Journal: May 31, 2012

What an awesome day.  Headed up to Jersey pretty early to meet with Mom and Dad before we went to the farm to pick some strawberries, sugar snap peas and radishes.  The traffic was heavy in places but all in all not too bad.  Drove all the way up there without any music.  I like the quite times while driving to think - not always, most of the time I listen to the radio but today I just wanted to spend some time just thinking.  I don't always spend a lot of time doing that.  I'm typically pretty involved in other things.  So that was a much needed break.

I love that Edgewater Park and Burlington where Mom and Dad live place US flags on every light pole for the Memorial Day Holiday.  I noticed them when we were up there over the weekend, but never stopped to take a picture of them. Thanks to a nicely timed red light today, I was able to get one.

Got to mom and dad's and we headed out to the Delran Coffee shop for breakfast.  Mom and Dad have been going to that shop for many, many years - a long time.  Everyone there knows them and Dad barely needs to order - the waitress knows exactly what he's going to get.  I got an omelet and it was super good. 

After breakfast, it was time to get to the farm.  Dad wanted to get their early to see if they would have cherries inside the shop.  This was originally supposed to be a cherry picking day - but the farm closed down that section due to over picking, so dad wanted to see if he could still get some.  No such luck.

I just love the shop - they have all kinds of baked goods and many different types of fruits and vegetables.  The baked goods were so tempting - but I was good. 

I thought the old time appliances and tractors they had on display were cool.  Really gave the shop a very earthy feel.

GDH and CEH showed up.  I got to hold CEH while her mom stopped in the store and GDH climbed all over her Dzadziu.  We waited for a little bit and then Laura arrived with WTK.  WTK had a friend with him.  Mom went in and got tickets for the ride and off we went.

The kids had a blast picking sugar snap peas, strawberries and radishes - and by kids, I really mean all of us.  WTK was funny because he wouldn't put any of the peas that had dirt on them in his basket.  The farm had set up a dispensing cooler for water and the kids got a kick out of getting water out of that with their coned shaped cups.  I got to feed Ms. CEH but then she gave me a present I won't soon forget - boy she takes after her father in this area. 

It was a great day at the farm.  WTK left to go to school with his friend and Mom, Dad, and I left because Dad had some things he had to get done in preparation for an antennae test he has on Saturday.

The farm was wonderful though and I'm really not sure how many baskets of things we got.  I think it was something like 8 baskets of peas, 2 baskets of radishes and 4 baskets of strawberries or something.

Before we left the farm I went inside to pick up some strawberries - I really didn't feel like picking them myself and I also picked up a cool crab themed sand set for the beach - the kids can make sand cookies with them.  We'll have to watch EAP though cause he just might eat them if what his father says about him is any indication.

Mom, Dad and I got back to their house and mom cleaned the peas and the strawberries - Oh the peas were probably the best I've tasted in maybe ever.  Dad also cut up some peaches.  A white one and a yellow one - they were delicious, too.  Both Mom and I love our peaches soft but as dad said, he picked these out so they were crunchy which were good to, but mmmm, a peach so juicy that when you take a bite the juice runs down your arm - yummy.

Dad was telling me about corn they got a few days ago from Varsaci's Farm and I thought seriously about going over and picking up some for Stew but then dad said that he was going to run over there and get some.  I tagged along and we forgot to ask where the corn was from.  Dad thinks either Florida or South Jersey - but we don't know for sure.

What I do know was that it was delicious.  I was glad I was taking some home for Stew.  I picked up some peaches at Varsaci's as well.  I could live I think on fresh fruit and vegetables - well, I say that now.  If that was possible, I wouldn't look like a whale.  HA!

I noticed for the first time today the paw prints in the concrete in front of mom and dad's front door.  I asked mom if that was from her cat and she said that it was.  I think that's awesome.  Dad said, "you really want to see something."  He showed me where Stew had written his name in the concrete - so, so, so cute.  I just love that kind of stuff.

Since I am now traveling to Canada, Dad went to look for all the Canadian money he had left over from his trips up there - which meant he pulled out his memorabilia box.  In it he has all of his dad's military medals and even some bullet casings from the shots fired during the 21 gun salute that was done at his dad's funeral.  Mom also pulled out her box.  Mom's box is one decorated with macaroni and painted gold.  She wasn't sure which kid made it for her but when I asked Stew he was pretty sure it was Frank.  I love it.  All these memories.  I enjoy hearing all of the stories and all of that.  Losing my mom without really delving into this type of family history with her has really made me appreciate all of this all the more.

Stew was home from work today because his hips are still bothering him really bad.  The doctor gave him prescriptions for anti-inflammatories and a muscle relaxer and told him to take extra strength Tylenol and also to make an appointment with an ortho guy.  Stew's seeing the spine specialist the end of June.  I hope these meds work so he's feeling better.

After I got home, Stew and I went out to start draining the pool - he basically just had to plug the pump in.  Boy were we in for a surprise.  There was a pretty big ball of algae floating on the top of the pool that I wanted to get out - I thought it was a plastic bag or something - that is until I saw the long tail.  It was either a rat or an opossum or something.  Whatever it was it was way disgusting.  Stew and I both think that it got in there when a bird flying overhead lost its lunch.  We can't figure out another way for that to have happened.  Just thinking about it now gives me the willies - ick.

But the pool is draining now and thank God too because there is no way I would have been able to go back into the pool with the water that was in it.

After that little adventure - it was True Blood time.  I'm loving, loving, loving this season still.  Though to be honest, they could completely get rid of Sam and Tara - don't need them.

Went to bed at a little after 11 - need sleep.  I'm exhausted.

Couple of other notes from the day:

• Had my management meeting.  I'm being assigned another study.  A solid tumor oncology study - whooohooo.  We're only scoped to do the pre-study visits but they want them done in July.  That will be 7 visits to get done when I'm back from vacation.  I'm loving that.  Can't wait to get busy with work.  I know, I know, I should enjoy it while it lasts - but seriously, come on!
• Laura told me a story about WTK.  Last night he was playing with some brown paper bags and he was putting his trucks in them, but they kept ripping.  So he was getting mad, he brought them upstairs while grumbling at them.  He threw them in the pantry, slammed the door and said, "I don't have time for this."  Too funny.

POTD: May 31, 2012

The kids went to town picking peas today and boy are they delicious.  May just be the best sugar snap peas I've ever tasted.

Journal: May 30, 2012

Well, I woke up this morning with all intentions of working out.  Put on the gym clothes; got water; went downstairs to Zumba - my shoes weren't down there, so I went back upstairs to get them and didn't go back downstairs.  Actually went back to sleep and slept until 9:30.  After that I couldn't get motivated to do anything.

I went and got my hair done.  It's too damn short.  Oh, well, I guess, it'll grow.  I do like the color though even if it gave my stylist fits.

I was going to make pork chops for dinner but decided after getting my hair done that I was just too cute and should go out for dinner.  We were going to go to Bel Air, but it took Stew two hours to get home because of an accident on 95 so we went to La Tolteca instead.  While at dinner, we made our list for Phill.  He's coming up this weekend to do some work around the house.  Stuff that we've been wanting to have done for a long time.  I'm so excited that he's willing to do this for us. 

After dinner, we headed to Target.  We picked up some beach toys for the kids, they had Smash supplies on sale so I picked up a bunch of them and we got the new season of True Blood!  Whooooooo.

We started watching True Blood when we got home.  I'm in love with this season so far.  In fact, we stayed up longer than I wanted to because I just had to see the next episode.  Poor, lost Eric.  Now don't get me wrong, I love bad boy Eric, but he was so cute and puppy-dog like.  I can't wait to finish watching it.

POTD: May 30, 2012

Rose outside of La Tolteca restaurant.

Journal: May 29, 2012

Another pretty boring day around here. 

I entered all of my May time for work - goodness that takes a long time when you don't stay up on it.  I think I said that last month, too.  You'd think I would learn, yeah...anyway...I'm really, really tired today.

Weird thing happened this morning.  It was on my to do list to call the dentist office since I knocked out my temporary crown on Sunday, well before I had a chance to call them, they called me.  Mostly to tell me that Stew can go back to wearing his new mouthguard now.  That the sockets from pulling the wisdom teeth should be pretty much healed.  That means I'll get to sleep back in our bed tonight.  He'd gone back to using that old mouthguard - my word, sawing wood all night long.

They were able to fit me in around lunch time to replace my temporary crown.  Didn't take but a few minutes for her to glue it back in there.  She said to not be surprised if I'm seeing them again before they put my real crown on.  Oh goodie - I love the dentist.

That's basically the gist of what's going on around these parts today.  I made chicken and string beans for dinner.  Stew had a baked potato, but was good and put no sour cream on it.  I put some vinegar on my green beans and just a small amount of barbecue sauce on my chicken.

I called the salon first thing this morning to make an appointment.  Going to get these grays covered now.  Will do that tomorrow.

After dinner it was Highlander for us and then bed. 

POTD: May 29, 2012

Ordered 5 more of these DVD cases to bring harmonious, symmetrical balance to the cabinets below the tv.  I'm so glad they're here.  Can finally get all of these DVDs organized.

Journal: May 28, 2012

It seems almost silly to journal on days like today when nothing really happens.  Stew and I were both feeling a bit wiped out this morning when we woke up after the busy weekend we had and I think we were both looking forward to a day at home.  There was some talk about heading to the movies (because honestly, it's gross outside - hot and humid and yuck), but we nixed those pretty quick and decided to just hang around the house.

Stew got caught up on his DVR'ed shows while I played in the scrap room and then we ended the night watching Season 5 of Highlander.  I expect my geek card to arrive in the mail any day now - especially since I suggested that we watch the Star Wars movies only to have to nix that because we don't have the first one (or the 4th one if you're going in chronological release date order).  I told Stew he needs to turn in his geek card, especially since over the weekend we were doing a crossword puzzle and he couldn't remember the catch phrase for Bart.  The answer ended up being DOH - which Stew was indignant about since apparently that's more a Homer catch phrase than one for Bart. I can't believe he couldn't remember it though considering that he wanted to name his first born Dimitrius Oliver - so that the kid's initials would be DOH.

So that was pretty much how we spent Memorial Day.

Much love and many prayers go out to our troops today - without them doing what they do, we couldn't live the lives we do and regardless of politics I think we can all agree that they deserve our full support.

(Only thing to add for today's journal entry.  Official weigh in this morning (6 days after start since I want the weigh in days to be Mondays):  -4 pounds

POTD: May 28, 2012

Here's the most exciting thing that happened around our house today.  I actually remembered to take a screen capture of this week's weather to include in Project Life - yup, that was about it.

Journal, May 27, 2012

Aggravated with the weight thing today.  I didn't cheat even a little bit yesterday and what do I have to show for it, my weight is up 0.4 pounds since yesterday.  Grrrrr.  Maybe I ate too much fruit - it was delicious though.  Laura makes the best salads.

This morning I woke up around 5:30 and headed down to the scrap room.  I'm so far behind on Project Life it's a joke, so in order to try to get that caught up, the first step is to organize all of the "stuff" I'm keeping that should be put in my Project Life binder.  Once that's done, I'll be able to pull a week's worth of "stuff" at a time and the photos and put this together.

I also took a lot of pictures this morning that I've been meaning to take pictures of for awhile - things around the house that go with stories that I want to remember.  I downloaded all of the pictures off of the camera and organized all of them.

This morning was all about organizing for Project Life.

Then it was time to get ready to head to Phill and Christina's for our Memorial Day Celebration.  Steve was there too which was great - it's awesome to spend time with family and this weekend was definitely full of all of that, which makes me super happy.

We stopped at the grocery store and then were on our way and I must document this momentous occasion.  I'm talking an occasion that is Haley's comet rare.  Stew actually got mad today.  There was a guy behind us at the red light right before the 95S exit and apparently Stew didn't take off fast enough from the light for him because the guy pulled into the shoulder to reach the exit first, then he slowed down to crawling in the exit.  I looked at Stew and he had this odd look on his face.  I said, "Are you upset?"  He said, "No, I'm plotting."  Coming out of the exit, Stew sped up to get around him in the exit.  After that was done, the weird face remained.  I said, "He made you mad."  Stew just smiled.  I had to look for lightning to see if it was about to strike me down for witnessing such a rare event.

Got to Phill's and GEP was in the pool.  Well, he was kind of in the pool.  He was hanging on to the pool's ladder.  Phill and Christina told him he needs to learn how to swim this summer - no more swim vest.  And I have to say, he's not upset about this at all, he's really eager to learn which I think is awesome.

He got out of the pool when we got there.  We got him a push pop lollipop from the store.  At one point he almost poked himself in the eye with the thing - that boy has talent, especially considering that he can just about pick his nose with his tongue - which he really likes to show off.  Crazy kid.

Phill got started making the food - and he turned the grilling over to Steve today and I failed to get pictures of it.  It was almost like the passing of the torch.  Phill came inside and let Steve outside to grill.  You know how rare it is for a man to step aside and let someone else have control of the grill so this was something else.  In fact, it pumped Steve up a lot - he was talking all kinds of smack about how he can grill better than all of the others.  Oh boy - brother pride.  I stayed out of that pissing contest.

I will say though that I think the burgers were maybe the best I've ever tasted.  Holy cow.  I had two of them.  They were so good.  I just ate them plain.  No bun, no ketchup - just plain.  Delicious.

GEP was helping everyone to make their plates when it was time to eat because Christina told him that maybe after dinner we'd get in the pool with him.  So he was getting everyone's plates, putting rolls on them and basically just hurrying that process along.

Unfortunately, by the time every one ate, it turned a little cool out in the back yard and the pool water was already pretty cold so no one really wanted to brave the depths with the little man.  So, after seeing his pouty little face - I got on my bathing suit and slowly, s-l-o-w-l-y made my way into the pool.

We played in the pool for a long time.  Once I got in, I didn't want to get out for fear of the cold.  In fact, by the time we got out poor GEP's lips were blue and he was shivering so bad I don't think he could have controlled his limbs to swim - even still, it was momma that got him out of the pool, he would have stayed in it much longer than that.

We had to keep reminding him that when he takes a deep breath to start swimming to keep his mouth closed.  He has his own unique swimmer's face...

There's video of him swimming here on Smug Mug.

After swimming, GEP and Phill went out to roast marshmallows.

 (someone failed to realize the flash was off)

After this experience, I'm buying my brother a firepit or giving him mine.  Re-lighting the grill after it had already been lit once with a lighter means having your hand too close to the flame.  In fact he singed off the hair on his hand.  I had a bit of post traumatic anxiety or something when it happened.  His hand into the flame - it was a moment, that's for sure.

Didn't bother Phill or GEP much.  And Phill once again learned a lesson about being a dad.  When your kid chars his marshmallows beyond all recognition, be prepared to give up your perfectly warmed ones because the kid won't be eating the ones he did.  Makes me laugh.

We had dessert following the marshmallow escapades.  It was strawberry shortcake or modified strawberry short cake for some of us.  I had strawberries and whipped cream.  Stew had sponge cake, chocolate syrup and whipped cream.  GEP had strawberries, whipped cream, sponge cake, and chocolate syrup.  I think he liked it.

 We talked for awhile after dessert and then headed home since it was getting late.  Stew recorded the race so I was able to see Kasey win, in fast forward, of course - because once again, the racing is just boring.  I stole this picture from Yahoo - but I think the look on his face here says it all....

 It was then bedtime for Stew and me - we don't have any plans for tomorrow.  We'll decide what we're doing when he gets up.  We may not do anything, it's just going to depend on how we feel.

Some other stories from the day:

1. Phill told me that I look more and more like our mother every time he sees me.  This isn't news to me, I see that every time I look in the mirror - but did he have to add, "even more today with the gray hair at your temples"?  I'm calling the salon first thing on Tuesday.
2. GEP's dog Molly does not understand that she's a carnivore - he was eating leaves all day and then hacking them back up and eating them again - it's a snack that doesn't quit.
3. Following GEP's dessert, he was looking at his Uncle Stew and said, "Wait for it, 5,4,3,2,1," and after Christina hit him on the back, he burped (he needed a little help to get it out, can't quite burp on demand like his father and uncles yet) and after he pulls off this feat he says, "Legendary."
4. My brother Phill can be quite an ass - he all but ruined the season finale of How I Met Your Mother for Christina by telling her about Barney's wedding - I would have smacked him.  I hope he paid for it later.
5. Stew and I were walking out of the grocery store and we had bought a watermelon and a cantaloupe.  Stew says, "Our melons are lopsided."  So sixth grade - right.  I told him my goal in life is to not laugh at any of his ridiculous jokes.  His goal then for the rest of the day was to tell as many as he possibly could, starting with, "I have a melon, her name is colly."  Sigh.  We told GEP this story and he then proceeded to help Stew in his cause by telling stupid jokes and then looking to his uncle for the "you rock" high five.
6. GEP asked me what the definition of pure is.  I told him it's when something is only that thing there's nothing else in it.  He said, "Like pure evil?"  Oh dear.
7. GEP had a bunch of games sitting on the table.  The conversation went like this -Me: What is sonic colors; GEP: I don't play that any more; Me: That's not what I asked you.  What is it?; GEP: Oh, it's a game where you have to beat all of these levels.  Well thanks a lot that clarifies everything.
8. Apparently, my outgoing, not a little bit shy kid doesn't like to sing and dance in front of kids his own age.  He didn't do it when we went to the Phineas and Ferb concert and he apparently got time out at school for not participating in song and dance there.
9. After GEP was finished with his dessert, he asked if anyone wanted the sponge cake that he had left on his plate.  After everyone told him no, he threw his napkin and it landed right on top of the cake.  He then proceeded to go, "WOOT, WOOT," and get high fives from everyone for his amazing show.
10. As his Uncle Stew was taking pictures of him eating his dessert - he started posing for the camera.  Here's one of his Madonna Vogue shots:

 

11.  After Phill was being his normal self, Christina told him to stop being a certain non-repeatable word.  GEP said, "Good one," and held up his hand for his mom to give him the high five.  Christina told him, "I can't high five for that," to which GEP replied, "Do it, do it, do it," all while holding up his hand and continuing to eat his dessert.  I think he broke his mother at this point.

12.  I asked him to write his name in my notebook.  He did that and drew me a picture.  Awwwww.

POTD: May 27, 2012

This is proof of how much I love my kids...he was begging, I mean begging for someone to get in the pool with him to help him learn how to swim, but it was 5:30, the water was cold, it wasn't as warm as it was earlier in the day and my brother Phill's yard gets very little sunlight due to the trees that surround it.  I braved all of this, just so he could swim.  One day when he's rich, he better remember this.  HA!

Journal: May 26, 2012

What an awesome day.  Every Memorial Day cookout at Mom and Dad's has been awesome - but I don't know, there was something about this year that made it even more special and I was so glad to be a part of it.  I woke up this morning in a pretty bad mood - this no sugar thing doesn't give me the greatest of dispositions and considering what I'm like with sugar - yeah...but by the time Stew and I left from being surrounded by family and honestly well before that, my mood was elevated just being around people that I love.

I woke up and did Zumba and then Stew and I headed out pretty early to get to mom and dad's.  Early for Stew on a weekend - you know before noon.  Despite our best efforts to play Tetris with our folding table there was no way it was going to fit in my car and I didn't feel good about tying it to the roof for the long highway drive to mom and dad's - so we decided that we'd buy one up that way.

Turns out, we didn't buy a table at all - made due without it.

We gave Mom the otter pictures that Stew picked up at the auction last night.  She seemed to enjoy them.

And dad wasn't to be forgotten - we found a platter shaped like a fish for him.  It was more just a joke, so imagine my surprise when I saw this platter on the food table holding the shrimp.

I spent a good portion of my time playing with the kids on the water slide.  WTK didn't want to slide into the green section because he doesn't like to get water in his face and GDH only wants to go down on her knees.  She won't lay down on the board.  Further, she can't possibly go down the water slide with dirty hands - so each time she got up, she went to the pool, cleaned off her hands and then came back.  I had GDH, WTK and four of Stew's cousin's children (it was awesome to meet the cute kids that I see pictures of on Facebook) on the slide at one point.  It was difficult sometimes to get the little ones to understand the need to take turns but I'm happy to report that every one had a great time and carnage was avoided.

The rest of my time outside was spent talking with Laura, Kelly, and Aunt Marie - oh yes, Frank was there, too.  Doing what Frank does best - acting like a nut...

All of the food was delicious.  Matt once again prepared my chicken just like I wanted - charred to a crisp.  Thanks, Matt!  Uncle Dennis took part in the cooking as well....

What's the saying about too many chiefs and not enough Indians??

 

Here's Uncle Stew helping GDH to get her plate together

I kept trying to get her to look at me, but something else was holding her interest.  She'd turn her head my way, but her eyes were somewhere else.

I tried the shrimp to see if my allergy is just contact related or something more.  I figured with the moms around wielding their epi pens and others that know CPR, I was in good shape to try them out and if something went really wrong - Dad offered that I could just be buried in the back yard.  So that would be convenient - with all of that settled, I tried them.  Turns out the allergy must have been contact related.  Those shrimp were good and the cocktail sauce was tasty. I'm happy to say that despite all of the temptation around, I ate the way I'm supposed to.  I had my chicken, some shrimp, fruit, some vegetables and maybe I stole the hot dog and beans off of Stew's plate.  Maybe.  I admit nothing.

I spent some time talking with BMH.  She's becoming such an adult, though honestly, she's in some ways much like her dad.  It took 6 tries to get her to stop doing goofy faces for the camera.  I finally got this shot.

I didn't get to spend too much time with FGH today.  He was over playing on the slip and slide with the kids (though he wouldn't go down it) or he was being entertainment for WTK as WTK chased him around the yard.  In fact, I don't have not one picture of FGH from the day.  That's the second time that's happened during a Memorial Day picnic - I'll have to steal Mom's pictures since I'm sure she got one of him. 

WTK was his normal self during the cook out.  He was responsible for the recycling.  At one point, he called Uncle Tank to come crush the can with his head, which Frank, of course, did - to a certain extent.  Not to WTK's satisfaction though, so Frank had to crush it with his feet to get it totally flat.  I love WTK's little idiosyncrasies. 

Speaking of WTK's indiosyncrasies, Mom had those three section paper plates and Mike made WTK some food and only filled two of them.  When he gave it to WTK, WTK looked at him and said, "But what goes in that one."  Mike had to make his way back to the food table to fill the empty section with some fruit.

I did really good in sharing my littlest one today.  I came prepared knowing that there would be lots of people who would want to hold her - so I pat myself on the back that I didn't stare down people with the look of death when they took her from me.

I did end up with her though.  It was getting a little hot outside for her, so Kelly brought her in.  I fed her and then she napped.  She does something I've never seen babies do.  Normally, at least with all of my kids, when you're holding them and feeding them, they'll just fall asleep in the position that you put them.  Not this child.  She squirms and moves you so she can flail her arms and legs out and sleep the way she wants to.

Stew came inside and was kidnapped by GDH to play.  She took him into the toy room to get toys and when they came out, she told him that they had to go up in the attic so that Basha wouldn't find them.  It was too cute.  They spent a long time on the floor playing with transformers.  At one point, GDH picked up one that was broken and she said, "WTK broke it.  He breaks everything he plays with."  Her daddy had a little chat with her about that.  The part I found funny went something like this:

Matt:  Do you know Will broke that?
GDH: No
Matt:  Then why did you say it?
GDH:  I don't know cause I don't know who broke it.

The rest of it, my aunt ears ignored.

WTK came in and joined them playing after awhile.  I love seeing Stew surrounded by the kids.

On our way home, as we were driving over the Tyding's Bridge - gorgeous sunset.

Some other stories from the day:

• I finally got to hear the story of the picture of the sea captain that hangs on the wall down in Mom and Dad's basement.  I didn't find the story all that scary, but I can imagine being told the story in the dark as a little kid and then being scared.  Dad said that there are some that won't go in the room where the picture hangs, like the Matt's bestman, Tim.  Dad said that he and some of Stew's cousins refused to sleep in certain rooms if that picture was in it.  In fact, the picture was even mentioned in the best man toast Tim did at Matt's wedding.  I find it hilarious that Mom and Dad are threatening to leave the picture to those that are scared of it.  I'm not sharing the story here - it's family legend.  It will go in the scrapbook though.

 

• We were talking about fans since Dad would have three of them going outside today because of the heat and the topic of the bladeless fan came up.  Someone said it was to prevent injuries from people (normally kids, but this is our family, so it's just people in this case) who put their fingers inside the fans housing.  The fan mom and dad have in their living room has a very tight grate over it.  Dad said, "No one is getting their figures in there, not even CEH."  Stew said, "Challenge accepted."
• Big news in FGH's life recently is he is now a full fledged boy scout.  Very proud of him, though he was honestly being his pre-teen self with his nose in the game boy with no interest in talking to his aunt.  I don't take offense, none at all, not really.  LOL.  He doesn't think they'll ever start selling girl scout cookies though and that's a damn shame because I'm still looking for a supplier for my thin mint addiction.
• BMH's choral group took first place yesterday in the Music in the Parks competition.  It was a little harrowing getting everyone there - but between the chorus, the orchestra and the band, they took home 5 trophies in all.  Very proud of her as well.
• GDH was on the rocking horse downstairs and Stew asked her if she knew who else rode the rocking horse.  GDH: yes, Will; Stew: Your daddy; GDH: No, it's just for kids; Stew: your daddy was once a kid; GDH: but he's all grown up now.
• Another conversation between GDH and Stew - S: Do you like planes?; GDH: yes; S: Do you like jets?; GDH: Yes; S: Do you know any other word than yes; GDH: Yes
• GDH told Matt and Kelly the other day that she would have to have words with WTK.  Apparently, WTK was over at Matt and Kelly's and he was throwing an all out five year old tantrum over his broken banana so Laura took him home, which left GDH to pick up all of the magnets that WTK had taken off of the fridge.  GDH didn't like that and was going to have words with WTK.  Oh my.  

A great day with family.  Doesn't get any better, honestly.

Stew and I got home and watched some Highlander before heading to bed.  We have another long day in store tomorrow.

POTD: May 26, 2012

The Grill Master

Journal: May 25, 2012

Woke up this morning not feeling well - took a sick day.  There were meetings at work today, but my head was spinning.  It might be the low carb thing, I'm not sure, but I feel like crap today.  It could also be that I didn't take my pills yesterday - and I even ate breakfast.  I just didn't feel like pulling them all out and putting them in the pill container - how lazy is that?

Will I ever get back on my routine?  I sure as hell hope so.

Planned on cleaning today - didn't. 

Did have my warm peanut butter, flax seed cereal for breakfast - even without the sugar I still like it.

I did Zumba today.  Did a short program, high intensity - Poison has to be my favorite song.

I had a salad for lunch.

Otherwise, I just played around on the computer.  Organized the computer files and read a lot of blogs.  There was a post about Zen habits by Leo that dealt with the overwhelming nature of keeping up with blogs and the information on the internet - His suggestion was to each day wipe the slate clean, mark everything as read and move forward.  Wipe the to do lists clean and start anew.  Let go of the guilt of what didn't get done yesterday and focus on what needs to get done today.  That's great advice.  Don't know if I will listen to it, but it is great advice.

Stew went to the auction tonight and bought several things he and I wanted.  I stayed home and played in the scrap room.

The heart cryatal is Waterford.  Stew bought the eagle statue for me and got a bin of miscellaneous stuff - in it was the 1978 cookie press.  It was priced at $2.50; also got the two glass platters and the checkerboard cake pan.  He really wanted the lighthouses - they're salt and pepper shakers - Lenox.  I love the ship's wheel and the two cookie servers.  I'm putting the white and black one in the scrap room and will keep the glass one upstairs with all the other glassware.  he did really good tonight.

POTD: May 25, 2012

Pool pump came in today - now I can get that disgusting mess of a pool cleaned out and get it ready for my little SMP who is coming to visit and can swim alllllllll day long in America.

Quotes for today

All found on Twitter feeds:

- Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here, we should dance.  (Anonymous)

- Cultivating inner discipline is something that takes time:  expected rapid results is simply a sign of impatience (Dalai Lama)  (Well, there's my problem right there - I don't have any patience.)

Food for Thought

I printed out this post and added it to my written journal.  Good reminders.  Changing life one habit at a time instead of overhauling your entire life - what a concept.  I, too, feel like I can do it all.  I can develop the following habits all at once:  eat right, exercise, keep the house clean, keep the laundry up to date, go to bed on time, journal every night, follow my routine, write more, read more, and so on and so on and so on.  I get down on myself when I fail at these things without ever thinking that maybe, just maybe, I don't need a total overhaul of my life - maybe, I just need to change one thing today and get that ingrained and then change something else when this habit becomes something I just do instead of something I have to think about doing.  Food for thought, for sure.

Fast Fact Friday, May 25, 2012

The blogger that posts the Fast Fact Friday questions is taking a break this week - so no questions to answer.  So one less blog post that I'm behind.  Can't be sad about that!

Journal: May 24, 2012

Stew was really tired this morning after not sleeping well and he wasn't feeling good so he stayed home from work and slept in.

I got up on time but spend 4 hours organizing the scrap room.  It's almost done, just a lot of labeling still to do.  I can't wait until it's finished so I can scrap.  I obviously can't scrap in a messy room, that's for sure.

I'm so tired this morning I'm not much motivated to do anything.  That's really why I need to go to bed on time.  It affects everything else.

Stew got up around 11 and he was feeling better.  The bleeding has stopped.  He boiled himself some eggs and I made a green pepper, onion, ham and egg scramble - cause let's be honest, I can't flip an omelet.  I finished breakfast and then did my Zumba workout.  Day 3 of exercising in the bag.

Scale this morning said I've lost 3 pounds - I don't believe it, but it's encouraging to see the numbers going down.  Stew's weight is down as well - I guess not eating anything yesterday helps with that.

I told Stew if he was feeling up to it we could go see the Avengers tonight.  He said, "No, I need popcorn."  I told him he could have it if he didn't get it with butter - he told me he has to wait until his mouth heals, oh right, that.  I was talking about dieting.  DUH!  I told him, I thought it was about the diet.  He said, "screw the diet."  HA!

Stew ran over to Target to get more strawberries and whipped cream and he and Steve went to Home Depot to get stuff to continue the yard project.

I worked on some layouts for LOAD.  I'm not going to finish on time, but I'm determined to finish all 31 prompts.

Stew and I priced rubber mulch for under the deck today - yeah, that's expensive.  We might need to find an alternative.

We watched Captain America today.  It was okay but probably my one of my least favorites.  In order from good to bad in my opinion would be:

Iron Man 1, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America, Hulk 2, Hulk 1

We're now ready to go see the Avengers.

I had a salad and hard boiled eggs for dinner and realized as I was making my ricotta cheese and cinnamon dessert that instead of using plain cinnamon as I thought in my cereal and dessert, I've been using cinnamon sugar - Opps!  No wonder everything tasted so good.  Even when I try to avoid sugar it sneaks its way in.

We started watching Camelot because Stew's reaction to going to the movies sounded like I was dragging him back to the dentist.

I didn't really care for this show.  I mostly did crossword puzzles.

We also watched the season finale of Revenge.  We both agree that Victoria isn't dead - the show would be stupid to let Madeleine Stowe go - unless they can't pay her or she wants to leave.  I figured that Amanda would be back but I didn't see the pregnancy bit coming.  I couldn't figure out for the longest time how there could possibly be a second season for this, but now we see how they're going to do that.  I'm so glad that they didn't kill off Nolan - he's probably my favorite character.

We got to bed way too late!

POTD: May 24, 2012

Verna sent us some more of Ron's eagle pictures today.  I'm so going to Kansas in February so I can see them myself.