It's all about Donna

So much for a weekly, let alone daily, post about life in the day of me. It’s been crazy. I haven’t really had a whole lot to say either.

Here it is a little over three months after my last post. More life has happened. I remained jobless since October 1, 2009. That has totally sucked. I’ve picked up some freelance and barter projects, but nothing significant that I can support myself on. It has totally grated on me to be stuck in this position.

Had to put down the two old horses. That wasn’t fun, but it was necessary. Boukie went down and couldn’t get up. That sucked. Several weeks later, it was clear that Louie was languishing after the loss of his buddy. I love my Vet and his people, and my good friends Lori Allen, Kathy and Jeff Hoffman, who all helped me with this huge task. Thank you all for both your physical and moral support.

OK. It’s not all doom and gloom. There have been a ton of bright and uplifting spots along the way. In March, there was all the preparation for the annual Sunrise Ridge Horse Driving Trial. I’m responsible for the program and sponsors. That alone is nearly a full-time job. The event took place in April this year.

In May, I got to attend the Certified Zentangle Teacher conference in Massachusettes. Had a blast, met some creative people and made some truly wonderful new friends. It was good for networking, too. This was truly a turning point in my life and as one new friend told me, “life changing.” She was not kidding. It has been life changing, and as a result, I vow to be more diligent in posting on a regular basis now.

Because I do have life in my day, I hear it calling my name. Until my next post, HAVE A GREAT DAY!

This post is long overdue. It’s been a year. It’s been a long year. I’ve had a lot of life in my days. This post deviates somewhat from what I would normally post here. Since I haven’t posted anything in some time (nearly two months), I reckon I’m allowed.

I fell into the ranks of the unemployed nearly a year ago. I really didn’t think twice about it. My skills are highly desirable and very marketable. I was prepared for an up to four-month search as I knew my job sector had taken a direct hit in this ‘new’ economy.  Low and behold, within four months I did indeed find a short-term contract. Cool… this would get me into the fall when things should get better and it would buy me a little time to find a longer-term contract or even a permanent position. As my contract came to completion, several new opportunities presented themselves. Once more I found myself in the candidates chair and in the top three to five choices. While this is all very positive, the negative is that a job offer did not materialize. This is a first for me and I am simply astounded. Not to worry… life goes on.

And life does go on. Life in my day is now let the dog in, let the dog out; let the dog in, let the dog out. You get the picture. I’ve also got four horses to care for, three of which are senior citizens (pasture ornaments due to their age). Additionally, there’s all this work around the house that needs doing everyday. Oh yeah… and I have to conduct daily job searches for that ever elusive job so that I can continue to draw my unemployment.

There are several things I’ve learned this past year:
I can indeed live on way less than my usual upper 5-digit annual salary (of which I was lousy at saving).
I don’t need half the crap I used to buy and now realize that if I don’t ‘need’ it I don’t buy it.
I can do so much more, on so much less. This is almost liberating.
I have true friends who care for me (and for whom I’ll always be extremely grateful).
And the biggest thing I’ve learned is how much I really LOVE my parents and how much they really love me. I don’t say because they give me money, because they don’t. In fact, my mom keeps trying to give me money and I won’t take it. I love them because of the moral support and how they have been enriching my life this past year with our weekly lunch dates. A tradition we extended into yet another blog, 52Tables.com.

This post will definitely fall under babble as that is pretty much all it is. I just felt the need to write, so I did. There’ll be more… lots more.

I was prompted today to start blogging again. So here I go.

It’s been kind of a tough year for me. Hasn’t gone exactly the way I thought it would or should. However, this wonderful circle of girlfriends have blessed my life and has made dealing with life so much easier.

Today we all met for lunch. Again, I feel so very blessed, as we have managed to pull off meeting for lunch about once a month since the first of the year. This is quite a feat as we all have such hectic schedules and demands. Today it was Lin, Amy, Dana and Gayla. Dana brought her son, Kasson, and her new baby girl, Kinsley. What wonderful children. Kasson has impeccable manners, and “Baby Kinsley” is just an absolute doll.

We met at Mi Chula’s in Southlake. Turns out I could have walked there faster than it took me to drive. Oh well. Definitely hoofing it next time. Very tasty Mexican food at this place. I had the chicken flauta platter. Yum!

It was super catching up with everyone. These women are just so positive and gracious. I am so very glad we’ve become such good friends.

Oh? What’s “G65?” We all met through an employee-only social network. G65 is actually Group 65 as it was the 65th group to be formed within the network. We all kinda came together and ended up forming the G65 Ladies Auxiliary. The rest, as they say, is history. You can learn about this cool application for your company by visiting www.cubeless.com. I highly recommend it! If you decide it’s an app you want to learn more about, tell ’em Donna sent you! Yah… that was a shameless plug, but I had to do it.

The celebrations have begun!

It is my birthday week. It’s a very special year, in which I hit the half-century mark. As much as I hate admitting that, I have to share it because that is what is driving the setting for these next few posts.

The celebrations were kicked off by my husband taking me out for the obligatory birthday dinner. Don’t get me wrong. I love my annual dinner out; it’s just usually to the same ol’ place, H3 Ranch steak house. I admit H3 is my favorite place for getting a good steak, but sometimes it’s nice to eat that steak in something not so ‘roadhouse.’ I was taken by surprise to a place that may have just landed at the top of my favorite places to eat: Eddie V’s. This shiny new restaurant, which is getting mixed reviews, turned out to be a very pleasant deviation from the usual trip to H3.

I had read that Eddie V’s was dark, and the rooms cold – take a sweater and a flashlight. I took the sweater, not the flashlight. While it was a bit dim, I found I could read the menu without too much difficulty. The wait staff were eager to offer up mini flashlights should you prefer to use one. On this particular occasion the sweater was not a necessity.

As for the food, I had read all kinds of info from ‘luke warm’ to ‘piping hot.’ Most reviews have been positive, but it only takes a few bad ones to destroy an establishment. I can say that our experience was most enjoyable.

We had reservations for 6pm, and upon arrival, we were promptly seated in a booth. Our waiter, Eric, was at the table almost immediately and I noticed that he welcomed us by name. Now that’s impressive as we have never met. A very nice, personal touch to experience. Very personable and helpful, Eric stepped us through the menu of gastronomical delights.

We decided to start the evening off with the Maryland-style All Lump Crab Cake with sauteed with Chive Remoulade sauce. I am not a seafood person. I have issues (mostly mental) with fish, but I will at least try it now. Recently I discovered that lump crab is not so bad. Visits to the local seafood kitchen, GoGo Gumbo, introduced me to this delectable appetizer when made with fresh lump crab. For me, GoGo set the standard. I was not disappointed with Eddie V’s version… if this was any indication of what was to come, we were in for a real treat.

Up next, the meal.

There were several menu items that caught my attention. The Pacific Ahi Tuna Steak seared with Shiitake Mushrooms, Wasabi Potato Purée and Ginger-Soy Jus; the Swordfish Steak broiled with fresh Jonah Crab, Avocado and Red Chile Vinaigrette; the Roasted, Double Breast of Chicken with grilled Wild Mushrooms and Natural Jus; the double-cut Colorado Lamb. However, it was the 8oz Filet Mignon that made it to my tastebuds for the evening. When delivered, my fist-size chunk of flesh was prepared to perfection. My first bite just melted in my mouth like a piece of good Swiss chocolate. The next bite didn’t disappoint either; it was as good as the first. And the last bite, was equally as good as the first.

I discovered I like sea scallops. They must be absolutely fresh, like right off the boat and served within the hour. My husband ordered the broiled jumbo Georges Bank Sea Scallops wrapped in bacon and broiled with a tomato-basil butter sauce. I, the anti-seafood person, would order these on another visit. I got a taste-test of one scallop, and just like the Filet, it just melted in my mouth like a chunk of good chocolate.

Vegetables and side dishes are served family-style and there is easily more than enough for two, and plenty for four. When we inquired about the ‘truffled’ macaroni and cheese, Eric’s response was simply, “to die for.” When I hear ‘to die for’ I think of GoGo Gumbo’s chef Kraig’s delectable dessert of fresh fruit, whipped cream and lady fingers that can only be described as To Die For, and bears the same name. So when Eric described the truffled mac and cheese as to die for, I had to try it. The spin on this dish is traditional macaroni and cheese made with black truffles and Parmesan cheese. We also split a dish of perfectly steamed asparagus with Hollandaise sauce. Needless to say, we brought home a few leftovers.

The End.

No evening out is complete without dessert. I’ve never been big on desserts, but sometimes you just have to. Like sex, I think the food leading up to dessert was just foreplay. With each dessert description, my mouth just watered that much more. Can I have one of each please? When I saw the Belgium Chocolate Mousse with Raspberry sauce, there was no doubt that would be my choice. Just like the Filet, and the truffled mac and cheese, my mouth went into orgasm-mode with each bite.

Because this was my birthday dinner, we got a few perks… my husband got to try a special drink not found on the menu and comp’d by Eric. A vodka iced tea of sorts to ‘help get him through this experience.’ Very tasty indeed. My dessert was also comp’d and comp’d or not, I would have ordered it regardless.

This was definitely a birthday dinner I won’t soon forget. Eddie V’s gets five stars from me for both service and food; and my vote for a special evening out.

Happy birthday to me!

About this Rex Goliath Free Range wine I picked up. Evidently there’s a story that goes with it. It’s something like this…

HRM Rex GoliathGiant 47 Pound Rooster

“It is said, that around the turn of the 20th century, traveling with a Texas Circus, there lived a rooster named HRM (His Royal Majesty) Rex Goliath. A proud star of the circus, Rex was billed as the ‘World’s Largest Rooster’ weighing in at a ‘goliath’ 47 pounds. Folks came from far and wide to behold the Giant, who proved to many he was no ordinary farm bird. Rex patiently sat at his circus roost, gazing fondly upon his many admirers who traveled – some from across the state – to see him. A colorful poster, carefully painted in his visage, hung proudly above his throne.”