Jordan was so excited to be taking her driver's test on Friday. Steph had set the appointment for 7:30 a.m. That worked out perfectly since they did not have to be at school that day until 9 a.m. Morgan stayed at our house doing homework. Since Jordan is buying my "old" jeep and has spent the most time behind the wheel in it, she wanted to take her test in it.
All went well. Jordan passed and was very excited. She and Morgan left for school while I said a prayer. Around 3:45, I picked Mindy up from work to take her to the airport for her weekend trip to St. Louis (by the way, she had a fabulous time and texted me that she was in love---when I called her tonight to get the details, she was already in bed. She leaves town tomorrow on business for the week. She'll call me in the a.m. and I'll get the scoop).
Back to the story. Steph called about 4 p.m. to say that Jordan had just had her first fender bender. That didn't take long---a new family record---not exactly one to be proud of. Mindy had held it previously. She lasted about a month before she was (as Butch calls it) playing "grab ass" in the car with friends. It means she was messing around and not paying attention to her driving and ran into the back of some guy friend's pick up.
Of course, everyone was upset about Jordan. We couldn't believe it. We even made her wait an extra 6 weeks from her birthday to take her test. We're hoping that this is a blessing in disguise. Maybe she'll be so careful from now on. Still, we're all on edge---from an insurance standpoint---it's going to be expensive enough for Steph.
I had my own car issue today. I was very excited to be driving my brand new Buick Enclave, top of the line, fully loaded with 2 bottom of the line features that I insisted upon to Butch's consternation. Just past Mount Vernon, IL, I RAN OUT OF GAS!!!! Thank God for "OnStar"!!! How did I do that (you ask)? Well, I knew I was on empty, but I checked the information center which said I had 45 miles to go. I purposely was waiting to see what the "ding" sounded like and what the warning light would look like. I got neither. "OnStar" did a diagnostic test to make sure there was nothing wrong with the car. My gas was delivered to me in about 20 minutes. To top it off, it was totally FREE!!!! I made it to St. Louis by noon only to be greeted with the news that bad weather was rolling in. Not good since my friends plan to arrive on Tuesday to do some antiquing prior to our scrapbook retreat. Starting around midnight tonight, it's supposed to be freezing rain through Tuesday, then it turns to snow. Through Wednesday, we're expected to get 12-18 inches.
You can bet my new car will be parked in the driveway all week!! No way am I taking any chances with how our luck has been running!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Club, Class, Coupon and Concert
Club:
On Friday night, we had our first AYM--Guys (A Year of Memories) meeting. Everyone enjoyed the project so much that this year, we are doing one for the guys. For some of us, it was like pulling teeth to get the guys to do their stories. For others, once started, couldn't be stopped! Here are the results:
On Friday night, we had our first AYM--Guys (A Year of Memories) meeting. Everyone enjoyed the project so much that this year, we are doing one for the guys. For some of us, it was like pulling teeth to get the guys to do their stories. For others, once started, couldn't be stopped! Here are the results:
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| For Butch's page, I titled it "ReMEmber 5." |
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| "Favorite Memories @ 5" is Bruce's page. |
 "5 Memories" for Hugh. |
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| "5 Memories @ (5)" is what Nancy used for Bill's page. |
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"Memories" for Pete. "5 Memories @ 5 Years Old" is Jeanne's title for Jim's page. |
The meeting ran a little longer than I thought as the guys spent a lot of time recounting their memories. It was especially fun hearing about the "old" days in Nashville. Jack joined in with Bill to tell us a few historical facts. I've decided to do a scrapbook for Jack. He's very enthusiastic. As I told Connie, it will be fun working with a "willing" subject!
Class:
Last week, Mindy asked me what I was doing on Saturday. I told her that I was teaching a class in the morning, but that was it. She said, "okay, mom, I'm going to come over in the afternoon. We can watch a movie and stitch and then go out to dinner after. Tell dad the plan." Since moving back, she thinks she is our social director! The next thing I knew, she texted me that she had invited Steph. Of course that's okay with us. Steph seems to be the one thinking she's always left out. I guess Mindy is going to start planning her social life too.
Coupon:
Anyway, when I got home from my class, Steph was snoozing on the couch---Butch had taken her shopping to find a new tv. Mindy arrived about 3 and we started the movie---Nine---don't waste your time. We had decided on Whitfield's for dinner because I had a "coupon" good for $25.00. You can see where this is going. Had it only been Butch and I, we could have had a really nice dinner at a bargain price. Add Steph and Mindy, then there's cocktails and a bottle of wine, not to mention dessert. With coupon and tip, the bill was just short of $200. Sheesh---maybe coupons aren't really worth it. Had this one not been expiring on February 1st, we'd have gone to Chili's for their 2 dinners for 20 bucks special. For some reason, that's not a place we order drinks.
Concert:
I flew to St. Louis on Sunday to attend the Idina Menzel concert. She's one of my favorite Broadway idols. I was flying back home on Monday for book club. Lest you think I'm just some crazy, jet-setting fool, I have to make a confession. I looked at my calendar wrong. I thought this was the weekend before I was going to St. Louis for the scrapbook retreat in Barry, IL. AFTER I got the tickets, I realized my mistake. No way was I going to drive one day and back the next. Luckily, Southwest goes to St. Louis now. It only cost me $210 for the flight and $55. for the ticket---about the cost of a Broadway ticket. Plus, if you take off the $100 worth of gas it would have taken for the two tanks of gas, it was the smart thing to do. Or so I thought...
I left on Sunday morning. It was my first time flying since all the new security in Nashville. When I got to the airport, it was packed. I felt pretty good to be able to skip the long lines and just print my boarding pass since I wasn't checking any bags. When I went through security, I dodged the long lines by taking the "expert traveler" lane. I consider myself pretty expert by now. I know the drill---at least I used to know the drill. Now, you have to take everything off---well, not everything, exactly---but all bracelets, watches, everything out of pockets---including tissues. Luckily, I didn't put on any jewelry, nor was I wearing pockets. It took quite awhile for everyone to go through the new body scanner---and then to re-dress.
On my return, St. Louis doesn't appear to have such stringent security, so I just went through the old-fashioned regular metal detectors. I got on the plane as usual and chose a window seat. Normally, I really spread out and "hog" the center armrest, somewhat leaning over to make the middle seat unappealing. But this flight didn't look like it would be very full, so I leaned against the window to nap. Now, I can sleep pretty much anytime, anywhere. In fact, once, on my way back from Sandy's, I fell asleep in Kalamazoo before we even took off and woke with a jar when we landed in Detroit. I was pretty confused as to where I was as I didn't realize the plane had taken off. Granted, that's a pretty short flight, but the point is that I slept through take-off and all the way there. I've even slept through a root canal---honestly---and facials---I quit getting them because I was missing the whole enjoyment of it.
Back to my story. So, here I am napping nicely when I notice while I'm sleeping, a terrible odor. I don't understand how people are killed by smoke in their sleep. I smell things in my sleep---like skunks that have been run over on Old Hickory---the road above my house, or cookies baking in the oven---which turned out to be a pretty mean trick at Sandy's. I smelled that heavenly smell and roused myself to "get 'em while they were hot" only to find it was the sugar cookie candle she was burning in her kitchen!!
Now I'm smelling this terrible stench. I haven't opened my eyes yet as I'm trying to figure out what it was. Then it hit me. Now, I don't consider myself to be terribly prejudicial, buuuutttttt, SOME groups of people carry an odor with them. I'm not going to say who that would be, but just let me say this in the way of a hint---"dot." I opened my eyes and sure enough, I was right. I couldn't believe it. I looked around---there were plenty of center seats available all around. In fact, I think my row was the only one occupied. That's what I get for going to sleep before staking my claim to that space!! I sort of put the air on full blast and angled it slightly at her. It helped a little. It was an unpleasant flight home. Seems I can smell while I'm sleeping, but I can't go to sleep in the midst of a bad smell. I had this palpable feeling that the stench was getting on me. So much for my boast of being able to sleep anytime, anywhere.
Class:
Last week, Mindy asked me what I was doing on Saturday. I told her that I was teaching a class in the morning, but that was it. She said, "okay, mom, I'm going to come over in the afternoon. We can watch a movie and stitch and then go out to dinner after. Tell dad the plan." Since moving back, she thinks she is our social director! The next thing I knew, she texted me that she had invited Steph. Of course that's okay with us. Steph seems to be the one thinking she's always left out. I guess Mindy is going to start planning her social life too.
Coupon:
Anyway, when I got home from my class, Steph was snoozing on the couch---Butch had taken her shopping to find a new tv. Mindy arrived about 3 and we started the movie---Nine---don't waste your time. We had decided on Whitfield's for dinner because I had a "coupon" good for $25.00. You can see where this is going. Had it only been Butch and I, we could have had a really nice dinner at a bargain price. Add Steph and Mindy, then there's cocktails and a bottle of wine, not to mention dessert. With coupon and tip, the bill was just short of $200. Sheesh---maybe coupons aren't really worth it. Had this one not been expiring on February 1st, we'd have gone to Chili's for their 2 dinners for 20 bucks special. For some reason, that's not a place we order drinks.
Concert:
I flew to St. Louis on Sunday to attend the Idina Menzel concert. She's one of my favorite Broadway idols. I was flying back home on Monday for book club. Lest you think I'm just some crazy, jet-setting fool, I have to make a confession. I looked at my calendar wrong. I thought this was the weekend before I was going to St. Louis for the scrapbook retreat in Barry, IL. AFTER I got the tickets, I realized my mistake. No way was I going to drive one day and back the next. Luckily, Southwest goes to St. Louis now. It only cost me $210 for the flight and $55. for the ticket---about the cost of a Broadway ticket. Plus, if you take off the $100 worth of gas it would have taken for the two tanks of gas, it was the smart thing to do. Or so I thought...
I left on Sunday morning. It was my first time flying since all the new security in Nashville. When I got to the airport, it was packed. I felt pretty good to be able to skip the long lines and just print my boarding pass since I wasn't checking any bags. When I went through security, I dodged the long lines by taking the "expert traveler" lane. I consider myself pretty expert by now. I know the drill---at least I used to know the drill. Now, you have to take everything off---well, not everything, exactly---but all bracelets, watches, everything out of pockets---including tissues. Luckily, I didn't put on any jewelry, nor was I wearing pockets. It took quite awhile for everyone to go through the new body scanner---and then to re-dress.
On my return, St. Louis doesn't appear to have such stringent security, so I just went through the old-fashioned regular metal detectors. I got on the plane as usual and chose a window seat. Normally, I really spread out and "hog" the center armrest, somewhat leaning over to make the middle seat unappealing. But this flight didn't look like it would be very full, so I leaned against the window to nap. Now, I can sleep pretty much anytime, anywhere. In fact, once, on my way back from Sandy's, I fell asleep in Kalamazoo before we even took off and woke with a jar when we landed in Detroit. I was pretty confused as to where I was as I didn't realize the plane had taken off. Granted, that's a pretty short flight, but the point is that I slept through take-off and all the way there. I've even slept through a root canal---honestly---and facials---I quit getting them because I was missing the whole enjoyment of it.
Back to my story. So, here I am napping nicely when I notice while I'm sleeping, a terrible odor. I don't understand how people are killed by smoke in their sleep. I smell things in my sleep---like skunks that have been run over on Old Hickory---the road above my house, or cookies baking in the oven---which turned out to be a pretty mean trick at Sandy's. I smelled that heavenly smell and roused myself to "get 'em while they were hot" only to find it was the sugar cookie candle she was burning in her kitchen!!
Now I'm smelling this terrible stench. I haven't opened my eyes yet as I'm trying to figure out what it was. Then it hit me. Now, I don't consider myself to be terribly prejudicial, buuuutttttt, SOME groups of people carry an odor with them. I'm not going to say who that would be, but just let me say this in the way of a hint---"dot." I opened my eyes and sure enough, I was right. I couldn't believe it. I looked around---there were plenty of center seats available all around. In fact, I think my row was the only one occupied. That's what I get for going to sleep before staking my claim to that space!! I sort of put the air on full blast and angled it slightly at her. It helped a little. It was an unpleasant flight home. Seems I can smell while I'm sleeping, but I can't go to sleep in the midst of a bad smell. I had this palpable feeling that the stench was getting on me. So much for my boast of being able to sleep anytime, anywhere.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Telephones---What would we do without them?
I came across this on the Susan Branch website (http://susanbranch.com/) and thought I would share it. This is exactly how I feel about the phone at times.
Butch had a terrible week---all because he left his phone at home when he left for business in Chicago. He missed a dinner, connecting with a business associate, returned his rental car to the wrong airport and hoofed it all over Chicago trying to find meeting locations! I guess the only thing that could have been worse would have been forgetting his coat---really cold in Chicago!
Butch had a terrible week---all because he left his phone at home when he left for business in Chicago. He missed a dinner, connecting with a business associate, returned his rental car to the wrong airport and hoofed it all over Chicago trying to find meeting locations! I guess the only thing that could have been worse would have been forgetting his coat---really cold in Chicago!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Checking In
I've had a pretty busy couple of days. Chris Eads visited with Sara, Makenna and Ben. We had a really fun time. On Friday, I took them to the Pfunky Griddle. It's one of our family favorites---the kids love to make their own pancakes. We went to the show afterwards. Sara and kids saw Tangled---that was our family movie at Christmas---excellent for adults too. Chris and I saw The King's Speech---also good. Nancy has picked that for us to see with Connie tomorrow. I'll meet them for lunch, but skip the movie. I toyed with seeing it again, but I have a class this Saturday, so really need to get on that.
On Saturday, I took Chris to Nashville Needleworks---the main reason for her visit. She ended up buying several pieces to the tune of --- maybe I shouldn't mention it here---let's just say it's upper 5 figures counting cents. You never know who might be reading....she says it was worth the trip. She even got a better discount than I did on my birthday---when I bought myself a present! Not fair! Lisa told her not to tell me, but I browbeat Chris to get it out of her!
I cooked dinner for the whole family on Saturday night. Then we spent the evening playing family games. Lots of fun, but tiring. After everyone left and Butch went to bed, we watched Despicable Me. Another good one.
Their plan was to get on the road by 9 a.m. this morning. After loading up the car, Sara realized she had left Ben's car seat in Steph's car. We called her and Butch left to meet her half way. About 15 minutes later, Butch called to say that Steph didn't have the car seat---didn't Sara put it in the garage? The look on Sara's face was priceless. They said they should stay to apologize to Butch when he got home. I told them that they could go and I would just tell Butch that they wanted to avoid his wrath!
After they left, I spent the day doing laundry and catching up on a few things. My book is really good and I was hoping to finish it. I have 100 pages left. Maybe tomorrow.
Tonight, I took a nice long bubble bath, then helped Butch mop up his red wine spill all over his stuff. Didn't really bother me---it was his stuff. Now if he had spilled it on my stuff---that would not have been good!! Funny how calm I was while he was panicked!
On Saturday, I took Chris to Nashville Needleworks---the main reason for her visit. She ended up buying several pieces to the tune of --- maybe I shouldn't mention it here---let's just say it's upper 5 figures counting cents. You never know who might be reading....she says it was worth the trip. She even got a better discount than I did on my birthday---when I bought myself a present! Not fair! Lisa told her not to tell me, but I browbeat Chris to get it out of her!
I cooked dinner for the whole family on Saturday night. Then we spent the evening playing family games. Lots of fun, but tiring. After everyone left and Butch went to bed, we watched Despicable Me. Another good one.
Their plan was to get on the road by 9 a.m. this morning. After loading up the car, Sara realized she had left Ben's car seat in Steph's car. We called her and Butch left to meet her half way. About 15 minutes later, Butch called to say that Steph didn't have the car seat---didn't Sara put it in the garage? The look on Sara's face was priceless. They said they should stay to apologize to Butch when he got home. I told them that they could go and I would just tell Butch that they wanted to avoid his wrath!
After they left, I spent the day doing laundry and catching up on a few things. My book is really good and I was hoping to finish it. I have 100 pages left. Maybe tomorrow.
Tonight, I took a nice long bubble bath, then helped Butch mop up his red wine spill all over his stuff. Didn't really bother me---it was his stuff. Now if he had spilled it on my stuff---that would not have been good!! Funny how calm I was while he was panicked!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The Birthday Counts Are In!
I got 44 birthday well wishes today between phone calls, emails and facebook wall writings---2 from people I have no idea who they are---must be from one of my classes. I got 3 cards, 2 flowers, a gift basket and dinner. Besides all the stuff I've mentioned before, I got a Borders 33% off coupon for one item, a gift card for a cup of Seattle's Best and a 20% off coupon for the entire purchase of a scrapbook website. Looks like getting older definitely has its perks!
On another note, I just realized there's a spot where I can see how many people viewed my profile. I've had 330 profile views. I don't even know that many people.
On another note, I just realized there's a spot where I can see how many people viewed my profile. I've had 330 profile views. I don't even know that many people.
Monday, January 10, 2011
A Little of This and That
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| Here is the photo that we were trying to duplicate. I think everyone did a pretty good job |
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| Here is one of the photos that the photographer took the day after Christmas. I LOVE how he did everything in black and white except for us. I think that looks so cool. But he also took one that is the same distance as the first. I'll have to decide which one to have made. |
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| I should have taken a photo of our snow today for comparison. We got about 3 or 4 inches---which is a lot for Nashville---everything comes to a halt. This photo and the one below are at my sister, Joyce's house in South Bend. I'm sure Sandy's place looks like this too. If she sends me a picture, I'll post it for comparison. I have to say, I love snow in the south!! So unexpected, yet fun! Mindy didn't get to work until 10 a.m. She was supposed to go to Bowling Green, KY for the day. They let everyone off at noon! Too bad Steph had to leave to go to Florida yesterday. She's missing the fun! |
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| Scott clearing the snow---I forgot about that aspect of the snow. We didn't get enough to have to bother with---just drive over it. |
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| This picture was taken at Joyce's house at Thanksgiving. From left: Janet, Sharon, Sandy, Joyce, and Jeanne. Mom and dad in the background! |
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| Went through an old scrapbook and came across this postcard I sent home from camp. Seems like I've always been obsessed with food. You can tell that "getting as much as we want" was a new concept for me. With 7 kids, you didn't usually get seconds. |
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| My "one little word" journal---just a little dollar notebook from Michaels. |
The birthday gifts continue to roll in. I got a "sweets" gift basket from Jennifer and Parvez---actually it was a thank you gift for handling mom's affairs, but she decided to time it with my birthday. I also got my Starbucks gift card for a free drink, a free brownie coupon from Chili's and a $5.00 off coupon from O'Charley's. Yay me!! Notice how everything is food?
Sunday, January 9, 2011
One PRODUCTIVE Weekend!
I started my Saturday at 5:30 a.m. in my scrapbook room. I got so much done. I feel good.
Here's the rundown:
I finished my layout for AYear of Memories
vacuumed out the closet and moved everything back in
organized my room
designed 2 titles on my Gypsy
sorted a bunch of pictures
went for hair cut, perm and color
put together kits for Feb. AYM/Guys
put together kits for Feb. AYM/Beginners
typed up the instruction sheets for both kits
tacked up dust ruffle in the guest room with some awesome new dust ruffle tacks (it takes so little to make me happy)
wrote a letter to an old friend of my mother's
cooked a meal
scrubbed the stove where the potatoes ran over
stitched on my new project (sorry Connie, I'm ahead already)
refilled my travel toiletry kit from St. Louis (the only thing I didn't put away last week)
put away a huge stack of clothes from the laundry room piled up since before Christmas
read over 100 pages in my book
made my "one little word" journal and brought it up to date
went to church
sewed on two "flowers" that had fallen off my scarf
Gosh, now that I have it all down, it doesn't seem like much. Now I don't feel so good after all.
Here's the rundown:
I finished my layout for AYear of Memories
vacuumed out the closet and moved everything back in
organized my room
designed 2 titles on my Gypsy
sorted a bunch of pictures
went for hair cut, perm and color
put together kits for Feb. AYM/Guys
put together kits for Feb. AYM/Beginners
typed up the instruction sheets for both kits
tacked up dust ruffle in the guest room with some awesome new dust ruffle tacks (it takes so little to make me happy)
wrote a letter to an old friend of my mother's
cooked a meal
scrubbed the stove where the potatoes ran over
stitched on my new project (sorry Connie, I'm ahead already)
refilled my travel toiletry kit from St. Louis (the only thing I didn't put away last week)
put away a huge stack of clothes from the laundry room piled up since before Christmas
read over 100 pages in my book
made my "one little word" journal and brought it up to date
went to church
sewed on two "flowers" that had fallen off my scarf
Gosh, now that I have it all down, it doesn't seem like much. Now I don't feel so good after all.
Friday, January 7, 2011
"What I APPRECIATED Today!"
I promise that I am not going to do this everyday---well, actually, yes I am, but just not here. Today, I appreciated my Earl Grey Supreme tea by Harney and Sons http://www.harney.com//Earl-Grey-Supreme/products/56/. It's a treat to start my day---no bags for me---I like it brewed from leaves. I also appreciated the fact that Butch made breakfast for all of us (including Mindy) since I was in my scrapbook room since 5:30 a.m. Mornings are my prime working time. I can get so much done without interruptions.
I appreciate that he went to the grocery store, picked up a box of wine for me, picked the girls up from school, brought his shop vac upstairs for me so I can vacuum out the attic (which I'm sure he would have done if I'd asked him---but sometimes I feel like I might be taking advantage of him) and carried in a load of wood so I can have my nightly fire. Basically, I appreciate my retriever! Then he quizzed me about the charges to our debit account---retrieving the mail has got to stop. That's when I had to revert to my New Year's resolution---thank God he's here to aggravate me!
Lastly, I appreciate the fact that my cousin, Judy, is joining me on this "one little word" journey. I kinda wish I woulda thought of her word. It states more clearly what I'm trying to accomplish with mine.
Judy, a tip for you----I've started a small notebook that I can list the things I appreciate each day. I do plan to make a scrapbook layout about my word---maybe several pages or even a whole book to encompass the little things I appreciate in my life complete with pictures.
Here's what Judy had to say:
I appreciate that he went to the grocery store, picked up a box of wine for me, picked the girls up from school, brought his shop vac upstairs for me so I can vacuum out the attic (which I'm sure he would have done if I'd asked him---but sometimes I feel like I might be taking advantage of him) and carried in a load of wood so I can have my nightly fire. Basically, I appreciate my retriever! Then he quizzed me about the charges to our debit account---retrieving the mail has got to stop. That's when I had to revert to my New Year's resolution---thank God he's here to aggravate me!
Lastly, I appreciate the fact that my cousin, Judy, is joining me on this "one little word" journey. I kinda wish I woulda thought of her word. It states more clearly what I'm trying to accomplish with mine.
Judy, a tip for you----I've started a small notebook that I can list the things I appreciate each day. I do plan to make a scrapbook layout about my word---maybe several pages or even a whole book to encompass the little things I appreciate in my life complete with pictures.
Here's what Judy had to say:
My word for 2011 is GRATITUDE.
I am so grateful for so many things that it will be interesting to see how many I really will have at the end of the year. My first one is my gratitude to you for getting me started in scrapbooking because it truly is a great passtime to have in retirement and all the things I have done before this year means so much to me.
I going to look into the website and maybe join up.
Thanks Judy
There's still time for you to pick your own word!
"I Gave My Tooth to Science!"
If you did too, then you might be interested in the excerpts from this article published in the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Some of us were just talking recently about how many people were developing cancer without any family history. Maybe this helps to explain it.
By the mid-1950s, the U.S. and Soviet Union had detonated some 420 nuclear explosions in the atmosphere. From Nevada, prevailing winds blew radioactive clouds to St. Louis and on to the eastern seaboard.
A group of prominent scientists at Washington University, including Louise and Eric Reiss and Barry Commoner, founded the Greater St. Louis Citizen's Committee for Nuclear Information.
They decided to conduct a neutral study and let the facts speak for themselves. They hit on the idea of testing children's baby teeth for strontium 90, a radioactive byproduct of atomic bombs.
Louise Reiss was named project director.
The group faced an immediate problem: many children put their baby teeth under their pillows knowing they'd awaken to find a quarter.
Dr. Reiss and her co-workers visited hundreds of schools, churches, Scout groups, YMCAs and YWCAs.
They taught children and parents how to mail their newly fallen baby teeth to the scientific committee along with a form.
In return, each child received a button that said, "I gave my tooth to science."
Dr. Reiss published her findings in Science Magazine in 1961. She found an enormous buildup of radioactive fallout in the treated baby teeth.
Soon after, young Eric Reiss recalls answering the phone at home:
"This is John Kennedy, can I talk to your mom?"
President Kennedy had been closely following the study. He used the results to stop above-ground nuclear testing in the U.S. and to persuade the Soviet Union to do likewise.
Joe Mangano, executive director of the Radiation and Public Health Project, has continued testing some of the teeth from the St. Louis study.
The results may help explain why 40 percent of Americans will develop cancer some time in their lives, although many have no known risk factors, he says.
Pretty scary if you ask me.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
What I APPRECIATED Today!
Today I paid attention and really appreciated the following things:
Mindy stopping by for breakfast and made her lunch, but DIDN'T get ready here. (Just joking---sort of).
Butch letting me use his new car with the heated seats and auto door unlock when you approach the car. My car is still in the shop---it's not looking good for a new jeep.
Coming in first at the bridge table (nice follow up to coming in first at our big Christmas game in December which won us first prize). Great way to start the new year.
Changing into my jammies, reading and napping on the couch.
My nightly glass of red wine in front of a warm fire with lit candles.
What I will appreciate later:
When Butch goes to bed and I get the t.v.
Mindy stopping by for breakfast and made her lunch, but DIDN'T get ready here. (Just joking---sort of).
Butch letting me use his new car with the heated seats and auto door unlock when you approach the car. My car is still in the shop---it's not looking good for a new jeep.
Coming in first at the bridge table (nice follow up to coming in first at our big Christmas game in December which won us first prize). Great way to start the new year.
Changing into my jammies, reading and napping on the couch.
My nightly glass of red wine in front of a warm fire with lit candles.
What I will appreciate later:
When Butch goes to bed and I get the t.v.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
"One Little Word 2011"
I'm taking an online scrapbook workshop this year called "One Little Word 2011." Check it out here: http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/onelittleword.php
I've taken classes from Ali before and even had the opportunity to take one "live" in Pennsylvania a few years ago. I always get something out of her classes. In fact, I have to say that she's the one that made me really change my way of thinking about my scrapbooking. Because of her, I'm totally into "storytelling" with the pictures being the supporting material instead of the other way around. It's about feeling and appreciating and thinking about what's most important to me. It's about being aware of the everyday. Everyday moments are what make up our lives. Sure, the big things are important too, but it's the little stuff that seems most interesting to me. As a matter of fact, my blog is just an extension of my scrapbooking. Each year, I have my blog made into a hardback book (well, this is my 2nd one). I love that. For my blogger family and friends, check it out here:
http://blog2print.sharedbook.com/blogworld/printmyblog/index.html
The cost is based on the number of pages and pictures. It's pretty cheap.
Back to my "one little word" for 2011. The word I've picked is APPRECIATE. Actually, it's "one BIG word." I'm going to try to really focus on that this year. I want to appreciate everyone in my life. I want to appreciate all the little things that make up my life. I want to appreciate it ALL. I'd say that's pretty much what my New Year's resolution is all about. Just appreciating it all. By the end of the year, I will have completed an album based on what I took the time to appreciate in 2011.
Even if you don't want to sign up for the workshop, why don't you pick a word and join me? We can share what our words mean to us as the year goes along. How about it? "Anyone, anyone" (Ferris Bueller's Day Off).
I've taken classes from Ali before and even had the opportunity to take one "live" in Pennsylvania a few years ago. I always get something out of her classes. In fact, I have to say that she's the one that made me really change my way of thinking about my scrapbooking. Because of her, I'm totally into "storytelling" with the pictures being the supporting material instead of the other way around. It's about feeling and appreciating and thinking about what's most important to me. It's about being aware of the everyday. Everyday moments are what make up our lives. Sure, the big things are important too, but it's the little stuff that seems most interesting to me. As a matter of fact, my blog is just an extension of my scrapbooking. Each year, I have my blog made into a hardback book (well, this is my 2nd one). I love that. For my blogger family and friends, check it out here:
http://blog2print.sharedbook.com/blogworld/printmyblog/index.html
The cost is based on the number of pages and pictures. It's pretty cheap.
Back to my "one little word" for 2011. The word I've picked is APPRECIATE. Actually, it's "one BIG word." I'm going to try to really focus on that this year. I want to appreciate everyone in my life. I want to appreciate all the little things that make up my life. I want to appreciate it ALL. I'd say that's pretty much what my New Year's resolution is all about. Just appreciating it all. By the end of the year, I will have completed an album based on what I took the time to appreciate in 2011.
Even if you don't want to sign up for the workshop, why don't you pick a word and join me? We can share what our words mean to us as the year goes along. How about it? "Anyone, anyone" (Ferris Bueller's Day Off).
Monday, January 3, 2011
Random Photos from the Christmas Holidays
So who in the world would use my pool glasses at Christmas? There's something just not right about that. Seems like when the whole family is here, all glasses are fair game!
Our trip to St. Louis was a lot of fun. We arrived on Wednesday and had dinner with Walter and Chris at the new Italian restaurant, Charlie Guido's. Afterwards, I went to Jeanne's and had a really fun visit with Janet, Judy and Chrissy. I loved seeing Jeanne's house decorated for Christmas. I should have taken some pictures.
On Thursday, Jeanne and I spent the day together, antiquing and having lunch. Thursday night, Chris and I went to see Tran Siberian Orchestra. It was fabulous. I hadn't seen them in about 5 or 6 years. I was just sorry that Ranya didn't play with them this year. She plays the cello and has performed with them for the past 5 years. The concert was 3 hours long. It is a rock concert of mammoth proportions!
Friday, I picked Mindy up from the airport. We dodged a tornado (barely) and had lunch on "the hill" with Jackie, Greg, Ron and Janet. We spent New Year's Eve with Jeanne, Jim, Ron, Janet, Matt, Sharon, Jess, Mike and Max. We played poker all night and had a great time---even though I lost $10.00. Butch said he lost about the same amount. Mom's red poker purse didn't bring me luck. Maybe next time---I'm not giving up on her yet.
The holidays are over. I did purchase a new Christmas tree for next year. The one I've had for the past 15 years is just plain tired and looked it---and was shedding badly. Ditto the garland in the entry. The new tree is another 9 footer and is flocked. I was pretty excited about it, but Butch moaned, Mindy made a face, the little girls didn't react, but when pressed, said they didn't like those. The only one that seems excited is Stephanie. Maybe she'll be the only one I let sit in the living room next year. I have visions of how beautiful it's going to be.
After all the partying, it's hard to believe that it's time for the next party---my birthday. Usually it creeps up on me. But this year, all the gifts have started to roll in---and it's only January 4th!!! So far, I've gotten a gift card from Talbots for 15% off my purchase (not good enough---so I won't use this one), $10 gift card from Macy's, $20 gift card from Coldwater Creek, a free calculator and pen set plus 20% off my entire purchase at Katy's Hallmark, a gift card for a free order of Bang Bang Shrimp from the Bonefish Grill and an email letting me know that my gift card for a free drink from Starbucks is on the way. No telling how much more free stuff I'll be getting. I'll let you know.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
That Didn't Take Long!
It's only January 2, 2011 and I've already broken my New Year's resolution. I learned several years ago, that I don't need to set myself up for failure each year. It's kind of depressing. So, instead, I make resolutions that I know I can really keep---like---keeping my closet organized---that was a cinch---visiting my mom at least 4 times a year---another easy one---not giving in to my urge to get a dog---easy peasy---and keeping my drinking under control---really, really, really easy.
This year, I actually made my resolution last Wednesday when we were getting ready to go to St. Louis. The morning started out something like this: Butch woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Before even a "good morning", the complaining started---"don't light that candle, it's nauseating me!"---"don't throw that turkey away, I'm making a sandwich for the trip. We're not stopping for burgers!" Mindy had just arrived after working out to get ready for work and have breakfast. She looked at me and said, "gosh mom, looks like it's going to be a fun trip." Normally, Butch is pretty even tempered. I attributed this abnormal morning crabbiness to his late night watching of the Missouri football game---which they lost---badly. (Jeanne, just goes to show, that we Zimmermann's don't have the market cornered on "crabbiness!").
After nearly 40 years of marriage, I know just how to handle him. Ignore him. Especially if I want him to "get over it." If I react---which I am prone to do---and argue with him, it just gets both of us worked up. That's when I decided what my New Year's resolution would be. Every time I get aggravated with him for anything---big or small, I'm going to say to myself, "thank God he's here to aggravate me." Sounded like a pretty good plan to me.
On the way home from St. Louis today, we were sharing our resolutions. Butch has set himself up for failure. Mindy is going to run in 3 marathons this year---she'll do it. She's been training for nearly 2 months now and is signed up for the New Orleans marathon in February. As for me, I told them what I was doing. Little did I know that I was going to be put to the test so soon.
When we got home, I unloaded my suitcase and decided to start the laundry. When I went into the laundry room, I saw a pile of clothes on top of the dryer and a pile of clothes in a laundry basket. I asked Butch if they were clean or dirty. He said they were clean. OMG! That is probably my biggest pet peeve. Taking clothes out of the dryer----but not folding them leaves them a huge wrinkled mess. I started to lose it---"why would you put clean clothes in a basket?" He said, "well, SOMEONE left clothes in the washer that needed to be put in the dryer!" Notice he completely dodged the question? Instead of ranting and asking in a smart alecky way, which I would have done if it weren't for my New Year's resolution, "why wouldn't you just go ahead and fold the clothes? It doesn't help me in any way to cram clean clothes in a basket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" (insert quadruple expletives here----even if I would never say anything like that out loud)---I choked back the words and prayed silently, "thank God he's here to aggravate me, thank God he's here to aggravate me, thank God he's here to aggravate me." Soon that morphed to "thank you God for keeping me from wringing his neck, thank you God for keeping me from wringing his neck." I guess if it's just in my mind, I haven't technically broken my resolution---yet. I'm starting to feel like I've set myself up for failure after all!
Pictures coming tomorrow!
This year, I actually made my resolution last Wednesday when we were getting ready to go to St. Louis. The morning started out something like this: Butch woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Before even a "good morning", the complaining started---"don't light that candle, it's nauseating me!"---"don't throw that turkey away, I'm making a sandwich for the trip. We're not stopping for burgers!" Mindy had just arrived after working out to get ready for work and have breakfast. She looked at me and said, "gosh mom, looks like it's going to be a fun trip." Normally, Butch is pretty even tempered. I attributed this abnormal morning crabbiness to his late night watching of the Missouri football game---which they lost---badly. (Jeanne, just goes to show, that we Zimmermann's don't have the market cornered on "crabbiness!").
After nearly 40 years of marriage, I know just how to handle him. Ignore him. Especially if I want him to "get over it." If I react---which I am prone to do---and argue with him, it just gets both of us worked up. That's when I decided what my New Year's resolution would be. Every time I get aggravated with him for anything---big or small, I'm going to say to myself, "thank God he's here to aggravate me." Sounded like a pretty good plan to me.
On the way home from St. Louis today, we were sharing our resolutions. Butch has set himself up for failure. Mindy is going to run in 3 marathons this year---she'll do it. She's been training for nearly 2 months now and is signed up for the New Orleans marathon in February. As for me, I told them what I was doing. Little did I know that I was going to be put to the test so soon.
When we got home, I unloaded my suitcase and decided to start the laundry. When I went into the laundry room, I saw a pile of clothes on top of the dryer and a pile of clothes in a laundry basket. I asked Butch if they were clean or dirty. He said they were clean. OMG! That is probably my biggest pet peeve. Taking clothes out of the dryer----but not folding them leaves them a huge wrinkled mess. I started to lose it---"why would you put clean clothes in a basket?" He said, "well, SOMEONE left clothes in the washer that needed to be put in the dryer!" Notice he completely dodged the question? Instead of ranting and asking in a smart alecky way, which I would have done if it weren't for my New Year's resolution, "why wouldn't you just go ahead and fold the clothes? It doesn't help me in any way to cram clean clothes in a basket!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" (insert quadruple expletives here----even if I would never say anything like that out loud)---I choked back the words and prayed silently, "thank God he's here to aggravate me, thank God he's here to aggravate me, thank God he's here to aggravate me." Soon that morphed to "thank you God for keeping me from wringing his neck, thank you God for keeping me from wringing his neck." I guess if it's just in my mind, I haven't technically broken my resolution---yet. I'm starting to feel like I've set myself up for failure after all!
Pictures coming tomorrow!
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