Momma's Birthday

Yep, I'm in Jacksonville again, this time for momma's 78th birthday. She's so funny...I asked what she wants, and she says she doesn't want any gifts. Later when we talked about how many people will be coming, organizing the schedule, momma says she'll open her gifts from this time to that time, then next the cake. I'm going to get her something special today. Her birthday is August 1st.

My sister Kat's birthday was July 26th and I missed her day. The neighbor we grew up across the street from, Margaret Rose, wanted to do something special for Kat's birthday and so yesterday, right after I arrived, we all met at Olive Garden for a birthday lunch. Kat and I both had the most wonderful creamy chicken soup with little dumplings, and of course the salad. Who doesn't love Olive Garden? Her neighbor Jimmy drove Margaret over, and he was such a comedian! It was nice to see Marg for an enjoyable lunch. Happy 56th birthday, Kat. I'm right behind you!!

My other sister Patty popped both yesterday and today, and I know we'll see her tomorrow for birthday party. Of course I got to see daddy every day. I brought some Moose Poop that I made (recipe below), and he took the little tupperware container to his recliner and nibbled on it for quite a while. It's' nice to see all the fam.

Moose Poop:
1) Prepare a big paper grocery bag with a small bag of powdered sugar and 3 Tblsp cinamon. Shake it up to prime the sides with a little dust. Set aside.
2)Put a quarter stick of butter, a cup of peanut butter (doesn't matter if it's crunchy or not) and with a bag of milk chocolate chips in a huge bowl and microwave to melt. Add a Tablespoon of vanilla extract and stir up.
3)Pour in a box of Crispix cereal, a couple of handfuls of peanut M&M's, a couple of handfuls of pecans or raw almonds, or do like me and add both, and whatever else you think would be good. I tossed in a big handful of tiny marshmallows.
4) Dump sticky mixture into paper sack and fold down the top well. I use a stapler, because I've had escapees before. Shake shake shake to coat each chocolate covered Crispix..
5)Lay a wide sheet of tinfoil down, lay two long sheets of waxed paper on that, overlapping. Then pour the Moose Poop out to dry out a bit.
6) After a couple of hours, move the sweet treat into a large tupperware with tight fitting lid. Expect it to be opened often.

Car Break-In!

Someone broke into Robert's Explorer yesterday morning - in our driveway! Rob had gone into his room to choose a tie and I heard his car door softly close at about 8:30AM. I wondered if I didn't see him pass back by or if it was David. Moments later Robert came back, tie on, and headed out to his car.

"I've been robbed!" Taken from his car were his new HP Turion laptop and briefcase just purchased for law school, an 80 gig classic iPod with brand new case and expensive earbuds, ashtma inhalers, a bottle of Adderall, $50, and his driver's license. If only we knew car break-ins were on the upswing!

The police arrived in minutes and were extremely well organized: One car was posted at the front gates, one was going through the neighborhood asking people if they saw anything. Three more vehicles came to our house. Robert's Explorer was dusted for fingerprints, questions, forms, etc. The gate cop came by, he found Rob's license on roadside of the exit, all prints carefully wiped off by the person that tossed it from his window. All the police left except the one assigned to the case, who finished up his job and left too.

I called our homeowner's insurance, who will cover all but $500. Our family doctor has known Rob since he was a little boy gave new asthma meds from his sample closet, plus a new prescription for the pills. Robert was smart to save the computer box, complete with description and serial numbers. This information goes to all the pawn shops. The iPod is loaded with thousands of songs, and the new owner probably paid $20 for it from a seedy sidewalk salesman. Robert's name and phone number were engraved on the back by Apple when he purchased it online. Can you imagine getting a call? It would go something like this: "Uh, hey. I got this iPod from some dude fencing stolen stuff, and I just wanted to tell you how much I like your music..."

Vinyl Siding

We are looking at vinyl siding for our NC home. The weather there is rough and it seems like we have to paint almost yearly. You don't ever have to paint again with siding! We already had several people give us quotes, but we are leaning towards Lowes' Hardware - one year same as cash.

Curtains

I made some curtains for my bathroom. Teeny tiny baby steps toward remodeling. I'm hoping this will light a little fire under Mark to get things rolling. The curtains look nice.

Dreaming of Mountains

I dreamed that I was going to drive past our first home from 26 years ago, located between Clearwater and St. Petersburg in a little town called Pinellas Park, FL. Nearing our street, driving down Park Boulevard towards 66th Street and to the south were MOUNTAINS! Not the low tree-covered lump-mountains of NC, but pointy, small, 1000' high mountains with white boulders, red clay, and scattered vegetation, similar to Colarado's, but in miniature. There were no foothills, and Park Boulevard was just as flat as ever, but only three blocks away was the foot of a mountain!

Have you ever been so confused by a new landmark that you doubted your sanity? I asked someone walking down the sidewalk if I was in Florida and he laughed, "Oh those mountains just popped up a few months ago. Aren't they pretty!?"

Now why would I dream something like this??

Gallbladder Remedy Experiment

Knowing I suffered with gallstones before I had my gallbladder out a year ago, my friend Pam called me last night in mysery, "Do you know any home remedies for a gallbladder attack?" I found two online:

1. Relief from the pain: Drink an 8 ounce glass of 100% pure apple juice with a tablespoon of apple cider vinigar mixed in. It's supposed to make you feel better in only fifteen minutes.
2. The cure: Buy a 16-ounce bottle of cold-pressed olive oil and some lemons. On an empty stomach, beginning at 7PM, drink 1/4 cup oil followed by a shot of lemon every fifteen minutes until the olive oil is gone. Somewhere during the procedure you "may" vomit ('Ya think??). At 2AM you will wake up and need to move your bowels. Little green pellets will appear. Gall stones gone!

I went to the grocery store and bought supplies for both remedies. Pam tried the olive oil and vomited immediately. It was just too vile to continue, so she sipped on the apple juice mixture, I rubbed her back, and she felt a little better. Pam may try the oil remedy to flush the stones out when she's not having such a severe attack.

I wish someone had the wherewithall to give me this information. I would have drank motor oil if they said it would give some relief!

Party

Mark and I went to a friend's birthday party last night. It was a covered dish affair, and since I didn't feel like cooking, I was assigned the task of making jello shooters. I made four batches (12 shots each):
fuzzy navels - orange jello with peach schnapps and vodka
margueritas - lime jello and tequila,
caribbean punch - tropical fruit jello and coconut rum
lemondrops - lemon jello and vodka.
My shooters are made with a small box of Jello (not diet), 1 cup boiling water, 1/2 cut crushed ice and water, and 1/2 cup alcohol. I fill 12 Pam-sprayed plastic 3-ounce bathroom cups for each box of jello. Lemondrops and margueritas are the hands-down favorite for everyone.

The party was nice. Bruce turned 60. When did our group of friends include someone so old?? Oh yea, we're only 8 years behind him!