it was so hard but

I kept a secret for several months at Christmas.  Eric was the only one that was in on my secret because I had to have one person to talk about it with.  The problem was every time I thought about it, I started laughing.  I ordered Prank Packs for everyone except Eric.  It's gag gift boxes and I thought they'd be perfect for Christmas.  I had to figure something out though.  I knew they all had to be opened at the same time because if one person opened theirs first, the others would be suspicious.  I wrapped them all in the same paper, put who they were to but from was all marked "*".  I explained to everyone that Eric and I had found a store online and picked out gifts for each person.  I don't know what was crazier, the thought of these actual gadgets or the pictures on the boxes.  Since Christmas, they've added more boxes.

I really think I need to order this one.  It'd be perfect for a baby shower.

Extreme Chores is like a Wii or something.  I love it too.  Washing dishes?  Doing the litter box?

Pet Sweep.  I love the pictures on the back.  Dustpan on the cat?  Pet Plow?

Click on the link and check out the boxes for a quick laugh.  Like I said, the pictures on the boxes are just as good as the actual prank.

On another note.  Remember my post from January 7 where I posted pics from my old day care turned convenience store?  It was on the news yesterday.  The schools across the street were on lock down after the store was robbed and the armed thief fled into the apartments next door.  Yeah, I know that's an "uhh... okay..." moment but I just figured I'd share since I already talked about the area.

the theme for today

is "hurry, before it expires".  We had Eric's friends over this weekend for burgers to celebrate his birthday.  I had some meat leftover and figured I'd use it another day.  This morning I realized if I didn't make it today, it'd probably end up in the garbage.  Then I thought about the vegetables I had in the refrigerator that were being neglected and decided on taco salads.  I made the meat and accidentally added too much salt.  No problem, I added a can of black beans to tone it down.  So there's dinner.  (Actually, I have a package of tortillas in the refrigerator but they're dated January 3rd... I don't know.)

All of this thought of the vegetables reminded me of the strawberries I bought.  I picked up two containers, thinking I'd send one with Eric.  Yeah, I forgot.  So once I got the meat done, I started searching all over for something to make with these fresh strawberries.  Everything sounded good but there was always one ingredient I was missing.  Wait.  I had a ready-made graham cracker crust in the pantry, cream cheese and although I didn't have Cool Whip, I had cream that needed whipping.  That's it.  I'd make my fluffy cheesecake mix and top it with the strawberries.  And dessert was settled.  I would like to note that I left it at this stage to chill in the refrigerator but there will be whipped cream dolloped on top when served.  Yum.

And I should note that both of these images were taken with a real camera and not my phone.  I'm totally productive today.

i heard this song

on the radio the other day and it's been stuck in my head.  I've always liked it and today I'm sharing it because I don't have a whole lot of anything else going on (unless you want me to talk about cleaning and going for a walk).  Anyway, it's a pretty song.  The lyrics aren't so pretty but I've always thought the music is. 

yesterday there was a

lady bug on my windshield.  I saw it when I got out to check the mail.  It was there two hours later too.  I need the luck.  The Mustang is having computer issues and not wanting to pass inspection.  Our last chance at an "easy" fix is happening right now.  If it doesn't work, costlier steps will be taken.  Come on, lady bug... do your thing.

Yesterday I bought meat and onions for sliders for dinner.  Guess what I forgot.  Buns.  I decided I'd just make hamburger steaks, I already had the meat and onions along with some mushrooms that needed to be used.  Everything was going.  The meat was staying warm in the oven while the onions/mushrooms were finishing off in one pan, rice was almost done in a pot and beans were keeping hot in another pot while I stood whisking away at gravy in the big pan.  Right about that time I wondered why I decided to get all that stuff going and not just keep it simple. 

Then I fixed my plate and sat down to eat.  That's why.  It was exactly what I wanted.  And let me tell you this.  Leftover rice is almost never good... unless you mix it with gravy.  Guess what lunch was.  Rice and gravy.  (FYI, there's a smile on my face.)

yesterday i

had one Coke.  Yes, I had numerous Diet Dr. Peppers and several glasses of tea but only one glass of Coke.  Same goes for today.  While my DP is artificially sweetened and my tea is only a little artificially sweetened, neither compare to the sugar in my Coke.  Also today, I read that new findings show that artificial sweeteners cause depression.  I can't win.  I just can't win.

I hit pause on the tv so I could show something to Eric.  I was watching the news at the time.  I can't figure out what she's saying but he's agreeing with me.  "Nope.  You just can't win."  Maybe she's telling me to have 2 glasses of sugar.  Yeah, I'm pretty sure she is. 

Either way, I'm positive the sugar in my lemon pound cake will even out the whole depression brought on by the artificial sweetener.  If not, I'll have another Coke.

you know it must

be bad if you go to the dentist to have your teeth cleaned and you're excited because you just have one cavity.  Let me stress some stuff here.  You JUST have one cavity, as opposed to needing a crown or root canal.  I left with a fluoride varnish on my teeth.  The hygienist asked if I'd like a bottle of water and my reply was, "No thanks and I'll be totally honest with you.  As soon as I leave, I'm getting a Coke."  And I did.  And it was awesome.

I went riding around and passed a few things from one area where we lived when I was a kid.  This was my first daycare.  I cried all the time.  I had friends but I just wanted to be home.  One of those friends told us her cousin was John Travolta.  Please...  Anyway, the front of the building looks different but they clearly didn't renovate the sides.

I didn't go to National Daycare after we moved from a nearby apartment.  Instead, I walked to and from school with friends who lived in the same townhouses as us.  Those townhouses aren't in the same shape today either.

Back then it seemed like our school was SO far away.  We'd stop at my friend's grandmother's house to take a break.  Looking today, that house was actually only about two or three doors down from the school.  Now I see how all those walking uphill in a snowstorm stories get started.  I'm sure it seemed that bad.

Then I decided I needed to get home because I had a chicken to put in the oven.   And that's what I'm about to do.

i haven't used my

camera in about a month.  I didn't use it for Christmas either.  Yeah, we had a photo booth at Christmas but we used Mom's camera.  The last few things I've used it for have been "work" related.  I use the word "work" loosely because seriously, it's still fun.  I haven't been out doing my own thing is what I'm getting at.  I've had prints and canvases coming in and seeing it all is making me wish this rain and cold weather would simmer down.

Speaking of canvases, all this canvas stuff had me wanting my own.  Here's two from our last trip to New Orleans.

They're not level or in a permanent position, I just wanted to get an idea.  I took down all the plates.  I think I'm still trying to get used to the plates that aren't there anymore and trying to figure out if these need to be lowered/raised and all that mess.

So, back to doing my own thing.  Being stuck indoors for now, I will NOT resort to the cats.  I WILL not resort to the cats.  I will not resort to the cats?  I guess it depends how desperate I get.  [Insert sigh with a look of defeat here.]

i'd like to start the

new year off with a movie recommendation.  Go see Django Unchained.  It's good.  I'm not big on Quentin Tarantino films, I'm not a fan of Jamie Foxx or Leonardo DiCaprio but I'm here to say it's a good movie.

Speaking of the first day of the new year, I have some cabbage and black eyed peas to make.