Happy Birthday, HistoryDiva!

HistoryDiva's birthday was this past weekend, and at this birthday celebration, she ordered a concoction called a "Cotton Candy Cosmo." See HistoryDiva watch as our waitress prepares the pink sugary alcoholic birthday goodness?

But Why Is the Rum Gone?

I may need to split a bottle with Captain Jack by the end of today...

Beagles

What he'll look like in a dozen years or so...

Poor Ralph can't help it that he's turned into a lazy old geezer.

But we love him anyway.

Praying for Rain

I've been slightly obsessed with Jane Austen lately. How about a montage of period dramas for your Friday viewing pleasure?

Another Cranberry Cookie Recipe

I was in a baking mood over the weekend and tried out the recipe on the back of a package of Craisins. No, this is not the Cranberry White Chocolate Shortbread cookie recipe... it is the *Oatmeal* Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk cookie recipe. And people seemed to like these better--it must be the oatmeal, which makes them healthy ;-)

2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 large eggs

1-1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1-1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 6-oz package Craisins

2/3 cup white chocolate chunks or chips

Preheat oven to 375 F. Using an electric mixer, beat butter or margarine and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well. Combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add to butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition. Stir in sweetened dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cook on wire rack. Makes approximately 2-1/2 dozen cookies.

Illegal Activities

Two months ago, I was pulled over around midnight for going the wrong way on a one-way street in Dahlonega. The street used to be a two-way street way back when I was a college student, but now they have painted over the center line and stuck up a few randomly placed "One Way" and "Do Not Enter" signs. If I had been doing something illegal *intentionally,* I would have no problem paying the ticket the rude Lumpkin County PD officer gave me. However, it was dark, I did not see any of the signs (neither did my passenger), and the cop was incredibly rude. Did I mention that his car was blocking the only road I could have turned onto in order to be going the right way on the maze of one-way streets they've created in downtown Dahlonega?

Anyway, my court date was today, and I pled "Not Guilty." The judge said, "Okay, come back in a month. And you can bring a lawyer." That's when I started freaking out. Now I'm torn about what I should do--I can continue to fight the ticket and try not to be intimidated by the process, or I can call Dahlonega City Hall and try to change my plea to "Guilty" and pay the stupid fine.

A Positive Working Environment

The October issue of Real Simple magazine showed up in my mailbox yesterday (courtesy of my wonderful mother). One of the first blurbs I read was about a study done at Texas State University which showed that people who have a plant in their office tend to rate themselves as more satisfied with their life and their job than those without plants. I found an article online that also tied in whether or not there is a window in the office to this study. Since I have multiple plants and multiple windows, I suppose that I should be deliriously happy at work.