Alabama's Million Dollar Band is in my head practicing for this weekend's big game against Auburn. They've been there since Sunday and I apologize for their absence. Actually, if you can go ahead and get the rehearsal out of my head, the sinus pressure, the ear aches and the sore throat with it, that would be fantastic!
I repeat: Alabama's Million Dollar Marching Band is not missing, they are ignoring the obscene doses of Zycam, NyQuil, Sudafed and Vick's I've been taking since Sunday and refuse to leave.
Please stay on alert for an alarm: I don't know how much longer I can take this!!!
Showing posts with label Creative. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Creative. Show all posts
Friday, November 28, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
When you think you are, you aren't
Five mornings of the week, I get up and go to the gym before work. I wake up, comb my hair into some semblance of normal, put on my gym clothes and sneakers, grab my gym bag and head on my way.
My boss, the Fitness Nazi - he knows that's his name - is the picture definition of "Gym Rat." He eats right, most of the time, stares at his muscles in the mirror more often than he'll admit, knows what every muscle does and knows every exercise and what it works. In short, he'll kick your ass in the gym. Just for fun, he's learn jiu-jitsu. He enjoys pushing his body to its limit more than the normal person.
We both have corporate gym memberships and take advantage of it. Since he goes in the morning and I go in the morning, naturally, we just work out together and work the same muscle groups. Usually, I can keep up. Usually, he pushes me further than I would push myself but I always feel competitive - I have to be able to prove to him that I can do what I or he thinks I can't. I always try! Also, we both try to eat right - or as close to right as possible. We're both at work 10-12 hours a day and work 6 days of the week. Sometimes pizza's just convenient.
So when we had our company Thanksgiving dinner Wednesday, we were both giving ourselves cheating rights. He can eat more than I can anyway. He doesn't have to lose weight like I do. We had all that delicious food...and cake.
Oh, the cake. The cake, with it's delicious whipped topping, it's chocolate flakes on top. It was so tall and so beautiful and so...tasty! It was the most moist cake you've ever tasted. More so than your own wedding cake, I guarantee. It stood two feet tall almost! The cake was already sliced and ready to go in my mouth. The individual servings were huge! Really big enough for two or three people!
I'd already filled my plate and eaten every last bit. The dinner - all the food - it was perfect! I wanted seconds. But I wanted the cake more. It beckoned me.
"Trey," I begged, "Please bring me a piece of that big chocolate cake! I have to try that!"
My husband, who always comes to our holiday dinners along with everybody elses spouse, gladly got up and brought me a piece. He grabbed him some other dessert that I can't remember because this cake trumped his!
The size of the piece on the small Styrofoam plate alarmed me. I asked a few people to share it with me because I jut knew I wouldn't have enough room.
I was very wrong!
I took a bite. It was over. I took another bite, and another. Before I knew it, the whole piece was in my stomach. I thought surely I'd regret it later. Clint knew I felt bad. I think he did, too.
"Clint, I'm going to have to do some serious cardio after this cake!" I declared.
"We'll do some circuit training in the gym on Friday," he mentioned between bites, "gets some cardio in to get all this food off of us!"
Later came, I had another piece! I actually, kind of, sort of, verbally compared it to the act of procreating without the risk of actually reproducing to one work associate or two, or all...sorry, Mum!
When the day was over, I was glad to be away from that evil, sinful food. I felt like I had ruined my day in the gym, even though I had allowed myself this cheat!
The following day, I hadn't planned on going to the gym. I actually had to do the radio show for the dealership and just got up early as usual and piddled around the house until it was time to advertise for Tuscaloosa Hyundai. I came to work knowing that our collision center was going to have its Thanksgiving dinner and that none of that food was coming to us. Thank, God! That's why I was flabbergasted when Lori came in with what she called "a gift." Of course I knew it was leftovers! I had to go see! Who can turn down free food?
I walked over to where she stood to see the white bakery box before her. I didn't think good thoughts that my mother should read and I definitely did not resist the temptation that was in that box.
Inside was the glorious cake. Larger this time, yelling at me to indulge!
"Stephanie, do you want piece?" somebody asked. I can't tell you who it was - I was in a trance.
"Definitely!" There was no doubt I wanted more of it's goodness, despite the little angel on my shoulder whispering about the work I would have to do in the gym the next morning. There was a question of how big a piece I wanted. How big a piece? Ha!
"Why don't you just cut yourself a small piece and give me the box?" I was so greedy! And the cake was that good that I could have eaten the whole thing and never lived to regret it! Lori cut me a piece while laughing at the comment she must of thought was a joke, even though I was serious! It was the power of the cake!
Lori, that was not "a gift!"
In several swift moves, the square slab with it's delicious frosting was in my stomach. I felt peace - peace that lasted an hour until I had to have another piece. And I squeaked 'Oink'! Oh, the angel on my shoulder scolded me.
Yesterday morning, I paid my penance.
I woke up at 5:45 am, as usual. I brushed my teeth, combed out my hair, dressed warm for the cold weather. I was so sleepy. I really didn't want to go to the gym. Usually when I feel that way, I get motivated because I have the best workouts, but today, this morning, it was different. I felt like the cake had sucked out all my energy.
I was at the gym by 6:45 am. Lori was there, getting ready for work already. She was her normal chipper self, bobbing her red head around the locker room.
"We've still got some of that cake left, Stephanie!" She putting her make-up on in the mirror and I don't think she could see my reaction. I quickly put my eyes back in there socket before she looked up.
"Oh, Lori! Keep that away from me today! That cakes so good! I wish it was already gone!"
I put my gym bag up and walked out to the floor. Clint was already there and waiting. It was like the Fitness Nazi possessed him today.
"Circuit train?" he asked.
"Sure!" I said, ignorant.
He kicked my as for an hour. I'm not sure, I think we did 9 or 12 exercises in that hour. Weights, reps, all over exercises - ass-whoopin' as us Southerners put it. Despite the months of gym time I've spent with the Fitness Nazi, I was not in shape enough for Friday morning's workout.
I just remember sitting on the floor and thinking I see Jesus! No, I'm just dizzy...
When I got to work, barely able to move, I still had to deal with hearing about this cake. The cake that got my ass kicked. The cake that made me ache. The cake that had Tylenol for dessert. It wasn't just a small portion of the cake left either. It was a rather large slab in a large Tupperware bowl with aluminum foil on top. Everybody had a piece and raved about how good it was. I heard about it all day. Looked at it all day. I got so busy at work I didn't get to eat my lunch and in the meantime watched as my co-workers indulged in the sinful treat.
At 5:30, I couldn't take it anymore. There was only a small sliver left. I went to the small working fridge, took out the devil and said, "I'm taking my lunch!"
My boss, the Fitness Nazi - he knows that's his name - is the picture definition of "Gym Rat." He eats right, most of the time, stares at his muscles in the mirror more often than he'll admit, knows what every muscle does and knows every exercise and what it works. In short, he'll kick your ass in the gym. Just for fun, he's learn jiu-jitsu. He enjoys pushing his body to its limit more than the normal person.
We both have corporate gym memberships and take advantage of it. Since he goes in the morning and I go in the morning, naturally, we just work out together and work the same muscle groups. Usually, I can keep up. Usually, he pushes me further than I would push myself but I always feel competitive - I have to be able to prove to him that I can do what I or he thinks I can't. I always try! Also, we both try to eat right - or as close to right as possible. We're both at work 10-12 hours a day and work 6 days of the week. Sometimes pizza's just convenient.
So when we had our company Thanksgiving dinner Wednesday, we were both giving ourselves cheating rights. He can eat more than I can anyway. He doesn't have to lose weight like I do. We had all that delicious food...and cake.
Oh, the cake. The cake, with it's delicious whipped topping, it's chocolate flakes on top. It was so tall and so beautiful and so...tasty! It was the most moist cake you've ever tasted. More so than your own wedding cake, I guarantee. It stood two feet tall almost! The cake was already sliced and ready to go in my mouth. The individual servings were huge! Really big enough for two or three people!
I'd already filled my plate and eaten every last bit. The dinner - all the food - it was perfect! I wanted seconds. But I wanted the cake more. It beckoned me.
"Trey," I begged, "Please bring me a piece of that big chocolate cake! I have to try that!"
My husband, who always comes to our holiday dinners along with everybody elses spouse, gladly got up and brought me a piece. He grabbed him some other dessert that I can't remember because this cake trumped his!
The size of the piece on the small Styrofoam plate alarmed me. I asked a few people to share it with me because I jut knew I wouldn't have enough room.
I was very wrong!
I took a bite. It was over. I took another bite, and another. Before I knew it, the whole piece was in my stomach. I thought surely I'd regret it later. Clint knew I felt bad. I think he did, too.
"Clint, I'm going to have to do some serious cardio after this cake!" I declared.
"We'll do some circuit training in the gym on Friday," he mentioned between bites, "gets some cardio in to get all this food off of us!"
Later came, I had another piece! I actually, kind of, sort of, verbally compared it to the act of procreating without the risk of actually reproducing to one work associate or two, or all...sorry, Mum!
When the day was over, I was glad to be away from that evil, sinful food. I felt like I had ruined my day in the gym, even though I had allowed myself this cheat!
The following day, I hadn't planned on going to the gym. I actually had to do the radio show for the dealership and just got up early as usual and piddled around the house until it was time to advertise for Tuscaloosa Hyundai. I came to work knowing that our collision center was going to have its Thanksgiving dinner and that none of that food was coming to us. Thank, God! That's why I was flabbergasted when Lori came in with what she called "a gift." Of course I knew it was leftovers! I had to go see! Who can turn down free food?
I walked over to where she stood to see the white bakery box before her. I didn't think good thoughts that my mother should read and I definitely did not resist the temptation that was in that box.
Inside was the glorious cake. Larger this time, yelling at me to indulge!
"Stephanie, do you want piece?" somebody asked. I can't tell you who it was - I was in a trance.
"Definitely!" There was no doubt I wanted more of it's goodness, despite the little angel on my shoulder whispering about the work I would have to do in the gym the next morning. There was a question of how big a piece I wanted. How big a piece? Ha!
"Why don't you just cut yourself a small piece and give me the box?" I was so greedy! And the cake was that good that I could have eaten the whole thing and never lived to regret it! Lori cut me a piece while laughing at the comment she must of thought was a joke, even though I was serious! It was the power of the cake!
Lori, that was not "a gift!"
In several swift moves, the square slab with it's delicious frosting was in my stomach. I felt peace - peace that lasted an hour until I had to have another piece. And I squeaked 'Oink'! Oh, the angel on my shoulder scolded me.
Yesterday morning, I paid my penance.
I woke up at 5:45 am, as usual. I brushed my teeth, combed out my hair, dressed warm for the cold weather. I was so sleepy. I really didn't want to go to the gym. Usually when I feel that way, I get motivated because I have the best workouts, but today, this morning, it was different. I felt like the cake had sucked out all my energy.
I was at the gym by 6:45 am. Lori was there, getting ready for work already. She was her normal chipper self, bobbing her red head around the locker room.
"We've still got some of that cake left, Stephanie!" She putting her make-up on in the mirror and I don't think she could see my reaction. I quickly put my eyes back in there socket before she looked up.
"Oh, Lori! Keep that away from me today! That cakes so good! I wish it was already gone!"
I put my gym bag up and walked out to the floor. Clint was already there and waiting. It was like the Fitness Nazi possessed him today.
"Circuit train?" he asked.
"Sure!" I said, ignorant.
He kicked my as for an hour. I'm not sure, I think we did 9 or 12 exercises in that hour. Weights, reps, all over exercises - ass-whoopin' as us Southerners put it. Despite the months of gym time I've spent with the Fitness Nazi, I was not in shape enough for Friday morning's workout.
I just remember sitting on the floor and thinking I see Jesus! No, I'm just dizzy...
When I got to work, barely able to move, I still had to deal with hearing about this cake. The cake that got my ass kicked. The cake that made me ache. The cake that had Tylenol for dessert. It wasn't just a small portion of the cake left either. It was a rather large slab in a large Tupperware bowl with aluminum foil on top. Everybody had a piece and raved about how good it was. I heard about it all day. Looked at it all day. I got so busy at work I didn't get to eat my lunch and in the meantime watched as my co-workers indulged in the sinful treat.
At 5:30, I couldn't take it anymore. There was only a small sliver left. I went to the small working fridge, took out the devil and said, "I'm taking my lunch!"
Friday, November 14, 2008
Always look on the bright side of you life...
Top ten reasons I'm excited to be moving today.
- It is a day off from crunching numbers.
- I will have the best excuse ever to get rid of those clothes that Trey and I NEVER wear.
- No more pool duty (not that I ever had it, really).
- I will have a stove that works year round, not right before I move in and right before I move out. Note to self, write a post about that because that's a funny story.
- I will be saving more than half of what I've been currently paying in rent and utilities, which means more books! And a bookshelf!
- Tanning bed on apartment location. Stephanie won't have an excuse to be pale anymore.
- Thirty minute drives to work and gym have now been shaved to three minutes and seven minutes.
- I won't have to dodge deer while driving down the street.
- Barnes & Noble is less than ten minutes drive. So is Los Tarascos.
- I can go barefoot around the house again since I won't be watching my step for scorpions anymore!!!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
For the beauty of the Earth
I am so stressed out right now. I wouldn't recommend any joke-playing on me, I might inadvertently kill you.
Currently, I need to win the lottery, I need it to quit raining, I need my Wachovia bank statement to make more sense, I need chocolate, I need clean, open space, I need coffee, I need sugar for that coffee, I need this move to be over and I need the car business to pick up.
Right now, I look over my left shoulder to see the lake and it's covered in fog. I can't even see the lake. It's just a dense, white fog. The leaves are turning and a golden color is are mixing itself in with the other green and purple foliage. All the different shades look like little spots in the fog as the cloud dances around in the woods. My pool is covered in yellow and orange leaves and it makes I feel a pull of sympathy for the lucky resident who gets to take over the responsibility of maintaining that beast.
The scene outside currently is just depressing. It's dark, dense and raining.
A couple of days ago, it was beautiful outside. I had to grab my camera. It was Saturday morning, I think, when it was so cold outside. I was in a hurry trying to get to the gym on time. The sun was shining, which always makes me more awake. I had grabbed something for lunch, zipped up my gym bag, stuffed my book in my purse and headed out the door. I had just glimpsed at the lake when I saw it. If I had been more focused on getting to the gym on time or any earlier getting up, I would have missed it.
I stood staring at the lake for a moment thinking, I really have to go, but I couldn't fight the urge to get my camera. Quickly, I ran inside and grabbed my Nikon. Fortunately my zoom lens was already mounted and all I had to do was remove the lens cap and check my settings. Then are started shooting away.
It was the most beautiful scene - right out of a movie. The sun was melting the fog right off of the lake. The sun's rays were so strong between the holes in the leaves that it looked like little beams of light in the woods. As the mist burned and rose up to the heavens, it turned an almost violet color. It matched the color of dawn perfectly. The lake, for what little of it you could see, was the perfect reflection of a blue sky yet to appear that day.
It was so peaceful looking. Not even a fisherman was out on the lake, which was very unusual. Even if we stayed here, I don't think I could ever see a morning this perfect without the sounds of a boat or two peddling into or out of the slough below the house. It's a quiet morning like that I will never forget but will always make me miss my mornings visiting with the beautiful scenes of the lake while sipping my morning cup of coffee.
Currently, I need to win the lottery, I need it to quit raining, I need my Wachovia bank statement to make more sense, I need chocolate, I need clean, open space, I need coffee, I need sugar for that coffee, I need this move to be over and I need the car business to pick up.
Right now, I look over my left shoulder to see the lake and it's covered in fog. I can't even see the lake. It's just a dense, white fog. The leaves are turning and a golden color is are mixing itself in with the other green and purple foliage. All the different shades look like little spots in the fog as the cloud dances around in the woods. My pool is covered in yellow and orange leaves and it makes I feel a pull of sympathy for the lucky resident who gets to take over the responsibility of maintaining that beast.
The scene outside currently is just depressing. It's dark, dense and raining.
A couple of days ago, it was beautiful outside. I had to grab my camera. It was Saturday morning, I think, when it was so cold outside. I was in a hurry trying to get to the gym on time. The sun was shining, which always makes me more awake. I had grabbed something for lunch, zipped up my gym bag, stuffed my book in my purse and headed out the door. I had just glimpsed at the lake when I saw it. If I had been more focused on getting to the gym on time or any earlier getting up, I would have missed it.
I stood staring at the lake for a moment thinking, I really have to go, but I couldn't fight the urge to get my camera. Quickly, I ran inside and grabbed my Nikon. Fortunately my zoom lens was already mounted and all I had to do was remove the lens cap and check my settings. Then are started shooting away.
It was the most beautiful scene - right out of a movie. The sun was melting the fog right off of the lake. The sun's rays were so strong between the holes in the leaves that it looked like little beams of light in the woods. As the mist burned and rose up to the heavens, it turned an almost violet color. It matched the color of dawn perfectly. The lake, for what little of it you could see, was the perfect reflection of a blue sky yet to appear that day.
It was so peaceful looking. Not even a fisherman was out on the lake, which was very unusual. Even if we stayed here, I don't think I could ever see a morning this perfect without the sounds of a boat or two peddling into or out of the slough below the house. It's a quiet morning like that I will never forget but will always make me miss my mornings visiting with the beautiful scenes of the lake while sipping my morning cup of coffee.
Monday, November 10, 2008
It's what's for supper...
Prep Time:
5 minTotal Time:
45 minMakes:
6 servings
What You Need
Take 1 lb. extra lean ground beef
1 pkg. (6 oz.) STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix
1 cup water and mix & match your recipe from these options...
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning 3/4 cup spaghetti sauce 3/4 cup KRAFT Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 2 tsp. chili powder 3/4 cup TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Salsa 3/4 cup KRAFT Shredded Mexican Style Cheese
- 1 tsp. dried oregano leaves 3/4 cup chopped roasted red peppers 3/4 cup ATHENOS Traditional Crumbled Feta Cheese
1 tsp. garlic powder 3/4 cup KRAFT or BULL'S-EYE Original Barbecue Sauce 3/4 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Make It In Three Steps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PREHEAT oven to 375°F. Mix meat, stuffing mix, water and the seasoning until well blended. Press evenly into 12 medium muffin cups sprayed with cooking spray; make an indentation in center of each with back of spoon.
SPOON add-ins evenly into indentations in meatloaves.
BAKE 30 min. or until meatloaves are cooked through (160°F). Top evenly with cheese; continue baking 5 min. or until cheese is melted. Let stand 10 min. before serving.
Serving Suggestion: Serve with a hot baked potato and steamed seasonal vegetables.
Make Ahead: Prepare as directed. Remove from muffin cups; cool completely. Place in single layer on baking sheet; freeze until firm. Transfer to airtight container. Store in freezer up to 1 month. Thaw in refrigerator, then reheat in 375°F-oven for 20 min. or until heated through.
Special Extra: For a little kick, add 2 Tbsp. A.1. Original Steak Sauce to meat mixture before shaping into meatloaves.
Find more recipes here!
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