4/30/2016
Today, instead of writing about the stuff and nonsense of the world, I'm going to write about something that happened to me in 1978. Enjoy!
In 1978, our son, Scott was born. That in itself, was a wonderful day. Bringing home babies at that time, didn't require car seats that could keep a baby safe, even if flying to the moon. You went home with the baby in your arms. But that's not the story.
After Scott was born, and while I was nursing, I was suffering from cabin fever, and I left Scott with Jeff so that I could go to the library. I had bought something called perhaps a breast shield. This device would allow me to be out and about and my milk would be captured for later use. That was the plan, but that's not how the plan worked.
I didn't notice that the shield (if that's what they were called), had a tiny hole. Because of my lack of basic understand of many, okay all, things technical, I paid no attention to that little hole. I put on these very hard shields, and went on my way. Well, I wasn't in the library very long, before my shirt became very wet. A quick trip to the bathroom, and I could see that I was leaking milk. How, I thought, was that even possible? My library visit was cut short, obviously. Once I was home, and took off my shirt, I then saw, and a little bit too late, that I had put the "shields" on upside down! The little hole was for the top, not the bottom of this shield! After I figured this out, I had no more trouble when I wore them. I doubt very much, that such a device is even made today. When I look back on this, I remember how uncomfortable I was. Who wouldn't be if you were wearing hard plastic "things" on your body?
Once I figured out that my "cup" runneth over, I didn't have any further mishaps, fortunately! When Andrew was born, I was experienced with "leakage". and had a found a better solution to that problem. It's amazing how smart parents get with each child that's born.
P
Monday, April 30, 2018
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Soap Box Time!
4/28/2018
My regular readers know, that I've been known from time to time, to get up on my soapbox and expound on a particular subject.
The subject of today's rant is the HUD proposal which calls for rent hikes for poor households. Really? There is now an executive order in place requiring federal agencies to expand work requirements, for low income people who receive Medicaid, food stamps, public housing benefits and welfare.
There is a proposal that, if put in place, would require most recipients under the age of 60, to work part-time or enroll in a state-run training program.
Ben Carson's initiative would raise the rent for tenants in subsided housing to 35% of gross income. About half of the 4.7 Million receiving housing benefits would be affected.
Cap on rent would for the poorest families would increase from $50.00 to about $150.00 a month. This increase would affect approximately 712,000 households. HUD also wants to scrap rules allowing deductions for medical and child care costs, which gives some tenants an unfair advantage.
The list of rules and limitations just goes on and on. I can speak from personal experience. In my first life, a teen-age marriage, my husband and I couldn't have financially handled an increase in costs, whether it was the house, child care, etc. We just didn't make enough. At the time, my then husband was manager of a store similar to Woolworth's. We lived on a very tight budget, and to help out, and yes it was wrong, he would, when the need arose, bring home baby clothes. I'm certainly not trying to justify what he did, but poor people, and we were, will do just about anything for their families.
Our checks bounced all over town, so we had to pay cash for groceries. Doctors wouldn't see us, unless we brought cash. One time, in particular, I became very sick, but couldn't afford to go to the doctor. My coworkers, chipped in and gave me the money, so I could go. Do you know what that feels like? Or, when going out to lunch, which I did seldom, one of my older friends was polite and always said it was her time to pay - and it wasn't.
I could go on and on about the life I led in my 5 years of marriage. When my parents came to visit, they never came empty handed. They brought food, which we always needed, and something for the baby as well. Divorce ended the pitiful and poor life I had, but have never forgotten.
What can you say to people, including family, who give you a hand up? Thank you seems like too little of a word to express your strongest emotions.
Now, I checked, and Ben Carson earns $207,800 a year or $17,316 per month. Do you suppose he stresses about the rising cost of groceries, utilities, child care or anything else for that matter. Nope, he does not. It is estimated that his net worth is around $26 Million. That's a lot of money. Which is the reason for today's rant. Poor people, and there are a lot of them out there, really need someone to help them.
Okay, climbing off my soap box. I just had to get that off my chest.
P
My regular readers know, that I've been known from time to time, to get up on my soapbox and expound on a particular subject.
The subject of today's rant is the HUD proposal which calls for rent hikes for poor households. Really? There is now an executive order in place requiring federal agencies to expand work requirements, for low income people who receive Medicaid, food stamps, public housing benefits and welfare.
There is a proposal that, if put in place, would require most recipients under the age of 60, to work part-time or enroll in a state-run training program.
Ben Carson's initiative would raise the rent for tenants in subsided housing to 35% of gross income. About half of the 4.7 Million receiving housing benefits would be affected.
Cap on rent would for the poorest families would increase from $50.00 to about $150.00 a month. This increase would affect approximately 712,000 households. HUD also wants to scrap rules allowing deductions for medical and child care costs, which gives some tenants an unfair advantage.
The list of rules and limitations just goes on and on. I can speak from personal experience. In my first life, a teen-age marriage, my husband and I couldn't have financially handled an increase in costs, whether it was the house, child care, etc. We just didn't make enough. At the time, my then husband was manager of a store similar to Woolworth's. We lived on a very tight budget, and to help out, and yes it was wrong, he would, when the need arose, bring home baby clothes. I'm certainly not trying to justify what he did, but poor people, and we were, will do just about anything for their families.
Our checks bounced all over town, so we had to pay cash for groceries. Doctors wouldn't see us, unless we brought cash. One time, in particular, I became very sick, but couldn't afford to go to the doctor. My coworkers, chipped in and gave me the money, so I could go. Do you know what that feels like? Or, when going out to lunch, which I did seldom, one of my older friends was polite and always said it was her time to pay - and it wasn't.
I could go on and on about the life I led in my 5 years of marriage. When my parents came to visit, they never came empty handed. They brought food, which we always needed, and something for the baby as well. Divorce ended the pitiful and poor life I had, but have never forgotten.
What can you say to people, including family, who give you a hand up? Thank you seems like too little of a word to express your strongest emotions.
Now, I checked, and Ben Carson earns $207,800 a year or $17,316 per month. Do you suppose he stresses about the rising cost of groceries, utilities, child care or anything else for that matter. Nope, he does not. It is estimated that his net worth is around $26 Million. That's a lot of money. Which is the reason for today's rant. Poor people, and there are a lot of them out there, really need someone to help them.
Okay, climbing off my soap box. I just had to get that off my chest.
P
Friday, April 27, 2018
Here I Am!
4/27/2018
Hello readers. Yep, I'm back and hope you all missed me. After staring up at a ceiling for hours on end, I'm really happy to be home.
Surgery really was a piece of cake. While lightly sedated, and filled with numbing stuff, I absolutely didn't feel a thing. However, the recovery period, argh, was awful. I had two options for the many hours I was in recovery. I could lay on my back and keep my eyes open - or sit up with my eyes closed. I tried both positions several times, and hated them equally. Who wants to stare, for hours on end, at a ceiling? Nobody I can think of. There was a nice picture above my head, but it would have been nice if the picture had been a revolving one. My left eye was beneath a patch, obviously But, my good eye, was ready to go home, pretty much at the beginning of recovery. Can you say boring? Oh you bet.
We arrived at 9:00 and didn't leave until after 5:00. Those times are just approximations. But, it was a really long day, and just sitting around is hard on a person - you simply get tired. A drive through KFC, and dinner was cooked. And, eating on a paper plate - means no dishes to wash. Perfecto.
I had to go to sleep on my back, which I never do. So, it was back to my trusty recliner, the tv remote, water and, of course, my little potty chair! I guess it could be worse, and I would have had to use an outhouse! I did actually fall asleep, watching some television show, which I can't remember.
This morning, another crack of dawn wake-up time, to go back to Hopkins, to have the doctor look at my left eye. I think she said something about a bubble in my eye. Um, I don't remember much else about the bubble, but I think it's a good thing. The doctor took off yesterday's patch, and said that I had graduated to only needing a patch when I sleep - hip, hip, hooray. It's the little things in life that make you happy. The vision in my left eye is fussy, and the doctor assures me, and I believe her, that my vision will begin to improve. I'm not looking at the world through rose colored glasses, as much as I'm looking through really smudgy eyes.
I had been given those so very attractive black plastic glasses yesterday before I went home. I used them this morning during the trip to get rid of the glare, and they worked like a charm. Bright lights, even today, are hard on my eyes. I've had no pain, other than being a little woosy (not really a word, but you get the idea). Think Saturday night drunk. 😎 I have eye drops to put in my left eye throughout the day, and I'm becoming a master at doing this!
Because I'm a bit light-headed, I have chosen to remain downstairs at the moment. I can, after I put on a night time patch, sleep in my own bed - heavenly! You don't know you miss something, until it's taken away.
Yesterday, we were away from the house for a very long time. Jeff and I bit the bullet, and left both girls (yes, including Bella) loose in the house. Actually, not completely loose. All the doors were closed upstairs, a gate to prevent them from getting into the living room. When we opened the door, warily I might add, very few things were amiss. I had one slipper and one Birkenstock which had been taken, but not chewed on. My "knitting" if you could call it that (i.e., yarn) had been dragged out onto the floor and one paper plate was also on the floor. Really, really good news. Definitely, my fault for leaving slippers and shoes out, I should have known that was a no-no! But, perhaps I'm a slow learner.
I've had lunch - earth shattering news I know - and went back to the safety of my chair - and fell asleep, which I must have needed. My activities are a bit limited - no bending (no emptying of the dishwasher, even though I don't do it now), lifting heavy things (again, Jeff brings the laundry up and down the stairs), and in general just bending down in general.
Here's what I know for sure - or at least what I think I know for sure - I have to come up with something that I can do while laying flat on my back for untold hours after my next surgery. Have no idea what that will be. It would be kinder and easier on my body, to gently put me to sleep, and awaken me when it was time to go home! That's not likely to happen, but a girl can wish.
P
Hello readers. Yep, I'm back and hope you all missed me. After staring up at a ceiling for hours on end, I'm really happy to be home.
Surgery really was a piece of cake. While lightly sedated, and filled with numbing stuff, I absolutely didn't feel a thing. However, the recovery period, argh, was awful. I had two options for the many hours I was in recovery. I could lay on my back and keep my eyes open - or sit up with my eyes closed. I tried both positions several times, and hated them equally. Who wants to stare, for hours on end, at a ceiling? Nobody I can think of. There was a nice picture above my head, but it would have been nice if the picture had been a revolving one. My left eye was beneath a patch, obviously But, my good eye, was ready to go home, pretty much at the beginning of recovery. Can you say boring? Oh you bet.
We arrived at 9:00 and didn't leave until after 5:00. Those times are just approximations. But, it was a really long day, and just sitting around is hard on a person - you simply get tired. A drive through KFC, and dinner was cooked. And, eating on a paper plate - means no dishes to wash. Perfecto.
I had to go to sleep on my back, which I never do. So, it was back to my trusty recliner, the tv remote, water and, of course, my little potty chair! I guess it could be worse, and I would have had to use an outhouse! I did actually fall asleep, watching some television show, which I can't remember.
This morning, another crack of dawn wake-up time, to go back to Hopkins, to have the doctor look at my left eye. I think she said something about a bubble in my eye. Um, I don't remember much else about the bubble, but I think it's a good thing. The doctor took off yesterday's patch, and said that I had graduated to only needing a patch when I sleep - hip, hip, hooray. It's the little things in life that make you happy. The vision in my left eye is fussy, and the doctor assures me, and I believe her, that my vision will begin to improve. I'm not looking at the world through rose colored glasses, as much as I'm looking through really smudgy eyes.
I had been given those so very attractive black plastic glasses yesterday before I went home. I used them this morning during the trip to get rid of the glare, and they worked like a charm. Bright lights, even today, are hard on my eyes. I've had no pain, other than being a little woosy (not really a word, but you get the idea). Think Saturday night drunk. 😎 I have eye drops to put in my left eye throughout the day, and I'm becoming a master at doing this!
Because I'm a bit light-headed, I have chosen to remain downstairs at the moment. I can, after I put on a night time patch, sleep in my own bed - heavenly! You don't know you miss something, until it's taken away.
Yesterday, we were away from the house for a very long time. Jeff and I bit the bullet, and left both girls (yes, including Bella) loose in the house. Actually, not completely loose. All the doors were closed upstairs, a gate to prevent them from getting into the living room. When we opened the door, warily I might add, very few things were amiss. I had one slipper and one Birkenstock which had been taken, but not chewed on. My "knitting" if you could call it that (i.e., yarn) had been dragged out onto the floor and one paper plate was also on the floor. Really, really good news. Definitely, my fault for leaving slippers and shoes out, I should have known that was a no-no! But, perhaps I'm a slow learner.
I've had lunch - earth shattering news I know - and went back to the safety of my chair - and fell asleep, which I must have needed. My activities are a bit limited - no bending (no emptying of the dishwasher, even though I don't do it now), lifting heavy things (again, Jeff brings the laundry up and down the stairs), and in general just bending down in general.
Here's what I know for sure - or at least what I think I know for sure - I have to come up with something that I can do while laying flat on my back for untold hours after my next surgery. Have no idea what that will be. It would be kinder and easier on my body, to gently put me to sleep, and awaken me when it was time to go home! That's not likely to happen, but a girl can wish.
P
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
No Blog Tomorrow
4/25/2018
I know that the news of no blog tomorrow, will be a break in your morning routines. First, you make coffee, food of choice (I like toast), paper of choice, and then probably get dressed. My blog is like morning dessert - hot "off the presses" and filled with stuff and nonsense. A perfect antidote for all the news, both real and "fake" that bombards us every day.
Oh, there was a time, long, long ago, when news was generally delivered once a day. Living in California at the time, you could opt for delivery of the "LA Times", which was so heavy that you could develop a hernia over time! I remember one time, when someone called me to see if I wanted to receive the "LA Times" on a daily basis. My answer? I told them nope. When asked why, I simply replied that the paper was too heavy (true story)! We had a local paper, that provided us with all the news that we needed/wanted at the time.
I think the first time I really paid attention to the news was when Kennedy was assassinated. It was a shock, but because I was still in middle school (and that's not a good excuse I know), only wanted to sit through a news cycle once. My parents, on the other hand, spent untold hours watching the news. And, at the time, television channels were limited - let's say, 4, 7, 9 for example. CNN didn't come on the scene until 1980 (this is a fact - I checked!).
For you younger folks reading, there was no DVD, CD, Tivo, DVR, "fancy" (i.e., premium) channels. There were three and you had to sit through ALL the commercials - no fast forwarding as we can do today. I know, the horrors of being a child in the 60's.
I now as a "mature" adult, have reasoned that it's probably time, okay, well past my time to do so, watch the news. I watch the local news, skipping past sports (who cares?), and only watching the weather forecast once. Jeff and I enjoy the Steven Cobare (however you spell it) show, and his daily monologue, which is generally or actually always about Trump. Since I don't "do" politics on my blog, that's all I'm saying.
While for years and years, watching "60 Minutes" was not even on our radar, it is now a weekly recorded show. Do we watch all the stories they have? Actually, no. Thanks to Tivo recording, we can skip past stories that don't interest us much. Though we did sit through the Stormy Daniels story, and who didn't?
Benjamin goes home tonight. He's been here since Saturday. I've made a deal with him every day. He can watch any of his shows - Shrek, Sponge Bob, etc., and I will "watch" (while I'm reading) with him. But, come the evening, even though he doesn't like it much, he knows that the evening shows are the ones that Jeff and I want to watch. And, he's good with that.
Eyeball surgery tomorrow. While I know I will be anxious, which is an under-statement, because I live anxious pretty much 24/7, I'm looking forward to improved vision.
This next bit will make more sense to women than men. Women, unlike men who grow beards, don't care AT ALL for unwanted facial hair. Eyebrows are obviously okay. Mustaches and ugly "old lady" chin hairs are definitely NOT okay. Oh, if I were a blonde, facial hair wouldn't be so obvious. But, alas, I have dark hair, which means, you guess it, darker facial hair. Over the course of 30 plus years, I have plucked, waxed, threaded and any other kind of torture you can do to your face, to remove hair. There was a time when you could either wax the hair off, or use a product at home. I used to use - emphasis on the word "used", a white and very smelly product that you basically smeared across your upper lip and let it dry. It did remove hair, but it wasn't ideal.
I own a small waxing machine, and today will tackle those chinny chin hairs. We women, who at the heart of it all, are vain in one way or the other, don't want to be seen with curly chin hair! I still remember on our honeymoon in 1974, we were on a bus, with an old lady who had a long curling hair coming out of her chin. Gross. First, I was never going to be that old - well that obviously has happened. And, then I was never going to have curly facial hair. Well, hello 2018, guess what? Yup. Curly chin hair that needs to come off today! I don't want the surgeon tomorrow, and I know this isn't true, to become distracted by the hairs on my face. This is sort of like when I was hugely pregnant, and I didn't want to go into labor with hair on my legs. Jeff, was a good sport, who made sure I was always "ready to go"! What a guy. He does draw the line at spousal support, when it comes to painting toenails! You have to have standards.
Okay, so long story short, there will likely be no blog tomorrow. But, you can check in, on the off chance that my surgery isn't until later in the day, which doesn't seem likely.
That's all for now.
P
I know that the news of no blog tomorrow, will be a break in your morning routines. First, you make coffee, food of choice (I like toast), paper of choice, and then probably get dressed. My blog is like morning dessert - hot "off the presses" and filled with stuff and nonsense. A perfect antidote for all the news, both real and "fake" that bombards us every day.
Oh, there was a time, long, long ago, when news was generally delivered once a day. Living in California at the time, you could opt for delivery of the "LA Times", which was so heavy that you could develop a hernia over time! I remember one time, when someone called me to see if I wanted to receive the "LA Times" on a daily basis. My answer? I told them nope. When asked why, I simply replied that the paper was too heavy (true story)! We had a local paper, that provided us with all the news that we needed/wanted at the time.
I think the first time I really paid attention to the news was when Kennedy was assassinated. It was a shock, but because I was still in middle school (and that's not a good excuse I know), only wanted to sit through a news cycle once. My parents, on the other hand, spent untold hours watching the news. And, at the time, television channels were limited - let's say, 4, 7, 9 for example. CNN didn't come on the scene until 1980 (this is a fact - I checked!).
For you younger folks reading, there was no DVD, CD, Tivo, DVR, "fancy" (i.e., premium) channels. There were three and you had to sit through ALL the commercials - no fast forwarding as we can do today. I know, the horrors of being a child in the 60's.
I now as a "mature" adult, have reasoned that it's probably time, okay, well past my time to do so, watch the news. I watch the local news, skipping past sports (who cares?), and only watching the weather forecast once. Jeff and I enjoy the Steven Cobare (however you spell it) show, and his daily monologue, which is generally or actually always about Trump. Since I don't "do" politics on my blog, that's all I'm saying.
While for years and years, watching "60 Minutes" was not even on our radar, it is now a weekly recorded show. Do we watch all the stories they have? Actually, no. Thanks to Tivo recording, we can skip past stories that don't interest us much. Though we did sit through the Stormy Daniels story, and who didn't?
Benjamin goes home tonight. He's been here since Saturday. I've made a deal with him every day. He can watch any of his shows - Shrek, Sponge Bob, etc., and I will "watch" (while I'm reading) with him. But, come the evening, even though he doesn't like it much, he knows that the evening shows are the ones that Jeff and I want to watch. And, he's good with that.
Eyeball surgery tomorrow. While I know I will be anxious, which is an under-statement, because I live anxious pretty much 24/7, I'm looking forward to improved vision.
This next bit will make more sense to women than men. Women, unlike men who grow beards, don't care AT ALL for unwanted facial hair. Eyebrows are obviously okay. Mustaches and ugly "old lady" chin hairs are definitely NOT okay. Oh, if I were a blonde, facial hair wouldn't be so obvious. But, alas, I have dark hair, which means, you guess it, darker facial hair. Over the course of 30 plus years, I have plucked, waxed, threaded and any other kind of torture you can do to your face, to remove hair. There was a time when you could either wax the hair off, or use a product at home. I used to use - emphasis on the word "used", a white and very smelly product that you basically smeared across your upper lip and let it dry. It did remove hair, but it wasn't ideal.
I own a small waxing machine, and today will tackle those chinny chin hairs. We women, who at the heart of it all, are vain in one way or the other, don't want to be seen with curly chin hair! I still remember on our honeymoon in 1974, we were on a bus, with an old lady who had a long curling hair coming out of her chin. Gross. First, I was never going to be that old - well that obviously has happened. And, then I was never going to have curly facial hair. Well, hello 2018, guess what? Yup. Curly chin hair that needs to come off today! I don't want the surgeon tomorrow, and I know this isn't true, to become distracted by the hairs on my face. This is sort of like when I was hugely pregnant, and I didn't want to go into labor with hair on my legs. Jeff, was a good sport, who made sure I was always "ready to go"! What a guy. He does draw the line at spousal support, when it comes to painting toenails! You have to have standards.
Okay, so long story short, there will likely be no blog tomorrow. But, you can check in, on the off chance that my surgery isn't until later in the day, which doesn't seem likely.
That's all for now.
P
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Back To The Beginning
Some of you, lucky souls that you are, have been with me since the beginning. My first blog was on June 2, 2012, and I've decided to re-post it, so that my new readers know why my blog is called Cuzilu Ramblings! Enjoy.
History of Cuzilu
6/2/2012
Cuzilu Ramblings
In case you're
wondering Cuzilu is not my real name - shocker I know. It's really
Patti and I'll give you the history of Cuzilu, whether you want or need
it. You may not be interested in this history so please feel free to
fast forward to the end - which means you won't be reading anything -
but such is life.
When my husband
and I bought our first "nice" (read - more expensive than our first
house) car the salesman asked me if I wanted personalized plates. I
pounced on the idea before husband could inject, object or reject the
idea.
I had waited
years for the opportunity to get the license plate I ALWAYS had wanted.
It was supposed to read as follows: CUZ I LU - (Because I love you).
Well, in my haste to scribble down my first choice of a personalized
plate I ran the letters all together. Yep and came up with Cuzilu. I
suspect that people who aren't savvy like you and me, might think that I'm
cousin Lou or Lulu. Nope, I was then as I still think today, that in my humble
opinion, have the best license plate ever.
The only way
Cuzilu is going to go back in the selection pot of the MVA is when
someone rips my license plate out of my cold dead hands and not a moment
before. Boys are you listening?
So that's my
story - well not my complete story - because that would take pages and pages
and days and days. Why a blog? And why now?
Here's the deal.
I want to see my name in print and not on the first page of some court
document. No, on the cover of a book, a real book like you find in book
stores or libraries. I have sent out a children's book story to oh I
don't know half a dozen or so agents and publishers and the rejection
notices are coming in faster than I can mark them down as "not
interested" on my spreadsheet.
Some books - the
how to kinds - say that a following on the internet is a good place to
start. So that's where you guys come in. You're my followers. Great
plan I think. I'll do the heavy lifting (i.e., thinking up something
smart to say) and all you have to do is read. Of course, if you like
what I write then you could tell somebody and so on. See how easy this
is going to be - at least until I run out of ideas!
So my friends and
hopefully some new acquaintances, give me a chance. I've got lots to
say just haven't found the right way to peddle those thoughts.
Thanks guys.
Patti
Monday, April 23, 2018
My Annual Disparity in Wages
4/23/2018
Lucky for me, that the Parade Magazine once a year shows the salaries of the uppermost uber rich, and then us regular folk. It almost, and actually is, sad that some people have so much money, for what appears to me to be so little.
Chris Rock has an estimated income of $57 Million dollars. You know, as well as I do, that entertainers like him, HAVE people who do pretty much everything for him. Do really rich people worry, or perhaps give a thought to who's going to mow their lawns? Um, seems doubtable.
Then there's a firefighter who only earns $18,000. A firefighter's work is dangerous, and you would think they would earn what I would consider a "working" wage. I don't know many people who can live on $18,000.
A part-time federal prison transportation officer get $20,000. I know the prisons are detained in the back, but still, they are prisoners.
A pro hockey player has an estimated income of $16 Million. While I know hockey is a dangerous sport, but he's literally being paid to skate. (Please don't send me hate mail, because I do know that the sport is not just about being able to skate).
For heaven's sake, Albert Einstein estimated estate income is $10 Million, and he's dead!
Some of us remember, and not fondly, of how little we were paid when we were starting our careers. I remember how happy Jeff and I were, when his take home pay had a comma in it! Happy Days.
If you are ever wondering how far you've come, just look at your Social Security Statement, which shows your salaries from the beginning to the present. When you aren't making a lot of money, you have to get creative about spending. Do you turn the a/c on, and then get a higher electrical bill, OR can you just put a few fans in strategic places. Once, it was ONE ice cream cone among three people (Jeff and I and our oldest son). If, you've come up in the ranks, you do appreciate, everything that you have EARNED over the span of your career. And, we are so very proud of Scott and Andrew's successful careers. My long-time career as a legal secretary ended in 2013. Jeff, is still working. Working makes him happy (actually that's probably not an accurate word, but it'll do), and allows us to afford certain things - like one click shopping on Amazon😀😀
When I watch a show, like Judge Judy, and somebody is standing in front of her, and she asks what they make on either (a) disability and/or (b) social security. The received income is generally very low, and I feel sorry for them. It helped, when it was time, for me to start collecting Social Security, that I had worked 40 plus years.
Jeff and I are grateful for the life we have had, and the successes we have earned. I believe that if you work for your money, rather than having it handed to you with a silver spoon, you are more appreciative.
Jeff and I are keeping Benjamin with us until Wednesday. With him out of the house, Stacey et al, can continue to get their house ready to be put on the market later this week.
When Benjamin is here, he puts on some mind-numbing Netflix movie, and then sets up his racetrack, and plays with cars, and dances and sings. All of this is fine with MomMom - I can, for the most part, tune him out. Perhaps, this is a skill that mothers of sons obtain! Multiple boys in the house means multiple amounts of noise. Or, is it perhaps, that since I no longer have children in the house, I am more patient now? Could be.
Happy Monday everybody.
P
Lucky for me, that the Parade Magazine once a year shows the salaries of the uppermost uber rich, and then us regular folk. It almost, and actually is, sad that some people have so much money, for what appears to me to be so little.
Chris Rock has an estimated income of $57 Million dollars. You know, as well as I do, that entertainers like him, HAVE people who do pretty much everything for him. Do really rich people worry, or perhaps give a thought to who's going to mow their lawns? Um, seems doubtable.
Then there's a firefighter who only earns $18,000. A firefighter's work is dangerous, and you would think they would earn what I would consider a "working" wage. I don't know many people who can live on $18,000.
A part-time federal prison transportation officer get $20,000. I know the prisons are detained in the back, but still, they are prisoners.
A pro hockey player has an estimated income of $16 Million. While I know hockey is a dangerous sport, but he's literally being paid to skate. (Please don't send me hate mail, because I do know that the sport is not just about being able to skate).
For heaven's sake, Albert Einstein estimated estate income is $10 Million, and he's dead!
Some of us remember, and not fondly, of how little we were paid when we were starting our careers. I remember how happy Jeff and I were, when his take home pay had a comma in it! Happy Days.
If you are ever wondering how far you've come, just look at your Social Security Statement, which shows your salaries from the beginning to the present. When you aren't making a lot of money, you have to get creative about spending. Do you turn the a/c on, and then get a higher electrical bill, OR can you just put a few fans in strategic places. Once, it was ONE ice cream cone among three people (Jeff and I and our oldest son). If, you've come up in the ranks, you do appreciate, everything that you have EARNED over the span of your career. And, we are so very proud of Scott and Andrew's successful careers. My long-time career as a legal secretary ended in 2013. Jeff, is still working. Working makes him happy (actually that's probably not an accurate word, but it'll do), and allows us to afford certain things - like one click shopping on Amazon😀😀
When I watch a show, like Judge Judy, and somebody is standing in front of her, and she asks what they make on either (a) disability and/or (b) social security. The received income is generally very low, and I feel sorry for them. It helped, when it was time, for me to start collecting Social Security, that I had worked 40 plus years.
Jeff and I are grateful for the life we have had, and the successes we have earned. I believe that if you work for your money, rather than having it handed to you with a silver spoon, you are more appreciative.
Jeff and I are keeping Benjamin with us until Wednesday. With him out of the house, Stacey et al, can continue to get their house ready to be put on the market later this week.
When Benjamin is here, he puts on some mind-numbing Netflix movie, and then sets up his racetrack, and plays with cars, and dances and sings. All of this is fine with MomMom - I can, for the most part, tune him out. Perhaps, this is a skill that mothers of sons obtain! Multiple boys in the house means multiple amounts of noise. Or, is it perhaps, that since I no longer have children in the house, I am more patient now? Could be.
Happy Monday everybody.
P
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Post Birthday Party
4/22/2018
Here I am again. Benjamin pointed out to me, that today's blog will be my hundredth one for this year. I hadn't noticed.
Today, is Benjamin's 10th birthday. Yesterday, the girls and I went out to Andrew's house in the morning, well in advance of the party. The theme was Goose Bumps, which I know nothing about - other than somehow there is a green and black theme.
As usual, in my opinion, Stacey could give Martha Stewart a run for her money. Stacey entertains very well, and I am in awe of this, because I don't. When I arrived, Stacey was making a werewolf from krispie treats, and did an amazing job.
My job was to cut the tops off of strawberries and then make a half moon-like shape in the middle. After that, Benjamin put Oreo cookie crumbs into the "mouth". They came out beautifully!
We had pizza for lunch, which was the only salt consumed yesterday. There were donuts, cupcakes, strawberry "men", I guess you could call them, "worms" in dirt, and not to mention a beautiful cake that Stacey made. You can imagine by the end of the day, the children were very much on a sugar high!
Andrew had rented a moon bounce and it was a big hit with the children as well as some adults. I refrained. I have enough trouble standing upright, so there was no way I was going to go on something that bounced around.
The plan was that we were bringing Benjamin home with us, until Wednesday. Andrew's house is going to be put on the market, and Thursday pictures of the house, yard, etc., will be taken. They have put an offer on what looks like a beautiful home, but haven't received any word from the seller.
By the time we got home last night, there was a minimal amount of television watched (so that my pills could take effect), before everybody crashed in their beds!
Today, Jeff and Bella are headed back out to Andrew's house. He will be doing the mowing, and/or any other similar jobs that needs to be done. Benjamin, Daisy and I are content to stay at home. When Bella leaves, Daisy doesn't appear to miss her "sister". She's probably content to have the house and the beds to herself.
Benjamin received some very nice presents. Jeff and I bought him a Lego kit called "The Chicken Coop", with chickens and eggs! Seemed appropriate for him, since they have chickens and a rooster in the backyard.
We have been given a few of their eggs, and I told Jeff this morning, that we should have an "egg-off". Cook a regular egg and eat it and then try Benjamin's eggs, to see if there is actually a difference in taste. I'm betting that there will be a taste difference. If nothing else, the eggs we get from Andrew, are lightly brown eggs.
Since Jeff has now left, Benjamin is getting his fill in of television shows that could almost an adult lose their mind. Just saying. I pay no attention to his shows, I'm content to read.
My left hip or something in the vicinity, where I suffer from an "itis" (arthritis, etc.) is acting up at the moment. I'm going to make one trip up the stairs to get dressed, and then I'll remain on the first floor until bedtime. I sometimes feel as if I had everything below my waist chopped off (just kidding), I would feel so much better!
By the way, since I've given up on stud earrings, I have found several nice pairs of clip-on ones. Jeff, was nice enough to buy me plastic sleeves that go on the back of these earrings. I now own "diamonds", "pearls" and "sapphire and diamond" ones! Be jealous people of all my "jewels"!!
There is a little boy that lives next door, who doesn't have anyone on the street to play with. I'm looking out my window and Andy and Benjamin are playing with sticks in the circle. This playtime is good for both boys. The only rule I have, which is a biggie, is that he doesn't leave the circle. I like to keep my eyes on him. I'm not a helicopter parent, I'm a helicopter MomMom!
It's a pretty day outside, so once I'm dressed, I may go to the front porch and sit on my swing and read a book on my Kindle.
Happy Sunday.
P
Here I am again. Benjamin pointed out to me, that today's blog will be my hundredth one for this year. I hadn't noticed.
Today, is Benjamin's 10th birthday. Yesterday, the girls and I went out to Andrew's house in the morning, well in advance of the party. The theme was Goose Bumps, which I know nothing about - other than somehow there is a green and black theme.
As usual, in my opinion, Stacey could give Martha Stewart a run for her money. Stacey entertains very well, and I am in awe of this, because I don't. When I arrived, Stacey was making a werewolf from krispie treats, and did an amazing job.
My job was to cut the tops off of strawberries and then make a half moon-like shape in the middle. After that, Benjamin put Oreo cookie crumbs into the "mouth". They came out beautifully!
We had pizza for lunch, which was the only salt consumed yesterday. There were donuts, cupcakes, strawberry "men", I guess you could call them, "worms" in dirt, and not to mention a beautiful cake that Stacey made. You can imagine by the end of the day, the children were very much on a sugar high!
Andrew had rented a moon bounce and it was a big hit with the children as well as some adults. I refrained. I have enough trouble standing upright, so there was no way I was going to go on something that bounced around.
The plan was that we were bringing Benjamin home with us, until Wednesday. Andrew's house is going to be put on the market, and Thursday pictures of the house, yard, etc., will be taken. They have put an offer on what looks like a beautiful home, but haven't received any word from the seller.
By the time we got home last night, there was a minimal amount of television watched (so that my pills could take effect), before everybody crashed in their beds!
Today, Jeff and Bella are headed back out to Andrew's house. He will be doing the mowing, and/or any other similar jobs that needs to be done. Benjamin, Daisy and I are content to stay at home. When Bella leaves, Daisy doesn't appear to miss her "sister". She's probably content to have the house and the beds to herself.
Benjamin received some very nice presents. Jeff and I bought him a Lego kit called "The Chicken Coop", with chickens and eggs! Seemed appropriate for him, since they have chickens and a rooster in the backyard.
We have been given a few of their eggs, and I told Jeff this morning, that we should have an "egg-off". Cook a regular egg and eat it and then try Benjamin's eggs, to see if there is actually a difference in taste. I'm betting that there will be a taste difference. If nothing else, the eggs we get from Andrew, are lightly brown eggs.
Since Jeff has now left, Benjamin is getting his fill in of television shows that could almost an adult lose their mind. Just saying. I pay no attention to his shows, I'm content to read.
My left hip or something in the vicinity, where I suffer from an "itis" (arthritis, etc.) is acting up at the moment. I'm going to make one trip up the stairs to get dressed, and then I'll remain on the first floor until bedtime. I sometimes feel as if I had everything below my waist chopped off (just kidding), I would feel so much better!
By the way, since I've given up on stud earrings, I have found several nice pairs of clip-on ones. Jeff, was nice enough to buy me plastic sleeves that go on the back of these earrings. I now own "diamonds", "pearls" and "sapphire and diamond" ones! Be jealous people of all my "jewels"!!
There is a little boy that lives next door, who doesn't have anyone on the street to play with. I'm looking out my window and Andy and Benjamin are playing with sticks in the circle. This playtime is good for both boys. The only rule I have, which is a biggie, is that he doesn't leave the circle. I like to keep my eyes on him. I'm not a helicopter parent, I'm a helicopter MomMom!
It's a pretty day outside, so once I'm dressed, I may go to the front porch and sit on my swing and read a book on my Kindle.
Happy Sunday.
P
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