6/7/2016
It's a warm and mildly humid day. My agenda is to do laundry (yawn) and try and pick up the loose dog hair on the floors! I swear it would be easier to dust/vacuum Maggie than to try and keep up with the rolling dog hairs on the floor. I don't have dust bunnies, I have dog bunnies!
Yesterday, I took myself off to Lowe's. I love going to the store during the week when most folks are at work. There were some young mothers, but mostly older folks like myself. Parking isn't a problem and negotiating through the aisles is easier too.
Went out to the garden center and you just have to stare at all the wonderful plants, shrubs and trees there. I stay away from annuals, because once I've made a hole and put a plant in there, I don't want to have to do that all over the next year. Nope, only perennial plants for me.
I wanted to look at area rugs, but completely forgot to go to the carpet section. I need a larger rug by the front door and I keep reminding and forgetting to buy one. Mister Sam lately has started to make his messes (p&p) in the house. A sign of old age I guess. I can't get to the spots fast enough.
I am going to try and get out in the yard and pull out some weeds. It will be a short stint though, as my body just doesn't like to get down on the ground. Actually, I can get down pretty well, but the getting up is a laughable act to watch. Of course I have a theory that since weeds are green, and they do cover the ground, maybe there's no reason to pull them up. Besides they just keep coming back!
P
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Monday, June 6, 2016
Still Here
6/6/2016
You may have noticed my absence on Saturday and Sunday. Hey, a girl sometimes need to take a day off now and then. But, it's Monday and a working day for most of you, so I'm sitting down to do my first task of the day. Actually, my first task is coffee and a bagel or toast. Not a well rounded breakfast, but one I've been eating for most of my adult life.
We went to Andy's house on Saturday. Jeff was helping Andy with electrical stuff for his new backyard project. I knew that it would be a long day, so I packed dinner. I had hamburgers, pasta shells with cheese, peas and strawberries and pound cake for dessert. I also announced, as I did when the boys lived at home, when it was time for dinner.
Sunday was a day off for Jeff. He worked in his office a bit and later sat/laid on/in his recliner and watched the television show Alaska State Troopers. It's obviously a scripted show but entertaining and if you happen to doze off, you haven't missed much.
Today, I have left some things on the porch for Purple Heart. Benjamin still had a Little Tykes desk at our house. The last time he was here I asked him if it would be okay to give the desk away, since he has outgrown the desk and never plays with it anymore. He agreed because I explained to him that there was a little boy or girl out there, whose parents couldn't afford such a nice desk.
Bit by bit, Benjamin's outgrowing some of the toys I have here in the house. There are some things that I will probably keep until he gets married! One thing is foam blocks. I found them somewhere and they are all tucked into a very, very large plastic container. What makes these blocks so special is the various shapes and sizes and the fact that they are made from a very dense foam. Forts built on my coffee table - no problem. His wooden blocks on my coffee table is a completely different story!
I am a sentimental woman and keep a lot of things. My cedar chest is almost to full capacity and filled with so many memories. Some memories are better than others. But regardless whether the memories are happy or sad, they are mine.
I didn't do a very good job of documenting the things that the boys made. Probably because I was too busy being a working mom. But I have been very diligent about the things that Benjamin has made. I even have his baby croc shoes that are only about 3 or 4 inches long. Why would I want to toss them out?
I am aware that there may (will) come a day when I won't be able to take everything I own with me. And when that day comes it will be a sad one. I will be a reluctant "let goer" person. But for now, I'll keep saving and storing!
P
You may have noticed my absence on Saturday and Sunday. Hey, a girl sometimes need to take a day off now and then. But, it's Monday and a working day for most of you, so I'm sitting down to do my first task of the day. Actually, my first task is coffee and a bagel or toast. Not a well rounded breakfast, but one I've been eating for most of my adult life.
We went to Andy's house on Saturday. Jeff was helping Andy with electrical stuff for his new backyard project. I knew that it would be a long day, so I packed dinner. I had hamburgers, pasta shells with cheese, peas and strawberries and pound cake for dessert. I also announced, as I did when the boys lived at home, when it was time for dinner.
Sunday was a day off for Jeff. He worked in his office a bit and later sat/laid on/in his recliner and watched the television show Alaska State Troopers. It's obviously a scripted show but entertaining and if you happen to doze off, you haven't missed much.
Today, I have left some things on the porch for Purple Heart. Benjamin still had a Little Tykes desk at our house. The last time he was here I asked him if it would be okay to give the desk away, since he has outgrown the desk and never plays with it anymore. He agreed because I explained to him that there was a little boy or girl out there, whose parents couldn't afford such a nice desk.
Bit by bit, Benjamin's outgrowing some of the toys I have here in the house. There are some things that I will probably keep until he gets married! One thing is foam blocks. I found them somewhere and they are all tucked into a very, very large plastic container. What makes these blocks so special is the various shapes and sizes and the fact that they are made from a very dense foam. Forts built on my coffee table - no problem. His wooden blocks on my coffee table is a completely different story!
I am a sentimental woman and keep a lot of things. My cedar chest is almost to full capacity and filled with so many memories. Some memories are better than others. But regardless whether the memories are happy or sad, they are mine.
I didn't do a very good job of documenting the things that the boys made. Probably because I was too busy being a working mom. But I have been very diligent about the things that Benjamin has made. I even have his baby croc shoes that are only about 3 or 4 inches long. Why would I want to toss them out?
I am aware that there may (will) come a day when I won't be able to take everything I own with me. And when that day comes it will be a sad one. I will be a reluctant "let goer" person. But for now, I'll keep saving and storing!
P
Friday, June 3, 2016
It's Friday
6/3/2016
Today is Friday, and yes I know you already know that. Fridays for me mean that I don't cook dinner. Jeff drops by Taco Bell (a gourmet restaurant to be sure) and buys tacos for me. I look forward to my Friday dinner all week.
Jeff's car has been at the dealership for repairs for the last two days. Apparently, long before we bought the car, the buttons on the left side of the car stopped working. You can't move the seat, stuff like that. The car was bought in Bethesda but is being serviced in Germantown. Same dealership just different locations.
The Germantown service team looked up the maintenance on our car and found that that this same malfunction had been brought to the Bethesda dealership previously. They "fixed" but didn't really fix the problem.
Jeff has had a loaner car for two days. The part that is needed to permanently fix the problem should be arrive today and hopefully, Jeff can get his car back. I don't think anybody likes driving a loaner, because well it's a loaner. It's always a cheaper and smaller model than you're used to driving. The car Jeff has at the moment is woefully under powered, and obviously not a convertible. The good thing about the repair at the dealership is: (a) it costs us nothing; and (b) they always wash the car.
It's overcast and a bit humid outside. I've turned the a/c on but set it so that it doesn't run continuously. Just enough to keep the house comfortable.
Have a glorious weekend.
P
Today is Friday, and yes I know you already know that. Fridays for me mean that I don't cook dinner. Jeff drops by Taco Bell (a gourmet restaurant to be sure) and buys tacos for me. I look forward to my Friday dinner all week.
Jeff's car has been at the dealership for repairs for the last two days. Apparently, long before we bought the car, the buttons on the left side of the car stopped working. You can't move the seat, stuff like that. The car was bought in Bethesda but is being serviced in Germantown. Same dealership just different locations.
The Germantown service team looked up the maintenance on our car and found that that this same malfunction had been brought to the Bethesda dealership previously. They "fixed" but didn't really fix the problem.
Jeff has had a loaner car for two days. The part that is needed to permanently fix the problem should be arrive today and hopefully, Jeff can get his car back. I don't think anybody likes driving a loaner, because well it's a loaner. It's always a cheaper and smaller model than you're used to driving. The car Jeff has at the moment is woefully under powered, and obviously not a convertible. The good thing about the repair at the dealership is: (a) it costs us nothing; and (b) they always wash the car.
It's overcast and a bit humid outside. I've turned the a/c on but set it so that it doesn't run continuously. Just enough to keep the house comfortable.
Have a glorious weekend.
P
Thursday, June 2, 2016
The Old Man Still Has Game!
6/2/2016
And no, I'm not talking about Jeff, though he's still got lots of life in him. I'm talking about Mister Sam (Westie). Sam is 15 years old and has cataracts which makes it hard for him to see in the dark. When Westies were given their name in 1908.
They were bred to hunt rodents and though a lot of years have passed since 1908, I can assure you that Mister Sam can still find a rodent. Yesterday, while enjoying my coffee, I heard Sam in the backyard barking with a high pitched yelping sound. I knew immediately that he had found something in the backyard. I went to the backyard and sure enough he had his nose down as far as it could go in an abandoned pipe sitting on the ground. Maggie, sensing something was up was barking, but I know that she has no clue what's up.
I looked down the pipe and could see the chipmunk hanging on to the inside of the pipe. I banged the pipe on the ground and the chipmunk raced for cover. Sam was hot on his heels. When we had new gutter guards put in, the old ones were put on the patio and pretty much forgotten. I jostled the pieces of metal and before I knew it, the chipmunk was out and running for its life. Two scares in one day may have given the little guy a heart attack!
Once Sam was satisfied that there were no "foreigners" in his yard, he was happy to come back inside, get on the sofa and take his first nap of the day. Sam may be old, but the old man still has it when it comes to sniffing out little animals like chipmunks. Because Sam was a hero, he earned himself extra biscuits! And to be fair, Maggie had some as well - can't play favorites when it comes to biscuits and bones.
P
And no, I'm not talking about Jeff, though he's still got lots of life in him. I'm talking about Mister Sam (Westie). Sam is 15 years old and has cataracts which makes it hard for him to see in the dark. When Westies were given their name in 1908.
They were bred to hunt rodents and though a lot of years have passed since 1908, I can assure you that Mister Sam can still find a rodent. Yesterday, while enjoying my coffee, I heard Sam in the backyard barking with a high pitched yelping sound. I knew immediately that he had found something in the backyard. I went to the backyard and sure enough he had his nose down as far as it could go in an abandoned pipe sitting on the ground. Maggie, sensing something was up was barking, but I know that she has no clue what's up.
I looked down the pipe and could see the chipmunk hanging on to the inside of the pipe. I banged the pipe on the ground and the chipmunk raced for cover. Sam was hot on his heels. When we had new gutter guards put in, the old ones were put on the patio and pretty much forgotten. I jostled the pieces of metal and before I knew it, the chipmunk was out and running for its life. Two scares in one day may have given the little guy a heart attack!
Once Sam was satisfied that there were no "foreigners" in his yard, he was happy to come back inside, get on the sofa and take his first nap of the day. Sam may be old, but the old man still has it when it comes to sniffing out little animals like chipmunks. Because Sam was a hero, he earned himself extra biscuits! And to be fair, Maggie had some as well - can't play favorites when it comes to biscuits and bones.
P
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Women's Clothes
61/2016
There once was a time, back when I was in high school, where I had lots of pretty clothes. My mother was an excellent seamstress, and she made most of the things that I wore. And then I got married (first time) and we were poor (understatement) and I wore clothes that were cheap as well as looked cheap.
After my divorce, I was able to begin buying clothes. Price was still important, but I no longer had to buy clothes that had been discounted numerous times. I was in heaven.
Jeff and I've been married a really long time. And from the first date until 2013 I was a working woman. Initially, back in 1974 pants were forbidden from the work force, which is really a shame. Women wore panty hose, dresses and heels - all year long.
Eventually, some kind of evolution came about and women were allowed to wear pants in the office and Casual Friday was invented as a day where you could even wear jeans! We've come a long way baby.
And now I don't work. My clothing needs are minimal, but my desire for clothes unfortunately hasn't. I try and buy my "stay at home" clothes from one of the two "marts". But I still yearn for the clothes I can no longer justify owning. I am donating more clothes to Purple Heart next week. There's no sense hanging onto things that I no longer need - and to be honest - no longer fit! (Sad but true).
A catalog arrived yesterday with the most amazing and beautiful clothes I've seen in a long time. Ah, but then there's the prices, which make my head swoon.
For example, a sleeveless tunic is $79.95 - really? A tank top is $49.95, which is a lot of money to pay for a tank top. I understand that the clothes in the catalog are more high end than I buy now, but who would pay so much money for a tank top? I guess someone who's still working that's who. A "casual" tee is only $44.95 - well sign me up for half a dozen of those!
I try and I'm not always very good at it, to buy cheaper clothes since I don't really go out much anymore. I have a pair of dress pants that I think still fit and an assortment of tops, non of which cost anything close to $44.00!
Thanks to a brain that doesn't work as well as it once did, working in an office is off the table for me. I would crush under the pressure of trying to do a good job. What was once a mind that could juggle different tasks and different people all at the same time, is gone. I believe that my brain is as good as it's going to get, and I have to live with it.
I haven't been to a mall in a very long time and while I would love to go browse, I know that some of the clothes would be pretty and I would want them. So, I'm clearly better off buying cheaper clothing to wear around the house, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
P
There once was a time, back when I was in high school, where I had lots of pretty clothes. My mother was an excellent seamstress, and she made most of the things that I wore. And then I got married (first time) and we were poor (understatement) and I wore clothes that were cheap as well as looked cheap.
After my divorce, I was able to begin buying clothes. Price was still important, but I no longer had to buy clothes that had been discounted numerous times. I was in heaven.
Jeff and I've been married a really long time. And from the first date until 2013 I was a working woman. Initially, back in 1974 pants were forbidden from the work force, which is really a shame. Women wore panty hose, dresses and heels - all year long.
Eventually, some kind of evolution came about and women were allowed to wear pants in the office and Casual Friday was invented as a day where you could even wear jeans! We've come a long way baby.
And now I don't work. My clothing needs are minimal, but my desire for clothes unfortunately hasn't. I try and buy my "stay at home" clothes from one of the two "marts". But I still yearn for the clothes I can no longer justify owning. I am donating more clothes to Purple Heart next week. There's no sense hanging onto things that I no longer need - and to be honest - no longer fit! (Sad but true).
A catalog arrived yesterday with the most amazing and beautiful clothes I've seen in a long time. Ah, but then there's the prices, which make my head swoon.
For example, a sleeveless tunic is $79.95 - really? A tank top is $49.95, which is a lot of money to pay for a tank top. I understand that the clothes in the catalog are more high end than I buy now, but who would pay so much money for a tank top? I guess someone who's still working that's who. A "casual" tee is only $44.95 - well sign me up for half a dozen of those!
I try and I'm not always very good at it, to buy cheaper clothes since I don't really go out much anymore. I have a pair of dress pants that I think still fit and an assortment of tops, non of which cost anything close to $44.00!
Thanks to a brain that doesn't work as well as it once did, working in an office is off the table for me. I would crush under the pressure of trying to do a good job. What was once a mind that could juggle different tasks and different people all at the same time, is gone. I believe that my brain is as good as it's going to get, and I have to live with it.
I haven't been to a mall in a very long time and while I would love to go browse, I know that some of the clothes would be pretty and I would want them. So, I'm clearly better off buying cheaper clothing to wear around the house, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
P
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Back to the Grind
5/31/2016
For most of you, it is/was back to the old grind today. Jeff really enjoyed having that extra day off. During the week he gets up so early and the morning commute isn't too bad, but the afternoon commute is a completely different story.
I have already flipped my calendar over to June - a bit premature I know - but it's just what I do. Seems like there are lots of things on the calendar for June - doctor's visits, head shrinking. Stuff like that.
For dinner last night, I made a quick jambalaya. That is, I used a box mix that had spices and rice and added chilies and sausage. It wasn't as good as the real from scratch jambalaya that I make, but it was edible.
Today is chicken. What can you say about chicken? Not much, other than it tastes like chicken!! You can put it in the oven, on the stove or on the barbecue. But at the end of the day, it's still just chicken. Bet you can't figure out how I feel about chicken!
I'm rounding up some old clothes and books to give to Purple Heart. Benjamin has a Little Tykes desk and chair that he used to play with when he was younger. But, he says he is a big boy now and that I can give away the desk and chair. I know there is a child out there that would love to own these things. I've looked on Craigslist and the desk doesn't sell for much, and it's much easier to give it away. Selling on Craigslist isn't always the easiest way to go. Jeff and I have bought a number of pieces of furniture from Craigslist, but our selling efforts haven't gone as smoothly.
Today is mop the kitchen floor day. If, and it's a big if, the dog hair would just blow away to somewhere else, then there would be less need to mop. Of course, I could always just run a mop over Maggie and pick up her hair before it falls!
I also need to go up to the office and do some filing. Ugh. A necessary evil but one that I avoid as long as I can.
Warm today. Mister Sam is sleeping on the vent, which is one way to keep cool.
Have a good day.
P
For most of you, it is/was back to the old grind today. Jeff really enjoyed having that extra day off. During the week he gets up so early and the morning commute isn't too bad, but the afternoon commute is a completely different story.
I have already flipped my calendar over to June - a bit premature I know - but it's just what I do. Seems like there are lots of things on the calendar for June - doctor's visits, head shrinking. Stuff like that.
For dinner last night, I made a quick jambalaya. That is, I used a box mix that had spices and rice and added chilies and sausage. It wasn't as good as the real from scratch jambalaya that I make, but it was edible.
Today is chicken. What can you say about chicken? Not much, other than it tastes like chicken!! You can put it in the oven, on the stove or on the barbecue. But at the end of the day, it's still just chicken. Bet you can't figure out how I feel about chicken!
I'm rounding up some old clothes and books to give to Purple Heart. Benjamin has a Little Tykes desk and chair that he used to play with when he was younger. But, he says he is a big boy now and that I can give away the desk and chair. I know there is a child out there that would love to own these things. I've looked on Craigslist and the desk doesn't sell for much, and it's much easier to give it away. Selling on Craigslist isn't always the easiest way to go. Jeff and I have bought a number of pieces of furniture from Craigslist, but our selling efforts haven't gone as smoothly.
Today is mop the kitchen floor day. If, and it's a big if, the dog hair would just blow away to somewhere else, then there would be less need to mop. Of course, I could always just run a mop over Maggie and pick up her hair before it falls!
I also need to go up to the office and do some filing. Ugh. A necessary evil but one that I avoid as long as I can.
Warm today. Mister Sam is sleeping on the vent, which is one way to keep cool.
Have a good day.
P
Monday, May 30, 2016
Happy Memorial Day
5/30/2016
Happy Memorial Day everyone! Besides remembering our veterans, it's also the start of summer for most of us. We watched the Memorial Day concert on television last night and it was, as always, beautiful and heart-warming. The Beach Boys played a few of their classic songs and the audience, most of them anyway, couldn't help but sway or dance to the music. As I sat in my chair, happy that I wasn't outside in the rain watching the concert, I noticed that my own feet began to move back and forth. I know the young'ens don't remember the 60's, but the gray haired among us, believe that the music of our teen years was the best.
Jeff enjoyed an extra day of sleeping in. He gets up so early during the week, he's out of the house by 5:30 am, that by the time he gets home in the afternoon, he's worn out. If we were independently wealthy, it would be wonderful if he didn't have to work. The work that he does isn't hard, but the commute twice a day, particularly in the afternoons, is exhausting.
We had Costco pizza for dinner last night and I haven't had to cook dinner since Thursday! Today, I will cook because Jeff has to have something for his lunch tomorrow. I try to think of new things to make with the basic meat groups: hamburger, chicken and fish. But, truthfully it seems that I make the same things over and over again!
Ladies, here is a recipe for brownies I found on Facebook. Haven't made these yet, but they sound yummy:
1 1/4 cup Nutella
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
Mix and back at 350 for 15 minutes
Have a wonderful extra day off from work.
P
Happy Memorial Day everyone! Besides remembering our veterans, it's also the start of summer for most of us. We watched the Memorial Day concert on television last night and it was, as always, beautiful and heart-warming. The Beach Boys played a few of their classic songs and the audience, most of them anyway, couldn't help but sway or dance to the music. As I sat in my chair, happy that I wasn't outside in the rain watching the concert, I noticed that my own feet began to move back and forth. I know the young'ens don't remember the 60's, but the gray haired among us, believe that the music of our teen years was the best.
Jeff enjoyed an extra day of sleeping in. He gets up so early during the week, he's out of the house by 5:30 am, that by the time he gets home in the afternoon, he's worn out. If we were independently wealthy, it would be wonderful if he didn't have to work. The work that he does isn't hard, but the commute twice a day, particularly in the afternoons, is exhausting.
We had Costco pizza for dinner last night and I haven't had to cook dinner since Thursday! Today, I will cook because Jeff has to have something for his lunch tomorrow. I try to think of new things to make with the basic meat groups: hamburger, chicken and fish. But, truthfully it seems that I make the same things over and over again!
Ladies, here is a recipe for brownies I found on Facebook. Haven't made these yet, but they sound yummy:
1 1/4 cup Nutella
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
Mix and back at 350 for 15 minutes
Have a wonderful extra day off from work.
P
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