Today was a great day! Abbas’ restaurant was amazing. I knew he could cook, but I think I just didn’t realize how well!!
After visiting Abbas we went to the mall. I have to say, I understand now how my parents and grandparents felt when taking me shopping for clothes! It looks like the stores went dumpster diving at the Goodwill store! If I’m going to pay $60 for jeans I promise you they are not going to have holes in them!
I have to admit though that Abercrombie was quite interesting. Not for the clothes, mind you. I got the biggest kick out of the moose. Yes, the moose. Allow me to explain.
Me: (looking at the moose head over the cashwrap) Wow! That’s the biggest moose I’ve ever seen.
My son and his friend: Uh-huh.
Me: No, I’m serious. But poor moose, he’s dead. (pause and frown) Poor moose.
Male Cashier: Are you sure he’s dead.
Me: (regarding moose thoughtfully) Yes, I believe I’m sure. Typically when one’s head is severed from one’s body death is certain.
Male Cashier: It’s OK; it’s a fake moose.
Me: (again regarding the moose with some intensity) No, we have a lot of dead animals at our house. That is a taxidermied moose.
Male Cashier: (a look of utter shock on his face)
Me: (quick to reassure we’re not complete weirdos) Taxidermied animals. On the walls.
My son: (after observing the moose with almost as much intensity as I had) Duuuuude.
Me: (somewhat concerned) What?
My son: Dude-mom, that’s a 12 on 12 rack.
Me: (quickly counting points) Duuuuude, you’re right. Impressive.
Male Cashier: (clearly not a hunter) Is that good?
Me and my son: (in unison) Yeah, man, way good.
Me: Poor moose.
Male Cashier: Really it’s OK; he’s fake.
Me: No he’s not. (looking up at the moose again) Can I pet his nose?
Male Cashier: (moving a box out of the way) Sure.
Me: (stroking moose nose and ruffling his whiskers) Dude, he’s real; he still has his whiskers.
Male Cashier: No, really I don’t think he is.
Me: (laughing) OK. If you say so. Thanks for indulging my weirdness.
Please bear in mind, we were NOT fighting. In fact there was much laughing and smiling going on. My son and his friend even petted the moose! I would have taken my girlfriend back to pet the moose but she wasn’t up for petting dead moose. She is such a city slicker!
The cashier was very nice. Very indulgent. Perhaps he was afraid? LOL
Friday, January 2, 2009
A Fresh Start
I’ve said it in my other blogs and I’ll say it here: I can’t believe we’re already in 2009. I don’t know about you, but my 2009 has started off busy! The common thinking is that however the first day of a new year is, that is how the whole year will be. I’m glad I was working around the house and spending time with friends. Those are easily my two favorite things to do with my time.
I can’t believe Christmas break is almost over! I remember thinking how much time I would have and how much I would get accomplished before returning to school. Well, I got much accomplished, but it seems the time has just flown by. But it’s been a restful time and that was what I desperately needed.
Today I spent a lot of time working on the inside of the house. My laundry room was in desperate need of attention. It seems that the laundry room is an easy place to just dump things that you want to take care of “later”. In this house it seems like “later” never comes. If you want details on this project, go to my Floridian Oasis blog (link at left). I made some great discoveries during this project!
Of course the cats wanted to help with the laundry room and Ichigo really got himself into a pickle. He decided to explore behind the washer and dryer. Unfortunately once he was ready to get out he realized he was stuck. Thus ensued a frenzied attempt by my 14-pound kitten to scream his way out. When that failed he used the hoses on the back of the appliances to climb out. Needless to say he pulled the vent hose out of the back of the dryer.
What a mess! I had no idea what to do. Of course that necessitated a call to my father who managed to patiently explain what I would need to do. Funny how things seem so major and scary when you don’t know what you’re doing. But once I pulled the dryer out, it was easy enough to see what needed to be done. Too bad pulling the dryer out wasn’t easy.
What a mess! My laundry room is only wide enough for the washer and dryer to sit side by side. There is barely two inches clearance on the sides. Well when I replaced the door handle a few years ago I didn’t stop to think about possibly having to pull the dryer out. I ended up having to open the door, which meant caging the cats in the bathroom so they didn’t escape into the wild, and then pulling the dryer out. But then I couldn’t get behind the dryer. So I had to go out the front door and around the side of the house to the laundry room door where there was barely enough room to squeeze in behind the dryer.
Despite the extraordinary machinations to get the dryer fixed, this unplanned mini-project was completed in less than 20 minutes. I am hoping Ichi-sama doesn’t find it necessary to explore behind the washer and dryer again.
My plans for tomorrow will take me out of Ocala and into Gainesville. Angela’s friend, Abbas, opened a small bistro in Hale Plantation. We’ve been talking about going for a few weeks now so we decided tomorrow was the perfect time to go. Perhaps after we will take the boys bowling. I’m not sure.
Tomorrow promises to be an early day so I find I need to cut this short and go to bed. But I will close with my usual.
Bible Reading:
Genesis 1-4
Other Reading:
I just finished Moonlight and Mistletoe by Louise Allen and started A Soldier for Christmas by Jillian Hart. As you can see I’m staying true to form and starting out my reading year with fun mind candy. Soon enough I will get into the heavier reading. For my review on these books, see my blog The Well-Read Floridian (link at left).
What I’m Listening to Right Now:
Through the Night with John Shea on BBC Radio 3
Five Things I’m Thankful For:
1 – A peaceful start to the New Year.
2 – My son being home to start the New Year.
3 – Spending time with Angela.
4 – A job that I enjoy and that allows me to spend school breaks with my son.
5 – My church.
I can’t believe Christmas break is almost over! I remember thinking how much time I would have and how much I would get accomplished before returning to school. Well, I got much accomplished, but it seems the time has just flown by. But it’s been a restful time and that was what I desperately needed.
Today I spent a lot of time working on the inside of the house. My laundry room was in desperate need of attention. It seems that the laundry room is an easy place to just dump things that you want to take care of “later”. In this house it seems like “later” never comes. If you want details on this project, go to my Floridian Oasis blog (link at left). I made some great discoveries during this project!
Of course the cats wanted to help with the laundry room and Ichigo really got himself into a pickle. He decided to explore behind the washer and dryer. Unfortunately once he was ready to get out he realized he was stuck. Thus ensued a frenzied attempt by my 14-pound kitten to scream his way out. When that failed he used the hoses on the back of the appliances to climb out. Needless to say he pulled the vent hose out of the back of the dryer.
What a mess! I had no idea what to do. Of course that necessitated a call to my father who managed to patiently explain what I would need to do. Funny how things seem so major and scary when you don’t know what you’re doing. But once I pulled the dryer out, it was easy enough to see what needed to be done. Too bad pulling the dryer out wasn’t easy.
What a mess! My laundry room is only wide enough for the washer and dryer to sit side by side. There is barely two inches clearance on the sides. Well when I replaced the door handle a few years ago I didn’t stop to think about possibly having to pull the dryer out. I ended up having to open the door, which meant caging the cats in the bathroom so they didn’t escape into the wild, and then pulling the dryer out. But then I couldn’t get behind the dryer. So I had to go out the front door and around the side of the house to the laundry room door where there was barely enough room to squeeze in behind the dryer.
Despite the extraordinary machinations to get the dryer fixed, this unplanned mini-project was completed in less than 20 minutes. I am hoping Ichi-sama doesn’t find it necessary to explore behind the washer and dryer again.
My plans for tomorrow will take me out of Ocala and into Gainesville. Angela’s friend, Abbas, opened a small bistro in Hale Plantation. We’ve been talking about going for a few weeks now so we decided tomorrow was the perfect time to go. Perhaps after we will take the boys bowling. I’m not sure.
Tomorrow promises to be an early day so I find I need to cut this short and go to bed. But I will close with my usual.
Bible Reading:
Genesis 1-4
Other Reading:
I just finished Moonlight and Mistletoe by Louise Allen and started A Soldier for Christmas by Jillian Hart. As you can see I’m staying true to form and starting out my reading year with fun mind candy. Soon enough I will get into the heavier reading. For my review on these books, see my blog The Well-Read Floridian (link at left).
What I’m Listening to Right Now:
Through the Night with John Shea on BBC Radio 3
Five Things I’m Thankful For:
1 – A peaceful start to the New Year.
2 – My son being home to start the New Year.
3 – Spending time with Angela.
4 – A job that I enjoy and that allows me to spend school breaks with my son.
5 – My church.
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