Gotta love the French....:(

Ted Nugent, rock star and avid bow hunter from Michigan, was being interviewed by a French journalist, an animal rights activist.

The discussion came around to deer hunting. The journalist asked, 'What do you think is the last thought in the head of a deer before you shoot him?

Is it, 'Are you my friend?' or is it 'Are you the one who killed my brother?'

Nugent replied, 'Deer aren't capable of that kind of thinking. All they care about is, what am I going to eat next, who am I going to screw next, and can I run fast enough to get away.

They are very much like the French.'

The interview ended.

Thanks again to my lil bro...

Are you too young?

You have to be old enough to appreciate this.
If you don't understand, it is because you are too young.

Mary had a little pig,
She kept it fat and plastered;
And when the price of pork went up,
She shot the little bastard.

Mary had a little lamb.
Her father shot it dead.
Now it goes to school with her,
Between two hunks of bread.

Jack and Jill went up the hill
To have a little fun.
Stupid Jill forgot the pill
And now they have a son.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the kings' horses, And all the kings' men.
Had scrambled eggs, For breakfast again.

Hey diddle, diddle, the cat took a piddle,
All over the bedside clock.
The little dog laughed to see such fun.
Then died of electric shock.

Georgie Porgy pudding and pie,
Kissed the girls and made them cry.
And when the boys came out to play,
He kissed them too 'cause he was gay.

There was a little girl who had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good, she was very, very good.
But when she was bad.....
... She got a fur coat, jewels, a waterfront condo, and a sports car.

Thanks to my little (best looking younger) brother...

Are you ready for some football?

I enjoy watching football....

Mostly high sch0ol football when it is the local school or one of my sons is in the game...

Or NCAA action if it is KSU or OSU or a bowl game...

Or the Browns (yeah - I am a hometown fan no matter how bad a season they have)...

Or the Superbowl....

for the commercials...
for the halftime show...
for the fun of gathering with family & friends...
for all the great snacky foods...
for the possibility of a wardrobe malfunction....(please, Boss)
for the friendly competition of "squares"

I always try to watch the Superbowl...even if the Shittsburg Peelers are playing. Yeah, shame on me, a co-worker almost had me convinced to cheer for them, but thank you CareBear for setting me straight reminding me of my roots....

So this year I decided to have a party if I got at least one firm positive RSVP from someone I really wanted to spend the evening with (thank you, RichyB). Of course, the kids were on that invite list, too, but I understand that Mom's is not the most happening place on Superbowl Sunday.

Even tho I try to shamelessly bribe them with all of their favorite snacky foods and a squares game with prizes they might actually want (possibly including, but not limited to Speedway, Chipotle, Target, BK, Starbucks Cards, misc geek gadgets, alcohol, etc).

At this point I am not sure who will actually be here besides myself and RichyB, good enough for me:) , but the more the merrier. I do invite friends as I see or talk to them, but I do not send out formal invites...so if you are reading this (and I know you - sorry, I do not let strangers in unless they are with someone I know) come and join the fun...

But right now, I need to try to get a couple of hours of sleep before the weekend...cuz my to do list is growing....

Making up for lost time...

I know I have been lax in posting blogs lately, so today, I decided to make up for it... when I get on a roll, look out...
Anyway, I was thinking about how much time I waste each week...
And that led to the further thought of filling out a timesheet each Friday...
I dread that task...there are never enough codes...
So I have taken the liberty of sending the following list to finance for approval...

5316 Useless Meeting
5317 Obstructing Communications at Meeting
5318 Trying to Sound Knowledgeable in Meeting
5319 Waiting for Break
5320 Waiting for Lunch
5321 Waiting for End of Day
5322 Vicious Verbal Attacks at Coworker
5323 Vicious Verbal Attacks at Absent Coworker
5393 Covering for Incompetence of Coworker Friend
5400 Trying to Explain Concept to Coworker Who is Not Interested
5401 Trying to Explain Concept to Coworker Who is Stupid
5402 Trying to Explain Concept to Coworker Who Hates You
5481 Buying Snack
5482 Eating Snack
5500 Filling Out Timesheet
5501 Inventing Timesheet Entries
5502 Waiting for Something to Happen
5503 Scratching Yourself
5504 Sleeping
5510 Feeling Bored
5511 Feeling Horny
5600 Complaining About Lousy Job
5601 Complaining About Low Pay
5602 Complaining About Long Hours
5603 Complaining About Coworker
5604 Complaining About Boss
5605 Complaining About Personal Problems
5640 Unproductive Complaining
5701 Not Actually Present At Job
5702 Suffering from Eight-Hour Flu
6102 Ordering Out
6103 Waiting for Food Delivery to Arrive
6104 Taking It Easy While Digesting Food
6201 Stealing Company Goods
6202 Destroying Company Goods
6203 Selling Stolen Company Goods
6204 Long-Distance Personal Calls
6205 Hiding from Boss
6206 Gossip
6207 Planning a Social Event
6210 Feeling Sorry For Yourself
6211 Updating Resume
6212 Faxing Resume to Headhunter
6213 Out of Office on Interview
6221 Pretending to Work While Boss Is Watching
6222 Pretending to Enjoy Your Job
6223 Pretending You Like Coworker
6238 Miscellaneous Unproductive Fantasizing
6601 Running your own Business
6602 Complaining
6603 Writing a Book on Company Time
6611 Staring Into Space
6612 Staring At Computer Screen
6615 Transcendental Meditation
6969 Self-gratification in Broom Closet
7281 Extended Bathroom break
7402 On Phone with Dentist
7403 On Phone with Doctor
7404 On Phone with Masseuse
7405 On Phone with Cable Guy
7406 On Phone with Personal Therapist
7425 On Phone with Mistress/Boy-Toy
7931 Asking Coworker to Aid You in Illicit Activity
8000 Recreational Drug Use
8001 Non-recreational Drug Use
8002 Liquid Lunch
8100 Reading e-mail
8102 Laughing while reading e-mail

What I have learned about myself this week...

With every guy I meet...
whether we develop a friendship that lasts years...
a more intimate relationship that lasts from one night to several years...

I learn something about me...
about what I want...
and what I do not want...

I want to be with a guy who feels comfortable with me the way I am yet encourages me to grow (not physically, of course)...
Yet, I do not like it when he tries to fix a problem I do not remember asking him to fix and then gets upset because it is not fixed the way he thinks it should be...I have survived to this point on my own...ok, maybe not very well, but still...

I want to be with a guy who likes my kids enough to want to spend time with them and that I can talk over day-to-day issues with...
Yet, I do not like it when he tells me what I am doing wrong with my teen in front of my teen giving said teen the opening for "why can't you be more like him?" when we have our next argument...I think I have done ok so far as a parent...the kid is still alive ...

I used to think that I did not want to date because of the kids, but maybe it is me...I have been spoiled being single and maybe I like it like that...maybe I am just not ready to change my ways to make someone else ok with me...

And I know I get attached too easily and I know I do not want to be alone forever...

But I also know I tend to back off or screw things up (maybe subconsciously on purpose) if things start going too smoothly...

So maybe I have not learned anything except that I do not know what the hell I want....

And that blogging is a good way to talk things over with myself instead of fighting with someone else...

Breathe...

Why do I need a landline anyway?

I have been asking myslef this question for the past several months and have seriously considered disconnecting the landline.

But I always have excuses...

...it is the number the schools have...
...I have had that number forever...
...what if the power goes out and I cannot charge my cell?
...and on and on...

Well, the digital land line was not working for a few days (prolly because of something I did or did not do - but that is another issue). What a perfect opportunity to see if we could do without it...

But first...by trying to figure out what was wrong, I found out about a lot of things I can do with my Digital Voice Service from my computer. I can see who called, if the call was answered or missed, and listen to my voice mail, delete or save messages... I believe I can even make calls from my computer using my home number if I am not there - not quite sure about that yet - I may be confused....But bottom line is - who needs a working phone as long as you have Digital Voice Service? Awesome....

Ok, after all that, and after some friends tried to troubleshoot the problem for me, I called AT&T and asked for help. That got me a dial tone at the modem but not at the wall jacks...which told them that I probably had something wrong with the inside lines (or a phone off the hook somewhere). Since I believe I unplugged every phone in the house last night so none of them would be off the hook...I may have a problem in the line...or I may have missed a phone somewhere (more likely, knowing me). So I have until 2:00 PM Sunday to find the culprit phone and cancel the AT&T service call...

Another perfect opportunity for some housecleaning...because if I missed a phone it is probably because the jack (and phone) are hiding behind or beneath some mess...

Oh yeah...back to the question at hand...do we need landline? Probably not since G-Man found a way to communicate (message) using his phone with any wireless connection (even if his cell phone service is off) ....

Now I just need the guts to make the final step and get rid of the landline once and for all...

Maybe in a year or so...when I am sure I will not need it...

I should know better...

...than to get up in the middle of the night...
...and try to go down the stairs...for anything...
...cuz when I am half asleep I stand a better chance of not standing at all ...
...but of falling on my cushioned butt...

Then trying to catch myself...yes, with my already hurting right arm...
...then losing hold and .......thump...thump...thump...

My right arm feels a lil better...really...
My left elbow is purple...
My butt hurts big time...
Both legs are bruised in several places...
Getting older is not all it is cracked up to be...
But at least this time I rememeber when I got the bruises...

Keeping busy....

I had a very long task list today - and I actually got some of it accomplished:

I just threw the last load of laundry in the dryer...
I register G-Man for the NUC combine...
I made breakfast - scrambled eggs a la Phillipia...
I made dinner - lemon chicken and parmesan noodles and biscuits...
I ran and then emptied the dishwasher and refilled...
I washed all the dirty pots and pans...
I paid some bills and rebudgeted...
I read and answered work and personal emails from the last few days...

OK some of those things were not on my list, but they gave me an excuse not to work on the things I really need to be working on...

ECO to release new project manuals for Peyton PHlaCe...
BOMs for country kits for new project for Peyton PHlaCe...
Visit H & R Block Online tofile 2008 Returns for myself & CareBear...
Fill out FAFSA renewal for CareBear...

I'm still working on them, really...

Trying to keep my NY resolutions...

From the mouths of pups...

Dear God:

Is it on purpose our names are the same, only reversed?

Why do humans smell the flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another?

When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it still the same old story?

If a Dog barks his head off in the forest and no human hears him, is he still a bad Dog?

Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to apologize?

I am trying to be a good dog, but there is so much to remember....

The litter box is not a cookie jar.
The sofa is not a 'face towel'.
The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.
Dad does not like when I play tug-of-war with his underwear when he's on the toilet.
Sticking my nose into someone's crotch is an unacceptable way of
saying 'hello'.
I don't need to suddenly stand straight up when I'm under the coffee table.
I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house - not after.
I should not come in from outside and immediately drag my butt.
I shoiuld not sit in the middle of the living room and lick my
crotch.
The cat is not a 'squeaky toy' so when I play with him and he makes that noise, it's usually not a good thing.

And one more thing, if I am good enough to get to doggie heaven, may I have my testicles back?

Press 1 for English....

After an exhaustive review of research literature, here's the final word on nutrition and health:

Japanese eat very little fat and suffer
fewer heart attacks than us...

Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer
fewer heart attacks than us...

Chinese drink very little red wine and
suffer fewer heart attacks than us...

Italians drink excessive amounts of red
wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than us...

Germans drink beer and eat lots of
sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.

Conclusion:

Eat and drink what you like.

Speaking English is apparently what
kills you.

But not to worry....
our government is trying to correct the problem...

I've had enough...

...of this stuff called snow...
...time to say goodbye...

I only want to live to 90 if I am a success....

Life is graded on a curve...

At age 4, success is...not peeing in your pants.
   At age 12, success is...having friends.
     At age 16, success is...having a driver's license.
       At age 20, success is...having sex.
        At age 35, success is...having money.
        At age 50, success is...having money.
       At age 60, success is...having sex.
     At age 70, success is...having a driver's license.
   At age 75, success is...having friends.
At age 90, success is...not peeing in your pants.

Superheroes wear PJ's too...

G-Man has been on a rather annoying Chuck Norris kick lately.

Out of the blue he will ask whoever is around if they knew some random fact about Chuck norris.

Now I like looking at Chuck as much as any woman who can still breathe, but randomly hearing quips about his supposed superhero powers is enough to turn anyone off after awhile...

Hmmm, maybe that's G-Man's plan...if we get sick of hearing about Chuck, we will want to hear more about him...it is not working...

But there was one random fact I actually laughed at, probably because it brought back memories of my kids running around in their Superman PJs.

Did you know that Superman wears Chuck Norris PJ's to bed?

Brad Pitt is the hottest...

Shrek, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Lopez were all having lunch together.

Shrek said, 'I have always thought that I'm the strongest man in the World, but how can I be sure?

Brad Pitt said, 'I'm pretty sure I'm the hottest man alive but I've Never had it confirmed.'

Jennifer Lopez agreed. 'I'm told I'm the sexiest of them all, but Sometimes I wonder.'

They all decided that the best way to find out if their beliefs were true was to approach the wicked Queen's mirror to confirm for them whether Shrek was the strongest, Brad Pitt was the hottest and Jennifer Lopez was the sexiest.

They agreed to meet again the next day for lunch to discuss their findings.

The next day Shrek walked up with a smile. 'Well, it 's true. The mirror told me that I am the strongest man in the world.'

Brad Pitt walked in and boasted, 'It is true, it has been confirmed that I am the hottest man on the planet!"

Jennifer Lopez walked in, head bent down with a scowl on her face and said "Who in the hell is Phillipia?"

Nada...

Happy Do Nothing Day!!!

G-man and friends has been waiting for a snow day and cursing the school superintendent every cold day there is not one....

So today, finally, their curses were heard and answered...

And what did they do all day? Nada...nothing....celebrated the day as it was meant to be celebrated....

But, wonder of wonders, by noon they were complaining that there was nothing to do - they were bored...

Having played several hours of halo through the night and morning to reach level 16 or 17 or whatever, they were bored....

Friday afternoon and nothing to do...

And then I got on facebook and noticed that a few other kids I know (yes, AR) who were just the other day complaining about homework and not getting a snowday, were just as bored as G-man.

Sound like anyone we know? Kids never change...

Back in the day...when I was growing up, we did not get snow days....

And we walked to school...three miles one way...

Uphill both ways...

With no mittens...

and...well, you know...

More fun in the snow...

Peyton PHlaCe updates...

I decided to work from home today because I had to take care of some business that I could not take care of in the evening (yeah, bankers have the greatest hours - if you are a banker).

I could probably have taken care of things at lunch but I had a lunchtime meeting with my boss and coworkers who reside farther west (Wisconsin and California).

So, rather than have to leave the office a couple hours before lunchtime or after the normal lunch hour, I just did not go in....

While I was on the phone with my boss, I got an email from corporate informing all full time employees that, in addition to the recent cost-cutting measures recently put into place, Peyton PHlaCe will not be increasing salaries at all this year with the exception of promotions.

What recent cost-cutting measures?
In early November they laid off quite a few people, but opted to pay them their regular salary through the end of the year, provide benefit coverage through March, provide outplacement services immediately, offer severance packages to be paid in Jan, and pass their work along to those who were not laid off....
Then, just when the severence packages start to kick in (at the start of the new year), they rehire some of the previously laid off employees - through contracting agencies.
So now Peyton PHlaCe is paying severance, full benefits, and a much larger salary to a contracting agency for employees they could not afford to keep 6 weeks ago.

Since those cost cutting measures did not work out quite as well as they thought they would, they will try a different approach. No raises - unless they can find a way to promote you...of course, all this during a delayering reorganization still in process...so it may not be in anyone's best interest to seek a promotion...

What are the chances that that lotto ticket I bought is THE winner????

I am not a fan of winter...

...but when Mother Natures gives ya snow...

Mom's wisdom...

2-1/2 year old Suzie has just been given a little 'tea set' as a gift. It was one of her favorite toys.

Suzie's Mom was out grocery shopping, and she was left home alone with Dad. Daddy was in the living room engrossed in the evening news when the Suzie brought him a little cup of 'tea', which was just water.

After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, Mom came home. Dad made her wait in the living room to watch Suzie bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!'

Mom waited,and sure enough, Suzie comes down the hall with a cup of tea for Daddy and she watches him drink it up.

Then Mom, in her infinite wisdom, asks Dad, "Did it ever occur to you that the only place she can reach to get water is the toilet?"

When the pets bring friends to dinner...

I enjoy when the kids invite their friends to dinner. It is nice to have a crowd around the dining room table; it gives me motivation to cook....

But when the pets start bringing home friends...

Sorry, Spot, we cannot keep her...

IMPORTANT Public Service Announcement!!!

In a number of carefully controlled studies, scientists have shown that if we drink 1 litre of water (H2O) each day, at the end of a year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli (aka, E. coli ). Yeah, you heard it right - E. coli - the same bacteria found in feces, aka, poop.

So what should we do? Here is my advice. Replace your water intake with wine or beer (or tequila, rum, whiskey...). Alcohol has to go through a purification process that includes boiling, filtering and/or fermenting which naturally kills E. coli (and other bacteria).

So remember:
Drinking water is equivalent to drinking liquid poop (aka, well, you know).
But alcohol is Poopless..

So now the choice is yours....

Drink alcohol and take the chance of acting stupid ...
or
Drink water and know that you are full of shit....

Remember the word of Ben Franklin:
In wine there is wisdom...
in beer freedom...
in water bacteria.

This has been a public service announcement from
Americans Against the Verbal Abuse of Alcohol (AAVAA).
Thank us by preserving your health and our earning potential.

Good cheer...

On New Year's day I visited some long-time family friends; friends I have known since about the time I first met my ex; friends that keep me in line when I start ranting...

We are such good friends that we give each other re-gifts regularly. When I opend my gift and R says "I hope you did not give me that" I knew it would be something good. And it was...I liked it so much I will regift it...soon actually, because another friend of mine just had a birthday...and she is a little more over the hill than I am...

More often than we re-gift, we re-card. We give each other cards that we do not sign, because they are just too good to not be able to share with others...OK, sometimes we just forget to sign the card and decide why bother as we are handing it to each other, but hey...it's all good...

My favorite gift that I will keep, after I figure out how it works, is the supersize tv remote. I was pointing it at the tv for quite a few minutes and absolutely nothing was happening. Then G-man walked by asked me where I found batteries for it because he looked and we were completely out...yeah, batteries might make it work better...I was just getting a feel for it, really...

What I like about you....

I started the new year celebrating with a new friend - a friend I hope I can keep and grow with for a long, long time.

I have been wanting to blog about this new friendship since it began but do not want to jinx it....

So let's just start slow...

One thing I like about you ...
...your smile, because it shows in your eyes...

But there is more, lots more...

Happy Belated New Year!!!

At my age...

I should not pull all nighters...
I do that once in a while, forgetting that I am not as young as I once was.
Last night I stayed awake most of the night reading - just could not put that book down. So this evening about 7:00 I was chatting with a friend online and fell asleep...sound asleep...the phone woke me at about 8:45...

Hey, Mar, its Kathy...
Hi (in the perkiest half-asleep voice I can muster)
How are ya?
Good..how are you? (Kathy who?)
What are you up to?
uh...not much (who the hell is this?)
I reserved a table at the reverse raffle...
Ohhh, Kathy, how are ya?
Were you sleeping?
Well....
It's 8:45...
No, its not it's still dark out...
At night, Mar...
oh, wow...I fell asleep...
No kidding...

Boy, was I sleeping good...but now I am awake...should I go back to bed (cuz a 90 minute cat nap just does not cut it at my age) or try to get some stuff done I should have been doing all day? Life is full of tough decisions...

Ya can't forget what ya don't know...

Pfizer Corp. announced recently that Viagra will soon be available in liquid form, and will be marketed by Pepsi Cola as a power beverage suitable for use as a mixer.
It will now be possible for a man to literally pour himself a stiff one.

Obviously we can no longer call this a soft drink...
And it gives new meaning to the names of 'cocktails', 'highballs' and just a good old-fashioned 'stiff drink'
And how will Pepsi market the new concoction you ask?
MOUNT & DO (gotta luv it)

As more and more money is spent on breast implants and Viagra today there is less money to spend on Alzheimer's research. So, by 2040, there could be a
large elderly population with perky boobs and huge erections and
absolutely no recollection of what to do with them...

Thanks RichyB...

Tis the season...

More Christmas stories...cuz it is my favorite time of year...have I told you that?
So I invited a few of my closest friends over for drinks and snacks the other night...
And they had a Christmas present for me...
Before I let you in on what they gave me, let me give you a little background....
These friends are all neighborhood Moms. We have watched each other's kids grow up since my youngest was still in training pants. We have been each other's support for whatever goes on...
There is one big difference between them and me, tho...I am a single Mom and they are each happily married to the father of their children...

They are all aware that I am tyring the online dating thing...and they are all supportive...like friends and Moms...(on a side note, I think they may be a lil jealous and are trying to live vicariously through me, but I could be wrong...)

So what to my wondering eyes did they they hand me on the day after Christmas...
A little bag with a big present...from Victoria Secret no less...
And by big, yes, I mean in size. There is just no way that anyone who fits into that thing should be allowed to wear it (including me) because there is just no way anyone can fit into it, if you get my drift....it should be outlawed...someone could die laughing ...

And thank you ladies for making sure my daughter was there to see the gift exchange...

Remember, sweet revenge is mine, and when you least expect it...

Christmas Eve Reflections...

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I love Christmastime...and all that comes with it...even when I stress myself way past the point that I am fun to be around. (I am working on that, really...)
This year I was given a sharp reminder that maybe I was trying to do too much....

It was Christmas Eve day and all through the house...
It was Just Me, myself, no mouse.
The candles by the palm tree were lit
As snowflakes from each frond glistened.
Flour was everywhere...dishes were in the sink...
Apple crisp was in the oven...Time to make the soup...
(I never said this was going to rhyme...)
Now to peel onions without crying...
Rinse them in cold water and sharpen the knife...

Then came the reminder...the knife did not stop at the onion but kept right on going until blood was pouring out my thumb and tears out my eyes...
You'd think I chopped my hand off for all the red there was...
Well that put a damper on how much I got done before the kids arrived...

(By the way, those really are red sprinkles on the brownies.)

And what did I learn from all this?
If you are going to slice your finger, slice one you do not need so much.
Ya need your thumb...for everything - except blogging:)
I cannot keep any size bandaid or gauze on it and I keep bumping it and snagging it on everything. Triple antiobiotic has yet to heal this cut but seems to work wonders
when it shouldn't (like on pierced ears, but that is another story).

Yeah a few stitches might have helped, but it was Christmas eve, for cying out loud...and I did:)

Time to slow down...

Ah, I love the Christmas season...

But I have a tendency to overextend myself, not just during the holidays, but more so during the holidays...

I have been thinkling about New Year's resolutions - here is my preliminary list..

Watch my health closer by:
Visiting Bally's at least 3 x per week
Riding my bike at least 3 times per week
Putting a plan in place for healthier eating habits...
Making a good effort to follow the healthier eating plan.

Continue fishing for that ltr by...
Rewriting my online profile with more info about me and what I want (after I figure out what it is I want)...
Making an honest effort to meet new people and enjoy the friendships...
Learning to realize who the scammers and players are earlier in the friendship and adjust accordingly...

Renew and maintain friendships by...
In January, make contact and catch up with friends I have gotten out of touch with over the last few months (especially the fun ones)...
Making an honest effort to visit with good friends at least 3 x per year...
Keeping in touch with good friends via phone or email at least once every two months.

Quit overextending myself by...
Learning to say "No" when I really do not want to do something....
Learning to say "No" when I know I would have to lose sleep in order to get it done...
Not committing to do things within an unreasonable time frame...

Well that last one pretty much wipes out half of the others:)

Merry Days After Christmas!!!

Santa was soooo good to me...

Although I have been assured that it is ok to be naughty (because coal turns into diamonds eventually), I must have been reasonably good over the past year, because Santa was sooo good to me.

The best part of Christmas was spending the day with my kids all together. I love family time and I know I am so lucky to have three children who are so good to me and who still visit.

We had agreed to only do stockings for Christmas. I tried my best to keep to that agreement, but some stuff just will not fit into stockings. So there was a little overflow.

The kids seemed to enjoy their presents, though. Ldboy got shirts and ties he loves for business meetings and night life; G-Man got the cross and chain he wanted; Carebear got some jewelery and accessories because she is all girl.

I think I made out best, though. Santa brought me a digital camera that I have been wanting since I broke my last one (which was a big clunker anyway). I am so excited to have a camera again. Not that I am photogenic or a photographer of any sort - it is just nice to have a camera to capture everyday life. Thank you Santa:)

Thanks to ldboy, we followed through on our annual Christmas movie event. We saw the new Jim Carey movie "Yes Man." It was pretty good - one of the better of his movies I have seen lately. Kinda of made me realize that maybe I should slow down a bit:)

Santa's goodness did not last all day...there were a couple of incidents that hampered our fun, but we will not go into those too much. Let's just suffice it to say that the canine of the family had better watch his back around ldboy for awhile if he likes his tail the way it is:)...

Accidents happen and hopefully we all learn from them...

• Let a sleeping dog lie...
• Keep drinks and other objects away from computers...2 computers down in one month in this family...that's gotta be a sad record...
• Excited dogs have no control over their tails...

Merry Christmas 2008!!!

I heard it from a friend...

It is ok to be naughty enough for coal...

...in fact, the naughtier the better....

...because coal turns into diamonds...

...eventually...

...ok, so maybe not in this lifetime, but still....


Thanks, Cedric, for the incentive:)

Once upon a midnight clear...

Click on graphic to see full size...

Thanks J for sharing:)

Where has the day gone...

Oh yeah - I've been baking...

I love Christmastime...have I mentioned that before?

Yesterday and today, I did bake. Mint brownies, brownies, 7-layer cookies, rumballs, peanut butter fudge cookies...I also made some chocolate covered pretzels, peanut clusters, and coconut haystacks.

Tomorrow I will make apple crisp, onion soup (will become French on Thursday), hanky panky and turkey stuffing...

And I will shop for Christmas breakfast food because Micky D's and BK are not open on Christmas (I seem to forget that every year)...which is not a problem for me because I like brownies for breakfast, but my kids, God love 'em, like to eat healthy.

Christmas Day Menu will be French Onion Soup, salad, turkey and stuffing, cranbnerry sauce (if I remember to get it tomorrow), Honey Baked ham slices, french bread with dipping oil, green bean casserole (we are in Ohio and I love it), candied yams, and garlic cheddar mashed potatos (yes, Betty Crocker recipe). Did I forget anything?

I hope to have most of my cooking done by noon so I can hit up Bally's hot tub - cuz I have a feeling I am going to need it. Then I will hit the grocery store for breakfast food and cranberries. Then I will tidy the house a little, and if I am all done by 6:00 pm get ready to go to Church with a neighbor family. Not a Catholic Church this year; I have been invited to Christmas services at a Lutheran Church downtown. I am not into organized religion, but I do like to go to Church at times, especially holiday services and if I am attending with friends. For a few years I attended my home parish with a neighbor family, but the past few Christmas Eve's I have not been done with my chores in time for the 5:30 Mass. Let's see if 7:00 is a better time....

Yeah...I know, I am a C and E churchgoer, if that, but I am who I am...

Ok, the lights are flashing, it is windy out, and G-man is on his way to his dad's...I am waiting for the call that he got there ok...

And since tomorrow may be busier than today, I want to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or Happy Whatever Holiday (HWH) you are celibrating this joyous season!

Be safe, be happy, be merry (or mary)!!!

Best laid plans...

So I started out the weekend with a plan...
Friday I left work a little early and stopped off at the library to browse for some holiday reading material...Then I ran a few errands before going home and after that, the night is a blur of the James Patterson latest release I picked up....

Maybe I should not have stopped at the library...

I had every intention of getting up early Saturday (that was yesterday) morning and heading out to Chardon Walmart to get groceries for baking and Christmas dinner...

And I did, if you consider 11:00 AM early...it was James Patterson's fault - The Appeal kept me awake longer than it should have...

I did make it to Walmart, after I ran to the mall to get G-man a certificate for his work party - cuz he is just too busy to do his own shopping...I hope he finds a good wife, because she will need to be a saint...

"Honey, while I am at the gym, showing off my 6-pack and then going out with all my friends, can you do my laundry and clean the house and have dinner ready when I get back, so then we can spend some quality time together..."

After Walmart, I stopped at the beverage store to get rum for the rumballs...now I have everything I need to bake with, assuming I do not drink too much tea or coke before I get to the rumballs:)

Sunday, today, I had every intention of getting up early and starting the baking/candymaking. And I did - get up early that is...but instead of baking, I started going through some paperwork and cleaning the living room and kitchen area...and doing some laundry...because it all needed done...

And now I am ready to start baking...but I am feeling kind of tired. And I need to do some stuff for work that I promised a co-worker I would have to her by Monday morning.

So here are the new plans...color my hair (I know - that was not even on the list, but it needs done, too), take a nice bubble bath, have some dinner (not make, just have - hmmm, order in sounds like it could work), do what I need to do for work, and get to bed reasonably early...not necessarily in that order, even tho it would probably be best...

Tomorrow, I will start nice and early with rumballs and brownies (especially for me), mint brownies and chocolate covered pretzel clusters (especially for ldboy), 7-layer cookies and coconut haystacks(especially for CareBear), and peanut butter fudge bars and honey roasted peanut clusters (especially for G-man). Of course, I like it all:)

Ok, J. P., time for some quality time....

Paying Forward?

I must be living wrong...

There was a layoff at Peyton PHlaCe a few weeks ago. The company kept all laid off employees on the payroll until 12/31 (yeah they are still being paid to stay away from the office while we do their work). And their benefits are in place through March...

This week, one of my coworkers (a contractor) just gave her notice...

So, now they are bringing back the guy they let go last month, but as a contractor...

Which means while he is doing the work he was doing before he got laid off, he will be getting severance pay from Peyton PHlace and a salary from the contracting agency that Peyton PHlaCe is now paying to have him do the work he was doing before....

Meanwhile, on a different note, today I signed papers to refinance my house.

And I am thinking (yeah, I do that at times)...I am never going to own this house (or any house). I may as well be renting.

And meanwhile, my oldest is in town visiting and a friend asked me where he was staying. A night with his dad, a night or two with friends, a night or two with me...

And that got me to thinking even more (oh no, not that again)...

When G-man goes off to college, there is nothing keeping me here in this condo...I could sell it and go on the road...

Stay with me here...This could work...

See, I have given my kids a place to stay for the past 25 or so years, right?

I am sure they would not mind (in fact they may even love it) if I stayed with each of them for short durations at a time.

I would not get in their way...
I would not mind sleeping on their couch...
There would be no need to make any special arrangements for me...
They would not even know I am there...
No worries at all...
I would never expect them to keep it quiet just because I am there....
Hell, I may even cook dinner for them once in a while...
Maybe not a healthy dinner, but dinner none the less...
And I promise not to spoil the grandkids (if they ever give me any)...
And I promise to try not to explain to them the better way to do things...

Yeah, this just might work....
Think I can get G-man to take some extra classes and graduate early?
Retirement is looking better all the time...

Just kidding guys...please do not revoke my open invitation - I still do have one of those, right?

Role Model

No cheating now...

• Pick your favorite number between 1-9.
• Multiply by 3
• Add 3
• Multiply by 3. Hopefully you have a 2 or 3 digit #.
• Add the digits together.
• Now with that number, see who your ROLE MODEL is from the following list...

1. Einstein

2. Nelson Mandela

3. Jacob Zuma

4. Tom Cruise

5. Bill Gates

6. Gandhi

7. Brad Pitt

8. Hitler

9. Phillipia

10. Barack Obama

I know, I know ....
I just have that effect on people ....
One day you too can be like me.... :-)

Thanks Ameriquest...

Too funny not to share...

That's what I keep saying...
do not judge too quickly...
I am not a nun:)

Did the Browns win?

I try to watch the Browns every Sunday - yes, I am still a fan, they are the home team...

About 7:00 PM last night, I realized that I had not checked their schedule and most likely missed them....

But no...tonight against the Eagles no less...

Didn't they win their last Monday night game?

Go Browns...

Ya know what your problem is...

"No...what is my problem?"
"You are a Christmasaholic..."
"Yes I am....I love Christmas time..."

That was part of the conversation I had with CareBear this morning. And she is absolutely right - I am a Christmasaholic. I love to share at Christmas. It is just such a great time of year to tell everyone you love that you love them and are happy they are in your life.

This year I am so busy and financially hndicapped (aka, broke) that those I love will be lucky to get a box of homemade goodies from me...but there should be plenty of those to go around, because once I start, I cannot seem to quit.

As for cards...I am not snail mailing ... but I have every intention of emailing cards...of course I had that good intention last year...and as my friends and family know...there was no card from my email box...:(

And holiday parties...I miss being able to just invite anyone over whenever I wanted...because my budget cannot support the Italian in me that insists the hostess has food and drink for all:)

But we will keep our family tradition of a movie on Christmas night. Maybe we will add a walk in between dinner and the movie. I love walking on winter nights when it is not toooo cold, but the air is crisp and clean and the lights reflect off the snow....

Then hot tea (or cocoa or irish coffee) around a fireplace...okay, so we do not have a fireplace, but I can dream...that's what the season is about right?

Clean the house?

This morning, G-man asked if I was going to clean the house today...
To that I say (among other things, not so polite)...If you are looking for some of your stuff later, G-man,...well, I cleaned house...:)

Finally...

I got my outside holdiday lights up!

...and I did it all by myself.....

Thanks for sharing, D...

Say What?

Last night before I left work, I called G-Man to see what he was up to for the evening. I caught him in the middle of a nap, but he was able to wake up enough to let me know he was heading over to Ames in a bit...

Me: So, what about dinner?
G-man: What about it? I am going over Ames...
Me: For dinner?
G-man: uh-yeah...
Me: You are sure? You sound a little not sure.
G-man: I'm trying to sleep.
Me: Ok, sorry...I will not worry about dinner for you...
G-man: Why not?
Me: Cuz
you just said you are eating at Ames...
G-man: So...I will be hungry later..I am eating both places...
Me: Say, what?
G-man: Let me sleep..I'm hungry...I'll talk to you later...when I get back..
Me: After dinner?
G-man: Yeah...no..before dinner...bye.. (click)

Ok, then...
(I learned later that he was not as out of it as I thought...he did eat again when he got home...)

Hello Bambi?

I have my ex as a contact on one of my buddy lists. It is a great way to ask him something about the kids or give him some info we need to share and get an immediate response...

Anyway, his buddy status this week has been Hello, Bambi.

Hmmm, dare I ask....

I know it is deer season...and I know he hunts deer, but I will start crying if he tells me he killed Bambi...

Hopefully, he just met the girl of his dreams...

Thinking ahead to the New Year...

Lately, I seem to have a lot of random thoughts running through my mind.
And where do they end up? In an email to the last person who sent me one...
I think my 2009 New year's resolution will be to blog more and email less...or at least more concisely (is that a word?)

I looked at the email trail between my brother and myself today and then between myself and another friend, and I started feeling sorry for them..actually, they were probably feeling a lot sorrier for themselves that they ever sent a simple "hi - how are ya" email to begin with and then even sorrier when they replied to my reply....and even sorrier...you get the picture...

And it is not like I spent all day emailing...I actually had a very productive day at work...let me tell you about it...just kidding...:)

Hmmm....

I was browsing news headlines during lunch break today and I found this interesting article...

Woman Claims To Find Virgin Mary Image In MRI

Wonder what my brain MRI says about me....

Just what I thought - nothing I did not already know....(if you cannot read the MRI, email me for an explanation at phillipia@yahoo.com)

The plan....

I am not one for political conversations....but I thought this was a well thought out plan...

Bush will resign now.
Then Dick Cheney becomes President.
Then he appoints Condoleeza Rice as VP.
Then Cheney resigns two weeks later and Condoleeza Rice, a Republican, becomes the first BLACK President and the first WOMAN President!!!

Think that will tick off the Democrats?


Thanks to MSC...

Not-so-sweet dreams...

I used to dream almost every night...but for the longest time, I did not dream at all....

...at least not when I slept...I mean, I am not dead and I often day dream about that hot knight in shining armor coming to take me away to a life of romance and all that happily ever after brings....but I digress...

Lately, I am back to dreaming almost every night....all night...waking up from a weird one and falling right back asleep into another even weirder one...

By weird I mean all mixed up, people from my past and present all tangled in there together... reality dreams, but not the kind of reality I would want to be living or reliving...

About right now, I could really use a shining knight, happily ever after dream...or reality...

Early Morning Trek...

Traditionally, I fill a shoe (or boot) for whoever is at my house on the morning of St. Nick's...
This year, I just kind of let it slip through...not giving it much thought for a couple reasons.
First, finances are tighter than any other Christmas season I have celebrated...
Second, I never know who, how many, or if any, of G-man's friends will be spending the night.

Well, I goofed...

With G-man's renewed interest in Catholicism, I should have realized that he would be reminded of St. Nick through other sources...

And wouldn't it ya know it, I woke to a shoe set outside my bedroom door filled with one of my favorite snacks - pistachios....

So, I made a quick jaunt up to the corner Speedway....gum, gas card...

Thanks, G-man, for setting me straight....

Thanks in advance, ldboy, cuz I know, after reading this, you will not tell your brother about my lapse of Christmas Spirit:)

I am missing you ldboy, and your sister ...everyone is so busy...cannot wait for Christmas when we will all be together again at least for awhile...

Happy belated St. Nick's to all...