Thoughts.com Blogs - BUSY DAY....GOOD DAY!

Today was one of the busiest days i've had in a while and just perfect for once. I got up and made my morning coffee and was relaxing while reading posts when riley got up....he and tobasco sauce played while i finished my morning brew and then i got them both breakfast.
Afterwards riley and i dressed and got ready for the 2008 Food Show of Maryland. i wasn't looking forward to spending the day at a food show with a 4 yr old bc of the obvious reasons......crowds, congestion, 'i gotta pee', fits only a 4yr. old could throw, etc....well, we put the puppy in his crate and left and i must admit it was just a thoroughly wonderful experience for both riley and me.
When we got there it WAS crowded (at least the parking lot was). we got inside and i gave them my name and where i worked and they gave me my name tag and then proceeded to do the same for riley....he felt soooo important. they gave me a big bag for all the goodies i may get and we proceeded on our way.......
There was soooo much to look at and soooo much food to taste and savor it was unbelievable. i was given enough samples to feed an army for a week. i got coupons off and recipes for the most delicious sauces, soups, salads, etc....you name it i got it. i had to go back and get another bag to keep all my things in. it was great.....
  I tasted the most incredible crab bisque. got the recipe and am going to make it at work soon. it was divine. my baking skills are very good but i got some recipes for sugar free desserts that are nothing short of sinful. just simply mouth watering. crab cakes from Phillips that were to die for and pastries that would make you WANT the sugar. it was one of the best food shows i've ever attended.
  I was privy to some products that are 'coming out' to the public and you will all be sooo thrilled to see them. will absolutely make your lives (in the kitchen) better and easier. i had the best time there and i know it was just food to some but to me its my career and gave me hundreds of ideas and so many new ways to do old ideas. my cooking skills are first rate and my prep cook thinks i can be a bitch at times but when it's my name going out on the food i supose i am more than a little particular. today i learned so much more about products and techniques and talked to the pros about how to do things a little better.....all in all it was a very enlightening day.
They had a game set up like monopoly.....certain vendors had spaces on this sheet of monopoly and you were to have them sign on their assigned space.....some of those that didn't have an assigned space on the board were given a stamp with stars and they could stamp your sheet. at the end of your day you were to turn it in and see how many points you had gotten and then you could 'shop' at the store of prizes.
  I had gotten all mine done and had gotten several stars and at the end of our venture went and turned it in.....they had a 'wheel of prizes' you could use ur points for and so i thought 'what the heck?' and got some spins.....i won a really good knife set and sharpener.....a radio,,,,.and a turn at the 'money bin' (money is put into a little compartment and then air is blown and the money is blown all over the place and you have to catch all you can in the time alloted). i felt like i was on a game show but riley thought it was sooo cool. i caught $75.00. i just held out my shirt and let it blow up under. it was sooo funny. i came away with my money and my loot and a full stomach and a very happy and contented little guy. a good time truly....
I got home and checked my email and let riley watch 'casper' and then had to go pick up jared at school. i took tabasco and the kids went nuts over the little guy.....when i finally got him away from the kids we went to the park for a little while then back home and i fixed dinner.
  It was ballgame night so after dinner my daughter and her husband and the kids and i went to jared's ballgame (his team won). i cheered him and my grand daughter on and it was a wonderful evening. i sat and talked to a friend i hadn't seen in a while and then it was back home....i was pooped.
I supose this will all seem boring to some but it was a great day to me and it was a full day of positive things......i look forward to many more.

K