Saturday, January 29, 2011
Snow business....
****We have had a lot of snow lately and they are calling for yet another big storm coming up on Ground Hog's Day. It is getting very tiring and exhausting. All this snow got me thinking.............Snow when your 10 is very exciting. As you watch the flakes falling you think about the potential snow ball fights, building snowmen, and most importantly a snow day from school. At age 20 the excitement is still there because you see potential to go out with friends and do some skiing, snow boarding or snow mobileing....hanging and having fun with your friends. At age 30 a big realization comes and you realize you are now solely responsible to remove this snow yourself...zap...the fun is gone. At age 40 you decide that digging out time and time again is for the birds and now is the time for you to own a snow blower. At age 50 you look outside and see kids walking down the street with shovels in hands knocking on doors.....and you finally say YES you can shovel me out! *****
Monday, January 17, 2011
Remotes
We have too many remotes. To turn the TV and cable box on you need Remote #1 (from the cable company), we have the one that came with the TV Remote #2, we have one that controls our DVD player which is Remote #3 and then we have one that controls sound system which is Remote #4.
In order to watch a DVD first you need to use Remote #1 then you have to change channel with Remote #2 and operate said DVD with Remote #3 and adjust volume with #4......is it me or does anyone else find this totally crazy! I did not even include Remote #5 & Remote #6.....#5 goes to the Wii player and #6 goes to the old/outdated VCR!
Misplace 1 remote and the whole system crumbles. I am not a TV addict but I do like to watch the news in the morning, hear traffic updates and then do the same thing when I get home. Seriously I say to myself ...how the hell do the elderly keep this remote thing straight! My in-laws are in their 80's and my Mom is almost 89.......I suppose just the fact that they can get the TV to turn on is a pure miracle!!
In order to watch a DVD first you need to use Remote #1 then you have to change channel with Remote #2 and operate said DVD with Remote #3 and adjust volume with #4......is it me or does anyone else find this totally crazy! I did not even include Remote #5 & Remote #6.....#5 goes to the Wii player and #6 goes to the old/outdated VCR!
Misplace 1 remote and the whole system crumbles. I am not a TV addict but I do like to watch the news in the morning, hear traffic updates and then do the same thing when I get home. Seriously I say to myself ...how the hell do the elderly keep this remote thing straight! My in-laws are in their 80's and my Mom is almost 89.......I suppose just the fact that they can get the TV to turn on is a pure miracle!!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Vacation, New Year and Setting a Bird Free.....
Last week I was on vacation....my plan was to spend the week enjoying time with my family where the 4 of us would go to NYC and do some sightseeing...spend some days shopping together....and eat out a few meals. What really happened? Monday the snow was up to our arse, Tuesday I was sick as a dog, Wednesday I was even sicker, Thursday not much improvement and by Friday I had a slight improvement. Basically my week consisted of laying in bed or on the couch and just vegging and watching TV. What a major disappointment. We usually have a family party every year for NY Eve and everyone comes over and we really enjoy it. This year....for the first time....I had to cancel. I was too sick to pull it all together and I was worried about making everyone else sick too! So now my vacation and my New Year were a real mess.
I really wanted some meaningful time with the 4 of us and it did not pan out that way....needless to say it made me feel heartbroken. My oldest son leaves for Paris on Thursday and I was counting on these days for some good ol' family time. I ended up being just a sick lump on the couch. I was doing good about him leaving to go too. Until today I have not cried too much. Then my hubby mentioned today that he could not believe he was leaving. This opened up my floodgates and allowed the water to flow now. Now it thinks it can keep flowing freely and I am trying hard to keep it in control. I have been trying to convince myself to think of this in segments of time.......before you know it ...it will be February...then March...then I will be heading down the shore in April and then before you know it he will be home in June. This allows me time to get a grip when I think of it this way. This experience will be probably the best experience of his life and I am so happy and so proud of him. He will be at a very well respected and hard-to-get-into school. For this I feel like a peacock flocking my feathers and saying "that's my boy"!
But when my range of emotions come over me and I think of how much I will miss seeing him I then just become a mother chick....wanting to continue caring for her little chickie. I ask myself how do all the Moms before me handle the child growing up. I know eventually I will be OK but there will be a time period for me that will be rough.....but I know letting the bird fly is being the best Mom I can be to my son.....allowing him have this experience will be probably one of the best experiences of his life and for this alone....it makes me feel good. I am happy for him but I will cry at his departure. :-(
I really wanted some meaningful time with the 4 of us and it did not pan out that way....needless to say it made me feel heartbroken. My oldest son leaves for Paris on Thursday and I was counting on these days for some good ol' family time. I ended up being just a sick lump on the couch. I was doing good about him leaving to go too. Until today I have not cried too much. Then my hubby mentioned today that he could not believe he was leaving. This opened up my floodgates and allowed the water to flow now. Now it thinks it can keep flowing freely and I am trying hard to keep it in control. I have been trying to convince myself to think of this in segments of time.......before you know it ...it will be February...then March...then I will be heading down the shore in April and then before you know it he will be home in June. This allows me time to get a grip when I think of it this way. This experience will be probably the best experience of his life and I am so happy and so proud of him. He will be at a very well respected and hard-to-get-into school. For this I feel like a peacock flocking my feathers and saying "that's my boy"!
But when my range of emotions come over me and I think of how much I will miss seeing him I then just become a mother chick....wanting to continue caring for her little chickie. I ask myself how do all the Moms before me handle the child growing up. I know eventually I will be OK but there will be a time period for me that will be rough.....but I know letting the bird fly is being the best Mom I can be to my son.....allowing him have this experience will be probably one of the best experiences of his life and for this alone....it makes me feel good. I am happy for him but I will cry at his departure. :-(
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Holiday IMperfection
Everyone spends the holiday season frantic worrying about baking, decorating, shopping and sending cards. I try to and have for the last couple of years tried to enjoy the season a bit more. I look at it this way....the things will get done....eventually. I enjoy the shopping but don't want to be stressed when I do it so if I find a gift I would like....I think you'll like it too. As far as gift wrap is concerned.....God Bless those gift bags. This makes the perfect gift. My decorating will be done before the big day arrives....and yes, it may be as late as the 20, 21, 22, 23 or even the 24th....but either way I will enjoy my decorations. As far as baking is concerned.....I just don't do it. Now Martha Stewart don't you shutter....a holiday as big as this can occur and someone can NOT bake. Actually, I am not telling the truth....do the cookies that you buy and can break off and bake count...cause if so, I found some pretty damn good ginger ones the other day....and guess what?....we ate them all already! It's not that I am NOT capable ....it's that I choose not to stress myself out during this time of the year. What would I rather be doing instead.....enjoying National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Christmas Story or Funny Farm.....just to name a few of the good Christmas movies; relaxing while out on that shopping trip and looking at things I like as well, or spending time out to dinner with friends and family.
For those of you who must stress yourself out this time of year.....stop. The holiday is really much more enjoyable when you just take it all in stride. I am happy for those who put their decorations up early outside cause as I ride by....I thoroughly enjoy them and I wonder if the person inside is opening the oven to a fresh baked cookie and they are harried and stressed...while trying to wrap gifts and write cards all at the same time. I just refuse to do this to myself and it will all get done in MY GOOD TIME. Anyway...like they say....you need to take time to smell the roses....or in this case the Christmas tree....sit back and enjoy it cause it really can be fun and enjoyable when you allow it to be. I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas.
For those of you who must stress yourself out this time of year.....stop. The holiday is really much more enjoyable when you just take it all in stride. I am happy for those who put their decorations up early outside cause as I ride by....I thoroughly enjoy them and I wonder if the person inside is opening the oven to a fresh baked cookie and they are harried and stressed...while trying to wrap gifts and write cards all at the same time. I just refuse to do this to myself and it will all get done in MY GOOD TIME. Anyway...like they say....you need to take time to smell the roses....or in this case the Christmas tree....sit back and enjoy it cause it really can be fun and enjoyable when you allow it to be. I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Parenting Teens...
My kids are both teens (19 and 16) and I often wonder.....are we really good parents? Do we do the right things? Do we say the right things? Should we have done this different?
As a parent it is difficult to know whether what you are doing/or have done is "right" or not. We hope we did yet we often look back and question ourselves as to whether we are good parents or not. I think we are. We have a good base....2 boys who have both maintained good grades....the boys basically get along and now that they are in their teens they tend to rely on each other.....even if it is just to say "hey, can you believe what Mom and Dad are telling me"....LOL. I have witnessed for myself that they both have shown compassion towards aging family members by lending a hand and also to an ill family pet, they basically will do things for me when I really need their help, yet they have & continue to do things that all typical teens do...but who's kid hasn't? As parents we tend to all butt heads with our teens now and again but I am looking at this as normal. Who's kid has not argued the reason for the curfew, why I can't go here or there, why don't you agree with my point of view, religion, politics and life in general.........and so on, and so on?
I have questioned myself like this many times but honestly I think (I hope) we have done the absolute best we could and gave our kids way more than we ever had and better opportunities than either of us have ever experienced. This alone is something that I hope they truly appreciate. I think all teens tend to make their parents question themselves at one time or another. I would like to believe I am not alone. Am I?
As a parent it is difficult to know whether what you are doing/or have done is "right" or not. We hope we did yet we often look back and question ourselves as to whether we are good parents or not. I think we are. We have a good base....2 boys who have both maintained good grades....the boys basically get along and now that they are in their teens they tend to rely on each other.....even if it is just to say "hey, can you believe what Mom and Dad are telling me"....LOL. I have witnessed for myself that they both have shown compassion towards aging family members by lending a hand and also to an ill family pet, they basically will do things for me when I really need their help, yet they have & continue to do things that all typical teens do...but who's kid hasn't? As parents we tend to all butt heads with our teens now and again but I am looking at this as normal. Who's kid has not argued the reason for the curfew, why I can't go here or there, why don't you agree with my point of view, religion, politics and life in general.........and so on, and so on?
I have questioned myself like this many times but honestly I think (I hope) we have done the absolute best we could and gave our kids way more than we ever had and better opportunities than either of us have ever experienced. This alone is something that I hope they truly appreciate. I think all teens tend to make their parents question themselves at one time or another. I would like to believe I am not alone. Am I?
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thankful for....
Thankful for....
1. My hubby, my kids, my family and all extended family members.
2. Our health and we hope/pray everyday that everyone remains healthy.
3. Work - we're both fortunate enough to have jobs & the fact that we don't have to work on major holidays.
4. On a lighter note...the fact that my new heater will be installed on Monday!
5. The cute little pooch who follows me around the house.
6. And so so so much more!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
1. My hubby, my kids, my family and all extended family members.
2. Our health and we hope/pray everyday that everyone remains healthy.
3. Work - we're both fortunate enough to have jobs & the fact that we don't have to work on major holidays.
4. On a lighter note...the fact that my new heater will be installed on Monday!
5. The cute little pooch who follows me around the house.
6. And so so so much more!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
This is how the Pioneers did it....
I am starting to get the hang of this thing where we have no heater. With our busy schedules and having people come in and giving us estimates and trying to narrow down which heater best suits us...it has been a long process. We made our decision now and we are waiting for final installation date now.
As I was saying......I am starting to get used to it. I am actually thinking this is it what it was like many many many years ago. I wake early in the morning and fire up the gas fireplace then I hop back into bed to warm up and until the rest of the house reaches a good temp. We leave it running full blast until we go out then off it goes. Returning home...it's back on again.....then off at bedtime and the cycle begins again on another day.
Only difference is many moons ago it would be a wood burning fireplace and some poor sap probably had to run outside to get another log! At least I am just throwing on a jacket firing up the heat and running back to a warm bed. I guess I should thank my lucky stars I am not churning the butter and making the dough for the bread.
As I was saying......I am starting to get used to it. I am actually thinking this is it what it was like many many many years ago. I wake early in the morning and fire up the gas fireplace then I hop back into bed to warm up and until the rest of the house reaches a good temp. We leave it running full blast until we go out then off it goes. Returning home...it's back on again.....then off at bedtime and the cycle begins again on another day.
Only difference is many moons ago it would be a wood burning fireplace and some poor sap probably had to run outside to get another log! At least I am just throwing on a jacket firing up the heat and running back to a warm bed. I guess I should thank my lucky stars I am not churning the butter and making the dough for the bread.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
What I have learned recently:
When times are tough, strong families stick together.
There are people out there who will always “help” you and that person will surprise you.
Parents will do anything for their child no matter what their age.
There is no greater pleasure than to see the bond that has formed between your children.
I never thought I could love my family more but with each passing crisis or situation it becomes more apparent to me just how strong my love for my family is.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Goodbye Europe
Dam....we waited as long as possible this year to turn our heat on. Finally turned it on last week only to discover that our house was cold in the morning. Repair man came last night and said it was DEAD. Ugh.....now we have the undaunting task of getting prices for a new heater but we can't drag our feet too long as the temps will continue to plummet. We do have a gas fireplace on our front porch which has been our salvation.
This really bugs the hell out of me cause I was attempting to save money for a trip to Europe while my son was over there and as it is already it has been a struggle. Right now we need a new dishwasher and a new fridge. Talk about everything falling all apart at once!!! Why...why...why now must our heat go on us!!
I suppose we could all sleep around the fireplace the entire winter and then enjoy a nice trip to Europe? And hey, who needs clean dishes and cold food? Unfortunately my more practical side is kicking me in the ass and saying.....YOU DO!!
This really bugs the hell out of me cause I was attempting to save money for a trip to Europe while my son was over there and as it is already it has been a struggle. Right now we need a new dishwasher and a new fridge. Talk about everything falling all apart at once!!! Why...why...why now must our heat go on us!!
I suppose we could all sleep around the fireplace the entire winter and then enjoy a nice trip to Europe? And hey, who needs clean dishes and cold food? Unfortunately my more practical side is kicking me in the ass and saying.....YOU DO!!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
A very special Aunt
My last post was about my birthday dinner. My birthday followed that following Tuesday and it started as a good day with well wishes and gifts from co-workers.....I love that we celebrate our birthdays like this...we are always like kids when we get our gifts. The afternoon was a little less joyful...while eating lunch I received a call that a very special Aunt had died. I was heartbroken.
She had a very special place in my heart. She was my husband's Aunt and while we were dating and I was working at a Camp (in the Camp office) she would bring my husband there to go swimming with me while I was on break. I always thought that was the sweetest thing for her to do...so thoughtful and considerate. Her kindness did not end there you see....she was kind to everyone, she cared about everyone and she gave, gave, gave of herself. She is someone you will just never forget. She immersed herself in her family but anyone she knew that needed a helping hand she was always there for them. She was always happy and cheerful no matter what her troubles were and never had an unkind word for anyone. I feel truly blessed having known her and I feel as I look back on her life......that it makes me want to be a better person. To take the time to help people more, to be cheerful as much as possible, to make others happy with small things and to try not to get angry over anything.
Aunt Ethel was an Angel on earth and I am truly convinced she is now flying among the Angels up above. She will be truly missed on earth and even though she left us too soon she certainly left a lasting impression.
Missed but never forgotten.............
She had a very special place in my heart. She was my husband's Aunt and while we were dating and I was working at a Camp (in the Camp office) she would bring my husband there to go swimming with me while I was on break. I always thought that was the sweetest thing for her to do...so thoughtful and considerate. Her kindness did not end there you see....she was kind to everyone, she cared about everyone and she gave, gave, gave of herself. She is someone you will just never forget. She immersed herself in her family but anyone she knew that needed a helping hand she was always there for them. She was always happy and cheerful no matter what her troubles were and never had an unkind word for anyone. I feel truly blessed having known her and I feel as I look back on her life......that it makes me want to be a better person. To take the time to help people more, to be cheerful as much as possible, to make others happy with small things and to try not to get angry over anything.
Aunt Ethel was an Angel on earth and I am truly convinced she is now flying among the Angels up above. She will be truly missed on earth and even though she left us too soon she certainly left a lasting impression.
Missed but never forgotten.............
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