wasting away

We had a lovely evening with good friends on Friday night. We went to happy hour/dinner at Steiner Ranch Steakhouse, which has gorgeous views. It cooled down a little bit and we enjoyed some appetizers and wine while a guy played guitar in the background. At one point, I came back from the restroom and heard the beginning notes of a song I recognized. I was trying to be sweet, so I fibbed and told Larry that I had dedicated this song to him. Then I realized that the song was "I ain't missing you at all." Not a very romantic song to dedicate to somebody unless you are kicking them to the curb, but oh well. It made for a good laugh. I'll have to get some of the pictures from Sarah, especially if I spend anytime talking about going to their house after dinner. We listened to records (yes, vinyl records) on their sweet new vintage speakers (from the 50s or something) and hula hooped. I truly don't understand people that complain about a boring life. There is always *something* to do. Even if it is wasting time....

I have been wasting an inordinate amount of time on the computer lately. I tell myself that it is okay because I am finding new recipes to try, crafts to make, ways to organize the house, etc. The truth is, there are just SO MANY good ideas out there! I did make a deal with myself this weekend though. I made myself actually *do* at least 3 things that I've "pinned" or I would not be allowed to get on pintereist until I did. I should have taken my own pictures, but I didn't. However, my 3 things for this weekend were:

buffalo chicken nachos - these were awesome. (and you might think it is gross, but I even used canned chicken since I was going to be dousing it in Franks anyway.) I did not use any celery but think it would add a nice crunch.

decorative bobby pins - I didn't get to finish because I didn't realize we were out of super glue. (But I have all the other supplies)

installed a "favicon" for my blog - look at the top of your screen. Do you see a tiny picture of Blossom when she was a baby? If you want to do one for yourself, it is easy. Just go to "design" and then click "favicon." The picture has to be pretty small and totally square, but if I could figure it out, anyone can.

I also made stuffed peppers, but that doesn't really count since I've made them before. Delicious way to end the weekend, even if I do say so myself.

to whom it may concern

To the girl who backed into my car in the grocery store parking lot:

A. It was daytime and you don't have tinted windows. Witnesses can see that you are a white young woman with a long, blonde ponytail.

B. When it sounds/feels like you've backed into something, you should stop. Especially when it is daytime and people can see you. And copy down your license plate number.

C. Not only should you stop, you should write a note and say something like, "Sorry! My number is xxxxx and I use State Farm insurance." Or at the very least, write a fake note so that other people around you think you are leaving insurance information. When you just drive off, it makes everyone around you angry and they all copy down your license plate number and wait for me to come out of the grocery store so they can tattle on you.

D. Tell your dad not to be surprised when he hears from me. Just because he lives in another city north of Dallas, the small, dark SUV is registered to him, so I'm assuming you are in Austin for college.

E. Yes, the damage is very minimal. I probably won't even get it fixed. But I *will* teach you a lesson about backing into somebody's car and then driving off. Some people would say that it is the principle of the thing. Maybe I will take you to small claims court and sue you for $5 just to prove a point.

Never underestimate the power of the internet. Or having friends in law enforcement.

cheating

I love my blog. And I love all the blogs I follow. However, I haven't spent much time on any of them lately. I'm cheating on blogger. My new love is pinterist. I mean - an organized way to collect all the amazing things I come across? I love it!

A sample from my "boards:"

How to paint your own faux brick sidewalk

The pumpkins you'll see at my house this halloween

What I'm going to paint on canvas and hang somewhere in my home

What you'll see if I host a superbowl party

and

A genius idea for a small shelf

I'm warning you - this stuff is addictive.

I

The letter I

I is kind.
I is smart.
I is important.

I will not pretend that Hollywood should be the one to provide history. But if you read "The Help" and decided it was a movie you wanted to spend your money on, I'm right there with you. After grad school, this was the first "for pleasure" book I read, followed by "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks." (side note - I have neither cable nor DVR, so Oprah did not recommend these books to me. I'm pretty sure Amazon did.) I love to read so much that I did not allow myself to read while I was in school, because I get all crazy and involved in the book I'm reading and have to finish it RIGHT NOW. So I will stay up all night to finish it, and well... I just couldn't do that while I was in school because I had other things to work on. ("other things on which to work" if you're particular about ending sentences with a preposition.) "The Help" movie was very well done - they did great in casting and did an excellent job of portraying all the important parts.

My main point is that both of these books really got me thinking. I find the civil rights stories so fascinating because it wasn't that long ago. There are still people living that can tell stories about either employing a black maid or being raised by one. Or people that remember having a "white" grocery store and a "colored" grocery store. People who remember hospitals that only served whites and when textbooks couldn't be shared across races. And I would love to know their stories. Not just the horrible, disgusting, painful stories of injustice, but also the ones that show the love... like a maid that told a chubby, plain little girl every day - "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." Because I have no doubt there are some beautiful stories among the rubble.

Besides that, on the shallow side of things - I want to start dressing like I am a housewife from back in the day. I plan on starting with this dress (but in red) and my pearls:

signs

My good friend lost her daddy this past weekend and I'm very sad for her. But I'm also amazed at her strength and perspective. You should read about her being the other woman.

I have no doubt she has a very proud angel looking over her.

fat, bad and pretty

(from)

my opinion

I like the website Etiquette for a Lady. One of the rules posted is:

Yes, he can. And if EXPECTS you to do it, he should.

But otherwise, make the man a sandwich.