Where's the Beef??

One of our housemates is moving out soon so a few of us are going out to dinner tonight. We are going to a fantastic little vegetarian restaurant called Cafe Paradiso. I am not one to think it's worth spending a lot of money on food where you don't get meat (prices are on the higher end) but apparently Bobby Flay, BBQ King, went to Ireland and loved Cafe Paradiso! I have also had rave reviews from my friends so Branden and I are excited to finally get to try it.

As exciting as it is to get to go out for great food, it is sad to be losing another housemate. He's been in the house since before we moved in and he is always great for stories. I don't think I've ever met anyone who has been around the world (literally) more times than him. One job he had, had him flying totally around the world every 6 weeks and he was there for I think about 3 years. It's also sad since he has a similar sense of humor as I do. Although he probably had it first, being originally from Scotland, and mine developed more from living there.

Who knows though, maybe we'll get another girl in the house and finally we can outnumber the boys!

On a different note, it was actually really nice yesterday so we went to the park along the river by our house. As we were peacefully sitting on the bench along the bank, we heard this loud air spout type noise. A good sized seal had someone managed to get up the river and was swimming along by where we were! There was a row boat with 2 people paddling slowly behind the seal which almost made us think that it was 'pushing' the poor thing further up the river. The seal's breathing when it would surface was really loud, making me think that it was tired as there was no bank for it to get up on for rest.

Once it swam past us, Branden and I decided to walk up the path along the river to follow it and see where it would go. The boaters pulled up to some steps and started to get out, but we still headed up the river, since the seal was a bit ahead of them. At first we walked slowly, listening for it's loud breath when it would surface but we heard and saw nothing. Fearing that it was swimming faster than our slow walking, we headed up river faster, hoping that maybe it found the sandy bank up ahead and was finally getting to snooze in the sun. When we got to the top of the trail, we still saw and heard nothing. This had us thinking something a bit different.

"I know this seems a bit far fetched," I started, "but what if the seal was actually the people in the boat's pet, and they were just taking it for a swim?"

Branden surprisingly didn't look at me as if I had lost my mind, "I oddly was thinking the same thing."

"Since we didn't stick around to see the people get out of the boat, we may have missed the seal getting out too and I could have snuggled it!" I practically moaned.

We headed back to where the people got out of the boat but there was no sign of anything. No boat, no people, and no domestic pet seal for me to cuddle. Ok, so maybe the seal just swam back down the river once the boat left but it is more fun to think of some random eccentrics taking their pet seal for a swim!

Unfortunately we forgot to bring the camera with us so I don't have any photos to show you. Sadly, the weather is back to nasty with no signs of getting nice again but it was great to get out for a bit yesterday...can you tell we probably needed it???

This was taken at the end of February but this is the section of river where the seal was.

Well, I'm off to do some cleaning! Happy Thursday everyone!

Why do we say these??

Back in October 2005, when I was the ripe old age of 21, I wrote this blog post:

I have come up with a list of sayings that I've heard over the years that are either stupid, don't make sense, or both. Unfortunately I have used some of these.

Beauty is only skin deep.

(Well duh! Not many people have a beautiful spleen!)

Smart as a whip.

(How many smart whips do you know?) 

A watched pot never boils.

(We are giving this pot way too much credit to 'know' when we're not looking)

Going to clean their clock! 

(There is nothing more threatening than a good clock cleaning!)

Not over until the fat lady sings.

(Is there a magic fat fairy that's supposed to appear and end things?)

He who laughs last, laughs best.

(No he's just the slowest!)

Cat got your tongue?  

(Eww, I hope not!)

Fit as a fiddle.

(Because you know how much fiddles work out)

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

(They should also get dressed in their basement!)

Barking dogs seldom bite. 

(Tell the dog that!)

Cute as a bug's ear.

(Bugs have ears?)

For Pete's sake!

(Who the heck is Pete and why do we care about his sake?)

Well I'll be dog gone.

(Huh?)

Knock on wood.

(The only thing it will get you is bloody knuckles!)

A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush. 

(Baffled at what this could possibly mean)

For crying out loud!

(I have never heard this said while anyone was crying out loud)

Between a rock and a hard place.

(Isn't a rock a hard place?)

Who spilled the beans?

(Would be easier to say "who told?")

Happy as a clam.

(Because I'm sure they are very emotional creatures)

You're pulling my leg!

(I don't usually touch people's legs let alone pull them)

Deader than a door nail.

(First off, you can't be deader than anything! And secondly, what's a door nail?)

There's no such word as can't.

(Umm, you just said it)

There is more than one way to skin a cat.

(I'm sure there is a culinary class in China that teaches the many methods)

You can't have your cake and eat it too. 

(Then what's the point of having cake!  To look at?!)

AND: One of my favorites that I actually use often

The world is your oyster!

(still don't know what it means!)

A baby, a dress, and a fit of laughter

Marcie had her baby on Thursday and they are well! I've seen some photos on facebook and he is absolutely adorable! They are all getting settled and hopefully will get to go home today. Thanks for all your wishes and prayers!

Branden and I went shopping on Friday. We've been looking for new jeans for Branden and I've been in search of a teapot for a while. While we were in a clothing shop, I was drawn to a particular item of clothing that I long for but have never owned...a maxi dress. Yes, I know that I am only 5'2" and a floor length dress will make me look like a stump made of fabric, but there is just something about this dress that makes tall, stick figured women, look fabulous, would transform my curvy, short, feminine body into something similar to an overstuffed sausage, I like. This is why I don't own a maxi dress, because I fight this constant struggle of "I love it but I shouldn't have it if I want to look remotely decent". So anyway, I spied the maxi dress display and made a beeline for it. As I flipped through them, I told Branden all the reasons why I shouldn't wear one and how I thought just the right style and pattern may just work if I could just find it. Then it happened...my whole maxi dream was crushed...in my husband's rare moment of common sense.

"Mags, just look at how high the hanger is in comparison to you. You couldn't wear it if you wanted to." He obviously stated with a small grin on his face.

My face dropped. I had never thought of this before. My eyes gazed at the dress, the fabric reaching the floor, and the straps, hanging from a hanger that reached the very tip-top of my head! In slight sadness, but mostly ridiculous realization, I started cracking up! Heavens, I pretty much could have muffled my giggles in the dresses waistline! Why had I not realized this before?? I consider myself to be very practical, but I would have reached far above my head, grabbed the Amazonian dress from the rack, tried it on, and only then been surprised and disappointed that the dress was way too long for me. By this time Branden was laughing as well and my eyes were tearing up with my fit of giggles. So much for my own common sense!

Other than my maxi dress dream being crushed (and don't even think that I could just hem the skirt because if you knew my 'sewing abilities' you wouldn't suggest the demise of an innocent item of clothing) we had a very successful day of shopping! Branden got 3 pairs of jeans, I got my teapot, and we also got some new bathroom towels, a new casserole dish, and some other handy things. Now if only my allergies would let up, I may get to enjoy the week!

Hello there, remember me???

There's so much going on that it's hard to get my mind focused enough to write. Unfortunately things won't be letting up soon so I am sadly going to be the aloof, on and off blogger for a while. The big thing that I can't wait for is...we've got a baby coming!!! I'm so excited!!! ...did you totally just think I was talking about me? Sorry, I wasn't...hehehe. My lovely friend is nearing the end of her pregnancy and I am getting really anxious to finally meet him. This means I'm gearing up to be a cooking mad woman, making them a bunch of meals to have in their freezer and pre made baking mixes.

Also, Street Pastors is really getting in full swing and we are planning for training in May and June so we can be out on the Streets by mid July! I've got a bit of paperwork to finish filling out but I am just overjoyed that we will be starting relatively soon!

Branden's leaving next week for a conference in Belfast that he will be presenting at so he's been working late nights in preparation. I'll be staying with a girlfriend while he's gone so I won't have another breakdown in my sanity from being alone. With all that's been going on, we still have somehow been social butterflies and the chances I get to be in the comfort of my room, I have been using them to relax and not think about anything. I also got a bit crafty too and made a new ring and pair of earrings.

I know there has been more but I'm in my cosy room so my mind is currently shut off. Here's a glimpse at my newest craft creations. I miss you all and hope things have been going well for you!

 Needle felted band with sewn on beads

 Needle felted ball with attached bead

Easy to make but I really like them!

The Many Adventures of Maggie with Poo!

I'm cleaning like a mad woman today since we have friends coming to cook for us in our house tomorrow (don't you wish you had our crazy convincing skills!) so I had to dig through my ancient archives of old blog fodder to give you something today. This was written about 6 years ago but the memories linger for a lifetime...unfortunately...

I guess you could say that poo has been a background theme in my life. There have been many strange

instances with this crap and most of them I would like to wipe from my memory! When I was 3, we were having a snowball fight and my neighbor hit me right in the mouth. Unfortunately for me it was loaded with dog poo but luckily my vomit cleansed the taste from my mouth. When I was about 4, my neighbors had a new kitty. I loved kitties so much and I loved to hold them. I held it a bit too tight however, squeezing the poo right out of it and all over my shirt! 

At about age 13 my sister and I were walking along a muddy road and got into a mud fight. After being covered in mud we started to notice a nasty smell. It was then our intelligent minds realized that this mud from the road IN a cow field might be contaminated! Imagine that! I had a friend in high school that would get into horse poo fights with me...it is good for throwing. I have also been pooped on by seagulls twice in my life. 

About 3 months ago I was running the steer shoot at roping practice and the steer kicked up a lot of poo as he shot out of the shoot. It landed on my sweatshirt so I flicked the material to get it off causing the poo to take flight yet again. This time it landed perfectly...on my bottom lip! I was spewing and spitting for a long time...ulgh! 

Moral of this blog: Don't pitch me crap...it has a tendency to land in my mouth !