There's Been An Accident! :(

This is what happened at my house this week:


Linds was devastated. This is the glass she used pretty much every day....yes, it's a Grumpy Care Bears glass my mom gave me a couple years ago. She gave it to me as a joke (kind of) since I loved Care Bears when I was little and since I can sometimes be grumpy. Well, Linds has become pretty attached and the other night when I was loading the dishes, it just fell apart! Not sure what Linds will drink out of now, but it was a pretty sad scene. Guess I'm not allowed to load the dishwasher anymore, huh Linds?

Privileged

I hear that word most of the time and think of someone who is entitled and spoiled and lucky. Today I had a sense of feeling privileged in a whole other way....I had a moment today realizing how incredibly blessed I am to work in the career that I do. How privileged am I to be able to help people when they need it and be a part of their life. A patient I have seen over the course of the last few months as he has been in and out of ICU, went on hospice today. I saw his wife going into the ICU and knowing what had happened, I told her I was sorry to hear things had gotten rougher and I would be thinking of them. She is one of the most loyal, devoted spouses I have ever seen...she has literally been by his side every day....for months. Knowing that her husband isn't probably going to live much longer and she will most likely leave the hospital without him, she gracefully said to me, "Thank you for all you have done. How great is our God?" How she is able to find some peace in the midst of the sadness she is going through is so inspiring. The faith she must have in the higher power that she is able to see outside of it and say thank you. I just don't want to forget the privilege I am allowed to be included in people's lives at some of their toughest times and every day I am thankful. If I can make that a little less tough and scary for one person, then it's a good day. So very privileged.

My view....

This is my latest "thing" I've been doing. And by latest, I mean, since yesterday.

It started because when my family came over for dinner last night, I really wanted to play Whitney Houston music while we ate (yes, I'm serious). I happen to have "The Bodyguard" CD so I decided to upload it to my computer. (Sidenote: I not only happen to have it, but it was the first CD I ever owned.) Can you believe Whitney is gone? Linds commented that it seems unreal, much like Michael Jackson. Couldn't agree more. Yes, they both had some issues, but, such talent! Mom recalled at dinner last night that I spent my birthday slumber party in 5th grade belting out, "I Will Always Love you", a treat, I'm sure.

Anyway.......while I was looking for that CD, I found a whole bunch of other CDs that I felt like would be good to get on my computer and possibly Ipod. I (like many of you) discovered burning music my freshman year of college....the dates on the CDs are from like a month into my freshman year. Hmm, perhaps I should have been studying?? So, now I am going through these CDs and uploading them.

Was I going to go the gym after work today? Yes. Did I? No. But this is the view from my front door:

What is that white stuff?! It's been so long since it has snowed (not complaining!!) that I forgot what it was like. Tough to complain though...we have been so spoiled with great weather this year. Let's hope it doesn't change!

So instead of the gym, I'm doing this:

I forgot how much I love this electric blanket! Haven't used it this winter!

With big plans to read some more of this:

This book is SO funny! Tina Fey CRACKS ME UP!

Also started sorting through some fabric scraps for an upcoming little project (of course)....

It's been nice to have a couple hours of downtime. I was kinda cranky and feeling a teensy bit sorry for myself as I worked all weekend, but I am grateful for the work and the flexibility that comes with it. I'm feeling better now....just needed to relax for a few. I'm definitely not the best at unwinding. Gearing up though, as I'm looking forward to cheering on the Cats tonight against KU! Go State!!!!

Well, hello...

It has been "awhile". I have been the worst blogger EVER! Some of you have dutifully posted about a variety of topics, including babies, recipes, vacations and all sorts of lovely bloggy topics. Um, so much has happened since my last post in July. So, in the name of efficiency, here's a brief run-down:

• In August, I went on a road trip by myself to see my sis in Dallas, stopping in Wichita on the way and Oklahoma City on the way back to see friends. I got to see my new sister's apartment, lounge at her pool, and eat some great food. It was fantastic. :)
• My mom retired a couple weeks ago. Hooray! We had cake and cheered her career. She is beginning her journey of no alarm clocks and wearing sweat pants all day long if she chooses. I'M JEALOUS!
• K-State football is back in action...the third game of the season is this weekend and I'm loving it!

Regarding my lack of posts, I have to confess I have a new LOVE....one that many of you have discovered as well and actually encouraged me to check out: Pinterest. Ah, I have to limit myself how much I'm on it because it's easy to get sucked in and hours to fly out! If I actually get it together and actually do any crafts or make any recipes from there, I'll be sure to share.

I'm really loving fall so far after a super toasty summer! Hope you all are too. Looking forward to taco soup, apple crisp and all things pumpkin!!

If I were...

If I were a month, I’d be October.
If I were a day of the week, I’d be Sunday.
If I were a time of day, I’d be the moment I wake up.
If I were a sea animal, I'd be a seal.
If I were a direction, I’d be East.
If I were a piece of furniture, I’d be a china cabinet.
If I were a liquid, I’d be Diet Coke.
If I were a gemstone, I’d be a pearl.
If I were a tree, I’d be an oak.
If I were a tool, I’d be a saw.
If I were a flower, I’d be a lilac.
If I were a kind of weather, I’d be a spring shower.
If I were a musical instrument, I’d be a set of drums.
If I were a color, I’d be green.
If I were an emotion, I’d be excited.
If I were a fruit, I’d be a banana.
If I were an element, I’d be fire.
If I were a car, I'd be an SUV.
If I were a food, I’d be anything Mexican!
If I were a place, I’d be a Kansas wheat field.
If I were a material, I’d be cotton.
If I were a scent, I’d be fresh flowers.
If I were an animal, I'd be a giraffe.
If I were a facial expression, I’d be a blush.
If I were a pair of shoes, I’d be comfy slippers.

I found this random tid bit over at www.ohcaptain.com; it's a great blog I ran across and makes me desperately want to spend more time on our East coast! Until then, Happy Monday and hope everyone enjoyed springing foward, although I'm not sure Mother Nature got the memo. It snowed today!

Happy STF Anniversary!

This morning I realized it's been two years since I started working at St. Francis. This blows my mind that two years have passed! I miss my Wichita friends, of course, and am grateful that I still see many of them fairly regularly! I am also grateful for the new friends I have made in Topeka. It seems hard to believe that two years ago I didn't know any of them.

So, how am I celebrating such a big event you might ask?! I'm having a meal tonight that I was probably pretty into when I was 8 or 9. A hot dog, cheetos and cottage cheese and diced peaches. Yum. Well, it's probably a little different than when I was a kiddo- it's a Hebrew brand hot dog. Not sure what's in it (probably don't wanna know) but my mom told me about them awhile back and I think they're pretty tasty. Can't go wrong for only 40 calories. And those glorious Cheetos are the baked kind but I really like 'em. And you wanna know the perfect way to have cottage cheese and peaches? Make sure the peaches are at room temperature and the cottage cheese is nice and cold. You'll thank me later.

Anyway, so on this day of celebration, it was the most crazy busy day in the history of the world. I am grateful. I will definitely not complain about overtime when I had an unexpected bill at the Ford shop yesterday when I had to buy a new air/vent/thingy that attaches to the engine and sucks air in. (Make sense? Yeah, me neither, but the people that know stuff tell me it's crucial to the engine.) Work definitely seems like a feast or famine kind of deal sometimes.....rarely is it just a steady, predictable caseload....which, in general I like. I really like how every day is different and it's dynamic and you constantly are "on" and having to think. I had a couple really tricky patients today and although they are challenging, it makes me go, "Oh yeah, that's why I do this." One of my VERY FAVORITE PATIENTS EVER is going home this weekend. He couldn't be more excited and I'm really happy for him but I'm really going to miss him!

In other breaking news, in case you happen to not live in the Midwest....it snowed. Again. Last night we got 4.5" of snow here and the meteorologist proudly reported that we have received 30" in the last month in Topeka. I'm sorry, but that's too much. I definitely find myself dreaming of warmer weather, grilling outside and even of mowing the grass! Gasp! Remind me I said that in a few months when I'm complaining about how much I hate to mow!

In further disturbance, one of K-State's main players is rumored to have failed a drug test and out for the rest of the b-ball seaon. Seriously guy?!?!?!? What a disappointment for a season where dreams were SO big! I'm not gonna stop cheering but I get so sick of trying to defend the team. If things get much worse, I might have to play in the match up against KU on Monday. Now that would be a game! Speaking of KU, has everyone seen the Flash Mob clip that is going around from the KU/MU game on Monday night? I absoultely LOVE a Flash Mob and thought this was pretty impressive!

Hope everyone had a Happy Hump Day! Countdown to the weekend is on!!

Weekly Wrap-Up

This week could largely be summarized by "brr!" and "snow!". I am trying to stay positive about the snow, but man, it's tough! I finally went to the gym yesterday morning after not going M-W, it felt good to go, but the temperatures are so crazy. On the way homefrom the gym, my car read -11 at 6:30 and it warmed up to a balmy +23 degrees on the way home from work....who else is ready for spring?! I have logged quite a bit of couch time this week and will have to report on how my resolutions are going, as some of them (watch less TV) took a hit during my hibernation! One BIG task that I did accomplish was that I ordered pictures from my sis and my Australia/New Zealand trip this week. Took me quite awhile to pick which ones I wanted!! Excited to get those in an album!

On an upnote, I am chipping away on my Pantry Project 2011 and getting more and more room in my freezer and cupboards! Hooray!

One nice surprise this week was that my friend's kids shoveled my LONG driveway while I was at work Wednesday! These are the same kiddos I referred to last weekend....in my head I was thinking, "It will be good for me to shovel....good exercise." But, I'm not going to lie, I was really excited to see that snow gone when I got home. Oh yeah, for all of you "snow day" people- the hospitals NEVER have snow days. Turns out, people still get sick even in crummy weather!

Things perked up yesterday when I went to my parents' house for dinner and my mom had made her homemade scalloped potatoes. SO GOOD! It's her mom's recipe and a treat we only have it seems like every few years. Made my day!

In a bit I'm going to meet friends and go see "No Strings Attached". Looks cute and who doesn't love Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher?!

I'm working tomorrow during the day and then going to log some time at the gym as I'm trying some new recipes at my parents' house tomorrow night (more on that later!) AND looking forward to watching the Superbowl (okay, let's be honest, the commercials) on Sunday. I amtaking a veggie pizza to my parents' house for the game and PUMPED about using my new food processor that I got at Christmas (first time use!) to chop veggies for it. I've actually never made this recipe, but it makes me think of my college roommate Katie because she introduced me to it our junior year of college. She made it to take to the K-State game at Nebraska that we road-tripped to and I thought it was the BEST THING EVER! Shockingly, I have never made the popular recipe but excited to try it.

Hope everyone has a warm weekend with family and friends!

Brain Dump

I saw this idea from Julie that I worked with in Wichita...seemed like an appropriate blog format considering I had lots of random thoughts running in my head but nothing too exciting for a full post.

• I am very excited for summer! It's so nice to actually see neighbors out and about. I look forward to some time out on the deck in the nice weather, softball (I joined 2 teams), garage sales and going to the pool. Not excited to mow the lawn.
• Two of my best friends at the hospital have given their notices. One is moving to Colorado and the other is going to drive to Lawrence and work at a clinic there. Makes me sad.
• I made two Pioneer Woman recipes for a dinner party tonight. I did the lasagna again and also tried her chicken spaghetti. Looks fairly fantastic.
• I am counting the days, hours, minutes until my family's vacation in San Antonio this month. Can't wait for some quality time outside of the daily rush of life, as well as seeing my sister.
• My coworkers and I are looking for a 10K to do this summer....since the Brew to Brew is now over, we are all wanting something else to look foward to and train for.
• I started going to a new toning class at my parents gym last week and it is AWESOME! I couldn't sit down without wincing for several days from leg pain. We all measured our parts (chest, hips, waist, arms) and my coworker who has done the class before said she lost 8 inches in two months last time she did it.
• I need to get my car cleaned. It grosses me out whenever I get it in. Dirt/debris from winter needs to go!
• My cousin, aunt and uncle made a quick trip here this weekend. My cousin is going to law school at Washburn this fall and was here to find an apt. Proud of her and glad it's not me! Look forward to seeing them hopefully more often.
• I am ready for TV "season" to be over. I can barely keep up with my DVR. I am loving Glee, Modern Family and Biggest Loser right now.

A beautiful thing

I was off work today. Well, I was off from my full-time job today but worked a little bit of PRN work at a nursing home. Point being, I really enjoyed being off work on a weekday. I felt like I was much more productive.....I made dinner for friends for tonight, ran errands, got my teeth cleaned, worked out. Now, of course I am off today because I am working this Saturday, but it was a really relaxing enjoyable Monday! I would be okay with more workdays like today!

Born to Blog....

When my parents moved last year they still had quite a bit of stuff from my childhood and since I have moved into my house, I have moved it here. Well, we were sorting through some stuff and found some of my journals from when I was 8-9 years old. Pretty amusing. I don't know if I was exceptionally slow in the spelling arena or what, but there was some room for improvement! Hopefully my blog/journal now is more cohesive than some of the entries I have found. It seems I was a bit lenient on where I put punctuation and capital letters. Here is one entry to share, copied exactly from my jounral:

Oct. 31st, 1990-

Sat. my grandma came we had a fun time. I had a sccer game. No one won.

Sunday we went to the curics. It was a great show. I bet everyone toght that that went. People came from Itly and spain to do the show. The hanged by there hair and center ring was named Michelle.

Monday and Tusday we did a play. It was called The Little lost with. I was the witch.

Its Wensday I am about to lose my pants. I evee sit still I am so exiced. I get to visit my aunt after school. I am going Trick-or-Treating tonight.

**Translation***
Soccer game that no one won. Precisely why my children won't know what that sport is. Boring!

Then we went to the circus, not the curics. And if I recall correctly, I believe there was a girl in the center ring named Michelle....the actually ring wasn't named Michelle.

Tusday = Tuesday. Wensday = Wednesday.

And I was so excited that I couldn't even sit still and I think that was in reference to going trick-or-treating, not to visiting my great aunt in the nursing home, but that's just a hunch.

Funny the things an 8 year old find "journal worthy". Maybe 20 years from now I will look back at my blog and think, what was she thinking?! :)

Little Miss Pearl.

Today I went to the church Thanksgiving dinner after the service with my mom. It was quite the crowd and I ended up standing in front of a little lady named Pearl. She was bubbling around talking to everyone and I complimented her on her orange shirt and matching jacket (she was definitely dolled up for the occasion). She quickly responded that it was her Thanksgiving outfit and she would wear it for the lunch today, at a ladies lunch Tuesday and then for Thanksgiving day, then it would go back into the closet. Pearl informed me she had that routine of digging it out of the closet and putting it back for years and proudly declared she was 96. My jaw dropped. She looked 75, maybe 80.

Pearl told me that her brother has died and her sister has died but her niece lives close by. Pearl said that she told her niece, "If you're waiting for me to die, it's going to be awhile." What a positive outlook, huh? Thank you Pearl for making me step back and be thankful that I still have my sister and many friends and family to be grateful for this holiday season. Her secret to living such a long life- "eating a little of everything I like and giggling a lot." Cheers to that Pearl!

The Last Box.

On the way to the K-State game Saturday, my cousin Jennifer who was visiting from Denver, went with me to Dillons to get some Wheat Thins on the way to my parents house. We were headed to Manhattan with plenty of dips and needed more dippable items. Anyway, we stopped by the local Dillons to grab a box. It took a dramatic turn when we realized it was the very last day that location was open! They closed it and opened a new one today....which is just sad since it's "my" store that I grew up going to. Here are a few last pictures that we took to savor the memories.


The super empty shelves.....


Jennifer making a sad face over the last box of Wheat Thins in the whole place!! Extra tasty!

Dying.

My mom had this on the fridge when we were growing up and I always thought it was something good to keep in mind. The chaplain department at the hospital send out an email every day with scripture or a poem....they sent this today and I wanted to share; made me think of reading it when I was younger.

First I was dying to finish high school and start college
and then I was dying to finish college and start working
Then I was dying to marry and have children
And then I was dying for my children
to grow old enough
so I could go back to work
But then I was dying to retire
And now I am dying....
And suddenly I realized
I forgot to live.

This very much resonates with me as I spend my days in the hospital with many people who are literally dying and I think how quickly their lives have passed and how many of them feel like they were my age just awhile ago. I also like this as we all need to remind ourselves to slow down and enjoy what we have in our lives today. In our culture, it's very much the trend to look forward to what's coming up down the road, but you never know what the next day will bring. Some days I wish that I was already married and having kids, but I try to make a conscious effort to enjoy this free time in life with little responsibility and many options still open. Hope each of you relish the people, expereinces and joys in your life today.

Unplugged.

When I moved into my house a month ago and I made the decision to wait on getting cable until new TV comes on this fall (can hardly wait). So, not that I would normally be trying to watch a lot of TV in the summer, but like many of us, I have the tendency to get sucked into shows or reruns that I don't really even care about. It's amazing how much more time I have....and how quiet it is! And if you have ever spent any amount of time with me, you probably know that quiet isn't really my thing. Kind of refreshing. Anyway, so with this new freedom of being TV-less, I have had more time for some activities that I have really enjoyed and some that I have needed to complete. Such as:

I have been able to really enjoy my hammock that I bought when I moved. Lots of summer reading here, including "Breaking Dawn" that I just started, which is the fourth book in the Twilight series.

Tonight I took the time to finally pull a BUNCH of weeds in some flowers/trees. This is actually my neighbor's property but it's on the outside of her fence and land that she can't see. The lady I bought my house from planted all of this stuff and she took care of it....so I am trying to get it together and follow suit. Wish I had a before picture of how bad it looked! I got two HUGE bags of weeds out.

Last week my parents gave me this cookbook.....that is pretty fantastic. I have spent a fair amount of time drooling over the recipes and trying to figure out an occasion that will pass as a good excuse to use something from it. Stand-by for hopefully some shared recipes from here!

Hope everyone is enjoying their summers too! :)

Some things just make life better.

...like whole carrots instead of baby ones, days that include chocolate and adding cream cheese to anything. Seriously anything. Having your favorite song come on the radio and reading a good book. And sisters make things better. See below:



This weekend I drove to Dallas (yes, 8 hours) where I encountered all the traffic from a 4-state radius, it's insane, totally worth it thought to spend some quality sister time. Now, I'm not saying brothers aren't fabulous, but I don't have any of those....all I can go with is that sisters are like the icing on the cake in life. Like, even if you have a really really great life....throw a sister in the mix and it just got 10 times better! Hope everyone that has a sis feels this way....especially mine. :) There is no one that I can be as honest or gruff with or that I laugh with more.

We had two days filled with shopping, pool time (yes, I used sunscreen), pedicures, good food and tasty drinks. Meg just moved into a new great apartment and I wanted to go check it out. Didn't capture any pics of it, but it's nice and in a super location of Dallas....near lots of shops and restaurants. Thanks for a fun weekend baby sister! Looking forward to our trip to Jamaica to visit friends in December that we booked together while I was there. :)

Soundtrack of my Life.

Recently, the morning radio personalities on a local station were sharing some songs that they titled the "Soundtrack of my Life". The songs all had a meaning for them, maybe not significant, but a song that brought up a specific image/feeling/memory . Isn't that crazy how songs will make you recall a time in your life, a person, a feeling...etc.

It amazes me how this lasts throughout life....for example, many of my geriatric patients recall songs from long ago, no matter how long it's been since they have sang them. With stroke patients, when someone can't talk at all, it is often successful to have them sing a familiar tune that is deeply embedded in their brains, like "Happy Birthday" or the "ABCs". It is usually a touching moment for them to get some words out after not having any speech. In addition to my day job, I work some at a nursing home on the evenings/weekends. Last week they had a song time before dinner (served at the super early hour of 4:45), and a staff member led them in favorite hymns. Every time they do this the air is knocked out of me a little and I tear up a bit. I know pathetic, but it's so sweet to see people who don't usually talk much to join in the singing in these wobbly little voices. Ahh. Mainly because many of them don't know where they are, what year it is, or maybe even their own name....which brings me back to.....

The Soundtrack of my Life. After wasting a crazy amount of time on Itunes tonight, I thought I would share a few that brought specific images to mind. Feel free to share any of your own.

• "It's My Party"....and I'll cry if I want to! My mom had an oldies tape (yes, tape) that she let us play on REPEAT in the car growing up. I specifically remember listening to this song on the way to church camp with my friend Annie and singing at the top of our lungs.
• "Kokomo"....I spent one year going to Latchkey after school, maybe 1st or 2nd grade. I didn't really like it cause none of my friends were there and they had crummy snacks. :) It was usually at the church across from my grade school but one day we went to a synagogue (maybe my only trip to one to this day) and I remember this song playing in the background and one of the older kids teaching me the lyrics.
• "I Will Always Love You"...Whitney Houston version. This was from my first CD "The Bodyguard" soundtrack...It actually started out as my mom's cd, but I think maybe I asked her for it, then went in my room and played this song on repeat on my super sweet stereo set-up, circa 1990.
• "Waterfalls".....one of TLC's popular hits during my middle school years. I recall watching the music video (yes, we were that cool) with my friends Katie and Callie at Katie's house....sitting in her dining room as her mom served up some frozen pizza....and Katie and Callie explained the songs lyrics. Apparently, they were more worldly at the age of 12 and knew it wasn't really about water, but promiscuous sex.
• "Strawberry Wine"....what girl didn't love this Deana Carter hit?! This song was featured in my life when I went through that phase where you went in your room, listened to music and my googly eyes at Johnathan Taylor Thomas (he is still dreamy). Inbetween takes of "Top 40 Hits" on Sunday nights, Strawberry Wine was a regular on my playlist.
• "Goodbye Earl".....about two best friends that kill one of their husbands cause he was basically a dirt bag. My best friend in high school Lacey and I referred to ourselves as Mary Anne and Wanda....the two main characters (we never killed anyone, just to clarify), but we were super tight and had all sorts of fun together. Crazy enough, after 9 years apart, we are both back in our glorious hometown and get to see each other on a regular basis. I so LOVE the Dixie Chicks and one of my biggest regrets in life is not going to see them in concert when they came to KSU. Guess I will always have their tunes to sing to!
• "Hanging by a Moment"....a song that was on repeat in my friend Amy's room in the dorms our freshman year of college. What carefree days! It reminds me of a very relaxed time that involved showering in sandals, shared spaces with a stranger, naps inbetween classes and a glorious thing called Christmas break.

Looking forward to continuing to add to my soundtrack.

Coming up roses.

So......they say great minds think alike. Last Friday on the way home from work, I went by the flower shop by my house to get some $5 flowers (Friday special) for my mom. She had a semi-crummy day at work and I was going to my parents' house anyway, so I thought I would take her some to cheer her up. I stopped by the shop, then went to my house to cut them and put them in a vase....I get to my house and my dad had the same idea....there were flowers in a cup in the sink (his standard post-flower protocol so we can pick the vase).....went to my parents house and he had purchased some for her too. I know, sweet right? So, I have enjoyed these in my breakfast nook all week.....

And my mama had these in her kitchen...

Repeat performance from my dad this week, so I now have flowers in my butler's pantry too....That Bob is a good egg! Thanks Dad! :)

The End.

So, after much anticipated build-up for the last 6 months of what "will happen" with Jon and Kate +8, now we know. They announced on the show tonight that they are separating and then it was announced that they filed for divorce today. So sad for all their kids!! I was talking to a friend about it earlier and she was like, maybe there will be two shows, "Jon + 4" and "Kate + 4". :(

Inhumane working conditions...

So, there is a SERIOUS problem at my work! Every Monday, about 3:00, the occupational therapists do a cooking activity with their patients....that involves baking fresh chocolate chip cookies. SERIOUSLY!?!?!? What did I ever do to deserve this sort of torture!??! The kitchen is across the hall from the speech office, so the smell of fresh cookies floats across the hall and into my nose and makes me so hungry I feel like I could chew my arm off!! It's at the worst time of day too....lunch has worn off, the appeal of work is fading and there is like an hour of work left to go....I don't know if I can go on working in this set-up!! If you read in the newspaper that a speech therapist went crazy and took a bunch of cookies from some elderly patients, it was probably me. Don't say I didn't warn you. ;)

Not enough hours in the day....anyone else??

It has been SO nice outside tonight! My dad "fired up the grill" and cooked steaks....very tasty. :)After work, I went to the gym and then my mom and I planted the rest of the flowers we got for Mother's Day yesterday. After those activities, and then eating some of Bob's cooking....we are about out of evening; ugh! Where the the time go?

I have about 8 things I want to be doing at this very moment; and yet, I am blogging. I have about 10 pages of a book to read before it's finished, a couple quilts to work on, an Oprah paused on the DVR and laundry to put away. Anyone else seem to have this problem?? It seems like at work sometimes the day creeps by and the second you are home, the clock speeds up?! I guess I just need to do one thing at a time; but that is not always my strong suit. However, I am looking forward to some more products from my dad's grill this summer....keep the nice weather coming!!