Jewlieee

I have been getting up between 5:30 and 7 every day this week on my own!

Jewlieee

Seriouslywhere do we go wrong in society when people start thinking like these people do

Hop-along Bugs walked about a mile today. Honestly I can't tell the difference in how he looks whether its a mile or a half mile. He met lots of his buddies while we were out so when we turned home he kept stopping and looking back to see if anyone else was out. He is so social LOL

Pretty much everyone is still struggling with allergies - at least its everyone. I also had to chuckle yesterday as you drive around EVERY vehicle is coated in lemon/green dust. Looks like we live in a yellow/green desert.

My older sister is going through a rough patch. She has been threatening to visit for about a month. She has an old poorly maintained vehicle and zero money. So I told her she was welcome but that she should really consider not risking car trouble and outlay of cash for gas etc. She didn't appreciate the feedback. Let me just tell you that she's known me since birth and I have spent my entire life being practical. Did she think I'd day otherwise?? Whatever. I feel sad for her but only she can fix her predicament

Julie, wasn't Timothy McVay part of the MI militia too?  Or was it just thot that he might be?  My initial thots were that either this was a foreign test or homegrown nutjobs.

We have sunshine again today. LOVE seeing it!  And it's supposed to stick around all day, which will be incredible.  Started out sunny yesterday, but then it started to storm and the sun never did come back.  Hopefully the sunshine will make me feel more energetic today.  Been feeling like a total slug thi week.

Off to get ready for work.

 Hope everyone has a good day.

Now, it's overcast and that ugly "snow" word is in the forecast. Possible snow season ends the first of June. Joy!!!

kpwlee

when I watch the crazies on the news and such.

There are some true crazies out there. Google "constitutional militia" and "sovereign citizen" sometimes. I work with one once in a while. He claims that the income tax is unconstitutional and schools are a liberal plot.

I believe some of the "'crazies"work for the media. One of our radio stations was discussing the effects of the feeding frenzy induced by their need to report something. Apparently they tend to report rumors and falsehoods and do so in an excited manner, with little fact checking and in some cases, no actual knowledge. Sounds like politics, doesn't it. Had a new member ask for a url for the Minnesota constitutional militia on a gun forum I hit. Somebody posted the address for the National Guard. Most just laughed at him.

But, until they commit a crime, they have the right of free speech and association. Until the mayor of NYC says otherwise. Google "mall ninja" and "internet warrior", terms created by gun forums to describe these people.

Timothy McVeigh did belong to the Michigan Militia. I agree, these people are paranoid. I don't know how effective background checks will be since the HIPAA laws prevent release of medical info which may or may not be a clue to mental health issues that might not allow someone to purchase a gun.

Julie, in regards to your annual visit, I think it depends on your doctor. Mine always included the full check and violation, but when I changed doctors (mine moved 150 miles away), the one I now see does not do that. Seems like we should get more checks as we age, but less is the norm. Probably an insurance related thing.

I have a seriously itchy sweet tooth today. Must control myself.

ETA: love the bird descriptions, Doug. I totally dig pelicans and didn't know they came so far north.

sharismom

I have a seriously itchy sweet tooth today. Must control myself.

Good luck.

Espresso Brownie Cake

Ingredients

Preparation

1. 1. In a 2- to 3-quart pan, combine 1/2 cup butter and the unsweetened chocolate. Stir often over low heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and beat in granulated sugar, 3 tablespoons espresso powder, the eggs, and vanilla until well blended. Stir in flour just until incorporated.
2. 2. Pour batter into a lightly buttered 8- or 9-inch cake pan with removable rim (see notes). Bake in a 350° regular or convection oven until center springs back when gently pressed, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on a rack, about 1 hour.
3. 3. In a bowl, combine remaining 1/4 cup butter and 1 tablespoon espresso powder with the powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons liqueur. With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat mixture until smooth and fluffy, adding up to 1 more tablespoon liqueur if necessary to make a smooth, spreadable mixture. Spread evenly over the top of the cool brownie cake.
4. 4. Place chocolate chips in a 1-quart unpleated zip-lock plastic bag. Heat in a microwave oven at full power (100%) at 15-second intervals, squeezing chocolate between intervals, until melted and smooth, about 1 1/4 minutes total. Squeeze chocolate to one corner of the bag, then cut off about 1/4 inch of that corner. Pipe chocolate decoratively over buttercream. Chill until chocolate is firm, at least 30 minutes.
5. 5. Just before serving, remove pan rim. Cut brownie cake into wedges and set on plates.

Deb W.

OMG, I am totally writing that down and making this weekend.

**drooling now**

My boss scheduled an all Hq staff meeting for Monday. He said he forgot I was off and I didn't need to come in for it, if I didn't want to, but I'm really sensitive to staying part of the team. This 1/2 time thing is working great for me and I don't want to give them any reason to complain, so I'll go in for a couple hours.

Our temps are finally going to warm up again and we'll be in the 80s. Yesterday was super windy and we only reached 68. I was bundled up like it was winter again.

Yep -- you've all confirmed it.  I was actually left under a cabbage leaf & Mom lied to me,  Apparently genetically I'm just not part of the famly. I am *not* a morning person.  Not ever.

 I can NOT go to sleep before like 1:30 -2:30 a.m (and that's with no caffeine after 2:00 p.m.) and most nights I sleep 6 hours.  That's all.  My alarm rarely rings because I just wake up about 2 minutes before I need to get up.  But don't make me get up at OMG 6:00 a.m.  I just wake up into a "zoom".  It takes me 25 minutes flat from opening my eyes to leaving the house.   

I'm a night person -- historically my family are early-risers but my mother has confirmed that even as a wee little one I wouldn't sleep in the evening and "naps" just never happened - so if it's genetic I'm in trubble.  As a mature adult I've just given up trying to re-format myself and I go to bed when I'm tired and get up when I gotta LOL.

Deb, if I ate a piece of that cake between the caffeine in the expresso & chocolate?  even if it ate it a noon I couldn't get to sleep til 4:00 a.m.

calliecritturs

Deb, if I ate a piece of that cake between the caffeine in the expresso & chocolate?  even if it ate it a noon I couldn't get to sleep til 4:00 a.m.

I recommend that you just drink the kahlua, Callie.

iluvjamison

Espresso Brownie Cake

Wed. Snow 100% chance (it is here now)

Thu. Snow 90% chance

Fri. Snow 60% chance.

I think I missed summer and fall altogether.

Doug -- yikes!  I love snow (we had zero this year, and I'm bummed), but even I don't like it after April 1st.  You gotta draw the line somewhere, Mother Nature!

I drag myself up in the mornings and would sleep until at least 8:30am if normal office hours allowed.  I think it's genetic because my mother and sister are the same way.  Even now at 70+ years old, my mother will sleep until 9am or so on her days off.  Everyone else I know who's her age gets up super early.  However, they take naps.  I don't think I've ever known my mother to take a nap (unless she was sick).  I don't nap either.  I may sleep late, but once I'm up, I'm up for good. 

My slow start in the mornings is made worse by the fact that I hate coffee (no matter how much sugar or sweet flavorings or cream you add --- all coffee flavored things taste gross to me).  As my sister (a serious coffee drinker) says:  "I cannot believe that when you get out of bed, that's as good as you're going to feel all day."  She's kind of right.  I don't ever feel highly energetic, that's for sure!

So, they evacuated the Oregon Dept. of Revenue this morning due to a suspicious substance found in the mail room.  I pass that building on my way to work; I didn't see any commotion, so maybe they've ruled out a legitimate threat.  Maybe this was a coincidence, since it is tax week and some wacko may be protesting taxes, but it might be an idiot capitalizing on the fear going around due to the Boston bombings. 

If that cake doesn't taste like espresso, I'll try a slice!

tacran

If that cake doesn't taste like espresso, I'll try a slice!

I'll bet you could substitute another flavor, perhaps mint or almond. Maybe even raspberry. You probably wouldn't like the Kahlua for the icing, so I strongly recommend a healthy dose of good amaretto in its place.