2 Days with the Girls

Two of the girls I work with and myself took this Friday off. We're spending Friday and Saturday at Easton Town Center. (it's a lot like Rio in Rockville, but 10 times bigger) It's outside Columbus, Ohio. (you couldn't pay me to live there - too flat and homogonized) But I can't wait to go. I'm not much of a shopper, especially as you need money to, but I just can't wait to have a day or two away. We're staying overnight, and the hotel is in the shopping complex, so we can go out and not worry about drinking. Which I plan on! And try my hardest to get the other girls to let their hair down. I know one of them is a wildchild, and the other just needs a push. It doesn't hurt that they're both really attractive. The cleavage factor alone should draw attention. Hoping there's a place to go out and dance as well. The whole shopping complex will be decorated for the Holidays, so just being there will be festive. I've never done anything outside of work with these two other than lunch and I think it will be fun. We laugh a lot. Also nice to know I've only got a four day week this week and a 3 day week the following week!

Weekend Highlights

Had a relaxing weekend. Hauled more wood around the property after D cut more down with the chainsaw. (thing scares me) Cleaned, went to Pittsburgh Sat afternoon and had lunch at a bar with friends, did some bills, cooked, laundry, vegged a good bit. Sat. night we tried to get drunk while we played Yahtzee, but Saving Private Ryan came on and we kept stopping to watch. I'd never seen it. (I know, I know) Everytime I wanted to rent it, D said it was too depressing. We watched the entire movie and it stayed with me the rest of the weekend. Sad. Awful. And made me think a lot of the comparisons of that war with what is currently going on in Iraq.

Sunday we had a fight about laundry (I don't know if I've mentioned that I suck at it) so I got a lot done on a mural project I'm trying to get done for Thanksgiving. We did make-up, but only after he had ironed all his shirts himself (and I'll probably re-do. I can iron)

The Symphony

I know everyone thinks I move back to WV and entered a culteral black-hole. Most days I would agree. Friday however I went to the symphony with my dad. It was wonderful. The theme for the night was Tango music. It ended with "Bolero" which sounded amazing. So loud and clear. We're supposedly the smallest town/city in America with a full symphony. It has a long history, and it's really quite impressive. It's home is the Capitol Music Hall, the largest, oldest theater in WV. It's very grand, lots of red velvet and gilded chandeliers. The sad part is it's barely staying afloat. The seats were half empty. (Dad and I were there on free tickets) When you read the program, it seems like all the Olde Wheeling Money is responsible for shoring it up and keeping it running. Lots of elderly in furs in the crowd. (the lady near us gave off a nice whiff of mothballs all night) It would be a shame if we lost it. One of those, didn't know-what-we-had-til-we-lost it things. I think a lot of people say - "oh, you went to the symphony last night? we should go more often..." It was really enjoyable, and I do hope D and I go to the next one.

Management

Lately I've said that I've been really busy at work. We have been, and it's been great. It's means we're meeting and exceding budgets and doing well as a company. We're also planning on expanding in the next year. We've hired our summer design intern to stay on full-time to help out with coming expansion. She's my assistant to manage. And it's been going well until the past few weeks. Friday I took her to lunch to talk to her about things that needed worked on. I thought it went well. I don't have a problem being stern, and I try to balance it out with lots of positive re-inforcement. However today at work seems like someone's young 20-something nose it out of joint. Wonderful. I can't even imagine what it's like for our GM to manage all of us, and I've just got the one. Christmas break can't come quick enough.

When you are in deep trouble,

say nothing, and try to look like you know what you're doing.

still going to London

Talked to my girlfriend last night, the one that's taking me to London with her. Found out a few more details. When I get there I'm going to stow my gear at the airport and go into town for the day, then they'll pick me up at the airport. We're staying at her husband's parent's place in High Wycombe. Which sounds and looks cute to me, but she said it's horrid. From there we'll go in and out of town and sight-see, etc.

I'm excited to get to go in by myself the first day. That way I won't embaress them as I take a million photos and run from one place to the next cuz I'll want to see as much as possible.

I've got the Tube line almost memorized by now. What ticket I need to buy is a whole other story. There seems to be endless types for every combination of days and hours.

The weather should be interesting to deal with as well. I've been told to make sure I take an umbrella. But it sounds like it's been warmer than usual there. On the other hand if you look at Jerome's blog and the photos from when he visited last month, it looks like it was sunny every single day they were there. Lucky!! Looks and sounds like they had a great trip. Next time I want to go longer and take D. Even now I wish there was a way he could go.

Ren's Gumbo

1/4 cup oil*
1/4 cup flour
1 Onion - diced
1 Green Pepper-diced
1 clove garlic (I use 5), crushed - use a press or a grater
1 tsp thyme leaves (then later I sprinkle more in to taste)
1 tsp Filé powder (then later I sprinkle more in to taste)**
salt and pepper to taste
Hot sauce to taste
2 16 oz cans of whole or diced tomatos (keep the juice)
6 cups of water***
1 package of Kielbasa cooked, cut into small pieces
3 chicken breasts cooked, cut into small pieces

In a large stock pot heat the oil, add the flour. Cook at a medium heat constantly stirring to brown the flour. (Don't burn it - you have to start over if you do) It should be a light brown color. This is called a roux. As soon as the roux is done add the, onion, peppers, garlic, thyme, salt, pepper. Saute until the onions are soft. If it gets a little too dry while you this cooks, add a little wine or beer, just a splash. Add the tomatos with the juice from the can. Add the 6 cups of water. (***I actually break the amount of liquid up like this: 2 cups of beer, 2 cups of water with a chicken boiulon cube, 2 cups just water) Bring to a boil. Add the chicken and kielbasa. Bring to boil again, then turn down to simmer for 30 minutes at least.( I usually let it simmer as along as I can) About halfway through this I check the taste and add the hot sauce, extra thyme, and the File.

Serve over bowls of rice or with crusty French bread to dip in it.

* Instead of oil, I use bacon grease. Whenever we cook bacon I save/freeze the grease just to use in this. It's horribly unhealthy but it tastes better. RIght before you serve, spoon the grease off the top to cut back on the oil. Or leave it in if you don't mind.

** Filé powder is made from Sassafras leaves and is used in a lot of Cajun food as a thickener. It is usually put in towards the end. It has a very mild flavor. I use it in place of okra - which Dan hates. Ockra is also used as a thickener. And I think they carry Zatarain's Filé powder at Krogers.

*** the alcohol burns off and leaves a richer flavor behind.

African Peanut Stew

I made this last month for Bookclub. It doesn't sound it, but it tastes delicious. Easy to make as well.

2 chickens, cut into pieces (4-5 breasts)
(3/4 cup peanut oil) I used the oil from the top of the p'butter & added veg oil
2 large onions,
chopped 3 tomatoes
4 1/2 cups water (add 2 chicken bouillon cubes)
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 cup peanut butter - (Kroger's natural creamy)
3 sweet potatoes, cut into chunks (1 large can Sweet taters/yams in light syrup - drain, chop)
6 carrots, thickly sliced in rounds
12 okra pods (I think these are gross so I omitted them)
3 bell peppers (red/green/yellow/orange), de-seeded and diced
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or 1 chile pepper (I added lots more)

In a large heavy pot, brown chicken in hot peanut oil. Add 1 chopped onion and stir until golden brown. Peel tomatoes if you wish, then chop into chunks. Thin tomato paste with 1/2 cup of water, and add tomatoes and tomato paste to the pot. Boil 4 cups of water and add to the pot. While the mixture boils gently, thin peanut butter with some of the hot pot liquid and stir it in gradually. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Begin adding vegetables, letting each simmer for 5 minutes or so before adding the next one. Cook until chicken and all the vegetables are tender. Crush or grind the second onion with the hot pepper. Add during the last 10 minutes of cooking.

book & bath

That's all I did last night. D went to a friends to watch Monday Night Football and Foos (foose?). I had intended to go, but as I grabbed a bite to eat I started reading this month's book club book. Easy read, enjoyable, wanted to see where it went, so instead of going I took a bath, drank some wine and finished the book. It took about 4 hours, and in the end, wasn't that great. Weak character development, flew thru what might have been the big moments, and I hate it when you can see the end coming. I've never been a Daniele Steele fan, but I have read one or two of her books - this was very similar. Oh well, at least that one's read and I don't have to rush to read it right before the meeting. I did get a headache though, think the bath was too hot and didn't go with the red wine.

Tonight I'm contemplating starting to tear apart the kitchen to give it a deep cleaning before the holidays. Contemplating. Wicked, exciting life I lead eh?

and the third weekend they rested...

or at least they hope to. Next weekend that is. We having nothing planned for what seems like the first week in a long string of weekends. We can just relax next weekend. It's seems we've been so busy since the beginning of October.This past weekend D's brother and fiance came to visit. While we had a great time, and always love to entertain, that was the third time in a month and a half we had weekend guests, plus at least two parties at our place. And last weekend we cut and hauled firewood for two days straight. We need a quiet weekend. I mean I want to sit and veg and watch movies all day.

The highlight of this past weekend was finishing reading "The Time Traveler's Wife". It's been on Baba's list of good reads for awhile, and I always trust her taste in books. This was such a good book. When I finished it I kept thinking about it all day. I had gotten up really early Saturday morning, I had slept on the couch because I got sick in the night from an awful hamburger I had eaten at a party that night. So I had a cup of tea and I was sitting reading, and it just kept getting better and drawing you in more the closer it got to the end and then it was so awfully sad. I was sitting there crying as I read hoping our guests wouldn't wake up and see me driveling away. (No worry there though, as whenever they visit, they never get up til around 10 am) I bet they make this into a movie. Which like "Life of Pi" I can't see how they'll convey it without screwing it up. But I'll never get D to read this, and it's one of those books I think he'd really enjoy.

Speaking of movies. Not that we don't love him for being T, but one of the coolest things about seeing T, D's brother, is getting his updates on the movies he's worked on. He just finished working on the last M. Knight movie. He does electrical work, lighting, set building, and more but I don't know the details. He's worked on all of M.Knight's movies, except maybe "Fragile"? He loves working on them and it's really interesting to hear him talk about what it's like behind the scenes.

Oh I just got the latest book club book in the mail today. It's Summer Sisters by Judy Blume. I can't wait for the group discussion on this one. Another girl already finished it and said it's really sexy, complete with girl/girl sex. I just KNOW some of the girls in book club will either just skip that part or get mad about it. Good discussions to come from that meeting ..hahaha. I love Sheryl for picking this book just because of that. I wonder if she knew?

I heard the new track off Madonna's newest CD. She samples "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme" by ABBA, and it sounds great. Not a huge Madonna fan, but I could use a new upbeat dance cd.

The goof balls

When these two are out "on the loose" they won't come near me. But when they're penned in, the come right up to me to see if I have any fruit. The photo is blurry because Hobo pushed my arm. When we leave the farm, they start baying. It's amazing how loud it is.

Pilgrim

He's my favorite. He's a Bureau of Land Management Mustang. More wild than tame, and he's just huge. You can't really tell from the pic, but he's all muscle, really thick. And a pretty dark, dark bay almost black color.

Angel

Heidi

I love her markings - she looks just like "Misty of Chincoteague"

Redwing

Tickles

October Snow

Here are a few pics of the snow we had last month. It was early October - the earliest we've ever had snow on record. And today it's about 70 degrees out. Crazy fall weather.

Three Geeks

Ok, yes we look silly. But the three of us have been friends since we were 10. We all went to see U2 last month. A bit of a nostalgic show as the three of us had all seen them together in Pittsburhg when we were about 17. My dad actually drove us to the show. When we were 17 I mean. He hung out in the parking lot. Couldn't understand why kids had to share cigarettes.

The show this year was great. The most money I've ever spent face value on a ticket, but probably worth it. Can't remember the last show I saw that had two encores, and each was several songs. Politically driven at times, but the stage show/lighting was amazing.

Oh, and the t-shirts were like $35 bucks!! N & K bought me mine as my b-day gift. The only saving grace was that they were made in the US, and the little tag said "no sweatshops used".

What could be scarier than the Olsen Twins?

If they were even cuter, blonder and super-racist.
I just read an article in our local paper about these twin girls, the call themselves "Prussian Blue". I don't even want to create an active link to their website, it's PrussianBlue.net.

These two little girls are scary. They are super cute. Just as sweet looking as the Olsen twins. But everything they stand for is white-supremacy. The photo in our paper had them wearing matching t-shirts that had a cartoon of Hitler on it, in the same way you might see girls their age wearing matching t-shirts with Curious George on them. Freaking scary.

The idea of this blog started as a place for me to talk about dealing with moving back to WV from DC. Here's yet another example of the bad, red-necked, narrow-minded-good-ol-boy part of WV. - The record label that these girls record on, is based in WV and allllll the bands they produce are white-supremacists. Again - freaking scary.

I found an interview online, from yet another white-supremacy website. I won't link that either, but here's an excerpt:

What do you think is the most important social issue facing the white race right now? Do you have any songs that address this issue?
"Not having enough white babies born to replace ourselves and generally not having good-quality white people being born. It seems like smart white girls who have good eugenics are more interested in making money in a career or partying than getting married and having a family. And yes, we are working on some new songs about this issue."

Please tell me the significance of the name Prussian Blue.
"Part of our heritage is Prussian German. Also our eyes are blue, and Prussian Blue is just a really pretty color. There is also the discussion of the lack of "Prussian Blue" coloring (Zyklon B residue) in the so-called gas chambers in the concentration camps. We think it might make people question some of the inaccuracies of the "Holocaust" myth."

Holy shit.

FYI

I haven't posted in ages. My mom's been in the hospital, works been crazy busy, etc, etc. I have horse pics to post, as well as lots of catching up to do. I'll try to get to it in the next few days.