So Today was mine and Dan's 6 year wedding anniversary. I laugh that it's been 6 year because as I know my husband really well, there are still things that surprise me. It took him 5 years to tell me he doesn't like elbow macaroni.
Our marriage has been a series of ups and downs and he has stuck by me through them all. I like to hope that we have a balanced marriage, but secretly I am sure he puts way more into it than I do.
We were supposed to be in Orlando today. Disney world and all that. But due to my increasingly frustrating health, this was not an option.
So, what to do for our special day? We've been driving past advertisements for the Desert Star Playhouse's production of Hunk-cules: Too sexy for my toga! I have been driving past the playhouse for years now and have always wanted to see one of the shows. Since this play intrigued both of us, I asked Dan if he wanted to go and he said yes. I went online and checked out the times. Today was the last day for the play. wow lucky! I thought a Matinee would be better as i tend to poop out early these days. The tickets were only $15.00 each. I was able to find a two seat table. (If you've seen plays there the tables are a bit squishy).
I then made reservations at Rodizio Grill since we haven't been there in like FOREVER!
Today we got up and well..... we'll skip that part. *blush*
We went to Dee's for brunch. I was disappointed in that my favorite menu item has been changed. It has been the same darn sauce for the last 17 years, and yet someone decided to change out the Honey Dijon for Honey mustard. GRRRR I was very sad and the waitress offered to get me something else but I sucked it up. However this has just made me not really go there anymore as the only other dish I liked was the California Chicken Salad and the Wisconsin Cheese soup. *sigh*
By the time this all went by it was time for the 2:30 show at the D.S. We picked up our tickets and was shown to our seat. I have to say I was super pleased as the seats we had were on the 2nd row. Our server was the sweetest thing. She was personable, friendly, and didn't blink an eye at all of Dan's questions. The food offered was a bit on the pricey side, but honestly it was pretty cool. Too bad we ate before we went. We did sneak in some ice cream during the show. It was good.
The show was AWESOME! OMG I laughed so hard. I was so very impressed and enjoyed the snarky, witty nature of the cast. They were just wonderful and the story was so funny. The modern improv to an old story just made it fresh. The Olio at the end was fabulous and well worth the $15.00 and then some. after the show but before the musical review they announced Birthdays and anniversaries. I wasn't sure if they would although on the site it did say to note any special occasions. One of the birthday girls was a little girl. The actor Justin asked her what she got for her birthday and she said she got to go to Lagoon. He sort of teased her as she should have said I got to go to DS Playhouse, and of course Dan shouts out, But Lagoon is where fun is! So Justin gave Dan a bad time. After the B-days he did the Anniversaries. We were the shortest married couple and he teased us. But he did point out that the other two couples were in the back. Then he made each couple stand up and kiss. It was so fun!
After the play we did get a chance to speak to Justin and told him how much we enjoyed the show. We even mentioned that we were going to get season tickets. There are 5 plays next year and I think each sounds fun. The site shows that depending upon what kind of tickets (days vs nights, weekdays vs. weekends), depends upon the price. But Matinee prices were $55.00 each for 5 shows. I think that's a deal!!
After that we went towards Trolley Square. I knew it was early. The show ended about 4:30 so I thought since our reservations were for 7, we could do a little shopping. Big Mistake! No one told me that Trolley Square is a ghost town...... We stopped in Rocky Mountain chocolates and spent some money on chocolate. I did get mostly sugar free. But that took all of 10 minutes. We did find a couple of stores to wonder through, but mostly the only stores left were places we couldn't afford to sneeze in. Finally we sat down at a table and read on our phones w/Kindle for Android. I did try to call Rodizio to change our reservations but they were really hesitant. I thought they were being rude, but now I know why......
We just decided to wait until our reservation time and when it was 6:30 we moseyed over. I found the Wagon Wheel which does the fresh Utah Taffy, so I bought some samples. Then we walked over to the Rodizio and what did I see?
A rainbow of teenagers dressed for Homecoming. If the R.G. would have mentioned it was booked for Homecoming, I wouldn't have thought them rude because they wouldn't up our reservation.
We let them know we were there and then was surrounded by a sea of cheap cologne, frilly dresses, and teenage angst. There was one young lady who was very pretty, but she looked like she was playing dress-up in her mommy's closet. She was wearing a full length strapless dress. I was one of those types that is held up by will power alone. And I felt bad. It looked good, but she did not have the chest for the dress. She was continuously pulling it up AND when she walked by and I got a sideways view I could see that the breast cones were about 5 inches away from her chest. A few other girls were dressed up almost baby-doll style. The kind of dress where if they bent over we would see their ruffle panties. Except that they weren't wearing little girl ruffle panties. I think a requirement for parents with daughters should be to make your daughter bend over at the waist to determine if her skirt is too short. ( am I showing my age or what?)
Dinner was yummy and I filled up WAY too fast. We didn't get anything but meat, however that meat was delicious. We finally rolled ourselves out the door and to home. Where after I finish this sentence I will be off to bed to snuggle w/my honey.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
It has been 10 years
It has been 10 years. 10 years since I woke up to my favorite radio station not playing my music, but some news cast. 10 years since I laid in my makeshift bed, and wondered why Radio from Hell would be playing such a odd thing. 10 years since I thought it was a joke they were playing on listeners, some Orson Wells war of the worlds thing. 10 years since I learned that fear is real, life is scary, and horror can really happen close to home.
I ran to TV in the living room yelling for my roommates. I turned it on, and didn't even need to channel surf to find out what happened. I stood in my jammies staring in shock, disbelief and awe as I watched planes crash and buildings fall. I couldn't believe it. Wouldn't believe it. But I still felt a sense of relief in that it happened in the East and not here in Utah. Little did I realize on that sunny September morning that the events of that day almost 3000 miles away would effect my own very small, very personal world in such a large and gigantic way.
I worked for Marriott hotels. I walked into a work world that was quiet you could hear a pin drop. Phones didn't ring, people didn't talk, and lives stood still. We had co-workers there. People we didn't even know, but felt connected to. We waited to hear their fate. Some cried, some panicked and most of use just felt useless. That dirty un-American word Terrorist ran rampet through the world.
Within 3 months every life in the United States was effected in some way. The travel industry failed. I was laid off from my job of 4.5 years. This was due to the decline of the hospitality business. The job market crashed and I was unemployed for a year. I struggled to find work and lived off my benefits for that year. Just as my unemployment ran out I found a temporary job with a mortgage funding company. It was stressful and hard and I was lucky to live with roommates where my rent was low.
I have spent the past 10 years reflecting on how my life was effected. I have reflected on the effect this had on lots of lives and felt so bad for those who lost loved ones in the towers, in the planes, in the Pentagon and in PA. I have watched and waited while my country in revenge attempted to hunt and locate those who's hideous minds created this horrific event. During this time I lost my apatite for horror/thriller films. I think I finally realized that there are very scary insane minds out there. I became afraid of people who can think this stuff up.
I feel that because of this tragedy I have found a better job that I love, the man I love and have been fortunate enough to live within my means and not go over that too badly. I have a home that we are not upside down in, a car that runs wonderfully, and while my health is not the best, I still have the job that gives me insurance and helps me.
I have reflected on my blessing and the blessings of others. While I firmly believe that things happen for a reason and that although this was not something we can understand, it has brought together a nation, increased pride, and proved that the human population as a whole can be a survivor.
I recently watched the news that the man who was responsible for this terror was destroyed. I must admit that while I am sad that someone has died, I felt a minor sense of relief. How sad that someone who could not live and let live, who could not embrace someone elses differences and beliefs felt that he had to cause such grief? Instead of understanding that we were no threat to his beliefs, he had to threaten ours. It really was a no win situation.My last wish now is that we can pull our troops out of other countries. While we need to be a support, we should now focus on the USA and getting our selves fixed so that we can be a true help to others.
It has been 10 years of living, surviving, loving and sharing. God Bless America, and all our friendly countries. May we all be safe, happy, friendly, and get along. It is 10 years past time to share some milk and cookies on the playground of life.
I ran to TV in the living room yelling for my roommates. I turned it on, and didn't even need to channel surf to find out what happened. I stood in my jammies staring in shock, disbelief and awe as I watched planes crash and buildings fall. I couldn't believe it. Wouldn't believe it. But I still felt a sense of relief in that it happened in the East and not here in Utah. Little did I realize on that sunny September morning that the events of that day almost 3000 miles away would effect my own very small, very personal world in such a large and gigantic way.
I worked for Marriott hotels. I walked into a work world that was quiet you could hear a pin drop. Phones didn't ring, people didn't talk, and lives stood still. We had co-workers there. People we didn't even know, but felt connected to. We waited to hear their fate. Some cried, some panicked and most of use just felt useless. That dirty un-American word Terrorist ran rampet through the world.
Within 3 months every life in the United States was effected in some way. The travel industry failed. I was laid off from my job of 4.5 years. This was due to the decline of the hospitality business. The job market crashed and I was unemployed for a year. I struggled to find work and lived off my benefits for that year. Just as my unemployment ran out I found a temporary job with a mortgage funding company. It was stressful and hard and I was lucky to live with roommates where my rent was low.
I have spent the past 10 years reflecting on how my life was effected. I have reflected on the effect this had on lots of lives and felt so bad for those who lost loved ones in the towers, in the planes, in the Pentagon and in PA. I have watched and waited while my country in revenge attempted to hunt and locate those who's hideous minds created this horrific event. During this time I lost my apatite for horror/thriller films. I think I finally realized that there are very scary insane minds out there. I became afraid of people who can think this stuff up.
I feel that because of this tragedy I have found a better job that I love, the man I love and have been fortunate enough to live within my means and not go over that too badly. I have a home that we are not upside down in, a car that runs wonderfully, and while my health is not the best, I still have the job that gives me insurance and helps me.
I have reflected on my blessing and the blessings of others. While I firmly believe that things happen for a reason and that although this was not something we can understand, it has brought together a nation, increased pride, and proved that the human population as a whole can be a survivor.
I recently watched the news that the man who was responsible for this terror was destroyed. I must admit that while I am sad that someone has died, I felt a minor sense of relief. How sad that someone who could not live and let live, who could not embrace someone elses differences and beliefs felt that he had to cause such grief? Instead of understanding that we were no threat to his beliefs, he had to threaten ours. It really was a no win situation.My last wish now is that we can pull our troops out of other countries. While we need to be a support, we should now focus on the USA and getting our selves fixed so that we can be a true help to others.
It has been 10 years of living, surviving, loving and sharing. God Bless America, and all our friendly countries. May we all be safe, happy, friendly, and get along. It is 10 years past time to share some milk and cookies on the playground of life.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
feeling a little hurt
I have been looking for a new couch for our Family Room. I think in my last post I told you how much I HATE the couch we currently have. It was Dan's when we first met, and he got it from his (then) friends the Special K's. I am pretty sure knowing them as I did that it was used when they got it, so I know it's pretty old. It's got a tear in the back that the cats have enlarged so they can hide inside and it's so low to the ground I need a good shove just to get up off of it. I feel like my butt is already sitting on the floor when I sit in it, and the cushions are so smashed they are pancakes. I always put a blanket over it when I sit, because I am afraid of what might come up between the cracks.
In past times I have even had small blankets shoved between the cushions and the back of it, just to keep from falling through. When Dan and I first met, it wasn't bad. And when I came home from the hospital after heart surgery it was the only place I could lay comfortably. But now, IT HAS GOT TO GO!
So I went KSL shopping. For those of you not familiar with this phrase, the local TV channel has a website that has a classifieds ad site. It's free to post stuff and you can find some seriously good buys on it. For years I have coveted our friends furniture. Andy & Stef have the sweetest couch, love seat and chair/ottoman furniture I have ever sat in. I love their furniture. I love to go to their house just so I can sit on this furniture. but alas, they paid a pretty penny for it, and I could not justify that price. (even if I could find it in the store now. it's a few years old).
So I did the next best thing and looked on KSL for something similar. Now of Course I didn't find anything that even matches their stuff, but I found what looked like to be a very nice set. Couch, Chair and ottoman. Perfect because that will fit in my family room. The price was $400.00 with the ad claiming it was in perfect condition and not that old. I showed it to Dan who said it was nice and he liked it. I asked him to call on it, and he did. We offered them an extra $50.00 to deliver it to us, and the seller said they would.
After that call Dan put the phone down and I mentioned how excited I was even though it was $450.00. Suddenly his tone changed and he accused me of spending money like it was water.
What?!? I know I tend to get a bit spendy, but I've never gone too overboard, and usually whatever I get is for the good of the house. I was really hurt by this. Of course it put me on the defensive. I mean we just got an estimate of the fence from one place and it was $6,000.00. I estimated $2,000.00. So that isn't happening. Dan said I could put $10,000.00 of the trust money towards the house. I will do what I can to get the least price possible. but I was really damaged by his comment. I know he wants to make sure we have money to retire on, but This house is our retirement. It's an investment. If something should happen to me, Dan may have to sell the house. The more improvements I make, the better price he can ask.
We got the couches, and I will continue to shop for fences. I told him that if I can't get a good price on fence, then we will do a spot job on the fence we've got and be happy with that.
But jeez, talk about making me paranoid about spending money on our house.....
In past times I have even had small blankets shoved between the cushions and the back of it, just to keep from falling through. When Dan and I first met, it wasn't bad. And when I came home from the hospital after heart surgery it was the only place I could lay comfortably. But now, IT HAS GOT TO GO!
So I went KSL shopping. For those of you not familiar with this phrase, the local TV channel has a website that has a classifieds ad site. It's free to post stuff and you can find some seriously good buys on it. For years I have coveted our friends furniture. Andy & Stef have the sweetest couch, love seat and chair/ottoman furniture I have ever sat in. I love their furniture. I love to go to their house just so I can sit on this furniture. but alas, they paid a pretty penny for it, and I could not justify that price. (even if I could find it in the store now. it's a few years old).
So I did the next best thing and looked on KSL for something similar. Now of Course I didn't find anything that even matches their stuff, but I found what looked like to be a very nice set. Couch, Chair and ottoman. Perfect because that will fit in my family room. The price was $400.00 with the ad claiming it was in perfect condition and not that old. I showed it to Dan who said it was nice and he liked it. I asked him to call on it, and he did. We offered them an extra $50.00 to deliver it to us, and the seller said they would.
After that call Dan put the phone down and I mentioned how excited I was even though it was $450.00. Suddenly his tone changed and he accused me of spending money like it was water.
What?!? I know I tend to get a bit spendy, but I've never gone too overboard, and usually whatever I get is for the good of the house. I was really hurt by this. Of course it put me on the defensive. I mean we just got an estimate of the fence from one place and it was $6,000.00. I estimated $2,000.00. So that isn't happening. Dan said I could put $10,000.00 of the trust money towards the house. I will do what I can to get the least price possible. but I was really damaged by his comment. I know he wants to make sure we have money to retire on, but This house is our retirement. It's an investment. If something should happen to me, Dan may have to sell the house. The more improvements I make, the better price he can ask.
We got the couches, and I will continue to shop for fences. I told him that if I can't get a good price on fence, then we will do a spot job on the fence we've got and be happy with that.
But jeez, talk about making me paranoid about spending money on our house.....
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
moving right along
I am so sore after my canning experience. I enjoyed it, but the last 3 days have been hard on my feet. It hurts to walk if I have not been on my feet for a while. Every time I stand up, I have to give my poor feet a moment to protest before they will take me anywhere. Dan rubbed my feet for me last night and it was a painful pleasure. It felt good but hurt at the same time. Mental note to Denise, buy a stool for the kitchen that reaches the counter. then you can do things and still sit.
I have been making plans on house stuff and am really hoping to get it moving along. I got Dan to call and get an appointment for a chimney cleaner to come and clean our wood stove. It's recommended to have the stove and chimney cleaned every two years. We've gone 3. This is because about this time of the year we are usually broke and can't even scrounge up $50.00 let alone the $150.00 to pay for it. But this year we have money budgeted. YAY! So we have an appointment this coming Friday. Cross that off the list.
I have texted Charlotte to find out if Josh would be willing to paint the spare room. I want it done by end of September. If he doesn't do it, then I will have spend my anniversary painting. I need to find a couch for the family room too. I HATE the one we have. HATE IT! I cannot stress to you how much I LOATHE the couch. It came from the Special K's, and I just can't stand the damn thing. I will be shopping on KSL. I also am buying new night stands. OK they are used but new to me. Shannon is selling stuff so she can live with her soon to be hubby, and has two matching ones. She's selling them to me for $20.00 each. This so works for me, and let's me help out a friend.
I contacted a fencing place for an estimate on getting a new fence. I hope they can do it for very inexpensive price as I have a limited budget and I want to save some for a trip to Disney world.
I also need to find shelves for the garage and spend a little money on totes that will fit the shelves. Plus we need a new garage door. The one we have SUCKS, and it's baby blue. I want a white one. lol.
Hopefully before the end of this week we will have the new furnace and air conditioning unit installed. Can't wait for that.
Any suggestions anyone has for People who do Fences, or Pave driveways, or build decks, please send me their info. I've gotz plans to get moving along.....
I have been making plans on house stuff and am really hoping to get it moving along. I got Dan to call and get an appointment for a chimney cleaner to come and clean our wood stove. It's recommended to have the stove and chimney cleaned every two years. We've gone 3. This is because about this time of the year we are usually broke and can't even scrounge up $50.00 let alone the $150.00 to pay for it. But this year we have money budgeted. YAY! So we have an appointment this coming Friday. Cross that off the list.
I have texted Charlotte to find out if Josh would be willing to paint the spare room. I want it done by end of September. If he doesn't do it, then I will have spend my anniversary painting. I need to find a couch for the family room too. I HATE the one we have. HATE IT! I cannot stress to you how much I LOATHE the couch. It came from the Special K's, and I just can't stand the damn thing. I will be shopping on KSL. I also am buying new night stands. OK they are used but new to me. Shannon is selling stuff so she can live with her soon to be hubby, and has two matching ones. She's selling them to me for $20.00 each. This so works for me, and let's me help out a friend.
I contacted a fencing place for an estimate on getting a new fence. I hope they can do it for very inexpensive price as I have a limited budget and I want to save some for a trip to Disney world.
I also need to find shelves for the garage and spend a little money on totes that will fit the shelves. Plus we need a new garage door. The one we have SUCKS, and it's baby blue. I want a white one. lol.
Hopefully before the end of this week we will have the new furnace and air conditioning unit installed. Can't wait for that.
Any suggestions anyone has for People who do Fences, or Pave driveways, or build decks, please send me their info. I've gotz plans to get moving along.....
Monday, September 5, 2011
Sense of accomplishment
I am not nearly as domestic as I want to be. I have always wished I had that: gotta get it cleaned up/done/put away, type attitude. But I don't. The neat freak-house obsessed genes skipped me. big time!
but I still try. this month I have wanted to can tomatoes. I found out a couple of years ago that canning is very hard and tiring, but satisfying. I really enjoyed it. And I love making fresh spaghetti sauce, or chili or just anything that calls for tomatoes, with my jarred batch. I know exactly what went into the jar, and that just helps make everything so much tastier!
I realize that I am not saving ANY money by doing this, nor am I breaking even. But the knowledge that I did it, and it's all fresh makes the non-cost effectiveness worth it. I had hoped that I would be canning my very own garden grown tomatoes this year, but alas, a super gardener I am not. My cherry and grape tomatoes have done extremely well, but the big ones haven't really gotten there. Now that I know what I am dong though, I have high hopes for next summer. I bought tomatoes from Meredith again this year. I like knowing that they are picked fresh and not sprayed w/chemicals. It was pricey at $25.00 a bushel, but prices are going up everywhere. That is why it is no longer cost efficient to can tomatoes unless you grow them yourselves. but i just couldn't get the process out of my mind.
I have canned this weekend: Twelve 1/2 pints of Tomato sauce, Twelve 4 ounce jars of Tomato Paste, and Twelve quarts of Tomatoes with Garlic in them. As I type this, the last 6 jars of tomatoes are boiling in the water canner. I have enough tomatoes left to do about 5 more jars. but I am so worn out from this process, that I will wait for a day or two before tackling them. My kitchen looks like a Giant Killer Tomato attacked. The shirt I have worn for 3 days is covered in tomato. Sauce, Juice, seeds, goo.
I am so excited about it though. I feel very accomplished. So proud of me. I hope to do this again next year with my own tomatoes, but if they don't work out, I don't know if I will do this again.
Cost of jars, lids, and tomatoes plus time = one slightly broke, seriously sore Denise.
but I still try. this month I have wanted to can tomatoes. I found out a couple of years ago that canning is very hard and tiring, but satisfying. I really enjoyed it. And I love making fresh spaghetti sauce, or chili or just anything that calls for tomatoes, with my jarred batch. I know exactly what went into the jar, and that just helps make everything so much tastier!
I realize that I am not saving ANY money by doing this, nor am I breaking even. But the knowledge that I did it, and it's all fresh makes the non-cost effectiveness worth it. I had hoped that I would be canning my very own garden grown tomatoes this year, but alas, a super gardener I am not. My cherry and grape tomatoes have done extremely well, but the big ones haven't really gotten there. Now that I know what I am dong though, I have high hopes for next summer. I bought tomatoes from Meredith again this year. I like knowing that they are picked fresh and not sprayed w/chemicals. It was pricey at $25.00 a bushel, but prices are going up everywhere. That is why it is no longer cost efficient to can tomatoes unless you grow them yourselves. but i just couldn't get the process out of my mind.
I have canned this weekend: Twelve 1/2 pints of Tomato sauce, Twelve 4 ounce jars of Tomato Paste, and Twelve quarts of Tomatoes with Garlic in them. As I type this, the last 6 jars of tomatoes are boiling in the water canner. I have enough tomatoes left to do about 5 more jars. but I am so worn out from this process, that I will wait for a day or two before tackling them. My kitchen looks like a Giant Killer Tomato attacked. The shirt I have worn for 3 days is covered in tomato. Sauce, Juice, seeds, goo.
I am so excited about it though. I feel very accomplished. So proud of me. I hope to do this again next year with my own tomatoes, but if they don't work out, I don't know if I will do this again.
Cost of jars, lids, and tomatoes plus time = one slightly broke, seriously sore Denise.
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