Even though you're the only one I see, it's the last catastrophe

The tween in me loves the New Moon soundtrack. What can I say?

So we have a pretty ambitious night tonight. Usually we go grocery shopping sometime over the weekend, but this week, we're planning to go tonight right after work. I'm actually really excited because it gives us a chance to go out to eat :), since we wouldn't get home until later. We're also possibly buying Dan a Shop Vac. (I secretly hope we get one because I could really use it to get the exercise room primed and ready.)

Speaking of the exercise room/basement, last night we decided to slowly work on the basement as we have the opportunity. Get a bunch of drywall, install it, seam it, sand it, plaster it...and when we can paint and move on, then we will. But this way we won't have to save SO much to do it all at once and we can go at our own pace. I hope it'll work as well as I'm thinking it will.

Last night I asked Dan if I was getting a double chin (this whole not exercising thing is REALLY messing with my self-image. I feel disgusting and have for the last month). His poorly worded response was something like (in an innocent and well-meaning tone), "No, it's just a little extra, flabby skin." WHAT?! I'm wearing turtle necks until I get back in shape. I could tell that's not what he meant to say, but the fact is...it was said. I knew it anyway, but having it said makes it oh-so real.

The high today is 13 degrees.

I wish I'd driven to work today, because it seems like a great Friday to take a long lunch at Target. Saving gas money is awesome, but it takes away my freedom to hop out of the office if I'm getting cabin fever.

Not much exciting is happening this weekend, and that's a GOOD thing. Sleeping in on Saturday, cleaning, going to church and going to a tasting where my sis-in-law is getting married. (I figured that's something she and her fiance would do alone, but they invited us. Nice!) Then Sunday I'm making french toast for breakfast and have grandma's party. Other than that, laying low. Just like I like it.

My sister and her fam are officially back in Ukarumpa and getting settled. She sent some pictures of their view and front porch...

Ah, to have a dozens of fresh bananas right outside my front door... :)

Last weekend Dan set up the base of the entertainment center and we got our new t.v. all set up.

The door ended up being stained a little bit of a different shade than the rest of the wood. We can't decide if we like it or if Dan will re-make them and try to get the shade closer. The two-tone does make it look a little rustic. Hm. Time will tell. It looks way better in real life than it does in pictures, fyi.

We originally planned to put a hutch on top of the base eventually, to mimic this style from Pottery Barn that we really like:

You know? The open-backed side and top panel look? So we were going to temporarily set up the base and in the next couple weeks, Dan would make the hutch. Well...we set it up and kind of like the way it looks without it. I think it would look good either way, it's just a matter of preference. WITH the hutch, it would definitely be a strong statement piece that would be the main focus of the living room. WITHOUT the hutch, it's just a stand for the t.v. and makes the room seem more open and airy. I can't decide. I wish there was a way to make it, then see if we liked it or not. But...we bought the wood so once it's made, it's made and there's nothing else we can do with it.

So here's just the base. The hutch would go up both sides, then link across the top and have no back. Thoughts?

Dan made beer can chicken on Sunday night. Poor guy never stood a chance...hanging there all hope-less like with an onion for a head. It always cracks me up when Dan puts the rub on and lifts up the little wings to get down in the armpits.

Speaking of food, some Julia quotes that I love from the book:

“Paul wasn’t professionally ambitious. For those who cared about vaulting up the career ladder, having lunch or socializing with the right people was terribly important; Paul often had a sandwich alone with his camera on the banks of the Seine. Or he’d come home for leftovers with me – chicken soup, sausages, herring, and warm bread – followed by a brief nap. This habit was probably not good for his career, but that wasn’t the point. We were enjoying life together in Paris.”

“But La Truite’s true glory was its sole à la normande, a poem of poached and flavored sole fillets surrounded by oysters and mussels, and napped with a wonder-sauce of wine, cream, and butter, and topped with fluted mushrooms. ‘Voluptuous’ was the word. I had never imagined that fish could be taken so seriously, or taste so heavenly.”

Bon appétit! :)