My greatest influence - an early MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
141

Crimeny, it appears that I can no longer deny it. I have a fairly unpleasent cold. This is the first non-allergy-based-cold-like-thing that I have had in several years (I have always had a wicked immune system), and I am finding the experience to be wholly unpleasent. I am not so sick that I cannot come to work and function, but the whole throbbing temples, sore throat, pounding sinuses thing is not making for a good time.

Oh, and before I forget again a hearty welcome to Reindeer (great nickname VB), and of course to QD (we have been awaiting your arrival [and your side of the underwear saga] with bated breath for some time now.)

142

I was going to say that I’ve been pleased as punch with our new KitchenAid 7 quart slow cooker, but notice that it’s far larger than appropriate for that recipe.

Ignoring cake, it’s a splendid appliance and far better than the Crock Pot-branded crockpot that we bought a few weeks ago. The name-brand thing smelled like burning electronics and worked accordingly. On “simmer” it boiled away and burned a batch of spaghetti sauce. :mad: On “High” it took over three hours to bring three quarts of beans and water to a simmer - never did actually boil. So, we take it back to Bed Bath and Beyond and swap for the good one.

It wasn’t until after we’d returned the Crock Pot branded crock pot that I came across a pile of negative reviews, all saying the thing was terrible at holding a temperature. :smack:

143

Refer to my post #102 earlier today. It’s gnawing away at my sanity for no reason at all I can understand.

gotti I have a 7 quart cooker too, and all that happens is that the cake part is flatter than you would expect. So just double up the pieces. I did mess with the recipe a little to try to get it to fit more appropriately in it, but haven’t found the right new ratios yet. But I keep trying.

144

Home from work - whew!

Thanks one and all for the b-day wishes, and especially those of you who sent e-cards. You brightened my day! :smiley:

Believe it or not, I forgot it was my b-day till my sweetie gave me a birthday hug this morning. It’s just not that big a blip on my radar. Unless you’re giving me keys to a Brand New Car!!! :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

My baby called this morning when she was on a break between classes, and I got 3 real honest-to-goodness mailed cards over the last couple of days. And three of my four sibs sent ecards, too. For those who wonder but are too polite to ask, I’m 53 today. And nary a gray hair on my head, thanks to my paternal genes. Mom was mostly gray by her mid 40s, but my tresses are as dull and drab as ever.

We’re going out to dinner, but there won’t be any cake - when we dine out, we never have room for dessert, plus we’re trying to eat better, so I’m passing on sweets for a while.

Welcome to all the noobs!! You are now official members of the Clan of the Cool Kids! See **swampy ** for your official propeller beanies, and don’t forget to sign up on the snack board. And because I’m nice, dammit, I’m not going to ask **QD ** about her unders.

145

I’m full of grrr.

While I was out earlier, FedEx was here to deliver a sign-for package. So I called the 1-800 number, and they told me it was back at the station, and I could pick it up if I wanted to. So I drove (about 20 minutes!) to pick it up, and whaddya know? It wasn’t there yet, it was still on the truck. And it took them about 10 minutes just to tell me that!

Grr! So I told them to deliver it Thursday morning, when I will be home.

Guess what’s for supper? Turkey spaghetti casserole, with frozen leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Yummy cheesy goodness.

And so nobody will bitch, here’s the recipe:

2 c chopped cooked turkey (or chicken)

3/4 lb cooked spaghetti (better if cooked in broth)
1/2 c chopped onion
1/2 c chopped celery
1/2 c chopped green bell pepper
1/2 c sliced mushrooms
1 15-oz can stewed tomatoes
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 c chicken broth

In a large skillet, saute onion, celery, peppers, and mushrooms until onion starts to get translucent. Add the turkey and tomatoes, simmer for a bit. Add salt and pepper to taste. Dump it all into a giant mixing bowl and combine with cheese, soups, and cooked spaghetti. Mix together, add broth if it seems too dry, and pour into (Pam-sprayed) 13x9 baking dish. Bake at 350° about 30 minutes until cheese is bubbly.

I’m having a tossed salad and crusty bread with it. Yum!

My son just called, he needs a ride home from work. Sigh. I’ll never get the Heroes thread read… Later, gators!

146

Well, since the other Cool Kids are doing it, here is a link to my Jigzone puzzles. I’ll add some more when I get the picutures resized.

147

I finally managed to snap a shot of Scruffy standing but first, I caught her rolling around. She is such a little goof!

148

:smack: Ooooohhh! I see now. I entirely missed that. Sorry about that.

More work to do…sigh.

149

My day has been relatively boring. The most exciting thing to happen all day was that the recent target of my affections noticed that I’ve been a little out of it lately. (No shit.) Okay, I don’t want to be unfair to her. She was concerned, and I appreciate that. I just told her she wasn’t the first to do what she did, and she probably won’t be the last. I have a strong and partially confirmed suspicion that I remind her of her most recent ex boyfriend. If that is the case, then I certainly cannot blame her for rejecting me. Ah well.

The next most interesting thing? Buying spoons at CVS. Envy me.

150

FCM in honor of your birthday I have rearranged your face and gotten a haircut. Feel honored? :smiley:

I’m home, shorn and fed. It’s cool and damp outside. I’m tired. That’s all.

151

And I’m going home.

Crisis averted, and we won’t be the guys left holding the bag in the morning.

G’night, y’all.

152

Ooooh! A double batch of cake? This may bear investigation!

Someone run off to Home Depot for the cable? What was it anyway? Mil-spec, natch, but close enough to Romex to fake it, or something really wacky like four #19 Tefzel-insulated soild cores wrapped around #10 bare rhodium-plated copper, and five pair of #22 twisted-pair, all of which is wrapped with quad layer braid/foil shielding and a yellow self-extinguishing jacket?

(Can I spec screwball wire or what?)

153

you may have already been told this, but the fact that you’re here, in the MMP, automatically makes you a cool kid.

And I LOVE that’s there are so many new cool kids here! That means it’s once again time for pics of all the cool kids’ kitties and puppies (and other assorted non human co-habitants) someone else can start, I’ll throw Smokey in when I get home. (I will also post the link to my JigZone puzzles - after I add a few more :wink: )

154

I successfully foraged for clothing; I found a black blazer, comfy black loafers, a cute black skirt, a date outfit :eek: , PJs, and new undies, since they were having a sale. Considering how much I spent, it seems the list should be longer than that. :dubious:

I also got the car washed, just in time for Thursday’s rain. :stuck_out_tongue: However, they managed to knock the driver side windshield wiper loose, but I didn’t discover that until I was on the highway. Luckily, it got stuck, and I managed to get the window rolled down and grab it before it flew off and hit the car behind me.

I went to Bed Bath and Beyond, because I enjoy being auditorily and olfactorily assaulted. I just wanted sheets, but I couldn’t stay in there long enough to see if there were any I liked. I suppose I’m strange, but I don’t like plain sheets, and I don’t want to iron them, either. Don’t they make printed sheets in something besides sandpaper? :confused:

I don’t think I used enough smileys in this post, so have some more: :cool: :smack: :smiley: :o

155

The bathroom is clean, the dog has been parked, and dinner is cooking. I am having poke chops, baked N.O.T.(Not our Taters for the new kids on the block{N.T.N.K.O.T.B.})

Sean, lemme guess, the staff of Amalgamated Cables & String are slowly towing the Cole out to sea? :smiley:

FCM, I reagranged your face for your birthday.

SCL, How’s Conner today?

rosie, if you want pics:
Maggie Wonderbeagle
Lucretia D. Hellcat
dogbutler
Grue

156

Ok, so I’m a computer idiot. I cannot figure out how to link to the album I made of myself and stuff at JigZone. Grrrrrr…

157

Well, I’m home. I decided not to pick up Buckley’s on my way home and instead bought a bottle of Robitussen. I’ve never tried it before so I thought I’d give it a shot. It’s very thick, rather like a spoonful of honey. Honey that tastes like mentholated maraschino cherries. It seems to work okay. The urge to eject vital organs from my ravaged esophagus has diminished considerably. Splendid! Between that and the NyQuil I feel much less like a hacking ball of germy tissue paper.

The weather isn’t going to be good for healing purposes though. It’s getting cold! If the mercury drops any lower I’ll need sonar to read it.

gotti - I don’t know what you just said but my inner tool-wielding manly man is becoming strangely aroused.

Spats - What the hell is Spoons doing at CVS? And what is he charging you for?

158

YAY!!! Finally!!! I figured it out! Here’s a link to my [Jig Zone](http://www.jigzone.com/g.php?722507439B.58D676C&z=0">JigZone: swampbear's stuff Jigsaw Puzzle Gallery) puzzles. YAY!!!

159

Hi MMPers. Welcome justpassingthrough! (I think I’ve welcomed everyone else…)

Good job on the shopping, Jahdra; now, how’s the resume doing?

Speaking of job hunters, where’s Drae this week?

Sorry for the Jeopardy shock, Sean, but happy for the cable.

Connor’s injury sounds like no fun, SCL. Does he know that there are a bunch of internet strangers who wish him well?

swampy - re: your address-free employee; you’re being far too logical. Stop that! :stuck_out_tongue:

Sorry about the colds, Mindy and Al. Oh, and speaking of Robitussin…has anyone tried Cherry Chill Eclipse chewing gum? Tastes just like Robitussin, but without any medicinal value at all. Ick.

Well, I haven’t fallen apart yet, despite lack of sleep (I think I may have slept 3 1/2 hours). Here’s the book I read last night. I don’t think our group has ever read one of Oprah’s selections (I’ve read some on my own, but we haven’t chosen any as a group). I was sure I’d heard of it as a movie, too. I was right. Book was pretty good. The writing isn’t great, but the story is entertaining and several of the characters are quite interesting.

Currently making box mac & cheese because I want something warm and I’m hungry now.

Really need to do some better meal planning. (And really need to get on board in that slob reform thread.)

I’ve read the whole thread, but I’m sure I’ve forgotten someone/something important; see reference to lack of sleep. And hi!

Back after a while.

GT
I do not see any JigZone links…I do not see any JigZone links…I do not see any JigZone links…

160

Shh… **swampy ** might get jealous!