Crepes, the retro dinner (found it!)

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Bored with cooking and food, store wondering was the event of the afternoon.  Well, Safeway has a great sweet chili sauce in the meat department.  Looked down and saw some lovely large cooked shrimp (oxymoron).  They were beheaded, shelled, and ready for me to take home. . . to do exactly what, I wasn't sure.

No time to find the very old--70's --cookbook.  Probably tossed it (sinful, parish the thought)!  Laptop was on kitchen island.  Popped it opened and quickly had the help of Alton Brown and several other masterful chefs.

First I made the crepes.  They were not the size of the ones at Grand Luxxe, but they would do nicely.  Oh, I remember that inverted pan we once used to make crepes.  Not this time, it is long gone.  I made them in my nice little pan; dumped them when done on one side onto the skillet to finish up.  Slick process.

Next chopped the  onions.  Didn't have the right mushrooms, but you can always make something smaller--doesn't work in the reverse.  ADD more butter. 

With that underway, the sauce began.  MORE butter and some lovely cream.

Shrimp added, cheese too.

As I assembled the lovely pairs into their dishes, there seemed to be so much.  Oh dear, guess it will have to be leftovers  or senior dinners in the freezer.

Unusual as it may seem, I cleaned up the cooking utensils as the crepe pairs were maturing in the oven.  It was a break from my usual habit, but I guess it did not hurt anything.

Lastly came the eating.  YUM!  Too much for one sitting.  Oh, and the Parmesan zucchini sticks were perfect.

Crepes, deleted post

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Well, I wrote a wonderful--or so I thought--piece about the cooking of my retro crepes.  Problem, I forgot to save it before exploring other buttons on my computer.  Guess I will save and then preview from now on--if I remember.  maybe tomorrow I will still remember the events of today and will tell, or I won't.  never can tell. 

Adventure in ending ""Tacky, tacky, tacky

Have you ever entered a room and really wanted to straighten a picture or two?  Maybe rearrange  pillows?  I have had that need but been paralyzed at the enormity of what my choices would cause;  frozen with fear of not doing the right thing so do nothing instead.  Today was  my attempt to move from  that spot to the next and finally complete the project. 

In an attempt to put order into  our space, the paintings and frames have finally been put on the wall of the seldom used living room.  I even put up frames without pictures just to get the balance correct.  Since I move very slowly and sometimes put off priority, we have had the picture-less frames on the walls for weeks.  Today that situation would end if I met my goal.

I ventured out to my local Walgreen's today with an SD card in hand.  I was determined to print photos to fill the frames that contained commercial advertisement photos.  I had four size prints to do but selecting he perfect photo for each frame was harder than I thought it would be.  After about 15 minutes of changing, sizing, flipping, and other editing, I selected photos to fill 3 of my frames.  Then came the short wait to see if I did OK.

While waiting, I explored the store.  I did not know the variety of items contained within the walls of Walgreen's.  One can get a wardrobe, personal care items, household items, food, toys--adult and child, electronics, and the list goes on.  My wait time went by very quickly as I also slipped out to the neighboring OHS and got several plants for the garden--which got planted upon arrival home.


Well I got the pictures.  They are in their frames.  I need to return to OSH to  get the aparatus to change the picture frame to landscape, but I have  completed my goal.  Pictures in frame. 

Now that I know how to make the photo prints, I may begin to change them out  with pictures from our adventures or just print for other places around the house.  Next time I will practice cropping.  A new adventure awaits!

How to Improve a Trip to the Dentist

A trip to the dentist is usually quite mundane.  After the socializing, there are the x-rays, all done via computer with the elimination of those awful film pieces that pinched.  Next the polishing and cleaning and the hunt for the dreaded cavities.  No cavities this time (Mother would be proud), but I have one filling that can use replacement. Over with the dull business of that trip and on to the fun part. 

On the way home, I find a parking spot at the elementary school of my oldest granddaughter, take out my latest book of choice, and wait until the office staff opens the gate signaling it is time for  student pick up.  Since dismissal is early on Mondays, I  only completed  several pages of my novel before I eagerly remove myself from my auto and made my way through the open iron gates to Becca's classroom. 

As I wait for the last 5 minutes to tick away, I converse with a waiting mother about the free dermabrasion we are receiving from the playground sand and high force wind.  There are rewards for patience at the playground.

As the bell chimed its last prolonged note, my smiling Becca appeared with pink backpack.  Quickly we retrieved her sweatshirt from the bag, and I learned she had earned jellybeans for doing a great job in math.  Oh the joy of having a good learning day.  She is such a happy learner with a good teacher.

Knowing there was a short timeline to get home but big enough for a slight side trip, I asked Miss B if she would like to visit Cold Stone.  She inquired as to what it was and when I said ice cream, she said YES!  

Getting there was more complicated than I thought since the parking lot exit takes folks in the opposite direction of our goal.  Not to worry, we went around the block and successfully got through the Pacific Avenue traffic.  As we approached the building Miss B said, " Wow, there's even parking right in front!"

Knowing time was of the essence and the wind was not conducive to outside eating, take out was the decision made. Becca studied the ingredients, tasted a sample, and arrived at the choice ice cream of the day.  Naturally she had one made for sister at home, and a large one to share with Mama, Daddy, and little brother.  Naturally I got one to share with Grandpa.  

We made it back to Miss B's house on time, I made it home before any ice cream melted, and it was the best trip to the dentist I have had.   I knew it was going to be a good day; remember I am the optimistic tourist!

The Optimistic Tourist returns

Back again!  I forgot to write about the last adventures we took away from home (a lot since May) and will probably tell  about them later.  What I have decided to do, since I do not work on a daily basis away from home, is share the  every day adventures and opportunities that arise.    This is my new view of daily life.  Previously, I would have said only going away from home on a trip was opportunity for adventure. After listening to my peers, I realize each day is one. All I need to do is wake up to have an adventure.  If I forget to write, please poke me and let me know.  I hope  any lapse would be from not having net access or I am having too much fun to share at that moment.  Enough of the philosophy and on with the show!

My house is screaming "opportunity!" At sometime, I will get all of it cleaned and straightened, but my hair needs to be cut and who knows what I will find on the way to and from Paul's.  The phone should ring any minute so I can make plane reservations for next January's trip.  The cat wants to be fed, again. With so many things popping up each minute, there is less time to even think about the headache from h---.  Now that is luck! 

"Off to adventure," says the Optimistic Tourist. 

Arrived in Singapore at 6AM.  We were going to go on a city tour on the way to our hotel arranged through the cruise ship.  After consulting the expected time of arrival at Marina Mandarin Hotel following the tour (after 2 PM), we decided to  escape the cruise terminal and opt for a taxi to the hotel instead.  It was a little costly since the tour was prepaid BUT there was good reason. . . Marshall was scheduled for Flight Experience at 1PM.  Luckily, we got early check in! This hotel is beautiful and the location is outstanding and we were able to get a little breakfast and rest prior to the Flight and Flyer adventures.  

The flight simulator @ Flight Experience was exciting .  Marshall got to take off and land at  both Hong Kong airports, Reno, and Sacramento.  Finding that a 737 pilot must use both hands, feet, and whits to do the task, gave us a new admiration for that job.  The flight instructor said Marshall did an outstanding job (I thought so, too) and Marshall now has a DVD of his experience.   

The Singapore Flyer is similar to the London Eye which we will try later this week.  The views were breathtaking.  Variety and creativity were sen in every direction.  There was a floating stadium, hotel with a park shaped like a ship on top, and many other unique engineering masterpieces. From the top, we could also see the Voyager of the Seas, our "home" for the past 42 day. 

Tomorrow we will take that missed city tour; we have already explored several shopping venues (they tend to run into each other).  Sadly, we will not get to explore the city and surroundings in depth for we have a flight to London @ 11PM.  Guess we will just have to return to get a more in depth version of this outstanding, clean city. 

Live Wire Revisited and pics

LIVE WIRE REVISITED

It has been a long time on this ship.  I was not eager to repeat shows.  I did make the exception with the Beatles group after meeting the leader.  It was better the second time.  Though the entertainment crew of the ship changed by 50%, I did not go to the show.  Passed on the harmonica concert; Marshall went and said it was good.  Since Marshall has been a good sport and attended the show alone last night, I gave in and went to see Live Wire again.  Since I did not enjoy their performance before, my attendance was on the condition I could leave if it was equally as bad as previously. I stayed for the whole show!  

Live Wire must have had jet lag the last time they performed on this ship out of Nassau; they have to have been onboard for at least 2 days before today’s show AND it was apparent. The energy had them living up to their name.  The delivery of the patter was less plastic while the audience participation greatly increased--no sleeping through the rhythmic clapping  and sing along.  What a change!

24 days at sea down.  One sea day to go.  2 ports until Singapore.  What can I say?  Don’t worry, I will figure it out and be optimistic about it. 

Marshall enjoying the balcony.