Monthly Archives: June 2010

Wine & Cheese – 3rd Serving

Posted on by

5

Every Wednesday I devote a blog to whining.  Despite being a really happy, positive person, I do have things that annoy me at times.  I never let anything grate on my nerves for long but thought it would be fun to vent them periodically in my blogs.  I also feel that good things, the cheese in life, should be acknowledged as well.  I’m even going to throw in a bit of dessert, a piece of virtual chocolate, something that made me laugh or smile  just a bit more than normal.  Welcome to Wine & Cheese Wednesday:

A 3rd Glass of Wine

Curly Cuff Hems

You find a great pair of jeans, they fit all over just right, on sale, just makes the shopping experience.  You take them home, wash them and wear them and girlfriend you are looking good!  After a few more trips through the laundry the hem starts to curl up and flip like a micro mini cuff on one leg of the pants.  Not both so at least the  dorky fashion flaw would apply to both sides, nope just one leg.  You iron it under, and still sooner or later in the day that one leg flips up.  NOTHING will keep it down! Grrrrrrrr…..Even had it happen with denim skirts on ONE side, or  front/rear, what is up with that?

Skirmish With The Sandwich Baggies

Make a nice sandwich, 2 pieces of yummy 12 grain bread,  some  ham,  a couple of slices of cheese, maybe some mayo  to  top it off. Put it all together, pull out a sandwich baggie from the box, and the dang thing is shut tight.  The seal is…well sealed!  You try to pull it open with the fingers you can spare while holding your lunch creation but it is not happening.  Grasping the baggie  with the fingers of your free hand you bring it to your mouth and attempt  to use your teeth to pull one side while the hand pulls the other.  Seconds later the top of the baggie rips off, one side rips open and you have a piece of plastic in your mouth and the damn baggie is still sealed up tight.  Pitching that one you put the sandwich down, get a new baggie and attempt to pry it open  with two hands, which is next to impossible because there is not enough residual plastic at the top to get a hold of to pull  to get it open! Finally the seal  gives, you open the baggie, pick up the sandwich and before you can stick it in the baggie sides stick together with static.  ^%$#@! all the more reason to buy a reusable, square, plastic sandwich container!

Feline Frenzy

What is up with outdoor cats?  People go out, get a cat for a pet, then let it run wild.  Once a day they find a way to lure it home for food, then turn it loose against the odds of becoming road kill.  These felines are neighborhood nuisances  getting pregnant then giving birth to a bunch of kittens under someone’s deck or porch.  They mess up flower beds all around the suburbs using them as litter boxes, or worse yet some child’s sandbox.  In the wee hours of the morning, long after everyone is in bed, and quite sometime before anyone needs to rise, they confront other cats and fight, making horrid  noises  which then get all the outside dogs  and a good number of inside  ones, barking.   Please, what kind of  pet  only comes home for dinner?  Well other than a husband?  If you want a cat, keep it in the house. If you are allergic and cannot find medication to allow the cat to be indoors, try a gold fish.  At least then you can see your critter and it isn’t disturbing everyone  else.

A Serving Of Cheese

Unexpected hugs

Those are often the best kind!  Warm embraces that let us know that we are loved and appreciated.  I had just such a hug last night.  At the end of the day,  after coming home mad as a hornet and suffering PMS from the pit of hell, I had calmed down and was at my desk on the PC.  My 16yo niece, Jeanne, came in my room to say good night and sat in my lap, wrapping her arms around me tight.  “I love  you, Aunt Marti, I’m so glad you are here  with us.  Please don’t date, I don’t want you to end up leaving us.”  She will never know how much I really needed that and how warm it left my heart.

Pretty In Pink – Temporarily

I love wearing my bangs dyed pink for no other reason that it is just FUN!  I don’t care that I am 47yo, I enjoy them this color.  I went to purchase more dye so that my stylist can make them pink next  time I’m in for a trim (it lasts about 2 weeks) and discovered pink spray in a can!  It washes out in the next shower so if there  is some reason not to have pink hair, I am not committed to the color change beyond the next hair washing.  I was very excited to say that least!

Open Window Weather

I love this time of year because it is not winter.  I love opening the windows so that I can hear the birds chirping first thing just before the sun rises and feeling a gentle breeze blowing through the screen. I love hearing the laughter of kids playing outside too.  Pixel kitten has discovered the joy of an open window too,  sitting there  watching the world go by from my window sill.

A Little Dessert:

My car talks. It says things like “your door is ajar”, but never anything really helpful like, “there’s a trooper hiding in the bushes.” - from FUNNYONELINERS Twitter feed.

PMS, Pixel Dust & Fantasy Dialog

Posted on by

13

7 years ago I had a hysterectomy and while it released me from monthly visits from the menstrual fairy, it did not relieve the PMS symptoms that invade my otherwise pleasant self and morph me into some kind of a demon possessed freak.  If anything, I would say that the older I am the more vicious and scary that demonic aberration can be.  I have 2 distinct days when it hits, and about every 3rd month the symptoms are to the extreme.  One day being the depression day, when I have the blues and will cry at the drop of a hat over ridiculous things, the other is anger day.  I feel it push the rock from in front of its cave, oozing out to course through my veins, taking over any rational thought or irritation and turning into a nuclear melt down.  Yesterday was odd, both hit at once and I flipped back and forth between them as if someone was randomly flipping a switch.  Thankfully the Lexapro does keep things in check so rather than a full blown radioactive disaster we just had a bonfire of anger at times.   I took it out on the soon-to-be ex-husband, who better?

The dung hit the fan blades when I began thinking about the 26 year old bimbo that began sending him her photos on his cell phone within a week of him telling me he wanted a divorce.  She turned up on his Facebook friends a few months prior.  He bragged to some coworkers about this 26 year old being interested in him when the pictures started coming, a big hairy deal for a 45 year old man.  I’m supposed to believe him that she was not in the picture prior to his sudden shift in attitude toward me in those months before telling me he wanted out but that is a little tough to accept.  No man I have consulted for a guy’s opinion is buying it either, in fact all of them kept telling me this divorce likely had more to do with another woman than me.  I got upset on my way home from work thinking about how I had to give up MY husband, house, hot tub and pool and this little tart is now using all of those AND sleeping in my bed.  The embers smoldered into flames and I decided that I was not in the mood to be cooperative with him.   It was an evening of signing paper work that he had not brought the first time and providing copies of my drivers license.  I was NOT in a good place to say the least but happy to report that my prince turned loser in tin foil and I will be officially divorced on August 2nd.  A Monday because the courts don’t do divorces on Fridays.  I wanted it on our anniversary, thought it would be funny to end it on the same day it began but this year August 13th is a Friday, which would be even MORE fitting!

Fantasy dialog – those things you WANT to say or do but don’t, except to someone close to you that knows you’d never really flatten all 4 tires on the car that is parked entirely too close to yours when you come out of the store.  It is a form of venting.  Like last night after king of the swine (hey HE is the one that told me all men are pigs) stopped by.  I told the other Divas that, since the royal oinker is even more allergic to cats than I am, I’d love to take Pixel kitty over there and rub his pillow cases all over her the next time he is on duty at the fire house.  Cat dander would have his baby blues swollen shut and watering by the time he woke up sneezing all over himself.  My mom chimed in and referred to the dander as Pixel Dust.  Not to be confused with Pixie Dust, Pixel Dust isn’t going to help anyone fly no matter how many happy thoughts they can think.  Though if it was Pixie dust, it was one deliciously gleeful thought for me that would have had me soaring above the clouds!  Hmm..maybe rub his bath towel all over her too.

Today is a new day, the sun is shining, the weather is beautiful, and the evil monster is back in her cave.  Marvi me is back in her glory, wishing nothing but prosperity and happiness for the ex-hubby to be, right after a piano falls on his salt and pepper haired head. *wicked evil grin*

UPDATED 7:45PM

Seems the little ho-se bunny is MARRIED! Found her on my  son’s Facebook, along with her husband’s page, and they have a child,  looks to be about 2yo.  How precious  is that! Wonder if the hubby (who is a co-worker of one of my offspring) is aware  his  wife is spending a lot  of time in my former bed with the soon to be former hubby? Wondering is that the sudden rush to empty out the spare bedroom? Moving her and the little bundle of joy into  the house? How  delicious is that!  *wondering* will the little  girl call Pete step-daddy…or GRANDPA since he is old enough to be her momma’s daddy…..

I Am One With The Bean

Posted on by

5

It is Monday and it helps to be caffeinated.  VERY caffeinated.  That is the other thing about working and significance to days of the week, Monday means something again.  It means if I am smart I went to bed early Sunday evening.  Note:  Seems I’m just not all that bright? I am burning strong at night light wattage brilliance when it comes to getting a good night of sleep.

Coffee – just get the IV drip bag and I should be good to go, my liquid jumper cables, something to get me going again.  I am kind of shocked that I’m not a lot more sleepy, I did not get to bed at 9:30 last night as planned.  It was 10:30 and then I had insomnia.  I could not fall asleep even though I was so comfortable and tired.  I listened to an impressive storm roll through, watched Pixel kitten freak out over the lightening flashes outside of the window, ducking between me and my body pillow now and then.  When I did finally fall asleep I kept waking up all night for some reason.  I intend to be in by 9:30 tonight, but we shall see.  My grandmother used to say the road to hell was paved with good intentions.

Coffee is the life blood of the Princess Palace.  My mom, sister and I are huge drinkers of java.  We like it all, regular and flavored, if it is ‘leaded’ we drink it and entirely too much.  Some where out there is a study my aunt read that indicated adults who consume a lot of coffee could be ADHD and the caffeine is working like a medication would for them.  I wouldn’t doubt that at all just based on unscientific observations of my family.  My sister found a Bunn coffee maker for home that is the most prized possession in the house.  In less than 3 minutes it brews a full pot of coffee!  We stop just short of paying homage to it each morning, we need to give it a name it is so special to us.  There is no crisis that cannot be overcome if we gals have coffee in hand!

It doesn’t matter that it is in the upper 80s and humid outside, after dinner it is coffee on the deck.  In the mornings, before anyone has anything to eat, we are reaching for the coffee.  Have a problem to work through and need the other Divas in the household to talk it over? Get the coffee pot and some cups.  Working on a blog isn’t happening without a hot cup of coffee on the desk.  Had a great day at the office or shopping for bargains, by golly it calls for some coffee!  Yes, we DO have an addiction issue here.  You know you have a problem with the bean when you drink a lot of coffee before bed and sleep like a brick.  Hmm…maybe that was the issue last night, I didn’t have coffee, I had a beer.  Note to self: Coffee before bedtime.

It is Monday, caffeine will help, I am one with the bean!

Coffee & Bedhead

Posted on by

6

Ah bedhead!  Hair going in more directions than a bowl of spaghetti, great black mail material if anyone around you has the nerve to snap a quick photo.  That is more or less what my blog is about today, just a directionless tangle of thoughts to spill out over that first cup of coffee.

I am sporting a lovely bedhead do this morning which is my usual fresh from the pillows look.  Using a paste or clay to achieve my hair style lends to some pretty interesting hair displays  when the sun comes up.  Add to that a kitten, who sleeps by my head and feels the need to fluff, gather, spread out and kneed my locks before she sleeps and the end results are down right scary.  The rest of the Diva Den sports some very special looks too as a result of deep slumber, hair care  products and the big cat.  We don’t need the hand guns we each have, if someone breaks in we’ll just all appear out of the darkness and the intruder will think he/she has arrived in Dawn Of The Living Dead hell!  Weekends we all take awhile to get moving, just enjoying our coffee, the newspaper, catching up on emails (our kitchen looks like a mini data center with 5 laptops at the table) and moving at our own pace.  Bedhead is the fashionable breakfast attire  here.

Saturday mornings, like Fridays,  have meaning again in my life.  I thought I would enjoy being off work when I lost my job for a year and a half but after awhile it got rather boring laying poolside.  I enjoyed the tan, getting in the pool to vacuum and all my girlfriends showing up during the summer, but after a while even that got old.  Since many are teachers, come the start of  the school year I had to entertain myself.  Fridays were not a big deal when off  the rest of the week and I slept  in every day.  My kids were grown so I didn’t have them to take care of, it wasn’t long before I was bored out of my mind and wanting to go back to work.  I am thrilled to have Friday and the weekend be significant again.

Today marks the end of the 10-day puppy sitting.   I’ve had my daughter’s Yorkie, Penny, while she was on vacation in Florida with her boyfriend.  She celebrated her 20th birthday in the Magic Kingdom  at Disney World, her first time there.  Judging from her texts and Facebook status updates she has had the time of her life.  I am looking forward to seeing her, I miss my baby girl so much now that we are not living together.   Usually she is  here at the Princess Palace a few times a week for dinner  so this has been a long 10 days.  I’ve enjoyed the ‘extended visitation’  with Penny,  as I really miss coming home to her little stub of a tail wagging since  moving out of the marital residence.  She follows me around like a shadow when I am home and is my constant companion.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about friendships.  Many of my friendships are with men because they are a different breed.  They keep secrets far better than women, rarely gossip and are less likely to stick a virtual knife in your back.  Women can be such jealous, catty creatures and most of the time the friendships with them aren’t at all  what they may seem.  I have one girlfriend from childhood, we met when she was 3 years old, and I was 2.  Our mothers were friends which is how we came to know each other.  Throughout our growing up years we were close. Even when she moved away and went to another school, we stayed in contact.  Our lives took very different directions and while we don’t get  to talk often, when we  do it is  as if  we haven’t been apart at all, we just pick right up where we left off.  I have another friend,  one I met at church about 14 years  ago,  and our friendship was forged  in the  fire of many trials we  each suffered.  We talk now and then, both so busy living our  lives, but we remain close.  I could call her at 2am in a crisis and she’d scramble from her bed to be there.  I’d do the same for her.  Both of these women have known pain and suffering in their lives, and made  decisions that weren’t popular with those around them.  They each have seen a failed marriage or two, and seen friends they were as  close to as family turn their backs on them when they needed them most.  They both know that  a real friend stands by while you stumble, make mistakes, fall  down and then pick yourself up and get reoriented, but they never walk away.

Throughout this past 6 months I’ve seen the same thing in my own life.  I have friends that took a step back waiting for the dust to settle  on the  divorce and I respect that, they don’t want to chance being dragged into our drama if it were to get ugly.  But there  are also friends that I have come to see are not the real deal.  They are jealous creatures and only keep you close for selfish reasons.  It has painful to realize that one friend in particular, that I have  always admired and respected, and very much trusted her wisdom and ‘feel’ for situations, really wasn’t a friend at all.  She is one of those people that attention gravitates toward, that loves the spotlight and the spotlight loves her back.  She seems to crave being in that light, and having center stage,  and there is nothing at all  wrong with that.  Often those in the social circles we ran in said she was an attention whore, but to know her is to love her and in time you come  to realize it is just her natural place in life.  Sadly whenever someone comes along that is prettier, sexier, better built, well liked, etc, jealousy rears its ugliness in her.  She can always find some flaw in those persons, takes an attitude toward them, and if she  cannot befriend them so she can keep them where she feels they are not a threat to her own popularity, she turns on them and begins a subtle campaign to whittle down their image in other’s eyes.  She is even successful, for awhile, until folks begin to observe the behavior and notice the veiled insults and attacks.  Recently she pulled away from me, interestingly enough about the time I stopped trying to fight against Pete to save my marriage and accepted that he wasn’t coming back.  I had started to not only accept my situation, I began to seek out the silver lining in the storm clouds of my life and embracing those things that were positive and happy.  It tore a hole in my heart that she  turned her back on me, without even talking to me about what she perceived from reading my blogs.  She sees arrogance  and ego, feeling I’m not being realistic because I’m choosing to focus on the things in my life that I can change, and accepting what I cannot.  I’m basking in my blessings and happiness and allowing the wounds to heal.  In reality many who have seen/heard what she has had to say have expressed  that I am now a bigger threat to her as a single, happy woman.  In fact many have wondered if she herself is half as happy as she  tries to come across.  It saddens me, as she is a beautiful woman, has a vivacious spirit and is the life of the party, is married to a wonderful man and has great kids and is living the dream so many women would die to have. And for so long I really felt she was my friend. Now I question if she really ever was my treasured friend and if I was only looking up to someone I had placed on pedestal in my life that maybe did not belong there?  I saw and retweeted a tweet from TheSingleWoman the other day that hit home for me, “Bless those who walk away from u. They’re making room for the ones that won’t!”  Perhaps she has done me a favor in making room for true friends?  I still hope that things get reconciled, I miss my friend a lot, and still think she is often misunderstood.

I  love payday, it is a time to pamper myself a bit.  Lunch from Chipotle yesterday, then getting my nails  done.  I  debated having them cut down though  now that  I’ve adjusted to the length  I kept them that way.  Just means a little extra care when doing chores around the house.  Not likely as I’m like a bull  in a china shop but they will survive  most things I do.  No jammie indulgences this time around,  Pixel kitten needed things more than I needed to spoil myself with yet another pair of pajamas.  Like a typical  new mother I am feeding her  only the best food  I can afford, Science Diet for kittens.  I’m sure  she’d be fine on something less expensive, seeing how she  came into this world in a sewer and survived  when some of her siblings did not without  her mother  in the first few days, but I enjoy giving her  the best that I am able.  I also bought the  cutest pair of Disney themed scrubs for my daughter for her birthday.  She loves having colorful, fun  ones to wear in the vet’s office so when I found them I could not  resist.

Debating what I should do with my wedding bands, sell them, keep them as they are in a safe deposit box  to give to my daughter,  or have the diamonds reset.  My daughter prefers silver or white gold  and my rings are yellow gold.  I  doubt she’d wear them as they are so  I am considering trading in the setting and having the diamonds placed in a new one that I could  wear for now  and later give  her, something in silver or  white  gold.  No rush of course just miss wearing my jewelry, I love  rings.  I have 2 others, an emerald and a ruby, that need  fixing before I can wear them again, guess  I should be getting on that. Or hold on to  them to sell if I need money which is also very likely.

Ah well, this day is slipping past quickly, and I need a shower, have laundry calling for me, and errands to run.  Oh yes, and doing some work from home making some follow up calls to our customers.  That part I hate but at least I will get  paid for the time….I hope!

Everyone have a marvi day and evening!




Giving A Gift Of Self

Posted on by

0

One of my favorite ways to give back to the community is by donating blood.   Summer is one of two times during the year that there is a  shortage of blood available to those in need but it doesn’t have to be this way.  It is such an easy thing to do and something of life saving significance, I’m only sorry it can only be done every 8 weeks.

Did you know that only 38% of our nations population is eligible to donate blood, and out of those that can donate, less than 10% will give this gift of life?  Every pint of blood a person donates can save up to 3 lives, that is pretty impressive.  It takes about an hour to go through the entire process of mini physical, screening and donation, and yet so few are willing to give 60 minutes every 8 weeks that could make a huge difference.  And, if only 1% more of those eligible would donate, it would eliminate the shortage.  So why isn’t everyone donating?

Think about it, you could be a life saver today, a true hero, just by giving up one hour and one pint of blood.  Oh and they will give you cookies and juice when you are finished.

Here are 56 facts about blood that many do not know.

Be a life saver and give the ultimate gift of self.


Wine & Cheese – 2nd Serving

Posted on by

6

Every Wednesday I devote a blog to whining.  Despite being a really happy, positive person, I do have things that annoy me at times.  I never let anything grate on my nerves for long but thought it would be fun to vent them periodically in my blogs.  I also feel that good things, the cheese in life, should be acknowledged as well.  I’m even going to throw in a bit of dessert, a piece of virtual chocolate, something that made me laugh or smile  just a bit more than normal.  Welcome to Wine & Cheese Wednesday:

2nd glass of wine

Marathon Weather Coverage

I have no idea if this is unique to the Cincinnati area, but I have about had it with the marathon weather coverage every time the wind changes direction.  In winter, starting with the first news cast of the morning and then for 4 or 5 hours and in some cases until the ‘winter storm’ has passed, the stations rotate around the city to various reporters to tell us that it is snowing.  REALLY??? I never would have guessed that with several inches of snow burying my lawn, driveway and sidewalk  it was not an isolated incident to my street alone.  If we lived in Ft. Lauderdale and 6 inches of snow began to fall, then it would indeed be breaking news.  But this is Cincinnati, in winter it snows, sometimes several inches, but this is NOT something to interrupt regular programming to share.

Lately it is the severe thunderstorms.  Breaking in every 2 minutes to tell the viewers who were tuned in to their favorite programs, that OMG THE STORM IS MOVING IN!!!!  SERIOUSLY? Did you think I’d miss all the wind, lightening and thunder outside. WHO CARES????  Run it on the bottom of the screen if it is a big deal but I really don’t want to see the second by second Mega Turbo Doppler Radar images as the fierce storm is approaching, I could not care less.  I own a weather radio, which often sounds before the sirens if there is a tornado warning issued.  I don’t need the weather men telling me every few minutes  that this storm MIGHT  produce a tornado and  that I need to take shelter.  Don’t get me wrong, a tornado is indeed a big hairy deal, but I do not need you showing me the progress of every damn storm moving across the viewing area. Stop interrupting my favorite shows for this ALL evening long. If  you must give us gust by gust account could  you run it on the bottom of the screen and stop  showing us the radar image???

Unhappy Meals

I caught sight of this one on a local news  channel.  It seems the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is threatening to sue McDonald’s over the toys they put in Happy Meals.   They feel McDonalds is using the toys to get kids to nag mommy and daddy to go there so they can get the toy.  The concern is  not the toy, but that the kids will chose the unhealthy version of the meals once there and not eat what is best for them.  REALLY????  Of course the toy is a lure, big deal!  Last I checked you could purchase the toy on its own apart from the meal.  In fact I’ve been known to go buy just the toys myself, and have a bunch of  them on my desk  and more in a box in the closet. I LIKE some of the toys, and frankly the Happy Meal isn’t bad either!  But that is not my whine here.  Who the  heck is CSPI to try to tell  McDonald’s  how they can market to me as a parent?  I am the one in charge of what my child eats, not them!  If I chose to take my kids to fast food establishments every day for 3 meals a day that is MY concern, not theirs.  I’m so sick of personal responsibility being shucked  and  blame being placed on the wrong parties.  If I am over  weight that is MY fault.  If my children are over weight, again that is MY fault, assuming that they are  under my care.  Anyone who has ever walked through the grocery store is aware of the produce section full of fruits and vegetables, among other healthy food choices throughout the aisles.  You can put the selections within reach but you cannot  force people to chose those  items.  McDonald’s Happy Meals have apple slices and milk as options, but you know what? If I am going there for lunch I want the french fries and a soda.  Stop trying to force your standards  down my throat.  I’ve had it with this whole “takes a village to raise a child’ concept, because frankly I am not at all impressed with what the village has been putting out the past 2 decades.  Back off and let parents raise their  kids and leave my toys in the Happy Meals  alone! Of COURSE  that is why I go there, the toy!!!   For  more information see the story for yourself.

Preschool  Politics

Instead of taking things up with the person(s)  that they have a gripe with, people tend to discuss it with someone else that may have little or no control over the situation.  Why is this???  For example: I’m a 47 year old woman.  I’ve been married twice now.  I wear big girl panties and shoes.  I am a grown up and while I may not always conduct myself in the most mature fashion, I am an adult.  What I write in my blogs is my business and concern.  My blogs are MY thoughts, MY perspectives, what I want to write about.  They are not the concern of my ex-husband-to-be, he no longer has any say in my life.  And yet someone who reads my writings and has issues with them,  feels the need to address my ex over things I, MARTI, write about.  If you have a problem with anything I post here, I have published my email address in the About Marvi Marti portion of my blog (just click it at the top of any page), feel free to contact me.  No more tattle tales to Pete about my blog content, please you need to stop.  Grow a pair, man/woman up and contact ME in the future,  we aren’t in preschool any longer.

A Serving Of Cheese

To those sitting in bumper to bumper traffic, that allow others to merge into the flow, I thank you!! You kind souls deserve a clean windshield free of  birdie  droppings for your thoughtfulness to other drivers.

Thanks to the lady who turned and handed off a coupon you had, that you did not use, for something you spied among the items I was  purchasing.  You are a gem, may you never again chose the grocery cart that has a wobbly wheel!

Hats off  to those that  not only put their own trash cans away after the garbage man comes, but take the time to put your neighbor’s away as well, you are the best!  Those little things make the street a great place to live.

DESSERT

As tweeted Tuesday, June 22, by FUNNYONELINERS:

Judging by the sorry state of my underwear, today’s the day I have my big car crash.



Over Night Notes To Self

Posted on by

7

I am keeping my daughter’s dog, a 7.5 pound, 6 year old Yorkie, while she is  in Florida.  Yesterday was the puppy’s first full day here in the Princess Palace, and last night the second over night, just to set the stage.

NOTE #1 To Self: The doggie will eat the cat’s food, wet or dry, if left unattended.

NOTE #2 To Self: Sometimes a quiet doggie isn’t depressed  and missing her owner, it COULD mean she isn’t feeling so good.

 

The 7.5 pound cat food eating doggie

 

NOTE #3 To Self: If,  at 2am, the doggie suddenly jumps  off  of your bed and is crying at  your bedroom door, it might not be because the big cat is on the other side or the doggie is bored, it might mean she really does have to go outside,  NOW, even though she went right before we went night-night.

NOTE #4 To Self: If you ignore note #3,  the doggie WILL poop on your bedroom floor.   Nasty, smelly, cat-food poop that is soft.

NOTE #5 To Self: It is  NO fun to clean up the doggie poop that has been mentioned in Note #4, at 2:30am,  if  you have ignored Note #3 which resulted in Note #4.

NOTE #6 To Self: At 4am it is indeed wise to run for the nearest  exit to the backyard  if Note #3 is repeated at any time during the rest of the night.

NOTE #7 To Self: Note #3 can and will  be repeated many more times through the wee  hours of the morning until the  doggie has purged her system  of the cat food.

NOTE #8 To Self: Never ever again leave the doggie and the cat’s food unattended, and threaten all who offer the doggie a kitty cat treat with certain death.

From Diapers To Adulthood – My Baby Girl

Posted on by

0

Every year around my children’s birthdays I take some time to close my eyes and go back in time,  to their births, reminiscing  and cherishing the memories of their growing up years.  Both have made their dad and I very proud and they truly are most precious to me as their mom.

My baby girl will be 20 years old next week and some days I wonder where the time has gone.

My baby girl as a baby

It feels like just yesterday I was standing in the kitchen, early labor pains crawling through my lower back, trying to get her daddy to call home.  He was working out of town, in Indianapolis, almost 2 hours away.  I had been to the doctor that day, my due date, and already was 4.5 centimeters dilated and now labor had started.   At that time we didn’t have cell phones, but he did wear a pager.  I was sending our predetermined numeric code to let him know the time had come but not received a call for several hours and I was beginning to panic just a bit.  I was not aware at the time that he had quit his job that morning, packed up all his belongings, turned in the beeper and was headed home.

Finally the phone rang and I waddled over to answer but was disappointed, it was not my husband.  It was the bank calling to inform us that we needed to come back in before noon the following day and re-sign our consolidation loan papers.  They had not used my legal name on the first set and therefore the papers we had signed were null and void.  The next day was Saturday so they were only open until noon, and this was Friday so they closed at 6pm.  I hung up with great concern, there would be no signing anything tomorrow as I had little doubt I’d be in the hospital holding the little bundle that was making it increasingly more uncomfortable to move minute to minute.

I was walking the floors, rubbing my stomach and praying when, at 5:30pm my husband pulled into the driveway.  The car was filled to the brim with his possessions from the room he occupied in Indianapolis.  I came out of the front door with a beach towel under my arm, purse on my shoulder, locked up, opened the car door, put the folded towel on the seat and got in the car with him staring at me, totally confused.  I explained we needed to get to the bank fast before they closed.  “What is the towel for?” he asked, looking at it sticking out from under me.  “I’m in labor, that is why this has to be done today, the towel is in case my water breaks” I replied.  He mumbled something about really not needing this right now, and headed toward the bank.  Leave it to Pete we arrived in plenty of time to get the paper work completed.

After we arrived we spent a good deal of time waiting on the loan officer to get the new paper work together.  Finally Pete told them I was in labor and they needed to pick up the pace.  Once they realized he wasn’t kidding they began rushing around to gather things together so we could get started, I guess they didn’t want this baby born in their offices.  While waiting the sky had begun to grow very dark, a storm was rolling in fast.  Just after sitting down and beginning to sign my life away a dozen times, the tornado siren on the school across the street began to sound.  My worst nightmare was unfolding before my eyes, I was going to give birth, during a tornado, in the basement of the bank with the assistance of some still wet behind the ears paramedics.

Thankfully the storm blew over without incident but it was an omen of things to come with this child.  After 14 hours of labor, at 6am the next morning, I gave birth to a beautiful little girl.  She had hair so blond it was white and transparent, and a serious set of lungs on her that let us know she was not at all impressed with life outside of the womb.  I thought she was beautiful, her daddy said she looked like a prune.  Not to worry, he was so taken with her, all his life he had wanted a daughter and even had her name picked out long before we met, it was sort of an unwritten agreement that if we ever had a girl he got to name her.

Don’t misunderstand, he deeply loves our son, but he very much wanted a blond haired, blue eyed little girl.  I prayed for months that he’d get that and one that was high spirited like her daddy.  Be careful what you wish for, her hair is still naturally platinum blond, eyes very blue and she cannot sit still for 5 minutes.  Her friends call her Bubbles because she is almost always bubbling over with happiness and joy, and her giggle is infectious.  Remember the storm? Well she tends to appear out of no where and is anything but quiet in nature, she is a bundle of energy and drive like I’ve never seen before.  During her childhood she had 3 sets of stitches and a broken arm, countless scraped knees and had a tendency to walk into walls, store displays and doors, mind and feet going in different directions.  She was like a mini tornado wherever she went.

As siblings will do, she and her older brother had their moments, but over all they have always had a great relationship.  He is as protective over her if not more so, than her daddy.  More than once as she has left the house to go out he has made comments about the length of her skirt or how tiny her bikini was, and glared at any man who so much as glanced at her.

Until college she had never been in a traditional classroom, we had home schooled her from kindergarten through 12th grade.  She didn’t lack for a social life, being in American Heritage Girls, active in youth group, and had a circle of friends that kept her social calendar quite full.  She attended several of the high school dances including home coming and proms with dates or her girl friends.  She just finished her second year of college, her goal is to be a veterinary technician.  She still has some school left but has been on the deans list since starting so we’ve no doubt she will finish.  It is the perfect profession for her, she adores animals and they all love her as well.

She is very much attached, and we think the boyfriend is a keeper.  They’ve been a couple a number of years now and I anticipate a wedding in a few years when he finishes college if not sometime before.  Poor guy, took him a while to win the approval of daddy and big brother but he finally did prove himself worthy….well sort of, neither think any man is worthy of her really.

This week she is headed to Disney World with her boyfriend and his parents, and I’m puppy sitting her little Yorkie.  She’ll celebrate her 20th birthday away from home, before returning to celebrate with us.  It seems like just yesterday I was changing her diapers and now she has her high school diploma and is closing in fast on her college degree.  Where oh where has the time gone?

My beautiful daughter

I love you, Liesl, more than I could ever express in words, and I am so very proud of you!  You’ve brought more joy to my life than you can know in the past 20 years and I’m looking forward to watching you continue to grow through the coming chapters in your life.  Happy Birthday a few days early!!!

Love Mom

Do It Yourself Divas

Posted on by

0

What do you get when you have 5 women, 2 cats and a 2500 square foot house?  The need for a handy man!  At one time or another all  of us had the benefit of having a man living in the home in the form of dad, brothers, husband or step-dad figures.  Now there is only estrogen to be found in our princess palace which means we either have to outsource projects to some willing male family member or friend, or we have to learn to do it ourselves.  Lately we’ve opted for the do-it-yourself approach.  It isn’t that we have anything against men, after all if they are good eye candy what woman wouldn’t want them around working on the house?  But it is inconvenient when we have to wait on them to squeeze us into their schedules.

On moving day we did have 5 men from a local moving company merge us from two houses into one.  Two of these guys were good looking and one was an absolute hunk!  We enjoyed watching all that muscle in action, no complaints!  Once the boxes and furniture were in the house, we took over and made hundreds of trips hauling things up and down over the 4 floors of our new home.  Lacking the muscle of these hunky young men, we wore ourselves out doing many tasks that a man could easily have managed.  BUT we did it, all by ourselves without assistance.

Since moving in we’ve all attacked and mastered everything from hanging full length mirrors, unclogging toilets, setting up a wireless network, learning to check and add oil to a car, and using tools for a host of things that required some assembly including a gas grill.

Do-it-yourself-Diva

Even the dryer ventilation was fixed one night by 2 of the Divas.  Find a creepy crawler or a spider? Those are no match for us, including those big, furry looking ones the size of a hand. All die upon detection, we don’t mess around!  Unless the cats find it first then they play with it for a while before making it an appetizer (ewww).

Our most recent project was giving the patio furniture a face lift.  Our budget doesn’t have a lot of wiggle room for the purchase of new patio furniture.  My ex-husband-to-be gave me our old patio table and 6 cushioned chairs.  This set, while sturdy, was rust covered and the cushions need replacing badly, but at least we had a table on the deck and something to sit on.  We did purchase 2 nice chairs on sale, in black, and had a rain check for 4 more when the store restocks.  One evening while sitting outside on the deck we were brain storming what could be done to improve the look of the current items.  We decided that we could paint the table (glass in a metal frame) and chairs (all metal) and at the very least it would be an improvement.  About $50 worth of Rust-Oleum paint and some serious ambition mixed in with a little creative thinking, and my sister and nieces have transformed the set, it looks brand new!  They even found Rust-Oleum paint for plastic chairs and painted the 2 old green ones we had a deep red!  This weekend we’ll purchase new cushions for the chairs and have a slick furniture set sitting outside.

We still need men around from time to time for projects beyond our scope of knowledge or abilities, but it sure is nice to be able to do it ourselves whenever possible!

Wine & Cheese – 1st Serving

Posted on by

1

 

Carlos Porto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

Every Wednesday I have decided to devote a blog to whining.  Despite being a really happy, positive person, I do have things that annoy me at times.  I never let anything grate on my nerves for long but thought it would be fun to vent them periodically in my blogs.  I also feel that good things, the cheese in life, should be acknowledged as well.  I’m even going to throw in a bit of dessert, a piece of virtual chocolate, something that made me laugh or smile  just a bit more than normal.

1st Glass of Wine

Beer Cans In The Yard

I open the mini blind in my room, gazing out upon the world on a Saturday or Sunday morning while yawning and stretching to the sight of the sun coming up on our beautiful street. Trees of green against a clear blue sky, birds and squirrels running about, a rabbit hopping across the lush, green lawn, past the empty beer cans by the curb….WTF???? Yes sometime during the night someone who was partying in the neighborhood got out of their car, or got in their car to depart, and dropped their empty beer cans on the edge of the lawn. REALLY??? Could they not finish off those last few swallows of the ‘one for the road’ while at their friend’s?  Or, and let us hope this is NOT the case, they were consuming one as they arrived and after parking the car in front of my house they were too lazy to carry it to their destination to deposit it in a trash can?  If I had a clue who it was I’d pack up their trash and go dump it in their front yard, but knowing my luck I’d be seen by a cop and arrested for the ‘open containers’ or criminal mischief. GRRRRRR…..

Poop On The Path

There are a number of parks with great walking trails nearby that I love to frequent when in the mood for a good power walk.  Some of these are paved and others are gravel, but all are full of beautiful scenery, have enough room to walk side by side with at least one other person, and all allow pets on leashes. It is because Fido is permitted in the park that while getting some sun and exercise walkers will sometimes encounter dog poop on the walking trails.  Everyone of these parks provides little baggies at some point along the path for picking up your dog’s deposits.  Not to mention being a responsible pet owner means CLEANING UP AFTER YOUR LITTLE DARLING! If you go to the park, take what you need to attend to the droppings.  If you forget, the park provides these, use them! And letting your four legged pal do it’s business in the grass next to the walking trail is no better, as many use the turf to play games or lay in the sun, pick up after your pooch!

Restroom Ragamuffins

Public restrooms are less than ideal but a necessity of life, especially at the office. We’ve all encountered the ‘surprise’ of entering a stall to find the last occupant failed to flush, or flushed something that was never going to make it down without the professional assistance of the qualified plumber.  Sh*t happens as they say.  What really annoys me is walking in the restroom to discover paper towels in front of the trash can, on the floor.  Not a can that is full or over flowing, but one that has plenty of room for more! Add to that water all over the top of the sink from a hurried hand washing (or maybe they were bathing Fido in the sink?). Then of course everyone coming in and using the facilities behind the slob that couldn’t quite make the can, leaves the wadded up paper on the floor and steps around it, or contributes to it by tossing their used paper towels in the general direction of the can but not quite in it. Is it SO hard to pick up your mess? Or take a fresh towel and pick up after the lazy soul that just left ahead of you? Wipe off the top of the sink  and pick up what you drop, it isn’t that hard!

A Serving Of Cheese

Fresh Coffee

It is so nice to stroll up to the lounge on the floor above me and walk in to find whoever took the last cup of coffee actually took time to make a fresh pot! Whoever you are, you rock!

Cart Fairies

After spending an hour grocery shopping, bagging it all up, and unloading it in the trunk of my car,  I turn, scan the lot, and spot the cart corral.  As I start in that direction, some sweet soul on the way to return their shopping cart smiles and says “I’ll take it back for you” and proceeds to transport mine  along with their own to the proper place.  May your little fairy wings always be strong, your random act of kindness made my day!

You Go First

After stopping for a quick run into the grocery store on the way home from work for just two or three items, you reach the front of the store and every check out lane is occupied by someone with a full cart. The line inches forward every few minutes, and then suddenly, when it is their turn at last to unload their many items, the person in front of you says “you go first, you only have a few things”. I could just kiss that person!!!  Pay it forward and do the same for someone sometime.

Dessert

As seen on Twitter this morning from FUNNYONELINERS:

Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. There may be a tax on it by then.

Wine & Cheese Wednesday

Posted on by

0

I am generally a pretty upbeat, positive person that sees the glass of life as half full.  I will seek the silver lining in the storm clouds of my life, even though things might get me down for a while.  Even something as heart breaking as my divorce, sooner or later I put on my big girl panties, accept what cannot be changed and fix that which I am able, it’s how I roll.

This happy approach to life does not mean things don’t just fry my last reserve nerve once in a while.  Sometimes when cruising through life something or someone will just annoy me or make me want to scream.  I’ve decided to add a regular, weekly blog in which I can vent, whine, and otherwise get things off my chest.  So starting tomorrow I will add my Wine & Cheese Wednesday blog to my page.  Wine will of course be those things I feel the need to whine about, and the cheese will be some good things I encountered, so they will, like wine and cheese, balance each other out.

Join me tomorrow and enjoy some wine & cheese!

Something Wicked This Way Came

Posted on by

3

I am not a big fan of storms, in fact I hate them, totally afraid of them.  When they hit in the night I am even more disturbed by them.  Lately we’ve had a few good ones brew but as is typical for where we are located they either go north, south or split and move around us.  I am not sure if this is related to the river valley but I have no major complaints as most of the really bad ones packing tornadoes have missed us with a few notable exceptions (1974 tornadoes).

Last night we weren’t as fortunate as in the past as a severe storm was headed our way.  The weather radio went off several times for severe thunderstorm warnings, including one right before crawling in to bed.  I could tell this one was going to be bad by the way the cats were reacting.  Noel was searching for a place to hide, and Pixel was freaking out on my bed, not able to decide if she wanted to be against me, under the covers, or up on the pillows.  Animals seem to sense things and instinctively know what they should do so I just let her work out what she wanted to do and eventually she snuggled up against my head but jumped with each flash of lightening and crack of thunder.

Just about the time I was drifting off the weather radio sounded yet again.  This time it was a tornado warning for us.  I won’t mess around with those so I picked up the kitten, who was frozen in terror from the weather radio tones and left my room to inform mom we might want to move down to the lowest level for a bit.  My sister and niece heard me and went that way too.  We called Sarah at the ice cream store, she was working, to let her know and then all of us sat in her room, in the basement, and watched the weather on TV.  Though the doppler radar was indicating a tornado I don’t know if one was ever confirmed, just that where we live was showing rotation and moving east.  I received a text from my daughter, she was terrified too.  Thankfully she was at her boyfriend’s for the night with her dog, having been afraid to ride out the storms alone with her dad at the firehouse for the night.

Jennifer Renee /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Jennifer Renee / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This morning we had no damage to speak  of, just leaves and twig debris scattered around the yard.  The only real damage report I heard, other than several thousand houses without power, was one of the icons of Cincinnati, Touch Down Jesus/Big Butter Jesus, was struck by lightening and burned to the ground.  The church it sat in front of sustained some damage as well. This statue has been joked about and even has a song written and sung about it by Haywood Banks, and is now the big story this morning on all of the local news stations .  R.I.P. big butter Jesus, now reduced to an oil slick in the pond.

The severe weather is a risk again tonight.  I am thinking being in bed very early I might get a little sleep before it gets wild again.  Oh the joy….

Saturday Seance At The Princess Palace

Posted on by

0

Yesterday was supposed to be a very busy day but even the best  intentions fall victim to mother nature at times.   My sister and  I were signed up to participate  in Paint The Town yesterday.  We got up early (5:30am), put on old jeans and gym shoes, grabbed a couple of  baseball style  hats and headed to Norwood Plaza.  It was raining but not  too hard so we had high  hopes of it stopping.  When we got there  we were so happy to see that  so many people were already there,  apparently rain doesn’t dampen the heart of  volunteers at that these  events.  Despite the  fact that everyone was  getting thoroughly soaked everyone was upbeat and enjoying eating breakfast in the drizzle.  We got our t-shirts and water bottles before grabbing our  breakfast and mingling with others.

2 of the Paint The Town 59 houses

Sadly the rain not only continued but it turned into a serious down pour and after checking radar the event was canceled and moved to July 10th.  Knowing that many of the over 1000 volunteers  won’t be able to come back that date,  and there  are 59 houses  to be painted in less than 8  hours, there is a need for more people willing to give up their day to make a neighborhood look nice.  These are neighborhoods in serious  need of some TLC so if you have time and don’t mind working with some nice people, being fed breakfast and lunch, come join us.  I’ll be posting more information as it is available.  Our team is painting one  of 2 houses, side by side.  We were given a drive by view to see our projects before being sent home looking forward to this upcoming project.

Plan B became grocery shopping for the Diva Den.  I went with mom to knock out that trip.  With our grocery list in hand and a request that I make black bean chili for dinner,  we headed out to load up on food for the coming two weeks.  Two stores and a couple of Foursquare updates later, we went to the Burger King drive through to grab lunch and headed home.   It was sunny and HUMID all of the  late  afternoon,  it was just flat out  uncomfortable  outside, I am SO thankful  for central air conditioning!

I made the chili and set  some aside  for dad and then mom and I ran that to him and picked up a  few  things he needed from the store.  Two trips to Kroger in one afternoon,  we should have our own parking spot and check out lane  as often as we are there.  Dad is not able  to drive anymore so he has to rely on us and friends to either run him to complete his errands or run them for him.  Next time we need to think ahead and call him when we make OUR trip to the stores.   We opted to skip the Reds game last night  as it was so hot and humid that just sitting in the shade we started to sweat and the threat  of rain was very likely.   Jeannette and I had  already had our share of getting soaked  to the gills.

Saturday, as mentioned in other blogs, is  wine night in  our home.   We wait until all  of us  are home for the evening then try a new wine,  or two.  My sister had picked up 2 new  ones at the store  on Friday and mom and I had  gotten cheese and crackers on our grocery trip.  We were sitting outside on the deck  waiting on Sarah  to return when the ‘severe’ thunderstorm warning was issued for our area.  The  lightening show was impressive out to the west and just before Sarah pulled in the storm hit.  Judging from the debris in the yard and on the deck,  and the 2 shutters and damaged siding on the neighbor’s house  it must  have  been more intense than we realized.

Anticipating a power outage we had a bunch of candles lit on the dinning room table and opened the blinds and turned off most of the lights.  It was a relaxed atmosphere but we figured the neighbors  likely think we were over here having a midnight seance.    The  power did not go out but we  left it this way just because.  At one point we were all being goofy and started singing songs,  or pieces of them.  Jeanne ran and got her laptop,  and then so did Jeannette.  Before long we had the actual songs playing and were looking for more good ones to sing along too,  it was Princess karaoke.   I have no idea what  time Sarah  slipped away to go to bed,  but I went up at 2:30  this morning, and my mom and sister were still up singing at 3:00am.  I slept  in until 11:30 and the only reason I even crawled out of  bed  was fear  that Pixel  would  need the litter box.  Next week the Divas have decided  to try some of the various imported and micro brewery beers that the  store has in stock, so that should be interesting.  Now every other week Saturday is  Divas uncorked, the others will be Pop The Top nights. All female friends and family are welcome to attend our Saturday night ‘seance’ gatherings, we can even bed you down for the night if you have too much.  Just let us know you are coming so we plan for it!

OH and before I forget, these are the two wines we enjoyed this week:

Our Saturday Seance wine selections

TGIF, Chiptole And A Busy Weekend

Posted on by

2

THANK GOD IT’S FRIDAY!!!!!!!

Nothing is quite like waking up to the wretched sound of the alarm clock and realizing it is finally FRIDAY!!!!  I hit the snooze alarm and snuggled back in not wanting to get out of the bed this morning.  Pixel was sitting on my pillow watching me intently for any sign that my eyes were open.  I reached up and petted her which delighted her to no end.  She is catching on that if she wakes me up there will not be a positive response.  So she was sitting there pretty as can be just waiting for some indication we could play.  She responded by attacking my hand, wrapping all 4 paws around my wrist and nibbling my fingers.  As soon as I sat up and turned on the light she scampered around the room chasing her balls and stuffed mice and then meowing at the door, she wanted out to go play with Noel.  Noel has been teaching her all she needs to know about being a big cat, a lot of which we’d be perfectly happy if Pixel remained unaware.  After running wild through the house for a few hours they both crash together and sleep, or rather recharge their batteries for the next round of the wild rips.

Pixel & Noel sleeping on a kitchen chair

Today is payday and I’m giving praise for direct deposit and the ability to check my account, transfer funds etc. all online.  I even pay all my  bills this way, it is awesome!  Of course because it is payday that means I had to have lunch at Chipotle.

I always arrive around 11am or Chipotle’s line is too long.  I got there at 11:10 and a line was forming fast.  I get the same thing every time, a steak bowl to go.  The wonderful people there fill the bowl with rice, black beans, steak, corn salsa and cheese, all while I try not to drool on the glass as I watch.  A bag of chips, a large drink and I head back to my office where I close myself off to enjoy my very scrumptious meal.  No need for the fork, I use the chips to scoop up the delicious contents and eat!  This is one of those comfy fuzzies I spoke of in a previous blog.

This weekend is not going to be a relaxing one for me and my sister.  Tonight Pixel goes to the vet for more of her vaccinations, there is a graduation party for one of my nieces, and one of my favorite local bands, TimePiece is playing at a local bar and I hope to stop in for a bit. Tomorrow it is up early to take part in one of the Give Back Cincinnati volunteer events, Paint The Town and we are participating. Rain or shine over 1000 volunteers will paint 59 houses tomorrow to help spruce up 2 local neighborhoods. It isn’t too late to get involved if you aren’t busy and it is a fun, great way to give back to the community.

After painting all day we will race home, shower, and head to Great American Ballpark for the Reds game with the other 3 Divas. That should be a lot of fun if it isn’t raining!

Tina Phillips / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Of course when we get home, it will be wine night so we’ll top off the evening with a new wine before we all crash in our beds. Something tells me that Sunday morning those of us that do not have to get out of bed (sorry about your luck Sarah) will be sleeping in!  Sunday we’ll catch up on cleaning, laundry and reading once we finally emerge from much needed sleep!

If you are looking for a very easy way to give back the community yourself, consider donating blood!  Summer is especially critical for blood banks as donations drop off and need rises.  The entire process takes about an hour and they give you cookies and juice or soda when you are finished.  Your donation alone can save up to 3 lives.  For more information check your local phone directory or if you are in the greater Cincinnati area, go to the Hoxworth Blood Center site for information about locations. If you are local and I know you, I’ll come hold your hand if you are squeamish about needles.

Everyone have a GREAT Friday and find a way to give back to your community!

Comfy Fuzzies

Posted on by

1

Comfy fuzzies are the best things in the world.  They can make a really bad day better, and a really good day turn fabulous.  They come in a variety of shapes and sizes not to mention can carry a different impact each time depending on the current situation.  Everyone has comfy fuzzies and everyone’s comfy fuzzies are different.  Some are unexpected surprises in the course of a day, others are things we take for granted but make life just a bit better.

What are comfy fuzzies?  Those things that some call “comfort food” though not always edible, that make us feel warm and fuzzy inside.  For someone low maintenance like myself, the comfy fuzzies are simple things.  These are just a few of my own comfy fuzzies:

A warm pair of footie socks – you know the kind, no ankle to them, they just cover the foot and cannot be seen in shoes.  I like mine on the thicker side, no color or design, just white.  I hate shoes so slipping into a pair of these makes my feet happy while at home.  I love them fresh from the laundry all warm and still smelling of the soap and fabric softener.

Sleeping in – more than just sleeping in, that feeling when I open my eyes, thinking it is a weekday, just before the alarm would go off, and realizing it is the weekend and then curling up and going back to sleep.  That feels SO good to know that I don’t have to get out of the bed.

Back to back music favorites – I drive 25 miles one way to work each day and nothing beats turning on the radio and hearing 3 or 4 of my favorite songs one right after the other as if the DJ had a request  list I had written!

A Fresh cup of flavored coffee – I live in a household that views coffee as a major food group.  It is rare not to find a fresh pot of coffee in our kitchen.  It is especially delightful when I pour a cup, sit down at my desk or on the deck and discover someone brewed one of my favorite flavors!

Finding forgotten cash – nothing beats putting on a jacket, or digging through my purse for something, or cleaning out my jean pockets before starting a load of laundry and discovering money I forgot was there!  Doesn’t matter if it’s $3 or $30, finding it always puts a smile on my face!

Random Acts of Kindness – sometimes it is coming home to find someone was rounding up trash to put out at the curb and emptied my bedroom can, or someone ran to the carry out for something and picked up my favorite adult beverage just in case I wanted a cold one that evening.  Or like last night my youngest niece came and gave me a hug and told me how happy it makes her that I live with them.  Little things that just make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Foods – there are some foods that just make me feel better when  hurting or depressed.   However comfort food doesn’t have to be for mending bruised feelings or lifting a mood, sometimes they are great just because!  Here are some of my comfort foods:

Popcorn
M&M’s (plain)
Mounds Bars
Gyros (from Sebastians!)
Steak Burrito Bowl (from Chipotle)
Dry roasted peanuts mixed with Brach’s candy corn
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream (Homemade brand from UDF)
Egg Nog Milkshakes (UDF – only available at Christmas)
Peppermint coffee
Nestle Toll House Chips – right from the bag
French fries

Comfort clothes – old blue jeans that are falling apart but are so well broken in I just cannot part with them.  And my Snuggie – I actually own 2 of them, a pink and a blue one and I LOVE them! Over sized sweaters and sweat shirts, lounge pants, and pajamas I can safely go get the paper off the driveway when wearing.  Favorite gym shoes and t-shirts.

Combos – any combination of comfy fuzzies that make for some great ME time,  like popcorn, a diet soda, some hard candy and a good book.  That is my comfy fuzzy for my lunch hour today.  Or last night, crawling into bed on crisp, clean sheets, with my luminary air freshener burning softly(the ones that look like candles burning), rain on the window and my kitten curled up by my head with her paw on my hand.

Comfy Fuzzies Combo For Lunch


What are some of your comfy fuzzies?

I Feel SO Lucky!

Posted on by

0

Maybe a better term would be BLESSED, I feel totally blessed!

Waking up to the nibbles on my chin of my kitten, quiet all around the house, brewing a pot of coffee in the early morning silence in a nice, big kitchen.  Then slipping back to my room to read  emails, catch up on  news and listen to music on my PC.  Enjoying a phone call with my youngest brother before his day got underway at the fire house.

Discovering that the sun is shining outside, the breeze is outstanding and the humidity is gone from the air.  Windows are all open and the warm breeze is blowing on me as I sit here typing. Trees swaying in the  gentle  wind, flags flying, birds  singing and laughter of children playing outside.

The view out of my window of this gorgeous  day reminds me of why I wanted a corner desk  by the  window so I could look out on the world.

The smell of goetta and waffles drifting up to my room as my sister is making brunch for the Divas, mixed with the smell of another fresh pot of coffee is making my stomach grumble, I can almost taste  it already.

My room is dusted and  vacuumed and laundry is all finished for the weekend,  so  it is a day of total  relaxation before going back to the office tomorrow.

The view from my desk

My family is all alive and well, and only a text, email or phone call away if they are not one of those  living in the Princess Palace.

Sometimes I just love sitting here enjoying the blessings I have, I am SO lucky!

One Step Closer

Posted on by

2

Yesterday Pete and I made one giant step closer to no longer being legally bound to each other, we did the paperwork and sent it back to the ‘lawyers’ for our divorce.  We’ve opted to use Legal Zoom to cut our costs. Once he payed the fee he started answering a bunch of questions covering every aspect imaginable in our marriage from property to debts, in detail, and which of us would take possession of each. Thankfully our kids are grown so that is not an issue as that would be a huge section all on it’s own.

He had to call me several times to obtain information he did not have in order to get it all filled out and then called me a few hours into the process to provide me with the log on ID and password so I could review it to ensure there are no ‘surprises’ in the information. I didn’t bother, there won’t be any. One thing about Pete is that he is trying hard not to be unfair in this process. In fact if anything he is being way more than fair and taking on a lot more debt responsibility than would be assigned if we fought this out with lawyers in a court room.

That along with his rapid push to get it all finished has made me suspicious that my assumptions are correct and that there IS someone else and has been for some time now. Several times in this journey I’ve gotten upset and threatened to drag this thing through the legal system and force the house to be sold and ask for spousal support. I know, not real mature but I was hurting and lashed out at him because I am fairly certain this has more to do with another woman than any character flaw I might have. He says he wants it over with so I don’t do exactly that, attempt to screw him over in court. Reality is I would not be screwing him over, the laws would grant certain things but I am not into causing him grief, just would like an honest answer as to why.  We’ll have the paperwork back in about a week to ten days, file it and then be legally divorced, the rest of this taking about 6 weeks total.

I found it interesting in dealing with that yesterday that I was not upset. It dawned on me that in the month and 3 days that I have lived in the Princess Palace I have not cried at all over this. I no longer reach for my phone to text him something funny, say good morning, or tell him to be safe on the job. I’ve established my life and routine now that does not include him and I’m really okay! Heck better than okay I am happy and at peace. No one saying “that’s stupid” or “that’s a waste of time” to things I enjoy doing with my time. I started thinking on what it was that brought me to this point of tranquility.

First getting out of the house and into a new home helped a lot. We aren’t around each other with all the tension and pain of being together without BEING together.

Taking over my own finances and being responsible for paying my bills, on time, all on my own while maintaining a budget. This was a huge step of independence as he always handled the finances. Now I see where every dime is going, manage my payments and then get to determine how I will spend extra cash left over.  That is both liberating and frightening but I’m managing very well so far.

Getting out  and starting to do things that I enjoy and building a new social circle has also been a huge factor in my healing.  I’m also very thankful for those TRUE friends, the real ones that have stuck by me through the rougher waters at the beginning and my adjustments to this single life.  The ones that didn’t abandon me simply because they didn’t necessarily like where I was or what I was doing but loved me and stayed  within reach  while I took those  steps  to right my world.  Karma can be a real bitch and I hope she passes them by, those that walked away, rather than bite them in the ass as she often does.   I would not wish this on my worst  enemy let alone someone I had  thought was my friend.

Blogging has definitely helped me through this as I have been able to journal my feelings and share that which I do not mind if others know.  I’m a pretty open book for the most part.  As my soon to be ex says, I have no skeletons in my closet, mine are sitting about on the couch where they are in full view,  I have nothing to hide.  While I may not offer  the information, if you ask me I’ll be completely honest.  My blogs are not written for anyone but me.  No offense to any readers but I write about me, my life, my thoughts etc and not to impress  anyone.  Blogging is therapy for me.  My perspective is if you don’t like them, then don’t read them.

The other thing that has helped a lot is Pixel, my four-legged, furry, heart band-aid.  While she is a rescue kitten, it is up for debate exactly who rescued who.  She gives me someone to nurture and love that needed me at a time when I needed her.  My heart was feeling kind of empty  but she  moved right in and  left paw prints on my soul.  Whisker therapy for  my broken heart has been the  best medicine around.

My sleeping baby


UC version of the blanket

Reading and crochet are also means of therapy for me that are being picked back up this weekend.  With the summer reading program I’m in a little friendly competition with my sister to actually read some books.  That won’t take any encouragement!  I have no less  than 4 crochet projects in my closet right now, 4 wonderful blankets that need to be finished.  One in particular for my dear friend, Mario (no I have  NOT forgotten you sweetie!)  who is a huge Bengal fan,  like me, and is patiently waiting his blanket in team colors.  I promise you will have it by preseason kick off my beloved, Italian buddy!  The UC blanket is what it will look  like only in orange, black and white.

But for now, it is dinner time, another special part of  healing, where all the women in the Diva Den come together to eat, laugh and talk.   Not unlike our Saturday, late night  wine time, this is one of my favorite parts of the day.  Being with family is very important to me as I move closer to the day when I will no longer be married.