TGIF Aug 13

16 years ago

Happy Friday! I'm "clinking" with my very sweet mango chunks.

Ben drives home from Austin tomorrow and we'll be picking Nathan up from the airport late Sunday night. They'll be home for just over a week and 2 1/2 weeks respectively. Should be a whirlwind couple of weeks and then they go back to school.

No major plans but I'm guessing we'll spend Sunday afternoon watching Gone With the Wind which Ben just finished reading. Isn't that cool?

Have a great weekend!!!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (15)

User
16 years ago
TG, another miserable week. My SIL flew back to Iraq on Wednesday, got in this morning - it's 118 degrees there today. He thought the 95 degree days we had here in the mid-Atlantic were just fine.

My DD and the grandchildren and I will spend a quiet weekend, though it looks like the weather will be good so we'll have to find something to do, because they go back to Texas next Saturday. Boy, I'll miss them.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.
User
16 years ago
Happy Friday May, I know you'll really enjoy having the boys home even if it's a short visit.

I'm in the midst of doing my first batch of tomatoes. Such a gorgeous day here I'd rather be on the dock but come February I'll be happy to open a jar of fresh tomatoes!

Sunday my GF and her husband arrive for a few days so plenty of time for R&R then.

Happy weekend everyone!
Related Discussions
TGIF 6-13-08 It's Friday the 13th
Q
Comments (10)
Well must be summer cause the puter is acting up AGAIN!! Seems it goes on the fritz about this time every year...I even took the tower out and placed it in front of the ac unit as suggested by someone here but still no luck. I will post until the old boy kicks so if I disappear you will all know why!! Lets see...Drew has been out of school for a few days now. His final grades were not at all stellar but he did manage to pass and be promoted to the 10th grade. Amy is going back to school next week...not to live but to take a few summer classes...kinda get a jump start on her sophmore year. I know its good for her so I support it. However it will mean no summer vacation for the family. I am not too bummed tho-means we can put the cash away for our move!! Everyone please send good thoughts and/or prayers to dear brother on Tuesday. He will go back to the hospital for xrays and mri to determine if he can begin to put weight on his legs. The resident docs at the home say they feel he can but we have to wait to see what his surgeon says. It will be a wonderful day for him if he can!! It will also mean he will be able to go home by the end of the week and begin out patient therapy!! Oh poor IOWA!! What a devistating flood!! My heart breaks for all involved and I hope the situation improves quickly!! Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads!! Cheers! Susie
...See More
tgif 10/25/13
Q
Comments (11)
Still clear skies, mostly, but getting colder. The leaves are mostly down. I'm getting out the winter clothes and wrapping the backyard up for another Oregon rainy season. We are hoping for snow this year, after four years with hardly a trace. My son wants to build a microscope this weekend, so we'll do that. My daughter may want to go to the darkroom. I want to take one early morning and go for a bike ride. I might go explore some of the steep windy roads in the West Hill that lead to the zoo. Or just do laps up my local hill, less scenic but a more efficient workout. Sometimes I wear a heart rate monitor on these rides. Afterwards I can look at the data and see how my heart rate spiked when the road turned upwards or when the speed rose. The rule of thumb is that your maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age. I think that is bunkum, or at least that it varies so much between individuals that it is no rule at all. I have gotten my heart rate up to 200 beats/ minute, only for a few seconds, but those were exhilarating seconds. On a pretty routine basis, I ride at 170 bpm which is 85% of my max heart rate, or a. "submaximal" heart rate. There is a whole science of training by heart rate - you are supposed to spend X time at 80%+ of max, Y time at 60%, and so on. I don't pay attention to that. I just like to get up to 170 bpm frequently and see if anything untoward happens. It is kind of my personal security blanket. There is another test you can do, which is a little more useful. You get your heart rate up to 150 bpm or so, which might mean a few minutes of jumping jacks or chopping wood or running fast. Then stop, sit down, and see how long it takes for your heart rate to settle down to 100 bpm. It should only take one or two minutes. If your heart continues to beat at a high rate for much longer, that is a worrisome sign. This is called "recovery heart rate". Finally, there is "resting pulse". The true resting pulse is taken when you are laying down and completely relaxed. In the morning, right after waking up, is a good time. Some people have a high resting pulse, some a lower one. The interesting thing is how it changes. If you get serious about exercise, you can lower your resting pulse quite dramatically. That is a sign that your heart has become more efficient, which is a good thing. I've been thinking a lot about getting older. My kids are only teenagers, and I'm fifty. I don't know when they will have kids. When I have grandchildren, I want to take them riding and skiing and fishing. That means I will have to be strong and athletic into my seventies. Gulp. My dad had a heart attack in his mid seventies. My neighbor is seventy-five and has CHF and PAH. I've got a lot of work to do, anyway that is how it feels, so I get on the bike every day and push until it hurts. It actually is kind of pleasant to hurt. I think I've learned a little about masochism. But I digress. What were we talking about? Cooking. I'm going to go through my Momofuku cookbook and make some Asian comfort food. Daughter is getting interested in sushi so we'll make some basic rolls. Son is a big ramen fan, we'll roast some pork and leeks and make a big hot bowlful. I'll make some meals for my neighbor with the health problems. And I think I will try baking bread again. I was on a low-carb kick this summer, but it turns out I need some carbs. Carbs = glycogen. Glycogen = muscle energy for efforts longer than a few minutes. No carbs = weak muscles. Doesn't work for me.
...See More
tgif 11-15-13
Q
Comments (17)
Chicken rice soup was great, I made a big pot and it was all gone by nightfall. Made the stock from the chicken carcass, 1 hour in the pressure cooker, done as the meat was roasting. I diced the carrots, celery, and chicken breast into neat little cubes, and it really looked cute. Cooked some arborio rice in chicken stock and held it on the side, to be added to each bowl of soup at service (the rice gets mushy if left in the pot of soup). dcarch, that bike looks interesting. I have also seen e-bikes where the motor drives the crankset through an additional chainring, which allows the bike's gearing to act as the motor's transmission. Of course, your legs then have to pedal with the motor, so it is a more "active" sort of e-bike. Supposedly e-bikes are getting popular here in Portland, but I almost never see any on the roads. It makes a lot of sense for heavily loaded bikes - cargo bikes, bikes hauling kids and groceries. The type I'm most interested in use the motor as an intelligent assist - the bike senses if you are pedaling, and adds motor power to the human power in a constant proportion. The principle is sort of to simulate a very strong rider, rather than an electric moped. There is also a "stealth" system called the Gruber Assist that hides the battery and motor in the bicycle's seat tube, and drives the crank through a bevel gear on the bottom bracket, for an invisible and relatively light installation. But, reports say, the noise of the motor gives it away in actual use. This post was edited by johnliu on Mon, Nov 18, 13 at 10:38
...See More
tgif 11-22-13
Q
Comments (10)
TGIF indeed, I'm clinking with a cup of peppermint tea. Johnliu, I really like turkey, although I'm not a fan of stuffing. In fact, we had smoked turkey for supper and will have turkey again next week. Are you having visitors, or only the family? I say make whatever they like best and they'll be thankful! Rob, that IS exciting, mostly the visitor, I'll be watching to see who it is. I had to smile at the thought of The Boy, dropping parachutes off the deck. Ashley climbed up onto the roof and dropped eggs, her project was to make something that would protect the egg from breaking when dropped from varying heights. Yeah. Bubble wrap worked really well when I sent that dozen farm eggs to dishesdone in New York, and it worked pretty well for the project, but she eventually made a foam rubber "nerf" type container. What will that contribute to her knowledge as an adult? Darned if I know, LOL. Dedtired, good luck on those walks. Of course, walking in snow up to your armpits does burn a lot more calories. (grin) Lars, I'd definitely go for the free fish. I thought my herbs were finished here, we've had snow a couple of times. I knew the sage would grow through the snow and I'll have rosemary for some time, but parsley and thyme are both green and growing too, I didn't realize they were that cold tolerant. Diane, the second week of deer camp is the most wonderful time of year. (With a big nod to Da Yoopers, LOL) It's cold here and we're supposed to get anything from an inch to 9 inches of snow this weekend. A woodstove would feel good. Alexa is probably partying right now, I live a boring life... Today we raked the yard and cleaned the house well, we have our first potential buyer looking at the house tomorrow. I have all my fingers and pretty much everything else crossed. So, we're going to the farm to check on the calves in the barn that are being weaned and we'll insulate the pump house before it gets too cold. I'm hoping to negate the problem of the pump freezing if it gets more than 20 below zero without running a drop light out there. I don't know if it will work, but if nothing else the insulation will help the light keep it a bit warmer. It's completely underground, it'd make an awesome root cellar if I didn't have a well in there. Tomorrow we are projected to have a high of 24 and a low of 18, plus snow. I guess it's time to break out the hats and gloves... Annie
...See More
User
16 years ago
Sorry Mom was posting at the same time. My thoughts will be with your SIL and DD, may he stay safe and be home soon...for good!
loagiehoagie
16 years ago
Just another busy summer day...and Friday the 13th! Yowzaaaa!

I can't remember a tomato season this great before. I cannot pick them fast enough. About 20lbs a day! I've been giving a lot of them away. Just too busy to can...but I might have to make time soon....or at least skin and freeze. Can't them them go to waste.

I have twelve dogs at the house today and I have to pick up my new car. I bought a brand new 2009 Chevy Aveo. I'm going to park my 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T for the winter and drive the Aveo. What a strip down number this is....this is how the conversation went with my insurance agent:

Does it have...

Alloy wheels: No
Cruise control: No
CD player: No
A/C: No
Power anything??? No

Roll down windows...stick shift...but it does have a radio and of all things ON-STAR LOL.

But...$7900 for a brand new car...the payment is less than the payment on my first new car..a 1979 Fiesta.....that was $145.00 a month 31 years ago!

Hope everyone stays out of the heat as much as possible.

I feel sorry for SIL in Iraq...118! But I thank them with all of my heart and soul for their duty to our country. God bless em.

Duane
jessyf
16 years ago
Best wishes to our boys and ladies in the Middle East.

I have 15+ high schoolers descending on us for a pool party tonight.

chips/salsa, burgers, dogs, corn, chinese chicken-less salad, pasta w/bottled italian dressing, watermelon, cheesecake. Most of this store purchased but even with this limited menu, still lots of work all day. Kids will mostly be happy in the pool and jacuzzi, then watching a movie/playing Nintendo, or sitting by a fire, LOL.

Tomorrow night we have friends coming over and DH wants to work on his grilled pizza skills. One stone has cracked already, it was a cheap thin one, still usable. I have spinach balls and mozzarella sticks in the freezer for sides/appies.

Sunday I'm recovering!
Teresa_MN
16 years ago
TGIF is right. I need a break from school and studying for tests. And the weather is cooling off for the next week. Low 60's at nite and mid low to mid 70's for high temps. And lower humidity and dew points!

I might even be able to stain my cedar entryway!
claire_de_luna
16 years ago
Happy Friday! I'm with Teresa about the cool down, although we won't have such great temperatures as hers. Even so, high 80's/mid 60's sounds almost perfect to me, and I'll bask in it. (One more miserable, hot fugly day here while temperature bliss approaches, which won't be quick enough for me!) We are also staining cedar this weekend, so I guess the time is now. (I only hope the color I've picked is the right one. It's my third try, so maybe the third time's the charm.) Maybe once that's done, I'll feel like having someone over.

May, enjoy your boys. I'd love watching GWTW with them; that sounds fun.

Mojitos this evening, and I'll drink and clink to all of you on the CF!
triciae
16 years ago
Please offer my thanks to your SIL & his family also, Mom.

Enjoy the visit & movie, May.

You also, chase, enjoy the visit & find some dock time! The season will be over so soon. :(

Duane, congrats on the new car. Tomatoes - 20 lbs./day?! Wow!! Our tomato pot ghetto that I posted about this spring is producing but is really just getting started...tons of green tomatoes & about a dozen/day ripe.

Jessy, OMG! You are being invaded...take care (and take cover, if necessary!!).

Last night, I received an email about midnight from a second cousin I've been searching for since the late 70s or early 80s. Turns out she's been looking for me & found me thru the historic society. We've not seen each other since we were little kids. Her dad was a LIFE photographer & took that iconic photo of JFK & RFK sitting across from each other on the eve of the 1960 election. Later in life he built boats in Florida & make a couple for Jacques Cousteau. Her dad & my dad grew up together. Anyway, she's in CA right now looking for me...Ooops, I'm not there anymore! We're in the middle of making plans to get together. She's now living in Chicago. I'm very excited.

It's the Art Festival weekend & the village is in gridlock. We normally get about 100,000 people from all over the world. We'll stay home & charge for parking in our yard. lol :)

Seriously, because of the crowds we won't leave the house.

Have a great weekend everybody!

/tricia
lowspark
Original Author
16 years ago
I also say a big thank you to all those in uniform!! 118 degrees is not really fit for human habitation! Poor thing!

Sharon, you and Duane can just send those extra tomatoes on down my way. Oh well, I'm just not a gardener!

Talk about stripped down, I didn't even know they MADE cars without A/C anymore. Anyway, they sure don't ever ship those down to Houston!!

Sounds like lots o' fun for you this weekend Jessy. 15 teenagers. Uh huh! You will definitely NEED Sunday to recover!

Teresa, sounds like your weather will be getting back to normal. Normal here is 90s and HUMID so we're right on par. We'll get the 60s and 70s and lower humidity..... in novEMber! LOL
lakeguy35
16 years ago
Clink and TGIF!

May, glad to hear the boys will be home before heading back to college. I know y'all will have a great time. I've never seen GWTW, guess it's time to or read the book.

Sharon, I think you have plenty of toms to keep you more than busy this weekend. I know you will chill and have fun with your company when they arrive. Guess Clive will give them a good ride on his new toy.

Mom, it's so hard to send them off that's for sure. Thank him for his service. Our Marine is just got back in June. Enjoy your time with those grandchildren.

Duane, congrats on the killer crop this year. I'm giving up trying after this year. Love my local farmers markets!

EJ, oh man, you are in for something else. I hosted my nephews party a couple of weeks ago. 15 turned into 30 with no warning at all. Fun, I think...LOL

Teresa, I can't remember what 60 feels like anymore. 105 here today and they just told us the cold front has stalled again. They promise mid 90's for some time next week.

Claire, same for you. Enjoy that cooler weather. I see a big line of storms is headed your way tonight. Hope the staining project is a success and you like the color.

Tricia, sounds like a festive weekend for your area. I can understand avoiding the crowds being a local though. I did the same at times when I lived up at the lake...not often but some times. : )

Hosting my DN birthday party here tomorrow. She is having a few friend over and requested beer butt chicken on the grill. Went to the farmers market and picked up toms and cukes so it's Annie's salsa, Sharon's dills and chile sauce, and I'll start the nine day process for sweet chunks too. Bread and butters if I have enough cukes left. I'm off to fill up water balloons for my attack on the party tomorrow....LOL

Have a great weekend everyone!!

David
caliloo
16 years ago
Happy Friday Friends!

May, great movie! I know you and the boys will love it.

Sharon, OMG you have a TON of tomatoes! Are you making chile sauce from all of them or will some be canned in other manners? I can;t even imagine making so many batches of chile sauce in a row.....

Mom - Many thanks to your DS and to you for raising such a great kid. We are all in debt.

Duane - good luck. It sounds like the attack of the killer tomatoes!

Jessy - good luck indeed! I helped with the food for the combines 18th B-day/graduation party earlier this summer.. OMG what an ordeal!

Claire - good luck with the staining

David! Water balloons! OMG Now I knwo what will be the perfect ending to our first annual "smokefest" this Labor Day weekend. I am going to bombard the entire party with water balloons! That is BRILLIANT!!!!!

Everyone else have a great weekend... you deserve it!

We have another action packed weekend - today was lunch with a GF and her kids, that turned into afternoon cocktails at my house while we watched our 11-12 yo Little League Team destroy another team in the semis to move into the Mid-Atlantic finals to be held on Monday night (on ESPN2 against Toms River, NJ who we beat by 1 in the regular season) It was so great to see our boys win by 10 in the 4th inning (Mercy rule) and move on to the finals.

Tomorrow is another friends Family Olympics - basically an afternoon of Minute to Win It type challenges with gag gifts for prizes. In actuality, an excuse to eat and drink too much while watching other make complete fools of themselves. I chose wisely and will be an "official judge" this year so I can be pretty sure there will be no incriminating evidence on Youtube. Sunday is our towns first annual Musicfest. There will be 15 live bands, food vendors, beer & wine, crafts and other stuff on this big farm outside of town..... we"ll see how that goes.

Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend!

Alexa
coconut_nj
16 years ago
May I'm sure you'll enjoy the time home with your boys.

MomJ, so hard to see them go, but very proud, eh?

Duane, what a coup on the vehicle and all the tomatoes! If I were closer I'd can and we could share.

Jessy, has your DH tried doing the pizza right on the grill. It's easier than you'd think. I wipe down the grate with a oily rag but other than that, no problemo. Doesn't stick and cooks pretty quick, five minutes maybe.

I'm mostly happy this week is finally over for Christy's sake. Her company is going through major overhauls and they've about run her ragged. She's going to be home on vacation next week so I'm just glad they didn't cancel that on her. Yayy for Friday, now Saturday.. phew.. Clinking with my seltzer and lemonade mix.
compumom
16 years ago
It sounds like a power-packed weekend for all who've posted before me.

May- you bring back such memories, I loved that book and the movie. How great that your SON has enjoyed it too! Time to watch it again!

Mom- Thank your soldier and all who serve with him. What awful heat!

Sharon- have a nice weekend-- I was inspired and might find time to play with your sauce recipe. I know DH would adore it! At the farm stand today they had small roma's that are very ripe. Not much to eat raw, but I could make some kind of sauce.

Jessy- Have fun and be thankful that they want to hang around YOUR house!

Duke- Wow you have a house (or kennel) full. Ditto what May said about no A/C but enjoy the new wheels!

Teresa good luck on the project, you're certainly industrious!

Tricia- that's exciting about finding a "lost" family member. I bet you'll have tons to talk about. Her father sounds like a talented guy!

Claire- You're also industrious, but instead of a mojito (which I can't develop a taste for despite my love of mint) have you tried a Caiphirina? Yum!

David-- You're absolutely the best Uncle--ever! No wonder they all want you to be part of their parties. I see you're putting your Canny Camp learning to great use! Will you share a bottle of Chase's Chili sauce for DH? LOL

Alexa- your crowd and your town seem to have a bunch of family fun activities-- Enjoy!

As for us, it's a busy weekend. Dad was in the hospital for 5 days and then released back to his "home". I'll be visiting and feeding him lunch. Later we're going to an engagement party --oops, better get a gift first!
Sunday we're seeing a play and then going to dinner with friends. In between we'll be packing and sorting, our redecoration project will begin in two weeks. 33 yrs of carp to sort through!

Clinking now with some *Perrier* and a good weekend to all!
pat_t
16 years ago
I know it's Saturday and I'm a bit late for the TGIF posting, but I have such exciting news to share!

Thursday was the final court date for the State vs. my EX & his current wife regarding their drug problems & custody of his children (including my daughter). As you may remember, my daughter has been with me since March.

After hiring a lawyer and spending beaucoup money, the EX & wife ended up caving in and admitting everything. They now have 11 stringent stipulations placed on them that they must meet before Sept. 21st (when we meet again for a status review) before the court will even CONSIDER letting them have the OTHER TWO children back. They will NOT EVER have a chance to get my daughter away from me!!!

Folks, I can assure you that they will NEVER meet those conditions and that the next move by the court will be to terminate their parental rights.

It's taken FIVE years for this to come about - many angst-filled nights for me.

I've happy-danced all over town. Now you all can dance with me. My daughter & I continue to move forward with our lives. She's in a new school this year and has already made new friends. In fact, she had her first girlie sleepover last night. She finally gets to be a KID - and not have to be responsible for two smaller children because her Dad & stepmonster are drug addicts who are incapable of caring for themselves, much less the kids. She's only NINE, for God's sake!

OK - I've ranted enough. Thanks for letting me share part of my saga. Be happy for me. I'm ecstatic!
compumom
16 years ago
Pat-- Congratulations! I knew that your Ex was a piece of work, but somehow I had missed that he was a druggie. Your poor little girl! I also didn't realize that she had been living with them, or was it just visitation weeks? In any case, I'm glad that they are out of her life and hopefully will never be allowed to have kids again.

You and your daughter should do something wonderful to celebrate her freedom from slavery and responsibility! Parental abuse comes in all forms and as a society we should have no tolerance for "parents" such as those!

TGIF Aug 13

Comments (15)

User

User

Related Discussions

User

loagiehoagie

jessyf

Teresa_MN

claire_de_luna

triciae

lowspark
Original Author

lakeguy35

caliloo

coconut_nj

compumom

pat_t

compumom

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

TGIF Aug 13

Comments (15)

Related Discussions

lowsparkOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

lowspark
Original Author