Category: 40 Things

"Morituri te….salutant."

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“We who are about to die…salute you.”
Ya know what, Romans . . . after the shamelessly glutenous lunch I partook of today, I’m actually more than willing to go vegetarian for the next three weeks. (see why here)
 
My “last meal.”
Chocolate shake included. Can you say “oy!”
See ya soon, you gorgeous vegs, you!
(and pray for me . . . . )

"Morituri te….salutant."

Leave a comment
“We who are about to die…salute you.”
Ya know what, Romans . . . after the shamelessly glutenous lunch I partook of today, I’m actually more than willing to go vegetarian for the next three weeks. (see why here)
 
My “last meal.”
Chocolate shake included. Can you say “oy!”
See ya soon, you gorgeous vegs, you!
(and pray for me . . . . )

more in that big bag

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#11 – Retry 10 foods I always thought I hated.

So far, I’ve tackled mushrooms, bananas, chicken-fried steak, coconut and now. . . re-fried beans.


This is one of the many munchy-munches available at my brother’s house this past weekend. I’m pretty sure it’s called a seven-layer bean dip. . .or some something.
 My lovely and talented niece slaved for hours expertly spreading layer upon layer of beans, sour cream, cheese and. . .well, frankly I have no idea what else was in it. All I knew was. . . here is a food that I never, ever eat. 
Alrighty then. 
Giddy up!
Isn’t she cute?
 
 This is the plate I bravely prepared. 
Only one scoop. You know, just in case. (Please note the Sonic cup close by. As a chaser. Again, just in case.)
And here’s what was left. 
Not bad. Not bad at all. Maybe it was the thought of lovely niece’s trustworthy hands preparing it, or maybe that it smelled nothing like Taco Bell. 

No, I didn’t go back for seconds. Yes, I did finish those last two chips. With queso, maybe. 
Mission: accomplished.

So, according to my calculations, #11 is now 2/5’s in the bag.
 * * * Recycle at home * * *
#25 is in the bag
Gorgeous, no?
And speaking of gorgeous. . . . .
Sorry, Brad. You’re going to a better place. I’m sure even Angelia will approve.

more in that big bag

Leave a comment
#11 – Retry 10 foods I always thought I hated.

So far, I’ve tackled mushrooms, bananas, chicken-fried steak, coconut and now. . . re-fried beans.


This is one of the many munchy-munches available at my brother’s house this past weekend. I’m pretty sure it’s called a seven-layer bean dip. . .or some something.
 My lovely and talented niece slaved for hours expertly spreading layer upon layer of beans, sour cream, cheese and. . .well, frankly I have no idea what else was in it. All I knew was. . . here is a food that I never, ever eat. 
Alrighty then. 
Giddy up!
Isn’t she cute?
 
 This is the plate I bravely prepared. 
Only one scoop. You know, just in case. (Please note the Sonic cup close by. As a chaser. Again, just in case.)
And here’s what was left. 
Not bad. Not bad at all. Maybe it was the thought of lovely niece’s trustworthy hands preparing it, or maybe that it smelled nothing like Taco Bell. 

No, I didn’t go back for seconds. Yes, I did finish those last two chips. With queso, maybe. 
Mission: accomplished.

So, according to my calculations, #11 is now 2/5’s in the bag.
 * * * Recycle at home * * *
#25 is in the bag
Gorgeous, no?
And speaking of gorgeous. . . . .
Sorry, Brad. You’re going to a better place. I’m sure even Angelia will approve.

"board" out of my mind

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More fun with home improvement
(#4) 

* * *New Headboard* * *
After sifting through a few dozen DIY blogs and websites, I decided to tackle this project today. In theory, it seemed simple enough. Which doesn’t always translate to being simple-for-Mary, however. Nonetheless, I pulled out my tape measure, made the necessary notes and headed out.
I spent $19 at Home Depot – plywood (60×40), two pieces of wood for potential “legs” (25″ 1×6), and pack of 1/4″ staples for heavy-duty staple gun.

Home, after cute Spanish-speaking guys at Home Depot lashed plywood to the roof of my car. It was only a 1.5-mile drive, but it somehow took me ten minutes. 
Safety first, yeah? 
After unloading the HD loot, I headed to JoAnn’s, where I spent $13 – two yards of fabric and one bag-thingy of batting.
32 bones. Not bad. 

Once I ironed out the major wrinkles, the whole thing took me less than an hour. Seriously, easy-peasy, right? And if I can do it……

The fabric isn’t exactly what I was after, but my choices were limited because I needed it 48″wide–which is not standard. But the beauty of this DIY is, whenever it strikes my fancy, I can always recover.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but this pattern matches exactly with the rug in the room next door. I’m not much for the matchy-matchy look, so I’ll probably change the fabric sooner than later.
Don’t worry. After I took this picture, I made it more even. I should take a new picture, because this one is probably going to bug me for the rest of my blogging life. 
Oh well…. I’m off to sleep under the rainbow, snuggled up in my shirt blank. Bliss.zzzz…….

"board" out of my mind

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More fun with home improvement
(#4) 

* * *New Headboard* * *
After sifting through a few dozen DIY blogs and websites, I decided to tackle this project today. In theory, it seemed simple enough. Which doesn’t always translate to being simple-for-Mary, however. Nonetheless, I pulled out my tape measure, made the necessary notes and headed out.
I spent $19 at Home Depot – plywood (60×40), two pieces of wood for potential “legs” (25″ 1×6), and pack of 1/4″ staples for heavy-duty staple gun.

Home, after cute Spanish-speaking guys at Home Depot lashed plywood to the roof of my car. It was only a 1.5-mile drive, but it somehow took me ten minutes. 
Safety first, yeah? 
After unloading the HD loot, I headed to JoAnn’s, where I spent $13 – two yards of fabric and one bag-thingy of batting.
32 bones. Not bad. 

Once I ironed out the major wrinkles, the whole thing took me less than an hour. Seriously, easy-peasy, right? And if I can do it……

The fabric isn’t exactly what I was after, but my choices were limited because I needed it 48″wide–which is not standard. But the beauty of this DIY is, whenever it strikes my fancy, I can always recover.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but this pattern matches exactly with the rug in the room next door. I’m not much for the matchy-matchy look, so I’ll probably change the fabric sooner than later.
Don’t worry. After I took this picture, I made it more even. I should take a new picture, because this one is probably going to bug me for the rest of my blogging life. 
Oh well…. I’m off to sleep under the rainbow, snuggled up in my shirt blank. Bliss.zzzz…….

T-shirt blanket

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Done, son.
Thank you, fans.
First shot after the top was all sewed together

Blending the front and back of my Republic of Pemberley tee.

Hand sewing the binding took FOREVER. And I only bled a little.

This was my first corner. Unfortunately, they got worse as I went.

Seriously, look how snuggly.

Of course I had to add my tag.
Finished product, even though I couldn’t get all of it in the picture.

Nap time.
After it was all done, I decided to add a few more to the blank spaces, including bits of McFly.

Starting in the top left-hand corner:
Stanford University sweatshirt (quick “research” trip to the Stanford campus with sister S. Will forever remind me of how the guy at the bookstore totally busted us for not being students, and how S’s sweatshirt was way too small, and laughing our guts out right outside the bookstore. 2008.)
Waldon Woods Project (a charity protecting the woods near Boston that were the inspiration for Henry David Thoreau’s Waldon. 1998.)
Margaritaville (I’m pretty sure I got this while on vay-cay in Florida with S and two other college friends, 1999.)
Floridasplash.com (sister E’s website for her rental properties in Florida and Tennessee. 2004.)
Chico State (this is actually the backside of a pair of shorts. 1999.)
Saint Justin’s Cross (I got this in Wales during my summer of study abroad in England. 2000.)
Live United (United Way – Atmos Energy’s charity of choice. 2007.)
Atmos Energy/The Spirit of Service (one of the millions of shirts I have for work. I chose this one because I somehow manage to have two of the neon green ones.)
Globe Theater Anniversary (I got this in London after seeing an all-male cast of “Cleopatra” at the Globe Theatre. 2000.)
Stevie Wonder (Steve Nash, before he was traded to Phoenix. 2004.)
Careful, or you’ll end up in my novel (This was a gift from some friends at work. Three years later, I got the same shirt from another work friend. 2007.)
McFly (band’s official logo. 2010.)
Backstreet Boys (Black & Blue concert. 2001.)
Dallas Mavericks NBA champion (2010-2011 season)
Love Pink (Victoria’s Secret, Koman donations. 2010)
I heart NY (the best $3 I’ve ever spent. Bought on the street of Manhattan, with sisters E & S. 2008.)
NBA All-Star games (in Dallas. 2010.)
Faith in Every Footstep (Koman Race-for-the-Cure 5K.)
Rib & Loin (bar-b-que place in Ooltewah, TN. 2000.)
Republic of Pemberley (front and back. 1999.)
San Francisco Giants (World Series champs, 2010.)
Chico State University (bought this during a trip to Chico with S. 2011.)
Rib & Loin (back of shirt)
Chucks/Gators (shirts of two restaurants a previous employer used to have as clients. 2002.)
My Last Twilight (bought in Forks, WA, while on trip with S and parents in Washington and British Columbia. 2008.)
McFly (concert shirt. 2011.)
Billy Joel (concert in Portland, OR with S and two college friends. 1998.)
Dallas Mavericks (NBA finals. 2006.)
Backstreet Boys (Millennium concert in San Francisco. 1999.)
Florida Gators sweatshirt (I think I bought this while on vay-cay in FL with S and college friends. 2000.)
Hula’s (the BEST restaurant in Chico. And the world. 1997.)
Smith Family (reunion & parent’s 50th anniversary in Park City, UT. 2011.)
Thoreau quote from Waldon (Waldon Wood’s Project. 1998.)
SGB (Seagrove Beach, Florida. 2003.)
Cal sweatshirt (Cal State Berkeley, bought while on trip to campus with S. It was pouring down rain. 2008.)
Harrods – Knightsbridge (I bought a shirt at Harrods while in London. I hadn’t worn it in years but didn’t have the heart to toss it out. I was very happy the tag at least has finally found a home. 2000.)

T-shirt blanket

1 Comment
Done, son.
Thank you, fans.
First shot after the top was all sewed together

Blending the front and back of my Republic of Pemberley tee.

Hand sewing the binding took FOREVER. And I only bled a little.

This was my first corner. Unfortunately, they got worse as I went.

Seriously, look how snuggly.

Of course I had to add my tag.
Finished product, even though I couldn’t get all of it in the picture.

Nap time.
After it was all done, I decided to add a few more to the blank spaces, including bits of McFly.

Starting in the top left-hand corner:
Stanford University sweatshirt (quick “research” trip to the Stanford campus with sister S. Will forever remind me of how the guy at the bookstore totally busted us for not being students, and how S’s sweatshirt was way too small, and laughing our guts out right outside the bookstore. 2008.)
Waldon Woods Project (a charity protecting the woods near Boston that were the inspiration for Henry David Thoreau’s Waldon. 1998.)
Margaritaville (I’m pretty sure I got this while on vay-cay in Florida with S and two other college friends, 1999.)
Floridasplash.com (sister E’s website for her rental properties in Florida and Tennessee. 2004.)
Chico State (this is actually the backside of a pair of shorts. 1999.)
Saint Justin’s Cross (I got this in Wales during my summer of study abroad in England. 2000.)
Live United (United Way – Atmos Energy’s charity of choice. 2007.)
Atmos Energy/The Spirit of Service (one of the millions of shirts I have for work. I chose this one because I somehow manage to have two of the neon green ones.)
Globe Theater Anniversary (I got this in London after seeing an all-male cast of “Cleopatra” at the Globe Theatre. 2000.)
Stevie Wonder (Steve Nash, before he was traded to Phoenix. 2004.)
Careful, or you’ll end up in my novel (This was a gift from some friends at work. Three years later, I got the same shirt from another work friend. 2007.)
McFly (band’s official logo. 2010.)
Backstreet Boys (Black & Blue concert. 2001.)
Dallas Mavericks NBA champion (2010-2011 season)
Love Pink (Victoria’s Secret, Koman donations. 2010)
I heart NY (the best $3 I’ve ever spent. Bought on the street of Manhattan, with sisters E & S. 2008.)
NBA All-Star games (in Dallas. 2010.)
Faith in Every Footstep (Koman Race-for-the-Cure 5K.)
Rib & Loin (bar-b-que place in Ooltewah, TN. 2000.)
Republic of Pemberley (front and back. 1999.)
San Francisco Giants (World Series champs, 2010.)
Chico State University (bought this during a trip to Chico with S. 2011.)
Rib & Loin (back of shirt)
Chucks/Gators (shirts of two restaurants a previous employer used to have as clients. 2002.)
My Last Twilight (bought in Forks, WA, while on trip with S and parents in Washington and British Columbia. 2008.)
McFly (concert shirt. 2011.)
Billy Joel (concert in Portland, OR with S and two college friends. 1998.)
Dallas Mavericks (NBA finals. 2006.)
Backstreet Boys (Millennium concert in San Francisco. 1999.)
Florida Gators sweatshirt (I think I bought this while on vay-cay in FL with S and college friends. 2000.)
Hula’s (the BEST restaurant in Chico. And the world. 1997.)
Smith Family (reunion & parent’s 50th anniversary in Park City, UT. 2011.)
Thoreau quote from Waldon (Waldon Wood’s Project. 1998.)
SGB (Seagrove Beach, Florida. 2003.)
Cal sweatshirt (Cal State Berkeley, bought while on trip to campus with S. It was pouring down rain. 2008.)
Harrods – Knightsbridge (I bought a shirt at Harrods while in London. I hadn’t worn it in years but didn’t have the heart to toss it out. I was very happy the tag at least has finally found a home. 2000.)