Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Happy New Year!
Staying home tonight, in 17oF weather.
The young folks across the street are having a mild party.
Only four trucks parked in front.
While I was taking out the trash, I looked up past the streetlight and could see the lovely, bright stars in the clear night sky. Makes me feel small, those stars.
So far, the only resolution I’ve come up with is to not go into craft stores or websites until I have used up a large portion of what I have already here in the house.
This week, Chris’s stuff has been sharing a room with my hobby supplies. He is quite amazed at how much is there.
In spite of my best efforts to organize, it does seem a bit overwhelming.
Chookooloonks has a nice idea about the coming year.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Our Holiday Date
After seeing Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia twice at theaters and then again on Christmas Day’s dvd viewing, I got to thinking about her latest movie DOUBT, a new release on Boxing Day.
There is no way I can understand the schedule of movie production, but she’s had two come out this year, and that means a whole big bunch of memorizing lines and getting inside the head of characters.
I cannot give you links to other places because my computer is not behaving very well these days.
My Computer Support Tech is keeping it running so I can check e-mails and post on the blog, but copy and paste is a NO, and a couple websites are bringing in annoying pop-up adverts.
Husband and I decided to use some more of our holiday time and loot to go see a movie in a theater, first showtime of the day. We were the second car to park in the public lot, with 8 cars in the employee lot.
So, back to the movie review. It takes place in the mid-1960s, in a middle class neighborhood of a city.
There is a nun who is the Principal of a Catholic school, a much younger nun who loves being the History teacher, students, and a priest who has been assigned to be the Boss of the parish, whose jobs include being the preacher at Mass, and the boys’ basketball coach.
The plot has no cussing or race cars or guns.
The Principal believes that inappropriate behavior has occurred between the priest and a male student. Nobody ever says exactly, but implications are discussed in the Principal’s office.
Just a bunch of people thrust into a situation and trying to make sense of it. There is no way I could be working on a yarn project because to look away from the screen would mean I would miss some raised eyebrow or pursed lips.
Both Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman have won Academy Awards before, and this movie should be on that path again.
Husband and I walked out of the theater still wondering about the whole truth.
Then we went to lunch at a nice little restaurant in Uptown Normal, leaving the server a 20% tip (yes, she was good) plus we were living large on gift money.
We used the last of it at the bakery connected to the restaurant. I believe the guys who built it that way were hoping for folks just like us to be coming in the door.
So put on your thinking cap and go see the movie DOUBT.
It’ll give ya somethin’ to talk about.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Cats and Sons are a good mix
The weather was extremely cold a few days ago, but with extra people in the house, the cats, Oscar and Mahalia, wanted to go outside a little more often.
Whenever one would actually go out past the threshold, I took to saying “Oscar is OUT, 9 o’clock” so that I would have a mental mark and not leave them outdoors too long becoming a cat icicle.
Although one evening the guys went to a store or somewhere, I got interested in something on TV for a whole hour, and when I finally went into the kitchen, there was poor kitty sitting just outside the window. He was most disgruntled when he brushed past my ankles.
Lucas left Friday on a train to Chicago. He was headed to his meet his sweetie at her parents’ house for the night, then he and Milly caught a plane to California, on a day when the weather co-operated and planes were able to resemble routine schedules.
They had Christmas with their families, then will begin the New Year together before Lucas comes back to Illinois to finish his last semester for his Master’s.
This evening, Husband and Chris went out to a store, then to check on Chris’s apartment. It is not fit for living in, so the kid will be here awhile, until the landlord complies with whatever the Inspector requires.
I put a CD into the stereo and tackled the clearing of must-gos from the fridge, then loaded the dishwasher.
When Chris came in, he began to giggle. After the week the kid has had, I’m very glad as a mom to hear him giggle, but I could not figure out what could be so funny at that moment.
Then he mentioned the instrumental music. This isn’t just any music. Light Jazz Christmas is one of the very first CDs I ever bought, copyright 1993. by Golly, I just looked it up on Amazon, and it’s selling for $5.50 Used.
Chris says this brings back some good memories from his childhood, but now, having an education as a music major, he knows some aspects are lacking.
Oscar has returned. Good thing Chris was passing through the kitchen and spied cold kitty at the window.
He was 28 minutes outside, and he is not happy about it being so long.
I’m not sure what I’m meaning to say here.
Maybe that I have had to make more adjustments than I want to, but Family and cats are nice to have around.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
And So, That was Christmas
One of the most laid-back holidays ever.
Well, at least as far as gifts and food and family matters.
The night before, we agreed for the time to have French toast as Noon. Anybody getting up before then would have to eat a little snack, such as her carrot muffin.
When I was growing up, the opening of gifts was a free-for-all, with everybody, aka 4 sisters, tearing paper and ooo-ing and whooping chaos. Our mother beamed through the whole ordeal, but I often wished for more organization and seeing who got good stuff other than my own, and who gave it to her, other than Santa, of course.
When our sons were little, we got so many boxes from folks via UPS that Joey said the brown truck was like Santa’s helper. And some relatives wanted to know if gifts were appreciated.
I needed to keep track of what came from whoever to be able to send Thank You cards.
So, we decided on the one gift at a time. Over the years, as the boys learned to read nametags, they became the Morning Elf in charge of distribution. Sometimes it seems to take longer than others.
This year the helper was Lucas.
The pile was small, but more than adequate, and not a gift got handed out that didn’t have some witty quip along.
Another of my faults is that I have no patience with surprise gifts. I don’t like them. Perhaps I am a control freak, obsessive compulsive about comfort. And with the boys all grown up, I can change the rules on a whim.
Anyway, for weeks, I’ve been opening boxes and envelopes as they come along. For my Christmas gifts, I will say I got sheepskin slippers, and music CDs, a book about holiday miracles, and a knitting peg loom to make Toddler hats.
I’d like to say they are all Christmas gifts because they got here by the holiday, meaning money and gift cards were welcome.
Husband did want me to have something to open on Christmas morning, tho. So he looked over my Wish List and bought Mamma Mia on DVD, which was carefully wrapped in the Travel section of the newspaper (we haven’t bought wrapping paper in years), with a picture of a camel from the Holy Land folded in place next to the name. Exactly the kind of gift I like—- one I’ve already expressed interest in, and which saves money in some way.
Did I immediately think that would make a wonderful blog post and take a picture? NO = proof positive that writing for the Internet still hasn’t moved into front place in my interests.
For the third Christmas afternoon in a row, I did one of my favorite activities, which is baking. I know some folks want to have all the kitchen work out of the way by the actual day so they can sit in the easy chair with feet up, but the kitchen seems to be where my guys like for me to be. And I do love churning out the goodies.
What came out of the oven has history, and yes I have done a blog before about the Apple Cake seen here.
As per usual, it was just as yummy as the recipe says.
Then I put my new movie in and began peg loom knitting a child size hat for a girl at church.
The evening got used up watching some more Battlestar Gallactica on DVDs, and I finished the knitted hat.
Definitely laid back. The 4 of us at home.
We didn’t call any long distance relatives, either.
Maybe I thought it might break the quiet spell.
I’m not sure.
Here’s hoping you and yours are doing fine.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Takin’ It Easy Christmas Eve
In spite of predictions for terrible weather, Husband was able to travel an hour each way on I-74 to fetch son Lucas and bring him home for Christmas. His cat Scratchy remains behind and will be looked after by someone advertised on Craigslist, but comes with a good reference.
We all just got done foraging through the fridge to come up with something to eat for supper. I used the last of the crockpot roasted chicken to make noodle soup, the Taco Bake pan and a jar of salsa are empty, and some roast beef and sourdough bread made a fine sandwich.
The mess all over the counter will eventually be put into the dishwasher so the machine can work its hardest.
The time right now is when Christmas Eve service was scheduled. However, my e-mail Inbox says the parking lot is covered with ice, so the decision was made to cancel and stay safe at home.
This saved me having to use up the afternoon baking cookies for the linger-after party.
Which isn’t to say that we don’t have goodies.
The neighbors brought a plate of cookies and the music of bagpipes caroling.
My sister-in-law Becky sent a Kahlua coffee cake, wrapped in cheesecloth, inside a firm container. There is about a 3” slice left, but I haven’t called dibs yet.
Several times in the last few days, the guys need to go over to Chris’s apartment to empty bins and buckets.
So far, the landlord hasn’t shown any inclination to do much. The city building inspector says the choice to live there is up to the tenants, but there is now a legal, active file.
About halfway between our house and his place is the Medici Bakery. Husband believes that such closeness needs investigating and goodies should be purchased. He claims that during one incident, a giant tentacle reached out from the door and dragged him inside….resistance is futile.
There is a box of Danish, holiday bread loaf, sourdough for sandwiches on the kitchen table, getting shoved from side to side whenever anybody wants to clear space and sit down to do something else.
No, instead of baking cookies, I browsed the ‘Net.
My blog buddy Pam sent some links pertaining to peg loom knitting supplies and education.
I have decided that one of my New Year resolutions will be to not even go into a craft store for at least a month.
I have boxes of yarn, and all sorts of accessories already here in the house, so I need to make use of my stuff and save a bit on the budget.
Husband says he doesn’t think I would do it.
He’s seen how I light up while in the yarn aisle.
But, my oh, my…. what my Grandma calls a bad case of the I-wannas sent me to look at the $loom$ found here.
The sons are watching DVDs of Battlestar Gallactica.
Nice Christmas Eve viewing, No?
I went over to my bookshelf full of Christmas stories.
All those pages, and not a one is _How the Grinch Stole Christmas_ . Chris says we should get it asap.
I did read again _The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey_ and _Down at Angel’s_. I’m not bothering to find authors or links. Last time I tried to give a book as a gift, I learned it was out of print.
Well, I’d better make sure some dishes get run through the cycles of the dishwasher or there won’t be room for breakfast preparations.
Here’s hoping that you and yours are cozy.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Not much, how ‘bout you?
There is a new porcelain crown installed on the second from back tooth on the upper left side of my mouth. Once the numbing wore off, my cheek and eye twitch decided to strut their stuff yet another time before I smacked ‘em down with pain reliever.
The dentist recommended soup or soft foods for a day or so, until the area gets settled down.
Chris and I got his car out to the mechanic this morning.
Then I played chauffeur while he did a few errands, and we stopped at the grocery store for the fixins for Christmas breakfast. French Toast with real maple syrup and sausage is our family history. He changed the request from links to patties, so we will have something new after all. I’m really glad for the great variety of cans of soup at a grocery store.
He had to be at work at 1pm, so he’s got my car.
I’m home on a blustery winter afternoon.
It is 26oF with freezing rain, with more of the same forecast for tomorrow.
ENYA is on the stereo and I’m playing eeny-meeny-miney-moh to decide whether I want to put up the wooden figures Nativity Scene, address some more newsletter envelopes (we got 6 greeting cards in today’s mail), crochet some potholders, or knit a hat.
Not included in my little game is empty the dishwasher, iron several of Husband’s work shirts (he’s gonna be on vacation for a week, so he won’t need ‘em too soon), or clean the toilet. Such chores get put off so often that sometimes I forget I’m the person first responsible for the upkeep.
One thing I decided is that compost of vegetable scraps, etc. will not be happening over the winter. The little container on the counter has been cleaned out, run twice through the dishwasher, and retired to a spot under the basement steps. Even with a cover on, it was quite a source of mold and stink, and I don’t like carrying it out separately across the yard in the opposite direction from the trash bin. There was a time when I would pay $1 to the first teenager I could grab to go empty it. My sons and their friends have stories to tell.
Sometimes, frugal and responsible is too much work.
The CD is playing the last song, and I’m still here at the screen.
I really should be doing something with a solid outcome.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Monday, December 22, 2008
The Circle of Charity
Aside from apartment floods and toothaches, I believe I should write something a little more positive that happened recently.
At the holiday season, our public library usually puts up an artificial tree in the lobby, which uses donations of warm items for decorations. I knitted 2 baby hats, 2 child hats, and 2 adult hats for the charity (yet I completely forgot to take a picture of any step of the activity Sorry 
)
Some folks might remember a couple when I pulled them out of my bag.
After last Thursday’s Yarn Group, I went by the library to drop off my items. I walked over to the Front Desk and mentioned that I had knitted some hats and where should I leave them?
The gal behind the counter opened the little gate and led me over to the tree, saying I could put them on anywhere there is a space.
This was difficult to find, the donations were many, mostly of storebought hats and mittens and scarves, but a few knitted things as well. One very pretty bright red hat, child-size caught my eye. Cable pattern, someone with talent and patience had knitted it on circular needles.
I brought my hats out of the bag one at a time, carefully placing each one somewhere on the tree. I made sure to put the red-green-white ombre hat up near the top so it looked like a Christmas decoration.
Then we stood back to admire all the colors and talk about how many people would benefit from so much generosity.
When the phone rang, the librarian went back behind the counter to answer it.
I was just about to make my way to the exit when I was approached by a tall man in a rather nicely tailored coat.
He said he would like to speak with me a minute,
if I had the time, please?
Well, there was a crockpot full of chicken at home, so I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about cooking supper. I had all the time in the world that afternoon.
He seemed to find it difficult for proper words. Then he said he had overheard that I had knitted hats for the project. He pointed to one I had placed on the tree, and said it was so very, very lovely with the light green and the blue going through it.
Then, swallowing a couple times, he said there was a time in his life when he could not provide for 3 daughters. He always wanted to work, but he was also a student in those days, and the babies came along, and well, money got real tight for awhile.
But then, during this season of the year, somebody came by with a box, full of gifts for his family. And in that box were three knitted hats, just the sizes his girls would need to stay warm. Somebody had worked hard to make hats for his family, and they were hats that were not like anybody else’s at school or church. Those hats were made just for my girls.
By now, his voice was cracking and my lip was quivering, and I told him I knew just how he felt. We’ve all had struggles in life, and overcoming makes us stronger. I didn’t feel like I was saying anything new, but I think he wanted to hear the words.
He reached out and touched my shoulder and said he was so glad that there are people who have talent and are willing to share. He said he would love for his girls to learn how to knit, and they are getting to the age when they could settle down and learn.
He asked if there is a place to get lessons. I mentioned the Ewe Knit store on Main Street, and the Activity Center, but our meetings there are during the day when school is in session.
He said he was going to look into it, at craft stores and such. He wants his girls to learn how to make things with their hands, and be able to give beautiful, warm things to charity.
He patted my shoulder again, nodded, walked a couple steps toward the tree, and touched the hat whose color name is High Meadow, looked over at me and nodded again. Then he walked towards the front door, while I turned toward the other.
As I passed by the desk,
the librarian called out “Thanks Again!”
You have no idea, sweet lady,
how great was my stop at the library that day.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Sunday not so super
In my planner book for Saturday 20 Dec, I had written Address newsletter envelopes. Lots of other stuff happened, moving that tedious task very far down the list.
Last year I was able to use the year before’s envelopes because we hadn’t sent out a newsletter for 2006. How’s that for procrastination?
Anyway, Christopher said he would be willing to be Editor for the newsletter again,
but then this happened at his apartment click it
and there was no electricity for about 30 hours
Today the weather is terrible wind and -1oF, plus I have a toothache, even though the temporary crown is holding strong and I have been really careful with foods and sweets. It’s not easy, this time of year, the side of my face being so sensitive.
I called off being in church, even though I was on the schedule for the Toddler Nursery, and you know how much I love being with the younguns. I’m told there was a willing substitute.
Yesterday while Husband and I were out, we bought a beef rump roast for Sunday supper. Today, I put it into the crockpot a little after noon, added the carrots around 3pm, then completely forgot to put in the potatoes, so those got boiled in a kettle on a burner of the stove. Very nice to have supper pretty much taken care of this way.
I couldn’t put off envelopes any longer. I cleared the table in the study, which got Oscar’s attention. Mom is doing something different, so he had to be underfoot and on the table. New black markers, box of envelopes pulled across, Rolodex box carried from its place beside the phone.
Hhmm, the Rolodex box. I decided to go through it first, to be sure I have current information, especially for the folks who have already sent our way some greetings of the season.
I had to pull out five cards for people who have passed away this last year. This takes on a whole new meaning, “You’re Off my Christmas card list”.
Meanwhile, Christopher decided he needs to be staying here at our house for a few days. He says the smell in his apartment is so horrible that he almost barfed while moving the tarp and emptying the filthy water out of the plastic bins. His roomie also went to his parents for awhile, as per plans already for the holiday.
There is bedding, and other laundry to catch up.
My my my, what a mess. Landlord Alerted!
Also, the apartment disaster means we have to shift around care and keeping for son Lucas’s cat. Scratchy and Chris got along so well at Thanksgiving, but now Lucas is meeting at his own place with a cat-sitter for hire over the holidays.
The writing on envelopes is done to the names beginning with ‘B-e’. It would seem our family newsletter will be arriving in the bleak mid-winter, same as last year.
My planner book says that Monday is for clearing space in the living room to put up Nativity Scene and Christmas tree. Mahalia won’t be liking that, she’s taken to using my chosen spot as a bridge from her shelf to the chair.
This rambles a bit, but what other reading have you got to do when the weather outside is frightful?
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Latest Peg Loom Arrives!
Yesterday being a Snow Day freebie time, I used it up knitting doll hats on my newborn size peg loom. It is the smaller one in the picture, with 36 pegs.
The hats are going to a little girl at church, just because I wanna contribute accessories for the new doll which I have been assured is coming from Grandma. Sometimes when children decide to confide in me, well, my heart grows two sizes that day.
This morning, the cats left me sleep in until 8:30,
‘twas truly a long winter’s nap, probably because we left the thermostat up a few degrees, and I also put on a sweatshirt over my nightgown, so I didn’t wake up chilled during the night.
When I got to the kitchen, I realized I had forgotten to put on a robe over the sweatshirt. However, I puttered along the usual routine, filling the cats’ wet food and dry kibble bowls, rinsing and changing their water, taking my morning medicine.
Then I came over to the computer, checking weather first.
After a few minutes, my knees were protesting the lack of warm bathrobe.
As I was going back down the hall, Mahalia mentioned she would like me to raise the window blind next to her favorite shelf in the living room.
Sitting out there at the end of the walk was the mailman’s truck, where he was getting ready to walk our block with delivery items.
I went on down to my room, and there was Husband, still in bed, and my side looking all ready to be warmed up again.
I lay down with my slippers still on, but pulling the blankets over my knees.
Just when Husband was reaching for my shoulder to pull me in closer, there came a knock on the front door, and the sound of a package being dropped.
I threw back the blankets, jumped up and scooted down the hall, throwing open the door to see if it might be my latest peg loom.
Yes, It Was! and the mailman was only about 15 feet from the steps.
He turned around again, and there I was in my nightgown, sweatshirt, and slippers, saying Thank You! as if he were Santa Claus himself.
He grinned from ear to ear, saying he thought that a package with Crafts as part of the return address label would be very welcome, which is why he knocked on the door rather than just setting it down.
We gabbed a bit, about how ready we might be for the holidays (neither is, since this is a very busy season for both our jobs), his young son’s Wish List, the baby’s cough.
Neither of us mentioned my outfit (nor my cold knees), as I was standing holding open the storm door as we chatted.
Then he went on his way, a full pack on his shoulder.
I went back to our room, where Husband had gotten up and started getting dressed.
He said wryly, “I wonder how many other women on that guy’s route jump out of bed with her husband to go running down the hall in her nightie to answer the door?”
Hearing it spoken that way, I could see how the scene could be construed with all kinds of mixed feelings. We’ve been married a long time now, so what it did was send me into a fit of the giggles so hard I had to grab ahold of the corner of the dresser, then sit down on my stool for a minute.
There’s a part of the wedding ceremony which speaks about the promise to love, honor, cherish. I don’t remember speaking the word Trust, but I’ve learned over the years that it has to happen in so many situations.
I finally got ready and we went out for breakfast, then shopping at 4 different stores, the last stop being the bakery for an apple pie. Just the two of us have already consumed a nice fraction as a mid-afternoon snack.
Now then, I’ve got a new 41-peg loom to initiate. This one is supposed to be a size to fit Toddlers, and I know a really pretty pastels yarn to do so.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Friday, December 19, 2008
Ice Storm means an at-home day
Although I had signed on to TA Sub at an elementary school Second Grade (are you kidding? last day of the semester means clean out desks, movies, cookies!) ALL SCHOOLS and everybody else for miles are closed due to an ice storm.
This gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling, knowing I had been willing to fill in, but the ability to serve was taken from me.
I get to remain indoors with ongoing yarn projects.
Husband is considered Non-Essential Personnel at ISU, so he’s home, too. He says there is a whole bunch of work to do while the college students are gone, plus there is a new guy in training, but he’s home.
and we are both grateful
that we still have electrical power for Internet
what Oscar and I saw when he wanted to go outside the front door
what Mahalia and I saw from the top of the back steps
I can see there is a tree branch broken and hanging in the yard of the house kitty-corner. The snow plow just went down Gregory Street. Somebody is making scraping noises on a sidewalk, but I can’t quite discern who in the neighborhood is brave enough to be digging out already.
Decrepit Old Fool has a post up, also. Nothing quite like a phone call after midnight to set me in stressed out mode. Our youngest son and his apartment house are in a bad way with roof leaking and water problems. I donated a big plastic tub from my yarn room to catch dripping.
Well, it’s time for breakfast.
Can’t type anymore until I have some Red Rose Tea.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Monday, December 15, 2008
More time at the Dentist, Planner, Caroling
Sunday afternoon is not the time to be calling the dentist at home leaving a message saying my temporary crown had cracked and broken and been spit out while in a public eaterie.
Yet that is exactly what I had to do.
The missus called back awhile later, saying the Monday schedule could accommodate me at 10:15am, so I got on the SubFinder computer grid and cancelled the job I had lined up. When the phone system called with a different position, I clicked that I was sick and do not disturb again.
The weather was quite a mess this morning, yet no schools were cancelled. I looked at the jobs grid and saw 8 positions for TA Sub, but my sick day stood firm. Going to the dentist is reason enough to miss work, right?
Anyway, they got me in and out promptly. The roads have been plowed and salted, so I thought shopping would be fine, while I was on that side of town. And it was, traffic wasn’t too much at that time of day, and the sun came out to help melt ice on the car windows.
I decided to return to my quest for a Weekly Planner and my favorite lip balm. Both are very hard to find these days. I did get a nice planner, not quite as good as the last couple years, but I will be able to use it. I paid more than I wanted to, but with only 3 left on the rack, I figured I couldn’t wait for the clearance sale. The lip balm had the correct brand but only in cherry flavor (yuck), so I will have to go back after the delivery truck and stockers fill up the hook next to it.
When my sons were little, dragging them all over for little errands wore them out, and bored them to tears. Not to mention how much I could embarrass them, just by talking to somebody else waiting in line.
Nowadays, shopping alone, when I bump into a buddy somewhere, we can lean on our carts and gab to our hearts delight. She’s a college professor, so Winter Break looms long and lovely for her.
At the credit union where I was making a deposit, there was a lady there playing a piano. Some kind of promotion bringing on the holiday spirit. While I was waiting in line, she was playing the tune of an old hymn, so I hummed a little. She kept messing up the words, so I started to sing them. She caught on real quick, played softer while I was busy with the teller, then called me over before I got to the door.
Next thing I know, we’re singing Hark, the Herald Angels Sing as a duet and other folks in the bank lobby were watching. The pianist explained that her mother began her lessons when she was 7 years old, and oh how she wished she was alive to see her now.
I was thinking that my sisters and sons would be laughing like crazy at me singing in a bank lobby.
Then she asked if I could start the next carol. I began Away in a Manger the way we sing it at the Mennonite Church, and not with the long a-a-ay note done the more popular way.
She played by ear along with me for a line or two, then said, start over.
So we started over, and I sang all three verses I know of the words, with her right in time and tune with me. I didn’t know so many people were in the audience, but when we got done, there was applause. I did a little half bow of acknowledgement.
She wanted me to stay longer, said we make a good team, but I said I had to get the groceries home. As it is, the honey got a bit cloudy because of the cold in the trunk. Not supposed to freeze honey.
Now the dark clouds are coming over again, but I’m indoors and warm, with the tea kettle almost ready to whistle. My treat is hot chocolate and a peanut butter wafer bar.
Here’s hoping this finds you in a good place, making fond memories.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Time for another Meme
Since I haven’t written one lately, here’s a meme, as found at Mostly Cajun
Do you remember your first favorite song? If so, what was it?
There’s a Song in the Air is an old Christmas tune, and I remember sitting next to my daddy on a wooden pew in the old church building on Jefferson Street in Martins Ferry and thinking that was the most lovely music ever.
Sometimes Dad would whistle it while he was at the stove or brushing my sister’s hair, even during hot weather.
What do you refuse to eat?
Many dishes which have the spice CURRY. When I was pregnant with second baby, I worked at a small restaurant which had a daily special. One night was something with curry in it, I had the worst queasy stomach, and so my mind still holds the memory. After 25 years, I am able to stay in the same room with the smell, but not yet put a fork to my mouth.
Have you ever injected any kind of drug before?
for three years before I got married, I worked as an LPN, so I dispensed many kinds of medications.
Had to give a couple shots to the cats when Husband wasn’t around to do it.
never done any on myself
I do try to donate blood when I’m healthy enough, so a needle in the arm ain’t no big deal.
Do amusement park rides make you sick?
Not that I remember. It’s been years since I was on one though.
Who is your favorite Star Wars character?
the Ewoks look like cute little bears, but are so devious with weapons
What kind of cheese do you put on your sandwiches?
Provolone, baby Swiss, sharp Cheddar
any or all, anytime
What was the first thing you ever learned how to cook?
Spaghetti
sauce by browning the ground beef, chopping onions and green peppers, opening quarts of home-canned sauce and tomatoes,
boiling the water and breaking the long pasta to fit into the pot
I was so short I had to pull the step-stool over and stand on it to stir
Dad was sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper, giving pointers
Did you ever collect beanie babies?
I can see four from where I’m sitting. Two were gifts, one from a yard sale, one won at a raffle. I cain’t say I’m a collector, but the toys I have bring sentimental memories.
When was the last time you got a haircut?
I would have to check my planner book to be sure, but I think maybe a month ago
Have you ever been to a bachelor/bachelorette party?
Yes, many years ago
Where are you most ticklish on your body?
My ribs. When I was in high school, I signed my study halls to work in the library. As I was returning books to the shelf, a guy who had a crush on me would poke me in the ribs and think it was funny. He came close to getting my elbow in an eye at least one time, so he decided to not pursue that route further.
Have you ever bailed anyone out of jail?
the Summer I was 17, the cop shop called and said my dad had been brought in for drunk driving. Mom was at work. I rode my bicycle downtown, and went in and told them I would take dad home. They said I was underage, so would not release him. I argued with two policemen that there would be more trouble if dad was still there when mom got home. Small town where everybody knows everybody, gutsy girl making sense.
Awhile later, Dad came tottering down the hall, a big cop and I got him into the truck, the cop tossed my bicycle in the back, I drove us home. My sister Darla helped get him to bed.
by the time Mom got home, Dad was snoring, supper was cooking on the stove.
There are stories for another time about when our sons were teenagers and had friends making unwise decisions.
What’s the last board game you played?
Checkers with a student in the Special Needs program
Do you still own any VHS tapes?
one chest holds about a hundred, another even bigger, some on the shelf behind the door in Joe’s old room, a bag of donation behind the couch, a box next to Lucas’s bed, altogether maybe 400?
our machine has both a VHS slot and a DVD tray
Do you shop at JC Penney’s ever?
my favorite place to buy pants that fit
Actually, I was in there the other day looking at winter coats, then talked myself out of making a purchase, even though there was a great sale. The need for athletic shoes and comfy slippers was more pressing, so the coat I’ve got will have to last one more winter.
If there was a real Jurassic Park, would you visit it?
No, but I do like watching the buffalo roam at Wildlife Prairie Park
Do you ever read the newspaper?
We pay for two Sunday papers to be delivered to the front porch. Sometimes one lands during the week, usually as part of a promotional. I hate the piles waiting to go out for re-cycle, tho.
Do you eat your mac & cheese with a fork or a spoon?
Fork, with ketchup on it, and pickles alongside
Is there any medicine/pill you take everyday?
Synthroid and Calcium Citrate. A multi-vitamin when I think of it.
How many 20 dollar bills do you have on you right now?
None, just a $10 and couple ones
Would you do meth if it was legalized?
No Way. I do miss Ephedra since it’s been outlawed. Nothing quite like a small pick-me-up when the schedule gets overwhelming.
Do you think Obama will be assassinated?
Somebody is sure to try
Have you ever made out with someone and then never saw them again?
What had been a strong relationship up to a certain event, then I got jilted by a phone call.
Do you drink egg nog?
Yes, I love egg nog, but my history with milk consumption has peaks and valleys, and since menopause, or maybe since I’m taking thyroid medication which overlaps the timing, plain milk wreaks all kinds of havoc with my innards.
My last trip to the store, I bought rice milk egg nog, but I haven’t opened it yet.
What are you wearing?
White granny panties, blue denim pants (I can’t say jeans because the waistband is elastic) cotton socks, SAS lace-up shoes (not the loafers I also love so much) a bra mended in two places, a cotton sleeveless undershirt, an ISU Redbirds sweatshirt, my wristwatch, and leverback, silver color earrings
Saturday, December 13, 2008
New Shoes for Treadmill walking
The other day while I was on the treadmill, I got a pain in the back of my left thigh, so bad that if I had not been alone in the house I would have thought somebody shot a BB at me leg.
It turned out to be a muscle cramp, knot the size of an acorn, which took what seemed like hours to walk and stretch and rub away. Not to mention two large glasses of water intake.
It made me leery of doing any more walking for awhile.
This morning after breakfast, Husband and I were again at the shoe store. We both need athletic shoes for walking the treadmill. It’s a bit embarassing, the amount of money we spent for our feet, what with the Wide sizes and the particularness of what is comfortable.
Plus the clearance shelf produced a lovely pair of warm sheepskin slippers which come up around my ankles the way I like my slippers to be. None of that style of having my heels hanging out in the cold while I sit reading the paper in the morning.
Ah well, we earn our money,
and we need good covering for our feet while we do.
I just walked what I like to call a 50 minute mile on the treadmill, and I must say that new name brand shoes in the proper size with good arch support make the exercise much more do-able than six year old shoes with a gap on the outside of the right one.
Didja see that number? Yep, the number on the screen said .25 miles with 13 minutes walk time. No way would I qualify for a competition.
I had to stop walking at 25 minutes, my left knee said long enough. The incident lingers of me going down tangled up with my bicycle since the first Sunday in August.
Getting old ain’t for sissies.
Little troubles pile up over time.
Husband tells me that the treadmill will help keep infirmity from coming too soon. He’s got much more willpower than I do.
He says his new shoes are also bringing a different perspective on walking.
It’s a gray clouds and blowy afternoon on the prairie.
I’m real glad I can stay indoors yet still be able to feel like I did something good for my body. A treadmill and athletic shoes are a nice investment when I look at it just so.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Thursday, December 11, 2008
I used my Fun Cash for Music
Usually when I get money for something I made with yarn, I turn around and get more yarn to keep the variety of my supply going. Depending on my mood and project due date, I can go into the closet and choose something lovely.
However, the friendly donations of yarn have been plentiful this year. I’ve got bags to go through yet, and organize on the shelf unit that Husband recently put up for me.
So, with a very nice windfall of payment for 8 pairs of potholders, and one blue hat, I decided should look over at something else I enjoy.
Yes indeedy, I just got done with an order for three music CDs from Amazon, all new, and high enough total to get the free shipping option.
Loreena McKennitt, Laura Sullivan, and Enya have holiday albums out now.
This means I will have five new cds, what with my Linda Eder and Kristin Chenoweth already here (I just looked at that list and realize they are all women)
Does this mean I might drive the guys crazy with the stereo while we are on Winter Break? Well, maybe, but Grammie Pammie gave me an idea about using headphones and keeping my music to myself.
There will be some electronics department shopping going on, after school is out but before the big morning.
I know a guy who can be giving me advice about it, too.
Gotta go get ready for my Yarn Group.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Monday, December 08, 2008
Making good use of my time
The SubFinder computer grid said there were a couple jobs today, but I took the morning off to be able to go to the Mennonite Women Christmas party. I did sign on for a job this afternoon in a junior high.
A few minutes after the Do Not Accept icon was clicked, the phone rang. It was a friend from the circle saying the party has been cancelled due to inclement weather.
Now some folks might think this means I should decide to call a school and see if a TA Sub is still needed. But me? no, the inclement weather is still happening, and yes, I have been promised to be at work at 12:30.
What I decide to do is to start a load of laundry,
put away all the clean dishes, then
finish a sapphire blue hat made with Vanna’s Choice yarn,
and begin one with Lion Brand Homespun
all while listening to my ‘new’ Christmas Stays the Same cd by Linda Eder, which I can recommend as good for your spirit.
Gonna go now. The washer is on its last spin.
~~love and Huggs, Diane