Getting serious about your health

Two years ago, my husband and I took out some life insurance. There are two things my mother's death taught me -- have a will (which we need to do) and get good life insurance. Life insurance is cheap and if you need someone, I know several ppl in Bend that can help you out.

During that life insurance process, we had to get physicals and the end result was that my husband's cholesterol and triglycerides were high. I have begged him for two years to please do something about it but he just wouldn't. He wasn't motivated. He came home at lunch and made a grill cheese sandwiches and eats Wendy's a few times a week. I thought working for a medical center would change his mind -- there are always specials on CIMTs (an ultrasound of your arteries) and great dietitians to help with the process. I thought the gym membership I bought for him would help. I thought bringing a child in this world would get him motivated. Nope. But this week I found something. This article.

That article has scared the crap out of my husband. He even told me he saw something on the Today Show (which he watches every morning) Yesterday, he ate a salad for lunch. At Trader Joes, he passed up the fattening stuff for healthy. He told me yesterday that after this baby is born, we're buying smaller bathing suits to motivate us to lose weight and be healthy and going to Mexico will be our prize for getting fit.

I'm finally glad he's seen the light because I will definitely need some help losing weight after this baby is born.

Now I need a good lawyer to get wills drawn up.

Jeff Tweedy's Suit

Wilco-3-8-08-Tulsa-82
Originally uploaded by wilcobase

Dear JT,
I used to think you were sorta cute in an emo meets midwestern sorta way but seeing you in this suit doesn't exactly do it for me. Can you please stop wearing it?

Thanks,
Shannon

p.s. Is the rumor that Wilco's going to be at Four Peaks true? If so, I must arrange for a sitter now.

I can think of a few ppl I'd like to say this to

It's been one of those days weeks.

Happy Easter, Mom!

We had a lot of traditions in our house growing up but none stand out as vividly as the pies my mom would make for Easter and Thanksgiving. Each Thanksgiving, my mom would make coconut creme pie because it was my grandfather Jack's favorite. Jack loved anything coconut -- we used to buy him coconut covered marshmallows and he'd eat the whole bag. I remember my mom slaving away the night before Thanksgiving making his favorite pie. She'd back the crust and then put it in the freezer to cool down. Then she'd read the recipe off the back of the coconut pudding box and then fill the pie shells (usually it would make two). The next morning she'd whip up cream in the carton and toast the coconut while I watched.

On Easter she'd make my favorite pie of all -- strawberry pie. She'd make the crust the same way and then follow a recipe for the strawberry filling. After she died, a few family members, including myself, tried to make that pie but the filling would never set and the pie a disaster. We joked that she left something out on purpose to taunt us.

Last night, I found a similar strawberry pie filling recipe and lo and behold, it turned out. My pie is tempting my husband as we speak. When my brother called this morning I told him about the pie and he was ecstatic to find that I have the pie crust recipe he's been searching for the longest time for. It's even in my mom's handwriting. Ya see, I have my mom's recipe box and in that box was the recipes for all the things she's made over the years. My brother has been searching for that coconut creme pie filling which I explained is on the back of the box of coconut pudding and the pie crust recipe (though I use my grandmother's recipe). He still doesn't believe me but I'm tempted to go to the grocery store and check the box.

I owe my love of food and cooking to my mom who taught me the basics (the Food Network gets the rest of the credit). I hope to pass on my strawberry pie recipe to my kids when they're older.

Good Friday, Great Friday

Many eons ago it seems, we celebrated Good Friday by spending a 1/2 day at school with the most of the morning spent at mass doing stations of the cross because Jesus died for our sins so we had to endure kneeling and horrible smelling incense.

In college we would celebrate Good Friday by throwing a party called "Good Friday, Great Friday" where we'd drink jungle juice and get completely hammered.

The last time I celebrated Good Friday, Great Friday was with the Frog and Smiley 5 years ago. I wish I could find the blog post on my old blog about it but it started with lunch at Cali Taco and then we proceeded to go to my house and slam Coors Lights and somehow we ended up at Ninos. I don't remember how I got home but I remember the next day was the day Smiley was becoming a Catholic so he had some major sinning to do.

Those were the days:

Somehow I doubt I will be slamming beers tonight but I will spend it with my wonderful husband who's making me steak. Yum. But it's good to relive the old days. Next year I will probably be making an Easter basket and telling lil Ben the Easter Bunny left it for him.

Happy Good Friday (I hope this doesn't offend anyone)

It could be a lot worse, I guess

I wish I could tell you about my day yesterday but I can't. Maybe I'll go on myspace and rant behind closed doors but something bad did happen to me today which is killing me .. my Blackberry is busted. The rolly thing on the side isn't working. It will take two days for my replacement phone to come in. I could think of a lot suckier things that could have happen so I shouldn't be to upset about it but what a hiccup to put in my day! But my Blackberry not working totally tops the fact it cost me over $400 $500 to tune up (fix the power steering which was covered by the warranty) the Jeep.

ARGH!

Peep show

Happy Easter ... early

Door to door salesmen

For some reason, our 'hood gets a lot of door to door sales people. People selling sprinkler blow outs, lawn service, meat sales and appliance salesmen. The problem is, we don't have a peep hole on our front door (must get one) and so most of the time I can't see who it is so I answer the door.

Three times in the past two months a guy selling Kirby vacuums has come to the door. He asks "Is the king of the castle home?" He obviously doesn't know I pay the bills and manage the money in our household. Twice my husband hasn't been home and so I tell the guy that "no, the king of the castle isn't home and no, I just bought a vacuum therefore I'm not interested and why would I let a complete strange in the house when I'm home?" He can't take no and goes on and on until I slam the door in his face.

On Saturday, he rang the door bell and the "king of the castle" was home. My husband is too nice. He listened to him for 2 mins until I couldn't stand it and said "we're not interested, stop coming here" and slammed the door on his face.

That will teach him to mess with a hormonal pregnant woman.

The blogger story is online

For the most part, the reporter got right what I said with one exception (which is OK). I had said after our first blogger meet up four years ago, I became friends in real life with a few, mainly Jon and Simone but somehow that was quoted as Jon and Jake (not to say I didn't become friends with Jake but I have become a regular commenter on his site). The story for once isn't behind the pay wall. You can read it here.

Sick

There is nothing worse than having a cold and not being able to take what usually works for your cold because you're carrying an unborn child. My cold got better on Saturday but yesterday I woke up feeling worse and today I feel worse than I did on Friday which is an improvement. There is nothing on TV and all I can think of is all the work I have to do at work but I need rest, for my little guy's sake.

My poor husband is a lot worse than I am and he had to go to work today. Maybe I should make him some chicken noodle soup. Nah, I'll just lay on my snoogle and watch netflix instead :)

So fricken excited!

Don't miss Wilco on SNL tonight. This promo cracks me up!

AWKWARD! Gotta love Jeff Tweedy!

Now, if I could only stay up and watch it. It's my typical Saturday night alone because my husband has band practice. I know after June my Saturday nights won't be alone due to the baby so maybe I should cherish these evenings.