What I Did This Weekend

Wow, I actually got things accomplished this weekend. Normally I don't do anything.

We replaced a door knob to get into the garage. That may not sound impressive but we are not mechanical people. But after seeing how easy it was (Dan said it was going to be easy) we now need to replace the knobs/locks on the front and back doors. That way we can rekey them all to the same key.

We looked for shrubs for the front walkway. This is a huge problem area for us. We've gone through probably 4 sets of shrubs. It gets little to no sun because of the angle of the house and the garage. So we are very limited in what will grow. And then everything seems to get winter burn. Still haven't picked something out but really need to because that dirt is not getting any more attractive after a year.

We did buy three new outside light fixtures. I had won a light installation at our United Way auction last fall and now I plan on using it.

Balanced three sets of checkbooks. Bad me hadn't done it for a month. Everything is online so I knew we had money, I just hadn't updated my Quicken files. Well now I have and am happy to report that me and the bank agree.

I spent $165 at Walmart on Saturday and I ended up with a full cart but no meat. I guess that $20 in birdseed sort of did me in.

And then there was the dog. The weather was nice so we had the front door open so just the screen is there. She hates that. She gets restless. So when the door finally is closed she crashes in sleep. I'm not sure how she sleeps with her ear like that but she was out and quite comfortable.

Wine Reviews

Well I had an idea for a blog yesterday. I even went so far as to download pictures to go along with it. And then blogger was down. And I couldn't write. So now I'll try and see how well I fair. I know I'm going to forget something.

Usually twice a week, local liquor stores have free wine tastings. Yes I said free. One of the only good things about the stupid liquor laws in this state is that the distributor can host a tasting in a separate entrance to a store. So two stores in town have these little rooms that have tastings. One of my friends keeps detailed notes about all the wines. I just read along the sheets and only make note of something I really like. And then I have a notebook where I write down wines I really really like so I can buy them more than just the one time. This system seems to work except that by just writing down the names, I forget what they taste like and then when I'm looking for something specific I'm not sure what to buy. But I digress. This blog is supposed to spotlight three wines I've had lately that I've really enjoyed.

The first wine is from Bodega Elena Mendoza. It is a red blend from Argentina. I used to not like reds but over the years I've gotten accustomed to some of them. I don't like tannins so a traditionally heavy red is certianly not going to be bought. But this blend is really well flavored and very reasonable. It is new to our state so I've only found it at one store so whenever I'm there I buy it. That to me is a true sign that I really like it. It is $9.39 right now so definitely affordable.

Oxford Landing Estate is another red blend and it is from Australia. One of the things I'm really getting into is screwtops. It seems so much easier to twist off the top and not have to fiddle around with the corkscrew. And the problems that come about when a bottle of wine was not taken care of properly and the cork dries out just stinks. Plus a screw cap makes it easy to buy when travelling (thank you states that sell wine in the grocery store but I always forget the corkscrew at home).

And finally we have Apothic Red. You can see a thread running through these wines. They are all blends. I think that helps when you get the best of a grape and not the parts that aren't so good. This is definitely a pretty bottle and very tasty. It is a little more expensive (around $13) and I like my every day wine to be less than $10. But if I'm in the mood to treat myself, this is a good choice. It is from California.








So there is my Friday wine review. Maybe next week I'll do whites for summer.

Writers Block

What do you write about when you got nothing? I have to say I would have in the past just not written anything. But I enjoy writing this blog, eventhough just a handful of people read it. I find it an outlet that I've never chosen before. I never thought myself creative or a good writer, but I enjoy the challenge.

So what to write about? I could rant, but I do that a lot so that isn't interesting.

I could write a tv review, but I've done that recently too. Plus I haven't watched anything that made me go OOOOH I have to tell people about that. The Voice was ok, Amazing Race sucked after the cowboys got kicked off, Top Chef Masters is weak. When the best show I watch in a week is Bert the Conquere squealing like a girl, it was a sad week.

The weather has been hot. Perhaps stormy today. Not exciting.

Nothing exciting has happened at all. Perhaps tonight I'll get to try a new wine that I like at a wine tasting. Or maybe I'll find a wine tomorrow night at another wine tasting.

And so I leave you with nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Prom 2011

Last night was Whitney's last prom. We went through multiple dress choices, finding a beautiful blue strapless one that I think she looks gorgeous in. She went and got her hair and makeup done professionally. She even went and got her car cleaned out, spending way too much money on it but it does look good.

The fancy curly hair (lots of hairspray)

That's a lot of dresses

There was a large group of kids going to dinner together. I love how they can get a group together and everyone doesn't have to have a date. Boy when I was in school you didn't go anywhere without one. In fact, I did not go to my prom. I sold my free tickets. It was a good looking crowd that gathered and then went to a fancy restaurant in town.

I learned from last year that the group goes out afterwards for breakfast (I can't even think that late at night) so I was prepared to go to sleep before she got home. But my poor baby was fighting a cold and had to come home because she felt so bad. Luckily it was close to the end of the dance.

I know that she'll have lots of fancy dress parties to go to in college. I hope that she'll be able to use these dresses again then.

Thursday Rant

I haven't ranted for awhile so I figured I got nothing else, so here goes.

Why is it that the inability of the federal government to pass a budget means that I have to cram six months of work into three days? We've been given a ridiculously short timeframe to get all of our proposals submitted so that the government has 4 months to process them. Because it takes them that long to push a few buttons. And we are expected to do it in just a few days. Something is wrong with this picture. It is not like I can write proposals based on funding amounts that I still don't know what they are. And have everyone at my university approve things.

OK rant is over now. We can all go back to our cheery selves.

Have a good Thursday!

Senior Recognition Night

My poor photography skills

So last night was the big night to announce scholarships. I was amazed at the number of students who didn't participate in the event. Frankly if I got a scholarship, I would want to be there when they announce it. Whitney chose a private school to go to so there aren't a lot of students from her high school going there, eventhough it is only 30 minutes away. Her admissions counselor presented her with a scholarship certificate along with a boy who is going to major in music. The funniest part of the whole evening was when the counselor was talking about Whitney. Earlier a boy had received a naval ROTC scholarship from his father. It was very touching. So Ashley, the counselor, said that "in case you didn't know, Whitney is my daughter". Of course everyone got a good laugh because Ashley is African-American and Whitney is as white as you can be. At the reception, Whitney was dragging around going this is my real mom.

The 2011 graduating class had received over $7 million in scholarship offers and had accepted $5 million as of yesterday. While some of that is the Oklahoma Promise money that the state gives out, it still is a very impressive total.

Month of May

Wow, we are already 1/3 of the way through 2011. May is going to bring a lot of things to our family this month.

Scholarship night is Tuesday. Let the waterworks begin. I had better invest in Kleenix.

Saturday is prom. See above.

Next week we get a call as to when the "signing" day will be for Whitney's scholarship. I love that this is getting treated as big as those athlete signing days.

May 26 is graduation. Do you think they will let me wheel in boxes of kleenix?

Both grandmas are coming for graduation so I get to see my mom for the first time in 1 1/2 years.

Then we end the month (really June 4) with the last dance recital. I will be there for four shows. How can I miss the last time to see her dance?

I'd better stop or people will wonder why I'm crying right now.