The Marlboro Ranch - Afterthoughts

It. Was. Amazing.

That is all.

A few days to go!

Only a few more days until we leave to go to the Marlboro Ranch in Montana. So excited! I am so piss-my-pants ready for vacation I can hardly stand myself. It's getting a little too hot and steamy down here for this northern girl. I went outside last night to water plants and instantly started sweating, er, I mean glistening.

Embarrassed to use coupons

I was once embarrassed to use coupons. My mother always includes a few in packages she sends to me for this-and-that. Mostly for toilet paper, tampons, and baking items. I was most bashful to use the tampon coupons. Heck, I hated to buy them-for numerous reasons. I would stealthily go to a woman check-out person whenever these were in my cart. Also, go to CVS or Target and buy only that? No way, Jose. I had to grab a few other things. Then, a man would get in line behind me, I would blush. (I have absolutely NO explanation for this). Heaven forbid it was time for the girl cashiers break, and a man would take over for her. Full on sweating. And now you want me to use a coupon? YOU ARE CRAZY! My head would swirl with "Price check on Tampax Tampons, Supers please". OH THE HORROR!!!!
Back on the subject of coupons though....
I now check on-line for coupons everyday. I think about what I need to buy, then I google it. I can't tell you the last time I was at the store and didn't use at least 1 coupon. It's empowering. I scoff at the people behind me. HAHA I GOT A BETTER PRICE ON THIS THEN YOU!!!! I love the feeling of saving money. Especially "in these times". Yes, I said it. I am not sure what to attribute to us not having as much extra spending money as before. We both have increased our pay, shortened our commute, eat out once a week instead of every day-twice (lunch, dinner). Where does it all go? I guess groceries. Now that we cook at home, I have easily doubled-if not tripled the trips to the supermarket. Food is food. You gotta eat. Oh crap. I forgot to get milk at the store.....

OB/GYN

The first one I ever had was a man, Dr. Pappas. This was in Mississippi when I was late teens, early twenties. Every time I went, they did a urine test for pregnancy. (I always secretly held my breath a little each time.) Then he would come in (the last few years I saw him, he had a woman nurse come in with him), tell me I was not preggers and proceed with the exam. Sigh.
I went to one today and no urine test. This could be as simple as:
*The insurance I had before paid for it automatically, and they did it for more money, and mine doesn't automatically pay for it now so they only do it if necessary.
*Teenagers are less likey to test themselves (based soley on my expereience)
However, a part of me thinks it may have been because teen pregnancy was such a widespread thing in Mississippi. Not judging! At all! Several of my friends in high school (in Seattle AND Mississippi) had babies in high school. It just seemed a little off, based upon what I was used to.

She's baaaaaaack!

My BFF Joann and my Godchildren Montana and Saige have moved back from Colorado!! I am super excited! I put together a little welcome home kit with Blue Plate Mayo, Tony's, Tabasco, Zatarains crawfish ettoufee mix, Blue Runner Red Beans, and a NOLA hat. Yea!

Crawfish

The hubs and I hosted a family get-together disguised as a crawfish boil. It was such a good time, his family who had never been to our house got to see it, and loved it. We have been there almost 3 years now, and of course, every time you come, there is something new and different. That's the shopper in me I suppose.

My ranch share site

http://andreamcknight.shutterfly.com/

Budgets

Even though I am choosing not to participate in the recession, I have put the hubs and I on coffee/lunch budgets of $20 a week. It keeps me from spending money on lunch everyday. Instead I take my lunch into work from home & I get my Grande Starbucks Doubleshot on Ice each morning and once a week I can have lunch a Cane's or Chick-fil-a.
This budget is only for those items. Dry cleaning, gas, groceries, cigs, etc. are not included.

Confirmation!

I just got confirmation today that we are all approved to be going to the Marlboro Ranch!!!

MR Trip - More Scans

Here are some more scans of what we got with our contract paperwork.

Olympics

So, my sister's curling team (rock, not arm) won the USA Olympic Trials in February for the 2010 Winter Olympics. While this is incredibly exciting, I also know it will be very costly. There was so much discussion back and forth about who is paying for what, Mom and Dad can I stay with you and all the other craziness. I am so glad that we are now in a holding pattern. We (are pretty sure we) have tickets-which is NOT an easy thing to get your hands on, no matter how obscure the sport, we have hotel rooms booked from Bellingham, WA to Vancouver, BC, Canada and we are all in agreement that we need to fly into Seattle and drive up to Canada. It's actually a great thing because I was born and raised there. I will get to visit with some old friends so that will be nice. The 2.5 weeks I have to take off work won't. They are pretty cool about it because they see this for what it is. AN EXCITING, ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENT. I have to keep reminding myself of that everyday.

I also should add, I cannot be more proud of my sister and all she has accomplished.

Marlboro Ranch Summer Trip 2009

Yes. I am a smoker. Save the lectures. I will quit when I am damn good and ready. I am not ashamed. Now poor, due to the high tax.

However, Marlboro threw me a bone. An all expenses paid trip for me and a guest (the hubs) to their ranch in the Crazy Mountains outside Bozeman, Montana. They pay for the flight. They put you up in a room at the ranch. They provide all meals. They have activities for everyone to do, which, from what I understand, you get to pick from. These include horseback riding, zip-lining, fishing, biking, cattle wrangling, off-roading in Hummer's (REAL ones), mountain biking, hiking, massages, back country tours and I even think they will take you to Yellowstone Park. Free booze from 5pm-till. Free stuff when you get there. And the coup de gras is a check for your expenses. $1250. Cash money. The catch? A 1099 at the end of the year for the value of the trip-$5000. No problem. I already talked to my CPA (AKA my mother-in-law) and our liablity will only be a bout $700. What did I do to get this? Obviously, you have to be a smoker, but I have been on their mailing list for a few years. It's not a scam. I have done extensive research. We have sent in all of our backround check info and contracts, we are just waiting on the dates we will actually go. Should get that in a few weeks. Until then.......

LED

What is it about those LED headlights that make me want to slap the douche bag driving that car silly? Oh yeah, temporary blindness and burned retinas.

Crazies

I just saw a woman driving a van with Precious Moments figurines connected by Velcro to her dashboard. Really?

***UPDATE 4/14/09--just saw that van parked in front of WalMart. Classic.

Hi there

I swear, I have been having the hardest time trying to get my thoughts together to post. I really want to do this, but I feel so overwhelmed. Work is taking every last bit of sanity I have left now that I am taking on more responsibilities. I have to deal with technicians that whine all day long and lack of service calls for them to go on. That means they are here for the better part of the day, bothering me and everyone else who works in my suite, AKA: Carrie, my co-worker and friend.

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

This was passed on to me and I haven't tried it, but I think it may be very tempting if it's good...

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons oil

3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

a small splash of vanilla extract

1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg, milk & oil and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1 000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous). And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

**The picture came from the e-mail. Incidentally, my mother has those very same Corelle plates

A big "FU" to Starbucks

Thanks assholes for putting nuts/seeds on the top of my favorite pumpkin loaf. Those things do not belong on something sweet!!! I am so glad I found a recipie and started making it last year after paying $2 a day for that sweet treat. I wil never buy it from you again! Why mess with perfection? Don't fix it if it ain't broke!!

Hmm

Bet you thought I forgot about you??? Well I didn't. I have been so busy I barely have time to think. I am sorry. I will try to be better about posting. I have been making notes in my BlackBerry and will post some more.

Salty

Am I the only one who doesn't take someone seasoning something I've cooked as an insult? I just feel like if you want more salt/pepper/spice, then whatever, use it! I just don't get offended by that. Maybe it's because deep down I know I am not a great cook. I was also the product of a mother who uses cream of mushroom to flavor things and a father who asks for no seasoning on his steak when we eat out. I fear the seasoning, and I think everyone knows that. I also married a southern man and he loves spicy things. Puts tabasco on everything. Salt and peppers a thick, beautiful layer on his meals.
I also feel that you can add more spice/pepper/salt once things are ready to be eaten. If you overdo it, they are not good and you can't eaisily fix that.

Well......

I started the new job today. I am a bit concerned about everything! I am confused, out of place and just a little unsettled. Don't get me wrong, they are all very nice and have welcomed me. I am just not comfortable yet. I'll get there.