March 6, 2010

  • CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE DAY


    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    Okay, so it's not St. Patrick's Day yet but I just had a taste for it so that's what I made for dinner.  The Princess got all excited and said they were coming over for dinner IF Grampa got to the store to buy the cabbage I needed.  He did.  They did, too.  I made it *Irish style*,  which means that I added the cabbage as well as some potatoes and carrots about an hour before it was finished simmering.

    Alas, the brisket could have used a bit more simmering.  Some of it was a bit *chewy* but it still tasted good to me.  I found out while we were eating that Johnnycakes had never had it before.    I know!  I thought it was incredible, too.  He said at his house they had beans and cornbread for St. Patrick's Day.  You tend to forget that in a Bible Belt area, they don't have all the Saints that some other Christian religions do.  You kind of think of it as being a kind of Irish tradition day and everyone wants to be Irish, right? 

    The kids are going to Chattanooga tomorrow to the Aquarium there.  It's supposed to be one of the finest in the country...among the top 10 or some such thing.  It's a six floor aquarium and who ever heard of that before?    They want to stop at Rock City and Ruby Falls on their way there.  There are several different places they can go to as a tourist, including Lookout Mountain and the falls there.  The area just below Lookout Mountain, where you catch the almost vertical railroad tram, is a cute shopping district nowadays.  They will have great weather and are staying overnight.  They should have fun and it will be interesting to hear all about how Chewlee reacts to seeing all those fish.

    The Princess is having a problem with the sperm donor once again.  It's all over Chewlee calling Johnnycakes *Daddy*.  He thinks that little spurt automatically makes him a daddy???  Get off my back!  The jerk hasn't paid a nickel towards her care and keeping and might show up once a year if his father pays for him to come along.  At least the Paternal grandfather tries to stay in her life and has cut his ties almost...and I say ALMOST..completely to his son.  The son is a waste case.  We recently found out that he has a felony warrant out for him (no clue exactly why but it could be anything, knowing him) in the State of Florida.  He removed himself to Michigan (where his mother and grandmother live) to avoid arrest.

    So, the Princess is going to an attorney next week to discuss what can be done to remove the jerk from having anything to do with Chewlee.  Besides all the child support owed, his police record alone sure doesn't make him a great *father figure* candidate, ya think?  She wants to void his parental rights, even if it's in the form of a threat.  She can drop the money owed if he gives that up voluntarily.  Regardless, if he shows up for a hearing, she CAN make sure he gets arrested and returned to Florida.  Like I said, this is all hopefulness right now but the attorney will be able to tell her more next week.  I would sure like to see it because he threatens her AND Johnnycakes in his text messages to her all the time.  What a moron!

    As soon as Chewlee got here (she was so excited), she grabbed my hand and said *We go to OUR room, Gramma*.    When we walked in, she said she had to shut the door to keep everyone out.  Then she just wanted us to watch a *dvd* (and that's how she put it).  I had been watching a dvd that was actually of a made for TV movie called, *Category 7, The End of The World*.  I liked it and she said she wanted to watch the *'nado movie* with me.  When it was done, it was *'Zilla* time.  Is anyone surprised?

    After watching about 15 minutes of it, I told her I had to go finish clearing off the table so we could get ready to eat.  That's when she thought it was a fine idea to eat and she told me to *stop the DVD and we can watch it later*.  Which I did.  She managed to spill her juice on the floor (Mommy got to clean that up) because she's all elbows when she's at the table (and on her knees on the seat of the chair).  I laughed.  Mommy got upset.  That's the difference between parents and grandparents.  We know they will outgrow stuff like that.

    I changed her jeans for her....well, I *helped*.  You know how they like to feel they can do it all.  THAT never changes as they grow up.  The Princess changed her shirt while I went ahead and got things ready for the table.  The Princess had set it while I was tending to Chewlee.  Oh! Oh!  Wonderful news!  It looks like Chewlee is almost potty trained now.  She's even wearing panties to school now...or pullups, not sure which.  But she was so proud of herself the other night when she finally got the idea and pooped in the potty.  She ran out of the bathroom yelling, *Daddy!  I did it!!!*  I think she dragged him in to check it out, too. 

    Kids!  Ya gotta love 'em!  Okay.  Here's our weird weather report.  Today it was up to 50 degrees but it's going down into the mid-20's tonight.  Tomorrow it will be up to almost 60, with Sunday all the way through next Friday up in the mid-60's.  But the temperatures at night will be dropping over 30 degrees!    But, after that, we will start dropping down in temperatures once again if all continues in the world as it seems to be doing right now.  I guess I will have to get out and get my rose bush planted now that the ground seems to have thawed out a bit.

    I'm going to get this posted for your perusal later while I can.  For no reason I can determine, we have lost internet a couple times.  I will tell you about the adventures of the Beast and the gun safe tomorrow.  Love you all and have a wonderful weekend.  I'll be eating my corned beef and cabbage for as long as it lasts.    Ta ta, for now.  Adios, amigos!