Happy First Monday of 2015!!!!!!

Doesn't really seem like Mr. Habibi is very amused, but this is actually his I wanna play and have fun stance!!!!  He's waiting for me to throw his little stuffed mouse at him, so he can bat it around and kill it... He's energized and ready for all the wonders and joys of 2015.  We spent the New Years lying around together watching a marathon of "THE ROYLE FAMILY" - British comedy show ... some episodes were "ehhhh" but then there were some that had me cackling and rolling around laughing like a looney.  We watched a Canadian crime show called "FORTIER" - kind of corny, but it caught my attention, I've now seen 3 seasons (it's all in French, with English subtitles - I was able to understand a few things without subtitles!), 2 seasons of "DER KOMMISSAR UND DER MEER (The Inspector and the Sea)" which I loved and wish I could afford to buy the other seasons that are not available online.  Wonderful crime show, German with English subtitles, the "who dunnit" part was excellent, the scenery is absolutely incredible, the acting is great, and I just hope someone will put the rest of the seasons online so I can finish watching it!!!  I saw Roald Dahl's Estios Trot with Judy Dench and Dustin Hoffman - absolutely fabulous!!!  I saw That Day We Danced with Imelda Staunton - absolutely heart warming and joyful!!!  The list goes on of all the new things I've watched... I am beginning to really dislike American tv - there's so few that can keep my attention, and yet, the Swedes, Danes, Germans, Canadians and British can make a show that I crave!!!!!  

This weekend I had my hair colored - PURPLE... I've doctored the photo to give my hair a purple tint - but you really can only see it in the outdoor light... at my desk or inside, you would have no clue... I'm ready to do even more color - put some really really deep purple highlight/strands through here and there for some fun/funk... I can't go really punk because of my work, but with my dark hair and strands of color here and there - it will be very modest/sedate and hopefully not complained about.

Well, the Noomi girl is happy, healthy and larger than large... she really is the size of a medium dog.  Like the size of a Miniature Schnauzer or Poodle... not toy size, but the size of a Scottish terrier.  She's weighing in at a hefty 24 lbs!!!!!!  A friend showed me a picture of Noomi's mother - it's definitely Genetic!!!!  Her mother is quite Rubenesque!!!!  Well, honestly both her birth mother and adoptive mother!  HAHAHA!!!

  

Merry Christmas.....

My son is going to his father's for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day...I believe the last time he was not with me on Christmas Eve and Morning was when he was 5 years old and he flew out to Arkansas with his father to spend it out there with his father's family - and came home with an arm in a cast.  Hopefully he and his father will stay away from trampolines this Christmas.

I will be spending Christmas Eve making my "Christmas" Banana Walnut Stuffed French Toast for tomorrow's "Adopted" Family Christmas Breakfast Gathering.  When I went out to my car this morning to leave for work, I found two loaves of French Bread hanging on my car door... I'd have to say that someone (my BFF) is definitely looking forward to my breakfast contribution!!!  The knowing I'm going to make something everyone will enjoy, as well as, be with a group of crazy, fun people and lots of screaming children (OY VEY) on Christmas morning, will hopefully bring in the Christmas Spirit ... because I kind of seriously lost it the day before yesterday.  

The best gift I could get for Christmas right now is pictures texted to me on Christmas morning from my brother of my nephew opening the boxes that contain my gifts to him and his amazement and joy!!!  That would make the world right for me....

So... what is my "Christmas" Banana Walnut Stuffed French Toast, you ask?

A Buttered Casserole Dish

Day Old French Bread cut in cubes 

3 Ripe Bananas sliced/diced and tossed around on the bread cubes

Topped with a custard made of:

8 Eggs

1 cup Half n Half

1/2 cup of milk

cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla

Then drizzle Real Maple Syrup over that....

Then, a crumble like topping made of:

Brown Sugar, Vanilla, 1/2 Cup of Chopped Walnuts, and butter to make a crumble

that you dollop here and there

Cover the casserole dish with tin foil - put in fridge overnight - when you wake up - you pop it in the oven at 375 - and cook for an hour, or until you pass the clean knife test.... if it starts to brown too much when cooking, you cover it with tin foil... when it is done... cut it in squares and serve - it's really a bread pudding... but some people really have an aversion to the name "Bread Pudding" - so if you call it stuffed french toast - they all eat it....

It's way too rich to eat a lot of.... just a tiny little square will do....

Winter Wonderland - Thanksgiving Vacation with Family

It was lovely and warm when we arrived in New England... Upstate New York/Massachusetts border... welcomed by Mom.... and then Brother, Sis-in-Law, and Baby arrived the next day... and we woke up the day before Thanksgiving with flurries, and my Brother swearing we were in for some real snow... We went and visited Martin Van Buren's home but I did not have clothes/boots to travel in the snow to go up to it... so I was only able to see just the outside of it through the trees.....

We had a nice time visiting, but the time flew by and we were back to driving home..... 

Now we are back in Florida where the sun is shining... it's not that warm at the moment (highs 65 - lows 40)... but it's beautiful - my favorite time of year and what keeps me here in Florida - the incredible and wonderful winter weather!  No Shoveling.....

November 21-23rd - The Beginning of the Quest for Fun

Friday Night, November 21st– our quest for fun went smashingly well.  First night off the highway spent in North Carolina, outside of Fayetteville, and we stayed at a Holiday Inn Express.  They were  pretty full and the only Non-Smoking room was a King room – the bed was incredibly comfortable, and I never even knew the kid was sharing it with me… we seemed miles apart.  The shower was spanking clean, had great water pressure, and I left that hotel feeling that it was a sign of things even better to come.

We made it to Antietam National Battlefield late Saturday afternoon, with enough sunlight and time to allow us to see most of it.  We drove down Bloody Lane and saw all the monuments to each of the battalions that fought… the sun was just starting to lower/set and it gave off that gloomy light, so we left with a sad and heavy heart knowing that more than 20,000 men died on that exact site on one day – brothers fighting brothers – terribly sad indeed.

Well, sadness did not fit into our plan, so we got back into the quest for fun, and hit the road to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  We took these tiny country highways that felt like you were riding on a roller coaster, past farms, up and down hills and dales, it was incredibly beautiful!!!  When we stopped in the small towns for a “pit stop”, we were greeted with nothing but friendliness and warmth of that American charm we take for granted most of the time.  By the time it was very dark, we arrived at the hotel.  It was everything and more than what was expected.

Our room was in the old part, 4 floors up, facing the roundabout, with a fireplace, a nice big chair and ottoman to sit in front of the fire… the room was clean, very spacious, and there was a huge spa tub (no time for trying out a jacuzzi).  A beautiful restaurant and bar downstairs in the lobby, though it was packed because of a wedding and the hotel was full of wedding guests.  But – no disturbances, no problems, I’d recommend staying here...

We ate at the Pub across the street… I wish we had taken the advice of people on websites regarding the Pub – it said to skip eating in the restaurant area and stay in the bar area – the bartenders were phenomenal – but the restaurant was lacking that same warmth and service of the bar.  I did have delicious crab soup!!!!

Gettysburg National Battlefield – we picked up our tour guide at 10 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 23^rd, and spent 2 hours with him behind the wheel of my car – where he drove us through the battlefields, the town, he pointed out houses that are still standing and riddled in gunshots/bullet holes, and even one large mansion with a canon ball stuck in it… he told us of the battles in a way that we could just sit there and imagine exactly what was happening… it was definitely phenomenal and worth spending your money on!!!!  My son was thrilled – this was his birthday gift – his very own private guide.

That 70s Beat....

Every day that gets closer and closer to Vacation Time, I’m finding myself more and more excited!  My car is in “purrrfect” order, mental “Hugs” to my reliable, honest mechanic – a friend’s brother in law.  My cats and home have a sitter staying over the entire time… so no worries on that end.  Now all that is left to do is save money and pack winter clothes and bedding … I cannot wait to see my snuggly, huggy Mom – yes, I have one of those, they are great!

AND on a completely different subject… this morning my friend and I were chatting about music.  She went to a dinner party and it had a 70s theme.  She was so thrilled because Jesus Christ Superstar came on the stereo at the party.  She said she was all about how that was her favorite musical, her favorite song, and then this morning she got an email and the group she belongs to are going to see Jesus Christ Superstar at the theater!  She's just beside herself excited... I love 70s music, and honestly 80s are supposed to be my era/my music, but I don’t really like the 80s.  When at work, and wanting to focus, I put 70s stations on TuneIn Radio … I work better to Abba or the Bee Gees. 

So, back to Jesus Christ Superstar… it’s also one of my favorite musicals – well – anything Andrew Lloyd Weber is something I love… and this is my favorite song from the musical (it makes me tear up every time I hear it)…. Sing it Yvonne, bring it!!!!!

Crazy Cat Lady Musings....

This morning I forgot a few things, a) to go vote,  and b) to put dinner in the crockpot.  So, at lunch time, the polls were too packed and I just drove on home and put my chicken and ingredients for dinner in the crockpot  ... a kitchen towel fell off the counter on the floor, and Habibi laid down in front of the towel and put his little face into it... he just sat there, face smushed into towel, wouldn't move, wouldn't look at me, silent and still with his face in a towel... it broke my heart... why you ask?  I saw my very pitiful and sad cat upset because he knew I was going to leave and not stay home to pet him and listen to his every complaint.  What is the truth/reality? The cat thought it was comfortable to put his face in the clean smelling kitchen towel that fell on the floor; no emotions involved.

I have paid in advance, reserved, a private tour guide from the National Park Service at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania for my son's birthday!  I sent him the reservation confirmation, and I got a note back that said "Awesome, THANK YOU!!! I am SO EXCITED!" That was a positive cheer for me!!!  

So, now we have a reservation for The Gettysburg Hotel and a reservation for the tour through the Battlefield.  

17 more days till we leave for vacation... 

2006 Honda Accord V-6 - Screaming when it's Cold....

I just want to get the word out to people who are not mechanically minded or knowledgable about cars and go to mechanics and dealerships for help.

First, there was a recall on the hose to the Power Steering pump.  Mine was fixed... but... the hose was all that was replaced.  Not the connectors and the O-Ring.  It was only the hose in the recall...

SO... when it starts to scream when it's cold... it's the O-Ring - and it's less than $2.00 for that part... and less than $13.00 for the inlet fitting it sits in that looks like an elbow and connects the hose to the power steering pump.

IF ANYONE TELLS YOU IT'S $500 - 900 TO FIX YOUR SCREAMING HONDA.... tell them to go do something to themselves.... especially if they say it's that much to "re-seal" the pump....

$20.00 is the total cost after tax for parts, and you could change it yourself if you have the tools... or take it to someone trustworthy and pay him the 15 minutes time that it took him to replace it... and the whine and scream is gone...

It's screaming because the ring (seal) is letting air get in and it's backing it down the hose to where you have the fluid tank... you can tell - open where you put the fluid and it will be bubbly /foamy from the air ... it's screaming because the pump isn't being lubricated enough and the air is forcing that lubrication backwards... when it heats up - it tends to stop screaming - because the air isn't able to get in easily... eventually it will scream all the time, you will lose fluid, and you will burn out the pump....

Hopefully someone will one day research and read this - maybe - and I've saved them $100s of dollars by them checking to see if it is the O-Ring with a reputable/honest mechanic...

THANK GOD.... I asked around!!!!!!