Yeah, where have you been??

Blissful Birthday Big Bob!

Cathy

Miss you! I hope your absence signifies life is treating you well! Nevertheless, Happy Birthday!
E

Thanks... Guess it's time for an update huh? I still check the forum every now and then, but I haven't had much to say... I haven't been cooking much lately. Nothing really new going on. Work has been pretty stressful lately and I haven't really spent time on many forums except vacuum cleaner ones. I miss you guys too... it's been a trying year with back pain, panic attacks, ingrown toenails, and a root canal. They cut the commission at work due to the "economy" so my income took a nose dive and I'm still surviving, but I'm used to buying whatever I want when ever I want and I have to be a a little more conservative now... I haven't felt like myself lately! The only good thing about work is that I've been with the company for 5 years now so I finally get free health insurance.

I still go to see the redneck family every few weeks.... here are some quilts my granny made that she was proud to show off... all pieced and quilted by hand mind you.... she doesn't believe in using the sewing machine. I do not have that in common with her.

Jasper is fine, fat and happy as ever. He never changes.... still the sweetest, most loving cat I've ever met.

I usually by myself a nice appliance around my birthday... this year I did it a little early and what I got was an Omega Vert Juicer.... it was around 400 dollars, but I do love it. It's probably the best juicer around except for the Green Star twin gear (too many parts to clean) and the Norwalk (too big and expensive). It's super easy to use and very quiet and makes great juice.... I do love it. I've been juicing a lot and that is one of the reasons I haven't been cooking much.... I've been relying on juice and convenience foods lately!

I'm actually off today... first time I've ever been off on my Birthday (I'm off every other day now because things are slow at work). When I get up (I go to bed at 6 AM and get up at noon) I'm going to go renew the lease because I always do that on my birthday. Then I'm going to meet my best friend, Larry and we're going to have drinks with a few more friends and maybe go for a massage.... will probably end up at a club or bar or restaurant... My family wanted me to come up but I lied and told them I was working because I just couldn't bear the thought of another cheap lop sided cake mix cake and burned dry chicken cooked on top of a beer can!

For those of you who miss my stories, here's a brief one of something that happened to me last night (I'm just copying and pasting from an e-mail I sent a friend about the experience, but I will euphemize or delete the bad words before hitting submit to make it forum appropriate).

After I sent you that last e-mail, I loaded Twila Paris on youtube (Run to you and I am not afraid anymore, awesome songs!) and started singing and cleaning.... I started laundry, then vacuumed, loaded the dishwasher, then started to wash the juicer.... well, the dirt was too "stuck" on the juicer and it would not come off so I figured it needed soaking again (I'd let it dry from the last time I soaked it)... so I started running a sink of soapy water. It was taking too long to fill, so I went to the couch to sort the mail (so I could get to the pile of laundry that was under the mail) while it filled.... with the intention of returning to turn it off...I got engrossed in the mail and then something was wrong.... very wrong.... my first indication that there was a problem (you know where this is going) was that I heard water hitting the floor..... I looked up and to my horror, I'd let the sink run over and water was just cascading off the counter... I made a mad dash for the kitchen and by the time I got to the sink to turn it off, my touch lamp (that was plugged in and on mind you) had "FLOATED" off the counter and was dangling by the cord, soapy water filling the plastic shade all the while... I snatched the plug immediately (little risk of getting shocked as it was in grounded outlet with the reset buttons). I had to clear everything off the counter and I was helpless to stop the water that was spilling on the floor..... I just heard water slamming down onto the carpet for what seemed like an eternity while I moved the counter clutter to the stove and freshly washed dishwasher top.... here are the things that got wet.... the Sony boombox, a brand new roll of paper towels, medicines/vitamins, pens, coins, a cardboard "canister" of Comet cleanser, a head of garlic, and 2 apples.... what was on the floor below was even worse.... Jasper's automatic feeder which I'd JUST filled with dry food, Jasper's water dish, the ANTIUQUE WOODEN CARPET SWEEPER FROM 1908 that my uncle with the antique shop gave me, Jasper's emery board scratching pad (it's made of cardboard mind you), and the metal bagged Sanitaire upright vacuum.... Of course, luckily I have the equipment to take care of it..... I used Hoover Steam Vac to get the water off the carpet (as if I hadn't spent enough time with that silly thing at Electras today), and I used the Hoover Floormate to squeegee the water off the kitchen floor.... there was a lot and I'd have never been able to mop it all up.... I don't think I have the energy to do anything else now.... I'm going to bed!

Mind you, I needed to mop and wash under the dish drainer anyway, but this is ridiculous!

OK, so that's what happened to me last night.... it's funny now but I wasn't happy then.

Thanks for the wishes :O)

Sending you best wishes from the other side of the continent! Happy Birthday, Bobby! So happy to see Jasper so contented, and your granny's quilts are stunningly beautiful! Thanks for the funny story, too!

Happy Birthday!!!!
Smiles,
Sooz

I forgot something.... even though I haven't been cooking lately, I've still been getting a great home cooked meal every other week. My gal pal, Sheila has a family dinner every Sunday and they eat dinner together and watch True Blood. So, every Sunday that I am off, they have me over and I enjoy great food, scrabble games, and True Blood (they got me hooked, what a show!). They are Filipino, and they eat some "interesting" foods to say the least... It's a full house with Sheila, her 2 nieces, Sheila's sister, Sheilas twin brothers (24 years old, both gay so we have something in common), and Sheila's parents.... and two dogs! This is what we had this last Sunday.... everything homemade.... bread bowl with spinach dip and veggies, panko breaded shrimp, chicken, and sweet potatoes, onion rings, broiled pork belly... and that was just the dinner.... as soon as I arrived, they fed me lunch which was spaghetti with homemade sauce and fried chicken! I brought lemon bars and oreo cheesecake. They always send me home with a ton of food and of course I leave all the dessert I bring with them... usually I buy something, but this last time, to celebrate the season finale of True Blood I baked.

This is one of Sheila's brothers slicing the sushi....

The rest of the food....

Sheila gave me an early birthday present... she knows I love sewing machines so she gave me a very cute whimsical sewing machine shaped tea pot... she's also given me a sewing machine shaped desk watch and I adore them :o) You can tell I've not been cooking, look how clean that stove is!

Happy Birthday Bobby! And though I'm sorry you haven't bee cooking, it is nice to read your update. Also sorry to hear about the health challenges, but free health insurance is great.

Looks like a great spread, and I am gong to have to check out True Blood

Alexa

Have a great day

I'm in a rush, late to work, so I don't have time to read your post, Bobby. But I do wish you a very happy birthday, and I miss you on the forums.

Sally

Hey Bobby, You have been missed.

Happy Birthday and enjoy your day off.

Ann

I don't usually even *read* birthday threads, much less participate in them, but I had to see what was going on in your life, and I knew there would be a great story or two. I was richly rewarded! I hope the antique wooden carpet sweeper will dry out and be good as new, er, old.

Happy birthday, and have a great year!

Sue

What a story Bobby. I love it!

Wishing you a very happy birthday. Keep the water in the sink today!!!

Karen

Happy Birthday Bobby!!!

When ever I see you've posted, I always go sit in a quiet place to read it! You should have your own column in the newspaper.

Have a good weekend buddy. Hope to see you soon!

Happy Birthday Bobby!

Wow, Bobby thanks for the update. Sounds like you are staying busy, as always. Work life just sucks, doesn't it? I fit weren't for salary and benefits, I bet everyone would stay home!

Happy birthday. Enjoy the juicer.

Happy birthday!

A very happy birthday, Bobby! Love your granny's quilts and the sewing machine teapot! Jasper does indeed look like a wonderful cat. Don't you hate plumbing "issues?" But I enjoyed your story.

Enjoy your day off!
Teresa

Hope you have a great birthday Bobby!

: )
lyra

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOBBY!

I miss you here too.

Lee, sending wishes for a great day and a wonderful year, and some scratches for Jasper.

Happy Birthday Bobby!! Have a great day.

Linda

Happy birthday Bobby!

-Robin

Happy Birthday, Bobby! You have been missed and I always enjoy your stories. Granny does beautiful quilting!

jude

Happy Birthday Bobby-baby!!...May your vacuums dry without rusting and your new juicer not get too gummed up!
Granny's quilts are wonderful....and Jasper looks like he knows he's loved.
Don't stay away so long now....ya hear?
Linda C

Happiest of birthdays, Bobby! Next time I go to Orlando, how about we get together for lunch? My sister lives in Oviedo now, so you just never know when I'll get a wild hair and take off down that way.

Love the teapot! Way beyond cute!

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday, Bobby, I'm not too late to the party. As for your "redneck" family, I just baked a camoflage wedding cake for my nephew last weekend, so I think I might have out-rednecked you. (grin)

I do hope your antique wooden vacumn drys out all right, and Jasper looks very secure, he knows he's the boss.

Your grandmother's quilts are absolutely beautiful, she is justifably proud, that's a lot of work.

Have fun tomorrow, the food looks yummy, so I'm sure it will be excellent.

Annie

I enjoy your posts -- thanks for the update and photos.

Happy Birthday To You!!!

Thanks everyone! I'm just getting in... We didn't do the massage thing or end up at a club.... we met friends at Chili's (because they have happy hour all day every day) and after 6 long island iced teas, I didn't feel like doing a whole lot except giggling and being silly!

Our server looked just like Jessica from True Blood.... I mentioned this to her after about the 4th Long Island and she said she was told that all the time and that she loves the show and that she now recognizes that she does look like that character/actress after her customers pointed it out to her. When she found out it was my birthday, she told me that just had a birthday 2 days ago and she was even born the same year I was.... that was funny! As is common with many of the restaurants in Orlando, there was a "balloon lady", and while I wasn't looking, Larry asked her if she could make a vacuum cleaner out of a balloon. She said she'd never done it before, but she really did a good job....

Here's a picture of me with my "new vacuum".... excuse the goofy grin.... I was "very happy" there after all those drinks....

After we had drinks at Chili's, Larry was hungry so we went to a vegetarian restaurant and I got some fake beef and some fake shrimp wraps with peanut sauce.... very good! Larry got sushi and fake steak.

Yes, Jasper knows that he is loved and in complete control... the arrogant little thing is demanding my attention right now.

Pat, that would be great. I've met a few CF members before (Cathy, Shaun, a few others) and it was a total blast. Just let me know... if I don't see it on the forum, e-mail me privately when you think you might be coming up!

Annie, a camouflage cake does sound pretty redneck.... but I don't know if either of us can truly claim the title until we've been commissioned to make a cake like this :o) I didn't make this, just found it online, but I have some family members that would love it!

I guess I should try to chime in more often :o)

Thanks again guys