It is always a lot of fun to cook with one of your best friends! When The Thompson's came last night, I had a dinner menu planned that would enable Barbara & me to be in the kitchen cooking together. The meal always tastes better when it is prepared with good conversation! We cooked chicken marsala and risiotto rice with a spring mix salad with balsamic vingar dressing. It was fun cooking together and we all enjoyed the fruits of the labor.
The marsala chicken is a delicious dish that is really not that difficult to prepare. If you would like to come over and help me prepare this dish sometime, I would love to cook and eat with you!
We had a wonderful visit with The Thompson's picking up where we left off and instantly catching up. How many friends do you have in a lifetime that you can share anything with, without fear of judgement and always with good advice attached on the other end. We are planning our annual summer vacation together when their son and his family and all three of our children and their families coming along (If you will pay they will come)! We are looking forward to a great time together as we make new memories and reminensce over old.
My hip is causing GREAT discomfort today! Hopefully it will begin to get better tomorrow as promised by the "exercise terrorist". A tough massage on Thursday and 10 miles on Friday = Pain on Saturday!
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
SWEET FRIENDSHIP!
Our dear friends, Mark & Barbara, are coming for a visit and spending the night in Vienna. We are so excited to have them with us! Our friendship goes WAY BACK! Mark, Bobby, & I worked together at a bank when Mark was in college and then after his graduation, I was a single Mom and then went back to college, and Bobby was our boss. When I started back to college, I went to night classes and worked full time. Barbara picked up Scott for me and took care of him until I got home. Bobby & I courted in their living room. They were our witnesses when we "eloped" after the bank stockholder's meeting. We have raised our children together and lived life together. We started going on vacation together when Gabe was 18 months old. He is now 31 and this summer will be our 29th vacation. We know all about each other and yet they still love us! We celebrated Thanksgiving together until this past year. We have LOTS OF HISTORY! They live in south Louisiana, so we do not get to see each other daily. When we finally manage to get together, we pick up where we left off and love every second. In these days of kids being scattered all over the country, grandchildren to visit, and aging parents, it is more and more difficult to get together, but well worth the effort!
The neatest thing about our friendship is how we have grown "In the Lord" together. When I think back to where we were in our faith in the beginning and where we are now it is unbelievable. You have to know that God had this in His plan and pulled us together for this very purpose. We have spent many a late night discussing theology and stretching each other to think. Truly we are blessed to call them Friend!
BC is most anxious to see the replies to his blog from last night. I told him that for some strange reason, most people do not comment, even knowing it can be annoymous. Bobby is the best writer of the family. Of course, that minor in English, probably didn't hurt his abilities. I am looking out at the woods from all of my den windows and thinking about that very night and how the woods were filled with cars, trucks, and teens. MOST MEMORABLE!
We ran our first double digit run this AM since the marathon. After running that 10, REALLY SLOW, in the cold (Ice on the puddles), it is really hard to believe that 3 weeks ago I ran 26 miles. I am having lots of problems with my hip again. I went to the massage terrorist yesterday and almost cried it hurt so bad. He FOUND the spot-right in the hip socket. He told me if I did not get some better by Sunday, it probably was arthritis. My old friend "Arthur" has me in a major wad! How strange that it did not hurt while in the later stages of training for Houston, but once I came home and quit taking the medicine (HMMMMM) it is once again killing me!
The neatest thing about our friendship is how we have grown "In the Lord" together. When I think back to where we were in our faith in the beginning and where we are now it is unbelievable. You have to know that God had this in His plan and pulled us together for this very purpose. We have spent many a late night discussing theology and stretching each other to think. Truly we are blessed to call them Friend!
BC is most anxious to see the replies to his blog from last night. I told him that for some strange reason, most people do not comment, even knowing it can be annoymous. Bobby is the best writer of the family. Of course, that minor in English, probably didn't hurt his abilities. I am looking out at the woods from all of my den windows and thinking about that very night and how the woods were filled with cars, trucks, and teens. MOST MEMORABLE!
We ran our first double digit run this AM since the marathon. After running that 10, REALLY SLOW, in the cold (Ice on the puddles), it is really hard to believe that 3 weeks ago I ran 26 miles. I am having lots of problems with my hip again. I went to the massage terrorist yesterday and almost cried it hurt so bad. He FOUND the spot-right in the hip socket. He told me if I did not get some better by Sunday, it probably was arthritis. My old friend "Arthur" has me in a major wad! How strange that it did not hurt while in the later stages of training for Houston, but once I came home and quit taking the medicine (HMMMMM) it is once again killing me!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
FATHER KNOWS BEST AND REMEMBERS BEST....
well.......As I remember it there was actually a party, of sorts, well to be more specific, a small gathering of a few freshmen and freshmen to be. We were all excited about our baby girl welcoming these new folks into RHS to be accepted by the new friends she would meet. In our nativity we thought the "party" was a great idea.
It formed quiet enough, welling up like a small dark cloud in May, building from nothing and then in a flash swelling to cover all space available and unleashing rain and storm like the perverbial "cats and dogs" downpour.
Camille went out to meet a few of her friends and Lora and I retreated into the back cavaran of obsecurity (our back bedroom) where we had been exiled while the "sub twenty something" set began to form outside.
All I know is that the evening was going so well as I enjoyed a few choice Friday night TVshows, until the Paul Revere Riders came running in with that familiar "the British are coming, the British are coming, translated to mean, "the upper classmen are coming, the upper classmen are coming".
As any "together" dad would do I calmly walked outside to discover hundreds, maybe thousands of sets of hormones and suds all over the drive, the yard, the woods and blocking traffic all over our neighborhood.
So calmly I requested Camille to "GET THIS PACK OF HEATHENS OUT OF THIS YARD RIGHT THIS SECOND OR ELSE", ah yes the OR ELSE, will get it done. As I think back, that was a tough place to leave Camille, but what the heck, it was her party. So I retreated back into the house and back to back bedroom - cavaran.
Within minutes, a couple of Camille's friends came running back to our room with stories of not just hundreds of teenagers, but now the introductiion of that vile liquid, BEER, in kegs, and in ice chests and soon to be in several hundred young men and woman.
So, I said to my self, SELF, this is a "job for superdad". So out I went, this middle aged, slightly balding, overweight, out of shape, bearing the maxium age limit to have a daughter that is a freshman, kinda of dad, against OVERWHELMING ODDS.
My first remarks, set the events in motion. I said to the first group of 50, "hey, hows it going, what's going on, having a good time", and to this day cannot understnd why that did not immediately disburse the crowd. It then occurred that I would have to hitch up my britches and have a go at this with a little more Cllint Eastwood or Sylvester Stalone style, like "hey punk, you like living, well you need to get your butt in gear and clear these woods. Actually that worked real well until I ran into my first, 225 lbs. lineman, who asked "Who are you old man". To which I said, I work for this family and I am just out picking up these collectible beer bottles, He let me go and then I travled on down the drive, franticly looking for someone more my size. After several failed attempts, I finally got a little ticked off and I thought I would move things up one more notch. Like a scene from Weird Science, when the motorcycle gang intruded at the party, the heroes, made a stand, and as I pronounced my intentions to take on a couple of the guys on, a certain seriousness came over me and I picked up the largest "ironwood pole" and waded in parting the crowd like Moses at the Red Sea.
One of my first victims was one of the coolest young men at school, riding atop his new, white mustang convertible, with an ice chest in the back seat. He said, so politely, like he was running for Student Body President, hello Mr. Bobby, and how are you this fine evening, to which I said "very well Robbie, and how are you", to which he said Oh, just peachy.
I inquired further to his retort with, "what's in the ice chest Robbie, to which he replied, oh, just some cokes for my friends". I opened the ice chest and said, "Robbie, someone has mixed about two dozen beer cans, right in the middle of your two cokes". At that he said, "good seeing you Mr. Bobby, tell Camille I can by. See you later".
Don't you find the memory of teenagers remarkable. They can remember the most obsecure lyrics and lines from movies and millions of other mindless facts, but a real party, worthy of "its own movie"conviently remembered.
After that the police began to show up and the crowd got very thin and innocent looking, reformed and the second police sighting actually broke the party up completely.
I think Camille has lived and relived the outstanding and legendary effects of this one night, in the little town of Vienna (pronounced VI anna) , and the little freshman who launched a speaking/polictial career that continues to growth.
So Camille you now have the real story. Compliments of your Dad who still loves you more than life itself.
It formed quiet enough, welling up like a small dark cloud in May, building from nothing and then in a flash swelling to cover all space available and unleashing rain and storm like the perverbial "cats and dogs" downpour.
Camille went out to meet a few of her friends and Lora and I retreated into the back cavaran of obsecurity (our back bedroom) where we had been exiled while the "sub twenty something" set began to form outside.
All I know is that the evening was going so well as I enjoyed a few choice Friday night TVshows, until the Paul Revere Riders came running in with that familiar "the British are coming, the British are coming, translated to mean, "the upper classmen are coming, the upper classmen are coming".
As any "together" dad would do I calmly walked outside to discover hundreds, maybe thousands of sets of hormones and suds all over the drive, the yard, the woods and blocking traffic all over our neighborhood.
So calmly I requested Camille to "GET THIS PACK OF HEATHENS OUT OF THIS YARD RIGHT THIS SECOND OR ELSE", ah yes the OR ELSE, will get it done. As I think back, that was a tough place to leave Camille, but what the heck, it was her party. So I retreated back into the house and back to back bedroom - cavaran.
Within minutes, a couple of Camille's friends came running back to our room with stories of not just hundreds of teenagers, but now the introductiion of that vile liquid, BEER, in kegs, and in ice chests and soon to be in several hundred young men and woman.
So, I said to my self, SELF, this is a "job for superdad". So out I went, this middle aged, slightly balding, overweight, out of shape, bearing the maxium age limit to have a daughter that is a freshman, kinda of dad, against OVERWHELMING ODDS.
My first remarks, set the events in motion. I said to the first group of 50, "hey, hows it going, what's going on, having a good time", and to this day cannot understnd why that did not immediately disburse the crowd. It then occurred that I would have to hitch up my britches and have a go at this with a little more Cllint Eastwood or Sylvester Stalone style, like "hey punk, you like living, well you need to get your butt in gear and clear these woods. Actually that worked real well until I ran into my first, 225 lbs. lineman, who asked "Who are you old man". To which I said, I work for this family and I am just out picking up these collectible beer bottles, He let me go and then I travled on down the drive, franticly looking for someone more my size. After several failed attempts, I finally got a little ticked off and I thought I would move things up one more notch. Like a scene from Weird Science, when the motorcycle gang intruded at the party, the heroes, made a stand, and as I pronounced my intentions to take on a couple of the guys on, a certain seriousness came over me and I picked up the largest "ironwood pole" and waded in parting the crowd like Moses at the Red Sea.
One of my first victims was one of the coolest young men at school, riding atop his new, white mustang convertible, with an ice chest in the back seat. He said, so politely, like he was running for Student Body President, hello Mr. Bobby, and how are you this fine evening, to which I said "very well Robbie, and how are you", to which he said Oh, just peachy.
I inquired further to his retort with, "what's in the ice chest Robbie, to which he replied, oh, just some cokes for my friends". I opened the ice chest and said, "Robbie, someone has mixed about two dozen beer cans, right in the middle of your two cokes". At that he said, "good seeing you Mr. Bobby, tell Camille I can by. See you later".
Don't you find the memory of teenagers remarkable. They can remember the most obsecure lyrics and lines from movies and millions of other mindless facts, but a real party, worthy of "its own movie"conviently remembered.
After that the police began to show up and the crowd got very thin and innocent looking, reformed and the second police sighting actually broke the party up completely.
I think Camille has lived and relived the outstanding and legendary effects of this one night, in the little town of Vienna (pronounced VI anna) , and the little freshman who launched a speaking/polictial career that continues to growth.
So Camille you now have the real story. Compliments of your Dad who still loves you more than life itself.
HOLD YOUR HORSES!
I read Camille's blog to her Dad last night and it was like pushing the same button she pushed all those years ago. He went off on a tirade of retelling the story of that night. He was the one that went out to run those kids off after I looked out the window and almost passed out. He was the one who dutifully walked out that door after I said, "YOU need to go out there and see what is going on and run these "Uninvited Kids" off!." He had the conversations with all of the "Outside Kids" and so tonight after our church meeting (We will be praying for Camille's past sins), I will type and he will dictate "The Dad's Side of the Story." You will just have to wait since our meeting starts at about the same time as he comes home. It will be worth the wait! I got a great laugh out of him retelling the tale!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
DON'T CALL ME "THE STREAK"
I have been reading my monthly issue of "Runner's World". I came across an article by Adam Cohen titled "Running Free". It seems Mr. Cohen felt compelled to enter a "clothing optional" race in Oklahoma on the "Trail of Tears". Oh it would be a trail of tears as those viewing would be laughing until they cried! OK and HOW did this happen in Oklahoma???? I thought they were as conservative as we are down here in the Deep South. I obviously must have been wrong! The article tells you about his feelings about entering and running the race with 50 other "Exhibitionist". There were 17 caps and 0 as zero other clothes. One male runner did have on a garment for support-if you get my drift, but that is it! For 3.1 miles they are all out there running along the trail-as we say here- "NEACKKED"! Ok, my friend Mona, loves to run after the cute young guys who have their shirts off and is often quoted as saying she really enjoyed the scenery during the race. I enjoy having someone in front of me and prefer tailing someone-BUT THIS GIVES NEW MEANING TO TAILING! I cannot imagine what would possess anyone to run (THINK ABOUT IT-body parts bouncing) without clothes with others watching. To add insult to injury, when the 50 passed the usual 5K water station, the volunteers are all clothed! If I hadn't died from embarrassment by then, well I would for sure drop dead then. If you see me entering a "Clothing Optional 5K" or even running without a shirt in only my sports bra-I have Alzheimer's-just put me away! You may not have to put me away, I would probably get arrested for "indecent exposure" and "Causing Great Public Harm", since the sight would not be pretty by any means!
As we started our run this AM, pre dawn, I noticed 2 planets clearly visible in the south-eastern sky-QUITE THE SIGHT! I believe it was Venus and Jupiter, per the Internet. If you are a late sleeper and never experienced the beauty of the night sky, especially the pre-dawn heavens, you have missed a TREAT! This is what makes these mornings bearable. When I have Babs in front of me, looking at her watch every mile-to see if we are running at an increased pace, it can become drudgery-not fun! Yesterday it was in the 60's at run time, today it was 26 when I got out of my car. BRRRRRRRR!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
BLOW ME AWAY!
I am sitting here with a pot on my head waiting for one of our BIG trees to fall on the house. No not really, although if I were the scary type, I might be. The wind is howling and when you look in the back yard the trees are rolling around and bending back & forth. I love my trees, except when we have a "Big Wind" or storm. SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO PICK UP ALL OF THOSE LIMBS! Since Mr. C works long hours, my middle name is Somebody. When "Those Baptists" cut all of the trees on the hill, we lost a good buffer from these Southern winds. More trees coming down will probably be the result.
I decided today that I "Know what I don't like, but am not sure about what I do". I am remodeling the 40 year old kitchen and went to see my kitchen designer today. As we looked at cabinets and granite tops, I can IMMEDIATELY tell a "No", but when I find several I do like, well narrowing down to one is always a problem. Trying to stay within the confines of a relatively (to today's standards) small kitchen, but come up with a good upgrade can be tough. I have to decide upon cabinet wood and color first and then we go from there. I have already picked out a sink and a floor-so two things down-MANY to go!
Kim, our pastor's wife, is in Houston this week having tests and deciding upon treatment for her cancer. They have started a blog, so if you are interested and would like to keep up, click on "Kim's Big Adventure" under my blogging buddies. Please join us in praying for Kim and her family as they travel down this difficult road. We are comforted with the fact that God has them all in the"Palm of His Mighty Hand".
Dr. Dale came home today. I just spoke with Helen and you can hear it in her voice that "There's no place like home". The family has been trained in what they need to do for Dale and it will require a routine every 2 hours, night and day. They will have a sitter 4 nights a week to help and their son and daughter in law will also take turns helping. As I personally can tell you, even with lots of medical help, it is a physically and emotionally demanding task. Please pray for that miracle that we would love to have and for sure for their ability to meet each and every day with a spirit of strength and "Holy Power".
Went to the weight room this AM. Only lasted about 45 minutes. It is unbelievable how fast you lose what you worked so hard to gain. That weight that I lost though-I am beginning to find it. A lot less activity and the same amount of food = fat rolls on my waist. UGH!
Monday, January 28, 2008
HINT OF SPRING!
After a cold 34 degree run this AM, it has warmed up to the point that you think Spring is coming. That's what happens here in Louisiana. We have these blasts of winter-not terrible winter like in Pennsylvania-but cold damp Louisiana winter. Our temperature seems to hover at the just above freezing level most days, during our cold snaps, which keeps away the winter precipitation, but allows for bone chilling cold. We have had a string of those days lately, but today-AH SPRING LIKE WEATHER. It was in the upper 50's and low 60's mid afternoon. It gives me the bug to get out in the yard and my hands in the dirt. OH-but I know what is just around the corner-more cold-damp weather My head knows it is too early to start my Spring yard work, but my heart is so anxious to get out of this house and back outside. In a act of desperation to take my mind off of being outdoors, I cleaned out the refrigerator today. I am happy to report that I found enough mold to supply us with anti-biotics for the foreseeable future. I am not sure why those left overs get left so long. I should have learned by now that after a couple at the most three times, THAT IS IT! Just chunk what is left. When we had a dog, it wasn't the problem that it is today. Lucky Girl was the lucky recipient of left overs ( I KNOW NOT GOOD FOR THE DOG-BUT SHE LOVED THEM SO)!
You do know that Camille is up there near to "THE REAL GROUNDHOG-Phil". They have a web site -http://www.groundhog.org/. You can learn all about the festival, etc which I believe is this coming weekend. I know she is anxious to find out how much more winter they will have. When I spoke with her today, she told me that the Bay of Lake Erie is frozen with about 2 1/2 inches of ice, but the entire lake is not frozen. That level of ice is not enough to walk on, so there are no fishermen out on it. They have seemingly had a relatively mild winter. Her comments on her snow blog do say they are about normal for snowfall. She said the temperature is milder today and tomorrow, but Wednesday more snow showers. Even though the temperature gets above freezing during the day, the snow doe not melt. The frozen ground with snow on top must provide a insulating quality. As she would say, ANYWHOS, we are waiting with breath held to see what Phil has to say!
We are back in our training routine as of yesterday. Went on a 5 mile walk yesterday and got up early for a 5 mile run this AM. Babs thinks we need to work on our speed. SHE JUST ABOUT KILLED ME TODAY! Hey-what's wrong with slow! I have decided no Yoga for me, I will be back in the weight room tomorrow and then if it is not raining another walk.
I seem to be having a period of "Writer's Block". THE PRESSURE- OH THE PRESSURE!
Challenge me with a subject to write about! I need help. The fresh ideas seem to be buried in the back of my brain currently, along with mounds upon mounds of important facts. I prefer trivia to be at my fingertips. Wouldn't want to clutter up all that trivia with anything important!
You do know that Camille is up there near to "THE REAL GROUNDHOG-Phil". They have a web site -http://www.groundhog.org/. You can learn all about the festival, etc which I believe is this coming weekend. I know she is anxious to find out how much more winter they will have. When I spoke with her today, she told me that the Bay of Lake Erie is frozen with about 2 1/2 inches of ice, but the entire lake is not frozen. That level of ice is not enough to walk on, so there are no fishermen out on it. They have seemingly had a relatively mild winter. Her comments on her snow blog do say they are about normal for snowfall. She said the temperature is milder today and tomorrow, but Wednesday more snow showers. Even though the temperature gets above freezing during the day, the snow doe not melt. The frozen ground with snow on top must provide a insulating quality. As she would say, ANYWHOS, we are waiting with breath held to see what Phil has to say!
We are back in our training routine as of yesterday. Went on a 5 mile walk yesterday and got up early for a 5 mile run this AM. Babs thinks we need to work on our speed. SHE JUST ABOUT KILLED ME TODAY! Hey-what's wrong with slow! I have decided no Yoga for me, I will be back in the weight room tomorrow and then if it is not raining another walk.
I seem to be having a period of "Writer's Block". THE PRESSURE- OH THE PRESSURE!
Challenge me with a subject to write about! I need help. The fresh ideas seem to be buried in the back of my brain currently, along with mounds upon mounds of important facts. I prefer trivia to be at my fingertips. Wouldn't want to clutter up all that trivia with anything important!
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