I hate this. I toss and turn, pray, think, toss some more. I give up. I am up - it is 1:02 AM and I can't sleep. I'm praying for my favorite daughter-in-law #1. She has to have back surgery. I am going to go help them out for a couple weeks. I'm trying to think of what I can feed them, make dinners for them in the crock pot so our son won't have to come home from work and cook. Thinking of ways to entertain our Meggie - the four year old. I'll get to see Melody play softball and spend time with Mercer. I just wish Amanda didn't have to have surgery. I am blessed with two wonderful daughter-in-laws. They are the girls I never had. They bring a new dimention to my life that I enjoy so very much.
Thinking about meal planning brings to mind when we were there last and had Walking Tacos. We were all sitting around the dining table and Melody had just made another Walking Taco. As she approached the table she was giving it a shake to mix up all the ingredients in the Dorito's Chip bag. Just as she got to the table the whole thing exploded. Most of it landed on poor unsuspecting Mercer. It was even in his ear! We all sat in stunned silence for about three seconds and then PaPa and I started to howl with laughter. There was taco meat everywhere, bits of cheese and lettuce. Just the memory of the looks on everyone's faces makes me smile as I remember it. I wonder if they have had Walking Tacos since then?
I'm sipping some of Brandon's home made wine. It's pretty good. He has come a long way since his first batch. It was pretty yeasty and not so good. But we played along and drank a glass and pretended like we liked it so his feelings would not be hurt. Thank goodness he is getting better at it. Tonight I am sipping it hoping it will relax me and help me feel sleepy.
My dogs are at my feet, Nipzy, Fibber and Pumpkin. They followed me out of the bedroom thinking there might be a chance of a snack or a treat. Although disappointed, they have not deserted me. They each found a spot and are softly snoring. I love when they make those little doggie yips in their sleep. I always wonder what they are dreaming. If they are chasing a chipmunk or scaring off an intruder. Don't you wonder about that?
I am hoping I can get Butch motivated tomorrow to install the pocket door in our bathroom. I think he will do ok with the job. It will be a big improvement. I have lots to do now before I leave for Florida to be with Amanda. The wine is starting to relax me now so I will try again to sleep.
Pleasant dreams......
Friday, February 4, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Friday Morning.....
I woke today with my Yorkshire Terrier standing on my back, playfully barking at her buddy D.J. Then off she goes to chase him through the house. It's their game. They have fun circling through the breakfast nook, kitchen down the hall and into the Family Room. Back again, she flies back up on the bed, takes her stand in the middle of my back and barks again. I can't stifle my grin. I love my dogs. My nieces and nephews call me the dog lady of South Beaver Township. I happen to like the title. It suits me.
In the last couple of years I have found that I enjoy the company of my dogs more than most people. Is that wrong? Doesn't feel wrong. They love me, unconditionally. When I'm in a bad mood they know to keep out from under foot. When I'm not they smother me with kisses and snuggle up with me. It is a good feeling to be covered in puppy dogs. My niece tells me I could turn into one of those people that you see on TV - film at 11 they say. The kind that has a little path through their house with papers and trash piled up all over and filled with dogs. I ponder this and then with a smile I reply, "It could happen." We both laugh. But, it could happen. I love animals. I can't afford horses now - they cost too much to maintain. I can afford dogs.
We have our ritual at night. We all head for the bedroom. Butch closes the door, Nipzy and Fibber Magee wait on the far side of the bed. Butch tosses Gyro up on the bed. He's the Mexican - our Chihuahua. He trots to the top of the bed, noses the covers up and dives under. I crawl in, assume my position. Pumpkin jumps up on the bed. Then Butch turns off the light and crawls in. Now Fibber jumps up and snuggles up against my back. Gyro warms my front as he snuggles up against my belly. Pumpkin finds her spot at the foot of the bed. Nipzy loudly plops down on her bed I made for her. She's too fat, too big and too stiff to jump on the bed by herself. She is satisfied to find her place at the side of the bed. Her cushion covered with a nice warm fleece blanket. We drift off to sleep. Covered in puppies. Life don't get no better than that. The pack. Our furry kids.
Nothing gets by them though. They hear every little creak and the tiniest nose will wake them. They perk up their ears. Listen intently - trying to determine if that sound requires a full bark dog alert or just a little growl. Nipzy grumbles in her deep throated way. Gyro gives a yip and they're off. Full dog alert! Yapping and barking like there is an intruder at bay. Who would not run at this comotion?
I had a telemarketer call and try to sell us a security system. I laughed and told him, "We have five dogs, we don't need a security system!" They bark at the dogs on TV. God help us if someone knocks on a door on TV. How dare those people take our trash! Hey - Who said you could drive on the road in front of our house? They keep a close watch. It can be maddening, it can be funny. Either way, it is what it is and we enjoy it.
In the last couple of years I have found that I enjoy the company of my dogs more than most people. Is that wrong? Doesn't feel wrong. They love me, unconditionally. When I'm in a bad mood they know to keep out from under foot. When I'm not they smother me with kisses and snuggle up with me. It is a good feeling to be covered in puppy dogs. My niece tells me I could turn into one of those people that you see on TV - film at 11 they say. The kind that has a little path through their house with papers and trash piled up all over and filled with dogs. I ponder this and then with a smile I reply, "It could happen." We both laugh. But, it could happen. I love animals. I can't afford horses now - they cost too much to maintain. I can afford dogs.
We have our ritual at night. We all head for the bedroom. Butch closes the door, Nipzy and Fibber Magee wait on the far side of the bed. Butch tosses Gyro up on the bed. He's the Mexican - our Chihuahua. He trots to the top of the bed, noses the covers up and dives under. I crawl in, assume my position. Pumpkin jumps up on the bed. Then Butch turns off the light and crawls in. Now Fibber jumps up and snuggles up against my back. Gyro warms my front as he snuggles up against my belly. Pumpkin finds her spot at the foot of the bed. Nipzy loudly plops down on her bed I made for her. She's too fat, too big and too stiff to jump on the bed by herself. She is satisfied to find her place at the side of the bed. Her cushion covered with a nice warm fleece blanket. We drift off to sleep. Covered in puppies. Life don't get no better than that. The pack. Our furry kids.
Nothing gets by them though. They hear every little creak and the tiniest nose will wake them. They perk up their ears. Listen intently - trying to determine if that sound requires a full bark dog alert or just a little growl. Nipzy grumbles in her deep throated way. Gyro gives a yip and they're off. Full dog alert! Yapping and barking like there is an intruder at bay. Who would not run at this comotion?
I had a telemarketer call and try to sell us a security system. I laughed and told him, "We have five dogs, we don't need a security system!" They bark at the dogs on TV. God help us if someone knocks on a door on TV. How dare those people take our trash! Hey - Who said you could drive on the road in front of our house? They keep a close watch. It can be maddening, it can be funny. Either way, it is what it is and we enjoy it.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Christmas finally packed up
Well, today I finally got the Christmas decorations taken down and packed up. Big job. Now I just have to motivate my son to take the storage boxes out to the shed and put them away. I am weary so I don't think I will havce much to say. It is toooooooo dang gone cold. Brrrr.
Tomorrow we are planning on staying home and putting a fire in the fireplace, a roast in the crock pot and just watch football. GO STEELERS!
I pretty tired so I am going to go to bed soon.
OH~! We did a new arrangement in our Family Room. I put all Butch's Marine memorabilia and pics, etc on the wall above the fireplace. Looks really nice. He was surprised cause I did it while he was out. Came home and walked in the FR and did a double take. Then he got in to it and went in his closet and brought out some more items for on the mantel. It looks really nice.
Well, friends, I am weary and going to go to bed. I think I'll bake some cookies tomorrow. Oatmeal with cranberries instead of raisins.
Cyndi
Tomorrow we are planning on staying home and putting a fire in the fireplace, a roast in the crock pot and just watch football. GO STEELERS!
I pretty tired so I am going to go to bed soon.
OH~! We did a new arrangement in our Family Room. I put all Butch's Marine memorabilia and pics, etc on the wall above the fireplace. Looks really nice. He was surprised cause I did it while he was out. Came home and walked in the FR and did a double take. Then he got in to it and went in his closet and brought out some more items for on the mantel. It looks really nice.
Well, friends, I am weary and going to go to bed. I think I'll bake some cookies tomorrow. Oatmeal with cranberries instead of raisins.
Cyndi
Friday, January 21, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2001 - Ravings of a Menopausal Woman
Well, everything went well for dad yesterday with his colonoscopy and Dr. Hayward even gave him the red shirt he had promised him. Dad was so tickled not as much for the red shirt as it was that Dr. Hayward got his sense of humor and played along with him. Dad gets so frustrated because quite often his sense of humor just flies by most people. It's fun being a part of this family and "getting it." Scarey part is I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing.
Followed up the fun of the colonoscopy event with a shopping day with Sandra, a.k.a. Speedy Gonzalos. Geez that girl can walk fast. Since I don't like trailing someone by about 25 feet (makes me feel like a stalker - not a participant) I gave up and sat in the massage chair on the second floor overlooking the Starbucks coffee shop. Did you know that some people like ten, yes - count them, I said TEN packets of sugar in their coffee? I know, I couldn't believe my eyes either. First this skinny little guy grabbed five packets, pinched them all together at the top and artfully shook all the sugar down to the bottom of the packets. Skillfully he flips them over, dumping the sugar in the cup. A quick stir with the stir stick and then - WHAT TO MY WONDERING EYES SHOULD APPEAR??? An instant replay! Yes! Another quick stir and he bolts away, happily chatting with his lady companion. Now, you know, when God lets you witness something as crazy as that - you just gotta laugh. If not out loud, a little quiet smile will do.
Next Sandra and I went to Bravo's for a late lunch. We ordered their Cobb Salad. OMG did it taste good. The chicken is marinated in a basalmic dressing then grilled. The presentation was really nice too. Instead of just slopping all the ingredients together they line them up in little perfectly parallel rows with the green playing off the purple of the onion and the little diced pieces of tomato. Nice. The Gorgonzola Cheese is just flavorful enough to give it a kick. Yummy! Then we shared a piece of their cheese cake with carmalized sugar glazing on the top. That put us over the edge and we began to lose altitude rapidly. Had to run to Costco for the Club and then we headed home.
Roads were terrible and as usually the PA drivers were acting like Ohio drivers and everyone was going too fast to suit the conditions, but Sandra did a good job getting us home around 5:30 PM. By that time the sleep deprevation had crept in and rather than go postal on a family member I just quietly slipped in to my jammies and into bed. I was fast asleep by 6:00 PM. Vaquely remember hearing Sean cry around 9 and then rolled back over and did not awake again until the alarm went off to radio static. Or should I say blazingly LOUD radio static at 5:00 AM. Just my idea of a pleasant wake up call. Anyway, couldn't go back to sleep so I got up and wrote the intro to my dad's book, did my Zooing and Farming and then I couldn't hold my eyes open.
Now the nice thing about retirement is that what I did next I could do because I wanted to. I went back to bed and didn't get up again until the phone rang around 11:30. Talked to my mom and with MFDIL#1 in Florida which is always nice. Pissed my husband off because I asked him to go away while I was looking up some information on my computer. I just have NEVER performed well with typing with someone looking over my shoulder or breathing down my neck. It comes from sitting in the front row during Typing I class and Ms. Jane Long, the Business teacher, standing directly in front of my desk for every freaking timed typing test I ever took.
Then could not get my 20 something son to understand what it feels like to have your body hurt from the inside OUT. Asked him to help with carrying in the storage boxes for Christmas decorations so I can get them put away before Valentine's Day. Lightening struck him, he jumped into action and as quick as a bunny flew to the shed to get the boxes for me. NOT! So getting disgusted I put on my coat and boots and started out to the protests of my husband and son, "I was gonna go do that in a minute.....".
When they caught up with me in the shed I was in rare form. After a few strategically placed MF'ers and nobody cares how hard I try to maintain a Christmas Heritage for 'you people' no one else cares. I gotta do it all myself. Blah blah, blah blah blah blah and so on. You know the rant. Well, if you are menopausal, you know the rant. Or if you are the spouse of someone who is menopausal, you know the rant.
After my brief but motivational chat with my son and husband I headed back in to the house only to discover a little dead mouse lying in the middle of the garage floor. Still warm, eyes glazed over looking so cute but very much dead. I decided to play a trick on my husband so I plucked the little guy off the floor (don't know how to sex a mouse so don't know if it was M/F). Taking his little warm body I gently placed him on my passenger side mirror of the truck. Now, my intent was to get a chuckle out of my husband but he seldom sees my little tricks. He pulled his truck in the garage beside mine, got out and came in the house totally unaware he was being watched. Sorry Mr. Mouse. I'm like Rodney Dangerfield here - I get no respect.
Coming in to the house I caught 20 something son on his way out. Sweetly told him to be sure to water and feed his rabbit. Lovingly asked him to take the storage box and two baskets that were blocking his entrance which he had slid out of his way on the porch to walk in the house and put them in the storage shed. It was at that point I decided I needed something to calm my nerves. Ya THINK????
Came in the kitchen and created Jamaican Hot Chocolate. Told MFDIL#2 that if this did not calm me down I didn't know what else to do. JHC is made with 2% milk, heavy whipping cream, 4 envelopes of Swiss Miss hot cocoa and 1/2 Cup Myer's Jamaican Rum. Hurrying to pour my first cup and get to my blogging I forgot to turn the heat down. Just as I got settled down into my chair and cup of cocoa my husband comes in from gathering wood to discover 3/4ths of the top of his glass top stove is skimmed with hot cocoa that had boiled over from the pot. UH OH, I'm in a heap'a trouble now. There are a lot of things my husband can overlook or stuff down but not this. This has just pushed him over his raggedy edge. Well, that and the fact that my first reaction was to shout out, "Is there any left????" Also, I laughed when I saw it creeping its way along the stove top, a slightly browned burnt area encircling the burner. I suppose THAT was what really sent him tumbling over the edge. Anyway, he retreated to our bedroom, his place of solace and I cleaned it up.
So, how was YOUR day????
Oh and by the way, I am going to leave you with one question..... Who the hell decided I was supposed to be the brains of this operation and make all the decisions and a.) did not first consult ME? and b.) did not check my mental status first.
So, there you have it. I have now finished my second cup of Jamaican Hot Chocolate and am beginning to relax a little. See ya later, I think I'll go get another cup and really mellow out.
Followed up the fun of the colonoscopy event with a shopping day with Sandra, a.k.a. Speedy Gonzalos. Geez that girl can walk fast. Since I don't like trailing someone by about 25 feet (makes me feel like a stalker - not a participant) I gave up and sat in the massage chair on the second floor overlooking the Starbucks coffee shop. Did you know that some people like ten, yes - count them, I said TEN packets of sugar in their coffee? I know, I couldn't believe my eyes either. First this skinny little guy grabbed five packets, pinched them all together at the top and artfully shook all the sugar down to the bottom of the packets. Skillfully he flips them over, dumping the sugar in the cup. A quick stir with the stir stick and then - WHAT TO MY WONDERING EYES SHOULD APPEAR??? An instant replay! Yes! Another quick stir and he bolts away, happily chatting with his lady companion. Now, you know, when God lets you witness something as crazy as that - you just gotta laugh. If not out loud, a little quiet smile will do.
Next Sandra and I went to Bravo's for a late lunch. We ordered their Cobb Salad. OMG did it taste good. The chicken is marinated in a basalmic dressing then grilled. The presentation was really nice too. Instead of just slopping all the ingredients together they line them up in little perfectly parallel rows with the green playing off the purple of the onion and the little diced pieces of tomato. Nice. The Gorgonzola Cheese is just flavorful enough to give it a kick. Yummy! Then we shared a piece of their cheese cake with carmalized sugar glazing on the top. That put us over the edge and we began to lose altitude rapidly. Had to run to Costco for the Club and then we headed home.
Roads were terrible and as usually the PA drivers were acting like Ohio drivers and everyone was going too fast to suit the conditions, but Sandra did a good job getting us home around 5:30 PM. By that time the sleep deprevation had crept in and rather than go postal on a family member I just quietly slipped in to my jammies and into bed. I was fast asleep by 6:00 PM. Vaquely remember hearing Sean cry around 9 and then rolled back over and did not awake again until the alarm went off to radio static. Or should I say blazingly LOUD radio static at 5:00 AM. Just my idea of a pleasant wake up call. Anyway, couldn't go back to sleep so I got up and wrote the intro to my dad's book, did my Zooing and Farming and then I couldn't hold my eyes open.
Now the nice thing about retirement is that what I did next I could do because I wanted to. I went back to bed and didn't get up again until the phone rang around 11:30. Talked to my mom and with MFDIL#1 in Florida which is always nice. Pissed my husband off because I asked him to go away while I was looking up some information on my computer. I just have NEVER performed well with typing with someone looking over my shoulder or breathing down my neck. It comes from sitting in the front row during Typing I class and Ms. Jane Long, the Business teacher, standing directly in front of my desk for every freaking timed typing test I ever took.
Then could not get my 20 something son to understand what it feels like to have your body hurt from the inside OUT. Asked him to help with carrying in the storage boxes for Christmas decorations so I can get them put away before Valentine's Day. Lightening struck him, he jumped into action and as quick as a bunny flew to the shed to get the boxes for me. NOT! So getting disgusted I put on my coat and boots and started out to the protests of my husband and son, "I was gonna go do that in a minute.....".
When they caught up with me in the shed I was in rare form. After a few strategically placed MF'ers and nobody cares how hard I try to maintain a Christmas Heritage for 'you people' no one else cares. I gotta do it all myself. Blah blah, blah blah blah blah and so on. You know the rant. Well, if you are menopausal, you know the rant. Or if you are the spouse of someone who is menopausal, you know the rant.
After my brief but motivational chat with my son and husband I headed back in to the house only to discover a little dead mouse lying in the middle of the garage floor. Still warm, eyes glazed over looking so cute but very much dead. I decided to play a trick on my husband so I plucked the little guy off the floor (don't know how to sex a mouse so don't know if it was M/F). Taking his little warm body I gently placed him on my passenger side mirror of the truck. Now, my intent was to get a chuckle out of my husband but he seldom sees my little tricks. He pulled his truck in the garage beside mine, got out and came in the house totally unaware he was being watched. Sorry Mr. Mouse. I'm like Rodney Dangerfield here - I get no respect.
Coming in to the house I caught 20 something son on his way out. Sweetly told him to be sure to water and feed his rabbit. Lovingly asked him to take the storage box and two baskets that were blocking his entrance which he had slid out of his way on the porch to walk in the house and put them in the storage shed. It was at that point I decided I needed something to calm my nerves. Ya THINK????
Came in the kitchen and created Jamaican Hot Chocolate. Told MFDIL#2 that if this did not calm me down I didn't know what else to do. JHC is made with 2% milk, heavy whipping cream, 4 envelopes of Swiss Miss hot cocoa and 1/2 Cup Myer's Jamaican Rum. Hurrying to pour my first cup and get to my blogging I forgot to turn the heat down. Just as I got settled down into my chair and cup of cocoa my husband comes in from gathering wood to discover 3/4ths of the top of his glass top stove is skimmed with hot cocoa that had boiled over from the pot. UH OH, I'm in a heap'a trouble now. There are a lot of things my husband can overlook or stuff down but not this. This has just pushed him over his raggedy edge. Well, that and the fact that my first reaction was to shout out, "Is there any left????" Also, I laughed when I saw it creeping its way along the stove top, a slightly browned burnt area encircling the burner. I suppose THAT was what really sent him tumbling over the edge. Anyway, he retreated to our bedroom, his place of solace and I cleaned it up.
So, how was YOUR day????
Oh and by the way, I am going to leave you with one question..... Who the hell decided I was supposed to be the brains of this operation and make all the decisions and a.) did not first consult ME? and b.) did not check my mental status first.
So, there you have it. I have now finished my second cup of Jamaican Hot Chocolate and am beginning to relax a little. See ya later, I think I'll go get another cup and really mellow out.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
First Night - January 20, 2011
I've come to the conclusion that I have put off the start of my book about my dad's experiences during World War II as a POW far too long. I have been praying about it, worrying about it and avoiding it for as long as I dare and now the Lord is prodding me to take up the pen (or keyboard) and as my daughter-in-law would say, "Get to gettin'!"
So here I am, as always in the wee hours of the morning, wide awake and thinking, "OK Lord, I hear you loud and clear, STOP pushing me." The Lord knows me so well. He knows the only time my mind is quiet enough to hear Him is in the wee hours so that is when he whispers in my mind and I am inclined to drag myself out of my bed where I have been tossing and turning anyway.
So, tonight He said, "Enough is enough already! How much time can one person waste on FarmVille and ZooWorld?" Don't get me wrong. They have been a nice diversion. A place where I have hidden my emotions for the last couple of years. But now is the time to get busy.
So, hello to a new chapter in my life. I hope you will join me and find the journey interesting. Please pray for me as I take this step out in faith. It has been in my heart a long time to do this book as a way to honor my father, my personal hero, and a true American Hero.
So here I am, as always in the wee hours of the morning, wide awake and thinking, "OK Lord, I hear you loud and clear, STOP pushing me." The Lord knows me so well. He knows the only time my mind is quiet enough to hear Him is in the wee hours so that is when he whispers in my mind and I am inclined to drag myself out of my bed where I have been tossing and turning anyway.
So, tonight He said, "Enough is enough already! How much time can one person waste on FarmVille and ZooWorld?" Don't get me wrong. They have been a nice diversion. A place where I have hidden my emotions for the last couple of years. But now is the time to get busy.
So, hello to a new chapter in my life. I hope you will join me and find the journey interesting. Please pray for me as I take this step out in faith. It has been in my heart a long time to do this book as a way to honor my father, my personal hero, and a true American Hero.
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