Too Much Perfection?

...sucked.


I mentioned previously that the wutz got sick Wednesday evening, which completely killed dinner plans with the in-laws that night. He was also too sick to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday with my family. I really felt bad for the little guy. But then the rest of my household, myself included, came down with the same stomach virus.

Not fun.

The 24 hours that the virus was supposed to last was undoubtably the longest 24 hours I can recall in a long long time. And though most of the yucky stuff ceased about at the 24 hour mark, no one is entirely over it.

My biggest concern is that the wutz is still suffering from a fairly wicked fever four days into being sick. Tomorrow his little butt is going to the pediatrician if he still has even the slightest fever!

And to top off the weekend of holiday spirit and thanksgiving, it has been raining nonstop. Cold, dreary, pissing rain. All. Weekend. Long.

Blah.

I know, your head is likely spinning at all the changes I am continually making to the blog. I can't help it, though. It is my new obsession.

Anyways, in honor of the Christmas season, I've changed my blogger layout once more. I kind of like it. It is definitely better than the scrapbooky Thanksgiving one that was up previously.

So, to all my readers...

Happy Holidays!






And to update yesterday's post, I did survive the plague. I think. My entire household still feels like hell, but there are no longer bodily fluids involved. So, it's all good.

The wutz got sick Wednesday night with a nasty stomach bug. It has not been pleasant. And then about 10pm last night DH got it. Two hours later, I was plagued with the same thing.

Did I mention it has not been fun?

I will spare you the details, but I'm not entirely convinced I'm going to survive the 24 hours it is supposed to last.

Thanksgiving Meme:

1. Which do you like better: hosting Thanksgiving at your home, or going elsewhere?
Going elsewhere. I don’t have to clean house!

2. Do you buy a fresh or frozen turkey? Organic? Free-range?
I don’t cook, but the fam buys frozen.

3. Do you make stuffing or dressing? What kind?
Yes, mom makes it. It is the best!

4. Sweet potato pie or Pumpkin pie?
Neither, Pecan Pie!

5. Are leftovers a blessing or a curse?
Definitely a blessing. It means I don’t have to cook for awhile!

6. What side dishes are a must-have in your family?
Stuffing, yorkshires

7. What do you wish you had that might make Thanksgiving easier?
A maid to clean up the mess!

8. If/when you go to someone else’s house for the holiday, do you usually bring a dish?
Chocolate cake with butter cream icing.

9. What do you wish one of your guests would bring to your house?
Don’t come to my house. I won’t be there!

10. What do you wish one of your guests would NOT bring to your house?
See #9.

11. Do you stick with a particular menu from year to year, or do you mix it up?
We always have the same thing. Turkey, stuffing, yorkshires, mashed potatoes, corn, collards, rolls, lots of desserts, etc etc.

12. Is Thanksgiving a religious or secular holiday in your home?
Both!

13. Name five things you’re thankful for.
My entire family.
Great friends.
Good fortune.
Delicious food on the table.
All my critters.

As I briefly mentioned in a previous post, Her Majesty in the Sea, I am not much of a girly-girl. I'm not fond of shoes or shopping. It is the ultimate cruel and unusual punishment in my book.

That being said, Friday is the infamous Black Friday, as I'm certain you all know. I have to work that day until noon, but I do need to get my shopping started. Therefore, I've been raking over the sales pages on the internet trying to find the stuff that matches my astoundingly long Christmas list.

The plan is to hit some of the sales Friday morning. Before work. Pure hell, I know, but that's the plan.

Wish me luck.

Alright, so I redid the look of my blog for Thanksgiving. It's really not me, but it is festive enough so I'll go with it for a few days. I'm having fun finding new backgrounds and playing with them, therefore you'll just have to bear with me until I find something that sticks.

A bit of belated, but great, news is that Summit gave the green light for the second installment of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga, which I keep babbling about. I am so glad that New Moon will be made. I am looking forward to it already.

Hopefully, dear readers (both of you!), this will be the last Twilight post for awhile. But in honor of the success of Twilight, I thought I'd post some great merchandise from CafePress!

Twilight Merchandise!




Happy shopping!

So yesterday I went to see Twilight, as I said in my previous post. I really enjoyed the movie. Moreso than I had originally thought I would. I thought that for a low budget type film, they did very well. The scenes were beautiful as was the scenery. All in all, I was very pleased.

However, I would have loved to seen a few scenes from the books used in the movie. I know that they couldn't include everything, but some fundemental things were missing. Also, if a person had not read the books, s/he very easily could have gotten lost throughout the movie as there wasn't enough backstory or filling in of the blanks, I thought.

Overall, I was pleased with the actors that portrayed my beloved characters. I thought Alice was perfect. As was Bella. Emmett was perfectly depicted, too, much like I'd imagined him. Jasper was a riot. Carlisle was good, but I wish they hadn't lightened his hair. I wasn't convinced that Rosalie was the most beautiful girl in the world, though. And I didn't think Esme was beautiful either, but I can see that choice made for a motherly type, I suppose. That brings us to Edward: he still was not MY Edward and I would have liked to have seen more from him other than a brooding, beautiful vamp, but overall I think he pulled it off.

The rest of the actors included in the movie did very well. I can't say I was disappointed in the choices made. I thought I really would have been, but I wasn't.

As I said, I was very pleased. So much so that I hope to return to the theater to see it again. I'll definitely be purchasing the DVD for the extras, too!

Saw the movie this afternoon. I really liked it. More later but I have to lie down noow. I have the worst migraine I have had in ages.

A friend and fellow blogger, Lisa, bestowed a bloggity award on TMP! Thanks, Lisa, you are truly One Hip Mom!



Unfortunately, these blog awards always seem to have strings attached. So for my nominees, here they are:

1. Put the award up on your blog

2. Add a link to the person who awarded it to you

3. Nominate at least seven other blogs

4. Add links to these blogs on your blog

5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog

My nominees are:
A journey through loss
Bargain Briana
funny things are everywhere
slightly cosmopolitan but profoundly ordinary
Love U More Than Anything
Kids in the Suburbs
Simply Blessed

The movie Twilight opens in theaters around here at midnight tonight! I won't be attending because I'm much too old to be out till 3am, but I am very very excited about this movie. I know it is supposed to be lowkey with poor special effects, but I don't care. The books were the best, and I am looking forward to seeing the on-screen interpretation of the novels.



If you haven't read the Twilight Saga yet, please read at least Twilight before going to the movie. Please!

We got home around 7pm last night. I was exhausted, but I managed to get everything unpacked and even a load of clothes washed before I went to bed.

My bed.

It was soooo nice to be under crisp clean sheets in my own bed. It's always my favorite thing to come home to.

But I canNOT believe how cold it was here last night. It dropped to 25 degrees. That's insane. Brrrrr. And insane.

Anyways, I have tons of pictures to post, but I have to download them, sort them, resize them, blah blah blah... you know the drill. So it will be awhile. Hell, I still have Halloween pics to post! *sheepish grin*

Hot damn. We are on our way home.

We had a great time but I am soooo ready to get the hell home.

Only four more hours.

Time to leave Pop Century we enjoyed our stay. Going back to the Magic Kingdom this morning.

We had a lot of fun last night at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. It was cold (mid-40's) but we survived it. We're troopers.


As always, more pix later.

Riding for the second time. Fun.

I'll post more later. Everyone is waiting on me to go eat breakfast! Plans for the day are Hollywood Studios, a nap *fingers crossed*, and then the Magic Kingdom again. Loved the Christmas Party last night, but will post pix later.

We spent the better part of the day at Animal Kingdom. It was a lot of fun. Lovvvved the Dinosaur ride but did not do Everest. The rest of the fam was too chicken shit to ride it with me.

Wutz is now napping so I am stuck in a hotel room sans laptop. *sigh* I left it in the car.

More later.

Loving Animal Kingdom. More pix later.

After a ten minute wait. Lol!

Stuck on the Maelstrom ride at EPCOT. This always happens to me. Seriously.

Sweet.

DD coffee and a blueberry donut in Ocala.

Bliss.

We've begun our trip. As you can see the wutz is thus far able to entertain himself. Thank goodness. I am not ready for hours of watching Thomas The Train while trapped in the vehicle!

Okay I am trying to set up my mobile blog. So consider this a test run.

We are off to Disney this weekend. In honor of the minivacay, I have attached (i think) a pic from our last trip.

It figures. I'm sick.

Yes. Again, dammit.

One of the drawbacks to having a child in school, I suppose. I've got some stomach bug. Or should I say, another stomach bug.

I got a couple hours sleep last night in between my own misery and the wutz's, too. He's still not feeling 100%, so his night sucked about as badly as mine. I maintain mine was worse, though.

I took a rather expired Phenergan this afternoon and it actually helped. It made me sleepy, though. So I napped. Now I am awake, still groggy, and pissy enough to breathe fire. Now I remember why I try never to nap. *mutters*

Zac Brown Band

We are lovin' this song at our house!

Today is Veteran's Day. One of the rare holidays that I get off, since most holidays fall on Mondays and I don't work Mondays. I was so excited to have the morning to myself! The wutz has school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so after his school, I had it all scheduled for my nephew to watch him down in Tallahassee. That meant I'd have an ENTIRE day to myself. Bliss.

But for those of you that have had children, you realize I'm still getting a crash course in Sod's Law. Which, quite naturally, was called into play. The wutz is sick. Last night he had a fever of 102.5, which meant there was no way I was going to send him to school today.

So here we are. Home together.

I don't mind it, I'd much rather him get better, especially since we are going to Disney World this weekend!

However, I think he's going a little stir crazy. Just a few minutes ago he was stomping around the house exclaiming "March! March! March!" The parade continued around and around the sofa, around the island in the kitchen, then back around the sofa again. But then suddenly he'd exclaim, "Wait a minute!" then come to a complete halt before resuming his "March! March! March!"

Honestly, I tried not to laugh, but...

Yes, this is the real deal. Everyone needs this recipe!

Buttercream Icing:
1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
1/2 cup butter softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups confectioner's sugar (approximately 1 lb.) sifted
2 Tablespoons milk


Directions
Cream shortening and butter with your mixer.

Add vanilla extract.

Gradually add sugar, one cup at a time, beating well on medium speed.

When all sugar has been mixed in, icing will appear dry.

Add milk and beat at medium speed until light and fluffy.

For best results, keep icing bowl in refrigerator when not in use.

Refrigerated in an airtight container, this icing can be stored 2 weeks.

Rewhip before using.


For thin (spreading) consistency icing, add 2 tablespoons light corn syrup, water or milk.

For Pure White Icing (stiff consistency), omit butter; substitute an additional 1/2 cup shortening for butter and 1/2 teaspoon No-Color Butter Flavor. Add up to 4 tablespoons light corn syrup, water or milk to thin for icing cakes.

These are smack-your-granny-good!

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs well beaten
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
3 cups oats (we use Quaker Quick or Old Fashioned. Do NOT use instant.)
3/4 cup chopped walnuts (use 1/2 cup if using raisins)
1 cup raisins (optional)
Or you can substitute walnuts or raisins for chocolate or toffee chips

Directions:
1 Cream shortening and sugars, add eggs and vanilla and beat well.

2 Sift flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon. Add to first mixture and mix well. Add raisins and nuts or whatever you are adding. Add oats last.

3 Spoon out by rounded tablespoonfuls on to greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350°F. Bake for about 12 minutes. Remove to wire rack. Cool completely.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

While at my favorite doughnut shop the other day, I was perusing through a portfolio of an amateur cake maker that is on staff there. I couldn't help myself, I had to snap a photo of this cake:



Yes, it is a photo of a photo, I'm not sure if I could have handled seeing the real thing, though. I mean, look, it has nose hair! NOSE HAIR, people!


Please excuse the poor photo quality. I covertly snapped the pic with my cellphone, which many of you already know really sucks for picture taking.

Damned glad it is Friday. Too lazy to blog, so this is all you get!

Now that we can stop talking politics for awhile, I thought I'd post a few novels that I highly recommend.

Kushiel's Legacy by Jacqueline Carey
1. Kushiel's Dart
2. Kushiel's Chosen
3. Kushiel's Avatar
4. Kushiel's Scion
5. Kushiel's Justice
6. Kushiel's Mercy

The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
1. Twilight
2. New Moon
3. Eclipse
4. Breaking Dawn

The Host also by Stephenie Meyer

The Attorney Conspiracy by C. Terry Cline

Kane and Abel and The Prodigal Daughter by Jeffrey Archer.

For those that did not stay up to watch this amazing speech:

Tonight the country watched as Barack Obama steadily claimed the win as the next President of the United States.

History in the making, indeed.

I am over the moon. It went better than I had wished. Now I pray for a better future and the fulfillment of positive change for Americans and the rest of the world.

You Should Be Allowed to Vote

You got 12/15 questions correct. Generally speaking, you're very well informed. If you vote this election, you'll know exactly who (and what) you'll be voting for. You're likely to have strong opinions, and you have the facts to back them up.

Darn glad I passed this quiz, since I already cast my vote! Go take it and let me know how you did!

Thanks One-Hip-Mom for the quiz!

I arrived at my polling place this morning at 6:50. I was probably the 12th person in line. I vote in a very tiny precinct and the ladies that were volunteering there were shocked at the turnout so early. Apparently a line there is a rare thing! I am glad to see such a great turnout even so early in the morning. I do hope it continues in that vein throughout the day.

Now begins a long day and night of waiting (and hoping) for good results!

If you haven't voted early already, please get out and vote tomorrow! I know I am so ready for Tuesday to be over. It is time to move forward, in my opinion. Personally, I hope we don't end up with more of the same, but at this point I am just ready to quit talking it all to death!

These are my sister and her husband's Halloween decorations. I thought it was pretty brilliant. The one alien that is hard to see is actually positioned so it is hiding, cloaked, in their woods. The other alien looks like it had just landed in its flying saucer. They used blue and red spotlights beneath the saucer along with Christmas lights beneath it to light it up.

I think they did an amazing job!









Please excuse the poor pic quality, they were taken with my cell phone!

A lady that lives down the road from me has a young girl that has numerous health issues. I don't know them personally, so I have no idea what they all are. I do know that she has terrible eyesight and she cannot see without glasses. She can barely see with glasses.

Apparently, yesterday the woman was in a hurry to get to the bank. She loaded up the little girl and sped off to make it in time. Unfortunately, she forgot that she'd left the little girl's glasses on the roof of her car. She likely lost them somewhere between our houses.

That poor woman has been in the ditches ALL DAY, with a little garden rake and her cane searching desperately for those glasses. I know she cannot afford another pair, which is why she has devoted her entire day to the search. I went out and walked about a mile up and down the road in effort to help her find them. Nothing.

She's just now made it in front of my house, that's how slow she is going. She's taking her time and picking through practically every blade of grass in search of those glasses.

Please send up a prayer and positive thoughts that she finds them for her little girl.