Damn you Trader Joes

Never. I repeat, Never go to the grocery store when you are hungry. The smart person would have figured this out a long time ago, but I happen to only be an average person.

I asked D last night what he would like for dinner seeing as we had no thawed meat in our house. He said, "You could go to Trader Joes and pick up one of those vegetarian Indian dishes that I like so much." Oooh! good idea! I was already hungry at this point.

I hop in my little car and drive down the street to the bestest grocery store in the whole world. (ok, it's not as good as Whole Foods, but we don't have one of those here.) I love Trader Joes. See my love decent wine at affordable prices here.

I am not much of a snacker. I eat my meals at very specific times and don't eat much in between. Let's just overlook the 2 boxes of Girl Scout cookies in one week thing shall we. But... when I go to the grocery store hungry I come home with all kinds of crap that I don't really need. I have been known to buy a box of Lucky Charms just because it looked good that very moment.

So I am standing in the chip aisle at TJ's thinking I really should get myself a snack for those moments when hunger strikes. I found the most delectible little treat! Papadums! Papadums are typically a large, tortilla sized crispy Indian flat bread. Difficult to make at home, but oh so yummy. Thanks to the magic of TJ's they have made this treat into a bite sized chip. Of course they need some kind of dip to go with them. OOOOHHHH Hummus!!! I sounded like a hippie stoned out of my gorde in the middle of the store. I hot foot it over to the dip area and they have about 6 different kinds of hummus. I select the garlic.

I really could eat this snack as a whole meal. In fact I might just do that for lunch today. If you have a TJ's near you, try it. I promise you will like it! Sure beats the reduced fat Cheez-its I just ate*. Reduced fat. Really. Who buys reduced fat snack foods. If you are going to snack have something that actually tastes good.
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*Please note that I passed up the unopened box of Thin Mints sitting right next to the Cheez-its. What the heck was I thinking?

Sorry about that...

I had a moment there. Let's just move past the post where Elle says her cousin is attractive. I don't really want to be labeled any more of a redneck than I already am.

I must say that currently the Life of Elle is quite boring. Granted I am up to my eyeballs in projects, but there isn't really anything of particular interest. Look for a few new blog designs to come out pretty soon.

I unearthed my office a little. Evidently I have 2 desks in here! Who would have thunk it? I am still doing a little freaking out about that whole parenting thing. Still not quite sure what to feed this thing when it arrives, but I suppose I will figure it out.

On a totally unrelated subject I have to recommend a book to all of my readers. On most days I am a pretty smart person. I love to read and read just about everything. I do tend to shy away from trashy romance novels and anything suggested by Oprah, but that is a whole different story. I picked up one of the greatest books I have ever read. I know you have all heard about it. The book is Freakonomics. This book if fantastic. I was quite in the need of a good dendrite fluffing (oh, you will hear that phrase from me on occasion). The guys who wrote this are geniuses. They really do look at the hidden side of everything. It will simply astonish you as to how clueless we are to the pressures of "conventional wisdom."

There you have it. Elle's very own little book club. Pick yourself up a copy of this one today!

Is it wrong to think your cousin is good looking?

Noooo, I am not from Kentucky. I grew up in Podunk little town, Washington. I think that might be worse than growing up in Kentucky.

Sunday afternoon was my Grandma's 70th birthday party. (yeah yeah, she's young, so are my parents) The party was at none other than one of the tribal owned gaming establishments. Can you see my joy? I firmly believe casinos outside of the state of Nevada or Atlantic City are wrong on so many levels. However, it was Gram's birthday and I couldn't pass up an opportunity to spent the afternoon with my family. They are a kick. Besides, I had to have a reason to see my dad and scold him for not taking his medication.

Anyway, all of my uncles and aunts were there. Even a few cousins. And when I say few I mean very few. There are 23 of us and only 5 showed up.

My uncles rock!! My dad is the oldest and then the youngest is only about 12 years older than me. I grew up around these guys. They are just your average working joes. (no pun intended as my dad's name is Joe) They are genuine and sweet guys. What was most surprising is that my Uncle Kevin actually came. Well, the truth is his sons brought him since he can't drive. I do actually mean that plural. Sons. I haven't seen my cousin Jesse in a few years.

Here is a little background on me and Jesse. There are 3 of us who are the "older" grandkids. All girls. I am the 3rd oldest of 23. Then there are 3 boys. 2 of the boys are brothers to 3 of us girls. Then there was Jesse and I. We are not siblings, but look similar to each other. Both blond and fair skinned. The 6 of us spent summers together. We were like bickering best friends. The best part was that us girls would dress the boys up in girl clothes and make them play fashion models. (it is amazing that even one of them turned out normal) We would even do stuff like swim in the horse trough. Talk about redneck.

Well I got married, move away and then Jess graduated high school and we hardly see him. The last time I saw him was two years ago. Lemme tell you this boy has turned into a man! Holy Cow! Jesse now measures in at around 6'5"-6'6", longer blonde hair and great blue eyes. He works as a firefighter and is starting his EMT class shortly. Sorry ladies, this guy has some mystery girlfriend that none of us have met.

It was so amazing to see him I just had to get a photo of that one! This is Jesse with my Aunt Robin. Yeah, that's D in the background. Like how I am not in the shot? Of course sitting or standing next to Jess would make me look like a dwarf.

I am sure that it is not ok to think that your cousin is good looking. But what a fine man this boy turned out to be. I am glad to know that there is another one of us that turned out somewhat normal. You can't help but be just a little warped by my family, but that is what makes us charming!

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Ok mom, pick your chin up off the desk. Yep, the little boy is all grown up now. Shocking I know!

Visit with my sister

I bet you all are dying to know how the visit with my sister went. I have to say that it went quite well.

First, I'll tell you about her. My sis stands all of 4'11". Her name is very unique and for fear of ridiculing her in the future and people she might know finding out I will call her "Little". I am sure I could have come up with a better nickname, but that one is so fitting.

She and her boyfriend arrived around 2:30 yesterday afternoon. We were supposed to drive down to Olympia and meet at mom's house, but mom had to work. So I talked her into driving up here. See how I worked my laziness in there? Anyway. We had a nice visit. She has actually darkened her hair (she is a natural blonde), she has gained a little weight (which she fully admits) and looks very good over all. She talked non-stop. This could be from nervousness or just her personality.

I can say that it was strange seeing her again. It has been so long. However, the visit was nice. They stayed for about an hour. We showed her the house and the movie D made of the boy. She is excited to be an aunt, but I am not quite sure she understands that whole aunt thing. After all she hasn't been here through the whole nightmarish process. I tried to explain it to her, but I am not sure if it all sunk in or not.

We had the opportunity to talk about some of our fond memories of growing up. (I'll let you in on some of those at a later date) Actually it was us telling Little's boyfriend about our mom. As I have noted in the past mom is a little neurotic. (oh don't seemed shocked woman! you know it's true) I am totally the way I am from my mother. I am not seeing this as so much of a bad thing anymore. D disagrees.

I am certainly not the same person I was when she left. Growing up will do that to a person. I am more reserved than my mom on this one. I will admit I am thrilled to have Little back in our lives. I have to get used to the fact that she is her though. My mom, Little and I struggled so much when we were younger. Our childhood could have been better. Little and I competed for just about everything in life. I am noticing that I am still doing that with her. I would like the ability to put that aside, but I am not sure if I am ready for that yet.

My main fear is of my mom getting hurt again. This probably stems from a trust issue. Little left 2 times in the past and it hurt my mom so bad. I don't ever want to see her go through that again. Mom and I have worked so hard over the past few years to have the relationship we have today. I treasure that relationship so much. Things are good now, my mom is so happy (especially since Little's return) I don't want that to be taken away from her.

I think at this point I am going to have to let go of my fears. I am going to have to trust that Little has grown up and that she has no ill intent. And Little, if you read this, I love you very much. I have missed you terribly. I am glad that you are back in our lives.

My sister

I have a sister. Not sure if I mentioned that one before. Ok, I mentioned I had an 8 year old sister, but this is not the sister I am talking about. This sister is going to be 25 this year. Damn I feel old. Anyway, I haven't spoken to her in about 4 or 5 years.

She actually was my step sister. Her dad married my mom when I was 10. She came to live with us when she was 6. When I was 22 my mom divorced her dad and fought for custody of her. My mom won. Not long after that my sister moved out of the house to live with her boyfriend. I lived in Kansas at the time so I am not exactly sure surrounding the circumstances on that one. Our family never attended her high school graduation. A few years later she contacted my mom and apologized. Soon after that she moved back in with my mom. A while later she up and moved out again. That was the last we saw of her. My mom and I have always wondered what happened to her. Was she ok, is she safe, where was she living.

Recently my sister decided to contact my mom again. She sent her a card saying she was sorry for hurting her. She has made a good life for herself. She lives in Portland, OR. She is a real estate broker and living with a very nice man. (I haven't met the guy yet, but this is what she says) Anyway, my mother was elated! She wrote my sister back and they have been in communication for a few days now. My mom called Wednesday to tell me all of this was happening.

It is so ironic that my sister decided to contact my mom when she did. I was driving home the other day and thought it would really be nice to have her around to talk to. I missed her.

I mulled over writing her for a few days. I finally sat down today and sent her an email. I told her that I was glad she contacted mom and was happy that she was doing well. I told her she was going to be an aunt and sent a photo of A. Within an hour I got a response back. I can't begin to tell you how nice it was to hear from her.

She and I had always had a fairly good relationship. We fought like crazy. Like me holding her down and beating her with a piece of kindling. Or her stealing things from my room or telling mom things I was doing that I really shouldn't have been doing. But what siblings don't fight. I always had someone to talk to in my sister. I always tried to look out for her.

So tomorrow she and her boyfriend are supposed to be driving up to our area to visit. It will have to be a short visit. Unfortunately D and I have tickets to go see the Seattle Thunderbirds. (hockey team) and the tickets were a Christmas gift from a friend, so I can't cut out on this one.

I am excited to see her, but cautious. I have missed her so much and don't want to lose her again. I want A to have his fun little auntie. Mostly I want my sister to talk to. Somehow you just can't call up an 8 year old and complain about your job or a foreign government. Wish me luck all. I'll let you know all about it.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!

I have a weakness. Ok, I have more than one, but this one is a biggie! It's that time of year again when the little angelic girls in their little green dresses whore their cookies at every grocery store, department store, convenience store and everywhere else you go to. They have even infiltrated our local IKEA! You know the ones. The Girl Scouts.

I am a Girl Scout cookie addict. Whew, it felt good to get that off my chest. Anyway, about a month ago one of our sweet little younglings at church looked at me with her big doe eyes and said, "Elle, will you buy some of my cookies." Well, I'm not sure sweetheart... I don't have my checkbook with me. "That's ok, you don't have to pay right now." Ok then, I'll buy a few boxes.

How many boxes does Elle purchase? 5. That simply won't do. That is not nearly enough cookies to get me through the week. Actually, I bought 2 Thin Mint and 3 of those peanut butter things. Those are D's. I am a Thin Mint snob.

You would be proud to know that I did not rip open the box and start shoving said cookies into my face the minute the little angel delivered them. I was a good girl. I waited until the next day when I ate nearly an entire sleeve in one sitting. It is day 2 of the cookie fest and I am almost through my first box. I am eyeing that second box and thinking about where I can find me a fix when that one is gone.

I will fully admit that I am a Girl Scout hunter. I usually don't have the privledged of pre-purchasing my cookies. I actually like it when they ask at the store. They see this huge target on my chest from a mile away. I buy at least 3-5 boxes each time. They LOVE me!!

I secretly cry when they are all done selling cookies each year. I have to go back to the Thin Mint ice cream that just isn't the same. I really shouldn't eat it anyway with that whole lactose intolerant thing.

So if you hear news reports of some cookie crazed lady taking Girl Scouts hostage looking for a cookie fix... that's me.

Shrove Tuesday

I am very aware that today is Ash Wednesday and not Shrove Tuesday. I know this very well since I spent the whole day yesterday trying to get some kind of printing device to print the bulletin for tonight's service. The fuser is going out on my laser jet and our fancy dancy, hooked to the computer RISOgraph copier hates me. I can print the newsletter, but not the stupid bulletin. After much struggle, cursing and crumpling of paper I got it done. Whew!

So our Youth and Family Ministry team puts on a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Feast every year. It is supposed to be a fundraising event for youth activities. This year the funds are going to our 8 youth attending the National Youth Gathering in San Antonio, TX. (of which D and I are 2 of the adult counselors. TX is July... yeah...) In years past the Pancake feast has not been as well attended as it should have been. Which is unfortunate because it is a super fun event. We make masks, eat pancakes for dinner and have a pancake flipping contest.

D decided that he wanted to start a new program at our church to advertise events such as the Pancake feast. Thus Video Ministry. It is a great program. Our highschool youth shoot commercials, church events and just plain fun stuff all in attempt to showcase the life in our congregation. The kids put together a commercial for the Feast and we showed it during church. The congregation loved it! Best yet... IT WORKED!! We got twice the turn out for the Feast than ususal. Good job kids.

So my Shrove Tuesday was spent in the church kitchen flipping hundreds of pancakes and trying to herd teenagers. Let me tell you this is almost as fun as herding toddlers. I have determined that teenagers are much like lemmings. And this is the group of youth that I am going to take on a plane to Texas?! God help me, what have I gotten myself into?