Sick and sicker

Greetings.
Haven't posted lately because my middle daughter, Cam, has been sicker than sick. Found out she has pneumonia. Today my mom took her back to the doctor for the second time this week and she got another injection of antibiotic, Rocephin. It is powerful stuff, but not yet kicking her illness. She is also simultaneously on oral antibiotics. She just looks horrible. Missing a week of school is not good either, considering she doesn't even feel like glancing at any homework, let alone starting on a week's worth. This is kicking our rears. And thank God for my mother who has watched her all week so that I could work - since I can't miss a day or I go back to getting paid peanuts instead of "teacher pay". UUUUGGGHHHHH.

Oh, Bill-Bill...

Bill Clinton - despite his carnal ways, he was a good president. This is only my opinion. Me, the non-political gal of the family. I mean, sure, in high school when I registered to vote I declared I was a Republican, but what did that mean, really? I had no idea. So, registered a Republican, I vote whichever way the candidates strike me.
Billy Boy is in the news hot and heavy for getting fiesty with an interviewer. I heard the sound byte this morning on the radio station I listen to on my way to work. I must say, I found it amusing and entertaining. Bill was gettin' sassy on him. He said something to the effect of, "You sittin' over there with that little smirk on your face..." I lost it. A former President of the United States talking like a ticked off chic. Hilary must be proud.

In other news...Husband got a new job. This one is a big deal, working for Hildenbrand in their largest industry. Now don't laugh, since the Halloween season is approaching and all...the industry is the casket business. The kids said, "Maybe he can get us a casket so we can sit it on the front porch and decorate for Halloween - it'll scare EVERYONE! That'd be awesome!" I told them I thought it would really be too early in the career to ask for something like that. Kids. Never a dull moment.
Boo!

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y

Another victory for the beloved Colts! Beat Jacksonville today, though at times we were sloppy. Hey, a win is a win. And we are undefeated. Go Blue!

Last night's dinner was excellent, might I add. We had Firestone Reisling, warm bread and tapanade, I had Brick Oven Roasted Garlic Prawns with fresh roasted vegetables and rice, and the Husband had Prime Rib. For dessert we shared the best creme brulee I have ever tasted. It was scrumptious.

Rodney Carrington was absolutely hilarious. I laughed so long and so hard that my cheek muscles were hurting (on my face, not my a**). He sang several comedic songs and put on a great show. He sure is a redneck, though. Funny one at that. If you have a chance to go see him, I'd do so.

Tomorrow begins another work week. Unless you are fortunate enough to stay at home and do nothing. Exactly, no one qualifies for that!
and if you are reading, Hi Dad!

Night out on the town

Good morning well wishers!
Tonight the Husband and I are going out on the town. Here is what we are doing:
1. I am attending a baby shower of the friend who stood by me during Husband's and my wedding. While I do so, Husband is going to Restoration Hardware to pick out paint for our upstairs bathroom. He states he may also stop by the Volvo dealer and take that Badass S-40 for a spin.

2. He will pick me up from the shower and we will go to my favorite restaurant, Palaminos. There we will drink some fine wine and dine on the most scrumptious meal ever. I love that place! (to be this seriously excited about food should tell you something about me)

3. We will venture over to the Murat Theater and take in a most hilarious show featuring Rodney Carrington. He is a regular on the famous Bob & Tom show in Indianapolis, not to mention he had a funny sitcom called Rodney. If you haven't heard his work, here is a link to the funniest bit he does, in my opinion. WARNING! It is not for the virgin ears. Must be 18 to listen.

4. Who knows what the rest of the night will bring. Perhaps dancing somewhere in Indy? I hope so - I love to see a white man dance -- hahahahahha.

Jealous passersby - meander through the Carrington website or Bob & Tom. You'll be guiltily entertained.
See ya!

Ridin' Dirty

Here is the car the Husband wants. It is pretty sleek, actually. He says he'd be "badass" in it. I love when he says things like that. He is whiter than the bread in my breadkeeper, but tries to talk ebonics from time to time. Priceless! You should hear him sing the chorus to "Ridin' Dirty" - for those of you who don't have teenagers, it is a hip-hop rap song overplayed on the radio.
Check it:
Volvo S-40. Kick-ass car.

15 Reasons Why Women are Better Than Men

This girl has style...
Originally uploaded by phoenixdoula.

1. We have the ability to birth a baby.
2. We can pick out baby names better than men.
3. We know the world must go on, even when we are feeling ill (mentally OR physically).
4. We have intuition.
5. We enjoy kissing and holding hands without requiring sex to follow.
6. We can find our own food to eat for dinner (or other meals) without relying on someone else to fix it for us.
7. We know the importance of detailed laundry sorting to avoid ruination of clothing.
8. We value compassion.
9. We LIKE to smell good.
10. Our feet are usually well-groomed.
11. For the most part, we keep our bleching and farting at home, away from the general public.
12. We pluck or wax our unibrows.
13. Hairstylists and "products" do make a difference, in our opinion.
14. We carry what we need with us (and let others borrow, if need be - kleenex, tampons, band-aids, pen, paper, analgesics, etc.).
15. We can down those "foo-foo" drinks that men love to hate!

Dream Weaver

Okay. Here's where I want to be. Do ya feel me? Get me?
Warm, sunny, sandy, smooth. Hovering above the crashing waves, lulling me to sleep. I'd have my pillows, my book to read, and my handy dandy beverage. What more would I need?
As summer ends here in the midwest quite abruptly, I must say I would like fall to be a bit longer than what it appears it is going to be. For example, over the weekend we had eighty degree days with a tad bit cooler nights. This week, the low is calling for 40's. Forties!!! What happened to fall? We are heading straight into winter, which makes me begin my deep depression. If I wasn't in my thirties, and instead in my sixties, I would "move South" for the winter. However, I am not near sixty, so I am stuck here in hell. Melodramatic? Perhaps. Go with it. I hate winter and I don't care who knows it. End of production.

Tonight, while watching some ridiculous celebrity update show, my husband said, after Tom Cruise's name was mentioned, "Oh, Tom Cruise. He'd be the first to board my celebrity dud plane crash flight in first class! He's an idiot! Oh...Mr. Cruise (in falsetto voice), you will be seated here right next to Ms. Spears...wine?, beverage?, fresh baked cookies?...Please don't approach the curtain(as if talking to other passengers approaching from the back of the plane), this is first class!..."
Man, I was cracking up.

Variety Show

Today is just a hodge podge of sorts. I don't have anything lengthy to say, so I'll say several short and sweet things. (of which I am sure you are dying to hear...)

First, I awoke this morning after dreaming of my late grandma. I think I have spoke of her before, but for those of you who need a refresher, she is my grandmother who passed away a few years ago due to stomach cancer. I miss her terribly. A Sunday like today would have been one of those days she would have gotten in her car and made her rounds to all of our houses to see us for a second. My mom and dad, my aunt, my cousin, etc. She would have opened the door to come in saying, "Whoopeedoo! It's getting hot outside today. " She said whoopeedoo when she was excited about something. Perhaps I had a dream about her last night because I was planning on fixing chili today for the Colts game. She was famous for her chili in my family. So, props to you, grandma. I miss you terribly.

Friday night our local football team lost its homecoming game. My oldest daughter, in 7th grade, went to the game and dance. It was her first "high school" dance. It ended at 11:30, so I had to wake up/stay awake to go and pick her up. That was rough. One more tiny experience in 'letting go' I guess. Man, I am getting older... According to what she has told me over the weekend, I have gathered she is playing the role of peace keeper among her friends. At least she isn't the one creating the problems. I'm thankful for that.

The IU Hoosiers lost their football game, too. Couldn't win one for Coach Hep. Shoot.

Colts win! Awesome passing game by Peyton. I love it when he moves the ball down the field like that. I get so excited. I want to go to at least one home game this year. Adrenaline rush is great there.

And, finally, my fantastic whoas. Somehow, remarkably, I have pulled a muscle in my lower back or something. I can barely move without being in excrutiating pain. I am not much of a manual laborer. So, how the hell did this happen? I am asking myself that, too.
I have taken Tylenol like candy. Nothing. I don't have any Advil here, so...I have used a gel called Biofreeze from a chiropractor (sample), and I have resorted to taking a scalding whirlpool bath. Still, no relief. I can't sit still, can't get comfortable, and can't bend over for any reason. Stuff on the floor will have to remain on the floor. How in the world am I going to get this to quit?!

One bright star in the day: Intervention is on A&E tonight. I love that show. The drug/alcohol counselor tech in me longs to watch it every Sunday night. I'm sick, I know.

ISTEP Week is this week - testing, testing, and more testing for my little munchkin students. Hey, bonus: we get snacks on Tuesday, delivered right to our room! Rumor has it that it is PB&J crackers with juice. Slam!

The Crimson and Cream of the crop

The Indiana Hoosiers' football team has struggled over the years. Being an alumnae, I am heartsick over the fact that sometimes I have to root for a losing team. Make that most of the time, not sometimes. Things are changing, though. Wins, determination, and dedication are the result of the coach of the team, Terry Hoeppner. Therein lies another difficulty - the coach had to undergo his second brain tumor surgery yesterday.
Can you imagine being in your fifties and having two brain surgeries? All the while being the coach of a Big Ten university? Not really a small deal, if you ask me.
According to reports, Coach Hoeppner is resting and recovering well. He's got fight in him, I'll give him that!

I hope he has a speedy recovery. The team needs his enthusiasm and spark. Come back soon, Coach.

In other news...

My students have gone and done it. They brought out the bitch today. Yep, you heard it here first. I wrote up a student today and my claws were out while I did it. I had to get mean, which I don't normally do. I had had enough of this kid. His attitude and mouth - that's what sealed the deal for him. He is one of those kinds of kids who think school is just for punishment, and that staying awake in class is just too much to ask. The world must revolve around him, or so he thought. It all started with him asking if he could go to the nurse. He asked less than halfway through class, which was the last class of the day. He had made it all day, didn't look ill, and so I asked why. He said, "So I can sleep." I told him absolutely not. He then began mumbling under his breath. I began a discussion with him. I was getting angry as the discussion went along. He was too, because he just couldn't understand why his request was so out of line. After he made comments about hating the class and that what we do is stupid, I gave him a one way ticket to the office. As I was writing it, he had the balls to say, "Did I do so much that you have to write for five minutes about me?" (answer: yes) I put on the discipline referral that I request him to be moved out of my class due to the fact that I just can't stand his bad attitude and disregard for what I am trying to do in the class. He wasn't happy, but neither was I. Kids: you can't love 'em all, and you can't hate 'em, either. Hopefully he'll learn a little something from the incident. I'm hoping, anyway.

Until tomorrow's school day...

Horse's Ass

Horse's Ass
Originally uploaded by ldp1963.

DON'T BE WHATCHA SEE!

*This is a joke my grandma used to say when we would be in the car, following a horse trailer with one or more horses' asses facing us.
She's somethin', isn't she?
Had to pass on the legend.

The Manning Bowl

In honor of the Manning Bowl tonight on NBC (at 8:15), I made a wonderful NFL Football snack for our eating pleasure while we watch the brothers battle it out.
Here is the recipe for an awesome dip that most can't refuse. Take it to your potlucks, family reunions, and friendly get togethers. You'll be a hit!

Mexican Dip (Crock Pot)

1 lb. sausage

1 lb. hamburger

Mix together and cook until browned.

1 minced onion (you can omit if you'd like)

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can El Paso peppers and tomatoes

1 can El Paso green chili peppers

To the above, add 2 lbs. of Velveeta cheese cubed. Combine in crock pot and keep warm. Serve with tortilla chips or corn chips. Could use pita chips, too if more health conscience.

*If you can't find the exact brand of tomatoes and chilis, you can use Rotel (it comes mixed already - the chilis and tomatoes, or another brand.)

So California

So California
Originally uploaded by unsure shot.

According to a local radio station, Paris Hilton's arrest for DUI was related to this place - In-n-Out Burger. Yep, Paris was starving and was trying to get to this drive thru so that she could eat. If she would have made it, according to herself and her publicist, she might not have "blown" a BAC over the legal limit. See, she hadn't eaten ALL DAY because she had been shooting a video. Then she went directly to a CHARITY EVENT for brain tumors and had ONE, MEASELY LITTLE MARGARITA (in a fish bowl) and was caught speeding. Pulled over only to find she had been drinking? Oh, shoot.
Poor thing had to spend fifteen minutes in the jailhouse lobby. Sissy came to rescue her, Nikki Hilton, and she was released because the papparazzi was surrounding the place. How unfortunate.
These burgers from this place must be great!

I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SLEEP NOW...

I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SLEEP BECAUSE WHEN I POSTED MY LAST ENTRY, IT MOVED MY DAMN "ABOUT ME" AND SUCH TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE AGAIN!!!!

YES, I AM YELLING IN CYBER TALK. WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN RANDOMLY? I AM NOT AN HTML EXPERT AND CAN'T TELL WHAT TO DO WITH IT - COMPUTER FAIRY GODS, UNITE AND HELP ME, DAMMIT!

Happy 50th to me...happy 50th to me...

My fiftieth post. Wow. They really do add up fast. To you pros out there, fifty seems infant. But to me, it is somewhat of a milestone. I vow to make it fifty more at least.

Beer bread - it was a hit yesterday. I had about two pieces left over and that was all! Two of the four kids liked it. Husband liked it. I loved it, go figure. Bread + Me = True Love 4 Ever. 'Nuff said. Following are some comments heard last evening while the bread baked:

~ does it have BEER in it?

~ man, this tastes like beer!

~Is that why I saw an empty beer can in the trash?

~Beer, yum...I'm not even allowed to drink beer yet. (Eleven year old MALE, imagine that!)

~ I like it.

~ I don't think it tastes like anything.

Recipe is as follows, if you are brave enough to combat the comments at your house:

BEER BREAD
Ingredients:
3 Cups flour
2 1/4 teaspoons salt
12 oz. beer
3 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon honey

Directions:
Grease loaf pan. Mix flour, salt, baking powder. Combine with beer and honey in large bowl. Stor together until well mixed. Spread batter in pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until browned and a wooden pick comes out clean.

Cool completely before slicing.
(I ran a stick of butter over the top right after it came out of the oven. I let it cover the top of the bread, but only used a little bit. That turned out well. )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The pear bread turned out very moist, but I did not like the taste as well as some people did. Now, my oldest daughter loved it - the one who did NOT like the beer bread. So, it is not predictable.
I took the pear cake to work and the teachers seemed to love it. Of course I was haggled and called Martha Stewart (as an insult) because they know I have four children and wonder 'how I had the time' to make things. I digress...
The cake would have been better if I'd had time to whip up a cream cheese icing and put on it. The recipe called for no icing, but it would have really made a big difference. If you like spice cake or apple cake and the like, it would be good for you to try.

So, beer bread is declared the winner in the bake off of last evening. After all, did I really expect anything to win over booze infused food? Duh.
Emeril and I will be coming to a city near you. Check your local listings.

Betty Crocker reincarnated - ME.

Well, evidently my hormones are off keel or something. I am in the mood to bake, cook, experiment, or whathaveyou in the kitchen. And, I am doing it.
At work yesterday in the copy room, there was a huge box of pears that said, "Take as many as you like - there are at least thirty more bushels on my trees at home," from a fellow teacher. I indulged and took half a dozen. Now, these weren't half-pounders a piece, you know. Just little ones. Plenty to go around. I'm not that greedy.
So, today, I came home and searched on the internet for some recipe to use these fresh pears in. I like to do that from time to time - find a recipe on the internet that I've never tried and put it to good use. Today was one of those days.
While I was searching on the recipe sites, I came across a "bread" theme. I began to salivate when I read a few, so I searched for one of my favorites growing up, that I have never made since out on my own - BEER BREAD! I am, after all, twenty-one now...hahaha.
I printed off two pear recipes and one beer bread. The bread is currently in the oven and smellin' fine! The pears have been peeled, put with the sugar to "marinate" for an hour, and I am well on my way to tasty treats. I'll update everyone tomorrow on how great it all tasted.
For now, salivate in expectation...

RED ALERT, RED ALERT!

WARNING:
Some occupations may be hazardous to your health. (see Steve Irwin)


*I'm burnin' in the depths of h*** for that one*

Progress?

Well, as of Friday, our living room ceiling is completely down now and the insulation pulled out by our "remod" crew. While in the throws of cleaning all of that out, the guys told us that the insulation that was yellow was not "legal" persay, according to today's residential codes. It had to be pulled out because it was a fire hazard. It would have gone up like paper, they stated. Great to know.
So, now we have pink panther insulation under the part where our bedroom is (above the living room) and exposed beams. We can see the roof's ceiling, or whatever you call it, as seen in the pic. Are we making progress? I guess. Work is what we're doing, even though we have remodeling people doing the bulk of it.

In other news...

We went to see the movie Accepted last evening. It was very funny. I liked it. The husband didn't like it much, but then again, he wasn't in the mood for a humorous movie. The kids and I were, on the contrary.

Today the two younger chitlins and I went to church. It was communion day. For those of you out there who are Catholics (as I WAS one), I know you are saying to yourselves 'what Sunday ISN"T communion Sunday??'. Well, go jump off a cliff. I don't do that anymore since I am not a) in the Catholic church, b) wouldn't be "allowed" to take communion if I DID go there, and c) have such a burden on my conscience according to your kind for being remarried without an annulment. *Not something I really want to get into today.*
Anyway, in the sermon somewhere, I heard the following from the preacher's mouth:
"Sometimes we have to get angry or bent out of shape about things for the right thing to happen." Huh. Ponder that for awhile. This is a statement after my own heart. Truly. I do get angry about things, more often than needed. But if it makes the right things happen - wow. And sure, there have been times that things have turned out to be that way, now that I think back. I like that statement.

I got a phone call from Princess - the graduate who was our morning babysitter, now going to IU. She went to the football game last night. Said she had fun. I again played the part of mother and warned her about how careful she needs to be at all times. That she may think she knows someone, but really she doesn't know what they are capable of. And that it only takes one time to do something stupid or to put herself in a situation where things could go wrong, and she will never be the same person. Now that could run the gammet (sp) of many things. Let's recall what students usually do at college - not just walking alone at night, but also things like tailgaiting, parties, sleepovers at other dorms/apts., going to the 7-Eleven at 2am, many things! I just want her to think on her feet, so I reminded her. She is probably cussing me under her breath, and did so as soon as we hung up our phones. That's okay. Moms can take it. If I can be that little, annoying voice that pops into her head if she is in one of those situations and keep her from heartache, so be it. I'll be the bad guy for that.
Have a fun Labor Day!!!