Category: My Life

1. I started off my day by waking up with a fever, cough and a lot of congestion.
2. I dressed, made my breakfast and went to Weight Watchers.
3. I had worked the plan very intensely this week.
4. I lost three and a half pounds!!!!!
5. After class I got the mail.
6. I came home and literally jumped into my pajamas.
7. I got out my fuzzy throw blanket and snuggled down with Greta!
8. She has been taking good care of me all day.
9. We started to watch a Documentary on Youtube on our smart TV.
10. I fell asleep half way through, and slept for two hours.
11. When I woke I was shaking again with the silly fever!
12. The last thing I wanted to do was cook, so I took just about every leftover in the fridge and made a meal out of it!
13. I can hardly wait to go to bed!

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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Although I wasn’t super busy this weekend, we seemed to find that the time slipped by.  I did get the electric candles in my windows, and started to write my Christmas Cards.

I did a little laundry, but found I didn’t have to cook too much because we had a fridge full of leftovers.

I did discover that my health insurance has skyrocketed, so that I will now be paying close to $1000.00 per month for it. Thank you President Obama. Since he took over my medical insurance has increased $750.00 per month! And I have less coverage than I did before. I despair to think what it will be like when Obama Care goes in to full effect in 2014.

Hubby is sick with a dreadful cold. He coughs and sneezes and I think I will be putting him in the guest room until he gets well.

I’m thinking that I will pull the Christmas tree out of the attic tomorrow, along with the decorations. Then during the week I will work to get it put up all decorated! I did put up my skaters twirling in front of a snow covered church, that Mandy gave me a few years ago. This always makes me feel all Christmassy!

Have a great Monday Everyone!!!

Friday morning I was taking a little time trying to figure a few things out on my Kindle Fire. I was set it down on top of the laptop keys and then went to pick it back up and my finger nail clicked the #4 key and it went flying!

That’s right people. I am doomed with laptop computers! I sat there, and fear gripped me!

A new computer shop had opened up, and it is less than a mile from my house. I threw on my clothes and grabbing the computer, and three pieces of the key, off I went to hopefully get that repaired!

First, the two guys were really nice, and yes, they got my key back on and working! Best of all, they are reasonably priced.

I was a little surprised to see the inner workings of my key. Do you realize that most of it is plastic? It was good because, it gave when my finger nail pulled it, still I was amazed that it was fairly simple. I sort of thought it would be more complicated!

In any case the laptop is repaired and I can once again use the number 4 or the $ sign!

I never did figure out the Kindle problem. Perhaps I will do that tonight.

1. Which do you prefer-pretty gift wrap with a bow or a pretty gift bag with/without a bow? What percentage of your holiday gifts are currently (as in right this very minute) wrapped in some form or fashion?

I love wrapping paper. The good old fashioned kind! I have my Germany presents wrapped and will mail them off today! Yay me!

2. What is one item on your Christmas list this year?

I want to go out and buy a Barbie Doll and bring it in to the Marine’s pick up area. I’ll be doing this in Katie’s memory.

3. What makes a home?

The love within the four walls. Since Hubby and I are on second marriages, we know that above all, having love is the most important thing of all. Many people feel that things make the difference. However, it is just not true. Trust me on this!

4. Motown founder Berry Gordy celebrates his birthday on Hodgepodge Day-November 28th. Are you a fan of the Motown sound? If so, who’s your favorite Motown artist and/or song? Here’s a list in case you’re stuck.

Some. But I grew up loving the Beatles, The Carpenters, and (I admit), David Cassidy and the Partridge Family!

5. Red or green-which one is more prevalent in your closet?

Red. I really do not look good in green. It causes my skin to look sickly. Ever heard of the saying “Feeling Green”?

6. True or false-bacon makes it better? If you answered true, what’s your favorite dish made with bacon?

Oh gosh, I love bacon, but as I get older, it doesn’t like me! So I tend to use it a lot less. I do love it cooked crisply with over easy eggs! Yum!

7. Share a favorite holiday memory.

My favorite Christmas memory is Christmas 1976. My daughter was born on December 20th.

I had just gotten home from the hospital with my first born baby, Amanda Mae. I remember thinking that I had gotten the greatest gift of my life. This perfect, beautiful, healthy, baby girl Yes, it doesn’t get any better than that.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

To all of you who have been following my closet dilemma, I finally finished cleaning it on Monday! It’s amazing how out of control it had gotten. As I stood in the middle of the closet, prior to starting the cleaning, I felt I was in the middle of my boat after being tossed about in a Nor’easter! It seemed that nothing was where it should have been, and my Christmas count hopelessly lost. Now, the closet contents are folded, stacked and beautiful! How long it will remain this way is anyone’s guess!

The month of November has never been a great one for me, diet wise. I have my birthday (and cake) and then my favorite holiday…Thanksgiving! Need I say more! Nothing is guaranteed to help me gain weight, like a month packed with eating orgies!

On Thanksgiving night, I looked at the pictures taken and I knew. I knew I could not fool myself any longer about the weight I had gained this fall!

Now before I go off the deep end and gain back everything I have lost at Weight Watchers, when I woke on Friday morning, I made a resolution.

Today is the first day back on the Points Plus Plan!

Yes, it is “Black Friday”…Diet Wise!

I was so unhappy with how I looked. And previously, I had made excuses about my weight. Oh, I am big boned. Or (this is my personal favorite) I have a slow metabolism.

The plain fact is, I eat the wrong things, and too much of them. So, this morning I had a single egg, with two slices of diet toast and half a grapefruit.

The hardest part for me is not the first week. Usually I do well at that time. The hardest part is the next week. I find it so hard to follow through. However, I am determined! I will do this!

I will do this for me!

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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This past Saturday was my birthday, so all weekend was spent either preparing for the event, enjoying the event, and then cleaning up after the event! And every single second, of every minute, of every hour, was absolutely splendid!

I spent the day on Friday doing all sorts of prep work. Baking my cake and pre-frosting it, I baked a Carrot Casserole , and set about getting the dishware, silverware and punch bowl out and ready.

On Saturday I went about like a crazy person touching up the house one last time, and then I jumped into the shower and made it out a mere 10 minutes before my guests arrived.

I had a blast! I did not sit around like a grand Queen. That is just not my style. I served people, and made sure they had drinks, did introductions and stood back and smiled an awful lot of the time! There we all were, my daughter and my granddaughter, my cousin Janet and Dave, and my closest friends! Mandy and Matt gifted me with a wonderful collage of Savannah and me and Mandy! Wonderful! Janet and Dave made the most delicious Seafood Lasagna in a bechemel sauce! Here is a little collage from my day yesterday!

The Seafood Lasagna was to die for! In fact I just finished the last piece, and it was even better the next day! I got flowers and Prosecco. Friends brought appetizers and yummies and I think I smiled all day long! The work involved, didn’t seem like work at all.

Lastly, I got a special card made for me by Dave.

Dave is not only a talented cook, but he is a gifted artist as well! Thank you so much for all you did yesterday to make my day so happy, and for all you do each and every day to bring joy and sunshine into my cousin’s life!

Sunday I got up, and went to the kitchen to turn on the coffee. Then I got my coat on, my gloves and my hat. But oddly, I did not hear the coffee maker whooshing and gurgling. Hmmmm! I went over and I thought I’d forgotten to turn it on. I flipped the switch, and NOTHING!!! I flipped it again! Nothing! Shoot! So I got out the old, smaller pot, that Hubby had in his commuter apartment in New York some 15 years ago, out and fixed the coffee in that. Once I got that going, I walked the dogs!

Now I knew that we would need another pot. A big twelve cup pot, because both Hubby and I are big coffee drinkers. I checked out the prices at the department stores locally and bristled when I saw they wanted close to $90.00 for our coffee make! Then I looked into Amazon.com and found our coffee pot. There it was for $69.00 no shipping!

Now I will tell you that I am an Amazon Prime member. for $79.00 a year I get free shipping on my purchases. However, I also get free videos, both old TV shows and movies. For us, it is a great benefit. I would recommend it for anyone who likes to save money!

I have not been paid for this totally unsolicited opinion of Amazon.com.

Well, once the coffee finally got brewed and I had ordered the new coffee maker, which should be here by Wednesday, I set about doing the last dishes and once Hubby and I finished breakfast, we treated Greta’s leg once again and wrapped it up.

Two days ago we noticed that she had an infected cut on her leg. How she did this we do not know, but the cut is about an inch long. We have been cleaning it twice a day with peroxide and triple antibiotic ointment. Then we wrap it up. Thankfully, she leaves it alone!

Sunday mid-day I got out two of the party plates. I filled one with cake and cookies from the party. The other I filled with meat and cheese and carrot casserole. And I tucked in some nice rolls too. Then off I went to see our neighbor, Frank. Frank will be 95 on December 7th. He served in the military during WW II and was a Prisoner of War. He is such a good man!  Now he is shut-in most of the time and I just wanted to share my happiness with him. All I can say is…I am so glad I did!

Sometimes the best parts of our lives are the parts we share with others.

Happy Monday!!!

Saturday we celebrated my 54th birthday. I had planned a smallish group of those nearest and dearest to me, and we had a blast! There was plenty of food, plenty of great stories and Miss Savannah Rose!

I’m made my cake and it came out okay, but it’s funny, after so long not eating super sweet things, I found the triple chocolate cake and icing, almost too sweet. I cannot believe I just typed that!

Janet and Dave made the worlds most delicious Seafood Lasagna with Bechemel Sauce. Oh my, it was wonderful!

Mandy and Matt brought rolls and meats and cheeses, and it was wonderful! In fact later in the evening when I needed a little snack, I make myself a mini sandwich.

Others brought banana bread, shrimp cocktail and we also had chips and dips and ice cold punch. A new recipe, that came out really well!

I think the best part was just having everyone here with me. That was just the best!

Today I am 54! I’ve never been one of those women who refuses to tell her age. It is, what it is. Actually, considering the rather strange life I have led, the fact that I still roam the earth is a miracle in itself!

This past year I welcomed my first granddaughter! Sweet Savannah Rose! A little Angel!

Despite the bad weather, we did have a crop of peaches, and I made some peach jam. I also made grape jelly, and my first batch ever of Dill Pickles!

Hubby and I are both in fairly good health and enjoying our home and our pets. All four dogs, Fritz, Greta, Arnie and Anneliese continue to give us far more love and comfort, then we could ever give to them!

Yes, turning 54 is not such a bad thing! Now please, sit back and enjoy this short montage of me and my loved ones from birth until now!

1. If you sit back and just enjoy the beauty of the life all around you, you will find that happiness is bound to follow!

2. I used to go around singing la la la

3. I have to ask you why is it that some people really freak out admitting to their age? Tomorrow I will be 54.

4. I got rid of one of my worst vices; smoking, as well as biting my nails which was a bad habit.

5. I didn’t have time to enjoy life when I was young. I am so happy that I have discovered happiness in my middle years, and taken the time to enjoy it!

6. Savannah Rose is something I love beyond all reason.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to finishing the final decorating for my birthday party on Saturday, tomorrow my plans include yay! It’s my birthday and I get to eat cake and Sunday, I want to finish cleaning up after the party and plan for act 2…Thanksgiving!