October 31, 2005
Happy Halloween!
Kristin and Heidi in costume:
Heidi as Jackie the Ripper
Krispin the rock star...looks like Alice Cooper, doesn't she?
Obviously, these pictures were taken over the weekend or earlier in the week. Both girls went to parties with their friends and had a great time. Tonight, Heidi's handing out candy and Kristin's going trick-or-treating with her "gang"
-- they are going as a rock band!
Happy Howl-o-ween!
My Baker's Dozen Weekend
1. I started out the weekend feeling very depressed but eventually I must have realized once again life goes on and the busy-ness helped lift my spirits
2. The tree surgeon came on Saturday and totally amputated our swamp maple. I'd written earlier that it was going to happen; it kind of hurt to see the tree come down so quickly. TB wrote about it and you can see the pictures here.
3. The house sure looks different without the tree in front of it! Heidi needs drapes for her window because the shade is all gone and the sun is bright in the afternoons
4. We got a bargain on a bedroom set for our room! We've been using TB's old bedroom set from when he was a kid!
5. The leaves are finally changing colors and the scenery is looking pretty!
6. Lane Bryant stores don't necessarily carry the same clothing that are featured in the catalog :P
7. We are now ready for Halloween--TB bought 3 bags of candy we all can't stand! Any left overs will go to school, work or into the trash
8. Kristin carved a hanging tree on her pumpkin but her knife was too big and awkward and she cut the man down...bet he was relieved!
9. Mischief night was very quiet...there are definitely ups to living in a neighborhood with few kids!
10. Our own kids were out with friends, hopefully not getting into too much mischief
11. Our little granddaughter Taylor turned 5 yesterday, what a big girl! We miss her so much! Happy birthday (again), Taylor!
12. Fresh flowers definitely bring my spirits up, thanks, TB!
October 28, 2005
Feline Friday: Meowoween
I think I'll be a ghost this year. What do you think of my costume?
When the four legged pets are least expecting it, I'll jump out and meow boo!
I think that would be an awesome trick!
Of course, if they had a tasty enough treat for me, I wouldn't have to pull the trick!
Mmmmmmmm...."Anticipation is making me wait...."
1. Are you a coffee or tea hound? If so, what is your favorite everyday poison?
I'm a bona fide coffee-holic!
2. Are you a Starbucks fan, or another brand?
Not Starbucks! Their regular hot coffee is way too strong and bitter, I would grow hair on my chest! My favorite brands are Maxwell House and Chock-Full-O-Nuts
3. If you are a coffee drinker, brewed or instant? If you prefer tea, loose or bagged?
Instant! Blech! It has to be brewed!
4. What is your average daily intake?
At least a pot a day...hmmmm...perhaps I should cut back? Naaaaaaah....
October 27, 2005
Downward Trend
This morning Kristin woke me up at 7 a.m. I must have forgotten to set my alarm. One of my first thoughts as I slurped down coffee to try and wake up was that we have to get girls loud radio alarm clocks. The second thought was one of my gloom and doom thoughts and I just wanted to crawl back under the covers and go to sleep. What's that about? I didn't, though. I made myself get dressed and drive Heidi to school. Luckily, Kristin usually gets up at 7 and so was able to catch the bus as usual.
As I was driving Heidi I wondered if the Prozac wasn't working as well anymore. I've been feeling down this week and sleeping a lot recently. My gloom and doom type thoughts are coming back, especially after last night. I made a phone call and was told a second time I'd get called back...but now I'm not so sure. I'd started out 2 weeks ago feeling happy and optimistic but not anymore. How many times have I said to people "I'll call you" or "We'll get together" and then it never happened?
I've decided Dr. R isn't working out for Heidi and me so we are scheduled to see new doctors in December. In the meantime, I'll monitor my thoughts and feelings.
There are things I need to do today besides writing: mail a card, mail packages of videos to a friend, go to the bank, pay some bills...and I just don't feel like it. I have this what's the use? feeling this morning.
Last week:
::Butterflies are Free::
Onesome: Butterflies-- 'Tis the end of butterfly season, at least here in the Northern Hemisphere (hey, we have readers and respondents in the Southern); what are you looking forward to seeing around the yards and neighborhoods in the next few months. (...besides snow, unless that's all you have staring back at you during the Winter months!)
I'm looking forward to seeing the leaves on the trees change colors and watching squirrels running around trying to bury their acorns
Twosome: are-- Are your sports teams doing okay this Fall? Baseball is down to the final stretch and it's time to chose up sides! ...and football is darned interesting at the six-week mark? No interest? How about curling
Absolutely no interest anymore in football or baseball
Threesome: Free-- What is your favorite "freebie"? That 'buy one, get one free' sale? ...the ice cream cone from your local shop on your birthday? The samples at Starbucks? Inquiring minds and all that...
The initial offers from the book clubs...get 6 books for 99 cents. I love to read and I know I pay for shipping and handling but it's still so much cheaper than going to the bookstore. They seem free!
::Painted Garden Gnomes::
Onesome: Painted-- Hey! Are you getting all painted up on Monday and going out and about? What are you dressing up as? ...or are you staying home and handing out goodies? ...or sitting in the dark and wishing they would all just go away? Come on
No, I'm not getting dressed up...haven't done that since the kids were little. Heidi's going to hand out the candy and I'm going to sit in front of my computer and ignore the doorbell. Bah, pumpkin.
Twosome: Garden-- In the garden of your mind, where do you go to relax for a few moments? Off to the beach? ...to the mountains? ...to a different world? ...or maybe a stroll though an old Victorian landscape?
I go to LaLa Land which is a combination of all of the above, most especially the beach.
Threesome: Gnomes-- Okay, we have to know: what do you think about garden gnomes and pink flamingos and such? I mean other than there seems to be a local ordinance that you have to have at least one or the other in your front yard if you live in South Florida?
I think they're adorable...but not in my yard.
October 25, 2005
Wilma's Welcome Wore Out...
...days ago. Wilma combined with Tropical Storm Alpha to become a troublesome offshore type 3 hurricane. Go away, already! It's been raining steadily and we have some local flooding. TB saw some trees down on the way to work and is worried about this humongous oak tree in our front yard. Already 1/3 of it is hanging over the house and it needs to be pruned or taken down totally. Here's a picture of it:
We all like the tree...it's got a lot of character and that's why we haven't wanted to take it down. Well...and it provides a great deal of shade during the summer. The front of our house faces west and the afternoon sun is pretty intense!
I'm hoping the tree guy says we can save it.
10 Great Things About Autumn
1. The glorious fall colors...if they ever get to NJ!
2. The weather becomes cooler, not so darn hot all the time
3. Hayrides and pumpkin picking
4. Harvest festivals and apple cider
5. free turkey when you spend a certain amount at the grocery store
6. Thanksgiving--the holiday, the family, the food, the gratitude
7. Christmas is around the corner!
8. Some radio stations play all holiday music 24/7 beginning in November
9. Did I mention the changing colors in the leaves? And how it hasn't happened here yet?
10. The kids go back to school!!!!!
October 24, 2005
My Baker's Dozen Weekend
1. Time to put the summer clothes away and break out the fall/winter stuff, which means loads of laundry!
2. We had one sunny day this weekend. Now we're getting a nor'easter from Hurricane Wilma. Enough, already!
3. It sure was beautiful yesterday--and the trees are finally starting to change colors!
4. Change-of-weather colds suck
5. Coughing in the middle of the night messed up my sleep so I bought a sit-up pillow that didn't help much. So it goes.
6. I realized I have *no* jeans! I need jeans!
7. Watched The Interpreter with TB and I think I would have enjoyed it more if it wasn't confusing in too many places!
8. I really miss the grandkids...I would have loved to go pumpkin picking or on a hayride. Maybe next weekend?
9. We already got our free turkey after one grocery shopping trip yesterday!
10. I am totally hooked on a yahoo game called chuzzles...the little critters are so cute!
11. I really like the yahoo IM voice feature--can talk to Billy for free!
12. I answered a poll this weekend about the candidates for governor in NJ--I don't like either one. :P
October 22, 2005
Which Serenity Character Are You?
 | You scored as Simon Tam. The Doctor. You have a gift for healing that goes beyond education. You took an oath to do no harm, even when your patients have tried to kill you. You are out of place where you are, being used to refined society. However, if you take that stick out of your arse you should be fine.
Which Serenity character are you? created with QuizFarm.com |
Feline Friday on Saturday
Remember how last time Amber felt left out and wanted to play chase the toy too?
Here's where we left Amber, considering her next move.
She's still considering it.
Hey, gimme a break! I'm just being careful, checking it out from all angles!
Eh, it doesn't smell like fish or chicken or mouse.
Oh, give me that thing! I know what to do with it!
Nobody ever lets me play!
Oh, no you don't! Not again--fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me!
No shame for me...I'm having fun!
October 18, 2005
Dawn to Dusk
It was that kind of day. There was something going on all day long and TB and I didn't get back home until after 8 p.m. It was a long day, stressful, with ups and downs. The whizz-bang finish was having to go back to Toyota to resign the lease cuz the finance guy made a mistake. They gave us a full tank of gas.
Big whup.
10 Favorite People from History
1. Jesus Christ
2. Helen Keller
3. Eleanor Roosevelt
4. Mark Twain
5. Abraham Lincoln
6. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
7. Walt Disney
8. Dr. Seuss
9. Georgia O'Keeffe
10. Theodore Roosevelt
October 17, 2005
My Baker's Dozen Weekend
1. We had a very fun & busy weekend that took away the stress of anticipating today's hearing about visitation with Tomas.
2. Billy came down on the Greyhound bus to participate in a karate tournament in Bushkill, PA. We thought he'd be arriving before 10 but apparently missed two buses and didn't actually arrive until 11:30--almost the time TB and I turn into pumpkins!
3. Bushkill is a 3 hour trip for us but only a half hour away from Fred and Alberta, Billy's grandparents, and so we arranged to meet them at Fernwood Resort (that's where the tournament took place).
4. Why haven't the leaves changed colors? I was so looking forward to brilliant fall foliage on the drive and everything was still green, green and more green!
5. It was so good to see Fred & Alberta again! We had a wonderful visit!
6. The meeting hall where the tournament took place is huge and sort of like a big gymnasium without any of the sports equipment. It was very noisy and chaotic in there but we managed to find 4 seats together. Heidi and Kristin stood up.
7. We must have been considered the "back" of the audience because when there was an entertaining show, a temporary curtain was draped in front of us and so we couldn't see what was going on. I thought that was pretty rude.
8. Billy did really well considering he hasn't had much chance to practice the last two weeks...and for good reason, he was studying!
9. Thank God it stopped raining for the weekend! Both days were truly gorgeous!
10. I'll bet Buddy enjoyed playing outside for the first time in over a week. He was overjoyed to have Billy home and to be able to run around the yard without getting soaked by a steady downpour.
11. The weekend was over too soon! We took Billy back to the Greyhound and observed the line for the NYC bus is always long...get there early!
12. We capped off a lovely weekend with a delicious dinner at a Chinese buffet not far from home!
October 16, 2005
What a weekend...
...and now it's almost over! TB and I picked Billy up from the Greyhound station late Friday night. He came down to participate in a karate tournament in Bushkill, PA. We drove him there on Saturday (about 3 hours one way) and met Fred and Alberta for lunch. We stayed together all afternoon, watching the competition and enjoying ourselves. We didn't get back until late. Today we just basically sat around and chilled. It was so beautiful today--the rain finally stopped! A couple of hours ago, we took Billy back to the Greyhound station. What a fast weekend! Well, he'll be back for Thanksgiving.
Pictures from Saturday:
Billy represented Star Karate.
Billy competed in "forms" which was individual moves. Each participant had to introduce himself to the judges, say which school he/she was from and what they were about to do.
This was right after Billy's performance. I didn't want to take pictures during because I didn't want to startle or distract him with the flash.
Here he is about to begin a sparring match.
We're proud of Billy for his dedication and performance! :)
- On the verge:: of a great discovery
- Tempestuous:: stormy
- Coherent:: clear
- Near death:: experience
- Illiterate:: literate
- Why not?:: Because
- Period:: End
- Long lost:: love
- Torrid:: hot
- Nail:: hammer
October 11, 2005
Our New Car
This picture doesn't do the car justice but this is a close idea of what our new vehicle looks like:
TB, who was pretty adamant he wanted only a blue car, saw a Toyota Sienna XLE Limited in the parking lot that was a burgundy color. It looked really nice! We took it for a test drive and it was totally awesome!
We couldn't afford to buy it--payments would have been around $750 a month. We leased it instead, which is a better option considering all the miles TB has to put on it. We got a 20,000 mile per year contract and that should be enough--we hope!
The car is fully loaded and will definitely ease the burden of the long commute TB has.
I'm looking forward to going to Pennsylvania next weekend for Billy's tournament. We are going to have one comfortable ride!
10 Best Presents You've Received
1. Mother's heart necklace w/kids' birthstones
2. Heidi's portraits
3. Kristin's art
4. Claddagh ring with the onyx stone
5. Angel Bear
6. Mother's day musical placque
7. Precious Moments figurines
8. Beanie babies from the kids
9. Boo Boo Bear
10. Stuffed animals/knick knacks on my desk--gifts from the kids
October 10, 2005
My Baker's Dozen Weekend...
is here. Thanks for inviting me to post on the Baker's Dozen website, KB! 
October 09, 2005
Dreaming Southern
I totally enjoyed the first part of Dreaming Southern by Linda Bruckheimer. The heroine, Lila Mae Wooten, reminded me of a sort of Lucy Ricardo/Carmichael from Kentucky. She means well but is so scatterbrained and impulsive, she just gets herself and her kids into all kinds of crazy messes. She even has a sort of Ethel-like sidekick with a juvenile delingquent son. I alternated between laughing and rolling my eyes at all the predicaments the Wootens get into because of Lila Mae's desire to see the sights and please her kids. The trouble is ... just when I found myself at what I thought was a truly hilarious cliff hanger, the whole thing stopped. A new story took over then, one taking place about 30 years later. Wait a minute, I wanted to say. That can't be all. What happened to...? and to ...?
I was hooked by the opening line: "Usually Lila Mae Wooten had to scream bloody murder before her kids would pay any attention to her at all..." A lot of us moms have felt that way, right? I was really disappointed, though, because I felt like I walked into a booby trap and fell down a tiger trap or something.
Oh well.
- Quirk:: weird habit
- Crystal:: crystal ball
- Pet Peeve:: people who run red lights & stop signs
- Cuban:: cigar
- Breasts:: reduction
- Whispers:: careless
- Complicated:: difficult
- Promise me:: commitment
- Murder:: kill
- Filament:: thin wire inside a light bulb
October 07, 2005
Feline Friday: At Play
The best toys are the home made ones, aren't they? Heidi made a pipe cleaner ring and tied some old shoe laces to it. We've been having fun with the cats, especially Mouse.
Why hello there, here I am playing one of my favorite games....
...Tug'o'war!
How come I don't get to play?
Well, Amber, you always just sort of sit there!
Do not!
Okay, catch!
Too far! Can't reach!
Yeah, this is going to take a week! Check back next Friday...
1. If somebody gets a "boo boo", are you the one they run to, or are you squeamish?
Moms are not supposed to get squeamish! Yes, when the kids were little and had boo-boos, they would run to me...or to their dad if I wasn't around.
2. Are you accident prone? Do you know someone who seems to be?
I am most definitely accident prone!
3. What was your last foolish injury, the one that just makes you shake your head? (There is a reason for this question,... read my blog entry and you'll get it!!)
I was walking along, talking to friends Robin and Cheryl, and all of a sudden I just fell flat on my face and turned my ankle. Duh!
October 05, 2005
Way Back Wednesday
I found a new meme Way Back Wednesday:
Let's see your pets...no excuses, like I said, if you don't have a pet and never did rent your neighbor's dog for a photo op...it's all good.
I have lots of "way back" pictures of my four legged lovelies but I don't have them scanned. But I do have some then and some pix of the 3 living with us now:
Buddy when he was a cute little 6 month old pup.
The big galoot now
The girls (Amber & Mouse) in February, 2003
And in September, 2005 -- my look at the difference in them! ;)
What Toddlers Eat
I am a fluffy person and so is TB. Both of us have lots of family members who are also fluffy, including our kids. We really don't want to see the grandkids become heavy like us. What to do? The concern starts young. Like with Tomas, I used to caution Linda about some of the foods she was giving him to try. I was dismayed by her attitude that it's all "genetic" anyway--it's like she was resigning herself to have a big child and well, there was nothiing to be done about it anyway.
Well, I guess I'm not the best role model in the world but I know that's not true. You can be predisposed to being heavy,yes, and it can mean a harder battle but it's one worth fighting. I lost a lot of weight when I was 17 and kept it off until my first baby was born--a good 15 years. During those 15 years, I looked and felt great. I know it can be done; it just takes work and commitment.
Read on for the article I read which sparked this post.
Doctors Warn About Toddlers' DietsBy JAMIE STENGLE
The Associated PressDALLAS - As toddlers begin eating "grown-up" food, they may also develop grown-up eating habits - like too much junk food and too few vegetables, warn doctors who want parents to change their ways.
Within the childhood obesity outbreak is an increasing number of overweight 2-year-olds, according to pediatrics experts. In an effort to address the problem, the American Heart Association is offering this advice to parents: Children 2 and older should eat mostly fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat and non-fat dairy products, beans, fish and lean meat.
"These guidelines are not that different from what you as a parent should be following," said Lona Sandon, a dietitian and assistant professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. "Kids will follow the example of their parents if the example is there."
Of course, in a nation where dinner often comes from a takeout window, keeping kids healthy may require a change by adults.
"We've gotten away from preparing foods at home," Sandon said. "We are eating foods that are much higher in fat and calories and larger portion sizes. We've gotten away from physical activity."
The new recommendations for infants, children and adolescents revise the heart association's 1982 statement. Since then, more and more children have been falling into the overweight or obese category. The updated guidelines, which are endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, also recommend children 2 and older get an hour of exercise a day.
Dr. Barbara Dennison, who helped draw up the guidelines and is associate professor of clinical pediatrics at Columbia University, said that 10 percent of 2-year-olds are overweight, doubling the rate from the mid-1970s."The whole idea of a nutritionally balanced diet has been compromised," said Dr. Samuel S. Gidding, another adviser on the AHA recommendations and professor of pediatric cardiology at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. "I think that fast foods have become - rather than being discretionary choices - the main stop for meals."
He said that 30 to 50 years ago, foods that were nutritional were considered "kids' foods." Now, he said, kids' foods are viewed as sweets, snacks or so-called comfort foods.
The heart association notes that by the time kids are 19 to 24 months, french fries are the most commonly eaten vegetable. Experts say that as jars of baby food packed with fruits and vegetables give way to solid foods, nutritious food is often bypassed for whatever is easiest.
The heart association guidelines urge parents not to give up if their kids at first reject healthy food. Experts say it can take up to 10 tries for a child to accept a new food.
Said Dr. Nancy Krebs, co-chair of the task force on obesity for the America Academy of Pediatrics: "It takes a bit of persistence."
October 04, 2005
Ten on Tuesday
Wow, what a difference a day makes! Yesterday I was full of pep and today I feel like a popped balloon. Maybe it's the weather. It's very cloudy and gloomy. Maybe it's fibromyalgia. Maybe I just need a steak. Oh well, I did manage to do some memes.
10 Best Movies You've Seen Lately
These are within the last year too
1) War of the Worlds
2) Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azhkaban
3) Hotel Rwanda
4) In Good Company
5) Hide & Seek
6) Ladder 49
7) Million Dollar Baby
8) Ray
9) Spiderman 2
10) Napoleon Dynamite
"This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball."
~~Bull Durham
Well, we've covered over-all favorite films. Let's break it down a little more by starting in on genres. Baseball playoffs are upon us, which inspires me to ask: What are your favorite sports films?
The Natural
Field of Dreams
Pride of the Yankees
Miracle
A League of Their Own
What sports films do you think are terrible?
Bad News Bears remake
Do you tend to watch a lot of sports movies or very few, or do you avoid them completely?
I avoid them unless it's got a story I'm interested in or actors that I like
Which sports (if any) do you watch on television?
I used to be a baseball fan but not anymore
Are those the same sports you enjoy as movies?
Pretty much
October 03, 2005
My Baker's Dozen Weekend
The idea is to come up with twelve thoughts and one pic to describe your weekend.
1. The hearing for visitation with Tomas has been postponed for 2 weeks so our lawyer can prepare
2. Billy got 2 jobs, way to go! He's very self-motivated, knows what he wants and just goes about getting it.
3. We have a new driveway! See TB's entry.
4. The weather was so gorgeous Friday and Saturday...why did it have to get hot again?
5. Teenagers! They don't want us to stand over them to make sure their chores are done but when we don't, they don't do them and then act like it's our fault when we get upset!
6. We decided to get the Internet out of the girls' rooms and into the family room. We went shopping for a new desk but I ended up with one for the corner of our bedroom. The desk I had, the handcrafted one from the Amish place, will go into the family room.
7. My new desk has all sorts of wonderful new places for the cats to play hide & seek!
8. Things sure get majorly dusty behind furniture that hasn't been moved in a while!
9. Are shows like Cold Case and the CSIs getting tired? I haven't been real impressed with the episodes this season.
10. I'm starting to feel stronger--my hemoglobin is coming back up to normal or all that beef & broccoli stir fry is helping boost my red cells!
11. The pool is going away until next summer...just when we get a new heat wave! :P
12. We just had the first weekend in October for crying out loud, can Christmas be far behind?
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!