Thankful for....

Ten years with my Shingleman…I can’t remember life without him.

Above mentioned anniversary, which pushed me to take my first 9 day vacation in ten years…I don’t know hot to behave.

Two crazy fur girls who love the water as much as I do, even though I am going to have to give them a bath tomorrow.

The coming of fall and good-bye to mosquitoes.

One of my BFF, Juls, has successful surgery on her shoulder today-thanks for your prayers, folks.



Have a wonderful weekend !!!!

10 years....

I wish I could say I remember every minute of ten years ago, but the day will always be a whirl to me.

What sticks firmer in my brain are the ten years of being "Mrs.Shingleman"- and I wouldn't trade a second of it.

Happy Anniversary to the Shingleman. I can't remember life without you!

One of my BFFs, Juls, is taking a page from book.

She is having shoulder surgery Friday.


** working the beads**


Being in the big city with a lot of university hospitals, and being an old pro with doctors, well, let’s just say I don’t care for pain, especially when it wakes me from a sound sleep.
I know surgery is scary, but know you’ll hold a good thought for Juls on Friday.it’s always good to get your health back.

Poor New Orleans

Wow!\

Memory coming back to me this morning as I watch the weather channel. Tropical Storm Isaac giving signs of turning into a hurricane . As I watch coverage, I am giving prayers for those folks on the Gulf coast-especially New Orleans.

Stay safe, folks!

Rough for a Monday

I don’t know if it was the fact that I know next Monday is a holiday or what,but I just seemed to go in slo-mo today. As if my mind  didn’t want to join my body for that party called work..lol.

Knowing my history with caffeine, I struggled through one cup of coffee and the rest of the day I was wishing for toothpicks to keep my eyes open. Why is it that the anticipation of a holiday seems to make the prior week go really slow? At least it seems that way to me.

Here’s hoping your August wraps up neatly!

Isaac

Spending Sunday watching the weather channel and seeing the preparations for  Tropical Storm Isaac, which is hitting Florida as I type this.

I remember the preparations for Hurricane Katrina. It is mind-boggling, watching the change in the weather and the extreme swings possible. You can only feel for the people in New Orleans, as I see on the weather station are in an alert status. Can those folks be going through issues thinking back to Katrina? I know if I had gone through it and survived, I'd probably be a basket case.

Sending my prayers up so everyone comes through this dance with Isaac as unscathed as possible.

Loving this Weather...

…a little overcast, a little light rain, a ton of walking and most importantly..breezy!

I always have enjoyed the anticipation of hurricanes, and turned into a weather maniac watching the Weather Channel and following sites on-line. I have always been intrigued by what happens as the storm works its way up the coast, the early “knocks on the door” of barometric pressure changes and storm fronts.

After all, it’s hurricane season: it’s August!

Quiet Friday

It was nice to have some quality time with the girls today while getting ready for the weekend. There were plenty of chores to do and it was so easy to have interspersed dog life with household chores. Zush even got a bath this morning to ease itchy skin, so she got an oatmeal shampoo .


We shared a wonderful dinner tonite with our friend Vida and her Mom at the Lobster House. We had broiled shrimp stuffed with crabmeat and it was fabulous. A pitcher of adult beverages accompanied it and the meal and the company gave a whole new dimension to summertime and the living is easy!


Have a great weekend!

Friday five

Am I ever grateful for my BFF ‘s….they are true pillars of support…and it’s great because they KNOW who they are.


God gifted me with a great Dad for thirty eight years. I have missed him terribly for the past fourteen years and will love him forever.


I am grateful my nephew Greg has the chance to start another year at Temple university. He makes our family so proud.


I am absolutely grateful for a good night’s sleep: I only wish they came more often.


Finally, especially after seeing what my Mom went through, I am grateful for my memories: I hold them all close to appreciate the comfort they bring.


Have a good Friday!

Another friend gone

My Zusher lost another pal.

Her girlfriend Paint, who was with her from day one when one of my BFF’s Kath fostered her for SPCA.  Paint and Zush lived with Kath’s number one dog, Jupiter.

I always said Zush learned from the best, and she did. Paint and Zush were well schooled, and the two girls were tightest of buddies, and they both loved Jupiter.

Well, Paint, I found out today, has joined Jupiter at the Rainbow bridge, which makes me cherish every moment with Zush more, as if that is possible. They were a helluva trio, and I like to think Kasia is learning from the best, my gal Zush.

There is a void where the two buddies were, and I know someday she’ll see them again, but there is still work to do here, like keeping Mommy’s secrets, loving Daddy and tolerating Kasia.

Love her to pieces, and I know she joins me in saying rest in peace Painty puppy. We’ll miss you!

OOPS!

I was going to post last night, but I feebly wrist-wrestled with sleep.

Sleep won.

I had three good cups of coffee on Monday at work and a diet coke. When did this excess caffeine decide to bother me? Eleven at night Monday night.

Symptom? Itching…

I think I slept for fifteen minutes on the hour between eleven at night and four in the morning.



Watch out, world…I am rested today! Lol ;D

Kasiagirl..the saga continues...

Well, I figured out how to reward Miss Kasia for coming out and being around people.


When we had “the big event” weekend, if you’ll remember, she was keeping pretty much to herself and even hiding. What would bring her out of her shell, if you’ll forgive the turtle reference, was a walk.


A big one….



A 4.2 mile walk roundtrip. Just Kasiagirl.


Quality time with Mom. Whoo-hoo!

Zush was sadly excused because I knew the distance was going to be rough for her, so she stayed behind, pouting until we returned. I am sure that having Kasia come back and run to her, as if to say,”nyah-nyah!…I got to go with Mom and you didn’t.” was not taken too well, although Zush’s pout disappeared when we came back. For the record, Zush got some prime Mommy time and was most appreciative.

Love my gals and am blessed to have them!

It was twenty years ago today...

...or so the beginning to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band goes....but for me it was 28.

Twenty eight years ago, this T Rex of an employee was green around the gills, walking into the first day in a big government agency scared half to death. By the grace of God, here I am 28 years, 3 cancers, plus Shingleman, minus parents later, and I am still here.

Go Figure.

The benefits I received from this job saved my life, for I surely would never have been on a protocol for my first cancer. The friends I have made and KEPT along the way are choice-with them I am truly blessed. So today I am tuly thankful to those who guided me to the finding of this job, guided me during my early years, and on the bad days, guided me away from darkness.Those of you have been with me along the way know the rode as been bumpy, but it has been great sharing the bumps along with you.

**hugs**

New Obsession

While winding down the “Big Event” weekend, I wanted something a little different to do, basically to give my soul some comfort.

When you knit with a 100% pure wool yarn, you are able to felt.Basically felting is taking what you make, and then you wash it and the wool takes on a feeling of felt. It also helps keep Mom with me, as she taught me how to crochet and basic knitting stitches.

As this is my first 4 day week,after two 3 day weeks, I figure I’ll have something to keep me thinking. I will post the end result when done.

Have a good week!

Ode to Salt Water Taffy

One of my BFF’s, Kathy, was back in work Monday, after spending time at the Jersey shore. She brought salt water taffy back, from Douglass candies, on the Wildwood boardwalk .

Ah, Wildwood and childhood summer!

I remember we would go there, Mom and I , and my Mom would buy the biggest plaited white mint. It was the size of four ponytail braids put together.Mom said my grand mom, or Babci, would love it. I remember the salt water taffy. They would have the molasses taffy and form it into a paddle pop and then dip it into dark chocolate.

When I was at my desk, I unwrapped a lime piece, as it was a favorite flavor for me and Dad, and a molasses piece also. Ah, amazing what the taste does to memory recall.

Those were the days!

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Trauma weekend for Kasia

The trauma is all in her head.

My Kasia was ok until my sister-in-law and her husband came over tonite.

Did I mention Kas hates change?

She is a product of a rescue, and her foster mom treated her well, but whatever her first owners did to her, well, my girl gets very reclusive. It’s a shame, as Jim’s family loves her,yet she is a bit stand-offish…to her credit, she is getting a little bit better.

We just want her to be a social butterfly. Doesn’t every parent? Lol

Kicking on back....

…which is easy on year old titanium knees….lol

I have taken a few days off in anticipation of the Shingleman and what he calls “the big event.” Part vacation in that I get to actually get to sleep until 8am for a few days, part entertaining the Shingleman’s family, which is nice, and the rest, well, we’ll just roll with the punches…

The weather is irrelevant, because family will be all together, and having my brother left on my side, it’s a little bittersweet that there are not that many folks left on my side. Being with Shingleman’s family makes me appreciate them even more, as no one knows what tomorrow brings.

Looking forward to a nice couple of days..**here’s hoping**

Betty Crackpot

Hanging in a little later tonight, watching Iron Chef America in order to have baked goods cool.

Yup,
Betty Crackpot is at it again.

We are having a Shingleman family gathering, to honor his late Dad’s memory. My sister-in-law is helping me with putting a meal or two together for the gang. The problem with baking is keeping Jim away from the baked goods. This time I made an almond pound cake and chocolate chip cookies. Something about a boy/man in a kitchen for longer than normal-all you hear is a quiet munch….


“I only ate the broken ones.”….famous last words!

Cell Block View

It was a beautiful day today.

It was the kind of day that you needed to be out in….of course, after work..lol.

My building is a beautiful old building, housing various contemporary offices during its’ current lifespan . When I first was hired, 28 years ago, the building I worked in had beautiful big windows like this: of course, being a government building, the windows were always filthy.

The current building is privately owned: I keep the blinds up to savor the natural light!

After the Rain

After two days of storms off and on, today has been a beautiful day.

We went out for Mass this morning and for the first time in a while,the Church’s air-conditioning literally froze me out…what a pleasant surprise that was for me, because it seems that I have been sweating since April.

We are wrapping up the week-end anticipating next week-end with Jim’s Mom and family.

Good Times ahead....!