Thursday, December 29, 2011

Nook

Nook.  Kindle.  Nook.  Kindle.  I am obsessed!  I don't know which one to choose.  I am sure either one would be great.  I talked to someone today and the consensus was that I should go with the one whose name I like the best.  Nook.  I like that word.  Nookie.  Nook & Cranny.  It's a fun word!  I'm thinking that the Nook just might edge out the Kindle.

Working at the courthouse there is never a lack of fun or at least interesting.  Yesterday there was a sting operation set up in the driveway.  Probation officers, police officers, and sheriffs were stopping people as they were driving in and asking them for a driver's license.  There were a ton of empty cars lined up waiting to be picked up for impound.  So here's the deal.  Every last Wednesday evening of the month is the MADD DUI class.  So the hundreds of people who chose to drink and drive (and get caught) come to the courthouse for a mandatory class.  So when you get convicted of a DUI you automatically get your license suspended for at least 30 days.  In my simple mind, I get the fact that if my license were suspended, I should NOT be driving.  Didn't seem to cross the minds of a whole bunch of people going to the class.  Everyone who was driving got their car towed!  Love it!  You have no idea how fun it is to watch what happens to stupid people!  Gave me great pleasure.  So let's see...they drove drunk, got pulled over, had car impounded.  Went to court, signed up for drunk class, got pulled over, and got car impounded!  That's a pretty darn expensive venture.  Makes a taxi ride home seem pretty cheap at that point!  Moral of the story?  Don't Drink and Drive.

I am on a quest to find out what this Pinterest thing is all about.  Guess I am out of the loop.  I will be back with a report on that as soon as I can! Happy Friday!♥

s-h-i-t (so-happy-it's-thursday)!

Not much going on this week @ the House of Guadagni.  Zoe is an absolute nightmare this morning.  She is jumping in the air at molecules and all sorts of weird things.  I got up this morning and went into the kitchen to get a glass of oj.  In my sleepy state of mind, I left the cupboard open when I got a glass.  Next thing I heard was a big crash and I saw a flash.  The flash was Zoe running at lightning speed!  The little dickens thought she needed to put herself in the cupboard to see what was up there.  There was obviously no room for her and she fell out bringing items with her!  Luckily the glasses were still there so the sounds I heard were the plastic cups etc hitting the counter and then the floor.
Time to leave for work...and leaving Zoe to wreak a little more havoc on her own. ♥

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Welcome to Buddy

First day back to work after a few days off is a tough one! 

It was a day filled with sad news.  My friend's husband passed away last night and another friend's mom had a massive stroke on Christmas. I am praying for my friend's mom and her family as they go through this difficult time.  And my prayers are with my friend and her children as they continue their lives without a husband/father.  Real tough times on this earth.

In the midst of sadness, there is also good.  My dear friend Rhonda adopted a 7 year old Golden Retriever at the Escondido Humane Society. Buddy needed a forever home and he found one with the Haynes!  I have not yet met Buddy but I have heard that he is a real sweet and loving dog!  I can't wait to see him.
Here he is...

Buddy Haynes

Levi and Eric Jr., with their new friend, Buddy
My heart is happy every time I hear that an animal got adopted from the shelter.  Thank you, Rhonda! ♥

Monday, December 26, 2011

The Day After

I'm exhausted.  This thing called Christmas wore me out!  So thankful that today was a holiday for me.  I really needed it.  My day consisted of a massage at Massage Envy, eating at Red Robin, and looking at the Nook at Barnes and Noble.  Kindle v Nook.  I go from one side to the other.  My solution for now is to buy nothing at all.  The massage was great but I fell asleep and I hate it when I do that!
I just watched an hour of Intervention.  I can only take one hour and I'm done.  To sit and watch episode after episode would just destroy me.  You can't understand the power of addiction until you have been around an addict and seen it firsthand.  It's overwhelming for me to watch the agony of both the addict and the family.  Heavy duty stuff right there.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  Headed for 2012...already! ♥

Christmas 2011

I hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas! 
It's been a busy couple of days around here.  Yesterday on our way to San Diego we stopped at my friend Jeanette's house.  Her Christmas Eve was already in full swing.  The family was assembling tamales - I wanted to stay and partake but we had to get going.  The appetizers were especially delicious as was the frozen cranberry margarita. 
Moving on...we then went to Luigi's parent's house for the Christmas Eve thing.  They only eat seafood on Christmas Eve.  Things like octopus and squid and clams.  Ug.  However, my mother-in-law was kind and did make a little bit of Fettuccini Alfredo and I was all for that!  And that is the only thing that I ate.    It was nice...the parts I could understand.  They speak a lot of Italian and I just zone out.  I am not complaining as if I wanted to do something about it, I could learn how to speak it.  But I'm not going to.  Will just keep zoning - that's cool!  There were 6 of us - Us of course and then his parents and his brother, Benny, and his wife, Alison.

Today was Christmas here at home.  I slept in.  Needed that so much.  After that I made a couple of pumpkin pies and then prepped for Christmas dinner.  Mom and Dad arrived about 2.  The food was great...ate way too much.  We deep-fried a turkey like we did on Thanksgiving.  We paid so much $ for the peanut oil that we thought we should use it again.  It lasts about 4 months I think...
After we ate we went to Rancho Penasquitos to see Christmas Card Lane.  It's so cute - people have huge "greeting cards" in their yards and lots of lights and other decor.  My favorite was 101 Dalmatians.  So darn cute!  A lot of people went the religious route which was nice too.
Roxie wore her Christmas shirt that says "Dear Santa: The Cat Did It"!  I love that!  She enjoyed opening up her presents.  She got 2 animal squeaky toys, a ball, and a mega bag of Denta Stix.  Happy camper.
As for me...I am sporting a cabinet full of brand new dishes!  Thank you mom and dad.  I love them!  I got Fiestaware in different colors so I have lime, peacock, tangerine, and marigold.  I have not had new dishes since the early 90s so I was due.  Several times I have gone into the kitchen and peeked in the cupboard just to look!
Tomorrow...I'm thinking that sleeping in sounds pretty good at this point.  I have a massage scheduled for 11:30.  Can't wait.  Then maybe to see a movie?  Not sure.
And last night I had a dream that I was Mrs Claus...hmmm - she's got a lot going on!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. ♥


Friday, December 23, 2011

The Tree

Again, I have fallen behind in blogging.  I think about it during the day and often say to self..."I have to put that on the Blog".  But then night comes and I get distracted and the days just fly by.  So I never did post a pic of the tree after it got decorated. So here it is.  The lights were a last-minute purchase.  Ran to WalMart that night...nothing.  Went across the street to Target and our choice was red or blue.  I seem to be missing a box of Christmas stuff.  In that box are my lights, more ornaments, tree skirt, and the angel for the top of the tree.  So as you can tell - there is no tree top this year.  There is actually an angel sitting up there that my aunt and cousin brought me @ Thanksgiving but you really can't see her.

Christmas Tree 2011
I can't keep up with this Blog so what do I do?  Start another one!  It's a cooking/food Blog - will be posting some delicious stuff on there!  Please check it out and tell others about it.  I would like to get a lot of "hits" on there!  The address is www.foodwithjules.blogspot.com Thanks for checking it out!

Christmas is almost here.  I am barely ready.  Tomorrow will be a super busty day.  Church in the morning...hey, I just said "busty"!  Oops.  Every day for me is a busty day but what I meant to say is BUSY!  In the afternoon we will be dropping by my friend Jeanette's house.  And then to visit her mom, Esther, in the nursing home in Carlsbad.  Then it's off to Spring Valley to the in-law's house.  A lot of Italians just do fish on Christmas Eve.  So it will be a fishy kind of night.  Fish Eyes!  Uh, yeah, for those who know me well, you know I don't do most fish.  I am all for a piece of halibut or swordfish on the grill but the other stuff?  No! And I really don't like the smell.  But I am going to be a good little soldier.  Just not a fish-eating soldier!

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! ♥


Under the non-existent Mistletoe!


Monday, December 12, 2011

Tree Time

December 12...13 days until Christmas and guess what?  Jules finally got a tree!  I have been a bit of a bah humbug since moving out of the house.  I love Christmas and everything that goes with it but I just haven't been able to really do much about it.  We moved to that apartment in Escondido and I hated that place and there was no room for a tree anyway.  Then we moved here and things have not gotten much better.  Last year was the worst.  I was depressed the whole season.  So this year I finally decided that I can feel sorry for myself or I can do something about the sad attitude and at least get a tree and make it look festive and smell even better.  And this tree smells incredible!  It's a Douglas Fir.  Tonight it is airing out and opening up and by Wednesday (first day I will have time) it will be ready for decoration.  I've got pine needles everywhere but I don't even care.  That's why I own a vacuum and a broom.  I will leave them until I decorate.  Yep, being messy and careless! 
Zoe LOVES the tree.  She is absolutely positive that we bought it for her.  She is smelling it and batting at the branches and of course, sitting under it.  Here are the "before" pics and Wednesday I will post the "after" pics.  You will see Zoe there on the left.  She is amazed at this "thing" in her living room!  I am very, very scared about Zoe and the ornaments.  It will be fun! ♥



Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Sick!

I could swear I just got over pneumonia a couple of months ago.  That was the first time I had been sick like that in a very long time.  Now...sick again.  This one is actually more painful than the pneumonia.  When I cough, my throat and chest feel like death!  Oh well - I'm sure it's nothing close to death.  I probably picked it up while I was sitting in the nasty, germ-infested ER the other night waiting for Dad's BP to drop so he could go home.  That was a long night.  The little kid who kept poking me in the back with her chili picante corn nut covered fingers to the homeless guy with the urine stench that I will smell forever, to the woman with the bleached blonde hair in the bright pink Ed Hardy sweat suit...she kept leaping out of her wheelchair and running to the trashcan to puke.  And puke some more.  It was a whole lot of fun.  Not.
I watched Pan Am from Sunday night.  I L - O - V - E that show.  How glamorous back in the 60s to be a "Stewardess".  White gloves and all.  My how times have changed.  I was bummed when they announced it will be on hiatus until January 8.  I have 3 fave shows this season and I can't decide which is my most favorite.  Pan Am, Revenge, and Person of Interest.  All great shows.
I know I said I would post Thanksgiving photos.  I haven't forgotten - just got delayed.  Back to bed for me...the cough syrup with codeine is kicking in...
Good night Blog followers. ♥

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Welcome to December

Happy December.  My favorite month of the year!  I will be back this weekend to catch up with Thanksgiving news and the pics.
I have deemed December to be a special month for me.  I have decided to do something special for someone each day this month.  I probably won't talk about what I do but I will post my progress.  They say if you do a kind act for someone and then talk about it, it kind of takes away from it.  Doesn't mean I will never tell though.  There are some people that you just HAVE to share your day with!
As far as December 1...good deed accomplished and the recipient was very surprised, happy, and thankful! ♥


Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Lost a Tooth and Attended a Wedding

Since I have been lagging again, I need to backtrack just a bit. 
I will go back to the 18th when I finally decided that I had enough of my toothache.  I have never really had a toothache before so this was new to me.  I have had fillings, extractions, root canals, and crowns but never a toothache.  After about 6 days I decided that possibly I should see my Dentist.  Good move because I had ugliness going on in there.  The Dentist took an xray and immediately sent me to an Oral Surgeon.  A quick visit to the Dentist turned into an all day event.  I left for the Dentist at 10am and walked in the door at home at 5:30pm.  Minus one tooth.  I hate having dental work done but I was a big girl and dealt with it.  3 doses of Novocaine and my tooth was extracted real fast.  I hated the sound though.  I heard my root cracking.  Eww.  Anyway, I had a bad infection under there and that got cleaned out and I was good to go.  And thankful for dental insurance because it only cost me $107.00 out of pocket.
So two days later was my cousin Andy's wedding.  Of course I had ordered steak.  Who knew I wouldn't have enough teeth to chew the darn thing.  The wedding was beautiful.  I liked that the ceremony was short.  And the reception was very nice.  The food was incredible.  The appetizers were delicious and the meal was just as good.  We only danced during one song.  Not big on dancing at weddings.  Wore some shoes that were handcrafted in Hell.  Luckily I had a feeling about them and took a comfy pair of flats.  I seem to have foot problems at weddings.  The last wedding that I attended (Sandy and Blake), I had on another pair of shoes also handcrafted in Hell.  I took them off and thought it would be a good idea to walk from the parking lot to the wedding in my bare feet.  2nd degree burns on the bottom of my feet!  I sat there during the cocktail/appetizer hour with my feet on a pile of ice.  Yeah, I need to start wearing old, worn out tennies to weddings.
During the reception I went to the bathroom and discovered that someone had left a camera on the bathroom counter.  I took it and gave it to the guy with the microphone.  You know, one of those MCs.  But not before Josh (my cousin), Luigi, and I took a couple of pics of the 3 of us together!  Just a little surprise for the owner of the camera.  Hope she enjoyed them!  Speaking of pics...here are some of the wedding.  The rest of the pics will go on Facebook. ♥

The Ceremony Room (a quick set up when the outdoor venue got rained out)

Michelle, Josh, Dad, Mom, and Me
 
Our Table - I won the flower centerpiece (not the tree part) - used them for Thanksgiving
 
Mel and Andy cutting the cake


Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Re-cap of my Wednesday

Today was my Wednesday!  Just thought I would throw that fact in there for good measure!  Long, long day.  I got up extra early because I additional things to do this morning before leaving the house.  I went to work and then remembered today was the monthly office meeting via tele-conference.  Not fun.  It went over an hour.  I don't do well after about 30 minutes.  It was like sitting through a really bad (and long) sermon at church.  Had my coffee with me but it sprung a leak.  Wearing a white shirt of course.  Left work at 11:10 to go to the San Diego office for Thanksgiving Lunch.  It was a good time.  The food...not so good.  But the turkey was delicious.  And for me to say that, it means something.  To me it does.  I am not a fan of turkey.  One of the guys in my unit made it and it was his first try.  I guess he used wine.  I wonder if he used wine to cook the turkey or drank wine while cooking the turkey.  Whatever the use of the wine...it worked! 
Got a really cool travel mug from my manager, Donna.  She got it for me in Vegas at my fave candy store, "Sugar Factory".  How ironic - my current coffee mug sprung a leak this morning and then I got a new one.  Very cool.  I took food that I collected at the office for the San Diego Food Bank food drive, I took stuffing/dressing that I made for the lunch, and I took Donna a bottle of Cab.  That would be Cabernet Sauvignon for my non wine-drinker readers.  Having a husband who manages a wine department makes me favorable among my friends!
My Roxie is doing much better with her "kennel cough".  That is the simple name for "Bordatella".  Both words translate to "Upper Respiratory Infection".  Glad we took her to the vet yesterday because if left untreated, it could go into pneumonia.  She is such a good little dog.  Little my ass...she weighed in at 25.5 pounds.  Porker.  She is taking her meds and is being a trooper by staying home alone during the day because she can't be around her dog companion, Cassie. (for one week).
Dinner at Soup Plantation with Rhonda tonight.  Yummy!  They changed their blue cheese dressing.  It is SO delicious.  The maple walnut salad - not so good.  I felt like I was eating pancakes in salad form.  Very strange.
Got a black dress for the wedding on Sunday.  Love it.  It's a special dress...
I have so much to say but I will save some for tomorrow.  Still offering up free pie for Thanksgiving...

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Today is my Wednesday

All is well in the Guadagni Household...Zoe is sleeping upside down underneath one of those tiny little Rubbermaid step stools.  Blueberry is chirping at the birds on TV.  And my favorite moment of the night...Roxie is in the kitchen licking up cake batter that splattered on the floor.  Everyone is happy.
My work week ended today.  I will not say it is my Friday.  I was told that there is only one Friday and that is Friday.  It is annoying to name another day of the week "Friday".  So today is my Wednesday - just like everyone else's Wednesday!
Tomorrow I will be home cleaning house and pre-spotting the carpet in preparation for carpet cleaning next week.  Not fun.  Cleaning carpet is one of my most hated tasks.  I like hardwood floors but I know you have to work at keeping those nice too.
I am completely addicted to cooking lately.  Darn good thing I am not as addicted to eating it.  It's almost like I can't stay out of the kitchen.  Tonight was breaded chicken breasts on a bed of onions with a balsamic and lemon reduction.  And sauteed spinach with garlic and asiago cheese.  And of course a cake in the oven.  Thus the cake batter that WAS on the kitchen floor!  I was glad Rox got some cake batter because she saw the eggs come out of the fridge for the cake and she got excited.  She loves having a scrambled egg.  I told her it was not scrambled egg day and her tail went down.  But the cake batter made up for the "eggstordinary" disappointment!
If anyone would like a pie for Christmas, just let me know.  I am not baking for dollars this year.  But if anyone asks I would be happy to give you a homemade pie as a gift.  Pumpkin, Pecan, or Cherry. ♥

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Brrrr!!!

Hope everyone is having a good week.  I fully intended to post tonight but to be honest, my fingers are too darn cold to type anything more than a couple of sentences.  I have gone my whole life being warm blooded.  Ok, maybe hot blooded! But I have been freezing cold all week long!  So I am off to burrough down under a blankey on the couch and watch Pan Am from Sunday night.  Will be back to post tomorrow evening. ♥

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Stressful Tuesday

I can't begin to describe how stressful this day has been.  Three more days to go and then the weekend.  My job has been challenging lately.
I am coming to the conclusion that the PD (perfect dress) is not going to fit for the wedding on the 20th.  So I am stressing a bit about that.  However I did find something on ebay that might work.  Brand new.  I am not big on buying used clothes.  I know there are some great finds in thrift stores etc but I wasn't raised shopping in them so I just don't feel comfortable.  Maybe if I needed a costume or something?  I don't know.  I know a guy who buys used sneakers from thrift stores.  That creeps me out.  Used mattresses are right up there for me too.  I can sleep in a hotel bed but to actually buy a pre-used mattress is a no.  Now that I think about it...I'm scared of hotel beds too.  Now look what I've gone and done!  I did learn a few years ago what the the most germ infested item is in a hotel room.  It's the remote control!  Yes, I travel with a can of Lysol.  Now I'm telling my secrets.  Time to move on...
I hope I have not bitten off more than I can chew.  I am hosting Thanksgiving at my house this year! 12 people.  I'm starting the planning tomorrow.  And I know the word of the month...delegate.  People have asked what they can bring.  I will take them up on it.  It will actually be a lot of fun because I love to cook, I love to bake, and I love to entertain.  I will gripe through the planning stages but the truth is - I love it!
Time to grab my puppy and my kitty and put head to pillow.  Hope everyone is having a good week! ♥

Saturday, October 29, 2011

A Random Posting

I know I haven't blogged in over a week.  So I will give a quick run down of the past week...

--Worked
--Ate
--Slept
--Repeated Process many times

Now that everyone is caught up with my life... Roxie had her mouth surgery last week and is doing SO good.  She has a rather toothless smile but she is a happy girl.  She has plenty of teeth left to eat her favorite Trader Joe's Peanut Butter Dog Cookies and really, that's all that matters in life.  Oh, and a pillow to lay your head on.

Went to see Esther in the care center this afternoon.  She is doing so much better than when I saw her the other day.  She recognized me and answered my questions.  She kept looking at the shirt I was wearing and acted like she wanted to say something.  It's a green and white striped shirt.  Later tonight I realized what that was about.  When we were in Las Vegas in August she saw me wearing the shirt and mentioned how she liked the green.  Obviously, she still likes it!

Stopped at Bath and Body Works tonight to pick up something that I needed.  While I was there I saw a TON of things that I wanted.  They have something like 20 different fragrances of candles for the holidays.  I loved about half of them.  I really wish someone would take me there on a shopping spree.  I really love that store.  I had a coupon for a free travel size of something.  I got a shower gel in a new fragrance that they have called Paris Amour or something like that.  I am just a freak about shower gels, body sprays, and lotions.  I have really cut back over the past couple of years but it probably still looks a little bit out of control to the non-freaks.  I will have to post a pic on here of my downsized supply.  And the thing is - I use all of them.

Trying to decide if I am going to sell some pies for the holidays.  I can use the money but I don't make all that much.  I will have to think about that.  This week I am going to test out a pumpkin pound cake.  I like plain pound cake so not sure about the pumpkin.  I wish I could cook and bake all the time.  I wish I could make decent money with it.  Maybe I should try.

Wishing all a good Football Sunday. ♥

Thursday, October 20, 2011

The "Old" Days (for me)

Happy Friday.  I swear that every time Friday rolls around it is just in time.  I really don't know how people work 6 or 7 days a week.  Maybe it's my age?  And what's with that?  I never thought that one day I would be saying "maybe it's my age".  Argh.  Do kids know that the St Louis Rams used to live in Los Angeles?  Or that the Houston Oilers turned into the Jacksonville Jaguars?  And how about those Los Angeles Raiders?  Yep, I am old.  Pee Chee Folders.  And my Loggins and Messina 8 track tape.  I bought my first stereo at Gemco.  And if you couldn't find what you wanted at Gemco, you went to Fed Mart.  Or Fedco.  And I bought my cool clothes at Millers Outpost and Fashion Conspiracy.  And my shoes at Kennys.  And if that didn't work, my second choice was Tom McCann.  And candy bars were 5 cents.  And ice cream at Thriftys was 5 cents, 10 cents, or 15 cents. I was at Vons the other day and a candy bar was $1.39.  And a pack of gum is $1.59 or higher.  Wow.  Ok, enough of memory lane.
Roxie had tooth extraction surgery today.  Yeah, I had $467.00 burning a hole in my pocket so decided to take her to the vet.  Ouch that was a tough one.  Both on the wallet and my baby girl's mouth.  Her front teeth were removed.  The vet told me that the infection was super bad.  I do know that if I had not taken care of it could have killed her.  She is resting in a comfy chair.  Eyes glazed over and a bit of a cough from the anesthesia.
I have a new supervisor tomorrow.  Her name is Kathy.  I sure hope this will be ok.  You just never know.  I am hoping that since all of my co-workers in the office where she will work are so bizarre that she won't give me a second thought.
Have you ever thought of something or someone right before sleep and then dreamed about it?  I can actually do that!  Not all the time but sometimes it's spot on.  Off to bed to see if it works again.
TGIF ♥

Monday, October 17, 2011

All she wants for Christmas are her 2 front teeth...

Have you ever felt hateful?  Well, that's how I feel today!  This weekend has been for crap.  I don't know what's worse - having another weekend like this or going to work tomorrow.  Toss up.
My poor Roxie almost knocked her two front teeth out.  She and Cassie the Poodle had a "disagreement" shall we say?  My Rox is just like a pit bull - she is one tough cookie.  But she is old and her teeth got tangled up somehow.  Anyway, she now has buck teeth.  Poor thing was bleeding and I was bordering on hysterical.  In the midst of it all, my favorite decorative vase got shattered.  I was heartbroken until I realized that my puppy was hurt and the vase was no longer important.  There was blood everywhere and she was wiping her mouth with her feet and then she had bloody feet.  Tragic for me more than anyone.  She will have to have her teeth pulled - I am pretty sure of it.  So that will be this week's expense.  The vase hurts, money hurts, but the worst part of all is that Roxie was hurt and I can hardly live with that.
My mom is freaked out tonight because the library books that dad and I have were checked out under her name and they were due yesterday.  She stresses over the dumbest things.  I renewed them online tonight and will go pay the fine tomorrow.  $1.25.  Not the end of the freakin world.  Then she suggested I push the dog's teeth back in.  Never mind - this story is going nowhere.
I feel a very long week at work is ahead.  I hope to get off early on Friday.  My cousins are coming over Friday night.  Actually Josh is my cousin and his wife is Michelle.  But they are both cousins.  I am making curry sauce with jasmine rice.  One of my favorite meals to cook although I haven't made it in well over year.  I am excited that they are coming.  I love them!
Wednesday evening I am meeting Jan at Michael's and I will get her set up with what she will need for stamping.  Will be fun.  Then we are going to try out the new Cocina del Charro Restaurant in Escondido.  New location actually.  Yes, I know I am fasting.  Let's not talk about that.
It's past midnight.  And way past bedtime.  A good week to everyone...♥

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Almost Friday

I know I say this every week but it's been a long one.  Monday was different.  I went to our San Diego office for the day.  Not so bad because the day ended at 11:15.  I met my new supervisor.  Her name is Kathy.  She seems very nice.  Might be a good change!  After leaving the office I went to Vibra Hospital in San Diego (Hillcrest) to see Esther.  Jeanette was there spending the day with her mom so she and I kept company while Esther slept.  Esther has been asleep since the day after Labor Day.  I talked to her, rubbed her hand, and tried to get her to wake up.  I really felt that she knew I was there.  You know how you just get a feeling sometimes?  Anyway, she woke up for a minute today.  Jeanette said she opened her eyes and recognized Jeanette.  I hope this means that there will be an upward trend.

As you know from my last post that I now have curtain panels over the window in my office.  They came from Ikea and they are supposed to be user-friendly.  As in easy to hem.  They come with instructions and some sort of velcro thingy.  All you need is an iron.  I found out that you need one more thing...an animal who does not love to sleep on the too-long curtains!  Zoe loves them so much and I can't bear to fix them.  Ok, so they look a bit white trash.  But what can I do?!


I am back on the all-liquid diet.  I had a piece of grilled chicken and some steamed broccoli tonight.  That's liquid, right?  Oh man - this losing weight thing is horrific.  I still need to fit into the PD (perfect dress) by November 20.  Ok...moving right along...

I got a call this afternoon at my desk.  I was super busy and was not even planning to take a break but you know that great feeling when you hear from someone that you love to talk to and you weren't even expecting the call?  Totally made my day.  The break was needed and definitely welcomed.  So if that person happens to read this...thank you! ♥  I have taken on a new responsibility at work and it's kind of monopolizing my mind for the time being.  I love it because I needed something new to do.  I like challenges.

TGIF!♥

Thursday, October 6, 2011

I Won!

All I can think about tonight is that when I wake up, it will be Friday.  It's been a long week. 
I actually won a contest today!  Was so proud of myself.  Sign On San Diego had a contest on Facebook and they asked for the first person to name a certain local chef who is an author and an advocate for nutrition in schools (salad bars, etc).  People started posting their answers.  I was about the 5th person to post and I guessed it right!  I won two tickets to the Gourmet Expo at the Del Mar Fairgrounds for either Saturday or Sunday.  Everything about cooking, demonstrations, tastings, etc.  I am happy about that - especially when I logged onto the website and saw that tickets are $25.00 each.
Came home and finally got a mini project done.  The blinds in the office here at home broke so this window has been a free-for-all.  I have been getting tired of everyone being able to see in at night.  Daytime isn't an issue for me because I open up every blind in this house every morning.  I can't stand to have even one window blocked.  Was at Ikea the other day and found curtains which were the perfect color - neutral.  I have been looking for a paint color for the walls so these curtains will go with anything I pick.  Love them because you can open them all the way, a little bit, or completely close them.  Here they are...
Until the weekend...thanks for reading! ♥

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Tuesday Thoughts

I am so addicted to Words with Friends and Scrabble.  I can't leave it alone!  And the thing is...I'm not very good at it.  Words with Friends I am ok but Scrabble sucks.  I have never won an online scrabble game. At the rate I am going, I never will.  If you want to play me through Facebook, just send an invite.  I never turn one down.  Thus, the addiction...
Still don't have a name for the food blog.  I had an MRI the other night so while I was in there I started brainstorming.  Ha!  I was just being punny!  The MRI was on my brain...brainstorming...yeah, you get it.  And yeah, my brain is whacked.  Just a personal opinion.  The MRI results are not back yet.  The weirdest stuff went on while I was in that tube.  I was actually falling asleep with all the racket going on in the machine.  I would immediately start dreaming but it was in tune to the noises.  So people would be talking in my dream but they would be stuttering.  It was hilarious!  Never mind, if you have never had an MRI this will make no sense to you in the least bit.  It doesn't take much to amuse myself (as you can tell).  But like I was saying - still need a name for that blog.
Went to the Olive Garden tonight with a group of women.  It was a nice time.  It's my 3rd trip to the Olive Garden in 10 days.  You know their commercial, right?  "When You're Here, You're Family"?  I am THE family.  And if I start to look like a piece of pasta I certainly hope it will be some linguini or some penne.  Not a super-sized ravioli. 
Not much going on in my world.  Roxie and Zoe are both awesome.  Love my girls!  And I love my Blog readers too! ♥

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Caution: Hot Pan!

Here are my 5 pet peeves when I see other vehicles on the road:

1.  A back windshield covered in NOTW decals.  Really?
2.  Anything Obama.
3.  My kid is an honor student...that is SO overused and frankly, annoying.
4.  Usually on trucks...the boob angel and the boob devil (way worse than NOTW).
5.  Balls hanging off of a hitch.

Just had to say all that to get it out of my head!

I got a bad burn on my hand today.  Bad in the sense that it hurt like heck.  Not very smart of me...I have one of those pans that can go from stove to oven.  So I carefully pulled it out of the oven this morning and set it on the counter.  Within 3 minutes I completely forgot it had just been in the oven and I grabbed the handle to move the pan.  Ouch doesn't even cut it.  It hurt so bad that I actually cried.  I immediately stuck my hand under cold water and then held an ice cube on there for a long while.  Definitely kept it from blistering.  I have the faint sign of a blister but not so bad.  It still hurts but nothing like this morning.

Good football day.  Chargers won.  Packers won.

I made a dozen thank you cards this morning.  Every time I sit down to make cards I am reminded how much I enjoy it.  I had a plan to display my cards at a store in Murrieta where Jeanette has a little succulent business going on.  She rented out an outdoor area and has all of her plants displayed for sale.  However, she is going through some tough times right now because of her mom being so sick.  She has decided to close her business.  So my cards won't be going there.  However, there is a gift shop next to my hair salon in San Marcos.  I am going to put together a sales packet and take it in there to see if they will display my work.

Made an awesome vegetable and cheese frittata this morning for breakfast.  Thus the burn on the hand.  Saving the recipe for my food blog.  That would be the blog that has not launched yet do to lack of a title.  I just can't come up with what to call it.  I think and think.  I assume one of these days it will come to me.

Back to work in the morning.  Mondays roll around like light speed.  Have a good week! ♥

Friday, September 23, 2011

On Eating and Cooking

So it's been a while since my last post.  I just haven't been in a writing kind of mood.  Actually I have felt like death for almost a month but this week I think I might live after all.  I had no idea how pneumonia can drag you down for a very long time.

Very long week - it just seemed to go on forever.  Today was no exception.  I think that attorneys have the ability to suck the life out of a person.  Not all of them because I have a few friends who are attorneys and of course I have nothing but fabulous things to say about them!  But the rest of them can truly do you in.  Obviously I am a glutton for punishment because I have been working in law offices for most of 25 years.  I know enough law that honestly, I should have gone to law school and been one of those people who sucks life out.  My bad for sure!

I had something happen to me today that I knew was going to happen but I didn't know when or who.  I was eating a cheese sandwich on a bagel for lunch and someone said to me "I can't believe you are eating something you shouldn't have".  Ouch.  With having gone through a weight loss program, you are bound to face all kinds of comments.  And I have.  I am not done with my journey but I definitely am having a bit of a struggle right now.  One of the feelings (or fears) that you have is that everyone is looking at you and everyone is judging you when you put food into your mouth.  It's a horrible feeling.  I always feel like people are watching.  And then today, sure enough, someone said something.  I didn't know what to say.  I ended up essentially saying was that I would like to be able to eat with zero comments from anyone.  She kind of made a joke about it by saying it just looked good and she wished she had one too.  I know people think it.  Just keep it to yourself.  Sensitive subject material.

While on the subject of food and how Jules shouldn't be eating it (unless it's green and leafy), I have decided that I want to start a food blog.  I know, I know...I don't keep up with this blog so why add another?!  Just because.  My favorite books to read are not mysteries, romance, self help, or historical.  They are cookbooks!  Yes, I actually read cookbooks.  I have read cookbooks since I was a little kid.  I love cooking magazines.  I also read menus from restaurants online.  I love reading about what ingredients are put together to make something.  It fascinates me.  I day dream about cooking and baking.  Surprisingly, I don't dream about eating it though.  Just the cooking part.  And it's such a natural high when you make something and someone tells you how wonderful it is.  So fun and satisfying to me.  What I need to do is figure out a name for the blog and launch it. 
New favorite TV show this season..."Revenge".  A fun watch.  Not funny, but fun.  Definitely not funny.  And my ongoing favorite show..."Chopped".  Cooking show of course.  Totally hooked.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

PD

I am loving this cooler weather.  That means my favorite season is almost here...Fall.  I just wish we could have what other states do...leaves changing color.  I would love that.
I did not go to my group tonight.  Still not feeling well.  I think this is something like day #28.  I don't think I have ever been sick for this long before.  Today was free flu shot day at work but I couldn't have one because of just getting over the pneumonia.
I just tried on a dress in my closet - I really love it and for me, I would call it the perfect dress.  It's pretty simple.  It's black.  Soft velvet.  Above the knee.  The only thing wrong with my perfect dress is that it does not fit me in any shape or form.  In fact, it's the hideous perfect dress right now.  So now I have a goal.  I need to fit into Perfect Dress (now called PD) by November 20.  My cousin Andy is getting married and I need black attire and PD fits the bill.  Just not the body!  So I begin my 2 month challenge.  Keeping my fingers crossed.
My friend Jeanette's mom, Esther, is very sick.  My most important prayer to God today is that he watch over Esther and make her well again.  She is in ICU and having seizures.  The doctors can't find what is wrong with her.  She was doing so much better this morning and was starting to wake up but at 3:00 she took a turn for the worse and had another seizure and others after that.  Now she is non-responsive.  I love Esther and pray that she gets well.  Here is a picture of Esther...she is so cute.  She is a small woman with a very big heart!


She was in Vegas with us for Luigi's 50th birthday.  It was fun having her there!  The nurses at the hospital have commented on her tan.  That's because Esther was out at the pool with us every day!♥

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Too Much Thinking/Not Enough Writing

I have been home for so many days now that I am starting to lose my mind.  I have been sick since August 16 and seemed to have contracted pneumonia last weekend.  I just don't understand why I have been this sick for this long.  I'm doing all the right things and getting plenty of rest so I guess I will keep it up.  I plan to attempt work today.  I say today because it is 1:45 in the morning right now...of course I can't sleep.  Figures. 
I have had a lot of time to think this week.  Dangerous territory sometimes.  I had a falling out with a friend.  A whole myriad of emotions hit me with that one.  Not sure if it can be fixed.   I have truly valued her friendship.  I'm frustrated and perplexed at this point.
Then there is a relative of mine.  She perplexes me too.  When we talk on the phone, it's always good. But if I don't call, we never talk.  I have made comments to her on FB and I never get a response.  I have texted her...nothing.  I don't know what to do anymore.  Friendships/relationships shouldn't be this hard, should they?
On another note, I would very much love to write a book.  I pretty much live it and dream it.  As I told my friend the other day I have all of these thoughts in my head but am always unable to put them to paper.  I think once I make that hurdle, it will all fall into place.  It was suggested that when I get these thoughts and ideas, I need to write them down and piece them together later.  I think that is excellent advice.  The book idea is pretty much all I think about anymore.  I SO want to see my book on a shelf in a bookstore.  Any bookstore!  Well...not an adult bookstore.  Not that desperate.
So here I sit - day after day, thinking and thinking and thinking.  I just need the thinking to turn into something tangible and worthwhile.
Someday...♥

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Vegas Part 2

Sorry I haven't posted.  I have been really sick.  I haven't been this sick in a very long time.  I have been on antibiotics, cough syrup with codeine, and a myriad of other things.  No wonder I am sick.  Probably the best thing that works is this awful homeopathic throat spray that burns like heck but it seems to work.  At $18.00 a bottle it should do something.

Ok...poolside the day after the Goo Goo Dolls "incident".  I love pools.  I could spend literally hours in the water.  And I like that there are people (I mean pool ambassadors) to wait on you.  It's kind of like being on the lido deck of a cruise ship but not really.  Almost better.  Here we are at the pool...
Jeanette

Me, Jeanette, and Aunt Michelle


Jan and Rob

On Saturday evening Jeanette and I picked up the cake for the party and then we found a party store that just by chance had a Mario Bros balloon! 
PF Changs was yummy.  We all had a good time.  I worry way too much about parties and if people will have fun.  This one started out very, very quiet and slow.  No talking, laughing, or anything!  We mentioned it to our server (the quiet) and she told us she could turn up the music.  Perfect!  The music went up and people started to talk and needed to talk louder than the music.  Drinks were poured and pretty soon, there was a good vibe going!  We had tons of food.  I ordered what PF Changs calls "Limo Service".  Weird.  But anyway, they brought out a lot of different dishes and they kept coming.  I get it now...the Limo thing.  Never ending.  That is how I feel whenever I am in a Limo - like I will never get to my seat crawling on the floor.  (I hate limos by the way).  Everyone enjoyed the food! Right when we were finishing up the food, Uncle Phil and Aunt Caroline FINALLY made it from New York.  Took them about 48 hours to travel 3000 miles but thankfully, they were there!  Guess they had to spend a night in the airport in Detroit.  Ugliness.  However, because it was such a cluster, they did get to fly first class from Detroit to Vegas so that helped.  Here are the balloons, the cake, and some other pics.

Luigi Balloon




Aunt Caroline, Uncle Phil, Luigi, Aunt Mickey & Uncle Mike

50 years old

The Cake!



Monday, August 29, 2011

What Happens In Vegas...

PART ONE
...yeah, whatever!  Sorry, but I wasn't THAT bad!  But it really was a fun time.  I have never stayed in Vegas for 6 days straight before.  That is a VERY long time.  But every day was fun and different.
We arrived on Wednesday afternoon.  We checked in to our room which I absolutely loved!  It was huge and so comfortable.  And it had a doorbell.  I loved the doorbell.  It's the little things in life that make me happy!  The pool area was really nice.  There were several pools although I only tried out 2 of them.
Green Valley Ranch Resort


The first night we never left the resort.  Ate dinner at the buffet and then looked around the casino and hotel.  First night...in bed by 10!  Yep, living it up in The Vegas!
Thursday the 18th was Luigi's actual birthday.  No one from our group had arrived yet so we decided to just keep it low key and stay close to "home".  We spent a few hours at an adult only pool called The Pond.  Comfy beds to lie on and I loved the waterfall going into the pool.  I guess I could have removed my top there?  Uh...NO.  For starters, this girl does not wear a 2 piece and it's kind of hard to remove a top when it's connected to the bottom.  Let's just say I enjoyed the pool fully covered.
That evening we actually ventured into Las Vegas.  We headed downtown and met Christina, our sister-in-law, for dinner at Ricardo's (on Flamingo and Decatur).  It's a Mexican Restaurant for locals.  Love their food!  I always make it to Ricardo's no matter what.  After that we hit Fremont Street.  They had an 80s band out there and it was fun.  The Fremont Street Experience show that we saw was KISS.  Enjoyed it and with that...I am really dating myself!  At about 11:00, it was time for bed.  Headed back to the resort and I was out like a light.  Slept until noon on Friday!  On Friday, everyone started to arrive.  I realized that I had forgotten my camera so a quick trip to 2 different Targets was in order.  I bought a Nikon touchscreen Coolpix.  I love it!  Aunt Mickey/Uncle Mike and Aunt Caroline/Uncle Phil were supposed to arrive Friday night but according to the hotel's limo driver, their planes did not come in.  As it turned out, they all got caught in a storm and got delayed.  Big time.  Mike and Mickey made it at 1:00am but Phil and Caroline didn't make it until Saturday night.
Friday night we had a delicious dinner at Hank's Steakhouse compliments of Rob and Jan.  It was delicious.  I loved the chandelier over our table..


Just like me to go to a restaurant and my favorite thing in there is a light hanging from the ceiling!  Like I always say...the little things do it for me.  However, this chandelier was was pretty darn big!
Oh, and I found out that after my Fast, a steak settled quite well with me!  Very yummy Filet Mignon, esp after "borrowing" Jan's blue cheese sauce!
Jeanette, Esther, and Lucille had arrived so the 3 J's (Jan, Jeanette, Julie) decided it was time to have a girl's night!  At this point...I go back to the "What Happens in Vegas"...and leave it at that.  It was so much fun.  And if you want to know how I got to hang out with the lead singer from the Goo Goo Dolls - just ask.  Everything else - a tad embarrassing.  Pictures have been erased.  NO WORRIES, we did not do anything illegal, immoral, or of the criminal persuasion.  J3 Girls are good girls!  I know...we aren't THAT much fun.  The next morning we were all poolside and enjoyed our day!

TO BE CONTINUED...

Monday, August 15, 2011

Missing my babies

I just finished watching an extreme couponing program.  What in the world do people do with all that crap that they buy?  Sure, it's great to use coupons and save a bunch of money but I really think that the women who do the extreme thing are a tad disturbed.  Maybe it's just me but I had to mention that.

Leaving for Las Vegas the day after tomorrow.  I am already missing my Roxie and my Zoe.  I just hate to be away from them even for a day.  Now that I think about it...that makes ME a bit disturbed.  I think that's called extreme pet mom.  I miss them so much.  They bring me such joy.  I remember when I adopted Roxie, I was really fighting some serious depression.  I feel that dog saved my life.  In turn, I saved hers.  We are completely bonded - I can't describe it.  And then Zoe.  What can I say about Zoe?  She is the smartest cat I have ever had.  Scary smart.  She just the most crazy and bizarre things.  She loves to hang out with me.  We have a good time together.

Going to the Padres/Mets game tonight.  We bought the tickets to benefit Big Brothers/Sisters.  $25.00 a piece but we will get a meal pre-game catered by Phil's BBQ.  Taking mom and dad.  My only gripe about going to Petco park is the parking.  It's expensive and inconvenient.  Besides that, I love a trip to the ballpark. 

Have a good week! ♥

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Tired!

I have a list of Blogs that I read and when I read one of them I realize how insanely boring my life is!  I can't think of a thing to tell all of you that would be of any interest.  Sad.  Well, I am going to Vegas next week but isn't there a rule that I can't share about that?  Something about "What Happens In Vegas..."!  But knowing me as well as I do, I am very certain that whatever happens there has no business staying there - I don't quite carry the wild and crazy Vegas gene!  So by all means, I will post stories and pics when I return.
I was so tired today.  Beyond tired actually.  I came home and had a lot to do but instead crawled into bed and I didn't get up until 8:30!  I have been up 3 hours and it's time to head back under my covers.  Just a tired girl this week.  I didn't even get out today to jog.  And the worst of all, I didn't take Roxie on her daily walk.  I hope she forgives me!  She will - she's a dog.  My dog.  She has a heart bigger than all.
Tomorrow I am joining a bible study group that meets on Thursday nights from 7 - 8.  I hope I like it!
I have a friend who is going in for a second interview tomorrow morning!  He really needs a job so I am wishing him the very best.  He is very intelligent, a hard worker, and very personable.  I'm sure he will get something very soon - he deserves to have a good job to go to.  Heck, if we have to work, it does help if it's good!
My Roxie and I are headed to bed.  Nite all! ♥

Monday, August 8, 2011

Frozen Pizza Empire

Zoe just ran away.  No worries, she came back.  She is getting quite adventurous.  I have been enjoying my outdoor space every night and she likes to go out there too.  However, she is slipping through the gate and wandering.  Tonight she wandered too far.  I need to put up a barrier on the gate so she can't get out.  Granted, she can jump the wall but she doesn't know that yet!
Been having trouble getting to sleep at night.  Someone gave me some relaxation tips.  Reminders, actually.  So I hope that my nights will be a little more restful.  My PA prescribed sleeping pills but I am very hesitant to try that.  I take enough medication and really don't want to add another pill in the mix.
I am excited that I will be cat sitting in September.  Just for two days.  Will be feeding Arteen's cats.  All 5 of them!  Whenever I think I am having a memory lapse, I go through the names of all 5 cats and realize that I'm ok.  Phew!  Calico, Smoky, Romeo, Morris, and Princess.
So I have started eating some food.  Now it's a whole new issue to deal with.  You feel as if everyone is watching what goes in your mouth.  Obviously my mom does because she noted that I had 6 chips with my taco salad the other night.  Grin and bear it, Jules!  I've got a long life ahead of me...not sure if I'm lucky or not!
Speaking of eating...I now do a little grocery shopping.  I haven't really paid attention to food since February.  But I do have a comment.  This probably happened way before February but tell me...since when do frozen pizzas come with appetizers and/or chocolate chip cookies?  Is that what this culinary world has come to?  We go buy a frozen pizza meal that includes spinach dip and cookies?  Seriously?  I was shocked!  The garbage that people eat is incredible.  Granted, I eat garbage too but I never paid attention to it until now.  Awful!
While I was in the grocery store, something kept happening to me that I'm sure happens to a lot of us.  Colliding carts with the same person time and time again!  This guy and I kept meeting in the most awkward of situations.  Everywhere I went, there he was.  And this guy was a real duh.  He was rounding the corner from frozen into produce and we collide once again and he mumbles under his breath (to himself, not to me) "all I want is a damn onion."  Well then go get your damn onion, buddy!  And that is the last aisle in the store.  I figured I was done with him.  But no....I had to go back to aisle 5 to get some Barilla Pasta and guess what?  There he was.  I ran like heck!
9 days until Las Vegas.  What happened to my 4 month window?  I think I worry too much.  I just don't want anything bad to happen.  And where there is Guadagnis, there very well could be a surprise.
Off to bed for me.  Relax, relax, relax. 

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

On Birthdays and Falling Underpants

One day down - four to go.  I can already tell this is going to be a very long week.  Keeping busy and eagerly waiting for Summer to end.  I was never meant to live in humidity.  It sucks.  Can't wait for Fall...love it.
So last Wednesday was mom's 71st birthday and Thursday was Zoe's 1st birthday.  We celebrated both on Wednesday.  Actually, now that I think about it - every day is a celebration for Zoe!  I gave her a paper grocery bag tonight - it gave her endless fun.  Hours and hours were spent playing with it and sleeping inside of it.  That girl can turn anything into gold.  I often look at her and realize how simple life could be if we were happier with the smaller, cheaper things in life.  I think I might take a paper bag to work tomorrow and place it on my desk and see if I have the best work day ever!  I just might...one never knows.
For the birthday I made my very first chocolate cake from scratch.  It was soooo easy.  Here I have been relying on Betty or Duncan or Dough Boy all these years.  No need for them anymore!  Here's a picture of the cake.  The first picture is better but the second picture shows that it had yellow frosting...



We had a good time.  Mom's fabulous friend, Arteen, came over for the birthday supper.  We had fish tacos, avocado salad, black beans, corn relish, fresh fruit, and of course...cake!
We also had fresh tortillas - both flour and corn.  The beauty of living in Southern California is that you are most likely a 5 minute drive from any tortilleria.  Why anyone would buy tortillas at the grocery store is beyond me.  You pay half the price and they are always hot and fresh.  I sure do love being Mexican.  Hee hee...I just eat like one!  I tan like one too.  Ok - not.
Arteen is not going to appreciate the following picture because she wasn't looking at the camera but I will promise that I will take another pic of her if she wants.


Arteen and Mom - 71st bday




Zoe - 1 year old on 7/28/11!

And last but not least...Roxie was there (of course) and got to wear her brand new sundress!  Spaghetti straps and all And here she is...my pretty girl...

The toilet in the master bedroom got fixed.  Yay!  We girls want The Luigi out of our bathroom!  We got it back!
And...big news...I got a brand new microwave and stove/oven.  Love them!  They are not fancy by any means but they are brand new and so much nicer than the antiques that were in there.  And now I can actually turn on my oven and not smell up the house with a horrible gas smell in addition to a loud BANG!  Not good.
Learned a lesson today.  When you are in a hurry, don't just grab the first pair of underwear out of your drawer.  Actually a better lesson would be...THROW AWAY THE OLD STUFF!  So I just grabbed some today - probably because of the turquoise color.  It was deceiving.  This afternoon I stand up at my desk and...drum roll please... the darn undies fell right off of me!  They were too big for one and second they were old and the elastic was starting to go.  I am so glad that I can usually get such a laugh out of myself because I am certainly wacky sometimes!  It was hilarious - these undies bunched up around my feet.  I needed a laugh today!  And with that embarrassing secret I will say good night all! ♥

Monday, August 1, 2011

Quick Post Much About Nothing

Today I am thankful for my dog, my cat, my friends, and above all...my sweetheart.

Been a busy week of birthdays.  Will post pics tomorrow.  Beverly (that would be Mom to me) turned 71 and Zoe turned 1!

Have a good week everyone and I will catch up with you soon! ♥

Monday, July 25, 2011

Got Hubcaps? I Do!

This day was so long and tedious that it should be very close to the weekend now.  But it's not.  The weekend was too short and today was too long.  Completely mixed up. 
Got to see me friend, Stephanie, after a very long time.  It's not that we live that far apart but as life seems to go, we all lose track of time.  The funny thing is...we used to live about 5 minutes from each other when I lived in Menifee and I never once made it to her house.  That's pretty bad.  But we don't pay attention to that.  When we do see each other it's as if no time has passed at all.  We have always been that comfortable together.  We have been friends for about 31 years.  And here we are in 2011...

Steph and Jules 7/23/11
So today didn't start out too good.  It got a little better in some respects but in others...not so much.  Last night while visions of sugarplums danced in our heads (ok that was truly a corny thing to say), someone stole all 4 hubcaps off of the Jetta.  Also let the air out of the front tire.  What the heck.  That really didn't settle well with me.  I just don't get why someone would do that.  And it happened right outside my bedroom window.  Nice.  There is some good news though.  When Luigi got home from work, he went in search of the hubcaps.  Looked in the dumpster and all around.  I would have never thought to look for them myself.  I got home and there they were stacked up on my back patio!  Awesome!  Someone had hid them in the vacant lot next to my condo building.  Hidden behind a bush.  Possibly they were coming back for them?  I have no idea but I am thankful to have them back.  Doesn't solve an obvious problem though.
So just when the day was looking like it was improving, the toilet in the master bathroom broke.  Toilets are often an easy fix but this certainly is not.  That is actually Luigi's bathroom so Zoe and I are hesitantly allowing him to use our bathroom.  But he will have to pay rent.  Zoe drives a hard bargain.
Roxie goes to the doggie day spa tomorrow.  The whole woolly lamb thing has got to go.  She gets so furry that after she gets a cut, she looks like she just went on a very successful diet.  Wish it were that easy!
I steered clear of the President's speech tonight.  I have never heard him say anything worthwhile so why start listening now?  I went with the much more mature, sophisticated tv viewing.  That would be The Bachelorette.  I would talk about that but the old saying applies here: If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all!
Don Henley is coming here in October.  I am now accepting free tickets.  Please contact me for my address!  Love him.
Chocolate Cake with Whipped Cream Frosting or Lemon Meringue Pie?  Mom's birthday is on Wednesday and I just can't decide what to make... I have always hated decisions.
Here's to a better day tomorrow! ♥


Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Rotten!

Really tough day.  Work was rotten.  Rotten to the core.  Constant problems in conjunction with an attorney who can't sit still.  The whole pacing back and forth throughout the office is enough to make one insane.  All this while talking to themselves.  Full on conversations.  Very, very disturbing.
Today was my friend Sue's funeral.  A sad day for me.  Of course, knowing she would be buried today but also because I could not be there for the service.  Work trumped.  Not saying I was no allowed to go...just that I had limited time to go and I weighed the options - staying at work or flying up the freeway for an hour to sit through a service while watching the clock and then flying back to Vista.  All in about 3 hours.  That option seemed very overwhelming to me.  I saw Sue before she died and that is what matters.
Went to group tonight.  For the first time ever I gained weight.  Just the cherry on top for my day.  But tomorrow is another day and in the scheme of life, it didn't really matter.  What does matter is gaining weight every week for weeks on end.  Then you end up FAT (I have all rights to say that word) and you go home every day after work and plop your butt down on the couch and not do a darn thing.  I have realized during this journey how very hard our poor hearts have to work when one is carrying around extra weight.  And absolutely no motivation to go out and walk, etc....it's pathetic.  I was there - I know.  I can now look at an overweight person who doesn't do a darn thing about it and say "what a lazy, uncaring person".  I recognize it right away.  How can you care about other people if you don't have it in you to care about yourself?  And yes, I am STILL plenty overweight.  It's a battle every day but I refuse to die not caring about my body.  I lost weight and climbing a hill is easy.  I can actually tie my shoes without effort.  I can cross my legs (imagine that!) and hallelujah I do not snore anymore!  A long road to travel...for the rest of my life.  But it makes me happy to care about myself.  And THAT is so important.
So last night I was feeling overwhelmed yet again and decided I should do something physical.  So I went to aqua class at 24.  I get into the pool area and I look around and realize that while the title does not state this, this is a senior citizen's class!  3 men and a whole bunch of silver-haired ladies!  For the second time in 2 months, I looked around and said "piece of cake - I can kick these old people in the ass".  Wrong again!  That darn class kicked ME in the ass.  I need to stop judging the old folks and focus on myself.  Ouch!
So Buggy has a new source for water.  Buggy, by the way, is Zoe.  I started out calling her Zo-Bug and somehow she became Buggy!  But she answers to both Zoe and Buggy.  Anyway, she gets up on the bathroom counter and wants me to turn on the water for her so she can get a drink.  So darn cute!  She only likes a trickle though.  Sometimes she licks it and other times she sticks her paw under the water and licks it off her paw.  Such a darn cute cat.  I love cat's little minds - they are always zooming.  It amazes me to watch her and see what she sees.  A great view at times! ♥

Friday, July 15, 2011

Thoughts on a Friday Night

Long day.  And I actually had to work 5 days this week.  Not cool.  Tomorrow is an office bbq but I am not going to go.  Just not feeling it right now.  But in the afternoon I am doing a "me" thing.  Booked a massage at Massage Envy.  It's definitely not the spa but I need it and don't truly need the spa experience.

I think my upstairs neighbors are plotting something illegal in their garage which is on the other side of my bedroom wall.  They are constantly working in there with the garage door closed so no one can see.  The said they were building cabinets but I think not.  Because the garage door was propped open just a bit today and I saw a door.  Which means they are building a room.  Now why would one need a room in the garage?  Esp a garage that does not have access to the house.  Something is not right.  I certainly hope it isn't a meth lab considering we share a wall.  Not sure what to think...

I have a neighbor who lives in the next building over.  Her name is Cheryl.  Very nice person.  I am trying to figure out what to do...she is bigger than I am and I know for a fact that I have hundreds of dollars worth of clothes that she can wear.  Some still have the tags.  I can tell she doesn't have a lot of money and really could use the clothes.  I just don't want to insult her in any way.  Not so much the fact that she needs clothes but I don't know how to offer up larger clothes to someone without hurting their feelings.  Maybe I should just let it go.  But then I think of Kathy in my weight loss group who gave me all of her "fat" clothes and I was SO happy and thankful to get them.  She just walked up to me and said I have size such and such clothes...would you like them?  Maybe I should just invite Cheryl over and tell her that we seem to be about the same size and would she like to look at what I have in case she would like some.  I don't know!  Aww heck.

I have been having horrible headaches for a few days and I think I just figured out why.  It has to do with me being incredibly dense.  I am on about 4 different medications.  I ran out of one of them.  I won't go into detail but this particular one is my main depression med.  I don't think I have taken it since Monday...thus, the headache.  The part where it's a failure on my part is that I picked up new medication at the pharmacy on Tuesday and then forgot about it.  The bag from the pharmacy is still in the trunk of my car.  I really need to get out to the car and get back on track.  Serves me right.  I feel really awful.  Obviously it's because I am going through withdrawals - cold turkey.  Like I said--dense.  (that's a nice word for "stupid idiot").

And this looks like fun...

They are so pretty but I am terrified of them!  But not as much as the thought of riding in a helicopter.  A fear I must conquer! ♥

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Fairy Barry Lee

It's been 14 days since my last post.  Certainly not on the road to being named Blogger of the Year.  My other/better half reminded me this afternoon that I need to post.  Right he is and here I be.

So I was just reading news online - catching up with this whole concept of the 51st State...South California.  You know, getting myself edumacated.  Here's the deal...I am way too tired to make an intelligent comment about any of this.  So I will stay silent.  When I'm tired, these are the kind of comments that I end up posting online...

"I would kick Fairy Barry Lee in the nuts...if he had any. Glad I don't rely on him for my kibbles and water every day. Moron."  Yep, I just posted that in response to some guy named Barry Lee something or another.  He posted a completely ignorant response to a story about a woman who left her puppy in her BMW in the middle of the day with no air, food, or water.  The puppy was in there for hours while this idiot woman shopped at the mall.  The puppy died.  So this moron guy has to make a comment about how we spend too much money on animals and not enough on children.  And of course he had to mention the Casey Anthony case.  It pissed me off along with a whole bunch of other people.  So I could not help myself...I had to say something.  Of course, I posted under my dog's name - her Facebook account.  Nothing like standing up for what you believe in and hiding behind your Bichon-Poo!
 
It's kind of been a tough week.  I have been feeling a bit under the weather.  Fluish.  Work has been a little rough.  The diet has been a struggle.  And this past Friday my friend, Sue (from church), passed away.  Her breast cancer spread to her bones and it moved so quickly.  I mentioned Sue just a few blogs back after I had been to visit her.  She was definitely my favorite person @ church.  I certainly miss knowing she is no longer here.  I remember the last time I saw her she told me how much she loved me.  I will never forget she said that.  I know I will see her again someday.
 
Sure is a lot of sadness and strife going on right now.  A lot of people are sick...very sick.  Some are unemployed.  Some are addicted.  And some are just fighting with their own demons.  I wish I could fix everyone and everything but I realize I just can't do that.  I pray for all of these people every day.  That is what is most needed and most appreciated.
 
Thanks for reading my blog.  And by all means, if you catch me being a lagger, just give me a swift but not very painful kick in the ass and tell me to get posting! ♥