Category Archives: Brian

Nov22

Photos by Brian

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I was so glad he is finally using our camera! An array of maples:

Japanese Maple

Another Japanese maple

Yellow maple
Pretty nice, huh?

You know how things happen in threes? Well, yesterday my outlet next to the bed (or is it the wall switch) went. The house is going on 48 yrs old. So this is not good. Bri will try and replace the outlet, he’s done that before. Hope that’s it. He has my light plugged into another outlet by means of orange extension cord!
I also broke the stopper in my fairly new kitchen sink. The metal part that holds it in place so you can have water in the sink, broke off.
And finally, I went in my china cabinet to retrieve my crystal turkey that I use for cranberry sauce. I noticed that before I even opened the door, that a wooden egg in an egg cup had fallen over. Well, try as I may, I couldn’t open the door without the egg falling, and it nicked a Waterford crystal bowl that I’ve had for almost 24 years. Yikes! That’s it please!

Nov19

Friends are the best gifts ever!

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I want to thank my friends and readers for stopping by and wishing me well today, through email, comments and snail mail. I have some goodies to share, but that may not be until later tonight or tomorrow night.

I did go to the dentist which ate into about 2 hours of my day. At least the tooth bonding was a freebie on Dr. B. as he knew it was my birthday. : ) I was in a way glad to get away from the house with the doctor’s offices calling me. Just to let you know-the pre admissions is on Tuesday and I don’t have to fast or anything. At first they were making it next Monday at 8:15-yikes, so I changed it to the next day at 8:45, somewhat better. Then the procedure will be the next day. The receptionist at the dentist’s office said she’s had the procedure done a few times herself and to keep an open mind.

So, we are off to Carrabbas Italian restaurant-most probably. We are waiting for Bri to get home and then we can go. I’ll fill you in later.

BIG HUGS!!!!

Dianne and Brian

Yeah, it’s my first martini-ever! Really! It’s a pomegranate one, though I didn’t taste much o.j. or sprite int it! ; ) Sean was having trouble with our little camera (had no space on it from my videos which I had to erase), so that’s why my eyes are funny.

Dianne’s dinner

This is one of the specials Carrabba’s is running-the owners Damien and Johnny’s favorite dishes. I picked Damien’s-lobster ravioli, salmon with basil and a shrimp/scallop breaded item. I had soup too. The guys had pasta.

Sean and his shrimp and garlic sauce pasta

We went to Border’s and I bought a bunch of holiday magazines (Victoria is back!) plus the new Josh Groban Christmas CD.

When we got home we had some Oreo cake-yum! Sean gave me a box of filled Russell Stover’s chocolates plus he ordered me something from Amazon which will arrive soon. Bri gave me a Giada DeLaurentis cookbook, an altered art book (wish he had used Amazon like Sean did!), a 6″ clear crystal Christmas tree, the new James Taylor DVD from the show we saw him in last year, a Sarah Brightman CD from her Vegas show (I want the DVD too-it’s an awesome show) and a pen, mouse and tablet to draw with on the computer! And I thought he ‘had ordered’ me a lens cap thingie that just hangs down from the camera. This looks like fun! I hope I can use it being a leftie and using the mouse with my right hand all these years.

 That martini made me happy!
I was giddy at the end of dinner. ; )
I have some gifties photos to take and will share them tomorrow.
Have a great night!

Nov16

It’s just like I saw him yesterday

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We were all waiting with great anticipation to see Sean today for the first time in almost 3 months. I made a big pot of stew early in the day and some ‘easy’ empanadas later on. I put on some makeup to look good-ha!

Around 2:15 he called and said he was in Lancaster where his bud and him stopped at Burger King, but didn’t go shopping. At 3:30, I was waiting for James Taylor’s appearance on Ellen and I heard the door open and I almost flew off the sofa to the living room! There was my handsome son with a big smile on his face. And as I said above, it was like all those lost days melted away and I had just seen him! He was tired, but said he liked the way down better than the way up (we didn’t do that right in August). He just ate dinner about 6:30 and went to get some videos and said he’d get one for me.

I didn’t cry….then. What touched me was the slideshow that the webmistress from ‘Make A Child Smile’ sent to share of her late beloved pooch Buddy. My friend Karin sent me the sweetest birthday card and said I was more like family then a friend. She’s the lady whose wedding we went to in NYC. It’s been a nice Friday.

Oct13

What’s wrong with this cover?

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Supplement cover

Bri asked me earlier, and I couldn’t see it right away. But a local University did and asked for a refund. Bri doesn’t do the cover layout, he gets the ads for this supplement. Now I would be a little peeved to see that mistake on an educational supplement! Bri is hoping no one else makes a stink as that’s his bread and butter-he did most of the ads for this.
Speaking of smelly-I can’t think of a Photo Hunt photo for smelly that would be nice or interesting, so I pass today.
I went back to the LNS shop and got a bigger piece of linen on Friday. I’m glad the place is still in business after all these years. I use to go there when I was in my early 20s, so it’s been around a while. I also went to Michael’s and hit a rubber stamp sale and got a few nice ones plus one you can make your own words with and stamp it. I’m still looking for a rubber stamp of wings. And I did hit Trader Joe’s and am putting together a box of birthday goodies for Sean. He’s had a few rough days, and was blue over a test he studied really hard for and didn’t do well with. He did get a curve and has a ‘C’ now, so that helped. It’s homecoming weekend and he went to a parade last night. I’m sure the game and festivities will lighten his mood. He said he’d like to come home for a bit, but that’s up to him, he’s gotta do the driving to and fro.

Oct12

What colors define you?

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Brian is meeting with a new ‘big wig’ at the newspaper company where he works today. His boss told the guys to ‘wear a tie’. So he opened up a new shirt that has been kicking around for over a year that came with a matching tie (that was fun to iron). It’s a moss green color, definitely one of his colors. He looks good in white too as he has a sallow/ruddy complexion. He looks good in greens because of his green eyes.

Me-I like to wear browns, reds, black and throw a little chartreuse in for good measure. Not to say I won’t wear brighter colors like pink, but mostly in the warmer months.

What colors define you?

I need to put away my lawn decorations, pots and stuff. There are a bunch of them. I also need to decide if the ones that are faded, rusted or chipped are worth keeping. I bought some sunflower seeds at the store yesterday, but need to figure out where to hang the feeder as the raccoons and squirrels both make a meal out of the seeds if they can get to it.

I’ve been laying low, but not really, as I was running some errands yesterday. The weather is getting chillier and my joints and muscles were aching. I didn’t take anything for the mild aches until the evening. It seems the inflammation or whatever went from my neck, down my back and to my hips. I seem much better today-go figure! I am trying Flax seed oil again, so maybe I’m getting oiled like a fine machine or something like that-lol

I need to go back to the LNS for my refund or additional item, so maybe in a few hours. I may hit Trader Joe’s for some goodies we can’t find in the local food store.

Have a great weekend!

Oct7

July crept back in…

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Bri and I did go to the flea market, but if was rather miserable it was so hot. When the sun went in, we got a little relief. We actually had people asking us to buy stuff at what we wanted to pay. I got a cute butterfly dish with a brass back, a nice photo album (I don’t like really big ones, and I just filled the one I had been using for 2 yrs) and a Brown Bag gingerbread man cookie mold (to resell) all for about $4. I found some really old kids’ books for snipping up for my collages, etc. One is a math book from 1928. I had been doing a page of a little boy and girl and just couldn’t get it finished. I found the perfect illustration from the new math book find and presto, it’s done. I think Bri bought a Paul McCartney lp (we still have a bunch) for $1 and he thought that was too much.

We hit the mall, no decent restaurant and I didn’t finish the filled pizza slice (like a sad Hot pocket with processed chicken) I ordered. I did venture into Boscov’s and found a garnet red top with a little sparkle I purchased for my 30th class reunion. Now to figure out what goes on the bottom. ; )

I added some lights and figures with lights (Casper the Friendly ghost and a trio of pumpkins) to the front window when I got home. The house is bit in a jumble, but who wants to clean when we have this kind of weather?

Flea market finds

Thanks for your comments yesterday. And Lost Roses, yes, your team deserved to win, and that’s all I’m saying. ; )

Oct6

Photo Hunt-Curvy

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PSHunt
Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

So I’ve been told (and I know-lol) that I am curvy. But you ain’t seeing me in a bathing suit. ; )
So instead, here is a knot garden at Longwood Gardens:
Knot Garden
By the way, I added some of the pictures I’ve been editing in paint shop pro over in my Flickr account if you’d like to take a look. There are over 2k photos there now (I’ve been adding to it for at least 8 years or more). It’s not a free account, but I don’t have to pay up for another few weeks. You can upload any size photo you want, join groups, have contacts, etc.! It’s fun to see art trading cards that others do as they inspire me.
Hope you are having a nice Saturday. Bri and I both seem to have tummy issues, but I think I narrowed mine down to eating these cheddar ‘whale’ snacks that are very orange, but oh so good. They are a rip off of the Pepperidge Farm fish. I ate some at bedtime and had heartburn around 3 am. I’ve been cutting back on peppermint products too. I still think Sean has something to do with how we feel. You’ll see what I mean soon.
My mom is at a fair that she has gone to with I’ve been a kid. A bum tranmission (her car is on it’s last legs) didn’t deter her from attending today. It’s in a ritzy area, so they usually have great knick knacks and clothes. I have gone in the past, but it’s over an hour to get there and you know the early bird gets the worm and I am not an early bird by any means. Tomorrow is a big flea market at the Delco campus of Penn State where Sean use to attend. We’re going to try to go there at least and before noon. ; )

The Phillies are having a hard time with the Colorado Rockies, meaning they have lost 2 out of 2 games so far. They are in Colorado now. I learned not to get my hopes up when it comes to our teams winning the big games. I guess that’s why we were over the moon when the Phils won the World Series in 1980. As the late Tug McGraw use to say, ‘You’ve gotta believe’.

It was a sad past week-the anniversary of the Nickel Mines shooting in Amish country was a year ago. Two guards in Abington (part of Philly) were assassinated as they added money to an ATM machine (I believe this is what happened). The killer didn’t just ask them to surrender the money, he shot them in cold blood. Both had been police officers for many years. And my friend Lisa lost her young dad, only 54, last Oct. 6th. God bless her.

College boy update-
He is doing well; got some good grades this past week. He is still struggling with Statistics and needs to pull that grade up. He got an ‘A’ on a paper I proof read about surveillance and a ‘B’ on one about two South American countries and their weather. He would have gotten an ‘A’ on that one also, but he forgot a map of the countries.
He is learning the hard way when it comes to parties. Let’s just say he isn’t going to drink ‘punch’ anymore, just beverages that are in cans. It seems after he was sick last weekend, my tummy acted up-see!!-it is Sean!
And congrats to singer Sally Taylor and her husband Dean on the arrival of their son born on the 4th of Oct. No name was given, but he’s a cutie and makes James a grandfather for the first time. If that boy doesn’t have curly hair, I’ll be surprised! I didn’t know her husband’s hair was so curly and Sal has a head of curls herself. Neat, I got credit for telling celebrity baby blog about the little guy’s arrival. I just love the Taylors!

Sally, Dean and little boy Bragonier

Oct4

I’m here…

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…let’s see…laundry….not too bad since there are only two of us. Finishing the Thunderbird for Love Quilts. Messing with paper crafts. Finding the fall and Halloween decorations and doing a little decorating outside the front door. And listing on eBay-my day so far. I’m glad I got the food shopping out of the way yesterday, though the store smells made me a little queasy. Still playing touch and go with my tummy, though I will say I’m not watching what I eat. Bri took me out for ice cream at Bruster’s last night. Now that place smelled heavenly as they are baking the waffle cones while we waited. It was a huge brownie (naughty) and some ice cream and lots of whipped cream. It seemed to coat my tummy. I’ve had this problem in the past and I think it can be stress related too. I have to watch food coloring too. Ginger is really good for what is ailing you. Even Bri said he’s been a bit off. It could be the change in the weather, though it’s in the 80s today.

I did watch Pushing Daisies and it was a bit quirky. It will be interesting to see what happens each week. I was trying to think what movie it reminded me of-I’d say ‘James and the Giant Peach’.

Sep25

Tuesday Wild Goose Chase

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I’m seriously thinking about finding a new doctor now. Bri and I went to get our triglycerides and cholesterol checked this morning (fasted). The lab at the doctor’s office wouldn’t do our bloodwork because our insurance (new this past January) wouldn’t let them draw the blood. That being said, we have to make a doctor’s appt for both of us just to get the script to take to the other lab! The weird thing is that both of the main doctors were walking around while the lady was giving us grief and I knew they heard what was going on. They could have said, oh here’s the script for the lab since we both were there at that very minute, but no, (we’ve been going there at least 20 years). They want their piece of the pie. Bummer.
So I tossed and turned all night. I’m going to research local doctors and not make appts right away. I did start on the refined fish oil that a friend had suggested, so maybe I’ll wait to see if that helps my triglycerides like it helped lower Brian’s. Plus the sweet little physician’s assistant left who I would see all the time. She was good too. She had her second child in April and she either left to be a full-time mommy or got another job. One time she went through my entire file and rearranged it.

Not sure what I’ll do today. There’s a new ‘fresh foods’ type of Trader’s Joe about 10 minutes away. I may go there. We are getting a blast of hot weather for a few days. My mom wanted to do something, maybe tomorrow, but it better be in an air conditioned place.

I did about 9 laps around the house for exercise-it’s something! Unfortunately it made my legs achy during the night. I used Icy Hot but couldn’t take Tylenol because of the fasting.

Cosmo the cat’s ears are much better. The drops are a pain to put in, but his little kitty ears looks squeaky clean. So maybe he did have a yeast problem.

Here’s to a better rest of the day!