The End of an Error: Adios 2011

Contrary to the title, I'm not quite that jaded about this year.  I actually can't believe how fast it came and went.  G says he just now got used to writing/typing "2011" on things and here we are about to change again.  In many respects, we operate like 85-year-olds.  I'm just sayin.

I don't have the best memory in the world and often by the end of the year I couldn't tell you what went down since the previous New Year's celebration.  On the contrary, G not only remembers the events from his year, but also his lifetime, and the lifetimes of many others throughout history.  So I will rely on him to correct me if I've left out anything remarkable.  But I'm pretty sure this covers it.

Adventures in 2011 included G's trip to Chicago for a nerdfest, B's trip to Florida for some BFF quality time, both of us getting to meet an actress from one of our favorite TV shows, a few panicked trips to the vet's office - although all's well that ends well.  The year gave us some great hikes, good times with friends, new jobs, a new nephew, a new niece, and one of the best vacations we've ever had.  2011 gave us a momentous anniversary - ten years.

This year brought me a kidney stone and two week's worth of pain and suffering that won't easily fade with time.  And it gave us a "recovery" trip to NYC to help bring my strength back.

It brought no deaths to our families - thank you God.  It gave us much-needed furniture and memberships (oft-used) to a local gym.  G's grandpa turned 90 and the family was there to celebrate.  Our college football team had one of its best seasons in recent history - GO HOGS.

B got a carpool buddy.  G got a new Jeep.  Books were read.  And more books.  G played table top war games and flew (and crashed) RC helicopters and planes, and generally spent the year nerding it up (evidence = Model Monday posts).  B faced down her fears in a shark cage off the coast of Hawai'i, and emerged victorious.

This was also a year of tough soul-searching and good deal - actually, a great deal - of change.  Some phoenixes are rising from the ash, but there's a lot of ash, and the winds of time are starting to sweep it away.  I am thankful, we are thankful, for this year.

My prayer is that 2012 is a blessed one for us - for all of us reading this blog.  I pray for more of this change, for new beginnings, and for old flames (the non-romantic kind, of course) to be rekindled.  I pray for God to become bigger in our lives, for him to hold us in His mighty right hand, and for His blessings and adventures to fall on us like rain.

Thanks for reading, peeps.  Here are some momentous times from 2011, and here's to many more (all except for that kidney stone, please LORD) in the new year:

 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  BRING IT, 2012!

TGIF, people!

I present to you - no joke - The Redneck Wine Glass:

It's a glass candlestick holder hot-glued to a canning jar.  Um, no thanks.

Looking Forward

As 2011 winds down, I've been reflecting on all that's happened this year.  That's a post for another day.  But for now, especially since I just bashed all movies, I thought I'd post about what we look forward to in 2012 (so far):

Coming in March!  Cannot wait!  It better do justice to the book.

I don't know how in the world Peter Jackson is going to turn this little book into two epic movies, but if anyone can, it's him.

This one is B-centric (not so much interest from G but whatever).  Come on, Season 5!  Woo Hoo!



A Holiday Treat - Black Forest Pecan Pie

I stumbled upon this recipe by accident and now it's a wright family favorite.  I make it every holiday season.  It's extremely easy (it must be if I'm making it!) and extremely rich.  It's not for the culinary faint of heart.  Enjoy!

Ingredients*

3/4 cup     Karo Light or Dark Corn Syrup

1/3 cup     Sugar

1/8 tsp      Salt

3 oz          Semi-Sweet baking chocolate, broken into pieces

2 Tsp        Butter or Margarine

3               Eggs, slightly beaten

1 tsp         Vanilla extract

3/4 cup     Coarsely chopped pecans

1               Graham Cracker Pie crust

1 can        Cherry Pie Filling

Directions
1.  Combine corn syrup, sugar and salt in a small saucepan.  Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.  Remove from heat.

2.  Add chocolate and butter to syrup mixture, stirring until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth.  Let cool for 5 minutes.

3.  Pour chocolate mixture slowly over eggs, stirring constantly.  Add vanilla and pecans; mix well.  Place pie crust on a baking sheet or pizza pan (for stability).  Pour mixture into crust.

4.  Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for about 30 to 35 minutes, until center of pie is slightly puffed; cool at least 1 hour.  To serve, top each slice of pie with about 1/4 cup cherry pie filling.



*Recipe is from:  www.recipefortogetherness.com
Called "Black Forest Brownie Pecan Pie"

Why We Cancelled Netflix

I cancelled our Netflix subscription today.  We've found over the past year or so that we just don't use it that often.  As much as we used to love movies, we rarely go to the theater anymore because even a matinee runs us like a bajillion dollars.  So, we restrict our movie-going to the big pics that one must see on the big screen.  Like the Harry Potter finale.  Or the upcoming Hunger Games (March!  Can't wait!).

We realized that we were basically wasting money by not fully taking advantage of Netflix, so over the past few months I've revived our account, keeping a long list of pseudo-interesting movies in our queue, and making an effort to pop movies in on Friday nights or whatever. 

In theory, Netflix is a great idea.  It's a good use of resources; it's an effective, efficient business.  We've never had any problems and I like their online streaming.  What we've found, though, is that we just don't like movies anymore.  We only average 5 minutes per movie before we turn it off.  At the risk of sounding like a Southern Baptist 95-year-old woman, I just have to say that everything is base, lame, vulgar - or all three.  Everything is about S-E-C-K-S (as G's family would say) - dramas, comedies, it doesn't matter.  Even movies that seem clean and cute in the previews turn out to be nothing more than people gyrating about, bumping and grinding from the moment the opening credits subside.

I'm not an overly conservative person, but I've found that most movies these days are pointless, or plotless, or consist mainly of good-looking people smiling and..well, just looking good I guess...for 2+ hours.  And we just don't have 2+ hours to spare anymore.  G and I often lament to each other that there's not enough time in the day (week, year) to read all the things we want.  I consider this a small gift to us - a gift of time, at least a couple of hours each week.

Holidaze

TGIF, people!