Confession at St Krispy Kreme – Forgive me father, I have Dunkin Donut-ed. The Chillax Church of St Krispy Kreme sent us the above bulk mail advertisement.
More religious news from the homestead. Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli has issued an opinion that it is OK to pack heat in the pews or choir as long as the owner has a good reason, namely “personal protection.”
I couldn’t make this shit up.
Speaking of chillaxing – that would be what I did today. No thinking about food or spreadsheets or anything for that matter. I didn’t even complain about it being cold and rainy.
The spreadsheet from hell is coming along nicely. And the “customer” likes it. Now, all I have to do is make it “nurse-proof”.
The sun is shining and it is toasty warm.
The dreaded company dinner is an hour away and so far so good. Menu: Slightly baked salmon with guacamole sauce, cold sweet potatoes with cumin, nuked broccoli with tiny tomatoes and balsamic vinegar dressing. Dessert: mini vanilla cupcakes, big strawberries, chocolate truffles and coffee.
Cooking tip: Buy the biggest slab of salmon you can afford. Have the fish monger skin it. Oil your serving platter – I am assuming it is glass or china. Deposit said salmon slab on the platter. Now, rub some oil on the salmon. Put you favorite seasonings – Cajun, teriyaki whatever… I am using mayo and topping every thing with panko crumbs. Pop the fish in a 200 degree oven for 45 minutes or “until done”. When it is done – I am going to put some guacamole on top. This solves the problem of getting the big slab of salmon out of the baking dish onto the platter. Aside: It will not get brown.
The pivot tables are getting better. Now, maybe I can make it actually work and be “Nurse Proof” as well.
I finally figured out that it was my sinuses that are causing my hair to hurt.
Today’s issues…
It is still cold and damp
I am still too fat. But, I treated myself to a frozen Xmas cookie from the stash that I have hidden in the freezer under the veggies.
My hair still hurts.
And, the water heater seems to be on the fritz. It is a rented water heater. But, I don’t want to roust the maintenance guy out on the weekend. So – no hot water.
Carlton invited people for dinner on Monday. Good side to that is I can use the water heater and short notice as an excuse to let Whole Foods handle the details.
First. Today is free scones day here at the apartment building. See last Friday. And, I am still on a diet. One tiny lousy pound might have vanished. No scones for me.
Second. It is cold and rainy.
Third. Our elected representatives. Need I say more. But, I will anyhow. Michele Bachmann just told us in so many words that she would not support any measure to keep the doors of government opened if any funding goes to Planned Parenthood – because people should not have their tax money spent on things they don’t approve of. (Dangling Participle Alert). Well, now that is a girl I could get behind. We just pay taxes for stuff that we personally want. And, maybe we can get a refund too – on stuff that didn’t work out too good? Like, say, Iraq?
Finally. I am trying to understand Excel Pivot Tables. But, all this is making my hair hurt.
Things are looking a little greener over looking south.
Went to the dentist this morning. My two front teeth started to disintegrate Monday morning. My front teeth are all patched up. And, my dental insurance, AKA Vista Card, is five hundred lighter.
My “Be Nice to Carlton” program includes letting him invite people for dinner. I really don’t like doing dinner. I’d be OK with it if he would let it be buffet and everyone sit where-ever. But, those who know Carlton know that he always sits at the table and expects everyone to do likewise. We have nice seating at a table for two. We don’t have easy seating for four. And no seating for more than four.
Also, Carlton thinks that I am a great cook. Wrong. I am an OK cook. Carlton is absolutely no judge of cooking. As long as the fish and meat is cooked, the green beans overcooked, and has no garlic whatsoever, he likes it. Last night he said my tuna paddies were as good as crab cakes. For this I am grateful. But, he thinks my skills are greater than they are.
The sun came out this afternoon. But, it was cold and windy. So, I am still in hibernation mode. Spent 30 minutes tramping up and down the stairs this afternoon.
Loving Paul Ryan’s proposed “Massive Budget Cuts”. I will allow as how everyone has to endure some cuts. The poor and elderly get services cut and the wealthy get taxes cut. Love the GOP – the party of unequal opportunity sacrifice.
Carlton is watching the news. There is an advertisement for Viagra on right now. One of the warnings is: If you experience sudden decrease or loss of vision or hearing, stop taking Viagra and contact a doctor right away. Doesn’t this make you wonder about the intelligence of the pill popping American male? Now, if all of a sudden I stopped hearing or seeing – I’d get my sorry ass to the Emergency Room ASAP. But, am not a guy.
Since the sun was out this morning, I went on a search for that rather ominous crane that showed up yesterday. I think the resulting building will not cause any lasting problems with our killer view. And, if it does, well, it is a rented killer view. Unless there has been some hanky panky with the building permits – I think it will be limited to about 12 floors.
We have had cold wind, rain, hail and sun so far today. And I think there will be fireworks for our viewing pleasure this evening. Weather permitting. Fortunately, we can view the fireworks from inside.
I haven’t gotten the jack rabbits out of my boots. Still want to hop on a cruise ship that will be chugging back to the Mediterranean sometime soon. The operative word is soon, I think.
Software: If you have a Mac (or an iPhone) and if your library is supported… Library Books is an elegant little program that does one thing very well. Check out:Library Books
The cold cloudy rainy almost snowy weather have turned me into a really grumpy old woman. Too much time on my hands. Yesterday I found myself cataloging my audiobook collection. Going back and figuring out how much I had paid for them. Recording where they were stored. etc etc etc. That is borderline insane. Maybe full blown crazy.
At least the sun came out this afternoon. That is a start in the correct direction.
Lead us not into temptation. The 500 calorie really good scones returned to the Friday “Grab and Go” Breakfast here in the building. March was “Fitness Month” so they had fruit and Nutri-grain Bars. Even when I am on a diet Nutri-grain Bars have ZERO appeal. But, the 500 calorie scones. They were hard to pass up. Actually, the scone was not passed up. It went into the freezer. Heck, even 1/2 of that scone ain’t diet food.
Haven’t had a weigh-in since last Monday. Don’t know if any weight has gone – but at least I have stopped the accumulation. And, I added an additional 5 flights of stairs to my the routine. 25 today.
Too much time on my hands – part two. Every spring cruise ships go from the Caribbean to Europe. I am not into “cruising”. As we used to say in Alaska – Cruising “The nearly dead, the overfed, and the newly wed”. But, I could hop on a ship in Barbados and get off in, say, Barcelona. Or I could plan a “Land Cruise” and travel around the country on the train. Strange enough the cost would be about the same if I spring for the cheapest room on the ship or the cheapest sleeper on the train. And avoid all the “extras” on the ship. No spa day for me.
Is this a great county or what?
600K public art
I sure hope this is an April Fool’s joke – but…
A $600,000 frog sculpture that lights up, gurgles “sounds of nature” and carries a 10-foot fairy girl on its back could soon be greeting Defense Department employees who plan to start working at the $700 million Mark Center in Alexandria, Va. this fall. That is unless a new controversy over the price tag of the public art doesn’t torpedo the idea.
This is getting pretty boring. It is spring already. Where is that “Out Like a Lamb” goodness?
So, what to do on a cold rainy damp almost snowy afternoon but to look for a warm and sunny place to go?
I was using one of my junk email addresses to sign up for some travel site or the other. I wasn’t planning on adding my “Title” but it was required. To the left you will see my drop down choices. Methinks that site isn’t for me. I picked “Frau” as my “Title”. But, I rather liked viscounte and honorable as well.
Did a 2 mile forced march and 20 flights of stairs and ate darn little food today. Big treat today was one Hershey’s Kiss. 22 calories. Now that is draconian.
Wondering about the once again threatened “Government Shutdown”. Does this mean that the congress people don’t get paid? And, don’t get free trips back to their districts? Seems only fair to me.
It was sunny today. Sunny but cold. Well, at least cold for someone who spent the winter in Hawaii.
Started to diet with a vengeance today. I have been hungry all day. That is good. That means that the diet might be working. And, I did 20 flights of stairs.
