1+1=3
>> Sunday, August 23, 2009
A mini-Skinner is on the way! We're hoping to be marveling at our squinty eyed, freckle faced, rolly polly of kid this upcoming March.
A New Notch On Our Growth Chart
>> Friday, August 7, 2009
Check our our thweet views on our daily route to work! Rte 218 winds along side Storm King Mountain, which is what stands between West Point to the south and the village of Cornwall on the north. And speaking of Cornwall...
We've been going back and forth the past two months with a sister duo who are selling their duplex without a realtor, which, in this case, has been a minor pain. Thinking your property is worth more than it is, and not having a realtor to put you in your place can make it difficult to reach a fair outcome. Not to mention...this place hasn't been updated in a good 15-20 years....
But all things aside, our realtor patiently kept at 'em and finally was able to work the sisters down to a price we thought fair. So, yes! Our offer has been accepted, and we're getting an inspector to take a look at the place Monday afternoon. We're definitely bracing for a long list of things that will need to be fixed, but we're up for it.
The right side unit (hopefully, if this whole process works out) will be where we'll be living. There's a guy living on the left side already, who will be there for at least another couple of years. So, having him essentially pay for our mortgage is a thweet bonus. Then, when then the day comes when we feel the need for a little more space, we'll probably find a house nearby, keep the duplex and have it churn out a little extra income for us.
And might I say *cue the hallejujah chorus* that we'll finally have a washer and drier for ourselves?!!
Vacay
>> Monday, July 27, 2009
Had ourselves a grand ol' time in Boston. Rained the first day we were there, but we made good of it and chilled out in a scrumptious cafe/chocolatier recommended to us by a good friend and nibbed on fig filled chocolates and a toasty panini. We also hit up a cupcake shop where Joe ate himself a creamcheese lathered carrot cake cupcake, topped with flakes of gold, so posh.
Joe also got a tasty dish of steak tar tar later that night at a place we ate with Julie and Dave. Sooo, we pretty much ate our way through Boston, which I can't protest to. We loved Boston, big city but nice and cozy at the same time.
Found this Harvard law student giving me the up down and checking me out.
Relaaaax
>> Monday, July 20, 2009
Joe brought home a big bowl o' berries he picked from the bushes behind West Point's outdoor concert amphitheater. Tasty, tasty, tasty. They were gone by the time dinner rolled around. We're waiting for the next wave of berries to ripen up...
Today is our first day of "leave" as they call it in Uncle Sam's club. We're taking this week off from work, checking into a bed and breakfast, and checking out Boston. Toodles!
Ahhhhh, so good.
>> Sunday, July 12, 2009
We hit up West Point's Round Pond for a canoe picnic for today's lunch date! Peanut butter, banana, and honey sandwich, coupled with a bag of nom-nom Cheetos. We licked them orange fingers good. Can't beat a $4.00/hr canoe rental just 10 minutes from our apartment.
On other things, Joe and I put in an offer for a duplex located in the village of Cornwall On Hudson, just north of West Point. We thought to ourselves....heck we don't quiiiite need a house yet, so why not live in one side of a duplex, collect rent from the other side, and make a little extra moneys?? It's a for sale by owner, and the lady selling the place is a bit out of touch with the current market. She bought it at the peak of the bubble and still thinks it's worth every penny. We'll see about that. Plus, it's in dire need of a facelift.....she said the guy who fixes the boiler in the basement has never seen a boiler that old...
Other than that though, not much a' happenin' in our neck of the woods. The weather up here is freaking fantastic. Still haven't had to turn on the A/C.
Oh My!
>> Thursday, July 9, 2009
Chocolate cake my friends...from scratch, in a mug, made in a microwave. Why not?!
Here's what you need and how you do it
4 Tablespoons flour
4 Tablespoons granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons cocoa
1 Egg
3 Tablespoons milk
3 Tablespoons canola or vegetable oil (or 1.5 Tablespoons oil and 1.5 Tablespoons applesauce)
Pinch salt
Cooking spray
1 Mug
Coat inside of mug with cooking spray. Mix flour, sugar, salt and cocoa. Stir in egg. Pour in milk and oil and combine thoroughly.
Put in microwave for 3 minutes on maximum power (1,000 watts). Let it sit for five or so minutes before spooning the cake onto a plate.
Read more...
Thuper Duper
>> Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Last day of June, and we're still A/C free. By all means...doesn't mean we've had a handful of nights of Joe and I laying next to each other, in a "don't touch me 'cause it's so freaking hot" position, only a strip teeeeez away from our birthday suites.
What to fix for din-din when the sweat starts to bead, and maximizing your stove to it's full potential is not in your favor? Joe found this which made us both do this.
Ta Daaaaaaa. Almost.
>> Sunday, June 28, 2009
Still trying to work out some kinks (like the "search" box....it's not exactly doin' any "searching" as of now), but all in all not too shabby, eh? I ended up taking bits and pieces from other blog-o-licious sites and created this dainty scheme.
Back to looking into "search" boxes...
Yeehaw!
>> Sunday, June 21, 2009
Paid a visit to good ol' Oklahoma last week to celebrate Mike and Amy's wedding. If the picture of Lacey whippin' my mom around on the dance floor doesn't suffice, please let it be know that we had a freaking great time. During our stay in tornado country, Joe and I got to finally meet our new niece, Nikki. So. Cute. Below is the dad himself, the chillest baby I've ever met, and Uncle Joe.
I've been studying up, rackin' my brain, and learning XML code in my spare time...blog makeover to soon appear...hopefuly.
Viva la Panama
>> Monday, June 8, 2009
4 summers ago, my friends Isaac, Lacey, and I were floating on a plastic portable "deck-like" thing you once enjoyed jumping off of at summer camp. We lounged, soaked in the Mediterranean sun, watching man after hairy man struttin' in ye ol' speedo. We chitted, we chatted, Isaac bringing up his grand idea of someday starting a music festival, from scratch mind you, in his home country of Panama.
This summer, was the 3rd anniversary of Isaac's creation. The "Alfredo de Saint Malo Music Festival" takes place in the historic downtown of Panama, hosting recitals given by members of the Metropolitan Opera, The Rome Opera House, down to a finale orchestra concert given by local school children from unfortunate districts and circumstances.
Amazing time. Amazing.
One note.
The Panama Canal? I mean, it's worth going to see, just to see. But it's just not as glorious as your elementary school teacher made it out to be. Pooey.
Vacay
>> Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Joe and I took a Memorial Day trip to visit our friends Julie and Dave out in Vermont. Cruised down the Connecticut River in a thweet canoe, hit up some bueno eateries and soaked in the countryside. Above is where Julie and her roomies live in. It's an old barn that's been converted into a house. "Come to me my animal friends!"
Plug
>> Monday, May 18, 2009
Why wouldn't you want a $500 desk, for free?
My cousin Anna entered a giveaway for a super duper holy moly scrapbook organizer desk that will take her to the next level of memory preservation and is by golly going to win this thang. The desk has a plethora of storage for all of her heart shaped cut-outs and zig-zag scissors.
I mean, take a LOOK!
All you gotta do, is go to "The Original Scrap Box" by clicking HERE, then click on the "Cutest Craft Giveaway" (it's right smack dab in the middle of the page people), then vote for #259. That's it! Easy. Just a couple seconds of your day. And if you're feeling reeeally genorous with your time, you can vote everyday until the 28th. So, go! Help my Anna!
Whoa.......That Dudn't Look Right.
>> Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Dislocated the ol' digit playing a mean game of volleyball with fellow bandees. Oh man you should have seen it. The joint that connects the thumb to your wrist looked somekind of inverted, leaving my thumb stuck pointing in a direction....not.....normal.
Ironically(?), luckily(?) we were playing against the medic team, who let out an "Ohhhhhhhhh....." upon seeing my funk of a thumb. After a couple minutes of deliberation, they decided to go ahead and pull it back into place, and told me to head to the emergency room to get an x-ray.
So here I sit, slowly plucking away at the keyboard while catching faint wafts of stink floating from my sweaty casted hand.
Next time it's time to take care of your pearlies, try brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand. Comical.
65 degrees, mostly sunny, 37% humidty
>> Sunday, April 19, 2009
Woke up with the windows open, enjoyed some blueberry pancakes and green tea, then off we went for a beautimous hike up Storm King Mountain. Can't beat it.
...
>> Friday, April 17, 2009
Got home from playing at a funeral, walked up the stairs to our apartment, turned the corner into our living room, lo and behold.
He (or she, I guess) ate through the sheet rock in our kitchen wall, ate through a bag of my attempt at homemade english muffins, enjoyed some almond meal, then somehow climbed up the curtains to chill on the curtain rod until I came home to crash his glutenous afternoon.
Joe gave the apartment manager a ring to see if they could send anyone over to help get the critter out. Two portly guys came over, one with a broom, the other with a piece of poster board (?)....
We chased the thing around the apartment for a good 20-30 minutes until he fiiiiinally ran out the front door.
Bats = check
Squirrels = check
>> Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Like aunt, like niece? That's little Nikkia on the right, but strangely, my mom's got plenty-o pics of me chillin' in the exact same pose. In Japan, their Superman-esque hero is affectionately known to all boys (and those girls not in love with Hello Kitty), as Ultraman. And when he holds his arms as pictured above, a supersonic beam of lazer justice pierces the likeliness of Godzilla or the like.
So here's to a new generation of infant Ultraman wannabe's.
And if you're bored, watch this epic of epicness.
Aunt Mikki and Uncle Joe
>> Friday, March 20, 2009
She's here! Little Nikkia Lyn Gramoll arrived this past Wednesday at around 4:10pm. Weighing in at 5 lbs 11oz, she's already using her good genetics and speedy metabolism to good use. Secretly though, I hope she chubbs out and fills out some chunky thighs. I love poking squishy baby chub.
Step 1
>> Thursday, March 5, 2009
Find house of liking.
check
Step 2 - Think about it. Over and over. And over.
check
Step 3 - Go back and take another look at said house.
check
Step 4 - Go back and take ANOTHER look at said house.
check
Step 5 - Think about it.
check
Step 6 - Reeeeeally think about it.
check
Step 7 - Place an offer.
check
We found a cute little home we like. And the price is right. It's a short sale, so it's up to the bank to make a decision on whether they want to move forward with the, now 5, offers put on this house. It could be weeks, or it could be months, before we hear anything back from the bank.
Keep your fingers and toes crossed for us!!
Back to Business
>> Thursday, February 19, 2009
Let no hernia inhibit a man's culinary creations! Being stuck on the couch for 10 days straight has its pros; bedside service, lots of movies, lots of naps, surf the net 'til your eyeballs hurt, get absorbed into a book, losing sense of time....all good things....for maybe the first couple of days. After that, you begin to fancy the idea of being productive again. To sway some of the boredom, Joe hunched himself over the kitchen counter to make some dericous meals.
2 creations from Joe's library of ideas. Enjoy!
Here we have a lasagna-esque dish, cousin to one of our favs from Victoria's Pasta Shop in Norman, OK. It's basically, a lasagna noodle rolled around mozerella cheese, cottage cheese, and a couple of shrimp. Then topped with a red sauce, an alfredo sauce, and a litte parmesian and pepper. So simple, so good.
This one is probably the best thing I've eaten in a long while. Crunchy savory outside, juicy tender chicken inside. The batter is milk/egg based, flavored with curry and cumin. Dunk the chicken in the milk mixture, in some flour, back into the milk mixture and then flour one more time. Fry it up and you've got yourself a fatty time curry delight. Gonna put in a request with the chef to make this one again sometime soon. Here's the recipe, Joe's words exactly.
Ingredients:
● 3 1/2 - 4 lbs Chicken Thighs & Drumsticks
● 3 - 4 Eggs
● 1 cup Milk
● 1 tbsp Salt
● 1 1/2 tbsp Curry Powder
● 1 tsp Cumin
● 1 tsp Fresh Ground Pepper
● 1 cup Flour
Directions:
Easy and Delicious!
In a bowl, beat eggs and incorporate the milk. The idea is to use just a little more milk than eggs. Add several teaspoons worth of the curry powder, half the cumin, a teaspoon of salt, and half the pepper to the egg and milk mixture and mix thoroughly.
In a separate bowl, mix the flour with the remaining spices.
Cooking options are to deep fry, pan fry, or lightly pan fry and finish in the oven set at 350 (recommended).
To apply the batter, coat each piece of chicken in the wet mix, then the dry mix TWICE in that order. Cook to your liking!
Serves 6
YUM!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
