4th Of July- Four-Hundred Posts, Food, Fun, And Forgotten Items!

Well, I made it to 400 posts! It took me about 2-1/2yrs of blogging, but I must say- It was fun, rewarding, and met a lot of neat people along the way! Thank-you all for stopping by over the years, reading and commenting...
Friday the 3rd, my wife didn't have to work, so the day was mostly spent in preparation of Independence Day- the 4th of July! The first two photos were an Asian-flavored skewered shrimp I broiled quickly and serve with a side of white rice...Really hit the spot while putzing around the kitchen making brines, mops, and sauces for tomorrow's food offerings..
The 4th of July around here was as busy(or busier!) as anticipated, with smoked BB-Q chicken and pork ribs, sauces and of course- fireworks! The 'Que was cooked for about 5 hrs total at, low, slow temps.... 4 whole chickens got brined/marinated for 12 hrs previous to their beer can up the butt (Chicken on a Throne recipe!)and smoking in a hickory/charcoal heat.. Sprayed with olive oil/water/red wine vinegar mix during cooking (for moisture) the tenderness and flavor achieved was incredible.. A BB-Q sauce touched up with lemon pepper, and orange juice made a tangy, light sauce ideal for chicken! The ribs were dry rubbed with spices, and slathered with mustard before resting overnight in the 'fridge.. They were tender, tasty- but a touch dry for my taste... the sauce was a Big Moe's base, with dark molasses, liquid smoke, sour mash bourbon, and white vinegar added.. Made for a K.C. style sweet/smokey/tangy flavor that was a hit!
The fireworks were incredible this year, with our group more than holding it's own against 3 or 4 others on the lake shooting off their nukes! We had some mishaps, which fortunately were not injurious to anyone- but caused some not needed excitement none the less... Younger guy didn't block a 16 shot cake right, which caused it to tip over and shoot sideways, until after three shots fell into the water.. Stay tuned, this story ain't over! He then threw the wet firework into the bonfire, which we have always done AFTER a firework was done. The thing dried out, and about a dozen more shots came flying out of the fire- where I was sitting! About a half-dozen of us were running like North Korea had finally shot one at us... No one hurt, but a good lesson was learned! That kid now knows I will kill him if he ever does it again!
On to the forgotten items.... 1. My camera. I had hoped to take photos of the fireworks for you, but couldn't..sorry! 2. A jacket. It got cold after dark(which is why I was so close to that damn fire!) 3. A flashlight. Shooting fireworks off the end of a dock goes better with light to see by...
A good day was had by all, and I hope yours was as fun as mine- only safer! Tell me about your holiday experience!

Handy Food Product Of The Day!

We are, like most Americans these days, eating and enjoying Mexican and Tex-Mex food a lot more than ever! The products available for making versions of this cuisine have never been more plentiful, with quality being higher in freshness, and more convenience!
When it comes to tacos, my wife prefers the hard corn shell, where I like the soft flour based tortilla more than she does... One product we discovered at our local grocery store is one we both agree was an excellent idea- the stand-up Taco Shell from Old El Paso brand!
When you get tacos from a chain restaurant to remain nameless, you need about 4 or 5 of them to get enough to satisfy your hunger- sometimes even more than that! These shells from Old El Paso were designed to hold substantially more ingredients and toppings- 2 apiece is plenty for us! They are easier to eat.. you can enjoy them without ending up looking like you were in a Mexican cantina food fight... You also can produce them at a higher quality than a fast food restaurant for less than a buck a piece (and remember, they are twice as big!).
This is my 399th post... my next will of course be 400! I plan to include smoked BB-Q, and possibly fireworks- as I will post Sunday morning about the great Independence Day we plan to enjoy! I hope all you Americans have a great 4th of July this year!

Sunday Dinner Was Son's Girlfriend's Birthday Party..

My son called about Thursday reminding us it would be Beth's(his GF) birthday this week-end.... After a deliberate pause, I said; "Would you like us to fix her a birthday dinner Sunday?" "Well, that would be nice"... he says- knowing that's what he was calling about all along! I asked what treat she might want that day, and he was all ready with an answer- salmon!
We shopped Saturday, with me picking up some nice Sock-eye salmon, corn, potatoes, rolls, and a birthday cake, with Peppermint ice cream (that was for me- I love that peppermint ice cream!)... I gave DogB permission to enter the Au Gratin Cheddar/onion in his potato contest...
We weren't eating until 3:30PM, so plenty of time to get it right... From scratch Au Gratin potatoes, salmon seasoned with butter, dried dill, lemon pepper, fresh lemon, and salt.. The once a week thru Summer corn on the cob, whole wheat rolls with honey, all made for plenty to eat.. We took a break before cake and ice cream- too full not to! We got her a card, and some small gifts also... she appreciates what we do for her, as she had a difficult time while growing up, and isn't used to being put first, even if only for one day...
Fireworks photo for G-man, who along with other shared enthusiasms, appreciates these things as much as I!

Hot Weather = Light Meals

Last night, it was still in the 90's, as it has been for a few days.. I know a lot of you are getting hotter weather than that, but in Michigan it tends to be humid also- and we're not used to it yet!
I thought I'd pick up some bakery sub rolls, some thinly sliced rare roast beef, and make a popular sandwich that doesn't require an oven on- The French Dip! It is a simple sandwich, that shows well if you don't try to make it gourmet... I slice the roll length-wise (but not all the way thru!), pile on the roast beef, along with some thinly sliced Swiss cheese. The Au Ju is a beef broth, with a bit of garlic and thinly sliced onions simmered in it- both to flavor it and create some soft onion slices to put on the sandwich... Heating the sandwich in a Microwave until cheese melts, then placing the onions on the sandwich makes for a hot, neat to eat treat on a hot summer's evening! Use a dense bread, as it takes the dipping well without getting soggy, or falling apart sloppy.... Enjoy your week-ends, I'm off today to get my fireworks for the 4th!

Pasta Salad For A Guy, And Stuffed Pork Chops For A Girl

Earlier this week, I decided to make pasta salad- my wife enjoys this as a lunch or a side dish... I take my version into the "one stop meal" range, by the ingredients I put in it!
First, I hard boil and peel a couple of eggs, and let them cool. I then get the spiral, multi-colored pasta underway, boiling salt water, and cooking to Al Dente, shocking it after draining in a colander with cold water.. I then start chopping... Onions, celery, green olives, pepperoni, ham, Monterey Jack cheese, sharp Cheddar cheese, the hard boiled eggs,and- darn! Out of bell peppers! Oh well, there is a substantial amount of stuff in this already.. I then mix with a zesty Italian dressing, with a creamy Italian dressing and pour over the added pasta and other ingredients- chill for a couple of hours, draining a bit of dressing off as moisture in salad settles.. This is a popular dish to haul to summer potlucks, or picnics!
Yesterday afternoon, I got a light trim of a haircut(I'm trying to grow a pony tail for the first time in my life!). I was close to a good butcher shop, which makes a wife-favorite treat- stuffed pork chops! I bought two for dinner. When I got home, I seasoned the pork with salt, pepper, and savory blend.. sprayed with olive oil and baked covered for 1-3/4 hrs. They swelled, as shown in the photo, stayed moist as I roasted uncovered for 15 min. With a little gravy on the side, it made for a pleasant surprise for my wife...

Stale Pitas, And Father's Day Dinner & After

Saturday, I finished up my jerky, which came out tasty! We grocery shopped, and did a few other errands... Bought some pita pocket bread with the intent of continuing my cold sandwich craving with a new twist! I planned to make a couple of pita pocket sandwiches filled with lettuce, tomato slices,mayo, smoked turkey breast, and Swiss cheese... the pitas became two pieces of unleaven bread, with ingredients between.. It tasted OK, but are you supposed to heat these up first, or were my pitas just plain stale? I'm going to make pizzas out of the two left...
The Father's day feast went way better! Marinated small fillet minions for grilling over charcoal, sauteed mushrooms, sweet corn, sour dough bread, and scallops sauteed in garlic butter.. I crushed the garlic, which is something I normally don't do, scooted it around in the butter for a bit, then removed... Everything came out on time and was good! Nobody wanted dessert(cheesecake) everyone too full. Typical Father's Day.. I cook they eat, one son in K.C. called, other was here eating- forgot to bring the card he bought. No gift yet, but all I want is another rib rack- and I don't need it until the 4th of July! I apologize for only one photo, as we were on the food like jackals...
After dinner, my wife and I went for a ride down by the Grand River, which had flooded upstream and cancelled a big outdoor free concert of country music in Ionia, MI.. They were at capacity crowd, when they announced it was cancelled.. I almost drove over there to see that many pissed off red necks! Anyway I threw in a couple of photos of our mighty river... Have a good week everyone!

Two Suppers, And The Start Of A Treat...

Thursday night, I'm still preferring cold food opposed to "rib- sticking" food, so I made a Chef salad. Wife was going to get home late, so I precut and arranged all the topping you could choose from(cheese missing from photo!) I like to plate the lettuce, put dressing on the lettuce(Lord knows lettuce needs it!), then pile on the toppings- which don't need much flavor help! It hit the spot, with enough stuff left to make another salad for my wife's lunch...
This morning, I decided to tackle a task I planned on doing about Wednesday... You wonder why a man would cut tough meat, with the grain, mind you into seemingly useless strips? Dog knows. So does G-man. It was time to make a batch of Buffalo Dick's Beef Jerky! The marinate was made, I'll share a few ingredients: Worcester sauce, soy sauce, water, brown sugar, black pepper, garlic, onion powder, Montreal Steak seasoning,sea salt, hot sauce, and liquid smoke! Soaking 24hrs. refrigerated should do the trick. I'll use the dehydrator for a more consistent shape and doneness. It never lasts, my son hides it from his own girlfriend!
Tonight it is an Italian flavored stuffed pepper. The photo doesn't show the cheese I'll melt on the tops 10 minutes from finishing them. Italian sausage instead of hamburger, onions, celery, and pasta sauce with the rice... well, time to put them in the oven.. Everyone enjoy your weekends!

Definitely Not Hospital Food....

I got home from my adventure about 3PM Monday. I just wanted to get in my robe and rest in my house for a bit, before thinking about supper.. When my wife got home from work, she asked what sounded good- as she was well aware of my last five day menu! Oddly enough, I wasn't interested in having a big or heavy meal right away, I thought I'd ease into a normal diet slowly... There are a handful of foods that are touchstones for comfort; mac n cheese, chicken soup, grilled cheese and tomato soup, etc.... Probably my two comfort cold sandwiches are ham and cheese or bologna and cheese! We had some thick cut sandwich bologna, some Monterey Jack cheese, and with a little mayo, mustard, and lettuce on fresh whole white bread- it was just what this doctor ordered!
Next evening, feeling way better now, I made cheeseburgers and corn on the cob- most I've eaten in a week! Another spot was hit just right! Earlier that day I made a batch of pigs in the blanket for my son, who came over and cut the grass. I had a couple of those, saved two for my wife, and he ate the rest!
I'm going to venture out today (not too far or fast!) and try to get a few things done. Thanks for all your well wishes on last post!

Why I Have Been Missing....

I was admitted to the hospital Wed. for a blood transfusion- I get a bit anemic once in a while, and ended up stuck there for five days... Endoscopy, Ultra sound test and transfusions... Supposed to be for a day and a half! I first thing I did when I got home was build an altar in front of my spice storage drawer, and worshipped... They had put me on a liquids only for two days, and a low salt, bland diet for the rest of the stay. It was the worst food I have ever had in a hospital! The people were great, but the 24hr. a day activity in one of these places makes sleep difficult.
Anyway, on the mend now... I always go into the hospital saying "Woe is me", but after seeing some of the patients problems, I leave feeling fortunate.

Mini-Meme Time! The Two Question Format..

I haven't done one of these lately, and it is a bit serious in content....
!. What was the closest you have been to death or serious harm?
2. What was the closest thing to a miracle you have seen?
Me first, as usual... I almost died once, in Blue Earth, Minnesota... we were coming back from a less than successful hunt in Wyoming, when at 2AM we hit a log laying length wise in the Interstate. We clobbered it, went into a ditch and thought we were toast.. Stayed upright, got truck hauled and fixed, and were on our way..Another time in 2000, I was very sick. They put me in a drug induced coma for a week to heal..the next few days were pretty weird as I didn't know whether I was on foot or horseback.. Physical rehab, and I was good as almost new. The same thing was my miracle, as I had said goodbye to my family before they knocked me out...Nobody thought I was going to make it- but my heart, conditioned through being very active all my previous life was the factor..
We all have a story in us, let's hear yours... I feel better disclosing this right now..

Filet Mignon, Sour Cream and Chive Scalloped Potatoes, and a Treat...

Scored a small beef tenderloin, at the unheard of price of $4.99 a lb.! Beef tenderloin does not have to be prime beef- the lowest quality one is still quite tender... My only "Beef" with tenderloin is that while very tender, it isn't as flavorful as some cuts of beef... Still, there is very little waste, and a great meal can be had from this cut of meat! I paired it with home made scalloped redskin potatoes, in a sour cream/chive side dish.. I use fresh, chopped onions, a white sauce, with parsley, fresh chives,sea salt & coarse ground pepper, and sour cream as a sauce- and of course, sliced potatoes! Covered and baked for 1 hour at 360F, then uncovered and baked for another 1/2 hour, they are tender and flavorful. My wife ate about a pound of them on her own! The banana bread is a dessert version, with chocolate chips in it.... Put peanut butter on it and Elvis will appear!
Wife is going to a play in town- Willy Wonka... I've got a golden ticket... Gene Wilder was Willy Wonka- Johnny Depp sucked!

Anniversary Dinner, And The Last Of The Home Made Bread

AS mentioned, June 2nd was our 36th Wedding Anniversary. We have celebrated this day in so many different ways throughout the years, I couldn't recall all of them! I got a pretty handy little deep fryer for Christmas, and have gotten better at using it. It is a running joke in our family, that if Mom goes out to eat, she will order shrimp! I now can safely say, I can make shrimp Tempura with the best of them! The key is to use ice water in the batter- it works miracles when crispy is what you're looking for! French fries were a given, as you have hot oil, a few potatoes( another passion of Frau Buff!)and any skill whatsoever at not burning something! We also had cheesecake for dessert.. Remember the one I made for Memorial Day? People don't realize these freeze very well, making them easier to cut into precise portions...
We tend to have heavy, then light meals- just to mix it up! I took the last of the home-made bread(now past prime!) and made French Toast with it. It really hit the spot! Haven't had it in a year, at least...
Wishing you all a great week-end, and I think I'm going to grill something...

Sunday Dinner, As I Hinted At..

We were not looking for a meat-filled dish this day.... Upset tummies around here decided a pasta-veggie dish sounded better, along with some comforting home-made white bread.. Made two loaves of a white bread recipe that sounded somewhere in between "too sweet, but not bland".. Nailed it! I don't like stupid crusty bread, I like to be able to eat the bread(crust and all!) without cutting the roof of my mouth.. This was a dense, yet tasty bread- that only needed real butter to be a winner!
I had some Linguine noodles, and made an Alfredo sauce from scratch( butter, flour, milk, Italian seasoning, black pepper, salt, garlic, with grated Parmesan cheese!) added sauteed, sliced fresh mushrooms to the sauce- went over the pasta when all still hot... Rich and delicious! Linguine noodles are long and sticky- breaking them in half before simmering is a good idea!
Tonight, our Anniversary dinner is at home, with Shrimp Tempura, and french fries, with a bit of left over cheesecake... simple things done well... the older you get, the more this makes sense! Everyone, live your lives- and find some joy to appreciate!

Lamb Stew, Saturday up North, and Musings...

Earlier in the week I made lamb stew from some left over leg of lamb... This has to be our favorite stew, as the broth takes on such a wonderful, unique flavor. I took the meat off the bone, simmered the bone for stock. Then cut up some carrots, celery, red skinned potatoes, and onion. All put in a stove top pot, with some cream of mushroom soup, and poured stock over and simmered the lot until meat was tender.. Easy and good!
Saturday we went to an up north casino, and gave some of my Keno winnings back, but a beautiful day for a road trip! Michigan is so many stages of green this time of year, it amazes me.. On the way home, we stopped at one of our favorite roadhouses by Baldwin, MI- The Government Lake Inn. Great food, real friendly folks.. Saw a few deer, and a few wild turkeys, but not as many as expected..
Today, I'm baking some white bread, and probably make some kind of Alfredo pasta, with mushrooms..Tuesday is our Wedding Anniversary, but our celebration was Saturday! Hope you are all enjoying the better weather...

Shepherd's Pie- My Version Of A Very Flexible Dish

As I acknowledged earlier, this dish has many interpretations.. I don't think anyone would have The One And Only recipe for this, but probably think the original had mutton or lamb, and potatoes as two of the ingredients.
My recipe was loosely based on a meal served at a rest home I worked at while in high school and college. Violet Meinke was head cook and was old enough to be a resident of the place... She was one of those widows who never remarried, and worked hard all her life for a living. Heart of gold, with a good dose of wisdom too. I was a picky eater, but as a teen-ager I would eat about anything if I got hungry enough! A free dinner was included in my job (worked 5-9PM) every night. One night, I lifted the cover to the meal to find what looked like glop on a plate.. I pushed it around a little with a fork, trying to determine what it was! There was hamburger in a gravy, a layer of corn, covered in mashed potatoes.. I found nothing offensive, so I ate it, and asked when it would be on the menu again!
I used leftover meatloaf sliced thin for my meat base, covered it in sauteed onions and mushrooms, poured on a bit of brown gravy, layered in corn, and covered with mashed potatoes.. Cooked for an hour at 325F 1/2 hour covered, 1/2 hr. uncovered to brown the potato topping. It made for a substantial meal!
Played Lotto(Keno) yesterday and matched 5 out of 5 for $410! Our wedding anniversary is June 2nd, so this week-end we are going to the casino!

Sunday- Meatloaf, Monday- Roast Leg Of Lamb, And Cheescake!

We actually like meatloaf. I make one flavored heavily with herbs, spices, ground beef and ground, seasoned pork sausage. Thought I had a photo, but we all know what a good meatloaf looks like! I mention it, only because my next post will the leftover meatloaf turned into a much interpreted dish called Shepherd's Pie..
Our holiday meal consisted of a whole leg of lamb, roasted, Yukon Gold potatoes, asparagus(eat it while it's the local, fresh stuff!) soft rolls, and a traditional cheesecake.
The lamb was stripped of the fell, or membrane, and coated with a wet rub made of olive oil, garlic, rosemary, balsamic vinegar, salt, black pepper, and celery seed. A dash of water was used to make it a paste. Roasted for 2 hrs+, it was a little past medium rare, but still fairly moist. These left overs would be used in a traditional Shepherd's Pie, but I'll be making lamb stew with this!
The cheesecake was a plain, NYC style cheesecake, topped with cherries- really another keeper( no cracks!). Plenty left over, as it was a big one!
Hope your day off was a good one- next stop Independence Day!

Bacon Cheese Melt On The Big Bun, Next Night Pork Chop And Beans BB-Q'ed In An Oven

Much curiosity about those big buns I baked.. Take your favorite basic white bread recipe and separate into individual portions on a cookie sheet. Let rise, bake at 400F for 12-15 min. and you got it! The larder was low, so I made an open face bacon and cheese broiled sandwich...
I don't much care for beans, but found a recipe that appealed to me..Four pork chops, seasoned and laid in the bottom of a pan lightly oiled. Cover with Great Northern white beans, pour molasses and your favorite BB-Q sauce over beans to cover. Cover tightly and bake at 330F for an hour, then take cover off and let beans reach your favorite consistency( I like mine almost dry, but not quite!) The chops were flavorful and fairly tender, and the beans- I actually enjoyed them!
Have good week-ends everyone!

Tortilla Soup, And Home Made Hamburger Buns..

Monday, I took the left-over roast chicken, and the broth I had made from the carcass created by Sunday's meal- and went hunting for something new to do with these treats... Tortilla Soup won the contest! Many versions of this dish, but this is what I did... Home-made chix broth, tomato paste, corn, chopped onion, jalapeno chiles, chopped, red salsa, chunky style, chili powder, garlic, cumin, Mex oregano... Put in a Crock pot on low for 6 hrs... Tortilla chips and shredded cheese as a garnish- I will make this again!
I made home made hamburger buns- came out the size of a plate! Tasty, but huge.. no picture of it, but imagine a small Italian bread loaf...

A Week In Food At Our House...

We started the week light, as Sunday dinner was pretty big- an omelet with cheese and mushrooms sounded good.
Next day, feeling a little more ambitious, I baked some western style pork ribs covered in an Asian/Korean sauce- rice vinegar, brown sugar, 5 spice, soy sauce, garlic, onion, and sesame oil... I love that flavor, even though I don't care for that cut of pork! I also made some pasta salad, which with spinach salad dressing, came out really well!
Next night, I had chopped the leftover pork and made BB-Q sandwiches- with extra sauce, it was quite tasty..
We were't terribly hungry the next day, so it was the old favorite tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich...
The following night, I made a from scratch pizza, that we shared with my son...
Today's meal was a roast whole chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, and banana muffins- the Midwest Sunday dinner if there ever was one! The muffins browned a little darker than planned, but I think I used too much butter and sugar in the batter!
Hope you all have a good week- the weather here is improving daily

Our First House, A Tale, And A Mini-Meme..

We had saved and scrimped for 2 years, with the dream of owning our own home. A "North-Ender" until I die, we waited for the right starter home in a neighborhood I was familiar with. In Grand Rapids MI you are a "West Sider" a "South Ender", or a "North Ender"..everyone else was a transient in a suburb, or didn't count!
We found a small house in an old Catholic neighborhood that was an estate sale.. widow had died, family put up for sale. Needed a bunch of work, and the woman had died in the house(I didn't tell my wife this, until later!) No updates, built in the Depression, it was no prize.. It had a an "octopus furnace" meaning an old coal burner converted to gas- all heat ducts were inside walls, cold air registers were on outside walls.. But with $4000 down, the $16,000 house was ours! Foreclosures today resulted because people bought $200,000 houses with no money down! I ripped out bushes, cut down overgrown trees, planted ivy, burned-yes burned old paint off house, and restained it, then painted it.. Ripped out bathroom and kitchen, learned ceramic tiling, took 5 layers of wall paper off everything, painted everything that wasn't moving, all after working a full day. The neighbors loved us, and our porch became a "have a beer and talk" place when dusk was upon us.. I have a picture somewhere of my wife coming home from the hospital with our first born, going into our house for the first time... It was a dinky, older home, but it was that key word- a home....
So this is where you tell me about your first "I bought it" home! What was funny, and what was not so funny...

Mother's Day 2009

Today is Mother's Day- a time to appreciate your mom, whether she is still here or gone... Mine is gone, so we spoil the wife and mom who lives here. My sons and I call her by her nickname-The Goob, or Goobie.. Her Mother's Day consists of cards, presents, and a meal of her choosing- prepared by you know who! I had some boneless rib-eye beef steaks, and had bought some really excellent, large wild caught prawns.. Fresh Michigan asparagus, bakery rolls and butter, with a home-made carrot-apple spice cake with cream cheese frosting, well it t'weren't too bad! Also, as I had the deep fryer running, I cooked up some prawn puffs/chips given to me by Doggy Bloggy! Very crisp, cooked in 40 seconds, they looked like pastel colored pork rinds, but tasted very mild! We had more fun watching them cook than eating them! It was like a magic trick... They could be dipped in anything you prefer, as they are fairly sturdy...
The son in K.C. MO called, which always cheers us up! He sent his mom some more plants to grow in her Air Garden he got her for Christmas...
I only took a few pictures as our timetable was rushed, but if everything around here went smoothly, I'd think I was in the wrong house...
P.S.- My sister and her husband got a new dog from rescue, and brought it over Saturday.. Beautiful animal about a year old, and the people claimed it was a Boxer/Great Dane mix. I took one look at the dog and told them it had to be a Rhodesian Ridge-back- size, color, shape- perfect match! Nice animal!

Tuesday, Wednesday Happenings And Eats...

Tuesday, I had signed up for a focus group on a new way to make and save money by giving it to a charity instead of the government(short version!). I thought it was going to be a high pressure sales pitch, but was pleasantly surprised to find a room with an audience of 15 people of above average intelligence, a knowledgeable speaker, and a time table they actually stuck to! I listened for an hour, filled out a 7 question opinion based observation sheet, and was paid $65 bucks- which will cover the Mother's Day dinner I have planned!
We couldn't wait for Cinco de Mayo, so we had a "wet" pork burrito Tuesday night. Later that night, I was headed down to our family room, slipped on the last carpeted step- and sprained my big toe! Really slows you down for a couple of days...
Wednesday, we were going to have chicken salad in a half a muskmelon, but decided to try something a little different... We've all had a tuna melt, why not a chicken salad melt? Broiled shortly until heated through, then topped with cheese and melted- it wasn't bad! Hope your week is going your way!