OCD+ADD=OMG

I came up with the idea off cooking for Mom and Dad at least once a week, but to tell the truth, Mom doesn't really let me just cook on my own. She says that she's happiest when we cook together, because it reminds her of when she was younger and cooked with her mother. She considers those memories precious, and the making of new memories with her own daughter to be equally precious. So, instead of getting possessive of the meal I'm making, I've decided the time spent learning from her is more valuable. Lately, I try to come up with a meal that she hasn't heard of or made, and run it buy her. Then we buy the ingredients and cook it together. Usually it's me saying all of what I want to do by means of defer to her. If she thinks it will work, we do it that way, but sometimes she has easier (or smarter) ways of doing things. Mom say she's no cook, but she has been doing it longer than I :)

So, I came up with the idea of Texas Toast Sandwiches.... basicly, we got some chicken breast, onions, tomato and shredded pizza cheese, then bought a box of Texas toast from Wal-Mart (it's in the frozen section, and we were thrilled when we found it... even if we had no idea what to do with it). We took a whole onion and sliced it in rings, then we put it in a skillet with butter and cooked it down (for quite a while actually). We also sliced the tomato, and then cut the slices in quarters. We took two chicken breasts and cut them into bite-size pieces. After the onions cook down and are nice and flimsy, we put season all on the chicken pieces and let them cook completely. After they were cooked, we added the tomatoes. We pretty much let everything stay on medium, stirring it occasionally just to make sure everything cooked evenly. But once we had everything in the skillet and it was all fairly well cooked down, we just put a lid on it and turned it on low. We put the Texas Toast into our toaster oven and cooked it until it was nice and golden brown. Then, we put the chicken/onion/tomato mixture onto a piece of toast, dumped a mountain the shredded cheese on top of that before smushing it down with another piece of Texas Toast. Mom had put some frozen broccoli in a pot and let it cook till it got soft, and then she took some of that nice, zesty cheese dip that you usually buy with Tostitos chips for dip, and mixed half of it in with the broccoli. It. Tasted. AMAZING. Mom agreed that the same thing could be done with shrimp (for the sandwiches) and be equally awesome. You could also add mushrooms, or roll up the mixture in a tortilla and add some guacamole and it'd be good too.

Now that I really think about it, I think having her cooking with me not only makes it easier, it makes me more calm about cooking. If I were trying it all by myself, I would be a lot less sure of myself... not only in the execution of the cooking but in the final product. So it's probably best that it's this way :)

So that's the tale of my cooking today. There are left overs and I fully intend to enjoy them ... with or without the Texas Toast :D Night, Sunshines!

People Love That You're Kind and Compassionate

You're the kind of gal or guy who really enjoys putting other people first. You enjoy pitching in and making a difference. Your heart really goes out to anyone in need. In fact, it's difficult for you to turn your back on someone who's struggling. As long as you have friends who don't take advantage of you, your empathy is only a good thing. If there were more people in the world like you, you wouldn't feel like you have to look out for everyone.

What Do People Love About You?

The First Rule of Blogthings Is: You Don't Talk About Blogthings

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Saturday, we dragged ourselves out of bed around 9 to go to Vs. A Leo. We ended up walking in just as they started (thanks to Reiko and Reign’s smoke breaks). Talk about hilarious. I don’t know how they end up with come-backs so quickly, but those two guys are hilarious. After an hour of amusing ourselves with that, we headed back out (because Emphysema and Bronchitis needed their fix again). We hung out (invariable going to the dealers room or just walking around) till 1, and I went to see the panel called 15 Years of Sailor Moon…..which…..ended up frustrating me, and I just left that panel early.

There was more hanging out till about 4ish, when we headed down to the bus area. The cosplay competition had gotten so big, they actually reserved Angelle Hall on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus. Talk about madness. We got in on the second bus (first seats), and the lobby of the hall was full when we got there, and I’m fairly sure two more buss loads were dropped off. Then they opened the doors O..O I managed to scamper down and get us seats on the edge of the 6th row to the far right side. Finally, it seemed like everyone got seated and situated.

Then they made us wait an hour. But of course, we’re anime fans…and most of us are kids to boot. So we didn’t just sit quietly. First there was singing, clapping, everything we could do to keep ourselves entertained. Then, the guys in the back who control the lights, sound and everything in the auditorium used one of those red laser lights and he was pointing out things on the stage….well, it turns out someone else…brought a laser light. Two to be precise. There was one red one and one green one, and they would chase each other around on the walls and ceiling. Then the guys in back made the spot light chase them around. There was music, and eventually dancing by everyone in the auditorium, but…it stopped when someone stupid got on the stage. Yeah. But then we all sat down and watched the laser lights ^..^ Twas funny.

The cosplay competition was good. I got it all on Zeiss, but for some odd reason, none of the pictures Reiko took came out. But it was pretty awesome, and I did get it on DVD at least. There was a “Dating Game” thingy in between the competition and the awards (so that we don’t all go stir crazy again), and there was a “Het” Round and a “Yaoi” round =..= Oddly enough, the Yaoi round was funnier, but I didn’t record it! So yeah. I wanted to have room on the DVD for the awards and stuff, so I didn’t record that, but you know. Whatever. The memories will still rock.

We went back to the hotel (after waiting for the buss for 35 minutes) and I went to sleep. Reiko, on the other hand, went to the “Mecha Con House Party/Rave”. Then she went and swam with some guys (though the pool was closed so they had to jump the fence. A storm rolled in though. So they came back to their hotel rooms….at 4:30 in the morning =..= Evidently Reiko had met a guy named Gaven that night, and they all agreed to go and eat sushi during the “happy hour” between 10 and 2. They agreed to meet at 11…….But see, they were all exhausted. I woke up and got ready around 10ish, and Reign knocked on my door around 11 telling me that Reiko needed to get up now because they’d all agreed to go out for sushi….She was ready by 11:40 but…there was no sign of Gaven. I found out that Gaven is the “Local Fraternity Rich Kid” and he knows all the local restaurants and what’s good…and plus he was really freakin’ awesome. So yeah, they really liked hanging around with him. He did show up around 12ish, and we went through the dealers room one more time (Gaven wanted a hentai shirt and Reiko got a black Yoshi plushy), and then we headed all the way across town…to find that sushi places are closed on Sundays. I knew this, but I guess I figured that, you know, maybe not all of them adhered to this. So, we ended up going to Chili’s for breakfast (of course, by the time we got there and ordered it was around 1:40). But after much toil and sorrow we got our food and were happy. At this point, we were having such fun hanging out that I decided to blow off whatever panels I might've wanted to go to that day. Who needs the con when you've got cool people, right?

After eating and goofing off a bit, we headed back to the hotel, and instead of prolonging the inevitable, we decided to go ahead and start packing up to leave. I’d gotten a text from Scamp, but my phone was on silent so…yeah. I texted back asking if she could show up in the lobby around 3:45. She said they might be a little late, but they’d be there. We headed down, and the boys were good to help us with the luggage cart. I told them to go ahead and take the luggage out and I’d check out. After check out, I walked out to the parking lot to find Gaven on the luggage cart (surfing it) with Reign pushing the cart, and Reiko trailing behind holding Reign’s leash…..these crazy kids are so much fun. We stopped outside (after turning in the luggage cart) and they took a smoke break ….and stalked Master Roshi. Reiko had gotten some new pants that say “I *heart* Kyo”, and who better to take a naughty picture with than Master Roshi, right? So, Master Roshi finally came back (they’d seen him pass already), and Reiko got her picture with him.

Needless to say the pictures from the trip are great….even if there aren’t enough of them. True, Facebook’s stupid 60-Picture limit would hinder anything more than the 125 we had, but it’d make a great album. I was thinking of buying a couple of matching albums and printing out the pictures so Reiko and I can have the ultimate memento. It’d be awesome…it’s just…to find the right one, ya know?

Sunday after the con is a blur really. I know that Scamp showed up and then we drove home. I uploaded pics to MySpace right away, but couldn’t edit them all….the internet kept crashing >..< Oh well. I’ll get around to it. Anyway, I went to bed late, not because I wasn’t tired, but because I was so tired I couldn’t rest. I tried to read a bit (and since I bought a crap-load of manga, that worked nicely for me ^..^). Monday was terrible. I wasn’t feeling good and I was zonked from the whirlwind weekend. After work (which just dragged by), I went over to my Aunt Carolyn’s house to eat. Mom and Dad had gotten in from Arkansas, and Aunt Carolyn had cooked jambalaya and white beans. I ate and was very happy.

After getting home, I got a call from Reiko. She said she’d been talking to Reign and Gaven and they were telling her about another convention coming up in December called Louisianime. She didn’t have internet though, so she was wondering if I could look for it for her. And since I put that link right there up, I’m gonna assume you all figured out that I found it =..= It turns out it’s May 8-10, 2009 at the Marriot in Baton Rouge….which is better time-wise, because she wants to cosplay as Seras Victoria from Hellsing. I still don’t know if I’ll be going…but it’d be more realistic if it’s next year and all. I’ve already taken off all the days I can this year.

….I think Reiko stole my cereal…But yeah! That was our Mecha Con Experience. I’m pretty certain that if I got next year, I’ll be reserving a suite for Thursday through Monday so that I can get there nice and easy and then leave whenever I want ^..^ I didn’t really do that much damage swag-wise either. I ended up with 4 hacky sacks that have cute anime-ish faces on them, my two Mokona’s (one white and one black), Volumes 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11 of W Juliet and Volumes 3, 5, and 6 of Kara Kano (there was a special...8 manga for $60 ^..^). Yayness. I now have absolutely no money =..= But Friday is payday. I shall be paying bills though so…yeah. I’m keeping it simple for the next couple of weeks. Luckily, I don’t kneed much.

I guess that’s all for now. Later, Sunshines!

You are the Sense of Sight

You are a very observant, detail oriented person. You are able to take in a lot of information at once. You often see things that other people never notice. You have a good eye for design and aesthetics. You love to be surrounded by beauty - natural or not. When you imagine how something should look, you see it clearly in your mind.

Which of the Five Senses Are You?

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P.S. Did somebody order a hurricane?...

therealljidol topic: What do you like best about where you live right now? What do you miss the most about a place you've left behind?

/thinks.………………/sighs. Let’s see how to go about this then. Perhaps it’d be best to explain my living arrangements and then take it piece by piece. I’ve lived all my life in this one town. I’m so far south in South Louisiana, I might be able to sell you what will one day be beach-front property. I’ve seen this town go from boring and normal, to over-crowded and interesting. I have always lived with my parents (Raymone {65} & Clara {56}), who dote on me, and I do dote on them as well. I was taught by their example that showing consideration and affection is most important in relationships. There have been times when my older brother (Thomas {36}) has been in the picture as far as living with us goes, but this is usually, and thankfully, temporary. Our home sits at the front of 2 acres of property, with a whole acre or so of space. On the back of the property sits our rent house. It is a small A-framed house that I hope to live in by the end of the year (and I almost always refer to as ‘the Nexus’).

What do you like best about where you live right now?: Well, let’s see. Every day begins and ends with ‘I love you’s from aforementioned parents. Even when we’re upset with one another, we let our anger ebb and then go about our ways as we always do. We are very happy people, we love to tease one another and laugh with (and at) each other. We are also very open, and I feel as though there is very little (if nothing at all) I cannot discuss with my parents. I often ask their advice when I am considering even small things. Not so much in that I feel as though I can’t move forward without their approval, but because their opinions do matter to me. If I’m going to make a decision then I’ll be the one making it, but that doesn’t change the fact that I like to know where they stand on the matter...yes, I think that answers that nicely.

What do you miss the most about a place you've left behind?: My story hasn’t moved a lot really. We’ve only ever lived in two houses as long as I’ve been alive. I grew up a bit in this house that I’m currently living in....I grew up more in my grandmother’s (Called Mommie by the grandkids) house. Perhaps because I was the baby’s baby, she always seemed to have me over and doted on me more than the others. And then, she died. I was young, and I barely even remember her…it’s mostly feelings, and things I know I should remember, but only have flashes of. When Mommie died, my parents decided to buy her house. Unfortunately, it was always ‘Mother’s House’ for all the kids, and many family members abused that fact. My mom put a stop to that quickly by changing locks and declaring that while Mommie was important and well loved in life, she was now gone and this wasn’t her house any longer. Not amount of sentiment was going to change that. She probably hurt a few people's feelings…but we aren’t the sort that relies on the physical for remembrance.

Hurricane Andrew hit not long after we’d bought the house...thank God Mom had harped on Dad to keep the flood insurance. A subdivision on the other side of the bayou was flooding, so the geniuses of our community decided to let the damn break on both sides, thereby flooding booth subdivisions. Our entire street flooded, and we had 13 inches of water in our house. A centimeter higher, and the water would’ve gotten into the electrical outlets…I don’t know what would’ve happened, and I’d prefer not to think on it. At the time, I thought it was a lot of fun. Hell, Mom and Dad had propped up all the furniture on wooden chairs, bricks and counter tops, and I ended up crawling on top of the couch and sleeping through the better part of Andrew! I woke up and there was water! Inside! I was still just a kid, and having water in your house was almost as good as having an indoor pool ^.^ Once the waters receded, the insurance helped us to remodel the house. Mom was able to take out the old, yellow shag carpet and put in laminate. The wallpaper was replaced as well, and the kitchen was remodeled to her liking.Now, this was truly our house....wasn't it?

...Things were always strange in that house...Mommie had said things before, and I’d felt things before, but no one had bothered to be bothered by it all. Of course, once we moved in my parents started to see these thigns too. Sights of a little girl in an old dress walking from room to room only to disappear…things that would be set in one place only to be found in another, upended and disheveled. I swore I saw things in that house that had no business being there. I hated playing hide and seek in it, because I didn’t feel safe in the darker corners....it just wasn’t right. Luckily, Mommiee had her house on 2½ acres of land, and she had trees all through it. Oak, Pecan, Willow, Magnolia, and others I don’t even remember. I played outside with my rabbit (Thumper) . I climbed trees a lot...and sitting in their branches, listening to the wind and birds...I invented new worlds to escape to when the real one had become too much to bear.

My new house is a comfort because it holds my loved ones and myself in safety (it really is that simple)...and my old house brought a lot of adversity…and sadness, but it also taught me to make lemonade ^.^ Things may not've allways been good, but I learned that life goes on even with the bad. I miss my grandmother, though I’ll never have her back, and I miss her trees that would sing to me when the wind picked up...but I am content with where I am...and I hope to be happy with wherever it is I may go.

Ok. So, today’s nothing special. It’s church, which is normal. Linuxman is planning on doing research on different religions and belief systems and having a lesson or semester on that, which should be really cool. I find other religions and faiths to be interesting. Especially their origins.

Mom and Dad kinda changed their future all over again. Ya know, years ago, they said that when I was ready (aka when my car was paid for) they’d let me move into the A-frame house and live there. Then they decided they wanted to move to Tennessee (well, Mom decided, and Dad was game). Especially after the hurricanes and all. Then Dad realized that they have snow in Tennessee, and that plan went out the window. Now they’ve decided that they want to buy a huge camper/motor-home and drive it all over the U.S. helping people. It’s a Christian organization where people go all over the world and they help build homes for the needy (kinda like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, only with less publicity and glamour). So now they want me to stay here at this house, and they’ll drive all over helping people and seeing the beauty of the U.S. (because God knows there’s beauty out there, it’s just hard to find with all those people in the way -.-), and they’ll call and write and check in every now and then when they feel like it, and then they’ll be off helping others whenever they get restless.

Fine with me. I get to live alone and do whatever while they play hero. No big deal. Ya know as a home-body I really don’t understand the restless urges and need to change. I adapt to circumstances and then get used to them. I enjoy my routine. I’m a creature of habit, I like planning ahead and having maps and schedules and so forth. If they wanna go off and be helpful in their golden years, that’s fine with me. And the fact that they want me staying home so they’ll have something to return to when they get tired of the road only makes it better.

So, now it looks like I’ll be staying down here in South LA unless I actually get out and move myself (which is also a possibility in 10 or so years). Now, all I have to worry about is getting another job -.-