Happy Halloween

I think I've finally gotten over taking showers when no one is home. I don't know if I would feel that way if I didn't have my black lab guarding the door for me tho.

Day of rest

No day of rest here. We made it to the playoffs. I am cleaning frantically before we head off for a town I never heard of at least an hour from here, if I don't get lost like I usually do. I'm sorry that I bored all of you with my long list of ailments yesterday. Feeling much better after my 8 hrs. of sleep, so this is what you're supposed to feel like. Well we lost the game but they put up a good fight. The old adage about winning and losing and how you play the game definitely rang true today. Well since I didn't get my day of rest hopefully I'll get a night of rest.

Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Dead would be more accurate. Too tired to blog really but I seem determined to finish my days of the weeks posts (and no I never had a set of those underwear). I had the worse night's sleep last night. I really need to have the animals sleep downstairs I think. A girl at work today told me that she read that people with pets get less sleep than those poor petless people.
Sleep deprivation seems to be reaching new levels here. Seems I can actually function (albeit poorly) on 4 hrs. Went to bed at 11:30 last nite and woke up around 3:30. I think it was when I tried to staighten out my legs and encountered my 90 lb black lab's body at the foot of the bed. But in all honesty it coulda been a hot flash that woke me, they are responsible for waking me countless times during the night. Then my 14 yr. old Maine Coon Cat usually gets in the act around this time of night when he decides he needs food because the 90lb black lab, Jackson, has eaten his food all day. I have to keep Dakota's( the cat) food in the bathroom and let him in & out all day. This is what I do when I am not letting the dog in and out of the backdoor, i mean out, I forgot he let's himself in (that's another post).

So anyway the cat is usually crying and I go feed him in the upstairs bathroom and get back in bed, then he comes crying to get in the bed and he settles down next to me and if I'm lucky I fall back to sleep(if I don't have something on my mind that is). Basically they drive me crazy all day and all night. Then last night the sciatica decided to act up and I lay there feeling that awful naggy pain shootin down my butt & leg. Oh did I mention the acid reflux (this is a new one, i never had that, i can eat hot food no problem but it could be from the mega ibuprofens i was taking for my bursitis in my shoulder or just generalilzed stress. I am a complete mess it seems. Honestly I am not a hypochondriac.
So just when I was fallin off to sleep about 7, the alarm goes off and I drag myself to work via Dunkin Donuts (don't know where i would be without them). I am exhausted from writing this. I'm going to bed! I mean sleep!

Joke Friday

Well I started the week with Manic Monday, followed by Terrible Tuesday, skipped humpday (wednesday) played instead and Thurs.I managed to change the template of my blog "all my myself", got rid of that awful white print and posted a saved draft about my favorite subject. Wish I was more computer savvy and could really change things but I will have to settle for just being able to get my links back for now. Anyway, I thought I would end the week with a joke(I used to know a few from when I was a bartender and then there are the ones I get sent- i'll see what I can come up with) and maybe start a new tradition here, I hope I don't offend anyone.

A recently divorced woman spent the day packing her belongings into boxes,crates, and suitcases. On the second day, she had the movers come and collect her things. On the third day, she sat down for the last time at their beautiful dining room table by candlelight, put on some soft background music, and feasted on a pound of shrimp, a jar of caviar,and abottle of Chardonnay.
When she had finished, she went into each and every room and deposited a few half-eaten shrimp shells dipped in caviar, into the hollow of the curtain rods. She then cleaned up the kitchen and left.

When the husband returned with his new girlfriend, all was bliss for the
first few days. Then slowly, the house began to smell. They tried
everything, cleaning, mopping, and airing the place out. Vents were checked for dead
rodents and the carpets were steam cleaned. Air fresheners were hung
everywhere. Exterminators were brought in to set off gas canisters, during
which they had to move out for a few days, and in the end they even paid to
replace the expensive wool carpeting.

Nothing worked. People stopped coming over to visit. Repairmen refused to
work in the house. The maid quit. Finally, they could not take the stench
any longer and decided to move. A month later, even though they had cut
their price in half, they could not find a buyer for their stinky house.

Word got out, and eventually, even the local realtors refused to return
their calls. Finally, they had to borrow a huge sum of money from the bank
to purchase a new place. The ex-wife called the man, and asked how things
were going. He told her the saga of the rotting house. She listened politely, and said that she missed her old home terribly, and would be willing to reduce her divorce settlement in exchange for getting the house back. Knowing his ex-wife had no idea how bad the smell was, he agreed on a price that was about 1/10th of what the house had been worth, but only if she were to sign the papers that very day. She agreed, and within the hour his lawyers delivered the paperwork.

A week later the man and his girlfriend stood smiling as they watched the
moving company pack everything to take to their new home, including the curtain rods.

I LOVE A HAPPY ENDING. DON'T YOU?

Adventures with Luke

Last Saturday was a bad day for yard sales in New England;it was rainy and dreary. They've become like a tradition with us and since the season is just about over we went anyway. Nothing was found or bought but a good day for an adventure.
When we got to one yard sale there was a man in wheelchair struggling to get up the long drive. I asked him if I could help and he said yes, so I pushed him up the drive to the garage. I glanced at Luke ,taking up the rear and taking it all in, and I thought: Lessons learned not taught.
Next stop to get pumpkins. We do spend alot of time laughing at each other,especially in the car when I'm dancing to rap music. Luke thinks I'm a riot or idiot, I'm not sure. He complained that I have kidnapped him and I tell him " Yup I have". 1 for Mom.

Just for fun!

I wasn't actually tagged on this one,I found it on FTS blog inviting anyone who wants to play. I volunteered because I like to play and this one was easy and well I guess I already have cabin fever and I don't have anything else ready to post, if the truth be known. So anyone else who wants to play, please do.

Fill in the blank:


Feeling _____ (stressed.)

Listening to _____ (Rock & Roll - Dave Matthews and Sarah Macclaughlin

Am currently working on _____ (my blog, what else.)

Spent last night _____ (surfing blogs.)

Had breakfast of _____ (coffee and bagel.)

Missing _____ (my dad.)

Thinking of _____ (too much.)

Would love to _____ (be on an Island.)

Planning to _____ (keep on truckin.)

Wanting to _____ (be on an Island.)

Favourite time of the day is _____ (evening/quiet)

Really hate _____ ( prejudiced people)

Always wanted to play _____ (piano better or bass)

Dreaming of an _____ (island.)

Would love to French kiss _____ (don't know)

A dream come true is when _____ (I look out my window and see the ocean.)

Terrible tuesday

It is so cold in my house that I haven't taken my coat off and I've been home for over an hour. Raw, cold, gloomy weather we are having. Ya gotta love New England, or why else would you live here? I say that all the time, I don't know why we live here? And I don't know the answer other than maybe you were born here and have relatives here. The winters are long and cold and the summers short, hot and humid. Spring & Fall rainy. I don't know if I am going to post all week like this but it reminds me of what we say in our family about child developement: The terrible twos, the horrible threes followed by the fearsome fours. When they hit five ( the age of reason) they start Kindegarten and start learning something about The Rules and the consequences. I think I need to get outside, uh-oh I already have cabin fever and it's not even Halloween.

Manic Monday

I pulled myself out of bed today and dragged myself to work. My back hurt, felt kind of out, like it gets from time to time. I was tired from my usual lack of sleep and just plain not in a good mood. I felt physical, psychologically and emotional a little spent from all the drama on the homefront.
I was awfully glad to see all the junk food there: donuts and coffee cake, just what I needed- some sugar to go with my coffee to keep me going to lunchtime.

After lunch ,when I called in yet another patient to work up, I was a little surprised by what I saw. I've worked in the health care field for almost 20 years; everytime I have thought I've seen or heard it all something else has come along to further surprise me. The patient walking towards me was walking on metal artificial limbs, when he got into the room and sat in the exam chair I noticed that he had only one deformed hand showing, the other arm was hidden within the sleeve of his sweatshirt. On top of all this he suffered from psychosis, it said in his record. He came without much medical history and I couldn't imagine how all this had happened to him. But it did make me feel bad about all my complaining earlier.

The sunday funnies

Been too busy blog hopping and drafting of late to post anything. Growing up in NJ we used to call the comics in the Sun. paper "the funnies". It was the first and sometimes only thing I read and sometimes still is.

Happy Happy Joy Joy

Happy Happy Joy Joy is an expression that I picked up from a friend of mine. We usually use it when we don't like whats going on, so i guess that doesn't count cause it's sarcasm. But I do think that we are reminding ourselves to "Be happy/joyful despite what is bringing us down. Remember that song "Be happy don't worry be happy", that was so catchy? It's playing in my head as I write this. Thanks Melly for tagging me and reminding me to look for the Joy.

I did a search of my blog for the word Joy- No Joy :( . There is also no happiness, delight, amusement or pleasure. This did not make me happy. But there was Happy. The first post with happy in it is my Happy Fourth of July post which is just the title and a picture of the Statue of Liberty that I took last April Vacation whenI was happily visiting NY with my son.

From my You say it's your birthday.... : Do whatever makes you happy! Dance in yr. b-day suit. Drink champagne for breakfast. Celebrate all day, all week, all month if you can get away with it. I'm gonna try.
(But I was definitely not happy when those yellowjackets charged me.)

From http://rlaban.blogspot.com/2005/07/baton-twirler-vs-bookworm_31.html : Just a picture of contradictions I am:Leo/Aquarius, the batontwirler/the bookworm, happy/sad.
(Yin/Yang)

From http://rlaban.blogspot.com/2005/07/meme-meme-meme.html ( my first tag).
Question number 4: If you had three wishes that were not supernatural, what would they be?1. To see my son grow up and love what he does and have children.2. To have a job/career that I love; ie: be an artist (writer, musician or photographer). 3. Be happy
(If it only could be so easy)

So now let's see I am just tagging Patry :http://simplywait.blogspot.com/and Jeanettehttp://musingsofamiddle-agedwoman.blogspot.com/ if they want and anyone else who wants to.

By the way i can't seem to remember how to get these hyperlinks to just have the person's name or the post that I want to link to without having the entire url. See rules below.


THE SEARCH FOR JOY

Search your blog for the word "“joy" used in the context of "“happiness."” If you cannot find the word in your weblog, you may use any of the select list of synonyms below.

joy --— amusement, bliss, cheer, comfort, delectation, delight, ecstasy, elation, exaltation, exultation, exulting, felicity, gaiety, gladness, glee, good humor, gratification, happiness, hilarity, humor, jubilance, liveliness, merriment, mirth, pleasure, rapture, regalement, rejoicing, revelry, satisfaction, wonder

If your weblog does not include a built-in search engine, then you can use Google to search it only for the word you wish to find.

If you’ve found the word and it was not used facetiously or sarcastically, good for you. All you need to do is link to your earlier entry, and write a few words about that joyous moment. If, however, you have no joy (whole words only) in your weblog, you must dig deep in your soul and find something wonderful in your life right now. One little thing that fills you with warmth, that bubbles you over with quiet happiness, or tickles you with its good-hearted hilarity, or makes you glad you just took a breath, and are getting ready to take another. It doesn't have to be anything big. A smile someone gave you; your cat on your shoulder; the way the light angles through your window and casts rainbows on your floor. All it has to be is something genuine, something real, something that matters to you.

Because we all need joy in our lives, and need to take the time -- from time to time --— to recognize it. And sometimes, we need to pass it on.

Even if we're a big pain in the ass when we do.

When you'’ve dealt with your own joy, pass the quest on to five other bloggers.
http://www.blogger.com/:"> ">

LBD (Little black dress)

The wedding was nice, if you like weddings. I don't particularly and I don't know when this changed because I think I used to. I vaguely remember crying at them and smiling at the loving couple.
The dinner the night before was delicious and fun ; the restaurant overlooked the city - loved all the lights. Instead of getting my usual white wine I decided I wanted a festive cocktail; so after a little thought I came up with an Apple Martini. The waiter came back and informed me that they weren't making "martini's". I just said "Oh, well I saw someone drinking a Margarita?", at which he said," Do you want one of those?" but I didn't and I couldn't come up with anything else quickly so I just said "I'll have a chardonnay". Well much to my surprise the cute little waiter ( my new best friend) came back with the "Apple Martini". I think it was the best drink I've ever had. I only had the one and switched to red wine to go with the Filet Mignon. Unfortunately I found Apple Martini's and red wine don't go well, shoulda stuck with my usual white.

The best part of the wedding was the dancing and watching my 11 yr. old son learn some pretty wild dance moves from his crazy uncle. As for the LBD, I did find one that I fell in love with but the sticker shock prevented me from purchasing it. After much searching I found a real beauty on the sale rack and even found an incredible pair of shoes at payless that matched to a tee. The dress was this chocolate brown with tasteful beading and sequins and an equally tasteful sheer neckline and plunging back. Since brown seems to be the hot color right now I was so impressed that I was actually in style. The only problem was when I got to the wedding I saw that chocolate brown was the color that the bridesmaids were wearing. My stepdaughter joked that I looked like the mother of the bride in that dress but the mother of the bride had a completely different outfit of course. When I was in the ladies room, someone that I had met complimented me on the dress and then actually asked me if I color coordinated with the wedding. I wanted to scream, " are you completely insane?" If I had known I never woulda bought the sale dress but the cute LBD.
The best part of the trip was seeing my old friend even if just in between dinners and wedding. The 12 hr. ride home I could've done without. I never did get to explore 'my' new IBook; Luke was watching movies on it. Lots of people this weekend raved about the movie "Wedding Crashers", I will have to rent it now that the wedding trip is over.

Flights of fancy

Recently I read a post about not liking to vacation. Well I hate to pack and have even had nightmares about it: missing planes, trying to pack all this stuff(like boxes and boxes of books/shoes,etc.- but maybe that's the moving dream I have mixed up here). And I also always forget things in the dreams and real life. Usually hair products/make up in the dreams. This trip we got about a mile or two when I remembered what I'd forgotten and yelled, "I forgot my "jewelry"; we turned back and I got it and of course I grabbed a couple other things while I made my mad dash through the house. We don't always turn back tho; like when we are 1/2 way to Logan airport in Boston and I remember that I forgot my sunglasses - just buy a cheap pair when you get there.

I've also noticed that I have turned into a hypochondriac when I go away; packing bandaids, eye drops, ibuprofen, old Rx's just in case my back goes out.
But usually when I get there I'm enthralled and ready to move. Anyplace seems better than home with the mundane,problems and all.

On the road

ok did i actually read that Jack Kerouac book? or am i thinking of Wllie Nelson's singing "on the road again". ok all you book aficionados: who wrote "Been down so long looks like up to me"? (answer at the end of post) i'll give you time to think or google.

Leaving tomorrow on a road trip to Pittsburgh til Sun. Should take about 12 hrs. I don't know which I hate more long road trips or flying.Going to a family wedding(not my family) and bringing the kids (g-d help me). But at the end of the rainbow there is a good friend waiting. Happens that one of my very dear old (have to be careful bout using that word now - but i mean we go way back) friends lives there and have wanted to visit her for ages so now i will; in between the dinners and wedding. So I am going to plug in that laptop that has been gathering dust and maybe get used to it on the road.

Wish i could write it upside down.. but... it's Richard Farina. I wonder how many actually knew that.

Field of dreams

Watched Field of Dreams tonite with my 11 yr. old son. I vaguely remember seeing it years ago and thinking it was a little "hokey" for my taste. But watching it tonite with my son reminded me that sometimes the magic works. He was totally into it, wanting to believe and enjoying every magically moment. It showed me how totally jaded us grown ups can be, not to be able to believe anymore. It was nice to just sit back and let the magic happen.

Yard sale

Hit the yard sales last sat. morning with my son. Arlo Guthrie was playing on the radio as we pulled out of the driveway; doing the long story before the song about the pickle and the motorcickle; was so glad when L. found it amusing too. We spent $2.65; L. purchased a Red Sox collectors baseball with a picture of Fenway Park all over it for $2. The asking price was $4, when we declined the kid selling it dropped the price 1/2 and he even offered to go get the plastic case for it that was in his room. Someone should give that kid a lesson on marketing. If it had been in the plastic case we might have payed his asking price. Then at the next yard sale I found a book that I've wanted to read, Cheat and Charmer by Elizabeth Frank, for a quarter! The hardcover edition that I saw at Borders a few months back but couldn't afford the sticker price. Books and baseballs, life is good.

Spilt wine

Saturday I started the day off with my 11 yr. old son telling me " no eating upstairs" ( my mantra), I said ok and he took the plastic bowl of roasted soybeans (which we don't even like, but better than eating chips) downstairs; well almost, he spilled them all over the stairs. We both cleaned them up,the dog did too( he liked them ).
I ended the day spilling my wine all over the desk while I was trying desperately to figure out why I couldn't get online(I'm not addicted). After plugging and unplugging everything it seems to be up and running, altho on refection I should have just shutdown, sat down( with the wine and my book) and called it a day. Moral of the story: Don't cry over spilt soybeans but you can over spilt wine.

You know you are old

when you reach up and find a pair of reading glasses on top of your head while you are wearing a pair with one side thing missing(what is that part of the glasses called again?). And there's another way that you know- you forget what things are called and where things are or where you put them. I don't lose my car on a regular basis I just plain never remember where I parked it(this happens at the Mall or supermarket usually). And then there is this - I have to go back and retrace my steps (walk back upstairs) to remember why I went downstairs in the first place. So what's next? I did go and buy 2 more pairs of glasses so I threw out that broken pair. Now I have a pair on the nightstand, here at the computer desk, downstairs in the kitchen, in my pocketbook and in my labcoat. I guess next I can get one of those string things and wear them around my neck .

Blogness

Ok so what is this a blog about blogging? Have I bored everyone to tears yet? Have I managed to chase away the few people that actually frequented this site? One day she threatens quitting, the next she's back singing a ditty. I guess those guys residing on my shoulders intend to fight to the death. I need to get some new material for those guys then, maybe a few jokes. And what will I write about when I stop beating the blog thing to death? Okay I could start with those saved drafts, maybe tomorrow.

Feel my best

Staring at this screen, typing on these keys. Writing a post or reading a post. Commenting on someone's blog or reading one of mine. Of course I still have my doubts about why I am even doing this, for what purpose. But then the guy on the other shoulder pipes in,"Does everything have to have a purpose, can't you just enjoy it, get on with it." To which the 1st guy chimes in sarcastically,"yea, there is a purpose, a purpose on to heaven". Well i've been struggling with that one for many years so wasting/spending a little time on here shouldn't matter at all.