Chicago & Chocolate Walking Tour II

Last weekend was a whirlwind trip to the windy city, Chicago to participate in the walking Chocolate tour.  Three of us went and had a fabulous time!

We met some great people from the waiter at Frontera Grill, Rick Bayless' restaurant.  We had a great time and D being the huge R.B. fan was beyond ecstatic when he made a quick appearance by walking into the restaurant!  The train ride home was fun after meeting the cousins that were heading home to Columbus, Indiana.  We even talked about a road trip to visit them in upcoming months!  Of course there was the initiated contact I had with an officer for directions who later found our girlfriend and asked her if she would stay the night and entertain him! 

We had some fantastic food and great chocolate!  Fortunately with all the walking we did, we offset the great treats!  Here are some that we managed to take pictures of before devouring:


Frontera Grill: Appetizer Plate for three



More: Double Chocolate Mini Cupcakes

Cityscape: Grilled Seafood Salad (octopus & calamari w/arugula & fennel)

Cityscape: Scallop & Shrimp Ceviche

Cityscape: Ricotta Cheesecake (amaretto, strawberries & raspberries)

Cityscape: Dark Chocolate w/macaroons

Frontera Grill: Duo De Flanes (dark chocolate w/red chili bacon and vanilla) & Homemade Ice Cream (Vanilla & Coffee with goat milk caramel and hot fudge)

Bathroom Assessment Results

In October I posted about the City requesting to visit my house for a new assessment after the permits for the bathroom addition here.  Then on 10/28, I received the short visit from the assessor.

I finally received the notice in the mail over the weekend: Notice of Assessment, Taxable Valuation (including Leasehold Improvements) and Property Classification. 

My taxable value increased $2665 and my Assessed value increased by $3100.  I can't wait to see how much it will affect my taxes.  I would prefer to keep the taxes the same and be ineligible for the homestead property tax refund, but maybe I will finally be eligible. 

It is nice to know that the value of the home has increased despite the housing market.

Shower Curtain 19+

Surprisingly even though I have counted my shower curtains, I have absolutely no recollection of how many I really have.  With the new addition of the basement shower and three curtains solely for that bathroom, I am sure I am easily into the twenties, but who is really counting?

Last Friday I stopped into Kohl's on my lunch break.  I had a 30% off coupon (although I learned that if you LIE and say you had one and left it at home, they will honor it!) and wanted to buy some new black pants for my Chicago trip. 

Before I made my way to the women's section, I picked up some lounge/sleep pants for T for his birthday and then stopped in the clearance shoe area.  Two pair of boots later - both great steals and one a pair of knee high black heels - I found myself in the bathroom section.  Besides, seeing that I bought boots, I could find a dress or something to wear in Chicago with the boots rather than dull black pants!

Bathroom areas, clearance sections and 30% off are NOT a good mix for me!  I found myself buying three different color rug sets, two sets of hand towels, two sets of bath towels in two colors, a garbage can and a shower curtain! 

In my steal of deals, I managed to leave Kohl's without black pants, new bathroom paraphernalia, two pairs of boots and Kohl's cash to return next week! 

So here is the latest shower curtain with two of the three rug sets.  The third set would also match as it is orange, but I decorated the basement bath.

Customer Service FAIL

Yesterday I posted this picture of the dozen chocolate covered strawberries that my boyfriend had sent to my work.  At the time of my posting, I hadn't actually tried one of them.  I was utterly disappointed as the strawberries were over ripe and rather gross in taste.  I didn't dare tell my boyfriend, but I did decide to contact the company.

I spent some time on their website and immediately noticed that the strawberries I received didn't look like the pictures.  They weren't "dipped" they were dunked!  I read a page of reviews - many of similar complaints of appearance and freshness.  Instead of posting a comment on the wall of the website, I emailed customer service the following (I am omitting the name of the company): 

Sent: Feb 15, 2011 7:09:43 AM


Subject: Dozen Chocolate Covered Strawberries


To Whom It May Concern:


I received a dozen chocolate covered strawberries yesterday as a surprise from my boyfriend! I was so impressed with his ability to keep a secret and a wonderful surprise!


The packaging and strawberries looked very good and tasty - however after looking at your website, I was surprised that they were not as the pictures and being "dipped". Regardless, the presentation was pretty - almost too good to eat.


Having said that, the presentation was MUCH better than the taste. The strawberries were over ripe and tasted fermented. I ate three, hoping that I just had a bad first strawberry. Unfortunately, two of the three were over ripe that I have no desire to eat or share the remaining.

I won't tell my boyfriend about the quality of the berries because I truly love that he surprised me with a great gift. I just wish that the taste was better.


Very disappointed,
XXX
Ref: XXX100-A8F-1
Gift order#: XXX588

_________________________________________________________________________

Their response was TWO WORDS:

>>> "XXX Berries Customer Care" wecare@customercare.berries.com> 02/15/11 5:49 PM >>



Best Regards,


CS William B.
Customer Care
XXXX's Berries

_________________________________________________________________________

At 8:07p.m. I emailed CS William the following:

Clearly CS William B., you need to change your email address from "wecare" to we could care less.



Karma my friend. Karma...Way to treat your customers with respect.


Best Regards to you...

________________________________________________________________________

What happened to Customer Service?  I didn't even ask for anything.  I simply went out of my way to email a personal letter rather than post on a company website my disappointment. 

Trust me, I want to disclose the name of the company as I wouldn't summarize that all companies selling chocolate covered strawberries should be used with caution, but I will refrain.  But be sure on this, I WILL NEVER, EVER purchase dipped strawberries and definitely never order anything from this California based company.

Happy Valentines Day

I had a great weekend spent with the bf and our kids.  Everyone got along extremely well (THANK YOU sans teen cell phone!) and we worked on looking at vacation options, together.

When the BF and his son arrived to the house on Friday night, I was greeted with: 



A dozen roses

Today my BF had a dozen covered strawberries delivered to my work:



A dozen covered strawberries





Chicago & Chocolate Tour

My girlfriend D mentioned going to Chicago to take the walking Chocolate Tour.  While not exactly part of my new plan to lose ten pounds by Spring Break, everything - chocolate included - can be consumed in moderation.  Of course the moderation is what I have issues with, but that's neither here nor there.

We discussed the possibilities of the tour with the new women's group we have been attending.  Several were interested.  Of course interest and follow through are two completely different things, but that's OK too! 

So the plans are in the making to make a weekend overnight trip to the Windy City including the Chocolate walking tour, a couple great dining locales and staying out of too much mischief!  The options are endless including the transit from driving, train or local transit and for those that want a day trip, overnight to weekend.

Interested?

Educational Music

Over the years, I have always been impressed with educational songs that teach.  My son and I have an ongoing joke about such songs and I feel blessed for the artists that can influence the young.

Here are some examples:

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

B-A-N-A-N-A-S

G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S

Pretty impressive don't you think?  My son was actually quite young when he first heard these songs.  And honestly - as I typed them out, I was singing the spelling in my mind.  Catchy aren't they?

But today, I was MOST impressed with the latest new listen of an educational song by none other than Lady Gaga:

H-I-M

I'm almost rendered speechless!  Almost...What educational songs and lessons have been impressionable to you?

Valentine Goodie Part III

Last night I posted about my brownie debacle here.  After cutting out the two hearts, I called it a night and went to bed.

I do have to admit, I am a pretty tough critic, especially on myself.  This morning while my son was making his lunch for school I asked him if he tried the brownies. 

He said, "Why didn't you use the peanut butter chips?  It doesn't taste peanut buttery." 

Well that's because I had to default and make the brownies as I was missing the heavy cream for the fudge.  So I inquired as to what he thought.  He said, "I didn't really get a good piece and using the cookie cutter was hard as it was so thick!  It tasted like a brownie.  It's pretty good."

So I sampled them again.  And true to fact, they were actually pretty good.  The brownie is still a little soft but definitely not as easy to cut into heart shapes with the cutter!  Fortunately I was able to mold them into the cutters and push them out. 

Needless to say, after getting on the scale, I ate quite a few of the brownies that couldn't mold into the cutters!  I even brought one in for my co-worker and gave it to her with a note. 

But don't think that I won't be getting a box of Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines to add to the box of sweets.  Afterall, foolproof and 1/10th the cost!  Speaking of foolproof, did I mention that's what the fudge is called?  Can't wait for the story on that baking adventure, Can You?

Brother's 40th Birthday Boxes

Last week I posted about what I wanted to do for my brother's Big 40th Birthday gift here.  I finished the gift and unlike my baking adventures of tonight, it turned out the way I had anticipated.  ALMOST.

So here in order of all of the sugary goodness, are 40 boxes of cereal with an example of the $1 taped.

40 Boxes of SUGAR Cereal

 And on the other side of the money is the birthday wish for my Brother. 

Saying on one side, folded dollars on other side

I was a little concerned about what type of box to package the gift in.  I used an empty copy paper box from work, which had ample room left over!  I filled the extra space with lots of tissue paper so that the boxes would stay in order of the greeting.  Then, I sealed up the box with packaging tape.  I covered the box writing with paper bag and packaging tape.  I addressed the box.

And just to be sure that this adventure was so true to form of me, I realized after sealing everything, I didn't actually purchase a birthday card.  Or leave a personal note and sign love and from his sister and nephew.  Oops. Not that he can't figure it out from the greeting on the boxes, but still.  I wasn't about to reopen the package.  Oh well, as is.

I did look for a good 40th card today that I could just mail since I paid the $10 shipping fee for the box and sent it on the way.  I didn't find anything and decided he is capable of reading the greeting and understanding the meaning and money, right?

Oh shit...I think I will be getting a card this weekend and dropping it in the mail! 

Valentine Goodie Part II: EPIC FAIL

So before the final baking debacle was complete, I posted this.  Of course part of the reason for wanting to get the Valentine baking out of the way tonight was I wanted to bring in a small goodie bag for a co-worker that had a rough day.  I figured she would enjoy something sweet.  My honest intention wasn't to kill her!

Brownies right from the oven

So as you can see, my brownies don't look like the picture on the recipe card. Not even remotely.  As I mentioned, the filling was swimming!  Then with the difference of the baking pan, I added five minutes more bake time, but as you can see the sides were beginning to brown.  While the toothpick wasn't completely clean, I was afraid I would end up with burnt brownies if I baked much longer.  I attempted to be patient to let them cool.

Then I used my new cookie cutter for the large heart and a small one I already had.  The brownie was still very warm and didn't come out of the "prepared pan" as well as I hoped as it was pretty soft.  The smaller heart almost looks like the recipe picture, but the larger one, not so much.
 

Heart Shaped Surprise Brownies (Just like the picture - NOT)

 While they look good enough to eat, the taste?  Ummm...yeah, I think I'll buy the boxed stuff afterall.  I broke my vow to not eat anything after 9p.m. because I can't give out brownies that taste terrible, Can I? 

Sometimes it's the thought that counts right?  Yeah I'm sure my co-worker will totally get that I attempted to make her fudge but couldn't without the heavy cream so I wanted to make her a brownie.  And yeah, I f'd that up too.  But here's pictures to prove I attempted?  Yeah, that will go over like a ton of flying bricks. 

Or better yet...A ton of flying brownies! 

(On a completely random side note - I'm still LOVING my dishes that MS gave me for Christmas!)

Valentines (Not So) Goodie...

Two years ago was the first time I was creative and managed to give a Valentine gift.  I went all out, let me tell you, as can be witnessed here.  But for those that don't want to check it out, in summary, I decorated brownie bites (that I purchased at Sams Club) with chocolate and strawberry frosting and put a hug or kiss on the top.  Not very creative for most, but most impressive for ME.

This year I had this great idea in my mind (damn mind, never a good thing to use, always a good thing to waste!) of what I wanted to do this year.  I wanted to make sweets that were peanut butter and chocolate and put them in a decorated box of some sort.  Similar to two years earlier, but with actual baking and more effort.  (Note to self: Not a Good Idea)

Many years ago I made some awesome peanut butter chocolate fudge.  I don't recall the recipe being extremely easy and somewhat labor intensive, but well worth the work!  Of course I can't find the recipe.  I remembered it was with a cluster of recipes I had from a magazine and I still had a few left.  So I searched for recipes and found one that seems very simplistic, so figured I could try it (Note to self: Try is NOT a good idea when hoping to have the perfect final result the FIRST time). So I printed the recipe - twice - since who knows what happened the first time around (of course I assumed it printed and closed out of the search engine).  I made a list of the ingredients that I would need.

I even purchased cutesy heart cookie/brownie cutters and tiny ones for the fudge the night before.  Pre-planning, yep, that's me!  I went to the store on my lunch hour and purchased everything I needed to make Double Chocolate Surprise Brownies and Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge.

That is, until I decided at 10:15p.m. to actually make the fudge and realized I missed the ingredient of heavy cream that was in the narrative of modification to make chocolate peanut butter glaze.  Sigh. OK, onto making the brownies instead.

I had all the ingredients.  I followed the directions exactly, because that's how I roll. Of course I struggled with the definition of beat and mix. So does mix mean not with the beaters or do I mix it in and use the beaters?  Where is my bake by numbers already?

Direction 5 reads: "Reserve 1 cup of chocolate mixture. Pour remaining mixture into prepared 9-inch square pan."

Issues so far: How am I suppose to "prepare" the pan?  So I sprayed it and lightly dusted it with flour because that seemed "prepared".  I pulled out the tape measure to measure the pan and I think mine is 8", so I'll adjust the cooking time.

Next I make the "filling".  Again I have issues with the definition of whip and mix. Ah what the hell?  I'll beat it all up with the mixer.  So after the filling is mixed I move on to the next step.

Direction 7 reads: "Pour the cream cheese mixture over the chocolate mixture, by tablespoon.  Swirl to marble." (8 reads: Bake at 350...blah blah blah.)

Anyone else seeing my next issue?  What the hell happened to the reserve cup?  Was I suppose to pour the filling over the reserve cup and swirl?  If so, then what was I suppose to do with it?  If I poured it over the mixture in the prepared pan, when was I suppose to add the reserve cup?

Seriously, who the hell writes recipes?  Do they ever proof read them?  Besides the fact that a finger test tasted extremely salty and I wonder if it should have really been 1/4 tsp. of salt. 

So, I put the filling on the prepared pan chocolate by tablespoon until I realized how ridiculous that was as there was so much filling it covered the entire pan!  So then I took the reserve cup of chocolate and by tablespoon added that onto the filling and attempted to swirl; however, there was so much filling, it was practically swimming.

Yes, I understand now whey they are called Double Chocolate SURPRISE Brownies.  The surprise is on me!

So pretty sure when they finish baking and cooling, they may be headed for the garbage.  And tomorrow, I will be heading to get heavy cream and a box of Betty Crocker brownies and cookies which cost mere pennies to all the ingredients necessary to botch (I mean bake) my own!

Another reason why I have no reason to embrace Valentine's Day...

Happy Valentines Day to you and yours!

Texting Truth?

My bf has a Droid Smart Phone.  Honestly, my bf is pretty smart without the phone.  Actually I would almost beg to say he IS smarter than his phone.  I can attest and I likely won't be playing Bezzerwizzer against him anytime soon!

However, when texting he uses the automatic text or completion or something.  Clearly I have no idea.  I have a Rumor2 phone without internet access.  Yes, I am living in the Dark Ages and I am still alive!  Anyway, I have to say that some of his texts just crack me up when he doesn't catch what the phone has completed.  Typically it has to do with a change of wording when he is attempting to curse.

This morning I received this email response:

"Lying in bed trying to get warm.  Need you to come head me up ;)"

Now that IS funny!  Maybe the smart phone is smarter - but almost positive that should have been "heat"!

Job Change...?

I haven't been entirely happy with my job.  I am tired of my Flavor of the Day Supervisors.  I am tired of being the worker and position that is treated as the Evil Stepsister. 

But ultimately...I AM BORED.

Today, posted in our office was a job position.  A position that I completed my college internship in 1995.  I am sure that the job has changed as well as what I actually was capable of doing as an intern vs. an employee.  I am considering putting my name on the posting. 

While I love my job, when I am busy, I see very little work on the horizon.  I will be cross trained for 3.5 weeks during April/May for another position.  The new position is a new allocation due to caseload size.  I would LOVE to be busy.  I can even accept the $1000 pay cut as my sanity of having work to do is worth far more than a monetary value.  I'm just not sure.  I feel some obligation to my families.  Afterall though, it's just a job, right?

Isn't what is important is that I am happy?  What ultimately will make me happy?  Workwise, I know that having a job that keeps me busy and challenged will.  Another co-worker recently changed jobs into that position and I plan on talking to her to see what she really thinks. 

I know I have only been in my current position for 1.5 years, but I am not sure how many other opportunities for this current position will present themselves.

Maybe this is a sign...a sign of the times...a sign of change...

Overwhelm & Karma

I know I have posted about being overwhelmed and karma in the past.  If it weren't almost 1:00a.m., I might consider attaching the links, but really it's not a big deal.

Last week I began to get overwhelmed.  Overwhelmed when I got on the scale and noticed that I have gained at least seven pounds in a very short period of time. I understand that since dating MS, I eat worse when I am around him.  He isn't exactly the epitome of health although he does have some fabulous genes.  Then, I received my regular credit card bill and was shocked by the amount, still including some holiday shopping, the recent car repair and my impulsive timeshare Vegas purchase.  All needed of course!

I was frustrated with myself.  I vowed immediately that I would make some changes.  I would shred the pounds as well as dollars of spending.  Again, this was before I received the results of my cholesterol screen.  I put things into perspective.  I stopped beating myself up and vowed to make the necessary changes.  To follow through. 

I recognized that since last June/July I have been paying off the basement bathroom.  I have absorbed the monthly interest free payment without having to touch my savings.  Of course with the holidays and car repair, life happens and I can't get upset with the fact that my checking out is finally seeing more of the financial burden of an additional payment.  I will still have the basement paid off before the interest free period.  I took deep breaths and I allowed myself to relax and not beat myself up.

As for karma...an amazing thing happened two days later.  The Super Bowl.  Granted while I watched the game and commercials with little interest as I was reading on my new Kobo ereader instead, I was ecstatic to watch the turn of events of the first quarter.  With T on the phone, we watched as my last minute Super Bowl Square purchase won me $240! 

Karma...everything happens for a reason!  Blessed.

Father Update

I am doing my best to not post about my father.  I haven't talked to him much since the blow up/message I received from his wife (here) but I also haven't not called him at all. 

My dad is very tired.  Actually, the last time we talked on the phone was probably one of the best conversations we have had, outside of my visit to Tampa when I said goodbye in person.  He seemed coherent.  He was tired, but could hold the conversation and we talked for almost twenty minutes. 

Yesterday the mass email came that his health is "not good".  He has become too weak to stand without assistance.  He is on continuous oxygen.  His appetite is diminishing.  The Primacor IV is no longer working as it was initially.  She completed the email saying:

"I know that I should be seeing one set of footprints in the sand, but I still see two sets of footprints in the sand..."

While not entirely sure I understand what she was saying, I believe she is saying that God isn't carrying him yet, as he continues to fight the odds and walk alongside. 

I responded to her email and we shared a few civil, non-committal emails of continued thoughts and prayers.  I questioned nothing. 

Today, she sent another mass email.  This time that the news is worse.  That he is having difficulty swallowing although using a straw has proven successful.  He was able to take his medication smashed into applesauce but cream of wheat, he can't swallow (Well honestly, I have issues swallowing cream of wheat too, but that is besides the point.) She had tried to contact Hospice and the Cardiologist and was considering contacting an ambulance to take him to the ER.  I emailed her back.  She responded that additionally, his IV had a leak.  Her next email said that he was en route to the hospital.

As of late this afternoon, several hours after being admitted, he was stable.  He is doing well.  The issue?  His IV was not connected.  The IV that pumps his heart for him, was not connected for almost 12 hours.  He is eating and swallowing again.  His wife complained about Hospice and that they are "useless" and hadn't returned her call from 9 hours prior.

Funny thing...I decided again to see what I could find out, not trusting his wife.  With the assistance of Google and the thought that HIPPA and Confidentiality would prohibit anyone from talking with me, I contacted Hospice.  I was transferred to the right location. Another woman, someone that answers the phones informed me of who my father's Social Worker is and said that she would leave her a message and I should get a call back in the morning. 

THREE MINUTES LATER.  THREE. MINUTES. LATER. I received a call from the Social Worker.  She was willing to talk to me and that was before I informed her that I too was a Social Worker. She listened and was informative and stated that she hasn't seen my father in almost three weeks but the nurse goes to the home weekly.  She was unaware of any change in his health and that he had been admitted to the ER hours earlier.  So how is it that I can get a return call back in minutes when his wife claims to not get a return call after almost 12 hours? 

Emotionally, I am void.  I can't get frustrated with her.  I accept that she is soon to be a grieving widow.  If for no other reason than to lose her husband, companion and more than half her income.  Really, I am not that heartless.  JA asked if I would go back down to Florida to see him. 

Honestly. NO.  Dead or Alive, there is no reason for me to return back to Florida.  I said goodbye to my DAD in November 2010.  I grieved the dad that I knew.  Letting go of someone that you love that no longer exists in the shell of who once was is difficult.  The journey has been long and painful but I have found closure. 

No matter how much chaos she tries to instill, I appreciate that there are professionals that I can contact for the honest truth.  That I can confirm that Hospice is involved because my father is dying.  My dad has passed although on rare occasions I can still hear the man he was, temporarily. 

I loved you Dad.  I love you Dad.  I hope and pray that soon, your pain and suffering will end and you will find your happiness, always. 

FaSt & Fitness

Last week I had to fast for my cholesterol test.  Interestingly enough, when I went back to the lab to have my blood drawn I was a little shocked when the lab tech inquired, "To verify you are here for a cholesterol screen and a pregnancy test?"

Ummm...NO. NO. NO. I am NOT pregnant.  Then, I realized her confusion and attempts to clarify, see I have two orders for blood work and completely not comprehensible to me, I can't have the tests done together.  The pregnancy test is to verify that I am not pregnant before I proceed with my tubal ligation in the near future.  That blood to be drawn at a later date.

The results of the cholesterol test: BAD.

For those of you that are unaware, I have the bad gene lottery ticket.  My results are significantly worse than two years ago.  Granted two years ago was shortly after completing almost 7 months of training for the 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk too. 

But I will not deny that exercise and I have gone through irreconcilable differences over the past year.  I attempted mediation.  I attempted counseling.  To no avail.  So I did the next best thing...I walked away (of course not far and not fast - afterall that would have been exercise!)

Now with a lot under the rug and extra weight holding the rug down, time is not on my side.  The daily vitamins are impacting nothing. 

My triglyceride level: 287

The "phone nurse" recommended that I discontinue all "processed, fatty, sugary, fast foods and alcohol."  While I could eat better, I don't eat the previous significantly enough to warrant an immediate change of the triglyceride level if I cold turkey.

Fortunately for me, I reacquainted myself (and introduced MS) to Jillian Michaels over the weekend.  I'm serious about getting back into shape and the cholesterol results Monday morning only kicked me in the ass a little bit harder!

I have visited with Jillian now four days in a row and NO, that doesn't include watching the Biggest Loser tonight either!  I completed Day 3 of the 30 Day Shred, although I much prefer my favorite Kick Boxing video instead.  I am bound and determined to complete the 30 Day Shred, get motivated and lose 10 pounds by Spring Break. 

I was advised to take Fish Oil to reduce the triglycerides and I haven't purchased them yet.  I just can't bring myself to embrace that...yet.

Pain or Paranoia

Last night as I laid in bed, I started to feel pain in my left elbow area.  Not directly on the elbow, but slightly above on the outside of the arm.  I wondered if I had hit it on something but couldn't recall.  While I had almost fallen on the ice, I didn't.  No reason or justification for the pain.

Granted I had spent 1.5 hours either shoveling or pushing the snow blower repeatedly.  Is this tennis elbow?

Earlier this afternoon it appeared that there was bruising, green bruising but an hour later in different lighting, the bruising wasn't visible.  The arm looks slightly different and obviously feels (due to pain) different to me.  Now, the arm seems almost flaccid and flabby whereas the right arm is firm and muscular.  I know that there isn't such a vast difference between my arms, despite my boycotting of physical exercise.

The paranoia stems from my brother's fall incident of an elbow issue. The night before I arrived by plane to help his family drive back to Michigan, his elbow inflamed and the pain was intolerable.  He drove himself to the emergency room and almost passed out en route.  His elbow area was drained.  Test results later confirmed that he had an infection and was put on an anti-biotic. 

The pain isn't unbearable.  It's a minor inconvenience but I'm concerned about the lack of being able to tighten the arm and make a muscle.

Tomorrow morning I have a scheduled appointment for blood work, mainly to recheck my cholesterol.  I will be interested to see what my white blood count levels are as well; however, if the pain continues I may have it looked at during business hours rather than resorting to an ER visit over the weekend.

Sound familiar?  Any ideas of what I am experiencing?

Voice Verification

Tonight T and I were decorating the card for the bf's son - using all of our artistic talent: a stick person on a skateboard, when the phone rang.  Caller ID identified the caller as FOP - Fraternal Order of Police?

T stared at the phone and I told him to answer it.  The caller asked for the woman of the house.  T handed the phone to me.

Me:  Hello.
Caller:  Oh I'm sorry. Is the woman of the house available?

CLICK.

Gift Giving

Friday night the bf invited me to join in his son and dad's birthday dinner celebration.  Having only met his dad on two brief occasions, I really don't feel comfortable giving him a gift.  Initially the thought was dinner would be at his parents house, which changed overnight and will now be at a local restaurant, to be determined.  So the thought of bringing a dish, dessert or something else is no longer appropriate.  I'm not even sure that I feel comfortable giving him a card or a bottle of wine.  His mom told the bf for him to buy him an orchid.  Now that would have been an OK gift for me to give.  What to do?

As for the bf's son, I have met him on numerous occasions.  While he is a month older than my son T, he and T have almost nothing in common.  T is very involved in sports and academics.  Bf's son likes video games and as of last fall, skateboarding.

So I decided that I would make him a skateboarding tie blanket.  All I had to do was find some skateboarding fleece.  Fortunately, Fields Fabrics has a camouflage skateboard fleece and after calling four stores, I found one that had it in stock! So I weathered the aftermath of Blizzard 2011 to purchase the fleece.  Even more awesome is that his bedding is camouflage too!

While the blanket is not the most photogenic, the solid color is actually a hunter green.  I actually think it turned out really good, even if he has absolutely no reaction!  But figured labor, personable and skateboard related was a much better gift option than a gift card!

Blizzard 2011

By mid-January in West Michigan our accumulations of snow were less than 25".  We have yet to go skiing or sledding.  I have been out once to snow shoe.  Wind chill and weather temperatures have been chilly to take advantage of the snow and I have been having issues mustering up the desire to be outside.

Late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning we had the Blizzard of 2011.  Forecasts included upwards to 24" in a twelve hour period.  People were bracing for entire towns to be shut-down.  Schools announced closings for the evening and following day before any snow began to fall. 

The snow did fall, upwards to 12".  I was able to use one of my snow blowers and cleared the driveway of about 4" the night of before snow really came down.  For the first time EVER, my office closed on Wednesday.  People hibernated and allowed plows to do their jobs on Wednesday.  1.5 hours with my snow blower and son's help, we cleared out the driveway. 

Surprisingly, school was closed today due to "walker safety" as many of the sidewalks have yet to be cleared. 

Good thing that Phil forecasts Spring soon for Ground Hog Day.  While I don't believe that we have snow storms like when I was a kid, I'm OK with getting small amounts at a time rather than Snowmageddon.

Gift Card Greed

My brother will be turning the big 4-0 in a few weeks.  I already know what I want to get him: a gag gift of forty boxes of sugar cereal and a $40 gift certificate to the local mall to spend on himself.  Of course easier said than done, right?  Well in my world...yes, right.

I have been thinking about his gift for quite some time.  See, I'm not a big gift giver, especially when it comes to birthdays.  Not that I'm a scrooge, we just typically don't do more than spend for the kids and give a call on birthdays.  But the BIG 4-0, that's worth acknowledging in a small way.

You see, my brother is a fitness F-R-E-A-K.  He takes his personal health VERY seriously.  He fears that he will inherit our dad's medical genes.  He has been combating the invisible demons and potential threat of diabetes.  Everything that he does, he does with vigour and physical endurance.  Every opportunity he turns into a workout and he takes his health, fitness and body to the extreme. 

So I wasn't surprised to hear last fall that my nephews were first allowed to eat cereal last summer, the healthy kind of course. 

My brother knows that he has a sweet tooth, one that is hard to control once started.  During a trip to visit them many years ago, my brother was ecstatic to have some of my son's Peanut Butter Crunch cereal.  Or his rare visits to our house and looking at the cereal options. 

So for his birthday, I want to buy him 40 individual boxes of sugar cereal to eat, consume or dispose of at his leisure.  Because afterall, I am a sweet sister.  I am anticipating that the Sam's club mixed boxes will not come in the right amount, so I will be buying extra.  No big deal.

I decided I would personalize a gift card by getting it to the mall near where his family has just relocated.  I got online to learn that mall gift cards are generic.  There is nothing that identifies where the gift card is to also thereby not restricting where he can use the card either.  However, in attempting to purchase the no fee card, there are shipping and handling fees, gift card fees and a processing fee.

The Generic American Express Gift Card of $40.00 value will cost me $50.92. 

I think I will grab a generic card locally instead.  Or maybe I will tape $1 dollar bills on every single box of cereal.  How fun is that?  =)