I would like to apologize.  To anyone that I have ever hurt, confused or driven away as a result of anything I have said or done that made you uncomfortableE or less. I am so sorry, more than you an know.

NEW JOB!

Wow. I wasn't expecting the call until next week, and just wasn't sure whether or not I would get the job. My soon to be boss, Susan Watts, called me early this afternoon to offer me the position. I a m very happy. It will be great to head out to work again every day and interact with people other than Gary - no offense babydoll:) The Center for Real Estate is a part of the College of Business on the Boulder campus of Colorado University. It is one of the most beautiful campuses have ever seen. Gary and I have gone to a couple of concerts there, one at Old Main and one at Mackey Hall. We had subs and pitchers of margaritas at Half-Assed Subs on the hill....which would translate to High Street at OSU. I am so excited about a new opportunity and the ladies that I have met were so nice that I know we are going to do well together. I now have 3 weeks to just relax, go thru my wardrobe and shop for a few missing items. No more applications, no more interviews....woohoo!

Cry Baby

So, I guess I must be pre-menopausal. I thought this emotional overload and crying at the drop of a hat was simply a result of being so far away from my children and family and friends. Ha!

While I miss everyone - especially my children - more than I can possibly tell you, that certainly doesn't explain why I just cried like a baby at the last 10 minutes of "Toy Story 3"! Silly to get so torn up, but it is like suddenly finding your own children are all grown up and you don't know if they'll put you in the attic or give you away:( Just typing it I am crying all over again.

Wild Mushrom Risotto

So, one of these days I'll remember to take a photo before we eat:) I am not a huge fan of mushrooms though I will eat them. I made this specifically for Gary because he really likes them. To my utter surprise, the mushrooms were not overpowering, nor was the leek. It is a dish you have to stay with and stir as you add in the broth - a bit at a time so it can be a bit time consuming. Well worth the effort, it was absolutely delicious and very creamy.

I have already been looking for other risotto recipes.....think I will try the butternut squash next time.

New Chili Recipe!

Samuelsson Chili


· Prep Time: 30 mins
· Total Time: 2 hr

3 dry chipotle peppers
2 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon canola oil
3 pounds ground beef chuck
2 red onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin seeds, crushed
2 teaspoons salt
1 cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 15-ounce cans kidney beans, drained and riinsed
1/4 cup masa harina (Mexican hominy flour)
3 ounces Mexican chocolate
shredded tortilla chips
SOUR CREAM:
1/2 cup sour cream
juice of one lime
1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped


Directions
Soak chipotle peppers in water till soft and chop.
In a large Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown the meat on all sides. Add the onions, garlic, chili powder, chipotle chili and cumin. Sauté until onions are softened and fragrant. Mix in the masa harina. Continue cooking on medium heat.
Add crushed tomatoes, salt, cinnamon stick, oregano and 2 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a slow simmer.
Stir in the kidney beans and continue to cook, covered, for another 30 minutes, stirring occasionally add the chocolate and continue to cook for an additional 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, mix sour cream with lime juice and cilantro and set aside.
To serve, divide into bowls and top with a dollop of sour cream and tortilla chips.


FYI - I substituted dark cocoa for the mexican chocolate and corn meal for the masa harina...and it worked out just fine. In fact, it was deliciousioso!

Ta Da - Success!

Baking, a la high altitude!

So, it turns out that baking at a high altitude such as we have here in Broomfield is a bit tricky. I made rolls for Thanksgiving not once, but twice and neither batch worked. AGH!

Today I did a bit of research on baking yeast recipes at a high altitude and picked up a few tips to try, so here we go again:)

Hopefully the things I am doing this time will work. If not, it will be back to the drawing board. If it does work, photo's will be added soon:)

My Honey!

We went into Boulder on Sunday afternoon, thinking we would have a nice afternoon walk with Georgie. Turns out that you can't take dogs on Pearl Street.....bummer. Oh well, a storm rolled in and we had to head for home anyway. Got this shot of Gary in the hallway of our complex. He is so cute:)

Here is what we had for dinner.

Here is the "Spicy Chicken and Shrimp" that I had and the "Sesame Chicken" that Gary had.

China Spice!

Gary and I had dinner at "China Spice" this evening. It was so yummy! We started with
Mai tai's which were almost too pretty to drink!

Georgie watching the road

Day one on the road!

Hello All,

Today was our first day on the road, heading to Colorado. We left Westerville just before 7am
and including 3 stops for food, gas & potty we arrived in Kansas City at a pet friendly Holiday Inn about 5:30pm.

Georgie has been so good, except for when we stop and one of us gets out of the car:) Then he cries until we come back. Makes for some really quick potty breaks!

We are going to order room service tonight I think. We're both tired, and would like to get a reasonably early start tomorrow so that we can miss the Kansas City rush hour traffic.

TTFN

Moving!

So, today I turned in my letter of resignation. My last day at work will be September 24, 2010. I am excited about the move, sad about leaving my children and my family. Hopeful that both will come and visit us as it is a great vacation destination:)

School

Another quarter in the books. I am only taking 1 class this summer. In the fall I begin my core classes within the College of Social Work. Of course, all going as planned, we will be moving to CO and school will have to be set aside for a while.

It is so worth it if it means that Gary and I can finally live together again. 2 1/2 years of this is enough.

How true!

A clear picture of the difference between men and women:)

This is teamwork!

This is for Adam

Comparative Studies

Well, I completed my final paper and submitted it last night, even though it isn't due until next Tuesday. It is interesting that the mid-term paper (five page requirement) was a complete struggle for me - it seemed as if I were pulling the words out of quicksand. The final term paper (ten page requirement) came so easily, most likely as a result of reading a couple of the (eight total) books that just made me so incredibly angry. One titled "Stolen Innocence" about a young girl brought up in the FLDS and forced to marry her first cousin when she was only 14 years old, and the other about a ministry called New Hope which promotes the "ex-gay" lifestyle. My thesis was aimed at the hypocrisy of religious leaders via their words and actions and how it impacted the youth in their programs. Abuse is abuse whether it is at the hands of a bully, a minister, or society. I am not you, and you are not me....and that is - or should be, okay. A young girl of 14 is a child. Individuals are born gay, they do not make a choice to be so and as there is nothing wrong with them.....stop trying to fix them! Whew - I guess I am still angry.

These two publications just evoked such a reaction the words flowed.....and flowed.....and flowed - my apologies to my Professor, as I could only pare the paper down to 13 pages.