They call me Aunt Nub...

I finally caved...

2009-01-18T13:42:00.002-05:00

I did it. I finally caved to the craze. I'm over at Facebook. A lot. Yes, I'm actually admitting to it. I went there when it started (sort-of), but never did a damn thing with it. Now I'm.....say it.........say it.........addicted! I do tend to have an addictive personality, so it was only a matter of time I guess.

Sooooooooo......if you want to check out my Facebook stuff, I'm listed as "Liz Hemming Walker." I know a few of you chicas that read this blog are over there, too, & I've already friended you. Anybody else that I might've missed???

Hope all is well with all of you. Must go get off big lazy butt & fold some laundry & get cracking with some art journal crafty-ness!

Smooches!

Peculiar People Day

2009-01-10T20:25:00.003-05:00

I just couldn't resist posting this from http://www.holidayinsights.com/, because....well.....it just fits me! As for the graphic to the right, it's from my Page~A~Day Bitch calendar. Note me still with a cigarette. Promise to give it up soon!

Peculiar People Day is in honor of uniquely different people. Un-ordinary, extraordinary, unusual, strange, odd, uncommon, intriguing, different, abnormal, and quirky.... These are all things that we think of to describe the word "peculiar". Most of these characteristics can be viewed as good, or not so good. Today is a day to look for the good in your peculiar acquaintances.

If you are peculiar, this is your day to be honored and appreciated. Chances are, you will find something peculiar about yourself, if you look hard enough. If you can't find anything peculiar about yourself, then give some recognition and appreciation to your quirky friends and family.

Origin of Peculiar People Day:
Our research did not discover the origin or the creator of Peculiar People Day. We uncovered some reference defining this day. But, we did not find the originator or the date that it was first celebrated.

Where the hell......

2009-01-07T17:08:00.004-05:00

I know you've been wondering where the hell I've been...I just know it. Don't ask me how...I just know these things. Well...I've been.....around. What I don't know is where I've been, what I've been doing & why I didn't get off my lazy ass & post something here. Call me what you will, but ya' know ya' missed me! I'll be posting more regularly here & at my artsy journal because I'm feelin' artsy & also anxious to post here. Can ya' handle it?

The holidays were pretty busy at the store, although not as busy as last year. Yeah...I know....the economy sucks canal water. We did inventory over the New Year's weekend & I must pat Skip & myself on the back for doing it much more quickly & efficiently than my Dad & his bitchy partner ever did in the 11 years prior. Our Christmas festivities were quiet...we went to my M.I.L.'s house on Christmas Eve & exchanged presents with her, my S.I.L. & B.I.L., & my 22 year old niece & 18 year old nephew. As for Christmas Day...Skip & I exchanged presents in the morning, relaxed, & went for Chinese food for dinner. My big present this year nearly blew me to the floor.....a GPS for my car that I've named Priscilla!!!! All I can say is OMFG! Never can I get lost again! It also means that if I have your address, I may just end up at your front door 1 day! :::grin::: My mom & her hubby came over the following Sunday to exchange presents & go out to dinner. New Year's Eve was also quiet...just me & Skip & the fuzzy ones & Dick Clark (who should retire ~ I feel so bad for him).

I've been in a lot of swaps at swap~bot (everything from ATCs to postcards) which I MUST catch up on (lazy, lazy, lazy). I've joined an online class with Kelly Kilmer (love her!). I've hostessed yet another book club meeting ~ we're reading Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison this month ~ & had quite an interesting conversation about what 3 famous people would be on your list of "fantasy must haves." Mine are: 1) Jason Hawes (from "Ghost Hunters"); 2) Mike Piazza (former catcher for the NY Mets); 3) Vincent D'Onofrio (Law & Order: Criminal Intent). There are some runners up such as Hugh Jackman (among others), but none top those 3. All I can say is you ladies have some interesting choices! For the 3 ladies who weren't there that night, be prepared to answer the same question at the end of the month. For the rest of you out there.....who are your 3 choices???? Of course, I had to put my boyfriend's delish picture up here for all to see, especially you, Anabel, who couldn't think of what he looked like. Drooooooool! Oops...sorry! Finally able to post the above picture ~ YAY!
That's all for now....gotta go catch up on other online & offline things! If it gets too long before my next post, come kick my butt a little, would ya'?

Today is "National Maple Syrup Day"

2008-12-17T11:20:00.002-05:00

From Holiday Insights:

National Maple Syrup Day provides us with the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate this delicious American treat. This sweet and unique flavor originated in America. Native American Indians were the first to harvest and boil the sap of the maple tree into a thick syrup.

Watching or participating in a maple sap harvest, or demonstration, is a fun late winter event. They are held in February-March, when the sap is flowing. It is educational for the kids, too. During field demonstrations, some of the sap is boiled down into syrup. Best of all, free samples are often giving, poured over a pancake or vanilla ice cream.

Did you know? Sap of the maple tree, the same sap used to make maple syrup, makes a refreshing drink. Just put it in the refrigerator and pour a drink whenever you want. Or, have a drink as you harvest the sap from the tree!

How do you participate in National Maple Syrup Day? Pour real maple syrup onto your pancakes or waffles. Or, for an evening treat, pour warm maple syrup onto vanilla ice cream.

Please note, make sure you are using maple syrup, not pancake syrup. Unless the ingredients state otherwise, pancake syrup no longer contains maple syrup.(a surprise to many)

A~friggin'~men! I so agree!

2008-11-27T12:50:00.001-05:00

Thank you so much to Becky & Connie for posting this originally in their blogs.

Time Flies Whether You're Having Fun or Not

2008-11-16T13:40:00.003-05:00

I can't believe that it's just shy of a month since I last posted ~ OY! Remember how slowly time went when we were kids? Why can't it be like that into adulthood???

Where to start? On October 25th, Wilton (the town in CT where our store is) held its' annual Halloween parade & the kiddies then go around to the local stores in their costumes trick~or~treating. After the 2 hours alloted for this, Skip went across the parking lot to another store whose owner we are friendly with & my Dad went to the back of the store & into the teeny office. He wasn't having any perceptable (sp?) problems before this, but he called me back there saying he needed me. He was pale & having pain across his shoulders & into his arms & was kind of slouched back in a folding chair. I insisted that we needed to call 911, but he kept saying no & to take care of the customers coming in. I finally got a friend who came into the store to go get Skip. He took my Dad's blood pressure, looked him over (as I had) ~ we're both EMT's ~ & was able to convince him to have the paramedics at least come look at him. My Dad ended up going to the hospital & it turned out that he had had a mild heart attack. 2 cardiac catheterizations & 2 or 3 stents later, he is home & doing well. He's actually taking it easy & listening to the doctors (as far as I can tell) & after 62 years of smoking, he's quit. Whew ~ what a scare!

In the meantime, his friend & business partner, Clarice (who broke her femur on November 11, 2007 & has only been in the store a handful of times to say hello or get cat food because she's having her own physical problems since then), has come in like friggin' Mussolini...yelling, screaming, telling us how so many of the things in the store are wrong or look terrible, how we're stealing time from the store (I've had long standing appointments that I make a point of scheduling on Wednesdays only unless otherwise impossible) & that we're liars. My father knew of the schedules that Skip & worked out, he saw everyday, even if only for an hour or less, how we had the store running & never complained. He would make a few odd suggestions, but nothing like what this woman is doing. Some of the things she's upset about have been in the same spot since before she had her accident! She's also started "docking" our pay to reflect time we've "stolen" instead of giving us the weekly equity checks that we had an agreement with my father about. We told her that was unfair & unacceptable (because of the agreement with my father & that he knew how we ran things) & that we couldn't survive on what she wanted to give us. She didn't give a flying rats' ass. She didn't believe that I had various doctors appointments (including re~starting group therapy & seeing my therapist & psychiatrist weekly which is none of her beeswax) & called me a liar several times to my face. I said we could go back to high school & I could bring in doctors notes if she wanted. She had nothing to say. She called both of us liars regarding what time Skip came in to work this past Monday (he has a standing therapy appointment on Mondays at 10:00). We told her that Skip was in at Noon ~ 1 hour for therapist, a quick stop at the hardware store & the 45 minute drive up ~ which was the truth, because I looked at my watch. She said it was all a lie & that he couldn't have gotten to work until at least 2:00 because the hardware store receipt said 12:48. She actually called the hardware store yesterday to find out if their cash register time was correct & they looked at it & said "no, it's actually about an hour and a half off." We had nothing to do with her calling them, nor did we have them cover for us. She was forced to realize her mistake & apologize. It has been a never ending sense of dread & fear for me about what she's going to do & how she's going to act. I'm hoping it's true when she says she'll be totally removed from the store in 2 weeks. Skip has been wonderful in helping me remain fairly calm & in sticking up for me. He's my angel! In the middle of all of this, I celebrated my 42nd birthday.

On to lighter news...I set up something in honor of my grandmother who will have been gone 3 years this coming January 14th. She had a glass vase of some sort in the right hand corner of her kitchen window in her apartment with a string of Christmas lights that she kept on continuously year round...she never turned them off. I decided I wanted to do the same, so as of November 9th, I set up my own glass vase with some really pretty LED Christmas lights. I haven't turned them off yet. I won't turn them off either...they only way they're going off is if they burn out or she somehow turns them off. They're so pretty & cheery & make me feel connected to her & they can be seen in the picture at the top of this entry. The reflection on the wall almost looks like the Northern Lights.

Anywho, I'm still here, still breathing, & apologize for being so long in posting anything. Can y'all forgive me? Now it's off for me to make a handmade postcard to send out to Phinney for a swap we're both in & maybe do a little ghosthunting with Skip tonight & see if we can get any EVPs at the condo complex clubhouse.

2008-10-19T15:37:00.004-04:00

Holy crap....how the heck did my boyfriend, Jason Hawes of Ghost Hunters, get in here? Is my blog haunted? Paranormal stuff going on in here? Don't tell Skip that he's here 'cause.....OMG.....I'd be in trouble! LOL

Anywho........I'm still here & getting a little better...just taking it day by day. I'm getting back into group therapy & having weekly visits with the therapist & shrink, hopefully by next week. Meds are in the process of being adjusted. All steps in the right direction! But friggin' winter is coming & I hate the damn winter. :::sigh:::

On an aside note ~ I've got an art blog if you want to check it out. I just need to remember to post artsy stuff I send & receive there more regularly. Just click here to check it out.

Now if this sore throat & head stuffiness would just go away.......

Deep Breaths

2008-10-01T15:51:00.003-04:00

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." ~ Buddha

Once again, I know it has been a while since I've posted. I've been going through so much........I don't know........inner turmoil lately. Lots of anxiety & panic over all sorts of stuff, especially work. I've not been myself. I've been depressed. I wake up every morning with the only things that are making me glad are Skip, Lucy (our dog), Stella (our cat)........& that I'm still alive......still.....sometimes.....I wonder.

There are days that I am absolutely terrified to go into work. There are times that I want to just stay in the Tarrytown area, where I feel "safe". The way I've been feeling/acting/panicking has not only myself, but others concerned apparently.

I need some time off from work to shake it all out of my head & get back to real life, but I don't know how long that is or what it means exactly. I wish I could go to Montauk for at least a few days to be alone where I love it the most & meditate by the ocean.

I don't know what to do for myself or feel anymore really...........

Hmmmmmm....

2008-09-27T14:32:00.002-04:00

Crush a Can Day is today. How flat can you squish it?

After you get done kicking the can around, you get the fun of crushing it too. Use it as a stress reliever to take out all of the frustrations of your day. See how flat you can get it. It will make you feel good. Go ahead, give it a big squeeze. There, now don't you feel better?
You can crush a can anyway you want. There's no rules. Just make sure to do so safely.

Have a very happy Crush a Can Day.

Found on Holiday Insights.

Head Noise

2008-09-13T23:05:00.003-04:00

I'm still out here. Just been having a hard time lately. Tons of what I'm calling "head noise." Anxiety. Panic attacks daily. Must clear it out. I'm seeing the shrink Monday morning. May need meds to be altered. Will update on Wednesday when I've got more time.

I'm sorry I've been so quiet lately.

Is there anybody still out there?

Maybe I'm too boring/repetitive/depressing & should quit this blog.

Self affirmations are not working/worthless right now.

Anybody else having a hard time or "head noise" lately?

Why do I feel so alone?

Anybody out there?

Hello?

Echo......echo.......echo.......

One Last Post For Today...

2008-08-27T16:03:00.004-04:00

Anyone out there in my tiny reader~land interested in postcards and/or swaps? I've recently set up a swap for unusual postcards at swap~bot. It's a pretty neat website with all sorts of swaps going on. If you're interested (as I'm trying to get as many participants as possible), you can click HERE to join my particular swap.

Whew.....3 posts in 1 day.....I think that's the most I've ever friggin' done! WOW!

School Lunches

2008-08-27T14:40:00.004-04:00

Today, as children return to school, the Meme Express (http://memeexpress.blogspot.com/) is all about school lunches. Here are a few questions to whet your appetite:

Do you remember eating lunch at school?

Yes...very well, not only in high school (sheesh...25 year reunion next year!), but in elementary school. I always looked forward to lunch time throughout my school career.

Did you purchase your lunch or bring it with you?

In elementary school, I brought it with me, packed lovingly (& with a little note each day) by my mom. In high school, I bought lunch 99% of the time.

Did you carry a sack or a lunch box?

Until about 4th or 5th grade, I carried a lunch box. Growing up, we didn't have the fancy lunch boxes kids do today...we had the metal kind with the thermos inside. I loved picking out a lunch box & wish I still had some of them. My favorite was my first one with Pebbles & BamBam from the Flintstones. In 5th & 6th grades, I used a brown paper bag because by this point I thought I was "too old" for a lunch box.

If you had a lunch box, what was on it?

Oooops! Already answered this above!

What was your favorite school lunch?

In elementary school, probably either peanut butter & jelly or bologna sandwiches. In high school, I loved french fries.

What was your least favorite menu item?

Sloppy Joes in high school....there was just something nasty about them. To this day, I still don't like them.

Do you remember any of the cafeteria staff?

Yes...I can picture the cafeteria ladies in high school perfectly, but don't remember their names. They were probably around the age I am now & most of them were blonde & wore the standard hair net. One of them seemed especially "old." LOL

What friends sat with you for lunch?

I don't really remember sitting with any particular people in elementary school, just at the table for my class/grade. In high school, each grade kinda took over a certain section of the cafeteria, where they'd always sit (fresman always sat over here, seniors over there, etc). Class schedules varied from semester to semester, so I'd have different lunch mates at different times of the year.

Now how about you? If you've just read this, I'm officially tagging you for your blog/journal!

Just Because...

2008-08-27T13:58:00.002-04:00

"Today is Just Because Day. Finally, you have a chance to do something without a rhyme or reason. Most often in life, we do things because we have to, or we want to, or it's expected of us. None of those reasons apply today.

Is there something you'd like to do, but there isn't a reason or logic for doing it? Well, today is the day to go out and do something "just because". It is most enjoyable if it is an uncommon, or unexpected activity or action. Perhaps, you have something in mind. If not, just go with the first thing that comes to your mind.

"Just because" activities often come from a "whim" or a "what if I" type of thought. We know you will quickly get the hang of this day, and have a lot of fun with it.

To get you started, here are some of our suggestions for Just Because Day :

Take an unplanned day of vacation

Visit someone you haven't seen in a while

Knock on someone's door and compliment them for their great lawn

Skip, don't walk

Spin a wheel, and bicycle in the opposite direction of where the arrow points.

Buy something you don't need.

Jump in a puddle

Walk backwards"

From the website http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/

Short Vacations & Obsessions

2008-08-24T15:28:00.009-04:00

Aloha to my few but loyal readers! Skip & I are back from our short vacation to Westport, Mass & we had a great time. Why is it, though, that a vacation is never long enough & you always need another vacation after your vacation? Luckily, we are closing the store for the long (at least long for us...3 days) Labor Day weekend.

We relaxed, went to the beach with our pooch, shopped, ate good food & did some "Sunday Driving"...which leads me to these 2 pictures. The first being of the oldest general store in the U.S. & the other being of the only memorial that I know of to a rooster...the Rhode Island Red. Both are located in Adamsville, RI, just a little ways from where Skip's family cottage is. The gas prices when I left Westport were at $3.50, which is at least 30 cents a gallon or more lower than they are here where I live. How are gas prices where you live?

As for my obsession with Jason Hawes & "Ghost Hunters" (obsession being officially defined as "1.the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc. 2.the idea, image, desire, feeling, etc., itself.")....the new season starts on September 3rd. HOORAY!!!! I've been filling the time until it starts in with "Ghost Hunters International" & a few of "Paranormal State," but they're just not the same...not nearly as good.

Now........how about giving me some ideas/questions/whatever of what to write about here. My brain is empty & I need some input! Thanks!

All Over the Place.......

2008-08-17T17:34:00.008-04:00

I'm so beyond knowing where to start with this post....I'm so far behind in trying to post. Sooooooo....this post is just gonna be all over the place. Be kind!

First off, I went to a cousin's wedding in PA at Villanova University (where she met her groom). She's actually a 2nd cousin ~ her grandfather & my grandmother were brother & sister. She's a sweet, vivacious, adorable girl, as you can see by the picture I've posted. The reception was about 30 minutes away in DE, at a beautiful hotel. I got to see a lot of family that I haven't seen in a looooong while & to "re-introduce" myself to some younger cousins that are now "all grown up" but I haven't seen them since they were little kids. I keep remembering them as being 6 or 10 or 12 & now they're in their 20's, getting married or already married. WOW...does that age a person quickly or what?!?! Sheesh! Skip didn't join me because he'd been dealing with the shingles & in a lot of pain.

Speaking of Skip...he's up in south~eastern MA, where his family has a cottage. He headed up in the middle of the night last night (literally...he left around 3:30 am). I'll be joining up with him tomorrow night after work. We decided to close the store only for 3 days (Tues, Wed, Thurs), so as not to be closed too long...that's why I'm not up there already...lucky me, huh?

On to silly little things...everybody's got a celebrity crush, right? I know that Phinney likes David Cook & Carly likes David Duchovny. Well my "obsession" is 3~fold...naughty little me. Besides my eternal crushes on Mike Piazza (former catcher for the NY Mets) & Vincent D'Onofrio (from "Law & Order: Criminal Intent")...I've got a new boyfriend...Jason Hawes from T.A.P.S. ("Ghost Hunters" on the SciFi channel). They may not be any of your cups of tea, but they all just do something to me. LOL Decisions...decisions! Who's your celebrity crush?

Really, really quick update

2008-07-30T16:55:00.004-04:00

I've only got a few minutes before I head out to my therapy session, but I wanted to post here. I saw the endocrinologist today ~ she's just the nicest person. We've worked out a schedule over the next month to get me up to full dosage on metoformin (the generic of glucophage) which should not only help me with the Diabetes, but the hormonal imbalances, excess hair growth & help me to lose some weight. I also got a free meter to check my glucose levels once a day about 2 hours after a meal. I need to keep my numbers under 140.

I also need to go on a low glycemic index diet & work my way up to walking 5 times a week (yes, Lori, you read that right...we'll be walking more!). My question here is...besides the books I've ordered from Amazon on the low glycemic index diet...is anyone else out there in my limited readership do a diet like this & know any tried & true recipes you can share with me? This is all brand new to me & I'm a little overwhelmed. Skip also has diabetes, but we've never really gotten into this full swing & I could sure use some ideas & encouragement. Thanks in advance!

More to come in a few days...after my cousin's wedding.......will keep you posted....

Hello out there......

2008-07-27T14:28:00.004-04:00

OK...so I've been pretty lax about posting here lately, but I've honestly been busy. I didn't want to post just for the sake of posting & have my blog end up sounding like the ramblings of a 4 year old.

Work has been a little slow on the customer front over the past couple of days ~ I blame that on people being on vacation ~ but busy in getting orders done & deliveries put away. I've also had several doctors appointments over the past month or so. I mentioned in a post a while ago that I had a colonoscopy, but now I've also had an endoscopy (done by the same gastroentorologist ~ sp?) & also a gastric emptying study (ordered by that same doc because she wanted to see why my stomach wasn't emptying as fast as it should). The gastric emptying study was done in nucleur radiology at a local hospital ~ I had to eat the worst scrambled egg sandwich (dry,with no salt, pepper, anything) that was "laced" with whatever nucleur crap was in it. I guess I'm glowing on the inside now! No results from that yet, as it was only done this past Wednesday.

As for my visit to an endocrinologist, I had an OGTT (oral glucose tolerence test) done a few weeks ago. I loved this doctor, she was super nice. I'm seeing her for various hormonal things (obviously). Some of the blood work came back with no surpises for me ~ I have polycystic ovarian syndrome & 2 of the male hormone tests are slightly elevated (DHEA-S & testosterone). At my next office visit this week, we'll discuss potential ways to decrease the effects of these hormones & hopefully decrease the excess hair growth (chin, upper lip, & slight chest hair). There was, however, a surprise in other results. The OGTT revealed normal fasting glucose levels, but a very elevated 2 hour glucose level (they take fasting blood first, have you drink some highly concentrated sugar stuff, & then take your blood again at the 1 & 2 hour marks), which confirms the diagnosis of Diabetes Type 2. She says that my Diabetes is very mild (normal reference range is 4.0-6.0% & controlled Diabetes is 6.0-8.0% when doing an HA1c test ~ mine was 6.2%) & can probably be controlled with diet & exercise. It's good to know that it's mild, but it scares me a bit.

So..........now I wait for this Wednesday & see what exactly she has to say about medications & diet. I also wait to see what the gastroentorologist says from all her tests & my stupid chronic diarrhea. I've started walking ~ although only a little ~ I went out twice this past week with my friend Lori & walked for roughly an 45 minutes or an hour. It may not be much, but it's very hilly around here & you have to start somewhere. Thanks to Lori for giving me the motivation to get out there those 2 evenings!

I'm going to a cousin's daughter's wedding this coming Saturday in Villanova, PA (the reception is about 35 minutes away in Wilmington, DE). It's black tie "invited" (must be new wording ~ I've heard "black tie," "black tie requested," "black tie optional" but not "invited). My mom, her husband, & my aunt & uncle will be there, too. Staying overnight Saturday night since it's not local ~ it'll be nice to be away for 36 hours. It's just too bad that Skip won't be joining me. I had RSVP'd that he would (& I feel horrible that he's not at the last minute), but he's getting over the shingles & also wants to open the store that day. I was really looking forward to getting away with him & seeing him in a tux! Oh well............

Hope all is well with all of you out there!

Is it just me.......

2008-07-13T17:13:00.003-04:00

Is it just me, or is there something inherently wrong with this ad? Does this border on child pornography or something? I'm curious as to what everyone else thinks...

My Little Family

2008-07-05T14:29:00.002-04:00

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

RIP

2008-06-29T19:56:00.002-04:00

I've been meaning to post this for a few days. I'm saddened by his passing because I personally think he was genius & had the guts to say what others wouldn't. I remember seeing him in concert at Iona College in New Rochelle, NY & laughing my ass off. Rest in peace, George............

When did I get this chubby?

2008-06-29T13:33:00.007-04:00

Jeez...it's so damn hot & humid here today, I'm afraid to go outside...I'm gonna sweat like a pig in about 2 seconds...it's not a pretty sight. I've got a ton of things to catch up on today (as usual LOL): laundry (& lots of it), cards to make, brownies to bake for tomorrow nights' book club, finish (or at least try to) reading the book for tomorrow nights' book club, a run over to my mom's house to drop off some farm fresh eggs from my gay boyfriend, stop at the supermarket near her house to get stuff I can't find anywhere else...yada, yada, yada. I was also hoping to take Lucy (our pooch) to the brand new doggie park in our condo complex, but: 1) when am I gonna get the chance; 2) it's supposed to rain later; 3) it's so friggin' hot/humid, maybe I should wait for another day. To top it all off, my throat is slightly sore. YIKES!

As promised, here are some more pictures from my trip to Montauk, NY.

The boardwalk at our hotel to the beach....note the Atlantic Ocean on the horizon.

What else but the Atlantic Ocean?!?!

Me...in all my chubby pinkness, on our last full day there. Yes....that's a tattoo on my left arm. Gotta love that Mr. Spock eyebrow going! Don't laugh too hard.........

I'm Baaaaack!

2008-06-25T17:10:00.005-04:00

Greetings from my small part of the world! I'm back.....& have been back since Sunday evening......from my all too fast trip to Montauk, NY. My mom & I were there for 5 nights & had a fabulous time with great weather, but it ended all too soon (we're usually there for about 6 or 7 nights).

We were supposed to stay at the Panoramic View on the Old Montauk Highway, but they've been slowly converting the place into million dollar ocean~front condos, with a few rooms to rent as a "regular" hotel. They started this renovation when we were there last year & it wasn't too bad...all the construction was away from us. When I called to book our room in advance for this year, we were promised that the noise level wouldn't be any worse than last year & that the pool would still be useable. However, when we got there no one told us what the extent of the construction was & that there was no pool to use...it, too, was being renovated. When we got to our room, it overlooked a damn construction pit & we saw the lack of a pool. The guy helping us with our luggage said that we could get a pass to use the indoor (indoor!!!) pool at the hotel next door. We'd also have to skirt the construction zone to get to the beach. We also learned (within the next 5 minutes) from other guests that the construction noise was intolerable & started around 7:15 in the morning. Needless to say, we weren't happy campers ~ I was shaking, I was so upset! Long story short.......we complained, got a full refund, & got a room in another hotel ~ the Surf Club in town ~ (with a shorter walking distance to the beach & pool) & had a blast.

So............here are my first 3 pictures from our trip (more to come). The first being (obviously) from the train station (nope...we didn't take the train, we drove), the second being of my sandy feet at the beach on our last full day there, & the third of some gorgeous beach roses. I'll post more when I get a chance...probably won't be until Sunday.

As for the "Aunt Nub Originals" (hand stamped cards)...the offer still stands if you'd like one. I've only gotten 1 request so far...........

Direct From Never~Never~Land

2008-06-15T13:11:00.003-04:00

Helloooooooo out there! Been wondering where I've been? As usual, I've been going to work, coming home, eating & collapsing.....never in the mood to do an entry here. Pathetic, I know. No excuses except for lame ones. Is anyone still out there....reading my blog....waiting for me to re~appear & update? I hope so! I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone or Never~Never~Land & desperately wanting to update & desperately wanting to know that someone is still out there.

To make matters worse on my lack of updates & readership, I'll be going away to Montauk, NY with my mom from June 17th to June 22nd. This is our 7th or 8th time going out there on a yearly basis, just me & her. I used to go every year with my parents when I was little, but then that stopped. Now I crave the time I'm there...it's just so beautiful, peaceful & relaxing. The picture at the top of my page is of the Montauk Point Lighthouse that I took last year. I should have lots to talk about & pictures to post when I get back. Will you all still be there & reading?

As for what's been going on BESIDES work...I had my first colonoscopy (not counting the disasterous (sp?) one I had a few years ago with no prep, no sedation, etc at the whack of a general physician's office that I used to go to) at my gasteroenteroligist (again, sp?). For those of you who haven't had one done, the prep work during the preceeding 36 hours is definately the worst....horrible, nasty stuff to drink, followed by horrible, nasty stuff afterwards. During the procedure the anesthesiologist gave me an IV with some funky stuff to make me pretty much out of it. The procedure took about 20 minutes & all I remember is a little pressure (barely noticeable) & some muffled voices. Skip brought me home & I just relaxed & farted for the rest of the day. I need to remember to call the doctor's office while I'm away for the results.

I also got some fun new rubber stamps that I want to experiment with. The cards that I saw in the store (The Great American Stamp Store in Westport, CT) were really cool & I want to try to re~create them. As I'll have a bunch of newly made cards in the next couple of weeks just dying to fly off to someone, I'm wondering who I can send one to. Anybody want an "Aunt Nub Original"???? Just let me know & I'll be more than willing to make one for you...provided I've got your snail~mail address!

The cuties at the top of this post are 6 Bichon Frise puppies that a customer brought in to our store in the past week. She's a breeder & the mama doggie just had them on April 6th, so they're only about 8 or so weeks old. She had them all in the carrier & brought them & the proud mama into the store. There was another customer in the store at the time, so we each got to hold one or two of them at a time. I just couldn't resist snapping a picture of their cute little faces (at least 5 of them) peeking out of the carrier on my camera phone.

Anywho.....must go get my eyebrows & other assorted & sundry facial hairs waxed (AKA "defuzzed") plus start getting stuff packed for my Tuesday morning departure for Montauk. Have a great week! I'll talk to you soon!

Two Word Meme

2008-06-04T13:08:00.005-04:00

I snagged this meme from my good friend, Phinney (who's blog is private, unfortanately, or I'd link it here) (update...I now have a link to Phinney's other blog, which is public...here...YAY!). Looked like fun, so I decided to do it....but where the heck is #10 & #19? Now it's your turn to do it.......

1. Where is your cell phone? in charger

2. Where is your significant other? at work

3. Your hair? needs washing

4. Your mother? in Virginia

5. Your father? in Connecticut

6. Your favorite thing? can't pick

7. Your dream last night? re-occuring again

8. Your favorite drink? chocolate milk

9. Your dream/goal? buy RV

11. Your hobby? rubber stamping

12. Your fear? lose Skip

13. Where you want to be in 6 years? not working

14. Where were you last night? at therapist

15. What you're not? thin enough

16. Muffins? chocolate chip

17. One of your wish list items? an RV (can Mike Piazza or Vincent D'Onofrio count)

18. Where you grew up? North End (of New Rochelle, NY that is)

20. What are you wearing? sweat pants

21. Your TV? on alot

22. Your pets? dog cat

23. Your computer? big help

24. Your life? it's there

25. Your mood? needs relaxing

26. Missing someone? my mom

27. Your car? kinda old

28. Something you're not wearing? any shoes

29. Favorite store? Yankee Candle

30. Your summer? cheery sunny

31. Like someone? love husband

32. Your favorite color? always purple

33. When is the last time you laughed? today hopefully

34. Last time you cried? last night

PS The picture above was taken on my camera phone on my way home from work with Skip this past Saturday. There were some really, really wild thunderstorms going on that we kept driving in & out of....& all of a sudden there was a gorgeous double rainbow (look closely for the 2nd rainbow...it was faintly off to the right).

Memorial Day

2008-05-26T12:04:00.008-04:00

Hi gang! I hope you are all enjoying your long holiday weekend...doing whatever it is that you are doing! I know I am enjoying 3 days off in a row from the store...what a pleasure it has been, even though some of it is being spent playing catch up on stuff I usually put off until the last minute.

Since it is Memorial Day, I thought I'd save these pictures for today, even though I took them this past Friday. A church that Skip & I pass every day to & from work had these flags out front on their lawn & when we happened across them on Thursday, we got the chills, we were that moved by it. I wanted to make a point of getting pictures of it as best I could on Friday evening on our way home. There must be at least several thousand of these little flags, no exaggeration.

So, in honor of all Americans who gave their lives in Iraq & Afghanistan (& in other wars, too)...here are my pictures of the "Field of Flags."

A Kid in a Candy Shop

2008-05-25T14:15:00.007-04:00

Yesterday my friend Lori & I went on a day trip to the Berkshires in Massachusetts...destination...the great big mama store of the Yankee Candle Company in South Deerfield. The place is fabulous & I'm like a kid in a candy shop!

I've been heading up there at least once a year since I first discovered Yankee Candles about 15 years or so ago & my how they've changed & expanded big time over the years. The "headquarters" ~ the candles used to be made right there, but that part of it is down the road a bit now ~ has everything from their candles (of course ~ duh!) to stuff for your home & garden & a Bavarian Christmas village & the Black Forest. Although there are Yankee Candle stores in malls & Yankee Candle candles to be found at Bed Bath & Beyond (among other places), no place has the immense selection of scents that they do here in South Deerfield, MA. Thee's every scent from tea & honey to dune grass to gardenia to fresh ground coffee...& everything in between! I myself, picked up 29 different scented tarts (wickless "candles" that I put in an electric tart warmer)...& 2 of each of those different scents! I had this trip planned & saved my pennies so I could go a little nuts. I also picked up some of their jar candles. It's no exaggeration when I tell you that 1 of these little tarts scents my entire house for the day...so I'm pretty well set for a while, don't ya think?

I took a couple of pictures on my camera phone of the Bavarian Christmas village & thought I e-mailed them to myself, but they haven't shown up yet. Bizarre! Sooooo....you'll have to make do with the picture I snapped here at home of my basket~o~tarts & what I've lifted from their website.

Music Video

2008-05-19T20:21:00.003-04:00

For my hubby, Skip, 1 of my favorite songs of all time, by 1 of my favorite artists of all time. Where's a boombox when you need 1?

Catchin' Up With Nub

2008-05-18T13:10:00.007-04:00

I bet you all thought I fell off the face of the Earth, didn't you? Well...no....not exactly. Skip was unable to work for about a week & a half, so I had the store to myself for that time. I basically went to work, came home & forced myself to eat something (anything) & went to bed. It's not easy running a busy little store all on your own for a day or 2, but for an extended period it's....well.....draining, physically & emotionally. Skip has rallied beautifully, but I'm still feeling the effects. I'm just sort of blah & going through the motions right now. I don't blame Skip at all, please don't get me wrong! I'm just feeling how difficult running a retail store on your own can be. I need a vacation or at least a day off where I'm not running around to my own various doctor's appointments (I've got a lot going on there, but that's another story ~ I'm ok, but figuring out what's going on), trips to the vet (Stella the kitty either has a kidney infection, UTI, or her kidneys are failing because of her age ~ let's hope it's not the last), doing laundry, etc. I just plainly & simply need to re~group. Thank the powers above that next weekend is Memorial Day weekend & the store is closed on Saturday, Sunday & Monday. I'm thinking of doing a day trip up to the main Yankee Candle Company store in South Deerfield, MA (Lori....do you want to join me? I'll be calling you! Phinney...do you want to meet me there?)

Anywho...yesterday, my mom, aunt & I went to a young (or at least young to me, she was born in 1982 ~ LOL) cousin's bridal shower in Bethlehem, PA. It has gotten to that point where our cousins kids are now all getting married. They're all young enough to be my own kids, but old enough to be getting married ~ WOW! She's a cute little thing (as you can see by the picture below...that's the nicest bridal~shower~ribbon~bouquet I've ever seen made!), quite bubbly, has a great smile & just all around sweet. Her mom (also my cousin, obviously) is 1 of 8 kids (5 boys, 3 girls) & her 2 sisters & her mom (my great~aunt & the bride's grandmother) were there. The 3 girls I mentioned are so funny (especially Patty) & all are fabulously crafty & great at baking ~ look out Martha Stewart! Later on, my great~uncle Jack (the bride's grandfather & my grandmother's brother) showed up (he's in the other picture below with my great~aunt, my mom & my aunt). It was wonderful to see him, as he's now 87 & his health, unfortunately, is really starting to fail. My grandmother would be sooooo pleased that we got to spend some time with him.

That's enough rambling for me for now. I must now get off my butt & continue on with the 42bazillion things that need to get done. And if you're wondering about the picture above, that's taken from the deck behind my house & shows the view at night, down the valley to White Plains, NY. Hope all is well with you...if any of you are still out there reading my blog....I hope I haven't lost all of you! LOL

I'm still here....

2008-05-14T17:55:00.003-04:00

Hi everybody! Yes.........I'm still out here......alive & kicking! I've just had a rough couple of weeks for one reason or another, I'm still rather out of sorts & not sure what to write, but I'm OK...there's nothing to worry about. Will catch up with a post on Sunday....I promise!

AAAAAAACCCCCCKKKKK!

2008-04-23T16:20:00.003-04:00

Been trying to post a new entry for the past 2 hours....I keep re~typing nice long entries & I keep getting an error message & losing my dang entry! And now it's publishing my last post...I don't freakin' get it!!!!!!!!!

I'm giving up for right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I need this t-shirt:

Long Time...No Post

2008-04-23T15:51:00.004-04:00

I've been a lazy slob about posting here lately.....I'm the first to admit it.....so sue me. LOL I've been loving the Spring weather for the past week (actually, it's summery here today ~ incredible!) & have been working like crazy. What else is friggin' new?

Our dishwasher was apparently spewing water all over the kitchen floor 2 nights ago. I usually turn it on last thing before toddling upstairs to bed. Skip was downstairs in the basement checking his e-mail when he said it sounded like a waterfall. YIKES! So....for the past couple of nights I've been hand washing any plates, silverware, glasses. Makes me realize how dang spoiled I am by having a dishwasher & how I never want to be without it again! I know...I know....."Awwwwww, poor baby! 2 days of handwashing stuff! ::sniff:: ::sniff::" Break out the violins!!! Anywho, the repairman came to fix it today & I'm thrilled ~ especially since the bill wasn't too bad.

Tomorrow is my grandmother's 90th birthday. She passed away a year ago in January & I miss her, but I do hear from her from time to time & quite often can smell her scent. But, I'm working tomorrow & won't be able to go to the cemetery. My mom & I are having dinner tonight in her honor.

The Lisa Williams show was fabulous! A lot of people came through to her & she gets very specific with the family/friends who are in the audience. Truly amazing! The first person to come through was someone named Richard (I've got a cousin named Richard who died at age 36 in a horrible car accident up in the Nanuet, NY area), but I don't know if it was MY Richard or someone else's.....he got shy & stepped back to let others come through & she never got back to him. I really wish I could've known if it was my cousin or not ~ bothers me a little.

My wonderful neighbor, Jane, moved to Kansas as of this past Monday. She was a fabulous lady, good friend, & terrific neighbor! Why does it seem like as soon as I make friends with somebody or become close with somebody, they up & leave me somehow? I find myself putting a wall up around myself....keeping people at an arm's length, yet desperately yearning for friends...just because I'm afraid they'll leave. I hate that I do this, but afraid of being hurt. People die, move far, far away, become too busy to be with me or have some excuse not to hang out with me(yet are friends & hang out with other people)......I don't know why.....so therefore, up goes my shield. I really value the importance of friendship ~ sometimes it's all that you have. Hmmmmmmmmmm.......wish I could break free all these mixed emotions.

What's New with Nub?

2008-04-14T17:44:00.004-04:00

After a gray~ish weekend weather wise, it promises to be sunny (at least through Thursday) with a warming trend ~ should get to 70 on Thursday. I'm posting today, a Monday, instead of my usual Wednesday or Sunday, because I needed to get home early from work & finish up last minute tax sh*t. Nothing like last minute, right?

This past Sunday, Skip & I wanted to try to get closer to a "lighthouse" (although there's no water near where's it's located) that we see every morning on our way to work. There's also a hand painted sign on a fence on the side of the road advertising "farm fresh eggs." I'm a sucker for farm fresh eggs, as they're richer & better tasting than the ones you get in the supermarket. We were able to drive just inside the property to the caretaker's house (I forget how old he said it was) & ~ HOORAY! ~ purchase a dozen eggs. He said there'll be a lot more where that came from very soon, since they have 400 ~ yes! 400! ~ chickens & they're starting to lay eggs like crazy. MMMMmmmmmm! I can foresee some hard~boiled eggs & baking in my future! However, we couldn't get any closer to this "lighthouse." Turns out, according to the farm caretaker, that it's a water tower. Veddy interesting! All of this & I'm still in Westchester County...suburbs of NYC! Whoda thunk?

Tomorrow I have off (again, a change from my usual Wednesday & Sunday off) because: 1) I had a week from heck last week, what with Skip being so sick; 2) I'm going with my friend Anabel to see Lisa Williams (she talks to the dead & I'm all into that sort of stuff) at the Tarrytown Music Hall tomorrow night. Dinner at the diner & then the show...should be a good girl's night out!

Anywho, in closing...I share with you a picture of the daffodils that I planted at my Mom's house several years ago. They are in full bloom (mine at home aren't ready to bloom yet. Why is that? We live only 9 miles apart.) & are magnificent. Gotta love their sunny, happy faces!

Tag I'm It!

2008-04-06T12:29:00.003-04:00

I know that my last post was similar to this one, but I've been unofficially tagged by Becky. So...here goes.

Here are the rules

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog

2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog - some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

So here are my 7 random and/or weird things:

1) Like Becky, I also cough like crazy when I clean my ears with Q~tips, but it happens with both ears.

2) I have a form of synesthesia. This means that certain senses "overlap" ~ whatever I see (whether it's colors or a scene), I can taste it & also have some sort of texture associated with it. Blue has a very different taste & texture than yellow which has a very different taste & texture than green. The sky has various tastes & textures depending on what's going on up there (sunny; cloudy; the sun streaming through clouds; etc). Everything has a taste & texture. My niece also has something like this, but to do with music.

3) My right foot is pigeon~toed.

4) I like raw spinich but hate it when it's cooked.

5) I always need to have the car window open (even just a little) no matter how hot or cold it is outside.

6) I enjoy rambling around cemeteries. It's very peaceful & I like looking at the headstones & statues. I could spend an entire day doing this.

7) I immediately have to pee when I go out in very cold weather.

I'm supposed to tag people now, here at the end of my entry, but I'm not going to do that to specific people. Consider yourself tagged simply by reading this. You can leave me a link to your journal or simply answer in the comments section. Either way, I hope you play along!

PS I took the picture above recently on the main street that leads to my street ~ imagine the tastes & textures I'm experiencing!

17 Things About Me

2008-03-30T12:01:00.005-04:00

I've seen other people do similar things on their blogs in the past, with various amounts of things they share (10, 25, etc). Here I am with mine, some of which you may already know.

1) I live in Tarrytown, NY, home of the Tappan Zee Bridge & about 20 miles north of New York City. I've lived here since August of 2000. It's famous for being the home of Washington Irving, author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow & Rip Van Winkle.

2) I've been married to my best friend, Skip, since June 2, 1991.

3) We don't have any kids due to infertility. By choice, we didn't persue any other options such as fertility treatments, surrogacy (sp?), or adoption. It was a difficult choice at first, but we're very happy with it now. We love spoiling our dog (Lucy), our cat (Stella), our 2 nieces (Naomi & Grace), our nephew (Sam), & other people's kids.

4) I went to an all girls, private, Catholic high school in New Rochelle, NY. I got a fabulous education there (was in AP art classes), but had a hard time with some of the other girls ~ I was pretty geeky & was picked on terribly.

5) I am an only child. BUT...I'm very close to 3 of my cousins & I refer to my cousin Heather as my sister & her daughter (Grace) as my niece.

6) I was a radio major in college. Unfortunately, I never pursued it, but I sure wish I had.

7) I love rubber stamping & doing all sorts of other artsty and/or craftsy things (knitting, photography, altered books, etc). I'm convinced I have craft ADD.

8) I have 5 tattoos & am looking to get more. On my right thigh, I have a bumblebee; on my left arm I have an American Indian inspired arm band with my nieces & nephew's initials inside some feathers; on my left shoulder blade I have the Chinese symbol for "endure"; on my right shoulder blade I have a rose entwined in a peace symbol & the date 9/11/01 under it; on my lower back I have the NY Mets emblem.

9) I was an EMT, but it expired & I really must refresh when I've got the time. I also volunteer at the local ambulance corps, but again I need the time to become active.

10) I love to travel, but my absolute favorite spot in the world is Montauk, NY (the eastern most point in NY state). Skip & I hope to have an RV someday & just travel around the US.

11) I am a Scorpio. My birthday is November 5th.

12) I am short ~ only 5' tall ~ but used to date someone who was 6'7". Quite a pair we were!

13) I love to read & am the hostess for a monthly book club.

14) I was born in NJ, but my parents were living in NYC at the time. My mom & dad were living in England when my mom got pregnant with me. When they moved back to the US (while she was still pregnant), they stayed with some friends in NJ until they got an apartment in the city. My mom didn't want to switch doctors yet again, so she stuck with the first doctor in NJ. They drove past a ton of hospitals on the island of Manhattan itself, & went about 45 minutes or so to a hospital in NJ. I only spent a couple of days there (they brought me home to their studio apartment in the city with the Empire State Building as my nightlight) & have never lived anywhere else than a stones throw from the Big Apple.

15) I have a candle fetish (especially Yankee Candle Company) & a plastic shopping bag fetish (don't ask ~ but I never have to buy kitchen garbage bags ~ anyone have some plastic shopping bags from the supermarket they want to send me from out of the NYC metro area? LOL).

16) I believe in the paranormal (ie: ghosts, etc) & have even had paranormal experiences.

17) My favorite drink of all time is chocolate milk made with Nesquik. I could drink it all day & never tire of it!

American Idol Meme

2008-03-29T23:32:00.005-04:00

My buddy, Becky, came up with this meme over at her blog, Where Life Takes You, & I thought I'd play along.

"I am inspired by last night's episode of American Idol. Here's the scenario:You are an amazing singer and have the opportunity to showcase your talent on TV. You must pick a song that was popular in the year you were born. What song do you pick and why?"

Alrighty then. Becky & I were both born the same year, 1966.....so I went to the top 100 list that she linked to for that year. A pretty good selection in that I knew of most of them (I was a radio major in college, remember?) & know the words to a bunch of them. BUT....which do I pick? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...after double & triple checking up & down the list, I'll pick......drumroll please..................."Summer in the City" by the Lovin' Spoonful! I'm just in that frame of mind. I live so dang close to THE city of all cities (if you don't know what city I live near, then you haven't been reading me that long or just haven't been paying attention or aren't 1 of my local readers ~ Hi Lori! Hi Karen! Hi Lysa!) & I'm ready for summer (or at least spring). Becky says she'll give extra credit for actually singing it & then posting that serenade....but I won't torment all of you with that. LOL

Now it's your turn to answer the question! You can either blog about it (let me know so I can check it out) or leave me a comment. Have fun gang!

Easter Sunday ~ Playing Catch Up

2008-03-23T12:12:00.005-04:00

I'm still amazed at how quickly time flies & how my daily routine is the same~old same~old. I want to have an interesting post, an amusing anecdote. When something happens & I think to myself, "I must use this in my blog," I seem to forget it 5 minutes later....& so the moment is gone. I get home at the end of a long day at the store & I'm just too dang tired to try to remember. I end up just plopping down on the couch to eat some dinner in front of the TV & end up staying there until I crawl off to bed. My blog needs attention (as do posting comments at the various ones I read); my rubber stamping, knitting (I've been working on a simple scarf for a year!), various crafts, reading, cooking, housecleaning....all in need of my attention. At least the bills are getting paid, but I'm standing at the kitchen counter doing them.

It's Easter Sunday. Spring officially started a few days ago thank gawd! I'm so anxious (as I am every year) for the lovely Spring weather...warmer temps, sunny days...all the glories of Spring. The daffodils & other Spring~y plants are starting to push their little heads up through the ground. Little green shoots peeking their heads up through the drab brown ground. Trees & bushes are starting to hint at having beginning buds. My pussywillow tree has it's little fuzzy buds on it & I saw a robin the other day ~ sure signs that Spring has sprung. HOORAY! I've said it before & I'll say it again...I'm not a fan of Winter. The cold & dreary days depress me. On the other hand, I don't like the high humidity we get here in the NYC metro area, but I'd rather be too hot than too cold & I'd much rather see the green on the trees & all the beautiful flowers/plants in bloom than the dreary browns/greys of Winter.

Now I must close my entry for today ~ need to move on to reading & commenting elsewhere & spread some love. My next entry will probably be on Wednesday ~ how about giving me some questions to answer ~ I need some ideas here gang, so that my entries aren't the same boring junk all the time!!!!

Holy 80s Batman

2008-03-18T14:24:00.002-04:00

Oh my gawd.........I stumbled across this video today........I had such a crush on Charlie Sexton in college when I was a radio major!!!!! Giddy little school girl giggles!!!

This and That

2008-03-12T15:57:00.003-04:00

I've been meaning to blog...really I have. It's just that I've been really busy & not much to write about. I didn't want another yawn~fest like my last entry. So....what the heck have I been up to?

Work, mostly. That & laundry, watching stuff I've TiVo'd...& sleep. I'm finally feeling better, but my right ear is still majorly clogged ~ like having a cotton ball stuffed in there or something. I really must e-mail my doctor to tell him it's still like this after all this time & also inquire about some test results. Making a mental note to do so after finishing this entry.

Today was a day off for me...at least off from working at the store. I've been bopping between the computer (trying to catch up on e-mails & at least trying to read other journals ~ sorry if I haven't commented in a while or even today, but trust me, I am reading!), doing 500 pounds of laundry, changing the sheets on the bed, working on the St. Patrick's Day cards for this month's card swap (yes, Phinney, you are getting one! :D), yada, yada, yada. I've gotten a lot done, but have been bouncing around like crazy...gotta love my ADD!

My book club read a book last month called Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst & I highly recommend it ~ it was fabulous! This month we're reading The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill by Mark Bittner. It's a really interesting look into one man's interaction with a flock of wild parrots in, of all places, San Francisco (Carly & Grove, have either of you seen this flock or even know about it? I'd love to hear your take on it!). I've got the video for it, but haven't watched it yet, as I want to have read at least most of the book first. Speaking of videos (we've got Blockbuster Online which is like Netflix), I've also got The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio but I haven't watched that either. Should be good. Can't say that I've watched any truly memorable videos lately since I've been watching so much on TiVo. The last thing I watched was 1408 with John Cusack, but it was just OK.

As for the Governor of my home state, New York, all I can say is that I'm disappointed. I personally don't care what people do sexually behind closed doors. It's none of my business & I plainly & simply just don't care. However, when someone goes around supposedly "cleaning up" prostitution rings & taking the high road & then goes & does something like this, it seems awfully hypocritical to me. Too bad this had to happen, Mr Spitzer, I feel much more worried about the state of your marriage & family life than I do about the state of our fair state. Carly has many of the same thoughts on this subject as I do over at her blog, Ellipsis. She's written about it much better than I ever will!

Yawn~fest 2008

2008-03-02T13:34:00.004-05:00

Howdy! Yes...it's been a yawn~fest here in the life of Aunt Nub since I last posted...what....oh lord, has it been a week? I think I can officially call it "Yawn~A~Palooza 2008!"

Nothing much has happened here. I've still been fighting this dang bronchitis or whatever it has morphed into ~ 2 weeks & counting. I've been in & out of work this past week ~ mostly out though ~ just kinda snoozing, laying on the couch watching TV or reading...that sorta thing. I haven't showered since Leap Day & am now feeling truly disgusting because of it. I am, however, starting to feel better, but the energy level is still pretty much in the gutter. At least the nose/chest congestion is letting up a little & my temperature seems to have stabilized back at normal.

I still haven't done anything about the mess that goes on the garbage shed, but that's only because I don't have the energy to care right now. I will do something soon though! In the meantime, something has stolen our 3rd bird suet feeder off our back deck. I know it's not a human, because our deck is at the equivalant of the 2nd story back there because of the way the land slopes to the side & behind our house. No human would bother with it....just a waste of time & energy. However....I can't figure out how maybe a squirrel is getting on the deck (no trees close enough to it) & then it's not just like the dang thing has been knocked onto the deck or over the railing & onto the ground below. The dang thing is G-O-N-E! It's nowhere to be found! Is a squirrel actually knocking it off the deck & then dragging it off into the woods???? WEIRD! We've replaced it again today ~ let's see how long it lasts (thankfully, they're not expensive).

The picture above is from the snow storm that I last posted about ~ it's taken me this long to upload it to my computer & post it here. Although I thought the snow looked really pretty on the forsythia bush in front of my house, I'm ready for Spring. I really don't know what else to tell you.....I've been that friggin' boring. Can you forgive me?

By the way, I'm open as usual for questions & suggestions of what to write about! Also.....I've added a new widget in my sidebar (in case you haven't noticed).....so pop on over there & mark your spot on my map!

Unconscious Mutterings...a meme

2008-03-02T13:11:00.004-05:00

I say....& you think....(what would your answers be?)

Chemical :: Mixture

Poker :: Face

Federal :: Court

Mattress :: Sleep

Who am I? :: I am Aunt Nub

Investigation :: CSI

In good hands :: With my husband, Skip

8:30 :: PM....trying to relax....watching tv probably

Creditors :: Go away

Resource :: Internet or library

Snow Day & Bronchitis

2008-02-22T17:18:00.003-05:00

Today was a snow day for Skip...no work for him...HOORAY ~ I had him home! We got at least 5 or 6 inches of snow & some freezing rain is due in. As much as I dislike winter, the cold, the mess, etc, I must admit that it's awfully pretty out there ~ a virtual winter wonderland. I snapped the picture above really quickly on my cell phone from the opposite end of the carport from where I park (that's the rear bumper of my 11 year old "soccer mom" minivan down there). Skip asked for at least 1 decent snow this winter...so now you've got it, honey!

And why is it a snow day only for Skip & not for me, too? Well....if I didn't have a raging case of stupid bronchitis, then it would've been a snow day for me, too....but.....well.....I was staying home anyway. I saw my doctor yesterday & he said that if I had waited much longer, he would've been sending me home with walking pneumonia. I did get sent home, however, with a prescription for Leviquin...some heavy duty (750 mg) antibiotics & the size of horse pills. I must say that I'm very good at taking pills, but these I nearly have to choke down. Thankfully, I only have to take them once a day. Then I got the curse yesterday on top of it all. Shoot me now & put me out of my misery. I'm hoping that by this time next week I'll be feeling like a new woman!

Thank you so much for the couple of ideas so far with the garbage shed. I still haven't done anything yet, but I'll let you know what I end up doing. As for the Grand Central Terminal prank, yes, Phinney, it is by a group called "Improv Everywhere," & yes, Becky, they were the ones who had about 100 men take off their shirts at a NYC Abercrombie & Fitch. Check out their link in my sidebar for more videos, etc. I got on their mailing lists...I'd love to be involved in something (as long as I don't have to take MY shirt off & scare everyone to death!).

Rant Rant Rant

2008-02-20T19:21:00.000-05:00

I've lived in a really nice condo complex for 7 1/2 years now & have been very happy. We've got a fabulous view down into the valley & see all the pretty twinkling lights from White Plains (the closest city in our county). We don't have to mow the lawn or shovel anything when it snows (our common charges take care of that). There's a nice little pool & a clubhouse (available for parties & whatnot). There's a big castle that can be seen out my kitchen window in the front, just up the hill & is the highest point in the county. We have an end unit & our neighbor (attached on the left) is a doll ~ I so wish she weren't selling her unit & moving to Kansas City! Some close friends live in a unit just down the hill from us. The Hudson River is only about 3 minutes from my home. NYC is a short train ride from here. I'm really happy here.

So why am I so damn frustrated that I want to scream??? It may seem very trivial to all of you, but right now, I am so sick of it! It's how some of the neighbors use the particular "garbage shed" that we also use. There are several of them up & down the hill & several units are "assigned" to use a particular "shed." I say "shed" because I don't know what else to call them & that's pretty much what everyone else here calls them ~ it looks like a little garage, but it's where the dumpsters are for garbage, newspaper/cardboard & the bins for recycling.

Most people are pretty good about what goes in which dumpster. Others just don't care & quite literally just throw their stuff into the shed & let it land wherever it will. Not only is that gross, but it is also a hazard...forget anything else (like "can this be recycled?").....I've seen broken glass on the floor, along with bags of dog poop & turkey/chicken carcasses. We were recently informed by the management company that our village will be sending out trash inspectors randomly & if something isn't in the right dumpster or bin, the garbage men won't pick up any of the garbage & our complex would be fined. The fines would then be divided up amongst the condos & tacked onto our common charges. Everyone got the same letter & list of recycling do's/don'ts as we did & I've been extra vigilant about doing the right thing ~ I certainly don't want to be the one at fault for getting the fines tacked onto everyone's common charges. So why, why, WHY are people still tossing cardboard/newspapers in with the regular garbage...putting non~recyclable plastic bags all tied up around their recycling into those bins...tossing stuff just wherever?????? Do they just not care? Are they that stupid that they don't understand what to do? Can they simply NOT read?

I need some advice here. Is it too much of me to ask/believe that if I can take the time to sort stuff properly, so can everyone else? Should I hang a polite (yet firm) note telling people to start doing their part so we don't get fined? I almost want to sit there for a week & hold people's hands while they "get used to this," but who has the time/patience? I don't want to get fined for other people's laziness/stupidity, just as I don't want to be the one to blame for the fines. What should I do? What would you do?

PS I'm off from work tomorrow to finally go to the doctor about a cold that I've had since Sunday, plus some other issues. I've then got a therapist appointment late in the afternoon. In between the two, besides reading the book for Monday night's book club meeting, I've got to at least start on my swap for February's card swap. Any ideas from those artsy~craftsy types out there as to what I should stamp on a small~ish blank heart shaped puzzle with a Valentine's theme?

Grand Central Terminal Prank

2008-02-20T18:21:00.004-05:00

Being a native New Yorker who has lived her whole life only a stones' throw from the city, I would've LOVED to have been one of these people who did this!!!!! How cool is this video??? If you haven't seen it yet, you gotta watch it!

Where did the day go?

2008-02-17T17:50:00.005-05:00

I had every intention of getting a bunch of stuff done today.....but didn't. I don't know how it happened, but the day just got away from me somehow. This seems to happen more times than I'd like to admit.

I couldn't tell you what I accomplished this morning besides eating breakfast, putting a new block of suet out for the birdies & taking down the Valentine's Day flag that was flying from its' pole off the side of our deck (& bringing out the Cajun flag to hang out there until it's time for the St. Patrick's Day flag ~ however, the Cajun flag has yet to be hung). I finally showered around 1:30 or 2:00, walked Lucy (our dog) & picked up loads of little "poop bombs" in the side yard that needed attention. The Cajun (which is in my heritage) flag has the following meaning:
The gold castle on the red field represents the Spanish kingdom, who allowed and even assisted the Acadians in settling their
new homeland. The silver fleur-de-lis on the blue field represents their French heritage(which I find ironic, since the French threw us out from what I've been told). The gold star on the white background respresents the Virgin Mary, patron saint of the Acadians.

I did get over to my mom's house a few towns over (she's been away for a while) & brought in the huge white plastic "bucket" or "bin" or whatever the heck it is that the mailman left yesterday. It was totally brimming over with mail, which I sorted through for her (catalogs/magazines in 1 pile; first class & bills in another). I changed a couple of lightbulbs that had burned out.

I stopped at the grocery store for some Aunt Jemima sausage biscuits that I'd been craving & 1/2 a gallon of milk. Then I headed over to Michael's (the craft store) for some of those pretty little organza bags with the ribbon ties at the top, so that I can put together a bunch of lavender "sachets" to put around the house & treat people with. I have 1/2 a pound of lavender buds that just arrived the other day ~ do you realize just how much lavender that is? ZOINKS!

I headed home, put my stuff away, walked Lucy again.....& here I am again.....getting nothing accomplished, but writing this entry. I SHOULD be reading my book for my book club meeting which is a week from tomorrow, washing the towels, catching up on TiVo'd stuff, cleaning up around the house, hanging out that Cajun flag, making the puzzle card for this months' card swap.......yada yada yada......the list goes on & on!

Ahhhhhhh.....

2008-02-14T20:16:00.002-05:00

Those closest to me know that I adore Tony Bennett & that I once saw kd lang in concert at Radio City Music Hall in NYC many years ago. Soooooo...to hear them sing together is such a treat for me. Here's a little Valentine's Day treat from me to you............

Valentine's Day Early

2008-02-13T13:38:00.008-05:00

My sweet husband brought Valentine's Day early to me...several days early...Sunday to be exact. He bought me a heart shaped box of some FAB~U~LOUS chocolates from a divine little local chocolate store here in Tarrytown called Anna Shea Chocolates. I'm hoping that you locals here in Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow know about this place ~ if you do, you know how gorgeous & delicious (& expensive) their chocolates are; if not, what've you been waiting for? Those of you who don't live around here...my god, you're missing out on an extravagance! I took these pictures just to show off the marvelous goodies I got ~ they're almost too beautiful to eat, but believe me, I will eat each & every piece in here. The pictures don't do the chocolates justice in showing just how pretty they are.

I won't say what I got for Skip for Valentine's Day just yet because I'm saving it for him for tomorrow & I don't want to spoil the surprise in case he happens to check my blog in the next 24 hours.

In the meantime, since I most likely will not get a chance to post here tomorrow, I wish you all a very happy Valentine's Day or an OK anti-Valentine's Day, whichever way you want to go.

Getting Better

2008-02-13T13:00:00.003-05:00

As promised an entry or 2 (or 3...) ago, here's a picture of how much better my hand is getting/looking. The scabbies are all gone & now I've just got a bright pink line running down my hand & onto my wrist. If I haven't said it before, I'll say it now...I'm so thrilled with the doctor, how well he performed the surgery & how/where he made the incision. After all the pinkness fades (& knowing how I am & how long my skin stays pink at a scar site, it'll be a long while), you won't be able to tell how big the scar really is, since most of it is where creases in my hand would be. The only spot where it might show is at the base of my hand & a little on my wrist, but the incision looks so damn fine, I doubt you'd be able to tell even there unless I pointed it out to you.

I've been using my hand a lot more & making sure to exercise it. I still don't have a full range of motion (there are still a few things I just can not do with that hand); the scar is still very tender & the base of my hand & my wrist still hurts much more than the rest of the hand...BUT...I will not let that hold me back from getting back into full use of my hand. I have to realize though, that it has only been about a month & 10 days since the surgery & that that stupid hard-boiled-egg-sized thing was growing in my hand for nearly 4 years, so certain things are not going to happen overnight.

I saw my surgeon last week & he was very pleased at how well my hand was healing & the progress I've already made with moving it around. He told me to keep up the good work & I wouldn't need to go to physical therapy. The only thing is that I might have some mild arthritis in the lower thumb joint, but we just have to wait & see if it isn't just some pain from the surgery. I'll probably be going back for another follow up visit in 4-6 weeks & I'll see how this thumb~joint pain is doing by then.

In Need of Botox????

2008-02-07T16:46:00.000-05:00

OK....so what am I supposed to think in this situation? What would you think?

Yesterday, a customer came into the store & was talking to Skip (who just had his 44th birthday on February 5th, mind you. I turned 41 last November). She told him that she was in the day before & was helped by his mom. Helped by his mom ~ what? I'm the only female who works in the store. He tells me this shortly after she left, asking me if I remember helping her. I said, "I might've, but I'm not sure. Did you point me out to her? Did you correct her & say that I'm your wife, not your mother?"

"No...I didn't want to embarass her. Maybe Leslie was in the store at the same time yesterday & spoke up...you know how she likes to do that. Maybe she thought Leslie was my mom." (Leslie is a very frequent cutomer who does put her 2 cents in sometimes)

I can laugh about this now, but still in the back of my mind lingers the thought of "do I look that old? Does Skip look that young?" I've always looked young for my age. Everyone in my family has always looked much younger than they are (as does Skip's family). I just hope & pray that Skip's right & that Leslie was in the store!

Hmmmmmmmm.......are the "young genes" burning out? I better get back on track with moiturizing & starting to wear make~up again (I generally don't wear make~up, except for special events).

Need I Say More?

2008-02-07T16:38:00.000-05:00

Hand Picture

2008-02-03T19:34:00.000-05:00

Here it is...long after this picture was taken, I'm finally posting what my hand looked like after the honkin' huge bandaging came off & the stitches came out. I need new batteries for my camera & then I'll get Skip to take more pictures, now that all the scabs are gone.

Letters

2008-02-03T18:01:00.000-05:00

Alrighty then....Miss Phinney taged me on her journal below the letter "T" & I've done the same to some people. Here are my answers. Now I must be off to try to make some seriously overdue cards for a rubber stamping card swap.

A- Attached or Single?
Attached.

B- Best Friend?
All of my friends are the best! (ditto)

C- Cake or Pie?
Cake. What else, but chocolate!

D- Day of Choice?
Sunday ~ it's my only day off.

E- Essential Item?
Car

F- Favorite color?
Purple!

G- Gummy Bears or Worms?
I'd rather say Nestle's Crunch.

H- Hometown?
Where I grew up? North end of New Rochelle. Where I've lived for the past 7 1/2 years? Tarrytown.

I- Favorite Indulgence-
Chocolate chip cookies with big honking chunks of chocolate & an ice cold glass of chocolate milk!

J- January or July?
July over January any day, baby!

K- Kids?
Kids are good, if they're someone elses. I've got 0 kids of my own.

L- Life isn't complete without?
Laughter & Hugs (I second that)

M- Missing?
My mom (who isn't around as much as I'd like); my grandmother (who passed away a year ago, January 14th); my father~in~law (who passed away a year & a 1/2 ago); my great grandmother (who passed away when I was 11); Phinney (who lives too far away); & others.

N- Number of Brothers and Sisters?
None. Nada. Zip. I'm an only child, but I'm close to some cousins.

O- Oranges or apples?
Apples. Then grapes.

P- Phobias or fears?
I've got a social phobia & I'm also fairly claustrophobic.

Q- Quote?
"Laughter is the best medicine."

R- Reason to smile?
Skip's smile & sunny days. I know...I'm a big goofball!

S- Season of choice?
Spring!! (that's for sure!)

T- Tag three friends or family.
How about Carly, Becky & Karen?

U- Unknown fact about me?
I have had the same recurring dreams for the past 20 years.

V- Vegetable?
Potatoes

W- Worst habit?
Smoking (yes, I'm still doing it ~ UGH!)

X- X-ray or ultrasound?
Ultrasound, I guess.

Why is there no Y? Aunt Nub wants to know! Yes, I would like to know where "Y" went!

Z- Zodiac sign?
Scorpio ~ look out for that stinger! We can be your best friend or your worst enemy.

I finally finished my cards ~ not my greatest card nor is it the greatest of pictures (sorry it's so blurry & the colors are waaaaay off ~ background is light blue, border is dark blue & foreground is light green). The theme for January was a song title.

Ugh!

2008-02-01T17:21:00.000-05:00

I'm home today with a headache & a half. Slept until about 11:45 this morning ~ guess the ol' body was telling me to stay in bed & get some rest. Skip headed to the store (which I know that he can handle more than capably ~ is that a word?), but even though I feel miserable, I'm still feeling guilty that he's there on his own. Must learn how to deal with these horrible feelings of guilt.

The weather here is misarable ~ dreary, rainy & windy. I can only say that thankfully it's not snowing. This weekend's forcast looks promising, with fairly sunny skies & temps up around 50. I'm sooooooo ready for spring ~ I don't care if it were to start tomorrow ~ bring it on, the sooner the better! LOL Must get an RV eventually & follow whatever nice weather I want to follow! I could also get to meet my blogging/journaling friends out there ~ some of you live closer to me than you realize!

I need to start getting crafty again. I've fallen behind in my rubber stamping card swap because of my hand surgery & really need to make January's card which is waaaaay late. Yikes! January's theme was to be a song title & I'm at a loss. Need a song title that would be easy enough to translate into a rubber stamped card. I'm thinking of stamping a country lane onto the card & then affixing a penny somehow at the beginning of the stamped image to represent the Beatles song "Penny Lane." Is that cheesy? Too easy/simple? Any ideas out there? I also want to start taking more pictures again. I miss doing that, too, & got a nice new digital camera with more megapixes from Skip for Christmas which I'd like to use when I've got some free time. Soooooo....my crafty radar is spinning, unlike this old deserted military radar tower out in Montauk, NY (took this picture last September when we were out there for a cousin's wedding ~ ahhhhh...sunny days in Montauk!)

PS There are 2 other new posts below, in case you didn't know! :)

Elvis Presley vs JXL

2008-01-31T18:01:00.000-05:00

I know that this re-mixed song came out a few years ago (not sure how many exactly), but to me it just doesn't get old or overplayed. I just want to dance like a maniac every time I hear it!

Doubts

2008-01-31T16:16:00.000-05:00

I know I haven't posted in a while & I must apologize. My hand is getting better, little by little. I still intend to post some pictures from just after getting the big bulky stuff off & stitches out & from around this time. Now the scabs are coming off & it looks all funky/icky/crusty/weird. The skin underneath where the scabs were is so pink & tender to the touch & the movement in my hand is still somewhat limited, but getting better. I've been doing my own exercises with it, but everyone keeps telling me I should go for physical therapy. I'm considering it.

I've got so many doubts swirling around in my head. Doubts about my writing abilities here & if what I have to say is of any interest at all & if anybody is actually reading my words & if so, does it really matter to anyone or are you saying, "good lord, not more stuff about her hand...bor~ing!" What do you all want me to write about? I'm at a bit of a loss here. Want to send some questions my way? I welcome them! Give me ideas!

Doubts about how to run the store; if I'm doing enough; if I'm doing the right thing. Doubts about whether to take a day or afternoon off here & there. I immediately feel guilty if I do ~ I'm feeling it right now, as I'm home a little early & not feeling the greatest (trying to kick whatever this is out of me quick).

Doubts about if I'm being a good enough wife. Doubts about being a good enough friend to anyone. Doubts...doubts...doubts...

Goof~o~rama!

2008-01-22T13:42:00.000-05:00

Yes...my husband, Skip, & I are proud to be goofy...a couple of nuts who love to laugh together. Laughter is the best medicine, after all...isn't it? Here we are, showing off a little sillyness in the tiny little office in the back of our store. Anyone care to try to caption these? C'mon...you know you want to! Show a little sillyness yourself!!!

Nothing...

2008-01-20T22:26:00.000-05:00

Nothing newsy here to blog about...wish I had something interesting to share besides what's up with my hand...I'm afraid I've been boring you all lately...I apologize if I have.

All I can say is "YAY Giants!" Skip is a H~U~G~E Giants fan & I hope they'll give the Patriots at least 1 loss for this season.

They're Gone!

2008-01-17T22:12:00.000-05:00

Yes, ladies & gentlemen...the funky bandages/brace have gone bye~bye & the stitches are out of my hand! But......my hand looks funky & my wrist is all teeny looking. Kinda weird feeling, too...almost like it's not really my hand, if that makes any sense at all.

I'm now the proud owner of 1 of those "sporty" black velcro braces that i'm to wear part of the time. The doctor also gave me some exercises to do & said that if I wanted pysical therapy, they cold set that up for me. I've already turned my wrist too far a couple of times (although not on purpose) & been seriously sorry it happened. OWIE! I'm 1 of those people wanting instant gratification, but I MUST be patient & take it slow & re~learn things. The condition my hand was in pre~operatively didn't happen overnight & neither will the recovery. I need to be patient. I had Skip take yet another set of pictures of my hands (documenting all this for myself). Does anyone have any objections if I post a picture here? You won't hurt my feelings, so please be honest either way!

'Nuff for now.....must go to bed.

Owies!

2008-01-14T17:15:00.000-05:00

A short but sweet post to say that I stayed home from work today & hate my hand right now. I woke up with hideous hand pain & it hasn't let up all day. I just can't get comfortable & it's difficult to stretch my fingers out as though I was going to wave hello to someone. My dad called the doctor's office when he got to work & they told him that this can be expected (pain/swelling) at the 7~10 day mark post~surgery. Today is day 10. The stitches are due to come out Thursday afternoon. They said I could unwrap it all & soak in a bath for a while & then re~wrap it, plus take some ibuprofin in addition to the percoset I've been taking. I'm dreading what it's going to look like under there ~ YIKES! Skip's coming home early to help me thankfully. If I'm not better by tomorrow, then they said to come in.

Please send some good karma my way, would ya?

Just Testing

2008-01-14T12:35:00.000-05:00

I've got a serious ear~worm going & all I can say is "Holy songs from '80s hell, Batman...make it go away!" I hope this works...dear friend Carly told me how to put a YouTube video in my blog...& this is my first...I guess I'm what you'd call a video virgin. LOL

Another Weekend

2008-01-13T21:56:00.000-05:00

Yet another weekend has come & gone, passing in the blink of an eye. ::sigh:: It was a busy & productive one, but I should've gotten more rest than I did, since I'm paying for it with hand pain tonight. It's supposed to start snowing here in the NYC metro area sometime late tonight & we might be gatting a decent amount of snow. I've found that I've gotten to old to enjoy winter & snowy days (although it does look pretty just after the snowfall), but I'm also finding myself desperately wanting a snow/mental health day tomorrow...probably because of my hand (still typing slowly & like a spaz). Is this so wrong of me? Why do I feel guilty?

Speaking of my hand...It's still wrapped up & braced in the same stuff as pictured in a previous post...will be until my 1:20pm doctor's appointment on Thursday, January 20th. That's when it should all come off & the stitches come out...hopefully. My hand is still pretty sore, but it's very itchy & sweaty under there. I'm taking it all as a sign of healing, just wish I could get off the percoset, but don't think so yet Bathing, brushing teeth, dressing, even what kinds of shirts I can wear are still pretty awkward. I haven't shaved in nearly 2 weeks & that's driving me bonkers!!! LOL Cooking is out of the question & so is writing anything, unless I want it to look like a first grader wrote it.

Saturday found my mom & I at my cousin's wife's baby shower. Another cousin held it at her beautiful house about 1/2 an hour from me. Both are pregnant & look fabulous! She got a lot of great stuff & the food was delish.

Today then found my mom & I together again, but on a sadder note. Tommorow is the 1st anniversary of my grandmother's passing, so we went to the cemetary today. The cute little angel statue I left several months ago is still sitting on the headstone, watching over her. My grandmother was quite the character & I miss her. I then stopped for some mik (like 12 million other people) & went to Best Buy with a gift card Skip got for Christmas & got us some really cool new corless phones that we so desperately needed as our other ones suck.

Tonight, my dear, sweet friend Lori came over for about an hour while Skip was at the firehouse watching the Giants beat the Cowboys. She's called me several times since my surgery to check up on me & now she wanted to do it in person. She rought some delicious looking homemade chicken parm, since she figured I was probably tired of take~out. I can't wait to have some tomorrow night! The hug above is for you, Lori!

That's enough for me for tonight...my hand can't take much more......

Caption this.....!

2008-01-08T13:15:00.000-05:00

Here are 2 belated pictures from Christmas afternoon/evening at my house when my family was over. Both are kinda funny & I want some suggestions for funny captions. One is of the men (left to right: my mom's new husband Jim, my hubby Skip, & my uncle Jim). The other is of us ladies (left to right: my cousin Jennifer, me, my mom, my aunt Shirin).

Go for it gang....gimme your best captions!

Hands

2008-01-08T13:05:00.000-05:00

I finally was able to download pictures from my new digital camera (a Christmas present from Skip) ~ w00t! I'm not sure how the pre~surgery pictures are going to come out ~ if you'll be able to tell how swollen my right hand is. The other picture is obviously post~surgery with the huge bandages on it. There's a brace buried uner all of it, on the palm side, that runs down to where the bandages end. I seriously wonder how it all looks under there, with the 15 stitches, etc.

That's all for now...can't type much more...

Still Home

2008-01-07T15:10:00.000-05:00

Howdy! It's Monday afternoon & I still haven't gone into work since my hand operation. I'll be heading in tomorrow to help Skip out as best as I can. I'm just taking it day by day here.

I've now gotten caught up on some of my TiVo'd stuff (Project Runway & a couple of others), have done some reading, napped, yada yada yada. Skip (that lucky boy) got to help me shower & wash my hair yesterday, since I can't get the bandages even a teensy bit wet (charming baggie/rubber band doo~dad on my hand during it all). I've got some serious B.O. going today, especially under the arms & around the bandages & I can't figure out why. Might have to go back to my childhood later when my mom brings Chinese food over for dinner & ask her to help me rid myself of this stench. LOL As for eating/holding utensils~ that's a whole nother story ~ I never realized how hard it would be to eat with my non-dominant hand!

That's all for now ~ it has taken me quite a while just to type this much & I want to install the software for my new digital camera so I can post some pictures (don't worry...they're not gross or anything).

Hand Update

2008-01-06T11:03:00.000-05:00

Hi gang! Here I am, typing one~handed & in a little bit of pain, but I'm OK. This will be short ~ sorry!

The surgery was a success & the doctor was wonderful. They were able to limit the incision to the palm of my right hand & got an egg sized lipoma (basically a fatty mass) out...it was so squeezed into such a small space that it practically popped out on its own. I was home the same day. I've now got a brace on my hand & wrist, wrapped in lots of cottony gauze & ace bandage ~ it's HUGE & clumsy & I'm unable to use that hand although the fingers are sticking out. Yes, I'm able to wiggle my fingers. I won't be at work for a few days. I'm due back at the doctor's in about 2 weeks to get the brace & stuff off & the 15 stitches out. It'll also be the first time I get to see what my hand looks like. I'll post some pictures when I'm up to it.

Thank you all for your kind words & love ~ it means more than you'll ever know! You're all my little darlings!

Nerves

2008-01-02T18:16:00.000-05:00

I've been getting more & more nervous as the day approaches for my hand surgery (which is this Friday, if you haven't read my previous post). It comes in waves & I find myself having panic attacks that come out of nowhere, with absolutely no warning. Other times, I'm OK & am kinda glad to be getting it over with. Weird.

I'm due at the ambulatory surgery suite at 9:10 (they made it a little earlier on me) & my parents will be there in the waiting room during the surgery. Skip will be at the store (which is only about 10 or 15 minutes away), not because he doesn't want to be at the hospital, but: 1) someone needs to be at the store & have it open; 2) it's the only way to keep his mind occupied so that he doesn't have a panic attack of his own from worry. When I'm all done, my mom will take me right home, my dad will go take the store over from Skip, who'll then leave right away to drive home, stopping only at either Walgreen's or CVS to get any prescriptions I might have, filled.

I'm not sure when I'll be able to post anything or e-mail anyone, as I'm just not sure how my hand is going to be or even how I'm feeling in general, but I'll try to update y'all as soon as possible. Maybe Skip will be a dear & let me dictate something to him. (Love you, honey...my dear, sweet, handsome, smart hubby!)

In the meantime, I'm trying to get some cooking & laundry done, so I don't have to worry about that for several days.

Catch y'all soon!

To a GREAT 2008!

2008-01-01T10:21:00.000-05:00

Wishing you all a GREAT 2008! Happy New Year!

Mixed Emotions...

2007-12-29T20:37:00.000-05:00

As I sit here writing this, I can't help but think about what could have been & am so thankful that it's not. But...what could've been keeps popping into my head.

Let me back up a little & explain. I've had a "lump" (for lack of a better word) in the palm of my right hand for the past 3 1/2 ~ 4 years that started out the size of a lima bean. I had an MRI done on it in October, 2004, & it was diagnosed as a ganglion cyst which is described as the following: "A ganglion cyst is a tumor or swelling on top of a joint or the covering of a tendon (tissue that connects muscle to bone). It looks like a sac of liquid (cyst). Inside the cyst is a thick, sticky, clear, colorless, jellylike material. Depending on the size, cysts may feel firm or spongy." In essence, it was nothing to worry about ~ not cancerous, etc ~ & no surgery needed to be done unless the thing grew and/or gave me pain or limited what I could do.

Well...the "cyst" has since grown to a lump nearly the size of my entire palm. It either hurts me or makes my hand & fingers numb & tingly; it has gotten to the point where it does limit what I can do with that hand (& being a righty doesn't help matters). I went to a orthopaedist near where I work on December 17th ~ he's partners with the head of the department in the local hospital & another doctor ~ & point blank, with little feeling or concern & after only feeling my hand for a couple of moments, told me that it's either a lipoma or a lipocarcoma. I asked him, "lipocarcoma, that sounds like cancer. Is that what you're telling me?" "Yes," he said. I then asked him, "well, what does that mean? What happens?" I fully expected him to say that the lipocarcoma (or tumor) would be removed & I'd have to go through chemo and/or radiation. All he said was "you'd lose your arm." It hit me like a ton of bricks...I didn't know what to say. No mention of chemo/radiation; no "you'd only lose your arm in a worst case scenario;" just plain & simple "you'd lose your arm." WTF??? He then told me that I'd need to have an MRI done & we'd go from there.

I've since had the MRI done & went back to the doctor's office, but saw the 3rd partner in this practice. He was very kind & gentle & told me happily that it wasn't cancer & was indeed either a ganglion cyst or the lipoma (which is described as "A lipoma is a common, benign tumor composed of fatty tissue. Lipomas are soft to the touch, usually moveable, and are generally painless. They grow very slowly...") & that it could be removed easily since it was all sitting on top of any tendons & arteries/veins.

Sooooo....this Friday, January 4th at 10:40 am, I check into the hospital for same day surgery on my hand. I won't be under a general anesthesia thankfully. They'll give me some medicine to make me a little drowsy & a little loopier than I normally am & then put a "block" in my shoulder to numb the entire arm. I'll have a whole bunch of stiches, starting in my wrist & travelling up into the palm of my hand & I'll have to wear some sort of brace on my hand/wrist. 7 ~ 10 days later I'll have the stiches out & start to exercise my hand. I'm so happy that the nice doctor will be doing the surgery & that he's also a plastic surgeon, so that the scars won't be too hideous. I'm so thankful to whoever was watching out for me from up above that it wasn't cancer & yet so angry at the one doctor for telling me this & in the manner he did it ~ I had to go through Christmas with these doubts & worries in the back of my head.

I haven't mentioned any of this before now because I didn't want to alarm anyone needlessly. I guess I didn't want to think about more than necessary myself either. I wanted to know exactly what I was dealing with before I wrote about it here. I also haven't wanted to make a big deal out of it & draw attention to myself ~ that isn't even the point of my posting now ~ just wanted to fill you all in. I do post this with a picture of blue skies because I feel like there is some sort of a silver lining to the cloud that has been following me for just over a week.

I'll try to post again before the surgery, but I'm not sure if I'll have the time. I will update after the surgery, but give me some time. I'm not sure how much pain I'll be in or even how well I'll be able to type.

In the meantime, I wish you all a great 2008! Hugz to you all!!!

ZZZZZzzzzzzz.....

2007-12-26T16:46:00.000-05:00

Yes...I'm being lazy today & proud of it! I've done virtually nothing so far (it's now almost 5:00 pm), except sleep until about 1:30 or so. I haven't slept that late since I was a teenager or very sick. Guess the ol' body just needed it.

We had a great day yesterday, but very long. My family was here from 4:30 until close to midnight & I didn't unwind & go to sleep until 2:00~ish. Lots of great food, presents, company...the best way to spend Christmas.

I'll post a picture or 2...or 3...another time, but my brain just isn't functioning (still!).

Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas!

To all my friends & family out there...

2007-12-25T11:19:00.000-05:00

Wishing you all the best this Christmas & in the new year!

A Gaggle of Questions!

2007-12-24T10:08:00.000-05:00

My dear friend, Carly, is playing along with the whole "Ask Aunt Nub" game & has asked me a whole gaggle of questions for me to answer this Christmas Eve. As usual, I should be doing the last of my wrapping & getting ready for Christmas...but I'd rather answer these right now. Thanks for the questions, Carly!

1. If you could be any one of Santa's Reindeer, other then Rudolph, which one would you like to be? The first one that entered my mind was Vixen...always wanted to be considered a sexy thing! LOL

2. What is your favorite song? I've got a lot, don't know if I could narrow it down. I guess it depends on my mood.

3. If you could be in charge of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, what new balloon would you add? Hmmmmmm...good question. A giant, beautiful butterfly perhaps.

4. If you could have one famous person, living or dead, over for the holidays, who would it be? Lauren Bacall has always fascinated me, plus she reminds me so much of my Aunt Elaine who passed away in 1993.

5. David Duchovny or Dylan McDermott? David Duchovny...but I'd much rather choose Vincent D'Onofrio. ;)

6. Chocolate Mousse or Chocolate dipped strawberries? Mmmmmm...both good choices, but I'd pick the chocolate mousse.

7. Where oh where has my little dog gone? (Have fun with that one!) "Oh where, oh where can he beWith his ears cut short and his tail cut longOh where, oh where can he be?" Perhaps Lucy is staring at her stocking, wondering what Santa has brought her this year. Either that, or she's harassing her sister, Stella, the cat.

8. If you could have a completely different name, what would it be? Victoria Marie & I'd call myself Tory. However...Mom, if you're reading this...I do love my full name, Elizabeth Ann.

9. What is fantasy gift would you like to receive for Christmas? A fully decked out giant~sized RV, so I could travel around the country with Skip, following the good weather.

10. If you could go on any game show, which one would it be? Deal or No Deal fascinates me & I'd like to think I'd do OK on it. Plus I've always liked Howie Mandell.

11. If you could own an exotic animal, which one would it be? Two total opposites here...either a big beautiful cat, like a Jaguar, or a monkey of some sort.

Feel free to play along & answer the same questions, either here or on your own journal/blog. Consider yourself tagged! Please feel free to ask more questions, even if you've already asked one!!!!

Now I really must go & get stuff accomplished. Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

2007-12-23T14:30:00.000-05:00

Here it is, Christmas Eve Eve already. Tomorrow night I go to my mother~in~law's house like we do every year to celebrate Christmas with Skip's family & exchange presents with her, my sister~in~law, brother~in~law, niece & nephew & what have I done in regards to wrapping? Nothing. I've got 4 or 5 presents wrapped & I don't think any of them need to go with me tomorrow night.

::::big sigh::::

We picked up the lasagne that we ordered from a local place that makes the best pasta & will have that plus chicken & prosciutto tortellini, lemon chicken, garlic bread (all from that same place) & salad for dinner on Christmas day when my family comes over to our house.

I'm prepared in just about every way...in every way but the wrapping. I'm going to have to enlist Skip to help me & some of the presents will have to go into bags with tissue paper or funky cloth bags called Wrapsacks. Tomorrow, Skip is opening the store for 1/2 a day (10:00 ~ 1:00) on his own (I'm staying home), so I'll be able to get his stuff wrapped while he's gone & also do some last minute cleaning/organizing.

Thankfully, we're closed not only on Tuesday for Christmas, but on Wednesday, too. I desperately need these next 3 days off, not only to enjoy the holiday, but for my own sanity...you know...a little relaxation, whatever the heck that is. Maybe I'll get a little time to catch up on my stuff that I TiVo'd. In the meantime....don't anyone dare tell me what's going on this season on "Project Runway" because I haven't watched a single episode....they're all sitting there on the TiVo waiting for me with a ton of other shows.

Since I do have the next 3 days off, I'll be able to post more.......so somebody, anybody, send me some questions...anything you like, doesn't only have to be holiday related...just ask away!

Insane in the membrane...

2007-12-18T18:25:00.000-05:00

I must be insane in the brain...or something like it. I'm in need of a full frontal lobotomy tonight. "Why" you ask? Because I had a doctor's appointment this morning at 10:30, so I decided it would be today, 1 week exactly before Christmas, that I would take off & jam the remains of the Christmas shopping (which was just about ALL of it) into 1 freakin' day.

I did a few odd stops at stores along the way, but most of the shopping was done at the Palisades Center (a H-U-G-E mall about 15 minutes away from my house). Unfortunately, I think most of Westchester County & Rockland County was there, too, with the same thing in mind. I circled the parking lot like a vulture, following anybody coming out with packages, ready to swoop in & fight off anybody else trying to get into that spot. I parked so dang far away, I might as well have parked at home & hoofed it. Y'all would've laughed your butts off watching me struggle to the car at the end of the day with all of my packages & having people in cars follow me.

99.9999999% of the shopping is done (just 1 last easy present), it needs to be wrapped, & I'm exhausted. Next year I plan better...............

My Turn/Your Turn

2007-12-16T20:27:00.000-05:00

My Turn: I am a creature of comfort, routine, structure, ritual. I sit down at my computer in a certain way. I lie on the couch in a certain way. My bathroom routine at bedtime is very specific. My "morning stuff" around the kitchen follows the same pattern every morning before I toddle back upstairs to shower & dress. I feel funny in the morning when I get to work if I don't get to sit down with my not~toasted, buttered bagel & check my e-mails & really let it sink in that I'm at work & that it's a retail store. I don't think of myself as the stereotypical O.C.D. person, but I probably have some of those tendencies. I even wonder sometimes if I've got a mild form of Asperger's, but never diagnosed. I have some of those tendencies, too. I do know that I've got B.P.D. (Borderline Personality Disorder) & a social phobia (not easy to deal with when working retail). One bedtime ritual that I must always do, just to ease my own mind because you never know, is to tell Skip that I love him "forever and a chopstick" (meaning all that plus a little bit more) & he says it back to me. I don't think I could fall asleep without telling him that.

Your Turn: Do you currently or have you ever had any routines or rituals that comfort you?

OH! OH! Mr Kotter!

2007-12-16T10:23:00.000-05:00

Greetings & salutations on what is another yucky weather day here in the northeast. We've got some sort of n'oreaster going on here in the NYC metro area & every weather report that I've heard in the past 24 hours gives a different account of what's going to happen. We did get another inch of snow here & what sounded like some freezing rain. The winds have been crazy & will probably continue for the rest of the day. All I want to know is...how soon can we get Spring here? Not soon enough in my opinion!

On to other stuff...another question! Keep those questions coming, as I'm not starting to do my journal jar until the new year!!! Today's question comes from my buddy Martha (in warm & probably sunny Florida ~ dang you, Martha! LOL). Yet another great question!

Have you ever had any odd paranormal experiences?

In hopes that some or all of you don't think I'm more wacko than I already am, I'll admit that I've had some paranormal experiences, although I'm not sure what classifies them as odd or not.

I suppose that any paranormal experience is odd, since they're not exactly the norm. I saw my dear father~in~law standing near a coat rack across the room at the funeral parlor on the day of his funeral. He's talked to me ever since, told me all sorts of things, some of them I couldn't know, although I haven't really seen him like that again. My maternal grandmother, who passed away on January 14th of this year has spoken to me, too. Both of them have been in the car with me when I was driving home late at night from my old security guard job, holding my head & talking to me. I could feel them, hear them, smell them. I've also had the experience of smelling both my grandmothers quite vividly at different times & in different parts of my house. I've got a picture (which I'll try scanning & posting here at some point) that I took in black & white of an old country church, but upon developing it, there is a misty face in the lower left hand corner.

I could rationalize a lot of the above by saying that I really miss all of these people & wish that they were still here & therefore my mind is doing things to me, but I don't think so. So what do you think of me now? And.....have any of you had any "odd" paranormal experiences?

One...more...post.......

2007-12-13T20:50:00.000-05:00

One last post for today...w00t...3 in 1 day...how lucky can you all get?!?! I was browsing around through I Can Has Cheezburger & couldn't resist posting this picture from there.

Gotta go now....really......no more posts for today...may be a couple of days........

PS Please send more questions my way!!! Seriously!!!!!!!!!!

Oh Christmas tree...

2007-12-13T20:07:00.000-05:00

OK....besides curling up into bed for about an hour with my heating pad (bad cramps) & dozing, doing 250 lbs of laundry, catching up on some of my TiVo'd stuff, actually wrapping some Christmas presents ahead of time instead of in a wild frenzy in the last 36 hours before Christmas (that's the usual with me)...I actually, finally got my Christmas tree decorated!

Skip & I decided to go the artificial tree route this year. We figured that: 1) we'd be saving a tree; 2) since we're working so much now that we wouldn't enjoy a real tree as much as in the past; 3) we'd actually be saving money (instead of shelling out at least $60 around here, we'd be paying that ~ or less ~ & be able to use the same tree for several years). It's not a very big tree (not a lot of space in our living room) & has been up & lit for a few days now, but no decorations on it. I took advantage of the lousy weather & got it done. I'm still going with the "less is more" look this year, so I didn't bring out all the tree decorations & only used a few special ones. It actually looks quite nice, but I must apologize for the blurry picture above. I wanted to show off the lights, but my camera phone didn't want to cooperate. Oh well...c'est la vie!

Christmas Memes & Snow Storms

2007-12-13T12:19:00.000-05:00

Aloha! My brain may be wishing it could blink me away to Hawaii right about now, but in reality, my body is still in the NYC metro area & in the middle of a big snow storm. People in upstate NY or Colorado or Minnesota or other similarly cold/snowy places may be laughing at us southern New Yorkers with our forecast of about 8" or so of snow, but to us this is a lot. I get nervous on days like this...like I'm trapped or something...even though it's beautiful when all is said & done. Crazy as it might sound (since I talk about it a lot), I'd rather have the depressing, gray, sunless days than too much snow. At least I can get out & do things. Anyway...I always make the best of it & catch up on stuff & be lazy with other things. Soooooo....here goes a Christmas themed meme that I found on both Phinney's & Martha's blogs. How about you 2 ladies get over here & have some hot chocolate with me? We can build snowpeople later!

1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate? I'm really not a hot drink drinker, but I'd choose the hot chocolate.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa definitely wraps. What fun is it if the he just sits the presents under the tree?

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Colored lights on everything but the wreath outside. We lit it up for the first time this year & used white lights.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No

5. When do you put up your decorations? We usually put it all up the first week of December, but with working so damn much, we've kinda be doing a little here & there, so it has taken a little longer this year.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Anything but fruitcake.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: I remember the joy and wonder of Christmas morning. It was all just so magical to see the tons of presents & the great big giant stocking my grandmother hand sewed for me practically bursting at the seams. My parents really made sure I believed in Santa & that was special.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I have no memory of learning it, and it doesn't matter to me. (Ditto to this ~ in fact, I still like to believe:D)

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes, but only at my mother~in~law's house. We celebrate & open gifts with Skip's family Christmas Eve; Christmas morning is for Skip & I; that afternoon is with my family here at my house.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Lights on first & then some special ornaments. I make sure the non~breakable ones go around the bottom portion in case Lucy (our doggie) or Stella (our kitty) decide to investigate.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I think I already covered this above.

12. Can you ice skate? Yeah...but I'm not that good...can only stop by crashing into the walls of the skating rink, so forget about skating on a pond. LOL

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I've had so many favorite gifts over the years. Last year, Skip got me Sirius Sattelite Radio.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being with my family, counting my blessings.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Bananas Foster.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Probably the stockings! Not sure if Skip & I will do this year, though.

17. What tops your tree? A really pretty light up star.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving of course!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? O Holy Night ~ gets me every time.

20. Candy Canes? Sure...why not. Rather have chocolate though.

21. Do you feel Christmas is too commercialized? Or is it still magical for you? It has gotten too commercialized, but I'm trying to keep it as magical as possible.

I'm on a roll.........

2007-12-09T17:17:00.000-05:00

Fingers don't fail me now ~ I'm on a blogging roll this weekend, trying to make up for lost time! I'm impressed with myself, being able to get 2 posts out within 24 hours on a hectic weekend!!! (patting myself on the back)

My 3rd & last question (until somebody asks some more or I think up some to ask myself) comes from the ever~cute Miss Phinney! Her blog is private or I'd post a link here. Thanks Miss Phinney!

When you were a little kid, let's say grade 5 or so...who was your best friend? Do you know where they are today?

I like this question because I'm proud to say that I know where my best friend from 5th & 6th grade is & that I'm still in touch with her ~ I don't get to see her often, maybe once every couple of years (even though she only lives in NYC) & I'm hoping to change that to a more frequent get~together.

Her name is Randi & we were basically inseperable in 5th & 6th grades. We had another best friend named Anoopa (unfortunately, I have no idea where she is anymore), but Randi & I were always together more somehow. We slept over at each other's houses, had a crush on Shaun Cassidy (this'll be the first & last time I mention that on this blog ~ LOL), taped crazy skits on her tape recorder, & had very vivid imaginations together. Randi was always the artistic type & I always admired that, especially since she was able to follow up on that & start to make a living at it. We lost touch for several years during High School (went to different schools) & college, but somehow, at somepoint, we made contact again. She was even at my wedding which was pretty cool. How many people can say that their best friend from 5th or 6th grade attended their wedding? I mean.....unless you come from a super~small town (no offense to anyone who does). LOL So.......Randi......if you're reading this.....HI! Drop me a line!

Alright y'all..........ask me some more questions either in the comment box or e-mail 'em to me!

Another question!

2007-12-08T21:30:00.000-05:00

I've been super busy this week, all the while hoping to get a few free minutes to do another "question post" ~ but, alas, I come home, move some laundry from washer to dryer, eat something (anything), & then promptly collapse on the couch, nearing a deep & golden slumber. BUT...here I am with question #2 which comes from just down the parkway from me...Miss Becky! Thank you, Miss Becky!

"If you could go anywhere in the blink of an eye, where would you go first?"

Normally, that would be super easy for me ~ I'd have to say Montauk, NY. But, it being what time of year it is & how the Tri~State area (meaning where NY, NJ & CT all basically meet & you can drive through 3 states fairly quickly) can be during December, January & February (see the picture above & then understand how I might get Seasonal Affective Disorder & need a lightbox), I'm going to have to say something entirely diffent. My "I Dream of Jeannie" blinking powers would have to take me somewhere warm & with lots of continous days of sunshine. Florida, perhaps. Hawaii would be nice. The Bahamas will do just fine. Those are the sort of places I need for the winter. I need to be a snowbird ~ warmth (not TOO hot/humid mind you) & sunny skies all year long. Hubby & I have talked about buying an RV when we retire & following the good weather around the country. So here I go...blink...blink! Am I there yet?

I guess not & that's too bad. Anyway, I've got another question to do, but will save that for tomorrow possibly. Feel free to ask a question...or 2...or more! I like this!!!

Apologies & Questions

2007-12-03T19:09:00.000-05:00

OK...so I forgot to add Carly in on my list of regular readers. I'm a bad, bad girl...please don't tell Santa! I'm so sorry, Carly, can you forgive me? Ummm...so I've got 3 readers out there...that I know of. Official hugs to Phinney, Becky, & Carly! YAY!

Another big YAY to the questions I've received in my comment box for my last entry! It makes my heart smile & I feel all squishy inside (in a good way...get yer mind outta da gutter!) My first question is from Carly, whom I shamefully left off the list (hanging my head in shame). It's a good one, too! Are you ready for this? "Who would you most like to see have their likeness made into a Chia Head?"

I absolutely cracked up when I saw this question! I also knew immediately who I'd like to see done as a Ch~ch~chia, Chia Pet. Actually, it's 2 people, 1 fictional & 1 real. The first would have to be Mr. Clean, because I'd love to see what he looks like with hair. The other would be Donald Trump. Not that I'm a fan of the Don, but because his real hair ~ that dang, hideous, revolting, heinous comb~over ~ is sooooooo bad, that just about anything could be better! I mean, seriously, wouldn't that be hysterical? I think so, but then again, I've got a fairly warped sense of humor.

Great question, Carly! I've got 2 more questions to answer so far, but I'm going to save them for another day. If you haven't already asked me a question, or have thought up another 1, please feel free to add to the list, either in the comment box or my montaukny e-mail address.

SNOW!

2007-12-02T10:36:00.000-05:00

AAAACCCCCCKKKK! It fuckin' snowed while we slept last night!!!! It wasn't supposed to do that until later in the day! Skip & I have been so busy working 6 days a week & not getting home until around 7:00 pm, that we were going to put up our Christmas lights outside this morning. Now everything is covered in about an inch of snow & rain is possible later! YUCK! I really, really, REALLY wanted to get my Christmas lights up today!!!! Maybe...just maybe...we can still get them put up since the snow isn't too heavy. Keep your fingers crossed! Hooray! We were able to put up the lights in front of the house! The lights & the big inflatable Santa can wait for another day this week ~ those are the easier ones to do.

I'm just not ready for winter; not mentally at least. I love Christmas & all that, but the long winter months really get me down. I started dealing with S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder) a long time ago, but last year it was really bad ~ so bad that I got myself one of those lightboxes that simulate sunlight (but without the bad UV rays) to help combat it. I got it late in the season & it helped, but the real test will be this winter. Just need to have it near me for about 15~30 minutes in the morning on gray days.

I wish I had more to write about. I get here to my blog with a ton of things on my mind that I want to say, but then my mind goes blank or I get distracted & I forget about what I wanted to say. Just getting old, huh? I'm going to start the new year off with a journal jar, suggested by a good friend, Becky. But....in the meantime...if there's anyone out there actually reading my blog (Hi Phinney & Becky! I think you're the only 2!).....why not ask me a question...any question...& I'll answer it here. Either leave the question in the comment section or e-mail it to me at my montaukny address.

PS I mailed out all 120 Christmas cards (yes...you read right...120!) late on Friday night so that they'd be in the early mail on Saturday, December 1st! That means that if you're on my Christmas card list, you should be getting a card from little ol' me any day now!

La Famiglia

2007-11-25T11:38:00.000-05:00

Blogging world meet Naomi & Sam, my niece & nephew. Naomi & Sam, meet the blogging world.

I took this goofy picture of them on my camera phone on Thanksgiving at my mother~in~law's house. Naomi is a senior in college, is smart as a whip, & can play the bass guitar like nobody's business. Sam is a senior in high school, is the captain of the football team, & is fabulous in art. Both are pretty dang cute if you ask me, but I'm biased. I tried to get a "normal" (what is normal anyway?) picture of them, but if one wasn't making a face, the other one was. Since Skip & I don't have kids of our own, this is about as close as you're gonna get, besides my other niece, Grace, or our dog & cat, Lucy & Stella.

Yet another reminder to those of you who read my blog (all 2 of you) to play along with the "One Word" game I posted a few entries ago. Thanks!

Gobble...Gobble..Burp!

2007-11-23T10:14:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving has come & gone. It was nice, unseasonably warm (but no complaints here), & I ate too much of my mother~in~law's delicious cooking. I wandered around my m.i.l.'s backyard, snapping pictures on my camera phone & came up with the 1 above ~ kinda diggin' it myself.

Skip & I have the morning basically off today...not opening the store until 1:00 (no, we're not like JC Penney's or Kohl's who opened at 4:00 am for Black Friday)...but we'll probably go in a little earlier in order to start decorating for....gasp...could it be?......Christmas & Hannukah! Garland & the like will be going up & the holiday toys & treats for the pets will be going out on the shelves today.

Speaking of the holidays, I haven't started any of my own shopping, nor have I decorated my own house yet, but I have started my Christmas cards & am about 1/3 of the way through. Planning on getting those babies out of my hands & into the hands of the postal service on December 1st.

That's all for now. Gotta go shower & get ready to do my part for Black Friday. Hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving! Don't forget to participate in my entry below called "One Word." Later........

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T10:52:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note to wish you all a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

PS Don't forget to check out my post directly below this one & also the poll in the sidebar to the right! Thanks!

One Word!

2007-11-21T20:20:00.000-05:00

I stole this idea & graphic from my buddy Bridgett (who's journal is unfortunately private, or I'd link it here), who stole it from someone else. Sooooooooooo.....

You've read this far &......YOU'RE IT! No turning back now!

What you need to do is to describe me in 1 word & 1 word only...then post the same rules, etc in your own journal/blog. Post your 1 word about me in the comment section. I'm so interested to see how others see me! Aren't you curious enough to play along here & at your own journal/blog?

PS Don't forget to vote in the Thanksgiving poll in my sidebar! Thanks!!!!

Blank Mind & Haiku

2007-11-18T19:00:00.000-05:00

My Haiku

I sit here trying

I have no ideas at all

How boring am I?

Seriously, folks....I'm at a loss here. Writers' block. Brain freeze. Brain fart. Senior moment. Or, in my New Yawk accent (that Grove loves to tease me about), "whadeva ya wanna cawl it...my mind's a freakin' blank." All I ever seem to talk about anymore is work. I've done some memes & even asked for others to answer the same meme question I did that day (but no one has as far as I know). I didn't want my blog to be boring or depressing. If I had my boring/depressing moments, so be it. But I wanted variety, baby! I don't even know if anyone's out there reading my stuff anymore. So......if you are.....gimme some ideas as to what to talk about. Ask me some questions! I'll answer a new question each time I get a chance to blog.

The only 3 things I could mention for my day today would be: (1) cat show; (2) card swap get together; (3) laundry.

(1) Skip & I went to the cat show today at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. There were some bee~yoo~tee~ful cats there, as well as some interesting, more exotic breeds, like the hairless ones. Mostly we were there on "business," checking out the vendors & seeing what we might like to bring into the store. Got some good ideas & saw lots of stuff that just wouldn't fit in with our kind of store (jewelry, scarves, pet bling ~ yes, there is actually pet bling out there!). It's our first time going to something like this with a particular agenda, so it was a learning experience. Sometime at least one of us is going to have to go to one of the huge industry shows in NYC or Atlantic City or the like.

(2) My wonderful buddy, Phinney, & I were in a rubber stamping card swap this year. That means that every month there's a different theme which you then make about 4 cards & send to a particular group of people who also send you a card in that theme. It's fun & a good way to get my creative juices flowing at least once a month. Today was the year end get together where everyone's cards are displayed, we vote on the best card for that theme (not an easy thing to do ~ they were all great), & suggest possible themes for next year. None of my cards got picked ~ oh well! I'll be doing it again next year & I'm hoping my Phinney~girl (who couldn't make it to the get together) will be doing it, too.

(3) How do 2 people generate so much damn laundry? All I ever seem to do latey (especially on weekends) is play catch~up with laundry. I'm convinced that clothes are throwing themselves out of drawers & off shelves or hangers & into the laundry baskets while we're sleeping or out of the house!

Well.....for someone with nothing to say, I sure said a lot. Go figure! Anyway, in case I don't get to post again before Thursday, I hope anyone reading my humble little blog has a terrific Thanksgiving!

That's My Answer!

2007-11-15T16:39:00.000-05:00

I like memes. I like to be tagged by others to participate. You've probably already figured that out, right? Here's another 1 that I found intriguing as I scrolled through recent questions ~ it comes from a meme called That's My Answer!

So, other than family and friends, what do you miss the most about home when you are out and on the road?

This is going to be easy. I miss the comforts of home...the couch, the TV, being able to walk around in just sweats & a t~shirt, the kitchen & the fridge with all my comfort foods/snacks, my own bed & pillow. Some of the definitions of "home" at dictionary.com are: the place in which one's domestic affections are centered; the place or region where something is native or most common; any place of residence or refuge. I truly feel most comfortable, safe & secure when I am home & I guess that's what I miss the most (besides family & friends) when I'm not there.

Now it's your turn to answer the above question ~ if you're reading this, then consider yourself tagged! Just let me know if you've decided to play along so I can see your answer.

By the way.....the picture above is from the side of the parking lot where our store is. I took the picture yesterday while walking our doggie Lucy along here. Lucy loves to go to work (what dog wouldn't like being in a pet supply store all day?) & I was fascinated by this tree & the little river while Lucy was sniffing around in the leaves, so I snapped the picture on my cell phone. I just wish the colors had come out more brilliantly because in "real life" it was a magnificent shade of yellow.

Big Yawn

2007-11-11T21:51:00.000-05:00

OK, so I wasn't more "with it" today ~ in fact, I was a lot less with it than I was last night when I did my lists of fours. I'm just not feeling much like anything today, least of all like myself.

To start off with, I couldn't drag myself out of bed until almost 10:30 this morning. Just kept hitting the old snooze button for nearly an hour and a half. So dang tired & the left side of my throat hurts a little; my neck is kind of stiff today, too. Then, after doing my usual morning chores (empty the dishwasher, walk the dog, feed doggie & kitty, etc) & eating some breakfast, I promptly fell asleep on the couch for two & a half hours. I got very little accomplished today, besides a little laundry & putting Halloween decorations away in the attic. Huge sigh!

I suppose my body was telling me it needed the sleep today. Now here it is, almost 10:00 pm & it's telling me yet again to get to bed. I feel like I need an entire day's worth of sleep before I start to feel a little more with it. Oh well........

Have a good night y'all!

Tag ~ you're it!

2007-11-10T18:10:00.000-05:00

My dear, sweet friend, Phinney, put this up in her journal & tagged me that way. Unfortunately, her journal is private or else I'd link to it here. She was tagged by way of Nancy, who is also pretty darn cool. Here's my participation in it this Saturday night. More stuff tomorrow when I'm a little more with it.

Four Jobs I've Had
Shipping & Receiving Manager (yup...know the ins & outs of UPS, FED EX, DHL & the USPS...w00t!)

Receptionist/file clerk for an umbrella manufacturer (thanks, Marti!)

Security Guard (desk officer/dispatcher)

Co~Owner of a pet supply store (the latest & greatest!)

4 Movies I can watch over and over
Cars

Maximum Overdrive

Mystic Pizza (YAY ~ young Vincent D'Onofrio)

The Wizard of Oz

4 Places I have lived
Studio apartment in NYC (as a baby)

Grew up in the north end of New Rochelle, NY (from 3 1/2 ~ around 22)

2 apartments across the hall from each other in Mamaroneck, NY

My condo in Tarrytown, NY

4 TV shows I love to watch
Designing Women

Alice

Who's the Boss?

Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations

(plus I've gotta admit to liking the new Bionic Woman)

4 Places I’ve been to on vacation
Montauk, NY (where else?)

Westport, MA

Bahamas

United Kingdom

(plus MANY others, but this only asks for 4)

4 Websites I visit daily
Other people's blogs

Where's George?

Engrish.com
I can has cheezburger

4 Favorite Dishes –
Just about anything Italian

Avocado sushi

Pork Fried Rice

Just about anything chocolate~y

4 Places I’d rather be right now
Montauk, NY (again....where else?)

On a warm, tropical beach, sipping a Pina Colada

In bed....sleeping

Driving around the country in an RV

4 People I’m tagging

If you're reading this (all 4 or 5 of you)......consider yourself tagged....now it's your turn! Let me know if/when you do this, so I can see your answers!

The "New" Store...

2007-11-04T10:47:00.000-05:00

Drumroll, please! Ladies & gentlemen, children of all ages.....here it is.....the pet supply store in southern CT that Skip & I are taking over! Hope the picture comes out OK, as I took it on my cell phone from behind the counter.

It's a long & fairly narrow store, that continues on to the right (in this picture) & behind me. In front of me, obviously, there's the windows & doorway where you come in. We don't have any animals in the store, only food, supplies, toys & the like.

Skip & I work 6 days a week, with only Sundays off. We were open from 10:00 ~ 7:00, but starting tomorrow, we'll be closing at 6:00, which is good because we have about a 40 minute drive home. It was tough, leaving at 9:00 & not getting home until after 8:00 ~ all I'd want to do is eat, watch a little bit of TV, & then go to sleep, only to repeat the process again the next day. Sorry if I sound like such a wuss, but I was use to office work, not worrying about certain things because I wasn't "the boss," learning how to do retail stuff, & having certain days off during the week besides Sundays. I really think I need a weekday off every other week, in order to do other things that you just can't do on a Sunday, plus just to save my mental health. I've already discussed it with Skip, since he'd have to go to the store alone if I did something like that, & he seems pretty OK with it. All I keep thinking though is....Liz, you're a wimp...a great big wimp!.....for wanting.....no, NEEDING...to do this.

Any~who....enough of my whining! The Fall weather seems to finally be here in the NYC metro area ~ temperatures are much cooler & the trees are at their absolute peak (if not just a tad beyond) in my neck of the woods. Tomorrow is my 41st birthday & I've got no problem with it. I'm dealing pretty well with the chin hairs (& general facial hairs) that need constant tweezing; the peeing myself when I laugh, cough, sneeze (I actually looked at a box of Depends recently); the beginning to wonder if I need life insurance; the increased need for sleep; the not understanding the attraction to the music that kids listen to nowadays & hearing my favorite music on the oldies or "light" radio stations; the wondering which vitamins to take; the need for regular mamograms; the not knowing what a Bluetooth was until a 23 year old told me & other technology based stuff I just don't get or know about.....I could go on & on! BUT.....I'm much happier with turning 41 than I was with turning 30. Go figure! Skip, my parents, my aunt & I will be going out to dinner tonight to a nice steakhouse near where I live ~ should be good!

S'all for now, gang! Did you remember to turn your clocks back?

Figuring it out?

2007-11-03T23:22:00.000-04:00

I know, I know...it's well into Fall, but I just a little look back to summer, when I was out in Montauk, NY & of the Montauk Point Lighthouse (yes, another view like the 1 by the title of my blog). I also wanted to be able to use this picture on my Blogspot profile & if I understand correctly, I needed to post it here. Soooooo....my posting this picture is two~fold.

A longer, more timely post tomorrow........it's time for bed. I hope you all remember to turn your clocks back!

"Curious as a Cat"

2007-10-29T16:59:00.000-04:00

I was looking for something to talk about today, besides the fact that I didn't go to work this morning due to a horrible headache. I know, I know ~ "There's no crying (or headaches) in baseball (or retail)!" But I just couldn't focus, couldn't stand noise/lights ~ basic beginnings of a migraine ~ plus I've got my book club gang coming over tonight at 7:30. Excuses, excuses, right? This retail thing is a whole 'nother animal to me ~ I'm used to office work. Anyway, I digress. I came across a meme called "Curious as a Cat" & the picture caught my eye...so, here are my answers to their questions. Now it's your turn to answer them ~ just link back to me if you don't mind. As always, I appreciate your comments on anything I've said here ~ in fact...I relish them!

1) What one topic is the most painful to discuss with your parents? Why? My mom & I can discuss just about anything, except for maybe...sex. Why? Why do you think? My dad & I, unfortunately, don't discuss much at all. It's not that I don't love him or don't get along with him...we just don't communicate all that well...most of it is trivial small talk that I know I'll regret one day. I guess that money and mental health would be the 2 hardest things to talk to him about because I feel like he gets judgemental about those 2 subjects.

2) What was the happiest day of your life? Do you think you'll ever top it? My wedding day, 16 years ago, had to be the happiest day of my life because I never thought anyone would ever love me enough to marry me & I was actually marrying my best friend. I doubt I'll ever be able to top it.

3) What animal would you like to be able to communicate with? My dog, Lucy, or my cat, Stella ~ I'd love to know what they're thinking & what they do all day when I'm not around.

4) In what way do you come nearest to perfection (as you define it)? Perfection isn't an easy thing to define & I'm not sure if I'd really want to be perfect. When I looked up "perfection" on dictionary.com to see what they'd say, it read "1. the state or quality of being or becoming perfect. 2. the highest degree of proficiency, skill, or excellence, as in some art. 3. a perfect embodiment or example of something. 4. a quality, trait, or feature of the highest degree of excellence. 5. the highest or most nearly perfect degree of a quality or trait. 6. the act or fact of perfecting." The fact is, I find myself awfully far from the state of perfection, in anyone's definition. BUT, if I had to choose 1 thing that I am nearly perfect at...it's being loyal...& that's a pretty darn good thing to be nearly perfect at.

5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one. (See picture above) Halloween, of course ~ & it's my favorite holiday along with Christmas. Can't wait ~ scary, spooky, fun-filled Halloween is almost here!

PS Don't forget to vote in my poll for this week, found conveniently in the sidebar to the right!

"Weekend Assignment"

2007-10-28T11:05:00.000-04:00

John Scalzi, the fearless leader over in AOL J~Land, asked everyone to amuse him this weekend. Seeing that my time has been so limited lately, I haven't been able to search the internet for the truly most amusing picture, video, joke, riddle, etc....so, I've come up with this...especially since John tends to travel a lot for various conventions & book tours. I'm not sure where the picture was taken, but the writing at the top of the banner looks like Japanese. I also get a giggle out of a lot of the stuff on the site that I found it on, which is called Engrish.com.....what can I say.....I've got a weird sense of humor ~ take it or leave it.

A punny extra credit? When I saw my first strands of grey hair, I thought I'd dye.

Hope I was able to amuse you John (& the rest of my limited readers), even for just a moment!

YAY! More Guerilla Art!

2007-10-28T10:26:00.000-04:00

Aloha! When it rains, it pours....& I'm not just talking about the lousy weather we've had here in the NYC metro area for the past few days (although today is beautiful, albeit chilly). I'm talking about the Guerilla Art postcards I sent out. To see some pictures of how they originally started, check out earlier posts of mine.

Here's picture #1 from postcard #2, sent to me by another dear friend, Karen. Both cards have now been sent along to other people to alter. Hooray! I'm getting more & more excited by this whole project! Still waiting to see what happened to postcard #3.

Big thanks to Karen for being a part of this! Is anyone else out there interested in getting involved in this little project? I know there's gotta be some artistic people out there just yearning to do something like this, even if they don't quite know it yet! Come on....ya' know ya' wanna!

Guerilla Art Update!

2007-10-26T21:51:00.000-04:00

Let's see if good ol' Aunt Nub can "git-r-done" ~ tried before but am having a problem.

If you'll remeber back a few entries, I've gotten into the whole guerilla art thing & sent out 3 postcards to some artsy friends of mine asking them to alter the postcard some way (whatever kind of artwork they wanted) & then to send it on anonymously to someone else to the same & so on & so on...... Hopefully I would get pictures of the postcards every once in a while to see what was happening to them.

Voila! Here is the first picture! I'm sooooooooo excited! I can't wait to see more!!!!!! Thank you to my dear friend Phinney, for being a part of this!

Funk~a~licious

2007-10-21T09:56:00.000-04:00

Howdy again, gang! I'm grabbing the opportunity in which Blogger has the picture posting problem fixed & the 3 free moments I have before needing to stop by the store today & then do some much needed grocery shopping to post this picture.

This is from my trip into the city (which happens to be in my backyard, in case you have no idea where Tarrytown is) yesterday to meet up with Grove (still getting used to not calling him Albert, but I will honor his request). These lamp posts were scattered all over the part of the East Village that we were in & were just the coolest looking things (in my humble opinion)! They're covered in all sorts of stuff from broken plates & saucers to broken tiles. Very collage~y & mosaic~y. Reminds me of the guerilla art stuff that I'm so into right now, but somehow I think it was planned...maybe. Anyway, I thought it was very cool & wanted to share. Grove took this of me next to 1 of them (yes, I'm that short ~ only 5'0"). My only wish is that I had gotten an even more extreme closeup, but alas, I didn't. Maybe another time.

Finally.......

2007-10-20T18:23:00.000-04:00

After many years of reading his online journal, sending various things via snail~mail & just generally feeling like I somehow knew this guy in another life......I got to meet the one & only Albert (or Grove as he prefers) in person! Those of you who have lingered around AOL J~Land long enough probably know him already. If you're not from J~Land or just plain & simple haven't come across his journal, it's worth a moment of your time to check it out!

Grove/Albert (bear with me Grove, I've got to get used to calling you that! LOL) lives in San Francisco, so when the opportunity presented itself ~ he'd be visiting NYC for a few days ~ I had to grab it. It wasn't easy to take off a tremendously busy day at the store, but when opportunity knocks...well, you know what ya' gotta do! So...we met at Grand Central this morning around 11:30 & spent a couple of hours together, wandering around the East Village, eating pizza, Grove showing me Cooper Union (where he had gone to college), me trying not to babble on incessantly in my usual NY~Mile~A~Minute way. Yes...I've actually had to learn in some of my therapy sessions to slow down & listen to what other people have to say! I took the above picture when we were finishing up lunch at a little (but busy) pizzaria in the East Village on East 14th Street ~ not only is Grove in the picture, but so is some stranger in the background about to take a big bite of pizza & some scaffolding outside the windows ~ as Grove noticed, all very urban!

After lunch, we wandered into a place called "Trash & Vaudville" ~ which was a typical East Village funky kind of clothing store ~ think punk rock meets heavy metal. I used to go down to these neighborhoods (East Village, SoHo, NoHo, Canal Street) when I was in High School, but I graduated in 1984, so it's been a few years & a few grey hairs since. I had a few favorite places, such as "Screaming Mimi's," but I don't remember what street it was on or even if they're still open. Saw a few cool things, but didn't buy them. Too much stuff had skulls on it & I'm just not into that sort of thing at this age ~ maybe when I was in High School, but not now. I did end up buying 2 pairs of funky fingerless gloves, 1 for me & 1 for Skip. Let me tell you though, Grove & I were the 2 squarest people in the place. The 18-year-old girl at the register had the same kind of haircut I had in 1983-84, shaved on the sides long-ish on the top, darker on the short part, blonde on the long-ish part. Numerous tattoos on her (the sheer # put my 5 to shame), piercings, etc. The guy in the store (I'm guessing maybe the owner?) was possibly in his late 30s, early 40s...but time, booze, drugs, whatever his story, was not kind to him. A little too much of the sex, drugs & rock & roll. A blonde, younger Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones.

I left Grove (after he had to help me with the subways ~ I only seem to either walk it or cab it in the City) back at Grand Central, window shopped there for a little while & got back on the train north. I thoroughly enjoyed my time & will be posting another picture tomorrow from our travels. Grove is a thoroughly genuine guy & a warm, caring, sensitive soul! I'm glad to have met him!

Grey skies are gonna clear up...

2007-10-18T22:14:00.000-04:00

The weather here in the NY metro area certainly does NOT feel like mid-October. In fact...today it was so humid, it felt more like August. For the most part, it's been very warm & un~fall like around here. I do like crisp Autumn days & nights, but absolutely hate the bitter winter cold & all the bundling up it takes just to step out the front door. I also hate the dreary grey, overcast days & shudder at the thought of rain...it depresses the heck out of me (there is such a thing called S.A.D. or seasonal affective disorder). Forget it if it's going to snow...I get all panicked. Skip & I talk about getting an RV when we retire & travelling around, following the nice weather & seeing the country.

Took this picture yesterday on my camera phone & was just so thrilled with it when I saw it here on my computer that I had to share it. I'm standing outside our new store on a break around 5:00~ish & thought the clouds looked pretty cool.

Please bear with me in regards to posting here, reading & commenting on other blogs/journals, catching up with e-mails...whatever on~line stuff I used to do on a very regular basis. Skip & I don't get home until about 8:00 or 8:30 every night because we don't close until 7:00 & have a few things to do before leaving & then have a 45 minute drive home. I then trudge through the front door, walk the dog (if she hasn't gone to the store with us), eat, walk the dog again, & collapse in bed by 10:30. This is the first time since Sunday (I think) that I've gone on~line at home. While at work it's pretty quick to look something up or glance at my e-mails while I eat 1/2 a sandwich. I shouldn't even be doing that much!

S'all for now.....gotta get some sleep. Morning comes fast....

These boots were made for...being tired!

2007-10-14T16:28:00.000-04:00

A very quick post today, as I've got to run out in a minute to meet my mom & aunt for dinner & hubby will be honking the car horn soon. Wanted to check in though & let you all know that I'm still alive, although exhauseted! Yes...those feet you see above are screaming at me to get off them & relax. I took the picture on my camera phone yesterday outside the store & although I love my new sneakers, no matter what I wear on my tootsies, I think I'd still want to pass out after being on them almost non~stop for 9 hours. Thankfully we'll be going to winter hours (10:00~6:00) the first Monday in November (which happens to be my b~day) & then we're just going to leave it at those hours for good. I actually fell asleep on the couch today for 2+ hours & really feel like I could sleep some more, but I don't want to be wide awake at 3:00 in the morning, twiddling my thumbs.

Some good news...I'll have a little break from it all on Saturday. I'll be having my first face~to~face meeting with Albert my wonderful friend from San Francisco who I met through AOL Journals. I can't wait! Plans are still in the making, but it looks like we'll be meeting somewhere in NYC around midday. I'll be sure to take some pictures & fill you all in ~ well, at least those of you who know him will want to check it out.

Gotta run....or crawl.................

Yet some more guerilla-type art...

2007-10-11T17:11:00.000-04:00

I've got some more "guerilla~type" art going out, but in a journal format & it's going to be sort~of~round~robin, where the book will travel around to different people around the country & then wind up back in my hands (hopefully!). The picture isn't that great, but I wanted to get this posted & I don't have the patience today to futz around with getting the best/most flattering shot. The papers are all from the Temple of Craft that good friend Karen has started. She had brought some really gorgeous Asian papers with her that night & I would've nabbed them if I could...but I'm not that kind of person. I did, however get a few strips of it, which I instantly pasted on the front of this book. I so covet those darn papers ~ they were so perfect ~ the colors & patterns! Sigh.....

Inside the book is the following: "If you only had one last chance to say something to the world, what would it be? Please take a moment to answer the above question & to decorate your page in whatever way you wish ~ it's totally up to you. One page per person & one person per page please....." I got this general idea from the "Guerilla Art Kit" that I've mentioned in previous posts & then ran with it...put my own twist on it.

It'll be on it's way to northern Connecticut (bet she can't guess who it is ~ surprise!) via DHL tomorrow & then on to San Francisco (again, no big surprise after he reads this) after that. It'll go to many points, near & far, across the USA. I can't wait to see how it turns out!!!! Now I've got to put on my big girl panties, take the chance, & set it free ~ I'm so worried & nervous about never seeing it again ~ just have to keep my fingers crossed!