Shutting the Door

Workout: None, I went to Rancho Grande and threw myself in a big bowl of chips and queso. I had a craving that would not QUIT- so I blew off the workout and blew my diet completely.

Quick shout out to my Dad, my sire, my favorite author! I found out yesterday he has been reading the blog. Now if you don't have your copy of Shadows of the Prince by David Abercrombie, I urge you to run, not walk to http://www.barnesandnobel.com/ and get yourself a copy. It is not too late to redeem yourself. You can also check dad out at http://www.davidabercrombie.net/ and get his address so you can send your book to get it autographed or email him or whatever it is you want to do. Nifty website and has some interesting links to my home city- Charleston, SC. He does not mention ME, nor does he have a link to this blog, but I'm absolutely positive his readers and fans would want to know more about his charming and beautiful offspring.... I shall devote the rest of my days to convincing him that's true.

Now to today's topic. I have noticed lately and also when I was going back and forth to Dallas, that when I leave the house, Conrad just shuts the door. I had suspected it, but this morning, there was confirmation. When I used to visit, I would load Blanca and myself into the car and we would wave and back out of the driveway. By the time I got the truck into DRIVE gear and went past the house, he would be back inside and the door would be shut. Now, being from the south, I always fancied that my prince would be tearfully behind the glass door, waving a white handkerchief, bemoaning my departure... (you know, like on Gone With the Wind, before the war, when Scarlet would be on the porch and all the boys would be gathering around her, waiting on her hand and foot and acting a fool when she would walk off- they ALWAYS watched Scarlet depart!).... but I guess when I was traveling back and forth I figured he was just too torn up to wach us drive away. I had visions of him curled up next to the front door, sobbing and missing us something awful. I comforted myself with that. Now I know it's not true!

This morning was a rare morning when Conrad was up and about when I left. So he and Blanca walked me to the door. I commented on our pet froggies that live on the porch light... I said goodbye and I was barely on the last step when I heard the door shut and LOCK behind me! No watching my departure at ALL! Unless he's some kind of weirdo tht watches thru peepholes. Maybe I can comfort myself with that! :)

Now Conrad, if you are reading- I am just KIDDING. I don't need you to follow me out to the car everyday or press yourself up against the glass waiting for me to drive off.
However, being a little torn up when I leave would be nice (wiping away a tear)....

Karyn

Mega Mel's

Wednesday: 20 minute Turbo Jam, 10 minute Turbo Abs (stand up set)

Conrad and I found a new place to eat last night. To all you burger lovers who have visited, we apologize for not having found this place sooner and taken you. We never would have found it anyway- it's deep in the bowels of Tomball. It looks like it's being held together with duct tape and chicken wire- the AC (window unit) drips and dust is covering everything. It's AWESOME! For those of you from Dallas, it's Goff's x 5. It's FANTASTIC. It's called Mel's... and it's back in the woods, there's no way we would have found it, if not for the internet! I found a website called b4-ueat-houston.com and it has reviews from regular people, separated by zip code or type of food. I found review after review on Mel's.

We got two burgers, a basket of onion rings, a tea and water for $13.00 YES- and it was GOOD. We were seriously talking about having them cater the wedding. Three people could share one of those baskets of onion rings. They are GOOD- they blow Goff's away.... the hamburgers are $2.75 each- so I mean, how could we NOT look at having them do the wedding? They had a big sign there too that said they cater events. Perfect! We have an event that needs catering! Theyalso have fried mushrooms and chicken fried steak and salads and things like that. I'm sure we could find a little something for everyone. As far as I know, there are only three vegetarians attending- surely I can find some tortillas or something for them to chew on. :) Kidding! I'll take care of them... but seriously, it's heart attack city in there. For all out of town guests, be sure to bring your running shoes, you may have to work out after this wedding.

Thank goodness I did Turbo Jam last night - I really needed it after that meal. It was great though... good place. I'm going back to the website for more places to try this weekend. Maybe a Mexican one this time.

I need a garage saling buddy- so I'm thinking about rounding up the neighbor lady next door. Conrad knows her husband- I have asked him three times what the woman's name is- he said he has been told numerous times, but he can't remember. GREAT. So, "hi neighbor lady- will you come out and play with me?" I am thinking I need a better plan than this... so I'm thinking on it today and please feel free to comment and give me your thoughts. She has a new baby- like 10 months old- and I'm sure the daddy can watch it for a little while. She may welcome the chance to escape from the two of them. There are bargains to be found in this city and I need someone to go with me and keep me jazzed up about it. Conrad is no help- he's addicted to Lowe's on Saturday morning, plus he's my yard boy... and he has a job to do.

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH HA HA HA HA. Kidding Conrad. Kidding.
(not really....)

That's all for today, folks!

Karyn

Turbo Death and Mascara Alert

Tuesday: No work out

How could I? I can barely move. Turbo Abs didn't even cause me to break a sweat- but I haven't been able to make any sudden movements or stand up straight after getting out of my desk chair for TWO DAYS. Turbo Abs= Turbo Death. I BETTER have a six pack after this. Chalene Johnson is insane. She was just a lifting her leg and swirling from side to side...

"You look GREAT!"
"Just a little longer- and you'll have that 6 pack!"
"Work those obliques!!!"

She is a complete nutjob and now I am terrified of turbo sculpt... so tonight, perhaps I will do the Turbo Jam 40 minute version. I don't know... it hurts to think about it. Why did Jane Fonda retire? So she's 85 years old- whatever, jump back into those legwarmers and give us some NORMAL exercise...

Um... nice suggestions Tracy Curtis-King.
I suddenly feel the need to fill my truck with Pennzoil. KIDDING! I kid, I kid.
Something tells me my dad is going to balk at walking me down the isle to White Wedding... but we can always ask him. Bonus points if he does his hair like Billy Idol.

Now mascara alert... I cried all the way to work this morning. Gayle King, Oprah's best friend and frontman of the Gayle King Show, XM156, Oprah and Friends- had to put her dog down this weekend. She was telling the story of Simon, her Mastiff who had bone cancer. He broke his leg this weekend and when they went in to set the bone, the doctor found the bone tumor. He had already lost 80 pounds, with the cancer, but Gayle though the diet he had been put on was just working. They had no idea he was in so much pain. She talked about the last few minutes they had with him and I just bawled all the way down the street. I have never been through it and I don't want to go through it. When the time comes for Blanca to go, I dont' care if it's at the vets or at home, I am going to be a wreck. I just can't stand to think about it. This Simon thing has put a damper on my whole day. HOW do people become vets? It would break my heart every single day and this, from a woman who could not stand dogs four years ago. Now I see one and my whole day is better. This was a terrible weekend for Gayle and now a rotten day for me. :(

R.I.P. Simon the Mastif.

Ka

Taco Bueno The Woodlands countdown: Grand Opening, 8 days

Weekend Update

Monday: 20 minute Turbo Abs

Turbo Abs KILLS. It wasn't so bad doing it, but this morning trying to sit up in bed was pretty challenging. I am going to try soon, to combine the Abs with the Turbo Jam. That should be a well rounded workout for awhile, before I move on to Turbo Sculpt.

This weekend was pretty easy, breezy.
As you know, we did go out Sunday night for our "I love you" anniversary to Steamboat House. SUPER yummy! We also watched two of our Netflix movies, which was awesome, they had just been sitting there forever... and all weekend, it was football, football, football... We watched the Michigan game, the Clemson game, the Virginia Tech game, ah- and the Tennessee game. Sadly. I heard that Florida won their game.... and of course, A&M won theirs. We didn't watch the last two.

I don't know what it is with Conrad, but every time Clemson scored he wanted me to jump up and down and scream and yell. I do love all things South Carolina, but that's going a bit overboard. He thinks I should celebrate all things SC- since I go on and on about my heritage. But I really go on and on about all things southern. I mean, I get just as jazzed about all things Tennessee or Georgia or North Carolina... now, Florida and Virigina, I don't know... Virigina is pretty close to being Yankee-town and Florida is just full of Yankess. So those two places are pretty hard for me to get excited about. But if someone wants to sit me down and have a conversation about how beautiful Alabama is, well I am IN... or how well they cook in Mississippi... sign me up... ! But I refuse to jump up and down like an idiot every time Clemson scores. Now that's just silly.

Oh- Conrad DID take me to Taco Bueno on Monday and I found out the new one is opening in The Woodlands on 09/13. This is a good 20 miles closer. I am SO excited. It will no longer be considered "crazy" for me to drive to Taco Bueno... because that was 26 miles. I don't believe TB is on my Turbo Jam plan- but I think every once in awhile is ok!

Alright well... that's it for today, at least from ME. No telling what Conrad is cooking up to post about. He asked yesterday if instead of singing at the wedding, if I would prefer him to do his interprative dance... mmmm.... NO

Karyn

Sunday: No work out

I am NOT on board for an 80's themed wedding. Can you think of anything more tacky? Conrad loves to get me riled up by talking about it. I love the 80's as much as the next gal, but I do not want a tacky wedding!

Today we celebrated our one year "I love you" anniversary. We went to a great place called the Steamboat House- top ten steakhouse in Houston. It was really, really great... I give it two thumbs up!

Tomorrow my prince is driving me into Conroe for TACO BUENO and some outlet mall shopping!!!!!!!! Happy Labor Day!

Karyn

80's Theme Wedding

So, I figured I would poll the public on the best idea's for mine and Karyn's 80's themed wedding. Below, I have given choices for everyone to vote on. Any new idea's are welcome as well.

Here we go!

First is attire for the wedding. For Karyn, I am thinking about either leg warmers or those knee length stretch pants. Possibly a Uni-tard. She should also wear one of those oversized pull overs that look like a turtle neck, except that is hangs down. She should also have her hair with those bangs that stick straight up. And a Debbie Gibson hats. Finally her shoes should be jelly's.

For me, it will either be MC Hammer pants or parachute pants. Along with the fake snake skin patent leather shoes, or boots. I think a good 80's hair band poofy pirate shirt should go well with either. And of course it would not be buttoned to keep the chest wide open. For hair, either a full mullet or a Flock of Seagulls hair-do.

Now for the song I will sing to Karyn after the wedding. Anything by REO Speedwagon should work. Or, Sweet Child O' Mine. For the people more into hair bands, maybe Whitesnake's "Is this Love". Or, for the real rockers, Britny Foxx's "Long Way to Love."

Finally, instead of a traditional diamond ring, maybe a mood ring.

Karyn is very interested in this idea, so post up your idea's.


Conrad

We're Cookin'

Good evening to all.

Friday: Did not work out, rest day.
UPDATED 11 PM- Saturday: 20 minute Turbo Jam

Today was clean the house day. Conrad went out to Lowe's and Home Depot this morning and I stayed behind to try my NEW Blueberry Cobbler coffee creamer. DELICIOUS! After I sampled that, I decided the house needed a good scrubbing. I vacuumed, dusted, washed clothes, washed sheets, swept, scrubbed bathroom and kitchen counters, scrubbed toilets, you name it. This house is clean! That should count as today's work out, but *sigh* it won't- I'll be doing Turbo Jam in a few hours.

Tonight Conrad requested I make hamburger pie. This is a dish developed by my own sainted mother. :) The recipe is as follows:

Preheat oven to 350

In a pan, fry up hamburger (I fry up one of those little rolls from Wal-Mart)
right before it's ready, add a 1/2 of a chopped onion. When the onion is soft, add a small can of tomato sauce- I've been getting the roasted garlic kind, but any SMALL can will work. That's your filling.

Then you need to get some of that Pillsbury pastry sheets. You need TWO sheets (a top and bottom). I let those get to room temp while I'm making the filling.

Anyway, grease a pan, lay out the first sheet.
Then I put down a layer of meat filling, then I take some shredded cheddar cheese (about a nice heaping handful) and I put it on top of the meat, then I layer with the last meat layer and one more layer of cheese. Then I put the top sheet of the pastry on top of it all and press the two together. Looks just like a pie! Then I put on egg in a bowl, beat it and I use a pastry brush to put an egg wash on top of the pie. Bake for about an hour.

DELICIOUS! I love this thing- Conrad does too. We have it at least once a month.

I just got done making red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing... yum, yum too!
This is our "I Love You" anniversary- the weekend we first said it. So red is for
LOOOOOVE.

We have been watching college football ALL DAY- and I guess this will go on through the night. Conrad is all up in arms over the Michigan upset. I say good! I always root for the underdog!

Karyn