Archive | March 2011

Wine & Cheese – 30th Serving

Mar30

Welcome to Wine & Cheese, my weekly, Wednesday whine session.

Every week on 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.

If you’d like to read the past editions of Wine & Cheese just click HERE for all of the past postings.

Sit back and join me now for the 30th serving of some wine and cheese!

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

WHINE = :(

CHEESE = :)

~*~

:(   It is snowing here this morning!!!!  I am SO sick of winter and all that goes with it! Snow,  cold, dismal gray skies….enough already!!!!

:)   Spring weather keeps creeping in and out of the forecast, it won’t be long now and the weather will be warm and stay that way for many months!!!!

~*~

:(   I am so  strapped financially right now with being unemployed that I could just scream.  I hate being behind or late  with bills, it makes me CRAZY.

:)   I was able to provide last minute child care 2 days this week, and beginning next week have 3 kids I’ll be watching part time at first and rapidly to full time if all goes well for their mom! Met them this morning and they are sweet kids and I cannot wait!

:)   Last night got my first recruit to Avon which moves me up into unit leader status.  Had a FUN Avon event last  night that enabled me to win  a  great watch and other products that will go a long way in showing customers some of our items they can purchase.

:)   Both are GREAT opportunities for me to be able to work at HOME! I am SO loving life right now,  and SO excited with my new adventures.

~*~

:(   Because of the tight finances, my hair was  growing out and the highlights were about gone, which bummed me out, I  try to always look my best.

:)   I was treated by someone that loves me to a hair cut and highlight, so I’m rocking it  out with skanky blond  highlights again! XOXOXO to the treater!

DESSERT

The odds of going to the store for a loaf of bread and coming out with only a loaf of bread are three billion to one.  ~Erma Bombeck

Monday Morning Coffee Musings

Mar28

It is Monday, and back to the daily grind for many.  It is my first real, full day of  ‘work’ at the new professions for me.

I’m getting a taste of what the childcare experience will be and frankly if they are all  like this great little girl I think I’d love it.  She is about to be 6yo and a total joy, with a contagious giggle.  I  only have her today as her school is off and her mommy is working.  Come fall I will have one new born for sure and hopefully several more little ones in my care.  I need to advertise and get some children to care for, I could get used to this quickly.  Already showered, made my bed and have the dishwasher unloaded and reloaded, breakfast made and cleaned up, most of which was done before my little charge arrived.

All weekend I was hooking my heart out on 2 blankets I was commissioned to make.  I’m almost finished with those then on to the next.  Mom was gone for the weekend and the girls were out so it was a sister weekend with hooks and coffee, and a lot of  laughs.  I really enjoyed it and will miss my sister during the day!!

Been working the Avon business and have several customers and orders already.  2  of them online, which of course I think rocks because they will get their products shipped so quickly.  Not to mention I love technology and the ability to shop online means I have potential customers all over the country!  *Shameless plug – orders over $30 (today is the final day of campaign 7 with this offer) ship for FREE! My Avon Site so take advantage of that!*

I hosted my first give away over the weekend, and a winner was chosen from the entries. Thanks to all who participated, I’ll be doing that again  soon!

 

Sunday, With A Cherry On Top!!!!

Mar27

WOW! Like slap my butt and call me Sally yet again!  I received an award today from Lisa!!  I’m blushing as this blogger is just full of warm and wonderful comments, and I’m just tickled she loves my writings so much! Big hugs to  Lisa  from over at Third Times A Charm, you rock woman!

The acceptance terms of this blog require just a few things. First, I must share three things that I love about myself. Well at least no one is cringing wondering what I will share about THEM this time, since this is about me.

1.  Right off the bat my eyes.  I feel they are probably my best feature and so they get the attention when applying  my makeup.  I make them my main focus.

2.  My optimistic nature – I always see the glass half full and can find the silver lining in every storm cloud.  Being happy doesn’t mean everything is perfect in my life, it simply means I’ve decided to see beyond the imperfections and enjoy every day.  So, I live in the moment, as that is all any of us know for certain we have!

3.  My talent/skill at crochet.  I LOVE to make  things, especially baby blankets, and I’m pretty darn good at it!  It is my favorite therapy.

Next, I must share I photo that I love. This is easily one of my favorites:


This is a photo taken this most recent Christmas Eve of the  members of the Diva Den,  the 5 of us gals that all live together. Left to right: Diva Sarah (my 20 yo niece), Diva Jeanne (my 17 yo niece), Diva Boo (my 41yo baby sister), me, and Diva mom (my mother and if I post her age she might come smack me).  We all went house  hunting a year ago in February when I found out the ex  wanted a divorce.  We found a beautiful, 2500 square foot house we call the Princess Palace.  They have wrapped around me and helped pull me through some rough waters over the past year, these ladies ROCK! (The nieces and sis dye their hair dark in winter, normally they too are all blondes)

And finally, I must past this award on to other bloggers that I love. I try to always spread awards around to a variety of blog types, check them out they all are great ladies!

I am passing this award onto:

BYN over at 365 Days of Clean Eating, because she is just COOL!!!! And her blog has all kinds of great stuff, including some tail kicking recipes!

PEACHY over at The Pits Of Being Peachy, one of the funniest blogs I’ve ever read. I NEVER have food or drink in my mouth when reading her posts or I’m destined to choke on it from laughing.

TARA at Undeserving Grace, for the inspiration I find  on her blog page, especially when I get to wondering if I’m talking to the ceiling or if God is listening.

Thanks Lisa for the SWEET award!!!

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Don’t forget it is the final day of my give away!!!!

Featured Friend Friday – Byn!

Mar25

Featured Friend

Friday


Welcome to Featured Friend Friday!

I had the pleasure  of finding Byn when we both were participating forum for women bloggers.  I was not only drawn to her blog, 365 Days Of Clean Eating, but loved that like, me, she enjoys some pink in her hair at times (check out her ‘about me’ page on her blog!  I think you will find some great recipes and a new way to think about food!

Leave her some love here and on her page!

THANKS BYN!!!!

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

 

I turn 40 this year.  My oldest daughter turns 20.  I think she might be more freaked out about it than me.

I don’t mind telling my age, because I don’t feel old.

As a matter of fact, I feel better than I ever have.

I don’t feel like I really fit anywhere though.  I don’t feel like I really have anything in common with anyone other than my husband.  I don’t feel like I ‘fit’ anywhere… and I’m finally okay with that.  I struggle with depression and being somewhat bipolar (read my fitness blog and you’ll see what I mean:) but I try to stay positive for the most part.

When I have my lows, they are really really low… but when I have my highs… well, we end up planning a biking trip to California.  From Oklahoma.  Yeah, really.

We’ve been desperately wanting to move to LA for almost a year now, but finances aren’t agreeing with us.  I’m beginning to feel like we’re not going to ever be out from under our financial… curse… until we get OUT of here. I may sound somewhat irrational, but seriously, we have had such horrid luck financially ever since we moved here ten years ago.  Yeah, ten years of horrid finances can really start to wear a person down.  Start to?  START TO!?!?!?  Suffice it to say that financially, I’ve had it.  Its time for some change.

So last week I had a break down.  Well, not an actual break down, but close.  After being out of work for 11 months last year, my husband finally got a job last November.  We were going to finally be caught up at the end of this month (FINALLY!) and one of our vans died.  Needs-a-new-engine-died.  My husband nearly had a meltdown, I nearly had a meltdown and was desperately trying to find a way to find a bright side to it.  We both agreed that we weren’t going to get another van and we’d make do with one… and ride our bikes as much as possible.

Then I wrote in my journal, “I don’t care, I’m done.  If I have to ride my bike, I’m going to California”

The next day I reread that and thought, “Wait, we could RIDE OUR BIKES TO CALIFORNIA!!!”

My husband is online right now (literally, he’s right there… See?)

And no, honey, you don’t look fat in that (Yes, he asked.  I assume he was joking:)

Anyway, he is right at this very moment writing up sponsorship letters hoping to garner some financial support that would make it possible for us to actually DO THIS THING!!!  People, my family is going to ride their bikes to California!!  I am ready to bring it…. well, except for those mountains.  I’m honestly not looking forward to that part at all.  The up OR the down.

We are looking forward to L.A., though, and we are hoping to grab Ellen’s attention, because, well, we LOVE Ellen’s show.  When I’m feeling really down, watching her show always lifts me up.  This is my daughter, Abyni, doing her imitation of Ellen’s ‘dance’… She is so happy, if you need a smile, this should do it!  Watch it every morning:)

My New Adventure!!!

Mar24

YEARS ago when my kids were very little, I was an Avon Representative.  I admit back then I did it to get things at a discount.

I’m doing it again, with the goal of hopefully being able to supplement providing childcare in my home, and eventually being able to support myself on the income.  Lofty goals? Perhaps, but I’ve ALWAYS loved to think big.  And since I am totally into social media,  I LOVE that I can represent  this great company via my very own site!  Anyone, anywhere can order from my site, and even have the items shipped directly to them.

Just click in the left side bar to go to the ebrochures and shop the actual current catalogs.  Order, pay and it ships directly to you right from the convenience of your home.  If you are local, I can come to you!  Your choice, and don’t we all love choices!

Stop by and check it out, get on my mailing list through my site so that when there are sales, or I offer a special, you don’t miss out!

MARVI MARTI’S AVON PAGE

 

Thankful Thursday

Mar24

Undeserving Grace

What are YOU thankful for today? Post it and link up to Undeserving Grace by clicking the icon above!

 

*  What a blessing the first 3 days of this week have been, WARM and sunshiny!  While we’re back to cold and maybe some snow flurries again, I am so thankful  for those days to give me  a tease for Spring, right around the corner!!

*  A bag of opened Toll House Chocolate Chips in the pantry.  Because sometimes a girl just needs a little comfort food fix!

*  The microwave..I get to writing and reading and my cup of coffee gets a tad cold.

*  My kids…their Facebook updates and comments always make me smile, and usually just crack me up!

*  My new employment adventure – AVON!  More on this later today.

*  My church family, reconnecting and being surrounded by encouragement has helped me more than you will ever know!

Wine & Cheese – 29th Serving

Mar23

Being happy doesn’t mean everything is perfect; it means you’ve decided to see beyond the imperfections and enjoy every day ;)

 

Welcome to Wine & Cheese, my weekly, Wednesday whine session.

Every week on 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.

If you’d like to read the past editions of Wine & Cheese just click HERE for all of the past postings.

Sit back and join me now for the 29th serving of some wine and cheese!

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

WHINE = :(

CHEESE = :)

~*~

:( Still unemployed and job hunting.

:)   I have decided to look into providing childcare at home and selling Avon, allowing me to ‘work at home’ so to speak.  Looking at some other at-home options as well, and open to ideas.

~*~

:(   The delightful, warm weather we have been having this week, that has enabled us to open windows for the past few days, is coming to an end and we’re headed back down into the 40′s.

:)   The trees are budding and flowers starting to poke out and bloom – Spring IS here and there are more warm days ahead!!!

~*~

:(   Life is far from perfect, and there have been a series of disappointments over the past 14 months, some horribly painful.

:)   “Imperfections make every day interesting and exciting” *, I embrace the day and live in the moment!!

~*~

DESSERT

wonders….if a turtle lost it shell, would it be naked or homeless??

*reply to my Facebook status by my future sister-in-law, Angie.

I Am SO Jealous!!!!!

Mar20

I’m officially envious of my future sister-in-law.  And so happy for her and my brother.

This was on Angie’s Facebook today.  I love it!

“… wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you’re just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky his is to have you…. The one who turns to his friends and says, ‘that’s her.’”

Yep, I found him.

 

Not sure where the quote comes from, but that is the kind of man every woman wants.

Do not at all mind saying I am jealous!!!!!

Featured Friend Friday – Sonal

Mar18

Featured Friend

Friday


Welcome to Featured Friend Friday!

Today I introduce to you Sonal, a wonderful and inspiring writer I recently met through a blogging community.

I encourage you to stop by her  page, LOVE MOMENTS LOVE LIFE, and enjoy her inspirational sharing of her journey, her photos, recipes and more, you won’t be disappointed!

Be sure to  show her some love while there and while here!

 

Living In The Blogosphere

Have you been blogging? We all have this innate need to feel connected to the universe around us in some way or the other. For some of us, its community centers and for some others, it’s zumba or step class…. the list goes on.

In nurturing this urge to connect to the world around, blogging has been an enriching experience.

If you haven’t already explored this realm, I would highly encourage you to try and write your daily experiences or just browse around and view some blogs in your areas of interest.

This is about the beautiful things I’ve experienced from blogging.

For the past few months, I have been living in the blogosphere. ‘Well! Not literally living but, making my fair share of efforts to reach out. I haven’t been stuck to the computer or anything like that.’

I have spent a lot more quality time with my family discussing little things that really matter in life. Kunal (my husband) & I have shared stories that we never imagined possible and developed wonderful new hobbies.

Back in September last year, I started my blogging journey on WordPress. Over the past few months, I have discovered talented bloggers around the world & learned so much from them. None of this would’ve been possible without blogging.

Cooking & More

A year ago, cooking was one thing that just did not interest me. It was a chore.

“Aaargh! Do I have to cook? Can we just eat sandwiches or go out for dinner?” The little voice in my head started harping away somewhere close to dinner time.

As I continued blogging, I found this new world of food blogs & the recipes were to die for. The pictures were mind blowing and reading these delightful articles made me want to cook. For Thanksgiving, I actually cooked with a friend and we had a ball. We took pictures and spent the day bonding.

Today, I’m absolutely in love with experimenting new recipes and blending in my love for photography as I cook.

It’s wonderful how our horizons can expand if we chose to answer that call and extend our arms beyond our comfort zone.

Writing

As far as I can remember, I wrote poems, essays and read lots of story books. Somewhere in middle school and college, I forgot all about writing. Life happened & I just lost touch with this hobby.

Recently, I got in touch with a wonderful writer from Australia. I have been following her work for a while now and am a big fan. She has achieved tremendous success in merely 6 months of her freelance career.  A ghost-writing contract is already under her belt. An editor for a leading site, this writer was gracious enough to critique my writing and give me feedback in email.

It was the most inspiring and energizing experiences to connect with her. Somewhere deep inside, the passion to write was rekindled with her spirits.

Encouragement & supportive words can sometimes move mountains.

Working out

My husband Kunal has been cajoling me into working out regularly for 3 years now. I’ve been on and off with my workouts. Working to get back on track each time things go haywire.

The blogosphere has opened up my world to such a variety of athletes – fitness experts, runners, dancers, gym rats… you name it!  “How could one not be inspired if you read about all the fitness tips from these idols?” I continue to struggle with working out but, the motivation from reading tweets, posts and messages from so many fit people is unsurpassable. I believe that soon, I will achieve my fitness goals.

It’s all about who we connect with & what surrounds us. Connecting with inspirational individuals has connected me to an intense amount of positive & life-giving energy.

Let’s blog

We read books, magazines and the news. Living in the blogosphere is more surreal than that. It’s better than TV or movies.

The magic is in the written word.

As experienced by just another passer-by on the cross-roads of life. A precious gift handed down to us & the generations to come. It is the biggest learning experience for me and yet, so simple and naïve in appearance.

How else would you meet a cancer survivor and hear about their stories and inspirational struggles on a daily basis?

In the end, the journey is invaluable and the destination just a byproduct. I’m excited about the future this experience holds & so happy to have found Marti who let me feature this post on her wonderful blog.

Thanks so much Marti.

Sonal

Through The Mill Thursday

Mar17

You might not want to sit in the front row here today, I am spewing frustration from every pore of my being, and I cannot be held responsible if you are hit by flying debris.  Yes, my glass is still have full, but the contents are flat and luke warm.

On the job front:

WHAT JOB?????  “I keep a knockin but I can’t come in” – despite applying all over the place I am not getting anywhere.

I HATE being unemployed, hate it!!!!

My solution is that I am going to start providing childcare and hope I can make enough between that, an Etsy shop for handmade baby blankets and booties, and maybe selling Avon to pay my bills.  I LOVE being home, I LOVE writing, LOVE jewelry and makeup, and I LOVE to crochet.  Hmm…I’ll be a home based hooker that looks like a million bucks!! (easy now, remember, crochet = hooking).

Seriously I just want to work from home, and try something different.  I’ve been doing admin work for 28 years now, I NEED a change!!!!!!  But one that pays my bills.  So many home business options I’ve looked at are nothing but scams. :(

I am open to suggestions!!!!

On My Soap Box – Long Live Cap’n Crunch!

Mar14

There is a rumor going around that Cap’n Crunch is going away, because the government is pressuring companies to market healthier cereals.

Okay NOW I’m pissed!  Flaming wrap around pissed in fact.  DEAR  UNCLE  SAM,  GET THE HELL OUT OF MY CEREAL BOWL!!!!!

Seriously, dear First Lady and others on capital  hill,  I am sure your intentions are good,  to get healthier things marketed to children, but let me remind you of something.  I grocery shop, weekly, along with the other Divas  here in the Den.  I have yet to witness a child handling the family grocery shopping.  Oh sure, kids will whine and beg (ah the memories of being little) but ultimately the decisions are made by the parents.

I am a mom.  My kids are adults now, 20 and 26 years old.  They ate Cap’n Crunch, among other unhealthy cereals.  Both are amazingly intelligent,  one being established in a law enforcement career now for 8 years, the other about to graduate  from college.  I am sure there were doubts about their future as their father and I home schooled them (*GASPS HEARD FROM THE READER COMMUNITY*).  Not only did they manage to make it to adulthood well socialized (it is absolutely amazing how much more social life a kid has when they lack hours of evening homework and can play sports, attend youth group and be involved in countless activities) but neither went to jail and both have  impressively high IQs.  Both are employed, helping to keep millions sitting on their asses on welfare watching 52 inch plasma TVs and eating bon bons.   I  know, right,  all this from idiot,  lower middle class parents that managed  without the government telling them how and when to flush the toilet.  Wonders never cease!  No village needed here, we raised them and are very proud of their ability to THINK FOR THEMSELVES!!!!  Okay maybe  with the exception of the daughter purchasing a $250 crystal studded bra, but hey we all have moments of mental weakness.  Please, don’t judge her, it was HER money, she EARNED it the old fashioned way, with a job and not a welfare check.  Shocking, I know!

As parents we made the purchasing decisions in our home.  Certainly we did buy those horrid, nasty, bad for you sugary cereals  sometimes, but we also made countless healthy and well balanced meals.  We are,  despite what the government wants us to believe, rather capable of making our own decisions and choices regarding what we eat.  We know that over consumption of crap food equals fat, unhealthy bodies.  We are very aware that if our kids sit inside and watch TV or play on the computer all day, they get NO exercise and the result again is a fat, unhealthy body.  And while  I’m at it, as parents we are also very aware that too much exposure to tanning beds or tanning outside CAN cause skin cancer.  BUT THEY ARE OUR CHILDREN!!!  We don’t need your input to raise them!  Believe it or not we are not living under rocks, we know what is healthy and not healthy.  Kids learn this stuff early on in school.  If we want to eat Cap’n Crunch Cereal and feed it to our kids, THAT IS OUR DECISION TO MAKE!  If I want to buy a Happy Meal complete with cheese burger,  fries, Coke and A COOL TOY, THAT IS OUR DECISION TO MAKE!  If I want to allow my daughter to use the tanning salon before she is 18 years old, THAT IS MY DECISION TO MAKE!  As mom I CAN say no or yes to these and dozens of other choices.

I ENJOY EATING CAP’N CRUNCH!

I BUY HAPPY MEALS FOR THE TOYS FOR ME SOMETIMES TOO!

WHEN I CAN AFFORD IT I  LIKE TO USE THE TANNING BED!

Sorry off track here a bit.  I am all for healthy options, but I still want variety and options!  Get out of our Happy Meals!  Back off  the tanning beds!  Leave my breakfast cereal alone!

As for the rumor? See the link below, seems it is NOT true, but still, stay OUT of my cereal!

Is Cap’n Crunch Retiring?

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN AN IRISH FAMILY

Mar13

In preparation for St Patrick’s Day, here is some of what you need to understand about an Irish Family. I have NO idea who wrote this or I’d give credit, but it is funny. We do have some Irish in our blood so I can claim to know a good deal of what is shared:

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN AN IRISH FAMILY

1) You will never play professional basketball.

2) You swear very well.

3) At least one of your cousins is a fireman, cop, bar owner, funeral home owner or holds political office. And you have at least one aunt who is a nun or uncle who’s a priest.

4) You think you sing very well.

5) You have no idea how to make a long story short!

6) There isn’t a big difference between you losing your temper and killing someone.

7) Many of your childhood meals were boiled. Instant potatoes were a mortal sin.

8 ) You have never hit your head on a ceiling.

9) You spent a good portion of your childhood kneeling in prayer.

10) You’re strangely poetic after a few beers.

11) Some punches directed at you are from legacies of past generations.

12) Many of your sisters and/or cousins are named Mary, Catherine or Eileen ….. and there is at least one member of your family with the full name of Mary Catherine Eileen

13) Someone in your family is very generous. It is more than likely you.

14) You may not know the words, but that doesn’t stop you from singing.

15) You can’t wait for the other guy to stop talking before you start talking.

16) You’re not nearly as funny as you think you are … but what you lack in talent, you make up for in frequency.

17) There wasn’t a huge difference between your last wake and your last keg party.

18) You are, or know someone, named Murph.

19) If you don’t know Murph, then you know Mac. If you don’t know Murph or Mac, you must know Sully.

20) You are genetically incapable of keeping a secret.

21) You have Irish Alzheimer’s… you forget everything but the grudges!

22) ‘Irish Stew’ is a euphemism for ‘boiled leftovers.’

23) Your skin’s ability to tan…. not so much.

24) Childhood remedies for the common cold often included some form of whiskey.

25) There’s no leaving a family party without saying goodbye for at least 45 minutes.

26) At this very moment, you have at least two relatives who are not speaking to each other. Not fighting, mind you, just not speaking to each other.

For The First Time Again

Mar12

This week a friend bought a CD for me that I’ve been longing to own!  This song, For  The  First Time Again, really touched me.  It is  RIGHT where I was back in the second half of 2010 and when I met up with my dear friend, Jane, before  heading back to church the first Sunday in December.  Enjoy!!!

Friday Featured Friend

Mar11

Friday Featured Friend Feline

Today I am featuring one of the Diva Den cats, Ms. Ditzy, who feels she  needs a soap box to air some grievance she has with me.  So, I decided to let her have at it.  She is our 3rd, and for now, final cat addition.  Roughly 6 months old, we refer to her as our ‘special’ cat, as in mentally touched.  She is NOT the brightest bulb in the box.  Here she is with her first post:

Greetings to all of you, my name is Goddess, you may call me Princess.  I am well aware that the staff refer to me as ‘Ditzy’ but that is their disrespectful name for me.  I am royalty, after all.  I mean, look at that photo, that is a true Princess, don’t you agree?  Of course you do.

I’m more than just a tiny bit miffed of late at the staff member that feeds us fabulous felines,  the one you know as Marvi Marti.  As far as her duties of feeding us, we give her a ‘C+’.  Too many evenings she arrives back at the palace late,  or just seems to forget us, how rude!

But it isn’t her lack of attention to our food dishes that has my tail puffed up like a Christmas tree.  It is her inability to accept that the one she refers to as Mr. Wonderful, belongs to ME!  He is the staff member in charge of entertaining me, and my most adored play thing.  SHE thinks he is here for  her and frequently distracts him from his duties: playing games with me.  It brushes my fur the wrong way, and it simply must stop!

My very favorite game is fetch.  Stop gasping, we cats taught the game to dogs, they just try to pretend they thought of it first.  Seriously, dogs have  no brains whatsoever.  Kick them and the fools come back wagging their tails.  Kick us? OH big mistake, we will poo in your bed, chew the tassels off your favorite shoes, fling the litter box contents all over, or trip you in attempts to kill you on the stairs.  We cats are gods, get used to it.  We punish those that serve us when they are incompetent or anger us.

Let me tell you what this not so marvelous one does.  My man-toy arrives and as the staff opens the door, there I am sitting pretty as can be near the door awaiting his adoration.  What does the Marvi do? Steps in between he and I and into his arms, making him hold and kiss her.  I know, right? HOW RUDE!!!  Then he tries to appease me after the wench has gotten her fill.  REALLY not happy about this at all.

Do you think she is at all lagging in making sure he has something to eat? OH no!  She will wait on his every need, getting him a drink and even turns her phone off and puts her computer away.  Unless of course he wants to dance with her, then he puts on romantic music and turns the lights down and dances with her, even singing to her!  Do you think he ever thinks to hold me and dance  with me, the goddess he is here to entertain? OH no, she has him all to herself and refuses to give him up!

The past three evenings he has come over to play games with me and entertain my wonderful self.  At first, once she was done slobbering all over him at the door, he sat on the floor throwing my crinkle.  I impressed him with my abilities to jump and twist in the air (we taught dogs to do that while chasing frisbees), then landing feather light on my paws.  I would walk all regally back to him, dropping the crinkle at his side allowing him to continue our little game.  While retrieving the crinkle, I find SHE has once again diverted his focus to HER.  There he is, head in her lap while she is rubbing his head and cooing at him!  Or worse yet, has  her head in HIS lap while he is rubbing her head!  REALLY????  And do you think he requests a back scratch from me,  the one with the natural claws? OH no, he asks her, the lowly food wench,  to use her fake talons to scratch his lovely, muscled and tattooed back.  It makes me want to heave up a hairball in her shoes.

One would think this staff member would be tripping over herself to please me after stealing my man-toy, but no, she continues to ignore every opportunity to pay me homage.  She has a window kitty cat television right next to the desk lounging platform in her sleep chambers.  There are few things we felines enjoy like watching our kitty TV.  Do you think she raises the blinds turns it on when I paw the ledge and ‘meow’? Oh no,  she shoos me of the room and closes the door.  She doesn’t seem to grasp that there are NO doors ever to be closed to us of tailed divinity.  NONE of our staff seems to understand this.  HUMANS! Such simple minded low life they are.

About Annie

Mar10

Annie.  That is all I have to say and it brings fond memories and smiles to the faces of my siblings.

When I was about 3 years old, my parents purchased a house in Price Hill, a neighborhood in Cincinnati.  We had a long back yard, and on the left side, 3 houses back yards meet up with our property.  At that time there were no fences so it was wide open except for flower beds.  As kids we thought it was HUGE, though on a recent trip to check out the house, as it was for sale, I was shocked at how small the yard really is.  One strong memory there as I stood in the backyard was the 3rd house, Annie’s house.

Annie was probably in her 50′s at the time we moved in,  and lived in the house with her husband, Erhart and I think her kids that were grown, Bob and  Elaine.  Oh and their old dog, Ginger.  Annie had a great back porch and when we were all outside playing she’d call us over for our “quota”.  Quota was candy,  and she  had the best candy!  A few orange slices (those gummy kind covered in sugar) were my favorite, or marsh mellow peanuts.  YUM!  Annie was always a good ear, seemed to really love little kids and chatting with us.

She was also a good set of eyes for my parents when hell broke loose in the backyard and they needed to get to the  bottom of who started it.  One time I was showing my brother how to swing a baseball bat, as if he needed my assistance, and I hit him right up side the head.  While he was screaming bloody murder, I ran up the side of the house and slipped in through the front door.  Mom was exiting the backdoor to find out what my brother was crying over.  I came out of the house behind her, acting all innocent while  being tattled on.  It might have worked had Annie not witnessed the crime and filled my mother in on the details.  BUSTED!!!!

We moved away  from there just before I started high school, and I lost track of Annie.  I ran into her and her daughter at the grocery store after I myself became a mother.  She was very old but was still our beloved Annie.  I learned  that her husband had passed away, and her son, Bob (a true to life hippie) and he had a falling out years prior and he left without looking back, and didn’t know his dad had  died.  I  could  see the pain in Annie’s face as she shared that with me.  It broke my heart to think that an argument could split two people that loved each other  and cause damage that  would forever be beyond repair now that one of them had left this world.

I hope to be remembered like Annie some day.  She was so sweet, and she reminds me of a time when my world was so much simpler and happy, when something as simple as a few pieces of candy and the lick from a dog on my cheek could make me smile!

Mama’s Losin’ It

This post  was written as a part of Mama Kat’s Writer’s  Workshop.  To join in and participate click the  icon above and chose from one of this week’s topics, write your post and link up!

 

Our old house - in foreclosure now, wish I could buy it!!!

Wine & Cheese – 28th Serving

Mar9

Welcome to Wine & Cheese, my weekly, Wednesday whine session.

Every week on 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.

If you’d like to read the past editions of Wine & Cheese just click HERE for all of the past postings.

Sit back and join me now for the 28th serving of some wine and cheese!

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

WHINE

:( Still on the job  hunt.  I’ve been debating if maybe a career change might be in order?  I’m applying places for jobs other than office/clerical just in case.  I’m also considering going back to school and really going for something totally different.  Time will tell….

:(   REALLY ready for spring time, this weather is depressing to say the least.  I’m getting to the point where I may just walk with an umbrella just to be able to go outside!  I miss sitting on the deck for dinner, and breakfast on Saturdays.

:(   I have the encore performance of the cold/sinus/flu bug from hell.  Seriously, this thing is NASTY and mean and just doesn’t want to let go!  I cannot believe I have it again and that it is still hanging around.

CHEESE

:)   I am finally getting caught up on my sleep.  Not having to be up for work has meant sleeping in which has really been nice.  I must need the rest because I’m sleeping solidly.

:)   Things with Mr. Wonderful are …. well wonderful!  What more can be said than he is just a super person.

:)   Hooker time is in abundance!  I have plenty of time on my hands to work on blankets now and I’m enjoying that, though until the shop is set up we aren’t making any money.  But it is one of my favorite forms of therapy so I’m enjoying time with a hook and some yarn!

DESSERT

Gracefully: how you can age only if your health insurance covers plastic surgery. ~ Daffynitions Twitter

Meet Me On Monday

Mar7

Meet Me on Monday!!

Welcome to the 37th edition of “Meet Me On Monday!” Blogging  is a funny thing…we tell our most intimate thoughts for all to read  and yet most of the time I find myself sitting and wondering, “who is  this person!?”  I know them…but yet I don’t know them!  I want  to know who the person is behind all those words so I thought of a great  way for all of us to “meet” each other!

Every Sunday Never Growing Old will post five get to know you questions that you can copy and paste into your own Monday post and we  can all learn a little more about each and every one of us!!

“Its a great way to to meet new friends and for others to get to know me better….one Monday at a time!!!”….as quoted by the Chacogirl!! I will make this SIMPLE and FUN!!!

Questions:

1.  What is your favorite way to eat potatoes?
2.  What was the last package that was delivered to your house?
3.  What is your favorite scent that you love to smell?
4.  Do you smoke?
5.  Are your parents married or divorced?

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

1.  What is your favorite way to eat potatoes?

Mashed with some butter and salt, or gravy, or heck even both!  But mashed and smashed  is the way to go for me!

2.  What was the last package that was delivered to your house?

If my memory serves me correctly,  it was Pro Active Solution for my niece.

3.  What is your favorite scent that y0u love to smell?

That is a tough one, as I love many scents at different times of the year and for various reasons.  For the sake of an answer, cinnamon candles, specifically Wood Wick cinnamon  sugar cookie!

4.  Do you smoke?

Not anymore. I used too, but I quit 26 years ago  this coming July 4th.

5.  Are your parents married or divorced?

My parents divorced after 27 years of marriage.

Sounds From My Grandparents House

Mar5

So long ago it seems, and yet not that far away…..

Marty Brennaman and Joe  Nuxhall calling the Red’s game  through the radio on top of the refrigerator in the kitchen.

The sounds of Sanford and Son on the TV in the living room.

The ceramic tea pot in the pantry as its lid was removed and replaced to dole out Smarties candy to the grand kids.

The sound of the aluminum drink cups popping/cracking as ice and peppermint iced tea was combined in them.

Uncle Larry and Uncle Chuck’s  laughs, both unique and always contagious.

The creak of the  glider on the front porch as someone or someones rocked.

The sound of the tricycles up and down the driveway and around the front hedges and children squealing and laughing.

Popcorn being made in what is the oldest, discolored metal pot I’d ever seen, and never a kernel burnt, it was always perfect.

Gentle humming of the black, oscillating fans throughout the house.

Traffic up and down St. Lawrence & Regina Avenue.

The distinct voices of each aunt and uncle (grandma had 10 kids), sitting around the dinning room table.

The laughter of  dozens of cousins outside running around.

The cuckoo clock in the  front hall near the door.