Weekend Recap!

The weather was really nice here this weekend, and thinking about how quickly the summer is coming to an end, I decided to just try to let things go and head to the lake with the boy this weekend. We knew that we would have Friday and most of Saturday to ourselves, so I thought that would be some good one on one time together, and it was. His mom and dad, brother, his girlfriend and the boys came over Saturday afternoon. We all had a nice dinner together that evening. We did all talk together about the decision that the boy is being faced with at the moment and the consequences of his choices. It was not an easy conversation, nor was it that easy to be as open and honest with all of them about my feelings and what I thought, but I had to. They also let him know how they felt as well. Everyone knows what a hard decision that he is being faced with at the moment. He has to finish out this week, his hours are better anyway, and then he has drills next weekend along with his PRT (Physical Readiness Test) and then he is done. If he chooses. I still am not sure what he is going to do . We did talk about it all the way back early Sunday morning. He had to be back early Sunday morning, he was on-call. It was a hard conversation to have but we needed to. He says right now that he is not going to renew his contract. But I am not going to believe anything until it is all said and done. This is a really hard time for me because I am questioning everything, a lot of things I never did before and I feel insecure in a relationship that 99% of the time makes me feel better than I can ever imagine. I know that if we can get through this it will only make our relationship stronger. Wait and see I guess. It is just the waiting that is hard.

More on Relationships

I got through the day. There were times that I didn't think I would but I want to thank you all for your thoughts, advice and kind words. This has been such a weird week for me.

When I got back on Sunday from the lake, my sister told me that one of the girls from my MOCA Young Survivors group had passed away that day. She was my age, a month younger, diagnosed almost to the day that I was and her name was Jill. Weird. She and I were not close, in fact more the opposite, she was an intrusive type of person always trying to tell me how to take care of myself, but again, that was just her style. Her mom passed away last August, also from Ovarian cancer. I am happy that they are both at peace together, Jill fought a long hard battle, never once being in remission. I did not go to the service, she was Jewish and I was not very close with her or her family, so it all happened very fast this week. I knew through her emails over the past couple of months that she had taken a turn for the worse. I have different reactions to things like this, for some reason this time I was very matter of fact. Everything for a reason. It also seems to have completed my three. The third death close to me in five months. Relationships are hard.

I had Tango and Cash's dad over for dinner tonight. He is a wonderful person. Going through a divorce at the moment, which I know first hand is not easy, but sometimes necessary. He is dealing with it the best way he can and I hope that he knows that through this all I am here for him. I enjoyed his company tonight, we had a nice dinner and I shared with him the happenings between the boy and I. He understood and gave me the male perspective which was good. I don't know what is going to happen at this point or how I feel but I do know that I just need to take a step back and think about things and how I feel. I really don't think that I can live with the military being that big of a piece of my life. If he decides to not renew his contract with the military, why was it that hard of a decision to make, knowing what he would be sacrificing?

Relationships are hard. . .but I will get through this just like I have gotten through every other aspect of my life so far. I think the fact that I cannot see a clear line between my life and his right now tells me that I seem to have lost myself somewhere along the way and I need to find that again. Relationships are SOOOOO hard. . .

Weekend Recap!

We are back from the vast nether regions of the North. As it turns out we were about 20 miles south of Canada, but still quite a ways from our friend Lisagh. It was an interesting weekend. And all in all okay, but not the way that I would choose to spend my weekends on a regular basis.

We sorta started our weekend Thursday evening at the Saints game with friends. We had a really good time, the Saints did lose, but we had beautiful weather and some fantastic tailgating as usual.

I made up a pasta salad, which I will post for recipe of the week tomorrow and Tres Posh's cupcakes, which actually turned out more like cake, with whipped topping and crushed oreo's over that. I know that I have mentioned that I am not a very good baker. Well, I forgot to put spray in the cupcake tin (and I was making cute little mini ones) so they all kinda got stuck, so I got out what I could, put those in the bottom of a tupperware container, put a container of cool whip over that and then sprinkled with crushed oreos. In my defense, I was also working from home, making the pasta salad, packing for the weekend, both food and clothes and getting another pasta salad ready for the weekend. SO, maybe they will turn out better next time. No one was the wiser though and everyone loved it. The game was a TON of fun. Maybe actually too much fun because the boy and I were moving pretty slowly Friday morning when we were supposed to be to his sisters by 7:30 am and did not arrive until 8:30 am, whoops.

We got loaded up there though and headed down the road. We had his middle niece and nephew with us which made for a nice car ride. We were REALLY hungry though, go figure, so we were happy when we stopped for breakfast. And it was a good thing we did as we did not eat again until almost midnight, or if you were me, went to bed without. This is what I meant by it being an interesting weekend. So, let me back up a little. We got up to the cabin, which was really cool and very nice, but also very very deep in the woods. Which is fine, don't get me wrong. The ATV's came off of their trailers and the boys could not wait to get on them and go for a ride. Everyone kind of ventured off in different directions after the initial tour of the grounds. The boys eldest niece and her boyfriend went for a canoe ride, the boys went off on the ATV's and dirt bikes and the adults settled back with some cold bevvies. The bevvies just kept flowing though all night. Then someone had the idea at about 10:30 to make the trek 4 miles down the road to the bar. So off we all went (kids too), still without dinner, granted there was a little munching going on, but no lunch or dinner and since it was not my place to say anything and I had already been slapped regarding the organizing of food, I strictly kept out of it this go round. We got back from the bar around 11:30, I went to bed, the rest of the crew put about 25 lbs. of chicken wings over the fire. His brothers girlfriend put out some potato salad, but that was about it. I really don't think I missed much, but I did wake up around sunrise and caught this and boy was I glad to.

I was happy to wake up and have the quiet time to myself and make myself a nice breakfast, but it was weird to me too. Who wants to sleep the day away? I did finally drag the boy out of bed around 10:30, but it was still pretty quiet. There were a total of 12 of us up there. 6 kids ranging in age from 18 to 11 and 6 adults. The cabin was really cool. The boys brother-in-laws father built it back in 1984. He assembled it on his land outside of the cities, numbered each piece and then put it on two tractor trailers and trucked it up to his land up north and re-assembled it. He also made the majority of the furniture, shelving, doors and cabinetry inside the cabin. Beautiful craftsmanship which has been featured in a number of international magazines. There is also a log cabin building school that tours the cabin every year as part of the curriculum. Needless to say it was quite an experience all the way around.

We made the trek into the bar the next night too. The bar was very interesting and back woodsy. Most of the clientèle are locals. There is a tradition there to sign your name to a dollar bill and staple it to the ceiling so we made sure that we did that.

The kids enjoyed playing some pool and hanging out with the grown ups playing the jukebox. Dinner was pretty late again that night, so once again, when we got back from the bar, this time I think it was only about 12:30, I headed off to bed while the others put some pork steak over the fire. That is really just to late for me to eat anyway. The bad part is that my pasta salad and dessert never got put out, but we dropped that off on our way back to my house at my sisters. I knew they would eat it and enjoy it.

The boy has his two weeks of duty for the Navy starting today. He still has not fully decided what to do about renewing his contract with the Navy when it comes up in September. If he does renew it though he will have to be mobilized. His hours the next two weeks are really funny as well, well not funny I guess, but he will be on from 9:30 am until 10 pm, so I won't be seeing too much of him. We also don't know yet if he will have to be on over the weekends, so I am waiting to hear on that and see if we will be heading up to the lake this weekend. I am also unsure as to whether or not we will be checking out our state fair. Which truth be told I could take it or leave it. A ton of people and a ton of fried food.

I know that there has been some weird weather all over the country, we have had a ton of rain and a ton of flooding in Southern MN here. I hope that all are well and safe and enjoying the last few days of summer, getting the whites in anyway! I know I am!

Week in Review!

It has been a week. In a lot of ways I love Mondays. I don't like to make plans for the boy and I for Mondays and I like to use Monday evenings for recuperating from the weekend usually. Catching up on laundry, making a nice dinner for us and going for a walk. It seems to be a good way for me to ease into the week as well so that is usually what we do and this week was no different. In fact this past Monday night I made this as you may have discovered. This past Monday night though on our walk, I also discovered that the boy had made the decision to re-new his contract with the Navy when it is up this September. I was not happy, at all. He has been on medical hold for almost a year, so whether or not they would even let him re-new who knows, but still, I was a little put off by the fact that he would make this decision on his own. So needless to say after a walk, and I am not even going to say nice walk because there were a lot of comments from me to the effects of, I am so not happy with you at the moment and I am really angry. We got back to my house and I had a glass (or two, okay maybe three) of wine to calm my nerves. This was all very unsettling to me because he had been told a while back that if you have not been mobilized at this point, it was not a matter of if but when. So basically what he was doing was volunteering to go overseas. Now, don't get me wrong, I am all for what these men and women are doing for our country and such, I just don't know how I feel about him going over there for 18 months voluntarily and leaving me back here alone. He has drills this weekend, we will see what happens when this weekend is over.

Tuesday I made tacos which we had not had on a long time, so that was good and we went for a long walk. It was National Night Out and my whole street, every block was doing something but my own block. I guess they put it off until September. I don't really know anyone on my block anyway and there is a huge church across the street, so oh well. We also had a close family friend pass away this morning. He lost a long private battle with prostate cancer. So my sister and I will be attending services with my parents this weekend.

The boy has been on the hunt for plaid madras shorts. Everywhere. He actually ordered the ones from JCrew, but they only had them left in a 36 and he though, oh what the heck, MAYBE they would fit, ummm, he is a 32, so not sure why he thought this, but needless to say they were too big. I turned to my sister for some suggestions and she came up with three. So we spent Wednesday night running around doing errands and we finally came home with these.

I really like them and they look nice in him. I did find one other pair online which I ordered for him, so at least he will have a couple to choose from.

We had sneak preview tickets to go and see Moliere Thursday evening. So we headed out, each had hair appointments to get our hair cleaned up, I had two inches cut off, which was hard, but I needed it. We grabbed some dinner at this place called Pepitos by my house which we had not been to, very good authentic Mexican, I had fish tacos and loved them. After that we stopped into Melly. Melly is the ONLY Lilly store in the state and I happen to be a regular. It also happens to be right across the street from the movie theater where we see our sneak previews. Every time we go in there the boy says it is like taking a tour of your closet. I picked up a couple of items and we headed to the movie. It was a very good film, we both enjoyed it and if you get the chance please check it out.

Friday was a very busy day for me. Meetings all morning, my sister brought the kids to my house in the afternoon and we took them to the beach for a swim which was a lot of fun and since it was in the 90's, much needed.

It is also nice that the beach is within walking distance of my house, but like my sister says, I must have forgotten what it is like to have short little legs because four blocks can be pretty long to little legs.

We had a good time anyway.

The kids know where all the candy is at Crazy Auntie Jilly's house, so they got into that while my sister and I got ready for the visitation. The boy was baby sitting. For his first time ever. In his life. He had never been alone with children before. My sister and I were enjoying that one. It all worked out great and we hit The Malt Shop afterwards for some dinner. My niece Gracie spent the night with us which worked out fine since my sister and I were attending the funeral together Saturday with my parents. Saturday late afternoon is my sister and brother in laws 2nd annual Mystery Beer Party. I am really looking forward to that, it is going to be a hot one, but I have the perfect Lilly ensemble. Have to get these in before the last days of summer are over. I hope you all have a great weekend!

Company for Dinner!

So last night, Tango and Cash's parents came for dinner, this is Tango and Cash, aren't they cute?
This is what I made (with steamed asparagus and a fresh mozzarella, tomato and basil salad)Here is the recipe

Ingredients:
2 5-6 oz Tilapia Fillets
flour for dredging
egg, slightly beaten
Parmesan Flour:
1/2 cup flour
1-1/2 cups parmesan cheese, grated
Mixed well
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp garlic, chopped
1-1/2 tsp capers, drained
juice of 1/2 Lemon
2 Tbsp white wine
1/4 cup chicken stock
pinch salt and pepper
1 Tbsp unsalted butter

Directions:
1. Prepare Parmesan flour in shallow pan, set aside.
1. Dredge fish in plain flour, shaking off excess flour.
2. Dip in egg wash.
3. Coat in parmesan flour mixture.
4. Heat non stick frying pan with olive oil (must be fairly hot).
5. Brown fish on both sides, remove from pan and keep warm.
6. In the same pan add more oil if needed, and saute garlic.
7. Add capers, lemon juice, wine and stock, pinch of salt and pepper.
8. Reduce by half and add whole butter off heat.
9. Plate fish and spoon sauce over.
10. Serve with pasta (orzo) and asparagus.

Notes:
Conomo Cafe Chef Derek Ellerkamp, Essex Massachusetts

And of course I had to change the table setting, so this was the new one

I change my table setting every month (the bedding, like Miss L., only gets changes seasonally along with the shower curtain and towels, but the table linens and place settings, I have too much, need to enjoy it all that gets changed monthly, usually the first weekend of the month, unless there is a holiday in there!), I thought this one looked particularly springy. We had a really good time and I invited my friend "J" from out East as well. Being a bachelor he is always up for someone else to fill his belly. Here we are at my Chinese New Years Party in February.
He has some very serious eyebrows, and no he does not pluck, tweeze or wax them. He is always such a pleasure to have around, I am glad that he was able to join us as well. It is nice having him here for me, kind of like a piece of home at home. Weird maybe, but since he is an East Coast friend, but living here now, and since I lived out East for 18 years, and now here, that just makes sense to me. I used to date his best friend who is coming for a visit to MN over Memorial Day weekend, it should be fun to see him and catch up as well. Over Easter weekend, "J" from out East got engaged so his fiance will be moving here in July which should be fun too. He is really funny and we talk about how no one here really gets the whole Vineyard Vines, Salmon Cove or Lilly thing. At least someone else can relate to me and my obsessions. It was a really good night overall and I love the mid-week impromptu dinners! My mom is just aghast at me though, she can never believe it when I "experiment" on company by trying out new recipes :) Of course then again, she comments how back in "her" day a big night of entertaining with friends over dinner meant breaking out the fondue pot. . . .I wonder where mine is, might have to do that another night :)

So the boy is having his blood pressure tested this week. He has to have three normal readings in a row, get the all clear from a civilian doctor and then see the Naval doctor on May 5th before he gets the all-clear to be mobilized. Well, yesterday's reading was within what the Navy considers normal, today it wasn't. It was high, so I am not sure what this means or how this is going to effect his mobilization, neither is he. The Navy doctor is only on the base here once every other month and May 5th is when he is there. UGH! This is SO flippin aggravating as we cannot make plans or move on with our lives really until we know what is going on with his mobilization. Well, at least we are off to the lake this weekend, some good ol' relaxing is in order. Of course there will be some work, planting and such, but I love that stuff!

Blood Pressure. . . mine is on the rise!

I cannot tell you how aggravating the Navy can be. Right now, at this moment we are WAITING to find out whether the boy leaves May 13th or June 3rd. . . or wait, maybe not at all. He had his blood pressure taken by the Navy today and it was 138/90, which they consider to be within the normal range but everything else you read says borderline high. I don't know, all I do know is that I wish he would either stay or go. We can't make plans for the summer at all because we don't even know if he will be here. I catch myself saying things like "well, this summer, when we are up at the lake . . . ." but meanwhile, who knows if he will even be here. It is just aggravating and it puts me on an emotional roller coaster, but at the same time, it also makes me appreciate and treasure every moment we have together right now.

So tonight a couple of friends are coming over for dinner. I am going to try out a tilapia recipe. I didn't get to make dinner for the boy and I last night. I got sucked into baby-sitting and playing with the new kitten longer than I had anticipated and by the time I got back to the boys we popped some popcorn, watched a little L & O and sacked out.

We have a million and one things of course that we want to do this weekend, but one of them is checking out our friends new Winestyles store. They are having the grand opening on Saturday and I cannot wait! Of course there are many projects that need to be done as well, but those will most likely need to wait as the lake calls! I cannot wait to get up there and just relax and it is supposed to be a beautiful weather weekend as well!

I cannot believe that tomorrow is Thursday already, not sure where the week has gone. I guess I will have to post what I am digging this week tomorrow!