I'm back! We had such a great time!! The weather was wonderful, it was warm during the day and chilly at night. We managed to get in a couple hours of pool time at the hotel each afternoon.

Personally, I think the Magic Kingdom is overrated. MGM and Epcot were more fun, in my opinion.

I went on ALL of the major rides. Hey Amy, you're a wuss, I went on MISSION SPACE twice!!! It was incredible.

I still can't decide what the best ride is, but I DO know that 'Illuminations' at Epcot was the best thing I saw, and fortunately for us, it was the last thing we saw at Disney.

Glad to be back home though, even though it is FREEZING here!

Happy Happy everyone!

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go....

ONE MORE DAY!!!

Happy Christmas Eve everyone! Have a wonderful Holiday. I hope Santa leaves you lots of good things!!

I'll see you when I get back!!

Today is my last day of work until after the New Year!

I'm so excited about going to Disney that I could pee my pants, but I won't. *snort*

3 more days!!!

4 days to Mouse and it looks like we're in for some snow. I hope that doesn't hinder any travel plans!!
I checked the extended forecast for Orlando and it's going to be in the mid to high 60's all next week. That will be so nice!! Don't you all want to come with me?

302 days, 11 hours, 9 minutes and 39 seconds smoke free.

5747 cigarettes not smoked.

$1,021.87 and 1 month, 13 days, 21 hours of your life saved.

Recipe of the Week

This is adapted from a recipe that Mom sent me. I adjusted with ingredients that I had on hand. Her recipe was called 3-Bean Chicken Stew, I'll call mine Southwest Chicken Stew.

Southwest Chicken Stew

1/2 roaster chicken, cooked and meat cut into bite size pieces (I cooked mine in a crock pot)
1 Tbs Canola oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
chicken broth from cooked chicken
1 can black beans
1 cup canned tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes w/ green chilies
1 cup dry red wine (I used Merlot)
1 large bay leaf
Italian herbs
parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Saute onions until soft, add broth, beans, tomatoes, wine, bay leaf and chicken, cover and simmer for 40 minutes or so. Add parsley and salt/pepper, simmer 5 more minutes.

Very good!!

what is it with Fridays and snowstorms? I wanted to stay home this morning, but with only 9 days until Christmas, I imagined the phones would be ringing off the hook at work. To make things sweeter (insert sarcasm here) the new owner came in and he's sick with the stomach flu. I'm sure he got it from one of his 6 spawn. After telling him exactly what I thought, he is now wearing a surgical mask. I've been going around spraying his area with Lysol. Only 9 days until Mouse and I'm NOT going to get sick!

Peace out.

Ever have a dream about someone and feel so close to them after it? I mean, you feel like you've had a real bonding experience and you and this person are 'tight'.

Well maybe you haven't, but I have. My latest dream 'star' was Tony.



Hubster says I'm obsessed. Ya think?

I've discovered that the Mondays before Christmas are incredibly crazy and almost impossible at work. People must plan and plot all weekend for the stuff that they just must have for Christmas.

12 more days to Mouse.

Here's the recipe

From epicurious.com: (read my review below)

SMOKED CHICKEN CHOWDER
3 medium onions, chopped (about 2 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 large russet (baking) potato
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 fresh jalapeño , seeded and minced fine (wear rubber gloves)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups heavy cream
3 plum tomatoes, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch dice (about 1 cup)
2 cups fresh or frozen corn
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (about 4 ounces)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaved parsley leaves
1/2 canned chipotle chili in adobo sauce*, minced fine (about 1 teaspoon)
1 1/2 whole boneless smoked chicken breasts**(about 1 pound), skin and fat removed and meat cut into 1/2-inch dice

*available at Hispanic markets and some specialty foods shops
**available at some butcher shops and specialty foods shops

In a 6-quart heavy kettle cook the onions in oil over moderate heat stirring, until softened. Peel and cut potato into 1/4-inch dice. To kettle add potato, garlic, and jalapeño and cook stirring, 1 minute. Stir in flour, and cook over moderately low heat, stirring 2 minutes. Whisk in 2 cups broth and heavy cream and bring to a boil stirring. Add tomatoes, corn, Monterey Jack, parsley, chipotle, and chicken and simmer, stirring occasionally and adding enough of remaining cup broth to thin soup to desired consistency, 20 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Season soup with salt and pepper.Makes about 8 cups.

GourmetNovember 1995

93% would makethis recipe again

kmrichard from Wolfeboro, NH on 12/09/05 This was incredible!! One of the best I've tasted! I couldn't find smoked chicken, so I did use a bit of liquid smoke. I used extra chipotle as well, so it was nice and spicy. Instead of all the heavy cream I used 1 cup of half and half and 1 cup of skim milk & 1/3 cup of powdered milk. That made it thick and I saved some calories and fat. My husband liked it so much that he had more for breakfast the next morning

New Year's Resolution

I will have more time to do things after the Holidaze, so I am committing here and now that I will make a new recipe every week.

Last night I made this incredible Smoked Chicken Chowder and both Hubster and I LOVED it. I just had leftovers for lunch and my mouth is in heaven.

I need to get out of the rut of making the "same old same old" stuff all the time.

Boooooo....it's snowing like a bastard.

Yes, it DOES make going to Disney that much sweeter!

16 days....

17 more days to Mouse and I feel like I'm not prepared. I've bought the Unofficial Guide to Disney, I've actually subscribed to a special website that does some planning for me, but I think I'm on Disney information overload. Then I step back and say...WTF? I'm not suppose to STRESS about going to Disney. It doesn't matter if I don't do it the 'right' way. I'm going to go there with the knowledge that I've gathered and figure it out as I go along. Yay me.

Toxicity

If you're around a highly toxic person day in and day out you may not notice just what it does to you. Once they are removed from your day to day life, you realize how poisonous it was and a big burden is lifted. It's easier to breathe, in fact, it's easier to live.

18 more days to Mouse.

Things at work have shifted into 'crazy time', and life at home has become busier, so I don't have much time to 'blog'.

Only 19 more days until Mouse.

Hubster's been in NYC all week, breathing the same air as my guys. He hasn't spotted any of them though, just their cars. (which he took many pictures of)

Hubster's task for today is to FIND TONY. Once he finds Tony, this is what he has been instructed to say: "Hi, Tony, I'm so not worthy, my wife is the one that deserves to meet you. She said if you showed up on her doorstep she would leave me." (I think I sensed a wide grin on hubster's face at that thought.)

Anyway, tonight the awards are on TV, and even though I didn't get to see all my boys in person, it'll sure be nice to see them all dressed up on the tube.

Here's another great picture of this year's champ. Dayum he looks good in a tie.