We were Boxing

Yes, reluctantly I admit I’ve been around a while. I have seen things,  experienced things. I have appreciated many things and regretted things more than I ever thought I would. But after yesterday, the first-time thing I was a part of was  Boxing Day. And I am glad.

Dear friends Ettore and Oona invited us to a Boxing Day celebration last night. Since Oona is a Brit, this holiday is very much a part of her heritage. But regardless of the occasion, our two friends always welcome us into their home with a warm embrace. They are the epitome of a gracious host. Last night was special.

Unsure of what a Boxing Day night of celebration held in store (but I do now), we readied ourselves for good food, conversation, and fun at the very least. The evening was an absolute delight. Seeing our friends surrounded by their long-time friends – no, that should more appropriately read as ” their long-time family” – did nothing more than keep a smile in my heart all evening long.

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EHR: Holiday munching

image from indanang.com (via Google images)

And this Email Humor Received (EHR) comes from my good friend Ron…

In the same festive spirit of the wishful holiday’s good tidings, please consider your culinary endulgence based on the rationale given below…it is a logic that I’ve practiced (perfected) in Christmases past…believe you me:

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS Continue reading “EHR: Holiday munching”

To be jolly

Now if you just so happen to watch the video, and you don’t catch yourself smiling, then I’ll come see you to massage that hardened heart of yours. It is, after all, the season to be jolly. So be it! Stop it with the political moaning, employment groaning, life-is-not-fair bellyaching, and the unsociable Facebooking for but a few minutes…and sing a Christmas song, for crying out loud, that might make others smile for all the right Godly reasons.

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My little cupcake

photo from mymodernmet.com

December 15th IS National Cupcake Day.

And since I’ve officially blown my tonnage-loss program right out the kitchen window this holiday season, I’m eating from a selection of chocolates from the See’s Candy Christmas gift received yesterday from OFGaPal JaiJai instead…and when I get home, the William & Sonoma Peppermint Bark awaits my palette (thanks Deb!). Continue reading “My little cupcake”

Another year carved out

So Monday was Halloween…not enough Trick-or-treaters gave us a surplus of candy this year. That is not a good thing for my ongoing tonnage-loss efforts. But the yearly fun thing about Halloween is a friendly competition done between OFB TR and his daughter, and my OFNi, Tara.

Each year these two go at it with a knife, pottery tools (I assume), and a few candles. They have themselves a pumpkin carving contest…just the two of them.

And each year my OFSIL Sue sends pictures to the family for an online vote as to determine a winner. So I’m told, the loser is supposed to buy the winner a bottle of Crown – and apparently they are on an IOU system thus far.

Every year we get these fun times for sure. Thanks for sharing your talents yuze guys!

2011: Carvers did two pumpkins each...then it narrowed to one entry each

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Tooling about while at the beach

Did I mention that on my recent excursion to the left coast, I took one day to do a 10-mile bicycle ride?

Well technically, it was a 10-mile ride on 2 different bikes…but both required moving my legs in a circulation motion, if that counts. (and you know it does)

I have long wondered whether a recumbent bicycle (the bike where it feels like you’re dragging a#$ on the pavement) is a ride enjoyed. Those particular bicycles have always been a source of curiousity for me.

I’ve never taken a “test drive” with one.

That is, until last Friday….

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I’m not gonna quit beaching

Yes, call me liberal if you must. Call me a nut because you want to. You’ll probably be wrong in whatever you say (and I won’t add any polictical adjective here either), but know it won’t change my mind. I love the left coast…from San Diego to San Francisco (and probably beyond if I ever get up that way).

So can the politics for just a minute and tell me…how could you not? Unless of course the earth got to moving way too much under your feet – hey, wasn’t that a song?

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Scared cool

Halloween is one week from Monday. I’ve got half a bag of candy ready to dole out…come on by. I usually have candy left over each year. Last one here gets the most (and best) candy!

With my street address I need to go prowlin’ for a couple of pumpkins for craving get kids to the door. Little did I know when I bought this house years ago that location-location-location needed to be considered. My street is the primary in-n-out for everyone and homes on my block are only on one side of the street – not a bad setup really except the for the day, or maybe it’s just for the one frightful night in October.

Kids, it seems, already have a shopping savvy in them wanting to work both sides of a street for their free candy. So it is the Jack O’Lanterns that get trick-or-treaters to my street, and has them excited, or scared walking up to the door.

The many years of doing 8-12 funny, scary, crazy pumpkin cravings for Halloween night with FD and FS were suddenly paled in comparison to a “Top 10 Halloween Events” watched on, of all things, The Weather Channel last week (follow that link above for a bit of craziness celebration).

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Faired Well at the State Fair

Big Tex and a mighty fine "Howdy Folks" awaits fair-goers as they arrive each and every year

Sunday…I took a trip to The Great State Fair of Texas!

What a glorious day it was – breezy, upper 80°, and when you’re one of the first to arrive, parking was easy, convenient, and close to the entrance gate!

Each year the State Fair is an intentional destination. I wouldn’t be completely honest if I said my primary reasoning going is for the Auto Show.

I go for the people watching!

I go for the live entertainment on stage (several venues around the fairgrounds)!

I go for free ice cream cone and the give-away bread sampling at the Dairy/Grain Building!

I go to marvel at the wonderful Art Deco buildings scattered about the fairgrounds!

But mostly, I go for the traditional food of the State Fair as well as each year’s must-have foods!

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35 and counting

What a grand weekend! And boy howdy did I take a bunch of pictures!

the uncooperative guys at the 35th

The milestone 35th reunion happened at Hays High School. Despite a losing effort for the current Indians on the football field (losing to Garden City), those of us alumni able to attend the homecoming and reunion had a fabulous time…not just one evening, but two!

Our class of 190-something produced about 45 of us over the weekend. We all showed up to enjoy ourselves, the time spent with good friends, and to poke fun at the aging habits a handful of us seem to be developing. Better yet, little grief was taken on the thinning noggin, chubby cheeks, and the mid-section bounce that seems to have graced my curb appeal. I guess it is what it is, huh?

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Kettle enjoying

So it is that I got through the remainder of the pictures taken on the Canadian fishing trip last weekend. This was a really fun trip y’all. It is a time when all 3 sons got to spend some quality time together. Mostly, the three of us got to share the trip (and time) with Dad.

At this stage in each of our lives, we find ourselves pulling back together as a family. Our bonds seem to become stronger each time we are together. The joys, concerns, troubles, enjoyments, ribbings, teasings, adventures, journeys, trials, tribulations, risks, and sorrows we seem to share with each other more. What better people to share those with, than with family?

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Kettle Chilling

Man ‘o man. When a guy is used to 107 degree weather for the last 65 days living in Texas and he goes off to Ontario and wakes up to rainy, damp 45 degree weather…that’s chill’!

I bundled up with just about everything I brought. 2 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of pants, 1 undershirt, 1 shortsleeve shirt, 1 long sleeve shirt, a vest, and then a rain suit…and I still had a chill this morning boating to the first fishing spot.

Another great time on the English River. Fishing was better than yesterday. Shore lunch was “Franks” (Walleye fillet fast-marinated in Frank’s hot sauce, then breaded with 2 parts flour 1 part cornmeal…and then fried in as much lard as the pan holds). Oh good heaven’s my waist line is already expanding.

BTW, the turtle is a Snapping Turtle. Frank (one of our guides) told us we needed to leave him alone (for obvious reasons apparently). The Small Mouth Bass of Tony’s…that won him a Halley’s Trophy Angler Cap for it measuring 18.5″. Maybe that will make up for the one he lost in the lake yesterday.

Today’s pictures come from all 3 May boys…

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