So, I get this email the other day:

Congratulations!

You're one of 250 people selected to host a Top Chef Masters Premiere B-Hive Party on Wednesday, June 10th!

Once you accept the host duties, you should receive your exclusive Top Chef Masters Premiere B-Hive Pack before the premiere.


Here's what you need to do to get ready for the big night:

• Accept Host Duties: In order to claim your prize you must review and accept the Top Chef Masters B-Hive Host Duties by no later than May 23.
• Recruit Your Foodie Friends: Invite at least 5 friends to come over to your place to watch the premiere of BRAVO'S newest competition reality show, Top Chef Masters, on Wednesday, June 10 @ 10/9c using our special online invitation, available May 27.
  
• Use Your Plastic: What's a party without snacks and drinks, especially since they're on us? To be a true tastemaker, treat your guests to Stacy's® Pita Chips included in the Top Chef Masters Premiere B-Hive Pack and use the $25 gift card for additional goodies.
  
• Set the Scene: You'll get a box full of exclusive items to help you make sure you and your friends are fully prepared for the kitchen competition, including Top Chef Masters T-shirts, chip bowl and drink pitcher, as well as napkins to clean up any messes.
  
• Pop Some Pics: During your B-Hive Party, take digital pictures of your foodie friends as they chow down, enjoy the Top Chef Masters swag and tune in to the premiere. Make sure your B-Hive Party really buzzes by sending texts to and chatting with your friends online during the show. Then on Thursday, June 11, upload your photos to the B-Hive area on Bravotv.com - You'll automatically be entered to win another $50 gift card.
  
• Enter the Exclusive B-Hive Sweeps: While you're there, you can also enter for your chance to win a guest appearance by Carla, one of the finalists from Top Chef: New York, at your finale B-Hive Party, since you're definitely going to want to keep the buzz going every week until the Top Chef Master has been named. Anyone can enter once per week until August 5th so tell your friends!

We're certain that you and your fellow food-lovers will have a fabulous time at your party and will be hooked on BRAVO'S newest competition reality show, Top Chef Masters! Be sure to tell everyone what you'll be watching on Wednesday, June 10 @ 10/9c so they can watch what happens, too!

Thanks!
Your friends at BRAVO

---

So, I'm thinking: a) Hey! I won something! WooWhoo! b) If you already know where I live, come on over. However, you absolutely have to be out of the house the second it's over, it'll be past my bed time on a school night. c) But, 10pm is late, maybe I should have a fake viewing party ahead of time at a reasonable hour so I'll have pictures to upload and I don't eat all the chips by myself.

RSVP in the comments.

In Case You Were Wondering

So if you saw the photos from Sunday, you might be confused for two reasons. The pictures were backwards chronologically, and why there is a skating photo in the middle of a series from Universal/Islands of Adventure? That's quite simple, actually. I posted pictures from my phone as the day went on, newer pictures were posted after the older ones, and that's the way things happened.

All-in-all it was an OK weekend. We went to Orlando so Fern could skate at the 50th Anniversary National Championships. She was up against a lot of tough competition there and didn't do as well as she would have liked. She was 5th out of 5 for her technical program and third out of three for her rhythmic program.

Saturday night was the big team events, Bowie skated against a "local" team, a team from Tampa. I was surprised more teams didn't skate, but it is expensive to bring a large team down as we did.

Anyway, they had on-ice awards for the large groups at the end of the evening. I was a little nervous. At the local events you always can kinda get a feeling of how the teams do and which one might win the event. Saturday night, our kids skated well, even though Fern fell on a spin, and I just could not see the other team was better or worse. I'm not a judge, I still don't know all the criteria on which they are evaluated, but I could just not get the feeling they were better. So I was a bit nervous at awards time.

They announced the second place team, and it wasn't Bowie. I let out a loud "eeep" and tried to contain my excitement until they announced the first place team.

We got to Universal pretty early on Sunday, about 9:30 and went into Islands of Adventure. We headed towards the back of the park where we got on two rollercoasters right away. Not at the same time. Then we went round the park counter-clock-wise and rode more rides. I was impressed with the length of the rides, the duration was a lot longer than other rides at other parks. I was not impressed with the number of rides to go on. We'd ridden on everything that interested us but the Hulk ride by 2:00. At 2:30 we left so Fern could skate in her last event where I thought she did very well, didn't bobble, didn't fall, and got 5th out of seven. The competition was tough.

We went back to Universal to try to get on the Hulk. The waiting line had been 70 minutes before, now it was only 30. Fern and I got in line while Dan and Kevin waited elsewhere, But, alas, it was not to be. The impending storm pended and all outside rides were closed. When we got out of the waiting queue area it was pouring and I asked a drink vendor for a couple trash bags to use as rain coats. That kept us kinda dry on the way to the car. Kinda. My feet were drenched inside my shoes. Oh well.

Monday we flew home to more thunder storms and rain. Lovely.

I just checked the ISI website and The Bowie Ice Arena came in fifth overall based on points. The four teams ahead of us were all "local" teams—central Florida teams—with a lot more skaters so they were able to earn more points. Still, fifth is very good out of 43.



I'm glad to be home, even to a boat-load of email here at work to sort through. blah.


 

Exodus

In line for the Hulk ride

Fern & friend meet Olympic skater John Zimmerman

Next for the Cat-in-the-hat ride

We're Next!

Jurasic Park River Adventure

Wish me luck!

Dynamic Duo

My favorite Scottish duo played the RamsHead in Annapolis last night and I had a front-row seat. Actually table 103, they don't have rows.

I always enjoy seeing The Proclaimers and last night they did not disappoint. They only played an hour but managed to get a lot of good stuff into those 60 minutes.

Here's the set list: (with some youtube video links so you can relive the concert right along with me)
Letter From America
In Recognition
I'm On My Way
17
Throw the 'R' Away
Life With You*one of my favorite songs
Love Can Move Mountains *from the new album being released in August
Misty Blue
Notes & Rhymes*from the new album being released in August
Cap in Hand
Role Model
Sing All the Cares Away *from the new album being released in August
Burn Your Playhouse Down
Let's Get Married *one of my favorite songs
Sunshine on Leith
Sky Takes the Soul
Encore:
King of the Road
500 Miles

Please vote for your favorite video in the comments section!

Miss Manners for $100

Did someone change the rules?

Didn't it used to be you sent out a wedding invitation six weeks before the big event? This week we got an invitation in the mail for an October wedding. I received an invitation back in February for a May wedding. We got a "save the date" email for a November wedding in January! What happened? Why so far in advance? When did the rules change?



 

E

Yesterday I cut out of work early to take Kevin to the eye doctor. His neurologist thought she saw his left eye wandering during her recent exam and wanted an ophthalmologist to check him out. I prepped him ahead of time by telling him he was going to the eye doctor and he'd have to read letters for her.

Just like at my eye doctor's office, he was seen first by the fellow, the doctor doing a fellowship or rotation in that department, whom I dub "the understudy," then by the regular doctor. Kevin did fine reading all the letters and she found his eyes to be normal, not wandering. When it came time for the dilating drops the understudy said they would take 40 minutes to work at which point I told her my eyes are very sensitive and dilate very quickly and he's probably like me in that regard since we have the same color eyes. So she used the weakest drops they had, the ones for preemies, and was surprised 15 minutes later his eyes were ready. Rookies. Sheesh.

She then did the part of the exam where she looks into his eyes with bright lights and a big magnifying lens. I know I hate that part, I was afraid for The Boy, the light always hurts, but Kevin did great. The regular doctor looked at him next and repeated some of the exam to verify results. Everything is fine, good vision, good pressures, no problems. And no issues with Kevin balking at the exam. I was relieved all the way round.




 

It's a bag

Here is my finished tote bag I made for the exchange we had in my quilt guild. I added a few more swirls of beads since the photo I posted a few days ago.



It turns out the woman I drew, drew me and we both listed the beach as one of the things we liked. Here we are with our new bags.





 

Letter City

Recently Kevin painstakingly stacked all his letters by letter. The outcome was a mini-city of letter buildings occupying a lot of real estate. Click to enlarge.

Mother's Day

Dan went golfing and I drove out to Winchester to see my parents on Sunday and took the kids with me. I originally thought I'd meet my folks at the plant fair at the State Arboretum at Blandy, but they went on Saturday. That meant driving to the homestead and visiting there. Mom's knees were bothering her so I couldn't talk her into going back to the fair on Sunday. But Dad went with us. At first the four of us stuck together, but Dad is very social and stopped and talked a lot with the folks he knows from his years of volunteering there.

I bought a lot of plants, not a lot a lot, just a flat's worth, but now I have to find places in the gardens to put them and plant them before they wilt. I suppose Greeny is going to want to know what I bought. A pineapple tomato and lantana. And a bunch of stuff I can't spell or pronounce so I'll have to look at the tags and tell you later.

Saturday

Kevin swam in another Special Olympics qualifier and did well this week. First in 25 free, 4th in 50 free, and first in 25 back.

That's it, that was my weekend. Pretty boring compared to others. I didn't even get any laundry done. It's getting deep in there. sheesh.

Almost Done

Quilters [generally] love tote bags. Our quilt guild is doing a tote bag exchange at our next meeting. Several months ago everyone who wanted to participate filled out a slip identifying preferences. The slips were put into cheap plain canvas tote bags and we each got one. Our goal was to create a bag for that person.

The person's bag I drew likes blues, purples, the beach and quilting (of course). I was stumped with what to do for a long time. I even sat near my recipient at guild meetings trying to glean helpful information and got nothing.

Then, a couple weeks ago during my morning walk, L and I were talking about our bags and that I had had no inspiration yet and it hit me. I'd hand-dye my bag blue and decorate it with a beach theme. Then I remembered the famous 1820's woodblock print by Hokusai Katsushika, The Great Wave. I used that for inspiration to hand bead the bag.



I have a few more sprays of water to add, but this is the current state of the bag. I'm rather pleased with the way it's turning out.

Here's the inspiration:



I had printed out the picture in the beginning for guidance but lost misplaced it after the first week and beaded the rest, making it up as I went along. The exchange takes place at the guild's anniversary dinner next Wednesday. I hope my recipient likes it!

---

I've been taking a ceramics class on Tuesday nights. After I took that parent-child class with Fern in February I decided I wanted to do more ceramics work. The class is eight weeks long and we are half-way through now. I love to work on the wheel but since my skills have not been used on a regular basis for a long time I'm having a hard time creating pieces my mind thinks I should be able to do.

I took ceramics classes when I was a kid, like 5th and 6th grades. My instructor was Bill Meadows. He taught at the art gallery in town, He also taught the ceramics part of shop to the boys in junior high. This was before girls were allowed to take shop. I'm still bitter about that. Anyway, Mr. Meadows taught us to center the clay his way. There are lots of ways to do it, but even all these years later, my inclination is to start centering clay the way I first learned.

Now it's not working for me and I have to try different methods, different hand positions to get the clay centered. We used kick wheels when I was a kid and I'm thinking I had the wheel spinning clock-wise back then. The electric wheels I use now spin counter-clock-wise so maybe that's why I'm having trouble, the force is going the other way, that whole physics thing.

OK, enough of that. If you've stuck with me this far, here is one of the bowls I managed not to ruin. I love this glaze. I love how it's a forest green where it's thin and Caribbean blue where it's thick.





There was very little glaze in the bucket the night I glazed this so I didn't get it glazed evenly. I'm happy with it anyway. Click the photo to enlarge so you can see the detail. Maybe I'll ask my instructor to teach me how to mix up a batch of this glaze on Tuesday.

This will make a good cereal bowl and cereal doesn't complain about uneven glaze.


 

Fore!

Monday afternoon our golf cart looked like the inside of the family car after a long trip.
A long camping trip in the rain, to be more precise.

We had soggy towels, at least four. We had soggy golf gloves. At least four.
Left-over sack lunch bags.
Empty M&M bags and chip bags.
Soggy pair of socks.
Dripping umbrella-ella-ellas.

Dan and I joined AM & Mark again for a charity golf event. Rain or Shine. My rain gauge measured almost an inch of rain on Monday. We were a little damp. Mark got the closest to the pin on the par-three contest hole for a $50 prize and I didn't even come close to winning the Ladies' longest drive contest again, as I did last year. I didn't play so well. The company was good, but I was a bit tired of the rain.

Other Weekend Stuff

Sunday morning, raining, I took Kevin to a Special Olympic swim meet qualifier. He has to compete in at least two qualifiers so he can participate at the state games in June. When they arrange the heats, they group the swimmers according to their seed times they already have in the system so no one competes against someone who is a lot faster or slower than they are. By the luck of the draw, Kevin had the slowest of the seed times in each of his heats and finished third, second, and third in the 25 free, 25 back, and 50 free, respectively.

Afterward we went up to G-Street Fabrics. They are moving store locations so everything is on sale. Sewing machine presser feet, which normally sell for $30 and up were 30% off and an additional 25% off if you had a coupon. I did, so I got a couple. I didn't buy any more fabric. Yes, really.

I got back to Bowie in time to pick up Fern from play practice. We stopped off at the library on the way home so she could get some books. She didn't have her card because it was in the other car so I checked them out on my account. She better not lose any of them, that's for sure.

Fern dashed off right after we got home to an award ceremony with her friend. They got second place in the county in the Write-a-Book contest. I stayed home, I don't think The Girl minded, perhaps she was relieved I wasn't in the audience making a big deal out of a little thing. I'm still proud of her.

Saturday was less rainy. Dan and I double-dated with AM and Mark. We played par-three golf to practice for Monday's tournament and then had dinner at Moulin de Paris. I had a nice time out. I don't know about the other three.

Fern's spring ice skating show was in the afternoon, the last 'home' show before they close the rink for maintenance. Now all her lessons will be at a neighboring rink to prepare for the Championships in Orlando at the end of the month. She's skating in 3 solo events and one with her team.

Before the skating show, I took Kevin out to the Arts Fair at the Montpelier Cultural Arts Center. I only 'lost' him twice. He likes to explore new territory and usually stays close to where he thinks I'll be so he's pretty easy to find. I took him into the ceramics studio with me and gave him a hunk of clay while I worked on some of my pots. I still am having a hard time centering my clay on the wheel and don't have many quality pieces to show. I bought another 25 pounds of clay last night so I have lots to practice with. I'll have to photograph the glazed pieces I finished. Oh, and the piece Kevin made.

I don't remember much before Saturday. You'll have to trust me I survived it all.


 

I'm getting emails and instant messages asking when I'd be posting again.

sheesh.


 

I'm sitting in a classroom in Rockville, MD class now waiting for the lecture to start. The rest of the class is finishing up an exercise my class partner and I finished yesterday. I brought my laptop in because they have wireless here and I haven't checked my work email in a couple days.

The class is good, it's CSS, and I'm learning a lot which I'll be able to apply right away when I get back to work next week. If I don't forget it all over the weekend.

My class/lab partner is a hoot. We're getting along swimmingly, we get each other's humor and she and I are equally matched in programming skills so we fly though the exercises.

I'd hate to have to work in this neighborhood. The commute is so variable. Wednesday it took me an hour and 20 minutes to get here, yesterday it took an hour and today there were two accidents on the top-side of the beltway so I took a back way with lots of traffic lights and still got here in about an hour.

Anyway, back to class.


 

Things I forgot to mention about the weekend:

A chocolate bunny pooped in my purse. I found the evidence when I was looking for my misplaced credit/debit card.

Weekend Round-up

OK, so the weekend was busy but not nearly as crazy as it may have sounded it could have been.

Wednesday I went to the Trash to Treasures" sale at my Quilt Guild meeting. I sold $40 in sewing machine feet plus other trinkets and my sewing machine cabinet for $50.

Thursday we visited a family about adopting their 8yo fox terrier. Fern fell in love with the dog immediately, as I knew she would. Kevin was afraid of it, as I knew he would be, but as long as it was held and her mouth faced away from him, he would pet the dog's back. I got the impression the dog is ours if we want it, they will quit advertising it's available. Kevin has to warm up to the idea. Fern needs to show us she's responsible to have a dog and it starts with HOMEWORK!

Friday Fern and I took Kevin to Special Olympics swim team practice and went to eat chili at Hard Times Cafe.

Saturday AM took Fern to Wonka auditions and I took Kevin to Swim-n-gym. I opted not to take him to the Special Olympic swim meet because it was too much trouble to get him there and back and it was the last day for his usual Saturday program.
I picked Fern up at the auditions at 11:15 to take her to her 11:30 ice skating lesson, then went home for some quiet. I got the kitchen cleaned up a bit before I had to go back out to collect Fern at the rink, then Kevin at his thing. The plan was to drop Fern off at the Lacrosse field so she could watch her friends play, but she wanted to go home first for a quick bite and a shower. Shower? really? You're going to be in the hot sun. You're going to get sweaty anyway. Yeah, but I need to shave my legs. Sheesh. Did I forget to mention it is Boys Lacrosse?

Fern got a call-back for Wonka and AM took her daughter and Fern back after the LAX game so Kevin and I were free for a while. I went to the fabric store to buy more fabric I made Mom's quilt with. She wants to redecorate her bedroom to match the quilt and wanted the fabric for pillow shams and valences.

I got home to put the lasagna in the oven for the Basket Bingo Fund Raiser at church. I was not lucky at bingo! this time, didn't win, didn't tie. I was close a couple times, but nada.

Sunday I went to church by myself. The kids were non-responsive. My sewing machine cabinet buyer came by to pick it up in the afternoon. I offered to take Kevin to the pool with the slide, but he napped instead. And consequently, he didn't go to bed until after 2:00 last night. I took the kids out to Bob Evans for supper, just to get out of the house, but the service was painfully slow and the waitress didn't even try to make up for it. It took over 8 minutes for the check and a to-go box. I left a 10% tip. I wasn't happy.

And now the week starts all over again.


 


Post Script
Fern got the part of Mrs. Bucket in Wonka
 

Copy Cat

I stole this from Lorraine who stole it from Sling: my customized signature at the bottom of my posts.

Get yours here.

What do you think?

What Lies Ahead

Dan is leaving tonight for a work trip. After work on Friday he'll be staying on to visit a friend and play golf. Since work is paying for the flights, he is limited to contract flights home and they are all full until Monday morning. Which means I'll be a single mom all weekend.

I don't mind being a single mom for a weekend, I just have to remember everything, all activities and be there on time.

Tonight:
Quilt Guild meeting where we're having a "Trash to Treasures" sale. I've actually been setting aside some items to get rid of so I want to go. I am even taking an old Bernina 1010 to sell. I'm thinking I'll ask between $200 and $300 for it, plus extra for the special presser feet. The goal is make money and get rid of clutter, not spend money and acquire more stuff. I shouldn't bring anything back, right? Right. [clears throat]

Thursday:
Kevin ready for the bus at 07:15, don't forget to put money in his backpack for his field trip
Me at work at 08:00
Science tutoring session for The Girl at 08:30 (transportation?)
Leave work at 16:30
Pick up Kevin from After-Care at 17:15
Visit a family about adopting their mature fox terrier at 18:30

Friday:
Kevin, bus; me, work; Fern, school, etc., etc.
Get Kevin to Special Olympics swim team practice at 18:00 picking up dinner for The Boy on the way in plenty of time as to not push the 30-minute rule.
Does The Girl need to be somewhere?

Saturday:
Kevin to Swim-n-gym at 10:00 or to the Special Olympics swim meet at 09:15, which one? It's the last day of the Swim-n-gym session for the spring, but he should attend the meet so he can go to the state games in June.
Fern's ice skating lesson?
Auditions for Willy Wonka at 10:00 if Fern wants to
Fern's ice skating team practice at 12:00
Call-backs for Wonka 15:00 to 17:00
When is the swim meet over?
Can I possibly get to the ceramics studio somewhere between 12:00 and 16:30 and put a handle on my mug before it get too dry?
Basket Bingo Fund Raiser at church at 17:00, Fern to help work and I've volunteered to bring 24 cans of cold coke and a baked lasagna. When am I going to buy coke and bake?

Sunday:
Day of rest
Get myself and kids to 09:30 church
Think of some activity for the kids so they don't play on the computers all day
Is homework done?
Laundry?
Don't forget to feed the kids.
Is the toilet still leaking? Try to get to Home Depot before they close to buy a kit

Monday:
See Thursday and Friday
 

I just turned my back for a second...

I've wanted to post this picture for a while. Kevin brought me my phone one day to show me the letters he had photographed. I didn't even know he had it. He figured out how to turn on the phone, open the camera, and press the shutter button. Several times.

Kevin started forming an attachment to my iPhone and I was afraid I'd never be able to use it again. He decided it belonged in his hands or in the charger, and he would get upset if I tried to make a call with it.

Dan and I ended up buying him his own "iPhone," an 8gb iTouch, (much to the chagrin of Fern, of course) so I could have my phone back. I loaded it up with a bunch of free apps and a lot of his favorite music. He loves it and it doesn't matter it's not really a phone, even though that's what he calls it.

Oh, and he LOVES the iPhone ads on TV. He has to rewind them and watch them over and over again, they make him giggle and smile.

I just wish they made the iTouch with a camera in it, I'd love to see more of Kevin's art. Maybe if I'm brave, I'll let him use my phone again.
 

Vanishing Act - Parts 2 & 3

Part 2

While we were in Manhattan on Wednesday on our way from the bus stop, sans phone, to Arrojo Studios, Fern and I stop in a shop and she tries on clothes. She ended up buying this adorable high-waisted black skirt. Very hip.

At the end of day we're back in the apartment. We have a dilema. I need to be back in Washington at 11:00 on Thursday for a meeting which was already postponed twice for me, I'm so important, Dahling.... We need to watch Lost. We need to drive 4 hours. And we need to get some sleep.

The plan, albeit not a good one, becomes return to the apartment, take a nap, eat dinner, watch Lost, leave Brooklyn, drive home, sleep till 10:00, get up and go to work. Fern didn't have to do that last bit, just me.

The nap was cut short by a quick dinner delivery guy, but we were diligent about cleaning up during commercials and were ready to go.

I'm blaming this next part on the fact I didn't have an adequate copilot/navigator. Somehow, after crossing the Outer Bridge Crossing I ended up on the way to Atlantic City instead of Washington. I saw the signs for the Turnpike, I just ended up on the Parkway instead. And, I was in the express lanes so I couldn't correct my mistake quickly. It wouldn't have been a problem at all had I crossed the Goethals, but nooo.

When I got off the Parkway I pulled over to check my (mostly) trusty iPhone. I plugged in 'hotel' in the map and it came up with one less than a half mile down the street. And they had a non-smoking room available, for a whopping $68. They even had quilts on the beds. :) The alarm was set for 5:30 and we were out of there before 6.

When we got home Fern cleaned out the car and I took a shower before heading off to work. She couldn't find her new high-waisted skirt which she had been wearing the night before. I'm usually the last one out of a hotel room so I can look for hidden belongings, but not this time.

I called the hotel to no avail, they didn't see it. I think they did and liked it too much. But, that's just me.

Part 3

BG&E wants to take down all our trees along our back property line that borders the state highway. They are too tall and can cause too much trouble for the power lines. They will give us $100 voucher for each tree they remove so we can have shorter trees put in. Somehow I don't think that'll be the same as the 60' shady Cypress trees they'll be replacing.

 

Vanishing Act

Wednesday morning Fern and I were in New York. We were staying in Brooklyn at a friend's apartment and planned to take the express bus into Manhattan. On the way to the bus I say "Phone check," and we both tap our pockets. "Got it," Fern assures me. "Got it," I reply back. "Camera check?" "No, I left it in the apartment." That's ok, I say, I've got two, three counting my phone.

I hand Fern her Metro card for the bus while waiting for the bus by a garden wall, she's sitting on the wall, I'm leaning against it. Then she can't find the card. While we're searching frantically the bus pulls up. I swipe my card and we sit in the front seat of the bus to find her card. Finally I find it in my tote bag and all is well.

The bus is a long distance coach bus, not a typical city bus so it's comfy in the front seat. We stay there. Fern and I chat about what we want to do in the morning, our hair appointments aren't until noon so we had time to kill. She wants to eat breakfast. The driver can hear us since were are so close to him. Eventually he learns our plans and suggests a stop and a route to walk which should provide ample opportunities for food on our way to our destination on SoHo.

We get off the bus downtown near the Battery and the financial district. I check our seat on the way out and grab Fern's iPod which had slipped off her lap. The bus turns the corner and vanishes.

Fern's phone isn't in her pocket.
It's not in my tote bag. Not in my purse.
I call it and we're not hearing it ring.
My heart sinks.

We found a place to eat and called AT&T to suspend service on that phone. By the end of breakfast I was feeling better and not stressed about the phone. We went on to have a good day, got our hair done, putzed around Times Square, used the restroom at Tiffany's, and got new headphones at the Apple store.

I took my "big" camera with me. I had checked the battery before we left home and it had a full charge. The first time I pull it out to take pictures, it won't, no juice. So I had to lug a big heavy useless camera with me all day. The Kodak is having issues again with acknowledging the memory card, so I'm down to my phone. Grrr.

For a small donation...
I took this of Fern and Elmo. I actually thought I took two pictures but only this one was there when I looked later. Naturally, the other picture was better.

This is the entrance to the Apple store near the southeast corner of Central Park. While Fern and I were in there, I plugged in my phone for a quick free charge.

By that time we were pretty tired and our feet hurt. The bus stop for our bus back to Brooklyn was only a few blocks away so we called it a day.

When we got off the bus near the apartment Fern scoured the area for her lost phone to no avail.

Thursday, back at home, we went to the AT&T store and got her a new phone. Same model as before, and through the magic of desperate economic times, I got that, and added unlimited texting for the whole family and got a 15% discount on my bill for only $30 out of pocket.

Post Script

Sunday night I got a call on my cell phone from a 718 number. The caller's mom found Fern's phone at the bus stop in Brooklyn.

Fern sporting her new do, by Nicole (of Shear Genius fame)

Fern's breakfast

On the Road Again. The view out the bathroom window at the restaurant where we're eating breakfast.

When Government Bakes Cookies

It's no secret I work for a US government agency. I'm not telling which one.

I found this in my "food" file, where I keep take-out menus and recipes, and thought it was time to share. It was originally in the Washington Post over 20 years ago.

A Bureaucrat's Guide to Chocolate Chip Cookies

For those government employees and bureaucrats who have problems with standard recipes, here's one that should make the grade—a classic version of the chocolate chip cookies translated for easy reading.

Total Lead Time: 35 minutes.

Input:
1 cup packed brown sugar
.5 cup granulated sugar
.5 cup softened butter
.5 cup shortening (really? do people still bake with shortening?)
2 eggs
1.5 teaspoons vanilla
2.5 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
.5 teaspoon salt
12 ounce package semi-sweet chocolate pieces
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Guidance:
After procurement actions, decontainerize inputs. Perform measurement tasks on a case-by-case basis. In a mixing type bowl, impact heavily on brown sugar, granulated sugar, softened butter and shortening. Coordinate the interface of eggs and vanilla, avoiding an overrun scenario to the best of your skills and abilities.

At this point in time, leverage flour, baking soda and salt into a bowl and aggregate. Equalize with prior mixture and develop intense and continuous liaison among inputs until well coordinated. Associate key chocolate pieces and nuts and execute stirring operations.

Within this time frame, take action to prepare the heating environment for throughput by manually setting the oven baking unit by hand to a temperature of 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Drop mixture in an ongoing fashion from a teaspoon implement onto an ungreased cookies sheet at intervals sufficient enough apart to permit total and permanent separation of throughputs to the maximum extent practicable under operating conditions.

Position cookie sheet in a bake situation and surveil for 8 to 10 minutes or until cooking action has terminated (and before burning action commences). Initiate coordination of outputs withing the cooling rack function. Containerize, wrap in red tape, and disseminate to authorized staff personnel in a timely and expeditious basis.

Output:
Six dozen official government chocolate-chip cookie units.

From the Washington Post by Susan Russ

My comments are in red.
I've never actually tried this recipe. Maybe someday when I'm not on a diet. If you try it, let me know how the "cookie units" turn out.
 

What I did

I told you about my dilemma with the make-up I bought. I'm pretty sure it was an honest mistake, leaving the price of one thing off the ticket so the totals were different. And the person who put the prices on the tickets was not the person who totaled them up. They worked for different companies.

I took back two of the items on Saturday, the other four things I felt good about and kept. I'll be getting back a bit into my account. One of the things I kept was an indigo mascara which looked very good on me. I wore it yesterday and by the end of the day my eyes were stinging. So, that's going back, too. Oh well.

Other weekend activities included cleaning the kitchen, and not just a cursory wipe-down of the counters. I promised Fern money if she washed the cabinet fronts for me. I still owe her for that. Bought a book of Japanese quilt block patterns at Borders along with Jennifer Chiaverini's new book The Lost Quilter and went to Ikea again to get the last set of castors I need for the new shelf in the sewing room. They are still out, but I managed to still spend money on other things.

Sunday Fern and I drove up to Newark Delaware for Fern's District ice skating championship competition at the U. of Delaware, and had lunch with my college roommate and her husband, too. I hadn't seen them in several years, we had a lot of catching up to do but not enough time. We ate at a place called Matilda's and Fern had the Roo Burger. Tasted like very lean beef. I didn't like it much. maybe it was too cold by the time I got a taste, or maybe it was too lean, but 'roo is not for me. Fat tastes good.

Here's my college roommate, looking puzzled because she didn't know I was taking her picture (sneaky iPhone camera):

Kevin and I having dinner while Dan and Fern are out....yum!

Now What?

OK, remember last week I ordered a bunch of make-up from Smashbox? It was ordered though the personal shopping department at the Annapolis Nordstroms. When I saw the total on the original order I gasped, to my self, but I was taken aback, nonetheless. It was more than I wanted to spend, but I went with the flow since I was having a good time that evening.

I waited and waited for my shipment, excitement waning each day. The box of stuff came on Wednesday, via UPS ground. When I opened it and saw the actual cash register receipt, I was beside myself. It totaled about $25 more than what I expected, which originally was a lot more than I was comfortable with anyway.

Upon inspection of the receipt and order form, I saw two items had different prices and one item listed on the original didn't have a price next to it so it wasn't included in that total. I have a call to the lady I ordered from, but haven't heard back yet.

My excitement now is totally gone and I feel like taking the whole lot back. Except I've already been using the tinted lip treatment. I'll keep that. But I have this very deflated feeling about it all now.

Now what?

 

Trouble?

Is anyone else having trouble with blogger?

Someone told me this week they tried to use my 'Follow Me' button and it's not working.
Then I tried and could not rename any blogs on my blogroll, blogger seemed stuck.

Anyone?

Still Waiting

Back on Thursday, I ordered some Smashbox goodies. The order was to be filled by the personal shopping lady at the Annapolis Norstroms. She said she'd mail out the orders on Friday and since it's a short jaunt from the big Annapple to Bowie, I thought I should get my package on Saturday, Monday at the latest, right?

Saturday wasn't to be, nor was Monday.

I still didn't get anything in the mail on Tuesday, either. I'm hoping for today. If it takes much longer, I'll never remember how Timber told me to use it all. I'm having a hard time remembering what I even ordered. I hate that.

Bingo!

Fern's ice skating production team is going to Orlando for the national ISI competition. To pay for the trip, the team has been doing various fund-raisers. Today was Basket Bingo!

Fern and I went and had a nice afternoon together. The first half was a dud, losing game after losing game. Then I won a door prize, a Vera Bradley tumbler. Then I almost had a bingo. I was about to win with the next number to be called. A girl called Bingo! but didn't have it on the number just called, but a number before that. Technically she shouldn't have won, but since the games weren't for cash and the players all voted in her favor, she won. I voted against her. I was about to win, right? So, they gave me a consolation prize, a cute candle holder.

Then, I got a Bingo! on game 16 and won the cute "berry" basket. Then after the games were played they had the final raffle for a Easter Basket set. Fern and I bought a strip of tickets. We won. We parsed the loot, she's getting the tumbler and votive holder and I'm getting the baskets. She's happy, I'm happy, but the liners have got to go.

Did I mention I love winning things?

A Night for Day

The League for People with Disabilities celebrated their new Day Habilitation Program for Adults with Autism and other Developmental Disabilities last night. They're the folks who run Greentop, the special needs summer camp Kevin goes to. They do tremendous things for folks of all ages with disabilities. Dan and I support the League so we're on their mailing list. That's how I got the invite to the celebration.

The invitation was for me and a guest, but I ended up going alone. The League's offices are in north Baltimore, which turned out to be a longer drive from my office than expected, about 95 minutes. In the rain. And tolls on the Harbor Tunnel. Both ways. Thank-you EZpass.

Anyway, the event was for women to "refresh, re-energize, and renew" and featured vendors to do just that. When I arrived, I made my way around the room counter-clockwise. The woman at the first table displayed facial care products. I can't remember the name of the company, I didn't recognize the brand, but I put my name in the hat for a door prize drawing. A woman from Merrill Lynch was next. She gave out packets of information. It wasn't the typical financial planning stuff, but more a planning sheet where you could record pertinent information about you, like bank accounts, credit cards, and accounts you might not even think of like EZpass, so it's all in one place.

Smashbox had a large set-up along the back wall with three make-up artists working. They looked busy and crowded so I kept going. The lady at the next table had a pile of pens and desk paraphernalia spread out. She said she wasn't selling the mess, she is Ann from SOS and helps you get organized. I told her she had my attention and she got me a chair. I spent a long time chatting with her.

My whole life needs reorganizing but we talked mostly about my sewing room. I got some superfantastic help I hope to put into action soon. The coolest tip is for decluttering and purging. Say I'm going through a bin of sewing supplies. First I'll sort by functionality and put like things together. Then I'll "shop" in one pile. If I have a pretend limited amount of money, what would I buy right now. I would not buy the 30 yards of laces and trims now, I don't sew with that stuff. Then, she says to put away what you didn't buy, either get rid of it now or store it out of sight for a year. If you don't miss it, get rid of it. I know the 30 yards of trims will be out the door soon.

Her "shopping" technique works for everything, especially clothes. She says it's also good to have a impartial friend hang with you while you sort, to keep you anchored and focused.

After I took up enough of Ann's time, I toured the rest of the room where nothing really grabbed my attention and got a snack at the wine and cheese table. I ate and listened to the welcoming speeches and missed having one of the winning the door-prize ticket numbers by one digit. I didn't need a $200 gift certificate to Neiman's anyway. Pout.

Then there was an empty seat at Smashbox. I don't normally wear make-up much but it's always fun to be pampered. I ended up staying there the rest of the evening. The make-up artist, Timber (interesting name, huh?), spent a lot of time asking what I like and what I'm comfortable with. So many make-up folks doing demos in department stores do way too much and I always feel I need a mini skirt and stilettos when I see the results. Not Timber. He was great. He talked about each product, the ones he used and the ones he didn't, and why they were right or wrong for my skin or style.

I looked really good and was so pleased with the result I ended up ordering several items in the Smashbox line. I love getting goodies in the mail and I'll have them tomorrow if I'm lucky. Most of the vendors were packing up with I was finished with Timber. I told you I was there for a long time. I stopped back by the first table. I won the door prize: $100 of products. She was out of catalogs so I'll have wait until she sends me a catalog in the mail to choose my booty. I love winning things.

I got home a bit after 9:00 feeling pretty good, it was a fun night.