I Left The Stove On!

As you all know, I haven't been sleeping very well. It's to the point where I am either over it or too far gone to care. (Example: I can't believe no one laughed at "freedom" toast). I am catching up on my shows and getting my house organized so that's something.

Matt mentioned to me that maybe I should start exercising. He thinks I may not be doing enough during the day. Lack of activity could be a factor. I am certainly not as active as I once was. But I remember possibly being addicted to cough syrup because I had this problem my Senior year in high school.

One of the drawbacks to only sleeping a few hours a night is that you frequently wake up from a "really good dream" or a lame dream in which you were starting dinner and you woke up before you turned the stove off. That's what I dreamt last night.

A Moment Of Silence

I'm Back With My Ex-Girlfriend

A few really great things happened to me this year. One of them was my best friend from high school, Kim, and I got back in contact. We were always really close until life happened after high school and we lost touch. We'd email or call each other once every so often but that too faded. I really did miss her and would often think of her. I'd remember her ability to make up swear words ("fuck ass!") or her love for yellow roses. And Jennifer Aniston always reminded me of Kim, with her adorable nose and her laugh. They both have a great ass too.

The best thing about Kim is that she can always just pick up with me where we left off. I never feel awkward around her or feel like I can't tell her something. She'll always be one of my best friends. If you're another friend of mine, it's hard to compare to her.

We went out Tuesday. It was supposed to be a double date with her new boyfriend Michael but I brought along my kid to dinner. Matt and Michael are very similar so Kim and I spent most of the evening chatting and giggling and tasting each other's drinks while the boys sat quietly, wondering what in the hell they got themselves into. On top of that, Matt was not feeling well (sinus ailment), so he went home after dinner and a drink at the Fox & Hound. On the three of us went to Rack N Roll for some kareoke.

There are a lot of things Kim still is, but after 6 years with an asshole for a husband, (I'm hoping he reads this so I posted that kissing picture just for him) she's lost the confidence she once had about herself, her beauty and her abilities. One strong talent she has is singing, and for some reason she doesn't realize she has it. She only went up once to sing and that was with me. I told her I'd sing the melody which meant she had to sing about 95% of Leave The Pieces by the Wreckers by herself. She did wonderfully, of course and was hit on by many a drunkards. I told her she needs to start some daily affirmations.


One perfect example of Kim and I was when we both had to pee. There are only two stalls in the bathroom at Rack N Roll and thankfully they were both empty. No sooner did we both sit down, some poor girl who was beyond slurring her words kindly but forcefully let us know that we both had to hurry up. We came out at the same time, both our pants still unbuttoned and our worried faces mirroring each other. We both told her, "Go, I'm done." It isn't rare for us to say the same things or finish each other's sentences. Then the trashed girl with the full bladder asked what so many have asked before: "Are you two sisters?" We are definitely linked in some way. We always will be.

When Will It End?

I cannot believe this is my "vacation". I've had some shit or another to do every day. And it looks like it isn't ending yet. I am exhausted, hopped up on diet coke and candy canes, and have done three dark loads of laundry in the last two days because I keep running out of red tops. How much Christmas can one gal take?

Party number two was Jr's daughter, Kaitlyn. It was her 3rd birthday. This boy knows how to celebrate.



Britain of course has no problem coming up with a new outfit for every party. That santa dress is actually not the same one she wore to the very first Christmas party we were at a few weeks ago. Here she is with Matt's parents and brother Craig on Christmas Eve. It was here I told Craig he was co-best man at the wedding. Apparently, he hadn't been informed??








Here we are finally at home on Christmas morning. Brit was getting the hang of the present thing and after santa brought all of 5 1/2 gifts, she wasn't sure why she was left wanting more.





Here is her "Was I really that bad this year?" face.







This dress was two dollars at Kmart. That sounds like a lie but it's true.














You'll notice from the candy (and my expression) that this party was at my parent's. You might have even noticed Jr's head.








I'm not supposed to tell you that she played with that cell phone in the store which was the main reason we purchased it.

Tam and Jr are thinking "all I got was candy".

This post is all in good fun of course. It wasn't all bad. Matt, my sister Theresa and I hung out with Kris and Ray and saw Jenson at the new bar, The Boardwalk. I had a nice double date with my best friend Kim (next post). And HELLO!? Presents for me! I got all TWO seasons of Dead Like Me on DVD, The Little Mermaid, the new Monopoly, a cool travel crock pot, these neat socks that soften your feet with sea kelp as you wear them???, a potato peeler and some other stuff.

But probably my favorite present was Matt put our engagement on DVD for me to watch. It was Christmas eve, 2004! He had a camera man come with him to tape. There isn't audio and you only see Matt's back for most of it, but there are some great moments caught, like my smile. It's a smile I thought he was only seeing because he didn't tell me about the camera until after. And the "yes". I think I said it 4 or 5 times. And our cold frozen lips kissing under the gazebo downtown, all lit up. I've watched it a few too many times now and it still makes me tear up. Yes, that was my favorite present.

Cream Filled Twinkies

I was making cookies and cleaning my disgusting bathroom today because I was stuck inside without a car. My transmission finally just shifted it's last shift on Wednesday. And for only around $750, you can have a used one put in too! On top of that, it needs inspected. Matt won't let me take up hooking, so I don't know where in the hell I'm going to get the money.

It's so funny how bored I get just hanging out at home. Brit's fun most of the time and keeps me quite entertained. But unfortunately, she is just like me in the cabin fever department and by the end of the night, we were both climbing the walls. Thankfully, my sister Michelle and her gal pal, Lori came over and kept us company.

While looking through some of the cookbooks I have, (Shut up. Yes I have cookbooks.) we realized some of the recipe names could easily be found in the porn department at Videos R Us. Some are stretching it of course and only a dirty minded person would think so, but some! Some are outright raunchy.

Here are some of the MANY I noticed:

Dot's Ice Box Pickles
Carla's Corn Pudding
My Mom's Mouthwatering Meatballs
Corn Stuffing Balls
Mom's Munch Mix
Taco Dip
Taco Ring
Angel Biscuits
Mom's Braided Bread
Quick Rolls
Anita's Puffy Baked French Pancake
Maple Nut Treat
Sally's Awesome Overnight Applesauce- you can't make this shit up!
4 Layer Delight
Aunt Emily's Buttermilk Cookies
Blueberry Dump Cake
Bob's Banana Bread
Cream Puff Dessert
Gramma Mary's Apple Pie
Grandma's Heavenly Ho-Ho's
Mom's Donut Holes
My Mom's Chocolate Cake
Mondo Muffin
Raw Apple Cake
Three Sisters Pie
Dean's Sweet And Sour Beef
Gram's Gooey Corn
Nan's Zucchini Supreme
Big Banana Muffins
Hot Chipped Beef Dip
Hot Rueben Dip
Noel Nectar
Cherries In The Snow
Moist Apple Stuffing
Sour Cream Muffins

So, you're either hungry or turned on? Unless you're Ray. Then you're both.

I Miss Kris

Inside Family Jokes

We had our annual "sibling party" over the weekend. It was at my brother Jr's house. Everything turned out alright including my homeade macaroni and cheese with tomato (yum) but for some odd reason, I haven't felt very in the spirit. Maybe I just don't think Christmas is what it used to be. Maybe I still remember my Papa's passing so vividly. But this year, I just can't wait for it to be over.

I realize, most of this poem you all might not get. But it may be funny for some.


Twas the week before Christmas
And all through the fam
Underlying issues were present
Including, of course, Tam's










The stockings were hung
To avert from the quibbling
But what's a sibling party
Without EVERY sibling?






MaMa (and her stained shirt)
And Pa were quite distant
But it surprised not a one
'Cause it happens each Christmas










The children were either crying
Or guessing Aunt's names
'Cause, it's rare we see each other
Though the same blood's through our veins










After setting the timer
I flew like a dash
To pose for the camera
Before the damn flash







The heat from the people
Filling the room at Jr's place
Gave a luster of dampness
To Tam's sweaty face






When what to my wandering eyes should permit
But a miniature Brit in a cheesy santa outfit











With a son and a father
who used to fight constant
talking hunting and fishing
though there's still some resentment






Now Theresa, Now Michael
Now Stephen, Now Tam
Let's all pool together
For a mortgage payment plan










A wink of his eye
And a twist of his head
Still I couldn't forget
All the mean things we've said










And I heard Jr exclaim
as I drove out of sight
"Merry Christmas, Bitch!"
And it felt just alright.

Freedom Toast

I realize I haven't been cooking for very long, and maybe this isn't as rare as I think, but while making Freedom toast this morning I cracked open an egg with two yolks...one clear, one round and deep yellow as if it were hard boiled. I should have taken a picture, but I was hungry. Has anything like that happened to you?

Lost American Brother

I didn't catch it yet, but I've recorded The Lost Room which aired on Sci Fi this week. Anyone else see it? Matt said it was awesome and already talking about buying the DVD. If you missed it, Sci Fi is airing the entire 6 hour series this Sunday.

I am also getting super excited about American Idol! It won't be long that we'll be making fun of some new "talents". "Dreadful. 'Orrible. That was preposterous."

And let's not forget a new Big Brother! Have you applied yet?

Hey! Here Comes The Bandwagon...Jump On!

Alright. So I thought I'd school you all in how to create a real "how well you know me" quiz. I am counting on much higher scores than a few of those OTHER quizzes.

I don't know how to post the leaderboard because I never went to college, so you can view the results HERE under my slideshow.

UPDATE: My test was screwing some people over whether it was an error on my part or the computer's. Sorry. Please retake if you have the energy.