Case of the Mondays

So...I go to start my car today, and it won't start!

THE REST OF THE STORY:

My husband came home from work and jump started my car. He took JMS to the babysitter's since it was on the way to his work, and late enough in the day that she'd be "open."

I then went to Wal-Mart to have their auto center test my car battery. (Why this store?...it was close to the house.) I pulled up and the service guy came up and asked what I needed. I let him know, and he said that their battery tester no longer worked. He then referred me to Auto Zone. Hmmm...I thought, thanks for the referral, but how do you stay in business if your tools do not work. Oh, and don't let me forget to mention he said I could come back to him for a new battery if Auto Zone deemed my battery dead. But wait...Auto Zone can replace batteries too, so why am I going to come back to Wal-Mart?

I drove to Auto Zone, my battery was dead...no surprise since it was the original in my '03 Chevy. They replaced it...and I made it to work, only 30 minutes late. Not too bad.

As far as helping customers today...I found a micro-fleece blanket that the lady had a rain check for. I was stopped in the bathroom, as I was washing my hands, to help a guest locate jelly bracelets; we don't carry them for you 80's freaks. And, lastly, barstool covers. I wasn't on the salesfloor much today. But really, do you ask a store employee for help finding something in the store while you are in the bathroom? Really?

Great Weekend

So, here is proof that I can cook! All of these folks endured my cooking, all weekend long, and lived to talk about it! :) Well, all but the baby...but she technically enjoyed the food vicariously. I think I was a little ambitious trying to feed this crowd, plus one more - my mom, before the circus on Saturday night. I made hamburger patties, wrapped in bacon, green beans, and smashed potatoes. I should have just ordered pizza. But, I love to cook and watch folks enjoy my food. Oh, and the scramblewiches (Sunday morning) were a hit too...except my husband doesn't like the amount of bread RR Recipe's call for. So next time his will be made minus the bread. The circus was fun on Saturday night. The adults are in a conversation about how one decides to join the circus, and what your resume would read like after you worked for the circus...."third fan girl in the elephant show"...."swaying pole climber"...."human cannonball" and would you ever have a serious job after having worked for the circus?

All the boys know is that the tigers "roar." And, clowns ride in "vroom vrooms."

Mom did a great job watching Zoe while we were gone...couldn't tame the hair, but definitely fulfilled the grandma role. Thank you---despite dropping hints that JMS is very well behaved around the baby...and that I was his age when my brother was born...Thank you!

So...if you had to caption this photo....what would you say? Comment on my blog and let me know. I've come up with some funny ones myself, but would love to hear your thoughts.

Grocery Store Adventures

Honestly, I haven't been grocery shopping since the last time I commented on our adventures (9/2). It really has been 23 days. Ok, well, I can pick up the basics before I leave work, such as bread, milk, frozen dinners; I can buy everything but fresh fruit, vegetables and dinner meats (steak, chicken, ground beef etc). So our pantry wasn't that barren. Ok...but the fridge was another story.

Do you know the comedian that does the jokes...."so, there's your sign!" Bill Engvall. Well, if you don't he says the punch line...and then adds in "there's your sign" afterwards. It implies that if you had seen something, you should have known because of the "sign."

My son recently started asking for "fren fwies" at the dinner table. I looked in my refrigerator and we had more take out boxes and wrappers and leftovers than actual home cooked leftovers. There's your sign. It was time to go grocery shopping again.

It helps that we have company coming this weekend too; a little motivation. :) So, I made out the menu...worked up my list so I didn't spend too much...and off JMS and I went to the store. Well, did I mention that our Kroger's is going through a remodel? Lately, it hasn't been an issue to comment on, because the construction had not impacted my life. So, they moved the eggs over one aisle, and closed the pharmacy temporarily...not a big issue. Today was a different story.

We walked in the "IN" and now it is the "OUT" and the produce section, bakery, and deli which used to be on the left of the store is now on the right of the store. So, the cookie that I had promised my son was not where it should have been. We made our way to the right side of the store...and don't get me wrong, it was beautiful. The fruit was pyramided, the colors were bright, the glass on the cases was sparkling....this was the first day that this side of the store had opened. We made our way to the bakery...and yes, they are still giving out cookies...thank goodness, and a whole bunch of other stuff. At the pyramid of oranges, there were orange slice samples, at the fruit salad section, JMS got strawberries and blueberries. We went by the salsa bar and he had chips...the pastries...he had a donut sample...the meat counter...hamburger bits and cajun chicken...he had lunch just on these new sample trays that are on display every four feet. That was a blessing, because finding what I had on my list was not as easy as in the past. I had my list in the order of the store (as it had been). So, we made several laps and then several more laps. This whole adventure took me 1.5 hours....when normally I can be done and home in 45 minutes. I did like the store. It is taking on the Fred Meyers look and feel. (Olympia, WA) They even expanded their natural food section...so Rescue Remedy is now within my reach.

So you are probably wondering what my menu consists of for the next few meals. Or, if you are like me, hoping I'll post my grocery list and menu so that you don't have to make one yourself. Just print mine and away you can go. I am using Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats cookbook for some of the main courses.

Dinners:
1)Sweet sausages, baked potato wedges, and corn on the cob (RRR#34)
2)Nacho bread and tortilla chips (RRR #364)
3)Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf, smashed potatoes and green beans (RRR #332)
4)Pork chops and scalloped potatoes (Mother-in-law's recipe)
5)Frozen Pizza

Breakfasts:
1) bagels
2) yogurt smoothies
3) waffles and sausage links
4) biscuits
5) scramblewiches (RRR #1)

Lunches:
Sandwiches and leftovers

If you truly want the grocery list...email me. :)

4 days until the Circus!

So, in four days we are going to introduce JMS to the circus. Yes, the Circus is coming to Lexington. (Try clicking on the photo above.) But, I think I'm more excited that Kim and her family are coming up from Tennessee to see the show with us. I love the thought of JMS getting to play with her little boy, and the idea that I get to hold her new baby girl. And, you all know that despite how exhausting entertaining can be....I love to have visitors in the house. :) Ok...time to get ready for work.

Introducing my brother...

So, my brother doesn't get any press time on my blog. I saw this photo on his wife's myspace page...and loved it. He actually looks happy. If you know my brother, that does not get captured often. :) He is holding my nephew Eli (born March 2008).

Today was my dad's 60th birthday. Yikes...that means my 30th is right around the corner.

I just finished working my 5th day of my 6 day work week. What were customers looking for tonight: men's wallet, kitchen apron, glass angels, and a white bathroom vanity. Did you know that we don't have any aprons in the store except for those with fall leaves on them? I wouldn't have thought of a kitchen apron as a seasonal item. And, no, we do not sell glass angels.

Weekend Shoppers

Ok...all of you shoppers out there. Take this as a "coaching!" If you go into a store, please respect it as you would respect your parents home. Let me give you some examples:

1. Do not allow your child(ren) to take all of the hanging signs off of the shelves and throw them on the floor. Do you go into your parents home and take wall hangings off the walls and put them on the floor?

2. Do not allow your child(ren) to put on the halloween costumes (as if we are a dress-up closet), run around the store, and then drop them on the floor. Do you go into your parents home and try on their clothes and then leave them at the door? Ok, so my mom might not have a bat-girl costume in her closet, but you get the point.

3. Do not allow your child(ren) to try on ten pairs of shoes and leave them all on the floor. Do you go into your parents home and try on their shoes and leave them other than where you found them? (This is more a note for the women, than the children.)

4. Do not pick something up in one area and put it down in another. Do you go into your parents home and randomly place all of their belongings in other places? I know my mom does this at my house...but I certainly don't do it in hers. :) Love you, mom.

Do you shoppers realize what kind of money you are wasting on us having to pay people to clean up after you???? DO YOU?!?

Seriously, how do women's bras end up hanging on a peg in the silverware aisle? And, bouncy play balls underneath racks in the girl's department?

Oh, and as promised folks were looking for the following items today: ladders, fire pits, window chalk, sea monkeys, and again...the front door. It kills me that people don't know where the front door is.

Fruit of my labor...

OK...the title is a bit fruity (ha ha...there I go again)...and JMS is truly the fruit of my labor. In reality, I intended to show you pictures of my mums and the mulch I put out front. But, I took this picture to show off the Winthrop shirt...and I couldn't help but share.

Oh...and this big guy...no labor involved. I feed him two square (in the dog world I guess) meals a day. Water him...bathe him...clean up muddy prints he leaves around the house...and overall get some minor amounts of love in return. How can you deny this face? OK...so the picture I promised. Yes, red mulch. The mums are in the flower boxes. The mums are all a rustic pink color, except for the two siding the front door; they are sunshine yellow. Mom your geranium is still going strong on the right corner of the porch. Look at that rotten field of weeds next to our property. Fortunately, because it is the month for the Grand Tour of Homes, they sent some lawn care folks out to bush whack the weeds to a height that we can now see over.

My day off.

JMS was enjoying his jungle gym in this photo. This was definitely a good buy! He likes climbing on stuff and he likes being outside. This has allowed for both, and doesn't require much participation on our part. We can sit outside and let him go wild! JMS is trying on my $3 fake crocs. Hey, it is that time of year when it is too warm for house slippers, but you still want something soft and comfy on your feet when you're not at work. He is fascinated with shoes.

So, I had today off of work. (Last one before I work six straight.) I took JMS for his flu shot...never fun, and then we hit Lowe's for some mulch and seasonal flowers. Then, while JMS enjoyed a nearly 4 hour nap, I mulched our front gardens, and I replaced the flowers in the flower boxes with mums. Hopefully these will last until the first snow. Maybe I'll get some pictures on here next time.

Our Pear Tree Lives

We had some landscaping done. Immediately after the pear tree was planted it lost all of its leaves and we thought it was dead. Well....look at the beautiful flowers that are popping out! Good choice!

My sister got her Ring!

My sister is a FIRSTIE and she received her class ring last weekend!!! From this photo, do you think she's excited? Her sponsor (in the photo) was also my sponsor and my husband's sponsor when we were there. Too cool!

So on other notes. In the retail world yesterday folks were in search of: laminators, ironing board covers, green chilis, and hat hooks. Odd mix.

JMS had a bubble bath last night...well, he gets one every night, but last night we finished off the bubble bath so it was extra bubbly. He enjoyed clapping the bubbles, eating the bubbles, and dressing himself in bubbles. It was fun to watch.

Family in Cincy lost power from the storms for 26 hours. Dad got to use his generator; yes, he sounded excited to get to do that. We offered them a comfortable place to stay and grab dinner, but they were troopers and decided to ride the wind storm. I guess that was a good choice; news reports said that there were tipped over semi-trailors decorating the interstates. Yikes. We had wind here, but no damage.

Saturday Night

We had some friends over for dinner, and I was really hoping to use our new patio. Well, it was too hot and humid. So, we gathered around the kitchen, watched college football in the living room, and the kids ran around like kids do. I sat outside and enjoyed my patio for about 10 minutes after dinner while watching the kids eat dirt, pass in and out of the doggie door, and climb on the jungle gym. C'est La Vie!

Oh, and kudos to me for not wearing myself out cooking for everyone (like the normal Rosemarie would do). I ordered in...BBQ Pork and Chicken from Corky's, with slaw, mac 'n cheese, and baked beans. I prepared a fruit platter, some hot sausage/cheese dip, and the salad...I'll include the recipe for the salad (it was a winner!).

Bibb Lettuce, Dried Cranberries, Toasted Pine Nuts, and Gorgonzola Cheese. Toss.
Dressing: 1/2 cup red wine vinegar, 1 3/4 cup EVOO, 1/4 cup sugar, 3/4 tsp salt, 2 tbsps poppi seeds. Mix all together except for EVOO....stream the oil into the food processor (or blender) after the other ingredients are mixed. Mmm. Good!

My husband was a trooper today, too...the lawn was mowed, and the laundry was washed...and folded...and put away! Love you!

96 Hours Later

Here in KY we are experiencing some seasonal weather changes; the drop in night temperatures combined with threatening showers have caused my head to throb for four days. Hence why there were not posts over the last four days. I was in bed by 8:30pm every night. So, I am celebrating that I did not have to take advil, tylenol, or sinus pain medication today. My husband and son seemed to fair just fine.

In addition to the headache, I have been working for the past four days, too. So, what are folks looking for in the store lately? I had one lady ask me for an almanac yesterday...we don't carry those in our book department; I learned something new. I had another person looking for a 16 inch diameter box to haul a wedding cake in...a little dumpster diving and "ta-da" she had her box. One person was disappointed that we were sold out of candy corn. (Sorry...is all I could say.) And, I convinced another person that the Wii we had in our electronics case had her name written all over it; and she bought it! To name a few others: bug spray, reading glasses, hair color, lightbulbs, and deck boxes were all additional finds yesterday. I still don't understand why we sell lightbulbs in our automotive section...that is another one of those things that our shoppers regularly need help finding.

Anyhow, on the home front, JMS is covered in bug bites. He had two on his right cheek, two on his left temple, two on his forehead, and four in a row on his right elbow. So, he is covered in caladryl to keep him from scratching. He saw on the tv last night an advertisement for the circus that is coming to town and he started roaring like the tiger. (I'm glad we got tickets to the show later in September.) That will be something fun to blog about. We are having a get together at the house on Saturday...some of my husband's co-workers and their families. If it doesn't rain it should be fun to get to use the new patio.

Oh, and thanks for the tag Kim. Now I need to learn how to tag...I guess I'm being initiated into the world of blogging. :) Definitely easier than USMA!

Blog Initiation...

I was tagged by Kim.

Here are the rules:
1. Link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. Tell 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking to them. (if you can)
5. Leave a comment for each tagged blogger that they've been tagged.

Quirks:
1. I have a hard time relaxing. I'm much like my son, go...go...go...
2. I don't like clutter. Everything should be put away. To include dishes in the sink before I go to bed at night. (Unless I have a headache.)
3. I don't like the bath mat to be wet when I step out of the shower...that cold feeling from someone elses shower water bothers me.
4. Despise grocery shopping.
5. Will wash clothes, but I do not like to fold or hang them.
6. Will load the dishwasher, but I do not like to unload it.
...I must agree with Emily, that limiting myself to six after I got started was difficult.

I don't think I know six other bloggers. So, I'll tag the one that didn't tag me. :)

Shelly...you've been tagged.

Weekend Get Away

It took us six hours to get to the cabin in the woods of NC. But, it was an enjoyable 36 hours away from home. We left around 5:30pm heading south on I-75 to Knoxville. We hit Knoxville and then headed northeast through Tennessee to Virginia and then wound through Virginia on state route 58. I highly do not recommend state route 58! This road is as bad as the road to Hana in Hawaii. It is about 30 miles long but will take you about 2 hours to traverse because it is a squiggly road through the mountains. JMS agrees! He got car sick about 13 miles from the cabin. It was 11:15 at night and he was wearing his lunch and dinner. Poor little guy! The cabin was beautiful...and very comfortable. Here is a photo of the kitchen:On Saturday we went kayaking in New River. Here are a couple things we learned from the kayaking experience: 1)check your equipment before you leave the house; 2)check to see that the water source has enough water to float; and, 3)it is possible to sink a kayak.

Details you ask...
1) my husband's kayak was full of water when he put it in the water, and it continued to take water along the trip down river
2) the pickup truck (with 249,000 miles) ran out of gas when we arrived at the point where we were to enter the river
3) my husband's paddle snapped in half about 3/4 of the way down river
4) we scooted our kayaks along multiple points of the river b/c there was not enough water to get us over the rock beds
5) yes, my husband sunk his kayak in 2 feet of water!


Funny how most of these lessons learned came from my husband's kayak. This is why I love him!

JMS got to play with his cousin and in these photos they were making each other laugh and giggle.
We had to leave Sunday afternoon to get back in time to get the dog out of puppy jail, but no car sickness on the trip home! Thank goodness.

Dinner for Dad

So, again, we wanted to extend our thanks to my parents. Dad came and watched JMS yesterday from 8am - 6pm and then enjoyed my home cooking! (Meal listed below) I called to check in on the boys several times, and Dad always claimed that JMS was beating him up. I think the exact quote was "hog tied" and "laughing at me." When I took JMS's clothes off of him for his nightly bath, I knew they played hard because he had a "dirt tan" from his little thighs to his ankles. He was filthy! He had bug bites on his legs, arms, and forehead. It was just too cute! He slept like a worn out champ.


Today, I took him for a hair cut and I am preparing for a weekend away from the house. We are meeting up with my in-laws at the New River Cabin in Lansing, North Carolina. http://www.geocities.com/newrivercabin/ Hopefully I'll be able to just put my mind on mute for two days, and relax.

As a side note, I served the following menu to my dad. Crock Pot Pork BBQ, corn-on-the-cob, grilled green beans wrapped in bacon, and garlic/tomato grilled baguette. Here is the recipe for the BBQ...even my husband said it was tasty! (That is a compliment in my world.)

CROCK POT BARBECUE
Ingredients:
1 (3-4 lb.) pork loin roast; Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste; Crushed red pepper flakes; 2 tbsp. sugar; 1 c. white vinegar, and 1 c. water.

How to prepare: Trim fat from roast and place in crock pot. Sprinkle roast with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper. Add sugar and white vinegar. Cook on low 10 hours. When done, remove roast from cooker and place in a large skillet, reserving cooking juices. Flake or shred roast, removing any fat or gristle. Mix meat, some of cooking juices and ketchup. Simmer mixture over medium heat until juices evaporate.

So, keep blogging, I'll be itching for a healthy dose of good news when we return late Sunday evening. Oh, and for those of you who read my blog and do not leave comments...shame on you. :)

Grocery Shopping

So, JMS and I made a trip to the grocery store today. I love that the Kroger bakery gives kids free cookies; it occupies him at least until I get through the fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat sections of the store. Then, I do my best to be creative and distract him through the remainder of the trip. I was super excited that we saved 25 dollars on this most recent visit, just in coupons; are coupons getting larger in value or is that my imagination?

Anyhow, if you know me well, you know that I hate grocery shopping. I just find it to be exhausting. And, in some of these super stores you have to start in the way back...and push your cart all the way back to the front - just to get MILK! I know that it is a marketing strategy attempt to get the shopper to buy more impulse items along the lengthy journey through the store. Honestly, though, when you already have 27 lbs of little boy in your cart, do you really want to push anymore to the check lanes? I know that I don't. And, then the final kick in the pants, is when you get all the way up front, look at your list, and realize that the key magical ingredient that you absolutely need to make the number one recipe on your agenda for the week is not in the cart...it is still all the way in the back of the store (OK run on sentence...) but really! So, you debate with yourself if it is really necessary to push this 300 lb cart all the way back for one simple ingredient? And of course, the answer almost always is YES...the recipe just won't be the same, and I don't want to make a return trip to the store, and...

So, grocery store designers...why can't you just make a section of the store...right near the check lanes, for the key ingredients that we always forget??? I'm sure there is a way to survey every shopper and find out what they regularly forget, and just add that to the front section. That would be marvelous! Thanks.

Labored on Labor Day

Thank you Mom for watching JMS today! I know that he enjoys spending time with his mamaw. He is looking forward to seeing his papaw on Thursday.

Yes, you read that right. I worked today - that is the joy of being in retail. We reap the fiscal benefit of all of you not being at work. :) And, boy, were we busy! The number one request folks were looking for today was....(drum roll please)...hanging shoe organizers. Was today the day to organize our closets and no one told me?

Oh, and just for those followers of my blog: Halloween candy is now for sale!!! Let the candy corn eating commence.