So Much Fun

Well, Mom and Brian both headed home today. Mom at the crack of dawn, Brian at about 1:30 PM. 

It was so much fun having them here. Thanksgiving morning, Brian and I ran/walked the Turkey Trot in Davenport. It was cold, but really fun. It was nice having B with me...he even went slow for me. We had a great meal Thursday. My friend Chanda and her mom Michelle came to share Thanksgiving dinner with us. We had such a good time. I made the WW pumpkin pie recipe. It is now my favorite pumpkin pie! It's got molasses in it, and all the usual pumpkin pie spices, but seems "spicier" than the recipe from the back of a can of pumpkin. Spicier in a good way. 

We continued our tradition of watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy until late at night. Then we added a new one: The Bourne Trilogy movies. I forgot how good those were. 

Mom helped me put up Christmas decorations. She even did my least favorite task of spreading out the branches on my artificial tree. We put lights in the bushes out front. I also got a new little snow man to add to the outdoor decorations. We had a little photo shoot, because I wanted a picture of me and Miner to send to mom, Granny and Erin. Here's a preview, but not the one currently being printed at the drug store. 

I did have to interrupt Mom's decorating to take her for a short ride in the bug with the top down. We drove over to a friend's house, but they weren't home, so we tooled around for a few minutes and came home. Then we finished the tree. You can see most of it in Miner's "bah humbug!" photo. Miner is definitely not a fan of photo shoots.

So Excited

Tomorrow, Mom and Brian will be here (assuming all travel happens safely, timely, etc. knock-on-wood). :) Woot! 

On the schedule - Brian and I are running the Turkey Trot on Thursday. Thanksgiving dinner at my house with Chanda and her mom joining us. Friday who knows what followed by board games at the Garton's house. Saturday who know what. Sunday they all go home and I start cramming in homework that I have been putting off to grocery shop and vacuum. Oh, and there will be some LOTR watching going on. 

On the menu - 2 turkey breasts (4 actually...heh boobies). Mom/Aunt Net/Granny's dressing recipe. Mashed taters. Gravy. Cranberry sauce I am making. Broccoli cheese casserole. Pumpkin pie. 

Wah Hoo!

You have to be fucking kidding me!

I took a healthy choice frozen thing to work yesterday for lunch. I wound up going out, but left it in the freezer at work to have today. It was the only one like it in there. Today, after strength training class, I was totally looking forward to my steamer chicken with balsamic something or other sauce and open the freezer and guess what. gone. G.O.N.E. Gone. 

I had a minor Ross Gellar episode a little mixed with when someone at KMNR ate Larry's subway sandwich. Still can't believe it. It's such bullshit that I should have to write my name on my food. How do you not remember if something was yours or not?

Possibly the best concert ever...

Last night I went and saw Robert Earl Keen at The Capitol Theatre (The Cap) in Davenport. I was going expecting it to just be REK with an opening act. Instead I got one of the best shows I have ever seen. 

Robert Earl Keen put together this tour, as he described as a way to spend time with two other TX singer-songwriters that he never gets to see because they are always on the road. The show started with REK doing 20 minutes by himself. I wish I could remember what he played in his set. I know there was "Merry Christmas from the Family" and "The Front Porch Song" but there were at least 3 or 4 others that are slipping my mind. 

Bruce Robison was second. I am among those who didn't know who he is until last night. He wrote the song "Travelin' Soldier" that the Dixie Chicks sang (his sister-in-law is in the band). He also wrote "What Would Willie Do." He did about 20 minutes as well.

Then Todd Snider came out and played. I'd never heard of him either. He's a little nutty and I like it. He wrote "Beer Run." You know the one..."B double E double R U N, Beer Run" and one off his new album about Dock Ellis pitching a no-hitter on LSD in 1970. He sings a lot about pot...and had a riff about "even olympic gold medalists" do it. Best quote of the night: "8 gold medals. That's all I'm sayin'!"

Then all three of them came out and took turn and sung along with one another and laughed and that was just great. They did an encore, too...ending it all up with "The Road Goes On Forever."

I know I am not doing the show justice. But The Cap was an awesome venue. The sound was perfect and it was intimate without feeling claustrophobic. And I know it probably seats less than The Adler, but it was WAY more comfortable. 

OH, and the greatest part? Our seats were way up in the back (but still on the floor, not the balcony) and just before the show, the guy who runs The Cap came and took us down front. We were 8 rows back, center stage. :) Perfect! 

You can't really make it out, but that's (left to right) Bruce Robison, Robert Earl Keen and Todd Snider. That's what you get with a cell phone camera.

I've been neglectful

It always happens when I am in class...next week is the final and then another crazy one starts up...

Mostly, I have tried to work out in the yard as much as possible in the last few weeks. Lots of mowing, raking, transplanting, etc. You might remember these irises from the spring. I moved the hostas from this bed to by the urning bush and split the irises all up.

Here's Miner in his fall pose.

And, "The Summer of the Deck" continues...we are experiencing what I believe they call an Indian Summer. It was in the 70's yesterday. Last night I lit a fire in the fire pit and Miner and I just hung out. Neighbor with the barking dogs who doesn't mow her lawn or rake her leaves stopped by and sat and talked for a bit. I want to not hate her. She really is a nice person, but she just doesn't get it when it comes to her dogs. Or her yard.