Pacific Coast Rest-Stop

[violin4jesus]

Happy belated birthday, Leah!!! Sounds like it was a good one!

Actually, you're not late. It's today. We just celebrated yesterday to avoid L.A. traffic on a Friday.

[JesusPuppy]

Smart thinking.

[JesusPuppy]

[JesusPuppy]

Okay... Now I am worried.

[RachelM]

[Shann]

Ahh, Pup, no need to worry. If you haven't scared us away yet...

[deejay]

Yesterday I went to the research center, and I finally got placed in a high blood pressure study that I've been on a waiting list for since the beginning of this year. It will pay $2060, before taxes of course, two weeks after the end of the study, which is mid-November. I will miss the September Encounter at church (first Friday night of the month), as well as needing to re-arrange a few work days, and I'll miss church on the last Sunday of the month. Four times I will be wearing a portable blood pressure monitor for 30 hours, and have to stay at the research center in an upstairs room for four overnights; two of these will cause me to miss Encounter and church, as mentioned. That's still a lot of Christmas money! No, they can't rearrange the days to fit my schedule. That's the way research goes. So, since I don't know if I'll have internet access on the overnights, I might not be online as often. But I'll ask at next week's appointment.

[RachelM]

That's too bad that you'll be missing out on some church events, DJ, but that's a nice cash bonus and a nice time of year to get it too.

My girls went to a friend's house to stain their deck and my 5 yo went to play with my friend's son...so it's pretty quiet around here with half my kids away for the day. I stopped at the store on the way home and grabbed a 40 lb. box of bananas for $10. I'll be doing lots of baking this week!

[Shann]

How many bananas are in 40 pounds? It seems like a lot. I pay like .50 cents a pound here so it sounds like a great deal. I even have a recipe (kind of) for you to try. Put bananas in freezer (peel them first! I learned that the hard way no pun intended but no that I see it, I realize I'm just full of wit.) It takes about three bananas a serving. Then put in a teaspoon of cocoa powder and blend them until it's softy and creamy. It tastes like ice cream but only has like 100 calories. Since I don't like chocolate, I used a couple of tablespoons of peanut butter and it was really good!

[Shann]

Congratulations Allison!! Happy Dance for you hysterical EC salt and pepper win!! If you all are interested in a good giggle, check it out: http://www.faithwriters.com/wc-article- ... p?id=48928

[RachelM]

Congratulations on your EC, Allison!!!

Shann, 40lbs. is one of those big banana boxes. I really don't know how many bananas that is. I guess 100-200? They're 90 cents a pound here (weaker dollar) so it is a good deal. I've heard that frozen bananas put through a blender is really yummy. Definitely on my to do list!

We're taking the kids to a hotel tonight to go swimming. I actually found a hotel with a room that sleeps 8 and they actually have free breakfast too. I'm pretty excited.

[Shann]

Sounds like fun. One of my first jobs was helping the fruit man set up his stand at the flea market. I unloaded many banana boxes when I was 12.

[Allison]

*grins* Thanks! I'm just glad the judges seemed to enjoy it. I had so much fun writing this one. And I can totally see my older brother (who's middle name just happens to be Timothy...) and myself doing something like this, so inspiration was also taken from our relationship.

[Shann]

Where is Pup-a-roni? Don't tell me WE scared him off?

[jaybird]

I've had an awful week full chest congestion. All the while a second windstorm caused power outage, in which I was transported to the hospital by ambulance. What a nightmare for me and my mom! I think we'll be getting a generator. I had my trache cultured and am on another round of antibiotics for this infection. Less congested today and I feel a little better.

Shann, if you need second eyes on that cookbook, I'm available. I helped mom with our local historical society cookbook.

Happy bday to Leah! Prayers for your job.
Yeah, it breaks my heart hearing about Andy and Amy being sick--any of my friends.