Sometimes life is just that way!!!

So Kath asked me if Mike and I were going on Saturday and I said, where would that be? She told me there was a High Priest Temple trip. I said oh, well let me ask Mike if he has anything planned for Saturday. What would be better than a trip down to Orlando with Devin and Kathy.

As it worked out Mike was free to go and so we took the opportunity to snag a ride down to Orlando with some of our favorite people. We got up early Saturday morning and headed down. Mike and I both had talks to finish/start writing but we just chatted the whole way down and back. Ya have to love family who are also very dear friends.

We made it to the temple and to our great surprise the temple was stuffed full of people. Kathy and I had to wait in the dressing room because there was standing room only in the halls and the Chapel. I thought this is great. This is exactly how it should be every time. We were able to do 2 family names for a women from So. Florida as she stood in line with us. I looked at the name and other stuff on my card and noticed she was born 29 Feb 1872. She would have been 43 years old. Her birth day date is a leap year. How cool is that. Anyhow, we eventually make it into a session and gather back together in the celestial room.

We decided that we were very hungry and decided we would go to lunch at "Sweet Tomatoes."
We were hungry and nothing better than stuffing yourself with yummy salad, soup, pasta, bread and you even get to have dessert. We were finally settled into our table with our salads, drinks and good conversation. We ate until we thought our eyes were going to pop out. But we still needed to have dessert. Some of us were sitting for a moment to let our stomachs digest some before taking on the dessert bar.

I happened to look to the right of me and my eye caught an older women quickly putting her chocolate muffin into her purse. I didn't think much of it until I continued to watch her stuff more chocolate muffins into her purse. She was quick. She was scanning the restaurant for anyone that might be watching her. I tell you she had this move down pat. Before I could blink she had 2 then 4 muffins in her purse and that was just what I saw go in there. Kath was getting ready to get up and I said.... sit down... and shared with her the old women who was high jacking all the chocolate muffins.

She didn't have the "hot" muffins in her purse too long before an elder gentleman came walking up to her with 4 more chocolate muffins on a plate. He sat it down in front of her and she went to work again. She did leave one on the plate which told me her purse must be full. By this time we were counting how many she had in her purse. I counted 10 and that was just what I had seen. She excused herself from the table and I wondered what she was going for next. She came back with a yam. I wondered how that was going to mix with the muffins. I was disappointed because she ate that at the table. We chatted about why the need for so many chocolate muffins. We all eventually made our way to the dessert bar. I went to try a chocolate muffin. I assumed they were very good! But they were ALL GONE. Awe darn! But while standing at the dessert bar out came a whole new batch of you guessed it "Chocolate muffins." My face broke out with a huge smile. I figured it wouldn't be long before the word got out there was a new pile of chocolate muffins.

We finished up our meal and knew we needed to head back home. I noticed that the elderly man had cut the last muffin into 4th and was sharing it with their friends. They all seemed to like what they tasted. But by the looks on their friends faces they had no idea they were sitting with Slick Finger Sally and Sam. We were getting ready to leave when here he comes again with 4 more chocolate muffins on a dish. We just looked at each other and laughed. That was sure some purse you've got there sister but I think the friends on the other side of the table were cramping their style. As we headed out to leave we could hear the elderly man ask his friend if he didn't need to go and get more ice for his tea. To which the man replied. No I'm fine. Our final decision about why they were taking all the muffins was the grand kids must be coming over!

We talked about that on the way home. I only hope that if Mike and I get so bad off I can still make chocolate muffins for him and anyone else who might like to have one. I hoped she was able to make it out the door carrying her 15+ chocolate muffins. That had to be one heavy purse!

Oh and by the way... they really weren't that good. Kind of tasted like they had lots of bran in them.

Thought for the week!

There are days that I truly still miss Pres. Hinckley. I love the sound of his voice and the way he taught. Someone shared this with me and I thought I would share this touching story with you. It has caused me to want to be better person.

3 strikes and yerrrrrr OUT!

Kristen showed me a very bad thing! What is that thing you might ask. Hot Chocolate from the mini marts. Yes!!! I had no idea you could get hot chocolate from a gas station. I learned a sad fact that not gas stations have the hot chocolate button on the coffee machine. She also shared with me that if you pour creamer into the cup it will make it even better. It is yummy on a cold day. I also learned not all mini marts are created equal and that some sell weak and pathetic hot chocolate. I mean come on people am I the only person on this earth who buys your hot chocolate?

We have had some cold days this past month and half. Last week we woke up to 14 + 16 deg mornings. That is just plain BURRRRRR Seriously we live in FLORIDA and I have thin blood and so I get cold easily. Just ask Mike and he will tell you. I carry blankets in my car along with extra clothing just for those chilly times.

On one of these early morning this past week I needed to be to a school very early in the morning and it was about an hour away from my house. I left a few minutes early so I could stop and get me a cup of hot chocolate. It was a great plan and a great way to start the morning or so I thought. While I was in getting my cocoa I thought to myself okay what can I grab for breakfast as well. Donuts yummmm but too fattening. A big muffin? No they said on the radio muffins are like eating cake. Too fattening.

I scanned the room and my eyes fell upon something that was a make shift McDee's breakfast sandwich. I know FATTENING! But is had a certain appeal to it and it was warm. Warmth is a major plus factor when it is so cold outside. So I grab the last one. Hey there is only one left so they must be good right?

I get into my car and the first thing I do is taste my hot chocolate... it's hot ... but very weak. Darn I think. I unwrap the breakfast sandwich and look at it. It's an English Muffin with an egg and a small sausage dog cut down the center and spread open and finally it has some yellowish cheese type substance on it. Okay, how bad can it be?

I take a bite when the hotness from that wiener rushes to all corners of my mouth. I pull the sandwich back to take a better look. This is one spicy dog. My brain says take it off and just eat the rest. But like a fool I continue to consume this spicy breakfast crap all the while saying to myself... this is bad!

About 3 weeks or so ago I was driving down to this same school with the same thoughts. I stopped at a different mini mart hoping to get a cup of cocoa. I find they have the machine and I am happy. I look around for something else to grab. Donuts yummmm but too fattening. A big muffin? No they said on the radio muffins are like eating cake. Too fattening. The same thought running in my head.

I spot a small fried chicken place within the mart. You know like Church's Fried Chicken but this one was called Chesters. I walk over to see what they have. You can order just about anything and it hot. This is a good sign! So I said, can I have a biscuit, bacon and cheese sandwich please? I watch as the old guy pulls out about 8 -10 slices of very crunchy bacon. He is doing something behind the window that I can't see. Hands me the wrapped sandwich. I pay for my meal and head out. I take a sip of my cocoa and it is sooo good. Just right! I unwrap my sandwich and there it is... a biscuit with a mound of crunchy bacon in the center of the biscuit and a slice of cheese. Just like I ordered and that's it. Nothing else. I guess I expect more but I just looked at it. My choice was to either eat it or throw it away. So I take the plunge and say why not? This is the south and it just might be good. I take my first bite into a towering biscuit filled with Bacon and a slice of cheese. It was crunchy to say the least and bacon fell all over me. I felt the fat rushing to my heart. I think to myself, well I wont be doing this again.

So the lessons I am slowing learning is... Don't buy breakfast at the mini mart unless you plan on buying packaged donuts or giant muffins. I might give one more chance to the mini marts of the world and hopefully it will redeem all the heart clogging breakfast I have had these past 2 months. But I think next time. I might just say.... do you have a banana?

Senior Discounts

Mike and I went down to Orlando Friday night and came home late last night. The temple is always the main reason why we go down to Orlando but there are also other things we enjoy doing like outlet shopping.

I must go back a bit for a moment and tell you that I went to the Eye Dr. in Dec and have been wearing bifocal contacts. When we he gave me the contacts to try on the distance was outstanding. Better than 20/20. The reading part was less then okay. It was blurry and I found that if I held things out far enough I could possibly read it. It proved to be a bit frustrating since I work at a computer almost all day and I read and write as well all day and none of this was fitting into the perfect and clear window like my new distant was. I found that my arms just weren't long enough to see and do everything. I went back and asked him if I needed trifocals. He said get some reading classes and that ought to help. So I did. And that proved to solve my problem for most things except one... I couldn't see the time nor the date on my watch face. So I searched for a face that was big enough for me to read both things. I found something at an outlet Timex store in Naples but it was actually a male watch. I figured if I changed the black band for a purple one it would solve that problem. I looked around town and no such luck. No feminine colored bands. I googled purple watch bands and did everything but push the pay button.

Since we were going to Orlando I thought I would wait to see if I found anything down there. We have our favorite places we hit up when we are in Orlando like VF Factory Outlet and other outlet stores. We had some pretty good luck yesterday. I found a watch band for my new BIG watch face. I asked the guy if he had a purple band. He laughed I took that as NO. But he pulled out about 20 different ones. Finally out came a cream soft looking band. That proved to be the one. Problem solved!

So I can now wear my bifocal contact with my big faced watch and feel confident in keeping track of my time and day. Life is looking up! As Mike and I wondered around in Orlando going from place to place our list was getting shorter and we realized it was about time to head back for home. It was also getting towards dinner time and we decided to stop at Golden Corral. I usually don't like these types of places as much as other places but this seemed like a good fit this time. We walked in, paid and found a seat. I claimed the table and stayed put until Mike came back. As I looked at our receipt with my new eyes I noticed something on there I have never seen before. Senior Discount!

Strange things happened inside my head. I was excited to see if we actually saved anything and then in a split instant within my new found joy crept unhappiness. We aren't old enough to have a senior discount I thought!!!! What is wrong with that lady. Did she see my bifocal contacts and my extra big watch? Did she notice all the gray in my hair? Do we even look like we are old enough to have a discount???? Na we don't look that old! I kept thinking....we certainly don't look like we are old enough to be eligible for a discount?? Maybe she needs my bifocal contacts and big watch faces. As the drama played in my head back and forth I finally decided it wasn't so bad. I asked Mike if he had seen anything on the slip that was odd. He said ya the senior discount. The discussion ensued the same way it had gone on in my head. We determined that hey if they are willing to give us a discount then we darn well deserve it.

So I say... hit me up babe! Give me those discounts! I'm a senior and darn proud of it!