I LOVE SUNDAYS!!!

Ok, there is really nothing better to me than a great Sunday at home.  Why, you may ask?  Well, here are the reasons:

1) It is a cloudy, cool and slightly rainy Fall day here.  I LOVE these kind of days.  (And because of the rain, no yard work or outdoor chores to do!  Yippee!)

2) The aroma of my house is of the freshly baked Apple Crisp below.  Warm, appley, cinnamony.  Pure heaven.

3) CT is helping with the laundry (and that is always a good thing).

4) The BEARS are playing the PACKERS.  Kick-off is at 3:15 p.m.  So I have to watch an Indiana Jones movies until the game starts.  That's ok.  It makes CT happy, and THAT makes me happy.

5) Speaking of the Bears, I am wearing my birthday present that CT gave me last week.  CT found a lovely pair of earrings at the local jeweler. 

For you non-football fans, the "C" design in the earring is one of the logos for the Chicago Bears.  What a great gift! 

 So, those are just a few reason why I love Sundays.  What about you?  Feel free to share anything that you like about your Sundays.

He Cooks, He Really Cooks (Well, Sort Of)

Hello Friends.

The time is certainly flying by.  Here we are practically in mid-September, and as I was driving home from work the other day, I couldn't help but notice how the trees are starting to turn colors.  Gone are the deep, dark greens of the leaves.  Now, the leaves are more of a light, pale green, soon to become yellows, oranges, and reds.  Oh, how I love Fall.  (STOP -- I just looked up at the TV, and CT is watching "Home Alone".  Isn't that a Christmas movie?)

Anyway, if you recall some of my previous posts, I have mentioned the fact that my beloved CT does NOT cook.  At all.  Nothing.  Period.  Nor does he ever give me any really good suggestions on what to cook, other than to say, "I'll take you out somewhere."  So, you can imagine my surprise last weekend when, out of the blue, CT announced, "I have a taste for some corn-on-the-cob."  My initial private thoughts: "Arrrghhhh... what a pain to clean and prepare."  I hate cleaning corn-on-the-cob.  It is so very difficult to get all those nasty stalky stringy things off the corn, and I usually end up with half of them on my kitchen floor.  So, I carefully said to CT, "Well, if you want, feel free to run up to the farm stand and pick up some corn.  And, if you'd like, I can show you how to clean and prepare it." 

Well, CT did something I NEVER expected.  He said, "Ok.  I'll be right back."  And off he went to the local farm stand.  Again, my private thoughts:  "Where is my CT and what have you done with him?"

CT soon returned with his bag of corn.  He was a good student and listened to the instructions of how to clean and prepare the corn.  And the proof is in the photos below:

While CT is not a kitchen kinda cook, he is pretty good at the grill, and proceeded to grill up his freshly prepared corn-on-the-cobs.  (I'm sorry I didn't take a photo of the end result.  It was delicious!) So, now I have hope and faith that CT may become a cook one day.  Who knows, it just might happen!

 

Three Weeks

Hello bloggsters.  Hope all is well with you. 

It has been three weeks since my last post, and three weeks since I started my new job.  What a whirlwind it has been.  The first three weeks have been pretty darn good.  The job is going really well, and I really like the company, the people and the work.  I'm still on this learning curve (which I hate), but every day it gets just a little easier.  And there was even a three-day business trip to Washington D.C. thrown in during week #2.   (Thank goodness it was pre- East Coast earthquake and hurricane!)  Yes, I'm definitely back into the swing of working full-time again.

So last night I was thinking about the pros and cons of me working again.  I thought I'd share the list:

PROS:

1) THE "ON" BUTTON.  The "pause" button that has been on our life (CT and me, that is) has been turned off.  The "on" button is, well, back ON.  Without me working, we put a lot of things on "hold" because of the unknowns of our future.  So now that the "pause" is released, our dream of retiring early is back on!  We hope to retire early and find a nice little condo in Arizona where we can spend the winter months.  We will never leave Chicago permanently, but we will run like the devils before the harsh Chicago winters coming barreling in.

2) A PURPOSE.  I have that feeling back again that I have some purpose in my life (other than cooking, cleaning, errands, etc.)  I missed that feeling terribly.  It is really a good feeling.

3) A PAY CHECK.  Friday was my first pay day.  WAHOOOOO!!!!  I can't even begin to tell you how great it felt to have a pay check and contribute to our family finances.  I had a lot of guilt about not having a salary to help support our family.  Fortunately (or unfortunately) for me, CT is the kind of guy that doesn't worry a whole lot about money.  It just isn't too important to him.  When I was unemployed, I was always concerned about cash flow.  I was always reminding CT about "wants" vs. "needs".  If CT and I were out shopping and I saw something for myself (like a scrapbook item, a piece of jewelry or clothing item, or a decor for the house, CT would always say, "If you want it, just buy it."  And I would reply, "Nope.  Cash flow.  Maybe next month."  Or I would say, "Nope.  It is a want vs. a need.  And I don't need it."  So, now that I can make a financial contribution, that guilt is starting to leave me.  Heck, we were out yesterday, and I ALMOST bought myself a Kelly Rae Roberts piece of art.  I'm still pondering that purchase... it is definitely a "want" here, not a "need".  But I just might go make that purchase today!

3) THE PROJECTS.  CT and I are talking about some BIG projects we want to tackle -- like some additional landscaping in the backyard and finishing the basement.  Our basement is HUGE, and we will have enough room for his man cave (he's talking about a 70-inch flat screen TV, big time surround sound system, etc.) a separate bedroom, a separate storage room, a full bathroom, and of course, a specially designed room for the Scrapbook Cellar.  Maybe next year.

4) A NEW CAR.  Maybe... in the spring.

Now, the CONS:

1) WEEKEND CROWDS.  So, I got very used to do all my errands during the week.  Stores are so much less crowded.  Now, I cram in all those errands into Saturdays, and it sucks.  The stores were NUTS yesterday.  How I miss my quiet weekdays.

2) TIME.  I had so much time on my hands before.  Time to plan and prepare good, healthy dinners.  Time to watch TV (not that I was a big TV watcher before, but there are a couple of regular shows that I watched, and now, they are justing sitting in the DVR waiting to be viewed. About 12 different episodes of a variety of shows.)  Time to chat on the phone with friends.  Time to bake cookies.  Time to read and comment on blogs.  Time to workout 5 days a week.  Now, time is a premium for me. 

3)  KATIE AND ELLA.  This is, by FAR, the hardest part for me.  Bar none.

(Pardon the photo above -- it was taken late last night, and as you can see, we were all exhausted!)  I no longer have my Katie and Ella days during the week.  I got really used to seeing the girls at least a couple of times during the week, either with full days of babysitting or maybe just a few hours here or there.  Now that is gone.  When I told Katie I was going back to work, she said, "Well, Auntie, I am NOT happy about that!"  And Ellie, well I'm not sure she gets it yet.  We had such a good schedule when Ella was a school, and she knew that I picked her up at school once a week, and she would spend the rest of her day with me.  There were even a couple of times this past summer when I was leaving Leanne's house, Ellie would say to me, "Good-bye Auntie.  Pick me up on Tuesday!"  It will be interesting to see what happens this fall when Ellie goes back to school.

So, with all that said, I am so very happy, and SO VERY GRATEFUL to be back at work.  I hope the next three week, three months, three years, are as good as the last three. 

"Can I Tell You What?"

A famous question that is used quite often is, "Guess what?"  This question is really more of a rhetorical question, used when you have something you want to tell someone but really don't expect the person to actually make a GUESS as to what you want to say.  The usual reply to this question is, "What?" 

Well, Katie (my niece) has put a new twist on this question, and every time she says it, it makes me smile.  Her question is, "Can I tell you What?"  She then waits for my reply (which is always, "Yes, honey, tell me what,")  before she proceeds to share her latest thoughts, trials and tribulations, and overall funny things that happen in her life.  Isn't this really a better question to ask than, "Guess what?" 


Me and Katie at Disney


So, given the fact that I haven't written a post in almost a month, I thought I'd borrow Katie's question, "Can I tell you What?" and tell you a few of my WHATS.

• CT and I just returned from a really great trip to Disney World (with Leanne & Co.)   Ok, so we went to Disney last September.  But we REALLY REALLY REALLY needed this get-away, and given the fact that there was a "STAR WARS" weekend at Hollywood Studios, well heck, there was no way CT was going to miss that event.
• I've been slightly encouraged about my job prospectives over the last couple of months.  More responses to my resume AND actual interviews.  I haven't landed anything yet, but I still have interviews in the works.  I MUST REMAIN POSITIVE that something will happen.  Now, if I only didn't watch the news last night, and watch the markets tank this week as a result of some poor reports that were way below analysts' expectations.  Oh yeah, and the job market is going in the wrong direction (again).  Depressing.  BUT I MUST REMAIN POSITIVE. 
• I've been praying for two of my BFFs who have been battling some very serious health challenges (hey PK - do you like how I used the word "challenge" not "problem"?)  While they are both on the road to recovery from their most recent "challenge", prayers are still needed.  Prayers will always be needed...) 
• Summer seems to be in full swing here in Chicago.  Humid and muggy today.  I have no idea what happened to spring, but I was happy to return from Disney to the wonderful scent of my Lilac bushes in full-bloom.  Did you ever stop and just REALLY smell the flowers?  Lilacs are the best.  Truly.
• CT is on another backyard mission.  Apparently, bunny rabbits have been spotted frolicking to-and-fro in our backyard, and CT is afraid they are going to eat our flowers and landscaping.  This morning, I found one such bunny sitting beneath the patio table.  As I looked outside from our patio door, I yelled out to CT, "Hey, there's a bunny on the patio."  CT immediately ran out the patio door, in an attempt to chase the bunny away.  (Really.)  Both CT and the bunny ran to the left (and out of my view).  30 seconds later, along comes said Bunny, now running in the opposite direction.  10 seconds later, CT follows said Bunny.  It was priceless and I wish I had a video camera on hand.

Of course, I have a gazillion more WHATS, but I thought I'd share just a few.  Feel free to share any of your WHATS.  

  

 

 

 

 

Spring Has Sprung!

Well, Spring is FINALLY here.  April was a very rainy month here in the Chicago area, but today we have sunny, blue skies and 65 degree temps.  In honor of spring, I thought I'd share some of our spring photos.

CT filling up his bird feeders for the first time this season.



A backyard project underway.



Phil Guy and CT putting together our new patio set.



Pretty purple flowers, but I forgot the name of this one!



CT still working on his bird feeders.

And a completed feeder!

Tulips.  Gotta love tulips.



Our Robin's nest.  We think the eggs have already hatched, but Momma Robin won't let us get close enough to check it out.


So, that is just a small sample of our spring.  Hope your spring has sprung too!

P.S.  Also in honor of spring, I have a new header for my blog, created by the world famous Leanne (my sister and author of From Chaos Comes Happiness.)  Now that you've seen the spring pictures, you can certainly appreciate the header.  Sis - you nailed this one completely!  It is SOOOOOOOO me and CT!  Thanks!

Unconditional Love

According to Wikipedia, Unconditional Love is a term that means "to love someone regardless of the loved one's qualities or actions."  This morning, I experienced unconditional love, and when I mentioned it to Leanne, she said, "You have to write a post about this!"  So here goes.

For those of you that know me, recently I have been focused on living a more healthy lifestyle.  I joined Weight Watchers in January (with a bunch of my friends), increased my workout routines, and tried to keep a most positive spin on almost everything going on in my life (which is REALLY hard to do since I am still unemployed.)  While I've attempted this many times in the past (as I am sure many of you have), I have been VERY successful at times, and then not-so-successful at other times.  But that is LIFE.  Period.  And in life, you try to learn from your previous successes and failures.  Period.

Anyway, my Weight Watchers meetings are every Saturday morning.  8 a.m. sharp.  When I decided to join Weight Watchers, CT was most supportive, but never pushy.  What I love about CT is that he truly believes that whatever makes me happy will make him happy.  So, if I decided NOT to engage in a a healthy lifestyle, and NOT workout or go to Weight Watchers, he would be ok with that too.

Back to Saturdays... CT and I get up at our usual early morning hour, enjoy our cup of coffee, and then head our separate ways; I go to my Weight Watchers meeting, and he goes to workout.  When I return from my meeting, he is usually already home, waiting for me and excited to hear my good news (aka, results) or maybe not so good news.  If you've ever been challenged with weight loss and healthy eating, you know that some weeks are good, some are bad.  Again, this is LIFE.

So since January, I've had mostly good news to share with CT each Saturday ("Honey, I lost x lbs. this week!")  Last week, I had a great loss, and CT's response to me was, "Honey, that's terrific!  I can hardly see you -- you are melting away before my eyes!"  Ok, we all know that is definitely not the case -- I am NOT melting away before anyone's eyes, but the fact that CT was so encouraging just made my heart feel good.

This week was a "not-so-good" week.  When I came home this morning, CT greeted me and said, "How was your meeting?"  Very frustrated and disappointed, I said, "Not good. I gained one pound."  Sensing my frustration and disappointment, CT paused for a moment, and then said, "Well, I gotta tell you.... that one pound looks TERRIFIC on you, and I LOVE YOU, BABE."   Well, that's all he needed to say to me.  And that, my friends, is unconditional love.


CT


How lucky am I that I truly have someone who loves me unconditionally?  Very lucky.  In fact, everyone should be so lucky.  I hope that you have or find unconditional love in your life, for it is truly the very, very best.  (And if you have any stories of unconditional love, feel free to share!)

Shame On Me

CT and I love going to the picture show (aka, the movies).  While I love a good romantic comedy, CT would rather see a "guy" kinda movie.  We can usually compromise on movies even though I have to nag sweetly convince CT to see a chick flick.  To document our love of movies, I came up with this great idea.  I planned on saving all the ticket stubs for movies that we see in 2011, and then design a couple of scrapbook pages with these ticket stubs.  Good idea, eh?

So, last week we saw, "The King's Speech" (really great movie, by the way.)  When we came home, I tucked the ticket stubs safely next to the kleenex box on the kitchen counter.  My intent was to bring the ticket stubs downstairs to the Scrapbook Cellar for safe-keeping until I was ready to work on the scrapbook pages.  Ok.  No problem. 

Yesterday, we saw "The Fighter" (another great movie.)  As we waited in line for refreshments, I said to CT, "Oh, give me your ticket stub.  I'm saving it."  CT replied, "Saving it?  Why?"  So, I proceeded to tell CT my great scrapbook idea of saving all the ticket stubs for all the movies we see this year.  CT then took a big gulp and said, "Oh, so you were saving the ticket stubs that were on the kitchen counter?"  I said, "Yes."  Another gulp from CT.  "Honey, I'm sorry, I threw those out.  I didn't know you wanted to keep them."

At first, I was absolutely stunned by this news.  Then, I just started to laugh.  Why?  Well, my CT doesn't throw out ANYTHING.  This is a guy who wants to keep EVERYTHING!  For example, we will buy something that comes in a box, use the product, but CT insists on keeping the empty box, "Just in case."  Just in case what?  I have no idea.  The empty box will make its way into the garage, and by the time the garage is full of empty boxes, I'm at my wits-end yelling at CT to just throw out the fricken boxes.  Oh yeah, and speaking of garage, well, this is one place I just close my eyes and ignore the piles of crap stuff that CT has stacked everywhere in there. 

Junk mail in another thing.  Magazines, sales flyers, solicitations, you know the kind.  Well, the junk mail comes in, and CT insists that he wants to read it before I toss it.  Problem is that he will never read the junk mail, and then it will just pile up until I finally just toss it out.

And then there is CT's basket.  CT had a tendency to leave little things everywhere -- his keys, mints, a comb, receipts, gum, etc.  So, I bought a basket and placed it on top of his dresser.  One day the basket became so full, it was spilling out all over the dresser.  So, I wrote a note on a post-it, and taped it to the basket.  That was two years ago.  Here is the basket today.  The note is still taped on the basket.  Stuff still piles out of the basket.

 
How funny is it that CT not only managed to FIND the ticket stubs on the counter, but actually pick them up, look at them, and then walk over to the garbage can and toss them!  Every time I think about this I just laugh and think, "Well, shame on me!"  Shame on me for not sharing my great ticket stub idea with CT sooner.  Shame on me for not taking those ticket stubs down to the Cellar sooner.  Shame on me for doubting that CT would ever want to clean up stuff laying around the kitchen counter (even though he completely overlooked the junk mail that should have been tossed instead of my ticket stubs.)  Yes, shame on me! 

Cutting Him Off

Ok, I am sorry my blog friends, but I have to do it.  I have to cut-off CT.  Cut him off from what, you ask?  Well, here it is.  I'm cutting him off of..... LAUNDRY DETERGENT.

As I've mentioned in previous blogs, CT is truly the very BEST.  I will say, however, that he lacks a few domestic skills (like cooking and cleaning).  He doesn't make much effort in the cooking department (just doesn't have much interest in cooking), and as far as cleaning is concerned, well he can run a mean vacuum around the house, but that is about all. 

Anyway, one household chore that he always offers assistance in is doing the laundry.  Granted, I still have to sort everything out (if he did the sorting, our white socks would be coming out dark gray or pink) but he always offers to take the clothes baskets to the laundry room, and start up the washing machine.  (Personally, I think he just likes to press the buttons on the machine.)

So, the other day I went into the laundry room to start a load of towels, and here is what I found:

In addition to this messy bottle, I found detergent dripped all over the floor in front of the washing machine.  And this is not the first time I've walked in to the laundry room only to find blue spots everywhere.  This time, the bottle was actually stuck to the floor because of the spilled detergent.  Needless to say, I had another mess to clean up.

When I asked CT, "What the heck did you do to this bottle of detergent?" he just shrugged his shoulders and said, "I dunno."  I'm thinking it was in CT's haste of trying to get the laundry started, and not being careful how he was pouring the detergent, that made such a mess.  As much as I appreciate CT's assistance with the laundry, I told him that he was cut-off from using the laundry detergent and starting the washing machine.

Ever since I met CT, my family has told me time and time again how much CT is so much like my dad, Joe.  My dad was a PRO at doing our laundry (laundry was always my dad's thing, not my mom's.)  I do remember there was a time, however, when my mom had to cut my dad off of BLEACH.  Yes, BLEACH.  See, my dad had this thing for using bleach, however, it seems that in his haste to finish the chore, he would drip bleach on clothes that had no business even being NEAR bleach.  After one-to-many clothes were ruined, but mom finally said, "No more bleach!"

So, no more bleach and no more detergent.  Yes, I do agree with my family, CT is very much like my dad.  My dad and CT would have got along great, and I am sorry that they never got to meet each other.  Oh, and as far as doing laundry, CT has NOT been banned from the clothes dryer (well, not yet, anyway!)





 

Our World of Beeps

Did you ever notice how our world is full of beeps?  "Beeps" as in beeping sounds.  I remember when we first moved into our house, CT and I had to get used to a lot of new beeping sounds.  While we expected some of the beeps, others came as a complete surpise and we would look at each other and yell, "What's that beeping?!?"   While there are some beeps that I am OK with, others I find so annoying.  Here are some of the recent beeps in my life...

Good beep - Our coffee pot.  I love the sound of the coffee pot beeping to tell me that my morning coffee has just finished brewing.  It's like it is softly saying to me, "Come and get me, I'm done."  

Bad beep - Cell phones.  Someone's cell phone beeping to let them know that they missed a call and/or have voicemail to be picked up.  Annoying - especially in a restaurant.

Good beep/Bad beep - The smoke detectors.  Yes, I appreciate the fact that the unit will beep when the back-up battery needs to be replaced (if we missed the semi-annual changing-of-the-batteries.)  But why oh why does it have to beep at 2 a.m.?  Then you have to walk around the house in the middle of the night trying to figure out which one is beeping.

Bad beep - The sump pump back-up battery in the basement.  Anytime this thing beeps, it isn't good and I cringed as I go downstairs to investigate the beep.  We got one of those bad beeps over the weekend, which resulted in an unplanned $150 expense (had to buy a new battery.)  Well, I guess buying a new battery is cheaper than having a flooded basement.

Good beep - The oven timer (when the oven is filled with chocolate chip cookies.)  CT tried to be very helpful this past weekend as I experimented with a "healthy" version of a mini chocolate chip cookie.  When the oven timer went off (signaling that the cookies were done,) CT said, "I'll get those out of the oven."  But then, the oven kept beeping... and beeping... and beeping.  I shouted out to him, "Turn off the timer!"  Beep.  Beep.  Beep.  Beep.  Beep.  Beep.  I don't think CT even knew how to turn off the oven timer.  Finally, the timer was silenced and the smell of fresh baked cookies just filled the kitchen.

Good beep/Bad beep - Trucks backing up.  Specifically, snow plow trucks.  I don't mind hearing the sound of the snow plow truck beeping, because I know that the truck is turning around to do another sweep of our street.  But wait a minute -- that means that our driveway, the one that took us more than 30 minutes clear, is now filled with snow again (well, at least the end of the driveway).  I guess I'd rather have a cleaned street, though.

So those were just a few beeps that I've come across in the last week or so.  All pretty normal based on today's standards, and I guess all pretty tolerable.  Feel free to share the beeps in your life.


Google image search found at crazeclub.com

Out With The Old

At midnight tonight, billions of people will be celebrating the end of 2010 and welcoming in the beginning of 2011.  Me and CT... well, I doubt we will stay awake until midnight.  Heck, our goal is to try to stay awake until the East Coast rings in the new year, which occurs at 11 p.m. Chicago time.  (We just celebrate with the New Yorkers.)

So, as the world is saying good-bye to the old (2010) and hello to the new (2011), I will be whispering my own little celebratory chant.  You see, I will be celebrating the tossing out of CT's old pair of worn out bachaboos. 

What are bachaboos?   (Side note - the BACH part is pronounced like the composer's last name Johann Sebastian Bach.  BACH-A-BOOS.)   Bachaboos are slippers, and can be worn indoors or outdoors.  CT's outdoor bachaboos are convienently located by the garage door, and are there for an easily slip-on when CT has to go outside for quick things like getting the mail, picking up the newspaper, taking out the garbage, feeding his birds, getting something out of the garage, etc.  


Left:  new pair of Bachaboos.  Right:  old pair of bachaboos.


Everyone has their favorite "something" that has seen better days and is way past even recycling - be it a favorite shirt (stains and all), a favorite pair of torn jeans, a favorite pair of grungy socks.  For CT, it has been his blue outdoor bachaboos.  I have been begging CT to throw out these bachaboos for the last few years because, 1) they are so worn out that the toes were starting to wear through at the bottom of the slipper, and 2) well... let's just say that they no longer carry that fresh, new, scent they had five years ago.

Every Christmas for the last three or four years, CT has received a new pair of bachaboos as a gift from either me or someone in my family.  Some of the bachaboos have been returned after the Christmas holiday, because, according to CT, they weren't quite "right".  Others became new indoor bachaboos.  None replaced the old blue pair, until this year.  When CT opened the new pair and tried them on, much to my surprise he said, "Ok.  I think these will work.  I'll toss out my old pair."  Wahoo - out with the old, in with the new! 

So, I raise my glass (ok, my cup of coffee this morning) and I welcome you to join me in toasting the old, and welcoming in the new!  From CT and me, we wish you and your loved ones all the very best for the coming new year.  Happy New Year!

A Double Take

As CT and I were driving through the neighborhood this morning, we had to do a "double take" - and then just laughed at what we saw.  Thought I'd share the picture with you (please forgive the poor quality of the photo.)

Yes, a snow-woman complete with a wig, red lips and a bra.  Unfortunately, one of her eyes popped off, but still, it is just too funny.

Our laugh for the day, from me to you.

Schedule Changes & Productive Days

It's the Monday after Christmas, and I hope you've recovered from a weekend of holiday festivities.  For me, today is the start of week #2 of CT's two-week vacation, and I'm still trying to adjust to our new schedule with him being home.

Google Image Search found at urbancubes.com

When CT works, he's up at 4 a.m. each day and out the door by 4:45 a.m.  And because I get up with him too and see him out the door, I get my days started early.  I like getting my days started early and getting the most out of each day - "Productive Days" as I call them.  Yes, I love having productive days.  The downside is that since we are both up at the crack of dawn each day, we crash like babies by 9 p.m.   

I like to tease CT and tell him he cramps my style when he is off from work.  Some days, he does.  Since I've been unemployed, I've developed my own schedule each day (ok, I'm a creature of habit) -- job searching, workout, certain days of cleaning, laundry, errands, babysitting for Katie and Ella, etc., etc, etc.  It seems that when he is home, then my schedule and my good intentions just go out the window.  For example, we've been sleeping in until -- wait for it -- 6 A.M.!!!!  The shame of it!  Heck, when CT works, I am usually at the healthclub working out at 6 a.m.!  Not today, though.

So, we are leisurely enjoying our cup of coffee this morning, and CT has the TV remote control glued to his hand flipping channels.  I'm relaxing on my comfy couch with my laptop, thinking that we really should get our day started.  I've got a list of things that we need to do today, and if we get started now, then we will be sure to have a productive day.  But then again, there are plenty of days to be productive next week.  After all, CT will be back at work, and I'll be back on my regular schedule.  So, until then, I think I'll just let CT cramp my style a little longer.  
 

An Education

In a recent conversation with a very good friend, we discussed our futures, our careers, and the lack of job prospects.  I contemplated with him whether I should return to school for a certification, not really sure whether that would increase my chances of landing a job.  Bill wisely said, "Education is never a bad thing."

So, I've been thinking a lot about that statement (and will probably write more about it later) and while I still haven't made any decisions yet about returning to school, I have begun a continuing education "course" if you will, from my personal instructor, CT.  Yes, CT is educating me on... wait for it.... here goes... using the SNOW BLOWER! 

What can I say, I am a wimp when it comes to machines (like the lawn mower, the leaf blower, the snow blower, etc.) that I know absolutely nothing about, nor do I care to know anything about them.  It's not like I don't have the intelligence to learn how to use these machines (I'm a college-educated woman after all!), it just that I do not have any INTEREST.  Heck, I figured that CT's job.  Since CT doesn't have any interest in learning how to turn on the stove (to cook), then I see no reason why I should learn how to operate the snow blower.  But then, the guilt sets in.  After all, CT works all day long and I am at home.  The least I can do is keep the driveway and sidewalk free from snow so CT doesn't have to do it when he comes home, right?

This morning was a perfect morning for another lesson (my second lesson) on using the snow blower.  About four inches of snow fell overnight, so the driveway had to be cleared.  First, CT shows me how it is done like a pro.  Here he is:

And here:

And here (trying to be funny by throwing snow at me on his already cleared part)

As I mentioned, today was my second lesson.  The first snow blowing lesson was not-so-good.  At the first lesson, I took hold of the two handle-thingies and pressed the grips down tightly (as CT showed me), and all of a sudden, the fricken machine had a mind of its own, and took off pulling me down the driveway!  I could barely stay on my feet as I shouted out "WHOA!!! WHOA!!!! " like I was riding a horse!  I thought for sure I was going to fall on my a _ _ and mess up my one good knee.  Needless to say, it was not a pretty sight. 

Today's lesson went much better.  Here I am, and you can see the look of joy on my face, because I was so thrilled to be using the snow blower (not really). 

So I made it down the driveway, just once, and then I hit the curb at the end of the driveway and yelled for CT to take over.  Yup, I was finished with my second lesson.  I think the third lesson plan will be to learn how to turn the snow blower around in order to come back UP the driveway after making it down to the end of the driveway.  The fourth lesson will be to learn how to START the machine (can't be too difficult, it has an electronic push button start, and I can push a button, right?)  Fifth lesson:  filling the machine with gasoline.  Then hopefully I will graduate from CT's Snow Blowing School.       

  

Well, even though I'm not particularly thrilled to be using the snow blower, I do believe that education is never a bad thing.  Now, about going back to school....

A Shopping Challenge

As we are in the midst of the holiday shopping season, I find myself in good shape with all my Christmas shopping, with the exception of one person:  CT.

Each year I am challenged with what to buy CT for Christmas and his birthday (which is in February).  CT is a guy with pretty simple tastes, wants, and needs; he is definitely NOT a materialistic guy.  Every time I ask him for gift ideas, he very sincerely replies, "I really don't want or need anything, Hon."  Once in a while he throws in, "I got you and that's all that matters", after I frown at the first reply. 

The last big gift I bought CT was about four or five years ago.  Here is the gift:

Yes, a Leg Lamp (from the hilarious and classic movie "A Christmas Story", one of CT's favorite movies.)  If you have ever seen this movie, you understand how absolutely GREAT this lamp is, even though it is a bit "FRAGEELY"! 

So when CT received the Leg Lamp for his birthday one year, he was NOT happy that I spent the money and bought him such an extravagant gift.  (Personally, I did not think it was that extravagant.)  But he came to love the gift, and now each December the lamp is the first decoration CT unpacks.  And yes, it is displayed in the living room window instead of my beautiful Christmas Tree.  He waits to see if our holiday visitors notice the lamp as they drive up to the house, and he loves showing it to everyone.  (Side note:  When Ella saw the lamp for the first time this year, she said, "Auntie, where is the rest of the lady?")  And my beautiful Christmas Tree?  Well, it sits snuggly in the corner of the living room.  

Well, I've got 18 days to come up with a gift or two for CT.  Whatever it is, it will never be as "extravagant" or as funny as the Leg Lamp, and that's ok, because I know CT is truly happy with or without Christmas gifts.  For me, that's all that matters.    

What Makes Me Smile

It's been a week since my last post.  I really haven't had much to say.   The week hasn't been the best for me...  I went through some unemployment blues and am frustrated about the continued poor job market.  Additionally, I am battling a bad knee and I can't get in to see my doc until Monday.  The knee has forced me to hobble around a bit, and I hate it when my mobility is limited.  I'm just used to being active and going and doing.  Still, I do have so much for which to be thankful and grateful, and I still think I'm one of the luckiest people around.  Yes, I remain really happy.  (Big sigh and deep breath....)  And today I had one thing that really made me smile.  Here it is:


Google Image Search found at thetoyreview.com


Yes, Play-Doh makes me smile.  Why?  Because playing with Play-Doh is one of Ella's favorite activities.  Yesterday, Ella and I broke out 12 new containers of Play-Doh, and because Uncle (aka, CT) was off from work yesterday, he joined us.  Here are my two Play-Doh colleagues:

There is nothing like new Play-Doh to brighten one's day.  Fresh, new, bright colors, and that new Play-Doh scent.  (We tossed out all the old "gray" Play-Doh that Ella has mixed together over the last six months.)  Together, Ella and I make all kinds of amazing things with our Play-Doh, but more importantly, we TALK.  Yesterday, we talked about about mommy, about Katie being in school, about Santa Claus, about daddy, about why Uncle should NOT put too much Play-Doh cheese on his Play-Doh pizza (because we all know what too much cheese does to Uncle), about Ellie's new friend Allison, about my knee hurting.  We talked about our trip to Disney and Ella asked CT, "Uncle, what was your favorite part?"  We sang all the latest songs Ella has learned in pre-school (the "Days Of The Week" song, "When You're Happy and You Know It", and of course, the macaroni song, a cute little song that my mom composed.

What started out to be a not-so-good week actually turned out pretty good, because it ended with a smile -- all because of a little Play-Doh.  Something so simple as Play-Doh... and Ella, of course.  Anyway, I hope you find smiles in some of the simplest things too.

  

Happy Anniversary!

Five years ago today, CT and I got married.

Neither one of us was looking to get married.  We were both young 40-somethings living pretty full, single, happy lives.  I had absolutely no interest in getting married, so I think it came as a complete shock to our families when we got engaged after four months of dating.  12 months later we were married.
 
CT and I had a typical Midwest wedding... church (Catholic), bridesmaids, groomsmen, reception with dinner/dance/drink.  CT looked sooooo handsome in his tux, and I loved my dress (although no veil - PLEEEEZE, I was 42 years old, and as I told my mom at the time, I was too old to be wearing a veil and I would look and feel absolutely STUPID.  My mom thought that all first-time brides should wear veils, including me.  Eventually, though, she came around and agreed with me.)

I don't have very many photos to share, because most of my wedding photos are from the wedding photographer, and I don't own a scanner to scan the photos.  (Now, a scanner would make a GREAT anniversary gift!  Oh Honey.....)  Anyway,  I did the next best thing and called Leanne this morning to see what photos she had from the wedding.  Again, most of what she had were professional photos and no scanner to scan the photos.  She managed to find two photos.  Here's what I got:

1) Our feet.  Actually, the feet belong to me, CT, Katie, Phil Guy and Leanne.  And yes, white gym shoes.  For the record, I did wear a lovely pair of high heels during the ceremony, but I wisely changed into brand new gym shoes after the ceremony.  We took this photo right after the ceremony as we were leaving the church.  It is a classic, classic photo.

2) Me and CT (others cropped out of the photo.)  Not the most flattering photo of me with my neck turned, so I took a picture of the cover of our wedding album... here it is

 
We've had the best five years together, and I've never been happier.  It's so very hard to remember my life pre-CT.  It seems like he's always been part of my life.  CT is truly a good man, with the best heart of anyone I know.  I'm one very lucky gal.  Everyone should have their own CT, and I hope you found yours.  

So, to my beloved CT... Happy Anniversary Honey, I love you!  I hope we have at least 50 more!  Now, about that scanner...

Our Protector

Yesterday we had another great Halloween, spent with family and friends at Leanne's house.  Here are just a few family photos (CT, Katie, Ella, me, and Leanne).  Unfortunately, I did not take very many pictures yesterday, but here goes:

Since we were gone from our house during trick-or-treating hours, we left a big bowl of candy on a table by the front door, with a note inviting the visitors to take some candy.   We've done this the last several years, and I must say that the trick-or-treaters that come to our house are very polite - we've never had a problem with pumpkins being smashed outside, or the candy bowl being taken, etc.  In fact, there are always a few pieces of candy remaining in the bowl when we return (not many pieces, but still a few).  This year was no exception, but for some reason, CT thought we needed a "protector" to watch over our house while we were gone yesterday.  Here is a photo of our protector for the evening:

Yes, this is a picture of the outside of our living room window, and yes, that would be Captain Jean-Luc Picard from the television series "Star Trek".  CT inherited Jean-Luc from Leanne's father-in-law, RW.  Over the summer, RW had a big garage sale and when we stopped by his house, CT stumbled upon Jean-Luc.  RW was all too happy to give Jean-Luc a good home, and said to CT, "Take it - it's yours!"  CT thought he just won the lottery.

So, not only did Jean-Luc come to a good home, he was put to good use as our protector.  And all was well at our house on Halloween. 



The Coin Habit

Today I found something that I did not know CT kept.  It was tucked behind some other things in a cabinet.

I found this really cute tin with coins (complete with a separate plastic baggie with coins.)  My first response when I saw this was, "WHAT THE HELL!",  but then I remembered the first time I found this tin, and it made me smile.  Ok, so now here is the story.

When I met CT, we were both established in our careers and we each owned our own home.  So, after a few months of dating, we got engaged and decided to sell his house before we got married.  The house sold quickly, and we were rushed to try to combine two complete households, which is EXTREMELY challenging.  (Boy, I've got to write a post on that topic!)

So, as we went from room to room packing CT's house, I discovered CT's little habit of stashing away loose coins.  You know the kind - just spare change.  Silver dollars and half dollars, quarters, dimes, nickels, pennies.   I found coins EVERYWHERE!  In drawers, closets, cabinets, in lunch bags, tool boxes, shoe boxes, plastic bags, and containers of every imaginable type and size. You name it, he stored coins in it.  As we packed, I continued to find more loose coin.  After a while, I strongly suggested to CT that he pick just one container and one place for his loose coin at his new home. 

But then something else happened.  I started finding loose dollar bills.  I found a stack of brand new $2 bills (remember those?)  Well, I stopped counting that stack at $200.  Oh, and then there were a couple of $50 bills that he received as gifts over the years, and just "forgot" he stashed away for safe keeping.   I finally said to CT, "Enough already.  You cannot continue to hide cash everywhere!  And these coins - what are you going to do with them?  Can you please take them to the bank?"  I think CT was even surprised to see the volume of loose coins he had accumulated, so he quickly agreed.  "Yeah, I'll take those to the bank," he said. 

Moving day came and went, and as promised, CT took his loose coins to the bank.  When he came home, I asked him, "Well, how much coin did you have?"  And he reluctantly mumbled something so inaudible, that I knew something was up.  "How much did you say?"  I repeated the question again, and this time, CT replied, "A little over $800."  What?!?  Yes, CT had over $800 in spare change. 

So until today, I thought CT only had one large glass container that he kept his loose pocket change.  Nope.  He's still hiding coins in this tin.  I guess old habits die hard.  After I took the picture, I returned the tin back to CT's hiding place in the cabinet, and just smiled to myself.  There are certainly worse habits a guy can have, so hiding some loose spare change isn't so bad.

CT still has his stack of $2 bills (this time tucked away in our fireproof safe).  Oh, and my reply to his $800 of coins he took to the bank:  "Hot dog, honey!  I'm upgrading the flowers for the wedding!"  And I did.

Favorites

Here is a list of just a few of my favorite things:

- CT
- chocolate
- Katie & Ella
- a good romantic comedy (aka, a chick flick)
- scrapbooking
- pizza
- my "Favorites" list on my computer...

So, CT and I have two computers... one laptop, one desktop.  Makes sense, right? Two of us, two computers.   Unfortunately, our desktop computer died about a month ago.  At the time we bought it, it was a top-of-the-line Dell, complete with a larger monitor and a six-speaker, surround sound, subwoofer system.  (According to CT, we REALLY REALLY REALLY needed these six speakers when we first bought this computer.  Oh yeah, and I think we've used this surround sound system a total of about a five times in the last five years.  I digress.)

After a little research, we finally bought a new desktop computer (only the tower, because that is all we needed), and I am happy to say that it is up and working, along with Microsoft Office 2010.  This, in and of itself, is a miracle considering CT and I are pretty clueless when it comes to computers.  (And FYI - the big yellow "office" button at the top left on Office 2007 is now gone -- instead, there are now more tabs on Office 2010.)

I did not realize how much I missed having a desktop computer.  I love having a large monitor (my oh my, our blogs looks so much better on a large monitor!) and I love having my wireless, ergonomic keyboard back.  So as I happily clicked away, I automatically clicked on the "Favorites" tab, and low and behold, I saw - nothing.  NOTHING.  Oh no!  A moment of panic.  All my favorite websites and blogs that I visit on a daily basis are gone.  (Actually, not gone, they just don't exist on this new computer.)  All of Ella's favorite games that she plays from Nick Jr. and Barbie websites are gone too (and she knows exactly how to find them all on the "Favorites" tab.)  Heck, it took me a minute to figure out how to even find my own blog.

Having a "Favorites" list on the computer is the equivalent of using a calculator for math calculations.  Use a calculator for math, you forget how to do calculations manually (or become too lazy).  Use your "Favorites" list too often, you forget the actually website addresses to your favorite sites.

So after the Bears football game today, my computer project is to rebuild my "Favorites" list.  After all, why do things manually when the answer can be just one click away!

Home Sweet Home & Star Wars

Well, as my few friends and followers know, we spent the last week at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.  We arrived home late yesterday, completely exhausted but filled with so many great memories.  While we LOVE to travel, we also love coming home.  Yeah, I hate the part of unpacking and doing vacation laundry, but I love the feeling of being back in my own space -- in my own warm, cozy home.

Our vacation was absolutely wonderful.  There is nothing like visiting Walt Disney World and seeing it for the "first time" through the eyes of a three year old (Ella) and a seven year old (Katie.)  Both Leanne and I have many stories to tell of our vacation; here's is just one that I'll share, and it is about my beloved CT.

CT is a fanatic about all-things Sci-fi, specifically, though, Star Wars and Star Trek.  The guy has seen all Star Wars and Star Trek movies at least 100 times, and our DVD library is filled with CT's own personal copies of the movies.  And every time there is a Star Wars or Star Trek movie on TV, CT insists on watching it -- commercials and all -- because, you know, there might be a good part coming up that you don't want to miss.  (Side note:  coming soon, my blog about CT's Star Wars and Star Trek Christmas Tree - stay tuned for that one!)

Anyway, here we are at Disney, browsing around a gift shop, and CT stumbles upon the following:

CT's eyes light up - really big, as he begins to browse through this cookbook.  Yes, a Star Wars Cookbook, featuring "Darth Malt" and more "Galactic Recipes".  It takes but a minute before he is at the cash register making this purchase.  Now, the funny thing about CT making this purchase is that the guy DOES NOT cook - AT ALL!  The poor guy doesn't even know how to boil water!  Yes, my CT is clueless when it comes to the kitchen.   And considering that he was a bachelor until age 43, I wonder how he survived, and my guess is that he survived on cereal, bananas, coffee, and the good graces of his mom (who is a great cook and probably stocked him up with weekly meals.)

So, tonight as I'm taking the photo of CT's new cookbook, I shout out to him, "Hey, do you know that this is Volume II of the Star Wars Cookbook?  That means that there is a Volume I."  And he shouts, back, "WHAT? VOLUME I?"  And then, I hear the click click and tap tap of the keyboard as CT is on-line with Amazon.com searching for Volume I.  Oh yes, he found Volume I, and it is called "Wookies Cookies".  CT yells out, "Oh, I've got to buy this one too!"  So, the non-cook will own two Star Wars cookbooks. 

Anyway, CT has promised me that he will make something for me from his Star Wars cookbooks, and while I'm not going to hold my breath, I'll definitely blog about it should it ever happen!  Yes, it is good to be home.