I made it a point to go to the Farmer's Market this morning, and I am glad I did. I'm going to make a potato and ham fritatta this evening that's going on that baguette in the background. I'm not 100% sure yet what I'm going to do with the ciabatta, but I'll think of something. And I'll at least eat those mixed greens with dinner too.

 

I should probably work on some laundry, since I ran into my in-laws at the grocery store, and while we hadn't actually planned on going over there tomorrow, I kind of got sukcered into it. Which is no big deal, I guess. It just means I have to be extra-productive this afternoon, and get my jam made today. I'm also thinking of trying my hand at making my own bagels, but I haven't decided yet if I'm up for that challenge. I might just make English muffins instead...Those are a bit easier.

Lawd, I am SICK of all this rain! In watching the news the other evening, they said we've received something like half our monthly June rainfall in just the past week. Yesterday was the only day this week that did NOT rain. And if/when the rain ever moves on, it's supposed to get rainforest-humid out, before the storms fire up again. Joy. I thought the lack of sunshine was bad in the winter...Can SAD really be a problem in the summer too? I'm starting to think so, because my mood has been REALLY irritable lately, to the point that I'm either going to explode, or I need a vacation. Alone.

 

After reading a note from my boss's wife on Facebook, I was thinking that I need to figure a way to budget in shopping at the farmer's market each week. They're around on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and I dunno if I want to just shoot for once a week, or twice a week. I think Saturday mornings are easier, and it's more fun for the bambino--We can take his wagon or stroller and just walk up there. But I can easily stop over there Wednesday evenings after I'm done at work. I would like to go next weekend...I got a little jealous of Jeanne's mention of the grass-fed steaks she & Tom will be grilling up sometime today.

I should be getting myself ready for work, but I'm still trying to decide on what I might like for breakfast. I told Craig I'd bring coffee in this morning, and he mentioned the possibility of donuts, but I don't want to count on that, because things happen, and he might forget, or he might not have time. 

 

We had some slight excitement Thursday evening...We've had storms and severe weather every night (except last night) all week, and Thursday, we had a tornado swing through the Brookings area. Jay & I normally would've waited it out on the main floor, but now that we have a child, I figured it's better safe than sorry. The bambino was asleep when we first went down to the basement, and seemed very bemused when he woke up and realized where he was. The tornado went south of town, and from what Allison said, I guess it never really touched the ground (she was watching from her basement window)--Which technically means it wasn't really a tornado, just a funnel cloud, but still. It was a little freaky.

 

I went grocery shopping yesterday. I've been bad about eating out for dinner again, and I did go to the trouble of making a menu this time around. I did have to tweak it a bit, since I was going to stick to my $50 budget if it killed me (although I did have to go over, since the bambino needed diapers for daycare). And were I not making a dessert for the company picnic next week, that would've been about an extra $7 that would've allowed me to get some pork chops (it's a good thing we all like chicken so much, since it was on sale, and between what I bought and what we still had in the freezer, we could eat chicken for 2 weeks' straight if we so desired). But no matter. There's always next week! And on that note, it's time for me to get ready to go to work!

 

It's cold and crappy outside--Gloomy, dreary, and I think the high isn't even supposed to hit 60 degrees today. And it's JUNE. Now tell me again how global warming is just a myth?

 

Because of said lovely weather, I'm in a cooking and baking mood. Those pecan sandies are cooling on their respective baking sheets at the moment, and will soon be transferred to cooling racks, after I sample one or two of them. I've also got my Chicken Sausage Pilaf in the crock pot, crocking away. I'm debating on whether or not I want to break out the bread machine, and get some dough going...I have one more load of laundry to get done, and I'm completely finished with that for another week or two. I should probably get some lunch going, so that I'm not tempted to snack on cookies all day long, although it's really hard not to shovel all that buttery, pecany goodness into my face right now!

 

When I was a kid, I loved listening to this live album of Joan Baez's that my mom had, and one of my favorites was "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." Sad that a history buff such as myself didn't figure out until adulthood that it's about the Civil War. 

 

I've been in a pretty foul mood for the past few days, today being especially bad. We got monthly statements, I had little things to do all day long, enough so that I started getting a little frustrated by about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, because I felt like I couldn't get anything done. I did manage to get all my work done by 5, although, like I told Tom, I was feeling like I was going to need a drink by the time I got home! I ended up walking home, because I told Jay that I didn't think I'd be done by the time he'd come to pick me up. I grumbled the whole way, until I saw Jay & the bambino walking towards me--And the bambino shrieked with delight at seeing "Mama!" I'm still feeling a little crusty, but I think a lot of it is because I haven't gotten much sleep over the past couple days. This stupid sinus infection is driving me batty. I woke up coughing just about every 2 hours last night...Despite the fact that it wakes me up after a couple hours, I think I'm going to break down and take some nighttime cold medicine. I should go and do that now. Baby Max is getting baptized tomorrow evening, and since Jay & I (along with Greg) are sponsors, I probably should make an effort to be bright-eyed & bushy-tailed!

I have nothing on my agenda for the rest of today other than laundry, and Jay & I both are feeling like crap. I think we have mild sinus infections. The bambino's not bothered by it, since he's been on antibiotics for the past 2 weeks. I'm guessing that Jay & I caught ours from him. Joy.

 

I've already been grocery shopping this morning--I planned a tentative menu out, as I was making my list. I spent a little more than I wanted, and because the pharmacy wasn't open when the bambino & I were there, we'll have to go back for some real generic Sudafed, as well as some nighttime cough syrup. That's really what's making Jay & I feel awful--The hacking cough, which kept both of us up most of last night (thanks to the gods for allowing the bambino to sleep from 9 till 7 without waking up!). As far as the groceries and such goes, I think this week will involve a decent amount of polenta, as I bought more cornmeal, and some chicken sausage. I made this slow-cooker dish a few years ago, with chicken sausage, slivered almonds, rice, orzo, and celery. I seem to recall it being pretty yummy, so I thought I'd give it a go this week. I also have a recipe for chicken sausage with cheesy grits (yes, I am a Yankee who likes grits, believe it or not), so I think that will be later in the week. I have to divide up my chicken sausage, since I haven't decided yet when I'm going to make what. I've got some chicken breasts that are already thawed, and I'm trying to decide if I want to do baked chicken, or do a buttermilk-rosemary marinade and grill it. Since I also bought buttermilk, and this week is probably going to be too hot to turn on the oven much, I think buttermilk-rosemary marinade is going to win out.

It would figure that as much as I loathe almost anything Disney, my son's 2nd favorite song happens to come from a Disney CD that he & all his munchkin friends listen to at daycare. And of all things, it's sung by Hillary Duff. *sigh* 

 

The fam is back in Ohio now, and actually have been since Monday night. It was a nice visit. I have plenty of film that I need to get developed, and as many times as I've been out since my dad & Kendra left, I keep forgetting to drop it off! No matter. It'll get done soon enough.

 

I got an email from Sephora with their new Mermaid in the Shade nail polish collection, 2 of which I'm now waiting to receive (Mermaid to Order and Water Baby, if anyone's interested). I'm also getting some eye shadow, and a free lip gloss. I like freebies. I'd forgotten just how much of a nail polish junkie I used to be, until I started working in food service. I had TONS of Wet n Wild stuff, and they made my favorite color (well, it was my favorite until I tried Chanel's Cosmic Violine) which I think was called "Blood Red." Whatever it was, it only came out at Halloween, and the last time I saw it in a store was back when I was in college. 

The next two days are going to be a little on the hectic side. Tomorrow we're heading to Sioux Falls, on the search for even more Star Trek toys...The bambino REALLY likes Trek, and since Jay & I have seen the new movie, we're all geeked out these days. I'll use any excuse necessary to shop at Target, since I loathe The Devil, and since our Culver's won't be open until sometime in August, I can look forward to eating there (ya gotta love the butter burgers).

 

I did clear my leaving early on Friday with Tom, so I'll be done at 12:30, and after making my stop at BK (to get my next Star Trek glass), I'll comehome to begin the cleaning process. The house is rather dirty anyway, and having my dad & Kendra coming out for the weekend will be the kick in the arse I need to scrub everything down. Really, cobwebs in one corner of the shower? That's bad.

I've had a lot on my mind that I can't exactly talk about for one reason or another, and it's beginning to get to me. I've slacked off big time on dieting and exercising. I've been exhausted and stressed about various things, and work has been a little busy, and really, I just wish I could go someplace on vacation. I kind of like the notion of going on a trip alone--I have a friend from high school that does that, and I'm starting to understand why she does it.

 

We've had a lot of bad things happen to various people in our department lately. One officer's wife is struggling with cancer. My grandfather succumbed to it. Another officer had a freak encounter where ice from the lake on which she lives got swept up into her house--And I'm talking South Dakota thick MF-er chunks of ice...As in, it took out one side of her home, which is now in the process of being rebuilt. Two other people in the department recently lost siblings, and another's house was struck by lightning, causing a fire in their attic. It's kind of a joke around the rest of the bank--Stay away from the Trust Department! But it makes you wonder why certain things happen to certain people, and at the same time, it makes you greatful for what you have, or what has passed over you. All you can do is just keep on keeping on,  and hope for the best.

 

On a happier note, I'll more than likely be taking off early on Friday (assuming that Tom okays it--I haven't asked him about it yet), so I can clean house before my company arrives. This should be a fun weekend! I'm off to bed now, since tomorrow will come way too early, as it always does.