there's someone in my room!

christopher is back!! HOORAY!!! they did manly things all weekend. they hunted down the 500 pound bear that's living up there, killed it with their bare hands, skinned it, ate the meat roasted on open flame, and made the skin into a rug. not really. they didn't even see the bear. but they did watch a snail that was hidden inside one of their logs on the fire boil as the flames reached it. that's pretty manly. something i'm amazingly excited about is seeing the new hiking places they discovered. apparently they hiked on the river where "deliverance" was filmed. (this is a picture from the internet, not their travels) he said they rock hopped until it got too narrow, the rocks disappeared, and the river turned into a 10-foot wide stream with sheer rock faces going straight up on both sides. beautiful!! i can't wait to see it. a couple of other places they went were new to them, and we're definitely going the next time we go up. what was hilarious was that they didn't eat lunch one time b/c they always got distracted exploring and playing in streams and stuff. someone would be like "whoa! it's 4:30!!" when they had meant to leave around 1 to go eat. men. so after four days away from my husband, he's even more handsome than before. awww...he's my love!!

in other, more interesting and less sappy news, this absolutely amazes me. once you click on it, it should cycle through the different years. be baffled america. colorado folks. they're healthy there. i wonder if the amount of marijuana consumed has something to do with your level of obesity? hm.

JENCY COMES HOME TODAY!!! as i type, she's in the air somewhere around newfoundland...i think. the odds are very large that i will get to hug her tonight. i absolutely cannot wait!! i wish i could post some pictures that one of the girls from the trip posted on her facebook. but alas, facebook will forever be blocked at my place of employment. they are beautiful, beautiful women. :)

so in my office at work, when i ask maintenance to close my air vents, it's sauna-hot in here. when i ask them to open them, it's an ice-box. there's no middle ground!! i might bring a blanket tomorrow.

in other, more delicious news, i've posted this before, and i'm doing it again because i'm SO stinking amazed at how good they are. oatmeal raisin cookies, recipe from the underside of the quaker oatmeal lid, with just a few tweaks (marked with a "*"). make them. immediately. don't bake them too long so they're chewy. holy. smokes. they are the perfect cookie. they're chewy, hearty, not too sweet, not too oat-y. perfect. i took a picture of one i made last week, but, again, problems with internet at home + my computer at work = no pictures.

Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

1/2 lb (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt (optional)
3 cups oats, quick or old fashioned, uncooked
*1/2 cup golden raisins (recipe calls for 1 cup)

*1/2 cup chopped pecans (recipe doesn't call for at all)

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat margarine and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Add oats, raisins and pecans; stir in well.
2. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.
Servings: ABOUT 4 DOZEN