Weekend review & pound cake recipe

Friday evening brought on a headache.

Saturday, woke up with a headache, but wanting to keep with my New Years goal, started with the bedroom.

I got all the drawers cleaned out and organized before tackling the closet.

I had stored my old TV in the closet. You never know when this may come in handy, but decided it was time to get rid of it.

Our trash guys will take a lot of things that we put out, but they won't take TV's. So I just packed up the car and head for our dump.

By now, my head is pounding, but I was on a mission.

The guy in the booth was very nice and told me where the TV was to go. After getting rid of trash and recycle, I headed over to the dumpster he told me.

There was another guy there who appeared to be organizing the dumpster. I only saw computer monitors and asked him if this was the place for TV's. He mumbled something that I could not hear and asked him to repeat himself. The asshole practically yelled at me. Telling it was and that he would get it. Pissing me off, I told him that I could handle the TV on my own. And that I didn't want him to hurt himself. Let alone do the job that he was getting paid for. Anyway, he ended up getting the TV and literally throwing in the dumpster. I told him he was an arrogate SOB and left. I can only imagine what he was calling me.

Anyway, when I was cleaning out the closet, I came across my pictures from my Maine trip in 2003.

I scanned them in the computer and added some of my favorites.

Now remember the quality isn't all that great. These were pre-digital.

My favorite spot.

Perkin's Cove.
Marginal Way at Perkin's Cove.

Nubble Lighthouse

Portland Head Lighthouse

Portland Coastline

If you would like to see the other photos from this trip, visit my flickr site.

We went on a bus trip. I must say that this was one of the best trips I have been on.

By evening though, my head had enough. This was one of the worst migraines that I have had yet. My vision was blurry. My eyes hurt looking at the TV. Any light was painful. I had the sick to my stomach feeling. And no matter where or how I put my head, was painful.

Today is much better. Only a dull ache.

Went food shopping this morning. Our supermarket is having their can-can sale. Saved over $50.00.

The cashier I decided to go to today would not stop talking and was very sloooow. I was trying to figure out something to say where she would stop talking and just ring my purchase without hurting her feelings. What I really wanted to tell her was, 'shut up and scan my purchases so I can get out of here. I have a date with my Kitchen Aide to make a pound cake and a date with my couch.' I'm cranky today. I didn't say anything, but decided I would never go to her line again.

The pound cake is out of the oven and if I do say so myself, smells delicious.

This is a cake that gets better the longer it sits.

Anyway, here's the recipe.

Dump Pound Cake

1/2 lb. butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

4 eggs

2 cups flour

2 even tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla

In large mixing bowl or Kitchen Aide, put ingredients in order given. Mix for 20 minutes.

Put in greased and floured bundt or tube pan.

Place in oven and bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes.

DO NOT PREHEAT OVEN.

Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack.

Enjoy.

Happy New Year

I went back to last years post to - 1 - get the photo above and 2 - see what I was thinking.

I had one resolution listed that I have kept for many years now and will continue with this resolution. 'Do unto others as others do unto me.'

This is the only resolution I make. There is no sense making others when I know I will not be able to keep them. So what I did last year was set goals for myself.

Lets review and see how well (ha-ha) I did:

1. I will try to read the books I have in my closet and not buy many new books. I fear this will be a hard goal to achieve because of my book addiction, but I am going to try my best. Amazingly enough, I have kept to this goal. Now I'm not saying that I didn't go out an buy new books, but I have put a dent in the number of books I have.

2. I will try to reduce the number of tarts, votive and jar candles. (Another addiction). This will probably be an easier goal to achieve. (Unless Yankee has a good sale or a new scent. Right now I love Autumn Wreath) Actually, this was a harder goal to achieve. Although I haven't bought many candles, I haven't been burning the ones that I have. I haven't put a dent in the candles that I have.

3. I will try to be more patient. Lately I find myself growing impatient with people and things. I think I have done good with this goal. I have been able to diffuse situations at work better. Made more friends. Accepting their quirks by being patient and I found they accept me for mine.

4. Keeping focused on one project. My brain has been so scattered of late. I start one thing, stop for no reason and start another. When I catch myself doing this, I stop that project and go back to the first telling myself to finish. So this year, I will focus to finish the first project before starting another. (I don't think I will be able to achieve this, but I will try.) I haven't been able to keep this goal. Oh I have tried, but failed. Will try to work on this again this year.

5. Working on taking better pictures. I am happy with how far I have come in my photography. Yes I have upgraded myself from picture taking to photography. This is a hobby that I have enjoyed this past year or so. It has been a great release and source of exercise. I will be looking into upgrading my current camera, an HP Photosmart R837, to something with more mega pixels and zoom. Any suggestions would be appreciated. This goal was easier to achieve, but there is still much more to learn. I still have my HP and carry it with all the time. But I have upgrade to an Olympus SP-565UZ. My walls in work are covered with my pictures. People will come in, look around and ask if I took these pictures. When they tell me they are very good, I get a high. This has also helped me to accept a compliment better.

6. Continuing with my weight loss. I keep ping-ponging between 20-25 pounds weight loss. Now with the holidays over, and most of the goodie's gone, I can concentrate on getting back to a normal healthy diet. And throw some exercise. My line dance class with be starting soon. Our local recreation center will be starting an 8 week yoga class I will try. I didn't do to good with this goal. I did continue my line dance. I tried the yoga and enjoyed it very much. But losing weight is a difficult battle. I will try again this year.

7. Just trying to be an all around good person. I will treat people the way I want to be treated, which I do already. I will think before I talk. I sometimes say something innocently, but after it is said, I realize from the expression or the silence that I have offended or hurt that person unintentionally. I would like to say that I will work on my temper, but that would be impossible. I have been a good person and treated people with respect. Okay sometime I digressed, but I tried. As far as the 'think before I talk', I failed miserably. I call it my foot in mouth disease. However, I have to say that this has worked well for me. I have unintentionally learned a lot about people this way because when the disease kicks in, the expression changes, and sometimes I have to say "bingo".

I think for this year, I will continue with the above goals and add a couple more.

8. To try and be a better cook. I have been watching the FoodNetwork a lot and trying some of the recipes. What I must do is start to experiment with different spices and add more foods to my diet. We'll see what happens.

9. To become more organized at home. Everything in my home has a place, but it doesn't always end up there. I will make a conscience effort to make sure everything finds its place. The closets will get cleaned out and organized and hopefully stay that way.

The first of the year, I change the batteries in my smoke detectors. So please don't forget to change the batteries in yours.

So as per the norm, I have gabbed way to much.

I hope that everyone has a safe, healthy and happy 2010.

Look who decided to come in out of the cold

Yup. Little Miss Yipper.

I have been trying for a long time to get her to come inside. I would pick her up, bring her in (trying to avoid very sharp claws), and set her down next to her brother. She would stay for a short time, then wanted no part of inside anymore and wanted to go out.

Then I noticed that she was staying in longer. One night she was in and so quiet, I forgot she was in. When I went looking for her, she was sound asleep on top of the cushion I have on the dryer.

That night she spent outside, but it ended there.

Her brother Ralphy has spent every night inside since he came back. I guess she got tired of being outside alone at night and she knocked to come in. I went to bed thinking there would be a fight between Yipper and My Baby Girl. No fights. Yipper woke me very early to go out. Ralphy went out with her, but he soon was knocking to come back in to his favorite spot.

Much progress was made trying to get Yipper inside. But I think, being a typical cat, it was on her terms not mine.

My Baby Girl doesn't seem too bother about it.

Stupid question of the day

Back to work after a three day weekend is hard. Especially this time of year. Not to many people coming in my office or calling for that matter.

Anyway, my first and only person of the day, so far, was a contractor. The contractor asked me if I remember a job he did that needed our approval? Why yes I remember that job. It was for a second floor deck. Well anyway, the homeowner didn't pay him for the work, so he filed suit against them for his money. In turn they filed suit against him siting forgery. They are saying that he forged the applications to us. He asked what he could do? My answer was to contact his attorney. His next question was if I or my boss could write a letter that he didn't forge the applications. Did he have too much eggnog? I told him that we couldn't write a letter like that. The only thing I(we) could do would be to copy the approved applications for him. I told him that once I had the applications copied, I would call him.

He also tells me that the owners didn't like the fiberglass deck so he put vinyl over top the fiberglass. He said they didn't like getting wet when on the first floor deck. I now have some bells ringing in my ears.

After he leaves, I look up the application number and pull the file. There were three applications. When reviewing them, the second floor deck was supposed to be open. (We have a rule here in the Township that if you have a second floor deck over a first floor deck, water must be able to get through the second floor deck and get the first floor deck wet. If not, it is considered a roof and it is a whole new ballgame.) Now I'm in a pickle because we didn't approve what was built. Do I tell my boss when he comes back Wednesday? Would he do anything about it? Probably not. Or do I just let the chips far where they may?

Review of last week

Saturday brought us snow. Not fine by me, but I was staying in to make cookies anyway.

Shoveled once in the morning. Then it turned to freezing rain. Then turned back to snow. Shoveled again.

I must say that it was beautiful. Especially Sunday when I was making my way to the grocery store.

Monday night was ceramics. I put Ralphy out around 6:PM, telling him when I got home, he could come in again.

Because of the roads, only five brave souls showed up. It was a fun night, but I was exhausted from all day cookie making on Saturday and Sunday.

When I got home, I went to let Ralphy in. He wasn't there. A bit later, I got his and Yippers dinner ready. Went out and only Yipper was there. This was very unusually, because Ralphy never-ever misses a meal.

I yelled for him, but he didn't show up. I figured he would be there in the morning. No Ralphy. He wasn't around at lunch time either.

I sent out a couple of e-mails to friends in the neighborhood to keep their eyes open for him.

When I got home from work, there was a group of kids on my neighbors steps and one throwing snowballs at the house. I really didn't care about the snowballs because they weren't being thrown at the windows.

Because Ralphy still wasn't home, I thought maybe he was in the shed and couldn't get out. I decided to make my way to the shed. The group of kids was now at my neighbors back door trying to get in. I yelled over asking what they were doing. They took off running and I thought I heard one say 'do you have the key?' I came in and called that neighbor, left a voice mail asking him if he had hidden a key someplace and what he wanting me to do. I was at my front door when I saw two of the kids run into the house.

Ahh! Paula your ass is mine now. I called, told her what I saw and heard. She said that she heard them say something about a key also. Funny thing, they said it in the back of the house and there was no way she could have heard them. Anyway, she said that she punished her two kids because she sees and hears everything. I asked her if she saw her son throwing snowballs at the house. Silence. She told me that they put the key back where they found it. Under the mat. I thought this strange. I told her that I have a call into the neighbor to see what he wanted me to do. She said that she would get the key and keep it. I told her to leave it. Paul would let me know what to do.

Now Paula has her two asses come to my house to apologize to me. I asked them why they were apologizing to me. It wasn't my house they were trying to break into and when Paul came down, they better march their asses over to apologize to him.

Paul called back and told me he had the key hidden in a secret spot in the shed. He asked me to get the key and hold it until he comes down. I told him I would and check to may sure nothing was damaged.

Next thing Paula's knocking on my door telling me that she asked her daughter where they found the key and 'my daughter would never lie to her mommy.' She said her daughter told her they found the key under the mat at the front door. I told Paula there is always a first time for a daughter to lie to her mommy and now is the time. The key wasn't there. It was hidden in the shed. Then she tells me when she looked out, she saw her daughter shoveling Paul's front step. I asked her why. What? Why was your daughter shoveling Paul's front step when he wasn't even down. Why wasn't she shoveling her own steps that haven't been shoveled yet?

She then tells me that she tracked the kids down and told them that they were boarding breaking the law and if they had went in the house they would have been. She tells me she told them the police were called. I said 'whoa. I didn't call the police. And if something happens to any of my property, I was coming after her and it wouldn't be a pretty sight.'

She told me that her son is eight and trying to fit in. No one wants to play with an eight year old. Not my problem. And it seems that he picked the wrong friends and it is your responsibility to teach your kids right from wrong.

She asked if her kids came to apologize to me. I told her they did, but questioned why? I wasn't my house. They, including you, better apologize to Paul when he comes down.

She kept saying how embarrassed she was. I couldn't help myself. I had to ask her if she was embarrassed because her kids were part of trying to break into someones house or because they got caught? I didn't get and answer from her, but that was the answer for me.

So if it wasn't for Ralphy being missing, they may have gotten into the house without my or anyone else noticing.

Then I visited a couple friends house that night. My one friend knew how upset I was that Ralphy wasn't around and told me she would say a couple prayers that he would return safe.

When I got home, I went out calling for him again. I couldn't hear any mewing like I normally would if he was around.

I am not one to pray, but I said to the angels, 'I don't ask for much, but please bring my handsome boy home to me safe and sound. It's been more than 24 hours.'

Laying in bed, I heard a noise out back. I wasn't going to check, but something told me too. When I turned on the light, there was my Ralphy. I don't think that door ever opened so fast. He came running in with me scooping him up in my arms. I fed him. Which he inhaled. He slept in bed, plastered against my leg purring the whole night.

I still don't know where he was. Where ever he was, it was someplace I couldn't hear him. A place where he wasn't being fed. Now, when he hears or sees people, he starts to panic. So I think maybe he somehow got locked in someone shed or somehow someones house. He has been sticking close to home and spending more time inside. Fine by me. I wish he would stay inside all the time.

I have been trying to get Yipper inside too. Little by little I have been able to do so. Hopefully soon, I can get her to be a primarily inside cat.

We all had a good Christmas. Bobbie gave us a PetSmart gift card. I used it today and all my kittens are very grateful to her.

Christmas Day brought me a couple of Tufted Titmouse.

Best Christmas gifts of all.

My Baby Girl (right)

My Ralphy (left)

Yesterday brought us heavy rain for most of the day and the loss of electricity for three hours. At least is wasn't bitter cold, though I had to turn the fireplace on to get the dampness out.

Today is finally sunny and warm. Going to the store showed more flooding.

My friend told me the end of her street is flooded. The Township sandbagged, but there is just too much water.

Please wish us sunny-dry weather.