It's not a large secret - I am not a big fan of insects. Living beings that wear their skeletons on the outside and not the inside are just a little unnatural for me. We already know that I have issues with swarms of ladybugs. But I can look on that experience and laugh a bit now. This time, not so much. I walked into our office room this morning and saw a large (1-2 in) scorpion hanging out by the computer on the floor. Silvio follows me into the room at which point - I'm hysterical. I cry out for the dog to leave the room so he doesn't get stung. I run into the bedroom towards Andy's closet. I find the largest pair of boots Andy had (it's a good thing guys' feet are so much bigger than girls'). I run back into the office to find the scorpion hadn't moved. I then proceed to beat the living daylights out of the scorpion with Andy's boot sole. After I had ensured that it wasn't going to move again - I called Andy up to come back from class to help me clean up - cause I had no idea what to do. I'm from the Northeast what do you expect - anything with more than two legs gets a squashing. I think we deduced that there is a small crack between the screen and the window. Since we hadn't fully engaged the lock on the window - it probably crawled in that way. But the bigger kicker is that the bug/pest control guy was here at the apartment complex and I had just missed him when I spoke to the apartment manager about my run-in. But they managed to get him to come in tomorrow afternoon to spray. (I personally went on a spraying rampage once Andy got home). Keep your fingers crossed I don't see anymore of them.
Voter Registration
Yesterday afternoon a nice young lady knocked on the door of our apartment. She introduced herself and says she was canvassing the area to get people to register to vote. I told her that I was a registered out of state voter. (New Jersey represent! Although probably not for too much longer. I even filled out and got a new voter card after I got married. How good is that?) She responded with, "But you live here." I replied with "Yes, but I have an absentee ballot from my state." Sheesh. What part of registered out of state voter don't you get? If I know that information, one would come to the conclusion I know a thing or two about voting. It all ended with Silvio running out the front door to play in the muddy grass which led to me running around like an idiot to catch him.
Yes, I think it is great thing to get people to register. It's your right and privilege as a citizen of the United States of America. Personally, I think you should go to the county clerks office and do it yourself. Take some initiative. My reason for voting: it gives me the right to whine and complain or, alternatively, praise and take pride in how America is handling things.
With that, I need for people to not bother me about registering so I can make a decision for my absentee ballot. I'm still really quite muddled up to my ears in with this and all three recent debates have done very little to sway me in either direction. I guess I need to keep looking at Senate records and their proposed actions. At least -- my income tax class has given me a lot of insight into the tax code. Anyways, I should keep hush-hush on that - I hate it when people try to sway me with information they've found, so I don't want to do that here.
Back to the grind!
Yes, I think it is great thing to get people to register. It's your right and privilege as a citizen of the United States of America. Personally, I think you should go to the county clerks office and do it yourself. Take some initiative. My reason for voting: it gives me the right to whine and complain or, alternatively, praise and take pride in how America is handling things.
With that, I need for people to not bother me about registering so I can make a decision for my absentee ballot. I'm still really quite muddled up to my ears in with this and all three recent debates have done very little to sway me in either direction. I guess I need to keep looking at Senate records and their proposed actions. At least -- my income tax class has given me a lot of insight into the tax code. Anyways, I should keep hush-hush on that - I hate it when people try to sway me with information they've found, so I don't want to do that here.
Back to the grind!
Banking
My head, probably more aptly, my money is going in circles this week. Originally in Wachovia, which was supposed to be taken by Citigroup, and now this morning, looks like my money is going to be with Wells Fargo. I really don't have any worries about it though because the FDIC insures my accounts up to the first 100,000 dollars. (And no - I don't have 100,000 dollars, but I wish I did.)
Family Website
I created a family website for everyone to keep with what our little family (Andrew, Silvio, and myself) are up to. Right now it is still in its infancy. As time goes by, I am sure that it will become much more expansive. I have a bunch of more ideas, but at the moment I have a bunch of other projects - like my christmas stockings, gifts (holidays, birthdays, and the like), my income tax class (I'll probably write about that later), and so much more that is making the website building move along slowly. Anyway, below is the link to our site. It was quite easy to create with google, given I haven't made a website in about 6 years. Without further ado,
I have a bunch of other ideas for journal entries, and yes, it includes finishing off writing about the honeymoon. In the meantime, I have to get on my list of to-dos for the day:
I have a bunch of other ideas for journal entries, and yes, it includes finishing off writing about the honeymoon. In the meantime, I have to get on my list of to-dos for the day:
- updating our budget
- calling the vet to get the necessary papers so little Silvio can travel with me to NJ in the next couple of weeks
- domestically fun things - ie laundry and food shopping
- working on some gifts
- mailing packages
- working more on this website, christmas stockings, halloween decorations and the like.
- prepping for tomorrow's tax class
Thoughts
I think I might move my journal over to blogger - I can then add pictures without having to pay to use the site. I am also thinking about making either a family blog - which Andy, Silvio, and I can post to - or creating a family website through google. I'll let you know when it all goes down.
I swear I'll finish writing about the honeymoon - I've just been sidetracked. A bunch of tiny little projects like this have just bounced into my head and clearly I have succumbed to them. This past weekend the parents came to visit. So that was nice. A bit sad now, who am I kidding, a lot sad. Plus I have my first quiz today in my income tax course. Bah. Hope to be very domestically productive today.
Sleeping lap puppy says hello as well.
I swear I'll finish writing about the honeymoon - I've just been sidetracked. A bunch of tiny little projects like this have just bounced into my head and clearly I have succumbed to them. This past weekend the parents came to visit. So that was nice. A bit sad now, who am I kidding, a lot sad. Plus I have my first quiz today in my income tax course. Bah. Hope to be very domestically productive today.
Sleeping lap puppy says hello as well.
July 13- A Day for Knights
Our last full day in London began with another yummy breakfast at the hotel. Today was slated as a day for knights - that is we would actually be spending the day in London, whereas on the 12th we spend the day wandering around Westminster and the Palace. Instead of riding around on a bus all day, we started the day off with a walk around St. Paul's Cathedral. Unfortunately it was a Sunday morning, so we did not take a gander inside given that mass was going on. The Cathedral is the third largest domed cathedral in the entire world. It had to be rebuilt after the Fire of London but withstood the blitz during World War II.
While we were walking around our Blue Badge guide, Steven, told us to keep an eye out for dragons. Dragon statues are an indication that you are entering/leaving London. After walking around the Cathedral, we made our way to the Thames. On the way we did manage to find Knightrider Street. Alas, no Hasselhoff sightings. We crossed the Thames via the Millenium Bridge. It is more affectionately known as the "Wibbly-Wobbly" bridge. At it's opening, there was so much foot-traffic that the bridge began to "wobble" about 2 ft back and forth. Only after 2 days of being open, they had to close the bridge for repair.
After crossing the bridge, we caught a glimpse of Tate Modern and the Globe Theatre. We did not go inside either. The Globe is not the original, although it was rebuilt following the same design as the original. Walking along the edge of the river we met up with a bus which would take us to the Tower of London.
We drove over the Tower bridge to get to the Tower of London. What is interesting is that most people believe the Tower Bridge is the London Bridge. In fact that is not the case. London Bridge used to have many houses attached to it. It was replaced in the 19th century, without the houses. While at the Tower of London we learned about Traitor's Gate (which St. Thomas More traveled through); the Bloody Gate; the White Tower; the Crown Jewels; and the Fusiliers Museum.
The tour guides then gave us the afternoon off. They set us loose on the city. We walked from our hotel to the British Museum. It was quite crowded to say the least. We wandered through Soho to Piccadilly Circus to pick up a little something for my brother. We realized we were nearby the National Gallery. So we stopped in for a looksie before it closed for the day. On our way back to the hotel, we stopped for dinner at The Porterhouse on Maiden Street for our authentic pub meal. Andy had bangers and mash and I had fish and chips. We also had some yummy beers - of whose names I am blanking on at the moment. We meandered through Covent Garden on our return to the hotel. We slept quite well that evening.
While we were walking around our Blue Badge guide, Steven, told us to keep an eye out for dragons. Dragon statues are an indication that you are entering/leaving London. After walking around the Cathedral, we made our way to the Thames. On the way we did manage to find Knightrider Street. Alas, no Hasselhoff sightings. We crossed the Thames via the Millenium Bridge. It is more affectionately known as the "Wibbly-Wobbly" bridge. At it's opening, there was so much foot-traffic that the bridge began to "wobble" about 2 ft back and forth. Only after 2 days of being open, they had to close the bridge for repair.
After crossing the bridge, we caught a glimpse of Tate Modern and the Globe Theatre. We did not go inside either. The Globe is not the original, although it was rebuilt following the same design as the original. Walking along the edge of the river we met up with a bus which would take us to the Tower of London.
We drove over the Tower bridge to get to the Tower of London. What is interesting is that most people believe the Tower Bridge is the London Bridge. In fact that is not the case. London Bridge used to have many houses attached to it. It was replaced in the 19th century, without the houses. While at the Tower of London we learned about Traitor's Gate (which St. Thomas More traveled through); the Bloody Gate; the White Tower; the Crown Jewels; and the Fusiliers Museum.
The tour guides then gave us the afternoon off. They set us loose on the city. We walked from our hotel to the British Museum. It was quite crowded to say the least. We wandered through Soho to Piccadilly Circus to pick up a little something for my brother. We realized we were nearby the National Gallery. So we stopped in for a looksie before it closed for the day. On our way back to the hotel, we stopped for dinner at The Porterhouse on Maiden Street for our authentic pub meal. Andy had bangers and mash and I had fish and chips. We also had some yummy beers - of whose names I am blanking on at the moment. We meandered through Covent Garden on our return to the hotel. We slept quite well that evening.
Request
Does anyone have a simple flat knitting pattern for an old-timey classic christmas stocking? I'm looking for something - preferably on straight needles, no double pointed or circular ones. Thanks.
Recipe update
Last evening was the first time in a while that I tried out a new recipe. It was inspired by the fact that we bought some Oklahoma wine. We opened the bottled late last week to try it and we were....well, not so impressed. By not so impressed, it was the first time we decided to not finish or even make it halfway into the bottle. Thus, I was on the search to find a simple recipe to get rid of this excess wine. Here it is:
Steak with Mushroom and Wine Sauce
The meal turned out well and was pretty easy to prepare. We made some mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli to go with it. It probably would be better if we used a drier red wine - but hey at least we got rid of some of the not so hot wine.
Steak with Mushroom and Wine Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 large garlic cloves cut in half
- 1.5 - 2 pounds sirloin
- 8 oz presliced mushrooms
- 1 cup red wine
- black pepper to season
- In skillet, heat butter and oil over moderately high heat. Add garlic. Sprinkle steak with black pepper and place in hot skillet.
- For medium rare, cook about 7 minutes; turn, cook 2 minutes and add mushrooms. (Since we had two thin individual steaks and not one huge chunk of meat, I only cooked it for 3.5 minutes on each side. I added the mushrooms immediately after flipping the meat.) Cook 5 minutes more, stirring mushrooms several times. Remove steak to a heated platter in a 200 degree oven.
- Pour wine into skillet and stir to loosen browned bits. Mash garlic with a fork.
- Increase heat and cook 2 to 3 minutes.
- Slice steak thinly across the grain (if you have a huge chunk of meat). Spoon mushroom sauce over meat.
The meal turned out well and was pretty easy to prepare. We made some mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli to go with it. It probably would be better if we used a drier red wine - but hey at least we got rid of some of the not so hot wine.
Political Interlude
I am really the last person who would actively insert herself into a political conversation. But over the past couple of weeks I have found myself watching the news channels in the morning. They are filled with campaign news. The DNC just wrapped up their convention and the RNC will be kicking off next week. Needless to say I have been watching loads of speeches or probably more accurately, lots of sound bites from speeches. I was lucky enough to catch both Biden's VP acceptance last week and the recent Palin acceptance today. Note: I have not made a decision in either direction yet. But as I listened to both speeches, I noticed something... well besides the fact that Sen. Biden is a man and Gov. Palin is a woman. Biden spent most of his acceptance speech attacking the opposition. Palin spoke about the honor of being chosen and about what the VP position or any other public servant should have their sights set on. This second speech by the governor seemed so refreshing to me. No attacks - which is really all the fills the political arena at the moment.
I suppose it is now time for me to do some serious research on the candidates/partys' platforms in the upcoming weeks. Now if only the candidates would just talk about the intricate details of their plans and not "Wah-Wah" about how their opponent's plan is a bunch of dog poop. Oh well, somethings never change.
I suppose it is now time for me to do some serious research on the candidates/partys' platforms in the upcoming weeks. Now if only the candidates would just talk about the intricate details of their plans and not "Wah-Wah" about how their opponent's plan is a bunch of dog poop. Oh well, somethings never change.
Mosquitoes
I have been out walking Silvio early in the mornings. Well, this is not exactly an early morning issue. Every time I return from our walks I discover a new clusters of mosquito bites. I do not interact well with bug bites. Needless to say my legs now have blotches of raised red marks all over the place. I have been really good about not scratching them. But unfortunately I need to now wear clothing the covers as much of my body as possible. This is not fun in nearly 100 degree heat. I would love to be able to wear shorts - alas. I have yet to determine if the area is home to lots of mosquitoes or if the developers here have just disturbed all of the surrounding insect life while constructing our apartment complex.
Wish I had more insightful things to talk about, oh well.
Wish I had more insightful things to talk about, oh well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)