as I sit here and wait on the dishwasher

repairman, I'm trying to think of other ways I can throw money out at Christmas.  Seems like we just got this dishwasher a few years ago.  Oh yeah, we did.  2013.  Note to self: don't get another Maytag.  I like how now that it's broken and I research what could possibly be wrong, I see all the write ups on how Maytag control panels are crap.  Funny how the Amana installed with the house in 2003 lasted 10 years.

The dishwasher started acting up on Thanksgiving.  We were sitting around in the living room and I looked at Paige and asked if the dishwasher just started.  It did.  Then it did it again.  Then I decided something was trying to tell me to do the dishes.  I loaded it and hit start.  Later that evening it started beeping.  A couple of days ago it wouldn't start.  I finally got it going after cutting the power off and back on (the answer to everything) and pressing other buttons but I don't have time for that everyday.  Yesterday I got it started three hours after it was loaded.  I called the Sears repairman.

So yeah, It seems like I'm trying to find ways to spend money on everything other than where it needs to be spent.  Then I saw this. 

This is a thing.

A dog DNA test.  Seriously?

Seriously.  And it's even on sale.  Oh, FYI, the top of the ad reads "0% reindeer, 89% golden retriever".  Okay, so that part is kind of cute.

I guess this is the perfect gift for the dog lover who has everything.

I don't know but just to put it out there before anyone tries to read into this, I don't need one.

That's $179 I'll put towards the dishwasher repair.

It's not all bad news around here though.  Kroger has a coupon to get 4 times the fuel points when you buy gift cards.  I bought some gift cards.  Cosme saved $1/gallon when he filled up and there's more where that came from.

I need to go back today and buy more. 

Oh!  I wonder if I can pay for my Sears repair with a Sears gift card?  I wish I knew how much it was going to be.  I'd head over to Kroger right now.  I'm sure I could be back before he got here in that 8-12 window.  Oops, I guess it'd be better if I got the dishes unloaded before he gets here.
 
Now let's just hope it's a fast and easy fix... with a non Maytag part.

when I woke up yesterday I

knew my stomach was a little off.  It was acting up most of the morning and then after I had lunch.  It all seemed to calm down and then just as I was about to get ready for my hair appointment, things took a turn for the worse.  I thought ginger ale would help but it didn't.  I was able to reschedule and told Cosme to bring me some Gatorade.  I try to have emergency stashes of Gatorade on hand but somebody always gets to it and drinks it.  I'm not naming any names but let's just say the guilty party brought two bottles home yesterday.  I needed it.

Luckily for me, since I thought I'd be leaving for my hair appointment, I'd already planned and had dinner ready.  I saw something about white chili with chicken and looked up a recipe.  I guess deep down my brain knew something was off because I knew I didn't want any of the recipes with cream in them.  I found a recipe that seemed quick and easy and I used that one.

I'd probably call it soup and not chili.  Either way, THIS is the recipe I went by and only made a few changes.  Cosme liked it and asked to take it for lunch today.  Once I got around to having some, I liked it too.

The recipe didn't call for corn but I thought it would be good so I added some.  I also used cannellini beans instead of great northern.

Today is starting off better than yesterday.  I cancelled the things I had planned for today because I didn't know what direction my stomach was going and definitely didn't want to be that person who spreads all the germs.  Cindy and Brittany both mentioned there is a stomach bug going around but so far, mine seems to have been a 24 hour thing, with the worst of it being the last few hours.  Well, let's say the second half.  After it hit hard, I was fighting to stay awake and that sleep felt pretty awesome.

Just to be safe, the sheets are in the dryer and Lysol has been sprayed.  Whatever it was that hit, I want it gone.

I'm trying not to get carried

away.  When it comes to Christmas lights outside on our house, I like clean and simple.  When it comes to other houses, I like clean and consistency.  I don't want a bunch of stuff in the yard because I thought it was cute last year and this year I'm going to add to it with something totally different that I think is cute this year.  I like to see lots of lights, lots of matching, straight, pretty lights... just not on my house.  Everything that goes up must come down.  Even more than putting those lights up, I would hate to take them down.

Last year I bought a few wire reindeer from Walmart.  They were cheap but the they matched.  They were equally plain and small, unlike the bigger, more elaborate deer you can find at some houses on our street.  I had Cosme get the deer out of the attic this year and one doesn't work and well, they didn't make it up.  Since our light-wrapped small trees don't really have much on the larger trees down the road, I thought I might find something else to put in the yard.  I went to Home Depot.

There are so many to choose from.

There are snowmen.  There are white deer.  There are brown deer.  There are candy canes.  There are trees.

 I could replace our deer with the bigger, more elaborate deer.

I started taking pictures because it was all overwhelming and I wanted to come home and think about it.  What direction did I want to go with this?  Did I want elaborate?  Did I want to go with pretty or did I want to go with cute?

Then I saw the dog, the brown dog with the ears that stick up and fold down like Maggie's that has a strand of Christmas lights in its mouth like it just tore down all the decorations.  I knew if there was going to be a decoration, it had to be THAT dog.

I found the box to get a better picture.  I wanted to show it to Cosme and see if he'd be able to talk me out of it.  I love that dog but the more I thought about it I couldn't see spending $59 on an outdoor Christmas decoration, especially knowing the neighbor's decoration was stolen last year.  It's like I feel like I'm throwing the money away just thinking about it.

I left Home Depot and came home.  After hanging the garland on the front door, I realized I needed another box of lights so I ran to Walmart.  Then I saw the cat.

I'm all about equality with the animals and knew if I was going to represent one, I needed to represent the other.  I got the $20 cat in case I went back for the dog.

I think we've decided to pass on the dog.  I told Cosme that Walmart does have a few dogs but they look like a schnauzer and basset hound.  That doesn't work because this dog at Home Depot is THE dog if I'm going to get a dog.  Since I bought the cat to go with the dog and I'm not going back to get THE dog, I'm returning the cat today.

To sum it all up, I've stuck to the way I like it, clean and simple.  I've got lights around the trees in the front yard and in the garland at the front door.  Oh, that trip to Walmart to return the cat won't be just for that though.  I already have a strand on one of the trees that isn't working right.  It's a good thing I'm keeping it simple.

I made the dressing for

Thanksgiving and everybody ate it so I'm calling it a success.

I had Cosme try it before I put the egg in and he liked it.  He mentioned that it was sweet but it was good.  I told him I remember Cindy telling me way back that Myra said something about it being good to add sugar to stuff.  That's probably why she eliminated all those biscuits and toast and went with cornbread packets, for the sweetness.  Of course I had to go and post my updates and notes on the recipe site so that I'll remember what I'm supposed to do next year.  Maybe I should also make a note somewhere that the turkey needs about an ounce of injection per pound and needs to fry 4 minutes per pound.  Done.  Now we shouldn't have to look it up next year and can just look here.  I guess I still need to make a note somewhere that it's here and we don't have to search...

I was scheduled to do portraits over the weekend and was thinking of places to do them.  On Thursday after our food settled and while the Cowboys were doing whatever that was, Cosme came with me to check out one of the parks but it's still closed from the flooding.  We still had light so we did a quick loop through East Columbia and found this building next to the Carrie Nation historical marker.

I knew we needed to go there for the portraits but I also needed permission.  A few phone calls (and hours) later, the owners were located and permission was granted.  It's really a cool building.  Peggy said it was an old post office.  I got there a few minutes early so I walked around the building to check it out.  I was surprised when I saw how pretty the back of the building was.

I wasn't going to share this pic since I'm probably using it as my photo challenge pic in a few days.

The house is also across the street from the paddling trail.  I'm guessing this is the entrance or exit?  It's cool looking and I really appreciate and like to admire nature and all but I really don't like for it to touch me... especially when I'm by myself.

I think too many run-ins as a kid with banana spiders and their webs had me a little on edge.

After Cosme and I started talking about ghosts out there, I sent Dad a text about East Columbia and Samsung expected something more exotic.

I'm sure Africa and Jerusalem have nothing on East Columbia and its ghost stories.  Please.

Oh, speaking of probably being scarred from banana spiders as a kid, I was cleaning the bathroom the other day.  Not thinking about the shirt with long tassels that I left hanging on the side of the tub (that had clearly fallen into the tub), I was a little alarmed terrified when I saw this.

I jumped and yelled.  That got my heart rate going.  If all you see is a tassel, then don't look directly at it.  Tell me you don't see a big spider.  I know I'm starting to sound sissier than I already am but let me get this out there.  Spiders don't bother me - normal house spiders don't bother me.  You show me a roach and I'll scream and run.  Spiders?  No... unless they're big.  I don't mess around with big spiders.  My definition of big spiders is anything bigger than... let's say... a banana spider.  That tassel is way bigger and fatter than a banana spider.

That's enough for today.  One of the things I need to do this morning is get out the garland to go around the front door.  I'm already going to be scared about what bugs might come out.  This post isn't helping me in any way at all.  Time to think happier, less creepy thoughts.  Oh, I'll also try to stay away from the area ghost stories that I've already started looking up.  Wow.  I really know how to start off a day.  Shouldn't the sun be up by now?

i was looking through the

Christmas candy at Walmart the other day.  I probably should have picked up a few of these.

I think I'll need the sugar rush in a couple of hours... or minutes.  I've started prepping the sides for tomorrow.  Broccoli and rice casserole is in the refrigerator, sweet potato casserole is in the oven now and I've got plenty more to do.  I think I might do the pecan pie next but sheesh, it's going to be hard to keep my hands off of it.  In the past I've done pecan pie squares.  The good thing about the squares is that by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, nobody can tell that I've been eating them for a couple of days.  I'm just in the mood for the crusty goodness of an actual pie though and it'd be embarrassing to have everyone show up and only have half a pecan pie left.  I could do the dressing next.  That'll be easy for me to stay away from.  The Honey Baked Ham that's sitting in the refrigerator is another story.  I almost starting eating it as soon as I got it home.  As soon as I walked into the shop that smell got me.  I instantly saw myself picking off and munching on the sugary crust on the drive home.  YUM.  I didn't do that but I did have a brief conversation with myself about taking off and sampling a few slices.  Would anyone notice?  Maybe not but then maybe they would.  I decided to wait.  Oh my gosh.  The sweet potato casserole is smelling awesome.

I'm ready for lunch tomorrow.

it's time for online

shopping.  I wanted a new desk for Eric's room.  I didn't want anything fancy or expensive because I don't know how long we plan on keeping it there.  Honestly, it's just a desk for the iMac and all of Cosme's flight simulator gadgets.  I basically just needed a flat surface with no drawers or frills.  That's what I got and I also got a great deal on it.

I saved $0.99. Beat that.  I love sales.

I was looking up Christmas present options on Amazon.  This one probably won't make it in time.

I also had to pick our new insurance plan yesterday.  I got to the vision section and was comparing two different plans.  I can't decide which one is better.

Should I pick the one that's 20% off?  Or the one where I only pay 80%?

They both seem like decent deals...

And so I won't leave anyone hanging, I think I picked another one and I don't even know what the percent off was referring to.  I think it was lens stuff.

I probably won't get any online shopping done today.  I've already started making cornbread for dressing.  This will be my first time to do homemade.  I mentioned Twomama's recipe to Cosme the other day and that I'd try to do it.  I pulled out the recipe and was totally confused.  It calls for 1 quart of biscuits (or 20), 1 quart of toasted white bread (8 slices) and 1 quart of corn bread mix (3 packages of yellow Martha White).  That's sounded crazy.  I was pretty sure Cindy makes it every year and I really couldn't see her baking all those biscuits.  I asked her about the recipe and she has basically the same recipe but Myra told her to just use 6 packets of Martha White white cornbread mix the day before making the dressing.  I couldn't find Martha White white packets but I did find Gladiola From the makers of Martha White.  Instead of 6 packets though, I'm making 3.  Well, 4 just to be safe.  So yeah, that's what's happening this morning.  I'm prepping Cindy's take on Myra's version of Twomama's dressing.  It might sound a little confusing but not near as confusing as a "quart of biscuits"... or, as a vision plan might word it, use either 4 cups or 1 quart.

this monday has me starting off

a little cranky.  I looked on fb.  Big mistake.  I read an article about a man in California being inspired by a mass shooting to destroy one of his prized possessions, an AR-15.  He is quoted in KPRC's article, "I can't do it.  I can't have something in my house that so easily could become a part of another situation like that, and I'm not going to be desensitized to it...".  This tells me he made the right choice.  Was he having violent urges?  Did he just admit to easily being capable of going on a shooting spree?  That's what it sounds like to me.  Anyway, that irritated me.

Then I scrolled down and read another article, this one about Jerry Jones.  The NFL owners are accusing him of damaging the NFL and acting against their best interest.  Stop. Right. There.  I know there are people who are boycotting the NFL and it has nothing to do with Jerry Jones.  The NFL was damaging itself but now the other owners wants to blame Jones?  It sounded to me like Jones was acting in the best interest of the NFL but then it all goes back to that witch hunt.  Whatever.

I'm done.  I'm done hearing about current events.  It only annoys me.

And all of a sudden does it seem like 2017 is trying to meet its death quota?  It's celebrities and nobody I know (thank goodness) but still. 

Enough of that talk.

I made something the other day.  I've seen things like it around, for sale and on Pinterest.  Anyway, I've had a frame sitting around that was Dodo's that had an old family picture in it.  I don't really want to display the picture because one of the people isn't even in our family any more.  (Would a person sitting for the camera be a poser?)  So I've had this frame and decided to make it into one of the things I've seen to hang old pictures on.  By old pictures, I mean pictures of grandparents.

I grabbed a can of spray paint but wasn't happy with it.  I went to Walmart and got a different color, along with tiny clothes pins.  I attached chicken wire once the paint dried and pinned the pictures on.

This is it.  It'll go on the wall in Eric's room.

This is a close up of a tiny clothes pin.  They're cute.

Today I'm going to take the pictures off and paint the chicken wire to match the frame.  I think I'd like it better that way.  I forgot to add that to my to-do list.  It's a long one.

Makes me think about Saturday afternoon when we just had El Toro, Cosme was watching tennis, Strat wasn't and I decided to take a nap.

Sounds awesome right now.  Unfortunately, there's no time for that.  Time to conquer that to-do list.

it was simple when I just

had to put peanut butter on the Trifexis (after airing it out for a couple of days) for the dogs to eat it.  Now that they won't eat peanut butter anymore, I have a new way of getting it down.  Last month a sample of wet dog food came in the mail and I got the pills down with that.  I broke the pills into pieces and let them have it in bites of wet food.  They still like it because that's what happened yesterday.

I picked up some filet mignon from Kroger to try it out.

Of course, when I first brought it out, they were way too hyper.  Who wouldn't be?  A few seconds later they caught on that they had to take turns if they wanted the good stuff, and they definitely wanted the good stuff.

Maggie always has scratches on her nose.  I think it's probably from sticking it under the fence to watch the neighbors.

After a few times of going back and forth, the Trifexis was down, the filet mignon was gone and Maggie looked heartbroken.

 It almost makes me wish it was time for another round, almost.

spring cleaning has hit

and it's only a few months late.  Wait.  Did it hit me in the spring?  Probably.  It's hit again.  All I want to do is get rid of clutter.  Yesterday I put five bags out for recycling.  A couple of those bags were from emptying old 12-packs of soft drinks from the garage.  I don't normally throw out soft drinks but I know some of them had been sitting there for a year... at least.  Once Eric started drinking soft drinks again he was on Sprite Zero.  That lasted a while and then he moved on to Sprite.  Now he's on Dr. Pepper.  I threw out Sprite Zero yesterday.  I also threw out Diet Coke that Mom said didn't taste right the last time she was here.  Was that July?  There are a few more 12-packs out there that need to be thrown out but I'm thinking about just putting them next to the garbage can today. 

Oh, I'm also supposed to be cleaning out the freezers right now, according to my planner.  I have to get ready for Thanksgiving.  That and Kroger has Blue Bell on sale.  We've been trying to eat better so maybe we don't need both containers of Blue Bell.  Or maybe we do.  It's not like we've eliminated ice cream but the quest for the perfect milkshake hasn't been happening.  I did need a snack last night.

I'm calling this picture "When good people make poor choices".

So, back to that spring cleaning bug.  I told Eric (for the who knows how many times since August of 2016) that I SERIOUSLY need him to come clean and organize his corner of the garage and to not just reply with "Okay".  That's all I've heard for the last 15 months.  He replied.  "You got it."  I explained that I have no room.  On top of already being short on space and a mess out there, the city is issuing new garbage cans.  Instead of my two normal sized trash cans, we already have one 95 gallon can for garbage and are getting another for recycling.  That's fine.  The pain in my butt comes in the form of deed restrictions.  Our trash cans have to be out of sight so these two monster cans have to be stored in the garage.  Eric said he'll probably be here Friday to work on his stuff.  You see, I need his corner straightened up because I have more tubs of his stuff that need to stacked over there.  Oh, another thing on the planner for today is to clear off his bulletin board so it can go out there too. 

Crap.  The sun's up.  I'm already behind schedule.  It's time to take advantage of the spring cleaning bug bite.  Hopefully it'll leave a mark (on the house, not me).

there was a time when

cleaning and organization videos had me going to Dollar Tree, looking for the next fabulous container to use.  I made myself stop.  I was buying bins and containers that I really didn't have any need for.  The other day I started watching Christmas decorating videos.  Sure enough, there were a few people who had gone to Dollar Tree for decorations but I didn't take the bait.  Fast forward to us getting the tree up.  I got it decorated and then there were a few ornaments I'd bought last year from Dollar Tree that I'd never used.  What the heck.  I went ahead and used them this year.  There was one in particular that I loved and I had two of them so I hung them.  Every time I saw them hanging there in their cheap, sequined glory, I wished I had more.

Yesterday morning I did it.  I went to Dollar Tree to see if they had more.  I knew the chances were slim.  I figured and told myself that was from last year and don't get upset when there aren't more.  No biggie.

There they were, lots of red and several other colors as well.  I bought more.  Don't forget this was Dollar Tree so everything in the store is always $1.00 (or less).  Guess what.  These come in 2-packs.  How could I pass up two red sequined ornaments for a mere dollar?  I couldn't.

Then I bought a gold sparkly reindeer.

I had to.  He matches the two I bought last year but never put up.

And I also got a mirrored gold thing.  I don't always go for bling but when I do, it's for the Christmas tree.

And then I made myself stop.

Then I went to Walmart and bought a strappy velcro brace thing because my back was hurting (and it still is).  On my way home I was thinking about the tree finally being finished.  Then I remembered I have clip-on flowers in the tub that still need to be put on.  I'll do that today and THEN the tree will be finished.

TCB level: beast mode.

i switched from iPhone to

Samsung about a year ago.  My iPhone got to the point where it would barely hold a charge.  Also, I had almost no storage left and on more than one occasion, couldn't even take a picture because of the lack of memory.  For the most part, I've been happy with Samsung.  The image quality is a lot better than iPhone.  One thing I can't stand, like I've mentioned before, is Samsung's autocorrect.  I hate it.  I hate typing on Samsung, especially if I'm in a hurry.

When you type something that Samsung doesn't recognize, it'll give you a few options to replace.  Most of the time my phone just says "screw you. I'm replacing it anyway".  The other day I was trying to do my photo challenge and the word was brown.  Brown.  For some reason I couldn't type it.  Like so many times, my fingers kept hitting the next letter over.  Instead of brown, I kept typing nrown.  Now I understand that the Samsung dictionary might not recognize the hashtag with fms_ that comes before the topic, but it was giving me options to replace nrown.

I typed: #fms_nrown

Here's what Samsung suggested and my take on the reasoning:

1. nrown - Did you really mean to type nrown, Melanie?
2. round - I'm not sure what that word is, Melanie, but it sounds a lot like round.
3. green - ...

Green, Samsung?  GREEN??  Then I remembered the old prank call we did as kids:

Victim: Hello?
Caller: Hello. Could I please speak to Mr. Brown?
Victim: You've got the wrong number.  This is the Green residence.
Caller:  I'm sorry, I must be color blind.

That's when it hit me.  Maybe Samsung has a sense of humor and is trying to be funny.

I tested my theory.

First let's try misspelling a word.  Hamburger.  Seems like an obvious typo to me.

But not to Samsung.

Let's try something simple and using the next letter over.

Okay.  That's better.

What about colors?

 Nope.  It's not a color thing.

What if I try a word starting with B and use N, like with nrown?

Nalloon instead of Balloon, with the photo hashtag.

 Then I noticed that adding the N to the end of the word gave me another word selection.

 Let's just try it plain and simple.  B words with N, no photo hashtag.

Clearly there's no problem.

Conclusion:  My phone is a smartarse, trying to be funny.
And I really do want breakfast.

Now keep scrolling for an added bonus.

TWO FOR TUESDAY

because I just realized I never hit publish yesterday.

The Christmas tree finally made its way into the house.  It's up and 95% fluffed out and in place.  It all comes back to bringing the ladder in.  I'll have to haul the ladder in to finish so while I have the ladder in for that, I'll go ahead and decorate... and change any light bulbs that are out.  That will happen in a little bit.  First I'll work on getting regular chores out of the way.

I'm about to show you something.  Do you know what a good boy looks like?  I'll show you.

This.  This is what a good boy looks like.

Sure, he has his moments but Archer has turned out to be a good boy.  I doubted things in the beginning.  We couldn't give him much alone time because of Maggie and I thought he'd be a bad one who needs attention, like kids who act out.  The other day, once again, there was something on the other side of the fence (probably the neighbor's dog) and they wanted it.  I opened the door and Archer came running in and sat in the cage.  Maggie eventually ran to the door, only to turn around and go back to the fence.  I was standing at the door focusing on getting her in and left Archer like this.  He can be trusted for a few minutes to stay in the cage with the door open and not take off through the house.  It's like base for him.  He always turns to the cage.  Coming in from an outing and don't want to go back to the yard?  Archer logic: head to the cage.  Back door opens?  Archer logic: head to the cage.  Now, so that I'm not jinxing myself, I will add a side note.  *At this moment in time, this is what a good boy looked like.  This scenario happens quite a bit, though.  It's not that Maggie is bad, she's just stubborn and strong willed.  More and more lately, she hasn't wanted to come in but instead wants to continue whatever mission she's on out in the yard.  When she's on one of these missions though, nothing else exists.  She doesn't hear anyone calling her.  She is focused on whatever it is that has her attention.  One thing Maggie doesn't lack is focus.  When she's in the zone, I usually just leave Archer in the cage and shut the back door.  Once she realizes she's out there alone and Archer is probably doing something cool, the mission becomes less interesting and she'll come inside with him.  Now.  If I find out Archer is the one who keeps digging a hole by the porch, slinging dirt all at the back door, his picture might be replaced and I'll show you what a good girl looks like.

Speaking of missions, remember I ran out of oatmeal last week or so?  I went to Kroger.  They didn't have any.  They didn't even have their version of it.  I didn't make it to Walmart, where they used to have their own better version but I did make it to HEB.  Still though, no Quaker Cinnamon & Spice but they did have their version of it.  Not wanting to make a trip to Walmart, I got the HEB brand.  The next morning I tried it and this might be the most awesome cinnamon oatmeal EVER.  It tastes so good (assuming my taste buds weren't just amped up from the nastiness of the gingerbread, leaving them jonesing for cinnamon & spice oatmeal.)  It is seriously some good cinnamon oatmeal.  The texture is a little different, more like homemade oatmeal.  Some might say that's a good thing but I'm just used to the instant packets where it's clearly NOT a bowl of fresh made oats.  (Like ballpark nacho cheese, you know it's not really chile con queso or anything but sometimes you just like it).  I might have a more definite answer today, after I have another bowl of it. [insert several minutes]  Well, since I had to get up and fix a bowl, I have an answer.  Yes, it's still delicious and the texture is still different.  Today, what the texture seems like is maybe while it is like regular oatmeal, it's like regular oatmeal that might need a little more time to cook.  This is my official stance on the HEB Cinnamon & Spice oatmeal, until it changes.

Now I'll go get started on chores since the sun is coming up way too early these days.  (We all know how I like to accomplish as much as possible before the sun comes up.)  Also, if I keep going, I might get into a rant on my official stance on all the witch hunts going on: sexual abuse/harassment, guns, the Dallas Cowboys...  It's too early for all that.  In the meantime, let's focus on Archer being a good boy.

around here, when your birthday

is in December, this is a common thing.

This year, around here, this will be a common thing even if your birthday is April, June and August too.  I add April to the list because I honestly can't tell you if I sent anything up for Lauren's birthday.  I don't feel bad about not remembering because she doesn't either... unless she's lying and just wants another gift.  But I did see her in June at the beach.  Did I give her something then?  I just don't remember.  Anyway, there will also be labels with other winter creatures labeled "Mothers Day" and "Fathers Day".  Yes, I could wrap everything with the appropriate paper and tags but I need it all to match.  You know, to go under that tree THAT IS STILL IN THE GARAGE.

Fail.  I even went to the chiropractor yesterday morning to stay one step ahead and told him I was probably putting the tree up.  Oh well, so I let myself down.  I did get out and get some stuff done though.  (See the picture above.)

I went shopping to finish off a present for John.  While shopping I saw this map that I think might look awesome hanging above Eric's bed.

That means the print I bought at the art market a while back would have to go somewhere else.  I guess it's a good thing I haven't had it framed yet.  That might need to go above the piano now.

I'm also wishing I hadn't bought the gold monocle dog because as much as I love the gold monocle dog, I also found pilot dog.  I think I might get it anyway. 

Considering that would be the THIRD dog bust I would own, I might need to pass one along... or realize I have a dog bust addiction.  I'll probably just come to accept my addiction and call it that.  Most women buy shoes and make up.  I buy dog busts.  Hello, my name is Melanie and I'm an addict.

I also saw these while out shopping.  

I DEFINITELY passed.  How could they go and ruin a perfectly good Hostess Cupcake with candy corn?  That's disgusting.  I'm appalled.  Oh, and that red box of Twinkies next to the Cupcakes?  Peppermint flavored.  I wasn't as shocked with those since I accidentally bought peppermint flavored Little Debbies last year.  That's one of the bad things about this time of year, they have to go and ruin everything with nasty flavors.  Leave the peppermint flavoring in my candy.  Leave the candy corn flavoring in someone else's candy.  Sure, it doesn't affect me because I just have to simply not buy it... unless I buy it by mistake... like the Little Debbies from last year or the pumpkin Kit Kats I almost bought this year.  BLGH.  I guess though, if I'm allowed to go crazy with dog busts or getting my tree up early (or at least thinking about it), Hostess has the right to go crazy and ruin their food.

Now, about that map and the dog pilot.  I've convinced myself that I need both.  The new plan for today: I will make a trip to Hobby Lobby first thing this morning, just before I put the tree up.

that gingerbread oatmeal was so

bad, imagine the horror when I went to grab a packet of my favorite Cinnamon & Spice and...

At first I thought I disliked the gingerbread SO much that I would rather go without.  Then the more I thought about oatmeal, the more I thought the gingerbread could be tweaked.  Now I'm sitting here eating toast because the gingerbread couldn't be tweaked enough for me to want to finish.  Maybe it's the nutmeg, I don't know.  I just can't fix it.  The only thing that will fix it is going to Kroger and picking up another box of Cinnamon & Spice oatmeal.  Add that to the to-do list.

It took everything in me to not start putting the Christmas tree up yesterday.  As soon as I felt like hauling in a section of the tree, I'd find something else to do.  I'd go find something to organize or clean when the urge hit.  I've been getting presents here and there and wrapping and it's all so tempting.  Today will have a different outcome, I'd bet money on the bottom few sections of the tree being up by 4:00.  The only thing that will keep me from putting it up would be getting sidetracked.  I would like to run over to Lake Jackson so I can pick something up to finish off a gift so there is that.  That could distract me and possibly burn off some of that Christmas energy.  I really doubt it though.  Today could be the day.  I couldn't get distracted if I get the tree up now, before the stores open.  Just saying.

Yeah, I think I need to go uh, do laundry or something.  Yeah, do laundry.  That's what I'm about to do.

remember that chicken sheet pan

meal I tried?  I talked about it the other day.  It's called 15 Minute Healthy Roasted Chicken and Veggies.  I didn't get a picture of it because my bowl was empty before I thought about a picture.  I made it again.  And didn't get a picture before I ate it all.  I made some rice yesterday and heated the leftovers up for lunch.  I ate it before I could get a picture... again.  I'm not exaggerating when I tell you how depressing and unsatisfying I thought this would be the first time I made it.  It's just not me.  I'm not the chicken and vegetables type of person, well, maybe the chicken fried chicken with baked potato type of chicken and vegetables person.

Proof.  This is the meal ready for the oven.  Could this look more un-Melanie?  Let me answer that.  No.  It couldn't.

For somebody who really appreciates comfort food or southern cuisine, I was already thinking about what I could have afterwards to make up for everything I'd be missing here.

Another batch and several servings later, it's like I can't quit.

The first time I pulled it out of the oven I sat and picked at the vegetables until it was time to eat.  They were really good.  I went ahead and made some rice because who doesn't love rice?  After I made another pot of rice yesterday, and after I finished my lunch, I decided I'd at least get a picture of the container of leftovers.

We have one serving left.  Cosme has had lunch from it twice and there's one more container in the fridge for him to take tomorrow... assuming I don't eat it today.  I really think this has become a thing in this house.  It's fast, easy, healthy and good.

And then there's this.

I saw this on the shelf and had to get it.  It's what's for breakfast this morning.  Since it's a limited edition thing I'll probably end up loving it.  That's usually how it works.  And in case it sucks, I also picked up a package of gingerbread cookies so I can still get my fix.  That's me.  Always thinking ahead.

For now though, time to start that water boiling.  I'll report back tomorrow.
UPDATE: NO. NO. NO. Yuck. NO.

like i mentioned

yesterday, we didn't go to the Astro's victory parade on Friday.  I wanted to, I really really wanted to but it just kind of sounded like it would be 10 minutes of excitement and three hours of misery.  It honestly had nothing to do with me scanning the radio stations on the way up to Houston with Tragedy by the Bee Gees playing or the next song I came across called Day I Die.  It also didn't have anything to do with the Metallica song I settled on.  Okay, I might have been creeped out a little when I listened to the lyrics, "see our mother put to death see our mother die", seriously though, it had nothing to do with that.  So, not knowing for sure that we weren't going, I told Cosme that they should get a snack because we won't have time to stop for lunch if we go to the parade.  We met at Eric's and they had their Whataburger and we decided not to go.  The city predicted a crowd of 750,000 people.  I should also mention that a lot of the parking is still out of commission from Harvey.  Anyway, we didn't go and I was bummed.  I got some lunch (after complaining about being the only hungry one), we watched an episode of Stranger Things and then we headed home.  Still bummed and feeling sorry for myself, I asked Cosme if he wanted to ride out to Brazos Bend with me for pictures.  We got there.

Thanks, Harvey.  They let us know the park would open on Tuesday... today.  We left.  I laughed because, of course the other thing I wanted to do didn't happen either.  We drove out to the wildlife refuge and I took a few pictures out there but nothing great.

We got there a little after 5:30 and they close at sunset so...  We made a trip through and left.

We went for seafood afterwards at The Red Snapper Inn.  Cosme was going to have a beer and asked if I was going to have a drink.  They have beer and wine, neither being one of my top choices.  I went with iced tea.  Then I caved and said screw it.  I ordered wine.

Dinner was good.  I had broiled shrimp with a baked potato (and brussels sprouts that I didn't touch) while Cosme had snapper in a Greek sauce over rice (and brussels sprouts that he didn't touch).  After dinner we came home and I looked on fb and saw all the complaining and pictures shared by people who'd gone to the parade.  Not only was it packed but people were standing on parked cars to see, breaking windshields and leaving dents.  So yeah, ends up I'm glad we didn't go.  As for Brazos Bend, if they'd been open, we wouldn't have ended up at the beach having seafood so I guess it all worked out.  I should also mention here that after we got home, I wanted to continue on with the next episode of Stranger Things.  Netflix had other plans.  It couldn't play that episode.  Whatever.

Now I need to figure out if I can get by without going anywhere today.  If I leave, I'll have to stop for an inspection and registration sticker.  I'm two days late... seven if you count the grace period.  If I have something in the pantry that can go with chicken, I can get by with putting it off another day.  Also, if I put it off until tomorrow, it might be raining.  Do they still not do inspections if it's raining?  Maybe I'd be better off doing it today and just getting it over with.  Ugh.  I shouldn't have to do either but that's a rant for another day.

I will share one thing because I don't know if I shared it before.  I thought I did but when I went to look for the pic I couldn't find it.  I searched everywhere and found it buried deep in my computer.  This was taken in October of 2015 as we were driving by the fairgrounds.

That has absolutely nothing to do with anything but just thought I'd put it out there before I lose the image again.

Now I'm off to ponder.  To leave or not to leave?