Coffee Talk

It's almost October.

It'll be a funny October for me, with Mom not being around.

My brothers birthdays are in October. My Dad's birthday was in October. I always, as Mom got older, picked out the cards at her request, and it was bittersweet toward the end, to have her scribble Mom on the card, When it came to Daddy's birthday, we always remembered him and both would be quiet with our respective memories, and once in a while, I would tell her a story I remembered about Dad, and she would smile.

So here I sit, typing away.Coffee cup at a safe distance away from my Mac, and I find myself remembering the past.

It's good when your memories are, on the most part, pleasant.

Loving the Haters

I still find it incredible, that some folks have to pull apart other people?
Why?
Your life is so pale, so bland? Who's fault is that, hmmm?
Some of us will keep on keeping on, because guess what?
You are so entertaining!

Casino

AMC just started showing, for the gazillionth time, the movie, "Casino".

This movie speaks to me, as it made me appreciate Robert DeNiro, I was a late bloomer: after this movie, I never missed his films. I still try to catch them whenever they are on.

I have to laugh, because they are running story notes along the bottom; for instance, it just said most of the guys playing mob bosses never acted before. Incredible. I thought they all came from 7th@ Latona.

Always good to lose yourself in a good movie!

Different Color

The road to hell being paved with good intentions, Shingleman passed on rotisserie chicken and here we are, out to dinner.

Go figure.

We are officially together long enough that “I don’t care” ended us out to dinner: if our record stays in tact, this might prove to be a fabulous meal.

Stay tuned!...

Friday Five

This week....


I am thankful for my entertainment as I am working on this post-The Phillies vs. Mets game, where the Phillies are currently shellacking the Mets 16-1...enough said!I am grateful the Phils are on, making me want to stay up and listen-hopefully I'll get a good night sleep.

I am thankful I have the opportunity to work and entire Friday and, as much as I'd like to leave early for Undisclosed, know that it'll be worth my time.

I am thankful for the foresight to make a crock pot of chili this week, thus giving me something for lunch tomorrow.

Although I'll work all tomorrow, I thank God Jim and the girls are picking me up to head for Undisclosed!

Have a wonderful Friday!

Pork Chops and Applesauce

Whenever i hear these two words together, I think of Peter Brady in the Brady Bunch badly lisping it when he was try to be a detective a la Sam Spade in an episode.

I stopped at the Terminal Market and bought some pork chops for dinner. I coated them( of course in flour first) in a combination of panko breadcrumbs, a little Parmesian cheese, and dried onion...hopefully this will come out ok, but be forewarned.

If you see Shingleman or me reaching for Tums tomorrow, you'll know it wasn't that good...lol

Really?

The rain has arrived: no break for my sinuses.


It was difficult keeping my head up today, I mean, I’d like to know why the eyes are aching and I hate to put it on the rain, but barometric pressure gets me every time.

We needed this rain; I am thankful . I just wish rain came alone- no sinus chaser!

Damned if you do....

It’s due to rain tomorrow , and I haven’t seen the weather channel. How do I know? …..


Sinuses.

I am typing this with a bear of a sinus headache. I always claimed to have Philadephian sinuses. Prone to winter infections and pollen the other nine months of the year.
The headache isn’t do bad in the scheme of things, as it reflects a change in barometric pressure,
Translated?

We need the rain!

Working weekend

It was rough being” at home” instead of being down at Undisclosed.

One of my BFF’s,Kath, threw a surprise party for her husband, so we were up here. Trying to get ahead of the situation, we threw a lot of stuff out, a lot into recyclables, and donated a lot of clothes. After all, this house has got to sell before we can go full time to Undisclosed. I am glad we are doing things a little at a time, because leaving things until time to show/sell, well, it’d be a fiasco.

The hard part is having football on in the background : you want to sit and watch the game- not listening while you clean….There’s got to be a better way....

Stand & Deliver

A good friend of mine,"B",is going through rough times and wrote a journal-like entry with her reflections this morning on FB and I have to tip my hat to her,

"I've got this."

Considerate friends indeed help you through trying times.Sometimes you need friends to spell it out for you

Thanks,"B".

Deepest of Holes

They are still digging up my street.

Now, only, to add insult to injury, they are at the intersection by my house and leaving their big monster machines in front of my gate. It has to go somewhere, but the fact that some people in the area think it’s fun to go speeding around the detour and kick up dust for anyone who is walking.

Meaning me...it's not fun!

As I type this, I am still hacking because a sphincter had a good time running by the street with his car not once but twice. Think Oklahoma in the 1930′s. Yup-dust bowl!

I can only keep hoping that karma is a bitch for some people, because, well…just because. I know, I know-not the most Christian of attitudes but…..

‘Nuff said.

Just putting it out there....

Coming into the hospital this morning, I got to notice one thing.

Mercedes-Benz suv's?

Really?
I mean I understand the SUV concept and really thought if wealthy folks wanted a SUV, they'd buy a Lincoln or even a Lexus.

I mean, really? Is that your concept of buying a safe car: you couldn't find a slightly less expensive one? Is this the new concept of keeping up with the Jones'!

Hmmm... Got to think about that.

Eleven

Tomorrow is the eleventh anniversary of 9/11/2001, a terrible day in American history,

To counter the severity of the day, two of my BFF's, Juls and Kath, married their husbands thirty and nineteen years ago,respectively.

Shingleman and I are blessed to know the four of them~ they are the best! Along with Zush and Kasia, we send them love and sunshine all the days of their lives,

Below is a picture of me and Juls taken this past summer ...I need a current shot of me and Kath

Wrapping it up

Vacation is over.

My one vacation every ten years is done. A beautiful week, albeit humid, but giving much teeth to the old chestnut....one day at the beach is better than a day at work.

It was great: I am blessed!

Laying Low before the Storm

Today is a nice day. There’s a nice breeze going when you are by the bay. We put the air back on because the humidity is back.

The weather forecast is calling for a bad storm later, with winds and hail. We are going out now so the girls won’t go stir crazy later.

Just a good day to kick back and take it all in.

Friday Grateful Five

How grateful am I to have had a chunk of time off. It gave me the chance to relax, spend quality time with Zush, bond tighter with Kasia, ….in short, a chance to kick back.

The weather cooperated enough to get us dog walking daily and savor the peace and quiet .Thankful, I think, all three of us are.

I was so grateful to step away from the office and kind of experience a taste of retirement. I am ready for it!

Shingleman is coming down today-always nice and grateful for having him in my life.

My final gratitude moment is for hydrocortisone cream/ rubbing alcohol/witch hazel… Mosquito bites are almost tolerable!

Have a good weekend!

Lazy

The rain that hit the big city finally made it down here last night. The girls and I had a long night, so we all are a little lazy today.

There is not too much on our agenda today:a little cleaning, a little dog walking, and if the weather clears, I will be making a ferry walk.

I could get used to this!

Fulfilled Day

For the first time in a long time, I sat this morning and made out a list of what I wanted/needed to do.

For the first time in a long time, I was able to tick everything off of the list-a wonderful feeling of accomplishment, even though I am beat**not that the daiquiri I had with dinner had a stimulant in it…lol**.

I am going to push my luck and make an attempt to repeat my success tomorrow, but we’ll see how that goes. It’ll go fine**I can hear my Mom saying in my ear**if I just don’t get a sprained arm from patting myself on the back…lol.

I have got to admit there is something to being able to operate at your own pace, and not having to meet a daily deadline. Less stress as an end result and accomplishment ~a win-win situation!

Work A Little, Play a Little...

So, trying to take advantage of the down time, I have Evita on in the background as I try to multitask, trying to keep the girls happy, get some chores done, and not make myself nuttier**insert your witty take on nuttier here____*** than normal.

Bowing to off time, the girls and I had a nice walk this morning, especially since Labor day has come and gone! We freely wandered the streets on our walk, but due to the humidity, I always keep on top of Zush to make sure I am not pushing her too much. Kasia was playing with me and the mosquitoes**scratch,scratch** as I tried to consolidate the recycles for the trash tomorrow. I have a little wash to hang, and in honor of the saint of multi-tasking, I have a baggie with lime away secured with a rubber band on my shower head, trying to clean that up.

Complaining?

Hell, no.

Even the chores of life are more palatable down here…nice!

Rain and Humidity is better than any day in the city....

The rain everyone has been experiencing is everywhere but here. Mind you, the humidity is absurd and grey sky fights the sun, but any day here is better than being in the city!

The girls are each chomping a dog bone as the three of us try to veg. We have had some good walks today, but I am always mindful of Zush in this weather.

Early to bed for us…we can hardly wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Time Zones

Shingleman has opted to work this week, while I am on vacation.

Guess who has an alarm set for 3:30am so someone can get to work on time….

Did I mention this is my first 9+ days off since 2002?

••sigh••

The Best Thing I ever Made..

..is now on the Food Network, and I am watching the burger and dog episode. Once again, the marketers at Food Network figures, let’s have all America try these for their Labor Day picnic.

Hah!

I laugh because how many people are going to run to their kitchens to make a cherry sauce to put on top? Not me. Granted, if you watch the recipes, you may be able to tweak what you want and get rid of what you don’t. For instance, the next recipe is for a Reuben hot dog,by Adam Gertler, which might be a little more palatable than the hamburger gigantico that was just presented.

So I am going to kick back this week and maybe tweak some of these recipes. It is nice to be able to anticipate having time to do things I have wanted a chance to do.

Bring it on!