Update

Doctor's appointment went fairly well last night. Thyroid checked out alright, which was a relief. Blood pressure was up a little but not high enough to panic about. No change regarding the asthma, but that was also expected since I haven't done anything to eliminate the allergen triggers within my house. This would involve a few things that I am either not willing to do right now or not financially prepared to tackle. First, I would have to get rid of the dog. Not gonna happen unless one of the kids can take him and neither of them are in an apartment that accepts pets. Second, I would have to rip up the carpeting in the house and put down hard wood floors. Lovely idea, but I can't afford to do that at this time. Another alternative would be to pack up and move. Again, not financially possible at this time. If I was sick all the time, then I would have to take action, and deal with the money issues but I haven't felt this good for a couple of years so I think I am much better off than I was and I will cope with the occasional flare ups when they happen. The good doctor is just gonna have to deal with it. I have to go back for more blood work in 6 weeks and then he wants to see me again. UGH...when is he going to get sick of seeing me anyway? I am already sick of seeing him. LOL
I also had a flu shot while I was there and I haven't had a reaction except for a bit of a sore arm this morning. I think I will be alright.

I worked a little overtime yesterday before my appointment and was asked to go in this morning. I was all for that...it feels really good to be busy again. I didn't even mind getting up early this morning. I worked for almost 7 hours today and then went to the service station to have my car looked at. My heat has been taking a very long time to come up in the car and I replaced the thermostat just last March so I figured it was faulty. I have an extended warranty on my car so I wasn't worried about the cost, but I didn't have an appointment and we are expecting a pretty big snowstorm tomorrow so I thought I would take a chance and see if they could look at it. Brian said they were really busy but if I didn't mind waiting a bit he would try to squeeze it in and see what was happening. I went into the waiting area and prepared to sit for an hour or two. 20 minutes later he came in and told me it was all set. I was down about a half gallon of coolant so they checked for leaks, found none, and filled the coolant container. I just had my car serviced at the same place a month ago and they were supposed to top off all of my fluids. Someone forgot, apparently. Heat is running fine now so no harm no foul. I was just happy they were able to fit me in without an appointment. I try not to make a habit of doing that but when I have, they are really good about it and do what they can.

After my car was dealt with, I ran a few errands and stopped at my parents house for a quick visit. My mom was taking a nap and my dad was busy washing the kitchen floor so I stayed a few minutes and visited with my brother, then headed for Wal-Mart. I picked up a few things, and bought myself the new Eagles CD. So far I like what I have heard. I really love their harmonies.

As mentioned, we are expecting a major snowstorm tomorrow night into Monday morning. Last report stated 6 inches to a foot in some locations. Great...the storm that is hitting the mid west is on it's way. Thanks Denise for being so generous and sending it my way. :-) I took out the shovels and my window scraper and I have to drag out my boots. It's bitter cold outside right now, just 18F and very windy. The sun is already setting and it is not even 4:30.

I think I will go make a cup of tea and get some laundry done in case we lose power during the storm. The puppy also looks like he needs someone to cuddle up with. That would be me!

Laterz

It's Almost FRIDAY!

OK Kerry I got the message. I am not still full. So I will post something, even if it is short.

I spent the remainder of last weekend cleaning and organizing. I wasn't planning to, but when I got the bright idea to put up my Christmas tree, I had to rearrange a few things, which lead to rearranging and organizing a few other things. So the tree is now up and the lights are on but I still haven't decorated it, yet. This is the earliest it's been up in maybe 5 years so I think I am doing pretty well.

I've been a bit busy at work the last few days since my boss Sue has been out of work with an abscessed tooth. My manager has shown some confidence in me by asking me to pick up some of the slack and since it is a few weeks before my yearly work review, of course I jumped in with both feet. I like to consider myself a team player but I also can't help thinking that my efforts will be fresh in his mind when that time comes and it will mean some more $$$ for me. I can hope anyway.

My brothers and I had a conversation regarding Christmas presents the other night and we always say 'just buy for the kids...don't get me anything' etc etc...but no one ever sticks to that plan. So I brought up the subject of a Secret Santa this year and the feedback was quite positive. For those not familiar with Secret Santa, everyone who wants to participate, puts their name in a hat, bowl, whatever you choose, and everyone draws a name. You then buy a Christmas gift for that person. We've set a price limit to make it fair for everyone. There will be 10 of us participating and we are going to get together this weekend to draw names. Ideally it would be more fun if you don't reveal whose name you have chosen. It will make it a bit easier on the few who are having some financial difficulties and we can still have some fun with it and exchange gifts. We all get together on Christmas Eve and have a pot luck buffet, exchange gifts and then play board games or cards. This is my second favorite holiday, Thanksgiving would be the first. I am very blessed to have such a wonderful family and we all love spending time together.

It is getting colder here and I heard something about snow possibly over the weekend. It would be nice if we got some before Christmas but I really don't mind waiting a few more weeks. I guess I don't have much say in the matter. I do need to get the thermostat in my car replaced, again. It takes so long for my heat to come on and my windows to defrost. Seems to me I just had that replaced last winter, but it is under warranty so it's no money out of my wallet. I just need to make some time to get to the service department.

Back to the doctor's tomorrow. He is going to recheck my thyroid (I had the blood work done last week) and follow up on my asthma and blood pressure. I've been feeling pretty good so I am sure things will be fine. I am also going to ask for a flu shot while I am there. I had one last year and had no ill effects from it and stayed flu free so may as well do it again.

Stay warm.

~L~

I Am Still Full

Wow I ate so much yesterday, I don't think I'll eat much of anything for the next couple of days. We had the usual Turkey dinner with all the fixin's and a few extra things. I made brownies for dessert but Jessie brought home made chocolate chip cookies, and my brother's girlfriend made a Mud Cake with Pumpkin Cake, Pudding and Cool Whip. OMG I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I kept some cookies here and I scooped some Mud Cake into a big bowl and it is sitting covered in my refrigerator for another day. I can't even think of food right now.

I had a really nice day yesterday and I hope you all did too. Sara arrived Wednesday evening and I made a home made pizza for us for dinner. Afterwards, I put her to work making stuffing (I use a meat/bread stuffing combo) while I got a few other things together. We watched a little TV after and cuddled up on the couch with the dog. (Who was so very happy to have his girl here, believe me) Thursday morning I was up pretty early and got things ready. Dinner wasn't until 4 but there was still a lot of preparation to get done.
The turkey took a little longer than anticipated but we had plenty to munch on and lots of company to play cards with. There was also football on tv for those who didn't want to play cards. I think everyone ate way more than they wanted, and we had a lot of leftovers, some of which were sent home with some folks. It's always awesome to have the family together and the only one missing was my nephew Jason who was having dinner with his mother's family. I can hardly wait for Christmas Eve now.

I have already been shopping this morning. I got up at 6am and I went to Wal-Mart, and Best Buy. I bought only one item at Wal-Mart for Christmas, the rest of the stuff I bought was all for me. I should wrap it all up and give it to myself for Christmas. LOL I got some great deal on DVD's and CD's and I bought myself some PJ's and a new cordless phone. My other phone just needs a new battery but the battery costs as much as whole new phone...go figure. I also got shampoo and a shower liner, underwear and some Christmas Cards. I bought Sara some pajama's too but those are for Christmas. They have snowflakes on them and they will match the snowflake slippers I got her also.
Best Buy was having a great deal on a Toshiba laptop with printer bundle for $229. I got there around 7am and they were all gone. :-( The store in Concord had two left but that was 45 minutes away and I figured they would be gone by the time I got there. I don't NEED this laptop mind you...I just thought the price was right. Oh well...another time. I also popped into Yankee Candle and picked up a candle for Jessie and Sara and some tealights for me for my tart holder. I had a $10 off coupon if I spent $25 or more. I spent the $25...got my discount and will go back next week to use my other coupon. I love Yankee Candle, always a good bet for a Christmas gift.

I jumped in the shower when I got home, tossed a load of laundry in the washer and am now back in my PJ's having coffee, relaxing and feeling accomplished. Sara took off early and went to Brad's house for the rest of the weekend. He is now living back with his parents in Massachusetts and spent Thanksgiving there. The rest of the day is all mine to do as I wish. I plan on taking it easy for the rest of the weekend. Well, except for putting up my Christmas tree and decorating the house a bit. I want to have that done by Sunday. I think I'll put on some Christmas music and ponder that for awhile.

I am posting a couple of pics that were taken last night while we were all playing cards. Enjoy!

Lainie


Sara and Me



Jessie and Eric


Eric and Crystal

Happy Turkey Day!

More Free Graphics at pYzam.com

Brrrrrrrrrr Baby It's Cold Outside

What a difference a couple of days make. Thursday it was 58 degrees outside. Today it is 39 at 1:30 pm. All the rain we got Friday here in southern New Hampshire was snow up in the mountains. I heard they got between 5-10 inches, depending on elevation. I am glad we didn't have to deal with snow but I know it is just a matter of time. The chill in the air tells the story.

The local Boy Scouts are holding their annual food drive this weekend. Last week they went door to door and dropped off plastic bags for all the residents to fill with one or several items to be picked up this weekend. All food collected will be added to the local food bank. I did my part and added several items to the bag and left it on the porch. Around 9:30 it was picked up. While I was going through my cabinets I realized that I had a lot of outdated canned goods so that got me started on a major clean up. In the last couple of hours I have filled a huge garbage bag with old spices, baking items and stuff I had forgotten I even had. I reorganized all the cabinets and then got started on my counter tops, removing everything, washing down the counters and small appliances and once again, reorganizing. I then cleaned out my freezer. That wasn't as much of a chore because it is done fairly regularly. I did go thru the fridge as well and tossed out the half emptied jars of jelly, salsa and bbq sauce that is most likely past their prime. Nice feeling of accomplishment now. I am taking a break and then I am on to the spare room to start filling my new bookcase and reorganize my books. I'm going to keep the one bookcase I have in the living room but I am going to keep my hard bound books in that one and all my paperbacks in the new one since it is a bit smaller. I have a couple of junk drawers to go through, too. I'll do that tomorrow before I start the shredder and get rid of all that stuff. Good thing I bought extra trash bags this week.

I went out last night with a couple of friends for a few hours and a few drinks. It was fun for awhile. But one of my friends brought along one of her friends and that girl (who can really toss back the rum and cokes) started getting weepy and emotional and the more she drank, the louder she got. I wish people would learn their limits and handle their alcohol better. It made a few of us uncomfortable to say the least and kind of put a damper on the rest of the evening. When she tripped and nearly knocked over another table on her way to the bathroom, I decided I was calling it a night. I came home and met up with some friends in chat...which was a fun way to end the evening. Good to see all of you and thanks to Denise for the tunes. Hopefully I will get in there again real soon.

My break is over and it is time to get back to work.

What A Pan Of Lasagna Can Do

Something interesting happened to me yesterday that has really made me sit back and think about what this crazy world has come to. I am not a paranoid person by any means, but the way the world is today, you can't be too careful. We have to be on guard at all times especially after 9/11 and other terrorist events that have befallen our country. We all know about the increased security at airports and federal buildings and we have to be aware of what we send and receive in the mail. Random acts of kindness are few and far between and those that do come our way are often questioned and discarded because you just don't know who or what might be behind it.

I got home from work yesterday and sitting on my front porch, was a large disposable aluminum pan of homemade lasagna. It was covered and obviously just baked because it was still warm. It smelled delicious. I looked around, not really sure what to think or where it had come from when I spotted a note stuck to the side of the pan. Written on a thin piece of cardboard that was torn from a box, was the following. "God Bless from a neighbor down the street Enjoy!" The handwriting doesn't look familiar to me and I really don't know many of my neighbors. My immediate thought was, 'ok where are the cameras', figuring someone from Candid Camera was going to come around the corner. I think I stood there on the porch for a couple of minutes, dumbfounded, my mind racing. Then I got a warm and fuzzy feeling, kind of like an 'Awwwwwww', thinking wow there are nice people out there. I came inside and set the lasagna down on the counter and picked up the phone, then put it down because I couldn't think of a soul who would do something like this. This definitely is a first for me. I've had a neighbor share apples from her trees, another drop off jackets for my kids that their kids had outgrown, but I always knew where these gifts came from.
I continued to contemplate where this lasagna could have come from and then I started thinking it has to be a sick joke, that perhaps it was tainted. Now I don't think I have any enemies, but hey you never know. I am thinking whoever did this, mustn't really know me, because they would know 6 pounds of lasagna would be way too much for 1 person. If a kind deed was their goal, wouldn't an entire family benefit more from this than someone who lives alone? And considering the state of the world today, why would anyone do something like this anonymously knowing that without knowing where it came from, it could possibly be thrown in the trash? All the time, money and good intentions... down the drain.
I realize that the holidays are fast approaching and these acts of kindness are the Christian thing to do. Back in the day, no one questioned it and it was most appreciated and often reciprocated. I would like to think that someone has a full heart today because they did something nice for a stranger. I would like to be able to say, "Thank you, how did you know lasagna was one of my favorite dishes? and by the way, it was delicious." I would like to be able to do something nice for someone else without causing that person to wonder what I am up to or what I want in return. Isn't it sad that I have a huge pan of lasagna in my refrigerator and I am afraid to eat it or share it because it might make someone very ill? Isn't it sad, that we have to give a wonderful gesture of faith and goodwill such serious thought and consideration? It really does make me angry that this is what the world has come to. Am I the only one who feels this way? It is all so frustrating sometimes, isn't it?

Catching Up

It's been quite awhile since my last post. I have been really tired this week for some reason, but I don't feel like I am coming down with anything. Maybe the whole time change has screwed me up a bit.

We finally got some good news at work last week and we have been keeping pretty busy all week long. Last Friday afternoon we got parts to start building towards an order that is due to ship in early January. Everyone was excited and immediately got busy. It was really good to not be looking at the clock every 5 minutes.

I finally got my desk at work last Friday and my computer on Monday. It's brand spanking new, right out of the box. I was surprised, I really thought I would be getting someone's cast off. I had to go to a PC Orientation Monday afternoon which was kind of boring. Mostly it was all about the different programs I would be using but I really find that just diving in and getting my feet wet on my own is the best way to learn. And of course, I had been using these programs on my boss's PC anyway, so I am already familiar with a lot of it.

I also heard from a very reliable source that we are going to get bonuses very soon. This is very good news, and couldn't come at a better time. Hopefully it will be enough to help with my Christmas shopping.

It looks like I might be getting a room mate soon. Sara has been thinking about giving up her apartment and moving back home for awhile so she can get a handle on her student loan payments before she starts grad school. Of course I told her it would be good for her if she lived here for a year after she graduated so she could save up some of that money but she had her own ideas. She had to find out for herself, which she did, and she admitted I was right. I think once she finds someone to take her place at the apartment she will be coming home. I do love my alone time and I know I complained about her being messy and noisy (and I will definitely complain again) but I do miss her and I know the puppy does too.

Thanksgiving is only 2 weeks away and I still don't know what I am doing. I will be visiting my folks this weekend so I'm going to see what they want to do. Last year we had dinner at their house and my brother's girlfriend, my daughter and I did the bulk of the cooking and clean up so my mother didn't have to. My parents have a much bigger house than I do so it really works much better to have everyone there.

I don't think I mentioned that my niece came home from boot camp a week ago. She got really sick halfway through training and spent a week in the infirmary but they felt she would be better able to get well being back home. She can go back to basic training in 6 months but she will have to start over from day one. Seems a bit unfair but that's the way it is. She's very disappointed but looks forward to getting back into it.

It's been really cold here the last few days and nights. Definitely below freezing the last couple of nights and it is only 27 out there right now. There is 10 inches of fresh snow on Mt. Washington and it will probably snow there again tomorrow. Hopefully we won't see any here for another month or so. I still have to find someone to plow my driveway before it does snow. I will shovel if I have to but I really hate it and it is worth the $$$ to have someone plow. But I think the guy who was plowing for me last winter hit the front end of my car with his plow and he never admitted to it so I have to find someone else for the job. Two years ago he knocked down my fence while plowing and I was standing in the doorway watching him. He saw the fence fall down and just drove away...and played dumb when I called him and told him I was going to use the money I would have paid him to pay someone to fix my fence. He did offer to fix the fence for me in the spring at no charge. I told him if he fixed the fence then I would pay him what I owed him for plowing. I was born at night but not LAST night. Dumbass. LOL It's time for me to find someone else.

Well I think I will say goodnight and head for bed. I have tomorrow off but i don't have anything exciting planned. I got my grocery shopping done tonight and I will run a few errands tomorrow morning, (WallyWorld and the bank) but other than that, not much else will be going on. I want to make a pot of beef vegetable soup sometime this weekend.

Stay warm. Have a good Friday.

Playing Hookey

I decided to take the day off today. I'm not sick, but I just didn't feel like spending another day doing mindless tasks to fill a 10 hour day. I could probably take the whole week off but I hate to waste a whole week when I have nothing planned. Today just seemed like a good day to take off. The weather is fairly nice and today is the Red Sox Rolling Rally Celebration in Boston to welcome and celebrate the Boston Red Sox for winning the 2007 World Series. I seriously thought about going down to Boston today but decided although it would be great to be with the crowd, I would have a better seat watching on TV.
The Rally starts at noon at Fenway Park and ends up on Chardon Street several miles through the center of Boston. The team, front office and all their families will be riding along the parade route on the Duck Boats which are renovated WWII amphibious landing vehicles that you can ride on "Duck Tours" through the city streets of Boston, and then ending the tour as you ride into the Charles River and get a tour of the city from the River. In 2004 when Boston won the World Series, the Duck Boats took the team through the city on the parade route and did take the plunge into the river but that isn't going to happen this year at the request of the players. Several fans jumped into the river to get closer to the boats and were almost hurt in 2004 so for safety reasons they decided to skip that part of the parade. It's too darn cold to be on the water today anyway. I've had the television on for the last hour and it people have been sitting out there for hours already waiting. It's a crazy scene out there and I am glad I decided to stay home.

I spent last Friday evening with Eric and Jessie and some of their friends. I didn't stay long but we had a nice dinner and it was kind of fun to catch up with some of Eric's friends from high school, several I haven't seen for many years.

The rest of the weekend was pretty quiet except for Saturday and Sunday evenings spent watching the last two games of the World Series. I stayed up until 1:30am on Sunday, well actually Monday, watching the post game festivities and I was pretty exhausted by yesterday afternoon. But it was well worth the sleep deprivation.

I'm going to get some chores done. Have a wonderful Tuesday.

Another Friday Off

Thank God It's Friday! It's been a very long week for me and I am super happy to have today off from work. Work is still slow with no immediate signs of improvement. We go day to day, waiting for something to change. I was told by my manager that we would be getting the OK to start on our next contract sooner than expected but still couldn't get a more definitive date out of him. He told me sometimes they negotiate these contracts for up to a month before getting a signature and then it could take anywhere from 30 to 90 days before we can get the parts in house to start production. I'll be insane by January so I hope it will be more like 30 days. Yesterday Cyndie and I played our own version of Scattergories to help pass the time. It actually helped make the day go by a bit quicker and we got to exercise our last remaining brain cell.

I've also been deeply involved with Post Season Baseball. That means a lot of late nights since the games don't start until 8:00. Translated: after all the pre game BS the first pitch isn't until 8:35 or so and being on prime time and nationally televised, there are more commercials too so we're talking at least a 4 hour broadcast. It's at least midnight before I get to bed, unless I fall asleep during the game which doesn't happen very often. Good thing I don't need to be awake at work for anything these days. My Red Sox are winning the series 2 games to 0 right now over the Colorado Rockies but we go to Denver tomorrow and that should give the Rockies a bit of inspiration to have their home crowd behind them.

I haven't been too busy with much else these days. I had a mammogram last week which was normal (yay me) and did a little shopping last weekend for Eric's birthday present. Jessie got him tickets to the New England Patriots game on Sunday for his birthday so I got him a Randy Moss Jersey to wear. I am sure he will like it because he collects things like that. I also got Sara a baseball tee shirt with her favorite players name on the back because they were all on sale. I am going back this morning to pick up a couple of different ones to put away for Christmas gifts.
I also need to stop by Wal Mart and pick up Bo's new CD. Been waiting for that for like forever.

Jessie is having a small gathering for Eric's birthday tonight so that will keep me busy for the evening. He will be 25 on Monday. Wow. That's all I can say.

Sara took her entrance exam for Graduate School last Saturday. I know it has a name but I can't remember it for the life of me now. It is like taking the SAT but only for post graduate work. She said she didn't do as well as she wanted but hopefully it will be enough for her to get into school. She is looking into either the University of Southern Maine or going back to the University of New Hampshire. Both have a program she is interested in. It would be cheaper and more convenient for her to go back to UNH so hopefully that will work out for her.

It's a little chilly here in New Hampshire this morning. My thermometer says 37 degrees and it is 8:15 am. A couple of mornings ago it was 58 at 5am. Mother Nature can't make up her mind I guess. That's ok, as long as it doesn't snow, I can deal.

It's shower time. I plan on getting an early start this morning so I can get my errands out of the way and have the afternoon to relax before heading to Eric and Jessie's tonight. I've had some oatmeal and an english muffin so I am ready to rock and roll.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Halloween Hangman

Have fun!!

October Already

It's been awhile, I know. Not much to talk about but I have been reading and commenting on everyone's blogs.

As you probably know, October is baseball Post Season time. One of my favorite times of the year, for sure. And this year especially because my beloved Red Sox are in the Post Season. So far so good. They swept the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Sunday, 3 games to 0. NICE!! I really didn't think it would be that easy. However, the next series begins on Friday against the Cleveland Indians (who beat the snot out of the New York Yankees YAY!!). This could be a more challenging series for the Sox but I am confident they will come out with guns blazing since they will have had almost a weeks worth of rest. Reports on the 6:00 news tonight state that the players are itching to get going and are more than ready to play. I can't wait.

Work is still slow although I've had a few odd jobs to do the last few days. Just 2 more days this week and another long weekend. I'm looking forward to it, although the weather could make some of my plans a bust. I was hoping to take another ride up into the mountains on Saturday with Paul but it may be rainy. Just going to have to wait and see. I may go on Sunday even if I have to go alone. Paul won't leave the sanctuary known as his living room on Sunday's during football season. (Damn men.)

I finally got the results back from the ultrasound done on my thyroid a few weeks ago and although the news isn't all bad, it's still something I am going to have to keep an eye on. I have a benign cyst and right now it isn't very big or bothersome. But I will have to have another ultrasound done in a few months and my doctor wants to keep watch on things. If it isn't one thing, it's another. I feel like I am slowly falling apart.

I received a letter from my niece Crystal on Saturday. So far she is really liking the military and she said boot camp isn't as bad as she thought it would be (so far). She is expected to graduate in mid November and is hoping to be home for Thanksgiving before getting her school assignment.

That's about it for now. It's about time for my shower and then a little tv time before I go to bed. I've been a bit tired all day so I expect I will be asleep pretty early tonight.

~L~

North Conway

Good Morning

It's a crisp and chilly morning (49 degrees F last time I looked) but the sun is out and the birds and other assorted critters are chirping up a storm out there. I went out on the deck to have my coffee but a major case of chattering teeth and goosebumps got me back inside.

Yesterday was a really nice day here and Eric and I went up to North Conway to check out what Mother Nature was doing up there. I called him earlier in the day to see if I could stop by on my way back from the mountains to drop off a few things and he asked if I could just pick him up on my way up north and he would go along for the ride. We decided to make a sight seeing/shopping trip out of it since there is an Outlet Mall in North Conway. His girlfriend Jessie has a birthday coming up in a few weeks so it sounded like a good idea to have him with me to give me some ideas on what to get her.
I picked him up around noon and we had a very good time. I really enjoy the one on one time I have with each of my kids because that's when I really find out what's going on with them, what they are thinking about, what plans they are making, and all this is done without prying. We've always had an open and communicative relationship and they always feel comfortable discussing things with me. I think because I listen and I am supportive without being intrusive, they just open up. Eric is the quiet one, thoughtful, a bit pensive. He's not one for small talk but once you get him interested in something, he's full of ideas and opinions. We talked about everything from baseball and football to purchasing a home. (I may have a buyer when I am ready to sell my house.) It is so rewarding to see that my baby boy is thinking and talking like a grown up, which is a good thing since he is almost 25. :-)
I was a little disappointed that the foliage up there wasn't more advanced but we did stop in Tamworth at Chocorua Lake and I took a few photos. I might go up to Lake Winnipesaukee in another week or so. I am sure the colors will be much brighter by then.
We stopped at the Outlet Mall and it was pretty crowded but I found a place to park right off. I am not sure how many stores they have there but we walked around for about an hour and a half and I know we probably only saw half of them. I ended up blowing most of my money at the Yankee Candle shop but I got some really good deals. I picked up a birthday gift for Rose while I was there and since Jessie loves decorating for the holidays and other events I got her a really cute ceramic candle holder for Halloween. It had ghosts and scarecrows and pumpkins all around it and Eric thinks she will love it. It was only $15 so I also got her a seasonal candle to go with it. We then stopped at a bookstore and I found a book that I am sure Rose will enjoy so I was very lucky to be able to get all of that done. The only birthday gift left is Eric's and I have all month to pick that up.
Eric couldn't find anything he liked for Jessie but he enjoyed shopping for himself. (Another thing I didn't know about my son.) He really liked the Bass factory outlet and picked up a couple of fleece pullovers and 2 sweatshirts for work. Everything was 40% off and since he has a $200 clothing allowance at work, he will be reimbursed and still have money leftover to pick up some pants.
We stopped for dinner on the way home and Eric convinced me to try some calamari, which I swore I would never eat. It wasn't bad. I think what I ate were the rings or the suction cups as Eric called them, but I drew the line at eating the tentacles.
The rest of dinner was pretty good and we left there pretty full. I dropped him off at his apartment and then started for home myself.

Along the way I was thinking about dropping by Sara's place which is only 10 minutes away from where Eric lives. I was about to give her a call when my phone started ringing. It was a bit weird seeing my own phone number come up on the caller ID. I didn't know the dog could actually dial the phone. Sara was there visiting and was wondering where I was. I told her I was at her house wondering the same thing. LOL
I was about 45 minutes away but she agreed to stick around so I went on home. She stayed a couple of hours and we had a nice visit. It was pretty much a perfect day.

I've added a few pictures from yesterday's adventure including one at the lake where an old guy was actually going for his daily swim. Mind you it was only about 60 degrees when we were there but he says he goes in every day until the end of October and he finds it very invigorating. Yeah ok...well that's one word to describe it. LOL I personally think he's crazy. You can tell the leaves are just starting to change and it will be absolutely gorgeous in another week or two.

It's F R I D A Y !!!

Good Morning. Happy Friday to you!

It sure feels good not having to go to work today. My week has been exceptionally long and I surely am looking forward to not having to deal with the BS for a few days. It's been a week since I did the physical inventory and still...no one seems to see that we have over 400 units that have to be shipped by the end of October and we have very few parts to build with. I don't understand how they run their stock room or how the planners and purchasers have managed to keep their jobs but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that no parts means no builds and eventually that will mean no business. We have 7 people in our department alone with little or nothing to do. Yet, my manager seems to be turning a blind eye to that. One girl who sits in the corner of the room keeps a paperback book on her work bench and has done quite a bit of reading the last few weeks. Another does word search puzzles to pass the time. I've started taking walks through the building just to kill some time. It all makes no sense to me. We keep hearing about all this work we have but I've yet to see it.
Yesterday the CEO provided a BBQ lunch for us all to celebrate a huge contract that they got with the Marine Corps. We had burgers and dogs, mac salad, cole slaw, Italian sausages, chicken and all the fixins. They also had strawberry shortcake and chocolate cake for dessert. The food was really good and we took our sweet time eating and relaxing afterwards. No one was in any hurry to get back to work, that's for sure. The benefit from all that was the rest of the afternoon went by a bit better because we were all hyped up from the sugar.

I did my grocery shopping after work so I could just get it out of the way. I have to get the dog's nails clipped this morning and then I am going to visit my parents. This afternoon I am going to the hospital to visit my friend Elaine who has been there since Sunday. She has been having a lot of dizziness and says the room keeps spinning out of control, so badly that she is nauseous and can't stand up or walk without losing her balance. She's been diagnosed with Meniere's disease which is an abnormality of the inner ear with symptoms similar to vertigo. She had a bad fall a few years ago and broke a small bone in her inner ear which the doctors feel is the root of all of her problems. She was able to walk with a walker for 65 paces yesterday but they aren't going to let her go home until she can get up and walk unassisted and without all of the dizziness. The medications she is on make her a bit loopy too so I don't think they are going to want her to be home alone.

I was watching the news last night and they showed some photos of the foliage way up in Northern New Hampshire. Looks really nice up there! I am thinking I should take a drive either Saturday or Sunday and have a look for myself. The weather is supposed to be better tomorrow so I'm going to put the word out and see if I can get someone to come along with me. If not, I will go alone. I have no problems with that.

Monday I have someone coming to clean my furnace. I purposely made the appointment for early in the morning so I won't be tied to the house all day and I can take off and go after he is done. I also have to get over to my son's apartment sometime this weekend and drop off some mail and things that belong to him.

In my preparations for winter, I had the oil changed in my car and all of the fluids changed and/or topped off. I also had my septic tank sumped out last week. I have a tank full of heating oil and I have 500 additional gallons paid for and on reserve. So I am pretty much good to go for winter. Now all I need is to pay my taxes in December. Then I will be totally broke. :-(

We had heavy rain and severe thunderstorms all through the night but the sun is trying to break through the clouds right now. It may shape up to be a nice day afterall.

One of the biggest county fairs is going on this weekend in Deerfield, NH. The fairgrounds are about 12 miles from my house and there's usually a lot of traffic around Deerfield and my town. I am sure it's going to be a mad house around here all weekend especially since the weather is going to co-operate. I will be staying as far away from the fairgrounds as humanly possible since I really have no desire to be stuck in traffic and I am not a huge fan of the enormous crowds.

It's time to jump in the shower and get my butt in gear. I hope you all have a wonderful day!

This and That

Boy am I glad to have a couple of days off from work. Even with my added computer duties, I am bored out of my mind. Thursday morning I took it upon myself to do a complete physical inventory of all the parts we have on the line. I was very thorough. I collected every wire and screw and counted them all by hand, no scales involved. Which wasn't so bad because we really didn't have that much on the line to begin with. How could we since we are all doing something other than what we are supposed to do? The reason for our lack of parts is mostly because we finished our government contract and we don't have another set in stone just yet to begin working on. I have heard all sorts of rumors but nothing with a signature on it and without that, no one is going to issue parts. Makes sense. We also have a few small orders floating around that we work on sporadicly but again, nothing for the future so material control isn't going to give us parts if there isn't an order to ship it against. It's ridiculous, really. The company is losing tons of money with all these people out of work. Some have been temporarily transferred to other departments but there are a lot of departments in my building who are in the same boat we are in. Anyway, I finished the inventory by lunch time and then got started on the scrap. I collected everyone's scrap from their work stations, separated it, bagged it then logged it. By the end of the day I turned it into my bosses office so she can turn it in and get replacement parts. That should keep a few people busy for maybe an hour or so.

I decided to put in for a vacation day and get some things done around the house that I have been putting off. One thing is to get my furnace cleaned before winter sets in. The other thing I need done is to have my septic tank cleaned out. I made an appointment for the furnace for October 1st and hopefully on Monday I can get a hold of the septic dude and get him to come on the same day. I will also see about getting the dog's nails done that afternoon. I have almost 100 hours of vacation time to use and I think I have 50 hours of sick time on the books too. May as well make use of some of it.

I got up this morning and it was gloomy and rainy outside so I went back to bed. When I woke up a couple hours later, the sun was shining and it was getting warm. I made some coffee and read a magazine for awhile, then watched Survivor OnDemand. I had the show on Thursday evening but got a phone call just as it started so I ended up missing most of it. I think it's going to be an interesting show this season, in China. I like James, the Gravedigger, and John Robert, the poker player. Of course they both are strong and have leadership qualities...which usually means the targets will be on their backs.

The leaves are starting to change around here and every time the wind blows, it looks like it is raining yellow, brown and red. Parts of my back yard are covered in leaves while other sections are still showing signs of green grass. Acorns are ALL over the place. Definitely an abundant supply for the squirrels and chipmunks this winter and believe me, they have been gathering as much as they can carry. I've seen a lot of activity around the back yard the last week or so. That usually means we will be in for a rough winter. We shall see.

I bought all the ingredients to bake bread so I think I will go get busy doing that. It's easy but time consuming so I can get the dough made and while it is going through the rising process, I can get my housework done. Maybe. The Red Sox don't play until tonight and I am not into college football so there shouldn't be a whole lot to distract me. But when it comes to housework, I am easily distracted.

Enjoy the weekend!

Busy Busy Weekend

It's been a very busy weekend and I am exhausted. I am looking forward to my bed tonight, no doubt about that!

The family and I had a blast Friday night at Crystal's going away party. There were 15 of us in all and Crystal was very happy that we all were there. She's nervous, as expected, but anxious to get the ball rolling. There was plenty of chinese food to go around and pretty fruity drinks were had by all. I know there is a group photo on someone's camera and as soon as I get a copy of one I will post it. For now, here are a few shots that I took.


Crystal's sister Shana, my nephew Sean, my brother Henry, my dad, Jacqueline and my brother Dave, my son Eric




my daughter Sara, my mom, Crystal, Crystal's other grandmother, Crystal's stepfather Al and Crystal's mother Robin


Crystal

After the party I went over to see Paul. He was going to go to the party but ended up staying on the job site late to finish up since it was going to rain on Saturday and he wouldn't be able to work. He left this morning for Albany, NY on another job and will be gone for most of the week. :-( Gotta make hay while the sun shines. It will soon be winter which is a very slow season for him work wise, so may as well take the work while he can get it.

I went to Maine on Saturday. Good company, good food, I had a lot of fun. It's always good to see my other family up there. Rick and Blossom always make me feel like I am at home. I'm not considered company anymore. :-) Dinner was fantastic. Rick made his delicious spaghetti sauce and we had pasta and garlic bread, and Pup Pup made a huge pot of chili which was very yummy. Tweetie, Pup, Gene and Nikki were there and Mazz stopped by for a quick visit. There were a few other friends of Ricks and some family members also popped in for dinner and a visit. We stayed up late drinking and talking, (and laughing a LOT).

I got home today around 2pm and did my laundry, made some dinner and I am pretty much ready to hit the sheets. A very busy and FUN weekend.

~L~

Trying to catch up

It's been awhile, I know, and I haven't been super busy this week but I also haven't had a lot to talk about. Not much happening this side of the country, except the weather has been a little weird. Last weekend we were enjoying (matter of opinion of course) 95 degree weather with humidity and today is barely made it to 70 and was windy and cool. Saturday was the worst, 95 at least and very humid. I pretty much stayed inside all day since I wasn't feeling all that great anyway. Nothing I can point my finger on, just feeling lazy, tired, just under the weather I guess. I was in bed by 8pm and was up before 5am Sunday morning. I made breakfast since I hadn't eaten dinner the night before and I was pretty hungry, and watched Brokeback Mountain on HBO. I popped into chat Sunday morning to listen to someone's Inspirational Stream, (y'all can guess who)and after watching everyone go into shock, enjoyed the music and everyone's company for a bit.

I did some cleaning and roasted a chicken in the afternoon while switching between the baseball and football games. That was pretty much my day, had dinner around 5, finished reading my book, and watched TV.

The week hasn't been any more exciting. We had rain all day Sunday, Monday and Tuesday but it cleared up today. Cool tough, but good for sleeping. Work has picked up just a little bit and I've been able to keep busy doing my job and helping Sue with a lot of the data entry. My manager is impressed and has ordered another computer so Sue doesn't have to share hers with me. Hopefully in a week or so I will have my own computer set up on the production floor. Just one more step to a promotion I am thinking. :-)

Friday night is my niece's going away party. As you may know, Crystal has joined the Navy and is leaving for boot camp on September 18th. She's very excited and I think this will be a really good adventure for her. She wanted to go to college but decided that joining the Navy would be a good way to get a college education and see the world a bit all at the expense of Uncle Sam. The Navy is probably the safest for her right now with Iraq going on and all because she won't be allowed on a sub and the Navy is patrolling the seaports and not immediately involved in combat. Anyway, the party is being held at a Chinese food restaurant near my brother's house and it promises to be a good time. I plan on having my share of Mai Tai's. :-) I will con one of my kids into taking pics...since I really suck at it.

I have been invited to Maine to see the Mainiacs on Saturday. I am seriously thinking about going. It's always a good time, that's for sure.

OK I am heading for the sofa. Hope you are all enjoying the week so far.

I'm baaaack!

Howdy Howdy. Hope you all had a fantastic weekend. The weather sure was great on the East Coast, that's for sure. Hot and sunny during the day and cool at night. Just perfect in my book and so far this week has been pretty much the same.

My trip to Jersey was good. The drive went pretty well until I got to New York City. Of course I tried my best to get there before rush hour traffic but I should have left home an hour or so earlier because everyone seemed to have the same plan and I got stuck in traffic several times along the route, particularly in the Providence, Rhode Island and New Haven, Connecticut areas. I also missed a turn somewhere on the highway in the NYC area and ended up going over 4 of the 5 Borough bridges which were also quite congested. That wonderful screw up added another hour to my travel time. I did figure out on my return trip what I did wrong and made the trip home in 5 hours instead of 6.5. I won't make that mistake again, I can assure you. I thought driving in Boston was bad but getting through the NYC area is pure HELL. I didn't even venture off the highway and go into the city. That would be insanity. Even staying on the highway I went past the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan. The only place I didn't get a view of was Harlem, which I am really all set with.

I've been to Jersey before but not this part of Jersey. My friend lives in Elizabeth which is right across the the Goethals Bridge. Once I made it out of Manhattan, I was at his apartment building in less that 15 minutes. I could have kissed the New Jersey soil but I really had to use the bathroom. I had already been on the phone and told him to open the door and clear a path cos emptying my bladder was my number 1 priority. We could hug and all that fun stuff after I went pee. :-)

After a tour of the apartment, we sat down and talked for hours. I hadn't seen Kenny in quite a few years and had never met his room mate, Ron, so we had a lot of catching up to do. Kenny is a friend from school and he's lived in and around NYC for over 25 years. He's done all kinds of interesting artsy things like acting in several small stage productions and he's played in a couple of rock bands, he's worked in a museum, waited tables and worked in a deli. He also helped an ex girlfriend get started on her freelance sculpting and painting career by introducing her to some key people and setting her up in Central Park sketching, painting and displaying her art for sale.
Before we knew it, it was after 8pm and we were all getting hungry. Kenny got started on his delicious homemade mac and cheese and Ron kept me company by showing me a photo album filled with his family's pictures and photos of his vacation last winter in Mexico.
After dinner it was really warm in the apartment so Kenny and I went for a walk around town. I was ever so grateful since I am not a fan of the heat. They have a small 2 bedroom apartment and the heat from the kitchen really warmed up the entire place. By the time we got back it was almost midnight and had cooled off quite a bit.
Ron was kind enough to give up his bed for the weekend and he had already made up the futon in the living room and was just about asleep by the time we got back. I headed off to bed myself...but of course I was in a strange place with lots of city noises and I had a hard time falling asleep. I think it was well after 2am by the time my eyes closed.

We were up around 8 and Ron headed off to work. Kenny wanted to take me down to the open air market before it got too hot so off we went. It was crowded but a lot of fun and wow soooo much food. We bought all kinds of veggies for a salad for Saturday night's dinner and had fresh bagels and cream cheese at a little bakery for breakfast. I also bought a fresh loaf of bread. It was right out of the oven and still pretty hot. Oh Lord it smelled sooooo good. We went back to the car and loaded it up, then took a walk to the park down by the river. He's used to walking everywhere and riding the trains and subways. I am used to sitting my fat ass in my car and driving everywhere. I have to admit, it wasn't long before my legs were ready to fall off. I would never survive in the city.

Saturday afternoon we watched the New York Yankees baseball game on television. (Yuck) LOL OK I love baseball but I am a Red Sox fan and Red Sox fans HATE the Yankees. It was very difficult sitting through that and watching the Yankees win and listening to Kenny brag about how wonderful they are compared to the Red Sox. We will see who wins the World Series next month and I will bet it won't be the Yankees!

Saturday night we made up the salad and Ron brought home steaks and grilled them for dinner. They were delicious, and I have to admit, I was liking the thought of two men doing all the cooking for me. I definitely was Queen for the weekend.

Sunday Kenny and I went back to the park by the river because they were having a Riverfest type of thing and a free concert going on that afternoon. There were a couple of local bands set to play and several booths were set up selling crafts and food and some of the local businesses were promoting their services. Definitely a party atmosphere and we stayed most of the afternoon walking around and listening to the music. There's nothing like really good cheap entertainment. Before going home, we met Ron and his friend Gina and her 2 girls for pizza. Gina said I looked like I was ready to drop. I have to admit, I was exhausted but I had a blast.

Monday morning I had a quick breakfast and hit the road by 11am. I got detailed written directions out of the city without having to go through Staten Island and I was grateful for that. The drive home was actually quite uneventful but I was really happy to see my exit. I was more happy to see my puppy, who greeted me with lots of kisses when I walked in the door. (Eric was sweet enough to come over every day and feed him and take him out for a walk.) I got home around 4pm, took a shower and got the laundry started. I slept like a baby Monday night and hated to get up Tuesday (and today for that matter) to go to work. I hope to get to bed earlier tonight so I can catch up on my sleep.

Oh and while I was gone, someone took a baseball bat to my mailbox. There is a nice dent on the side and I had to bend part of the door back into shape so the door would stay closed. My dad bought me this mailbox last Christmas after my old one was beaten to a pulp by another bat. A few years ago I had to replace my original mailbox because someone hit it with their car and destroyed it. I don't know which is worse...the mailbox vandals or the egg throwers. Either way, it ends up costing me money. If I ever catch one of those little so and so's...I will use their bats on their own heads.

Ok Time to make some dinnah!

Have a good evening, everyone and enjoy the wonderful weather!

Long weekend

I'm leaving for Jersey in the morning. Catch you all when I return. Have a great weekend everyone!

Meet the Parents

We survived! Meeting Jessie's parents last night was not as bad as Jessie had expected. When I arrived, about 10 minutes early, I could tell she was in a state of panic. Her nerves were shot, she was babbling about nothing and everything. Eric was relaxed and chuckling to himself. He told me she always gets like this when the parents are coming. I sat her down and asked her what subjects should be avoided. First one out of her mouth was religion. Then anything to do with weddings, engagements, etc. OK I can do that. Then she said she had to keep her swearing in check because her father really took issue with it. OK again, nothing I can't handle. Then she asked me if I wanted a beer. She said her father wouldn't say anything about her having one (she's underage) if Eric and I were drinking too. Ok I don't need an excuse to have an ice cold beer on a 98 degree day. LOL This was turning out to be a lot more fun than I expected!
Jay and Della arrived a half hour late but had rib eye steaks and boneless chicken marinated and ready for the grill. Introductions were made and we girls sat around talking while Eric and Jay went out on the deck to get grilling. The remaining menu consisted of pasta salad and corn on the cob, and Jay decided to make some garlic bread also out on the grill. Everything was delicious, and conversation flowed around the table. Oh my one mistake...while plating up my dinner, I chomped down on a piece of the garlic bread before sitting down and felt kinda dumb when Jessie said...'Dad, would you like to say the blessing?' Oh shit. LOL (I was told afterwards that Jay had already been nibbling on his steak so I was fine.)

Ok so one of the subjects at the table was about someone's upcoming wedding and that subject was brought up by Jessie. Eric and I exchanged looks. I smirked, he rolled his eyes. Then somehow the subject moved onto whether the couple to be married was getting married in a church or by a JP. Slight segue into religion. I concentrated on my steak. Then the obvious question. "Elaine, you are Catholic, right?" Oh crap...here we go. I shot Jessie a look (through my brilliant smile). She's killing me here. LOL I belong to St. Joseph's Church but I haven't been there in ages. But that wasn't the question, right? I told them yes, I was Catholic and was a member of St. Joe's and that satisfied them.

So after dinner I helped Eric clean up a bit while Jessie and her parents decided on a movie to watch. I was surprised to see their choice was Inside Man with Denzel Washington and Clive Owen only because there is some pretty colorful language in that movie. But they seemed to ignore the language and enjoyed the movie. We talked a little off and on and munched on the turtle brownies I had made for dessert. It was warm in the apartment even with the A/C going and frankly, after 3 beers and all that food, I was ready for a nap. Jay and Della left right after the movie and I was right on their heels. It's a good 45 minute drive for me and I got home around 10.

Not a bad evening at all, I would say. Nothing like Ben Stiller's Meet The Parents!

It is going to be another hot one today although I think thunderstorms are going to make an appearance and cool things off later this afternoon. Yesterday was brutal. When I drove through Dover, the temperature at the bank read 101. I believe it. And the humidity was way up there. It is already 77 and it's 9am. I'll kick on the A/C by noon I am betting.

I don't have any plans for today other than clean my room a bit. I noticed while getting dressed yesterday that there is a good layer of dust on my dresser and I have been very lazy about putting my clothes away. I just fold them and leave the pile on the blanket chest and go through it during the week. It's starting to look like my daughter's room. I'll have to sort through the summer and winter stuff soon so may as well get a start on that.

I am very glad we have a long weekend next weekend and I also have this Friday off so it will be a nice 4 day weekend for me. I am considering going to Jersey for the weekend. Haven't made a final decision yet but it's looking pretty good.


Oh and if you see Mazz or Rick online today wish them a Happy Birthday!

Saturday musings

Good Morning! It is already 72 humid degrees here in the Granite State and it's only 7:30 in the morning. I guess that means we are in for a hot one today. As I peek out my window here, the sun is out but it's a tad bit hazy. The air is still and heavy. The air conditioner will be getting some use today.

I had a fairly unproductive and very long week. I was very happy to see Friday, that's for sure. All of us at work are feeling pretty much the same. We count down the hours and look forward to lunch or our next coffee break. Something has to happen soon or we are all going to go insane. The sad part is our manager just doesn't seem to be doing anything to push some work our way. He just says to keep doing what we're doing, always have something in front of us and keep our hands moving. What a way to run a company! I can't imagine the amounts of money they have to be losing because we are not the only department in this predicament. We even have someone squishing Q-Tips. Yes, that's right. We use the industrial cotton swabs to wipe bond off of some of our parts and sometimes we have to squeeze the tips of the swabs to get into a tight spot. So one of the girls is using a pair of pliers and squeezing the swabs and placing them into a bin for future use. Now there's a carpal tunnel patient in the making.

Thursday evening I went over to Paul's house to watch Disturbia with him and his daughter Jenna. A bit of a change of pace for me because normally I don't go out on weeknights and I am in bed by 9 or 10 pm. But sometimes you have to step out of the box, you know? Ok so I paid for it a bit yesterday but I can catch up on my sleep this weekend. The movie was ok, I didn't get to finish it because it was getting late. We had a couple of interruptions and had to stop the movie a few times but hopefully I can see the end of it soon before I forget the whole thing.

I really enjoy spending time with Paul but being around his daughter is a challenge for me. I can already tell she doesn't like me being in her territory. Paul has been a single dad for 14 years and in that time she has had him pretty much all to herself. Daddy's little girl and all that and yes, he admits to spoiling her a bit along the way. The few times I have been over there she's been cold and rude. I expected the chill but there is no excuse for being rude. The first time I went over there I introduced myself to her and she looked me up and down and then dismissed me by turning her attention to her father. Okay, that went well. NOT! LOL Second time I got a hi...then she high tailed it to her room and left me standing in the kitchen for a couple minutes while her father was on the phone in another room. Thursday night she never spoke directly to me even though I was sitting right there and trying to engage her in conversation. Paul was embarrassed and apologetic. I could tell he didn't know what to do. Hell I don't know what to do. My kids are always polite and friendly to any friend or date of mine that they have been introduced to. I was involved with one particular guy for a long time and my daughter disliked him right from the beginning but she was never rude to him. Well maybe once but he deserved it. LOL The point is, she should get to know me before she decides she hates me. She's not a little kid...she's 18. Time to grow up. But I will hold my tongue for now and see what develops. The way my luck runs...nothing will develop and I am sweating it for nothing. LOL

Tonight is the night I get to meet Jessie's parents. She is very nervous about it all but Eric said he's cool. That's cos he has a cool mom and he knows he doesn't have to worry about me burping at the table or making an ass out of myself. I will have to watch my language though. Cuss words are not allowed. Not that I use those or anything. Well not very often. :-) I have been warned that conversation may be directed towards the fact that Jessie and Eric are living together without being engaged or married. Apparently her parents feel this is wrong and will probably ask my opinion. I will be honest...they are too young to get married. Plain and simple. And I have no problem with them living together. Jessie is a lovely girl and she is responsible and most importantly, she makes my son happy. I see no reason to rush things.

I have to get started on making something for dessert for tonight. I am thinking about whipping up a batch of turtle brownies. Those are always a big hit.

It's up to 82 degrees now. I got distracted writing this post and set it aside for a bit but I better get it posted and get those brownies in the oven before the temperature gets into the 90's.

Enjoy your Saturday!

L