Chris's dream come true. And I don't mean the birds, which are new. The blue one is Charles, and the green one is not named. I don't actually know the genders, cuz they're still young. Charles may be a Charlotte for all I know.

CHILI CHEESE POTATO TOT CASSEROLE

2 LBS LEAN GROUND BEEF

1 ONION, CHOPPED

2 (15 1/2 OZ) CANS CHILI OR CHILI STARTER

1 (14 1/2 OZ) CAN PETITE DICED TOMATOES

1 (11 OZ) CAN WHOLE KERNEL CORN WITH RED AND GREEN PEPPERS, RINSED AND DRAINED

8 OZ SHREDDED CHEESE

1 (32 OZ) PCK FROZEN POTATO TOTS

COOK GROUND BEEF AND ONION IN A LARGE SKILLET OVER MED-HIGH HEAT, STIRRING UNTIL BEEF CRUMBLES AND IS NO LONGER PINK. DRAIN WELL, AND RETURN TO SKILLET. STIR IN CHILI, TOMATOES, AND CORN. POUR MIXTURE INTO A LIGHTLY GREASED 13 X 9 PAN. SPRINKLE EVENLY WITH CHEESE; TOP EVENLY WITH [GIVE ME YOUR!!!!!!] TOTS. BAKEK AT 350 FOR 1 HOUR OR UNTIL TOTS ARE GOLDEN.

(I rolled my eyes making this. It seemed like such a kid-friendly, easy, non-gourmet, cop-out meal. But I really loved it. Everybody did. The combination really works. It's actually magic.)

Chris and I celebrated 14 years marriage on April 3. I think a long, slow clap would be in order.

Saturday evening, we actually went out and did something fun as a whole family, and even had a neighbor kid in tow. And it was actually in our own town--a Bluegrass concert! It was cheap to get in and was held at a Soldier's Home. The average age of the crowd was probably 75, not that there's anything wrong with that, but it was not exactly a rowdy, foot-stomping affair. We stayed for the group called the Cow Chips, and they were quite good. Their last song, a request, was hilarious. It was called Ghost Chickens in the Sky, modeled after Ghost Riders in the Sky.

William--"I got a haircut from the bathroom with a brush." (He had taken a brush, wet down his hair from back to front in the middle. If you want to save money, you too can get a haircut form the bathroom.)

Another Williamism--"My bike needs gas."

"Where are you going to get some?"

"From the kids' bike store."

I actually made homemade tortillas last night, cuz we ran out and had just been to the store twice, and I was making this recipe for dinner that needed them. They were thick and amazing, and I got some exercise for my arms rolling them out. It was actually a blessing in disguise that my quesadilla monsters ate up all my "real tortillas."

This morning, I asked William to get me the butter out of the fridge. He brought me a stick of the real thing, but what I wanted was the kind in the big round tub. So I said, "Get me the kind in the tub." I didn't think he really knew what I meant, and sure enough, a minute later, he came back with this butter yellow bar of soap I kept on the master bath tub!!! True story!!!

Why do people ask me if I'm German, out of the blue? Years ago, a stranger in the checkout line at Safeway asked me that. Last night, at work, I sat in a different spot, and this girl I never talk to asked me the same thing. I don't get it. Are they actually thinking of the words "stern Nazi" when they ask? Or BRATwurst? I don't dress like the St. Pauli girl. What about me invites that question? Maybe this "fraulein" doesn't want to know.

Puddleglum's my name, believing's my game

Max the cat is behind the computer monitor, purring and snooping around. He thinks he's so clever and oh so much more agile than the dog.

Our family got the flu that's so chic right now. I was mostly on the couch last Wednesday through Sunday. I'm now up and around but blowing my nose and coughing up lungs. The lowgrade fever was really starting to affect my mind. Monday was nice, though. Kristi took the 3 older kids ice skating, which was wonderful of her. I worked on a couple of quilting projects at the fam's. I got my Mom, me, and William some Subway sandwiches, and then we decided to go to the Old Cannery furniture store to browse their selections. The neighboring town of Sumner is adorable, and I forgot about Main Street(?) with its antique shops and bakeries and Italian cafes. One of my favoritest things in the world is cute shops and charming eateries. So I got to browse a New Englandy style antique shop, which was very hot and very fragrant with lots of highly scented candles. I loved it. Monday really perked me up in spite of the very rainy, windy, cold weather. Tuesday, I spent the whole day clothes shopping at Goodwill, Ross, and Old Navy. I go 4 weeks without buying anyone anything, and in that time, people have outgrown stuff, and I also have to throw things away. Sheesh!!!

I'll be honest--this moving thing has been an extreme adjustment. I'm not used to the new routine. I'm still thrown for a loop by everything. I didn't realize what a creature of familiar routine and comfort I was. I also didn't realized how low my nerve reserves were. But, like Puddleglum, I know there is a sun up there. I know it WILL BE SUMMER in only a matter of months, even though it looks and feels like there has never been a summer in this most awful time of year.

Some things are a little different here. I couldn't figure out for the life of me how to either stretch the pic in header or move the title to the right. I'm not totall happy with the placement, as you can imagine. Suggestions?

FUELED BY PEANUT M & M'S AND ROAST BEEF SANDWICH

Drum roll, please!! I returneth!!! Thanks for putting the pressure on, Jazzy Gazelle!!! I'm feeling REALLY sociable, and this is my only outlet at 2:51 a.m.

SO......we are in our new house, as of 2 weeks ago. Surreal. No, I don't have pictures available yet. I don't even have the camera figured out, nor do I really know where the manual is, or how to turn off the italics I just inadvertantly turned on. Someone is buying our house, I don't know who. I have to get the last of our speege out tomorrow.

Three deer came through our backyard last evening at twilight--they were so beautiful!! I expected a lot of bird activity and song, but it is less birdy here than in Tacoma. I don't get it. We are up against woods and trail. WHERE'S THE BIRDS!!! SHOW ME THE FEATHERS!!!

I was so tired and apparently dopey on my way home this evening (late) that I stopped at the gate(!) to punch in my code, not even realizing that the gate was already open, and some punky whippersnappers tore around the idiot that was me to get through. Another blonde moment, of which I have had WAY TOO MANY lately. The night before I got pulled over for going too fast through town. It's a small, quaint town, and speeding is noticed. Thankfully, he let me off with just a warning!

Thank you for your support of this blog. You are loved by me, and you are going to have an awesome Saturday and Sunday. Give me lots of complimentary comments or my dog will snort and flap her ears in a most peeving and uncatlike, unsophisticated manner.