My Thyroid

So I got to have my "lady exam" on Valentine's Day.   Romantic, yes?   For those who didn't know . . I HATE going to the doctor.  I like to ignore problems.  Ignorance IS bliss but I'm typically too curious (aka "genius") to fully embrace that concept.  Come to find out. . . . my thyroid count is low.  When I told Boyd he asked why I seemed "happy" about it.  I explained that NOW I can blame my laziness on my thyroid and not just me being a loser.  Yes!

I'm working at the Shoppe this weekend.  I brought in some projects to work on:  chalkboards, coasters, windows, etc.  I caught Boyd in a moment of weakness and he has now promised some thrift store shopping with me.  HaHA!  I could give a helpful tip on these "moments of weakness" but if you are a married woman and have not figured it out yet . . .well . . . keep thinking.

He claims that doesn't work on him.  Lucky for me he rarely reads my blog.  Or maybe that is unlucky since my own husband is not a "follower" of ME.

Have I mentioned we are going on vacation soon?  YES we are.  Costa Rica is on the agenda.  Ahhh . . . I am so looking forward to it.   Boyd is so easy to persuade (see reasons above) especially when I mentioned surfing, white water rafting, ziplining and ATV jungle tours.  Personally, I'm hoping he can find a friend quickly once we get there because I tried surfing in Chile (decided its not for me) and I also tried white water rafting in Peru (and nearly left Boyd in Peru when we almost fell overboard).  

You know its a bad sign when the "captain" is scared and shouting.

I am aware that surfing looks nice and relaxing but once I step my toe in the water, the waves come full force and the sharks start circling.  I'm a strong swimmer but not a strong shark defender.   I might be exaggerating.

I do hope to snorkel.  I'm a mean snorkeler.  Unless water gets in my goggles or down the air tube.  I hate that.

Yes. I get to spend an entire week with this guy.  Eat your heart out ladies .. . or men . . . I'm not judging.

I love to visit a new place.  I hate to brag (not really) but I am really good at planning vacations.   We like to move around so I always pick 2 different places to stay to break up our week.  That way, if one place is boring, the next place is sure to be better.  It helps my anxiety. :)  BUT I doubt I actually have anxiety . . probably just my thyroid talking.  Wait? That's not a symptom?

All-in-all, I'm looking forward to reading a lot of books and experiencing a new country.

And when I say a lot of books . . . I mean A LOT.  I slam them down.

I bid you a good night.  My sweat pants are calling so I leave you with this:

I Don't Know Why I'm Surprised.

Boyd and I were in Minnesota this past weekend.  Boyd had one small plumbing issue to look at on the Stillwater house and then the rest of the time we got to HANG OUT!  It was fabulous.

On the ride back to SD we were in between Dawson and Watertown which means there is NO WHERE to stop along the way.  Normally this isn't a problem since its not that far.  We passed the sign that said "Marietta" (which is 5 miles off of our route) and I reminisced and said:  "Remember when you weren't paying attention and we had to drive to Marietta to get gas?  I was really mad at you".  He remembered and then changed the subject.  A few miles later, I say:  "How ARE we doing on gas anyway?"  Boyd looks at the gas gauge and says:  "&#RLKSHDF!"

Honestly.  I have never once ran out of gas.  Why?  BECAUSE I have a gas gauge that TELLS me when I'm running low.  Not to mention the HASSLE of hitching a ride, finding gas, etc.  Pain in the butt.  I have been with Boyd when he has run out of gas and I didn't like it at all.  How many times has Boyd run out of gas you ask?  I couldn't say for certain but it has to be over 10 times.

So, we turn around and head back towards Marietta since we only have 20 miles of gas left and Watertown is 35 miles away.  ARGH!  We pull into Marietta which has a population of a family gathering at Christmas.   Their gas station closes at 2pm on Sunday.  It is 2:20 on a Sunday.  AESRI$%HR!!  We find a woman walking and she informs us we can head to Madison which is 10 miles away (in the opposite direction).  We have 12 miles of gas left.  We pull into Madison on fumes.  I didn't talk the rest of the way home.

You have no idea how much I have heard the statement:  "Well, it SAYS I only have x miles left on this tank but I KNOW I have x."

*****
I probably shouldn't be too hard on Boyd on not paying attention since this morning I went through the McDonald's drive thru and ordered my mocha, paid for it and then drove off.   I didn't realize until I was nearly to Target that I had forgotten to actually GET the mocha.  ARGH!!  How embarrassing!!  Its a big ego blow to know that all the employees at McDonalds are laughing at the stupid girl.  This might be the incident that finally gets me to give up mochas.  A few years ago, I gave them up because I got the flu right after having one. I couldn't look at a mocha for weeks.  BUT I persevered and slowly got them back in my life.  I'm an achiever.

*****

Last week Boyd smelled gas in the house.  He wasn't sure if it was "dangerous" gas or just sewage.  He does some tinkering in the basement and then tells me to turn the heat on and step outside.  Okay.  I do it and then slowly start walking towards the door and get my shoes on.  Boyd said:  "Hustle up!"  I step outside and as he is looking at the house, I REALIZE he is seeing if the house is going to blow up.  WHAT IN THE WORLD?!  There must be a better way to check for that.  And why didn't I grab my purse? or my passports?!

The house did not blow up.  And I still love my husband.  Most of the time.

****

I have been busy getting ready for the Shoppe occasional sale which starts on Thursday.  I have warned Boyd that his time is not his own this week.  So far so good.  He did ask me to stop spray painting in the house though.  I'm not sure I can do that.

I have "craft nite" tonight at the Shoppe.  Sister1 has been gracious enough to teach a wool hat class and it has been going pretty well.   I'm not sure what I was thinking when I scheduled the 2nd class for the week of the sale.  Oh yes . . . I wasn't thinking.

******

I'm so very sleepy.  I could really use a mocha right now.

Huh.

I have kind of . . .. well . . . sucked at writing in this blog.  BUT . . as an excuse . . starting a blog was a 2011 resolution and thus, it was achieved.

So there.

My resolutions for 2012 were to paint the kitchen and get a bedside lamp plugged in.  Boyd said that there was no way we were painting the kitchen - too many areas to "cut in" so we decided we love the neon yellow.  Done.  AND about 2 weeks into January I put a light bulb in the lamp AND plugged it in (this involved getting an extension cord which about put me over the edge).  Tada!

2012 Resolutions complete.  I am a champion.

I basically just want to give fair warning that I may not write as much anymore.  Or at least, I haven't felt the desire to for awhile.  I have no idea why.

I might write a lot.  I might not at all.

Are we all at the edge of our seats?! I know I am. :)

Christmas Recap.

I love Christmas.  And I forgot to do a post about our Christmas.  Ummmm . . . . . . let me think . . . . it was nice?

*******

I got to attend the nephews' school Christmas program.  It was cute.  G was King Herod and he did an excellent job with his "tough guy voice".  I asked him after the program if I could borrow the dress he was wearing sometime.  He exclaimed:  "Its a robe!!"

*****

I made a flourless chocolate cake at some point in the month of December.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME?!

*******

Boyd and I got a Christmas tree.  We brought the boys to help.  I had anticipated a night of Christmas carols, hot chocolate and the boys helping me decorate the tree.  There were SOME carols but mostly a lot of punching and pushing.   Boys and their Christmas spirit. :)

******

Boyd's family celebrated Christmas over Thanksgiving.  That seems so long ago and I guess it was. It was great to see everyone and my nephew Jake is getting so stinking tall and old - he's not a little boy anymore!

Here is a family picture.  Yes . . I'm the pasty weirdo up front.  And yes, I probably did not brush my hair.  And yes, my sisters-in-law are crazy pretty.  And no, Jim is not blind.  They are sunglasses.

******

I had the book club over to my house for a little holiday party bash.  It was delightful.  I haven't entertained since I lived in Minnesota.  I forgot how much I enjoy . . . people . . . . and books.  I thought I would be doing book updates periodically but I'm lazy.  So as a recap our book club has read: (1) Until They Bring the Streetcars Back by Stanley Gordon West (one of my all time faves); (2) Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (fabulously entertaining); (3) One for the Money by Janet Evanovich (hilarious AND is coming to theaters on 1/27!); and (4) The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh (Such a rich story . . . loved every minute of it).

I'm now caught up on my book reviews. . . . I am nothing if not thorough.

******

My family Christmas went well.   The weather was creepy warm so we took advantage and played outside.  Much fun was had by all.

It was a beautiful day.  Mom got greedy and wanted the entire crew to go outside to take another family picture at sunset.  She lost.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  Now . . . . on to 2012.

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."