Staycation Day #1

Thus far, I'm pretty much digging the staycation!

Here's the picture blog of most of our day!

First, I got my haircut.  No pictures of that.  Then we decided to head out, run some errands and putz around a bit.  It was a nice paced day. 

First.....here I am rockin' my new shoes.  Aren't they cute?  Unfortunately, it rained as if I needed to gather animals two by two, so they got pretty wet.  I'm afraid to see what kind of shape they're in this morning.

Here's Sweet Sarah at the world's largest Dansko store.  I bought the black slip on just above her head.  I know, I know.  They aren't pretty.  BUT they are The Drayer compromise to be my new slippers, so I don't wear my shoes in the house. Who's gonna argue to get a new pair of shoes???

Oh yes!!!! Look how crazy, wild are we.  Next stop....Costco.  From this shot it looks like the store is empty, but alas, we have never been there without the other 43 million Clevelanders.  

Here's Sweet Sarah getting our loot to the car in the Noah-build-ark Rain.  What's that?  How did it come to be be that I'm taking a picture of Sweet Sarah running in the rain?  Sooooo, ummm, yeah.  Don't ask.  Bonehead move on my part.  [although I was pretty dry ;)]

From Costco we headed to dinner.  But stopped in at this place beforehand.   How does a Spice store stay in business?  I mean who says, "hey, I need to run out to Penzey's before I can make dinner tonight?"  Nevertheless, if you're a foodie or love to cook.  This is a pretty cool place.  Lots of great spice blends.  We bought a spice blend, Arizona Dreaming, to try on some short ribs we're grilling on Monday (Day #4) and some Taco Seasoning for the nights Sweet Sarah rocks out chicken tacos.

For dinner we headed to the Food Network's Chef Michael Symon's infamous Bspot.   We had been wanting to try this joint out, but the timing [mainly the wait for a table kind of timing] never worked out.  Staycation changes that!  Burgers, Brats, Bourbon and Beer.  A simple menu and really simple decor.  But the place is HOPPIN'!  

Just tilt your head to the right and read.  Yours is not to question.  See?  It was worth it.   I'm thinking they're on to something with the bacon-infused alcohol.  No?

We finished the day by watching Silver Linings Playbook.  [my review:  huh?  how did this thing win so many awards?  I wouldn't recommend it.]  Here's Teddy watching with us.  He was pretty into it.

Well, stay tuned, loyal reader.  Staycation Day #2 to follow!

Staycation

For the first time in my life I'm taking a staycation.  Yep, that's right.  The first time I've ever taken a day off for absolutely no reason other than to have a day off.

Sweet Sarah and I decided we should give it a whirl.  Now to be totally honest, I'm a little worried....I mean, what do people do when they take days off for no reason?  Oh, don't get me wrong....I have a thousand things I want to do.....but.  BUT.  BUT!!!  Sweet Sarah has insisted that we not get in to any projects or something major that would take up the entire four days we are off.  [shoot.  insert me tapping my foot and using selective hearing.]

Sooooooooo.....I'm going to do my best to chill, restrain and not try and use a power tool, paint brush or  move major furniture.  We'll see how it goes.

But of course....don't be totally fooled.  I have a list.  [of course I do!]

Thus far....here's what I've done!  Homemade Kolaches West, Texas style.  I should be arrested for these!!!!  Cherry Cream Cheese Homemade Kolaches.  Yep, so good they'll make you slap your mama.    Pretty sure they're illegal in three states and two US Territories.  Breakfast yumminess.  Heck, any time of the day yumminess.

So....stay tuned.  [and pray for Sweet Sarah that I don't make her crazy!]  I'm thinking of doing a photo blogging journal of the Staycation.  It might be pretty entertaining!

Baby Update

Look at the little guys!!!
Four in total. The oldest is four days old. The baby was born today.

We have babies!!!'

Yep! Check it out. Yesterday after work I came home to discover mama bird preening this little dude.

Wow. Wow. WOW!!! Isn't it amazing?

Airport Music

Soooooo...as I was making my final trip to the restroom prior to boarding a question popped into my mind to which I still can't figure out the answer.

[sidebar:  I have this absolutely scientific, ridiculously habitual, near superstitious ritual when I fly. Given the fact that I have a 45 minute bladder (sometimes I get WILD and push it to an hour and 10, but that just isn't pretty). Anywho, so as soon as they make the announcement that they are boarding first class citizens, I mean passengers, I head to the head. (is that a boat term or airplane term too? Hmmm, not sure). Anyway, I go...(did you see what I did there? I go?)]

Well, today on my journey to the John, I heard the Indigo Girls playing over the speakers. And I thought, mmmm, I love the Indigo Girls. (and no, it's not a requirement for all lesbians, because I know you went there!). And then my next thought..."Well, look at them, they've hit the big time. They are playing over the main speaker at an airport....or wait. Maybe that's like the kiss of has-beens. You've been around so long and you're so mellow that we can play you in the background and it doesn't bother even the little airport mice who clean up the place at night."

So that's my question..."if you're a musician, is it the big time or the has been when you're a regular on Muzak?

Meringue Fingers

When I was in college the NCAA required the student athletes to go through a series of courses called LifeSkills. One in particular, Table Manners and Business Dining, seemed a waste of my time, given that Mama C didn't tolerate much of a stray elbow, lip smack or open mouth chewing at the table. I'm pretty sure by the time I was seven I knew where to place the salad fork and which side the water glass belonged in a place setting. Yep, I was a graduate of Mama C's homeschoolin'.

Apparently, there are some people---professional people. Suit wearing, heal clomping, Coach briefcase slinging women in the world that weren't provided the same Mama C home rules, nor the illustrious NCAA Ms. Manners course.

Ok, so where am I going with this? Well, sit down people. Buckle up because I can't make this stuff up!

Last week at the conference I was attending, we were about half way through lunch when a hot mess of a woman, also attending the conference, plopped herself down at our table, took three large bites of potato salad and then, with her mouth still quite full, decided it was the right time to introduce herself.

AVERT YOUR EYES!!!! Look away!!!!! Convince your gag reflex that you're really not seeing mashed potatoes mixed with green beans in her mouth.

(Now if Sweet Sarah were to interject here, she would probably enter a lengthy sub-text about how table manners is probably my number one pet peeve. A smack? A crunch? The loud chewers???!!! Ugh!!!! Makes me lose my appetite.)

And oh. OH. OH. OH!!!!! It gets better....
Are you ready?

Well, after snarfing her way through two plates of buffet food in the time it took me to finish half of a salad, she jumped up to get dessert.

And what did she return with on her plate???

Oh yes, a cream pie. Yep.

In nearly three bites and a few more mouthfuls of conversation she was done. ALMOST.

But it couldn't be that painless. Nope.

You see, there was a little bit left on her plate. A little bit of cream and meringue, which seemed to be escaping her fork. So what did she do? Did she use her knife to gently guide that last little bite onto her fork, ala European style? Did she turn her fork on the side and give it the old scooping slide twist?

Nope.

Of course she didn't.

She used the two year old "use the fingers from your other hand to get it in your fork" method.

Oh yes she did. I can't make this stuff up people!

Oi vey!

Perhaps I should start offering consulting classes, "Professional Table Manners".  ....on second thought, maybe I'll leave that up to Mama C.

A list-composed from 12,000 feet in the air

1. When will they invent earbuds that don't hurt my ears? Seriously, am I the only one that has sore ears after 20 minutes?

2. I secretly have a desire to name car colors in my next life. Not a secret now, I guess. I'd be good too. "aunt millie's burned caramel corn", "1991 pegged jeans", "melted marshmallow",

3. Do you think they sell used airplane beverage carts? I think Sweet Sarah and I could rock one of those things out at The Drayer! I'd get an ice scoop and a holder though--totally not a fan of the scoop with the cup method.

4. I cut some flowers for Sweet Sarah today and left them on the counter. Life is better with cut flowers

5. I really need to get some books reviews done. But they're not as entertaining to me, as say, trying to decide between "melted milky way" and "dead battery black" for the black car outside.

6. Holy wow! I'm typing this in the back row of a tiny airplane and the woman across the aisle, who is holding her near 2 year old son, does NOT believe in a vanity blanket while nursing. Might I add she is also sitting next to the lavatory, where apparently they are doling out free mileage points or crack, given the frequency of visitors today. And.. AND the boy just sat up in her lap,yelled "food" and pulled her v-neck t-shirt down to reveal his source of sans Bali/Hanes Her Way supported "food". "I have seen it all to know I have seen to much."

And with that visual image I will end the list!
Cheerio friends!