Sunday, November 28, 2010

Sunrise

View of sunrise from my front door....a few minutes before 7am.

Let the holidays begin

I guess I don't have any choice, it's the holiday season, whether I like it or not.
We had a nice thanksgiving dinner at SIL's home. The kids all got along....maybe they are maturing? ( 5 & 6). The dinner was fantastic, BIL cleaned up most of the dishes, and I got to 'play' with my new grandson and see our youngest granddaughter (who never stops).
On Black Friday I worked in the morning and did some shopping after 12. The checkout line in Kohls was long, but it moved quickly. The 2nd place I went to was Fleet Farm and I wanted to call SIL about something when I left, but my purse was in the backseat so I figured I'd wait until I got to WalMart...........but NO PURSE! :-( Talk about panic...to loose your purse on the worst shopping day of the year!!!! FF is only about a mile away, but it sure was a long mile. Someone did turn my purse in....thankfully I left it in the cart in the store and an employee was standing there putting the carts away and got it before anyone else could have taken it. I was one happy girl when I got that fat purse back. I was thankful that I didn't leave it at Walmart!
I got a recommendation from my bosses at work and called the furnace guy...he came out in the morning and said our furnace is at least 23 years old and needs to be replaced. It's working now, but who knows how long that will last. Anyone have $2700 to spare???? We should get it this year b/c of the tax rebate.......
Yesterday hubby FINALLY felt better, he had a long bout with kidney stones.
I did some more shopping yesterday with bff....she got a lot of stuff at Younkers (where she is working for the holidays). We had lunch at a little deli inside the OLD mall....it has only a couple of stores left in it. Sad, because it is close by for us (about 10-15 minutes closer than the rest of the shopping). We each had the sweet potato fries..........very good!
Last night I took 2 of my grandsons to the parade. I told them to wear snow pants and I had blankets along. J sat on my lap which was fine with me...kept me warm too. It was chilly! The boys got tons of candy. The man who was standing next to us kept pointing out candy in the road to J and made sure J & S got candy. He gave J a t-shirt that was thrown to him (too small). We came home with lots of candy, next year I will have to remember to bring bags for candy. I had a bag along last night with blankets in it, so that worked well for us.
I have to take inventory of the presents I already have.......I know I have 3 grandkids done :-) ...only 6 more to go..... And adult kids (gift cards), friends, hubby ????
I'm up early today b/c it was too warm upstairs and my grandson breathes (too loud). Hopefully I can catch up on some of my eamils.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Brrrr

It's cold outside, 17 and windy. :-( I hate winter already and it's not even here yet.
But it's cold in here too............thermostat is set at 80 and it's 61 in here. this has been going on for a couple of days......furnace runs but it never gets warm. Hubby denied it. I am DEFINITELY calling the furnace guy as soon as I get to work!
Speaking of hubby........he is STILL suffering with kidney stones. (since tues night). One good thing (?)....he was suppose to golf in the annual 'tuff shit' tournament today but will have to stay home. One of the local golf courses hosts a tournament the day after Thanksgiving...wonder how many will show up today????? Will have to ask bil.
Thanksgiving was nice. SIL had a great dinner, everyone got along (kids included), and it was stress-free. :-) Hope your Thanksgiving was nice too!!!
I work this morning (until about noon- or when all the service work gets done) and might do some shopping later......or not, depends on how I feel.
Happy Christmas shopping season /,%&*(?<@#%$

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Husbands, mine in particular

Can you understand 'em? Men, I mean? I can't....but then they can't figure us out either.
The other day I bought a frozen turkey, they were on sale....I mentioned it to K. H asked "what are you planning to do with it?" Since he, obviously, wasn't sure what they are used for I told him that one day I was having some friends over and we're going to do frozen turkey bowling....I think he believed me 'cuz he didn't even blink. Boy will he be SURPRISED when I cook it instead of use it for bowling. *wink*
He wasn't feeling well when I got home from work yesterday and we ended up in the ER for almost 4 hours. He felt like he had another kidney stone............and it was. That's the only time he sees a DR and I know he is in pain. He got pain meds and dozed. I guess the ER was busy so we didn't get really fast care. It is a good thing he has today off, he'll just lay around with his pain meds and doze. I hope (for his sake) that the stone passes soon.
It's a good thing I like to read, I grabbed my latest book NO SECOND CHANCE by Harlan Coben. It's another of his fast moving, keeps you guessing mysteries. He has another series of books built around a detective, I haven't read any of those...just started one and it didn't grab me like the others I have read.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!!
I am thankful that I am not cooking this year, my SIL is. I am bringing a couple of things, but nothing too major. I was talking to one of my Red Hat friends and we were wondering why it is always the moms/grandmas that have to cook??? what will the younger ones do when we die?? We figured they will go out to eat.............hope someone else is willing to work holidays to wait on them. It's still nicer to be able to relax and visit in some one's home. Thanks Michele!!!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Just for fun

Do you like words? Do you wanna improve your vocabulary? Do you wanna impress others? Or do you just like to have fun? Remember a long play? Here's a cute sight with lots of words that have been taken out of our vocabulary....let's put them back in! http://www.savethewords.org/ I think I will be eating more prandicles! and you???

Friday, November 19, 2010

Life is good

I have a few updates here:
Hubby is back to work full time, for the past year he was on lay off every 2nd week.
Step-son E seems to be better, he has gained back weight. The DR never did find out what was wrong...........they did $1000's worth of tests on him. Right now they have a 'wait and see' attitude.
Friend's grandson suffered 2 skull fractures in a bike accident on Wednesday, he is in stable condition, alert, and conscious.
I made $11 doing laundry yesterday................usually I only make .25 (LOL)
And I have been really ambitious all week..........and my house is still a mess, suitcase is not put away, and I have potted plants outside to get rid of. The weather is not conducive to tossing those... hope it warms up a few degrees soon!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Vacation in Naples FL

This has a couple of my favorite things: enjoying chocolate ice cream at the Dairy Queen and feeling the warm sunshine on my back...ahhh :-) Our hostess and queen of the Fabulous Flames (whom we visited) gave us an ornament. Connie, I, and Deb helped them with their scrapbook.
Wouldn't I like to see those in my yard now???

Have you ever seen such huge lily pads? This was at the Naples Botanical Garden.



Sunset at Loudermilk Park in Naples. It is always full of people enjoying the sunset and walking on the beach.





Fried ice cream! DeLiCious!!!




Our chairs at the pool. I miss my chair..........wahhhhhhhhhhhhh The view from my chair.


My view while laying in the hammock.



I LOVE this hammock.............hope Santa is reading this....and plants some big trees to hang one on. LOL

A palm branch fell down and I was going to fan the girls.....but someone had to take a photo.


On our last day we took the cat in to have his nails clipped (at a nearby strip mall-they are all over the city- they don't need enclosed malls like we do) and I laughed so hard when I saw the Christmas ornaments on the light posts............what a twist, Christmas ornaments and palm trees. It's something I have never seen before, but I wouldn't mind seeing it every year.

Free printables

Here's a site that you might be able to use a lot right about now to print grocery lists, calenders, certificates, etc. http://www.freeprintable.net/ Check Kevin's site out!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Keeping quiet

I remember now why I would never tell people how I felt about things, my 'secrets', or whom I liked when I was in school. When you bare your soul to people they (especially those you think care about you) can use it against you, crushing your heart. Maybe I need to keep feelings/thoughts to myself again (or journal at the most) and act like I am unaffected by IT. I've always considered myself a loner........................I 'don't need anyone else', I can do it myself. ....like I have so much already in my life.

Back home

I am not sure if anyone reads this....but I am writing in spite of that.
YES! it is good to be back home (not the 39 degrees we have now), YES Florida was warm and fun.
But it's good to sleep in my own bed with my own TV tuned to my channel (OK, we had on a POKEMON movie last night--grandson was over), to take a LONG warm BATH, and to know I am loved and this is my home! Grandson J had a huge hug and kisses for me. Hubby is not demonstrative....I am used to it most of the time but at times it hurts, especially when I hear how loving other husbands are.
The vacation was nice and it went too fast. It was soooooooooo nice, sunny and about 80 every day. We didn't get to do a lot b/c our hostess had broken her leg just before we arrived and Worker's Comp is making her work. Shirley is in pain and exhausted when she comes home so in the evenings we just stayed 'home' and relaxed. We did take a trip to the Naples Botanical Gardens. My 3 companions all drove scooters through it and I walked. The tropical plants are so different from what we see in this part of the country. A couple of sections were not open yet and I would have liked to see more flowers.........but it was very nice and I'm glad we went.
Most of the time my back was OK, although one morning my legs (stemming from back problems) hurt so bad I just sat and cried for a bit until I was able to get up and take my shower. I really need to discuss it with the chiropractor and find out what he can do.
We did a little shopping, a lot of eating out, made washer pendants, spent time at the pool :-), went to church, a Red Hat meeting, helped Shirley with things around the house, etc.
I finished 2 books: THE HINDI BINDI CLUB by Monica Pradhan and GONE FOR GOOD by Harlen Coben, I love his books.
The food (mostly seafood) was good, altho I would not order another steam pot from Joe's Crab Shack, I don't like eating with my fingers and cracking crab legs open. At the Ale House we were served with Styrofoam dishes and plastic forks and spoons b/c there was a gas explosion in Fort Meyers that affected the Naples area also (no hot water to cook or wash dishes with). That was just one of our many unusual adventures. The only bad meal I had was in WI at a Mexican restaurant.
I sorted through all of my mail, I still have to unpack, do laundry, and wash the breakfast dishes. I am glad I have Monday off.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Our week is almost over

Our week in Naples is almost over :-(
I tried to post photos but I have an unusual memory card and it refuses to upload pictures :-(
The weather has been perfect!! We went to the pool Monday & Tuesday. Yes, I did get a slight sunburn. Yesterday Deb & I were ambitious and cleaned out her cousins closet and one of the gals had to go to urgent care for an eye problem. Deb & I did a little shopping while Connie was there. Last night we had a steam pot @ Joe's Crab Shack (and free appetizers - via a coupon we printed when we joined online).
Today we attended a meeting of the Fabulous Flames (Shirley's Red Hat group). We lunched at Red Lobster and then worked on their scrapbook. Seafood 2 nights in a row.........YUM YUM! On the way home we stopped at Dairy Queen for ice cream........nothing like sitting outside in Nov with the warm sun on your back and looking at palm trees.
One more full day and then it's back to Wisconsin.................

Monday, November 8, 2010

Sunshine & laziness

Our hostess had to work today so we got to sleep in. It was in the high 70's today and we decided to walk to the strip mall and do a little shopping. It wasn't a long walk but when you have 3 people with back and foot problems it takes a little longer. We stopped at Goodwill and Bealls outlet. The prices were not bad in Goodwill, but the organization didn't make sense to us.....everything arranged according to color and not size, the shoes were on 'shelves' above the clothes. I prefer to look for my size of clothes and for shoes in one place. Sonic served us lunch........no Sonics in WI (eat outside only). When we got back we walked about 3 blocks to the pool, it was like a spa.....there was a waterfall in the background and it was very quiet. Only 4 other people were there and no one was talking. Yes, I did get some sun. :-) Being the 'party animals' we are (LOL) I think we will eat in tonight. No plans for tomorrow yet.
I just love enjoying the sun :-) I would LOVE to buy a condo in this complex and winter here!!! but 1) we can't afford it, 2) we are not retired, 3) hubby would NEVER leave. Oh well, I can dream??????

Sunday, November 7, 2010

"You don't know what you got til it's gone"

the saga continues from Naples, Florida....... Saturday was sunny, low 60's, and breezy. We went to the craft fair at the church and then we came home and most of the gals napped. We talked, had facials and then..............Deb could not turn on the kitchen faucet. I got up to look at it then Shirley got up and determined that there was no water. It's after 9PM and Connie & donned sweatshirts and shoes and went outside to see what we could see. Water was gushing out of some sort of backflow preventer recently installed.............it was darn cold outside.............a woman was walking toward us and said she called the water dept and ended up talking to the fire dept....a fire truck came out and said it wasn't their responsibility............after 4 attempts she got through to the water dept, about 2 hrs later a couple of guys came and looked at it. Would have this been fixed right away if it happened in WI? I don't know.
This morning (Sunday) we cleaned up with wipes and were off to church. (A repairman was working on it when we left.) We all beelined it to the bathrooms......Ahhhh...the sound of flushing water.........and the feel of water to wash up with............:-) We went to Bible study and had bars/bakery and coffee/tee for breakfast. After church we had lunch with Shirley's friends. I had a delicious, huge omelet. DE LI CIOUS!!! Today's weather was warmer, 75 and breezy again. We stopped at Joanne's Fabrics on the way home. Then we relaxed and went to the grocery store, and are looking forward to taking showers in the morning!!!!

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Live from Florida

In spite of the fact that our hostess broke a bone very near her ankle (and is using crutches and has a walking cast on) we (Debbie, Connie, & I)arrived in Florida Friday about 11:30AM. We hit a bit of turbulence but not bad at all. I got to drive a new Lexus to Shirley's. It is key less and has a built in camera so you can see where you are backing up. Cool, Very Cool! It is not as warm as we'd like it but definitely capri/shorts weather and it is suppose to warm up the next couple of days. Yesterday we did some shopping and ate fried ice cream....YUM Today we are going to the church craft fair and who knows what else. I will try to post photos soon.

Monday, November 1, 2010

A- Maze- Ing or Woo Hoo

I can barely believe it...but hubby went to the school forest with grandson's kindergarten class. Hubby has NEVER done anything like this before!!!! I am so happy...........I don't need a gift, this is a gift as far as I am concerned. I was going to go .....my back has been bothering me for a couple of months and I was worried about how I could take walking around all day outside with 5 yr olds. I didn't even ask before Hubby said "I'm off, I could go". He is still laid off work every other week. I am not sure if he went b/c he knew my back is hurting, or that he knows I have a LOT to do before I leave on Thursday for a week in Naples, FL, or if he just wanted to spend time with J. Whatever his reasoning was (and I will never know b/c the guy does NOT talk) I am delighted that he went.
At the grocery store this morning I picked up 3 bags of 1/2 price chocolate candy.....it may have fallish packaging...but chocolate never is out of style. LOL I have the clothes washed, a pasta salad made for tomorrow's Red Hat meeting, an baking (pre-made) chocolate cookies and washing dishes right now. Next I get to vacuum upstairs and start packing. Woo Hoo.....I can't wait for sunshine and 80!!