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★I've decided that even though I don't have time to do it myself, I really love National Blog Posting Month, which is, for those of you not all-consumed by the intranets, is this month. I don't do it because I don't enjoy setting myself up for failure. Because honestly, I'm distracted by something shiny every, oh, five seconds or so. I'd never make it. But during NaBloPoMo, all my friends who are usually too busy to blog regularly do so for the whole month! It's like getting a glut of your favorite TV show. It's fun.

★Nolan signed me up to make cornbread dressing (stuffing?) for 40 people to take to our church Thanksgiving dinner. Do I get to go? No. Is Nolan going to go? No. But I'm still making the crap ton of stuffing. I can't even conceive of the amounts of ingredients for that. There's math in my future. Ugh. I'm not upset, though. Not about the signing up, or the making of the dish, or even the fact that I'm not getting to eat it. I'm upset about the math. Math makes me grouchy.

★Ethan just spent ten minutes trying to convince me that those yogurts that have Oreos or M&M's packaged with them to sprinkle on top are low fat and healthy for you. Seriously, kid. This is not my first rodeo. And: Ew, cough, gag and splutter.

★Tomorrow I have too much to do. A jam-packed full day. It's full of all good things, but there's not going to be time to breathe. I've become rather accustomed to breathing, and it bothers me a bit when I'm prohibited.

★Do you know when you do something, and then people really like it? That feeling you get when you get a pat on the back? I've had a dozen of those pats over the past week, for a short story I wrote for an anonymous fest where I still remain anonymous. Every single pat makes me smile. And if I could figure out how to respond anonymously, I would. But I am technologically deficient. It's a good thing I have other talents, for sure. Like making breakfast parfaits. I make a mean parfait.

★Rehearsal. Rehearsal is SO. MUCH. FUN. Rarely have I been with a group of people who are so creative and hard-working and intuitive as these boys. It's a delight and a joy. I've decided I'm going to do a picture a night on instagram. So you can follow the show and my crappy photography skills over there. I'm carriehuckabay on that particular site. Which is my actual name, if you throw in a space, for those of you who don't know.

★Also, and I'm loathe to "announce" it, but here goes: *deep breath* I'm breaking up with Sugar.

*throws self on floor and weeps bitterly*

It isn't Sugar's fault, and it isn't because I don't believe in Sugar's love for me, or even because I'm trying to lose weight (I'm ALWAYS trying to lose weight), or because I read the ebook of Skinny Bitch and secretly liked that the author was cursing at me like some sort of sailor with Tourette's. I'm leaving Sugar because I can trace all of the times I feel like utter and complete crapola to refined Sugar. Quite frankly, I'm sure I'll miss Sugar. I'll have Sugar withdrawals. I'm going to leave 2 a.m. phone calls on Sugar's phone and write Sugar a love Sonnet a day. But Sugar makes me feel like ass, and even if I do love Sugar from the deepest depths of my black little heart and want to have a billion of Sugar's little Sugar Babies, Sugar has to leave.

That metaphor went wrong somewhere. Alas. You have to know when to say when.

★That's all. *points to the icon* Make the right decision.

Cake. No... death. No! Cake.... It really is a difficult choice. As for me, I'm going to go Google 'Crapton of dressing' and see what comes up.

Later.

( Visual aide, here. )
Behold the incredible cross section, y'all.

Yep. That's it.

Carry on.

I had PLANS for today.

Unfortunately, my eight year old is huddled on the sofa with a case of what I'm pretty sure is strep throat. My BFA in Theatre Arts somehow gives me the knowledge and experience to diagnose him. That, or battling that stupid bacteria for the last ten years. I've a MOM degree. It's like a sixth sense.  A sixth sense that get's awakened in the wee hours of the morning when your child has stuff coming out of him that should just not BE.

Can I give it back?  Is that an option?  I don't remember checking that particular box.

By the way, whatever happened to Aaron being the iron man in the family? This is the second time the kid's been sick this year. I blame the disgusting breeding ground of germs in which he spends 8 hours a day.

Some people merely call it 'the elementary school.' My name has more flair.

You know how I don't work, right? I'm a stay at home mom, and I teach one afternoon a week. And volunteer at the above breeding ground one day a week. And do odd jobs for the theatre. And cook for my home group every Wednesday. And make sure all my family has clean clothes, vacuumed floors, clean bathrooms and are fed at least two meals 7 days a week. Somehow, even though I don't work, my days are always completely full. For Christmas this year, I have added tasks: getting gifts and door prizes for the company Christmas party, gift certificates for same, wrapping presents, hosting several parties at the house (so far I'm up to 4), sewing several projects for friends and family, making goodie baskets for AAA Electric's customers (which will include two solid days of baking),and currently top on my list of things to do is get new furniture for Nolan's office. It was repainted several months ago, and he's ready to have the pictures back up on the wall and someplace for people to sit when he bawls them out.

I'm glad I don't work for him, anymore. He FIRED me. He fired HIS MOTHER, too. We're both still a little bitter about it.

(In actuality it had something to do with taxes, and we make more money now than we did befopre, but that's beside the point.  HE STILL FIRED US.  And he didn't even do it face to face.  He fired me OVER THE PHONE.  Chuh.)

But that's a post for another day.

What I'm saying in the midst of all the whining and complaining that this post has turned out to be (er, sorry), is that I'm feeling overbooked.  I'm sure it'll pass and by this afternoon I'll be a whirl of wrapping paper and furniture shopping.  But for right now, I'm in a slight panic that not everything is going to get done.  I've had to postpone my Dr. appt. for my bruised ribs (which are SO not better), but kids come first, right?

I'm going to go put on some lipstick and plaster on a smile.  It's always worked before! 

Cover me, I'm going in.

I got wind of this recipe on Facebook.

Facebook. It's good for more than merely ruining your anonymity.

Anyway, I tweaked the recipe, as I am wont to do. Which means I used a different vinegar and different shaped pasta.

So now, I claim this recipe as my own. Sorry, Nancy. And Terri, from whom Nancy got the recipe and who I don't know. Thanks for sharing.

( Recipe, pictures and general rambling under here )

Hello, August 4th. You totally snuck up on me.

It's been a heckuva week, rife with emotional hangovers, nightmares about tank-escaping Crawdads, (Ethan: But we could get him a Crawmom! And they could have Crawkids!) hours of poolside reading and spa days. We're trying to cram all the summer we can into these last few weeks before school starts.

The winners from July's recipe contest maureen with a kickin' chili recipe, and filia_umbrae, who won even though she submitted something with a gourd as one of the ingredients. :D I'm totally making all of the submissions, even the pumpkin muffins, which were described as "scarfable." We shall see! Look for your prizes in the mail before the 15th, girls. That's my goal. ;) Congrats to you both!

August's contest!

You know I'm all about a haiku. Haikus make me irrationally happy, and I feel a little fancy reading and writing them. I'm going to confess that I also love a good Limerick, because, you know, I love to laugh. And so this month your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to write as many haikus and limericks as your heart desires IN A REPLY TO THIS POST, before I drag myself out of bed on September first. The winners will receive a $25 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble, and one of my handmade bags (new design!).

If you're unsure how to write either of these poems, just click on the links above. It's easy! And fun! And free! You can do it!

Now I'm off to register Ethan for Middle School. And get some Botox on the way because that makes me feel SO OLD.

I've been feeling icky today. It's my own fault, as I've not been taking my medicine regularly since last week (never fear, I got the script refilled yesterday, so all will be well in a few days). Anyway, we didn't go anywhere today because of me feeling like death on a cracker.

The boys and I were on the front porch, watching a storm roll in through the sunset (a pretty impressive piece of God's handiwork, for sure) and Ethan leans into me.

Ethan. Do you still feel yucky?

Me. Yeah. Thanks for asking.

Ethan. Really yucky? Are you any better?

Me. No, I still feel bad.

Aaron. Like bologna on a tortilla.

(Ethan and I just look at him)

Ethan. Yeah, that is pretty bad.

Not that either of them are forced to eat bologna at our house. I think that stuff is foul.

Anyway. I've written quite a bit on a multichapter fic, Up to chapter three! It's a Ron/Pansy, and an idea I've not seen explored in that particular slice of fandom. So yay for being creative and stuff. Beta still needed for that one, but it's a bit more work than a drabble. And I'm going to make blueberry peach jam in the morning if I feel better. Honestly, blueberry peach jam might make me feel better. Yep. It's a plan, for sure.

For Lent this year, I felt God was saying to delve a little deeper than I normally do, so for the next 40 days, I won't be eating bread, meat or sweets. It'll make Easter all the sweeter. :)

So obviously to celebrate that decision, and to perhaps test the limits of my self-control, I decided to make peanut butter truffles that I saw on Bakerella's site. Makes sense, right?

( Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle Recipe and Tutorial )

I won't be eating these or anything like them for 40 days. *sigh* Any of you giving something up for Lent?

Pounds of sugar...............................10

Gallons of milk...............................1

Quarts of oil.................................3

Pounds of butter..............................8

Pounds of candy coating.......................5

Bottles of various extracts...................4

Hours on my feet in the kitchen..............32

Pounds of pecans.............................5

Times I burned myself cause my freaking potholders suck...... a billion, give or take.

Number of confections........................524

Bags of chocolate chips......................10

Number of times NOLAN loaded the dishwasher...5

Glasses of wine in my hand right now..........1

WOW. I have a new found respect for people who do that for a living. I'm WIPED. But tired happy, if that makes sense. And really not of a mind to eat anything sweet for quite awhile. Plus? I have a very grateful husband who's done all the laundry while I've been doing this for him.

Girls? (and the 2 guys on my f-list) I call this a win. :)

( Toasted coconut, lotsa pictures, and how we spent our afternoon, yesterday. )

Oh. I guess I forgot the toasted coconut part. Those were yummy cookies, too.

I love them. Seriously. Great audience tonight.

The show is going very well... I took pictures tonight, but I swear, I have so many quick changes that there isn't enough time to take pictures of all my cool costumes in between!

I made 120 cake truffles and some sugar-free strawberry nut bread (for the diabetics in the cast) for good show gifts tonight, and as I was packing up the empty plates, Allen, the director, asked:

Allen. "Did you make all that?"

Me. (grin) Yep. I'm a whore, but I cook on the side.

Allen. That's my definition of a good wife.

(*rim shot sound effect*)

Now? I think I'm going to have a glass of wine and soak my aching joints in a bubble bath. So that's where I'll be if anyone needs me. :)

Love to all!

OH! Crud. I forgot to do my 2ormore post yesterday. Stink. Sorry, sorry, heyurs! I did enjoy the sweet card you sent me, though. It made me smile. You rock. :D