swore i would never!

this morning at 6:15am i dragged my

scared, skeptical, anti-flu shot

body into my car and drove to the health department.

along with 5,000 other people.

no lie.

have you ever seen 5,000 people stand in one massively large line?

it's not pretty.

in fact, it's really scary.

you'd be amazed at what it will do to people.

about a block from the turn i was stopped in dead traffic.

on saturday morning.

did i mention it was 6:15AM?

never a good sign.

i had seen the reports from other counties on the news and heard stories of people waiting two hours for a stupid flu shot.

a stupid flu shot!

crazy i called them.

well, this morning i was one of them.

except i waited for 4 hours.

the dark picture above was a small portion of the line that curved through the second parking lot of people waiting.

behind me there were another 2-3,000 people.

i couldn't believe it.

it scared me to death.

people in masks, coughing, sneezing.

why was i doing this again?
oh yeah, b/c my OB convinced me it was not a risk i wanted to take this year to skip it.

so i went.

and you know what?

i feel great.

i feel an amazing sense of relief.

i feel like a real live grown up, making my own decisions.

imagine that;-)

so whatever you choose to do, i hope you feel the same amazing sense of relief i'm feeling this morning.

i'm even going to get the regular flu shot on wednesday when brennan gets his h1n1 shot at the pediatrician.

i know, HOLD THE PHONE.

no really, it's true.

this was the line after 3 hours of waiting.

we (the 4 ladies i made friends with in line near me) had already been told twice that we would not be getting a shot and to just go home.

i still stayed.

see, told you i was crazy.

or persistent.

whichever.

this was me after being told i was getting one of the last 89 shots!

go me!

now i need a nap.

did i mention i have been up since 4am?

brennan has had a fever since then and was up for the better part of the early a.m. hours.

i do love rocking a sick toddler.

sad, but satisfying.

at least i didn't have to be woken up by a buzzing alarm at 6:15am as i had planned:-)

burning your retina

is there any truth to the "burn your retina" thing if you sit too close to the tv?
or is it an, "if you make that face long enough it will stay that way" kind of a thing?

the scout master is concerned.

note: child did not move once during the taking of these photos.

-63-

"63"
that was the temp in our room this morning.
i love seeing the 50's and 60's on our thermometer clock right now:-)
it's like walking into the 7-11 cooler.
i got stuck in one when i was a kid.
my dad owned one, and i was stocking the sodas.
it was really fun.
until i got stuck and had to climb out through the display doors.
must have been a real shocker for the customer going to grab his coke.
so i'm hot.
smokin' hot.
and not in a conceded way, although i do think a healthy sense of self is good for the soul.
like in an "i'm constantly asking everyone if it's 'hot in here'???" way.
and then i can't get that song out of my head.
b/c dang, i swear it's hot in here.
so although i was cursing myself for spending another 1st trimester in the summer heat, i am enjoying all the glory of the cold weather now!
b/c glory be, it's all paying off!
oh happy day, i can open my windows at night and make my room
55 beautiful degrees.
(and yes, it still feels like it's 75 in there to me).
not to mention those food holidays that will be first trimester sickness free:-)
(hello turkey and sweet potatoes! not to mention halloween candy and christmas confections).
maybe the first trimester isn't so bad in the summer heat???
i swear it was though.

a halloween carnival {a photo gallery}

le menu

note: if you have never put avocado on your potato, you haven't lived. 'nuff said.

shout out to BREE for the pumpkin bread bowls. muchas gracias!

it must be said that the scout master made my hat.

what a guy;-)

now i'm extra excited for halloween.

you?

PORK LOIN makes the NEWS!!!

our little pork loin made his television debut this very morning!
we couldn't be more proud...that is his was done;-)
thank heavens!
click here to see it.

buttons be gone!

i have officially entered the land of buttons be gone!
it's a super comfy place to be;-)

building the ark

noah built his ark to last through the largest flood the earth has ever seen.
i'm building mine to last through
2 parties, a trunk or treat, and one husky pork loin.
pretty comparable,
don't you think?

don't just sit there

b/c the pumpkin season only lasts so long.
i give you,
the result of tonight's craving.
pumpkin choc chip cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.
andrea and jaren will be sorry they went to bed early tonight!
in other news:
my brother in law has informed me that we are "subconscious controllers."
this b/c we both fold our arms with the right over the left.
i told him his book was nonsense.
i'm a conscience controller;-)

ingredients:

1/4 c butter (room temp)

1/4 c shortening

1 1/2 c sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1/2 c pumpkin spread

1 c milk

2 c flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp pumpkin spice (or ground cloves, but i didn't have those. if you don't have either just leave it out altogether.)

1/4 tsp ginger

frosting:

8oz cream cheese (room temp)

1/2 c butter (1 stick, room temp)

2 tsp vanilla

4 c powdered sugar

1 c sugar

directions:

mix butter and shortening, add sugar and vanilla. mix well. add eggs and mix. add pumpkin spread. combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice/cloves, ginger, and milk. mix together and make sure to scrap sides and bottom. spoon 1/4 c (or so) batter into each cupcake tin. bake 350* for 18 minutes. let cool before topping with frosting.

frosting directions: (make while cupcakes are cooking)

beat cream cheese and butter, add vanilla and sugars. mix well.

...

don't just stand there!

go look in your pantry to see what you've got, and get to the store pronto for the rest!