The Stuff that keeps Arianne sane

Arianne writes:

It's very odd when I find myself not running around with my head barely on... but today I have found myself with time to do things I love to do.... and as I was cooking dinner I said to myself "Self, share with the world what you have been doing." So here I am to share with you... about my cooking, my reading, and knitting fun.

Today I decided to make a Soup for dinner. So I looked on www.kraftfoods.com and found 2 recipes (Spiced Apple - Butternut Squash Soup and Carrot Soup). I decided to combine the two to make a Spiced Apple and Carrot soup. Right now I am waiting for Kevin to get home and try it.

I think I am going to serve it with my now Famous "Dottie's Bakes Spiral Bites". I took these to a New Years Eve party and people said they were good. Lucy could not stop eating them... so I changed the name in honor of her character in Noises Off! I think these are not only yummy appetizers but also a new way to put a different spin on the grilled cheese sandwich.

I am currently reading "Bone Thief". Kevin and I saw this book at Barnes and Noble last month and decided to give it a try for our monthly book club. Right now I am on page 55 so I really can't tell you much about it other than I am still reading it... ROFL... and that its about a Serial Killer...

I am also currently knitting a baby blanket for my soon to be born Nephew. Its a checkered pattern blanket... and right now I have completed 6 (5 complete knitting and pearling rows in each row set) sets. I think its going to take me at least 30 to finish the blanket... Hopefully I will get it done before I come home and visit the baby.

I am also listening to Michael Buble's CD that Hallmark was selling for the Valentines Holiday.

I just wish there were more days like this...

Punxsutawney Phil and Bob the Gnome go to Key West

In celebration of Groundhog Day, Bob thought it would be nice for us to visit Key West. So we backed up our bags and headed south!

Here we are on the 7 Mile Bridge. Boy this thing was long....

As soon as we got into Key West Bob suggested we start off at one of the bars. We found a nice place by the name of Irish Kevin's. Here is a photo of Bob enjoying his beer at Irish Kevin's

The line at the Southern Most Point was really long... so we came here! The Haunted Hotel! It was Bob's idea. He said it would add character to our trip. I asked him if he wanted to go in... and he said no. I guess the ghost stories we getting to him.

Here we are outside the Hemingway House... it is very cool! Lots of Cats... kind of made us both nervous.

Regardless of the nerves I really wanted my photo with one of the Hemingway cats so we finally found one that was sleeping. The entire time we took this photo bob kept saying... "Don't wake up kitty. And don't eat us!" ...

Those were a few highlights from our trip.

Discussions of Pants

Arianne writes:

It was a night like any other night... friends getting together to share conversations and most importantly food! The Kitchen has always been the welcoming center for discussions to unfold and develop... but I do believe I was never ready to hear what I was about to hear...

I hear myself saying out loud in a VERY loud volume "You paid how much for a pair of Jeans??"

Now before I am about to share the rest of this story I just want to give warning... because my opinion will change.

Me and my other female witness insist on proof. We want to see the $300 pants in person. $300!!! Hell, I didn't even spend $550 for my wedding dress. And there I was in the middle of the kitchen jumping up and down. I was demanding to see those Jeans. So after 10 minutes and asking if the pants were locked in the safe, we finally see the $300 pants walk down the stairs. The pants, the Italian Designer shoes, the really nice black button down, and several spritz of nice cologne. I see them. Ok, its hard to miss them. The "Lenny Kravitz" Jeans (as so he names them - PG version of course) or better yet (and my personal favorite and properly named) the "CFM" Jeans.

I hear his reasons... and I was still shaking my head... but the odd thing is... its not the view that I saw that still lingers in my mind... it was what he said...

And now (after a day to think about it) I start to see and understand... because Yes, they do make him look HOT! (He is going to kill me for saying this... But what is interesting is that the fruggle girl that I am, after several hours of mental debating, I understand why one would pay that much to feel good about oneself.

Its nice to hear a word (from the opposite sex) describing you as something other than "Cute"... mine was being called "Sassy"... I was a senior in college and the feeling that I felt that day as I walked backstage in with my new Hair cut, Black pants, black top, and "MY CFM" boots was uplifting. I felt like I could take on the world... I felt like I was eye catching enough for others to notice.

So now as I reflect on the $300 pants... I say we should all have something that was WAY TOOOO MUCH to buy... we should just bite the bullet and get it. Because in the end the compliments you receive will be worth more to your self-esteem than to your check book.

So now I am going to make a vow to myself to Love myself and get myself away from the SALE rack and get myself some Kick Butt Clothes... ROFL....

Before I turn 80....

This is a poem I wrote in honor of my Grandmother....

Before I turn 80.…

Before I turn 80, I want to hold the world in my arms…
Before I turn 80, I want to own an exotic fast car…
Before I turn 80, I will have seen all 50 of these United States…
Before I turn 80, I will have eaten over one million cheesecakes…
I will have over 25 stamps in my passport from all amazing different countries,
And I will have perfected the art of making my Grandmothers Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I will be able to give myself time to heal when the healing is to be done,
without the slightest frown,
I will have danced in my lovers arms in a garden of Jasmine while the light of the moon looks down.

To ride my favorite roller coaster 20 times in a row without claiming I am too old to ride anymore.
I will be able to forgive those who hurt me before storming off and shutting my hearts steel door.
I will have joy in taking naps during the day, like when I was just a kid.
I will have walked along the beaches of Miami with my love, just like my grandparents once did.

I will not be so narcissistic and think every bad comment is directed towards me.
And when things get tough, no matter how bad they are, I will never, ever try to flee.
I will have kissed my love not only on top the Eifle Tower in Paris,
but kissed several times in a gondola gliding across the canals in Venice.
I will have played Texas Hold' um in every casino on the Las Vegas Strip,
And I will have learned the art of not caring about money and giving too much for a Tip.

To do the unthinkable and obtain tickets to both the World Series and the Super Bowl.
And argue with every Yankees fan I know who says the Red Sox don't have a Soul!
To sit outside Big Ben looking for the Second Star to the Right,
And to be a school girl again remembering my past loves in the late hours of the night!
I will have kept journals of all the fine wines and foods I have tasted and consumed,
I will have learned to be inspired by the death of my loved ones instead of grieving away in my room.

I will have the ability to follow my dreams instead of just flying around in a bunch of turbulence.
I will be more bold, daring, sassy, courageous, and fly by the seat of my pants.

Before I turn 80, I will have spent all the penny's that were held in my rainy day tin,
Before I turn 80, I will know the truest treasure is having my life surrounded by friends.
Before I turn 80, I will have prayed with Buddist Monks on top a mountain in Tibet,
Before I turn 80, I will be able to go to my final sleep with not one single regret.

In Memory of my Grandmother
Charlotte Sophia Burgess
January 27, 2005

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Birthday Amanda

Happy 18th Birthday, Amanda!  

to be continued...