I’m not one of those who felt New England should be hung by their toes for the “cheating” scandal. 

But I also don’t believe they should have gotten the easiest schedule in the NFL.  The Colts have the second most difficult in case you were wondering…

As I was looking for Colts pictures on Google images for my last post, I accidentally typed clots.  Ewwww.

I think I’m about about a year behind on this, but it is soooo funny.

Wait it’s…not funnnyyyyy.

I went on my first date with my future husband. I saw cigarettes in the front seat and thought, “Oh a smoker. Well this isn’t going to go anywhere.”

When I said something about them, he claimed they belonged to a friend.

I thought, “Oh great. And he’s a liar. I wonder if I should stop this now.”

But he didn’t smoke. And he wasn’t a liar. And now we have three kids and lots of history.

We went swimming near sunset. Impulsive, direct girl that I am I went in for a kiss. When the kiss was over, we looked up to see a sudden summer storm was upon us.

It is taking a lot of restraint, but I am resisting the obvious, cheesy metaphors here.

You’re welcome.

Hoosiers is a legendary film.  I think it is everywhere, but I know it is here.

The kids and I snapped this picture of Gene Hackman, aka Coach Norman Dale, at the International Mystery Writer’s Association Festival June 21.  The kiddos and my mom got autographs from Mary and Carol Higgins Clark. 

I gawked at Mr. Hackman and quickly dialed my stoic husband.  He doesn’t get starstruck, but he got close.

It was on again tonight, so he watched it.  Hoosiers, Tombstone and Roadhouse–if they’re on, they must be watched in order to preserve one’s manhood.  Rule of the house.  Do you have any idea how often Roadhouse is on?

He found this very interesting article written a few years ago in “Where Are They Now?” fashion about the Hoosiers player/actors.  Such interesting trivia:  The Jimmy Chitwood actor never played high school ball; all players were Hoosiers but one; the Husker gym has been preserved as it was in the movie for tourists.

http://www.flakmag.com/sports/cook040524.html

So there’s where they are now.  And here’s where we were then…

I love you man.  No, really, I love you.  Not in a weird, stalkery way, but in the way that you love your grandparents.  You look at them and think, “Man, I just love them so much.  I can’ t think of a time when they won’t be around.  That’s awful.  I won’t think of it.  It won’t happen.  Everything will be okay.”

So, you know, get well soon.  Don’t worry about anything.  Favre’s got everyone looking his way for the remainder of the off-season.  You just focus on you and we’ll see you week one.  Or two.  Whatever.  Just take it easy, okay?

Ingredients

 

We didn’t mean to have a “stick” theme for the 4th of July, but it just sort of happened.  This was fun.  It was waaayyy too much fruit, but still fun.  My eight-year-old was able to help me.  The sticks were pretty splintery, so I wouldn’t have a much younger child participate.  The big thing I learned about trying this was that when cutting the pineapple from the upright position, one tends to cut down and in, so as to make the base smaller than the top.  Most people have a little mechanical sense to them and would probably figure that on their own, but I’m just a dive-in-and-do-it kind of gal.

We were too busy grabbing plates to get a picture after they were grilled, but these kabobs (from my grill master husband) were fantastic as always.  The shrimp, pork and chicken were all marinated in assorted, separate marinades overnight.  The mushrooms and veggies were marinated in Caribbean Jerk that morning.  This is filling, but light enough to allow easy maneuvering outside as we waited until 10 pm for the fireworks.  Yay timechange.

A wonderfully talented friend of ours brought delicious pretzel “Sparklers” that my girls kept calling ”Sprinklers.”  I didn’t get them snapped, so I borrowed this nice image from joyfulabode.com. 

The kids had smoothies with the extra fruit, but I had to “stick” with my Strawberry Mojitos (I know, groan).  I was glad to find a delicious use for the mint growing fragrantly rampant in our yard.  That’s it.  Efficiency.  I’m all about it.  I tried the recipe from samthecookingguy.com and would have to recommend highly. 

No pix of those, either.  I was worn out from all the muddling.

 

Strawberry Mojito 

Makes 1 - but a really delicious one.

This drink requires you to perform the ancient bartender art of ‘muddling’ which just means mashing some of the ingredients at the bottom of the glass to bring out the flavors & oils. You can even buy special equipment just for this task. Or you could use the handle of a wooden spoon or stick or hammer handle if you had to.

• 2 ounces white rum
• 10 fresh mint leaves
• 2 strawberries, halved
• 1/2 lime, quartered
• club soda
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Steps

1. Put lime, sugar, strawberries & mint in the bottom of a tall glass and muddle

Add ice, rum and fill to the top with soda and stir

Oswald Chamber has a way of hitting me in the gut.  Well, I suppose Oswald is just the messenger, isn’t he?

Given the spiritual island on which I find myself, this one stung:

July 10

…To live a distant, withdrawn, and secluded life is diametrically opposed to spirituality as Jesus Christ taught it.

…The real danger in spiritual laziness is that we do not want to be stirred up–all we want to hear about is a spiritual retirement from the world.  Yet Jesus Christ never encourages the idea of retirement–He says, “Go and tell My brethern…” (Matthew 28:10).

Looks like He may be calling me off the spiritual golf course.  I hope my will catches up to my head soon.

Yay! It’s here.

It makes me nervous to lock in first impressions, because I have been famously fickle in past seasons. So this will be boring today, but it should prove quite entertaining in a few weeks.

Here’s my critique with the disclaimer that I would be kicked out in 12 minutes due to low poker face and high gullibility factors.  But the fact I don’t play football well doesn’t stop me from criticizing those fantastic athletes who do, so here we go!

I’m a fan of the goods guys until the bad guys are too good to be disliked. So I’m an early fan of Jerry and Ollie. Go good guys!

My villain is not going to be poor, colorful Renny. It is Brian. Here are his crimes:

*Gave an inflated job title. That’s a personal pet peeve.
*Planned abandonment of likable Jerry within moments of sidling up–even going so far as to liken himself to a rat abandoning ship. I know the game sometimes eventually makes these things necessary, but have a little shame in the first 40 minutes!
*Spoke of himself in third person. Ewww.

I’m a trash TV fan trying to kick the habit.  No, that’s not true.  I’m trying to curb my habit, because the summit of frivolous summer trash starts tomorrow:  Big Brother! 

Anyway, I’m a late comer to ”So You Think You Can Dance.”  My girls and I began watching recently and now it’s something we can all do together.  (Even the guys…good thing this is a quasi-anonymous blog or I would be in trouble.)

Here’s a great moment from the other night.  The pair are Katee and Joshua.  Joshua is built thick like a running back, but is quick and light on his feet in a way that doesn’t seem possible for his frame.  I wonder if Tony Dungy is watching…