One more Step Taken

Well I have taken another step to finishing school. I got my grade today for my class that I took this fall and I got an A. An A in a class that has given me grief for over 4 years and nowI don't have to take it ever again yeah. So we finally got our Christmas shopping done and our wrapping done and so on. Just so you know everyone is getting Toilet paper and underwear but we made sure it was festive so its all red and green. Any who its late and I am tired so I'm going to bed.

It's My Birthday My B-B-B-Birthday

I decided that Laura needed to be serenaded so at 12:01 I called her on her cell and sang her the Birthday song. The real one not the Cartman rendition that is quoted above. She laughed. We had the big celebration for her birthday this last weekend when her parents and sister came up to party. The girls made candles while the guys hit the links. Then grilled fish for dinner and a big slice of Yellow Cake with Chocolate Icing for dessert. YUM!!!

Well its late and we need to go to bed.
BYE

Weekends are Cool!

That's right after my long holiday week in the world of food i finally can put up my feet if i want too! So this what it's like to have the weekend off... I say it's nice. Sleep in do a little laundry, watch a little PBS, and whtever i want.
Here's a little run down of the day. Me and the Mr. jumped in his car and went to hang out with Karen and Joe. When we arrived they had just finished putting up there Christmas lights. They were very very excited, and are making the best preparations for their First Christmas in Casa de Nicholas. After that Karen started on the inside while the rest of us washed and waxed Gregs car. It's so purdy, and shiny ... Then after that we were hungary and all had different ideas where we wanted to go... So we all wrote down one place and pulled it out of a hat. So we went to our little Southwest joint that always welcomes us at the door. Took in a dvd The da vinci Code, it was pretty good.Then we headed home... we had a nice fun day.

Here comes the holidays!!!

Wow doesn’t it seem that their coming at us with lighting speed. I just put in my food order for our Thanksgiving Buffet. I can’t BELIEVE it’s next week. I freaked out at this one radio station I listen to at work, they decided to do a Christmas music marathon. I had to listen to it for several hours because my associate at work loves the stuff. So we made a deal that we would listen to it tell we did break time. Then after that I switched as fast as I could. On the other hand the decorate she decorates their house right after thanksgiving. I say it’s WAY too early for that stuff. Don’t they know Thanksgiving hasn’t even happened yet? I prefer the one Holiday at a time mentality. Then before all that Christmas cheer comes my Birthday first and most importantly. So for all you folks out there keep an eye on my counter, it’s on the side bar below to the left. Don’t worry there’s still plenty of time to plan. So here’s the order to go by… It’s time to get ready for Turkey day 1st , then don’t forget my Birthday, then on to Christmas.

Did everyone excercise there right to vote....???
The K-c's sure did.. and i hope you did too...

On a more important note my Dad's b-day was yesterday. And I'm a naughty Daughter and forgot to call. So I hope your birthday was great...and i will talk to you soon...and see you in a few days on your side of the state where we can continue to celebrate!!! i hope your ready cause we are!!!

By the way I voted for My Dad... for position of the coolest dad in the world....

Say goodbye to the ponticrap…

That’s right Greg’s car is officially off our hands and now we can move on to another more dependable car. Car shopping is neverfun but you gotta due what you gotta due!

On to more important issues my birthday.. the count down is on only 33 days until my birthday. So remember to mark down on your calendars… December 6. As for gifts go the official list will be e-mailed out soon so you have plenty of time to make proper arrangements. And for those who don’t get the e-mail feel free to send something anyway. I’ll be the big 30… so don’t be shy!!!

HOW YOU EAT YOUR SALAD TELLS A LOT ABOUT YOUR PERSONALITY
Part one…
Are you a dipper, topper, or a mixer? When it comes to salad dressings, a recent Market Facts survey for the Association for Dressings & Sauces says, the way you use salad dressing says a lot about your personality. For example, people who dip their greens into their salad dressing, "dippers," rate themselves as being more spontaneous and outgoing than "mixers," those who mix their dressing throughout their salad. Mixers see themselves as more sociable than "toppers," people who simply dump their dressing on top of their greens and go at it. Toppers, however, tend to be more shy than their mixing and dipping counterparts. The Market Facts survey shows that a whopping 49.5 percent of those surveyed are mixers, 37 percent are toppers, and only 10.9 percent are dippers.
Part 2 soon...

tat for now folks...see you next time

“oh blah de..oh blah da live goes on bro.. la la la life goes on..”

Just like the song says….
Well how’s everyone’s week going so far? Well between being in a car accident last Friday, a runny nose over the weekend and my husbands car going a ka blooie, (kinda sounds like the lyrics to a bad country song) it’s been pretty okay if you ask me. At least I can’t complain that I’m bored, but a little less excitement would be okay with me…

So without further adieu… To bring to everyone and myself I must give out some food humor…


CORNED BEEF DIP RECIPE
( I know you have never seen this one before)
Day 1: Combine one 12 ounce can of corned beef with mayonnaise. Make husband a corned beef sandwich for lunch. Refrigerate leftovers.Day 2: Leave corned beef mix in fridge and ignore because husband does not like it.Day 3: Host a makeup party. Search fridge for a unique hors d'oeuvre. Drag out aged corned beef mixture. Add more mayonnaise, chopped onions to taste, and minced parsley for color. Shape and let stand at room temperature for a few hours. Serve with stale Hi-Ho Crackers. Tell everyone it's a secret recipe. They'll love it!

And yes for your reading pleasure… and I bet you didn’t know..

PEPSI AND COCA COLA in China
--A Little Humor!
PEPSI'S "Come Alive With the PEPSI Generation" Slogan, when translated into Chinese, means "PEPSI Brings Your Ancestors Back From the Grave." The COCA COLA name in China was first read as "Kekoukela," meaning "Bite the wax tadpole" or "female horse stuffed with was," depending on the dialect. COKE then researched 40,000 characters to find a phonetic equivalent. The new name is KOKOU KOLE, which means "happiness in the mouth

I hope you got a little laugh from all this..I did.

The Wheels on bus go round and round…..
This afternoon I meet with my good buddy Bridget and her 1.5 yr old son Owen for some fun. We went to his gymboree class and boy was it fun. There’s nothing like seeing 10 little one’s with there Mom or Dad having so much fun. There was plenty of Singing, dancing, tumbling, and learning all kinds of educational stuff. I’m not sure who had more fun.. the adults or the kids. Bridget started him in the classes to socialize him with other kids his age since he’s around adults all the time. Yes it was fun for all great and small. Then we went for sandwiches, and you know what the best part was… besides the chit chat. They took to long on my sandwich so I got a free brownie that I shared with Owen, he seemed to enjoy it as much as I did. But what person in there right mind doesn’t love chocolate.

Later I dropped by the grocery store to pick up some stuff for dinner. That’s right I cooked dinner today…WOW! But back to the store, I usually find it a very amusing place to go. Do you ever watch people shop, especially people without a list. They just stare and pick up stuff and put it back down then pick it back up and so on. And the skinny young couple with a cart full of nasty frozen foods, ice cream, and twinkies. Keep eating that it will catch up with you…trust me. And the crazy lady in the produce aisle spentng ten minutes picking out 1 fruit, and me saying look for this because this is the best one. And she asks me… How I know that…and I reply I cooked a little bit. Then off I go.

Arrived at Karen and Joe’s made jello for dessert first. Greg meets up with us after his Monday night class. I made asian cabbage and pork chops, a one pot meal. Yummy…when I have time I’ll post the recipe. It’s so easy and yummy, and good for you too! Watched our Monday night line up on tv, Prision Break, then Heroes, then Studio 60. Then we headed home….I gotta git to bed since I do have to work tomorrow…

Were going to the zoo..zoo..zoo and how ‘bout you?

This weekend my folks are in town..boy are we having fun!!! Sat. The gals (My Mom and lil’ sis Karen and I) went to the zoo in the afternoon, saw some really cool animals. Having birds fly right past my head, or looking at the gorillas looking at us…We saw all kinds of magnificent creatures, rhino’s, giraffes, and apes oh my. It was really cool to see them up close, without having to travel to the jungle, or wherever their natural habitats are. We shared some yummy Nachos for our afternoon snack, and road a train around the zoo. So all you folks out there go to your local zoo and check it out, it’s fun for all ages.

While the gals were at the zoo the gents went golfing, .at the navel base. It sounds like they had an excellent time and the beer was really cheep! They all played well and my Dad kicked the boys butt’s. The boys were hubby Greg and bro-in-law Joe Bob.

After a power packed afternoon of fun we all came back to Casa De Nich’s and had a delicious dinner. We Had Grilled Tuna, Wild rice, And plenty of fresh veggies. I must admit my sis can get her grill on…After din din we played a little game that Karen won to her surprise, since see didn’t think see was very good at.. There was no shortage of laughter as usual. Fun was had by all!!!!

Have visited your local pub lately????
We did last night in honor of one of my comrades, it was his last day working with us at the club. He is embarking on a new chapter of his life, with an excellent employment opportunity. He's moving from jax down to the tampabay area, I wish it was me. So we get to the pub after work and start out slowly, as people join us the speed picks up...along with the endless supply of delicious beverages. We stayed there until we closed the place and the guest of honor and I had the pleasure of my hubby as are designated driver. The poor guy having to drive 2 throughly soused people around town and of course you guessed it, we ended up at Denny's at 3:30 in the morning. The night was a blast, best of luck my friend catch up with you on the west coast!!

So to put it simply I had to pay for my sins as i went to work. At least i wasn't the only one looking rough...cheers!!!

So what did you do last weekend??

This what I did… At work we had a celebrity chef event that is a fund raising event for a local hospital.
Starting Thursday we had our lunch hosted by Chef Paul Prudhomme. Click on his name above to see his website..We worked with his Executive Chef,his name is Paul too. We put together a lunch for 200 people, the food was yummylicious. They (paul and Paul) have worked together for 37 years in New Orleans. We got to watch part of his cooking demonstration, too.. he’s quit a funny gentleman. We briefly got a quick applause from him for being so helpful helpful. I even landed a personalized autographed copy of one of his books..pretty cool.
Then on Friday evening we had a reception, a meet a great for some other high profile Chef’s coming in to do our event on Saturday. The cool part was the center piece was a display of my food with lots of complements. Then it was off to the bar for our staff and guest chef’s. that’s some times the best part.. not the booze but for chit chat.
Then came Saturday.. I spent the afternoon making world class sushi with a world class Japanese chef and also incredible ice carver. I had the honor second year in a row to wear one of his formal sushi chef coats..pretty cool. It was black with white and silver fish..That went until late then off for drinks again. Needless to say we were up a better part of the whole night being silly and talking much silliness. Chef's do party hardy that is a truth and not myth. It was a very successful weekend, and a whole lot of fun too…a lot of work, but a great opportunity..
Sun…I slept off and on all day.. recovery mode shall I say more..nah…Monday back to work..Tuesday the same and Wednesday off…woohoo…

Happy Labor Day to Me!!!

The Mrs. didn't have to work this holiday. Wow pretty cool, since that is rare in my world. So what did I do? Well, the Mr. and I got up and went to the gym first thing in the morning. That's 10 ish for us night working folks...Came home and had cantalope smoothies for breakfast and a cup of coffee. The Mister went to work and i stayed home and relaxed, did a little laundry, watched a little boob tube, but overall I relaxed...woohoo!!!

Do you ever get the night time munchies? I do some times
So i found this while surfing to help answer me question.. maybe it can help you 2?

Q: How can I put the brakes on my non-stop nighttime cookie nibbling?
A: For years I used to eat on automatic pilot. I wasn't ever conscious about it; I just found myself standing in front of an open fridge. Then one day I stopped and asked myself why I felt so unsatisfied after supper. My conclusion? A lack of substantial calories.
But perhaps you're already eating well-balanced meals. Are you eating at breakneck speed? It takes a while for your body to know that it's full. Or maybe it's your environment that's leaving you unsatisfied? Make meal times more appealing: Try surrounding yourself with a vase of fresh cut flowers, soothing music and a pretty-patterned tablecloth.
If you watch television while you eat, the food commercials or food-centered events on some programs may unconsciously trigger your appetite. Shut the TV off, stop riffling through the mail and focus on your meals. You may be surprised how much more flavorful they seem when you pay attention to each bite. And greater meal satisfaction may curtail your free-for-all in the kitchen cabinets.
Crave volume? Try a few handfuls of baby carrots, grape tomatoes, celery dipped into peach salsa, air popped popcorn or something you can sip that'll keep your mouth full and your hands occupied. Great picks include a hot mug of broth, diet hot cocoa, flavored coffee or fruity herbal tea.

When you can't seem to draw the line there, try a few stop-the-cravings-on-the-spot tactics:
Brush your teeth right after dinner.
Gargle with minty mouthwash.
Chew a piece of very flavorful gum.
Eat a piece of "hot" candy. One Community User suggests eating a spicy cinnamon candy (just one) like Hot Tamales for a long-lasting mouth tingle.

So I think this was very helpful to me...
So back to work tuesday...I need to be off to bed to get my beauty rest..

Where do U live?

I live in the land of the lizards….
I emptied the dehumidifier in the bathroom and went out the front door to water my plants and two lizards jumped right in the door. And we have a lizard that lives in our fireplace…. does that mean we have some little bugs? I never see any, but I have nature’s best pest control on my side. On the other hand our little friends are a little on the pudgy side…hummm…

Next subject… the Mr. And I are back on healthy eating and going to the gym. I enjoy it very much, except for getting up early so we have time to work before work… I hope to be more svelte, in the future..

So here’s a great recipe for a no cook dinner…you should try it..it’s delish..
Chef's Orchard Salad
Place 1 1/2 cups mixed greens on each of two plates. Top each set of greens with 1/2 peach, pitted and thinly sliced; 1/4-cup blueberries; 1/4-cup small red seedless grapes; 3 ounces thinly-sliced deli roast beef; and 2 tablespoons raspberry vinaigrette or even balsamic..You can buy it…if you don’t want to make your own …yummy!!! You could even add a little goat cheese… I mean a little…

What's up ya'll.....
I've been off work for the last four days..... one more to go!!!!!
Time flies when you having fun....!!!!What shall I do for my last day...well I going to apply for my passport so i am free to move about the world!!!

So how 'bout some news of the weird...everybody loves that!!!
Officials in Springfield, Vt., denied the liquor-license application of Paul Murphy in July for a paperwork problem without specifying any other disqualifying reason. The officials thus ignored the fact that Murphy is an inmate in the state correctional facility in Springfield and that the location of the liquor service on the application was to be Murphy's prison address. Said Town Manager Robert Forguites, "We (just) determined that the application was incomplete." [Rutland Herald, 7-27-06]

All I can say is wow....I guess anyone can work for the government!!!

And on a tasty note: Last week I had my first go at making avocado ice cream. I have to say it was very yummy. The people at work loved it but the Mister K-C was not into it!!! That okay..more for me...

Healthy Q and A...
Q: I get hungry every day between 3:00 and 4:00 pm. I am looking for snacks that will curb my hunger until I can get dinner on the table. What foods have the most staying power?
A: I have three words for you: Fat, protein and fiber. Fat and protein will provide the longest-lasting energy, while slow-to-digest fiber will keep you feeling fuller longer. You should also include some carbohydrates, which are a source of rapid energy.
Try some of these tasty snack options:
Low-fat vanilla yogurt topped with chopped fresh fruit and a spoonful of chopped peanuts.
Whole grain crackers and low-fat cheese.
Instant oatmeal mixed with a small amount of dried fruit bits and slivered almonds.
Peanut butter and jelly on light whole wheat bread.
Apple slices and peanut butter.
Crudités with hummus.
Half a turkey sandwich with low-fat mayonnaise.
A small handful of nuts and raisins.
A low-fat granola bar.
A cup of bean soup.

Its Anniversary Time!!

We are here to tell you that today is Laura's Parents Anniversary. We enjoyed a restful week with them last week and now we are wishing them a very happy anniversary!!

The rest of the K-C's vacation notes...

So the last you heard was lunch with Greg's Grandma and cards...

We went back to the Mrs. folks home and had a very yummy dinner then had an endless game of Mexican Train Dominos.....and my brother-in-law Laszlo was declared the winner at 12:30 sat morning.

Sat. am the boys went golfing and the girls went shopping... The K-C's went to the Mister's folks home for dinner ( had some chocolate pie) (yummmm chocolate pie) and chit chat... We played Apples to Apples ( Kim my brother-in -laws girl friend won...So no luck for me again in the gaming world...

Sun. we went to church, went out to brunch with everyone. It seems like we spent a lot of time eating... Or maybe i'm not use to getting 3 meals a day during my busy days at work... i tend to graze. We played another game where the gals were against the girls....guess what we won...we jumped in the pool and had dinner and then back to jax..
The End

Life is tasty in vacation land!!!!!

....So I left off on monday from Savannah, GA....

Monday night we were back in Jax, ate some great pizza from this little mom and pop joint around the corner....

Tues. early afternoon we headed back home... to see our folks for the rest of the week... so we have eaten all kinds of goodies all week long... Below is a picture of my bro-in-law Laszlo, recieving a b-day gift that made him as happy as a kid in a candy store. The gift was a weather station...it's even has atomic time..ooooo!!Wed.. we relaxed..Greg hung out with his Dad while the ladies (Mom, Sarah, and I) played games through the afternoon. I didn't win any of them... not even jenga. That's usually my best game. And now we ( my sister and I) are refering to Mom as Momma Trump. After kicking are fannies in Hotels the game, she had taken all our money by the end. We hit the pool after dinner, which was as warm as a bathtub.

Thurs... saw Talledaga Night's... it was pretty funny...headed up to the north of the county and met up with my brother-in-law. Saw where he works, then headed out for steak. I tried a raspberry mudslide....yummy!!!

Today... we took greg's Grandma out to lunch, at her favorite local spot...played cards, which i did not win... what a surprise.....

Hello From...vacation land!!!That’s right it’s time the K-C’s to do the 3 R’s of vacation are relaxing, reading, and drinking. Oh what was I thinking, that’s a D and not a R. The 3 D’s of vacation are Drinking, Drinking, and Drinking… I’m glad I straightened out, whooo….Vacation started officially last Friday at about 10:30 pm after work.

So what have we been up to so far…here’s a lil’ readers digest version…
To make a long story short my sister Sarah, and brother-in-law Laszlo ( I’ll call them The V’s) came up to Jax Friday night. The fun started Sat morning ‘bout 7:30 am when the K-C’s drove up to Karen and Joe’s (I like to call them the Nich’s) on the other side of town. As we arrived Joe was trying out his new law mower at about 7:50 am..

I think it's a little earily for a sat morning. Karen and Sarah were still in dream land..Soon we embarked on our fishing adventure. You want to hear a fish story, well there’s not much toll tell. Greg caught the only fish, that’s right. And it was sooooo hot!!!!!

Did that all day and then went back to the Nich’s were Laszlo made a delicious Chicken dish, Karen licked the plate. Fun was had by all. Sun. we started off at church, moved onto lunch, than Karen headed to Daytona for a conference. We headed back to the K-C’s to play some video games, hit some waffle golf balls, and laughter.

PM…meatloaf, mash tadders, and veggies…Yummy!!!! Joe was super happy, why you ask??? Karen my sister does not eat or make meatloaf..caught a movie…Mon. The K-C’s and The V’s headed up to Savannah, GA, and hung out for the day. It was really cool!!!! My first time to be there ever. I’ll visit again for sure, without a doubt.

WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!
Here is what it sounds like when you beat a dead horse!

I know that we have been talking more and more about the cruise but here we go again. We are booking in the next couple of days and are trying to figure out how many people are planning to go. Please e-mail us so we can get an idea of how many people want to party with us in January!

Well Greg only has one class and one exam left until he is done with school! YYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!! just four and a half months left. He takes his one exam tomorrow so we are going to wish him luck. GOOD LUCK!

Greg is also still doing the whole choir thing. They are practicing for the Christmas Cantata program. It is weird to think of getting ready for christmas in july (not Leon aka christmas in july) strange hearing christmas songs when it's still 90 degrees outside. I sure hope that it sounds good considering they are starting now. anywho time to get to bed yak at ya later.

People of many Tastes…

A few words about why working in the food biz is so cool… I find it very interesting how many different people from all over the world work in the food bizz….So people say it’s because it is so labor intensive, and the pay isn’t always great. But cooking food is something all people have in common, all over the world….we all have to eat. And it’s amazing the things you learn from all these wonderful people, about food and traditions. To give an example my crew today consisted of folks from Italy, Bulgaria, Philippines, and me. We talked about what food was like when we grew up. Who cooked, what we ate…what a typical dinner was like at home. It was really fun…And the day went very smooth. Typical Friday, 2 parties over 200, it was quite easy, but we are all pro’s. Sat should be an easy day…. Only one group of 110 for dinner… cake walk…

On A SERIOUS NOTE FOLKS!!!

A FRIEND OF MINE AT WORK WAS VERY LUCKY THIS PAST WEEKEND!!! He was doing the usual yard work in the backyard when he pulled the cord on his electric blower and fell backwards into his pool. He was electrocuted, and was fortunate to live to tell about it. So a note to all my friends trying to keep there yards nice, please be careful. It’s a danger that many of us may not see, but need to be aware of.

NEED SOME PRAYERS!!!
Also Remi, my good friend and co worker of the last 5 years is having a rough time with her health. She could use a few extra prayers. She is an awesome lady, and is always making sure everyone is doing okay. She’s kinda like our offical kitchen Mom..So if you could give a big shout out to the man upstairs, I would be grateful!!!!

On a lighter note…..
Greg has had a second interview for a job opportunity, and he said it went well!!! We will keep you posted!!! Say a little prayer for him too!!!

howdy!!!!

well, i had a lovely day away from work today and i enjoyed it very much!!! I slept in and relaxed...nice!! I didn't do to much...but thats thee way it's supposed to be. Then the Nich's came over after work and we took in a swim and dinner. We had pork chops on the grill, roasted potato and fresh sauted squash...yummy. Watched a little boob tube, had a little dessert of brownie a la mode. Fun was had by all.
On another note people it's time to get our plans in order for january. The Nich's have booked for the cruise and we will be soon to follow. Remember you will need a passport so keep in mind that the sooner that's in order the better. So here's the info if you forgot Ship Name: Mariner Of The SeasDeparture Port: Port Canaveral, FloridaPorts of Call: Port Canaveral, Florida; Cococay, Bahamas; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Port Canaveral, Florida 2007 Date(s): Jan 07 .
When you do book make sure you go for the second seating at dinner, so let us know if you going.... the more the merrier...I can't think of a better place to go in January!!!!
So it's back to work for me...and I must do better about blogging, Mom says I've beeen slacking.... So i will have to share more crazy antics and that kind of stuff on a daily basis. I need start taking some more pictures to share since I do enjoy it so. But I must retire for the night so i can get out of bed and get to work on time. I think i will be drinking some coffee, since it is quite late. Not that's anything new!!!

Sundays are great when you get the day off!!!
Here’s a quick run down of my day…..
Yes, I had a nice day away from work!!!! We went to church. Greg sang in the choir (lalalala) And I sat with Karen and Joe. Unfortunately, Greg had to jet off to work will I went for a coffee with The Nich’s that would be Karen and Joe. We picked up some car cleaning products, and headed over to their house. For all you guys not in the loop they bought a house in the Jacksonville area, a couple of weeks ago. I have to say it’s coming along quite splendidly. Joe and I spent the afternoon washing and waxing cars, my little car is so shiny and happy. The weather was perfect, breezy and a little overcast. It was almost like a cool front, not really. Then after Greg came over after work we had a yummy dinner made by Karen. Steak on the grill, jasmine rice, mixed veggies tooo! We even had some blueberry buckle for dessert. We popped in a movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the one recent remake. I liked it a lot it was really weird and cool!!!
If you want to see a good movie I recommend The Blue Butterfly , if you get a chance to see it you will enjoy it. It’s good for the whole family too!!! That’s a wrap on my Sunday, and it’s back to work on Monday.

Highlights from the eighth stage of the Tour de France
Stage: The 112-mile eighth stage cut westward from the town of Saint-Meen-le-Grand through Brittany to the coastal city of Lorient.
Winner: France's Sylvain Calzati of the AG2R team in 4 hours, 13 minutes, 18 seconds. Liquigas rider Kjell Carlstrom of Finland was second, and France's Patrice Halgand of Credit Agricole placed third.
Yellow Jersey: T-Mobile rider Serhiy Honchar of Ukraine retained the overall lead Sunday, after winning the seventh stage time trial a day earlier.
Quote of the Day: "I am perhaps going to set France against me, but I have chosen my side" -- Calzati on his preference for Italy to win the World Cup final against France later Sunday.
Next stage: Monday is a rest day, before a mostly flat ninth stage along 105.3 miles across the southwest from Bordeaux to Dax on Tuesday

You know you've been in the deep south too long when:

Well we went to church this morning and Greg went to sing in the choir as usual. Well before mass the choir director talks to the congregation explaining about the summer music ministry. The 11:30 mass will be open to anyone who is interested in either singing or experiencing the music ministry first hand. Well this is the deep south part. You'll love the name that they have christened this experience. The "Ya'll Come Choir!" Hey I'm not kidding. They even went so far as to print it in the bulletin. This is Jacksonville the only real south part of Florida.

Happy Fathers Day… Dad!!!!

When did it all start?
Father’s Day, 3rd Sunday in June. The idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Having been raised by her father, Henry Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. Roses are the Father's Day flowers: red to be worn for a living father and white if the father has died.

Cheers to you Dad, this day is for you because you are totally great, awesome, cool, wonderful, fantastic, brilliant, and many more things. That’s just the tip of the iceberg!!!! So every raise their glass to my Dad and all the other great Dads out there… CHEERS!!!

So what you been up to lately??

My day went the usual way... then it got interesting. So I was driving home and I gave the Mister a call, and he asked if i could stop at the store to pick up milk. I said sure. I know your saying, "what's so interesting about that?". So I'm at the market to get some milk, and i decide to pick up some cereal. Sounds simple right? Wrong... So I've been not eating products with high fructose corn syrup. I spent 10 minutes trying to find one, even bran flakes have it. Get this, I'm reading the nutrition label on all these boxes of cereals that are supposed to be good for you. And there not, some have 41 grams of sugar per serving. Why not eat a doughtnut, are you kidding me. Then I realize some boxes have over 30 ingredients, and there not even good for you. So my new quest is to find all the cereals that are really good tasting, and are not full of so much junk...
What they advertise on TV is a scam, it should be illegal to say this good for you when it's not.
I do love my cereal, I just want it to be good for me...Because breakfast is the important meal of the day!!!!

Happy eating

Oh by the way High frutose corn syrup a newer and sweeter form of corn syrup. It is used to sweeten soft drinks, juices, ice cream, whole wheat bread and many other mass-produced foods. Its liquid form keeps foods moist and prevents them from quickly spoiling.

They need to remember that its fine for pastry work in candy and frosting recipes because it prevents other sugars from crystallizing . But we consume sweets in moderation, and we know that HFCS is in there not in everything else.. even when we least expect it. So keep your eyes looking....

Did you hear about this one???
I don't know how i find all these odd things in the news
The National Health Service office in Dundee, Scotland, has recommended toilet techniques for the estimated one-third of the population that suffers from bowel and bladder dysfunction, according to an April report in The Times of London. The pamphlet, "Good Defecation Dynamics," lists preferred breathing habits and describes the proper, upright, seated posture for effective elimination ("Keep your mouth open as you bulge and widen"), and encourages support for the feet, perhaps "a small footstool." [The Times (London), 4-29-06]

And how 'bout this...
More Side Businesses: (1) A highly publicized attraction of the Isdaan restaurant in Gerona, Philippines (according to a March Reuters dispatch) is its "wall of fury," against which diners can vent frustrations by smashing things (with fees ranging from the equivalent of 30 U.S. cents for a plate up to $25 for an old TV set). [Reuters, 3-29-06]

That could be a great idea, talk about a way to make a litle money off old juck... I wnder if they serve booze there???

Well that's all the weird stuff that i came across today....

What’s new, old, better, worse, borrowed and possibly even blue now that’s considered safe for healthy eating? Why can’t the experts make up their minds? First the egg is no good and then the problem is the yolk. Then the white is okay for a little while. And then they both aren’t good for us and then they both are again. The poor chickens and their self esteem! Coffee is okay. And then it isn’t. And then . . . you guessed it: it's okay or at least not as bad as originally thought. Hence, the heart of Reversal of Caution !!! Enjoy, with a pinch of salt!

Chocolate: Death By And Otherwise:

Then:
It's bad. That's all.

Now:
Maybe not so bad after all. Chocolate contains large amounts of the same beneficial plant chemicals that now have burnished the reputation of tea. In fact, just one ounce of chocolate has about as much of these plant chemicals as a cup of brewed black tea. One large ongoing study of the benefits of exercise found that men who eat chocolate in moderation (one to three bars per month) live longer than those who eat none. Nobody knows why. And moderation remains the key word.

Butter or Margarine

Old News:
Once touted over butter, margarine is made from vegetable oil and thus has no cholesterol and much less saturated fat than butter. Then it turned out that margarine, because the oil is hydrogenated, contains trans fats, which are as bad for your heart as the saturated at in butter.

Newer News:
Some new margarines contain no trans fats. if you can find it, canola oil margarine is a good choice. Or try liquid, tub or "diet" margarines, which have less trans fat. To reduce your blood cholesterol levels try the new margarines, such as Benecol or Take Control, which contains cholesterol-lowering ingredient. If you use only small amounts of butter and margarine and follow a heart-healthy diet, it doesn't really matter whether you choose margarine or butter.

Who know's what they will say next... I still think moderation is the only thing we need to know!!!
Happy eating!!!

What does a chef eat in a day…

1.5 cups cheerios

1 cup of light and fit yogurt peach flavored

1 med banana

12 oz skim milk

12 oz coffee with splenda and a splash of ½ and ½

1 oz potato chips there the kind with no preservatives or transfats

3 carrot sticks

1 jumbo hotdog in a white bun

With ketchup

1/2 cup of sautéed spinach

1 ice cream sandwich

It’s funny to think we’re feeding our guests all the fancy stuff, and I just don’t desire it. What’s really interesting is I put that info into Mr. K-C’s dietary software, and it showed me that:

I ate 1242 calories, I should be eating 2200

So I only ate 56% of the calories I need

100 percent is the goal on each below to have a proper functioning body with great metabolism

Protein 100% good for me

Fat 65%

Carb 53%

Fiber 36 % not good at all, as you can see I didn’t eat my veggies today

That's assuming I don't have snack tonight... I need to choose a good one. hmmm...what shall I have?

I don't know...

well cheers to happy and healthy eating

Back to work for me....
The relaxation is over for me. I was off most of this week and boy did i need it! I didn't do that much, but relax. I needed to recharge my batteries, they were on low. I feel rested, but after not working for five days i'm sure it will kick my butt. Tonight me and the hubby hung out with Karen and Joe at there place. Their all the buzz with excitement about the house their about to buy. We had some delicous frozen wheat crust pizza, No high frutose corn syrup in them!! A yummy spinach salad. We chit chatted and watched a movie in tv. It was fun and yummy!!!
Well that's it from me, I guess i should get to bed at a decent hour tonight...TaTA

Something we all need to Know!!!
Did you Know this is deadly to our health and we consume it all the time???

Sugar coated We're drowning in high fructose corn syrup. Do the risks go beyond our waistline?


An overweight America may be aware of fat and obsessed with carbs. But this is what the dietians are saying. The real problem is much sweeter -- we're swimming in sugar.
Not just any sugar, but high fructose corn syrup. I did a little research because i new the stuff wasn't good for me. But I didn't know the whole truth, so I am shareing what i found out.

Did you Know our country eats more sweetener made from corn than from sugarcane or beets, gulping it down in drinks as well as in frozen food and baked goods. Even ketchup is laced with it.
Look at everything you buy.. it's every where!!!

I'm sure you may have heard of HFCS? If you haven't, think about this fact. You or me, that is the average american eats 63 pounds of it a year. That would be about 228 extra calories a day. Until the 1970's most sweets were made with simple white sugar. I know your saying that's not good for me either. But here's the catch. You sated your sweet tooth, then your body would absorb the calories, then you would fill up pretty fast. But about 3 decades ago, foood manufacturers figured out a wayto make sodas, yogurts, and cerals and about 40,000 more manufactured foods taste sweeter, for much cheeper. Even ketchup has this stuff in it.

So this how it works, when we eat any type of carbohydrate (bread or fruit) your body releases insulin, it regulates your body weight- sending those carbs into your muscles to be used as energy or are stored for later use. then like a gas pump shut off mechanism, it suppresses your hunger. That's when the signal tells your body to stop filling, your tank is full.

The problem with HFCS is that it does not stimulate insulin, so that's why it's possiable to see people drink 2 liters of soda in one sitting. Thirty years ago it would have been an impossible task, but todays HFCS makes the same number of caloriesgo down and leave you hungary for more .

You don't need to stop this artifical food stuff entirely, but you need to make sure your meals don't revolve around it. So start by checking out thoughs food labels. Here's some pointers 1) if HFCS is in the top 5 on the ingredients list, then look at the chart onthe nutrrition label to see how much sugar they contain. If there's a gram or 2, it's fine. But if you see that it has 8 or more, that's a sign u should leave it on the shelf.

So I hoped you learned something because I sure did!!!

If you didn't get the e-mail...

Hello all,
Are you ready to set sail on an adventure? The sooner we get the ball rolling the better. So I put together all the info we all want to know. Remember the sooner you book the more time you have to pay.
I provided a couple of notes that you may want to consider… check them out.. so let’s do it..woohoo

When is the balance due?Final payment of the balance must be received at Royal Caribbean's offices at least 60 days prior to the sailing date for 3, 4, or 5-night cruise vacations and 70 days prior to the sailing date for 7-night or longer cruise vacations. The payment schedule for groups is different from that of individuals. You will usually receive cruise and air documents no later than 28 days before the start of your cruise.For all holiday sailings, (Christmas and New Year's), payment is due 90 days prior to sailing.

Effective December 31, 2006 the U.S. Government's Intelligence Reform Bill requires passports for all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda. Don't risk disrupting your travel plans! If you are planning travel for 2007 or beyond, please take a minute to review the new regulations below. If you don't already have a valid passport, be sure to avoid the rush and give yourself plenty of time to apply for one. For information on obtaining or renewing a passport, visit the State Department's Website. U.S. passports are valid for ten years, so the initial cost averages out over subsequent vacations - especially if you cruise frequently.

Please take me to the website and info now

Welcome to the Quarter century Club Karen!!!
On monday little sis Karen turned 25....Today we celebrated. The Nic's and the K-C's got together and did japanese and had delicious cookie cake. I have to say we had a great time, and it's the first time i have heard happy birthday sung in Japanese. Much to Karens delight see did not recieve granny panties like the mister K-C threatened if she did not give out a list. low and behold...no drawers were given. She was quite excited when recieving and board game and a candle.

On another note I finally got a day off after last weeks craziness at work, and i even have work off tomorrow. It's might rain, but we need it with the fires south of here, and we had so little rain this year. I would like to go hit some golf balls if the weather pertmits. Yes you heard it folks after more than 2 years, I decided to try golf another go. Last week The mister and I went to the driving range and i did quite well. When i started golfing my balance was not so great, since then i have been fitted with an orthotic...4 my shoes and it really makes a difference. We that's all the new for now!!!

Reminder...Mothers Day is Sunday....

Is there a Harry Potter Twelve Step Program Out There?

Laura has informed me that I'm getting carried away with the Harry Potter. I've finished the first four books in less than a week and now I'm on the fifth one. I mean it is totally addicting. I can't put it down. I need to know if there is some type of intervention? Please Help!!!

I'm sure you have noticed that I (Greg) have been blogging more often lately. This is due to the fact that I am waiting once again to work. We are on another break. And as usual Laura is busy as all get out and thus we hardly see each other and she has no time to blog. Thus I am temporarily stepping into the duties as primary Blogger. If you have any requests as to what you would like to hear about just send comments or e-mails and we will make fun of you. HAHA

Tata for now

I NOW KNOW THAT MY SISTER-IN-LAW IS THE BEST EVER!

Well my sister-in-law Sarah has mended the error of her ways. She finally wished me a very happy 30th birthday in blog form. I know this is not traditional but what birthday today is. any way at least I know what I have to look forward to when I reach her age (which my wife said to protect myself just say that she is older than me) of senility and memory lapses? who knows I may be bloging on how I just turned 30, did I mention that I'm 30. Oh by the way I'm 30. is there an echo in here? OK gotta run it has been a real slice!

Thinking…..
Sometimes I think I spend tooo much time thinking! Like today for example, our lease comes up soon and how long of a lease should we do? Who knows when the winds of change will come? What’s the next step, so many questions I have. Sometimes my mind won’t shut off, not that I’m worrying so much, but wondering….hmmm. On a good note Greg has one more test to go and the semester is done. He told me it took him about 9 minutes to do and he got an A on it…woohooo.
On another note work is busy and I just don’t have enough hours in the day to blog sometimes, and I do miss it. And I recently dumped my internet provider that sucked big time, and were dialing up through the college now. It’s slow, but it’s free and for now it will do!!! So I gotta get ready for bed now, so I can be ready to work in the morning…

How Fast would the World be if there was no E-Mail?

We live in a time where right this nanosecond is too slow. if you think about it 200 years ago you could either walk your post and be lucky if it got there in days much less if it was international and then it was a crap shoot.

100 years ago with the advent of the plane and car we saw the world speed up but still you could expect post to take a few days.

50 years ago as planes, trains, and automobiles grew into the streamlined age we sped up again and post could get to you in a day or so.

Now it is impossible to go a day without your cell phone, pda, ipod, and satelite radio or we would be lost and at what expense. We call or IM a coworker to go to lunch who is two offices down rather than getting up and asking them in person i mean what is that, personal?

why don't we slow down a bit or is that too much to ask?

OK now for the real fun stuff:
did you know that a good way to cure a cough is to take a large dose of laxatives?
yeah, after the laxative takes effect you will be afraid to cough.

just think about that when you walk by the ex-lax and robitussin aisle at the drug store or you could end up in the adult diaper section.

HEHE

Hello all!!!!
What shall we talk about???

National Coffee Cake Day

i love coffe cake. My Mom bakes the yummiest coffee cake of all. The best part it is so simple to make.

So where did they come from? Who invented them?

Coffee cake (also sometimes known as Kuchen or Gugelhupf) was not invented. It evolved...from ancient honey cakes to simple French galettes ("Galette. A flat, round cake of variable size. The galette probably dates from the Neolithic era when thick cereal pastes were cooked by spreading them out on hot stones) to medieval fruitcakes to sweet yeast rolls to danish, cakes made with coffee to mass-produce pre-packaged treats.
Food historians generally agree the concept of coffee cake [eating sweet cakes with coffee] most likely originated in Northern/Central Europe sometime in the 17th century. Why this place and time? These countries were already known for their traditional for sweet yeast breads. When coffee was introduced to Europe these cakes were a natural accompaniment. German, Dutch, and Scandinavian immigrants brought their coffee cake recipes with them to America. The first coffee cake-type foods were more like bread than cake. They were simple concoctions of yeast, flour, eggs, sugar, nuts, dried fruit and sweet spices. Over time, coffee cake recipes changed. Sugared fruit, cheese, yogurt and other creamy fillings are often used in today's American coffee cake recipes.

So that's what I know about coffee cakes. I love them too!!!!

Hey good lookin’ what ya got cookin’?

We had a tasty dinner tonight, of chili salad. Not chili and salad but chili salad. Make a nice tossed salad and mix in a little thick chili, drizzle with a little red vinegar. It’s a good way to use up that little bit of ground meat in the freezer. Or if you have left over chili, it’s a good way to use it up.
So what did I do today? Well I over slept a bit, thank goodness I didn’t have to work today. That whole time change thing always screws me up with the fall forward. I have enough trouble getting myself out of bed as it is. Oh well what’s new…
I accomplished a bunch today, it must be the new bike. Take the bike for a spin, and the rest of the day I tend to be much more energetic. You know that whole endorphine thing is working for me. So I biked, did all the laundry, mopped, vacuumed, dusted, tidied, basically everything except for cleaning the fish tank. And still had time to relax…
Hopefully I can get up on time tomorrow, so I can ride before work.

Sundays….are so nice when you don’t have to be at work….

Today started out on a drippy note, and I’m not talking about rain. Another plumbing issue…ack! So the plumber came out and fixed the leak and the day went up from there.
Caught with a friend, and her fourteen year old daughter and went the beach to enjoy the weather and some nice music. This weekend was the Blues Festival at Jax beach. There was a pretty good crowd, plenty of music and food too! The water is still a little chilly, air temp about 85 degrees, what a really nice day.

Count Down on Greg's 30th Birthday 19 Days

So Do you like your chili with or without beans?
The Misses Likes Beans the Mister Doesn't

Hello all….

Sorry for the delay but last week was a bit crazy… With TPC.. you know the big golf tournament. It hard to explain in terms of food but in terms of revenue it’s much easier. In on week we did our typical revenue of a month. Huge… in terms of food..ridicious …

So here’s what I been up to this week so far. Monday was the last dinner related to the golf tournament, it was for the sponsor of the whole thing. Tuesday I was finally off after 7 straight days of craziness, I think I work about around eighty hours in seven days, maybe a little more. Tuesday I was a zombie, till about 3 in the afternoon. After that I did a few loads of laundry to stay awake. Karen and Joe came over for pizza and salad. We tried out this really yummy whole wheat crust pizza from the freezer section. We watched Scrubs, that’s one of our favorite. Wednesday I was off again, thank goodness I still was Kinda tired. So I spent the day resting, and boy did I need it!!! Yesterday it was back to work, a very easy day thank goodness. Today work again, no parties tonight just time to prepare fore the two functions we have tomorrow night. The high light of my day was getting of early and going out and picking out a shiny new bicycle. It so nifty, shiny purple and new! I had to take it for a spin when I got home. I like it a lot, woohoo!!! Well I gotta get showered and hit the hay. Hopefully I can get myself out of bed easily so I can take it foe another spin before work…

One Crazy day down and too many to go!!!

I have food up to my eyeballs and there is no end in site!!! But what's new? Hopefully the internet will coorporate so I can show you what kind of things i have been tinkering with. I plan to take some pictures soon! Well I love to tell you more, but if i get rolling on something I will want to stay up too late. I have to throw my clothes in the dryer and hit the hay before it hits me..

Monday nite @ The Nichols

So what have the K- C’s been up to? Well I was off from work today and had dinner with The Nichols. Karen made yummy boiled dinner, sausage, potato and carrots. Karen made her first angel food cake today, piece of cake no pun intended. We had strawberries and angel food cake for dessert. Oh, cool whip of course. As for the Mister he’s out of town enjoying spring break. He played golf with my Dad on sun, had lunch with his Grandma Mon., sounds like he’s having a good time. I’m gearing up for the busiest week of the year, TPC, the golf tournament…too much work…. yuck! Well time to hit the hay!!!

So they say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach… and I think the way to a woman’s is… chocolate!!!!

I’ll get back to that in a moment. So what have the K- C’s been up to? Well I was off from work today and had dinner with The Nichols. Karen made yummy grilled lemon pepper chicken breasts, fresh green beans, and baked potatoes. I must say she is quite the cook, she takes after her Mom and I’m sure she learned a few things from me. After work and choir Greg brought over some dessert. He’s been doing quite a bit of the baking at work, since his baker has been ill. We had devils food cake with cream cheese butter cream. And boy did it hit the spot… all of us were quite satisfied with Greg’s choice. Fun was had be all!!!

Something I should mention:

Spices have been used for 1000’s of years throughout Asia, Arabia, and the Mediterranean regions. Once they were valued more highly than gold. So don’t be afraid to spice things up, no pun intended of course. It’s a easy way to add flavor with out as much salt. In fact you can make jars of you favorite spice blends so when your ready to cook it’s ready. I know what you saying now “ what should I put in my spice mix?” or “where do I begin?” . No problem I can help!!!

DRY RUB SPICE MARINADE FOR BARBECUED
MEATS (beef, pork or leave out hte sugar and do chicken)
1/3 c. Kosher salt
1/4 c. brown sugar
2 tbsp. garlic powder
2 tbsp. paprika
1 tbsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
Combine all ingredients, blending thoroughly. If reserving for later use, store in tightly capped jar. To use, sprinkle heavily on all sides of meat and rub in well with fingers. Let meat stand for 2 hours or lightly covered in refrigerator overnight. I like to drizzle with a little olive oil. Then throw it on the grill. Note of caution do not grill on a super high heat because the sugar will burn.

It a quick and easy recipe, so don't be shy....

Why do onions make you cry?

Cutting into an onion will break open its' cells releasing noxious sulfur fumes. When this gas hits your eyes *KABOOM*, the tears start flowing. This is due to the mild sulfuric acid that is produced when the gas dissolves in the watery tears. You react to this eye stinging by blinking and producing even more tears which will eventually flush out the irritating acid. Please resist the urge to rub your eyes, especially if you have onion juices all over them.

Avoiding the tears:
Water:
Wash an onion after the first cut.Cut by cold running water.
ColdPeel and then chill the onions in the refrigerator (1 hour) or freezer (15 minutes) before chopping.
Air:
Cut an onion on a breezy porch or with a fan blowing away from your face.Turn your head away while chopping (watch those fingers!!).Breath with your mouth open exhaling through your nose.
Romantic:
Light a candle near the chopping block.

Technique:
Cut along the vein not across it.Cut with a very sharp knife. Cut near the bottom of the onion last, where the root is.
Look weird
Wear large glasses or goggles. Hold a lemon, piece of bread or a sugar cube in your mouth, the food will absorb the gas before it reaches your eyes.

I have come to the conclusion that some people cry some people don't. If they make you cry it will all be worth when you taste your delicious meal. Happy chopping!!!

Did you know that spilling salt in Japan is considered good luck!!!

That’s good to know, as a pro chef I spill salt all the time. In fact many chefs are known to sprinkle salt on the floor when you have a slippery spot for traction. Here’s a hint… bread crumbs are much more effective and soaking up grease. Well I have to keep it short since sleep is important to fighting off the sickie germs. I need to take that nasty cough juice, and head right to bed!!!

By the way Mr. K-C ate a huge bowl of strawberry jello... he said he had a hankering for it!!!

Sorry I haven't had the time to blog....

Too, much work that's the problem and I also came down with a little case of being under the weather. So I starting to feel a little bit better, one day off from work is not enough...back to work tomarrow...yuck !!!

Do any words in the English language rhyme with "month", "orange", "silver" or "purple"?

How many flower visits must honeybees make to produce 1 pound of honey?

It takes about 2 million flower visits by honeybees to produce 1 pound of honey.


Interesting fact I must say!!! I thought about it when I was having my nightly cup of tea. I sometimes put a little honey in if I have a sweet tooth. Much better than having a slab of chocolate cake before bed though. I hope everyone’s fat Tuesday went well. I had two pieces of king cake at work to celebrate myself, it was on tonight’s buffet in the golf Club. Now back to the tea…did you know
Tea Facts ... benefits of tea

Oolong and Green teas help speed calorie burning.
Green teas has a high content of vitamins and minerals.
Black and green teas are full of antioxidants.
Tea helps fight cancer, heart disease and regulate cholesterol.
Tea boosts the immune system.
Tea Suppresses the appetite and inhibits excess body fat.
Tea fights harmful bacteria and viruses.
Tea may help strengthen bones with fluride and flavenoids.
Catechins in green tea may help reduce degradation of cartilage

So have a cup of tea instead of grabbing a soda.. you can’t go wrong…

And if you don't drink tea...you can also use it for...Dried tea will absorb orders in the refrigerator.
Use tea to clean windows and mirrors.
Used scented teas as potpourri sachets; place around your house or in drawers.
Use tea as a foot refresher by soaking your feet in tea.
Keep a tea bag in your first aid kit to soothe insect bites.
Sprinkle dry tea leaves over charcoal before grilling, this adds flavor to your food
Use tea as a compress on swollen eyes.
Soothe a sunburn with a tea soaked compress.
Light dried tea leaves as a mosquito repellent.

It been around for darn near forever and now you know why....

Olympic Withdrawl….

Life goes on.. back to the hum drum of daily life. But that’s okay, I need a break anyway!
I have no excuse for staying up super late, and watching the boob tube. Betwee, the wedding and the olympics I am plum tuckered out. Work was the usual kind of busy slightly chaotic kind of day. I do have to report the Newly married Nichols have returned from there honeymoon Sunday night, tan and well rested. Greg and I waited for them holding one of those signs saying Nichols party of 2, just like there personal limo driver could. They definitely got a big kick out of it. We got them home about midnight with there cars done up with the traditional just married shoe polish paint job. They seemed to like it, too! Thank goodness it has not rained so they can enjoy it for a few days or so. Dropped them and there luggage off and headed home so we could catch some of the rebroadcast of the closing ceremonies. So that’s the news for now!!!

Olympic Withdrawl….

Life goes on.. back to the hum drum of daily life. But that’s okay, I need a break anyway!
I have no excuse for staying up super late, and watching the boob tube. Betwee, the wedding and the olympics I am plum tuckered out. Work was the usual kind of busy slightly chaotic kind of day. I do have to report the Newly married Nichols have returned from there honeymoon Sunday night, tan and well rested. Greg and I waited for them holding one of those signs saying Nichols party of 2, just like there personal limo driver could. They definitely got a big kick out of it. We got them home about midnight with there cars done up with the traditional just married shoe polish paint job. They seemed to like it, too! Thank goodness it has not rained so they can enjoy it for a few days or so. Dropped them and there luggage off and headed home so we could catch some of the rebroadcast of the closing ceremonies. So that’s the news for now!!!

…Olympics….it’s almost over…

Day 16 is here and it is the final day of the Winter Games. The Torch will soon be extinguished and all will be done. I have to say I enjoyed every minute of it. I love to see the pride that these amazing athletes have for their country and there sport. My husband just told me I need to join the O. T. W. A. A. , he said it is the Olympic Television Watching Addicts Association. HaHaHA…. I also just found out that there’s an Official Team USA Fan Club…I think I should check it out…

Today for the first time I watched women’s biathlon, wow it’s really pretty cool. I have to say I learned a lot about speed skating, and Greg likes ice dancing, and his most favorite is still curling…. I wonder if they will reduce the price of Olympic apparel since it’s almost over…hmmm???I wonder… Soon enough… summer 2008 we will meet again in Beijing…

See you at the closing ceremonies… I have to tape it because I have to work…I can’t call in sick for that can I??? No hookey for me.. I”ll be good…

* National Chocolate Covered Peanuts Day*

And

St. Walburga's Day, patron of crops.

I luv chocolate covered peanuts...I think the last time I had some it was during the holidays. I might have to celebrate by eating a reeses peanut butter cup. It sounds nice but i will probaly forget...by mid afternoon. Do you know how many peanuts does it take to make a 12 ounce jar of creamy peanut butter? It takes about 550 peanuts to make a 12 ounce jar of creamy peanut butter.

wow thats a lot!!!

On a colder note...

Only 2 more days left of the Winter Games. I must say I have really enjoyed it. I have been keeping up the best I can, I still have to go to work... I shodld have taken my vacation. Then i could have seen it all. Non stop action...And now were only one medal behind Germany... USA>>>USA>>>USA!!! Must go to bed soon or i'll never get out of bed... must turn off the tv...

Oops... for anyone trying the Thomas Keller link today...

Sorry I had a typo in my link setup, but it's been fixed now. I didn't get to meet up with him or his guys today..bummer. the were well on their way before I had arrived at work. Today was same old...same old. Not to exciting, made some food starting getting sat in the works, so the weekend will run smooth as usual.

Olympic fever continues at my house... how about yours.... there's not enough days left...

If you don't know what's going on exactly... and you want to know anything you got the check out NBC's page . It has everything you need or could want to know. Got to git it while you can... time is so short. I'm afraid of the withdrawl... what shall I do, I rush home from work to see them and stay up to th wee hours of the night. I think i'm addicted maybe there's a 12 step program that can help me out? Well I gotta go I'm missing quality Olympics...

TK's ...in the house or should I say in the kitchen...

I am referring to the the famous chef Thomas Keller. I walked in to my kitchen at work and there were a group of chefs preparing food. I asked my co-worker, who are those guys and she told me they were Thomas Keller's staff, getting ready for a private dinner, at a local home. Talk about paying some buckoo bucks. It is always fun and interesting to spend time with great American Chefs, learn something perhaps? Or just shoot the breeze....They were very happy to partake in some of our nice weather. They came down from New York where the weather has been quit nasty. I am a fan of TK's food because he believes in simple food done with super flavor, and lots of passion for it. If you want to know more about him, check out this link... Thomas Keller. He's in my opinion one of a America's great Chefs, Maybe I'll get to meet him tomorrow!!

It’s official …. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols

As of Sat afternoon Karen and Joe got hitched. It’s been an exciting weekend with lots of family, friends, and celebration. Thursday afternoon the meet and greet started as relatives started to check into the hotel. Every time I turned around some out of towners were stopping by my parents suite ( or I like to call it wedding central). The K-C’s started off Friday morning by sharing a cup of coffee with our good buddy Dawn who also made the wedding cake. Rehearsal at the church then onto the rehearsal dinner. Sat the ceremony was beautiful, there we smiles and tears of joy throughout the church. The reception was on hell of a great party to and it seemed to roll right into Sun. Thanks to all that could make it and show your support and love. Most of you already know about the wedding website that my Dad put together so chek it ot by clicking on the highlighted text above , check it out it is awesome. There will be more pictures to come as pictures are ready. The blogg is back in action full time…

… The Official Wedding Countdown has begun….

Today is 1st that means by the time you all are reading this there’s only 17 days counting today….

So here’s what I have been up to!!!! Eating lots of salad so I can breathe in my purtty bridesmaids dress. That’s right no cookies for me. I have to say I like salad and all but the cookies are so yummy. There’s nothing worse than walking by the pastry kitchen and smelling those wonderful goodies and not partaking in them….oh well. I think I can manage….I have to say I’m very excited, it’s much more fun to be on the outside of a wedding instead of being on the inside. I mean in my business we do weddings all the time, so I have seen it all. But it’s not as much fun when you are working. But I do try to taste each wedding cake that is brought in, so I know who makes the best cakes in town. And believe me they are not all wonderful. I could go on for days about wedding cake stories, maybe I will tell you them sometime….

Hi Ya'll!!!!

Well how's everyone doin'? Well were doing well here in, as we continue to gear up for the wedding. I hope everyone is rsvping asap. So all the proper preparations can be made. This is one event your not going to want to miss out on. So sent in your rsvp and see you all at the wedding!!!!!

Welcome....

AS OF 7:58 THURSDAY MORNING, OUR GOOD FRIENDS BRIDGET AND MIKE HAD A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO THE THE FAMILY. EVA GRACE WAS BORN WEIGHTING IN AT 7 LBS 13 OZ, 19 INCHES LONG. wE TOOK A TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL TO WELCOME HER INTO THE WORLD. SHE IS MADE OF SUGAR AND SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE, HEALTHY, AND A FULL HEAD OF HAIR. CONGRATS MOM AND DAD, SHE IS BEAUTIFUL!!!!! PICTURES WILL BE COMING IN THE UP COMING COUPLE OF WEEKS!!!

hello all...

Well I hope everyone is doing well in the new year!!! Sorry I have not been writing so much but my computer has a case of the grumpies and I been working on that. And work has been busy, usually after the holidays it slows down completely, but this has not been the case... bummer. Well that's all the news at this moment, and not much fun is happening. Upcoming excitement with the wedding.. is keeping me busy. So I will keep u posted... and as my computer alwos me to blog I will do so!!!! Tata for now...see you next time...

Harry Potter film fest
that's right... the last 3 nights my hubby and i watched the 1st three movies. I'm all caught up so we now in the up and coming week can go out to the theater and see the 4th one!!! He is excited that i'm all caught up, and I won't deny him the fun of seeing the next one. Woohoo. So now it's late and I'm up past my bed time as usual... not a surprise really...

Thankyou all....

I want to thank all my loyal blogg readers. Many you have emailed me about some of the pictures and little quips. I am glad to know it is enjoyed by so many.. it makes it worth while..
So Happy New year!!!!! And keep on reding 'cause there is more to come!!!!

Thankyou all....

I want to thank all my loyal blogg readers. Many you have emailed me about some of the pictures and little quips. I am glad to know it is enjoyed by so many.. it makes it worth while..
So Happy New year!!!!! And keep on reding 'cause there is more to come!!!!