Happy Halloween!

May you have many treats and no tricks this Halloween!




Care2 Halloween E-Cards!

Just Say No

There are 2 kittens left at the barn who still need homes. They are the sweetest little girls-both calicos, but a soft grey and orange. People there are urging me to take one-they always are whenever there are kittens, which, unfortunately, is often. I've been strong so far. Harley's other owner succumbed-although she was looking for another home for her. Today was the worst-being told they were shivering from the cold. "Can't you just take her until we can find another home. " Yea, right, like I'd ever be able to let her go once she came here. My mom would have a fit if I brought home another cat...even though I own my own home and am well above the age necessary to consent to who joins my family...it makes it tougher. I've even mentioned giving her another grandkid. She wasn't amused. Both my parents couldn't believe when I brought Calumet home. A part of me knows I shouldn't get another animal (rats somewhat excluded) and heaven knows the 11 animals I already have cost me enough, but I feel bad...and kittens are so cute.... Just say no! Even though the high Thursday will only be in the 40s...Must be strong...just say no...Auughhhh!

Autumn is Here

I think autumn is finally here. It's chilly......frost is coming tonight. It was 32 degrees on my way home. Plants are inside tonight. Actually, it was cool all day Sunday. In fact, when I let Barrett back in the house after a bathroom break-he had white flakes on him. I don't want to use the "s" word already. It may have been hail-but it was white. Yup, autumn is here.

Fun Time

I had a fun time at the Halloween party, although it's not really "my scene". It was fantastic checking out the other costumes. There were lots of pirates, several police and a good assortment of devils. Some people really went all out. This one guy had an amazing KISS outfit-huge platform boots, makeup and all. I don't like to dance, so I was pretty much hold the drink, purse, and cutlass girl. (My friend was a pirate.) Still, it was fun. I got home at a decent hour too. So I'm going to watch the Ugly Betty I missed before I hit the sack.

Woodland Nymph

Ta da!

Done!

I finished my Halloween costume and it looks pretty darn good if you ask me! I still have to find some shoes and I may make a matching bracelet and/or necklace-but no big deal if I don't! I had a bit of a trial with the fabric glue last night-stupid opening-so I wasted a lot and made a bit of a mess-but it all worked out.

It appears blogger is having uploading problems again. I'll add a picture when it'll let me!

Costume Update

I got some neat fabric at JoAnn's along with some more leaves and garlands. I tried to come up with a woodland crown-you should have seen me putting wreaths on my head-they didn't work, but I got a garland that might. So, I'll be creating tonight. Wish me luck!

Of Rats and Men

Of Rat and Men. This photo came from the Orange County Register in Southern California this morning. This is one rat who will be safe, he got to go with his owner to a shelter for refuge from the fires. What a precious Berk!!! I love So Cal they are sensitive to their animals as well as humans. Lets keep everyone and critter in our thoughts and prayers for this to pass quickly.

The above is copied from someone on my rat list. Thanks Sheri. And thanks to that shelter for allowing family members that aren't human!

Pissed off!

I was behind schedule, but I had it all planned out. I'd come home from work, finish the letters for the rest of the Halloween cards and decorate the cards for my Goddaughter and her sisters. Then I'd get up early, post all of that, then go to the fabric store and get the stuff for my costume before going back to work. BUT NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I have to get mandated at work. And the way I was mandated... people really piss me off. So I get stuck at work until 4AM-better than 7:20AM, but still. So I get home around 4:30, write this, then it's shower and bed and sleep until it's time to go to work. A whole day of preparations lost. Well, the best laid plans of mice and men...

Got it...sort of

I got my Halloween costume...kind of...sort of...in a way. I'm going to be a woodland nymph. I went to Goodwill and found a base-a brown long dress with an empire waist. Tomorrow I'm going to get up early and go to the fabric store and try to find some panels to overlay and other embellishments. I've already got some leaves I'll glue, or otherwise affix to said dress. I also want to make a headpiece. I don't have much time-so here's hoping. I only wish I could really sew.

Still no costume

I still don't know what I'm going to be for this Halloween party. I could not get out of bed yesterday morning so I absolutely must today. (I just got home from work and haven't been to bed yet-so although it's Wednesday-it's kind of still Tuesday night for me!) I'm going to try my luck at Goodwill and hope I get inspired. I hate leaving things until the last minute, but lately that's all I've been doing. OK. Must stop goofing off on the computer and get to bed so I can get up early and go shopping before work. Wish me luck!

Josef

Well, try as I might I'm unable to attach a video from Moonlight. Thanks for the help though, Bun Girl. I haven't given up yet, but for now here's a picture of the charmingly ruthless Josef.

Costume?!?

I generally don't go out. Call me boring, call me a homebody, I rarely go out at night...let alone with friends...to bars. Well, I got talked into going to a Halloween party at some bar with a bunch of co-workers this coming Saturday night. Now I have to figure out a costume! Nothing I really have at home fits. I thought I had a rat face, but I can't find it. I'm kind of thinking Wood Nymph, or female Bacchus, or, oh I don't know. And I need to find something quick-I can't leave it til I'm off work either, since that's Friday and this thing is Saturday. Yikes. I may have to go to Goodwill. Hopefully, something will pop out at me.

Almost Halloween

Halloween is almost here. I started putting up a few decorations. I'd better get with it, or it'll be time to take them down before I even get them up! With the idea of getting into the holiday spirit-here's a game someone from my rat list posted. Halloween Hangman: http://www.dedge.com/flash/hangman/hangman.swf

Bad Horse Mom

I'm a bad horse mom. I haven't been riding, or even out to see Harley since my lesson on Monday. I was going to go yesterday or today, but yesterday I got so busy, I ran out of time. I didn't worry, as I figured I'd just go this evening. I certainly got up early enough today. I went to the farmer's market, went to a paper store's garage sale (what bargains I got!!!!), then came home. It was rainy and cool so I just got in comfy clothes and goofed around the house. Caught up on some TV shows I taped during the week and worked on my Halloween cards. (I'm waiting for parts to dry now.) At any rate, even though it got nicer out-I haven't left the house. I haven't made the new recipe I wanted to try, I haven't finished putting up the Halloween decorations, nor have I done the dishes. And it's getting late. Sigh. Time's going warp speed again!

Moonlight

OK I enjoyed tonight's (well, technically last night's) episode of Moonlight. But no Josef. A whole episode without the slightly sarcastic, charming man of my dream. How dare they! It's funny, I can't think of many adjectives to describe Josef. Could be the bottle of champagne I drank while watching my shows, along with all the munchies. Hmmm. I will admit a funny thing though. I was googling him the other day. They showed his birth date-I nearly choked on my fun sized snickers! But, it's the character I'm dreaming about, not the actor, and the character's over 400. So, no, I'm not robbing the cradle, thank you! This may just be my last post written after a bottle of champagne. At any rate, writers of Moonlight, more of Mick's best friend please!

Laundry

I hate housekeeping. I really do. My poor mom bemoans this fact and wonders what she's done wrong. Sorry, I just don't like to clean and I can find so many other things I'd rather do with my time. There is one chore, however, that I do like. Laundry. I enjoy doing laundry. Now, I don't iron, so get that thought right out of there. And I'm not that great at putting it all away-but, the actual gathering, sorting and washing, I like. I especially like when I can hang my washed items on the line outside to dry. A friend of my folks even gave me a 1940's laundry pole to raise my line higher. Right now I have a load of permanent press going-sheets and shirts. Today I also need to do rat bedding and I'll probably do some reds. No line drying today though. It's unseasonable warm-but rainy. Why laundry? Maybe I like doing laundry as I just put it in the machine, add my detergent and do something I enjoy while I wait for the machine to do all the work. Then I either put it all in the dryer or hang it outside and let either that machine or nature do its thing. Perhaps it's the lazy man's chore. Still, I like it. The basement sounds quiet-so I think it's time to put my load in the dryer. If only I had a dishwasher...I have to do dishes today-I don't like doing dishes. I try to remember Thich Nhat Hahn and mindfulness and doing the dishes to do the dishes, but, I just don't like it. If only all my chores were laundry!

Fall TV

The fall TV season appears to be up and running and there are several shows I follow; too many, really. Working evening shift makes it difficult-I've got the VCR taping almost every night. Unfortunately, since I only have 1 TV and 1 VCR, I'm forced to pick between shows. So, what do I watch? We start with Tuesday night when I tape Bones and House. I also like the new show Reaper-but pick the other 2 to tape. Although thanks to baseball preempting I got to watch Reaper this past week. Wednesday night I have America's Next Top Model (I know...but I'm hooked.) and Private Practice. I'm not that thrilled with Private Practice, but I tape anyway. Thursday is Ugly Betty-the best show on-and Grey's Anatomy. Friday, I'm actually off work and it's a good thing as that's my big TV night. We start with Ghost Whisperer, then Moonlight, Men in Trees, and Blood Ties! What a night! Saturday has the BBC mystery Rosemary and Thyme followed by some BBC comedies. That's a lot of TV!!! I'll probably pick up Project Runway when that starts up too. And some shows I follow are on break now-Top Chef, Monk, and Psych. I used to love Desperate Housewives-but didn't follow season 3-so now I've just given up on it. I'd like to watch Dancing with the Stars, in fact I have some of this season taped, but I still haven't watched any of it. It's just too much to catch up on. I still haven't caught up on last week's shows. Oh I taped the first episode of Pushing Daisy's-but haven't seen it yet and don't tape it as something else I tape is on at that time.

So what are my favorite shows on now? Ugly Betty, first choice, no question. At first I wasn't that impressed with Moonlight, but after the dream I had with Josef, I'm addicted. Of course all the others (except for Private Practice and ANTM) have things that make me want to keep watching too. But, I'll save those thoughts for another blog!

Poor Furby

I read an online article showcasing the ugliest products in tech history. Poor Furby made the list along with ugly phones and computers and what not. Furby's not ugly! Here's what they said:

The Ugliest Products in Tech History
All of this gear may have worked just fine, but it sure looked bad doing it. Here are 10 examples of the worst product designs in the tech industry's storied past.
The Ugliest Products in Tech HistoryFurby (© CNET)
Tiger Electronics FurbyIt sounds like the ultimate geek fantasy: Give your child an intelligent robot for Christmas--even if it does look like a cross between Gizmo from the Gremlins movie, a Muppet, and a Warner Brothers cartoon character. Thanks to its CPU, sensors, and moving parts, the original Furby could react to light, sound and touch: waking up in the morning, responding to words and sounds, and responding to having its fur stroked. Out of the box, Furbys spoke "Furbish," but could be taught to repeat certain English words if they were given positive reinforcement at the same time. In 1998 they caused enough of a sensation that the $35 toys quickly sold out in toy stores, driving prices up into the hundreds and riling up parents who clearly hadn't learned from the Tickle Me Elmo fad two years earlier.

At any rate-I think there are MUCH uglier things than Furby. I'm going to have to find mine and give him a hug!

Recipe Exchange Update

I received my first recipe from the recipe exchange I sent out a few days ago. Yippie! At least one friend and their friend participated. Thanks. The recipe is for a Watermelon Feta Salad. I like both watermelon and feta, but wouldn't have thought to put them together. Should be interesting. So for those of you who haven't sent your recipes-go ahead. It's painless, fun, and interesting! Get sharing!

Stop Horse Slaughter!

What follows is copied from the Humane Society:

October 16: Make the Call to Save Horses!
The doors on the last remaining U.S.-based horse slaughter plants have been shuttered. Now, Congress must act to end the transport to slaughter of American horses to Mexico and Canada. These brutally long trips over the border end in a grisly form of slaughter—the need for federal legislation has never been more urgent than it is today.
TAKE ACTIONCheck to see if your U.S. Representative is already a co-sponsor of H.R. 503 and if your two U.S. Senators are co-sponsors of S. 311.
If they are, please call and thank them for supporting H.R. 503/S. 311, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, and urge them to do all that they can to pass this important legislation.
If they are not, please call and urge them to co-sponsor H.R. 503/S. 311, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, to end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption and prohibit their export for slaughter in other countries.
You can reach your members of Congress by calling the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121, or click here to look up your federal legislators and their Capitol office phone numbers.
The doors on the last remaining U.S.-based horse slaughter plants have been shuttered. Now, Congress must act to end the transport to slaughter of American horses to Mexico and Canada. These brutally long trips over the border end in a grisly form of slaughter—the need for federal legislation has never been more urgent than it is today.
TAKE ACTION: Check to see if your U.S. Representative is already a co-sponsor of H.R. 503 and if your two U.S. Senators are co-sponsors of S. 311.
If they are, please call and thank them for supporting H.R. 503/S. 311, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, and urge them to do all that they can to pass this important legislation.
If they are not, please call and urge them to co-sponsor H.R. 503/S. 311, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, to end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption and prohibit their export for slaughter in other countries.
You can reach your members of Congress by calling the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121, or click here to look up your federal legislators and their Capitol office phone numbers.

The Environment

Today I pledged that I would write about the environment. Blogs of all sorts are joining together today to try and raise consciousness. Our poor planet is in pitiful shape. We're causing irrepairable damage, polluting, destroying, we've even managed to create global warming. I think it's a shame we're causing the destruction of a planet that other creatures call home. They wouldn't be in so much trouble, they might not be going extinct, if we weren't here and causing so many problems. So, what can we do? What can I do? What do I do? Well, I click the buttons on the Care2 site to try to protect animals and the environment. I sign petitions and write my congress people. I pass these messages on to friends and family. I recycle. I try to combine my driving trips and don't drive when not necessary. I donate to animal and environmental causes. I try not to be wasteful. I don't do enough. I'll try to do better. Will you try too?

Recipe Exchange

A friend sent me an e-mail recipe exchange-you get 2 names, e-mail the first name a recipe then forward the e-mail putting the second name first and your name second. Last year at Christmas time I received 3 such e-mails. I actually did get some recipes. I'm hoping for more this go around-so if you got the e-mail from me-please respond. It doesn't cost anything, but a little time. What follows is the recipe I sent. I saw it on TV and tried it. It was excellent! The difference is the order of the breading. I had to cook for more than 6 minutes a side-next time I'll pound down the meat a bit. Still, it turned out really well. Give it a try!

Parmesan-Crusted Pork Chops
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Recipe Summary: Difficulty: Easy Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 12 minutes Yield: 4 servings

2 large eggs
1 cup dried Italian-style bread crumbs
3/4 cups freshly grated Parmesan
4 (1/2 to 3/4-inch thick) center-cut pork loin chops (each about 10 to 12 ounces)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons olive oil
Lemon wedges, for serving

Whisk the eggs in a pie plate to blend. Place the bread crumbs in another pie plate. Place the cheese in a third pie plate. Sprinkle the pork chops generously with salt and pepper. Coat the chops completely with the cheese, patting to adhere. Dip the chops into the eggs, then coat completely with the bread crumbs, patting to adhere.

Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a very large skillet over medium heat. Add pork chops, in batches if necessary, and cook until golden brown and the center reaches 150 degrees, about 6 minutes per side. Transfer the chops to plates and serve with lemon wedges.

Early

I know I've mentioned it before, but it has gotten so difficult for me to get up early. Even for fun stuff. This morning I'm meeting friends out of town-OK-out of state and I have to get up, get to the farmer's market to pick up baked goods, load up the car, and head out. But it was hard getting up. Especially when I have these interesting dreams. This one involved carriage racing and a romance with a 400 year old vampire, who wasn't a vampire in the dream (I don't think), who isn't even my type. Although, honestly, I don't really have a "type". Hmmm, yup, still thinking about the dream. Well, I have to slap on some makeup and get moving! I'll write more later.

Christmas?!?

OK I'm still amazed, although I guess I shouldn't be. It's not quite mid October and the grocery store has Christmas displays in the front window. Now, when I was a kid I don't remember Christmas being touted until after Thanksgiving. At least after Halloween. I mean, come on. Christmas time may be a favorite time of year-but how can it be special if it starts so early? Let us celebrate Halloween first, then the rest of autumn, before Christmas. On that note...I have to go wrap Christmas presents. Seriously. I'm meeting friends from out of state Saturday and we're exchanging gifts to avoid shipping! Sigh.

Maxine's Living Will

My Living Will By Maxine

Last night, my friend and I were sitting in the living room and I said to her, "I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug."

So she got up, unplugged the TV, and threw out my wine. She's such a bitch.....

Changing Weather

Monday was unbearably hot and humid-over 80, Tuesday was much nicer, in the mid 70's. Now today's high is supposed to be 67, Thursday 58 and Friday 48!!!! Wow. Talk about a change in the temperature!

Disgusted

I am absolutely disgusted. How on earth could we have let it happen? Leading the whole way then, still leading, but only up by 8, with seconds left to play only up by 2. They didn't get the 2 point conversion-but they won the on side kick and made the field goal?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!And beat us???????????????????????? How on earth could we have let that happen????????? Especially against the Dallas Cowboys, the team I loathe more than any team in any sport that ever existed? Once again, I am disgusted and disappointed. As if life isn't hard enough without being a Buffalo Bills fan. Sigh.

Mom's Favorite

How to tell you're not Mom's favorite:

Time

Once again I feel as if time is traveling at warp speed and I'm trying to catch up. I got some things I wanted and needed to do done this weekend-but not near all and now it's time to return to work. Ugh. The tension level at work is high and I just don't want to be there. I got a letter to apply for a new job-but it's just too far away. Sorry, I don't do hour and a half commutes! Oh well, hopefully it'll be a good day at work and this week will be fine-my last scheduled 4 day week, back to all 5 day weeks for me. Well, enough writing, time to eat and then get to work.

Hot!

It's hot! And humid. Here it is, October 6th and after working in the yard and running a few errands I had to come home, close all the windows and put on the A/C. No horseback riding for me tonight. No going shopping-not even to pick up the yellow glitter glue. It's 3PM on a Saturday and I'm in my pjs in the A/C. I don't like global warming!

Fabric Sale

I try to be good, really I do. I'm trying not to spend a lot of money on things I don't really need-but...when I see great deals I just can't pass them up! So I was at JoAnn Fabrics looking for yellow glitter glue (you cannot believe how difficult that is to find!) and they had fabric on sale. OK, they always have fabric on sale, but the fleece was 50% off! And 50% off the fleece remnants which are already marked down. And they had a bunch of fleece remnants! So I bought a bunch of them. How could I resist?!?! Such a bargain! I have so much fleece ready to be converted into rat hammocks, tubes, and flooring, I just have to find the time to make them! Someday I need to get a sewing machine and learn how to use it. In the meantime, I sew by hand, slowly, and not well. My sewing style is "primitive", but the rats don't seem to mind! Well, enough blogging, I'd better get sewing!

Top Chef

SPOILER ALERT! Don't look down or read further if you don't know who won Season 3 of Top Chef and are planning to watch your taped version.



And the winner is...



Hung Huynh. Although he wasn't my favorite chef from the get go-I always liked and respected him, even though he said he could be the ass of the show (or something to that effect). True he wasn't the most helpful to the other chefs-but he wasn't nasty and he was right, "This is a competition". My favorite part of the whole season was the Mise en Place Relay Race on episode 9. Watching Hung take apart those chickens was amazing! By the finale I knew I didn't want Casey to win (I wanted her eliminated a long time ago) I would have been happy if Dale won, but I really thought Hung deserved it. Especially when Dale's scallop dish was so praised and he said it was 100% 50/50 collaberation with CJ. Plus he had some things that weren't good (lousy lobster dish and too heavy gnocchi). The only bad thing they had to say about Hung (aside from wishing for a bit more acidity in some things) was that his dessert was "disjointed" and didn't fit in with his modern style of cooking. HELLO-you made him pick a 4th course with only an hour left. And he cooked it perfectly. I say chocolate and raspberries go good with ANYTHING. So there! I only wish I could taste some of these dishes-especially Hung's duck! I found his recipe-I don't think I'll be trying it anytime soon! Congratulations Hung on a job cooked to perfection!

Annoyed!!!

I am so annoyed at myself! My mom gave me a card for a free iTunes song. I didn't know what song I wanted so I let it sit. I checked the expiration date-sometime in October. Well, I looked at it just now-and it EXPIRED October 1st! That just sucks. I tried to redeem it anyway-but no luck. Stupid procrastination on my part. I'd better get with it. I've been too lackadaisical lately. Hopefully, I'll get on the ball soon. So annoying!

Class

Today was my last day of class. It was fun, although not as fun as last week. Still our team was great, even though the Green Team won the Top 10 Award. (They got lottery tickets.) We came in 2nd place. Oh well-we, The Blues, were a very cohesive group. I learned a lot and hope to bring these skills back to work. For now-I'm enjoying my evening off.

Do Not Call

After millions of annoying phone calls by telemarketers people were finally given a choice to be put on a "do not call" list. I just read that this list expires after 5 years-so you have to reapply. It's super easy to do. I'm not sure when my request expires-so I just applied again.

People can register their home and cell phone numbers or file complaints at http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_on_go_ot/storytext/do_not_call_expiration/24544727/SIG=10qq5k7rg/*http://www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222.

Here's to not being interupted by telemarketers!