No Empty Nest Here!

For more Weekly Winners, go see Lotus at Sarcastic Mom.

I have four boys and I'm a stay-at-home mom. It's the job I've always wanted. Doesn't pay well and the hours aren't great, but I never wanted to be anything else. And there have been days, believe me, when I questioned that decision from sunup to sundown. But there were more days when I felt like the luckiest person in the world.

My boys are mostly grown now. They are 27, 24 and 21. The oldest two share an apartment, and the other is a senior in college. We have empty bedrooms. The phone doesn't ring much. The washing machine actually has time to dry out between loads. The grocery bill is way down, and so are the water and gas bills. I could be REALLY depressed...

But that fourth boy is still at home. He was a 40th birthday present from my husband, who said "some day I would thank him." I found out about him on my 40th birthday, and that afternoon, my new eye doctor asked if I needed bifocals! "Well, you are 40, you know." The thought of carrying graham crackers and pacifiers in my purse again brought tears to my eyes. It was harder to get up in the night with each baby, so I wondered if this one was going to feed and change himself in the middle of the night. He was delivered in that brief period when hospital stays were limited to 24 hours for deliveries. That is not enough time. At 40, you need a week!

But Uncle Lynn was right. I have thanked him lots of times over the years, but now that the 21 year old is back at college, and the two oldest are settled, we were that close to an empty nest!

And that's not something I'm looking forward to! So thanks, honey. Again. Now let's go watch a soccer game!

Minute Rice is my new best friend!

Yep. Good old-fashioned Minute Rice.

Not the latest mascara or face cream, not some fancy car. Not even the woman at Macy's who swore I couldn't be the mother of a 27-year-old!

You see, College Boy's room is a disaster. Has been all summer. He is working long, hot days at a very physical job. Out of the house by 6:30, seldom home before 10:00 at night. He makes good money, in overtime, but he doesn't make his bed. Or pick up dirty clothes. Or take out the dirty dishes and empty Gatorade bottles from the room. He told me to just shut the door, and not worry about it...but he really has no time to do his laundry either.

So I did all of the above, including several loads of laundry. Stripped the bed, hung out the sheets. And instead of hearing "Oh man, Mom, you're the BEST" I heard...

"What the @#%*& happened to my iPod?" "Why is my room so CLEAN?"
Turns out, his iPod Touch ($300 plus his music, movies...) was in the pocket of some shorts. And went into the wash. Then, was either hung on the line or dried in the dryer.

You could see the water inside it. The pictures were all wavy. If I had just shut the door and not worried about it like he asked... Yeah, right. When pigs fly.

His girlfriend suggested we put it in a ziploc bag full of rice, and maybe the rice would absorb the water. It was the best, the only idea we had. Short of buying a new iPod. So that's what we did.

And it WORKED! By the next morning, the iPod is as good as new. Good save!

Wish we would have tried it with the cell phone that took a dunk in a glass of beer. "Since when do college boys pour beer into glasses?" I asked, thinking that was pretty upscale. "Beer pong," was the answer. So much for upscale.

This wasn't the first phone to take an unscheduled plunge. There was one in a swimming pool in Florida and one in the lake. Both were retrieved, both were ruined. Or maybe not.

But I'm satisfied that this time, a box of rice saved me a bunch of money.

Hope you never have to try it, but you never know. Rice might work for you, too.

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!

Loony Tunes?

No, not Looney. Loony.

Uncle Lynn and I woke up and looked around the other day. The two oldest boys had just moved out, and are now sharing an apartment. College Boy is in Chicago for a few days. And we just dropped the youngest off at camp. We were alone! With dogs, but otherwise, alone.

So we found a cabin in the North Wisconsin Woods that welcomes dogs, and we are off. Hope the weather is good. We are going to the Loon capital of the world. Mercer, WI.

Have you ever heard the cry of a loon? Sooooooooo wonderful. These are what we'll be looking for...

And this...

...is NOT what we want to find!

Though it would be kinda cool.

Will let you know how the time away goes! Will Rowdy be a good houseguest? Will he swim after loons? Can he sit still in a canoe? Can I sleep in a cabin with Snore Boy all night? Will we get out of there...

...ALIVE?

SWS: Photo hunt comes up empty...almost

Don't you hate it when that happens?

I had the cutest photo for today...one of the kids (#3?) in a stroller, in the park, with Uncle Sam.

He was clutching a flag, (the child, not U.S.) and looking quite concerned about the extravagantly dressed stranger leaning into him. He had on a white sailor hat, and...

...it was Americana, all the way!

Well, my two-hour photo hunt did not end with finding the fondly remembered snap, but I did have fun going through years of memories... Maybe the child (#3?) will be off work today, and we can stage it again. Do you think I can get him to put on a white sailor hat, clutch a flag , and look up at Uncle Sam in that same way he did when he was 2? After all, that was 19 years ago. Funny~to his mom, it seems like yesterday...

Happy 4th of July from the Poprs Family! My Six Words are brought to you courtesy of Cate at Show My Face.

Six-Word Saturday: A Great Giveaway!

Retro College Boy wants to remind everyone that Veggie Mom and Eat Your Veggies! are celebrating a BIG Blogoversary on Tuesday. Thought we'd use Six-Word Saturday to make the announcement:

Big POPrs Giveaway Kicks Off Tomorrow!

That's right, POPrs Fans! We went on the air with Uncle Lynn, Aunt Julie, Veggie Mom and the Gang on June 16, 2008. So I'm sponsoring a Great POPrs Giveaway to celebrate.

Starting tomorrow, please leave me some comment love for a chance to win a Boxful o' POPRs...that yummy, fun seasoning, that's GOOD for you, too! We'll pick five winners by random drawing, and make the BIG REVEAL on Tuesday, which is my one-year mark.

In the meantime, stop by to see Cate. She sponsors Six-Word Saturday every week!

Happy Birthday, Shark Boy!

Another trip down Memory Lane for all you POPrs Pals today. We're celebrating Shark Boy's Big Day, and want to do it in style!

In this "vintage" 1991 photo, meet Big Bear, Uncle Lynn, The Birthday Boy and College Boy. Oh, and Mr. Gator. Aunt Julie conjured this Green Masterpiece as the young lad's birthday cake.

While the Black-Tipped Reef Shark Adventure was exciting, Shark Boy has much Bigger Fish to fry these days, including helping Mr. Pops launch the new retail line of POPrs - Coming to a supermarket near you, fingers crossed!

So, Happy B-Day, SB...May you live long and POPrs...er, prosper!

Wordful Wednesday: Spring Snowstorm

If you think snow isn't possible in April, think again. While I was visiting my peeps last week, we had a crazy, blowing, ice-snow mix that went on for a couple of hours. In April. The official Month of Spring.

Of course, last week's precipitation was just like spitting in the ocean compared to the Spring Storm of '96. Here are College Boy (holding the sign), Shark Boy (holding the baby) and Soccer Boy (in his warm and cuddly snowsuit) standing on Aunt Julie's back deck.

Yes, you read the sign correctly. Snow. On April 15th. Must have been a present from Uncle Sam, huh?

As Moker always says, "Wisconsin has two seasons: Nine months of winter, and three months of tough sledding!"

Participating in Angie's Wordful Wednesday. Come join the fun!

Quilting with Candid Carrie

Here's a Friday Foto of Big Bear and one of Aunt Julie's latest creations. But before I explain, I want to remind you about The Great New Pop'rs St. Patty's Day Giveaway, featuring Pop'rs Prizes AND a $100 Target Gift Card! For more info on that, please Click Here.

Aunt Julie got in the mood to make another quilt a while back.

"It is the same pattern as College Boy's," Aunt Julie explains. "Called Texas Hold 'Em. My boys went through a poker phase, and I made the first one then. They are all the same pattern, with subtle differences. All three share the same plaids, with different borders and backgrounds.
Still need to make one more for Soccer Boy. And I have another one almost done and ready to photograph. All it needs is the binding!"

Thanks to Candid Carrie for hosting her Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. Our Pop'rs Pal Jammin' will be back tomorrow. And don't forget my giveaway!

Meet the Beatles!?!

Well, really, I want ya to meet Aunt Julie's side of The Pop'rs Family from a few years back. Auntie J. always does Creative Christmas Cards, and this was no exception. But somehow this little gem got stuck up on the fridge with a Beatles magnet...and you do see the resemblance, don'tcha?

In the phun photo on the left, clockwise (from left): Big Bear, Shark Boy, College Boy, Trouble Elizabeth, Moses and Soccer Boy. In the other phun photo, clockwise (from left-Geez Louise, I feel like this is a yearbook!): Ringo, John, George and Paul, sans dogs.

I don't know. Did the Beatles have dogs? Playing along with Candid Carrie today and her Phriday Photo Phinish Phiesta!

Why You Should Eat Your Veggies!

In honor of "friendship Month," Mary Beth over at Blogmania is featuring bloggers that have developed enduring friendships through blogging. And guess who she featured first? I hate to brag, but listen to what MB said about me:

"You can feel her energy in her writing, which is quite an accomplishment. I can only imagine how spunky she is in person. From what I have seen, she is devoted to her friends and family, to promoting Pop'rs and to living life to its fullest."

Why thankyouverymuch, Mary Beth! Here's the full interview with Veggie Mom, if you're interested. And the photo above? Taken last summer, when we could get all 10 of us together at the beach!

Tell us a little about yourself, your family, etc......
Well, there are 10 members of the “extended” Pop’rs Family. First off, there’s Uncle Lynn, my BIL, the creator of the incredibly good-for-you, wonderfully fun Pop’rs…the whole reason I’m online, urging everyone to Eat Your Veggies! Uncle Lynn is married to Aunt Julie, whose bailiwick is yummy food, homemade quilts, family photos, gardening and, of course, the dogs, Moses and Rowdy. Aunt Julie is also my hubby Moker’s Little Sis. Uncle Lynn and Aunt Julie have four boys: Big Bear, Shark Boy, College Boy and Soccer Boy. On my side of the family, there’s me, Veggie Mom, who’s married to Moker, Aunt Julie’s Big Brother. We have two girls: College Girl and The Wild One.

Besides blogging, what are some of your hobbies?
Let’s see…I love to read, garden, go for long walks…I’m a fairly decent cook, and a pretty good writer, so I’d include those in my interests, too. But as far as being crafty? That’s Aunt Julie’s side of the family! Except for coaxing day lilies out of the soil every spring, I’m just not that handy!

How did you get started blogging?
Well, Uncle Lynn wanted to get the word out this new seasoning he developed at his plant in Northeastern Wisconsin. He thought it would be fun to blog about Pop’rs, and asked me what I thought about the idea. Several of my friends have started blogs, so I naturally was pretty enthusiastic. On June 16th of last year I finally got my feet wet! It took me a while to find Veggie Mom’s “voice,” but the rest, as they say, is history!

What do you like best about blogging?
I consider Eat Your Veggies! to be a forum not just for Pop’rs and the Pop’rs Family, but for my visitors as well. I love sharing my everyday thoughts and dreams. Plus, as a blogger I have a built-in “sounding board” in the blogging community. I love the freedom that the Internet brings. I can be sitting here in my dusty basement, and communicate with others halfway around the world! I also enjoy meeting new friends and making common connections. And I get a lot of encouragement and advice, which is nice!

You have such a strong network of online friends. Which bloggers have you created an especially strong bond with?
I’m close with several blogging buddies. Susie, from Susie’s Homemade is one of my faves…she and her wonderful husband, Jeff, just redesigned my blog, which is awesome! I also have a strong affinity for Karla at Zander and Me, and The Lovely Mannequin, at Fractured Toy. Mannequin’s friends, Frankie and Cupid, are the best…plus they’re featured in my new redesign as well. Check out the Polaroid in the upper left-hand corner that’s labeled “Pop’rs Pals”!

Do you share any common threads with your fellow blogging friends?
We all love sharing stories about friends, family, work and food. Especially food! And every time Uncle Lynn hosts a Great New Pop’rs Giveaway, I seem to make even more bloggy buds. Wonder why that is?

Any fun vacation plans in 2009?
The Pop’rs Family vacations every summer at North Carolina’s Outer Banks. We’ve been going there for years, and consider this lovely strip of sand more of a sanctuary than a vacation spot. Last year we were able to get all 10 of us there at once, which was a very special treat! Other than our annual beach getaway, though, I’ve been saving my sheckels…with two kids in college, I can’t afford a fancy vay-cay right now!

Fx4: Bad Puppy!

As I have been lamenting this past week, The Pop'rs Family has Flown the Coop to FLA. They've got one more week down in more temperate climes, but wanted a share a Winter Puppy Story with ya.

If you'll recall, the Upper Midwest has been slammed by some Pretty Nasty Weather recently. Aunt Julie and Uncle Lynn and the Crew decided to bug out early, ahead of the storm.

Well, they loaded up Vanna White and departed Northeastern Wisconsin in the late afternoon. As they reached Chicago's outer suburbs, they were pretty pleased, to say the least. Nary a drop of frozen precipitation! But it was a Trip of a Different Temperature by the time they reached Indianapolis. Since ice was falling from the sky, and Vanna was having a difficult time skidding all over the Interstate, our Pop'rs Pals decided to Call it a Night.

But Rowdy, the new puppy, had other ideas. Yes, he had to relieve himself. And, no, being the rascal that he is, he did not, even after repeated entreaties. Pee, that is. Julie Eliz, already in her PJs, had even donned her shoes and winter coat, and headed outdoors. Four of these trips produced, well, nothing.

Except for the condition of Aunt Julie's shoes...the only pair she had with her, since two of The Boys had her suitcase in other car. And they weren't planning on traveling Down South 'til the weekend!

Rowdy wouldn't pee, and, downright discouraged, Julie called to him to return to the room. That's when she stepped in an icy, mushy puddle...up practically to her knees!

The Bad Puppy eventually Did His Business, after College Boy took him out for the fifth time. Aunt Julie's shoes didn't dry out for another 24 hours...after the family had already arrived in FLA and was settling in for a Long Winter's Nap.

Julie has this to say about the experience: "What's the difference between a baby and a puppy? You can put Pampers on the infant; the puppy takes much more work!"

This message is sponsored by Candid Carrie, and her Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. Hope everyone enjoyed Family and Fun yesterday!

Aunt Julie's *Recipe Week*, Day #2: Keeping Warm on Winter Nights

Things are starting to get a tad bit chilly out in Northeastern Wisconsin. Reports of snow, unfortunately, are not exaggerated! Although we haven't yet hunkered down for the three or four feet they suffered recently in the Dakotas, we know we'll be in for a long, long winter!

As Moker is fond of saying, Wisconsin features "Nine months of winter and three months of tough sledding!"

To help The Pop'rs Family make it through to spring, Aunt Julie likes to make a pot of Stroganoff. This recipe, in fact, is College Boy's Favorite!

Aunt Julie's Beef Stroganoff
1.5 lbs. sirloin, cut into thin strips
Roll in flour, with salt & pepper added. Brown in oil in large skillet.
Add:
1 can beef broth
3 Tbsp ketchup
1 Tbsp yellow mustard
1 Tbsp Worcestershire
Heat to bubbling, stirring. Reduce heat, and simmer 20-30 min.

Stir in 1 cup sour cream, and warm through. Don’t boil again.
Serve over wide noodles. Can also add a small can of mushrooms.
We always double this, it is so good!

~Tomorrow: We celebrate Veterans Day with a recipe from Grandma Vera!~

Home, Home on the Range, with College Girl and The Great New Pop'rs Halloween Giveaway!

Since we featured College Boy as a Cowboy a couple of days ago, thought we'd feature College Girl as his Trusty Range Rover. This, as I recall, was CG's "Texas" Phase. Aunt Julie, butofcourse, put together this lovely ensemble, too! CG is featured here at the elementary school's Halloween Parade, with Anna, who's clearly a 1st-grader, and BFF Megan, who just happens to be wearing another Aunt Julie Creation...the Princess Dress CG had worn the year before!

We've got just two--Count 'Em!--days left in The Great Pop'rs Halloween Giveaway! To get The Giveaway Scoop, Click Here. And Don't Forget to Comment! For Extra Entries, please click Here. And Here. And Here. And, last but not least, Here. Are you exhausted yet? Didn't think so!

Remember...The More You Play, the More we can Make Your Day!

Ghosts, Goblins and Cowboys, Oh, My!

We interrupt This Post to bring you a Special Bulletin. The Packers are not...I repeat, NOT...playing today! So, feel free to carry on, and don't forget to enter our Great News Pop'rs Halloween Giveaway!

That's right, Pop'rs Fans. We've got 22--count 'em--prizes and Other Bling to bestow on all you Popr's People out there in Bloggy Land. So, Click Here to see how to get started! And Don't Forget to comment on Today's Post, too! The More we get in the way of Comment Love this week, the Merrier!

We're featuring a pic of College Boy the Cowboy. Back in the Day. Before he moved into an apartment, and all!

A couple of folks had a couple of questions yesterday, so I will answer them, forthwith:

• One comment per day. You may comment, though, as many days as you'd like, between now and 11:59 p.m., Friday, October 31st. Multiple comments give you mulitiple chances to win!
• Pop'rs Neophytes just need to comment to be eligible.
• Pop'rs Veterans are eligible for a Very Special Prize. But ya need to submit a video to win! Please post a video to your site of You and/or Yours Using Pop'rs; please make sure to link to Little Ol' Veggie Mom, and pleasepleaseplease let me know when you've posted Said Video! Many of My Bloggy Friends upload their videos to YouTube, and then post to their blogs from there.
• Any Questions? Ask Away! But Don't Forget...The Great New Pop'rs Halloween Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, October 31. So get Poppin'!

A Boy and His Dog

This is College Boy, Aunt Julie and Uncle Lynn's Number 3 Son, and Trouble Elizabeth. Both these boys, as you can see, are mere puppies in this pix. College Boy will turn 21 in three months; Trouble Eliz celebrated a birthday milestone a couple months back.

Of course, you Near and Dear Readers know all about Trouble, and why he received the moniker "Elizabeth" as part of his given name. You've also read about him here. And, of course, you've all followed the College Boy Chronicles here. And here. And, naturally, here. We're Not. Quite. Sure if Aunt Julie has yet forgiven him for that little caper!

They Sure Do Grow Up Fast, don't they? And if CB is Almost 21, what does that make us? I'm just sayin'...

And the First Winner Is...

...Channah, of Get a Grip, Mom! According to her Bloggy Profile, Channah has been blogging since May, which would make her a Newbie, just like Veggie Mom!

Uncle Lynn chose Channah yesterday, by Random Drawing! And what does she win? Her choice of two flavors of Pop'rs, that good-for-you seasoning, which really encourages everyone, young AND old, to Eat. Their Veggies! Remember, Bloggy Readers...Pop'rs are only available online from Uncle Lynn. And, they come in eight fanTAbulous flavors: Buffalo, Butter, Chocolate, Colorbust, Cinnamon, Raspberry, Strawberry and Taco.

So, Channah, shoot Veggie Mom an e-mail, and let her know what flavors you prefer. And remember: We'll be announcing four more winners this week, and a Grand Prize Winner on Saturday!

We'd also like to use our posts this week to showcase Fall, Our Family, and some Funny Stories we've be saving for ya. The shot above, an Aunt Julie Special, showcases Shark Boy, Uncle Lynn, Big Bear, and College Boy, who is hanging out in his Baby Backpack. They're in the Pumpkin Patch with their Newfoundland, Nelson. This photo was taken When the World was Very Young, of course, before Soccer Boy came along!

We'd like to leave you, Dear Readers, with a quote about Autumn. And, a Bloggy Reminder: Stay Tuned for more Great New Pop'rs Giveaway Winners!

Autumn is a second spring, when every leaf is a flower.

~Albert Camus, French Existentialist

A Bloggy Celebration and a Great New Pop'rs Giveaway!

Happy First Day of Fall! Aunt Julie and The Pop'rs Boys--Big Bear, College Boy, Shark Boy and Soccer Boy, pictured above with Trouble Elizabeth and Moses--love the changing of the leaves, the dropping of the temperatures and, of course, the playing of the football games every Sunday. Fall also means the advent of Halloween, which is Soccer Boy's favorite holiday, since it comes so close to his birthday!

We have an extra special reason to celebrate this season. Saturday will be Veggie Mom's 100th Post! And what better way to commemorate This Life-Altering Event than with a little ol' Bloggy Giveaway?

This Great New Pop'rs Giveaway is a contest With. A. Twist. It features two phases. Here are the rules, plain and simple:

• Giveaway Dates: Today through Saturday, October 4. In Phase One, contestants may enter as many times as they like, but all entries must be recieved by 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, September 26. Phase Two of the Giveaway takes place September 29 through October 4!
• Giveaway prizes: Five Bloggy Friends will each win their choice of two flavors of Pop’rs, the good-for-you seasonings that make eating veggies fun! One Bloggy Friend will win the Grand Prize—a complete set of Pop’rs! Pop’rs are that tasty and fun seasoning that really encourages kids to Eat Their Veggies! Pop’rs, which come in eight flavors, add great flavor, and fun, to just about any kind of food, from applesauce to broccoli--all the way through the alphabet, to yogurt and beyond. Pop’rs, which are only available from Uncle Lynn at http://www.poprs.com/, have an added kick--as the name implies, they go POP! when you eat them.
• Giveaway Rules: Veggie Mom is celebrating her 100th Blog Post and the changing of the seasons, by offering a Great New Pop’rs Giveaway in two phases.

1. To enter the Giveaway, readers must post questions that they want to ask Veggie Mom, Aunt Julie, Uncle Lynn, or anyone else over at Eat Your Veggies! This is Phase One of the Giveaway. Readers get one Giveaway Entry for every question they post. There is no limit to the questions you may ask! Veggie Mom will collect questions from today through 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, September 26, so make sure to get your questions in! I will answer all readers’ questions on Saturday, September 27—which happens to be my 100th Blog Post—and Sunday, September 28.
2. Starting Monday, September 29, Phase Two of the Giveaway begins! Uncle Lynn, The Pop'r King, will award Giveaway Prizes to one Giveaway Finalist each day, through Friday, October 3. He will announce the Grand Prize Winner in a post right here on Saturday, October 4. Finalists will each receive two Pop'rs flavors of their choice. The Grand Prize Winner will receive a complete set of Pop'rs--all eight flavors!

The changing of the leaves, the crisp Fall air, the NFL and a Great New Pop'rs Giveaway. You ask, we'll answer, and we'll both have Something to Celebrate!

Guest Blogger, Aunt Julie: A Story That Will Steal Your Heart Away!

Please give a Warm Welcome to Today’s Guest Blogger, Aunt Julie. As most of ya know, Auntie J., who happens to be my SIL, is a familiar presence around these parts. The photo above shows College Boy, on the right, with his roommate Casey, who’s on the left. The kid in the middle is named Panda. I know, don’t ask. So sit back, relax, and hear Aunt Julie’s story of sending College Boy off to school this year. This tale will pretty much steal your heart!

College Life isn’t what it used to be. When Uncle Lynn and I moved College Boy into his new apartment 10 days ago, we were in for a couple of interesting surprises.

The apartment is very nice. It is on the edge of a very large city park, on a small lake, an easy walk, bike ride or bus trip to campus. The park is home to the baseball field where Hammerin’ Hank Aaron got his start, playing Class C Northern League baseball for the Eau Claire Bears in 1952. College Boy has one roommate, named Casey. The boys face the lake, and can wake up every morning and see the water, and hear the ducks.

My first thought when I heard where they were looking for an apartment was, “On a lake? Shouldn’t you be above a noisy bar with five other guys? And shouldn’t the wind blow through the windows in the winter, and shouldn’t you hear the pitter-patter of little mousy feet in the walls at night? What do you mean, on a lake, with one other guy? Don’t kids start at the bottom any more?! When I was your age…”

Well, when I was his age, I lived at home with my parents, and college was just four more years of Harder High School. So I didn’t want to promote that! College Boy did report that the day after I left, he and his roomie pooled their money and bought a flat-screen TV. Guess the living room is just too small for an Old School TV. Just because I don’t have a flat-screen yet is no reason for me to be petty, right? Though I sure would like to watch Brett Favre march the Jets to victory each week in High Def!

Anyway, back to my story. I had paid $50 to get a mountain bike tuned up for College Boy, and bought a locking cable, too. The first time he took the bike out, to a friend’s house to watch a movie, he couldn’t find the bike when he left to go home, because it had been stolen!

I had called College Boy to see how things were going and he said he had “bad news.” I asked how the thief cut the cable, and College Boy hesitated. I said, “he didn’t have to, did he?” There apparently were several other bikes there, none locked, and his is the one that’s gone! Ya, right!

The moral to this story? If you don’t plan to use the lock for your bike when you go out, stay home and watch the movie on your own flat-screen TV!

Who, ME? Plus a Recipe Alert!

We. Have. A. Winner! Actually, we have TWO Winners!

Congrats to Marla at Pak Adventures, and Karla at Zander & Me. They're the Grand Prize Winners by Random Drawing of Uncle Lynn's Great New Pop'rs Giveaway! Hey, gals--get in touch with me ASAP so we can discuss delivery of your delightful prize!

What do Marla and Karla win? Why, a complete set of Pop'rs, of course--all eight flavors! So many of our Bloggy Friends have tried Pop'rs, on foods ranging from broccoli to yogurt, and everything in between. We can't wait to hear what Marla and Karla have to say about these delicious, fun and good-for-you seasonings!

Thanks to all of the Fine Folks who entered Uncle Lynn's recent Pop'rs Giveaway, and to all our Bloggy Friends for their love and support. And stay tuned, kids...we've got many more delicious recipes, artsie crafts, funny family tales and General Nonsense to share with you in the weeks to come. Plus, Uncle Lynn's already told me that he has a Great October Giveaway in mind!

So, until then, remember to Eat. Your. Veggies!

Recipe Alert! I'ma gonna spend this rainy weekend looking for new recipes to add to my repertoire. Have you heard of Recipezaar? You can hit their site for delish dishes, you can share recipes, you can view their Chef of the Day, and you sign up to receive their weekly newsletter! I recently took a look at their suggestions for Dorm Room Dinners--think I'll give College Boy a few pointers! Aunt Julie should think about sharing some of her creations, shouldn't she?