Summer Concert in the Park Salad

I'm sure there is a similar recipe out there, but I threw this together for our outing last night, and it was delish.



Summer Concert in the Park Salad recipe
8 oz cooked Rotini pasta

2/3 c. Ranch dressing

1 c. cooked chicken cut into bite-sized pieces

1 small zucchini sliced

1/2 c. chopped yellow pepper

1 c. cherry tomatoes halved

4 slices cooked bacon cut into small pieces

2 tbls. fresh basil chopped

Combine all ingredients and season with salt and pepper. Can be served warm or chilled. Enjoy!

Finally made it

to a concert in the park

(Rolling Stones tribute band)

(no pictures - please)

(off to join the band. You can't see it, but he has a maraca in his hand)

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Favorite of the day: It would be fun to make something like this using something akin to latch hook canvas

Working on: People skills

More overwhelming than Disneyland

BT has gone to the San Diego Comic Con every year since 1993. Despite my curiousity about the biggest geek fest on the West coast, I have never been allowed to accompany him, as this has historically been a *guy only* event for him and his friends.

This year I was *granted permission*to bring Hank down for Family Day so he could claim some day (if he chooses to profess such a thing) that he has gone to Comic Con every year since birth. Whether his mom could get in to the sold out event was questionable, but BT's friends made it happen.

So my summary of Comic Con in 4 words: hot, smelly, crowded, and overwhelming. Hank agreed (see above). Though, he did have Lois Lane exclaiming about how cute he was over a sea of people. And, you know, she has Superman as a comparison, so that really means something!

Mama spent her time checking out her favorite celebs

And the day ended with a blessing from the Buddy Christ

Will I bring Hank down for next year's event? Absolutely. Will I be attending? I think instead I will check out one of the many spas around the convention center. Mama will let this continue as a guy event.

Hang on to yer hats and glasses, folks

I actually sewed something!!!

I know - I'm kind of in shock as well. The above is a "splat mat" to catch spills, and to make Hank's dining area look darn cute. The fabric is evil awful off-gassing laminated fabric, but who could resist this cute print by Michael Miller?

I also made a little lined bag to hang between the legs of Hank's high chair to hold his "high chair toys"

to be played with while in the high chair waiting for his food. Not to be confused with his "mom and dad's room," "eating out," or "diaper bag" toys.

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On hand: Fabric and Velcro for high chair bag

Upcycled: N/A

Cost: I purchased a yard of the laminated fabric and a yard of aqua flannel for backing for about $20 :(

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Favorite of the day: I am into any "bokeh" shot lately, but this one melts my heart.

Working on: There *may* be some more sewing projects on the table, but I don't want to get your hopes up that anything else will be completed in the near future. And by "near future" I mean in the coming year...

A visit to the Magic Kingdom

To celebrate a birthday

With a mandatory souvenir purchase for a first time visitor

And the best souvenir value in the park ($9 for two hand cut silhouettes! That is drool on my shoulder, in case you are wondering)

(shout out to Disney - thank you!!)

May require thousands of dollars in therapy later

since it is a bit overwhelming at times

But worth every smile, laugh, and excited look, straining to see everything that is happening in this magical place

Ironic

In merging our extensive CD collections when we got married, BT and I created a mega collection, and quite a few duplicates. It was a music style match made in heaven.

Some stand alone CDs on the fringe were obvious as to who contributed them (Andrea Bocelli - me). Some, however, were a surprise to those perusing our collection when they found out who the original owner was (Alanis Morisette - BT)

This is the woman who wrote her passionate You Oughta Know song about friggin' Dave Coulier, right? Sorry - can't see keyboard through my laugh induced crying.

Ok - I've composed myself. Alanis is a long-standing joke around these parts, and comes up every so often. I am subjected to her masterpieces, then BT starts playing gems from my musical archives that I begin defending whole-heartedly (does anyone remember the flash in the pan "classical crossover group Bond?)

Anyway, my challenge to you is to "make ironic" the situations described in the song "Ironic." Here are the lyrics

An old man turned ninety-eight
He won the lottery and died the next day
It's a black fly in your Chardonnay
It's a death row pardon two minutes too late
Isn't it ironic ... don't you think

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
Who would've thought ... it figures

Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly
He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids good-bye
He waited his whole damn life to take that flight
And as the plane crashed down he thought 'Well isn't this nice...'
And isn't it ironic ... don't you think

Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
When you think everything's okay and everything's going right
And life has a funny way of helping you out when
You think everything's gone wrong and everything blows up
In your face

It's a traffic jam when you're already late
It's a no-smoking sign on your cigarette break
It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife
It's meeting the man of my dreams
And then meeting his beautiful wife
And isn't it ironic... don't you think
A little too ironic... and yeah I really do think...

Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out
Helping you out

If you need a cheat sheet, here is a funny tally of ironic situations described in the song versus bad timing, coincidence, etc. And of course, the ambiguous definition of what irony is. Is it ironic that it is difficult to define irony...? Hmmm...

My contribution: It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife

You needed the knife to open a new package of spoons you bought. Because, you know, it's obvious with 10,000 spoons that you have a spoon fetish or something.

Your turn!

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Favorite of the day (actually from a few days ago): The person who maintains this blog is God IMHO (via Neatorama)

Working on: New tastes and textures for Hank to enjoy