The Turkeys are Coming!

Growing up in a large family, there were few things that were sure to happen on a schedule. Plans were made and cancelled time and again. One thing remained true each year: we were going to have a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving and our parents were going to eat at the table with us. It was the most traditional holiday meal you could ask for and it was good down to the last bite of turkey sandwich three days later. We spent at least all day cooking and had the best evening meal of the year knowing through the whole thing that we better think what we were thankful for cause the question would come up in a few minutes and we wanted to have a good one.



Last year was the first time since I've been married that we actually had a turkey for thanksgiving at the Powell's. Sad, I know. Well...to me it is. They didn't think so, I guess. They've always just had ham with "hen" dressing ("hen" being chicken). I guess Southern traditions are so different from what I grew up with. I kind of like it. It's funny to me, though. And I miss my turkey.


So what changed last year? Me. I bought and cooked a turkey. Simple as that. I don't know if I will this year or not. We'll just have to see...and I guess I have today to make that decision if I want it to be thawed in time for cooking.

I do know that I'll have to be baking a few pumpkin pies and buying, or perhaps making, some good, old-fashioned eggnog. Either how, I'll be going to see the little bean boy very soon.

~Happy Thanksgiving to all~

Be sure that even if your turkey is non-traditional, you at least keep the tradition and have a trukey!

Ethan!

My newest nephew!!!

http://babyhafer.blogspot.com/2008/11/ethan-joseph.html

He's so beautiful!...Err...handsome!

I did it.

www.debdprecious.blogspot.com

what, you ask, is that? Sweet Nothings. My new blog. It's gonna be full of neat ideas for the casa. I think you'll like it. I do... =)

Fear Drives Us

My greatest fear when I started college came true today. No, I haven't failed all of my classes, or jumped off of the Administration Building, nor have I lost my mind. It's much worse. I locked my keys in my car. I called Kendle and he is on his way over here. That is what upsets me the most. He just left work and didn't say anything about it. Of course, he'll probably tease the crap out of me tonight at church in front of as many people as what he can, but that's ok. My knight came to rescue me and that's what matters! I hope he doesn't read this. hahaha ;) Oh, and I think I just realized something. wow. I walked into the bookstore a few minutes ago and asked the little chattering group of workers and students if anyone had a slim-jim. Some shook their head "no" and all of them looked at me a little weird. One of the clerks said, "I get several up here from time to time, but I don't have one right now." I thanked her and left. I've kinda kept that in the back of my mind until this moment. I had been hoping someone would have one in their car, but why would a bookstore clerk "occasionally" have one, much less "some?!"
now I have to laugh, though. They must've all thought that I was talking about slim-jim beef sticks! Oh, I feel so stupid! But, they should feel the same. If I were to go back and tell them again what I was talking about, they'd laugh themselves to scorn. Nobody, obviously in distress, walks into a bookstore and asks hopingly for a BEEF STICK! Well, if you ask them, one strange girl does...
Oh, what a day.
:)

To build or what to build, that is the dilema

So last night I as Kendle and I were talking about our house [future] plans, I realized that there are so many things I see that I would love to do. They pop up all the time along with a load of "insteads" (instead of using[item, color, shape] we could do ...) and there I am trying to describe what I see, which was a peice of what I saw...ugh...let's just say it's not easy for either of us to communicate what we're imagining. Thus, my plan. I will start collecting images of those things that really catch my eye. Be it a room theme, color, or an item that I would like to one day incorporate into my modern chic design. I'm trying to figure a plan where I can have sort of a collection of both web images on my computer--sidenote...my laptop is broken. The screen won't display anything and I think I need a videocard for it...end sidenote--and some magazine images that I can stuff away in my filing cabinet for when I want to dream. I know it may sound stupid, but somehow, I always know what I want until I need to tell someone, usually Kendle, and I think it would help if we could both see what we're talking about. BTW, feel free to shre anything with me that you think I might like, or that you think is neat. You never know who may wind up searching for their true love in my glorious jumble.

Daddy, can we keep 'im?

So....is it bad luck if your black cat has her kittens on Halloween night???
Hehehehe...
Yes, and there are five of them.
I will take pictures and then you can take your pick!
*!~grin~!*

Food, wonderful food!...

[the vultures' song on IceAgeII...nevermind...]
There is a point to that, though...

I've been COOKING! Like...every dish in my house is dirty, cooking. I plan to remedy that this evening. I just wish we could come up with a vaccination for that, you know? It could be called the ''anti-dirtydishariitis'' vaccine. Once again...nevermind... =)
Seriously, though...it has been cooking madness at my house.
Everything from Nachos, Chinese somethingimadeup with burger/rice, etc., to Pumpkin Pies and Custards. Oh yes. You heard me. I always knew that I liked baking. I even knew at one point that I liked cooking in general (thus my thoughts to go to culinary school...didn't last, but I thought about it.) but I haven't thought about it for a looong time! Why? Lack of time. Nothing more. We have been so busy, and sometimes we were just busy making ourselves busy, that we grew accustomed to eating out. I got to a point where I didn't really miss homemade food. Or at least, I didn't know that I missed it. I guess your tastebuds adjust after a while. Here's the deal, though. They don't. They get used to bland, restaurant flavors. I discovered that they are easily re-awakened to real, fresh, vibrant flavors. I made some alfredo on Tuesday. I wish I had gotten a picture of it. It was heavenly. I'm not talking I bought a jar of Bertolli Sauce and poured it over my noodles. NO! I'm talking homemade from cream and a touch of milk(I think half-and-half would've worked, too) with parmesian cheese and butter. PERFECT! I need to go buy some chicken and do it again. I've never had better alfredo. And I eat the stuff every chance I get, so I know the difference.
Anyhow, I guess I'll get back to my school work now, and maybe I'll start sharing a recipe with you occasionally. I'm a really great cook! =)
toot toot!

The Chritmas gift...

...that keeps on giving!!!

Cliche?

NO!!!

It's FINALLY true!!!

But don't just take my word for it; see for yourself!

Years of fun for your loved one!

And the best part? It's free!!!

just leave me a comment with your email or web address...

These precious kitties will be ready just in time for you to make Christmas wishes come true!

[more pictures coming soon]

Oh, Summer, Where Art Thou?

I woke up COLD this morning.

And jobless.

It got me thinking...

It got me to thinking just how much everything has changed! All of the beautiful, hot summer days are waving goodbye and bidding farewell. They're off to Cabo for the winter. =)
With those days go many memories. A few of them were captured by photographs.
Darrell...it's the short game that counts...
Cilla..they say you're supposed to swing a club like you would a water hose...and she does.

Oh, and the little one in the background is taking lessons...

Hole in one! [maybe, maybe not...it just souds like a good caption]
Maddison...she's such a pro...we're boring her...
The Man Himself...need I say more...?

So long, Summer Days, we'll all miss you...

Oh, and this has nothing to do with this blog, but I have to throw it out anyhow... I think my cat is a who'...if you know what I mean... I think she's pregnant.

I could kick her out. I SHOULD kick her out!!! But I'm too nice...I do have an idea...but that's for another blog. =)

Snapshots

Andrea was talking about things that she wished she had a snapshot of and suggested that we share our snapshot memories. I have a few myself, so I'll share them.


Watching Valerie walk into the office yester-morning with all the chatter sort of drifting in her direction as she passed by, laughing.

The faces and voices of my co-workers as we sat together as such for the last time having lunch.

My eyes well up with tears, but those buggers don't escape. Not yet.

This one is more of a video than a snapshot. Alanna and I were leaving Mazzio's and there was a lady walking her dog through the parking lot. She had one of those retractable leashes and was carrying a plastic bag and trying to control the length of the leash, but wasn't fairing too well. We got in the car and as we started to back out Alanna said, "Well that's a really cute outfit, but that face ruins it." She'd kill me if she knew I'd told you that! We laughed as we started backing up. The woman did look like she could be homeless and was acting sort of weird. Then we noticed what the woman had in her bag. It was a miniature wooden rocking chair with a mirror in the back of it. She stopped a couple of high-school girls on their way out of the store, and we thought she was trying to sell it to them. This made us only laugh harder. I thought we we're in Mexico for a minute. She set the chair, legs sticking out of holes in the sides of the bag, on the curb, handed the dog leash to one of the girls and walked into the store to, we assumed, get her food. The girls looked so stunned and then started laughing, obviously wondering what was going on. Just before we pulled out onto the highway, we saw the woman come back out of the store with a new bag for her chair. All that drama just for a bag. Those couple of moments made my day!


Please share your "wish I could've captured it" moments with me! I want to know...

Today, for the last time, I walked to the kitchen at work for a moring cup of coffee. It's kind of sad. I discovered yesterday that it's also a little bit...liberating. I won't know that again until next week. Possibly Tuesday.

I also just talked to Kendle on the phone. He said that his mom called and that his mom's uncle may have just passed away. We're waiting to hear back from his mom for the final report on that. I really don't like funerals, given a choice. Unfortunately, we don't always have a choice, do we?
[update] The funeral will be a private, graveside ceremony with only the wife and children/gradchildren. Say a prayer for them...today is his grandson's 13th b-day. I don't have to say anything more about that.

Maintain composure at all costs.

And I do. Most times. I also owe you all an apology. I don't want to talk about it. Yes, you deserve to know. That still doesn't make me want to talk about it. Oh, and to top everything off, I lost my cellphone sometime on Saturday. I was certain that I had it on our way to Sherman, but it's nowhere in the car and I didn't take it in anywhere we went cuz I knew it was dying. Yes, I went ahead and called all of the places, but with no luck. =( It makes everything worse somehow. But, back to the original subject. I've held onto this since Tuesday, not knowing how to say it. I also didn't want to have to say it. I've only told three people (it's looking as if that problem will soon be resolved...) and Kendle told the church staff in their meeting on Wednesday. Other than that, nobody knows.You see? I'm letting you in on a little secret. I hope you feel special!
I've been "let go" from my job. I like can handle that term a little better than "fired" when it's me we're talking about.
I cried, ok? Not uncontrollably, nor for very long, but I cried. I told myself I wouldn't. I just didn't plan for Denise being the one to tell me. I guess I just had it in my head that it would be different. I had daydreamed of someone else getting flustered and telling me to pack up and go. I knew it wouldn't be legit that way. My little way of escaping reality. Ha. Yes...that works every time, right? So what's the story? I could tell you, but you already know that I don't want to talk about it. Ok, ok! You're hurting my arm.
Tuesday evening Denise dropped by my office and asked if she could talk to me for a minute before I left for the day. I finished up my stuff, shut down my computer, and then made my way to her office. I knew. I really knew. But I pushed that though almost completely aside. Defensive strategy, you know? If you expect the best, you won't be all nervous and you'll take even the worst with more dignity.
But that doesn't stop the tears. Not when you've invested two years of your life in something that you love. It's a bit of a personal insult to me. I knew I wouldn't be the very last, but I also knew thought that I'd be somewhere in the middle. But, first? Yes, I understand that I'm going to college and am only here part-time. But if you're looking to cut costs, wouldn't that help you? I know there was more than downsizing going on. It's not needed this soon. I'm not saying that arrogantly, either. I just know a lot about how the hens have been playing since the rooster has been out of the house.
I'll let you know more about all of this as it pans out. I have talked to a few other people about jobs and I know that I'll get the one that God has in store for me. I guess my last day will be sometime between Wednesday and Friday. Like I said, I'll let you know.

In reply to Nichola's bloggery...which was a reply to elsewho's bloggery...

Thank YOU! THANK YOU!!! Now, go read this:

http://peachfarmerswife.blogspot.com/2008/09/excuse-me.html

I get so sick of "How's the sex life coming along?" Ok, they never say that, but I still think that sums it up pretty well. In my personal situation, I got married at, yes, a very young age. At the time we were "too young to get married," and yet it only took about 4 months for those doom and gloom people to start asking if I had gotten pregnant on my honeymoon. Again, a (this time only slight) paraphrase. Who's logic are they using? If I'm too young to begin building a lifelong relationship/commitment with a man, then how in this world am I ready to raise a child with him? Or at all, for that matter? If I am incapable of having a relationship, what are the reasons? Is it immaturity? Undeniably, yes. If this is so, then how am I going to raise a child up and teach h(im/er) maturity? It's not possible. Oh, and yes, I know what comes next. "Well, you can't wait until you're ready. You'll never be ready." Really? Cuz I could argue that, too. For the sake of time, though, I'll stay on subject and simply argue that you're taking what I said completely out of context. I didn't say, "When everything's perfect and when we're mature enough, we'll have children." I don't think that. Not at all. I simply asked why people think that they know what you should do, when you should do it, and even how, if you catch my drift. My point is the same as Nichola's. Mind your own beeswax! Let people make their own lives unique. Your misfortune may make someone else's life heavenly. Likewise, your fortune may be their hell on earth. Oh, and just one more tidbit...I know people who are having trouble getting pregnant. No, I'm not talking about Kendle and I. I saw that look on your face. But here's the deal, pressure from family and friends is very hurtful. Imagine every time you get a cold people are teasing you about being pregnant. It happens to me, yes. I laugh it off. But some wish they were and you're hurting their feelings. Lay off a bit. Let people have sex (or not, if they prefer) without you sticking your head around the corner to see what's going on. (see, I didn't say anything mean there, but I really thought about it.) If I'm being too graphic forgive me. It's my blog. Bug off! Feel free to comment. By the time I read your comment my steamy mood will be long gone and I won't tear you to shreads. Promise.

"...you've got Biden, who's all 'Bideny' there."

So...Seth's blog question was answered by a long, long comment from Deborar. When I was ending it, I remembered about this little video that I saw a couple days ago. I thought I'd share it with you. Stick with it even though it's a tad long. It's worth one or two laughs and might spur your pea-brain to think a tad. Yes, I can say that. It's my blog for Pete's sakes! Ok. Watch this and let me know what you think.*




*Feel free to call me crazy only after you watch the entire video.

school...my favorite subject

I took two marvelous tests this week and have another one on Monday. They would all come at the same time. The study guide my Chem teacher gave us on Friday was about 6-8 pages long, so I was pretty nervous about that test until I got to class on Monday and he told us that there were only 26 Questions on the test. I already knew it was multiple choice, but I thought it was going to be more like 50+ questions. I found out yesterday that my unofficial score is 78. That's a little worse than what I expected after taking the test, but I'm not too surprised. He said that there will be a curve, but doesn't know how much yet. I'm praying that it's 14 points. He said that's what it was sort of looking like on Wednesday, but the girls who are good in this class were taking the test that day. He said he may do the curve based on percentage if there are only one or two people who ace the test.
Enough on Chemistry and on to Psychology!
I am very confident that I made a 95+ on that test! Was I worried about that one? Oh, YES! I had four chapters worth of vocabulary to learn. It was about 15 words per chapter and about 5 other questions about different people, etc. I went to my glossary and wrote out every word and studied all day yesterday. I didn't know whether it would be multiple choice or if we had to write definitions out or match words to definitions or what. I guess this caused me to study harder. Turns out, It was a looong test, but it was multiple choice. I wouldn't be very surprised if I didn't miss any of them. I guess, English is my stronger subject, though. Now that I think about it, I usually do fine on vocabulary tests. It's just that I usually have words a that I'm a little bit familiar with. Some of these were crazy. They were terminology more than just words. I can tell you what gender is, but behaviorism and social theory? I could make a stab at a good guess. Anyhow, I blew through that sucker, re-checked a few questions and determined that I had done my best, turned that baby in and got back to town by 12:50.
Ooooh! And then I went to Pizza Hut and got one of those delicious Chicken Alfredo Pastas...YUM!
American Government Test on Monday, here I come! (25Questions, multi-choice...meh...not so bad...)

Cadillac:

Even as I typed the word in my last blog I was wondering if Cadillacs were named after that ridiculously small, yet oh-so-important part of the exhaust system. Were the two words even spelt the same as one another? Of course they were. What a dumb thought. From now on, I'll have to pay closer attention to my little gut. -ok, fine, it's not little. not yet, anyhow.- It would do me well to look things up and to research what I say on here. I guess I just see it as wasting time that should be spent working. It's twisted logic, I know. I use the time I "saved" going back and fixing things.

I think know that i need to be getting up earlier in the mornings and fixing breakfast/exercising/etc. You know how you read all the time on exercise websites and motivational e-mails that "if you really want get/stay motivated, sign up for a race... run a 10 K..." and it seems like something for people in another world, you know? But I just found out that our bank is going to have a "Fall Furry Race" on October 4th. They're doing a 10(6.21mi)K and a 5K(3.10mi). I am thinking about running the 10K. I am going to start training next week (or maybe tomorrow) and will make a decision soon. If I think I won't be ready for it in time, I'll go for the 5K. I'll keep you posted. Let me know what you think!

Useless Trivia: I used to be afraid of running. I had really bad knee problems for several years.

a lot has happened since my last spew...

We said goodbye to Craigory on Thursday. I miss him. I was fine until I started hearing the normal shuffle in his office (next to mine and basically separated by paneling) this morning and realized that it wasn't Craig, but Bruce. Craig's been my flatmate for about a year, now, so we always talk a little smack when one or the other gets here in the morning. He's always given everyone a hard time. He's the kind of guy who still (at 50yrs old) shoves you into the wall in the hallway as he passes by and laughs like he's in middle-school; anything to herass. (yes, I misspelled that on purpose.) He can pick out your insecurities (usually ones you didn't even realize you had) and turn them into the biggest stinking joke ever.
And still, we all love him. Why? There are plenty of reasons. He's the Wednesday-morning donut guy! You can't hate a guy like that! Enough about Craig or I'll get sad. -er.

Thursday evening was also the blood drive for Clay Ortega (a boy from our church who has been diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma)

I was a little too stressed to give blood. I think I'll give on the 18th when Kendle goes.

Ah, Kendle's truck broke down, also. The breaks seriously had some issues and locked up on him going down the road. It's scary to be driving along and be thrown 45degrees to the left. It's worse when it happens to you and not your wife. No, I'm not upset that he never listened to me, but I'm kind of like, HUH! So you believe me now? heheheee... So, yeah...that's what he did on Friday. He wound up having to replace the entire wheel base. It's crazy, really, but he was able to get some of the parts from a friend who had rolled his truck. I think he'll be finished with it tonight. He needs to fix his cadillac catalytic converter, too.

I had a house full this weekend. Jerry and Emily brought Justin down and stayed Saturday night to go to Pat's b-day party (which didn't really go as I had planned) on Sunday. They went ahead and stayed Sunday night and Jerry and Patrick went fishing yesterday morning.

I'm tired. I stayed up until 1am cleaning house. It's still not all done, but I did a few loads of laundry and cleaned the living/dining rooms and Kendle did dishes. I need to clean my bedroom, wash the stove, and an endless list of other things...

Why is it that you can't even put away one thing without opening a cabinet that just has to be straightened up before you can add anything to it. Blah.

Ooh! I got to talk to Chris and Lenny last night. Yay! It made me happy.




And then it made me sad. =(



My hair is amazing today. Just had to throw that in there. =)

Things that make you go, "hmmmm..."

Hello Blogland. I miss you. But I don't have time for more than a quick update.

I started school on the 15th, so I guess my first week is gone and we're on week #2. So far, all is going well. My teachers are, for the most part, agreeable enough. I'm not having problems learning from any of them, thus far. Mr. Gregoli is probably the hardest simply because he talks in a monotone about things that are above my level of understanding and beyond anything we'll learn in the semester. It's hard to pay attention long enough to dig through what he's saying and see what is relevant, but at the same time, It usually helps me if they bring in the more advanced concepts and examples. It causes me to question and think beyond the here and now. It can also help me to catch something later on that wouldn't have really clicked with me had he not used a particular example. OK, so enough about Chemistry. Wait, one more thing: He skipped class today. Heheehe. I think his dental appt. ran later than he expected.

What else of college...umm...oh, The BCU. I went to Monday-night service this week and met a ton of people. No Joke. It was fun. I'm not really sure what to think yet, though. I got there early and Ronnie (the director)and I talked for a little bit. He said that we're going to be starting a study on John 3:16. I though he was going to be speaking from that scripture. When service time came, he holds up the book by Max Lucado called 3:16 The Numbers of Hope and says that we're going to start doing a study on John 3:16. He then holds up a tract that comes with the books and explains that after we complete the training, we'll all be able to lead someone to Christ with the tract.
*sigh*
I won't say anything. Like I said, I'm not sure what to think yet.
They did ask me if I wanted to sing with them. I'm willing to do that. I just can't be very committed to it. I've just been put over the youth p/w at the church and Kendle and I are about to start a college care group, so I'm not really sure how much time I'll have for extra stuff and still get all of my studying done. I'll just have to feel it out and see where God leads. It's hard to know how much can be crammed into time and still remain sane in areas of relationships with God and your spouse. Oh, and to where does the time for blogging run away? Things that make you go, "hmmmm..."

Of Dinner and such *deliciousness*

I cooked Lasagna last night. It was very good. I did have one small problem. I cooked waaay too much. I should've posted an invitation to all of you for dinner at my place! It was good, though. But I said that already. I think it could have stood to be a little more saucy and a little less meaty, but it was plenty CHEEZIE! Yes, that's right. Cheese. Mmmmm. If I could find my camera, I'd've taken a picture of it and posted it on here for you to drool over. Oh, and I also made summer/zucchini squash to go with. Just sliced it and added a tad of olive oil and about 1/4 cup water, put the lid on the skillet and let it do its deal. Come to think of it, I cooked it in the same pan that I made my sauce in, so there were a few bonus flavors in that dish. It actually complimented the lasagna really well.