Category Archives: Me stuff

Jan17

The soup is on…

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Last night, we were down at my mom’s retrieving a twin bed for our guest room as we needed to take down Sean’s childhood bed that had a bunky board instead of a box spring. Sean’s old bed had two very full pull out drawers that both Sean and I had to go through. My living room is a bit of a mess and there’s a big bed in my van now! It pays to clean under a bed once in a while.
I was telling Sean on the way home last night that I haven’t made cream of mushroom soup for a long time. I got down to business today and it only took a little bit of time and lots of rich ingredients to make this:


Yummy!
We also had tuna melts on biscuits! Very easy. I love the frozen Grand biscuits, so while they were baking, I made the tuna part from an online recipe-minced onion, crushed pineapple, chopped celery and honey mustard for the binding agent. Very good!
I have a bit of an online ‘job’ if you can call it that (the company says you aren’t an employee, just like a hired hand). I passed the readiness test, much to my surprise! I was answering some questions tonight-I can tell many of them are from young people who don’t want their parents to see them googling what they were asking-geez. Some were just basic like what football game was on tonight, etc. Great to do while watching tv!. It’s Cha*cha.com if you are interested.
Tomorrow is my follow up for my October ultrasound. I should have followed up in early November, but I had a touch of the flu. Better late than never.
Have a great week!

Jan14

I can see clearly…

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…now that my eyes are undilated! It took a good 5+ hours for my ‘cat in the dark’ pupils to go back to normal. But I am happy to report that the new eye doctor didn’t think I needed new specs. She even had the stylus right at that office to measure the thickness of my corneas again. If you recall I had to go to another office for that with the specialist doc. The corneas are still thick which makes the pressure in my eyes seems higher than it is. The doctor was probably a bit younger than me, but I enjoyed chatting with her. I asked her about my mom and she says mom’s left eye will probably ‘take over’ for the right, but of course with driving, there is going to be something missing.
Brian and I went out to dinner tonight to Apple*bees. It was good, not as good as a few weeks ago and rather noisy. I just needed a break. All the lights on the way there were like stars from the dilation. Ugh. Have a little eyestrain right now.
Tomorrow Sean takes the test for the census job. He could probably work something out between doing that and working at Wally*World since it’s only PT.
I saw an article in Woman’s*World about making extra money and I followed a link to Cha*Cha.com to be like a human search engine. People call or text in a question (or comment) and I’d be like the middle woman and screen the questions to see if they can be answered or passed on to the specialist (they have a previously asked questions data base and a section for jokes,etc). I viewed the training videos and took some quizzes (call me ‘Ms. 80%’). I just need to take the readiness test. You get one shot and that’s it. I didn’t feel like doing it last night (info overload) or today. I’d like to review some of the videos again since I was asking myself questions in my head and couldn’t figure out what to do-not good. It’s one of those places where you have to just use the site and get comfortable with it. The pay doesn’t look that great, but it does looks like it would be fun to see what kind of questions people ask. Of course they want to know crude things and they say you have to be discreet about what is moral and all. There are a few other places I will look at too. I needed a change, this may be it.
And how could I forget this awesome news-my friend Lorin is treating me to a ticket to see James Taylor and Carole King in June! She asked if I wanted to go! Of course yours truly fretted about it as Lorin can’t drive at night and I’ve never driven to the Wachovia*Center outside of Philly. Also, Lorin lives a distance from me. I wrote her a note of concern and she said her son would drive us! Woo! I said I could be waiting like 20 minutes from the center (that’s about how far a certain mall is). We’ll work it out. This will be the 5th time I will see JT (1979, 1982, 1997 and 2006). We are planning on making t-shirts (well she is as she’s an artist) and trying our darnedest to meet him! : ) What a treat it will be.

Jan11

Dianne and Dot

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Dianne and Dot, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

In memory of my Uncle Don’s stepdaughter who passed away on 1-8-10 (also my brother’s 43rd birthday). Though we didn’t know each other on a personal level, it was always nice to see Dot and her sisters and their families once in a while. Pancreatic cancer is such a sneaky disease. Dot only found out in June or July of last year that she was sick. She got to see her son marry and have two daughters, both are still young. Her husband, who was 15 yrs older than her, passed away only 2 yrs ago.
This photo is at my uncle’s house where he has resided for over 50 years. This was the first photo in my personal photo album that starts with my babyhood and on to when I’m a new mom. I sent a copy of this photo to her sister and son in sympathy cards. I think the funeral on Wednesday will be well attended as Dot was in the bell choir and a current and not really old member of the church. I would have gone if my uncle wanted me to. Here’s the obit.

Dec27

Another Christmas

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I love to decorate and bake for Christmas, but the gift buying and all not so much-it helps if you have a lot of money! : ) Maybe when we have a grandchild or two down the road, it will be fun again. I got some lovely craft and cookbooks that I asked for and a few other things. I do like surprises and Brian gave me some sweet smelling Crabtree* and Evelyn bath items. My brother gave me a Cricut that he bought from a fellow employee which is neat-it cuts out letters and shapes for scrapbooking, etc. My guys liked what they received too.
My mom was in a bit of a mood and was exhausted and not herself when she was here. My brother is living at her house now, but says he will not stay. I think they are too much alike. Plus he’s lived alone a long time and doesn’t like cleaning up after other people. That’s my life-lol. : ) She said she was bored here as she can’t hear very well and about 4 pm on the 26th went in our room and we didn’t see her the rest of the night though we watched a rented movie and asked her to watch too-she refused. She couldn’t decide where she was sleeping and ended up in the family room and was ready to leave at 10 this morning. I had taken away her keys as she wanted to go in the pouring rain yesterday. That’s one reason we all stayed put all day yesterday. She was in a terrible way and it took my uncle and me a while to calm her down. She finally left and went over his house again and I hope she gets back to her place before dark. I will be calling about hearing aids-she must get one!
Last night I was going through my craft items and papers and made a few things I will share soon. I put on my MP3 headset and it relaxed me a lot. So that’s my life for the past few days. I need to get some makeup on to go out to Chili’s or someplace down in Delaware as I’ve been stuck inside myself for a few days.

Dec24

Waving and wishing all a Merry Christmas!

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I haven’t been a faithful blogger lately. The week leading up to Christmas is usually so busy. I do baking and cleaning-I like one of the two tasks. Still not finished cleaning. Later today, we are going to my brother’s house as they are having an open house. I’m bringing an awesome Rachael*Ray penne, sausage and broccoli rabe dish which I’ve made already and that my guys loved. I’ll get cracking at that soon, but we don’t have to leave here until 5ish.
My cookies turned out fairly well. I made most of our favorites, chocolate chips, peanut butter with chocolate swirls, Sour cream drops, 7 layer cookies plus pizzelles (I found my pizelle maker) and some Ruglach from premade pie crust-they are ok. I made Rocky Road candy-yummy!
I hope I have a gum/tooth issue under control as only one was bothering me. I have been using a whitening rinse and it seems to have irritated around a crown. I’m pretty sure I’ve had a root canal there. I am using a rinse now for irritated gums and it feels better today, but will keep a watch of it.
Some members of my extended family are again having a rough time compromising with each other, etc. I feel like I’m caught in the middle. I wish them well.

I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas!

Dec1

Getting there

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It took until 4 this afternoon and 3 phone calls to get my bank to take off the two charges for $205. Eek! That would have early put a damper on the next few weeks.
I didn’t sleep too well last night. Never install virus software in a new computer at 1 am. If you do, make sure you download the correct software-I should have looked at the email better. I finally got that squared away around 1:40 am. My oh my!
To keep my nerves calmed (a little) I made our Christmas card for 2009-it includes us this year-that’s all I’m saying. I did have an idea, and then artist Claudine Hellmuth shared something she made on Facebook which was the springboard for my imagination. I’ll share it here after it gets color copied and sent on it’s way.
My mom called me tonight. She sounds somewhat better. I wasn’t going to continue our conversation if she was only going to complain about little things, she was ok.
My brother is moving in over this coming weekend, although the apartment’s gas has been turned off and he has to take a shower elsewhere.
Tomorrow I hope to get a few groceries in here as today I just couldn’t. My post nasal drip has been Chinese water torture today. I used my Neti pot which helped a lot. I could tell the right side was more clogged than the left. It always seems to be the right side. I do sleep more on the right.
I did my cookie post for the 3rd so I wouldn’t forget to do it! I only have a berry wreath on the front door as it’s not really the one I want to hang. I am doing more of a natural theme. I wanted to do mostly white lights on the tree. Sean like multi-color, so maybe I’ll add a few gold to the mix. That won’t be until around the 12th, though I do have a helper this year,it could be earlier!
Speaking of my helper-he has an informal talk next Thursday with a local conservation district. I was really praying hard last night and then Sean got the call. I hope something works out for him! He has gone through quite a few boxes in the basement-many his old belongings. What the heck do you do with an old chemistry set?

Nov30

Cyber Monday

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How I enjoy shopping on the computer! The weather was chilly and dreary and I got to snuggle up on the sofa to shop-pure bliss. I have to be really selective this year and I found a place that has neat things and bargains-Lake*side Collection.com. I think I ordered 16 things (a few for me) and it was just over $100. Can’t beat that. I then need to get some things at good old Wally World and then get a few gift cards. I asked for a Cuttlebug-the machine that embosses and cuts paper. The above company has that cheaper than Wally World. I used a few gift cards I got for my birthday to get 25% or free shipping. I could go to those stores, but the one item I ordered is exclusive to the online place.
I was pleased as punch as I also got Sean things from his Ama*zon wishlist. Then Mr. May*tag repairman showed up…
Yes, I do need a element-$200 buck-a-roos. No he wouldn’t take a deposit, needed the entire amount. Why I didn’t write a check-but pulled out the debit card and out he went to his truck. In a few minutes he came in and said it was declined. Hello airhead, it’s Cyber Monday and people are going to town with the debit/credit cards! Out he goes again. I thought I was saying good-bye to $200 and it turned out to be $600! After he left, I checked out my bank account online and there it was, 3 debits in a row-apparently it did go through! I have an email and a phone call into our very local bank (11 offices) to hope this mess can be cleared up in a few days. I just mailed off a ton of bills and as I told you, did a bit of shopping. Why does cr@p like this happen to me?

By the way, didn’t talk to my mom today(she hung up on me Sunday) and the other person in the fiasco is very depressed. Maybe the silent treatment will get her thinking about how nice things could be.

My brother’s gift is an egg separator! (see below). You crack the egg into his head and the whites run out the nose area! The lady at the shop says it works great. My brother was always the one who liked to talk about gross stuff, so that gift had his name written all over it! I also got him a nice blus ceramic business card holder and a plug-in aromatic thingie.

Crossing fingers for tomorrow!

Nov29

Trying to get in the spirit

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I’m not going to be a ‘Debbie Downer’. I just need my family to settle down and go with the flow. I talk to one person for over an hour. I talk to the other person for over an hour. I’m caught in the middle. Things seem better and then the one person pi#@es off the other person and vice versa. It all messed with my 50th birthday and now my Christmas is getting jeopardized. I do have my own issues and I sure would like some emotional support from them, but it’s all about them right now. I understand lives are changing, but please consider my feelings too. I usually go all out for Christmas. I’m hoping when I can purchase a few gifts I’ll feel better. I have Sean to help me this year.
I haven’t cross stitched in weeks. I find doing the paper crafts and making them for swaps is good for me right now. The stitching will come back. I do want to make a Christmas card like I did last year. We’ll see.
I do enjoy going around to different blogs and seeing how you are decorating and stitching. In a few days, I’ll add a cookie recipe too! Things just have to get better.
I’ll share a ‘domestic goddess’ angel I made for a swap shortly. I have to hop on the other computer to do so.

Nov27

Good stuff

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Thanksgiving was mostly pleasant. Sean and I arrived at my brother’s house around 2:15 so I could get our turkey cooked. Then I helped out when Colleen needed me, and almost fell asleep!
Brian came down later as he was going to bring dinner over to his dad who refused to come to over even though he would have been driven back and forth to the my brother’s house.
My middle brother, who is moving in with mom is feeling the pressure of packing and trying to get a room painted. Sean offered his assistance to move boxes and he said ‘no’. I think in the next week he’ll need Sean more.
My brother and his family presented Don and me with a birthday cake (Don’s is the 28th and he’s a year younger than me) which was nice.
The cheesecake was popular and I believe there is only a sliver left.
Today I got a much needed smile maker.
Thanks to Carole over at ‘Pea’s Corner’ for this delightful framed snowman print; and some heavenly bath powder and body lotion.

Here is a photo of my brother trying to figure out what his gift from me was:

Take a guess and I’ll tell you tomorrow! (You can click on this and make it bigger)
Here is my sweet niece and me. I gave her the outfit she had last Christmas. Her mom gave her some sweet Shirley Temple curls. I’m wearing the earrings that Brian gave me for my birthday.

Here’s a photo I had my nephew take-not bad for the first time using a fancy camera. This was taken for Jennifer F., but I’m mailing a snail mail form to you!

And finally, I was making ornaments for a swap and I think I’ll make some for gifts as they were challenging and fun to do-plus I have the template now!

By the way, the serviceman never came to fix my oven today. No courtesy call to say where he was. Brian called them three times! They rescheduled for Monday. If one hour goes by without a ‘I’m on my way’ call, I’m calling Maytag up as they send these idiots out. I didn’t go shopping, too tired. Sean did go out and said Wally World was crazy. We aren’t giving each other too many gifts, just can’t afford it. We got an almost $300 plumber’s bill and we are disputing a $50 charge for ‘misc’ as they had to use a big roto-rooter. Come on, isn’t that part of the $160 service fee? They at least came right away on a Sunday.
Have a great weekend!

Nov19

My life at 50

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That’s right, 50 yrs ago, yours truly floated into the world in a rather fast labor and delivery-one hour to be exact. Yours truly was the loudest baby in the nursery too. My mom said she heard me over the other babies and got up to comfort me and was ushered back to bed. I was welcomed home by my older brother David, age 5. Three months later, my mom got pregnant again and was also coping with a troubled marriage. My father was to leave us all in 1972 (by that time there were 4 kids, Ken came along in 1967) to go back to his home state of Oregon where he would pass on alone in Feb. ’08.
Though I’ve had a rough childhood, I think we still had many blessings and I’ve tried to hold on to family traditions with my own son. Mom always outdid herself on birthdays, Halloween and Christmas and we had so much fun. I don’t remember wearing a store bought costume. In fact one year, she cut up her wedding dress for a 1st grader. It felt a bit odd wearing it, but I’m sure I felt pretty special. My birthday was usually shared with my year younger brother Don. We had the best one when we were about 6 and 7 when we had a house full of neighbors and cousins. Christmases were special, down to the overstuffed stockings that would always hang on the stair railing. One year my mom and grandmom(she was my second mom) sold some evergreen trees that my late grandfather had planted to have money for gifts.
Here’s me as a newborn babe-with my mouth open:

I turned out to be a stay at home (mostly, I’ve had a few jobs) wife and mom, though I went to college to be an Early Childhood Education teacher and came very close to doing so. I have been an aide to many children over the years. I think I would love to do art projects with little ones now. Sean always enjoyed doing projects from making paper to painting wooden plaques.
I think I’ve been a good wife, sister, aunt and mom. I’ve been there for people. I look forward to this part of my life when I hope, things will get easier soon. It’s hard to believe only 10 yrs ago I had a son entering his teens and now he’s a young man. He’s been my best gift ever. And he was almost my birthday gift back in 1986.
And lastly, thanks to Brian for being there for me through thick and thin. He’s been a great husband and best friend. I hope when we are 80, we have scooters to toot around Longwood Gardens on.