Back to work!

While I don't want to go back to work this week, I am ready! I have soup in the freezer, a cake in the oven and a roast ready to go in after it. I cleaned out my pantry, closets and most of my home office. I started my 2013 budget and hopefully I will hit my savings goal this year.

Having two weeks off gave me time to visit family, read and de-stress. I have a few big projects coming up that are due in February and March so I needed this time to get back on track. What I didn't do was work out. I gave myself the time to just be. When I don't go to the gym I feel very guilty and it adds to my stress so at the beginning of my vacation I decided I am not going to go to the gym if I don't feel like it, and I wasn't going to worry about it.  I met my trainer once last week but haven't done anything else. The funny thing is that by taking the time off I am ready to go back. I feel more motivated then I did before the holidays. I hope this break help to keep me moving forward. 

Next up; the basement from hell!  I can't figure out how but I think the junk down there multiplies when I am not home.  I really can't have ALL of THAT? 

Fat lip and broken nails

Looks like I was in a fight...with my braces!! I gave myself a fat lip this week and it still hurts.  Invisalign braces are like a clear plastic mouth guard but very tight.  The set I have for this 2-week period is super tight on top and I can't get the damn thing off to eat.  I broke most of my nails trying and the other day when I was prying them off I whacked myself, hard, in the lip! Six more months...I keep telling myself....6 more months! 

This isn't the best picture but I am holding my 5-day old great niece, Madelyn Marie! I now have 5 great nieces and 3 great nephews. There is another on the way this summer. They are between and 9 years and 1 week old and all cute as buttons!

Well, I am all ready for Christmas. I don't have a lot to do and I am not really feeling the spirit yet this year. I put a few lights outside and barely decorated the inside of the house. Go me!  I am going to have to find some kind of meaningfulness (is that a word Jim?) to the holidays because I don't like this bah humbug feeling.  I do volunteer on Christmas morning but it's the few weeks leading up to the holidays that I don't like. Maybe by next year this will change.

I wish all of my friends and family much love, a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous 2013!

What I am up to...

It's that time of year again, Cookie Exchange!  I have to make 5 dozen cookies tomorrow and wrap them in 1/2 dozen packages.   I will take them to a very nice luncheon and exchange them with 10 other cookie makers and come home with 10 - 1/2 dozen different types of cookies. It's a lot of fun and I only have to make one type of cookie.

Sooo... last night was my first date in oh, 30 years!  It was a dud. He was a nice man but we had no connection at all!  Honestly, it wasn't worth the time I spent on my make-up and now I can scratch it off my to-do list.  I kept thinking, how long before I can go home and put on my pj's and paint my nails? I don't think this is going to be very fun but I am convinced there is cowboy out there for me someplace. I will have to kiss a lot of frogs and all that....

Tonight is my work Christmas party. A bunch of doctors standing around talking about their recent cases and a bunch of support staff checking the clock to see if they can leave yet.  It's an interesting dynamic where I work. We have two clinics and the staff in each clinic never work with each other, only the doctors. They don't really know each other.  Then there is me, the only clerical support for the entire department. I am kind of the odd man out.  Oh well, we have good food and plenty of alcohol!

 If you didn't know already from Facebook, I have a new tattoo. I will post a pic after it heals. I had a tattoo on my ankle that I never liked and I wanted a new one to honor the Bobster so I have a champagne bottle with grapes around it covering the old tattoo. It's FREAKING big. Actually way bigger than I thought but I like it and it's a great conversation starter! :D

Have safe weekend and get out there and support our economy like I am by Christmas shopping!

Getting my feet wet.

Ten Things You Shouldn't Say on a Date.


1. You're wearing that?

2. Something smells funny.

3. Where's the Tylenol?

4. And to think, I first wanted to date your brother.

5. I have a confession to make…

6. My dad has a suit just like that.

7. That man is hot. Look at him.

8. My ex, may he rot in hell forever…

9. You're going to order that? Seriously?

10. You're how old?”

― Gena Showalter, Animal Instincts


A friend of a friend asked me out for coffee. When I consider the fact that I haven't dated in over 30 years I get a bit shaky!  Dating at 50 something is going to be a lot different than 20 something. I am no longer that tall skinny girl with the long blonde hair. I don't even remember what my natural hair color looks like! Plus there is the fun of wrinkles and age spots and balding and that's just the men!  I was discussing all of this with my cousin and she and I agree, looking around at men our age it seems like they are all OLD and of course we are not!  Wish me luck. I think it's gonna be a bumpy ride!

Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.

Henry Van Dyke

Back from vacation

I had a wonderful time in Seattle visiting Lola and Nolan and their parents. Lola is a very funny child. She talks and sings from the time her feet hit the floor in the morning until she passes out at night. Seriously, NON-STOP!  Nolan on the other hand is a little more quiet but you can see his brain working all day.  We would get up before everyone else and have breakfast and chat about zombies and Christmas and Skylanders.   I loved it.

David and I went to the Chihuly Glass Garden and Exhibit. It was totally worth the $20.  I posted pictures on my Facebook page. We had lunch at Ivar's, a famous fish place in downtown Seattle and then topped off our day with Krispy Kreme donuts. Ahhh.  It was really nice to spend the day with my baby brother.

Stefanie and I did a bit of shopping and got pedicures. She is getting to know her way around just like a native so this trip we were able to head out a bit farther for our excursions. All in all a fun trip. I can't wait to go back next summer.

In other news, a man from my neighborhood asked me out for coffee! First time in quite a few years that someone asked me out. I said no, but still....

Look out Seattle here I come!

After one week of having Invisalign braces I am ready for this nonsense to be over with...and I have 7 1/2 months to go!  I can't eat with them in so I have to take them out, eat, brush everything and put them back in. It is making me very choosy of what I eat and when. I don't weigh myself but I feel  a little lighter this week.

I am heading to Seattle Saturday and praying my planes all run on time. We  have plans to go here - http://www.chihulygardenandglass.com/  The Chihuly Garden. The flowers in this post are all glass.  The Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas has a Chihuly installation in their main lobby and it is exquisite. I think this one looks amazing and I can't wait to see it.

I am heading to my cousin Jill's for her annual Halloween party tonight. My neighborhood doesn't have kids so I like to go some place that does.  I feel sorry for the poor little critters. They may have to trick or treat in snow suits tonight!  Have a safe Halloween and stay warm!