Wastin' away again in Margaritaville

Well, it's about 10:00 on a Monday night, and I've had too many of these ...

...to write anything coherent any more tonight!

Hey, that's pretty good. Bedtime here has been 9:30 most nights!

My son will be going back to college in a few weeks, right after my beach trip, so we took him and his very nice girlfriend to dinner at a new Mexican restaurant in town.

Our waitress was Ayrica, our old babysitter. We haven't seen her for years, so there was a lot of catching up to do. "Oh my God! Ayrica! When did you move back?" "How's your mom?" "and Travis. What is he doing now?" "Remember the block parties we used to have?"

"Try the peach margarita. They're my favorite..." and pretty soon, it's late, we're stuffed and all caught up. Now I just need someone to tuck me in!

Why is it that everytime I eat out, on the walk to the car, I have buyer's (eater's) remorse?

I'd rather have the cash back, and the belly full of Tex-Mex wouldn't keep me up, either. Not to mention the margaritas! Peach were good, mango even better. But we had fun, and I can always turn over that leaf from yesterday again tomorrow! See yesterday's post about Jamie Lee Curtis and me.

Dieting reminds me of the old line about quitting smoking. "Quitting smoking is easy. I do it just about every day." And one my Dad used to say. "A hundred years from now, it won't matter."

And of course, there's a country music lyric that fits...

"I gave up smokin', drinkin' and women last night. And it was the worst fifteen minutes of my life."

See you in the morning. I'll make coffee.

It's not Saturday, but my six words are...

JAMIE LEE CURTIS IS MY HERO!

Have you ever walked by the mirror after a shower and wondered when you became your mother...

It's disturbing.

Yes, the hair has been greying. I do have bifocal contacts and reading glasses. The TV is turned up so loud, the kids ask US to turn it down. I go upstairs with a purpose but cannot remember what the reason is when I get there. I go to bed at 9:30. A knee has been replaced. I was oblivious.

But THIS is the final straw.

Don't get me wrong, I loved my Mother. Wish I could be more like her. Then, my wish came true.

I have a soft, old lady body. This is news to me. If Uncle Lynn knows what's good for him, he'll say it's news to him, too.

The first sign (I wasn't paying any attention to the signs) was that I stopped tucking my shirts into my jeans. This summer, I've opted for capris over shorts 10:1. My bras are tight. I have back fat! Really! Oh my God! My feet are even a size bigger.

I came across this photo of Jamie Lee Curtis in my desk today. I remembered seeing her on Oprah, talking about how she didn't recognize herself after a recent photo shoot. It seems the photo had been airbrushed, to restore her bod to its former glory. So she got pissed. And had another photo shoot and insisted that the pics be printed as they really were. Like the one we see here. So that all of the women her age (my age) could see that what's happening to them, happens to everyone. Even Jamie Lee (perfect) Curtis.

I'm not quite at the point of acceptance that Jamie Lee is. Hardly! I told my husband that this time away is going to be used as a time of self-reflection. A time to eat healthy. A time to give up the traditional Bucket of Rocks (Rolling Rock, the "pale ale" from Latrobe, PA) on the beach. A time to ponder the second half of my life. Then I realized...

I'm beginning the second half of my life only if I live to be 104! Crap! I've been in the second half of my life for a long time. Oblivious again. AND...

I'm going to the damn beach! Crap.

WW: We Are Experiencing Technical Difficulties

Thanks to all of you who suggested books for my upcoming beach vacation. A decision has not been made nor any books purchased as of this writing. In the middle (beginning) of compiling my list of winners...YIKES...computer hell! So hang in there. In the meantime, enjoy these photos. They are guaranteed to lower your blood pressure. Just what I need!

And remember, if you suggested a book, and lots of you did, you're a winner!

So attention, all winners...send an e-mail to me at VeggieMom@Poprs.com including your mailing address.

Prizes will be on their way to you asap. Then, I'm off to the book store. Thanks mucho.

This message brought to you courtesy of Weekly Winners. For more, please visit Lotus at Sarcastic Mom.

Happy Birthday Rowdy! He's One Today

Before we get to today's post, today's the last day for my Great New POPrs Giveaway. Everyone who recommends a beach book for Aunt Julie is a winner!

I am participating in Six-word Saturday. Stop by and see Cate at Show My Face. Tell her Aunt Julie sent you.

We found LOVE

on the Internet!

Our 16 1/2-year-old Springer, Trouble, died last fall. We were NOT looking for a puppy! One night I was fooling around on the Web and found a photo of the most adorable puppy. I called the breeder and opened the conversation with, "Is your Web site up to date?" He said "Excuse me?" "Your Web site. Is it up to date? Are the puppies you list as available really available?"

Well, yes they were. We live in Wisconsin (as you know, Brett Favre and all) and the breeder was in Minnesota. How far could it be? So I asked where in Minnesota they were located. His answer: "Do you know where Canada is?" Turns out it was a 10-hour drive, one way! But he offered to meet us half-way, so early the next morning, we were on our way.

Today is Rowdy's 1st birthday. Who says you can't find love on the Internet? We did.

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta...at the Beach

Have a great weekend, everyone. Thanks for the reading suggestions for the beach. My POPrs Giveaway is open through tomorrow, and everyone's a winner! The countdown begins today with a Friday Foto Finish Fiesta!

In honor of Candid Carrie, here are some favorite beach shots!

College Girl & Soccer Boy

College Boy & The Wild One, way back when

Uncle Lynn & Soccer Boy

One more thing. All of you nice bloggy buddies who recommended a beach read for my upcoming vacation, be sure to send your contact info...including a phone contact...to veggiemom@poprs.com . I want to get your prizes out to you ASAP! And don't forget to let me know what you think of POPrs when you've tried 'em!

Pancakes-With a Secret Ingredient

Before we get to today's post, please click here for my Great New POPrs Giveaway. Everyone who recommends a beach book for Aunt Julie is a winner!

I got this recipe from Katie, my new neighbor. She's a young Mom, with two little kids. Her son, Joey, is the cutest little boy ever. He helps her make these pancakes every Saturday.

The recipe is from Joey's Grandma. And come to find out that Grandma and Uncle Lynn's mom were close friends! Small world. Katie is interested in getting her kids to eat well, and these pancakes have a little something extra in them. Soccer Boy gives them two thumbs up!

Joey's Grandma's Pancakes

1 1/2 cup oatmeal (quick)

2 cups buttermilk

1/2 cup flour

2 eggs

1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

Let the batter sit 5-10 minutes before making pancakes.

To make your own buttermilk:

use 1 Tbsp. vinegar for every 1 cup of milk.
Stir well and let sit 5 minutes.

And since blueberries are at their peak now, put some fresh blueberries in the batter too!

For perfect pancakes, flip them when they are full of bubbles on the top. And only flip once.

ENJOY!

Brett Favre-It ain't over 'til it's over...

Before we get to today's post, please click here for my Great New POPrs Giveaway. Everyone who recommends a beach book for Aunt Julie is a winner!

It appears that this...





is how Green Bay Packer fans will remember Brett Favre.

And that this




is his new uniform. No purple. No black and blue. Just shades. And that grin. Smokin'!


Good for Packer fans. Good for Brett. And really, really good for Deanna!

We love ya, man!