Imagine that...I like to cook!

In the past few months (well, maybe the last year), I have discovered that I like to cook. I have to give credit for this to Heidi. While staying at her house she turned me on to doing a two week menu. I was advised to record dishes I wanted to make, create a shopping list from these menu items, shop only (well almost) for the items on the shopping list and then I'd be ready to make any of them on whatever night I chose. I watched this work for her, but I'll admit I was slow to learn how efficient this was. Anyway, some months after my observations, I finally decided to give it a try. In this process I've discovered that I really do like to cook. I thought I had lost that feeling after having children that had such different ideas about food likes and dislikes. It sure can take the wind out of a cook's sail (all you mothers know what I'm talking about). I also found that it's difficult to cook for just two people. Recipes are generally created to serve many people. This makes it hard when there is so much left over (that's providing Stan doesn't love it and have multiple helpings). I have made a concerted effort to cut recipes in half, and this taxes my math skills considerably, but I've managed to not mess up too many recipes. Also in my journey of revelation, I have discovered (also with the help of Heidi) the Taste of Home cookbooks and magazines. I have to tell ya...these are recipes I can cook. I love that they don't use exotic ingredients. Most everything is something I've heard of, have on hand, or can find at the local grocery store. Yeah...that makes cooking so much easier. I have in the last two days made a couple of things that Stan has asked me to repeat. So, I guess I'm pleasing the crowd (of one) and enjoying it as well. After all, life and eating are meant to be enjoyable, right?

Catching Up

Stan and I are trying to catch up to the current technology. I thought it was such a great accomplishment for me to get an iPod, get music and movies on it and then figure out how to listen and watch. We've had Dish Network Satellite for quite some time and I think I've become pretty proficient at using it. I even knew enough to ask for an additional USB device so that I could store such things as all this season's Lost episodes. This was done in an effort to make some sense of this story by watching it over and over. Whatever made me think I would have time for that? At any rate, I have felt more hooked up with the current technology. This blog was also a big accomplishment for me. With help from Kayla, Christy and Heidi I have been able to make posts and hopefully I'll be able to include pictures soon. All this being said...we've added a new dimension to our lives filled with entertainment. We recently signed up for Netflix. I've got to tell you...whoever thought up this concept was really hooked up with what the current populous wants. Signing up rewarded us with 4,000 airline miles so we had some pretty good incentive, plus Nic and Kayla have been telling us how much fun it is to get movies in the mail. We've received our first movie, watched it, mailed it back and a new one is on the way. Thanks to my email, I know when it's been mailed and it's title. Now I ask you...with gas prices being what they are now, how can you miss on entertainment coming directly to your home on a regular basis? It doesn't cost us much to receive one movie at a time and I can cram as many into the month as is possible. Also, fortunately, the trip to my mail box (both to get movies and return movies) is approximately 50 steps away. I find this to be an awesome thing.
All this makes me wonder...what did my grandparents do for entertainment and am I in serious overload? I don't know the answer to either of these questions, but I do know that it's nice to be able to watch a good movie and de-stress. So I say...enjoy this type of technology, I believe it can be good for you.

Luau magic

Last night we enjoyed a luau at the Old Lahaina Luau. Needless to say...they delivered a beautiful evening. It's so nice to be greeted with an aloha and a smile, a fresh orchid lei, and a virgin mai tai. After being escorted to our seats we went to have our picture taken. They turned out pretty good and we'll share them with you when we return home. The beverages are limitless so our waiter (Nelson) was ready and willing to bring us all we wanted. The favorite at our table was the virgin Pina Colada. Wow...sugar, sugar, sugar served in a convenient container with a straw. But it's yummy!!! The food was fantastic with so much to choose from that you can't possibly get even a little of everything on your plate. Dessert was great also. We enjoyed the company of a family from Michigan who was also seated at our table. The entertainment was the best part. As you all know we love the Hawaiian culture and it's music. We also love the traditional dances. The Tahitian dances are fast and colorful. The costumes of these various island cultures are varied and vivid. I just didn't want it to stop.
We head home on Thursday. Can't wait to see you all cause we miss you like crazy.
Aloha... means we love you!