last week or so

I was on the hunt for fresh basil and I couldn't find it in any of my local grocery stores.  I did a search online and didn't read anything about a shortage.  Is everyone needing it right now?  Is this the summer of basil?  Whatever. I couldn't find any and still haven't found any.  The other day I opened a pot I picked up from CVS.  This pot came with a little bit of dirt, basil seeds, cilantro seeds and parsley seeds.  I planted the cilantro and basil.  I checked on it today and there has been progress!
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I might have basil to use before too long!  (Unless, of course, that's the cilantro sprouting.)

the art project has

officially kicked off.  I just posted my first image.  I don't know if I'll do more for July but I want to.  I really, REALLY want to but it's not as easy as it sounds.  I had fun with my first one and tried a couple of things for the first time.  I'm calling it "That day is full." and probably needs no explanation.
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As sad as it may be, I used the phone instead of the real camera.  Oh well...

dominos and pizza

Hut are officially called in case of emergency, not because "pizza sounds really good so we're ordering out".  A few weeks ago we ordered a pizza from Pizza Palace in Brazoria.  We'd had it before and it was really good but it had been a few years and it all boils down to "out of sight, out of mind".  Consider my memory refreshed.  It is my new favorite.  The pizza is good, the calzones are good, the dessert (with apple) is good...  Pizza Palace is officially the go-to place.
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The other night we watched Inglourious Basterds and when Hans Landa drinks the tall glass of "delicious milk", I was thinking about Pizza Palace and my mouth was watering.  I didn't get it but I have it now.  Yum.

i came across

some old pictures and had to laugh.  Eric and I are alike in so many ways.
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That was one of my favorite shirts.  When I came down for the summer, Papaw would take me to the t-shirt shop in Brazoria and let me pick out a shirt along with a design to have ironed on.  What's cooler than silver, melting "ICE CREAM"?  Not much.

this post is a filler

because I don't want 666.

do not try this at

home.  I repeat, do NOT try this at home.  Remember how I was talking about the tomatoes grilled with parmesan?  I decided to get creative and try some with blue cheese yesterday.  That is a definite FAIL.  It was not good.  Oh well, live and learn.
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Oh yeah, the same goes for mushrooms.
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all the stores have their

version of a name brand product and a few of them even change the names a little.  Sometimes they adjust the name to almost sound like the original.  This is the case here.  I was just looking through this ad that came in the mail and really got a kick out of their version of "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter".
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For the record, I really could believe it wasn't butter and if I were to try this version I'm almost certain I would not think it's butter.

On another note, I went to the eye doctor today.  I've put it off because I didn't want new glasses but these are pretty much done.  The strength is working fine but they're loaded with scratches and preventing me from seeing clearly.  So I went today and got a new prescription but didn't find any glasses I like.  Let me rephrase that, I found two contenders.  One pair is okay but not really what I want and another pair is okay but they're dark blue almost purple.  (Anyone who knows me knows anything other than brown is not an option.)  They're ordering the second pair in tortoise for me to check out so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  This is exactly why I've put it off this long.  I don't like finding new glasses.  It's a major decision for me because I ALWAYS have them on.  I don't want anything too dressy but I don't want anything too funky.  Oh, and I also need to go in next week or so to have my eyes dilated.  yippee.  That's another thing I've put off forever.  I dread it.  I don't like anything being put in my eyes.  On the plus side, because I'm near sighted, it'll be longer before I need reading glasses.  yippee?  Like I told the doctor, my excuse for making bad grades in 9th grade algebra actually ended up being a good thing... I guess.

i'm still trying but

I guess it's all about baby steps.  Sure I've picked up my sketch book a few times over the years but it's been a long time since I've done something, like actually completed something.  Apparently if you don't use it, you do lose it.  I think Art Project is exactly what I needed.
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remember how i was

excited about the new Art Project and hoped it'd be like riding a bike?  Well, it isn't.  I'm struggling.
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But I remember the mess it makes and how well I do that.
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ketchup

anyone?  We like our ketchup.  (We being Eric and me.)  I've been working on a better system for pantry organization and it's beginning to drive me nuts.
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Yes, this is a lot of Heniz ketchup considering I swore off all things Heinz but a good deal is a good deal.

you might want to

sit down for this one... I'm actually posting pictures that came from... wait for it... my camera!  I'm excited.  I've been thinking about something but didn't really know which way I wanted to approach it.  Book clubs are everywhere and that's great, for readers.  I decided to start an art club.  It's just a little thing, a group on Facebook but it's open to the public and everyone is welcome.  Each month a theme or assignment is given and all entries must be uploaded to that month's album by the end of the month.  There is no limit on the number of entries by one person and there are no restrictions on the medium used.  It can be something simple or something complex.  It's whatever works for that individual.  I'm excited.
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Even the cats are excited.
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As excited as I am though, I'm also a little scared.  Hopefully it'll be like riding a bike...  We'll see.

i hate tomatoes and

I always avoid them.  If they're cooked and diced and hidden by other ingredients I can handle them.  Mom suggested something my grandmother's husband did so we tried our version of it yesterday.  We sliced tomatoes, sprinkled with salt, covered with parmesan and put them on the grill.  I REALLY liked it.  It was weird having a tomato in my mouth and trying to get past the texture but the flavor was great.
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i usually buy

Sweet Baby Ray's barbeque sauce but picked up a different kind because I found a good deal and thought it wouldn't hurt to try.  I only use store bought bbq sauce for my pulled pork recipe and my baked beans.  Store bought bbq sauce just seems like enhanced ketchup, including the color.  I'm making baked beans today and realized there wasn't any Sweet Baby Ray's in the pantry so had to use the new stuff.  It looked different, like the stuff you'd get when you order bbq... like the stuff I'd actually put on bbq.  Guess what.  It tastes like the real stuff and not the enhanced ketchup trying to taste like real stuff.
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Oh, I had a message on my answering machine from the local McDonalds.  She said she'd call me back.  Great. Something tells me they didn't take my email lightly.  Also, so much for being anonymous.