Thirsty Thursday

I've always wanted to try a mojito because it sounds refreshing. We have lots of mint in the yard and rum in the liquor cabinet, so on the fourth I made a few.

They were very good, and I would have had an entire drink for myself, but I had a bad headache and figured I shouldn't drink too much.

I used the recipe from a Bartending book I got at Barnes & Noble.

12-15 mint leaves

half a lime

3/4 oz. simple syrup

2 oz. light rum

club soda

Simple syrup is easy to make, you just heat and stir 1 part water to 2 parts sugar until it starts to boil, then reduce the heat to low and stir until the sugar dissolves (about 2 minutes or so). Then remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.

Also, for the mojitos I made for Daddy and Connie I used 12 mint leaves, and when I tasted it was very good. I used 15 for mine and Steven's and it was a tad too minty. Next time I make one, I think I'll try 10 leaves.

So, you put the leaves, simple syrup and juice of half a lime into a glass and muddle the ingredients. Muddling is basically crushing the ingredients to release their flavor (in this case, the mint). I didn't have a muddler, but instead used a meat pounder. I pressed the pounder in the glass and twisted.

Then you fill the glass about half way with ice and add the rum. Stir well, then add more ice to the glass. Top the glass with the club soda. Stir again and enjoy!

You can google recipes and find lots of variations. For example, on the Bacardi website there's a recipe that actually sounds easier than mine, lol. It takes away the simple syrup and instead uses sugar and muddling the lime wedges, instead of juicing it.

Woo hoo, it's Friday (a day early!)

I don't really like Obama or McCain, but which ever one will mandate 4 day work weeks... I'm voting for him!

Even though we tend to cook out a lot at Mom and Grandpa's, I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I always enjoy it and have fun. I'm lucky to be related to really funny people.

Hooray for OnDemand (c)

or is it (tm)? Eh, whatever.

One thing I've missed since I've started working full time is my daily dose of Sandra Lee on the Food Network. This woman is crazy and frankly her show belongs on Comedy Central.

I have learned what not to do in the kitchen. Watching her makes me feel like I have some mad knife skillz... that's right, with a z. I have never seen anyone hate food as much as she does!

Connie and I would snark on her daily and I thought it was only us. Then I found the hilarity that is the Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee thread on Television without Pity. These people crack me up! I need to be careful when reading it at work because I just want to LOL out loud (hee).

The new episodes come on Saturdays and theres an episode on Sundays that come on but sometimes I'm out, or forget that it's on then, or whatever. Then one day on TWoP someone mentioned how it was OnDemand. It's under "Home and Life" or something like that. And it's only a few episodes, but still.... yay!

The funny thing is that I turned one on and Daddy started snarking too! hahaha!!!!

I'm glad I'm from the 20th Century

Sunday we were talking about how we couldn't have made it "back in the day" when there was no air conditioning.

Well last night I came home to no electricity (stupid storms), and even though it was dark out, it was HOT. It's even hotter when you're trying to sleep with no covers but end up with a Jay and Cocoa on you.

The sound of the lights coming back on and SCE&G calling woke me up. I complained that they finally turned the lights back on "in the middle of the night", but when I looked at my phone to re-set my clock I realized it was only 12:15. Gah.

Time slows when you have no tv to watch.

We all complain about how time is flying too fast. Maybe we should turn the tv off one night a week. So okay, Monday is House night and Thursday is CSI. Lets see, I think new SVU comes on Tuesdays.... okay Wednesday it is. No wait, that's Top Chef night.

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

*Big fat exhale*

Well, yesterday Steven was offered a job, and accepted (as if he wouldn't have)!

It's actually at his old job which is pretty funny, but good at the same time. It's good because he already knows just about everyone there so there's not that akward getting to know people phase. Also, he knows the products and the network so there won't be a long training stage either.

More importantly, he should be more enthusiastic about looking for an apartment since he knows what we can truly afford.

Yay!!!

Vote tomorrow!

In case you haven't been inundated with flyers and postcards from people running for election and therefore don't know, tomorrow is the SC primaries.

Find out who's running here.

25 Sundays to go!

One of my favorite lounges on Royal Caribbean ships is the Viking Crown Lounge. It's on every RC ship and looks out onto the pool.

On the Mariner it's divided into 3 areas: the Viking Crown, Ellingtons (which plays jazz at night), and the sports bar.

This is where the Viking Crown and Ellingtons meets. There's a piano on the platform area there and a little dance floor.

This is the sports bar. Just out side the doors is the sports deck with the rock-climbing wall, basketball court, and mini-golf course.

Steven and me in the Viking Crown enjoying a "Caribbean Cooler". That drink was very yummy and I can't wait to have another one. I can't remember what was in it besides rum, lol.