BYOC - Bring Your Own Crazy!

It's Friday, so it is time for BYOC - Bring Your Own Crazy!  We answer a few questions in order to get to know each other better and to give our blogging brains a break!  Copy to your own blog if you wish and ENJOY!

1)  Describe the structure you live in, (apartment, condo, house, mansion, cardboard box?)

I live in a two story home, about 5000 square feet.  We have six bedrooms, six bathrooms, two kitchens and a wine cellar. Our home is situated on about 50ish acres with a one acre pond - which houses five ducks.  I've posted a "Where I live" post (here) if you're interested in seeing pictures of the acreage or the insane asylum we call home.  It is an unusual home built and added upon by a very unusual lady!  We have hundreds of open acres around us which means there are no neighbors - yeah, that means I can run nekkie through the property and would only scare the deer - uhm..  maybe not...

2)  Describe the city you live in. (population, main attractions)

We live in a township of about 300 people total - the deer far outnumber the people.  Main attractions....  still thinking here....  main attractions...  do you count the flashing red light in town (about three miles away) as an "attraction"??  Actually, we are in oil country.  This "neck of the woods", in Titusville, is the "Birthplace" of the Oil Industry.  You can still see and tour the site where Edwin Drake drilled the world's first oil well in 1859.  I've been there so many times, I could give the tour - and don't forget your obligatory bottle of Pennsylvania crude oil!

3)  Why do you live in the town you live in (job, to get away from a different town, family, schools?)

We moved here so that the boys would have space - room to grow.  We had a pool, hunting, exploring, woods, bugs, animals - all the things that make a little boys life worth while.  Heck, we even had our own ball field on the property when the boys were younger - yes a baseball diamond!  The Hubs and I grew up in the big, bad, city and wanted a "small town America" place to raise the boys - and boy did we find it!  The schools are so small and intimate (about 10-12 per class) and the neighbors seemed to have jumped right out of The Andy Griffith Show.  Honest to Pete, I have a neighbor, Grace, who till this day sends us pies and other baked and canned yummies on a regular basis!  I have traveled the world many times over and wouldn't live anywhere else.


4)  What is the view like from your backyard?

I look out of my window in the office, or from the dining room and I see the pond - and what seems like miles of nothing - or everything, whatever your preference might be.  I see the "everything" that is, to me, true beauty...  trees, hills, grass, ducks and deer.  A sunrise.  Acres and acres of nature.

5)  Repeat question:  How has your week been in blogland and in real life?

Blogland has been nonexistent for me - well, blogging has been..  I've been reading - to keep my sanity and my wits about me as the craziness in this home doesn't seem to have an end in sight!  I thank all of YOU for keeping me grounded during this time, for without you I probably would be in a padded cell talking to the little people who torment me - or the plumbers..  I think they're one in the same...


Have  terrific weekend!

Until Next Time!

The Revolving Door That Is My Life!

To say that things around this psychiatric unit I call my home are out of control would be the understatement of the year - My apologies for being the sole nominee for the worst blogger of the month!  Our GrandAngel has been with us these past few days making things that much more exciting - so know that I've been reading every moment I have had a chance, even if I haven't been commenting much...

Here are some photos of what the plumbing looks like - and as soon as the plumbers are through, next through the revolving door will be the new furnace folks.  Can you say C-R-A-Z-Y???  The first photo is taken in the mudroom - yes the jack hammering still has my brain vibrating..  You can see the remnants of my pantry behind the little boy whose job it was to hammer into the very core of my spinal column..  The second photo is the hole that was the entire floor of our mudroom.  You'll love this - no sooner had they "finished" the work, poured the new cement and replaced the appliances in the room, we discovered a pool of water forming under our clothes washer - take two...  I am ready to claim these young men on our 2011 taxes!  They're baaaaack....  So, the furnace folks are on hold until the plumbing work is really completed and there are no longer pools of water anywhere - or toilets burping, belching and spewing...

All is not lost though!  I have some good news!  Well..  let's go back a bit, shall we??  Me, like the slug that I am, did not post for an entire week - since Thanksgiving!  Yeah, I can't believe it either - a whole WEEK!  Mea culpa, mea culpa...  I gained two pounds over Thanksgiving - damn you Mom's recipe for stuffing and butter gravy - damn you!  But, having my little workout machine here for an entire week - our GrandAngel - has helped me to lose those two pounds and three more!!  Yay me!!  So today...  are you ready for this??  Today I say 200.4 on the scale!!  Wowowow!!  0.6 lbs to Onderland!

Thanksgiving was wonderful, I really didn't overdo it this year - as I have so many years in the past.  The kids all came, friends came, it was a glorious time!!  And thank YOU Ronnie for the chocolate pie recipe - it was a HIT!!!  I had a taste of everything and seconds on the stuffing and gravy...  What are ya going to do, right??  If I hand out the motto, I've got to live it myself - "Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is yet to be, all we have is today..  Make the MOST of it!"  And I did.  I enjoyed my family, I enjoyed our friends, the glorious food, the amazing drinks - I enjoyed!  And I plan to keep on enjoying knowing that I have my band to keep me in check.

Although it is a week past Thanksgiving, I had - actually "have" - so many things to be thankful for..  My December goal is to continue to be thankful for all the blessings around me.......
......even if they ARE spine jarring!


Until Next Time!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have so much to be thankful for this year - in spite of recent craziness.  My heart is full, my home (although on the chilly and wet side these days) is full....  

...full of love.  

I wish you love, happiness and blessings this Thanksgiving and always!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Until Next Time!

Shtr's Full!

Yes, when it rains....  We've not got the furnace fixed - yet..  May be a little while.  Over the weekend we discovered a problem in the bathroom off the mud-room.  "A problem" - that simple expression just doesn't seem to describe the utter destruction that we awoke to on that miserable, cold, morning - remember, no furnace on that side of the house..  Our commode was "gurgling" - and uhm... "burping" gross and obnoxious matter - hmmm..  a septic problem??  Again, "problem" isn't a strong enough word here..  So, bright and early today the septic man comes to do his thing...  Think Cousin Eddy in Christmas Vacation standing at the sewer pumping his Rrr-Vee out in the storm drain...  "Shitter's full..."  Cousin Eddy was at our house today - chaw and all.  Replace the robe with bib overalls and you have our septic guy....

Anyway, $210 later - and the proud, new recipient of a very empty and sparkly clean septic tank, I begin to clean the horrifying mess that is now our mud-room and bathroom.  I clean the commode, flush, and Oh my heavens....  now the water is pouring out from under the commode and the burping and gurgling inside the nasty beast continues...  Time to call the plumber..  To make a long and horrific story short, I need to replace all - yes you read that correctly - ALL the plumbing that leads to the septic tank.  They need to bust through the cement floor and replace the corroded, terra cotta plumbing that has literally crumbled and is collapsing into itself - oh yeah, and Thanksgiving is now three days away...  It seems that archaeologists in Egypt are finding artifacts in ancient pyramids that are more modern than the plumbing in my home..  Does it get any easier???  And WHEN????  I am so over all the (continuing) family drama, furnaces, plumbing, car maintenance, doctors - all of it.  Honestly, if I didn't keep my sense of humor through this entire fiasco - and a fiasco is what it is turning out to be - I would be wrapped in a padded cell and talking to the little people who are floating all around me!

Think of the scene in Christmas Vacation when the Dad tells Clark how he survived family events - "With a little help from Jack" - yes, that is the level of chaos that is Lisa Land these days...

...I am surviving with a little help from Tangueray and a Costco size bottle of olives.


Here's a cheers to YOU!
Until Next Time....

BYOC - For the Birds!

Thanks to Draz and her BYOC's we have a Thanksgiving BYOC this week!  So, instead of imbibing on martini's I thought this would be a healthier route to take!

Enjoy!!

1)  What is you FAVORITE part of Thanksgiving?

I love being with my family.  As you know, I've been going through some family drama these past few months..  I'll share with you one of these days, but for now I am looking forward to enjoying my sons, my GrandAngel, our parents and a few close friends for dinner.  I love, love, LOVE cooking!!  I always begin Thanksgiving in July when all the farms around start putting out their produce - it is a process that I thrive on each and every year!
2)  How many Thanksgiving family events will you attend?

ONE!  My own...  This problem was solved thirty years ago.  The last thing I wanted to do was schlep around to various family Thanksgiving dinners - and bloat myself until I exploded.  We decided to host our own and anyone and every one who wanted to come was welcome - the same rules apply this year, as other years - ALL are welcome!  Which is why I always prepare a thirty pound turkey!!

3)  What is your biggest Thanksgiving tradition?

Being together.  That is the summit, the soul of the entire holiday.  It doesn't matter what is on the table, or what anyone is wearing, or what is happening in our lives - Thanksgiving is about being together.  Holding hands in prayer of Thanksgiving, and enjoying the presence of our lives  - TOGETHER!  Although, my Mother's stuffing recipe doesn't hurt though!

4)  Do you Black Friday shop the day after Thanksgiving?

Hell NO!!  If you could give me ALL the savings that everyone out there killing themselves over sales are receiving to get out there and shop, I'll tell you to get lost - I wouldn't be caught DEAD anywhere near a mall or shopping center the day after Thanksgiving (or Christmas for that matter)!!!

5)  Repeat question:  Summarize your week in real life and in blog world.

Real life has pretty much sucked lately - but hey, I'm still enjoying my filthy martini's, which is getting me through it all!  Blog world is good.  My friends - YOU - have kept my head above water more than I could put into words here, and I thank YOU!  Often times, I just love reading about your lives, your adventures, your struggles, and your successes.  I read from my phone, from my ipad, from my puter - whenever I need a break from this journey we call, LIFE...  

Here's the rest of the "for the birds part."  The boys will be bird hunting with our dog Damnation tomorrow, so hopefully we will be enjoying pheasant with walnut stuffing and plum wine sauce for dinner - if not, there's always Pizza!!

Enjoy your weekend!!

Until Next Time!!

A Girl's Gotta Do...

All is relatively quiet here on the home front these days..  Still some same old family stuff going on - I can't recall a time when there wasn't family drama at some point or other - but lately it has been enough to make me want to infuse martinis intravenously..  Oh, and we have two estimates for a new furnace...  You don't want to know...  You do NOT want to know..  I can feed a small country for a year on what a new furnace will cost..  It seems that our fireplace needs some sort of metal stuff going through it, and all our duct work needs cleaned as well - does it ever end???  Happy Freakin' birthday, right???  I agree with Band Groupie - I am going to have jewelry made from a piece of the old furnace as a gift to myself to commemorate the milestone of fifty years on this earth - a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

The weekend went well, and the parents are back home safe 'n sound..  It was a crazy, hectic weekend and I have to admit I did imbibe in a few too many martinis on Sunday - but then again, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!  Our Baby is home for the Thanksgiving holiday, and I am within seconds of selling my oldest son for medical experiments - any takers???

It is supposed to snow later with temps below freezing - I see more martinis in my future...  See a pattern emerging here???

My apologies for being so down in this post, I'm just in a mood - in a funk that doesn't seem to want to go away..  Maybe it's the gray weather, maybe not.  Or maybe a martini is in order!  A Girl's gotta...  well, you get the idea!

I ordered my Thanksgiving turkey today - a beautiful 28-30 pounder..  I'm not sure how many are coming for dinner but I'm ready for any number of folks that's for sure..  And my weight is holding steady at 204..  I am OK with this..  I am feeling good physically and much more active.  Although, this weather has caused me to take some of my arthritis meds, I've only been taking a half dose each day - still a victory in my book!  So, not all is doom and gloom in Lisa Land - just maddening moments to make it all more realistic I suppose...

I truly do hope you're having a terrific week - and I will toast you if you are OR if you're not - a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, right???

Until Next Time!

Fabulous FIFTY and a Special Thank YOU...

So, I turned 50 today - yes, the big five - ohhhhhh..   It came and went without any pomp or circumstances, which I preferred above anything else - in fact, I spent my special day with my GrandAngel - is there anything better???  The Hubs came home from work and made me an incredible dinner - scallops with cheesy rice and broccoli - and get this - are you ready??  He found me a tiramisu birthday cake - is that incredible, or what??  Our oldest Son and our dear friend joined us for dinner as well - I am soooo happy right now!  Wanna know what I am getting for my big five-ohhhh??  A new furnace!  Yay... now isn't that special.  You wouldn't believe it.  The furnace guy came today - finally - and told me there is absolutely nothing that could be done to the old girl...  I am thankful that we have two furnaces and that we've been living through these cool nights with the one that is newer - but the old girl has to go and needs replaced.  Ok...  that's about eight grand I wasn't expecting to spend - but we've got to do what we've got to do.  I would have preferred this happen perhaps in March or even July - but a month and a half before Christmas - seriously???

I did have a terrific SCALE victory today though - 202 on the scale!!!  Two pounds to ONDERLAND!!!

I received a text message last night from our Baby who is away at college yesterday.  He texted me at 10:00pm with his usual, "Hey Mom"...  I texted back, "yes???" - fully expecting a request for money...  He said "You know what time it is???"  I texted back, "Yeah, 10:00 at night"  - he sent me a text back saying...  "Yeah, TWO hours until you're OLD" ...........................................
     you don't want to know what my response was...

AND - wait, wait!!!  I received the most precious, wonderful, terrific birthday present TODAY!!!  I was really bummed about the whole furnace fiasco - along with a few other things today - and I tell you, I received the most excellent birthday gift of all - my secret bandit came in the mail - today!!  Yes, TODAY!!  For my birthday!!  I received a wonderful cook book - which I already have Post-It's throughout all the pages of recipes I want to try..  A wonderful and delicious energy bar - which I snarfed the minute I opened the package, and get this...  Are you ready??   My secret bandit even included a gift for our GrandAngel!!  He was sooooooooo thrilled to look through his kaleidoscope!!  Thank YOU, Secret Bandit for making my special day so VERY special!!  One day when I meet you, I'm going to hug the absolute stuffing out of YOU!!!  I absolutely loved the letter you've written - thank YOU!!  Yes, when I meet you - and I will - I will surely hug you until you're blue in the face - thank YOU!!!

The Hubs has a pretty special day on Saturday - he is being installed as a Deacon Candidate by the Bishop of our Diocese - which is why our parents are coming to spend the weekend with us..  We are planning on having a family celebration on Sunday for his special weekend and for my birthday - which I am soooo excited for!  Both of my children, my GrandAngel, parents and special friends will be with us to celebrate!!  That is why I've been so busy this week...  I hope to get pictures of the Hubs special event, but I think I have some kind of role to place in the ceremony - if there are any pictures I will surely post them!!  Either way, I'm sure you'll be hearing about the weekend!!

Thank you Secret Bandit for making my day today so very special!!

Have a GREAT weekend!!
Until Next Time!

Bullets and Bees..

Busy bees - that's what we've been!  Busy, busy bees!  Things around here have been a but nutso, but it keeps me out of trouble - always a good thing!  Our parents are coming up for the weekend and there's a bazillion things to get done before then.  There would only be half a bazillion if our furnace hadn't blown a fit - it still isn't fixed, by the way.  But, they assured me they're coming Thursday..  We'll see if I'm going to get a new furnace for my birthday or not..  We have our GrandAngel this week too which makes doing things take twice as long - but I wouldn't have it any other way...  He insists on helping me - as only a two year old can.. I spend most of the day giggling at his attempts!

Although I've been busy, I've been keeping up with my blog reading through my phone - which makes commenting kind of crazy.  So, although I've been "quiet" lately, I've been lurking.

Some thoughts....

• I need more fiber..
• I so desperately need a vacation!!!  I dream of drinks with umbrellas in them......
• Earlier "nights" make me depressed...
• The fact that the golf course closed for the winter depresses me even MORE...
• My scale hasn't moved in over a week - it is certainly broken...
• I love these warmer days we've been having - no snow is always a good thing!
• I sometimes wish I was Samantha from Bewitched, wiggle my nose and all my work would be done...
• This Wednesday is the thirty fifth anniversary of the day the Hubs first asked me out - yeah, I know..   but we have always celebrated this anniversary..
• This Thursday (furnace day - yuck) is a big number birthday - If my family has any sort of goofy celebration, I vow to haunt them from the afterlife...
• Acting like you're two - with a two year old - is a really fun thing!

Have a terrific day!!

Until Next Time!

November 1st - Jumbalaya Day!

So we had one trick or treat(er) last night - our GrandAngel!!  He came dressed as a dinosaur!!  Our Son (who was dressed as a - ready for this?? - chick magnet...) brought him to see Grammy and Opa for Halloween!  So, although we didn't have the "regular" kind of trick-or-treaters, we had a truly wonderful kind!!  And of course Grammy and Opa were ready for our littlest trick or treater - we had a pumpkin FULL to the brim of many kinds of wonderful treats just waiting for him - Grammy's are always ready for these things!   These aren't the best photos taken of our GrandAngel because he couldn't stand still long enough to have his picture taken!  Being pretty revved up on sugar, he spent the evening scaring Hell-fire and Damnation (the dogs) in best dinosaur form..  The dogs didn't mind though - he had pockets full of cheese curls... Any good dog worth his salt knows that he'll do anything - even be afraid of a two year old dressed up like a dinosaur - for a good cheese curl!

Chick Magnet...

So it turned out to be a pretty good Halloween, if I say so myself..  I always like having our Guys come to visit - dressed up is always a good thing!  Oh, and I kept my wandering and pudgy fingers OUT of the Halloween bowl this year - which in itself is a terrific thing, if I say so myself!

Today is All Saints Day - kinda makes you want to eat a huge bowl of jumbalya and sing "When the Saints...." doesn't it??   We took our GrandAngel to Mass with us tonight - what a hoot!  He very loudly applauded the cantors who sang, said "Grace" especially loud during the quiet parts, and thought the priest was sleeping while he was sitting in his chair on the altar - he shushed the lector while she read the readings - then proudly told the congregation "He up now..." when the priest stood to read the Gospel..  Besides nearly knocking over the holy water font, he sang, prayed and pretty much entertained everyone who was in a ten foot radius of us...  He truly "participated" at mass - in two year old fashion...

I hope everyone had a terrific day today!!
Until Next Time!

Boo! Happy Halloween!

BOO!  Did I scare ya??  Happy Halloween to you!  Nothing much planned for this spooky day or night for that matter.  Remember.. we live off the grid - out in the hinterlands.  We've had exactly one - ONE - child wander by for Trick or Treat in the fifteen years we've lived here.  I think his Mom who waited for him in the car was lost..  For years I would decorate everything outside and put the outside lights on in the hope that we would get a few children..  But like Linus waiting for his Great Pumpkin, they wouldn't show..  The Hubs used to take the boys to the homes on our road and end up in "town" where the children of the area were all treated to a good old fashioned Halloween party hosted by the firemen - fun times!

So no word yet from the furnace man.  He must still be somewhere out in the woods..  We're fortunate that the weather has warmed up, the snow is gone, and that we have a second furnace and fireplace.  I finally have most, if not all, of the surfaces cleaned of the oily mess that spewed out of each furnace vent - what a truly disgusting job that was.  I tried to take the positive route though and think of it as being a killer workout - it was still disgusting..  It's done though.  Now we wait to hear whether or not I am getting an electric furnace for my birthday - every woman's dream!  I can't wait!

Tomorrow is official weigh day and I am bloated beyond belief!  I am being the "Puffinator" for Halloween this year!!  Or maybe I'll paint myself white and be the Stay Puff Marshmallow Woman!  I cooked smoked spare ribs for dinner last night and the salt just killed me.  I stepped on the scale today to find a two pound gain - all water weight, I'm sure.  I can see it in the sausage fingers I woke up with!  This too shall pass...  Eventually..

Have a terrific Halloween!!  I can't wait to see pictures of little goblins Trick or Treating on this special night!!

Until Next Time!

BYOC!

So...  It is early Sunday and I am writing a BYOC - can you say procrastinate??  It has been a wild couple of days here though - so "technically" it wasn't my fault...  That, and it's been cold - cold and it SNOWED today - can you believe it?!?!  Seriously???  SNOW???


We are NOT amused...


I took this photo after most of the wretched stuff melted - it was there, honestly!!  Not as much as others have gotten, but the horrible stuff was there!  And I told you, Damnation is going to burn his giant Coon Hound nose one of these days..  Thought it might be tonight!  

We have two furnaces and they're both oil furnaces - one of them has decided that it wanted to blow horrid, oily, black smoke throughout half my house.  I have a feeling a new furnace is in our future and after this, it will NOT be an oil furnace...  Anyway, I've spent pretty much all of today scrubbing this awful mess out of my furniture, my bathrooms, my walls, curtains, sheets - you name it.  My HAIR!  My hair was sooo disgusting when I got out of bed this morning, and I don't even want to begin to discuss what came out of my nose....  So the Hubs called the furnace man.  He can't come until "sometime next week"...  Why??  Because it is SOME kind of animal killing season out here in the middle of nowhere and he'll be back after... - I don't CARE about hunting season....  what about my HAIR?!?!?


BYOC - Like the copy and paste job??


1. When did you begin blogging? Do you plan to do it a long time or do you think you’ll stop after a while? 

I began blogging a little over a year ago as a journal, so to speak.  I have journaled for so many years and the arthritis in my hands was making it more and more difficult to write - so, this blog was born...  Never in a million years did I think anyone would actually own up to reading it!

2.  What do you enjoy more - blogging yourself or reading other’s blogs?

Depends on my mood - I just love drinking my Starbucks and immersing myself in blog reading, and I like to share my life, thoughts and experiences - I guess you can say 50/50..

3.  What’s the biggest thing blogging has taught you? Biggest surprise about blogging?

The biggest surprise I've learned through blogging - besides the fact that there are some who READ the words that come forth from these long, pudgy, fingers - is the friendship, caring, and support I've gotten from so many.  I am humbled and touched by each and every comment I receive.  And I love that this friendship, caring and support is extended all throughout this blogging community -  It's a beautiful thing!

4.  Have you met any other bloggers in real life – solely because of your blog or theirs?

Not yet - but hopefully soon!

5.  Does your blog have a general theme as in one topic or do you cover everything and anything?

Yes and no..  The general theme is the name, "The Rest of My Life" - which is pretty much about whatever I need it to be at any given time.  I'm not one to be boxed in, I suppose..  I like it this way!

6.  Are you public or anonymous? Whichever you are – do you ever wish you were the other?

I’m pretty much anonymous but anyone out there who is looking for me - as if that would actually happen - could find me. 

7.  What’s your best blogging advice for a new blogger?

PUH - LEEEZEEE turn off your word verification!!  Some of them are harder to 'cipher than the New York Times Crossword puzzle!!  That, and in all things be yourself!  

8.  Does anyone in your real life read your blog/know it’s address? Do you wish they would or wouldn’t?

Two of my dearest friends - sisters - do, but they comment through text!

9.  Do you enjoy blogging or do you view it as a chore? How often do you blog?

Oh I definitely enjoy it, or I would lose interest and would most assuredly stop entirely..  I don't blog as often as I should, but I do like to post at least two or three times a week..

10.  Do you tell people in your real life that you blog? Or keep it a secret?


Like my band, I don't openly talk about it but I don't keep it secret either.



Have a Terrific Rest of your weekend!!

Until Next Time!

Retail Therapy...

So I finally broke down and actually went out for some honest-to-goodness retail therapy.  I just thought of something...  I still don't have a belt!  Gives me an excuse to get out and therapy-ize again!  I spent an entire day at the outlet mall.  I came home with a few items, but that really wasn't the reason for the therapy session.  My purpose for going was to: (a) find out exactly what size I wear, and  (b) see what may look good.  So, here's the scoop...   I am officially OUT of the "Women's Department" - can I get an "amen" here?!?!?   I wear a solid size 16 trouser.  Before surgery I wore anywhere from a 20 to a 24 depending on the cut.  I tried on a few larger made 14's which fit, but in my book that doesn't count..  And, I could pull 18's down my hips without unbuttoning them - my derriere looked nonexistent in the 18's as well.  A good thing!!  I came home with couple pairs of jeans..

I tried on a few tops and have gone from a 1x to a regular XL.  Not too bad I suppose.  I have monkey arms so I am kind of freakish that long sleeve tops go all the way to my wrists.  Size large tops fit me in the torso - because I have no "girls" - but all the long sleeves looked like three quarter length on me.  I tried on some shoes and bought a cute little pair of brown flats to go with my new jeans.  No drastic change in the foot size department though - oh well..  I guess I'll be sentenced to wearing size elevens for the rest of my days..  Although, I did find one tiny little NSV in the shoe department..  I no longer wear eleven WIDE!!  Just regular old eleven NORMAL!  I guess that deserves a "yay"!!

One thing I learned during this retail therapy trip is that I can and do enjoy shopping..  I haven't enjoyed shopping in so very long..  I can take my time rather than rush in and grab whatever it is I need..  I can try things on in a real honest to goodness dressing room rather than drape myself with the garment or pull it over the clothes I am wearing...  And most importantly, I've learned that it is important to love what I am buying..  What I mean by that is, I can go into a store, see that something looks nice, try it on, and take time to decide whether or not it is worth having.  Yes, therapy is good for the soul...  I figure my next retail therapy trip I will actually try to attempt to tackle bras and other unmentionables!  Baby steps, folks...  Baby steps...

Other than that, it has been quiet around here.  The Hubs is out of town on a business trip so it is me here alone with Hell-fire and Damnation.  I've been able to get lots of work done while everything around here is quiet!  Since I spent the day doing so much on the computer I have been able to finally catch up on my blog reading and commenting as well - always a good thing....

Have a great week!

Until Next Time!

Ten Things... Friday??

I've never done a "Ten Things" before and wanted to do one yesterday - but life kinda got in the way..  So, breaking tradition - as I've been known to do on occasion - today will be "Ten Things Friday"..

• I broke down and bought a new phone.  I like it, still getting used to it though..  It's always fun to fiddle around with a new toy!
• It has been day-um COLD!!  The temps this weekend are supposed to go into the thirties - great.
• I broke down and wore shoes yesterday - the flip-flops are not technically put away yet, but they've been put on hiatus for the time being.  I'm not going down without a fight!  
• **Geek Alert** - Our Church has finally purchased an electric piano - which means I have my electric keyboard back!!  Wow!!  Talk about having fun fiddling with a new toy!!  It is like having a new toy all over again!!  I do love our piano at home - but it is not quite as fun to play with as all the bells and whistles in the keyboard!
• **Geek Alert (part 2)** - Along with the electric piano, our Church has also replaced the sound system - which means I've got my "Marshall Mini" guitar amp back as well - Talk about Christmas in October!!  It's like being a kid all over again and not knowing what to play with first!   Ok, I AM a geek to the tenth degree...  
• I'm not sure yet if we are going away for Thanksgiving or not.  In past years we have gone to the beach for the week of Thanksgiving, but with this being our Baby's senior year at school, he's not sure if he will get away.  I'm ok with that though..
• I haven't worked out AT. ALL. this week - can you say "slug"??  It is as though I'm needing an entire week to recuperate from last week!  That, and this miserable weather (42 degrees and rain) has inflamed each and every joint in my body - crap.  I actually broke down yesterday and took arthritis meds.  My weight is holding steady at 207 though - a good thing.  This too shall pass...
• I wear my Mother's wedding band along with my wedding rings and the bands are beginning to get very loose.  I think it may be time to think of having them re-sized.  My engagement ring has always been tight - which means it actually fits now - and it's holding the whole kit-n-kaboodle in place.  Yeah, I think it's time....
• The coon hound (Damnation) is a fire-place hog - and surely will light himself on fire one of these days if he gets any closer.  
• I have EIGHT freaking pounds to go before Onederland!!  Is that amazing, or what?????

Happy TGIF!!

Until Next Time!

Weekend Review..

Ok, so I haven't posted in five days - we'll just say I've been in recovery mode, shall we??  We all survived the weekend..  Some of us - ok, me - survived solely by the stem of my beautiful new martini glass, but we all survived none the less!  I managed to get everything done throughout the house, the cooking, and all the preparations at Church for the liturgy with the Bishop finished before leaving for our Deacon Reserves on Friday.  We had class Friday night, and Saturday morning until it was time to skip out into the "lovely" weather that is so common to Erie - to attend our Baby's final home game - and parent's day.  Folks, it was forty two degrees and raining - sideways..  The wind was howling - it was horrendous out!  By the time they called our names to join our Son on the fifty yard line I was shivering uncontrollably and every joint in my body was screaming - loudly!  But, smile I did..  So very proud of our guy..

Mass and dinner following with the Bishop and others went without a hitch - thank heavens!  We had a wonderful time!  I had help from a wonderful and dear friend - and lots of wine - to get through the evening!  Sunday I slept.  I slept the sleep of the dead - and loved every blessed second of it!  So, that's pretty much a wrap up of how the weekend went.  I loved it, and am so glad it's done!

I did manage to lose a few pounds (2, as a matter of fact) throughout the frantic week.  I saw 207 on the scale twice - so I'm owning it!  I was frantic on Saturday looking for something to wear that fit.  I did try to find time to shop during the week, but sadly it was a no-go..  So, in a fit of desperation, I pulled out a suit that was tucked away and neatly bagged in the back of my closet that I hadn't worn in - ready for this?? - five years!  It fit!!  Talk about a terrific NSV!  It wasn't snug, the seams weren't bursting, I wasn't oozing out of it, and the cut and style was perfect for the event.  Talk about doing a happy dance!

I added a few photos I took last week while I was out and about.  The stream is close to home, and fall scenery was pretty and calming - much needed..

Today, I think I'm going to go up and check out a new phone - my old berry is dying a slow death..  Have a terrific Wednesday all!!

Until Next Time..

Is It Martini Time Yet??

CA-RAZY~  That has been my life this week - absolutely crazy!  A good crazy I suppose, but crazy none the less.  On Saturday night, we are hosting the Bishop and others from our Diocese for dinner.  He will be visiting to our tiny little parish - out in the middle of nowhere - for Confirmation then dinner at our place afterwards.  Sooooo, that means tons of cleaning - rugs, windows, preparing food, drink, and all the what-not that is involved in a dinner party for ten.  The whole shebang..   I'm not completely unhappy doing all this heavy work right now because I usually do these things this time of year anyway.  It just usually takes me longer to get it done - on my own time, so to speak!  Anyway, besides our dinner plans this weekend, we also have the Diaconate Reserves (classes), and Senior Day at our Baby's football game Saturday - can you say double martini???  STAT!

The "Binky" makes the ensemble!

Fall fest was a blast - the GrandAngel wore us - and the entire ski resort - out!  We all slept well~!  I did manage to lose two pounds over the weekend swimming, playing at the park, and generally running around after a two year old - imagine that...  We bought most of the things for him that we had planned although I could not find a pair of ski bib overalls in a size 2T...  I'm going to have to get creative here...  The festival itself was nice.  There was the usual craft fair stuff that you find in most Autumn fairs - my quota of carved duck toilet paper holders is filled for the moment - but we loved the food, the entertainment, and the all-around atmosphere!  A terrific time was had!!  Although, I am still looking forward to having a good candy apple - can you imagine??  A fall-fest without candy apples........  Unheard of, I tell you!

Although I've been busy, I've been trying to keep up with all of you and commenting whenever I've had the chance..  You've been my rest and my "take me away" moments from this crazy week - thank you!!!

I will be absolutely thrilled when Sunday gets here and I can just have a glass of wine, take a deep breath and relax by the fire.  I plan on doing nothing but sitting by that fire and watching a good football game - whether or not that will be a Steeler's game is another debate for another day..

Maybe I'll just watch golf............................

 



Until Next Time!!