A Classy Guy

A couple weeks ago I posted about the upcoming opening of The Place Beyond the Pines.  Well, it opened locally in Schenectady (where it was shot) with a small red carpet style showing this past Thursday night.  It was talked about and debated all week just who would show.  The film's director Derek Cianfrance was expected to be here, and some of the lesser known stars, but it was in question whether the big guys, Ryan Gosling or Bradley Cooper would make an appearance.  Well low and behold, Bradley Cooper did arrive.  He is filming his latest movie a few hours away on Boston and when he wrapped for the day, he jumped in the car and drove to Schenectady.  I think that says a lot about who he is and I couldn't be more impressed.  And yes...I did see the movie (all 2 1/2 hours of it), but no spoilers here.

Bradley Cooper, Derek Cianfrance and Emory Cohen in Schenectady 4/11/13

Vacation Well Spent?

My spring vacation is quickly coming to a close.  It's always amazing how a work week seems to never end, but 11 days off goes by with the blink of an eye!  Why is that?!?  Such is life I guess.  Well, today is the day I normally reflect back over my time off and see if I accomplished anything.  I was far from sitting on a sunny, beautiful beach, but I made the best of staying in good ole Fulton County!

Eating
I had a goal in mind for vacation...to start making healthier food choices once again, as the food entering my face had become rather junkie the last few weeks of work.  I would say I made some improvements this week, but let's be honest...with Easter in the mix, chocolate bunnies were hopping everywhere.  I did happily get to enjoy a few glasses of wine on days I would normally never drink, and  I am also giving myself a shout out for NOT having Udderly Delicious...yet.  I say "yet" because I am allowing it tonight :)

Exercise
I think I fared better in this department than the eating one. While I didn't exercise everyday, I did manage to do a few crunches, some kickboxing DVD's and some walking with the dogs...once the winter wonderland cleared of course...WELCOME SPRING!  Please stay awhile.

Appearance
I wasn't sure what to call this category LOL.  I am happy to report I did not sit in my pajamas all day during any part of my vacation.  As tempting as it was with it snowing and blowing outside, I managed to shower and get dressed... by the afternoon... each day.  Most days I even put on make up and combed my hair!  I did, however, throw on comfy fuzzy pants and t-shirts most of the week, but hey, that's being dressed (and maybe even well dressed in Fulton County!).

Facebook
I am also happy to report I don't believe my Facebook usage went up any large amount during my time off.  I made a big effort to keep to my normal internet use because I wanted time for my mind to rest and relax.  I think it worked! 

Work
Some work HAD to be done over my vacation.  Deadlines are deadlines, and I have one approaching this Sunday night at midnight.  I am happy to say I met the deadline my first day off last week.  I spent all night last Thursday staying up and getting any and all work completed so vacation was just that...vacation.  No work emails, no work phone calls, NO WORK!

Other
Other than the basics above, a few other things got accomplished.  One of the dogs got clipped and bathed, we successfully hosted Easter dinner, I got my new IPhone, the new Jeep is ready to pull our R-pod in May, I re-watched Cinderella Man (great movie), I spent quality time with my dog-kids, and a fun girls night was had by all last night.  Not too shabby....and still 2 1/2 more days to go! :)

 
 

Anyone???

I would like to put an invite out there to anyone who would be interested in writing a guest post here.  I am open to any topics.  I would love to share ideas, humor, knowledge etc.  I love reading guest posts and being introduced to new people on other blogs I follow, so please don't hesitate to jump in!  Please message me if you are interested.    

Thanks!

 

The Pines...It's Time!

This Friday, March 29, a very special movie to me is opening in theaters.  The Place Beyond the Pines, starring Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper and Eva Mendes (among others) is set to hit the big screen.  I am spending time this weekend reliving my awesome summer of 2011 when I had the excitement of this movie being filmed practically in my back yard.  I haven't heard any details about a local opening here where I live, or even exactly where it will be showing this weekend, but I will find it.  I can't wait to see the finished product! :)
(The video at the bottom shows just how friendly Bradley Cooper was in his time here.  Awesome guy!)

(Courtesy of my friend, Amy)

(Courtesy of my friend, Amy)

Ryan and Eva (Courtesy of my friend, Amy)

(Courtesy of my friend, Amy)

(Courtesy of my friend, Amy)

Ryan

Ryan's dog, George

Bradley

Bradley and me (awful pose, but he took the pic and it went off late)

Question About Camping

This is how we roll

Over the years I have learned I have some crazy phobias.  One of the most annoying is the one I have about staying in strange beds, so hotels and rentals went out the window when it came to traveling.  The first time Jamie and I went to Cape Cod together, we almost went back home the first night because I was so anxiety ridden over sleeping in a "public" bed.  Public bathrooms bother me too, but not as much as the beds.  I managed to stay, but each night I slept covered head to toes.  Socks, sweats and a sweatshirt, WITH THE HOOD UP.  Go ahead, laugh.  I realize how ridiculous it sounds, but it's true.  All of that, and I won't travel without my dogs either.  I am most definitely the quintessential high maintenance traveler.  I also learned I am not a good camper, and I need my own bed, bathroom, running water and electricity.  Who knows why Jamie didn't leave me before now.  Anyway, last year we decided a travel trailer was the only way I would be happy.  I was skeptical knowing how I was grossed out camping in years prior, but to our surprise, it worked out perfectly!  I have my own bed, bathroom, running water and electricity.  The dogs come along comfortably and other than some cramped quarters, all is well.  We started the season of in Schroon Lake at Medcalf Acres Campground.  It was great!  We had a site right on their lazy river with river access.  We also love Cape Cod. We like to stay in Eastham and had a great experience at Atlantic Oaks.  We were about a mile from the ocean and steps from great food and activities.  So, my question to anyone reading this is...

Where would YOU recommend camping that is dog friendly, has full trailer hook ups and preferably on the water?  I would love any and all recommendations for anywhere in the northeast.

Thanks

Happy finally :)

The boys

A Whole New Casual Friday

I really can't believe what I just read!  Today I stumbled upon an article from The Daytona Beach News Journal about how one particular company in Florida has casual Fridays (yes, like many companies), but with BEER!  There is an actual beer cart that comes around as a reward for work well done that week.  To make this story even more strange, the business is a healthcare staffing company!  This idea seems so incredibly nuts to me.  I have some serious questions for and about the people in charge here.

1. The article says the employees stay longer on "Beer Fridays" and get more work done.  How much quality work is actually getting done in that time?  I know after I have a beer, I am not going to be quite as motivated to crank out some more work late on a Friday night.

2.  Why would a supposedly responsible employer be promoting drinking in a society where we have so many people with addictions, financial issues and legal problems to begin with?  What about the worker who is a recovering alcoholic?  What about the worker who, after a beer at work, will go drink the night away with his/her coworkers?  What about driving home from work after Beer Friday?  Is everyone in the workplace over age 21? 

3.  Isn't there a line that should be drawn between your work life and your social life?  Doesn't that keep intact a level of professionalism?  Like going to work in your pajamas...it would just cross a line.

I have a social drink now and again.  I'm not uptight about drinking.  I am not even saying I cannot see what fun this would be at the end of a work week.  Sounds great to kick up your heels and relax with your colleagues.  I just think the risks far outweigh the payoff.   There is a time and a place for everything.  I think the last thing we all need is our boss rolling into our offices with a cooler full of Millers!  I would prefer wine anyway ;)

What are YOUR thoughts? 

A Birthday Feast

This post seems kind of absurd being that not too long ago I was posting about new my health goals, but I didn't expect to travel the health route on my actual birthday, so I gave myself a free pass...and a free pass it was!

Appetizer
Raindancer Boneless Chicken Tenders with Garlic Parm Sauce and Blue Cheese:
OH MY WORD these are delish!  I don't know what or how they mix up that garlic parm sauce, but it's the best around (that is if you like garlic).  They don't soak the chicken in the sauce, but instead it comes with plain breaded chicken and a dipping container full of garlic parmesan sauce...so you can control just how much you want to dip.  I normally would not eat such an odorous item on a work night, but I threw caution to the wind and had a few.  I did kindly warn my coworkers this morning that I might stink!  Garlic has a way of sticking with you after washing and brushing your teeth!  Either I smelled OK or they were just being nice...but nobody went running from me!

Dinner
Raindancer Grilled Prime Rib and our own Homemade Wild Rice with Cream Cheese Sauce:
In my opinion, The Raindancer is one of the best places to get a good piece of prime rib.  They are simply just consistently good.  With a side of horseradish sauce, the whole thing is just perfect.

Early on in my relationship with Jamie I was introduced to his mother's rice with cream cheese sauce.  As far as I know, this was her own concoction.  It was an instant favorite of mine.  I even shared it in a cookbook my school put out.  Yes, I will share it here too.  I don't have ideas of holding family recipes hostage.  I think they should be shared and enjoyed.  It's very simple but very tasty.  All credit goes to my mother in law, Sandy.

1 box of wild rice cooked as directed 

For the Sauce:
Make a base of butter, flower and milk.  Melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 2 tablespoons of flour.  Pull off stove and add 3/4 cup of whole milk and the juice from a can of mushrooms.  Heat, stirring until thickened.  Add 1/2 to a whole (depending on taste...I prefer a whole) package of cream cheese, 1 can of shrimp and the mushrooms.  Stir until heated and mixed through.

Dessert
A secret gem is hidden in Gloversville.  I am sure Gloversville residents are aware, but anyone else may not be.  I am not so sure I should give this out...I feel like this is a much bigger secret than a family recipe, but here it goes...Rauch Bakery is the bomb!  All of their baked goods are great, but there is just something about their brownies!  I don't know if it's the nuts mixed in or the perfect texture frosting on top, but they are addicting!  Seriously and truly...stop in and try one (or anything).  You will not be disappointed.  From what I understand, you must get there early in the afternoon to have a shot at grabbing a few.  They sell out fast!    

Have I made you hungry yet?

Another Birthday: Becky

When I started this blog I knew right off the bat that I wanted to somehow feature my friends through the year.  What better time to do that than on their birthdays?!  Funny thing is, three of them, including my own, are in February.  I guess all the GREATS are born in February!  :)  Anyway back to Becky.  I have known Becky for 27 years.  We joke about when we first met in 6th grade at Estee when we were both taken from the "average" group and placed into the "above average" group (that sounds so awful being a teacher now).  Being two new kids in a new set of classes, I guess we needed to stick together.  Through the rest of middle school and high school we remained friends and added several more close friends as the years went on.  Other than the years of growing closer to other friends and the bitter competitiveness of loving the New Kids on the Block (yes, we were very cool), we stayed friends through it all.  High school years brought lots of time spent in Johnstown, our parents' cars racking up lots of miles (loved the Dynasty best), working hours at Ponderosa, Obsessions and midnight trips to Kmart.  When college approached, low and behold, we both loved Plattsburgh!  We were sure to be roommates all four years.  I know, I know, we sound like we had no other friends, but we did, really!  All four years we lived in a suite setting so we actually had 6 other suite-mates.   The first year we became fast, close friends with one of our suite-mates, Cristina.  The three of us were inseparable that first year, and remained close for years to come.  College years came and went and we both settled into our "adult" lives once we graduated.  Becky is now teaching and married with an adorable little 2 1/2 year old and living a country life.  We have been through it all together...deaths, births, firsts of all kinds.  She was my maid of honor in my wedding I was a bridesmaid in hers.  We no longer take our midnight trips to Kmart together, but  she's still like the sister I never had.  Even approaching 40, I think we still act like those two 11 year olds that met back in 6th grade.  Happy Belated Birthday Becky!  So happy you will always get to our new age 2 weeks before me!  ;)

Real friends don't have to speak or see each other daily to remain in each others heart always ~Unknown

 

 

Stopping The Madness

This post is more of a vow of sorts.  It's a vow I am making for a healthier lifestyle.  I plan to set small goals over the next year to make my 38th year my 365 days of progress. Then next year I can celebrate turning 39 able to say I am a healthier me... mind, body and soul.  If I learned anything when I left my twenties and turned 30, it was that 30 was not the only hurdle, to my surprise.  I found 29 to be equally upsetting, if not worse than the actual big 3-0.  I was mourning for the last year of being in my twenties.  I was a miserable beast and do want a repeat performance next year, or I may lose all my friends!  So, this is why I am preparing this year for next.  I want to look 39 in the face and honestly be able to say I am in a better place than I was when I turned 38, so there is nothing to whine about.  Just carry on.  I know, I know, it's much easier to say than actually do.  That's where this blog post comes in.  I figure it's one more thing to help keep me accountable.  Jamie is coming along for this ride too, but he has had a jump start.  He got committed a while back, but still feels he has work to do.  So off we go!  Stay tuned...

The First Goal
Lose 10 pounds by March 15 
Start Oprah's 21 Day Meditation Challenge

The Plan
Weight Watchers (when done accurately, the best plan around)
30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week
Incorporate more veggies (not potatoes) into my diet
Limit red meats

ME Time and a Birthday

With barely a coating of snow on the ground, at 6:00am this morning the phone rang, with the joyous sound of a robotic voice telling me I had a SNOW DAY coming through the lines to my groggy ears.  This was a lovely start to my weekend.  Actually, last night was a lovely start to my weekend.  My friends and I had our monthly girls night and also had a birthday celebration for one of us.  Happy Birthday, Becky!  We had a delicious meal and always lots of laughs.  Now, while I type this tonight, the snow is flying and the ground is covered, and today was all about reconnecting to me :) Jamie was off to work and it was just the dogs and me!  Some of the things I accomplished (and still plan to accomplish), or maybe didn't accomplish (depending how you look at it) are:

* Getting back to sleep after Jamie left for work and staying asleep until 11:00am.
* Waking up at 11:00am but staying in bed watching TV until almost noon.
* Not showering or even getting out of my pajamas until 5:00pm, and even then only switching to sweats.
* Heading out (with a jacket over my pajamas) to drive through McDonald's for a Mocha Frappe.
* Playing around on the internet much of the day.
* Catching up with my DVR and watching The View and Days of Our Lives.
* Having Jamie bring home a pizza from Leonzo's.
* NOT wearing make up today.
* Watching this week's episode of the new Dallas in our new TV room (that show is so so good).
* Sipping a glass of wine.

Just maybe I will be ready for Monday.  Enjoy the snow, Friends! 

Happy Birthday!

"There is nothing as wonderful as being friends" ~Unknown

Thank You For The Love

It's officially the month of love!  There is no better time to think about all the reasons I am thankful for Jamie.  I know we are very lucky to have the relationship that we have....and since I am heading into my late 30's this month, Jamie should be properly thanked now, because the next few years are likely to be rough on him!  My random ten...

Jamie, thank you for:

*warming up and moving my car closer to the door on icy winter mornings so I won't slip in the driveway.  Maybe it's because you know I won't go to the doctor if I fall, but I choose to think it's all for love.
*allowing me to make most of the house design and decor decisions.  I really didn't want a Foosball table in our living room.
*taking part in helping with the bigger house projects.  You are an expert edger.
*loving our animals almost as much as I do (you're getting there).  I might be most proud of you about that.
*taking charge in times of crisis.  I am fully aware I lose my mind and it's comforting to know you never lose yours.
*learning to give up "dancing" and embrace "not dancing"...you'll know what I mean.  You're still a better dancer than me though!
*never forgetting an anniversary, birthday or any special occasion... and always marking it in a special way with a thoughtful card and the perfect gift.  I will never be as good as you in this department...but I keep trying!
*being very generous to others...sometimes to a fault.  I love that you love to help others (just stop short of being a "doormat")....but rest assured I can always whip out "crazy" to finish a job when things aren't getting done your way.
*grocery shopping by yourself on early weekend mornings.  Just stop calling me at 8am from the store aisle! 
*reheating and bringing me my Dunkaccino that I forgot to drink two hours ago.

Love Ya!

Upstate Style

Cute, right?  Simple, right?  Not in these parts!

We ventured out into the frozen tundra that is the northeast for just a bit today.  It's Sunday and I had dedicated this day to sweatpants, sweatshirts, fuzzy socks and no make up.  I did shower, so I am clean and my hair is combed (even the back..I do own a handheld mirror to check), however I knew I would not be exiting my car, even though, come to see, I would probably be looking much better than the people wandering around in public today.  Now don't get me wrong...I am no style star by any stretch of the imagination, but the outfits I saw out in public in my area seriously makes me scratch my head and wonder...what are they thinking?!?!   As you read through, this is for both men and women.  There doesn't seem to be a difference in that department around here.

Hair
Let me start with hair.  OK, clearly some people are not washing their hair in the morning...I understand, maybe they wash at night...but don't you look in the mirror before leaving your house for the first time each day?  Well some people need to start looking at the BACK of their heads.  I saw combed and clean looking heads of hair coming at me, then nesty, frizzy bed head walking away from me.  I swear that some of the backs of heads I saw today would reach out and touch someone walking behind them.

Jackets
When I dream of a new winter jacket I start looking at things like shearling, The North Face, and wool, to name a few.  While North Face does seem to be popular just about everywhere, including here, so does anything and everything made out of camouflage and/or your favorite football or Nascar team.  That seems to be the outerwear of choice in upstate New York.  I didn't realize just how many items were produced with camo and/or team logos.  Up here there is an endless parade of hats, jackets, t-shirts, sweatshirts, pants, socks and even cars all adorned with such things.  Who knew?

Jeans
I say jeans and not pants because unless someone is coming or going from their office job (and who am I kidding, they are probably wearing jeans too), everyone is in jeans around here...all the time (except for the select few that regularly wander around in public in their flannel pajama bottoms).  That sounds normal right?  There are plenty of cute jeans out there that flatter all kinds of shapes and sizes so what's so odd about jeans you ask?  Well, it's the one and only brand that seems to make it's way into Fulton County...Wranglers.  I am not talking about just on men either.  I regularly see them on women as well.  What is the reason that Wrangler jeans are so popular up here?  I seriously don't get it.  We aren't cowboys in Texas wrangling horses.

Boots
We're deep into winter so it seems about right I would mention boots.  What you probably didn't realize is that I could write about boots even if it were mid-July!  Work boots seem to be the crowning glory of fashion around here year round.  They are worn with Wrangler jeans, sweatpants and shorts....with and without socks.  Hot right? 

You think we can't see you but we can!

What do you "wrangle" in these?

The upstate "Ugg"

     

Our House: Welcome to Our Bathroom

I noticed something really odd about myself tonight, and I am glad I did.  It gave  me a laugh.  I have not one, but two welcome signs in my hideous upstairs bathroom.  What am I thinking?!?!  Who puts a welcome sign in a nice bathroom?  Who puts a welcome sign in a scary bathroom?  Who puts a welcome sign in their upstairs bathroom where no guests will go?  Who puts TWO welcome signs in their eye sore of a bathroom that's upstairs where no guests will ever go?  ME!  That's who!  Our house was built in 1890 and I think our bathroom was put in right around the same time ;)  It is seriously outdated.  When we moved in there were other rooms that needed our attention first, and this bathroom was upstairs, so it was really for just our use, so it stayed as is.  It had old, worn out flooring,  peeling wallpaper, and terrible lighting.  Those few things we attempted to fix, but about now, ten years living in this house, and I am ready to run into the Bathroom Crasher from HGTV anytime.  We keep putting off any big redo because it will be severely inconvenient.  It has our only shower/tub, our laundry room is attached to it, and it is right next to our bedroom.  We would almost have to move out to do a proper makeover.  So Bathroom Crasher guy, come my way!  We have pink tile that surrounds the entire bathroom.  Can you imagine the mess in taking that out?  When I decided to take the wallpaper down and paint a few years ago, I got impatient and not only took the wallpaper off, but most of the top layer of the dry wall too.  Jamie loved me for that one!  A few years into living here we decided to do a short term redo of the old, grungy floor.  We bought the laminate, made an outline of the bathroom, and cut away!  We had this one in the bag, we nailed it.  Was going to look great!  Well, being new homeowners (and lets face it...just being generally stupid), we soon realized we traced the outline on the back of the new flooring instead of the front, so it was reverse of what it needed to be.  In it went anyway, while attempting to hide our incorrect cuts under garbage cans and hampers. The year of Anna Nicole's death trial (2007 I think), I decided to tear apart and clean the laundry room off the bathroom that February break, and since I was addicted to that trial by then, I just about demanded that I needed a TV in the bathroom while I worked so I didn't miss a thing... and then it would also be great for bath time and stuff (yep, I'm weird), like nice hotels have LOL.  So a TV went in. Funny, I don't feel like I am in a fancy hotel.  So here it is.  I refuse to show the whole, awful thing but you'll get the picture.  Please don't judge me ;)

The pink tile

TWO welcomes

The botched floor (although you can't tell here)

My favorite piece...the TV!

     

MY Scrapbook

Almost forty...yep!  Two years to go and I fully expect age 39 and 40 to be tough for me.  Living in Fulton County...yep!  Not exactly the most hip and happening place in the world.  Trying to make the best of both the age thing and the location thing.  This is why the title made such sense to me.  I have been blogging about my love, dogs, for about seven months now and I have discovered I love to blog!  I don't expect anyone to want to read what I write, but I enjoy it whether 1000 people read it or if my eyes are the only ones to ever see it.  I have decided it's my version of scrapbooking.  I have always loved looking at my crafty friends' scrapbooks, but any attempt of my own to start one was ridiculously frustrating.  It just came down to the fact that I hated cutting, folding, stamping, gluing (and every other damn thing people did to that paper)...all for the presentation of ONE FREAKIN PHOTO!!!  I just don't get it, it's not my thing.  Beautiful, yes, but not for me.  Blogging is though!  I love the thought that this will be like a regular journal for me that I can look back on and enjoy the memories as time goes by.  Yes, blogging is much more public than scrapbooking, but I am not an overly private person.  Of course I keep some things private, but if you know me well, I am pretty much an open book.  So, in a nutshell, this will be my place to share my thoughts, happenings, friends and life!  My dogs are sure to appear...they  make up a huge part of my life, but I will try to keep most of their stuff to my other blog.  Can't wait to get this rolling and make some fun memories!

PS...Weird..even though I share photos on Facebook without a problem, I am finding it difficult to choose one to start here.  Ugh, anxiety.  I will stick with this.