I have a question for my friends out there. I have a friend that is looking for military friends and high school friends. she tried the tool on facebook with no luck. does anyone know of another search tool for finding people, at no charge. classmates.com charges.

Friday Oct. 16

On the way to work last night, Lorrie and I were talking about possibly getting decrewed. We laughed, cus it never happens any more. We remembered, tried to remember the last time we were decrewed at the beginning of the night. it was a very long time ago. it just doesn't happen any more. The crewer tries to make sure she brings in the right amount of people. Full time works before part time and temps. The get called off first also. So we just talk about it, knowing it wont happen. But it's fun to dream.

Well, last night, after our pre-shift meeting, Randy, he is sort of a helper/resource in training kind of guy, says we have three going out of department, and three people over. WHAT? Did I hear that correctly. I asked Lorrie, did i hear that correctly? Yes, but we wont get to go home, the part timers and temps will go home first. So we got over to the board, and we were not assigned to a line. we had signed the decrew list, but only 1 part timer did also. We got tot go home at midnight. We hightailed it out of there before someone could change their minds. So i got a little nap, I am sorta charged and I'm have intentions of cleaning my house today and starting a quilt this weekend.

Its finally cooling off. Tuesday we had a storm with high winds. Trees came down all over the place. We were spared that one. A guy I work with had his car damaged buy a tree in his yard. Now the weather is very muggy, but cool enough to sew. it just gets very hot in that room, even with the fan on.

The other thing I love about this time of year, when it cools off, is I get to bake more. It just isn't worth it to turn on the oven when its going to be 100 outside. that just means the AC will come on that much earlier. A few weeks ago, John found a recipe for Carmel Glazed Apple Cake and asked me if I could make it. Would it be too hard. I checked out the recipe, said no, I can do it. it sounds good. So I did and OMG! I will have to put it int he recipe box. it actually came out of the Costco magazine we get every month. so if you get that, you got the recipe. Fabulous.

We also had a potluck at work. I was asked to make something chocolate. I am not really good at chocolate, but I remembered a chocolate cream pie that is fairly easy, and quite tasty too. I made it, and used a graham cracker crust. then I layered bananas in the chocolate part and put whipped cream on top. When the girls at work tasted it, they loved it. They thought I made it from a box, but I told them no, it was scratch. I did buy the crust in a box, I hate crumbling the graham crackers. they didn't know you could make pudding with out a box. It tastes so different from the box stuff, very creamy and so much flavor.

I have been trying to read my email and get on here to blog and respond to your blogs, but about five minutes after I get started, I start falling asleep. I end up just shutting down and heading off to bed. Today, I am going to try and get caught up. Try. That is the key word here. Hope you have wonderful activities planned for your weekends.

A new Experience for me

I don't know when it happened, but the current commander of the post was contacted to perform a flag changing ceremony at one of our senior centers. The lady that called was a widow of WWII Vet. The flag at the center where he was in his last days, was deteriorating and she wanted it replaced, but with the respect it deserved. She had purchased a new flag, and requested the Post replace it for the old one. I think that is how it went, I'm not sure.

The Commander requested the Vice Commander and Jr. Vice to assist in this process. John is the Jr. Vice, so I get to go along. I did ask if they wanted me there, to take pictures, and was told yes, very much so. So Saturday morning, we went over to the senior center and they figured out how it was all going to happen. At first, they said they would just reach up and change out the pole. I suggested they do a rehearsal run, just in case. I had to say one more time, you don't want to be looking for a ladder at the last minute if you need one.

Its a good thing they listened, because John, the tallest of them all, couldn't reach the flag. They brought the ladder over and had it set up and ready to go.

The lady that requested the service showed up and gave the flag to the commander. She also had an 8x10 sepia colored photo of her husband. I was taking pictures, and got a bunch of really good ones. Her daughter was also there taking pictures of the event. Then, the helpers at the center brought out some of the retired military hero's they have staying with them. I have to tell you, I cried off and on the entire time we were there.

 

 

 

 

 

The gentlemen sat in their wheelchairs, off to the side but still right there. Two of the men, were so close. It was so heartwarming to witness how much they needed each other. One of the men was blind I think, or near blind. When they wheeled him outside onto the patio, his friend called his name to let him know he was there. The nurse wheeled him over next to his friend, and the friend put his hand on the others wheelchair, touched his hand and let him feel safer. The blind man, kept his hand on his friends wheelchair the entire time they were outside. It was heartwarming and created the vision of how much soldiers and military personnel depend on each other in times of need.

At one point, John told the younger of the soldiers, who by the way was in Korea for two years serving as a Marine, of a story he read in the Military news Online. It was a story of a young man in New York that burned a flag at one of the post's. He  had been refused service because he couldn't prove status. He was asked to leave the post, but later returned and burned th flag, which had been flown in Iraq. When this gentleman heard this, he cried for the disrespect shown to the flag, the soldiers, the ones who gave their lives. I had to turn my head and cry too.

Finally, the time came to lower the older flag, and replace it with the new one. There was a little fumbling, but after a short while, the new flag was up. The tattered flag was respectfully folded, and placed aside to be retired properly at a later date. i will write about that also, when it happens. After the new flag was up, without even having to be told, the three post members stood at attention for a silent minute. The wife of the commander, a ladies Auxiliary member, stood with her hand over her heart.

 

This was the first time I have ever witnessed the changing of a flag. It was a very emotional morning. The whole event may have taken 1 1/2 hours, and that was just because we waited for different things to happen. I took a lot of pictures, and was privileged to meet some of our unsung hero's. I exchanged names with the daughter of the wife that donated the new flag. She will snag some of the pictures I put on facebook, and send them to her brother in Ohio. I will remember this for a very long time as a very special day. If you ever have the opportunity to be a part of something like this, please do it.

This was kinda long, but I felt I just had to do this one justice. I really could have gone on, but you have to cut it of somewhere. Hope you all have a great week.

 

Cinnamon Rolls

This is a pictorial of the cinnamon roll process from the dough ball to the plate.

Cinnamon Rolls

Description:
mouth watering. makes your house smell really good.

Ingredients:
2 cups milk, scalded
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup mashed potatoes(I use a good sized starchy potatoe.)
2 packages dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
2 eggs, slightly beaten
7 cups flour
1 cup raisins(optional)
1/2 cup chopped nuts(optional)
2 tablespoons butter or margarine softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon


Directions:
1. Pour scalded milk over shortening, sugar, salt and potatoes in a large mixing bowl. Cool to lukewarm.
2. Meanwhile, dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. Add milk to mixture with eggs and four cups flour. Beat with electric mixer until smooth and well blended.
3. Dredge raisins and nuts in a bit of the remaining flour. add to batter. slowly add remaining flour to make a soft dough. cover and allow to rise in a warm place until double in size. then Knead down to the original size.
4. Divide dough in two portions. Roll each portion in into rectangle 1/2 inch thick. Spread with softened butter and sprinkle with mixture of 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon. Roll up and cut into 1 inch slices. Place on greased baking sheet and cover. Let rise until double in size. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

This is the recipe the way it is written in the directions. I go as far as mixing the ingredients together. Let the dough rise one time after it is mixed, then separate in two.I dont dredge the rasins or nuts. I add the nuts with the sugar mixture. I use brown sugar, cinnamon and sugar, along with the butter. I usually use a whole cube of butter. I just get a bowl and mix the sugars and cinnamon, no measuring.I think it may come out to about a cup of both sugars and some cinnamon. If you need more info on this, send me an I'm and I will get back to you. I have been doing this most of my life, so you just get to know what your family likes.

Buttermilk Biscuits

Description:
OH so Yummy and fluffy

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/4 tablespoon baking powder
3 cups flour

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350. In the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine buttermilk, shortening, sugar and baking powder. Beat to combine. Add flour, one cup at a time, beating just to combine after each addition.
2. Lightly coat baking sheet with cooking spray. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about 3/4 inch thick. Use a lightly floured biscuit cutter to cut the dough into rounds. you can also just make them free form with your hands. Place on baking sheet and brush lightly with melted butter. bake until golden brow,12 to 16 minutes.

Clean House and a book

This morning I woke up too early for the time I finally went to bed. That happens too often with me. i guess we all have patterns we cant change. Mine is the sleeping thing. Yesterday while I was waiting for John to get home so i could take him to beerfest, I dusted the living room. There was one layer too many, and the sneezing was out of control. this morning I mopped the floors, vaccummed the bedrooms, and cleaned the bathrooms. John helped me flip the mattress, so I had to change sheets and make the bed too. so guess what? the house is clean.

I also went and had my fake nails taken off. that kinda hurt, so he had me soak them in acetone. they finally came off. My nails look like crap now. Hopefully it wont take too long for them to grow out and look better.

Now, I have started reading a book. I havent done this for a very long time. I dont know why, I love to read. I could sit for hours with my nose stuck in a book, If I could only find a good book to start to stick my nose in. That friend I wrote about last week, the one that had the party. Well, her sons CO's wrote a book about the happenings in Iraq while they were there. I just started it, so I cant really give it a review. I dont usually read this type of book. I am more of a mystery/trashy novel kind of girl. This book is called "The Gods of Diyala" and is written by Caleb S. Cage and Gregory M. Tomlin. It was published by Texas A & M University Press. I know we dont really get the whole story when we hear it on the news. But I am going to try and educate myself on this matter.

This morning, I asked John if he would help me hang some pictures. I have his group photo, along with Andy's and Alex's from basic training. I wanted them hung in this space I have been saving for just the right thing to hang there. Alex also brought home the picture of his cousin in the F-18 while he was flying it. We put that on the side wall. It looks pretty cool I think. One day I will find the same frame for all the pictures and re hang them. I am still waiting for pictures of Johns dad's Military picture and his grandfathers picture. I want them all there. I am VERY proud of the military history in this family. i dont have Johns picture either. His mom said she would look for it for me. I may call his sister and ask her if she could find it for me if she has the time.

I have to go. I told John I would make him biscuits for dinner. the taters are on the que, so I have about 45 minutes to get them done. it will take 10 to mix them up, and 25 to cook. they are buttermilk and ohh so good and fluffy. I should probably post that recipe too for carol. see ya all later

Date night with a friend, and I won at BINGO!

Tonight, my friend Lorrie, who i work with, and I went out to dinner with any kids or husbands or agendas. Sometimes, on the way home from work on fridays, we go out to breakfast. today, John and his friend were going to the beerfest, so I decided i was going out to dinner myself. I asked Lorrie if she wanted to go with me, and she said yes. She usually works on friday nights, but she took the night off, and she got to relax a little.

Since this wasn't a planned out too much night, we didn't know where we were gonna go. We had thought about Mexican, and then tonight I saw a Sizzler commercial. That sounded really good. I could get some shrimp and a salad bar, and Lorrie could get what she wanted. I still had to pass this by her. Lorrie NEVER gets to get out of the house with a grandkid or husband in tow. She always has to be the responsible adult, so she never get s to just relax. I have tried so many times, to get her to come over and just hang out for a while, but she just cant do it.

So when I suggested Sizzler, she didn't care. She was happy to be out with a kid. All by herself getting to do grown up stuff. I picked her up, then dropped John off at the beerfest. He met his friend there, and was supposed to get a ride home. Then we headed to my bank, to pick up some cash, and off to eat. We got a meal with the unlimited salad bar and a drink and it only came to 13. 59 each. such a deal. It was nice to just sit and chat, eat slowly, and have nothing to do for the rest of the night. No agenda. While we were eating though, Lorrie asked me if I wanted to go play bingo at 10:00. Hmmmm Sure, why not.

So after we ate, we went back to my house and watched a bit of tv while we passed the hour of so before we had to leave for bingo. When we got here, I sat down on my couch and put up the footrest thing. Lorrie said how did you do that, and then she leaned back and said this is the most comfortable couch she had sat on in such a long time. Several times throughout the night, she said what a wonderful time she was having, doing nothing really. It was a nice.

Then, we left for bingo about 9:15. we had to get out games and set them up, and we had to buy daubers. i didn't own one, and Lorries were all at her house. After we got there, and got all set up and I get a call from John. his friend left him at the beerfest, and could I come pick him up. I was so pissed off, but I did it. It took me about 30 minutes to drive about from one town to the next and back, but I was going to have fun. Lorrie played the electronic part of my bingo game while I was gone. She said the whole time, with every game i was only 1 number away from winning. I have gone about 3 times, but never won anything.

So there I was. We play an electronic version, and the paper version at the same time. Lorrie is really good and knows what to look for. Not me. I put in my numbers, then dob all my paper numbers, and search for the right combination. the electronic version tells you when you win. Well,I was one number away, and it comes up and Lorrie says "Lisa, put in 49"! I did and all of a sudden"Show me the Money" comes out of my machine. i screamed a small scream and my hands start flapping and my feet are tapping like I just won a million dollars. I start to yell bingo, and Lorrie is telling me no, not yet. they have to announce the number first. I don't realise it at the time, but all the pros in the room are looking at me like I am some kind of Moron. Then, he announces G49 and 11 people yell Bingo. Lorrie was laughing her ass off, and so was I. I was so excited. OMG! I won at bingo! $18.00. hahahaha it was split 11 times.

Pretty soon, we were playing another game, and I told lorrie I only had 1 number from one card. i didn't know how to tell what number it was I was missing. then, he called that number, and again, Show me the MOney came singing out of my machine. Lorrie told me again not ot scream, but there was a guy right there to verify my machine. I had to wait till he called the number, then I yelled BINGO! It was a bingo for 200.00 and it was only split twice that time. I won 100.00. Lorrie told me its nice to tip the money guy 5.00 so I did, and I gave her 20.00 cus she would have done the same for me if she had won. I was so excited. we also bought pull tab games, but didn't win on any of those.

We had such a fun night. When I dropped her off, we decided we were going to do this again. I am looking forward to a repeat. I better get going. its 1:30 am. I just had to write this before I didn't want to. I really wish I could have had a video of me winning and acting like such a spaz. It was hilarious. But it was my very first time winning at bingo. I came home with 80.00 in my pocket.