I’ve got the music in me

Would you believe I spent several hours tonight creating this music? Well okay, I didn’t exactly create this tune. But I did enter all these notes (and many, MANY more) into the computer so our brass quintet will have something to play at church on Christmas Eve.

Don’t you hate it when you only do something a couple times a year, and you have to get out the sandpaper to remove the rust from the part of your brain that knows how to do it? That’s what tonight was like. By the time I had the PrintMusic program figured out, I was practically finished. Only three more carols to go!

I was going to post the sound file for your listening pleasure, but it’s late and I’m tired and I don’t have the energy or inclination to figure out how to do it. Be glad, though. The music has a repeat—a section that should be played, and then repeated one time. But MediaPlayer doesn’t understand the ‘one time’ part and it plays the song over and over and over again.

Oh, come, let us adore Him INDEED.

My husband, he’s a keeper

We’re sitting here watching the Dooney & Bourke hour on QVC.

JP: “What about that one? Why don’t you order that one?”
Me: “It’s too big. And besides, it’s almost $300.”
JP: “So? Stop being such a tight-ass. Just order it.”
Me: “I want the purse I already have (a Franco Sarto that I got at Stein Mart for $32), just in a different color.”

Part of QVC’s sales pitch involves giving the measurements of each purse handbag (apparently when you pay a lot of money you get to call it a handbag). So what does J.P. do? He gets the tape measure out of the junk drawer and measures my purse.

What do you suppose I might get for Christmas?

Pup & Stuff(ed) Portrait Friday #15

Stuff Portrait Friday, sponsored by Kristine

Rub-a-dub dub, thanks for the grub is the theme for this week’s post, and it’s definitely a STUFFED Portrait Friday. I don’t think I’ll need to eat again until next Thanksgiving.

First up, Something/someone that makes Thanksgiving. It’s tough to take a picture of gratitude, and I don’t post photos of family and friends, so this pic will have to do:

Second, our dinner:

This definitely wasn’t our entire dinner, but he was the guest of honor. He spent about 24 hours swimming in a brine of brown sugar, cayenne, dijon mustard, and garlic, and then we deep fried him. While the turkey was good and juicy, I was expecting more flavor with all of those ingredients. We’d definitely do the deep frying again, but I’m not sure the brining was worth it.

Next, the aftermath:

See all the buns in that Rubbermaid container? I baked them this morning, and they’re going to be great with the leftover turkey. Thankfully, our guests helped with some of the cleanup, because just before dinner I think I broke my roast beef toe and my no roast beef toe when I stubbed them on a chair leg. After I limped to the door to say goodbye to everyone, I headed for the couch with an ice pack. And J.P. totally handled the rest of the cleanup. A wonderful husband . . . definitely something to be thankful for.

::Post-posting edit::
Crap! I can’t believe I forgot to include my tacky centerpiece photo! You’ll be really glad I remembered after you see this:

What’s that? You’re not glad? Yeah, I know—it’s not that great. But it was free! And that has to count for something, right?
::end edit::

All of the activity today wore out our pooch. This photo of Maggie was taken a few days ago, but if my camera battery hadn’t pooped out on me (it was just dead—thankfully, it wasn’t the problem that caused the recall) we could’ve easily gotten a shot like this tonight.

And so it begins

As disgusting as it might look, this turkey in a brown sugar, cayenne, garlic, and dijon mustard brine smells wonderful. J.P. and I are hosting Thanksgiving for the very first time tomorrow, and the turkey has to go for a little swim before we plop it into the deep fryer for its 44 minutes of cooking.

We’ve been scouring magazines, cookbooks, and the web in search of good recipes. And I hope we’ve found some that will please our guests. One of them is a friend I’ve known for more than 30 years. We grew up together in Minnesota and then moved in different directions, she to Seattle and San Diego, and I to Pennsylvania. But now we live within 30 minutes of each other, and I’m really glad we’ll be able to get together.

But see, our tastes have changed a bit since we were kids. She’s bringing pumpkin curry soup. I can only imagine what my uncles would say if a bowl of steaming pumpkin curry soup were set in front of them.

I emailed her last week, because I wasn’t sure where she stood on the cranberry issue. Should I go for nostalgia and the can-shaped glob with the indentations? Or would she be looking for a more Martha-esque version of the old standby? Her response: “Martha all the way. This is the northeast!”

Toto, we’re not in Minnesota anymore.

Wish J.P. and me luck. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Oh, and stop by on Friday for some leftovers, wouldja?

Maggie’s Meme

In honor of her first birthday, Maggie wanted to tell you a little bit about herself. I found this meme on Kami’s blog, and Maggie thought it would be a good introduction. Happy first birthday, Magster!

2 names you go by: Maggie Did You Do This?! and Magamuffin

2 parts of your heritage: All parts cocker spaniel

2 things that scare you: The sound of the printer in J.P.’s office, and being left outside by myself for long periods of time.

2 of your everyday essentials: Greenies and long walks

2 things you are wearing right now: collar, Thanksgiving bandana

2 of your favorite bands or musical artists (at the moment): Snoop Dogg and Three Dog Night

2 favorite songs (at the moment): You Ain’t Nothin’ but a Hound Dog, and How Much is that Doggie in the Window

2 things you want in a relationship (other than real love): cuddles and walks

2 truths: When I get really excited, I pee a little bit; I’m the one who chewed the couch leg.

2 physical things that appeal to you (in the opposite sex): A good-smelling butt and big paws

2 of your favorite hobbies: Destroying every toy I own, and “drinking” by sticking my tongue under the shower door while Sharkey is taking a shower.

2 things you want really badly: To go with Sharkey and J.P. every time they leave the house, and to catch the bunny that lives in the backyard.

2 places you want to go on vacation: Hey, every day’s a vacation for me!

2 things you want to do before you die: Sleep on Sharkey and J.P.’s bed, and catch the bunny

2 ways that you are stereotypically a dude/chick: Love attention and to be told that I’m pretty

2 stores at which you shop: PetSmart, Bone Appetit

2 things you are thinking about now: Did I mention there’s a bunny in the backyard?