Saturday, December 31, 2011

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

Well folks, here we are 365 days later and wrapping up 2011. It was quite a year. While it had it's ups and downs like most years do, the one thing I know that I can always count on for major ups, is my handful of sweet, funny, beautiful, friends. We don't get to be together often, but when we do, we seem to pick right up where we left off. I am thankful that they "get me" and let me be me. They tickle my funny bone, and help me to remember to be thankful for all the little moments that bring laughter and sometime tears. I love the laughs and the tears. Even the ones that sometimes tend to run down our legs! (Hey, it's been known to happen...) So here's to 7,777 more tears of laughter with my girls, in 2012!! Cheers.












Friday, December 30, 2011

What A Droid!

I'm not technically savey. I admit it. I never jump on the band wagon for the latest gadget. I usually sit back and wait a year or 2,344 and then when the excitement has wore off, and everyone is on to the next newest thing, I check it out. (On the upside, it's usually half price by then, too!) I still have my desk top computer that I bought 10 years ago when everyone was buying their new laptops. It's on it's last leg, but it's still good for email, so I keep it. This year Landon wanted an Ipad for Christmas. Nope. No can do, buddy. So, then he said he wanted a laptop. I didn't even get a laptop until just last year, and that was because Tim bought it for himself. Lucky for me, he's 1,200 years behind me and lost interest in it. So, I consider it, mine. So we compromised on a Net Book. I went to Sears in Fargo as they had one on sale in their flyer. The salesman at Sears told me that it was garbage and not to buy it! I believed him because he didn't try and sell me anything else. He even told me where to go and what to look for! I found that honesty SO refreshing! I then asked him about Nooks, Kindles and E-readers. He told me to get the Nook, as it was the better one and they were pretty much all in the same price range. Can't remember why the Nook was better though. I have been wanting a Kindle since Oprah first told me about it 300 years ago. So, I decided to get the Nook as a Christmas present for myself! I was so excited, I practically skipped to the car. (Just kidding.) Then I was off to check out SIX, I kid you not, stores for a net book! I waited too long and everything was either sold out or they just didn't carry them anymore. So, 4,009 hours later, when I spotted an Android at K-mart, (Yes, K-mart. I was grasping straws by then.) I knew it was gonna have to do. I knew a Adroid (I suppose the "cool" term would be droid, but whatever.) was something like a mini, handheld computer, but never really checked them out. However, it was a week before Christmas and I was out of time, so I told the saleslady, "I'll take it!" Once I got it home, I decided to see what all it did so I would be able to help Landon when he opened it. I charged it up, but it wouldn't stay charged. Only for about 30 seconds, then it went black. Grrrr.... So, I took it back to the K-mart in Alex and when I asked for another one, they didn't carry them. So, off to Office Max, Target, and Walmart I went. No luck there either. So, I went home and got online. On line, I found a little Net Book for Landon (He loves it!!) and an Android for me. I'm going to return the Nook, (never even opened it!) as now I'm officially broke! Anyway, last night I spent four (real!) hours trying to make my new gmail (I do not care for gmail at all!) account and facebook like each other. I think I figured it out though. It would have helped though, if they would have put the "help" book in the box and not on the actual android! That was the pits! I still have to figure out how to install/download/upload/whatever the E-reader portion of it.I dread setting things up like that. It's a major stressing point for me. I wish I knew someone who loved to do that. Set it all up and then just hand it over ready to go. But, I don't know anyone who does that. Hmmm....that might be a cool new business venture... something to think about....Nope. Bad idea for me. That thought is gone! Bye, bye! Anyway, I'll get it all figured out this weekend, but man, what a droid.....

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Sure Could Use A Little Good News, Today.

Years ago, I stopped watching the news and canceled my subscription to the Sunday paper. It was a constant source of horrid, sad, insane topics and I simply chose to no longer participate in the media form of depression. On the upside, I don't have to burden myself with all the sad/mad things that are going on in the world. I don't need to know everything. I like not knowing. I like my sweet little world just as it is. I figure if there is something super important that I need to know about, I'll hear everyone talking about it. On the downside, sometimes my curiosity gets the best of me and I will have to check something out, always with regrets. Always. I've been enjoying nice warm fall weather here in good ol' Minnesota... in December! While I absolutely love the warmer days, I can't help but wonder what's going on "up there" in that big ol' blue (smoggy/grey/pollutant) sky. I am aware of global warming and such, but haven't really read up on anything in years. So, last night I decided to do a little Internet surfing on the topic. Now, why did I go and do that? Honestly. I won't tell you what all it said, but I can no longer enjoy the unexpected warm weather without worrying about leaving too many lights on, or driving my car too much. Crap. I am better off not knowing. Honest to Pete. I might as well have watched the news.

Years ago Ann Murry put out a song called, "A little good news." It describes my feelings exactly. If you want to hear it, I am sure you can find it on Utube. Here are the lyrics.

I rolled out this morning


Kids had the mornin' news show on

Bryant Gumbel was talkin' 'bout the fighting in Lebanon

Some senator was squawkin' 'bout the bad economy

It's gonna get worse you see, we need a change in policy



There's a local paper rolled up in a rubber band

One more sad story's one more than I can stand

Just once how I'd like to see the headline say

"Not much to print today, can't find nothin' bad to say", because



Nobody robbed a liquor store on the lower part of town

Nobody OD'ed, nobody burned a single buildin' down

Nobody fired a shot in anger, nobody had to die in vain

We sure could use a little good news today



I'll come home this evenin'

I'll bet that the news will be the same

Somebody takes a hostage, somebody steals a plane

How I wanna hear the anchor man talk about a county fair

And how we cleaned up the air, how everybody learned to care

Whoa, tell me



Nobody was assassinated in the whole Third World today

And in the streets of Ireland, all the children had to do was play

And everybody loves everybody in the good old USA

We sure could use a little good news today

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Writer's Block

Over the years I have written several little short stories. Some are based on the crazy, unbelievable things that have occurred in my life, and some are just a figment of my wild and crazy imagination. (I'll never tell which is which!) They are tucked away in my little file of things that I will get to someday. There aren't enough to make a book, and they probably aren't written well enough to be published. But, they might be enjoyed by Landon when he is older. Just fun, simple stories.They are at least good for a laugh or two. I haven't written anything in a long time though. I seem to have writer's block. I still have the ideas churning in my head. All the time. I could be driving to Fargo or somewhere and the entire trip, a story will play out in my head, word for word. But, by the time I get home, I only have bits and pieces and not enough to make it worth the time to sit and write it  all down. (I really should invest in a tape recorder, this dementia thing seems to be getting the best of me!) It's on my bucket list to do something with all of them though. Just haven't decided what. Until then, I will just keep jotting down my little stories and tucking them away for someday. Just thought I would share this with you in case I do publish them someday. You might think you recognize yourself in one of them, but trust me.....it's just a figment of your imagination!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Hanukkah To The Walls!!

In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukkah' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukkah!' or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall!' ~Dave Barry, "Christmas Shopping: A Survivor's Guide"

Friday, December 23, 2011

Frosty The Snowman

First snowman this winter!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The Best Is Yet To Be

In a couple of months, I'll be wrapping up the 44th chapter in my life. In the past when I would  look back at those chapters, I would focus only on the good chapters. The not so good ones would leave me with a few would'a, could'a, should'a, moments. A few regrets. But as I get older, I get wiser and I can read those chapters more clearly and without sadness or madness. I now realize that all those not so great chapters had a purpose and a life lesson in mind for me. They helped make me who I am, on the inside. I like the inside of me. (The outside is a nonstop work in progress, but we won't go there right now.) Jobs that weren't the greatest, gave me motivation and determination to start my own businesses and become my own boss. Relationships that ended badly or sadly, showed me what I don't want in a relationship and how not to treat people. Broken promises, trusting friends with my biggest secrets and being betrayed, big disappointments, dreams and plans failing... it all had a purpose. It made me a better, stronger woman. It made me want to be a better, stronger woman. So, now when I re-read the chapters of my life, I don't just skim over the not so good chapters. I read them in their entirety, with a new wisdom, a new appreciation and even a few laughs. I am embracing it all. It is all me. I don't know what the next chapter holds in my life, but I do know, good or bad, it's still all good! The best is yet to be.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

The Card's In The Mail

I didn't get our Christmas cards ordered on time this year. We took pictures, but I didn't like any of them. I finally picked out a few pictures we already had and now they are gonna be late. Does it make you a bad person if you decide the heck with it and stop sending them out all together? How does one do that? Do you send a final one with a post it saying, "Love you and thinking of you on Christmas, but not gonna deal with the stress of cards, pictures, stamps, addresses, etc. any more. This is our final card...." ? Or do you simply just stop? This picture pretty much sums up how we feel about doing cards...Can you feel the love?


Monday, December 19, 2011

Savin' It For Good

For years, I saved things. I didn't use the good towels, the good china, or the good steak knives, because I was saving them for "good." I was saving them in case someone important stopped by. You never know. Be prepared. Because that's the way my mother did it, and that's the way her mother did it, that's the way I did it. I even put off going places. I planned trips to Florida to see my mom for years, and every year something would get in the way of my plans, (Usually Tim!) and I would cancel my trip. Then last year, I decided enough was enough. I booked a trip to Florida to see my mom, and when the time came to go, I went. That trip was an eye opener for me. As I spent the days catching up with my mom and old friends, it made me realize that life is too short to keep waiting for "someday."  (I went again this year too, and loved every minute of it!) For a wedding gift 9 years ago, we were given a beautiful hand embroidered set of dish towels. One for every day of the week. Beautiful, crisp white linen towels, with 7,566 hours of hand stitched love poured into them. I didn't even want to use them for "good.." I didn't want to mess them up. But when I got back from Florida last year, I got out those towels and used them. Every day. Messed them up I did. But, I have no regrets. They are now my favorite dish towels. Messed up and all. We now use the good steak knives and the good china is now a part of my every day dishes. I don't care if the plates get scratched. I love using them. Every day! Life is just too dang short. Use the good stuff. I promise you, the president isn't coming to your house. You can relax and use the good towels. Go ahead. You'll love it!! Yesterday I was Christmas shopping in Fargo, and as I checked out of  Hallmark, the cashier handed me a white paper bag. On the bag was printed....

I couldn't have said it better myself.
Amen.

Color Outside The Lines

Oops!
The new guy must have been on the job that day.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Caramel Apples!

Landon, his cousin Jack and I attempted
making caramel apples this afternoon.

First was the agonizing chore of opening all those
ittly bitty wrapped caramels!

Then we had to wait 2,014 hours
for the caramels to melt!

Now we're having fun!!

Jack was a pro!


We ran out of sticks, so we improvised with...
corn cob holders!
Hey, it worked!!

This is what happens when you follow a recipe!
Next time more caramel, less milk!
They were still yummy.

Movie Night!

We are so excited our movie theater is once again open!
We went to see Authur Christmas.
Landon invited his cousin Jack to go with us.

Landon and Jack chose to sit in the very first row
with Landon's friend, Matthew.
I am not a fan of neck cramps, so Tim and I
chose to sit farther back with the old people.
Ha!

It Was Bound To Happen

Snow.
The good news is,
 it's suppose to be in the 40's tomorrow and it will go away!
The only White Christmas I want, is the whipped cream on my pie!



Thursday, December 15, 2011

Let's Go To Florida!

First stop on the list was to see my Sweet Momma!
And tell Santa what we wanted for Christmas!!
I get my fun side from her!!


Getting mani's with mom!


Found the coolest little statue place on the side of the road.
Everything was made from recycled aluminum.
Sadly I wasn't able to bring one home as not only did
they weigh 2,333 pounds, they were priced at
$200 and up!! That was a little insane...
Oh yeah. I rubbed the heck out of those bellies!
I do believe this will be the year my lottery numbers hit! 

This guy was as tall as my house!
Only $6,000....
What a deal!

Walmart is pink!!

Manatees are painted on the side of Walmart!
How cool is that?


Stopped to see a few Manatees.


This is the closest shot I got.
They didn't feel like showing their faces that day.


My sweet and crazy friend, Tara.
Thank you Tara, for the 2,344 laughs!!!

All dressed up!


The lady in the red dress had to have been at least 80 years young.
She was doing the splits and bouncing right back up!
Tara gave her a run for her money, here!
I hope I have as much spunk as the lady in red, 
when I'm in my 90's. And I do plan on living well into my 90's!

I saw Momma kissin' Santa Clause...

World's Largest Flea Market!
Can you say purses??
There were at least six of these purse booths there!
It took me hours to get through the whole market.
Loved every minute of it.

Welcome to Daytona!

It was raining when I hit the beach.
Both times!!!

I thought the old pelican sitting on top of this pole was pretty cool.
What wasn't cool, was as soon as I snapped the picture,
the skies opened up and it started to pour!
Of course my car was 1,222 miles away...

Stopped at the gas station to get a cup of coffee.
Whoa...took me a minute to figure it all out!


The pop choices were pretty cool too!

Had a super fantastic lunch with two of my favorite classmates.
Michael & Glenda.
They look exactly the same!!
It was like stepping back in time.

Glenda brought me cookies!!
I did manage to bring most of them home with me.


She also gave me a Christmas Pickle ornament for my tree.
Legend has it that if you hide the pickle in your tree,
whoever finds it will have good luck the rest of the year!
Guess who's gonna find it? Ha!

The Race Track!
I used to go to the races every year,
 as it usually landed on my birthday.
 Now, those were the days...

I always loved Richard.
If ya ever get to Gator's,
ya gotta have the clown make you an animal balloon!

And don't forget to get your face painted too!

No vacation is complete without wings...

Or a cat!

All too soon, it was time to head home.
I can never get enough of the clouds.