I'm An East Coast Kid

My First Lasagna

2009-03-30T14:06:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I'm making my first lasagna tonight and it's pretty exciting.

Isn't it funny how when someone finds out that you're cooking something for the first time, they ask you a series of questions?

For example:

"Oh, you're making lasagna!? You make your own sauce right? It's so much better when you make it your self."

Nope! Sauce from a jar!

"But you make your own meatballs, right?"

Nah, the more frozen the better!

But this got me to thinking, 'Maybe I should make my own sauce'.

But that's going to turn into, "Oh you make your own sauce? You grow all your own tomatoes, vegetables, herbs and spices right?"

And once I start making my own sauce for my lasagna, it's going to turn into, "Well, you do make all you own fresh pasta right? It's so much better when you make your own pasta."

But once I start making my own pasta people will start asking, "You grow your own wheat and grains right? It's more organic and healthy and it tastes soooo much better!"

So now I'm growing my own tomatoes, vegetables, herbs, spices, wheat and grain. Soon I'll need to raise my own pigs and cows so that I have fresh sausage and hamburger to add.

I guess this means I'm moving to Italy to start my own farm and grow my own ingredients. It was nice knowing you all! I'll send a postcard!

And all because I tried to make my first lasagna...

25 Things About Me

2009-03-01T18:13:00.000-08:00

I posted this on my myspace, but not everyone reads that, so here's a little info about me!

1. I've never had a surprise party, but I've thrown 2 sucsessful ones

2. I've always wanted someone to sing "brown eyed girl" to me at karaoke but now by eyes are dark green so it would be irrelevant now

3. i love seth rogan movies

4. i always wanted red hair when I was growing up but i cant be anything but blond

5. i like it when it rains

6. my bed is my favorite place on earth

7. im certified in reiki 1

8. i looove breakfast sandwiches

9. babies scare me a little

10. i actually like working out now

11. i've been at my job for 5 years now and i still dont know if this is what i want to do with the rest of my life

12. i love taking pictures

13. i hate reading a book and then seeing the movie because the movies never stack up

14. i've been to transylvania and been in Dracula's castle. pretty effing awesome

15. i love being near the water

16. i hate video games, but i love guitar hero. its a love hate relationship

17. i love having my birthday in the summer. yay for beer and bbq's!

18. i really like getting mail...in the mail. not email

19. i have an aunt who looks like sandra bullock

20. i'm very sarcastic and im not as mean i come off some times. but i am very opinionated and sometimes it just comes out. sorry!

21. i miss being a little kid some times, and i think thats why i want to be back in pennsylvania so badly. i need a little part of that back in my life

22. i go through all my jackets, clothes, shoes and bags every year and donate them to the mission

23. i tell people that my favorite color is pink but deep down i really think its blue

24. im learning romanian, but i need to learn faster

25. halloween is my favorite holiday

Never Argue With A Woman

2009-01-25T14:41:00.000-08:00

One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.

Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, 'Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?'

'Reading a book,' she replies, (thinking, 'Isn't that obvious?')

'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her.

'I'm sorry, offic er, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading'.

'Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.'

'For reading a book,' she replies,

'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her again,

'I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading'

'Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.'

'If you do that, I'll have to charge you with Sexual assault,' says the woman.

'But I haven't even touched you,' says the game warden.

'That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment.'

'Have a nice day ma'am,' and he left.

MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.

Some Holiday Photos

2008-12-26T19:12:00.000-08:00

OK, well this has been a fun Christmas indeed. Mike's birthday was Christmas Eve, but we celebrated on the 20th with tons and tons of snow. Thank you all who ventured out in the horrible weather to celebrate with us.

Me and Peter and Catherine. I have my little brother and my best friend. What more could a girl ask for? Catherine joins the Peace Corps. in a few months and Peter soon goes back to school :( I'll have to enjoy them while they are here.

Peter and Dizel on Christmas Day

Nick and baby Ella. She is just loving that Christmas tree!

Victoria, Aunt Deb, Grandmom, Mom and Denise. It's so nice to have everyone together.

Melissa and Charlie on Thanksgiving. SOOO cute. I still can't believe how big he's getting!

Victoria and Dizel hanging out. They are like BFF now.

They holidays have been great, but I'm a little relieved that all that madness is coming to an end.

We can all finally just relax a little.

All that's left is New Year's, so we'll have to wait and see what exciting adventures are awaiting us next!

Home Made Christmas Presents

2008-12-23T12:22:00.000-08:00

I am happy to announce that I have started knitting and actually finished my first baby blanket.

I don't think that I'm going to do it again.

It took for frickin ever.

Merry Christmas baby Ella.

Let There Be Light!

2008-12-15T14:02:00.000-08:00

I am happy to announce that we now have power back. That crazy ice storm last Thursday was just crazy enough to cause some major damage. We got our power back today (Monday) a few hours ago and I couldn't be happier!

Thank God I had a candle obsession or we would have been screwed.

I don't know how people did it back in the day, but this whole "No Power" thing is not for me.

I ventured out on Friday to buy some food that wouldn't go bad right away, (ex. fruit) and found myself at Stop and Shop where it looked like the whole store was having a Going Out Of Business Sale. There were whole shelves just completely cleared off.

I went to go look for a few gallons of water (like every one else apparently) and found a frenzy in the isle. It was like a bunch of sharks fighting over a big dead seal.

I started filling my cart and had maybe 4 gallons before a ridiculously FAT man literally pushed me out of his way and blocked the rest of the isle with his shopping cart.

Touch me again and you're being reported.

After the water glutton decided he was finished he uncorked himself from my path I was able to proceed.

Trying to just hurry up and get what I needed so I could blow this Popsicle stand, the power in the store goes out and one of the employees stocking selves starts throwing a hissy fit and yelling across the store.

"OH MY GOD! I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING TO ME!"

He dude! Shut up!

"This is just crazy!! I can't handle this anymore! I need a break! I can't believe this is happening to ME!"

OK, well please take one because clearly you're "that guy" who over reacts to situations that no one else can stand to work with. (We all have one of those guys...or girls)

Then he throws an empty box and has another irritating tantrum.

Blaaaahhh!!!!!!

Trying to leaving the store was just as much fun too. Oh yay!, the traffic lights are out.

Enter The Milford Gridlock of Death if you dare!

Oh I dared.

And thank heaven I made it. Some people are just a$$ holes behind the wheel.

Like the old, deaf and apparently blind man who tried to drive into the side of my car today and didn't even flinch or turn his head when I held my horn down for a good 20 to 30 seconds.

*Sigh*

You gotta hate- I mean, LOVE the mall this time of year.

Thank You

2008-12-15T13:58:00.000-08:00

I would just like to thank the special people who helped me with jackets for the Coat Drive. You all know who you are and it is so appreciated.

Today was the deadline and I dropped everything off at Jordan's Furniture and the lady was so grateful.

We collected 10 jackets, 4 hats, 4 pairs of gloves and bunch of sweaters.

Thanks again. People out there will be warm now :)

Oh, Christmas Tree

2008-12-08T14:18:00.000-08:00

Christmas Puzzel. Try it. Tougher than you think.

http://www.jigzone.com/puzzles/4D055D4EAFCE

You're going to be that friend that makes me go to the gym on Sundays, aren't you?

2008-12-07T19:29:00.000-08:00

Ok, well I feel like not a lot has been happening lately but in reality...it has.

Victoria has arrived for her visit, which means Mike is now well fed for the next 3 months and we don't have to worry about him becoming malnourished due to my lack of culinary skills (but Lord knows that I try)

Me and Catherine have officially started Boot Camp at the gym along with a few other friends and I'm proud to say that we haven't died yet. Six weeks of personal training plus the extra trips I'm dragged there for? Pfffft! We got this!

The town did it's annual tree lighting today at 4:30 in the afternoon....when it got dark out. Blah. But it was nice to sing Christmas songs with whole town while we all froze our butts off together. Because that's what this time of year is all about. Togetherness.

I am happy to announce that there have not been any other crazy people stories to tell since my last tragic visit to Walmart, but there's still pleanty of days left this month for that to change.

The tree is up and decorated, the lights are on the house, presents are wrapped and under the tree. (most of them anyways). We had our first little snow storm today and Santa is now a permanent fixture at the mall for the rest of the season.

But is still doesn't feel like Christmas for some reason.

Maybe Mike is right and I'm now officially a grown up. We'll see how long that lasts.

I'm still trying to do a coat drive so if anyone has an old jacket that they don't need anymore, please let me know! I have to make the drop off by the 15th! Thank you!

It's Almost Elf Time!

2008-11-25T18:54:00.000-08:00

Ever since "Elf" came out, I have made it my own little tradition that on the day after Thanksgiving, I will sit and watch said movie while wrapping Christmas presents. It's pretty awesome.

Hair Up Date

2008-11-23T18:02:00.000-08:00

Just a little Hair Up Date for everyone:

I now have bangs :)

The Weather Out Side is Frightful

2008-11-23T09:29:00.000-08:00

The other morning when the dog woke me up at 6:30 a.m. to go out side, I happened to glance at the thermostat on the window before going out onto the porch in my pajamas. 22 degrees. I turned into an instant pop-sickle.

After taking a swan dive back into bed it made me think about all the people who have lost their homes or who can't afford to heat the ones they have. I couldn't even handle being outside in the cold for 2 minutes while the dog peed, I can't imagine living every day with out warm clothes or heat in my home.

So here is a list of all the place in our area that are accepting winter coat donations. Please dig through your closets and give up all the jackets that you said you'd maybe wear again some day. You know you're never going to and there are men, women and children that really do need them. Giving up one coat does make a difference. Please do what you can.

One Warm Coat:

www.onewarmcoat.org

Soldados de Jesus
Lowell
Type of coat needed: all

Frances Perkins Transitional
Worcester
Type of coat needed: all

Foundations
Worcester
Type of coat needed: all

Somerville Homeless Coalition FAMILY shelter
Somerville
Type of coat needed: families

Transition House Emergency Shelter
Cambridge
Type of coat needed: women; children

Haley House
Boston
Type of coat needed: men

Saint Francis House
Boston
Type of coat needed: men

Women's Lunch Place
Boston
Type of coat needed: women

Rosie's Place
Boston
Type of coat needed: women

Prudential Verani Realty Drop-Off Locations:

Bedford
165 South River Road
Phone: (603) 472-1010

Concord
87 South Main Street
Phone: (603) 224-0700

Epping
109 Route 125
Phone: (603) 679-5654

Exeter
81 Water Street
Phone: (603) 772-0600

Hampton
314 Lafayette Road
Phone: (603) 926-3648

Londonderry
One Verani Way
Phone: (603) 434-2377

Nashua
125 East Dunstable Road
Phone:(603) 888-4600

Newburyport - MA
23 Inn Street
Phone: (978) 465-0458

Portsmouth
207 Market Street
Phone: (603) 431-8977

Salem
236 North Broadway
Phone: (603) 893-7999

My Baby!

2008-11-21T20:31:00.001-08:00

Meet Dizel, the most spoild dog in the world. Love him!

At The Request Of My Mother.

2008-11-18T15:16:00.000-08:00

Upon careful consideration I have decided that since the joyous Christmas season is upon us and since I happen to be one of the lucky ones working on commission at the mall during this wonderful time of the year, that I'm going to chronicle all the happy events of my wondrous experience with the public for you all.

Episode 1: The Wonders of Walmart

The other day I regrettably made the decision that I would go to Walmart for my food shopping. Now normally I would NEVER do this but I needed a few more things other than food. So me and Mike pile into his work van and head out.

He drops me off out front and say he'll back in a little while, "I have to run to Home Depot quick." Another treasure in the Corporation Fun Box of Annoying Stores. But moving on...
I get through the store as quickly as possible because the best of the best happen to out today with me. (not) As usual there are 4 out of the 27 registers open and I have way too many things for that ridiculous self check out.

So I find what appears to be the shortest line and get in it. Little do I know that the devil was playing tricks on me. (Not hard to do because Walmart is his home base.)

Time check: I have now been in the store for almost an hour. I called Mike 20 min. ago to find out where he was and how he made out at Home Depot. "I have one more thing to get and I'll be right there!"

OK, I've now been standing in line for almost 7 min and I feel like I'm going to get sick. My throat feels like it's closing, I'm a little nauseous and coughing like I'm about to through a hair ball or something.

I want out of this store.

The lady who is currently being served at the register clearly has a little something wrong with her. Can't quite place my finger on it. But she's chatting up a storm and holding up the line. Now she's trying to pay (at Walmart) with a Banana Republic store credit card. This is Walmart. Not Banana Republic.

The frustration sets in.

"But I just used it the other day. I don't understand why it's not working."

I though the other woman in front of me was physically going to explode. Than the idiot behind the register goes, "Well why don't you let me try it over here. Maybe it will swipe for me." (by the way, these two ladies are having the slowest conversation in recorded history)

YOU CAN'T SWIPE IT OVER THERE!! IT'S A BANANA REPUBLIC CARD!!! IT ONLY WORKS IN THAT FRICKIN STORE!!!

A baby screams in the distance. Now I know that when ever I want children I'm just going to go to Walmart to remind myself that, No I really don't want children. *sigh*

So the lady decides she'd like to write a check instead. (OMG, get a bank card)

Other lady in front of me: "Now I remember why I never come to this store."

Ditto.

She finally writes her check and proceeds to stand there and continue her conversation with the check out woman who is more than happy to talk with her, I mean she's got the time, it's not like she's at work or anything; when her daughter comes running over and asks her mother where she's been! I've been waiting outside for 20 min! I was so worried!

Time Check: OMG it has been almost 20 min.

The lady in front of me starts shoving her things onto the counter to have them finally wrung through when the elderly woman who clearly has a memory problem notices she for got to pay for her cat littler!! Then the cashier offers to cancel out the next order to ring up the frickin cat littler.

This is where I'm going to die. Right here. In line at register #12.

Luckily the daughter was brighter then the employee (surprise, surprise) and offered to go to customer service. THANK YOU!

One down, one to go. Ok, we're making progress. Almost there! A little more! *screeeeeeeech!*

Pull the e-break. Now the lady who was venting at me about this horrible store would like to break up her order please.

"I'd like to pay for the food on my credit card, the birthday cake with cash and the clothes on my debit card please." Great, another 3 transactions.

Needless to say, 2 hours after being dropped off I was finally out of this hell hole. But not in the clear yet! Where was Mike!? Stuck on Amherst St trying to rescue me!

Now I have to pretend like I'm on my cell phone so the fire fighter ringing the bell next to the red collection bucket doesn't bother me. But I've been spotted! Don't make eye contact!

I am happy to anounce that this was my last willing adventure to Walmart for the season. Joy to the World.

Stay tuned. I'm sure there will be pleanty more where that came from considering how crazy people are :) Be well.

Red Necks. Read on...

2008-11-17T15:25:00.000-08:00

You're An EXTREME Redneck When.....

1. You let your 14-year-old daughter smoke at the dinner table in frontof her kids.

2. The Blue Book value of your truck goes up and down depending on howmuch gas is in it.

3. You've been married three times and still have the same in-laws.

4. You think a woman who is "out of your league" bowls on a differentnight.

5. You wonder how service stations keep their rest-rooms so clean.

6. Someone in your family died right after saying, "Hey, guys, watch this."

7. You think Dom Perignon is a Mafia leader.

8. Your wife's hairdo was once ruined by a ceiling fan.

9. Your junior prom offered day care.

10. You think the last words of the "Star-Spangled Banner" are"Gentlemen,start your engines. "

11. You lit a match in the bathroom and your house exploded right off its wheels.

12. The Halloween pumpkin on your porch has more teeth than your spouse.

13. You have to go outside to get something from the fridge.

14. One of your kids was born on a pool table.

15. You need one more hole punched in your card to get a freebie at the House of Tattoos.

16. You can't get married to your sweetheart because there's a law against it.

AND I saved my favorite for last
17. You think loading the dishwasher means getting your wife drunk.

I'm The Only Gay Eskimo

2008-11-16T18:05:00.000-08:00

Ok, this is just the funniest thing that I've ever seen.

Dating back to my early Jr. High days when Catherine would burn me funny CDs and me and Peter would sit in the back seat on the way the my Aunts house for Thankgiving, laughing our asses off while mom and dad rolled their eyes in the front seat.

This, my friends, is The Only Gay Eskimo Song. And seeing as how I'm going to be an Eskimo for Halloween I thought it fitting to post this and let you all in on the little things that light up my life.

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bid9KsuxECA