I love The Big Bang Theory. If you haven’t watched it, you are really missing out. Here are two of my favorite scenes from the show.
I will set it up by saying that Sheldon rescued Penny when she slipped in the shower. Sheldon is brilliant in the world of science, but knows nothing of being a human, like you and me.
Okay, enjoy!
1. What’s the best thing about growing older?
My appreciation for life, understanding more of life, and becoming a grandmother!
2. When did you first feel like a grown up?
When I experienced my first tragedy in life. It made no sense, and I had to realize the unfairness in life and that this one thing would affect me for the rest of my life.
3. Chocolate cake with white icing or white cake with chocolate icing?
My favorite cake is chocolate cake with white frosting. It has been my request for birthdays and when I married Hubby.
4. What’s the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?
Many years ago, when my car was hit by a box van truck, a man who was working on a construction site with a crane witnessed this. He immediately turned his crane toward the accident and it was this selfless act that got Katie and me out of the crushed car. He lifted the truck off the little car, so the jaws of life could be used. I do not know his name, and I never got to thank him.
5. What’s something you learned from your grandparents?
Respect. They were both loving people, but they were strict and you had to be respectful of them and the people around them.
6. Wednesday marks a sad day in the history of planet earth-9/11…what’s something you do (or can do) to bring peace to your little corner of the world?
I used to breed puppies. There was nothing better than watching a pup go to a new owner.
7. Share a favorite quote, scripture, or song containing the word peace.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I’ll be off babysitting my sweet Savannah Rose on Friday! Mandy is working, and she needed someone to fill in. Needless to say, She didn’t have to ask me twice! I was just telling Hubby, that I am a very lucky woman to have a daughter like Mandy and a wonderful granddaughter like Savannah!
1 pound of Brussel sprouts
3-4 slices of bacon
1 tbs. olive oil
2 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. salt
fresh ground pepper
1 small onion chopped
In saucepan boil Brussel sprouts about 5-8 minutes or until sprouts are tender but still crisp. Drain and set aside.
In non stick skillet cook bacon until crisp. Remove and set on paper towel to cool. In the frying pan add onion and cook until the onion is cooked. Add garlic, salt, pepper and olive oil. Stir well. Add Brussel sprouts and cook until the Brussel sprouts begin to brown. Place in serving bowl and crumble bacon over the top. Serve hot! Enjoy!
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 weekend we celebrated my mother’s life. The service was good, but I was far too emotional, which made me feel very uncomfortable. I simply do not like showing my feelings in public.
The good part of the weekend was I got to spend time with my brother’s two sons. I have not seen the younger son since he was a young boy. He’s now a grown man, with two daughter’s of his own.
My older nephew I saw when he was on leave in the military. He is now out of the military and has a teenage son.
Here I am with the guys and my sister Mel.
Mel, Richard, Me and Jimmy.
Besides the service I got to meet the newest additions to our family, the beautiful baby twins, Nolan and Gabriel. They were preemies, but did so well, and their parents are so great meeting their needs. The boys are both happy and healthy.
This is Nolan and Gabe is in the background.
It was so wonderful to see these beautiful boys and remember that even with the loss of my mother, life does go on, in many beautiful and wonderful ways.
My drive home was eventful. The wind was blowing fiercely, and my car was swaying back and forth. Back and forth, and back and forth…and for the first time ever, I got motion sickness in the car! By the time I got home I was totally green! But I did make it.
And in the end
The love you take
Is equal to the love you make
On Saturday we gathered to say good-bye to Mom. Mom had it all planned out. Everything from the music, to the readings, to poems she wanted read, and who she wanted to read them. Yes, it was Mom’s show!
I was assigned to read A Parable For Mothers. I looked it over and felt I could get through it okay. But half way through, the sobs came and finally, finally I grieved for the mother I have lost.
A Parable For Mothers
The young mother set her foot on the path of Life. “Is the way long?” she asked. And her Guide said: “Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning.”
But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed with them in the streams, and the sun shone on them, and life was good, and the young mother cried: “Nothing will ever be lovelier than this”.
Then night came, and storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle and the children said: “Oh, Mother, we are not afraid for you are near, and no harm can come.” And the mother said: “This is better than the brightest of days, for I have taught my children courage.”
And the morning came and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary, but at all times she said to the children: “A little patience and we are there.” So the children climbed, and when they reached the top, they said: “We could not have done it without you, Mother.” And the mother, when she lay down that night, looked up at the stars and said: “This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of difficulty. Yesterday I gave them courage, Today I have given them strength.”
And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth – clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: “Look up! Lift your eyes to the light.” And the children looked and saw above the clouds an Everlasting Glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness. And that night the mother said: “This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God.”
And the days went on, and the months and the years, and the mother grew old, and she was small and bent. But her children were strong and tall and walked with courage. And when the way was hard, they helped their mother; and when the way was rough they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And the mother said: “I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know that the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them.”
And the children said: “You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.”
And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: “We cannot see her, but she is with us. A mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence.”
— Temple Bailey —
I didn’t sleep well on Thursday night, so when I finally got up, showered, dressed and got in my car to drive to my sister’s home, I was already exhausted.
The ride actually wasn’t too bad though, as I was going along after rush hour. However, I woke right up as I drove along route 91 in Springfield, Massachusetts. First I had a policeman neck and neck with me, and then in front of us a pick up truck hit a bump and loose wood came flying out of the back of the truck bed!
For a split second I thought I was a goner! Fortunately the wood went into the policeman’s lane and as I looked in my rear-view mirror I could see he was just fine, had his lights on and was picking up the wood. It scared me to death!
But I lived to tell the story.
Later in the day, after we had picked up my two nephews at the Amtrack station, we were talking about how fickle life can be. People who have died in freak accidents don’t just get up one day expecting to die.
No, life it to enjoy and to live!
I’m amazed at how much my brother’s two sons remind me of him. Both of them. The tones in their voices and the looks in their eyes. We started comparing notes on allergies and stuff, and sure enough,they have some of the strange ones Mel, Janet and I do!
I think, if there is one gift Mom gave to Mel and me in her last months of life, was the gift of my brother’s sons, and how much family really means.
Thanks Mom!
The other day, after the Fair, my cousin Dave noticed a big bump on Greta’s hip. Immediately I got panicked! Oh no, what was wrong with my poor baby?
When i touched it, she was obviously bothered and moved away. Now that be Greta being Greta, or perhaps it was something worse.
This week was so incredibly busy, that I allowed the days to pass without freaking out about it too much.
Today, when I sat down to relax and have my tea, I felt Greta’s hips. Both of them, and there was still a bump on her right side.
As far as I can tell, she probably got stung by something and now the bump is there.
I will see what is up after this weekend (Mom’s Memorial Service) and if it is still there on Monday I will take her in to see the Veterinarian.
Boy, I sure hope Greta is okay!
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
My Grandmother Mary and My Aunt Betty.
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Today. What can I say, I a weeper!
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Nope.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Roast beef sliced thinly.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Yes.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I’d like to think so.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Unfortunately yes.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Nope!
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
NEVER! Read my lips, NEVER!
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Honey Nut Cheerios.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No, unless I have to.
12. FAVORITE SOUND(S).
Children laughing as they play at the beach
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Their eyes.
15. RED OR PINK?
Depends. Lately red
16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
My hips!
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
Katie
18. FAVORITE PIECE OF JEWELRY?
Engagement ring. It was my grandmothers.
19. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I raise great dogs!
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Tennis
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Sky blue
23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
Lilacs, campfires, baking bread, bacon cooking, coffee
24. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles, by far!
25. FAVORITE FOODS?
Dark chocolate!
1. What’s something you’re never too young or too old to enjoy?
Ice Cream! My earliest memories of happiness are those of trips to Dairy Queen, or Friendlies for ice cream. Even now, when I splurge and have an ice cream, it brings a smile to my face!
2. Share one happy memory from your high school years.
I met my first husband there. He made me feel so special and happy and loved. We went on to marry and have two beautiful children of our own. But it all started in High School.
3. A nationwide strike of fast food employees took place in the U. S. last week…they’re calling for higher wages and the right to unionize? Your thoughts?
Be careful. Illegal and Legal Immigrants will gladly come in and work those jobs. Use your fast food job as a stepping stone to a better job. But if you “demand” higher payment and you “unionize”, you may find no job left for you at the end of the day!
4. September is National Honey Month…what’s a favorite dish you make or eat that calls for honey?
Baklava! It is so good, and my neighbor, who is Greek, makes the very best!
5. If you notice someone with a tag sticking out, a button unbuttoned, a shirt on inside-out, or some leftover lunch stuck between their teeth do you say something or do you keep quiet?
It depends on well I know the person. If it was my sister, cousin, or husband, or even a close friend, I’d mention it right off, but quietly.
6. What movie always makes you cry? Or at least makes you feel like crying?
“The Notebook”. I only recently saw it for the first time. I’ve watched it again a few times since and I cry like a baby.
7. ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ was written in May of 1830, and published in Juvenile Miscellany in September of that same year. Now for the fun part…create your own four line rhyme using that same tune.
Greta had two babes,
whose fur was rough as hers
now all are cuddled in a pile
and the snoring sounds like purrs!
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Hubby took me out yesterday so I could buy a dress for my mother’s Memorial Service this weekend.
I’m not happy I have gained weight this year. I have so many poor excuses. My mother’s illness, my own cancer. Well, they all stacked up and I gained weight. After finding a nice dress, he found a pair of pretty dress slacks and top for me to wear as well. And he made me feel pretty and not so bad about the weight gain. I’ll get back to Weight watchers when I can, but right now, I need to heal my soul.
Imagine one morning you wake up and find you no longer look like yourself. Imagine you look into the mirror, and you see some sort of space creature looking back. One your husband likens to a Klingon! What would you think? How would you feel?
I was told it would heal, and that I would be as good as new in no time. In fact 6 weeks later when I had the flap revision on my face, as I drifted off to sleep, the bad previous surgeon said, “When you wake up, you will be pretty once again.”
Imagine my horror when I woke in recovery and asked for a mirror and saw this face staring back at me!
This was hardly what I expected and I found both the results and the discomfort I felt unacceptable. Especially when I was told that it didn’t hurt! Ah, excuse me?
I suppose I could have gone back to the original bad surgeon, but thank goodness I was encouraged to go to Boston where I met the good surgeon, who is slowly giving me a face I can live with.
After the first surgery I had with Dr. P. in July.
How often have we taken what our faces look like for granted? Oh yeah, I know that face in the mirror…Rough night last night…looking a little tired…Wow, my skin is completely clear, this never happens! lol!
My point is, it is your face, for good or bad. You know all your freckles or wrinkles or little marks that tell you, this is you.
So the last six months I have found myself with a real crisis of identity. That was until this past weekend, when my most recent surgery was unveiled when the steri-strips fell off.
It’s me again! I am back. I can look in the mirror in the morning and recognize the face I see!
The good doctor who did this, the gifted surgeon, is not just a talent, but his humanity is astounding.
Even if this is as good as it gets, I am happy. Most of all, I am grateful! I can see myself once again!