Friends are friends forever.....

This past Monday I had the chance to catch up with my girlfriend Becky (Erin) who just over a year ago got married and moved to New Mexico. (see My Best Friends Wedding post)


My parents came over and brought dinner... homemade Sloppy Joes!! It's always fun getting caught up with Becky... she loves to bring "show-and-tell" items. She has so much going on in her life... a husband, 5 puppies, and two jobs. I don't know how she does it... but she does.

Can't wait until you and Bill FINALLY decide to move back to Michigan!!!! New Mexico is just so farrrr away!! =(

"Marley & Me" and "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas"

Dog lovers will agree... the book "Marley & Me" was LAUGH OUT LOUD funny!! The heartwarming and unforgettable story of a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life. It's finally hitting the big screen, and I can't wait!!


Here is another book turned movie that is getting GREAT reviews. I've wanted to read the book for some time, but just never order it (used of course). Check out the trailer!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Christmas Survey: Would you rather...

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Thanksgiving.... T-bone style!!

A VERY good friend of mine (Jeff) sent this joke to me the other day and I just HAD to post here. Anyone who knows me knows I do NOT take the subject of this joke lightly... however, I do have a rather great sense of humor... thanks to my dad!!!! I can TOTALLY hear my dad in this joke... and so can others who know him.....

A man in Phoenix calls his son in New York two days before Thanksgiving and says, 'I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough. 'Pop, what are you talking about?' the son screams.

We can't stand the sight of each other any longer,' the father says. 'We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her.' Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. 'Like heck they're getting divorced,' she shouts, 'I'll take care of this,' She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams at her father, 'You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?' and hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. 'Okay,' he says, 'they're coming for Thanksgiving and paying their own way.'

WATCH out for Illegal "MB IMAGE WORLD" charges on your bank account!!

I am one that balances my checkbook to the penny each week. As I balanced my checkbook this morning, I noticed a funny electronic check posted to my account on Monday this week. I printed the almost totally unreadable check out, and racked my brain trying to remember where I was or what I did that cost $39.99. After really digging into the depths of my brain, I decided to call my bank for any further details of this transaction. They were NO HELP WHATSOEVER!! They referred me to a "Customer Solutions" phone number, and they referred me to a "Claims" phone number. The "Claims" department at my bank is only open Monday - Friday... so, my claim would have to wait. I decided to call the phone number listed on my electronic check that I printed, and give them the reference number for this transaction. Took me three times to finally get through. The lady on the phone was MORE helpful then my bank, and told me that this transaction was for a "Web Subscription". I know I didn't subscribe to anything web related (Hello.... money is tight right now), so she was more than willing to issue a dispute with the company, and told me that I should call my bank and file a claim. The claim would take 7 - 10 days to go through. After I got off the phone with her, I still questioned my memory... so I decided to do a little "Google Search" for this company MB IMAGE WORLD. Come to find out, this is a HUGE SCAM that has been happening to people all over, using all different banks. I wanted to post this here to ALERT you to this scam.

The details to watch for on your checking account are as follows:

The check amount can be anywhere from $25.95 - $39.99, and its made payable to PAYMENT SYSTEMS. Upon reading all the comments, this is a web based porn site.

The company they use for these electronic payments is: MB Image Word Customer Service, and the phone number listed is 1-866-878-7962.

WATCH FOR THIS!!

Here is a link to a discussion thread I found thru Google: http://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-878-7962 There is actually a few out there, but this one had the most information.

Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies.... MMMmmmm!!

Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies
Ingredients:
• 1 (19.5 oz.) package Pillsbury® Classic Traditional Fudge Brownie
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter
• 1/2 can Pillsbury® Chocolate Fudge Frosting

Directions:
1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Beat brownie mix, melted butter, cream cheese and egg in medium bowl 50 strokes with spoon until well blended (dough will be sticky).
2. DROP dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets to make 24 cookies; smooth edge of each to form round cookie.
3. MIX powdered sugar and peanut butter in small bowl with spoon until mixture forms a ball. With hands, roll rounded teaspoonfuls peanut butter mixture into 24 balls. Lightly press 1 ball into center of each ball of dough.
4. BAKE 10 to 14 minutes or until edges are set. Cool on cookie sheets at least 30 minutes.
5. SPREAD thin layer of frosting over peanut butter portion of each cooled cookie.

High Altitude (above 3500 ft.):
1. FLATTEN cookies slightly before baking. Bake at 350° F for 11 to 15 minutes.

Yield: 24 cookies

What would you look like on a SOUTH PARK episode??

Let me first say that I am NOT a South Park fan!!! However, I did find this fun site that lets you create how YOU would look if you were a character on the show. It's kind of fun for a few minutes... so, go here http://www.sp-studio.de/ and check it out. This is how I would look if I were on the show!! Let me see what you would look like.... go on... have some fun!! If you create yourself, save it and email it to me... I will post all the characters here. Let's try and have a little fun with this!!

Here is my "alter ego" shot:

Here is Jeff Aliotta:

And then his Indiana Jones "alter ego":

Here's Sonya:
Here's my mom... Ginny:

~ ~ Happy 42nd Anniversary Mom & Dad ~ ~

Just a little post to wish you two a VERY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! I love you both so much, and thank God all the time that he gave me to you! I couldn't ask for better parents. Thank you for always being there for me... I don't know what I'd do without you!!

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Mallow Bars (from Kraftfoods.com)

What you need:
1 pkg. (2-layer size) devil's food cake mix
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
2/3 cup milk, divided
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 jar (7 oz.) JET-PUFFED Marshmallow Creme
1/2 cup PLANTERS Salted Peanuts
6 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, coarsely chopped

Make It:
HEAT oven to 350°F. Mix dry cake mix, butter and 1/3 cup milk until blended; press 2/3 onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan. Bake 12 to 14 min. or until center is almost set; cool 3 min. Meanwhile, mix peanut butter and remaining milk.

SPREAD peanut butter mixture onto crust; top with small spoonfuls of the marshmallow creme and remaining cake mixture. Sprinkle with nuts and chocolate; press gently into cake mixture.

BAKE 18 min. or just until center is set. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

KRAFT Kitchen Tips:
Make Ahead
Prepare as directed ; cool completely. Wrap tightly; freeze up to 1 month. Thaw before cutting into bars.

These birds are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check these out!!! Meet Groucho and then Einstein....

Awwww man.... gonna miss Chauncey!!!!

Lena and I are really sad today because the Pistons traded Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson. Allen Iverson is a good player, but we really appreciated the professionalism that Chauncey brought to the team. Was this a good move?? I just feel bad... he was always a class act to watch on the court.

Hopefully, this trade will work out for the best, and bring home another CHAMPIONSHIP!!! Lena and I wish Chauncey the best, and look forward to watching him play (once again) even if it is against the Pistons.

Enjoy the sunshine Julie!

Hope you had a memorable "last day" at Plymouth... well, your last day for about 6 months! We're really gonna miss you while you're gone!! Hope you and Ron (and Crystal too) have a very relaxing, fun filled time!