Friday, November 28, 2008

Black Friday...

Good Black Friday everyone. I have made it to Iowa, note to home burglars, this is not an invitation to go search through my belongings. *smile* I'm a bit tired, some in the house were up at 5am to go shopping. I declined, but was awoken none the less. I have been to sleep and awake for the past few hours. I gave up and will now face the day. I will likely go out to the stores in a while, but I was not going to go stand in line a 5am. Also, I'm in Iowa, I'm not sure there is much else to do, except gamble money I don't have.

Let's hope for some great photos though, who knows what there will be to photograph.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

A List...

My life these days revolves around "To Do" lists, to keep track of my life. So in the spirit of the list and the spirit of tomorrow's holiday and in the spirit of David Letterman...my thankful list.

Things I am thankful for: 2008

10: Electricity!

9: Wine/Beer/Spirits

8: pop tarts

7: non-annoying family and friends

6: cheap gas

5: cameras

4: hot bubble baths

3: coffee and pumpkin treats

2: Maggie

And Number 1...


1: My loyal blog readers


Have a great Thanksgiving kids, I don't know how much time or internet access I will have over the next few days, I will blog if possible.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Pumpkin Dumplings...

As we approach Thanksgiving, and that fact that I haven't gotten it posted earlier, enjoy my take on pumpkin dumplings.

First make the crust. I used a very easy pie crust recipe, yep from scratch.

In a bowl mix 2 heaping cups of flour. A pinch of Salt, 1/2 cup of oil, and 1/2 cup of milk.

It should mix up nicely. Although this photo doesn't help much does it.
Get ready to roll out the crust. You will need a rolling pin and 2 sheets of wax paper.

Place the ball of dough between the two piece of wax paper and then roll out the dough.

Once the dough is rolled out place it in the freezer until you need it again. Leave it in the wax paper.Next, make the filling. You will start with a can of pumpkin pie mix.

The mix is already flavored, but I like a bit of additional pumpkin pie spice, just to taste. You can also use cinnamon and/or nutmeg. Make sure it is thoroughly mixed together.
Now search for the pan to bake the dumplings on. I love my large bar pan from Pampered Chef for these. I do put it in the oven and heat it while the oven is heating to 350 degrees.

Pull the crust out of the freezer and then cut it into sections. Place a small scope of filing in middle and then fold in the edges. If it does not completely cover, it's ok.

Take the pan out of the oven and arrange the dumplings so they can expand just a bit, they will not do too much expanding. Then bake until golden brown 10 minutes or so.

While the dumplings are baking, make the drizzle. Put a cup or two of brown sugar into a skillet. Then add a bit of cinnamon and just a bit of water.
Continuously stir the sauce. Until it is thick but not too thick that it will not drizzle.

Take the dumplings out of the oven. Almost done!

Place the dumplings on your plate/bowl, drizzle with topping and add a scope of vanilla ice cream on the side. YUM! Note to self, have camera ready when placing ice cream near a hot dumpling., it will melt quickly.

ENJOY!

(You can make the filling as you would for pie filling, but I like it this way. I also make a batch by placing the crust in a mini muffin tin and then adding the topping and covering, worked very well.)











Monday, November 24, 2008

Go Bucks and HTML and SMART People!

It Is Defiantly Monday...

It's raining and cold and a good day to stay at home on the couch reading a good Evanovich book. However, I have to work and therefore did not have this option this morning. I started off the morning great, remembering to bring in my donations for the food drive. Yeah me--remembering. Then I get to my office door and realize I didn't bring my work bag, therefore have no key to actually get into my office. Brilliant! At least the lady who had the key did not give me a hard time.

I have 3 high school students on campus today from out of state. I'm working with them because the college decided not to hire a recruitment person to replace the person who left in August. No worries, just got a little damp walking them to another building to observe a class. As we are entering the building I felt the back of my earring fall and the front was no where to be found. I of course could not then find the classroom they were to sit in on, brilliant!

Then the Chair decides to pay me a visit, nothing major, but the picture she saw sitting on the floor the last time she was in is still sitting in the same location. I have to charge the battery on the drill ok-give me a moment--I've got real work to do. She didn't say anything, but did look at it for a longer than needed moment.

So kids, it's Monday and I'm ready to go home!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Do Your Part...

It only takes a second and goes to a good cause. Even if you only click once you can make a difference. Support American Farms--American grown food!

Campbell Soup Company has pledged up to a quarter of a million dollars to help expand the future of American farming. When you visit HelpGrowYourSoup.com and click on the red barn from 09/29/08 to 06/21/09, Campbell will donate $1 on your behalf—up to $250,000—to the National FFA Organization, which is dedicated to developing our future leaders through agricultural education.

Go to HelpGrowYourSoup.com right now! *grin*

(You have to click on the Red Barn at the top of the page and then click again on the barn on the next page, it will show you how many people have clicked. )
The Whole State of Michigan...

I know there are a few Michigan fans out there, my apologies, but, please see the YouTube video to the side.

I'm on such an old version of this blog I can't embed in the actual blog entry, sad, very sad.

If you jump in the lake tonight, please have tons of towels/blankets to get warm immediately after jumping!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

More Wednesday Rambles...





As you can see I have nothing to really talk about these days, so let me just ramble on a bit more.





I find that if you do well at your job you are simply asked to take on more and wonder what exactly the person who was doing the job is now going to do since that is now off their plate. Hummmm.





I have now had two requests from the university to use my snow photo of the shoe for their holiday department cards. One was going to offer me money, but then request to just use the card. Since I work in the department, what was I to say exactly. Now I have this second request. I'm going to agree and give them permission to use it, but no offer of money really drove me a bit crazy. Yes, it's a great photo, appreciate it and then give me your dollars. Oh well to be appreciated I guess is better than paid.





Ms. A told me about a great deal though snapfish for a free photo book. YEAH, but no wait, I was not fast enough on the draw and missed the deadline. Crap, but thanks Ms. A for cluing me in. I've got to check out Oprah's website more often.





Grading sucks. I'm not sure how school teachers do it all the time. I only have 20 students but it seems to take me forever to get stuff graded for my class. I'm going to have to request a planning period time for this grading. I find this all funny because I thought I wanted to be a teacher when I was little.





I need to leave Ohio, need to get my passport, need to plan a trip, need to have an idea of when I'm going to be able to leave the country again. First step is the passport, waiting until January to see if I have any holiday money.





I believe our building should get rid of the bells that ring every 48 minutes. It's bothersome and we are a university not a high school.



Oh and a random photo for those who miss the photos. I'm not sure why I always seem to be taking photos of my feet. I loved these trainers, love them, I used they still made them. So sad.


Wednesday, please soon be Thursday, then soon be Friday, please.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Random Tuesday Ramblings….

Last night I had dinner with the marrieds, well the Ladies of the Marrieds (sounds like a band title to me); the men folk were out earning some bacon to bring home. This is a tradition that had fallen to the side as our lives have taken on such busy schedules, so it was a delight to visit the tradition again and hope it will not be too long for the next one.

I experienced my first winter driving fun last night. After hours of endless random chatting and leaving way past the time I should, I had to scrape my car off from the snow. ICK! This is a cold and not particularly fun experience. Then as I was coming into Grandview I hit a patch of black ice and did a mini spin. I didn’t hit anything thank goodness so all was well. There were a ton of accidents though. Two different parts of 315 were closed because of accidents and there were a few cars against the cement wall on the interstate headed in the wrong direction. I’m guessing they also found black ice, but were not as lucky as I to avoid walls and other cars. Winter wonderland time is upon us.

My apologies to Buffalo Bills fans out there, I know there are a couple of you. I didn’t watch the game, but started driving home as the 4th quarter started and listened to it on the radio. The start of the 4th quarter was great, such a long return for a touch down, yeah, the Browns are going to win; the Browns are going to win. The extra point is good, then the kick off. Shit, the Bills returned an even longer one for a touch down. What in the world? I didn’t get to hear part of the 4th quarter, getting into the house, getting under warm blankets and such, but then when I turned the radio back on, the Browns pulled off a 56 yard field goal, although the announcer argued in was 57. Game play, 50 some seconds on the clock and the Bills are ready to kick a field goal, a more reasonable yardage one. The announcers were holding their breath, thinking how the Browns were going to come back from being down two points after the goal was made. Then, the kick—NO GOOD! The announcer was doing cart wheels, ready to take on the world-his Browns had just won the game, it was just a matter of taking a knee for the next play. Sorry for the recap for those who listened or watched, but it amused me. I then was off to a peaceful slumber, but kicking myself for just a bit for not getting to sleep earlier.

Cake should be yellow or white, not chocolate. However, pretzels should always be dipped in dark chocolate, not white. Funny.

This episode will now conclude. A Tremendous Tuesday to you all.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Monday...

First, a big thank you to my guest blogger on Friday. I was too out of commission to actually do blogging much last week. Although your blog was short, it was to the point and appreciated.

I'm more healthy then I was last week. I have the bits of the remainder of a cold, but I'm moving which is more than I can say for most of last week. I'm such a wimp when I get sick. I don't know how Mom's do it, they are sick and usually have to take care of a sick child also, no time to just sleep it off.

It was snowing this morning. The first snow that was actually sticking that I've seen so far this autumn/winter. I really wanted to grab my camera and head out, but nope, I came to work instead. It snowed on me on my way to Urbana Saturday, but wasn't sticking, just big wet flakes.

Urbana, those guys, seriously taking over the world.

Happy Monday Kids, good to be back.

Friday, November 14, 2008

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

ENJOY A GREAT WEEKEND.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Still Ill...

I'm still feeling under the weather, frustrated because I seem to have no energy and need energy now! I have a photo shot scheduled for Saturday and another one scheduled Sunday, good grief, I can hack a lung all over these kind people.

Just checking in kids. Drink your OJ and get sleep!

Monday, November 10, 2008

Feel Like Shit...

That's me today. This is a warning, if you saw me in the last 3 days be advised, I was likely carrying these cooties. Sorry, I didn't know. I hope none of you get it, because it has sucked all of my energy and I feel like a semi has hit me. Oh wait that did happen to me once, it doesn't really feel like that I guess. I think it's more like a ton of bricks laying on my head. ARGH!!!

Friday, November 07, 2008

All About Me-Volume 428...

Since everything is all about me, here are a few more random facts about me. Did you know...

*I love pumpkin. Love almost everything pumpkin flavored. The only item I have had I didn't like was a pumpkin buckeye. I will likely be posting a pumpkin recipe soon-*smile*.

*I love shoes, love, love, love them. I just bought a new pair for the first time in months. I was on a self inflicted shoe buying ban. I'm still mostly on a ban, but I really, really needed new trainers. I got them finally. I have been searching and searching for the right ones and finally found them. YEAH! Maybe I'll even take a picture of them.

*I'm not a morning person. I used to be a night owl, but I'm not one of those either any more. I have to be at work at 730am and by the time 11pm comes around I'm dead, ready for 10 hours of sleep by get only 7-7 1/2--it's sad really. I don't know if this is being old or responsible.

*I will most likely not be in the state of Ohio for Thanksgiving. I say most likely because this involves my family and although I love them, they are last moment people. Seriously, those of you that get frustrated with me and my last moment decisions--I inherited it, so give me just a wee bit of slack.

*I will eat pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving--one way or another--even if I have to make it myself-YIKES!!!

*My favorite children's book is The Large and Growly Bear. He goes growling and prowling and scrowling--it's grand!

*I believe you should be able to buy eggs by the single. If I only need one egg, I should get to buy just one egg. I feel this way likely because I don't use a ton of eggs and my parents usually keep me in a supply of fresh farm eggs. Sometimes the eggs are even different colors, green, blue, seriously and not just at Easter time. I prefer the brown eggs, I think because that what we always had when I was growing up.

*I believe there should be a 4 day work week. I mean, really stuff is never going to get done anyway. We would all be a bit less stressed if we only worked 4 days and had 3 to play. I say more play is needed in everyone's life.

*Go play kids--enjoy your weekend-and remember it's all about me. *grin*

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Random Facts…

You never know when you might need to know this stuff.

* The peanut isn't a nut. It is a legume, a member of the pea family. (Sometimes, you feel like a nut…)

* According to the federal Trade Commission, there are 20,000 television commercials made each year that are aimed exclusively at children. Of these, 7,000 are for sugared breakfast cereals. (I discovered Fruity Pebbles in college-love them!)

* In Sweden, it is a breech of etiquette for you to toast your host or anyone who is your senior in rank or age until after they toast you. (Keep this in mind for you next trip.)

*Ice cream was invented in China around 2000 B.C. when the Chinese packed a soft milk-and-rice mixture in snow. About 62 A.D., the Roman Emperor Nero sent slaves to the tops of the Apennines Mountains to bring fresh snow down to the royal kitchens, where the snow was then flavored with fruits and honey. (I’m just glad someone figured it out!)
I Will Do Better...

Yesterday just got away from me. I worked through lunch and just couldn't stay after work, had to leave, had to. Anyway since you are so patient with me. I promise two blogs today. I can't promise the quality, but promise two.

This morning I have something to confess. I have an addiction. I have become a coffee stopper. There I said it, now hopefully I'll be on the road to recovery. I've been stopping every morning for the past couple of weeks somewhere to get coffee on my way to work. I spread my millions around, not just supporting one place. However, there is the problem, I DON'T have millions. I need to use the coffee pot in my little office. I need to save this money to invest my in rather expensive other addiction. Photography. It started as a little hobby, then a little way to make a bit of extra cash, but now I'm all in. Laying out my cards, about to drop a load of cash on backdrops and lighting, and what the hell am I thinking.

Ok, enough about the addictions, I just wanted to take the first step.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD THURSDAY Morning!!!!!!!

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Election Day…

I did it! I voted today! I didn’t make it in line at 6:30am, but I was in line by 6:45am. I cast my ballet at 8am. Not too bad a wait, although I thought it might run a bit quicker. I was not complaining. I planned ahead. I wore trainers and planned for the long haul—if only I had taken a coffee with me.

I learned a few things while waiting in line.

1. Some individuals do not know how to stand in a line. The lady behind me was a “too close” stander. I could understand if there was limited space in which to cue, cue such a funny word, didn’t know it was to stand in line when I was in Europe, I was very confused the first time I learned of it while waiting on a bus. A lady said their cueing and off she went, what-what—what does this mean, then I learned. Anyway—give a little space, good grief we were outside there was no need to keep hitting me while I was patiently waiting to cast my vote.

2. Some will go to all lengths to take advantage of a situation. My polling place was inside a Catholic School. I didn’t really care, some had to go to Kroger to vote. However, then the school set up a bake sale right outside the polling room, I got a bit annoyed. One they were blocking the bottom of a stairway with a large table—fire hazard! Two, really you think this is the time for a bake sale? Honestly they likely will make money after individuals stand in line for an hour or more, but the ethics of it, just bothers me. Now if the bake sale were at the other end of building with a sign, then great, but don’t put it right in my face.

3. I’m just a bitch. The policy states that campaign signs have to be at least 100 yards from a polling center. Well, I found it odd a car with campaign signs in the back window was allowed to park directly outside the polling entrance. I questioned it when I signed in. The lady said she would take care of it. I started to feel bad, thinking a teacher would have to leave class to move the car. I then didn’t feel a bit bad, when another poll worker was asked to go move the car. WHAT! You are a poll worker, you should know the policy -- to have your signs the last items an individual sees before voting is just wrong.

4. There are no longer curtains to stand behind when voting. It’s out in the open, you have a bit of privacy, but Lou decided at the last moment to go with me to see the process. I planned to take his photo and all with the ballet, but that was not an option, no curtain to hide behind.

5. Starbucks knows how to do some serious marketing--yeah for free coffee.

Do you have any fun voting stories?

Monday, November 03, 2008

VOTE 2008...

The end is near, tomorrow is the deadline, voting must occur by you and all concerned parties of the United States. I dated a guy once that said he didn't vote because he didn't have time to do jury duty--bull shit! Get off you asses and vote or you don't get to bitch/complain/or in general comment on the state of our country.

Now that being said, I highly recommend you educate yourself before voting. Ohio voters listen up, the League of Women Voters does a fairly nice job of listing the issues and the pros/cons without taking a side. You can find the information at this link, http://www.lwvohio.org/.

DO IT! VOTE!