From Across the Net

Happy Birthday Mom!

2012-01-21T10:09:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to my wonderful mother. I love you! Wishing you many more!!!

Picture taken on our trip through the Panama Canal! Picture credit - my husband.

Friday Funny

2012-01-20T08:56:00.000-05:00

Now I know where the ~~junk~~ stuff on Storage Wars comes from - Household Wars!

Source

New Year, New Whatever!

2012-01-04T01:18:00.000-05:00

I'm sitting here, at 12:50 in the AM, wondering just where the heck 2011 went? How about you?

So many things happened in 2011. We rang in the New Year with wonderful neighbors. We are so fortunate to not only call them neighbors, but friends. In February, our favorite little buddy, Junior Bird Man spent a few days with us and we learned that IKEA has really good chicken tenders! We traveled to San Diego and embarked on a two week cruise down the western coast of Mexico and Central America, through the Panama Canal and ended up in Ft. Lauderdale, creating many wonderful memories with my parents.

Our only child graduated from college in May and, after a brief visit home, moved to Connecticut to begin his working career. I still can't believe that he's on his own. He can't possibly be old enough. And neither can I!!!

We traveled to North Carolina to vacation with Nurse Nancy, Fly Boy and Junior Birdman where we felt the earth move - literally. We were there when the earthquake that was centered just outside of Washington DC happened. I thought I was suffering from sun stroke. Duh!

And September rolled around, and for the first time since our son was three, we didn't have to write any tuition check. One year of part time pre-school and eighteen years of Catholic school (Pre-K 4 through college). And we don't regret a single dime of it. We were so fortunate to be able to give him an unusual graduation gift - no school loans to have to pay. Having only one child, it was a bit easier for us, and with saving and planning, and a little help from some pretty wonderful grandparents (thanks Mom and Dad!). So not writing a tuition check means that we can resume some pretty serious saving for retirement!

Knee surgery number three happened in 2011. This time on my right knee! My resolution for 2012 is to get back to swimming at least three times a week.

Then we blinked and it was Thanksgiving and our son made his first trip home since June. We did go to visit him, but once he started working, he just didn't have time to make the trip - seven hours of driving was a bit much for just a weekend.

And then it was Christmas, our first without our son. Thankfully we could spend it with my parents and my nephew and his girlfriend, but waking up on Christmas morning without our son was a bit sad. But a few days later, he came to visit for five days, including the New Year. And we thoroughly enjoyed spending time with him.

And here we are, a few days into 2012 and there are so many things I want to do this year. But before I start on any of them, I have some year end bookkeeping to do on our investment ventures. And when those things are finished, and the Christmas decorations put away, I hope to begin doing some sewing, crafting and some heavy duty house cleaning. And next year, I'll let you know how that goes!

Word Verificationism, part 6

2011-12-15T03:53:00.000-05:00

Here's some more "captcha" nonsense to hopefully brighten your day:

imaterl - what a 5 year old says the first time he/she makes the letter "L"

Hampadat: what moms tell kids to do with their dirty laundry (courtesy of Barb)

ztzwdzu - I think this is Polish for "captcha," but I'll have to check with someone who's fluent to be sure!

moldex - a green former spouse

rooterep - the guy who answers the phone for "roto-rooter"

palite - what you call dad after he loses weight

enick - Santa on the internet

flies - pretty self explanatory

Happy Anniversary

2011-11-28T00:00:00.007-05:00

Twenty-four years ago, I married my best friend. Happy Anniversary John. I love you more today than then day I married you.

Last Supper?

2011-11-22T16:37:00.000-05:00

I wish I was one of those awesome bloggers who carry a camera around with them at all times, but I'm lucky if I can remember my wallet and phone. Today after an emergency trip to the dentist to have a crown re-cemented (stupid Tootsie Roll), followed by an emergency trip to the Wal-Marts to get OJ to make glazed carrots for Thursday, I headed home through a small neighborhood that has a corn field in it. And the field was full of wild turkeys munching on what ever they could find after the field had been cut and plowed. Having only my cell phone on me, and it's only a basic flip phone not a fancy iPhone or Blackberry like the other members of my family use, I quickly snapped a few pictures.

I have seen turkeys on this field and walking though this neighborhood before, but I have never seen this many - I'm guessing that there were at least 20 of them. Lucky for them, it's a "no hunting" area, so this won't be their last supper.

"Blah"-ging

2011-11-10T00:18:00.000-05:00

Been in a bit of the blogging "blah's" lately. I don't know why, but I seem to not have much to write about. Or should I say, I have lots to write about, I just don't feel like writing. But I keep up on the blogs I love.

Hopefully I'll be over my blog blues soon. It's getting to be the time of year that there will be much to write about - Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years. So I'll work on busting the blues and writing more.

Word Verificationism, part 5

2011-10-09T19:48:00.000-04:00

I've been collecting these for quite a few months and it's time to put pen to paper (or should I say, fingers to keyboard) and craft some definitions.

aftemo - the time befotues (after Monday, before Tuesday)

fieckink - the opposite of real ink

puncel - the lowest form of cellophane

extesti - the exam that was previously given and then thrown away

pallikee - what you say when you admire something a friend has just shown you

ovenex - the oven that you just got rid of

flumize- the process of adding a log flume to your swimming pool

ailsized - the measurement of the severity of your cold or other illness

precilla - the period of time before you take penecillin

Hope to be back to blogging more soon. Darn Facebook!

Happy Birthday

2011-08-31T11:34:00.000-04:00

Happy birthday to my son John (yesterday) and his lovely girlfriend Hallie (8/16).

Vacation photos

2011-08-05T16:40:00.000-04:00

Looks like I finally have the photo uploading problem fixed. However, after fixing it (thanks to the wonderful Geniuses at the Apple Store in Marlton, Chris and George), some of the photos that were causing the problem were lost. Not to worry, they are safely ensconced in my husband's iPhoto library and I will work on transferring them to my computer this weekend.

Vacation pictures

2011-07-17T21:07:00.002-04:00

Been wanting to post some more pictures from vacation, however I've been having a problem uploading pictures from iPhoto to anything, including blogger. I think a trip to the Genius Bar at Apple may be in my future. Sorry.

Vacation Photos

2011-07-08T15:01:00.005-04:00

So, I've been back from my vacation almost three months, we traveled the first two weeks of April, and I finally have some pictures to share. I won't bore you with too many (we took about 2,3oo altogether), but I'll pick a few from each port of call. Today's photos are from the two days we spent in San Diego before boarding the ship.

Our first day was spent at the San Diego Zoo. We took in quite a bit in the six and a half hours we spent there. I would definitely like to go back and spend some more time there - the line to see the pandas was just too long and there was so much to see that you just can't see it all in one day.

Watching the giraffes feeding - we spent almost a half an hour watching them strip every thing, including the bark, off the tree branches that were left for them.

I've never seen a giraffe with such dark spots. And with so much patience pulling the bark off the branches.

Proud as a peacock - and justifiably so I'd say. However, it took a while to get him to spread his feathers in our direction!

I wanted to take one of the Koala's home - they are just so darn cute.

I've never seen a duck with a blue bill before - so unusual.

Meerkats - the original snoops.

On Saturday, we went to Coronado to check out the Hotel Del Coronado.

Happy travelers.

We also went to the Torrey Pines Gliderport where hang gliders and paragliders fly.

It's about a hundred and fifty foot drop when they take off.

This is the sanctuary of the Mission San Diego church where we attended Mass on the day before our ship left.

I'll post more as time allows. We set sail on Sunday from the port of San Diego and in the next two weeks, we made three stops in Mexico, one in Guatamala, an evening stop in Panama City, a day going through the Panama Canal and a day in Cartagena, Colombia before docking in Ft. Lauderdale and flying home.

Friday Funny

2011-07-01T09:42:00.003-04:00

photo source

Normally I would post some random comic strip, but this morning I saw a commercial for Pajama Jeans and it just struck me as hysterically funny. Et tu??? I just don't get it.

Thursday Thoughts

2011-06-30T07:32:00.002-04:00

Here's what's clogging up my thoughts this week:

Had my first colonoscopy this week - oh joy.
Moviprep is the worst tasting substance on this earth.
I must never let my ironing pile up again. Never. Until next month.
Four zucchini plants can feed an army.
Children move out, but their stuff doesn't - does it mom and dad???

Have a wonderful Thursday.

"The Blackberry Bush" - a quick review

2011-06-24T15:48:00.003-04:00

About a month or so ago, I received a book from The B & B Media Group, "The Blackberry Bush," which I was asked to read and review. Having never done this before, unless you include a plethora of nuisance book reports in school, I decided I would give being a reviewer a try. It was an interesting experienced.

"The Blackberry Bush," a novel by David Housholder, is the story of two people, Kati and Josh, born on the day the Berlin Wall falls, one in the United States and the other in Europe. Although they don't know it, they are related. Their grandparents are half-siblings, born during war times, who don't know that the other exists. It is though fate that they are brought together and learn of their familial relationship.

The story follows Kati and Josh and how their grandparents are related and how they eventually meet. It carries into the future when they are parents and how they become friends.

"The Blackberry Bush" is a great beach or pool read. I enjoyed it and will pass it on.

UPDATE: My good friend Mental Mama has suggested a give away for this book. Sounds like a plan to me. If you are interested, leave a comment about what you'll be doing this summer and I'll pull a name for the winner. Entries through Monday at noon. Since I'll be home prepping for my colonoscopy, it'll give me something to do in between trips to the bathroom. Oops - I know, TMI! Enter anyway.

Thursday Thoughts

2011-06-16T09:18:00.002-04:00

Here's what's crowding my mind today:

My son's been gone for a week. I have yet to tackle his room to finish the clean-up. Now when was the last time I had a tetanus shot?
America's Got Talent - get a clue folks, blowing up a hot water bottle is not the basis for a Vegas show. And neither is bad dancing that looks like you are LSD tripping.
Time to pick out new glasses today. And then I can trash the ones I broke Saturday night by kneeling on them - duh!
Is any one else as obsessed with the USA shows like me?

Have a wonderful day.

Sadaversary

2011-06-09T17:41:00.001-04:00

2/10/94 to 6/9/09

Remembering Maxie today. Still loved. Still missed very much.

Remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice

2011-05-30T09:55:00.003-04:00

It's Memorial Day. A day to remember those who served and gave their lives for our freedom and the freedom of others.

Both my father and my late father-in-law served during World War II. My father in the Army and my father-in-law in the Navy. And while they served and came home, so many did not. And to them and their families, I say "thank you."

I have been fortunate enough to visit the Arizona Memorial in Hawaii and have been to Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and World War II Memorial in Washington DC and I can honestly say that I have shed tears at every one. Tears of sadness that war exists, tears of sadness for those who died and tears of sadness for those families who have lost their loved ones. And tears of thanks that my family members and friends who served came back alive.

God Bless America.

Waiting....

2011-05-11T20:55:00.000-04:00

Been back from vacation for almost a month and I am still waiting for my husband to download photos from our trip so I can post some. Granted, between the two of us we took about 2,300 pictures, but I would like to post some on my blog.

In other news, I had a wonderful trip the weekend after Easter to Portland, ME with Nurse Nancy. She was attending a school nurse conference and since it wasn't going to take up the whole weekend (and she had a free room!), she asked if I wanted to tag along and make it one of our infamous girlfriend's weekend.

Our trip from her home in CT to Portland was relative uneventful. Except for getting dinner. We stopped at a restaurant and decided since the wait was at least 25 minutes, we'd order some food to go. While we were waiting, two tables with large groups (including one of about 10 Red Hat ladies - gah!) left and after 15 minutes, with quite a few people waiting to be seated, the tables were still not cleared and set to seat those waiting. However, several members of the wait staff stood by the tables chatting. Thank goodness we were getting our food to go, or I would have had the manager's ear and it wouldn't be pretty. You just don't stand around chatting when 20 people were waiting to be seated and there is almost enough seating for all of them.

Any way, Saturday morning I wandered around the city checking out shops and restaurants. There must be a lack of dental care available, because I don't think that I saw more than two or three people with all their teeth.

Saturday evening, after attending mass at the Cathedral where the organist played some pretty dark and ominous music, we met up with my brother-in-law who lives about a half an hour from the city. We enjoyed a great dinner at a local brew pub and though Nurse Nancy had never met my BIL, they chatted like old friends.

Sunday morning, the nurses, and one lowly accountant, went for a fitness walk. The mile and a half walk became about a two and a half mile walk, up and down the hills of Portland. After her morning session, we headed to Freeport for the requisite visit to LLBean to shop and see my BIL. I hadn't been there in over twenty years, and boy has it changed! Then a trip to the Portland Headlight and dinner at a local spot finished the day.

Monday we headed back to CT where I picked up my car and stopped to see my son on the way home. After a quick bite to eat with him and his girlfriend, I headed home with a few crates of stuff he no longer needed. I can't believe he is finished with his classes and will graduate in a week and a half. Time has certainly sped by.

So I'm off to relax a bit before bed time. Hopefully, I'll have some pictures of our cruise to post soon.

Thursday Thoughts

2011-05-05T00:28:00.003-04:00

It's Thursday and I haven't posted in quite a while. So here's what's on my mind:

I brush two or three times a day, floss, get my teeth cleaned twice a year. So far I've had 12 root canals, 4 extractions, about a billion fillings. How did I get so lucky?
My husband downloaded all the photos (2,300 of them) to his lap top. How long will it take for him to transfer them to some device so I can download them to mine?
Vacation was awesome. The cruise was spectacular and the ride through the Panama Canal was a wonderful experience. If I ever get some photos, I'll share them.
Went to Maine this past weekend with Nurse Nancy. We had a blast.
My son graduates from college in two weeks. How is that possible since he just started kindergarten last fall?
There was a ground hog in one of the trees in our backyard yesterday. I haven't figured that one out yet. I guess it's time to get the trap out again.

Have a wonderful Thursday.

Vacation!

2011-04-03T14:29:00.001-04:00

We will soon be on our way to board a cruise ship for a trip through the Panama Canal. We've been in San Diego for the past few days enjoying the zoo and other local haunts. Catch you when I get back.

Friday Funny

2011-03-25T00:00:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted one of these in a while. But those of you who are dog lovers will appreciate this one.

picture source credit

Has this ever happened to you???

Bird Brains Warning - graphic photo of a lousy hawk!

2011-03-24T17:52:00.005-04:00

As you know, I love to feed and watch the birds in my backyard. We have been fortunate to be a haven for cardinals, have had a record for us of 8 males in our yard at once over this past snowy winter.

This year, we've been visited by a sharp shinned hawk. They like to frequent yards where feeders are present as their prey are plentiful. So today, we had this in the morning:

And this hawk hung around for about three hours in that spot between the time it was eating and then just hanging out and digesting.

A few hours later, the "regulars" returned and, as you can see, there were six males and one lone female cardinal in our tree.

Now, if I can only figure out a way to keep the hawk out. Thank goodness it didn't get one of the cardinals, or I would have been really mad.

Thursday Thoughts - Which one shall I choose???

2011-03-24T03:17:00.005-04:00

It time for more "designer" shoes. Would someone please tell me how one wears these??

My guess is that the heel on this shoe can be used if you need a nail in a hurry. Or a weapon. I hope it doesn't rust if it's exposed to water.

Nothing says "old lady shoes" like one that comes with saggy knee hi or fallen down thigh high hosiery already attached. And it looks to me like the heel is about break with one wrong step. Ugh!

I have no words to describe this shoe except "ouch!" I can't imagine standing in these without falling backward. But at least if you fall backward going down hill you won't slide since the spike will firmly plant your foot in the ground. Though a broken ankle or leg is a real possibility. Another use is a weapon if attacked while bar hopping. Or to puncture your child's inflatable pool.

If you know me, you know that I am pretty much not safe in any shoe higher than sneaker height. One inch heal max, and that's pushing it. I just don't get "high" fashion. How about you?

Word Verificationism, part 4

2011-03-11T00:00:00.001-05:00

Some more interesting verification words and my definitions:

remess - to mess again!

menat - redneck for where to find men - "where is the menat?"

tryxw - a new math term.

splammy - what you call it when you are hit by a piece of flying spam.

tatedue - when you must pay a bill - "tatedue until next week"

musedous - entertaining. "Watching Larry the Cable Guy musedous alot."

spastsm - simultaneously having a spat and a spasm caused by an increase in blood pressure.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Thursday Thoughts

2011-03-10T19:25:00.003-05:00

I am beginning to see a pattern here - posting only on Thursday. No reason, other than there hasn't been much to post about. But here's the drivel on my mind today:

The storms that are giving us all this rain are free to move off the coast. We've had enough. I need to put down spring fertilizer and I can't until the rain is finished.
My chin is all irritated from plucking chin hairs. Why can't I just leave them alone?
We recently purchased BPA free water bottles for our upcoming vacation. We'll be spending some time in Mexico and I'm not taking any chances with water. We've been using them daily and my water consumption had increase considerably. So have my trip to the bathroom. But it's good.
I really need to make my Whiskey cake for St. Patrick's Day. Maybe tomorrow or Saturday.
Didn't get to the Flower Show today, but I'm hoping to go tomorrow. Maybe I won't have to go by ark.

Happy Thursday.

Thursday Thoughts

2011-03-03T12:28:00.002-05:00

It's Thursday and here's what I am thinking about -

Having Junior Bird Man visit reminds me of how much fun I had with my own son when he was that age.
I don't miss having snow on the ground.
It's only a little more than two months until my son graduates from college. That can't be - only yesterday I sent him to kindergarten.
I'm so proud of my son's girlfriend for being accepted into Christie's Masters program in London.
Going to a fundraiser tonight for an organization for which I'm on the Board of Directors.
That means I must get dressed up - not my favorite thing.
Do you think anyone will notice if I wear jeans?
I love Top Chef.
Philadelphia Flower Show next week - and I'm hoping to go.

What's on your mind?

Thursday Thoughts

2011-02-24T08:40:00.002-05:00

It's Thursday and here's what's on my mind today:

Nurse Nancy's son, Junior Birdman, is staying with us for a few days. It's our chance to visit with him and do some fun kid things and NN and Fly Boy get a few days to themselves. It's been and annual tradition for about the past 8 or nine years. Last year we went to Florida together and in the fall, when his parents headed to their beach house, he opted to stay with us for the weekend since he missed his weekend with us in February. The fact that we spent a week together didn't count since his parents were with us. His words!

Cinnamon Apple Bread from Shady Maple Market makes the most awesome french toast.

I've seen enough snow this winter thank you. Could we please have some spring? Like tomorrow.

I can't believe that my son has only three more months of school. For the first time in 19 years, I won't be making any checks payable to any school for tuition.

Five weeks until vacation. Can't wait. Note to self, must dig out summer clothes and hope they fit!

Cortisone injections can be a good thing. Especially when one has a rotator cuff tear, arthritis and bone spurs in their shoulder. Except for the part where they make you hungry.

What's on your mind today?

Found

2011-02-21T20:29:00.003-05:00

We moved into our current home almost 12 years ago. When we moved, we did our own packing. We had some time to pack as we settled on the house we were selling and since our new house wasn't going to be ready for another month, we were able to rent our house back for a month from the new owners.

So, we went about collecting boxes, wrapping the fragile things and carefully packing them for transport. We moved the most fragile things ourselves as we had three days from when we settled on the new house to vacate the old house. A moving company was hired to cart the rest of the house contents and we were in our new house with one day to spare.

We quickly and methodically unpacked, emptying boxes, breaking them down, folding the clean newsprint and neatly piling the moving supplies in the garage to be picked up by friends who were moving the following month. The boxes we weren't going to unpack right away were stored in the basement.

About a year after we moved, we purchased new bedroom furniture. As I emptied out the old furniture, I realized that a few things that were on shelves in our old house were missing. They weren't things of value, just sentimental items that I figured were somewhere in the untouched boxes in the basement. And I'd look for them after the new furniture was delivered.

Well, I looked. And I looked. And I looked some more. And for the life of me I could not find those things. Eventually I quit looking and resigned myself to the fact that either the box containing them "disappeared" on moving day or they were in a box I thought I emptied and got thrown out with newspaper. I thought about these things from time to time, hoping they would surface, but they never did. Until yesterday.

My husband was unpacking a box to show some friends some antique teacups he had gotten from a woman he knew growing up. They were family treasures and she wanted them to go to someone who would appreciate them.

They were packed in a box marked "JKT things - fragile," a box that I thought was as yet unpacked from my husbands first move to my house when we got married (23 years ago). Apparently not. I must have consolidated things on our last move and packed my things in that box. And as he was unwrapping, the first item that was missing appeared. And then the next. And then they all appeared - a small Waterford crystal jar, a generic ginger jar that contained a prayer for mothers that my mom had TYPED for me when I was pregnant 22 years ago, one of my favorite pictures of my son from when he was about two years old, a glass box containing most of his baby teeth that I had been saving (yes, creepy), some assorted knick knacks and my rosary beads - a crystal set that had been given to me for my First Communion from my adopted grandparents who are both now deceased.

I was thrilled. I had thought about those things just last week and had hoped that they might still be around. And they were. And now, I can't complain about the teacups that my husband won't get rid of. Because if they weren't here, the missing items might still be MIA in our basement. And that's a scary thought!

Prayers Please

2011-02-17T10:47:00.002-05:00

Most of my blog followers (all 15 of you!) are Facebook friends, but a few are not. To those of you who are not, may I ask for prayers for the husband of my college roommate? He had a bone marrow transplant on Monday for acute leukemia and is currently in intensive care with some severe complications. Thanks so much.

Thursday Thoughts - Missing Maxie on Her Birthday

2011-02-10T00:00:00.001-05:00

I took this photo of Maxie on her 15th birthday, just two years ago. Four months later, she left us. I still look for her in the front window and listen for her happy bark when I came home, no matter how long I was gone. I miss her snuggling next to me on the sofa and the scratching her belly. I miss her every day.

Thursday Thoughts

2011-02-03T08:01:00.002-05:00

So I skipped last week's thoughts. I can't remember why, but at my advancing age, I can get away with not remembering!

My Spawn will be leaving the nest after graduation. I had visions of him getting a job and moving back home. I also had visions of me in a size 10 pair of jeans. Neither of which will be happening any time in the near future.

Spawn has accepted a job in Connecticut. I am thrilled that he has a job - the job market being what it is these days - it's with a good company and comes with many great benefits. We are very proud of him. He has worked very hard in school and his efforts have paid off.

He will only be a bit farther away from home than he is now, so weekend visits on both ends won't be difficult. And since it's in Connecticut, we'll continue to have lots of opportunities to enjoy the company and hospitality of Nurse Nancy, Fly Boy and Junior Bird Man.

So now, I'm thinking about all the things he'll need for his new life - some furniture, kitchen things (he loves to cook) and all the other things one needs to set up housekeeping. So I have my work cut out for me - looking for sales and bargains. Of course, I'll be checking with him to see what he wants.

On it's way to Junior Birdman

2011-01-30T19:25:00.003-05:00

Nurse Nancy's son, Junior Birdman, is quite the lover of baseball. About two years ago, I found this fabric on clearance when a fabric store nearby was closing. So I purchased it. And it sat with my sewing things untouched. Until two weekends ago. And the urge to sew got to me and I set about making some things for him.

First up was a hat. I wanted to work out the settings on my machine and make sure that I wasn't going to have a problem with lint in the machine (which has happened to me in the past and caused the bobbin to jam). I like the hat and will probably make some more with some of the fleece remnants I have.

Next up was this shirt. I like it because it has kind of a funnel neck - not a mock or turtle neck, and a bit warmer than a crew neck. Top stitching the sleeves was a bit of a challenge, but it worked out just fine.

Finally, I made some pants. Because JBM is quite skinny, I used a cord and slide for adjusting the waist, rather than putting in an elastic waist band that might be either too big or too small. I'm hoping the pants will be long enough that he'll get this winter and next winter out of them.

And here it is, the entire ensemble. Hope it keeps him nice and warm! Sorry it too so long!

Happy Birthday Mom

2011-01-21T11:51:00.004-05:00

Happy birthday to my wonderful mother. She's 82 today - can you believe it. I know she can't!!!!

Love you lots. You're the best.

Thursday Thoughts

2011-01-13T00:01:00.002-05:00

Posting for me has not been easy lately for no other reason than I've been lazy about writing posts. So I'll try to post more often and will start with Thursday Thoughts:

Why does the snow plow come by just as you finish cleaning the snow out of the drive way?

I live in NJ. Jersey Shore is not representative of NJ. At least not the part of the state that I live in.

Can my baby actually be starting his final semester of college? Didn't I just pack him up for his freshman year about a week ago?

My husband and son got me a new lighted, magnified make-up mirror for my birthday. Now I can really find and remove those nasty chin whiskers.

They also got me this cool key case. I've had two similar to this before and wore them out. Since I don't like carrying a handbag, this is the best way to carry what I need in my pocket!

What's on your mind today?

Word Verificationism, part 3

2010-12-30T12:13:00.000-05:00

More crazy words from the word verification files, which I am now calling verificationisms:

slegumis - this can only be something that you cough up when you have a cold.

decrumbo - when you knock the crumbs off a cake before spreading the frosting.

fixism - wanting to make everything okay

gnatest - like the most annoying pest around - a gnat

Post holiday post

2010-12-29T10:28:00.005-05:00

Is that redundant?

I hope that all four of you that read my blog had a wonderful Christmas. I certainly did.

We started with our son coming home from college for the holidays. It was so good to have him home again. I miss him so much. His girlfriend came with him - she is so sweet. We made a trip into Philadelphia to see "White Christmas" at the Walnut Street Theater. The show was really great as was our pre-show dinner just down the street from the theater.

Christmas Eve we traveled to my parents' house to spend Christmas with them. We had a wonderful time visiting with them and going to Mass with them on Christmas eve, something we don't often get to do. After Mass, we sat around and watched "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." It was the first time that either of my parents saw it and judging by the amount of laughing they did, they certainly enjoyed it as much as we did on our 50millionth time watching it.

We opened gifts on Christmas morning. Lots of little things for our son from us and his grandparents as well as several gifts for my parents. Our big gift to my parents for the past several years has been a donation to their church - it's difficult to shop for an 88 year old and an almost 82 year old, but they appreciate that we make this donation each year as their faith is an important part of their daily life. My husband and I decided to not exchange gifts this year - we have booked a cruise through the Panama Canal in the spring with my parents and I think that's enough of a gift for Christmas, birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and so on. I'm definitely more of a gift giver than a receiver anyway. Dinner was prime rib with potato filling, vegetables and for dessert, apple pie and Christmas cookies. In the evening, we watched a DVD of Christmas episodes of old TV shows. The funniest by far was an episode of Burns and Allen - why were those shows so funny with out being offensive??

We made it home on Sunday just as the snow was really starting to fall in NJ. Our son had left my parent's house early Sunday morning to visit his girlfriend and hopefully beat the snow fall getting there. Mission accomplished! She will be leaving for a two week class in Italy on Sunday, so we won't see him until he drops her off at the airport on his way home from Connecticut. I'm looking forward to hanging with him again.

The first snow storm of the season gave us plenty to do on Monday and now it's back to the mundane - cleaning, laundry, cooking.

Wishing a very Happy 2011 to all of you.

A digital look at The Nativity

2010-12-14T13:01:00.005-05:00

What if Jesus were born in the digital age? Here's a look at how things might have happened:

Christmas Can Can

2010-12-12T23:08:00.002-05:00

My sister-in-law sent me this great song. Hope you enjoy it!

Copycat Meme

2010-12-04T13:18:00.000-05:00

Kate at Chronicles of a Country Girl posted this meme on her blog today. It looked fun, so I thought I'd play along.

1. Hot Chocolate or apple cider? Hot chocolate

2. Turkey or Ham? Beef

3. Do you get a fake or real-you-cut-it-yourself Christmas tree? Sadly, fake - too many mishaps with falling real trees and broken ornaments.

4. Decorations on the outside of your house? Lights, wreaths and swags on the house. If my husband is cooperative, I let him put the inflatable Santa and Snowman in the back yard.

5. Snowball fights or sleddin'? Sledding

7. Do you enjoy going downtown shopping? Not many places to shop where I live - a sad mall and a beautiful historic downtown with few stores. Mostly I shop on-line.

8. Favorite Christmas song? White Christmas by Bing Crosby

9. How do you feel about Christmas movies? I watch as many as I can. Besides White Christmas, I love The Christmas Card.

10. When is it too early to start listening to Christmas music? Before Black Friday

11. Stockings before or after presents? They're only for decorative purposes any more at my house

12. Carolers, do you or do you not watch and listen to them? Don't have any where I live

13. Go to someone else's house or they come to you? We usually go to my parent's home for Christmas dinner, but we've hosted a few times at our home

14. Do you read the Christmas Story? If so when? Not usually

15. What do you do after presents and dinner? Usually veg out and watch a movie

16. What is your favorite holiday smell? Cookies baking

17. Ice skating or walking around the mall? Used to love ice skating, but now it's walking around the neighborhood

18. Do you open a present or presents on Christmas Eve, or wait until Christmas day? It depends

19. Favorite Christmas memory? One year, when our son was about three or four, he put the angel on the tree and started singing "Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat." It was too precious.

20. Favorite Part about winter? Taking a walk on a snowy evening

21. Ever been kissed under mistletoe? I'll never tell!!!

Feel free to copy and play along.

Happy Anniversary

2010-11-28T10:19:00.004-05:00

Happy 23rd Anniversary to my wonderful husband. I love you more each day.

And Happy Anniversary to Fly Boy and Nurse Nancy whom we met on our honeymoon and have been friends since.

photo taken three years ago in Las Vegas (sorry, this was the only pic I could find in my computer)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T02:59:00.003-05:00

source

I'm cooking today. How about you? And will you have help???

A "real" celebrity

2010-11-14T11:57:00.005-05:00

Friday night, my husband and I got an opportunity to go to New York to see Colin Quinn in "Long Story Short" for a second time. Colin (and I can call him that) is an old friend of a friend of ours, MD. The show is a 75 minute one man show and chronicles the history of the world in a way that would make our history teachers cringe. And then they would laugh. A lot. We got to see the show over the summer just before it's opening at an off Broadway theater and loved it. It has since moved to the Helen Hayes Theater on Broadway and has gotten better with age.

After the show, we were invited to Colin's dressing room for a visit. What a truly nice guy. He was warm and friendly (though tired) and chatted with us for about 20 minutes before we left to get a bite to eat. He was kind enough to sign a program for my brother and pose for this picture with my husband and I:

The show is terrific, the theater quaint and intimate - I give it two thumbs up and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun evening out.

Friday Funny

2010-10-29T11:03:00.004-04:00

It's that time of year. Happy Halloween!

source

My new favorite feeder

2010-10-21T12:24:00.006-04:00

Last week my husband and I were supposed to go to upstate New York to take a foliage cruise on the Hudson River and tour the Culinary Institute of America and West Point. But my husband had a meeting on Friday that he couldn't miss.

So as not to disappoint my parents, that cute couple from my last post, we visited them from Wednesday night until Thursday just to hang out.

Now I love to feed the birds, especially the cardinals, but I wanted to find a place to get safflower seed a bit cheaper than $1.25 a pound. So I did some internet searching and found a feed store near my parents who sold it for about 68 cents a pound. Since I was going to purchase at least 50 lbs., we decided to make a road trip with them. It was well worth the trip.

Not only did we get the bargain safflower seed, but they had this really cool feeder there.

This is the Droll Yankee Whipper Squirrel Proof Feeder (also photo source for the next three photos). It's so cool.

It has spring loaded perches that collapse under the weight of a squirrel, thus sending them to the ground and leaving the feeder free for the birds.

So now we have lots of this going on in our back yard:

Instead of this:

(photo credit)

A Weekend to Remember

2010-10-06T05:48:00.009-04:00

This weekend, my family celebrated these two:

Margaret McBride and Theodore Novak

October 7, 1950

October 3, 2010

Sixty years of marriage produced these three fine specimens:

Gary, Mom, Jeff, Dad and me

Yes, Gary and I look a lot alike. And we're both accountants. Isn't that exciting? And Jeff, the middle child, just had to be different and become a dentist. And a really good one.

Their three offspring followed suit and married.

The oldest:

Gary and Gail (married April 15, 1977) with Mom and Dad

Jeff and Marcie (married July 9, 1977) with children Chris, Pat, Tom and Caitie.

Ellen and John (married November 28, 1987) with son John.

Note - thanks to Nurse Nancy for reminding me that my anniversary is the 28th and not the 27th. And that is why it's a bad idea to get married the Saturday after Thanksgiving - the date is harder to remember!

If you are keeping score, that a combined 149 years of marriage in all!

They have five wonderful grandchildren. (l to r) Pat, Tom, Mom, Chris, Dad, Caitie and John.

By the way, Pat and Tom are twins. Really!

The whole gang.

John brought his lovely girlfriend Hallie with him. She was our photographer for the group shot. After this weekend she'll probably need intensive therapy.

It was one crazy weekend full of laughs and a whole lotta love summed up in one photo:

There are no words for this photo!

Happy Birthday

2010-10-01T08:49:00.003-04:00

Happy birthday to my two favorite guys - my husband on his big 50:

(adult bib now necessary!)

And to my dad who is 88 today:

(yes, he's actually 88!)

I love you both so much.

Congrats to a Local Guy

2010-09-17T00:57:00.002-04:00

If you know me, you know that I am a bit of a reality show junkie. One of my favorites is Top Chef. Because I love to cook. And I love to learn new techniques in the kitchen. So I am so thrilled that the winner of the current season of Top Chef is from one town over.

Congrats to Kevin Sbraga from Willingboro NJ. You've done your hometown and all of Burlington County proud.

It must be nearing fall..

2010-09-14T19:35:00.001-04:00

It must be nearing fall because:

Our pool is closed for the season.
I'm cleaning out the shed because I have to store pool ladders, covers, toys....
I made a trip to the mum farm yesterday.
I bought silk mums and other fall flowers to make a new wreath for the front door.
I've been thatching the lawn (by hand, not with a power thatcher) before we aerate and fall seed. Even thought I usually thatch in the spring, the lawn looks so awful because of the summer drought, so I have to clean out some of the dead grass. So far, I cleared three trash cans full of dead grass.
I've ordered two long sleeve tee shirts from Land's End.

I love fall. This year I am so ready for some cooler weather. And a trip to West Point for some awesome tailgating. And making applesauce.

My new obsession

2010-09-01T09:29:00.004-04:00

About two or three weeks ago, while channel surfing, I came across The Fabulous Beekman Boys on Planet Green.

Brent (on the left) and Josh (on the right) are a gay couple who resided in New York City and purchased a farm as a weekend getaway. They are building their farm into a goat milk cheese and soap business, with a retail store on the side.

Residing at the farm are a bunch of goats, some chickens and turkeys, a cow, a few pigs (who now reside in the freezer) and a llama named Polka Spot.

I have also recently read a book about their adventures, "The Bucolic Plague" written by Josh which tells about how they discovered the farm and became it's owners.

The humor in the show is spot on, and while many may be uncomfortable with their homosexuality, their displays of affection are, for the most part, tame, but their wit is as sharp as a tack.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

Compare and contrast:

Big ass snapping turtle my husband wouldn't pick up.

Little itty, bitty snapping turtle that he did pick up.

This and That Thursday

2010-07-29T07:13:00.002-04:00

Once again, I will copy from Mental Mama and share some of the drivel in my mind:

Is there a bottom to my laundry hamper?
Mary Jane ice cream is to die for.
Is anyone else tired of the heat?
My latest author obsession is Lisa Scottoline.
Toy Story 3. Must have on DVD.

What's on your mind?

Blahg

2010-07-27T16:37:00.002-04:00

Not much interesting to blog about lately. The heat has been keeping me close to home, either in the pool or in the air conditioned house with occasional trips to visit and check on my parents. Fortunately, they are doing well and coping with the heat by staying home too. My husband has been dealing with back problems - bulging discs, not fun. In addition, he's been job hunting. The company he worked for was sold and he did not get employment with the new owners. Considering what he has been going through with his back, not working has almost been a blessing with physical therapy, multiple doctor appointments...

I did win a give away on Daryl's blog and am looking forward to a trip to NYC for a mani/pedi with her and the other winners including Kate. Since I was unable to attend Blog Fest '09 or '10, I am looking forward to meeting them.

"Oh Snap"

2010-07-11T21:53:00.005-04:00

So I've heard my son say "oh snap" about a million times. But two nights ago, I found myself saying the same thing. Nurse Nancy and Junior Bird Man (JBM) were visiting and we decided to go to Swal's for ice cream - we had been there Thursday with JBM and decided to go back on Friday with Nurse Nancy. As we approached the bridge just before town, I noticed that oncoming traffic was stopped. As soon as I passed the Jersey barrier and could see the road, here is what we saw:

Yes, this rather large snapping turtle was making it's way, very slowly I might add, across the road and had traffic stopped. A man in the oncoming traffic got out of his car, asked my husband (who had gotten out to take this picture with his phone) if it was a snapper. Then he proceeded to pick it up by the tail (using a beach towel) and try to put it over the barrier. It wiggled out of his grasp and very angrily started to move away. He picked it up again and placed it safely out of the way of traffic.

Life in a small town - it's just so exciting on a Friday night! By the way, Swal's has the best ice cream I have ever tasted.

Kal-e-for-knee-a Schramsberg and Benziger

2010-06-24T15:36:00.005-04:00

Our journey through Napa included stops at the Schramsberg and Benziger wineries. Both were my favorites and had wonderful tours and tastings.

Schrmansberg sparkling wines are very often served at the White House at State dinners.

The ceiling of the caves at Schramsberg were covered with lichen - kind of reminded me of the Munster's house and Lily Munster blowing cobwebs with the vacuum instead of vacuuming up dust.
Our tasting was held in the caves. The caves were hand dug about a hundred years ago and the walls were quite rough. The temp in caves is constant 56 degrees - perfect for storing wine.

This was one of the original casks from the Schramsberg winery - it was lost in a poker game and many years later, the new owners were able to re-acquire it - in a poker game.

Bottles are loaded on a conveyer belt and filled. The pickers of the bottles load about 120 bottles in about 5 minutes.

On Friday, on our way to my girlfriend's house, we stopped in Glen Ellen, CA at the Benziger Family winery - it is the only certified biodynamic winery in California. The winery uses no fertilizers or pesticides in their production and any vineyards that provide additional grapes to the winery must be, at a minimum, organic.
A bottle brush plant at the Benziger winery.
Inside the caves was a large banquet room used for large tastings and receptions.

There is a small room in the caves for tastings for the wine tours.
More of those absolutely wonderful smelling casks of wine - you could almost get drunk just breathing.
The vineyard also has a small garden area where they grow fruits and vegetables for sale to local restaurants. One thing that amazed me was the amount of olive trees growing in the vineyards. Some wineries are also pressing their own olive oil.
Bird and bat houses draw insect eaters to the property eliminating the need for pesticides.

Rows and rows of grape vines.

There were ponds on the property for reclamation of water from drip irrigation and to catch rain water to use for irrigation. The pond at the top of the picture is covered with a fern that helps to filtrate the water and helps to prevent evaporation.

I was so impressed by this vineyard and their efforts to farm with out chemicals. Both vineyards are a must on your list of places to see in Napa.

Kal-e-for-knee-a Day one

2010-06-22T18:49:00.003-04:00

Over the Memorial Day weekend, my husband and I traveled to California to visit my childhood best friend for her big 50. The first two days that we were there, we visited several wineries in the Napa Valley. Truth be told, I consumed more wine in those two days than I had consumed in the previous year. And I even requested smaller tastings!

It was so interesting to see the wineries and visit the tasting rooms. Our two favorite tours were the Schramsberg and Benzinger vineyards - interesting facilities with interesting histories. Here are a few pictures of two other wineries:

This is Castello de Amoroso. We did the short tour, having just missed the start of a tour, so we opted to see what we could on our own and do the tasting room at the end. This is a full size European castle built at some astronomical cost - like $34 million. It was complete with a chapel where Latin Mass is celebrated every Sunday morning and a dungeon. I saw the chapel, but the dungeon was only viewable on the tour.

The next four pictures are from Sterling Vineyards. It's a beautiful place. perched on a small mountain and to get there, you take an overhead gondola car. The views from the top were absolutely beautiful. In fact, the photo of the castle is from this vineyard. Here are a few photos of Sterling:

A view of the vineyards from the top of the mountain - I just love the neat rows of grape vines.

The aroma in the rooms holding the casks of wine was intoxicating - literally. I wish that I could find a candle that captures that smell. Between the smell of the wine and the smell of the oak casks - it was like a little slice of heaven on earth.

Tomorrow, Schramsberg and Benzinger. And then some of our visit with the birthday girl.

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-20T10:26:00.002-04:00

Happy Father's Day to my Dad - you're the best! Love you lots.

One Year

2010-06-08T21:46:00.003-04:00

One year ago today, we had to make the most difficult decision - to euthanize our beloved Maxie. She began to have seizures that could not be controlled and we knew that it was time to say good-bye to her. I have shed so many tears in the past twelve months, almost always when something would trigger a happy memory of the almost fifteen and a half years that we were lucky to have her with us. I know she is waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge.

I still love you my little girl. And I miss you every day.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

California here I come went

2010-06-03T21:51:00.005-04:00

J and I went to northern California to visit my childhood best friend in honor of her Big 50. June-Bug and I have been friends for, well, forever. Our parents were friends and our mothers were pregnant with us together. Our parents originally lived a few houses apart in one neighborhood and after one move for my family and two moves for her family, we wound up living just around the corner from each other. And about 25 years ago, when I moved to NJ from Pennsylvania, she moved to California to be near her parents who had retired there a few years before.

I haven't been to see her in a long time. Fifteen years to be exact - I traveled to help her when her son was born and he'll be 15 next week. She's been east many times and we've always gotten together to hang out for what ever time we could. After visiting her at her brother's house last November, I decided that I would make a visit to celebrate her big day. And so I made plans.

Of course, what would a vacation be with out drama. June-Bug's mom is in a skilled care facility - about 17 years ago she suffered a brain aneurysm and then suffered a stroke. She's has feeling, but no mobility on one side of her body. Last Friday night, our first night visiting, June got a call from the facility letting her know that her mom was being transported to the hospital. So she and I packed up (J stayed behind with her son as her husband was away working) and off we went to the hospital at 10 PM to see what was up. Her mom had an infection that caused her to be septic - the infection was in her bloodstream and throughout her body. By the time we left the hospital at 4 AM, she was in ICU and as stable as she could be. It would be touch and go for the first 24 to 48 hours. By the time we left on Tuesday, she was recovering and was awaiting a move from ICU to a regular room.

We made this a vacation in addition to our visit and we toured 4 wineries and had tastings at 2 others (which I will post on separately) and an afternoon in Sonoma. Northern California is a beautiful place, but seeing June-Bug and her family was the best part of the trip.

More definitions of verification words

2010-05-24T11:37:00.000-04:00

Round two - my definitions for those random letters that constitute a "word" to verify that you are a human and not a machine positing a reply:

dista - something that is here. eg. Dista the bags that go out into the trash can?

mowee - a new way to spell one of the islands that makes up Hawaii

ovent - an event that's over

cyadish - a cyanide flavored dish

upflor - an elevator directive to go up a floor

The Graduate

2010-05-20T08:49:00.003-04:00

My niece graduated from Texas State University last Friday. So my husband and parents and I traveled to witness this historic event.

Herewith some pictures from graduation:

Looking for the crazy people who are calling her name. Those crazy people would be us.

Hugs for her proud Grandpop while Grandmom giggles.

. Checking out the bogus diploma. She picked up the real one a few days later.

Grandpop loves to tweak you on the nose.

The college graduation Chuck Taylor's. She wore red ones for her high school graduation.

Congrats K-tel. Love you lots.

One additional note, I called her when we arrived at the venue (about an hour before the ceremony) to let her know where we were sitting. I woke her up. Fortunately she lived directly across the street from the arena and made it on time.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T09:14:00.002-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to the best mom in the world. I love you.

Garden 2010

2010-04-20T20:21:00.002-04:00

The first crop of the season has been planted. Yesterday the sugar snap peas went into the ground. It was a bit of a sad day because this time last year, I was planting with my little Maxie by my side. She was the queen of the pea crop, and at harvest time, it was one pea pod for the bowl and one (or two) for her. It isn't the same this year, but I will always carry memories of her and the garden.

Tossing out Crap update

2010-04-10T22:11:00.003-04:00

I've been a bit lax in working on the basement - until tonight. Tonight I tackled the boxes and tubs of old paper work - bills, statements, pay stubs and other assorted stuff. I filled three and a half garbage bags of paper to be shredded. In two weeks, the real estate agency we used to sell our last home and also used to purchase our rental property will be having a shredding day at their office, so I made up my mind to take advantage of having access to a big old shredder and work on that part of the basement clean up tonight. It took almost two hours, but it felt good to see the progress. And in the process, I found my son's high school diploma and awards, some pictures of family and friends, pictures of my two knee surgeries, school and sports photos and many other things.

But while I haven't done as much as I thought I would have by now, I have been working in the yard and have cleaned out five paper lawn bags and two garbage cans of garden refuse. I have cleaned out under most all of the trees and shrubs (and we have a lot of them) in both the front and back yards, clipped some dead branches from trees and shrubs and learned to use the lawn blower/vac! Plus I mowed and fertilized the lawn and cleaned two cars. So, while the basement is not yet finished being cleaned, I have not sat idle. For a few hours at least.

Easter Break

2010-04-06T10:13:00.002-04:00

Our house is quiet again. Our son and his girlfriend were here from Thursday until yesterday. Now they are back at school and it's time to get back to some sort of routine. For about 6 weeks. And then he comes home for the summer. And all his stuff from school comes with him. And his room will be messy. And my laundry loads will double. As will my grocery bill. And the water and electric bills. And I can't wait. Because next year will be his senior year and who knows if he will come home after that.

Our Easter was really nice - we spent it with my parents. Attended the Easter vigil mass at their church, where my husband and I were married. Sunday we enjoyed a delicious dinner and each other's company.

So now I must change sheets and get the guest room ready for our next visitors - my parents will be making a trip to see us for the first time since Thanksgiving. I don't think they've ever been with out a visit for so long, but since my mom had gotten so ill from too much calcium in her system, visiting was out of the question. But now that she's better and my dad is a more rested, they are ready for a change of scenery and a visit. I can't wait!

The cleaning paid off

2010-04-06T10:10:00.002-04:00

My cleaning efforts at my mother-in-law's must have paid off. Her house was put on the market a few days after my superb efforts and three days later a full price offer was made and as of last Friday, it was officially under contract. Hopefully the home inspection will go well and settlement will be the end of June. Or sooner if we can find a suitable place for her and my brother-in-law to move to.

Cleaning

2010-03-22T19:45:00.002-04:00

No, not my own house, but my mother-in-laws.

My cleaning and pitching and donating spree is on a bit of a break. I've been helping my husband and siblings get their mom's house ready to put it up for sale. Since my father-in-law passed away about two and a half years ago, it's been tough keeping up with the house - both physically and on a fixed income. So it's time to downsize again and look for something more manageable.

Saturday a week ago, I spent the day cleaning windows, blinds and ceiling fans and washing curtains. Today, I cleaned the kitchen and bathroom from top to bottom so only maintenance is needed in those rooms. Now I'm not a clean fanatic, but I realize that we all need to pitch in and get things ready for putting the house on the market.

But tomorrow, I'll be working on my own house - spring cleaning time. Oh how my hands will suffer.

2010-03-08T10:03:00.001-05:00

Your Horoscope - Today, Mar. 8, 2010

Encouragement from friends, colleagues or your partner might lead you to experiment with skills that could lead to an increased income for you, bunny. New and innovative ideas, trends and equipment could be just what the doctor ordered to set your career off in an entirely new direction. Your people skills don't hurt, either. Social events you attend today could bring valuable new contacts your way. Onward and upward!

Am I moving to the Playboy Mansion?

I can park in the garage again

2010-03-08T07:40:00.002-05:00

Last summer, we became the proud owners of yet another antique car - a 1940 Chevy. Of course, with that came the loss of our storage garage where two of our other three cars were being stored. And with that loss of storage space came the loss of my ability to park my car in the garage.

The hunt was on to purchase a building to use for car storage. Initially, we were going to purchase half interest in a warehouse that a friend owned. That didn't work out. So after reviewing the limited options in the area - an old fire house that our building inspector told us to forget, many other places that were too small or too expensive - we went back to original option. But with a twist - the friend was divorcing and needed to sell the entire space. Enter another guy from the car club and he and my husband bought the space.

But all was not well. The divorcing friend could not get storage space at first. Then, vacating his home with his former wife was delayed. Then he couldn't get people to move the car racks. Needless to say, my car was still in the drive way. And then the snow came. And more delays moving out the former tenant and moving our things in.

But this past weekend, with nice weather upon us, we helped G move some things out of the warehouse and Saturday, one of the two cars currently occupying our garage was moved. And my car had a home again. Of course, the worst of snow is hopefully behind us. So yesterday, we emptied the garage and cleaned it out - two garbage bags out, some other things pitched directly into trash cans and a load of car parts and supplies taken to the garage - creating a pretty neat garage with plenty of space for my car. The End!

Who makes up these words?

2010-03-06T09:39:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago, my blog buddy MPM devoted a blog to the often word - like series of letters that show up in the word

modification box in the comment section of blogger. I thought I'd share a few of the ones I've encountered and their definitions

as defined by me:

exhifies - stereo systems that were formerly hi-fi systems (for those of you under 40, definition from Wikipedia is provided)

cousita - a cousin from a spanish speaking country

finhols - a Finnish outhouse

heedoday - what your children do if they listen to you for the day

sunhu - the specific shade of the sun

My new obsession

2010-03-04T20:46:00.002-05:00

In the past week, I have become enamored and obsessed with the Showtime series "The Tudors." I decided to give an episode a try since I was bored and was just hanging out trying to rest and get rid of a cold. I was instantly hooked.

Not knowing much about the history of the reign of Henry VIII, it has been interesting to learn about his break from the Catholic Church in order to divorce his first wife and take a second in order to produce a legitimate male heir.

I've only gotten as far as the birth of a daughter with his second wife and I'm looking forward to catching up by finishing the second and third seasons.

Gentlemen, start your engines!

2010-02-26T00:00:00.001-05:00

comic strip credit

I'm wondering if we'll ever see spring!

Feeding Frenzy

2010-02-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

Got teenage boys? Then this is what dinner looks like at your house.

Comic strip credit

Cell Phone Etiquette

2010-02-05T12:21:00.002-05:00

Embarrassing. Yet it has happened to many of us at one time or another.

comic strip credit

Good News

2010-02-04T22:31:00.002-05:00

See this lady? That's my mom. And for the past two months she's been under the weather.

(Photo taken aboard the ship on our Alaska cruise - it was glacier watching day and the deck was a bit cold!)

She was recuperating pretty well from her back surgery in September, then BAM, she had a fall, broke her thumb and started feeling pretty yucky. She was having balance problems, memory issues and a few other assorted symptoms. I was quite concerned, but after surgery, she was reluctant to go to the doctor. I finally talked her into seeing the doctor last month. Some blood work - which she also balked at having done - revealed that she had too much calcium in her system and it was causing all these symptoms.

She was taken off the previously prescribed calcium supplements and put on a mild diuretic and in about 24 hours she was on her way back to her old self. Today we had a follow up appointment with her doctor and a consultation with an endocrinologist who concurred that this was the cause of her problems. She'll have some more blood work to make sure that her calcium level falls back into the normal level and stays there.

Trust your instincts - encourage your parents to see the doc if you thinks something is up. I'm so glad I pestered and persisted. It was a problem that's been easily remedied and we all feel much better!

Little progress

2010-02-02T19:29:00.002-05:00

I was on quite a roll cleaning out the basement. And then this past weekend we had things to do, so nothing to report as far as cleaning. I will be getting back to it this weekend as I need to clear out the two new piles that I made last week.

Friday Funny

2010-01-29T17:33:00.003-05:00

If you are a parent of a teenager, this is reality. If you are the parent of an elementary school aged child - this will be your reality. You've been warned!

Photo credit

Trash day

2010-01-27T22:53:00.003-05:00

Today was trash day in my neighborhood. Two bags of basement trash went out today. I have one new pile for Goodwill and a pile of craft supplies that I will be sending to my nephew's wife. In addition, I cleaned out the chest of drawers that I keep my sewing supplies, fabric and patterns in - I think I'll be making some fleece hats with the short yardage I have left.

Two Trips

2010-01-23T22:47:00.004-05:00

Big day on the clean up challenge. It took two trip to get all the ~~crap~~ treasures to Goodwill.

Herewith the evidence of our purge:

Stuff in the hallway.

More stuff in the hallway.

Load #1 filled the entire back of the Highlander with the back seats folded down. Here's where the back seats belong.

And the view from the hatchback.

This was the second load. A bit smaller, but it filled the back.

So all in all, at least 10 boxes and assorted non-boxed items were removed from the basement. I have a few more boxes of things on the floor that need to be double checked for their contents before they too make their way to Goodwill. Then I will start in on the shelves. I have one set of shelves with craft supplies that I no longer use. I'll box up the good stuff and send them to my nephew's wife who enjoys crafting.

It feels good to get things we no longer use out of the house. I almost forgot what the floor on the storage side of our basement looks like.

Happy Birthday Mom

2010-01-21T15:35:00.003-05:00

See the lady in this photo? That's my mom and today is her birthday. She's 81 today. I love her a whole lot. This picture is from our trip to Alaska in September. Mom is hanging out with a couple of wooly characters in Denali National Park.

My mom is so special. In the past several years she's had quite a bit of surgery (three hip replacements, two back surgeries, jaw surgery and one of those "lady" operations) and even though there are days that she's blue, she always hangs in there and toughs it out. She's my role model.

Happy birthday Mom. I love you!

And happy birthday to my blog and real life friend Lauren. Stop by her blog and wish her a happy birthday too!

Day three

2010-01-17T14:39:00.002-05:00

The rainy day gave us the opportunity to spend another few hours in the basement. I tackled the unfinished side of the basement, sweeping, cleaning up the pantry area, consolidating and packing away an increasing supply of paper products and sorting through some items that had already been put aside for donation. I managed to create one bag of trash and a box of cardboard for recycling. The hub tackled the finished side of the basement where the remnants of his move out of his former office were stacked in boxes. He went through the boxes and sorted into recycling, repacking and pitching. We finished up with a good vacuuming of the finished side of the basement.

Today's carnage - three trash bags and a few assorted items to be pitched that wouldn't fit in a trash bag and the beginning of a new pile for donation.

Day two

2010-01-16T15:29:00.003-05:00

We started cleaning out the basement today. Out went a treadmill that we've had for about 18 years. It was moved from our last house to the one we are in now. I think it's been used once since then. So off it went to the dump - Goodwill wouldn't take it. Along with it went two artificial pine trees and a huge box of about 100 VHS tapes. In addition, the rest of the Christmas decorations were put away and that area of the basement organized and two black trash bags began to be filled for disposal. Tomorrow we'll do a bit more.

Oh, and the three coolers that we used when I had to empty the freezer in the basement (it was left open a bit and had to be emptied, thawed, re-chilled and refilled) weren't emptied as I had asked a certain husband to do. Needless to say, one was filled with mold and the other two were not moldy, but pretty nasty smelling. So they got cleaned, disinfected, air dried and will be put away. Now that was one fun job.

Day one

2010-01-15T19:11:00.002-05:00

Day one of trying to clean out unneeded and unused stuff in my house.

So I thought I'd straighten up my son's room so that maybe sometime this century I might just be able to see enough floor to vacuum. He did do a bit of cleaning up during vacation, but not quite enough. So I tackled two cardboard boxes that have been there since last May when he came home from school. While I didn't find much that I could throw out, I did come across a child's watch.

Now a few months ago, on one of our trips to see our friends in CT, We learned that Nurse Nancy and Fly Boy's son Junior Bird Man could not find his watch - the one that Big J (my husband) had purchased for him. He had searched high and low and still it could not be found. Eventually he got a replacement, but he mystery of the lost watch was not solved. Guess who's watch I found today. Yep, it was Junior Bird Man's. I'm guessing that on one of his visits, when my son Spawn was at college and Junior Bird Man stayed in "Cool J's" room, he took the watch off and it fell into the box.

The watch is now awaiting it's return to it's owner. My son's room is still not clean. And I didn't fill one trash bag today. But the Christmas trees finally got taken down.

Here's a novel idea

2010-01-14T11:46:00.004-05:00

While cruising blogs (when I should have been doing something more productive), I came across this wonderful idea on Simply Catholic - A 40 Trash Bag Challenge

Here are the guidelines she chose:

1. Pick what size of trash bag you want to use. I used tall kitchen bags.
2. Each week day for eight weeks fill one bag (or equivalent). It can be a bag of stuff, toys, clothes, papers – anything, a box of books, an old TV. Anything that you can count as clutter is fair game.
3. Update on your blog how it goes.
4. Have fun.

I like this idea - Lord knows my house could use a massive purging - especially the basement. I don't know if I will be able to fill forty bags in forty days, but I will aim to get rid of forty bags worth of things I no longer need or use by the summer. My husband and I have planned to start working on the basement this weekend, so I'll let you know how I am progressing. Feel free to join me and let me know how you're doing.

I survived "the big one"

2010-01-08T13:13:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I hit the big 50. Can I really be that old? It seems like only yesterday I was graduating from high school and heading off to college. And getting my first "real" job and getting married and having a child. Just where did all those years go?

I did some investigating and discovered that I was born on Saturday and my 50th birthday was also on Saturday. That was interesting. I didn't know that I was born on Saturday.

My day was quiet - spent with my husband, Spawn and parents - just the way I wanted it. I'm not much for being the center of attention and I made it very clear to my husband that since his 50th isn't for nine months, any birthday craziness for me would be multiplied by at least 5 for him. In the interest of his sanity, he listened and I enjoyed the day.

I must end now, so I can fix my description on my page - I'm no longer a forth-something . I'm 50 and proud of it.

Good bye 2009

2009-12-31T18:31:00.002-05:00

Only five and a half hours left to 2009. Time to say good bye to the year in which the high was our trip to Alaska and the low, the loss of our pup Maxie. But I am looking forward to 2010 and good health and happiness for all of my family and friends.

Tonight, I'll travel all the way across the street and two doors down to ring in the new year with some my husband and some neighbors and acquaintances old and new. At midnight, I'll plant a big one on my husband. And most likely, I'll be home and in bed by 1 - I'm just not a party animal any more.

Tomorrow we'll head to PA to celebrate the New Year with my parents and we'll have our traditional pork and sauerkraut dinner - pork because pigs root forward for food and that's supposed to bring you good luck in the new year.

So Happy New Year! Here's hoping all your dreams come true in 2010!

Pimping my blog friend

2009-12-27T15:56:00.002-05:00

Country Girl Kate is having a two year blog anniversary give away of one of her beautiful photos. Just go to her blog and let her know your preference for frame to get a chance to win. Then post it on your blog and get two more chances.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T10:52:00.004-05:00

"For unto us a child is born."

Celebrating the birth of our Savior.

From our home to yours, a very Merry and Blessed Christmas.

Why Nurse Nancy and Fly Boy Rock

2009-12-16T08:27:00.003-05:00

We had our annual Christmas Open House on Saturday night. For about five hours, about 40 friends joined us to usher in the holiday season. And making the evening of entertaining go so smoothly was all the help we receive from our wonderful friends and extended family members Nurse Nancy and Fly Boy. They are here to help with the last minute set up, keeping the food coming during the evening and clean up at the end of the evening. We couldn't do it without them (okay, we probably could, but it would be way less fun and more stressful).

Nurse Nancy is a whiz at checking and refilling the buffet and at the end of the evening, Fly Boy is the best at clean up time doing dish (those things you can't put into the dishwasher or aren't disposable - it's the one night we aren't as "green" as we should be) until "dishpan hands" sets in. They are simply the best.

So muchas gracias, danke schon (minus the umlaut) and many thanks to Nurse Nancy and Fly Boy (and Junior Bird Man for letting us continue to see Christmas through the eyes of a child) for all your help, but most importantly, for your friendship. We love you.

Word verification

2009-12-09T12:36:00.000-05:00

It's on. Getting crappy comments so I must do this. Sorry.

Six Months

2009-12-09T08:55:00.002-05:00

Can it be six months already since our beloved Maxie left us? Decorating for Christmas this year meant one less stocking to hang. Our hearts are healing, but we still miss her so much.

Friday Funny

2009-12-04T00:00:00.002-05:00

When you sit on the big guy's lap, what will your answer be?

Comic strip credit

A shout out to my hub

2009-12-03T21:51:00.002-05:00

A belated Happy 22nd Anniversary to my hub. I love you more each day.

Homemade applesauce

2009-11-23T09:34:00.004-05:00

The week before last, my parents travelled to my house for our annual applesauce-a-thon. It was their first trip away over night since my mom's surgery, a big milestone in her recuperation.

We had four baskets of apples - one each of Granny Smith, Yellow Delicious, Cortland and Winesap - so our work was cut out for us.

Thursday afternoon we began by washing and cutting apples and cooking them - we mix the varieties as we cook. Nothing special, we just wash them and unpeeled, cut them into small chunks (the pigment in the skin adds a pink tinge to the finished product) and cook in stock pots with enough water to keep them from burning. We cooled them overnight on my back porch in a large tub (you know, the kind you cool a keg in!)

We brought it inside in small batches:

Then we pass the cooked apples through a cone shaped food mill - this is the exercise portion of the process:

After about three hours of building up our biceps, the four baskets of apples were reduced to this much waste:

And this much applesauce (this is a ten gallon tub!)

Please note that my mom's cane was integral in this picture!

After a thorough stirring, we bagged the applesauce into zip-top bag and loaded the freezer. Note that because we use a mixture of apples, the addition of sugar was not necessary. We garnered about 38 quarts of apple goodness for the coming year. And on New Year's Day, when we sit to enjoy our traditional meal of roast pork with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes, we'll have the best applesauce to enjoy with it.

Special Thanks

2009-11-21T18:40:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago, I returned from one of my many visits to my parent's house and was greeted by a large box. In it was this:

My dear blogging friend Sue of Rue Mouffetard made this for me. Of course I cried. Not so much for my beloved pet, but that someone I have never met was so kind to make such a beautiful remembrance for me. Through our blogs we have become friends. She has family from my husband's hometown and I live near her daughter. I am looking forward to meeting her soon as she will be visiting her daughter at the holidays.

Thank you Sue for a gift that I will treasure forever. See you soon.

Friday Funny - the Sleep Test Edition

2009-11-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

Okay, so last year I underwent a sleep study since I seemed to feel tired all the time. And then again for the CPAP machine. In case you're wondering, by the time you get hooked up to all the wires, you do look a bit like the last cel.

This and That Thursday

2009-11-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

Okay, so it's been almost three weeks since my voice has been heard. So here's what's on my mind today:

Will the house across the street from me ever sell? It's been on the market for over 18 months. Get a clue people - clean up the outside and it may just sell.
If they clean up the outside, then the rest of us won't have to deal with the leaves from their lawn that keep blowing into our lawns.
Making the Pioneer Woman's Braised Short Ribs for dinner today. I can almost taste them just looking at her pictures.
Made tons of applesauce last week with my parents. It's a lot of work, but oh so worth it when you open up a package in a month or so - heaven on a spoon.
How is it possible that Thanksgiving is only a week away? Didn't we just celebrate the 4th of July?

Note: The short ribs were out of this world. Do try them!

Show me the way to go home - Friday Funny

2009-10-29T22:38:00.003-04:00

This is so my husband and I. How about you?

Click on photo to embiggen!

Do you remember...

2009-10-26T23:38:00.003-04:00

Visited Nurse Nancy and family this weekend. Our boys went to the Army-Rutgers football game Friday night. Although Army lost and it rained - alot - they had a good time.

So what did the girls do you ask? Well, we met up with Mental Mama, Tombstone Annie and Jules for a bit of girl talk. The conversation was interesting, the food delicious and as the designated driver I had more problems getting out of MPM's driveway than I did driving on unfamiliar roads (in my defense, it was dark, rainy, I have tinted back windows and a bicycle rack obstructed my view). But after changing from trying to back out to turning around, we were off.

In the course of conversation Jello 1-2-3 was discussed, which morphed into Shake-a-pudding and a few other confections of our youth were discussed.

Do you remember these?

A belated Happy 59th Anniversary

2009-10-18T04:40:00.004-04:00

I tried to post this yesterday, but Blogger wasn't cooperating with allowing me to upload pictures.

Any way, with all the running I have been doing from my home in NJ to my parent's home in PA, I forgot to post 59th anniversary wished to my parents on October 7th. Here's the happy couple en route from Haines to Skagway Alaska on the ferry boat.

I think they're a pretty darn good looking couple for being 87 and 80.

My mom is doing much better. She's venturing up the steps daily and taking short walks when the weather permits. And she's doing little things around the house like setting the table and doing dishes. She's not allowed to do anything that would put a strain on her back so walking is her best form of rehab and exercise right now. My dad has been a real trooper cooking, doing laundry and anything else that needs to be done. I go to visit at least once a week to give him a break and do some things he doesn't do like ironing.