Hubby and I had a great day today playing tourist. We went to Blue Ridge, GA, up the road about an hour. It was still snowing (flurries here and there, but still… snow!), and there was even snow on the ground. I took the picture over there to the left (see the mountain with snow peeking through the trees?) on our way out of town. Hubby didn’t have an opportunity to take pictures on our way in when there was still quite a bit of snow left.

We bought fudge for dessert later, had coffee at L&L Beanery (see what they did there? hehe), hit some antique and home decor shops, ate lunch… you know, the things you
do when you’re a tourist.

The highlight was the olive oil store. Tasting a bunch of infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars. YUMMY!!! We bought two olive oils, organic butter (smells and tastes just like melted butter) and garlic. Looking forward to cooking with them.

We’ll definitely be going back to Blue Ridge, soon. Lots of fun.

Made pizza dough for two pizzas. Then made the two pizzas. I’m of the mind that my crust does not have to be a perfect circle. Or a perfect any shape for that matter. My crusts always end up in some kind of “rustic” shape. Tonight’s toppings were

1. Alfredo, chicken, mushroom
2. Pepperoni, bacon

Yum. But that’s not all…

Also made a loaf of white bread. I’ve been using my mom’s old bread machine, but it never turns out quite right. So hubs suggested I start making bread using our KitchenAid to mix and just bake it. It turned out so much better! At least the look of it. Tomorrow we will find out if the taste is as good.

But that’s not all…

In addition, there are two loaves of banana bread. Don’t ask what made me decide to spend nearly the entire afternoon and evening in the kitchen. What’s done is done, as they say.

Off to enjoy a nice bath before bed. Back to work tomorrow.

For now, I am taking my tired hiney to bed. I didn’t expect to be up this late and I can really feel myself  drifting… drift.i.n.g…… dri.i.i.f.f.f.t.i.i.i.n.n.n.n.g.g.g.g.g…….

I took almost an entire year off from blogging and decided… I missed it. I think I will get back to it. I like writing and have started (sort of) writing a book of sorts. The outline is complete, now to just move forward with the actual writing of it.

I decided this would be the year I would do things I really, REALLY want to do.

• more travel
• more writing
• more arts and crafts
• more time with family
• more healthy attitudes (both in thoughts and actions)

I unceremoniously disappeared from my online friends and family. Stopped Twitter and Foursquare. Cut WAY back on Facebook. I don’t know how I’ll get back to all of the things I used to do in a way that won’t drive me mad (because I miss them and the budding friendships I was starting to build). I guess just the old moderation thing. Do a little here and there, try not to feel I have to stay on Twitter for hours, avoid the temptation of checking in EVERYWHERE on Foursquare, quick checks on Facebook (and if I feel so inclined, write a status update), not feel obligated to write a missive here just to write.

So, here’s to 2013. Making time to do the things me, myself, and I want to do. Because really, if it adds to my happiness, don’t I really need to do it?

PS – I just looked back at my last post. That one from early 2012? You can see it RIGHT BELOW THIS ONE (ugh). I suppose I should quickly reference:

1. Q and I did NOT bake the cupcakes… but hope to this year.
2. Work is STILL crazy, and I still LOVE what I do, but the moderation still needs to be worked on. There were still some 10PM (and sometimes later) nights, but I THINK they were fewer.
3. Yes, the book. I mentioned it last year… really I did start it.
4. I didn’t use this for venting. I think that’s the main reason I didn’t come back. I was (still kind of am) pretty frustrated.

OK, that’s it. Let’s see how all this plays out.

—-

Yay… it looks like we are. And now that it is even later, I will sum up what I took 311 words to say earlier.

1. I’m back
2. My son and I will be baking cupcakes from a kit (a Yule gift) and uploading our kitchen hi-jinks weekly
3. Work is great but crazy. Still LOVE what I do. But 2012 is the year of moderation. No more 10PM nights for me and my team.
4. I am writing a book series. No, really, I am.
5. I will be using this spot for fun, release of frustration, etc. If you are family or friend, and I allude to you here (no names will ever be used) I am JUST BLOWING OFF STEAM. Everyone needs a way to do it. This is mine. I love you, you love me, allow me my area to do my thing.

Less than half the words I used before. HAH!

Here’s to 2012. Let’s make it great (or at least better than last year.)

For example, back in the late ’80′s a little known actor was filming a largely unseen movie about a cop dog. This actor, I think he had a brother who was on some late night comedy show and may have been in a movie about blues music, anyway, he took a break from the set while they were filming a seen he wasn’t in. He was riding his bike around casually and came by and said, “Hello, how’s it going?” And I, being the person who didn’t want to be the gushing, annoying celebrity stalker, said, “Fine, thanks. How are you?” He said he was fine, then rode off. Of course, there’s no way I can prove any of this because I DIDN’T ASK FOR AN AUTOGRAPH OR PICTURE WITH HIM. But hey, I didn’t annoy him.

It’s happened a few other times in the past. Just run into someone with a little fame behind them and treat them like an everyday Joe. It appears to be how I roll. Most recently, on my business trip to Buffalo, I was setting up the tradeshow booth I was to man when a few people happened by. The man, who was in a motorized cart, looked awfully familiar, but I couldn’t place him. He was very nice, said hi and asked how I was. I was nice back, racking my brains… was this someone I knew? Should I know his name? Will he expect me to know something about him and where he works?

It was driving me insane.

Later, when my co-worker came to help, I asked if she knew who the man was. She said, “Oh, he’s some celebrity chef. Paul something. I didn’t recognize his name, though.” A dull glow of recognition started in my own brain, but I still wasn’t sure. I mean, it couldn’t be HIM, everyone knows who Paul Prudhomme is, right?

WRONG

It was Paul Prudhomme, as I was to find out later. GAH! And it has now happened again. Because you know damn well I didn’t go up to him later and say anything. Something about rolling and how I do it.

<sigh>