First Poem Challenge...Met!

O.k...so my words were: reversible, batting, the term "free time", and thanks to my wonderful husband for the lovely word of halitosis! I cannot thank you enough....

Here we go....

Tic Tacs If You Please...

I met a man with halitosis
With free time on his hands,
Batting around the idea of a mint
I showed him multiple brands
He smiled at me and said thanks,
In his mouth he popped one in,
But if time were reversible
I'd fall over from his GRIN!

Yes! Anyone for poem #2...let me have some words...

Theater Sports Poetry....GO!

The picture is the inside of my first poetry book from '89...the inscription of this book from a girl who I'm still best friends with. I've been writing since high school. Don't worry...I won't read from anything in this book...I like you guys too much! :) Also back in Junior High and High School...I RULED at Theater Sports. Theater Sports for those of you who actually got dates in High School was our version of "Whose Line Is it Anyway". O.k...for those of you who continue to date and still don't know what I'm talking about...it's a game....it's you and about 3 others. Your given a place, and a thing, and a location to work with...usually one having NOTHING to do with the other...(think...Dentist...Paris....and a Ham Hock)....now GO! Make a scene! And make it funny!
I don't give myself props on many things...but on this...I kicked ass. I could make anything work. I loved it so much...thinking on the fly. Kept me sharp. Well I'm out of High School now. My former creative partners now all have lives of their own...and I need some damn inspiration! A series of close friends...I had one for my poetry, one for stand-up routines and one for pretty much everything I threw at him, were always there for me. Helped me along, made my "stuff" better. Now I know what you all are thinking....what about John? Sure, John is awesome....but a husband's place should NOT be critic. It's too much. You want someone close enough that you respect their judgement, but also far enough that if they think it stinks...your sex life won't suffer! So that brings forth my challenge to myself. I don't wanna lose my creativity. I don't want 10 years to go by and not write anything. So throw a word at me. Go ahead...it won't hurt. It can be anything. Please don't give a word that over 15 letters long...come on!
And in the end...I wanna see if I can make a poem using the thoughts and words you give me. Nothing great...but just to give me a creative exercise to keep me sharp. I'm giving myself a day, o.k...maybe two. Let me have your random words.

-Kat

Wishing BIG!

So tonight for dinner we had this awesome SMOKED chicken breast that I bought from our local butcher at last Sunday's Farmer's Market. This "breast" was huge...and let's face it...I know about big breasts! Seriously though, it was so delicious and there was enough for dinner for all 3 of us...and at least 3 meat servings for lunches...see I told ya...it was BIG! (Note to self....I see many more smoked chicken breast breasts in my future! Buy more Uncle Ben's Wild Rice! :)
So there I was at the end of dinner clearing the meat of the bone and pulled off the "Wish Bone" I say to JE: "Hey! Wish Bone! When it dries we'll have to see who's wish comes true!" JE says: "MINE! My wish wish will come true!" and I say back "I don't know JE, mommy really needs one of her wishes to come true! So IF you got your wish what would you wish for?" JE replies: "A POPSICLE!" "Hmph!" I say "That's a small wish!" to which he slams me and says: "FINE! I wish for a BIG POPSICLE!"
Way to dream big kid! :) Love it!
I just finsihed making some pumpkin bread I had leftover in the pantry. I figured it would be easy breakfast items...plus I don't want it to get too far into Summer before making it. Of course ANY TIME is the RIGHT TIME for eating pumpkin bread if your asking my hubby! OH! And for all 3 of you playing at home about my last post and pondering what a HAM HOCK is...ponder no more. I wiki'ed it and it's not nearly as gross as I suspected. (Stop reading now if you tuly don't want to know...LOL!) it's the "meat" of the JOINT that connects the leg of the pig to it's foot...so no...it's not the foot...it's the leg joint. There....that wasn't so bad...and it really DOES make a huge difference in the flavoring of a ham or bean soup! YUM!
And now for a totally different topic....I was buying our bed frame at IKEA a few weeks ago, and while at the checkout I spotted these framed "ready for hanging" corkboards for only $6.00! I bought two thinking one for me...one for JE....for whatever we might want to tack on up there. Ya know...pics of Rick..dart board targets of my enemies...ya know that sorat thing...LOL! Seriously, don't laugh...I know this is "Oprah-ish" and all but I think I'm gonna make a dream board. Something that I can focus on every day to remind me of what I really want in life...ya know like a killer body, traveling certain places, becoming Umphrey's McGee's road mistress...ah way to wish BIG Kat...remember, always wish BIG!

-Kathleen

My Mother's Day!

So Happy Mother's Day everyone! Today I got up and my wonderful hubby made me the most wonderful strawberry pancakes ever with crispy bacon! Yum! Above is a picture of my adorable JE holding what he made for me on Mother's Day...it's a flowering plant (not sure what kind yet...I guess I'll be surprised...that is is I don't kill it by accident first!) He decorated the potter of it with crape paper and glued it on! So sweet! He was so proud of it when he gave it to me! Love it!
Yesterday while out shopping I picked a few small things for myself...I got to buy some concert tickets to Umphrey's (but I have to wait until September to see them...WAAAA!) and I got a DVD. Black Swan. It was on sale at Target. I didn't hate it. I didn't love it. John had nightmares from it! It was strange...but the dancing was amazing, and Natalie was great in it. Yeah...I call her Natalie! :)
Then today I went off to Farmer's Market for the forst time this season! Got some asparagus, scallions, lettuce, smoked chicken breast, and get this...a ham hock! What is a ham hock exactly? I may not want to know...but I still had plenty of yummy Easter ham leftover and decided to make Ham and Bean (and BACON...because really...can we ever get enough BACON in our lives?) and used some scallions to go into it too. When I looked up a receipe for this online it called for a ham hock. Then I was at Farmer's Market and there they were at the Bucher's Stand there for $2.00! DEAL! Here a pic of it above! I'm having it tonight for dinner along with a fresh salad! I can't wait!
Well it's lunch time now...gotta run....a special DOVE bar is calling my name! Happy Mother's Day to ME! :)

Kathleen

Wild Time @ Animal Kingdom

Hey there!
So today we spent the day at Animal Kingdom. We got there about one hour after the park opened and all the fastpasses were gone! I then HAD to surrender to the fact that we probably wouldn't be getting a lot done this day. I was actually plesantly surprised. There was'nt that much for a smallfry like JE to do there anyway....in terms of "goning on rides that is"
We started off by seeing "Finding Nemo" the musical. It was AMAZING! Sit the the middle of the theater if you go. It was like a Broadway show...beautiful and amazing. They even release bubbles into the audience at the end..so cool
We then went on a little ride in Dino land...and discovered the Dino "Dig Site" Graveyard. In other words, a MASSIVE Jungle Gym where you worry you'll never see your kid released from one of it's chutes again! So funny to sell all the parents at the bottom just waiting around for their kids to return...chatting on cell phones w/friends oblivious as to where their kid might be in the swarm of the 100 kids that were running around. John followed JE around thru the gym. I saw many other parent following the "littler ones" around too. I don't know how they do it. :) Thank god for John!
Next we did my favorite part...SAFARI! The safari is so damn cool! You ACTUALLY feel like you were out in the Savannah in a jeep. They really have done an amazing job with it. We saw Lions, giraffes, birds, hippos, cheetahs etc...etc.....and through-out the jeep ride you are driving thru waters and bumpy rocks and having the leaves and such in your car. Really made everything all the real to us
Next came lunch...have I mentioned that the Disney Dinning Plan ROCKS? OMG...it ROCKS! The food here is awesome! For lunch today we had barbeque. John had ribs, I had the pork sanwich, and JE had roasted chicken drumsticks, with beans, and slaw, and dessert! Chocolate Mousse for me! (they goes those pounds again)
Then we saw it's Tough To Be A Bug...a 3-D "interactive" movie show that shoots gust of wind, and dry air at you....neat exeripence...the end me literally JUMP outta my seat!
Then shopping for me...back to Dino Dig for JE and John. Got some pretty cool pics today. Haven't had a chance to load them up yet...but hopefully soon. Finally...we got to meet and take pics w/Mickey and Minnie! I swear I felt like I was 5 again taking a pic with them! You do...you turn into a kid yourself again and get excited by it! I'm now officially wiped out. Tomorrow is JE's birthday and were going to Hollywood Studios! I hear there's AMerican idol over there...ut oh...do I feel a song being performed in my future? Who knows? We shall see!

Till tomorrow,

Kat

It's A Small Room After All...

Yes...it's a small hotel room...but the atmosphere here is AMAZING! John is totally digging on all the computer decor stuff they have hanging on the walls here! There are so many photo ops here I don't know how I'm gonna get to the all...but I will! LOL! The food on the Dinning Plan is GREAT...and I only had the "casual" meal tonight! I see pounds in my future...wonderful fried, and sugary pounds...OH MY!
Everything is so overwhelming, and set up to oh so easily retrieve money from you. Gotta admire these Disney folk...they have TRULY thought of everything!
I hope to post some (I repeat SOME) pictures here tomorrow. I should sleep...but HOW? I'm so excited! John Everett is actually sleeping....how can he sleep through all of this? Wait a minute whose the kid here? LOL!

TIll tomorrow...

Kat

It's MONEY TIME!

Today's Funny Thing:

(JE was putting money away into his bank)

JE: "Gotta put away MY MONEY!"

ME: (in a silly tone) "YOUR MONEY?....you don't make any money!"

JE: "Yeah I do! This is my money! Gotta save up!"

ME: "That's great! Whatare you saving for?"

JE: "For this weekend! IT'S MONEY TIME!"

I don't about you guys...but I'm really excited about this weekend now! LOL!

Think of Laura...

Today's Funny Thing

(We were driving home from the doctor's ofice as JE had a fever)

JE: "When we get home, I wanna see LUKE AND LAURA!"

ME: "You do? Which part?"

JE: "I wanna see them get married....right NOW!"

ME: "Ok....we'll see..."

JE: "LUKE AND LAURA...GETTING MARRRWEED!"

What a Ring Says..

Today's Funny Thing:

(JE is trying to pull John's wedding band off of his hand)

JE: "Why can't I take this thing off? Is it taped? Is it glued?"

John: "It's very hard to remove, I have big knuckles."

JE: "But what if you need to take it off?"

Me: "John Everett, you don't take wedding rings off, it says were married"

JE: (Holding John's ring finger close to his eyes) "It doesn't say that Mommy, it says HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

No Muffin For YOU!

Today's Funny Thing:

(Were walking in BJs)

Me: "...so let's just go get the soda, and then were done."

John: "And MUFFINS!"

JE: "You don't NEED muffins Daddy!" (then JE proceeded to cover Daddy's mouth and no muffins were had.) :(

Dont Hold Your Breath...

Today's Funny Thing:

(We were cleaning the playroom)

JE: "I wanna stop for a moment and play with these things!"

ME: "John Everett please don't were almost done, and then you can play with something.."

JE: "I promise not to make a mess!"

ME: "Of course you will, your a boy and your breathing!"

JE: "O.K....I WON'T BREATHE!

It's Been Since When?

February you say? Wow, really? Gosh sorry about that. I've ben busy but I promise to try and post more often now. I think I might change the format to Hilarious Things My Kid Says.

Today's Funny Thing:

(He's currently OBSESSED with Stars Wars) "Mommy....I want a TON-TON!"

Watch Empire Strikes Back for a recap if your now asking...what's a "TON TON"?

It never ends...

Kathleen

Just Beat It....

John Everett Does "The Jerk"

Julia makes hot chocolate

She's BAAAAAAAAAAACCCCK! ENJOY!

Gotta Love It!

This product just might be my saving grace! LOL!
Resolutions still in tact I believe. I allowed myself to have just one bite of John's Hot Dog at BJs (he had 2 of those giant hot dogs!) and just one bite of John Everett's plain cheese pizza (the slice was spilt in 4 little slices and it was still too much for one meal...he had half of it for dinner, lets put it that way!) and I forged on with my "plan" I purchased a box of Chobani Greek Yogurt and loved it! I got a spoon from the counter and a bottled water and I ate my greek yogurt while they gorged on hot dogs, chips, soda and pizza! It was hard...especially after tasting those two bites.....but I'm human. I also purchased Healthy Choice Fudge Bars. They are great. Its nice to know I can enjoy this dessert and it actually feels like a good portion for me too...not some teeny cup of something.

Happy New Year! Sadines for Breakfast!

Sardines for Breakfast!?
What? No seriously. Hey don't knock it. It's LOADED with Omega 3, Protein, and Calcium. Exacly what you need in the morning. O.k...so the taste is less than desirable for morning consumption, but it gave me what I needed...the feeling of "feeling full". I had a very small bowl of Cheerios to start things off with because I was finishing off a box and there wasn't much left.
So there I was hungry...again. But hey, it's the New Year and of course I have resolutions to uphold. So the way I see it is. Everything is a decision. I need to eat...but I choose to eat something good for me. So I choose Sardines. I know it was extreme, but I also knew it was good for me.
It worked. I'm still "full". I don't feel hungry.
Now were going to BJs to order John Everett's birthday cake...and it will be th lunchtime hour while we are there! No worries. I'm planning on buying some yogurt and oranges while there and I will eat that while John and John Everett will most likely have a hot dog and a slice of pizza! :) Hey, you just have to have a plan!
Good luck with all of YOUR resolutions!

Kathleen

I'm in print AGAIN! :)

Hello everyone!

Well it seems my opinions are valuable as another one of my recommendations was printed in yesterday's "On The Cheap" column by Spencer Soper. Either that or his column is only read by a handful of people and I need to get a life! LOL! I'm chosing to be of the first opinion though...here is the paragraph where I'm mentioned...he was looking for creative ideas on how to best use your Thanksgiving leftovers...

"Instead of sandwiches or turkey salad, Kathleen Aldrich of Bethlehem suggests this for your leftovers.

''I take my leftover turkey meat, gravy, mixed vegetables, and pie crust from Thanksgiving and create turkey pot pie,'' she said.

''Just mix the shredded turkey meat, some mixed veggies, gravy and only one pie shell for a top crust. If you don't have a whole shell, you just take the pieces and cross it on top or just buy one can of crescents and take them apart and unfold them on top of it. Or better yet, if you don't want a pie crust top, use your mashed potatoes and create a Shepherd's pie instead.''

Oooooo....ahhh.....yes I can here your excitement over this! :) Hey it's nice to know my thrifty thoughts are good for something! I'm already thinking of what to send him for cheap stocking stuffers! But please don't worry Mom, Carolyn, John or John Everett...I'm just "thinking" of those ideas...I'm not planning on encorporating them! I just like helping others be thrifty!

Later!

Kathleen

New Use For Halloween Candy!

I guess he's getting ready EARLY! ENJOY! :)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Watch and enjoy!