couple of things

First off, its about 8 or 9 degrees celcius and there is this little corner on my front porch where the wind can't get you. Ummm, sitting having a diet coke - wish you were here (any one (or all) of you!!). Tabitha is off at a band practice and Sabrina is next door playing. LOVE independence. The urge to just sit in that chair indefinitely is overwhelming, but alas, I also felt the need to post and its just to sunny to do it outside. I'd also like to be practicing the piano (yes all my house work is done, and supper is planned, if not made). Shocked??? No we don't have a real piano, just a 4 octave key board my mom gave us. I decided I would like to learn, so went out, bought a beginner book for adults and away I go. Its not all from scratch, I took lessons for a few years, when I was but a wee lass...

Hubby's dad asked us if we want to go to the "family" halloween social in town tonight - so, why not. I'll tell you why not, because finding a costume that Tabitha deams worthy of wearing could nearly tear the family apart!! But we shall go. I went to the dollar store and bought a few accessories, we'll see what everyone comes up with! Why is it that no one likes my idea of being Salt & Pepper - easy, easy - letter S, letter P and dark/light clothing. Works for me!!

Watered all the plants today, boy they seem to like that.

I think I should go sit outside again.

Next Topic??

You'd be amazed at what my warped brain comes up with during the day!!! I think I would make an awesome reality show - or at least my thoughts would - you know the ones I never let out? Its kind of like swearing. I don't do it in front of most people. Cause well, what would they think of me? My mother drilled it into me at the of about 16 (right after she found this very comprehensive list of swears me & my friend had spent a fair amount of time compiling) that if I use those words, people would come to associate those words with me. AWE shucks! I guess that means I'll keep these bothersome thoughts to myself.

Some people swear in a way that truly offends me. Others do it in a way that makes me laugh till my poor body can scarcely stand it! I mean really, I've had two kids - there are at least 3 things that can make me very nearly pee my pants - LAUGHING, SNEEZING, and JUMPING ON A TRAMPOLINE. For others swears are a part of their everyday language and I don't even notice it.

I have a funny story about swearing, well more than one. But right now I have to go shower. Its time to start the day!

Random Thoughts on my Friend the Scale

I get up at 5:10 in the morning to exercise - what possesses me to do that???
I weigh myself almost everyday - CAN YOU SAY OBSESSED (and no I don't want to hear that isn't healthy - I could be addicted to much worse things).
Why couldn't I be happy at 183lbs? Do the math - I've lost 30lbs (give or take, depending on what time of the month it is).
I'll tell you why, because if I was still 183lbs, I wouldn't be 183lbs, I'd be more.

(((AND I have to add here (because you have to know that 153 is a good thing). I'm almost 5'9" and big framed - so 153 is VERY exciting.))) another aside - do you know what a big deal it is for me to actually admit the number on the scale????

I have been 153 since about mid July - when I stopped counting WW points. It really worked for me. Someone asked me recently what would make the difference keeping it off this time - because I pay attention to what I put in my mouth! Though who can tell today - why the &*#$& did I bake chocolate chip cookies yesterday (and eat SEVERAL of them)? Because somehow I didn't over indulge the rest of the weekend - so - don't I deserve it?? Oh yes I do! Just THE oldest con in the book. I don't deserve this sick feeling in my stomach do I? WHY does the message that I'm full take so long to get to my brain!!!!!

You know between Thanks Giving, the stress fracture in my foot (which equated to almost no exercise for going on EIGHT weeks) and just generally a lax attitude the lbs started to creep - I put on 3lbs. yes, count them 1 - 2 - 3. BIG DEAL you say? Exactly! It is a big deal, because if I allow the 3, then what's 3 more ETC. So with only a little bit of work and more careful eating (which really isn't too different from the norm for me now). I dropped them again.

And THAT, ladies & gentlemen, is why I weigh myself (almost) everyday.

I like to think that one day my body (& brain) will get used to this shape & size and the obsession will lessen, as long as the lesson isn't lost.

I forgot my pillow

Well if that's the worst thing that happened (and it was) then I had a really great time. Can you believe the Americans let us in and the Canadian let us come back! What a hoot. Oh yeah, we were REAL crazy. After some spontaneous "WAHOOS" and much laughter the town welcomed us with open arms. Jay and I spent a mere 36 hours together and could not stop talking. Something about the lack of pressure, no kids, supper to make, NO RESPONSIBILITIES. No agenda either - except shop, talk, and relax. Who knew getting away for such a short time could feel like such a great holiday.

Another real bonus to the trip was enough time to take in a movie. We went to see Little Miss Sunshine - I have not laughed so hard in ages. It will be a classic - mark my words. Right up there with Napolean Dynomite!! Really need to do this more often. Oh yeah, we will!

in a very good mood

Love reading comments... hmmm wonder whatever happened to BTB - dating mut be a full time job!! Nice sitting around the fire with him Monday night...

Ok - tomorrow JAY & ME are hitting the highway, I mean I should be packing RIGHT NOW. But the kids are watching survivor on my bed! So I'll pack in a bit. I'll be picking her up at like - 8AM!! Cannot wait! Driving 4 hours south - anybody want guess how many pee breaks we'll need? Do you think we'll sing show tunes - absolultely! Solve the problems of the world (at least 1/2)? Make it across the border??? Of course! Who could resist us!! I swear just doing something that doesn't involve the men or kids is something we have NEVER done. I mean the one time we tried to go out dancing we ended up calling the boys to fix a flat tire - where there was almost an incident of road rage when a bar patron couldn't get out of the parking lot due to all our vehicles blocking it - OOPS. Some people are SO grumpy! As of 8am its all about us for at least 30 hours! Maybe more! What rebels we are. Am I Thelma or Louise? Really - which one???? Or can I just be Nikita??

Wait - maybe I'll just be me - if I can remember who that is! What will it be like to go to sleep without tucking anyone in?? I do believe sometimes it is important to find the person that is just me - not mom, not wife - just me. YIPPEE!!!!!

Happy Thanks Giving!

Even these rather "brisk" temperatures can't get me down, though the sudden change is a little crazy!! I love being outside and this weekend is no exception. Lunch at LDB on Saturday, supper with my family yesterday and one more turkey to go today at the mother in-laws. Nice things is all the mom's make different side dishes so its enjoyable everytime!

I'm going to try and do some fall clean up in my garden this morning. I've got a rose bush that we transplanted to our yard - I've never had a rose bush before. We'll see if it comes back next year!! I've been looking up fall clean up tips on the net. People seem to do an AWFUL lot of work in their gardens. Me - I'm going to wing it. We'll see what happens!! These hard prairie plants are used to me by now LOL. Wish me luck... Oh - check out these "mutant" (as Sabrina likes to call them) plants. I've never seen a sunflower that tall before!!

oh SO GOOD

Ok, I tried a new recipe. SPICED RUM CAKE - you have got to try this recipe. I mean it pretty much yells out Thanksgiving desert!! Its not quite from scratch cause you need a package spice cake, but after that its all about the ingredients. Have you ever tried finding pumkin spice in a grocery store? Have you tried finding "Spice Cake" at supervalu? Ok, so Safeway had the cake and I had to go to the local bulk spice store (scoop) to get the pumkin spice - then I was ready.

Last night I baked the cake - and really who needs to bake it. The batter was, how do you say.... GREAT - I mean I should know, I had to test it afterall. I did have a moment of panic when I tried to get it out of the flute pan after baking and left 1/4 in the pan - oops. Needed a little more grease & flour I guess. Tonight I made the glaze (double that recipe big time!!). The glaze is to die for. I mean you don't really need the cake with the glaze, I can think of lots of options - dip fruit, marshmellows, chocolate - anything you have handy - all else fails take a spoon and just eat it straight from the bowl - oh yeah!!

So I says to DH when I'm serving it - there's more sauce if you want. What does he say when he's done? "pretty good, could have used more sauce though" WHATEVER There's that paying attention speech...

So here is the recipe - DO TRY IT and let me know what you think! Next time I make it Tabitha suggested making it in cupcake form (sounds like muffin to me - must be breakfast). I'd also add a little more of the pumkin spice - give it that KICK.

Ingredients
1 package 2-layer-size spice cake mix
1 cup milk
1/3 cup cooking oil
1/4 cup dairy sour cream
1/4 cup rum
4 eggs
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 recipe Rum Glaze (see recipe below)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Grease and lightly flour a 10-inch fluted tube pan; set aside. In a large mixing bowl combine cake mix, milk, cooking oil, sour cream, rum, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until just moistened. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Pour batter into prepared pan.
2. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove cake from pan and cool completely on wire rack. Spoon Rum Glaze over cake. Makes 12 servings.
Rum Glaze: In a small bowl combine 1 cup sifted powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon melted butter, and 1 tablespoon rum. Stir in additional water (1 to 2 teaspoons), one teaspoon at a time, until glaze is a thin consistency.

That Thing

Do you ever get that feeling - you know the one in the pit of your stomach. Like you're going to puke?

Just reading the news lately gives me that feeling. All those school shootings. There is no rhyme or reason. It is a scary thing. Today Sabrina tells me they are having "lockdown practice" at school tomorrow. My boss's kids school is going to security guards at the one entrance that will be open. Best be prepared for the worst I suppose. Last spring we watched a night soap where there was a highschool shooting - Tabitha was overwhelmed "mom, I'm going to highschool, could it happen there?". I guess its not just highschool, it can be any school or workplace, any time. I didn't lie, I said the liklihood was small of it happening, but stuff does happen. Lockdown practice **sigh**, its like the first time we had a fire drill in our high rise office tower after 9/11. It just gives you a bad feeling.

God help us all make the most of everyday, love the ones we're with and not to sweat the small stuff. Life is too short.