Black Friday 2011

I hope you all had a FANTASTIC Thanksgiving!!  I had so much fun.  So I'm going to write about it.


I went with Melissa, Mom, Dad, Tyler, Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, Other Aunt, Other Uncle, Other Cousin, Other Cousin's Boyfriend, Grandma, and Grandpa.  In case that was hard to keep up with, there were 14 of us (including myself).  


When we got to the house, we started a puzzle... We always do puzzles with this side of the family.  It's nice and relaxing.  Melissa and I had it started.  We found out after a while that we hadn't been doing it right.  Well, Melissa was doing well.  I was the one that failed.  We were doing the easiest part - the words and the boarder.  By the time I was finished, there were two large gaps in the frame.  Evidently one side ended up 6 inches longer than the other, and I still had leftover pieces.  That's bad-news-bears.  So I gave up and went upstairs to get a soda.


After a short time, Thanksgiving lupper (the cross between lunch and supper) was ready (approximately 3:00pm).  We had turkey, stuffing, broccoli, orange potatoes with rosemary (Melissa's favorite), rolls, and I'm pretty sure there was other stuff.  This was all after we had appetizers of chipotle cream cheese + crackers, sundried tomato & basil cream cheese + crackers, vegetables and spinach balls (again, I'm sure I'm missing something).


So basically I went calorie-free this weekend.


Anyway, before we sat down, we said grace.  Grandpa started us off (just a couple of words), and Grandma followed his part by asking "is there anyone else who would like a turn?"  to which 8-year-old cousin Anna shouted "Amen!"


I thought that was the most hysterical thing ever.  She's great.


We have this long-standing tradition of the "adults table" and the "kids-table".  To give you an idea of how this works, my grandparents have a beautiful dining room with limited seating.  It fits mom, dad, aunt, aunt, uncle, uncle, grandma, grandpa.  That's it.  Well... Kiki, their schnauzer, gets floor space.


Grandma came over and sat with us for a few minutes.  She was explaining that now, Melissa and Tyler could eventually join the adults table since they're married.  (There's no hope for me.  I will forever be a resident of the kids table.)
Grandma followed this comment by saying "...when Grandpa and I pass on."  So Anna (wanting to give her two cents) says "That seems silly, Kiki will die first!"  Another point for Anna!


My thought after she said that was "Oh great, Melissa and Tyler are going to inherit floor-space!"  They would take it gratefully.  They're good people. :)


The family left at around 5:45pm to head to their respective homes.  Aunt LB and I decided to take a nap so we could go shopping at midnight.  Yes, we are crazy.


We left grandma and grandpa's house at 10:30 (with Anna in tow... she wouldn't be left behind!) to head for walmart.  I haven't seen so many people stuffed into a walmart in my life.  EVERY aisle had nearly 20 people that were sitting on the floor in some sort of line.  You couldn't tell what went where because there was yellow "caution tape" wrapped around everything.  After stubbing my newly-reconstructed tootsies on LB's heel (my own fault), I got hit in the heels by two different women pushing carts.  I said to the second woman who rammed her way through, despite the fact I couldn't move a half-centimeter (let alone enough to let her and her cart through), "SORRY I was in your way, it was wrong of me.  I will try harder next time to accommodate you and your blatant disrespect." and took a bow.  Rude!


We decided walmart wasn't worth the two ninja's and a pillow pet LB had on her list and left. We drove over to look at Best Buy and all of the people that had been camped out there for 10 hours, and realized the Kohl's line was minimal.  We parked the car and sprinted to the line.  We were #50.  Probably not necessary to sprint in, but it was part of the experience.


We were in line between 2 (eventually 3 + a girlfriend) basketball players from Waldorf College.  They kept good conversation pretty much the whole hour and 15 minutes we waited.  I used all of my unleashed whit (not without Anna's occasional contribution) and made friends fast!  Typically my sense of humor can either be understood and enjoyed or misunderstood and disliked.  They liked.


I bought my parents Christmas gift for $164 at Kohl's.  On my receipt it said I had a "$574 savings!  Score!  Totally worth the late shopping spree.


We went back to the hotel and slept for 3 hours.  Anna is an abusive sleeper.  She kicks and punches and I definitely drew the short straw.  At 5:20 we woke up, headed out for coffee and went to the mall to do more shopping at stores that opened at 5.  We previously decided that we'd much rather pay the extra $3.00 than get trampled (especially since I was still recovering from franken-feet) so we would go an hour later, shop while lines dwindled, then pay for our "leftovers".  It worked out well! I'm almost done Christmas shopping!


Our journey included:
Walmart
Kohl's
Younkers Home Store
JC Penny
Younkers
Best Buy
Menards


I think there were more in there but I can't remember.  I was sleep deprived.
I went home after a little breakfast with LB.  I was surprisingly awake/alert!  I crashed at 6:45pm and slept for 12 hours.  It was luxurious.


Here I am today, unable to sleep later than 5:45am and talking to you fine folks.


I head to WI this week, by way of airplane, so you should hear from me soon!!


By the way, here are some pictures from Thanksgiving (taken on my phone).  More of the good pics will come as soon as LB posts them!!

Aunt LB - she and her hubby gave me food and shelter when I worked out there :)

Cousin Anna (LB's daughter)!  I love her  with my whole heart...

Melissa, Dad, and Myself waiting for dinner

Grandpa!!  He had a blast this weekend!  Loves his family time :)

Have a great week!


Rebecca

I write about dating too much.

This is me throwing in the white flag.

I have HAD it.

So the past two days went something like this.  Actually, I'm going to start with 4 days ago...

My sister and her husband came home in time to play some cards and go on a date.  We had the family together for the weekend to get some Purse shopping in.  Allow me to explain.  
OK I'm going to back up a day.  Let me start over.

Thursday night I came home from Milwaukee with two coworkers because we had our team meeting there.  We got home around 9 and I told a friend I would meet him for a glass of wine.  We met in Maple Grove, MN at around 9:27 (I was 27 minutes late... oopsie!)

The night went pretty well... we had two glasses of wine and good conversation.  The only issue that came up?  I WAS AWKWARD!  I couldn't think of anything to say.  ME of all people. Wordless.  I thought that was stinkin' impossible.  Evidently not.  So anyway I haven't really heard from him since. 

That's a lie.  We messaged back and forth on Saturday night a bit.  To be totally honest, I really think this guy is great.  But why was I awkward then??  Ugh.  So ANYWAY.

Friday night came along and (read paragraph 2)  (I meant paragraph 4).  My sisters blog goes in depth about her fantastical date here.  I admire her relationship and hope to have at least HALF of that someday.  In 100 years.  After I've become a nun.  

Anyway, I went with a friend to get dinner on Friday night.  I was going to go alone but I hadn't seen him in a while, so I messaged him the following:
Me: "Applebee's tonight - Rogers - 7pm.  See you there"
Him: "Ok."

I think he half expects this from me...

Anyway, Saturday night came along after a long day of women.  Mom had a purse party.  Being that I live at home (and will for the next 100 years), I was involved with the entertaining of guests and cooking and cleaning and beverage-serving, etc.  It wasn't so bad.
At the end of the night we watched Melissa's copy of "A Christmas Carol" (the Jim Carey cartoon version seen here.)  I love that movie.

I made it through the beginning credits.

Skip to Today... Yesterday was boring and uneventful.

Today I had a meeting at 3pm.  On the way to this meeting, I told dad I would stop in and get a part for his vacuum cleaner.  I love vacuuming.  It gives you those instant results.  What I love even more is when you hear the little rocks and other dirty little nuggets getting sucked up.  It makes me feel cleaner.  

Getting off track.  

So I went into the vacuum store carrying this large, central-vacuum, and I got in line.  The man in front of me (whom I later learned was named "Dave") said "Vacuum problems?"
To which I replied "Nah, I just decided to take it for a walk..."

We carried on a nonchalant conversation for about 35 minutes until it was his turn to get help.  To get helped.  Though it was abundantly clear that this fella needed Help.
Here's some of our conversation:

Him: "I don't think I got your name..."
Me: "I know."
Him: "Understood!"
Me: *sigh* "It's Rebecca, and yours?"
Him: "Dave" *hand shake*

Him: "What do you do?"
Me: "I sell vacuums.  Bright orange ones."
Him: "Interesting.  Then why are you in a vacuum store?"
Me: "you've reached your quota for questions..."

He got to the counter and asked the clerk "Do you have anything I can use to paint this puppy orange?" then he looked at me with a grin.  A grin I'm sure he uses no-less than frequently.

It was my turn, after he gave his phone number to the man at the counter, and I half-expected him to leave.  Silly me.  He didn't leave.

He waited until I had collected the mess of vacuum I brought in with me then followed me out to the parking lot like a new, loyal puppy.
I shoved the non-sucking vacuum into the trunk of my car and walked around to the other side.  Dave, my new puppy, was standing there with a smile.  

I had had enough Dave.

He said (with practiced ease) "Would you like to continue this conversation?"
After a minute of thought, I took out a business card, ripped off JUST the phone number, and handed it to him with a smile.  
"The rest of the information is 'need to know'."  Got in my car and drove away.  I knew that, in this situation, a "no, you cannot have my phone number" would not have been sufficient.

So I got a call from Dave about 4 minutes after my departure.  He proceeded to tell me that he had twins - a boy and a girl who were 9 years old, that he was divorced 6-years prior and that he had been with said-wife for 6 years.  I estimate that he is approximately twice my age.  And that's giving this man the benefit of the doubt.  Significant doubt.
That just screams "I don't have any baggage at ALL!"

So needless to say Dave is getting added to my "do-not-answer" list with all of the other failed opportunities.  I'm going to need a longer piece of paper for this list.

Dear MISTER RIGHT:
I'm leaving it up to God and his army to place the bug in your ear with the following message: It is high time you pull over and ask for directions.  You're driving me crazy and I haven't even met you yet.  It's hurtful and I'm impatient.

Amen.

Rebecca

Dating Issues...

This post is going to be all about dating experiences.  I will post videos that strongly emphasize my distaste for dating by any other means than by chance.  


My cousin Amanda gave me this link...

Another one that makes cringe when thinking about dating:

YIKES!!!

I'm tired of talking about dating... Here are just some funny videos.

This is David after the dentist.  I don't know David, but he sounds like an intelligent child.

This one is old but it's adorable...

This one is silly...

These girls are fantstical singers... I watched this a long time ago and it was awesome to me.

This one is really good too... Talented children these days!

This one is just a tear-jerker that is amazing and wonderful and made me a sap.  It was great.

That's all I have for you today... I will write again someday soon.  Enjoy your evening!!

Rebecca

'Tis the Season!

SO.... Being that I now have a few itches to become creative and the sister decided she was going to start knitting and she already cooks.  I'm going to start sewing my own clothes.  DANGIT, Melissa, this one is MINE!  You can share it if you want.  Because I love you.


So I find inspiration from fellow bloggers... and from Pinterest.  www.pinterest.com.  I love it.  People are such smart cookies when you least expect it!  There are a ton of DIY things and fancy shmancy outfits to try (as soon as I can wear shoes again), recipes that you would never think of trying... BOOKS, decorations.. Oy.  I love it.  SO this year I decided that all my presents that are purchase will be modified slightly to have some sort of uniqueness to them.  No one in the entire world will have the same things as my gift-receivers because they don't know me.  and I didn't give it to them.


It's like my cooking.  No one can copy it because they won't know how/what I did differently. Unless my friendski's tell them.  Which they won't.  Not because the're anti-social, but because who would want something exactly the same as someone else..??


Anyway, I will post pictures of each item I made (sure, you can point our what I did "uniquely" but if you think it's ugly keep it to yourself) and who received it!  I am so so so so so excited.  


I am, however, only going to have one or two small gifts per person that receives anything... and most people that receive anything will be family.  I decided that this year is going to be a little different.  My family is always so generous with their gift-giving.  Everything comes from the heart and is unique to the family and our history together.  Let me give you the example of last year...


My gifts included a few really great things..
Mom and dad got me:


Coffee: Every time mom make's coffee, it's like a diuretic/hospital-grade laxative.  I always let her know that her coffee (gourmet as she thinks it is) doesn't make me feel fantastic.  Dad agrees so he bought me a Sam's Club-sized version of great coffee.  And told me not to share.
Tools: Dad and I were at Menard's and I mentioned to him (conveniently, while walking through the tool department) that I needed my own set of tools.  He gave me a quizzical look... We had done projects in the garage together and I know how to use the tools.... but it is an odd thing to ask for.  He asked why and I said "Because at the rate I'm going, I'm not going to have a man around to fix things for me.  I have to take matters into my own hands!"
(see my relationship blernal, here...)
Seamore: Some history... Seamore was a beanie baby that I had when I lived in Wisconsin.  I was about 7 years old and Seamore was my best friend.  Aside from Melissa.  When Melissa and I shared a room, one night Seamore fell off of my bed, and in my dream, I had lost him! Melissa woke me up, calmed me down, and tucked me... and Seamore.. in so we could go to sleep.  Such a good sister.  Shortly thereafter, our 9-lb yorkie, Snickers, chewed off the nose.  I received a promise from my parents that they would replace Seamore, and they finally did!
Lastly, Great Grandma's Bible... Great Grandma passed away just a few years ago, and Dad was given her Bible.  She wrote in the Bible sporadically, pointing out verses she loved, people they reminded her of, and conversations she had with people that made her reflect on these verses.  I deeply appreciate this one.
Another Example... Melissa's Gift
Dad pulled me aside a week before Christmas to discuss a gift he was giving my sister...  He  was emotional about this gift so I was incredibly eager to hear was was coming.  Melissa annually took her time, during Christmas, to set up Dad's heirloom nativity set.  It was a beautiful set he had for years, passed down through his family.  Tyler had proposed to Melissa a month or so prior and they were in the process of purchasing their new home.  This all being said, Dad wanted to continue the tradition by passing down this family heirloom to Melissa, the first of his children to take the plunge into marriage.  I can't wait to see this at her house this year!!


It was a very emotional Christmas.
There's nothing we desperately need... We give things that are practical/unrecognized "bonuses" that might make a task simpler, silly (dad had foot surgery so Melissa gave him only one shoe... He didn't need two, one foot didn't work!), or things to make our living quarters more comfortable.


The difference this year is that instead of giving many-small gifts, I will be giving few-small gifts, and donating the rest of what I typically spend.  I will keep you all posted!


Happy Friday to you all!!!


Rebecca


Pictures from the post...

This is the year Melissa gave dad only one shoe.  She didn't think he needed the second one.  (December, 2009)

That same year Mom accidentally bought us maternity clothes and left the price tags on the bags...
I love this picture of her... I like her smile.

You can't really see it, but the nativity set is behind Carl.  Melissa will have to post a better pic.

I bought Melissa footies with a gift receipt because I felt it was better than getting a gift card and she would return them anyway.  She didn't return them.

Sorry these are all about you, Mel.  It's not embarrassing... it's actually because I like you a lot.

A new Rebecca has been born!

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I woke up this morning to make my sister breakfast… She’s home (WHOO!).  Or was for approximately 7 hours.  To sleep.  She had to go to Milwaukee today, then she’s going straight home.  So anyway, I made her breakfast.  I took out a box of Special K, a box of Walmart-brand flavorless oat-rings… not Cheerio’s, that’s a trademark.  I also took out a box of moldy strawberries (which I threw in the trash) and a full cantaloupe.  I cut that up and placed it on the counter.  Melissa didn’t eat that.  So basically I pulled out the cereal for her.  Hey, it eliminated a step, right??

So I was thinking about this entire immobility thing...  It's not my favorite thing ever.  It's quite possibly the opposite.  I have been sitting down (at home, at Katie's home, at Julie's home, in the basement, in the living room... you get the picture) for two weeks and one day.  That's a long time.  I’ve been able to shuffle around, much the way an elderly man would, to go short distances, but it’s hurtful.

Anyway, I have had all this time to go on cooking websites (not on business hours, do not fret) to go find new recipe's to try... I’m going to take up cooking.  Not baking… you can see how well THAT works out for me here. 

I'm so sick of having people wait on me mainly because I'm very independent.  I don't like to have to depend on anyone - it makes me sad.  I enjoy getting my own water.  I enjoy making my own bowl of soup.  I ENJOY washing my own dishes.  That last one was definitely a stretch of the truth.  It felt like the right thing to say at the time.

So I came upon this recipe for a "Detox Smoothie" and I heard a whisper of a voice (obviously from above) say "Hint, hint...."  …….So I clicked on the next link to carry on my search for the allegedly "healthy" fries.  To my surprise I found some.  But I have none of the ingredients.  Besides the potatoes I purchased in anticipation of this fantastic find! 

I decided that that, again, was a divine intervention.  God hid my ingredients.  So I will try this smoothie.  As soon as I have the ingredients for it…  I should have this by the end of today.  This will allow me to begin my new year’s resolution while there’s still time!  To lose some lbs.  OK so I might not be able to do THAT very fast, but hey… I haven’t been doing anything fast-paced in two weeks and one day, why start now??

So in an attempt to start this strictly healthy lifestyle, I am going to get back onto a slow work-out routine.  My feet have been hurting any time I try to do any type of work out and yet I’m still down 11 lbs since the surgery.  So today I’m going to work on abs….

BE RIGHT BACK.

So I did three (3) sit-ups.  I feel amazing.  A new person has been born.

My feet hurt now so I am going to go put them up.  And tonight I will have a glass of red wine.  There ARE health benefits to it, you know.  I found these on the Mayo Clinic website…

OK so it’s too much to type OR to copy + paste (and there’s a legal risk with that), so here’s the website: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/red-wine/HB00089

Today I will make a batch of Dulce De Leche Brownies (not for me) and have one (maybe two) glasses of red wine (to reduce my bad cholesterol and prevent blood clotting, of course).

Everything is back to normal.

By the way, there’s another great recipe I found that you can access Here… it’s called the “Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie n’ Oreo Fudge Brownie Bar”.  That “whisper” from earlier turned into a Shout.  So if any of my four loyal readers decide to try this out, please let me know what you think.

Have a fantastic Tuesday!!

Cooking 101

My sister inspired me.  But don't tell her... She can't know.
I cooked dinner tonight.  But let's back up.... THIS MORNING, I got my stitches out.  All of them and it took Forever.  I had a really unpleasant nurse who didn't pay any heed to the "OUCH!" or "WHAT ARE YOU DOING??!" that I said.  So instead, I talked to her in the same voice she talked to me.


Her: "does that hurt?"
Me: "yep."
Her: "Is that better?"
Me: "Nope."


She looked at me very disrespectfully.  So I continued.


Her: "How does that feel?"
Me: "Pretty much unpleasant."
Her: "This one is going to pull............ Did that hurt?"
Me: "yep."
Her: "this one has a bridge"
Me: "I don't know what that means..."
Her: "It's a good thing."
Me: "I was hoping I would get one of those..."


This continued until the doctor came in.  He looked at the nurse, back at me, and back at the nurse.  She departed wordlessly and he whispered to me "She's not my favorite.".  We were on the same page.  I GOT MY STITCHES OUT!  The doctor said I can wear my own shoes in 2.5 weeks... WHOO!! That's a lot less time than anticipated.  Approximately 6 weeks less...


So I was inspired to cook.  I went and bought a LOT of things. For two recipes...  Enchilada's and Buffalo Chicken Bread.  I went with the latter tonight.  It was pretty much amazing.  I could have eaten the stuffing without the bread, ALL night long.  It was fantastic.  So (Melissa, I am not copying you, I'm learning from your expertise...) here is the recipe. (Bob, this one's for you!)

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Buffalo Chicken Bites

1 cup finely diced cooked chicken breast (I used 2...)
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
2 tablespoons shredded cheddar cheese (I used 5...)
1/4 cup hot sauce (I used 1/5... just to be rebellious... and to spare my taste buds)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

2 1/4 teaspoons rapid rise dry yeast

2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 cup warm milk

2 1/2 cups of flour

To make the buffalo chicken mixture, in a small bowl, combine the chicken, blue cheese, cheddar cheese, softened butter and hot sauce; set aside.

For the dough... In a 1 cup measuring cup, heat the milk and then add the 2 tablespoons brown sugar; stir into warm milk until dissolved; place in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. (I don't have a stand mixer, you see... instead I used a regular mixer on low for about 2 minutes, then kneaded by hand for about 5 minutes)

Add 2 1/2 cups flour and yeast to the stand mixer and mix on low speed until a soft dough forms, adding up to 1/2 cup additional flour, a little at a time, if necessary. Allow the dough to knead in the stand mixer for 5-7 minutes (again, I don't have a stand mixer... I'm cheap). Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead a few times to form a smooth ball. Place dough into a clean bowl that's been lightly oiled. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled and bubbles appear on surface, about 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in the middle of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and cut into 4 equal pieces. Lightly dust your hands with flour, then gently roll and stretch 1 piece of dough to form a 12-inch-long rope. Flatten dough and arrange so a long side is nearest you, then roll out to a roughly 12- by 4-inch rectangle with a lightly floured rolling pin. Gently press one fourth of buffalo chicken mixture into lower third of rectangle, leaving a 1/2-inch border along bottom edge. Stretch bottom edge of dough up over filling and press tightly to seal, then roll up as tightly as possible to form a rope. Cut rope into 12 pieces and transfer to a sheet pan. Make 3 more ropes with remaining dough, filling and cut into pieces, transferring to sheet pans. Let rest at room temperature, uncovered, 30 minutes (dough will rise slightly). 

Bake buffalo chicken bites in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes or until the tops are lightly browned. Remove from oven (some cheese may have melted out.) and brush tops with melted butter before serving (optional).

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I cook very well when I don't use a recipe.  That's because I don't follow directions well enough to use a recipe.  I can follow directions, but I'm a little more "free" with the portion sizes.  And I sometimes forget the flour.  (ask Melissa about the time I baked homemade cookies)


I decided to make the Buffalo Chicken Bread with my own little twist.  That way I didn't necessarily have to follow directions...  It was supposed to be Buffalo Chicken Bites, but I didn't want to put in the labor for bite sized portions when we were going to eat more than one anyhow.  So I made it bread.  It was fantastic


If you want to see MORE good recipes, you won't find them here... Melissa's blog (the twin seester) is HERE.  Pop in and pay her a visit!  Don't judge my creativity based on how beautiful her blog is compared to my blernal.  I'm forecasting a remodel.

J

Just another day in the life.. of a person who is ONE DAY closer to having two fully functioning tootsies.


Here's a picture!

My great friend and her beautiful baby who JUST celebrated her 7-week birthday!!
(Happy Birthday, Anaiah!!)

OH and I did my own hair yesterday.  It took a very short time and I love the way it turned out... Please see. 

SO MUCH PENT UP CREATIVITY!!!

Left Side                                     Back... I fixed that weird spot.                                 Right Side

If I don't talk to you then... HAPPY WEEKEND!

Relationship Therapy 101

Last night was MISERABLE...  I ate two (small) pieces of pizza then got pretty sick.  Very sick.  It's not morning sickness. (That's what dad said it is... such a silly sense of humor.  He knows my relationship capabilities.)  
It's due to the pain meds from the surgery.  If I'm in a lot of pain I take a pain med... The pain med makes me ill.  It's a catch 22.  "Catch 22" never really made sense to me, especially now since I have it written down.  It's defined as "a logical paradox arising from a situation in which an individual needs something that can only be acquired with an action that will lead him to that very situation he is already in; therefore, the acquisition of this thing becomes logically impossible".  Evidently there's also a movie about it.  Made in 1970, starring Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam, and Richard Benjamin and it's about a man that is trying desperately to be certified insane during World War II, so he can stop flying missions.  


I'll probably never use that phrase again.


Anyway, I really try not to take pain medicine.  I was told not to be a hero (and just take the dang pain killers) but I'm not trying to be a hero (or to sell my leftovers (people have asked.)... criminals), I just really really despise taking pills.  They change me.  I don't like to be changed.


So I'm sitting in the living room (my common location due to my malfunctioning tootsies) and my dad came in to sit with me for a bit.  After a short conversation of 
Me: "dad, my feet hurt"
Dad: "stop being a baby"
I decided to go elsewhere to get sympathy.  ENTER, Blog. :)


So he decided mid-sentence to call the cable company (since our cable subscription is almost up and they want to double what we're being charged).  So he called the cable company and was connected to a woman named Veronica or Patty or something of the sort.  She was 55 years-old.  Dad spent 18 minutes on the phone with her...  
Evidently she was having a rocky relationship and didn't know why peoples personalities are so different when together and...stuff. She went on and on about all of this with the occasional "mmm..." and "aah....." from dad.  Finally he asked "Becca, do we still need the home phone??" Good work, Dad.


Side note: Woah.  Carl's dog is not smelling the most pleasant today...  Time to go outside.


So dad's segway (about the home phone) didn't work.  She was talking about her relationships for another 4 minutes.  Finally they hung up.


Dad walked by casually (with a smile) so I asked "Dad... Did you just become a relationship therapist??" 
He replied "Yea, but I also got free HBO for a YEAR!!"


Priorities.


So needless to say dad is great with coaching people in relationship situations as long as there's HBO involved.  It's the important things that count.


HAPPY TUESDAY!


Rebecca