What's That You Say, Mrs. Robinson?

The Lion King Obama

If you missed this on the Daily Show...it is a must see (IMHO).

Ode to the Onion

I have, for the last several months, had an insatiable craving for onions.

I can't get enough. In fact, the other day I honestly thought about sauteing up some onions with a yummy sauce. Not onions and something else. Just onions.

I started to become suspicious because historically when my body needed something in particular, I would start craving it. Particularly when I was pregnant, but also at other times (don't freak out...I know for a fact that I'm not pregnant). 

Usually I crave either red meat (need protein or iron) or just veggies in general.

But now, it is most definitely onions. What does that mean? I am not versed on the nutrients that my flavorful friend the onion provides, so I looked it up:

Yes, onions are very healthy.

• Contain vitamin C and quercetin which are antioxidants. Quercetin reduces the incidence of precancerous lesions in the GIT and therefore has some anti-cancer properties
• Contain chromium, a trace metal which improves the cells reponse to insulin and therefore increases insulin's sensitivity, increases HDL-cholesterol levels (good cholesterol) and lowers the total cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
• It also inhibits the breakdown (resorption) of bones and therefore is useful for people with osteoporosis.
• Contain vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12, E & K. Vitamin B6 helps reduce the risk for heart disease by lowering homocysteine levels in the body (which result from eating meat)
  
• It also possesses anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties

In case you wanted to know!

I *heart* Pandora

I LOVE this internet radio! It allows you build your own "channels" and share them with other people. There are ads on the page, but if you are just listening to it, NO COMMERCIALS! If it goes away....I will be VERY sad!

What's Cookin' 8/24 - 8/28

The beginning of the busy school season this week. I have a meeting Wednesday night to kick off the planning for a benefit auction that will take place in November and the very last back to school night for Payton's school on Thursday.

I will never again get the chance to go and meet all of his teachers and hear about his classes from their perspective. It is another event that goes in the "the last time we will be..." column. One of my very best friends is, right this very minute dropping her only child off at college. Things happen so fast.

And with that, here is what we will be eating this week...

Sunday - Meatloaf, mac n cheese
Monday - Potatoes, eggs, veggie scramble, toast
Tuesday - Something with Chicken, perhaps the Thai dish that we didn't do last week
Wednesday - Pasta, w/ground beef (not sure on the specifics)
Thursday - The kids get pre-made quiche, we get whatever we can get our hands on

OK, so this is pretty half-assed. Bad Mommy!

Excuse me, officer...are you my father?

Don't step on the street!
Originally uploaded by liladubin

Rednecks for Obama

DNC Sunday 128
Originally uploaded by oxocube303

I am finding some great photos of the DNC on flickr. Please bear with me as I share them with you over the next few days.

Discovering "Runway"

On my recent trip to Washington, my husband's Aunt Gail was stunned that were were not watching Project Runway. Gail is not at all superficial or a fashionista, but she is really interested in people and why they do what they do. She highly recommended this show as so many other people have recently.

Today I found myself not feeling great and since I had already done a couple of errands and it was time to sit down and have lunch and do some blogging, I found a couple of episodes of the latest season being re-run and decided to tune in.

It isn't as "all drama" as I thought it would be and I found myself actually getting into it. Some of the designs are the most hideous things I've ever seen. I'm not quite into the different contestants yet. Not sure who I can't stand or who I like. I think I like Korto the best so far, but I'm still reserving judgment.

Who knows if I'll ever get to watch the new episodes....but I will give it a try.

Until I find a new book to grab my attention.

What's Cookin' 8/17 - 8/21

What is going on this week:

Monday - Payton starts school
Tuesday - My 41st birthday


The menu:

Sunday - Breakfast scramble (eggs,bacon,potatoes,onions,corn)
Monday - BBQ Chicken & Grilled veggies
Tuesday - Chicken Enchiladas & salad
Wednesday - BBQ Burgers & veggies
Thursday - Thai Peanut Chicken stir fry w/veggies

And so a return to a "normal" schedule begins. Sort of. Darren won't start school until next week, so this week we sort of have one foot on either side of the fence. We will spend this last day of summer vacation cleaning up in the yard, running out to get whatever items we need to fill in the gaps for food, tidying up the house and having a reminder conversation with the kids about rules and expectations for the school year.

Gone are the days where you get excited by school clothes shopping and going to Office Depot to stock up on supply items. We have this down so well that we just do it bit by bit without making a big deal about it.

I miss the dull scissors and the need for the 64 color Crayola box. The cute backpacks and brand new shoes.

Vacation's over....getting back to real life

I'm on the plane with all 3 of my boys (husband and 2 kids) on my way home from vacationing in Gig Harbor, WA. We had a fabulous visit with my husband's side of the family. We saw 14 different family members all together ranging in ages from 2 to 80+. We ate a lot, shared some wine, old stories, new stories, watched the Olympics and did some water activities (the house is on waterfront property on Puget Sound).

It was everything it was supposed to be. We are a tight family and we have a lot of fun together. My father-in-law is battling lung cancer and I had not seen him since his diagnosis. It was great to see him and finally get to hug him. The distance between Gig Harbor and San Carlos has seemed much greater than it usually does since his diagnosis. We wish we could be closer to support him and to care for his caregiver (my mother-in-law) more.

I was able to talk to various family members about my recent contact with my Dad and they really helped me think through the what if's and what's nexts. I could not go through this journey without each and every one of them.

There were several evenings that I was able to spend some time alone out on the deck by the water's edge, watching the sun set over the Olympic mountains and thinking about my Dad. I think that I found some patience deep inside and will give him whatever space and time he needs to absorb the news that I'm here and wanting to meet him.

And now it is back to the daily life that I call my own.

School starts for Payton next week and for Darren the week after. I'm back to work tomorrow and Dan is on the tail end of closing one deal and about to put another house on the market. We are all very busy, to say the least.

I want to get back to posting regularly here. My sister-in-law mentioned that she had enjoyed reading about what we were planning for dinner each week a while back. Those posts were called "What's Cookin'?" and think I like that idea. It did help me maintain a more disciplined schedule with meal planning.

I will also be "in training" with my son, Payton. He starts his workouts for baseball soon and wants to be in better shape before they begin and after eating so much on this vacation and just generally being "off the wagon" of healthy eating, I want to get back on track. On top of that, a good friend of mine suggested that regular exercise (endorphin rush) would help lift my spirits as I go through the emotions of contacting my Dad. Good advice and I will take it.

So look for the return of "What's Cookin'" posted each Sunday beginning in a few days and for posts about my journey to a healthier lifestyle. My hope is that the two will go hand in hand and that my posted menus reflect the healthier choices. In the beginning they may not as I don't expect everyone in the house to eat the way I will. We all have different food needs and that will be reflected I'm sure.

After work tomorrow it is out for school clothes shoping with Payton. He goes in for his senior portraits on Thursday.
We've only just begun.

Enjoying the sunset over the Olympics

Aunt Katie enjoying the sunset
Originally uploaded by KRob2005

So this is what most evenings have been like for me in the last week. This photo in particular shows Aunt Katie with the sunset over the Olympic mountains in the background. I thought this would be appropriate since the Olympic games started today.

You will notice the most necessary wine glass on the table near Katie's feet. It is empty which is a shame. But I'm sure we filled it up in short order.

I have been falling asleep so easily here. The house we are staying at has its bedroom right at the bulkhead on the property and with the windows open you can very clearly hear the water lapping against the rocks.

Heaven.

I miss my dogs. I'm still waiting to hear from my Dad.

We are so enjoying spending time with the family. Lots of meals and conversations. I think I'm finally starting to unwind a bit. I'm putting off thinking too much about how school starts in 10 days for Payton and all that that brings. For now, there are more important matters like what we are going to do this afternoon. Nap, or sunbathe, or go for a walk on the beach?

The Family

The Family
Originally uploaded by KRob2005

This is a shot of the entire family (on my husband's side) on our first day in Gig Harbor. This photo includes 4 generations, all of which have spent countless days, months and years on the beaches of Rosedale beginning back in the 1920's or so. My husband grew up coming here during the summer and now my kids are doing the same.

Feel free to poke around my flickr account at the other photos from the trip. It has been beautiful so far!

A beautiful afternoon at Rosedale

A beautiful afternoon at Rosedale
Originally uploaded by KRob2005

Just a quick note as I am on vacation in the Gig Harbor area of Washington. Yes, it is really this beautiful and I'm enjoying lots of wine, lots of reading and lots of sunsets.

Much needed.

Still no word from my Dad since the one email I got a while back. I did send him another email to let him know that I am thinking about him and ready to hear from him whenever he is ready also.

Good things come to those who wait.

want some coke darling

want some coke darling
Originally uploaded by toguko

My first entry for the September NaBloPoMo "HA!" month.

I can just picture watching these ladies....very innocent and cute, but out of context is hysterical.

Well, it is to me, anyway!