May your week ahead be everything you want it to be; full of good surprises, lots of good food and as many hugs, compliments and kindnesses as you need. I was going to take pics of the jewelry I made for my secretaries this year, since they all turned out so beautifully. But of course it was midnight by the time I finished, so I wrapped them and sent them on their way. Maybe pics of our Christmas Finger Food Feast instead?
I'm not going to reach my goal of 50 lbs lost by New Year's Eve, but I'll be close. 46 lbs as of yesterday. I'm down five sizes and have to figure out something about an interim wardrobe. Just picked up a new book, "Reconstructing Clothes for Dummies". It looks terrific, I'll let you know how it turns out. I've got a few ideas already.
Things were kind of hectic here for a while. The husband has been dealing with some ongoing mysterious health issues. My workplace has been rather tense lately, and the Boychik is going through some post-adolescent angst. So we're looking forward to relaxing over the short holiday weeks, and looking forward to getting back to normal in the New Year. I have lots to share, some new experiments that have gone well, a few that have failed miserably, and news on the home quest.
All coming soon to a blog near you...hopefully this one! Take care and stay safe out there.
Showing posts with label Life in General. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life in General. Show all posts
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Saying Goodbye to Summer
It's very sad. Even though fall is my favorite season, we don't feel that we got to experience much of a summer in these parts. We're just not ready for it to be over yet. Garden-wise, this year has been a terrible disappointment. Daily thunderstorms of biblical proportions, very little sun and a regional tomato blight has rendered all our hard work virtually useless. Out of the entire garden we harvested six banana peppers. That's all. Everything else was drowned or devoured by fungus. See this article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/opinion/09barber.html
On the positive side (and we know to always look for the positive spin), I didn't have to spend an August week in a 2,000 degree kitchen canning our wonderful annual bounty of tomatoes, sauce, pickles, salsa and chutney.
Sigh.
Some good stuff has happened, as well. Football starts this week. I got a new tattoo. The Girl-Child came to visit for four very loud and busy days. The Tall Guy and I came into a windfall - a business associate had a book sale with a jillion leftovers, which I was then allowed to browse at my leisure. The result? Almost twenty boxes of books, including two complete Time-Life Series. One is the Home Repair & Improvement series of 35 volumes; the other is the Encyclopedia of Gardening with 28 volumes. I picked up books on furniture building, alternative energy for home use, herbs, landscaping, labyrinths, sundials, homesteading and a dozen organic gardening primers. Also a ton of fiction, biography, memoir, sociology and political commentary, spirituality, women's studies, black history, mysteries, games and even a book on CD. It adds up to a winter's worth of reading and research, I'm very excited about it. The only problem (and book addicts can relate) is that there are SO MANY choices, I don't really know where to begin!
So how was your summer?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/opinion/09barber.html
On the positive side (and we know to always look for the positive spin), I didn't have to spend an August week in a 2,000 degree kitchen canning our wonderful annual bounty of tomatoes, sauce, pickles, salsa and chutney.
Sigh.
Some good stuff has happened, as well. Football starts this week. I got a new tattoo. The Girl-Child came to visit for four very loud and busy days. The Tall Guy and I came into a windfall - a business associate had a book sale with a jillion leftovers, which I was then allowed to browse at my leisure. The result? Almost twenty boxes of books, including two complete Time-Life Series. One is the Home Repair & Improvement series of 35 volumes; the other is the Encyclopedia of Gardening with 28 volumes. I picked up books on furniture building, alternative energy for home use, herbs, landscaping, labyrinths, sundials, homesteading and a dozen organic gardening primers. Also a ton of fiction, biography, memoir, sociology and political commentary, spirituality, women's studies, black history, mysteries, games and even a book on CD. It adds up to a winter's worth of reading and research, I'm very excited about it. The only problem (and book addicts can relate) is that there are SO MANY choices, I don't really know where to begin!
So how was your summer?
Sunday, August 2, 2009
I Lost Everything in the Crash of '09
Well, not everything, but a lot. You see, I was hijacked. It was an ordinary Saturday. I'm working on a sudoku puzzle, The Tall Guy is playing on the computer. Suddenly he sits straight up, a look of horror on his face, and says, "um.....uh-oh." I knew immediately it was bad.
So a few weeks, a few hundred dollars and a lot of gray hair later, I am the proud owner (and sole user) of a brand new Acer Aspire One D150 mini-laptop. It's adorable and tiny, I recommend it. It comes with a 6-hour battery and the keyboard is managable most of the time. The mouse tracker pad thingy is awful, so I hook up my cordless mouse when I'm home. Wishlist to complete the package:
1. External DVD/CD drive
2. Cordless mini mouse
3. Docking station
4. Wireless router
Onward and upward.
This is just a hit and run today, summer is so busy. What's in season this week:
Squash
Tomatoes
Bell peppers
Cukes
Blueberries
Melons
Peaches
Plums
Early apples
Pears
Onions
Late hardy greens
Baby pumpkins
Herbs of all kinds imaginable
Hope your days are full and happy.
So a few weeks, a few hundred dollars and a lot of gray hair later, I am the proud owner (and sole user) of a brand new Acer Aspire One D150 mini-laptop. It's adorable and tiny, I recommend it. It comes with a 6-hour battery and the keyboard is managable most of the time. The mouse tracker pad thingy is awful, so I hook up my cordless mouse when I'm home. Wishlist to complete the package:
1. External DVD/CD drive
2. Cordless mini mouse
3. Docking station
4. Wireless router
Onward and upward.
This is just a hit and run today, summer is so busy. What's in season this week:
Squash
Tomatoes
Bell peppers
Cukes
Blueberries
Melons
Peaches
Plums
Early apples
Pears
Onions
Late hardy greens
Baby pumpkins
Herbs of all kinds imaginable
Hope your days are full and happy.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
How old am I??
It's one month before my 41st birthday, and I've been feeling pretty good about it. Everyone tells me I don't look anything near my age, and could easily pass for 10 years younger. Which works out well since The Tall Guy is 10 years younger than I and looks his age. Apparently however, these are my friends and I should keep them close. To wit, the following:
Last night, The Tall Guy was feeling very ill and quite frightened about it. He asked to go the ER. As they were checking him out, the registration person stopped to chat with him for a minute before he directed her to me for information. So I'm sitting in the little "privacy booth" giving name, address, etc, when she drops the bomb. The Big One.
"So you're his mother?"
I think I need to lie down.
Last night, The Tall Guy was feeling very ill and quite frightened about it. He asked to go the ER. As they were checking him out, the registration person stopped to chat with him for a minute before he directed her to me for information. So I'm sitting in the little "privacy booth" giving name, address, etc, when she drops the bomb. The Big One.
"So you're his mother?"
I think I need to lie down.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Springtime meditations
The Tall Guy started some yardwork this past week, which is our benchmark for the return of spring. Woo. Hoo. We've been having a lot of conversation about what direction to head in when we're ready to buy a house - both ideologically and geographically. Do we want to stay in this area near family and keep my horrendous daily commute of over an hour each way? (Add in the mileage I rack up during the day and I'm putting over 800 miles on my new-ish car each week) OR do we want to say goodbye to the people that we rarely see anyway, and who will NEVER come visit us and move closer to any of my four field offices? I'm leaning toward the latter.
Other than that, we're keeping our options wide open. As long as there are a few acres and a livable structure that we can afford, we'll turn it into what we want over time. I can't wait to NOT SHARE A WALL WITH ANOTHER FAMILY. It will be so nice. I still hold onto my dream of a yurt, or quonset or reclaimed home (renovated church or firehouse or warehouse space), but when the right thing comes along, we'll know it. Just like we did with each other.
My mother and I have talked about her moving down here after she sells her house. I don't know when/if that would be, or if she would possibly choose us over Florida, but I remain hopeful. I can picture her in the garden with The Tall Guy, planning and digging, bonding in the dirt. I miss my mom. We're planning a trip to NYC for Mother's Day/my birthday, so at least I'll get a few days with her. But how wonderful it would be to have her here every single day.
Not much else going on. Food, of course. Always food around here - as evidenced by the continually expanding width of my butt and The Tall Guy's Buddha belly. I spent six hours in the kitchen yesterday making cannelloni al forno for the first time. It came out perfectly, although I'll make some adjustments to the recipe next time around. It's massively time-intensive and worth every minute, even if my feet do hurt today :)
Till next time.
Other than that, we're keeping our options wide open. As long as there are a few acres and a livable structure that we can afford, we'll turn it into what we want over time. I can't wait to NOT SHARE A WALL WITH ANOTHER FAMILY. It will be so nice. I still hold onto my dream of a yurt, or quonset or reclaimed home (renovated church or firehouse or warehouse space), but when the right thing comes along, we'll know it. Just like we did with each other.
My mother and I have talked about her moving down here after she sells her house. I don't know when/if that would be, or if she would possibly choose us over Florida, but I remain hopeful. I can picture her in the garden with The Tall Guy, planning and digging, bonding in the dirt. I miss my mom. We're planning a trip to NYC for Mother's Day/my birthday, so at least I'll get a few days with her. But how wonderful it would be to have her here every single day.
Not much else going on. Food, of course. Always food around here - as evidenced by the continually expanding width of my butt and The Tall Guy's Buddha belly. I spent six hours in the kitchen yesterday making cannelloni al forno for the first time. It came out perfectly, although I'll make some adjustments to the recipe next time around. It's massively time-intensive and worth every minute, even if my feet do hurt today :)
Till next time.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Update
Wow, where the heck I have been? It's been months since I’ve posted regularly, and I honestly can't give even a halfway reasonable excuse. As I get older (and don't we all? It's a shame...) time seems more plastic and subjective. One day it's Tuesday and I'm looking at the loooong stretch of work week ahead; then I turn around and it's Saturday morning. I go to bed in the autumn, and wake up in winter. Even at our deliberately slow and plodding pace through life, The Tall Guy and I are often caught unawares by the need to flip the calendar - "next month" is actually "this month" and where did it go?
Updates on the home front: The new apartment is wonderful! The Tall Guy's outside work is slowing down, landscaping has a tendency to do that in November. He's been directing all his energy (which is considerable) into the house, and the results knock me off my feet. When we looked at the place, we were thrilled by how clean it was. Well, we were wrong. Turns out the apartment just hides the dirt really well. It was filthy. I mean really, really gross. It took him over a month to put things right, the previous tenants were that nasty. We purchased a small carpet cleaner which he loves. It's a Bissell Quicksteamer PowerBrush Upright Deep Cleaner (whew - what a mouthful!), much smaller than your average steam cleaner and it does a wonderful job. He does all the carpets in the house about once a week. We can really see the difference after a few shampoos. So we now live in a clean house that's all our own, I'm a cooking fool (more on that next time?) and life is great!
Work is going very well. Budget cuts are hanging over us all, there are rumblings of "reorganization" - and we all know what that word really means. But my supervisor told me he would let me know if it was time to worry. So until then, I carry on as usual. I love my new position! Of course, the increased income is terrific. But I love the actual work I do. I love traveling to different offices, working on my own schedule, and NOT having anyone looking over my shoulder. The change in supervisors has made a world of difference in my professional life. From a misogynistic micromanager (say that three time fast) to a laid-back, trusting old soul. I do the work he trusts me to do, he corrects me when I make a mistake, and is always available for support or advice. I am blessed, and appropriately grateful to the universe.
Family: The Girl Child turned 20 last week. WTF? Seriously, 20?? Remember a few paragraphs back when I mentioned time passing at an unreasonable pace? Apply that here in big, bold, italic capitals. The Boychik is finding his way. He’s 18 and has been doing this wandering hippie thing for about two years. It’s making us nuts, but that’s what he wants. After we got tired of banging our heads against the wall trying to “help” him, we all realized he doesn’t want our brand of help. But he’s got a job and place to stay right now, so I pray for him in my own way, and trust that his good heart will work along with the things I taught him to keep him safe. Maybe even happy, who knows? By the way, a common internet source lists the definition of “boychik” as “Yiddish word for a young man with more chutzpah than brains.” Fitting, no?
Updates on the home front: The new apartment is wonderful! The Tall Guy's outside work is slowing down, landscaping has a tendency to do that in November. He's been directing all his energy (which is considerable) into the house, and the results knock me off my feet. When we looked at the place, we were thrilled by how clean it was. Well, we were wrong. Turns out the apartment just hides the dirt really well. It was filthy. I mean really, really gross. It took him over a month to put things right, the previous tenants were that nasty. We purchased a small carpet cleaner which he loves. It's a Bissell Quicksteamer PowerBrush Upright Deep Cleaner (whew - what a mouthful!), much smaller than your average steam cleaner and it does a wonderful job. He does all the carpets in the house about once a week. We can really see the difference after a few shampoos. So we now live in a clean house that's all our own, I'm a cooking fool (more on that next time?) and life is great!
Work is going very well. Budget cuts are hanging over us all, there are rumblings of "reorganization" - and we all know what that word really means. But my supervisor told me he would let me know if it was time to worry. So until then, I carry on as usual. I love my new position! Of course, the increased income is terrific. But I love the actual work I do. I love traveling to different offices, working on my own schedule, and NOT having anyone looking over my shoulder. The change in supervisors has made a world of difference in my professional life. From a misogynistic micromanager (say that three time fast) to a laid-back, trusting old soul. I do the work he trusts me to do, he corrects me when I make a mistake, and is always available for support or advice. I am blessed, and appropriately grateful to the universe.
Family: The Girl Child turned 20 last week. WTF? Seriously, 20?? Remember a few paragraphs back when I mentioned time passing at an unreasonable pace? Apply that here in big, bold, italic capitals. The Boychik is finding his way. He’s 18 and has been doing this wandering hippie thing for about two years. It’s making us nuts, but that’s what he wants. After we got tired of banging our heads against the wall trying to “help” him, we all realized he doesn’t want our brand of help. But he’s got a job and place to stay right now, so I pray for him in my own way, and trust that his good heart will work along with the things I taught him to keep him safe. Maybe even happy, who knows? By the way, a common internet source lists the definition of “boychik” as “Yiddish word for a young man with more chutzpah than brains.” Fitting, no?
Friday, August 29, 2008
...and a blessed morning to you, too!
My drive to work this morning included this:
and this:
That's a rainbow in the second pic. It wasn't really that dark, but all that riot of sunrise was behind me, too much for my little point-and-click to handle. It was a glorious morning, indeed.
We found our new home last night!! It's big and beautiful and CLEAN and QUIET!! We move next weekend. I'll try to get some pics up before everything becomes chaotic.
Have a great weekend!!!
and this:
That's a rainbow in the second pic. It wasn't really that dark, but all that riot of sunrise was behind me, too much for my little point-and-click to handle. It was a glorious morning, indeed.
We found our new home last night!! It's big and beautiful and CLEAN and QUIET!! We move next weekend. I'll try to get some pics up before everything becomes chaotic.
Have a great weekend!!!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
Happy 4th to my sick hubby
It's official - The Tall Guy is one sick puppy. For those of you that know him, this is not a surprise. However, he has now been diagnosed with an actual physical illness, in addition to his sick sense of humor. He'll be okay, but I do need to take a little time from my other pursuits to support him as he convalesces. I will update as I have time (and hopefully have something interesting to say). Expect me to return regularly in a few weeks. We'll have garden pictures, tips for sun-drying fresh vegetables and recipes for various pickles - zucchini, beet and dilly beans. There isn't a lot of fiber work happening because it's HOT in the Catskills.
Happy 4th of July weekend, and please stay safe out there.
Happy 4th of July weekend, and please stay safe out there.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Fun with Fllickr
Came across this photo meme at Skrilla Knits (who has an awesome tribute to her father on her blog, by the way) and shamelessly ripped it off to use on my own page. But since she borrowed it from Katywhumpus, maybe neither of them will mind.
Here's my collage (click on it to see it larger):
And here are the rules:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.
The questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.
It's how I spent a rainy evening.
Here's my collage (click on it to see it larger):
And here are the rules:a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.
The questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.
It's how I spent a rainy evening.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Recognition
Good news - I'm being promoted! After a number of years trying to prove myself, somebody has finally noticed. More importantly, they're willing to PAY me for the work I've been doing all along. It's a nice feeling. Busy and crazy right now, tending to my old position and transitioning to the new one. I've got lots of irons in the fire, with business changes, home changes and trying to get everything into the garden before the summer passes us by.
Drop a line, let us know how you're doing!
Drop a line, let us know how you're doing!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Ready for the move
Holy ravioli, it's been days since I last wrote. We've been renovating and packing and painting and packing and giving away furniture and packing and packing AND PACKING! What on earth were we thinking when we moved in here? The Tall Guy had his home, The Boychik and I had ours, and we all moved into an apartment large enough to hold everything. Now that we're squeezing into 1/4 of the space, we are able to truly see what clutter-hogs we've become. No more. Everything must go! And most of it has - to neighbors, relatives, friends and strangers.
What's left (which is still considerable, including our king-size bed) is to be moved over the next two days. The weather is in the mid-60s and relatively clear. The Tall Guy is snotty (in a sick way, not in attitude) as is the Mother-in-law. The Father-in-law is stressed, and I'm just plain pooped. Buck up, everyone, the final push is on and I can see the end of the road!
Pics and more postings after a period of recovery. Oh - the best news of the last few weeks: I found some Kool-Aid and completed my dye project, and the baby blanket is finished! This blog has served at least one purpose, it provides me with motivation to get stuff done! TTYL :)
What's left (which is still considerable, including our king-size bed) is to be moved over the next two days. The weather is in the mid-60s and relatively clear. The Tall Guy is snotty (in a sick way, not in attitude) as is the Mother-in-law. The Father-in-law is stressed, and I'm just plain pooped. Buck up, everyone, the final push is on and I can see the end of the road!
Pics and more postings after a period of recovery. Oh - the best news of the last few weeks: I found some Kool-Aid and completed my dye project, and the baby blanket is finished! This blog has served at least one purpose, it provides me with motivation to get stuff done! TTYL :)
Friday, April 4, 2008
Quitting smoking, take three
The Tall Guy is currently smoke-free for 17 hours and 38 minutes. I'm so proud of him! He's a flipping maniac, totally stressed and pacing and on the verge of throwing something; but he's not smoking, so anything else he does is just fine with me. I'm almost at my five-month-iversary without a cigarette, and I totally get where he's coming from. Cross your fingers and send a good vibe or two his way if you think of it. I'll be hiding under the bed until it passes!
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