Dan's latest project

Dan's been gone for weeks....(said in a very whiny voice). His parents have helped us with lots of home projects as evidenced by this blog and it was his turn to repay the favor. There's a shed (my word) behind the house in Kentucky that Dan and his parents refer to as "The Smokehouse." It doesn't look like a smokehouse (usually a tall narrow barn with smoke vents) and to my knowledge it was never used as a smokehouse. See photo above:

He and his dad spent two and half weeks emptying this one, tearing it down, laying a cement pad and building the new one. So, it's really he and his dad's latest project.

TA DA!!

Biggest Loser Results are in!

I lost 4.31% of my body weight (7 lbs) during the Biggest Loser competition (have lost 19 lbs total so far) and 1% body fat. My team (there are 6 of us) lost 2% of our body weight (not sure how many pounds total). The winning team lost 9.52% of their body weight!! The winning individual lost 17.53% of his body weight. Amazing!

Pre-Halloween Snow Storm

Isn't it pretty?? "Christmas time is here, Happiness and cheer, Fun for all that children call, Their favorite time of the year" Errrttt...needle scratching record. Think again Charlie Brown! This photo was taken on October 29.

This year's Halloween costume

See the Sales department in the above photo:
Morticia Addams (Nancy), Gomez Addams (Guy), Wednesday (Kathy), Pugsley (Wendy), Uncle Fester (Me!), Ophelia - Morticia's sister (Beth), Cousin It (Erika), Lurch & Thing (Tami), Grandmama (Paula), Grandma Frump (Aimie)

We even had a song...which we sang (and snapped our fingers) during the Parade at work. And we WON the team costume contest!! First. time. ever. Woo hoo!!

"The Globus Family"
(sung to the tune of The Addams Family)

"They’re loud and very brassy
Creative and quite sassy
They’re all together classy
The Globus Family

Their sales team is a treasure
Most agents say a pleasure
Go on a great Adventure with
The Globus Family

Neat (snap snap)

Sweet (snap snap)

Complete (snap snap)

Get ready for a tre-at
You’ll love the staff – they’re ne-at!
Pick up the phone to me-et
The Globus Family"

The Cookbook Challenge

So, we finally unpacked all of our cookbooks a few weeks ago. They have been languishing boxes in the basement and in the garage since our move...in 2007. Dan and I both like to cook and we both had a lot of cookbooks before we were married. We've acquired a few more since we then. Three shelves full.

Dan thought we should challenge ourselves to prepare at least two recipes from EVERY cookbook in a year's time. If we couldn't find at least two recipes in any given book that we would want to prepare then we should get rid of that book (give it to someone who would use it, sell it, donate it, etc). Good idea and not an insurmountable challenge.

Here's the list of what we have made so far:
Cookbook -- Recipe
The Barbecue Bible -- Ginger-Plum Barbecue Sauce
Served with grilled pork, not worth the effort

The Globus Family Cookbook -- Zucchini Bread
delicious, Dan's made it twice already

Ethnic Cuisine -- Eggplant Parmigiana
Yummo!

365 Ways to Cook Chinese -- Eggplant in Spicy Garlic Meat Sauce
Good way to use up extra eggplant, wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to make it again

Pillsbury Kitchens' Cookbook -- Cranberry (Cherry) Nut Bread
Dan loved it, I only had one piece before I had to go out of town. Good but a little dry.

Stay tuned for future updates.

Luau 2009 - part I

Here's Pat (Dan's mom) playing the role of Isaac, the bartender.

Hey Meg, check out our cute platters!

Big changes for my friend A

A and I met each other through work almost 10 years ago. Wow! We're the same age and we served on a committee together. We've seen each other through thick and thin and I'm very proud of that. Six years ago she watched me leave my job and move out east to get married and she stood by me. She must have had mixed feelings (as I do now) watching me go. But as strange as life is, I moved back a year later and she was there to help me celebrate and readjust to life in Colorado. She even DROVE to my wedding in Iowa (with our other good friend C) - across Nebraska twice in one weekend. Now that's friendship!

So now I get to see her move to a new state, start a new job, begin a new chapter in her life. I'm very happy for her and these new things are really a blessing in her life. But I am a little bit sad for me. Love you girl!