Feeling Older?

From the Movie the Guardian with Kevin Costner:

Ben Randall: "When the heck did we get old? "

Maggie McGlone: "Hell, I've always been old Ben. Ya' know what though, I don't mind. I mean if my muscles ache, it's because I've used 'em. It's hard for me to walk up them steps now, its 'cuz I walked up 'em every night to lay next to a man who loved me. I got a few wrinkles here and there, but I've layed under thousands of skies with sunny days. I look and feel this way, well cuz I drank and I smoked. I lived and I loved, danced, sang, sweat and screwed my way thorough a pretty damn good life if you ask me. Getting old ain't bad Ben. Getting old, that's earned. "


I wanted to share this quote with you because I have been feeling guilty lately about some things and starting to feel older when it comes to others. (I know at 34 I am just a baby but still . . .)

My Little List:

Wrinkles - Oh how I love warm sunny days in the summer and the winter

My knees - They ache but I will ski my butt off just the same this winter as I did last

Those few Extra Lbs - But the home-made fudge from the craft fair was so very yummy

Not Shopping Ahead - Christmas is getting closer and I have nothing bought

One or 2 too many - Had a slight headache on Sunday but date night with Arthur was fun


Guess we all have a little list of things that nag at us here and again - but know that although we are getting a little older - We Earned It!

What's for Dinner?

So for those of you actually reading this I know it's been a while sorry.
Today's topic has been kicking around in my head for a few days now. How many times a week do you have the conversation that starts with "What's for Dinner?" I actually counted last week - one of us asked everyday plus when talking to my sister Caren she asked - so I have had the "What's for dinner" conversation at least 8 times in the last 7 days.
Well, tonight the answer is the same that it is every week. For the last 10 years (give or take a week or two) on Monday nights we have pasta and sauce (yes Kate it's homemade). It's started because with our busy working schedule because it was just easier on Mondays to not have to think about what we were going to have to eat. The rest of the week is usually a toss up and switches between, meatloaf, chicken every way you can imagine, hot dogs and beans, soup and sandwich the list just goes on.
But for tonight I have the one major question answered now I just need to know . . . spaghetti, noodles, elbows or shells?

My Sauce Recipe: In a Large deep Frying Style Pan

1 - 1.5 lbs Ground Beef (85% - 15% is best)
Small Onion chopped or Shake twice if you don't have the real thing
Shake Italian seasonings
Shake Onion Salt
Shake Garlic Salt/Powder
Shake Salt & Pepper
Shake - anything else you can think would be good (sometimes I add a Dash of Mrs Dash)

Brown the beef and seasonings

Add:
1 Lg Can Hunts Tomato Sauce (Basil & Garlic)
1 Lg Can Del Monte Tomato Sauce (4 Cheese)
1 Lg Can Del Monte Tomato Sauce Traditional
2 Sm Cans Hunts Paste w/ Italian Seasoning

Simmer on low heat - Unless you have a really big family this should make enough for about 3-4 Monday nights. If it's just the 2 of you like at our house it should make more (unless you have a sauce freak like me).

Enjoy! - Jro

Feline Friends for Life

From the letter I sent the NHSPCA this summer:

I have had cats all my life. 14 years ago I picked up a scruffy orange tiger kitten from an elderly lady and made him my best friend. For 14 years we grew together I believe he was truly my sole mate. After Rusty died I wasn’t even sure I was going to get up in the morning. I had lost the one person who knew me best.

As the weeks wore on I found that not having a pet was making things hard for me, as I work mostly at home and I missed the companionship. So, I started what became frequent visits to the NHSPCA in Stratham. David and Jill, volunteers there were so very patient with me. I told them I was certain about what I was looking for, male orange cat 3-5 years old. I meet and played with tons of kitties looking for a connection but not quite finding it.

In August I meet Licorice. He was 5 month old silver and black tiger kitten found on the streets in Epping (not exactly an older orange cat). We had an instant connection. He played peek-a-boo with me from inside a kitty condo and when I got him to the get acquainted room he purred and laid in my lap in the sun. I called Arthur and told him that I had found a new friend for us to love.
It’s been over a year since we adopted Licorice who we now call Cooper. He is a trip! His favorite things are watching the birds, chewing on feathers I find on the golf course, biting the heads off his play mice and licking my forehead at 3 in the morning. It’s a perfect match. We have a blast together. He sits on the desk, as I write to you, trying to chase the cursor across the screen.
I miss my Rusty everyday but know that I am blessed with the opportunity that Cooper has brought to me to love again, and I do.

Thank you to people like Jill and David who volunteer with the animals and all those behind the scenes keeping them safe. Know that what you do is appreciated by the humans and all the thousands of pets you have given chances to love and be loved
*************************************************************************
In addition to loving Cooper. We now love Little Simon too. We felt like the house was too big for just us and Cooper seemed to long for a friend. In August I brought home Simon. And while even I admit that I was drawn to him because his markings reminded me so much of Rusty - he is a very different cat for sure. He has added something specialto our family and he and Coop just love play wrestling together. If you think you can - find it in your heart to adopt a shelter animal. They will love you forever for giving them a second chance.
- Jro

Thanksgiving Planning

Arthur has asked the last few years for squash pie. I have tried to pull the old pumpkin switch-a-roo. But he catches on everytime. So I have been on the hunt. And today I found the perfect squash pie recipe for Thanksgiving. It goes like this:

Take out the Phone Book

Look Under Bakery

Call a bunch of places

Ask if they make squash pie

When you find out they do not

Drive to local supermarket (Market Basket)

Go to bakery counter

Ask for list of pies

Order Squash & Pecan (what I like pecan) :-)

Pick up week of Thanksgiving

I know that is just not right but I am making apple, chocolate cream and brownies for the kids - can't I buy one or two - isn't it contributing to the local economy? Cut me some slack I am making the rest of the meal from scratch . . . . except for the frozen turnip. Happy Planning
- Jro

Monday, Maine & a Football Game

Another Monday. I went up to Maine this weekend. Arthur and I are avid skiers and in the winter I volunteer at Sunday River. Every fall the resort has a weekend for volunteers. We get caught upon all the gossip - Mountain related and otherwise. It's a long weekend but it is fun. As a thank you from the resort Arthur and I ski for free. What a nice thing in a sport the grows more expensive every year.

I got home in time to see kickoff on the Patriots game. It was a little tense there for a while but in the end they pulled it off. (although they didn't beat the points spread) The other big news in our house this weekend was Arthur's new TV. Although I think it is a little big for the room - he just loves it and it was very good for watching the game.
Enjoy your week.
-Jro