42

Yes, it's the answer to life.

Yes, its some answer to the universe too.

Everyone I know who's watched, read, or heard of the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy has informed me THIS will be the year.  I can't go wrong.

We'll see.

When HikerGirl was 42 she said it was her "21 again" birthday. I'm stealing that from her. The MomUnit told me its the anniversary of my 21st birthday. So, I'm 21 again - which means....?

You got it...a year of doing 21 new things.

You might remember a couple years back I did 40 new things for my 40th birthday.  40 was a hard number to get to.  21 is doable.  I've already started planning since 2011 is just a hop, skip, and a shot away.

Last night was the big day though.  I spent some time at the office, but a stinkin snow storm came in and I flew the coup at about 10.  I spent the rest of the day cozy on my couch with the cat near by and my laptop on my lap, quietly and serenely finishing up some work items.

Promptly at 5pm the party began. I had chosen a 70's theme this year.  Which for me went straight to disco. 

Yes sir, that there is a disco ball.  One of my bosses found it while we were out to lunch shopping for party supplies.  I thought I'd hang it from my chandelier in my dining room. Only to get home and remember I don't have a chandelier in my dining room.  Let being 42 begin.

I requested from my guests to bring their favorite 70's appetizer.  I, myself, couldn't think of too many 70's appetizers and found myself doing cheese fondue.  I also made little smokies with BBQ sauce, and a nice big cheese ball. 

There were many pigs. And many of them came in a blanket.  We had many, many Pigs in a Blanket - apparently also popular in the 70's.  We had mini quiches and we had these funky fake sausage and cream cheese filled little bite size peppers. I had a couple and they were pretty darn good for 1) being and pepper and 2) fake sausage.

Let's see what else...oh yah...

 We had Bugles, Deviled Eggs, Hawaiian Punch and CANNED CHEESE....

Who knew you could fill a Bugle with canned cheese? I didn't. BigBro showed me how and it was all down hill from there.  It's pretty darn tasty.  Canned cheese used to make an appearance at our summer volleyball tournaments. It was a great source of sodium and quick food.  We had to make a game out of it though and started "Cheese Art".  We got pretty creative and I sure wish I had my camera for some of them.

Did you know that canned cheese is an excellent source of calcium? Me neither. In fact reading the ingredients it doesn't sound as bad for you as one might assume.  If one wanted to assume.

We aren't sure what happened here. BigBro squeezed the cheese into a Bugle and we had "BUGLE ART".

I decided to make Harvy Wallbangers as the drink du jour.  I had no idea what was in a Harvy Wallbanger, but Google helped me with that. Or, oops, I mean Bing - I do, after all work for Hotel Californiasoft.  Anyhow, a Harvy Wallbanger is nothing more than vodka, orange juice and Galliano - which I found is expensive so we went with the generic brand.  Turns out, just as good.

And last but not least, we had cupcakes. Of course.

Lots ....

  and lots...

Of cupcakes. 

I cheated and bought cake mix. And I bought the canned frosting. Turns out, canned frosting was introduced in the 70's. So indirectly I kept with the theme.

The snow stopped some of the usual suspects from venturing out. I won't hold it against them this year.  We still had several of the usual suspects show up to make it a party.

Claudia gets the award for the most god-awful 70's outfit.  You can't tell, but the shimmering outfit under the orange long vest is a one piece polyester jumper. 

Of course the Not so Newlyweds were there...Mrs. NSNW was being just a bit odder than normal.  But lucky for her and me, I like odd.

I'm glad to get to see Mr. NSMW. I rarely see him anymore.  They didn't bring the cutest baby in the world to this event...I think they wanted a "date" night. They were forgiven. This time.

Claudia, GalPal Lyn and me. Lyn has on this funky crocheted vest that was very 70's - so she gets second prize.  She gets first prize for making me laugh so hard my sides hurt.

Don't ya just dig the 70's looking action I used on these photos? Its like a blast to the past.

Of course Blueberry was there. What would a birthday be without your BFF?

BigBro and Seattle SIL were also on hand to help celebrate. They were responsible for the Bugles, Hawaiian punch and canned cheese.  First prize to them for most creative food.

As you can see...we had fun.

We spent a good portion of the evening reminiscing about the 70's. And between us all we came up with food, games, TV shows, drinks, candy, etc from the 70's. I kinda wish I would have had my brain about me to write them down. But alas, I did not. Besides  my hands were full. One had a drink while the other had a Bugle filled with canned cheese.

In the end, despite Mother Nature's attempt to make me cancel my birthday, we had a blast.  This particular group of people are among my most favoritest of all.  They all have such unique personalities and they all play well with others - most the time.  I'm blessed to have such a great group of friends.

So here's to Year 42 (which is actually my 43rd year).  Its going to be great!  Its going to be full. Its going to be groovy. 

And yes, those are disco ball dilly bobbers on my head. Thanks for asking.

Its the end of the year as I know it...

So REM "End of the World" is running through my mind. Only I change the lyrics from "its the end of the world as I know it" to "end of the year".  Right, you with me now?

The Christmas Season came in like a lion and went out like a lion.  Grandma Spaid always told me time would fly fast the older I got. Boy was she right. Sure wish I could tell her how right she was.  Perhaps she already knows.

Every year I like to take photos of the ornaments on my tree.  I like remembering when I bought them, or who gave them to me, or how they came to live on my tree.

This one I have no idea who gave it to me or where it came from. It showed up one Christmas and it's never left.  I do love it though.  Even out of focused.

This is one of my favorites. I bought it for my little sister one year for Christmas. And, well, you can see it never made it to her. It's my favorite Seattle painting.  I don't know the artist...oh wait...I might.  Its called "Smile at the Rain" by Beth Hendrickson Logan (even though this site says Beth Logan Hendrickson - the actual painting in my bathroom says Hendrickson Logan - either way...it's a favorite)

This is my super large, super heavy stocking hanger.  I wish I had bought two of them at the time, but I only needed one - for Pookie's stocking.  Now that I too have a stocking - which was hung by the fireplace with care - I wish I had two. 

My tree is 50% snowmen, 40% flamingos and 10% everything else.  Every year I try to buy myself a snowman or flamingo ornament. They can't be just any ornament, they have to be different.  This is this year's ornament.  He's colorful and fun!

Actual Christmas day I hot footed it to BigBro's house. I made this killer Caramelized Onions Au Gratin (or Hog Rotten as I call them) Potatoes - which spilled all over the trunk of the Stang and now it smells like potatoes in the car.  They were yummy.  Paired with the spiral ham and all the other trimmings...it was a good meal. Good clean family fun and good food.  The middle brother, which I'll call Cowboy Jerry, showed up (he's on my left)

Tomorrow, however, is the most important day of the year! It's my birthday!  That's right Forty TWO! I'm still trying to figure out how I got to be 42...it doesn't seem possible.  The MomUnit, bless her, told me today it's the 21st anniversary of my 21st birthday.  So the theme for next year? You got it, 21! 

I'm going to do 21 new things...As difficult as the 40 new things were a couple of years ago, I think 21 is way more doable.  I'm going to start the year off with this.

What? I'm a project manager. Are you at all surprised I would do a plan/annual review for myself.  BeagleBabe posted this to FB and I was like, "I'm all in."

So starting this weekend I'm putting together my plan.  I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately - could be the online dating thing that's causing it - and I've come up with a couple of good things to work on next year.

Happy Christmas Eve

So this is Christmas...

As I sit her watching Horton Hears a Who, I find myself thinking about Christmas' past, our traditions, and our gifts.

Christmas morning was always the highlight of every childhood. And mine was no different.  My sister and would frequently wake up earlier than mom and dad and so we were asked to stay upstairs until they asked us to come down. 

I can't even remember what reasons they might have gave us as to why we had to stay upstairs or in our room, we didn't bother to ask. We were too excited to rip open our gifts.

There was always one gift that wasn't packed and was left by Santa.  They were usually the bigger gifts like bikes, or Barbie Airplane...OMG I so had a Barbie airplane. 

God I loved that thing.  It folded up into a carrier.  I found this photo on the Internet, it's not of me or one the one I had...but it's exactly like the one I had. 

But I digress.

Christmas eve for our family was full of tradition. 

We always had Frito Lollies for dinner.  You might remember Frito Lollies as I just had them for a Sunday Dinner.  I really have no idea where the tradition came from. I suppose I should find that out.

And each Christmas Eve the sister and I were allowed to open one gift.

We were thrilled.

Every year it was the same gift.  We didn't care, nor do I think we realized it at the time.  Every year we'd open a small, cylinder looking package.  The bow, always on the top of the tube.

What was it you asked?

Why Pick Up Sticks of course.

God, we'd play with them for hours.  Always cheating just a little, and it always ending in an argument over whether a stick had moved or not. 
And every year, in my stocking, Chocolate covered cherries.  I've already bought my box and ate it this year...I figured I wouldn't be getting in the stocking this year so I got my own. They were delicious!

Tomorrow I'm off to BigBro's house for an afternoon of eating and family shenanigans. It should be fun, as always. 

Merry Christmas Everyone. And most important, don't forget, just 4 more shopping days until my birthday!

The Story of a Cat Losing His Mind

So the cat last night got very weird. Weirder than normal.

As like most cats Pookie sleeps 23+ hours a day.  He and I have a routine though – and it fits well with his sleep schedule. 

He’s a very predictable cat, usually. Sometimes, however, his little kitty brain short circuits and he becomes the creature from the black lagoon.  He literally goes off his rocker.    

Last night about 3:15 am there was a loud bang outside that woke me – and consequently the cat.  It was loud enough, and I swear the house shook, that I had to get up and investigate.

Now, it’s important for the story that you know the last 2 years Pookie has slept with me, on the bed, on the same bedding, in the same house.

So up we got, trotted, blurry eyed downstairs to investigate.  Flipping on lights as I went assuming if a stranger was in the house, I’d rather he hear me coming (yes I’m generalizing that it would be a he, but it most likely would be) than surprise him.

Nope. Nothing. All is well at Chez Jenn’s.  I start upstairs and I noticed the Pookster is drinking water.  Fine. Good, even. Drink up buddy boy.  He’ll be up shortly.

I get upstairs, snuggle back into bed and start to dose off.  I feel Pookie hop up on the bed…and this is where it gets weird.

You know how cats, when startled, jump 50 feet in the air?  And then they slink up to whatever startled them to check it out? Then if it moves they jump again? Yah well…this was the game of the night.

Pookie hopped up on the comforter covered bed at the bottom left corner, which he does a dozen times a night over the last 2 years. Nothing out of the ordinary, except I then  feel him jerk as if he’s been startled. I sit up to see him slinking across the comforter as if he’s never seen it before. Every step is tentative, and he bristles back and jumps as if the comforter is biting him.

Remember my important note above? Nothing has changed in the last 2 years, let alone the last 15 minutes to make him act so weird.

Yet, with each step of the paw he freaks out. Then he jumps down. Then Up. Then down…Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

This went on for 10 minutes. Finally, I figured, perhaps the electric blanket is giving off weird electrical vibes.  Mind you the blanket has been on since 10pm that night and he was sound asleep on it before.  And it’s on almost every night, so I didn’t really think it was anything odd. Still I got up, unplugged it thinking, maybe, just maybe his sensitive paws are getting shocked. (Only later would I actually wish for that – ahem)

I settle in. He jumps up on the laundry hamper at the end of my bed. And I feel him – tentatively – touching the comforter. He takes a step and back off.  He does this a dozen times. Each paw tap he jerks back.  Then he starts meowing – a cry for help to be sure. I ignore him.

Then he gets courage. He literally bounced – touching the bed twice- from the end of the bed to my pillow.  And there he sat. On the corner of my pillow looking at the comforter as if it was some huge beast there to eat him.  

By this time I’m making up scenarios in my head…like…

1.       Are we having an earthquake?

2.       Can he smell death and I’m dying?

3.       Maybe there is some mystic force on the comforter now and it’s going to swallow me whole in the night and Pookie’s warning me.

4.       Or maybe his little kitty pea brain has finally lost it.

So as he was sitting on my pillow corner. Just sitting. Staring. I decided to shift a little and moved so he has more pillow and I’m more comfortable – I shift my leg ever so slightly. You would have thought I shot that damn cat of a cannon. He leaped so high and landed directly over my head on the other side of my pillow. Freak!

Giggling, I stuck my hand out to make sure his little heart hadn’t stopped and was greeted with a very distinct meow that’s usually only reserved for when I’ve really pissed him off.

He snubbed my attempt to pet him and hopped down. I sat up slightly to see if he was dying or something worse – hacking up a fur ball – and watched him slink around the bed as if there was some sort of invisible bubble he would not penetrate.

That’s it. He’s finally lost it. I’m going to have to commit him, which I decide I’d take care of in the morning.

I fell asleep. I have no idea where he slept the rest of the night.

6:30 the alarm goes off. No Pookie on the bed so he must have slept elsewhere.  Now, my normal routine on cold mornings is to hop into the shower, hop out and slip back into bed to warm up and let my hair dry a bit. Pookie’s habit is to follow me into the bathroom tell me all about his night, then wait until the shower turns off and he follows me back to the bed. Usually hopping up, waiting for me to lay on my side, then he plants himself on my hip.

This morning I assumed he’d not pass the mythical shield that appeared last night.

I hopped back into bed, and up hops Pookie. He walks across the comforter and settles down to rest on my hip – acting as if the whole 3:15 incident didn’t even take place. I just stared at him in bewilderment.

Then I got to wondering, “Did it take place? Or did I dream it?”

I know Pookie’s at home on the bed laughing his ass off at how successful his prank was on me during the night.

Good Golly Miss Molly

cafe cioccolato - Chocolate latte with Nutella, steamed milk and espresso

Oh.

My.

God.

This was one of the best things I've ever tasted.

And I've tasted some pretty darn good things.

The work team of 4 crazy marketing women went to lunch today to celebrate the holiday season.  We decided to do a cookie exchange and go to lunch.  A fantastic combo I might add.

We went to Tutta Bella in Issaquah (for those non Northwest folks that's ISS-A-KWA - with the emphasis on the Iss). Their claim to fame is authentic, true Neapolitan pizza.  I usually laugh when a restaurant says "authentic Italian pizza" because unless you've been to Italy - especially southern Italy - and tried their pizzas there's no way anyone stateside can duplicate that.  Believe me, I've looked.

Still Tutta Bella pizza was good. Real good. Tasty even! Burp!

The treat came with "dessert".  The entire reason we went to Tutta Bella.  The Nutella latte!

My boss had mentioned it off-handedly after a meeting and I perked up and said "Let's do it." So we did it.

And, kids, it was worth every single calorie!  The espresso was creamy, the nutella added a splendid, slightly chocolate/hazelnut flavor - not too sweet, and the little dollop of steamed milk on top.  Oh my Lord.  I'm drooling just thinking about it.

If you're in the Seattle area, and you notice there's a Tutta Bella in your neighborhood. Stop in. Pull up a chair. Loosen you pants. And have yourself a cafe cioccolato - Chocolate latte with Nutella, steamed milk and espresso. You won't regret it. I promise!

Sunday Dinner - December

For the record, I love that I'm doing these Sunday dinners.  It's been so much fun to get friends and family together on a regular basis.  Knowing that everyone seems to enjoy it as much as I do is just an added bonus.

I have learned a lot from having a crowd over every time (like 12 + people) that certain things are bound to not follow the well laid out plan.  Rebel things really.  But being the good project manager that I am, I tend to have escape routes or plan B's for when such a situation arises.

This past Sunday I made Homemade Chicken and Noodles. Go ahead. Go check out the recipe. I'll wait.

Yum, right?

But before we get to that part of the meal, let's talk about the cocktail.  BigBro and Seattle Sister In Law brought "Candy Canes" for the beverage of the night. Can I just say, these were so damn good?  I'm not a huge candy cane fan to sit and eat one, but to drink one, well that's a whole other ball of wax (where did that phrase come from anyhow?)

My mouth is watering just thinking about slurping one of these up.  I wonder what they'd taste like as a slushy?

The Homemade Chicken and Noodles recipe feeds a small army, thankfully, because I had a small, hungry army to feed.  The house smelled of comfort food and had a warmth to it that only a delicious Sunday dinner could bring.  The recipe is supposed to be thicker - almost stew consistency. Mine was more stoup consistency.  So I realized plates weren't going to work. Quick swap out of plates for bowls and we're all set. 

After dinner, we got to decorating.  And by "we" I mean the estrogen card carrying members of Sunday dinner.  The boys excused themselves to the living room - though I did see them partake in "tasting" the finished products.

Very creative bunch of decorators I must say.  This one's mine, so of course I think its creative.

The girls busy at work.  Look at all those cookies!  Blueberry and I out did ourselves making all those dozens and dozens of cookies.

See! Creative.  This is PhotoGirl's work.  I hope they tasted as good as they looked.

Blueberry got the award for a cookie that looks most like a mascot. If you've heard of Carl's Jr - doesn't that look like their logo?

I think these are the Gypsy Moth's cookies. 

A last are Chicken Lady's! MMMM...

Everyone excelled at decorating. I was rather surprised considering the tools we had.  

And last, but not least, the Sunday Dinner Gang for December Sunday Dinners.

BigBro, Blueberry, Chicken Lady, Seattle Sister In Law, The Yank, PhotoGirl, Gypsy Moth, Me and Frosty the Snowman!

The Great Cookie Decorating Adventure of 2010

I think - maybe - Blueberry and I have a new tradition.  What started as an innocent suggestion to make Christmas cookies for dessert for Sunday dinner tonight turned into a 5 hour, messiest kitchen ever, delicious cookies and icing extravaganza.  We had so much fun.  My sides hurt from us laughing at some of our rather ridiculous issues we had.

Blueberry was "assigned" Rolling Queen.  See, I suck at rolling dough.  I have no patience for it. Shocking I know.  We made 4 batches of dough and she rolled each one at least twice.  The marble rolling pin - which she bought me years ago - wasn't supposed to stick to the dough, and yet it did.  We opened windows and doors to get the temperature in the kitchen down since we were both having hot flashes...but it also helped keep the dough cooler.

 She was the Rolling Queen for sure. In fact, I think the dough fumes were getting to her...

Cutting was a science to her.  She wanted to get as many cookies as possible out of one rolling.  And let me tell you...it was not only exact, but carefully planned. Each cut thought about and pondered...all the while I'm like, "CUT it already!"

Ahhh how purdy.  See that cookie on the left side in the middle? That was left over dough that I decided needed to be cooked so we could actually test the cookies cooked - instead of "testing" the dough by tasting it regularly.  Anyhow, somehow I thought it looked like a piece of poop and so it was named, "Our piece of poop cookie"  Let me tell you...it tasted good.

We tried two different recipes. I did the first batch of sugar cookies from a recipe on Pioneer Woman's blog.  Blueberry had three packets of sugar cookie dough her sister had bought and brought over.  The three packets required almost no effort on my part in mixing, aside from putting the stuff in the mixer and hitting "go".  Of the two, I liked PDub's better, but the other - for a package dough - was darn good.

Oops! One broke!

So I also had to try this Royal Icing on PDub's blog (scroll way down in the blog).  It called for Meringue Powder - which I had never heard of, let alone tried.  The icing is a power house of flavor and a bit wicked in making.  In the end, it's good icing. Not like your normal frosting on cookies.  It has a more tangy flavor to it, almost lemon-y.  It was so shiny too. The recipe called for corn syrup which, apparently, makes it shiny.

Look how fancy!  We decided to frost them last night and let the Sunday Dinner participants decorate them tonight for something fun. I get a kick out of adults doing something usually reserved for children.  It brings out the inner child in all of us.  I can't wait.

Stars are hard to frost! I'm just sayin'.

Finally, sparkle gels for the ultimate frosting party tonight.  I almost bought the pink too, but refrained. I know, it was tough! 

So check back in tonight or tomorrow for the photos from the Sunday dinner party.  I can't wait. I'm making Homemade Chicken and Noodles.  mmmm which I'd better get off the computer and get started.

Listy List List

I'm single. 

I have been for a long time.

I'm okay with that.

Other people seem to not be okay with that.  I think single people sometimes make married types or dating types nervous.  This theory isn't a proven one yet, its just my gut ... or indigestion.   Hard to tell.

Anyhow, back to being single.  Let me state for the record that I do want to be with someone. I do want to find that special someone who makes me happy.  I won't drift off into him "completing me" because, kids, I'm pretty damn complete (and awesome) as I am. 

Today at work, my office mate and I were having a conversation about the love of her life.  I'm not sure how we got on the topic, but as she was talking about making lists, she blurted out that a list was how she found the love of her life.  Huh? A list? Its that easy?

She went on to talk about what she wanted and how she wouldn't compromise on any of the items on her list.  She said her friends told her she was crazy and that she'd never EVER (she punctuated "ever") find that man on her list.  Turns out, her friends were wrong. She did find that man and she plans on living happily ever after with that man.

A list?

I can do a list.

My list:
1. Breathing

Done.

Okay, just kidding. I'm a kidder.

My list:
1. Breathing
2. And I'll be selfish and ask for two arms and two legs

What?  You think I want more?  Man do you know me at all?

In all seriousness, I've always shied away from the dreaded "list" because I've always thought it would limit me.  But today and I listened to my office mate prattle on I thought, "Actually, I make lists for everything. Why not for a mate?"  I'm starting my list. And I'm moving on past breathing and two arms/legs. I'm going to assume those are a given.

I'm almost *gasp* 42 and I think I'm ready.  Stop pushing Mom...sheesh.  Maybe the new year will push me over the ledge and I'll start the online dating thing again.  Mrs. NotQuiteNewlywedsAnymore swears I need to give eHarmony 6 months minimum. She said I gave up too soon last time. Truth be told it wasn't me who gave up, but rather my wallet. 

I'm quickly getting out of debt (an attractive quality I think) so what's stopping me.  Why am I not putting myself out there?

When I asked myself that question looking in the mirror, the answer evaded me.  Then one day I was driving and singing to some sappy 80's song when it hit me - as clear as day...

I'm scared.

Petrified really.

What if out of the millions of available men out there (I'm guestimating on the millions) there is a single, solitary one that's my perfect match in every way? 

Which then leads to - what if I'm meant to be alone my entire life? At which point the missing girlie parts and lack of estrogen gets my eyes all watery again.

I don't want to be alone.  I want the happiness having someone, a companion really, a best friend.  My inner insecurities that tell my I don't deserve that sort of happiness, needs to take the next train outta here.  I must believe I'm a good enough person to be loved.  I mean really, I can cook!

And so, this roller coaster of the single life is going to change.  I'm putting myself out there...soon...

And just think, you'll get to benefit because you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be blogging about it.  I might ever, wait for it, make it interesting! Well, only so interesting my mother reads this after all.

Its just so much fun....

...when life gets in the way of life.

Know what I mean?  Its that time of year where things are just swishing by and before I know it I'm chinking glasses and saying "Happy New Year".  I try every day to stop, take a breath and experience the moment.  Unfortunately that hasn't stopped the days / months/ years from flying by lightening fast.

This weekend was a full one for me.  It started Friday night by working later than normal on a Friday - for me anyhow.  I had a big deadline (somewhat self imposed and somewhat not) and I had made a stupid mistake during the day that caused a lot of rework for myself (god I love when I do that).  Saturday I was up early getting my camera gear together.  I did a photo shoot for Texas, his beautiful wife and their adorable baby girl (Baby Texas). 

Oh wait, that's not the photo.  That's a former co-worker( PMDude - I couldn't resist - tell Creed) 

That's the little darlin'.

After the photoshoot and a delicious lunch with the photo subjects, I came home to watch the Apple Cup with Blueberry.  It was a fantastic game, despite the Cougs losing it. At least they didn't "Coug it." 

Sunday it was up early for breakfast with a friend.  Getting caught up with friends is a great way to have breakfast.  After I met up with BeagleBabe to swap scrapbooking paper and have some coffee. 

then....

I had a date with Harry Potter.  Blueberry and I went and saw the latest movie.  Good....somewhat predictable since I just started reading the book again.  Conveniently enough the movie ended exactly where I am in the book.  So now I have what 6 months to finish the book. I think I can do it.

And so here we are on Monday...busy week ahead and I can hardly wait.