Wow - I can't believe the weekend is upon us. I'm so excited!!! Paige has a belt test this evening, Canton tomorrow, lots of good food and adult beverages throughout the weekend....what more could I ask for? I hope to attend Mass Sunday morning - we haven't been since Easter. We had been attending the Episcopal Church in Ennis and liked the church and Priest, just didn't like the time - 10 am. We like to get up early and go to Mass. If we don't go till 10:00, then we sleep in and don't do anything productive. Then, we get out of church and go to lunch and don't make it home until 1 pm or so. The whole day is then shot because you know we're all going to take a nap. We like to get up, go to Mass and get back home and on with our day. Plus, if we want to go cook chili, then we can still fit that in. We're members of St. Anne Episcopal in DeSoto....it's just so far from our house now. When we lived in Waxahachie, it didn't take long to get there. I think we're going to try and get back in the routine of going to the 7:45 am service over there and see how we do. There is an Episcopal Church in Waxahachie with an 8 am service, and one in Corsicana as well. So I guess we've still got some options.
I've got my list ready for Canton! Gary and I are going to get up early in the morning and get out there! I even think my sister is going to go along with us. And the Juicy, of course. She finished her last swimming lesson yesterday and did great! She has a belt test for Karate this evening. She says she's a "little bit nerbous", but I think she'll do just fine. She's been practicing her splits and she kicked butt when she was sparring yesterday.
I was happy to see that the Houston Pod had to announce their decision to let go of Texas Open and make it public to all of the Texas Pods. I hope that the North Texas area Pods will work together and submit a proposal to bring the Open back to this area. I think it would be a good thing for some of the Opens and Championships to be a little more spread out instead of concentrated in one area. With the exception of SW Open and Tri State Open, everything else is down south. That includes the new US National Open, Men and Women's State, and Texas Open.
I also found it very interesting that Keith Karaff announced his decision to run for ED a day after he had to publicly acknowledge that the Houston Pod was giving up Texas Open. This was also after the Houston Pod tried to give it to another Pod without the knowledge of the other GP's and Pods in Texas. Does anyone know where I'm headed with this????? I like Janice Miller and think she's a very nice woman. I don't believe she will be re-elected if Keith is running against her. I could be completely wrong - this is just my opinion. Still; if he is elected, is he going to be able to enforce the rule book when he very clearly sidestepped it in regards to handing off Texas Open? You can bet that will be a question I ask at the GP meeting. I'm glad to see more people announcing their intention to run for the Board. I believe the BOD needs new blood and I like having options. So far, David Sexton and Roger Foltz are the only two individuals I plan on voting for. I have to submit a complete ballot for my votes to count....not looking good at this point because I don't see myself voting for the other incumbent director. I think CASI needs people to serve on the board who are enthusiastic and willing to listen to and act accordingly to the membership - not their own best interests. Anyone who thinks that implementing an auto debit in an effort to keep membership dollars coming in rather than ACTIVELY pursue members is, in my opinion, the very root of the problems CASI face. I have to give Keith Karaff credit for some of the statements he made in his letter announcing his intention to run for ED. He recognizes that it is going to take WORK, ACTUAL WORK, to return CASI to it's previous days of popularity and to propel it into something that is easily marketable and recognizable. Having an apathetic board is doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for this organization.
I have been asked why I don't run for the Board if I bitch about it so much. I did last year when I felt my work/home balance would afford me the opportunity to have plenty of time to devote to CASI. I no longer have anything that resembles a work/home balance and I'm also pursuing other ventures at this time. If and when my life allows me extra time to put my money where my mouth is, you bet I'll run for that Board again. I'm not afraid to put myself, my mouth, and my ideas out there to be questioned, supported or criticized. I'm not afraid to stand up and call bullshit when I think it's appropriate. And I know I'm more than capable of working with others and helping CASI run like a business that listens and acts upon the advice of ALL of it's members - not just a select few. I hope that those individuals running for the Board will show some balls this year and do what's right for everyone involved in CASI - not just themselves.
I'm off to finish what has been an extremely productive work week. I hope everyone has a great weekend and I'll be back on Monday!
Kelly
Friday, July 30, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Things I Think About.....
As a parent, most of us are concerned (some very little, some a lot) with what our kids see and hear - be it from us, siblings, TV and movies, the general public...you name it. I have a salty mouth and for the most part, Paige has not picked up on my language beyond the initial slip up to see what happens. But really, the bad words aren't what I'm afraid of. Here are some of the things my child hears and says at our house:
"Show me your muffin"
"Lick me, lick me, lick my face"
"Do you want to have sexy time?"
Now, before all of you look up CPS's phone number - hear me out. These are things we say to our DOGS.....LOL! That sounds even creepier, doesn't it? When Waylon, one of our dachshunds, rolls over on his back, we say he's "exposing his muffin." So when any of us are playing with him, or Eddie, we'll say that to them. They love to have their tummies rubbed. They're VERY spoiled little dogs :)
The "lick me" comment actually came from Paige. She was sitting in the floor one day after school and the dogs were just jumping all over her. She kept telling them to lick her, meaning, give her kisses. Gary and I both snapped our heads up when we heard her say it. It kind of freaked us out.
Sexy time is when it's bed time and Gary and I take the dogs to bed...still sounding creepy, I know. We tell them it's "sexy time" and then they get in the bed and play with each other until they pass out. Eddie and Waylon love each other, so that's part of their "private time".
Here's what I'm beginning to wonder: will Paige know when it is and isn't appropriate to say some of these things? Can you imagine if she told a boy "show me your muffin"? Or what if we heard her say, "lick me, lick me, lick my face"?????? Or even better...we come up on her and a guy and she asks him if he wants to have sexy time.
OMG!!!!!!!
I guess we could watch what we say....and we usually do, but none of us are saying anything bad. It's just the context that we are using them in versus the context she might use them in later on as a teenager. That could be the scary part!!!!
Those are some of the earth shattering things I think about when I'm driving in my car. I ponder the impact of our words while I'm also solving the BP Oil Crisis, global warming, and other life altering situations we're facing....LOL! Being a parent is serious business!!!!
I hope everyone's Tuesday is a good one. I'm looking forward to cleaning my office and getting reorganized from the last two weeks. It's been helter skelter around here and every time I think it's slowing down, it just gets busier. I'm grateful that we're busy...but looking forward to a break. I'm pretty sure I'm going to Canton this weekend for a little retail therapy and I'm definitely excited. Next weekend will be our trip to the River and we are ALL excited to go float for Bubba's birthday.
I'll be back tomorrow.....until then, show off that muffin!
Kelly
"Show me your muffin"
"Lick me, lick me, lick my face"
"Do you want to have sexy time?"
Now, before all of you look up CPS's phone number - hear me out. These are things we say to our DOGS.....LOL! That sounds even creepier, doesn't it? When Waylon, one of our dachshunds, rolls over on his back, we say he's "exposing his muffin." So when any of us are playing with him, or Eddie, we'll say that to them. They love to have their tummies rubbed. They're VERY spoiled little dogs :)
The "lick me" comment actually came from Paige. She was sitting in the floor one day after school and the dogs were just jumping all over her. She kept telling them to lick her, meaning, give her kisses. Gary and I both snapped our heads up when we heard her say it. It kind of freaked us out.
Sexy time is when it's bed time and Gary and I take the dogs to bed...still sounding creepy, I know. We tell them it's "sexy time" and then they get in the bed and play with each other until they pass out. Eddie and Waylon love each other, so that's part of their "private time".
Here's what I'm beginning to wonder: will Paige know when it is and isn't appropriate to say some of these things? Can you imagine if she told a boy "show me your muffin"? Or what if we heard her say, "lick me, lick me, lick my face"?????? Or even better...we come up on her and a guy and she asks him if he wants to have sexy time.
OMG!!!!!!!
I guess we could watch what we say....and we usually do, but none of us are saying anything bad. It's just the context that we are using them in versus the context she might use them in later on as a teenager. That could be the scary part!!!!
Those are some of the earth shattering things I think about when I'm driving in my car. I ponder the impact of our words while I'm also solving the BP Oil Crisis, global warming, and other life altering situations we're facing....LOL! Being a parent is serious business!!!!
I hope everyone's Tuesday is a good one. I'm looking forward to cleaning my office and getting reorganized from the last two weeks. It's been helter skelter around here and every time I think it's slowing down, it just gets busier. I'm grateful that we're busy...but looking forward to a break. I'm pretty sure I'm going to Canton this weekend for a little retail therapy and I'm definitely excited. Next weekend will be our trip to the River and we are ALL excited to go float for Bubba's birthday.
I'll be back tomorrow.....until then, show off that muffin!
Kelly
Monday, July 26, 2010
I've Never Been So Happy to See Monday....
Good Monday Morning!!! I cannot believe I'm saying this, but I was actually happy to see Sunday come to an end and Monday begin. Let's recap yesterday:
11:42 am - Gary and I enter the elevator at the Marriott. Elevator goes down one floor and jars to a screeching halt. Gary tries to convince me to have sex with him in the elevator. I politely decline. (It was a tile floor!!)
12:45 pm - Gary and I exit the elevator that is hung between floors 3 and 4 via a ladder held by Grapevine firemen. I go down backwards with my ass in their faces. Humiliation overcomes me to the point that I start babbling and asking for Xanax. They tell me that they don't carry Xanax with them, but that they do have Morphine. I then ramble on about my love for coma-inducing narcotics. Classy.
1:45 pm - We arrive at our house and notice that our yard is flooded and the tube shoot is open...water is everywhere. We then determine that our son has left the water on for the past 24 hours. Lots of cussing can be heard on Chmelar Rd. Tyler is still alive and working off what is sure to be an astronomical water bill.
That was my weekend! I pray to God that my week is much better. We did eat lunch at Babe's yesterday and that helped a little, but good Lord. What else was going to go wrong??? We were scared to leave the house once we got back there.
We went to Gary's 20th high school reunion Saturday evening. It was interesting to say the least :) Before we went to the reunion, we had dinner at Kirby's Steakhouse in Grapevine and it was very, very good. I wasn't overly impressed with the wine list, but the food and service were both great. We all had the filet and it was very tender and cooked as ordered. The appetizers were both really good - fried pickles with a garlic dipping sauce and a seafood platter that consisted of crab scampi, calamari and grilled tequila shrimp - yummy!!
Speaking of food.....I have some recipes to share. My mom makes a really delicious Shoepeg Corn Casserole that I wanted to post, but now I can't find it. I'll have to locate it on my desk from hell and post it this week. Before school starts, I cook and freeze casseroles, spaghetti sauce and soups so that I help myself during the school year. This gives me a head start on dinner so that we aren't eating at 9 pm, or eating out a lot, or beyond busy in the evenings. I also utilize my slow cooker a lot. Here are a few of the casseroles I like to make ahead and freeze or make in the slow cooker when I need some help time wise. I've also got a recipe for a Cold Baked Potato Salad like the one they serve at The Gristmill in Gruene.
Cold Baked Potato Salad
8-10 Medium Red Skin Potatoes, halved (skins on or off...your choice)
1 1/2 Cups Sour Cream
1 Cup Grated Cheese
6 Slices of Bacon, diced and fried till crispy
1/4 Cup Chopped Chives (or you can use just the green part of 3 green onions)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Once the water is boiling, add about a teaspoon of salt to the water. Boil until fork tender, but not mushy. Drain the potatoes and allow them to cool. Once the potatoes are cool, start out by adding 1 cup of the sour cream and all of the cheese, bacon and chives. Stir together to get a nice creamy consistency with the sour cream, but with the potatoes still kind of chunky (you just don't want a bunch of mushiness). Depending on your preference, you may or may not need that extra 1/2 cup of sour cream. Salt and pepper to taste, cover and chill for at least two hours. Serve and enjoy!
Cornbread Turkey Casserole
Okay - this makes three casseroles, but it is totally worth it and very, very good. It's a great way to use leftover turkey after Thanksgiving, or you can use chicken. Either way it's really good and your kids will even eat it! Yay!!
3 6 oz packages of cornbread stuffing mix
10 cups cooked chicken or turkey, cubed or shredded
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
2 10 3/4 oz cans each condensed cream of chicken and cream of celery soup
1 10 3/4 oz cream of mushroom soup
1 12 oz can evaporated milk
3 13x9 aluminum baking pans
Prepare the stuffing mix according to the package directions; add the turkey and 2 cups of cheddar cheese. In separate bowl, combine the soup and milk. Pour one cup each of the soup/milk mixture into each of the aluminum pans. Top each of the pans with the turkey mixture, spreading it evenly over the soup. Then pour the remaining soup mixture equally over the three pans. Top each pan with the remaining cheddar cheese. Cover and freeze for up to two months.
To prepare one after it's been frozen, allow to thaw covered in the refrigerator a day in advance. Once it's completely thawed out, bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly. You can also remove the cover for the last 5 minutes to help melt the cheese.
If you choose to bake one immediately and freeze the other two, bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until bubbly.
Rancho Chicken
3 cups cooked chicken (feel free to use canned or rotisserie chicken, too)
1 10 3/4 oz can of cream of chicken soup
1 10 3/4 oz can cream of mushroom soup
1 10 oz can of mild Rotel
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2 tsp Gebhardts chili powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp salt (or more to taste)
1 cup grated cheese
corn or flour tortillas
Place the chicken in a slow cooker and top with everything but the cheese and tortillas. Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours. For the last 30 minutes, turn the temperature to high and top with the grated cheese. Allow it to melt and serve along side the tortillas, rice and beans.
Creamy Crockpot Red Potatoes
2 lbs small red potatoes, quartered
16 oz cream cheese, softened
1 can condensed cream of potato soup
1 small envelope of Ranch dressing mix
1 tablespoon milk
Optional: 1 cup diced ham
Spread the potatoes in the bottom of the crockpot. In a medium bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients until smooth. Stir into the potatoes and cook on low for 8hours or until tender. If you want to add the ham, sprinkle it over the potatoes before you pour the cream cheese mixture over the top.
I'll share more recipes during the week. I think things are slowly but surely beginning to return to normal around the office. I just finished billings that I started two weeks ago. Now I have to begin the task of cleaning up my office, my desk, and putting files back together. It looks like a bomb went off in here.
Have any of you ever heard the phrase, "if you're not with me, then you're against me"? I kind of feel that way today about family members who continue to stay in close contact with my husband's ex spouse. Their divorce was anything but amicable. Their relationship now could be described as tense, and I'm being generous. This is not someone who got along with anyone in his family while they were married, yet they feel like they need to remain in contact with her - and not just in passing. That bothers me. Maybe I'm too black and white. Maybe I'm too loyal. At any rate, I know if my parents and sister tried to continue a relationship with my ex-spouse, my husband would come unglued - and rightfully so. I personally think that anyone who likes his ex wife probably needs their head examined....with the exception of his kids who can't help it - she's their mother. Anyways....that's just one of my (many) issues. I haven't spoken to his ex wife in over 9 months and my life is better for it. This isn't your typical ex wife/new wife type animosity. This is someone who told me that me and my child would burn in hell and that she's saving up bail money so that she can kick my ass when Zoe turns 18 (I'm going to send her a piggy bank..hehehe) among other things. She also threatens Gary and talks shit about him to the kids when she doesn't get her way, etc. So there you have it....I have a problem with my husband's family having anything to do with someone who is a complete wackjob. I said it - it's out there in the blogosphere for everyone to read :). I've tried, really, really tried, to get along with her. I know I must be a very inflammatory reminder of her divorce and I accepted that at first - but it has been 8 years and she's still a bitch. Oh well... Not that I'm not a bitch, cause I know I am, but she takes it to a whole new level. And I know I'm not perfect - far from it. I'm a screw up just like the rest of the world and I've never advertised myself as anything but an imperfect train wreck at times! I mean, you saw the pictures of my desk last week....complete chaos :)
Have a great day and I'll hopefully be back tomorrow!!
Kelly
11:42 am - Gary and I enter the elevator at the Marriott. Elevator goes down one floor and jars to a screeching halt. Gary tries to convince me to have sex with him in the elevator. I politely decline. (It was a tile floor!!)
12:45 pm - Gary and I exit the elevator that is hung between floors 3 and 4 via a ladder held by Grapevine firemen. I go down backwards with my ass in their faces. Humiliation overcomes me to the point that I start babbling and asking for Xanax. They tell me that they don't carry Xanax with them, but that they do have Morphine. I then ramble on about my love for coma-inducing narcotics. Classy.
1:45 pm - We arrive at our house and notice that our yard is flooded and the tube shoot is open...water is everywhere. We then determine that our son has left the water on for the past 24 hours. Lots of cussing can be heard on Chmelar Rd. Tyler is still alive and working off what is sure to be an astronomical water bill.
That was my weekend! I pray to God that my week is much better. We did eat lunch at Babe's yesterday and that helped a little, but good Lord. What else was going to go wrong??? We were scared to leave the house once we got back there.
We went to Gary's 20th high school reunion Saturday evening. It was interesting to say the least :) Before we went to the reunion, we had dinner at Kirby's Steakhouse in Grapevine and it was very, very good. I wasn't overly impressed with the wine list, but the food and service were both great. We all had the filet and it was very tender and cooked as ordered. The appetizers were both really good - fried pickles with a garlic dipping sauce and a seafood platter that consisted of crab scampi, calamari and grilled tequila shrimp - yummy!!
Speaking of food.....I have some recipes to share. My mom makes a really delicious Shoepeg Corn Casserole that I wanted to post, but now I can't find it. I'll have to locate it on my desk from hell and post it this week. Before school starts, I cook and freeze casseroles, spaghetti sauce and soups so that I help myself during the school year. This gives me a head start on dinner so that we aren't eating at 9 pm, or eating out a lot, or beyond busy in the evenings. I also utilize my slow cooker a lot. Here are a few of the casseroles I like to make ahead and freeze or make in the slow cooker when I need some help time wise. I've also got a recipe for a Cold Baked Potato Salad like the one they serve at The Gristmill in Gruene.
Cold Baked Potato Salad
8-10 Medium Red Skin Potatoes, halved (skins on or off...your choice)
1 1/2 Cups Sour Cream
1 Cup Grated Cheese
6 Slices of Bacon, diced and fried till crispy
1/4 Cup Chopped Chives (or you can use just the green part of 3 green onions)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Once the water is boiling, add about a teaspoon of salt to the water. Boil until fork tender, but not mushy. Drain the potatoes and allow them to cool. Once the potatoes are cool, start out by adding 1 cup of the sour cream and all of the cheese, bacon and chives. Stir together to get a nice creamy consistency with the sour cream, but with the potatoes still kind of chunky (you just don't want a bunch of mushiness). Depending on your preference, you may or may not need that extra 1/2 cup of sour cream. Salt and pepper to taste, cover and chill for at least two hours. Serve and enjoy!
Cornbread Turkey Casserole
Okay - this makes three casseroles, but it is totally worth it and very, very good. It's a great way to use leftover turkey after Thanksgiving, or you can use chicken. Either way it's really good and your kids will even eat it! Yay!!
3 6 oz packages of cornbread stuffing mix
10 cups cooked chicken or turkey, cubed or shredded
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
2 10 3/4 oz cans each condensed cream of chicken and cream of celery soup
1 10 3/4 oz cream of mushroom soup
1 12 oz can evaporated milk
3 13x9 aluminum baking pans
Prepare the stuffing mix according to the package directions; add the turkey and 2 cups of cheddar cheese. In separate bowl, combine the soup and milk. Pour one cup each of the soup/milk mixture into each of the aluminum pans. Top each of the pans with the turkey mixture, spreading it evenly over the soup. Then pour the remaining soup mixture equally over the three pans. Top each pan with the remaining cheddar cheese. Cover and freeze for up to two months.
To prepare one after it's been frozen, allow to thaw covered in the refrigerator a day in advance. Once it's completely thawed out, bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly. You can also remove the cover for the last 5 minutes to help melt the cheese.
If you choose to bake one immediately and freeze the other two, bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until bubbly.
Rancho Chicken
3 cups cooked chicken (feel free to use canned or rotisserie chicken, too)
1 10 3/4 oz can of cream of chicken soup
1 10 3/4 oz can cream of mushroom soup
1 10 oz can of mild Rotel
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2 tsp Gebhardts chili powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp salt (or more to taste)
1 cup grated cheese
corn or flour tortillas
Place the chicken in a slow cooker and top with everything but the cheese and tortillas. Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours. For the last 30 minutes, turn the temperature to high and top with the grated cheese. Allow it to melt and serve along side the tortillas, rice and beans.
Creamy Crockpot Red Potatoes
2 lbs small red potatoes, quartered
16 oz cream cheese, softened
1 can condensed cream of potato soup
1 small envelope of Ranch dressing mix
1 tablespoon milk
Optional: 1 cup diced ham
Spread the potatoes in the bottom of the crockpot. In a medium bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients until smooth. Stir into the potatoes and cook on low for 8hours or until tender. If you want to add the ham, sprinkle it over the potatoes before you pour the cream cheese mixture over the top.
I'll share more recipes during the week. I think things are slowly but surely beginning to return to normal around the office. I just finished billings that I started two weeks ago. Now I have to begin the task of cleaning up my office, my desk, and putting files back together. It looks like a bomb went off in here.
Have any of you ever heard the phrase, "if you're not with me, then you're against me"? I kind of feel that way today about family members who continue to stay in close contact with my husband's ex spouse. Their divorce was anything but amicable. Their relationship now could be described as tense, and I'm being generous. This is not someone who got along with anyone in his family while they were married, yet they feel like they need to remain in contact with her - and not just in passing. That bothers me. Maybe I'm too black and white. Maybe I'm too loyal. At any rate, I know if my parents and sister tried to continue a relationship with my ex-spouse, my husband would come unglued - and rightfully so. I personally think that anyone who likes his ex wife probably needs their head examined....with the exception of his kids who can't help it - she's their mother. Anyways....that's just one of my (many) issues. I haven't spoken to his ex wife in over 9 months and my life is better for it. This isn't your typical ex wife/new wife type animosity. This is someone who told me that me and my child would burn in hell and that she's saving up bail money so that she can kick my ass when Zoe turns 18 (I'm going to send her a piggy bank..hehehe) among other things. She also threatens Gary and talks shit about him to the kids when she doesn't get her way, etc. So there you have it....I have a problem with my husband's family having anything to do with someone who is a complete wackjob. I said it - it's out there in the blogosphere for everyone to read :). I've tried, really, really tried, to get along with her. I know I must be a very inflammatory reminder of her divorce and I accepted that at first - but it has been 8 years and she's still a bitch. Oh well... Not that I'm not a bitch, cause I know I am, but she takes it to a whole new level. And I know I'm not perfect - far from it. I'm a screw up just like the rest of the world and I've never advertised myself as anything but an imperfect train wreck at times! I mean, you saw the pictures of my desk last week....complete chaos :)
Have a great day and I'll hopefully be back tomorrow!!
Kelly
Friday, July 23, 2010
The Return of Conversations with Paige......
Here are a few recent gems. We've got a nice mix of Paige musings and Paige conversations and boy, they're something else!
Paige: Mommy, I really like plump pink weenies. Those look better to me and I think they taste better. They gray shriveled up ones just seem kind of old and gross. What kind of weenies do you like?
That was Paige describing her ideal weenie as she picked the breading off of her corny dog last night.
Paige: When I grow up, I'm going to marry Alex. He's crazy and he lets me be crazy. I think crazy people should marry each other so that they can be crazy together. Then there's more craziness and it's fun.
Spoken like a true Bowden Brignon :)
I have the most delicious, most unique, most special child in the world. Yeah, yeah...I know, all parents think that, but I REALLY do! She's amazing. Spend a day with her - you'll see what I mean.
She was so funny last week when she decided she was going to go to the river with us. Here's a sample:
Paige: Mommy, did I hear you say you're going to the ribber? (yes, she calls it the "ribber")
Me: Yes
Paige: I need the phone.
Me: Why?
Paige: I need to call Gammy. I need to let her know that I can't come to her house this weekend. If you're going to the ribber, then I'm going to the ribber. She's going to be a little upset and probably miss me, but she'll be okay.
I hand her the phone....
Paige: Gammy?
Gammy: Yes....
Paige: Gammy, I can't come to your house this weekend. Now, don't be upset, but mommy and daddy are going to the ribber and I need to go with them.
Gammy: Well, okay. If that's what you want to do.
Paige: Yes, I love the ribber. I hope we don't go on the Guadalupe because it's slow. The Comal is so much better.
Gammy: You will have a great time with mommy and daddy.
Paige: I love you Gammy......
Me: Paige, you can still go to Gammy's. It's okay.
Paige: No, I want to go with you.
Me: Well, me and Daddy were going to have private time.
Paige: That's okay. You can have private time with Daddy and when you're finished, you can have private time with me. We'll share you.
WTH???????
Anyways...she ended up at Gammy's. I had to work last Friday and she was tired of waiting around on me. Her reasoning was this, "well, I can swim at Gammy's. I really want to swim and I didn't know I was going to have to wait around on you all day." Oh my God...where does she come up with this stuff?!?!?!
All is well...she'll be on the river in two weeks and then Labor Day weekend. She had a good time with Gammy and all is right in the "Land of Yes and Never Wait"!! Paige loves her Gammy so much...it's kind of gross at times, actually. I was waking her up one morning and she was just laying there kind of sleepy and dazed and I asked her what she was thinking about and she said she was thinking about Gammy. I then asked why she was thinking about Gammy and she said, "I was thinking about yesterday when I was swimming in the pool and Gammy was watching me. She loves me." Oh my....that child is ate up!!! It's really, really sweet though.
Gary's high school reunion is this Saturday and we'll be attending it. I'm sure it will be very interesting. I've got things to do in my trailer today, so I better get off the computer and get to work. I'm almost finished with my billings. Lord, I didn't think they would ever end. That's a really good thing, though.
This time last year, we were living in our motorhome at Wendell and Carole's house while our house was being built. Man...it's seems so long ago. There were five of us in there, plus three dogs. The trauma from those three months haunts us still...LOL. My kids are permanantly scarred from living in the motorhome. We made it, and it could have been worse, but it was a serious beatdown of epic proportions! In fact, we were in the motorhome for a full month before our slab was even poured. Do you know how depressing and maddening that was? And then, it started raining. In July. In Texas. Only us, only us. But hey - we've got a beautiful home on the most perfect piece of land and we're all happy and we've all recovered...with the help of hours of counseling, interventions and booze, of course! Well, the kids didn't need the booze, but me and Gary did (and still do)...LOL!!
I've got some recipes to share and I will do that this weekend. Have any of you tried the Cold Baked Potato Salad at the Gristmill? I made a version of it last Sunday and it is super easy and very good!! I'll post that as well.
I see Don Hoy announced that he was running for the BOD. Good for him for stepping up. Any other takers???
Have a wonderful Friday and I'll be back tomorrow spreading my own special brand of kindness and joy!
Kelly
Paige: Mommy, I really like plump pink weenies. Those look better to me and I think they taste better. They gray shriveled up ones just seem kind of old and gross. What kind of weenies do you like?
That was Paige describing her ideal weenie as she picked the breading off of her corny dog last night.
Paige: When I grow up, I'm going to marry Alex. He's crazy and he lets me be crazy. I think crazy people should marry each other so that they can be crazy together. Then there's more craziness and it's fun.
Spoken like a true Bowden Brignon :)
I have the most delicious, most unique, most special child in the world. Yeah, yeah...I know, all parents think that, but I REALLY do! She's amazing. Spend a day with her - you'll see what I mean.
She was so funny last week when she decided she was going to go to the river with us. Here's a sample:
Paige: Mommy, did I hear you say you're going to the ribber? (yes, she calls it the "ribber")
Me: Yes
Paige: I need the phone.
Me: Why?
Paige: I need to call Gammy. I need to let her know that I can't come to her house this weekend. If you're going to the ribber, then I'm going to the ribber. She's going to be a little upset and probably miss me, but she'll be okay.
I hand her the phone....
Paige: Gammy?
Gammy: Yes....
Paige: Gammy, I can't come to your house this weekend. Now, don't be upset, but mommy and daddy are going to the ribber and I need to go with them.
Gammy: Well, okay. If that's what you want to do.
Paige: Yes, I love the ribber. I hope we don't go on the Guadalupe because it's slow. The Comal is so much better.
Gammy: You will have a great time with mommy and daddy.
Paige: I love you Gammy......
Me: Paige, you can still go to Gammy's. It's okay.
Paige: No, I want to go with you.
Me: Well, me and Daddy were going to have private time.
Paige: That's okay. You can have private time with Daddy and when you're finished, you can have private time with me. We'll share you.
WTH???????
Anyways...she ended up at Gammy's. I had to work last Friday and she was tired of waiting around on me. Her reasoning was this, "well, I can swim at Gammy's. I really want to swim and I didn't know I was going to have to wait around on you all day." Oh my God...where does she come up with this stuff?!?!?!
All is well...she'll be on the river in two weeks and then Labor Day weekend. She had a good time with Gammy and all is right in the "Land of Yes and Never Wait"!! Paige loves her Gammy so much...it's kind of gross at times, actually. I was waking her up one morning and she was just laying there kind of sleepy and dazed and I asked her what she was thinking about and she said she was thinking about Gammy. I then asked why she was thinking about Gammy and she said, "I was thinking about yesterday when I was swimming in the pool and Gammy was watching me. She loves me." Oh my....that child is ate up!!! It's really, really sweet though.
Gary's high school reunion is this Saturday and we'll be attending it. I'm sure it will be very interesting. I've got things to do in my trailer today, so I better get off the computer and get to work. I'm almost finished with my billings. Lord, I didn't think they would ever end. That's a really good thing, though.
This time last year, we were living in our motorhome at Wendell and Carole's house while our house was being built. Man...it's seems so long ago. There were five of us in there, plus three dogs. The trauma from those three months haunts us still...LOL. My kids are permanantly scarred from living in the motorhome. We made it, and it could have been worse, but it was a serious beatdown of epic proportions! In fact, we were in the motorhome for a full month before our slab was even poured. Do you know how depressing and maddening that was? And then, it started raining. In July. In Texas. Only us, only us. But hey - we've got a beautiful home on the most perfect piece of land and we're all happy and we've all recovered...with the help of hours of counseling, interventions and booze, of course! Well, the kids didn't need the booze, but me and Gary did (and still do)...LOL!!
I've got some recipes to share and I will do that this weekend. Have any of you tried the Cold Baked Potato Salad at the Gristmill? I made a version of it last Sunday and it is super easy and very good!! I'll post that as well.
I see Don Hoy announced that he was running for the BOD. Good for him for stepping up. Any other takers???
Have a wonderful Friday and I'll be back tomorrow spreading my own special brand of kindness and joy!
Kelly
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Sunshine and Joy.....Sunshine and Joy
Good morning...wow, it's early! School starts in three weeks, and Paige and I will be in for a serious adjustment. We are going to have to start going to bed early and getting up early next week in order to to get back in the groove in time for school. She's starting a week earlier than she did last year - August 17th. I remember when I was in school; we didn't start until after Labor Day. Times have changed....
So...I guess I'll send in my Pod Credentials paperwork today and register for the GP Meeting. Luckily, it's close to the house so we can drive down Friday morning and come home Saturday after the meeting. I hope that those attending the meeting will really listen to what the Board is presenting in regards to the GPM format and agree to change it. This year has been an example of why it needs to change. It is not fair for an individual to ask to host it, then have cooks from other Pods that they really aren't even associated with any other time, help them raise the money for the meeting. If those Pods wanted to be that involved, they would have asked to host the GPM, in my opinion. I know I sound negative about this, and I know I'm bordering on sounding like a downright bitch, but I'm not saying anything that isn't true. Hosting a GPM takes two or three pods at the least; it's negligent to think one person can say, "I'll do it" and then expect other people to step in and do the work they don't like to do. If it weren't for DAM Pod people helping out, then who knows what would be happening with the meeting. Still, I don't agree with how this year's meeting has been handled and I hope things change for the better after the GP's are presented with the new format that's being proposed. I also think it's crap that I'm being told to hurry up and register. I've got till August 15th. I think it says a lot about the state of CASI when less than half of the GP's are registered for the meeting. Maybe not as a whole and in every area of CASI, but at least when it pertains to the 2010 GP Meeting.
Like any organization, CASI is experiencing growing pains. The key is to make the most of the opportunities that are out there by striving to communicate better with the members, allow the organization to evolve by, "gasp", doing things differently than they've been done before, and to hold the BOD and members accountable for making CASI stronger. Blame is what you get when you don't communicate and you just fight and point fingers. Accountability is what you have when you work together, communicate, and take responsibility for your actions and decisions - even when they don't produce the results you thought they would. I hope that instead of being afraid of change, CASI will embrace it and recognize that it is the key to not just survival, but success. Businesses, and CASI is just that, have to evolve in order to continue to grow. I hope more people will run for the BOD. Change has to start with the Board. If you don't like what the Board is doing, then vote for people you think will do what you feel is needed for CASI. If you don't think those people are out there, then run yourself. You don't have to be satisfied with the status quo. Every one of us has the potential to make a difference. I know that there are a lot of members out there unsatisfied with the current state of CASI - do something about it! I know you may snicker and think it's easy for me to say as I sit at my computer and complain....but that isn't the intention - at least for me. My hope is to make people think and encourage people to say how they feel and voice their opinions. We are just as important to CASI as the sponsors. Without us, there are no cook offs. All of us have a right to expect that our voices be heard and see our organization taken care of and ran by people who want to see that everyone in CASI benefit from the rules, policies and decisions being made. If that is negative and critical, then yeah - I guess I am. Challenging a group of people to do better is the least we can do; we're all going to be better off for it.
Just when I think I have problems, my dogs are trying to fit under a bookcase in the kitchen to get a lone morsel of food. Never mind that their guts are round and tight because they just ate. Those poor babies....they act like they don't know where they're next meal will come from.
Good day everyone......it's almost Friday!
Kelly
So...I guess I'll send in my Pod Credentials paperwork today and register for the GP Meeting. Luckily, it's close to the house so we can drive down Friday morning and come home Saturday after the meeting. I hope that those attending the meeting will really listen to what the Board is presenting in regards to the GPM format and agree to change it. This year has been an example of why it needs to change. It is not fair for an individual to ask to host it, then have cooks from other Pods that they really aren't even associated with any other time, help them raise the money for the meeting. If those Pods wanted to be that involved, they would have asked to host the GPM, in my opinion. I know I sound negative about this, and I know I'm bordering on sounding like a downright bitch, but I'm not saying anything that isn't true. Hosting a GPM takes two or three pods at the least; it's negligent to think one person can say, "I'll do it" and then expect other people to step in and do the work they don't like to do. If it weren't for DAM Pod people helping out, then who knows what would be happening with the meeting. Still, I don't agree with how this year's meeting has been handled and I hope things change for the better after the GP's are presented with the new format that's being proposed. I also think it's crap that I'm being told to hurry up and register. I've got till August 15th. I think it says a lot about the state of CASI when less than half of the GP's are registered for the meeting. Maybe not as a whole and in every area of CASI, but at least when it pertains to the 2010 GP Meeting.
Like any organization, CASI is experiencing growing pains. The key is to make the most of the opportunities that are out there by striving to communicate better with the members, allow the organization to evolve by, "gasp", doing things differently than they've been done before, and to hold the BOD and members accountable for making CASI stronger. Blame is what you get when you don't communicate and you just fight and point fingers. Accountability is what you have when you work together, communicate, and take responsibility for your actions and decisions - even when they don't produce the results you thought they would. I hope that instead of being afraid of change, CASI will embrace it and recognize that it is the key to not just survival, but success. Businesses, and CASI is just that, have to evolve in order to continue to grow. I hope more people will run for the BOD. Change has to start with the Board. If you don't like what the Board is doing, then vote for people you think will do what you feel is needed for CASI. If you don't think those people are out there, then run yourself. You don't have to be satisfied with the status quo. Every one of us has the potential to make a difference. I know that there are a lot of members out there unsatisfied with the current state of CASI - do something about it! I know you may snicker and think it's easy for me to say as I sit at my computer and complain....but that isn't the intention - at least for me. My hope is to make people think and encourage people to say how they feel and voice their opinions. We are just as important to CASI as the sponsors. Without us, there are no cook offs. All of us have a right to expect that our voices be heard and see our organization taken care of and ran by people who want to see that everyone in CASI benefit from the rules, policies and decisions being made. If that is negative and critical, then yeah - I guess I am. Challenging a group of people to do better is the least we can do; we're all going to be better off for it.
Just when I think I have problems, my dogs are trying to fit under a bookcase in the kitchen to get a lone morsel of food. Never mind that their guts are round and tight because they just ate. Those poor babies....they act like they don't know where they're next meal will come from.
Good day everyone......it's almost Friday!
Kelly
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
File Under: Why I Haven't Blogged This Week
These are pictures of my desk/work area. It looks like a bomb went off in here. I've been billing since last Friday and I'm still not finished. I don't know where anything is....I don't care where anything is. I just want to make the red folders go away :) A mercy killing....mass murder of job folders....whatever it takes.
Sooo....I've been to two Pod meetings since my last "legitimate" blog. Let's start with the TOT meeting. I was really happy to see all of the input from the people at the meeting who are committed to taking the TOT cook off and making it better - either by working with what we have (Irving Elks Lodge) or revamping the charity and location all together. The problem that needs the most attention, though, is lack of Pod participation. What can we do to get new cooks involved with the Pod? I know a membership drive helped Cowtown a few years ago. What about turning the meetings into something more than just a discussion about chili? We've been saying for a long time that outsiders don't want to come watch a bunch of people cook chili in the heat - maybe we should take that approach with the cooks and potential new members. Let's spice it up a little. Add something fun to the meetings. Maybe if we can increase the fellowship part of the meetings, more people will see it as something fun to do rather than just an hour out of their lives that they have to talk about chili. What about a theme meeting - a Mexican, Italian or Chinese potluck to go along with it? A costume party - I know...sounds kind of lame, but I'm desperate here. It's going to take imagination and hard work to build the pod back up so that we can focus on rebuilding the TOT cook off held each May. Do I have any takers? Any suggestions? Things won't improve unless WE make the effort and it's going to take everyone to make a difference.
The second Pod meeting was the NOW Pod meeting I attended last night - I sort of have to, I'm the GP. Our meetings are quick, easy and friendly. We discuss our business and luckily, we don't have to worry about our Pod cook off and charity - we are blessed. Our membership is down, so we are going to focus on bringing in new members and getting them involved. I think it will be a task we can accomplish. We have a great core group of people who bust their butts and keep things in perspective. We're fortunate in the sense that we haven't had a lot of the internal problems that other Pods have had to deal with in the past. I worry about our membership, but we've always been a small pod. I would just like to bolster our numbers...get some "new victims" involved with CASI!!
We touched on the GP meeting also and I expressed my lack of interest in this year's meeting. I know; that sounds bizarre considering how much I pontificate about CASI and it's issues. I've always supported CASI, the local pods and what I feel CASI is really about. I hate that a GP involved with the GP meeting (because there is no Pod hosting it) felt the need to reply to the meeting minutes and call out the remaining GP's who haven't registered yet for the meeting. Hhhmm...wonder why they haven't registered?? Lack of faith in the process? Lack of faith in where the money is going? Lack of interest considering there's been very little interaction between those hosting the meeting and those attending? And the individual who made the comment on the ED's blog this morning is absolutely right in her description of the GP meeting and why we should get registered. It's where the GP's (allegedly) have a say about what goes on in CASI. But to register because I need to thank the individual hosting the meeting because of "all they've done for CASI"....I don't think so. In my opinion, the way the GP meeting has been handled for this year has been an example of what is wrong with the GP meeting format. When it was pointed out to me that the Board does not appoint the Pod or individual(s) who will host the GP meeting, they merely, I guess, facilitate the vote by the GP's, I didn't say anything. But the more I thought about it, the more I felt like that was a cop out. The Board loves to use the "in the best interest of CASI" reason when it's convenient for them. I can't think of a more obvious situation in which the Board needed to step in for the "best interest of CASI". Who cares if there wasn't a place to have the 2010 when it came up in September 2008? The 2011 meeting site wasn't decided upon until either right before or right after TICC 2009. I don't see why there was such panic. There was time to find a Pod or group of Pods to host the meeting. I feel the need to call bullshit on the explanation I was given. I have an immense amount of respect for the individual who took the time to talk to me about the process of coordinating GP Meeting locations, but I do not believe for one minute that the Board didn't feel like they could step in and override the GP's. They do it plenty of other times - I can't believe this one instance was different from any other.
So back to my gripe about the self assigned GPM hall monitors. I'll sign up when I'm damned good and ready. And it won't be because of what anyone hosting the meeting has done for CASI. I can't really go off here because I'm already as close to naming names as I feel like I should be at this point. I start in on that and I'll probably start Chili Armageddon. Anyways...what's the big deal? I've got until August 15th to turn in my paperwork and I'll turn in my registration at that time as well. Get over yourselves already.
Whew - I feel better already :) I've had a lot built up over the past few days. Now, on to my next topic:
TEXAS OPEN
Unknown to most of the North Texas Pods, the Houston Pod no longer wants to host the Texas Open. According to CASI rules, any interested Pod(s) can put together a proposal to host the Open and present it at the GP Meeting. The GP's then vote and a new Pod gets to take over the Open. Right? In theory, on paper, and historically, yes. In reality, uh no. Apparently (my other favorite word besides allegedly) the Pod no longer interested in the Texas Open and a Pod that wants it have already worked out the details for it to be taken over by the new Pod. That doesn't sound quite fair, does it? Doesn't sound like it's being handled according to CASI's rules, either. Funny, I believe (oh wait - I know) a few board members already know about it and haven't been very forthcoming with the information or the reminder that it has to go before the GP's at the meeting. Oh - I get it....the Pod wanting to take over the Open will make a presentation at the GPM and how odd...they'll be the only ones who submit a proposal. Do I sound sarcastic and smart ass? You bet I do because that is total bullshit. I was unaware that any one Pod owned, for lack of a better term, any of the Opens/Regionals/Championships and could assign it to whomever they wanted to. And I was unaware that it was something that could be done without notifying all of the Pods so that ANYONE could submit a proposal for it. Huh...I wonder if that's something someone could submit to the Governance Committee? And even if they did, would it get brought up at a Board Meeting? I seriously doubt it. At the last two CASI BOD meetings, the Governance Committee has had "nothing to report." That's a crock. I know damn well that issues have been brought up for discussion to the Governance Committee chairperson and those items have not been brought up at any meeting. I don't know if anyone realizes this, but the lack of interest in what the Committee members are presenting to the Director in charge of the committee is doing more harm to the reputation of the committee members than anyone else. How do you think it looks when CASI members are reaching out to the Committee members and their concerns are being swept under the rug? It makes it look like the committee members aren't sharing the issues with the head of the committee. When, in fact, they are - and nothing is happening after the issues are being brought up.
Have any of ya'll heard of a book called "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest"?
Well, I'm going to go now. I think I've made my point several times over throughout this posting. I hope everyone has a FANTASTIC day! I'm looking forward to the Brignon Family Laundry Party this evening.
I'll be back tomorrow...spreading something :0)
Kelly
Monday, July 19, 2010
Hidee Ho!!
I've survived another Monday....Praise the Lord!!!
I had a fantastic weekend and I'm beat. Busy, busy day at the executive offices of T & B Demolition followed by a gourmet meal and wine at the Brignon residence. I'll be back blogging tomorrow....I hope :) It's billing time at T & B...and that takes priority over everything else!
Just one smart ass note before I leave for the evening. Apparently a hall monitor has been assigned to the GP Meeting. Did you know less than 1/2 of us have signed up? I wonder why that is? Can anyone tell me why no one is in a hurry to attend the 2010 GP Meeting being held in Salado? Is this a worthy enough subject for me to abandon my island of Passiva Aggressiva and just let it all hang out? Do the individuals putting on the GP Meeting have a clue as to why no one has signed up for it? If that isn't a very obvious sign to the GP's and the BOD that this form of GP meeting has worn out its welcome, then I don't know what is.
Have a good evening - I think there is some rain in the forecast for some of us. Gary and I thoroughly enjoyed our weekend in Gruene. The Juicy decided to stay with Gammy and didn't go with us. We enjoyed our alone time, but we missed that little Peapod. She's ready for a trip down there soon, though.
I'll be back tomorrow...and I'll definitely be spreading my own special brand of kindness and joy. Hold on to your knickers :0)
Kelly
I had a fantastic weekend and I'm beat. Busy, busy day at the executive offices of T & B Demolition followed by a gourmet meal and wine at the Brignon residence. I'll be back blogging tomorrow....I hope :) It's billing time at T & B...and that takes priority over everything else!
Just one smart ass note before I leave for the evening. Apparently a hall monitor has been assigned to the GP Meeting. Did you know less than 1/2 of us have signed up? I wonder why that is? Can anyone tell me why no one is in a hurry to attend the 2010 GP Meeting being held in Salado? Is this a worthy enough subject for me to abandon my island of Passiva Aggressiva and just let it all hang out? Do the individuals putting on the GP Meeting have a clue as to why no one has signed up for it? If that isn't a very obvious sign to the GP's and the BOD that this form of GP meeting has worn out its welcome, then I don't know what is.
Have a good evening - I think there is some rain in the forecast for some of us. Gary and I thoroughly enjoyed our weekend in Gruene. The Juicy decided to stay with Gammy and didn't go with us. We enjoyed our alone time, but we missed that little Peapod. She's ready for a trip down there soon, though.
I'll be back tomorrow...and I'll definitely be spreading my own special brand of kindness and joy. Hold on to your knickers :0)
Kelly
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