Keeping Entertained...

This has been a busy week. I started off by going to the beach...again. Same group, but this time we went to the Jersey Shore and visited with my sister Erica's boyfriends' family. The water was a little rough, but the day was great. Matt and I went in search of the ice cream man. He and his quick little white truck kept evading us. Finally caught up with Zach and Paul and sent them running after the white truck. Upon acheiving our ice cream, Matt caught a ride back to the beach on Paul's shoulders. (Matt and I weren't wearing flipflops.) Paul was a very good sport about giving him a ride, and Matt was a very messy eater who ended up dripping a large part of his fruit flavored ice cream on top of Paul's head.
After the beach we went back and had dinner with them and they boys got to ride in a supped up dune buggy, (or a trashed car...depending how you look at it.) Matt looked adorable with a football helmet and gogles on.
The next day was once again recuperation. I love the beach, but the rougher the water, the more I hurt. So tuesday was just a day of praying my body would stop hurting. I spent several hours at a friends house. I'm watching her dog, her daughter's dog (whom I am also friends with...the daughter, not the dog. Although the dog isn't bad, very friendly, lots of energy. I'm getting distracted.) Anyway, I'm watching the two dogs and a cat. I spent several hours with my feet in their pool and watching the dogs run around.
On wednesday, I spent the morning with the dogs and the afternoon preparing dinner. It was time, once again, for a Chuck and Elizabeth theme night. Sometimes I get bored. Chuck as well, especially when Katrina is out of town...like she currently is. For awhile now chuck and I have been doing theme nights during which we plan out meals and watch a movie. We haven't done it for some time. Let's see...there was Bird Flu. We made Asian Chicken stirfry and watched epidemic movies for that one. We also did a gas price on the rise with a Mad Max theme. However, Wednesday's theme was my choice. I went with Global warming. We had Blackened Cajun Chicken. Pasta with Alfredo Sauce and Sundried Tomatos. A salad with hothouse greens. Naan bread cooked on a stone in the oven. To drink, we had a potent blue concoction of blue pucker, lemon and lime juice and mango rum. Very tasty. I even had gummi fish floating in ice cubes. Then for dessert : melted ice cream with toasted almonds and fried bananas. Get it? Get it? Then we watched the Day After Tomorrow. I think it was a great success. I'm very happy with the turnout.
Tonight was Chuck's night. He chose the Middle East as his theme. (We tend to be on a current events kick at the moment.) His meal was great as well. He started off with homemade humus and toasted pita. Then for dinner we had an Indian spiced chicken that was wonderful, with basmati rice and couscous. To show up my bread making skills, he made a simple cows milk cheese, that he cooked up in spinach. For dessert we had filo dough bowls with ice cream and a vanilla spice sauce. He did very well. We are watching Dune at the moment. Chuck likes to think of it as an alegory for the middle east. Personally, I'm not unconvinced that this wasn't just an excuse to watch scifi. Not that I object, I like Dune.
Tomorrow afternoon, I head to Fahnestock with Carol, John and the nephews for a camping weekend. Here's to hoping that works out OK. I miss outdoor activity. I picked Fahnestock, because I can still do the hike around Pelton Pond. I think Marta and Steve might join us for a hike on Saturday. I hope this goes well. If I'm able to pull this off, it might lead to a longer hike at Bash Bish.
OK: I'm going to get back to the movie now. But before I go, Charlie..It was great to hear from you. Have you talked to Sarge recently? I had to call him about a ticket. It got dismissed. (Evil grin)
Later everyone. -Elizabeth