Enjoy the trip called the journey of life…..the destination is final.

Tomorrow my youngest son will be 31 years old.  I was wondering today where it had all gone.  My life is like most, with its ups and downs.  There are some things that, if I could, I would have done differently.  If I had I then I would not be the person I have become today.  I’m not unhappy how my life turned out.  My only real regrets are those things that have harmed others, specifically my family.

‘Life is like a jar of jalapeños. What you do today, might burn your
ass tomorrow.’

Tired of ho-hum meatloaf?  Here’s a great recipe my son and I conjured up in the kitchen tonight:

1.5 pounds ground beef (I used angus chuck)

a dozen individual wheat crackers - crushed

1 diced onion

1 diced jalapeno - yep the hot ones

1/2 red or yellow bell pepper

1 egg

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

1/4 t. Cajun Spice

1/4 t black pepper

dash of garlic powder

1/2 t. salt (or to taste)

Mix together and cook in loaf pan for 1 hour at 350 degrees.  Top with additional tomato sauce or tomato catsup ( I used catsup) cook for another 15 minutes.

MMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMM yummy!

OFFSPRING
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 package (3 1/2oz) instant coconut cream pudding mix
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup pumpkin, canned or fresh cooked and mashed
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Preparation:

Combine eggs, sugar, and oil in a large mixing bowl; beat at medium speed of an electric mixer hand-held until well blended.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, soda, salt, pudding mix, nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon; add to sugar mixture alternately with the mashed pumpkin, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix well after each addition. Stir in pecans or walnuts.

Pour batter into a greased and floured 9×5x3-inch loaf pan. Bake at 350° for 1 hour, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes; remove loaf to wire rack to cool completely.

I have used this recipe for years and love it.  You can’t taste to coconut and I’ve left it out when I would have had to make a trip to the store.

This one is for Mr. Angry and his over grown garden with volunteer pumpkins.

Here is a wonderful recipe that will help you do away with some of the zucchini from your summer garden.

Mix together:

1 Boxed spice cake mix

4 eggs

1/2 cup cooking oil

1 tablespoon vanilla

fold in:

2 cups grated un-pealed zucchini

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup sunflower seeds (optional)

Bake in loaf pans 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes.  Do the toothpick test - it works.

I went to self defense and restraint training yesterday.  There is not a square inch of me that doesn’t hurt.  I spent 8 hours performing a modified martial arts technique.  I am too old for that crap!

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.

3. It’s always darkest before the dawn. So if you’re going to steal your neighbor’s newspaper, that’s the time to do it.

4. Don’t be irreplaceable. If you can’t be replaced, you can’t be promoted.

5. Always remember that you’re unique. Just like everyone else.

6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

7. If you think nobody cares if you’re alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

8 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you have their shoes!

9. If at first you don’t succeed, sky diving is not for you.

So my brother and his lady have this beautiful new home in Wolforth, near Lubbock.  They are both smokers and have determined they will not smoke in the new house.  So what do they do?  They have a living area in the garage.  Yes, it houses a car.  But there is a table, chair, microwave oven, dresser (complete with makeup bag) stereo, cd player, television and last but not least a refrigerator.  The magnetic sign on the refrigerator, obviously guarding the beer, says:

NO TRESPASSING:

TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHOT

SURVIVORS WILL BE SHOT AGAIN!

Must be the Kenley coming out in him.

]]> http://jcoftw.wordpress.com/2008/05/07/dont-mess-with-my-brother/feed/ http://jcoftw.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/mom/ http://jcoftw.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/mom/#comments Tue, 06 May 2008 16:12:00 +0000 jcoftw http://jcoftw.wordpress.com/?p=459

I went to Lubbock this weekend to visit my Mom.  It was, as usual, incredibly depressing.  She has reached the stage in her dementia where she doesn’t remember to swallow food.  Everything must be in puree form and followed by something to drink.  Liquids she swallows.  She has lost more weight this month.  Her nurses aid says she has deteriorated a lot this past month.  It is hard for me to accept that she has no idea who I am.  I combed her hair, gave her a manicure and put lotion on her dried up skin.  I fed her dinner on Sunday night and slurpee on Monday.  I made her an appointment for a hair cut and perm for today.  She does not seem at all unhappy.  I guess that is the most I can hope for, that somewhere in her mind, she is in a happy place.