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November 23, 2004
I'm getting there!
coffee of the day: Started out with a nice pot of Maragogype that Greg brewed with one of the vacuum brewers...nice flavor! Moved on to Brazil Cup of Excellence from the superautomatic. He's been working hard roasting beans for all the visitors this week plus logging in the new beans. Have I mentioned we are now color coded by region in the coffee cabinet? The bags have new colored shoe laces region specific...You didn't expect anything different, did you?
Two more days until Thanksgiving. Half the visitors arrive tomorrow and it's just about as clean as it's going to get around here. I don't think we have to worry about ebola or polio so it's clean enough. Knoel seems to think it's his duty to get cat hair all over each and every freshly made bed ...what a cat....thanks for the help.
Now I think I should start getting some baking/cooking done. There is a method...if I start now, maybe I'll figure out what other groceries I need by tomorrow. Yeah I know the grocery stores will be open Thanksgiving Day but I really don't want to be one of the ones they are open for...ya know? hhhmmm...maybe it would be appropriate to have food on hand for the day before Thanksgiving, huh? I heard recently that a Brazilian BBQ restaurant opened down near the Lake I think we should try it out tomorrow night. I also heard a Hooters was going to open by next summer down the street a bit. Oh wow...way cool...NOT.
Newsflash...after 2 and a half years, I have finally read the manual that came with my cook top and found out how to adjust the low setting on the gas burners. I can simmer again....life is good.
Hope you all have a great festive holiday with family and friends...
Posted by frani at 02:23 PM | Comments (0)
November 21, 2004
Of Coffee and Blog Explosion
Coffee of the Day...I just finished the last few beans from Nepal. wonder what's next? Greg's been roasting yesterday and this morning so I'm sure we'll have a fine assortment for the week. Smells good too.
So Welcome Blog Explosion surfers. I know you stop by for your 30 second view but have no fear; you won't get reprimands from me for not rating or commenting or staying long enough to see what I'm all about. Actually I think one really can decide within 30 seconds if there is anything that catches your eye long enough to stay on and read a bit longer. I do on many blogs I surf...and yet I still don't leave comments or ratings. That's just me...and I don't expect anything of you I don't do myself. Now then...welcome..put your feet up...have a read or three...have a snack...leave a comment.
On a follow-up note...another 60-100 VT Guard personnel left yesterday for deployment to Iraq or Kuwait. That's a lot of people from the little state of VT. I guess I still don't understand the whole issue of the National Guard anyway. I always thought as "part-timers" with the majority of their real lives elsewhere, that their mission was to fill in the fringes at home. Guess not...just they are filling in the fringes overseas. In the meantime though, they end up giving up their jobs and careers for the duration and frequently for a LOT less pay. I think they need a lot of support from the home front and maybe this year's recipients of holiday spirit ought to be organizations who give support to our National Guard families. Just a thought......
Posted by frani at 09:47 AM | Comments (0)
November 20, 2004
Hey Kids...What day is this?
I win I win...I was the first to remember and wish my Hubby a Happy Aniversary today...33 years! Ahem...we don't always remember and make a huge deal out of our aniversaries. It's taken on the importance of really who even remembers..hehehe. Of course, it's not like we didn't get weekly reminders from MyFamily.com though.
Posted by frani at 12:56 PM | Comments (1)
November 19, 2004
Come Back Safely.....
About 600 Vermont National Guard men and women left today for deployment to Iraq. I just happened to be out and about as their 11 bus motorcade was given special passage of honor on their way to the airport. Many people lined the route with businesses flying banners and flags and balloons. The School children from one of the local elementary schools with their building on the main route were out in force as well. I was pleased to be able to join them. I hope those who are leaving know how much they are respected.
Posted by frani at 03:12 PM | Comments (2)
November 18, 2004
There's a time to work and a time to play.....
Coffee of the Day...finished the Panama Songbird and just poured in some Kenya beans...
Got some snow tires mounted, balanced and on my car yesterday. I realized, while dragging my summer tires into the basement, that the snows I had mounted are the ones used by the car we got rid of this summer. Hmmm.. ya know how it feels when you put your slippers on the wrong feet even though there is no left or right to the said slippers? We'll see.
I can NOT believe what a pack rat I am. Well, considering what I hauled out of the basement past summer, you'd think I'd have a clue by now. Everywhere I look there is more stuff taking up space where usable stuff ought to be. This morning's project was cleaning out the upstairs bathroom linen closet. Yeeeaaahhh, those yucky sheets from the boys' adolescent days really ought to go.....it won't be long before the Grandchildren will be adolescents for Pete's sake! Willies. If the waterbed is gone, then the waterbed sheets need to follow, ya think?
Work work work...time to play. Off to the annual craftshow. Have a fine day all.
Posted by frani at 09:03 AM | Comments (0)
November 16, 2004
'Tis the season....
The Scene: My neighbor's family room.
The Characters(never a better word):Neighbors, their daughter Jen, their Grandchildren, Owen and Anna and me
Owen picks up the Toys R US Christmas Big Book....
Jen:"You may look at that book but I DO NOT want to hear 'I want...I want ...I want. Remember what Christmas is really all about?"
Owen: "Yes, Mommy...Christmas is all about Jesus' Birthday"
We continue talking...Owen looks at toy book.....
Owen: "Look Mommy, I bet Jesus would like this farm set for his birthday....."
I had to leave the room......
Posted by frani at 01:47 PM | Comments (1)
Revision!
Coffee of the day has been changed due to conspicuous consumption of the afrementioned Columbian. COD is now Panama - Hartmann Estate " Songbird" Hhhmmmmm "songbird" Hope it isn't anything like Kopi Luwak anyway....Tom says: ..a delicate coffee with mild acidity. Sweetness as it cools with cedar and almond hints. We'll just see about that.
Posted by frani at 09:17 AM | Comments (0)
Purging ..but not like that!
Coffee of the Day: Columbian huila - La Florencia Tom of Sweet Maria's says: "Good Tangy bittersweet chocolate - nut roast taste with fruits (cherry) emerging as it cools" Fran: makes a mighty fine cup of coffee to wake up to. Hmmm..I think Tom's palate is a little more educated than mine, think?
I am on a roll these days! Yes! I'm getting organized somewhat...well in the process...well I mean I purged junk out of the house. Ok...we aren't in any danger of home anorexia or anything but I did buy a shoe holder yesterday. That IS half the battle, you know...having a place for stuff. You need a PLACE for stuff before you can put stuff in their place...right? I'm soooo getting this. Actually what I'm really getting good at is heaving stuff out..period. So my next sentence was going to be something about moving the computer graveyard out of the dark room down into the newly purged basement but then that would negate the statement that I was getting good at heaving stuff out..right? (Update: the computer graveyard is moved. I ask you who needs to keep 2 towers, 4 monitors, 2 scanners 5 keyboards and other stuff...did I mention how HEAVY those old monitors are?) Sigh. I'm really good at rearranging stuff and heaving out some things when I'm highly motivated and the time gods are on my side.
This week's motivation is gearing up for Thanksgiving visitors and I have the whole week at home alone where I can putter around and make piles and only endanger the lives of the cats and myself. My SsIL are coming to finish the sorting out of their mother's "stuff" after her move to Residential Living. Now we have done fairly well keeping the bulk of my MIL's stuff going to Maine, North Carolina or CT & NY. However, an empire dresser is making it's way to our home BUT a big old maple dresser from Morgan's room is making it's way to Maine. Now of course, this meant I had to empty said maple dresser in preparation for the switch. Morgan's room hasn't had the final purge as yet...don't rush me...he's only 27 and moved out 4 years ago! You know the bulk of stuff in his room is disposable and the dresser was the easiest to deal with..afterall there was only one t-shirt and a pair of shoes in there. The rest was trash...except for maybe a few photos and a 4 year old paycheck from the State of NY. (I'm so pleased to know he was so flushed with cash in college he didn't need it) There was one photo that was just so cute...he was sleeping in a closet with all his fraternity brothers enveloping him in their friendship and support...I imagine they are singing him a lullaby. Oh it does a mother's heart good to know her son had such a loving fellowship in which to live while away from his home. Ahem...We've moved on past the era of showing embarASSing baby photos to the prom dates to the more lucrative pile of incriminating photos and stories to tell the grandchildren about their parents.
I think purging is a lot easier if one doesn't inspect each item too closely and definitely leave emotions out of it entirely! Tra la Tra la...off to assemble the shoe rack and ...oh? you think maybe I'm flipping from one task to another? Purging is a long series of tasks! Remember you have to have place to put the stuff? Well, in order to clean one of the guest rooms, I have to have more room so I need to clean the closet which means I have to purge some of my old clothes which means I have more room to do the seasonal swap from our room which means I can clean out our closet and dressers which means I can purge clothes there which means I opened up space on the closet shelf which means I have more room for hanging things and now I realize I have underutilized space on the floor shelf which means I can put in a shoe rack. simple.....
Damn! Those sneaky eBayers just foiled my purchase at the last minute. I so hate that! gggrrrr.....
Have a fine day all...
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Posted by frani at 08:04 AM | Comments (0)
November 13, 2004
Home Sweet Home...
It's official...I still like home best of all the places we travel.
Yesterday's trip up the Interstates (91 and 89)were frought with a few perils. It started raining in New London just about the time I needed to start making trips out to pack the car. It started to mix with freezing rain about the time I hit I-84/I-91 interchange in Hartford...yup..one accident already in progress but not enough to tie up traffic yet. How'd he get turned around like that? Snow started to mix with that freezing rain in Enfield CT and by around Springfield MA I couldn't really see too far ahead of me. Rats...and I had 200 more miles to go? Fortunately, by the time I hit VT there was only light snow and nothing at all north of Putney! Yeah...sorry skiers, but I did not want to drive the rest of the way home in nasty weather. At least *I* had daylight.
Saturday at home...aaahhh. Knoel and ~Elmo still believe I am the best thing since a platter of Super Supper..I really don't mind tails up my nose, just not in my coffee, thank you. I can push the coffee button on the superautomatic anytime I wish...alllll day long. Greg is roasting coffee beans as we speak, smell it? Yum...contrary to some popular opinion, roasting coffee beans do not smell like wet skunk...that's only when Starbucks overroasts...mainly Indonesian coffees...blech. I have my limits.
The washer and dryer are busy...I even sewed a button on a shirt for Greg. Now that I have been reduced to buying one of those contraptions to help me thread the needle without spending 45 minutes looking for a magnifying glass, I was very pleased to see it worked quite well.....I was afraid I was still going to need the magnifier to thread the threader! Oh the horrors...oh it's so time to get myself off to the eye doctor. His office is so cute...sent me another reminder card to make an appointment...just in case I had not "seen" the first one. Yeah yeah sure sure whatever. I think they should call me...I hate making phone calls ya know. By the time I get around to it, I'll be lucky to be able to see the numbers on the phone to make the call.
At anyrate...Saturdays at home are good. We also received our Saturday morning phone call from Maura...at 3 and a half she is quite entertaining. She thought maybe Kieran wanted to say hello too but he didn't...she told me he didn't want to talk to anyone and most of the time he doesn't listen to anyone either. snort. I've still got so much to do today too...curling up with my blanket in the living room, reading a book, taking a nap, planning on my agenda for the coming week...seeing what Tivo has to offer for entertainment...did I say ahhhhhhhhh?
ahhhhhhhh....popcorn anyone?
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Posted by frani at 02:14 PM | Comments (0)
November 11, 2004
Of Coffee, Cookies and Commercials.....
Coffee of the Day: Costa Rica Dota Tarrazu We brewed it yesterday as well; makes a fine morning cup of coffee.
Cookie of the week/couple of weeks has been a new find for me: Lu Pim's Tangy Orange or Raspberry cookie. Here's the experience...soft cake like cookie with a layer of orange or raspberry gel with a nice layer of firm chocolate on top. The chocolate layer breaks as you bite into it...great textures..great flavors. Hrumph..they just don't put enough cookies in the box. Not that I really need more, it's just the fact that it's humbling to see that you have eaten a whole box of cookies at one sitting...not that *I* have or anything.
Try some, you'll like them.
Speaking of which.........
...tag lines, marketing, advertising, that is. We watched Frontline on PBS this past Tuesday. The epsisode was entitled The Persauders which was a very interesting view on advertising stategies, what works, what doesn't. I found the term "on code" rather facinating...as an example of a product that didnt' work because it wasn't on code was a $29K Cadilac; the image of a cheap "luxury" car didn't fit...it wasn't on code with the consumers' image of what a Cadilac represents to them. Another example they used in the program was Cheerios and the emotions Cheerios evoke rather than the product itself. The box shows a heart shaped bowl of "Os". One commerical I'm especially familiar with shows a Grandma who has come to visit, is putting Os on the high chair table and using them as people and mapping where all the cousins and other relatives live for this one year old. You know that one? Now I think that is really cute and heart warming and I can relate...UTIL I really really look at "Grandma". Sure, Grandma fits my image of Grandma...older lady, short gray/white styled hair, glasses, blouse and sweater, medium sized strand of pearls at her neck..........HEY, EXCUSE ME, PARDON ME! *I* am Grandma these days....*I* don't look like that! MY Grandmother did in MY memory BUT I DON"T look like that...do I? I play hopscotch and sit in the sand box and jump in the ball pit with my grandchildren. I still have a lot of brown in my hair...my friends who are Grandmas don't fit that image either! However, it's only when I think of it in terms of my BEING the Grandma, am I offended by this commercial...I can still relate to it as the character is someone's Grandma...even my own Grandma...and experience the emotion the persuaders are after. Guess I'm not as immune to advertising as I thought, huh?
I found the show facinating in that in the day of Tivo and consummers bypassing commercials, the strategies employed to get the marketing done anyway. We are all familiar with childrens cartoons in which the show is merely a conduit for marketing toys ( I was always offended by those) but it's done to adults as well. There are some less subtle techniques such as product placing...having a character drinking a particular brand of soda or beer maybe...they sited a huge mistake was having the "Friends" meeting in a fictional coffee shop, Central Perk, rather than a Starbucks...ooppps. Missed opportunity there, folks. At any rate...there are a few of the items from the show...I think the website affords an opportunity to see a video of it now. It's worth a peek.....snort...and the "end" is a hoot..even I who was not a Sex and the City viewer on any routine basis, go that tie in. Well done PBS...and a whole lot better viewing than some primetime shows being offered on the other major networks.
Soooooooooo, how has advertising worked or not worked on you? What motivates your buying? What offends you? What makes you smile?
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Posted by frani at 07:39 AM | Comments (1)
November 09, 2004
More random thoughts...
Coffee of the Day: Zambia Terranova Estate. Has a citrusy taste to me but I don't always trust my tastebuds. Hey, there might be some leftover chocolate on them...or...or toothpaste or asperagus!
Ok, so things are a little slow on the news front. We are back in New London for the week. My college roommate who usually finds time to play has a Church bazaar to prepare for so has no free time this week. Bummer. Looks like I am on my own.
I'm reading too many blogs using Blog Explosion Oh yeah, right...this is supposed to get me more "traffic". Riiight....just because my blog is listed as a personal diary and grouped with over 1100 plus other blogs, I'm going to get more traffic. I could put myself in any other category with fewer occupants...such as Photoblogs or kid/family blogs or political blogs or Humor comedy blog but even though I use photos and talk about kids and politics and...and...and I can be humous on occasion, I won't cheat, so I'll stay with the other 1100 plus bloggers who hope someone reads their blog sometime. I thought it might be interesting...and it is to a certain extent, but I've decided I'm not into playing that numbers game that much. I won't be rating and commenting on strange blogs so I guess I won't be seeing myself in the top 10 anytime soon, huh?
Moving right along...Thanksgiving it coming! I'm thinking turkey and stuffing and gravy and sweet potatoes and twice baked potatoes and green stuff and turnip and boiled onions and squash and pies and snow pudding and maybe I ought to invited more people to eat all this food! Looks like we will have about 8 of us at the latest count but then I won't have to plan another meal for days after. There's a plan. In the meantime, I will need to find some sleeping room for these people...maybe clean sheets and towels, dust the upstairs bathroom. Hmm...maybe even more than dust...I think I deposited a few things there from my MIL's downsizing. I have also started some Christmas shopping so I have another pile started...and then there was that seasonal clothes and closet exchange I never really finished...I see a trip to the Salvation Army next week. At least I HAVE next week home alone to get these little tasks taken care of before family arrives. This will work and I won't be stressed....thank goodness I don't get stressed by these sorts of things....nope not me...nope nope nope....all I have to do is ply them with food and they won't notice the dust. Ok, maybe they will notice, but being fed is more important, right? Riiiight. Works for me.
Have a good day all.......
Posted by frani at 10:15 AM | Comments (2)
November 06, 2004
Up the Downdraft.
Brrrrr...it's that time of year when I notice very cold air coming from my cooktop's downdraft. Excuse me...I didn't think cold air could rise like that. There's snow on the mountains...I need more Fall thank you, all the while looking for my turtlenecks, cordouroy pants and heavier socks. Good grief, I just may have to haul out my winter coat soon. ...and snow tires...how I hate to wait with all the throngs of people trying to get snow tires put on their cars! I noticed the lot of the tire store was full yesterday. Don't even think of trying to pull in there.
Coffee of the week has been Guatamala Huehuetenango....one of my favorites. The poor roastmaster has hardly been able to keep up with our consumption this week.
While I don't mind George W. celebrating his victory, I would caution him not to overspend his "Political Capital"...I don't think 49% of this country believe he has a "mandate from the people". I don't think I'll be the only one watching very closely what he has on his agenda.
We rented Shrek 2 last night...cute but not nearly as endearing as the original...do you know the muffin man? the muffin man? yes, the muffin man...snort. pppssstt...Donkey is still my favorite.
For weirdness, we rented The Butterfly Effect during the week.....for starters, I won't be thinking of Ashton Kutcher as that stupid character Kelso on The 70s Show anymore. Willies.
My coffee maker is asking for a replacement water filter....guess I better hop to and get myself off to William Sonoma and lay in a supply. The good part is I can be entertained with going to William Sonoma...when my car speaks to me, I have to go to places like NAPA auto parts; not nearly as much fun.
Have a good weekend all.......
Posted by frani at 10:08 AM | Comments (1)
November 03, 2004
Beforemath.....
So Of course I know you have all been waiting patiently for the good stuff of the past weekend.....Maura and Kieran in their Monkey and Sleeping Beauty costumes! I can't say that Kieran was all that thrilled with his Monkey hat or for the whole Trick or Treat thing to begin with, but he went out with us for a while.
So there were 3 little kids in our entourage...2 moms, 2 grandmothers, 1 grandfather, 1 uncle/Godfather and 1 aunt/godmother. Think that was enough? We left Demian Greg and Dave home to man the door..they did a great job complete with clean up after dinner. I was totally thrilled to see all the people in the neighborhood out and about...all the kids were polite, almost all of them traveled in groups with plenty of adult supervision AND they were in costume as well. I was surprised at the numbers of teenager type groups actually Trick or treating..heck they even drove themselves to a party down the street, but again they were very polite. Happy Halloween! Ahem...i only ate a few of the kids' candy...some Whoppers and Almond Joys.
Now then...Nora found the best costume at Costco for next year..or the year after...all we have to do is convince Maura she wants to be a flamingo for Halloween. Ahem...it didn't exactly fit me, but you can't fault a woman for trying.....
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Posted by frani at 09:26 AM | Comments (3)
Aftermath...
I think I am surprised that George W Bush seems to have won re-election. Provisional ballots...guess it's better than hanging chads but still...
I still feel honest about my vote. I read the the position statements of the Libertarian candidate and tend to agree with the most part with what stated. I realize the mainstream two party system is probably here to stay but I kept saying I could not in good conscience agree with either one of them. How many times could I say that, then turn around and vote for one of them just because there was no other viable alternative? I couldn't and I didn't.
Vermont went with John Kerry without me and I had a nightmare that he won. That is one thing I don't understand right this minute...I would have voted for him and yet my sleep state was worried about a Kerry victory. I'll have to ponder that.
In the meantime, I think it's time to stop Bush bashing and get on with uniting this country and move forward. Maybe it's really time to let our congressional representatives hear from us on issues...visit their web sites, leave messages, get involved. Letting things slide until we get to do something every four years is not working for nearly 49% of the country.
Posted by frani at 08:06 AM | Comments (1)
November 02, 2004
Vote....
I am going out to vote soon. I am going to vote the Libertarian candidate, Michael Badnarik. I do not believe I will be "wasting" my vote. I can't do anything now about the two party system we have in this country and I really don't believe that either Kerry or Bush will be any better or worse than the other.
I do believe that it is time that we look at alternatives. I want a candidate who reflects my beliefs, rather than try to fit my beliefs to the candidate.
Just think about it.
Posted by frani at 10:19 AM | Comments (0)