Monday, April 25, 2011
Meat and Taters
D Magazine just released their picks for the top 20 steakhouses in Dallas. Yes please! Since Bo and I have become steakhouse snobs, you can imagine I squealed a little when I saw this article. I'm a little Del Frisco's biased, slightly skeptical Pappa's Bros should top the list and can't wait to try Nick and Sam's. So, we shall see. If I had a spare $6,000 to spend on 20 meals, I might try all 20 steakhouses and provide you blog followers with my own ratings. (Anyone who feels compelled to donate, I promise to write a detailed account of each and every bite of food and drink of wine. Or better yet, should you like to buy a steakhouse dinner, we can go together!)
Saturday, April 23, 2011
This Means War
I unknowingly walked into a trap. My husband, such a sweetheart, thought it a funny thing to put Orajel all over his lips before I left to head to the gym today. He enticed me upstairs to give me a kiss goodbye and before I could process what was going on, my lips. were. numb. Very numb. Awesome.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Jeep-er Creeper
Cliff notes version of this story.
So my car died last Thursday. I had it towed to the dealership because I just knew it was something worse than a battery. I had just replaced it maybe a year ago? I needed this fixed pronto since I was going to Austin the next day, for what turned out to be a miserable trip I should have foregone anyways. Low and behold, dead battery. Somewhat questionably, I tell the dealership to replace it. $171.58. Ouch. My gut said make them give me the old battery. Gut was right.
I was off today and finally got around to subjecting myself to a hopeless attempt to get Firestone (who had replaced said dead battery originally) to do something for me. Turns out car batteries have long warranties - like 72 months. Who knew. And they have 18 month free replacements. Who really knew. Guess what? My battery was 18 months old. If I had towed my car to Firestone they would have replaced it for free. I was kicking myself at this point. Thanks to my gut, that old battery was my saving grace. My Firestone manager put my battery on a tester - STILL GOOD!
I haul my patootie (17.6 pounds lighter patootie I might add) over to the dealership for a little chat. Dealership man says too bad, no refund for me. I ask for battery test report performed on my battery from last Thursday - it's not available anymore. So, no proof of a bad battery and no refund. Fuck them. With the intention of taking my fight up the Jeep corporate ladder, I haul my patootie back to Firestone to request a print out of my battery reading. No problem, Firestone manager even calls over to Jeep dealership to help plead my case. Turns out, Jeep dealership had screwed me over and neglected some basic car maintenance procedures. All my battery needed was a good terminal node cleaning because it wasn't getting a good connection. Therefore, car no starty. Duh.
After three hours, I haul that same patootie back to Jeep dealership with old battery in car, new battery in hand and scowl on my face. Thank you, Firestone manager, for you sincere helpfulness and for not charging me a penny to clean my battery, re-install it, put new terminal bolts on my cables and courtesy check my vehicle. And Jeep man refunded me $171.58.
10 years of driving two different Jeeps and I'm about to need a new car. Not a good idea for Jeep to screw me over if they would like me to purchase a third.
So my car died last Thursday. I had it towed to the dealership because I just knew it was something worse than a battery. I had just replaced it maybe a year ago? I needed this fixed pronto since I was going to Austin the next day, for what turned out to be a miserable trip I should have foregone anyways. Low and behold, dead battery. Somewhat questionably, I tell the dealership to replace it. $171.58. Ouch. My gut said make them give me the old battery. Gut was right.
I was off today and finally got around to subjecting myself to a hopeless attempt to get Firestone (who had replaced said dead battery originally) to do something for me. Turns out car batteries have long warranties - like 72 months. Who knew. And they have 18 month free replacements. Who really knew. Guess what? My battery was 18 months old. If I had towed my car to Firestone they would have replaced it for free. I was kicking myself at this point. Thanks to my gut, that old battery was my saving grace. My Firestone manager put my battery on a tester - STILL GOOD!
I haul my patootie (17.6 pounds lighter patootie I might add) over to the dealership for a little chat. Dealership man says too bad, no refund for me. I ask for battery test report performed on my battery from last Thursday - it's not available anymore. So, no proof of a bad battery and no refund. Fuck them. With the intention of taking my fight up the Jeep corporate ladder, I haul my patootie back to Firestone to request a print out of my battery reading. No problem, Firestone manager even calls over to Jeep dealership to help plead my case. Turns out, Jeep dealership had screwed me over and neglected some basic car maintenance procedures. All my battery needed was a good terminal node cleaning because it wasn't getting a good connection. Therefore, car no starty. Duh.
After three hours, I haul that same patootie back to Jeep dealership with old battery in car, new battery in hand and scowl on my face. Thank you, Firestone manager, for you sincere helpfulness and for not charging me a penny to clean my battery, re-install it, put new terminal bolts on my cables and courtesy check my vehicle. And Jeep man refunded me $171.58.
10 years of driving two different Jeeps and I'm about to need a new car. Not a good idea for Jeep to screw me over if they would like me to purchase a third.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Lately's Projects
I've been trying to tackle all those nagging little "when I get around to it" projects so I can start the "I'm dying to get started on" biggie ones. Recently, I found this steal for $25. Half off the "damaged" price. Ugggg right?!
The shape and size we perfect for a little dead end spot by the spare bedrooms that had been plaguing me. Nothing some spray paint couldn't fix. A $3 can on Krylon and she's a new woman. I did splurge a little and buy a jug of mocha glaze. The picture doesn't do much justice, but I promise it's glazed. Voila.
The hubs helped out with this one. It was originally a counter height table I found at a charity sample sale. I've been holding onto it since we were in the old house. It got a leg trimming to coffee table height and adds a little color to the living room.
Crappy picture, but cool iron piece chillin' over the bath tub. Hubs was a big help hanging this monsterously heavy dude.
Lastly, got a little towel holder I adore up. You wanted to see my toilet right? At least I took the trash out. :)
That's all for now. Up next, finish the man room and pick a new paint color for the guest bathroom.
The shape and size we perfect for a little dead end spot by the spare bedrooms that had been plaguing me. Nothing some spray paint couldn't fix. A $3 can on Krylon and she's a new woman. I did splurge a little and buy a jug of mocha glaze. The picture doesn't do much justice, but I promise it's glazed. Voila.
The hubs helped out with this one. It was originally a counter height table I found at a charity sample sale. I've been holding onto it since we were in the old house. It got a leg trimming to coffee table height and adds a little color to the living room.
Crappy picture, but cool iron piece chillin' over the bath tub. Hubs was a big help hanging this monsterously heavy dude.
Lastly, got a little towel holder I adore up. You wanted to see my toilet right? At least I took the trash out. :)
That's all for now. Up next, finish the man room and pick a new paint color for the guest bathroom.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The Grapefruit Diet Equivalent
Maybe I'm old fashioned or maybe I'm naive to think the proven method of a moderate diet and regular exercise are the sure formula for skinnifying? I was encouraged for a friend who's been diligently working at weight loss. Only to find out it was aided by HCG. If you have not heard of this, let me enlighten you. From the website directly:
HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) is a hormone produced during pregnancy. One of it's functions is to ensure the growing fetus receives enough nutrients to grow and develop normally. It does this by making the abnormal fat stored in the mother's body available for use. The mother's body is then able to use this fat for nutrients and energy despite her intake. This is why women can throw up for three months straight during "morning sickness" and the baby does not suffer. Pregnancy is the only time HCG is found in the body.
Dr. ATW Simeons discovered in the 1950's that small doses of HCG given to overweight individuals (men and women) decreased their appetite, and made them lose inches specifically around their hips, thighs, buttocks and stomachs. Today millions of people have used Hcg for weight loss. The HCG Diet has also been used for weight loss in obese persons as well as those wanting to shed a few unhealthy or unwanted pounds. Hcg for obesity is as common as hcg for fast weight loss. However it is used The hcg diet weight loss program works. Hcgdiet.com has over 7,000 happy customers. While millions of people have used hcg for weight loss, there are many people are just learning about hcg.
So, is it 7,000 people or millions?
Really?! And not just one friend is doing this. I'm aware of several friends using these drops. It gets better:
When HCG is taken, the body is able to tap into it's stored fat and utilize it. When combined with a calorie restriction diet, the person is subsisting more on their stored fat than on what they are eating. They are burning 3500-4000 calories of stored fat daily which amounts to losing 1-2 pounds every day!
Many people want to know if they can be comfortable on a calorie restriction diet of 500 calories per day. One of the miracles of hcg is that a person can feel comfortable eating only 500 calories per day while taking the hcg supplement. While on the HCG diet, appetite is suppressed and most patients feel as if they are stuffing themselves on 500 calories a day. Trying this very low calorie diet without the use of HCG would lead to trouble within 2-3 days. Side effects of starving yourself include insomnia, lethargy, head aches, loss of mental clarity, severe fatigue, and on and on! While on the HCG diet patients sleep sounder and usually feel better than they did before they started the hcg diet.
Should I keep going:
A person on the oral HCG diet can expect to eat 500 calories a day of protein, fruits and vegetables. Light exercise is acceptable but it would be better to do no heavy exercise. A brisk walk is normally the most you should attempt.
I wish I was kidding. Girls, what have we become?
HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) is a hormone produced during pregnancy. One of it's functions is to ensure the growing fetus receives enough nutrients to grow and develop normally. It does this by making the abnormal fat stored in the mother's body available for use. The mother's body is then able to use this fat for nutrients and energy despite her intake. This is why women can throw up for three months straight during "morning sickness" and the baby does not suffer. Pregnancy is the only time HCG is found in the body.
Dr. ATW Simeons discovered in the 1950's that small doses of HCG given to overweight individuals (men and women) decreased their appetite, and made them lose inches specifically around their hips, thighs, buttocks and stomachs. Today millions of people have used Hcg for weight loss. The HCG Diet has also been used for weight loss in obese persons as well as those wanting to shed a few unhealthy or unwanted pounds. Hcg for obesity is as common as hcg for fast weight loss. However it is used The hcg diet weight loss program works. Hcgdiet.com has over 7,000 happy customers. While millions of people have used hcg for weight loss, there are many people are just learning about hcg.
So, is it 7,000 people or millions?
Really?! And not just one friend is doing this. I'm aware of several friends using these drops. It gets better:
When HCG is taken, the body is able to tap into it's stored fat and utilize it. When combined with a calorie restriction diet, the person is subsisting more on their stored fat than on what they are eating. They are burning 3500-4000 calories of stored fat daily which amounts to losing 1-2 pounds every day!
Many people want to know if they can be comfortable on a calorie restriction diet of 500 calories per day. One of the miracles of hcg is that a person can feel comfortable eating only 500 calories per day while taking the hcg supplement. While on the HCG diet, appetite is suppressed and most patients feel as if they are stuffing themselves on 500 calories a day. Trying this very low calorie diet without the use of HCG would lead to trouble within 2-3 days. Side effects of starving yourself include insomnia, lethargy, head aches, loss of mental clarity, severe fatigue, and on and on! While on the HCG diet patients sleep sounder and usually feel better than they did before they started the hcg diet.
Should I keep going:
A person on the oral HCG diet can expect to eat 500 calories a day of protein, fruits and vegetables. Light exercise is acceptable but it would be better to do no heavy exercise. A brisk walk is normally the most you should attempt.
I wish I was kidding. Girls, what have we become?
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
To My Beautiful Wife:
Hope you don't mind me taking control of your blog for a sec...I am very thankful to have the best wife in the world! One who challenges me and takes care of me, puts up with me, and loves me no matter what. I am so blessed to have you in my life. Spending time with you is my favorite thing to do. I love you to pieces!....And I'm out of pop tarts and cereal...Thanks!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Home Is The Best Place to Run To
As soon as I reach the surface to take a breath, a torrential blow of water drowns me again. This week, I had to pay taxes, Bo got into a wreck, my car died, our HOA decided not to send me a statement until after our dues were already due with a hefty late penalty included...and I'll keep the rest of the sorrows to myself. It wasn't until I started dwelling on all of these misfortunes that I couldn't even stand to listen to myself any longer. So, today I am thankful for unanswered prayers, small victories and a husband that knows how to counter my self-pity perfectly.
You are an angel, you taught me how to fly. You picked me up when I was down, turned me around and you made me fly high. We’re a little bit older now, together we’ve seen some change, but I love you more now than I did on that very first day.
Sometimes we laugh, and sometimes we cry. Some days it’s hard to figure out our way in this life, but it’s moments like these that make me wish I could freeze frame time...
You are an angel, you taught me how to fly. You picked me up when I was down, turned me around and you made me fly high. We’re a little bit older now, together we’ve seen some change, but I love you more now than I did on that very first day.
Sometimes we laugh, and sometimes we cry. Some days it’s hard to figure out our way in this life, but it’s moments like these that make me wish I could freeze frame time...
Monday, April 11, 2011
They Grow Up So Fast
If you know us, you know our great loves are Shooter and Stella. Just so happens, they turned two years old today. I had every intention of stopping by Three Dog Bakery for a scrumptious doggie-friendly birthday cake, but Southlake isn't quit on my way to the gym. So, they got Frosty Paws ice cream from Wal-Mart. Excellent alternative.
I reminisced on photos and videos as if it were people children when writing this blog. We just love them....
....when they were puppies...
...when they're sleeping...
I could go on. So, I will.
...when they're in the fireplace...
...when they're in mama's lap...
...when they're enjoying the snow...
...and now they're grown up.
I realize I am the equivalent of those parents who smother you with baby pictures so I'll give it a rest. Happy Birthday to our babies!
I reminisced on photos and videos as if it were people children when writing this blog. We just love them....
....when they were puppies...
...when they're sleeping...
I could go on. So, I will.
...when they're in the fireplace...
...when they're in mama's lap...
...when they're enjoying the snow...
...and now they're grown up.
I realize I am the equivalent of those parents who smother you with baby pictures so I'll give it a rest. Happy Birthday to our babies!
Friday, April 8, 2011
It's The Simple Things
Some women prefer flowers, chocolate, expensive jewelry (actually, that one still works on me), extravagent gifts... Let me tell you, if you're out to make my heart pitter patter, cleaning out the garage will do it. Or laundry, that one works wonders too. Maybe some dishes, clean out my car, remember to record my favorite show on TiVo...Ahhh!
Nick and I pulled up to the house today and Bo had the entire garage unravelled everywhere, organizing and cleaning. Ahhh! Being able to find just want I am looking for on it's assigned shelf beats flowers that wither away any day.
Nick and I pulled up to the house today and Bo had the entire garage unravelled everywhere, organizing and cleaning. Ahhh! Being able to find just want I am looking for on it's assigned shelf beats flowers that wither away any day.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
*Waiting*
I try to disconnect myself from all things political. It's a frustrating revolving door of chaos. But right now, I would really like to see some resolution of the government budgets so we aren't shut down Friday as well. Being a government contractor, Monday is a big, fat ? for us too...
A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have. - Thomas Jefferson
A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have. - Thomas Jefferson
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Geocaching...or Trinket Chasing?
Geocaching. Please tell me someone has heard of this. Courtney enlightened me today to an activity that apparently has been around for YEARS. And I literally mean around me - at Walmart, the elementary school, in a creek bed, Home Depot, maybe the gym...
I've never heard of such a thing until Courtney was telling me her and her boyfriend use their spare time to hunt. About an hour's worth of conversation at work today lead me to conclude this is a huge hide and seek Easter egg hunt for crap.
So, if you have never heard of this, where have you been? In a hole with me. There's a website and an app!! Holy moly! As I understand it, people will post longitude and latitude coordinates on a website leading to a location where an inconspicuous package of some sort has been left for capture. It can be anything, mostly something of little value no one wants, but you have to find it to figure that out. Once you find it, you log into the website and acknowledge you were victorious and leave something in return. And this goes on and on and on. Some locations have stayed strong for years.
That's basically the gist of it, but let's talk about the website - geocaching.com. It's pretty intense. In a discussion forum format, users will create a geocache with small hints and as folks find and re-populate the site, they discuss it. Some morons will give away the exact location of the trinket and ruin the fun or give further hints. {The idea is to never get caught while searching for the exact location of the item.} So, the website will tell you the approximate size of what you are looking for, if it's safe to go at night, if it's kid friendly, is parking close by...etc. Really?!
Then there's another catch - there may be nothing in the wrapping but a passcode or card. If there's a passcode, you simply log into the website and announce you found the geocache and move one. All that searching and there may be nothing? Or there may be a card wishing to "travel" to certain locations. For example, when I go on vacation to New York I can geocache. {because I would have nothing else to do in the wondrous city of New York? Right.} I can log the history of where the card has travelled across the country.
I could go on and on about this because it is just so bizarre to me. I think it has to beg the question, what if someone uses it in a malicious way? To lure a certain type of person to a remote location? Plants a bomb in a box? Leaves a sawed off finger? Scary Mary.
I was explaining the concept to Bo over dinner and he was as interested to hear about it as I was to explain it. I told him...there's a large decorative waterfall/fountain/pond-ish entrance to our subdivision made mostly of rocks piled together. I'm going to go buy a fake rock and put some Happy Meal toy in and post it. It would make my day to drive home and see someone trying to secretively turn over EVERY rock looking for what will inevitably be a let down. Bahahaha!
Someone please comment on this post and tell me if you have heard of this? I'm baffled and even more confused that it has survived over so many years.
I've never heard of such a thing until Courtney was telling me her and her boyfriend use their spare time to hunt. About an hour's worth of conversation at work today lead me to conclude this is a huge hide and seek Easter egg hunt for crap.
So, if you have never heard of this, where have you been? In a hole with me. There's a website and an app!! Holy moly! As I understand it, people will post longitude and latitude coordinates on a website leading to a location where an inconspicuous package of some sort has been left for capture. It can be anything, mostly something of little value no one wants, but you have to find it to figure that out. Once you find it, you log into the website and acknowledge you were victorious and leave something in return. And this goes on and on and on. Some locations have stayed strong for years.
That's basically the gist of it, but let's talk about the website - geocaching.com. It's pretty intense. In a discussion forum format, users will create a geocache with small hints and as folks find and re-populate the site, they discuss it. Some morons will give away the exact location of the trinket and ruin the fun or give further hints. {The idea is to never get caught while searching for the exact location of the item.} So, the website will tell you the approximate size of what you are looking for, if it's safe to go at night, if it's kid friendly, is parking close by...etc. Really?!
Then there's another catch - there may be nothing in the wrapping but a passcode or card. If there's a passcode, you simply log into the website and announce you found the geocache and move one. All that searching and there may be nothing? Or there may be a card wishing to "travel" to certain locations. For example, when I go on vacation to New York I can geocache. {because I would have nothing else to do in the wondrous city of New York? Right.} I can log the history of where the card has travelled across the country.
I could go on and on about this because it is just so bizarre to me. I think it has to beg the question, what if someone uses it in a malicious way? To lure a certain type of person to a remote location? Plants a bomb in a box? Leaves a sawed off finger? Scary Mary.
I was explaining the concept to Bo over dinner and he was as interested to hear about it as I was to explain it. I told him...there's a large decorative waterfall/fountain/pond-ish entrance to our subdivision made mostly of rocks piled together. I'm going to go buy a fake rock and put some Happy Meal toy in and post it. It would make my day to drive home and see someone trying to secretively turn over EVERY rock looking for what will inevitably be a let down. Bahahaha!
Someone please comment on this post and tell me if you have heard of this? I'm baffled and even more confused that it has survived over so many years.
Monday, April 4, 2011
One Proud Pink Petunia Plant
The maintenance crew at my office is constantly swapping out the flowers, almost weekly. I had to take this photo from somewhat far away for you to get just how many flowers are in this flower bed. And how funny it was to me that someone accidentally picked up one pink petunia plant. There are two flower beds this size by the way, and one little pinkie plant slipped in. Oops.
(Look hard, it's towards the back.)
(Look hard, it's towards the back.)
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