Sunday Nights

I have such vivid memories of Sunday nights.  Growing up, we were still out on our bicycles trying to get in one more ride around the block before dark, using a blade of grass for a whistle, or just sitting for few more minutes in the tree in the park.  Talking.  Laughing. No cell phones.  Good times.

Sunday nights during nursing school meant one of two things.  Scavenging the dorm to see what everyone had done on their weekend home, or getting off from a 40 hour weekend at work.  "Working extra" we called it.  Starting Friday at 3pm, we would work until 7am Saturday, go back at 3pm and work til 7am Sunday, then round out the weekend with a 3-11 shift on Sunday.  So those Sunday nights were pretty much falling into bed for a few hours sleep. Good times

When my children came along, Sunday nights meant packing up to go home after a weekend at Mama and Daddy's when Barry worked EMS all weekend.  As they grew, Sunday nights were spent winding down from softball, roller hockey, or a cookout with friends.  There were also those Sunday nights getting back from Taekwondo tournaments and unpacking the trophies and the suitcases.  Good times.

When Whitney left for college, Sunday's often meant sending her back to Athens.  And waiting. It is my right as a mother to worry. After the requisite phone call, I could relax and piddle around until bedtime. Good times. (once everyone was back where they were supposed to be)

Now that we have the proverbial "Empty Nest", Sundays just give me time to think about what I've done over the weekend.  Plan for the week ahead.  This weekend was productive.  I made a "Dukes of Hazzard" birthday cake for Cole.  Tried some brioche dough in the bread machine that I used for cinnamon rolls.  They turned out pretty good.  Combination sticky buns/cinnamon rolls.  I finished the third of six ancillary projects for my book.  Getting close.  I watch my Sunday night show - The Amazing Race.  I am pretty much a Cowboys fan.  I almost get too nervous to watch.  And now - for the two hundredth time - Sweet Home Alabama.  Good times.

The windows are open and I hear the night sounds.  Crickets.  Takes me back to that tree in the park.  Good times.

Has it really been that long?

Since I've written I mean.  I've needed to vent, to share, and to create but I just totally forgot this outlet.  So, I'll attempt to catch up on the venting, the sharing, and the creating here now.  And I may even throw in some complaining.  I am sad to say that my book has become my albatross again.  The manuscript is hopefully done with the help of a "ghost writer" but the ancillaries are giving me a fit now.  Why - since I wrote the book, can I not come up with questions for the six online activities?  Maybe because I am trying to make each and every question unique?  Or I am, as usual, just making it harder than it is and taking the "I can't do this approach?"  I've seen other books with the same questions asked different ways.  This is not hard, so why am I making it so?  I should probably be writing questions rather than venting here.  Let me share before I go. 

I made a quilt top for Lydia's baby.  I ended up with one pink square in the corner rather than the blue square that should have been there.  Not sure how that happened since the pattern worked out.  I will post a picture later.  I am sure that nobody would have noticed (nobody did) but I did.  So, I took it to have an initial monogram placed on that now obvious pink square in the corner!  I thought I knew the baby's name, but something made me stop by the bakery and ask for sure - in case I wanted to put all three initials.  Turns out, I misunderstood the baby's name and would have had the wrong initial monogrammed. Does a 'curlz' H look anything like a 'curlz' K???  The H looks good even though no one would have noticed the pink square!  I really want to try quilting it myself.  It's small and I read a trick about using glad wrap (the sticky on one side) to draw your pattern.  I am going to try it.

I have always though 'madeleines' are the cutest cookie/cakes.  So I found a pan (thanks Amazon.com) and found an interesting recipe on the mini madeleine pan for lemon almond madeleines.  I love lemon and almonds are good for you, so that was to be my first attempt.  The almonds are ground with the sugar so they are very fine and somewhat like the flour.  The recipe made about a million of them.  And of course, I thought I had to eat them all.  The lemon glaze was a perfect topping.  I'll be making more of them, but maybe with a smaller recipe.  Barefoot Contessa made some coconut ones, but since I am the only one around here that likes coconut, guess what will happen.  Same reason I haven't made cupcakes lately. 

Vent, share, and create.  I've done them all.  Back to the questions.  After all, there are so many...

I'm back!!

It has really been a while and so much has happened!  We finished Fall quarter.  What a wild ride!  Students who don't care, students who care but can't make the grade, and the disgusting drama that is a bunch of women in the same room at the same time!  BUT - the most exciting news is that my #1 daughter got engaged!  We have been hoping for a while that it would happen and now we settle in to wedding planning!  An early fall date has been set, so here we go!!
I have been baking a lot the last couple of days.  I have done a little more shopping.  I am running out of funds, but thankfully, I am getting close to the end!  Of course, my door handle broke off of my car yesterday, so there goes the last of my Christmas Club funds!! 
I hated sweating yesterday while shopping.  Christmas shopping is supposed to be cold!!  The problem was the humidity, but the air temperature wasn't cool enough for me! 
My #1 son has settled into a very good relationship with such a sweet girl.  They seem very comfortable together, much like #1 daughter and her fiance' did in the beginning.  It does help to be friends first.  We'll see where they go, but we are hoping they go together!  As parents, we feel very lucky to have two wonderful children who seem to have made good choices!
Back to the baking, sewing, and oh yea - writing!!  Got a lot of chapter reviews to read (where's the wine???) and then onward to the last chapters and the all important resource guide for the whole book!  What have I gotten myself into......

Saturday morning

I am writing!  I have a chapter due to my editor by tomorrow afternoon which is technically the end of "the weekend" which is when I promised to deliver. I have the info, I am just rewriting and rewriting it now.  It is a chapter than can basically be said in one paragraph, but I'll keep expanding, deleting, and revising to make it long enough without repeating myself.  I ordered myself a birthday present this morning.  A new, more sophisticated sewing machine.  I have really enjoyed sewing again, so I found one that was 65% off the regular price and it had good reviews, so I am counting on receiving a few dollars for my birthday which will pay for it!  I did use some Christmas Club money to buy it since there was only one left in stock, but I promise to replace it.  If I really won that netbook, I will be SO excited, since that is what Jan, Robert and I were going to get for Meema!  I think she will love it.
Life is good.

It's been a while

since I've had a chance to catch up.  I am currently at St Simons, my favorite place.  The weather is gorgeous and we've done just about as little as possible.  I went to Camden County yesterday to meet with my students, then ate at Five Guys, shopped at Target and went to eat for Troy's birthday at Bonefish.  I actually went to Ziggy Mahoney's for "dancing" which means Troy and I sat at a table watching the show on the dance floor.  Barry stayed busy dancing with Charlotte, Vonnie, and Wanda.  Drunk people are so funny to watch!  I imagine that plenty of people don't feel so well today.    I did have a very nice winter white cosmopolitan at Bonefish!  I'll have to figure out that recipe!! 
We sat on the pier for a while.  SO PRETTY OUT THERE!  There is an odd ship that is in the sound that seems to be stuck or anchored.  It is just floating there.  Kinda strange. 
There are some new places to eat, some old places are back, and some have just changed names.  Chelsea is now Saltwater Cowboys, Frankie G's apparently went way down hill and is now the Island Grill.  There is a new Mallery Cafe behind Parker's.  Blue Water is back - even with Crispy Flounder.  Speaking of restaurants, it is about time to eat again! 
I am SO enjoying my time here, even if I am not getting anything done.

Life rolls on..

So, it has been a while.  Isn't it a shame that everytime someone asks how've you been, your answer is "just so busy" or you can't do something because "I'm way too busy"?  Everyone is busy these days and I don't think anyone has the corner on being busier than the next.  We get up, go to work, get off, work some more, go to bed and start the cycle all over the next day.  I don't think life should be that way.  We should all have some play time everyday.  Right now, my Thanksgiving break is so full of things I want to do, I know it will be over before it starts!  You see, that's my projected "get it done" week.  I see how messy my living room is with youngest child's unwanted household items and say "I'll pack it up when I'm off for Thanksgiving."  I want to finish the project for oldest child's significant other and I keep saying "it will be a stretch, but I'll finish it over Thanksgiving break."  And of course, you know I am thinking that I will finish at least two chapters of "the book" over the Thanksgiving break!! 
Everybody has to realize at some point that you can't be everything to everybody, so quit trying.  I told a student yesterday to simplify her life.  She didn't understand.  I have given up surveying, Although it doesn't sound like much, it really is a relief.  I don't want to give it up for good, but just for this year.  That basically saved me about  six weeks of work over the next year.  I hope to finish the book soon - wouldn't by the end of the year be GREAT? - and that will free up a little more time. 
So today is my day off and I HAVE to get a watch battery, get a few groceries, and then hopefully come home and sew for a while.  As bad as I am at cutting and sewing straight lines, I am enjoying it.  Straight lines are overrated!!!  I can't wait to see my quilts that come back from the quilter.  I most likely will not have another one ready to get back by Christmas, but there are always birthdays next year!  I just think homemade quilts make the perfect gift.  Too bad quilting machines cost so much!! 
Loving the prospect of cool weather this week.  Hot weather takes away my patience.
Off to the store.

Getting Away

I am not the best traveler.  I hate riding.  I've said that.  I am in Atlanta and in spite of having to ride in the back seat for almost four hours, it is kinda nice to be here.  Had dinner last night in a neat place called Two Urban Licks with friends from work and my oldest child and her intended.  She had the "Big-Ass Burger" - really, on the menu.  It was true to its name.  I had jerk chicken that was good.  Sweet and spicy. 
I actually made it to three sessions at the meeting this morning.  I don't think many of my cohorts did.  Interesting subjects. 
Headed back out now to learn video making for procedures.  I'd love to use the technology.
There's something to be said for a quiet hotel room high above Peachtree Street.  Trader Vic's tonight.  Looking forward to a real Mai Tai!