Halloween Weekend with My Little Brother

I don’t get to see my little brother Andy as much as I want to. But last weekend, October 26 and 27, my firefighter and I had him over at our house.

On Friday, we carved a pumpkin together. Andy came up with the design.

We roasted our pumpkin seeds. Andy said they tasted like sweet popcorn. I used a Sweet and Salty Pumpkin Seed recipe from online.

We made Apple Pie Shakes with apple cider. It was easy to make and tasted good. You can find the recipe behind the Alpine Spiced Apple Cider box.

On Saturday, we went to the first showing of Paranormal Activity 4. It wasn’t as good as the last ones and like always the shakiness made me nauseous. The movie plot just seemed to be thrown together just to make another Paranormal.

When we got home, Andy painted an eyeball for his eyeball candy jar. I spray-painted the lid of a pickle jar and a candlestick holder, glued everything together, and added peanut butter chocolate eyeballs in the jar. Andy liked the way it turned out and thought it was cool. No kid can leave my house without doing some arts and crafts.

While Andy played video games with my firefighter, I made pumpkin cookies for work’s Halloween potluck on Sunday.

Andy had so much fun with my firefighter and I. While driving him back home Saturday night, he had a sad face. Poor kid didn't want to go home.

Like Kids at the Circus

 

My favorite thing about my vacation with my fireman, other than spending time with him, which we don’t get to do much, (oh, the life of a fire wife) was going to watch Iris from the Cirque du Soleil show at the Dolby theatre, in Los Angeles.

We got the tickets from my boss who wouldn’t be able to make the show. We had orchestra seats, best seats ever! Row G, end seats. My fireman and I had never sat that close to the stage at a show before. We were ecstatic of course.

Before the show started, actors from the show were interacting with the audience. The woman with the old film reel skirt, a man with hair so long that he used it as a whip, and one of my favorite Gloria. Gloria, a tall woman with red long hair that stood straight up in a braid, curvaceous body, wearing a purple with green polka dot dress, and extremely friendly.

Gloria’s interaction with the audience was memorable. As she walked up the row in front of us, she stuck out her big butt causing it to be in people’s faces. She then sat in an empty seat and introduces herself to the gentlemen next to her.

“Hello, I’m Gloria.”

“I’m Bill.”

“Bill, that’s a beautiful name! I have something for you Bill,” as she takes out a head shot picture of herself from her bra.

He shows Gloria his wedding ring and says, “This is my wife.”

Gloria sits on the gentlemen’s lap as she introduces herself to the man’s wife and asks them what they would like her to write on the photo while she rubs her chest against the man.

The audience that can see this can’t stop laughing.

The wife says, “Write affectionately Gloria.” 

Gloria does, as she continues rubbing herself against the man who is now as red as a tomato.

From the beginning until the end of the show, my fireman and I were like little kids at a circus. At times there were so many awesome acts happening around us that we didn’t know where to look.  I covered my mouth in amazement at what these body contortionists could do. Once my fireman had to tell me to look in a different direction so I wouldn’t miss a man throwing a broom in the air as he did tricks with it.

 

 

 

From all the shows I have attended, Iris from Cirque du Soleil show is so far my favorite. My fireman and I hope to go again soon or maybe go see the one in Las Vegas for the holidays.

Like always, I got a pin for my shadow box.  This time I got it before the show because I knew the souvenir shop would be busy when the show was over. My small but inexpensive souvenir to remember the wonderful night I was about to experience. Pin was $10.

Inspired by the show, I made this drawing of the women with the spinning old film reel skirt for my boss. I send it to her with a thank you letter for giving me the tickets and for giving us something fun and memorable for my fireman and I to do for our vacation.

 

Royalty for the Night

My fireman and I took a short two-week vacation, a staycation more like it, since we just stayed home and ventured places near home. One night we attended a dinner and tournament at Medieval Times in Buena Park, California.

I’m always trying to save a few bucks and I found a code online and was able to get a free admission with the purchase of 1 admission. It was a birthday code. It wasn’t my fireman’s or mine birthday; I purchased the tickets on-line, and was never asked if it was our birthday at the entrance door.

My fireman and I enjoyed our night at Medieval Times. We’ve attended the Pirate’s Dinner Adventure located on the same street as Medieval Times and we actually had a better time at Medieval Times. All the employees at Medieval Times were very friendly. As we waited in the lobby for the tournament to start we took some pictures and got some spirits, drinks. I asked a cast member, a night, if I could take a picture with him. He spoke to me like I was real royalty and kissed my hand twice! Yes I was blushing.

At the bar we got some spirits in souvenir cups. I got a margarita; the drinks were $10 a piece. I asked the lady at the bar if she would take a picture of us and she said she would as long as my fireman wore this crown. I loved it when she said that because my fireman was avoiding wearing his crown all night.

At dinner, we were served a big meal while the tournament began. The menu consisted of tomato soup, half of a chicken, a BBQ rib, two big potato wedges, and a pop tart type of dessert. They even have a vegetarian menu if you don’t eat meat. It wasn’t the best meal ever but it was good. My favorite part of the tournament was the horses performing. As the tournament concluded, my fireman went to the ATM to get a tip for our friendly server. When he returned, he surprised me with a pin. I like to collect pins from places I visit.

If you are ever near Buena Park, I would highly recommend Medieval Times because they do treat you like royalty!

Riding the Banana Boat

My hubby, brother-in-law, my brother-in-law’s girl friend, and I went up to Big Bear on Sunday, August 21. We went kayaking, hence the title, “Riding the Banana Boat;” plus our boat was yellow. My hubby and I have never been kayaking before and it so much fun! I was scared at first since I don’t know how to swim and I was afraid of the kayak flipping over. We all had our life vests on and my hubby double-checked that my vest was tight and well secured on me. Just in case we did flip over my brother-in-law’s girl friend is a great swimmer, which gave me some peace of mind.

We had so much fun kayaking that my fear of flipping over had disappeared. Being my first time kayaking, I had no sense of direction. My hubby kept telling me “you want to turn right, you paddle left” “you want to turn left, you paddle right.” He had to take over a few times because I didn’t know what I was doing. While kayaking the big dork in me kept saying, “I’m riding a banana boat!” As we walked out of the rental shop after returning our kayak and getting our $50 deposit back, I jumped up and down and yelled, “That was so cool!” I enjoy sharing new experiences with my hubby. We plan to buy a kayak now.

After kayaking we went hiking. It was quiet as we hiked. Hubby and I love nice, quiet, and peaceful walks among nature. Hubby took the picture shown above. Hubby and I can’t believe we never visited Big Bear before especially since it is only an hour away from home. You better believe we will be visiting Big Bear more often. Like always, I got a pin souvenir to remember our adventure for my shadow box.

Anniversary Dinner

Since hubby had to work on our two-year wedding anniversary we celebrated on our days off together, July 24th & 25th. I decided to make dinner at home instead of going out and celebrating at a restaurant, since we’re already spending a pretty penny. Hubby restoring his 1996 Ford Mustang and me by going on vacation to San Francisco in a week.

My hubby’s thing is classic cars and though hubby tries to explain car things to me, I have no idea what he is talking about. I do enjoy going to classic car shows and looking at all the pretty cars though. Something I learned to love from my father. Hubby took his Mustang yesterday to the paint shop to get painted and I’m eagerly waiting until it is completely done. Then we can enter it in car shows! The Mustang is very sentimental part of my life. Hubby took me on dates in it and I learned how to drive in it.

Back to my dinner plans. Well, first of all I am not a cooker. I don’t like to cook. I don’t like the idea of being in the kitchen for a long time trying to prepare a meal and in the end doesn’t turn out as expected. But I went ahead and gave it a try. I got a Stuffed Pepper recipe for About.com and it turned out…delicious! Yes, I was surprised too! And, it wasn’t that difficult. My hubby was very impressed and proud, which only encouraged me to go on. For dessert I made banana bread. My cooking was the best anniversary gift for hubby because that meant less cooking for him. Maybe.

I’m giving this cooking thing a second chance. When hubby and I have days off together I’m going to (try to) make a delicious meal. Wish me luck!

Just The Three Of Us

My husband and I rarely get days off together due to his work schedule. I had requested two days off of work but it just happened that my plans for those days fell through and I got to spend much needed family time with my husband and my dog Belle.

On day one off, Belle got her first and much needed fur cut. She looks so much younger with her hair shorter. My husband barbecued hamburgers and sausages and we listen to some good music as we enjoyed our alcoholic beverages, since we didn’t have to work the next day. We finished the night crashing on the couch watching scary movies on Netflicks.

On day two off I became addicted to cross-stitching. My husband declared our last day together off lazy day. He said it was too hot to go anywhere. So, I took out a cross-stitching kit called, “My 1st Stitch” which I purchased at Joann’s fabric and craft store and began to teach myself to cross-stitch. Cross-stitching is the easiest thing ever and you can do it while watching TV without worrying about pricking yourself with the needle. I haven’t even finished my first cross-stitching project and I already purchased two more kits online.

I enjoyed our two days off together very much even if we did just stay at home. I promise my hubby that once a month I would request two days off when he’s home so we can send more quality time together.

Walk in the Park

My hubby and I took Belle, our Australian Shepherd/Collie mix, with us to the local park on Sunday, June 11th. She behaved as we drove to the park. For some reason she drools a lot when taking her anywhere in the car and I had to take a blanket to avoid getting drool everywhere.

 

While at the park we feed the ducks and geese bread. I don’t like to get too close to the geese because they scare me, especially when they hiss. When feeding the ducks and geese, the geese began to hiss at me because I wasn’t throwing enough bread towards them. I had my hubby bring Belle where I was and that sure kept them at a safe distance. There was also an air show nearby were people we flying their toy airplanes, which we hubby loves watching. He has a toy helicopter at home. As we finished up the bread feeding the ducks we spotted a gopher looking out of it’s whole. Isn’t he a cute critter?

After our walk in the park, we headed home and I was glad for that blanket in the car.