New Uninteresting Things

It's been awhile since my last blog but there hasn't been just a whole lot of interesting things going on that could turn into a fascinating story. I compare my blogging to Abby's, who is an excellent writer. I feel very inadequate so that may be the real reason why I boycotted blogging these past few weeks. But I've come to terms with the fact that Abby is a natural writer and her blogs are always up to par with interest, intellect, and perfect grammar. She's awesome!

Bryan and I took our engagement pictures last Thursday in the depot district of downtown Lubbock. I'm really looking forward to seeing the proofs! My photographer is Cris J. Duncan. He is hilarious and very professional with his work. He made the hour long session really fun for both of us. Awesome Abby came to help me get dressed in the three different outfits I brought. She also helped out Cris by holding certain lighting props. The pictures will be very urban and contemporary. We were in a run down alley for one location and as we were posing a homeless man walked by. Abby was highly fascinated but very concerned.

My new laptop finally arrived on Saturday morning at my parents house in Levelland. It's a pink Dell Inspirion 1545 with 3gb of memory and a 250gb hardrive. Basically a good laptop to upload lots and lots of pictures and still have plenty of memory to run fast. That's the whole basis of my new computer. I know it came with a lot of other really cool gadgets and games but I it will mostly be used to upload my millions of pictures and surf the internet on a regular basis.

On Wednesday Abby leaves for London for a week long vacation. She is staying at Josh Montgomery's flat. He works in London and has been for a year and a half. Amy Montgomery is there visiting also and so Abby and Amy will get to tour the streets of Europe during the day while Josh is at work. I'm really sad that she's leaving, but I'm also excited for her because this will be a teriffic trip and she has always wanted to go to London. I know it comes off weird but a week without her feels like a month. I've already cried about it. Abby is my best friend and the person I am the closest to. We have a 26 year old bond that no one can ever relate to or fully understand. We don't do well when we're apart from each other. If I go a day without seeing her I feel very empty inside like something is missing. To makes things worse...Bryan moves to Houston for his monthly internship on July 5th and Abby won't be back until the 8th. Good thing I have my parents!

Well, this is all the updating I can do for now. Maybe something really cool will happen so that I can actually write an interesting blog. Until then...take care, friends!!

Mimi's Cheesecake

As a kid growing up in the wonderful small town of Levelland, TX there were many predictable things to count on happening: a) there would be drama and gossip b) you went to church every Sunday morning, evening, and Wednesday night c) Daddy would come to your rescue for every pickle you got yourself in and d) Mom always cooked dinner and occasionally some of the best desserts!

My mom cooked dinner every night unless there was some unusual occasion that we went out to eat or there was a banquet or party that she had to attend.  She also cooked lunch every Sunday.  My mom cooks up recipes that my Mimi has given her.  Unfortunately, I'm still a rookie when it comes to cooking...maybe soon I'll inherit Mom's and Mimi's recipes and be a genius in the kitchen with  the pots and pans.  

Other than recipes for meals, Mimi also has a ton of dessert recipes.  These desserts are either cakes, pies, cookies, fudge, candy...etc.  Mimi is a baking goddess!  I may not be great at cooking up meals but I do love to bake desserts!  Mimi's desserts, of course, are my favorite.  Everything is predominantly homemade.  Although following a recipe is easy...my desserts still can never taste as perfect as Mimi's.  One dessert recipe that I love to make is Mimi's Cheesecake.  That's what I call it because it's her's!  This homemade cheesecake is incredible and would even put the Cheesecake Factory to shame.  The secret is yellow cake mix added to the batter!  

I feel that summertime and Christmas time are the best seasons for desserts.  Cheesecake is perfect for summer because you eat it cold!  So, I went to the store yesterday to gather up the ingredients to make up Mimi's Cheesecake today!  I'm also sharing her recipe with you guys...as long as you promise to title it "Adriene's Mimi's Cheesecake."  We have to give Mimi credit!  

Mimi's Cheesecake:

1 package of yellow cake mix

2 Tbs. of oil

2 packages of cream cheese (8 oz.)

1/2 C of sugar

4 eggs

1 1/2 C of milk

3 Tbs. of lemon juice

3 tsp. of vanilla

1 can of fruit pie filling

Reserve 1 cup of the cake mix.  Mix remaing cake mix, oil, and one egg in a large mixing bowl (This is the crust).  Press the mix into the bottom of greased 13 x 9 inch pan going half way up the sides.  Set crust aside.  In same mixing bowl blend cream cheese, 1 cup of reserved cake mix and sugar.  Beat on high for one minute.  Then on low, add 3 eggs and milk.  Blend for another minute.  Slowly add flavorings.  Blend again for another minute.  Pour batter onto crust.  Bake at 300 degrees for 45-55 minutes depending on your oven.  The center should be firm not jiggly when ready.  Let cool.  Add fruit pie filling (I like blueberry) and chill before serving!  Enjoy!

Conan! Pearl Jam!

I just got done watching the new Late Night show tonight, but the show is not what is new it's the host!  Conan O'Brien has replaced Jay Leno and tonight was the first airing of Conan as Late Night's new host.  He did a wonderful job!  I've never been a late night/late show watcher, but I will be an avid Conan watcher.  

My brother, Aaron has been a Letterman fan since as long as I can remember.  He even drew a sketch of David Letterman in his art class in high school.  Last summer I got to go to a live taping of Letterman.  I think he's a great commedian, but Conan is what I get into.  His sense of humor is more appealing to me than Leno and Letterman.  

As for Jimmy Fallon; he needs to be replaced immediately.  I do not think he's funny.  He acts awkward, uncomfortable, and insecure while he's hosting.  I didn't even like him on SNL.  Watching him kills me (so I don't).  I'm sorry to all you Fallon fans, but his humor is ridiculous.  

Back to Conan.  After a hilarious skit of being the tour guide for a Universal Studios tour (I can't even begin to exlain it) Will Ferrell came on...talked and left and then Pearl Jam, the musical guest, came on and played a song from their latest album which released back in the spring of 2006.  

Pearl Jam is my favorite band.  I'm not one of those emo freaks who are all about music and stuff...in fact I rarely listen or buy CDs, but I love Pearl Jam.  They came out in the early 90's...I was probably 6.  They were one of the first "grunge" bands and therefore creators of "grunge" music.  I don't know really what "grunge" means.  It's a broad term, I guess.  Anyway, Aaron was all about Pearl Jam in junior high and high school.  That's how I started listenng to them and I do not consider myself a connessiur of music and bands but Pearl Jam is very gifted and their music, both lyrics and sound are brilliant.  I've even had dreams about them!!  

Can I brag a minute?  My fiance, Bryan must really really love me.  I broke/abused the old dell laptop he gave me that was his before he got his brand new, very nice, very muched loved Mac laptop.  Don't ask about the abuse the old dell laptop took...let's just say...it was old...didn't work well...and I got mad...more than once.  Anyway, it's broken and does not work, so sweet precious Bryan told me I could take his prized Mac laptop home to use during the day while he is at school and I sit at home bored.  How sweet is he?  Now, if only he would buy me a new computer...