"A laugh's the wisest, easiest answer to all that queer. . . I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I will go to it laughing." ~Stubb in Hermann Melville's Moby Dick
Today is my Dude of Honor's birthday! This quote reminds me of how Steve's outlook on life and his sense of humor have helped me through so many things. Steve is in New Mexico and I miss him a lot. He and I had some crazy times together - potato guns, tattoos- TWICE, too much Pledge, giant sparklers on Canada Day, and. . . Just thinking about all those times brings a smile to my face.
The "J Girls" (a crazy group of my friends who all decided to change our names to names that started with J. . . don't ask the reason - there is none) are each picking a different blog topic each Friday. This Friday was my choice and I choose "my favorite cold weather recipe." This was actually pretty hard for me since I have several soup recipes I like to make. Here is one of my favs - it's really similar to Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana. Enjoy! I can't wait to see everyone else's recipes!
Potato-Sausage Soup
½ lb. ground pork sausage or Italian sausage
4 cups frozen hash browns
1 large onion, chopped
1 14-ounce can chicken broth
2 cups water
1 10 ¾ -ounce can of cream of celery soup
1 10 ¾ -ounce can of cream of chicken soup
2 cups milk
Brown sausage and drain. Return to pan.
Add hash browns and next 3 ingredients, bring to a boil. Cover; reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes. Stir in soups and milk; cook stirring often until thoroughly heated.
Garnish with shredded mozzarella cheese. Serve with garlic bread.
Every person, all the elements of your life
Are there because you have drawn them there.
What you choose to do with them is up to you.
~Richard Bach
Damn! We looked good that night!
1. My name - Britta - comes from James Mitchner's The Drifters. It was a book my Dad read and then gave to my mom to read when they were discussing names. The book is a about defiance, coming of age, sex and drugs. My Dad gave me a copy of it when I turned 21. I used to hate my name - it was too unusual, I got made fun of a lot and I couldn't find anything with my name on it. I got called Bratta Tye-my-shoe in elementary school. If you don't have Britta added to your dictionary, spellcheck will suggest "brat." But I love my name now. I think it's unique and classy without being too weird. Also, my initials were BLT - Britta Lynnae Tye - before I got married.
2. I have chauffered Herbie Hancock, Orel Herschiser, Molly Ivins and Hank Blaylock around Lubbock. Some was when I worked for Student Activities at Tech and some was helping out with the Heckler First Pitch luncheon. Amazingly, I don't have any of their autographs.
3. I am obsessive-compulsive about weird things. The volume on the TV has to be on an even number or a multiple of 5. I can't set the volume for any level ending in 1, 3, 7 or 9. I don't know why, it just bugs. Also, I have to have the placemats on our kitchen table perfectly square. I re-align then every time I walk by. If I use a pen with a lid, the lid has to line up with any words that are on the pen. I re-write to-do lists after I have crossed to many items off. I also rewrite grocery lists to match the layout of the store.
LATE ADDITION. . . 4. One more thing I am VERY proud of. . . I graduated with my master's in Higher Education Administration with a 4.0 while working full-time, planning a wedding and having a baby/infant. Sometimes I don't feel as if the degree is actually paying off, but I am pretty proud of myself for this accomplishment.
So far today. . .
Patrick has. . . played in snow, knocked icicles off his swing, made sure Buzz was okay in the snow, helped make Valentines, cooked chicken in his "kitchen" (which was really his grill) and now is napping
Paul has. . . made biscuits & gravy for breakfast, taken a trip to United for toilet paper (somehow that didn't make our necessities list when we went on Thursday), started a BIG pot of chili, taken Arizona to the BCS from a 2-10 year in NCAA 2007 on X-Box, knocked the icicles off the eaves
I have. . . gotten skinny (Patrick's term for me working out), made valentines, marveled at the snow, taken pics of Patrick in the snow, blogged!!!!
Next on the list. . . get ready to make a snowman. This involved drinking Bailey's & coffee for Paul and taking Hot Damn shots for me. Stay tuned for the snowman & snow CODD.
Patrick wanted to make a snow angel. He said Buzz Lightyear and Guinness wanted to make snow angels, too. 
Patrick was trying to catch snowflakes on his tounge. I asked him what they tasted like and he said ice cream. He was wearing some of Paul's old cold weather head gear from the Ceast Guard underneath his maize & blue stocking cap. Paul found all his old USCG cold weather gear in the attic over C-mas break. That's SO what we're busting out to build a snowman!!
So last night at dinner Spiderman - aka Patrick - just busted out with this new song. It went like this "Yo, banana. Yo, banana." The best was how he shook his little head while he was singing "banana." It was hysterical. I just love how creative and imaginative and SILLY he is being these days. 
This was Katie's idea. I had shared this recipe with her and strangely enough, we both had it Sunday night! Hungry minds think alike! I actually got this recipe from my grandmother in Slaton who made it so often, she had it memorized.
Melt 1 stick of butter in a 9x9 pan. Add canned fruit with juice. (Be sure not to use pie fillings. I have used cherries, peaches, blueberries – even fruit cocktail.)
Then combine
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
and pour over fruit.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes. And TA-DA!
This really worries me, Mandy
I still don't get this one, Jenn
Do they GET any hotter than this??
5. Being back at Tech and a member of the Tech community.
4. Working with students again. I love experiencing their enthusiasm for life and their youthfulness.
3. Super fun office. We have this great red-yellow-green-blue & purple rug. Fun, science things like DNA hanging from the ceiling. 2 fish. LOTS of toys! And 2 HUGE windows that let sunlight in all day!!!
2. Laughing. It used to be a good day at work when I didn’t cry. I am so blessed to be laughing more now than I ever thought was possible at work. Something funny happens EVERY DAY!
1. Mentors and co-workers. I enjoy making fun of them being “science nerds,” and they enjoy watching me learn about science. I even have a button that says “Trust me. I’m a science teacher.” HA! We all make such a well-rounded team.
Seriously, the job environment and the people I am surrounded with – as a whole – have never felt more “right.” I know this is where God wants me to be now – for what I can contribute with my talents and that the people are helping me regain self-confidence and the creativity, passion and enthusiasm that once was “the Vice Chancellor of Sunshine.”
Paul & I have been Mr. & Mrs. Paul Codd, Jr for 1096 days. That's 365 x3 + 1 for leap year in 2004. Funny story - when we went to get our marriage license, we realized none of Paul's IDs had him listed as Paul Raymond Codd, JUNIOR, so technically I am married to Paul Raymond Codd - his father.
This is our first picture as Mr. & Mrs. Paul Codd, Jr. Katie, my Matron of Honor, snuck in and took it of us as soon as we walked down the aisle together.
These were all my bridesmaids and Dude of Honor at our couple's shower. All of them except Angie, who was in Michigan. We missed you, Ang. 
One of our first dates was at Caprock Winery, so it has become tradition that we go there for a tasting each year on our anniversary date. This is us at Caprock in 2005 - our first anniversary.
And last year in 2006. We'll take another picture when we go this weekend. If you have never been on a winery tour and tasting, they are really fun! 
Thanks, Jenn, for creating my blog, and thanks, Mandy, for helping me post pics. That's a great picture of me and Big Jim. Here are some more of my favorite people. Stay tuned. . .
