Monday is over...only four more days till the weekend! Yay! I fully intended to go Christmas shopping tonight, but after a hot bowl of chili and a lesson in using the new remote control...I decided to make fudge instead. I got an Eaglebrand fudge recipe online and tried it. I will let you know how it turns out!
Over the weekend we made a major purchase (major for us anyway). We were still watching an old fashioned 32" TV (not flat panel), so we broke down and bought one as a Christmas gift for each other. So far I absolutely LOVE it. I am not much of a TV person...I have a few favorite shows, but I would usually rather listen to music. And...with the attention span of a gnat...I rarely finish an entire show without wandering off for a bit. Anyway...I have discovered the music channels! More than a dozen channels with every kind of music that one can imagine! I totally love Jazz, Blues, Classic Rock and Christmas music of all kinds! It is awesome!
And...tonight...Closer and Men of a Certain Age are both on! Great night to be in out of the cold!
Be Well.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Tis the season
As we plunge headlong into the season…it is easy to become stressed and frazzled with the hectic holiday schedules that we almost certainly will experience. Here are a few suggestions for destressing a bit and enjoying this wonderful time of year a bit more!
1. Set aside an evening each week to relax in front of the television and enjoy a few of your favorite Christmas movies! My personal favorites include “Elf”, It’s A Wonderful Life”, and Miracle on 34th Street”.
2. Take frequent breaks when shopping… for a soda or a cup of coffee and some people watching.
3. Decorate early so that the hard work that you put into lights, knick knacks, and the tree can be enjoyed as long as possible!
4. Cook ahead whenever possible for last minute parties, surprise guests, etc. Specialty breads, cakes, cookies and candy can be frozen/refrigerated, and ready to use with little notice.
5. Wrap gifts as you bring them home in order to avoid spending hours on Christmas Eve scrambling for enough paper, tape and tags to get the job done.
6. Buy and wrap a couple extra “gender neutral” gifts (candy, nuts, specialty coffees, etc.) for those unexpected folks who drop by with a gift for you.
Be Well!
1. Set aside an evening each week to relax in front of the television and enjoy a few of your favorite Christmas movies! My personal favorites include “Elf”, It’s A Wonderful Life”, and Miracle on 34th Street”.
2. Take frequent breaks when shopping… for a soda or a cup of coffee and some people watching.
3. Decorate early so that the hard work that you put into lights, knick knacks, and the tree can be enjoyed as long as possible!
4. Cook ahead whenever possible for last minute parties, surprise guests, etc. Specialty breads, cakes, cookies and candy can be frozen/refrigerated, and ready to use with little notice.
5. Wrap gifts as you bring them home in order to avoid spending hours on Christmas Eve scrambling for enough paper, tape and tags to get the job done.
6. Buy and wrap a couple extra “gender neutral” gifts (candy, nuts, specialty coffees, etc.) for those unexpected folks who drop by with a gift for you.
Be Well!
Thursday, December 02, 2010
December 2, 2010
It’s been a long and odd year full of ups and downs and lots of uncertainty. I haven’t blogged in a very long time. Frankly, I simply lost the motivation for a while. I have been thinking about trying to get back in the saddle…and although I am here now…I make no promises about tomorrow.
Just to catch up a bit…after a year of unemployment…my husband was hired as a purchasing agent by a local company. The overall work was not what he was used to doing, but he was so glad to get the job that he has been working very hard to learn and adjust. Unfortunately…it looks as though the company may end up leaving the area in a few months…so we could find ourselves back among the ranks of the unemployed in the not too distant future.
Although we are not looking forward to going there again…we now know that we can survive…should we need to. During the year of unemployment, we came to terms with many things. Among those things was the possibility of losing our home. Toward the end, we began to prepare to sell. I am so thankful that we did not have to do that. However, the experience made me realize that there are worse things than living in an apartment again.
As I watch the news today, and read the scores of accounts of those who are still out of work…I do so with the realization that no one is immune. At any moment…any job can be over. In the blink of an eye…anyone can be on the brink of foreclosure…or homelessness. What a sad commentary.
Well…that’s a start. Perhaps my next post will be a bit more uplifting.
Be Well
It’s been a long and odd year full of ups and downs and lots of uncertainty. I haven’t blogged in a very long time. Frankly, I simply lost the motivation for a while. I have been thinking about trying to get back in the saddle…and although I am here now…I make no promises about tomorrow.
Just to catch up a bit…after a year of unemployment…my husband was hired as a purchasing agent by a local company. The overall work was not what he was used to doing, but he was so glad to get the job that he has been working very hard to learn and adjust. Unfortunately…it looks as though the company may end up leaving the area in a few months…so we could find ourselves back among the ranks of the unemployed in the not too distant future.
Although we are not looking forward to going there again…we now know that we can survive…should we need to. During the year of unemployment, we came to terms with many things. Among those things was the possibility of losing our home. Toward the end, we began to prepare to sell. I am so thankful that we did not have to do that. However, the experience made me realize that there are worse things than living in an apartment again.
As I watch the news today, and read the scores of accounts of those who are still out of work…I do so with the realization that no one is immune. At any moment…any job can be over. In the blink of an eye…anyone can be on the brink of foreclosure…or homelessness. What a sad commentary.
Well…that’s a start. Perhaps my next post will be a bit more uplifting.
Be Well
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Sooo...we thought that everything was finally coming to some resolution. After a year of unemployment...my husband received two job offers in the same week. One was a higher salary than the other, so he turned down the low one and accepted the high one. They scheduled him for some "testing", which he took. We waited for three days on word about what his start date would be, and they finally called today to tell him that according to the "test"...his management style isn't what they were looking for after all. He has been a manager many times and was very successful.
So...not only do we not have the job that he accepted...but the other one has been filled. I feel so bad for him...he has done everything right...to no avail. This week just needs to end.
Be Well
So...not only do we not have the job that he accepted...but the other one has been filled. I feel so bad for him...he has done everything right...to no avail. This week just needs to end.
Be Well
Monday, March 22, 2010
Unemployment sucks....
We are currently four weeks from my husband being laid off for a full year. It has been a long year...full of ups and downs...sadness and joy. We have survived thus far on my $12.00 an hour job and his unemployment check. He has 460 (plus) applications out there and has had numerous interviews...but so far...no offers. He has been diligent and untiring in his search for a job...but it just isn't "our turn" yet I guess. We have begun to consider the possibility of selling the house if a job doesn't come soon...but it is an option that we hope never becomes necessary. Just in case it does though...we have begun to clean out closets, cabinets, and "clutter" in order to properly "stage" our home if a sale becomes our only option.
It is amazing what we have collected over the past few years! I boxed up 2 tall stacks of Eskimo Joe cups, tons of plastic silverware, disposable cups, and coffee cups of every description! I think my favorite though...was a box of assorted toys! Our kids have been grown for several years now...but I am an eternal child at heart. I have been tossing assorted playthings in a couple of dresser drawers in the guest room for years...and every once in a while...I pull something out and play with it! As I looked over my box of goodies, there were several kinds of bubble wands, a bubble gun, two potato guns, super balls, play doh, jacks, weebles, yo yo's, crayons, coloring books, water color paints, paint brushes, sidewalk chalk, giant ball point pins, whistles, bells, blow up toys and a couple of miniature chairs (that was the top layer).
After cleaning out closets, drawers, cabinets, and shelves...we met with the realtor and realized that there are MANY more things yet to be done in order to put the house on the market! The next few weeks will be very busy (provided mother nature cooperates and gives us halfway decent weather). The outside of the house needs painted, though we have not had any issues...we need to have the roof checked in order to insure that there is no need for replacement/repair, windows need washed and some screens repaired, and the final step (should we need to proceed) will be to put about half of our furniture in storage and take all personal items out of the house (except those necessary for day-to-day life).
Who knew selling a house would be so involved!
Hopefully, this will all be unnecessary and we will have simply done the best spring cleaning ever!!
Be well!!
It is amazing what we have collected over the past few years! I boxed up 2 tall stacks of Eskimo Joe cups, tons of plastic silverware, disposable cups, and coffee cups of every description! I think my favorite though...was a box of assorted toys! Our kids have been grown for several years now...but I am an eternal child at heart. I have been tossing assorted playthings in a couple of dresser drawers in the guest room for years...and every once in a while...I pull something out and play with it! As I looked over my box of goodies, there were several kinds of bubble wands, a bubble gun, two potato guns, super balls, play doh, jacks, weebles, yo yo's, crayons, coloring books, water color paints, paint brushes, sidewalk chalk, giant ball point pins, whistles, bells, blow up toys and a couple of miniature chairs (that was the top layer).
After cleaning out closets, drawers, cabinets, and shelves...we met with the realtor and realized that there are MANY more things yet to be done in order to put the house on the market! The next few weeks will be very busy (provided mother nature cooperates and gives us halfway decent weather). The outside of the house needs painted, though we have not had any issues...we need to have the roof checked in order to insure that there is no need for replacement/repair, windows need washed and some screens repaired, and the final step (should we need to proceed) will be to put about half of our furniture in storage and take all personal items out of the house (except those necessary for day-to-day life).
Who knew selling a house would be so involved!
Hopefully, this will all be unnecessary and we will have simply done the best spring cleaning ever!!
Be well!!
Sunday, February 07, 2010
It's been a long five days! I've observed some things this past week:
1-Family tragedy pulls people together in unexpected ways.
2-Family tragedy pulls people apart in unexpected ways.
3-People are unpredictable...at best.
4-Ignorance is sometimes the best protection against bad behavior.
5-Your family might be Red Necks if (a) the grieving widower almost dumps his dead spouse on the floor as he lifts the side of the casket (during the viewing) in order to ascertain the number of poll bearers needed to carry her (b) current family feuds must be considered during seating arrangements in order to limit the number of "guests of honor" to only the one mentioned in the obituary.
Be Well!
1-Family tragedy pulls people together in unexpected ways.
2-Family tragedy pulls people apart in unexpected ways.
3-People are unpredictable...at best.
4-Ignorance is sometimes the best protection against bad behavior.
5-Your family might be Red Necks if (a) the grieving widower almost dumps his dead spouse on the floor as he lifts the side of the casket (during the viewing) in order to ascertain the number of poll bearers needed to carry her (b) current family feuds must be considered during seating arrangements in order to limit the number of "guests of honor" to only the one mentioned in the obituary.
Be Well!
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Here I am...back to blogger! I so love writing...but it seems that life has been so busy for so long that I have all but abandoned it. I was looking back over poems and stories that I wrote last year...and I realized that I had forgotten how good it felt to write them. I know that I will most likely never see my work on a best seller list...or even on the midway at Barnes & Noble...and that's okay. But I need to write. It's what I do.
This week has been odd and short. It really began to unfold on Saturday evening as I sat in the kitchen with the cell phone in one hand and the wall phone in the other. My sister was informing my left ear that my mother was in the emergency room and was very ill...while my cousin informed my right ear that my aunt had just passed away. And just to keep things interesting...my husband stood directly in front of me pointing frantically at the ring finger on his left hand...which was naked. The doctor appeared suddenly in the emergency room, so my sister hung up promising to call me right back and my husband raced off down the stairs in search of the missing wedding ring. Obviously...my aunt remained dead. The ring was later found in the washing machine, mom was given IV fluids and antibiotics, and funeral arrangements are pending (for my aunt).
In the grand scheme of things...the past several days are just a tiny glitch on the radar. Life goes on and in ten years...no one will even remember the emergency room visit, the lost ring...or sadly...my aunt's laughter. Isn't life peculiar?!
Be Well!
This week has been odd and short. It really began to unfold on Saturday evening as I sat in the kitchen with the cell phone in one hand and the wall phone in the other. My sister was informing my left ear that my mother was in the emergency room and was very ill...while my cousin informed my right ear that my aunt had just passed away. And just to keep things interesting...my husband stood directly in front of me pointing frantically at the ring finger on his left hand...which was naked. The doctor appeared suddenly in the emergency room, so my sister hung up promising to call me right back and my husband raced off down the stairs in search of the missing wedding ring. Obviously...my aunt remained dead. The ring was later found in the washing machine, mom was given IV fluids and antibiotics, and funeral arrangements are pending (for my aunt).
In the grand scheme of things...the past several days are just a tiny glitch on the radar. Life goes on and in ten years...no one will even remember the emergency room visit, the lost ring...or sadly...my aunt's laughter. Isn't life peculiar?!
Be Well!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
I haven't posted in a very long time. I doubt that anyone even reads this anymore...and that's okay. I just feel the need to write tonight and my thoughts really aren't Facebook fare. Circumstances beyond our control are beginning to take a toll on every aspect of our lives. Depression and tension are becoming commonplace. This has been a particularly rough weekend...one that I am glad to put behind us. Hopefully next week will be better.
Be Well!
Be Well!
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