Strat's Garden
A Blog About Everyday Life, Family, Friends, Faith....With A Little Bit Of Kevin Spacey Thrown In.
A Blog About Everyday Life, Family, Friends, Faith....With A Little Bit Of Kevin Spacey Thrown In.
STRATSGARDEN.COM
Who Said You Have To Starve To Lose Weight???
I've decided to keep my breakfasts and lunches as simple as possible by eating the same every day this week (I can switch around next week if I get tired of it). I was inputting the information into Sparkpeople and though I haven't decided on the dinner portion of it yet, there is quite a lot of food there with plenty of calorie room for dinner:
Breakfast: Calories
Cheerios Yogurt Burst Cereal 3/4 cup 120
Skim Milk 1/2 cup 43
1 medium banana 109
Mid-morning snack:
Dannon light n' fit yogurt-lemon 60
Lunch:
Whole Wheat Pepperidge Farm Deli Flat 100
2 oz. Hillshire Farm Deli Select Honey Ham 70
Mustard 3
1 cup Romaine Lettuce w/ 1TB Italian Dressing 78
1 Fat Free Jello Chocolate Pudding 60
100 Calorie Pack Cheez-its 100
Afternoon snack:
Special K Crackers (Italian Tomato & Herb) 90
1 Wedge Laughing Cow Light Swiss Cheese 35
Total Calories: 868
That's quite alot of food!! Special K has really branched out from cereal. I had no idea they were doing crackers and just happened to find them at Target. Though I know crackers, Cheez-its and Chocolate Pudding aren't great diet foods; I know I have to have some type of snacks or I'll never stick to it! And they all sure beat potato chips which are a huge weakness of mine!
In case you're wondering I still can use anywhere from 332-682 calories for dinner, which is quite a lot actually.
Breakfast: Calories
Cheerios Yogurt Burst Cereal 3/4 cup 120
Skim Milk 1/2 cup 43
1 medium banana 109
Mid-morning snack:
Dannon light n' fit yogurt-lemon 60
Lunch:
Whole Wheat Pepperidge Farm Deli Flat 100
2 oz. Hillshire Farm Deli Select Honey Ham 70
Mustard 3
1 cup Romaine Lettuce w/ 1TB Italian Dressing 78
1 Fat Free Jello Chocolate Pudding 60
100 Calorie Pack Cheez-its 100
Afternoon snack:
Special K Crackers (Italian Tomato & Herb) 90
1 Wedge Laughing Cow Light Swiss Cheese 35
Total Calories: 868
That's quite alot of food!! Special K has really branched out from cereal. I had no idea they were doing crackers and just happened to find them at Target. Though I know crackers, Cheez-its and Chocolate Pudding aren't great diet foods; I know I have to have some type of snacks or I'll never stick to it! And they all sure beat potato chips which are a huge weakness of mine!
In case you're wondering I still can use anywhere from 332-682 calories for dinner, which is quite a lot actually.
Animals Here & There
Nanci asks:
Which is actually a very good question and has a very simple answer - we've tried it. Oh it works for a while but then it just becomes work. Oh we've done the shut him in a room, someone hold him while the other goes out...but at some point we're frustrated, he's frustrated and we're all miserable. Mickey has always been an outside cat - we always let him in when he wants in, but his "ins" were always pit stops. He normally spent more time indoors during the winter but even now, the owners of the old house say he doesn't bang on the doors anymore to get in. It could be quite possible that someone else is letting him in their house but we don't know. He is due for the 4-in-1 shot so we want to get him to a clinic if possible. We're going to take our crate there and hopefully they can catch him again (as before).
On the subject of animals, hubby and I did have our lunch with the bigwigs from the Washington County, MD Humane Society (I mentioned this at FaceBook, but not here). It actually went very well and I learned alot of how they work and got very educated on "no-kill". Any shelter can advertise as "no-kill" as there are no guidelines for it. It basically means they don't kill "adoptable" pets, and again there is no guidelines set to decide what is "adoptable". So though a shelter may claim "no-kill" in truth they probably do put down agressive and sick animals. There are, however, a few in the U.S. that are totally "no-kill" but they normally aren't nice places - they are dirty, the animals never get out of their cages and basically it's a place to keep animals but not provide them proper care and attention. Oh, I know...some do gooder will claim this is wrong but my stating this is not meant as a bad reflection on these shelters, I'm sure good intentions are there.
I did address some of the issues at their particular shelter. They agreed that their adoption process was out of control at one point, but they make it much easier now; and of course they did mention if an adoption is taking too long...it's because they've come across something they have to question. So that makes sense. I also asked how long they keep animals and was informed there are no set limits unless of course they are desperate for room; which fortunately doesn't happen to often.
Our next stop is to go take a tour of the facility and see what we can do for them.
I've always wondered - why don't you just keep Mickey IN the house so he can't run away back to the old house?
Which is actually a very good question and has a very simple answer - we've tried it. Oh it works for a while but then it just becomes work. Oh we've done the shut him in a room, someone hold him while the other goes out...but at some point we're frustrated, he's frustrated and we're all miserable. Mickey has always been an outside cat - we always let him in when he wants in, but his "ins" were always pit stops. He normally spent more time indoors during the winter but even now, the owners of the old house say he doesn't bang on the doors anymore to get in. It could be quite possible that someone else is letting him in their house but we don't know. He is due for the 4-in-1 shot so we want to get him to a clinic if possible. We're going to take our crate there and hopefully they can catch him again (as before).
On the subject of animals, hubby and I did have our lunch with the bigwigs from the Washington County, MD Humane Society (I mentioned this at FaceBook, but not here). It actually went very well and I learned alot of how they work and got very educated on "no-kill". Any shelter can advertise as "no-kill" as there are no guidelines for it. It basically means they don't kill "adoptable" pets, and again there is no guidelines set to decide what is "adoptable". So though a shelter may claim "no-kill" in truth they probably do put down agressive and sick animals. There are, however, a few in the U.S. that are totally "no-kill" but they normally aren't nice places - they are dirty, the animals never get out of their cages and basically it's a place to keep animals but not provide them proper care and attention. Oh, I know...some do gooder will claim this is wrong but my stating this is not meant as a bad reflection on these shelters, I'm sure good intentions are there.
I did address some of the issues at their particular shelter. They agreed that their adoption process was out of control at one point, but they make it much easier now; and of course they did mention if an adoption is taking too long...it's because they've come across something they have to question. So that makes sense. I also asked how long they keep animals and was informed there are no set limits unless of course they are desperate for room; which fortunately doesn't happen to often.
Our next stop is to go take a tour of the facility and see what we can do for them.
Comments and Mickey
If you don't read the comments at my blog, then you missed Kim's comment regarding my last post:
So here's the thing....you know the right stuff to eat; we all know this by now, so I would say don't stress about following a diet. And don't rule out all your favorite foods just because they aren't healthy; just have them in moderation or as an occasional treat. If you crave something and it won't go away, partake of a bit of it, enough to satisfy the craving. Exercise, I have come to discover, is key. There is no way around it. Find something you enjoy though as if you hate it, you won't stick with it. If you don't usually eat breakfast, start. So essential and it kick starts your metabolism. You probably know all of this though!
I'm not sure whether to say "Thanks!" or "ummm..thanks? I think." to what you said about me! LOL! Motivational but making you sick? Hmmmm
Let's break it down:
So here's the thing....you know the right stuff to eat; we all know this by now, so I would say don't stress about following a diet.
So very true. I have no plans on following one particular diet, but will be using some of the tools/ideas provided by several. One will be my little electronic point counter from Weight Watchers - not because I plan on counting points (I'm not), but because it helps make some easy judgements on items when shopping. You can find these on Ebay, if you'd like to give it a try.
And don't rule out all your favorite foods just because they aren't healthy; just have them in moderation or as an occasional treat. If you crave something and it won't go away, partake of a bit of it, enough to satisfy the craving.
Unless you're doing a diet that forbids certain foods (and there are many that do), then this is good advice to follow. While on the "Curves" diet a few years back, the instructor always said that if you screw up...start over at the next MEAL, not the next day or else you won't be dieting for much longer.
Exercise, I have come to discover, is key. There is no way around it. Find something you enjoy though as if you hate it, you won't stick with it.
This is the one *I* hate to hear, but know it's true. I don't plan on running off to a gym, but I can walk the dogs longer and I have "The Firm" steps for in-house.
If you don't usually eat breakfast, start. So essential and it kick starts your metabolism. You probably know all of this though!
If you're like me, you're just not hungry in the morning and what if you work shifts? I had a doctor that advised that your FIRST meal of the day is important. So instead of eating at 6:00 a.m. prior to work, I'll pack something and take it with me.
I'm not sure whether to say "Thanks!" or "ummm..thanks? I think." to what you said about me! LOL! Motivational but making you sick? Hmmmm
LOL! Technically, I don't have to explain this to Kim as she knows what I meant. But for those that don't - Kim doesn't make me sick but her motivation when I have so little does!!
***********************************************************************************************************************
The weather has been extremely cold here that I've been worried about Mickey. For new readers, Mickey is one of my cats that insists on living at our old house. Though I know the new owners do leave food out for him, I believe his shelter is under a neighbors shed or around a very weedy house that no one has lived in, in a very long time. When I got off work the other day, I drove by the house; there sat Mickey. I pulled in the driveway, and well....Mickey took off! He JUST won't stay at the new house, he wants nothing to do with it.
We're looking for a Plan B that'll get us through the winter months.
So here's the thing....you know the right stuff to eat; we all know this by now, so I would say don't stress about following a diet. And don't rule out all your favorite foods just because they aren't healthy; just have them in moderation or as an occasional treat. If you crave something and it won't go away, partake of a bit of it, enough to satisfy the craving. Exercise, I have come to discover, is key. There is no way around it. Find something you enjoy though as if you hate it, you won't stick with it. If you don't usually eat breakfast, start. So essential and it kick starts your metabolism. You probably know all of this though!
I'm not sure whether to say "Thanks!" or "ummm..thanks? I think." to what you said about me! LOL! Motivational but making you sick? Hmmmm
Let's break it down:
So here's the thing....you know the right stuff to eat; we all know this by now, so I would say don't stress about following a diet.
So very true. I have no plans on following one particular diet, but will be using some of the tools/ideas provided by several. One will be my little electronic point counter from Weight Watchers - not because I plan on counting points (I'm not), but because it helps make some easy judgements on items when shopping. You can find these on Ebay, if you'd like to give it a try.
And don't rule out all your favorite foods just because they aren't healthy; just have them in moderation or as an occasional treat. If you crave something and it won't go away, partake of a bit of it, enough to satisfy the craving.
Unless you're doing a diet that forbids certain foods (and there are many that do), then this is good advice to follow. While on the "Curves" diet a few years back, the instructor always said that if you screw up...start over at the next MEAL, not the next day or else you won't be dieting for much longer.
Exercise, I have come to discover, is key. There is no way around it. Find something you enjoy though as if you hate it, you won't stick with it.
This is the one *I* hate to hear, but know it's true. I don't plan on running off to a gym, but I can walk the dogs longer and I have "The Firm" steps for in-house.
If you don't usually eat breakfast, start. So essential and it kick starts your metabolism. You probably know all of this though!
If you're like me, you're just not hungry in the morning and what if you work shifts? I had a doctor that advised that your FIRST meal of the day is important. So instead of eating at 6:00 a.m. prior to work, I'll pack something and take it with me.
I'm not sure whether to say "Thanks!" or "ummm..thanks? I think." to what you said about me! LOL! Motivational but making you sick? Hmmmm
LOL! Technically, I don't have to explain this to Kim as she knows what I meant. But for those that don't - Kim doesn't make me sick but her motivation when I have so little does!!
***********************************************************************************************************************
The weather has been extremely cold here that I've been worried about Mickey. For new readers, Mickey is one of my cats that insists on living at our old house. Though I know the new owners do leave food out for him, I believe his shelter is under a neighbors shed or around a very weedy house that no one has lived in, in a very long time. When I got off work the other day, I drove by the house; there sat Mickey. I pulled in the driveway, and well....Mickey took off! He JUST won't stay at the new house, he wants nothing to do with it.
We're looking for a Plan B that'll get us through the winter months.
Time To Re-Think My Weight
Oh yeah – it’s time…it’s time to really consider my weight issue again. I get so jealous over Kim's weight loss and her determination and drive…it makes me sick. But she is motivational and well, that’s what I need - motivation!!
Diets are very frustrating. Let’s face it, there’s weighing, measuring, calorie/fat/carbs/points counting. There’s no easy fix. Choosing the diet to follow is also hard. Oh and I am being told to refer to it as a "lifestyle change" and not a "diet" - like that makes it easier!
There’s lots of diets being offered online these days: Weight Watchers, Curves, Change One, South Beach
Anyway, if you're re-thinking your weight as well, may I recommend Spark People . It's FREE. Just input your information and your weight goals and it will create menus for you. You don't have to use their menus though, you may also create your own. Kim mentioned on her site another FREE site My Fitness Pal. A simpler site than Sparkpeople but it doesn't create menus for you; you input your daily food intake and it calculates things out for you. If you're really set on using one of the above diets, the cheapest way around is to buy the book and then use Sparkpeople or MyFitnessPal with it. Really, if you want to spend a monthly fee - do it at a gym!
A cutting board with a scale and measuring cups attached! Plus some take along containers with removable ice packs. All one kit and reasonably priced. I couldn't resist – I bought it!!
Next step??? Deciding what I’m going to eat and doing the grocery shopping!
A New Year and Back To Work
I'm dreading going back to work tomorrow. The year has changed. That means I have to catch up all the filing, move the 2009 files and start over with 2010. Filing is at least 2 weeks backed up, this is due to people being off over the holidays. See there are at least 2 people I cover for when they are off - who am I kidding, I'm the only one that covers for anyone when they are off. Since all their work ends up in the file room, it is a disadvantage to me to not do their work...but covering another job means my own backs up. No one else helps out; oh I get offers - but for some reason those offers are never carried through with.
That is one of the reason I take no advice when it comes to the files. No one else wanted the job, everyone thinks it's too beneath them to file and well why would I want to take their advice on filing? Please do the job before offering advice.
The other dread at returning to work is that we only had to work 3 days last week; they gave us Thursday & Friday off and let us go early on Wednesday. The one lady I cover for was off the whole week. She'll come back to piled up work just from the holidays - but she'll view it as *I* not doing anything for her (it won't matter that I wasn't there). She'll not speak to me for at least 2 days, and whine behind my back. Actually spending this week in the file room really doesn't seem so bad anymore.
Hubby and I have spent the past 2 days watching the first season of True Blood. I've seen it, but he hasn't (he's only caught bits and pieces of season 2 when I was watching it). I really love this show and am looking forward to season 3 (not sure when that'll start). Hubby seemed to enjoy it as well. Yeah, it was a lazy weekend, but every once in a while you just need one.
No "official" resolutions this year - they seem so useless.
That is one of the reason I take no advice when it comes to the files. No one else wanted the job, everyone thinks it's too beneath them to file and well why would I want to take their advice on filing? Please do the job before offering advice.
The other dread at returning to work is that we only had to work 3 days last week; they gave us Thursday & Friday off and let us go early on Wednesday. The one lady I cover for was off the whole week. She'll come back to piled up work just from the holidays - but she'll view it as *I* not doing anything for her (it won't matter that I wasn't there). She'll not speak to me for at least 2 days, and whine behind my back. Actually spending this week in the file room really doesn't seem so bad anymore.
Hubby and I have spent the past 2 days watching the first season of True Blood. I've seen it, but he hasn't (he's only caught bits and pieces of season 2 when I was watching it). I really love this show and am looking forward to season 3 (not sure when that'll start). Hubby seemed to enjoy it as well. Yeah, it was a lazy weekend, but every once in a while you just need one.
No "official" resolutions this year - they seem so useless.
ANOTHER YEAR BITES THE DUST....
Another year ends.....
Ten years ago we awaited the Y2K frenzy that never happened. It's hard to believe that it's been that long ago!
Nothing special going on tonight...just home on the computer, watching TV with hubby and eating snack food (something that *is* going away starting next week).
But for the most part, everything is the same.
Ten years ago we awaited the Y2K frenzy that never happened. It's hard to believe that it's been that long ago!
Nothing special going on tonight...just home on the computer, watching TV with hubby and eating snack food (something that *is* going away starting next week).
But for the most part, everything is the same.
Megan
The one thing I hate about owning pets, is when they die. That's what happened to my Megan today....
It Was A Long Fun Day!!
Polt commented in my post yesterday:
I'm told that Kim and MJ are on a bus trip to NYC today as well. I wonder if you're all on the same bus???? Or if not, I wonder if you guys will run into each other! Wouldn't that be hiLARious!!!!
I need to make a correction to that - it wasn't Kim and MJ it was Kim and Patsy; and I don't know that because I was on the same bus or ran into to them in NYC (it was neither), but because Kim had told me the day before.
The day started VERY early at about 3:20 a.m. (it was a one day, on your own trip). The drive to NYC was uneventful. I sat with Kim (not the Kim from Polt's post) and two of the teens from church (Kirk and Molly) sat in front of us. I had numerous aunts and cousins on the trip that kept my mom occupied.
They dropped us off by Rockefeller Center and advised they'd pick us up there as well. Rockefeller Center was PACKED with people. I did manage to get a photo of the tree:
When I say PACKED, I mean Wall-to-Wall people. Eventually they barriered off the streets around it so people could walk in the street; this would cause a problem later when it was time to meet the bus - but at that time, we all were totally unaware of this.
It was extremely freezing cold in NYC yesterday meaning that any store or sightseeing activity was crowded due to people looking for heat!! After some wandering, Mom and I headed to Times Square and ate lunch at the Olive Garden to heat up. Some photos from the city:
I just LOVE this city and would so love to live there. Mom and I went to see "Mamma Mia" and Kim, Kirk and Molly went to "Rock of Ages" which they said was fabulous. "Mamma Mia" was very good and tons of fun:
If you ever have the opportunity to see this - DO!! You won't be disappointed.
After the show, we headed back to Rockefeller Center (which was now MORE crowded) and ran into 2 of my aunts and 1 cousin in the NBC Studio Store. It was outside of this particular store we were to meet the bus. While they stood inside, I walked out to see if anyone else was around and it was then I noticed that no traffic was coming down the street. Once we met up with more of the bus people, my cousin Ed (who had been smart enough to get the bus driver's cell phone number) called the bus driver. It was decided the best place to pick-up was a straight walk, 2 blocks down. This is where the nightmare begins.
Obviously not everyone was in the meeting place, we didn't want to just take off and have people show up and not know the new plan. However, my mom, aunts and cousins (with the exception of Ed) decided to do just that without us knowing. Within minutes they were gone. We headed in that direction figuring we'd meet up with them. We get to the new location and well, they're not there. It was then, his cell phone rang and well you know, they're lost. We're figuring they walked too far and needed to turn around. Everytime the cell phone rang they were in worse shape then the time before and we eventually realized they weren't in front of us - THEY WERE BEHIND US!??????? How'd that happen? Well, rather than follow the instruction of "Go straight down 2 blocks"; they went RIGHT (not straight) and down 2 blocks. What a mess!!!
Eventually we all got together, the bus came, and we loaded and did a head count. Oops!! We're still missing 3 people, and they weren't with anyone on the bus and no way of contacting them. Just as someone was going to go back up to the original meeting place to look.....Molly's cell phone rang. Apparently, though never being introduced, the teenage girl knew Molly from school or somewhere and her mother knew Molly's mother. She made a phone call and got Molly's cell phone number. They weren't at the actually meeting place, I think they were lost entirely....they were several blocks ahead though and were able to walk down and find us. Hurray!! Though an hour past our original leaving time, we were now able to leave - but it took another hour to get out of the city.
On the way home they made a stop at a Burger King in Hamburg, PA. We were dying of thirst at this point, but wouldn't you know it. Two buses were already there, one pulled in ahead of us and another was behind. They were dealing with 5 buses!! Deciding to beat the crowd, Kim, Kirk, Molly and I hurried in to order. I got my order and heading out the door....
And now Polt this is where it gets hiLARious; I'm heading out the door and coming in the door is **KIM & PATSY ** fresh off one of the other buses!!!
I got home at 1:00 a.m. Two hours shy of a full 24-hour day!!
Oh, and some sights in NYC are just funny:
I'm told that Kim and MJ are on a bus trip to NYC today as well. I wonder if you're all on the same bus???? Or if not, I wonder if you guys will run into each other! Wouldn't that be hiLARious!!!!
I need to make a correction to that - it wasn't Kim and MJ it was Kim and Patsy; and I don't know that because I was on the same bus or ran into to them in NYC (it was neither), but because Kim had told me the day before.
The day started VERY early at about 3:20 a.m. (it was a one day, on your own trip). The drive to NYC was uneventful. I sat with Kim (not the Kim from Polt's post) and two of the teens from church (Kirk and Molly) sat in front of us. I had numerous aunts and cousins on the trip that kept my mom occupied.
They dropped us off by Rockefeller Center and advised they'd pick us up there as well. Rockefeller Center was PACKED with people. I did manage to get a photo of the tree:
When I say PACKED, I mean Wall-to-Wall people. Eventually they barriered off the streets around it so people could walk in the street; this would cause a problem later when it was time to meet the bus - but at that time, we all were totally unaware of this.
It was extremely freezing cold in NYC yesterday meaning that any store or sightseeing activity was crowded due to people looking for heat!! After some wandering, Mom and I headed to Times Square and ate lunch at the Olive Garden to heat up. Some photos from the city:
I just LOVE this city and would so love to live there. Mom and I went to see "Mamma Mia" and Kim, Kirk and Molly went to "Rock of Ages" which they said was fabulous. "Mamma Mia" was very good and tons of fun:
If you ever have the opportunity to see this - DO!! You won't be disappointed.
After the show, we headed back to Rockefeller Center (which was now MORE crowded) and ran into 2 of my aunts and 1 cousin in the NBC Studio Store. It was outside of this particular store we were to meet the bus. While they stood inside, I walked out to see if anyone else was around and it was then I noticed that no traffic was coming down the street. Once we met up with more of the bus people, my cousin Ed (who had been smart enough to get the bus driver's cell phone number) called the bus driver. It was decided the best place to pick-up was a straight walk, 2 blocks down. This is where the nightmare begins.
Obviously not everyone was in the meeting place, we didn't want to just take off and have people show up and not know the new plan. However, my mom, aunts and cousins (with the exception of Ed) decided to do just that without us knowing. Within minutes they were gone. We headed in that direction figuring we'd meet up with them. We get to the new location and well, they're not there. It was then, his cell phone rang and well you know, they're lost. We're figuring they walked too far and needed to turn around. Everytime the cell phone rang they were in worse shape then the time before and we eventually realized they weren't in front of us - THEY WERE BEHIND US!??????? How'd that happen? Well, rather than follow the instruction of "Go straight down 2 blocks"; they went RIGHT (not straight) and down 2 blocks. What a mess!!!
Eventually we all got together, the bus came, and we loaded and did a head count. Oops!! We're still missing 3 people, and they weren't with anyone on the bus and no way of contacting them. Just as someone was going to go back up to the original meeting place to look.....Molly's cell phone rang. Apparently, though never being introduced, the teenage girl knew Molly from school or somewhere and her mother knew Molly's mother. She made a phone call and got Molly's cell phone number. They weren't at the actually meeting place, I think they were lost entirely....they were several blocks ahead though and were able to walk down and find us. Hurray!! Though an hour past our original leaving time, we were now able to leave - but it took another hour to get out of the city.
On the way home they made a stop at a Burger King in Hamburg, PA. We were dying of thirst at this point, but wouldn't you know it. Two buses were already there, one pulled in ahead of us and another was behind. They were dealing with 5 buses!! Deciding to beat the crowd, Kim, Kirk, Molly and I hurried in to order. I got my order and heading out the door....
And now Polt this is where it gets hiLARious; I'm heading out the door and coming in the door is **KIM & PATSY ** fresh off one of the other buses!!!
I got home at 1:00 a.m. Two hours shy of a full 24-hour day!!
Oh, and some sights in NYC are just funny:
New York City
As you are reading this, I am on a church bus trip to New York just for the day. I haven't been there since Kevin Spacey (3 years as of May 2010) and I do love New York.
I got tickets for Mom & Me to see "Mamma Mia" and I'm very excited about that!
Pictures will be coming.
I got tickets for Mom & Me to see "Mamma Mia" and I'm very excited about that!
Pictures will be coming.
A Nice Party!!
So the family party went very well and we had tons & tons of food:
And that is only a small portion....we had a table with just dessert and one with drinks & snacks as well.
Everyone seemed to have a good time:
And of course, Brenda, Ed and I are in charge from here on out!!!
And that is only a small portion....we had a table with just dessert and one with drinks & snacks as well.
Everyone seemed to have a good time:
And of course, Brenda, Ed and I are in charge from here on out!!!
The Day Begins
Today is my Christmas get-together with my aunts, uncles, cousins & such on my Mom's side of the family. I was one of 3 in charge of this, well sort of........
When my grandmother was alive we spent Christmas Eve at her apartment. All of us (and there's lots of us) smashed in there - but it was happy times. After she was gone, a few years went by that we didn't do anything; then it was decided to rent a room and everyone get together. My mother took charge of this as well as the Family Reunion. She never did it without complaint though - "Why does everyone expect me to do anything?" "No one else wants to pay." "For once I'd like to just be someone that gets to show up."
It had gotten so bad with her, that last year she didn't do anything(Christmas or Reunion). When she heard that some relatives had said how much they missed it, her response was "Well, nothings stopping them from renting a room." In defense of my relatives - they didn't mean it in the way she took it.
Don't get me wrong, my Mom is a wonderful person and I love her dearly. But she does tend to go overboard with things and be a little too sensitive at times.
Anyway during our many family funerals this past year (one right after the other), my cousins and I had said it would be nice to see each other outside a funeral home. Outside the church at my aunt's funeral this discussion was going on and my mother said the issue was finding a room. My cousin Ed picked up his cell phone and within minutes had us a very nice room owned by a friend of his (we've had this room before). Good!! That gave us a starting point. And I told my mother not to worry about it - just show up - I'd handle it.
If only she'd just do that......
After the service I was approached by I don't know how many relatives wanting details on the party....apparently my mother told everyone to come see me. WE JUST GOT THE ROOM - did they really think we had it all planned out already??? What had my mother done - texted all these people during the service???
For someone that just "wants to show up"; she certainly hasn't stayed out of anything. She drove me nuts over getting invitations out (really? everyone already knew); kept telling me she had left over money from previous years (which I haven't seen, but don't really need); and then advised me that I hadn't worded the invitation correctly.
Everyone always brings a gift and we use them as game prizes and such. So I had put that on the invitation, along with a canned food for the food bank, and a 2-liter soda & covered dish to share. My mother didn't hide her displeasure with the canned food addition very well - but she got over it. She informed me last week, that I should have specifically stated the gifts were for prizes as my one Uncle was refusing to come if he had to bring a gift - well.....don't come. Now really, did he think we were going to turn him away???? She's had calls about what kind of gift to bring; and why oh why hadn't I put MY phone number on the invitation???
Very simple reason....IT'S NOT THAT DIFFICULT PEOPLE!! SAME THING WE DO EVERY OTHER YEAR!!!! DID ALIENS TAKE OVER YOUR BODIES????
Anyway, today is the party and hubby has cooked a ham to share; Ed's meeting me at the room at noon; Brenda's bringing turkey and taking care of games; and fortunately it snowed yesterday and not today!!
Later, I hope to have some HAPPY photos to share!!
***********
New washer/dryer came yesterday. As it turns out the one delivery person was the father of someone I work with (small world huh?). Anyway, they are very nice and very quiet:
My house is older and lacks a laundry room and the only place for them is the cellar - so excuse the mess!!
********
Had Cooper at the Vet's on Thursday. He had a high temperature and is now on antibiotics for 2 weeks. He's doing much better now though - pretty much his old self.
When my grandmother was alive we spent Christmas Eve at her apartment. All of us (and there's lots of us) smashed in there - but it was happy times. After she was gone, a few years went by that we didn't do anything; then it was decided to rent a room and everyone get together. My mother took charge of this as well as the Family Reunion. She never did it without complaint though - "Why does everyone expect me to do anything?" "No one else wants to pay." "For once I'd like to just be someone that gets to show up."
It had gotten so bad with her, that last year she didn't do anything(Christmas or Reunion). When she heard that some relatives had said how much they missed it, her response was "Well, nothings stopping them from renting a room." In defense of my relatives - they didn't mean it in the way she took it.
Don't get me wrong, my Mom is a wonderful person and I love her dearly. But she does tend to go overboard with things and be a little too sensitive at times.
Anyway during our many family funerals this past year (one right after the other), my cousins and I had said it would be nice to see each other outside a funeral home. Outside the church at my aunt's funeral this discussion was going on and my mother said the issue was finding a room. My cousin Ed picked up his cell phone and within minutes had us a very nice room owned by a friend of his (we've had this room before). Good!! That gave us a starting point. And I told my mother not to worry about it - just show up - I'd handle it.
If only she'd just do that......
After the service I was approached by I don't know how many relatives wanting details on the party....apparently my mother told everyone to come see me. WE JUST GOT THE ROOM - did they really think we had it all planned out already??? What had my mother done - texted all these people during the service???
For someone that just "wants to show up"; she certainly hasn't stayed out of anything. She drove me nuts over getting invitations out (really? everyone already knew); kept telling me she had left over money from previous years (which I haven't seen, but don't really need); and then advised me that I hadn't worded the invitation correctly.
Everyone always brings a gift and we use them as game prizes and such. So I had put that on the invitation, along with a canned food for the food bank, and a 2-liter soda & covered dish to share. My mother didn't hide her displeasure with the canned food addition very well - but she got over it. She informed me last week, that I should have specifically stated the gifts were for prizes as my one Uncle was refusing to come if he had to bring a gift - well.....don't come. Now really, did he think we were going to turn him away???? She's had calls about what kind of gift to bring; and why oh why hadn't I put MY phone number on the invitation???
Very simple reason....IT'S NOT THAT DIFFICULT PEOPLE!! SAME THING WE DO EVERY OTHER YEAR!!!! DID ALIENS TAKE OVER YOUR BODIES????
Anyway, today is the party and hubby has cooked a ham to share; Ed's meeting me at the room at noon; Brenda's bringing turkey and taking care of games; and fortunately it snowed yesterday and not today!!
Later, I hope to have some HAPPY photos to share!!
***********
New washer/dryer came yesterday. As it turns out the one delivery person was the father of someone I work with (small world huh?). Anyway, they are very nice and very quiet:
My house is older and lacks a laundry room and the only place for them is the cellar - so excuse the mess!!
********
Had Cooper at the Vet's on Thursday. He had a high temperature and is now on antibiotics for 2 weeks. He's doing much better now though - pretty much his old self.
Testing My Patience
It's been a very long and trying day. Sometimes God really tests my patience.
Though completing NaBloPoMo, I once again only end up with the "I Did It" badge on the sidebar. Every year I hope to win one of the many donated prizes (picked randomly), but never do. Eventually I hope to get one of those Sock Zombies.
Hubby had some tests done at Johns Hopkins today and everything took longer than expected. Appointment was at 9:45 but we had to be there by 8:45; we had to leave the house at 6:45. The doctor got behind and well, it was about 11:00 until his started. Then there's recovery and such. When he finally comes out, we're to sit until the doctor comes out. She does and talks to the appointment that was ahead of his. She then returns to the back and opts to have lunch. Comes back and well, starts her afternoon procedures.
Hubby needed to be back at the office by 5:00; we were really pushing it. But finally they took his cell phone number and said the doctor would call (she hasn't).
I had to drive home. I hate driving on freeways - they just scare me and people drive like idiots and things can go to a sudden stop all at once. Fortunately only 30 minutes of the drive consists of this...but I still hate it. To make matters worse, it's pouring down rain and foggy. Grrrr....... I hate driving in the rain and now I have to do it on the freeway.
Obviously we got home okay.
Cooper is sick. I noticed on Monday night when he and I went to bed, he remained where I plopped him on the bed rather than move to my side. That's where he stayed. The next morning he didn't get up with me (he faithfully does that and is constantly underfoot wanting attention). When I got home last night, he was still in bed. I picked him up and took him the bathroom while I took a bath. He's loves the bathroom, but he just curled up on the floor - totally not normal.
I took him to bed with me. This morning, he *did* get up; but then he laid down on the floor. I brought him a bowl of water and he drank a little (he's normally a water hog). I came back in 10 minutes later and he was gone. I looked and then heard a cat in a litterbox in the basement. I went down and he was there. 10 minutes later when I checked, I couldn't find him. Eventually I found him curled up on a table in the basement. I took him back to the bedroom and brought him food, which he did eat a little. Course we had to go to Johns Hopkins.
When we got home, he was still in bed but he did get up. I gave him water a few times this evening and he did drink a rather good amount (though still not the normal). I'm going to call the Vet in the morning.
Though completing NaBloPoMo, I once again only end up with the "I Did It" badge on the sidebar. Every year I hope to win one of the many donated prizes (picked randomly), but never do. Eventually I hope to get one of those Sock Zombies.
Hubby had some tests done at Johns Hopkins today and everything took longer than expected. Appointment was at 9:45 but we had to be there by 8:45; we had to leave the house at 6:45. The doctor got behind and well, it was about 11:00 until his started. Then there's recovery and such. When he finally comes out, we're to sit until the doctor comes out. She does and talks to the appointment that was ahead of his. She then returns to the back and opts to have lunch. Comes back and well, starts her afternoon procedures.
Hubby needed to be back at the office by 5:00; we were really pushing it. But finally they took his cell phone number and said the doctor would call (she hasn't).
I had to drive home. I hate driving on freeways - they just scare me and people drive like idiots and things can go to a sudden stop all at once. Fortunately only 30 minutes of the drive consists of this...but I still hate it. To make matters worse, it's pouring down rain and foggy. Grrrr....... I hate driving in the rain and now I have to do it on the freeway.
Obviously we got home okay.
Cooper is sick. I noticed on Monday night when he and I went to bed, he remained where I plopped him on the bed rather than move to my side. That's where he stayed. The next morning he didn't get up with me (he faithfully does that and is constantly underfoot wanting attention). When I got home last night, he was still in bed. I picked him up and took him the bathroom while I took a bath. He's loves the bathroom, but he just curled up on the floor - totally not normal.
I took him to bed with me. This morning, he *did* get up; but then he laid down on the floor. I brought him a bowl of water and he drank a little (he's normally a water hog). I came back in 10 minutes later and he was gone. I looked and then heard a cat in a litterbox in the basement. I went down and he was there. 10 minutes later when I checked, I couldn't find him. Eventually I found him curled up on a table in the basement. I took him back to the bedroom and brought him food, which he did eat a little. Course we had to go to Johns Hopkins.
When we got home, he was still in bed but he did get up. I gave him water a few times this evening and he did drink a rather good amount (though still not the normal). I'm going to call the Vet in the morning.
The End
Today is the last day of NaBloPoMo and I did it!! A post a day for 30 days. Whew!
I don't know if I'll continue with a post a day, but I am going to try to be more regular.
And CC - you'll be proud of me.....I decorated my bathroom for Christmas!!!
I don't know if I'll continue with a post a day, but I am going to try to be more regular.
And CC - you'll be proud of me.....I decorated my bathroom for Christmas!!!
There Was A Brief Thanksgiving Incident.....
Thanksgiving went very well, but we had one issue.....
I opted to take Keyser to my parents for Thanksgiving and Hubby took Toby to his family's (we didn't spend the holiday together). Toby has been to my parents house on a few occassions, but Keyser hadn't; but I wasn't too concerned.
Keyser actually did very well. He loved the attention; loved the table scraps and loved running up and down the yard. He liked playing with Caden & Maddie.
However.......
Caden arrived with his dog Brita. I've been around Brita and she's always been very well behaved. We were in the kitchen when my sister said "Oh no, they brought Brita." At first I didn't understand her concern. Keyser loves other dogs. She explained that Brita tends to get out of control when she sees other animals. I put Keyser on his leash and hoped for the best. Dogs normally go through a very cautious sniffing of each other; I figured Brita would see Keyser was harmless and vice versa and well they could run in the yard together.......yeah, right.
Brita apparently smelled Keyser ahead of time, the door wasn't even completely opened when she just burst through it and jumped on Keyser, whose hair immediately stood up on ends all down his back (not a good sign). There was growling and some yelping. Since they live the closest, poor Brita had to go home. I felt kind of bad and told them that I wouldn't bring he or Toby again without checking to see what they were doing first. I told them they could have Christmas.
But other than that, it was a good day.
I opted to take Keyser to my parents for Thanksgiving and Hubby took Toby to his family's (we didn't spend the holiday together). Toby has been to my parents house on a few occassions, but Keyser hadn't; but I wasn't too concerned.
Keyser actually did very well. He loved the attention; loved the table scraps and loved running up and down the yard. He liked playing with Caden & Maddie.
However.......
Caden arrived with his dog Brita. I've been around Brita and she's always been very well behaved. We were in the kitchen when my sister said "Oh no, they brought Brita." At first I didn't understand her concern. Keyser loves other dogs. She explained that Brita tends to get out of control when she sees other animals. I put Keyser on his leash and hoped for the best. Dogs normally go through a very cautious sniffing of each other; I figured Brita would see Keyser was harmless and vice versa and well they could run in the yard together.......yeah, right.
Brita apparently smelled Keyser ahead of time, the door wasn't even completely opened when she just burst through it and jumped on Keyser, whose hair immediately stood up on ends all down his back (not a good sign). There was growling and some yelping. Since they live the closest, poor Brita had to go home. I felt kind of bad and told them that I wouldn't bring he or Toby again without checking to see what they were doing first. I told them they could have Christmas.
But other than that, it was a good day.
Some More Of This....And Some More Of That....
I can hardly believe that my vacation is almost over...and for the record, I didn't do a thing but lay around!! But hey, it was so much fun!
Dreading going back to work...you can imagine what the filing will look like and I'm going to be a total b*tch if files were pulled for scanning rather than the current stuff being filed!!!
Thanksgiving went well and I ate WAY TOO MUCH!!
Other than that, things are pretty much the same as always.
Dreading going back to work...you can imagine what the filing will look like and I'm going to be a total b*tch if files were pulled for scanning rather than the current stuff being filed!!!
Thanksgiving went well and I ate WAY TOO MUCH!!
Other than that, things are pretty much the same as always.
