True Confessions........

...does anyone remember those magazines?

True Confessions...

I always thought they were racey - although I never read any of them...but I remember seeing them in the check-out stands, right by the cigarettes - both of which were considered "bad" in my childhood....

Anyway, back to my true confessions....

I am a Recreational Eater.

Yes I am....

Go to the movies for the movie? Nah, the hot buttered popcorn. ( is that considered a 'vegetable'?? ) To the county fair to see the livestock? Nope. Funnel cakes.

Who else would go to a place like Yellowstone & Jackson Hole and take pictures of their food?

Yep, me.

I love good food.... who am I kidding...I love all food! Cold food, hot food, Ethnic food, American food, fried food, sweet food.

Low fat...high fat...no fat...a little fat.... you know......food

I even like vegetables.... (popCORN??)

So when on vacation, if I find something that's really, REALLY good, I want to remember it.

Yes, more than what I see on my hips, Miss Fatty-Pants.......

So, from left to right:

Creamy 3 cheese & onion soup with 1/2 tomato, avocado grilled sandwich. Can you say YUM??

This was at Jedidiah's in Jackson Hole.

Randy had the Chef's Salad - came with little sourdough buns they make from a 100 year-old "starter". Can you imagine? I'd have lost it in a month!

Then it was off to Bar N Ranch where my daughters and their families surprised us with a gift certificate for a nice dinner out while in the woods. They know their Momma!

And nice it was - New York Strip steak. They served it with, of all things, white rice with black beans on top. If you think it sounds funny, yous should have seen Randy when he first saw it...

We expected the usual fare - you know - baked potato with all the fixins' - but this was a wonderful surprise. Great taste and not so heavy that you couldn't remember the steak. Mmmmmmm....

And don't forget the asparagus in butter sauce! Remember what Paula Deen says, "Butter is our friend!" It was crisp and creamy all at the same time.

Then came dessert. Crème brûlée (French for "burnt cream") - what else can I say? I can swoon over a good dish of this stuff.

And swoon I did.


As soon as I found out they offered it, I quite eating my lovely steak (one can always take home a doggy-bag!) and saved room for my Crème brûlée......

And not a regret in sight. Creamy with crunchy....smooth and sweet......

So, it's back to work, back to packed lunches and back to Weight Watchers! But that can wait until Saturday....

....after all, no sense in starting anything on a Tuesday, right??

I met someone in the woods.....

...who is tall, dark and...................hairy!

Yes, we're back from Yellowstone and Jackson Hole.

And no, sadly, Hairy didn't come back with us. Seems he's happy in the woods. (and he'd never fit in the truck...)

We were too. Happy in woods...that is. In the truck....we do fit.....though with all the great vacation food, just barely...

Had the most fantastic vacation!

I'll write more this week, however, since my heart is broken having to say good-bye to Hairy, I'll take this afternoon to gather my thoughts and decide what embarrassing photos to show you all.

Missed you all! But glad to be back...

me

...A quickie!

OK, so I am totally excited about vacation!

We leave tomorrow night for 4 days in Yellowstone.

We have a log cabin!

With a fireplace!

Actually, we're renting it, but it's ours for 4 days!

So, I'll make this a quickie.

I still have to: pack, list, plan, write notes, look at map, locate map, wash, fold, get batteries, get band-aids, get aspirin, find umbrella, peanut butter, rain ponchos, Tums, a flashlight, binoculars, crackers, bottled water, canned fruit, dried nuts, vacuum packed coffee, write a will, write instructions for walking dogs, feeding dogs, treating dogs, playing with dogs, find shoes, find second pair of shoes in case the first get wet, hand sanitizer, air freshener, find camera, find photo paper........................and so on.......................and so on....

And, we'll only be gone for 4 days....!

Yes, we will be taking the truck, with the 4-wheel drive and the anti-lock brakes which is fully insured, has airbags, cleaned, gassed, oiled, and does no more than the rec commended 65mph. where applicable.

Whew!

And you wonder why I NEED a vacation?

See you all on Monday morning!

Blessings!

me

Happy Birthday to my sister-Kathy's-walking friends group-YaYa gals-cyber-friend BETTY!

Happy birthday to you! Hope your day is GREAT!

The “accidental” scrapbook of my life…

While looking at an old book I bought several years ago, I came across a sticky note with the name and address of the hospital my sister Gerri was in at the time.

I can’t remember the situation, but she’s had some very serious dealings the last few years.

Finding the note, I was brought back to that worrisome time. All is better now, but it does take one back. … to the phone calls, the cards sent, the worries, the prayers offered up, and finally, the relief that once again, we’ve cheated whatever had us in its grips.

My family is all too aware of these feeling with my “speed-bumps” over the years. But all is well now – thank you, Lord!

I also found 2 scratchers from a local restaurant that would have gotten me a free desert!

Whoopee! – Then I noticed the expiration date was 6 years ago…bummer… Wonder if they’d honor them? Hmmmm…

I have found in books purchased at yard sales and such hand-written recipes, receipts for items purchased long ago at hardware stores and even some old greeting cards, all used as book marks of sorts.

They seem to have taken on a life of their own – trying to tell the tales of former owners.

Makes me wonder how much of myself I’ve left in books sold or traded over the years…

You can actually see my life “so far” by what I was reading at the time. Look down the book shelves and know what life-crisis I was facing at the time…and what I was trying to “fix”… (…as if….)

From my former life – my starter-marriage : “How to Make a Home Comfortable” or “How to Be a Better Wife” "Raising Good Children"

Then on to “Self-esteem for Dummies” and “Take Control” and “How to Have Happy Kids in Spite of Divorce”

Then "single life- part deux": “How to Re-enter the World of Dating” or “How to tell him you have 4 kids and a crazy ex-husband”

(OK, that last one I made up, but that pretty much sums up what I was reading to help at that time in my life.)

On to career/life changes: “How to Make Things Happen When You’re Not In Charge” or “The 50-hour Work Week – How to Survive”, “How to Analyze a P&L Statement” and “Employment Rules for Dummies”…

Then..The BIG 'C' …cancer...."The Breast Book”, “How to be Happy Though Hairless” , “Chemo – It’s Your Friend” or “ Come Join the New Club – The Mamo-Grammies!” (Yes, I made that one up too, but you get the point…)

Now, it’s reading for sheer enjoyment, “The Secret Life of Bees” , “50 Acres and a Poodle” and “Under the Same Moon” – “Marley & Me” a “Saving Gracie”….."Ireland on $50 a Day" ...

So, the next time you’re in someone’s home, take a look at their bookshelves. It can tell you a lot about “where” that person is at the time..and it might just let you know what to say to be a great friend, what to offer , how to be that ‘soft place to fall’ for them. (And you may just want to borrow one or two!)

So here's to good reading, for the trials of our lives and for us emerging stronger, better and happier for them.

G’night all and read a good story..soon....

Me

Harmon says "Happy Birthday Kathy!"...

We hope you're day is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is what a 58 year old's birthday party looks like....

I had such a great birthday ...we had neighbors and family and pups and pizza.

We had cake and goodies bags and gifts and laughter.

We had party hats and friendship and love.

What more could a 58 year old want??

Cash....

You heard me ...cold hard cash...for vacation. And souvenirs. And antique stores...

And guess what? I got some of that too!

A new sweatshirt to wear at Yellowstone.

A beautiful necklace to wear to a candle-lit dinner.

A beautiful candle to have with the necklace worn at the dinner...

A gift card for the dinner, which is to be by candlelight, while wearing the necklace....

Good wishes and lots of love............and cash.

You see, I've been on a self-imposed cash-diet for about 8 months now. Trying to control an addiction to spending too much too often on things that mean too little.

And with Randy's love and guidance, I have been "clean and thrifty" for 8 months.

But we're going on vacation.

And I wanted just once to go and spend and not feel guilty. Not try to hide it.

To be able to look at something and say "Hmmm, I don't think so...."

And not because I didn't have the money with me - but that I choose NOT to spend what I had, does that make sense?

So at the start of my 58th year on planet earth, the best gift of all is..........................

.....no...not the cash...(although it will be fun!.....) but the lesson learned that what I need, what's really important, I already have.

So here's to being "clean & thrifty" and having a support system that understands you...and loves you anyway!