Hard workin' holiday!

So rather than our usual fun and frolic plans for the 4th of July holiday of heading out to a friend's place and partying it up, we chose to divert from that course of action this year. This time we went down to N. Austin to help our my brother-in-law and his family. They just bought a nice house on some acreage and needed some assistance with the work to be done.

We got there and were thrilled to learn that they had just gotten INDOOR plumbing, well toilets at least, a few days before. There were no indoor showers however. They had an outdoor shower set up by a tree in the backyard. So every evening we would all brave the freezing water coming from the hose and take quick showers. (In the day the water changed from this icy "goodness" to near scalding hot. I found this out one day when I went to try and spray my hair down to cool off from the heat. OUCH!) Apparently before our arrival, the only toilet was a lovely place they named "poop rock". Can't say I'm not glad I missed that!!

We took our pop-up camper down there and set it all up Thursday night. Yet, we never slept in it once. They had a large camper there already where they'd lived before they got furniture delivered to the house. But it worked out alright overall. It gave us a quiet place to retreat to at night and plenty of cool air conditioning. I also took the opportunity to clean our camper all up. My mother-in-law, knowing we had a camper, got us a set of camping dishes. Too bad she didn't bother to ask if we needed then as we already had a full set in the camper of the exact thing she'd purchased. Ah well, its the thought that counts. Right?

Over the course of the four days we were there we put up walls, installed a shower, put in an attic fan, dug holes with a jackhammer (only about 4 inches of top soil and then solid limestone below), filled in holes, painted trim and doors, installed a dryer and vent, put in insulation (in the walls AND attic), installed wiring/wall outlets, and helped lay a slab for the hot tub. The last job was truly the MOST daunting, in my opinion. We got started on it around 9:30-10:00 at NIGHT. Which was honestly better than had we done it in the 100 degree plus weather we were blessed with by day. We had a cement mixer, 56 80-lb bags of concrete, an a tractor to work with. We marked out the setting and leveled it as best we could for the pad. Then we had Kyle (my hubby) in the tractor (taking the cement from the mixer to the pad location), Me operating the mixer (tilting it whichever way was called for and holding it in position), Brian (my brother-in-law) on the dry concrete bags (pouring 4 bags at a time of concrete mix into the mixer), Shawna (Brian's sister-in-law) on water detail (adding the necessary water to the mixer, spraying it down between loads, and spraying down the tractor), and Jamie (Brian's wife) on spreading duty (using a garden hoe to spread the cement in the tractor when I dumped it, and also spreading it into the form when it was delivered to the pad). The whole process took us until 4:00 IN THE MORNING to complete. And even still we ran out of concrete and just had to try and settle for what we had. We ended up pulling from the middle to the outside edges and trying to make a path of about two feet all the way around. Later on Brian is going to go back and add either rocks, sand, or more concrete to the middle section before moving the hot tub into position.
We were EXHAUSTED by the time we left! But it also felt good to get in there and do some good hard work. We'll likely make more trips there this summer and fall, as it is going to be a while before its all done. Most of the time there Josh, Kyle, and I spent helping out with various projects that needed tending to at the given time. Hannah helped by provided the valuable babysitting services for all the non-working age children that were there (three boys ages 10, 9, and 7, as well as one girl age 5).
I also found when we got home, actually discovered it after the cement party that I was covered from waist down in chigger bites! Ugh! It kept waking me up both nights/mornings itching like crazy. Once we got home we all took nice warm baths/showers and applied nail polish to our bites. I still work up several times itching. So I grabbed the keys, hopped in the car, and headed to Walgreens in search of some hydrocortisone cream and/or some anti-itch spray. I found both and got both! So now I'm all slathered up and set. And I think I might even be getting sleepy enough to drift back off to dreamland for a couple hours before I have to get Josh up to mow the yard.

What we did...

Alright, I realize I'm a little late on my Father's Day post, but hey..things have been hoppin' around here! =)

For the big day, I got up and made a brunch of chocolate gravy and biscuits. Then the hubby and I Facebooked some (and totally made a spreadsheet for Farm Town, because we're JUST THAT COOL!), the fam went to the pool for a bit, we played Lord of the Rings (we being hubby, the boy, and myself), and then I made a yummy yummy dinner of Salmon & Spinach in Phyllo!!!

And I'm going to share that last bit with you today! Every time I tell people about this (and they're eaters of salmon and spinach) they drool profusely and beg me for the recipe. hehe I got it from a Pampered Chef Cookbook (Cooking for Two & More) and it IS that yummy!

So here's the recipe AND a step by step pictorial for everyone.

Salmon & Spinach in Phyllo
Prep Time: 20 minutes (which is pretty accurate without taking all the pictures)
Total Time: About 40 minutes

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon Basil Oil or Olive Oil (I use a garlic olive oil)
4 cups baby spinach leaves, coarsely chopped
Salt and coarsely ground black pepper
8 sheets (9x14 inches) thawed, frozen phyllo dough
Nonstick cooking spray
2 skinless salmon fillets (4-6 ounces each), about 1 1/2 inches thick
2 Tablespoons garlic and herb cream cheese spread (I use laughing cow cheese wedges)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Remove stems of spinach leaves and coarsely chop.

Heat oil in Saute Pan until hot.
Add spinach; season with salt and black pepper.

Cook and stir until spinach is wilted, about 1 minute.
Remove spinach to paper towel.
Squeeze out all excess moisture; set aside.

Lay one sheet of phyllo on large work surface and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Place second sheet of phyllo over first, pressing sheets together to seal. Continue laying down and spraying phyllo sheets to create a stack of four sheets of phyllo. Repeat with remaining phyllo and additional cooking spray to create another phyllo stack.

Spread each salmon fillet with 1 Tablespoon (or 1-2 wedges) of the cream cheese spread and top with half of the spinach.

For each phyllo bundle, place salmon, spinach side down, on phyllo stack about 2 inches from bootom of edge of short side. Flod long sides of phyllo in toward center. Gently roll up phyllo from bottom to top. Using a bread knife, make three diagnobal slits across the top of each bundle.

Place bundles on baking stone, seam side down. Spray bundles with nonstick cooking spray. Bake 11-13 minutes or until centers of salmon register 130 degrees F and phyllo is golden brown. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Yields 2 servings!
I always make extra since we LOVE having this for leftovers the next day. We always serve with steamed asparagus and rice pilaf, and this time we had a nice 2007 Reisling to drink with our dinner.


Hint: In order for the spinach to end up on the top, the salmon is placed topping side down. Once rolled, the spinach ends up on top. To easily measure the temperature of salmon wrapped in phyllo, insert a meat thermometer horizontally into the center of each phyllo pocket.

Nutrients per serving:
Calories 450
Total Fat 21g
Saturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 80mg
Carbohydrate 36g
Protein 27g
Sodium 560mg
Fiber 3g

If anyone else tries this I'd LOVE to hear how it turned out for you! It has become the main thing hubby requests for any "holiday" (birthday, Father's Day, Valentine's, anniversary...) and since its done in under an hour that is not at ALL difficult to accommodate. I just love how its REALLY easy to prepare, but looks all fancy schmancy. hehe

Venting

Headaches SUCK!

That's all.

~Dorsey

Summer Slump

I realize that my summer blogging slump really started more in the Spring than Summer, but ah well. I have been busy, I guess. Mostly house and kid stuff. By that of course I mean trying my damnest to clean this house at least to half of my hubby's standards and taking the kids for rides in the car and to the neighborhood pool.

My computer has recently come down with a new ailment. Where it used to have issues charging, now it would appear as though it is narcoleptic. For no apparent reason it will just shut down. I usually have a 2-3 second warning...nothing moves, mouse stops working, and then the screen goes black! Here as of late I have taken to waving at the screen when I see the warning signs. Well, that or I flip it off. Neither seems to be helping. So hopefully after I find a dream job and finish paying off the new car, I'll be able to get a sweet new laptop. But that'll probably be more than a year or two from now. Ugh!

Another thing that's been on my mind is divorce. No worries, peeps!! Not me!! I just know an increasingly large amount of people who have been, are getting, or are contemplating visiting the Big D (and I don't mean Dallas). It has gotten me wondering some things. So many times, I hear that people just feel like they can do better. They settled and they're tired of putting up with it. But I know at some point, they did NOT feel like they were "settling" for anything. At some point they said those words, and believed them...."till death parts us...I will love you forever...etc..." But when asked what I think about all of it, I keep coming back to the same question for them. I ask, "Do you WANT to work it out? Or do you just want out?" I firmly believe that if deep down you don't WANT to work it out, then you won't. Things will NOT get better.

A while back, Hubby and I went through a MAJOR rough patch and it just about did us in. But we BOTH really WANTED to work it out. So we did. We talked about things even if they were painful to the speaker OR the listener. We never went to professional counseling because we didn't feel we needed it. I believe that counselors help you to talk about things you wouldn't on your own. This was never the case. There was a lot of cleansing crying, but very little yelling. We just talked about everything! Why is it that someone you pledged your life to one day, days, months or even years later you feel nauseated talking to about your feelings? When and HOW does that happen? I don't understand it, honestly.

I'm concerned for my friends who are going through, have gone through, or are considering these life events. I think of them often and hope they find peace and happiness in whatever their decisions. Believe it or not I even pray for them all. Nightly I pray for everyone. Friends, family, acquaintances, people I have never met or might never meet, and my enemies...

I gotta say...sometimes I just wish I understood more, but at the same time, I'm happy I don't at the same time. They're right...ignorance IS bliss! =)

Be well friends, and know I think of you all often. And I'm going to try to get back to writing here more.

SO much to tell!!!

So the last time I left you all, I was sporting a new haircut and still searching the near un-gettable deal on a convertible!!

Friday night my loverly daughter, Hannah, celebrated her 12th birthday with a sleepover. We had hot dogs, cake, movies, and more. She had a great time and had about 4 other girls here. Luckily, NO major drama moments! (Which is saying A LOT with that many 11/12 yr old girls! hehe)

I didn't have time to bake her a cake,
so we picked this one up at Albertsons.
(She picked it out)

Saturday I went to a tea house in a nearby town and it was DIVINE!!! We had finger sandwiches, scones, fruit, and plenty of hot tea in pretty and dainty little china tea cups. I went with some moms that I've been bowling with a time or two. Here's a couple of pics...

The table before everyone got there

The birthday girl =)
LOVE her hat!!!

The Grand Tea presentation
fruits and desserts on top,
scones in the middle,
finger sandwiches on bottom

All of us in front of the loose teas

And last, but certainly NOT least....I GOT MY CAR!!!!!! I left the tea house and went to Dallas Dodge to check out a car I'd sent an email request with offer in on the day before. When I got there, the gentleman I'd spoken with before was busy with some other customers, so he handed me to another salesperson. I looked at the car, drove it, sat in the back seat while she [salesperson] drove it (to check the real comfort the kids would have), and then started to hammer out a deal. As I was talking with them (Korneljia, the salesperson, and John, the used car general manager) I explained that I knew I'd have to get a job to help make the car payments. John mentioned that they were looking for a night receptionist. Hmmm...I replied "I could do that job, I could do that job well!" So I took their offer home to discuss it with Kyle. On the way home, I determined that is THIS didn't work out I was giving up on the whole thing. Get the damned Intrepid's transmission fixed and just drop it! So he and I wnt round and round. We looked at the NADA site online to compare values, we argued prices, we talked jobs...etc... We decided on Monday that I would first call the other dealership and ask about the car we'd been keen on until then (a hard top convertible) and see if he could work any better deal. Nope! He wasn't willing to budge. So I went back to Dallas Dodge armed with my resume. I gave them my resume (should hear something this week about an actual interview), arranged for them to pick up the Intrepid from the mechanic's shop (instead of us having to tow it in ourselves), and agreed on a price. Then I went to get Kyle and we got all the i's dotted and t's crossed! Here are pictures of my new car, a 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible, Touring Edition....

When I brought it home, my son said..."Oh are we trying out another one?" I simply replied.."This ain't a test drive, boy!" He smiled so big I could almost see his molars. hehehe

And my hair works GREAT with the top down!! hehe No tangles even!!

Hair today, sore tomorrow...

So for some time now I have toyed with the idea of cutting my hair SHORT! And anyone who's known me for a couple of years knows that I flip flop all over the place in regards to my hair. I'm constantly tired of the style I have it in or the color of it overall. Well, yesterday I bit the bullet and did it. A few days ago I'd gone to the grocery store and picked up every hair magazine I could lay my hands on. Then I proceeded to cut out pictures of hair styles I liked. (I do this EVERY time so I can show the stylist what I want, be that color or cut.) I had about 15 different ones that I'd liked ranging from short short to medium length styles. So I put them all out on the kitchen table and began the process of picking. It goes kind of like when you're at the eye doctor and he asks you, option one or option two, one or three, and so on...I narrowed it down to two pictures. One of them I liked how the top and sides were cut and styled, the other on for the length in the back. So off I went to Regis Hair Salon armed with my photos and credit card. Luckily I got a gal that also has short hair (for some reason if I'm getting a short haircut I always like it better when the stylist also has short hair, I guess I trust them more with these styles). She did a fantastic job and even the gal behind me at the salon that was getting her hair straightened commented that she thought it looked really cute. Cool! So here's what it looks like...



On the workout front, I'm on day 6 and EA Active is telling me to rest today. So I will probably just see about doing some walking on the treadmill or maybe break out a little Wii Fit for old time's sake..hehe But I'm doing well with the weight loss and getting a little less sore every time. Yesterday I even completed the whole circuit without having to stop to wheeze and syke myself up to finish the run.

Well, I'm off to make breakfast. Hubby requested oatmeal since the boy is out with a friend today (my son's the only one in the family that doesn't like oatmeal). Be well friends and if anyone else is doing EA Sports Active please tell me what YOU think of it!

Some people on Facebook have commented that it would appear as though I'm wearing a nurses' cap when in fact its the window behind me. So here are some altered pics w.o the window/nurse's cap:

How a Wii game brought me to my knees...

So years ago when I was in Jr. High school I was put on the track team. I begged to be put on the hurdling team and could sprint the crap out of ANYONE else on the team!!! But they said I "jumped wrong" over the hurdle. WTF?!?! I cleared it didn't I? So I was put on the relay team. I trained with everyone, and part of our group training was long distance running, at which I SUCKED!!! Even then when I had about 6% body fat and looked SMOKIN' hot!! heheI just didn't have the endurance I needed to run long distance. So the day of the track meet comes up and I head to the high school with the rest of the team. We're all getting warmed up and its our turn up for relays. We had to do one lap around the track on each heat...I took off like a bullet and we came in first! I was third to run, not starting, not anchor...not bad. I finished that race and was jazzed!! Then the coach told me I was up for the race after next. What?!? That's the long distance race? EIGHT times around the track?!?! Um, WHEN did I agre to THIS?!?! So I ran it...and heaved...and finished it...LAST! When I crossed the finish line I dropped to my knees. I thought I would DIE right there on the track! My sides hurt, my chest hurt, and I was sure I'd never walk again, much less run. That ended my track career right then and there.


Fast forward to yesterday...I went out and got my copy of EA Active and thought it would be a really cool way to beef up my lacking workout routine. I put it in the Wii and started it up. Before I even got to the workouts I was liking this more and more than Wii Fit. I was able to put in my own weight (I didn't lie and went with what I'd weighed that morning), AND I picked how my character looked!! No ballooning Mii for Mommii!! hehe And I was VERY encouraged when I stepped on the balance board and it didn't say "Oh my!" I started the workout with walking, then it asked me to run. Aw shit! I'm screwed!! I got through that and did pretty wll on the other exercises. But when it got BACK to running again, I thought I was going to DIE! I swear I had flashbacks to that jr. high track meet when I just wanted to finish the race and then be measured for my coffin. I noticed my vision started to blur half way through the run, though that MIGHT have been because I was tearing up and beginning to cry. I'm SO happy no one was there to see me, point, and snicker at my increasingly evident shortcomings.

I finished the workout and was intent that if I DO stick with this it will DEFINITELY help me reach my goals!! And I do have to say I enjoyed the workout better than Wii Fit. Even today when I went back to it. I was still sweating up a storm within the first five minutes, but that's what I needed to do!!! I'm confident that sticking with this as a routine every day and sucking down the gallons of water that I crave after each workout session will have me dancing on poles in no time...ahem, I mean looking svelte and sophisticated very soon. =)


I still haven't found my perfect car, but I have several different salespeople out looking for me. And they all know that I'm serious and have TIME to make a decision. So I will continue to shop.

Car troubles...

Well, as I stated before, the car is in the shop. But in this process a co-worker of my hubby's suggested instead of putting the $2000 into a car that probably isn't worth that fixed, why not get a new car? So the hubby called and told me to start researching another sedan. I swallowed hard and took it initially. But the more we talked the more I got my nerve up. I was about to get SCREWED and NOT in the style I like!!

Years ago dear hubby and I said that when the Intrepid died (and this is pretty damn near close now, we drive cars until they die...) we would replace it with either a convertible or a Jeep Wrangler. And now I was being asked to research another sedan, which is neither of the previously agreed upon vehicles. I shared this with him over the phone. And after some more discussion he agreed upon a convertible...a Chrysler Sebring Convertible.

He had some VERY specific guidelines for what he wanted though. With the automotive industry being somewhat in the slumps right now, we were hoping to play upon their desperate desires to sell a car as often they have played upon our emotions when purchasing a vehicle in the past.

Well, after 2 days worth of searching, I'm not a lot closer to my goal. I've ticked off more than one salesperson, I'm sure. A few have told me that my demands are just NOT possible. So I continue to look. If, after a decent amount of time, we are not able to procure my convertible, then we will go get the Intrepid from the shop, tow it home and keep looking. Luckily we have three cars...a 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 Truck, a 1991 Chevy Cavalier, and a 2002 Dodge Intrepid. We have recently replaced the spark plug wires and done some home tune-ups to the Cavalier to get it road worthy again. I went yesterday and got the tags updated, today my goal is to find the front license plate (and reattach it), and get it inspected. So even without one car, we are not handicapped to sharing a vehicle. Meaning I have the car salesperson's worst enemy on my hands...time and patience.

Here's a picture of the car that I'm looking for...(but not specific to color)

The look with the top up

Top coming down

Top down

the inside with top down

I'm also going to check out the Toyota Camry Solara Convertible, but not sure I'll be able to get the same deal on price with one of those. If anyone knows of a convertible that will somewhat comfortably fit a family of four...PLEASE let me know. I like the Sebring because with the bucket seats in the back it offers a little more comfort. A mustang might as well be a two-seater for our family and I just am not a big fan of the PT Cruiser. Any suggestions?

Moving a little slower today

Well, I'm not gallivanting about town this morning for sure!! This weekend we headed out to the in-laws and got about 1/2 way there when the car's transmission went OUT!!! Ugh! So we called a good friend to come pick us all up and bring us back home, called the in-laws with our regrets, and planned for how we were going to get the car home/to the shop. Kyle ended up buying a $100 tow chain and I got to tow him down I-20, I-635, I-30, and then home the back way. Ugh for sure!! I was SOO stressed pulling the car home and dealing with the assholes that felt the need to flip me off because I was only going 40MPH on the interstate. I'm in the right lane d**khead!! Go around me!!

This morning we get the call from the shop with the diagnosis. Yep, needs new transmission. This means about $1900 out the door and to the mechanic. Ouch!! Hubby called and told me to be frugal, which I guess is his nice way of saying "Don't go shopping/spend any money!"



I AM going tomorrow and getting a copy of EA Active for the Wii though...but I have CASH! So no need to charge that. I first really got interested in it when I saw Sammy, aka Alison Sweeney, showing it to Ellen and talking about how this is what she's using to get her baby weight off and get back into shape. It looks a little more intensive than Wii Fit and I certainly am glad to find something else to do. And this "game" has running, kickboxing, a 30-Day challenge, and lots of other activities. And I like that it has a leg strap so you have a place to put the nunchuck that can gauge when you're running and such a little better. Looking forward to it! And thanks to Renee for confirming it comes out tomorrow for me!

Well, I'm off to clean the house and stay away from shopping. hehe

New paths and old beginnings

I am happy to report that I had a WONDERFUL Mother's Day weekend!! We played in the water, drank our adult beverages, and soaked up all the sun we could. I took lots of pictures, but as per the request of some of my loved ones, I've decided not to post some of them. I can't see the harm in several of them, but then again..I don't want to step on anyone's toes with my actions either. Here's one of my son that seems to sum up the relaxation just perfectly!


One night we all sat in a semi-circle just a matter of yards from the water's edge and sang any song we could remember at least one verse of and danced around about the beachy area. My mother was out for that evening, but for the rest of our time there she seemed to stay in her camper for the vast majority of the day. It did sadden me some. She was continuing on the same path she always had, over-doing it one evening/day just to throw herself into such a state that getting out of bed before afternoon became near unbearable.

I've been doing well with my dieting efforts lately. The weight isn't falling off by any conjuring of the imagination, but it IS coming off. Slow but sure wins this race, right?

I have wondered here lately, with some of my dealings with several people in my life over these 34+ years, what makes people seemingly pigeonhole themselves into distinct categories. Do you know someone who constantly seems to be the victim? Another who is always smiling and trying to keep the peace? Another who naturally takes on a parenting role? The pot-stirrer? The drama starter? The wise one who merely sits back and observes but has the advice of the ages in their eyes?

I feel fortunate to have, at one point or another, come into contact with all of these types. And I consider myself fortunate because without all these various types (and more) coming through my life I wouldn't be the woman I am today.

I have taken up bowling with a wonderful group of moms. Now only afew of us ever clear 100, but we sure do have a hell of a lot of fun!! Here's a picture of this past week's enjoyable night out.

That's me in the middle on the bottom =)