patti_sue

BEAR STEW!!!!!!


VENISON SAUSAGE!!

PICKLED HOT PEPPERS!!!!!!





Best Thank You Gift Bag EVER!!!!

Really, so many things have happened this year. And obviously with the wedding, things for 2010 aren't going to slow down any.

Gosh, I can't wait until it's just Jeff and I... just living our lives. Finally slowing down, finally settling in. But before all that, our arms are going to have to fall off from all the mudding and painting we'll be doing this winter. At least we'll be warm while we do it! We finally have heat!! Real, actual, WARM heat. Not that superficial, electric heat we've been living with. We had the Rolls Royce of boilers (Buderus) installed, and a brand new water heater. Hot showers and a warm house.. I can't wait! We'll actually LIKE being home instead of wearing 18 layers to just watch TV. I can't imagine what 68-70 degrees is going to feel like, I'm estatic! ;o) We also bought a wood stove insert for our fireplace which should be installed within the next couple weeks. That's going to make a HUGE difference as well. Not to mention it will help offset the cost of the oil. I just love the smell of burning wood. Our house is going to smell so nice, and finally be so cozy! Hopefully that will reduce the stress while we plan this wedding. Obviously not financially, but hey, that's what loans are for! Yay, credit!

So, aside from the stress of the wedding, I have to count my blessings and say life is good. Very good. And unfortunately, the house is now "baby-ready".. haha. I thought it would take us another 5 years to finally have the house "ready".. mainly have sufficient heat for a child, but..we're a rockin' and a rollin', so I guess we'll hear the pitter patter sooner than I thought. ;o) But not for another 2 years, I'm sure.

I just want to go back to being pleasant. I just want to go back to blissfully happy. I just want to go back to living my life. That's what I'm good at, living. What I'm not good at, is this wedding stuff. I can plan things, don't get me wrong. I put my heart and soul into planning, but usually they come to fruition within a couple months, and of course without spending thousands of dollars. This wedding stuff is just getting in the way of my living. If I'm not researching about it, I'm thinking about it. If I'm not thinking about it, someone is asking me about it. I don't sleep because of it, and I don't poop because of it (too much info? Sorry.).

I'll get through this, I know. And in the end it will all be worth it. But right now... I'd rather just be enjoying THIS fall, instead of worrying about next fall.


Oh... and Hi, by the way. Long time no see! ;o)

Mmmmm... breakfast of champions.

Quinoa muffins with whole wheat flour, flaxseed, and goji berries! "WHOLY" MOLY, A WHOLE GRAIN, SUPERFOOD MUFFIN. These things weigh a million lbs, they're built like a brick and are full of protien. It's the PERFECT breakfast. Really.

For reference:
vicariousfoodie.blogspot.com/2008/05/quinoa-muffins.html 
*It's a great foodie blog, she's got some great recipes to share. And her pictures just make my mouth water! I stumbled upon her recipe when I was doing a quick search for the same recipe I had used the first time I made these. Her pictures came out far better than the ones I took of the ones I made. However, I think with my substitutions, mine were far better. ;o) Okay, I'm just being a snot.

If you like healthy, good for you food, try these!!

I think I'm going to pull out my Halloween decorations tonight!!

Maybe even buy some pumpkins over the weekend! The yard isn't done, but I don't think I can wait!

Ohhhhh Jennnnnnnnnnn


What do you know about Hull, MA?? (If anything..)

I'm only asking because being in Quincy, you're so darn close, but I suppose I shouldn't assume ;o)

I want to go shopping.

• Korean-style chicken wings
• King crab stuffed mushroom
• Greek-style stuffed mushrooms
• Pork stuffed mushrooms
• Plain stuffed mushrooms
• Homemade salsa & Guacamole with homemade, baked tortilla chips
• Scallops wrapped in prosciutto (2lbs!!)
• Chicken sate with peanut sauce
• Shrimp cocktail
• Seafood casserole
• Spring rolls
• Sweet & Sour turkey meatballs
• Spinach & Feta Triangles
• Caramel Pecan Pretzels
• Crazy Cran Cookies
• Gingerbread Drop Cookies
• Peanut Butter Surprise Cokoies
• Pecan Snaps with Espressco Cream
• Berry Sage Thumbprints
• Champagne
• Annisette Liqueur

And no one is coming.


That's quite a disappointment. 

Oh well, better make the most of life, and just enjoy the night.

Actually, on 2nd thought, maybe it's not the best time to be hiking up a presidential range. Probably lots of ice and such, and I'm not exactly equipped for a rugged hike like that. Or maybe it won't be so bad?

The huts close Columbus Day weekend, we wouldn't go until next weekend......suggestions?

Attention hikers (or should I just say Jen...?):

Got any great suggestions for a day hike in the White Mountains?


I convinced Jeff it would be REALLY awesome to take a trip up there next weekend and hike a 4,000 footer. Now it's just choosing which one?


Know of any great resources? It's on me to plan this thing, so I wanna get it right ;o) No surprises haha

I'm feeling beyond stressed!

This week has been nothing but running around, and here at work, it's been nothing short of Hell.



I think it ALL has to do with the upcoming trip to Maine. I feel like we're barely ready, and I guess we really aren't. I'm a bit nervous on how we'll survive together on our own. I trust him completely when it comes to the ins and outs of the trailer, but I guess it's just this weird feeling, I'm getting a bit worked up over. I just have to remind myself to relax. Relax. Relax!

We have no dishes, no pots and pans, we finally have towels, but no hot water. Thank goodness for his mother's grill, which we haven't even picked up yet. There's the food to buy, the towels to wash, the carpet to be put in, the bed to be moved, the new mattress to be bought.. aye aye aye... I'm feeling my chest tighten.

And I'm supposed to see Anna and Dominic tonight, and watch the dogs.

Mother fucker.

He'll be here in 15 minutes to load up the truck for our trip up north. We're headed 5 hours up north into Maine for some camping & white water rafting on the Dead River. Class IV & V rapids, with a dam release tomorrow (the day we're actually rafting). Fifteen miles of.....FREEZING COLD WATER!  I'm not a baby by any means, I rarely complain especially when outdoors, but they're predicting rain ALL weekend. Now I like roughing it, but camping in the rain isn't exactly the most fun you could ask for! I'm hoping it holds out, and their predictions are off (like weathermen usually are), at least so we can have a campfire and don't drown our gear.

I'm excited either way, don't get me wrong! But a little sun ould have made the whole weekend SO much better! But I get 3 days with him, and 3 days with his firemen buddies & their wives.. (I hope I don't put my foot in my mouth too much).

I'm ready to go! Hurry up & get here!

Today, I will be one step closer to driving my new car.

Lord knows I've had a LONG weekend. Lord knows I need to get my butt back to church, and hopefully, now that my life is hopefully slowing down, I'll make it on Sunday!

Things have just been so crazy between the car issue (which got worse by the way), Alicia coming home, and the wedding. I swear I don't know how I got through it all. But I did!  Life is on the up & up again.

I ended up having my license revoked. I got the letter on Friday. Spent the weekend being carted around like a 12 year old. But I made it to the registry and it seems like this should be an eay thing to get through. It's all pending on a letter from my doctor which I pray I'll get today. Then take my little butt down to the RMV tomorrow and hopefully get it reinstated (for a "small" fee, of course!).

The wedding was absolutely beautiful! Michelle was a gorgeous bride, her dress was unbelievable, and Joe was stunningly handsome!  They planned so well, added ittle touches that made a huge difference, and naturally I bawled like a baby several times. I was just so honored to be apart of it all. All the ladies looked gorgeous, and the men cleaned up so well! It was just a wonderful day.  But man, that weekend wiped me clean of any engery.

Things on the boy (excuse me, MAN) front are going exceptionally well. Probably should "slow my roll", but it all does just feel so natural. I'm not worried. I might as well enjoy what has been brought to me while it's here. No expectations, no worries, just good food, good conversation, and a few oh-so-sweet kisses. I'm me, he's he, we're enjoying the time spent, no harm in any of that. He's such a cuddlebug, and I refuse to just pass that up.

This new veiw of "one day a time" is truly a miracle perspective. It's so much nicer look at things on a "right here, right now" basis, and not worrying about things out of my control. It's nice to save my energy for things that are going on in the present instead of uselessly throwing it into things that may or may not matter.


Today I feel great, tomorrow I may not, but I'll worry about that when it comes.

I think when I get back from California, I might want to start considering a dog.


And a kayak.

I've always wanted to take up kayaking. Maybe a kayak big enough for me and my new dog.

We can go on adventures.

Poor Coco would be left out in the cold.  But I bet she wouldn't mind.

That just pisses me off.

I have a dear friend, serving in Iraq. She just called here, to my work, to talk to me for a minute, and NO ONE could answer the damn phones and looked at me as if I was doing something wrong!

Then I hung up and they ask, "who was that"?     FUCKING ALICIA IN IRAQ!  Don't you people ever listen? Co-workers just sitting with their thumbs up their asses, waiting for ME to answer the phones, all the while trying to listen to what Alicia is saying. I could barely hear her, WTF people.

Ugh.

Car, flight, first accomodations, last accomodations... DONE!

I'll just have to decide where in Napa Valley I'll want to stay, then book that leg, and all the major stuff will be taken care of. I'll just have to focus on saving money for food, gas, and fun for the next few months.

It's obvious I have my period.

I went into Shaws to pick up the brownie mix, the pasta and sauce for the basket, and I walked out with two kind of cookies, Starbucks ice cream, pringles, and a tiny box of truffles.

Seriously. Holy crap.
 
So much for eating right this week.

How come this happens? When I set out to lose weight, or I set a goal for myself, almost immediately I ruin it? But when I don't have any intention of losing weight, I eat right and exercise like a maniac. I swear I have multiple personalities, and they're sabotaging each other.

He wrote me an email, all good stuff. Really good stuff actually, but I haven't taken the time to respond yet. I guess I'm letting things settle and trying to avoid resonding on a whim. So in the mean time, I'd like to avoid running into him.

Therefore, I'll be skipping the gym tonight. Immediately my brain kicks on guilt mode. I feel horrible for avoiding the gym, especially just to avoid him for a 5 minute pass by. But I have plenty of things to do tonight, things I have to catch up on. I have to stop by Sarah's and drop off the money for Kenny. Oh yeah, I'M GOING TO KENNY CHESNEY!! I'm beyond amped! I have to bake brownies for the Reflection tomorrow night with my fellow candidates. I have to buy a few staples around the house, and I have to finish the basket I offered to make for the testimonial.

It's okay to skip on the gym.  I do a little routine when skipping too.. I stare at my stomach, pinch my fat, shake my arms, flex my back.. all trying to convince myself it's okay to skip on a night. Haha I'm neurotic.