Kim's Thoughts
Just a few thoughts I feel worthy of jotting down!
Bagels for Breakfast!
If you have not yet stopped in to meet Lenny and Kim and to try their delicious bagels, you really need to do it!!! They are such nice people and they make the most wonderful bagels!!! I hear their specialty flavored cream cheeses are great, too — I don’t know personally because I am allergic to cheese and cheese products, but know people who have tried them and have raved about them! ALSO — they have started offering ICED COFFEE drinks that are comparable to Starbucks!!!! Anyway — check them out! They are located on Horner Blvd next to Cafe Vesuvio across from Walgreens – right at the far end of the Food Lion plaza.
So, back to my bagels — I bought a 1/2 dozen blueberry bagels. I had one for a late evening snack last night and am eating one right now for breakfast — YUM!!! They are so good!!! Exactly what a bagel should be like!!! Soft, but chewy – dense, but light – delicious flavor!!! Excellent!!! Last night I just ate it plain – just slightly warmed in the microwave, which I like sometimes. But this morning I fixed it the way I prefer to eat bagels – lightly toasted with some butter melted on it!!! Then, on a whim, I smeared a little of the Apple Butter I got from Amy’s Confection Company on Friday. I wasn’t sure how the Apple Butter would go with the blueberry bagel, but decided to give it a try on part of one half. WOW – it was so good that I went back and put more on the whole thing!!! It really added a nice touch!
Bagels for breakfast — go get you some!!!! (and get some of Amy’s Apple Butter, too…..)
Fayetteville, Revisited
Then, I got in the habit of going down there a lot! I got my Master’s in Administration through Central Michigan University at Fort Bragg. Fort Bragg has several universities that have satellite campuses on base for their soldiers who want to get their degree while in the service. They open those degree programs up to the public. The program I took held classes all day Saturday and Sunday every other weekend. So, I was on base and in the Cross Creek area a LOT over about a 2 year period from 2000 – 2002. While I was down there, I tended to say “well, while I’m here….” and spent a lot of time in that area.
But, since I finished my degree, there was no reason to go on a routine basis. Also, the last part of my time down there the base was under the stricter security and access rules (before 9/11, access to much of the base was unrestricted and it was easier to cut through the base to get to the Cross Creek area), so a lot of what made going down there pleasant was no longer applicable. Another reason I don’t go as much is that I have started going to Cary Towne Center for my “mall fix” because they have a Macy’s – I love Macy’s!!! So — since that time, the only time I go down there is to go to Sam’s Club about this time each year to get supplies for the CIS Gala and occasional other reasons.
I went down there yesterday to make my annual CIS Gala supply run. I almost went to the Sam’s off South Saunders Road because I had stopped in at Cafe 121 for lunch and through my conversation with Chef Hamm, I thought maybe that might be easier to get to. But – I get lost in my own back yard, so decided to just go where I was familiar and not risk it! I’ll check out where the one in Raleigh is sometime when I have more time and it won’t matter if I get a little lost!
WELL — have things changed since I was there this time last year!!!! I went to Party City first – there are some supplies that are better from there! Then I went to Dress Barn and got some new tops (yeah, I know – I went for Gala supplies – so I also got some stuff for “me” – what’s the problem with that?)! Then I went to Sam’s and to the Mall (there were a couple things that Sam’s and Party City didn’t have, but I thought I might find at the kitchen gadget store in the mall – but I found that store isn’t there anymore) and Bed Bath and Beyond (where I found the gadgets I needed) after that! There is so much that is new and different – everywhere!!! New stores, new restaurants, the mall has a new look (not drastically new, but nice), and OMG – the mall now has a Macy’s!!!! They built a whole new wing and put a Macy’s as the anchor!!! Rut Ro!!!! BUT – everything still had the same easier feel to it than the malls in Raleigh have. The traffic was congested, but it is still sooooooooo much easier to get in and out of all the plazas and the mall down there! AND – the stores weren’t as crowded, either! I got parking spots right at the entrances everywhere I went and it was generally a very pleasant experience!!! It is DEFINITELY not as scenic and well landscaped/manicured and the buildings aren’t as architectually appealing, but who cares? I don’t go to look at the scenery – I go to shop! And ease of shopping is my main attraction!
So — I think my mall fix trips will be in Fayetteville once again! And I will be able to stop saying “I am so sorry I decided to go to Cary – I hate going to Cary!” ha-ha-ha
Summer Hours Almost Gone…
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At work, we can choose to participate in “Summer Hours” – the option to work 3/4 of an hour extra each day and only 5 hours on Friday! Many come in an hour early on Friday so that the 5 hours ends at noon and having the whole afternoon off. The “Summer Hours” season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day. So – the last week is next week!
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Labor Day is typically the “end of summer” – not because the official summer season is over, but it is the last long weekend of the beach season, school is fully ramped up just about everywhere (some a little earlier – like here), and most summer vacations are now a memory in the photo albums!
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The official end of summer is just around the corner – September 22nd is the first day of Autumn!
So, you see, Summer Hours are almost gone – in more ways than one!
Back to MY Summer Hours — how did I spend my “next to the last day” of summer hours?
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Mostly working on the CIS Gala preparations!!! I sent out some emails to potential sponsors and made a few calls. I worked on tweaking the Gala Flier that we’ll start posting around town. I popped in to the CIS office to see our new Executive Director. Then, I went to Southern Jewelers to talk to Lora Wright – she’s sponsoring a special jewelry raffle that will make for a lot of happy winners! That was it for Gala work!! Lots more to do, but that was all I could do yesterday. I have to run to Sam’s today or tomorrow to pick up plates and cutlery to match what we have left over from last year. It is getting down to crunch time with preparations — October 10th is just two months and a week or so away!
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While I was home sending the emails and making the phone calls, the girls got to run around the yard and play and enjoy the lovely afternoon, too! They totally wore themselves out and I had fun watching them!
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I spent what was left of the afternoon on making me happy — I popped in to The Shops At Steele Street to see what Amy had still available to feed a chocolate craving I was having! Much to my surprise, she did have one box of Carolina Cake Truffles left – but it was an 8 pack! I stood there for several minutes staring at it! Should I get an 8 pack? I certainly don’t need an 8 pack! I could always freeze part of the pack and ensure that I would have some the next time I get a chocolate craving! But, I know me – I won’t freeze them – I’ll eat them! So, I finally talked myself into some chocolate covered pretzels, instead! I love those, too — a perfect mix of sweet and salt! I also bought a chocolate covered Nutter Butter cookie, a jar of Apple Butter and a jar of Cherry Preserves! I can’t wait to try those – I didn’t realize Amy started offering the jams and jellies!
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I realized I didn’t eat any breakfast OR lunch and it was just about 3:30, so I decided I had better eat some real food before I lit into the chocolate! But where did I want to eat? It was too late for restaurants that close after the lunch time and too early for the ones that open for the dinner time! I wasn’t hungry until I realized I didn’t eat anything all day – then I was suddenly starving! So, I didn’t want to wait until 5:00 to eat dinner somewhere! So, I went to the Dairy Bar and had a delicious lunch/supper meal!
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I was driving back home when I decided to give in and have my tires checked! For a couple weeks now, I have been feeling every little bump in the road and rough areas really toss me (and the car) around — I was sure the tires were low, but keep putting off having them checked! So, I called my very best friends, Ronald and Lisa, and asked if I could come out and have Ron check my tires (he does all my oil changes, tire rotations, etc.). He said “come on out” – so I did!! As it turns out, the tires were ALL about 10 pounds low!!! ooppss!! He filled them up for me, checked my oil and other fluid levels!
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Then the three of us sat outside and chatted for a couple hours!!! It was a lovely, breezy evening and just sat back and enjoyed it and talked and talked and talked!!!
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On the way home, it was obvious that the tire pressure WAS what was causing all my discomfort — the ride now is smooth and comfortable, again!!! And – I will probably get better gas mileage, now, too!
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I got home and had a couple of Amy’s pretzels and saved the cookie and other pretzels for the weekend. I watched Monk on TV (I love Monk!!!!) and then dozed off before the opening credits for Psych got done rolling!
It was a great day!!!!
The Rant, Birthday Girls, and More
I actually got to listen to The Rant live this morning! First time since they have been on the air. I listen to the podcast every week because I am usually at work when it airs, but today I took 1/2 of a vacation day to take care of some business and was able to listen to the show live while I was getting myself up and ready to head out. If you don’t know what The Rant is, it is a live talk show on the local CCCC radio station 90.5 which airs every Weds morning at 8:00-9:00 – they even accept call in questions/comments during the show. The show is hosted by Billy Liggett, Editor of the Sanford Herald and co-hosted by his partners in crime, Jonathan Owens and Gordon Anderson, reporters for the Sanford Herald. The show really is well worth your time to tune in – or to listen to the podcast, if you are not able to listen in live (click here for The Rant blog site to access the podcast). They have had some really interesting guests, but I was particularly pleased that today’s show was the first I could listen to live. The guests were the outgoing and incoming Presidents of CCCC. The discussion topic was extremely interesting and near and dear to my heart — education!!! So – if you haven’t become a “Rant Fan”, please give it a shot — today’s podcast will be posted later this evening sometime and you can also access past week’s shows so you have no excuse for not catching up!
I have added two new links to local Sanford web sites to my list of web links (see the list to the left). I read the article in Sunday’s Herald about Bella Bistro and saw that they now have a web site. (BTW – the duck dish they mention in the article is absolutely to die for!!! I had it one night on a business dinner a few weeks ago and fell head over heels in love with it!) I also recently found the web site for The Flame Steakhouse. Both these restaurants are fabulous and both have been major supporters of Communities In Schools (as well as other local non-profit and civic organizations) in one way or another over the years — if you’ve never checked them out, please do so — you can view both their menus on their web sites at the links to the left.
The girls have a new neighbor friend! The family that lives next to me has a new beagle puppy — he is so adorable!!! The first thing the girls do when they get outside is rush to the fence that separates out back yards to see if their new friend is outside. They wiggle, dance, and run the fence line together — it is so cute!!! The beagle pup hasn’t developed that wonderful beagle bark, yet, but he still sounds really cool when he barks at the girls to get their attention!
Speaking of the girls — Megan and Amy turned TWO this week!!! I am so shocked to realize that they have been with me for almost two years now — I took them in when they were about 8 weeks old or so! They have been a handful and have cost me a fortune in replacement/repair costs for furniture, pillows, dog beds, lawn furniture cushions, mini blinds, comforters and blankets, and on and on and on………..but, they have been such a joy that it makes it all worth it (or at least makes us even)!!! OK — so now I’m waiting for that magical day when they suddenly become adult dogs and stop chewing and acting like wild puppies!!! It happened that way for both Puddles and Katie — they just suddenly matured about the time they turned two and life was so much easier from that point on — will I be that lucky with Megan and Amy?????? And, if I am that lucky, when will that day get here??? When can I stop having to go through the house before I leave for work putting things up and securing all the chew targets????? Ha-ha-ha I’m just happy to have them in my life — all three of them!!! They are very special little girls and I love them dearly! Happy Birthday, Megan and Amy!!!
I think I’ve officially lost interest in All My Children……I have taped this soap every day and watched it after work every day for many years!!! Lately, though, I don’t seem to have the interest in it anymore. For a while now, I have let several days go by before I sit down to catch up on the taped episodes and skim through them more than I ever have before. Typically, all I skim through is the commercials, but lately I skim through whole scenes that don’t particularly interest me anymore! And just recently, I have been forgetting to reset the timer and haven’t been taping it for days at a time and when I think about catching it on SoapNet in the evening, I find myself not really paying any attention! I think the story lines have become so boring and “same ole, same ole” that I have just lost interest all together! I think it is a good time to cut loose and consider myself a recovering soap addict!!!
Well – that’s all I have for now — I need to get on with the reason I took the 1/2 vacation day and not waste it!
$3.69 – Think I’ll Take A Sunday Drive
My Grandparents always used to go on Sunday drives – they would take us with them when they could and we would drive all over the country side just to see what we could find. They would point out things to us that had significant interest to them. Many trips included stopping in at a local chicken farm to get fresh eggs and we’d often stop for ice cream or something along the way.
Then, when I got married and moved down here, we would take almost every weekend to just drive around to find out where things were and how to get around. We would drive in a different direction and go a little further every time we took a drive.
So, Sunday drives are something that I find very enjoyable and relaxing. BUT — with the gas prices as high as they have been for the past few years, I have not done a lot of that! Yeah, I drive around some for no particular reason, but not far or for very long! I usually incorporate a little drive with something that I need to accomplish – thus, making it more justified to use the gas!
Today, I met some friends at the new Down Home Country Buffet place for lunch and planned to gas up while I was out. When I passed the gas stations at the 421/Rt 1 intersection on the way to the restaurant, I noticed the gas price had dropped to $3.69!!! Woo Hoo!!! After lunch, I filled up the gas tank — I was able to fill an almost empty tank for $46.00 — I haven’t paid less than $50.00 for a fill up in a long time and most ran closer to or right at $60.00!!! Of course, $3.69 is still WAY too high, but it sure felt good!!!
I went to Belk and picked up a couple new tops and then headed home, but suddenly felt the urge to go for a Sunday drive! I drove through town and around Depot Park – there were a few kids playing on the train while their parents watched. I drove all around town just enjoying the quietness and then drove out through Deep River and down Colon Road and just around with no particular goal or destination. I noticed the Deep River Restaurant is all closed up and empty! That is a shame – it used to be a popular place to go for lunch with the work crowd, but I haven’t been in years. I actually thought about it a couple of weeks ago – glad I didn’t drive out there to find I wasted my lunch time! I wonder what happened? I also drove through the new subdivision on Amos Bridges Road – Arbor Glen (I think that is the name) – there aren’t many homes finished out there, yet, but there are a few started and they look really nice! I also drove through West Lake Valley and a couple other neighborhoods in that area.
I was out on my drive for just shy of two hours and it was very nice! It was a lovely day! My only regret was that I realized I never thought about putting the top down to enhance my enjoyment until I got home! When I thought about it, I came very close to pulling back out of the garage, putting the top down and finding another direction to go in and more things to go see on yet another Sunday drive!
Horrible Dream….
Today’s Thoughts, Memories, and a Movie Review
Today is August 16th – the anniversary of the death of two special people: My Grandpa, who died 10 years ago today. I can’t believe he’s been gone for 10 years! He was so very special to me and I miss him so much! The second is Elvis — it has been 31 years since Elvis passed on. Last year at this time, I wrote a post in their honor – click here to read it.
It has been a crazy couple of weeks – we hired a new Executive Director for Communities In Schools, I had an extremely resistant and stubborn upper respiratory infection and pretty intense laryngitis (there are people who found that to be a blessing – ha-ha), and it seemed like I was on the go for something every day – little or no down time!
To help me get through the craziness, I had a back facial at Natural Balance Medical Spa — oh, that was like visiting heaven! If you’ve never had a back facial, it is like a facial you have on your face, except that it is on your back! They do a deep cleansing, exfoliate, a series of hot towels to deep steam the pores, moisturizers, a relaxing massage, and a mask (not necessarily in that order) and, in this case, a scalp massage while the mask set up. It is great!!! And Natural Balance is one of the best places to have one done – especially this month – they are on a 50% off special throughout August!
I met a friend at Myra’s Friday for dinner — FYI — if you are ever there and her Pot Roast is on the special board, GET IT!!! You won’t regret it — that is what I had Friday and it was FABULOUS!!! Some man at the check out responded to the question “how was the pot roast” with the statement “best meal in the county” — I am inclined to agree! The beef was so tender and juicy and full of flavor!!! It is served with potatoes, onions, and carrots and you STILL get a choice of 2 sides! No room for dessert after that!!!
I went in to Cary today cause I wanted to go to Target and pop in to Red Lobster for lunch! The last couple of times I went in there, I got spoiled — the traffic and crowds were pretty light — not the case today!! Everywhere I went was PACKED and I could barely inch along through the traffic! It reminded me why I hate to go up there!!! I was trying to maneuver through the parking lot at Target and there were somewhere near 100 cars all looking for the 2 or 3 parking spots and mobs of people walking to/from the store! And everyone just blindly walked/drove through it all as if they were the only person in a 20 mile radius! The walkers wandered around like they thought the cars would know they were there and just let them walk on. The drivers drove through gawking for parking spots like they thought the walkers and other cars would see them and let them by! And the obvious problem was that NO ONE noticed ANYONE!!! I was amazed there weren’t any accidents! And, inside the store was just as bad! Crowded and people just walking through like they were the only ones there! I had FOUR, count them, FOUR people walk right into me or my cart – and ALL after I saw them coming and spoke out to them and tried to stop or back up to avoid them getting hurt! And they all looked at me like they were wondering where I came from — like I just appeared out of nowhere to be in their path! Then there were two children — one who’s mother was able to grab her just before she walked into the side of my cart and one who’s mother reached out for her, called her name several times, and I veered over to avoid her, but she still walked right into the side of my cart and started to cry! But the one that made me the maddest was when I was standing in an aisle looking at the displays – I was up against the shelves and there was plenty of room for others to get by, but some lady came barreling up the aisle not even looking where she was going and ran right into the back of my legs!!! She darn near knocked me off my feet – if I didn’t have the cart to grab onto, I would have been on the ground!!!! I have a lovely bruise just above the backs of BOTH my ankles. I did find what I went for, but it was like a zoo trying to get it!!!
While I was in Cary, I decided to see if there was a movie out that hasn’t opened in Sanford, yet. I found “Henry Poole Is Here”. I haven’t seen any ads on this movie, so I didn’t know anything about it. But, it starred Luke Wilson and I like Luke Wilson. The brief write up I read about it sounded cute and it was labeled as a “comedy/drama”. I figured it was worth a shot! I wish I had passed on it!!! I don’t know where they get that it is a comedy — it was pretty dark and depressing!!!! It had some heartwarming tendencies and the story was a good idea and Luke Wilson was good in his role —- BUT —- it ended there! I was not a fan of how it was filmed and the story was not told well. There were parts of the movie that I didn’t quite understand what was going on and some of the points made in the brief write up I read were never really made clear – if I hadn’t read them, I wouldn’t have made the connection! I dozed off a couple of times and kept thinking about what I wanted to get at Target and what I thought I might order at Red Lobster………….it was a bust!!!! If you think you might like this movie, I recommend you wait and get it from Netflix or catch it on HBO when it comes to cable! I give it a C+ and I think I’m being generous to give it the benefit of the doubt — it might just have been my mood today — maybe it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was!
By the time I saw the movie, fought the crowds at Target, Home Depot, and Lowes, I decided to just come home and have a left over hamburger I had in the fridge from Thursday night and skip Red Lobster — I’ll go another time!!!
I saw a preview of an upcoming movie that is opening on October 3rd – Beverly Hills Chihuahua – it looks sooooooooooooo cute!!! Click here for the trailer! This is one that I am looking forward to and can’t wait until it comes out!!! I’ll have to buy the DVD when it comes out so the girls can enjoy it, too!!
George Lopez is popping up everywhere, lately! He was a featured segment on Sunday Morning last week, he had a role in Swing Vote, he was in Henry Poole Is Here, and he is the voice of one of the Chihuahuas in Beverly Hills Chihuahua!!!
I was flipping channels this evening and found my very favorite movie — The Notebook — just starting! I was so happy and settled in to watch it! But, after the stressful day I had, I ended up falling asleep on the couch and missing it all……. I am now watching Kevin Costner’s Message In A Bottle – another really good love story that I never get sick of seeing over and over!!!!
I guess that’s all I have on my mind tonight! Have a great weekend!
Rosa Marina Is Really Popular!
My new goal in life — supplying the entire world with the recipe for “Rosa Marina Salad”!!!
I hope those that find it are enjoying it as much as I do!
Santa Claus Is Coming
There is so much to think about and plan for……..and if I have my gift idea list together, I can start buying things and stashing them for later! Beat the shopping rush!
Every year I start to think and plan and get excited right about now —- but, the last few years, it hasn’t helped keep me from rushing to put all the plans into action at the last minute!!! I used to be so good about being done so early — then, suddenly, I became a Christmas procrastinator!!! Definitely not because I didn’t start out being an early planner, though! I just somehow get off track mid-way!
Personal pet peeve about my Christmas shopping style: The risk of starting early is that I end up spending too much money!!! I always pick just the right gift for people – spend a lot of time thinking about it and deciding what the perfect gift is – then I get all excited when I find it! BUT — inevitably, once I decide what that perfect gift is and I buy it and cross it off my list, I end up finding something equally or more perfect for that person!!! Then I have the dilemma of what to do — do I ignore the second gift that I know the person will absolutely adore? do I take the first gift back or reallocate it to someone else? do I just give the person BOTH gifts and go over the target per person budget limit? and if I do that, do I then go back and adjust the target per person budget limit to make it fair for everyone?
So — even before the stores start with the Christmas decorations and music, I am already starting to get all hyped up about Christmas getting closer and closer — it is coming, folks!!! Get ready!!!
Stormy Weather
So, what did I do when the power was out???? Not much!!! ha-ha When the storm ended, I went outside with the girls to assess the damage. Luckily, I only had one huge limb and a few little ones down on the ground and they didn’t hit anything coming down!!!! It was pretty buggy right after the storm, so I didn’t stay out long! My laptop had enough juice to let me play a couple games I had on my hard drive – but that didn’t last long – it died and there was no power to recharge it! My new phone had enough juice to last a couple hours so I could check emails and play with the programming on it – but then it died, too! I thought about going for a drive to see how other areas faired the storm, but I couldn’t get out of my garage without the power to open the garage door……………..yeah, I know you can do it manually, but I don’t know how to do that – I’ve never had to figure it out – also, I think it involves climbing on a ladder to get up to the power box, which I have a strong aversion to (even if there were room to set up a ladder with the car in the garage)!!! So — I did a lot of throwing the ball for Megan and making circles for all three to chase around with the flashlight!!! They had a blast, but I was bored silly!!!
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