What I'm loving and Have a Pinteresting Day: The one with Game of Thrones and Taquitos

It's time for my favorite blog hop of the week...mine!  What I'm Loving and Have a Pinteresting Wednesday where you get to share all the amazing things you are loving this week and all the great things you pinned!  

What I'm Loving: 

*I finally got my sign made for the chicken coop door.   I used a rainbow selection of Unicorn SPiT on this and totally love it.   Now to be fair, I didn't go crazy customizing it.  I just made sure to water seal it with outdoor sealer and moved on after the writing and a little stencil action.  The chicks seem to love it.  

The Chick Inn

*I have needed a haircut since about a month after my wedding.  For those keeping score at home, I got married 9/13/14.  That's a long time to put of getting a trim.

My new haircut 

*I found this picture of Sadie on the Facebook account I keep saying I am going to delete.  Here is the problem, it has all the great photos.  SIGH.

Sadie Kisses 

*Alright, so my hubby introduced me to Scott and Jennifer about 18 months ago and since that time they have become special friends of mine but more importantly, Scott and Jennifer and I keep each other apprised of the unmarked sales at WINCO.   I am loving the 3/4 inch pork chops we got for 99 cents a pound last weekend.   I wish you could see how beautiful these things are! 

Pig is good 

*Game of Thrones:

The Coldplay Video, It's 12 minutes long but awesome!

Does this show just make everyone go "Oh. My. Gawd!" every single week or is it just me?   I have to admit, I am in total love with John Snow but aside from that....Oh. My. Gawd! 

Bad Lip Reading. 

So I love Game of Thrones so much that I spent lunch yesterday looking at videos. 

And this Seth Meyer video just makes me laugh.   I can't help it. Winter is coming!

*Dancing on my back deck with my husband Saturday night.   Being married to your best friend really is the amazing.  When I feel like I have nobody in the world, he is right there.  (It's only a problem when he is driving me crazy or when I need sensitivity.  He doesn't do heartwarming.)
We had a friend of his and his girlfriend who are really like the son and daughter I never had at this point, spend the weekend with us and we had a great time just dancing and listening to music.   Jake came over to help work on the truck but the hubby and the kid together are like Lucy and Ethel.

Have a Pinteresting Day!


Yesterday I told you how Texas was having a major meltdown over the loss of these:

Source For Whataburger Taquitos

Honestly, I don't get it because I cook better than every fast food place I have ever eaten and my husband makes better hamburgers than pretty much anyone I have ever met....but I promised I would share pins with a recipe so here they are and frankly, I think they all look better than Whataburger, especially that one with the avocado! YUM!!!! 

Source

Source

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Keeping with the food theme here are a few other things I have pinned:

Source

I am dying to make some pork carnitas.  I mean....oh my!

And for those of you who just can't fathom life without 2am taquitos, put the beer down and pull out a pan of this from the fridge to microwave:

Source

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And if all that doesn't do it, I even have a recipe for this: 

Source

yep, homemade poptarts! 

Alright it is your turn.  What are you loving and what have you pinned?   Grab the button, click the link your blog and let's have some fun! 

Hey, it's okay Tuesday: I'm feeling like a female failure!

Happy Tuesday!   It's time for "Hey, it's okay Tuesday" the hop where I get to share all the things that are OKAY with me even if they aren't "normal".   Here is what's okay with me:

Be sure to link up with Amber With Airing my Dirty Laundry above 

It's Okay:

* Every night I go out and spend some QT with my chickens.   They are very entertaining, believe it or not and my hubs and I just sit out there with them and watch and sometimes one will come up to us and let us 'Chicken Cuddle'.

* I spent several minutes this morning figuring out when we will have fresh eggs from our little ladies.  Have you seen the price of eggs?  

* That I laugh that sad sort of laugh when the news, Twitter,  and talk radio start all getting upset that Whataburger won't be selling breakfast at 11pm anymore because of the egg shortage.   Really?  There are people who lost their homes and lives in the flooding in Texas and people are freaking out about not being able to get taquitos until 5am.  It isn't hard to scramble eggs, add some cheese and a slice of bacon or crumbled sausage and boom, you have  your own breakfast taquito.  You can even make them ahead and eat them all week.   There are bigger problems in the world than no Blue Bell ice cream and no Whataburger taquitos.  (Don't worry, I will pin some recipes tomorrow on the blog for those very confused.)

Vanity Fair Cover 

* I am super jealous that Caitlyn (Bruce) Jenner looks better in a dress than I do.  Is it wrong for me to think (s)he does sexy female better than me?  Will I get the benefits she got if I take female hormones?  It might be worth a shot!  I am really feeling like a failure on the female side.  I mean, I understand that there is surgery, hormones, and a lot of make-up involved in but gosh she is in her 60's and looks better than I do at 44.  Time to hit the gym and really eat right.  I still won't look sexy but at least I won't feel like a blob. 

* I am currently obsessed with Peppermint Essential Oil.  A friend Janetta (who sells for Young Living) sent me a sample months ago for my headaches.  I didn't believe so it sat on my bathroom counter for, well, ever.  I had the worst headache last week and nothing was working.  Not my OTC pain killers and not my prescription medication.   I figured I would try the oil because it sure couldn't hurt.   I swear to you, my headache went away in the time it took me to lay down and take a 45 minute nap.  Since then I have been adding a drop to my water bottle in the morning to ease stomach pain, had my step-kiddo take it when her tummy hurt and I ordered some oils.  My friend sent me a Young Living reference book so I am excited to learn more. 

**** A note: don't consume oil unless you know it is quality.  I researched it and most oils are not fit to consume. Also, obviously I am not a medical doctor so this is my experience only. 

* I still haven't picked up a paint brush and put it to a piece of furniture in weeks.  It finally stopped raining so maybe I can get a little done Sunday.   I have 4 pieces that need some attention.  Also, sadly, I have a house full of my stuff that could use some sprucing up.

* My hubs, who calls me the social media queen, is on something called Periscope and I have no idea what it is or why I need it.  Has anyone used this?  Is it amazing?  Am I missing out on a life changing part of social media?  

*I don't think I have time for more social media.  I really don't have time for the social media I have.  

*I started giving my Wednesday blogs 'Friends' type titles and I don't think anyone noticed, or cares. Remember how "Friends' always had titles "The one with...."  That's my Wednesday blog.  Speaking of my Wednesday hop, I am shamelessly begging y'all to join in!  

Alright that's what's okay with me today.  I promise since I ranted about Taquitos I will have some recipes pinned on my blog tomorrow so all you Whataburger freaks can make them yourself.  I mean, if you can scramble and egg.  If you can't scramble an egg, I am sorry, there isn't any hope for you in the kitchen.

Shameless Plug/Reminder and cry for Co-Hosts! 

A special reminder!  My blog hop "What I'm Loving and Have a Pinteresting Wednesday" will be up at 9pm Central tonight.  Please consider joining me and sharing all the things you are loving and/or pinning this week.   Also, if anyone is interested in co-hosting this hop please send me a message.  I really would love to share and grow this hop.  (I don't have a fancy code because I haven't figured coding out yet.  Just a button.  I know, I suck.)

Blog will post at 9pm Central so you can join the hop

Baseball Talk: Welcome to the Crazy Train Rangers Fans

Welcome to my state of the Rangers blog.  From time to time I will drop a blog about the comings and goings and just overall feeling of fandom for my favorite boys with bats.   

 

Back in 2013 when Josh Hamilton returned to the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington as a California (Los Angeles) Angel, this was the reception he received. 

Friday night he returned to the Texas Rangers once again a member of the good guys.

The fan reaction was very different.   During the weekend his bat spoke for Josh in the times Josh couldn't speak for himself.  He doubled in his first at bat back home at the Ballpark.  He had 2 home runs Saturday night and Sunday, a scheduled off day for Hamilton who missed all of spring training, he came in to pinch hit in the bottom of the 9th inning with 2 runners on, down by one run.   Can you say get the Walk-Off double and the party started, Josh?

When he wasn't hitting baseballs far, he was giving interviews about how happy he is to be back in Texas and doing what he could do on and off the field to mend fences with bitter fans. 

After the game I tweeted a couple thoughts on the game:

Turn Back Time ‏@Lauran0805  15h15 hours ago

Do you think Josh Hamilton is happy to be back in Texas?

Turn Back Time ‏@Lauran0805  15h15 hours ago

I have missed this so much. All last season we didn't have fun. Baseball...it's fun again.

Driving to work this morning, I couldn't help but think about my weekend. I am going to admit a lot of it had nothing to do with Texas Rangers baseball but you don't want to know how I got my haircut or fell on my bottom trying to pull garlic for friends and ended up in a mud fight with myself. You don't want to know how my friends and husband and I spent Saturday night dancing on our deck to music from his phone until 1:30. You don't care about my great chicken scare of 2015 when my sweet little Ries attacked one of my chicks (I believe she was just trying to play with her not eat her, to be fair) and sent the chick into shock. We thought for a good several hours the chick was going to die. She is perfectly fine now and running around the coop like a crazy girl. Ries, however is banned from all chicken activity.

So you get my stunning analysis of baseball. Yay!!

Alright, when Josh Hamilton came back last month, I wrote a blog getting my feelings out about his departure and return to MY Texas Rangers. I admitted through the course of my blog that Hamilton was my favorite Ranger before he left. I also admit after he left, I wrote a couple of blogs, buried in my archive somewhere, about why I was glad he wasn't our (Rangers Fans) problem anymore. Then he came home.

Here is what I decided on my drive in to work. Josh Hamilton IS the crazy train. The thing about the crazy train is that you ride it and get all you can out of it knowing full well it is the crazy train and could do a complete 180 on you at any moment. Josh Hamilton, for all his faults (and who doesn't have them?) makes baseball fun. Josh Hamilton, for all his goofy interviews, gives his team some excitement. Josh Hamilton, for all his crazy-blue-eyes-can't-see-in-the-sun, Jesus told me to stop chewing tobacco, way too honest and completely nuts comments, (It's not that I don't think Jesus doesn't want Josh to stop chewing, it's just that even if he told Josh that, did he also tell Josh to use it as an excuse not to hit the baseball? I kind of doubt that. I am positive Jesus wants Josh to be happy and healthy. He wants that for all of us, I am sure. He is Jesus, for heaven's sake!) gives fans hope.  

What this Texas Rangers team missed last year was fun, excitement, and hope. I am going to be honest here, I had none last season, just a lot of tears over a lot of injuries and this season was starting to look a lot like last season until Hamilton sauntered into town with his crazy train, tossed on his superman cape of many colors, and blew his whistle to shout "Hey guys, it's me Josh, it's going to be different because it's going to be just like it was. I'm back, all aboard my Crazy Train."

Do I think Josh Hamilton is the savior? No, of course not. However, in a season that started with Yu Darvish having surgery and being out for the season before the umpire shouted "Play Ball!" and included Derek Holland's return stint on the DL, Matt Harrison's never ending stint on the DL and a starting rotation that features Colby Lewis the seasoned veteran and always confusing, Colby. Just when you think you can really count on Colby he throws a whopper of a bad game or 4 and you want to know where the brilliance went. Add to the Colby rotation Nick Martinez, Wandy Rodriguez, Yovani Gallardo, and the newest member of Rangers Nation Chi-Chi Gonzalez.

Truthfully, I can't wait until Yu Darvish is back because I really want a starting 5 that includes Yu, Wandy, and Chi-Chi just because...come on, that is baseball name greatness. Seriously, Colby, Derek, Matt and Nick are kind of boring on paper.

So where does that leave my beloved Rangers? Right now they are playing very well but to be fair, they were playing well before Josh Hamilton returned so let's not give Hamilton all the credit. Unfortunately lost in the win yesterday was Adrian Beltre who injured himself on a slide into 2nd and will be out for at least 2 weeks.

The loss of Beltre is huge and it has spurred a lot of 'Bring Joey Gallo' up talk. Gallo, is a huge sensation in AA Frisco right now and the future of Texas Rangers 3rd Base. He also has barely been at AA and while he is tearing the cover off the ball, he isn't exactly Adrian Beltre playing 3rd, yet. He needs time to develop and become a well rounded player. Something more than a month at AA would give him so I am not on the Bring Up Joey bandwagon.

Here is where we stand today:

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
TEAM	W	L	PCT.	GB	RS	RA	DIFF	HOME	ROAD	EAST	CENT	WEST	L10	STRK
Houston	31	20	.608	-	219	197	22	16-12	15-8	5-2	4-6	18-11	4-6	L 1
L.A. Angels	27	24	.529	4	201	193	8	15-11	12-13	5-5	4-3	15-11	6-4	W 4
Texas	26	25	.510	5	233	234	-1	9-14	17-11	10-4	5-5	10-15	8-2	W 3
Seattle	24	26	.480	6½	186	204	-18	12-13	12-13	8-5	2-5	13-12	6-4	L 2
Oakland	20	33	.377	12	222	221	1	9-17	11-16	6-5	3-10	11-18	6-4	W 1

 

What's in a name and What were people thinking in 2014

Importance of Name Meaning

Clearly Juliette had an ulterior motive in saying that a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet.   Obviously it would smell as sweet but do we really thing a rose called vomit would be the same?  I have my doubts.  Of course, it is highly likely that knowing what vomit means taints my thoughts on that subject.  

This morning on the news they went through some unusual names that people gave their kids in 2014.  People as in plural named their boys Million, Billion, Dagger, Sadman and Swatstik, yes SWATSTIK.  I mean, all I could think of was there was some crazy group of 10 neo-nazi's out there who thought this was a good idea.  Even sadder is the 7 people who named their daughters Lay.  What exactly are you trying to tell your female child?  

I have read studies saying that female children adapt to different names easier than males but I don't know that that is going to get any little girl past the Lay.  I don't know, maybe if it was spelled Lei or Lai it wouldn't be so strange.  Maybe the parents just like potato chips?  Who knows.  It just seems really odd that 7 families independently came up with this name.  Don't even get me started on the 5-11 families that came up with those boys names.  

So I started to think of the little boy on the baseball team named Sadman.  Every time he comes up to bat, what do you call him?  'Go Sad', 'Go Man'?  What about poor Swatstik?  Can you imagine the first time his girlfriend brings him home to meet the parents?  

This is my boyfriend 'Swatstik'.  Mom "Well, it's nice to meet you um, Swatstika".

 Dad "Son, did your parents not love you?  Why would they name you after a Nazi symbol?  Are you a Nazi?"  You know dad's cut to the chase when their baby girl is involved.  

That is nothing compared to the teasing the kids in school are going to give these kids.  Poor Lay is going to be laid 100 times in high school if the teenage girls are mean.   Poor Dagger will have to learn to defend himself with a name like that really early.  Can you imagine if Lay and Dagger actually meet and start dating?  That would be brutal in High School.  Admit it, there is a part of you that remembers how mean kids were and you know it would! 

I just can't help asking myself: what is wrong with James, Michael, Phillip, and Robert?  What about Elizabeth, Rebecca, and good old fashioned Mary?   Why do some parents feel the need to make their kids targets with something so different?   Kids have it hard enough without giving them a name that is going to make it hard on them.  Don't get me wrong, every child is special and I am not saying that feeling like your child is unique and should be recognized as such is wrong but SWATSTIK?  Come on.  

I grew up with a different last name.  It was pronounced nice (spelled a little different but pronounced NICE). First of all because of the spelling it was always getting pronounced incorrectly and by the time I hit 2nd grade when the teacher would call my name the first day of school the entire class would yell out "NICE"!  It was almost sad, man.  It was also a lot to live up to being Laura Nice.  My last name now is no better, in fact, it may be worse, especially when you combine my maiden name with my married name,  although I prefer to keep that one to myself.  I have never really liked Laura but I have to thank GOD that my parents didn't decide to name me Lapis or Lazuli.  Lapis Nice or Lazuli Nice would have just been the end of it for me.  

Luckily for most kids who aren't named Sadman, their parents see reason.  Here are the most popular names over the last 100 years and I was happy when looking into this blog that the top 10 trend in baby names is actually toward traditional and historic names like Olivia, Sophia, Emma, and Eva for girls and Noah, Jacob, Ethan, and Lucas for boys. 

Source

I am going to make a prediction that with the birth of Princess Charlotte, the name Charlotte will rise in popularity across the world.  That is fine by me, a beautiful name and one that will not get any little girl teased.

Oddly, my father was named James and my mother is Mary the top names in each gender over the last 100 years.  How strange or maybe that's just because I come from a very Catholic family with a LOT of Mary's. 

Now, I have to admit when I was young I had some pretty weird names picked out for my kids.   Taryn if it was a girl, Chance if it was a boy.  (Taryn I heard on an episode of 21 Jump Street and Chance because of the Tinkers to Evers to Chance Chicago Cubs infield).   As I grew older my names for kids changed and became more traditional.  James if it was a boy, after my father and either Emma, Emily, or Kayleigh if it was a girl.  Not a Sadman or Lay in the group.  

So, do you prefer traditional or non-traditional names?