I tend to be an upbeat, positive-thinking person. That noted, I can also admit I am a beliver in the old tale that if a seagull (or pigeon) shits on you, then it's a sign of good luck.

I'm not what to think of the "signs" I received today, courtesy of my Scottish Terrier, Megan.

After her breakfast and walk (where she did her usualy morning poo) we came back into the house. As I sat down at the table to enjoy my tea while I read my email, Megan (my proverbial shadow) sat at my feet -and proceeded to squeak out an AUDIBLE fart! I looked at her in amusement and surprise, and said,"Megan!"

Poor Meg bowed her head and seemed ashamed of her accidental indiscretion.

Later, I walked into my bedroom to put away some items and finish making my bed. Megan was already up on the bed with her little furry tuchas ON MY PILLOW.

Another dog fart...and a resulting BROWN SMEAR on the pillowcase!!! I picked up the gassy lass, took her out for another walk "just in case" and then stripped he ENTIRE bed and washed the offending linens in hot water, detergent and borax. And then, thinking about this whole "luck" superstiotion with accidental poopings, I went to the local liquor store and bought myself some lotto tickets. If I win, I'll be certain to buy NEW pillowcases!

Everyone in the family enjoyed this! I made it on Saturday, then put it in the 'fridge and reheated via the crock pot on LOW to enjoy Sunday after Mass.

I got the recipe from my CSA farmer/owner, but I adjusted it based on my own cooking instincts and preferences. It is supposed to taste like a soup from the Olive Garden - I have never had their version but this is quite good. I served with garlic bread and parmesan cheese sprinkled and melted on top of the soup.

Toscana Soup

2 tbs olive oil
1 med. onion, diced
3-4 Italian sausages, sliced (Iused Turkey Italiansausage to lower the fat. You can pre-cook them OR just cook the slices in the pot with the onion)
2-3 potatoes (russet or red) peeled, halved and sliced
1 bunch kale, chopped (about 2 cups)
2 cans chicken broth
1/3 C. half-and-half
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes (if desired)

In large soup pot, saute onion in olive oil. Add sausage (cook sausage through if needed).
Add remaining ingredients. Simmer for 2 hours, or until potatoes are tender.

I haven't written much lately, largely because I haven't been feeling 100%. Nothing serious: hot flashes, headaches, backaches, skin rashes...and a disconcerting level of fatigue.

Of course, being the supposed hypochondriac that I  am, I did extensive research on this and everything points to 1.) going through "the change" and 2.) the aging process, in general.

I'm certain having a GI-tract virus last weekend didn't help boost my health, that's for certain.

I decided to take it easy and lay off the cardio and weight lifting. Rather than resort to wholehearted slug-dom, I did manage to put in a few hours of landscaping work around the yard over the course of the week. I also did some cleaning and organizing projects, and managed to try a new recipe for a soup that uses the kale that arrived my mystery box of veggies. It also utilized some of the potatoes and an onion from the great veggie box.

I'll reproduce the recipe here sometime soon.

According to the meteorologists, we seem to be out of the frost range for at least the next 10 days, and given historical averages its unlikely that we will have frost risk after that.

So, of course, I am jonesin' to get out and plant my annuals all around the house. But, as per usual, no one has them in stock yet. Considering we had a big snowstorm just LAST WEEK I suppose this makes sense. According to the lawn & garden manager at my local big box retailer, they should have plants in stock "any day now."

 But, dammit, (in my best whiny Veruca Salt voice) "I want it NOW!"

Well, at least my perrenials are showing signs of life.Pics to follow as soon as something blooms.

This morning it was 20 degrees (F), gray and drizzly when I walked my daughter to the bus stop.

But its spring, right?

APRIL FOOL'S!

Honestly, this has got to be one of the most drawn-out "winters" in my 20 years living in Chicagoland.

But my perrenial plants are popping through the frozen tundra, despite the temps. They've been "living" on this property longer than I have so I'm guessing they are used to the fickle weather by now.

*sigh*

Spring Break here in our school district ends on Monday. The other day, to get out of the house on the cheap, I planned a "lunch & movie" day for my 8-year-old. We first went to a noticeably CROWDED Culver's  (and btw, they have a pretty good tomato bisque soup for a "fast food" chain.)

I suspected that some, if not all, of the families with multiple kids under 10 had the next-door shopping center on their radar: it housese a second-run theatre offering a $1 matinee of "Alvin & The Chimpunks."

I hustled us through lunch, into the bathroom for a pre-movie tinkle, and then out to the car with what should have been ample time to re-park the car and get tickets,  even find a plum pair ofseats. But as we approached the window all we saw was a line.

We waited our turn patiently, only to learn when it wasour turn, that "Alvin" was SOLD OUT!

I quickly scanned the list of movies showing concurrently. No other "g" ratingswere available, but, there was a "pg." Unfortunately it was "American Treasure: The Sequel That Should Have Never Happened." Knowing my daughter and her tastes, I didn't even bother to ask ifshe wanted to see it. Our other option was 27 Dresses. It was listed on the ticket board as "PG" but when I saw the movie poster, it was actually PG-13.

The ticket agent must have read my indecisiveness about the movie selction for the kiddo and me. "Oh, there is NOTHING bad in it," she assured me.

OK. I turned to my daughter and said, "Don't tell daddy if they say the F-word or if you see someone's butt!"

And with that, we paid our $2 and went in. I did  NOT notice that the flick must have started a good 15 minutes before we got to our seats. But -what the heck-it was only $1.

It was very cute (although I'm probably generous in my review because it was just $1.)

The only bad things (as far as an 8-year-old viewing companion is concerned) were:

• 2 uses of "shit" (I belive both were: "You're shitting me!?")
• 1 "bullshit"
• 1 "ass" (I'm gonna kick your ass!")
• a couple drinking cocktails
• smooching but no ACTUAL on-screen hubba-hubba.

Um, my kid sees/hears that every day AT HOME,so no big whoop!

Now, on the other hand, I do recall WALKING OUT of the PG-rated "Scooby Doo: The Movie" some years ago 1.) because of constant thinly-veiled references to Marijuana:

Shaggy to woman in seat next to him: "What's your name?"
Woman: "Mary Jane."
Shaggy: "Mary Jane?! No way, like, that's like my FAVORITE name!"

2.) there is a scene with Scrappy Doo peeing on Daphne and muttering something like "You don't have the scrote(as in SCROTUM) to do the job!"

and 3.) because it sucked and even the kiddo had lost interest.

WHO the h*ll does these ratings, anyway? Apparently its a bunch of morons.

This weekend, hubby is flying to Argentina for work meetings, and later next week he flies on to Sao Paulo, Brazil, for more meetings.

Its funny to me when people who know us hear of the exotic locales that hubby visits as part of his job. He has literally flown all over the world, and samples virtually every sort of cuisine. Oddly enough he speaks NO languages other than English. (To his credit, he does know a few basics in Cantoneese.)

I speak Spanish & French (not well, but enough to get by) and yet have never travelled outside of North America: Canada, Mexico, the carribean and Bermuda are the only "international" desitnations I have enjoyed.

In my past life as a software trainer, however, I did venture across all regions of the United States. On one of these trips, my boss accompanied me. We arrived at the airport to head home from Atlanta, when we learned our flight was delayed at least four hours due to bad weather, I coaxed her into checking our bags and jumping on the subway/metro/whatever-they-call-their-public-transporation system, and browse around downtown Atlanta for a bit. I'll never forget her chuckling and admitting to me, "You know if it was me, I would have just sat at the airport and waited. I could never just take a train on my own!"

Both hubby and I agree that you really get a "feel" for a locality by utilizing its public transit system. You encounter everyday people, everyday neighborhoods...things that aren't included in a tourist brochure when you ride the rails. In Europe & Asia, he has raved about the convenience of the train and subway systems that he used.

That said, I do believe that when in South America or Mexico, hubby and his co-worker(s) usually end up in private hired car services. From what I understand, safety is a part of the equation as well as efficiency. I find it interesting that, when in the US, most business travelers ALSO utilize cabs, limos, or rentals cars.

I am not sure what that says about American interest in passenger rail. Unfortunately, we have had many crises in the Chicagoland area with our transit agencies due to federal cutbacks.

I hear and read alot of talk about "green" incentives. I truly feel that a high-tech, infrastructure investment in efficient passenger-only rail service could be a great solution for the gridlock (and air pollution) now a way of life in metropolitan areas across the country.

But sadly, even the systems we have in place are havens for crime - even in mid-day. In my hometown of Philadelphia, a 36-year-old manager of a Starbucks was beaten to death  while waiting for his subway train by a gang of high school students in an apparent robbery attempt.

Recently in Chicago, a young man, on his way to school on a CTA Bus, was shot and kiled for no apparent reason.

I'm saddened whenever I hear of these events because it is not just a blow to our social sructure in general (as crimes always are) but specifically it lessens the support and usage of transit.

In graduate school, I studied to be a transit planner, learning complicated mathematical formulas for calculating route scheduling, car capacity and more. No one ever taught us, however, how to increase the desire for ridership and capital investment into such systems.

Do you enjoy surprises?

Genuinely speaking, I do not.

I'm boring that way.  I suppose its due to my leanings toward a Type-A personality that turn "surprises" into "things to worry about because I can neither control nor understand them."

Despite that, as I have mentioned elsewhere, I signed up my family to be part of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm cooperative.

How does the "surprise" theme figure into my newfound granola-ish lifestyle choice? Well, depending on conditions, the farmer delivers a big box of...whatever grew well given conditions, season, etc.

I received an email update tonight from the farm mananger. She (yes, a woman owns and runs this organic farm! DOUBLE granola points!) noted that our boxes will be delivered next Thursday, April 7th.

I still have not learned to make canned goods yet. I suppose I could buy a "kit" to do this but I'm going to rely on my penchant for making creative salads, stews, soups, juices and sauces  to "use up" any particular "surplus" item we receive. If I'm completely flummoxed, I do have two large boxes of freezer bags, so hopefully some of the stuff will be freezable. I know that giving items away via donation or sharing with a neighbor is an option but I do have to prove this food experiment to my budget officer, (aka - my husband) as well as to myself in terms of cost-benefit.

I don't like surprises...but I am really excited to get my first Mystery Box of organic produce.

After our stomach-stuffing brunch, I took this picture of my daughter playing outside:


I know I'll be regretting wishing for warmer weather once it turns to 90 and humid in July, but this is getting ridiculous! Will spring PLEASE come?!?

Yesterday afternoon, I was in a tizzy, trying to get my daughter to nap so that she'd be able to manage the marathon Mass (2 hrs+) that is Easter Vigil. I thought about bagging our plans to do Church at night so that we could indulge in Asti Spumante, chocolates and cured, glazed prok products all morning, and instead awaken early for a morning Mass.

Luckily, she did finally sleep, and later, we readied ourselves. Despite the objections of my family members who deemed my frock "too loud for church," I donned a silky knit animal print dress and some pointy-toed, knee-high boots (we have snow on the gound...not the weather for peep-toe shoes!)

The first good omens were securing a good parking spot and a roomy pew. From  there, everything went well, and my daughter behaved nicely. My husband kept his eye-rolling to a minimum. We did have a few stifled snickers together when one of the cantors began in too high of a key and botched her psalm...but other than that it was a lovely - and quite moving - service.

As I type, I have a glazed ham warming and homemade scalloped potatoes bubbling in the oven. The Ballatore is chillin' in the 'fridge and the glazed Easter cake is tempting me, but will remain wrapped until the time is right.

I have busted into some of the Whoppers eggs and Jelly Bellies brought by The Bunny...who almost didn't make it this year.

Last night, I knew I had to ready the Bunny goodies for the kiddo. I kept reminding myself over and over to do it once she was sound asleep. Thinking it would take awhile to kick in,  I took a Restoril to get a decent sleep (I've been sleep-deprived the past few days) and planned to head to my hiding spot to fill plastic eggs with pastel m&m's.  I ended up conking out and waking up at 8 am with no basket ready!

Whoops!

I snuk into the basement, and fortunately the kid was engrossed in morning cartoons in the family room. I managed to stealthily fill the eggs, and put together a basket brimming with goodies.

I dashed upstairs, again, unnoticed, and told my husband to alert the child that something got the dogs upset (they were barking as usal in the morning for me to get up and walk them.) She came dashing up, I pretended to just be awakening from slumber, rubbing my eyes.

Excitedly, she explained, "Mom, I was awake all night so I guess the Bunny couldn't come. So I went downstairs to watch tv. I guess he waited for me to get out of sight before he tossed the basket through the window and did a quick repair!"

OK... I never thought of the bunny as a sort of benevolent vandal but if it works for her, it works for me!