Rock Band

I played the coolest EVER video game, Rock Band, at the kids house last night. Talk about way too much fun. First I was the drummer, rhythmically banging out sounds to 90's music that I'd barely heard before. I tried my turn at lead singer which was really interesting since again it was purely sight reading some random Weezer song, or something. Then came the biggest challenge of all; the guitar. It took me awhile to get the hang of strumming, reading the descending color codes on the screen and then pressing the corresponding button. At first I will admit that I failed a couple of times and had to be saved by the rest of the band, the kids (who by the way knew all of the songs). I finally ended up with scores of 85-93%. YEAH!!!! It's a good think that this is not sitting in my house because I would definitely not get anything else done. A lot of fun on a Saturday evening. Also, the home cooked meal of crabs cakes was pretty awesome too.

Great Weekend

We had a great Memorial Day weekend. Friday afternoon we went for a long bike ride and then went to a neighborhood wine social. Ended up going out for Mexican afterwards. Good fun. Saturday morning we took off in the convertible and headed to Jamestown and Yorktown. Went to the river walk in Yorktown and ate at the Yorktown Pub. I had North Carolina BBQ which was really good. It was a gorgeous day! We drove to Jamestown and visited the new museum etc. Was a bit expensive but pretty interesting. We ended up back at the ranch in the evening. Sunday we took the kids to lunch and then took another bike ride. Monday we went to lunch and then to friends for a boat ride on the lake and dinner. Had a great time. Was difficult to get back to the grind today. Such is life.

Doing nothing

Okay, it has been quite some time since I've posted anything. That's probably because we are really not doing much of anything. We have been enjoying the time of not having house projects. We actually talked ourselves out of doing a simple project at our house this weekend. It's not going anywhere and we'll get to it at some point.

Mothers Day was very relaxing. We went to lunch at O'Charley's but didn't have our normal waitress (it was really busy) so we actually had to order. We did see all of the regulars there though. I spent the day knitting and the hubby finished his book.

We went to friends on Saturday evening for dinner. We had plans to go out on the boat but it was FREEZING. We ended up playing Mexican Train and your truly went out 4 times in a row. They were all about ready to kill me. I did end up winning! :)

The kids have had people look at their house but no offers yet. Their oldest dog Shooter loves to bark at approaching people so they have been taking him out on a walk when a house showing is scheduled. They did a lot of walking around on Saturday and I'm sure all had to take an afternoon nap.

I finished knitting another sweater last week. I'll see if I can figure out how to post a photo of it.

That's about it for now. Maybe something interesting will happen soon.

Finally

We are finally finished with all of the renovation projects at the kids house. We have been working every weekend since I can't remember when to get the house ready to put on the market. Everything has a fresh coat of paint, new hardwood floors, new sinks, fence and yard. We also put new marble hearths in front of the fireplaces, painted the front door red, removed all of the clutter and put stuff in our attic, then cleaned like there was no tomorrow. We are all very glad that is is finally over and we can all take a break. Now we are just hoping that it sells really quickly so that they can start looking for another place. Wish them luck, as we are!!!!

Big News!!!

We are going to be grandparents! We are both so excited. In November, our "kids", as we call them, are going to enter the wonderful and challenging world of parenthood. To be honest, it's taken me up to this point in their married life to get used to the idea of begin a grandmother. It SOUNDS so old. I realize there are many people who become grandparents much younger than we are. But, being labeled grandparents, definitely puts us into that other generational category. I've finally come to accept that I am only as old as I treat my body. It is the vessel of energy, health, transportation and happiness. If I take care of it and treat it like it is the most important part of my own personal being then it will give me the longest and best life possible. (I need to remind myself of this when I get ready to eat that brownie bite and skip my daily exercises). So, I've embraced the idea of being a very cool grandmother while living the best and longest life I can. Enough of this Oprah philosophical talk.

So awaiting this new arrival, has given me cause to being imparting my parenting wisdom to my "kids".
You guys can take it or leave it, but what I will share worked for us and I must say that we have one pretty cool, independent, self-assured, and messier than hell young man. Remember guys - what goes around comes around. :) We can't wait to have a 2 legged little one running around. Congrats to both of you!!!

Is it Hereditary

Last week my mother sent me an email saying that she had tripped going into the house and basically had fallen on her face and ribs. As a result of this "graceful" episode she almost poked her eye out and she did cracked a rib. I think it must run in the family..... Yesterday I was painting the columns on the front porch of our kids (son and daughter in-law) house and SOMEHOW got my toe hung up going down the step. I had a gallon of paint in one hand and the paint brush in the other. Needless to say, the ole hands were not available to help at all, so down I went on both of my elbows (which hurt like you know what) and my butt (which I didn't feel at all :). Good thing was, I definitely didn't break anything. It is also good that we have to do some repair work to the front porch, then paint, because the white paint now spilled on the front steps doesn't add anything positive to the curb appeal. Hope today's home improvement projects are a little less eventful.

Just Another Trip to Wally World

So I just got back from Walmart. I was in the self checkout with my Enviorsax doing my thing and a lady (older than me) rolled up behind me in her wheelchair. Here's what happened:

Lady: "You are prepared with your bags and everything."
Me: "Oops, the machine didn't like that". (Patiently waiting for employee to re-set machine)
Lady: "I'd like to see how you do those" (bananas)
Me: No response
Lady: "How do you do that if you pay with cash?"
I proceeded to explain it to her.
I finally finished and was just about to leave when I said, "Would you like some help?" Thinking I'd just explain how to work the machine and be on my way.
Lady: "Could you just do it for me?"
What was a supposed to say?
Me: "Sure"
Lady: "Could you double bag?"
Me: "Sure" fumbling to do as she asked.
Lady: As I was pulling the white shirt over the little glass screen. "I was wanting to buy a 1x but couldn't find it."
Me: No response
Lady: (After I had rung up the black tie). Is the price ($24.??) with tax or without?
Me: That is the price before tax.
Lady: Holding a bottle of some lime green liquid. "This is only $1.52, if have enough for that."
Me: "Do you want that bottle?"
Lady: Yes, How do you pay with cash?"
Me: "You just touch the button that says cash and then put your cash in here." (pointing to that infamous black slot)
Lady: "Could you do it for me?"
Me: Thinking, jeez! What was I supposed to say? "Sure!"
Lady: She pulls out the white cash envelope from the bank and hands it to me (I'm feeling a bit weird by now) and says "It's all ones".
Me: "All ONES?"
The total was $26.?? and I was going to be feeding 27 one dollar bills into that little slot.
Walmart Employee: To the lady "Would you like me to help you?"
Lady: "No, she's helping me."
Walmart Employee: "I can help you."
Lady: "NO, she's doing it."
Employee: "I guess she likes you better, I could get you an application and you could work here."
Me: No response
As I am feeding about the 15th dollar bill in, I look over at the Employee and she is giggling and I am rolling my eyes at her and giggling right back at her.
Finally, all the bills are in and the lady is thrilled that she gets 31 cents back.
She dropped money on the floor that she asked me to pick up, I did.
I handed her the bag of stuff and she couldn't hold onto it and I was soooo afraid by now that I was going to end up walking her out of the store and possibly even driving her home, that I hung the bag on the back handle of her wheelchair and started walking, never looking back.
Me: "Have a nice day".
Lady: No response.
A typical day at Wally World.

5 Things I Decided Never to Say to My Child....

1. "Because I said so" (What does this teach a young mind? Maybe, that I'm not smart enough to give you an answer or I don't want to take the time to talk to you or I'd rather be self absorbed at the moment)
2. "Don't" (As in don't run, don't scream, don't spit, etc. etc. What were the last words YOU heard? Maybe RUN, SCREAM, SPIT? Hum, wonder why kids don't stop running, or screaming or spitting when this tactic is tried?)
3. "Come here, ONE, TWO, don't let me get to three, THREE." (Okay, you have now just taught your child that you are always willing to wait, wherever you happen to be, long enough to get to number THREE and they are in control. Take a clue from me, say "We're leaving, and then turn around and start walking. That little one will not want to be left in the grocery store and will come following. Save the counting for a great learning experience.)
4. "Wait until your Dad gets home". First of all, if this is a two parent family, this should be a partnership, right? Second, you should both be on the same page, so either one of you should be able to take care of the situation and inform the other later. Don't cop out and leave the problem to the parent that wasn't even present and doesn't REALLY know the details?)
5. "Eat all of your food/clean your plate" (This is a sure fire way to contribute to the obesity phenom! Tasting new foods is one thing but being "forced or asked" to eat everything teaches nothing but resentment and a later inability to leave food on the plate and therefore, overeating.
   

Getting Old?

I was really looking forward to Daylight Savings Time. I love the longer days and daylight at the dinner hour. BUT... I can't seem to adjust. It's been almost a week and I still feel like I'm walking around in a fog. I'm still falling asleep during my reality shows and then have to do homework to find out what happened. I don't remember feeling like this before. Maybe it's because I was working and I had to go about my day "no matter what". I don't know, it sucks though.

WHY????

Why is it that people just can't follow the rules? Aren't they there to serve some sort of purpose? Why is it that those who push the envelope are the most difficult to work with? Why is it that they break every rule that ticks everyone else off? Why can't people just go with the flow, have a little patience, realize there are other people in this world besides them and DO WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO!!!! Obviously, it's not been a good couple of days for me.

Okay, so I Lied

Every weekend we go out to lunch at O'Charley's. Sure it's a chain, but we love the rolls and the salads. Every weekend we get the same thing; 1/2 southern fried chicken salad, and 1/2 pecan salad switching the chicken to the southern fried variety, rolls and 2 Diet Dews. We go so often that we know three of the waitstaff by name and we usually catch up with all of them weekly. Sunday we just happened to be in the neighborhood at lunchtime so........ Before we knew it, one of our favorite waitresses brought us our 2 Diet Mountain Dews. "I hope you wanted the same thing, because I've already turned your order into the kitchen". Can you believe it? It was all done before we had a chance to ask how she was doing? The final icing on the cake was that she brought me my "Dew to go" without me having to ask. I'm telling you, she was really on the ball or we are soooooo predictable that we really need to get out of our box. We really loved the service and our weekly lunch so I'm not sure we'll make that many changes.

Heaven to Hell in a Bite or 2 or 3

We went out to dinner on Friday with a couple from the neighborhood. We decided to go back to a Thai place that we had visited last week. (We are eating out way too much!). One of my other neighborhood friends said that the soft shell crab special was really good. So, being that soft shells are one of my most favorite foods of all time, I ordered it. Well, it happened to come on the biggest plate at the table. (Clue #1, too much food). I proceeded to eat and eat and eat until I had almost eaten the whole thing. I should have stopped after the first crab but that second one was just staring at me and it was soooo good. Needless to say my love of crab turned into a night of sleepless hell because I felt like I'd eaten a ton on bricks. You all know what I mean. I know you have been there! I've vowed to eat at home this entire week; except on Saturday if the kids want to go to lunch after working at their house. :)

Vacations?!!?!

Aren't they supposed to be fun, relieve the stress, escape from the day to day grind, etc. etc. Then why is it such a pain in the butt to get there? I'm talking about the:

• Deciding where to go or what to d0
• Trying to figure out the best/cheapest way to get there
• To use free miles or get a "cheap" (if there is such a thing) internet fare
• Muddling through every airline website time after time because I can only look at that stuff for so long
• Where to stay
  
• Panicking over how much it is really going to cost

It's so easy to procrastinate doing all of this...............There went that cheap fare!!!! UGH!

Boo Hoo

Fess up!! How many dries eyes were really in your house last night while watching the big blue boys of The Biggest Loser? Not mine!

The Big O

One of my favorite things is the art of being organized. I probably spend too much time getting organized. My philosophy is: Take the time to get it together and less time will be spent later having to look for something. Nothing drives me crazier than wasting time trying to find something.

A few of my tips for saving time (I know a couple of these are insane):

• Purchase plastic boxes (when they are on sale, of course) and put anything and everything in them that will fit. Of coarse do so in a very logical fashion. I have boxes of pencils, paper, garden tools, tape, coffee, nuts, bolts, and all of those other little tiny things that belong in the garage/shed/workshop.
• My hubby thought organizing his little screws was totally crazy. He now actually thanks me every once in awhile when he can retrieve something without having to dump out that old box and spend 30 minutes finding the perfect replacement.
  

• Buy a label maker. I know for some of you this is over the edge. How do you know what is in that plastic box if it doesn't have a label? Label everything! It's pretty fun, really.
  

• Color code your closet. Once colored coded, I also hang shirts in order from the shortest sleeve to the longest. I must admit though that the sleeve thing can get out of order pretty easily. I've even gone to hanging the hubby's dress shirts by: solids/stripes/plaids. I haven't heard any comments so I'm really not sure if he even notices.

• Put those spices in alphabetical order. It's a pain, but it really is easier in the long run.

• Deal with the e-mails as you get them or set aside a time during the day to file or delete them. We all know how haunting hundreds of e-mails can be. Assign appropriate files and put them where you can find them a year from now.

• If you have children, put toys and books on low shelves so that they can learn to put them away by themselves. There is no reason for you to spend all of your time picking up their things because they can't get to the place where you put them. Besides, what does that teach your young one? Only that Mom or Dad is supposed to clean up after me. I for one, didn't want that message to be broadcast.
  

• If you haven't used something in a year, get rid of it! Get to know your closest Goodwill. No need to clutter up your space with unused, obviously unnecessary stuff. Besides, it's a tax write off.
  

I know some of you are probably hyperventilating by now. Really, if you take the time to do some minor organizing, you can spend more time doing what you love, instead of panicking over trying to find something you know you have, somewhere. GOOD LUCK!

Here goes...

I've been asked by my loving son and his wife, who are both totally addicted to computers, to set up a blog and to share information with the cyberworld. Well here it is. I've been making attempts to try new things, get out of my proverbial box and stretch my little pea brain in order to stave off the ill effects of growing older. I figured that this blog thing would be something else to add to my list of "new" things. Trouble is, I'm not sure I have a whole lot of interesting information, at least information that may interest the internets (I learned that term from the younger generation). I guess we'll just have to wait and see what things are stored in this brain of mine and what decides to show itself.

I got a call from my doctors office today and they said I needed to be taking another prescription to stave off an allergic reaction (along with the other 4 drugs he has me on for various things). I'm not one you likes medications so I was a bit perplexed. They called it in, I picked it up and came home to start the regiment. First thing: I read the dosage instructions which said: Take as directed. "Take how as directed? Who was supposed to direct me?" No one had directed me to do anything. I immediately called the doctors office and of course it's Friday at 4:06 and the office is closed so I went through the whole thing of ringing a physician on call. While waiting for the physician to return the call, I decided to call the pharmacy to see if the doctors office had left any specific instructions. To my surprise the pharmacist explained to me that the directions are on the back of the little packet that the pills pop out of. WHO KNEW to look there? Certainly wasn't me!! In the mean time the physician on call called and I just had to tell her that I found out the answer to my "dosage" question. Definitely wasn't going to admit that the directions were there all of the time, I justed wasn't astute enough to look at every possible place directions could have been printed before the "Oh no, it's the weekend", panic set in. Moral of the story: Exam all parts of the medication packaging for directions before you panic and maybe the answer to the pharmacists question "Do you have any questions for the pharmacist should be "By the way, where are the directions?"