I am pretty sure that this is a good thing!

You Are 72% Grown Up, 28% Kid

Congratulations, you are definitely quite emotionally mature. Although you have your moments of moodiness, you're usually stable and level headed.

How Emotionally Mature Are You?

Though sometimes it is no fun being a grown up. Back to the salt mine for me...

I have just the thing....

To give Contagion for his Birthday!!

A little something for the office...













And since I can't assure you a winning season for the Packers, here's hoping that this takes some of the sting out of it if they have a bad day...




















Happy Birthday, Dude! And I wish you many, many more...

All shapes and sizes...

That's the feel of today's Brain Bender. Ready to play??

--------------------

Which of the words below is least like the others? (The difference has nothing to do with vowels, consonants or syllables.)

• CUBE
• CIRCLE
• SQUARE
• DIAMOND

----------------------

Alrighty! Lets see how we do. The answer will be found later in the comments. Happy Friday y'all!

Thanks! But no thanks...

They like me! They really like me!

So the other day at work, the Lead Quality Assurance lady was making her rounds.

"Hey Rich!" says she, "Why don't you make the move to QA and work full time??"

"What do you mean?" I asked. "Are you retiring or something??"

"No..." the lead QA lady continued. "But we really need to fill a QA position on nights. That other gal I was training just quit. Doesn't want to work Fridays.* And you'd be terrific!"

"Uhhhh... No. I don't think so. But thanks for thinking of me!"

"No really, Rich. You'd be perfect for the job. Will you at least consider it??"

And she left to continue her rounds.

Me being me, I actually gave it some serious thought. After all, they were asking me. Asking me for help! They NEED me!!! (I am such a sucker for that, and I have a strong work ethic. If they ask, you should do it. Right?)

Then my intelligent inner voice kicked in...

"Good grief, are you kidding??? How the hell would this work?!?! 4:00 pm to 2:00 am?? Are you crazy? Been there, done that, Sweetheart. And you're not 22 anymore either! When would you see the girls?? Huh?? Hello! They are in school all day! What about after school?? Dinner?? Homework?? Hugs and stories and soccer practice?? Any of this ringing a bell??? And who would be there to care for them when WxMan is working late like he does 4 nights a week. What then???

You already have a full time job. You're moonlighting as it is...

Oh... Right.

So when the Lead QA lady came back and asked, I politely declined.

I already have a full time job... (But it WAS nice to be asked.)

*Technically where I work it is supposed to be a four day work week with "fulltimers" working 10 hour days. They have been working "mandatory production Fridays" for well over a year now - they just fail to mention that fact when they hire you...

Seven...

...is the number of letters you will have to rearrange to solve today's Brain Bender. Ready??

-----------------------

What two words formed from different arrangements of the same seven letters, can be used to complete the sentence below?

I was trying hard to __________ the history of the famous __________ of the Crimean War.

------------------------

Well, alrighty then. Seven it is! And like always, the answers will be found in the comments later.

Oh crap...

I *hate* it when I look at the clock and think ~ "Oh crap. I have to be up in six hours..."

I really do...

Especially when I am not quite ready to go to bed yet...

God knows....

...the answer to today's brain bender. I am sure of it. Ready to play??

---------------------

To the best of the handy dandy discount MENSA calendar's knowledge, only one other word can be made from all of the letters in the word ETHOLOGICALLY using each letter only once.

What is the word?

------------------------

Seems pretty straight forward. And like always the answer will be found in the comments later.

I am once again weighing my options... Do I go run around and try to get a bunch of housework done that nobody but me cares about? OR do I take a nap?? Hmmmmm.... Housework?? Or nap??

I think I'll sleep on it and get back to you.

Update: My friend Rave from Quid Nunc is today's official smartypants. Whoohoo! And she is dealing with a bit of disappointment - lend her some cheer, will ya?

Weighing my options...

Turning on the furnace vs. Putting the down comforter back on the bed

Hmmmm...

Not much of a decision to make there.

I love fall....

MMMMM's the Word

For today's Brain Bender. Ready??

--------------------

1) Add an "M" to a girl's name to find evil intentions.

2) Add an "M" to a word meaning "help" to find a servant.

3) Add an "M" to the name of a chain of mountains to find a wall decoration.

--------------------

M's are good! So okay, you know how to play. The answers will be found in the comments later!

Update: Rachel from Pereiraville and Oddybobo the Bobo Blogger share smartypants honors today! Whoohoo!

Family Day

What a great idea! And per Tammi's suggestion, I'll post too.

We *try* to have a "Family Night" every Tuesday. Dinner and a movie or a game. Sometimes we have scheduling conflicts and now with soccer season in full swing it's been hard, but we try.

One of our favorite dinners to have is Grandma's Macaroni-n-Cheese or my yummy Chicken Enchiladas. Comfort food at its finest! (And those who know me know I am all about comfort and the food.) Mmmmm...

My mom and I did a lot of cooking together when I was growing up and some of my best memories of my Nonny are of being in the kitchen with her. She was a fabulous cook and prepared everything with such love. This is a tradition that I hope to continue with my girls though my type A need to keep everything controlled and orderly tends to get in the way. I'm working on it...

So I have been trying to come up with a great story to tell, but I have to say the "family dinner story well" has run dry. (If there ever even was a well to begin with...) so I'll tell you about a case of mistaken identity, family style...

Like I was saying, my Mom and I have always done a lot of cooking together. Anytime she is at my house or I am at hers you can darn near bet that we can be found in the kitchen working on one thing or another. All.the.time.

We're in the kitchen. That's our room.

Another thing you should know is that we really do look quite a bit alike ~ especially when we are both wearing our hair short. More especially from behind. We have a similar build, are almost the same height, similar taste in clothes... You get the idea.


One day, my mom was in our kitchen in St. Louis doing the dishes - a constant chore since we had no dishwasher in that house.

WxMan goes strolling by and thinks he's got a primo opportunity to go and give his wife a nice hug from behind and maybe get in an "extra" squeeze. (Every wife out there knows what I mean, I'm sure.)

Ahem.

The good news is that he caught himself just before getting a bit TOO intimate with his Mother-in-Law.

Embarrassed to the gills, I don't think he made another foray into the kitchen for the rest of their visit. And he stopped sneaking up behind me for a feel for a while too... Heh.

My mom, to her credit, was flattered and thought the whole thing was hilarious. She kids him about it to this day. It's good to have something to goad your Son-in-Law about...

What would family be without incessant teasing and loooooong memories of all of the goofy stuff you have done?

Between the laughter and the food I'm not sure which is the best part. The two certainly go good together...

I've got that Sesame Street song in my head again!

But that's the kind of sacrifices I make so that you can waste time at work play the daily Brain Bender. Ready??

----------------------

Which of the words below is least like the others? And why?

• BREAK
• TROUT
• APRONS
• SILK

------------------------

You know what to do! The answer will be found later in the comments. Below is a video clip of the song. :-)

(I'm all about the sharing.) Heh.

Update: Smart people come here to play... Oddybobo the Bobo Blogger gets kudos for coming up with our first correct (though "unofficial") answer and Mark A. Rayner from The Squib successfully came up with an anagram based solution (though again not the "official" answer). Whoohoo!

What was the "official" answer, you ask? Well, according to the handy dandy discount MENSA calendar (which is often out of whack) the correct answer was SILK because all of the others could be anagrammed into occupations -- BAKER, TUTOR, PARSON).

Whatever. Oddybobo and Mr. Rayner got it right in my book. Thanks for playin' y'all!

Sleep...

...or lack thereof.

What is the deal?!?! And is it just me??

It's gotten almost comical, this on going battle I have with my internal clock. Fortunately for me, my own personal timepiece has begun to "pick" its battles rather than wage war every night.

It seems as though lately, on the nights where I have no really good reason to roll out of the rack at o'dark thirty the next morning I can sleep like a dead woman. No tossing and turning, no waking every 20 minutes to eyeball the time. Pure unadulterated blissful REM sleep. Sadly, that's only one or two nights a week at best.

But those mornings I know I have to be out the door long before the sun rises?? Uh... not so much. Take this morning for example. Ye olde internal clock decided that *the* time to get up should be 2:30am.

2:30! What the...??? Who the hell wants to be awake at 2:30?? (Unless you're in college and with somebody really cute.)

No one. That's who. And least of all me.

And I dare not just give in and get up, oh no. Because then 2:30 would be the "new" set time. So I toss. And turn. And try to relax. And finally fall asleep just in time for the regular alarm to go off. Grrrrr....

What happened to good old 3:56am? I liked that time! It was perfect. Just enough time to doze before the real alarm went off.

But 2:30?? Ugh! I am going to have to find the reset buttons. I just wish I had a clue where they were...

Partaaaaaay!!!!

Oh yeah...

There is nothing like having five little girls in your house to make you ever so thankful that only two live with you God made little girls...

It was a fine time, and whole new levels of giggling and pterodactyl screeching were achieved. For sure.

K. wanted to take all of her friends to see How To Eat Fried Worms. Mmmmm... Worms... So what better cake to serve than dirt cake*!!

I know Oddybobo was wanting a review of the film.

Well, the girls loved it... Though they all agree that boys can be pretty weird and gross.

For me, it's two hours that I will never get back, but the movie was better than the Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl so I am going to count my blessings. (And really enjoy a glass of wine later.)

There were a couple of cute moments, plenty of boyish ickyness, and I am sure that The Boy would love it. But she may have to watch him closely in the garden for a while.

Anyhoo, back to the party...

For the handy dandy crafty project, K designed tee shirts for each of her friends. You can actually buy tee-shirt-iron-on printable paper ~ print off your design at home and with the magic of fabric markers, everybody got to color their own caricature of themselves. Ain't technology grand??

Floam *gack* made an impromptu appearance *double gack* but after some clean up, games were played and pizza consumed.











Whoohoo! No lasting damage, but a couple of close calls. (I have found a craft project that truly *is* "mess free and fun" but that is a post for another day.)

I know, I know. I have to cut this short. Let's just say that it was a good time and turning 10 was quite the adventure. That's all that counts in my book. And they are all still here...

I need to go see how things are going.... And make sure that all floam was disposed of... *gack*

(Oh, and WxMan?? He is avoiding the estrogen fest and is ensconced in the Master Bedroom with his laptop and football on TV. (Go Sooners!) Though I am sure that he would LOVE to have is own "Man Room" right now... Quite sure.)

It's been nothing but numbers this week...

...so we may as well finish it that way. Ready for the Brain Bender??

-----------------

After the party, Joyce found $7.60 under her sofa cushion. She had the same number of pennies, quarters and half dollars.

How many of each were there?

-----------------

Must have been some party! Anyway, you know how to play. The answer will be found in the comments later. Happy Friday!!

10!!!

That's it! She's entered into double digits!! My eldest daughter K. is 10 years old today!


A whole decade has passed since that fateful day in Oklahoma when all our lives were changed and blessed.


And I have no idea where the time has gone...

Happy Birthday, darlin'! And I wish you many, many more to come....

(Now put the hamster back in her house, okay??)

Oh yeah...

...this one is appropriate. Ready for the Brain Bender*??

---------------------

Richmond went shopping for her eldest daughter K's birthday party. She spent half of the original amount plus $10 on paper plates, cups, napkins, and party games and favors. At the second store, she spent half the money left plus $5 on treats and birthday cake then half of what was left, plus $5 on balloons and decorations, leaving only $5 for candles.

How much money did Richmond start with??

---------------------

And yes, it is K's birthday today. Her party will be Saturday and I have lots of fun stuff planned. Heh. Though I must remember to buy gummy worms yet...

Anyway, like always the answer will be found in the comments later.

*names changed, obviously...

Update: CalTechGirl from Not Exactly Rocket Science is the Smartypants de jour! Whoohoo!

It's not easy being green....

Your Power Color Is Lime Green

At Your Highest: You are adventurous, witty, and a visionary. At Your Lowest: You feel misunderstood, like you don't fit in. In Love: You have a tough exterior, but can be very dedicated. How You're Attractive: Your self-awareness and confidence lights up a room. Your Eternal Question: "What else do I need in my life?"

What's Your Power Color?

This actually sounds like me though. Quite a bit like me. Hmmmm... I may have to make some wardrobe changes, usually I prefer navy blue or scarlet.

Okay, I'm off. Time to make the doughnuts...

It's hump day...

...again.

And since I am off to the store, I thought this was a particularly appropriate Brain Bender for the day. (Sometimes the handy dandy discount MENSA calendar and I synch up, I guess.) Ready??

------------------

The eccentric grocer is at it again. This time, beets cost $.08, lettuce costs $.11, and mushrooms cost $.15. According to his system, how much will cabbage cost?

-------------------

Eccentric?? Oh C'mon! This guy is certifiable! And is bound to be losing money.

Ah well, none of my business. Like always the answer will be found in the comments later.

Update: VW from One Happy Dog Speaks is today's official Smartypants!

Yay! We made it in!!

Barely....

But the piano finally gave up the fight and decided to come inside. See??

Let the TLC begin!

This is one instance where my natural proclivity toward procrastination worked out. I am ever so glad that I didn't spend a bunch of time correcting the body damage while the piano lived in the garage. It was an interesting squeeze in through the front door and we managed to add a bit of our own. Yikes!

But nobody lost a finger or got crushed. That's a good thing.

The girls are even more thrilled, and given their desire to play, lessons are going to have to start sooner than later. I don't know how many variations and renditions of chopsticks I can take. Heh. We need an expanded repertoire.

As for me, I took years of piano lessons. I never had the ability to simply sit down and sight-read/play a piece, but with practice I think I could resurrect a few skills. Enough to amuse myself anyway. And that's what it's all about, isn't it?

Running late....

But hey, at least I'm running. That's a good sign.

And lucky WxMan has a day off today, so it's moving day too! Piano moving day.

(I keep seeing Warner Brother's cartoon clips involving piano mishaps in my head though... I sure hope that I get to at least be Bugs Bunny through the whole thing.)

Anyhoo, here is today's Brain Bender.

-------------------

James has one more brother than he has sisters. His sister Miranda has twice as many brothers as she has sisters. How many boys and girls are there in the family? (There are no more than 10 children.)

--------------------

Okay, you know how to play. The answer will be found later in the comments. And hopefully some new pictures of my free piano will be seen as well! Inside the house! I'll be the slightly squished one next to the piano...

Update: Oddybobo is today's official Smartypants. And she has the market cornered on cute swashbucklers today! Whoohoo!

Tired....

Not that that's unusual but still. And it's Monday. Bah.

So what else is there to do but waste time at work play?!?! Right. Here we go...

-----------------

Replace the first letter of each of the words on each line in order to form two new words. (The letter will be different for each line.) The new letters will then form a new word. Can you find it?

Tone __ Face
Ire __ Ill
Name __ Handy
Plated __ Slope

------------------

Okay, I'm off and running. And as always, the answer will be found in the comments later.

Update: Today's official Smartypants is none other than my MOM! Whoohoo, Grandy!





This is a picture taken on her Birthday, a week ago Friday while she was on the phone with me and my SIL. Yay Mom!

I could have told you that....

You Scored 55% Correct

You are a solid child of the 80s You'd never confuse Tiffany from Debbie And while you may not know Prince's first #1 hit You know every word to Little Red Corvette

How Much Do You Know About 80s Music?

How do you score?

Nice shot!

Though I have to wonder how much time it took to set it up...



Hat Tip - Loretta and Dal

Friday afternoon...

...and time for the last Brain Bender of the week. Ready??

________________

There are four sets of three digit numbers (no digits the same) that add up to 918. One is shown below. Can you find the other three? (Transposing top and bottom lines is not allowed.)

342
+576
------
918

_________________

Okay, now that's pretty straight forward. You know how to play. The answers will be found later in the comments.

Update: The official Smartypants of the day is CalTechGirl from Not Exactly Rocket Science. Whoohoo!

Friday Morning...

...replete with dark circles and mussed hair. But Friday it is.

And I have stolen a meme to kick off the weekend! Thank you Alli over at Fox Rants for providing this morning's inspiration...

----------------

Never again in my life: will I drink schnapps of any kind. I am totally allergic to it...

When I was five: I was surprised that the other kids at kindergarten couldn't read too.

High School was: Okay. But I wouldn't do it over again.

I will never forget: The lessons learned Sept. 11th, 2001.

I once met: Harry Connick Jr. And he was just the sweetest guy.

There's this girl I know who: is having a Birthday today. Happy Birthday!!

By noon I'm usually: Home from work and ready to start the rest of my day.

Last night I: had a pizza delivered by a friend.

Next time I go to church: I will pray. I pretty much do that every time though...

What worries me most: is being able to give my girls the tools to make good decisions in their lives.

When I turn my head right, I see: out the window of my home office. It's dark now but in the daytime it's really nice.

When I turn my head left, I see: my darkened living room.

You know I'm lying when: I flush red and trip over my words. But I generally don't lie.

If I was a character written by Shakespeare, I'd be: dead at the end of the play. I just know it.

By this time, next year: I will have been married almost 13 years. 13 is my lucky number...

A better name for me would be: Uhhhh... I really can't imagine having a "better" name.

I have a hard time understanding: calculus. I just don't get it.

If I ever go back to school I'll: know that a huge catastrophe has befallen my life.

You know I like you if: I invite you to my home and feed you.

Darwin, Mozart, Slim Pickens & Geraldine Ferarro are: a really random group to list together. (I like Alli's answer here.)

Take my advice, NEVER: take Tylenol for a hangover (or before you drink andy alcoholic beverage). You can do serious damage to yourself.

My ideal breakfast is: my Breakfast Burritos ~ eggs, sausage, home fries, peppers & onions, cheese and salsa all rolled into a tortilla. Mmmmmm.... Or Eggs Benedict.

A song I love, but do not have is: SOS by Rhianna. I love it for no good reason at all.

If you visit my hometown, I suggest: having french fries at Hansel's. They serve them by the platter with awesome seasoning and homemade Roquefort dressing. To die for...

Why won't anyone: shoot Bin Laden, already. I am tired of this "we can't find him" crap.

If you spend the night at my house, DO: make yourself at home. I like my peeps to be comfy...

I'd stop my wedding for: Uhhhh... too late. I am way married.

The world could do without: terrorists and mosquitoes.

I'd rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: Eeeewwww! But I'll go with shake Michael Moore's hand - or lick his belly. ::shudder::

My favorite blonde(s) is/are: my lovely daughters.

Paperclips are more useful than: lots of stuff.

San Diego means: Sun. Sand. And sea. But I am guessing here - I have never been.

------------------

Okay, I am off to earn a buck or two. Happy Friday!

Happy Birthday to Mr. Bad Example!!!

And this year, Harvey did not want something old, or something new. Nothing borrowed, but all things blue!

I think I got just the thing - kind of an assortment, if you will. Because if I know nothing else, I know that Harvey looooooves women. (Especially his Beloved Wife, TNT.)






















Happy 40th Birthday, Harvey! I wish you many, many more...

(And may you suffer no "blue" effects yourself today!)

Aliens...

Remember that guy in the movie Alien that had the critter burst right outta his abdomen??
(Need a visual? Check out the 30 second Bunny re-enactment.)

Oh yeah. That's me today. Ugh.

And I have a ton of stuff to do today. Most of it not. fun. at. all.

Double ugh.

But after the work is finished, I plan to distract myself making a special treat for a friend having a birthday soon. And that involves chocolate... LOTS of chocolate.

You 'spoze there is such a thing as alien killing chocolate?? Now that would be nice...

Back to School...

Brain Bender style. Ready??

--------------------

In a single classroom, one-third of the pupils* had red hair, one-half had brown hair and five had black hair.

How many pupils were there all together?

--------------------

And what's the deal - no blondes?? That doesn't seem right... Anyway, you know how to play. The answer will be found later in the comments.

*I keep picturing hairy eyeballs though... I must be tired.

Update: Oddybobo isn't tired! She's today's very speedy Smartypants!

Logic...

...is a problem around here sometimes but fortunately the Brain Bender's got us covered. Ready??

--------------------

The logic professor sent the following e-mail to his eight graduate students: "When the day after tomorrow is yesterday, we will meet the next day at four P.M." He sent the e-mail on Sunday.

When will they next meet?

----------------------

So long as there are no Rabid Mary Kay Ladies in attendance, I'll be there. And like always, the answer will be found later in the comments.

Update: CalTechGirl from Not Exactly Rocket Science is today's official Smartypants. Whoohoo!

Thanks for playin' y'all!

I am being hunted....

By rabid Mary Kay ladies...

Good grief.

I was accosted a couple of weeks ago in ShopKo of all places.

Rabid Mary Kay Lady: "Hey, hi! I just couldn't help but stop you. Has anyone ever told you that you have beautiful skin??"

Me: "Uhhhh..."

RMKL: "Well, you do. Would you be interested in a free makeover?"

Me: Looking around for something to distract the RMKL, something shiny... "Uhhhhhh.... I hadn't ever thought about it."

RMKL: "Oh, well then..."

...and she entered into her diatribe about the great fun that is a Mary Kay Makeover.

Shit.

For the record, I am a nice person. I do not easily tell folks to piss up a rope. I just don't. Which is to my detriment... Often...

And look, I'm a girl. I *do* wear makeup. Just not applied with a trowel. I have sucked it up MANY times before and gone to friends "spa" parties - because I know that there is a head count involved and invariably there will be wine there. In that sense I am just helping out - making sure they get enough folks to receive their "hosting" gift or 20% off or whatever.

But these Mary Kay Ladies?? They are of another breed entirely.

Accosting a perfect stranger in the midst of Back-to-School shopping is just wrong. Also *wrong* are the matching pale pink twinsets and faux pearls - there's a warning right there! Kind of like those brightly colored tree frogs that will kill you if you touch them.

And then when they have you mesmerized by their faux bling charm and false compliments, they somehow vulcan mind meld you into giving them your number. *ACK!* And the dreaded calls begin.

"What was I thinking?!?!?" You'll find yourself asking anyone who will listen. "I gave her my freeking home number just because I'm nice! I need to stop being nice...."

And I have been fielding the calls with grace thus far. A friend has encouraged me to channel my inner curmudgeon and tell the Rabid Mary Kay Lady that I am most assuredly not interested.
*click*

And I have thanked the RMKL for her offer of a "Free Makeover and Skin Care Demonstration" but NO THANKS. Not really interested. Do you think she'll ever get the message? Or will little Ms. Curmudgeon have to come out and play??

Update: Oh yeah... Rachel over at Pereiraville totally got me. I had an absolute "Holy CRAP!!!" moment when she called and identified herself as my Rabid Mary Kay Lady. Heh. It was a good gotcha. And of course she blogged about it.

Now back to our regularly scheduled sillyness...

And today's Brain Bender. Ready??

---------------------

Find the four digit number in which the first two digits are the product of the third and fourth, and the fourth digit is six less than the third. The sum of all digits is 21.

--------------------

Okay, you know how to play. The answer will be found later in the comments.

Meanwhile I am off to the hairdressers for another round... Wish me luck!

Update: CalTechGirl from Not Exactly Rocket Science is today's official Smartypants! Whoohoo!

(And I lost another inch and got highlights, in case you were wondering. The blonde is baaaaaack!)

4:04 a.m.

That's when the thunderstorm rolled through...

And while Mother Nature was outside throwing her fit, I was snuggled up inside. Whispering and cuddling with my husband.

Those moments always seem that much sweeter after revisiting tragedy. More worthwhile. More important.

And while we dare not live under the constant shadow of the past, there are lessons to be learned. And things we can carry with us.

Once again it is time...

September 11th

For me it is a time of reflection and remembrance.

And sadness.

Anger.

Resolve.

Determination.

Fear.

Hope.

And I do not think I am alone in those feelings. Though I did not *personally* lose anyone that day (and my heart breaks for those who did...) it fundamentally changed me in a way that I never could have predicted.

The only thing I can come close to comparing it to, was the change that I underwent after the birth of my eldest daughter. For as much as I was afraid that my maternal instincts might never kick in, the minute the nurses handed K. to me, a switch was flipped and my fate was sealed.

I went from being a non-mom to MOTHER.

*snap*

That quick.

The events of September 11, 2001 changed me fully as well. I had always considered myself to be a patriot, but that day *snap* I became a PATRIOT.

Today is September 11th. And I know there will be many commemorative events held. Remember we shall, even if it pains us. For in forgetting the pain and surprise of that day, lies the horror of having to repeat the history. And that I cannot abide.

Recently I read a post that touched me like no other. Michele from Letters From NYC wrote about two of her friends lost that day. If you read / do / see nothing else, you should read this post today. Breaths. And remember the courage of those lost and the courage of those left behind.

Also, Project 2996 was launched. To remember *all* of the lives lost that day. I did not sign up to participate. I was intimidated by the enormity of the task. Fortunately, many others took up the challenge...

For every person, there was a story, a family, a life. It will do us well to hold these people in our thoughts and prayers as well. I am going to attempt to list some of the people that *I* know that are participating in this most worthy tribute... God Bless you all.

Army Wife Toddler Mom - Ramzi Doany

That 1 Guy - Rahma Salie

Boudicca's Voice - Don Simmons

Blackfive - Matthew Lancelot Ryan

Letters From NYC - Allison Horstmann-Jones

House of Zathras - Maria Jakubiak

Technicalities - Carol K. Demitz

Pereiraville - Joseph A. LaFalce

The Conservative UAW Guy - Sarah Khan

A Swift Kick & A Band-Aid - Philip L. Parker

Blog d'Elisson - Lt. Geoffrey Guja

Blonde Sagacity - Lorraine Bay

When The Smoke Clears - Isidro Ottenwalder

Straight White Guy - Calvin Dawson

Alabama Improper - Kirsten L. Christophe

Postcards from NYC - Lawrence "Larry" Virgilio

Neo Neocon - Glenn Wilkinson

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.
Amen.

I will be updating this list through out the day. May God bless and keep us all...

Welcome to the Carnival of the Recipes!

Indian Summer Edition...

A bunch of talented bloggers have really outdone themselves to bring out the yummy for these blissfully warm days and cool nights we are all (hopefully) enjoying.

There is something for everyone in this weeks carnival ~ from Sunshine in a Glass to Fireball Pickles. So let's get this party started!

SNACKS

Looking for a delightful hors d'oeuvre to serve? Men in Aprons has just the thing to celebrate the coming of autumn with their Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms. Gooey, cheesy, mushroomy goodness with bacon! What could be better?

Now while this entry could be a main dish, as an appetizer it sounds most fabulous. From Trinity Prep School we have a recipe for Basil Tomato Tart. Just the thing to help use up all of those yummy ripe tomatoes from the garden!

ENTREES

Barbecue is always satisfying, and from Famous Recipes we have a recipe for Texas Barbecue that is baked over pasta! Delish!

Looking for a new way to prepare the same old same old chicken? From the "go to" source for all things poultry related (Chicken Recipes), we have a recipe for a Bourbon Breast of Chicken. Now that sounds right up my alley... I love finding new ways to combine cocktails with dinner.

We all enjoy luxury in many forms, and Suite 101 is taking us to class with Kobe Beef - Luxury Beef from Japan. I think I could earn an "A" for sure. Could it be so good because the cattle in Japan are encouraged to imbibe? We here at One for the Road will be hungry to find the answer...

Kevin over at TechnoGypsy has two recipes for us! Another try at Bulgogi looks terrific to me and he also has a Roast Pig on a Smaller Scale. Mmmmmm.... Nothing like a pig roast to get all of the juices flowing. And this one is a most manageable amount.

Tinker over at The Secret Life of Shoes has a speedy and easy recipe for Quick Goat Cheese Pizza just in time for those hectic school nights. And some stories to get your goat, to boot...

More cheesy goodness was submitted by Kaitlyn from Seven Silly Southern Sisters and Their New Bro with a simple but delicious Homemade Macaroni and Cheese.

Always a gastric adventurer (often taking us along for the ride), Brian B at Momento Moron presents Nachos Americano. Kind of a nachoey twist on chili fries. More barbecue style deliciousness...

"Roll that beautiful bean footage...." indeed. From In The Headlights we have a very hearty recipe for a terrific and homey Pot O' Beans. Nutritious, delicious, and versatile. The perfect fall meal.

And, oh wow! The BBQ General not only answers the eternal question fresh or frozen? (At least when referring to Chilean Sea Bass...) We are also treated to Sea Bass with Dijon Mustard-Champagne Sauce. Oh my... Another brilliant paring of cocktails with dinner. Yum.

And even a Yankee like me can appreciate this dish submitted by Kevin over at Seriously Good for a Pork Empanada. Holy cow! I mean pig! All I can say, is "Now, that looks seriously good..."

SOUPS and SALADS

Oh my... From River City Food and Wine we have a mouth watering submission for Shrimp and Pasta Salad. A welcome meal for anyone's birthday, though this is what she served to her lucky husband.

The illustrious organizer of the Carnival of the Recipes and author of Everything and Nothing has submitted a sumptuous recipe for Red Potato Salad with Soy Bacon and Fresh Herbs that not only sounds fabulous, but it's good for you as well! Everything to enjoy and Nothing to regret - my favorite combination...

My submission is an oldie but a goodie. (And I just made a batch yesterday to accompany the fine fall weather we are enjoying). From One for the Road I present Chicken Tortilla Soup. It's one of our favorites...

While not technically a soup or a salad, these Fireball Pickles seemed to fit this catergory best. From Tritacle - The Wheat / Rye Guy, we have an excellent way to prepare those garden tomatoes... Yummy!

COCKTAILS

From River City Food and Wine, we have a recipe for Homemade Sunshine (in a glass). Oh now, this is a recipe that will be dead handy when we are faced with the gray days of winter. And will be much appreciated here at One for the Road. Thanks, PJPink!

DESSERTS

And when a doctor prescribes dessert, I think it behooves us all to listen. From Dr. Joel Fuhrman at Disease Proof we have a submission of Desserts Gone Nutty. Oh yeah... Hawaiian Sweet Potato Pie, Peach Ice Cream with Nut Pie Shell, Monkey Fudge Popsicles... That's good medicine.

The ever talented Keewee from Keewee's Corner has once again submitted a drool worthy entry (with pictures!) for Crispy Peanut Butterscotch Pie. Holy cow! That looks decadent. And just perfect....

Hankering for something a teeny bit tart? Then Kicking Over My Traces has just the ticket with these Lemon Squares. Lemony goodness at it's best.

Looking for the perfect start or end to your day? Morning Coffee and Afternoon Tea has an Apple Crip Crisp recipe that looks just simple and delish. A must try!

OTHER STUFF

Tim Worstall presents Marmite 101 - everything you need to know about this British Staple and his quest to find the real stuff. Good on ya, Tim!

The Hermit over at The Ziggurat of Doom has a great list of five things that can improve your kitchen for under $5, because Humans Use Tools. Well worth the read, and I have some shopping to do.

And hey! Don't feel like cooking tonight? No problemmo. Joe Caterisano over at Help With Everything has tried and true suggestions that can save you 50% at local restaurants! Let somebody else do the dishes for a change.

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Well, there you have it. Another yummy Carnival has come to a close. I am off to prepare dinner for my own family ~ to say that I have been inspired would be a vast understatement!

Thanks for sharing all of the yummy y'all!

Fall...

Fall arrived today all at once. It is cloudy and quiet and a blissfully cool 61 degrees. Perfect.

I think it is just a cosmic "Welcome Home" for That 1 Guy so he can have a little taste of it before he heads back to hot muggy hurricane central, also known as Florida.

I am enjoying it, at any rate.

T1G made his way up to my humble abode yesterday so we could hang out and shoot the breeze. We were chatting it up relaxing on my cute little patio trying to ignore the constant and relentless attack of killer bees gottdamn aggressive and annoying wasps. Then one of the little sonsabitches stung me. F*cker.

Now you might ask, did the mighty T1G immediately jump to my aid and save me from the relentless swarms once I was so brutally attacked?? Well, no.

But he did help me carry in the chips and salsa once we gave it up and came inside. Heh. And that was nice. If if he did later say that I was a crazy woman... The man has no idea. Truly...

So today it's fall. I have a crock-pot percolating with my Chicken Tortilla Soup .

And I noticed that one of the trees up the block already jumped over the line and into the new season. See?

And yeah. It's good that T1G is going to get some Fall this year. I know for a fact that it just doesn't happen in Florida.

Whoohoo!

It's Friday!!

And even though tomorrow it's supposed to be 64 degrees and raining.** It's very nice out today so I plan to enjoy it!

I may even get the chance to buy this guy a beer this afternoon and hang out! Doesn't get any better....

So, Happy Friday to you as well. I hope that y'all are having as much fun.

**(But just so you know things aren't too perfect, of course the girls' soccer games are scheduled for 8:30 am and are taking place in different places tomorrow morning. I will be one very damp, very chilled and scattered soccer mom. Gah.)

Oh! And I'll make up for yesterday's Brain Bender... Promise. I can be such a doofus. ; )

Alphabet Soup

Not what I had for lunch, mind you.


I had this.... (No tomatoes, Rave.)

But Alphabet Soup is today's Brain Bender. Ready??

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The 14 letters below can be anagrammed into a four word phrase often used on game shows.

What is the phrase?

A D E E H I I N N N R S T W

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All I can think of is "Come On Down!!" and that sooooo doesn't work. Anyway, I know that you guys will work it out. The answer will be found later in the comments.

Update: I AM A TARD!!! I forgot to post the anagrammed letters. It is fixed now. Gah.

Fun with food...

...and what fun it is! Mmmmmm....

You see, my mother gifted me with this. -->

With the admonition that I get lots of practice with it so I could make some seriously yummy sandwiches when next they were here.

I had already been experimenting with paninis using a large skillet, smaller pan to fit inside the skillet, and a weight to get it all squshified. But this thing? It's fabulous.

Crispy, yummy, gooey, deliciousness.

Last weekend it was Grilled Vegetable Paninis with Onion Cheese and Fresh Mozzerella, Basil, and Tomato Paninis both on a wonderful focaccia bread. I have made Ruben Paninis. Roast Beef and Cheddar paninis, Smoked Turkey and Gouda paninis, and I have yet to even try any of the recipes that came with the thing!

Where am I going with this post? I have no idea. Maybe it is because I am hosting the Carnival of the Recipes this week! Maybe I am still chasing away the nightmares from last night. Maybe I am just overly focused on "What's for lunch?"*

No clue. But I will simply say that I haven't been as thrilled with a kitchen appliance in years. But I am weird that way.

*Lunch today will be a Smoked Ham, Cheddar and Tomato panini. On focaccia bread. I'll even share! ; )

So what do you suppose inspired the Mahnamanah Song....

No, really??

Was it simple proof that *everybody* did waaaay too many drugs in the 60's?

A way to introduce scat jazz to kids?

Further acknowledgement that Americans "have no taste or concept of fine art?"

LSD?

Or heck, LDS??

And aren't you glad that the Brain Benders are easier questions to answer?? Ready?

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To the best of our [discount MENSA calendar] knowledge, only one good English word can be made from all of the letters in the word RESCINDED using each letter only once.

What is the word?

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And what happens to the "bad" English words, I ask you?? Are they rescinded?? Heh...

Yes, I *am* tired. Why do you ask?? Anyway, like always the answer will appear in the comments later.

And for your viewing pleasure (and so I can share the earworm that was inflicted on me today) I give you the Muppets version of the Mahnamana Song. Enjoy!



Update: Oddybobo the Bobo Blogger is today's official smartypants. Whoohoo!

Sleep?? We don't need no steenking sleep!!!

...apparently.

Good grief.

Why do I forget this?? It's the damnedest thing. You know to expect some sleepless nights when your kids are little. Nightmares, teething, colic, illness, or just their little biorhythms get outta whack. It happens.

But what nobody tells you is that sleepless nights don't just "go away" when they little ones hit school age. They simply become more inconvenient because now, we can't just take a day at whim to recover. Mom's and Dad's have to go to work. And kids.... well, hello! There's school.

Computa (Eldest) came home early from school yesterday. She didn't feel well - achy, headache, cold, just generally blah. (I know, I know - so much for my quiet afternoon, eh?) And as the evening progressed, so did she. Just feeling crappier.

But would she lay down and get comfortable and try to sleep? Well sure! for twenty minutes or so. And then she would feel the need to be near us to flap her arms and moan, poor thing.

No amount of soothing would really help. 7-up, advil, a cool cloth, rubbing her back until she would sleep... None of my usual tricks were very effective.

All. Night. Long.

Now granted, I did not get up with here every single time she came in last night to tell me that she was not feeling any better. More like twice. (And at 2:33am Sporta joined in to the festivities. Why? I have no idea.)

But I know for a fact that my eyes have been open at least once every hour since 11pm and I finally gave it up and just got up at quarter to four.

Right now?

Everybody's sleeping. (Of course.)

Me?? I'll be caffeineating instead for a while. And hoping that this show was for one night only.

Tuesday twofer...

Brain Bender style. And why not? Ready??

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What four-letter verb is spelled the same but pronounced differently depending on whether it's in the present or past tense?

and....

Rearrange the words below to form the names of four plants

• Lamp
• Envied
• Adored
• Panes

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I am off to finish enjoying the quiet of my afternoon. Happy first day of school to me!! And like always, the answer will appear in the comments later.

Update: (Though a tardy one.) JVH from Showcase of a Shattered Mind is the smartypants today! Thanks for playin' y'all!

Whoohoo!

It's here!

It's finally here!

After many days of planning and anticipation, the day has finally arrived!

What day is it, you ask?

The first day of school, of course!

The first day in months where I will not have to do any refereeing (until after 4:00 pm) or hear the dreaded phrase "Mom, I'm boooooooored...."

TeeHee!! And yes, I am a little excited. I am not the only one, though. You should see the girls... In fact, I hope to have a picture up later.

Whoohoo!

Memity, meme...meme...meme...

Tagged by Rachel from Pereiraville - the BOOK Meme.

Now keep in mind I read strictly for pleasure, so odds are you will not see any literary "greats" on my list. Just crap that I like. And yes, I was an English Major - so sue me...

1. A book that changed my life:

Like a total turnaround?? Hmmm... I can't really think of one.

2. A book I have read more than once:

Oh boy. There are a bunch of these... The Stand (and it seems like I catch the sniffles every time), Odd Thomas, The Harry Potter series, The Godfather.

3. A book I would take to a desert island:

The Godfather, or any one of the Harry Potter books... But I really liked RSM's answer to this one. What he said.

4. A book that made me laugh:

Lately? Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich. I was laughing so hard (shaking silently) in the dentist's office that one of the techs caught me before I left because they *all* wanted to know what I had been reading. Heh.

5. A book that made me cry:

Odd Thomas (I didn't even see it coming...), Harry Potter 6, A Child Called "It" - One Child's Courage to Survive, Where the Red Fern Grows.

6. A book I wish had been written:

Ditto what Rachel said. I would like to get published one day. I have two in the works, but very little time to dedicate to either. Ah well...

7. A book that should have never been written:

"My Presidential Memoirs" by John Kerry - Oh wait.... I don't have to worry about that one... Whew!

8. A book I am currently reading:

Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs

9. A book I am planning to read:

Wicked by Gregory Maguire and Fear Nothing by Dean Koontz

10. Five people I will send these questions to:

I don't feel like being a tagger today - but feel free to steal this meme. It's a fun one!

I'm still working....

...but that doesn't mean that you have to. Having slacked off all week, I'll post a twofer for today's Brain Bender. Happy Friday!

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Supply the missing number.

A A B C <>
B B C D <>
B A C D <>
C C D D <>
^ ^ ^ ^
12 13 8 ?

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What two words, formed from different arrangement of the same eight letters, can be used to complete the sentence below?

After enough people have been __________ on one particular scam, the number of potential victims _________ because of the publicity.

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Okie doke. Back to the salt mines for me. Y'all have fun!

Oh and as always, the answers will be found in the comments later.

Update: JVH from Showcase of a Shattered Mind is the official Smartypants today! Whoohoo!

Labor Day ~

Weekend.

And today, labor I must. Or I fear the house will simply simply give up and go completely to swamp.

It's the last weekend of a summer I am looking forward to kicking the door shut on, and moving on with life. Friends are coming. And we plan to eat, drink and make merry... Always a good thing.

Now if I can just get my space squared away, all will be well.

• Laundry caught up
• Grocery run
• Front cubby organized for the start of school
• Church newsletter sent
• Guest room made up
• General re-con of all of the schmutz that collects in odd places
• Pay bills
• Dishes and Kitchen Floor
• Refill hummingbird feeder
• Plant the two new bushes
• Sweep off front porch
• Finish meme from Pereiraville

Let's see how I do.

What are you planning?