Wedding bells and birthday candles!!

Well, I made it through an INCREDIBLY busy weekend!


Valentine's Day was nice. I had flowers delivered to all of the girls and my mom...unfortunately, FTD screwed up and never delivered the flowers I ordered for my sister. MAJORLY disappointed in that. Dean took me out to a lunch of my choice. We ate at a grill that happened to have a Valentine's special of lobster...so, we both ordered that. It was great. Then, when I got home, I was surprised to find a lovely large bouqet of flowers that were delivered to me from Dean. Very nice surprise. I cooked dinner for 8 that night. Tried out a new recipe and it went over VERY well! I made panko crusted calamari steaks with a lemon/white wine butter sauce and topped with capers....rice pilaf...and steamed veggies...with a nice bottle of Caymus Conundrum. It was marvelous!

Friday was Sweetheart Dinner at church. A nice time was had by all there. Dean and I had Chicken Alfredo, and I donated desserts. We got to pass Valentine's to other people in the room, which became quite hysterical. My girlfriend, Lisa, was the chef...and she came out and presented me with a Valentine's gift: a walking pig that sings "I'm Too Sexy"....and SQUEALS when you pull his tail. He's in some satin boxers with hearts all over them. It was quite the hit!

Saturday we had Irene's funeral to go to. The weather was PERFECT! Very nice graveside service, and a large showing back at the church for the memorial and reception. Got to hear a story that she wrote which was published, and I got a booklet that had several other stories that she wrote. I can't wait to read all of those! Maybe one of my posts will have to be a story from Irene...

Sunday...typical church day...then we had my cousin Elizabeth's wedding to attend. I wasn't really sure how I felt about going...but I had a BLAST! And, she, as always, looked GORGEOUS. Unfortunately, Chris Isaak was a no-show. Bummed me and my other girl cousins out....but, we didn't let it phase us too much.

Here are a few pictures from the wedding:
























I had a BLAST! I got out on the dance floor with my daughters and cousins and tore the rug up!! Once I heard "Brick House" come on...it was ALL OVER!! I think I shocked the heck out of everyone (including myself), being able to move like that just a few weeks after surgery! It was a kick! If you are a friend of mine on MySpace, I have the entire wedding album posted...well, the pics that I snapped, at least!

Today was Alyssa's 15th birthday! Can you believe that?!?! I know that I can't! She was "kidnapped" by two girlfriends this morning, and taken out to breakfast and a movie. Then came home, and Briana took her shopping. It's a tradition in our house that I cook the birthday person whatever they want...so, tonight we had fondue. We had beef, chicken, bella mushrooms, blacktail shrimp, and langostino (little lobsters....crawdads). It went over very well. Alyssa asked that I just bake her a homemade cake with yellow writing...so, that's what you see at the top of the page. I have the video of us bringing the cake out to her and singing. It's posted on YouTube under my account. You'll also get a little insight into how much Briana partied at the wedding while mom and dad weren't looking...lol

Well, it's OFF TO BED for me! Everyone is asleep, and I can hear Dean-o snoring in our room. It's making me sleepy...so, I think I will hit the hay.

Hope you have an AWESOME week!

Chef du Jour....

I've come a long way, baby!!

I made my first dinner in over 3 weeks!! Home made spaghetti and garlic bread. it was FABULOUS!! As much as I have LOVED having dinner delivered for 2 weeks, it was SO nice eating food that I was used to!!

I was supposed to get some help from a little daughter of mine...but, she had her head buried in her laptop, and I just WENT FOR IT!!

I'm SO tired!! And SSOOOOOO full!!

I don't know how you make your spaghetti...but, due to tomato acid wreaking havoc on my tummy, I add sugar to my sauce. It gives it a pleasant sweetness, and cuts all of the acid content. I brown up some sweet Italian sausage...then some ground beef...drain off the grease and add the sugar. Then, I cheat. lol I use jarred organic tomato & basil sauce and simmer.

As far as the garlic bread goes...just get some french bread, melt a cube of butter (one per loaf), and I mince my own garlic and add it to the butter. Dip the bread in and stick it under the broiler until perfectly toasted.

Add some freshly grated parmesean cheese....and...PERFECTION!!


Other than that exciting news, a friend of mine was having a conversation with me about cemeteries (a love of both of ours), and sent me a photo of a plot in the middle of a shopping complex'es parking lot in New Jersey. Been there almost 150 years. Check THIS out:








Pretty bizarre, eh?

It was very interesting, because I was trying to find the pics on the internet myself...and found out that Wal-Mart has built over and dug up several old cemeteries in order to build their stores. You should do some research on it yourselves.


I know that many of my readers out there have the same common interest as I do in the afterlife...death...etc. If you haven't seen the show already, check out "Dead Like Me". You'll have to buy or rent the DVD's, as the show was VERY unfortunately cancelled after two FABULOUS seasons. Great show.

If you have any interesting cemetery stories or pictures, I would LOVE for you to share them! Two things I always like doing when I travel out of town: See a movie in the local theater, and check out the town's cemetery.


Maybe something you didn't know about me, huh?

If I only had a brain...

Warm prune juice, hot tap water, dried apricots, a fersh orange, Metemucil, Miralax....the list goes on and on. I am SURE you know what all of these are used for. I know we have touched on this subject before...but, I would just like to share something with my readers.


I have often wondered, "WHY?", when being diagnosed/stricken with certain ailments. I have often been told, "Everything happens for a reason...even if we don't know why". Well...I have figured out why I have two of my health issues, and how to use them for my good.


IF you happen to have surgery...and IF you have happened to have the same "issues" as I have been having....and IF you happen to have lactose intolerance or IBS....USE IT NOW TO YOUR ADVANTAGE!!!


I have to thank my dear friend, Debbie, and her gift of ice cream last night that made me sick!! I think, perchance, that it was the BEST vanilla ice cream I've ever eaten!! My stomach was SO unhappy!!



Speaking of friends bringing food...I am so blessed. I have had a full dinner meal brought to my home EVERY NIGHT since the 19th...and have someone scheduled to bring me food until this Thursday evening. I have AWESOME girlfriends from church! Milli has schedule this WHOLE thing, and various loving friends have been so great at bringing dinner every night for a household of (currently) seven.

I'm on the receiving end, once again. I have a LOT of GIVING to do, once I am fully recuperated. I have thoroughly been looking forward to volunteering bedside again at the hospice. This will DEFINATELY warrant me returning back to what I love doing there. I can hardly wait to be a vigil volunteer again!! I have so greatly missed being there for others as they cross over.


Speaking of being active again, a couple of things popped up today.


After YEARS of trying to get Dean to train with me (and me missing so much this past year didn't help), he has decided to start a routine with me and my personal trainer...once I am given the green light by my doctor...and once he finishes his 12-week cardio rehab., we will start a regimine. THAT should be fun! My trainer's been DYING to get her hands on him!!

Also...I had some sad news today. A genteman that I had JUST started working with at the travel agency before I left, was found dead in his home this week. He was absent from work on Tuesday, which was odd. On Wednesday a friend had the police break in, and they found him slumped over his kitchen sink, while his dinner was waiting for him on the table. Died immediately from a massive heart attack at the age of 65. Richard, you were a good man, and you will be missed.

His absence has left a HUGE hole in the travel office. He was half of the department that handled all bus tours and excursions. Sounds like they are bringing my name up as a possible person to fill the position left empty by the loss of Richard. It would be great, as they are offering me a chance to become a travel agent, also. I had quite a bit of dealings with airlines, cruises and hotels (not to mention personal experience) while I worked there. I am actually half-way excited about the opportunity. We'll see how it all pans out. I'll keep you posted. It would be some big shoes for me to fill...


Anyways...I fear that I have nothing else really exciting to share with you this evening. Since I spent a VERY long day at church (FIVE hours...we had an annual meeting today), I have been rather uncomfortable. So, I will be online...but, taking it easy. I am currently watching DEEP IMPACT. I am sure we will watch something else after it is over.


I think maybe I will talk tomorrow about how pissed off I am about the writer's strike.

That is...unless something more interesting comes up.

I DO have a doctor's appointment tomorrow...maybe he will have some new news for me....