IPad Learning Curve

This is exciting! I have figured out how to write on the blog via the iPad. I know that sounds so elementary, but I'm beginning to understand the ins and out of this marvelous device. The keyboard takes some getting used to, but I am getting there. Friday afternoons are the best. The kids and I come home and just relax. It is refreshing to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the week. Usually People magazine arrives on Fridays and I indulge in mindless reading. Today I received an extra treat because Southern Living arrived too. Simple pleasures make life great. Someone called this weekend a hibernation weekend and I'm going to borrow the phrase. I need to rest up because things are going to get busy in February. It will be a good busy with Saturday track meets. Have a nice weekend! P.S. I am still learning the editing feature of the iPad- I'm sorry about the errors! Shell Blog A Lot

Short Week and it is almost Friday

It has been an unusual week.  I had Monday off due to a work holiday. Worked on Tuesday.  I took a CPR recertification class on Wednesday.  I returned to work today and can't believe tomorrow is already Friday.


!http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/health/medical/2010-10-18-CPR18_ST_N.htm

This in no way supposed to replace medical advice!  However, I truly believe in being knowledgeable in CPR.  I have really lost count how many CPR courses I have taken.  I will say that the directions are getting easier and aren't as complicated as it used to be.  There is now a strong emphasis on compressions.
CPR is really easy to learn.  It is empowering and may save a life.

This is my public service announcement!

Have a nice weekend!


Shell Blog A Lot

Happy Anniversary Zina and Jeff!

So much to say, so much to do and I've let a week slide by without a post-- not good.
I don't want the week slide by without telling you about by good friends Alexina aka Zina and Jeff.  They just celebrated their anniversary.

Zina grew up in Hampton and went to PHA and I grew up in Ridgeland (Grahamville) and went to THA.  Our paths never crossed.  In the 80's, the Hampton and Ridgeland Episcopal churches shared the same priest.  Father Ouzts' wife, Henrietta found out that we were both going to Columbia College.  We met at a THA/PHA basketball game.  We both said "hello" and left it at that.  Fast forward to summer orientation... each of us had a roommate.  But, we each needed suitemates.  Destiny was set right there in Cottingham Theater...  Zina and I became suitemates.  She was a business major and I thought (and still do) that she was one of the smartest people I have ever met.  When I need to pass the math pre-test for the  EEE, I abhorred the tutoring lab.  I took my folder to Zina and she explained everything to me so easily.  Other memories include:  SubCabin (best food in West Columbia), USC games/tailgaiting, Lake Murray, the cruise, water and watermelon festivals, Red Bluff and lots of laughs.
Then it was time for us to be grown ups.  The laughs and good times continued, but it was time for lots of responsibility.  She called me from the Philippines when my mom died.  This was before cell phones.  That was a big deal, because it was so comforting to hear her voice.  We had baby boys within 4 months of each other.  She was the one to comfort me (again) when the postpartum hit me like a tons of bricks.  Zina was the first to arrive when Reeves made his untimely arrival.  Jeff- oh yeah, I can't forget about him.  He is a great person.  He even played it cool when I accidentally put a pot holder under a cookie sheet and proceeded to put it in the oven-- fire ensued.  His National Guard training kept me calm.  And,  Jeff was even calm when I spilled pasta salad in the inside of  their boat.
No matter how busy we get, we always have the watermelon festival and water festival on the calendar.  We keep it family oriented because we are not as young as we used to be.  It has been fun watching our children grow up.
Happy Anniversary, Zina and Jeff!

P.S.  Meredith is married to a nice man, too.  His name is Michael!

My Favorite Spaghetti Sauce

This summer will be my 20th wedding anniversary.  20 years?  I really don't know where the time has gone.  To say I didn't know how to cook as a newlywed is an understatement!  With a lot of trial and error, I have become a decent cook.  In1992, I would pick up Southern Living and think the recipes were too complicated.  Let me introduce you to the cookbook that is my go-to cookbook all the time.

My college friend Meredith (more about her in a minute) told me about his cookbook.  I purchased one as soon as I could find a copy (this was pre-Internet era).  These recipes made sense and did not seem overly complicated.  20 years later- I still use it all the time.
One of our favorites is the spaghetti sauce.  I did not like all the sugar taste in Prego and Ragu.  It is a recipe that takes at least 6 hours to simmer so it is a good one for a Saturday afternoon.  It makes 10-12 servings so I usually freeze half of it.  The boys also love the sauce for chicken parmesan.  I've made it on the stove and in the crock pot.

Spaghetti Sauce


2lbs lean ground beef
1 lb ground sausage
2 cups chopped celery
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 t salt
2 packets of Splenda
1- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
1- 28 oz diced tomatoes
2 cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped bell pepper
2 T oregano
3 whole bay leaves
1- 15 oz tomato sauce
1- 8oz tomato paste ( I can never find 8oz can so I use 6oz)


In a large 8 quart covered pot, brown the sausage and ground beef with onion, celery and bell pepper.  Drain off grease.  Add all other ingredients except tomato paste, cover and simmer on low, stirring occasionally.  Cook all day or at least 6 hours.  Just before serving add tomato paste and stir to thicken.  Check for salt and add more if needed ( I don't add the salt).  Serve over hot cooked noodles.  Serves 10-12.


Back to Meredith- one of my near and dear friends.  I thank her for the cookbook advice.  We met at Columbia College in Dr. O'Neal's English 101 class in Fleming Hall  in August 1987 (which has now been bulldozed or

heavily renovated).

Meredith and I sat next to each other.  Across the room sat Christy and Beth.  Meredith graduated from Irmo High School.  Christy and Beth were graduates of Richland Northeast.  I had never known anyone from high schools sooooo big.  I feared that I wouldn't know as much as they did. We went to typing rooms for our papers.  We made fun of one girl on our dorm hall that had a "computer and loud printer". Most college bound high school students take English 101 in high school.   Meredith thought I was an equestrian which just cracks me up.


From English 101 to 2012, we have been friends for a long time. We talk often and see each other when we can.  She talked me into Facebook even when I told her it was the dumbest thing I had ever heard of!  I told her about Pinterest.  We were in each other's weddings.  She was by my side when my mom died.
In July of 2010, we made a trip to NYC.  We took this picture on top of Rockefeller Center and ate cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery.

 Columbia College gave me lasting friendships that are invaluable (more about the rest of the gang coming soon).  Lots of laughs and wonderful memories~

Shell Blog-a- Lot
P.S.  I found my phone- it was indeed left on my desk.

Shell Blog A Lot is Misplacing Things a Lot

Wow!  Nothing like the enthusiasm of the new year.  I was going to work on the blog, do this, do that.  Here it is the 4th of January and the wheels are coming off the bus!  There simply are not enough hours in the day.  All of this may have to do with it being my 3rd day on Weight Watchers.  I went through the honeymoon phase, but today was truly hard.
Weight Watchers keeps changing their plan which I don't know if it is marketing or improved science.  Nonetheless, I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. 
The day started out being too cold.  Temperatures in the 20's just doesn't work for me.  I would be totally content to bypass winter entirely and live in 80's year round.  That would mean moving to San Diego and I don't see that in my near future.  I left my work keys at home but didn't realize it.  I just thought one of the 2 tote bags or my huge purse had eaten them.  I easily adjusted by using my co-workers door. I came home to discover that I no longer had my cell phone in my possession.  I'm 99% sure I left it on my desk, then again I'm not really sure.  All of this to say:  I used to never be like this.  I couldn't understand nor did I have patience with humans that were losing keys and cell phones.  Now, I have become that person.  Maybe I am watching too much of The Bachelor on ABC.
Now back to Weight Watchers (I promise not to go on and on) but I need accountability.  One of my favorite show on TV is Modern Family.  The episode where Cam goes on a diet is one of the best.  It shows all the stages of Cam going through his diet.  "Cam-Rage" is hilarious.  Maybe it is so funny, because I totally understand how he feels.  I'm hungry.


I hope everyone is having a great start to the new year.


Shell Blog A Lot and hope to find her phone A Lot

Happy New Year 2012

Happy New Year!!
2012


Yesterday, I was in the mood for "out with the old".  My mission originally started in cleaning out the lazy susan in the kitchen.  From there, I ended up taking everything out of the kitchen cabinets and starting over.  Shelves were wiped down, food was thrown out, and tops were reunited with bowls.  It took way more time than I had anticipated, but I was on a roll.  I feel like I have moved into a brand new kitchen.
We brought in the new year at the Polar Bear 5K in Bluffton.  We met Zina and Jeff at the movie theater and received our t-shirts and bibs.

• 

Zina and I weren't even pretending to run the thing.  We planned to walk and talk.  All of the men signed up to run.  Most of the people at these races are the same.  You have the serious runners.  You have the baby jog strollers.  This time there were two guys that brought a lot of entertainment.  They parked by us.  They were talking loudly and at one point I wasn't sure if they were talking to us.  Then again, I wasn't sure if they were still feeling the effects of revelry from the prior evening.  One guy was asking us:  "are you here to WIN".  The Charlie Sheen type guys had no shirts and weighted vests.  One had a kettle ball and one had a huge black pole. The race began and everyone  took off.  Zina and I followed.  Jeff and Mark reported that the kettle ball and pole man repeatedly would stop and throw up and run on.  You just don't see those types at 5K's... at least I don't.  We celebrated the race afterwards at Wild Wings.  Wild Wings, naturally, negated all the positive effects of walking.  It was fun to bring in the new year with good friends.
When we returned home, everyone cleaned up.  Mark brought to my attention that a dog had snapped at him while he was running.  They had dogs at the race with vests on that said "adopt me" running with foster people.  Anyway, sure enough, right on Mark's backside is where the dog bit him.  The puncture wasn't too deep.  So much for the dog getting adopted.  So between the dog and Charlie Sheen guys, it was an interesting race.


As far as new years resolutions-

• Weight Watchers will begin on Tuesday
• Regular Exercise
• Better job with devotions
• I need to come up with something else... oh yeah, work on this blog.

Happy New Year to you and yours!!  Good luck with re-entry to the real world!


Shell Blog-A-Lot