Quote of the Week: Sushi Night Edition

"You should try this. It's good. It tastes like plastic."

From the mouth of babes . . .

Thankful

"Thanks, Ms. Gayle!"

"For what?"

Looking at me incredulously, "For everything!"

Quote of the Week: Thanksgiving Edition

Even though this has nothing to do w/ Turkey Day, it's funny nonetheless!



Upon me coming downstairs to join my family Friday morning as my brother, David, prepared to leave for Waco for a wedding.

Nathan, age 8: "Aunt Debbie! Uncle Sha is going to Waco to get married! He's going to pick a wife!"

Then Daniel, age 6, had to join in: "Are you going to get married when you're 30?"

Nathan: "When you turn 30 you're going to pick a husband."


HA!

Question: How many onions will it take to fully charge my ipod?

'Cause if it's more than three I need to go stock up at Sam's before my card expires next month . . .

What are you thankful for?

"Is that a bowl?"

Smiling, "Yeah..."

"You're thankful for a bowl???"

"Yeah. 'Cause it holds my cereal and keeps it from going all over the table!"

Hmmm . . . I guess she has a point and the right to be thankful for whatever she wants!

101 Things About Me

Why? Just 'cause.

1. I don't know how to ride a bike.
2. Or how to roller skate/roller blade/ice skate
3. I think I was traumatized as a child.
4. Or it's that I naturally don't like things that could potentially cause harm.
5. I don't mind driving (read: sitting) in traffic.
6. I live w/ my parents.
7. Well, technically, they live w/ me, according to the name on the deed.
8. I actually like it; we have fun together.
9. I try not to shop often because I tend to be a compulsive shopper.
10. Especially for shoes.
11. And accessories (bags, scarves, jewelry).
12. So I get home and then usually regret what I bought.
13. But I usually keep it anyway.
14. I'm a loyal friend.
15. But will be the first to admit that I can be flaky.
16. I can't name just one best friend.
17. I have at least half a dozen.
18. I've never been in a "real" relationship.
19. And I'm thankful not to have all the baggage that comes along w/ them.
20. I thought I would be married by the time I was 25.
21. Now I'm 27 and STILL not married.
22. And I'm ok w/ that most days.
23. Marriage scares me, anyway.
24. Or any type of commitment, for that matter.
25. I have an insatiable wanderlust.
26. If I'm on an airplane headed somewhere I know I will be for the next 2 months, I'm already sad that I'll be leaving.
27. I want to live overseas.
28. But Texas will always be home.
29. I want to go to grad school eventually.
30. But can't decide if I want to study Social Work, English Lit, or Education.
31. I love drawing and painting.
32. And am pretty darn good at it.
33. I was an Art minor.
34. I haven't painted or sculpted anything in over 3 years.
35. I miss working in a studio.
36. So art is another thing I will go back to college for.
37. I think, at the moment, I earn more money than anyone else in my family.
38. I'm thankful to have a job that allows me to pay off debt and help support the household.
39. And you'd probably think I'm crazy for wanting to walk away from it to go volunteer overseas in the near future.
40. I think I'm crazy for wanting to walk away from it to go volunteer overseas in the near future.
41. But if He says go, I have to go.
42. But I'm worried I may have missed it.
43. I'm looking into buying a new car.
44. More for my parents after I'm gone than for me now.
45. But I feel a bit guilty about it.
46. Even though we need a dependable car.
47. It's been a tough year.
48. When I heard God say it would be a year of change, I expected that to mean finally living in England.
49. I didn't expect that to mean losing both of my grandfathers w/in a month of each other.
50. Or being given more responsibilities at work that add on major stress.
51. Or a dozen other changes that I wasn't expecting.
52. So I'm a bit relieved this year is almost over.
53. I can't believe this year is almost over!
54. Time passes faster the older I get.
55. I don't think that's fair.
56. I'm a pack rat.
57. But I always end up using what I keep.
58. It's uncanny.
59. I usually never use the word "uncanny."
60. But it's a cool word.
61. I went through all of last school year never being absent because I was sick.
62. Which is ironic because when I was in school I did everything I could to miss school.
63. But this year I've already missed 4 days.
64. I feel like I've been sick since school started in August.
65. Did I mention I'm a Kindergarten teacher?
66. It's fun.
67. I just hate that they have to take a standardized test in January.
68. I'm actually quite worried about it.
69. I haven't taught them everything I need to teach them.
70. I'd love to be an English teacher.
71. But I'm not delusional.
72. I'm quite aware teenagers will probably not enjoy reading and explicating literature as much as I do.
73. Besides, I don't think I can work w/ teenagers.
74. I wouldn't know how to relate to them.
75. The little ones are more for me.
76. So I have mad respect for people who can work w/ teens.
77. God bless them!
78. I'm addicted to chapstick.
79. Actually, Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm, to be exact.
80. I can't leave home w/o it.
81. And lip gloss.
82. So makeup will be another thing I compulsively buy.
83. Even though I don't always wear it.
84. Or wear a lot of it.
85. I like watching football.
86. I've only played a couple times in my life.
87. With friends in college.
88. My brothers and uncles wouldn't let me play w/ them when we were little.
89. But I'm not bitter.
90. I think I like baseball more though.
91. At least I like going to baseball games.
92. I've never been to a pro football game.
93. That's on my "Things To Do Before I Die" list.
94. I've crossed things off that list already.
95. Like see U2 in concert and go on a blind date.
96. But there's still a lot on there.
97. However, it's all mental.
98. I have yet to write it out.
99. I shall have to do that over Christmas break.
100. I still have a lot to say.
101. But I'll stop at 101.

Quote of the Week

". . . elephant alcohol abuse is just a symptom of a real problem . . ."

Yeah, they're talking about real elephants drinking real alcohol . . .

stress sucks!

it gives you migraines.

makes you irritable.

and impatient.

causes you to sleep restlessly.

makes you want to eat everything in sight.

gives you a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach.

turns you into a horrible person.

makes it hard to be a gracious, loving christian.

i'm fighting the urge to punch a couple people in the face. seriously. but i somehow think that's something Jesus wouldn't do.

*sigh*

This is cute,

even if you don't know the language.





And as soon as I find out what El Tao means, I'll let ya know!

I confess!

I'm an internet stalker. It started off innocent enough. Just meandering through the blogosphere/facebook/myspace and checking out my friends pages. Then someone (a friend, a family member, an old college roommate) leaves them a comment and I think, "I wonder who that is..." Next thing I know I'm clicking over to their profile. Sometimes the privacy settings are activated, sometimes they're not. And I look at their page, their comments, their pics. I find it so interesting, getting this glimpse into someone's life that I wouldn't otherwise experience. It's like a reality show played out through the internet, and we all know how addicting reality shows can be!

If I were a bolder person, I would leave comments; befriend these new, interesting people. Just imagine what would be, if only . . .

Ok, am I scaring you yet? 'Cause I'm scaring myself!

I remember talking to a friend a few months ago who shares my secret addiction. When I told her about who I was internet stalking I believe her response was, "Just let me know if you need any help. I'm a professional stalker! I've stalked everyone from professional baseball players to weathermen to restaurant owners." How funny is that?! And she's one of the shyest people I know! But I was so glad to hear I'm alone in my obsession.

Ok, just had to share, 'cause I caught myself doing it again . . .

Quote of the Day

"Ms. Gayle, my brain is not thinking! It's crazy!!!"
-Gilbert, age 5

Golabki: The End Result

I placed three on the plate and cut the biggest one open so you can see the inside.

I thought it was a bit bland, but then again I haven't been able to taste anything for nearly a week now. Mom and Dad* loved it and said it was perfectly seasoned. So, there you go.

Now, I would post the recipe, but I'd have to cook it again and figure out how much of what I used. I usually don't think about it when I cook. I just throw things together and hope it turns out ok. That's why most everything I make always tastes amazing, but not exactly like its predecessor (like my salsa, for example). Oh well.













*And Dad will be the first one to say something tastes horrible. In fact, he was rather skeptical during the cooking process. More than once he walked over to the stove and detestably stirred the sauce.

Cooking Experiment: Golabki

Ever since I got back from Bedford I've been wanting to try to make my friend Justyna's polish dish golabki -- cabbage wrapped meatballs (meatballs that have rice mixed in...mmm...). Well, I finally had the time, energy, and ingredients to give it a go tonight!

Here are two snapshots of the prep process:





Justyna puts the cabbage rolls in a double steamer, but since I don't have one I opted to bake them. I also put about 1/3 of the sauce over the top 'cause I was worried they would dry out in the oven. I searched the internet and my product is a combination of what I remember from Justyna and two of the recipes I found online. If it weren't for the 6 hour time difference, I would just call her and forget the internet search results. Oh well.

It's in the oven now, so I'll let you know how it turns out . . . after it finishes cooking for 90 freaking minutes!

This one's for you, Brandi

I found this recipe on the back of my package of Farmland All Natural Uncured Bacon. It's kinda like a quiche minus the crust, like you were talking about on OWOA. I made it this evening and we tore it up! So yummy!!! My alterations are italicized.


Mediterranean Frittata

6 slices of Bacon, cut into 1 1/2 inches
6 large eggs
1/4 t minced garlic (I pressed 2 cloves instead; I love garlic)
1/2 C (2 oz.) crumbled feta cheese with sundried tomatoes and basil (mine was minus the tomatoes and basil)
4 C (about 5 oz.) fresh spinach (I used half a box of frozen spinach)
1/2 C chopped fresh mushrooms
2 T finely chopped red onions

1. Place oven rack in center of oven; heat broiler. Cook bacon in 10-inch ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until done but not crisp. Remove bacon from skillet and drain on paper towels.

2. Whisk together eggs and garlic; stir in cheese. Set aside. (I added some salt and pepper in this step)

3. Stir-fry spinach, mushrooms and onion in bacon grease remaining in skillet over medium heat until spinach wilts (again, I added a bit of salt). Stir in bacon, egg and cheese mixture until evenly combined. Cook until eggs are done on the bottom.

4. Place skillet on center rack in oven. Broil until eggs are set and just begin to brown around the edges of pan, about 3 minutes.

Makes 4 servings.



Here's what it looked like when I took it out of the oven:



Notice the serano peppers I'm sauteing in the background for some homemade salsa. Mmmm . . . that turned out really nice as well.

I topped a slice of the frittata with some cheddar cheese and salsa, giving it a latin twist.



I'm TOTALLY making this recipe again and it's so easy to add different things to get different flavors. Hope you enjoy!

Thankful Thursdays!

1. Only two more days and I get to sleep an extra hour!

2. All the kiddos are resting/sleeping off the sugar high.

3. My diabetic dad is finally giving up carbs and sugar.

4. Thanksgiving (and FIVE DAYS IN A ROW off from work!) is only three weeks away!!!

5. My student, Abel, doesn't pooh on himself anymore!!!!!

6. I'm eating my leftover Mexican-flavored mangoes! (mangoes soaked in lime juice and a type of chili powder)

7. I'm making a sugar-free cheesecake tonight -- just 'cause!

8. I can't finish my mangoes, so I'll have some leftover for tomorrow, too!

9. Tomorrow's FRIDAY!!!!!

10. It's FALL!