Almost Mine’s Birthday Dinner

Almost Mine picked Chili’s as his birthday dinner restaurant. Zman and his girl K had plans for later that evening, so we invited her to join us. I got this appetizer for free with a coupon. Mmmm.

Bean, Bug, Almost Mine

Fadre, Poppa, iNik, Nana

Zman and K (he loves for me to take his picture)

Almost Mine got a cool backpack for his Nintendo DS.

Me, iNik, Nana

I ate me some of this.

While Fadre had this.

The girls you ask? They went all the way to a restaurant to get the same mac ‘n’ cheese I make at home.

Bug was a little tired and in a sour mood.

I tried to sympathize with her.

I shared this with Fadre and it was good!

A perfect end to a fantastic night.

Dinner at Nana’s

For as long as I can remember, our birthday tradition has been to either go out to dinner to celebrate, or have Nana cook your favorite dinner.  For years my birthday dinner request was stir fry.  But eventually I learned to make it myself and I don’t want to be wasting my birthday dinner on a meal I can cook.  My new favorite is a Weight Watchers chicken dish that probably doesn’t conform to Weight Watchers rules any more because it contains full fat cheese and other goodies.  My best description is chicken stuffed with sautéed celery and carrots.  Then the chicken is smothered in tomato sauce, covered in mozzarella cheese and served over rice.   It is incredible!!  But it takes a lot of work.  Something about beating the chicken ‘til it’s really thin and using a cuisinart (which I do not own).  So I just wait until my birthday, or if my mom ever asks for dinner suggestions. 

This year my youngest sister came back from college for the weekend to help celebrate.

Sidebar – her knee is healing up nicely…

The kids were not that into the chicken dish, so mom fixed them pizza.  And somebody ate Easy Mac, yuck!

C and Bug watched a little TV. 

Bean and Almost Mine played a few video games.

And then Bean….

I don’t know what she’s doing.  Don’t ask.

Thanks for a great birthday dinner Nana!!!

Parlez-Vous Francais

Part of my job is to make property inspections. Today I was going to inspect 24 apartment units. My inspection started as normal as any other and the property manager accompanied me. About halfway through, we headed back to the leasing office to re-load on the unit keys. Then the manager introduced me to the maintenance man who would be my tour guide for the rest of my inspection. This is within the norm.

Then she says, “He speaks a little English.” Oh.

“His name is Fernando*.” I guess he won’t be impressed by my four years of high school French then.

And he has laryngitis. Peachy.


*Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

I’ve Been Tagged!

I’ve been tagged by Pam list 20 random things about myself.  Pam found me through MckMama’s website  and as it turns out, has extended family living close to us.  Her blog is Twenty Little Piggies, which is a very cute name but not one I could ever use since A) I have three children and we’d have to be 30 little piggies and B) well if you saw this post you’d remember that my girls’ piggies aren’t too cute and Zman’s piggies are growing hair (EEEWWW!), so I’ll just stick with what I’ve got.

Much like  Pam, I don’t actually know 20 bloggers, but I’ll do what I can.

1. I have 5 tattoos.
2. Since meeting Fadre, I have had 3 different last names:  1st I was born with, 2nd I got when I was adopted at age 21 by my dad, 3rd I got the day I married Fadre.
3. I can make my eyes look in two different directions at the same time.
4. I was born in England.
5. I spent a year in Guam.
6. My dream job is to be a high school math teacher.
7. I don’t like bugs.
8. I am ALWAYS cold.
9. I was an extended and tandem nurser. 
10. I love humor.
11. I like brownies but hate chocolate cake.
12. When asked about “hot” celebrities, people like Sean Connery, Sam Elliot, Will Smith, and Hugh Jackman come to mind.  Noone under the age of 35 comes to mind.
13. Every clock in my house is set to a different time in an effort to help me be “timely”.
14. I have 11 earrings.
15. I don’t like oatmeal, but try it every year in the hopes that I will develop a taste for it.
16. My youngest sister is 17 years my junior.
17. Geckos are my “thing”.
18. I like to knit and crochet.
19. I hate to exercise.
20. It was Love at First Sight for me and Fadre.  When I found out he ordered two dozens roses for me for Valentine’s Day before we ever had our first date, I knew he was the one.

I tag:

• iNik at Nikki and Mason 
• Jocelyn at Don’t Take Fruit from a Talking Snake
• Heather at Royle Family Fun
• Katy at The Schrodt Family

Biopsy

That title will grab your attention, won't it? On Monday I had a biopsy done. Wes and Nikki came with me to the doctor's office. Mom wanted to be there but she had jury duty (lucky dog - yeah, right!). After two sets of mammograms, an ultrasound, the actual biopsy, and 2.5 hours of my life, I walked back into the waiting room. My support system (including Mom after she had been released from jury duty) was there waiting for me. THANKS GUYS! Of course, it took so long that they were the last people in the waiting room. The clinic called this morning to say the spot was benign and I'm good to go.

I'm grateful for those moments when my prayers coincide with God's plans for me!

I was tagged

I've been tagged by Heather to do the following:

1. Choose the 4th picture folder on my computer

2. Choose the 4th picture

3. Explain the picture

4. Tag 4 people to do the same.

For our 14th anniversary (October 2005) Wes and I took the bike to Nashville then on to Chattanooga. We both packed for 1 week in those two saddlebags and half a backpack. When we left Memphis it was sunny and about 80 degrees. You see that black backpack on the back of the bike? That is my laptop! I had a job in Union City, so we traveled through Union City on our way to Nashville so I could inspect the property. CRAZY - I know! It was still warm when we left Nashville for Chattanooga. However, we ran into a HUGE storm on the way and the temperature dropped about 30 degrees. Wes had on a long sleeved shirt and I had on a very lightweight jean jacket. We had to stop at every rest stop along the way to use the air hand dryers on our clothes. By the time we got to the bed and breakfast we looked like drowned rats. The innkeeper was so kind to us and took our clothes and shoes (they were the only ones we packed) and put them in the dryer for us. We bought sweaters in Chattanooga to keep us warm on the way back to Nashville. In Nashville, our first stop was the leather store at Opry Mills Mall where we bought coats, gloves, and boots. This is a picture of me on the way back to Memphis. Even with all that gear on I was still cold. Wes and I joke about the old saying "It's not about the destination, it's about the journey." You know what? Sometimes it's about the destination!!!!!

I tag:

1. Nikki

2. Jocelyn

3. Katy

4. Christine

All I wanted was a new pair of glasses.....

So I go to the optometrist about a month ago. He tells me my vision is changing while I'm sitting in the chair. While it can be normal, there are a few medical conditions that it can be caused by and he would like for me to have a physical before he gives me a new prescription. So I call and make an appointment for a physical and while I'm at it I remember it's time for my annual "girl" check up, so I make that appointment as well. The physical shows I have high cholesterol. The check up shows high cholesterol, low iron, low vitamin D and a small mass on my left side. So now I'm taking an iron supplement, a vitamin D supplement, have to go on a low cholesterol diet (but not until after Christmas she said, THANKFULLY!), and have a biopsy done next Monday.

GEEEEEZ! All I wanted was a new pair of glasses......