Wednesday, December 26, 2012

An Announcement

It's the time of year when people "announce" their New Year's Resolutions, so that's what I'm doing.

  So many people make resolutions that they never stick to. They set almost unrealistic goals for themselves. Sure, I'd love to lose 15 pounds, but a resolution isn't going to make me any more motivated to eat salad a for every meal. I really do want to ride my bike every day, but real life often gets in the way. But I am making a resolution that I know I will stick to. I know this will happen. Maybe not in  one year, it might take longer.

In 2013, I resolve to make every recipe in my favorite cookbook:


It's going to be tough, some are kind of weird. I will skip the "Baking for a Crowd" pages though. Lord knows, I don't need twenty dozen cookies hanging around.

I'll keep you posted on my progress. I suppose I'd better watch "Julie and Julia" for inspiration.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Hurry!

Wow, I can't believe it's only 5 days until Christmas! I haven't even gotten my Christmas cards out. Anyway, Karl has a great idea for this year's letter, but he's been too busy at work to get it written. So, if you normally get a card from us, be patient, it will come.

Last night we had our first big snow, with more to come later today (the blizzard warning goes in to effect at noon today), so no brown Christmas this year. I hope the snow stays around for the Cyclocross National Championship in January, so all those people from elsewhere learn about real Wisconsin winter.

I've got cookie dough chilling and the cookie cutters are ready to go. Karl and Katrina have a snow day today, so they're rolling, cutting, and baking this afternoon. We'll decorate tonight after dinner. I'll be sure to get some photos of the best cookies of the year. I have some new cookie cutters that will make for fun cookies.

And now, I have to get ready for work. I hope today will be a short one because of the weather. I want to play in the snow too!

Monday, December 3, 2012

Part 4, In Which I Eat Lobster

  There's been so much excitement around here, with the new TV and the eggs, and now Christmas season is upon us; I almost forgot that I was still telling you all about my trip! To review: I arrived, I shopped, I biked and it is now Sunday, the day after the ride.

  So, I mentioned that I received a lunch invitation. Yup. I was invited to have lunch with 3-D Ted's Mom and Dad. I had such a good time talking to Mom after the ride, of course I said yes.  It was yet another beautiful day, and Dad gave a tour of the King Estate - he's very proud of it, I could tell (and rightly so, it was beautiful!). It was very low key, and I had a great time. Dad asked if I could knit him some fingerless gloves, (and those are in progress right now).

  After lunch, I wandered back and finally found the ocean!!




  I was wearing the wrong shoes to step out onto the beach, so I had a nice walk on the sidewalk. None of the shops were open, so I couldn't buy any cheesy souvenirs. I was hoping to find something "crabby" for Karl and Katrina, since they are both my KrABs. Maybe next year.

  My other goal for this trip (besides to ride my bike for 30 miles in a row) was to eat a lobster roll. Now, I believe I have explained my relationship with lobster before, so I won't go in to it again. But, it has been at least 20 years since I tasted it. Tastes change, so maybe I like lobster now. It's possible, right? I'm in New England, I can't not try it. So, on the advice of a friend, I set off to the Beach Plum, home of New England's Best Lobster Roll.


Here's the Before
That's a BIG lobster roll!
And, here's the After
The chips were good, anyway.
  No, it's official, I Really Do Not Like Lobster. So, here I am, with a $20 lobster roll that I'm not going to eat. I felt really bad, and did not want to just throw it away in front of everyone. So, like a big girl I asked for a to-go container and stashed it away and left in a hurry (like maybe I was late for an appointment or something). The problem was, I was still hungry but nothing sounded good. So, I headed to a nearby grocery store, hoping for inspiration. I threw away my "leftovers" on the way in to the store. It was Sunday night, the hot food had already been taken off the deli, so I ended up with a microwave dinner and a mini box of wine (and a straw). How depressing. I believe this is where the whole tone of the trip took a dive. Back in my room, I heated up the dinner, unscrewed the wine and turned on the TV. Luckily, I found something good to watch, or otherwise, I would have skipped the dinner and gone straight to bed. A mini box of wine is two or three glasses, and I'm a real lightweight. It's a good thing I didn't have to drive.

  And that's the end of the day. Up next: A traveler's worst nightmare.