The kids and I are off for a bit with friends. We’ll be doing way fun things like hiking in the woods. 
In the meantime, Rantz has offered up a photo of his own to stump us all. I even get to participate!!!!
Here it is:
My guess is some type of upholstery fabric.
Have fun. See you when we get back. 
Woohoo!!! Yay, Jackie.
This:
Is from this:
I don’t know why, but the paint mixed just so looks amazingly beautiful to me. I could just stare at it for hours.
2 pts to Jack. Well done.
New one to come soon.
Late, I know, but nevertheless….
These were the Valentine’s Day waffles. You may not be able to tell, but the batter was pink (food coloring). I received this heart waffle maker from my Dad one of his last Christmases with us. He and mom both new that I wanted a waffle maker. He actually went out on his own and picked this one for me. Of course, mom got me the one I really wanted. But, I knew that I should keep the one that he got especially for me, and mom told me to as well.
Now I love it. Everytime I use it, it’s like a hug from my dad. And I get to tell the kids that we get these fun heart waffles because of Papa. And they think that’s pretty cool.
…and yet none of you told me that the 40 days in Lent don’t count the Sundays????? Hello??? Man, that was a rude awakening!
As you may have read, Bald Man and I gave up meat for Lent. All meat, as in all animal flesh. And no, not just on Fridays. And no, we’re not Catholic (not that there’s anything wrong with that). And no, we don’t usually give up anything for Lent.
I think I was tired one night and said, “We should give up meat for Lent.” And Bald Man said, “Okay.” And we did. That’s why I shouldn’t talk when I’m tired.
But there were a few logical reasons that I wouldn’t have probably gone into except that Bald Man mentioned it. So, if you’re curious as to why, here’s goes:
1-Gain an appreciation for our wealthy diet. We live in a country where food, and meat specifically, is so abundant. If I stop to complain about the fact that I don’t have meat in a meal (and I have been!), it reminds me of people who have no meal at all. Of moms feeding their babies termites and bamboo, or have nothing at all to feel their babies and have to hold them and watch them as they cry and die of hunger. I’m spoiled. I know it. I need to remind myself of it, stop whining, and be reminded why we do what we do with some of our extra.
2-Vary our diets. There are so many foods that we don’t even try because we get content with our 5 normal meals. We’ve tried edamame (YUM!), and tofu (not bad marinated in lemon juice and cilantro and tossed in the middle of rice and beans and sour cream and corn salsa). Also remembered how much I like cottage cheese!
3-Be thankful for what we have no matter what it is. Kinda like #1, but a little more simple and straightforward.
4-I’m a masochist. Not really, but I miss meat!!!!! Chicken mostly, since I pretty much eat it daily. And I’ve had to cook it a few times since we started, and it was so hard not to take a nibble!
No, we haven’t made the kids do it, though I think they could live on yogurt, pb&j’s, pancakes, and mac and cheese and never be the wiser.
I have stopped having the dreams where I’m about to eat a ham sandwich or a buffalo wing only to realize that I couldn’t have it. That happened the first week or so. But now I found out that Lent is 46ish days?!?! Those dreams might come back.
Yes, the slacker is back.
And, yes, the answer was tortillas. And please don’t ever pronounce them “tor-til-las” in my presence or I might just have to hurt you. Sorry, I have to stand firm on that one.
Way to go, Rantz, you racist you!!!! Woowoo.
Really thought Jack would’ve gotten that one since I was on the phone with her when I was making them.
So this:
Was from this:
Better luck next time to the rest of yunz! 
As you many know, Ohio has become very important for both Senators Clinton and Obama. Both candidates are, at this moment, in Cleveland. It’s preempted my usual Biggest Loser weekly viewing, but that’s okay. I do wish that I was in Cleveland right now.
Not for Obama or Clinton, but Brian Williams is there! You know, NBC’s Brian Williams? Anchor of the Nightly News, and SNL superstar?
Did you see him when he was on Saturday Night Live? Hilarious. I can’t find the Brooklyn bit, but he is fantastic, and I imagine that he would be such an engaging and enchanting person to sit and chat with for a bit.
And Tim Russert. He seems pretty interesting and enjoyable as well. I’d rather sit and listen to the two of them for an hour.
Instead, I’ll try and pay attention to the Senators. Maybe I’ll learn something, though I’m not counting on it.
For weeks I’ve been thinking about how it’s been almost 4 years since my dad died. Weeks. And then it happened, and I almost missed it. It wasn’t until about midnight that I realized what day it was. And I can’t tell you how sad that made me. As if I could so easily forget.
But then I realized that, unconsciously, I’ve been remembering for days. I even noticed yesterday that I’ve been thinking about him a ton lately. He’s been in my dreams, I’ve thought about him as I’ve watched my kids, and I’ve just wished that I could share my life with him. I went bowling the other night with friends, and tried to remember all of his coaching with every swing in every frame. (Too bad I didn’t remember so well, it was a couple of bad games for me!)
I don’t ever want to forget the day, it means too much. But I’m realizing more and more that it’s getting more enjoyable to remember him. I can do it without breaking down and aching. I can think of something about his grandkids that he would have enjoyed and smile about it instead of weep. That’s something, I think.
