Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Mm Mm Good!
Because I was a bad wife and didn't get my husband a birthday card (Tuesday was his birthday), I decided the next best thing was to take him out to dinner. That is something I very rarely do because he is always taking me somewhere to eat ~ he's a very generous man.
Our choice was Charlie Brown's Steakhouse in Allentown, Pa., pictured here. This particular Charlie Brown's was recently voted for having the best salad bar by our locals, among other things. I think I could eat from their salad bar till the cows come home, and I have yet to be disappointed with anything I have ordered.
We decided to go early to avoid any waiting, because if there is one thing I absolutely detest, it is waiting to be seated when I am so hungry I could eat a cow's behind.
I am currently on a low fat, low calorie diet, so I have to be careful what I choose to eat when dining out. Chicken is always a good choice, and because I just made grilled steak the other night, it wasn't that hard of a choice to go with a chicken dish. And so I chose the Chicken Hibachi, broccoli, and garlic green beans. Of course, the salad bar was included. Lots of veggies and non fat dressing always works for me.
Before we left, my husband had seen a sign for chocolate cake at $5.79. He asked the waitress why it cost so much and she said because it is six layers. He wavered as to whether he wanted to take a piece along with him, and in the end that is what he did. It looks absolutely scrumptious and I do believe I will be having a little bite of it, diet or no diet. Sometimes it's just so wrong to deny oneself of life's simpler pleasures, right?
posted by Cheyenne at 1:08 AM comment(s) made:
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Monday, September 24, 2007
I Can't Complain
Sunday was my birthday and although I gained another stinkin' year, it was a decent day. No celebrations for me because I don't want any. However, as far as the sports world goes, I had plenty to celebrate.
The Cowboys won. Yes, I know my team is the 49ers (they lost by the way). But I am a Terrell Owens fan. Say what you will about him, it won't bother me, and it won't stop me from following his career.
The Mets won. And after leading their division all year, they are still hanging in there. I just hope they stay on top for the remainder of the season.
Dale Jr. finished third at Dover. A win would have been nice, but I am just as happy with third place. I knew his engines would get better once the Chase started. Yeah, a little birdie told me.
So why would I want my birthday celebrated when I had so much to celebrate for instead?
posted by Cheyenne at 12:08 AM comment(s) made:
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Thursday, September 20, 2007
I Think He Likes It
A picture says a thousand words. This was the first time he saw the Mountain Dew AMP car other than pictures. That smile and "caress" says it all.
As an added note, his crew chief, Tony Eury Jr, will be joining HMS after the Talladega race that is being run on October 7th, to get a head start on the 2008 season.
88: twice as gr8 in 2008
posted by Cheyenne at 6:59 PM comment(s) made:
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Wednesday, September 19, 2007
BTW, I'm Not Pissed Off Anymore!
Along with millions of other people, I watched Dale Jr's press conference whereby he unveiled his new sponsors and number that will be on his car under the HMS banner in 2008.
The paint schemes on both cars are crisp and clean with a lot of white, which is Dale's favorite color for a race car. He says you can tell a car's history of what happened to it during the race, so I fully expected to see an all-white car.
After months of speculation, it has come down to two major paint schemes:
Mountain Dew's Amp energy drink (forest green)
National Guard (blue)
Both cars have the backward 88 in red on them.
I'm happy to say the least, and like Junior, I cannot wait till next year at Daytona.
Photo courtesy of SpeedTV
posted by Cheyenne at 3:08 PM comment(s) made:
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Monday, September 17, 2007
Want To Know How I Really Feel?
Yeah, that is how I really feel about the Chase. I am pissed off that Dale Jr. didn't make the Chase. I am pissed off that a few of those who did make it, really don't belong there. I am pissed off that Kurt Busch started showing his muscle a few races before the Chase began, therefore edging Dale Jr. out of the way. I am pissed off that DEI has/had such a piss poor engine program this year, causing Dale Jr. to have 5 DNFs (did not finish). I am pissed off that Teresa turned out to be such a badass owner, tossing her stepson aside as if he were nothing more than a bundle of rags. Am I pissed off? You bet I am.
These last ten races (aka The Chase) don't inspire me to even want to watch them. But I will. Only to see how Dale Jr. does, like if he can win one of them at least. What really bothers me is the fact that the non-Chasers cannot really mix it up with the Chasers. I don't like the fact that they have to tip-toe around them. I know for a fact that Dale Sr. would not tip-toe. He would let them know where he was all the time, and the fact that they were Chasers (provided he wasn't one of them) would not deter him from doing what he did best on the track, and that is elbow his way to the front no matter what it took to do so.
With all this said, the only thing that is keeping me going right now is the big announcement coming Wednesday about Dale Jr's number and sponsor. Not to mention the fact that after the last race he and Tony Jr. will be free men. Free from the stupidity that is DEI (TEI?). When Junior first made his announcement to leave his father's organization back in May, I was right there with him in total agreement. And I have been agreeing with all the decisions he has made since then. 100%.
So now you all know how I really feel. Aren't you glad you asked? I know I am.
After writing the above and putting it in draft, I have since watched the first Chase race. I'm not so sure I want to watch the remainder. I will listen to them on the radio because unlike TV, radio acknowledges the fact that there are 31 other drives on the track. Had I stuck with TV only I would have thought only 12 drivers were competing. Although I will admit they did show Junior even if it was when he spun on the track. And when they spoke of him it was mostly to remind us that he did not make the Chase. Only nine more agonizing races to go.
Oh dear sweet Dover, make my dream come true: do your monster thing on the Chase drivers. Please?
posted by Cheyenne at 12:08 AM comment(s) made:
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Friday, September 14, 2007
Whoop-Dee-Ding-Dang-Doo, It's About Damn Time!
Hendrick Motorsports will be announcing Dale Jr's number and sponsor next Wednesday, September 19th, at 1:30 eastern time, in Dallas, TX. I am hoping it will be televised. I think I can hold my breath till then.
posted by Cheyenne at 1:08 AM comment(s) made:
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Wednesday, September 12, 2007
A DAY IN THE COUNTRY
On a recent Saturday, my husband took me to a nursery so that I could pick out a tree to plant near our deck. It's a privacy issue. I needed to have a tree in direct line with the neighbor's pool. I had originally planted three Royal Empress trees early this Spring that started out less than half a foot high and were in the dormant stage. One flourished and is now almost four feet high; another has also started sprouting again after I thought it croaked. Forget about the third one as it was a replacement for one that also died and it never made it either.
I still needed to take care of my privacy issue (and believe me, I have plenty of issues, privacy being one of the biggest ones.) So off to the nursery we went on a clear and sunny day. Just look at that sky.
When we got to the nursery (one that we deal with most often), we found there weren't many trees left and didn't have a large variety to choose from. I had my mind set on a Sugar Maple because I have tried so often to grow them from whips and just have never had success. After wavering for at least a half hour between three different maple varieties, I did finally settle on a Sugar Maple. I left that nursery happier than a pig in doo-doo.
Since that purchase went so well and we had time on our hands and the day was just absolutely beautiful, we decided to just drive around and see what kind of trouble we could get into. But before we did that, we decided to stop for lunch. This particular diner used to reside in another town closer to us and we ate there a time or two. However, it doesn't look the same as it did then. The food was excellent and I am sure we will visit again when we are in the vicinity.
After lunch, we visited with one of my husband's friends that he knew on his delivery route where he last worked. The friend is a landscaper now and also owns a nursery, so he told us the next time we need something we should see him. It's nice to have friends like that.
On our way home, I saw this farm nestled amongst the trees; however, there was so-called progress all around it. Progress that would soon overtake this farm. I don't like that kind of progress.
posted by Cheyenne at 2:30 PM comment(s) made:
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Monday, September 10, 2007
Two Of My Heroes
No words are needed...
posted by Cheyenne at 1:49 PM comment(s) made:
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Sunday, September 09, 2007
WOW! What An Ending!
Dario Franchitti not only won the IRL race at Chicagoland today, he also won the IRL Championship for 2007. That was one of the greatest last laps I've seen in a long time.
Up until that last lap, it looked like Scott Dixon was going to win the race and take the championship away from Dario. That didn't thrill me at all, especially after what Dixon did to Franchitti last week. But Dario came through and I am still awestruck at that fantastic ending.
Now, if only Dale Jr's race last night would have been the same...
posted by Cheyenne at 6:28 PM comment(s) made:
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Thursday, September 06, 2007
Think They Found My Wine?
Junior, in the top photo, sleeps like that a lot and sometimes he slides off. Dakota, on the other hand, just sits around like a drunken sailor or a little hussy. She is very comical. (Actually, she is cleaning herself in this photo.)
posted by Cheyenne at 12:08 AM comment(s) made:
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Tuesday, September 04, 2007
'Tis Official Folks
Tony Eury Jr, Dale's current crew chief and cousin, has signed a multi-year contract with Hendrick Motorsports and will be on his (insert car number and sponsor here) team in 2008. And that's a good thing.
posted by Cheyenne at 1:53 PM comment(s) made:
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The Proof Is In The Pudding
Or in this case, the proof is in the cake...proving once more that I'm not Suzy Homemaker.
Having never made a Pineapple Upside-down Cake, I decided it was time that I did. I searched the internet and found a relatively simple recipe. I gathered all the ingredients needed over a period of a few weeks because getting them all at once is just too easy for me. I always do things the hard way. Finally the magic day arrived and it was time for me to make my prize-winning cake.
The recipe I had was for a 9 x 12 baking dish. Luckily I own two of them. One of the instructions was to turn the cake out into the other dish immediately after taking it from the oven. Easy for them to say...
When I did the "upside down" thing, I almost dropped it. Both baking dishes are glass and they are heavy so that when you put the empty one over the one with the cake in it, and then flip it over, both dishes together weigh a ton. I might add here that I have weak wrists from typing all those many years on the job.
When I flipped it, I didn't get it quite centered to my satisfaction so that the cake rode up the side of the dish I turned it into. See? Everything the hard way.
At that point, I should have left well enough alone, or at least waited until it cooled. But I have no rest in my hiney when it comes to practicing patience. I don't know the meaning of that word, patience. So I tried to pull it over to the side to kind of even it out. Of course it didn't move as a whole and it began to split apart. So I quit doing that and reached for a spatula. I figured if I couldn't pull it, I could get under it and help it along. By the time I got done with it you'd have sworn I had put a mini bomb in it.
Don't get me wrong...it tasted great. I had to at least taste a little of it despite the fact that my diet doesn't allow cake. But it wasn't a pretty picture. My husband loved it and I guess that's all that matters. The next time I will use the other recipe that utilizes smaller pans. Something I should have done in the first place.
posted by Cheyenne at 12:08 AM comment(s) made:
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Sunday, September 02, 2007
Have A Safe & Happy Labor Day!
