Friday, February 29, 2008

Lazy Friday

Good morning. I have so much I should be doing but I don't feel much like doing it so I am here writing about what I should be doing but am not. :-)

I did manage to get up early and get to the grocery store before 8AM and I got my shopping done. It was freeking cold out there, -10 degrees, but the sun is shining and it should warm up to around 20 degrees by lunch time. We are expecting 8-10 inches of snow tonight into tomorrow. That's not making me very happy, just in case you were wondering.

I woke up feeling congested and my throat was scratchy so I think I have a cold coming on. I picked up some chicken at the store and it is now simmering on the stove. I am making some home made chicken soup so hopefully that will help. I've been drinking OJ all day but it's probably too late to really help much. I just hope I don't get that strain of flu that has been going around. I had a flu shot in November but that doesn't mean I am totally immune.

I've been busy all week at work, catching some OT whenever I can. There's been a lot of inquiries and possible orders being taken so my workload could increase really quickly. It sounds good to me. I was really digging the big checks last month.

My new bed is fantastic. I haven't had any trouble getting used to it. The only 'issue' is my bed sits a lot higher now than my old one did, and I have to practically climb up into it instead of just laying down on it. I have short stubby legs and it was kind of funny figuring out how to get into bed that first night. LOL But I managed, and I am considering a trip to Walmart to pick up a foot stool so I don't pull a muscle trying to go to bed. It is like sleeping on a cloud though, and I have slept completely through the night ever since Saturday.

It smells good in here. The chicken is all cooked and I have it cooling now. The stock is nice and rich and I am going to add some vegetables and noodles too. There's nothing like home made chicken soup to make a -10 degree day feel warm.

The laundry is done now so I should get it folded and put away. I am feeling a bit better so I might get out and head to Manchester to run some errands before the snow flies.

I hope you are all having a good day. Stay warm and dry.

Me

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Even The Snowmen Are Sick Of Winter

I feel very much like this poor snowman does.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Where Did The Weekend Go?

It's been a busy and productive weekend. Even though it was snowing on Friday, it wasn't snowing too badly so George and I decided to meet for dinner anyway. I got out of work early so I took my time and drove to Concord, which is approximately 20 miles from where I work. Normally it would take me less than 30 minutes to get there but with the snow, I took my time and made it in an hour. There was a lot of traffic on the highway and I saw a couple of cars off the road so I decided to get off at the next exit and take the back road, which turned out to be much better. There was less traffic and the roads were actually treated much better than the highway was.
George arrived a little while after I did and we had a nice dinner. There were only a few other nut cases out for dinner that night. We had a nice meal and a good time, and a couple hours later I headed home. I took my time and again took the back roads home.

Saturday I continued to clean up my room, and my new bed arrived in the early afternoon. All I can say is wow...was I ever in need of a new mattress. It's funny how you don't realize just how bad your bed is when you are used to it being lousy.
It was a bit of a struggle getting the new mattress in my bedroom because there isn't a whole lot of space to maneuver but we managed and got that beast situated. I spent the rest of the afternoon making up the bed and putting things back in place. By 6 PM I was exhausted but I still had to get groceries so I put my shoes on and went out to the store. I was hungry too which is a really bad move. LOL I ended up spending about twice what I would normally spend on food, but I should have plenty for a couple of weeks. I made dinner, ate, and all I wanted to do after that was lay down. I jumped in the shower and crawled into my new bed to watch tv, but it wasn't long before I fell asleep. And I slept pretty well until 3:30 this morning. I guess going to bed so early wasn't such a good idea after all.
There isn't a whole lot to watch at 3:30 in the morning but I found the movie Back Draft on TNT and watched that for awhile. I think I fell back to sleep at some point because the next thing I knew it was 7AM and I figured I should just get up.

George came over at 10 and we went out for breakfast, then took a drive up the coast for part of the day. It was a pretty nice day, sunny and almost 40 degrees, which is really good for this time of year. We came back here and he cooked dinner...which was a real nice treat. He made a German dish called Rouladen, which is thinly sliced beef with mustard, bacon, onions and peppers all rolled up and simmered for an hour in beef broth. We also had mashed potatoes and gravy. It was delicious. The meat was so tender, you could cut it with your fork. And yes, I do enjoy his company as well. It is certainly much better hanging out with someone than doing everything alone.

I had a minor mishap while doing dishes, however. I sliced my ring finger of my right hand on a sharp edge of my meat tongs. I bled for quite awhile and was getting a little concerned I might have to drive myself to the ER but I finally managed to get my finger to stop bleeding. It's wrapped up right now making it not so much fun to type, but I think it'll be ok without stitches. I probably should stop using it and keep it elevated for awhile.

My belly is full and I am getting sleepy already. I am forcing myself to stay up until at least 9...but I think it is going to be a challenge. I hope there is something on TV that will keep my interest. I know if I open my book, I will be a goner and I'm not really interested in the Academy Awards. I think I'll go put my feet (and hand) up and call it a night.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

It's Almost Friday!

Short week for me this week and so far so good. We sold another 300 units to the Army on Tuesday, several days before our shipment was actually due. Dang we are good!
Got some good news today too that a co-worker (I use that term loosely since he is actually a rat in co-workers clothing) is transferring out of our department and to our other building. YAY!!! I couldn't be happier. He has caused a lot of stress in our department with his childish ways. I got his number several months ago because I caught him in a lie or two, but it took the other girls a little longer to figure him out. He's tried to pit us against each other and he has thrown each of us under the proverbial bus at one time or another. I say good riddance to bad rubbish. I personally know the supervisor he will be working for and she is tough as nails. I think his days are numbered, but time will tell.

It was 55 degrees here on Monday but it was foggy and rained all day. We did have some significant snow melt which is always a good thing. I am trying to be patient but I really really want it to warm up for good around here. We were back to cold temperatures yesterday and today it was only in the mid 20's. I am hearing possible snow on Friday. UGH!

If the weather doesn't get ugly on Friday I am having dinner again with George. We've had several phone conversations since last Friday and still have a lot of catching up to do. I also think he's a bit bored and lonely so what the heck? No sense in both of us sitting at home doing nothing when we could sit together.

My new mattress and box spring will be arriving Saturday morning. I am excited. I can't wait to ditch that old mattress. Every time I roll over I have a spring poking me somewhere.

I should get into the shower. Hopefully I will be able to stay awake for awhile tonight so I can watch some of the lunar eclipse.

Enjoy the rest of the week.

~L~

Sunday, February 17, 2008

A Blast From My Past

I've had a pretty good weekend and I hope you all are as well. I had Friday off and pretty much ran errands all day, paid some bills and did a little laundry. Friday evening I had dinner with someone I used to hang out with in high school. It had been well over 22 years since we'd seen each other and he called me out of the blue last weekend. We talked for a long time on the phone and decided we had better just get together since we had a lot more catching up to do. So Friday evening we met at a restaurant in Concord and had a few drinks and a nice dinner while we got up to speed.
We used to hang out with the same group of friends in high school and went to the same parties. We even worked at the same electronics company for several years during and after high school and attended each other's weddings. He's now separated and starting over and I can certainly relate to how hard that can be after being with someone for over 20 years.
He hasn't changed much, just a pair of glasses now and a little gray in his hair. He said I haven't changed a bit. I hope that's a good thing. It was a riot to reminisce and I found that there was a lot I had forgotten. I really hope we can get together again before another 20 years goes by.

Saturday was housework day. I am still trying to clean out and rearrange my bedroom. I didn't realize how much junk I actually have been hanging on to. I have filled several garbage bags to be taken to Goodwill and also have a couple to go out with the rubbish on Tuesday. I want to be all ready for when my new mattress and box spring arrives next weekend.

I spent the afternoon and part of the evening at my brother's house. My niece is moving to California on Tuesday so my brother had a nice dinner for her. Who knows how long she will stay there. She's a bit of a gypsy, I don't think she quite knows what to do with herself but maybe she will find something that makes her happy there. She has an aunt that lives a bit north of Los Angeles so she will be staying with her for awhile.

I have tomorrow off and I guess I will spend part of the day putting my room back in order. I have a couple of movies to watch and several books to read so I won't be bored. Most everyone I know is working tomorrow so I might just kick back and watch the soaps in the afternoon. Haven't done that in ages!

I hope you all had a nice weekend and the upcoming work week isn't too stressful.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Saturday, February 09, 2008

Busy Saturday

I was lucky enough to have this whole weekend off since we are pretty much caught up with work so I slept in a little bit this morning and got up around 7:30. I jumped in the shower because I wanted to be the first one at the hair salon this morning so I wouldn't have to wait. It's mostly a walk in place and although they do make appointments, I am one of those people who has to get my hair cut when I decide to otherwise I will change my mind and never get it done. I've been putting it off for several months now and when I make up my mind to do it...it's best if I just go, like NOW! So I walked into the place 15 minutes after they opened and sure enough I was the first one there. I had her cut off about 4 inches from the length and then add layers to give my hair more body. I have a lot of natural wave to my hair but it was so long and heavy that you couldn't tell. Just shearing off those 4 inches really made a difference and the layers took off some of the bulk. It's still long but I have very thick hair and it feels so much better now without all that weight.

I got some coffee and ran a few more errands, then went into Manchester to do a little shopping and meet my friend Elaine for lunch. I went to Bed Bath and Beyond and ended up not buying anything because I couldn't justify using my gift card on something I really didn't need. I did buy a new wallet at WalMart because mine was ripped and a bit of a pain in the ass (must be from lugging around all that money I make).

I met Elaine at Panera Bread and we got something to eat and sat and talked for about 2 hours. It was really crowded when we got there and the only table available was dirty but have no fear...Elaine has grandkids and always carries a package of WetWipes, so she cleaned off the table and we were all set. I got a Chicken Chipotle Sandwich and a water, and she got a Harvest something or other salad. I like salad but that didn't look appetizing to me and it has walnuts on it which I am allergic to, so I am glad I stuck with the sandwich. We always have a lot to talk about. I have known her for about 35 years.

That pretty much was my day. I am doing laundry now because with the approaching snowstorm, you never know if the power will go out. I am full so I will skip dinner. If I get hungry later, I can have a bowl of cereal or something.

It looks a bit ominous outside, clouding up and getting colder. The last I heard was they were predicting 6-8 inches of snow. We've had an entire week of storms, and I know we aren't alone. It's been stormy everywhere this week, just not everyone seems to be getting snow. Although I did talk to someone from the Dallas, Texas area mid week and he said it was 70 there and sunny. Well goody goody, aren't you special?? LOL

It's been a really good week work wise. We've been busy every day but it's a nice steady pace. Not crazy or anything like it was last month. I only have to work Monday thru Thursday next week and then I will have a 4 day weekend because Friday is my "off" Friday and Monday the 18th is President's Day. Looking forward to that.

I just looked outside and it is snowing. Oh happy day. Either it will get over earlier or drop a few more inches of snow. I may be able to see my grass by June if I am lucky. It's pretty scary pulling out of my driveway because the snowbank is piled up high on both sides and I can barely see over it. I've been exiting my driveway by turning right and going down to the end of the road and turning around because it is less dangerous than going left and crossing into approaching traffic.

I am heading for the sofa to read. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that the power holds. Enjoy your weekend.

Monday, February 04, 2008

Is It Spring Yet?



I'm ready for some baseball. Needless to say I am soooo disappointed with the New England Patriots. What a huge letdown. The best team playing yesterday definitely won and congrats to the New York Giants for doing what very few people thought could be done. I didn't win any money on the Super Bowl pool but on the bright side, I guess I will be saving some money on Championship tee shirts and gear.
On that note...spring training is only a few weeks away so I say bring on the boys of summer!

We are expecting snow after midnight tonight and that means a messy drive to work in the morning. The word is a couple of inches down here in southern New Hampshire and several inches north of here, but everything will be turning to rain around the morning commute. Lovely.

Dinner time. Hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Friday, February 01, 2008

I Wish I Was Here...




Will this winter ever end??? Not looking like it, but I guess since it is just February 1st, I shouldn't expect much. It just seems like it's been winter here since Thanksgiving.

I was at the Hyundai dealership having my car serviced this afternoon when the sleet started. The weatherman had been saying all morning that it was going to start somewhere around noon and he was just a bit off the mark there. I suppose it could have started around noon in the western part of the state, and since I live in the eastern part, it was just after 1PM when the wind picked up and I could hear the tiny balls of ice hitting the side of the building and the windows. I kept looking at the clock on the wall because I had been there about an hour already and I was anxious to get the hell out of there and go home. I had to work this morning and purposely made my appointment at 11:30 so I could get the work done on my car and be securely tucked away in my house and off the roads before it got nasty outside. Of course, my best laid plans usually go awry and today was no exception. While servicing my car the technician noticed my tires were wearing and since I always take my car there, he knew that my tires were not very old. He investigated and noticed my front tie rods were quite worn and that was throwing my front end out of alignment, causing the additional wear on my tires. Sooooooo he recommended they be replaced and since I was already there and the car was up on the lift...yadda yadda...you know the drill. Add a few more bucks to my bill. I really am not complaining since they always treat me well there and usually can do whatever needs to be done without making me wait very long. I've even walked in once in awhile to ask a question and they look at my car and fixed my problem right on the spot. The service manager also added a nice discount on my oil change (free) since I had some unexpected expenses today so I'm happy.
Anyway, I had a perfect view of the weather from the window and saw it change from sleet to snow to freezing rain and back to sleet all in about 20 minutes. By the time I got out of there and on the road, the pavement was covered with sleet which made it a little slippery especially when taking corners. I really had to take my time going home and decided as soon as I hit the highway that the remainder of my errands were going to wait until tomorrow. I was only able to travel about 45 MPH on the highway but made it home in one piece. And home is where I plan to stay.

It is sleeting right now and the last report on the news said it will change over to all rain in a few hours which is going to be bad because it is already below freezing now and all of the roads will turn into a skating rink. I just hope we don't lose power later on. I have some water set aside in case we do and have the candles ready.

Work has been really busy lately and I think I put 55 hours in this week. I am not working tomorrow so it will be nice to have 2 full days off. We are a month into our new contract and things are going pretty smoothly. We've not had any issues with parts which is good because a few departments have been waiting on some things now for a couple of weeks. Keeping my fingers crossed. Parts related issues are usually our worst enemy.

Personally, nothing much has been going on. Last week I took my parents out for dinner to celebrate my dad's 78th birthday. We went to his favorite seafood restaurant and I had to fight him for the bill but I won...this round. He is one stubborn man, I'll tell you what!
Last weekend I met a couple of girl friends for lunch. We went to Chicago Uno's and I ordered the bacon cheddar burger (well done) and some onion rings. My burger was quite rare and I hate sending food back because you never know if the cook is going to sabotage your food out of spite. I was reluctant to say anything but my friends burger was also not cooked to her liking so she said something and the waitress was more than happy to have our food redone. The manager also came out and was so apologetic, she ended up taking both burgers off the bill. I did end up eating most of my new burger which was pretty good and we got some gift cards for a return visit. Usually I enjoy the food and the atmosphere there so I guess I'll give it another chance and see how my next experience goes.

I guess I had better transfer my laundry to the dryer in case we lose power later on.
I have a movie to watch too so now seems like a good time to do that.

Have a great weekend!!