully the female member drove behind them and was inside the motel the whole time.  Thank you, Lord.

Moving forward: yesterday the Police Chief of our little rural town was in talking to the President telling him how prostitution was on the rise now that we have oil riggers and wind farm workers in our area!!!!!!  Are you thinking what I'm thinking??

I think Rev. Hubby just paid for a red light district!  LOL  I'm kidding....I'm kidding.  But the thought DID cross my mind.  I've gotta be honest.

TGIF, Grainiacs.  Oh and about the Lifeline Screening?  I had to call and reschedule for me again because with all the excitement of the night before, Hubby just plain ole forgot about it!  Looks like "tag"- it's my turn again.

Now I've Seen it all

Can you believe a woman designed these shoes????

http://shine.yahoo.com/the-thread-how-to/scariest-shoes-time-173900092.html

Most of the time women can blame lame empty-headed men for most contraptions women have to endure...think chastity belts, girdles....mammogram machines!  But this?!  Really?  Let's see her run after screaming children or the city bus in those puppies.  LOL

Ladies, please use your God-given talent on things to help women....not hinder them....or have people laugh at them.  I wonder the price.  Now that would be something to laugh at....that and the idiot who would actually buy these things.

Please don't send me hate mail if you pre-ordered these monstrosities.  I just don't want to hear it!

Happy Wednesday, Grainiacs.  Go take on the day in your comfy shoes, okay?

Praise for Prayers!

Prayers were answered in the form of a B12 shot and a week's supply of laxatives!  Garbage Gut came home energized with a fluffy tail raised high in the sky.  I think I'll try this pep prescription.

I'm on my way out the door this early morning so I'll leave you with a couple of Garbage Gut shots.  I didn't want to take a "before" picture...just in case it was his last.  sniff sniff  Our animals are our babies, you know?  Who takes a photo of their sick child?  Not me!

Happy Tuesday, Grainiacs.

See my tail wagging?  I'm feeling good!

Always licking my chops!

What do you want?

 
And because Kitzilla wants equal time...she is so self-absorbed!  Notice the contortionist yoga poses!!!!

This is my upside down "downward d-o-g."  How come they don't have any cat poses?  Huh?

Ah, love my yoga...especially when I get a massage at the same time.

I have a comfy yoga mat

Back off...this is my "me" time!!!

Asking for Prayers

Garbage Gut was at it again!  Don't know what that dang dog found but on Sunday morning I knew something was wrong.  You see, usually he is barking his fool head off at the cats.  It was purr-fectly quiet yesterday.  Uh oh, something is wrong.  Sure enough, he was hiding behind a fan looking very guilty.  I checked around the house for deposits.  Nothing.  I picked him up and his tail was limp.  That wasn't a guilty look but an "I feel horrible and not up to my usual doggie self" look.  Of course he would get sick on a weekend!  All of my children got sick on a weekend!!!!

This morning he was still in the same place we left him last night.  Yep, something is definitely wrong.  Hubby asked if Garbage Gut was better.  I asked "do you hear him barking at the cats?"  We both agreed that is a sure sign he is not feeling better.

Today is Hubby's day off.  Guess where he'll be?  Say a prayer for him....and for Garbage Gut.  You'd think that dog would learn his lesson!

Anybody out there?

Good morning!

Anybody else awake at 5 a.m. on a Saturday morning?  Thanks to a blonde dog, I am!  Rat Mom! Come get yer dog!!!  I could have my own Honey Boo Boo show involving a spoiled dog child who also back talks in doggie language.  Arrrgggg

Did I mention I'm de-cluttering?  Last night I went through all the old VHSes and DVDs.  Originally I purchased them for home schooling.  Jason and the Argonauts sounded like a good idea at the time, but as it is still in the original wrapping, I think I can part with it.  The kids won't miss it.  Now that we have netflix, I really don't need to "store" my old movies....except for "It's Complicated."  I LOVE that movie.  Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin are wonderful (and I don't necessarily like Alex that much!) but he is perfect as a self-absorbed man/boy!!!  Love it!!!!  Guess what I'll be watching today as I continue to sort and sift and give away or ....um....keep and store.

Peaches sent a great article about going totally commando on getting rid of stuff.  I'm still not a believer of this article but in essence the author says....don't get rid of everything in your quest to be minimal and eco-friendly.  Don't worry, dear author of the article, there is no chance of that for THIS strawberry.  For everything I toss or give away, I have 500 more things to look through.  I'm wearing out on this de-cluttering project so I'll still have plenty of stuff to clog up my little strawberry patch.

I say "forget spring cleaning;"  Winter Cleaning is the best time to work.  Rural USA is experiencing nice crisp weather and that makes rummaging through the garage a great time to clear out.  Plus, I need to park my new baby, Georgia, in the garage before the snow comes.  BRRR

The American People Have Spoken

 Or at least that is what most reporters say after an election.  Last night while I was reading (thank you, seminary course!), Hubby was watching and listening to the debates via headphones and computer monitor.  I finished chapter 1 and the debates were over.  I asked Hubby about it and got "his spin" on how it went.  I was skeptical; we are a house divided right now.  Hubby has picked his candidate and I am just spinning.  TV stations put their spin on the debate.  I knew there HAD to be a replay of the debate, so we searched the TV guide and found it.  We watched.  How about you?  Are you anxiously awaiting the Veep Debate?  Or have you made up your mind?  Or do you just not care?  LOL  Last night one commentator interviewed an "after the debate" panel.  He pridefully announced his panel always picked the winning candidate...sans one election.  Another pollster announced she always picked the winning candidate.  Then I found this jewel!

"Michelle Obama Tastes Sweet Redemption"-- actually what caught my attention was the photo of Obama eating a....cookie!!!  The article went on to boast "Family Circle's cookie poll has accurately predicted who will be the next first lady in four out of the past five elections."

 Well there you have it.  The American People have spoken.  We choose our next president by how much we love their spouses' cookie recipe. 

In one corner, weighing in at 5 dozen, we have.....

Obama's Mama Kaye's White and Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yield: 5 dozen cookies

Prep:   15 mins  Bake:   12 mins  375°F 

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 stick Crisco butter-flavored solid vegetable shortening
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup each white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips and mint chocolate chips (or Andes mint pieces)
• 2 cups chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream butter, vegetable shortening, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract.
2. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. On low speed, beat in flour mixture. By hand, stir in white and milk chocolate chips, mint chips and walnuts.
3. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

 And in the other corner, weighing in at just 3 dozen is...

Ann Romney's M&M's cookies

Yield: 3 dozen cookies

Prep:   15 mins  Bake:   18 mins  325°F 

Ingredients

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups crunchy peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup (such as Karo)
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 6 ounces chocolate chips
• 2/3 cup M&M's candies

Directions

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees F. In a large bowl, cream sugars, butter, peanut butter and corn syrup on high speed until well combined. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Beat in vanilla extract.
2. In a separate bowl, mix together oats and baking soda. Stir into peanut butter mixture until combined. Mix in chocolate chips and M&M's.
3. Using a standard-size ice cream scoop, drop dough onto baking sheets (about 9 per sheet). Bake at 325 degrees F for 18 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 2 minutes, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Ding, ding, ding!!!
 
Family Circle has announced a winner.  (This race is just as close as the actual presidential race.)  9,000 readers voted.  287 more votes went to Obama's vs. Romney's COOKIE recipe.  Let's see if Family Circle can keep picking our next president.  As for me, I'm going to go make cookies.

Did you hear me?

How many times have I said "today is the day?"  I don't have time to look back on this blog and count them but I can tell you it's more than 3 times.

BUT TODAY IS REALLY THE DAY!!!!  I am going to start back that good eating plan which includes losing weight and this time it is going to stick.  I have now lost and kept off around 17 pounds for one year.  I have gone on two semi-vacations in the past two months and slowly I feel some weight creeping back on.  This cannot continue.  Do you hear me, fat?  You are going down!

I'm gonna go all commando on you and this time you are "vay-kay"-ting the building....for good.

No more excuses.

No more "vay-kay"-tioning.  We are getting serious.  Mona is on board.  She isn't whining.  We've kicked the diet coke habit and doggone it, we are kicking your butt now.

So say good-bye/ ciao/ adios/ au revoir/ cheerio/ and tootle-le-doo to you!!!!  You are outta here.

and this time I mean it!

Here We Go Again!

I'm really hating this waking up at dark-thirty in the morning.  Yes, I usually have a four-footed friend to wake me in the early morning but I'm on a semi-vacation and there is no Oliver to jump on me.  Unfortunately I don't have a room I can go to and read or blog or search the web.  Poor Hubby is tossing and turning now.  What's love if you can't share your insomnia, I ask ya!

Now I will turn my attention to taking care of yourself.  What are you doing, Grainiacs, to take care of yourselves?  As I am typing in the dark, the glow of the computer monitor is accentuating every line and wrinkle on my hands.  Are you old enough to remember the Joy dish-washing commercials?  Which hands belong to the mother and which hands are the daughters?  If I were in that commercial it would change to "and which hands belong to the decomposing mummy?"

Winter is approaching and that means dry, scaly skin for me.  My goal (at this early morning) is moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.  I hope I remember this come 8 a.m.!!!  I'm sleep deprived and in desperate need of coffee.

I have also been talking....just talking at this point- not doing!....about exercise.  I really am going to do it this time.  Again, I hope I remember this second goal at around 8 a.m.  But that's my goal at 6:14 a.m.  Now it's time to make that coffee.  Sorry, Hubby.  Hope you can sleep through more gurgling and belching noise.  This time it is coming from the coffeepot!

A Little Weekend Getaway

Hubby and I are on a mini-vay-kay (sound it out and you'll know what I'm saying!).  It's nice to have grown kids and almost grown kids and have opportunities to travel, you know?

I don't mean to brag....but get a load of this place....

I wish I thought to take a picture BEFORE we junked it up!  LOL  I love it because it is (er, was) clutter-free.  I think I'm just a clutter bug.

Speaking of bugs, look who was trying to hitch a ride the other day.

It looks kind of intimidating, don't you think?  I sure didn't want to mess with her.  Hubby says it is a tree eating bug.  Looks like this one likes glass or bird droppings!

Have a wonderful Monday, Grainiacs.  I'm going down for a nice leisurely breakfast....that someone else is making.  Life is good.