No, I'm not moving. But the blog is. I've decided to import this blog over to wordpress. Just felt the need for change, however small it may be. Anyway, if anybody still checks this blog, you can now find me at driftingmind.wordpress.com . Hope to see you there!
I have been neglecting certain areas of this blog as of late. And, while there are perfectly logical reasons for it, I have no intentions of turning this blog into a strictly photography blog.
So, in an effort to breathe some life into other areas of interest here, I'll be posting a few of the new recipes we tried out at Thanksgiving this year.
Questions curtesy of Michele:
If the mirror in your washroom started talking to you, what do you think it would say?
Probably something along the lines of "Clean me!"
What current in theatres now film, do you have no interest in seeing?
Cloverfield. I just can't handle the Blair Witch film style. It makes be violently ill.
If you had twin daughters today, what would you name them?
"Oh Crap" and "Bankruptcy"
Actually, I really only have one girl name firmly planned in my mind - Lillie Nicole (my Gramma's name with my middle name). I know that for a second girl I want the initials to be M.P. (M for my mom and P for Hubby's mom) but I can't settle on an M name that I really like that fits with Paige, and I really like Paige for a middle name. And the longer I work in child care, the more names end up on my "I will never name my child ___" list. And the longer we wait, the more friends and relatives beat us to the names I've liked in the past.
You are at a restaurant and there are no prices listed on the menu, would you ask for prices before ordering?
Probably. I'm kind of paranoid like that.
When is the last time you put your Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew skills to work?
I can't even remember. Generally, anything that needs to be investigated in my life ends up being not very pleasant. I tend to look the other way when a mystery rears its ugly head.
Is chocolate chip a great cookie, or the greatest cookie?
The greatest, of course. Expecially when they aren't quite completely baked and they are still gooey and melty and hot and perfect with vanilla ice cream....yum!
Have you ever said shh or shush to a total stranger?
Not that I recall.
Dear Loyal Readers Reader,
I've been a very lazy blogger since relocating. After the incredible journey, there was about a month where I just didn't have much blogworthy material. I didn't have any funny stories from work, since I was busy housewifing it up and getting all buddy-buddy with Oprah and Phil. Then I found a job and was just too tired after work to blog. And the longer I went without blogging anything substantial, the harder blogging seemed.
So you have been subjected to about 3 months of memes and mediocrity. And for this, you have my heartfelt apologies. And an early new year's resolution to be a better blogger. I will not promise daily posts. That's just setting myself up for failure. But I will do my best to have something besides menus and photo hunt posts each week. And I intend to be more consistent on those posts as well.
And now, for a peace offering and your viewing pleasure, I present to you "Oh, Santa" from VeggieTales.
Molly over at Molly-Coddled.com (which, by the way, is an absolutely brilliant name for a blog by a person named Molly) is giving away The Taste of Home Cookbook and a one year subscription to a magazine of your choice (from Reiman Publications). And I want them. So, while I am supposed to be posting this to share the news with whoever happens to read my blog in order to enter myself in the drawing, I don't want any of you actually thinking YOU should enter this giveaway. You'll cut in on my chances to win, dangit! ;)
Other giveaways that you should absolutely positively not check out so that I have a better chance of winning include:
5 Minutes for Mom is forever hosting giveaways and contests for all sorts of stuff - check out the link for contests.
Scribbit hosts a giveaway every Saturday, and it's always something cute.
Kailani at An Island Life is hosting a Halloween costume contest again this year.
Consider yourself awarned.
5 Minutes for Mom is hosting a giveaway, and the prize is this awesome digital camera. Now, I'm not really much of a pink gal, but even I have to admit that this is totally cool.
For more information on how you can help promote awareness, check out the National Breast Cancer Foundation Official Site , Susan G Komen for the Cure or The Breast Cancer Site.
Well, it's been quite a while since I've done any real blogging around here, so it's time to assure you all that we will return to our regular scheduled programming sometime in October.
Hubby has accepted a new job and starts next Monday. So we have been packing up all our crap for the last 2 weeks. Because 1600 miles is just a bit too long of a commute at this point. Yes, we are preparing for our first major move (as in, "be sure to pack it all in now, because we aren't making another trip"). I've been majorly stressing the whole ordeal, but we're definitely making process.
Anyway, the next posting on this blog will be after the move. So check back sometime next week for what is sure to be an interesting and amusing cross-country adventure. With pictures if I think to keep my batteries charged on the trip.
You may have noticed a lack of...well, blogging here lately. Rest assured, I have not lost interest or run out of fodder. I've simply been a bit preoccupied with life this month. I'm not going to go into it all right now, but there will be plenty of posts to come. Suffice it to say that, though September's posts may be few and far between, October is sure to hold plenty of new and exciting (for me at least) blogworthy things.
The All About You Test from Michele.
Have you ever eaten something beyond the expiration date?
never intentionally
Without peeking what colour is your aura?
hmm...there are times when I'm sure it's a very calm and soothing shade of blue, but then there are times when it is a very angry shade of red. And times when it is a funky shade of purple. And sometimes a very dorky shade of orange. I think I have a rainbow aura.
Do you think it is true that blondes have more fun?
I don't put much store in hair color as an indicator of anything about a person. If it were, I would have been born blonde. For the dumb factor, not so much the fun factor.
If you had to substitute teach for two months, which grade or subject would you choose to teach?
Kindergarten or first grade, without a doubt.
You are a contestant on a Jeopardy-style trivia show. What three categories are you hoping will not be included in the final round?
World History, Politics, and Chemistry
Bonus Question Worth Lots of Points: Michele, of Michele sent me fame, has been sent to your home town and wants to meet you for coffee, do you accept her invitation?
Of course! Although, there's no Starbucks here. But there is a cute little coffee and gelato shop, and I'd probably order ice cream instead of coffee.
Well, if you haven't noticed, I have kind of waited too late to get myself organized for the Blogathon. It's Saturday. I never got around to picking a charity or getting sponsors or anything. Which is all well and good, since Hubby and I have plans Saturday afternoon with some of his coworkers. Should prove interesting.
Anyway, I say all that to say what should be obvious at this point - I am not participating in Blogathon 2007. But I do intend to pop by some blogs that are participating at least a couple of times that day and show them a little support. And you can too. You can even choose to sponsor one if you find someone blogging for a cause you hold dear.
If I start thinking about it now and keep planning a little at a time, I should be ready for Blogathon 2008 in time.
Looking back in life, what did you do 3, 6 and 12 months ago? Have these actions played a major role in your life or has it been like any other day?
I've been lurking around at Write from Karen this week. She is a very interesting person with a fantastic writing style. Check her out if you have the chance.
Anyway, through Karen's blog, I've found yet another weekly writing prompt. This week's question over at Blog Talkers is:
If you could go back in time, what one piece advice would you give yourself?
I think I'd have to say PAY ATTENTION and TRUST YOUR GUT. Technically, that may be 2 pieces of advice, but I think they relate to each other nicely.
Don't be oblivious to the world around you. Pay attention to the people you surround yourself with. And if something feels "off", address it. Don't just let it go, thinking all the while that you are just reading too much into it. Don't ignore it and hope that it just fixes itself. It won't. It will only fester and become a larger issue. If something doesn't sit well with you, for whatever reason, let it be known. You'll save yourself from all the "I should have..."s and "if only I had..."s and "how could I have let this happen"s that inevitably follow the huge blow ups that you knew deep down were coming.
I came across an item in this post at An Island Life this morning that really has me thinking hard. The 2007 Blogathon is July 28, and I'm seriously contemplating participating.
Each participant must update every 30 minutes for the 24-hour period beginning on July 28, 2007, at 6:00 AM Pacific Time. So that means I would actually have to stay awake for an entire 24 hour period. Or recruit Hubby as a guest blogger for the event to help out. There's a thought.
The best part (in my opinion) is that it's not just a "something to do" event. You pick a charity to blog for and get people to sponsor you. So if I decide to do this, I need to decide whether I want to blog for a breast cancer charity or a children's charity or what.
What do you think? Should I do this? What charity should I choose? Are YOU thinking about joining in on the fun? What charity would YOU blog for?
This week's Getting to Know You Day at Create a Connection is all about blogging:
When did you begin your first blog and what inspired you to do so?
I started blogging on Myspace the summer of 2005. Inspiration? I'm terrible about keeping in contact with people by way of phone calls and emails, so I thought I'd email everyone with a link to my myspace profile and then if they didn't know what was going on in my life it was their own fault. I'm terribly lazy like that.
Do you have more than one blog? Why? How are they different?
I actually have 5, but only 4 that are active. I still use Myspace to talk about most of the personal stuff that goes on. My mom and sister, friends from high school, and my closest college friends are all on Myspace, so that's where I try to update everyone on our exciting and glamorous life.
I have a Xanga blog that I use to clear out my email inbox when I have a lot of forwards I like - I'm not the "send this to everyone in your address list 5 times in the next 2 seconds or your life will suck forever until the day you die - which will be in exactly 24 hours" type of person. I haven't posted to it since January, though.
And I have 3 (yes, three) Blogspot blogs. I know, it seems a bit much. But I'm the kind of person that likes to be able to compartmentalize things. And the Labels feature just wasn't enough for me at the time. I have one blog just for photography (although I'm thinking of discontinuing that one and just doing my photography posts here on select days). I have a separate blog for karate. And this blog for my feeble attempts at creative writing, memes, devotional thoughts, and whatever else happens into my head as I sit at the keyboard.
How would you characterize your blog?CreativePoliticalInformationalCommunity-orientedOr something else?
I'd say this blog would be quasi-creative and sometimes informational. But mostly it's just random.
To paraphrase Oprah, what is "one thing you know for sure" about blogging?
I'm pretty sure I know where the "Publish Post" button is. Most of the time. That's about it.
Is it important to you to get feedback in terms of comments or pings? Why or why not?
Sometimes I obsess over it, but usually I can just remind myself that I'm really only writing for me. If other people actually enjoy reading it and care to share that with me, I'm thrilled.
What 3 blogs would you recommend to our readers and why?
Sarah and the Goon Squad makes me laugh all the time. Sarah's twins just turned 3, and they are hilarious little people!
Scribbit is another good one. I love Michelle's writing style. She always has great ideas, and those recipes she posts on Sundays always look yummy. Someday I'll try one.
I just started reading I Am Bossy recently. I think Sarah brought this one to my attention. So far I have yet to be unentertained by a Bossy post. I adore her "illustrations", and Bossy constantly speaks of herself in the third person - Amber likes that.
It's Getting To Know You Day over at Create a Connection, and here is the prompt for this week:
Where were you in 1987? In school? Working? Single? Married? Attached? What was important to you? What were you doing creatively? Tell us a bit about your life then. I realize some of you were children then...all the better!
Where were you in 1997? What would you like to share about the nineties?
Where did you plan to be or think you'd be in 2007? Have your realized your goals? What is one thing about your present life you love and one you'd like to change?
How do you see your life in 2017? Do you have any goals or dreams for your future?
1987 - I was graduating from kindergarten. According to one of the boys in my class, I had been married, but immediately after the ceremony I hit my head on the monkey bars and got amnesia (I went to school with some very imaginative characters). Saturday morning cartoons were the most important thing at that point, and my cullinary creativity knew no bounds as I played house in the yard.
1997 - I was a sophomore in high school, madly in love with an older man (he was 17) who broke my heart that year. Funny story? Three years later, I married him.
2007 - My plan for adulthood as I left high school was, and I quote, to be "barefoot and pregnant the rest of my child-bearing days." Eight years later, and I have no children of my own. We still want them, but we just aren't quite to that point in our lives yet. One thing about my present life that I love? My husband and our marriage. One thing I'd like to change? The average salary of a preschool teacher in this area - it's far too important a job to be paid so low.
Goals for 2017 - I'd like to have a child or two by then, and being homeowners would be nice. But as long as I'm still with my Hubby at that point, I don't think I'll have much to complain about.
The start of a new month means the start of a new Writeaway Contest at Scribbit. This month's theme? Tradition. The prize? The Moose Pooper Candy Dispenser complete with a pack of M&Ms! You know you want it! Submit your entries by midnight on June 16th.
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Kailani over at An Island Life is putting together The Great Gift Exchange - a chance to get to know another blogger better and get some happy mail mixed in with your bills and junk mail. Who doesn't love happy mail? Sign up by June 7th if you want in on the fun.
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Colleen at Simple Kind of Life is hosting a contest/giveaway. This month's grand prize? Pirates of the Caribbean 1 and 2 on DVD (plenty of eye candy to be had there). Booby prize? A Cheech and Chong DVD. Click here to find out how to enter.
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There is also a contest/giveaway at GeekySpeaky.com with a grand prize this month of a 1GB USB flash drive! And the booby prize of a Futurama DVD is nothing to sneeze at either. Check out the rules/regs here.
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Gee. I feel rather unoriginal now.
Meme time again! Favorite local restaurants edition!
Here are the rules:
1. Add a direct link to your post below the name of the person who tagged you. Include the city/state and country you’re in.
Nicole (Sydney, Australia)
velverse (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
LB (San Giovanni in Marignano, Italy)
Selba (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Olivia (London, England)
ML (Utah, United States)
Lotus (Toronto, Canada)
tanabata (Saitama, Japan)
Andi (Dallas [ish], Texas, United States)
Lulu (Chicago, Illinois, United States)
Chris (Boyne City, Michigan, United States)
AB (Cave Creek, Arizona, United States)
Johnny Yen (Chicago, Illinois, United States)
Bubs (Mt Prospect, Illinois, United States)
Mob (Midland, Texas United States)
Yas (Ahwatukee, Arizona USA)
Alicia(Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA)
Tug (Hell, Colorado, USA)
Bond (Memphis, TN, USA)
TopChamp (Glasgow, UK)
Kailani (Honolulu, HI, USA)
Amber (Henderson, TN, USA)
2. List out your top 5 favorite places to eat at your location.
3. Tag 5 other people (preferably from other countries/states) and let them know they’ve been tagged.
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Bell's Drive In, Henderson, TN - a locally owned and operated diner that boasts "the best hamburger this side of heaven." I don't know that I would go that far, but they are pretty darn good burgers. And their desserts are fantastic! Be sure to hit the ATM before you go - this is a cash only establishment.
Chow Wagon, Henderson, TN - it doesn't look like much, just a shack on the side of the road, but darn if they don't make the best sweet tea I've ever had in my life! Seating is limited (to a couple of picnic tables in the parking lot), but we don't actually go to Chow Wagon for the dining environment. It's all about the food - the onion rings are a must. It's another one of those diner food establishments that takes cash or local checks only.
Snookum's Steakhouse, Henderson, TN - this steakhouse is only open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. But I guarantee you the owners aren't hurting from that. Their parking lot is always full on those nights, for good reason. Yet again, cash or check please.
El Ranchito's, Henderson, TN - it's no Los Portales, but it sure beats Taco Bell for when you've got the munchies for something Mexican. I love their white cheese dip - so much that I'll even add it to my taco salad or quesadilla.
But my absolute favorite restaurant in this area isn't actually in this town. It's in the next town over - Jackson.
Asahi Japanese Steakhouse, Jackson, TN - it's hibachi!!! Who doesn't love hibachi??? Crazy people, that's who. Think of a slightly less-expensive Benihana's. I love it all - the onion soup, the chilled salad with ginger dressing, the fried rice (that rice is fan-freakin'-tastic!), the shrimp, the steak, the chicken, the vegetables, and of course, the showmanship of the chef. Seriously, all it takes to make my day is for the chef to do the volcano with the onion and follow it up with the "Smoky Mountain" and the train. Heaven, I tell you.
So now I'm supposed to tag 5 bloggers for this one...
Let's see what Black Belt Mama, Sarah, Scribbit, The Weird Girl, and Becky have in their areas. And you, too! Just because I didn't specifically tag you doesn't mean you can't play along. Lord knows I wasn't specifically tagged for this thing.
Scribbit is at it again! This month's Write-Away Contest is all about vacations. Submissions are due by midnight on Tuesday, May 15th. The prize? Alaskan chocolates and a nifty button to proudly display on your blog's sidebar.
You can read my entries
here
or here
or here.
...sort of. Since we don't have a laptop I won't be doing any blogging or emailing while we are vacationing. But we are taking the Wii with us (in case of inclement weather of course), so I'll be able to check my email and keep up with the blogs in my Google reader. Nintendo certainly created a thing of beauty in the Wii. Now, if only they had a keyboard attachment for the internet browser...
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Couldn't leave this post without bringing up the fact that it is #200! Yay me!
