Tenderloin sandwiches...yum!

Grilled and breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches are staples on just about any menu in the Midwest but if you are ever around during butchering time there is nothing in this world as good as a fresh grilled pork tenderloin. OK, the mountain oysters are good too but it helps if you don't know what they are until you have finished your meal. OH...and fresh side meat fried real crispy, delicious. No wonder so many people in the Midwest have heart attacks. I think my left arm went numb just thinking about those goodies!

Free Time

It has been a long time since I have had two days with absolutely nothing that I HAD to do. Larry and Anny have decided that I am not allowed to answer the phone anymore. Oh, I'm very polite to the people calling and take all the information but I seem to have a problem relaying the messages to Larry and Anny. I've only done that three times (so far) and I have no idea why they are getting so pissy. Larry and I were out and about today (separate vehicles) and pulled back in the driveway at the same time. We both unloaded Wal-Mart bags, hmmm. When we got to the kitchen we discovered that we were shopping at the same time at the same store and pretty much bought the same merchandise. If you live in Lafayette and need Diet Coke I recommend you go ANYPLACE but Wal-Mart to make your purchase as Larry and I cleaned them out. We now have enough Diet Coke until March of 2008.

Food..FOOD and MORE FOOD

Ever wonder why almost all social events revolve around food? I'm not complaining (most of the time) but I have reached my limit. Wow..who knew? I met two friends (Harvey & Sammy) for lunch in Crawfordsville and had a lovely time in addition to a much larger lunch than I am accustomed to eating AND THEN Anny and I drove back to Crawfordsville to meet friends (Barb, Bev & Sharon) for dinner. If I don't get home soon the next time you see me I will be on The Jerry Springer Show, pigtails down to my waist and wearing bib overalls while eight hefty firemen carry me out of the house on a door. Richard Simmons (wearing his little tank top and short shorts) will be trotting along beside me shouting, "Jan, you are not alone and TOGETHER we can get you back under 500 pounds !"

When did I become the oldest person in the room?

Some days I feel so old I am willing to bet that with very little effort, I could fart dust. I used to be able to go 100 mph everyday and half the night but now I need a nap after walking to the mailbox. The last few years I have started basing my RSVP's on whether I will be able to arrive at home in time to watch Everybody Loves Raymond before my pre-bed recliner nap. 99.9% of the time a nap sounds more appealing than any social opportunities and I really don't think it's lack of "quality social events" but rather my increased NEED for sleep. During my 20's, 30's and well into my 40's the idea of taking a nap during the day was for people who were ill or the parents of toddlers. I really think someone should warn all the under 30's...so consider yourself warned. My naps make Rumplestillskin look like an amateur.

Road Trip

Boy howdy, do Anny and I know how to have fun or WHAT??! We hit the road at 9:30 this morning and visited three (THREE!) cemeteries. On one gravel road we were so far back in the woods I swear they had to pipe in sunshine. We did find everyplace we were looking for AND found our way back home so it was a good day. We spent an hour or so in Kingman and drove by our old haunts...at least the ones that are still there. We hardly know anyone who lives there anymore and it doesn't seem very long ago when we could tell you who lived in every house and their dogs name. We did stop at the Oasis and enjoyed a cold drink and twist cone. It wasn't hot fudge sundae's at Cliff & Cleo's drug store but it hit the spot. Anny's mom and dad's place is still there but my grandparents house has been torn down. I would love to have one of the snowball bushes that grandma and I planted when I was 6 years old but it seemed a bit rude to knock on someones front door with a shovel in my hand. OK....the rude part didn't bother us but the lack of a shovel was an issue. Maybe next time.

A Catch-up Day

Anny made her wonderful carmel, nut pull apart rolls this morning and once she had Larry and I in a sugar induced stupor she lured us out to the garage to help empty the attic for her garage sale. I learned something while we were working in the attic. Aunt June THOUGHT she had people living in her attic but Anny actually had enough "stuff" in her attic to allow a family of 4 to live very comfortably for several years....but no more. The attic is now pristine. Larry and I are a wreck but that's another story.
Bev (another childhood friend) came by to visit this afternoon and we had the best time. Laughed, told old stories and shared pictures of children and grandchildren..all of whom are brilliant and extremely good looking. Wow! What are the chances of all three of us having such gifted offspring?!
Larry, Anny and I met Barb, Rich, Morgan and Jamie at the Beef House for dinner. That was my second time for the Beef House in less than a week...oh darn. They have the best homemade yeast rolls you have ever put in your mouth. OK, their steaks are amazing too but we went after those rolls like savages. Richard's brother, Rusty, also passed away this week so our dinner was rather subdued. We were all happy to see each other but it was not our usual party atmosphere. Guess two funerals in one week will do that to ya.

People Crackers

I planned to go back to Aunt June's on Tuesday when Anny was at work to finish the apartment but Anny insisted we go this morning. Oh OK, fine...took us less than an hour and it is DONE! Thank you Anny! Have to admit it feels pretty darn good to have that part over with. I still have to meet with the attorney, pay the bills and complete a mound of paperwork but the worst part is over.
I have to tell you what Karl and Lou did to me while we were cleaning out. They had been emptying the closet in the bedroom and I was packing china in the living room when the two of them came down the hall carrying a bag of People Crackers. For those of you who don't have a pet, People Crackers are dog treats. They found the bag sitting beside the bed...opened. Uhhh, Aunt June does not own a dog. OH MY GOD...Aunt June has been sending so much money to Kreskin and Marie Duvall she has been eating dog food! Why haven't I kept better track of her! What kind of person am I to let this happen! I am lower than low! Scum! So, I spent the next two hours stewing over how I have let Aunt June down and she had been reduced to eating dog food. The three of us had taken a load of trash down to the dumpster and stopped by the apartment office to fill Janet (complex manager) in on how we were progressing. I asked Janet if Aunt June had paid her rent on time, had she seen Aunt June bringing in groceries, had Aunt June lost weight and then I begin the story of the People Crackers. Behind me I hear Lou and Karl giggling and I'm thinking what is WRONG with these people! Well, the truth finally came out but only because they hadn't expected me to say something to anyone else. Lou and Karl had stopped at Pet Smart the night before on the way home from dinner, bought the bag of People Crackers and planted them beside Aunt June's bed for me to find. These are my relatives folks, explains a lot about me, doesn't it?