104 / 365: Mystery Science Theater 3000

I forgot how much I enjoyed this show.....

"Mystery Science Theater 3000" was a TV show that ran from 1988-1999. This wonderful program was about a human and two robots stuck watching very bad movies.....VERY bad movies. While being tortured, they strike back with commentary....VERY FUNNY commentary. Many pee in your pants moments!

My question to you: What VERY bad movies out the past few years, would you recommend for a contemporary MST3K? Sadly, there won't be any (the creators are on a live tour called "Cinematic Titantic"), but I'm curious to hear what others think are LOUSY movies.

Until next time...watch away!

103 / 365: Dashboard Discoveries

I did lots of driving today. I discovered a few things on the journey(s):
-Carole King is great to belt with on the highway.
-Kenny Loggins' "House at Pooh Corner" still makes me sob profusely!
-MSNBC is now on XM Radio. Yeah!
-My steering column and dashboard are absolutely filthy!
-The boys are growing up way too fast.
-My dupa hurts from sitting so long.
-The 80's channel makes me think of my leg warmers....ugh.
-My older brother is dissing me.
-I hope the boys' waiver forms go through.
-Driving makes me sleepy.
-There are very few people I don't like.
-Pretty day today.
-I think I'd like to see "Shrek the Musical".
-News reporters interrupt way too much.

Until next time....discover away!

102 / 365: Fried!

My brain hurts! Lots of troubleshooting in three schools. I'm doing my best to stop the drool oozing out of the side of my mouth.

Being a glutton for punishment, I played a game on the Wii Fit Plus that has you "bumping" numbers that add up to 10. I felt like I was bumping numbers in a calculus problem. My mind just shut down.

After my Wii time, I decided to have some shut down time. Peppermint tea out on the deck. Ahhh, I'm feeling better now.

Let's see, that's 8 + 5 - 3 = uh....uh....uh

Until next time....fry away!

101 / 365: A little serenity...

It's not much, but it's mine.

I finally got to clean off my little piece of serenity: my deck. I power washed the pollen off and bleached the table and chairs. Now I can go out there when I want to (and when I need to) to get a little peace and quiet.

I know that Spring Break is over, but my feeling is that anytime I'm on that deck, I can have a little break. Whether it's coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon or cocktail at night, I know that I have a mini-retreat from the trials and tribulations of the world. That is, until the family finds me.

Until next time....hide away!

100 / 365: Aunt K.....

The picture says it all, but I'm going to elaborate anyway.

KSBJ has been my "Southern Sister" since I moved down here 13 years ago. We clicked and became a well-oiled machine at our elementary school: she the Physical Education teacher and me the Music teacher. The kids always looked forward to February, when she and I would combine forces and teach a dance unit. They didn't know what hit them!

As the years progressed, our friendship strengthened. We went through a lot at school and in our personal lives: marriages (she was my wedding coordinator), babies, parents' deaths, surgeries, spouses, etc. I can't thank her enough for her strength as I was falling apart.

My boys worship the ground KSBJ walks on. "Aunt K" is a guiding force in their lives. JOR attended her "Shoe Tying Boot Camp", and after a few hours, was successful in this task. SRR knows her wrath if she is informed of any questionable behavior.

Today, she went with us on a "Field Trip" to Point of Rocks Park. The boys had a great time, but I think she had a better time! She went on the slides, swings and pushed the boys til they belly laughed. A great time was had by all!

After MGR picked the boys us, we went on for some "estrogen therapy": pedicures and lunch. We laughed so hard, we cried! I had issues with my message chair ala Lucy Ricardo, getting the sensation that my chair would propel me into the ceiling. Lunch was our tradional fare: Pietro's steak special w/ fries. Damn the points, full fat ahead!

After our fun afternoon together, I realized how much I needed this "girls' day out". We laughed, talked, laughed some more, discussed, and laughed. I am honored to have KSBJ in my life. Somehow I know that the students she has taught for the past 33 years feel the same way.

Until next time...play away!

099 / 365: Tidbit the Terror...an obituary in the making.

I was going to blog about the cat next week in honor of her birthday, but I truthfully don't think she's going to make it.

After a rough ending to our Bass Pro Shops excursion, we had a nice visit from the B family. DB is our HVAC guy and came over to install a new thermostat. His mom, EB and his three lovely girls visited as well. We were all having fun until SHE came in.

A little background about Madam Tidbit: a few years ago, JOR found her (and her family) under our deck. He didn't tell us about his discovery, but asked suspicious questions: "What do cats drink?", "Can cats live outside for long periods of time?", etc. One morning, MGR heard meowing in the utility room. Lo and behold, the runt of the litter escaped from the family and tried to make herself a part of our family. And she succeeded. Due to the boys' allergies, she is only allowed in the laundry room, but she occasionally makes a game of escaping into the house.

She has been a fun, silly part of our crew. Until today.

Back to today's events: While DB was walking in and out working on the thermostat, Tidbit came in. She played her usual game: ran upstairs and hunkered down under our bed (go figure). I did what I usually do: shut the boys' doors and left ours open so that she could come back down when she was ready.

While visiting with the B family downstairs, I heard a long, drawn out noise than a crash. MGR went upstairs to check it out. I was called to the crime scene immediately. Apparently, Madam got her legs caught in the cables leading to the TV FIOS box. She pulled the excess cable out from the closet, then the box fell to the floor. I found the box and it was wet. I couldn't figure it out until my nose kicked in. Yep, in her fear, she peed all over the box and the carpet.

Following the cable under the bed, I tried to untie her specialness from the cords. She was not happy and expressed it by scratching me. I tried to keep her calm and pulled her out from under the bed. She let me detangle her (fur was covering the cables) then booked it back under the bed, where she stayed for another thirty minutes. Finally, I coerced her out and carried her down the stairs and out the door, dreaming of her on a bed of white rice, next to a fortune cookie.

The carpet has been cleaned, the FIOS box cleaned and functioning, the floor vacuumed, and Madam Tidbit's life has been spared....for now.

Until next time...breathe away!!

098 / 365: Chef du Jour....

OK, I'm not Rachel Ray, but I did alright tonight!

I made two new dishes for the friendmily: Hawaiian Chicken Kebabs and Couscous with Spinach and Mushrooms. I don't like to brag, but they were GOOD!! Even better, they were EASY!!

With pay cuts looming, eating in is going to be the rule rather than the exception. Good thing I'm building up a repertoire of easy, quick, no-fail, yet healthy dishes for the family. If any of you in bloggerland has a recipe that meets the above criteria, please share. I need all the help I can get. Unless it's Hawaiian Chicken Kebabs and Couscous with Spinach and Mushrooms. I think I have that down....

Until next time....cook away!!