[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #16394

Hi Colleen,
Glad that you liked my pictures. I too really liked the one of the little kid dressed up like an older lady. That one gave me a chuckle. Kendall had that same lobster outfit for her first Halloween but we never thought to put her in a pot. lol
What’s in the Michael Symons book 5 in 5? Is that one of those 5 ingredients books? I love those and have some really good recipes like that. We just missed the Chew people at Disney world as I think they will be there next week.
When I had my hands checked they said I was randomly chosen. It wasn’t because of my wedding rings. They swabbed my hands with something and then put the swab in a machine that looked for something-probably some sort of explosive. I guess they were checking my hands for residue in case I had built a bomb. Little did they know that I would have absolutely no idea how to do that.
Those were some of the exact reasons that I started keeping a book journal. To keep track of which books that I have already read and to keep from buying duplicates as I have bought the same book twice and forgotten that I already read something if it was a long time back. My sister gave me a really nice book journal for Christmas last year. Have you seen where adult coloring is now all the rage. I am thinking of getting a book and markers or pencils and trying it. I always remember coloring as being relaxing when I did it with the kids when they were little so maybe I will try it out again on the adult level.
I guess I am a Grinch but for some reason that fact that the Q is already decorated for Christmas is really bugging me this year. Some days it’s still in the 70’s here. I don’t know why they couldn’t decorate for fall in October and November and then decorate for Christmas and leave that up until after the New Year. I hate when they come back after their Christmas break and all their decorations are gone while the rest of the world is still celebrating-at least until after the New Year. I guess I am just a grump but for some reason that is really bugging me this year. I just feel like the fall and it’s beautiful colors and cooler weather is totally ignored on the Q. Remember when they used to do Halloween shows with costumes and masks? It’s going to be cold winter weather soon enough-we want to enjoy fall and apples and pumpkins and cider. Speaking of pumpkins I heard today that they will be more expensive because the harvest in Illinois wasn’t that good this year so if you need canned pumpkin for Thanksgiving there might be shortages so you might want to think about picking it up now. Who knows if this is just the news overreacting or if there will be a real shortage. I know a couple years ago there really was a problem getting the canned pumpkin.

Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #16392

Hi Adele,
How was your dinner? I’ll bet that you were the cutest lady in the place in all your Quacker finery. I agree that Debbie does need prayers from us winging her way. It’s tough to have a disease that not much is known about and that there is not much relief for. Those more rare diseases do not get much research money thrown their way. I think that I would try going the Mayo clinic route and see what they had to say but I know that Debbie is hesitant as she feels she may have multiple tests with no results and I know she does not like taking medicines as she had some bad reactions. I don’t like taking meds either-I don’t think anyone does but I know without mine I could be all crippled up and have other problems to boot so I view it as the lesser of two evils. I’m very lucky to have a drug regimen that works well for my RA-my Dad was not so lucky and could find no relief from his.
I hope that Jhonny finds a new job quickly. He and Steph must be quite frightened with two kids to support. They sure didn’t get much notice!
I bought two pairs of the new pants and two of the shirts that go with them. I like the slim or the straight leg DJ’s the best and love the ones with a little décor on the leg. These are very festive looking. I have so many of the Christmas shirts that they showed in my extensive collection. Maybe I won’t be forced to buy any new this year. Fat Chance! lol I’m sure before the season is over they will come out with something new that I just “have to have” and then I will have to start wearing my Christmas tops in July! lol
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #16378

One more

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #16371

Here’s more

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #16368

Thought I’d post some Halloween costumes…

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #16342

Hi All,
So Adele what does one actually do with chutney? Do you use it like a sauce for the meat or like a side dish. I always see it but never served it. As to the undercooked carrots that happens sometimes when you have a bunch of stuff mixed together and some stuff cooks quicker than others. I know that happens to me with pot roast or soup sometimes and we just enjoy it when they are cooked through for the leftovers. It sounds like Gary was lucky not to have a carrot sticking out of his nose like Frosty the Snowman. lol
Colleen, It’s not really embarrassing if you set off the alarm at the airport. Everyone else is so busy getting through security and getting their stuff back, putting their shoes and belts back on and getting the change back in their pockets that no one even notices. I’ve been wanded, patted and had my hands checked-it’s really a small price to pay to be safe. When we were coming back Sunday the guy at security kept saying take everything out of your pockets over and over while we were in line and finally Greg asked him “even the lint?” and everyone cracked up including the security guy and he says “yes even that.” It’s nice if you can drive everywhere that you want to go but sometimes that’s just not possible. Sometimes you don’t have the time to drive or some places you can’t get to by driving-I much prefer driving to flying but sometimes it’s just not feasible and I do like to get out and do and see new things. It took the kids two full days of driving to get back from Florida and at our age that is a lot of time in a car too when you can fly and be back home in a little over two hours. There are pros and cons I guess. Gosh I hope the book police don’t come and get me if I don’t reach my goal. Do you keep a book diary. I never did but then I started reading of people who keep track of what they read each year and it kind of makes sense if you read a lot so I started about 5 years ago and each year I tried to read a book a week-so far I haven’t made it-I got close the year that Kim died but then after that happened the reading went downhill. Last year I joined Goodreads and they had a reading challenge for the year and that’s where I made my pledge.
My grandmother always served brussel sprouts for Thanksgiving but I never continued the tradition as no one likes them but me. It does sound like the shower would have worked better on Sunday than Saturday but I guess plans are already made. Where did they decide to have it? And do you know if you are buying boys stuff or girls stuff?
Barbara, I have been a lazy cook for about the last two years. I’m trying to psych myself back into being interested in cooking again-so far with little positive results. I do remember Debbie’s turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce sandwiches. I actually never thought of doing that. Speaking of Debbie I mailed her the other day and she has been feeling bad the last six weeks. She is off today to Portland to see the oncologist-the biggest problem is the plugged ear and the tintinitis. Typing on the computer really bothers her because of the body position that she uses while typing. she was feeling well for awhile and then overdid it and got bad again. She has to really watch her activity level and just trying to feel better takes all her attention and energy so she just doesn’t have anything left over to socialize. I’m beginning to wonder if some alternative medicine like acupuncture or something would benefit her. I’ll have to mention it next time I talk to her. it’s so sad that such a vibrant personality has been sidelined by these horrible problems. I hope some time that she can feel “normal” again.
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #16323

Well Colleen it’s my Cubbies fighting it out with your Cards. May the best team win and Lord please let that be the Cubs! They haven’t been in a world series since 1945 and haven’t won one since the early 1900’s. The Cardinals have played in the last two and won one of them. It’s time to spread the wealth! lol

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #16272

Hi Barbara,
Glad that you and Jerry are enjoying your private time. I think that’s horrible that they are cutting his pension. How can you work and pay in for all those years and not get it back. I imagine quite a few people are up at arms. It is certainly not his fault and how can one know what career to choose to guarantee a solvent retirement. You would have to be able to foresee the future. I hope perhaps they can find a different solution.
That was funny about the boys and the moonshine. So it was not a cake starter but a moonshine starter. I tried moonshine years ago and I swear it grew hair on my chest! lol
After I got over the initial shot to my pride I enjoyed riding the scooter because I could actually enjoy myself without worrying that I would pass out from the heat. I actually think a couple of days after walking around in the heat that Greg was envious of me.
Well, time to make some dinner and watch the Cubs. Everyone keep their fingers crossed.
Gail

[Gail Norusis]

in reply to: It's Fall! Let's Celebrate Cooler Temperatures and Spectacular Fall Foliage. #16268

Hi Colleen,
Tonight is all or nothing for the Cubs. If they beat the Pirates they move on if not they are done. it is silly that we have football, baseball, hockey and basketball all going on. The seasons are just getting too long. Hockey and basketball playoffs are now into June I think.
I just set a book goal this year because they have this thing on Goodreads so I decided to just try it. I don’t think anyone punishes me if I don’t reach my goal. lol I have a hard time with the books about the Jewish people during WW II. It’s an interesting subject-especially when you read about people surviving against all odds but the books always make me cry and I have a hard time finishing. When I do read something like that I try to follow it up with some light reading-I’ve heard the term literary palate cleanser which I think is so clever. I wish that I could take credit for it.
It ended up that Greg’s brother who was the CIA guy took our extra car to drive home as there was not a rental car to be had in the Chicagoland area. They ended up sending a troop transport for Bill the FBI guy when some planes started flying again. That was a sad time.
It sounds like Halloween was not the best time to schedule the baby shower. It’s hard to get into the city and get back home in time for the trick or treaters. Does the father’s family live in the area? I wonder what Jenny’s kids will be for Halloween this year. They wore their last year’s costumes to the party at Disney but they were all getting kind of small so they will probably get new ones.
Gail

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