Freaked Out!

I tape shows on my computer all week long and then as I have time I watch them. Tonight I watched "Grey's Anatomy," "Private Practice," and "The View."

Now saying "I watched" is probably a stretch. They are on, and I am listening, but I am not looking up very much unless it sounds particularly interesting.

So here I sit, it is after midnight, I am listening to "The View" and playing "Bubble Spinner" when something that is said catches my attention and I look to the screen. What I saw completely blew my mind. It was my dad. At first my brain tried to make the face go with what was being said by Whoopi Goldberg, but it was not working. I was so confused. Why was my dad's face on the screen. Maybe it was not my dad. Maybe it was an actor they were talking about. My emotions were all over the place. Was my dad coming for a visit?

I started hitting buttons on my remote control to get the picture on the screen to go with the words that were being said. Nothing happened. Then all of a sudden Raymond's youngest sister was on the screen. What the "H?" I hit another button and Raymond's other sister was on the screen. I hit another button and "The View" was back on like nothing had ever happened.

I have to say I was freaked out for several minutes. Then I was just sad because I miss my dad.

The Oldest

The oldest in Austin.

He looks so much like his dad, and here he is wearing one of his dad's shirts.

In fact, I have noticed that most of my oldest's shirts are from Raymond's closet. That boy really needs to get some new clothes. That shirt must be at least seven years old, but probably even older.

Holding on to old clothes must be in our dna, I have shorts that I wear in the summer that I bought before the oldest as born. He is 19. Then there is the ratty robe.

Lots of Flashbacks

I have been having a lot of flashbacks lately back to my college days. I think it is from listening to my boys talk about their experiences.

I certainly went back in time Saturday after having lunch with my oldest and the girl he is, according to his Facebook page, in a "relationship" with at this time. There was a certain sense of deja vu about their interaction that reminded me of when Raymond and I were dating.

I always have a lot of flashbacks in the fall. It is my favorite time of year, but not in Texas. One place I always think of in the fall is the Renfro Valley area of Kentucky. I would pass through there every weekend on my way home from college and it was would take my breath away each time.

Lake Linville - Renfro Valley, KY

The Noise Outside

I was sitting here watching recorded shows on my computer and goofing around on the internet when I started hearing funny sounds outside. Now I have been really good about not getting spooked in the house on these long nights, but I really could not figure out where the sounds were coming from. The unidentified sounds were making my tummy go all "whooshy" and my heart pound.

My first thought was it might be my neighbor starting up his motorcycle, but he doesn't ride at night. My next thought was maybe my oldest was stopping by and he was bringing stuff in from the car, but he usually calls.

The sound was not going away, it was not getting louder, but I could not identify it and I was feeling a little paralyzed.

After a few more minutes I decided to check the weather on the internet. That is when I realized that we are under a severe thunderstorm watch and that there were storms already north of us. Of course by the time I figured out the noise was the distant storm the noise was obviously rolling thunder.

I had no idea there were storms around us, or that we were expecting any. That is what I get for isolating myself so much today. A "whooshy" stomach and a pounding heart.

Withdrawal

I'm going through Nip Tuck withdrawal.

I do not have cable, and I have missed seeing a lot of cable shows, but Nip Tuck was one I was always hearing about and wanted to watch, so when I found the first season used and on sale I decided to try it.

I am addicted. I ended up hunting down and finding the full series to date on dvds on sale and with coupons. Then I started watching the dvds.

At first it was one or two episodes on the weekend. Then, as I got further into the series, it was a full dvd on Sunday, until Season 5 when I just could not stop watching. I would get up early and watch an episode before work, and then come home and watch one or two episodes before dinner. Tonight was the last episode I had to watch. I watched it when I came home from Sis' house. I'm already missing my favorite characters.

The worse part is I know the new season has started.

I will also have to find something to watch next. Most of the new shows this season are horrible and I do not have enough shows to provide my background noise while I quilt.

Hominy

OK, I almost freaked out a little tonight while eating at Sis' house.

Sis made this wonderful chicken tortilla soup. It had a great consistency, and the perfect blend of spices to make the taste buds all happy, but it also had an ingredient that haunted my childhood ... HOMINY.

When I first saw it on my spoon in the mix with the other veggies I tried to tell myself that it was something else, but I knew that shape. I was worried that I would have a flashback and not be able to put the spoon in my mouth, but I closed my eyes, and there was not a problem. In fact, when I make the soup for my oldest, I will put it in, but I will have to close my eyes when I open the can.

Hominy was one of those things that my parents loved and I thought came straight from hell. It might have been the way the prepared it, or how it was served on the plate, but I could barely gag it down. It seemed to appear on my plate way too often, and I never understood why. In fact, I don't remember my parents ever eating it again after I became a teenager. It was like it was just there to torture me as a young child.

I did not like the smell, the look, the taste, nothing about it was appealing, yet being from a family that made me eat everything that was on my plate, gag it down I would. It seems it was never served with anything that I could mix it with to hide the taste. It was just there.

To this date, I have never had hominy in my house, but I liked this soup, and I don't think the texture will be right without it, so I guess it will make its entrance. I will only buy enough for the soup. Here is hoping there are no nightmares to go with it.

Sister Night

I had dinner with my "Sis" and her husband tonight and then Sis and I sat and talked for over 2 hours. It was great. I probably overstayed my welcome, but it had been so long since we had been together.

Sis loves Halloween and her house is all decorated and looks so great. She made chicken tortilla soup and it was just a perfect evening.