New Toy

My New Toy:
Do you ever find yourself driving in your car and an idea, or something you need to do, pops into your head but by the time you get home you forgot what it was?  At my age, that happens all the time.  And not just in my car. 
Hence the reason for Post-It notes in every room in my house....and a notebook in my purse...and scrap paper in my car.
The problem with the paper in the car though...try writing a note to yourself while you're driving.  Doesn't happen...or it shouldn't.  I've tried writing a short note to myself on the steering wheel at stop lights but usually end up honking my horn.  Oops, sorry, didn't mean to do that. 
And when I'm walking my dog and a great idea comes along, I'm screwed.  I don't carry notebook and pen when I'm dog walking. 
So I went looking for a new toy. 
Now keep in mind that I am extremely technology challanged.  I have let the I-Pod (that's the music one, right?) and the I-Pad go right by me.  I have a radio and a computer so I figure why bother. And even though I have a cell phone, I can't seem to let go of my land line. 
So this past weekend I went to Best Buy and asked the sales guy if they still made tape recorders...or did some new techie thing come along and pass me by.  He looked at me strangely and said, "Umm...we don't have any here...and umm...I don't think they make them anymore."
"Okay, then let me tell you what I need."  And I explained my problem. 
"Oh!" he said, and I actually saw the light bulb go on.  "I know what you're talking about and we have them right back here." 

And what do you know?  A digital voice recorder!  No tape, small enough to fit in my pocket (actually smaller than my cell phone) and 2 gigs of memory!  Wow!  Perfect for what I need and its in my budget.  So I get it and I'm excited.     
Now I can chat away, record my grocery list, maybe something I want to blog about or best of all, record that scene I just pictured in my head for my character in my new manuscript...whether I'm in my car, at work or walking Maggie.
Hey, a new idea!  I can even tell myself what row my car is parked in so maybe I won't lose it again when I go shopping.
Now...if I can just remember to take it with me.


Sub Sandwiches:
Another recipe from the land of plenty of kids.  I'm not sure why we called them subs.  They don't look like subs you get from, say, Subway.  But I guess we couldn't come up with anything more original.  I had to double this recipe for 8-10 kids and 2 adults but I've cut it down today for a normal family and I'll tell you later how I cut it down for 1 or 2.

Preheat broiler and move oven rack up.
1 loaf french bread - cut in half and remove the center bread leaving the sides and bottom.
2 lbs ground beef
1 green pepper - diced
1 med. onion - diced

Brown the gr. beef, gr. peppers, onion and salt and pepper to taste.  Drain grease.
Add 2 cans tomato soup and stir till bubbly.
Place the bread on a cookie sheet and pour the sloppy joe mixture into the wells of the bread. 
Slice 2 large tomatoes and lay slices across the top of the subs.
Use 2 packages of sliced Mozzarella cheese and lay slices across top of tomatoes.  I overlap them a little.
Put in oven on top rack and leave door ajar.
Broil till cheese begins to melt and browns nicely.
Slice into large servings and enjoy.

For just me...I cut the recipe in half and use store-bought sub buns.  You only need 3 buns.  This makes 6 small subs that can get me through several meals.  So delicious!

And the extra bread?  You can either use it to feed the birds in your yard or save and freeze it for use in my dressing recipe.

Quotes of the Day:
I hate to mention age, but I come from an era when we weren't consumed by technology and television. ~
Jimmy Buffett

“Once a new technology rolls over you, if you're not part of the steamroller, you're part of the road.” ~
Stewart Brand