Lil bit of this and that!

There are new pictures of A...

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:23:49 GMT

On my blog over here!

I think I will take this advice...

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:58:54 GMT

Daily Horoscope Overview Monday, October 06, 2008

You've been moving too quickly in recent days, but if you slow down right now, things should even out. Take the chance to rest and let other folks do the heavy lifting for the time being.

There is nothing like...

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:36:22 GMT

Home made carrot soup. Yes carrot soup. Mitch made it for me. I am on liquids only to help my esophagus heal. This was wonderful. It was made with carrots, and onions, and garlic, and cinnamon and nutmeg and just a little salt, pepper and half and half and chicken stock. And by the time that I got to the croutons, they were mushy.

Everything I try to eat is making my throat hurt, so until it stops, it is liquids only. Ugh. So now we are making applesauce in the crockpot. I am going to be really familiar with what soups are good and which not so much by the time that I am healed up, I think.

110 days...

Respect PSA...

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:23:48 GMT

I found this on another friend's blog and love it and want to share it with you! Hope that you love it and pass it on!

I let him know how I felt today..

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:31:04 GMT

And this is today..

"For future reference, please do not make recommendations for A to any facility without my knowledge or written consent.

Klearview never contacted me, you made the recommendation some time ago. This was what was communicated to Joannie and relayed to me today. They have been informed of the conditions of our joint guardianship, so this will not occur again with them.

What you did was not appreciated. If I had done something like that, you would be angry and upset, and rightfully so. My thoughts and concerns regarding where I want A to live are on the record at the Center. They know exactly where I stand."

Think he understands it now? Heavens I hope so.

And to top off a long week, news about A...

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:07:00 GMT

I am the ex wife from hades.

Of course with everything else that is happening, I have to deal with this, too.

My ex-husband hears that there is an opening at a nursing facility that is closer to him. He decides that he wants to do it. Doesn't ask me what I think, if I want to do it. Just let's do it now because things are uncertain at the Center.

What does he think they are going to do? Throw the children out in the snow in January, 2009? Uhm, not likely. The state is mandated by law to continue their care.

Well, I was given a phone number to call. It was the mother of a child who lived at said nursing facility for 30 days and in those days was injured and hospitalized and is now back at the Center. She could not, in good faith, recommend said nursing facility. I trust this woman's instincts as a parent. It is good enough for me. Enough to know that I am not taking that chance with A.

Now, I am being "short-sighted" and I have "blown" it. I am not making it convenient for A's father to see him. But at the end of the day, it isn't about me. It isn't about my ex.

It is about A.

His needs are being wonderfully and purposefully met at the Center. He stays put.

I will not compromise on his safety or quality of life.

For The Love Of The Letter...

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:56:05 GMT

Here’s the quick and dirty: It’s time for some alphabet fun.

The goal of the game - List 10 things you love that begin with the letter you are assigned.

Sounds easy, huh? You know what, I came up with more things I didn’t like that start with P than I do like, hehehehe!

1. Peanut Butter! I love peanut butter, either creamy or chunky, and I even like http://www.pbloco.com/ Flavored Gourmet Peanut butter! Yum!

2. Pasta! Angel hair, spaghetti, lasagna, or good old fashioned mac and cheese.

3. Potatoes! Sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, potato chips, you name it, I can eat it. I love potatoes! Just not instant potatoes!

4. Pesto! Pesto over pasta, with lots of garlic and pine nuts, now that is a dish made by the Gods!

5. Pine Nuts! There is so much you can do with pine nuts beyond pesto, you can use them in desserts, sauces, just Google it, you would be amazed!

6. Pink! I love the color pink! I have lots of pink around me. Everything from pink Crocs, to a pink cover on my laptop to protect it from scratches (of course it is of the Hawaiian Hibiscus flower). I also have lots of pink t-shirts and pink yoga capris and a pink bag. I would have had a pink smartphone, but well, the hubs drew the line somewhere.

7. Paper! As in the Sunday newspaper! We do not get the newspaper any other day of the week. We sit in the morning and devour the paper while we have breakfast. My husband loves the comics, and of course, I love the sales ads, though I am trying to wean myself!

8. Peppermint bark! But I only find it at Christmas time! That and peppermint mochas at Starbucks! You buy me that I will follow you around like a puppy dog.

9. Pineapple! I know that you can get pineapple anywhere. But when we were in Hawaii, my mother in law, who I love dearly, introduced me to white pineapple. It was the sweetest, juiciest thing I have ever eaten in my life. I swear, I could have eaten a whole one all by myself! 113 days until I get to taste that again!

And ok, because I love it when my husband does this....

10. Pork! I love it when my husband bbq's pork! Whether it is ribs, or whole shoulder or chops, or a ham steak, I will take it. I can't eat a lot of it, but what I do get to eat of it is delicious!

Not a thing on this list I don't like!

If you would like to play, go to: http://www.hambones.org/blogs/gail/?p=676 and leave a comment, and I am sure that she will leave you a letter to work on!

Update...so far...

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:37:40 GMT

7 vials of blood..

1 Upper GI exam..

Results so far?

My esophagus is inflamed/spasming at the top of my lap band. So far that is what is causing all my pain. I cannot handle any type of solid food. Nada. I am left with liquids until this heals. The doctor who did the upper GI suggested that I either have a scope to see how bad the inflammation is, or treat the inflammation. Right now, I am going with treat me for the inflammation, and the pain so that I might, just maybe, be able to get a little rest...soon.

As for the band. I am done. I am so ready to have this out of my body. I was not/am not, the right candidate for the band and it is time to get it out of me before anything else goes wrong.

This is all that I know right now.

I am nursing a drink to try to keep the pain down but to help flush the barium out of my system. I am hoping that my doctor gets the report from the imaging center soon. My test was at 10:45 this morning, and at 2 p.m. the office had to call and ask for it.

Will post more when I know more.

But this isn't fun.

Taking a medical leave from my blog...

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:05:52 GMT

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. I really needed to get in today.

There is something wrong with me. But I am not at all sure what it is. I am having trouble when I drink or eat. It feels like my band may have slipped or something. No idea really. I am very, very uncomfortable.

I did have an appointment today, but the doctor has his own "emergency" at 4:00 p.m. I am not amused. It is a Monday. Now I have to wait until tomorrow morning at 9:20 a.m. just to see him.

I wish that I thought that this was a simple issue, but my gut, literally, is telling me it might not be. It might be a very long week for me.

I will keep you all posted as I learn more.

Romantic breakfast with the hubs...

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 04:38:20 GMT

We had a wonderful breakfast this morning at a restaurant called The Gold Miner's Cafe here in Folsom, California, before we headed out to see family before we go home tomorrow. I had some wonder crepes with strawberry yogurt and fresh strawberries and fresh fruit.

And what morning could be properly started without this?

And this was a great big Diet Coke with lots of ice to start my day. I didn't finish it, but it sure did tast good!

Packing now, and checked in at the airport, and home tomorrow. We will be touching down in Portland at 1:25 p.m. pacific time. If anyone wants to text me while I wait for my flight, please feel free. I would love to have someone to chat with while we pass the time!

We are in Folsom California...

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:57:58 GMT

Getting settled in for a week of work. The room we are in is nice. The bed is really hard. But it is a lovely room, and we do have a place to make meals. Right now we are only making breakfast and sometimes lunch there. We are eating on the company's dime for dinner. I did take pictures. I am going to ask Mitch if he has the right USB cord for me to upload the photos to my laptop. Hope so. If not, I will do it when we get home.

From the sardine can ride. It was a very small plane. 18 rows small. We were in row 7. And being the fat chick, with the long legs, it was fun. Then there was poor Mitch. He has even longer legs. He was offered a seat by himself to give him more room, but he told the very nice flight attendant that no, he chose to sit with his wife. I thought that was really kind and thoughtful. Thankfully it was only an hour and ten minute flight here. Or one and a half CD's worth of listening time on the IPod. Hey at least I have a sense of humor now.

Apparently last night, I was in more pain than I realized. Mitch said I was moaning and in a lot of pain every time I tried to move during the night. My knees hurt from being in one position like that and all the walking. And I never even got my Starbucks!

Mitch is out right now trying to find a fan to put underneath my laptop. It is a Dell and it runs very hot. Hoping he finds one that is not too bulky. Then he is off to www.beachhutdeli.com to pick up a couple of sandwiches and some potato salad and pasta salad. We are going to have a hotel room picnic this afternoon. We heard rave reviews about them, so said why not?

It looks like we are going to try vacation again the week of October 6-11th. I wish that we were in the position to unplug the phone, but because of A, that is not possible. But, rest assured that we will be screening for certain phone numbers!

Life is not a dress rehearsal. Live every day to its fullest, and dance like no one is watching!

123 days and counting!

The road to H*ll is paved with..

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:54:20 GMT

Good intentions.

Or so it would seem.

Mitch was supposed to be on vacation this week. But on Saturday, I felt this odd premonition that something was amiss.

He had work. It seemed innocuous at first. I am used to the little project here or there that takes an hour or so, I can deal with that. That was Saturday.

Monday, he worked all day.

Tuesday, he worked all day.

Be it, that he worked from home. The optimum word is he worked. There is a difference between work and vacation. I suck it up for the day and think that this is a fluke. Something that just has to get done.

Then Mitch gets an email from his new boss and asked him if he should cancel his classes that were scheduled in California next week. And the project that he is working on for the first week of October is getting pulled in and has to be done like yesterday. Oh and no mention of the fact that he is supposed to be on vacation.

So last night he worked until 10 p.m. our time. We had to order in so that he did not lose his train of thought and get his work done. Three days lost of vacation. At least I got to text with Stacy! Yay for small measures of fun in an otherwise extremely boring night.

And today?

Where is my husband? Think we are enjoying a day of vacation?

No.

Right now he is a few towns away, taking yet another Cisco Certification test. Has to be done. Even if he is supposed to be on vacation. There are not enough hours in the day to do the job he has, and he is up against his own time clock to get his vacation in before the end of the year, or he loses the time that he has accumulated.

Now he has to try to find somewhere in what is left of the year to take these days that he has lost this week. Hoping that we can take long weekends here and there and just unplug the phone.

All I keep telling myself is that we have 126 days left until Hawaii. That is the only light at the end of the tunnel sometimes.

Movies watched...

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:46:47 GMT

I love Netflix! We have had them for a long time now. I watch a lot of movies.

Here are the movies I watched yesterday:

I love this movie. I thought that it was very good. And to see the interaction between Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep was great.

I am definitely not a fashionista, but it was a great way to get lost for an afternoon!

Then I watched:

I thought that Monster-In-Law was funny, though impractical romantic comedy. I cannot see half the stuff ever happening in the real world, or heavens I would hope not. But it is escapism, and who can't use a little of that these days?

Then I watched:

I did not know that Jay Mohr could do anything other than comedy, but boy can that man act! This movie was surprisingly good!

Then I watched my fourth, and final movie, and of course, there is one that not at all what I thought that it would be and here it is:

I wish that I could say that I actually watched this movie. But I gave it 15 minutes, then I turned it off. Way, way, too many swear words, and it surprised me from a movie that stars Tom Hanks. Disappointed to say the least. I can't recommend this movie at all.

Next on the movie list?

Juno

Nim's Island

Martian Child

Things We Lost In The

Did you know?

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:21:08 GMT

That I am the indulged wife?

Well I am.

And you know what, if Mitch doesn't have a problem with it, then neither do I!

Some say that I am spoiled, some even whisper that I am one of "those" wives with nothing to do all day but eat bon bons and drink lattes and gossip about other people. Hate to burst their collective bubble, but lattes bother my stomach, and gossip makes my skin crawl, and well, honestly, truth to tell, if I eat many more bon bons, I am going to burst like that girl, Violet, in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

Yes, it is true that I stay home while my husband works. The only way that happens is that he makes a very good income at his job. And it was agreed to years ago that we would do this. I could get a job at any time I want to.

I like being home most of the time. I like that my schedule is mine. I can come and go as I please. I like that I can cook a meal, or my version of one, if I feel like it. I can read to my hearts content. My house can be spotless, though, really, it never is. It is lived in. I live with a geek. We have stuff.

This is me, I make no bones about it. I call my life any number of things, but at the end of the day, I call it blessed. I am loved by a man who not only loves me, but respects me. Values my opinions, and makes me his priority above all other things. His momma raised him well, and I am the very lucky recipient of her guidance.

I jokingly told Mitch that he made me indulged, and he went back to his stock answer: He told me that the only opinion that mattered was his, and his opinion is that I am well loved by him.

And that is more than okay by me.

Life is not a dress rehearsal!

Remembering September 11th, 2001

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:08:38 GMT

New York City, NY

The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

Shanksville, PA

Like the Sea

By Tammy T. Cundiff

Remembrance

The day has come to join our hands

and thank God we live in this land

Look at your neighbors with different eyes

Open your ears to hear their cries

Open your souls to defend our rights

To terror that comes like a thief in the night

Hold out your hand to help your brother

Kiss your children hug your father and mother

Freedom is something we should all hold dear

and never let it go because of fear

open your heart to those in need

This is a message we should all heed

Pray for those who lost their lives

Pray for all their husbands and wives

Pray for the children left behind

Pray for the souls we cannot find

This is a day we will always remember

As freedom is attacked the 11th day of September

Never forget that we are one

We must stand together the day has come

For united we stand divided we fall

God bless America God bless us one and all.

9/7/08 Word Association....

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:22:37 GMT

I say... you think

1. pink...breast cancer awareness

2. shoe...sneakers, the most comfortable things I wear

3. zebra...stripes, a lot like politicians, but politicians always try to change their stripes dependent on who they are pandering to (can you tell I have had enough of election year politics?)

4. school...Memories

5. button...Push, again, what a lot of politicians are doing to try to get your vote

6. kiss...Chocolate, and romantic

7. over...Exposed. I will let you figure out where my mind goes when I think that.

8. pool...Floating, drifting, in only 136 more days!

9. run...Towards where my heart really wants to be

10. seven...Days, days in a week, which make up 19.42 weeks until we are on our big vacation. It is what is keeping me looking forward, almost like looking towards the light!

till next time...
If you would like to participate,
please go to:
http://randomeme4u.blogspot.com/

Dear Mr. Obama...

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:55:44 GMT

I found this today on a friend of mines website:

BittenWord

I cannot add anymore to this.

But this is where I stand. I am a proud Republican. Think of me what you will, but I stand on my convictions. And I support our troops. I always will. God Bless them all! They do what they do, so I can write and say what I say.

A political rambling and my husband the baker!

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:57:34 GMT

So did you watch any of the RNC tonight?

I watched Sarah Palin's speech! She rocked! Woohoo! That is all that I am saying about that!

Now on to my husband the baker...

I went to this blog. Actually, this blog has been in my blogroll for quite some time, and this is the first time that we have tried one of their recipes. It looked so easy and good, so we thought that we would give it a go.

You might want to pop over to:

http://blog.cooklikeyourgrandmother.com/2008/05/how-to-make-apple-pie-from-scratch.html

We got some first of the season apples from our farm share and wanted to do something with them so we whipped this up tonight while making dinner.

Here is the picture to prove it!

We are going to have a slice of this with some vanilla ice cream when it is not culinary napalm as Alton Brown, from Good Eats on the Food Network would say.

Another easy, peasy recipe!

Just the thing when you have to have chocolate!

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:28:56 GMT

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons oil

3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

a small splash of vanilla extract

1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well.

Add the egg and mix thoroughly.

Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.

Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!

Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?

Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

A wonderful voice lost...

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:51:50 GMT

Rest in peace. A wonderful voice silenced forever.

You have heard his voice everywhere!

Take a listen!

Photo Album: January 11

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:34:11 GMT

January 11

Flowercluster background

PICT0941

PICT0963

PICT1938

PICT1942

PICT1947

PICT1949

PICT1953

PICT1958

PICT1959

More Photos...

Custom List: Morning Blood Sugar Results

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:58:50 GMT

Morning Blood Sugar Results

5/07/08 84!!!
In Goal!!! Finally!

Book List: Book List

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:57:54 GMT