The Feasting/Giving Thanks

Traveled to WINAS to visit with DIL, her D/SM and my D and SIL. It was so great. My D and SIL really did the all out marathon, driving a longer route to avoid bad roads and then to pick up the D/SM from the airport. They all survived well, thankfully and we had a wonderful time.. My DIL outdid herself cooking at least 3 gourmet meals. We tried to keep up by eating the leftovers whenever we had a moment and before she'd cook up another feast! Saturday ended up being beautiful weather and we enjoyed some outdoor time, being the beach pebble puppies we are. It is so soul filling to be with family, yet one can't really appreciate it all until there is reflection time. I was glad to get back to my quiet little life at home. My kitty was much appreciative of my return and everything was in order on my return.I knew the weather had turned really cold when kitty Lilo stayed curled up next to me all night and didn't even move when I got out of bed to get ready for work!

A busy first day back at work slapped me back to reality of the job. Sometimes it just seems to go on and on and on and............. I guess we are in the doldrum season, just finishing one short holiday and waiting for the longer one!

I still enjoy getting my curriculum together and doing fun projects. The kids are off their usual schedules and can be quite the pills. But I come to love each and every one of them!

Went into my basement to grab a bag of home visit materials this morning and found that a mouse (or mice) had found my bag of bird seed, making a huge mess all over the floor, so I've got to face the clean up of that and make sure there is nothing out for them to use to 'settle in' for the winter. UGH! I hope it isn't rats or squirrels, though I don't know how they'd get in the basement! They smell so ickey and carry so many diseases! Shudder. I am not looking forward to this foray. I'll have to clean out the entire locked area and go through the rest of it to make sure the varmits are not hiding anywhere. Yuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I doubt it all gets done tonight!

Earlier I stuck my neck out to sign up as chairperson of a study group at work; today I had an interesting discussion with our boss concerning how most of the members of that group feel it is just 'one more thing to do' from which we would never see any results of our hard work....and any positive results of the study would ultimately add more work to our already packed schedules! So we revised the whole thing. I think it will get the job done that our boss needs done and allow those who are really not into doing the study group a chance to back out gracefully. We have a good boss!

I'm nervous about this weekend. I've been asked to help 'oversee' the wediding reception process of my ex-niece....I hope I can do it with kindness and make it all happen as the bride/family wants!

It would be really nice to sneak in a movie somewhere with my daughter this weekend (we've both been wanting to see RENT), but I doubt there will be time among all the wedding festivities.

I thought of a lot I wanted to write on my drive back home, but can't think of any of them right now.

Thanksgiving day-after

We've somewhat recovered from the 24 hours of staying up waiting for those driving in and they made it safely (after their 24 hour marathons!). It is so good to be with family on holidays...and especially Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a great time to really reflect and give thanks!

Ch received a Game Cube for her BD and is now trying it out before we go shopping at the commissary and check out some little shops downtown. It is pouring rain and a bit blustery with some wind. But it's okay. It's cozy inside, we have transportation, etc. Frankly I don't see the hype in the games; it seems like more multitasking and 'see how fast you can do it" turns. Too much like life......to be involved in life is really much better. I'm getting to the age of enjoying a slower pace rather than hyping over games AND life. I guess I want my life to be more involved with relationships and can't figure out how these games help build those. Of course, when one is by him/herself, it would be a fun way to pass the time, I guess, but I'd prefer movies, TV or books or walking. I'm too old-school!

We do miss our boy in Iraq and pray and hope he is safe and not too lonely from being away from family on the holiday. Being with other Navy people helps, I think.

I've been eating all this specially prepared food and loving every bite, but know if I keep doing it, I'll feel run down, tired and sick. It was fun to make my vegan waffles this a.m. Ch is great to include my specialties!

I couldn't ask for better 'in-laws' for/with my kids. I'm just in a sappy, thankful mood! I wish all who read this happiness and joy!

Sabbath morning

Went to bed early last night, exhausted. This week has been something else. I had totally lost my voice Monday after teaching afternoon preschool and my throat felt swollen. This, after having been on antibiotics for 3 days for bronchitis/pneumonia or something. I had also been using an inhaler. The inhaler helped some, but wore off quickly. So I went back to the doctor on Tuesday and they took a chest x-ray, front and left side views. Results were they saw some 'blurry spots' in the lungs and weren't sure if it was a healing pneumonia or something wrong with the photos themselves. They put me on a steroid inhaler and told me I have asthma, probably only present from the phases of being ill. That inhaler has really helped me, but I can tell I'm not totally well yet. The dr. had the nurse call the next day to be sure I made an appt. for a follow up x-ray in 4-6 weeks.....THIS makes me nervous. Why would they make a special point for the follow up? We shall see...........of course, just a couple weeks ago I read a long article on lung cancer in women and how hard it is to diagnose until it is too late................Face it, I'm a worrier.

Well, I got this great new recipe for a "Pumpkin Somethin'", also known as, "Pumpkin Dump Cake", my friend Barb says. Anyway it was so yummy I decided to make it for our team meeting as a trial for making it for Thanksgiving, as my son-in-law loves pumpkin pie and I think he will really love this! So I lovingly bought special ingredients (lots of milk and eggs and whipped cream which I don't regularly eat), found a foil 13 x 9 pan in my house (so I wouldn't have to worry about bringing a dirty pan home!) and mixed up the thing. As I was putting it into my oven, the foil pan (which had a wobbly bottom) tilted just enough for 2/3 of the thick liquidy mass to pour all over my oven door, down between the door and the oven into the oven drawer and onto the floor beneath the stove. AARRUUUGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so ANGRY and UPSET!!!!!!!!!!! Now, not only did I NOT have my wonderful treat to take, but I had a HUGE MESS to CLEAN UP!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAARRRRRUUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! About 1/3 of the recipe was still in the pan, so I decided to go ahead and bake it to see if it would even bake okay. So during the hour the mess was baking, I was cleaning my kitchen.....at least a corner of it is CLEAN! And Lilo was so happy because 4 of her favorite cat toys were found beneath the stove!!!!!!!!!!
The pumpkin surprise (Humph!) was a hit at the meeting. It did taste yummy and I will bake some for Thanksgiving, but I am NOT, repeat, AM NOT, going to bake it in a foil pan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Before I went to the doc on Tuesday I finally figured out, with help from our dear secretary, how to use the internet and special passwords to get into our network so I can do work from our Head Start site. Hallelujah! It has already saved me so much time, since it takes 40 minutes to travel from the Head Start site back to the office.....and then I'm so close to home, I just don't see it worth it to spend that last hour at the office and then head home, so sometimes, I just go on home! Dont' worry, I don't short any hours! I'm often working until 6 p.m.!

I did an IFSP with our PT at a home Thursday. Later she complimented me on how I handled a child displaying some unusual temper tantrums and worked with the mom on it. That's the first compliment I've received on doing a good job with babies. I'm getting there: slowly but surely, my knowledge and experience is kicking in. Wish I'd known about all this stuff when I had my own children. Perhaps my kids, though stable now, would have felt freer to explore and be themselves, earlier on. Oh well, live and learn. I'll make an awesome Grandma someday! Until then I have LOTS of little ones to get my "Grandma fix"!

Friday: I'm chairperson of our work/study group....I gave in to our boss's request for this position......wish I hadn't now! We have one guy on the committee who is adamant that certain agency changes must be made: hiring a person to do the PR work that this work/study group has been asked to do. Well, as much as I agree with him, I just know our agency is not going to collaborate and work out a financial arrangement to hire a person to do this. Our administration just is not in the mode of thinking that far out of the box. Not that they haven't had this person in place in the past. It is a position for which there is no 'extra' money. Anyway, our meeting got pretty heated. I did not know how to redirect it; our boss was there, and even she had a hard time. AFter the meeting this guy was bending my ear, thinking the rest of us just caved in to the direction our boss wanted us to go, which was more of the same hard work that we all agreed got us nowhere and the background research and proposals we might make would end up in the big black hole somewhere between the employEEs and the employERs.....no way of letting us know that our efforts made any difference anywhere, anyway.

As my dear daughter would say................WHATEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Got a wonderful pix of my son with his new mustache........actually I liked the picture. He does look a bit more like his dad with his mustache, but his is different and at least he doesn't look like a Mexican his dad looks like with HIS mustache!!!!

My dad has called me FOUR, yes, FOUR times this week, driving me crazy. First, he called me last Sunday and I told him I was sick and of course he wanted me to lather myself with Vicks Menthol and wrap a warm woolen sock around my neck and go to bed. Well, I don't have any Vicks or a woolen sock (I'm allergic to wool). My doctor told me that those petroleum based products are not good to use, as they do damage to one's body.......not sure what (cancer causing like car exhaust?), but it sounded logical to me; I'm not taking any chances. THEN, when I got home Wed, he had called two times, leaving messages asking where I was, as he was worried I was in the hospital....good grief, that must be where I got my "worry" genes! :o) Then Thursday night he called again to see how I was. Last night he called AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As I answered the phone, I said, "Now what?!" He just laughed his wicked laugh. He had ordered a Thanksgiving centerpiece for me and wanted to make sure I would be home to receive it.....on MONDAY!!!! Duh, I WORK!!!!!!!!!! So I hope they leave it on the doorstep, or something, because I won't be here!!!!!!!! I wish he'd just send me the money he spent on the arrangement. His taste is NOT like mine and he prefers fake flowers, so I can bet it will be something hideous. What can I do. I've told him not to send that stuff, as it is just a waste, but he insists. He should have spent that kind of money on my mother and told her that he appreciated her and loved her; he was too busy griping, putting her down and emotionally abusing her, to see how wonderful and giving she was. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! Mom died on Thanksgiving. I think that's why dad calls so much around this time of year and why I get even more upset with him. I think his constant badgering and negative influence was a stress factor leading to my mom's early death.

If the arrangement is decent, I'll take it with me to share with my loved ones....or maybe I'll give it to my little old neighbor lady. I bet she'd love to have it to look at. She's 90 and still hanging in there, taking care of herself.

Well, today is Sabbath and I am SO GLAD to have a day of rest. I have a wonderful afternoon planned sharing some Bible study time with my dear friend Marie. We haven't gotten together for ages, and just keep talking about doing some study together. So this should be soul filling.

Tomorrow I will get together with the ex-laws to let them tell me what they'd like me to do in helping with my (ex)niece's wedding reception. They are so excited.....it is fun to see them in this stage.....I've been there!

That's all for now. It is light now and I'm going for a walk. I've got to get healthier!

Sunday morning/ Water Cat

Well, I was very disgusted to receive spamming so soon after starting my blog, Thus I was considering whether to continue it or not. For now I will, as I figured out how to put in another step to at least prevent the automated spams. Grrrrr.

I've been trying to cope with my cold-virus for nearly two weeks, now. Finally, on Friday, I went to the doc and got meds. Thankfully my body responds positively to them! I feel better already!

My finances seem to be in a dither this month. Why, after all I've been through, does this continue to happen? It is a life lesson that I have not learned yet....or perhaps have learned, but am not willing to get it under control!

It is dark and gloooomy again. (Yes, 4-o's!). I've turned on all my natural lighting in hopes of preventing the winter doldrums. If I keep working and staying busy that helps, but being sick has given me cabin fever. I'm not sick enough to just stay in bed and sleep, but not well enough to get out to shop( a blessing since my finances are awry) or go be social.

I get a little down, too, in thinking of my family, as Mom's death was 11/25, Thanksgiving day, and it coincides with my sister's anniversary, which is sad to me, because she is not speaking to me anymore. Thanksgiving ha always been one of my favorite holidays and I hate the negative memories. It's been years since Mom died and the effects have lessened, but my dad tends to call me every day for about 2 weeks preceding thanksgiving, and he rehearses all the events surrounding her death. It is depressing. Thankfully I have a happy life, my children keep me sane and enjoy being together with me (as far as I know). My work is rewarding and my 'soulwork', so life is good, basically.

I have to be thankful for all the blessings I do have: my health, a good job, family who does still keep in touch, friends, a good roof over my head, warmth, a warm, comfortable bed (naps heal!), good food, and a mind that still works.......as far as I know! :o)

WATER CAT

I wanted to be 'good' to my kitty and got her a water bowl that has a filter and circulates the water. She figured out how to take the thing apart (the first night), pulling out the filter, flipping water and parts all over. I was afraid she'd get electrocuted, so I took the contraption back to the store. I did a bit of research to find another that might work, but didn't want to pay the price, so waited. Finally I found a good one on sale and brought it home. It has a clear dome that holds the water and the water cascades down around the outside of the dome into the bowl. Because it is heavy, it cannot be taken apart. I thought it might be a winner, but knowing my tricky cat, wasn't sure. The first night, my cat, Lilo, worked for a full hour to try to get the thing apart, flipping water all over the kitchen! I had to fill the dome again! After one hour, and my surrounding the bowl with a bath towel to sop up the water, Lilo laid down beside the thing.. I guess to keep watch on it. About 3-4 hours later, when I went to bed, I thought she had finally given up.

NO!! Now she thinks it is a game! Daily, she plays with the water in the bowl, putting her paws on the top of the dome to 'redirect' the water flow, flips water out of the bowl, trying to stick her paws under the dome to find the source. It is a stable bowl, so no damage as been done.

I've put a small throw rug under the bowl to catch the water she throws out (which I have to change every other day!), and taped the cord down, so she can't get to that (it is also encased in a plastic tubing). So it has stayed for two weeks, now. it is just a crack up to watch her get up on her haunches to maneuver the water around the dome. Her paws get so wet and cold, but she doesn't seem to mind.

One of my goals for this bowl was to stop her from always licking the faucets for water. It has worked......mostly! I also had to train myself not to turn on the water for her when she tried to drink out of the faucet! I thought she might also leave my Brita pitcher alone, as one day I came home and found her playing with that! Well, last night, I left a pan of water on the stove, and this morning she was playing in That! At least I think she's leaving the Brita pitcher alone!

The story doesn't seem so funny unless you can watch her at this. Perhaps I can get my kids to video it for me and a short clip could be used here.....not sure.

Tuesday, cough, cough

I spent most of the weekend sleeping, as I've succumbed to one of the strains of crud going around. It's affected my chest and I have a nasty cough, but at least the crud is still moving around in there, so I don't think I need to see a dr. ....yet. I'm hoping that having Friday off will help me heal. I took the morning off yesterday and that helped; but today, after my home visit, I'm back at the office and cannot concentrate. I really need a nap, but have SO much paperwork to do....and catch up.

I've enjoyed having C&E's car in my driveway this weekend. Makes me think fondly of them. It will most likely be gone when I get home tonight. They are arriving at PDX this afternoon, then they'll drive the rest of the way home.

I really pray they will be able to get their funds soon to remodel their little house they way they want. They have some great plans!

Dear son is coming home a little sooner than expected from his overseas stint! Hoo-rah! as he would say. I just keep praying he'll get home safely, and have a wonderful life with his new bride.

Today the sun is actually shining, though it is cold...I actually had frost on my windshield this a.m.! I think we are in for a cold, blustery winter! I'm thankful for a good roof over my head, warm heat, cozy blankets and pillows, a kitty to keep me company, a car that, for now anyway, is running (though not like I think it should!)and good food, plus a job to pay for it all! I made a wonderful vegetable stew over the weekend and it will keep me full throughout the week....I'll probably even put some of it in the freezer. Those good soups and stews are great to bring to work, or to eat at home, as they reheat quickly and are so satisfying...as well as healthy. I need to make them more often!

I still haven't filled you in on the saga of the cat dish, but will do that when I can concentrate on one subject for a longer period of time.

Joke for the day:

Do you know what a vegetarian with diarrhea is called.............(scroll down)









A Salad Shooter! LOL

Sunday morning

HI all! Well, it is Sunday Morning and I'm all 'sleeped' out. I slept most of yesterday and then three friends called I hadn't heard from for awhile, spent about 3 hours on the phone! Then I went back to bed! I've got crud in my chest. We had planned to attend my niece's bridal shower today, but my daughter-in-law didn't come because of the bad weather and now I'm not going because of my crud. My daughter chose to be with her hubby at a conference out of state....can't blame her! What fun!

So here I am; knowing that today I need to do laundry, thinking about all the things I need to do at work....that it would be great to get some extra work done today and maybe be a little more caught up for Monday....but that probably will not happen! I will just piddle around the house and rest!

I ordered a gortex coat this week. My other 'rainproof' coat was of little or no value to resist the downpours and blustery winds we've had this week. I really hate being drippy wet from storms. If I can stay dry and warm 'inside' by outerwear, I can handle it better. SO! Damn the debt! I needed a good coat. I ordered it online and wasn't too expensive........a lot less than those I looked at GI Joe's!

The sun is shining very temporarily and truly tempts me to go out for a walk. Don't know if my lungs could take it, though!

Am listening to the news. Thankfully no BIG news. Heard from Daughter-in-law (dil) that their orders are to stay where they are to finish the Navy stint. I'm SO GLAD!! Son is in Iraq......somewhere. Oh, how a mother worries! Once a mother, always a mother! I'm just glad I have God to rely on. That he's holding my son safe under His wings, protecting him, holding him close to His heart. And I have the hope that if Satan should be allowed to have his way, my son is safe for eternity with our God, Savior and Friend....we will meet again in that glorious, once-and-for-all, homecoming! I look forward to seeing my mother then and I'm sure my son looks forward to being reunited with his Grandpa! Sigh.

For now we have these moments. I need to finish getting a Christmas box together for my son. I really don't know what to send. Any good ideas out there? I will miss him this holiday. I'll miss all my family, as dil will be back east and C&E will be in CA. I've put in for a few days of extra work...that will pay for the new coat and give me some travel money when we Do all get together! That way, I won't get too bored or depressed over my long holiday break.....yea, I'm a teacher, so I get a long holiday break...hey! We need it, since we deal with life's tough issues!

My brain really isn't working too well, this morning. Yesterday, while resting, I thought of lots of things to write; now I can't remember any of them. Oh well......maybe later.

thought for the day

Life is full of challenge and frustration...

But one of these days you'll find a hairstyle you like!

Perhaps pictures next time

PS. I've also a story about Lilo coming up. Didn't want to overload with two stories in one night! I also want to figure out how to add a picture or two.

Oh, the car shop hasn't charged me any more money than the original invoice and paid for all the rental cars! So they've done right, on that score!

car saga

This last three weeks my car has been in the shop three times. I Planned to have it in the shop the first time, to put in a new transmission and clutch. The shop paid for a rental car for me......a 2006 Malibu. I wasn't particularly impressed by the car. Too big for me. Well, that was on a Wednesday. The next day, they were still working on it, having trouble getting it apart. Friday, they had it all back together and then couldn't get it in reverse, so kept it over the weekend. On Tuesday morning I picked up the car, drove it home. It shifted Hard. The next morning I had a little trouble getting it in reverse, but made it to Curves. Upon leaving, I could NOT get it into reverse, so I drove forward around the block to get home. I debated whether to park it in the driveway and have the shop pay the towing or to nicely drive it to the shop. Well, I decided to park it in the driveway. So they towed it away, and then I had to wait THREE hours for the rental car to come.......first, the rental agency lost the order, then I was routed through two other agencies supposedly 'closer' to my home, where I was waiting and waiting and..........waiting. The shop guy called to harass the rental car place and they finally arrived. So I missed a 1/2 day of work just WAITING!!!!!!!! GRRRRRRR. They once more worked on my car while I drove yet another rental car. At first the agency told me there was only a truck or a minivan..........groan, I really dislike BIG cars.....finally, after my grousings at them, they came up with a small SUV, a Ford Escape, I think it was. It was a pretty nice rig. Thankfully I didn't drive it enough to complain about how much gas it took. (I did have to pay for gas for all the vehicles.) On Friday of last week, I got my car back for the second time. As I was driving it home, I realized that the oil change sticker hadn't been changed (had the oil?), so I called and they said they'd check on that for me....also the gear shift 'jumped' 1/4" in both 3rd and 4th gear, like it was trying to jump out of gear whenever I went over a large bump, decelerated, or applied the brake. So I told them I'd bring it BACK IN first thing this Monday. Well, they kept it all day (my rental was a 2006 GrandAm, sporty; one of my coworkers asked me if I was having a midlife crisis!) , supposedly had three transmission experts drive my car and check it out. However, I know they didn't even take it apart, because the radio settings were still there! I'd had to reset them both the other times!
Well, they said they couldn't find anything wrong with it. They(the 3 experts....or muskateers!) even drove it. They told me it just needed to be 'broken in'. I said it wasn't too tight, it was loose, like the shifter was going to drop out! I asked if they'd checked linkages, transmission and engine mounts, etc. (Don't I sound like I know what I'm talking about?) and they said all that had been checked. I still don't think they fixed my car properly, but they told me to just drive it awhile and see how it goes, see if it gets better. They said when a car is put together at the factory, it is machines, not drivers who try it out, so it isn't like a human 'syncs' it. Whatever!!!!!!!!!! I'm thinking about getting the shop foreman, Jeff, in the car and taking him on a drive along the roads I take, and then show him how the gear shift shakes! I may do it tomorrow morning, I'm not sure yet. I've gone to these guys for over 10 years and they've always done good by me, but this time..............I don't think so. I'm not happy!!!!!!!!! Thus, my last three weeks have been stressful without MY car!!!!!!!!! It is my office, lunchspot, independence!