Journal Entry

Jan. 3, 2003 Friday

The final Christmas presents arrived by mail yesterday (Power Ranger stuff I had ordered for the littlest nephew), so I hustled them over there immediately upon arriving home because he'd been waiting for them since Christmas day. I called first to tell them I was coming over with them, and as I approached the house I could hear the kid voicing his excitement from within.

I realized on the way over that I was bringing nothing for his two sisters, and I rationalized that they would understand that their brother was getting something he should have gotten at Christmastime. Still, even when birthdays are celebrated, I try to bring small gifts for the non-celebrant siblings so they don't feel left out.

Of course it was too late to get anything else; I had already been spied coming up the walk. All three kids were acting excitedly when I walked in, and I figured I might be in trouble, but they were just happy to see me, and they were very understanding about the brother's late Christmas present. We had our own little celebration until their bedtime, when I returned home.

Today is the final Christmas party of the season, hosted by a co-worker. I volunteered to make crab dip. Then the rest of the weekend will be devoted to dismantling Christmas for another year. Maybe. If I'm ready to recognize it as such. With all the rushing around and stress-induced deadlines, the actual joy of family and celebration was too short-lived. I certainly don't want to have to cram in Christmas again next year.

But that's a ways away yet. For now I'll just let things wind down.

Have a relaxing new year!

Jan. 9, 2003 Thursday

Now that all the Christmas presents have finally arrived, can the credit card bills be far behind?

The answer is no.

We are now juggling our finances to see just how far into debt we actually are. We were pretty good this year (as far as keeping track of expenses goes), and not having a mortgage payment any more helps.

Today is my oldest nephew's 20th birthday, but his party (and there has to be a party) won't be for another 9 days (he's at college and won't be home 'til then). And despite the chaotic Christmas, I'm ready for a birthday party.

I still have small Christmas decorations around the house, and they'll remain out for at least another week, but I had to get rid of the Chrismas tree. It was a pretty tree and all that, but it was drooping severely and shedding ornaments without provocation. I knew it wasn't a strong tree when we got it, but I figured we'd make do. However, I regretted that decision as soon as the ornaments went on. It was a representation of the disorganization that was this Christmas. It was mocking me. So I dismantled it this past weeekend (I usually keep my tree 'til mid-January) and the Husband dragged it out to the woods where its final duty will be to provide shelter to the birds and other woodsy creatures who chose to winter it out in New Jersey.

So we're gradually making the transition to the new year. Something really positive would be nice.

Enjoy yours.

Jan. 15, 2003 Wednesday

Things are beginning to chill out at work, just as our social calendar is heating up (sort of). In the next ten days we are celebrating four birthdays (a friend, a nephew and two godchildren), followed immediately by an overdue visit to friends in Lancaster PA.

Also in there is an overdue visit to the vet for c.c. (her annual inspection and injection), which she never appreciates (she meows loudly all the way there and back).

Before we know it, February will be arriving. Somewhere in there I have to get the remnants of Christmas packed away or we'll be hanging Valentine hearts on the reindeer and snowmen.

Speaking of snowmen, they're predicting more snow for the weekend. We've had an awful lotta snow already this year. Fortunately, that hasn't caused too much trouble so far. But the winter is still young.

The felines are experiencing cabin fever; the cold has kept them house-bound and they have to find ways to amuse themselves, usually at our expense. c.c. has discover that she can climb the clothes in the closets all the way up to the shelf for an overview of the comings and goings in that particular room. We just have to be careful not to shut her in. And while Opie usually ignores c.c.'s kittenish antics, lately he's been joining in - it's not unusual to find the old cat wrestling with the young one in the halls.

I'm not particularly fond of bitter cold days (which is what we've been having recently), but fortunately they are the exception, rather than the rule around here. Besides, the way the weeks have been flying by lately, Spring will be here pretty soon.

I was in Florida at this time last year :)

Jan. 21, 2003 Tuesday

Our forever-young c.c. was due for her annual check-up at the end of November, but being as totally disorganized as we were, I never got around to making an appointment until after Christmas. Since I never know what time I'll be getting out of work, I made it as late as possible in the evening (which was 7:15) on a Monday night (last night), figuring that would be the least-likely date to present conflicts. But of course it did. A friend's kid was celebrating her 20th birthday and invited a select group for a girl's night out at a local restaurant. So she selected a Monday evening as it would be the least-likely date to present conflicts. Heh.

So the Husband had to deliver an uncooperative c.c. to the vet unassisted. But c.c., fortunately, is quite trusting and unaware of the plotting involved in getting her there. While I was out dining with "the girls," the Husband was dusting off the cat carrier. Opie saw the carrier and hid; he knows what its function is. However, the Husband placed the carrier next to c.c. and she didn't flinch. Even when the Husband picked her up, she purred contentedly. But being unceremoniously stuffed into the carrier was a giveaway, and the complaints began and continued incessantly through the 7 minute, 23 second drive to the vet. I was ordering dessert about then.

Fortunately she was the last patient of the evening and the waiting room was empty, because no amount of sweet talk would quiet her meowing.

When it came time for the 20-year-old guest of honor the open her gifts, I realized that c.c.'s appointment was probably over, and I was wondering how she was. I assumed that she was fine; she is still a frisky kitten at heart. I got home a little after 8 pm and found the Husband watching tv and c.c. under a table, glaring at him intently. If the Husband tried to talk to her, she turned her head away. She was not happy.

But the good news is that she is fine and is up-to-date with her shots for another year. And she will forgive the Husband eventually.

Jan. 28, 2003 Tuesday

My father's computer gave up on sound recently. My father didn't care that much, but when they babysit their grandkids, computer games without sound don't do the job. I said I'd look at it, but I really didn't have any ideas. There was absolutely no sound coming from the speakers. I plugged in a set of headphones in place of the speakers and got the same results. I tried the headphones in the cd jack and they worked fine there. Ergo, it's the sound card.

The Husband and I planned an early dinner out on Sunday, so we picked up a new sound card while we were out and then headed over to my father's house to install it before going to dinner. That part went smoothly.

Except there still wasn't any sound.

We fished out the headphones again and tried them, and they worked. So the card was okay. That left the speakers. Yet the headphones hadn't worked when I had plugged them into the old card. Could it be both the card and the speakers had been bad? Or maybe I had plugged the 'phones into the wrong jack?

We decided it was the speakers anyway, and hurried out to get a new pair. We found some Altec-Lansing cheapies and rushed back. They worked. We were satisfied with a job well done and headed off to dinner so we could get home in time to ignore the Super Bowl.

Feb. 5, 2003 Wednesday

I'm at that awkward time of the year - it's February, I still have Christmas decorations out, and we just signed a lease on a beach house for a week this summer.

Two of my sisters and I rent a house every summer for one or two weeks (depending on our moods and disposable income), but this year it's just going to be me and one sister (and her spouse and three kids), so we opted for a smaller (and cheaper) place this time.

We've been doing this for more than twenty years, and we started off with some pretty poor accommodations and traded up. Last year was the pinnacle - a house on the beach with large rooms, a porch facing the ocean, 5 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms.

So even though this year's is less than half the price of last year's, it's still just one row of houses away from the beach, with a narrow traffickless alley running between. It's very clean and tidy, though the rooms are small, and there's only three bedrooms (which is just about right this time).

We still have a big front porch and lots of windows for sunlight. And it's air-conditioned. I don't think we'll ever get so primitive again as to pretend we don't need air conditioning.

So now I'm ready for summer to arrive. As soon as I put away the rest of the Christmas stuff :)

Ho ho ho.

Feb. 9, 2003 Sunday

I have a friend who is a frequent visitor to the Atlantic City gambling casinos. She's not what they call a high roller, but she does okay. As a frequent player, she gets the occasional free room to stay overnight (during slow periods when the room would otherwise be empty - that way, though they still don't make any money from the room, they will have a guest who orders room service amd drops bucks at the table). It's usually a pretty nice room, which also accommodates friends (me and some others). So we all make out on the deal.

Last Thursday was one of those nights. We got out of work on time and immediately headed for the Jersey shore, just as it started to snow. It was flurrying nicely when we arrived but we paid no attention. We've had snow just about every week this winter. It's never amounted to much, and temperatures usually rise above freezing the next day, and it mostly goes away as quickly as it arrives. We checked in, settled in our room, had dinner and spent the rest of the evening in the casino.

I like roulette - I do okay with it. But all the cheap tables were filled, leaving only tables requiring a minimum $10 bet each time. One can expend one's budget quickly at those. Fortunately, there were lots of nickel slot machines available. You'll never win big at one of those, but you can play all night with a minimum of funds. Which I did.

It never snows at the Jersey shore. Something to do with the Gulf Stream and air temperatures off the water. So imagine our surprise to find six inches of the stuff on the Boardwalk when we awoke. There was even snow on the beach. And somebody had built a snowman on the beach. A snowman on the beach!

What's worse was that it was still snowing and predicted to continue 'til noon. The tv weather heroes were saying don't go out if you don't have to, so we didn't. We went back into the casinos :)

Back home it was worse - around nine inches and still comin'. The Husband didn't go into work.

We decided to wait it out 'til the roads were clear. More nickel slot machines. Shortly after three p.m. things had pretty much stabilized, and we headed home; the roads were mostly clear and dry. It had been a fun way to sit out a snow storm.

And now the weather heroes are predicting a repeat performance for Monday. But I won't be having room service for this one :)

Feb. 15, 2003 Saturday

Another Valentine's Day has come and gone, and the Husband and I long ago abandoned the practice of exchanging boxed chocolates for the holiday. We now give each other movies. The problem is to avoid giving each other the same movie (which happened for the first time last year). I had it relatively easy because he'd been talking about several movies he's been wanting, and he said he wouldn't buy any 'til after Valentine's Day. However, several of them were movies we both want to see (e.g. My Big Fat Greek Wedding), so I had to pick one that I was reasonably sure he wouldn't buy for me. I picked "Signs," which is not a chick flick (although it is one I want to see).

Then, after promising not to buy any movies 'til after Valentine's Day, last Tuesday he came home with My Big Fat Greek Wedding (which is what I thought he was going to buy for me). So I was at a loss as to what he might select, gift-wise.

His plan was to find an obscure movie that I had wanted to see and had forgotten about, and he almost succeeded. There was a movie a few years ago called October Sky, about some poor coal miners' kids from West Virginia who, inspired by the launch of the first earth orbiting satellites, decided, against all odds, to build a rocket. I had mentioned at the time that I would like to see that, but time passed and it was forgotten. I never told him (or he had forgotten that I had) that I had seen it with my then-9-year-old nephew when it was in theaters. But I was glad to have it just the same.

However, the Husband was not satisfied with that. He has a whole pile of gift certificates that he got for Christmas, so we're going out movie shopping today, and I get to select the movie of my choice (and I already have one in mind), followed by lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant.

That's assuming it stops snowing by then. Yes, it's snowing again, as I hunt 'n peck.

*Sigh*

Feb. 20, 2003 Thursday

We just got through a huge snowstorm (though not as huge as first predicted), and I have come to appreciate my 15-year-old 4-wheel-drive Bronco. But now the roads are clear, the driveway and sidewalks have been shoveled, and the big meltdown has begun. It almost got to forty degrees today, which was a veritable heat wave after the last couple weeks.

There's another storm due this weekend, but it's rain this time, and it'll help wash away the twenty-plus inches of snow currently on the ground. That in itself will be a mess, but once that's out of the way, it'll be worth it.

Because that's when the cats can get out again.

The last two weeks have been rather entertaining, watching Opie and c.c. chase each other around the house. Just last night Opie was sleeping soundly on the love seat, when c.c. came over, put her front paws up on the cushion and stared intently at Opie. Opie remained in a sound sleep, so c.c. whacked him on the head with her paw. An immediate pursuit followed, the two of them racing downstairs and back up again. They have to get out more.

I know there are still many more weeks of winter left, but I'm really hoping that we've seen the last of the snow storms. I've had enough.

Opie and c.c. nod in agreement.

Think spring :)

Mar. 4, 2003 Tuesday

There's something weird in the air, and it's not more snow. We were supposed to get possibly another foot of snow last Friday, but it didn't happen. We got about an inch, then the temperatures rose above freezing, and it all went away. Which is more typical of NJ snowfalls. We did have the snowiest February on record, and now February is gone.

So what's weird? An almost universal feeling that the snows are over now that February is over. It seems to be an automatic assumption. Even the "professional" tv weather people are treating it that way. February is over, thank God; no more snow. We've had snow every week since Christmas, and not the typical here-then-gone NJ snowfalls, but uncommon heavy accumulations. Now, suddenly, because we flip a page on a calendar, it's over?

Oddly enough, I feel that way too. Not for any good reason; it's just a feeling. It's unusually cold today (12 degrees F), any precipitation would mean lotsa snow, but the rest of the week will be above freezing. We had some pretty steady rain on Sunday that washed away a lot of the snow cover than had been around since January. Little things like that suggest an ending is in progress. We've had lots of heavy snows in March before, even a couple in April, but they never hang around long, and it feels like any more new snow this year will be mild and tentative. We'll hope so.

So I'm joining with the masses and proclaiming the end to nasty snows for the rest of the winter.

Attitude counts for a lot.

Mar. 10, 2003 Monday

It's been a year since I was diagnosed with diabetes. I was immediately put on drugs and told to lose weight and get exercise. I already had a head stasrt on the losing weight part; I had been sick for over a week (it's why I finally went to the doctor), and I hadn't been eating as it was. The doc figured it was some kind of infection, and wanted it cleared up before he prescribed anything for my diabetes. The thought of having diabetes, and the upcoming major change in lifestyle further curbed my appetite. Learning you have diabetes is quite a shock initially. It is a life-threatening disease, and you want to do whatever possible to feel like it doesn't exist. So I stuck to my prescribed diet and continued to lose weight.

The exercise was different matter. I have never participated in what might be called strenuous activity. The Husband would take a one-mile walk every day, and I tried to join him a couple times, but he was always walked too fast for me. "That's why they call it exercise," he would explain. So I was content with losing weight.

The doc put me on a couple pills, and he cut back on the dosages as I continued to lose weight. He also encouraged me to get more exercise, and I said I would try.

I didn't.

Then a co-worker found a power treadmill at an auction and got it for me for $45. It was a nice one, originally costing around $500. And it worked fine. So I began getting regular exercise (the Husband uses it too). The cats don't like it though. They treat it like it was a big vacuum cleaner and run.

And I continued to lose weight and the doc continued to reduce my medication.

Now, one year later, I am several sizes smaller and off the diabetes medication entirely. And it feels good.

Mar. 17, 2003 Monday

We missed our bus to Atlantic City on Friday; I was much too bogged down at work to leave. I'm figuring I saved some bucks.

Work's been so hectic. My mom was hospitalized briefly and a dear friend from work's father-in-law passed away suddenly. It just goes on and on. Mom has Alzheimer's and a catscan showed blood clots in her brain, but they turned out to be old ones and not causing the recent problems, so they decided to leave them alone. She's back home now, but the aging process has left its marks over the years. Just another reminder that we are all mortal.

On a brighter note, we celebrated my younger sister's birthday on Saturday. It was the typical family get-together with large quantities of food, noisy nieces and nephews, and presents to open. My sister from Colorado was even home for the occasion. She had moved to Colorado because her job involved frequent travel to the west coast. Not all the travel was to the west coast however, so she settled on Denver as a happy medium. When east coast travel is involved, she makes time to visit her family in NJ. And with lots of accumulated frequent flier miles, she makes trips home whenever she can. The younger sister's birthday being one example. She'll be home again next month for her niece's first Holy Communion, and we'll be visiting her in Denver the month after that.

Sunday was a beautiful day, almost spring-like. No, it was spring-like. Sunny, with temperatures almost to seventy degress (F.). A day to be outdoors, and a lot of people were. Lots of folks just came out to use the sidewalks. Dog-walking had suddenly become an epidemic. My little convertible and I are definitely ready for spring. I did some shopping and visiting with my older sister before her return to Colorado.

The cats also did not let the beautiful day go to waste; they spent practically all the daylight hours reacquainting themselves with nature. When they weren't exploring, they would find some scrubby shelter that was suitable for catnapping, or, when the sun hit the deck just right, they spread themselves out for maximum exposure to its warm rays.

Sunset brought a bit of rain, but they'd had enough by then and returned to the padded furniture for further napping.

And I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge St. Patrick's Day (all my nieces and nephews are half Irish). Think green.

Now it's back to work. *Sigh*

Mar. 23, 2003 Sunday

Spring is here, and not a moment to soon. Yesterday I bid farewell to the winter of my discontent - I went clothes shopping.

I needed new spring clothes to fit my several-sizes-smaller frame (I like saying that). And several stores were having spring sales this weekend (what a coincidence). Trying on things several sizes smaller than you're used to is a real treat, even if you don't buy them. But I did buy, because I deserved them.

Back at Christmas time I saw a great blazer, but they didn't have the matching pants in my size, so I didn't get it. Yesterday I saw it again, this time with the matching pants in my size, and on sale! Did I hesitate? Noooo.

The Husband, whose entire wardrobe consists of gifts received for his birthday and at Christmas, thought I was nuts. But I definitely feel better.

To further celebrate, we went out to dinner with friends. We hadn't been out to dinner on a Saturday night in ages. And I remembered why. We waited an hour and a half to be seated. But the food was definitely worth the wait. And we had lots of fun.

And I saw a robin yesterday. That makes it official.

Mar. 29, 2003 Saturday

The rodent evictions continue. We captured the third mouse in as many days. We kinda knew there was one back there all winter, but three was a surprise, particularly having caught them so quickly.

That was yesterday morning. As of last night the bits of food we leave out to tempt them toward the humane trap have gone untouched - a good sign that there are no more. Another twenty-four hours will determine that more precisely.

I feared a repeat of 1999, when a mouse family set up housekeeping behind the stove. We relocated over a hundred mice to the compost heap in three months' time. The compost heap is the local five-star rodent resort around here. It's where all the captured rodents are released to a ready supply of food and shelter, safely out of reach of the felines (as long as they stay there).

With spring officially here, c.c.'s escapades in the woods will likely result in an influx of unwanted visitors. But we've actually gotten used to them and we casually go about proven methods of rescuing them and sending them back to nature. When the first mouse arrived shortly after we were married, I couldn't go to bed 'til I knew it was out of the house. Now it's just another routine - put out the trap, go to bed, retrieve the captured mouse in the morning and release him to the compost heap. Ho hum.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not too crazy about having rodents lurking just out of sight in my kitchen - but these guys were kinda cute. Still, I'd just as soon c.c. found another hobby.

Apr. 4, 2003 Friday

Since baiting the humane trap with peanut butter just over a week ago, five rodents have been relocated to the relative safety and comfort of the compost heap, at the edge of the Hundredth Acre Wood. The fifth guy headed out Wednesday night. We were a little unsure if he actually existed. The test bits of Meow Mix kibble we put out weren't disappearing. We were about to assume there were no more mice when - snap! The trap door announced his capture while we were watching tv. The Husband escorted him to "the heap," then reset the trap and the test kibble. It's been more than 24 hours, but nothing's been touched. Stay tuned.

My sister is a nurse, and works pretty regular hours, but sometimes she has to go in rather early (pre-dawn). Her husband is a long-distance trucker who also works a regular schedule, but sometimes that means early hours also (pre-dawn). And sometimes their early hours coincide. Which means nobody's around to get their youngest off to school.

But that's what sisters are for. So this morning is one of those times, and I'm spending the night so I can be there to get the kid off to school. My nephew gets a kick out of the whole thing - Aunt Jackie's coming for a sleepover! It doesn't happen that often, so it's kind of a special treat. I get a kick out of it too.

So in the morning we'll both be having a good time getting ready for the day (how often does that happen?)

And I'm only two miles from work (instead of the usual eight), which is cool.

Unless I left something at home that I need for work.

Apr. 10, 2003 Thursday

My favorite uncle passed away last summer in Pittsburgh (which I had previously mentioned several times), and my father was the executor. After many months with lawyers and financial people, the last of his worldly assets were assigned, dispensed and disposed of. This left some rather large sums of money for my family members. I didn't end up with enough to buy a new car, but it would make a very sizable down payment.

I was planning on a new car next year anyway, but now I have the chance to get one this year. And with the Bronco as a trade-in, I could end up with a very manageable monthly payment. I've gotten very used to the Bronco, especially this winter, when 4-wheel drive wasn't just handy, it was necessary. And the cargo capacity proved to be very welcome also. So it seemed like my only choice was another SUV. A small one, of course. My only requirements were that it have a V-6, a standard transmission (cheaper, more efficient and more fun than automatics) and that it comes in yellow. That offered but one choice - the Nissan Xterra. Which I don't like. And it's too expensive ($26,000). And too big. I like the Hyundai Santa Fe (and its 10-yr., 100,000 mile warranty), but the V-6 only comes with an automatic. The Ford Escape comes in yellow, but no stick-shiftin' V-6. Some manufacturers don't even offer standard transmissions any more.

I think I settled on the Jeep Liberty in either dark green or dark red (yellow not available). It's small but spacious, has a nice interior, is not too expensive, and it has a unique look that sets it apart from every other small SUV's. And where better to turn than Jeep for 4-wheel drive?

But there is a nagging side issue. I have an outstanding home equity loan that would benefit greatly from this money - besides reducing my debt, it would save me years of interest payments and I would be out of debt years ahead of schedule as well.

But I wouldn't have a new car.

Apr. 16, 2003 Wednesday

Last spring, once the weather turned really nice, the cats would reacquaint themselves with their non-domesticated instincts. We would see them along the edge of the woods, snooping curiously at everything, or just napping under a bush. During the daylight hours, the outdoors was home. We even had to call them for dinner (unlike on the crappier days, when they would assemble in the kitchen a half-hour prior to feeding time and wait quietly with forlorn eyes).

This week we had a batch of nice days and, true to form, the animals were out enjoying them. But Opie's not a kitten any more, and he's usually back inside, catching the sun from a perch on the window sill, after a couple hours. Our eternal kitten c.c. meanwhile is somewhat confused by her mentor's seeming dismissal of the great outdoors, but she follows him back inside and curls up nearby, waiting for Opie to head back out again. The waiting is brief, however, and she's back outside doing her snooping and stalking without the benefit of Opie's watchful eye.

We watched her explore the woods, and pounce on a few dead leaves from last fall, then curl up on a bed of pine needles under the pine tree in the corner of the yard. I imagine her missing her lifelong buddy Opie and wondering if he'll be along soon. I know, cats don't wonder - she's probably just enjoying the simple things like a spring breeze and the comforting shelter of a shrub in the wild.

But there's some rite of passage happening here, and Opie has left c.c. on her own, to fend for herself in the wilds of the back yard, because he knows she can. Our c.c. is growing up. And our Opie is growing old.

Apr. 22, 2003 Tuesday

Easter Sunday means dinner at my parents' and lots of food (my sisters and I all make something to bring, and we always make sure there's plenty for everybody). I made a vat of potato salad, another of cole slaw, and a big pile of pumpkin bars. We also had turkey, chicken and roast beef, lotsa different breads and seven different desserts (including a couple of sugar-free specialities).

We had an Easter egg hunt for the younger ones in the back yard, and any semblance of supervision of the event collapsed seconds after it had begun. It was over in minutes, and everyone ended up with similar quantities of candy-filled eggs and without injuries, so it was deemed a success.

My grandmother enjoyed the time with her great-grandkids, and there were Easter baskets for the kids and flowers for the adults. It was quite the occasion!

But I think the best part of an occasion like this is all the leftover food - there was plenty for everyone to take home, and I don't have to worry about cooking for a few days. So we ate well last night - a full turkey dinner complete with sugar-free banana cream pie for dessert - and no cooking required :)

And the felines were treated to turkey - and don't think they didn't appreciate it (they'll be getting more tonight, but don't tell 'em).

Eat hearty.

Apr. 28, 2003 Monday

Today is the Husband's sisters' birthday. They're twins. The Husband has already taken care of their gifts and sent them by mail (they live outa state). One week from today is my sister's kids' birthday. They're also twins. And I hadn't bought anything for them yet. So after some hasty but overdue housecleaning yesterday, I decided it was a great day for gift shopping (sunny and warm - but then any day is a great day for shopping!).

Since the Husband had already gotten gifts for his sisters, that left me free to concentrate on summer outfits for 6-year-olds :)

The problem is that these twins are fraternal - a boy and a girl - and coordinating outfits aren't as appreciated as much as they used to be. At least not by the boy child. They're developing distinct personalities, and they're not afraid to express their opinions. Especially when it comes to items of fashion.

So this year I shopped for them as individuals, keeping a wary eye for the right outfits. But nothing popped out at me. But that didn't stop me. After scoping out one store, I moved on to the next. Before I knew it, I was out of stores. And daylight. I returned home with nothing.

But that just means I live to shop another day! And I've got seven more of 'em before the birthday.

I spent last night at my sister's house (different sister) because both she and her husband had to go into work early (very early - this happens occasionally) and I was there to make sure their youngest was up dressed and on the school bus on time. He always enjoys waking up to find his aunt on the job, and we have fun (not all that easy for a non-morning person).

And once he's on his way, I'm only a mile or so from work :) That's good, I think.

Maybe I'll just get the twins some toys.

Happy Monday.

May 4, 2003 Sunday

My nephew had his recital last night (he plays the saxophone), and of course his favorite doting aunt was present (he's pretty good, btw), as were several cousins and his grandfather. We all returned to my parents' house for celebratory desserts and congratulations (one cousin suggested that he "squeaked" a couple times).

Just as I was getting over the new car bug (I decided to postpone any new vehicle purchase 'til August or September, when leftover models are substantially reduced to sell before the new model year begins), my sister bought a new mini-van (she has three kids under the age of 7, so a mini-van is almost a necessity, if not downright manadatory). They already have an aging Chrysler-made mini-van (I can't remember the exact model), which they are keeping.

The new mini-van is a Toyota Sienna, with a remote-control operated sliding side door (which the kids think is totally cool).

Speaking of the kids, two of them (the twins) will be celebrating their sixth birthdays tomorrow. The official party won't be 'til the end of the month, when all relatives are free to attend. But we'll be over there tomorrow night, giving them gifts on their actual birthday (and of course more gifts at the party).

My father bought a new lawn mower yesterday - a 7 horsepower self-propelled variable speed model (the Husband was jealous). But we did get his old mower as a consolation prize, and it's still in pretty good shape (certainly better than ours is).

The cats are enjoying that brief period between spring and summer (after heating and before air conditioning) when they get to nap in a gentle breeze in front of an open window.

All in all, it's been a fairly busy weekend.

And it's not over yet :)

May 10, 2003 Saturday

I did something this week that I've been wanting to do for a while. I got a new top for my 12-year-old convertible. The old top was white with twelve years of dirt ground into it, and it had shrunk somewhat and didn't fit particularly well. I planned to replace it with a black top that would not show the dirt so readily, but the Husband suggested that I would regret that choice. For twelve years I'd been driving a white convertible with a white top, and it is a car I've come to love. Suddenly giving it a black top would change its personality. It would not be the car I decided to hang onto. And I had to agree. So I went for another easily-dirtied white top. But I'm glad I did.

Also this week I got a new cell phone. The old one had Caller ID, but it was a flip-phone, and you had to open it to see who was calling (which also answered the call). Bad logistics. The new phone lets me see the caller ID before I open it, so I can choose not to answer if so inclined. And it's way small. Really adorable. And it has voice dialing - you just say the name of the person you want to call and it dials that person. But you have to say it kinda loud, and sometimes you have to repeat it, which can make you look really doofy in a public setting, repeatedly shouting someone's name at a phone :) It's cheaper than my old phone (I get less free airtime, but I wasn't using all those minutes anyway), and I get free long distance from anywhere in the U.S. (with the old phone it was free from home only). I love it.

And finally, I decided to redo the bathroom. I bought all new rugs, new curtains and blinds and a new shower curtain. I still have to find a matching wastebasket and tissue dispenser. Everything is still in the packaging, awaiting my attention, which it will receive later today. I left everything on the chair in the living room, and c.c. has already selected it as her new lounging spot. That's my kitty. I'm sure she'll be offering her advice when it comes time to hang everything.

Happy Mother's Day to all, where appropriate.

May 16, 2003 Friday

Well, tomorrow we leave for Denver to see my sister. We haven't visited since she moved there, but everybody else in my family has, so we're due. We have no real plans, except for a three-day side trip to Cheyenne, Mount Rushmore, Deadwood and Devils Tower. Other than that, we'll just relax.

Which I'll need, 'cause I'm dancing all over the place trying to make sure all bases are covered at work in my absence, getting things together that I'll be taking along (some old clothes, some not yet purchased), and making sure I won't be scrambling at the last minute to get my act together (no guarantees there, however).

Last night I tried downloading rings for my new cell phone, but there were none I liked. And you have to pay a buck for each ring you chose. But I didn't really like any of them, so I stuck with one of the freebies that came with the phone (they did have some Christmas tunes that I may spring a buck for at the appropriate time).

And c.c. has decided she likes hanging around under my feet. She's never done that before (and it's not a safe place to be for either of us). I think she's finally learned finicky from Opie, so if she doesn't like what the Husband feeds her, she figures she'll play my strings to get what she wants. It partly works - it gets me to advise the Husband to feed her some kinda treat and get her out from under my feet!

Tomorrow we depart, and the felines will be under the care of my good friend Kathy, who will feed them and talk to them and pet them in our absence. And by the time c.c. begins to consider getting under her feet, we'll be home!

May 23, 2003 Friday

Man, did we have a fun-packed three days! We were constantly on the go. We covered 1300 miles, 4 states, 2 national monuments, a gambling casino, a cemetery, the biggest herd of buffalo I've ever seen (five of 'em - which is the biggest herd I've ever seen) and some really beautiful scenery in three days.

So today, we are back. We left just after the morning rush hour on Tuesday, took a brief tour of and had lunch in Cheyenne, Wyoming, then continued on to our hotel in Rapid City SD. We took a side trip through a corner of Nebraska, just to say we'd been in Nebraska. I dunno about the rest of Nebraska, but that little corner had little to offer, tourist-wise. We were going to take a a drive through Custer State Park to view the buffalo herds, but by the time we got there, we were too pooped, so we skipped it.

Wednesday we saw Mount Rushmore, a quick tour of Custer Park (the five buffalo and out) and Deadwood (which has legalized old west gambling saloons and a fun tour of the city which included a visit to the graves of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane). Yesterday we hiked around Devils Tower, taking hundreds of pictures and watching the climbers work their way up (we did not do any climbing, except for the stairs to the Visitor Center).

It was a lot of fun and a lot of driving (many, many thanks to my sister, who did all the driving), but we accomplished a lot and had a lot of fun.

And to Opie and c.c. (who check this site every day), we'll be home soon, guys :)

May 29, 2003 Thursday

We're home, unpacked, and have managed through two workdays (with two to go before the weekend). Vacation is over.

It rained the whole time we were gone, which means the surrounding foliage has gotten pretty lush. The cats like it. But the lawn needs a serious makeover with the mower. The problem is the grass never dries out to mow. At least we're not alone - the neighbors can't mow either. There's gonna be a lot of small engine noise this weekend.

In contrast, we had fabulous weather as we traversed the endless plains of Wyoming, Nebraska and South Dakota. It was a very busy and very much fun time. I loved it.

The felines are certainly happy to see us back - c.c. is constantly following me around, waiting for me to sit so she can monopolize my lap. In the morning I'm busy getting ready and don't do much sitting, which annoys the heck out of her, and she complains. Loudly. Opie has accepted our absence and return, but still likes to be in the same room with at least one of us. But the constant rain may have something to do with that. He thinks we can do something about it, and he's wondering what's taking us so long to bring out the sunshine. Fortunately, he's patient. Unlike c.c.

I regaled everyone at work with our adventures out west and dispensed token souvenirs, but once that was accomplished, it was back to work, as usual. Last week is still fresh in my mind, but this week now has my attention, as will many weeks to come before the next vacation arises. Which is a week at the shore in a rented beach house in July (or August, I'm not sure which). I'm not really getting psyched about that yet, though. I still have fresh remembrances of last week to dwell on.

It's not quite the same, but it won't be long before the Jersey shore supplants the lone prairies :)

Enjoy yourselves, wherever you are.

Jun 4, 2003 Wednesday

Today is the Husband's birthday. He's ... old.

We have a tradition of treating each other to dinner out on our respective birthdays, and as it happened, my company was sponsoring an awards dinner last night that I was pretty much required to attend, so I dragged him along too :) The same thing happened last year. This is working out well.

For a perfect attendance record last year, the Husband received gift certificates to our favorite restaurant, which he hasn't used yet, so tonight we're dining out again. Two free birthday dinners this year.

Because of prior social commitments (we're in such demand), we won't be celebrating his birthday for a couple weeks (a graduation, a recital, a company picnic and Father's Day have monopolized the weekends 'til then), but he's at the age where he doesn't really celebrate the aging process with much enthusiasm anyway.

The Husband is easy to shop for for his birthday. Gift cards to electronic stores or book stores. He then goes on a one-day shopping spree (I join him to live vicariously through shopping), and we end up having lunch at a favorite Mexican restaurant.

Birthdays are fun :)

Jun 10, 2003 Tuesday

This past week I decided I'd lower my brand new convertible top and enjoy the rare sunny spring day. Except I couldn't get it lowered completely into the space behind the seats - it would only go down about 3/4 of the way. I was not happy about this. The Husband cast his eye over the situation and failed to find anything unusual. So I did without top-down driving that day, but I was miffed.

While I was out Sunday (I took the Bronco), the Husband had inspected the top once again and found a piece of webbing wedged in the top frame. Removing it allowed the top to retract easily. So he left the top down (with the car in the garage) and planned to let me be surprised when I returned home. Except I never checked on it, and he never mentioned it.

Monday I was running late, as usual, so imagine my surprise when I went out to the garage and found my little convertible in all its top-down glory. Except it was cold, gray and damp that morning - not suitable convertible weather. I didn't have time to put the top up, so I took the Bronco.

I joined a women's "fitness club" a while back 'cause the doc told me to get more exercise (I am otherwise sedentary), so I've been going a couple times a week after work. Monday night was one of those times, after which I was heading home in the Bronco (remember it woulda been the convertible if I hadn't been running late) and stopped at the intersection where my work is located, when a stranger in the car next to me told there was fluid "pouring" (her words) out of my car. A quick look underneath verified that (it smelled like hot oil - not a good sign), so I crossed the intersection and into the parking lot at work. I was depressed - this has to be very expensive (and I was planning on trading it in in three months!) I called the Husband to come get me, which he did. He peeked under the hood and found a thin hose that runs to the oil pressure gauge (he says) that had a leak. He showed it to me, with the oil spewing out, and said it was easily fixed. I was greatly relieved. Of course I now have a broken car stuck at work.

But I have a nice little convertible as a back-up :)

Jun 16, 2003 Monday

So we're in the middle of a heat wave with a broken air conditioner. We got the number of a guy highly recommended by friends, but we haven't called yet. We had a busy weekend (Husband's company picnic, plus Father's Day). We also got the Bronco home (a guy from work did a temporary patch job on the leaky hose and refilled the oil that had spilled out.) without difficulty, so now instead of sitting unusable at work, it's sitting unusable at home. The Husband will get around to correcting the problem when things cool off a bit. I'd be driving my Capri convertible anyway 'cause it has air conditioning and the Bronco does not. But the Bronco does have a radio with a cd player.

Did I mention that the radio in my Capri decided to stop working? It doesn't even crackle with stray static. It's just dead. I was going to get it repaired, but nobody repairs car radios any more. You just buy a replacement. But a replacement from the dealer is several hundred dollars on the other side of ridiculous. And I want a cd player anyway (the current dysfunctional radio just has a tape deck). But the current crop of after-market radios are odd-looking with bulbous shapes and neon colors - they don't fit my charcoal gray interior at all.

I did find one in a catalog that's acceptable. It's not terribly expensive, has a decent amplifier, and a removable face plate (and the solid gray cover that remains pretty much matches the interior). The Husband says the specs are good and it should work with my current speakers.

Saturday, my father's cordless phone quit working, and with Sunday being Father's Day, I thought I had the perfect timely idea for a gift. I dashed out and got a cordless phone that's just like ours (which we're quite happy with). Sunday morning I was headed over to Dad's, quite pleased with my quick decision, only to discover that he'd already purchased a replacement phone and was already charging the battery. Why didn't I know he would have done that? So now I have a phone to return. Not exactly a breakdown, but it's in keeping with the rest of the crap that's happened this week.

At least I'll temporarily get some money back that can go toward a new radio. Or fixing the Bronco. Or the home air conditioner. Or ...

Jun 21, 2003 Saturday

This has been a difficult week, and words fail me. I think I'm just going to pass on this one.

Details later.

Peace.

Jun 27, 2003 Friday

My Mom…

I've been very lucky to have both Mom and Dad around for my life. My husband and some of my very dear friends have lost their parents. It's so hard.

My mom had Alzheimer's. What a horrible disease. We watched Mom go through all the stages; each one seeming to be the most horrendous thing until she reached the next stage. Then we'd wish she was in the previous stage. Dad was with her, so devoted, through each and every stage.

We tried our best to be there for both of them. I loved my Mom. My Mom loved us, so much. It was obvious and I guess I took that for granted. Moms love their kids. But her love was special.

In March the disease really took over, almost totally. It left her unable to walk. She still talked some, most of the time it was frustrating for her because the words weren't right. She still smiled and would kiss us when we put our cheek to her lips. This past April she told her Granddaughter how beautiful she looked on her First Communion day. Two weeks ago she stopped eating. She no longer could swallow.

Last Friday she passed away peacefully at home. My Dad was there with her, holding her hand.

I thank God for all the fun memories. They keep me going. They make me smile and even laugh. Her five grandchildren were so lucky to have known her. The oldest is 20 and got to know the real Grams. I love to listen to him talk about his memories of her. His sibling held a very special spot in her heart. He always made her smile. When she was blessed with her first Granddaughter, more love poured out of her. And when the twins were born, that made her life complete. She loved each one of them in her own very special way.

Her funeral was a real tribute to her. So many people came. As we tucked her in and said our goodbyes, the tears flowed.

While we were waiting for lunch to be served, her almost 8 year old granddaughter colored a picture for me. It's as she remembers saying her goodbyes to Grandma. I'll keep it forever and decided to share it with everyone reading.

I'll miss you Mom. You'll always be in my heart. I love you.

Jul 3, 2003 Thursday

I am now returning to my usual routines now that my mom is gone. That is perhaps the most difficult part, trying to carry on as usual with one obvious missing ingredient. So far my entire family is doing well. We knew she was nearing the end weeks before it happened, and we all prepared ourselves for the inevitable conclusion. But I have a friend who lost her mother over thirty years ago, and she says she still misses her presence on occasion. I can understand that. The loss of a parent is something everyone has to go through in their lifetime. You accept the loss with a period of mourning and then continue on.

I'm still getting cards from people I haven't heard from in a while. And from people on the Internet through the website that I've never even met - thanks to all of you. I always understood that having friends and family around you was a comfort, but I never realized how true it was until now.

"Life goes on" always seemed like an empty statement to me - something to say at the moment - but it's true. And that's what we're doing now. Work is the same pain it always was, and the air conditioner still isn't working. I'm adjusting to the way things are at work, and hopefully the lack of air conditioning will be resolved shortly, to replaced by another of life's little annoyances (our front steps are gradually crumbling away to dust and are becoming a safety concern - another joy of home ownership).

But things like broken air conditioners and broken steps remind you that life, with all its annoyances, really does go on.

And so shall we.

Jul 9, 2003 Wednesday

Once again my father's generosity has come through. His house has radiant heating, meaning no duct work. And no duct work means no central air conditioning. So he has window units throughout the house. After we had gone two weeks without air conditioning (but not without complaining about it), he offered us one of his window units to tide us over 'til we were functioning in cool air again.

I felt a bit guilty accepting one of his air conditioners, but not that guilty. It's been HOT! So the Husband went over and got it and had it installed before I got home from work. It was such a pleasure to walk into a cool and dry bedroom, after two weeks of sweating it out in front of a fan all night. It's at least twenty years old, but it does the job.

I hastily made dinner, and we ate in the bedroom while watching a 13-inch tv and listening to that pleasant hum of the air conditioner :)

The next suspected a/c part due for replacement has been purchased (a mere $7) and awaits the return of the air conditioning wizard (we think/hope that'll be today) to install it.

In the meantime it's me, the Husband, Opie and c.c., all spending quality time together in the master bedroom, keeping our cool.

Keep yours too!

Jul 15, 2003 Tuesday

I'm at the shore!

It's that time once again, when my sisters and I move temporarily to a home with cool breezes, sea-salt air and a nearby beach. We're just one street from the beach this year (and it's more like an alley - definitely not a high-traffic area), so the kids can manage to find the beach in relative safety (we still accompany them on such journeys, of course).

It's just me and one sister this year; the other local sister is planning a week in Orlando, Florida, so she passed on the week at the beach. My father is bringing my grandmother down for a couple days, and with my sisters' kids and spouse, we'll have a houseful of people. The Husband's arrival remains questionable - he's up to his eyeballs in work and it doesn't show signs of abating. We'll just have to get along without him :)

The house is air conditioned, but there hasn't been any need for it yet - the breezes are perfect, and there's something about an ocean breeze that beats air conditioning any day :)

We had a steady rain throughout most of the day yesterday, but the evening cleared nicely for a stroll on the boardwalk - the kid's favorite part. It's a tantalizing reward for good behavior (we'll be returning, I'm sure).

The weekenders are called shoobies, because 'way back when (before beach bags) they would bring everything they needed for a day at the beach in a shoebox (snacks, suntan lotion, a book, etc.). They have now gone, but there's still plenty of folks on the beach. This is not what you'd call an isolated area.

But it is a summer vacation, and it's mine!

Jul 23, 2003 Wednesday

I suppose since you haven't heard us lamenting about the lack of air conditioning that you may assume that it has been repaired satisfactorily and that we are once again enjoying the comfort of artificially-cooled air throughout our home.

Wrong.

It's like this: The air conditioner stopped working around the second week of June. We have a friend who does air conditioning repair as a sideline, and he came over the next day and diagnosed the problem as a bad fan motor. But as he was particularly busy this time of year, the Husband volunteered to pick up the new motor. The funeral then put everything on hold. A week after that, the a/c guy returned and installed the motor, which ran fine.

Briefly.

Further tests revealed no breaks or interference in the electrical wiring, but there was a questionable capacitor that affects the motor. The a/c guy recommended replacing it, since it was cheap and there was really nothing else it could be. The Husband bought a new one, and the a/c guy returned yet again to install and test it. It was fine. But it still didn't solve the problem.

It was determined that the new motor was either defective or the incorrect replacement model. The Husband would have to return it and get a new one. Except the Husband has been working long days with tight deadlines, and motor stores don't keep extended hours. He finally managed some time off in the middle of the day last week to get a new motor. It looked totally different from the previous motor and cost twice as much. We contacted the a/c guy again, who was just leaving for a week-long fishing trip in South Carolina. He'll contact us when he gets back.

So it's been over a month, but on the bright side, by not having a/c, we've already saved enough on the electric bill to pay for the new motor :)

Stay tuned for the final (hopefully) episode.

Jul 26, 2003 Saturday

Yesterday was my grandmother's 101st birthday. She never fails to amaze me - she can still get around, although a walker and another person who's not in a hurry are usually required to assist. And we can still argue with her - that may seem like an unusual attribute for a centenarian, but think about it. How many older people do we talk to in simple phrases, assuming they no longer understand us? Not my Grams! She'll tell us what she wants for dinner, and she usually gets it. I want to be just like her when I grow up.

Tonight we have booked ourselves a banquet room at one of our favorite restaurants in her honor. There will be a crowd of approximately sixteen well-wishers paying tribute to her longevity (we have done this every year for several years, and she's always gotten a kick out of it). At one time (long ago) she had said she wanted to live to be 102. She has since revised that figure. Upward.

Grandma 101 (sounds like a basic course in Eldercare, doesn't it?) Consider the following: When Grams was born, the Wright Brothers had yet to get off the ground. Roosevelt was president - Teddy Roosevelt. "Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey" was a hit song. Not that you would have heard it on the radio - it hadn't been invented yet. Movie theaters were relatively new and showed features like "Loading the Ice on Cars, Conveying It Across the Mountains and Loading It Into Boats." The Boer War had just ended. Henry Ford was yet to sell his first automobile.

And she's still here through two world wars, the Great Depression, space exploration, rap music and online shopping.

Happy 101 Grams, and lots more!

Aug 3, 2003 Sunday

It is certainly nice to be air conditioned again. And just in time - yesterday was really steamy. And it was complicated by off and on showers that made the air very heavy. It was an awful day to have to be outside.

So why were both of our beloved felines lounging out on the front steps all day? They have fur coats, fer pet's sake! But there they were, keeping each other company in the muggies. Even during the intermittent showers they found a sheltered spot close to the house to stay dry.

We kept the front door open (storm door closed) so we could keep an eye on them when they wanted back into the cool, but they just stayed there. At one point (between showers) the Husband sat out on the steps with them, which they appreciated, but he couldn't stand it for more than a few minutes before coming back inside.

After being puzzled a bit, we realized that they hadn't really been outside for any length of time since the air conditioning was fixed last Wednesday. They were enjoying the cool air again (weren't we all) and they missed the outdoors. So for whatever reason, they decided it was time to be outside again. Except it was too hot to do anything but lay there.

When their normal dinner time rolled around (around 5 pm), the Husband invited them in with one of the English words they know - "dinner." And they didn't hesitate.

They also didn't wish to go out again for the rest of the evening.

Aug 9, 2003 Saturday

Firstly, Happy Anniversary to Carl and Judy in Charlotte NC. Then ...

Things haven't been chaotic enough at work, so the higher-ups decided it might be a fun time to upgrade our entire database/networking/lifeblood-of-the-#%@*-company operating system. Basically, that means I hafta repaint the Sistine Chapel without disturbing daily services. Not something I'm looking forward to.

The company is doing the same thing at its other local sites so we can all be linked together. One of the other sites is switching over today, and I've been invited to go and watch. I jumped at the chance. I'll get to see just what to expect, so it won't be so much of an unknown when my time comes. Then tomorrow I have to supervise the removal and replacement of all workstations in one department, at the same time they are putting down carpet, rewiring the electrical, and removing and replacing old furniture. This is kinda like framing a new house, putting up drywall and painting the interior simultaneously. But it has to be done on a Sunday so the department won't have any down time. Like that'll happen. Everyone will just walk in Monday and sit down in new surroundings at new desks with all new computers and not miss a beat. Heh.

So I'll be working all weekend and actually looking forward to it. Beats having to do all this during regular hours :) But I do get a break tonight to go see Bruce Springsteen!

The felines, meanwhile, will be dividing their time between the sweltering outdoors and the air-conditioned indoors.

And the Husband will be going mano-a-mano with his recently-crashed computer, trying to return it to some semblance of order. Pray for him.

Aug 15, 2003 Friday

Where were you when the lights went out?

I was at my desk (in a windowless office), and I could hear the groans from nearby offices (and a few expletives from those who had not backed up their work recently). But the lights came back on a minute later, and everything returned to normal. At least locally. I had no way of knowing that that brief outage was our entire mid-atlantic region changing power grids.

Eventually I heard conversation about New York and a total blackout, and like everyone else, my first thought was sabotage, and I migrated to the nearest tv. It was quickly determined to be accidental in origin, but I was mesmerized by the thousands (millions?) of people walking home from New York. And there were people stuck in subways and trains under the Hudson River. Ice cream vendors were everywhere, trying to move their inventory before it melted away. And the amazing phenomenon of New Yorkers helping each other :)

Of course this wasn't limited to New York, so we'd like to offer best wishes to all the Friends Of Opie in the other areas in question, including (but not limited to) Sadie, Bumper, Murphy, Misty, Foxy, Opie, Boo Cat, Trouble, Reeses, Pima, Pennycat, Snow, Sam, Merlin, JoJo, Smokey, Sparkle, Casey, Mischief, Marvin and Carlos, in (but not limited to) Cleveland, Albany, Rochester, Syracuse, Batavia, Greenburgh, Hartford, and London (Ontario),

Everyone have a brighter day today.

Aug 21, 2003 Thursday

I've found a new way to occupy my modicum of so-called free time - stamping. Some friends got me involved, and it's really turned out to be a lot of fun!

First of all, you need rubber stamps - the more the better. The more you have, the more creative you can be. Stamps of artwork, patterns, words and even total messages. And there are watercolor pens for highlighting the artwork and words. There's even a heat gun and special powder for embossing the ink you stamp onto the paper. And there are punches for cutting out various geometric shapes to glue anywhere you want. And there's different kinds and colors of paper, multi-colored stamp pads, and even different types of scissors for creating various types of ragged edges.

Like any hobby, you can get carried away, and I'm on the verge. I've bought several stamps on eBay and made numerous trips to the local craft stores. I'm way into triple digits, expense-wise. The friends who got me into this have card-making parties, where we all get together and share ideas. One of them carries her supplies in a travel suitcase with wheels! I'm hosting a party next month :)

But mostly I'm having fun. I never considered myself creative, but this feels pretty close. The only problem is that I become attached to my creations. Of all the cards I've made, I've only given one away - to my niece for her birthday (which is today - happy b'day Emmy!) and she promised to cherish it forever.

Christmas cards are going to be fun this year. But I have to get more stamps :)

Aug 27, 2003 Wednesday

Last night the Husband and I attended a rock concert. It was his call - he's a fan of Ben Folds and Tori Amos, so when they both appeared in town last night on the same show, it was mandatory attendance.

I had to rush home from work with no time to eat any dinner, so I had to buy food at the concert's concession stand - a hot dog and a large coke - $9.00.

These particular artists' music is a bit on the strange side (but then so is the Husband), and I really wasn't familiar with the songs. But I thought Ben Folds was adorable. His lyrics were funny and so was he. He not only led the audience in singing along, but he divided them up into three-part harmonies. He was chatty and self-deprecating, and he seemed to be having as much fun as everyone else.

We had great seats - 13th row (out of 60-something). It was a partial outdoor venue; the building had no rear wall and it opened onto a large sloping lawn (the cheap seats). It wasn't air-conditioned, but the air was kept circulating, so it wasn't at all uncomfortable. We were, however, in a direct line with monstrous speakers designed to blast out into the cheap seats well behind us.

The Tori Amos part of the show was loud, and I had a hard time understanding the lyrics (mostly because I wasn't familiar with them), but they weren't lost on the enthusiastic fans who cheered every song. The whole place was having fun.

As was I. Not bad for a Tuesday night without air conditioning.

Sep 3, 2003 Wednesday

When we bought our house, it was new construction, and the yard was barren. Not even the weeds had sprouted yet. So we planted thirteen trees around the house, and most of them are still with us (one, which started out as a 4-ft. stick, is now almost fifty feet tall). But our pride and joy was a sad little Mimosa that we planted in the corner of the yard, where the Hundredth Acre Wood had been separated from the Main Woods (map). It grew rapidly and prolifically, reaching 25 feet in height and an equal breadth. Its immense size, palm-like fronds and colorful blossoms made it a defining fixture in our yard.

As the years progressed, the Main Woods and the Hundredth Acre Wood encroached steadily on our yard, joining together and snuggling the large Mimosa, which cast a generous area of morning shade over the back yard. It stood out from the other trees that grew up around it over the years, and every summer proudly spread its leaves and branches as if to embrace our presence.

But Mimosas are notoriously short-lived (10-20 years), and in this, its 18th summer, did not return to offer its shade and blossoms that mark that particular corner of the yard. Its canopy of long thin leaves offered a tropical presence to the forest beyond that we will miss, but the vine-like undergrowth from the woods has already begun its relentless climb up the trunks and branches that will eventually add a new dimension to that corner of the yard.

It will never be the Mimosa though.

Sep 9, 2003 Tuesday

That new hobby I mentioned (stamping)? It's now officially an obsession.

I've been on eBay for the last couple weeks buying all the stamps, inks and papers that look remotely interesting. There are some stamp sets that have been discontinued that show up on eBay, so I'm really thrilled when I find those.

I bought a case for all the stuff that, when packed full, is way too heavy, and it doesn't hold nearly all my stuff (I wouldn't be able to lift it if it did), but at least it's organized :)

I still work long hours at my job, but I always manage to find time for stamping when I get home. I've been creating greeting cards for all occasions - whenever I get an idea for a card, I make it, which suggests other ideas for cards, and I make them. I have a master plan to hand-make all our Christmas cards, each with the same basic design, but each slightly different too. It's a lot of fun.

I talk about how much fun it is to all my friends, and I've got a bunch of them intrigued. I'm inviting a group to try it out some evening in the near future.

The scary part is that the Husband is showing an increasing interest in my new hobby. He asks about all the different tools of the hobby (of which I have many), and he offers critiques of my efforts and suggests ideas of his own. I'll let you know how that develops :)

Sep 16, 2003 Tuesday

We just got back from a fun weekend!

Saturday we visited the Husband's niece in Syracuse NY (she's a sophomore at Syracuse University) and in return for a meal out, she gave us the quick tour of the campus. We arrived just minutes before the season-opening home football game ended and just barely avoided a traffic mess of monumental proportions. Thanks to cell phones, we hooked up with our niece rather quickly, then hiked around the campus (which was definitely faster than we could have driven in the aforementioned traffic snarl). The campus is located within the city - it maintains a campus feel within an urban setting. It was really nice. We dined at a college hangout

Sunday we attended the wedding of a friend of the Husband's whom he had met on the Internet six years ago. She was a web designer and helped him build this website. The groom was Jewish, and the event had elements of a traditional Jewish wedding, but was presided over by a Baptist minister (who was the groom's stepfather). A confusing arrangement, but very well done. The majority of attendees were the groom's extended family, a very friendly and welcoming bunch. It was held outdoors, despite a threat of rain (which didn't happen) and was a lotta fun.

Monday we had to visit the Turning Stone Casino, one of the growth industry gambling casinos of American Indian reservations. We had never visited any of the Native American casinos, and this one was handy, so we dropped in. The place was huge and flashy, rivaling anything Las Vegas or Atlantic City has to offer. It was 11 am on a Monday, and the place was crowded already. All their slot machines were video screens (instead of the old mechanical lever-pulled spinning numbers that both the Husband and I prefer), so we found an empty roulette table and spent nearly an hour there until our available mad money had been depleted (it's not money lost, it's the price of a morning's entertainment), then had lunch there (I had an $8 salad, the Husband had an $8 club sandwich). Then we headed home.

In keeping with a tradition we have established regarding road trips, there has to be a major deluge of some length that delays our progress at either the beginning or end of our trip. For this trip, we had one on the way up, and one on the way back. A couple of real gullywashers. But it wouldn't be one of our vacations without one :)

Sep 22, 2003 Monday

This portion of the calendar year is always busy - there are at least a dozen family members celebrating birthdays and/or anniversarys (and we celebrate 'em all!), so every weekend will be party time - sometimes twice in the same weekend. But if that's not enough, I've decided to have a stamping party. I'm having it tonight, 'cause the weekends are booked! I've mentioned that I've gotten deeply into creating my own greeting cards using rubber stamps, ribbon, various papers and cut-outs. It's still lots of fun, and I talk it up to everybody at work, so I had lots of takers when I suggested having a party to demonstrate the process.

I took today off to houseclean (ugh) and get ready for the party. There will be approximately sixteen attendees, each needing stamping space, which is gonna be a problem. I'm having people bring card tables - I just have to make sure I can fit them all in with room for elbows and ink pads. I hope it doesn't rain - I may hafta put some people out on the deck :)

I don't know how I got so obsessed with card-making. I think I surprised myself with how well they turned out (a big toot on my own horn) and had to keep going. I'm also surprised at how interested other people have become with my hobby. I think I must exude such enthusiasm for the whole procedure that I just suck people in.

I hope I haven't oversold it - I don't want to disappoint anybody. But if they only have half as much fun with it as I do, they'll be ecstatic :)

Now I gotta go clean (ugh).

Sep 28, 2003 Sunday

There's nothing like having a weekend with nothing to prepare for - no parties to bake for, no guests to houseclean for, no celebrations to buy and wrap presents for. So I slept in. For about an hour. I'd been working long hours this week and hadn't had a chance to exercise the whole time, so I decided the first order of business this weekend would be making use of the fitness plan I had signed up for. It was a great way to start the day - very invigorating. I would do that every day, if it wasn't for work. 'Cause then I would have to come home, shower, change, and still get to my job at a reasonable time. Takes all the invigoration out of it.

The Husband has decided to dismantle the car he had created - it was becoming too expensive to maintain. So in the next month it will change back into a pumpkin, to be donated to a worthy cause. The Husband asked if I would videotape him driving by in it with the top down (for posterity). I pointed out that it had been raining lightly on the way home, and he stuck his head out and said no, the sun was shining. I said okay, but in the time it took him to put the top down, it had clouded over. By the time I got out to the car, there was thunder rumbling. We drove a short distance to a longer stretch of road where he could drive by and be in the camera frame for longer than if he'd just driven by the front of the house. Amazingly, the sun was shining again. I then got back in the car and we headed home. No sooner than we returned did it begin to rain. The Husband managed to get the top up again just as it became a downpour. But he got the video he wanted.

We went out to dinner with friends, which was fun. Life has become so hectic as we get older, that things like getting together to have dinner out occasionally aren't as commonplace as they used to be. Which only makes them more special when they do.

And there was time left in the evening for me to indulge my new stamping obsession. I've made fourteen of this year's Christmas cards already!

And the weekend's only half over :)

Oct 4, 2003 Saturday

My dad is out in Colorado, visiting my older sister. He hadn't had much of a chance to get away since my grandmother came to live with him last year, so we convinced him to go and we would all take care of Grams in his absence.

My youngest sister had what we lovingly call "Grandma Duty" for the last couple days. This weekend is my turn - I'm staying at my dad's place all weekend, keeping Grams company. We'll probably watch a lot of movies and talk about the good ol' days. Then my other sister will take over 'til my dad gets home on Tuesday. We have it all under control.

I packed up all my stamping supplies to take with me (I got tons more of stamps and ink this week - packages were arriving every day in the mail). The Husband is amazed - he just shakes his head whenever another package of stuff shows up.

I attended a company function Monday night, and a friend and I skipped out before the end to attend a stamping party. I love this stuff!

Maybe I'll get my Grandma hooked on stamping this weekend :)

Oct 10, 2003 Friday

Today is the birthday of two good friends, both of whom are intrigued with my card-making hobby (they attended my recent stamping party), so do you think I had really elaborate cards all made up to send to them? Of course not. I had to wait 'til the last minute, but I managed to come up with a good one. I work with one of the aforementioned birthday people, as do several of my stamping buddies, so she received several homemade cards, and we all stood around her, awaiting her critique of each. Being diplomatic, she knew better than to get caught in that trap.

Of course I thought everybody else's cards were better than mine, which is just my way of wanting to try harder. So I came home last night and immediately began putting together a whole new batch of cards (I got some new stamps yesterday).

I'm not only having fun with this card-making/stamping stuff, but I think I'm getting better at it all the time. Makes me proud.

Speaking o' which, I participated in a charity walk for the Altzheimer's Foundation, for which I had to get donors to sponsor me. I managed to collect over $600 for charity, which made the miles go by painlessly. I'm kinda proud of that too.

Oct 16, 2003 Thursday

Bright and early Saturday morning I'm leaving for Aruba with some girl friends (one of whom has a timeshare there). I've had a busy coupla weeks and didn't realize how close the departure date was getting. But tonight I dug up my passport and considered what to take, so now I'm psyched.

And until tonight, I wasn't all that sure where Aruba was (I just knew it was out of the normal hurricane paths). It's just off the coast of Venezuela, barely part of the Caribbean. But it has all the amenities of the Caribbean - comfortable temperatures and crystal-clear waters. We plan to do some snorkeling while we're there.

The timeshare (Luxury Suites according to the literature) is part of a hotel/condominium complex that has a pool and exercise facilities. Being a tourist-driven economy, Aruba goes out of its way to make we tourists feel special. American money and the English language are no problem, even though the island is Dutch.

My credit cards are all welcome, but I'm not so sure about my cell phone. Which doesn't matter because I'm not taking it :)

Complete details will be forthcoming next time :) Besides the timeshare's spas and water aerobics, I'm looking forward to the miles of beaches, snorkeling among the tropical fish and coral, and exploring the little towns around the island.

And shopping!

Oct 22, 2003 Wednesday

I'm in Aruba, having a fun time!

This is where we're staying. Full details next time :)

Oct 28, 2003 Tuesday

Well, I'm back. Not that I particularly want to be. The Husband said that c.c. had been looking for me all week, running to see every time she heard the front door open. I missed you too, c.c.

I should start at the beginning: I have a friend at work who owns a timeshare in Aruba with her sisters, and this year she invited me along (it was an all-girls getaway), so of course I accepted.

By pure coincidence, other friends were down there that week, and we all hung out together. And the Arubans themselves are very friendly folk; they love the tourists..

When went snorkeling over a shipwreck - that was interesting. It was a big ship, and the water was so clear that it was easily visible.

Jewelry is cheap, too (duty free), so I picked up a couple of nice baubles :)

And I came out ahead playing Roulette, too (you can't walk a straight line in any direction down there without bumping into a casino).

Near the end of the week I realized I didn't want to leave. I also discovered that the timeshare next door to my friend's place was for sale for that same week., though it was smaller. Being impulsive, I made an offer for it. It was below the asking price, so I may be outbid (or rejected outright), but it was worth a shot. It's a studio arrangement (one big room with a kitchenette and a Murphy bed and a sofa bed); the smallest (and least popular, meaning less people will make offers) of the layouts, but enough for me and a couple friends.

I have no idea when I'll hear back from the owner, but when I do, you'll hear it here first :)

Nov 3, 2003 Monday

I still haven't heard anything about my offer for the timeshare in Aruba - it's not looking good. It was well below the asking price, but considering that it was the style least in demand (a one-room studio arrangement) I figured I wouldn't have much competition. So I continue to wait, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

I did finally post my Aruba pix however. Just click on the camera icon back on the "Today" page (or just click here).

This weekend we had our new electric range delivered. Self-cleaning oven and ceramic radiant cooktop. I love it. It's black, to match the dishwasher we got two years ago. I'm also planning a new floor, countertop and cabinet fronts. And ultimately a black refrigerator. By then black will probably be as popular as the old green or yellow appliances of years gone by :)

The final months of the year are always my favorites. I get my bonus at work, and I have my Christmas Club cash - many days of shopping ahead. I'm planning to have a new car in about a month (if I can find one just the way I want it). Plus there are four family birthdays coming up (including mine!) and an anniversary to celebrate, not to mention all the Christmas activities (my favorite time of year).

I may be a bit premature talking about Christmas - the temperatures here will get up to almost 80 degrees Farenheit this week (while the Christmas decorations are going up in the stores). But it won't be long now - lots to look forward to.

Including, maybe, a timeshare in Aruba :)

Nov 7, 2003 Friday

When I was in Aruba, we went snorkeling. We bought a couple disposable underwater cameras (the old fashioned film kind) to take with us, and I just got the pictures back. They turned out pretty good (you saw three of 'em on the Today page on your way in). It reminded me how much I didn't want to leave.

Also today I heard from the owner of the time share that I made an offer for. My offer was rejected. She wanted at least $2000 more. I was tempted to counter-offer, but I didn't. As much as I would like it, I couldn't justify even another $1000.

So I have my pictures, but no time share.

I am now switching focus to the purchase of a new car. I haven't had a new car in eleven years. I want one. I want a Jeep Liberty (small SUV), but I want to test drive one first, to be sure it's what I want. And I want a 4-wheel drive stick shift, so I want to test-drive a 4wd stick shift. Trouble is, nobody has one. Of the bazillion new Liberties within a fifty mile radius, only one is a manual shifter. And it's an hour away in Pennsylvania. Long way to go for a test drive. But next week the Husband and I are taking a day off from work to do just that. Assuming it hasn't been sold by then :)

48 days 'til Christmas :)

Nov 15, 2003 Saturday

The Ides of November. Less than two weeks 'til my birthday (always a cause to celebrate).

But the biggest present is going to be one to myself. I'm finally going to break down and buy a new car. I will keep my old car (the 12-year-old Capri convertible) for sun and fun, but daily duties will be assigned to a new Jeep Liberty.

I think.

Y'see, I've done all the research and pricing and reviewing and comparing, and the Jeep seems to be at the top of the list. But I've never driven one. I might hate it. So I want to test drive one before proceeding further. The problem is that I want a stick-shift 4-wheel drive (hard to find). We finally found one at a dealer in Pennsylvania. So next Wednesday (when the Husband and I both have early appointments at the same eye doctor), we'll be taking a day off from work to test-drive the only stick-shift Jeep Liberty in captivity. Not that we'll buy it there- we just want a test-drive. Then I'll go to a dealer much closer and get myself a good deal on one that I'll be ordering to my specifications (I'm still deciding among dark blue, maroon or dark green). And around the first of the year, I'll be driving around in my first new car in 12 years!

Again, assuming I don't hate it after a test drive.

Nov 21, 2003 Friday

I'm happy.

I test-drove the Jeep Liberty and I love it. But it was at a dealer in Pennsylvania, meaning if I bought it there, I'd have to re-register it in New Jersey, which, besides being an added expense, I would lose the 4-year exemption from having it inspected because I didn't buy it in New Jersey. And I have this issue with taking it for service back to where it was bought, which would be a hassle. Besides a 2-dollar toll bridge, it's all heavy traffic routes with lots of intersections and merges. Not a leisurely drive. We were reminded of that on the trip home in rush hour traffic with heavy rain. Ugh.

And the dealer doesn't have a loaner car program, so I'd have to get somebody to go with me to bring me back, and again when I picked it up. Too annoying to want to think about. There is no reason why I couldn't take it to a local Jersey dealer for service, theoretically; I just feel that you get better service from the dealer that sold it to you. It's like they're more responsible for your satisfaction.

But I loved the car. It was equipped just the way I wanted it, and it was one of my color choices (dark blue). And of course the dealer was leaning on me to buy it right there and then. And it was tempting. But I was good; I didn't.

The next step is to visit a couple more local Jersey dealers, even though I already know they don't have any stick-shift models. But I'll have a price to compare, and if they beat it, I'll order one just the way I want and wait for it. But I have now test-driven the car, and I like it. First hurdle completed.

You'd think buying a new car for the first time in twelve years would be enough, but we're also remodeling the kitchen and bathroom (new floors, counters, cabinets and sinks), but that's for another time.

I'm getting a new car!

Nov 27, 2003 Thursday

I am already discouraged with new car shopping. My problem is that I don't really know what I want. I have settled on a Jeep Liberty, but do I buy what's available now (not exactly what I want), or order one and wait 'til the middle of winter to get it? I'm gonna have the thing for maybe eight years or more, so I should get what I want, right? But then the question is what do I want? Now I like the idea of ABS brakes ($800 option), and since seeing one with the larger wheels, I like those too. Decisio