Wednesday Update

Last night we listened to Ashley's radio show. Unfortunately we kept losing the connection on the computer and missed some of it. She is a little green, but I think she will come along. Poor Bobo had a bad day with her car. It wouldn't start after classes and she had to buy a new battery and it still wouldn't start. After some new fuses it seemed to be working again. Unfortunately she had to call Doug after work last night because it wouldn't start again.Poor Bobo, I hope it's nothing too serious with the car.

Skidboot the Amazing Dog

THESE ARE ACTUAL NEWSPAPER ADS

* Free Yorkshire Terrier: 8 years old. Hateful little dog.
Bites.
* Free Puppies: half Cocker Spaniel, half sneaky neighbors
dog.
* Free Puppies: Part German Shepherd, part stupid dog.
* Free German Shepherd: 85 lbs. Neutered, Speaks German.
* Found Dirty White Dog: Looks like a rat....been out a
while....better be a reward.
* Cows, Calves: Never Bred..Also 1 gay bull for sale.
* Nordic Track: $300 Hardly used..call Chubby.
* Georgia Peaches: California grown â 89 cents lb.
* Joining Nudist Colony! Must sell washer and dryer $300.
* Wedding Dress For Sale: Worn once by mistake.
Call Stephanie.

AND THE BEST ONE:

For Sale By Owner: Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica.
45 volumes. Excellent condition. $1,000 or best Offer.
No longer needed, got married last month. Wife knows
everything.

Monday Update

Yesterday was a good day. The whole family was here together all at the same time. We didn't know Ashley was going to be here until around 3:30. Doug and Thomas want to Mt Vernon to pick up her and four of her friends. I hope they enjoyed the home cooked food. The French Onion Soup that Diedre requested went very well. In fact after I gave her some to take home, it was all gone. It was also a very nice surprise to see Mary, it had been awhile since she had been here. I think a good time was had by all. Although Doug was not feeling well yesterday. He started with a headache and by the time he went to bed he had cold sweats and is still having them this morning. I hope it is nothing serious.

Recipe of the Day

Kitty Litter Cake!

CAKE INGREDIENTS:
1 box spice or German chocolate cake mix
1 box of white cake mix
1 package white sandwich cookies
1 large package vanilla instant pudding mix
A few drops green food coloring
12 small Tootsie Rolls or equivalent

SERVING "DISHES AND UTENSILS"
1 NEW cat-litter box
1 NEW cat-litter box liner
1 NEW pooper scooper

1) Prepare and bake cake mixes, according to directions, in any size pan. Prepare pudding and chill. Crumble cookies in small batches in blender or food processor. Add a few drops of green food coloring to 1 cup of cookie crumbs. Mix with a fork or shake in a jar. Set aside.

2) When cakes are at room temperature, crumble them into a large bowl. Toss with half of the remaining cookie crumbs and enough pudding to make the mixture moist but not soggy. Place liner in litter box and pour in mixture.

3) Unwrap 3 Tootsie Rolls and heat in a microwave until soft and pliable. Shapethe blunt ends into slightly curved points. Repeat with three more rolls. Bury the rolls decoratively in the cake mixture. Sprinkle remaining white cookie crumbs over the mixture, then scatter green crumbs lightly over top.

4) Heat 5 more Tootsie Rolls until almost melted. Scrape them on top of the cake and sprinkle with crumbs from the litter box. Heat the remaining Tootsie Roll until pliable and hang it over the edge of the box. Place box on a sheet of newspaper and serve with scooper. Enjoy!

Sunday Update

It was a rare weekend. I got to see both Thomas and Ashley. Unfortunately, I did not get to see them both at the same time. I long for the Soup Sunday when everyone is together, even if just for a few minutes. Thomas and Diedre will both be here for Soup Sunday tonight. Chloe went to Dubuque to visit Katie at Loras and will return this afternoon. I am glad the sun is shining, that means she will have good driving weather. Thomas will go back to school tonight, but he will return later in the week for his Fall break. Yeah!!!

If building yourself up is tearing others down, then its time to rethink your priorities...

-Unknown

Friday Update

I am bummed that we were not able to go see David Sedaris at the Paramount last night. That would have been a very good show. Oh well, Doug made some very good bread and and cinnamon raisin rolls for me to take to food day at work. I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday.

*** I Do Dog Tricks ***

Sit, paw, beg, down, jump, roll over,
play dead and speak.

Recipe of the Day

PUMPKIN COFFEE CAKE:

1/2 cup butter
3 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sour cream
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 eggs
1/2 cup evaporated milk

Topping:
1/3 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup pecans (or walnuts)

Grease or spray the bottom of a 9x13 pan.
Mix together first 8 ingredients.
Pour 1/2 of the mixture in the 9x13 pan.
Prepare the pumpkin exactly like the pumpkin pie recipe on the can of pumpkin
except you only use 1/2 cup of evaporated milk Or just mix together the next 8
ingredients.
Pour all of the pumpkin mixture over the batter in the 9x13 pan.
Pour the remaining half of batter over the pumpkin (this step is a little
difficult-it's ok that the pumpkin mixes in a little with the batter) Make the
topping, put over batter.
Bake in a 325 degree over for 50-60 minutes.
Let cool completely. 

Thursday Update

There is supposed to be sunshine today. I really could use some. Everyone at work wants a nap at around 1 becuase it has been so gloomy outside. Tomorrow we have a food day at work because it is blood drive day. I have asked Doug to make some homemade bread for me to take. It will be the best thing there.

Thomas got to Omaha alright last night. They did have a little problem getting back into their school van after stopping to eat. The school had given them the key to start the van, but no key to unlock the van. They had to get a locksmith to open the van for them. I hope this is the only problem they have.

Ashley had training for the Cornell radio station last night. She will have her own one hour radio show on Tuesday nights from 6-7, 89.7 KRNL.

How to tell where they're from by how
they drive

* One hand on wheel, one hand on horn:
 Chicago
* One hand on wheel, one finger out window:
 New York
* One hand on wheel, one hand on newspaper,
 foot solidly on accelerator: Boston
* One hand on wheel, cradling cell phone,
 brick on accelerator: California.
* One hand on wheel, cradling cell phone,
 brick on accelerator, gun in lap: Los Angeles
* Both hands on wheel, eyes shut, both feet
 on brake, quivering in terror: Ohio, but
 driving in California.
* Both hands in air, gesturing, both feet on
 accelerator, head turned to talk to someone
 in back seat: Italy
* One hand on latte, one knee on wheel,
 cradling cell phone, foot on brake,
 mind on game: Seattle
* One hand on wheel, one hand on hunting rifle,
 alternating between both feet being on the
 accelerator and both on the brake, throwing a
 McDonalds bag out the window: Texas city male
* One hand on wheel, one hand hanging out the
 window, keeping speed steadily at 70mph, driving
 down the center of the road unless coming around
 a blind curve, in which case they are on the left
 side of the road: Texas country male
* One hand constantly refocusing the rear-view
 mirror to show different angles of the BIG hair,
 one hand going between mousse, brush, and rat-tail
 to keep the helmet hair going, both feet on the
 accelerator, poodle steering the car, chrome .38
 revolver with mother of pearl inlaid handle in the
 glove compartment: Texas female
* Four wheel drive pickup truck, shotgun mounted in
 rear window, beer cans on floor, squirrel tails
 attached to antenna: West Virginia
* Two hands gripping wheel, blue hair barely visible
 above window level, driving 35 on the interstate in
 the left lane with the left blinker on: Florida

Tuesday Update

Yesterday was very busy at work. I guess that is a good thing. Especially since there were 15 sales people laid off last week and 2 managers resigned.

Last night we had one of my favorite comfort meals, grilled cheese & ham sandwiches with tomato soup. We watched Heros, it is good but it moves very slow. The same way that lost moved slow in its first two seasons. Thomas will be leaving for Omaha on Wednesday. I hope he has a safe trip and I hope he finds time to have some fun as well. Mao used to think that 9:00 was bedtime, now he is pushing for bedtime at 7:30. The silly cat really misses playing the string game with Thomas. He yowled at me to play with him last night and I don't think I play it as well as Thomas.

I want the gloom to go away. Where is the sun?

Monday Update

This will be my 1,760th post. I don't know why I thought I needed to tell everyone that bit of info.

It is already Monday, the weekend went too fast and I really didn't do anything. We watched a silly Johnny Depp movie called Crybaby. The ugliest woman in the world was in it. We also watched the 3rd episode of Dexter last night. It was excellent once again. If you ever get a chance to watch that show you really should.

Sunday Update

Today is Maos 11th Birthday. That makes him 77 in cat years. He is now older than my Dad.

Yesterday I went outside to put some of the leaves from my leaf pile into trash cans. A creepy guy was smoking a cigarette and hanging out by our evergreen on the corner. Luckily Doug noticed him from inside and came out to the yard. Once the creepy guy saw Doug he took off up the sidewalk toward 1st Ave. I'm glad I have Doug to protect me from creepy guys.

It is a sad time, we are officially trying to sell GG. Someone contacted us about taking a look at her, they were supposed to come by on Saturday. Only they never showed up or called. I'm glad they didn't, I don't want that type of person owning her. She deserves some respect.

Thomas has informed me that he and Diedre will be coming for supper next Sunday. I am so glad, it seems like forever since I have seen him. We will be having pasole and french onion soup (Diedre's request).

I am getting very upset with Mediacom this weekend. Just because the wind is blowing we keep losing our connection. Hey didn't they have a commercial on TV that said this doesn't happen if you have Mediacom. Get your *#@~ together Mediacom.

Happy Birthday Mao!
It's your Birthday..It's your Birthday!

Recipe of the Day

Mouseburger Bites

For those days when you just wanna sit around with your cat. (Doesn't contain mouse.)

	3 oz	Sausage or finely ground beef
	2 T	Oatmeal
	1	Egg
		Catnip finely chopped

Knead the ingreadients together very thoroughly and form into a flat oval. Broil under a medium heat for 5-7 minutes,turning frequently until the outside is crisp. Wait until cool,then slice into bite sized chunks and feed to your cat.

Friday the 13th Facts


According to Smithsonian Magazine "fear of the #13 costs American a billion dollars per year in absenteeism, train and plane cancellations, and reduced commerce on the 13th of the month."

Fear of Friday the 13th dates back to Nordic Mythology. Many of their thirteenth Gods met with violent deaths, such as Loki, the trickster.

Ancient Romans regarded the number 13 as a symbol of death, destruction and misfortune.

Lizzy Borden uttered a total of 13 words at her trial.

There were 13 original colonies.

A witches coven consists of 13 members.

Tarot Card number 13 is the Death Card, depicting the Grim Reaper (although it is read as transition or change and not literal death).

Hotels rarely have a room number 13. Usually it is called 12a or 14. Same with floors of buildings and the elevators without a #13 button. Highways sometimes will skip exit 13 altogether also.

There are 13 steps leading to the gallows.

13 knots in a hangman's noose.

13 feet which the guillotine blade falls.

The driver of Princess Diana hit pillar #13 at Place de l'Alma when she was killed in Paris, France.

13 people, Christ and his 12 disciples, were in attendance at the last supper. This is where the Christian belief ties in, making Friday a believed unlucky day, as the crucifixtion occurred on a Friday.

Certain ocean liners will be held in dock until after midnight to appease passenger's fears on Friday the 13th.

British study concluded that even though there were less cars on the road on Friday the 13th (as compared with other Fridays) more accidents were reported.

Trisadekaphobia is the technical name for fear of Friday the 13th.

Apollo 13, 1970, the 13th mission launched from pad #39 (13 x 3), mission was aborted, after an explosion occurred in the fuel cell of their service module. The rocket had left launcing pad at 13:13 CST and the date was April 13th.

Epluribus Unum has 13 letters.

The US Seal has 13 stars, bars, feathers in the eagle's tail, 13 bars in one claw, 13 olive branches in the other.

A "quatrorzieme" is a professional 14th guest hired by the French who had only 13 guests in attendance for dinner, who felt that was unlucky.

A baker's dozen consists of 13 for a reason! So the story goes a witch near Albany, NY demanded 13 items every time she came in to a particular bakery, and one day the old baker could not afford her extra biscuit. She sneered some strange words at the man, and he suffered terrible luck from then on, until he brought her another 13 rolls. After that life was once again easy for the baker and word spread around town. The custom is still sometimes practiced today.

Thursday Update

It snowed last night!!!!! I'm not ready for this Winter thing yet. At leat it only stuck to the ground and car windshields. It isn't on the street. It has been a relatively quiet week. Last night we watched Lost and tried to watch The Nine. This was the second episode and we just weren't feeling it. Tonight will be another new episode of My Name is Earl. I do love that show.