R.I.P. Straight Shooter

Good Morning World from my hospital bed in Plainsville!

Long time no hear from I know. Here's why:

• Had a hysterectomy. (don't need any more Sweet and Loving Spawn)
• 
  
  Had major bladder repair. (hopefully, no more spontaneous piddling on the floor)
• 
  
  Big Shooter took aforementioned Sweet Spawn to Idaho to hang with their beloved Grammie while I recuperated...
• 
  
  While BS was 5 states away, I threw a couple pulmonary embolisms.
• 
  
  Started to bleed to death.
• 
  
  Crashed.
• 
  
  Went to ICU.
• 
  
  Got stabilized.
• 
  
  Started to bleed to death.
• 
  
  Crashed.
• 
  
  Stopped breathing.
• 
  
  Went to ICU.
• 
  
  Crashed.
• 
  
  Stayed in ICU.
• 
  
  Now stable on blood thinners.
• 
  
  Third week in hospital.

Nothing new and exciting going on here. How about you?

Love Note to my Other Spouse: Saucy Sashi, how to thank you for never letting my hand go during the first scare? Keeping me calm, lifting me up in prayer, being my spouse until BS could return? You literally saved my life. You're a hero.

Love Note to Big Shooter: Where to begin? Thank you for rushing back to be by my side? Thank you for never stop talking so I could hear your voice in those scary, scary times? Thank you for sleeping on a rock hard sofa(ish) for weeks and never uttering a complaint just so your presence can be a comfort to me? Thank you for being a rock? An anchor? My life preserver?

What's Your Signature Saying?

Are you known for anything you say often?

Do your family or friends ever give you that knowing glance and say it before you do in that "gottcha" kind of way?



One of my aunts, who lives in Utah, says, "Oh my heck."



My granddad had a very...shall we say, colorful expression he used frequently.



Big Shooter says, "Life is good" quite frequently.



And apparently, I say, "Oh my word" in between every sentence.



In fact, I've been told I have so many different ways of saying this phrase that I have one for every kind of situation.

• In response to Girl Child telling me she's finished yet another chapter book in a single evening: (said with the Momma Wow voice), " Oh my worrrd!"

• After Boy Child tells me, in agonizingly great detail, the many life-sustaining battles on a video game: (said with as much fake momma wow as I can muster), "Oh...my word."

• Tasting some divine culinary treat: (said slowly with a throaty voice), "Oh...my....worrrrd...".

• After Saucy Sashi gives me some unbelievable news: (each word is said separately and slowly with my eyebrows up as far as they can go), "Oh. My. Word. "

• Screeching at the top of my lungs when seeing a scary jumping bug, "Ohmyword! Ohmyword! OhmyWORD!!"

I'm dying to know if y'all have a signature saying of your own? Please share it with us. What is it? Where'd you first hear it? What does it mean to you and how often do you express it?

Love Note to my Big Shooter: I should have said your Signature Saying is, "Zzzzzzzz. snort. Zzzzzzzz."

It might just be a redneck date, if...

the entire 4 hours is spent perusing the aisles of Wal*Mart together.

Love Note to my Big Shooter: Wooo Eeeee!! You sure can show a girl a good time! How'd I get so dang lucky??

I embrace my illiteracy

When it comes to computers I have two choices:

• Freak out
• or...embrace my ignorance.

Usually, unless it's JBF, I embrace the illiteracy and wait for The Savior of My Computer World (a.k.a. Big Shooter, Sledge, Love of my Life, etc.) to rescue me.

Like today.

Today, I would really, really like to post the video of Girl Child and myself being propelled into space. However, my ignorance about getting this DVR thing (or CDr thing, movie thing, what ever thing...see what I mean) copied to my computer so I can upload it to youtube is not happenin' without serious intervention.

Do y'all have things that make your smooth running lives come to a screeching halt like the check writer in the credit card commercial? Something that causes you to count to 10? Or makes you have to remind yourself to breathe?

Mine would be certain computer tasks. And knitting.

And cooking.

And cleaning.

Love Note to my Big Shooter: O, brave and gallant knight, I await thee to slay thy Blue Dragon. Thou will show pleasure and thankfulness in any way thee wishes...

One Life Changing Word

Unconditional. Cancer. Yes. Salvation. Positive. Miscarriage. Boy. Girl.

Just a few of the words that have irrevocably altered my life in fantastic ways and crushing ways.

How about you? What one word changed your life forever...?

Big Shooter's List: Baby. Marriage. Malignant. Survivor. Blackberry.

Big Girl 40th Birthday Sleep Over

I titled this post so blase' because when we, er...Big Shooter, was looking for party ideas out there in Google Land we could not seem to find what we were looking for.

Of course with this title I'll get the pervs who think they are coming to a porn site for partying fat chicks too... But hey, I'm an equal opportunity helper of others.

I think this post may be a big fat let down for some who have been dying to hear how it went with pictures as the evidence. But I didn't even take my camera out of it's case.

I am feeling the pain today about that little indiscretion too.

What was I thinking?!? Obviously, I wasn't. The only time I remembered it was when we were playing The Plunger game, but when I said the word camera...I was threatened with bodily harm. The scary part for me was - they were dead dog serious about ripping me from limb to limb if I even thought about it. So I didn't and now, of course, wish I would have lived life on the edge and snapped a few...

Here's the only one I took the whole weekend.

I'll take you through the games and guests and everything in the picture should be covered in one way or another...


It began with a name tag with 3 different lines. On the first was their christened name. On the second they wrote where they knew me from. (A couple used this to their full advantage since so few knew each other. One put rehab and another put AA.) The third line asked for a name of a childhood pet and either their momma's maiden name or a street from their childhood. (Ex: mine was PoPo Brown. Sashi's was Snowball 169.) These, as was later revealed, were their Adult Entertainer names... We had a tie. There was a dance-off and the author of yesterday's post the virtuous, the responsible Podcastin' Cyndi won the prize.

Then came a few games:
Guess Who consisted of me sticking a famous person's name on each woman's back. (Oprah, Cinderella, Mother Teresa, Jezebel, etc.) They could only ask yes/no questions to figure out who they were. The only snafu here was I totally thought Jezebel was like a hootchie, hot momma kinda girl and assigned her name to my friend who very much is a hot momma...only to find out Jezebel is no such girl. Hmmm, maybe I should read that bible, not just use it as a bookend. The game was fun none the less. Those girls were serious about finding out who they were. It turned out to be a fabulous ice breaker.

There was a Momma Purse Scavenger Hunt. The most bizarre item found in a momma's purse was a very nice Cuban cigar in a nice little metal case...hmmm. I am not sure if it's origin, intended purpose or even if it's alternative purposes was fully explained by the end of the evening either.


There was a wine glass passed around full of questions to be answered by both a guest and the birthday girl. That was interesting. That was enlightening. And that was embarrassing...er um, bonding. We learned nicknames of family members and, ahem, body parts. We laughed hysterically at some's stories and answers. We empathized for one who answered the last time she cried had been the day before when it was confirmed indeed she was not pregnant as she so wants to be. We cringed, we snorted, we guffawed and we grinned. It was fabulous girl bonding at it's finest.

As Podcastin' Cyndi pointed out there was a wide range of individuals there. Just the way I love it. There was indeed a pastor's wife, a biker chick, a urban socialite, a factory worker, a Kansas farm girl and a classical educator. But there was also a Martha Stewart type, an incredible artist, a liberal or two, a former news anchor, a doctor's wife, a gym coach, a child counselor and a former nurse. All walks of life. All my dearest friends. I missed so many others this weekend that all I keep thinkin' is..."We'll have to do this again. And soon."

Even though Sledge's pleather pants, spiked jewelry and rock star wig are in the picture he, very sadly, didn't make it to the party. He did, however, make it to the lake later in the weekend. And that's all I'm saying about that.

I liked this last photo because Girl Child's comment when she saw it was, "...it's like you're looking past your birthday Momma...into your future."

Oh the words of wisdom that escape a babe's precious lips...

I am indeed looking forward to my future.

Thank you friends.

Love Note to my Big Shooter: And thank you Big Guy. What fabulous, bonding memories I will cherish for a lifetime. I am so truly blessed with deep, rich friendships.

Love Note to Sledge: RRRrrrr....

Gone to a Big Girl Sleep Over...

Love Note to my Big Shooter: Thanks Love. From the looks of things on my end, I believe a grand time is going to be had by all! If I haven't said it lately ~ I appreciate you and all you do for me... I'll show you how much when I return. Wink-a-wink. Grrrrr. Hubba, hubba. BOI-BOI-ING! (those were all my hootchie, hootchie sound effects in case you were wondering...)

(Insert that upside down women symbol thingy here)

Big Shooter has been planning a Big Girl Sleep-Over at the lake in celebration of my fourth decade. (Y'all know where my tongue is planted with that loaded statement, right? That's correcto-mungo, in my fat cheek.)
So far he's done an awesome job.
He's come up with several things. (I don't want to share them though because many of the guests read this here blog occasionally.)
But, he's a little dubious about what to have available to pass the time.
He wanted me to ask you Girls.
His words were, "Ask the other side for me please. Tell them I need girly. I need racy. I need nerdy. I need funny. I need emotional...and apparently I need ovaries to plan this kind of party."
Instead of agreeing with his last statement, I agreed to ask you all this instead:
"What ideas do you have in mind for a girls night in?"
He says, "Thanks. You're saving my hide...I mean pride."

Love Note to my Big Shooter: I am not sure whether to laugh or cry at your sincerity of my party planning. On one hand I am crackin' up watchin' you sweat it out. And on the other hand, I am touched at the thoughtfulness. But honestly, I'm mostly crackin' up. If you could see the discomfort, the agony of dealing with all these women, the stress of choosing the correct colors, a menu, the logistics of that many women sleeping under one roof... if you could see it, you'd be on the floor too.
Thank you Big Shooter. I love you.
Love. You.

Yep. I was born 40 years ago today.

I hadn't really thought it through. The whole turning 40 thing. So when Girl Child asked me what my birthday post was going to be about for the 40th ever-lovin' time, I figured maybe I should put a little thought into it.

It didnt' work.

I came up with nada.

And then in swooped The Good Flea to save the day!

She awarded me this little do hickey:


She says I have to tell you ten "juicy honest things" about myself. So I figure let's name 40, one for each year and then call it a day.
I have a feeling it may get ugly by the end... Just know I loved you all. This will be the last time some of you visit.

1. If I don't tweeze my chin daily (okay twice, daily) I can grow a perfect foo man chu beard.
2. Feet gross. me. out. Don't touch me with your toes if you want to keep them. I am serious.
3. I locked myself in my aunt's bathroom and smoked a pack of my uncle's cigs when I was like 11 or 12. Never had the desire to smoke again.
4. Although, I LOVE the smell of clove cigarettes.
5. I am the World's Worst House Keeper. I abhor cleaning. I only do it out of necessity. Bare necessity at that.
6. I wish I could re-do my wedding day. I would beg Big Shooter to elope.
7. I lost two babies before Boy Child. My heart still yearns for them over a decade later.
8. I don't like men. Big Shooter is one of very few I care to be around longer than say 60 seconds. The other two are my dad and Big Shooter's dad. I mean c'mon! Who wouldn't love someone who takes advantage of anyone and everyone who is gullible enough to believe all he says...like how to gut a deer for example.
9. I am utterly and helplessly frightened of the dark. If I was in a pitch dark room I believe I would keel over from fright. Seriously.
10. Yet, I loved haunted houses and hay rides growing up. Go figure.
11. I've been so angry at Big Shooter I have walked out.
12. Only to return for my toothbrush "that I forgot".
13. Sometimes I can't live with him!
14. But I could never live without him more!
15. Speaking of Big Shooter, sometimes I wonder if he's truly okay with having dated one girl, proposing to one girl, marrying her, and staying with just her. (It's suppose to be honest and juicy here people. I'm being real.)
16. 97% of the time I am thrilled to be Boy & Girl's momma. It's that other 3% that worries me. Shames me. Makes me wonder what the heckfire I was thinking?!
17. I don't get the whole wanting to have a natural birth thing. When it was discovered I couldn't give birth naturally and ended up having c-sections, I was thrilled. THRILLED people.
18. Here's where I ran into the lack of memory problem and had to send out an all points emergency bulletin to friends and family both far and near to ask for their help in telling me, reminding me or brushing away a few cobwebs in my memory in order to help me think of things to share in order to get to the magic 4-0. My Granny Grunt reminded me I believed Hook, Line and Sinker the way to tell a newborn animal's sex was by the color of it's eyes. I and my dear cousin would stand at the fence for hours trying to get the new baby calves to look at us in just the right sunlight so we could tell...
19. When my beloved Gramps died, the same uncle I stole and smoked his cigs came and picked me up from a country saloon at closing time. He never said a word other than, "You're gonna be okay honey," each time he had to pull over to let me hurl. He helped me up the steps of my mother's house. He hugged me each time I burst into tears. I was 37.
20. When I was with Sashi at a MOPS meeting giving a JBF talk, I fell off the stage. I was carrying a card table in front of me and just stepped off into nothingness. When I came to a stop, it was deathly quiet and Sashi was staring down at me with eyes the size of saucers while the 40+ women in the room didn't move. They were speechless and frozen. She helped me up, grabbed her supplies and ran out the door. I thought she was just in a hurry. Nope. When I got to the van, she had her head stuck as far into the van as she could reach and was SNORTING with laughter. I can't drive by or near that church to this day without her spitting pop out her nose with the memory.
21. I volunteered to greet and pass out name badges at our Crumbs special presentation day at school their first year. (before homeschooling) It was a muckety muck event with muckety mucks present all morning. Just before curtain time I snuck in to sit with Big Shooter and enjoy our wee ones song and dance. He'd chose to sit in the front row, center. Of course. I had to bend over and do the hunch back walk over to him in full view of everyone. When I got to him I realized I'd have to step over a bench saved for the teachers. I am 5 feet and 1 inch tall and I was wearing a long skirt. I had two choices. Walk back in front of everyone or hike my skirt up a bit. I should have walked back in front of everyone. Then they couldn't have all heard the seam of my skirt rip as I fell over the bench into my loving husband's arms. It did not end there however. I had to help clean up the welcoming area when it was finished. As another new mom and I sat down on a bench outside to wait for our husbands to drive around and pick us up she looked over and said, "Mrs. Shooter, I don't think I've laughed that hard in a while...and your day just keeps getting better by the minute. It looks like you have two different shoes on." I looked down. Sure enough. In my haste to get out of the house I slid on one brown and one black shoe. She said, "If you're always this much entertainment, I think we'll be great friends." We still are after all these years.
22. The 6 months preceding our wedding I was in Idaho doing wedding things and working while Big Shooter was living in Okie-homa. Once a week I would practice my almost nil culinary skills on my soon to be FIL. His most memorable meal was suppose to be called Chicken Enchiladas. He lovingly refers to it as Pile of Garlic with a dash of Chicken. There are no longer any vampires in the state of Idaho.
23. The first few months of marriage Big Shooter did not fare any better. One night I cooked Teriyaki Chicken Wings for him. I'd made it many times. He loved them. I grew arrogant in my newly found skills and neglected to follow the basic cooking rule of Don't Drink and Cook. I vaguely remember Big Shooter waking me and asking me what was supposed to be in the oven. We had pungent aroma of Burnt Teriyaki seared into every fabric, upholstery and even the paint for months.
24. I had brain surgery a few years back...I needed that like I needed a hole in my head.
25. While looking at my scans my neurologist with that most fabulous bedside manner reported I had an unremarkable brain.
26. I can't seem to cook bacon without my built-in timer. a.k.a. A smoke alarm
27. I cannot tolerate any kind of skin trauma. Doesn't seem to matter if it is a paper cut or a ten inch gash. I'll see you again when I wake up.
28. I worked the steering wheel and gear shift while my younger cousin worked the pedals whenever we stole my gramps old international pickup and tore down the lane. Problem was, he'd have to come rescue us b/c I could never quite conquer reverse on my own. We were 9 and 6.
29. Did you know you can rip the back bumper off a caddy if you back in to a parking space too far over the cement barrier? Well you can.
30. Have sadly passed on my irrational bawling, squawling, hissy-fit throwing when I get hurt gene to my very unassuming and innocent Girl Child.
31. i thoughtfully christened Big Shooter's new truck for him after he'd had it for two weeks. It was in the repair shop for almost two months.
32. Got my second speeding ticket going to the bank to withdraw $ to pay my first speeding ticket.
33. Regularly gave swirlies to my Jr. High neighbor Shirley. (Now before you get all righteous on me, she did it willingly. I don't know why? I don't like to dwell on it. She just did.)
34. Went to minor emergency for a pregnancy test the first time we suspected we might be expecting.
35. Belly laugh at least once a day. Every day.
36. Spent my entire honeymoon in a hospital.
37. Ran hurdles. Did I mention I'm 5'1?
38. Love, love, love to watch boxing. Share a birthday with Oscar De LaHoya. Mmm. Mmm!
39. Married the love of my life and had his spawn.
40. Love my life.

That wasn't so bad. Congrats if you got this far!

I realized as I was typing, some of these would be great posts. If you have any in particular you'd like me or Big Shooter to elaborate on, please let us know in the comments. Who knew this would lead to that most precious commodity to bloggers...blog fodder. Cool.

Love Note to my Big Shooter: Thank you for taking yet another trip down Memory Lane with me. I always get a renewed appreciation for you when I have to face what you do every day being my soul mate! (Heh. As if I haven't earned my crown and all the jewels in Heaven being your cell, oops soul mate as well!)

The post that was not to be...

I mentioned I was out of town?
I'm with Mamacita. (Sashi's momma.)
She's working me to the bone.
My day has run outta hours.
My Crumbs are vying for my attention.
My mind is focused on a bajillion things other than blogging.
And therefore the post that was to be, is no more.

Feel free to leave a comment about how this turn of events has ruined your day, you are crushed b/c you visit just so I can make your life worth while and meaningful, you don't know how you will possibly be able to go on...
Okay, so if not that, then just a friendly hello??

Love Note to my Big Shooter:
Sigh. I canNOT wait to see you...in just a few hours. Sigh. I've missed you.

I guess, because you can't know enough about Straight Shooter...

So I snagged this from my fellow Okie Blogger Jenni at One Thing. Why? Because I can use it to learn more about you Dear Reader! And because I am out of town and forgot my camera cable to upload some pix so as to help break up the constant stream of words, words, words!
Seriously, I would love if you'd share 5 or more about yourself when you get to the bottom.
If you think it looks fun (or effortless) feel free to copy it to yours and invite me over. I love to get to know you better!!

Just boldface the items that you HAVE done, and leave the rest normal….

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii (does a layover count?)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (his name is Big Shooter...and it 's not $$$ I'm talkin' about)
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (from my own cookin' none the less)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (did it to fly to Idaho...felt so bad when I came back I told my principal...she slapped my wrist and told me next time to use a personal day...I didn't know we had them)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29 Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33 Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community (click here to read about being called Chubby by the Amish)
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41 Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45 Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (do home movies count?)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60 Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64 Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66 Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67 Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79 Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (are they trying to make me cry?)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
89. Saved someone’s life (not to my knowledge)
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Now your job is to list 5 or more numbers in your comment so I can learn more about you Dearest Bloggy Friend!

Love Note to my Big Shooter: I think I know which to highlight for you...but, you never know, after 16 or 17 years of marriage (which ever it is...) maybe you'll still surprise me!

Christmas Tag

I so love my friend Flea. Have I ever told you how I met her in for real life? I was at Sashi's doin' some JBF gig when Flea's family came to get some natural fertilizer (the real good stuff from the pasture) and I recognized her name from the comments section of the The Pioneer Woman. I asked her if she was a blogger and...the rest is history as they say. Anywhoo, she tagged me last week for a holiday meme and today is a perfect day just for that!

So just when you thought you knew all there was to know about me - I subject you to some more titillating facts. I know you are chomping at the bit. So with out further ado...



The Holiday Version Meme

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

See, here's where we run into our first problem. I am a hot choc kinda gal in any kind of weather. But egg nog y'all? If it is just the right kind...well, then bar the door Sally Jean cause I am bustin' it down to get me some of that yummy stuff. So I don't know what to say.

Does Santa wrap presents or set them under the tree?

Mrs Claus's a wrapper. A fat white wrapper. Prolong the agony, I say. I plan, prepare and organize every year to wrap as I go. Never happens. I end up wrapping in one room while Santa wraps in another after midnight on Dec. 23 every stinkin' year cause my middle names are "Procrastinator" and "I think it will only take a few minutes to finish like 30 gifts..."

Colored lights on tree or white?

Not long ago, it was white only. Now, with the Crumbs and their utter delight with a Charlie Brown tree...colored is just fine-o-ree

When do you put your decorations up?

Here we go again with the "used to" again. I used to want the decos up Thanksgiving day or Black Friday. Now, we are lucky to have a tree. (We just decorated it yesterday.)

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

Any thing Granny Grunt cooked. Any thing.

Favorite Holiday memory as a child:

I have two: Going to sleep (or should I say, trying to go to sleep) at Granny Grunts with all my cousins on Christmas Eve night. The anticipation of waking up to see if I had indeed been good enough to get a gift from the big man was over the top! And, watching Grandpa Bozo shake, squeeze, rattle and violate each and every gift before opening it. He would guess correctly 75% of the time before he opened it. Drove us all nuts! We'd try to fool him every year.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

What truth? What are you talking about?

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

Nope, not one. All of them.

I think this must have started from the fact I would rotate Christmas Eve with my mom and dad each year. So I'd celebrate it with whomever I was with, then go to the other's house on Christmas. Or it could have been the fact that both of my parents are the world's worst when it comes time to show a little restraint with the present opening... To this day, they both pretend it's no big deal. Trust me. It is. They love present opening time. Which, of course, makes everyone around them love present opening time!

How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

I don't. Big Shooter is the Christmas decorator. He should have an entry in the Tree Festival each year. It may help him, focus his passion, give him a healthy outlet for his over abundant creativity. (Oh, that made me chuckle and gag at the same time!) Although, the last two years we've let the Crumbs have their Charlie Brown tree since he hasn't felt up to the whole Christmas Extravaganza and he's been real cool with the whole gig. I secretly hope he'll feel more into it next year. I kinda miss all the holiday cheer our house usually oozes with.

Snow... Love it or Dread it?

Lllllllloooove it! Missssss it! Would love some more of it!!

We have the best sledding hill in Plainsville a few blocks away. The Crumbs have been scouting out new sleds for the last couple weeks like no one's business.

Can you ice skate?

That would be a big fat negatory on that one.

Do you remember your favorite gift?

Yep...it's this Christmas's miracle. My Big Shooter is here. It will forever and ever be my most precious answered prayer.

What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?

Family

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?

Braum's egg nog. If that's not counted as a real dessert than I'd have to say the sweet chex mix my mom makes with the coconut, butter, almonds, butter, chex and butter...Mmmmmmm.

What is your favorite tradition?

Don't tell Big Shooter...but, I don't really mind the whole stupid "Mall Walking Day" on Black Friday as much as I'd like him to think I do...

Which do you prefer, Giving or Receiving?

Oh, I so wish I had a kazillion $$$$ to spend. I fantasize all the time about how I'd give gifts away. Do any of you play the If I was a Kazillionaire Game?

What is your favorite Christmas Song?

All of them!

Although, I will have to say the one about chestnuts roasting on an open fire has a special place b/c Big Shooter sings that one year round in the shower...

Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?

I played a game with myself when I was a kid. I always tried to see how small and sharp I could make the candy cane before it broke off. The smell of candy canes could transport me to Christmas time immediately. Now. I am not a huge candy cane fan. I don't know what changed.

Ever recycled a Christmas present?

Lalalala! Wh...what? I didn't hear you!



Don't Be A Scrooge! Tag 7 friends to Deck the Halls...

Okie Dokie! I tag Sheila @ Somebody Loved cause she has a Fabulous Spirit all year round, Soliloquy @ She Just Had to Say It cause she needs a break from rusty cookie sheets, Marcy from The Glamorous Life because she is the only one I know who can get a hangover at a cookie exchange, June from June Cleaver after a Six Pack cause her hubby is serving our country and she really needs to get laid, I mean catch a break and she is stinkin' hilarious, Rachel @ Huse Blog is it Anyway? cause she also just needs a no brainer break (although not in the same way June does...), Mama Belle @ The Bayou Belles and Their Beau because Mama had a BIG weekend last week, The lady who wants my twerpy kids and I to visit her @ Clan of the Cave Mice.

Love Note to my Big Shooter: Thank you for making the Crumbs think their Charlie Brown tree was the most beautiful tree in the world. If you only knew the agony I, I meant we, went through this afternoon to make it "just perfect for Daddy" you'd know how willing I'd be to kiss your feet since you said all the perfect compliments when you walked in and saw the monstrosity. You rock Daddy-O.

Found it!

This is one time I love having to say The Saying. You remember the one when one of us is correct and the other is...less correct? "I was wrong. You were right. You are the Queen...or King." (Of course the Queen version is heard most often.)
Any way! I did NOT believe Big Shooter even a teeny weeny inkling when he kept telling me we'd find his ring. Now it's back on my finger and I gladly shouted The Saying!
Here's what I've been pondering though.

• I know I had it on when we left the house in the morning b/c I remember getting lotion all over it while we were driving to Big Shooter's Dad's house.


• It was not on my finger approx. 4 hours later when we were leaving his Dad's house.


• A relative I have not seen in years said she saw it on my finger during lunch and described it to a tee. (at the time it made me feel slightly better that at least we knew where I'd lost it)


• Yet, I found it in the pocket of a pair of pants I hadn't worn since before I'd lost it.


• And further, even if I had worn those pants, it didn't just fall off my finger when I reached in my pocketb/c I wear it on my right hand. It was found deep in the left pocket.

Some would call it a coincidence. Some a miracle. Some would just say it was a weird happening. I, personally, think it was divine intervention. Plain and simple.

"Thank you Lord. I am humbled You would help me when You have so many, many real pressing issues to be occupied with."

Thank you to all who sent up a prayer for me and this special hunk of gold. I cannot quit smiling. I learned lots (and LOTS) of lessons in this short amount of time. I can't say I am glad I lost it so I'd learn them. But, I am extremely grateful for the new knowledge!

I hope you all have a fabulous Tuesday. We're going to a fish hatchery and fossil bed. Should be a great homeschool field trip day in Idaho. Speaking of which, look where our field trip was yesterday. Oh My Word. It was without a doubt one of the most incredible experiences I've ever had. The Crumbs were mesmerized for 3 1/2 hours solid and you all know that is a tall order for a almost 9 and 10 year old. If you are near a city with this exhibit (right now that would be Salt Lake City & Houston), I have 4 words for you: Do NOT miss it.

Love Note to my Big Shooter: Sorry I cried so much when we found it. I couldn't help it. I am a big baby that way, ya know. I will try very hard to get the mascara stain out of your new shirt. At least you have tons of ammunition now for when I say I don't like all that gag-a-rama lovey-dovey stuff...cause obviously I am a little more than a tad emotional than I care to admit...

A Bundle of Thanks: Come tell us about your family's experience writing the letters to our bravest in 13 days!

I'm sad.

P.S. (Pre-Script) No, this is not the heartfelt post I mentioned...I think I'll publish it on Monday.
Each December, Big Shooter and I get to celebrate one more glorious year of marital bliss.
Last year's celebration was accompanied by a very dark cloud hanging menacingly over our heads. We knew something was very wrong with BS and the uncertainty was stifling. So I wanted to do something nice for just him.

In the months preceding our anniversary, he had voiced some concern about his wedding band becoming a little thin and had begun to take it off when he was doing any thing manual.
So I bought him a new, very durable, heavy-duty ring made of tungsten. (Anyone else think that sounded more like an ad for a farm tractor than a ring description?) He luv, luv, LUVED it. He called twice and sent a sweet text the next day to tell me so.
I was walking into the bathroom while reading his text when I glanced at the shelf and caught sight of his old band. It looked so lonely just laying there. I could almost hear it wondering aloud, "What's going on? Why am I not in my worn, comfy, safe spot today? Umm, who's the new big, shiny dude? You're not...replacing me...are you? You can't just throw me to the way side after 5, 680 faithful days...". So I picked it up and slid it on my fat, middle, right hand finger.
It's been there everyday since. 345 days. Until today...
I lost it.
And then, when I thought about the loss... I lost it.
Like the bad kind of lost it. Crying in front of the Crumbs. Mascara rivers, snot. The whole shabang.
I can't help it.
I slipped that ring on Big Shooter's hand almost 17 years ago. He wore it everyday for 16 of those. It has been through thick and thin, marriage counseling, miscarriages, belly laughing, mid-night runs to get ice cream, deaths, births, and lots of hand holding.
This past year has been tough. Very tough. Each and every time my eyes would fill with tears and I'd raise my hand to wipe them, I'd catch site of that precious gold symbol. It has filled me with silent strength each time. With out fail.
I could almost hear it saying, "C'mon Girl, love is like me...never ending. Be faithful to him, for him. Stand in the gap. Lift him up. Be strong." It worked every time. Every time.
And now it's gone.
And I am heartbroken over it's loss.

Love Note to my Big Shooter: I know you believe we will find it. Some how. In Idaho, no less. But, I am sad tonight. Just sad. I feel like I've been in the ring with the enemy and he has just opened a can of Whoop A$$ I was not prepared for. I'll need a day or two to re-gather before I can put the gloves back on, Love.

Pregnancy Cravings

Sauerkraut.

That was mine.

For breakfast.

For lunch.

And again for dinner sometimes too.

Big Shooter and I had a little on Saturday and it reminded him of waking up to the nauseating smell in the mornings during our very first pregnancy.

I didn't have any particular, singular cravings like that in the next three pregnancies. I would think of some thing that sounded good around 3 or 4 in the afternoon and then my dinner was not complete until I'd had whatever it was. For instance, if I had a fabulous baked potato soup in the crock pot waiting at home with all the fixin's and I thought of a chicken Caesar salad around 4, I wouldn't feel like I ate dinner no matter how much yummy soup I ate until I had the salad. We just learned to go with it...after many late night runs to the grocery or late night take-out. The cravings were rarely the same from day to day like the sauerkraut had been. It would range from a grape icee in the dead of winter to acorn squash with butter and brown sugar the next day. No rhyme or reason.

I am not really sure why all this came pouring out today.

It was kinda like the cravings.

Just came outta nowhere.

Did any of you have any cravings?

Or other oddities?

Love Note to my Big Shooter: Wow. What a blast from the past! I loved walking down Memory Lane with you this weekend. It was refreshing in many ways. So many years, so many unbelievable moments and experiences. I wouldn't trade a single one.

Weeell, that's stretching it a teensy weensy little bit. There might be one or two we could skipped.

5 Perfect Strangers

I met 5 other strangers/bloggers/soul sisters in Dallas this weekend.

And I now need to ask the question, "When it comes to traveling, are you an Over-Planner, a Just Right Planner, or...ahem, a Wait-for-the-last-possible-second-should-have-been-out-the-door-already-Planner?"

I am an Over Planner of Life, which turns me into a Wait-for-the-last-second-possible...the third choice.

I know I must get packed. By packed I do not mean just clothes either. I mean outfits. (You know what I mean girls.) And Secret Sistah gifts, and Glad to Meetcha gifts, and Glad to Have Met Ya gifts, and all the paraphernalia that would go along with a Meet Perfect Strangers/Sleep in Same Hotel Suite with said Strangers/Share Life Stories with again said Strangers/Spend 41ish Glorious Hours with said Perfect Soul Sisters, I mean Perfect Strangers kinda weekend. And there was a whole lot of paraphernalia and planning ahead that went along with this kinda weekend too. It's just that I Over Plan the rest of my life so that planning ahead thing and being organized was a little outta my league.

A few Slight Mis-Judgements:

* Going to an 8:40 pm movie the night before with not a stitch packed.

* Writing a very important business (12ish page) application after the movie and packing. (In my defense, I had sat with laptop in well, my lap, night after night for a week trying to pry something out of my brain. Nothing like a little deadline to get the typing fingers flying, eh? I am not so sure Saucy Sashi would agree, but she is also one of those pain in the bu...I mean extremely talented people who can just sit down and Wham-Bam-Thank-You-Ma'am write something poetic!)

* Search for purse in ransacked house on two hours of sleep. Not find purse and leave for weekend anyway. (Had wallet what else could I possibly need on a weekend out of state with Perfect Strangers?)

* Drive to meet first Perfect Stranger way too hyped-up on excitement of No-Kids-No-Domestic-Responsibilities-NO-Sleep b/c your foot might be a little heavy on the accelerator...before you've even cleared the city limits.

* Forget to have new jeans hemmed before end of week for trip because you may or may not have been busy pickin' up a hawg on the day "trip errands" were scheduled.

* Hem jeans by hand, in the car, on way to weekend with first Perfect Stranger driving with more hyped-up excitement than self.

* Have to wear thick socks and Merrells to over-priced pedicure because ped-i-cure did not sink in until the moment the socks were being peeled off so feet could be placed in warm, swirling, blue, lighted water... Thankfully, the kindness of yet another Perfect Stranger a pair of hot, pink flip-flops were located and purchased in the knick of time! Thank you Marcy!

* Visiting the Mecca of Knock-Offs and Cheap Costume Jewelry (Sam Moons) on a limited budget due to the fact I'd not limited my drinks the night before...ahem. Wow. Bars make a killin'. I wonder how Big Shooter would feel about opening a Straight Shooter Saloon?

* Not having camera for bloggy weekend. It is safely ensconced in lost purse.

Very Good Judgement Call:

* Trusting intuition and joining Bloggy Weekend with no-longer Perfect Strangers.

While sitting next to a beautiful lady in her late 50's getting my aching, deprived feet masterfully massaged and lathered so well I proposed to the sweet little girl...sorry, I lost myself. What was I saying? Oh yeah, beautiful lady. After observing the antics, joking and harrassing she asked me how long we'd been friends. I looked at my watch and said, "We met for the first time 17 hours ago." Of course she needed an explaination. But how do you logically explain to someone, "Well, see this is a group of girls who we've met on the internet, shared more deeply emotional experiences with than most of our real-life friends and we've been planning this first time meeting outta state, away from our families for a long time"? You don't. You just say, "Oh, we're on-line writers. We correspond with each other regularly and decided to finally meet in person." For some reason that sounds better and they say, "Oh, that's great," instead of getting this bug-eyed look of "OMG! It's a gaggle of on-line ax murders!"
I digress. Again.
After a brief description her response was so very heartfelt. "You know honey, I have a group of girlfriends I've been friends with for 27 years and we act just like this. The difference is, it took us 27 years to form this kind of friendship. Treasure this. Keep this a priority. Women need these kinds of friends."
Wow.
Just wow.
I told her we plan to. And I do.
Women do need each other. And I needed this weekend. And these women.

Thank you girls...until next time.

Love Note to my Big Shooter: Thank you for encouraging me to take part in this weekend. I am so very blessed to have you. Do you know why I love you the most? Cause you didn't give me the third degree about any of them. Not one question. ...and I am choosing to believe it was because you just didn't want to be overbearing or controlling. Not that you didn't care I was leaving the state, staying in a hotel you didn't know the name of, or have any numbers you could reach me at in case of emergency... thank you for the freedom Darlin'. In case you want to check them out now, after the fact, here they are.
Soliloquy @ She Just Had to Say It (an extraordinarily, unforgettable post)
Holly @ June Cleaver Nirvana (her pics are a-maze-ing)
Suzanne @ Happy Chaos (timely smiles are not their specialty)
Marcy @ The Glamorous Life (a perfect example of her playfulness)
Shawna @ Blah Blah Blog (don't kid yourself, she's the rock star in the fam)

Election Day is 1 month away...or is it?

I sat down with my notebook and Hershey bar ready to watch the debates.

This is how far I got.

...before I fell asleep. Like snorin' deep.

For my friends that are rolling their eyes right now...but will send me an email in a few minutes to ask me just what my notes said, I am just going to share them now to save you time. I am very thoughtful and generous that way. Notes in red.

1) McCain: "Not you Tom." I looked at Big Shooter and said, "WHUH?! What in the heck?" it was weird and rude.

2) Concerning Fannie & Freddie: Did he say just say Obama was the 2nd highest campaign fund benefactor? Must check that out.

3) Obama: "No one wants to hear politicians standing up here pointing fingers." Amen Brother.

4) Loved the bipartisanship points McCain made when he spoke on spending reform, spending reform, spending reform. How often have each really crossed party lines with their votes? Must look up.

5) 78 yo Fiorra ~ Loved, loved, LOVED her question. "What are you going to ask the American people to sacrifice for the good of America?"

If you're wondering about the UH in the top left with tallies: blame Girl Child. She cannot listen to Barrack without counting the "...uh(s)..." he says. I promised her I'd keep track for her. I was awake for the first and last 15 minutes. The count was 53 (in case you were wondering).

I am glad I fell asleep. Because when I woke up I was NOT a happy camper hearing this little tidbit, "Obama only needs ___ # of electoral votes to win."

Pardon Me?!

Y'all I was under the impression the election was in one month. If they already know how they are going to vote (the electoral college) then what in the heck am I wasting my time on?! I have many more things I'd rather blog, worry over and contribute $ to. Don't you?

The more I think about it, the more mad I get.

I'm just going to bed.

Love Note to my Big Shooter: I am hoping some home-made chicken noodle soup, comfy quilt, your chair...and your nasty nose spray...will do the trick for you Love.

My most exciting bloggy moment yet...

While I was away a most exciting thing happened to the Straight Shootin' site!

My Canadian friend Tracy from Blog Nosh Magazine published a silly post of mine about the virtues of homeschoolin'. If you like bloggin', or better yet readin' blogs, it's a way cool place to find great posts on...oh, just about every subject you can imagine. When she contacted me way back when the temps were solidly above the century mark I was so excited I could hardly wait...

Then school began in earnest and JBF began in earnest and Blog Nosh was forgotten.

Until I returned to a mailbox full of new friends and a couple comments who said they found me from Blog Nosh...Thank you Tracy. I love new friends. Especially the bloggin' kind.

If you click on the Blog Nosh button and then click on Education you can read my silly little post. Please keep in mind it was in my early, early days of bloggin' AND it was right around the holidays, which meant even less sleep than I get now. Sleep Deprivation + bloggin' = Magazine worthy post? Hmmm... Please don't hold it against them. It really is a great site!

Love Note to my Big Shooter: The last pic in the Twin post got my sentimental juices flowing. I keep remembering all the times and places we went on picnics. Our second date, which turned out to be the first of everything to come, began with a picnic...sigh...Oh, how I love thee...let me count the ways...gag, gag, gag...

My home town Twin Falls, Idaho

My good friend Pat sent me some devastating flood pictures of her home town yesterday. Hobart, IN. It's bad up there y'all. It seems we need to keep every direction of this country in our prayers ~ directionally and metaphorically speaking.

Hobart, IN got me thinking of Twin Falls, Idaho. It's a beautiful little town I grew up in in Southern Idaho.

I googled some pictures to share with the Crumb Snatchers in the morning and then realized by sharing them with y'all, my bloggy friends, you might get some insight into me as well. Or not.We'll see.

"Remember when Evel Knievel attempted to jump the Snake River," is how Big Shooter and I explain where we are from to people our age or older. "Well, we both watched it." He watched from the canyon's edge with his Dad and the other bridge workers and I watched from the roof of my Grandpa Bozo & Granny Grunt's camper roof parked not too far from the canyon's rim. The dirt ramp is still there today over 30 years later.

This is the Perrine Bridge that stretches over the Snake River 500+ feet below. You can walk across it. I did once. I think that's why I am afraid of heights now. It shook, vibrated and you could see through it in places. Scary.

Now people BASE jump off it. To get a feel for how high and big it is, look very closely and you'll see the light posts that line the bridge. To this day, I hold my breath when I cross a bridge.
Remember when the barge hit the bridge here in Oklahoma and all the cars and trucks plunged into the river? That was the bridge we crossed each weekend to get to our camping ground. For two years I couldn't let Big Shooter drive that way. He had to drive an hour further to get us to our weekend camping spot because if I thought he was headed towards the bridge I would start to shake and tear up. I had frequent nightmares of driving my family off a bridge or watching helplessly as others did. I am a little better now. At least I can open my eyes when we cross a bridge. (The answer to your question before you even ask is: When I'm driving I force myself to breath and I have tunnel vision of the other side. I say, "Uh, huh. Wow," to the Crumbs when they exclaim about things they see over the sides.

There are falls like this one all along the canyon walls. This one happens to be by a main road that leads down into the canyon so it gets lots of photo ops.

Every kid from Twin has fond memories of the Western Days Parades. They are exactly what you think of when you picture small town parades. Flags, old cars, old farm equipment, beauty queens, rodeo queens, decorated bikes, clowns, politicians shaking hands and kissin' babies...

Patriotism at its purest.
No other reason than plain ole Love My Country So I'm Gonna Carry Her Flag in the Western Days Parade.

Love it.

Why the produce? Southern Idaho has some of the world's most fertile and best soil on the planet. It is a rich combination of clay, sand, and volcanic material. It can grow just about anything in it. It's the weather that dictates what can and cannot.
I loved this pic because my only claim to fame is not really even my own, but my paternal granddaddy's. He was the Idaho State Horticulturist for a number of years. (If that title is wrong, rest assured my Dad will provide the correction in the comments. wink. wink.) He had a particular interest/hobby of "inventing" different varieties and kinds of produce. He had several pattens on walnut trees, melons, flowers, etc. The last one expired a few years back. But, if you ever see a Santa Claus melon in the grocery store you can think of me. I named it. My grandfather developed/invented/produced what ever you want to call it a melon that is a cross between a cantaloupe and a honey dew. Kind of like Casaba melon. The catch is, he wanted it to be able to last into the late fall or even Christmas in a dark, dry store room so people could eat it around the holidays. Hence, the name Santa Claus melon. Only I really called it the Santy Claus melon.

This would be a view from the top of the canyon right next to the bridge. It is most likely early fall because the girl is dressed for warm weather and it is starting to turn brown. See how flat it is on the plateaus? It is a huge valley surrounded by mountains. Perfect farming area. That's why it's called the Magic Valley area.

Our other natural claim to fame is the Shoshone Falls.

It's called the Niagara of the West.
Higher than Niagara, not as wide.

So loud and thunderous, you can hear and feel it rumble and shake the earth from far away. (Y'all know FIL from the comments? That's Big Shooter's Daddy-O. He built all the overlooks along the canyon rim. He's pritty darn talented with a hunk metal. You know the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie? Well, give FIL a hunk o'steel and he can build a empire...)

These pictures are taken in the spring because the people are dressed in warmer weather clothing and The Falls is at full capacity from the spring thaw up river.

I think every child should have memories of the City Park.
Every kid I knew growing up had at one time or other climbed up on this stage to perform his or her Concert of a Lifetime.
Each summer they still gather in the park for Band Nights.
Sigh.

One of the golf courses I learned to golf on with Big Shooter's momma and later worked at down in the canyon.

This could have been a picture of my best friend Sheila and her Daddy fly fishin'. I preferred to fish from the bank. (I have a water issue too...)

Big Shooter and I spent many a day and evenings doing just this while we were dating. If we still lived there, I am sure I'd have many pictures just like this one. Just with my own Crumbs and the Love of My Life instead of strangers...well, actually I probably know them...it's a pretty small town.

Where are you from? Where are you now? Will you ever move back? Do you want to move back? Just wonderin'.

Love Note to My Big Shooter: Sigh. So long ago. Do you ever want to move back? What an idyllic childhood we both lead and were so unaware of...sigh again.

EDITED VERSION: of oxtail, snails, or insects

I received several personal emails pointing out I did not do the meme correctly. Apparently, when I am tired I skip steps. Like c. So now I have italicized and added d. (which is comments besides certain foods).
I visited my lovely friend FaroutMom to see what was up in her life and instead found out she'd eaten some Farout food in her life. Then I realized, so had I. Some of it YUM and some of it SICK! How about you? If you decide to post this little meme, please leave me a comment so I can read it too please. I'm very interested (nosy) like that.

a. Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
b. Bold all the items you’ve eaten. (I made them red so you could see them)
c. Cross out or italicize any items that you would never consider eating.

1. Venison -miss this VERY much.
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros -can't stand it, but love, love huevos con chorizo!
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile/alligator -once
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue -comey see, comey saw
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. baba ghanous
11. Calamari - the more tenacles the better for Girl Child
12. pho
13. PB&J sandwich - I miss these...
14. Aloo gobi
15. hot dog from a street cart - Prego with Boy Child and didn't know yet (NYC)
16. Epoisses (I don’t know - sounds like stinky cheese)
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes - eww.
19. Steamed pork buns - eww, again.
20. Pistachio ice cream - double eww. I hate pistachios.
21. Heirloom tomatoes - yum.
22. Fresh wild berries - double yum. reminds me of stealing all of granny grunts berries each summer.
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans - seriously, i could live on spanish rice and refried beans...w/ salsa
25. Brawn, or head cheese - couldn't pay me enough to try this...
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters - prefer steamed clams
29. Baklava - doesn't really float my boat, know what I mean?
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas - great snack
32. Clam chowder - one of my fave memories was eating clam chowder in an original chowder house in Boston with Big Shooter in the middle of a snow storm...he was so big and tall he could barely fit at the table. He kept saying, "I wonder who has sat right where I'm at?"
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut - ate this for breakfast every morning I was prego with boy child.
35. Root beer float - brings back fond childhood memories of a particular drive-in my momma would take me to out of the blue.
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea - just the sound of clotted cream makes my gag reflex work overtime!
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo - gr-o-ss
40. Oxtail - do I really need an explanation?
41. Curried goat - hate curried anything
42. Whole insect- boy child ate a grasshopper at camp last year. Amazing, since I can't get him to try anything new around here without threatening a famine...
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk - didn't know or would have gagged
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/€80/$120 or more
46. Fugu Fugu to eating blowfish!
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel - I really, really like sushi.
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut - Doesn't hold a candle to a Merritt's glazed twist.
50. Sea urchin - did I mention I liked sushi?
51. Prickly pear - not on purpose, glad I did.
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal - special sauce is disgusting.
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips - my mind can't be fooled, it's not the real deal. Chocolate is chocolate.
61. S’mores - I miss camping every weekend...
62. Sweetbread - do you know what's really in this stuff?
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs - you know what I'm gonna say right? "Tastes like chicken."
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears, and funnel cake - it's getting near our annual elephant ears at the fair! Yum!
68. Haggis - gag
69. Fried plantain - once. kinda plain.
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette - uh, not ever again.
71. Gazpacho - would eat it all summer if I could.
72. Caviar and blini - caviar ~ okay, salty. now tarramusalatta (probably incorrect spelling) on the other hand, that fish roe is one of my all-time favorite foods. ever.
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill - for some reason this made me think of my most precious of friends Soul Sister and the Turtle Soup!
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie - thank goodness we are doing gluten-free in this house now!
78. Snail - my father has no idea how close he came to seeing projectile vomiting in a 5 ***** restraunt!
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini - wish I had one now...
81. Tom yum - the name reminds me of something my Granny Grunt would name a dish made up of an old, tough turkey
82. Eggs Benedict - Big Shooter loves, loves, loves this dish.
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef - tasted the same as the side of beef we buy from Sashi's hubby Taco Bandito each spring...
86. Hare - my mom and her friend Bev have no idea how close they came to seeing projectile vomiting in a truck stop cafe in Burley, Idaho.
87. Goulash - one of my comfort foods to this day. Thanks mom.
88. Flowers - Girl Child thinks this is the coolest idea since sliced bread.
89. Horse - If you count paste then maybe I have already eaten horse...?
90. Criollo chocolate - sounds too like the coffee beans that get eaten by the tree cats, then pooped out, then sold for like a kazillion $$ a pound...eww.
91. Spam - tried it for the first time when I was 37. not too bad for campin'...in a pinch.
92. Soft shell crab - maybe I expected too much?
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish - didn't like any fish until my noodlin' neighbor fixed me some in her special "family secret" way. I was suppose to share a heaping hot plate with Big Shooter that she brought down to me fresh outta the pan...he got one little taste. We've never had it taste as good since she moved back to the sticks.
95. Mole poblano - yum. I love roasted poblanoes.
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta - Big Shooter decided this is what he wanted to contribute to our Supper Club Mexican Fiesta night. I wonder if that's how/why we got banned?
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee - sounds too much like the tree cat thing again...
100. Snake - uh, no.

How about you? Remember to let me know if you post on this!
Have a fabulous weekend Friends.