weekly wrap-up

Summer is flying by, and I really wish it would slow down.

From Monday through Thursday of last week, I'm pretty sure CJ and I saw each other awake a total of six hours. I guess if you count sleeping the two nights he was home during that period, I guess you can make that maybe twenty-four hours.

CJ worked four days straight last week. Working two days in a row at the part-time job was sort of a fluke, I guess, and since he's only going in for training there tomorrow night, that'll make up for it.

There would have been a softball game mixed in there too, but the other team failed to show.

Friday night was Kim and Dean's wedding. When they got engaged, my one piece of advice to Kim was to have a short engagement. At the reception, she said she now understood why I'd complain about wedding planning so much -- arguments over food, the guest list, the seating chart, you get the picture -- so I think she was glad they only had a six-month long engagement.

We spent Saturday afternoon painting the adirondack chairs and table CJ made. One chair is completely finished, and the others have been primed and just need to be painted. CJ did a great job on them, so I'll definitely be posting pictures of those soon. (He's actually thinking of making them on the side, so if you're interested...)

Since we barely saw each other last week, and since it'd been awhile, Saturday night was date night -- to the Olive Garden and to see Night at the Museum 2, which we enjoyed. (There aren't too many Ben Stiller movies I don't enjoy though.)

CJ worked today, so after church, I met my parents at Red Robin up on the north side (which is apparently the only one in Indianapolis; for the past year, I've been telling CJ to take me to the Red Robin that's five minutes from our house -- turns out it's called Road Rocket, and I just can't see/read). Then I went grocery shopping with mom and dad (thanks again, by the way), and stopped by CJ's fire station on the way home. Then I cooked up a storm tonight -- made sloppy joes, lasagna, and Mrs. Straley's casserole to freeze for CJ to take for his meals at work.

So that was long ... and probably not that interesting ... but such is life. Hope all is well with everyone.

just call me betty crocker

I think I have this reputation of not being a cook or a good cook at that. Yes, there have been a few kitchen disasters (chocolate chili seemed like a good idea), but overall, I don't think I'm a terrible cook. Being impatient though, I just have to be in the mood.

CJ insists that he really doesn't need a meal prepared every night -- which is good, because I don't cook every night. When we do have a hot meal, I always know I've hit a home run if he goes back for seconds and thirds, and then cleans out the dish the next morning.

It's rare that I find a recipe that we both like so well and that is easy to fix, so here's one of our new favorites for everyone to try, courtesy of Taste of Home: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Chicken--n--Chips

While we're on topic, I guess I should also ask for suggestions on how to fill up a hungry husband during the day. Whereas I stock up on Lean Cuisines to take to work (and supplement with fruit, vegetables, and a Special K bar), that won't fill CJ up. Short of making him about five peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, does anyone know of any good, easy, filling recipes I can whip up for him to take to work? (Please! It'd help our eating out budget greatly.)

And furthermore, does anyone have any good one-person recipes to share? I'm home 2-3 nights a week by myself, and I'm not exactly going to fix myself an entire lasagna to eat. I've found some helpful recipes in the Hungry Girl cookbooks. Any other suggestions?

mrs. outdoorsy

CJ and I spent part of the weekend camping at Turkey Run State Park with our small group. I'm not exactly Mrs. Outdoorsy, although I think CJ's trying to move me in that direction. I think I'd like it a lot more if it wasn't 90 degrees with like 100% humidity, and if we wouldn't have to sleep in a hot, un-air conditioned tent.

Since CJ had to work Friday, we missed the thunderstorms (and the opportunity to sit in the camp bathrooms as half of our small group did). Saturday afternoon we went on a short hike in the park and then spent the evening playing hillbilly golf and corn hole.


The Punch Bowl


Beau, CJ, Jon & Brad


Chelynne, Susie, me, & Julie

CJ, the tree climber

The area received too much rain the previous week, so we couldn't go canoeing down Sugar Creek on Saturday, but we could on Sunday. They said the creek was 3' above flood stage. I guess I don't fully understand how that works, because the creek was by no means over the banks. I've canoed down that creek numerous times, and with the exception of one time, I've always made the fifteen mile trip, which usually takes six hours minimum to complete. We finished yesterday in a little over three hours.


While canoeing, we saw two bald eagles and their giant nest. I managed to snap a picture of one. It's nearly hidden, but if you look at the tree to the top middle/right, it's sitting in a branch.

In the end, CJ and I compromised. We both like hiking (although he enjoys it more than I) and we'd like to visit more state parks, but as a general rule, they will only be day trips or trips where we rent a room at the local Holiday Inn afterwards.

just like riding a bike

We tried to turn over a new leaf at the beginning of May. It's sort of worked.

When CJ and I first started dating, we both really enjoyed working out -- for him, mostly bicycling, and for me, mostly jogging. Needless to say, we both fell out of our routines. Last month, we joined Anytime Fitness, paying extra just for the convenience (operating hours and location).

And it's like riding a bike. No mater how long it's been, it's relatively easy getting back on again.

Sort of.

While I have shaved nearly two minutes off of my mile time, I've fallen short of my goal to visit three times each week. CJ's back on his bike nearly every day he's off of work, so his gym membership isn't seeing much use.

In addition to working out regularly, I'm back on my must-eat-healthy kick again. I don't remember going on a massive eating binge in the past year and a half, but I also didn't have any qualms about eating less than healthy foods and not working out in return. So, it's back to eating healthy, and if I must have sweets (like tonight), at least have them in modest portions.

So I write this today mostly for accountability reasons. Don't hesitate to ask us how we're doing -- how CJ's bike rides are, my latest mile time (11:49, as of last Saturday), how healthy we're eating, whatever. Seriously, knowing other people are actually interested in our life, to whatever extent, truly helps.

no creative title necessary

Here's an update for everyone on nearly everything we've been doing:

Home Improvements: Late last week, CJ finished up the floors and trim in the living room, and I love it. Everyone keeps asking us what's next, but really, we just have little projects now. I need to fill in nail holes in the trim, and finish painting the doors. I think there are a few places where CJ wants to redo the trim. He still needs to replace the outdoor lights and install our programmable thermostat, but that's really all we have planned.

Garden: Our garden is starting to look really nice. I spent more than three hours in it last Saturday weeding, and it looks like I need to go back out there and spend some time this afternoon plucking out even more. We have some really good looking tomatoes. Our green beans are getting eaten up by bugs, so I need to spray those this afternoon. (I may be into saving our coffee grounds and egg shells for compost, but that's about as organic as I'll get.) The jury is still out on our pepper plants.

Softball: Canceled this week due to rain. CJ won't be able to play next week because of work, but there is a make-up game next Friday, which bumped date night out of the way.

Work: Going just fine for both of us, so nothing new to report.

CJ's newest woodworking project: Adirondack chairs! He finished one last night (also sent a nail shooting through his finger too). I think he plans to make the other one today, and maybe make a little table we can put out back too. Then I'll have to paint them.

Books: Since I devoted an entire post to books, I wanted to follow up on that, in case anyone actually relied on my recommendations. I gave up on Firefly Lane, Percy Jackson, and What's Submission Got to Do With It?. I started The Secret Life of Bees, but had to return it before I could really get into it (so I bought it on amazon used for a penny). CJ read Inkheart and said it was just okay, so I didn't even bother. We haven't touched Tony Dungy's book yet, and CJ is reading Edgar Sawtelle at the moment. The one book I did finish was Nickel and Dimed, which was interesting, although it certainly didn't solve any problems related to poverty or affordable housing or low wages. I broke down and bought Naked Economics, which I'm loving, and I'm also starting to read (again) Reading Lolita in Tehran. I also checked out Welcome to Obamaland: I've Seen Your Future and It Doesn't Work, but CJ took that one first. And I still have Modoc to read -- that's the one with the cute picture of an elephant on the cover.

What's up for the rest of summer: June is already booked, so I apologize now for not being able to see anyone unless you're already scheduled in. We're going camping with our small group here in a few weeks. The next weekend, we have a wedding, and then CJ will be riding in the N.I.T.E. Ride (20 mile night ride through Indianapolis). We're planning a short vacation for July, but we have absolutely no idea where we're going. It's also my goal to get that booked today.

I hope all is well for everyone!