Category: My Life

Long ago and far away, in a place called Massachusetts, I was growing up.  At the time I belonged to The Rainbow Girls, and although I never did as well as my sister did in the organization (she went all through the chairs and became Worthy Advisor), I did hold several offices, and I sang. Yes, yours truly, who is quite nervous about singing in front of people actually used to sing for large groups at our local organization as well as get loaned out to other chapters.

The year I was 15, I was the only girl going to the Rainbow Ball in Boston from our Chapter in Falmouth. Thus I was entered into the Pageant to see who would be crowned Queen of the Ball.

When I arrived, I was given the entry number of 13. Yup, 13. I remember thinking that I sure was sunk now, as 13 was an unlucky number.

My date that night was my ex-husband, and as we danced he joke about it a little, trying to get me to relax. I did and I recall there being a lot of fun and laughter that night.

My sister had attended this Ball in the past but had not won. So, I knew that I didn’t stand a chance. Melodie is delicate and beautiful and everything a fairy princess should be.

The evening wore on and I danced in the beautiful yellow gown that my mother had made for me, and I talked to my date and laughed and had a great time.

After all, I wasn’t going to win!

Eventually, we were all called to line up with our dates and promenade around the dance floor. A person would come up and tap your card and you would go to sit down.

Well, we walked and walked and walked, and other girls were removed from the line-up. Then there were probably three of us left. They called the second runner-up, then the first runner-up and then that left me!

I was escorted by my date to the dais where I was crowned the 1973 Queen of the Rainbow Girls Ball!

Looking back I still cannot believe that I won. My escort always claimed it was because he was my date that night.

Whatever the case, it was the first time in my young life that I truly felt pretty.

And for one night I truly was, Queen of the Ball, just like Cinderella!

After a couple of busy weeks, today I stayed home and did laundry, cleaned, washed and vacuumed the house, and generally did homemaker stuff. It is not something I enjoy, but I really do appreciate a clean house.

We also moved the last of the patio furniture into the screened porch for the winter. They are forecasting wet weather tomorrow, they are just not sure what kind. We are on a weather line. It will be wet, we are just unsure if it will be snow or rain or ice.

I get my stitches out this morning and I hope to get the results of the biopsy as well. I did get the results of my cholesterol level and I am still borderline. I sure hope that my good cholesterol levels (which are high) will keep my doctor from wanting to put me on cholesterol-lowering drugs. I have such bad reactions to things.

My daughter sent me some new pictures of the kids. You know, every day I feel blessed to be their Oma. They are such loving children!

My darling, Savannah. She is six and a half now!

Darling Quinn is two and a half!

Everytime I see those beautiful faces, I break into smiles!

I have to report in on Anneliese. When we saw the Canine Ophlathmologist, he told us that the eye drops might work, or they might not. It was a 50/50 thing. Well after almost a week, I am here to tell you that Anneliese’s eye is looking better! She will never be completely cured, but this appears to have stopped the progression of the problem! Yay!

The day has arrived, and by the time most of you read this I will be down having my biopsy. Nothing to worry about, right?

I got a call earlier today and my Primary Care Doctor wants me to have my bloodwork done while I am in-house, (read: at the VA Hospital). It’s fasting bloodwork too! Ugh!

Jack was concerned about this and I told him not to worry. I went out to the store, bought a couple of muffins,

some bottled orange juice,

and a Dunkin Donuts Coffee. The coffee is bottled as well and meant to be sipped from the bottle cold.

This should get me through my appointments after the bloodwork until I can go have lunch.

On Monday I met up with my friend Laurie and had lunch. It was so nice to catch up with her. In fact, we’ve already made plans to get together Saturday to go to the Christmas Bazaars.

Life is speeding by.

Have you ever noticed how you make all these great plans and then a few things happen and everything gets rearranged?

This week I had Anneliese into the Vets about her left eye. We will bring her over to Portsmouth, NH on Wednesday afternoon to see a Canine Ophthalmologist.

It’s sort of strange but Jack has known this man since he was a baby. Jack flew with his father way back in the day, for Pan American World Airways. I am hopeful that he can help Anneliese. She may not have much vision left in that eye, but if he can at least save it, that will be good. I will not entertain the worst case scenarios. Anneliese will be just fine. I know it.

I was due to spend the night down at Mandy’s after watching both of Savannah’s plays. Sadly both Quinn and Matt are sick, so it just wouldn’t be a good idea. I’ll meet up with them for the 2:00 performance and then drive home.

I may actually go down early so I can do a little Christmas shopping. But I will have to see how that all works out.

As much as I have claimed that I am not nervous about the biopsy, I admit, I am. I was worried about a few things last night and my brain clicked on about the biopsy and at 2:00 AM I was wide awake. I could not get back to sleep.

After an hour I put on a movie that I know so well, that I don’t have to follow it. I close my eyes and I let the music carry me away. Usually, I am asleep after about 10-15 minutes.

I will be very glad when we are past Thursday next week and cruising toward the weekend. I plan to go to a few Christmas Bazaars and also relax.

But for right now, I need to put one foot in front of another, relax and try to remember that it will all be okay. It’s just that my middle name is worry-wart!

Today, Saturday, my only plan is a little housework and then this afternoon while it rains like crazy, I plan to sit and crochet. Savannah keeps asking me about her blanket.

I hope you all have a marvelous weekend!

On Saturday we had our first snowfall. I woke early, and it was cloudy but dry. I enjoyed my first cup of coffee, (isn’t that the best thing ever?), watched the news and checked my email.

Jack got up, and we had our breakfast. It was then that I looked out and realized that the first flakes of the season were falling and sticking to the ground!

I did not feel like going out into this mess, but Jack convinced me that we needed to go. So, I put on my winter coat and hat, called to Arnie and off the three of us went.

It was the usual Saturday morning stops. Post Office, Grocery Store, and Liquor Store to get some Brandy and a Lottery Ticket.

I never used to buy Lottery Tickets, but int he last few weeks I’ve been thinking I would like to prove to God that I could really handle winning that much money. So far I have won nothing, but a girl can dream, right?

I also prepped the Sauerbraten for Monday or Tuesday. It must soak in its marinade for a few days and then it will be perfect for a good meal or two. I love cooking Sauerbraten because it brings back memories of my grandmother, mother and times my family spent together around the table exclaiming about the perfection of the meal! Yes, Sauerbraten is a very good thing!

I napped again today, but I feel I am winning the battle against this little cold I have. No fever or anything, just feeling stuffy and tired. So, I decided to listen to my body and slow down!

Have a great Sunday, Everyone!

Friday Jack drove me to Portsmouth for my doctor’s appointment. All was perfect and after that, as we were driving back (It takes about an hour each way), Jack pulled into an unknown Mexican Restaurant (unknown to us), and we had lunch.

I had a great Taco Salad and Jack joined me. It was so delicious! It was also huge! By the time we were done, I was completely filled up. Our sweet waitress asked if we wanted dessert. I looked at the menu and noted that they had Flan. This is one of Jack’s favorites. He asked how much it was and there were no prices. So he said no, maybe another time.

The waitress disappeared to cash us out and returned with a Flan for Jack and me to share and enjoy! And it sure was wonderful.

Needless to say, the waitress got a good tip!

When we got home I fed the dogs, and was sitting in my chair and I felt so tired and chilled. So I lay down on the sofa with Arnie and slept for an hour and a half. I still feel tired now. I think I am fighting off a little cold.

It was a pretty day for a drive though, and we had almost completely open roads. We noted the snow-covered peaks of the Ossipee Range and the Waterville Valley ski area, which we can see from Meredith.  Yes, as I have been writing, winter is just around the corner.

Oh, one thing, until my Web Designer gets my Comment Button installed (I hope this weekend!) in order to leave a Comment, just click on the Title of the days Post and it will take you to the Comment Page. One day it will all be fixed and I will be sooooo happy!

My day started off gray, rainy and very cold. The wind was blowing and as I walked the three dogs in my slippers, nightgown, and jacket, I could feel the wind blowing on my knees and chilling me to the bone. Thankfully, a hot shower was the next thing on my list to do, and boy did that shower feel good!

I’d slept a bit later Wednesday morning, so I was really going quickly through my morning routine getting ready for WW.

I took the wonderful shower, dressed quickly and then did my hair. All I can say is that I really need a dip in the fountain of youth, as hiding my gray roots is getting harder and harder. Thank goodness for curly hair!

I raced out to the kitchen to prepare an Egg McMuffin to take to class with me, and I put the egg in the container, poked the yolk several times and put it in the microwave.

30 seconds. Good. Check the egg and all was well. 20 seconds. BOOM! It flipped the egg poaching container wide open!

I didn’t have time to redo it, so I took the somewhat exploded egg, put it on the toasted light English Muffin and wrapped it in tinfoil.

Off I went to class.

Honestly, I’ve been struggling, but I refuse to give up. The class was good, and afterward, when our Leader was giving new people a rundown on the program, many of us stayed after to listen again. I’ve just got to do this.

I had to return some wine glasses to TJ Maxx. They were too tall for my dishwasher. But as I was getting ready to leave I saw the cutest Vera Bradley purse in sort of a bright and wild color. Havana Rose. It was so cute and for the bargain price of $29.99 I could not say no.

I did find replacement wine glasses at Homegoods, and two smaller Christmas Dackel Glasses that I sort of splurged on. Yay!

So Wednesday was a good day.  I have gotten a lot done and stayed eating the good things I should and not straying from my diet.

Life is good!