The Unicorn Sunshade

I’ve started a fad out here.  

No one’s used a bowl for their ice cream since I used a glass for mine.  

Today’s Exploit:

Today George is going to Walmart.  He asked the rest of us if we need anything.  

Matt wants a sunshade for the windshield of his truck.  The one he has is falling apart from being baked daily for the last 8 years.  Pretty impressive for a sun shade...

When George asked if he had a preference for the style Matt said he didn’t as long as it was reflective foil.

George:  I’m going to get him a pink unicorn one. 

Lindsay:  A unicorn, huh?

Me:  I think you should try for Tinkerbell.

George:  Or a heart.  I’m going to find the most feminine one I can.  I’ll get a plain one too, but I just want to see if he’d actually put something like that in his truck.  But don’t tell him I said that!

Ice Cream Magic

The current joke on the rig, for the DDs anyway:

DD to roughneck:  Have you ever been to North America?

Roughneck:  Where?

DD:  North America

Rounghneck:  No, are you going?  I go with you?

Today’s Exploit:

Family Dinner

Today’s Exploit:

Last night we had a family dinner.

At the rig.

With no family.

Well, the DD had family, his wife and dogs came.  

But the rest of us just pretended.

We cooked all day for this special dinner. 

In the morning we made ice cream.  Well, Beth made ice cream, I supervised.  She brought the ice cream maker, so I made her do it.  Now, hopefully, she can do it at home whenever she feels like it.  

After it froze we smushed it into a tupperware for later, and licked the bowl.  Matt got to lick the spoon.  Beth and I each got one scoop.  The dogs got the rest.  

Spoiled little pooches.  

One of my new buddies: We were best friends
because I always ‘itched’ their heads and smelled like food.

Then Matt went and let slip to the roughnecks that we’d made a treat.  Naturally they thought it should be for them.  So we made cookies to go with it.  

In the middle of the cookies they told me they were making steaks and beans and corn and broccoli for dinner.  So I had to offer to make dinner rolls.

I like playing with squishy, sticky bread dough.  

When it was all done we filed in to fill our plates and all sat together at the table.  Like a real family.  And we sometimes talked and sometimes stuffed our faces.  And they gave me wine, but  don’t tell anyone because it’s not allowed.  

And then we ate ice cream for dessert.  

Idioms of a Cupcake

The DD likes to try to trick me when I call the trailer.  He'll answer, “Rig floor!”  And I’ll take a second to check that I pushed the proper button on the com system.  

Today to spice things up he answered, “Pizza Hut!” 

Today’s Exploit:

These things remind me of my sister.  The self-proclaimed family Cupcake.

This is pretty much a constant affliction.  

This is right up there on the complaint list with "pathophys" and rice.

Found these pics HERE.   Most of them are true...

Obsessions

My new favorite quote:

If I call you darling, will you make me pancakes?

Today’s Exploit:

gardens

kitchens

party lights

mountains

running

snow

music

bread

smiles

chocolate mousse

going home

comfy chairs

basil

popsicles

nap time

air conditioning

cupcake pans

dancing

books

lazy mornings

shade

bright apartments

cold

oceans

gray shoes

laughing

sharp knives

ice cream

random numbers

lemonade

pillows

puppies

Myrtle Mint

Smooth, Like Santana and Rob

I saw a cougar.  Either that or it was the dog from the last rig and she’s been in hiding.  Or it may have been an even-more-than-usually-stunted Texas deer.

I’m thinking it's the big cat.  

Yikes.

Today’s Exploit:

I made a cake yesterday.

It was supposed to be round and have 3 layers.

I couldn’t find the third round pan.

So I borrowed a square one.

Then I didn’t have a timer, and I forgot about it.  

Ack.

So the bottom layer was slightly misshapen from me hacking a square cake into a circle, and slightly dry from the extra 5.2 minutes in the oven.  

But it’s edible.  And it smells like almond.

And it looked kinda pretty.  

"Just like the ocean under the moon." -Smooth

I was kinda impressed with my frosting job.  It ended up really smooth, for using a butter knife.

She’s a Big Girl Now

Happy Anniversary to my Mom and Dad!

Today’s Exploit:

I went to North Dakota.

I was 23.7 miles from the Canadian border.  It was beautiful, I was miserable.  Remember?

I also left Myrtle home alone.  

We went shopping at Home Depot before I left to find a “timed release watering device”.  We found one that was “As Seen on TV!”

It was a big, hollow glass bulb.  But I tried it.

They claimed it would water a plant for up to 2 weeks.  

I filled up the pretty one and watered Myrtle until she thought she was going to drown.  Then I inserted the tip of the bulb into the center of her pot.  It tipped over.  

But she toughed it out and didn’t fall over herself, so I said, “good luck,” and made a wish for her to be alive when I got back.

Then I made a mad dash for the airport.  

When I got back after just a week the bulb was empty, but Myrtle’s dirt was still damp.  And Myrtle was 3 times the size she had been when I left.

I guess I wasn’t watering her enough.  

She’s growing faster than a weed now.

I’m Gonna Sleep Outside

It took me 13 tries to rent a moving truck.  For as simple as that site was it was really confusing.

Today’s Exploit:

I get to go to the cabin!

I have vacation time.

I have airplane tickets.

I have a sleeping pad and warm hat ready to be packed.

I also have a jacket that I’m really hoping to need.

Now I just need some mountain weather.

Cross your fingers and hope for cold, just don’t tell anyone it’s my fault.

I WANT!

Today one of the roughnecks made a sno-cone for me.  

It was more syrup than ice.  MAJOR SUGAR RUSH.

Today’s Exploit:

Basil and chives and lemongrass and pansies and carrots.

I want this in my reading corner.  And I want it to be filled with herbs and grass and pretty flowers.  And nasturtiums.  I NEED nasturtiums here.

I will be attempting to make it as soon as I have a window with a space around it.