Hikers Are We

This morning we headed about 25 miles south to hike at Wildcat Mountain. Thankfully we didn't see any wildcats!

We chose the 2.9 mile loop (there is a 5.6 mile loop too), and the first half-mile was a pretty tough uphill section. No scrambling or rock climbing, just up up up at a pretty steep angle. We saw a few deer and squirrels on the way. We'd packed a picnic lunch, and stopped at Bull Run Park for lunch. Rob proposed at this same park during a picnic three years ago last week!

We just enjoyed some Ledo's pizza and are watching the Maryland football game. Go Terps!

A Find

Last year, I really wanted this green wool coat from Banana Republic. I looked at it... tried it on... and walked away several times. It was just too much money to spend on a trendy coat. Toward the end of the season, I visited the store again to see if I could pick it up on clearance, but no luck.

Today on my flex day, I decided to head to the outlets in Leesburg. I finally made my way down to the Banana Republic outlet and was sorting through racks of all sorts of clearance, and guess what I found? The green coat! I nearly fell over. I grabbed it quick! Exact same coat, only $100+ less. I wonder how it got there and stuck around from last year?! I was thrilled!

Oh - and I got my haircut this morning. It's pretty short, and I like it. I'd actually envisioned it a little shorter, but the fantastic gal who cuts my hair suggested baby steps. :)

Hope you have a great weekend!

Random

I heard from the doctor yesterday that my insurance decided to cover my prescription. Hooray! I headed over to Target and they refunded my $283. Oy. The good news is that my shingles are much better - and now just itchy!

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Tomorrow is my flex day off! I'm getting a new 'do and pedicure, then heading to the outlets. In the evening, I'm going to a Tastefully Simple party. It should be a good day.

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Rob fried up some leftover corn tortillas tonight, and we had chicken tacos. Delicious!

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I am watching the debate. I am ready for Sarah Palin to answer a question. She hasn't so far - just prepared statement after statement that she just blurts out, mostly rambling. I don't get it. It's embarrassing and dangerous for our country. I'm not saying Obama/Biden is perfect, but I'll take experience over charm any day.

Note: I know many of you support McCain/Palin, so please don't think I'm judging your selection. It's just not for me.

The Importance of October

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Awareness of, prevention of and a cure for breast cancer is near and dear to my heart. In 1999, my Mom was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. She was told she had less than a 50% chance of being here in five years. Thanks to the best care possible at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institute of Health and an amazing attitude, she's here and better than ever.

However, not every woman has access to the best care, or great doctors who work miracles, or even the knowledge to do what she can do to protect herself. Since 1991, I've made it my mission to support breast cancer research and Foundation programs that contribute to finding a cure. I know it's impacted many of your lives too, and I hope you'll join me in supporting great organizations that benefit survivors, victims and women everywhere.

Here are a few bits of information...

• There are 182,460 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in women in the United States each year (and 1,990 in men). Of these an estimated 40,480 women and 450 men will die from the disease.
• With the exception of skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, no matter your race or ethnicity. It is the most common cause of death from cancer among Hispanic women, and the second most common cause of death from cancer among white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaska Native women.
• It's never too late to adopt healthy behaviors that can reduce your risk... be physically active, maintain a healthy weight, cut down on “bad” fats (saturated and trans fats) and consume more “good” fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, like olive and canola oil), take a daily multivitamin with folic acid.
• Do your research and know your stuff about early detection, diagnosis and treatment.
  

Breast cancer doesn't discriminate against age, either -- it's not reserved for older women. You've seen Christina Applegate's story recently (which could potentially change the face of breast cancer). Statistics show that there are more than 250,000 women age 40 and less in the U.S. living with breast cancer, and more than 11,100 young women will be diagnosed in the next year.

Getting tested regularly is the best way to lower their risk of dying from breast cancer. Screening tests can find breast cancer early, when it’s most treatable. If you are a woman with a family history, start testing no later than age 35.

Be your own advocate. Support groups that search for a cure. Hug your mom.

Recipe Sharing: Zucchini Bread

This is my all-time favorite recipe for zucchini bread. I got it a few years ago from a co-worker, and it's excellent. I don't know if it's the addition of the crushed pineapple, but it has a sweet and savory taste. Enjoy!

Zucchini Bread

Ingredients
3 c. all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
3/4 c. finely chopped walnuts or pecans
3 eggs
2 c. sugar
1 c. vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. coarsely shredded zucchini
1 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained

Directions
Combine flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and nuts. Set aside. Beat eggs lightly in large mixing bowl. Add sugar, oil and vanilla. Beat until creamy. Stir in zucchini and pineapple. Add dry ingredients and stir until moistened. Spoon batter into two greased and floured 9x5x3 loaf pans. Bake at 350 for one hour or until done. Cool on rack for 10 minutes. Turn out on rack and cool completely.

Hail to the Redskins!

It's Sunday night and we are watching the end of the Redskins vs. Cowboys game. Can't believe the 'Skins pulled out a victory!

Today has been pretty easy. We headed to the market before church to pick up what we need for the week (although we forgot two important items - oh, well), then headed to church. Our minister has been doing a series on Christian families, and we've enjoyed it.

After church, I headed out for a walk, and then started on five loads of laundry. Now it's all finished and put away. I also managed about an hour nap on our comfy couch! :)

We intended on grilling some bbq chicken and pork for later this week, but as Rob headed outside, he realized we were out of gas! So we improvised and used our inside grill pan. Turned out great!

Now we're getting ready to watch The Amazing Race (I think Rob and I should try to get on there and race!) and spend the rest of the evening relaxing. I'm thankful for a nice weekend, and hope you had one too!

Good Day

It's been a good day. I slept in and got some rest, then Rob and I walked over to Panera Bread (about 1.5 miles from our house) and enjoyed a quiet breakfast. I enjoyed the exercise and time with Rob. I spent the rest of the day running a few easy errands and watching some of the shows I'd DVRed this week.

Tonight, we decided to head to Reston Town Center and check out the new restaurant by the folks who brought us Sweetwater Tavern and Coastal Flats. The menu has some of the same goodies as their other restaurants, but some new choices too. I had the steak frites (grilled flank steak and delish fries, plus a salad), and Rob had the mahi mahi with three pepper polenta. Both were great and the place was hoppin'.

After dinner, we walked around RTC, checked out Williams Sonoma (my fave) and split a strawberry/chocolate swirl at Pinkberry. Mmmmmmmm.

Tonight's dinner and time spent with Rob definitely helped me move toward unwinding and stressing less. Tomorrow, let's hope for more of the same!

(P.S. - Bonus good news today? 30% off everything at Banana Republic for their anniversary sale. Go!)

Stress City

Welcome to Stress City! Mayor, me!

I'm stressed to the max - work is crazy (big conference in a few weeks), too many meetings of our HOA Board (I volunteered why?) and family stuff is a roller coaster (grandfather with Alzheimer's at the tip of that iceberg).

That means I work late, run home, scarf dinner and either head to a meeting or log back on the computer to do more work. I can't relax and I'm being a grouch to the one person who's been the nicest to me. Rob deserves a big shout out for keeping me around. :)

So, besides sleepless nights and a constant headache, what else has this nutso stress benefited me with? Shingles.

Yes, that's right. I have shingles. I thought only old people got shingles.

I noticed the breakout Monday morning while I was showering, and figured that I'd been repeatedly bitten by some creepy-crawly during our last lake weekend. But, it didn't itch and continued to get redder and more uncomfortable.

So yesterday, I went to the doctor to have it checked out, and I nearly fell off the little table when she pronounced that it was shingles. "Get out!" is what I'm pretty sure I hollered. You may know that it's the same virus that causes chicken pox, and it remains dormant in the body forever. Guess what's a main trigger? Severe emotional stress. Go figure.

I headed to Target after work with my prescription, only for the pharmacist to tell me my insurance won't cover it. Whatever. So, $250 later I left the pharmacy and have since followed up with my doc to have her convince the insurance company that I need this instead of the generic. I don't know how the uninsured do it. And, this is an issue I'll be looking in to as I'm researching our two options in November.

I need the weekend. I need to sleep and stay off of the computer and be nice to my husband. I'm ready... and only two hours until it begins.

Want some Fiber One Goodies?

I'm not usually one to pass these along, but since I'm a big fan of Fiber One products, I thought I would!

Free! Fiber One Samples and Coupons
Want some free Fiber One cereal and a Fiber One bar? Eat Better America is giving them away! Go here to sign up to get a few samples and a coupon booklet for $3 off Fiber One products.

My favorite is the new Oats and Strawberries bar. Mmmmm... enjoy!

Recipe Sharing: Praline French Toast Casserole

This is a great breakfast recipe! It's another great "make-the-night-before" dish that's perfect when company visits. Probably not waistline-friendly, so enjoy with caution! :)

Praline French Toast Casserole
Serves 8

Ingredients
8 eggs
1-1/2 cups half and half
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
10 to 12 slices soft bread, 1 inch thick

Topping:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2/3 cup maple syrup
2 cups chopped pecans

Directions
Generously butter a 13 x 9 inch casserole dish. Mix the eggs, half and half, maple syrup, and sugar in a large bowl. Place the bread slices in the prepared casserole dish and cover with the egg mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and let soak overnight in the refrigerator.

Preheat the oven to 350º degrees F.

Make the topping: Melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the sugar and maple syrup and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the pecans. Pour the mixture over the bread and bake for 45 to 55 minutes. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Last Lake Weekend

This was our last weekend at the lake! We packed up our room this morning before heading home. It's been a great summer of lots of lake time. Let fall begin!

I was in Chicago last week for a work meeting, and we took in a Cubs game on Wednesday. Lots of fun! I don't know much about baseball, but it was an experience.

Not much to write... lots going on, just not much to say about it.

Another Weekend Down

This weekend has been easy and relaxing. We haven't done much, which is a nice change.

Last night we had dinner at Eat Bar, the casual, "gastro pub" part of Tallulah in Arlington. Rob had been there before with a buddy, and I'd been wanting to go since Washingtonian magazine said they had one of the best burgers around.

The decor is cool - old lights from a church, cozy booths, chalkboards above the bar with specials and drinks. And the food was good too. The only really weird thing is the service and how they bring out the food. Basically, there's no rhyme or reason to it... my salad and onion rings came out together, my burger a few minutes later, and Rob's meal showed up 10 minutes after that. The waitress told us "as the food is ready, it comes out," but we thought our main meals would at least come together! Really not a big deal, since we'd already planned to split the burger and share Rob's hanger steak, but just a little odd. The onion rings were excellent!

We ended up running our errands on the way home from dinner, getting groceries for the week and picking up some stuff at Target. That meant that today, we only had church and time at home. I love lazy Sundays filled with Redskins football ... and the SNL premiere we Tevoed and are watching right now. Phelps didn't do too bad, and Tina Fey is always a hoot.

Hope you are having a great week!

Happy Birthday, Pop-pop

Today, my Pop-pop is 93. He's lived a great life and has always been special to me. I have millions of memories of our time together... from visiting his office when I was little and sitting in his big chair, to riding on the cart at the golf course, to him showing up at Girl Scout camp with my Mom to pick me up one summer... in his coat and tie. I can still picture it.

Pop-pop has Alzheimer's now and life isn't so easy, but he does okay. My grandmother is a saint to take such good care of him. We all know it isn't simple.

So, join with me in wishing him a wonderful day.

The Pledge of Allegiance

I heard this on the radio yesterday and thought it was great for September 11, so I'm sharing it with you.

When the popular American comedian Red Skelton was a young man, he learned the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance from one of his teachers. The lesson became so meaningful he remembered the explanation of his teacher, Mr. Laswell, throughout his lifetime. In 1969 (when there were only 48 states), Red Skelton made a recording of an explanation of the Pledge Of Allegiance. It goes like this:

I: Me; an individual; a committee of one.

Pledge: Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity.

Allegiance: My love and my devotion.

To the Flag: Our standard; Old Glory ; a symbol of Freedom; wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.

United: That means that we have all come together.

States: Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that is love for country.

And to the Republic: Republic--a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.

For which it stands,One Nation: One Nation--meaning, so blessed by God.

Indivisible: Incapable of being divided.

With Liberty: Which is Freedom; the right of power to live one's own life, without threats, fear, or some sort of retaliation.

And Justice: The principle, or qualities, of dealing fairly with others.

For All: For All--which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

It's amazing the meaning you can derive when you think about the depth of the words, huh? You can read more about it here and here, and listen to it here.

It's Been a Long Week

I can't believe it's only Wednesday! This week has definitely seemed longer than normal. How long until the weekend?!?

Not much to report... life just keeps moving on! We had been thinking about going to the lake this weekend, but we enjoyed last weekend at home that we might just do that again. Hopefully we'll enjoy a nice dinner together at Eat Bar in Arlington. Rob went there with a friend recently and has been promising to take me!

I am excited that fall is staring to make an impression here and there. It's cool outside today. Fall is my favorite season, so I'm in a hurry for it to get here and stay as long as possible before winter takes over.

My big news today is that I bought two pair of pants on clearance at the Gap during lunch - $14 each. Can't beat it. Kind of sad that it's my big news of the day. :)

Recipe Sharing: Breakfast Casserole

Many friends have asked for this recipe, so I'm sharing it here! I'm planning to make it tonight for a staff breakfast tomorrow, so I thought it was a good time to finally drag it out and type it up.

I like this recipe when we have house guests or during the holidays because it can be fixed in advance, refrigerated overnight and ready to pop in the oven the next day. For a work breakfast, it serves a lot of people, especially when paired with fruit or bagels. It's a basic variation on many similar recipes that are out there, so it's nothing unique. Just delicious!


Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients
1 lb of pork sausage
4 1/2 cups bread, cubed
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
1 bunch of scallions, chopped
10 eggs, slightly beaten
4 cups milk (recipe calls for whole milk, but I always use 2%)
1 tsp dry mustard or 1 squirt of yellow mustard
salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
1/4 tsp onion powder
Optional ingredients: sliced mushrooms and diced tomatoes

Directions
Chop and brown bulk sausage until cooked. Drain to remove fat, and crumble more if needed.

Spray 9x13 baking dish with PAM, and put cubed bread in the bottom. Sprinkle with some of the shredded cheddar.

Mix together the slightly beaten eggs with the milk, green onion, mustard, onion powder, salt and pepper. Pour evenly over the bread and cheese. Sprinkle sausage, remaining cheese and optional ingredients on top of the egg mixture.

Cover and refrigerate overnight. (If you don't do this in advance, let it sit at least 15 minutes before baking.) Preheat oven to 325 and bake uncovered for 50-60 minutes. Tent with foil if top begins to brown too quickly.

Home for the Weekend

This has been a relaxing weekend! It's the first one that we've actually been home in a month, so that makes it especially nice. Plus, I had the bonus flex day on Friday so it's been like a three-day weekend for me.

Friday was a great day for running errands and getting the house ready for our guests Friday evening. Tortilla soup, a Mexican salad and homemade guacamole were on the menu. Mmmmmm. We played spades and talked and had a great time.

The rain from Hurricane Hannah started last night and continued through this evening. It finally tapered off around 6 p.m., and Rob ventured out to pick us up some dinner. He's been wanting to try the McDonald's southern chicken sammy for weeks, but I've been resisting out of my loyalty to Chick-Fil-A. A BOGO coupon came yesterday in the mail, so I caved. Verdict? Not as good as CFA, but okay.

Now we are watching some more college football (what's wrong with WVU?) and just hanging out. I managed to do five loads of laundry today-whew.

Oh, and I'm writing this blog on my new laptop! Since I've been doing a lot of work from home, we decided to get a laptop that I can load up with graphics programs and other work-related loot. Plus, Rob and I can surf the Web in the same room (as we are doing now). Bonus- it's green!

Tomorrow is church and the market and a nap! Hope you have a great weekend -

Mmmmm..... Edible Computers

Love, love, love this commercial that aired tonight during the Redskins vs. Giants game.



The only thing better than a football game is a football game with funny commercials. Kind of like the Super Bowl, only five months earlier!

A Case of the Blahs

I'm not sure why, but this week I've just felt pretty crummy. Maybe work is stressing me out, or maybe it's something else, but I haven't felt myself and I don't like it. I can't blame it purely on exhaustion since we did just come off of a three-day weekend!

Luckily, I have tomorrow off too, since it's my first flex day. Hopefully I'll enjoy the day at home, making chicken tortilla soup and getting ready to have some friends over Friday evening. The weather-nuts are going crazy with expectation that we might get heavy rains from one of the incoming hurricanes. I ain't skeered.

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Has anyone else been watching the convention this week? I watched Sarah Palin last night, and I'm still not sure what to think. She's a captivating speaker for sure, and seems fun and approachable on some levels. But I'm not convinced she's presidential material, and unfortunately, she only has about 60 days to prove that she really is.

Recipe Sharing: Italian Mac-n-Cheese

I'm not sure where this recipe came from (maybe Rachel Ray?), but it's delicious. Enjoy!

Italian Mac-n-Cheese
Yield: 4-6 servings

Ingredients
1 pound ziti rigate, penne rigate or cavatappi
1 pound Italian bulk sweet sausage
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
3 or 4 cloves garlic, chopped
12 crimini mushrooms, sliced
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup heavy cream
1 (10-ounce) sack (2 1/2 cups) shredded Italian 4 cheese blend
1 can diced tomatoes, drained well
1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
1/2 cup Parmesan

Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt water and cook pasta to al dente, about 8 minutes.

In a nonstick skillet, brown and crumble the sausage. Drain cooked crumbles on paper towel lined plate. Return pan to heat and add extra-virgin olive oil, butter, garlic and mushrooms. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Saute 3 to 5 minutes, until mushrooms are lightly golden.

Preheat broiler to high.

To mushrooms, add flour and stir, cooking 2 minutes. Whisk in stock, then stir in cream. Bring cream to a bubble, then stir in 2 cups of 4 cheese blend. When cheese has melted into sauce, add tomatoes. When sauce comes to a bubble, remove from heat and adjust seasonings, adding hot sauce if desired.

Combine cheese sauce with sausage and pasta, transfer to baking dish, casserole or oven safe serving platter. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of 4 cheese blend and the grated Parmesan over the top and brown under hot broiler.

Is Summer Really Over?

Can't believe Labor Day is behind us and we are heading full-force into fall. Summer went too fast!

We headed up to the lake (of course) for the long weekend, since we know our days there are numbered for this year. Hopefully we'll sneak in one last visit before it gets too cold and the docks and boats are all pulled out of the water. We spent Friday night with my parents and had a great meal at Giuseppe's, a local favorite.

For the rest of the weekend, we just hung out, ate too much good food and relaxed. I managed to have a couple of nice naps that I thoroughly enjoyed! We headed out yesterday and stopped to visit my grandparents on the way back. That leads to a blog post all unto its own, but I would ask that you keep my sweet grandfather in your thoughts. Alzheimer's stinks.

So now we are back to work. Lucky for me, this is a three day work week! We had Monday off, and Friday is my first "flex work" reward day. I'm planning to spend it cleaning the house and making dinner for a Spades card tourney we are hosting this weekend.

Hope you have a great week!

A Long Night...

Last night was one of those evenings that just wasn't long enough to get everything done, but yet seemed like it dragged on forever. Have you ever had one of those?

I went to a going-away-lunch for a co-worker, so was completely full and thought I'd just make Rob something easy for dinner before starting in on the tasks I had on the list in my head (am I the only one who makes lists in her head?!). Those included:

1. Make spinach dip for Thursday's work potluck
2. Make peanut butter torte for Thursday's work potluck (my mom taught me to always bring two things to a potluck, because there is invariably someone there who brings nothing and eats a lot!)
3. Walk - preferably outside, but likely on the treadmill
4. Feed the hungry husband with the (easy) dinner of his choice
5. Wash, dry, fold and put away a load of whites and the load of jeans

That seemed like an already busy night, especially since I've just switched to the "flex work" schedule at work and am getting home an hour later each night (the bonus is that I get every other Friday off).

So as I'm driving home, I called Rob to complain about my busy night ahead and ask him to throw in the load of white clothes. "No problem," he replies. "But we also need to go jump my car. I left my lights on today and my battery died, so I just walked home." Ugh, I say. Add it to the list. Oh- and make your own dinner. :)

That he did, and I made the spinach dip while he ate and the clothes washed. Then we loaded up our portable car jumper/light/battery charger my parents got us and headed the 1.5 miles to Rob's office. Luckily, the car jumped easy and we headed home. I tossed the dip in the oven to cook and spent 30 minutes on the treadmill. I also managed that second load of laundry.

Next up, peanut butter torte. I'd never made this before, but had a sample of it when my mom made it for a church potluck. Delicious! I'll share that recipe soon. It's not difficult at all and looks great. Let's just hope it comes out of the springform pan okay.

After the laundry and car charging and dip making and walking and torte making, I was whipped. At about 10:30 p.m., I headed up to bed and watched Joe Biden's speech at the Democratic Convention in Denver. I had no clue on his back story - it's tragic and you can read about it here.

So, that was my busy night. Needless to say, I'm ready for the weekend!

Recipe Sharing: Coconut Kisses

My good friend shared this recipe with me, and it's delicious. The only trick is getting them off of the cookie sheet. I haven't tried them yet with one of those silpat mats, but next time I will. Enjoy!

Coconut Kisses
Yield:24-ish cookies

Ingredients
1 c. brown sugar
2 stiffly beaten egg whites
2 c. corn flakes
1 c. moist shredded coconut
½ c. chopped California walnuts
½ tsp. vanilla

Directions
Beat sugar into egg whites. Fold in corn flakes, coconut and walnuts. Add vanilla. Drop by teaspoons onto well-greased cookie sheet. Bake in 350 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Place pans on damp towel, remove cookies immediately with spatula. If cookies stick, return to oven to soften.

I Need a Good Book

Any recommendations? I read "Same Kind of Different as Me" last weekend and absolutely loved it. I have a couple of reads in my stack, but nothing is calling out to me.

Read anything lately that you'd recommend?

Recipe Sharing: Potato Gratin with Asiago and Bacon

This is an absolutely new favorite recipe! It's an awesome side dish for grilled steaks. I made it a few weeks ago when we had a small dinner party, and it was a hit. Plus, it looks (and tastes!) way more impressive than the true effort, which is always a plus. Hope you enjoy!

Potato Gratin with Asiago and Bacon
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds peeled Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 teaspoon salt, divided
Cooking spray
2 tablespoons minced shallots
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups 1% low-fat milk, divided
3/4 cup (3 ounces) grated Asiago cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. Place potatoes in a large saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes or until potatoes are almost tender. Drain. Sprinkle potatoes evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt; set aside and keep warm.
3. Heat a medium saucepan coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add shallots; cook 2 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Sprinkle flour over shallots. Gradually add 1/2 cup milk, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Gradually add remaining 1 1/2 cups milk, stirring with a whisk. Cook over medium heat 9 minutes or until thick, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in 3/4 teaspoon salt, Asiago, chives, pepper, and bacon.
4. Arrange half of potato slices in an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Pour half of cheese sauce over potato slices. Top with remaining potato slices and cheese sauce; sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned. (I put it under the broiler for about 2 minutes, just to crisp the cheese on top.)

Social Media

Despite your politics, you have to admit that this presidential campaign has taken advantage of social media more than ever. Maybe it's because online networks have exploded during the last couple of years, or politicians are realizing that Gen Y spends more time online - for leisure or work - than watching TV.

Forrester Research says that 72 percent of Gen Y mobile phone owners send or receive text messages, and 42 percent of online Gen Yers watch internet video at least monthly.

In case you haven't heard, Obama is expected to announce his running mate any minute now. And, instead of telling it to Brain Williams or Matt Lauer, he's going to the people first and sending it out via text message. You can be one of "The First to Know" by signing up here. I signed up out of curiosity, just to see how he did it. Of course this means I'll be getting Obama e-mails for the rest of my natural life. :)

John McCain is using online tools too - his online ads are effective and attention-grabbing, and his Web site is full of opportunities to engage.

For me (maybe I'm just a communications nerd), it will be really interesting to see how these two candidates rally and motivate the online world to support them through November and beyond.

Another Weekend Down

It's Sunday evening, I'm still blissful about Michael Phelps and we are home and relaxing. The only bad news is that we have to go back to work tomorrow!

We headed up to the lake early Friday afternoon. It was cool, but nice. There is some strange seaweed-thing going on in the lake - something about not having enough rain this year. Whatever it is, it's gross. I don't care to swim in seaweed!

Rob's sister and her husband came down on Saturday, and we just hung out. Matt brought the beach family photos, and they are great!


Saturday evening, we went to a wedding reception for my best girlfriend Tessa's brother and his new wife. They were married in Virginia a few weeks ago, when Rob and I traveled to babysit. It was a really nice dinner and we enjoyed catching up with old friends, including three of my teachers from elementary and high school - so fun to see them! I added a few photos from the night on the right.

We stayed Saturday night with my parents and headed home today. Waiting on our front porch and mailbox were my Longaberger order and Rob's new Xbox game. We were both happy!

Hope everyone has a good week!

Eat My Words

Believe it or not, my treadmill is fixed. The oh-so-friendly repairman called to tell me he was here--not that he would be here in 30 minutes, as promised. To boot, he yelled it me like it was my fault he didn't call! Regardless, I hopped out of work, came home (Rob came too, given the gracious history we have with this company), let him in and he did his thing.

He wasn't pleased that as soon as he turned the treadmill on, AJ the cat hopped up to walk. He yelled, "Down cat!" and pushed her with his foot. Easy, repairman. I picked her up and put her in the bedroom downstairs. Probably should have done that as soon as I got home, but honestly, what can a cat do to him?

I'm glad it's fixed and am off to walk on it now -- hope I don't see any error codes!

Dinner Out at RWDC

It's Restaurant Week in D.C., which basically means that a bunch of great places have a special menu, with three courses for $35.08 per person. We usually try to go some place that we likely wouldn't normally go, and some place where a three-course dinner would be way higher than 35 bucks. Last time, we went to 1789.

Tonight we went to Oya, based on a recommendation by a co-worker. It was very interesting decor - one wall of chain link; a long fireplace built and flaming along one wall; another wall of silk roses, with a waterfall in the middle. Tres chic.

We met our friends J&N, after we finally found a parking spot on the street and Rob paid the bum manning our corner $2 to "watch the car", or as Rob puts it, "not vandalize the car." We were in a good part of D.C. and wouldn't expect that to happen, but as Rob was examining the parking meter while I parked, the bum started talking to him and, of course, asked for cash. Good thing my hubby had a generous moment!

Anywho, the food was pretty good. For my courses, I had the (appetizer) goat cheese timbale with caramelized apples, Asian greens and walnut vinaigrette; (main course) scallops with pad thai noodles, hen-of-woods mushrooms and truffle jus; and an awesome dessert called "Chocolate, Chocolate and Chocolate" -- chocolate mousse, hazelnut biscuit and strawberries. Mmmmm. Rob's calamari appetizer looked awesome, as did his filet. We picked the same dessert!

I know lots of cities do Restaurant Weeks - Boston, NYC, Baltimore, Philly, San Diego, Denver, etc. If your city does it, take advantage and treat yourself to a great night on the town.

Catching Up

I headed up the the 'burg on Sunday afternoon (with a side stop at the outlets-don't tell Rob) to spend some time with my parents and see a few girlfriends who I've been trying to catch up with all summer. I even snuck in a great visit with my grandparents, which was great.

Sunday night, I had a nice evening hanging out with my parents and enjoying a great dinner of steamed shrimp. Yum. My mom and I stayed up gabbing and watching the Olympics until the wee hours of the morning. That men's 4x4 relay was so exciting!

Monday morning, we met one of my good girlfriends and her mom for an early breakfast, so we spent 1 1/2 hours talking and chatting. After a trip up to the mall and accomplishing a few other errands, we went to lunch at my best girlfriend's parents' house (my friend and her daughter are up from Texas visiting her folks). What an amazing lunch! My friend's mom is an excellent cook - we had a delicious quiche Lorraine, a beautiful fruit salad and yummy banana bread. Mmmm mmm mmm. We really loved talking with both of them and appreciate the hospitality!

Rob held down the fort here, and back to work for me today. So glad I was able to head up there for a visit!

**************

I am loving these 80-degree temperatures in August. What's happening in DC to deserve this? I won't complain. It's been great to walk outside in the evenings.

On a good note, my broken treadmill is scheduled to be fixed on Thursday. Given the level of service I've already had from the repair company, I'm not holding my breath.

**************

We have been staying up way too late watching the Olympics. Hope we make it through the week with short nights of rest. I'm doing my best to avoid any Web sites during the day that could spoil the results that night, although I think it's great that the major events are happening in the morning in China, so they are actually prime time here. Smart thinking!

Home for the Weekend

We are spending this weekend at home, which is unusual for the summer. Usually we are at the lake or hitting the road to somewhere. To be truthful, I'm really looking forward just laying low.

Tonight we're meeting a big group of friends (mostly Rob's former co-workers and their spouses) for dinner at Gordon Biersh. The gal who made the reservation asked for a table where we could see the TVs, so hopefully we'll catch some of the Olympic opening ceremonies. I can't wait!

I imagine the rest of the weekend we'll soak in some Olympics, maybe grill out dinner Saturday and catch up on our zzzzzzzs. I'd almost convinced myself that today was Saturday when my alarm beeped at 6 a.m. Ack.

Hope you have a great weekend!

My Life, According to Google

I saw this on a college friend's blog and decided to give it a whirl.

Here's how it works: Type in the following and choose the first choice that appears on the list (that goes along with the question).

1. Type in "[your name] needs" in Google search
Kathryn needs pieces of cheese.
I just had some cheese and chicken fajitas for dinner, so I don't need any more cheese today!

2. Type in "[your name] looks like"
Kathryn looks like the little mermaid when she sleeps.
Ha ha - I seriously doubt that!

3. Type in "[your name] likes"
Kathryn likes to bop to music.
True...I bop down the road on my way to and fro' work.

4. "[your name] says"
Kathryn says good-bye for the first time.
Um, I'm not sure what this means. I say goodbye a lot!

5. "[your name] wants"
Kathryn wants the camera by Yanov.
What on earth is Yanov?

6. "[your name] does"
Kathryn does Rwanda!
No clue what this means, but it's not as bad as I worried it would be. :)

7. "[your name] hates"
Kathryn hates waking up so early.
So true! I'm used to getting up at 6 a.m. now, but despise it any earlier.

8. "[your name] can"
Kathryn can help!
Kathryn can help - I'd do anything for my friends.

9. "[your name] goes"
Kathryn goes to a Receivers Anonymous Meeting.
Never heard of "Receivers Anonymous", but it sounds interesting.

10. "[your name] is"
Kathryn is a very beautiful name.
I have to agree! It was my grandmother's name, and while I probably went through phases where I wish I had a trendy or popular name, I really do like my name.

Now it's your turn to give this a go - :)

Paris for President?

This is hilarious and a GREAT reason why you should never use someone's image in an ad campaign without their okay.

See more Paris Hilton videos at Funny or Die

Beach Bums

We're home from four days in Ocean City with Rob's family. As you can see above, we posed for the official "white shirt and khakis" beach family photos. Our brother-in-law Matt is a great photographer and did all sorts of shots, which I'll share when we receive them. This one is our typical product of Rob's long arm!

We headed down at lunchtime on Friday and arrived at 3 p.m., in time to spend a couple of hours on the beach. That night, we walked the boardwalk (2 1/4 miles) in both directions and were whipped! We spent the rest of the time on the beach and eating good food. It was relaxing and fun!

A Little Frustrated

About two weeks ago, I was on the "cool down" minutes of my treadmill walk (it was nearly 100 degrees and way too hot to walk outside), when the thing started beeping and flashing "error 13" on the screen. Huh?

I got off, took out the little magnetic key, put it back in and got the same code. So I unplugged it and restarted the whole thing - same error. I got out the instruction manual, and the chapter marked "Error Codes" merely directed me to call the store where I bought it. Very helpful.

(And mind you, this is not a cheap treadmill. It was a hefty purchase that should have a very long life.)

So, the next day I call and am referred to their repair company as the only people who could fix it under warranty. I call them and the woman has no clue was "error 13" means. She looked it up and called me back, informing me that the whole membrane (keyboard) panel would need to be replaced, since I apparently had a stuck key.

Oh, and it's $150 for their house call fee (per hour) to repair it. Terrific.

That was Friday, July 18. On Monday, July 21, I called and asked them to order the part. She said it would be a week. Yesterday (July 31 - 10 days later), I call them to inquire. She told me it hadn't actually been ordered until July 24 and still hadn't arrived. They'd call me when it got here, she cheerfully informed me. That really didn't satisfy me, and I wasn't shy in letting her know, although equally (maybe sarcastically?) cheerful.

So, in summary: forced to use this company for repair; delinquent in placing an order and absent in notification of this fact; $150 charge to come to my house. Did I mention that includes the repair man's "travel and repair time?" Goodness knows what they'll charge me if it takes him longer than an hour to drive to my house and fix the blessed thing.

My advice to you: buy the $300 treadmill at Wal-Mart. When it breaks, buy a new one (if you really use it). Don't invest in a quality one that will still likely break, but cost you two weeks and at least $150 to repair.

Thanks for letting me get that out. I feel better now.

Recipe Sharing: Easy BBQ Pork

A co-worker shared this super easy way to make BBQ pork in the Crockpot, and we've done it many times. It makes enough for at least two dinners and a couple of lunches too. Simple and easy - enjoy!

Crockpot BBQ Pork
Yield: 6-8 servings

Ingredients
One 3 lb. pork roast (could use pork butt too)
Olive oil
Salt and Pepper
BBQ seasoning
One bottle BBQ sauce (I recommend Sweet Baby Ray's)

Directions
1. Rub pork with olive oil, salt and pepper, and BBQ seasoning (optional). Allow to marinate overnight in the refrigerator. (I don't always allow it to marinate and it turns out a-okay.)
2. Spray Crockpot with PAM. Place pork in Crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Don't overcook!
3. Shred pork with forks or tongs. Add in bottle of BBQ sauce and warm, about 30 more minutes.
4. Serve pulled pork on toasted buns. I add cole slaw!

50 Things About Me

Tagged and thought I'd give it a try. I'll be seriously impressed if anyone actually reads to the bottom. Play along if you want!

1. Do you like blue cheese? Yes
2. Have you ever been to Yellowstone Park? No
3. Do you own a gun? Absolutely not
4. What are your favorite songs? He Leadeth Me; The Luckiest (Ben Folds); We are in Love (Harry Connick Jr.)
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Depends on the doctor
6. What do you think about hot dogs? Not a favorite, but once or twice a summer is okay.
7. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night or Happy Holidays (the Andy Williams version)
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Green tea
9. Can you do push ups? Ha ha ha ha
10. What was the name of your first pet? Shadow
11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? Engagement ring
12. Favorite hobby? Reading or cooking
13. Favorite trait of spouse? Sense of humor and intelligence
14. Do you have ADD? No
15. What one trait do you hate about yourself? Struggle with self-discipline
16. What's your middle name? George - was Jean before we married
17. Name 3 thoughts you are thinking at this exact moment? (1) Why am I filling this out? (2) What should I buy at Trader Joe's? (3) My blisters hurt.
18. What did you buy yesterday? Blue oxford shirt
19. Favorite vegetable? Corn
20. Current worry right now? Big project at work
21. Current dislike right now? Clutter in my office and house
22. Favorite place to be? Maybe the lake, maybe just at home
23, What did you do to bring in the New Year? Dinner with Rob, night at home
24. Name three people who will complete this? No clue
25. Believe in God? Absolutely
26. Do you have an unusual skill? Fast typer (not very unusual!)
27. What shirt are you wearing? White Ann Taylor cotton shirt
28. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Not particularly
29. Can you whistle? Yes
30. Favorite color? Red
31. Would you be a pirate? No
32. What songs do you sing in the shower? Varies
33. Favorite girl's name? Depends on the day
34. Favorite boy's name? See above
35. What's in your pocket right now? Nothing
36. What made you laugh last? AJ the kitty
38. Worst injury you've ever had? Crazy broken toe
39. Who is your loudest friend? Stacey
40. Do you like where you live? Most of the time
41. How many TVs do you have? Three
42. How many dogs do you own? Zero
43. What would you do if you hit a deer while driving? Scream!
44. What is your favorite book? The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, most recently
45. What is your favorite candy? Reese's Cups or Reese's Peices
46. Favorite Sports Team? Redskins or Maryland Men's Basketball
47. What were you doing at 12 a.m. this morning? Fast asleep
48. What was the first thing that you thought of when you woke up this morning? Blessed alarm clock
49. What song do you want played at your funeral? He's Always Been Faithful (Zoe Group)
50. Does someone have a crush on you? Seriously doubt it

If you've made it to the end, congrats! Hope to see this on your blog too.

Anniversary Picture

My goal is to take our picture on every anniversary so we can see how we've changed through the years. Usually this is a product of Rob's long arm reaching out to snap it! We took this tonight before dinner at Texas de Brazil. Rob decided to wear one of his shirts we got in Hawaii - too funny. We had a great dinner and nice time together.

Also, Rob surprised me with beautiful flowers at work today - red roses and white calla lillies. They are on my desk and I'll enjoy them all week. Very thoughtful!

Thanks to friends who e-mailed and sent cards - we appreciate it!

Two Years

Today, Rob and I celebrate two years of marriage! I realize that this is a small amount of time to be married compared to some friends out there (especially those who had an official "ring ceremony"-ha!), but it's a big deal to us. :)

In honor of this celebration, I thought I'd share a few "two years of" memories.

Together, we've had...

• Two years of good night wishes and long morning talks.
  
• Two years of vacations and fun memories of our early married years.
  
• Two years of frustration over socks on the floor. :)
  
• Two years of making many home improvements, thanks to Rob's handy skills and my decorator wannabe inclinations.
  
• Two years of spending time with both families during weekends and holidays.
  
• Two years of still trying to get my name changed on everything.
  
• Two years of "don't forget to take the trash out" reminders.
• Two years of walks and bike rides and lake weekends.
• Two years of Rob frowning at me when the credit card bill comes. :)
• Two years of happiness and laughs and joy.
  

Happy anniversary, Rob. I'm blessed beyond measure!

Babysitters in Action

We are home from our weekend babysitting adventure. My best girlfriend's brother got married, so I volunteered Rob and myself to watch her 2 1/2 year old little girl. We had a blast!

We drove to Roanoke on Saturday morning and had time to catch up with my friend, her husband and parents before they needed to get ready for the wedding and their little girl went down for a nap. When they headed out to the wedding around 2:30 p.m., she was sound asleep. Around 4 p.m., we heard her stirring, so Rob opened up the door to the bedroom (we were in a hotel suite) and said her name. She froze! A strange voice and a strange place were too much. I came in behind Rob and she was a-okay.

We spent the afternoon at a local park and in the playzone in the mall. We read some books in Barnes and Noble, walked the mall and had dinner at Panera Bread. She was perfect and Rob and I decided maybe this kid-thing isn't so bad after all. :)

Back at the hotel, she played for a little bit, and then she had a bath and went to bed around 8:30 p.m., luckily with no fuss at all. We crashed on the couch and watched "No Country for Old Men." Bizarre movie if you haven't seen it.

This morning we went to brunch, grabbed a cherry limeaide at Sonic and headed home. A fun weekend and a new challenge for us, which I'm very happy to say we survived!

Lucky Duck

My lucky duck husband is going to see The Lion King at the Kennedy Center tonight, and I'm not invited. Say what?!

His buddy Somu has tickets to the completely sold-out show, and had planned to go tonight with his sister. Now she can't go, so he asked Rob if he'd like a FREE ticket.

I'm glad they are going and it will be fun for the two of them to catch up over dinner and see the show, but I'm (more than) slightly jealous since I wanted to see it. Oh, well. It's shopping and errand running for me tonight... sigh.

I Like...

(Received this as a tag on a friend's blog and decided to give it a whirl!)

I like . . .

Football not baseball;
Platinum not gold;
Flats not heels;
Green beans not lima beans;
Heat not humidity;
Gmail not Yahoo;
Sonic not Checkers;
Cats not dogs;
Jazz not rap;
Organization not clutter;
Cooking not cleaning up;
New adventures not static vacations;
Brian Williams not Charlie Gibson;
Bare legs not stockings;
Early mornings not late nights;
Mexican food not Indian food;
People magazine not OK!;
Credit not debit;
Peace not war.

What do you like? (I won't tag you but feel free to do this on your blog!)

Recipe Sharing: Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

I've decided to start sharing some recipes on the blog, rather than e-mailing new finds to friends. I love to cook and bake and do anything in the kitchen. Maybe that's why my waistline is less than ideal?! :)

Anyway, here's a yummy treat I made the other night. Honestly, this isn't cooking or baking. It's just really melting and mixing, but it's easy-peasy and very good.

Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats
Yield: 24

Ingredients
2 tbsp unsalted butter (I used light butter)
1 oz. unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
1 7 oz. jar marshmallow cream - or one 10 oz. bag of marshmallows
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 cups Rice Krispies

Directions
1. In a large pan (recommend 4 qt. or larger saucepan), melt the butter and chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly. It will scorch easily, so keep an eye on it.
2. Add the marshmallow cream or marshmallows, cocoa and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Remove from heat.
3. Add the cereal and stir until well coated. I used a big rubber spatula that I lightly sprayed with PAM so it wouldn't stick.
4. Spread into 13x9 dish, lightly coated with PAM. Use a piece of wax paper to cover the dish and press it all into place. Let cool.
5. Cut into 24 pieces and munch!

Let me know if you like these. Enjoy!

Tuesday Top 10

Taking a few minutes to jot these down while I'm thinking about it! Here are the top 10 things I am thankful for this week:

1. Rob, for working hard to fix a clogged condensation holder on our air conditioner last night. We discovered a puddle in our laundry room, he investigated, hopped over to Lowe's and got a wet/dry vac, and fixed it. Or at least we hope!
2. My Dad, for providing guidance to Rob on what to do and how to do it. Dad always gets extra phone calls when we are in need of home repair assistance.
3. A lazy, warm weekend at the lake. Perfect to recharge my batteries for this busy week at work.
4. Reconnecting with an old friend on Facebook today and catching up on her life. What different roads we've taken, but I'm glad to be in touch.
5. Planning trips to Las Vegas (for work, unfortunately, but Rob's coming out for the weekend), and a trip to Harding for Homecoming. This will be Rob's first visit to Searcy! Everyone has to experience it once, right?? :)
6. Lunch today with two former co-workers. We've all stayed in touch, and they've followed each other (coincidently) from job to job. Now, they are in the office building next to mine! We try to get together often.
7. The launch of a HUGE initiative at work today. I've been planning now for almost a year, and we are finally launching. I'm afraid the real work now begins!
8. An incoming cold front to cool down the days. At least it will be more bearable for walks outside, until the treadmill is fixed.
9. A good talk with my Mom last night, after Dad gave Rob advice and while he was investigating. We could talk all day.
10. Turkey Hill Light Style Vanilla Bean ice cream!

Have a great week!

Weekend in Review

We had a great weekend up at Deep Creek this past weekend, and it was tough to go back to work today. We headed up Friday, ate dinner with my parents and a bunch of their friends (thanks for letting us crash your party!), then spent the rest of the weekend swimming, relaxing and talking long walks. It was so enjoyable that we stayed late and didn't get home until about 9:30 p.m. yesterday.

Saturday night, we got pizza at Ledo's and then saw The Dark Knight. It was creepy, for sure. I'm not a big Batman fan so I didn't really know if there was a back story I was missing out on, but I enjoyed it. Heath Ledger did a maniacal, bizarre Joker. Much different than the Jack Nicholson Joker from a few years ago.

The bad news on the home front is that my treadmill has a stuck key and I need to have the keypad replaced, which means it's out of commission for a week or so until the part arrives. That means I'm huffin' it outside in 99 degree heat and terrible humidity. Ugh. It was so bad I treated myself to a scoop of vanilla ice cream when I got home. :)

Back to my hotel search for a possible long weekend at the beach...

Leaping Sharks?

This is my worst nightmare, although I wonder if these photos are really true. Have you seen this story?



Blacktip shark snapped in photo of surfer off New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Tuesday Top 10

Another week has passed and it's time for the weekly top 10. Here are 10 things that I am thankful for this week:

1. A fun weekend - hosting a small dinner party on Saturday and our first Washington Nationals baseball game on Sunday afternoon. It was HOT!
2. Our new appliances that fit and work fabulously, thanks to Rob's handiwork and patience.
3. Knowing that I'll see my best girlfriend next week! She's heading up from Texas and we'll get to catch up.
4. A trip to Target with Rob tonight after work. We picked up the essentials and walked the aisles.
5. A great sermon series "Got Burnout...Get Balance" at our church. It's really hit home.
6. A very decisive meeting at work today where we made some good decisions and moved on. Way better than having to sit in another meeting about the meeting we just had - which unfortunately has happened before.
7. Tons of new friends popping up on Facebook. Are you on there? Everyone you've ever met already is too!
8. Getting my kitchen in order. In addition to the appliances, we've added a new snack/bread box, inside cabinet hooks for potholders and the convection microwave racks, etc. I crave organization.
9. Reading friends' funny blogs and catching up on their days.
10. Saltines and Laughing Cow Light Swiss Cheese!

Have a good week!

A Test

On Saturday night, we had some friends over for dinner. During the course of the conversation, we got into discussing situations that my friend's wife called "God Tests" -- situations where you have the opportunity to take the easy way out or get something for free, even though you know it's not the "right" thing to do.

A good case would be my elusive black cardigan sweater story, which is still up in the air, thanks to an unreturned phone call to the store.

Anywho, I saw this story in the Washington Post and it really made me think. You can read it for yourself, but long story short, a couple found a 3.02 carat diamond ring in a parking garage, and then went on a mission to find its rightful owner. The couple really put a lot of work into it, as did the jeweler who sold the ring (it had the company's name etched in the band). I have a feeling people like this are hard to find.

What's the most unique "God Test" situation you've ever been in?

It All Fits on Paper

Good news: our new appliances all arrived yesterday!

Bad news: nothing fits.

Actually, that's not the complete story and everything is in its place now, but it sure was an adventure getting it all there!

All three items (stove, microwave, fridge) were scheduled for yesterday, but of course they all couldn't come at once! So the microwave installation guy showed up at 8:30 a.m., plopped it right up there, tested it out and headed on his way. Easy-peasy.

The stove and refrigerator were to arrive between 3-5:45 p.m. At 5:30 p.m. - when we'd seen neither hide nor hair of the delivery truck - I called and was informed that they were running late. No problem... we waited and waited and they finally showed up.

Here's where it got fun! The fridge measured right (and trust me, we'd measured it 101 times), but wouldn't fit in the space. Measure the fridge- check. Measure the space- check. It fit on paper, but not in real life. In the end, we figured out that our hardwood floors are a little uneven and that was making it not slide in on one side.

Let's move on to the stove. The delivery guy attempted to slide it into place... nope. There's some sort of power box screwed into the floors that happened to be in the exact 6-inch area where the stove wouldn't go back, so the whole thing stuck out from the wall 4 inches. Bothersome, but fixable in the next few days, we thought, until I realized that the dishwasher wouldn't open all of the way with the stove sticking out.

ACK!

At 7 p.m., I was tired and hungry and very irritated. The delivery man just shrugged his shoulders, asked me to sign that it all had, in fact, been delivered, and left us with a big refrigerator in the middle of the kitchen and stove that was blocking the dishwasher. Not a happy camper was I.

I informed Rob that I was going to pick up some carry out for dinner, and that I wanted that refrigerator in place when I got back. I have to give him a special shout out - he got out his Dremel tool and sanded the cabinet trim until it finally slid into place. Hallelujiah.

After dinner, he tackled the electric outlet behind the stove (shutting off the power so he didn't zap himself!), unscrewed/un-nailed it, moved it down 6 inches and reattached the whole thing. The stove slid in perfectly!

In the end, it's all where it needs to be and I'm very pleased. It was just a rocky two hours last night.

Tuesday Top 10

Tuesday Top 10 time again - the weeks just fly! Here's a peek at what I'm thankful for this week...

1. Survival of a day full of meetings. Maybe tomorrow I'll actually get some work done!
2. A very relaxing long weekend with Rob at the lake, spending time with both of our families, finishing a good book and daily walks in the mountain air. I couldn't ask for more.
3. Rob's new position within his company - he's happy, and so am I!
4. Listening to sermons online. Our church posts our minister's lessons online, and since we travel so much in the summer, I really like to download and listen during the week.
5. A good dinner tonight - peanut cilantro chicken breasts and snap peas - compliments of Let's Dish. Easy and delicious.
6. A job I really enjoy. I complain about an over-abundance of meetings, but I'm fortunate to do what I love.
7. Knocking out 1.5 miles on the treadmill and clearing my head while I walked.
8. Our repaired room ceiling at the lake cottage. May the third time be the charm! (Rob, his dad and brother-in-law put up some extra supports on the tiles.)
9. The extra 20 minutes I'm getting to sleep in the mornings. Rob's new position is about 10 miles closer to home, so he leaves later in the morning. That means I get to snooze a few minutes longer!
10. Trader Joe's low fat strawberry granola!

Have a good week!

A Loooooong Weekend

I hope everyone had a good 4th of July! We spent Thursday-Monday at the lake and really had a relaxing time. I slept in every morning! :)

Friday was a total washout, as it rained steadily all day. Rob's mom and I finally were stir crazy and ventured out for a walk, all decked out in our rain gear. It eventually stopped raining late in the evening, just in time for neighbors down the lake to set off a very elaborate fireworks display, complete with booming patriotic music. It was quite a show!

Saturday night, we met my parents for dinner at the Hen House, which is always good.

We arrived home today to find Rob's Xbox entering the red ring of death. I don't really know what that means, but he keeps talking about it. All I know is that he called Microsoft and they are sending him the materials to return it. He'll be Xbox free for two-to-three weeks. Boo hoo.

Tomorrow we head back to work!

Tuesday Top 10

It's Tuesday again - I can't believe how fast the weeks go! Here is my top 10 for the week -

1. A short work week and a long weekend to celebrate July 4. Can't wait for the day off!
2. New appliances! Our refrigerator - specifically, the ice maker - has been an issue, so we decided to take the plunge and replace it. While we are at it, we're going for a new stove and microwave too, and hopefully I'll get a new dishwasher sooner rather than later. Could it be that they'll all finally match?! We opted for the french door refrigerator with the pull-out drawer freezer. Hope we like it all!
3. Lower humidity that allowed for a walk outside tonight, rather than on the treadmill.
4. Clean and ironed clothes, with nothing hanging in the laundry room awaiting my attention. This is rare!
5. Band-aids. More blisters on my feet. I don't know what my problem is.
6. Knowing we'll see both my family and Rob's family this weekend. Always fun!
7. Finding gas for $4.03/gallon - a bargain! Isn't that absurd?
8. Sweet kitty A.J., whose sitting next to me. She always brings me joy!
9. Super progress on a couple of projects at work. I feel like the last few weeks have been super busy, but very productive.
10. Rice crispy treats!

Have a happy fourth of July!

Let's Dish!

We went to Let's Dish earlier this week and whipped up a freezer full of meals to enjoy for the next few weeks. This is the fourth or fifth time I've been there, I think, and I'm rarely disappointed in the meals.

Plus, the full meal serves six (ex., six chicken breasts), so we either split it or divide it into thirds to get more bang for our buck. Besides, when on earth would I cook six pieces of chicken for the two of us? Thirds doesn't always work, especially for the more casserole-type dishes or pork loins. In that case, we'll just have leftovers!

Here's what we prepared:

• Sizzling chicken and veggie fajitas, with tortillas and cheese = 2 meals
  
• Bourbon glazed steaks = 3 meals
  
• Peanut cilantro chicken with snap peas = 3 meals
  
• BBQ pork tenderloin = 2 meals
  
• Black angus burgers with oat buns, blue cheese and blackened veggies = 3 meals
  
• Bourbon glazed chicken breasts = 3 meals
  
• Shrimp scampi with linguine= 2 meals
  
• Honey glazed pork chops = 3 meals
  

So in total, we came home with 21 meals. The cost is around $180 (but they ALWAYS have a coupon). I think we paid $160 this time, and that equals out to $7.62 per meal.

My secret to Let's Dish is that I rarely do one of the pasta-based or veggie meals, since I don't know that they are worth the $. Steaks or chicken breasts, on the other hand, are worth it. And some of the meals are complete (like the shrimp scampi with linguine), and others need side dishes added at home.

Overall, I recommend it. It's fun to put the meals together, and it really helps knowing that the meal thawing in my refrigerator can be cooked and on the table fairly easily!

Has anyone out there tried Let's Dish or one of the similar food prep places?

Tuesday Top 10

Blogger was being difficult last night, so I didn't complete my Tuesday Top 10 until this morning. Here goes - this week, I am thankful for...

1. A very fun trip to New York with Rob's parents. I'm lucky to have such great in-laws!
2. No cavities for me, per the dentist yesterday.
3. Good news for Rob on the job front. Long story, but it looks like most of the stress is coming to an end soon. Hallelujah!
4. Seeing a bunch of Rob's family at his cousin's high school graduation last week. It's always fun to be around them all.
5. Fresh summertime fruits and veggies that make for delicious meals and snacks.
6. Accomplishing the task of cleaning out three drawers of mine in our dresser, weeding out the stuff for Goodwill and organizing the rest. The bad news is that I have five more drawers to go, and then I tackle the other half of the closet. :(
7. Clothes that fit just a little too loose. That means I'm moving in the right direction. :)
8. Good friends who e-mail, blog and call. Thank you!
9. Safety and flood-freeness for friends who live in the midwest. I'm thinking of you!
10. Delicious nectarines!

Hope you have a great week!

I (Heart) NYC

We are back from spending a long weekend in Manhattan with Rob's parents and had a great time! We left early Friday morning and took the new Bolt Bus, which was awesome. Terrific seats, easy ride and way cheaper than the train (and much, much easier than driving and paying to park!).

We spent the afternoon walking around Times Square, Rockefeller Center, etc. Friday night, Rob's parents went to see 39 Steps, and Rob and I went to see Young Frankenstein. The show was absolutely fantastic! It stars Roger Bart (he played the creepy pharmacist on Desperate Housewives) and Megan Mullally (from Will & Grace). I recommend it!

Saturday, we headed down to Battery Park and spent a very, very long time waiting in line to get to Ellis Island, which is always interesting. Then we walked up into Chinatown and Rob's mom and I did some purse shopping. I got great knock off D&G and Gucci bags. Rob's mom got a Coach. I love good bags! That evening, we headed down to Little Italy's Mulberry Street and had dinner at a delicious Italian eatery.

Sunday morning, we picked up some bagels, coffee and fruit at Cafe Europa and walked into Central Park for breakfast and about a two-hour exploration. After checking out of the hotel, we spent about two hours at the MoMA - what a terrific collection! I think Rob and I could have spent half the day there!



Thanks to Rob's parents for a terrific trip!

A Dilemma

So... I have a problem. This is kind of an ethical dilemma, and although I think I know what I should do, I'm interested in your opinion!

A few weeks ago, I ordered a cardigan sweater from a clothes store. This is a big-name, national clothing store with a pretty good reputation (I'd rather not say who they are in case they are scanning blogs - ha!).

Anyway, the store didn't have the item I wanted, so the sales gal searched other stores and informed me that they had one at a store in D.C., and they could ship it to me. Perfect, right? Keep reading.

The next day, I get an e-mail confirmation that the store did indeed have the item and was shipping. One week later, no sweater. Two weeks later, no sweater.

On Sunday, I decided to check the confirmation e-mail again, and noticed that my address was wrong. Our street name is two words, and the sales gal only put in our house number and one of the words. In a big area like this, the mailman isn't going to realize that the package was for me and seek me out.

So, I sent an e-mail to their customer service group, explained the error and asked what could be done. No reply.

Oh - and I realize that my credit card has already been charged for the item and shipping cost.

Yesterday, I called customer service. The first operator was clueless, so I asked to be connected to her manager. The manager had no idea what had happened, so she got the store on the line, and here's what they said: "We never had the item. We haven't shipped the item. We don't know why you were charged $48, since we never had the item." Over and over. And by the way, the item is no longer available anywhere.

I was steamed. What if I'd never called? Would I have been out $48 with no sweater? I informed them that my card better be credited that very day. I was a little on the rude side, but that was ridiculous.

Yesterday when I got home, Rob informed me I had a package. Guess what?? It was the sweater! The sweater they "never had and never shipped." The address had been corrected by someone, somewhere, with a big pink sticker.

I also had a phone message that they'd located the item at another store and would ship it to me overnight. If I wanted it, I should call them.

So now I have a sweater and a supposed credit on my card (although it's not showing up on my online statement yet). And today I get another e-mail from the store that they've shipped yet another sweater. Same item, same size, same color.

Here's the quandary: I was all prepared to call them today and let them know that I actually did receive the item that they "never had and never shipped," and that they should re-charge my card. But the second supposed sweater ticked me off. I never said I wanted it (in fact, on the call yesterday, I told the girl to just forget about it), and I'll be hot if they've charged my card without authorization (can they do that?!).

So do I keep sweater #1 and call them? Do I keep sweater #1 and never call? If sweater #2 shows up, what on earth do I do with that, especially if they don't charge me? If they have charged me without permission, what then?

I'm stumped. And amazed that a store this well-known is so disorganized.

Whew! If you've read this far, I'm impressed. I'd also love your opinion on what I should do.

Tuesday Top 10

It's been another week, so here goes my top 10. Is it just me or do the weeks simply fly by??

1. Since this weekend was Father's Day, I am very thankful this week for my great Dad! He's always been there for me, and I appreciate him. A special shout-out to Rob's Dad, too.
2. A clean house, thanks to my hubby who pitched in dusting, vacuuming and picking up, in preparation for a visit by his family this weekend.
3. Cooler temperatures that allowed for a nice walk outside tonight.
4. Dinner last night with a girlfriend who I haven't seen since right before Xmas. We sat and gabbed in the restaurant for 3 hours! I'm sure the waiter wanted us to move on out, but he was great about refilling our water glasses and not rushing us. If you have a Coastal Flats near you, I recommend it!
5. The outpouring of good thoughts and memories of Tim Russert. I've loved watching the clips on NBC and the packages about his life, work and family. He was an amazing person.
6. A great day at work where I checked off many "to do" items. I love getting a job complete... or at least one step closer to completion.
7. Improved stick shift driving! Rob is a good teacher - very patient. I drove this weekend on actual roads... although we were up at the lake and there wasn't another car in sight for miles. :) On the way home, I drove a little while on the interstate. Scary, but successful!
8. Fresh laundry tumbling in the dryer as I type.
9. Time with Rob. I can never have enough! Tonight we were able to walk together, clean up together and eat dinner together. Now we are sitting together, watching "The Mole."
10. Jell-O Dark Chocolate Sugar Free Pudding!

Hope everyone has a great week!

Remembering Tim Russert

I am so saddened by the death of Tim Russert. As a journalist, he was top-notch, always fair and extremely thorough. As a father, husband and son, he was passionate and proud. As a friend - as told by his colleagues at NBC and competitors across the networks - he was gregarious and thoughtful.



I met Tim in 2000 when he spoke at an event at the Chamber of Commerce where I worked. It was in the weeks after the Bush/Gore election, when Florida was still under re-count and no president had yet been named. He brought along his famous white board and gave an excellent speech on American politics, what was predicted to happen as the election was decided, why we should care and how we should behave after a winner was announced. I remember his remarks and his kindness as he spoke to people after the breakfast and posed for a photo with the chamber staff. I'm glad to say I still have my copy.

Tim was admirable for a variety of reasons... a political giant, a loving father and a caring son. I will miss his insight and personality.

A few things I'm tired of...

Is this the antithesis to the Tuesday Top 10 list? (Just kidding!) There are just a few things that I'm tired of hearing about/dealing with/seeing everywhere, so bear with me.

What am I tired of?
1. Humidity (not good, since it's only the beginning of summer)
2. $4/gallon gas
3. Our ice maker leaking and making one giant piece of ice
4. Katherine Heigel
5. Dusting rooms we never go in
6. Groceries going up, up, up
7. Cell phones ringing - loudly - all over our office
8. Pollen
9. Bad TV shows about rich teenagers
10. Blisters on my feet

Whew! It feels good to get that out. :)

Stick Shifts and Safety Belts

Rob is teaching me to drive stick shift. My first lesson was tonight, and all in all, I didn't do too bad! Only stalled twice and didn't hit a thing. :)

We went to our church parking lot, which is about a mile from our house. Our church is letting a nearby hospital's employees park in the lot during the day (and we overflow to their lots on Sunday). We waited until about 7 p.m., when we figured most of the cars would be gone.

After Rob thoroughly explained every in, out and about of the clutch and gear shifter, he finally let me take the wheel. We'd spotted a lot security guard on the other side of the lot, and as we rounded the corner, she waved us over and asked what we were doing. Rob explained it and noted that we attended church there, and she asked if I had a driver's permit. Did she think I was 16?!?

Anywho, she let us keep driving and I looped and shifted for about 20 minutes. Our preacher even came out of the building and spotted us, then laughed that an old girlfriend taught him to drive stick and they ended up breaking up. He gave kudos to Rob for his bravery and patience!

Why am I learning to drive stick? I drive a CRV SUV, and Rob has a Civic. With gas $4+ a gallon, we need to use his car more for weekend road trips, and goodness knows he's not doing all of the driving!

Why have I never learned before? To be honest, I don't want to think about clutch-shift-neutral-clutch-shift-blah-blah-blah when I'm driving. I'd rather pay attention to the song on the radio or gab on the (wireless headset!) phone. Isn't that crazy?

So, I'll practice some more and maybe venture out on to a real road this weekend. All of the traffic around here makes me so nervous. Pray I don't crash!

Tuesday Top 10

I have to be honest - I'm in a moment of a pretty bad attitude. So, I thought it would be a good time to do this list and hopefully get over it. Wish me luck!

My Tuesday Top 10:

1. I have to be most thankful for air-conditioning this week. Did Virgina accidentally slide into Texas? It's so hot and humid that I think it might have! The 99-degree temps are supposed to cool down to the 80s for the rest of the week. Hallelujah!
2. A good book I'm reading - My Sister's Keeper by Jodie Picoult. A friend recommended it and I can't put it down.
3. A clean, organized family room downstairs. I got into some weird cleaning spurt on Sunday night and whipped that sad room into shape. It had become a giant pile of miscellaneous stuff, covered in an embarrassingly-thick layer of dust. No more! Now it looks good, and I'm headed to tackle our office next.
4. My mom. Of course I'm always thankful for her, but she and I had a good conversation last night on the phone about an emotional decision she is making (nothing bad - just a leap of faith). I'm glad she's my mom. :)
5. Catching up with old friends and meeting new ones at Rob's reunion. What fun we had! I'm hoping to attend my 10-year college reunion (YIKES!) this fall at Harding. Let me know if you'll be there!
6. Good things happening for Rob at work. Long story that's been a little stressful for us both, but I have confidence in the future, and more importantly, in him.
7. New sandals that I love. Sounds trivial, but I needed some nice sandals that I could wear to work on super hot days, and I found some good ones by Clarks on clearance. They were such a good deal that I bought both black and brown.
8. Yummy shrimp for dinner tonight. Easy and delicious!
9. Good friends who will read my Top 10, even if it's written with an ulterior motive -- to help me get over myself and cross attitude.
10. Cinnamon dried apple rings from Trader Joe's!

Hopefully that has helped turn my attitude around and will send me off for the rest of the day with a more pleasant demeanor. Trust me, I need it!

Have a good one!

Rob's Reunion

We are back from Rob's reunion, and we had a great time! The turnout was lower than expected, but the guy who planned it did a knock-out job and everyone who was there had such fun. I'm glad we went!

We headed west Friday afternoon and arrived at Rob's parents' in the early evening. I decided to get in a walk, even though it was 95 degrees. I nearly passed out! But I'm glad I did because I ate a lot of junk this weekend. :)


Anyway, there was an ice breaker that night at a local bar, where we'd never been. It was an interesting place.... flippin' hot inside and way too loud. We pulled up outside at the same time as two of Rob's friends and their wives (they don't live too far from us and we see them often), so that was good. We got inside, we signed in, got nametags and started talking to people. There was pretty good attendance there -- and some crazy dancing we did not participate in! -- and Rob and I stayed until a little after midnight.

The picnic Saturday was at 11 a.m., so we got up that morning, walked and then I made a pasta salad to take. The temperatures were to be in the mid-90s again, but it didn't seem that bad out! There was a good number of people at the picnic, and the guy who planned it did games for kids, rented a cotton candy machine (yum!) and had it all set up nicely. We hung out for about five hours, played baggo/corn hole, talked to friends and had fun.

Saturday night, we did dinner with the aforementioned friends and wives at Giuseppe's, a favorite of ours. Then we spent some time at a new local restaurant/bar in Frostburg, owned by my parents' neighbors.

This morning, we got up, walked, ate breakfast and headed back home. Overall, it was a great weekend and a fun reunion.

A Reunion

We are going this weekend to Rob's 15th high school reunion. I'd laugh and say he's old, but the truth is that I'm not far behind. :)

Anyway, I guess I'm kind of nervous about it for some reason. Maybe it's because I don't think I'll know many people (there will be four people I know for sure)... maybe it's because I wonder what people will think of the girl Rob married... maybe it's because I know Rob won't remember anyone's names!

So, wish me luck. I'll post about it after the weekend -

Tornado?

A tornado supposedly just went through the town where my office is located. Some co-workers saw it out the window (I was in a meeting in our windowless library - a blessing?). Trees are down everywhere, including one blocking one of the roads to my building.

I popped out of the meeting for a quick second to shut down my computer, and it was pitch black outside with rain pouring down. Now, almost 45 minutes later, it's still really dark, although the winds have died down and I can see some brighter light on the horizon.

Rob was driving home during all of the madness, but he made it home safely. Hope my drive home isn't bad either!

Tuesday Top 10

It's Tuesday, which means it's time for my top 10. Here goes:

1. My corny husband, who is forcing me to watch "Micro Cosmos" - the dumbest insect show ever - as I'm writing this blog. Seriously.
2. Warm weather that has made me want to escape my office at lunch for some time outside. I'm glad the rainy days are passing.
3. Lunch yesterday with a co-worker and good friend who helps me talk through situations and provides good thoughts. Invaluable!
4. Freshly folded piles of clean clothes, a la Rob.
5. Early Fridays! The head of my office announced today that our summer hours begin this Friday, which means we get to leave work two hours early. I love it!
6. No bills in today's mail! Just catalogs and junk mail. I'll take that any day. :)
7. Catching up with an old college roommate I haven't talked to in 10 years. I ran across her blog and am so happy to be in touch again!
8. Sweet A.J., who is curled up next to me on the couch. She always makes me smile.
9. My mom and dad, who I grow to appreciate more every day. My mom e-mailed me this morning that they have less than one week left of school - I'm jealous!
10. Fresh pineapple!

Hope you have a great week!