Eating Out

My family used to LOVE to eat out. Torero's at least once a week.

But since we've started eating healthier, my family gets tummy aches when we eat out.

It seems in Granger, folks eat out quite often. We get a Sam's Club pizza once / month. We substitute a casual sit down place maybe 4 times a year & a nice restaurant once a year. Well, and we grab fries from the drive thru once a week.

How often do you eat out w/ your family?

For Raianne

I don't usually do these things, but Raianne asked me to. I simply could not deny her...

1. WHAT TIME DID YOU GET UP THIS MORNING? 6:44
2. DIAMONDS OR PEARLS? I don't like jewelry. Except my ring. Diamonds.
3. WHAT WAS THE LAST FILM YOU SAW AT THE CINEMA? HSM3
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? Boston Legal
5. WHAT DO YOU USUALLY HAVE FOR BREAKFAST? Pepsi & whatever else I grab.
6. WHAT IS YOUR MIDDLE NAME? Claire
7. WHAT FOOD DO YOU DISLIKE? brussel sprouts
8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CD? Prince - anything.
9 . WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE? Lincoln LS
10. FAVORITE SANDWICH ? Roast beef w/ mayo, heated up
11. WHAT CHARACTERISTIC DO YOU DESPISE? Controlling
12. FAVORITE ITEM OF CLOTHING? My slippers
IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ON VACATION, WHERE WOULD YOU GO? Disneyworld
14. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR BATHROOM? Pale yellow
15. FAVORITE BRAND OF CLOTHING? Whatever is on sale
16. WHERE WOULD YOU RETIRE TO? Cabo
17. WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY? 27th My first w/out my Mom
18. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? Cheerleading
19. FURTHEST PLACE YOU ARE SENDING THIS? Sorry, not sending it anywhere
20. WHO DO YOU LEAST EXPECT TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? See #19
21. PERSON YOU EXPECT TO SEND IT BACK FIRST? OMW - don't you listen?
22. FAVORITE SAYING? Not sure...let me think on it.
24. ARE YOU A MORNING OR NIGHT PERSON? night
25. WHAT IS YOUR SHOE SIZE? 6
26. PETS? A pomeranian (Cora Estelle / Coco) & a betta fish (Frito)
27. ANY NEW AND EXCITING NEWS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US? We're still hanging on financially. That's pretty exciting considering the 80% decline in our commission only job.
28. WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE? A ballerina
29. HOW ARE YOU TODAY? Pretty good. A little tired.
30. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CANDY? Toffifay
31. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER? Don't like flowers. I like banana plants though.
32. WHAT IS A DAY ON THE CALENDAR YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO? Thanksgiving
34. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Ritz crackers
35. DO YOU WISH ON STARS? Nope.
36. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Brown or red
37. HOW IS THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW? Frosty
38. FAVORITE SOFT DRINK? Pepsi
39. FAVORITE RESTAURANT? Torero's
40. SIBLINGS? 1 brother
41. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR? Christmas
42. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHild? Monchichi
43. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
44. HUGS OR KISSES? hugs
45. COFFEE OR TEA? neither
46. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? vanilla
47. DO YOU WANT YOUR FRIENDS TO E-MAIL YOU BACK? Yes
48. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Yesterday
49. WHAT IS UNDER YOUR BED? Air & probably a little dust
50. WHO IS THE FRIEND YOU HAVE HAD THE LONGEST? Kim Bolton (Snauer)
51. WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT? Carved pumpkins & watched Boston Legal
52. FAVORITE SMELL? A baby's head
53. WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? A stolen / injured child
54. SALTY OR SWEET? sweet
55. HOW MANY KEYS ON YOUR RING? 2 fobs, 3 keys
56. HOW MANY YEARS AT YOUR CURRENT JOB? 9 (a mom)
57. FAVORITE DAY OF THE WEEK? Saturday
58. HOW MANY TOWNS HAVE YOU LIVED IN? 6
59. DO YOU MAKE FRIENDS EASILY? Yes!

Trunk or treating

We used to live in a small town & went to a church that skillfully protested trick or treating.

Our church rented a small fairground & filled it with fair type games. Darts & such. The prize for participating in each game was a candy or small toy. Everyone dressed up. It was a fun alternative to trick or treating. Too crowded, but fun for kids.

A neighboring church did trunk or treating. Their congregation would sign up to hand out candy from their trunks to kids in the community. They had a decorating contest to see who in the church could come up w/ the best themed trunk. One year my SIL did Christmas. Blow ups, lights the works. I didn't get to see it, but knowing her I'm sure it was amazing.

Here's my gripe about trunk or treating... isn't it just luring kids w/ candy to a stranger's car?

I know the intent is different. But the concept is the same. And in the mind of a 5 year old there is no difference.

I also question the lessons taught by going to ANY stranger's house asking for candy. We only visit people we know.

What do you all do on Halloween?

I'm missing her tonight

When I was in the 3rd grade, my Mom asked me to sing "Let it Be" at her funeral one day. I said "Ok. But you have to play Purple Rain at mine"

I couldn't sing Let it Be at her funeral. I gave up singing in the 11th grade. But we did play it.

Sometimes I listen to it just to remember her.

Sometimes I just need to cry.

Political cartoon

Cheesy Chicken Noodle Soup

This is one of our Fall / Winter favorite soups. It's cheap, easy & tastes delicious. Here you go:

3 chicken bouillon cubes
3-4 C. water
2-3 sliced carrots
1 sliced stalk of celery
1/4 minced onion
Cook on medium until veggies are semi-tender
Add:
1 large diced potato.
Cook until semi-tender
Add:
1 C. frozen peas.
2 heaping handfulls of dry pasta (any type)

Spices:
I use garlic powder, salt, pepper, basil & oregano to taste. I add the salt & pepper at the end, but the others at the start.

When the pasta is cooked through, add:
1 can cream of chicken (any cream of soup works, but if you use celery be careful how much salt you add)
2 heaping handfuls of shredded cheese.

Once it's all melted...it's done. I have to taste mine a few times to make sure the spice combo is right, but that's part of the fun right?