tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-347009962024-03-13T13:22:07.804-07:00Halfway up the StairsHalfway up the stairs is a stair where I sit. There isn't any other stair quite like it. It's not at the bottom, it's not at the top. But this is the stair where I always stop. Halfway up the stairs isn't up and isn't down. It isn't in the nursery, it isn't in the town. And all sorts of funny thoughts run round my head.
It isn't really anywhere, it's somewhere else instead.
-A.A. MilneLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-29528697439797018722014-04-20T20:25:00.001-07:002014-04-20T20:25:42.312-07:003 weeks and 5 yearsToday has been a week since I stopped taking my thyroid medicine. Another 2 weeks to go. I am utterly tired. I'm pretty sure I could hibernate for the next month and wake up still tired. Yet I can keep going easily, I found no problem working 14 hours yesterday, I will find no problem doing what I always do while I have thyroid supplements in me. This is something that I have to go through twice a year for the next 5 years. Until I am in remission. Quite a word there....remission. I don't really think about it until this time of the year comes up for me. It is almost embarrassing for me to explain what I have been through. I don't want people to have pity, or think me weak, because I am not. There is nothing that they can do for me and I don't want to be noticed for it. I have a thick shell, that only a few have broken through. I really could probably count them on both hands and that would be it. I'm not sure where it stems from but no bother. I let it be who I am. I wanted to keep my thyroid, put it in a jar, and poke at it and yell at it. Tell it that it was stupid and take out some anger at it when I got mad that I have to go through this now. Maybe shake the jar in the sky and tell it how much it is messing me up right now. The doctors wouldn't let me keep it. They had to cut it all up and run tests on it and throw it away and forget about it. Now, it is something that I will always have to remember. Each day I wake up and realize that I am different since it was taken away. I just want to feel more normal, to feel like I used to. To talk like I used to, to not bleed for almost a month and then get another period after stopping for 4 days only for it to keep going again for another couple weeks. Then to be so anemic that my ankles puff up and feel like they are going to split and I ache all over and have weird heart palpitations. I want to have the energy every day to be motivated, to be creative, to be excited. I get down about all of the hard work that I did to lose weight, and now I gained it back and can't lose an ounce. I want the doctors to listen to me and to up my medication so that I can feel normal again. Fuck the issues with heart problems and liver problems when I get older because of having more medication if I can't even enjoy the things that I want to now. I feel hurt and hardened. This doesn't help. Yet I am softer, more pliable. I roll with the punches better. I realize how important life and love is. I appreciate everything that I have been given and everything I work for more. Life is poignant, and I don't think that I would ever be at this stage if I had not gone through this issue that brings me to remission. It is a waiting period that I hope and believe that will bring blessings just as much as it has brought curses. <br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-78927245877422542942014-02-17T11:58:00.000-08:002014-02-17T11:58:03.455-08:00Blessings and SplashesMany people hate the character Gollum in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit series, but I love this guy. I think that there is a simple truth to the things he says and he just lays it out there raw and open to vulnerability. In the Hobbit his new saying is "Blessings and Splashes!" Simple, but yet if you think about it, not at all. Every day we are met with blessings in our lives. Something goes great, we get a great laugh, we talk to people that make us happy, dinner is delicious, gas prices are low again, they have my favorite show on Netflix, etc. But then there are those splashes that also greet us every day as well. Unexpected migraine, news that family is not doing well, money having to be spent on a car part, working extra for people that don't show up at work, etc. In fact, the same thing in life can be a blessing and a splash. One of my best friends, Cory, had a baby this past week. More than anything he was so fearful for his wife during her delivery, and for this new life that he was going to have to protect and take care of. He was worried about paying the rent on his house each month before this, but now it was going to be even harder for him. Yet, here was this precious little baby boy born on Valentines day that swept him off of his feet and he is happier than anyone could ever explain or feel. I guess that the main point I am getting at is that the good always comes with the bad. It is inherent in our lives, it is something that we don't ever speak of unless we want to rejoice or complain to our family and friends. It is a balancing act that will always continue. To all that read this I hope that your blessings are continually bigger than your splashes!<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-20844060813997628872013-12-10T21:20:00.000-08:002013-12-10T21:20:05.716-08:00Nostalgia<strong><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: inherit;">I'm feeling nostalgic this evening. Thinking of old friends, new friends, old loves, new loves and everyone in between. Nothing seems right except to think about them. I don't want to be really doing anything else. My mind is full of memories, expectations, and love. I've been a lot of places and done a lot of things. Yet nothing brings better feelings in me than what I have had in the past and what I have now with my family and friends. I could drown everything out with stupid stuff that doesn't matter, but it always comes back that the most happiness I get is out of people. Everything else seems superficial. So just know that tonight, I miss you, I love you, I remember you, I wish that I was surrounded by you all, but for now I will relish in those nostalgic feelings and feel happy.</span></strong> <br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-61064705210017616562013-10-05T08:11:00.001-07:002013-10-05T08:11:42.320-07:00Workaholic<strong><span style="color: #20124d;">I've been labeled a "work-a-holic" more than once. Recently I stuck around work just because I felt like things needed done on our anniversary party evening, even though we had perfectly capable people there to do everything. My own employees tell me to sit down and relax all the time. They tell me to let them do everything. How many people actually do so much that others tell them to stop working? Yikes! What was even worse is that I didn't come home and spend it with the man I love even though I was going to be working over 12 hours each day for the next two days. This put us into an argument where he said that I didn't want to spend time with him...blah, blah, blah. Of course I didn't even think about it that way. It was in no way a means to get away from him, or anything else. I was just involved in my work more than I should have. I should have considered the fact that I was going to fit in 38 hours of work into 3 days and all I would be doing when I got home each night was shower and fall asleep. Stupid me.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #20124d;">I tend to give too much, I stay later than I should. I stick around to finish things even thought they could be taken care of the next day, or by someone else. I have the silly mentality that I can do it faster and better than someone else. I micro-manage things. I go overboard, really. I need to learn how to stop doing that. It affects my relationships, it affects my stress levels. It overall, is not a good thing. But yet I don't know how to not do it. It is so deeply ingrained into me to constantly be "managing" things around me. I take it home with me sometimes. I've found that I often have a hard time relaxing. I can't just sit down and let everything just unwind easily. This really is a struggle that I deal with. I want to be more easy going and just let things happen as they will without me having to control every situation around me. I have been working on it. Making conscious efforts to stop when I think I am going to far. Leaving work early without some things done. Delegating work to others so that I can do the essential things that only I can do around there. Coming home and sitting down...without something to do. The thing is that I love my job. I enjoy being there. I enjoy the friendship and camaraderie that we share there. The thing is, each day I learn something. As I get older I find that all of those little things don't matter. It is the friendships, the connections that we make with people is what matters and what makes our hearts happy more than anything. So maybe I stick around more now to be around that, I am immersed in a wonderful business. Wonderful people. Wonderful co-workers that appreciate and trust me and that makes me want to stick around more than I should. AND since I am there I may as well do some work.....haha! I'm never going to get out of this, am I?</span></strong><br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-2916066506165933122013-08-29T08:35:00.000-07:002013-08-29T08:35:02.082-07:00It Was a Good Day<span style="color: #660000;"><strong>Ever have a day where it just brought you back to life? One that made you feel better and energized you to be able to keep going? This past Monday was one of those days. I have been getting a lot of headaches lately, due to the heat, and whatever reasons my head decides to hate me. I just know that they seem to always show up on my day off, or weekends and it is unfortunate that I miss so much excellent time that I could be living instead of wasting it trying to get through the pain. Well, to get back to Monday, I was feeling great. My boyfriend and I both had the day off, which is rare nowadays. We started off with a breakfast of champs and hot coffee. Afterwards we went over to the winery that I work at and Dustin had a crew there that was helping him crush 10 tons of Tempranillo grapes to put them in the steel tanks for fermentation. We stayed a couple hours to help out, got wine stains to carry with us through the day and headed out of Fort Worth to Weatherford. Basically the rest of the day was shooting guns at a gun range, visiting friends and having dinner with them, seeing family and talking around the dining room table, then heading home tired and happy. One of the best parts was falling asleep in the arms of someone I love with a smile on my face. You just can't beat that feeling. It may be better than anything else.</strong></span> <br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-15105110407526954122013-06-26T09:23:00.000-07:002013-06-26T09:23:17.726-07:00Pet PeeveI just got a phone call from a fellow that had my address wrong for a bill that I have been waiting to receive for a couple months. Basically, he could not hear me correctly because of my voice, kept talking over me, told me that my bill was delinquent, whereupon I told him that it was their fault for getting the address wrong and finally he got to the point where he said that I was not listening to him. I told him that I wanted to receive the bill in the mail, and not pay to someone over the phone when I certainly do not know for sure who they are. He wanted all of my information and had some already. I proceeded to tell him that any one could have that information if they really wanted it. He rattled off my birthdate and last 4 digits of my social security card and again said that I was not listening to him and needed to give him my bank account number and routing number. I promptly hung up on him in a flurry of anger. Threaten me and tell me that I'm not listening? That is my one thing that I will not tolerate from someone. I was trying to talk to him, but he kept proceeding to interrupt me again and again so that I could not get a word in edgewise. I, unfortunately, have found that since my voice is different that people do that much more than they used to. I don't have inflection in my voice like I used to and if I am talking about something mundane, people lose interest faster it seems. I gladly was going to pay over the phone for the bill that I was late on, even though it was their fault for getting my address incorrect. But when he pulled that stunt, all bets were off. <br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-70131095997032508802013-05-30T08:21:00.000-07:002013-05-30T08:21:33.150-07:00Wonderful OhioI went back to Ohio a couple weeks ago...it was wonderful. I flew in and stayed with mom for a few days. Did I mention it was wonderful? I saw friends, spent so much time with Mama, and I got to see my Dad who I haven't seen since I moved. I went on a couple girls nights out with my friends. It really was wonderful. I got a new tattoo, I realized how short I am conpared to the men in my family, and I went to a 80th birthday party for my Grandpa where all of the family and kids were there. What a celebration of my Grandpa's life it is to know I am a part of an amazing loving family. Again, wonderful comes to mind. I took a nap under a dogwood in a hammock, I went to the sale and got all dusty, I held newborn babies, I hugged my Mama every chance that I could. I love her wonderful hugs. I took walks with the family on the hill and watched my family run through the tall grass, I dressed up and went to a vintage jewelry party and drank martini's. It was all together wonderful. It was a trip I needed. It helped mend my heart in many ways. <br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-48230658287486732782013-05-06T10:58:00.000-07:002013-05-06T10:58:00.696-07:00Thoughts Arrive Like Butterflies<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRD1px5mIwXWt3um9xQ67iB68_kW1Ww0oIXMh0jRa08wM8NQERHhyy6snBzvHY4r53e0NzctIYJDGW-MkVTjOB1YxHtyeuFDXTJs-hSiJ_8OAi-kLZIkxwRGvha8SF6OMZtx1/s1600/12547_10151284040932485_709598069_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRD1px5mIwXWt3um9xQ67iB68_kW1Ww0oIXMh0jRa08wM8NQERHhyy6snBzvHY4r53e0NzctIYJDGW-MkVTjOB1YxHtyeuFDXTJs-hSiJ_8OAi-kLZIkxwRGvha8SF6OMZtx1/s400/12547_10151284040932485_709598069_n.png" width="268" /></a>I was looking at old posts on this blog the other day and I was suprised how much of it I really remember. There were things that flooded my memory that I had not thought of in years. It was pleasant and bittersweet to read those words because life has changed so much since then. I wonder if I forgot them intentionally, or if I just let them slip through my mind, only to surface once in a while as a past glimpse. <br />
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I had a dream a few days ago as I was getting a much needed nap (which I rarely get anymore) that I was laying in bed and all of my cats jumped onto the bed and surrounded me like they used to. It was so real to me, at first I questioned if it was real, and in my dream I felt like it was, and I was so happy. I was worried, because my love is extremely allergic to cats and I thought that when he got home from work, I would have to clean the entire house. But at that time I just wanted them with me. My old man Farley, jumped up into my arms under the covers on my left side with his head on my arm like he used to and purred in my ear as we snuggled up together. Big orange Junior jumped up and layed in between my knees, and silly, slightly retarded Butters lay by my right side. I lay there relishing in the moment, it felt as if they were really there, but I also knew that this dream would finish soon since I was on the verge of awakening. I miss that Big man Farley. He was my lover and my everyday hugger. Even now I feel so bad that I left him at my past home in Ohio. He was ill and I found out that Sam had to put him down because he became more ill after I left. I wonder everyday if part of Farley slipping faster was because of me and I feel so bad about it. More than that I feel so much guilt when I think of Ohio. Friends I let down, family that wont talk to me anymore, family that I hardly ever get to see, a profession that went down the tubes. There is so much pain in my heart from Ohio. Some days I just want to be back though. Back to normal routines, back to snowy days, muddy days, cold days, any day. Because if I was back I would be HOME. Texas is my "home", but in no way is it where I would choose to be if I had every liberty in the world to do so. I have an amazing job now that is wonderful. I really do have an amazing group of friends there. But I am quiet now. I hold too many old things in my past that I dont find the need to talk about. A little of that sadness and guilt lingers in the back of my mind. Everyone has some of that in their life, so I know I am not the only one. <br />
All of this is not to say that I am unhappy with where I am. I just let things get to me some days so much that I think that I let the memories slip away so that they dont hurt as much. <br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-38975538188425539892013-02-19T20:10:00.001-08:002013-02-19T20:10:20.566-08:00Little QuickyI really don't have too much to write, I know that I am pretty much the only one that reads my own posts anymore. Thats perfectly fine with me though. It is a nice journal to store my thoughts over the years as things change. I read over some of my old posts the other day, and so much has changed. Life is completely different now. <br />
On to current topics...I am off of my thyroid medication for 3 weeks, starting yesterday. With no thyroid and no meds to control it I will be so tired. I am really not looking forward to the effects that it will have on me. It is almost 48 hours at this point and I am tired already. But the good news is that in 3 weeks I will get blood work that will show my thyroid hormone levels and also bloodwork do a cancer marker that will show if I have any traces of cancer cells. If so I will need to get my next round of radiation. If not then no radiation. I am thinking positive that I will not have to do another round of radiation. The first was so bad, that I don't want to go through it again. I feel for those that go through it for months and years. Mine was nothing compared to theirs. I looked at pictures of myself during that time and my face and neck was so swollen. I hardly ate for a month after that, because I was always sick to my stomach. My nails even got a crazy groove in each of them from the radiation, that has since grown out.<br />
I worked 90+ hours in the past 2 weeks because of how busy the winery was and to help cover the owner while he went to our vineyard to prune the vines. It was an interesting week. I had to fire a new employee that was not working out at all and that hasn't happened there for years. Lucky me got to handle this one. I actually was scared because this person was very volatile and not in a good place mentally. Everything turned out well and the owner fully supported me in it. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEL2CM-Qw6Lw5v8BycPoY6AImZDOjeCtKj6CNIHZ2yzUdrbNzWvo1AdWvR3UUGwnNM2hn6eP6pyyzfebWN6oxE2TMYSbBEpqANlJn9IQ_ioU10Zsd4oPOsk8f_yX3-cahwkMe/s1600/we-want-beer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEL2CM-Qw6Lw5v8BycPoY6AImZDOjeCtKj6CNIHZ2yzUdrbNzWvo1AdWvR3UUGwnNM2hn6eP6pyyzfebWN6oxE2TMYSbBEpqANlJn9IQ_ioU10Zsd4oPOsk8f_yX3-cahwkMe/s320/we-want-beer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Other than that I will now snuggle with my love and finish the night with a movie. Good night me, and whoever else may read this :)Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-66306152139417124992013-02-04T09:23:00.000-08:002013-02-04T09:24:34.142-08:00The Stock Show and Rodeo<strong>Okay, so I grew up going to county fairs, street fairs. Where you walk around, eat fried fair food, look at animals, find the biggest pumpkins, maybe sit on a tractor, and dodge animal poo on the road. Ride some rinky-dink rides that squeak the whole time as you fear your imminent death. See a friend to talk to that you haven't seen in awhile, or even better hide from those people that you don't like to talk to, you know, that old chestnut. </strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafO1BCyNHNbUUISw90gmG5nIgO5e5ircROjgNBJo_dOvHK_LquuPZhl0lBENQZsx0tKnAQCTuF86z-_uNCCBpvS7_3E6YSFoEeHbwsVaq5TXwbsMxsyLJe2yQnHUYcc2KEaeg/s1600/fort-worth-stockyards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafO1BCyNHNbUUISw90gmG5nIgO5e5ircROjgNBJo_dOvHK_LquuPZhl0lBENQZsx0tKnAQCTuF86z-_uNCCBpvS7_3E6YSFoEeHbwsVaq5TXwbsMxsyLJe2yQnHUYcc2KEaeg/s320/fort-worth-stockyards.jpg" width="320" /></strong></a></div>
<strong>Well this weekend I went to the Fort Worth Stock Shows and Rodeo. Still a fair...but different. They still had rides, good fair food, animals, and all that stuff, but it was just different than what I guess fairs from my Northern neck of the woods are like. The fair food was good. That red velvet funnel cake was great. I also had a foot long corndog, and I think it is the first one that I have had from a fair in almost 3 years! The Stock Shows is the one time of the year for all of the cowboys and cowgirls to get all dolled up in their boots, big belt buckles, and cowboy hats. I saw so many women with bedazzled everything basically, that they didnt even look like a cowgirl. They were all drinking Coors Light and grouped up into their little cowboy and cowgirl cliques. Sorry, I just still am not used to the whole cowboy/girl scene. Anywhere else in the US, you get dressed up like that and you get made fun of. I can't wait to get one of those outfits...said me, NEVER! Maybe I will get a pair of unassuming cowboy boots one of these days, since I always wanted a pair, but that would be it. Yee-HAW! It seems like a farce these days, since that is not what drives the DFW area anymore. Yeah, there is TONS of money in this area. Everyone can get rich around here easily. Jobs are plentiful, technology is advancing, small business entrepreneurs can almost guarantee success. It is just an amazing area to be and feel safe from some of the downfalls of other areas of the country. I guess tradition carries on, whether it is current or not, and that is cool. I have no right to judge, what tradition did the area I grew up in have? Not much, so in a way it is nice to be in an area where the people here love and believe so much in their way of life. I sit back and watch, because I don't think that I will ever get that same love for this area, but that is another story for another day.</strong> Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-78822304181757014152013-01-02T21:20:00.001-08:002013-01-02T21:21:22.996-08:00Let Me Learn From Where I Have Been<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkIBa2_iax8-6shvXOK9qyWkBOi52QsLFDvecVURcUh-582xnUjh_09tDORq5VlLX_aK1sUMclT9USxqKxp0AagENN6GkCy5MEsfMw7og3f_Whx9SVSuuD0WklnCSTuT1-3Un/s1600/IMAG1128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkIBa2_iax8-6shvXOK9qyWkBOi52QsLFDvecVURcUh-582xnUjh_09tDORq5VlLX_aK1sUMclT9USxqKxp0AagENN6GkCy5MEsfMw7og3f_Whx9SVSuuD0WklnCSTuT1-3Un/s320/IMAG1128.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I listen to the robot in the kitchen and the little voice of a sweet 4 year old playing with his Daddy. I hear a father laugh as he talks to his son about boy things. There is dancing and laughing. Christmas music is playing and I am relishing in the glow of this time of year. It has been an eventful day. We woke up a sleepy eyed boy to sit around the tree and open presents with. We had a big homemade breakfast complete with cheesy eggs and lots of coffee to wash it down. We played...and played. We went over to Grandpas house and opened more gifts followed by sitting around and talking and watching the kids play. Back home we watched Christmas movies for the rest of the night and played some more. Now I sit and watch my handsome man play his new video games. We stay this way until we can't stay awake anymore and then fall asleep, as always, in each others arms. Comforted to be together as we always are each day.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I reminisce over the past year and everything we have been through together. We have had some volatile days. I have had some volatile days. Ones where I am not sure if I can hold it together any longer. Ones where I have expressed more than I should, I have been mean. Just plain angry and taken it out on others when I could no longer hold it in anymore. I don't trust my intuition as I once used to. I feel unsure of myself sometimes around others, afraid to look a fool. Even though I feel a fool for thinking that way when I know I should not. I have found true friends again. Ones that have been through life and hurts as much as or even more than I have. In all of our brokenness we are family and know that we are there for each other through anything. I love them something fierce. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This year has held so many changes. I have been in more hospitals and doctors offices than I can count. My body has played so many games with me. I grew cancer in me for who knows how long, and still have the uncertainty of still possibly having it. I almost bled to death after a nasty series of health issues threw me in the hospital. I layed in bed for a week in confinement to my room with a nuclear pill that was the same uranium-plutonium fission used in Chernobyl. It made me so violently ill, that I thought my face may just become one with my pillow...or the bathroom floor. My voice turned into a uncontrolled and high pitched instrument for people to have to draw nearer to me to even hear it when I spoke. To this day I feel, in my heart, that it will never be the same as it once was. I will never have the control over it that I used to. I wont be able to sing a solo, or sing a song to someone without feeling my voice break and not being able to hit the notes it should. Of all of the things that I have physically went through it is losing the control over my voice that I am most regretful about. I don't know why it bothers me so much. People say that it sounds fine, but in my head it is so much different than it once was. I was a mimicker. I could mimic voices, songs, characters from movies better than most all other people that I knew. I could sing along to my favorite songs and not think that my voice was annoying and way off key. It hurts to know that anything other than a normal level conversation will make my voice fly off into unknown delights of squeaks, and pitches. I still have issues chugging liquids and I often choke on a small sip of water. It makes me feel very sad and defeated. And to have it happen all of the time, because I talk alot, just reminds me all the time of it. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have had the overwhelming fortune of becoming an event and food manager at a winery as well as start my own small fun business at home making pillows and other decorations to sell on Etsy. I have sold only a handful, but it has allowed me to bring out some creativity and express the fun side of what inspires me. I find it stretches my thinking process and allows me to become more creative as I go; when I thought I had lost much of it as I became older. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> I thank God that I have a voice, I thank God that I am alive, I thank God that I have family and friends that love me, and that dark times bring hope. I thank God, that no matter what, I have someone that loves me through it all and wants to without reservations. I thank God for an amazing job, and talents that let me show my creative side.</span> <span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Overall, it has been a year of going through a lot of trials...but by the grace of God, go I.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">This song is so meaningful to me...may I always have eyes to serve and hands to learn.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #d0e0e3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>You were cold as the blood through your bones<br />And the light which led us from our chosen homes<br />Well I was lost<br /><br />And now I sleep,<br />Sleep the hours that I can't weep<br />When all I knew was steeped in blackened hopes<br />Well I was lost<br /><br />Keep the earth below my feet<br />From my sweat, my blood runs weak<br />Let me learn from where I have been<br />Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn<br />Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn<br /><br />And I was still but I was under your spell<br />When I was told by Jesus all was well<br />So all must be well<br /><br />Just give me time<br />Well you know your desires and mine<br />So wrap my flesh in ivy and in twine<br />For I must be well<br /><br />Keep the earth below my feet<br />From my sweat, my blood runs weak<br />Let me learn from where I have been<br />Well keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn<br />Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn<br /><br />Keep the earth below my feet<br />From my sweat, my blood runs weak<br />Let me learn from where I have been<br />Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn<br />Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #d0e0e3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Below My Feet- Mumford and Sons</strong></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-29583187992622866152012-11-19T12:02:00.000-08:002012-11-19T12:02:55.232-08:00Vedder Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaVYECfaejgHPDj7DJKEWJOkar1kpvWM_eCLvr8e362SdL8fzPnj2EpddNjXMiKxUqIJwaBD__7nMUar7gdDiTMox2S24kvc4BZYBKnDKa4rmrVOwqCth9r30YttEeAqSbs1_/s1600/IMAG0981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaVYECfaejgHPDj7DJKEWJOkar1kpvWM_eCLvr8e362SdL8fzPnj2EpddNjXMiKxUqIJwaBD__7nMUar7gdDiTMox2S24kvc4BZYBKnDKa4rmrVOwqCth9r30YttEeAqSbs1_/s640/IMAG0981.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
I fell in love all over again...it seems that my life long love of Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam will never die. I spent some of the best hours of my life listening to him sing from his solo tour that was postponed from April to thurdsay and it was worth the wait. I have been to quite a lot of Pearl Jam concerts. Huge venues, stadiums, outdoor pavillions, I have had amazing seats just rows from them. I got within an arms length of sharing the wine passed around from Crazy Mary. I just cannot get enough of them. Their songs...Eddie's voice is in my soul.<br />
<br />
This concert was different. It was a close venue. Maybe only 1000 people there at the most. I got seats in the front row in the middle of the balcony, It was very intimate and personal the entire night. Glen Hansard from The Swell Season opened up and his voice is incredible. He was witty and really drew in the crowd to make the night feel special. Eddie came out and sang some of the most intimate songs from all of his albums. One of the most memorable parts of the night was when Eddie and Glen stood in front of the stage with only their voices and a ukelele and sang with just the acoustics of the music hall. It was incredible to just hear their voices...no microphones, no speakers. Simply their voices. I have never had the chance to do that and I probably will never get that opportunity again. I was in awe all over again at that moment. The decorations were awesome. Backdrops that looked like backstreet alleys, a backlit canvas tent with a campfire next to Eddie that was "lit" and blowing flames and smoke out of it. There was a backdrop of twinkling stars that he sang under like it we were all sitting around the campfire with him and his guitar. He had a beer box with a bass pedal for some percussion and a stomp box that he used as well. With every song he played a different instrument. Ukelele, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and a mandolin that he referred to as an "aristrocratic bitch" compared to the ukelele. He messed up the words to Elderly Woman and Just Breathe. He talked about what an honor it was for Willie Nelson to make a cover of Just Breathe and he said that he listened to it so many times that afterwards he couldnt sing it the same. He sang a little how Wille sang it with a twang in his voice and had everyone laughing. He told stories about friends, he made fun of a drunk lady in the crowd, he talked about erections, elections, and marijuana. He politely asked a woman that was annoyingly screaming to please, for her safety, stop because the people behind her were going to murder her. The last song that was played was "Hard Sun". I took the picture on this post during that song. He was interactive with the crowd and so funny. He was just really engaging and I could tell that he wanted to be there and was having a great time and still loved getting to sing for all of us.<br />
<br />
The setlist for the night:<br />
<ol>
<li><a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/daniel-johnston-43d6471b.html?song=Walking+the+Cow" title="Statistics for Walking the Cow by Daniel Johnston">Walking the Cow</a><span class="cover-artist"> (<a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/daniel-johnston-43d6471b.html">Daniel Johnston</a> cover)</span></li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/pink-floyd-13d6adc5.html?song=Brain+Damage" title="Statistics for Brain Damage by Pink Floyd">Brain Damage</a><span class="cover-artist"> (<a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/pink-floyd-13d6adc5.html">Pink Floyd</a> cover)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/pearl-jam-23d6b80b.html?song=Sometimes" title="Statistics for Sometimes by Pearl Jam">Sometimes</a></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/pearl-jam-23d6b80b.html?song=Can't+Keep" title="Statistics for Can't Keep by Pearl Jam">Can't Keep</a></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/eddie-vedder-6bd6a2e2.html?song=Sleeping+By+Myself" title="Statistics for Sleeping By Myself by Eddie Vedder">Sleeping By Myself</a></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/eddie-vedder-6bd6a2e2.html?song=Without+You" title="Statistics for Without You by Eddie Vedder">Without You</a></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/neil-young-6bd6b662.html?song=The+Needle+and+the+Damage+Done" title="Statistics for The Needle and the Damage Done by Neil Young">The Needle and the Damage Done</a><span class="cover-artist"> (<a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/neil-young-6bd6b662.html">Neil Young</a> cover)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/cat-stevens-43d6e3af.html?song=Don't+Be+Shy" title="Statistics for Don't Be Shy by Cat Stevens">Don't Be Shy</a><span class="cover-artist"> (<a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/cat-stevens-43d6e3af.html">Cat Stevens</a> cover)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/pearl-jam-23d6b80b.html?song=Elderly+Woman+Behind+the+Counter+in+a+Small+Town" title="Statistics for Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town by Pearl Jam">Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town</a></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/eddie-vedder-6bd6a2e2.html?song=Far+Behind" title="Statistics for Far Behind by Eddie Vedder">Far Behind</a></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/eddie-vedder-6bd6a2e2.html?song=No+Ceiling" title="Statistics for No Ceiling by Eddie Vedder">No Ceiling</a></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/eddie-vedder-6bd6a2e2.html?song=Setting+Forth" title="Statistics for Setting Forth by Eddie Vedder">Setting Forth</a></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/eddie-vedder-6bd6a2e2.html?song=Guaranteed" title="Statistics for Guaranteed by Eddie Vedder">Guaranteed</a></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/eddie-vedder-6bd6a2e2.html?song=Rise" title="Statistics for Rise by Eddie Vedder">Rise</a></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/eddie-vedder-6bd6a2e2.html?song=Long+Nights" title="Statistics for Long Nights by Eddie Vedder">Long Nights</a><span class="with-artist"> (with <a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/glen-hansard-5bd64f30.html">Glen Hansard</a>)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/pearl-jam-23d6b80b.html?song=Driftin'" title="Statistics for Driftin' by Pearl Jam">Driftin'</a></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/pearl-jam-23d6b80b.html?song=Better+Man" title="Statistics for Better Man by Pearl Jam">Better Man</a>P</div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/pearl-jam-23d6b80b.html?song=Immortality" title="Statistics for Immortality by Pearl Jam">Immortality</a></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/pearl-jam-23d6b80b.html?song=Lukin" title="Statistics for Lukin by Pearl Jam">Lukin</a></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/pearl-jam-23d6b80b.html?song=Porch" title="Statistics for Porch by Pearl Jam">Porch</a></div>
</li>
<li class="encore">Encore:</li>
<li value="21"><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/ramones-13d6a5cd.html?song=I+Believe+In+Miracles" title="Statistics for I Believe In Miracles by Ramones">I Believe In Miracles</a><span class="cover-artist"> (<a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/ramones-13d6a5cd.html">Ramones</a> cover)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/little-steven-2bd67072.html?song=I+Am+a+Patriot" title="Statistics for I Am a Patriot by Little Steven">I Am a Patriot</a><span class="cover-artist"> (<a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/little-steven-2bd67072.html">Little Steven</a> cover)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/pearl-jam-23d6b80b.html?song=Just+Breathe" title="Statistics for Just Breathe by Pearl Jam">Just Breathe</a></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/pearl-jam-23d6b80b.html?song=Unthought+Known" title="Statistics for Unthought Known by Pearl Jam">Unthought Known</a></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/lawrence-welk-2bd6100a.html?song=Tonight+You+Belong+To+Me" title="Statistics for Tonight You Belong To Me by Lawrence Welk">Tonight You Belong To Me</a><span class="cover-artist"> (<a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/lawrence-welk-2bd6100a.html">Lawrence Welk</a> cover)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/jerry-hannan-6bd4fe82.html?song=Society" title="Statistics for Society by Jerry Hannan">Society</a><span class="cover-artist"> (<a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/jerry-hannan-6bd4fe82.html">Jerry Hannan</a> cover)</span><span class="with-artist">(with <a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/glen-hansard-5bd64f30.html">Glen Hansard</a>)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-everly-brothers-5bd6af64.html?song=Sleepless+Nights" title="Statistics for Sleepless Nights by The Everly Brothers">Sleepless Nights</a><span class="cover-artist"> (<a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/the-everly-brothers-5bd6af64.html">The Everly Brothers</a> cover)</span><span class="with-artist">(with <a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/glen-hansard-5bd64f30.html">Glen Hansard</a>)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-swell-season-53d64359.html?song=Falling+Slowly" title="Statistics for Falling Slowly by The Swell Season">Falling Slowly</a><span class="cover-artist"> (<a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/the-swell-season-53d64359.html">The Swell Season</a> cover)</span><span class="with-artist">(with <a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/glen-hansard-5bd64f30.html">Glen Hansard</a>)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/victoria-williams-5bd61fb8.html?song=Crazy+Mary" title="Statistics for Crazy Mary by Victoria Williams">Crazy Mary</a><span class="cover-artist"> (<a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/victoria-williams-5bd61fb8.html">Victoria Williams</a> cover)</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/pearl-jam-23d6b80b.html?song=The+End" title="Statistics for The End by Pearl Jam">The End</a></div>
</li>
<li><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/neil-young-6bd6b662.html?song=Rockin'+in+the+Free+World" title="Statistics for Rockin' in the Free World by Neil Young">Rockin' in the Free World</a><span class="cover-artist"> (<a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/neil-young-6bd6b662.html">Neil Young</a> cover)</span></div>
</li>
<li class="encore">Encore 2:</li>
<li value="32"><div class="songPart">
<a class="songLabel" href="http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/indio-bd4a19a.html?song=Hard+Sun" title="Statistics for Hard Sun by Indio">Hard Sun</a><span class="cover-artist"> (<a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/indio-bd4a19a.html">Indio</a> cover)</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="editCont">
<a class="editIcon" href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/edit/eddie-vedder/2012/music-hall-at-fair-park-dallas-tx-53daffb9.html" rel="nofollow"></a> </div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-5501275341856569632012-11-13T09:09:00.000-08:002012-11-13T09:09:07.487-08:00Letter for Low Spirits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">As this past week saw me back in the hospital for 2 days for an unseen, and very scary occurrence, I remembered this letter that I found the other day that spoke to my heart in this time I have been adjusting to. It speaks volumes to what makes life better and every time I read it and think on the advice, it helps me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A letter from Sydney Smith to Lady Georgiana Morpeth, Feb. 16, 1820:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear Lady Georgiana,– Nobody has suffered more from low spirits than I have
done — so I feel for you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1st. Live as well as you dare. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2nd. Go into the
shower-bath with a small quantity of water at a temperature low enough to give
you a slight sensation of cold, 75° or 80°. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3rd. Amusing books. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4th. Short
views of human life — not further than dinner or tea. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">5th. Be as busy as you
can.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">6th. See as much as you can of those friends who respect and like you.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">7th. And of those acquaintances who amuse you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">8th. Make no secret of low spirits
to your friends, but talk of them freely — they are always worse for dignified
concealment.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">9th. Attend to the effects tea and coffee produce upon you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">10th.
Compare your lot with that of other people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">11th. Don’t expect too much from
human life — a sorry business at the best. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">12th. Avoid poetry, dramatic
representations (except comedy), music, serious novels, melancholy, sentimental
people, and everything likely to excite feeling or emotion, not ending in
active benevolence. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">13th. Do good, and endeavour to please everybody of every
degree. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">14th. Be as much as you can in the open air without fatigue. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">15th. Make
the room where you commonly sit, gay and pleasant. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">16th. Struggle by little and
little against idleness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">17th. Don’t be too severe upon yourself, or underrate
yourself, but do yourself justice. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">18th. Keep good blazing fires. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">19th. Be firm
and constant in the exercise of rational religion. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">20th. Believe me, dear Lady
Georgiana,<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Very truly yours,<br />
Sydney Smith</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-87029687806091178842012-10-24T08:27:00.000-07:002012-10-24T08:27:41.370-07:00Sleepy-time and Pumpkins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm so tired...all I want to do is sleep right now. I can't wait for normal days to catch up with me and make me feel more alive again. I push myself to do things each day, but most of the time my motivation and concentration is so lacking that I can't push through that invisible barrier that holds me back. In my noggin I plan on all of these things I want, or should be doing, but less than half of them pan out. I go for the easy route lately, and think to myself that I will worry about the big things soon enough. <br />
Doctor says that we will check to see how my thyroid levels are in a week or two when enough thyroid meds are in my body at optimum capacity. Until then, I know that they are not near enough, and that I definitely will need to up the dosage that I was getting before surgery. My speech pathologist says that I have one vocal cord that is paralyzed, and we will see if it livens up within a year of surgery. If not then it will probably not at all. I seem to remember her saying that it was working just a little after my surgery at some point when she checked it, but now it's not. I wake myself up making funny noises at night. It's as if my vocal cords rub together and make vocal noises. Kind of silly, and it makes me laugh, although I still can't do that well either. <br />
On a different note...I have come to embrace the fall season and anything pumpkin. Yes, I said it, pumpkin. I found pumpkin pie pop tarts, pumpkin butter at Trader Joes, pumpkin pie yogurt, pumpkin flavored coffee, pumpkin bagels with pumpkin cream cheese spread, pumpkin butterscotch cake. Really anything pumpkiny and spicy is yummy to my tastebuds right now, since most all foods taste weaker and not as sweet or salty to my senses because of all this medical stuff. Most foods have a slimy consistency, and they taste buttery to me. It is very odd. I mostly eat bland foods...except for pumpkiny goodness. I wish it was fall and pumpkin season all year long!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-84139161043297786062012-09-27T08:29:00.002-07:002012-09-27T08:29:22.603-07:00GoneI remember walking those halls, hand in hand, looking over all of the beautiful work. Those were happy days. We silently seperated and went through the room, only to converge in front of a couple works to look at them, hand in hand again, listening to the curator as she explained small tidbits about certain ones or changed the lighting so that we could see what was brought out with the lights changing facets. He found his first, it was beautiful and graceful. I could see it in the forefront of a church, its beautiful blues sweeping over the floor. I found mine after.<br />
It caught me up in the way that it was stark. The lines were nothing that I had seen before in that kind of art, sharp angles, almost geometric. The colors were more neutral and did not stand out as the others did, yet the angles and how it was displayed stood out to me. It struck me how simple it was, because that was all that I wanted in who was in the picture. <br />
We took them home after they were framed in gorgeous antique gold frames and black matting. Over the years they changed places on the walls a few times. We would turn on the art lights over them when company came over so that they could stand out a little more. I would often stand and look at them, at mine, for minutes on end, catching new details and pulling in their immensity in the dynamic smallness. <br />
Quite a few years later we parted, along with possessions seperated. It was a sad time, a scary time. Many things I layed down and just let him have, I did not want to bother with the diatribes, the fights over who paid for it, who used it more, who deserved it more. I felt guilt over what I had done, my life had been turned upside down and I wanted to run. I was mortified that I had let my profession slide out of my hands, I saw pity in their eyes and I did not want to see that. I held so strong to a belief for so long that was really never there after hearing his words that we never truly loved each other. I know that I did...in a way I always will. I think he is just lying to himself to see those words and make the world believe it. Or maybe he truly felt that way and I was misled. Either way it was the saddest part of my life and one that changed my heart and took something away from me that I will never get back. <br />
I took that stark piece of art when I moved out. I hung it on the wall at my mothers house. It looked so nice in those sunlit rooms. I made a big move and did not want to take the art and have it destroyed on the long trip. I would come back for it after I was settled in. I thought about it often, wondered how I would bring it with me when I was visiting next and where I would put it when I returned to my new home. I found a perfect spot, I moved things so that I could hang it as soon as I returned back from getting it. To my suprise it was not there any more when I returned to my mothers to get it. She said that he came, one day out of the blue, months after things were final and took it. Acted like I knew what was going on and took it out of her home. She was too nice to know.<br />
I got there and wondered where it was. I couldn't wait to lay my eyes on it again. The first question I asked when I got in the house. "Where is my painting?"...it was gone. Six months later gone. It changed something in me towards him that day that I had never seen in him. I had never seen him lie or steal so blatantly. I am inconsolable, to this day. I want that art back more than anything, because it was something that symbolized something to me. It was stark life and geometric simplicity in my Savior in that art. It was happiness together and warm memories of a time we had for awhile. I am at a loss for how to get it back from a man that took it from me without any regard. Gone. Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-35313758603228954362012-09-21T10:29:00.000-07:002012-09-21T10:29:16.490-07:00Preparing for the next step<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I always seem to be preparing for something. This past week, as well as the next couple weeks, will be spent on a special no iodine diet and all medications dropped and out of my system. It hasn't been difficult at all yet. I pretty much have to make everything from scratch to eat, and the fact that I cannot eat any cheese makes me frown is only a minor thing. I never realized that practically everything has salt in it. Cereals, packaged meats, canned anything, some frozen veggies, marshmallows...everything. I love the fact that I live so close to some amazing farmers markets and healthier alternative grocery stores (Trader Joes and Central Market are less than 10 minutes from me). So getting fresh, whole foods hasn't been difficult. My kitchen is stocked up with food, I just have to make it. My energy has dramatically dropped in the 4 days of this diet already, so I am concerned how it will be in a couple weeks when I will be void of all medication or iodine in my body. I work in the evenings 4-5 days a week and I think the rest of the time will be spent resting and saving up energy for that. The Winery I work at is having their 3 year anniversary on Tuesday and I will be there most of the day to help prepare and then work the crazy celebration. In a couple weeks I will be confined to my apartment in isolation from anyone for 7 days to drain the radiation from my body and not make anyone else radioactive. I am looking forward to it in a way. Soaking in the bath a couple times a day to draw toxins out of me. Resting and catching up on reading and writing letters to people that deserve more of my attention than I give them, among other things. After that, the next step.</span> Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-17633259639803355092012-09-04T11:39:00.000-07:002012-09-04T11:39:31.570-07:00No Voice, No Answer<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">Today has been odd. And not in a good way. I have just felt that no one wants to answer any of my questions. It's almost as if no one wants to talk to me. Well, in my mind, that they basically don't want to deal with me. I have been on the phone most of the morning dealing with medical stuff. If you know me, I'm not great with phone calls anyways, especially business related things. The worst part is I am just getting the run around. I cannot get a straight answer. I have left messages for days with people, I have given my phone number, and email address, and information to so many people, I have asked to speak with the person who can give me answers, and all I get is more waiting. I am at their mercy, and I am waiting. I still hardly have a voice to speak with, and I sound like a little girl on the line. I wonder if they think that I am just making fun of the whole process sometimes because of my voice. In my head I sound ridiculous, others say it sounds sweet, and they don't even think anything of it. But I am getting frustrated in how much I have to repeat myself, and I wonder if I am even getting respect. I think I am only getting sympathy at this point. I don't want that. I just want answers!</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">If I could scream, I just might. It just sounds like a whisper at this point. I have no forcefulness behind my voice, I cannot project my voice. Heck, I went through a drive-thru the other day, and they couldn't hear me, so I had to go up to the window and place my order. I talk to people coming into the winery I work at everyday, I talk to them about the wines, I conduct wine tastings, I answer any detail that they have questions about. I get breathless, I feel like I have to scream to get out words loud enough to hear. At the end of the night my voice is so high pitch that I feel like my head is going to pop and my incision on my neck just throbs. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: inherit;">It's almost been a month since my surgery. I feel great, I have energy. I thought that these things would be the hardest to deal with, but they aren't. The biggest thing that gets to me is my voice. I can whistle like a bird, but I cannot sing, I cannot laugh, I cannot yell, I cannot talk like the ladies man, or talk like an old person. I have been told that I sound like Miss Piggy or Consuelo from family guy. They were trying to make me laugh about it and feel better. I hope and pray that it will come back one day. It could be months, it could be different forever. I wish I had an answer<span style="color: black;">.</span></span><span style="color: black;"> </span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-8806381456531904412012-08-07T03:26:00.003-07:002012-08-07T03:26:27.061-07:00Scary WordI'm sitting here at 5am, in the dark, with only the glow of my computer to light things. The house is still and cool. I had surgery yesterday...I got my thyroid taken out...and the basically the first words I hear when I wake up is cancer. I think I was too groggy to think about it yesterday as I came out of anesthesia. Now, as I sit here, with a stiff neck and not breathing so good because of the swelling, it becomes more real to me. Doctors say it like it is nothing, everyone skirts the issue when talking about it. I have cancer though. The Dr says that he should have gotten it all out when he took my thyroid out, but whos to say how long I have had it and if it was just contained in my thyroid? I will find out in a week, in the meantime I'll just work on recovery from surgery and take a day at a time.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-43856378255689557472012-07-16T11:39:00.002-07:002012-07-16T11:39:46.329-07:00Random ThoughtsI really don't have much to talk about. Seems that life throws curves from every side as we go along. I used to tihink that as I got older I would be able to cut out all those extra projects and things to do. I find that I always have more to do. For me it isn't just simple to drop things, to leave things behind without finishing them. I say yes to too much, I go farther than I should, and then I find that I didn't really get as much satisfaction out of it as I wanted. Although it is good to know that someone else was helped.<br />
Recent events have shown me that I cannot always even trust those that I used to be close to. I've learned that those that I am not yet that close to carry more love and respect towards me than I could have ever asked for. I've found that even when I am hurting and down, there is always someone out there thinking of me and loving me. <br />
I don't talk much, I don't tell people whats going on much. Honestly, I don't know what is going on in my head most of the time either. It is so hard to make sense of this mess in my head, that I just don't often try. One day all the mess will make sense to me.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-68607194351364410752012-06-09T21:31:00.001-07:002012-06-09T21:31:46.758-07:00New WordsMy friend at work has a word that he uses for people or things that basically suck. Life situations, mean people, really anything. That word is...wait for it....Baduga. Used like, "that guy is such a baduga". Or "I feel like a baduga". Maybe this little ditty..."I really baduga'd". It always sounds funny. And it works to say it and not have a person know what you are talking about if it is directed at them. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JwNdEG-7oEE7lvdAsSKWwICV5Aa1QvUzb5h1jaInWracz2U_WVZTsbZt9wHvyuJUmSdsf8MwJIOnkj57P0ABJzTWkuqXlgHVMdUDw6DF1LYbNy1p9DVIAcJ__rwUAAZjNKae/s1600/invisible-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JwNdEG-7oEE7lvdAsSKWwICV5Aa1QvUzb5h1jaInWracz2U_WVZTsbZt9wHvyuJUmSdsf8MwJIOnkj57P0ABJzTWkuqXlgHVMdUDw6DF1LYbNy1p9DVIAcJ__rwUAAZjNKae/s320/invisible-18.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
Anyways, the reason that I write that is because life has been pretty "baduga" as of the past couple months. And I don't want people to worry about me or feel sorry. I know barely anyone even ever reads this blog anymore, but it is nice to write on whats on my mind as I go through life. Whether good or bad. As I was saying I noticed my health was kind of sinking a little, I just was more tired, not able to concentrate as much, and I had a huge catch in my throat at all times. I figured it was working so much and that it was just catching up with me. But this was worse than just being tired, I know that tiredness, and what this was and it was way different. I also noticed that I was choking on alot of foods that never gave me any problem. I also had a little trouble breathing with simple things like going up my stairs. It started to concern me that my thyroid was acting up. So I made an appointment with my doctor. Turns out my thyroid is growing. It has moved my trachea over and pushed my vocal cords on the one side to the point of paralysis so that they are stretched as tight as they can against my trachea. Basically, I cannot put off my thyroid removal any more and I need to have surgery soon to remove it. Pretty baduga, right? Haha, I can't wait.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-2573970028052383822012-01-12T08:12:00.000-08:002012-01-12T08:13:20.399-08:00Updates<span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c;"><strong>I found myself sick a couple weeks ago and unfortunately it has been sticking with me a couple weeks ago. It started with a chest cold that turned to bronchitis and an ear infection and now is working it's way out of my system, slowly but surely. I haven't been breathing real well with it and it has zapped all of my energy to the point where I am just super tired. I was having trouble climbing the 2 sets of stairs to my second floor apartment there for awhile. Each day I have felt a little better though. I just did not want to take any antibiotics and then get sick all over again because my immune system was weakened by the drugs. Oh well, day 15 of this stupid sickness is here and I can't wait to be done with it.</strong></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnFJbt8XujddqToO9aLEXUU2aEQHlKf43p94GV0WqJTFdDWeyh-sny7hMpQRDIqtzgJTfZQx63lfyeNJeRaaqy00-xBwhlYXYbMeCutnBwsHN3dgDE8zRMvSIU3rQvlJzVRfY/s1600/2183086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnFJbt8XujddqToO9aLEXUU2aEQHlKf43p94GV0WqJTFdDWeyh-sny7hMpQRDIqtzgJTfZQx63lfyeNJeRaaqy00-xBwhlYXYbMeCutnBwsHN3dgDE8zRMvSIU3rQvlJzVRfY/s320/2183086.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><strong><span style="color: #134f5c;">In the midst of all of that I went job hunting again...I had 3 calls in 2 days time from the 8 applications that I put in online. Two from bakeries and one in need of a server at a country club. I accepted a almost full time job at a fun Bakery/Restaurant called the Swiss Pastry Shoppe. They remind me of a smaller scale Das Dutch Haus where I worked for 12+ years and enjoyed so much. I had my first day yesterday and they all seem really nice there, many of them have been there over 10 years and the hours fit perfect for me. I'm looking forward to being there and becoming a part of a fun mom and pop shop again.</span></strong>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-53661464433215540492011-12-29T08:38:00.000-08:002011-12-29T08:38:23.065-08:00No-Bakes<strong><span style="color: #660000;">When I worked as a bakery manager I loved their no-bakes...maybe a little too much :) They were the best thing we had in that place (along with the maple creamsticks). And even though I made 1000's of dozens of them, I never got tired of them. Of course everyone likes them some chocolate and peanut butter mixed up with sugar and butter and oats. It really is just one big piece of candy. Along with the other few different varieties of cookies and candies I also made Chocolate No-Bakes for Christmas this year. I'm sharing the recipe here. Hope you enjoy!</span></strong><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><strong>4 cups white sugar</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><strong>1/2 cup cocoa</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><strong>2 sticks margarine</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><strong>1 1/4 cups milk</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><strong>2 cups creamy peanut butter</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><strong>6 cups rolled quick oats</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><strong>2 tsp. vanilla</strong></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Afeg01WB-Bs/TvyVV3R0XJI/AAAAAAAAAYI/ul2Rqm3Cl5M/s1600/DSCN5998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><strong><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Afeg01WB-Bs/TvyVV3R0XJI/AAAAAAAAAYI/ul2Rqm3Cl5M/s320/DSCN5998.JPG" width="320" /></strong></span></a></div><strong><span style="color: #660000;">*First...Make sure that all of your ingredients are measured out before cooking the no-bakes. Timing is of the essence when making them, because they can be too soft or too overcooked if there is any wait in the process of mixing them due to measuring things out after the mixture cooks.</span></strong> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BnZVyZ3UOpE/TvyVh4Y3MPI/AAAAAAAAAYU/VKz7h0I96O0/s1600/DSCN6001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BnZVyZ3UOpE/TvyVh4Y3MPI/AAAAAAAAAYU/VKz7h0I96O0/s200/DSCN6001.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FvpROgC7SM4/TvyVvZnDtrI/AAAAAAAAAYg/d3A6joqrLco/s1600/DSCN6002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FvpROgC7SM4/TvyVvZnDtrI/AAAAAAAAAYg/d3A6joqrLco/s200/DSCN6002.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><strong><span style="color: #660000;">*Second...In a large saucepan, mix together the sugar and cocoa till cocoa lumps are broken up well. Mix in milk and margarine. Cook over med-high, stir often and watch mixture closely. Bring to a boil and once you have a ROLLING BOIL start a timer for 2 1/2 minutes. Leave the mixture to boil and get your peanut butter, oats, and vanilla close by.</span></strong> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-96tvoKtpWSw/TvyV7OImlZI/AAAAAAAAAYs/bej6nho81JI/s1600/DSCN6003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-96tvoKtpWSw/TvyV7OImlZI/AAAAAAAAAYs/bej6nho81JI/s200/DSCN6003.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<strong><span style="color: #660000;">*Third...once timer is done, turn off heat and take saucepan off of stovetop. This is where you make your work fast with no interruptions until the no-bakes are scooped out. Mix in the peanut butter and vanilla. Stir peanut butter in till melted pretty well with just a few lumps left.</span></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yv6uvr_xFKc/TvyWFbukvqI/AAAAAAAAAY4/fXRWpSwMgv0/s1600/DSCN6005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yv6uvr_xFKc/TvyWFbukvqI/AAAAAAAAAY4/fXRWpSwMgv0/s200/DSCN6005.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><strong><span style="color: #660000;">*Fourth...add oats. You may not need all of the oats here. Mix in enough to so that it still looks a little bit soupy, but not too much to make it look like a thick oatmeal.</span></strong> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FtESTMRt70M/TvyWQW0sTeI/AAAAAAAAAZE/A9LgKcRpgxM/s1600/DSCN6006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FtESTMRt70M/TvyWQW0sTeI/AAAAAAAAAZE/A9LgKcRpgxM/s320/DSCN6006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><strong><span style="color: #660000;">*Fifth...scoop out no-bakes onto wax paper with clicky scooper whatever size you desire. Let the no-bakes cool and firm up. Eat and Enjoy!</span></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1EmrD7uEpzw/TvyWgEyeRCI/AAAAAAAAAZY/ABTHBxusFBA/s1600/DSCN6008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1EmrD7uEpzw/TvyWgEyeRCI/AAAAAAAAAZY/ABTHBxusFBA/s200/DSCN6008.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-81639319686038837922011-12-19T09:37:00.000-08:002011-12-19T09:37:00.224-08:00Oh Christmas Tree...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrvII4vDSBzmexrBus-tZkFdKt0SfHqRFhj742aD6qFs7Si0loyGUz73-eLXzbjVFg1vWJOWmGBFaOtwQYb4_A49twxOz8gBbAfIzbdSx2T7786tlEeiFkaLebE6fMzbh4flf/s1600/DSCN5904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrvII4vDSBzmexrBus-tZkFdKt0SfHqRFhj742aD6qFs7Si0loyGUz73-eLXzbjVFg1vWJOWmGBFaOtwQYb4_A49twxOz8gBbAfIzbdSx2T7786tlEeiFkaLebE6fMzbh4flf/s640/DSCN5904.JPG" width="312" /></a></div><span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>Its a funny thing being in a state with no real "winter" conditions during the Christmas season. We've been having moderately cold weather, but I have yet to see any ice or snow. It rained for a few days and reminded me of a nice spring day in Ohio, with the overcast sky and cool rain. But nothing like the snow and ice that normally prevailed over the entire winter each year in Northeast Ohio. </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>Needless to say, I miss the snow and inclement conditions some days. I miss looking out the window in the morning to see how much snow we got overnight. I miss laying in bed and listening to the cars driving to work in the morning and trying to figure out how much snow is on the road by listening to their tires as they drive by. Lots of snow meant you could barely hear them as they snuck by the house. Or if the roadcrews had already been out you could hear the slushy snow underneath the tires. Here, I don't have cars drive by that much since I live in a gated apartment community, and there are no major roads right out my window (although within 1/4 mile there is major highways everywhere). Plus, I know that if I look out the window, it is probably going to be sunny and beautiful out. Of course no snow or ice to suprise me though.</strong></span> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidi6eCLESMSRiSDCt1QghyiFUZtJydPowh7xQt3i3yk_UlKtj9ovvIUqXXqUbTz2qFNDdADJh9XuldNV3LbQaM3Nb7_kEM1Q_0vAXd7W75IX26Y_WAXFTnhdgJes-IrlhxvMek/s1600/DSCN5947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidi6eCLESMSRiSDCt1QghyiFUZtJydPowh7xQt3i3yk_UlKtj9ovvIUqXXqUbTz2qFNDdADJh9XuldNV3LbQaM3Nb7_kEM1Q_0vAXd7W75IX26Y_WAXFTnhdgJes-IrlhxvMek/s320/DSCN5947.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="color: red;"><strong>Last night my Baby and I finished putting the Christmas lights on the tree, and it looks absolutely amazing. He says that there are between 1600 and 1700 lights on it. He did most of the work of putting the lights on and I think there are 9 strands of lights added along with the 600 prelit lights that came with the tree. It is it's own source of heat in the living room as I watch it twinkle and flash and make this Christmas season somehow brighter. Christmas is his favorite time of year. His mother and him would decorate their Christmas trees with as many lights as they could fit on it and cover it with all the decorations they had stored away. They shared a love of Christmas together, and now that his mother is no longer with him, he continues the traditions that she gave to him. </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><strong>So here are a few pictures of our tree pre-decorations. Enjoy :)</strong></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9b9d1sfhs-RsHJkZUDse14BhMfLk5xZKUPfCgDQASy2iZl-ZKFt6Rt7bkpkctINr2knQ8H2F7mMCE8xtVEXpKMUK-Oza2AWL9v7mMV-i5j4U-9IJ4EPI0pHi7ZhgQeu043R12/s1600/DSCN5914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9b9d1sfhs-RsHJkZUDse14BhMfLk5xZKUPfCgDQASy2iZl-ZKFt6Rt7bkpkctINr2knQ8H2F7mMCE8xtVEXpKMUK-Oza2AWL9v7mMV-i5j4U-9IJ4EPI0pHi7ZhgQeu043R12/s400/DSCN5914.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-4706345158645329232011-12-08T12:01:00.000-08:002011-12-19T09:37:49.632-08:00Memories in Insomnia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyJchryWM-3_THzXgFNeybrGYBdFqYgtZup99c5jJWlbulPgyQcYqxV-vSXEe_jIRoioFrgyhPZhwjp0oq21rjtwxIlJpuGDcMWt_Tnow3OIB6O_ugc_x1mWQktcqLancaxE-/s1600/dscf2786_rusty+freezer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcyJchryWM-3_THzXgFNeybrGYBdFqYgtZup99c5jJWlbulPgyQcYqxV-vSXEe_jIRoioFrgyhPZhwjp0oq21rjtwxIlJpuGDcMWt_Tnow3OIB6O_ugc_x1mWQktcqLancaxE-/s320/dscf2786_rusty+freezer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">Last night I layed in bed unable to sleep and dealing with some insomnia. It's funny how thoughts past and present come to mind when you least expect them in the quiet and stillness of the night. When there is nothing else jumping in to take over thoughts and actions. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">My mind went back to the hardware store by our house that my Uncle Steve worked at during high school and after called <em>Rural Supply</em>. We would often go there to visit and spend some time there, we went quite frequently because it was when Mom and Dad were building the log house and there was always some small item that they needed to get to finish something up. This hardware store was an old dusty store that smelled like man and tools, and rubber belts and dirt. I loved going there. What made it especially exciting was the big white rusty deep chest freezer right by the door of the store. I think it was to the left of the door when you went out even. What was inside were all kinds of ice cream treats. Popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, ice cream cones, orange pops, you name it. I don't know if the owner had a sweet tooth, or if he liked to see the smile on peoples faces when they took something from that freezer. My brother and I would literally open the lid and lean into that rusty wonder, letting cold frosty air cover our faces, looking for what we wanted when Mom or Dad gave us the go ahead. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">I'm sure that Mom and Dad made us wait for the treats in the rusty white icebox till the end because, for one, that meant that we would be good until the end of the trip there. Plus any kid thinks that they will just eat up that treat, but in all reality every kid on the face of the earth makes a mess eating and inevitably Mom and Dad didn't want us dripping sticky ice cream on the ground or wiping grimy chocolate fingers on something on the shelf. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">That rusty freezer caused such a warm and exciting memory. Amazing how life as a kid was filled with so much fun from a simple ice cream treat.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34700996.post-21073626111673128372011-11-30T20:23:00.000-08:002011-12-19T09:38:43.364-08:00Eggrolls<span style="color: blue;">So... I found myself with a day off and looking for things to do. I decided that the paychecks just weren't going to get into the bank on their own so I deposited them. I then went to TJ Maxx and roamed around for awhile looking for gift ideas. I found a few things, a pine scented yankee candle, some skull bottle stoppers, jeans for me (Im a sucker for good jeans), and a nerf toy for my boyfriends lil 3 year old. I then went shopping at one of my favorite grocery stores called Sprouts Farmers Market. I got avocados, broccoli, celery, cauliflower, zucchini, roma tomatoes, blackberries, oranges among other goodies such as ear candles and garlic sourdough bread :) Then to get gas for my beastly gas guzzling truck. I got home and cleaned up the place a bit and moved around the 4 totes of Christmas decorations that will be going around the house and on the tree in the next couple days. I decided to try my hand at making chinese eggrolls after that and I think they turned out pretty decent. I took a couple pictures of the funtivities involved. The recipe ensues...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokf7YL1hRBGEaZzLnTuH29Ot2izyQV8cMZiKz1mW4LCtNt6PJ8tK7_Ph68TYCsjdVYBfwm327uE_vXUJv7pXc_N1ast4N7icTFS1a4_YdBQV7L1uORs20nX2e5Sgps9KMlLXb/s1600/DSCN5847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokf7YL1hRBGEaZzLnTuH29Ot2izyQV8cMZiKz1mW4LCtNt6PJ8tK7_Ph68TYCsjdVYBfwm327uE_vXUJv7pXc_N1ast4N7icTFS1a4_YdBQV7L1uORs20nX2e5Sgps9KMlLXb/s320/DSCN5847.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue;">Gathering all the ingredients.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIm6pwKMKdns4-IbrDjI6fOZ9Fu2ICq4uA0PEcYcxSjNN9niSLxHVac4QiK_t80DxcRJcQS8bNo1cxmR9d7FmE1X0zGBhCBohsxQ1JG1WZc7enIDB3cU3qe_QmVGBPce1T-q-/s1600/DSCN5848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIm6pwKMKdns4-IbrDjI6fOZ9Fu2ICq4uA0PEcYcxSjNN9niSLxHVac4QiK_t80DxcRJcQS8bNo1cxmR9d7FmE1X0zGBhCBohsxQ1JG1WZc7enIDB3cU3qe_QmVGBPce1T-q-/s320/DSCN5848.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue;">Cut up the cabbage and carrots and make the oil nice and hot.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbff0kUIJl-BHoy07upfL5oW6w5FAIfwf8KwejvPKq5tW03vIf-pZmNnFcg_DGhmJ7RhXSmIMJR8i2KljypZl0bKfK-4S4vVAbuwgozBo0jvaMJabyOSiR1ZoIUQDM1lFR9VP/s1600/DSCN5853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbff0kUIJl-BHoy07upfL5oW6w5FAIfwf8KwejvPKq5tW03vIf-pZmNnFcg_DGhmJ7RhXSmIMJR8i2KljypZl0bKfK-4S4vVAbuwgozBo0jvaMJabyOSiR1ZoIUQDM1lFR9VP/s320/DSCN5853.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue;">Add all of the ingredients to the pan and cook till the cabbage is slightly wilted.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJl0bkvhTq8RtzcpCvsQGRJ58Kkp2mwciUExdOLGJGOSz4g818QkfVZDJU6T3B0IMl4uFRCGOplZEunzhDmojxT-ToANQp2y-QV753dsmAL0AJtctp9VIZIOxfPnt_Wyl0GkE/s1600/DSCN5873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioJl0bkvhTq8RtzcpCvsQGRJ58Kkp2mwciUExdOLGJGOSz4g818QkfVZDJU6T3B0IMl4uFRCGOplZEunzhDmojxT-ToANQp2y-QV753dsmAL0AJtctp9VIZIOxfPnt_Wyl0GkE/s320/DSCN5873.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue;">Let the mixture cool down and then prepare to wrap!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSbAnMU8zixoTKRWiykWG1xHmFvzf_Iq7UP-hZW7mtrTCz4TiSrQA3TMgtLSPrG5v7gnr6HO22XNEKTuFj4QK33Xtmpy56lLaN2faURdu6HY84q8y30dQxdIaZmBAIQfvRDEq/s1600/DSCN5874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSbAnMU8zixoTKRWiykWG1xHmFvzf_Iq7UP-hZW7mtrTCz4TiSrQA3TMgtLSPrG5v7gnr6HO22XNEKTuFj4QK33Xtmpy56lLaN2faURdu6HY84q8y30dQxdIaZmBAIQfvRDEq/s320/DSCN5874.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue;">There we go making some eggrolls :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEOOGpNZRolEmIs-WsetIq3rybpmRQgAJ9c1S1EKr3NapeITG_1eJiUdeoo8FOtY7BdaA5L-8JfaDgDKId8sj__ySOZuTTBS7NPYvapMuT2Dbz7VdF2QQdI0Cp23uOy3n1zE2/s1600/DSCN5878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEOOGpNZRolEmIs-WsetIq3rybpmRQgAJ9c1S1EKr3NapeITG_1eJiUdeoo8FOtY7BdaA5L-8JfaDgDKId8sj__ySOZuTTBS7NPYvapMuT2Dbz7VdF2QQdI0Cp23uOy3n1zE2/s320/DSCN5878.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue;">Wrapped and ready to be fryed up to eat.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgzR9AfiXFHS8pQB7CvAqB3WCwVgl5B1-4FhGVy9vObKeI-WUXZmW0Qy-5YhmtaJzzEJalHR7be318AtZ5uASSN7UxIRyLaXzOPKYBV-jfjtB03fgrAnoNsFTqgpDqQX0VZth/s1600/DSCN5880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgzR9AfiXFHS8pQB7CvAqB3WCwVgl5B1-4FhGVy9vObKeI-WUXZmW0Qy-5YhmtaJzzEJalHR7be318AtZ5uASSN7UxIRyLaXzOPKYBV-jfjtB03fgrAnoNsFTqgpDqQX0VZth/s320/DSCN5880.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue;">Mmmmm...look at those hot little rolls!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dH750MVttVUc9znenxMKEGWwKLAhNE6rdeQtE0VRsT9p4YEXwCk8CET_uSjIIHS8sdZ_CgLxQOM1MMBGN-HVXtF8S4RGYR1b4603XH3n29A125rFdPUWqx0_q5hwaYV6YPGC/s1600/DSCN5881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dH750MVttVUc9znenxMKEGWwKLAhNE6rdeQtE0VRsT9p4YEXwCk8CET_uSjIIHS8sdZ_CgLxQOM1MMBGN-HVXtF8S4RGYR1b4603XH3n29A125rFdPUWqx0_q5hwaYV6YPGC/s320/DSCN5881.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue;">I ran out of cabbage mixture so I had some leftover mashed potatoes from Thanksgiving and some velveeta! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtOvvybx8Ey1bQ2ij5zMoF896nGzfkPsSM9-oWwkiQfX_sN_BvtrT9BW5NpYLE0x2i5dBybVshbZHXkbYb3a3utlY9gbXR9-uNsWoRBdh7d9OM-682mPe0fxx_wxu_C3iz5Q2/s1600/DSCN5883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtOvvybx8Ey1bQ2ij5zMoF896nGzfkPsSM9-oWwkiQfX_sN_BvtrT9BW5NpYLE0x2i5dBybVshbZHXkbYb3a3utlY9gbXR9-uNsWoRBdh7d9OM-682mPe0fxx_wxu_C3iz5Q2/s320/DSCN5883.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue;">Finished product, ready to eat! The top ones are the chinese eggrolls and the bottom ones are the mashed potato and cheese ones. They all turned out better than I thought. I could have wrapped up the cabbage eggrolls a little tighter, but I was afraid to tear the fragile eggroll wrappers. Fun stuff, I will definitely make them again. Heres the recipe for the chinese eggrolls if you are so inclined.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><ul type="disc"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>4 c. </u></span><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">cabbage</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>, coarsely chopped </u></span><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html" title="Add to shopping list"><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">shopping list</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><u> </u></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>1 or 2 tsp. </u></span><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">red wine</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>, optional </u></span><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html" title="Add to shopping list"><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">shopping list</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><u> </u></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>1 pkg. egg </u></span><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">roll</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u> skins </u></span><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html" title="Add to shopping list"><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">shopping list</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><u> </u></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>2 </u></span><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">carrots</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>, grated </u></span><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html" title="Add to shopping list"><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">shopping list</span></a><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html" title="Add to shopping list"><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">shopping list</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><u> </u></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>2 tbsp. </u></span><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">soy sauce</span></a><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html" title="Add to shopping list"><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">shopping list</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><u> </u></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>1/2 c. </u></span><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">chicken broth</span></a><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html" title="Add to shopping list"><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">shopping list</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><u> </u></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>1/2 tsp. </u></span><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">salt</span></a><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html" title="Add to shopping list"><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">shopping list</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><u> </u></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>1 tsp. </u></span><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">ground black pepper</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><u> </u></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>1 tsp ginger powder<o:p></o:p></u></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><u> </u></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>1 tsp garlic powder<o:p></o:p></u></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><u> </u></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>1 tsp onion powder<o:p></o:p></u></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><u> </u></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>1 tsp 5 spice powder</u></span></li>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><u> </u></span>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u>2 tsp stir fry sauce</u><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html" title="Add to shopping list"><span style="color: windowtext; display: none; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">shopping list</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.45pt; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="color: #636363; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How to make it</span></b><b><span style="color: #636363; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.45pt; margin: 0in 0in 16.5pt 38.65pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Into a large frying pan, place about 3 T. oil. Let oil get hot.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.45pt; margin: 0in 0in 16.5pt 38.65pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Throw everything into the pan, and saute until well blended and coated with oil/wilted just a tad bit---not completely shrunken, but just reduced by a bit. You don't want to over-cook. You're just looking to wilt everything a bit before the frying stage!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.45pt; margin: 0in 0in 16.5pt 38.65pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Remove from heat, pour vegetable/meat mixture into a colander and let drain into another bowl in the fridge until cool enough to handle.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.45pt; margin: 0in 0in 16.5pt 38.65pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prepare wrappers by laying out on waxed/parchment paper.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.45pt; margin: 0in 0in 16.5pt 38.65pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wet edges of each wrapper individually with a fingertip or small brush dipped in water.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.45pt; margin: 0in 0in 16.5pt 38.65pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Place approximately 3 tablespoons mixture in each wrapper, and seal egg rolls</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.45pt; margin: 0in 0in 16.5pt 38.65pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #555555; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At this point, you can either deep fry for a couple minutes, or fry in about a half-inch of hot oil until golden brown.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></div></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div><ul type="disc"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/33701/egg-rolls.html" title="Add to shopping list"><span style="color: #a6a6a6; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">shopping list</span></a><span style="color: #a6a6a6; display: none; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">shopping list</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #a6a6a6; display: none; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">sh</span></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14716897275504740324noreply@blogger.com0