All's Well...

So, the hunt went well.. No, I don't have deer hanging from anything here at home, or anywhere on the property - thank heavens - but my procrastinator actually did get here this morning at 4:30am as he said he would - and WITH his license to boot - there is hope!  The Guys had a blast even if their rifles didn't...  sorry about that little play on words, couldn't help it!  To Band Groupie, I believe that I'll be parenting on my death bed - picture it - me with tubes coming out of every orifice reminding the boys that 1) they need haircuts, 2) be careful, 3) don't forget this or that, 4) CALL ME!, 5) Don't do that...... 6) You need to remember.... 7) Write this down... 8) You couldn't put on anything nicer??  9) Why did you do that??  10) Where IS your head?? -  on and on and on..  I don't think it will EVER end - I'll probably still be parenting from the great beyond as well!  I know that my Mother does!  I've mentioned  my "Mom-isms" a few times in previous posts...  I honestly can hear my Mother's voice whispering to me from the great beyond...... "you're looking seedy, get that hair cut!" when it is time for me to get it done!  I can't imagine my eternity would be any different... 

And, before I forget... congratulations to Amanda from Life of a (hopeful) loser!  Such terrific news!!  You'll be on liquids and are getting ready for surgery - I am so thrilled for YOU!  In fact, me and the Hubs toasted your wonderful news tonight with a martini -we're so happy for you - I hope your ears were tingling!

So, all in all, it was a good day today - especially for the deer who are at this very moment giving the Guys "the hoof"  (they don't have fingers) and laughing their antlers off!  The Guys enjoyed themselves however, and came back to the house laughing, cold, and very ready for turkey barley soup - which is always a good thing on so many levels!

Have a GREAT day!!
Until next time!

The Rant of the Month - November.....

Ok, my second rant of the month, but who's counting.....

I hate waiting.  With a passion, I hate waiting.  Waiting and worrying - the two things in the world I hate the most.  Yeah, I know that "hate" is a strong word, but I can think of no other distasteful description of my complete and utter dislike of waiting.  I hate to wait.  I am as impatient as they come.  "They" say that patience is a virtue, I probably slept in the day that  virtue was being passed out - 'cause I didn't get any.  And worrying.  Worrying seems to go along with waiting with me.  When I wait, I worry - and I'm usually worrying because I am waiting!  Ok, where is this leading??  If you're a parent, you'll commiserate with me - if you're planning on being a parent, read on!  You're about to get an education..

I have two sons.  They've each grown into wonderful, incredible human beings, and they make me proud each and every day - but - like all of us, they have their faults.  My oldest Baby who is twenty five, married, and has his own family, is my procrastinator.  I think he failed the subject of telling TIME in the first grade..  My youngest Baby, the twenty one year old in college, is my "worry-er.  They've been this way since they were young, and quite frankly, it drives me NUTS!  Picture it.  We're all rushing around getting ready for work and school - my youngest is pacing back and forth mumbling to himself because his lunch ticket money is due, and he's not sure if he wants tickets or money for a sub.  Meanwhile, my oldest is fast asleep on the commode, pajamas around his ankles, head on the back of the tank......  Really happened.  Typical morning when they were younger.  And, what happens when they are little only becomes larger as they grow, so keep 'em little as looooong as you can!

The Hubs and the Oldest Baby are going hunting tomorrow.  It's the first time they've hunted together since our oldest Baby got out of the Navy - so it's been about five or six years.  They're really excited about it too!  They spent the weekend building a deer stand together on the property and have all their gear ready to go in the mud room.  It's not really the hunting - the Hubs said he is enjoying this time alone with our son.  Anyway...  Our oldest was supposed to be here at 10pm with our GrandAngel.  10:30 comes, I text him - nothing.  11:00 comes, no kid, no text - nothing.  Finally at 11:30 at night, I receive a message from him saying that he was at Wal Mart..  Are you ready for this??  Getting his hunting license!  Are you KIDDING me???  If he were here I would have throttled him!!  Ohhhhh, I gave it to him over the phone - he was at flipping WAL MART getting his hunting license at 11:30 at night - the night before he is due to go out with his Dad!  They're coming tomorrow (actually this morning) at 4am....  I was stewing here thinking the most terrible, horrific thoughts of him and my GrandAngel driving these dark roads at night - and he's at
Wal Mart.............. 

Give me a drink.

Until next time!

They Did It AGAIN!!

Just returned from watching our Baby's football game - they WON!!!  Our Lakers are ranked #8 in the country in NCAA, Division 2 football! - can I get a "WOOT, WOOT"?!?!  Wow....  To say we're all stunned right now would be an understatement!  But, celebrate we did - with sausages, ribs, sauerkraut, and LOTS of Scotch - it was COLD out there!!  A girl's gotta do something to keep warm!!  I switched to warm apple cider in the second half, but I still detected a hint of scotch in the cider.   You know this was an important event, this woman does not sit in the cold and snow - EVER.  Repeat.  EVER!  I had so many layers of clothes on, I could barely bend!  I had four tops on under my wool coat, long underwear, jeans, sweat pants, hat, scarf, gloves and three pairs of socks.  And...  I was wrapped in my Laker blanket!  The temperature was in the twenties, but twenties in Erie (so close to the lake) are not like twenties at home.  There is some serious wind that comes off that lake, and there is nowhere to hide from it!

That's our "Baby" on the right!
It was an absolutely terrific game!  We played Bloomsberg again who we beat two weeks ago at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship.  They're a tough team and a good team (on so many levels) - Bloomsberg had a perfect record until they came to Erie two weeks ago, and they returned this time with revenge in their eyes..   They were not happy about losing last time - at all.. 

I'll be anxious to read the papers tomorrow.  I heard from our Baby that there was a "press conference" outside of the locker room after the game.  ESPN, CBS (several PA affiliates), local reporters, and the guy from the Division 2 dot com. were there asking questions for about forty minutes after the game.  Hubs is staying up there to see how much of it may be on the local news tonight - our Baby was asked a few questions!  I reeeeally hope the Hubs gets it on tape of it for me!  I couldn't stay tonight because I couldn't leave Hellfire and Damnation (the dogs) here at home alone overnight - I don't even want to begin to imagine what they might do - they're worse than kids... 

So that was my Saturday!  We're going to pack it all up and do it all over again next week.  I believe we're playing a team from West Virginia - at HOME!  Let's hope the snow and wind stays away next time - I know, wishful thinking...

I'm not sure if I like this new blog set up.. - it's kinda busy..  Oh well..  Maybe I just need to get used to it.  It reminds me of when I worked in a hospital in Pittsburgh.  My dear, dear, friend B. - who is Jewish, and who calls me her "little gentile friend" was feeling a little left out while we were making plans about decorating the Microbiology dept for Christmas.  Well....  I couldn't leave my best friend in the world out of the festivities!  So..  we made it a Hanukkah/Christmas theme!  Never having decorated before, she decorated EVERY blessed square inch of that laboratory!!  Snowflakes, garland, lights, Stars of David, balls, dradles, mangers - you name it, it was hanging somewhere..  Oh Mercy, I wish I had photos!!  It was a literal Christmas EXPLOSION!  And more fun than you can imagine!  We didn't win "Best Decorated", but received a "special award" for MOST decorated that year!  Clark Griswold didn't have anything on us!

Until next time!!

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

Not our cat, but Hubs
said he felt this way
after Thanksgiving
dinner!
Oh Mercy!  What a wonderful time we had yesterday..  And, I am still "stuffed" - I just had to use that line, couldn't resist.  Actually, I am taking my obligatory pat on the back for not overindulging during Thanksgiving dinner (as I have done so often in the past).  I won't lie and say that I had a nibble of this and a teeny nibble there.  I ate everything that made me hungry without guilt, and without guile - everything in moderation.  I did take an extra spoon of stuffing and gravy, but took the tiniest piece of pumpkin pie.  Didn't really want the pie - it was just a vehicle for eating the home made whipped cream!  But, the greatest part of our day was just spending it together - all of us, under the same roof for an entire day!

I did see Santa during the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade - which, for me, is the official beginning (hooray!) of the Christmas season!  Ok, time to 'fess up..  I did get a glisten of a tear in my eye when I saw Santa - it happens to me every year...  (Yeah, go ahead and laugh - my family has been laughing at me for years)   Soooo,  let the decorating begin!!  Uhm..  maybe not today though - I'm feeling like too much of a slug today, decorating this blog seems to have done me in and I'm whooped.  I'm just going to put my pink leopard print jammers and my golf slippers on and stay warm..  The wind chill right now is seventeen degrees and my bones are feeling it....

Have any of you gone out at the risk of life and limb to shop today??  I heard there were stampedes and shootings at a few stores around the country..  Black Friday, one crazy day that's for sure...  I'd done it once.  Once.  Let's just say that I have repressed psychological damage over that ONE experience that will keep me in therapy for years to come!  I would rather have tooth extraction done with a spoon.  I do most of my shopping online these days.  No one is shoving, poking, pushing, prodding, or tripping me while my long pudgy fingers do the walking.   Me 'n the Hubs will probably go into the city one night (I love seeing the city lit up at night and doing some window shopping in town!), maybe over to the Outlets - very early in the morning, and of course do some "Toys r Us" shopping, but that is about it!  I would much rather be here baking, decorating, and doing all the Christmas-sy things that need to be done. 

I hope that all of you had a terrific Thanksgiving Day!  Now let the caroling begin!!

Ho! Ho! Ho!
Until Next Time!

I Am Thankful...

BE  THANKFUL

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?


Be thankful when you don't know something,

for it gives you the opportunity to learn.


Be thankful for the difficult times.

During those times you grow.


Be thankful for your limitations,

because they give you opportunities for improvement.


Be thankful for each new challenge,

because it will build your strength and character.


Be thankful for your mistakes.

They will teach you valuable lessons.


Be thankful when you're tired and weary,

because it means you've made a difference.


It's easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who

are also thankful for the setbacks.


Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,

and they can become your blessings.



~~Author Unknown.~~




Happy Thanksgiving!


PS:  In honor of Thanksgiving, a new TGIF funny has been posted early this week!  Enjoy!

Wishing You A Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm catching a cold, damn it...  I hate colds - and medication I am taking makes me sooo uber-susceptible to them.  GrandAngel was here over the weekend sniffling and sneezing - ruthlessly infecting us with his bacterial warfare by way of cute, wet, sloppy kisses....  The little germ bag.  I've got my plan of attack.  Plenty of soup, tissues, sudafed, my jammies and my woobie (blanket, in case you may have forgotten the line from 'Mr. Mom')..

OK..  I'm done whining..  will just have to keep typing through the sneezing and the soup sipping..  I spent yesterday at the Bariatric Center.  It was my second weight check visit, and my second Nutritional Evaluation..   I did rather well, all things considered.  This IS my birthday month, remember???  I still managed to lose a couple of pounds.  The loss wasn't what was important for me during this visit though - just a reeeeallly nice plus - I didn't gain!  My goals last month were to try to change the patterns of eating that I've gotten myself into.  Patterns of eating very little food during the day, then overeating through the evening and night.  My goal was to plan and eat breakfast, lunch and a snack - all throughout the day.  Most days I didn't eat much, but I did eat those meals.  And, goal number two was trying to get out and move these old crickety bones more.  This coming month, I need to focus on having larger meals through the day, and less in the evening and night - in other words, better portion control.  And, we agreed to begin pilates with my usual walk throughout the week. 

There's lots to do today - and I'm sure your "to-do" list is probably just as long, if not longer, than mine!  So, with that, know that I am thankful for YOU and I wish you and all you love a Very, Very Happy, Blessed and beautiful Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to YOU!

Until next time!

A Terrific Weekend!

What and exhausting weekend.. - but it was exhaustingly wonderful!  Friday our Baby came home with his beautiful little friend after their finals.  He would normally be on end of term break, but since they're playing football next Saturday, he will be staying at school going to practice, watch films - all that football stuff. Coach gave them the weekend off though which made my Mom heart smile!  Friday I spent the day cleaning from top to bottom (my absolute favorite thing to do - not.).  When the kids arrived we went out for Mexican.  Margarita's taste soooo good after cleaning!  Saturday, ALL the kids, including our GrandAngel came for steaks, martinis and cigars..  No, the GrandAngel didn't have a cigar but Grammy made sure there were plenty of yummys for him.  I made them all go out onto the sun porch with their smokes though.  And, believe it or not, I myself got through about a half of a cigar - I had to celebrate, right??

Sunday was a really special day - my birthday gift from the Hubs!  We had dinner at the Capital Grill and then saw the Trans Siberian Orchestra - oh mercy... What a performance!!  We had terrific seats, the music was absolutely amazing and the light show was beyond stunning!   I think I'm starting to get into the holiday mood since I've seen the show and that's a good thing!  It won't happen in full force until I see Santa at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade though...  That always does it for me!

Now I know why my little Polish Grandmother did so much and smiled so much when the entire family gathered for get togethers.  She would cook for days - and I mean DAYS before a gathering.  When the entire family got together for holidays, her five children and all their families, she would allow herself one Harvey's Bristol Cream Sherry and would be almost giddy having us all around her.  I can remember her telling me to eat, "don't be shy..", she'd say - as though I could get anywhere near the incredible Polish food she prepared as my male cousins elbowed their way to the food!  Anyway, having my children, and now a GrandAngel around me this weekend reminded me of my Grandmother.  Now I know why she did the things she did - and smiled the way she smiled - from her big, wonderful, tender, heart....

Tomorrow is a big Bariatric Doc day.  I have my second Nutritionist appointment and my second weight check in Erie.  I'll probably be handed another packet of "to do" hoops that need to be jumped through..  But, that's OK..  Every hoop is one step closer, right?  Today I filled in my Nutritional Questionnaire, watched the three videos I was required to see before this visit tomorrow, got a haircut, and did pretty much nothing else.  I'm in recovery mode...


With Thanksgiving coming in three more days there still have much to do but mostly in the way of food preparation.  I'm still not certain yet if our parents are coming to dinner, but we will be having the family and perhaps a couple of friends for dessert.  Most of the cleaning is (thankfully) done - other than the usual everyday pain in the neck stuff.  Yes, all six bathroom are sparkling clean - you'd be impressed..  And the Hubs actually added three more bottles of wine to the cellar which brings us up to a whopping fifteen bottles! 

I hope everyone had a terrific weekend!

Until next time!

Where I Live

Alison from over at Alison's Banded Adventure came up with the most wonderful idea!  She asked us to write about where we live - and went into glorious detail about where she lives in England!  Do take some time if you have the chance and read about her home (and check out the website, too!) you won't be sorry! 

Our field across the road
Let's see..  where to begin..  I grew up in a large city.  We lived in a rather large but comfortable row house on the city's south side, and had exactly one square foot of grass that my Mother planted the year the city lined our street with trees.  She would make us "mow the lawn" with scissors every Saturday to keep it "redded up".. (Pittsburgh-ese for keeping it 'tidy')  After me 'n the Hubs were married, we bought our first home on the hill - still on the south side of the city, but up in the goat hills.  It was a good first home, but not in the best of neighborhoods.  So, when our oldest son was born five years later, we moved to the suburbs into a cookie cutter home on a quarter acre of land.  It was a beautiful little home - but the term "little" was an understatement.  Along came our second son and we were bursting at the seams.  We wanted land.  Wasn't it Mark Twain who said to "buy land.  They're not making it anymore."?  So we did - and we're still here.

Sunset over the field
We live in a small town in Western Pennsylvania.  We don't actually live in town, "town" is about 3 miles away. We have one flashing light and a Mom and Pop grocery store - that's about it - just call us "Hustle and Bustle."  There are more homes in "town" then around where we are, but to understand the big picture, there were more homes on our street in the suburbs than here in the entire "town".  Here, the deer outnumber the people, and farming and agriculture are the principle form of income for most folks.  In fact, a local farmer farms the field we own across the road - the corn he grows is outstanding!  We have several Amish families who live on our road, and it is a glorious sound to hear the horse drawn buggies going up and down through the day.   Our closest neighbor is about 3 or so city blocks away, and if I wanted to run nekkid through the property only the deer would know....  Don't worry, I haven't stunned any deer lately!

Our Pond at Sunset
We are very close to the Allegheny River and have several creeks and small "waterfalls" either on our property or close to it that flow into the larger Scrubgrass Creek, which ultimately flows into the Allegheny.  We are high on a ridge, and the sunrises and sunsets are truly spectacular!  Our property has a five acre pond which is healthy and thriving with fish, water fowl and plants. 

The area around us is the "Birthplace of the Oil Industry" - in Titusville, as a matter of fact.  You can still see the site where Edwin Drake drilled the world's first oil well in 1859 - Drake Well.  It's a museum now, and I have my obligatory bottle of Pennsylvania Crude Oil in a prominent location. 

Our home is "interesting" to say the least.  It is a combination of old and new.  The center of the house is the original farm house that was built on the property about 150 years ago (I know, Alison - that's not old!).  Over the years, the house was moved to its present location on the property and additions were built onto the house.  About three owners ago (probably about 30 years ago or so) a woman by the name of Brinker (her first name) purchased the home and did a huge over hall.  She added the rounded windows in the dining room overlooking the pond, put three (3) kitchens and six bathrooms in the house, installed a cut glass entryway in the foyer, added a wine cellar.  When she was finished, she purchased brick from a Georgian plantation that was being torn down and had it shipped here.  She had the entire home covered in the brick. Brinker then sold the house and moved to Honduras.  I met her once before she passed away.  She was definitely an unforgettable character!  About seventy years old, five foot if she was that tall, skin as smooth as you can imagine, with flaming - absolutely FLAMING red, wild, curly hair..  I asked her what prompted her to put such unusual additions onto the house.  Her reply?  "I just like to build things."  I didn't mention that when she lived in Honduras, she built hotels there - hence the three kitchens and six bathrooms I suppose.  And if you're wondering about the wine cellar?  We have about twelve bottles of wine in it - we drink it faster than we can accumulate it!  It's an interesting conversation piece though - one of the kitchens are in there!

So this is where we live.  I can truly say that I've gone from one extreme to the next.  I've lived in the city where I had to mow the lawn with scissors to living out in the middle of nowhere where a tractor and a four wheel drive vehicle are not status symbols but necessities (although there is a good rivalry over whose truck is 'bigger' - it's a guy thing)  We're not sure if we're going to stay though.  Some days I'm ready to move on, and other days I feel as though I would never want to leave here.  But, now that the children are grown and gone, it is a bit too much house for me 'n the Hubs - for pete's sake, what do we need SIX bathrooms for???  There's only two tushies residing here!



Until next time!

A Toast to 100 Posts...

Get out the horn blowers, the party hats, and the balloons - this is my 100th post!!  Yeah!  If you would have told me a few months ago that I would still be writing 100 posts from now, I would have laughed at you!  I just never imagined that I would have enough thoughts or stories or, quite frankly, anything to write about!   C'mon, let's face it - I'm just not that interesting!   I don't live a double life, I'm not an international spy, or a globe trotting social-lite..  Really..  If Bravo-TV would ever decide to make a series of "The Real Housewives of Podunk", I'd be their woman!  Picture it..  I could be cat fighting with another "housewife" over which Amish family makes the best Shoo fly Pie in the county in the first episode! Or, which farm store sells the best manure - I can literally rip the eyes out of that witch who had the nerve to beat my jelly at the county fair - winning the blue ribbon - the CHEAT!   Nope, just not that interesting!  But, here I am 100 posts later - still at it, and I'm loving every second of it! 

So, in this 100th post I would like to share with you what I've been pondering lately.  Mountains.  Yep, mountains.   We all have them, and we climb them everyday of our lives.  None of us are immune.  Some of our mountains are steep - so steep that it seems our shaky legs couldn't possibly get us anywhere, let alone reach the top.  Some of our mountains are bumps, almost like speed bumps - but to us, they're speed bumps that if not maneuvered carefully could rip the underside of our cars right out from under us.

 What I have learned in the forty nine years I've been blessed to walk this earth is that I don't walk my mountains alone.  Oh, I've tried - and eventually I have succeeded - BUT -  If I attempt to climb my steepest mountain alone, I fall.  And when I do, I am left cold and alone before attempting to get up and try again and again.  When I go ripping over my speed bumps alone, there isn't a tow truck in sight while the undersides of my life are left behind on the road, leaving me to walk alone to safety.  Oh, I eventually get there, but beat up, bedraggled, and worn out.  I am a strong, able woman who can face life's difficulties, my mountains, head on - and I have.  But what I have found is that when I'm faced with my mountains, no matter how steep or how shallow, it is always more comforting, and always best to walk that path with others who are walking the same path as I, along side me.. To climb with those who have climbed that mountain before, and can show me way - or with someone with the number of a good tow truck.   No, we aren't alone in our daily struggles, our mountains, our attempts.  We fall, we lift eachother up.  We begin the climb, and others are there to show us the way.  We make a mess of things, and someone is there with the right tools to get us back on track.  We reach the apex of our mountains, and someone is there to celebrate with us...

I guess where I am going with this is that I have support, my strong arm that lifts me when I fall, right here with me in my Hubs and in my family - AND - I have also found that I climb my mountains with YOU....  That is what I have gotten out of 100 posts - I've learned that I have been blessed to have met friends who climb the mountains of life with me and beside me -  AND - who carry AAA cards when I've need it!  I thank you for that!

So, here's to the next 100 posts!  May your mountains be mole hills, and may your mole hills be run over by the tractor!







Until next time!

Sunshine and Wet Kisses...

He's "reading" me a story -
note that the book is
upside down!
Today was a much better day for me and my crickety old bones!  It is amazing what a little sunshine will do to ones outlook - and he's curled up like a jellybean in his cozycrib sleeping away..  Yup!  Our GrandAngel is here with us for a few days..  Dad had to be out of town and Mum is working odd shifts this week - so we get the little Bumpkin!  If you've ever had any doubt of gracious gifts and miracles, just look into the eyes of a little one.  Their trust and wonderment is just the beginning.  When he holds his little arms up for me to take him, when he gives me smiling, wet, open mouthed kisses, I can think of no other answer than a heaven sent miracle...  I am, and will be, eternally thankful for the gracious gift I've been given in this little guy..

Today I firmly decided to get my creaking, angry, tired bones up and moving - no more coddling them!  So, after a LONG, hot, steamy shower, me and my old bones went out for a walk and did some shopping for some much needed "woman stuff"..  You know what I mean..  Some makeup (the fall shades are so wonderful!), shampoo, body lotions (this cold weather is giving me lizard skin!) - all that stuff I would rather the Hubs wouldn't get when he's out shopping...  I asked him one time to please get me some bath soap while he was out - he bought me a case of some kind of off brand soap at Costco......  Need I say more??  I love that the man shops, and I love Costco - but an entire case of "Joe's Bath Soap"...  well..  you get the drift.

So, everything's planned for this weekend, and I'm going to be one busy Mama!  Our Baby is coming home with his lovely little lady on Friday.  We're going to take them down to Permanti Brothers for dinner (Permanti's is an institution in Pittsburgh!)  Saturday, ALL of our Babies will be here!  We're having our steaks, martinis and cigars - yup, I'll be smoking a cigar too (cough! cough!)  Gotta celebrate, right??  And Sunday we have tickets to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra at the Consol Energy Center - Birthday gift from the Hubs!  We have incredible seats (in the club lodge box) and a whole herd of us will be going for dinner and a show!  I just can't wait!

Ohhhhh, I've got lots on my "to-do" list now to get ready for the weekend, cleaning being at the top!  Maybe I'll just have the GrandAngel do it, and the heck with those bothersome old child labor laws!  Being cute and cuddly only gets you so far...





Until next time!

With Your Help....

Oh my..  today started out really crappy - on sooo many levels.  This was one of those mornings that I really felt I have achieved something terrific simply by getting out of bed, making my bed and brushing my teeth.  And believe me, it  took everything in my body, every ounce of will power to get that far!  This weather is CRAP on the joints, and it's killing me!!  I feel like an accordion waiting to be played "Lady of Spain"....  This rainy, cold,  and windy weather is just about the worst thing that can happen to arthritis patients - and I am here to attest to that fact!  But, succeed I did (pat on the back inserted here) - and got some work done on top of it all - now isn't that just special???  I did a little yoga this afternoon in the feeble attempt to get my joints doing what they needed to be doing - and that is moving!  I think that helped a little, but I'm still ready for a steam room and a massage!  The yoga helped, but more importantly, what helped me the most was reading YOUR blogs.  You have inspired me get out of bed this morning, to get some things done that I needed to get done - thank you for helping me though this horrid day!  I got such wonderful inspiration from Amanda who is THIS close to getting her band,  and from a bandster who is going tomorrow to get hers,  and from a blogger who has just gotten a fill and is beginning to see some movement in the scale, from another blogger who is beginning to see the difference in her appearance - although it is not readily obvious, it is there, and from the bloggers who are seeing this thing through without the band - and the fight in them!  I love reading the blogs from those who have succeeded, and from those who are beginning their journeys, and who are in the process of succeeding - even though the road seems long and hard..  I see and read of such positive attitudes, such determination, such will power - that, my beautiful sisters, gives me the courage to get up and get moving - YOU give me the courage, the strength, the will power, and the determination to live my life today - and I thank you!  From the bottom of my heart, I thank you...

I had a terrific phone call from my "Baby" this evening!  He and his beautiful little friend (K) are coming home for the weekend!!  There is no football this weekend (thankfully) - this is a bye week - and finals are finishing up this week.  He called just to say that he needs some "home time" - isn't that just terrific???  I asked if he wanted to go to the Cal State/Bloomsberg game with the Hubs, and he said that he "just wanted to be home for a couple of days"...  So, we planned it!  We're going to do steaks on the grill, martinis, and cigars - no football, no classes, no running - just some wonderful family time.  I called our oldest "Baby", and he and his wife and the GrandAngel are coming too!  The Guys will just have to smoke the cigars out on the Sun porch!  I am sooo going to enjoy this "pre-thanksgiving" treat of having all my babies around me this weekend!

So...  even though the day started out crappy, with your help I was able to get through it all to this evening - I am thankful for the the blessing I received from my youngest, and he has literally set me on cloud nine!  Oh my, I have so much to do now!!  I've got to get his room ready, the guest room ready for his friend, and buy LOTS of steaks and cigars!!  I don't have TIME for arthritis!!

...and that's a good thing!

Until next time!

A Regular Old Day..

Have you noticed that the words you need to type for those word verifications are getting longer and longer??  What started out as a fun little four or five letter word puzzle type thing has lately turned into an exercise that I feel I need to prepare for - like an entrance exam!  I'm just waiting for one that makes me type "antidisestablishmentarianism"...  For those of us with progressive "Magoo Syndrome" doing these word verifications can get rather challenging at times - especially the ones that have those gray boxes behind them!

Despite the fact that it's Monday and the weather was cold and gray, it still turned out to be a pretty good day.  I finished a few things around the office, did a little shopping, picked up our dogs "Hellfire" and "Damnation" (not their real names, but it suits them) from the kennel, and went off to Monday nite Scripture Study.  So, a good day all around.  Nothing new to report on the weight loss front, which is a really good thing!  After all that I consumed during my "birthday week" I was completely shocked that I didn't gain!  I've been trying to move more - and when I say more, I mean more productively, so maybe that's helping.  I have two more hoops to jump through before the next battery of appointments then I guess I'll be given a spankin' brand new list of hoops.  Hooray....

I hope everyone had a terrific Monday!  If not, just remember - there's only four more days until the weekend!

Until next time!

Didn't Do A Damn Thing Today...

Well, things have finally slowed down here at home - including my pulse!  We had a nice relaxing afternoon today (for a change).  It was cold and damp - really nasty today - so we lit a fire..  Martinis by the fire - doesn't that sound yummy??  Our friend "J" came over with some appetizers in hand, we sat around and did pretty much - nothing.  Nada, absolutely nothing, not a damn thing.  Amanda mentioned to me that she spent the day in her pajamas so I took her cue and put my purple leopard print jammers on after Church today - did I tell you I did nothing??  Not a damn thing...

I think we're still stunned and a little hung over from our team's win yesterday!   My nails are still green, too.  I didn't even have the energy to get the color off today!  I think I need a mani and will get something more to my liking next week.  For now, I'm savoring the ugleo green (read - UGLY!) nails I painted for the weekend!  Oh, and Alison!  Our guys won the Pennsylvania State, Division II football Championship!  We're all still celebrating, because we're the last team that was expected to win!  You would have thought we won the Superbowl with all the phone calls, text messages, facebook messages, and twitters I've received all day today today!  It's not over yet though - we're seeded number two in the NCAA tournament games for our division.  We, thankfully, have a buy week next weekend, but will play the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  It's like the Twilight Zone - never ending!  But that's a really good thing!  We've never being in this position before so we're enjoying every blessed second of it!

So, that was pretty much my day today.  I didn't do a damn thing.  I sat by the fire with my golf slippers on, wearing my purple leopard print jammers and a sweat shirt, sipping martinis, waiting for the tournament brackets to be announced on ESPN.  I did watch some of the LPGA tournament that was being played in Mexico, and some professional football too.  I can't tell you when the last time I had an afternoon to just be Jabba the Hut, park my well endowed derriere on the recliner, and do nothing but watch television.  Enjoying the fact that there was nothing else on my mind other than trying to figure out whether my martini was dirty enough or not...

What a terrific way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon...

I sincerely hope your Sunday was spent in a way that made YOU happy!

Until next time!

Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, Division II - CHAMPIONS!

I'm still waiting for my pulse to slow down and the ringing in my ears to stop!  Can you believe it??  Our Lakers not only made it to the State Championship game - but they WON!!!  Isn't that incredible?!?!  WOOO HOOOO!!  I did "the wave", waved my pom, and rang my cowbell so loud I have blisters on my right hand - BLISTERS, I tell you!  The beautiful fliuid filled bumps look gorgeous along side my stunning GREEN nail polish (the things we do for our kids...)!  Ohhhh, it is the most horrid shade of pearl green - but it was for my Guys, what can I say...  Wadda GAME!!  In the pre-season coaches poll, we were "elected" to finish the season second to last out of all the PSAC West teams..  We not only WON the PSAC West Championship, but we won the STATE Championship - Take that, silly coaches!!  Coach Herm told the guys that they've earned themselves a Championship Ring.  Ohhh, I am one proud Mum tonight!!

What is going to happen next for the team, no one is really sure.  But whatever the call, we'll be there with our poms, cowbells, and our paraphernalia!

I leave you with one more photo - something I'm sure you won't get out of your head for a long time!  It's call "el cheapo mondo ugleao green" - quick dry!  You can get it at a store near YOU!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!  Oh, and Amanda..  I did plenty of toasting for your party tonight, too!  Have FUN!






Until next time!