Me Me Me MEEEEEEEEEEE Me Me Me....

Mommy's Ninetndo over at The Itsy Bitsy Monkey tagged me for a MeMe. Seeing as how I'm bored with my own stories these days I thought I'd participate. :) Here goes:

Four films I’d watch again: 1. Gone With The Wind 2. Serenity 3. Game Day
4. State Fair

Four places I’ve lived: 1.New Brunswick, NJ 2. Houston, TX 3. Abilene, TX
4. Monroeville, PA

Four TV shows I watch: 1. American Idol 2. Criminal Minds 3. House 4. Top Chef/Project Runway (Whichever is on)

Four things to eat: 1. Shrimp or Chicken Stew (Made by my Mom) 2. Biscuits and Gravy 3. Sky High Fudge Brownie Cake 4. Mom's Carrot Cake

Four Places I’d Rather Be: 1. Home 2. Home 3. Home 4. Home

Four People I'm Taggin': 1. Tammy over at The Color of Home 2. Jen over at at one plus two 3. Mama Moosh over at Moosh in Indy and 4. Jennifer over at Thursday Drive I love alla 'em!

It's Official...

My body hates me. I ate well this week. I worked hard eating the things I should... avoiding the things I shouldn't... and I GAINED just under 4 lbs.

I decided I'm not going to get all bent outta shape. I decided I'm not going to get upset or angry. Something similar happened after I went on vacation for the New Year. I lost on vacation. Then gained the next week. I don't really get it. However, it seems to be a pattern with my body. So... feh. Next week I'll loose. If PMS doesn't kick my ass and make me retain enough water to flood the lake... *cough*

Yeah... I decided all that but ummmm... it's not working. I'm pissed. I'm annoyed. I'm disheartened. Imma go cry now. Then... eat pizza. *cough*

Bleh

We spent today at the baseball field. Opening Ceremonies were this morning. Shecky played in a double header. We lost both games. The kids don't play so well but my GOD was it entertaining. Heh.

Unfortunately, my daily eats weren't so great as a result. Today I ate:

Breakfast:

1/2 an Egg Scrambled
2 Slices of Bacon
2 Slices Bread and Fat Free Country Gravy

Lunch:

Taco Salad (Unfortunately it was VERY greasy and SALTY)

Dinner:

Boiled Crawfish (SUPAH SALTY)

I'm thinking about my salt intake today and now I'm DREADING weigh in tomorrow. /cry

Menu for 03-27-2008

What I ate yesterday:

Breakfast:

2 Eggs Fried with Pam
1 pkg Instant Grits made with water
2 slices Bacon
Skim Milk

Lunch:

Deconstructed Guacamole Salad Recipe follows:
3 Roma Tomato's
1 Cucumber
1.5 Avocado's
1/2 of a small Purple Onion
Balsamic Breeze Salad Spritzer
Salt
Pepper

Dice veggies into medium sized chunks. (Slice onions slightly smaller.) POUR Balsamic Breeze over veggies. Enough to moisten but not float. Add Salt and pepper to taste.

So, SO good.

Supper:

2 boiled small red potato's
1/2 ear corn on the cob
Boiled Crawfish

Snack:

BBQ Hamburger on Sunbeam Bread with FF Mayo and Mustard. (SO not enough crawfish to get satisfied with.)

What did you eat?

GAH!

Apparently Shecky has his first... errrrmmmm... ADMIRER.

One of the little girls in his class was watching him at Baseball practice tonight. She told him he did a "GREAT JOB!" (He has no clue what he's doing...) She also picked a wildflower and told him to give it to his mom... I... have... no... words...

Abject Terror...

What a way to start the day!

Have you ever had a moment of complete, untainted fear that brings a clarity the likes of which you experience only a few times in a lifetime? Yeah... I started my day with one today.

J called this morning when he got home from work. One of the people he works with is apparently, ummm... unstable. Mentally.

Night before last this guy went OFF on the lady that sits behind him. When I say went off I mean threatened to "Take her out" among other things.

Last night the dude was suspended for his behavior. No big... happens all the time, right? Well apparently Senior Psychopath came BACK to the workplace later in the evening ... with a gun.

This was all relayed to me WITHOUT one small piece of information. It occurred about 15 minutes before J arrived at work. Mr. Crazy McCrazypants was in a cop car when J arrived. There were still 4-5 police vehicles there at the time.

Needless to say, without that small piece of information my heart fucking STOPPED. I was hit with terror the likes of which I've only felt when my child or someone else I love is in danger.

Then it hit me... dude... J is FAMILY. Not by blood or genetics but by choice, by shared experiences and love.

J... I do love you, truly. However, if you EVER tell me a story like that without all the pertinent information up front, I'll kick yer ass myself. Heh.

Back In The Saddle Again...

Things are finally starting to settle into routine for us again. Shecky is back in school. I got his progress report and he's making all A's and B's again. Baseball practice has begun. Apparently, he's a left handed batter... he does everything ELSE with his right hang... Huh? Opening day for Baseball is Saturday and he
has a double header. God help us all. May it be quick and injury free.

I'm back to exercising and dieting regularly. I actually managed to LOOSE a pound over the last 3 weeks. During all the turmoil and ... well intentioned food... I managed to still loose. WOOT! I'm down 70 lbs now. I've lost 2 shirt sizes. My ass seems to be the same size though. Basta'd.

I promise I'm back now with regular posts. Hopefully more interesting than THIS one. Heh.

Things I ate today:

Breakfast:

Fresh Fruit Salad

Lunch:

A roasted chicken and cheese sandwich with 2% cheese, Fat Free Mayo and Honey Mustard.

Light Lays Potato Chips. (Less than an oz. Just enough to give my sammy some crunch.)

Dinner:

BBQ hamburger made with lean ground meat and light bbq sauce. 2% cheese, FF Mayo and regular mustard.

Oven Fries

Skim Milk

Happy Belated Birthday Mom

Mom--

I know your birthday was a train wreck. I am so, so sorry that you had to bury your own mother on a day that should have been a celebration for you. Next year? Next year we are SO gonna party for your 64th!!!

You killed a small part of me today when you said, "I saw my mom for the first time on my birthday... and I saw her for the last time on my birthday, too. Talk about full circle..." Gah! I wish I could make all this easier for you. It's simple enough to put aside my pain to fix yours. Unfortunately, I know nothing I say or do is going to make it any better.

I love you Mom. Happy Birthday.

Home Again

I'm finally back home. The funeral was yesterday. So was my Mom's birthday. Bleh. Hell of a way to celebrate eh?

Everyone still seems a bit fragile. I have to wonder how long that's going to last...

I don't have a whole lot to say tonight. I just wanted to stick my head out and let everyone know I'm home.

Normal routine resumes tomorrow. Shecky back to school. Me back to dieting, exercising and helping mom around the house.

A Life In Pictures

Here is a video memorial of my Grandmother's life. Brussard's Mortuary Ella Menard

Rest In Peace

Ella Mae Menard, my last grandparent, passed away this morning at 6:25 AM. I don't know what the official papers will say her cause of death was. I know that she died of a broken heart.

My grandmother has had medical problems for years but she didn't begin the long, slow slide to the end until my grandfather passed away on December 18, 2006. Almost one year to the day of his admission to the hospital Grandma was first admitted to Christus St. John's Hospital. She was admitted again the end of December 2007 and spent her last birthday in her hospital room.

Today she lost her fight. She went peacefully. Her passing was restful and quiet, filled with the dignity and peace she always tried to conduct herself with in life.

She was a strong woman in all the ways that counted... and in some that were annoying to those that loved her most. (She and I butted heads many times over the years. My hard headedness came, in a large part, from her. I was the grandchild that... errr... challenged her the most. Heh)

She was a good wife and mother. She was a great grandparent. She was a better person.

She wasn't perfect, not by any stretch of the imagination, but she tried so hard to do the right things for those she loved.

We'll all miss you Grandma. Rest easy now. Give Grandpa a hug for me when you see him again.

Ella Mae Menard

December 25, 1922 - March 14, 2008

Betty Crocker...

take THAT!

I went on a baking frenzy today. Dad loves brownies. He loves the corners and the edges the most! I found the PERFECT BROWNIE PAN for him. I ordered it and made some for him today. He LOVED it.

Then I got to thinking. Shecky is on this WEIRD assed kick where he wants to eat a PB&J and brownie sandwich. ::Shudder:: So... I got on Google and found several recipe's. None of them really worked for me. So, I made my own version and... ummm... it REALLY rocks!

Make your favorite brownie base or use a box mix. Prepare according to the directions. Then take:

1 Cup Peanut Butter
1 Cup Powdered Sugar
1/2 Cup MELTED Butter

Mix together. Drop peanut butter mixture by teaspoons onto the brownie batter. It will likely cover most of the top but that's a GOOD thing. Once you've put all the peanut butter mixture on the batter drag a knife through the brownie batter lengthwise and then across the width. (Do this several times to "swirl" the PB mixture.)

Bake according to brownie recipe instructions. (You may need to cook it an additional 5 or so minutes. The PB mixture seems to keep a bit more moisture in than normal.)

Take 1 Cup of the Jelly of your choice and melt in the microwave for 1 min 30 seconds. Spread over top of cooked brownies and let cool completely.

I know I don't really need to say this but umm...THESE ARE NOT DIET FRIENDLY!!!! They are so, SO good though. Kids and adults both seem to love them.

Randomosity

* How ironic is it that the Democrats in the state of Texas are trying to decide between a woman and a man of color for their presidential candidate. Texas is irony's bitch.

* I realized the music in the '80s... The music I grew up with... kinda sucks.

* I also realized that several of the "Top 10" men... kinda suck.

* Jason Castro, David Archuletta and the Fawker David Cook... kinda don't.

* Homemade Fudge... is the DEVIL.

* I still have this frakking cold.

* Sugar Free Hall's Cough Drops are a food group now.

* My 7 year old son has an 8 year old "girlfriend" ... and she lives in another state. Oy.

* He CALLED her Monday... ON THE FRONT PORCH SO I COULDN'T LISTEN IN!