The other day, the assistant director at our center secretly handed me an invitation to a BBQ at her house for this evening. She went on and on about how great it is to visit with co-workers in a more casual setting outside the “office” (ie. classroom). I was immediately thrilled! I love socializing after hours with co-workers. I suddenly recalled the multitude of Happy Hour Gathering I often organized at one of my old Customer Service jobs. Almost every Friday, a dozen people would come to me asking, “Where are we going tonight, Abbey?” We’d usually go to a local bar (Old C’s or the Bull and Bush) and throw a few back, smoke a few cigarettes and share a lot of laughs. Good times.

As we started to part company, the hostess of said party whispered to me that “not everyone was invited” so she advised me to “keep it kinda quiet.” AH! I get it. *wink wink* *nudge nudge* In some way, her comment reflected what I’ve been hearing from a couple of our preschoolers lately, “Miss Abbey, you were nice to me so you are invited to my birthday party.” Ten minutes later, I probably disappointed said preschooler with my lofty rules and regulations (probably regarding hand-washing after toileting!), resulting in the innevitable: “Miss Abbey, you’re not my friend and I am not inviting you to my birthday party!” With the kids, I go from the “cool” crowd to the “not so cool crowd” at least a half dozen times a day. Now, it seems that I am included in the “cool” crowd with my assistant director for the time being. It felt a little like high school, though I never felt so included and popular when I was in high school. I was flattered to be part of the Selected Invitees and couldn’t help but want to make a good impression to the rest of my co-workers.

In order to secure my position in the In Crowd, I’ve decided to make my infamously tasty “Seven Layer Dip That’s Really Only Four Layers” (that’s the name I gave it years ago). Every time I’ve made this for pot lucks, parties or other such social events, people have raved about it and begged me for the recipe. It lasts in the memory. It tastes that good.

So here it is for you…if you’re ever in a pinch or in need of a self-confidence boost from your fellow friends, neighbors, coworkers or family members, this dip is fool-proof and is sure to make a lasting impression (you can thank me later!):

Ingredients
1 8oz block cream cheese, softened
1 can Hormel Chili without beans (preferrence)
1 bag shredded Mexican cheese blend
1 jar salsa (preferrence)

In a pie pan, spread the softened cream cheese along the bottom. Pour the chili on top of the cream cheese layer. Then spread the shredded Mexican cheese atop the chili layer. Finally, cover the cheese layer with the salsa. You can add sliced jalapenos, green chilies, etc if desired.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 mins (until cheese is melted and bubbly). Let chill for 20 minutes before serving.

The party’s at 6 tonight. Wish me luck. I’ll let you know how it all turns out tomorrow.

My Honey sends me the funniest things!

Well, this just goes to show, ya learn something new every day!

(Warning: If you don’t want to see semi-graphic cartoon pictures of baby-making, don’t click the link below!)

Where Do Babies Come From?

Thank you, Honey, for sending me this informative, yet slightly disturbing graphic.

***Can someone help me? How do I make bullets before each topic here in WordPress?? I can’t seem to separate these prettily!***

A few of my fleeting, random thoughts:
–>“Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day (preferrably one day when I can stay in bed!)”

–>My center director informed me yesterday that the head of the ECE department at our school is trying to develop/get approved a bachelors and masters program in ECE!!!!! The degrees would actually be through Adams State College but we’d take the classes at ACC! I AM STOKED!!! I need to track down said head-of-department (she’s new this semester) and tell her how much I, and my fellow co-workers would love such a degree option! If they implemented that, then I could stay working at ACC center and I wouldn’t have to go downtown to Metro to get a Psych. degree! WOO HOO!! So cross your fingers and please pray that this goes through for me (us)!!

–>After failing Western Civilization TWICE in high school and loathing history ever since, I can’t believe I’m about to say this but…
I think I LIKE Western Civ! It’s so interesting! I do my reading, take my notes like a mad-woman, and I sit transfixed in class to every word that our instructor says (even though he says “Suffice it to say…” at LEAST a dozen times each hour!). Sometimes it feels like he’s just talking to me, only teaching me, telling me this incredible story about how civilization emerged and developed over the last few thousand years! I LOVE IT! I may even take Western Civ II next semester even though I don’t need the credits. This section only goes up through 1715 or something. I’d kinda like to know what else goes on after that. We’ll see how I do on our first test in two weeks before I go making any rash decisions!

–>I had to ask some friends of mine to write some character referrence letters on me for my job. My boss needs it for licensing purposes, I guess. It’s incredibly humbling to ask people to write a letter to nobody, bragging about what an awesome person you are. Imagine my surprise at how willingly and quickly a few of my old friends jumped at the task! I know some incredibly kind, warm people, I’ll tell you what.

–>Monday night’s episode of Medium rocked my freakin’ world! At least the first 15 minutes did…when she was walking out of the university and that song kept skipping over in her head to lead her to a clue. That was damn cool.

–>We saw the movie Crash the other night. VERY good movie. Extremely thought-provoking and well-constructed story lines. Almost too realistic, if you know what I mean. Did anyone else see that movie?

–>I’ve heard that they’re going to make an album out of some or all of the Dave Matthews Band performances at Red Rocks. The Warehouse was taking votes from members on which nights they would prefer to have on a disc. I voted for the night I was there just cuz I like to be famous (and I was at the old Red Rocks concert album, too). But I would go nutty for a box set of all four nights in their entirety!!!

That’s all I got for now. You are now free to roam about the blogosphere.

If you laughed during the old Jepoardy! skits on SNL, you have to check this site out! They’ve got all the old skits!

This one’s my favorite!

Enjoy!