Memoirs of a crazy childhood chapter 10

One of my most painful childhood memories was the day I sat in an ant pile.  In the summer.  With shorts on.  The age of 5.  We lived in Reno Park and my mother had sent me out to play, back then, believe it or not, mothers sent their children outside to play by themselves,  and I think my dog Go-Lucky was with me.  I do remember that it was hot and for some reason I sat right in the middle of a red ant pile.  I don't know how many ant bites I got that day, a lot, but I can tell you this, that was 35 years ago and I still remember how bad it stung.  The feeling is almost like touching a hot burner.  I don't recommend it.

Book Review.......DREAMCATCHER BY STEPHEN KING

Not the best book I have read, I like Stephen King, this time he went sci-fi.  This book is about 4 boys who befriend a boy with down's syndrome.  As they grow up they lose touch and the four men meet up every year for a hunting trip and reminisce about their younger days and talk about Duddits "Douglas". Then all of a sudden they are invaded by aliens and killed or body snatched and Duddits has a special talent that is the only way the remaining men can be saved........lots of fowl language, grossness and it's kind of weird.  I skimmed through alot of this book.  I think my favorite parts of this book was about their special friendship with Duddits and how it came to be.  Girls don't bother, Guys into sci-fi....go for it.....500 and something pages of Huh?

Menu Monday

• Sunday- Boca Burgers, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad,  homemade buttery spritz cookies
• Monday- Pot Stickers, won-ton soup, ice-cream sandwich
• Tuesday- Healthy Choice frozen dinner, salad, Zuchini bread
• Wednesday- Sauteed Jumbo Shrimp, salad, cous cous, cookies
• Thursday-Tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, pudding
• Friday-Pot pie, cookie
• Saturday- Egg salad sandwich and potatoe chips, ice-cream sandwich

Buttery Spritz Cookies

One of the ways I have decided to save money is by baking a batch of cookies each week on Sundays.  I have to admit, they are much better than buying stale cookies at the grocery store.  This week we made Buttery Spritz Cookies and Stevi is going to decorate them after they cool with writing frosting.  I had everything I needed in the pantry so they didn't cost me a dime this week.

BUTTERY SPRITZ COOKIES:

• 1cup of butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2-1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt

•    In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and extracts.  Combine flour and salt.  Gradually add to creamed mixture, mix well.  Tint with food coloring is desired.
  
• Place shaped cookie dough 2" apart on ungreased baking sheets.  
• Bake @ 375 for 6-8 mins. (11 mins at my high altitude) Remove to wire racks to cool.

The recipe says it yields 7 1/2 dozen, my cookies are big so I only got 2 dozen out of mine.

Great but OUCH!

I try to get my workouts in whenever I can, at least 3 days a week, and now with trying to train to run, which I count as a completely separate workout, it is difficult.  I went to the gym at lunch on Thursday and took the Express Circuit class which the instructor, Melanie, has to choice of work-outs.  She decided on "Fight Club"  which is punching and kicking, elbowing and body checking heavy bags.  I don't know why but I have always felt good getting aggression out that way.  The bags we were using are called wave runners and they are filled with water, on a stand, so not only are they heavy, they can come back at you.  For 45 mins, we had to do a series of jabs, upper cuts, hooks, kicks, round houses etc.  I got into it.  I was the only one in class without a partner so Mel teamed up with me, well obviously the competition was on.  She is my sisters age, younger than me, she actually went to school with my sister and had a baby with Kyle Lundgren who she knows as well.  So knowing her, I couldn't let her see any weakness.  It was on.  I was definitely moving the bag.  My whole body hurt the next day and today I am just as sore.  That was probably the best workout I have ever gotten.  I had gloves on, and both of my hands, the knuckles are bruised.  I also hurt my ankle doing a series of round houses.  I moved that bag around the floor so much I had to switch sides to keep it on my side of the room.  It felt so good, but unfortunately, I was going to run right afterward and my legs were so warn out I couldn't run and the next day my ankle hurt, so I am listening to my body, and taking more days off.  I still feel it, and my client who has 2 sons that run for Nike told me not to run because I will hurt myself.  I am listening and laying low.  Hopefully tomorrow I can run, I am actually craving it, the runners I have spoken to told me this would happen and they were right.  If I can run tomorrow, I will start week 4 which is walking for 2 mins, then running for 5 mins. repeated 4 times and getting 4 runs in in a week.  For all you women out there, kick that cardio kickboxing to the curb and get a heavy bag...........it's an amazing full body and cardio workout, you will be sore!

My thoughts on our victory.....

I am a registered Republican.  I voted for a Democrat.  Not because of the color or his skin.   Because I felt he is the best man for the job.  Unfortunately, we still see prejudice in this country and I am sad to say that I have heard a few times that the only reason people are voting for him is because he is black. I am sure his whole life he has had to overcome many obstacles in his life because of ignorance and hate.  In my lifetime, I have seen racism, hate and ignorance and was fortunate to be raised in an educated household where we were never taught to judge anybody by the color of their skin.  I am so proud that we live in a country where you can definitely be all you can be.  If you set your mind to something and try hard enough you can achieve anything.  My uncle was black.  I learned from stories my mom told me about prejudice and how sickening the world can be.  My Aunt and Uncle fell in love in a time when it was taboo and stayed married until the day my Uncle passed away.   They chose to not have children because of the times,  so it is our loss that we never got to have more wonderful people in the world who were born out of pure and honest love.  I wish my Uncle were still alive to see this day.....it is a day many younger generations won't understand and how incredibly momentous this is.  Yes our 44th president happens to be black.  Back in the 60's when he was born, he was most likely unable to ride the same bus or attend the same schools as whites.  They had separate drinking fountains.  Couldn't go into restaurants to eat.  Had to walk on the outside or go around the back of buildings.  Were beaten and killed because of the color of their skin.  My Aunt got fired from her job when they found out she was married to a black man................and it was OK.  How sickening it is to me that this ever went on in the first place.  It is a proud moment that the majority of America saw a man.  A man who was running for President and could possibly make a difference.  I am saddened that his Grandmother passed away one day before he was elected.  I am sure she was so proud, and I bet when he was a small boy, she looked at him with love in her eyes, despite the way a lot of America looked at him back then and said....."Someday, you could be President of the United States......."  and he is.................

On the Bandwagon.......

• Sunday-Corndogs, potatoe salad and a frozen fruit bar
• Monday- Boneless skinless chicken thighs, mixed vegetables, mashed potatoes and homemade orange pecan cookie.
• Tuesday-Potroast, sweet peas, white rice, Garlic bread with parmesan cheese and Halloween Candy
• Wednesday- Beef ribs, Mashed potatoes, fresh fried zuccini and butternut squash in olive oil and frozen fruit bar
• Thursday-Taquitos and mini tacos with Tortilla chips and salsa and a homemade cookie
• Friday-Ceasar salad and applesauce with a frozen fruit bar
• Saturday-Fetticcini Alfredo, ceasar salad, garlic bread with cheese and a homemade cookie