Labor Day picnic... feels like the last hurrah of summer.

posted on 8/31/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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This evening we went to a demolition derby. Now know what I want to be when I grow up.

posted on 8/30/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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We are off to PA for the weekend.

posted on 8/29/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Pupsicle

I felt kinda bad that Oscar didn't get to partake of any of the ice cream at Aaron's welcome home party, so we got him a Fill -n- Freeze dog bone. It's a bone shaped popsicle mold. You can fill it with chicken broth, freeze it and then give it to them as a frozen treat.

Now I can eat my hot fudge sundae without his guilty stares.

posted on 8/28/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Tina, Aaron and I got new cell phones. (poor Chuck is stuck in a contract 'til November) We splashed out on phones with digital cameras. I was skeptical that I would actually use it, but I can't stop messing with it!

We are like kids with new toys. Tina sent me a picture of Grizzy right away (above right). I have her home phone number set to display the picture of him. I have my home number set to display a picture of Oscar (above left). Aaron was sending me pictures of him all day. Oscar is not as fond of the phone, since I set the ring tone to a dog bark.

posted on 8/27/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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GrapeNut Ice Cream

I get some flak about being from Pennsyltucky (as Joel likes to call it). One of the oddities that I seem to have brought with me from the motherland, is my fondness for GrapeNut Ice Cream. No one around here has heard of it. Lots of ice cream shops back home make it, and it is one of my favorites.

Since I was having an ice cream party for Aaron, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to introduce others to GrapeNut Ice Cream. I whipped some up in my ice cream machine. Basically it's vanilla ice cream with GrapeNuts added. Everyone had to agree, it is quite tasty. GrapeNuts... they're neither grapes nor nuts. Discuss.

posted on 8/26/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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This weekend was Hannah's Harry Potter Fifth Birthday Party. I made her a Hogwarts Castle Cake. (Aaron helped) You can see the creation process here. I'm not sure it really looked like Hogwarts... I picture Hogwarts being a lot spookier, but I didn't think five year olds wanted to eat a grey frosted cake.

Not that they ate a lot of cake... mostly they ate the ice cream cone towers, sugar cubes and frosting. I did so enjoy watching them get hopped up on sugar and then sent home with to their parents... heh heh.

posted on 8/25/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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I am as full as a toad. For Aaron's welcome home party today, I had a Sundae Party. I got ice cream and all sorts of toppings and fixins. I had to try as many combinations as possible. Note the camouflage cups and napkins... they didn't have desert camo, but I thought it was still pretty clever.

posted on 8/24/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Everyone likes a picnic

Aaron and I took Oscar on a picnic this evening at a local park.

I packed up his water bottle, travel bowl and a baggy of dog food.

As you can see, he thought it was lip smacking good.

posted on 8/23/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Panda Berry Tea

I know it's for kids but I love the Republic of Tea's new Panda Berry Tea.

Natural Strawberry and Cherry Decaf Tea with a Hint of Honey.

I had a mug for breakfast and it was tasty.

And proceeds go to charity!

posted on 8/22/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Does it count when you have added to your extensive collection of handbags, but someone else got it for you? Aaron got me a cute purse at Target. It has a puppy chewing a sneaker on it. The puppy has a collar with a heart charm that matches the zipper pull. I love my new bag! Hmmm, is this like... enablement?

posted on 8/21/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Sic 'em

I just read about ladybug cabins in a Daily Candy. Ladybugs are good to have around because they eat other bugs. I have wanted a ladybug house for a while.

Joel and company gave me a kit for growing ladybugs on my birthday, much like the butterfly growing kit Aaron got me a few years ago.

I want to grow my own ladybugs for the cabin so they will obey my beck and call. I will train them to attack whomever I please. Mwah-hah-hah-hahhhh!

posted on 8/20/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Finally getting a harvest from the garden.

Made a quick cucumber salad with sliced cucumber, chopped plum tomatoes, onions, basil, oil and vinegar.

Yum.

posted on 8/19/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Tina and Aaron are planning on starting a Jenny sneeze support group. Apparently I sneeze loudly (Aaron's complaint) and suddenly (scare the wits out of Tina). I have made an effort to rectify both these characteristics. Unfortunately if I try to make any signal noise "Ahhh... ahhh" , it scares away the sneeze. Even banging on my desk with my fist ruins the moment. Then I am unsatiated.

Sneezing loudly is just more satisfying. Clears out whatever was causing the sneeze. One loud sneeze is probably as effective as three regular force sneezes. Coworkers say they can hear me three rows of cubicles over. Additionally, I sneeze alot due to pollen and dust allergies. Perhaps I will make a go of the new Febreeze Allergen Reducer. Before I drive away everyone around me.

posted on 8/18/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Sometimes I wonder about the human capacity to learn. A few nights ago I had a slice of Pontillo's pizza. It was so hot it burned the roof of my mouth. I was hungry for it again today so we stopped for a slice. I saw it was hot. I noticed the scalding cheese. Then why is the roof of my mouth peeling away once again?

posted on 8/17/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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My fam was back this weekend. We went back to Watkins Glen, but this time to go to the State Park. We walked all the way to the top and all the way back down again. The scenery is pretty amazing.

I took lots of pictures. The itty bitty specs on the bridge are my fam and Aaron. At the bottom I took a picture of my dad in front of the hot dog stand where he bought a hot dog five years ago and was sick all the way home. Ahhh memories.

posted on 8/16/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Sticky Situation

So 3M makes these new Super Sticky Post It Notes. They "hold stronger, and longer!" Ummm, why didn't they just make the regular Post It Notes stickier? Who goes to the store looking for "Not So Very Sticky Notes"? "Mmmm... I really need a post it that has sort of weak sticking power and ahhh... you know, lasts only a short period of time. None of this super sticky stuff. Yeah, my messages need to fall off prematurely." Will anyone buy the plain ol' might- barely- stick- until- you- get- out- of- the- room post it notes anymore?

posted on 8/15/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Blackout

Tina and I were in the gym at work when someone told us that all the power was out. CNN says " State officials said the Niagara-Mohawk power grid was overloaded. The grid provides power for New York and stretches into Canada. The officials said the outage is likely a natural occurrence and not related to terrorism."

We had been wondering only an hour before why the lights were flickering. Kodak runs on it's own generators so we still have power. My first reaction was "I'll have to blog before I go home!" Bah! Then it started to sink in. Food in the fridge will go bad, cordless phones don't work, no microwave, no traffic lights, NO CABLE. I was starting to think I wouldn't go home... stay in the office with pop machines, microwaves and internet connection.

But my parents are coming in tonight. They are bringing my sister up for an interview at the University of Rochester. What will I do with them all in my house with no power? Grill all the food I have in my fridge before it goes bad, that's what! So I am heading out soon, to a powerless world... will hit the atm upstairs and stop and try to buy water and ice on my way home. A good night for making smores, I say.

Update: All that panic for nothing. For some amazing reason, my house has power. My side of the street all has power, while the houses on the other side do not. I feel guilty with my ceiling fans and dvr.

posted on 8/14/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Did anyone else see the comment Karlene left about the Krispy Kreme wedding cake and favors! Brilliant! Clever! Under consideration!

posted on 8/13/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Greta sent me a link to this chocolate fountain. I like how there are detailed pictures of the process. I will wake up in the middle of the night with those images burned onto my retinas. And then I will eat my pillow.

All they need is another fountain that flows with Krispy Kreme glaze. Everytime we are at Krispy Kreme watching the little doughnuttys bee bop their way down to the Wall O' Glaze, I think about the other things I would like to send through the Wall O' Glaze. Cake, cookies, brownies. As I always say, shoe leather will taste good if you deep fry it... or send it through the Wall O' Glaze.

posted on 8/12/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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I was looking at pictures from the race and I noticed how much my little (there are 13! years between us) sister and I are starting to look alike. *brrrrrr* When did that happen?!

posted on 8/11/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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I got tickets from work for the Nascar race at Watkins Glen this weekend. My parents and sister came up to go with us. I was rooting for the two Kodak cars of course, but I kept quiet since we were sitting amongst a bunch of rabid Earnhardt fans.

I really didn't have a clue of what was going on. I said things like, "Ooooh the M&M car is cute!" and "How many more times do they go 'round?" that I am sure irritated the diehards. I also felt bad for a car when it spun off in a swirl of smoke, no matter who they were, while those around me hooted and cheered. The Kodak driver's didn't win, but it was a lot of fun. That's my Dad and Aaron standing on the track afterwards. And the pic of Aaron and I is one of those hold- it- out- and- point- it- at- yourself pictures. I didn't mean to chop off so much of his head.

posted on 8/10/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Power of suggestion

It's interesting someone commented that Oscar looked happy Aaron was home, but was I? About a month before Aaron came home, I got a pamphlet from the reserve center on "How to deal with your sailor being gone." Hmmfff. A little late. Then I read "What to expect when your sailor comes home. They mentioned "feeling anxious and worried as you begin to realize that you will lose your new found freedom". The more I read, the more I thought "Really?!" and started to panic. Feeling... trapped... stiffling... walls... closing... in....

But then I snapped out of it, Aaron came home and within five minutes of coming through the arrival gate, it was as though he had never been gone.

posted on 8/09/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Aaron's Home

After seven months of delays, extentions and scant communications, Aaron is finally home from Bahrain. Tina and I (clutching a big Nemo balloon) picked him up at the airport this evening. Compared to the 130 degree heat of Bahrain, he is finding our muggy weather refreshing.

Oscar is beside himself with doggy joy.

posted on 8/08/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Have you seen the Muppets finger puppets they have at Starbucks? I got Beaker for Aaron awhile ago. "Meep meep!"

Everytime I go back they have a new character and I resist the temptation to collect them all.

The latest one was the Swedish Chef. I love the Swedish Chef... "Øder tis moodle in der noggin tu smacken der ouchey und vinger-slingers ur to smacken-backen und fix de morkin, yøobetcha!"

posted on 8/07/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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I have a clematis growing on my fence. No, this is not some nasty disease, it's a vine that gets brightly colored flowers on it. I know this because everytime I set foot out my back door, my neighbor is there to tell me the history of the plant. How the father of the woman that lived there before me planted it and it never grew more than a foot much less bloomed but look how wonderfully it is growing this summer and I must have something to do with it isn't it amazing?

Oh, it grew, but it didn't get any flowers. Sometimes when I was outside trimming the hedges with clippers in hand I would wave them in the clematis' general direction... threatening them. Bloom or it's Chopsville for you. So yesterday they managed to squeeze out one lone solitary flower. Pathetic.

posted on 8/06/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Oscar the Clown

Joel took the liberty of adding the clown dog toy to the picture of Oscar in Photoshop so I could see how it would look.

A little bit funny, a little bit scary.

posted on 8/05/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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My dog needs braces

Ever since the big tooth pulling incident, I have been checking Oscar's teeth occasionally to check on progress. Lately I have noticed that his bottom teeth are coming in crooked. There's a big gap, and one tooth is behind another. I don't know if they will work themselve out or if I need to seek out a puppy orthodontist. Tina's advice... get him Invisalign.

Is it hard to take a picture of a puppy's teeth? See for yourself.

posted on 8/04/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Just so you know, I'm not out buying things only for me. I get things for Oscar too. I just got him this big Fat Cat Inc Alligator that's almost as big as he is. He really likes their toys. He has the Cat Fish toy that is crinkly. Goes bonkers for that. I would like to get him one of the rubber chew toys that look like lips. They chew on one side and when it's sticking out of their mouths it looks like they have big lips. The clown one would freak Aaron out. Heh heh.

posted on 8/03/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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I must be stopped

"Hello, my name is Jenny..."
"Hello Jenny."
"Ummm, my name is Jenny and I am... I am a shoe addict."
*clap clap clap clap*

This is the scenario I picture if I continue down this path. The newest additions are a pair of Nine West sandals on sale for $20! And in red! (couldn't find a picture of them in red so I altered a pic of a black pair to demonstrate) Red! Who could pass up red shoes!? Not me obviously.

posted on 8/02/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Who is this? Ah yes.

As I have been cleaning my closets I've been using Aaron's label maker to label boxes. I got him the label maker for his birthday because he enjoys office supplies as much as I do.

I love it. I label everything.

And then Oscar got too close.

posted on 8/01/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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