I went for a walk with The Comedian this morning. I needed out. Lately our home has begun to feel like a prison to me. Winters are typically hard for me. I've had Seasonal Affective Disorder for as long as I can remember. I grew up with New England winters. There is a reason I don't live there any more and those winters are it. They last too long, are too cold and too bleak. Some years are harder than others and this would be one of those years. I think the combination of big snow coming early to our parts with record cold temperatures and some stunning news that came my way has really gotten to me at this not so optimal time of year. Mentally, physically and emotionally I'm a little screwed up right now. Being … [Read more...]
Let’s Achieve Something Great Today. Lives Depend On It.
Here's the thing about me. I'm am not a nurturer. In fact, my family calls me "Nurse Ratchett". When my husband is hurt he asks for my help only out of desperation. I don't like pain and suffering. I'm more of the 'suck it up' 'your legs aren't broken' type of person. I think I've actually told my kids that. OK. I confess. I have told my kids that. Yet, I'm oddly empathetic to total strangers and those in need. I still get choked up about the Titantic, people. When I read a blog post, "It's Getting Real Bad" from Virginia, a Pittsburgh blogger, I got choked up. Then motivated. She has friends Jamie and Ali McMutrie in Haiti who run an orphanage there. If you didn't read the link I just posted here's the brief … [Read more...]
Wordless Wednesday- Help Wanted
The Talons of Death are Alive!
At this point I think it is safe to say that our dog might be plotting our deaths. She's been limping around for the last few days and while we tried to blame the cold, her old age and her "artha-right-tus" acting up, it seems we overlooked the ginormous swollen toe.Is that right? Do dogs have toes? They have paws and in our dogs case, talons of death. But toes? I digress.One of the "toes" that holds onto a talon of death is swollen and out of a family of four that wounded appendage gets bumped about every half hour. The yowling. The yelping. It is awful. I can't take it. I remembered that I'm a dog owner and called the vet. Our poor Lex. She used to be the baby until TD came along. When The Comedian happened on the scene … [Read more...]
My Goody Drawer
I keep things hidden away in my nightstand. Things that no one in my house can have but me. In pretty wrappings, sometimes shiny and glistening, they beckon to me as they sit and wait until just the right moment when I open the draw and pull one out just for my pleasure.It's candy. I keep loads of candy in my nightstand. Ever since Claudia from the Baby Sitter's club gave me the clever idea of hiding junk food in my room I have done just that. I am like an old lady hoarding money under my mattress. Except in my case, it is probably a box of Good 'n Plenty. Wispa bars. Cadbury eggs. Chocolate bars loaded with crunchy bits of toffee. Dark chocolate bite-sized nuggets. Sometimes gum, but that is too boring. Now that I have embarked on this 'no sugar for a month' insanity, my "goody drawer" is … [Read more...]
You Have WHAT on Your Ceiling?
You are probably wondering what that thing is. If you guessed a breast implant, well bonus points for creativity, but that is not correct. I told you before we were revamping our house. That picture is of quite possibly the world's ugliest bathroom light I have ever laid eyes on. It does look like a breast implant! It must go.The paint has been picked out, the new hardware is waiting silently in its box to be alerted into action. There is even a wall cabinet to be hung. At last! Toilet paper, tissues and hand towels will be stacked in neat rows, comingling together. It's like some sick HGTV dream.This is a project I wish I could tackle all on my own, however painting with The Comedian around and no one to referee her would only result in … [Read more...]
Waste Always Makes Me Angry
That title my friends is a direct quote from 'Gone with the Wind' courtesy of Rhett Butler. While he was talking about the Civil War and the South, I am talking about clothes.I give away a lot of stuff. I belong to Freecycle. I donate to Goodwill, Purple Heart, my church and to the Vietnam Veterans Association. If I have something to give, I will give it. I buy second-hand items too. If we no longer need it but someone else might then I am happy to offer it up. I don't like waste. It is not good for us or the planet. Therefore, I just cannot understand this type of behavior from H&M or any other company, even the evil W. When I first saw the article (tweeted by @jodifur and @amalah), I was aghast. Surely, there had to be some good, plausible reason that bags upon bags of … [Read more...]
2010- No More Excuses
I never watch 'The Biggest Loser'. OK, maybe sometimes I catch a weigh in or two, but I don't know the players, their stories or their fight to lose the weight while at the ranch. Since there was absolutely nothing else on TV last night and I felt ridiculously tired, I lay there like a sacraficial lamb and allowed the show's newest season to unfold before my eyes.And I cried. I gasped. My hand flew to my mouth as I watched these people struggle and I laughed as they endured the wrath of Jillian, who climbs atop treadmills to yell in your face like a tiny, wronged monkey. At least she didn't tell them to gargle their hearts. Yet. It was then that I realized I was at the closing of my fifth day of self-imposed 'no sugar/no alcohol' … [Read more...]
I’m Done Being Sugar’s Bitch
I dreamed of sugar last night.Of cookies, cakes and frosting. There I was in the aisle at the grocery store looking for bread and all I could see was already opened packages of Oreos begging for me to take one. No one would know...Yellow cake, lovingly rolled and slathered with fluffy white frosting. Cinnamon buns, hot, gooey and sweet. My mouth watered as my hand reached out to take just a tiny taste. Just one bite of heaven on my tongue...Suddenly, H appeared like an apparition and bellowed, "I thought you were getting bread!" I jumped, afraid I was found out. "Curses! Foiled again!" I muttered under my breath. Breath that contained no trace or morsel of sweet, sweet goodness.Last week, for no particular reason, I got the brilliant idea that for … [Read more...]
Welcome to Crazy Town
About a year ago, on a rather traffic-clogged road trip that was full of screaming Comedians and whiney Dictators, and me trying to claw my way through the upholstery or squeeze through a vent. Any vent! We all felt like we were about to lose it. TD asked for the ninety-millionth time the classic line of, "Daddy! Are we there yet?! Where are we going?!" H bellowed out, "Crazy Town. We are going to Crazy Town." "Yippie!" She yelled. "Crazy Town! I can't wait until we get to Crazy Town!!" It was just the levity we needed at that moment.Crazy Town. It's our house, at any given moment, especially during the dinner hour when everyone is hungry, no one wants what I'm cooking and everyone is overtired. Crazy Town is our life on a … [Read more...]