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Almost new year same old me

Hello everyone, I haven't written in over a year and so much has happened! Our baby graduated with honors and left the nest and has went on to college. Our eldest has finished his TOD with the USMC, and after 5 long years is now a freshman at a university close to home. Our middle man is prepping for his graduation from college in May. WOAH, slow down just yesterday I took this picture.

Tomorrow starts the new year, and wish the very best for us all. May this be the year of peace, love, kindness, and blessings for everyone everywhere!

Zoe

In the blink of an eye she was fine and then she wasn't.  In the whirl of the holidays, I keep thinking maybe she had been ill and I missed it.  If that is true how awful that she suffered for how many days or weeks!!!
Our sweet little spit fire was a tea cup miniature dachshund.  Bright red with chocolate points.  OMG how this dog drove us crazy.  She was super skittish, always terrified of boots, plastic bags, and clapping.  Stubborn as mule, she would only use the potty where she wanted, her favorite spot (my closet) so you'd walk and walk and walk her some more.  Then finally she would go.  A chronic whiner she would whimper just because.
We had almost lost her twice before.  Early in her puppyhood her first playmate Oscar, met his demise by running out into the street.  Zoe witnessed this and stopped eating.  The vet felt we needed to get her a new companion right away to possibly help with her grief.  Faye saved her life but she would forever be smaller than the standard because of it.
Four years ago on an evening walk my husband and the dogs were attacked by a neighbor's dog.  It required an emergency trip to Purdue Animal Hospital to save her life.  She ended up with a six inch scar on her back.
This past Friday, 2/19/14 we gave our doggies a long overdue bath and toenail trim.  If any of you have doxies you know what the corn chip smell of theirs is all about haha.  Once they were dry, I walked them and she couldn't seem to get her footing outside.  It was if she had dislocated her elbow.  I took my concerns to my hubby and let him poo poo me, I am an over worrywart. Then that evening she seemed drunk, crying excessively and she could not stand up As I posted on Facebook later that night "life can change in an instant, One minute I was at the high school watching the game, the next I'm at the emergency vet saying goodbye."
We found out that she had either had a stroke, a slow leaking aneurysm, or a brain tumor.  Most likely the stroke.  At 11 she could rebound, but she would never be herself again.  We conference called our sons, and with our daughter, who picked her out all those years ago, we decided to let her go comfortably to doggie heaven.
Let me tell you these past few days have really really sucked.  It was my weekend to work and so I had to be there.  The first giant hurdle was calling them out of their kennel and not calling out her name.  Then yesterday when I came home and they came running and barking and she wasn't there.  We always have the doggies give gifts to the kids. They all have from Zoe, Faye and Wayne on them.  It may be a Blue Christmas.
I don't know why it was her time, and I may never but that little girl loved and was loved.  She is off the leash, chasing squirrels and hogging the rug in front of the space heater for all time!
Here she is with her little sis and brother Faye and Wayne and the incomparable Zoe.

 

Well Into 45 and the giving has stalled sorta...

As reported before I had HUGE plans.....whats that old adage about plans (sigh)

I did go to Las Vegas and I had a Beautiful Trip, my husband and I spent time together and I won a bunch of money to me, anyway, on the penny slots!  I gave a bunch of it away too.  It breaks my heart to see the amount of people who live on the street here in the land of plenty!  :(

My son came home for a nice long visit before he went on his special duty assignment to Japan, OMG the winter will be long with him so far away.  He has left Yolanda (his car) with us to watch over and everytime I drive it I think about him.

Wrestling practice has started for my daughter, she is a manager, and we are excited, this year will be the first time since our younger son was a senior that we have went to the annual War on the Wabash tournament as fans!  We have missed being involved with Raider Wrestling but it was time for us to move forward.

I am volunteering at the elementary as a literacy aide a few days a week and have to say I am so proud of the 1st graders at KMS.  Their reading to me brightens my day.

Back to my title, I decided while in Vegas I need  to give as needed and not worry about some magical goal.  I hope this is the right thing to do.....

Til next Time

T~
     
         

45 things

In a few short weeks I celebrate my old lady birthday....45!!!!!!! My better half is taking me to Viva Las Vegas!  We went for our 20th, 2 years ago, OMG I am excited!  The sights, the smells, the food, the se...wait is my blog PG?!?!?!

I'm also excited for my birthday because for about 9 months now I have been planning, scheming really to do a bunch of stuff for others this year on the anniversary of me making an appearance here on the world. I have been bothering my family, co-workers, and friend (sorry Dawn) with my plans.  God has hesitated let me hit the huge Powerball for this very reason I'm convinced!!!! 
Well last night at Coldstone, I was able to handout my very first 45 acts of randomness and of course in true Tina fashion it was f'd up! hahahaha.  I bought a $5 Happy Birthday gift card, handed it to the girl behind me.  Out of my mouth came this babbling brook of "my birthday is coming up and I'd like to share it so here you go." blah blah blah..... She thought I was nuts!!!!! but thanked me :) and then in my excitement I hadn't even finished my transaction at the register!  Yep, I walked out without my debit.  The boy at the counter was like "um don't you want your card back?"  So I had to walk of shame back and get my card and sign the slip.  (sigh)  It seemed like it would go perfectly in my mind.
Oh well, 1 down 44 to go!

TTYS  T~

I have a Pinterest page....

I mean come on don't we all haha!!!!! I heard someone describe it as "you know when you cut things out of a magazine and pin it on a bulletin board it's that only better" I like that description. God how I wish my sister would do it instead of posting 2348942 meme, thought, quip, idea, link, joke, etc on facebook. "sigh" oh well. I know, I know, just block her OMG if only I could!!!!!!!

Ok back to what I was saying.  I am needing to post a picture and recipe to pinterest so I am going to share it here.  SEE BELOW........ and THERE Tina's Pinterest Awesome huh. 


Sabih         ~~~slightly adapted from Jerusalem

serves 2
1 large eggplant
olive oil 
2 eggs, boiled and cut in quarters
tahini sauce (recipe below)
zhoug (recipe below)
chopped salad (recipe below)
2 pitas (look for fresh authentic pitas)

• Cut the eggplant into 1 inch slices.  Salt them on both sides and set on a baking sheet for about 30 minutes to allow some of the water to sweat out of them.  Wipe the salt off and dry them with a paper towel.
• Coat the bottom of a large saute pan with oil and heat until hot.  Fry the eggplant slices until dark brown and soft, about 5 or 6 minutes on each side.  They should be soft throughout.  Add more oil when you flip them if the pan is dry.  Do this in batches if necessary, don’t crowd them.
• Spread a little tahini sauce on each pita, then arrange the eggplant on top, overlapping the slices.
• Drizzle more tahini sauce over the slices, and add the eggs and a few blobs of the zhoug (it is hot!)
• Add a final drizzle of tahini, and finish with a generous helping of the chopped salad and enjoy!

Tahini Sauce
2/3 cups tahini (sesame paste)
1/2 – 1 cup water
juice of 1/2 large lemon
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 tsp salt

• I made my sauce in a small food processor, I like the the consistency of the sauce when it’s made this way.  You can easily do it with a spoon, as well.  If using the processor, put the clove of garlic into the bowl and process until finely minced.  Add the tahini, 1/2 cup of water, lemon juice and salt.  Process until smooth.  Add more water as needed to make a thick but runny sauce, with about the consistency of honey.  I needed about a cup of water.
• Keep refrigerated.

Zhoug
2 cups cilantro leaves 
1/2 cup parsley leaves
2 hot green chiles, sliced, seeds and all (I used Serrano)
1/2 tsp cumin seeds (you can also use ground cumin)
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp water
juice of 1/2 lemon

• Put everything into a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped.  Scrape down the sides and pulse further until the sauce is evenly chopped, but still has a coarse texture.  
• Store in a clean jar.  It will keep refrigerated for a couple of weeks.

Chopped Salad
1 medium tomato, cut in small dice
1 small cucumber, cut in small dice
several green onions, sliced
2 Tbsp chopped parsley
juice of 1/2 lemon
2 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper 

• Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Keep cold until ready to use.

Happy eating and Pinning!!!!


TTYS T~

Our continuing tale of woe

D and I have had a serious run of bad luck. Funny that we have chosen Vegas as our vacation destination for my birthday! To not go into to great detail here it would take up days and days or what feels like days and days of moaning about it, I won't list everything that has happened to us this past year or so. :) I will just share with you a little video how I feel and be thank you for our super cool middle of summer weather since our air conditioner has to be replaced. Off to work! TTYS T~