Never dreamed it would be so difficult...

We start a major kitchen gutting and redo on Monday. It is well-needed. Many reasons why, one being it's about 40 years old. Second, and most important, I have no *electric* dishwasher. Enough said.

I had to choose laminate for the countertops this week.

Number of collected laminate chips that "might work"= 23
Number of laminate chips we narrowed it down to = 8
Number of trips to Lowe's = 3
Choosing the PERFECT one = priceless...

However, I chose what I thought was the perfect one to be told by my contractor that no, we had to use Wilsonart, not Formica.

Excuse me?!?!?!?

Here's where I spare you my temper tantrum and go to the gym to work out for the SECOND time today (I burned 500 calories today, more cookies for me).

If this is how it's going to be, maybe I need to hire my family to wash the dishes...

Hang on for the ride...photos will be coming!

tomorrow's motto...

(Click on comic for larger view)

a little Jack Prelutsky for you...

If turkeys thought, they'd run away

A week before Thanksgiving Day.

But turkeys can't anticipate,

And so there's turkey on my plate.

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

(Enjoy a few photos from PBC- I especially like the lake one, where it's an exact reflection!)

Halloween pictures...

...better late than never! Since I'm out of school for the next few days, I'm playing "catch-up"!

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...

...FOR REAL!

I purchased a firepit for my birthday present. We recently spent a weekend at PBC (pictures coming soon) where a big bonfire was built each night. It was then that I realized how much I needed to find some way to spend some time relaxing, and this was IT. So I went home and bought a firepit for our backyard.

We invited Tommy and Becky over as our first official "firepit guests" (that sounds weird). We listened to Christmas music, drank hot chocolate, and roasted marshmellows and chestnuts (courtesy of Becky, who is truly the adventurous one). It was a great way to relax and mellow after a VERY stressful week. The company was pleasurable, although the chestnuts left a lot to be desired...but at least the song has some meaning now!

happy birthday to me...

Today is my birthday. I am thirty-seven. No biggie.

It's been a great day. My mostly companions at PG gave me a gift card and a rich dark chocolate cake that we shared together during our break (with cartons of skim milk on the side). I received lots of well-wishes from my family and friends that included cards, small gifts, emails and phone calls. My SIL Becky came to school today and had lunch with me (unfortunately it was pancake day). And on Friday my hubby and I will join some of our bestest couple friends for a leisurely dinner out at one of my favorite restaurants, Carraba's.

My other SIL Lori and I are already planning for the fall of 2010, when we will both turn forty. It's going to be a glorious year, as we have decided that we should take ourselves- just the two of us- somewhere as far away as we can afford to go (and without flying, for her sake). Hawaii sounded good, but we're thinking Hilton Head actually looks better. And we won't have to cross any tremendously large bodies of water to get there.