Posts filed under 'Froofroo'
Happy birthday to me*! Of course, since this is the magic six five, AARP and Social Security and every person that can get at my vital statistics has been wishing me well and wanting my business since early summer.
We did have a lovely family Thanksgiving dinner last weekend while DD#2 was here. Yes, I did all the cooking, since no one else in the family can cook worth a plug nickel. Although DD#1 did make a very fine German chocolate pie. So she’s exempted from that plug nickel list.
Every year I fix DH a chocolate Bavarian cream pie. That’s chocolate crumb crust filled with a vanilla custard enhanced with whipped egg whites and whipped cream. His mother used to make everyone a pie and him an extra one all to himself. So I continue the tradition.
I also remember DD#1’s birthday party that I slaved over when she was about 6. She’s a January baby, and I wanted something different. So we had a swimming party at the local Y. What I remember is being blessed out by another mother who had to search all over town to get her daughter a fancy new bathing suit. Mine just wore what they had from the summer. No one noticed the girl’s chi chi bathing suit. Oh, well. That was the last January swimming party.
And this summer we had a luncheon at a restaurant for MIL’s 93rd birthday. As much of her family came as possibly could get here. Never mind that three there couldn’t remember much after, oh, say 30 seconds.
A theme? Mostly eat. None of that alcoholic drinking stuff, though. These family get-togethers are Baptist based. Not much tea or coffee either. Most of us are getting more caffeine-intolerant.
So how do other CBs celebrate birthdays?
September 6th, 2008
I’m feeling under the weather (not to worry, CMS, I didn’t get it from you; my whole department at work is sick right now) and not feeling very creative. So … Ya’ll always said you’d read a certain author’s shopping list. Let’s see if you’ll read mine.
- One container Brummel and Brown margarine with yogurt $2.19
- One bottle Newman’s Own Light Raspberry & Walnut salad dressing $2.99
- One container cherry tomatoes $2.50
- Two bags of Just Lettuce $3.98
- One box Cheerios Crunch $3.69
- One half-gallon milk $2.19
- One loaf bakery-fresh organic roasted garlic bread $3.99
- One bottle All laundry detergent $4.79
- One box Green Giant cheesy broccoli and rice $1.67
- One can Bumblebee tuna $1.67
- One box Barilla rotini 89 cents
- One container fresh strawberries $2 (big and red and juicy and on sale)
- One box rye Triscuits $2.50
- Four Lean Cuisines $9
- Six-pack of toilet paper $2.79
- One 20-lb jug of Tidy Cat litter $8.99
- Farmer’s market pitstop: pint of baby red potatoes, six giant peaches, four zucchini, three ears of corn, one yellow watermelon: $11
What did you buy?
August 25th, 2008
I’m too tired to write a coherent post, but the comments are over 100 and inquiring minds want photos, so here’s one for you. Yes, that is our own darling Scope in Oregon with CMS! It was a wonderful surprise.
I think everyone survived, but it was a lot of work having that much fun. I don’t mean the cooking or housework, because that was all done by kind helpful CBs. I mean meeting friends that I’ve never seen before, and talking and laughing and hugging and talking and laughing some more, sometimes until two in the morning. That’s work! I loved it.
And yes, we did make it to Powell’s. In fact, I’m a little puzzled about that bookstore. When I walked in, I heard an announcement over the loudspeaker:
Attention! If there’s a minister or a wedding officiator in the store, would they please come to the Information desk in the Gold room? Thank you.
What the heck was that about? A woman was 9 months’ pregnant and suddenly realized that she really, really needed to get married right now because her water just broke? A man who got the love of his life to say “yes” and now wants to rush to the wedding before she changes her mind? It’s one of those things that you have to wonder about.
Too tired to write more. Later!
June 23rd, 2008
Actually I don’t have it. I’ve earned it I just haven’t gotten down there yet this week to get it. I hope to have it by the end of the week. But I’m in rural Colorado which means that there are lots of places that are only open part time. And this is one of them. So I may be able to get it Friday, if not then it will have to wait until Wednesday. But the important thing is I earned it!!!!
What is it? It’s the acknowledgment by the state of Colorado that I can legally ride a motorcycle on public roadways. And I didn’t have to take the nasty state test to do it!
ABATE is a national motorcycle group. In Colorado they use the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) curriculum as the basis for a two day motorcycle class. It is awesome. Locally they course is taught at the community college. We used one of the classrooms for the book and video part then went outside and rode bikes. The course was painted onto the parking lot, this means I can go back and practice later.
Vroom Vroom Vroom
Okay, to be honest I killed my bike, a lot. My stop and starts? Sometimes more stopping than starting. And I went too slow to do some of the maneuvers because I was afraid to go too fast, which it turns out is really fast enough. And my 90 degree turn? Closer to 270. It’s those big, loopy overcompensating turns that did me in.
But after some really encouraging words from Steve, some even more encouraging observations from my classmates, and plenty of practice I am bordering on competent.
At the end of the weekend we had a skills test and a written test. I earned a rousing 3 or 4 points on the skills test. We could earn up to 20 and still pass. And I missed 1 or 2 questions on the written test. Don’t know how many we could miss, but we all passed, so…
Anyway, there were 5 of us in the class, two teenagers and three of us not teenagers. I was the only who hadn’t ridden in years, and then I rode three-wheelers not motorcycles. They were a neat group of people whom I enjoyed working and learning with, but I must admit my favorite was John. He’s 16 and 6′4″ tall. The bikes we were riding were small 250cc Honda Nighthawks and Rebels. He was quite the contortionist and provided comedy relief.
Now the big question is what kind of bike. I’m wanting something with a sidecar for Chinook, enough power to escape other traffic, and cheap enough I can afford it. So right now the only bike I have is an imaginary one. But I’m looking for other options.
May 21st, 2008
I checked the schedule and *gasp* we don’t have a 3rd weekend author! How can that be? Any of you random posters want to step up and take permanent duty?
Anyway … I mentioned in a comment that I’m a bit of a purist when it comes to Christmas songs. I want Nat King Cole singing “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts)” and Brenda Lee “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.” I’m not a huge fan of “new” holiday songs either. Few of them ever get it right, the whole spirit of the season thing. And a few I just plain don’t like. Which ones? Well, “The Christmas Shoes” for one. Although I blame it on radio bombarding me with that song relentlessly every year. First time I liked the song, second time I really listened to it, third time was “what, again?”
Another one, and I’m dying to know how many others feel this way, is Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas.” No, no, I’ve got nothing against The King. It’s those back up singers woo hoo hoo-ing their way through the song. I hear that first “woo” and it’s like someone dragging fingernails down a blackboard for me. My radio gets switched off before they make it to the last “hoo.”
I’m also not a big fan of song interpretations. Interpretation is supposed to be part of art, I guess, but to my mind the original artist – in this case the songwriter – has already done that. He (or she) is giving us their interpretation of a Christmas song. The first artist to sing it will usually give it a twist, a little something to brand it to their particular style. But after that? After that, my friends, it has had all the interpretation it needs. If you want to do something different, come up with your own song and leave the beloved standards alone.
There are acceptable exceptions, however. Reba McIntire’s version of “The Christmas Song” is lovely, a sort of bluesy, piano thing that almost makes me think I can smell those chestnuts roasting. And Vince Gill did a wonderful instrumental version of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” that is just plain fun. I’ve mentioned Mannheim Steamroller’s version of “Carol of the Bells” before. In their hands it is not the delicate chiming I’m used to; but if the purpose of music is to move you and make you feel something, they’ve clearly accomplished that.
And for non-traditional, the ‘not really Christmas songs but played at lot at this time of year’ my vote goes to Emerson, Brown & O’Donoghue and “It Doesn’t Have To Be That Way.”
Which songs to you love to hear ths time of year? Which ones make you cringe? Which ones make you sit up and pay attention?
December 15th, 2007
So while everyone was sleeping on the floor, surrounded by reindeer and little red drinks … or was that drinks and little red reindeer? Anyway, RSS and I decided the B&G tree needed a little work. So RSS fixed it and I supervised. 
You gotta admit, she has a flair for this kind of thing.
And then we went to work to feed this crew. RSS has a flair for this kind of thing too.
Actually, there was another CB present in spirit. Not to be left out, K.L. phoned in her 2 cents on just how best to prepare for the holidays. I think she managed to eat a few of the cookies while she was here. It certainly seemed like we had baked more than that.
And last but not least, our surprise guest of the hour, straight from Two Rivers by way of Michigan …
Cerise!!!
Now about this mess you people made …
December 7th, 2007
I’m substituting for Wapak (as if anyone could truly replace her) who is busily pacing to and fro awaiting MAX!’s arrivial and unable to post this month.
With this post I am announcing the first annual Limp Noodle Awards. This award celebrates those persons who should be summarily flogged with a limp noodle without benefit of trial, counsel, blindfold or last meal. And the candidates are (drum roll please):
- Every driver in every city who blocks the crosswalk forcing pedestrians to go out into the intersection in order to cross the street.
- The person who was riding my bumper on the wet road yesterday only to zip around and pass me so that he could be in front at the next traffic jam.
- The idiots who blocked the drain in front of the building construction at the corner of 15th and K Streets which resulted in a lot of standing water that pedestrians had to walk through in order to cross the street
- People wearing large backpacks on the subway, thereby doubling their body mass, who remain oblivious of the fact that they now take up more space and thus should take care not to smack said backpacks into people standing/sitting near them everytime they shift position.
- The person who stopped in the middle of the subway car this morning, blocking everyone else’s access, in order to debate which particular seat they might prefer, as if the various seats might possibly be going to different destinations!
- Whoever it is that loaded the 3-hole paper backwards into the photocopier last week.
- The guy who pushed past everyone else on the subway this morning in order to score a seat for the duration of one whole stop! One stop! He just couldn’t standing the idea of, well, standing for the two minutes it took to get to the next station.
Do you have a favorite candidate?
October 26th, 2007
We all have coping mechanisms we turn to in times of stress, right? I know reading is at the top of the list for this group when it comes to getting through tough times. I also know that hanging out here at the Bar&Grill is some of the best medicine around. CherryBombs totally rock, that’s all there is to it.
I have a few other things that I turn to, as well. Gardening, when the weather cooperates, and I’ll have to take some new pics soon to share with you guys. And my crocheting, which has stepped up considerably. I finished and sent off my last project and I’ll get around to posting pictures on my blog one of these day. I also started another for the couple next door who are expecting a baby very soon. It’s a WIP, but maybe I’ll show you what I’ve got so far.
I have to admit though to giving into a little retail therapy as well. More specifically,
SHOES!!!!!
I have small, hard to fit feet so I often end up ordering shoes from catalogs. It’s not a bad deal if you know your brands. The best place I’ve found to order from though, is Zappos. What I like about them is the product reviews. Real people discussing the fit and comfort and what they like or dislike about the product overall. They also have free shipping, which is a plus. If you want to know more about what kind of company they are, read Zaza’s blog.
Last week I decided to indulge my need for retail therapy so I went shopping at Zappos. And I ordered these:
Aren’t they gorgeous? They came yesterday and it was love at first sight. Plus they’re pretty comfortable and will go with just about anything. I was so giddy, my mom half expected me to wear them to bed. No, I didn’t. With those heels? Please, they’d ruin my sheets.
But here’s my problem. While browsing last week I also spotted these: 
which you’ll have to agree are just too darned cute for words. And they have them in other colors, such as 
which would be perfect with jeans, don’t you think? I’m debating. And you may recall that last summer on the dueling blog I talked about buying these
which it turns out they still have in stock. Really comfortable, although as they are suede I can only wear them during nice weather. It’s a burden, but what can I do? Plus they have them in black suede 
which makes me drool a bit, but I have a pair something like those already, though not in suede. And I might be better served to get theses 
instead anyway. Why yes, they do come in other colors, thank you for asking. Decisions, decisions. What would you do?
July 10th, 2007
Yep. The CB meetup in Eugene, Oregon came off without a hitch. But what else would you expect with us ready to TOTW and all? Sorry this is so late, but I had a real struggle with getting the pics to click and enlarge.
We shopped, we ate nummy stuff, and we consumed vast quantities of beverages, all at the Eugene Saturday Market. In spite of the evidence of this pic, they were strictly non-alchoholic.
In true CB fashion, we commandeered that table you see us sitting at, and hung onto it for hours, taking turns for shopping forays, while a couple folks hung out to guard our territory. CB Command Central. It’s what happens when a group of managing women get together.
There were quite a few other pics taken at Command Central, however, wanting to post one that had us all looking awake, with our eyes open, focused on the camera, etc. limited it to one pic. L to R, that’s K.L., me (no not ME), Cary and Mary. But when everyone’s laughing, the eyes open thing is just not on. /;+)
Please note that K.L. was the only one with the foresight to get a CherryBomb t-shirt in time for the meetup. I tried. I really tried, but every time I clicked on something to buy it, it sent me to the CafePress homepage. Anyone else having trouble with this?
About the only rule for selling stuff at the Market is that it has to be something you made. So, no bottled water (it was hot!) or sodas, but they had strawberry lemonade, iced tea and more exotic made-to-order beverages. A true shopper’s heaven, except there were no books, but who can make their own books??? Well, you know…
We laughed a lot about meeting imaginary friends, but K.L. had us all trumped. Her DH came along for the ride to meet with his own imaginary friend, an online gaming buddy. He seemed very relaxed with us, probably because the idea of imaginary friends is normal to him, too. ;+)
I had a great time. I was totally zonked from the previous few days, and the CBs (plus my bud, Suzanne) really came through, making me feel human again and giving me lots to laugh about.
Yay! CBs rule!
June 6th, 2007
Now is the time for all good women to come to the aid of their fellow CB’s.
I don’t know why I started with that. We seem to have issues here. Maybe it is Spring Fever.
It’s just that Jen-t has birds banging into her window, and she has severe bladder issues. BCB has a phone bill that has to be astronomical, unless Jen is in her circle. I can’t find Andi’s e-mail ANYWHERE, and there have been so many posts and I want to e-mail her and call her.
AND THEN, I can’t find the f^&*^ing paper that Bryan did so I can suck in pictures of MAX! My desk has paperwork for 50 new kids in our dance choir that don’t know they have made it yet. Tomorrow at 5 they line up at the choir room door if they dare.
Marcia in OK knows that it is XL- short sleeved and school colors, unless the grey is really cool. OH, knows she is a banana slug but doesn’t know why. She seems to have pronoun issues. And Louisa thinks we are all nuts. CC is somewhere Jen wants to be and MCB seems to be agitating BCB and Jen. Lori is baking books or something last I looked. Mary is thinking up more taglines so she can become a famous jingle writer. (AWESOME!) Scope is in her garden, shooing all the birds to Jen.
Cary has written great critiques for Jen, as have others. And may I just say, that I am still worried about Louis and I will continue to fuss until I hear so just get over it.
Here is something I wrote to our favorite Young’un out in CA. She encouraged me to share. But first, a brief time out for MAX! and DS.
What the Hell is that Smell
I went deodorant shopping tonight. Not that I haven’t worn it since 4th grade or something, but I have stuck with the same one for years, and I had to wait for a prescription to be filled, so I thought I would mosey over and check out the “little black dress approved” brands. (First I thought I would write a HUGE run on sentence later, so now I have….I shall continue).
Let me say upfront, that we are are pretty much fragrance free here at the Wright House. I use perfume, but unscented laundry products and always unscented cosmetics and deodorant. So the vast array of Smells I encountered in the “PIT” stop was mind blowing.
Honest to Bob, who in the hell would put Vanilla Chi in her armpits? Country Fresh??? I live in the country and I can give you fresh!! And I don’t want that in my armpits either. Melon? Ocean Breeze? Wouldn’t it be somewhat odd to go around sniffing your armpits all day to catch a whiff of the awesomeness that is now you???? What is wrong with people???
I remember gym class. 60 girls in an old dilapidated locker room that smelled like 60 years of jock rot with a temperature that hovered near 100 degrees. Afterwards, most of us spraying Right Guard by the quart. If you forgot yours you just lifted your arms and someone would oblige. When ARRID XXTRA DRY came out, and we had competing smells, it was like the crips and the bloods, with each deodorant brand staking out their side of the room. Of course, girls ALWAYS got Phys Ed. first period of the day so we would smell like a cloud of Right Guard doused with Bonnie Bell or Whatever the Hell kind of perfume we wore.
It took a while for my prescription to be done, so I spent way too much time sniffing. Luckily there were not many people in the store. I decided that “CLEAN” was the winner, but I forgot who made it. I guess I will have to go back. After I use up the deodorant I just bought….old faithful-SECRET unscented.
Sorry this took up so much space, but the picture thingy is not my friend.
May 22nd, 2007
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