1st Birthday 1st cake

I'm not real sure what this is, I've never eaten anything like this before!

I don't know, it's different.

I'll try a little more, I'm just not sure.

I think I like it!

Maybe two hands will work even better!

I'm a happy boy!

Sugar HIGH

Bath time, but soooooooooo worth it!

Thanksgiving is closing in. I thought we might have had more people down for the meal, but as it turns out we are just having Craig, Nell, kids, Aaron, Tammy, Abbey and Mark and I. So what is all that food for, ridiculous. I wish I could borrow G.M. or Ford or the other broke car maker's private jet and run around this country picking up my other Hasheiders. A fast trip to San Clemente, then down to Loredo, and back home. I will start cooking tomorrow night, and finish up Thursday morning, and then clean up, give away all food left and Friday morning we leave for Texas! We will meet #4 son in San Antonio, where we will be staying at the RiverWalk. Well in a hotel at the RiverWalk. They have the Christmas lighting this weekend so that should be pretty. I'll post some pics. Also shopping at the Outlet Mall. Drive back home Monday morning, and wait till next Sunday when we are leaving for Roatan, Honduras, Belize and Cozumel and Bahamas and Key West. Another cruise which will get in the following Sunday, the 14th and we'll drive down to Key West so Mark can dive once more. The only thing that would make this trip even better would be if I could wear a swimsuit in public. But you can't have everything. Pictures to follow. And by pictures, I do not mean of me.

I found these clear dry erase boards at our local everything for a dollar store

Using MSword 7, printed out the lettering I wanted.

I am inspired to use print from my daughter-in-law Christie who does such beautiful word art. MSword 7 is nice because you can inlarge the print infinitaly instead of earlier versions where 72 seemed to be the largest print.

tape to hanging side to trace.

finished project

This all cost me $3.00. That is right $1.00 a piece. Of course I went back to the store and bought more, and other stuff so I spent about $50.00. Its a compulsion.

Went to another auction, spent over 300.00 and picked up some more furniture. I really am planning on selling some of this stuff, I swear Mark. I'll post pictures later. Right now I am busy at work setting up pc's, BORING.

My partner in crime and I were delivering pc's yesterday and we happened by the hospital's counselor's office. I guess nurses go to her with their problems, personal and work related regarding personalities and such. Her door was kind of open so I went in followed by Tom. I sat down and she said "do you have a problem?" I answered "how would you feel about that?"
counselor "I don't know"
me "and how do you feel about that?"
counselor "I am not sure"
me "well, never explain, never complain"
counselor " I'm thinking of retiring and I'm going to reccommend you for my job"
me "I'm glad we had this talk"
counselor "will you be able to work with people's problems?"
me "all you need are three little phrases, it would be a cakewalk"
counselor "tell me"
me "No. 1 (from the Captain) Suck it up, buttercup, No. 2 never explain, never complain..."
counselor "I don't really understand that one"
me "well, I'm not explaining, so don't complain"
counselor "understood, what's the third one?"
me "get the hell out of my office you whiney, complaining, baby.
counselor "you're hired"

No Knead Bread

So I was reading about this no knead bread the other day, and since I have no other half finished projects around the house, (ha) I thought I would give it a try. Now the thing about this bread is it is suppose to be easy and so tasty. So off to the store to buy better flour than what I have at home, and yeast, that's it, the ingrediant list only has salt added to that. "This is easy"

After a second trip to the store cause I didn't look at the ingrediants close enough, I got the instant yeast which is also disguised as bread machine yeast.

I mixed the bread, easy peezy, and set it away to rise. "It needs to be warm to rise?" Since we don't turn on the heat until November or the tempreture reaches 25 degrees outside, thank-you Mark, where do I put this bowl? I have a gas stove I'll put it in there. Next morning look at bowl, didn't rise much. I was informed there is no piliot light on stoves anymore, all electronic ignitions. Oh well, I will put it in the window and it will be warmed by sunlight. Set up a table by the window. Go to work.

Wait, the bread is suppose to be cooked in a ceramic pot. Go to Kohls, go to Walmart (the most expensive), go to Macy's, wind up at Tuesdays morning bought a corningware ceramic pot, 31.94 with tax. Take it home, fold the bread up to rise yet again, read directions again, bought the wrong size pot, must take back tomorrow. Look for old dutch oven I use to have somewhere........ find it but no lid, will a glass lid on a metal pot crack in 500 degree oven? Go back to work, come home bake bread. Clean flour from every possible surface in kitchen, have husband pick up chinese. I can't cook dinner, I'm making bread.

After dinner, bread is finally done. Looks great, smells good, read directions again. Takes 2 hours to cool? Are they crazy? I have to fast tonight cause my physical is tomorrow morning, cut bread after 45 minutes. Kind of hard to cut, rather crusty. But I cut two pieces, spread with that yogurt stuff that disguises itself as butter, and bit in to the.... well just not good. Crust is hard to chew and inside was shall I say a little gummy with a yeasty flavor. It was crap, total crap. But luckily it was easy so not much time wasted.

Its been a busy week, we had a funeral in St Louis on Tuesday. My sister in law has passed after a very long battle with breast cancer. She was diagnosed ten years ago, and was living by sheer will power. We did not see her often, we don't live in the same city. We also did not have a lot in common, but she was something else. She did not know a stranger, she would talk to everyone and anyone. Her daughter talked at the funeral and said she did not realize that her mom was in such pain. She said her mom was at every recital, every game, every event her and her sister were involved in. Her mom would be the biggest cheerleader, and sometimes embarressed her, but she will remember it all with love. I really like that kid, she is honest and talented and funny which shows what a good mom she had. So here is to you D, you did not live a long life, but I believe you lived it to the fullest. I have always been one of your admirerers I just wish I would have told you.