Housecleaning

Housecleaning

1. A clean house is the sign of a broken computer and mine is working fine.

2. I don't disturb cobwebs because I want every creature to have a home of their own.

3. I don't do gourmet meals when I entertain because I don't want my guests to stress out over what to make when they invite me over for dinner.

4. I don't do windows because I love birds and don't want one to run into a clean window and get hurt.

5. I don't iron because I choose to believe them when they say "Permanent Press".

6. I don't mind the dust bunnies because they are very good company. I have named most of them, and they agree with everything I say.

7. I don't pull weeds in the garden because I don't want to get in God's way. He is an excellent designer.

8. I don't put things away because my husband will never be able to find them again.

9. I don't spring clean because I love all the seasons and don't want the others to get jealous.

10. I don't wax floors because I am terrified a guest will slip & hurt themselves. I'd feel terrible and they may sue me.

11. I don't stress much on anything because "A Type" personalities die young and I want to stick around and become a wrinkled up crusty old woman!

From the St. Petersburg Times - St. Petersburg FL. -

Oh, and by the way - Wal-Mart sells 5lb rolls of ground beef for $8.40, or $1.68 per lb.

-Julie

By TAMARA LUSH, Times Staff Writer
Published June 21, 2006

---

	[Publicity photo]
	The 20-ounce Tri-Beef Burger.

BOCA RATON - Would you pay $100 for a hamburger?

Marc Sherry is betting that a lot of folks will. He's the owner of the Old Homestead Steak House, with locations in New York, Atlantic City and now the tony South Florida enclave of Boca Raton.

On Tuesday, Sherry unveiled the Tri-Beef Burger, calling it, variously, the "Beluga caviar of sandwiches," the "Rolls-Royce of burgers" and the "Romeo and Juliet of food."

Hmm. Marketing ploy? Or venial sin?

Here's the beef: The burger contains three kinds of it, from three continents - from corn-fed American Prime cattle from Colorado, free-range cattle from the Argentine pampas and Japanese Wagyu cattle that were raised on soybeans and beer, then bathed in sake and hand-massaged.

For Tuesday's official first tasting, the beef was flown into Fort Lauderdale, then driven to the restaurant in a climate-controlled, armored stretch Hummer limo. The restaurant's chefs unloaded the plastic-wrapped meat, hoisting the heavy packages on their shoulders and carrying them into the kitchen. While TV cameras and reporters looked on, the chefs carefully ground the meat onto a silver platter and formed it into several 20-ounce burgers.

"Almost the size of a softball," said Sherry.

The burger is fried in about 8 ounces of grape seed oil -"It's healthier," said Joe Galison, chef de cuisine - and then nestled onto a toasted Brioche bun and topped with heirloom tomatoes, exotic mushrooms and organic micro greens.

Cheese is optional, and Galison would recommend some crumbled Maytag Blue no additional cost. Fries are not included.

Unlike at another famous burger joint, one cannot "have it your way" at the Old Homestead Steak House. You must have it Marc Sherry's way. He has instructed the wait staff to not give diners knives and forks to delicately slice the burger, which measures 5¹/₂ inches across and 2¹/₂ inches thick.

"I want you to have fun," he said. (The mayor of Boca Raton did seem to enjoy the burger, getting it on his hands, chin and nose. He ate the whole thing.)

Sherry also would discourage people from slathering mayo, mustard or ketchup on the burger.

"That would be a no-no," he said. If you would like to enhance the flavor of the burger, Sherry suggests using his special chipotle sauce mixed with white truffles and champagne. He also recommends washing the whole thing down with a glass of Joseph Phelps Insignia Cabernet. Cost: $60.

A glass.

This is one of the few places in the country that serve such an expensive burger; another New York restaurant serves a $120 burger, but it is stuffed with foie gras, braised short ribs and black truffles, and it is available only during truffle season. (It is not truffle season right now.)

The burger is an exclusive for the Old Homestead Steak House, which is at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. The restaurant serves only resort guests and club members, but you can have the burger shipped via FedEx.

"I don't anticipate any price resistance to this burger," Sherry said. "Everybody can afford $100."

Sure, everybody who goes to the Boca Raton Resort and Club, where it costs $179 to stay one night in the hotel (cheapest room, low season) and $45,000 for a lifetime membership.

But if you work at the McDonald's a few miles from the resort, you would need to toil behind the grill for about 15 hours (at the starting wage of $6.50 an hour) to afford the burger.

Everybody, indeed.

Times researcher Angie Drobnic Holan contributed to this report. Tamara Lush can be reached at 727-893-8612 or at lush@sptimes.com.

A menu of other burger prices:

Bistro Moderne

Double Truffle: $120

55 W 44th St., New York, NY 10036

Sirloin burger filled with braised short ribs, foie gras and a double serving of black truffle. The Original dbBurger (with only a single serving of truffle) is also available for $29.

Pane Rustica Bakery & Cafe

Pane Burger: $10

225 S MacDill Ave., Tampa, FL 33629

Various specialty cheeses, caramelized onions and aioli.

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE

No Rules Burger: $8.49

3403 Henderson Blvd.,Tampa, FL 33609

and other locations

Choice of toppings: bacon, grilled onions, sautéed mushrooms, Swiss cheese, American cheese, barbecue sauce, blue cheese dressing

Chattaway

The Cheese Chattaburger: $6.50

358 22nd Ave. S, St Petersburg, FL 33705

El Cap

Daily Double with everything: $6.25

3500 4th St. N, St Petersburg, FL 33704

McDonald's

Big Mac: $2.59

Everywhere

- Times staff

How fitting.....


From Leanne Womack -
Twenty years and Two Husbands Ago

Lookin' in the bathroom mirror puttin' my makeup on
Maybelline can't hide the lines of time that's gone
I weighed 125 soakin' wet, I'd knock 'em dead in that sun dress
Had it all just too young to know,
That was twenty years and, two husbands ago

I remember when he took my hand and said "I do"
And the kitchen I was standing in, when he said "I'm through"
And I swore I'd never fall back in, put my heart through that again
Never let somebody get that close
But that was twenty years and, two husbands ago

Water under the bridge
I guess that's all life really is, that's just the way it is

Driving the kids to school today, it occurred to me
With all the wrong turns I've made,
I'm where I should be
But I go back there from time to time
Lookin' for that peace of mind,
And find it's always just a dead-end road
Yeah that was twenty years and, two husbands ago

Water under the bridge
I guess that's all life really is, that's just the way it is

Cats and Dogs

Yesterday morning, there was a half-grown black kitten under my car before I went to work. I picked it up by the scruff of the neck and put it on the front porch near the cat food bowl and told it I would deal with it later. (While our two established cats are puffing and hissing at it)
B said it followed him to the back of the garage when he went to feed the dog. Last night, when I got home, no kitten. I went to check on the puppies and low and behold. Kitten (I will NOT name it) was back with Wags and her pups. I don't know what is going on, but when I went to feed the dogs last night, Wags, Kitten and 3 of the pups were all eating out of the same bowl. This morning, Kitten was on top of the dog house until I took the food out, and then it sat and washed itself while Wags was eating. (Puppies were still sleeping). A very strange arrangement.

Lighthouse.

I found this picture on the internet. I think I would like to live here, or at least vacation here. Since I love little white houses, and picket fences. Put some chickens in the yard and I would be in heaven!!

Julie

Smells


Okay, so I had horrible allergies when I was little, and then I became a smoker in my teens, now that I am older and smarter, I have neither of those problems to deaden my sense of smell. In fact, I think my sense of smell is highly acute. So, why is it that BAD smells linger and linger, and good smells are fleeting?

I work with the public, and not all of them are frequent bathers. So why is it that when a smelly person comes into the office, their BO lingers for 10 or 15 minutes, and when I spray my Seriously Strong Industrial Air Freshner, it only lasts for 2 minutes???

Geesh, I just wish I could turn off my nose sometimes. At least I have never had to confront an employee and have the "Personal Hygiene" talk with them. I don't think I could do that one.

Julie

I have tomatoes!!



Aren't they beautiful?? I know they still have a long time until they are the bright red wonderfuld juicy edibles that the family clamors for. Ripen babies, ripen!! I only have 1 pepper so far, and only a few blooms. I hope the peppers get a move on and get to growing!

I have one little baby cucumber about 2 inches long, and lots of cucumber and cantalope blooms. I think my garden looks better this year than it has in a long time.

Bette Midler's "My one true friend"

And now, is it too late to say
How you made my life so different in your quiet way?
I can see the joy in simple things,
a sunlit sky and all the songs we used to sing.

I have walked and I have I prayed.
I could forgive and we could start again.
In the end,
you are my one true friend.

For all, all the times you closed your eyes,
allowing me to stumble or to be surprised,
by life, with all it's twists and turns.
I made mistakes, you always knew that I would learn.

And when you left, it's me who stayed.
You always knew that you'd come home again.
In the end,
you are my one true friend.

Though love may break, it never dies.
It changes shape, through changing eyes.
What I denied, I now can see.
You always were the light inside of me.

I know, I know, I know, I know it was you.

I have walked and I have I prayed.
I could forgive and we could start again.
In the end, you are my one true friend.

My one true friend.
I always, always knew,
I always knew that it was you,
my one true friend.

This is from Tickle.com on my true color test. oh, wow, I am brown, how un-exciting is that? And here I was feeling kinda fuschia today!

Julie, your true color is Brown!

You're brown, a credible, stable color that's reminiscent of fine wood, rich leather, and wistful melancholy. Most likely, you're a logical, practical person ruled more by your head than your heart. With your inquisitive mind and insatiable curiosity, you're probably a great problem solver. And you always gather all of the facts before coming to a timely, informed decision. Easily intrigued, you're constantly finding new ways to challenge your mind, whether it's by reading the newspaper, playing a trivia game, or composing a piece of music. Brown is an impartial, neutral color, which means you tend to see the difference between fact and opinion easily and are open to many points of view. Trustworthy and steady, you really are a brown at heart.

What do you see?

The Sweetest and Most Lovable......

Here is Chewbacca, my most lovable cat. She will purr when you even just walk near her. She is content to just sit on the back of the couch and be near you. Or if you need a furry friend to hold, she loves to be cuddled and she has the softest fur imaginable. Of all the cats I have ever owned (and that is a large number), I really think she is my favorite.

Thank you to Deedee, Kelly and Teresa for putting this where I could find it when I needed it.

Walking on Eggshells

Walking on eggshells describes a sense of feeling it is necessary to maintain an abnormally high level of vigilance, or an unusually high level of caution in a particular situation.

Usually the phrase is used to describe a tense and dysfunctional relationship with another person - as in "Mary walks on eggshells whenever Sam is around."

When you are in a relationship with someone who has borderline personality disorder, it is very common to be in a nearly constant state of hyper-vigilance around that person.

You may feel this state of vigilance is necessary because you hope that by being very careful in all that you say and do, their raging or "crazy making" behavior might be reduced or avoided.

You may feel that if you can ‘just get it right’ the relationship will be okay once again.

You may feel (or you may have been told) that all the problems are your fault, and that all the issues in the relationship are because of your behavior.

These self-blaming attitudes are often vigorously reinforced by the BP in your life.

According to the BP, the fault never lies with them or their behavior – you are the only one that needs work!

We have all seen the nature shows on television where the prairie dog regularly pokes his head up out of the hole to keep watch for coyotes or eagles.

Vigilance can be a good thing, particularly when one is in real danger. However, if we feel we must continuously ‘poke our heads out of the hole’ in our closest relationships, we may not be able to regularly give ourselves the rest that is necessary to maintaining our physical and mental health.

Maintaining this hyper-vigilant state over a long period of time leads to very high levels of stress.

When you feel you must guard your every statement, justify your every decision, exercise caution before doing anything, and pay close and continuous attention to everything around you there is no room left in your life to experience joy!

Nor will your own needs for nurturing, companionship and personal growth be met.

Because your attentions are so focused on your BPs emotions, your own may narrow down to nearly nothing.

Your natural and healthy joyful behaviors (laughing, playing jokes, being spontaneous) may be reduced or even eliminated.

You may find that you are so controlled by your BP’s reactions to your behaviors, thoughts and actions, that you choose to unduly limit your choices.

Your own needs are delayed time and time again, but are often never fulfilled.

Everyone walks on eggshells from time to time in order to preserve the peace in their lives. The question becomes, "how much walking on eggshells is good for me and those around me? When does it become dysfunctional and unhealthy, or even dangerous?"

If you live with someone who has borderline personality disorder, walking on eggshells has probably become part of the ‘background’ of your life. It s just one more way that the person with the disorder controls your behavior, leading to unhealthy dynamics in the relationship itself, and stress related problems in general.

During periods of peace and calm, you may find yourself anxiously wondering when the next storm will hit, knowing that it may be unexpected and totally out of the blue.

Like walking on something thin and fragile, you fear that a single misstep or mistake will cause the floor to lose its stability and crumble, letting you fall into the chaos the disorder creates.

You watch your BP for signs of approval or disapproval of your every word, every thought, every action, and every behavior.

You are afraid that the BP in your life will go crazy and harm or even kill yourself or others.

This constant state of fear may even trigger violent reoccurring nightmares.

If you feel that what you do or say has the power to cause the borderline in your life to behave in a more ‘normal’ manner, this is the beginning of a major problem.

It is important for you to realize that you are a sane person in an insane situation.

You didn’t cause it, you can’t control it and you certainly cannot cure it.

You can’t prevent raging.

You can’t put off crazy behavior forever.

You are entitled to a little peace in your life and to your own reality.

So, in a nutshell, what is "walking on eggshells?"

Walking on eggshells is stuffing your feelings down into a tight little ball while doing your best to keep a calm mask on your face.

It’s wondering where the person you used to be has gone, and if he or she will ever return.

Walking on eggshells is feeling absolutely helpless and worthless.

It is seeing your self-esteem traumatized, damaged or even destroyed over the course of your relationship with the BP.

Walking on eggshells is refusing to set clear boundaries and consequences for hurtful behaviors with the BP in your life.

It is allowing them to do things and say things that you’d never allow anyone else to do or say to you to your children.

It is allowing this because you know the emotional price you will pay if you don’t.

Walking on Eggshells is beginning to believe what the BP tells you about what you did, why you did it, what you were thinking and believing, despite your own thoughts, feelings and behaviors telling you differently.

It is beginning to doubt whether you even know what reality is anymore.

Walking on eggshells is feeling dread at the thought of going home when you’ve been out.

It is looking for excuses to stay away longer, or to find any reason to avoid going home to the uncertainty. It’s the conflict of ‘feeling free’ when you escape from the crazy making for a little while, and the guilt you feel for feeling ‘free’ from the person you love so much.

Walking on Eggshells is doing or saying what ever the BP in your life tells you to do or say, just to get through the chaos, to get back some form of ‘normalcy’ in your life just so you can continue to function on some minimal level.

Walking on eggshells is making excuses for his or her behavior, whether it’s their terrible childhood, their addictions, or a past romance that went sour. It’s minimizing the damage they are doing to you, to your self and to your family and friends.

Walking on Eggshells means avoiding people the BP in your life doesn’t like, stopping activities that he or she doesn’t approve of.

It’s the shrinking down of your social circle to just you and the BP or just the few other people that the BP may like or approve of.

It’s the feeling that you’ll do or say anything - anything - the BP wants you to do or say, just to get some rest.

It is wanting desperately to figure out what you have to do to make the raging, the splitting, the blaming and the controlling go away ‘just for a little while.’

Walking on eggshells is the feeling that you cannot talk about what is happening to you with family or friends because the BP tells you that this is disloyal to them or a betrayal of the relationship.

Walking on eggshells is knowing that you have no privacy, no space that is yours in this relationship.

Walking on eggshells is knowing that if you ever finally achieve some sense of balance, some sense of ‘we’re going to make it after all’ that the rules will change once more.

It is knowing that when this happens, according to the BP in your life, it is all YOUR fault.

Walking on eggshells is the feeling that maybe, just maybe, death itself is walking around in your life, an uninvited guest - and that the you that you used to be has died and no one even noticed or cared. Not even you yourself.

Walking on eggshells is the feeling of fear and tension that compels you to protect your BPSO and keep your life on an even keel.

Walking on eggshells is being afraid to say what you really think or feel, or even acknowledging your own feelings to yourself.

Walking on eggshells is keeping bad news to yourself.

Walking on eggshells is being afraid to ask your BPSO to do anything or made any decisions.

Walking on eggshells is feeling that you have a ticking bomb in the house and any false move will make it explode.

So, how do you avoid walking on eggshells?

First, let go of the fear of raging. If you can’t let go of the fear, it is an indication that you are really not safe. If you are in real danger, the only solution is a geographical one. Make a safety plan and get out.

Understand that you can’t control the raging. It’s not a response to what you do. It’s part of the disorder.

Speak clearly, calmly and slowly.

Maintain YOUR version of reality, while being as validating as possible.

Lower your expectations that the person is going to act rationally. It isn’t going to happen. At least not overnight.

You aren’t perfect. Recognize this. From time to time you will make a real mistake. When you do make a mistake own it. Don’t own the raging response, that isn’t yours.

Be gentle with yourself and forgive yourself.

Remember that it is ok to leave when your BPSO is raging. Recognize that a geographical solution may trigger abandonment fears, but it’s still a good solution.

Do whatever you need to do to maintain your safety and that of anyone else in the situation.

Be good to yourself. You deserve an occasional break. Do something fun.

- Deedee, Kelly and Teresa

Today is the Day!

Oh, looky, all of my friends are throwing me a birthday party!!

Actually, some of the girls from work are taking me to lunch. And a lot of people have stopped by my cube to wish me a happy day!

Since this is the last birthday that I will ever have, I am going to make sure it is a really good one! I don't want to be 40, so I will just be 39 over and over and over again!