For Your Friday Enjoyment

I've always wanted to be involved in something like this. I thought it could be a fun family activity. The family---not so much!

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

You're welcome!

One Last Post About my New Car

I promise! This one is for Morgan. She requested some interior shots. But first, I want to show off the color---that you have to be in the sun to really see!

 The color is called "brown pearl."

 It sparkles in the sun.

 Close-up, you can see the glittery sparkles. I'm a glitter kind of gal.

It's already sort of driving me crazy that it does seem to get dirty so fast. I'm just going to add the carwash to my weekly errands. That will make me feel better. 

One thing I'm loving---this car was definitely tested by a woman---and maybe a short one at that!

In the back cargo area, there are little hooks for those plastic grocery bags. Now I don't have to re-bag everything when I get home from the grocery store. I'm certain a woman came up with that idea. You only have to have those bags slide around and spill your groceries one time to know that those little hooks are a necessity. The hooks are on both sides. Genius!

Probably the best "new" thing for me is that you just press a little button to close the lift hatch. In my old car, I had to stand on tippy toes to reach the button that was overhead on the actual lift itself. I'm pretty sure a short woman said, "uh, NO, that button needs to be lower!" Heck, if both hands are full, you can even activate it with your elbow---the ultimate in multi-tasking!

So there you have it---everything wonderful about my new car. Maybe not everything, but I already reported some other awesome features. Oh, and one last thing, I had my nails done yesterday and didn't get blocked in. I think this car is just enough smaller to prevent that constant problem! At least I hope so.

Out of my Element

I've had this conversation with Karolyn several times. They are rice people---being Cajun and all. I'm not a rice person unless it's flavored like Rice a Roni or something. I do not like plain white rice. I like it just fine if you put gumbo over the top---or anything over the top, but plain, NO. It's just flavorless. Karolyn says they have rice and gravy all the time. That sounds fine to me, but I'm not sure her definition of gravy is the same as mine.

The conversation was about how they hardly ever do potatoes. What! That's almost blasphemous in my book! In fact, I always said that if I was ever stuck on a deserted island and could only pick one thing to eat for the rest of my life, it would be potatoes! You have your mashed, baked, fried, scalloped, au gratin, fries, twice baked, potato salad, etc. I can't imaging living without potatoes! Rice, not so much. When I go to a restaurant and it comes with wild rice or is served on rice pilaf, I always substitute potatoes.

That leads me to Friday night. Stephanie and Nicky were coming for Happy Hour. I invited them to stay for dinner after (I don't always cook). I asked her what they would like me to make (they are always eating healthy). She came back with, "Nicky is obsessed with those pork steaks you made from Sam's. How about those, baked sweet potatoes with "I can't believe it's not butter" and cinnamon along with green beans."

First of all, pork steaks are in no way healthy!! Secondly, pork steaks are not a "thing" here. You cannot find them. I just happened to find some at Sam's---once. I had no time to go to Sam's before the next day to even see if they had any.

I responded back to her, "How about chicken shish kebobs marinated in teriyaki sauce and some sort of rice?" That sounded pretty healthy to me. She liked that idea.

Now the first think you need to know is that I've never made shish kebobs in my life. Still, they look pretty easy. I can handle it. I went to the grocery store and bought chicken, teriyaki sauce/marinade, mushrooms, red bell pepper and onion. I had squash at home. Next, I headed to the aisle with the rice. All I can say is Oh My Gosh!

Apparently there are a whole lot of people that eat a whole lot of rice! I was so overwhelmed. How could I never have noticed that rice takes up a half of an aisle? I must have spent a half hour methodically (because I can't do anything without being methodical---lest I miss something) checking out each package.

I had it narrowed down to these two. The Knorr wasn't exactly rice, but I really like noodles too (that's my pasta background talking). The noodles were teriyaki flavored so I thought they sounded good. In the end, I decided on the Uncle Ben's because I figured--the uncle knows rice.

Fast forward, dinner. I marinated the chicken all day. About an hour before cooking, I marinated the vegetables and assembled the kebobs. They were pretty fun to make. Butch cooked them to perfection.

They were terrible! I felt like the chicken was good, but the vegetables were tasteless. Everyone else liked it just fine---all except the dang rice! It was downright disgusting! I didn't realize when I bought it that it was already some sort of prepared rice. I guess "Ready Rice" should have been my tip-off or the little microwave picture showing that it cooks in 90 seconds! It was just awful. I wonder who tested that---considering someone who doesn't even know rice---hated it!

Clearly, when it comes to rice, I'm out of my element! I'll just stick with potatoes (or pasta).

PS Yesterday, Connie and I played bridge at Richland. For lunch we had one or our favorite dishes---chicken crepes.

As you can see, the rice remained untouched! I was full after the crepes anyway!

Everybody Wants to be a Star!

Even if it's just on my blog!

After my post about the first day of school, Morgan texted me. She wanted me to post her first day of school picture too, so here it is:

She is starting her final year of nursing school.

 Haley on the left, Morgan on the right.

With Katie.
Morgan said they've been "besties" since they started the nursing program. They finish in May, but I think Morgan intends to go on. I don't know what the next degree will be.

Okay, so I've posted her "first day of school" pictures. Still, it doesn't really count because she didn't come over for pancakes first!

I'm Obsessed With Books!

By OBSESSED I mean---OCD obsessed! Besides my approximately 10-15 hours a week that I actually spend reading, I spend at least 3 hours a week just looking at books---New York Times best seller list---what Amazon Kindle recommends for me---what new books have come in at my library---books my friends recommend. I jot down the recommendations or email them to myself, or save emails I receive from Amazon, Good Reads, photos I've taken at Target or Sam's book section and other sources.

Of course, I'm very organized and methodical about the entire process. That's where my OCD comes in. Once or twice a week, I pull all these book ideas together. For each book that I'm interested in, I do the following:

1. I check the book title on Amazon.
2. It must have 4.5 or 5 stars by at least 100 people before it will even get my attention. I don't have time to read less than stellar books!
3.Then I read the book synopsis. If it looks interesting to me, I move to step 4.
4. Look the book up on my R.E.A.D.S. app for my library.
5. If they have the book, I add it to my Wish List. If they do not have the book, I'll "recommend" it. That way it will automatically be added to my list when/if the library buys it.

My electronic library account has three distinct areas:
Loans---these are the books I currently have "checked out." I borrow the books for 21 days. That way if I have more than one, I don't feel so pressured. I read a book about every 5 days. I can always return it early when I finish.
Holds---these are the books I'm waiting to get. I can only have 15 books on this list. It looks like this:

As you can see, I have to wait a long time for books. If, all of a sudden, too many books look like they are going to come in at the same time, you can suspend them---as in the Pat Conroy book, lower left. Now when I'm ready for that book, I can just remove the suspension and it will come in rather quickly. I choose the books to put on this list from my Wishlist.

Wishlist--these are the books I would like to get sometime. You can have 5,000 books on this list. I currently have 54. This is what the Wishlist looks like:

The beauty of the Wishlist is that you can see at a glance what books are available immediately---as in The Girls She Left Behind. Currently, of the 53 books I have on here, 10 are available right away. That means, there should never be a time that I'm without a book!

Now that's my process for remembering which books I would like to read. But my OCD doesn't stop there. The actual reading part adds another series of steps to my book process. When I download a book to my Kindle, I:

1. Add the title to my Books Read 2017 document on my computer. I put the title of the book in italics because I haven't actually read it yet. 

2. I put down the cost of the book, if I were to buy it. I want to know how much money I've saved by borrowing books rather than buying them. Right now, I've saved $418.02.

3. I also have a section on this document for how much I've spent on books I've had to buy. Mostly these are book club books that I'm not able to get in time for book club. So far, I've spent $24.95 on books for 2017. That alone is incredible. Seriously, I used to spend over $1000 a year on books. Besides the ones I actually read, there were many bought that I didn't get to. Plus, I had to have hard backs. They are a minimum of $24.95 each! I've always loved books!

Well, my book obsession doesn't end there. AFTER I finish the book:

1. I go to Amazon and return it to the library.

2. I go to my Books Read 2017 document and remove the italics. That means I've finished the book.

3. If it was a book club book, I make some notes so I'll remember a few things about the book when the time comes. This is another document. I keep those along with my Books Read 2017 document in a Books folder on my computer desktop. There's another document in this folder that lists the books I would recommend for other people. I have lots of family and friends who are always asking me for book recommendations. It's hard to think off the top of my head.

4. I download my next book and start the process all over again!

So far this year, I've read 52 books. The only person I know that reads more than me is Connie. She reads about 10 books more than I do in a year. Either I'm a slower reader, or she spends more time reading. I think that's the answer since she's not stitching much! 

I follow several blogs where people read 5 books a week! Some of them even have young children. I have no idea how they do it. No judgment here, but I'd love to see their house, laundry and the meals they put on the table! Okay, I guess that is judgement. Sorry, I have standards. I only have so much free time, so I have to decide how I want to spend it.

I'm doing something now that I NEVER do. I'm reading two books at the same time. One of the books is more of a documentary type while the other is a memoir. Both are very good. I started the memoir because the other one is a bit dry---interesting, but not riveting. Since they are both so different, there's no chance of confusing the two.

I guess, now I have to add another hour for my book obsession---to account for now writing about books! Oh, and then there's the time I spend "talking" about books with family and friends. Sheesh, where will it end....

I hope it never does. 

Things I Don't Understand!

There are a lot of things I don't understand. But here are a few things I've come across lately that have me stymied.

1. I saw an ad for lipstick. They say it's "non-toxic" (duhhh, you're using it on your lips. Surely it cannot contain toxins!), "gluten free" (I guess in case you want a snack and decide to munch on your lipstick) and "cruelty free" (I guess that's why we don't see lipstick on pigs anymore)! Seriously, what does all of this mean? I don't understand it.

2. 

What??? I was tempted to go inside and ask, but I didn't. Eventually, my curiosity might get the best of me. I don't understand it.

3.

Okay, I have a confession to make. When I saw this sign, I made Sandy pull over so I could take the picture. I said, "Oh My Gosh! I didn't think this sort of thing was still going on!" She said, "I think it has something to do with blood." That's when I realized that Phlebotomy was NOT a LOBOTOMY. Still, why waste a perfectly good picture with a story to go with it. I have no idea what this really is all about. I don't understand it.

3.

I have no words. I just don't understand it.

4. 

I give. I don't understand it.

5. A couple weeks ago, Mindy was telling us about a new workout class she wanted to try. It's called "Goat Yoga!" Yes, there really are goats involved. Apparently, you go out in to the country somewhere and do yoga while goats climb on you. I really don't understand that!

6.  

This vinyl game sheet has completely disintegrated. It's not been exposed to extreme temperatures. It's been in the game closet. And NO, it's not the work of mice. I just don't understand it.

And there you have it. Another odd list. I should have stopped at 5 or come up with 4 more to make it 10. I don't know why that bothers me so much. I just don't understand it!

A Few Things Making me Happy!

1. Will and Grace are coming back! I never watched the show when it aired, but Mindy had the boxed set. I watched them all and couldn't believe I'd missed it when it was on the air! I hope the re-make is just as good---you know what they say about "you can't go back?" I hope they are wrong this time.

I'm not sure I feel the same way about Rosanne. It's coming back too. I'll give it a try for "old time's sake" and because I did like what's his name---the guy who played Dan. He's from Arnold, MO! We liked Rosanne for a few years, but got tired of it and quit watching long before they took it off the air.

2. I'm happy that Butch managed to "catch" the lone mouse in the kitchen. I was skeptical as there has to be more than one mouse---you know there must be dozens. Anyway, I guess only one figured out how to get in. There's only one thing worse than mice---PANTRY MOTHS! I'll take mice any day!

3. I'm loving my new car. My favorite feature would have to be the phone app to start my car! When I go to Charlotte in October, I'm going to see if I can start it from there. And then from Europe! I can't see a time I'd ever really need to start my car from that far away, I just want to know if it can be done! Of course, I'll have to make sure Butch is there, otherwise how would I know if it worked? He'll probably think I'm crazy!

4. I've had my first fire of the season! It went down in to the 40's last night. The house was definitely chilly when I got up. This is not really good news, considering I was planning an "end of the season" pool party for Friday. I've already cancelled that---the water is way too cold now. Plus the temperatures in the day are only the low 70's this week. This is all really early for Nashville. I'm pretty sure we'll have more hot days to come. Still, not enough to warm the pool back up. "Sayanora floating days! See ya next year!"

5. Celebrity sightings. It's not unusual to see celebrities in Nashville. In fact, Mindy has a few living in her building. Most recently, Carrie Underwood was at the "eclipse" party at their pool. Mindy and Justin arrived right after she left! So, that's not exactly a sighting, but still... She did see Steven Tyler in her condo lobby several months ago. She/we think some record company owns the penthouse that they loan out. She also has some sports figures that live there, but since those names mean nothing to me, I don't even remember them.

Butch saw Luke Bryan and Kix Brooks on the golf course at Richland last week. He didn't really talk to them, but said "hi" when Kix walked by. I was shocked that he snapped this photo. That's so unlike him. He knew Sandy would love it! And so did I!

6. When we were at Ellis Island, I bought this Passport to National Parks. I thought it was a great idea and way to remember our trips.

 It looks sort of like a passport and is about the same size.

 At each park, you can stamp your book. I just wish we'd started it sooner.

You can also buy these stamps for the book. I ordered quite a few from previous trips. I had Butch help me with dates. I sort of saw this as a little travel scrapbook. I thought I would add tickets stubs and little notes about our trips. Unfortunately, there's not enough room for that. There isn't even enough room to visit ALL the parks---which has become a "bucket list" item for us. Hmm, that's given me an idea. I should just start another little book just for trips. Yeah, I'm going to do that.

7. OMGosh! After 46 years of marriage, Butch made the bed for the very first time! We had a repairman coming, so I guess he was embarrassed?

 Notice anything? Hey, I'm not complaining! I don't even put the decorative pillows on EVERY day!

8. This made me smile when I pulled in to the bank. It's PINK! What's not to love?

 Actually, I'm a little surprised. Pink doesn't exactly shout "business!"

9 These girls! They always make me happy---especially when they get to be together!

I just love this picture. I don't get very many of just the three of them.

Well, that's all I've got. Surely I cannot end with just 9! Okay, here's the tenth.

10. Thinking, thinking, thinking. Gosh, I can't think of anything. Oh wait, I'm so happy to finally have station 350 on my Sirius radio in the new Jeep. It's called "Red, White and Booze!" Sandy is the one who turned me on to it, but I didn't have it before now. At least I'll have the premium package for a year! That does make me happy!