Netflix streaming, your days are numbered...

File this under 'first world problems'...We've used Netflix for years and recently started taking advantage of the streaming option, we've used it a lot since moving the wii to the TVdownstairs. Kevin uses it for documentaries that would put me to sleep and I use it for tv shows he has no interest in watching.

Recently Netflix announced they are raising their rates by making the disc and the streaming plans separate come Sept 1. We plan to drop streaming since that is also about when Kevin goes back to school and the new season of tv shows will start, plus most of the movies we've found on the streaming aren't worth watching, though we did recently watch "the Fighter" and it was really good.

Netflix must know I'm planning to drop it because they just added "Mad Men" to the streaming, I've never seen it - any guesses on how many episodes I can get through in a month? I'm still trying to finish up "Arrested Development" too....hilarious show

football is on

This blog is called "The Tuckers" but its pretty much all posted by me, Carol, which is why its very heavy on what I do and what I find interesting. Sometimes I feel the need to share some of what is more news making for Kevin.

The NFL lockout is over and we are ready for the season to start! I've even started another fantasy football league, wish me luck in keeping up with 3 teams! and if you're in the league, please be patient with me because I'm still figuring out what all the settings are as the 'commissioner'.

Kevin and his parents will once again have season tickets and this year his brother has one too. That'll be great because they can both go to all of the games and could mean - more games for me whenever my mother-in-law doesn't want to go :)

We'll see how the fall goes, it will be even busier with Kevin's TA position, but I am so ready for fall....

Wordless Wednesday

This is my first time to particpiate in Wordless Wednesday - already broke the name by using words....eh, my blog my rules.

This is the traveling trophy that Kevin has now won twice (2nd place) at his chess meetup.

Houston eats

I got to have lunch with a dear friend, Delena, and my sister yesterday. It was a great break from the work day and we went to a place that I'd been wanting to go back to but couldn't remember the name of - its tough to find a place when you can't even remember the NAME.

It finally came to me - Dharma Cafe and so when we made plans for lunch I suggested it. Second visit for me, first visit for sis and Delena. Delena was nice enough to pick me up from work (parking at work is tough to leave during the day) and we had a great time chatting and eating. I had the Italian grill sandwich and a curried lentil soup. I didn't think I liked lentils but really did like this soup. The place is pretty easy to get to, even with the construction on north main - now, when that street is totally shut down for lightrail construction it may be a different story.

After our meal they gave us gelato, turns out they give out free gelato on Fridays, vanilla cinnamon yum...It was frozen so hard they must scoop it and then freeze the bowls, otherwise they have someone with arms of steel working the ice cream scooper. Vanilla cinnamon may have to be our next homemade flavor.

I was so glad that the restaurant was still there, earlier in the week I tried to take a friend to a Vietnamese place I love, and we got there to see that the marquee said "Closed - thanks for 3 great years". I was so sad, I loved their food -especially an eggplant tofu dish. Pagoda, you will be missed. We had to settle for a Mexican place nearby since we'd already taken part of my lunch hour to drive over there, it was good but disappointing after I'd set my tastebuds to Vietnamese food. Houston has lots of restaurants, but unfortunately in some areas they seem to be every changing...there are several places that we refer to as "it used to be xyz"

If you read this you'll think all I do is go out to eat, I assure you I don't...most lunches are brought from home or leftovers (in fact the Mexican food leftovers were my lunch on Tuesday) and Kevin and I do a fair amount of cooking at home, I'm constantly on the search for good easy meals so we can have a set of 'go-to' meals during the workweek.

randomness

July? How can it already be July?!? This year is flying by!

Work is keeping me really busy and we've had 3 weekends straight with parties, starting with Kevin's birthday party. We have one more birthday party this weekend and then our weekends should settle down a bit. I've loved getting to see everyone whose come out for the parties, so often we end up in our little routine of work, errands, chores, repeat. We're making the most of Kevin's time off from school and want to make a point to see our friends more often even after school starts back up.

Congrats to Kevin, he was selected to be a TA for the fall! It will mean more trips to Huntsville but will be great experience and look good on a resume, or CV - why does academia have its own format? just to be different I guess.

How many social networks does one person need? apparently one more - I accepted an invite to Google+ even though I can't keep up with the other social media sites I'm already on. I'll give it a try, I don't have much to say but I do have a lot of places to say it. Here's hoping everyone can 'play nice', the anonymity of it all has a way of making people say ugly things, or act like they are in junior high.

more randomness -- Kevin won a trophy! its a traveling trophy, but he won it again for winning 2nd place in a weekly chess tournament he went to tonight. I've used the term 'football widow' but may have to start calling myself a 'chess widow' - left alone because hubby is playing chess. I kid, I love that he is so passionate about his interests.....maybe I'll get a photo of it this week.

4th of July

Happy belated birthday to the USA! We had a great 4th of July weekend even without seeing fireworks. There is a burn ban for nearly all of Texas so many of the usual fireworks options weren't possible. I know safety comes first and a la Smokey the bear, "only you can prevent forest fires" (or in our case grass fires), so we settled for fireworks on the tv. There was a show in downtown Houston, but I already drive down there every day for work and I love my a/c so the tv was good enough.

Even without fireworks, it was a great weekend. We went to Hunstville on Sunday to see Kevin's aunt and uncle's new house. They have been busy getting moved in, unpacked and really making it their own. Its a great house and has SO MUCH space. I know they are loving it and look forward to many more family gatherings there. I don't know why but kids love stairs - they love them at our house and love them at his aunt and uncle's, I guess because they don't have them at home..I think they could run up and down them all afternoon...I wish I loved running up and down stairs, it is quite a work out! We enjoyed visiting with everyone and ate lots of good food. l

My new favorite salad is "Chinese Cole Slaw" that his aunt made at Easter and again this weekend. I'd also gotten the recipe from her and made it for Kevin's birthday. It makes a LOT, so I'd suggest reducing it or planning to eat it for a while and assemble as needed so that the crunchy stuff doesn't get soggy. Seriously - I split the recipe in HALF for Kevin's birthday and still had plenty.


Chinese Cole Slaw

Cole slaw

2 packages shredded cabbage

2 bunches green onions chopped

2 packages chicken flavored Ramen Noodle Soup

4 packages (1/2 cup each) slivered almonds – sautéed in butter

Dressing:

¾ cup oil

6 Tbsp rice wine vinegar

6 packages equal or 12 tsp sugar

Seasoning packs from Ramen Noodles

Salt and Pepper (I forgot to add this, and really don't think it needs any salt beyond the ramen seasoning packet, that thing is sodium city)

Combine cabbage and chopped onions, refrigerate.

Mix dressing and refrigerate.

Sauté almonds in butter; drain excess butter. Crush uncooked Ramen Noodles. Mix together, and refrigerate.

Add dressing, noodles, and almonds to the cabbage just before serving.