Posted by Me
Sun, 11 Dec 2005 18:42:00 GMT
So in keeping with my determination to accomplish what I set out to do, last night while LOML was “pokering”, I decided to try out the Barefoot Contessa’s scone recipe. It was the first time I got to use my Standing Mixer since I got it for our wedding. They turned out all right. I unfortunately burned some but was able to create about 17 medium size scones. They are edible. Only thing – I think I left them in the oven a little longer than necessary since they are rather crispy on the outside. However, I have to say they are pretty moist and flakey on the inside (Thanks to Fleishmans Unsalted Margerine!!).
Overall, I think the scone experiment was a success. They are edible which is the most important thing. I’ll probably refine the recipe some more as time goes on and work on my oven timing and overall presentation (they do not look like the picture in the book!).
I’ll have to see what else I want to try out. I am not a baker but as of late have enjoyed the activity. I hate the clean-up, being that I am a terribly messy cook, but alas no pain no gain!
In general, I’d like to become a better cook in the kitchen. I always marvel at those folks who can “whip” something up that’s magically delicious. I haven’t gotten that natural cooking instinct. My inner Martha still has to make an appearance. However, I do want to be a good cook. I think there is something very sensual about the cooking process. My parents and sister are all excellent cooks. So, I think I have the gene in me somewhere.
Boy, all this talking about food is making me hungry. Is it time for lunch yet? ;)
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Posted by Me
Fri, 09 Dec 2005 23:13:00 GMT
Or so I think at least! :) These past few days I have been working overtime to get some of this Holiday crap out of the way! (Can’t you tell I am so in the Holiday Spirit?!) In any case, it took some doing but I was able to cross things of my list! Yay.
X-mas Cards went out in the mail today (albeit some outstanding ones where I still need to procure new addresses!). According to my self-imposed schedule, the sent-off came early. :) I had planned on working on them this weekend and sending them out on Friday. Alas, I had some energy last night and just finished them off. Thank goodness!
All the presents have been bought. The ones that needed to be shipped – were shipped out yesterday and those that remain in town were all wrapped and are currently stacked in the Guest Room (away from the cats) looking pretty in their fancy wrapping paper! (Thank goodness for Costco!)
I picked up the dry cleaning for our party outfits. We are attending my Grandfather’s X-mas Party. He belongs to an Asian Organization in town and they have a holiday shindig this Sunday. We will be in attendance and my darling LOML even agreed to don a suit for the occasion! Yay! I love it when he wears the suit (which is oh so rare!). He looks so handsome in it. I plan on wearing a black skirt with a black sweater and red heels. Dressy but not too dressy. I think it’ll work! I am hoping the black will hide some of my fertility fat! LOL We shall see if my plan works! :)
So, overall I think we are on track. I have to get the house in order. Work on our business website, in addition to the client work that’s on my plate. It’s all good. I am just glad to have all this holiday stuff completed. It’s time-consuming so the sooner it is out of the way the better! :) Now, I can focus on the important things.
And though most of the X-mas consumerism is senseless and futile. I do like trying to find a little something that will make the recipient smile. It warms my heart to know I brightened their day. It’s not about the value of the present but the thoughtfulness. I am not good at just giving the “crap” present. You know a something that’s really generic? I like there to be some thought attached to the present. It makes the gift-giving harder, but I think more worthwhile. If I am adding more “stuff” to people’s lives I’d like it to be something they will appreciate and wouldn’t have bought themselves. :) So there ya’ go. Happy Holidays Everyone!
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Posted by Me
Wed, 07 Dec 2005 20:02:00 GMT
LOML and I have been married for a little over a year. Though the infertility crap has made it a bit more challenging than we like, I have to say relationship-wise we are a-okay! He’s my best friend. My Love. MY LOML!
Despite how good things are we both have our spats here and there (moreso when I am unnaturally pumped with hormones, but that’s another story!). What normal couple doesn’t? However, in light of recent news of a friend’s impending divorce, it made me pause and ponder why some marriages last and some don’t. This past year I have heard of at least 3 (now 4) divorces. In all cases, the wives left their husbands or rather didn’t argue in the face of the dissolution of their marriage. It’s an interesting concept. I think in all cases the husbands didn’t really expect it. I mean some knew something was up but assumed it would take on a slower pace aka separate first and then eventually file for divorce. But, boy, where they wrong. When they openend up the conversations with their wives, their better halves didn’t waver a second but felt like “Why bother doing it slowly?” – “Let’s get on with it and make it final!”. Before their husbands could comprehend the enormity of it, their soon-to-be-exes already commissioned lawyers and had the papers drawn. Needless to say a lot of the “husbands” are still reeling from their wives’ (re)actions.
When a relationship ends, it’s sad no matter how it came to pass. The divorces I know about ended for all different reasons – cheating on the side of the spouse, growing apart, or whatever else may fall under “irreconcilable differences”. Some of these marriages lasted for 10 years… some for only 2. Some involve kids. Some don’t. But as said, regardless, it’s an unfortunate turn of events.
Relationships with anyone takes work. It takes effort and patience. LOML and I have had our share of challenges during our dating life and our current infertile predicament can certainly put its strains our our relationship if we let it. We try not to. We know we’re in it together and we’ll deal with whatever comes our way. We have both compromised and sacrificed for the other for the betterment of our relationship without any regrets.
However, it makes you wonder at what point in a relationship do you realize you are done. That’s it. No compromises can and will be made. Is it when you realize you don’t love the person anymore? You love someone else? Or is it something more mundane and simple like you just don’t see the point and are unwilling to put the other person first? You essentially grew apart. I know things end and people are constantly evolving so with that in mind it is natural for some things to change. My hope and goal is continue to adapt to whatever changes may occur in my marriage. Nothing is more important. And at this point at least, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to make it work. However, I don’t know the future and can only speak on how I feel right now. I do believe in fighting for the important things in life and just like I will endure intensely invasive procedures for the shot at motherhood I feel the same about going the distance when it comes to this marriage thing.
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Posted by Me
Mon, 05 Dec 2005 02:32:00 GMT
Ok, so I suck. It’s 6:30pm and I didn’t accomplish most that was on my list today. Ulgh! I hate that. Some tasks took me a lot longer than I had anticipated. Ahh, well!
I did accomplish ordering the corporate gifts. Prepping the packages for the UPS Store tomorrow. Calling my mother. And that’s where the list end. I failed to clean (we’ll have to live in this hovel for at least a day longer), write out more X-mas cards, wrap presents, and bake the scones!
Oh well, I had good intentions. I ended up working a bit with my LOML, spending more time on the packages and on the phone with family and friends. So overall it was a good and fairly productive day. It bums me out a bit that it is Sunday and tomorrow the work week starts again but it’s ok. I’ll manage. It’ll be a busy week, but when are weeks not busy? I am itching to finish some of the holiday tasks so I can get them off my list. They can be so distracting. We’ll see if I get to them.
I am looking forward to watching another episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” tonight. I LOVE that show. Great writing. Great acting…and what’s not to love about seeing Dr. McDreamy strut his stuff. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone make Scrubs look so good as Patrick Dempsey. :)
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Posted by Me
Sun, 04 Dec 2005 18:08:00 GMT
Sunday – the day of rest for most people out there, for me usually the signal of the day I complete, or rather should complete my chores. Ulgh!
I hate chores. I hate cleaning. I like a clean house, but I hate the process it takes to get there especially when I know that the amount that it takes to get there is by far more than the amount it takes to get it messy again. It’s just a never-ending process and we don’t even have kids to blame the mess on. Just 2 lazy cats who have a penchant for throwing their food on the kitchen floors and shedding every piece of hair on their body. I mean, seriously, if they just decided to chip in a little, my life would be so much easier!
Ahh, well such is life. I will eventually get started. Yes, yes, I am composing an entry about what I am about to begin for the sole purpose that I am stalling. Procrastinating. Did I mention I hate to clean? My LOML is working on the computer in the office and watching the football game du jour in the background. I only mention the football game ‘cuz it is a running joke between us that I have to remind him that football is on and I don’t even like it. I just know that Sunday is Football Day on TV. For the past few weeks, every time I ask him how the game is going he looks at me with a “Oh no! I forgot it was on!” expression and turns it on as the final seconds run off the clock. Today is no different. Who said I wasn’t a good wife? I make sure my hubby fills his football-watching quota for the week.
While he is doing that I have plenty to keep me occupied. I have to finish preparing my order for the corporate gifts, pack some gifts to be taken to the UPS Store tomorrow (I hate the Post Office and will unfortunately subject myself to the price gauging that is present at the UPS Store just so I can avoid the long lines and utter frustration that awaits me at my not-so-friendly neighborhood post office!). I have to make more headway on my X-mas Card list though I really don’t feel like it and may push it off for a week, (though admittedly I have felt a pang of guilt every time I receive another one in the mail already!). I may start wrapping some presents that I have been stuffing unceremoniously into the Guest Room’s Closet. On a good note though, I am nearly done with the gift consumption for this year—minor little something’s left for friends, my folks in Florida, and LOML’s boss and his wife. It’s getting there…Halleluja!!
Other than that, I’ve got the usual cleaning thing to do to make sure we don’t live in a complete hovel, check in with my folks in Florida though I am dreading that one a little since I really don’t feel like hearing about my Mom’s discontent with my sister’s behavior (which by the way is totally unfounded and ridiculous, but I’ll leave that for another time), and if I have some spare time left I may attempt to channel Julia Childs and try out this scone recipe which has been intriguing me for quite some time. It requires me to use my cool scarlet standing mixer so that might be some good fun since I really haven’t used that thing much (if ever) since I got it for my wedding a year or so ago. I feel it is time I take that baby out for a spin.
So, lots on the agenda and yet no real gung-ho motivation to do it. Ahh well, gotta’ do what has to be done. Happy Sunday, everyone!
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