Day 212 - July 31

Tonight, we went to the wedding of one of my college friends. On the first day of college, I obviously did not know anyone...so I walked around and found some other freshmen who appeared to know nobody and suggested we all eat lunch together.  It worked out well, because many of them lived in the same dorm and we all became good friends.  Throughout the years we added more people to the cluster and moved around campus but stayed good friends.  It was nice because there was always someone around to hang out or eat with.  Even though we're a mix of boys & girls, since so many of us were dating someone else when we met, it took that part of it out of the conversation which let us all be good friends.  Tonight was the 3rd wedding in the group and there's another one coming up in just a couple months.  We're spread all over the east coast so we don't see each other as much anymore, but we always have fun when we do.  (Even if the boys stood on one side of the sidewalk to smoke their cigars and the girls stood on the other to avoid the smoke!) :)

Day 211 - July 30

While I enjoy making cards, I sadly had to make 2 sympathy cards today.  Until recently, I didn't own stamps of that type - however, when it came down to it, I was beginning to need those and "get well soon" cards much more often than cards that just say "have a nice day" or whatever. 

Day 210 - July 29

Even though Little House on the Prairie was in it's later years by the time I was watching TV, I have watched the shows in syndication for as long as I can remember.  Melissa Gilbert's twitter account alerted me to the fact that Alison Arngrim (who played Nellie) wrote a book.  I read it tonight after dinner - it was great!  The Little House stories were the lighthearted parts, but she did also spend a lot of time talking about the incest she suffered as a kid and the family difficulties she experienced.  I don't know that people would enjoy it if they hadn't watched Little House, but it was a great read for me.

Day 209 - July 28

I have gotten so used to eating with my husband at a normal dinner time over the past couple weeks that it's been hard to readjust to his getting home late this week.  And tonight I am going to try out a local book club (Hopefully they're nice - I liked the book!) so I'll be gone before he gets back.

We haven't had real Mac & Cheese in a long time because it isn't really a hot weather food, but it was something I could make that we could both eat whenever we had a chance so that's what we decided on.  I've been dreading the cooking all day because the last 2 times I made it, I caused a huge kitchen mess.  Here's where my brain block is.  99% of the time, I use the biggest of my 3 pots (on the left in the picture) to do the pasta in.  Therefore, when I'm starting the water for the pasta for Mac & cheese, I grab it by habit. But that is not good!  When making mac & cheese, the biggest pot needs to be the cheese and milk and butter.  Why?  Because then you add the pasta to that pot later, and you only need to de-cheese one pot during clean up time.  Also because the milk will quickly boil over the smaller pot.  I know this now.

And today I did it right.  Finally.  I'm not an idiot, I have no idea why my brain was refusing to play along on those two previous occasions, but I'm glad it worked today!

Day 208 - July 27

This week's "Lots of people like it so I guess I should watch it" DVD is Mad Men Season 1.  I'm enjoying it so far.  It isn't Dexter good, but it's enjoyable.

Day 207 - July 26

Today's Target trip ... $10.52, saved $24.87.  Target puts their own coupons on their website, which can be combined with the manufacturer's coupons (and sale prices) for some awesome deals!  I don't go to Target as much anymore because there aren't any around the corner like there used to be.  But with today's errand running I was in the neighborhood and was able to take advantage of the sales.

Day 206 - July 25

This dark grey storm came swirling in about an hour ago and blew away the pretty white clouds and blue sky.  But now it's almost 60 minutes later and there is still no rain!