Cooking Rule #1

I am not a big seafood eater. Actually, I can't stand it unless it has Mrs. Paul's on the box or comes from Long John Silver's. (Even then I dip it in ketchup.) So, when I found a fish at Costco that I loved to eat, I was thrilled. It is a lime and tortilla crusted tilapia and comes in the frozen section. It was suggested to me by my friend Holly as a quick and delicious dinner. She was absolutely right.

We have been eating the tilapia for a while now so I decided to go out on a limb and try another frozen seafood item from Costco. This time we had orange and ginger crusted cod. I knew cod was another light fish, so how bad could it be? Let me tell you it was SO bad, after Terry and I both had one bite and I immediately went, turned the oven back on, and pulled the always handy frozen pizza out of the freezer. The fish is now down the disposal and I will give the remaining frozen package away. That is, if I can get anyone to take it. Blech! Of course, I won't be on any new fishy adventures for a while.

So my cooking rule #1 is to always keep a frozen pizza on hand. We do and now I know why.

"C" is for Cookie

My Girl Scout Cookies just arrived. I have already put the thin mints in the freezer. Here's what I really want to know. Why on earth don't they sell them at the holidays when I am already expecting to gain 500 pounds? Why do they wait until February when I really want to start working on losing the holiday weight? They only come around once a year, so it's not like I can say no.

We have four boxes in the house. I'm going to just tape one to each thigh and the back of each arm to see what I'll look like after I've consumed them all.

The Eyes Have It

The original CSI is one of my favorite t.v. shows. Normally, all of the gore and guts doesn't bother me; it looks pretty fake. But this last weeks episode about put me over the edge. They had this "eye" thing going on. Needles in eyes, pulling them out (of db's of course) and finding notes on secret eye transplants, were all in the first 15 minutes. I really thought I was going to have to skip it.

I really get grossed out when it comes to eyes. It's the reason I won't have lasic no matter how much it would save me in contacts and frustration every day. None the less, I watched the rest of the episode and decided the whole thing was pretty creepy. It was one of those nights when I kept repeating Phil. 4:8 "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable--if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise--dwell on these things." so I could get to sleep.

Yes, I often wonder why I put such creepy things in my head to begin with. Maybe some day I will learn my lesson, but probably not before next week's CSI!

Yipee!

I just ordered my subscription to Rachel Ray's new magazine. I am so excited. I saw it the other day in Bed Bath and Beyond, but failed to pick it up. So, it will be here in 4 to 6 weeks. I am waiting with baited breath. Did I get that phrase right?

The Matador

Before you go to see "The Matador", let me warn you. It has got to be one of the most foul movies I have ever seen. Granted, I don't see much of what is out there, but it was bad. We wanted to catch a flick while in Chicago, and the theatre we ended up in didn't have many choices that someone in our group hadn't already seen or didn't want to see. In general, I like Pierce Brosnan, so I suggested this one. What a mistake.

We left not too far into the movie because of the horrid language and gratuitous sex. I saw an interview with Mr. Brosnan on Fox 4 morning news one day and he discussed what he thought was the most embarrassing scene for him. (He was walking across a hotel lobby in his undies and boots.) I left the movie thinking, "That was your most embarrassing scene to film?"

Anyhoo, don't waste your time or money. I did ask if we could get our money back, but no such luck. Lesson learned.

Mini Vacation In Chicago

Terry and I returned home from Chicago yesterday. It was a heavily anticipated weekend trip with our friends Greg and Richelle. For two days, I was able to eat warm meals uninterrupted, visit with friends and connect with Terry. We walked and talked--and shopped along Michigan Avenue. It renewed the wife in me and the mom in me. I came home with a new sense of what God needed me to really work on in regards to our family life and the way the house is run daily. And, of course, I missed the girls like crazy!

The original plan was to go to Chicago and see INXS. This was Terry's Christmas present from me. But when we couldn't get tickets (sold out in pre-sale) we decided to go anyway. All was not lost as we did run into one of the members of INXS--no, I don't know his name--at Walgreens. He was the one who always said, "You're just not right for our band, INXS." on the show. I had to get a pair of earmuffs. Man, it was cold! But, I digress. We saw him and said Hi, and then tried not to act like crazy fans and just left him alone to do his shopping. What I really wanted to do was, #1--get on my knees and beg him for any ticket he could get us or #2--follow him and see where the whole band was staying! Since none of us are crazy teenagers anymore, we did neither. Yours truly even had her camera in her pocket the whole time. You will notice I have not posted a picture since I didn't take one. Nuts, I know.

None the less, we had an amazing time. I had my first pizza pie and am guessing that I will crave them forever more. So, I hope everyone else had a great weekend as well!

Comment

I was in Sam Moon today picking up a few accessories and Reia had to go to the bathroom. As I was keeping an eye on her and Reese, who doesn't like to stay still for long, I realized she was just, well, sitting there. So, I hurried her up nicely and we walked out as another woman did whose kids were in their 30's. (She told me so.)

She commented on how this time was so precious and I needed to really enjoy it. I assured her I did, and although I love to have time to myself, I miss the girls within 3 minutes of them being out of my sight.

Here was her response:

"When they are little they step on your toes. When they grow up they step on your heart."

So here is my question. Do you think she meant that in a "All kids grow up and make choices you would rather them not, but they still love you" kind of way or, "My kids don't even talk to me anymore" kind of way.

The former I am preparing myself for, the latter--not so much. I just don't know what to make of it. How about you?