Painful. Red. Scorched skin. Ouch! I've been there toooo many times.
Just ask my girlfriends. They'll tell you that I always burn on our beach trips. Like last year, when we went to Grand Cayman Island to celebrate my neighbor Shelley Tyler's 50th birthday (she's the baby in our group!).
We're doing a remodeling project at Blogger HQ to take in some attic space and create a new home office. We've hired our favorite contractors Doug and Christine to tackle this job and basically turn our lives upside down for the next two months. Join us as we explore whether remodelers and home owners can peacefully coexist and/or find out if it's OK to dump a body in a construction dumpster.
Remodel Diary - Day 2
So they had to disconnect the gas line and move the water heaters to make room for the room. Don't get all existential on me and ask how a room can be more room. This isn't a philosophical debate and you're not talking to a Zen master, this is Bob and his remodel drama diary.
Contractor Doug scheduled Day 2 to relocate two, 50-gallon hot water heaters. This meant turning off the water and gas and rerouting gas lines in the attic. My basic understanding of this complicated procedure was "plumbers will be involved."
Plumbers? Got it!
"They make toilet flush and give me hot shower. Plumbers good!" I grunted in appreciation for their skill.
Not so fast there jungle boy. As it turns out, "Plumbers not so good." At least these guys weren't.
My first clue that trouble-was-a-brewin came in a mid-morning phone call. "Did I mention that the gas to the stove would still be off when you come home tonight?" Contractor Doug asked. "Nope, but that'll just give Charlotte a break in the kitchen. No problem," I said trying to sound like a good little homeowner.
"Shower?" I asked. "You'll at least have him connect the hot water heaters so we'll have a hot shower in the morning. Right?"
"Uh, yeah, I'll make sure they get the hot water heaters up and running," he said. Something about this didn't ring true, so I made a mental note to check out the water first thing when I got home.
I dropped the mail on the bar and turned on the kitchen faucet. Hmmmm....cool water...getting warmer...getting warmer...getting Colder...GETTING MUCH COLDER...OMG...it's turning BLACK!
In 30 seconds I'd gone from clean, clear, lukewarm water to BLACK WATER and there wasn't a Doobie Brother in sight (stay with me, this is a 70's song reference).
This was our Doobie Brothers Water...
May I remind you we live in Collywood dahling. This simply isn't DONE.
I called Contractor Doug about my DOOBIE BROTHERS WATER and he came right over.
He turned on valves, blew out lines, lit pilot lights, climbed all around the attic and did a "work-around" until the plumbers could come back and take care of the STNF (s*** that needs fixin). I had non-Doobie Brothers water by the time he left.
It's water that would like to get hot...but it just can't commit (clearly a guy thing).
Our one-and-only-son Cole doesn't own a watch. He's 24 and shuns jewelry of any kind, preferring to check the time on his cell.
That's not for baby boomers like me. Quite the opposite, I'm lost without my trustworthy timepiece. It's the first accessory I put on; though never the last. I love layering so the more the merrier!
I usually reach for my two-toned Michael Kors wristwatch without even thinking. It's an easy choice because it goes with either gold or silver. But when the folks at RumbaTime showed me their trendy, silicone watches, I knew I was in a rut.
You could win a sporty RumbaTime watch ... FREE.
Click "Read More" to choose your favorite unisex style and color.
Contest ends June 2!
See what happens when the kids get into the deer corn...
Barbara Morris', No More Little Old Ladies! 15 Essential & Specific Proven Anti-Aging Strategies for Gutsy Women in Their 40s and 50s, should be required reading for every Boomer. It's that good.
Alfred Hitchcock once described the movie watching experience as the ultimate "voyeur" activity. In his view, there was nothing better than sitting in the dark and watching a story unfold. That's exactly the feeling I had watching Blue Valentine. After spending 114 minutes with its two characters I felt as if I'd been spying on them during the defining day of their relationship.
Food Network's Ted Allen is coming to the Taste Addison event May 20-22. The culinary genius will be whipping up some easy-to-fix (and incredibly delicious) treats on the Robert Mondavi Discover Wine stage.
Don't you think we're taking this whole "truth in advertising" thing a bit too far?
Every now and then I get mail addressed to my evil twin "Bill".
Just when I think he's moved to another city, I get something that reminds me he's still around.
Oh, I haven't told you about my twin? Jeez, where are my manners? Let me introduce you to "Bill".
Bill isn't an imaginary friend - he really does exist. He's the combination of "Bob" and "Hill". Put 'em together and whadaya get? BILL. I get so much stuff addressed to Bill that I'm thinking about listing him as a dependent on my tax return (KIDDING. Mr. IRS agent, this is just blogger humor).
He surfaces all the freakin' time. Just yesterday I get an email from a former business associate who's looking for a job. He wants a favor. No biggie. Happy to help. Until I read his email and he ends by saying THANKS FOR THE HELP, BILL.
BILL?
All he gets is S*** that Needs Fixin (STNF). And that crap winds up on my To Do List.
Let's be honest. We're better off hiding some things from our husbands. In my case, it's jeans, blouses, even panties. (No, Bob doesn't wear them. Ha! Wait till I tell him you immediately went there!)Instead, my ever-efficient husband puts EVERYTHING in the washing machine:
· Skinny jeans that I'm always worried will shrink.
· Delicate tops and unmentionables that should be hand-washed.
· Dresses that need dry cleaning.
We're giving away three starter kits including everything you need to ditch the dry cleaner and begin using Dryel ... FREE.
Read on for details on how to enter. Contest ends May 19!
John F. Kennedy has been on my mind lately. 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of his inauguration as President of the United States. And I recently got a behind-the-scenes look at his life courtesy of the REELZ Channel's controversial The Kennedys miniseries.
We love foods with a little kick like this quick main-dish salad. It's full of flavor but light on calories.
Stir together these dressing ingredients and set in fridge while you make the salad:
2 teaspoons dried cilantro
1/3 cup light sour cream
1/2 chipotle chile canned in adobo sauce, diced - use more chile for more heat
1 teaspoon adobo sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoons lime juice
Pinch of salt
Combine these salad fixings in a large bowl:
2 cups baby salad greens
2/3 cup chopped, grilled skinless chicken breast
1/2 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 peeled avocado, diced
1 cup canned pinto beans (about one-half of a 15-oz can), rinsed and drained
½ cup frozen whole-kernel corn, cooked and drained
Pour dressing over salad and toss gently. Divide between two pasta bowls and enjoy immediately! Serve with corn or flour tortillas.
Adapted from a Cooking Light recipe on one of our favorite sites: www.myrecipes.com.
I think I remember seeing this guy in the 80's. Since then, not so much...
Ever feel like you're turning into your mother? Well, I'm just about there.
I've always looked like my mom; now I'm starting to think like her too. Although Bob's not entirely sold on this concept, it gives me a real edge when it comes to rounding up sure-to-please Mother's Day gift ideas like these:
Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.
Tips:
If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.
If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.
Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.
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and @CharlotteBoomer
Know someone battling cancer? Baylor Health Care System's Sammons Says... cancer blog is a great place to go for help. Here, you'll find information, resources, physicians, support groups and just about everything you need to help you navigate your way through this illness.
Senior Forums is a great place to get the news and share views on everything from hobbies and healthcare, to food, family & travel.
Matt Drudge gets the goods and his site ain't bad either.
You don't have to live in Dallas to enjoy D Magazine.
