12/31/2013
Well I don't know about you guys, but Jeff and I are certainly glad to be seeing the rear end of this year. And we have decided that 2014 will be awesome! One thing that is going to start the new year off right is the return of our plane. Old N874T had a cracked engine (which is never good). Jeff flew her on a ferry permit from the FAA to Pennsylvania to have a new engine put in. Jeff drove 3 hours last Friday to visit with the plane (yes, pilots do that sort of thing), and our girl will be good as new by the end of this week. We will need to break in our new engine by flying short and long distances, so that will be fun. We always look forward to flying among the clouds.
We have no big party plans for tonight, actually no plans at all. I'm going to fix meatloaf and baked potatoes for dinner and perhaps we'll have a small drink near bedtime. With my medicine the drink will definitely have to be small - wee in fact!
It has been years since Jeff and I actually watched the new year roll in and this year will be no exception. I did do some research about the Dick Clark show. He started hosting in 1972 and continued until 2004 when he had his stroke. He had a minimal appearance in 2005/06. Dick passed away in 2012 I remember watching American Bandstand as a teenager and thought he was so handsome.
In case your "black tie" affair is more like sweatpants, no worries. There are any number of shows on television you can watch. I can not vouch for their worthiness! You can do "A Toast to2013" or "New Year's Rockin' Eve Presents the 30 Greatest Women in Music". "New York Philharmonic Gala with Yo-Yo Ma", just to mention a few. Or, you could just record something on your Tivo that will likely be more enjoyable than any of the above shows.
Jeff and I even watched ONE Duck Dynasty show - ugh. We didn't even make it through the whole show and mutually decided that it was one show not worth watching - in our opinion. And, I of course, love all the reality shows, particularly the ones involving cooking. I love watching contestants have to make some kind of dish out of particularly weird ingredients. When I see the ingredients, I try and think about what I would make with those ingredients. I seldom come up with anything.
If you're out and about tonight, please drive carefully.
P
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Monday, December 30, 2013
Wilma
12/30/2013
You know they say that everybody has a story in them that is waiting to be written. Unfortunately for me, that story is painful. I have stopped and started many times to write about my suicide attempts. It's a story that nobody would ever want to read, much less buy. But I can't let it go. So I continue to peck away at the keys trying to put into words some of the feelings I had this year that brought me to the edge of life twice. Even if the story remains just bits of data on my computer, it's cathartic to try and express what I was thinking (or not), on those two occasions, and I know it's something that I need to commit to paper, so that on a really bad day, I can reflect on my journey and see how far I've come.
I have an actual story that has been rattling around in my head for some time, and it's fun. The heroine is a crusty, sharp-tongued, takes no prisoners, retired librarian named Wilma. There are parts of Wilma that remind me of somebody - hmmm - me? Yup.
Gotta dash. I'm trying to make myself a new design for my blog. New Year, new beginnings. Stuff like that.
P
You know they say that everybody has a story in them that is waiting to be written. Unfortunately for me, that story is painful. I have stopped and started many times to write about my suicide attempts. It's a story that nobody would ever want to read, much less buy. But I can't let it go. So I continue to peck away at the keys trying to put into words some of the feelings I had this year that brought me to the edge of life twice. Even if the story remains just bits of data on my computer, it's cathartic to try and express what I was thinking (or not), on those two occasions, and I know it's something that I need to commit to paper, so that on a really bad day, I can reflect on my journey and see how far I've come.
I have an actual story that has been rattling around in my head for some time, and it's fun. The heroine is a crusty, sharp-tongued, takes no prisoners, retired librarian named Wilma. There are parts of Wilma that remind me of somebody - hmmm - me? Yup.
So the story goes:
Sitting in the attorney’s office, I
try hard to concentrate on what he’s saying; but everything sounds like legal
mumbo-jumbo which will ultimately cost me a pretty penny I’m sure. Lawyers are pretty
much like weathermen, they get paid even if they screw something up, and they never have to apologize. I want their
jobs!
So why am I sitting across the desk
from a lawyer who really looks bored and can’t stop himself from constantly
checking the clock to make sure that I’m billed for every minute of his
time? Well long story short, I’m been
married for 55 years and like most marriages some years were better than
others. But my marriage isn’t what’s
brought me into the inner sanctum of this sanctimonious stuffed shirt. My husband’s untimely (come to think of it is
there ever a good time?) passing away has forced me to seek the services of an
attorney. My opinion, and mind you it’s
only mine, but lawyers in general remind me of used car salesmen. They smile
often and likely as not you’re sold a bill of goods.
So
while I’ve been sitting in the chair, my mind has wandered off, which is okay
and even expected, when you reach a certain age. I break free from my revere when I hear, rather
than see, the attorney slap an envelope onto the desk. I stare at my name, which is written in my
husband’s handwriting, and know that once I read this letter, I won't be receiving any other missives from my late husband. Oh I suppose he could become
an angel or something and drop by for a visit which would certainly scare the
crap out of me.
Gotta dash. I'm trying to make myself a new design for my blog. New Year, new beginnings. Stuff like that.
P
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Stores
12/29/2013
In the last two days it has been my privilege (or not) to shop at two department stores. Notice I didn't say anything about a "mart" store - nope these are stores with big windows, escalators, the whole nine yards. And I was more than a little disappointed with my experiences.
Disclaimer - I know it's mere days since Christmas and all the rush that comes with harried shoppers, so I'm willing to give these two stores a pass (a small one only). First, in both stores you couldn't have found somebody to help you if your life depended on it. Customer service? What's that? I have on occasion found more helpful people at the "mart" stores than a real department store!
In the first store I was a woman on a mission - no browsing - just head to the required department and find something to buy. Well my first problem was finding something to buy. Packages were literally piled on top of one another with no organization by size, style, etc. Then when I did find something I thought I was interested in, at least twice the item inside the package was not the same style/size as the box. Okay, this was just about the time that my head was ready to spin off out of shear desperation. I finally settled on a few things to buy and grabbed a piece of paper from some store advertisement and wrote down style numbers and vowed to finish my shopping on line. Once I was home I was able to finish up my shopping in minutes - no fuss, no aggravation, no parking problems - nothing. Piece of cake. I should have known better than to try and actually find something in a store. I'll remember for the future.
Yesterday, Jeff noticed that a local department store was having a sale on Keurig coffee and the little K-cups are expensive so any sale is worth checking out. There was a number of things wrong with this shopping expedition. First, the store was blasting (not exaggerating) music from the loudspeakers. We didn't stay in the store long enough to determine if the one "oldie" song we heard was a one-off or the genre of the evening.
The kitchen equipment is on the second floor and I have an inherent dislike of escalators. Many years ago Jeff and I attended a charity event at a department store that was closed for the evening. It was a dressy event and I was wearing heels (I was young and looking good was more important than being comfortable - glad I got over that!). Anyway, on the descent to the first floor I was on the escalator and Jeff was behind me and all of a sudden the escalator went rogue (I'm not kidding) and began speeding up not allowing anyone enough time to get off. Jeff went ahead of me and started pulling the ladies off before they got to the last step. Nobody was hurt, just shaken. That may explain why I hate escalators and ttakes me forever to get on and off.
Before we get to the up escalator we have to go through the perfume (I mean odor) department and our noses were assaulted by all the perfume in the air. We couldn't get upstairs fast enough believe me! I have worn the same perfume for probably 30 years - Chloe and it's no longer an "in" scent but I don't care. For fun, I just went out to see if there was any Chloe dusting powder available, because they stopped making the powder a number of years ago. On Ebay, I found someone who sold a 5.25 oz container of powder for (brace yourself) $159.99!!!! Shipping was free so I'm sure it was a bargain.
Once up in the housewares section, we found the little K-cups for sale - a very limited selection at a very lightly discounted price. Jeff said he had seen in the paper a box of 48 cups for sale. Could we find that? Nope. Did we ask anybody? Nope. There was one woman manning the cash register and there was quite a line waiting to be checked out. Did we wait? Nope. On our way down we braced ourselves for the repeat assault to our noses and didn't even stay for a browse. Neither of us couldn't get out of the store fast enough.
These two experiences this week has given me a new appreciation for online shopping!
Happy Sunday.
P
In the last two days it has been my privilege (or not) to shop at two department stores. Notice I didn't say anything about a "mart" store - nope these are stores with big windows, escalators, the whole nine yards. And I was more than a little disappointed with my experiences.
Disclaimer - I know it's mere days since Christmas and all the rush that comes with harried shoppers, so I'm willing to give these two stores a pass (a small one only). First, in both stores you couldn't have found somebody to help you if your life depended on it. Customer service? What's that? I have on occasion found more helpful people at the "mart" stores than a real department store!
In the first store I was a woman on a mission - no browsing - just head to the required department and find something to buy. Well my first problem was finding something to buy. Packages were literally piled on top of one another with no organization by size, style, etc. Then when I did find something I thought I was interested in, at least twice the item inside the package was not the same style/size as the box. Okay, this was just about the time that my head was ready to spin off out of shear desperation. I finally settled on a few things to buy and grabbed a piece of paper from some store advertisement and wrote down style numbers and vowed to finish my shopping on line. Once I was home I was able to finish up my shopping in minutes - no fuss, no aggravation, no parking problems - nothing. Piece of cake. I should have known better than to try and actually find something in a store. I'll remember for the future.
Yesterday, Jeff noticed that a local department store was having a sale on Keurig coffee and the little K-cups are expensive so any sale is worth checking out. There was a number of things wrong with this shopping expedition. First, the store was blasting (not exaggerating) music from the loudspeakers. We didn't stay in the store long enough to determine if the one "oldie" song we heard was a one-off or the genre of the evening.
The kitchen equipment is on the second floor and I have an inherent dislike of escalators. Many years ago Jeff and I attended a charity event at a department store that was closed for the evening. It was a dressy event and I was wearing heels (I was young and looking good was more important than being comfortable - glad I got over that!). Anyway, on the descent to the first floor I was on the escalator and Jeff was behind me and all of a sudden the escalator went rogue (I'm not kidding) and began speeding up not allowing anyone enough time to get off. Jeff went ahead of me and started pulling the ladies off before they got to the last step. Nobody was hurt, just shaken. That may explain why I hate escalators and ttakes me forever to get on and off.
Before we get to the up escalator we have to go through the perfume (I mean odor) department and our noses were assaulted by all the perfume in the air. We couldn't get upstairs fast enough believe me! I have worn the same perfume for probably 30 years - Chloe and it's no longer an "in" scent but I don't care. For fun, I just went out to see if there was any Chloe dusting powder available, because they stopped making the powder a number of years ago. On Ebay, I found someone who sold a 5.25 oz container of powder for (brace yourself) $159.99!!!! Shipping was free so I'm sure it was a bargain.
Once up in the housewares section, we found the little K-cups for sale - a very limited selection at a very lightly discounted price. Jeff said he had seen in the paper a box of 48 cups for sale. Could we find that? Nope. Did we ask anybody? Nope. There was one woman manning the cash register and there was quite a line waiting to be checked out. Did we wait? Nope. On our way down we braced ourselves for the repeat assault to our noses and didn't even stay for a browse. Neither of us couldn't get out of the store fast enough.
These two experiences this week has given me a new appreciation for online shopping!
Happy Sunday.
P
Saturday, December 28, 2013
12/28/2013
Weather you say? Accurate? Now that's another question entirely. I think weathermen are the only group of professionals who can completely miss the mark of upcoming weather and continue to keep their jobs. How cool is that? Don't you wish that was the case in your office?
Here in the East at the mere mention of any of the "s or i" words (snow, sleet or ice) will send the locals running to the grocery and hardware stores to buy stuff that they likely don't need. As discussed before, you need: toilet paper, milk, bread and possibly eggs as absolute food essentials to make it through a storm. If you live in an area where there is a 50/50 chance of "weather", then it makes good sense (at least to me) that you should already own a snow shovel (or two), and sand or kitty litter for traction on sidewalks and driveways. But maybe I think of these things because I was once a Girl Scout, and we're always prepared.
Depends on whether you believe the Farmer's Almanac or a local news channel, but everybody seems to think our winter (i.e. snow) will occur in February. Of course if the East Coast has snow in February it might mess up the Super Bowl on February 2nd, which is being held in New Jersey and is the first outdoor cold weather Super Bowl. Unlike catching some rays when the Super Bowl is played in the South, the fans at this game will be bundled up against the elements and probably drinking huge amounts of hot chocolate or maybe even something stronger.
Today is an impossibly brilliant day of sunshine and doesn't look like winter at all. Of course that can change in an instant and I think rain is heading our way this week. Unless it's raining, Jeff and I still take the "Z" out with the top down. We bundle up a bit of course, it's cold after all, but when you own a convertible, you know that the day(s) are coming when there will be too much weather to have the top down. We enjoy riding in the car with the top down every chance we get.
Sorry that I don't have something more interesting to report, but I'm having a dry spell in my brain. I'm sure there will be some news worthy topic in tomorrow's paper that I can share with all of you.
Enjoy Saturday.
P
Weather you say? Accurate? Now that's another question entirely. I think weathermen are the only group of professionals who can completely miss the mark of upcoming weather and continue to keep their jobs. How cool is that? Don't you wish that was the case in your office?
Here in the East at the mere mention of any of the "s or i" words (snow, sleet or ice) will send the locals running to the grocery and hardware stores to buy stuff that they likely don't need. As discussed before, you need: toilet paper, milk, bread and possibly eggs as absolute food essentials to make it through a storm. If you live in an area where there is a 50/50 chance of "weather", then it makes good sense (at least to me) that you should already own a snow shovel (or two), and sand or kitty litter for traction on sidewalks and driveways. But maybe I think of these things because I was once a Girl Scout, and we're always prepared.
Depends on whether you believe the Farmer's Almanac or a local news channel, but everybody seems to think our winter (i.e. snow) will occur in February. Of course if the East Coast has snow in February it might mess up the Super Bowl on February 2nd, which is being held in New Jersey and is the first outdoor cold weather Super Bowl. Unlike catching some rays when the Super Bowl is played in the South, the fans at this game will be bundled up against the elements and probably drinking huge amounts of hot chocolate or maybe even something stronger.
Today is an impossibly brilliant day of sunshine and doesn't look like winter at all. Of course that can change in an instant and I think rain is heading our way this week. Unless it's raining, Jeff and I still take the "Z" out with the top down. We bundle up a bit of course, it's cold after all, but when you own a convertible, you know that the day(s) are coming when there will be too much weather to have the top down. We enjoy riding in the car with the top down every chance we get.
Sorry that I don't have something more interesting to report, but I'm having a dry spell in my brain. I'm sure there will be some news worthy topic in tomorrow's paper that I can share with all of you.
Enjoy Saturday.
P
Friday, December 27, 2013
Back to Kindle
12/27/2013
I love books - always have. If the book is good (at least by my standards), then I can absolutely bore through it in hours. Disclaimer: I don't always read every word, I tend to be more of a glance unless the sentence/paragraph, etc. is really interesting. I don't have unread books sitting around in my house for very long. If a new book arrives, then I feel compelled to read that book right now. Screw whatever else I was reading, I'll jump ship on a whim.
Growing up I used the library of course because in the olden days (i.e., the 60's) the accessibility of paperbacks and hardbacks wasn't what it is today. Now for pete's sake you can buy books at the grocery store, and I'm not talking about heavily discounted books because the publishing company couldn't sell the books. Nope, you can find bestsellers in paperback and hardback.
After marriage and prices of books being low (compared to what they are today), I bought books, lots of books. To be fair, when I lived in California, I shared these books with my sister so books were always changing hands. I'm one of those people who doesn't want to go back and reread a book after I'm finished. My memory isn't what it used to be, so it's likely that I could pick up an old book and be halfway through before my memory would kick in and remind me that I've been here before!
A long time ago I read everything that Danielle Steel wrote and then I gave up. Too predictable, even if you're memory isn't too good. Always something like tall, handsome rich man meets young, beautiful poor girl.......... Super boring.
For a while I was reading murder books, the gruesome kind, where there are bodies with messy crime scenes. Too depressing so I moved on to something called Cozy Mysteries. There is still a crime, but it's generally minor. If there has been a murder, it's a very clean crime scene, no gory details. In a lot of these books, the heroine is an elderly woman who has a "nose" for figuring out crimes. I wouldn't classify them as great novels, but they are entertaining and pleasant to read. I'm done with gore, now I just want these little mysteries that might only amount to somebody stole the mailbox outside of the courthouse - that kind of thing.
I actually have an Excel spreadsheet listed alphabetically by author and title. It's perhaps a bit over the top, but when I just can't seem to find something worthy of reading, I consult the list and generally get an "ah ha" moment.
Also, if you buy a book on Amazon, further down the page past the description of the book are suggestions of similar types of books that gives me another avenue of research!
After being away from my Kindle for a year or more, I have recharged it and spent delightful hours yesterday reviewing books to download. I'm happy to report that the Kindle is chock full of books for me to read. Now the only decision left for me is do I watch (a) cheesy television, which I love; or (b) read my little old lady mysteries. Of course there is also one other option, but cleaning the house just doesn't figure in my schedule, at least today!
Sorry this is late. Some days things just get in the way and that's what happened today.
P
I love books - always have. If the book is good (at least by my standards), then I can absolutely bore through it in hours. Disclaimer: I don't always read every word, I tend to be more of a glance unless the sentence/paragraph, etc. is really interesting. I don't have unread books sitting around in my house for very long. If a new book arrives, then I feel compelled to read that book right now. Screw whatever else I was reading, I'll jump ship on a whim.
Growing up I used the library of course because in the olden days (i.e., the 60's) the accessibility of paperbacks and hardbacks wasn't what it is today. Now for pete's sake you can buy books at the grocery store, and I'm not talking about heavily discounted books because the publishing company couldn't sell the books. Nope, you can find bestsellers in paperback and hardback.
After marriage and prices of books being low (compared to what they are today), I bought books, lots of books. To be fair, when I lived in California, I shared these books with my sister so books were always changing hands. I'm one of those people who doesn't want to go back and reread a book after I'm finished. My memory isn't what it used to be, so it's likely that I could pick up an old book and be halfway through before my memory would kick in and remind me that I've been here before!
A long time ago I read everything that Danielle Steel wrote and then I gave up. Too predictable, even if you're memory isn't too good. Always something like tall, handsome rich man meets young, beautiful poor girl.......... Super boring.
For a while I was reading murder books, the gruesome kind, where there are bodies with messy crime scenes. Too depressing so I moved on to something called Cozy Mysteries. There is still a crime, but it's generally minor. If there has been a murder, it's a very clean crime scene, no gory details. In a lot of these books, the heroine is an elderly woman who has a "nose" for figuring out crimes. I wouldn't classify them as great novels, but they are entertaining and pleasant to read. I'm done with gore, now I just want these little mysteries that might only amount to somebody stole the mailbox outside of the courthouse - that kind of thing.
I actually have an Excel spreadsheet listed alphabetically by author and title. It's perhaps a bit over the top, but when I just can't seem to find something worthy of reading, I consult the list and generally get an "ah ha" moment.
Also, if you buy a book on Amazon, further down the page past the description of the book are suggestions of similar types of books that gives me another avenue of research!
After being away from my Kindle for a year or more, I have recharged it and spent delightful hours yesterday reviewing books to download. I'm happy to report that the Kindle is chock full of books for me to read. Now the only decision left for me is do I watch (a) cheesy television, which I love; or (b) read my little old lady mysteries. Of course there is also one other option, but cleaning the house just doesn't figure in my schedule, at least today!
Sorry this is late. Some days things just get in the way and that's what happened today.
P
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Ho, Ho, Ho........
12/26/2013
Well people we managed to get through another Christmas season with our bodies in tact! Depending on how much we indulged on Christmas goodies, we might need to pull out our "fat" pants while we attempt to lose those five (or more) pounds! Sugar is definitely a killer to a diet - but oh so good in the moment!
Christmas at Andrew's house was filled with people, wrapping paper, packing bubbles being stomped (even I enjoy the stomping - love the noise), good food, Ben playing with his new Monster High dolls (they are so ugly, but he loves them) and Ben firing his new rubber darts from his shooter gun.
Jeff and I brought scalloped potatoes, cole slaw, ham, deviled eggs and cherry cheesecake for dessert. Very few leftovers, which always makes me feel good. At the end of the evening, I took the last of the dessert and put it in one of Stacey's dishes, so that we wouldn't have this very tempting dessert hanging around our house!
Jeff paid for five manicures at my favorite salon, which just the best gift ever. I haven't had my nails done since July, so I'm a tad overdue. Andrew and Stacey gave me, among other things, a gift certificate to my favorite online store - Amazon. My mission? Contemplate very carefully what books I want to buy. I take my book buying seriously, I look at the bestseller list in the paper but am almost never tempted to buy any of those books.
I didn't bother to peruse the paper this morning look for all those after Christmas sales. I know people who go out after Christmas and buy wrapping paper and ornaments for NEXT Christmas. I'm pretty organized, but I'm not about to find a place in the basement to store decorations for next year. It is also likely that if I did store something in the basement, I'd forget where I put things.
Since I've become somewhat of a Grinch, I have very few decorations to take down. Actually, the only decoration I have is my little two foot tree adorned with various decorations that Ben has made for me or pictures of him. It will literally take me seconds to pop that tree into a bag and stow it in the basement until next year. I wish I could think of someway to display Ben's pictures and his artwork. I need some kind of thing with arms (it would look something like a Charlie Brown tree) that I could use to keep these beautiful things around me all year long. Ben has never taken a bad picture and most of my flat surfaces have one or more pictures of Ben! It is possible that Mom Mom might be spoiling Ben. Of course, that's what grandparents are supposed to do.
Once I'm done blogging, off to Amazon I'm going to contemplate books to buy. I analyze the books I've read and then look for books of a similar genre. This is a time consuming process, but luckily time is something I have plenty of.
My cup is empty and likely yours is too. So, I'm signing off and logging on to Amazon!
Have a good day.
P
Well people we managed to get through another Christmas season with our bodies in tact! Depending on how much we indulged on Christmas goodies, we might need to pull out our "fat" pants while we attempt to lose those five (or more) pounds! Sugar is definitely a killer to a diet - but oh so good in the moment!
Christmas at Andrew's house was filled with people, wrapping paper, packing bubbles being stomped (even I enjoy the stomping - love the noise), good food, Ben playing with his new Monster High dolls (they are so ugly, but he loves them) and Ben firing his new rubber darts from his shooter gun.
Jeff and I brought scalloped potatoes, cole slaw, ham, deviled eggs and cherry cheesecake for dessert. Very few leftovers, which always makes me feel good. At the end of the evening, I took the last of the dessert and put it in one of Stacey's dishes, so that we wouldn't have this very tempting dessert hanging around our house!
Jeff paid for five manicures at my favorite salon, which just the best gift ever. I haven't had my nails done since July, so I'm a tad overdue. Andrew and Stacey gave me, among other things, a gift certificate to my favorite online store - Amazon. My mission? Contemplate very carefully what books I want to buy. I take my book buying seriously, I look at the bestseller list in the paper but am almost never tempted to buy any of those books.
I didn't bother to peruse the paper this morning look for all those after Christmas sales. I know people who go out after Christmas and buy wrapping paper and ornaments for NEXT Christmas. I'm pretty organized, but I'm not about to find a place in the basement to store decorations for next year. It is also likely that if I did store something in the basement, I'd forget where I put things.
Since I've become somewhat of a Grinch, I have very few decorations to take down. Actually, the only decoration I have is my little two foot tree adorned with various decorations that Ben has made for me or pictures of him. It will literally take me seconds to pop that tree into a bag and stow it in the basement until next year. I wish I could think of someway to display Ben's pictures and his artwork. I need some kind of thing with arms (it would look something like a Charlie Brown tree) that I could use to keep these beautiful things around me all year long. Ben has never taken a bad picture and most of my flat surfaces have one or more pictures of Ben! It is possible that Mom Mom might be spoiling Ben. Of course, that's what grandparents are supposed to do.
Once I'm done blogging, off to Amazon I'm going to contemplate books to buy. I analyze the books I've read and then look for books of a similar genre. This is a time consuming process, but luckily time is something I have plenty of.
My cup is empty and likely yours is too. So, I'm signing off and logging on to Amazon!
Have a good day.
P
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Fancy Shoes
12/24/2013
I, like pretty much everybody else, knows the names of some of the high end shoe designers. When I think of high end shoe designers, Christian Louboutin immediately comes to mind. His signature red soles are recognized by women everywhere. And most of us "ordinary" folk will never even get an opportunity to try on his beautiful shoes - and you can pretty much forget about owning a pair.
I decided to end my first cup of coffee this morning with a quick review of shoe prices. I was astounded, probably because I have always considered spending a hundred dollars for a pair of shoes to be the personal maximum I'm willing to spend. They are shoes after all.
For $6,395 you can own a Louboutin platform shoe. If sandals are more your thing, then I found you a pair for only $695 (practically a bargain). Flats for around $1,295 and a pair of high top (think tennis shoes) goes for $2,595.00. Practically makes you want to whip out your credit card (or not!).
Then I found some shoes for sale in some magazine that I received and the ad was for four sandals - so not even a substantial shoe. The cheapest pair was $295 and the most expensive was $865.00. When I think of sandals, I think of wearing them this year and they'll be worn out by next summer and I'll get another pair. I don't want my shoes to become a major asset, which is a good thing since I can't even begin to afford the cheapest pair of sandals that were shown in the ad!
I don't know about you but my mood changes as do my shoes. I don't want to have a lifelong relationship with a pair of shoes - nor do I want to have to make a special provision with my insurance company to guard against shoe theft! However, I do suffer from shoe envy every now and then when I see someone wearing a beautiful pair of shoes.
When I was a teenager (oh like a zillion years ago), I had beautiful shoes. Lots of shoes. I had a pair of Pappagallo flats in I believe some kind of yellow/orange color. For memory sakes, I took a stroll down Pappagallo lane on Ebay and while all of the shoes are now considered vintage, they are still beautiful.
One Easter my mother made me a pink suit and I had a pair of matching heels that were light pink on the toe and brighter pink on the heel. These shoes were very cute, not particularly comfortable but who cares when you're looking good!
I don't own any heels now. Don't get me wrong, I still love shoes and love high heels, I just don't want to own or wear any. Nope, I'm all about sensible now and almost all of my shoes are now flats. I do have a dressy pair of shoes with a thick one inch heel. I guess they could be categorized as heels - at least for the older set!
My cup is empty and it's time for me to change from my slippers (flat) into my tennis shoes, also flat! At barely five feet, if I wore taller shoes I could look leaner - and who wouldn't like that? Of course it's been so long since I've actually worn heels, there is the danger of falling flat on my face or back end! So for safety sake, and because I gave up being vain a long time ago, I'll just stick to walking around in my flat shoes!
Have a wonderful Christmas Eve. All of my packages are wrapped and all that's left to do is for Jeff and I to make deviled eggs and cherry cheesecake to take to Andrew's house tomorrow.
Enjoy the day.
P
I, like pretty much everybody else, knows the names of some of the high end shoe designers. When I think of high end shoe designers, Christian Louboutin immediately comes to mind. His signature red soles are recognized by women everywhere. And most of us "ordinary" folk will never even get an opportunity to try on his beautiful shoes - and you can pretty much forget about owning a pair.
I decided to end my first cup of coffee this morning with a quick review of shoe prices. I was astounded, probably because I have always considered spending a hundred dollars for a pair of shoes to be the personal maximum I'm willing to spend. They are shoes after all.
For $6,395 you can own a Louboutin platform shoe. If sandals are more your thing, then I found you a pair for only $695 (practically a bargain). Flats for around $1,295 and a pair of high top (think tennis shoes) goes for $2,595.00. Practically makes you want to whip out your credit card (or not!).
Then I found some shoes for sale in some magazine that I received and the ad was for four sandals - so not even a substantial shoe. The cheapest pair was $295 and the most expensive was $865.00. When I think of sandals, I think of wearing them this year and they'll be worn out by next summer and I'll get another pair. I don't want my shoes to become a major asset, which is a good thing since I can't even begin to afford the cheapest pair of sandals that were shown in the ad!
I don't know about you but my mood changes as do my shoes. I don't want to have a lifelong relationship with a pair of shoes - nor do I want to have to make a special provision with my insurance company to guard against shoe theft! However, I do suffer from shoe envy every now and then when I see someone wearing a beautiful pair of shoes.
When I was a teenager (oh like a zillion years ago), I had beautiful shoes. Lots of shoes. I had a pair of Pappagallo flats in I believe some kind of yellow/orange color. For memory sakes, I took a stroll down Pappagallo lane on Ebay and while all of the shoes are now considered vintage, they are still beautiful.
One Easter my mother made me a pink suit and I had a pair of matching heels that were light pink on the toe and brighter pink on the heel. These shoes were very cute, not particularly comfortable but who cares when you're looking good!
I don't own any heels now. Don't get me wrong, I still love shoes and love high heels, I just don't want to own or wear any. Nope, I'm all about sensible now and almost all of my shoes are now flats. I do have a dressy pair of shoes with a thick one inch heel. I guess they could be categorized as heels - at least for the older set!
My cup is empty and it's time for me to change from my slippers (flat) into my tennis shoes, also flat! At barely five feet, if I wore taller shoes I could look leaner - and who wouldn't like that? Of course it's been so long since I've actually worn heels, there is the danger of falling flat on my face or back end! So for safety sake, and because I gave up being vain a long time ago, I'll just stick to walking around in my flat shoes!
Have a wonderful Christmas Eve. All of my packages are wrapped and all that's left to do is for Jeff and I to make deviled eggs and cherry cheesecake to take to Andrew's house tomorrow.
Enjoy the day.
P
Monday, December 23, 2013
The Eve Before The Eve!
12/23/2013
If you haven't started or finished your Christmas shopping yet - you're running out of time. This problem of delaying buying gifts is generally a guy problem, but I have known a few women who put off buying until the last minute! But not this girl - nope, in a normal year (and this one wasn't), I would have started my shopping in August and been finished by October.
Luckily, Benjamin is still young enough that he's not consumed with being particular about his toys. Oh he has his wants and I believe the gifts we've bought him, will make him very happy. I know that kids (teens in particular), don't want us parents to screw up (i.e., have an original thought) where their gifts are concerned. One of the boys would give us the stock number, name of the store, etc. He did get the dots really close together and it was helpful, but I have always enjoyed receiving and getting surprises. That's where the fun really is.
Tomorrow's paper will be hefty filled with the after Christmas sales. We no longer wait until Christmas is actually over, before hitting the consumer over the head with sales. In today's paper there are full page ads for perfume from Macy's, some new phone (at least I think that's what it is). Shop at Bloomingdales and get some bright colored "puffer" jackets for only $295 - what a bargain! And if you shop now until Christmas Eve at 6:00 pm at Macy's, which promises to give you 30-75% off and lots of clip coupons at the back of the paper giving you more holiday dollars! What a deal. All you have to do is gather up the strength to get in the car, fight for a parking place, weave your way around other shoppers and then find a salesclerk to ring up your purchases. Sounds like a wonderful way to spend the day - NOT!
For Jeff and I, we've celebrated 39 Christmases together. Some years were obviously better than others and some are permanently etched in my memory. Worst memory? Receiving toilet bowl cleaner from my mother-in-law. To be fair she meant well, she was selling Shackley products and thought their cleaner was the best ever. I know now many years later she wasn't trying to send me some kind of message about the condition of my toilets - she just thought it was a great product. I tried to be gracious about my gift, but that was a tall order. Jeff had to work that Christmas and by the time I got to my parents' house, I opened the front door and threw the toilet bowl cleaner inside. Jeff knew that I was (please fill in whatever adjective you fill is appropriate) ........ and after he talked to his Mother, I never received another house cleaning product!
The gift that Jeff gave me one or two years after we had been married, was my first antique curio cabinet. He had taken the cabinet to his mother's house and after all the gifts had been opened and papers were strewn all over the floor - he suddenly remember that there was one more gift. The cabinet was so beautiful (and for the record it still is), I cried - a lot. The inside of the cabinet is moire silk and is beautiful. I occasionally open up the cabinet just so that I can inhale the lingering smell that I can only describe as age. I have a vivid imagination and can only imagine how many other women owned this beautiful cabinet.
There was one other gift and I can't remember if it was an actual Christmas present for my Dad or was given to him shortly afterwards. It was an all expense three week trip to England and Scotland for my Dad and I. Jeff gave it to Dad as a thank you for paying off an outstanding debt from my first marriage. Dad and I had a week in London where we indulged in day tours and fish and chips! And because Dad was a huge stamp collector we even traveled by tube to the Post Office - a stop not made by too many tourists. The next two weeks we were on a tour bus with what turned out to be a lot of Australians and I can promise you that Dad had an amazing time. Every night when we stopped for the night, Dad went to the hotel pub and had some ale with the other old men and they got to relive the war with the stories getting bigger and bigger, depending on how many ales were downed. It was a wonderful trip and Dad and I had such a good time together. Thank you Jeff for giving me this special time with Dad. I will never forget the trip even if I live to be a hundred.
So today will be relaxing for me. No one is coming to our house, so I don't have to run around frantically dusting or pushing dust bunnies under the sofa! I have two more presents to wrap and tomorrow Jeff and I will make the dishes that we are going to bring to Andrew's house on Wednesday. We're bringing ham, cole slaw and cherry cheesecake. I have already given to Stacey this new wine slush in a box kit - you add wine and water to the mix in a zippy bag, smush it and freeze. What you end up with is a grown up slushy, which is quite good. I'll have to be careful not to drink too much because it probably isn't a good idea with the medicines I'm taking.
Okay by now you're cup of coffee must be empty, because I know mine is. Have a great day, filled with what you have to do - or even better - what you want to do!
P
If you haven't started or finished your Christmas shopping yet - you're running out of time. This problem of delaying buying gifts is generally a guy problem, but I have known a few women who put off buying until the last minute! But not this girl - nope, in a normal year (and this one wasn't), I would have started my shopping in August and been finished by October.
Luckily, Benjamin is still young enough that he's not consumed with being particular about his toys. Oh he has his wants and I believe the gifts we've bought him, will make him very happy. I know that kids (teens in particular), don't want us parents to screw up (i.e., have an original thought) where their gifts are concerned. One of the boys would give us the stock number, name of the store, etc. He did get the dots really close together and it was helpful, but I have always enjoyed receiving and getting surprises. That's where the fun really is.
Tomorrow's paper will be hefty filled with the after Christmas sales. We no longer wait until Christmas is actually over, before hitting the consumer over the head with sales. In today's paper there are full page ads for perfume from Macy's, some new phone (at least I think that's what it is). Shop at Bloomingdales and get some bright colored "puffer" jackets for only $295 - what a bargain! And if you shop now until Christmas Eve at 6:00 pm at Macy's, which promises to give you 30-75% off and lots of clip coupons at the back of the paper giving you more holiday dollars! What a deal. All you have to do is gather up the strength to get in the car, fight for a parking place, weave your way around other shoppers and then find a salesclerk to ring up your purchases. Sounds like a wonderful way to spend the day - NOT!
For Jeff and I, we've celebrated 39 Christmases together. Some years were obviously better than others and some are permanently etched in my memory. Worst memory? Receiving toilet bowl cleaner from my mother-in-law. To be fair she meant well, she was selling Shackley products and thought their cleaner was the best ever. I know now many years later she wasn't trying to send me some kind of message about the condition of my toilets - she just thought it was a great product. I tried to be gracious about my gift, but that was a tall order. Jeff had to work that Christmas and by the time I got to my parents' house, I opened the front door and threw the toilet bowl cleaner inside. Jeff knew that I was (please fill in whatever adjective you fill is appropriate) ........ and after he talked to his Mother, I never received another house cleaning product!
The gift that Jeff gave me one or two years after we had been married, was my first antique curio cabinet. He had taken the cabinet to his mother's house and after all the gifts had been opened and papers were strewn all over the floor - he suddenly remember that there was one more gift. The cabinet was so beautiful (and for the record it still is), I cried - a lot. The inside of the cabinet is moire silk and is beautiful. I occasionally open up the cabinet just so that I can inhale the lingering smell that I can only describe as age. I have a vivid imagination and can only imagine how many other women owned this beautiful cabinet.
There was one other gift and I can't remember if it was an actual Christmas present for my Dad or was given to him shortly afterwards. It was an all expense three week trip to England and Scotland for my Dad and I. Jeff gave it to Dad as a thank you for paying off an outstanding debt from my first marriage. Dad and I had a week in London where we indulged in day tours and fish and chips! And because Dad was a huge stamp collector we even traveled by tube to the Post Office - a stop not made by too many tourists. The next two weeks we were on a tour bus with what turned out to be a lot of Australians and I can promise you that Dad had an amazing time. Every night when we stopped for the night, Dad went to the hotel pub and had some ale with the other old men and they got to relive the war with the stories getting bigger and bigger, depending on how many ales were downed. It was a wonderful trip and Dad and I had such a good time together. Thank you Jeff for giving me this special time with Dad. I will never forget the trip even if I live to be a hundred.
So today will be relaxing for me. No one is coming to our house, so I don't have to run around frantically dusting or pushing dust bunnies under the sofa! I have two more presents to wrap and tomorrow Jeff and I will make the dishes that we are going to bring to Andrew's house on Wednesday. We're bringing ham, cole slaw and cherry cheesecake. I have already given to Stacey this new wine slush in a box kit - you add wine and water to the mix in a zippy bag, smush it and freeze. What you end up with is a grown up slushy, which is quite good. I'll have to be careful not to drink too much because it probably isn't a good idea with the medicines I'm taking.
Okay by now you're cup of coffee must be empty, because I know mine is. Have a great day, filled with what you have to do - or even better - what you want to do!
P
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Gift Suggestions
12/21/2013
I'm assuming by a show of hands (all men by the way), that some of you haven't quite gotten around to buying Christmas presents. Tsk, tsk. Of maybe you're hoping that you can find a store open super early on Christmas and find something half off! I suppose that's a possibility but could be iffy to find just the right gift for the right person. Not all of us ladies appreciate receiving drill bits and screwdrivers in our Christmas stockings! Now receiving a key to a brand new car in a stocking is all together different and would make a very nice gift!
I've done a little research for you and I hope it's not too late. My advice is to avoid the pre-packaged gifts of beauty body care - unless you are absolutely sure that the fragrance inside the package is on your loved one's list, and likely it's not.
Be sure to stay away from all remote controlled toys, even though they look super neat. If you want one, be sure to let your honey know, but please don't assume that a helicopter cruising around in the backyard is going to do anything for her. I promise you it's not.
Unless you're very good at picking out jewelry, and high quality is preferred, then avoid jewelry at all cost. At this time of year, you'll see all the nicely packaged boxes with "gold" and/or "diamond" jewelry inside, they generally don't make the best present. I, do of course remember that it's the gift that counts.
Avoid housewares like the plague. I know that it's super easy to pick up a new blender, cookware or heaven forbid a vacuum - I assure you that none of these gifts are going to get you any brownie points. Disclaimer: at least they wouldn't in my house. I can pick out my own vacuum, and would prefer to do so. One exception to housewares might be a Keurig coffee system - if, and only if, both of you really love coffee. Jeff and I love our Keurig and though each cup costs about forty-one cents, it's worth every sip. No fuss and no muss.
I see "garbage bowls" advertised. I have to assume that while you're cooking, you're supposed to put your potato peelings, egg shells and such in the bowls. I don't understand why you would need a designated bowl, when the sink is probably within arm's reach! But I'm sure these bowls will be sold, particularly since at this time of year they're on sale!
If you're significant other doesn't love perfumed candles and other things like that, then a gift of this sort would not be a good fallback gift.
Most women love clothes but only go there if you really know her preference in size, style and color! Otherwise, move on to slippers! I have found a lovely chenille sweater at Target that is just the best. To make sure that my Santa knows what to buy I copied the stock number, size and color for him. Loaded with all that information, he can't miss.
While it might be tempting to give the little woman a new television, I'd suggest you wait until after Christmas, when everything will be on sale and she can have some say in what is bought. Because I know for you guys size does matter, but most of us women don't need a television that covers an entire wall!
While it's tempting to buy some new gadget - trust me on this one - I would be very disappointed if a theater-style popcorn popper ended up under my tree. This gadget weighs 13 pounds and is basically 14 inches square. Do you really that sucker sitting on your countertop ALL the time? I doubt it particularly since they make these new modern popcorn bags that you can zap for 3 minutes, pour out the popcorn and toss the bag, and it doesn't get easier than that.
For me, a bad gift would be Duck Dynasty clothing. I know you can get pink p.j.'s or a commander trucking cap, but it wouldn't be a good idea for there to be any camouflage clothing of any kind waiting under my tree!
Okay gents, grab those credit cards, and start buying! It's cutting it close but I think if you're willing to pay for super expedited shipping, it's likely that a gift ordered right this minute will probably make it to your house before the 25th. What did we do before we shopped on line?
Talk to you later.
P
I'm assuming by a show of hands (all men by the way), that some of you haven't quite gotten around to buying Christmas presents. Tsk, tsk. Of maybe you're hoping that you can find a store open super early on Christmas and find something half off! I suppose that's a possibility but could be iffy to find just the right gift for the right person. Not all of us ladies appreciate receiving drill bits and screwdrivers in our Christmas stockings! Now receiving a key to a brand new car in a stocking is all together different and would make a very nice gift!
I've done a little research for you and I hope it's not too late. My advice is to avoid the pre-packaged gifts of beauty body care - unless you are absolutely sure that the fragrance inside the package is on your loved one's list, and likely it's not.
Be sure to stay away from all remote controlled toys, even though they look super neat. If you want one, be sure to let your honey know, but please don't assume that a helicopter cruising around in the backyard is going to do anything for her. I promise you it's not.
Unless you're very good at picking out jewelry, and high quality is preferred, then avoid jewelry at all cost. At this time of year, you'll see all the nicely packaged boxes with "gold" and/or "diamond" jewelry inside, they generally don't make the best present. I, do of course remember that it's the gift that counts.
Avoid housewares like the plague. I know that it's super easy to pick up a new blender, cookware or heaven forbid a vacuum - I assure you that none of these gifts are going to get you any brownie points. Disclaimer: at least they wouldn't in my house. I can pick out my own vacuum, and would prefer to do so. One exception to housewares might be a Keurig coffee system - if, and only if, both of you really love coffee. Jeff and I love our Keurig and though each cup costs about forty-one cents, it's worth every sip. No fuss and no muss.
I see "garbage bowls" advertised. I have to assume that while you're cooking, you're supposed to put your potato peelings, egg shells and such in the bowls. I don't understand why you would need a designated bowl, when the sink is probably within arm's reach! But I'm sure these bowls will be sold, particularly since at this time of year they're on sale!
If you're significant other doesn't love perfumed candles and other things like that, then a gift of this sort would not be a good fallback gift.
Most women love clothes but only go there if you really know her preference in size, style and color! Otherwise, move on to slippers! I have found a lovely chenille sweater at Target that is just the best. To make sure that my Santa knows what to buy I copied the stock number, size and color for him. Loaded with all that information, he can't miss.
While it might be tempting to give the little woman a new television, I'd suggest you wait until after Christmas, when everything will be on sale and she can have some say in what is bought. Because I know for you guys size does matter, but most of us women don't need a television that covers an entire wall!
While it's tempting to buy some new gadget - trust me on this one - I would be very disappointed if a theater-style popcorn popper ended up under my tree. This gadget weighs 13 pounds and is basically 14 inches square. Do you really that sucker sitting on your countertop ALL the time? I doubt it particularly since they make these new modern popcorn bags that you can zap for 3 minutes, pour out the popcorn and toss the bag, and it doesn't get easier than that.
For me, a bad gift would be Duck Dynasty clothing. I know you can get pink p.j.'s or a commander trucking cap, but it wouldn't be a good idea for there to be any camouflage clothing of any kind waiting under my tree!
Okay gents, grab those credit cards, and start buying! It's cutting it close but I think if you're willing to pay for super expedited shipping, it's likely that a gift ordered right this minute will probably make it to your house before the 25th. What did we do before we shopped on line?
Talk to you later.
P
Friday, December 20, 2013
The Rich, The Famous and The Stupid!
12/20/2013
Do you still read the newspaper? Or is it just too depressing to read about people who have done really stupid things? I "glance" at the paper and "read" the funnies because what is constituting news these days is sad, really sad.
For instance we have a local newswoman who has been named as a defendant in a scheme to divert millions of dollars from a city charter school for troubled teens to private companies. Innocent? Guilty? Who knows. What I do know is that her story was given a full page in the newspaper. Even if she's found to be innocent, why do people always want to dabble in the grey area of life? I don't know about you but I like my life compartmentalized in white or black. I was raised that things were either good or bad (white and black) and that there were very few things in life that didn't fit into one of those two camps.
In my heading, I should have included "The Sick". The papers in the past few days have had several articles about doctors and police officers who have taken advantage of children, both young as well as older teenagers. And as you shake your head, you wonder why? What makes a professional man as well as those who are sworn to uphold the law, do these things to children? What screw gets loose inside their heads to make their actions acceptable, at least in their sick minds? Children should be able to trust adults, it's really that simple. As adults we need to be the guardians of young souls. It's a harsh world and eventually everyone grows up, but let's protect the children and allow them to remain innocent and trusting.
Disclaimer: I watch John Stewart at night because he puts such a great spin on current events and last night was no exception. We apparently have a politician, who among other things has lied about his connections with the CIA (couldn't this guy have possibly picked an agency less formidable than the CIA)? Also has a handicapped parking space because he has malaria (not) that he contracted while serving in Vietnam (again, not)! Apparently, yet another person with a loose or several loose screws rattling around in his head.
I don't know about you, but I'd be afraid to take as much as ten cents from the coffers and if I was going to apply for a handicapped placard (and, yes I do have one), I certainly would pick a condition that sounded more believable than malaria!
Just goes to show that it's impossible to figure out humans - which is probably why we have never been invaded by little green men!!
It's the Friday before Christmas and in case you haven't finished your shopping, gift cards are available everywhere!
P
Do you still read the newspaper? Or is it just too depressing to read about people who have done really stupid things? I "glance" at the paper and "read" the funnies because what is constituting news these days is sad, really sad.
For instance we have a local newswoman who has been named as a defendant in a scheme to divert millions of dollars from a city charter school for troubled teens to private companies. Innocent? Guilty? Who knows. What I do know is that her story was given a full page in the newspaper. Even if she's found to be innocent, why do people always want to dabble in the grey area of life? I don't know about you but I like my life compartmentalized in white or black. I was raised that things were either good or bad (white and black) and that there were very few things in life that didn't fit into one of those two camps.
In my heading, I should have included "The Sick". The papers in the past few days have had several articles about doctors and police officers who have taken advantage of children, both young as well as older teenagers. And as you shake your head, you wonder why? What makes a professional man as well as those who are sworn to uphold the law, do these things to children? What screw gets loose inside their heads to make their actions acceptable, at least in their sick minds? Children should be able to trust adults, it's really that simple. As adults we need to be the guardians of young souls. It's a harsh world and eventually everyone grows up, but let's protect the children and allow them to remain innocent and trusting.
Disclaimer: I watch John Stewart at night because he puts such a great spin on current events and last night was no exception. We apparently have a politician, who among other things has lied about his connections with the CIA (couldn't this guy have possibly picked an agency less formidable than the CIA)? Also has a handicapped parking space because he has malaria (not) that he contracted while serving in Vietnam (again, not)! Apparently, yet another person with a loose or several loose screws rattling around in his head.
I don't know about you, but I'd be afraid to take as much as ten cents from the coffers and if I was going to apply for a handicapped placard (and, yes I do have one), I certainly would pick a condition that sounded more believable than malaria!
Just goes to show that it's impossible to figure out humans - which is probably why we have never been invaded by little green men!!
It's the Friday before Christmas and in case you haven't finished your shopping, gift cards are available everywhere!
P
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Reality TV Gone Too Far!
12'/19/2013
After reading Tuesday's paper, I discovered that reality television (of which I'm a huge fan) has stooped to a new low - in my opinion.
The bride, who had been married before, became famous when she and her then husband crashed a sate dinner at the White House! I'm pretty sure that ain't easy to do!
So now with new husband number two, they had a wedding that was so over the top that it bordered on obscene. There were 25 bridesmaids, 25 groomsmen and luckily only one groom! Now compare that to Prince William's wedding where Kate only had 4 bridesmaids, her sister was her maid-of-honor and two pageboys - and that was a Royal Wedding!
Our new reality bride had not one, not two, but three wedding dresses. I don't know about you but I'm trying to imagine how much trouble and work went into wardrobe changes. I know that there were folks standing in the wings ready to touch up both hair and make-up.
Now for the rings: our reality star is sporting a 11.42 carat diamond ring costing around a cool million dollars. Kate, on the other hand, wears an 18 carat sapphire ring as well as a gold wedding ring.
Kate and William's wedding, which lasted for hours, was available to anyone with a television and cost the viewing public nothing. Our reality star had her fantasy wedding recorded and available for the lowly sum of $14.95. However, the recording ended before our reality star's second dress change. If I were a betting woman, there will likely be a spread in People this week so that those of us who are too cheap (and who wouldn't be?) to buy a video, can see pictures for free!
To be fair, the newly married couple are sending a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the video for typhoon relief in the Philippines, which is a really good thing.
I'm sure we haven't heard the end of our reality star, but we'll just have to sit back and wait for what she does next.
It's Thursday and the sun is out here in the East.
P
After reading Tuesday's paper, I discovered that reality television (of which I'm a huge fan) has stooped to a new low - in my opinion.
The bride, who had been married before, became famous when she and her then husband crashed a sate dinner at the White House! I'm pretty sure that ain't easy to do!
So now with new husband number two, they had a wedding that was so over the top that it bordered on obscene. There were 25 bridesmaids, 25 groomsmen and luckily only one groom! Now compare that to Prince William's wedding where Kate only had 4 bridesmaids, her sister was her maid-of-honor and two pageboys - and that was a Royal Wedding!
Our new reality bride had not one, not two, but three wedding dresses. I don't know about you but I'm trying to imagine how much trouble and work went into wardrobe changes. I know that there were folks standing in the wings ready to touch up both hair and make-up.
Now for the rings: our reality star is sporting a 11.42 carat diamond ring costing around a cool million dollars. Kate, on the other hand, wears an 18 carat sapphire ring as well as a gold wedding ring.
Kate and William's wedding, which lasted for hours, was available to anyone with a television and cost the viewing public nothing. Our reality star had her fantasy wedding recorded and available for the lowly sum of $14.95. However, the recording ended before our reality star's second dress change. If I were a betting woman, there will likely be a spread in People this week so that those of us who are too cheap (and who wouldn't be?) to buy a video, can see pictures for free!
To be fair, the newly married couple are sending a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the video for typhoon relief in the Philippines, which is a really good thing.
I'm sure we haven't heard the end of our reality star, but we'll just have to sit back and wait for what she does next.
It's Thursday and the sun is out here in the East.
P
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Birthday Recap!
12/18/2013
Now as an "older" woman I feel the need to reminiscence about the good old days- like yesterday for example!
My sister, and I thank you, for sending me Amazon bucks. Who doesn't like to have carte blanche to spend in a "store" that never sleeps, can ship you your heart's desire overnight provided that the high cost of shipping doesn't stop in your tracks. Browsing through the Amazon site is almost as much fun as going to the store. Actually, when I think about it - it's more fun - no crowds, parking and carrying around heavy bags.
When I got the gift certificate to Amazon, I knew exactly what I was going to buy. I typed in Fannie Flagg, found her brand new novel, and hit "buy now". The other two books are fluffy romantic novels. You know the kind, where there's a gorgeous guy (who always happens to be rich), a beautiful woman (who generally is not rich), they get together and ......... there's a wedding. Even though you can pretty much predict the ending of most of these books, they are still fun to read.
Since it was my birthday, I didn't feel like hassling with the insurance companies about why this medical bill was paid, and this one was not. Piece of advice: you cannot, absolutely cannot, make a call to an insurance company without the required necessities: empty bladder, full cup of coffee and some kind of doodling pad to help keep you awake while you sit on hold. Luckily for me, I have an online color by number program that allows me to "paint" using my cursor while waiting for somebody to talk to me (other than a computer with a tinny voice).
Late afternoon, Jeff and I headed to Costco to pick up the basics of living: milk and bread. After leaving Costco we headed to Target and found the store delightfully uncrowded, except for the line at check out. Our mission was simple: find the Monster High dolls that Benjamin wanted for Christmas. The dolls were on an end shelf marked $22.99 and right beside it was a sign that said $9.00! Jeff flagged down somebody that looked managy (I know that's not a word, but you know what I'm saying), and asked him about the dolls. When he price scanned the dolls, they were coming up at the $22 price, but told us to tell the cashier that they were really $9.00. No problem. We bought two because every doll needs a friend and at that price I could have bought a third doll, but thought that might be a tad over the top.
Dinner was at Bob Evans, which isn't considered great dining, but the food is tasty and the portions large enough to ensure that I'll have a great lunch/dinner the next day. I even ordered coconut cream pie, took a few bites and have that waiting for me today too!
My neighbor came by after we got home and brought me an ice cream (peppermint) cake from Coldstone Creamery. I can assure you that even though I was pretty well stuffed, still managed to eat a small piece and it was heavenly. Who doesn't like peppermint ice cream? Yumm. Kim also brought me two books: one is a beautiful colored book called "Behind the Scenes at Downtown Abbey". I didn't have time last night before falling asleep to do more than flip through the book and look at the pictures. Since Jeff is going to be out today, he's ferrying the plane to an airport in Pennsylvania to have our new engine put in, I'll have a lot of time for reading today.
The other book that Kim brought is called "Pastrix" a true story about a woman who was a stand up comic and became an unconventional pastor with a wide following. I can't wait to read the book, but if you look at the cover of the book, you'll see the author is a tattooed woman with a story to tell. I know it will be a good read - because I always judge a book by it's cover!
My cup is now empty,my kitchen is a mess with dishes that need washing, and presents that need to be wrapped, so I'm ending now and getting my butt in gear to get something done - besides "talking" to all of you.
Happy Wednesday.
P
Now as an "older" woman I feel the need to reminiscence about the good old days- like yesterday for example!
My sister, and I thank you, for sending me Amazon bucks. Who doesn't like to have carte blanche to spend in a "store" that never sleeps, can ship you your heart's desire overnight provided that the high cost of shipping doesn't stop in your tracks. Browsing through the Amazon site is almost as much fun as going to the store. Actually, when I think about it - it's more fun - no crowds, parking and carrying around heavy bags.
When I got the gift certificate to Amazon, I knew exactly what I was going to buy. I typed in Fannie Flagg, found her brand new novel, and hit "buy now". The other two books are fluffy romantic novels. You know the kind, where there's a gorgeous guy (who always happens to be rich), a beautiful woman (who generally is not rich), they get together and ......... there's a wedding. Even though you can pretty much predict the ending of most of these books, they are still fun to read.
Since it was my birthday, I didn't feel like hassling with the insurance companies about why this medical bill was paid, and this one was not. Piece of advice: you cannot, absolutely cannot, make a call to an insurance company without the required necessities: empty bladder, full cup of coffee and some kind of doodling pad to help keep you awake while you sit on hold. Luckily for me, I have an online color by number program that allows me to "paint" using my cursor while waiting for somebody to talk to me (other than a computer with a tinny voice).
Late afternoon, Jeff and I headed to Costco to pick up the basics of living: milk and bread. After leaving Costco we headed to Target and found the store delightfully uncrowded, except for the line at check out. Our mission was simple: find the Monster High dolls that Benjamin wanted for Christmas. The dolls were on an end shelf marked $22.99 and right beside it was a sign that said $9.00! Jeff flagged down somebody that looked managy (I know that's not a word, but you know what I'm saying), and asked him about the dolls. When he price scanned the dolls, they were coming up at the $22 price, but told us to tell the cashier that they were really $9.00. No problem. We bought two because every doll needs a friend and at that price I could have bought a third doll, but thought that might be a tad over the top.
Dinner was at Bob Evans, which isn't considered great dining, but the food is tasty and the portions large enough to ensure that I'll have a great lunch/dinner the next day. I even ordered coconut cream pie, took a few bites and have that waiting for me today too!
My neighbor came by after we got home and brought me an ice cream (peppermint) cake from Coldstone Creamery. I can assure you that even though I was pretty well stuffed, still managed to eat a small piece and it was heavenly. Who doesn't like peppermint ice cream? Yumm. Kim also brought me two books: one is a beautiful colored book called "Behind the Scenes at Downtown Abbey". I didn't have time last night before falling asleep to do more than flip through the book and look at the pictures. Since Jeff is going to be out today, he's ferrying the plane to an airport in Pennsylvania to have our new engine put in, I'll have a lot of time for reading today.
The other book that Kim brought is called "Pastrix" a true story about a woman who was a stand up comic and became an unconventional pastor with a wide following. I can't wait to read the book, but if you look at the cover of the book, you'll see the author is a tattooed woman with a story to tell. I know it will be a good read - because I always judge a book by it's cover!
My cup is now empty,my kitchen is a mess with dishes that need washing, and presents that need to be wrapped, so I'm ending now and getting my butt in gear to get something done - besides "talking" to all of you.
Happy Wednesday.
P
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Happy Birthday!
12/17/2013
It happens every year, I go to bed on the 16th as a younger woman and when I wake up on the 17th, I'm a whole year older! Today is my 64th birthday, and is truly a reason to celebrate after the year I've had.
I was curious and decided to see what the internet (that knows all) thinks some of the traits of Sagittarians are. Here's some things I found:
We supposedly are truth seekers, clear thinkers and choose to look at the big picture most of the time. We are generous, outspoken and have a tendency to suffer from "foot in mouth" disease! We tend to talk fast (I know I do), are optimistic and have a generous spirit.
I checked the internet to see if Jeff and I are compatible, and according to the stars, it appears that Aries (Jeff) and I are good together. After 39 years of marriage - this is a good thing!
Having a birthday so close to Christmas was certainly a drag growing up. Mom always said my birthday was too close to Christmas to have a birthday party. I didn't have a birthday party until Jeff gave me one after we were married.
I also never had a gift wrapped in birthday paper. I was always told that I could pick out something from under the tree, wrapped in Christmas paper. What's the fun in that? What if I happened to pick the "it" (best/biggest) gift. While it's petty and not a big deal in the big picture - I really wanted a gift wrapped in birthday paper. Perhaps that's the inner child in me.
When it was time for me to have my own children, I tried to plan (as much as possible) to have babies whose birthdays would not be near Christmas. I succeeded: January 31st, February 10th and May 1st. No Christmas paper for their gifts and they always had parties as young children.
My cup is empty and I've consumed my toast, so it's time to get this old 'bod moving.
Happy Tuesday everyone.
P
It happens every year, I go to bed on the 16th as a younger woman and when I wake up on the 17th, I'm a whole year older! Today is my 64th birthday, and is truly a reason to celebrate after the year I've had.
I was curious and decided to see what the internet (that knows all) thinks some of the traits of Sagittarians are. Here's some things I found:
We supposedly are truth seekers, clear thinkers and choose to look at the big picture most of the time. We are generous, outspoken and have a tendency to suffer from "foot in mouth" disease! We tend to talk fast (I know I do), are optimistic and have a generous spirit.
I checked the internet to see if Jeff and I are compatible, and according to the stars, it appears that Aries (Jeff) and I are good together. After 39 years of marriage - this is a good thing!
Having a birthday so close to Christmas was certainly a drag growing up. Mom always said my birthday was too close to Christmas to have a birthday party. I didn't have a birthday party until Jeff gave me one after we were married.
I also never had a gift wrapped in birthday paper. I was always told that I could pick out something from under the tree, wrapped in Christmas paper. What's the fun in that? What if I happened to pick the "it" (best/biggest) gift. While it's petty and not a big deal in the big picture - I really wanted a gift wrapped in birthday paper. Perhaps that's the inner child in me.
When it was time for me to have my own children, I tried to plan (as much as possible) to have babies whose birthdays would not be near Christmas. I succeeded: January 31st, February 10th and May 1st. No Christmas paper for their gifts and they always had parties as young children.
My cup is empty and I've consumed my toast, so it's time to get this old 'bod moving.
Happy Tuesday everyone.
P
Monday, December 16, 2013
Season Finale
12/16/2013
It's possible I suppose, that you might not watch television with the same amount of passion that I have. I suspect few people do. I don't try to hide how much I love television and reality shows in particular. If you are willing to go on television and make a fool out of yourself - I'm here to watch!
Jeff and I have been watching Survivor since the beginning. Some seasons, as well as some participants, are just better than others. But even if a particular season isn't particularly going to get an A+ rating from Jeff and I - we watch anyway. Survivor has been around since 2000 and we've never missed a season, and when the new season begins in 2014, we will be sure to have our Tivo set to record. Each season there is always a bad guy, or two (who sometimes takes "bad" to new levels), that makes most viewers want and/or hope that neither of them win.
As in all reality shows, there is quite a bit of drama - tears, arguments and deceit. In order to be successful on Survivor, you need to be able to smile genuinely, while inserting the knife into somebody's back!
We also watch Amazing Race which first aired in 2001, and like with Survivor, we've never missed a season. Interestingly, Amazing Race has won 13 Emmys from 2003 t0 2012. Unlike Survivor, Amazing Race consists of two person teams who are in a race around the world for the prize of $1,000,000.00! And of course no reality show would be complete without the requirement of drama. In the race you not only see the drama between team members, but their interaction with the other teams that can get pretty heated.
I watch other reality shows - cooking,fashion designing as well as people who pitch their ideas in hopes of having a "Shark" give them money for their companies.
Now I'm not saying that any of the above shows are great television, because they're not. I suspect people, like myself, just enjoy them. You're in there from the start rooting for what you believe is the good guy and hoping that the bad guy(s) get the boot.
Since Survivor and Amazing Race are over for the season, I'm going to have to find shows to take their place. I'm confident that provided I keep my expectations pretty low, I'll be able to find something to watch.
Jeff and I are hooked on Downtown Abby, which is really good television and has good actors, Maggie Smith being one of them. Maggie is the family matriarch who is a feisty, out-spoken woman and she plays the part perfectly. I would like very much to be a Maggie Smith someday, who gets to say and do whatever the heck she wants. How refreshing would that be?
My cup is empty and you know what that means. Yup, time for me to switch gears,get my fanny in gear and clean up something!
Have a great Monday.
P
It's possible I suppose, that you might not watch television with the same amount of passion that I have. I suspect few people do. I don't try to hide how much I love television and reality shows in particular. If you are willing to go on television and make a fool out of yourself - I'm here to watch!
Jeff and I have been watching Survivor since the beginning. Some seasons, as well as some participants, are just better than others. But even if a particular season isn't particularly going to get an A+ rating from Jeff and I - we watch anyway. Survivor has been around since 2000 and we've never missed a season, and when the new season begins in 2014, we will be sure to have our Tivo set to record. Each season there is always a bad guy, or two (who sometimes takes "bad" to new levels), that makes most viewers want and/or hope that neither of them win.
As in all reality shows, there is quite a bit of drama - tears, arguments and deceit. In order to be successful on Survivor, you need to be able to smile genuinely, while inserting the knife into somebody's back!
We also watch Amazing Race which first aired in 2001, and like with Survivor, we've never missed a season. Interestingly, Amazing Race has won 13 Emmys from 2003 t0 2012. Unlike Survivor, Amazing Race consists of two person teams who are in a race around the world for the prize of $1,000,000.00! And of course no reality show would be complete without the requirement of drama. In the race you not only see the drama between team members, but their interaction with the other teams that can get pretty heated.
I watch other reality shows - cooking,fashion designing as well as people who pitch their ideas in hopes of having a "Shark" give them money for their companies.
Now I'm not saying that any of the above shows are great television, because they're not. I suspect people, like myself, just enjoy them. You're in there from the start rooting for what you believe is the good guy and hoping that the bad guy(s) get the boot.
Since Survivor and Amazing Race are over for the season, I'm going to have to find shows to take their place. I'm confident that provided I keep my expectations pretty low, I'll be able to find something to watch.
Jeff and I are hooked on Downtown Abby, which is really good television and has good actors, Maggie Smith being one of them. Maggie is the family matriarch who is a feisty, out-spoken woman and she plays the part perfectly. I would like very much to be a Maggie Smith someday, who gets to say and do whatever the heck she wants. How refreshing would that be?
My cup is empty and you know what that means. Yup, time for me to switch gears,get my fanny in gear and clean up something!
Have a great Monday.
P
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Gift Wrapping
12/15/2013
For those of you who check in with me early in the morning while drinking their coffee, I apologize for my lateness! Problem is/was I couldn't figure out what to write about. Contrary to popular believe, folks that write, even if it's just a blog, sometimes come up empty. That was me today.until I started wrapping Christmas presents.
For as long as I've been around, and trust me that's a long time, my family knows that I'm more into the hunt for the perfect gifts, than presentation! I will literally spend hours trying to find a near perfect gift for everybody - and it's exhausting - but rewarding all at the same time.
Okay once I have scoured the internet which is much easier than jostling your way around a store and the gifts have been ordered and received, then comes the part I hate the most. Wrapping (blah). First you should know that I'm not good at it, and I promise you I'm not exaggerating my lack of prowess when it comes to giving people a beautifully wrapped gift. If you're in my family/friends circle, then you know I'm doing good to get the gift wrapped!
I don't cut the paper straight - ever. I don't always fold over the paper so that there is no raggedy edge showing and I generally tape to the box, which I know is a no-no but I do it anyway, because it's easier for me to get my arms around the rest of the paper needed to finish the job. And I generally use a lot of paper - way more paper than is needed! I never measure, so after wrapping a gift I always have too much paper hanging around at the ends of the package, which I cut off and if you're lucky sometimes I actually cut a straight (or nearly) line.
I don't decorate the packages. I couldn't make a bow if my life depended on it. The best I can do is use that curly ribbon which I can manage to get on a package and then use my scissors to make those pretty curls. So if you get a gift from me, expect a lot of tape, perhaps some curly ribbon and if I can't find a gift tag, then I cut up bits of paper (which I do try to cut in a straight line) and secure that with even more tape to the front of the package.
I'd love to have some kind of designer wrapping paper but it's not cost effective when you are a haphazard wrapper such as myself! Having only sons, I got lazy - the boys only wanted packages and they didn't even care if they were wrapped or not. In the last few years I have taken laziness to a new level - shirt boxes taped shut! When the boys were young, obviously everything had to be wrapped because they were curious about what they might be receiving and endless hours were spent in shaking and guessing!
At this point in my life, Benjamin is the only person who still has the "ohs and ahs" about presents. Little people get so excited and it's so much fun to watch them tear into their gifts. I can remember being much, and I do mean much, younger and sneaking around on Christmas Eve during the night to see what Santa brought! At the time it took simply forever for Christmas to arrive. I know my mother heard me but I was never shushed back to bed. Jeff and I did pretty much the same thing with the boys. Now as an adult, Christmas morning arrives much too soon!
Okay my coffee cup is empty which means that my break from wrapping is over. Back to the war, I mean wrapping zone!
Happy Sunday.
P
For those of you who check in with me early in the morning while drinking their coffee, I apologize for my lateness! Problem is/was I couldn't figure out what to write about. Contrary to popular believe, folks that write, even if it's just a blog, sometimes come up empty. That was me today.until I started wrapping Christmas presents.
For as long as I've been around, and trust me that's a long time, my family knows that I'm more into the hunt for the perfect gifts, than presentation! I will literally spend hours trying to find a near perfect gift for everybody - and it's exhausting - but rewarding all at the same time.
Okay once I have scoured the internet which is much easier than jostling your way around a store and the gifts have been ordered and received, then comes the part I hate the most. Wrapping (blah). First you should know that I'm not good at it, and I promise you I'm not exaggerating my lack of prowess when it comes to giving people a beautifully wrapped gift. If you're in my family/friends circle, then you know I'm doing good to get the gift wrapped!
I don't cut the paper straight - ever. I don't always fold over the paper so that there is no raggedy edge showing and I generally tape to the box, which I know is a no-no but I do it anyway, because it's easier for me to get my arms around the rest of the paper needed to finish the job. And I generally use a lot of paper - way more paper than is needed! I never measure, so after wrapping a gift I always have too much paper hanging around at the ends of the package, which I cut off and if you're lucky sometimes I actually cut a straight (or nearly) line.
I don't decorate the packages. I couldn't make a bow if my life depended on it. The best I can do is use that curly ribbon which I can manage to get on a package and then use my scissors to make those pretty curls. So if you get a gift from me, expect a lot of tape, perhaps some curly ribbon and if I can't find a gift tag, then I cut up bits of paper (which I do try to cut in a straight line) and secure that with even more tape to the front of the package.
I'd love to have some kind of designer wrapping paper but it's not cost effective when you are a haphazard wrapper such as myself! Having only sons, I got lazy - the boys only wanted packages and they didn't even care if they were wrapped or not. In the last few years I have taken laziness to a new level - shirt boxes taped shut! When the boys were young, obviously everything had to be wrapped because they were curious about what they might be receiving and endless hours were spent in shaking and guessing!
At this point in my life, Benjamin is the only person who still has the "ohs and ahs" about presents. Little people get so excited and it's so much fun to watch them tear into their gifts. I can remember being much, and I do mean much, younger and sneaking around on Christmas Eve during the night to see what Santa brought! At the time it took simply forever for Christmas to arrive. I know my mother heard me but I was never shushed back to bed. Jeff and I did pretty much the same thing with the boys. Now as an adult, Christmas morning arrives much too soon!
Okay my coffee cup is empty which means that my break from wrapping is over. Back to the war, I mean wrapping zone!
Happy Sunday.
P
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Cloth Napkins
12/14/2013
I know it's early in the morning and you probably are only midway through a cup of coffee (and for the record so am I). Difference between the two of us is that you're waiting for my "pearls of wisdom" and I'm in my chair trying to think what those "pearls" are going to be today!
Don't bother to ask me how I decided that I should share with you my vast knowledge (available on the internet) of cloth napkins. Once I started digging around I found out more than I needed to know about the size, weight and proper usage.
I cannot speak from experience on this subject because I don't own any cloth napkins. I believe when I first got married, Jeff and I were given napkins and somewhere along the line and many years ago, they disappeared. More likely than not they were donated to some charity - and we both know how useful those napkins would be for most people. I like paper napkins - no washing and no ironing!
Here's what I found out, and some of this stuff is really interesting.
By the Bronze Age, something like a napkin was in use in many parts of the world. The first recorded use of the napkin was by the Romans. When that hearty eater, Buffetus Allucaneatus, reached for his napkin at the Roman dinner table, he didn’t find a cloth. What he used was some wadded up unbaked dough, which he pressed to his face. That removed whatever bits and morsels of food were sticking to it. Later, if he wished, he could bake and eat his napkin, morsels and all. (Trust me people I'm not making this stuff up, it's on the internet so it must be true)!
Cloth napkins come in several sizes.A beverage napkin is used when serving drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and is about five inches to each side. A luncheon napkin is a couple of inches larger, and a dinner napkin larger still. If, and that's a big if, you had a stockpile of all these different size napkins, remember you have to store them somewhere!
I know you're dying to know what the standard sizes of napkins are. They are 16x16, 18x18, 20x20 and 21x21. Armed with this knowledge you will be able to answer any trivia questions regarding the size of napkins, in case it ever comes up in conversation (and I'm pretty sure it won't).
There is a lot of discussion on the internet about going green by both making and/or using cloth napkins every day. I guess I never thought about using cloth napkins and when I think about it, I guess there's no reason not to do so. If I used cloth napkins, then I'd feel compelled to iron them, which would mean doing a scavenger hunt through the house to find the iron!
So there's napkin trivia for the day. I'm going out to a nice restaurant tonight where I know the napkins will be large, white and made of cloth!
Happy Saturday everybody.
P
I know it's early in the morning and you probably are only midway through a cup of coffee (and for the record so am I). Difference between the two of us is that you're waiting for my "pearls of wisdom" and I'm in my chair trying to think what those "pearls" are going to be today!
Don't bother to ask me how I decided that I should share with you my vast knowledge (available on the internet) of cloth napkins. Once I started digging around I found out more than I needed to know about the size, weight and proper usage.
I cannot speak from experience on this subject because I don't own any cloth napkins. I believe when I first got married, Jeff and I were given napkins and somewhere along the line and many years ago, they disappeared. More likely than not they were donated to some charity - and we both know how useful those napkins would be for most people. I like paper napkins - no washing and no ironing!
Here's what I found out, and some of this stuff is really interesting.
By the Bronze Age, something like a napkin was in use in many parts of the world. The first recorded use of the napkin was by the Romans. When that hearty eater, Buffetus Allucaneatus, reached for his napkin at the Roman dinner table, he didn’t find a cloth. What he used was some wadded up unbaked dough, which he pressed to his face. That removed whatever bits and morsels of food were sticking to it. Later, if he wished, he could bake and eat his napkin, morsels and all. (Trust me people I'm not making this stuff up, it's on the internet so it must be true)!
Cloth napkins come in several sizes.A beverage napkin is used when serving drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and is about five inches to each side. A luncheon napkin is a couple of inches larger, and a dinner napkin larger still. If, and that's a big if, you had a stockpile of all these different size napkins, remember you have to store them somewhere!
I know you're dying to know what the standard sizes of napkins are. They are 16x16, 18x18, 20x20 and 21x21. Armed with this knowledge you will be able to answer any trivia questions regarding the size of napkins, in case it ever comes up in conversation (and I'm pretty sure it won't).
There is a lot of discussion on the internet about going green by both making and/or using cloth napkins every day. I guess I never thought about using cloth napkins and when I think about it, I guess there's no reason not to do so. If I used cloth napkins, then I'd feel compelled to iron them, which would mean doing a scavenger hunt through the house to find the iron!
So there's napkin trivia for the day. I'm going out to a nice restaurant tonight where I know the napkins will be large, white and made of cloth!
Happy Saturday everybody.
P
Friday, December 13, 2013
It's Friday
12/13/13
Before I blog, first there must be coffee, one or two cups depending on how well or not well my creative juices are flowing!
Sometimes it's just hard to come up with something to write about. Today, however, wasn't one of those days, because I decided to treat and/or bore you to death with trivia about the number 13.
So after doing some research (what did we do before the internet?), here's a few things you may or may not know about the 13th. I was surprised with some of the things I learned, so I'm going to share them with you.
Any month that starts on a Sunday contains a Friday the 13th, and there is at least one Friday the 13th in every calendar year. There can be as many as three Friday the 13ths in a single calendar year that starts on a Thursday such as it did in 2009. And if it's a leap year that starts on a Sunday, there is also three. There were only two this year - September and December.
Okay here comes some trivia:
Ever wondered why a baker's dozen consists of 13? The story goes that a witch in New York used to demand 13 items whenever she visited a particular bakery. When the baker could not afford the extra item one time, the witch supposedly cursed the baker and he suffered horrible luck. It wasn't until he brought the witch another 13 rolls that things changed and he apparently broke the curse. The custom is still sometimes practiced today.
The fear of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia. The fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia, and both Napoleon Bonaparte and President Herbert Hoover suffered from it.
Because I want to provide all of you with trivia, and as a bonus have something to talk about around the water cooler, I found two really cool (and useless) words to share with you:
Before I blog, first there must be coffee, one or two cups depending on how well or not well my creative juices are flowing!
Sometimes it's just hard to come up with something to write about. Today, however, wasn't one of those days, because I decided to treat and/or bore you to death with trivia about the number 13.
So after doing some research (what did we do before the internet?), here's a few things you may or may not know about the 13th. I was surprised with some of the things I learned, so I'm going to share them with you.
Any month that starts on a Sunday contains a Friday the 13th, and there is at least one Friday the 13th in every calendar year. There can be as many as three Friday the 13ths in a single calendar year that starts on a Thursday such as it did in 2009. And if it's a leap year that starts on a Sunday, there is also three. There were only two this year - September and December.
Okay here comes some trivia:
- Many hospitals don’t have a room number with 13 in it as well as a 13th floor. The same thing goes for tall buildings. Normally the 13th floor is skipped. Some airlines omit Gate 13.
- A 13th guest at a table is considered unlucky, and in Paris sometimes a quatorzieme is hired to be a professional 14th guest and balance out the luck!
- President Franklin D. Roosevelt would never have a 13th guest at a meal, nor would he travel on the 13th day of any month.
- The number 13 is considered lucky by Italians
Ever wondered why a baker's dozen consists of 13? The story goes that a witch in New York used to demand 13 items whenever she visited a particular bakery. When the baker could not afford the extra item one time, the witch supposedly cursed the baker and he suffered horrible luck. It wasn't until he brought the witch another 13 rolls that things changed and he apparently broke the curse. The custom is still sometimes practiced today.
The fear of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia. The fear of the number 13 is called triskaidekaphobia, and both Napoleon Bonaparte and President Herbert Hoover suffered from it.
Because I want to provide all of you with trivia, and as a bonus have something to talk about around the water cooler, I found two really cool (and useless) words to share with you:
hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia
(a fear of long words - ya think?)
and logophobia (a fear of words)
Well, I didn't know that I suffered from a fear of long words and now that I know what that phobia is, I will probably develop another phobia - the fear of not being able to pronounce what my phobia is!
Happy 13th.
P
No
phobia found for the fear of mispronouncing a word.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia is the fear of long words and
Logophobia is the fear of words. - See more at:
http://www.chacha.com/question/what-is-the-fear-of-pronouncing-a-word-wrong#sthash.GdwpMXmc.dpuf
No
phobia found for the fear of mispronouncing a word.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia is the fear of long words and
Logophobia is the fear of words. Thanks - See more at:
http://www.chacha.com/question/what-is-the-fear-of-pronouncing-a-word-wrong#sthash.lBCF90ih.dpuf
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Shorthand and Other Dinosaur Skills!
12/12/2013
Shorthand - are you serious? Yup. Back in the "olden" days when we were still using manual typewriters (remember those?), any secretary worth her money took dictation. Proving your skill levels went hand-in-hand with looking for a job. Taking a typing test wasn't too bad but having to take test dictation while you were already in hyper mode, was really tough. And you never knew if the person dictating talked fast, slow, loud or soft. So many variables and so much riding on getting that dictation right!
About the time I was in high school the old shorthand method, Pittman, was taken over by the Gregg system which they are probably still using today, although to be honest I haven't checked. As part of my majoring in business in high school, I had daily classes in both shorthand and typing. Before we all got lazy and went the way of electric typewriters, most people who typed for a living had very strong "pinkies", simply out of necessity. You had to apply quite a bit of pressure to the keys on the right and left of the typewriter, hence strong pinkies.
I graduated from high school in 1967 and had one year of college where I was majoring in business administration, so I had more typing and shorthand classes. Sometime in my late 20's or so, I convinced my sister to take a shorthand class with me at the local junior college. She was a good sport and I appreciated her coming with me, even though she had no interest whatsoever in shorthand, but together we still managed to have some fun.
I haven't used shorthand since probably 1974 or 1975. Even though there wasn't much market for people who could take shorthand, it was still considered part of employment agencies required testing. Even though I don't use shorthand at work any longer, there are certain words and brief forms that I still use every day, and I have never forgotten them, and I still have my original shorthand book (and I have no idea why). This is what shorthand looks like:
But shorthand is not the only office skill that has become obsolete. Dictaphones which sat on every secretary's desk after fewer and fewer people could take shorthand, aren't quite so prevalent as they once were. Now bosses either write out letters and memos on a legal pad or most of them simply do their own typing or maybe it's called keyboarding. I'm not sure so don't quote me!
We also used a mimeograph machine to produce documents for the teachers to use in their classroom, and for their time the copies were pretty good. Of course these machines were as big as a house and weighed as much too!
Now we have fast moving copiers, computers that tell you when you have misspelled a word and rather than take phone messages for someone all day long, we merely press a code, a few numbers and voila the message is on its way through the wires to the recipient.
Happy Thursday.
P
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Snow Part Two!
12/11/2013
Yesterday the snow event dropped oh maybe an inch or two of snow. We didn't get so much that the entire world came to a stop, just the schools and possibly some delayed openings for businesses. Jeff shoveled the driveway to get close to blacktop. Years ago when we first moved here from California and after our first really big snow, Jeff didn't hop up early in the morning to begin the tiring task of shoveling. Here's the deal - if you don't shovel your driveway and then you drive on it, you end up with ruts from your tires that can ice over. Ice is much hardier to get rid of than snow, a lesson that only had to be taught to us once! Our motto after and sometimes even during a snowstorm is that blacktop is beautiful. The less snow on your driveway means that when the sun does come out and temperatures rise, you'll be rewarded with a clean driveway.
Once a winter storm hits the area, so do all the snow plows and salt/sand trucks. This is a good thing but it's also a messy thing. Our car is white (or at least it was before we went out on the roads yesterday), now it's gray, dirty and ugly looking. I hate driving a dirty car. So my mission today, if it gets warm enough, is to drag out my hose and car soap and give the car a brief wash to knock the first layer of muck off! At this point to be really clean I need to take the car to a car wash so that they can rinse off under the car to get rid of the sand and salt.
Because it's warming up, the snow that is still on the ground will soon melt and we will have had our first snow event for December. Of course there are many days left in December as well as many months before spring, so who knows how many snow events we'll actually have. What I do know is that each and every time the snow falls, it's beautiful, and I keep my car wash bucket and soap handy!
Yesterday the snow event dropped oh maybe an inch or two of snow. We didn't get so much that the entire world came to a stop, just the schools and possibly some delayed openings for businesses. Jeff shoveled the driveway to get close to blacktop. Years ago when we first moved here from California and after our first really big snow, Jeff didn't hop up early in the morning to begin the tiring task of shoveling. Here's the deal - if you don't shovel your driveway and then you drive on it, you end up with ruts from your tires that can ice over. Ice is much hardier to get rid of than snow, a lesson that only had to be taught to us once! Our motto after and sometimes even during a snowstorm is that blacktop is beautiful. The less snow on your driveway means that when the sun does come out and temperatures rise, you'll be rewarded with a clean driveway.
Once a winter storm hits the area, so do all the snow plows and salt/sand trucks. This is a good thing but it's also a messy thing. Our car is white (or at least it was before we went out on the roads yesterday), now it's gray, dirty and ugly looking. I hate driving a dirty car. So my mission today, if it gets warm enough, is to drag out my hose and car soap and give the car a brief wash to knock the first layer of muck off! At this point to be really clean I need to take the car to a car wash so that they can rinse off under the car to get rid of the sand and salt.
Because it's warming up, the snow that is still on the ground will soon melt and we will have had our first snow event for December. Of course there are many days left in December as well as many months before spring, so who knows how many snow events we'll actually have. What I do know is that each and every time the snow falls, it's beautiful, and I keep my car wash bucket and soap handy!
Life is like a field of newly fallen snow.
Where I choose to walk every step will show.
Happy Wednesday.
P
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Snow
12/10/2013
When I woke up today, which wasn't too very early, since neither Jeff or I have any place we need to be this morning, it was a winter wonderland outside my window. While snow brings along it's unique chores such as shoveling, cleaning off cars and possibly putting down sand on sidewalks for friction, it is in a word, beautiful.
When the boys were still in school, the mere mention of snow or ice, sent them eagerly off to watch television, to see if their school was closed or delayed, which made them happy campers. Admittedly, I did the same thing to see if work was closed, and if it was, then I too became a happy camper!
Jeff and I are prepared for bad weather and the possibility of being snowed in for a few days. We installed a whole house generator (affectionately named "Jenny") a few years ago that runs off of the natural gas from the house. What does this mean? It means we won't be in the dark searching for a flashlight and/or candles. I can't tell you how many winter storms we've had that we were unprepared for! You would think over the years that Jeff and I would have gathered up our portable lantern, flashlights (which only work if the batteries aren't dead) and candles well in advance of an approaching storm, and yet we did not!
I keep a very full pantry and freezer all the time so I don't generally worry about stockpiling up on food before a storm. To be sure if it's several days before we can leave the house, we might run out of milk, but that's only because I only buy one gallon of milk at a time. And since there are no children in the house, we could actually get along without milk - we just wouldn't be eating any Frosties!
I like knowing that I can go to the pantry and/or freezer and be able to put a meal or snack together without having to worry that I'm out of something. Trust me, I'm almost never "out of something". There are some food items that I consider a necessity: canned tomato products of all kinds, chopped green chilies, pasta, soups and dried onion rings. Using any combination of those products and adding in some hamburger or chicken, you're going to have a one pot meal, and I promise you it'll be good!
From my window on the world, I can see my squirrels looking for something to eat. They have eaten up all of our dried corn, so today I think I will give them bread crusts. I probably shouldn't encourage them to hang around our house, but they are cute and I don't want them to go hungry. I'm such a softie!
Have a great Tuesday whether it's sunny at your house, or snowing like it is at mine.
P
When I woke up today, which wasn't too very early, since neither Jeff or I have any place we need to be this morning, it was a winter wonderland outside my window. While snow brings along it's unique chores such as shoveling, cleaning off cars and possibly putting down sand on sidewalks for friction, it is in a word, beautiful.
When the boys were still in school, the mere mention of snow or ice, sent them eagerly off to watch television, to see if their school was closed or delayed, which made them happy campers. Admittedly, I did the same thing to see if work was closed, and if it was, then I too became a happy camper!
Jeff and I are prepared for bad weather and the possibility of being snowed in for a few days. We installed a whole house generator (affectionately named "Jenny") a few years ago that runs off of the natural gas from the house. What does this mean? It means we won't be in the dark searching for a flashlight and/or candles. I can't tell you how many winter storms we've had that we were unprepared for! You would think over the years that Jeff and I would have gathered up our portable lantern, flashlights (which only work if the batteries aren't dead) and candles well in advance of an approaching storm, and yet we did not!
I keep a very full pantry and freezer all the time so I don't generally worry about stockpiling up on food before a storm. To be sure if it's several days before we can leave the house, we might run out of milk, but that's only because I only buy one gallon of milk at a time. And since there are no children in the house, we could actually get along without milk - we just wouldn't be eating any Frosties!
I like knowing that I can go to the pantry and/or freezer and be able to put a meal or snack together without having to worry that I'm out of something. Trust me, I'm almost never "out of something". There are some food items that I consider a necessity: canned tomato products of all kinds, chopped green chilies, pasta, soups and dried onion rings. Using any combination of those products and adding in some hamburger or chicken, you're going to have a one pot meal, and I promise you it'll be good!
From my window on the world, I can see my squirrels looking for something to eat. They have eaten up all of our dried corn, so today I think I will give them bread crusts. I probably shouldn't encourage them to hang around our house, but they are cute and I don't want them to go hungry. I'm such a softie!
Have a great Tuesday whether it's sunny at your house, or snowing like it is at mine.
P
Monday, December 9, 2013
Moving Day
12/9/2013
Jeff and I have cohabited a spare bedroom which we turned into an office years ago. The fact that we have worked in this room for a number of years without killing each other is a true testament to our patience! Jeff and I don't keep our work spaces even remotely similar. I'm anal about my space and Jeff is not. To keep from killing each other, we put a six foot table between the two work areas. Jeff keeps his paperwork on his side of the room or if it's something to be filed puts on the table for me to process (i.e.,file).
Downstairs we have a spare computer that I use exclusively, so I have decided to make that room my new "office". In my new office I can be as rigid as I want to be about the placement of paper, pens, paper clips, etc. Pretty much everything has to be organized, thanks to that nasty little condition - OCD! By moving myself to a completely separate room, it allows both Jeff and I to be happy.
He can keep his side of the room "organized" his way and since I'm not going to spend much time up there won't feel the need to fuss about his working style! He can listen to country music, which I can only take in small doses, and have peace and quiet when he joins conference calls.
As for me, I can sit in front of my SAD light in the morning while I blog. I have a low window where I can watch the squirrels run up and down the oak tree and eat the bits of food (bread crusts) we throw out for them. I have everything I need at my fingertips and as an added bonus, I'm close to the coffee machine. In my office I listen to Pandora (oldies mostly) and crank up the volume depending on whether I think the song is great or turn it down if it's just so-so!
Much of yesterday was spent bringing down things from my upstairs desk to situate in my new work area. Once I had things pretty much organized, I then brought down nearly a year's worth of medical bills to get them organized. It took hours but I'm almost at the finish line. I have made good progress in my pursuit of organizing paper!
Once I'm finished with my house chores, or at least the ones I intend to do, I can get back to paper shuffling. This is a huge task and I'm hoping to finish organizing everything today.
I hope the sun is shining where you are. Here it's a very gray day and we had a bit of icing and/or sleet last night. Luckily, Jeff and I don't have to leave for an appointment until a bit later this morning.
P
Jeff and I have cohabited a spare bedroom which we turned into an office years ago. The fact that we have worked in this room for a number of years without killing each other is a true testament to our patience! Jeff and I don't keep our work spaces even remotely similar. I'm anal about my space and Jeff is not. To keep from killing each other, we put a six foot table between the two work areas. Jeff keeps his paperwork on his side of the room or if it's something to be filed puts on the table for me to process (i.e.,file).
Downstairs we have a spare computer that I use exclusively, so I have decided to make that room my new "office". In my new office I can be as rigid as I want to be about the placement of paper, pens, paper clips, etc. Pretty much everything has to be organized, thanks to that nasty little condition - OCD! By moving myself to a completely separate room, it allows both Jeff and I to be happy.
He can keep his side of the room "organized" his way and since I'm not going to spend much time up there won't feel the need to fuss about his working style! He can listen to country music, which I can only take in small doses, and have peace and quiet when he joins conference calls.
As for me, I can sit in front of my SAD light in the morning while I blog. I have a low window where I can watch the squirrels run up and down the oak tree and eat the bits of food (bread crusts) we throw out for them. I have everything I need at my fingertips and as an added bonus, I'm close to the coffee machine. In my office I listen to Pandora (oldies mostly) and crank up the volume depending on whether I think the song is great or turn it down if it's just so-so!
Much of yesterday was spent bringing down things from my upstairs desk to situate in my new work area. Once I had things pretty much organized, I then brought down nearly a year's worth of medical bills to get them organized. It took hours but I'm almost at the finish line. I have made good progress in my pursuit of organizing paper!
Once I'm finished with my house chores, or at least the ones I intend to do, I can get back to paper shuffling. This is a huge task and I'm hoping to finish organizing everything today.
I hope the sun is shining where you are. Here it's a very gray day and we had a bit of icing and/or sleet last night. Luckily, Jeff and I don't have to leave for an appointment until a bit later this morning.
P
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