Look at me!

Every Christmas I make something (in bulk) so I can hand out to folks at work. I have out done myself this year. Well, maybe not the Mason Jar Candle year (those were really cute). I am now considering myself a Chocolatier, a real Willy Wonka. I made 200 chocolate covered pretzels on Saturday. I made: Milk Chocolate, Mint Dark Chocolate, Chocolate Cayenne Pepper, and Caramel Crunch/Peanut Butter. This was my first time experimenting with Mint and Cayenne Pepper. I think if I make them again, I will make the two a little stronger. Nonetheless, it was a success. I will probably post pictures later of the gift bags.

In addition to the chocolate covered pretzels, I made homemade Granola (call me a crunchy hippie), but it is delightful. I may have over cooked the Granola by a few minutes, but I love it. I don't think I will ever buy cereal again. I used a base recipe for Granola, then added in my own flavor (apple cinnamon covered almonds, regular slivered almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, honey and a few dried apples). I am not a fan of huge nuts (get your mind out of the gutter folks) and big chunks of dried fruit, so I cut it all up really small. I want to put it over ice cream, add milk, or add it in yogurt.

I want to scream from ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN, that I love homemade Granola. Its a whole new world, won't you join me!

The Blue Butterfly

Marc and I watched "The Blue Butterfly" Sunday night. The movie caught my eye because there was only two on the shelf. I tend to go right for these movies (not sure why). I give this movie 3.5 stars. Mostly for the scenes shot in the Costa Rican rain forest.

Its based on a true story, The Blue Butterfly tells the story of a terminally ill 10-year-old boy whose dream is to catch the most beautiful butterfly on Earth, the mythic and elusive Blue Morpho. His mother persuades a renowned entomologist to take them on a trip to the jungle to search for the butterfly, leading to an adventure that will transform their lives (IMDB).

Marc Donato (Pete Carlton), who plays David Marenger (the character the story is based on), looks a little like Wentworth Miller (Prison Break). FYI: I only think Wentworth is cute in Prison Break, not so much in his past performances. Don't you think the kid could be Wentworth's brother?

Again, Wentworth (because I like to say Wentworth) is a delight to watch on tv.

Just one of those funny moments in life

The story I am about to tell, may not be funny to most of you. Its one of those "you had to be there" type of stories. This moment in time with Michelle, Marc, and Darryl Strawberry falls into my top 3 'laughing moments' of all time.

We had a family vacation at Virginia Beach the summer of 2000. Like most family vacations, you hang out by the ocean, swim, fish, sleep, playing games, drink, sun bathe, did I say drink? Anyway, this particular day, we were drinking pretty much the entire day. The entire family retired early, except for the three of us. We continued drinking on the deck, listening to the ocean and some music. This was a real bonding time for the three of us. Michelle and Marc were really getting to know each other, we were laughing and having a great time into the wee hours of the morning.

At one point, Marc says he has to go to the bathroom. Instead of going through the house and waking everyone up, he was just going to run under the deck and "go". Marc was taking a little longer than he should. Michelle and I start to worry. I decided to go down stairs to see what was going on. The second I stood up, a WOLF came up the stairs. Michelle and I freak out -- I mean freak out! Were were dead in our tracks. What the heck is a WOLF doing at the beach? For a split second, I thought this WOLF ate Marc Renkes and that is why he did not come back. That obviously was not the case, because Marc walks up the stairs behind the WOLF and says "Hey, look what I found". OK, it was not a wolf, just a dog that looked like one. But it was dark, we were drunk, you would have thought the same thing.

That was the "you had to be there" part of the story.

The emotions were running high. It went from "We are all having a great time" to "Where in the world is Marc Renkes" to "Holy crap there is a WOLF 5 feet from us (and I don't have to go to the bathroom anymore)" to "Damn it--the WOLF ate Marc Renkes" to "Marc Renkes announcing to the world that he now has a new pet".

Here is the funny part:

We ended up doing a photo shoot with Darryl Strawberry. Yes, we named the dog Darryl Strawberry. I still have no clue why we named it that. It just seemed like a good name. We laughed so hard. You all know the type of laugh I am talking about. The kind where you start to cry, your mouth hurts, your stomach hurts, etc.

I just thought everyone would like to see these photos.

We love you Darryl Strawberry!

You be the judge

You have to excuse the quality of this photo, it was taken years ago (circa 2000). Obviously, its a worm. But I thought it looked like something else. You be the judge...

Note: I have no time for comments about my "wooden" you know what.

Old School

I was going through some really old photos of Marc and I. I thought some of you may get a kick out of seeing some of these old pictures, I know I did. Note: Marc is going to kill me for posting this!!



Even after all this time, we are still happy ;-)



Now that most of you have thrown up in your mouth, enjoy your weekend.

Christmas Vacation

My favorite part in "Christmas Vacation"...

Clark: Since this is Aunt Bethany's 80th Christmas, I think she should lead us in the saying of Grace.
Aunt Bethany: [turns to Lewis] What, dear?
Nora Griswold: Grace!
Aunt Bethany: Grace? She passed away thirty years ago.
Uncle Lewis: They want you to say Grace. [Bethany shakes her head in confusion]
Uncle Lewis: The BLESSING!
Aunt Bethany: [they all pose for prayer] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands/ One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Clark: Amen.

Music to my ears

Marc and I finished putting up our outside Christmas Lights up today. I did the bushes, he did the tree. He put up 200 lights on tree, took a step back and said, "It looks skimpy, I need to put more up". It was music to my ears--a baby Griswold is born!

The Return of Andy Pettitte to the Bronx

The Yanks received some great news over the weekend. Andy Pettitte is returning to the Bronx. My early prediction was Pettitte would come back to the Yankees only if Clemens would retire or they (Clemens and Pettitte) would both be back in the Bronx. I would love to have both of them back in pinstripes. Not sure how Torre would use all the starting pitchers (it would be a 6 man rotation). Like every year, the Yanks always have a couple pitchers go down. I feel like you can never have enough pitching!

There has been some great moves by teams in the off season. I already can't wait for the season to start.

The only thing I don't like about Andy is the little vein that swings out of his elbow when he pitches. It makes me want to get sick a little.

Christmas Light Police

Its that time of year again. The stores are crowded, the trees are put up, the wrapping paper and tape will lay around the floor for weeks, and the lights go up on the houses. ITS CHRISTMAS SEASON. Just a side note, Christmas is not about the previously mentioned, its much more. But the point of this post is about Christmas Lights.

A few people in my life know that I am a Closet Christmas Light Police Woman (CCLPW). My role during this season is to critique people's lights on their house (and sometimes their Christmas Tree).

Let me give you a few pointers on Christmas Light placement.

1. Create a straight line with the lights if you are putting them on anything other than bushes or trees.
2. If you are putting lights on bushes and trees, put enough on to fill the bush or tree.
3. Make sure lights around the trunk of your tree are evenly spaced.
4. Don't use the blanket lights on bushes. Most people don't use them the right way and they can make you look like a lazy light placer . If you do use them and in the right way, kudos to you.
5. You can never go wrong with white lights outside. Its classic and safe.
6. If you are going to use colored lights, do so in a manor that will not cause someone to have an epileptic seizure.
7. Use plastic figurines sparingly, if you must use them at all.
8. Make use of extension cords. Do not allow strings of lights to go from one bush to another (if the bushes are far apart) Nothing looks worse than a long line of lights hanging between each bush/tree.
9. Icicle lights should only be used on soffit/fascia (not railings or around fences). Again, make sure the lines are straight and pulled tight.
10. If you are going to avoid all the tips above, then go BIG. Make your house obnoxious. Be the people on the street that everyone is talking about.

Since Marc and I have lived in Leesburg, we have put up white lights outside. When we use color lights, we keep them contained to either the trees or the bushes. Over the years, more and more people are putting up lights. This year, it seems that everyone is doing it. And everyone has WHITE lights up. So this year, I decided to go against every one of my rules. I decided to go for rule number 10.

Note: I say "I" because Marc would be cool with not putting up lights. When I was young, I would be the only one brave enough to help my dad put up lights. If you knew me when I was young, you would know we were the real life Griswolds. You could see our house from miles away. It was not an easy process putting the lights up. The light tangler-monster made his appearance every year (regardless how nicely we put them away after Christmas). This made for an exciting time. My dad would cut lights up with scissors, swear at the lights, throw the lights, etc. (kinda like Marc on the golf course from what I hear--ha ha ha). I would always laugh at my dad as I watched him struggle. But now that I am putting up lights (with Marc), I see how he got so frustrated. Its funny and frustrating, but totally worth it.

For the folks that know my light critiquing self, you know this is crazy (using multi-colored lights). Call me a rebel without a Clause (thanks Jane). I will tell you this--I am afraid for my life and I think Marc is too.

It will be a Christmas Miracle if we do not get "egg-ed" this year.

Side note for Michelle: We have 1,200 multi-colored lights up (not included the green and white lights). I am scared and nervous! WHAT--multi-colored lights?????

I have jumped on the wagon

Marc and I watched a couple movies Friday night. We were flipping through the On-Demand shows and there was a preview for 'The Devil and Daniel Johnston'--

"a multitalented man, a compulsively prolific cartoon artist, song writer and performer, whose bipolar disorder and drug abuse led to episodes of severe mental illness and destructive behaviors, beginning in his early 20s, in the 1980s, problems that stifled his career for many years, until consistent psychiatric care and kindly parental oversight effected a more stable course for him more recently. Now approaching age 45, Johnston has made a comeback of sorts, reaching a level of artistic self control and productivity that has swept him toward unprecedented recognition" (thanks IMDB).

Marc and I both agree that his voice is horrible. But his lyrics are fun and his story is even better (sad but interesting). Yeah Daniel Johnston!