Tuesday, August 31, 2010

ok, my family and friends are mostly slackers...

I have pretty much decided, that although Min is the only person to send me a copy of the picture she took, I need to post about Angie's move before I forget everything.  I may at some future date post pictures, IF I ever get any.

On 8.22 Sunday afternoon, I hosted a farewell/good luck barbeque.  (YES, it was an insanely crazy idea with her moving on Tuesday, but I came up with it at her graduation party.  And there was no NASCAR race that day.... I do have priorities you know)  Well mother nature saw fit to send in monsoon like rains most of the day on Sunday, but fortunately we have attended enough NASCAR races at Pocono Raceway to be used to tailgating in the rain.  SO out came the tents 

IMAG0251

Tailgate experience


Despite the weather, fun was had by all - even her 2 fun-impaired aunts (Erica had half a margarita!!)

Monday, after we finished packing Angie and I went out for lunch at Panera's.  Even though she spent most of lunch texting, we did have some excellent conversations.

Mom, squares are serious

Angie then got a mani/pedi while I got a pedi (seriously no one but Lauren does my nails, except under extreme emergencies)  We had some girly giggling when they did the bottom of our feet.

Pedis

Tuesday finally arrived, and we left a bit later than our anticipated 4am, but only by about 20 minutes.  (originally we were going to take ANgie shopping in Philly on Wed, but then discovered that the reason she had the first move in slot was because the Honors College had stuff planned for those freshmen all day on Wednesday.  So we finished shopping in NJ)  We took Curt's car, and curt's dad's truck.  Angie rode with me - because I really can't talk and drive, not coordinated enough to answer the phone.  SO that both vehicles stayed in contact, Angie rode with me.  ( She spotted a Braun's truck - that's my baby)  She was way too nervous/excited to nap, so we had a fun time.  Since every one who knows me IRL, knows I am seldom not attached to a cup of coffee, and it was no different on this trip,  and we hit the last rest stop before we left the turnpike heading for PA - Leaving nj

When we arrived, my friend Min, was already there.  The security guards were serious.  Before Angie had checked in or anything, they had us unload both vehicles to the side of the building and move the cars to the lot across the street.  ( curt had the bulkier things- so was back to watch the stuff before I was done which worked out well)   THey had giant orange commercial laundry carts, which you could use by giving them your license (like you were going to keep it)  By the time Angie and Min came back from check- in we had almost everything loaded into 2 carts except for the 2 rolling suitcases.

Angie was the first of her suite mates to arrive which worked out well as we had a bunch of her stuff on her roommates bed as we got organized.

This post is getting long, so the rest will be tomorrow ( trust me the funny is tomorrow so come back!!

Monday, August 30, 2010

NO not Angie yet...

Peppers!!

I have a ton of peppers!  Thank goodness I only have one of each plant.  I am already re-thinkin next year and what is getting booted for other options next year.  I think  I have my tomatillo problems solved.  The fruit is staying on the plants and getting bigger.  We'll see if I have more than one ripen.  Now what to do with one cherry tomatillo???


verdes puebla tomatillo & hades hot
Pueblo verdes tomatillo (one) and hades hot pepper


Onza rojas chile
Onza rojas



orange blossom


bouquet chile
bouquet chile


pequin large black
pequin black


McDonalds orange grove
McDonalds orange grove (tabasco peppers)


Australian Lanterns
Australian lanterns


solar flare
Solar Flare


cubanelles
Cubanelles - not hot - Italian frying peppers


poblano
what might have been the perfect Poblano...



2 of my pickled peppers (sorry not a peck... how much is a peck anyway?)




You Are a Full-time Foodie





Food is an important part of your life, and there's no denying it.

You're probably at least a decent cook, and you have a very sophisticated palette.



You're up on food trends, and you're always looking to sample something new and different.

You figure that if you're going to eat three meals a day, you might as well make them an adventure.



     

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Since I didn't Thunk this week...

The Majorly Personal Meme, Part Two

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing. Sunday Stealing originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's post. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme's best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme. Let's go!!

Today we ripped this meme off a blog that is written by a group of high school students. The blog is called Eternal Fireworks. The writers are: Michael, Kynan, Alex, Kenny, Chris, Leo, Shelley, Athy, Bam, Tina, and Bnita. There is no statement as to where it came from. But, it was probably stolen there as well. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft's thieves might take some time. It is a long meme and we shall do it in parts. Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!

Sunday Stealing: The Majorly Personal Meme, Part Two
Cheers to all of us thieves!
21. If you were to live your life without your best friend, what would change?  My husband would be out looking for a new best friend for me!  Curt likes alone time and is not a touchy person- so he needs help keeping me occupied and appropriately hugged!

22. Tell us about a era of your life that you really miss. This is a tough question.  Too much drama in HS and College.  It was nice when Angie was in middle school and she thought I was the coolest mom, but my life revolved around her schedule.  She was more independent in HS but had the occasional attitude adjustment necessary.  So I hope the best is yet to come?

23. Have you ever been betrayed by someone that came as a complete surprise? Without revealing the person, if yes, tell us about it. Nope,  I trust very few people enough that they could actually betray me.

24. Do you ever think that is a good idea to hide your feelings? I totally wear my heart on my sleeve.  Good thing is you pretty much always know where you stand!

 

25. Tell us about your favorite year when you were a student.  Probably senior year.....

25. When was the last time you were in a very good mood? What caused it? This morning - Curt made breakfast! Grits, eggs, sausage (ok bacon'd be better) and coffee!

26. Have you ever had a romantic relationship with a sibling of a good friend?  Does becoming friends with someone so you could meet/seduce his brother count?? (yes I was ebil!)

27. Tell us about the last thing that you did that you truly regret.
28. When did you laughed today? When I saw this question and wanted to take a red pen and cross out the ed.  ok I did cross out the ed and it made me giggle! 

29. Do you trust easily? No.  Makes it easier to avoid 23 & 27.

30. What do you care about that you wish more people would? Washing your hands after using the restroom.  I see far too many people who don't!

 

31. Is it easier for you to go without food or go without sleep?  Well since I hardly sleep now, and you've seen pic's of me I'd have to say sleep.  (never trust a skinny cook!)

32. What non-alcohol beverage do you enjoy drinking the most?  For those of you who don't pay attention  COFFEE!!!!

33. When you walk into a room full of strangers, generally how is your confidence? Confidence has really never been an issue for me.

34. Does talking about sex with anyone but your lover make you uncomfortable?  I guess you've never had a convo with me?  My mind goes to the gutter pretty quick, and there really is no filter between my brain and my mouth...

35. Do you tend to believe members of the opposite sex mostly behave the same way?  So kinda confused about the question?  Are you asking if men act one way and women act another - each sex acting mostly the same as others of their sex?  Or are you asking if people act mostly the same (not really dividing the sexes?)

36. Did you drink any alcohol this week? If yes, what? Before answering remember - I didn't work this week....  Smithwicks ( probably 4ish?) a couple margaritas, coconut rum w/pineapple soda, a couple Gentleman Jack's, a few Coronas, ( was just reminded I didn't drink Tue - Thr oh well)

37. Would you ever consider being a vegetarian? Actual plaque hanging in my kitchen
IMAG0280.jpg 

38. Do you believe that there’s always room in your heart for someone?  No, unless that someone is a furball...

39. Do you believe in the concept of soul mates? Have a problem with soulmates and the concept of free will.  I mean with free will, what if someone kills your soulmate before you meet them?  And with more and more people hooking up with people long distance are we to believe that God adapted to the new global economy and is making finding your soul mate more globally challenging??  



As someone who believes that the universe can be described by physics (ok, some we haven't discovered yet) and that the language of God is mathematics, and that there is a reason why the enduring physics equations are mathematically beautiful, I have my own theory.  I am not alone either! Have you heard of string theory?  I think that the dominant strings each person has resonate in their own chord.  If you meet someone whose vibrations harmonize with yours, it is easier to become close friends.  And the most harmonizing vibrations lead to what our brains perceive as love.  (why relationships based on lust often fail - sometimes the best sex is created by dissonant vibrations)

40. Last week, we had a few players criticize our victim’s questions. Which is fine to do and we value your opinion. Would you ever consider writing questions for Bud and me to post on a Sunday Stealing?  While I definitely mock some questions, I rarely criticize - because I am definitely not creative enough to come up with my own.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Bet you thought this post would be

about Angie didn't you?  Actually I'm trying to get a hold of some pics because I didn't take a whole lot.

So today's post will actually be about knitting! Yes! Knitting!

I finally finished my socks:

IMAG0263

I finally seamed and wove in the ends of my spring bag.  Not sure what I'll do with it - totally not my colors.  I made it for a KAL (knit a long for you non-knitters) out of yarn left over from various dish cloth swaps.

IMAG0266.jpg

I also knocked out a peach washcloth - because it's August - peach time ya' know? 

IMAG0262

I also made a few more squares for my Victory Junction Afghan

IMAG0246

IMAG0247

IMAG0248


IMAG0249
 

Friday, August 27, 2010

Safe Journey Barb

 Barb, Angie and Lauren (the other fencing coach) 
at the Fencing Banquet.


On Wednesday, Angie's high school fencing coach and one of her good friend's mom, Barbara Lynch lost her fight with Ovarian cancer.  She WAS Morris Hills fencing and had a huge impact on the rest of the fencing world.   

Please spare aprayer or good thought for Barb, her family (especially Angie's friend Fiona) and all of Angie's former teammates ( many of whom, including Angie, just moved into college and have classes starting Monday, so are feeling bad about not being able to attend the service)

Monday, August 23, 2010

rare



Your Personality is Very Rare (INTP)



Your personality type is goofy, imaginative, relaxed, and brilliant.



Only about 4% of all people have your personality, including 2% of all women and 6% of all men

You are Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Perceiving.


       

Saturday, August 21, 2010

ARCA pics - starring MOI!!

IMAG0244.jpg

The ARCA shirt I got a bunch of drivers to sign for the Angie.

Patrick Sheltra!  Woot!

Dakota Armstrong

Joey Coulter

Nick  Idalsky ( also mngs Pocono Raceway - says hot water in the rest rooms just isn't gonna happen)

Rob Brent - oh my goodness - really nice guy, but smelled sooooo baaaaaddddddd!!!!

Tim George

 James Hylton

 Steve Arpin - says the Mike's Hard Lemonade is "probably " all back at the shop....  hmmmf

Thursday, August 19, 2010



You Have Your Attitude to Smile About




Things may or may not be going well in your life, but you always take time to smile a little.

You know it's important to keep looking up and looking toward the future. Optimism always wins out.



You're the one person always eager to see a silver lining in dark clouds. It's important that you feel hopeful.

No matter whether you're having a good day or bad day, you keep smiling. A smile makes everything better!


      


Thursday Thunks: You give it a title

Welcome to the August 19th edition of Thursday Thunks!

Where we make you think a little bit before you blog!
We pick a subject, and your job is to interpret it anyway you want.
Write about it on your blog... simple as that.
Maybe you can interpret it as a picture - we don't care!

Please only leave a link if you have written a Thursday Thunks post.
Don't forget to go visit the other
participants' blogs.
Read and comment about all their Thursday Thunks responses!
That's what all this is about after all, isn't it?
We'll have so much fun and become lifelong friends....


The TT questions are brought to you by Berleen, the color of lightning bolts and the number 1.

A. If you see a tornado out your window, what do you do?
Watch for flying monkeys?

 
B. A celebrity knocks on your door saying that their tour bus/limo/pedal bike broke down (you pick the transportation)... who is it and what do you do to help them?
It would obviously be Tony Stewart, and I would be a very gracious host.  I'd invite him in and give people a new reason to call him Smoke.  His motor coach might still be broken when I was done, but he wouldn't want to go anywhere anyway!





C. Brett is back on the Vikings - do you really give a crap?
NO!  I was never a Favre fan.  I have even less respect for him now.  I think he just doesn't want to go to training camp.

 
D. What side of the bed do you think Bud sleeps on?
Whichever side his lady doesn't??  Seriously I find it hard to believe that every guy I've been with preferred the same side.. I figure I claimed my side and they were all gentlemen enough to let me have it.



E. Cookie Monster eats vegetables now. Is this ok with you?  
I have a HUGE problem with a muppet buckling under to political correctness peer pressure!  Seriously, I had a toddler, she knew you had to eat veggies, (she pointed out that CM never swallowed his cookies once)  She Knew grouches lived down the street not in garbage cans, she knew it was tv.  ( what she didn't know was that people didn't break out into song and dance throughout their days... so she did)  IT DOES NOT TAKE A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD IT TAKES PARENTS!!!!

 
F. All the TT's get together for coffee... which state do we meet in?
I believe Alaska was mentioned recently...



G. Is the town you live in famous for anything? Infamous for anything?
A Mall? An Army Weapons Development Base?  A high school with an inordinate amount of alumnus as teachers/administrators?

 
H. Coffee flavored bubble gum - would you?
Normally I don't chew gum.... but I might have to make an exception!
  I. So Kimber lost her fight with a granite table.... what did you ever lose a fight with?  Other people's stupidity.

 
J. Have you ever slept beneath the stars?
Astronomical???  Many times. ( Not so good at tent pitching)  High school SPorts?  not saying....


K. School is starting up soon, or has for some, did you get a new pair of tennis shoes every year while you were in school?
Converse All Stars!



 
L. What two flavors do you love that you would never want to taste at the same time?
Ice cream and brussel sprouts!




M. If you could shave a quote into a lions fur, what would it say?
Top of the food chain baby!!
 
N. Did you ever accidentally walk in on your parents doing the nasty? Did you ever purposely walk in on them? NO!!  God NO!!!
Actually, they spent a lot of time on separate continents  so it'd be tough!  I think it was the secret to their marriage!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Sensational Haiku Wednesday

Sensational Haiku Wednesday
Sensational Haiku Wednesday

Welcome to “Sensational Haiku Wednesday!”

Click here for info and background on this weekly event!
The basics:
Haiku is simple! It is 3 non-rhyming lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively (a great way to use your fingers!)

This week’s theme is: FreeStyle – whatever you like

 

Braun's brings my carpet

Playtime in the afternoon.

With sweet Irish eyes.

 

 

Sunday, August 15, 2010

ARCA at NJMSP!!

Just a short post today.  Curt and I went down to NJMSP for the ARCA race.  The sun was only out for maybe 45 minutes, the rest of the time was overcast, but other than a few sprinkles, the rainheld off until after we started the drive home.

I have pictures for tomorrow, but for today I have just a few.

Just wondering since it's a Ford from NC- were they unsure if they could make the trip without an extra motor?

Those of you familiar with ARCA would know that one of the Venturini's sponsors is Mike's Hard Lemonade.  So during the 45 minutes of actual sunny time I went in search of some.  I checked the haulers-

No lemonade in the haulers.  So I figured maybe they brought it to the pits??

 There was no lemonade in the pit stall.  I did however have a nice conversation with one of the pit guys - have his picture somewhere -  he was pretty cool - but denied any knowledge of where the Hard Lemonade was being stashed.  So we all know how stock car racing gots it's start right?  From moonshine runners and smugglers?  So I think I figured out where the Lemonade was but couldn't get ahold of any :(

 

Friday, August 13, 2010



Your Brain is Creative




You have a dreamy mind, full of fancy and fantasy.

You have the ability to stay forever entertained with your thoughts.

People may say you're hard to read, but that's because you're so internally focused.

But when you do share what you're thinking, people are impressed with your imagination.