It took him about 5 minutes to work his way to the door and we laughed much of the time. Needless to say he's not very happy and staying away from Mark and the back door.
Friday, February 26, 2010
need I say more?
It took him about 5 minutes to work his way to the door and we laughed much of the time. Needless to say he's not very happy and staying away from Mark and the back door.
winter wonderland
it's a snow day!
and if he's not good this is where he's going to play!
It's about 12-18 inches on the deck. There is much more in other area, but we had rain too. Monday, February 15, 2010
Valentine's Day Treats!
Being that Valentine's Day fell on a Sunday going out on Sunday night is not something we usually attempt. So I attempted a treat at home. It had to be super easy and this doesn't get any easier than this: Foolproof Standing Rib Roast Recipe : Paula Deen : Food Network - it took me 2 minutes from the time I pulled it out of the fridge till I popped it in the over and half that time was trying to get the packaging off. How's that for an easy dinner? We had baked potato's, corn and aspargus. And Mark did dishes!
Then I decided to attempt something we love to get when we got out - when we do get dessert that is - and that is not very often. Bread pudding. Never really had much of this stuff until a few years ago and I was sure it was tricky. Not so much tricky, but so many ways to do it. Way too many recipes and most involve a ton of butter. Finally found one that was from Cooking Light so we wouldn't feel so guilty eating it more than a few days in row. I improvised at bit using vanilla flavored rum and my own vanilla sauce. Like a vanilla glaze (few tablespoons of melted butter, a dash of vanilla, about a cup of powdered sugar and then some milk to make it runny). The Yummy Bread Pudding recipe.
As for gifts I got an awesome box of chocolates and pretty roses! Mark will be going to the Notre Dame vs. Navy football game at the new Giant stadium in October. Of course those tickets come in two's so I will be going too!
Then I decided to attempt something we love to get when we got out - when we do get dessert that is - and that is not very often. Bread pudding. Never really had much of this stuff until a few years ago and I was sure it was tricky. Not so much tricky, but so many ways to do it. Way too many recipes and most involve a ton of butter. Finally found one that was from Cooking Light so we wouldn't feel so guilty eating it more than a few days in row. I improvised at bit using vanilla flavored rum and my own vanilla sauce. Like a vanilla glaze (few tablespoons of melted butter, a dash of vanilla, about a cup of powdered sugar and then some milk to make it runny). The Yummy Bread Pudding recipe.
As for gifts I got an awesome box of chocolates and pretty roses! Mark will be going to the Notre Dame vs. Navy football game at the new Giant stadium in October. Of course those tickets come in two's so I will be going too!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Seriously Lame
What we did last night was not the LAME part - I will get to that in a moment. The highlight to last night was PF Changs for dinner in Jersey and going across the George Washington Bridge into NY - that was sort of a detour. The city lights up nice at night and it makes us feel like we are on vacation somewhere busy without the hotel bill. Traffic we just what you'd expect in NY. No need to say more. PF's was awesome as usual. The detour was taken to go to the horse races in Yonkers. No winners here. But no big losers.
The seriously lame... the last two times we have gone out to dinner we've witnessed something new. Curious to hear if you would do this or not. Now these are NICE places to eat. Not McDonalds, Denny's or even Applebee's. And I do like Applebee's, but it's not expensive and it's billed as family friendly. After we've been seated the table next to us opens up. In comes a family with a child/ren under 3 or 4. They proceed to whip out the DVD portable player and turn it on FULL BLAST. Not kidding. At the very least put on headphones so you are not disturbing others around you having normal conversations. I didn't come to PF's to hear Barney drone in the background. You know how the music is up pretty loud in PF's - it's not a quiet place by any means and still we could hear it all over the music in the place. We were not the only ones shocked last night. Every table within 20 or see feet whipped their heads around for a look. First of all how do kids learn to be sociable and behave in public when you do this? Second of all you could tell that many were on a date. It was beyond rude on Valentine's weekend. This was our night out. There were other kids there, but none were watching a video while they ate. Take a hint and interact with your child you've brought out for the night like everyone else. If you want a peaceful dinner get a babysitter or even cheaper get take out. PF's does take out. So dinner came and they kept it on while the child ate and kept watching. They were not doing much talking - don't know how they could have. Now that I think about they got served really fast. We were in there for almost 2 hours and they didn't come in until the last half hour and when we left they were almost done. Wonder when the signs will go up tell people to leave their DVD's at home? Sort of like put your cell phone to vibrate.
The seriously lame... the last two times we have gone out to dinner we've witnessed something new. Curious to hear if you would do this or not. Now these are NICE places to eat. Not McDonalds, Denny's or even Applebee's. And I do like Applebee's, but it's not expensive and it's billed as family friendly. After we've been seated the table next to us opens up. In comes a family with a child/ren under 3 or 4. They proceed to whip out the DVD portable player and turn it on FULL BLAST. Not kidding. At the very least put on headphones so you are not disturbing others around you having normal conversations. I didn't come to PF's to hear Barney drone in the background. You know how the music is up pretty loud in PF's - it's not a quiet place by any means and still we could hear it all over the music in the place. We were not the only ones shocked last night. Every table within 20 or see feet whipped their heads around for a look. First of all how do kids learn to be sociable and behave in public when you do this? Second of all you could tell that many were on a date. It was beyond rude on Valentine's weekend. This was our night out. There were other kids there, but none were watching a video while they ate. Take a hint and interact with your child you've brought out for the night like everyone else. If you want a peaceful dinner get a babysitter or even cheaper get take out. PF's does take out. So dinner came and they kept it on while the child ate and kept watching. They were not doing much talking - don't know how they could have. Now that I think about they got served really fast. We were in there for almost 2 hours and they didn't come in until the last half hour and when we left they were almost done. Wonder when the signs will go up tell people to leave their DVD's at home? Sort of like put your cell phone to vibrate.
Not much snow here...
We missed it again. Forecast was for up to 12 inches. We got 4 or 5. They were freaking out so bad that all the schools got cancelled and many businesses closed. This was with an inch of snow on the ground. Of course work was still on for us. We had a few call outs, but by 2:00 pm it was very obvious they were taking a vacation day - not much snow and the roads were clear. LOL! So glad I didn't stay home! I hear there is still time for another one to hit. So far this year we've been missed by every major storm. I won't complain, but our poor snowblower is might bored!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
traffic games
I'm pretty sure there is a kids game similar to the driving experience in Reading, PA. It's the one where you shoot the car down a ramp into the flow of traffic and try to not get it knocked off the narrrow track. That's how you merge onto the expressway in Reading in quite a few spots. Actually every ramp I've gone down is like that. This morning I made a game out of it. There is a yield sign and to most that means nothing more than time it right to slide into the slot between two cars. You must avoid eye contact too. Flinch and it's over. Punch it and go "weeeee" - make sure it's high pitched for the right effect. This morning I probably should have looked because I was cutting off a cop. Good thing he had other things in mind. I didn't even get a warning light. The highways are super narrow with no shoulders and concrete barriers just to make it all the more fun. The worst roads ever and I'm not even talking about pot holes this time. The other part of the game is avoiding the morning glare. Great ball of fire is how I would describe it. I couldn't figure out why traffic was going so slow and then I went around the bend and was totally blinded. Need to find the back way from the hotel to the office for future trips.
Now for the question of the day... why do people not drive in the right lane of a three or four lane highway? They drive in the middle lane and then look at you like you are the nut when you pass on the right waving. Ok, I don't wave, but I do look at them. The signs say "slow traffic stay right" and well you are going slow if I am passing you on the right and I'm not in England. Oh wait - they can't read. ahhh.... I am not going to go out in the left lane and draw attention to the fact I am driving a little above the speed limit. I seriously think anyone who immigrates to the US legally or illegally should have to pass a driver's test in ENGLISH - the road signs are not in Spanish or Chinese so why let them take a test in a language that the signs are not in? In case you didn't know drivers from India don't understand the signs because they don't use signs there - they drive the same way those in Reading drive. They shut their eyes and go "weeeee"! Seriously no signs there something I've learned from working with someone from there.
Tomorrow is a nice quiet 25 minute commute. yay!
Now for the question of the day... why do people not drive in the right lane of a three or four lane highway? They drive in the middle lane and then look at you like you are the nut when you pass on the right waving. Ok, I don't wave, but I do look at them. The signs say "slow traffic stay right" and well you are going slow if I am passing you on the right and I'm not in England. Oh wait - they can't read. ahhh.... I am not going to go out in the left lane and draw attention to the fact I am driving a little above the speed limit. I seriously think anyone who immigrates to the US legally or illegally should have to pass a driver's test in ENGLISH - the road signs are not in Spanish or Chinese so why let them take a test in a language that the signs are not in? In case you didn't know drivers from India don't understand the signs because they don't use signs there - they drive the same way those in Reading drive. They shut their eyes and go "weeeee"! Seriously no signs there something I've learned from working with someone from there.
Tomorrow is a nice quiet 25 minute commute. yay!
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