Angela's Blog O' Fun

Angela is on Facebook

2007-11-07T20:44:00.000-06:00

Well, I decided to give in to peer pressure and check out Facebook. I tried MySpace and I'm not a huge fan. Some of my friends' pages take forever to load. especially if there are lots of graphics and/ore music or videos.

So far, I like Facebook much better. It is very easy to use. You can upload your photos and sort them into albums. You can also upload your own videos. Within about 30 minutes, I was able to set up my profile, add some pictures, and find lots of friends. I was amazed to find people I went to high school and college with, people from church, coworkers, and old family friends.

Facebook also has lots of little features you can add - little games and quizzes. You can join groups - find people who have similar interests, alumni, all sorts of things like that. You can even locate friends by their email addresses from your address book.

Give it a try, and look me up while you're there!

C is for Cookie...and Colonoscopy

2007-11-07T20:20:00.000-06:00

There is a reason why they don't normally make people get one of these before the age of 50. And if someone tells you, "It's not that bad," they are making a bald-faced lie. First of all, you can't eat anything except broth and clear liquids for the entire day before. This doesn't sound so bad, except that foods in your house start calling your name. If I could just add a few crackers to my broth it wouldn't be so bad...

A few hours later, when your stomach is registering on the Richter scale, the fun REALLY begins. There are a few different bowel preps. The particular torture my doctor prescribed involves drinking a gallon of salt water sludge. They give you four flavor packets so you can choose your flavor. (Note: Even if you add all four packets, it will not improve the flavor.)

The directions tell you to drink 8 ounces every 10 minutes until your jug o' fun is empty. The first glass is actually not too bad. By the second glass, your mouth and nose know what's coming and they are not happy about it. After glass six, even holding your nose shut seems futile and it gets difficult to swallow due to all the salty residue in your throat.

After about an hour, more fun begins with bowel movements. In the wise advice of my dear old dad, "Stay close to the toilet, and don't even think about farting." This really is good advice. But it is a challenge to keep drinking every 10 minutes while you are in the bathroom all the time. It takes several hours to drink the whole gallon, and the colorful eliminations continue for several hours beyond your last drink. In all likelihood, you will be done going to the bathroom about 5 minutes before your alarm goes off to get up to get to your colonoscopy on time.

The actual procedure is not that bad. (This part of the lie is true.) You will see some weird looking instruments and probably wonder where they will be putting it, but you won't remember any of that. Make sure you have a responsible adult to drive you home and don't make any important decisions the rest of the day.

And just when you think the "fun" is over, the bill arrives...

book review - must read!

2007-09-19T09:30:00.000-05:00

I just finished an excellent book called The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede. This is actually a nonfiction book and I don't read very many of these, but this one is very good. On 9/11 when U.S. airspace was shut down, 38 planes were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland. This small town with a population of barely 10,000 people, suddenly was faced with taking care of 6,595 displaced passengers. On a day filled with so much tragedy and sadness, this book shows strength and compassion. It would be a wonderful book club book. The chapters are short with lots of breaks, so there are lots of stopping points - or you might find yourself thinking, "I'll read just a little bit more..."

Please take the time to read this book, and if you do, let me know what you think!

eleanor turns one

2007-08-21T20:39:00.001-05:00

Look how long Ellie's hair is getting!

Here's Ellie pointing!

Before....

Mmmm...Cake!

Happy 1st Birthday, Eleanor!

farmers markets

2007-07-24T22:38:00.000-05:00

greetings!
I've been doing some searching to find info about local farmers markets. I found this great site which lists all of the farmers markets in the state of Wisconsin, organized by city. It lists the location and hours. I'm excited to check some of them out! Let me know if you have a favorite!

back from North Carolina

2007-07-24T08:50:00.001-05:00

I took a trip to North Carolina for Eleanor's baptism. I flew down with my parents which was interesting. Oddly enough, the cooler packed with sausage, brats and cheese was overweight, so things were moved into my suitcase...who needs perfume??

Here is Ellie in her baptism dress. It was tricky to get her little shoes on because she likes to curl her toes. Plus, when she tried to walk, she ended up in the splits.

Ellie loves to smile and show off her teeth. She also wrinkles up her nose, which is really cute.

Lions and tigers and Betty Brinn

2007-06-17T14:37:00.000-05:00

Everyone has friends and family who can offer special "perks." I can think of three that I have:
1 - I can get some medicines at a discount, like tylenol or triple paste (great for diaper rash)
2 - I can get you into the zoo for free (but you have to bring me with) for a limited time...
3 - I can get into the Betty Brinn Museum with up to 3 other people as a new perk!

I went to the zoo twice recently - once to pet the sharks and sting rays in the new exhibit, and once for a work picnic. We pet and fed the goats. This one was my favorite because you could see his teeth when he smiled.

We saw a girl cow with horns,

And a not-so-shy beautiful tiger.

I also got to spend a day with my friends Amy and Andrew. (Joe was not sick enough to get out of work. ) We went to the Betty Brinn Museum downtown. This was my first trip there, but Andrew knew his way around like a pro!

He scooped sand, slid down the slide, and made beautiful melodies on the "wall o' pots." He also had fun with the lawnmowers. I had a lot of fun too! I hope I can go back again - but I should probably go with kids so I don't look silly. We walked down to the lakefront to enjoy the beautiful weather. Amy made a yummy lunch complete with homemade quesadillas and strawberry pie for dessert. When can we play again?

mmm...rhubarb

2007-06-17T13:54:00.000-05:00

Anyone see the Friends episode where Joey is auditioning for a commercial? All he has to say is "Mmm...soup!" but he can't manage to get the right words out. Well, that just makes me think of one of my favorite foods - hence the title - mmm...rhubarb.

Believe it or not, rhubarb is actually a vegetable, even though it kinda tastes like a fruit. It's also an Asian plant in the buckwheat family. Rhubarb is rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber.

The leaves of the plant are poisonous so don't eat them! They contain oxalic acid which can cause your tounge and throat to swell up and make breathing a bit tricky.

The edible stalks are called petioles and grow up to 18 inches long. They can be cut and used in pies, jams, jellies, sauces, wine and juice.

I found a Taste of Home website with a whole bunch of rhubarb recipes, including punch, pork chops, coconut bread pudding and even cod with rhubarb sauce. I haven't tried any of those, but I did make some yummy strawberry rhubarb freezer jam. Yum! I also made a strawberry rhubarb cake that was super easy.

4 cups sliced fresh or frozen rhubarb
1 pkg (3 ounces) raspberry gelatin (I used strawberry because I'm allergic to raspberries.)
1/3 cup sugar
1 pkg (18 ounce) yellow or white cake mix
1 cup water
1/3 cup butter (melted)
ice cream (optional)

Place rhubarb in a greased 9 x 13 cake pan. Sprinkle with the dry gelatin powder, sugar, and dry cake mix. Pour water evenly over dry ingredients. Drizzle with melted butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until rhubarb is tender. Serve with ice cream if desired. (Who doesn't like ice cream?)

It's pretty easy and very yummy. I don't think I've ever seen frozen rhubarb, but if you decide to use that, the editors recommend measuring it while frozen, then letting it thaw in a colander, but don't squeeze out the juices.

What's your favorite thing to make with rhubarb?

Anyone for a swim?

2007-06-17T13:47:00.001-05:00

Well, I realize I haven't written for awhile. This picture is so cute that I had to share! Isn't she adorable? And only 3 more days untill I get to see Ellie in person (and Adrienne and Alex too).

beef...it's what's for dinner

2007-05-07T20:52:00.000-05:00

We were having a friendly family dispute about labels on ground beef/chuck/sirloin. So I did a little reseach and here is what I found out:

Ground beef is beef muscle (not organ meat) that is ground or very finely chopped. The part that the muscle comes from dtermines the flavor, texture, and to some degree, the fat content. Some ground beef is labeled by cut (chuck, sirloin, or round) while some is labeled by the percent fat or percent lean.

By law, the maximum fat content in any ground beef is 30% (70% lean). Ground chuck is usually the highest in fat content (about 20%) while round is usually the lowest (about 11%). However, the cut is not necessarily and indication of leanness. By law, all packaged ground beef can have fat added to it, as long as the label says how much. A package labeled "80% lean ground sirloin" contains 20% fat, which is about 5% more than ground sirloin naturally comes.

So your best bet is to closely read the fat content listed on the package, or another option is to pick a whole piece of meat and have it cut or ground for you!

(Information from Cooking Light.)

Book review: Kite Runner

2007-03-26T22:03:00.000-05:00

"An epic tale of fathers and sons, of friendship and betrayal, that takes us from the final days of Afghanistan's monarchy to the atrocities of the present."

My dad suggested this book and now I'm recommending it to you. This book came in 3rd for best sellers in 2005 and was voted 2006's reading group book of the year. Also, for those of you who have read the book, movie is scheduled to be released in November of 2007! (pretty exciting, eh?)

The book tells a story that quickly captures your attention. It's not a history-ish book, even though you will learn some history and it's not a cultury-ish book, even though you will learn a bit about life in Afghanistan. Reading this book is like a having a great teacher where you learn a lot of stuff without realizing - it doesn't seem like work. There will be some characters you can relate to - like someone who is stubborn and doesn't want to go to the doctor (oh, do you know someone like that too?) There are surprises and laughs and things that will turn your stomach. It's like riding a roller coster at Six Flag's without paying $50 and without the puking.

Really, this is a fantastic book. It's very easy to read (but hard to put down). So finish looking at Ellie's pictures and head to your library or book store and read it. But hey, you don't have to take MY word for it!

Cash, check or charge...

2007-03-26T21:56:00.000-05:00

So today I called my bank. I was a bit concerned because my check card is expiring and I haven't gotten a new one yet. As it turns out, the bank automatically sends out new check cards but here's the kicker. The company that makes the cards ran out of plastic! Or, well, at least that's what they told me. Can you believe it? While I wait for my new card, I'll have to resort to the ancient method of carrying. a checkbook...

7 months and growing...

2007-03-19T16:40:00.000-05:00

A new fuzzy friend

2007-03-19T16:38:00.000-05:00

It's been a rough day!

2007-03-19T16:33:00.000-05:00

More pictures

2007-03-19T16:29:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure what (or who) she's looking at, but this picture cracks me up!

Ellie's winter look

2007-03-19T16:02:00.000-05:00

Here are some pictures from Christmas and New Years. Isn't she cute?

Ellie's trip to Wisconsin

2007-03-19T15:42:00.000-05:00

Well, I have to go all the way back to Thanksgiving. These are pictures from Ellie's first trip to Wisconsin. It was so fun to meet her and hold her - we didn't fight over her too much!

My Dad's "little" accident

2007-01-18T13:52:00.000-06:00

Well, I haven't blogged for awhile but I have a good reason. For those of you who haven't heard, on Dec 1st, my dad was involved in a hunting accident. He was coming down from the tree with a climbing tree stand at about 4:00 pm and one of the straps broke. He got stuck upside down for 19 hours. The next morning my mom called the police department up north and they sent someone to look for my dad. At about 11:00 am, they found him, got him down and took him to a nearby hospital. They couldn't treat him there, so he went by helicopter to Duluth, MN where he had many surgeries. Most of the damage was to his legs from frostbite and lack of circulation. After about 3 weeks, we arranged to have him transported by ambulance to a hospital closer to home. Yesterday, after 47 days in the hospital, he came home. He still has lots of wounds and will need physical therapy, but we are very happy he is alive and doing so well. If you would like other details, please send me an email and I would be happy to fill you in.

So forgive me for not blogging. My dad has lots of stories about his experience as well as his hospital stay. He had the nurses convinced that he had to have the blinds open at 8 am every morning so he could watch a lady in the nearby building do her morning exercises in her sports bra. We found out very quickly which staff members were very gullible and the others that understood his sense of humor were often in stitches. Needless to say, our family no longer uses the expressions "out of the woods" or "just hanging around." :)

1 vs 100

2006-11-10T20:29:00.000-06:00

Have you seen the new show 1 vs 100? It's very fun and exciting - a bit faster pace than Deal or No Deal, but not quite as funny as Takeshi's Castle, but that's a whole other blog post. I really like this show so far. It's trivia with a twist. The questions are worded cleverly.

For example, "If you snuck into your neighbor's garden and took a leek, would it be?"
A) an onion-like vegetable B) a broccoli-like vegetable C) a tomato-like vegetable

The contestant is up against 100 members of "the mob" which sometimes include trekkies, beauty pageants, wrestlers, teachers, nuns, or Ken Jennings, the Mormon Jeopardy champion. (What do you think he'll do with all that money, anyways?) Sorry, tangent.

For each question the contestant gets correct, they earn money for every mob member that gets it wrong. The first question is worth $100, the second is worth $250, then $500, $1000, $1500, $2000, $3000 and so on. They can win $1,00,000 if they eliminate every member of the mob.

Each contestant is also allowed 2 "helps." For the first help, they select one of the answer choices they would like to know more about. Everyone in the mob who chose that answer is lit up in yellow. The contestant gets to choose one of those mob people and ask why they picked their answer. For the second help, two mob members are randomly chosen - one who answered correctly and one who answered incorrectly. Each mob member explains which answer they picked and why.

Here's a cool twist: The mob members have to be honest about which answer they chose, but they DO NOT have to be honest about WHY they chose it. Pretty cool, eh? (Yah, its cold here in da U.P.)

As a bonus, if a contestant answers incorrectly, they are finished and their winnings get divided by the remaining mob members, and those mob members get to continue with the next contestant.

The show is on NBC on Friday evenings. You can see pictures and get more information at: www.nbc.com or click here to get directly to the 1 vs 100 site.

my new chair

2006-11-08T11:12:00.000-06:00

Much of my furniture has been given to me by family and friends. This old chair was a home to my "cat tent" which Lenny is not very good about sharing.

Recently, my dad (thanks, Dad!) helped me move in a "new" chair from my parents' neighbors. (Thanks Neil and Sue!) It matches the couch they gave me and is actually the same pattern as the old chair which was from someone else. What a coincidence! Anyhow, this new chair is quite an upgrade for me since it is a rocker/recliner and also swivels. The first 24 hours were a blast to see Lenny and Squiggy sniff it and test it out. When Lenny tried to jump on the back rest, the chair tipped, spun and he went flying! It's my new favorite chair because it is so comfy. I often fall asleep in it! Lenny and Squiggy fight over it, too. But on a few rare occasions, they share and it is so cute!

Pumkin Decorating

2006-11-08T10:46:00.000-06:00

At the hospital, we are not allowed to carve pumpkins due to mold and allergies - not conducive for getting kids healthy. Instead, we decorate pumpkins using any assortment of materials. It's fun to see patients and kids make the trek down to the cafeteria to see our attempts at art.

Our department made the following pumpkin:

Here are pictures of some of the other pumpkins:

Book review: Gossamer

2006-11-08T10:22:00.000-06:00

I just finished reading Gossamer by Lowis Lowry.

This story, for grades 4 - 7, probes at the mystery of where dreams come from. The main characters bestow dreams on an angry boy, a lonely woman, and a regretful mother. Amazon gives the book five stars, and I would agree. It's not quite as gripping as The Giver or The Messenger, but it's a very touching tale that will keep you turning the pages. As a bonus, the font is large so you can read in bed once your contacts are out, and the chapters are short (a personal favorite)!

You can purchase the book at Amazon.com and read the full review from School Library Journal
so you don't have to take my word for it...

Calvin and Hobbes

2006-11-08T10:14:00.000-06:00

Any other fans out there? You can get a daily dose of laughter at
www.calvinandhobbes.com. I can relate to Calvin. The other day I tried to rub
Lenny's belly while he was sleeping and ended up with a lovely assortment
of scratch marks. Enjoy!
(note: if you click on the comic, you'll see it a bit bigger and clearer)

Trick or Treat!

2006-11-05T09:01:00.000-06:00

As you can see, Ellie celebrated her first Halloween in style! I dressed up as a geisha at the hospital, and many of the nurses and doctors participated which the kids loved! (sorry, no pictures)

Ellie is smiling and laughing. I can't wait to see her in a few weeks! Grandma Pat is excited, too. She's got the baby room all ready. Isn't Ellie cute? She looks good in orange, too!

Halloween costume ideas for your dog

2006-10-22T19:43:00.000-05:00

My Dad's favorite song

2006-09-30T19:51:00.000-05:00

My Dad has lots of favorite songs. One of them is Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash.
Here's a link to a video clip of a different version. Hope you like it.

Also, when we watch TV shows or movies, my dad often remembers characters from other movies, but can't remember their names or what they were in. Doesn't that just drive you nuts?

My friend told me about a website: www.IMDB.com that is made for those kind of nagging qustions. You can type in a movie title and it will tell you all the characters. Then you can click on a link to find out everything else that actor/actress was in. There are also reviews, pictures and video clips. It's worth taking a peek!

All I want for Christmas is ...

2006-09-30T19:05:00.000-05:00

Tickle-Me-Elmo, TMX, the 10th anniversary edition

I know, I know. How could they take something like Tickle-Me-Elmo and make it better? See for yourself. Click on this link to watch a short video clip of TMX in action. Elmo laughs himself so silly that he falls over laughing, and then manages to stand himself up afterwards. It's pretty cool. And it's really hard not to laugh when you see Elmo's little red hand hitting the carpet as he cracks up.

According to Fisher Price, T.M.X. Elmo will "tickle America's funny bone with three interactive tickle spots on his chin, tummy or toe. " Requires 6 AA batteries. TMX does not come with Barbie. But "Barbie loves Tickle Me Elmo" does come with a miniature replica of Elmo.

Ebay currently has TMX Elmo's up for auction ranging from $50 to over $200!
You can also find the Spanish-speaking version on Ebay for equally astounding prices.

Only time will tell if this craze will sweep the nation like the one 10 years ago. Already, people are buying in bulk and looking for profits. Let me know if Santa brings one to your house so I can come over for a giggle.

Tribute to Chuck Norris

2006-09-04T02:04:00.000-05:00

It's my older brother's birthday today. He is a fan of Chuck Norris. After a little reading, I've found out some interesting facts. (There are hundreds out there - I've selected a few of my favorites.)

The chief export of Chuck Norris is pain.

Chuck Norris can divide by zero.

Chuck Norris always knows the exact location of Carmen Sandiego.

When taking the SAT, write "Chuck Norris" for every answer. You will score over 8000.

Chuck Norris invented black. In fact, he invented the entire visible light spectrum. Except pink - Tom Cruise invented pink.

It only takes Chuck Norris 20 minutes to watch "60 Minutes."

The Bermuda Triangle used to be the Bermuda Square until Chuck Norris roundhouse kicked one of the corners off.

When Chuck Norris does a push up, he isn't pushing himself up; he's pushing the earth down.

Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.

Along with his black belt, Chuck Norris often chooses to wear brown shoes. No one has called him on it. Ever.

Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.

Chuck Norris can sneeze with his eyes open.

Superman wears Chuck Norris pajamas.

Chuck Norris' calendar goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd; No one fools Chuck Norris.

Chuck Norris can speak Braille.

When Chuck Norris exercises, the machine gets stronger.

Chuck Norris sleeps with a night light. It is not because he is afraid of the dark; the dark is afraid of Chuck Norris.

The last digit of pi is Chuck Norris. He is the end of all things.

***one more note: There is a bridge being build in Budapest, Hungary and there is a website where you can vote on a name for the bridge. "Chuck Norris" is currently 6th on the list. Unfortunately, the website is not in English so voting is difficult. Anyone speak Hungarian? (I know Chuck Norris does!)

the cat days of september...

2006-09-04T00:17:00.000-05:00

Lenny and Squiggy were feeling left out, so they asked me to put some more of their pictures on the blog. Enjoy!

Apparently, the table makes a good napping place. Usually it is full of mail. Very rarely do I use it for eating.

Lenny and Squiggy like to play hide and go seek in my new china cabinet. They love to look in the mirrors.

Lenny and Squiggy also like to play hide and seek in my linen closet. (I really don't know how Squiggy got in there!)

The best way to spend an afternoon - crashed out on the floor! Yep, they're both boys and not shy at all!

the walter kittens strike again!

2006-09-04T00:11:00.000-05:00

My friend Kelly is petting Tiger.

Curious is checking out a stick.

And Moo! (Isn't this a cute picture?)

Ring-ring

2006-08-26T20:02:00.000-05:00

My mom sent me this picture of Moo sitting on top of their phone! We don't really know how he/she got up on the counter. Maybe Moo wanted to read the nutrition label on the cat food bag...

more baby pictures

2006-08-23T21:57:00.000-05:00

Ellie is testing out the blanket I made for her.

Alex and Ellie - burping and bonding.

The happy family (minus a few hours of sleep).

meet ellie

2006-08-23T21:50:00.000-05:00

here are some pictures of baby Ellie. isn't she cute?!!

Book review: Here Lies the Librarian

2006-08-17T22:34:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading Here Lies the Librarian by Richard Peck. (He also wrote A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way From Chicago, as well as many other books.)

This book could be another Peck classic. It offers many laugh-out-loud moments and is packed full of wit. The story begins when Peewee and big brother Jake encounter a twister that rips through the graveyard. By then end of chapter one, if you're like me (and I know I am), I bet you'll be hooked.

If you do read the book (and I hope you do), let me know if you are surprised at the end of chapter two - I was amazed! But don't ruin the surprise for everyone else. School Library Journal has a review of the book on Amazon.com. I was going to put a link to the review, but it ruins the surprise, so don't read it until you've read the book. They list the book for grades 6-9 but I think it would be a great read aloud for grades 4-6. Like A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way From Chicago, there is some neat history woven into the story as well as some authentic vocabulary. Buckle your seatbelt and happy reading. But you don't have to take my word for it! :)

How to Eat Fried Worms sweepstakes

2006-08-17T22:26:00.000-05:00

One of the blogs I regularly check in on is called Surfing the Net with Kids by Barbara Feldman. Right now, she has a link to a sweepstakes for the new movie (based on the book) for kids called "How to Eat Fried Worms." There is also information on Surnetkids about the movie and links to movie/book-related games.

I'm an aunt!

2006-08-17T19:49:00.000-05:00

Today my new niece, Eleanor Ann Walter was born. She weighed in at 9lbs 10oz and is 22 inches long. (That's pretty big - especially if you've seen how petite my sister-in-law is!) I don't have any pictures yet, but I'll put some on as soon as I get them.

more cute pictures

2006-08-14T12:41:00.000-05:00

It has been decided that we need to call the kittens SOMETHING to avoid confusion, but after the catastrophy with the gender of Charlie and Susie, we chose "gender neutral" names.

My mom calls this kitten Curious because it is the first one to do everything. It is the smallest of the three kittens, and very cute!

My cousin Cassie calls this kitten Tiger because of the clear stripes. Tiger looks a lot like Curious, but Tiger's ears are whiter.

I like to call this kitten Moo because of the big black and white splotches. If you look closely at Moo's left eye, half is white and half is black. Very cool. Moo is too cute to look like a cow, but I think it's a good name.

Moo and Tiger are checking out mama Charlie's food. They actually managed to crunch through a few pieces. Tiger likes to stand right in the bowl.

Tiger and Moo are peeking out from their home - right next to Kazu's pen.

a new edition to the family

2006-08-14T12:31:00.000-05:00

Well, actually 3 new additions...

About three weeks ago my dad called me and in the middle of the conversation asked, "Did Mom tell you you're an aunt?" My response was to hang up and call my mom, very upset for not telling me the news. Once I stopped to breathe, she said, "Angela, Charlie had kittens." Here are some pictures:

my first triathalon

2006-06-16T16:54:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, June 3rd, I participated in my first triathalon. It was the Bravado Challange - a mini triathalon consisting of a 4 mile hike through Lapham Peak in Delafield, a 10 mile bike ride, and a 4 mile canoe trip down the Fox River. The picture was take BEFORE the event. The hike was brutal, with lots of vertical grades. I can't believe people were actually running! The weather was beautiful. I had a lot of fun and finished the race.

The proceeds from the fundraiser went to the birth-to-three foundation of Lutheran Social Services to help families of premature babies with medical expenses. I'm hoping to do this again next year!

a boy named Sue

2006-06-02T19:37:00.000-05:00

Well, it turns out that the Golden Lake kitties have been hiding a secret...

Sue is actually a boy. And Charlie is more of a Charline or Charlise maybe. Who could have guessed it?

In other news, last weekend I had, well, let's just call it a colorful toilet experience. Alarmed by the bright green color, I thought about calling my doctor, but I decided to check on-line first. Ah, the wonders of the internet. It turns out lots of people have had this pleasant surprise and it often follows eating certain colored foods, which in my case, was purple chips. I know that red and blue make purple...where does green fit into the picture? I don't know, but I might try some new foods containing beta carotene!

I guess I didn't learn EVERYTHING in kindergarten!

10 year class reunion

2006-05-26T00:05:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's here...I feel so old! I'm now 28 years old and just received an invitation to a 10-year class reunion. Yikes! I'm having some mixed feelings about whether or not to go. America, I just don't know what to do. What would you do?

You know you're from Wisconsin if...

2006-05-21T21:27:00.000-05:00

- Your best shirt has a big letter G on it.

- You know what's knee-high by the fourth of July.

- You can recognize someone from Illinois by their driving.

- You buy your Christmas presents at Fleet Farm.

- You are a connoisseur of cheese curds and find anyone unfamiliar with them to be frighteningly foreign.

- You know that Kaukauna is NOT a Hawaiian Island.

- You or someone you know was a Dairy Princess at a county fair.

- You know that "combine" is a noun.

- You let your older siblings talk you into putting your tongue against a flag pole.

- You think the major religions are Lutheran and Catholic.

- You have driven your car on a lake.

- At every wedding you have been to you have danced "The Hokey Pokey" and "The Chicken Dance."

- You know what a bubbler is.

- Your sexy lingerie is tube socks and a flannel nightie.

- You understand these jokes and tell them to your Wisconsin friends.

the baby's on the way!

2006-05-13T16:55:00.000-05:00

Wednesday night I got to see my sister-in-law Adrienne and my brother Alex. They are back from England and on their way to North Carolina. I also got to see my "little" brother Anthony. He got the baby (who Alex is calling "Merlin") a really cool gift - a rocker shaped like a plane. It is made entirely out of wood, but the blue wood actually looks like leather.

It was fun to see them as well as many friends of the family. I can't wait to see the baby - just a few more weeks!!! Thanks for the pics, Mom!

contact lens wearers beware

2006-05-13T09:12:00.000-05:00

Having trouble with your eyes? The answer may be in your solution!

Bausch & Lomb's ReNu with moisture lock has been voluntarily pulled from the market due to complaints of an infection called Fusarium Keratitis.

Symptoms include: redness, pain, tearing, increased sensitivity to light, blurry vision, discharge and swelling. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, see an eye specialist right away, as the infection can lead to permanent blindness.

More information is available courtesy of Bausch & Lomb if you click here.

dinner with Amy and Joe

2006-05-05T09:50:00.000-05:00

Last night Amy and Joe took me out to dinner at the Botanical Gardens. It was such a nice night so we got to walk around outside and see the tulips in full bloom. This was my first time there - if you've never been there, this would be a good time to go!

Dinner was catered by the Bartalotta's which included ceaser salad, four jumbo shrimp, steak, grilled asparagus, mashed potatoes, and tiramisu for dessert. It was so yummy! Thanks Amy and Joe!

meet the cousins

2006-05-02T21:53:00.000-05:00

Meet Charlie and Susie! These are the Golden Lake "wild" kittens that have adopted my parents and their supply of dog food. The first picture, which I told my mom could win an award, is Susie last year. You can see she's grown a bit . Charlie is sooo black - everyone was surprised to see that he has a white undercoat. He's kinda sad looking when he's soaking wet, don't you think? They are very good kitties, and they even get along with Kazu, as long as they don't try to eat his food!

just for amy

2006-04-27T18:02:00.000-05:00

My friend Amy told me I need to update my blog, but I don't have anything really exciting to tell you. I don't even have funny stories about evil jellybeans like my friend Dria. I could tell you about the wonders of shedding pets - the other day when I combed Lenny and Squiggy I had enough hair to make another cat! (sorry, no pictures). I walked my bike to the gas station and put air in the tires - it makes a world of difference!!! no air = bad

I watched Goonies this week. If you haven't seen it, or not since 6th grade, it's worth watching again. I even watched the commentary, which I hardly ever do. All of the "kids" are interviewed - of course now they're all grown up. Very funny.

I also read "Deception Point" by Dan Brown, which my friend Dria let me borrow. Once I started, I couldn't stop!!! It's even better than Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons - it's a bit different genre - more sciency. Two big cheesy thumbs up.

That's it for now. What's new with you?

Hawaiian Luau

2006-04-03T23:29:00.000-05:00

A long, long time ago, when dinosaurs romed the earth, I was in 3rd grade and we had a Hawaiian program (pictured above). Can you find me in the pictures? Well, on Sunday night, I had a luau with some friends at church - complete with beach volleyball, fruit salad, the limbo, and rubber duckies. It was a blast! And it brought back many happy memories from 3rd grade.
Wasn't 3rd grade fun?!

Brownberry Coupon Alert

2006-04-03T22:36:00.000-05:00

Hello fellow shoppers!
If you like to shop at the Brownberry outlet, there is a coupon in Sunday's paper (April 2nd) for 13 items for $12! The coupon is located in The Waukesha section on page W7 and is valid through April 30th. You can use the coupon on any Brownberry, Enenmann's, Thomas' or Boboli products. There is a Brownberry outlet in Brookfield and one in Oconomowoc. My personal favorites are the Boboli crusts which make a very yummy pizza. I also enjoy the Entenmann's cereal bars. What's your favorite? Have fun shopping, save some moola and enjoy the yummy treats!!!

Daylight Savings Time

2006-04-02T17:19:00.000-05:00

Well, how do you feel after losing an hour? We have officially started Daylight Savings Time and will continue until October 29th. Next year, however, a new federal law is going into effect which will extend Daylight Savings Time by about four weeks; It will be observed from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November.

Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa are the only places in the United States that do not observe Daylight Savings Time. If you've spent any time in the sweltering sun in those regions, you understand why they don't need another hour of sunlight. :)

For more information on Daylight Savings Time, check out Fact Monster. Enjoy the sunshine!

In Memory of Wrath 11

2006-03-30T17:57:00.000-06:00

On March 31, 2005, nine men were killed when their C-130 plane crashed in Albania. These men were part of the Special Operations Squadron stationed at RAF Mildenhall, England.

Captain Todd R. Bracy, 34, of Murphysboro, Illinois

Captain James S. Cronin, 32, of Oak Grove Village, Illinois

Captain Gil C. Williamson, 31, of Dike, Texas

Captain Surender D. Kothakota, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina

First Lieutenant Ray C. Owens Jr., 32, of Birmingham, Alabama

Chief Master Sergeant Lawrence B. Gray, 40, of Chester, South Carolina

Technical Sergeant James R. Henry, 30, of Valparaiso, Florida

Technical Sergeant Glenn P. Lastes, 39, of Southington, Connecticut

Staff Sergeant Patrick R. Pentico, 22, of Hanksville, Utah

Please take a moment to remember these men, and the family and friends they have left behind. They have paid a high price to serve and protect our country.

Just For Kids

2006-03-29T21:16:00.000-06:00

My mom told me about a great new website called "Surfing the Net with Kids".
It has:
*Book Club *Online Encylopedias
*Coloring *Web Site Reviews
*Kids Games (Sudoku!!!) *Quotes
*Kids Jokes
*Stuff for Parents
*Links and ideas for Science Projects

Check it out and let me know what you think!

Move Over, Harry Potter

2006-03-29T20:58:00.000-06:00

Cheerio! I've made it back to USA and have officially survived England. I did visit Platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross in London, and there is actually a cart stuck in the wall!

I had a wonderful time. My sister-in-law, Adrienne, is a terrific tour guide. It was fun to hang out with my brother and meet his Air Force buddies. Now I can picture them when I hear crazy stories.

Survivor England: Cambridge

2006-03-17T15:50:00.000-06:00

Friday Adrienne and I drove to a park and ride, and took a double-decker bus to Cambridge. Besides being home to the famous Cambridge University, I didn't know a whole lot about this city. This picture shows the King's College Chapel which was built by Henry VI. The first stone was laid in 1446 and the chapel was completed in 1516. (So if you think the CHW construction is moving slowly, think again!)

Cambridge is home to Trinity College where Chariots of Fire was filmed. This college is also the home of the Wren Library which holds over 2500 manuscripts, including AA Milne's original Winnie the Pooh. Both he and his son Cristopher Robin were graduates of Trinity College.

One of the best ways to tour Cambridge is by punting. Punting involves riding in a small narrow boat along the River Cam. It looks similar to a gondola, but instead of paddling, you push the boat using a long paddle. It was kind of chilly and we really wanted to stay dry, so we opted to walk instead.

{British Language Lesson #2 - In England, if you want to eat a cookie, it is called a "biscuit." We ate some yummy ones in Cambridge after lunch at the Eagle Pub.}

Survivor England: Orange

2006-03-17T15:46:00.000-06:00

Well, when I saw this, I HAD to have a picture! Orange is the name of a British cell phone company. Alex and Adrienne told me they have very funny Orange advertisements prior to watching a movie in the theater. If we go to see a movie, I will let you know. I am pretty happy to see Orange everywhere!

Survivor England: Norwich

2006-03-17T11:02:00.000-06:00

Wednesday Adrienne and I took the train to Norwich. This required a trip in the car to the train station. I stood by the car door as she unlocked it and she said, "You might want to get in on the other side." Yeah, I did not want to be driving quite yet.

Norwich, (pronounced Norridge), was once larger than London. We visited the Norwich castle which was built around 1160. One of my favorite things inside the castle was a tapestry called "Adoration of the Magi."

Survivor England: Landing and Lunch

2006-03-17T10:44:00.000-06:00

This picture was taken as we flew over Ireland. You can see the land and the ocean through the clouds. This was shortly before landing in England at the London Heathrow airport.

I made it through customs and found my luggage. Alex and Adrienne were in the airport. We stopped at "services" which is like a fancy rest area. We picked up some triangle sandwiches and I was introduced to British crisps.

{*British language lesson #1 - If you ask for "chips" (as in fish and chips), you get french fries. If you want chips, you need to ask for "crisps."}

Okay, back to lunch. These crisps are not your average ripple chips. Oh, no. They come in flavors like "Roasted Chicken with Rosemary and Thyme" (my pick), "Spare Rib Wontons," "Peppered Steak" and other mouthwatering delights.

I have no idea how many calories are in these suckers because everything is in metric with nutrition facts in Joules or kilocalories and I don't remember how to convert them to normal calories. I'm working under the assumption that anything you eat on vacation doesn't count.

The other interesting thing about these crisps is that they are "suitable for coeliacs." I had no idea what that word meant so I looked it up. It's not a British word - it refers to someone who has an allergy to wheat. Keep that in mind for your crossword puzzles, Dad.

Survivor England: Fun Fact

2006-03-17T10:41:00.000-06:00

Did you know that at 37,000 feet altitude, the air temperature outside of the plane reaches a breezey -81 degrees F?! Of course I was a little warm inside the plane so I asked if we could crack open a window. That idea was frowned upon.

Survivor England: The Flight

2006-03-17T10:40:00.000-06:00

Well, I made it across the ocean! The flight went pretty smoothly except for the turbulance during dinner. Then, the trays were airborn - it got pretty messy!!! (I was very thankful I packed some Shout wipes!!) My friend, Ermin, was telling me that to help people calm down during the flight, they offer you some whiskey. I didn't get any whiskey, (I did ask, just for Ermin's sake) but the stewardess gave me an entire bottle of wine instead.

For those of you new to blogging, you can click on any pictures to see them a bit better.

Ready for the big trip!

2006-03-13T12:01:00.000-06:00

As you can see, Squiggy is helping me pack. If there are drug-sniffing dogs at the airport and they like the smell of cats, I am a goner! Please leave your name and phone number in case I need you to bail me out of jail!

Check back soon for more pictures and stories from my travels!

Cast your vote!

2006-02-25T09:00:00.000-06:00

My friends Lisa, Lori and I were discussing one of the important things in life - whether it is better to have mints in a roll or mints in a tin. There are some strong considerations on both sides of the argument.

fact - a roll is smaller and fits better in small places
fact - a roll means paper which always introduces the potential for a papercut
fact - a tin (when properly closed) drastically reduces the risk of pocket lint

Now it's time for you to be the judge. Cast your vote! There's a poll for tin or roll and one for your favorite mint but I can only get one to show up at a time, and they rotate - so you'll have to come back to participate in both polls!

my valentine's cookies

2006-02-16T18:04:00.000-06:00

I made a special valentine's treat for my coworkers. Since the cookies were so popular, I decided to post the recipe (courtesy of Family Fun magazine).

Use this recipe for sugar dough or one of your own.

Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
2 ½ cups flour

1. Using an electric mixer at medium-high speed, cream the butter, gradually adding the sugar. Beat in the egg until evenly mixed, then blend in the vanilla extract and salt.

2. With a wooden spoon, stir the flour into the creamed ingredients, about one third at a time, until evenly blended. The dough may seem soft, but it will firm up when refrigerated.

3. Divide the dough in half. Flatten each portion into a disk and seal in plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight.

To make the heart cookies:
1 - Heat the oven to 375°. Cover a sturdy baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly coat the foil with cooking spray. Between 2 sheets of waxed paper lightly dusted with flour, roll the sugar dough to ¼-inch thickness. Remove the top sheet.

2 - Cut out the cookies with a large cookie cutter. Use a spatula to transfer the shapes to the baking sheet, leaving about an inch between cookies. Remove the centers of the cookies with a smaller cookie cutter. (Save the centers for later.)

3 - Place a hard candy (I used Jolly Ranchers®) in the center of each heart and bake until the cookies start to brown lightly around the edges and the candy is melted, about 8 to 10 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely. To prevent sticking, line your serving plate or tin with waxed paper and place additional waxed paper between layers. Makes about 30 cookies.

Angela's notes:
This dough recipe is sticky! If you use this one, I would recommend adding a little more flour. Also, take your dough out about 30 minutes before you start or it will be too cold. The cookies will continue to brown even after you take them out of the oven, so pull them out on the early side. When they come out of the oven, the candy will be bubbly, but it smooths out as it cools. Let the cookies sit on the pan for closer to 10 minutes - then they peel right off the foil.

My friend Tammy and I are thinking about experimenting with other shapes and candies. We thought we could use any shape cookie cutter and just use a small circle to cut out the middle. We also thought about trying butterscotch candies, cinnamon candies, toffee candies or red and white swirled peppermints. Tammy's daughter, Abby, came up with an idea to use a Christmas shape and use the cookies as ornaments!

If you try any tweaks, let me know how they turn out!!!

IT'S HERE!!!

2006-02-13T16:10:00.000-06:00

It's official! I received my passport and can now legally leave the country! Even better, I can get back in again. For those of you who don't know, I will be heading to England to visit my brother and sister-in-law. (My house will be guarded by my two ferocious tigers - see pictures of Lenny and Squiggy below - so don't even think about breaking in!) It's been awhile since I've left the country, so if you have any tips, I would appreciate it!!

meet squiggy

2006-02-04T23:35:00.000-06:00

hi. i'm squiggy.
i like to eat things i'm not supposed to like the thanksgiving turkey.
i like to play with things i'm not supposed to such as hiding angela's id badge for work.
i like to swim in places i'm not supposed to like the toilet, but you have to admit, i'm pretty cute!

meet lenny

2006-02-04T23:32:00.000-06:00

hi. i'm lenny.
i like to sleep and eat.
i have put on a few pounds of "winter weight" so i'm kinda shy and usually hide when people come over, but i am a good kitty and hope to see you soon!

Sudoku

2006-02-04T22:26:00.000-06:00

Have you heard of Sudoku? No, it's not a fancy name for the Asian Bird Flu. And it's not something you put on your hot dog. It's a number puzzle, and one of my new favorite things.

According to Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, Sudoku is a Japenese word for a numerical logic puzzle. Each Sudoku is made up of a grid. To complete the grid, use digits 1 through 9, but each digit can only exist ONCE in each row, each column and each box.

My favorite Sudoku site is Sudoku Online, sponsored by the Daily Telegraph (a British newspaper) and the Los Angeles Times. This site offers a new Sudoku puzzle each day at 6:00PM Central Time. You can email in your response which gives you a chance to win a Sudoku book! The degree of difficulty varies, and if you're ready for more challenge, they also offer a Jigsaw Sudoku which will really give your brain a workout!

(Um, Dad, if you're reading this, don't stay up too late working on these. I don't want to be held responsible for the repercussions from LAISA - Librarians Against Irresponsible Sudoku Addicts.)