SquawkRadio Comments

And I really am sorry about being so late today.  Oog. We just had too much holiday around here this year.

Don’t worry about it Liz! 

On Friday, I’m moving into my first, brand-new spanking apartment… so I’ve been getting ready for that.  Meaning that I have boxes in my room and absolutely no packing done whatsoever.  Meaning that I have yet to get my certified checks for the security deposit, etc.  Meaning that I still have tons of shopping to do!  YIKES!

Well.... I can do it tomorrow.  lol. *g*

I think that I’m going to ring in the New Year with a glass of champagne at my new place and celebrate!

I work…

Ya see, I run the movie theater.  The place where all the people with absolutely nothing to do all week go...and stare at the movies offered wondering just what two hour piece of entertainment might fill a small slot of time that they don’t seem to have anything better to do with. *big breath, wow that was a long sentence*

So, I’m spending the week praying for it to get over, for all the kiddies to return to school and their parents to return to whatever it is they do.  So I can regain a small sense of normalcy.

But it’s OK.  I’ll live.  It’s only *counting fingers* 6 more days before the never ending tidal wave is over.  And then I can fix everything that broke during the onslaught. LOL

Happy New Year! *slight tone of giddiness is heard*

I have to work - three days anyway - but even here at my job it’s kind of laziness/reassessness whatever.  It’s usually really quiet around here (unless we get a Christmas food poisoning outbreak) and we spend time cleaning our offices and goofing off (like, um, reading Squawk Radio).  Next week it’s year end reports and starting the new grant cycle.  Yuck!

I am retired and it is just another week.

My Dh decided to take this week off, so I have to deal with having him around (I love him honest, but he messes up my schedule!) and my kids, but I homeschool so they are always here anyway.
Hope everyone has a Happy New Year)

We traveled for Christmas and got back yesterday, napped immediately because we were exhausted from laughing, eating and drinking.

Today I went crazy at WalMart with everything half-price.When I came home I put on new pajamas and a new robe at three in the afternoon and don’t feel a bit guilty. I’m also having toast and orange juice for supper and my husband can fix his own Christmas leftover sandwich.

We both work in high schools and are lucky enough to have the whole week off to do as much nothing as we want. We’ll probably go to a movie matinee to see A Night at the Museum. A daughter is coming over for roast chicken tomorrow. I promised a friend I’d critique his short story, and I have lots of stuff to make up with my critique group. Maybe I’ll work on my own thing which must be growing moldy by now.

I’m already thinking ahead to MLK weekend and our Feb break....could it be I want to quit my job? Nah, I just like this whole bra-less- in- the- daytime experience!

Ha Ha Brandy, mine too! Love the dears, but they have a way of messing around with things!
We do hit the movies too, Eragon and the Museum movie are in the line-up. We don’t have the much anticipated snow here, in Va, so I’ve always thought this would be the perfect week for that, but no, it’s usually the day or so when all go back to work/school..
I used to really dislike New Year’s Eve (single days) and all the pressure to ‘party-hard’ now it’s a nice quiet (’cept for football) sighing away of the old year..

I try to keep in the Christmas mood since it’s still the Christmas season. . . but it’s tough since everywhere else practically that Christmas disappeared the moment Christmas Day goes! LOL

Lois

I ‘thought’ I would get a jump start on some cleaning to find a place to put all the new stuff. HA! Yesterday I packed up all the Christmas stuff because it is impossible to clean around. Today I’m trying to do laundry in between plowing snow.

At this rate I’ll never find the kids floor again! I told them to just put all their loot in the middle of their room and we’ll figure out where to put it later. Oh well, I guess they can spend the week sleeping in the living room if I don’t get it done!

Can I call this week my procrastinationess?

The week between Christmas and New Years is a down time here.  I always get new movies and books, and since there are lots of leftovers for a couple days, it’s self serve while I lose myself in some good stories.  I’m reading Must Love Mistletoe, and I have The Vampire Who Loved me next in the line up! Oh, and I am simply going to have to read the Flame n the Flower again!  Thank you Teresa! Hmm, all this and movies too! I might have to order in pizza after the leftovers are gone

This is also the week to start burrowing in, in preparation for the nasty cold weather of January and February.  At the end of the week, I get my office cleared out, my writing space organized, and make a list of goals for the coming year.  Some year I hope to actually remember the goals by the end of March even!    But it gets my mind re-focused on my writing as I take down the tree and decorations for another Christmas past, and look forward to the New Year yet to come.  I grump about the cold weather, and the early nightfall, but I truly love the hibernation feel this week has, and it soothes my soul after the hectic shopping, wrapping, cleaning, cooking, eating, visiting, of Christmas.  So here’s to all who camp out in cozy PJs and robes, in front of fires or tucked into snuggly corners.  Enjoy it all without the least bit of guilt!
KrisM

I have to work all week (to make up for last week!) but since it’s in sweatpants in my office at home...I can’t complain.  And for some reason, my husband, who is home, has put himself in charge of all meals.  Whenever anyone wants to eat, he runs off to the kitchen to feed them.  It’s been great!  Maybe it’ll last…

Otherwise, we’re pretty much in the hanging out and doing nothing mode, like lots of others.  I love it! 

We do have birthdays (husband and dad) to celebrate this week, so I will probably have to force myself back to the stores soon and to bake something.

Liz,
I’m surprised you didn’t mention playing Wii. A co-worker’s husband bought one for himself (all the kids are gone) then decided he needed a big screen TV, too!!! Boys and their toys.......what can you do?

I work retail, so this is crabby week. Don’t the consumers know that we don’t make all the items in the store? Honestly, some customers must save all their nastiness for this one week of the year.

Christmas is not over yet. My sis and her family come on Friday. I’ll have all 35 here for supper. AGAIN. Then Saturday, I crash.

Yikes. My word verification is united93. Wasn’t that one of the terrorist flights?

Congrats, elyssany! What a nice way to start the year!

Bettysbounce and Ann in IL, I totally feel your pain. I’ve done both the movie theater and retail gigs in the past. And that was back when cash registers didn’t have scanners. Ai, ai, ai.

Funny you should mention that Wii, Ann, as my husband and son are, as we “speak,” playing tennis or something in the other room. The Wii got quite the workout on Christmas day, since my son’s three cousins were here. They played doubles tennis for a long time, then went bowling, then boxed, then played baseball. For HOURS this went on. The morning after Christmas, my son got out of bed and said, “I think I slept on my shoulders funny. They hurt.” I swear, he’s going to lose weight playing with that thing.

Sounds like everyone’s using the week well, in one way or another.  Count me in for another who lives in her PJs this week. In fact, I got a new pair for Christmas from my mom--red with snowmen--and fuzzy red slippers to go with. Of COURSE I have to break them in. Sheesh.

Okay, I’ve decided that, for the new year, I need a new avatar. What do you guys think of this one?

Dang. Didn’t work. Gonna have to figure this out…

I have to learn how to do those Avatar-thingies on this site… my post is too plain.  :-( New resolution!!!

Thanks Liz!

Sorry to post again - I’m trying to add an avatar!

Congrats on the apartment, Ely!

Love the avatar, Liz!  No delusions of grandeur for you, LOL!  See you got a new avatar...that’s something. 

I just wish I felt better so I could make it to the movies with the cherubs.  The DH goes back to the office tomorrow!

What do I do to prepare for the New Year....not a GD thing.  I have set a personal goal for myself this year.  It’s a first since I don’t do resolutions!

I am a teacher and I also work in retail part time.  I agree about the crabbiness of people.  I use this time to catch up on my reading as it is very difficult to do during the school year.

Carla

Congratulations to yesterdays winners!

My daughter and boyfriend are visiting so things are just crazy around here right now lol.

Santa! It sounds like you’re seeing the avatar I wanted to upload! For me, it’s still showing my boring old self, though. So what are you getting for my new avatar?

And, um, what’s the goal for the new year? Should we ask?

The new avatar looks great Liz!

Ely, glad to hear everything’s a GO for the new apt.  Very exciting!

I stretch Christmas as long as possible so my decorations won’t be coming down until the weekend.  I worked Tues. and Wed. but the rest of this week is all about relaxation-ness and football, which got off to a great start last night with my team winning the Emerald Bowl.  (WOO HOO!) I’ll be wearing my new PJs (with puppy dogs and paw prints) a lot, catching up on my reading (just finished Susan Mallery’s SIZZLING and Jennifer Greene’s BLAME IT ON CUPID) and snuggling with the pooch.  I’ll be eating things that take no effort - like soup or pizza.  Just a lot of winding down and relaxing.

Sunday will take me back to the kitchen to make black eye peas and corn bread for my New Year’s luck then it’s back to the couch and my new, soft, snuggly blanket
to watch more football.  I really do love this week!

Hello, hello

Hope all you Squawkers had a wonderful Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year!

For me, this past week has been filled with happy-ness (seeing my daughter and SIL from LA), sick-ness(we call caught some vile respiratory infection), busy-ness(still had to work despite being sick), and thankful-ness(for all the blessings heaped upon myself and my family).

Not only did Santa (the real one, not our fellow Squawker ) bring me a new laptop (with a GPS navigation system), but he also brought me a much needed new car!

Today, I’m laying out here at home trying to oust the invaders from my lungs, but come Monday, I’ll be among those who will be eating black-eyed peas (only a teaspoon ful as they are nasty) and collard greens...can’t forget those, PJ...for luck in 2007.

Wow Cinthia, you were a *very* good girl this year!  What great gifts.  I’m sorry you’re stuck with the respiratory crud.  I’m trying to kick my annual bout with bronchitis so I can empathize.

You obviously haven’t tasted my black eyed peas if you think they’re nasty.  I use my late hubby’s recipe and they’re fantastic.  Neighbors show up at my door all day on New Year’s day just to get some.  Now collard greens I can do without.  To me, those are the nasties but I’ll have a bite (at someone else’s house) for the luck.

Hope you’re feeling better soon.

This week was supposed to be my week to read and relax, but Tuesday we had unexpected guests for the day. It was fun to see cousins I don’t see often, but the visit messed up my plans big time. Yesterday I babysat with the three and five-year-old grands when their Nana was felled by the flu. Again, I had a great time with them--exhausting but fun. If anything messes up my day today though, I’m going to turn into a real grouch. :(

I will eat leftovers and soup until Monday when we have another annual family gathering--complete with black-eyed peas and football, PJ. Classes don’t start until January 8, but Jan. 2-7 will be devoted to fine tuning my syllabi for the new semester. My lazy week has shrunk to three lazy days.

I found my first word veri, death21 disturbing, but my second, physical63, reassured me.

I really like being busy.  Maybe it’s because of the end of the year.  I like to do the things I don’t have time to do the rest of the year.  Lately, I actually work this week.  Because no one else does, traffic is non-existent and work is slow.  So, I file, straighten up the desk, take down decorations and clean, shop a lot of the sales, go to movies.  I just pack a lot into the week to start fresh in the New Year and then do nothing for 11 months and 3 weeks.

So, PJ, are you willing to share your recipe for black-eyed peas? I can use all the luck I can get this year. Heh heh. (Although my mom always fixed corned beef and cabbage the first of January, saying that’s what brings good luck for the year.)

Cinthia, Santa was VERY nice to you this year!

Here’s hoping everyone who’s down with the flu will be back up swinging soon. Being sick over the holidays is the worst.

Yes, PJ, please share your recipe! Black-eyed peas and limas are two legumes I’ve never been able to get on good terms with.

And, yes, Liz, Santa, was indeed VERY nice to me this year.

Cinthia (who’s headed down to the kitchen for another cup of tea with honey and lemon)

Liz, I’ll be happy to share the basics but my dh never measured anything so it’s all “to taste”. 

To a large pot of boiling water you add rinsed black eyed peas (I usually get around 2 pounds), a medium size diced onion and a hog jowl.  Reduce to a softly rolling boil, cover and cook until the peas soften.  Remove the hog jowl from the pot and chop the meat.  Add the chopped meat back to the pot.  I like a lot of meat so I buy a picnic ham and add some of that (chopped) along with the hog jowl.  You then add tomato sauce and tomato paste (to taste).  I start with a small can of each and continue adding, stirring and tasting until I get the flavor where I’m happy.  Season with salt, pepper, worcestershire sauce and hot sauce.  If it has too much bite, neutralize with a little sugar.  Simmer, stirring occasionally, for several hours, until the flavors blend and the peas reach your desired softness.

They taste great the first day but even better the second.  I serve them in a bowl with corn bread on the side.

PJ - is a hog jowl what it sounds like?

I might have to rethink my stance on black eyed peas.  I know hog jowl.  It’s the best “bacon” you can get...it’s like the crack of bacon. 

I’m suffering from Lazi-itis.  My friend’s birthday is Dec 26.  I was late to her “party” by 45 minutes--and didn’t wrap her gift until about 10 minutes before I left the house.  We had a great time though--full of laziness.  Lots of food, movie watching, and lounging in sweats and chitchatting.  So much so that I could propell myself out of her house until late the next afternoon.  (It was a slumber party...we had tiaras and everything.) I barely managed to make myself go to have my oil changed--then the library.  I never have a problem going to a place with books, but it sounded so exhausting.  And I hadn’t done anything!

Cinthia!!  What Christmas presents!  Now, so long as you have your laptop with you, you’ll always know where you are!

PJ, that black eyed peas recipe sounds devine!  I’ll be the ignorant Northerner and ask are the black eyed peas dry or canned.  I can hear you cringing and see you rolling your eyes now, LOL!  I know pig jowl...I use the end of the prosciutto when I make swiss chard and fava beans.  Chianti, optional!

Liz, your avatar looks to me like the Virgin Queen Elizabeth who I am pretty sure your share only two of the three monikers....unless you have something else to share with us!

As to my personal goal.....I’m not gonna tell just yet.....

As to -nesses....I am waiting for my kids to go back to school to indulge in a couple of them next week!

Carolyn, it is the cheek of the hog and it tastes really good.  Look for them with the hams.

Santa, no eye rolling here. (lol) I’m a southerner by choice but I grew up in the midwest.  I use dry black eyed peas.

I had a bunch of vacation days to use up, so I’ve been off since Friday the 22nd and won’t return to the office until January 2nd.  Lots and lots of days to......

Sleep late
Check work e-mail
Do payroll for department from home
More work (Lord, I’m boring)
Watch judge shows
Watch judge shows in Spanish
Read Squawker books
Nothing
More nothing

I had so many plans for this week - deep clean one room a day, sort out my paperwork for the coming year, clean the pool.  Instead, I’ve done the above which amounts to a lot of nothing.  Oh well.

Tomorrow, I’ll (insert what you think I should do here).....................

We have friends over for New Year’s Day.  The men watch the football game and we talk. So we are shopping cleaning and cooking this week

Ooo, thanks, PJ. I’m gonna give this a shot.  (And, hey, Santa, are you suggesting I’m not pure as the driven snow? Which I’ve always assumed meant snow that was driven in, something that turns it totally impure, so, okay, I guess you got me on that one...)