Day 10 of 12

As promised, tonight's drink is a bit more, shall I say, "manly" in comparison to last night's drink. I really should have done some research and found a drink called "Boxers or Briefs" after last night's "Silk Panties." What would be in a drink like that do you suppose? The ingredients would have to consist of opposites... maybe a mixture of wine and whiskey.

This beverage was another one found in a flurry of activity at Adirondack Mountain Spirits yesterday, so the directions are not detailed at all.

Armored Car

2 oz. bourbon
1 oz. fresh lemon
dash simple syrup

Combine and stir.



To make simple syrup, use equal parts sugar and water. Bring the water to a boil. Stir in the sugar. Reduce heat to low and continue stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. Refrigerate.

As soon as I started making this drink I knew it was going to taste like a whiskey sour, and indeed it did. Not that it's a disappointment at all. We're big fans of bourbon in this house and this drink did not disappoint. Mike and I both give this drink a 7.5 due to it's somewhat mundane nature. We would both opt for the Kentucky Blizzard over this one for sure, but we also wouldn't turn it down if someone offered us one.

Day 9 of 12

Seriously? I need more supplies for this venture? Once again I visited the kind folks at Adirondack Mountain Spirits on Main Street to get more advice and liquor. Although I do take my mom up on the offer to pick up liquor for me when she visits New Hampshire because it's incredibly cheap, I will always do most of my liquor business right here in town.



Not only is it close, but the owners are fabulous people! They are some of the most helpful and friendly proprietors I have ever met. I told them that I was having a difficult time coming up with new drinks and BLAM! Dale and Joe started thumbing through their bar book for some spectacular ideas. I took a rather nice picture of the two of them in their shop, but my camera ate the image. Bummer.

They suggested several drinks, and I took them up on two of them for the time being. Tonight's drink was one of them.

Silk Panties

3/4 oz. Peach Schnapps
3/4 oz. vodka
1 oz. cranberry juice

Stir.



Ok. Those are all the directions that I was able to write down in the excitement of all of the drink ideas that were being tossed around the liquor store while my son waited in the car for my "quick" stop. It was not a "quick" stop at all. I walked back out to the car only to see him sitting there with his hands in the air as if to say, "What the hell?" I explained that I really enjoy talking to Dale and Joe, and he let it go without too much complaint. Anyway, I never saw if it was supposed to be a type of martini or a shooter or a shot. Who knew? I poured the concoction into two martini glasses figuring I couldn't go wrong there. Mike and I each took a quick sip to determine how indeed we were supposed to be drinking it. Upon first taste... oooooooh eeeeeeh...SWEET...and girlie. I got a chuckle over Mike participating in this drink that was ANYTHING but masculine. We decided it needed to be slammed, so we did. If you have ever tried a Woo Woo, this is very similar. This is not a drink to be savored, as it's a bit over the top with regard to the sugar content. Is it tasty? Why yes it is. I couldn't handle more than one of these, and if its consumption was a ritualistic part of a bridal shower I wouldn't be surprised. Mike rated it a 5. I give it a 6. It really didn't leave much more of an impression on me other than the fact that tomorrow's drink, being New Year's Eve and all, will be a bit more robust.

Day 8 of 12

I have to admit that this goal set forth by Carol is getting increasingly challenging. As I look through the bar book, I am beginning to realize that drinks are just different variations of a classic drink. That makes it a lot less fascinating in my opinion. It's kind of like with food. Take the egg roll for example. Its Tex-Mex equivalent is the chimichanga. The Casarola at Desporados is basically lasagna, but with different ingredients. Sounds silly, I know, but it's something I think about on occasion.

Tonight we went for a shooter. Shooters are not something I drink at all. Sure, sure, I do a shot every now and then, but not without trepidation. It always leads to the following day being very long. The significant variations of martinis that exist are essentially shooters, but you don't drink it all in one fell swoop. Martinis are for sipping. Gosh I love martinis. I'm straying off topic though. Let's get back to the Lemon Drop Shooter, which was tonight's beverage of choice.

Lemon Drop Shooter

3/4 oz. Absolut vodka
1/4 oz. triple sec
Lemon, cut into wedges

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and lemon wedges. Add the vodka, triple sec and lemon wedge. Shake. Strain into a shot glass rimmed with sugar. Serve with a lemon wedge. Serves 1.


Mike went first, as we only own one shot glass. I too find that hard to believe.

His first comment was, "Wow, that's lemony! It's good!" Next was my turn. Yum! All I could do was think about how I needed to adjust the proportions to turn this bad boy into a martini. I wasn't about to continue doing shots! I ended up pouring a 6-count of vodka and a 3-count of triple sec into the same shaker with the lemons that I had used for the shooters. I rimmed a martini glass with sugar and made myself a most delicious lemon drop martini. I know that this isn't an original creation, but I certainly am enjoying it.

Mike gave the shooter a rating of 7. I give it 9, but mostly because I have always been a fan of both lemons and martinis. This could become a ritual for me. I highly recommend trying this. The fresh lemons are fantastic in this drink!

Day 7 of 12

Today was by far the easiest prep day with regard to these wonderful concoctions that we have had the pleasure of experiencing. This beverage came as a recommendation from Dale and Joe, the owners of Adirondack Spirits on Main Street in Au Sable Forks. When I made my original trip into town for supplies for this stellar venture, I explained the whole thing to them. Let me tell you, they were all over that! One of the first suggestions that they made was chocolate wine. Chocolate wine? How strange. The idea of red wine and chocolate is not a new one at all, but chocolate wine was completely different. Dale even mentioned that blending it with ice and some banana liqueur would make it taste like a banana split. Hmmm.... I was sold immediately. I decided to hold off on the banana liqueur because at that point my bill was getting pretty hefty.

As I lowered the bottle off the liquor shelf this evening, I was not feeling very confident about the choice at all. I looked closely at the label. "The taste of dutch chocolate and fine red wine." The "taste" of dutch chocolate? That sounded dubious. Did that mean it wasn't real? Knowing I just needed to bite the bullet and try it, I threw some ice cubes into two wine glasses. The screw top didn't show much promise, but I had to follow through.



After a very thick pour, Mike and I clinked glasses and threw them back. YUM! We immediately compared it to Kahlua and milk, but heavy on the Kahlua. Dale and Joe did NOT steer us wrong at all! It was a medium-priced wine at just $11ish for the bottle. Please keep in mind that this probably isn't going to be something you kill off in one evening. It's quite sweet and would probably be best as an after dinner drink unless you cut it with something.

Mike and I would definitely drink this again, but only rate it a 7 due to the sweetness factor. Dessert beverages aren't necessarily our first choices, and this is definitely where this one falls.

The Halfway Mark

It's official. I have made it to the midway point in my challenge to try 12 different drinks in 12 days. In the process I have spent time writing, which is always a pleasurable activity for me. I swear if I can get kids to love it as much as I do (the writing, not the drinking), I will have accomplished a huge goal!

Anyway, today's beverage called for limeade again. What a versatile little mixer that stuff is. There are quite a few drink recipes in my book that include the use of limeade, and tonight's was a good one. It definitely tastes better than it sounds, which to me screams WHITE TRASH... Beer Limeade. In honor of how the drink's name sounds, I was tempted to forgo the shower today and throw on a pair of sweats but I couldn't.

Beer Limeade

6 oz. can Limeade, thawed
6 oz. beer
6 oz. vodka

Fill blender 3/4 full with ice. Add ingredients. Blend until slushy. Serves 4.


Due to the fact that this is another frozen drink, I would have to say that Beer Limeade would be much more satisfying in the summer months. I was not at all disappointed in this drink. I was a little worried that I would taste the beer too much. Don't get me wrong, I love beer. I just don't really want to be able to taste it mixed with limeade. It's not a drink for those who don't like that tarty sweetness in a drink. It definitely packs a punch, as it has more alcohol than Swinging from the Trees. Mike and I rate it 7.9. I highly recommend serving this at a party due to the novelty of the name itself!

Day 5 of 12

Feeling the need to return to normalcy with regard to our beverages, I chose a bourbon drink for today. Mike and I have been fans of the Old Fashion for quite some time, so I was pretty excited when I found the recipe for a Raspberry Bourbon Smash.

Raspberry Bourbon Smash

1 2/3 oz. bourbon
Handful fresh raspberries
2 1/3 oz. cranberry juice
2/3 oz. fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp. sugar
Dash Angostura bitters

Place the lime juice and raspberries in the bottom of a highball glass. Add the sugar and bitters. Muddle until the sugar is dissolved. Add the bourbon and stir. Add the crushed ice. Top off with the cranberry juice. Serves 1.

Unfortunately my picture didn't take hold, so you won't get to see the dark pink color of this drink unless you make one of your own. My camera battery was on its last leg when I took the picture.

As with an Old Fashion, the drink definitely gets better as you drink it. It seemed a little sour at first with a kick of bourbon, but became sweeter and mellowed as we went. We recommend frequent "swirling" in an effort to mix in the sweetness that seems to linger in the bottom of the drink. We give the Raspberry Bourbon Smash a 7. Would I drink it again? Probably, but I rarely have raspberries in the house, and making an Old Fashion is a little easier.

Day 4 of 12

After yesterday's disappointing adventurous beverage, I was very much looking forward to a success story today. I realize that it is only 3:30 in the afternoon, but it's Christmas. Aren't you supposed to have a cocktail early on Christmas day? I mean really, what else is going on? Mike and I held out as long as we could, but once the shrimp cocktail was ready, we just had to give in. Today's beverage has quite the ominous name... Swinging from the Trees. Since it is Christmas, we decided to rename it Swinging from the Christmas Trees.

Swinging from the (Christmas) Trees

1-6 oz. can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
2 oz. rum
2 oz. vodka
2 oz. tequila

Fill blender 3/4 full with crushed iced and add the ingredients. Blend. Serves 6 to 8 (or 2 in our case)

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this drink from the very first sip. Perhaps it was because I was so relieved after yesterday's fiasco. It tastes a bit like a margarita, but with quite a bit more kick, if you know what I'm saying. It's called Swinging from the Trees for a reason for sure. BAM! It would be really easy to drink way too much of these way too fast (which would lead to brain freeze, thus reducing the pure pleasure of this beverage). Due to its frozen nature, I would not recommend it as a winter drink. I can totally picture myself enjoying this on the porch with Mike on a piping hot August evening though, so we will definitely dog-ear that page of the book. Mike rated it a 7.9, but only because he liked the Kentucky Blizzard better (which got an 8) and he's not a huge fan of margaritas. I give it a very solid 8.5, because I love margaritas and the thought of swinging from the trees sounds like fun right now!

Day 3 of 12

Of all the drinks that I tentatively planned for this beverage challenge, today's was the one I was looking forward to the most. You see, my favorite store-bought cookie of ALL time is the Oreo. Mmmmmm. What's not to love about an Oreo? Delicious crunchy chocolate cookie filled with sweet, creamy vanilla filling. Are you with me?

Today's drink, and perfect for Christmas Eve, was the Oreo Cookie Margarita.

Oreo Cookie Margarita

6 oz. tequila
4 oz. Godiva liqueur
8 oz. orange juice
3 oz. half and half
4 T. Hershey's syrup
Crushed Oreos

Rim the margarita glasses with water and dip in the crushed Oreos. Fill shaker with all ingredients, except the crushed Oreos, and shake. Pour into glasses filled with ice. Add a small amount of the crushed Oreos on top. Serves 4.



Upon first taste, I was quite disappointed. It didn't really taste like an Oreo at all. It almost tasted like one of those oranges covered in chocolate. I'm not that into oranges covered in chocolate, especially when I'm expecting that wonderful Oreo cookie taste. Again I decided to withhold my final decision until I had finished the drink.

I never did finish that drink. I couldn't. It didn't do a thing for me. We rated it a very unenthusiastic 3. We brought some down for Sierra and Cory to try. It got a 5 and 4 respectively. I am now looking forward to tomorrow night's drink.

12 Days

Now this is a challenge that I am definitely looking forward to. You see, Mike and I celebrate a very special holiday after his lengthy absence which lasts 12 days. My friend and coworker Carol decided to set a goal for me during this 12 day celebration... 12 different drinks over 12 days and provide a review for each one. I am more than thrilled to oblige. I decided that my beloved bar book would be called into action.

Just so you know, BITCH means Babe In Total Control of Herself. After perusing the book for a bit, I made a few decisions. It was off to town for supplies that I needed to go! After spending a small fortune on liquor, mixers and garnishes, I knew I was ready.



I have to say that we are officially a day behind on this project. Mike and I started yesterday with eggnog and bourbon. Good Lord that is fantastic. We used light eggnog, because it really would be a bit much. I had never had eggnog with bourbon. I've had it with vodka or rum, but never bourbon. I have to say that having it with bourbon and some fresh nutmeg on top is outstanding.

Now to cover this evening's beverage...


... the Kentucky Blizzard

Kentucky Blizzard
1 1/2 oz. bourbon
1 1/2 oz. cranberry juice
1/2 oz. lime juice
1/2 oz. grenadine
1 tsp. sugar

Place all ingredients in an ice filled shaker and shake (definitely shake it for a little bit or the sugar comes plopping out at the end of your pour). Strain into an old-fashion glass filled with ice.

I followed the directions exactly. Upon first taste, it seemed a bit tart. I asked Mike for his rating and we decided that we should actually finish the drink before we rated it. On a scale of 1 to 10, we gave the Kentucky Blizzard an 8. It's somewhere between a Whiskey Sour and an Old Fashion. The drink was good enough to require a second one for each of us, and we agreed that we would definitely make these again.

Welcome Visitors

Once again I have endured a lengthy solo flight while my husband has done his thing out west. He left on December 7th. He comes home tomorrow. Holy shit! I am so happy about that. I truly do not know how the spouses of service people do it. This was two weeks. They do it for months on end. Yikes.

As was the case last year, it has been quite an experience. My biggest weakness? Loneliness. I wouldn't mind the ability to tag out every once in a while either. Anyway, tonight was a great way to celebrate Mike's impending return. JP and Sam came over for dinner.

It was an all-out feast. I spent the entire day in the kitchen today, and it was totally worth every second... spaghetti and meatballs, salad and garlic bread. The best part though, was dessert. Red velvet cake is one of the very best things in the whole world. Clearly the faces say it all.


An evening of eating and laughing was fabulous and just what I needed. In the end we were all members of the Clean Plate Club.

Tis the Season

So much hustle and bustle! What a weekend it was....

Before I talk about my weekend though, I feel that it's necessary to show off some other Ladies of the Adirondacks. Working in an elementary school allows me the priveledge of working with many fun and interesting people (mainly women in this case). Natalee and I decided to show our support of the Steelers' big game against the Ravens this weekend by having a black and gold Friday. But apparently the Christmas spirit overcame her and her fellow 2nd grade teachers. I looked twice when I saw this.
Now I should get back to reporting this weekend's activities. Saturday was the family's big Christmas limo dinner. It was a van this year though, not a limo. It's amazing how bad a limo ride can be when you're traveling those back roads between Elizabethtown, Essex and Jay. Oof. Not good for the stomach. Because of that, we decided a van would be better, and it was indeed.

This year we headed to the Deer's Head in Elizabethtown for appetizers. Yum! We enjoyed some delicious crab cakes, fried brie, and breaded mushrooms.
The food was great and we knew we were well on our way to a very fine evening indeed. When we finished up there, we hopped back in the van to head to Turtle Island Cafe where we would be enjoying dinner. The food, as always, was fantastic. I enjoyed some coconut shrimp with dumplings followed by filet mignon and, of course, several refreshing beverages.

After we finished stuffing ourselves there, it was time to get back in the van and travel the short distance to the McClay's house for an after-dinner drink and some dessert.
The McClays are a great pair, and they certainly know how to entertain!

















It wasn't long after we got there and had finished our dessert and Irish coffees that we had to hit the road again. This time we were all homeward bound. We were all sufficiently stuffed to appreciate the comforts of our own homes. That brings me to today. Today was the day for the kids. Once again we gathered at Mom and Dad's in order to have a meal fit for kids and let them open the copious amounts of gifts that were under the tree.





























































We even got to see Lilly do her Bon Bon dance with her dad. Look at the innocence on both of their faces!

Needless to say, I'm pleasantly exhausted and very grateful for the comfort of my couch this evening.

Shifting Gears

Once again the coming of another season brings on nostalgia. I do not dislike winter, but it certainly is a lifestyle that requires a hell of a lot more work. Just dressing for cold weather is a chore at times. This year was like every other for me... It's fall, it's fall, it's fall, and then BLAM! Winter? Already?

Due to Mike's absence for half of December, we have had to adapt this year by getting our Christmas tree pretty early. Last year it was a bummer to decorate without Mike, so this year we planned ahead. I had the idea that today was the big day when I got up on Saturday. Just before we left it started to lightly snow. How perfect. It ended up being a little frightening for me. Anyone who knows me knows that I get really freaked out by "iffy" roads in the winter if I'm not the one driving.
Luckily I was wearing my big girl panties and we got there just fine. I am not exaggerating when I say that we picked out our tree in less than five minutes. Mike hadn't even joined us from the truck yet. We are THAT good.

Later in the day the changing of the seasons became evident once again. It was the coldest day of the year so far for me at the farm. It feels really strange around there when there is snow on the ground. It's obvious that my job there is nearing an end for the year. Although I enjoy having the extra time for myself and my family when the season is over, I miss it. It's peaceful. Within a few weeks the parlor has gone from the open-air feeling of this...

to this...

It's still a place that takes my breath away when I get there,


but getting ready to leave just isn't the same.


I'm getting myself ready. I'm hunkering down. I so look forward to spring already though. I'm not gonna lie.

Another Black Friday

Once again I have returned, virtually unscathed, from a morning of Black Friday shopping. It was a little different this year yet again. It was a solo mission this year and, as in previous years, I had checked all of the sales flyers and written a very detailed list. I was in somewhat of a quandary with regard to my starting point. There was no need to fret over it though, because when I arrived at my sister's house for pre-Thanksgiving dinner cocktails, my plans were made for me.

My sister and her husband gave me the dreadful news... black ice on Black Friday. Damn! All of those plans! All of those hopes and dreams! Wait... that means I can just sleep in. I'm o.k. with that. I'll just go later.

I woke up at around 6:30 and decided to take a look outside and see what it was like. It was 37 degrees and the drizzle appeared to have stopped. YES! I grabbed a cup of coffee and headed out the door.

I feel that I must remind you that since the adults in my family don't exchange gifts, most of the items that I purchase on Black Friday are not gifts. I like to try to get deals on things that we need for ourselves or the house. That being said, my first stop was at Lowes. I bought two 18 gallon totes, 3 poinsettias and a string of lights all for $10! That's insanely cheap! So here's the best part... I was in and out of the store in just 5 minutes! Now I'm starting to think that there's absolutely no reason for getting up at 3 a.m. to go shopping. There is no way that I would have been in and out of there that fast if I had gone as soon as they opened.

After that successful adventure, I decided it was time to hit the mall. JCPenney had the usual "doorbuster" deals that couldn't be passed up, but it was Old Navy that really made me happy. I bought myself two pairs of jeans for only $30. After sashaying through a few more stores, I hit Target. Oof. Not a good idea. The place looked like a bomb had gone off. It was the same at Walmart. Bad choices on my part to be sure. After a major money-saver at Staples, I decided to reward myself with a little breakfast at Perkins. That didn't turn out so well. After waiting for 40 minutes, I left without eating.

It was nothing a pistachio muffin from Hannaford couldn't fix. Overall it was another successful Black Friday. I think I'll sleep in again next year. No sense losing sleep, right?

Supporting Local Athletes

I feel badly that it took me this long to realize the importance of this topic. Perhaps it took my son being on a successful football team, I'm not sure. All I do know is that supporting young athletes is a very important thing. It makes them feel special, it makes them feel important, and most importantly it validates all of their hard work.

Ri and his Dad and I had a fantastic fall celebrating the successes of the football team he was fortunate enough to join. Throughout the season family and friends would stop what they were doing and/or rearrange their schedules to show up at a game and cheer my boy and the team on. We made sure that he thanked every person who came to support him. It meant just as much, if not more, to Mike and I that they came.

It was during that time that I realized the importance of the support of these people and that I should be doing the same. I cannot describe how much fun it is to go to a game, ANY game, and cheer on someone else's kid. For starters, it isn't as stressful as it is when your own kid is playing. Beyond that however, you get to really appreciate a different sport or a different level of the sport that you're accustomed to watching.

Today we went to see the Lady Indians soccer team take on Marcellus. My friend's daughter plays for the mighty, mighty Indians and they had won sectionals. I hadn't really had a chance to get to one of their games previously, but it appeared that the stars were in alignment and we could see this very important game.

It was incredible to be a part of the rather large support team for these athletes who had the drive and talent to make it as far as they had. Their shots on goal today far outnumbered those of their opponent, yet they did not prevail. The refs also appeared to favor the "mistakes" of the other team. It just wasn't meant to be.

I do not regret taking the time out of my day, ringing the hell out of my cowbell and stomping my feet on the bleachers. It was well worth it. I think that everyone should attend at least one youth sporting event during his or her lifetime. Seriously, if you own a home and have no kids, you are paying school taxes. Go out and support what you're paying for, whether you have kids in the district or not. It really is money well spent.

A New Experience

Today was a day. I spent my weekday in the usual way-hanging with kids, trying to engage them and encouraging them to invest in their own educations. All did not turn out as planned. The morning was relatively good until I faced a VERY unmotivated student. I reached down to my toes for inspiration, but to no avail. I got over it.

After school I headed to the farm for a little goat milking. Very little thought required, which is why I enjoy it so. Anyway, I was just driving up the long, picturesque driveway on my way home from milking when I got a text. It was from Billy. He's the strapping, young farmhand. I really should blog about Billy because he's an amazing individual, but I digress.

I ran into Shannon this morning at Stewart's. She works on the farm doing everything from milking to marketing. She informed me that they were going to be processing over 100 chickens that day and that they'd probably still be working on it when I showed up to milk. That was putting it mildly.

As I stated before, I was driving up the long, picturesque driveway on my way home when Billy texted me, "Come and help." They started the whole chicken processing thing at 9 a.m. It was now 5:45 p.m. and they were still going strong. Hmmm... what to do... what to do. It was one of those moments when you have to make the big decision... Do I pretend to have not gotten the text or do I do the honest thing? Being the honest type, I backed up the car and headed to the far reaches of the farm. Billy raised his hands in celebration when I got there. Not a good sign.

So I get out of the car, and there before me was a virtual tank of processed chickens in icy, cold water. "What do you need me to do?" I asked. "Help us bag them," they replied. Great! I can barely stomach cutting up boneless chicken and now I have to "man up" and handle raw, freshly butchered chickens and stuff them in a bag! Oooh... not good.

As I complained about this grizzly task, Rhonda asked, "Where do you think food comes from?" I'm thinking, "The store... duh!!!"

O.K. so I'm not a complete country girl, but I sure am trying. I mean really, it's not every girl who knows how to milk a goat... and with speed and precision to boot! In honor of the chickens who gave their lives to feed some of the families of the North Country, I give you this picture....



Rest in peace, Chicken.

Halloween Tradition

You know, I remember what Halloween was like as a kid so well. All that hype! For weeks ahead of time friends would talk about all of the candy that they usually got. Not me though. We lived out in the middle of nowhere and Mom and Dad only went to houses of those we knew. That involved more driving than any normal parent would want to do, so inevitably we only hit 5-10 houses. No help needed carrying those bags of candy, believe me.

Ri is lucky. Ever since the Hanfs moved into town, and I do mean town, Ri has had a real neighborhood to trick-or-treat in. Every year we head down to their house. The adults hang out, enjoy a few drinks, eat dinner and hand out candy. The boys get to hit as many houses as humanly possible while we just relax. This year was no different. Sierra whipped up some tuna noodle casserole and a salad, and I brought down some chicken noodle soup and homemade bread.




Armed with a full pot of candy, it was time for the kids to start showing up. The first ones showed up pretty early... 4:30! Sky was all over it.











After that, Sky was trying to figure out the fake blood thing and Cory helped River with his mad scientist hair.










Eventually the kids came back from hitting all of the houses in the immediate neighborhood for some chow.











After that they hit Palmer Street... a considerable hike to get there. Needless to say Ri returned exhausted, but with 106 pieces of candy!

Music Therapy

I know, I know, Susan! It has been forever again since I have posted anything. I'm trying. I really am!

As a person who works two jobs with a 10 year-old who needs to be driven all over God's creation, my life is busy... and sometimes stressful. Most people's are though, so who am I to complain? Anyway, one of my favorite things in the whole world to do is to make music in the kitchen. Sounds kinky, I know. It's not though. Now stay with me here and follow along carefully....

I love to cook, and nothing makes cooking more enjoyable than a good martini. Nothing makes cooking while drinking a good martini more enjoyable than cooking while drinking a good martini while my husband plays the guitar for me in the kitchen. Oh! That's not all. Nothing makes cooking while drinking a good martini while my husband plays guitar for me in the kitchen more enjoyable than cooking while drinking a good martini while my husband plays guitar for me in the kitchen while I sing! Phew! A mouthful, but I said it. So here's a picture of the man I call mine playing his guitar for me to sing to while I cook while drinking a good martini.


I think I'll keep him.

My Lengthy Hiatus

I will start this post by apologizing to my (2-3) followers for neglecting my writing. Why, you ask? No clue really. I think I've just been so friggin' busy that when I do get a chance to sit down and veg, I do just that. I sit down and veg. I have not posted on this blog since the day after Black Friday. That's like what? 3 months? Yup. I'm a loser. I think that as far as my mental stability is concerned, blogging is quite beneficial. You know, it gets all that stuff out of my head that I really want to talk about, but don't really want to bore someone with during a conversation. Reading it is different. You can take a break from reading, or just stop altogether and not appear rude because I can't see you doing it.

Due to my lengthy absence, I must admit that I feel the need to recap the last three months. Hmmm...where to start. Well, December started out quite nicely. My parents came up with the brilliant idea to just forget about the adult gift exchange for Christmas, and just rent a limo and go out for a spectacular dinner. O.K., count us in!
Mike and I got our finest duds on and joined the family in a fabulous limo ride to Anthony's in Plattsburgh. It was a very special and memorable evening.

Only two short days later, Mike headed for Telluride to play his role in a World Cup event. He was gone for two weeks. Now I realize that there are many wives who would cherish two weeks without their husbands, but not me. I really like my husband alot, and enjoy spending time with him. He has, over the years, done all he can to be a 50% husband. The down-side of this however, is that when he is gone, I feel like I have to do twice as much. Actually, I do have to do twice as much, but I think many wives are used to this and it doesn't affect their workloads if the other half is in absentia.

Shortly after Mike's return, it was time for the holidays. Mike, Ri and I had a wonderful Christmas morning at the house with the obligatory huge breakfast. Very pleasant indeed. The afternoon's festivities were a change from tradition. I only wish that I had taken pictures that day, because it was fantastic. The Kirchners and all of the local Serinos descended upon Susan Serino's house for some serious hor d'oeuvres and cocktails prior to a private showing at the Hollywood Theatre of The Hangover. It was a highly entertaining evening with substantial laughter.

Ok, that brings us to 2010. It was time for another new experience in the Kirchner household. Derek DiCastro... Derek is a 19 year-old who is truly an enigma. He is an extremely talented snowboarder from Rome, NY who is someone who makes you want to do anything to help him succeed. That being said, Mike and I have welcomed him into our home to provide him with an opportunity to be more successful in his endeavors. He isn't here very often, as he has a "smokin' hot" girlfriend back home that he likes to visit often, and he is competing in the Revolution Tour stops in the hopes of becoming a World Cup athelete.

Now where are we? Looks like we have hit the present. What's going on now? Well, alot of USASA events, lots of trips to Whiteface, work,and basically surviving winter. One of the activities that I have really focused on this winter has been exercise. I joined the gym in the Forks in December, and it has provided me with added opportunity for exercise. For years now, I really have limited myself to running as far as exercise is concerned. The gym has really prompted me to do more cross-training. It's amazing how out-of-shape you can feel doing a different type of exercise than you're used to.

One of the latest types of exercise that I have had the opportunity to experience is Zumba. Holy crap that is fun! Only if you like dancing though, and I love to dance. I think women love how empowering it is. It's like going out dancing in a club, but without all the other BS that goes with it. The ladies get to shake their groove thing to some smokin' hot Latin music without feeling self-concious.

The only other exciting thing that I have failed to report is my recent birthday celebration. Mike arranged a "Birthday in the Forks" for me, and the evening was spent with some very special people. We started out at the local pizza joint. Definitely not even close to the best experience, but it did not prevent us from having a fantastic evening.

Some of my favorite guys were there...



So anyway, things have been going quite well. I have continued to have great fun with friends. That will never change.