One Lucky Girl.

Today marks 11 years of marriage to Boyd.

I'm still not sure if he is the one . . . .

That was a joke.

Sister1 set us up.  She has always been a bit bossy and this was no exception.  She and Ryan were in Watertown for a wedding.  I get a call from her.  "Get your butt over here.  I showed Boyd your senior picture and he seems interested." Ummm . . . awkward and a little creepy.  "Get here NOW."  Okay. Okay.   So, I arrive at the wedding dance with a reinforcement of friends **Because in high school that is how you roll**  So my friends and I danced and I managed to ignore him as much as possible.  Then Sister1 pulls me aside again:  "Get out there and dance with him!"  GOOD LORD!!  Remember me?  I'm your INTROVERTED SISTER!   Somehow this all worked.

I smile whenever I think of our dating time.  It was blissful.  

Boyd is 5 years older than me.   It doesn't seem like a big deal now but flash back to me being 18 and he's 23 - - it was kind of a big deal then.  Boyd had GRADUATED from college and was back in the area for supposedly just the summer.  But then we started dating and he decided to stick around until I was done with high school.   He even went to prom with me.  I was horrified.  NO WAY was I going to ask him to go - I was fine just going with a guy friend.  He finally asked me if I was ever going to ask him to prom.  Embarrassing.  And yet I love him for that.

He smashed my car that I adored - - on date #3.

He writes me love poems.

He made me a necklace that I still have and wear frequently.

He is an average bowler.

He makes me confident in his love for me.

He was, is and always will be faithful.

He is a fabulous dancer.

He laughs at all my hilarious jokes.

He is kind.

He is sort of smart.

Have I mentioned how hot he is?  Or how strong he is?

He encourages me in my crazy endeavors.

He eats all our leftovers.

He claims his "love language" is physical touch.

He loves his family and loves my family.

He is obsessed with the dorkiest of things . . . broncos and paintball.

He gives fabulous back rubs - - not to mention awesome hugs.

His handwriting looks like a 2nd grader's.

He is always up for an adventure.

***

Okay. Okay.  I will stop.  I am making myself gag a little bit.

I was warned that having an anniversary on December 30th would be a tough one to celebrate and it is -but at the same time, it is kind of nice.  It rounds out the year.  No matter how tough the year may have been . . . . our anniversary lets it end on a good note.

I am one lucky girl.

Summer of 2000

Wonton Crack.

A friend of mine from Minnesota recently emailed me asking for the recipe for my sausage-ranchy-olive-wonton appetizers.  She is also a fellow blogger.  Check her out at http://themaladroitwife.com.  We met through book club. So . . ummm . . . yes we are both nerds.  Hi Rachel!  AND to give credit where credit is due:  I got this recipe from a different friend in Minnesota who I used to work with.  She is an amazing cook and has often given me delicious easy recipes.  Thanks Shawna! :)


Once I received the email, I had an "aha!" moment.   See . . . THIS IS PROOF that I have made something worthy enough to be asked the recipe for.  I almost cried tears of joy but then I remembered that I don't cry anymore.  


Without further ado - - here is my recipe for "Wonton Crack"  (The crack is in reference to the drug because these are extremely addicting and also fun).


Ingredients:
1 package of wonton wrappers (16 oz)
1 pound of sausage (cooked and crumbled)
1 cup of shredded monterey jack cheese
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped black olives, drained
1 cup ranch style salad dressing

Preheat oven to 350 and spray miniature muffin pan with cooking spray.  Insert wonton wrappers into the muffin pan so as to form small cups.  Bake 5 minutes in the preheated oven.  Allow the baked wrappers to cool.  Remove from pan.  

In a medium bowl, mix the sausage, monterey jack, cheddar, black olives and ranch style dressing.  Fill the baked wonton wrapper cups with the mixture.

Bake the filled wonton wrappers 10-15 minutes, until the sausage mixture is bubbly and slightly brown.  Watch closely so the wonton wrappers do not burn (I hate watching things closely).

*******

This recipe is foolproof since I have successfully made it 3 times.  Yes.  3 times.  AND if you are in my book club, you will be experiencing this delicious treat at the Nerd Holiday Party.  The last time I made these, Boyd ate so many that he threw up.  NOT because I had food poisoned him but he just couldn't stop . . .  just like crack.  

Baby Its Cold Outside

I'm rather fascinated with this song.  I love the beat, the lyrics - all of the date rape innuendos, etc.  Very festive.  I would like to hear a version of this song but switch the roles - -like have the guy basically trying to push her out the door and she's thinking of excuses why she should stay.  If someone out there does this and makes millions because of my idea - - please send me a check for $10.

*****

A recent article stated that Watertown was #5 for the coldest cities in the United States.  That's right - - we are COLD.  I like to say it keeps the riff-raff out or maybe it just keeps the "crazies" in.  Depends on my mood as to how I look at it.

******
This past weekend was a benefit for Tyler Taschner.  He is the kid who was recently paralyzed and is currently out in Denver at Craig Hospital for rehab.  We may be freezing our butts off in South Dakota but one has to admire the support a smaller community can give to a family.  The Hamlin gym was packed.  There was a dinner, silent auction and an alumni basketball tournament.  Dad realized later on that they didn't have a girl on his team (a requirement).  He then started asking every girl he could find if they had tennis shoes that would fit me.  Umm . . . no . . .  My legs are dry and flakey and I'm not mentally prepared to expose them to the entire Hamlin County!  Sheesh.  Dad didn't seem to understand the problem.  FORTUNATELY Sister2 let it slip that she had workout clothes in the car.  Ha!  Sucker.

Have I ever mentioned that I come from an intensely competitive family?   I do.  It is ridiculous.  And yet, as much as I KNOW it is ridiculous . . I get worked up at sporting events.  Sometimes I cry, my heart pounds, my stomach will hurt, I can be completely inspired by someone's drive and determination and feel so badly for someone if they miss a game winning shot.  Its a GAME for crying out loud!  Get a grip, Sabrina!

My dad is the guy wiping his face with his sleeve.  Trademark move.

I have not heard how the benefit turned out money-wise but I hope it blesses the family immensely.

******

Brother2 turned 30 the other day.  His wife lined up an 80s party at a bowling alley.  It was fun.  Brother2 loves big events and even more if they are in honor of him.  

Lots of reminiscing of the "good ole days".  We told stories and stories.  My all time favorite is when he bit his English teacher.  I know I should explain it further . . but I am not going to.   Brother2 has always been a fun part of our family and I am very thankful for him.  Even when I want to kick him.

*****

I have been trying very hard to think of the positives in life.  There are so many and yet the "physical failings" of this world get in my way all too often.  A friend of my mom's once said:  "Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful."

The Joys of Being a Shopkeeper.

I keep thinking I should write in my blog but then I can't think of something to write.  Its a problem - the whole "need-to-think-of-things-to-write-about".

So . . here are 2 random shopper comments instead:

Random Man "Shopper":   I used to be able to hunt deer and pheasant right here in town.  Now I can't.  Its a darn shame.

Me:  Wow.  What a bummer.

*******

Random Woman:  Do you have a rice beboppy-thingy?

Me:  No, I don't believe so.

Randome Woman:  It strains rice and makes potatoes.

Me:  Nope.  STILL don't have it.

Random Woman:  How about a lefsa board?  Do you even know what that is?!

Me:  Is it a board that you make lefsa on?

Randome Woman:  (surprised)  Well . . why yes it is!

*******

Ahhh  . . . the joys of being a shopkeeper!