Monday Musings

I was going to write "nothing" and that's it.  I felt like there was nothing to muse.  But maybe there is.  We'll see.

Just back from running some errands.  Lisi came along and rode in the back of the truck with her head sniffing in the breeze.  I'm not the only dog lover.  Seeing her elicits lots of big smiles and an occasional wave.  Today two ladies took it a step further and stopped me in Costco and asked if I was the one with the dog.  They wanted details and finished up telling me she was just beautiful.  I walked away feeling very tall.  Until... I happened upon the kindly middle-aged lady passing out small sandwiches to try.  She started giving me the sales job on how they'd be good for myself or even for the 'grandchildren when they visit'.  I looked behind me for the cute little old lady.  But she wasn't there.  I was who she was speaking at.  And so I wasn't feeling so smug and perky and cute anymore.  Maybe a bottle of brunette would be all it would take.  Or not.

In this day and age of penny pinching, I find it stunning how prices can vary so much from store to store.  Today I purchased dog food.  It was $16 cheaper/bag at the hole-in-the-wall place I go to then the fancy big box that has a 'treat bar'.  I'm into agave syrup these days.  Costco has two bottles for 30 cents cheaper than one bottle at another store.  Just sayin'...

Daughter #2 has a good friend at school born on exactly the same day as her.  She thinks that's neat.  I spoke with the mom.  Different hospitals and about three hours different in time is all.

We are no longer going to be agitating (didn't say agitated did I?!).  Bit the bullet on a washer/dryer set.  It'll be here in a couple weeks.  A full report might be forthcoming.  But it did generate some very interesting dialogue on FB!

Saturday, son #1 was at a friends for the day.  The Chairman was very busy with appointments, walking, and work.  And so the two daughters and I spent most of the day doing absolutely nothing.  We sat by the fire.  We played games.  We talked.  And a little less than that even.  It was so nice it was almost delicious.

But it always isn't that great.  I don't want you to see our family through rose-colored glasses.  Or maybe I do.  We've had a lot of sibling rivalry as of late.  Scrapping.  Irritability.  And down-right fighting.  I'm at a loss.  Since I was alone with the kids last night, I sat all three of the little gifts from above and started lecturing.  Then I decided to listen.  Some good points were made.  But how in the tarnation do you get kids to not fight so much?  Tips?  Tricks?  Thoughts?  I'm all ears.  But I don't read parenting books.  Sorry...

Here's a few pictures of the past weeks that I'll finally post.  I'd show you a lot, lot more, but I'm nice like that and will spare you the details.  * All the photos shown are published without consent of the subjects. *

John and Laura 

My 'big' sister and I.  She's as nice as she looks.

 

At gift opening.  Lost of cozy after-wedding time.  Super cool
guy behind R.

Hanging on grandma.  This kid is really special.

SUPER-glad for this nephew to be with us.  

The newlyweds after gift opening with  Punxsutawney Phil!
He has been photographed all over the US and has
been a big part in this couple's dating life.  Glad he
made it to the wedding.

My mostly-nice older brother doing work with some smaller
people watching.  I still like him I guess.

His lovely wife that feels exactly like a sister to me.

Waiting during the rehearsal.  Boys will be boys.

Just because someone took this of us.  We've been told
we look alike.  But she's way-prettier than I ever was.

Thursday's thoughts...

Lisi keeps scratching at the window wishing I would come out and play.  Or at least take her for a walk on this balmy 41 degree day.  And I will.  But you my dears, come first.

So much for winter!  Or not.  At least this week looks nice.  I'm just hoping winter doesn't finally find us sometime in April.

I was running out of kitchen cleaner last night.  Did a quick search.  And made my own simply by putting a cup of water, a cup of white vinegar, and a drop of dish detergent in the same bottle.  Works like a charm!  I'm all for saving pennies.  So we can spend it on bigger things like...

Washers and dryers and microwaves.  Yes, I realize we don't have to have a microwave.  But they are handy.  And ours makes 'clicking' sounds and refuses to heat on a whim.  Think we've narrowed down the laundry appliances to two choices.  But we haven't pulled out the credit card yet.

Did you know when the toilet paper roll is getting near the end that everyone must simply use less so they don't have to replace it?  That's what happens at our house anyway.  And speaking of oddities, I notice when the kids are being obnoxious or loud or fighting to the nines, I tend to drive faster.  Not that our darling MYP would ever misbehave.

This week I had a physical.  It was what you usually expect.  She checked here and there and everywhere.  I tell her about a symptom I've been having for a few weeks.  She immediately pulls on a string that says, "PULL IN CASE OF EMERGENCY", or not.  But my scanning appointment for the end of the month was immediately changed to within two days.  Doctors have strings they can pull you know.  Anyway, I go in this morning.  I have my scan.  They take a couple more.  Finally, "Donna" (who I might add is about the nicest lady in our county) says that they want to do an ultrasound as well.  I haven't had one of those for nearly ten years and that was for a very good (and smarty-pants blonde) outcome.  This time it was because they see something.  I'm feeling a lump grow in my throat.  I'm now worried.  After a few minutes of looking and clicking and checking, she tells me it all looks like something that isn't cancer and wouldn't become cancer.  I am utterly relieved.  I text the Chairman.  And then I quietly get dressed and head out the door.  But two times I waited ten minutes alone in a room with over-used magazines.  For twenty minutes I was wondering if this was my time.  My time to have something wrong with me.  But it wasn't.  For some it is their time.  And there but for the grace of God, go I.  It makes me thankful again for good health.  And makes me want to love and care and encourage those that it is their time to fight something.  

And so I must head out for my daily dose of vitamin D, companionship with the pooch, and hopes of seeing the guy I saw yesterday blasting down the road in his convertible!  He did have a hat on, so I'm certain he was warm.  The upper-midwest.  Winter ain't winter unless it's below zero...

Monday Musings

Not a creature is stirring, except me.  I'm one of those people that hear about sleeping in and think it sounds so nice.  But I just don't do that anymore for some reason.

So it's been a week, and what a week it's been.  My mostly nice older brother and his lovely family came to visit for some days.  He minded his manners since I was holding the keys to his stomach most the time.  That guy actually looks like me.  He almost can predict with pinpoint accuracy what I'm going to say, or do, or what my reaction will be to something.  So he pushes the buttons in all the right wrong places and then... oh my.  But at this point, he will retain his 'mostly nice' status yet.

We experienced a wonderful wedding.  You all are paging up and down looking for where I posted the pictures.  Well keep looking as my camera is in Illinois and I'm not.  I hope to recover it before long.  There were moments during the time of the wedding days that I wanted to freeze a picture in my brain.  Freeze the sounds.  Freeze the feeling in my heart.  Yes, it was that good.  You see when you love your family it is nice.  When you actually feel love for the other family in the wedding party, that's special.  When you all share a common love for something greater, it's beyond words.  And so I'll leave it at that.  

If you want to get some good banter (insert the word argument) going on FB, just ask an opinion about something.  People are passionate about possessions - be it a washer/dryer, or a dog.  I actually solicited input on the appliances.  Front or side loading.  Which brand is best?  You get the picture.  After 17 and almost a half years, my washer has a rust spot on the drum.  So when you wash whites, you have to be vigilant in pulling them out immediately.  And beyond that, it decides on a whim whether it wants to actually spin the clothes before the cycle is finished.  The dryer thinks that two full cycles of drying time is nicer.  I think older people like to move slower too.  

We rang in the New Year's with flourish!  Or not.  I turned out my light by 10:35.  Gave up a silent thanks for another wonderful year, and set the alarm for quite early on the 1st.  Yesterday, was a very special day.  Most of you know what I mean.  And after that special time, we had all of my late sister-in-laws children and grandchildren here for supper with the folks.  I think I'm getting older, but I continually feel so amazed how just plain good these young people are.  Really.  

So it snowed last night enough to cover the grass finally.  And the wind blows strong.  And the temperatures have dipped again.  Yes, winter season is here.  And I must go pile some wood into the stove.

Happy 2012!  We know it will include hills and valleys, but the best part is that He will lead us safely through. 

United Pooch Service

Isn't what they letters UPS stand for?  Hi everyone!  It's Lisi again.  You thought I'd take it slower in the winter and not be up to my usual shenanigans.  Well, if you want excitement, you've gotta make it right?

The day before Christmas Eve, the Big Lady that yells but loves me anyway and one of the MYP decided to take me out on a little late-afternoon walk.  We had a great hike around the houses and ponds and I even got a good squirrel chase out of it.  Because I'm so incredibly obedient, Big Lady lets me walk without a leash most the time as I find them so undignified.  We came around the bend and there was the big brown truck!  That thing roars in and out of our neighborhood every afternoon.  It has been coming more often lately.  And it is full of boxes for people.  There are even two guys in brown uniforms working in tandem these days.  One of the guys was racing up to a house with a box and I thought I'd go join him!  You see one time a very long time ago, they threw out some treats to me.  We dogs remember kindness.  Like all our lives.  I have a Grandpa that buys me special treats and comes to our house and feeds them to me until I nearly feel sick.  But I wouldn't stop nosirreee.  You see it makes him all happy throwing them to me.  So I do what a dog has gotta do.

This guy gets down and gives me a good rubbing all over and then starts running back to the truck.  I already love him to the moon and back.  I hear Big Lady yell in her annoying way.  "LISI!  COME!  LISI!  FRONT!"  Nothing is going to work for her.  Because this guy is running back to the truck.  The truck has another real friendly guy.  And beyond all this, I'm sure they have a treat for me.  So I hop into the truck.  Would you believe Paul McCartney was blasting on the radio.  The song?  "Simply having a wonderful Christmas time".  No lie!  And that I was!  I got right between the two front seats and sat down.  I looked out the front window.  There was Big Lady looking all serious and determined and mad that I was sitting there having a wonderful time at Christmas.  The two guys in brown suits were laughing.  Big Lady offers up apologies.  And then yanks me off the truck.  And just like that, the fun was over.

Yeesh.  She's really one crabby lady.  I heard she said she was today.  But I think she tends to get that way often.  But don't tell her I said that.  She might not rub me in all those special places if I get on her wrong side.  But I doubt it.  She's smitten with me in every way.  Don't let her tell you otherwise.

Monday Musings

If a blogger posts during the holiday break, does anyone actually read it (think tree falling in woods example)?  I hardly think so based on the web activity I see.  Oh well so it goes.

The past days have been very relative.  Relatively speaking that is.  Like meaning lots of relation on both sides on two different days.  It was very very nice.  The food was very very good.  The company very very sweet.  With the exception of my mostly-nice older brother.  He's on the verge of being taken off the 'mostly nice' list and going back to 'mean older brother'.  We'll see how he behaves the rest of this week.  Is this blackmail?  I hope so.

I'm mostly alone today.  You see two of the MYP went over the river and through the woods (well not really) to Grandmother's house.  One of them is romping the neighborhood.  The Chairman works (or so I'm led to believe).  And I'm home cooking and trying to clean and feeling crabby.  Why you ask?  I don't know.  We women have rights to be crabby without explanation.  

Talk about confusing.  Yesterday, I got a couple e-mails from people wondering what I was doing sending out e-mails about stuff happening over two months ago.  I panicked and thought I had a virus or something.  But it turns out our cell phone provider finally sent all the mobile e-mail messages that they had never sent before.  Better late than never I guess!  Or so they think.

Yes, the holidays.  We exchange a few gifts with our immediate family.  Draw names and the like.  Well, this year one of the MYP had my name.  And he kept smiling big saying with enthusiasm how much I'm going to love my gifts he chose.  I was getting curious.  As I opened them, I realized why.  You see children love to give what they would like to receive.  The no-show socks were nice (albeit a bit small).  But the Costco-sized box of chemical hand/body warmers that hunters use made me smile.  I guess I'll be warm on my walks!

And speaking of walks... on my walk last night I noticed a neighbor.  You see this neighbor has about the nicest lighting display of all of them.  But on Christmas Day, not one of those pretty colored bulbs was lit.  Not even the enormous tree in their two-story great room.  I came up with three conclusions:  Santa figured out where they live and now the lights no longer are needed, they ran out of money for the electric company, or lastly, he's one of those contrary people that like to do the opposite of what you're supposed to.  I dunno.

I think this is enough.   Besides, no one out there is reading boring blogs.  They are catching good after-Christmas sales or eating fudge.  In fact, I might go have a piece.  Maybe it'll take care of my crabbies.

Thursday's thoughts...

Where did this week go?  Goodness!  And in less than an hour, the MYP will be bursting in the door with a lot of 'treasures' from their school parties.  Top that with a sleepover tonight and the thought of no school for 12 days and you have joyous juveniles!  I think I'll have a cup of strong Tazo Awake and enjoy the solitude until it returns again approximately January 3rd.

Yes, a busy holiday season indeed.  I am thoroughly looking forward to spending family time with my siblings and their children.  I am highly anticipating the need for roomy clothes to compensate for a double-header of eating this weekend - one day with my family, one day with the Chairman's family.  Urp!  I'm very excited about an upcoming wedding and all those that will be attending!  Unfortunately, we have no snow to welcome my mostly-nice older brother and family from southern CA even though every store's speaker system has been blasting to let it snow and dreaming of a white Christmas, and a couple crooning about how cold it is outside and she feels like she must go.

Today was yet another day I did not want to walk at all.  But her brown eyes were pleading.  And so I got my walking duds on and we headed out.  I was reminded of a line in a  book I read last night... "Anybody who has ever walked a dog knows the abiding satisfaction which comes from giving pleasure to a loved animal, and the sight of the form trotting ahead of me lent a depth which had been missing before".  Indeed.  And as I was returning, I saw three crows making a valiant chase of a red-tailed hawk.  It was nature at work.  And fascinating.  You can't see that kind of thing in a gym as you sweat on the elliptical!

Until next time.  I'm going to go sip my cup of ambition and count my blessings as they are many.  But before I do, I'll leave you with this:  (hope it isn't offensive!)

Monday Musings

Not sure what I was thinking by posting on Saturday.  Doesn't leave much for Monday since my life isn't all that riveting (contrary to popular belief).

A nice past few days nonetheless.  We enjoyed this lovely relative.  As you can see, she's not liked much by the youngest of the MYP...

When I uploaded photos, I realize I forgot to post Lisi's birthday pictures!  (Not that you non-dog people care one iota...)  But she got a little 'cake' and singing and a couple gifts.  Don't let her ever fool you into thinking that she's underprivileged...

waiting for the birthday song to be over

I had a massage therapist by the name of "Simeon".  I never asked if he had a brother named "Levi".  He was light-years better than the other lady.  Worked hard, but I wouldn't say his hands were instruments of cruelty... (ok, bad joke).

I cleaned the garage today!  You see if the snow ever does fly, we need room in there for a car that refuses to drive on snow.  And so our three car garage became a three car garage.  I did find a dead mouse in a trap that was quite stiff.  Just thought you'd like to know.  I'm fun like that.

You know you're a mother of somewhat young children when you pull out a tissue out of your bathrobe and find a tooth.

Drove our van for approximately eight miles with my distance to empty listed as "0".  And I still had two gallons left!  Toyota people must be very cautious.

A great holiday season is upon us.  Lots of family time.  A wedding.  And so it goes!