Red Are the States I've Visited

Goal: To See All 50

I'm a West Coast/Pacific NW snob, so it surprises myself that I haven't hit everything out there. I'm going to do a big West Coast road trip as soon as the child situation allows me to pack her in the car for days at a time. I'll knock out Utah, Idaho, and Oregon. There are places like The Salmon and Snake Rivers of Idaho , Crater Lake NP, OR and the Oregon Coast that I've always wanted to see, not to mention Zion NP in Utah.

As for the remaining states that I haven't visited, I don't have any specific goals there. I would say that on the East Coast my first choices would be Mass and Maine followed by South Carolina.

My dilemma often is balancing new versus already loved: I usually want to go back to my favs and even explore further, but then I also want to see new places. All of the states have cool stuff, and I want to experience it all one day. But, I'm not in a rush: I've got my whole life.

Tattoo Re-Do

I had to get another tiny tatoo today...another star! The original was missing one of the stars in the "handle" of the Big Dipper. So, I went back today and regulated on the guy. No, he was cool about it. I told him I didn't want any constellation know-it-all making fun of me, so he hooked me up. I feel complete now with the North Star leading the way.

Kat Von Who?

Who Isn't?

Beaver Lake, Arkansas

I don't mean to brag, but I have an awesome family. I'm not just talking about my immediate family of awesomeness. I'm talking about my extended family of Shook cousins. They are super cool for too many reasons to list. This weekend I drove up with Dianne to visit, Sunny & Bill, Suzy (and fam) and Mary Anne (and fam) and to see their digs at The Lake in NW Arkansas. They've got some sweet set ups. Possibly, they could be considered as "Living the Dream."

They live on this gorgeous lake that has a limestone bottom which keeps it very clear and looking a fantastic blue color from a distance. I spent the night sleeping on Suzy's deck under the bright stars, and that made my weekend right there. It is cool up there, even in the heart of July. I think it is the huge lake and the increased elevation (roughly 1500'). I never broke a sweat.

Suzy took me out for my birthday on the SeaDoos for a tour of the lake from the water. We had a blast. It was so fun that I pretty much realized that living on this lake makes her and her family really lucky. They fish and do water sports and don't have cable or satellite. I'm going to have to go back and visit much more to hang out with such cool cousins on such a sweet backdrop! Thanks to Scott for keeping Scout for the weekend, allowing me to live their dream!

Those Damn Tea Sippers

(no this is not a picture of some new age Eastern bong, freaks)

I'll admit it: I like tea. I've always been an iced tea drinker probably because tea is what we drank at my Grammer's house, and if there was any family event or get together, tea was served. C'mon, what is "Southern hospitality" if not sweet tea?

Now, hot tea is my newest conquest. Yes, conquest because you have to acquire the taste for hot tea like just like making yourself like beer or coffee. I've now conquered all three. Some try to eliminate their vices. I like to see if I can acquire new ones.

I think the concept of drinking hot tea first entered my mind when Charlie worked at " The Tea Factory " , which is what she referred to it as. I bought some of their products at our local supermarket and gave them a try. Hot tea wasn't a hit at first mostly because I didn't know which type to buy, but I've paced myself over the years. I've narrowed my faves down to the black spiced teas and the green teas. So, it was only a matter of time before I entered a tea specialty shop like the one Lisa and I hit today.

I don't want to brag, but I was able to procure a Super Cool Tea Maker today. Sorry if you are jealous. Be jealous of Lisa too then because she had it in her tiny British-and-Indian-loving-tea hands first.

After reading this post, you might be saying, "nerd alert." Well, let's see the vision of me in one month:
I will be happily steeping my Chai tea at my desk before school starts one morning while preparing for my lecture on Intro to Macromolecules and thinking of how I can incorporate my latest manipulative into my interactive notebook. Hmmm....yep....I'm a total nerd. Hot tea fits right in.

Thank You Ed Begley Jr.

Have you noticed the numbers underneath your plastics? I didn't pay much attention to them until I watched Living With Ed on HGTV which is an entertaining and inspiring show. There was one episode where Ed Begley Jr. energetically explains in detail each of the 7 numbers that plastics are supposed to have on them either on the bottom or on the side label. (Quick summary:) He's a total recycle nerd which drives his wife nuts and they butt heads. I like it all.

If you haven't paid attention to these symbols, start noticing because it is a useful tool to make you a better recycler. My community recycles numbers 1-5 and 7. #6 is basically what we refer to as Styrofoam. It isn't very recyclable. So, remember that when you are buying those Styrofoam plates or cups.

If you are interested in what each number indicates or wish you had heard Ed's soliloquy, I've put a list here:

1-PET: Polyethylene Terephthalate
Includes beverage bottles (like 2-liter pop bottles) and some microwave food trays.

2-HDPE: High Density Polyethylene
Includes milk jugs, trash bags, detergent bottles, bleach bottles, aspirin bottles.

3-V: Vinyl/Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Includes food wrap, vegetable oil bottles, and blister wrap.

4-LDPE: Low Density Polyethylene
Includes some grocery and department store shopping bags, produce and bread bags, and food wrap.

5-PP: Polypropylene
Includes some yogurt containers, some shampoo bottles, and some margarine tubs.

6-PS: Polystyrene
Includes hot beverage cups, clamshell containers for take-out food, egg cartons, and meat trays.

7-Other
Includes plastics other than the six most common, or containers made of multiple layered resins or blends. Includes water cooler bottles, snack bags, and condiment bottles.

So, find out which plastics your community picks up (or for some of you unfortunates, accepts at drop points) and start bagging them. C'mon, all the cool people are doing it.

Texas Food - Frito Pie

It took me a long time to summon the courage, but today I collected my ingredients and made Frito Pie . Now, my dad used to make Frito Pie for us back when I was a kid. However, secretly, I despised it. Fritos have always grossed me out and his chili was pretty hot, but I would trudge through it because we didn't have cuisine choices in my house. What was cooked is what you ate, or you just didn't eat. So, being that I was a total pig - I always ate.

Our friends left a bag of Fritos over here after our 4th of July party. I looked at the bag thinking, "ick, what will I do with those?" Of course I hate waste so I thought, "I bet I could make that old Frito Pie recipe and Scott would love it because it is total man food."

Today, I made my chili from ground turkey meat and served up Frito Pie. I loved it and so did Scott. It has taken me many years to appreciate that classic dish, and now I see it being served up in my house for years to come. I will pass on the tradition of the awe-inspiring dish that is Frito Pie.

Shameful

But, I'm just sayin' if you want to get this for me for my birthday: Dog Duane Chapman's Book
I wouldn't mind.

Crazy Rain

It has been raining in North Texas for about three weeks straight. Unbelievable. I think I'm the minority here, but I love it. It keeps the high temperatures at bay. We've been just chillin' in the 80's this summer. You can't beat that. Many people are sick of it, but it has run off our drought and brought the lakes up to normal and even a little above. Yay Rain!