Soon To Be Bostonians

Or is it Bostonites? I like that better, but I am pretty sure it is Bostonians.

So, Kristy and Koley leave us next weekend to go to Boston for a year. Ugh. It is going to be an amazing opportunity. But, ugh.

In their honor, I have made an overload of salsa and guacamole for their going away party. You know how much someone loves you in this state by the amount of guacamole in you make them. I made them lots.

So, this will be 4 down! Damn, adulthood and all it's moving aboutness. We are a shrinking crew, we are (even though sects are growing. Kate is due March 5!). But, alas, 'tis life, I guess.

Boston. Home of beans. And soon of Kristy and Koley. We shall miss them. But, luckily, our cross country road trips are getting cheaper and cheaper. I mean, who needs a hotel when you get to hunker down on a couch for free!

But, in their honor, once again, I shall say it....Ugh!

I Want That Horse Blanket!

It's Snowing!

Holy Cow. It is snowing right here in our very own little Austin. That never happens. Really it doesn't! There might be raging blizzards surrounding us. Here, it is just chilly. But, it's snowing. Wanna see?










Now, be wary that the remainder of my death lung is apparent in this video. I had no idea I have been sitting around sounding like an 80 year old smoker's emphysemaed lung. But, I do. No wonder people have been asking if I am alright.

Who cares! Snow!







Okay, I can't figure video thing. But, here are some pictures. You know how I like my pictures!

Dying and Death and Lungs

Apparently I shouldn't have made bread. Just a few short hours later I was dying with a horrible death lung disease. After 3 days of hardcore fever, coughing, and misery I am back around. Well, I am at work. Can't say I am back around. I have been vaccinated against the flu flu and the pig flu. So, who knows what the hell happened. All I know is it sucked.

Once I return to normal human life, I shall write again. Until then. May the cough be with you!

Bread

I just attempted to make bread. It was the first time. I completed said task. This is what it looks like-->

Now, I did this all by hand. I have no food processor, so I got to knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it. Then I let it rise. I think the yeast might have been a little half old/ half working. So, it didn't rise a ton. Of course, I only let it rise-rise for an hour and a half. It came out alright, though. Not great. Alright.

It came out super dense. Seems thatif you knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it and knead it...well, that is not enough. You really gotta do it for like 10 minutes. I did it for about six. My arms got tired. And, I used a tad bit too much flour. It kinda tastes floury. (My recipe book warned me about that. Did I listen? Of course not!) But I did it! No bread pan. Just baked it on a cookie sheet. I am pretty excited!

So, I put a little butter on it. Not bad. Throw some garlic powder on it, and it tasted even better.

All in all, this was a fun project. I am trying it again! For I shall be the greatest baker in all the land! Or, I will not be. Probably that one. But, it was fun!

So, next time I will use less flour, more kneading, and better yeast.

Pictures of Your Slutty Nasty Grandma...

No one will get that title except David and Jody. Believe me, it is funny! But, I can't explain it. You can click on it and try to figure it out if you like.

Anywhoodles, who wants to see my trip in pictures? Who wants to see it in pictures that I took only when I remembered I had a camera? You do? Really? Oh, good.




















I gotta say that I had a great time! We stopped by my dad and Brenda's for a couple of days. Hung out, watched movies, talked, ate some incredibly large and delicious sundaes, took Jody on the Pittsburg/Mt. Pleasant tour (which can be very exciting! Believe me!).

Then we headed up Mississippi way. We stopped at Vicksburg on the way. We did the whole driving tour. It was awesome. Well, I guess a Civil War Battleground isn't awesome. But, it was really interessting. Who knew that Illinois sent so many people. I got to hand it to them! They sent lots. I am standing in front of the cool monument in that one picture. Well, unless I didn't post it. It was pretty cool.

Then off to Jody's Mom's place. We stayed with his sister who is just two houses down. We hung out with them, and did basically the same thing we did at my dad's. I got the grand tour of the Pearl/Brandon/Jackson area. I got to see his old apartment, job, restaurants he likes, where he went to the movies. Man, I am such a girl. I wanted to see everything.

We hung out with his fab mom all day. Then that night we hung out with Renee, his sister. She's awesome! And boy, would we get into lots of fun trouble together if we lived closer. We had a good time! I loved them!

So, all in all, a great time. Of course, we have been back a week, and I haven't written. I got busy. Then I got super lazy because that's what I do. But, that was a quick view into the trip across the good old South. Well, sorta. Just really across a couple of states. But, it was fun!

I Got So Much!

And I got no time! I will fill the probably completely empty world to which I type (except you, Mandy. You read this!) in sometime today. I had a great week away!

I am a super slueth

Played Clue last night. I won! Miss Scarlett in the Library with the knife. Poirot move the hell over. I am a detective genius!

I am Jig Saw Puzzle Whore!

I have become obsessed with doing jigsaw puzzles online. I don't know that I have done an actual jigsaw puzzle since Matagorda 2005 when I was belligerent out of my mind and thought doing a 2-sided Beatles Yellow Submarine jigsaw puzzle was the most important thing in the world. Before that incident, I have no idea when the last time I did a jigsaw puzzle. So, I have no idea why I am all up in the jigsaw puzzle mix.

I have found the website jigzone that is so much fun! I find the title to be quite odd and off-putting. The website, though, is awesome. It has a trillion pictures with a trillion different ways to break it up. Classic, triangles, stars. You get the idea. I am digging it. It's pretty sad. But, it is a lot of fun.

Nothing too exciting going on. I get to meet Jody's family this weekend. I am super excited. You would think after almost 2 1/2 years, I would have met them already. But, I haven't. So, I am super excited! I am kinda nervous. I sure hope they like me. I am sure they will. I am super awesome, nice, funny, cute, hilarious, the life of the party, totally not at conceited, have uber high self esteem. Hahah! Sorry. I had to be an idiot. But, I am sure after the last one, they will love me! I sure hope so!

A work friend gave me a typewriter yesterday! I am so excited. I need to get some damn paper. But, I was so excited. I love typewriters. I guess my love of words comes across to others. I was thrilled. It is a super cool thing to have. And I appreciate her thinking of me. Now, when I write the great American pornographic novel, I can do so just like Hemingway or Steinbeck!

All in all, a normal week. I'm sleepy. I ate too many nutty bars. I watched too many episodes of Supernanny on Youtube. But, all in all, not a suck ass week!

No!

I got jury duty. What the shit is that? Ugh!

One Day I will Grow Up!

I don't feel like talking about anything to do with water. So, I will do that later. But, we do have it. The leak is fixed. We got to catch a glimpse of the guy's apartment where it started. He wasn't home when it flooded, came home, saw the mess, and left. Didn't tell anyone. Just left. Then it started again. Anyway, it was wet as a mother fucker in his apartment. Not so much wet as just filled with water. Ha ha. Idiot! Anyway, I am sick of water.

So, lately I have been doing a little comparison watching. As you know, I love The Secret Life of the American Teenager. I think it is awesome. Now, I don't think it is awesome in an actual good kind of a way. There are some very good shows out there.
The Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Roseanne(yes, Roseanne), Deadwood. Good TV.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager is not one of those shows. But, I love it. I do. It is like sno-cone syrup covered crack. It's a total soap opera. Now, I hate the main character. I hate her. She is a super duper spoiled bitch who deserves to have her child taken away. Also, she isn't really pulling off teen mom.

I think the main story line is ridiculous! Ridiculous! If you want to know the main characters story, it is this: a guy is dating a 15 year old who has a baby by another guy. He wants to break up with her because he doesn't like her anymore. But, his father thinks he should stick with her because that is what people in love do. Sure, a 15 year old should stay with another 15 year old who has another guys baby. Especially because he doesn't love or really like her anymore. Good story, huh?

There are all kinds of story lines. Slutty girl who wants Daddy's love, accidentally pregnant mom, Christian who loves doing it and thinks because of that her father died, molested teen boy trying to make good...you know, the norm. Also, these kids don't seem to have a dress code at school. Had my school not had a dress code, I think I would have been way more popular.

Anyway, it's a crap show. For real! But, I love it. I have no idea if it is good for teens because I am an old fucker. But, maybe it is. I love it, but realize that it is true junk.

Now, we had a teenager show when I was a teenager. It was My So-Called Life. I loved it. Loved it! I thought it was truly written for me and about me and whatever else you can think of.

Well, HULU has all of My So-Called Life online. So, I decide to start watching it to see if was actually good or just a The Secret Life of the American Teenager. I mean, it has been a whole long time since I watched My So-Called Life-probably 13 or 14 years. So, I decided to see.

Well, I have to report that My So-Called Life is actually a good show. Very good. Very well-written. I think it covers all the aspects of the life of teenagers in a way that isn't ridiculous drivel. I mean, there was sex and love and relationships done in a way that I truly think understood what it was like to be 15. I also think it fascinating to see that I understand the adults of the show. Yet, I can still see the teenage aspect.

I am almost done with the season. I wonder if they actually did research with teenagers for this show. It's pretty introspective. I don't think it makes fun of teenage angst. I mean, there is a lot to make fun of there. Of course, there is also a lot that shouldn't be. Teens are so dramatic. But, again, it is the first experience at real life which is full of misery, disappointment, random emotions, and what not. I don't want to be all deep, but I re-watching it really makes me appreciate the writing and respect they actually gave to kids. That is something that isn't done very often. I don't think it is always something deserved. But, it is in some ways.

So, there is my thing. The Secret Life of the American Teenager is very hokey, yet super fun to watch. My So-Called Life is pretty true to life and isn't preachy. One makes me roll my eyes, and the other makes me cry. I love doing both things, so I will continue to watch!

Okay, enough of this goofy blog. I have no idea why I am debating the fine art of teenage entertainment, but being as I am a girl (okay, maybe woman) I love this kind of thing. Forgive me. It's my estrogen and eternal want to be 17 years old.

So that's that! I think I shall go wash dishes now. I am so glad I can!

My Name Ain't Ariel!

Oh, the water! Yes, the water. The Great Flood has happened, and it is in my kitchen and dining room. Hurray! I am thrilled, excited, happy as a clam (as I should be since I now live underwater)!

I will give you all the scoop later complete with pictures, videos, tales of woe, tales of "Are you serious?" (referring to, for example, the use of pool water as water in our apartment that was suggested by the manager), wet soggy anything cloth in our apartment, and so much more!

I know you are excited.

Now, how to get rid of this curse?

Water, water everywhere

Last night it was 10 degrees. Our neighbors-who are not home-had a pipe burst. We had to tell the office, as it was flooding everywhere. So, they turned off the water to our building. No one has been out to check it. No one is worked on it all day. I think I am destined to be waterless at this time of year. Last year, no water and busted pipes kept us out of our house for over a month. Seriously! What the hell is up with my water kharma? Ugh!