For those who haven’t heard, Dave and I recently became engaged!! Hooray!! He popped the question last week on October 8th – my birthday. Dave came over and made a dynamite birthday dinner and then asked if I wanted my present. I said sure and he said close your eyes…..I pulled my hand away from my face and there he was, down on one knee. There was only one answer for this wonderful question, Yes! Of course! We were both all smiles for the rest of the night and decided to celebrate with a mini-trip to one of our favorite southern spots, New Orleans!
What better place to celebrate than the best Jazz Club on Bourbon Street! Fritzel’s European Jazz Club is definitely our favorite – we are never disappointed, especially not this weekend! Take a listen:
And a second take:
After we left Richard Scott and the Boys at Fritzel’s we found some folks having good times of their own on Bourbon Street!
The next day we had a great Cajun Breakfast and enjoyed some coffee at a local coffee house. We don’t have a date yet, we’re having too much fun enjoying our new engagement and thinking about the excitement ahead!
And, I’m usually not a big fan of posting bling on the web, but seeing as how we’re so far away and so many people wanted emailed pics…. here’s what you’ve been waiting for – The Rock!
We’re really excited and can’t wait to be married! Thank you to everyone’s words of encouragement and congrats! We can’t wait to see you all at the wedding!!
It’s official. Florida, and all other geographic locations that house Palmetto bugs, are on my sh*! list. I came home from work this evening, opened the door and immediately had an eerie feeling. The sort of feeling that only means one thing – Palmetto bug. These nasty things are in the roach family, so they’re fast moving and ugly as sin. But unlike the typical roach, they are extremely LARGE. My first encounter with one of these beasts was when I was first moving in. Innocently unpacking my clothes and putting them into the closet, I moved a duffel to the side and there he was, motionless. I knew with one false move, he would scurry out of my sight and into my nightmares, but I had to get weapons. By the time I returned he was in fact out of sight. I found him under my bed and the chase was on. He dashed, I swiped, he got away, I screamed and yelped enough for the neighbors to file a domestic abuse suit. (No not really…) In the end, I trapped the little bugger under a glass and shimmied him onto a piece of cardboard where I was able to transport the whole mess out of my apartment and out of my life. Unfortunately, not for good.
My next encounter was just a few short months ago, but this time I was fulled armed. Same story….came home, flipped on the light and there he was right below the kitchen sink, hiding under the ledge. I quickly opened the door to grab the roach killer, which scared him into the living room and we were off! For awhile I was able to keep my eye on him and got a few got shots with the poisonous mist. Only problem – after spraying the ENTIRE perimeter of my apartment a few months prior, I was now low on fuel and only mist is precisely what came out of the can. After practicing my technique a few times, with extra care not to waste too much of the precious poison, I was able to maneuver the can and get a full spray. While praying that one good spray would exterminate my unwanted guest, I carefully pulled the TV stand away from the wall. I spotted him scurrying along the wall, but unfortunately wasn’t able to get a good shot. (It’s amazing how a can of roach killer can make a girl fearless in the face of a monster!) I coxed him out into the open and then let him have it! One spray and he was done.
Anyway, tonight when I opened the door I knew something wasn’t right. I carefully scanned the area for any scurrying pests, but non were to be found. I stopped in the kitchen, checked the previous spotting ground and then proceeded into the bathroom. (Nature Calls.) I sat down, beginning to feel as though this icky feeling may have been only in my head and just in my most vulnerable moment, I see it. Right in the middle of the bathroom floor, curled up and dead on its back. Thankfully my work was already done, but it certainly has not prevented the can of roach killer to be by my side for the remainder of the night. I hate palmetto bugs and I praise whoever invented roach killer spray. I love you Mr. Roach Killer Spray Inventor Man. Pretty soon I’ll probably have Green Peace or PETA angriling protesting my blog, but I don’t care! DIE DISGUSTING PALMETTOS!! I need a cat. And another apartment perimeter spray with the roach killer.
Everyone, start your coffee pots! It’s Monday morning!! But today isn’t just any Monday morning, its the first day of Fall! Fall is by far my favorite season. Back to school, the turning leaves, crisp autumn air….I love it all. What’s more, today is Bonnie Hunt’s birthday. You may recognize Bonnie from the big screen in Beethoven and Cheaper by the Dozen, among others. I bet you didn’t know that Hunt also had voice roles in A Bug’s Life, Monsters Inc., and most recently Cars. Hunt now hosts The Bonnie Hunt Show, which provides viewers with a daily dose of Bonnie’s good-natured wittiness and charm.
Today on the show was remarkable 11 year old, Jacob Brockhoff. Jacob was born with a heart condition known as Tetrology of Fallot. Jacob underwent his first open heart surgery when he was just 3 days old and is currently one month post op from another life-preserving open heart operation. Not only is Jacob one tough cookie, he is also an artist! As Jacob told us today on the Bonnie Hunt Show, one day he was “bugging his mom, and she told him to go draw something.” Well, he did just that and ended up starting his own business with the skateboard design he created. He donates 2/3 of the proceeds to cardiac organizations such as the American Heart Association and American Heart Heros. If you’re in the market for a new skateboard, definitely check this one out! You can order one online, and if you happen to be near Bradenton, Flordia you can stop in the Champs Sports store in the Desoto Square Mall to get a one of a kind t-shirt. You better believe I’ll be stopping in the next time I’m in southern Florida! To conclude the show Bonnie brought in special guest Rob Dydrek, Jacob’s favorite pro-skater, who adorned Jacob with some new DC skater shoes among other skater parafanalia. For more info on Broken Hart Boards, click here. If Jacob Brockhoff doesn’t make you want to work in Pediatric Cardiology, I don’t know what would!
I had the awesome opportunity to live in Spain for 3 months after college. “Spain Life” involved a large amount of discovery, spontaneity, and exploration. On this city excursion, we stumbled upon the Festival de Cristianos y Moros. Historically, the Christians and Moors have battled over the lands and rights to Spain for centuries. Still today this heritage is celebrated in many Spanish cities, Valencia included. Now, I love parades to begin with, but this was like nothing I have ever experienced. The detail of the costumes was amazing, not to mention that those wearing the costumes not only wore them but acted their part as well! I snapped a few shots and here they are:
The smokiness in this picture, just above the toros (bulls), is in fact smoke. Jesters, both on stilts and foot, lite off various fireworks along the street. Sparks were shooting everywhere, including the crowd, but these mighty bulls don’t seem to be alarmed at all. I guess a few sparking fireworks are nothing compared to an enraged Matador!
Children in Spain are loved by all and they are very, very well taken care of. It is not uncommon for children to wear nicer clothes than their parents. This takes place in America as well, however is tagged with negative connotations. We would label this as spoiling, but in Spain this is custom. Children are celebrated and not only do their parents of children treat them like royalty, but everyone else who takes a part in their upbringing as well.
Check out the awesome head dresses, and the facial expressions!
That little redhead in bottom right sure is a feisty thing! Don’t mess.
We witnessed this troupe practicing their lineup and routine in one of the sides streets prior to the parade. Seeing these guys all gussied up was our first clue to the festivities taking place.
These were some of the Moorish costumes. I wasn’t able to get a clip of any of the dance performances, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t happen! Dancing troupes like those pictured below flipped, leaped, and twirled down the street, maintaining great facial expressions while doing so!
And dancing hawks….
There was actually a hawk master (if you will) walking just behind this troupe with a trained hawk that would fly out overhead and then obediently return to his perch on the master’s arm. It pretty much rocked.
Spaniards are very expressive and people oriented. I love this picture simply because of all the different interactions taking place. Grandma and Grandpa, los ninos (the children), and the wide-eyed hombre in the rear. Ha! Can you spot the gold digger? (Gold Digger’s location: Left of wide-eyed hombre)
Here are some more sweet costumes. We watched this parade for over two hours and it wasn’t even half over.
Horses pranced along the streets with some very fancy footwork! I was absolutely blown away at how close the horses got to the onlookers. Their stomping hooves were within feet of the crowd. This would never fly in the US. Some idiot would get stepped on, sue the horse and its mother, and then of course we would just give everyone that attended a trophy and outlaw it for next year.
Knights of the Holy Grail anyone? We were actually able to see the Holy Grail, among other interesting artifacts, while we were in Spain. (The Holy Grail, meaning the cup Jesus used in the last supper.) There will be later posts to come with more about Spain, and the Holy Grail…no worries.
A Spanish French Horn player. Definately a winning combination.
And the final view of it all. !Me Encanta! (I love it!)
So it’s true. I am a victim of consumerism. After repeatedly seeing/hearing the Glade Commercial Lady try and convince her friends that she was at a fancy schmancy spa or that her mood-setting yoga candles were imported from France, I couldn’t help but remember Glade Essential Oils Candles on my trip to Target this evening. I was headed for the check-out and the isle caught my attention, so of course I stopped for my own Essential experience. With autumn just around the corner, I chose the 2 in 1 Creamy Custard and Blushing Apple. Now I am enjoying the wonderful aromas of my Glade Essential Oil Candle so much, I have deemed it post-worthy so you may also take part in the consumerism and essentialize yourself with your very own Glade Essential Oils Candle. Be sure to keep me posted on any other great Glade scents!
Another great email from Grandpa. If you’re a woman, you gotta love this one! If you’re not a woman, pay very close attention!
Quote for the Day
“Whatever you give a woman, she’s going to multiply. If you give her sperm, she’ll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she’ll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she’ll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she’ll give you her heart. And if you give her any crap, you will receive a ton of shit.”
Uh uh, think it can’t happen? Think again!! It did! Last night, while I was dining on my lucky and and very rare broken eggs, my boyfriend was having some luck of his own at the Monte Carlo in Las Vegas when he was dealt a royal flush on video poker. He surely enjoyed this rarity with a payout of $1,000! Good Job Monte Carlo, thanks for the Benjamins!
Alright, so I don’t really have a broken heart. But, as a Cardiac Nurse, I did take care of a lot of broken hearts today. Seven to be exact. Anywho…I decided on eggs for dinner and this is what ended up on my plate. I didn’t attempt to shape them, cut them, place them or anything. I just fried ‘em up and slide them on the plate and this is what I got. Coincidence? Hmmm….
“Love is the best medicine, and there is more than enough to go around once you open your heart.” -Julia Marie
Off work. WooHoo! Once again, I found myself hungry and without a plan. I made a stop at Apple Market, located on Scenic Highway in Pensacola, Fl, on my drive home and headed for the butcher. Browsing through the cutlets, I made my way down the isle and spotted my supper. Ground Lamb. Now, if you are not a fan of lamb, you could always substitute ground turkey or beef, but I do like lamb so I went for it. I started rummaging through my brain to muster up some good ideas and “burger” came to mind. I picked up some Baby Bella mushrooms, plain yogurt, feta, and I was good to go.
Start by sauteing some onion, mushrooms – I used Baby (porta)Bella, and garlic in a pan with olive oil and honey. They key to this is to use low heat. Too hot, and you’re desired tender morsels won’t turn out turn out so tender but rather scorched. After that gets rolling, start in on your burger. Mint, a typical herbal pairing for lamb, came to mind but unfortunately, I was completely out of fresh mint. Go figure! I opted for a mint tea bag instead. Cut the corner and sprinkle it on top of your burger to desired seasoning. I also used some salt and pepper. (Remember, feel free to use whatever seasoning – and meat for that matter – that sounds good to you. Lamb is pretty Greekish, but it’s your burger.)
Once you’re burger is cooked to desired temperature, time to create! You can always use a regular hamburger bun, but that would be regular. I chose to start with some cabbage leaves instead. I used cabbage as oppose to lettuce simply because it’s stronger. Make a top and bottom bun and place the burger on top. Then layer on your sauteed mushroom and onions with the fantastically Greek, honey flavor. Sprinkle on the feta cheese and top it off with plain yogurt. Cover your creation with the top half of your bun (hopefully cabbage) and enjoy! Zeus would be proud.
I first started off with the second cabbage leaf on top, but as I was enjoying my Greek Burger found that it was a little too much. You may wish to serve your Greek Burger open face (as pictured above), or simply use one cabbage leaf to wrap around all the goodies pocket style. Cabbage leaves are quite large, so this works well. Also, just a disclaimer: If you want to stay clean, you may want to knife and fork this one. It can get pretty messy!!
My Grandfather is famous for great forwards. And yes, I know what you are probably thinking….Forwards….blah blah blah….time consuming and always the same old threats on your love live, friendships, and wealth. But the great thing about Gramp’s choice forwards is that they are always good. And even greater – my Grandpa is 87 years old uses email and even YouTube! How cool is that?!?
Here is the email:
A cute little lady from Iowa had worked in and around her family dairy farm since she was old enough to walk, with hours of hard work and little compensation. When Carnation Milk became available in grocery stores (in the 1040s), she read an advertisement offering $5,000 for the best slogan. The producers wanted a rhyme beginning with ‘Carnation Milk is Best of All.’
The cute little lady, at that time a cute, little girl, thought to herself ‘I know all about milk and dairy farms. I can do this!’ She sent in her entry and several weeks later a black limo pulled up in front of her house. A man got out and said, ‘Carnation loved your entry. So much in fact, we are hear to award you $2,000 even though we will not be able to use it.’
Here is the add she came up with:
HA HA!! This is is GREAT!! Carnation totally messed up by not using this add. It sure sold me!
