Blackout

My morning started out like any other: I got up at 5:30, drove to the track to run with Anna, drove home, and started up my laptop. I had just logged in and opened my inbox, when the power went out. Yep, complete blackout at 7:30 am. Luckily, it was morning, so the house wasn't totally dark, but everything I thought I would do wasn't possible without power:

• I couldn't cook my breakfast in the microwave.
• I couldn't cook my breakfast on the stove top.
• I couldn't take a shower and get ready for the day (unless I wanted my hair to look like a frizzy poodle).
• I couldn't work.
• I couldn't watch TV.

I always knew I liked electricity, but it's been a long time since the power has gone out. After calling the power company, they said they didn't know what had caused it, but over 100 houses had been affected, and they likely wouldn't have the power back on until 11:15 am. Yikes!

So I decided I might as well get out in the sun and go for a walk. Only, I didn't want to carry my keys (we have a garage door code I usually use instead). I had a great walk, and came home to find...I couldn't get into the house. Duh! You need electricity to use the garage code! Then I found out that our gate to get into the back yard was locked. We never lock that gate. And if I could get back there, would any windows be open? I decided to scale the fence and find out.

Luckily, I found an open bedroom window (a tiny one) and squeezed through it. Ten minutes later, the power came on, and I was able to function again. I guess I need to be better prepared next time. And always leave one window unlocked. But I'm not telling which one...

Oh great

We just got news that Andy will be flying to Houston next Monday through Friday. "Umm, isn't that right in the path of Hurricane Ike?" you ask. Yeparooni, it sure is!

Andy has a tough job - he cannot turn down work because he never knows when he'll have it. So. He has to always take the work that comes his way. Especially a job like this that is five days worth of work. Even in hurricane territory, when people are being told to leave or face certain death. Wow. That's exciting, right? Rebecca and Amy: Is it really that bad? Do I need to be worried?

Oh great. Looks like I won't be sleeping until next Friday night when he's safely home.

An apple a day

At the beginning of September, I bought some apples from the grocey store. I decided to buy enough to have an apple a day until the next time I went to the store. I know you're dying to know why I would do that, and why I would post about it. Well, I love apples. They're a delicious, quick, and easy snack, plus they're full of fiber and great for my teeth! And heck, if they keep the doctor away, even better.

But little did I know that September is National Apple Month. I found that out today, and decided I'm going to eat an apple a day for the entire month of September in honor of National Apple Month. Here are some fun facts about apples (courtesy of the LDS Living online magazine that ends up in my Spam folder each week):

• 7500 varieties of apples are grown throughout the world.
• Apples are grown in all 50 states in the U.S.
• Two pounds of apples make one 9-inch pie.
• A survey by the American Pie Council and Crisco found that apple pie is the favorite flavor among one in four Americans, followed by pumpkin, chocolate, lemon meringue, and cherry.
• The term “as American as apple pie” can be traced back to the sixteenth century. Pilgrims brought their pie-making skills and apple seeds from England to the American colonies. As the popularity of apple pie grew, the phrase began to symbolize American prosperity.

My favorites are Gala and Golden Delicious. Sometimes I eat them with peanut butter. My mom likes Granny Smith apples; I think she used to sprinkle some salt on them. What's your favorite apple? Happy National Apple Month! Now go eat an apple.

Me in an SUV

On Monday a whole new world opened up to me: I started driving an SUV. Holy cow! I had no idea how many people drive SUVs until I got in one. Now they're everywhere - I see them! (They must be copying me.) I love being so high up. I love not feeling like I can be squashed in one blow. I love being able to look other drivers in the eye when they cut me off (and I later pass them), instead of turning my head to look up and seeing them look down on me, like I'm some lesser life form. I love knowing I could run someone off the road and be just fine - only if I had to of course. It. Is. Bliss.

Why the heck am I driving an SUV you ask? A few weeks ago I was in a minor accident - a little old man changed lanes and didn't see me. He put a dent in my little Saab's driver side door. Little Saab has been in the dealership since Monday getting all prettied up. I got Big SUV in his place - Big Jeep SUV.

This Big Jeep SUV to be exact; same color and everything. It has been fantastic driving him this week - all of driving it home from the dealership, to Borders, to the Outlet Malls, and back home. That is, it was fantastic until I realized how much gas Big SUV eats - his appetite is insatiable! Little Saab seems to stay full much longer.

Come to think of it, Little Saab has so many good qualities - she is sleek and shiny, not big and cumbersome. She can sneak quickly into places where Big SUV can't even dream of going. Parallel parking is much easier in Little Saab. Hmmm...now I miss her. Not only is she cute, but she costs way less to feed.

Today I get to return Big SUV to the dealership and pick up Little Saab. I hope she missed me as much as I now realize I missed her.

What goes with grilled cheese?

When I was a little kid, I hated tomato soup. Not the Andy Warhol version (which I happen to loooove, by the way), but real, actual, tomato soup. Even when I was a teenager, and then on to becoming an adult, I still hated it. In fact, I hated tomatoes, green onions, squash, green peppers, and milk.

I have very few memories of my childhood, but one of the most vivid memories I have is sitting at Miss Linda's Preschool with her daughter Amber, refusing to eat the tomato soup Miss Linda has so lovingly poured from a can, into a pan, and then my bowl. Tomato soup was nasty. Tomato soup just tasted like watery ketchup.

So, you ask, how can I be sitting at my table eating tomato soup right now WHEN I HATE, HATE, HATE IT?

I think the turning point might have been a couple years ago when I visited Chedd's. Chedd's specializes in grilled cheese sandwiches, and they claim to have the best tomato basil bisque. Well...when you're eating a grilled cheese sandwich, you need something to dunk it in, and I knew that my free cup of water wouldn't do. So I ordered up myself a teeny tiny cup of tomato basil bisque (it was that or some sausage chowder something - gross!) and dipped one corner of my sandwich into the creamy redness. Holy taste explosion! It was awesome. That was a whole new bowl of soup for me, and I was hooked.

And ever since then, I eat tomato soup - even the boring out-of-a-can Campbell's variety when I don't have anything else handy. But only with a grilled cheese sandwich. Of course.

Help! I'm addicted!

I bought these last night at Whole Foods (yikes! look at all those calories!), and I can't stop eating them. I think you might have to come over to my house and pry them from my cold, dead hands. Or not - I doubt I'll die while eating them, but as Andy says, anything's possible.

I bought them because I wanted a snack to eat while I watched Mama Mia!, and the movie theater happened to be across from Whole Foods. I also happened to have to go there to buy Pero for Andy (a post for another day). I knew I liked these, but had forgotten how much I like them. Kind of like gummy Coke bottles. Man, I love those, but for some reason I always forget until I eat one, which isn't often because I don't buy them since I don't remember I like them. But with these, I eat and eat and eat until my jaw hurts and I'm all hopped up on the sugar. Oh, the sugary goodness...

By the way, I do NOT recommend Mama Mia!. Boo. Double-boo and two thumbs down. I have to say: Pierce Brosnan should just avoid singing. At all costs. The one good outcome of the movie: it did make me think back to my youth, when I'm pretty sure I had an album of Erasure singing ABBA songs. I seem to remember hearing them sing, "If you change your mind, I'm the first in line - honey I'm still free! Take a chance on me!" AnJ: am I right? I know you'll know...and if I'm right, do you still have the CD? I want it!

Good news

How appropriate that I hear this news from my Swedish friend Anna. I was beginning to think this day would never come. Oh happy day! Now if only it were here tomorrow...