We're off to the scalpel!

I'll be spending the better part of today in the waiting room at University Hospital while GWH undergoes a cornea transplant.

He has a disease called Keratoconus. Which basically means he has the cornea of a circus freak. That sucker sticks way out. Needless to say, he's beyond the point of contact lenses and such, so the last and final fix is a cornea transplant. (If you're one of those people that loves to see the blood and gore, there are pictures of the actual procedure on this page. Don't say I didn't tell you it was EW.

The interesting thing about a cornea transplant, is that while an organ, they can store them. So, we didn't have to actually wait for someone to die, they've already done it and the cornea is there waiting.

We don't know who the donor is, but I like to think he's getting a dead old lady eye. We've decided we will call it Ethel.

So, we're off soon. Then he's home for a week. So, prepare for me to be driven crazy. :)

Monday Madness

First of all, I saw this on the freeway yesterday.



That's several levels of WTF right there. Futhermore, what you don't see, is that the dog was wearing little goggles!

FYI - It's really hard to take pictures inconspicuously with a big ass camera with a bigger ass lens on it. Note to self: carry smaller camera in car.

And, most importantly....

If you didn't already know, the Sassacraft floral kit is live! The first batch went out over the weekend and so far it's a huge success!

Here is the August kit - Still have a few left!



$8 including shipping for subscribers, $7+shipping (which is $2ish) individually.

www.sassacraft.com for more info

I had to.

'The Life Cycle'


I think the life cycle is all backwards

You should start out dead and get it out of the way.

Then you wake up in an old age home feeling better
every day.

You get kicked out for being too healthy; go collect
your pension, then when you start work, you get a gold
watch on your first day.

You work 40 years until you're young enough to enjoy
your retirement.

You drink alcohol, you party, you're generally
promiscuous and you get ready for High School.

You go to primary school, you become a kid , you play,
you have no responsibilities, you become a baby, and
then...

You spend your last 9 months floating peacefully in
luxury, in spa-like conditions; central heating, room
service on tap, larger quarters every day, and then,
you finish off as an orgasm !

AJ and Ella

Cuties from last night. :)

The Tag Stops Here

I got this tag, but since no one reads my blog that I know of... Or at least not anyone who also blogs, I don't know who I'll tag.

HEY! If you're reading this! Consider yourself tagged!

1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be? Somewhere warm, with lots of land, but Target nearby.
2. What's your favourite article of clothing? capri pants and a thin tshirt
3. Favourite physical feature of the opposite sex? wallet. Uh... I mean... Cute little butt!
4. What's the last CD that you bought? Trace by Patricia Cornwell Audio Book (who buys CDs?)
5. Where's your favourite place to be? Bed
6. Where's your least favourite place to be? Jail? I don't know. lol
7. What's your favourite place to be massaged? feet
8. Strong in mind or strong in body? mind
9. What time do you wake up in the morning? 5am (ok, not really. But if that sucker goes off at 5:59, that still counts as 5)
10. What is your favourite kitchen appliance? kitchen aid mixer
11. What makes you really angry? what doesn't?
12. If you could play any instrument what would it be? piano
13. Favourite colour? Pink!
14. Sports car or SUV? SUV, although I drive a big ass mom van atm.
15. Do you believe in an afterlife? Yes
16. Favourite children's book? The ones with the fewest pages
17. What's your favourite season? Early Summer
18. What is your least favourite household chore? cleaning the house (lol)
19. If you could have one super-power, what would it be? to freeze / rewind time
20. If you have a tattoo what is it? No tattoos for me!
21. Can you juggle? no, but I can jiggle
22. The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to? My Grandma
23. What's your favourite day? Hmm. Friday, I think.
24. What's in the boot of your car? My van wears Prada.
25. Which do you prefer-sushi or hamburger? Steak. :)

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Mall

There I am, going to the zoo. Problem being, I have no sense of direction (and, yes, I have a compass in my car... GWH thinks that means I can find things. knowing what direction I'm facing is not helpful in the least tyvm, dear.). So, I'm driving along innocently when I spot a MALL!

Ooh! A mall is way more funner than the stupid zoo! AND the anchor store on my side was a JC Penney's Outlet. I've been wanting a black vellux blanket for Penney's for a backdrop, but I've been to cheap to pay $50 for it at JCP. My hope was, I'd walk into Penney's, get my blanket for $10, and then hit the rest of the mall.

Oh how high my hopes are. So so very high.

Penney's didn't have the blanket, but that was just the beginning of my wrong.

To back up a bit, right before I saw the mall, I saw a closed down (obviously) Handy Andy. WTF Handy Andy? Haven't they been closed since 1904? Why is the building still there and the sign still up? This long and no one has moved into that store front. (first clue)

Ok, back to the mall.

The parking lot was rather empty for a mall on a Sunday, but I didn't pay much mind to it. Blonde, and all. I step into Penney's and whoa... Stuff strewn all over the floor, big empty sections of store, just odd. I figured it was just because it was the outlet mall and, who knows what I thought.

I found 2 pair of dress pants for dh and a comforterI thought Alec would like, but he wasn't with me so I didn't buy it. Checked out with my 2 pair of pants and decided to check out the rest of the mall.

Holy. Crap. 2 reasons not to leave my camera in the car right there staring me in the face.

The mall was completely vacant. Dark. Abandoned. Save for the handful of hooligans loitering where stores once were.

It was right out of a movie. I wish I had my camera (one to take pictures and 2 because I seriously doubted my car was going to still be there when got back outside). The windows weren't boarded up, it wasn't like stores just left or would be there soon. It looked more like a hurricane had just went through. (In Ohio. Hurricanes v rare here. Lake Erie not known for typhooning.)

I have never seen something that weird. I should go back and take pictures, because there is no way I can explain it. On second thought, I don't think so. Read on.

I spent the rest of the weekend speculating why a mall would be abandoned like that. There was a Kaufmann's (I think, there was a banner that said Kaufmann's hanging on a building, I didn't go in to verify.), you'd think at least a pretzel shop would open in there or something.

So that was on Saturday. Monday my cleaning lady comes and the first thing she says to me is "Olivia and I were at the Whateveritwascalled Mall on Sunday and OH MY GOD it was so weird". (that's weird enough since this mall is no where near here, but yet we both went the same weekend). We start comparing notes and talking about how weirded out we both were.

She said she was on the phone with her ex when she told him she was there and he said "Don't let Olivia out of your sight." Ok... Olivia is 15, btw.

Then, later, she finds out the story. Apparently that neighborhood is SO BAD that the store owners were all like screw it and moved out. There were abductions from the mall, etc. NICE! I was there with Sean!!! I can't even fathom how bad it must have been for stores to just close up. You'd think the mall owners would have security upped or something. Don't all malls have security? There are malls in Detroit, how bad can THIS have been?

Explains the Handy Andy, though. The whole stretch of road is from a bad Stephen King book.

I'm not sure the $10 pants were worth all of that. Although, it's always nice when your pants inspire a story.

Update!

The floral club WILL start in August!! WOO HOO!!!!

I was hoping beyond hope that my flowers would all arrive in time to begin this BRAND NEW kit in August.

August Floral Kits will ship on Friday!!!

Bazzill, Prima, Doodlebug, and MORE. I'm more excited than the people getting them. Seriously!

Perhaps the Sun has Gotten to me

Did you hear what I was doing at Sassacraft? I think I've gone nuts!

On the upside, my storeroom will be clean....

All new 6 and 12 month subscribers get a 30% off coupon code for EVERYTHING in the store! AND no additional shipping since it will go out with their first kit!!!

Today is the last day, as kits go out on Wednesday!!!!

www.sassacraft.com

AND, look at this month's kit! BRAND NEW CHERRY ARTE!!!


Just to prove how insane I am... Everyone who signs up and mentions that they read this blog entry will get an extra something in their first box. :)

The Woman Always Knows

I sometimes wonder if my grandmother is up there spiritually... Participating in my life, and mostly just getting the last laugh, as she so loved to do. If I ever doubted before, all doubt is gone now.

For months I have been begging suggesting that GWH get a new laptop bag. His current one was just ugly. Ass ugly. I found a great leather one at TJ Maxx, nice brand name, the whole thing. He wouldn't let me buy it, because "nothing was wrong" with the one he had.

I decided that would be what he got for his birthday. Despite him telling me that he wanted this tool or that tool. "Don't care what you want", I'd think. He'd be getting the bag.

He almost had me talked out of buying him anything. Almost.

I met him for lunch on Monday. Monday was his birthday. Important to note that Monday was actually his birthday. As he was getting out of his car, he grabbed his laptop case and...

get ready for it....

remember, it's HIS BIRTHDAY....

It BROKE!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I told him he needed a new one. ;)

So, guess what he got for his birthday!

Thanks, Grandma, for the sweet sweet irony.

Menu Week of Aug 7th

Just the 3 of us next week, so I'm pulling my menu from Taste of Home's Quick Cooking (except the spaghetti!). Putting it all here so I don't forget where I found the recipes! :)

M: Spaghetti / Salad / Crusty Cheese Bread
T: Flank Steak with Orange Sauce / Rice / Green Beans
W: Pepper Steak Sandwiches / Garlic Fries
R: Ravioli with Sausage (use leftover homemade sauce)/ Salad
F: Grilled Brats
Saturday: Going out!

Spaghetti Sauce

1 (28 oz) can Crushed Tomatoes
1 (28 oz) can Tomato Puree
1 cup water
1/4 cup Olive Oil
4-6 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp dried basil
1 Tbsp sugar
2 tsp Salt
Fresh ground pepper to taste

Sauté garlic and olive oil in a large saucepan(with cover for later) over medium/low heat. Do not brown garlic. Takes approximately 2-3 minutes.
Add both cans of tomatoes and water, turn up heat to medium/high and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add basil, sugar, salt and pepper. Cook uncovered until the sauce begins to bubble. After the sauce bubbles, turn down to low. Cover pot and let simmer for 30 minutes.


Crusty Cheese Bread

3 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 loaf French bread, halved lengthwise
3/4-1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In a small bowl, combine the butter, garlic powder and cayenne. Spread over cut sides of bread; sprinkle with cheese. Place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes or until cheese is melted. Cut into slices. Yield: 4-6 servings.
Flank Steak with Orange Sauce

3/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon minced fresh gingerroot
1 beef flank steak (1 pound)

In a small bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Cover and refrigerate 1/2 cup for serving. Add oil and ginger to the remaining orange juice; pour into a large resealable bag. Add the flank steak; seal bag, and turn to coat. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight. Drain and discard marinade. Place steak on a broiler pan. Broil 4 inches from the heat for 7-8 minutes on each side or until meat reaches desired doneness.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, warm reserved orange sauce until heated through. Thinly slice steak across the grain; serve with sauce. Yield: 4 servings.


Pepper Steak Sandwiches

1 pound frozen beef sandwich steaks, thawed
4 teaspoons vegetable oil, divided
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
3/4 cup julienned green pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup chopped dill pickles
1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
1/2 cup chopped fresh tomato
1/4 cup chopped red onion
5 hard rolls, split
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese

In a large skillet, cook steaks in 2 tsp oil in batches over medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until no longer pink. Meanwhile, in another skillet, saute the sweet onion and green pepper in remaining oil until tender; sprinkle with salt and pepper.

In a small bowl, combine the pickles, salad dressing, tomato and red onion; set aside.

Place the roll tops, cut side up, on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with cheese. Broil 4 inches from the heat for 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Divide steaks between roll bottoms; top with onion mixture and pickle mixture. Replace roll tops. Yield: 5 servings.

Ravioli with Sausage

4 cups frozen cheese ravioli (about 12 ounces)
1/2 pound smoked sausage, sliced
1 cup chopped green pepper
1 jar (26 ounces) meatless spaghetti sauce
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Cook ravioli according to package directions. In a large skillet, saute sausage and green pepper for 2-3 minutes or until green pepper is tender. Stir in spaghetti sauce; heat through. Drain ravioli; toss with sausage mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Yield: 5 servings.