Cheech & Chong - Santa Claus and his Old Lady

ChrissyMouse

Thus far..........

As things go I am about as close to done as I can get for the holiday. There are just a few last minute things as always but that's okay too.  Work is the usual insanity, less for me than for the spousal unit so it's a typical December.

I've cut myself some slack this year and not gone overboard baking/thinking about new recipes  and so forth..much to my relief . No time . 

I think I will want to do some of it starting in January..baby steps.

Funny thing, I don't mind January, Sistah on the other hand just hates it. I do understand why . Out where they are the weather in January is just flat out nasty with snow and  ice. Down here gets nasty with rain and crap around Mardi Gras and Rodeo.

It's not that I have that idiotic need for New Year's resolutions. Hey if they work for you..great ..but I've always personally felt they are just a path to self defeat. I like January because it is basically quiet . Once Rodeo and Mardi Gras start, our schedules seem insane with one thing or another so I think of  January as a chance to recharge my mind/self and catch my breathe.

Now....if those higher ups at work would just get their shite together......I am so weary of sending out their Christmas gifts to clients...I could be a branch of Specs ( the local liquor locker bidness in these parts ) at this point .

Le Sigh.

Feliz Navidad Y'all.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol , the Grumpy Elf.

Just Because I Want To Does Not Mean That I Can

The Fantasy

The Reality.

Enjoy !

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

My Reality

A Whole Year Has Gone By..

http://auntypolknowsitall.blogspot.com/2013/12/

The original posts were on December 10'th and 13'th of last year.  I think Mr. Linky is broken .


I can't believe its been a whole year.

Mama and Daddy miss you baby very much.

We miss all of you .

Group hugs and headbutts.

The Mama.

Throwback Thursday

 I recently  posted on Miss Janet's blog "  Dying For Chocolate" about a tiny book that she had written about. My late mother had the same cookbook so we all chuckled about small worlds and so forth.

Today she posted about the companion book regarding candies and the above fudge recipe amongst others.

My mom used to make the above fudge and I have even though it's been a long time. I did mention  to Miss Janet that yes...I am one of those folks who would add raisins to the fudge.

Think of it as Raisinettes on steroids.

Hang in there, the weekend is almost upon us.

Ciao,
Aunty Pol

Mwahahah

Yes, I am an avid follower of Angie Bailey and " Texts From Mittens",

And by avid, I mean that I have the "Notorious MIT " coffee mug and both the holiday ornament on the tree already even, I have purchased two more as gifts.

And then it occurred to me ...

I don't have to worry about adding one more book to the den bonfire in the making. Yes, yes, I have natterd on about the need to go through all of that crap  oops...literary gems and manifesto's but it's like cleaning out my purse..it's something that I have to be amped up for and I ain't . My theory is that it's actually easier to change purses than clean that sumbitch out..so sayeth Our Lady Of Owning More Than One Dooney And Burke  ( damn you QVC easy pay) ...let us pray...

Screw that..that's why I have a  kindle.

It's why I have the LOL cat Bible amongst other oddities.


Sometimes I want to read the Dali Lama..yes...I actually have his books. Sometimes it's Anne Rice or Clive Cussler...and sometimes when it's a really sucky day..I need a laugh.

Mittens never fails to deliver.

Google " Texts From Mittens" and see why.

Hee Hee....Furrison data plan.

Genius.


Ciao,
Aunty Pol

Guilty As Charged Ossifer ...But Not Completely !

Just being honest y'all.

Ciao,
Aunty Pol

Small World

I think I know where these are.

I always read Janet Rudolphs blog " Dying for Chocolate " because chocolate and mysteries...winner winner chicken dinner.

I almost died when I saw this illustration.


I didn't think anyone other than my late mother had these little books, first published in 1954. I always associated them with Mom and Grandma  Engwall because the design is very Swedish in style and just the sort of thing that filled the parsonage in Winthrop, aka all the red , yellow and blue crap you could ever hope to have. I'm not trying to be mean at all. My mother was 100% Swedish , and I grew up with all of it as far as the eye can see.  In all honesty I have a few pieces in the house like the standard wooden plate " No matter where I serve my guest, it seems they like my kitchen best."

Uf Da..I know .

Don't look at me like that , Grandma had one too in her kitchen.

Anyhoo...wow.


What a vivid memory of my mother .

But...

I AM STILL NOT EATING LUTEFISK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EVER !

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Just Another Manic Monday

Well yeppers, it's a Monday all right .

The office network, specifically Outlook has been kaput all day so I of course have been doing what everyone else has been doing, playing on facebook and pinning on Pinterest.

You have to do something to stay awake after all.

Not a lot going on at home save Gracie's last vet visit. Oh she's okay  for the most part, it was the well kitty.rabies booster sort of thing but the poor child has a uti  and some "elimination " issues. She is 15 + after all and gets " stove up " as my folks sued to say so there is a supplement that we can give her to help her along....lol...the human variation so we can get it called in to Walgreen's. We are not going to give it to her every day because we don't want to create the situation that we had with Xena..too MUCH fluid in her system and not always making it. After a few years dealing with all the triplets issues, we have become very blase about the whole box thing. Yes , it's easier with only one cat and wood floors but I miss the little beggars..the mantle looks off with one stocking.

The tree is up, the kid has no interest in it, I think that she thinks that she is above all that being a senior cat and all. Christmas parties for our jobs have come and gone, I declined both, he went to his and had a good time...I am more of the " It's 8:30 and I need my jammies " variety at this point in my life.

Only a few more last minute things to buy and I is done in one !

Ooops....yeah.. the Christmas cards..yeah ..never mind.

Have a great week.

Ciao,Aunty Pol

Chicken...Artichoke and Spinach ? ...I'm In.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 4 to 6 chicken pieces (thighs, chicken breast, legs, etc...)
• salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
• 1 can (14-ounces) quartered artichokes, rinsed and drained
• 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 large carrot, sliced into thin rounds
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 bag (6 to 8 ounces) baby spinach
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425.
• Heat butter and olive oil in a large nonstick skillet that's safe for stovetop and oven.
• Season chicken with salt and pepper.
• Add to skillet and brown on both sides; about 5 minutes on each side.
• Remove from skillet and set it on the side, leaving oil in skillet.
• Add artichokes, onions, carrots and garlic to the skillet.
• Cook for 5 minutes, or until vegetables are slightly tender, stirring occasionally,.
• Add chopped garlic and spinach; continue to cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and add broth and chicken.
• Place in the oven and bake for 18 minutes, or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.
• Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes.
• Plate and ladle liquid and veggies over chicken pieces.
• Serve.

Notes

If you don't have a skillet that's safe for both oven and stovetop, you can place the chicken in a casserole-dish when you're ready to pop it in the oven.

I found this at Pinterest on a board, I think it was dierhood.com..check it out.

So making this .

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

I Can't Be The Only One That Does This .

Guilty as charged.


Ciao,
Aunty Pol

It's Never As Easy As Is Seems

Yes...I am alive.

Now that we have an actual cold spell..yes....even down here in the Gulf Coast, we can get cold...

Nailed it !

Anyhoo, for the better part of ALL friggan spring/summer I have waged a losing battle against allergies and sinus crap.

And by that I mean it got to the point that I slept all the way home after work when I could make it in and then after cleaning face/dentures, I crashed...out for the count...all night.

At least 3 out of 5 work days were spent like this, ditto most weekends .

Nothing to be done except stock up on Zyrtec , Puffs, and plow through it .

Therefore, I am not exactly unhappy about the cold snap save that ..umm.....pantyhose ?


OH HELL !


It was all I could do to keep up with the house and food, forget baking or foraging for recipes to torture Lady Lisa with.


And so I am hopeful this is all on its way to being over till it ain't.


I guess when I have been so sick for so long the brain gets all antsy.


I did manage to get to the opening weekend for Ren Fest and I did snag the posters for me and PG . I will get them out to her and I hope she is not mad at me for the delay. Personally I think she's way too cool for that so I am trying not to fret about it.

So I've started the Christmas shopping.

<  Ducks Head >


On Line.

As usual.


We are giving a ride to / from work to one of Gordon's co-workers for the next 6 months ( not my story to tell ) and yeah for me I am more used to shopping on line so there is that much less to fret over.

I'm a fretter.

Is that a word ?

I fret over the dumbest stuff.

Our  passenger says that he is off next week so there is stuff I need to bang out.

Sams Club renewal , some bricks and mortar stuff...while I hate to run errands after work, but if passenger won't need us....oh hell..let's call him Mo..Mo has a family and needs to get home to wife and 3 kids asap after work and I honestly understand. He's a really good dad so I am trying to get all the shit I need done while I can, with out making him any later to get home.


At least I can string some words together again.


Stay warm.


Ciao,
Aunty Pol

Wordless Wednesday

Amen.

Ciao,
Aunty Pol

Oh Dear....

It's gonna be one of those wretched, awful weeks.

The photo by the way is merely representational of Miss Ricie.

Yeah, my lil suicide blonde is going downhill fast.

When ever I see her, I think of the INXS song.

She is 16 and a half, with cataracts, dementia, and a host of health problems yet her heart lungs etc etc are fine.

Last Friday, Jere Lee and I sat out at the Ice House and I knew something was up . Privately I had been observing Ricie , for example when the gals are out and I am reading out on the  deck which is almost every night . Sometimes she will come out and do her thing and then get lost and confused because she can't see or hear if anyone is around. So Gracie and I get up and walk over and take her back in . Generally I sit with her and we chat. then when I see that she is comfy I go home.,more often than not , Gracie remains behind and they hang out. I could see that all was not well but I knew that her Mama was on top of it as she always is .

She's not eating and dehydrated so off to Dr. Tom she went. He has been her vet since her birth and Jere and he have discussed her progress. She has an appt this coming Saturday and it will probably be her last . Right now she is as comfy as she can be and as long as she is not in pain...yeah .

Bless the gals, they have been there for us as we went through this ourselves over the 11 1/2 years that we have been next door neighbors. We have babysat and done all the things one might do with a human child ...babysitting, picking up food /meds...hanging out ..Hell..the two that are left...Quintin and Ricie...they think that out back yard is theirs and it is...they hang out with Gracie and don't understand that she is not a dog, 

As they have done for us, we will be there for whatever they need.

AND this still sucks.

 A very sad Aunty Pol  .

Happy Friday ~ Bruce Of The Day ~ !

Can the bloody weather make up it's mind ?

Perhaps.

Perhaps not .


This is the most frustrating time of the year for me . All of the blogs that I follow and a veritable shit load of the pins that I see on Pinterest ( yes, guilty as charged. If you know my real name, you've seen my boards,l including the newest..Texts From Mittens..friggan hilarious.) are in the autumn mode. Which is my favorite season..but....

It's 90 FRIGGAN DEGREES DOWN HERE .

90

Ninety

Nine Zero.


Oh my akin gump.

Kill me now .

Part of me wants to make Swiss Steak , Pot Roast, French Onion soup. You know, cooler weather, stick to your ribs and ass carb coma food.

The other part is " Oh F dat.." . Do you really want to heat up the house that much ?

Yet another part is freaked out that it is mid October already . I guess that since I was so sick for 2 weeks, the kind where you come home from work and crash for 2 hours if you make it to work at all that you lose all sense of time .

The right part of my brain screams order the Christmas cards from M.D Anderson Children's Art Project now ..a very cool deal by the way where the kids design the art for the cards and the proceeds go back to the Hospital to help them,...and the left side of my brain replies..Chill the f out already.

Guess which one is loudest.

Nor does it help that the new Kroger has beautiful petunias in pots on display in front of the store and I have empty pots...the weather is almost perfect so I am tempted ( hint honey...I buy....you fly ..) ...and plants are still blooming  and  we actually have till Rodeo/Mardi Gras before it gets wet and rainy..except we did have those days in the 30's in January...still tempted...

See...I'm neither fish nor fowl right now . The Casa needs tidivation since that fell to the wayside but we are  going to see Real tomorrow..and hisself has a 2 day tourney next weekend and I need to touch base with Southside so he doesn't act like a 12 year old girl again and I owe him a birthday lunch /meal...

GAH !

I'll order the cards next week, get my skivies done this weekend...but tonight is deck time for me and Gracie because I have the  new Mercedes Lackey Valdemar book..

Yeah me.

Have a great weekend.

Ciao,
Aunty Pol

" Brother Had A Coconut, He Bought It For A Dime.."

 

Mwahaha..it's been a while so I thought since the weather was in theory going to change..( yeah..I don't believe it either, ) that it was high time I throw out/post a fat bomb.

I guess I am really feeling better because I have a Jones to bake something....and I can't get coconut cake out of my head ....so enjoy.



Southern Coconut Cake:

Oven temp : 350 degrees
Bake time : 30 minutes


Butter Cake :

3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
1 cup softened butter ( 2 sticks)
2 cups sugar
4 eggs , room temperature
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla


Frosting:

2 sticks butter , softened ( yes...2 more )
8 cups powdered sugar
1 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon coconut extract or coconut rum
1-14 ounce bag coconut flake, unsweetened


Instructions:

Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Prepare 3 9-inch cake pans with shortening and flour
3. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt with a whisk in a large bowl, set aside .
4. Cream butter until fluffy and then add sugar. Cream together for aprox 8 more minutes.
5. Add eggs, one at a time and cream together after each.
6. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately, beginning and  ending with the flour. Combine each addition of flour and then turn mixer on high to add air to the batter.
7.Add vanilla and beat well. Turn mixer to high again for about 10 seconds once the vanilla has been incorporated to lighten the batter.
8 . Divide batter among pans and bake for 25  to 30 minutes until set.
9. Turn out of pans onto cooling racks and cool completely.


Frosting:

1. Whip butter until light and fluffy.
2.Slowly add sugar beating well after each addition.
3. When all the sugar has been incorporated and looks like crumbles, set mixer to low speed and add milk then beat on high for a few minutes .
4. Add vanilla and coconut flavoring and beat on high until the frosting reaches a spreading consistency. If too dry, add a few drops of milk, if too wet add small amounts of powdered sugar until the desired consistency is achieved.

Frost cake and sprinkle coconut over the top and sides.

NOTE: This is one of those cakes where you really DO need to do a crumb coat.


Enjoy,

Aunty Pol

Small Wonders On The Way To Wellness...aka I Actually Broke Out The Swiffer This Weekend.

I got to feeling better this past weekend ( yes..that really is how we occasionally talk here in the South ) after nails and getting a facial so when he played golf on Sunday  , I actually broke out the swiffer thingy and dusted some of the shelves where the Pocket Dragons live. Nothing insane or death defying since it had been a while but good to semi tackle none the less.

If I have to crawl, I am going this Saturday. Yes, it is the opening weekend and something I generally avoid like the plague or balancing my checkbook , but this is a very special exception.

You see that good looking fella above ?

That my dears is Real Musgrave.

Quit acting like baby owls..."Who...who...who..". is Aunty Pol blathering on about now  ?

Set your wayback machine back about 40 years...or google Texas Renaissance Festival or Pocket Dragons. The hopeful results will show you Real's work in print and figurine. I went to Ren Fest for the  first time in 1984 or 1985..I've had sleep since then...and I fell in absolute undying love with his work. It was both whimsical and refined in a way that I hadn't seen before. Rather than being cartoonish which I have nothing against ( devoted Pinky and The Brain fan here ) , there is a grace and a gentleness to his work that drew me in. I had no idea that he also had figurines until I actually talked to him and found out that I could buy them easily.  I miss Ashley Avery...dammit !

I have never been a collector of anything except possibly bad Karma but I bought some of his prints and cards every time I went back to the Festival and before I knew it , I had a small stash .

Sadly, due to health issues , Real had to retire to the hill country with his wife but I continued to collect as much as I could. After I married hisself, I explained that this was one of the few things that I collected and so for birthday/anniversary/Christmas/the hell of it I received large and small pieces. I quit counting the figurines a long time ago and one of my most treasured Christmas gifts is the signed by Real  poster that Hisself found one year rolled up in a tube. he had it matted and professionally framed for me and it hangs proudly at the end of the hallway.

Hisself  gets e mail alerts from the Ren Fest since he buys tickets on line...and the Angels sang.

This year is the 40'th anniversary of the Festival and Real is going to be there hopefully signing the commemorative posters. Hell , I don't care if they are pre-signed . Bless his heart, he might not be actually able to do that much, so PG..I can 't promise a personalized one but I'm getting one for you as promised......nuff said.

For me , this is like meeting Janis Joplin.

Yeah, that huge.

The Unabashed Fan Girl,
Aunty Pol

The Nerve Of Them.

Damn you TNT !

Who am I going to mock now ?


You had to cancel " Dallas".
Figures after y'all let Christopher get his ass all blown to smithereens.

Pffffffft !

Ciao,
Aunty Pol

The Games Afoot..So to Speak.

Savage Chickens Comic Strip on GoComics.com



Oh , I laughed my ass off when I saw this .



I have been a huge Holmes fan all my life.  I had two gals that I ran with ( sort of ..they detested each other..I was the hamster in the middle part of the wheel , just hanging on for dear life ). Kathy St Lawrence of course was " Holmes" by virtue of the fact that she was older and thus more deserving ( at least in her pseudo sophisticated mind) , I was faithful Watson, not quite as bumbling as Nigel Bruce but loyal just the same and Cathy Long was Lestrade, earnest and unaware or uncaring of the occasional ridicule that Holmes lobbed her way. I wasn't a mean girl so to speak, I think I was oblivious to it all, and Cathy  with a C was too polite to called Kathy with a K out on her shit.



Anyhoo, years later I am still a huge Holmes fan and proudly would answer to Watson any time of day.



Do I keep up with the other two ?



Kathy with a K..not in over 40 years.



Cathy with a C...not as much as I should.



My bad....she and I have known each other since we were 13...and she's hitting 60 this month.



Happy birthday dear , I'm thinking of you .







Ciao,



Watson.

Happy Friday ~ Bruce Of The Day ~ !

Well , since I can't go to Comic Con this weekend, ( relax dear, you know how  I am about crowds)..I thought I'd throw that card up there. Wah..not only is Bruce going to be there but also Christopher Judge from SG1 amongst others..it is what it is.

I will console myself with RENFEST next weekend, even if I have to crawl there. Yes, I am still fighting this allergy sinus crap..my nose will fall off at some point and of course it is the weekend where it is the perfect fake your ass our weather wise..low 50's , going only to mid 80's.

IN SOUTH TEXAS Y'ALL..........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I kid you not.

It is what it is.

I haven't lost my mind with cooking or baking as of yet but that will come since the new issue of FOODNETWORK mag has quick breads as their featured " 50 Ways To Watch Your Ass Grow .." section. I pulled that bad boy out of the mag pdq and have it tucked away in my copy of the firm cookbook from 1991 .

Yep..we had a cookbook, which I still use..go firm.

I am by Gawd going to take a beverage out to the deck for at least a bit when I get home..I am tired of being cooped up or as much as one can be when you crash  completely at 8 pm..


Have a great weekend !

Ciao,
Aunty Pol

Ah Dallas ~ You Never Cease To Amuse Or How To Land A State PositionWith Whoa Nelly Benefits.

Well , I finally got around to watching the season finale...all 2 hours of it.

And I laughed my poor congested , sinus laden , headachy ass off.

SERIOUSLY EVEN !

Okay,let me preface this with the statement that in no way is the plot involving kidnapping or the allusion of rape/sexual what I consider entertaining....period.

That being said , ummm...smart move there kidnapper dudes . Leave your hostages able to see and thus identify your faces. Works out for the best every time.

THUD !

Minus eleventy billion points for the writing staff.

Onward.

Hill county take down . Elena, I know honey that you are not the brightest gal , but when unidentified armed men are swarming your love shack and Nicholas /Joaquin gives you a long barrel telling you to shoot anything that comes through the door...hiding on the side of the bed with the window at your back..drapes open ....yeah.  DERP .

John Ross plays with the Seals...Oh my giddy aunt. Let me preface this with the fact that I know and work with a former Seal team member. First of all, kudos to our national security that some dude named Bum for Chrissakes was  able to easily and swiftly uncover their black ops histories. Rock On Bum. The negotiation/foreplay between John Ross/ Seal to be identified later and all the Benjamin's was pointless . While it appeared that said Seal was retired, it made me wonder that he so easily fell into John Ross's plan with out any due diligence but there I go again over thinking it. Though come to think of it , what I know first hand in real life of military retirement benefits...yeah.


BEST part of the episode


Screw elections. Mama Whorebag is now the Rail Road Commissioner for our fair state. I guess the Ewings have a lot of pull with the governor . Doesn't  matter which one...any lout in a crisis.

DUMBASS !

I guess you have to actually live here to know that the Lt. Governor or Gov. Lite as I call him is the real man behind the curtain as far as power goes. Good one Junior, you just gave a vital intrastate position to a woman who is up to her botox in drugs and prostitution. Good job son.

Finally...the car bomb.

Oh sweet baby Jesus, please tell me that they are not going to go all Season 8 jumping the Sharknado with the " It was all a dream/ nightmare/bad windowpane flashback.


Yeah..I love me some comedy.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Just Another Manic Monday ~ 2.0

I hadn't thought about it until just a few minutes ago and then had the " AHA ! Shazam ! " moment.


Last week some one got a floral arrangement delivered to the office . It came to  the 14'th floor reception desk also known as " MY office " . I called the mail room to have one of the more intrepid lads come and get that shit off my desk pronto.

Seems pronto wasn't quick enough - Le Sigh.

You see , while it was lovely, it had an over abundance of one of the most dreaded components....STAR FRIGGAN LILLIES.

Yes Ma'm , right up there with Tuberoses , Mexican Stock and Hyacinth..you know ..the pretty fragrant ones that we all love until one is cursed with sinus and or allergy mayhem..yeah , that shit.

I guess it came in Thursday.

By mid afternoon the next day ( having taken the Blessed Zyrtec faithfully as birth control pills ) ...my head blew up .

Way more than the usual sinus crap.

Noooooooooo...not like the adorable Nasonex commerical with Antonio ( aging badly there dearest )
Banderas as the  cute bumble bee...the sinuses kicking in like your eyes are now looking like a major 1980's coke binge , your nose now resembles WC Fields , the congestion has now backed into my ears to the point that I finally understand why some of my peers had to go through the agony of tubes being inserted into their tax deductions ( love ya darlins) ears..........THE WHOLE FRIGGAN DEALIO.

By the time I got to the car, one of my nemesis ( and what the F is the plural of that ~ ?  Sistah...yes , a Kalib moment ) actually felt sorry for me as I was leaving.

Kind..possibly.

Buying  into it....have you met me ?????


Anyhoo..even hisself saw how puny I felt.

He HAS to have the radio on in the car..I know...but this time he got out his IPod and plugged in. I laid the seat back and was too far gone to not worry for once about any assorted safety/legal issues.

I just wanted my jammies and bed.

From 7:30 pm, having arrived home at 6:50 pm, after his shower and my cleaning face/dentures...

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Until close to noon the next day.

Until the back started to hurt.

Then up for a bit to watch the t slant v..don't ask me what..then

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

My hand to God the following happened :

I turned over and saw a bit of daylight coming in between the panels of the drapes.

Meh.

I rolled to the other side and squinted at the clock.

7:29 am

HOLY SHIT !

I then proceed to throw myself out of the water bed , no easy feet there..and go tearing down the hallway croaking "

Honey..........honey...WTF..we overslept . I have to get into work ...E is out today....."

He was of course sound asleep and sincerely thought I was screaming fire as if.....yeah.

Woke his ass up  !

He's freaked , I'm still babbling and then ..he says..

" GO BACK TO BED, IT'S SUNDAY ! "

Yeah, I slept that hard.

THEN.....................wait for it....

Then..I get to work, dragging my sorry ass in because co-worker E (see above) is scheduled to be out today.

Fine.

Then I get the internal memo that she is going to be coming in LATE today.

Now bear in mind , she was fully aware that I was sick, she saw it on Friday and I told her it was bad enough that I would be in bed all weekend so I could make it in today AS SHE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE OUT ...and out coverage for reception if we are down a person is almost nil ...


Did she call me to know she was only going to be an hour late ?

Oh hell no.

Admin could have found coverage for 1 bloody hour .

I did something I have never done before.

I complained directly to HR about all .

Yeppers, I threw her under the bus.

This was not the first time she has pulled this sort of thing..no notice having to leave early..hells bells , both of them do.

But..this time I addressed it up the food chain.

Will anything be done...aw hell no.

Do I feel better ?

To be honest..not completely , I really dislike being pushed to this point.

But..I stood up for myself...for once..for what it's worth.


Have a good week.

Ciao,
Aunty Pol

Savage Chickens

 

 

 

Yep....sent this to the managing partner here at work.

 

 

 

Because , I can .

 

 

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

If Its Monday , It's John Barrowman Time !

Well..the hits just keep on rocking.

Electronics = 2

Us = 0

No, it wasn't life of death like..shall we say ...a pacemaker ..but nevertheless..

We will collectively be more careful in the future.


Meanwhile , back at the ranch...

We watched the first part of the Ken Burns series on the Roosevelts and I liked it, hisself for the most part snored on the sofa as is his custom . But..there was more than one point in the program when we were both awake ( who knew ? It's a miracle  ~ ! ) and we turned to each other and blurted out " Dayum..Teddy is just bat shit crazy ( BSC ) , isn't he ? "

Bear with me.  I have a great admiration for Teddy, Eleanor and FDR . Teddy in particular had some things to overcome that would have just felled a lesser spirit , but that is also part of the problem....and where the BSC comes in. Yes, he had asthma and was a sickly youth and like most people of that era , he was encouraged to tough it out, buck up, push himself into a physical shape that would defeat his conditions.  Men were men and manly men at that  , so this is what you did, you took no prisoners and vanquished your foe. You built yourself up and for some it made a difference. To a point this is effective but at the same time it tells me how very little was known at the turn of the century about various illnesses .Sadly when he was just beginning a career in politics, both his first wife and mother died within less than a day of each other....so he basically chucked it all and headed west. He got to the badlands and began to rebuild his life .

At this point the episode got really interesting because it dove in to Teddy's ego and shameless sense of self promotion. He didn't dress appropriately for various occasions, he had costumes made. His force of personality was such that eventually he won over the cynics. It also helped that he staged and had photographed some of his more daring and questionable exploits. Watching his behavior with the Rough Riders seemed to show a blantent disregard for the men under his command and clear moments of self destructive behavior. In todays world, one might wonder if he was in fact bi-polar.

And I wondered all of this before he became president after McKinleys death !

It was a different time and a different world true, but some of the excesses were just unbelievable.

We are recording all of it so this should be a hoot.

Tonights adventure on the way home probably involves a new phone.

Oye !

Have a great week.

Ciao,
Aunty Pol

I Hate It When This Happens

Note : If you are following "Dallas " on TNT and haven't seen last nights ep, go no further in this post.

I'm a tad irked and then more irked at myself that I am irked at all if that makes sense.

Yeah.....

Anyhoo....

Um..writer type folks..you  really didn't think this through did you  ?

Let's begin:

1. The murder of Hunter McKay. You could have taken one more episode to promote the back story here. There are probably few ( save Moi) who remember that Hunters grandfather ,  ( wonderfully portrayed by the late George Kennedy ) was at one point the CEO  of Weststar Oil. By the end of the final season ( 14 ! ) of the show, he had swindled and in turn been swindled by JR/ Bobby /Cliff Barnes . Little if any backround was given so ,  it made no sense at all as to why he ( Hunter McKay ) along with Nicholas ( armed with Cliff's 3% holding of Ewing Global shares ) would go after Ewing Global. The show has promoted the generational aspect of revenge nicely but without the backround , Hunter McKay came off as some smart ass rick punk ..and that's about all . Why make his murder an obvious plot point if we as the audience don't give a rats ass about the character ?

2. Carlos as the head of the Cartel ?  DUH ! I mean really..no shit Sherlock. Old family friend...right.
Old family friend who can grease the wheels with the government to get JR's body across the border without questions ? Old family friend who seems to have at hand purported information about Nicholas / Joaquin ready to give Bobby at the first opportunity ? Really ? People who have that much power rarely spend that much time acting behind the scenes if they are legitimate

3. Ryland ..oh my giddy aunt. Give me a flipping break. Who in their right mind decided that the best course of action was to tell his narcissistic pill popping nympho daughter who has zero impulse control about his work for the CIA ?????  Bless them Miss Ellie, they are all hat , no cattle.  The first time Emma gets pissed off at Ryland or Granny Mc Whoreson or both, that child will be shooting off her mouth to anyone and everyone about her Daddy . Lets see....Daddy's a bastard control freak big bidness man, Granny runs a brothel, one lover murdered, one lover kicked her to the curb, Mama isn't presently living at Southfork and now she and Anne have been kidnapped and are being held hostage by the cartel. That child has no loyalty to anyone other than herself and you are going to trust her with your secret identity ? Ryland , you are a huge dumb ass and your mama should smack you repeatedly upside the head..except in her case, she'd probably fall apart like the broads in " Death Becomes Her ."


4. Bobby. Once and for all stop being such a fucking hypocrite .  Yes dear, you were the middle child, the good child and I understand that dynamic . You had no problem framing Cliff , protecting Bum and covering up JR's cancer....but yet again , Ryland puts a move on Anne and someone has to come running to you ..and you leave her no choice but to leave the ranch ?  Ok..let me see if I get this ..framing Cliff for the one thing he didn't do was okey doke because Bobby good/Cliff bad  but you can't get past Ryland kissed Anne..and she  didn't run home to fess up to St Bobby ? I don't know about Anne Ewing , but being a hypocrite is in the top three things that I hate above all else....I'd be done with you right about now bucko .

On the other hand the one thing that is brilliant and still ringing true is that face that Cliff Barnes is bat shit crazy and if Ken Kercheval doesn't get at least an Emmy nomination ..well that just ain't right either come to think of it .

Not that I was paying attention or anything ....


LOL.

Ciao,
Aunty Pol

If It's Monday, It's John Barrowman Time !

Greetings Earthlings !

Tis I , back from vacay and basically taking the summer off with an occasional post  or 3. ( Actual disclaimer..there wasn't a whole lot to write about and I bored the crap out myself even with all the bitching I was doing. Venting is one thing but too much is still too much).

Anyhoo.......................

As I said, vacation was great. It is always nice to see Sistah and all the family but I found that one of the things that I enjoyed the most was being totally disconnected .

You heard me.


Disconnected.


You see, out in the Paloose where I was, the farm is far enough out of town that you have to go into town to basically get cell service. Oh there is the occasional , random fluke bit of 2 inch area out by the Hottub ( Admit it, you're reading that word and hearing Eddie Murphy in your head, aren't you ? )  on the back patio but if all of college twinkies are back ( they were all bright eyed and bushy tailed )
all of the possible signals were kaput. I know it sounds scary but if there was an actual need, it's not far to town so it wasn't like re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic by any means.

I did not miss TV . Easily caught up on and everything is a rerun except :

SISTAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



"HAVEN ALERT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


IT'S RETURNING THIS THURSDAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry , indoor voice now in use .


Neither did I miss Faceslap..err....Facebook.

Okay..maybe I missed Criminal Case a bit but the game isn't going anywhere.


The point is that none of us really realize how wired  in we are, especially my generation. Hell most 6 year olds know more than I do about the innerwebs. But it is possible nevertheless to actually engage in moments of real conversation and shared  experiences...and I highly recommend it . Now you might not be as lucky as I was to share early morning coffee with tame deer each morning ( twin fauns, 3 does and a 4 point....and they were completely cute and tame as long as they limited themselves to the old apple orchard and not the potted petunias on the patio . Then they are told to shoooo....yes, they are that tame.)

Do yourself a favor.

Embrace silence when you can.

Enbrace friends when you can .


Have a great week.

Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Please Lord, I Really Don't Want An Orange Jumpsuit.

I am so ready for vacation.

Either I get the hell out of Dodge or various acts of mayhem will occur.

Let's just list the highlights, shall we ?

1. I did not go to school to become as obsessed as some of the co-workers that I have to tolerate with regards to the status/operational function or tidiness of the womens fucking bathroom on my floor. Contrary to popular belief, that is NOT listed in my job description, not even loosely falling under the umbrella of " duties as deemed necessary ".  I can and do send the property management an email with a service request as needed.
Simple.
Easy.
Not a big deal.

However , even after 30 + years here , these entitled , shrews with all the warmth and compassion of Elizabeth Bathory seem to feel a God given compulsion to continuously come up to me to report, advise , question and discuss the problem de jour in graphic terms...again and again and again and again and again.


ENOUGH !

JUST FUCKING ENOUGH !

The property management has been alerted. It will be attended to .

AND...................NO, I DO NOT KNOW WHEN !

And you wonder about my attitude ?


2. The conference room situation. Now this is a part of my actual job, riding herd on meeting space and scheduling same  . In  the past this has been a no brainer. But as we become busier ,  since there are only 4 rooms  available on this floor at any given time , the possibility that you will in fact be able to use a room for your bullshit birthday breakfast/cake/geedunk decreases proportionately. Do not bristle if I politely ask which attorney, number of people involved and so on. Two of the rooms are smaller than the others. I try to accomodate your actual needs with space available. Booking a room at the lunch hour for you and your BFF's to eat your lunch because after all , you are not only special but also deserving of this boon...HELL NO. These rooms are dedicated to actual CLIENT MEETINGS .The kind the attorneys can BILL for . You know..that pesky little procedure that generates OUR PAYCHECKS ?  Not to mention that it is widely known that cleaning up and or removing your beverage cup/glasses and removing your food debris....is after all beneath you....AIN'T MY PROBLEM BITCH. I doubt a client would appreciate the aroma of BBQ or what ever noxious aromas linger long after you have begrudgingly tromped back to your desk at the cube farm as you pine for Prince Charming to take you away from all of this splendour.


In other news............

Why do people think it is permissible to interrupt others when the former sees the latter quietly reading on their own property ? It never fails. You get to the best part of the chapter and here they come. ....and I was raised right. I close the book and give my attention to my guests . I would'nt  mind half as much if they would occasionally ask if then was a good time to walk over..but then knowing me  , I would agree out of politeness regardless of what I was doing....


See what I mean ?

I need a drink, a nap, a cupcake and out of here...not necessarily in that precise order.

At least SU has the common sense to know when to give me space when I am stressed ...


Ciao,
Aunty Pol

Betty Comic Strip on GoComics.com

Betty Comic Strip on GoComics.com



Amen !

Click on the comic to biggify.



Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Life Tastes Good: Philly Cheesesteak Casserole

Life Tastes Good: Philly Cheesesteak Casserole: posted by Marion@Life Tastes Good on 2013-11-01 Philly Cheesesteak Casserole! Need I say more?! All the goodness of a yummy Philly Chee...





I found this while noodling around Pinterest and thought what the hell. It's that time of year where it is officially hotter than Satan's underoos and I am bored with being bored with food. One of the things that I love about autumn is that I am more apt to get my brain engaged in the kitchen . Pinterest is a grat way too archive recipes that I want to try and save before I have one  of my usual " WTH did I see that fill in the blank recipe again ? "



AKA : Arrrrrrrggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh !



No , I have not dropped off the planet..I 'm hostage to my kindle and Anne Rice . Since she has a NEW LeStat coming out in October I am re-reading all of the vampire books.





Ciao,

Aunty Pol

Sharknado 2 : The Second One

Yep.
I am one of those folks who watched the first movie more than once and just flat out loved it . I love bad science fiction B films..not the gore fest popular today and not horror films.

Freddy, Jason and Chuckie can go take a hike.

Losers.

What I love are films that have humor.

Also known as anything with my boy Bruce.

Brain candy.

Like badly edited martial arts movies.

" Dialogue, dialogue, scowl, angry face, more verbiage....".

Translation : " No ! " .

I fell in love with the first Sharknado because no on involved took it or themselves seriously. They weren't so self aware about it that it insulted the audience, it  was  more .." Hey ..this shits gonna be a hoot ..lets rock this ."

Much like " Bubba Hotep".

Sharknado 2, The Second One ..or just S2 was the same with the added bonus of many cameos. In the first 5 minutes you had Robert Hayes ( Airplane )  as the pilot...Kelly Osbourne as a flight attendant and The Wheatons ( Yes................both Wil and Anne - bonus ! ) get eaten by sharks. Sharks that were flying through the air in turbulence, hitting the plane..actually more like taking bites out of it..and so on.

The cameos were wonderful :

Robert Hayes
Kelly Osbourne
Wil and Anne Wheaton
Billy Rae Cyrus
Downtown Julie Brown
Kelly Ripka
Her co  - host whose name escapes me
Al Roker
Matt Lauer
The black business man from " Shark Tank "
Judd Hirsch
Robert Klein
Andy Dick


It was wonderful !

Bonus..Chainsaws !

SyFy will be running both again this weekend...look out for the bits where Nova in the first one actually explosion jumps in her escape before the actual truck ignites.

CLASSIC !

Happy Friday Eve

Ciao,
Aunty Pol

Penuche

Penuche Fudge
 Ingredients
 4 cups brown sugar
 1 cup heavy cream
 2 Tbsp sweet butter 
1 tsp Madagascar vanilla
 1-2/3 cups chopped pecans
 Directions
 Combine brown sugar, cream and butter in medium saucepan. 
Stir until dissolved. Heat to between 234 and 240 degrees F.
 Remove from heat and stir until mixture loses its gloss (or process in food processor 30 seconds) 
Quickly stir in vanilla and nuts and spread into a 9x9 inch dish.
 Chill before cutting into squares. .



I wouls also add some maple flavoring but thats just me ..and Blogger is wonky.

Hopefully the next post will be whatg passes for normal here..lol.


Ciao,
Aunty Pol

I Am Soooooo Excited.

I am so unbelieveably stoked , excited and twitching.


Back in 1983 or 1984 , I went to the Texas Ren Fes for the first time . I had been to others and for a very long time was an active member of the SCA. I encountered Real and Muffy just on the inside of the perimeter on the left and fell in love.

I had seen a couple of the pocket dragons at Ashley Avery and picked them up but had no idea that I would soon be meeting the creator .

Yep.


I'm a groupie.

A Real Musgrave dragon loving figurine collecting groupie.

I have never been a collector of anything really save unset cut gemstones ( that's another story ) so I actually bounced up and down on the chair in the den when SU found this notification. I suspect that since he has purchased tickets on line for this before that he is on their mailing list....score !!


Real and his wife live here  in Texas and he had to quit his craft a few years ago because of arthritus , I of course was broken hearted . And to top that off, the dragons have become harder and harder to find. The smaller pieces are sometimes available on Amazon or with a few smaller gift shops but for the most part what is out there I already have.

We have a few of the larger pieces that were the combo anniversary/Christmas gifts and they stayed in the house during the renovation last year.

One of my most prized Christmas / Anniversary  gifts from my husband  , is a large signed poster from either 1985 or 1989 that I held onto for ages just stashed away . . He had professionally matted and framed. It hangs in the long hall at the end just outside of the master bedroom. I have never really wanted to hang anything other than some of Reals artwork on the wall and so the walls save the one mentioned above are bare.


Not for long.

I have a friend who also has a few pieces and have offered to get her a signed poster that I will send off...we are small but mighty in our dedication to all things pocket dragony.

To see my obsession google Real Musgrave or Pocket Dragons.


Have a great week.


Ciao,
Aunty Pol

For The Love Of God....Why ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????

I should not be but I am .

I am continuously surprised at the bullsh*t I see some people pull at work, regardless of their placement in the overall food chain, especially with the implied expectation that no one notices their shenanigans and malarkey.

You rarely see egos like those of attorneys.

It ain't pretty.



A whole section is being reshuffled because one slack jawed knuckle dragging primate in training has decided that he " NO LONGER WANTS TO PASS BY OR LOOK AT THE FACE OF HIS FORMER LEGAL ASSISTANT."

GROW THE F UP.

I no longer want to shave my legs but because I am a civilized person I do so as a courtesy to the lovely folks who do my pedi's every other week. No...for the record, I do not shave above my knee where the foldy bit of the leg actually is ..if we are in that region....there had better damn well be dinner and many drinks involved bucko...just sayin.

But still...manners are manners.


This hatted one has everyone in an uproar. Most of us are amazed that this is being allowed to happen but he does bring in the Benjamin's so squeaky wheel wins again.

Does he really think he's won ?

Yes, the legal assistant could have been a bit better at managing her time attending to his work, I tried to warn her that the junior member of her assignment slipped a lot into toddler behavior quite easily and she needed to placate him a bit...but no....

In the end it did no good because the hatted one got his way and she frankly is lucky to have a job here..trust me..I've seen separations for less cause.

Life lesson...learn to observe behavior more and pay attention .

In order to be able to validly say " Not my first rodeo." , you have to survive it in tact.

Gonna be a long ass week.


Ciao,
Aunty Pol

I'm Still Alive..Mostly That Is .

It's been hotter than the 9'th level of Hell lately so unfortunately I have had no energy to post.

Come to think of it, most of this  year has been like that due to one reason or another. Hells Bells, I surprised myself that I actually skipped posting a ditty about Bastille Day, tho to be fair I crashed as soon as we got home..nausea not my friend.

Anyhoo ,  not a hell of a lot is going on right now at the Casa which is fine I guess.  Every night when I get home and change I water all of the potted plants on the deck then pray for rain...and pray some more. I can't complain ( like that ever stopped me , bitch please , have you met me ? ) since we have had a lot of blessed rain and while it has helped the drought , we are by no means out of the woods.


At least we are not as bad as Cali...HEH.." We can't run out state as  it is so lets subdivide..so much more efficient." . Yeppers..laughing directly and out loud at that one. Instead of one idiot fi'g up the whole magilla..lets grab 5 more and make a six pack of idiots to run this thing.

Let me know how that goes for ya ..m'kay ?

I always need more material to abuse and poke my big stick at.

And hisself has been working a lot so in his free time he has been running with his buddies and or playing goof so I can't complain..I do anyway but not as much or as often..DUDE....I do try ok ?


Gracie Marie ( YES DEAR ..I AM GOING TO CALL HER A GIRL...LIVE WITH IT..SHE AND I ARE FINE WITH IT ) has decided it's too hot for her so most days she is on the water bed, belly side up ,l fur floofing under the ceiling fan...smart girl. We still have our Mommy and me time on the deck but it's usually about 7:30 pm when it is not quite OMG out there.

I've got a couple of things rattling around in the little gray cells so stay tuned.


Have a great week.


Ciao,
Aunty Pol

If It's Monday It's John Barrowman Time !

Happy Post I hope y'all survived the 4'th .

I was surprised this year that we had as many fireworks in the subdivision as we did . A few years ago when we were under a drought/no fire/no burn ban , I didn't think a lot about it . I assumed that folks had the common sense not to and with the exception of the Pyro that lives directly behind me on a cul de sac , every one paid attention. After that there has been an increasing amount of the boom booms until this year.

This year sounded like the DMZ the whole weekend.

Gracie Marie was not a happy kitty.

Nor was her Mama .

I know it's fun and all dudes and we have had a lot of rain but some of us want to actually get some sleep at some point before the coming dawn....without passing out in order to do so .


Sheesh !


SU was off campus for almost the entire weekend so I was able to get a lot done and Gracie only moderately fussed about her incarceration so that was all good but as usual my to do list is way longer than the actual amount of available time so as always I over do...and pay the price.

Oye my back !

At least this weekend I got a day nap on Saturday and we did cook off a decent size brisket so meals are in the clear..

It's clouding up again and they say that we are going to have showers every afternoon which is fine by me..less to water but I seem to be the exception to  the issue. A lot of folks that I work with are really getting po'd about the rain .

They are also the types to get po'd about what ever is the opposite of common sense.

This is the time of year that we really watch with hurricanes. We actively watch the water temp in the Gulf .

We really need the rain about now.

Because of the drought the last couple of years the price of beef , chicken and to a smaller part lamb has gone through the roof.

Produce...forget finding a decent price even at the local markets.

I like sitting on the deck with the kindle listening to the rain on the metal cover.

All I have to do is figure out the new Kindle HD I had to buy Thursday.

HAD TO.

Anyone who knows me knows I cannot function without a book of some kind.

And the battery on the old one went kaput.

I did however buy a users guide this time because this new HD is way more complicated that my old one which was only 3 years old ?

First generation Fire.

Anyhoo, the  forums under managing your device (s) is not very helpful. I think they lack a moderator because there is the usual battery  of Trolls there...and I don't have time, the need or interest in engaging that ilk.

I basically want a reader but the screen for the paperwhite is just too small.

I may or may not use the other function, I didn't on the first one so we'll see .


New adventures with electronics........................HUZZAH !


Have a great week.



Ciao,
Aunty Pol