LISTEN TO …

At first, I wasn't a big fan of Taylor Swift. But then when I heard "Teardrops on My Guitar," and I quickly became a fan. Good song. Her latest single, "Fifteen," chronicles a girl's freshman year in high school. Very intimate and revealing and very personal. It's a good song.

I love Will Hoge. Not many know about this wonderful artist ... I first fell in love with him when I heard his song, "Dirty Little War." "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" is catchy and tells a story about how a young guy fell in love with music. Love it! And I love singing to it.

Sugarland's latest single, "Keep You," is raw and emotional about losing someone and feeling more than just pain over a break up.

TOO CUTE

Isn’t he too cute for words? My nephew, Cole, trying on Papa’s (my dad) glasses during a visit sometime last year. I thought I would post this picture after sorting through my photo files … once I saw the pic, I knew I had to post this to my blog. He’s just too cute. I heart Cole.

PLEASE DON’T HATE ME

Please don’t hate me. Am I the only person in the United States of America who doesn’t care about the new movie, “New Moon,” the latest film in the “Twilight” series? My lovely gossip shows have dedicated HOURS of footage and interviews to the cast of the movies. Who cares if the two stars are dating? Are they? Or aren’t they? I don’t care! Team Jacob? Team Edward? I don’t care! I’m very tired of the stupid car promo on TV. I’m tired of the “New Moon” ads. Bloob. Leave me alone.

And no, I haven’t read the books, either, but my sisters told me all about the series. So blame them for my lack of interest in the series. Both of them thought the first book was fantastic and loved it, but they didn’t think the following books were as good. Not to mention, I think they had a few issues with Bella and Edward’s relationship. And not to mention, my sisters told me everything about the series anyway … so I have no good reason to read the books or watch the movies.

Although I will admit that I watched the movie, “Twilight,” because Charlie was watching the Riff-Traks version of the film … where people make fun of the characters, plot, dialogue, etc. It was hilarious! What I remember most about that movie is this:

Edward: “I’ve killed before.”

Bella: “I don’t care.”

What?!?!? Really?!?!? If Charlie had said, “I’ve killed before,” during the first stage of our relationship, I would have been out of the door, saying, “Um, I’ll see you around at work sometime. Gotta run!” OK, maybe I would ask whether Charlie had a good reason to kill someone … i.e. self defense, etc. But if he said, “I killed someone because I was hungry,” I would be running toward the nearest grocery store for garlic or the nearest church for holy water (hey, I’ve watched “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel,” I know whast I’m talking about when it comes to vampires).

So go ahead and comment that I’m a horrible person because I don’t like the “Twilight” series. Maybe some of your comments will actually motivate me to read the series … I kind of doubt it, but it’s worth a try.

5 MOVIES THAT MADE ME CRY

1. Go ahead and mock me for crying during animated movies because I don’t care. The most  movie that made me weep like a baby was the opening montage in “Up,” the Disney Pixel movie about an old guy and young boy going on an adventure. Great movie, but the montage about the man’s life with the love of his life just made me weep. I actually had to take off my glasses to wipe the tears away. I’m such a romantic at heart.

2. The second animated movie that made me cry was “American Tail.” After being separated for most of the movie, when Fievel and his father hear each other’s voices and start running toward each other … I just lose it. And I can’t explain why.

3. “The Journey of Natty Gann.” Maybe it has to do with people running toward each other after being apart for a long period of time … I don’t know. But once again, when Natty and her father finally find each other after Natty tries to her dad … they start running toward each other with joy and happiness.

4. “Then She Found Me,” starring Helen Hunt and Bette Midler based on the novel by the same name (I think). Helen Hunt’s character is a single woman who desperately wants to have a biological baby of her own. I won’t spoil the ending, but the ending made me weep like a baby. Good thing I was in the comfort of my apartment with no one around to see me. The ending warmed my heart.  Good movie, by the way. I highly enjoyed it.

5. “Armageddon” Seriously! When Liv Tyler’s character says goodbye to Bruce Willis’ character because he has to stay behind to blow an asteroid … who CAN NOT cry during that scene? Her dad is willing to sacrifice his life for the good of the world … and she is saying goodbye to him. When the TV screen goes fuzzy and she puts her head down to cry and lays on her hand on the screen … tears of sadness start to roll.

Honorable mentions

• “Return of the King” … The last movie in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy … when the kingdom bows down to Aragon, including the hobbits, Aragon tells them that they don’t have to bow down to him … the kingdom should bow down to them. Tears.
• “Lion King” … yes, another animated movie. My heart breaks when young Simba realizes his father died trying to save him. Sad.

I HEART CATS

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CRANBERRY TEA

I love winter. During the winter when I was younger, my mom made cranberry tea that we’d heat up and feel all nice and cozy during the cold months. My whole family loves cranberry tea … once the weather turned cold, I decided I needed to make the beloved drink to keep my warm. And I thought I’d share the recipe.

CRANBERRY TEA

Ingredients

• 1 quart boiling water
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cups of red hots
• 6 whole cloves
• 1 quart of cranberry juice
• 1 6-ounce can frozen orange juice (one regular can split in half)
• 1 6-ounce can frozen lemonade (one regular can split in half)
• 4 more quarts of water

Directions

Boil 1 quart of water. Stir in red hots, sugar and cloves. Cook until the sugar and red hots have dissolved. Then mix in cranberry juice, frozen orange juice, frozen lemonade, and 4 quarts of water. Mix until everything is dissolved and warm. Fish out cloves before serving.    Enjoy!

Makes 6 1/2 quarts.

I HEART GIRL SCOUT COOKIES

Charlie and I went grocery shopping today. Stationed at the exit of the grocery store sat a table, three Girl Scouts, and a whole lotta Girl Scout cookies. Very smart business strategy. Oh, I remember the days when Krissy and I went door to door selling the cookies … I remember my dad buying a dozen boxes of thin mint cookies. Once he got the cookies, he stuck all of them in freezer because that was the way to eat thin mint cookies.

My favorite are tagalongs … the peanut butter cookies surrounded by yummy chocolate. Dairy Queen (God bless the corporation’s soul) introduced the Tagalong Blizzard over the summer … oh my, that blizzard was heavenly delicious. Charlie’s favorite cookie is the Samoas … the cookie with chocolate and coconut. Mmmmmmmmmmm. We supported the Girl Scouts by buying three boxes … tagalongs (for me), Samoas (for Charlie, and thin mints (for both of us … although Charlie wanted Trefoils). I wrote the check so I won the battle! I heart Girl Scout cookies. 

BLOGGING IS HARD

Blogging every day is hard. Even when I use the post date feature, thinking of something to say is hard. Not much is happening with my life right now … just working and hanging out with Charlie and friends. I’m looking forward to seeing my family for the Thanksgiving holiday … we’re heading down to Iowa and trespassing gathering at Krissy’s place. It’s going to be loud and noisy and crazy and busy … and I can’t wait.

To make this post worthwhile, I’m listing the top five talents I wish I had:

• I wish I could sing really well. I would love to Kelly Clarkson’s career. I think she has an amazing voice, and I am a big fan of hers. I can’t carry a tune to save my life. The only time I sing is in my Vue.
• I wish I had the natural ability to play the piano. I don’t like to practice, but I would love to play the piano like a professional … I wish I could play beautiful classical music.
• I wish I had the patience to make complicated recipes. I look for recipes that have seven or less ingredients. I love to eat, and I don’t mind making dishes, but I HATE using 10 billion ingredients for one recipes. I admire most of the chefs and cooks on Food Network.
• I wish I could ski well … downhill skiing. I’m not very good. Speaking of skiing, I would like to learn how to waterski as well. I love being around the water. I want a boat.
• The last talent I wish I had would be to have rhythm so I can be a backup dancer for a popular singer. I wouldn’t care about being in the spotlight or having the singer’s career … I would just love to get a good workout by dancing and wear cool clothes. Except I have no sense of timing or rhythm and that pretty much kills my dancing career.

I HEART CAFE WORLD

I’m sad. I have been suckered into playing a virtual game called Cafe World on Facebook. And I LOVE IT! My Green Gables Cafe rocks! I just expanded my little cafe … I have 12 stoves and six serving stations … I love this game. I suppose I should start from the beginning … Look at the picture below, which was taken with my camera phone because I don’t know how to make a still shot from the computer and I didn’t want to bother Charlie with the specifics … and please ignore the big splotchy flash on the photo, too.

This photo was taken before my big expansion, but the cafe is still set up pretty much the same way. Isn’t it cute and adorable? I love it! Cooking on the line of stoves is King Crab Bisque … a cute little virtual me is cooking the bisque. You can decorate the cafe anyway you like … pick out your tables and chairs and wall decor and flooring. It’s so awesome. Have I mentioned how much I love this game?

And I don’t know why I love this game so much. All I do is sit at my computer and click the mouse over and over and over and over. What’s so fun about that? But with the click of the mouse I can make Bacon Cheeseburgers, Triple Berry Cheesecake, Homestyle Pot Roast, Kung Pao Stir Fry, Chicken Gyro and Fries, etc. Not to mention with each dish that you make and serve, you gain cafe points, and cafe points are needed to achieve the next level.

Yes, there are levels. At each level, you get something new … a new stove, a new serving station, hire a new waiter, a new dish to cook, more coins, etc. I’m on Level 34 … once I hit Level 35, I can make Overstuffed Peppers. Yay! And with the coins you make from serving the dishes, you can redecorate your cafe!

I love coming home from work and jumping on my computer to look at my cafe. By the time I come home, a new dish is ready to be served, and all I have to do is click the mouse to serve! Then I can sit at the computer and make more dishes until I’m ready to go to bed or until I’m bored with clicking (which does happen on occasion). And this is how I have been spending my time lately … on the computer in a virtual world where my Green Gables Cafe rocks! Love it!

I HEART MY CATS

Aren't my kitties adorable? I'm so lucky that they get along with each other ... with Charlie.