More Thoughts Too Short For a Whole Blog Post

This was dinner one evening recently.

My best friend's parents (whom I love) were up visiting for the weekend.  Mr. "F" is a mechanical genius and knows how to fix anything and everything.  When they come to visit, he always helps the Husband fix whatever is wrong around the house.  They happened to be working outside and were using my truck to jump something they were working on, when they noticed a lot of corrosion on my battery terminal.  Mrs. "F" and I were about to leave for a little shopping, so we stood around watching and chit chatting.  While we were waiting, Mr. "F" decided to play a little trick on me, and asked me if I could find the distributor.  So as I'm looking around in the engine compartment for a distributor (that my truck doesn't have) I spot A DEAD MOUSE!!!!!!  IN MY ENGINE!!!!  Gross!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A big bug landed on our flat screen tv last night while we were watching the NASCAR race.  It just happened to land on the screen on "pit road" and it was really funny as we watched it nearly get hit by the cars, lol.

Speaking of NASCAR...  Dear Dale Earnhardt Jr., PLEASE SHAVE OFF THE BEARD ALREADY!!!!!

Although it's not ideal to wake up in the morning pinned in place by my kitty cats laying on me, I'm secretly flattered and happy they want to be with me. :-)

I mentioned in a previous post that I had some birthday money burning a hole in my pocket.  I decided to buy a fit bit (it's an amazing fitness tracking device), and some sandals.  A gadget and some shoes - two of my favorite things! :-D

ALMOST TIME TO BE GOIN' TO THE CABIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was at the gym the other day, and a guy got on a treadmill a couple down from me.  Every so often he'd let out a huge burp. ???  Ok, I know I haven't been going to the gym that long, and maybe I'm not fully aware of all the nuances and etiquette of the whole "gym thing", but....is letting out huge burps while you're exercising something I shouldn't be surprised at, or what??  I mean, I could totally understand if maybe one "slipped out" or something, but the dude was like the Burpmaster General.

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Why I Have Never Attempted to Play a Wind Instrument

I know I've mentioned before that I play the piano.  I also play the guitar a little, and the ukulele a little.  I don't know if I'll ever have the opportunity to learn any other instruments, but one instrument I thought would be cool to play is the clarinet.  Or the flute.  Or any wind instrument, really.  (My cousin used to play the flute and she named her flute "Doug".  Ya know, as in Doug  Flute - the football player, ha ha...)

I was browsing on Buffet Crampon Instruments & Accessories at some of their instruments, thinking about what I would play if I had the extra money to take lessons and buy any instrument I wanted.  Not only are the instruments beautiful, but even the cases for them are gorgeous.  Our daughter has a rental violin right now (from a totally different company) and the case for hers is like a piece of doody compared to these cases (although I certainly wouldn't expect anything good for a rental - I've just never seen such nice instruments and cases).

However, the thing that has always deterred me from ever trying a wind instrument is that when I get really nervous, I get short of breath.  So I worried that if I were in a recital or performance, and got nervous I'd either faint, or not be able to play my instrument.  I can't imagine I'm the only one who feels this way, yet I've never seen a tuba player fall over in a dead faint during a performance, or a clarinet player only be able to squeak out tiny notes at a concert...  Maybe it just doesn't happen?  Or I'm just weird.  Probably the latter.

Maybe when I'm rich and famous I'll get a funky clarinet like this one I saw on the Buffet Crampon website (learn how to play it), invite everyone for a recital, and you can all sit in suspense as you wait to see if I faint, or if I pull it off.  :-)

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Happy Cats in Tents!

More Thoughts Too Short for a Whole Blog Post

Some of our daughters "cool rocks"...and stuff...

Since there won't be any new episodes of Gold Rush for who knows how long, I've been watching Deadliest Catch on Netflix.  That show stresses me out.  Every single time they show anyone throwing the rope/buoy all I watch is their feet to see if this is one of the times a guy gets tangled and either goes overboard or ALMOST goes overboard.  I almost can't watch this show.

A few years back my father went to France, and came back with a love for goat cheese.  I totally laughed at him.  So then I tried it, and it turns out I love goat cheese too.  (If you've never tried it, you definitely should AND it's lower in fat than most other cheese...so you can eat more! :-)  My favorite is Chavrie in the "pyramid" - spreads soooo smooth.

I haven't posted about it, but we have our garden tilled and we have a bunch of seeds planted in the garden, and a bunch of seedlings in pots taking over our sunroom.  We are thinking maybe THIS is the year we have some real success with our garden.  :-P

The gym thing has been going well.  The other day there was a gal complaining that the soap dispensers in the showers were often out of soap.  Now, when I say there is a "soap dispenser" in the shower, I mean it's the kind they put by the sink to use to wash your hands.  Only a tiny squirt of soap comes out.  Truthfully, I figured they were really only there in case you forgot your own soap or body wash - I didn't think anyone would be using 30 tiny squirts from a hand soap dispenser as their means of washing up in the shower.

Ha ha!  Our daughter is hooked on the show "Saved By the Bell" on Netflix!  (I'm sure I've seen every single episode.)  Didn't we all have a little crush on Zack?  (Or Kelly if you're a guy, lol!)  Have you seen the actors who played Zack and Kelly lately?  To the right is a recent photo (courtesy of TMZ) when the two actors happened to meet at a charity event.  They're both still really cute, aren't they?  :-)

I have mixed feelings about the televangelist Joyce Meyers, but, I liked her page on Facebook and I enjoy the inspirational/encouraging things she posts - here is today's: "Every believer has a ministry.  It may not be a public one, but you've got a ministry to your children, your spouse, your family, to God."  Also, Rick Warren (who, amongst many other things, wrote the NYT best seller "Purpose Driven Life") posts really great, thought provoking posts - another great page to "like".

This is a really cool (and short) YouTube video from Alaska of a bald eagle, a fox and two cats all on one woman's porch.  If you check out some of her other videos, you'll see the eagle is a frequent visitor.  How cool would that be, to have a bald eagle just sitting on your porch??


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So, Explain This to Me...

Ok, you know I'm a big fan of Gold Rush...so, I've checked out some "fan" websites/message boards.  I was surprised to find one of the message boards I came across is full of "haters", and there is a Facebook page that does nothing but disparage the show and most of the people on it.

Normally, if I watch a show and I don't like it, I stop watching the show.

Isn't that what most people do?

I don't continue to watch the show I hate and THEN spend time AFTER the show posting messages ripping the show apart, nor do I take the time to set up a FACEBOOK PAGE solely for the purpose of spreading my hate.

These people truly have nothing else to do but spread their dislike of a show no one is forcing them to watch??

Maybe there is a better use of their time?  Look for a cure for cancer?  Dust something?  Volunteer and make a positive difference in someone's life?  Look for carpet cleaners holly springs nc??  Take a nap???

Life is short.  I can't believe people spend time watching a show they hate, and then spend time making sure strangers on the internet know how much they hate that show.   Does anyone understand this mentality??

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Tea Party Birthday

Isn't that gorgeous??  I was visiting my best friend "M" recently, and while we were there they had her daughter's "Tea Party" birthday.  My best friend's Mom did most of the set up - she is amazing.  (She's the one who taught me how to "do fondue" when they came to visit.)  There were even edible flowers on each guest's saucer (I ate mine, just to try it.  It wasn't bad.)  I'm not sure what type of flower mine was, but those who had the mums and ate them said they were yucky.  So if you're eating flowers, stay away from the mums.

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I Had My Cake and Ate it Too

No, that isn't *my* hand, lol!

I mentioned in a previous post that my birthday was coming up, and my most favorite kind of cake is the kind from a box/mix with frosting and I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to eat my favorite kind of cake TWICE in my birthday week!

The first time was the day before Easter - my future step-mom's sister made this great "Bunny Cake" and since it was close to my birthday, my Dad put candles in it and everyone sang Happy Birthday to me.  It was chocolate inside and it was de-licious!!  (And how cute is it??)

The second time was on Easter.  We spent the day at my sister-in-law L's (which was really nice) and although I think we were all stuffed to the brim after a great dinner, there was quite an assortment of desserts.  As my sister-in-law was pointing out what the different items were for dessert, she made sure that I heard her specifically say that the carrot cake she made was from a box - SWEET (wasn't that nice?)!  :-D  So of course I made a bee line for the carrot cake and I ended up having TWO pieces.  (That's the cake pictured at the top of the post with my brother-in-law's hand about to engulf it.)  By the time Easter/Birthday week was over I was ready to buy mounting brackets to hold my stomach up after all the great food I ate, but I decided to put the after-burners on at the gym instead and hope for the best.

So, for my birthday I got some spending money that is sort of burning a hole in my purse.  I did use some of it to buy Season 1 and 2 of Discovery Channel's Gold Rush off iTunes, which I have been re-watching.  But I still have some left...  Any suggestions of what else I should treat myself to?? :-)

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More Thoughts Too Short for a Whole Blog Post

My main man Q-ee cat, chillin' on the window seat.

Quite some time ago we cut our satellite tv package way down and also signed up for Netflix (streaming).  I know lots of people complain about Netflix, but to me, for $8/month I find PLENTY to watch.  I mostly like to watch tv shows, but the Husband likes to watch movies.  There are a lot of older movies on Netflix, and in the last few days we have watched some interesting selections of his - Deathrace 2000, Convoy and Planet of the Apes.

I've lost about 7lbs so far from going to the gym and just trying to be more careful about what I eat.

My birthday is coming soon.  I like cake made from a mix (Duncan Hines or Pillsbury or whatever) with frosting from a can on top.  Nobody makes those kind of cakes anymore, but that's my favorite.  So that is what I shall have!

Our geocaching streak is now at 99 consecutive days of finding a geocache.

A bad thing about having a dog is that often times they don't let you sleep in on the weekend 'cause they either want to go out to do their business or they want breakfast, or both.  Oh, and they shed.

I've mentioned before that I hate summer, and I hate sitting or standing out in the hot sun.  Usually I seek out shade, however, my cousin built a pergola over his deck, and I was amazed that I was able to survive under it on a sunny day.  And it's really pretty.  A good compromise for sun-haters and sun-lovers.

Speaking of the hot sun, I already bought sunblock for this year.  I'm ready.

Did you see they are making "Hot Tamales" jellybeans this year?!??!  AWESOME!  (Hot Tamales are my favorite candy.)

I don't feel people in general are getting mad enough about the high gas prices.

The inspiration for the name of this blog actually came from Winnie the Pooh and *his* "Thoughtful Spot" - "Pooh's Thoughtful Spot is located halfway between Pooh's house and Piglet's original house. It is protected from the wind and is a good spot for "deciding what to do today".  

My all time favorite Winnie the Pooh quote is this:

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.  "Pooh?" he whispered.

"Yes, Piglet?"

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. "I just wanted to be sure of you."

- A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

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Pan Fried Trout!

And here's how the trout ended up!  (See previous post.)

I'd never cooked freshly caught fish, but I searched the internet, watched a few YouTube videos and I think I was pretty successful.  It was really delicious, and even though it had the bones still in it, we were able to sort of pick up the spine and lift up pretty much the whole skeleton of bones intact and remove it.

I decided to play it safe and I used a really basic recipe of dredging it in flour with salt and pepper, then frying it in some butter and oil.  I fried it 5 minutes on each side, and it was done perfectly.  We have more fish in the freezer to cook at a future time - if anyone has any suggestions or trout recipes of their own, please share! :-)

Did anyone else go out fishing on the first day of trout season?  Did you have any luck?

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Not An April Fool's Day Joke!

This was the Husband's haul on the first day of the trout fishing season!!  He was SO happy!  I was still in bed when he got home (it was only 8:15am!) and so I asked him, "Why are you back already??"  When he told me he caught the limit of trout, I was SO sure it was an April Fool's Day joke, lol.

So he told me about where he caught these beauties, and he resisted gloating as he walked past many other fisherman with his creel full on the way back to his car. It would have been a laugh if he had some funny tshirts to wear like, "Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah!"  Or, "Gotta go, caught the limit!"  Or, "I could tell you where I caught these, but then I'd have to kill you."  Lol...

Shortly I am going to cook two of them.  I've never cooked a "freshly caught" fish before, so hopefully I will do them proud!

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