I spent an amazing weekend with my husband at a spectacular wedding, in a beautiful hotel. We danced, he serenaded me, we had a sublime room, and may or may not have uh oh - how did that fluffy pillow end up in our suitcase?? ;-)
I started a new job today, that I think I love. I think I love my job. I don't think I've ever said that before.
A sweet friend of mine brought tears to my eyes tonight with her apple picking adventures. Click the title of this post to visit her blog and see lots of love and happiness, and some pretty damn good food!
My comment on her Apple Picking '09 blog: "I have never been to an apple orchard. I cannot imagine the heaven that must be. One of these days I'm going to follow in my Grampy's footsteps and pick Cortland apples in Maine in September. Sniff, sniff. I love your stories and photo journalism Lisa. You are truly a blessing."
I have a full life, a one in a million husband, a family that is wonderful and loves me, and loves each other. I am truly blessed.
Char
Monday, September 21, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
September 11th - Remembered
I couldn't find words on September 11th. I noticed that a lot of people couldn't. Can't.
I ran across this photo of a pop-art poster today at another website that I frequent and it moved me. I went ahead and tracked down the owner of the photo. If you are interested, you can buy a copy by clicking the link in the title of this post.
This art was created using the names of all the people who were lost on that sad day.
Charlene
Monday, September 14, 2009
Kidney Stone Endeavor - Not for the squeamish. Really, you've been warned. Graphic details involved.
So I have been posting to facebook about my travails with the kidney stones. I had two, one at 10mm blocking the ureter and one at 5mm in the kidney. Since one was blocking, the doctor decided that I needed to have an ESWL (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy ). This would be to get the 10mm stone blasted up into smaller pieces so it could pass. Thankfully my husband went with me to this appointment when the doctor told me this, and he saw the stones on the CT scan with me, so I knew I wasn't imagining it, and I knew that I actually would have to go through with the ESWL.
I was scared, because my sister told me that after she did it they inserted a stent. That just freaks me out. Really freaks me out. The thought of someone pushing something up into my urethra just well... no.no.no.no.... thump... I can't handle it. I almost passed out when the doctor started talking to me about it.
In order to do this ESWL they put you under general anestheisa, which I wasn't afraid of, because I had the lap band surgery a few years ago. The worst part of that for me was waking up. I had TERRIBLE pain after waking up from that surgery, and the worst cough. The doctor assured me that I should not have that kind of pain after this. Of course I peppered the anethesiologist with lots of questions about the procedure and what they were going to be doing to me. I think it's creepy that you are lying on a table with all your business for the world to see.... anyway. That isn't nearly as weird as being wheeled out to the TRUCK that housed the ESWL machine. It's mobile I guess, and they move it according to which clinic it is needed at. It was definitely a weird experience. Thankfully the doc gave me something to relax before wheeling me back there. J sat with me for as long as they would let him and then they took me away.
They had me climb up onto the bed that had a water mat on it and had me move around until they had me where they wanted me. I remember they put cushions under my legs and I remember thanking them profusely for the comfort they gave me and the pressure it took off my back.
I woke up about an hour or so later in the recovery area and I was pretty chilly... I think they ended up bringing me about 5 or 6 warm blankets. I was also in a bit of pain, which they promptly gave me medicine for. My throat was really, really sore and they brought me some water for that. They said that the doctor had a hard time getting my breathing tube in and out and they gave me some additional medicine with steriods for the throat swelling. The water tasted really good. Unfortunately the pain didn't abate much, and they offered me additional pain meds and I agreed to take them. I would say when I woke up my pain was about a 6 and when they asked me again it was at 3 or 4. Why be in pain if I didn't have to be though.
The doctor came by and told me that I was very lucky. The stone that was in my kidney had exited and snuggled itself right next to the other one, and even though they don't normally do two at a time, since they were right there next to each other, they were able to zap both of them. I am so thankful for that.
In the recovery area, I remember people walking in and out, and I remember the lady next to me was in a TON of pain, they gave her morphine. She was very loud and upset and kept crying that she wanted to go home. I felt bad for her. I also wished she would hush up.
After a very long time, a very sweet lady helped me get dressed again - and showed me the bathroom and asked me to fill up a cup with any pee. It was like a 20 oz foam cup, I was like gee... you are pretty optimistic since i haven't had anything to eat or drink since 11pm the night before. Well apparently the IV fluids went through me pretty good, cause I filled up that cup and some! I was freaking out though, because it was brick red. I guess all the breaking up of the stones was pretty rough inside there. She said it would be fine and they would go ahead and strain it.
They brought me out of the bathroom, got me a warm yummy blanket and put me in a reclining chair with wheels. I was very happy to be sitting upright and knew I was going to be wheeled over to the area when the family comes in. She went and got my husband and then finished up my paperwork. It was so good to see him. I got a big kiss and hug, and I was so thankful that he was able to be there. He and the nurse went through all the paperwork and rec'd the prescriptions for pain meds (Toradol) and we were on our way home.
We stopped to get a little bite to eat at the drive through - Long John Silvers Cheese Curds with marinara - even though I knew I shouldn't eat that crap, i was craving it and I was starving dammit. So I had some, and promply threw it up.
Later at home I think I had some soup or macaroni and cheese or something. I really don't remember. We dropped off the RX and J went out to get it later on. That night I think I slept ok, and made sure to lie on the opposite side of my stones. This was hard for me, because I like to sleep on my left side to start. It worked out ok. I was dead tired.
The next day was pretty rough. The meds were not really cutting the pain. It occured to me that they gave me Lortab elixir while I was at the surgery center, so it should be ok for me to take the Lortabs that I had at home from earlier. I took one and it was wonderful... for a while. I had to take another one. That night, nothing helped. I thought I was going to freaking die. The pain was so bad. If you can imagine knives scraping through your urethra/pee hole, from under your ribs, all the way to between your legs. Then alcohol running over that. It's ridiculous pain. The toradol AND the lortab didn't even come near covering up this pain. I asked J to call Summer at around 11:30 desperate for some kind of relief. Poor J, I was screaming in pain and crying like a two year old that just lost their lollipop. It was not gratuitous, it was real and true screaming pain. Summer suggested that i get in the hot tub, and also put the heating pad between my legs, and drink lots of water... LOTS LOTS LOTS of water. I tried everything, the heating pad helped the most. I also took another lortab and eventually drifted to sleep in the wee hours... like 4 am.
The bitch about drinking lots of water is that it pushes the gravel / stones through which HURTS. It's the only way to get rid of it though. I seriously wonder if the stent would have been better. At least I wouldn't have to feel every little grain that goes through there. You feel every grain too, let me tell you.
The next morning I called the doctor and requested him to call in a RX for lortab liquid. I remembered that that helped my pain significantly at the surgery center, and knew I had had it before after the lap band surgery. Fortunately, he prepared the RX, my sister picked it up from his office and dropped it off at Walgreens, and finally J picked it up from the pharmacy and brought it home to me that night.
This isn't the impetus for me writing all this down though. The last straw came today. I had constipation. This is only the second time in my whole life that I have had this nasty little problem. I had it once before a few weeks ago after a bout with the flu. I tried all the normal things, enema, suppository, magnesium citrate, correctol... nothing really seemed to help. I guess it must have been mostly gas, because I never really eliminated anything worthy of all the discomfort I was feeling, even after all of that medicine.
Today though, was different. Today was awful. I had a feeling I was in trouble earlier in the day when I tried to go number two for about 20 minutes and nothing came out. I knew there was business to be done though. I KNEW there was... but nothing productive was happening, and it was really uncomfortable. I gave it some thought and decided to take one correctol pill. Thinking that would soften things up and get me moving. I really don't know if that was a good idea or not, later on, I had a very strong urge to go. I brought the kitten, and both phones in the bathroom with me, because I had a feeling I was going to be in there for a while. I was not wrong.
******************** Squeamish do not read any further ******************************
********************Seriously, I'm not kidding ***************************************
I was able to push, but nothing was coming out. I had very strong urges, but it just seemed like mission impossible.
It occured to me that I was going to have to do the unthinkable.
Funny enough, I went through this with the baby kitten a few weeks ago when I took him to the vet for the first time. He was constipated and they rubbed his bottom with KY and moved it around. They ended up taking the end of a thermometer and kind of moving it inside and around the edge of his butt so that it would free up what was inside.
I didn't know what else to do... I didn't even know that there was a name for this until I looked it up later. Manual disimpaction.
Really. I had to do that and it didn't help at first, but I couldn't stop trying to go, because the correctol had taken over my bowels and something was going to happen one way or another. I tried again with the manual disimpaction. I have to tell you that this is thoroughly disgusting, and I hope I never have to do it again. BUT it worked. It worked finally and I was so happy, and so exhausted after.
My rear still hurts, and so does my left side. I'm learning new things every day with this.
I'm especially being vigilant about staying hydrated.
Someone mentioned that the opiates in the lortab may have contributed to the constipation. I kind of shrugged that off, but now I'm sure it probably had a hand in it. I'm trying to be careful here, because I don't want to be on any of these meds longer than I have to. I've already ditched the Toradol, because well the "information sheet" on that scares the living hell out of me. I'm instead sticking to the RX for ibuprofen, and the lortab elixir.
I was up and even cooked breakfast for myself this morning. I also made some turtle brownies from a box. They were good. It felt good to be in the kitchen again.
The pain is kind of a dull ache at the moment, and I'm getting a little sleepy.
According to my little strainer, I'm still passing gravel. According to what I have read online it could take anywhere from a week to a month or longer to pass all the gravel. Please say a prayer for me that it is sooner rather than later, and no more constipation!
Char
I was scared, because my sister told me that after she did it they inserted a stent. That just freaks me out. Really freaks me out. The thought of someone pushing something up into my urethra just well... no.no.no.no.... thump... I can't handle it. I almost passed out when the doctor started talking to me about it.
In order to do this ESWL they put you under general anestheisa, which I wasn't afraid of, because I had the lap band surgery a few years ago. The worst part of that for me was waking up. I had TERRIBLE pain after waking up from that surgery, and the worst cough. The doctor assured me that I should not have that kind of pain after this. Of course I peppered the anethesiologist with lots of questions about the procedure and what they were going to be doing to me. I think it's creepy that you are lying on a table with all your business for the world to see.... anyway. That isn't nearly as weird as being wheeled out to the TRUCK that housed the ESWL machine. It's mobile I guess, and they move it according to which clinic it is needed at. It was definitely a weird experience. Thankfully the doc gave me something to relax before wheeling me back there. J sat with me for as long as they would let him and then they took me away.
They had me climb up onto the bed that had a water mat on it and had me move around until they had me where they wanted me. I remember they put cushions under my legs and I remember thanking them profusely for the comfort they gave me and the pressure it took off my back.
I woke up about an hour or so later in the recovery area and I was pretty chilly... I think they ended up bringing me about 5 or 6 warm blankets. I was also in a bit of pain, which they promptly gave me medicine for. My throat was really, really sore and they brought me some water for that. They said that the doctor had a hard time getting my breathing tube in and out and they gave me some additional medicine with steriods for the throat swelling. The water tasted really good. Unfortunately the pain didn't abate much, and they offered me additional pain meds and I agreed to take them. I would say when I woke up my pain was about a 6 and when they asked me again it was at 3 or 4. Why be in pain if I didn't have to be though.
The doctor came by and told me that I was very lucky. The stone that was in my kidney had exited and snuggled itself right next to the other one, and even though they don't normally do two at a time, since they were right there next to each other, they were able to zap both of them. I am so thankful for that.
In the recovery area, I remember people walking in and out, and I remember the lady next to me was in a TON of pain, they gave her morphine. She was very loud and upset and kept crying that she wanted to go home. I felt bad for her. I also wished she would hush up.
After a very long time, a very sweet lady helped me get dressed again - and showed me the bathroom and asked me to fill up a cup with any pee. It was like a 20 oz foam cup, I was like gee... you are pretty optimistic since i haven't had anything to eat or drink since 11pm the night before. Well apparently the IV fluids went through me pretty good, cause I filled up that cup and some! I was freaking out though, because it was brick red. I guess all the breaking up of the stones was pretty rough inside there. She said it would be fine and they would go ahead and strain it.
They brought me out of the bathroom, got me a warm yummy blanket and put me in a reclining chair with wheels. I was very happy to be sitting upright and knew I was going to be wheeled over to the area when the family comes in. She went and got my husband and then finished up my paperwork. It was so good to see him. I got a big kiss and hug, and I was so thankful that he was able to be there. He and the nurse went through all the paperwork and rec'd the prescriptions for pain meds (Toradol) and we were on our way home.
We stopped to get a little bite to eat at the drive through - Long John Silvers Cheese Curds with marinara - even though I knew I shouldn't eat that crap, i was craving it and I was starving dammit. So I had some, and promply threw it up.
Later at home I think I had some soup or macaroni and cheese or something. I really don't remember. We dropped off the RX and J went out to get it later on. That night I think I slept ok, and made sure to lie on the opposite side of my stones. This was hard for me, because I like to sleep on my left side to start. It worked out ok. I was dead tired.
The next day was pretty rough. The meds were not really cutting the pain. It occured to me that they gave me Lortab elixir while I was at the surgery center, so it should be ok for me to take the Lortabs that I had at home from earlier. I took one and it was wonderful... for a while. I had to take another one. That night, nothing helped. I thought I was going to freaking die. The pain was so bad. If you can imagine knives scraping through your urethra/pee hole, from under your ribs, all the way to between your legs. Then alcohol running over that. It's ridiculous pain. The toradol AND the lortab didn't even come near covering up this pain. I asked J to call Summer at around 11:30 desperate for some kind of relief. Poor J, I was screaming in pain and crying like a two year old that just lost their lollipop. It was not gratuitous, it was real and true screaming pain. Summer suggested that i get in the hot tub, and also put the heating pad between my legs, and drink lots of water... LOTS LOTS LOTS of water. I tried everything, the heating pad helped the most. I also took another lortab and eventually drifted to sleep in the wee hours... like 4 am.
The bitch about drinking lots of water is that it pushes the gravel / stones through which HURTS. It's the only way to get rid of it though. I seriously wonder if the stent would have been better. At least I wouldn't have to feel every little grain that goes through there. You feel every grain too, let me tell you.
The next morning I called the doctor and requested him to call in a RX for lortab liquid. I remembered that that helped my pain significantly at the surgery center, and knew I had had it before after the lap band surgery. Fortunately, he prepared the RX, my sister picked it up from his office and dropped it off at Walgreens, and finally J picked it up from the pharmacy and brought it home to me that night.
This isn't the impetus for me writing all this down though. The last straw came today. I had constipation. This is only the second time in my whole life that I have had this nasty little problem. I had it once before a few weeks ago after a bout with the flu. I tried all the normal things, enema, suppository, magnesium citrate, correctol... nothing really seemed to help. I guess it must have been mostly gas, because I never really eliminated anything worthy of all the discomfort I was feeling, even after all of that medicine.
Today though, was different. Today was awful. I had a feeling I was in trouble earlier in the day when I tried to go number two for about 20 minutes and nothing came out. I knew there was business to be done though. I KNEW there was... but nothing productive was happening, and it was really uncomfortable. I gave it some thought and decided to take one correctol pill. Thinking that would soften things up and get me moving. I really don't know if that was a good idea or not, later on, I had a very strong urge to go. I brought the kitten, and both phones in the bathroom with me, because I had a feeling I was going to be in there for a while. I was not wrong.
******************** Squeamish do not read any further ******************************
********************Seriously, I'm not kidding ***************************************
I was able to push, but nothing was coming out. I had very strong urges, but it just seemed like mission impossible.
It occured to me that I was going to have to do the unthinkable.
Funny enough, I went through this with the baby kitten a few weeks ago when I took him to the vet for the first time. He was constipated and they rubbed his bottom with KY and moved it around. They ended up taking the end of a thermometer and kind of moving it inside and around the edge of his butt so that it would free up what was inside.
I didn't know what else to do... I didn't even know that there was a name for this until I looked it up later. Manual disimpaction.
Really. I had to do that and it didn't help at first, but I couldn't stop trying to go, because the correctol had taken over my bowels and something was going to happen one way or another. I tried again with the manual disimpaction. I have to tell you that this is thoroughly disgusting, and I hope I never have to do it again. BUT it worked. It worked finally and I was so happy, and so exhausted after.
My rear still hurts, and so does my left side. I'm learning new things every day with this.
I'm especially being vigilant about staying hydrated.
Someone mentioned that the opiates in the lortab may have contributed to the constipation. I kind of shrugged that off, but now I'm sure it probably had a hand in it. I'm trying to be careful here, because I don't want to be on any of these meds longer than I have to. I've already ditched the Toradol, because well the "information sheet" on that scares the living hell out of me. I'm instead sticking to the RX for ibuprofen, and the lortab elixir.
I was up and even cooked breakfast for myself this morning. I also made some turtle brownies from a box. They were good. It felt good to be in the kitchen again.
The pain is kind of a dull ache at the moment, and I'm getting a little sleepy.
According to my little strainer, I'm still passing gravel. According to what I have read online it could take anywhere from a week to a month or longer to pass all the gravel. Please say a prayer for me that it is sooner rather than later, and no more constipation!
Char
Friday, September 4, 2009
CHAROLOGY
I know i've done this one before.... if I had any ambition, I'd check the two and see if anything's changed...
CHAROLOGY
***********FOODOLOGY***************
What is your salad dressing of choice?
Blue Cheese
What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
Squid Lips
What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
Crab
What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Sausage and Mushroom
What do you like to put on your toast?
Egg yolk from an over medium egg, butter, orange marmalade
***********TECHNOLOGY***************
How many televisions are in your house?
4
What color is your cellphone?
Black
Do you have an iPod?
No
***************BIOLOGY******************
Are you right-handed or left-handed?
righty
Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
yes
What is the last heavy item you lifted?
Zoe Lynn yesterday
Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
I don’t think so
************BULLOLOGY**************
If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
NO
If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
I like my name
Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
Uh no.
**************FAVORITOLOGY****************
Season?
Fall
Holiday?
My Birthday
Day of the week?
Saturday
Month?
November
***********CURRENTOLOGY*****************
Missing someone?
No
Mood?
OK
What are you listening to?
The hum of the quiet house
Current worry?
Kidney stones
***************RANDOMOLOGY*****************
First place you went this morning?
My chair in the living room
What's the last movie you saw?
Duplicity
***************OTHER-OLOGY*****************
How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
I dunno… a few
Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
Don’t remember
Last person you talked to?
Mom
Last person you hugged?
John
Do you always answer your phone?
No
It's four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
CNN.com
If you could change your eye color what would it be?
Maybe green or blue
Do you own a digital camera?
Yes, a few
Have you ever had a pet fish?
yep
Favorite holiday song(s)?
Carol of the bells, Silent night
What's on your wish list for your birthday?
A trip
Can you do push ups?
I doubt it
Can you do the splits?
Yeah
Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
Excited
Do you have any saved texts?
Yeah, I never delete them
Have you ever been in a car accident?
yes
Do you have an accent?
no
What is the last movie to make you cry?
I don’t remember
Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
Yes
Name 3 things you bought yesterday?
Twizzlers, Steaks, Tamales
Have you ever been given roses?
Yes
Met someone who changed your life?
Yes
How will you bring in the New Year?
Hopefully sleeping in my bed
What song represents you?
I dunno
Name two people who might complete this?
Michelle and Kathy
Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?
No, I don’t want to F with that.
Have you ever dated someone longer than a year?
Yes
Do you have any tattoos/piercings?
Ears are pierced, that’s it
Does anyone love you?
Yes
Would you be a pirate?
Arrr – no, I don’t want a bird pooping down my back.
What songs do you sing in the shower?
I don’t sing in the shower
Ever had someone sing to you?
Yes, my husband sings to me and I love it
When did you last cry?
On Tuesday when the doctor was freaking me out.
Do you like to cuddle?
Oh yes!
Have you held hands with anyone today?
Yes
Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Stubbs
Are most of the friends in your life new or old?
New
Do you like pulpy orange juice?
Not as big of a fan as I used to be
Char
CHAROLOGY
***********FOODOLOGY***************
What is your salad dressing of choice?
Blue Cheese
What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
Squid Lips
What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
Crab
What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Sausage and Mushroom
What do you like to put on your toast?
Egg yolk from an over medium egg, butter, orange marmalade
***********TECHNOLOGY***************
How many televisions are in your house?
4
What color is your cellphone?
Black
Do you have an iPod?
No
***************BIOLOGY******************
Are you right-handed or left-handed?
righty
Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
yes
What is the last heavy item you lifted?
Zoe Lynn yesterday
Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
I don’t think so
************BULLOLOGY**************
If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
NO
If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
I like my name
Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
Uh no.
**************FAVORITOLOGY****************
Season?
Fall
Holiday?
My Birthday
Day of the week?
Saturday
Month?
November
***********CURRENTOLOGY*****************
Missing someone?
No
Mood?
OK
What are you listening to?
The hum of the quiet house
Current worry?
Kidney stones
***************RANDOMOLOGY*****************
First place you went this morning?
My chair in the living room
What's the last movie you saw?
Duplicity
***************OTHER-OLOGY*****************
How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
I dunno… a few
Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
Don’t remember
Last person you talked to?
Mom
Last person you hugged?
John
Do you always answer your phone?
No
It's four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
CNN.com
If you could change your eye color what would it be?
Maybe green or blue
Do you own a digital camera?
Yes, a few
Have you ever had a pet fish?
yep
Favorite holiday song(s)?
Carol of the bells, Silent night
What's on your wish list for your birthday?
A trip
Can you do push ups?
I doubt it
Can you do the splits?
Yeah
Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
Excited
Do you have any saved texts?
Yeah, I never delete them
Have you ever been in a car accident?
yes
Do you have an accent?
no
What is the last movie to make you cry?
I don’t remember
Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
Yes
Name 3 things you bought yesterday?
Twizzlers, Steaks, Tamales
Have you ever been given roses?
Yes
Met someone who changed your life?
Yes
How will you bring in the New Year?
Hopefully sleeping in my bed
What song represents you?
I dunno
Name two people who might complete this?
Michelle and Kathy
Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?
No, I don’t want to F with that.
Have you ever dated someone longer than a year?
Yes
Do you have any tattoos/piercings?
Ears are pierced, that’s it
Does anyone love you?
Yes
Would you be a pirate?
Arrr – no, I don’t want a bird pooping down my back.
What songs do you sing in the shower?
I don’t sing in the shower
Ever had someone sing to you?
Yes, my husband sings to me and I love it
When did you last cry?
On Tuesday when the doctor was freaking me out.
Do you like to cuddle?
Oh yes!
Have you held hands with anyone today?
Yes
Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Stubbs
Are most of the friends in your life new or old?
New
Do you like pulpy orange juice?
Not as big of a fan as I used to be
Char
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Memories of food
My Paternal Great-Grandmother (Grandma Wood) would always bring boxes and boxes of Entenmann’s baked goods tied with string from the outlet store where she would stop on her way to our house. My favorite was the chocolate covered doughnuts. I loved them straight from the freezer, which is where she stored them when we went to her house.
Grandma always had a big glass cookie jar* on her countertop with her homemade sugar cookies in there. I can’t remember ever going to her house without those cookies being there. They were the best after a long day swimming in the pool! She must have made thousands of those cookies!
My paternal grandmother (Nana) would always burn her cookies when she would bake them, she always made chocolate chip cookies, and she always burned them. She wouldn’t throw them out either, she said they were perfectly good. I remember taking a butter knife to the bottom of them. They still tasted burnt. Her cookies are probably the reason I still don't like chocolate chip cookies much to this day. Nana made the best eggplant parmesan ever though.
My maternal grandfather (Grampy) would always take us to McDonalds for Chicken Nuggets when they came to town to visit.
When we went to Grampy and Grammie’s house, we would always be sure to time the trek so we would be in time for breakfast! Grampy made the best fried eggs! Along with Bacon, sausage patties, home fries and baked beans. The homemade toasted bread was the icing on the breakfast. Grammie always had a Tupperware container in the fridge filled with all different jars of jams and jellies.
One little weird thing about me is that I have always loved my eggs over medium, but I don’t like to eat the white that is immediately around the yolk. I would cut the edges of the white off and eat those, and then I would open the top of the egg and dip the yolk with my toast, and I would leave the middle on my plate. Grampy always used to eat it up for me so Grammie wouldn’t yell at me for leaving it. Nowadays, my tummy doesn’t like me to eat the egg whites at all. Fortunately, my husband will eat them sometimes. It’s funny because if he doesn’t I feel like I am being wasteful. I think it’s so sweet that he eats them like Grampy used to
My dad used to go diving a lot when we were young. Pretty much every weekend during the late spring and all summer we had the fruits of his labor. They would come home with enough fish to cover the front lawn. My mom would fry it up with just simple seasoned flour and Crisco. That fish was to die for. It was so good, I would sometimes wake up in the night and eat it cold from the zip bag. Then there was the conch that she made into fritters, or that dad made into conch salad. Plenty of hushpuppies. Fresh corn on the cobb. Florida lobster – they would bring dozens of them home during the season. One year we spent a week in the keys on a houseboat and we actually got sick of lobster. I never thought that would ever be possible. I’d like to do that again!
I loved going to Aunt JoJo’s house with her luxurious air conditioning and she would make honey mustard chicken, or our very favorite Chicken Cordon Bleu. I even ate calves liver coated in oatmeal at her house once that was very tasty.
Charlene
*When Grandma passed away, all of us girls got one of the cookie jars in the set. I also inherited her dining room set, where our family ate meals at her table for more than 40 years.
Grandma always had a big glass cookie jar* on her countertop with her homemade sugar cookies in there. I can’t remember ever going to her house without those cookies being there. They were the best after a long day swimming in the pool! She must have made thousands of those cookies!
My paternal grandmother (Nana) would always burn her cookies when she would bake them, she always made chocolate chip cookies, and she always burned them. She wouldn’t throw them out either, she said they were perfectly good. I remember taking a butter knife to the bottom of them. They still tasted burnt. Her cookies are probably the reason I still don't like chocolate chip cookies much to this day. Nana made the best eggplant parmesan ever though.
My maternal grandfather (Grampy) would always take us to McDonalds for Chicken Nuggets when they came to town to visit.
When we went to Grampy and Grammie’s house, we would always be sure to time the trek so we would be in time for breakfast! Grampy made the best fried eggs! Along with Bacon, sausage patties, home fries and baked beans. The homemade toasted bread was the icing on the breakfast. Grammie always had a Tupperware container in the fridge filled with all different jars of jams and jellies.
One little weird thing about me is that I have always loved my eggs over medium, but I don’t like to eat the white that is immediately around the yolk. I would cut the edges of the white off and eat those, and then I would open the top of the egg and dip the yolk with my toast, and I would leave the middle on my plate. Grampy always used to eat it up for me so Grammie wouldn’t yell at me for leaving it. Nowadays, my tummy doesn’t like me to eat the egg whites at all. Fortunately, my husband will eat them sometimes. It’s funny because if he doesn’t I feel like I am being wasteful. I think it’s so sweet that he eats them like Grampy used to
My dad used to go diving a lot when we were young. Pretty much every weekend during the late spring and all summer we had the fruits of his labor. They would come home with enough fish to cover the front lawn. My mom would fry it up with just simple seasoned flour and Crisco. That fish was to die for. It was so good, I would sometimes wake up in the night and eat it cold from the zip bag. Then there was the conch that she made into fritters, or that dad made into conch salad. Plenty of hushpuppies. Fresh corn on the cobb. Florida lobster – they would bring dozens of them home during the season. One year we spent a week in the keys on a houseboat and we actually got sick of lobster. I never thought that would ever be possible. I’d like to do that again!
I loved going to Aunt JoJo’s house with her luxurious air conditioning and she would make honey mustard chicken, or our very favorite Chicken Cordon Bleu. I even ate calves liver coated in oatmeal at her house once that was very tasty.
Charlene
*When Grandma passed away, all of us girls got one of the cookie jars in the set. I also inherited her dining room set, where our family ate meals at her table for more than 40 years.
Friday, August 21, 2009
When one door closes, another opens
How interesting that is.
Of course, you can never see the forest for the trees when you are in the situation.
Ok. Ok. I'll stop with the cliches.
Even though I knew it was best and I really was relieved at the time, losing my job really sucked. You know, the process of it. Having them call you into the "office". Having them ask for your keys. Realizing that you have to take 8 boxes of crap out of your office and put it where? Giving your fish that lived on your desk to your sister for her desk, so her daughter can say hi when she visits the Castle! Seeing your sister's face as she walks by the "office" - knowing that she knows. Thinking about how great it has been to work with her for 8 years and with some of the others for nearly 13. Having people walk by and say goodbye. Thinking about the fact that you won't get the sweet little annual christmas story card anymore - cause well that girl was laid off too. Waking up the next day and not having to go to work, but feeling like a loser. Trying to navigate the paperwork coming at you. Worrying about the amount of money in the bank.
Of course, you can never see the forest for the trees when you are in the situation.
Ok. Ok. I'll stop with the cliches.
Even though I knew it was best and I really was relieved at the time, losing my job really sucked. You know, the process of it. Having them call you into the "office". Having them ask for your keys. Realizing that you have to take 8 boxes of crap out of your office and put it where? Giving your fish that lived on your desk to your sister for her desk, so her daughter can say hi when she visits the Castle! Seeing your sister's face as she walks by the "office" - knowing that she knows. Thinking about how great it has been to work with her for 8 years and with some of the others for nearly 13. Having people walk by and say goodbye. Thinking about the fact that you won't get the sweet little annual christmas story card anymore - cause well that girl was laid off too. Waking up the next day and not having to go to work, but feeling like a loser. Trying to navigate the paperwork coming at you. Worrying about the amount of money in the bank.
(Image by Daquella Manera via flickr)
I felt down and out. It was a terrible blow to my self esteem.
Lo.... I'm here to tell you, things can turn around for the better sometimes faster than you think.
One person's kindness, that leads to another's kindness, that leads to giving you the opportunity to put yourself out there again.
The taste of knowing that you still have it - nothing sweeter.
C
(Nevermind in less than 30 days. Mwah!)
Lo.... I'm here to tell you, things can turn around for the better sometimes faster than you think.
One person's kindness, that leads to another's kindness, that leads to giving you the opportunity to put yourself out there again.
The taste of knowing that you still have it - nothing sweeter.
C
(Nevermind in less than 30 days. Mwah!)
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Clams two ways
We went out for dinner and sort of a business meeting the other day to Bunky's in Melbourne. They are known for their raw clams and oysters. Luckily it was oyster night, so we got some. I am partial to raw clams, so we got some of those too. The oysters were ok, some of them were a little odd looking. Almost like they were frozen before, but I cannot imagine they are. The other person we were with said that every other one of hers were icky.
The clams however were teh awesome. They were small, briny, sweet and succulent. Now, as a lap band girl, I have issues eating sometimes. Usually the clams are no probelm though. Not so that night. I could.not.keep.them.down. Very annoying. So clams two ways. There you have it ;-)
C
The clams however were teh awesome. They were small, briny, sweet and succulent. Now, as a lap band girl, I have issues eating sometimes. Usually the clams are no probelm though. Not so that night. I could.not.keep.them.down. Very annoying. So clams two ways. There you have it ;-)
C
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Friend or Foe
Life is funny. Sometimes you think you have a friend and they go and stab you in the back. That has happened to me a lot. You could say that I'm pretty gun shy when making friends. Heck, if I'm being honest. I don't trust a whole lot of people. Like I can probably count them on one hand.
It occured to me today that sometimes you just have to take a chance. I'm taking chance on another friend again. Even though she has hurt me badly. I'm taking a chance.
Sometimes you just have to put your neck out there.
C
It occured to me today that sometimes you just have to take a chance. I'm taking chance on another friend again. Even though she has hurt me badly. I'm taking a chance.
Sometimes you just have to put your neck out there.
C
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Another Day
It's Tuesday. That's what the calendar tells me anyway.
I thought I would feel bad today, but I don't. J and I had a good talk last night, and we have plans for more talking. Just like anything else, this is only a temporary setback.
I really, really, REALLY wish my mom was home. She's out of town and it sucks. J mentioned that he wished she was home last night too and I lost it.
What is it about moms that make you just burst into tears. It happens to all three of us girls. We can be just holding it together by a thread, but we ARE holding it together, and someone mentions mom, or she calls, or we see her... and the dam is broken.
It's even more heartening knowing that he wants her here too.
I haven't started my actual to-do list for the day, but I did read through all of my work/severance paperwork and I have a lot of questions to ask HR.
My main goal today is to find some money somewhere so I'm not afraid to go grocery shopping.
C
I thought I would feel bad today, but I don't. J and I had a good talk last night, and we have plans for more talking. Just like anything else, this is only a temporary setback.
I really, really, REALLY wish my mom was home. She's out of town and it sucks. J mentioned that he wished she was home last night too and I lost it.
What is it about moms that make you just burst into tears. It happens to all three of us girls. We can be just holding it together by a thread, but we ARE holding it together, and someone mentions mom, or she calls, or we see her... and the dam is broken.
It's even more heartening knowing that he wants her here too.
I haven't started my actual to-do list for the day, but I did read through all of my work/severance paperwork and I have a lot of questions to ask HR.
My main goal today is to find some money somewhere so I'm not afraid to go grocery shopping.
C
Guilty or Innocent?
RULE 1You can only say Guilty or Innocent .
RULE 2You are not allowed to explain anything unless someone comments and asks.
Now, here's what you're supposed to do... and please do not spoil the fun. Copy and paste this into a post, delete my answers, and type in your answers. Then see what happens.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asked someone to marry you?
Innocent
Danced on a table in a bar?
Innocent
Ever told a lie?
Guilty
Had feelings for someone whom you can't have?
Guilty
Ever kissed someone of the same sex?
Guilty
Kissed a picture?
Guilty
Slept in until 5 PM?
Guilty
Fallen asleep at work/school?
Guilty
Held a snake?
Guilty
Worked at a fast food restaurant?
Guilty
Stolen from a store?
Innocent
Been fired from a job?
Innocent
Done something you currently regret?
Innocent
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose?
Guilty
Caught a snowflake on your tongue?
Innocent
Kissed in the rain?
Guilty
Kissed someone you shouldn't?
Guilty
Sang in the shower?
Innocent
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on?
Guilty
Shaved your head?
Innocent
Slept with no clothes?
Guilty
Had a boxing membership?
Innocent
Made a boyfriend/girlfriend cry?
Guilty
Been in a band?
Innocent
Shot a gun?
Innocent
Donated blood?
Innocent
Eaten alligator meat?
Guilty
Eaten cheesecake?
Guilty
Still love someone you shouldn't?
Innocent
Have/ had a tattoo?
Innocent
Liked someone, but will never tell who?
Innocent
Been too honest?
Guilty
Ruined a surprise?
Guilty
Ate in a restaurant and got really bloated that you can't walk afterwards?
Innocent
Erased someone in your friends list?
Guilty
Dressed in a woman's clothes (if your a guy) or man's clothes (if your a girl)?
Guilty
Joined a pageant?
Guilty
Been told that you're handsome or beautiful by someone who totally meant what they said?Guilty
Dated Someone?
Guilty
Got totally drunk one night and you have an important exam tomorrow morning?
Innocent
A total stranger treat you by paying your bus fare?
Innocent
Got totally angry that you cried so hard?
Guilty
RULE 2You are not allowed to explain anything unless someone comments and asks.
Now, here's what you're supposed to do... and please do not spoil the fun. Copy and paste this into a post, delete my answers, and type in your answers. Then see what happens.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asked someone to marry you?
Innocent
Danced on a table in a bar?
Innocent
Ever told a lie?
Guilty
Had feelings for someone whom you can't have?
Guilty
Ever kissed someone of the same sex?
Guilty
Kissed a picture?
Guilty
Slept in until 5 PM?
Guilty
Fallen asleep at work/school?
Guilty
Held a snake?
Guilty
Worked at a fast food restaurant?
Guilty
Stolen from a store?
Innocent
Been fired from a job?
Innocent
Done something you currently regret?
Innocent
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose?
Guilty
Caught a snowflake on your tongue?
Innocent
Kissed in the rain?
Guilty
Kissed someone you shouldn't?
Guilty
Sang in the shower?
Innocent
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on?
Guilty
Shaved your head?
Innocent
Slept with no clothes?
Guilty
Had a boxing membership?
Innocent
Made a boyfriend/girlfriend cry?
Guilty
Been in a band?
Innocent
Shot a gun?
Innocent
Donated blood?
Innocent
Eaten alligator meat?
Guilty
Eaten cheesecake?
Guilty
Still love someone you shouldn't?
Innocent
Have/ had a tattoo?
Innocent
Liked someone, but will never tell who?
Innocent
Been too honest?
Guilty
Ruined a surprise?
Guilty
Ate in a restaurant and got really bloated that you can't walk afterwards?
Innocent
Erased someone in your friends list?
Guilty
Dressed in a woman's clothes (if your a guy) or man's clothes (if your a girl)?
Guilty
Joined a pageant?
Guilty
Been told that you're handsome or beautiful by someone who totally meant what they said?Guilty
Dated Someone?
Guilty
Got totally drunk one night and you have an important exam tomorrow morning?
Innocent
A total stranger treat you by paying your bus fare?
Innocent
Got totally angry that you cried so hard?
Guilty
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sad Day
I'm really sad today. Losing my job has had the ultimate implication in my life.
Realized just this morning.
I can't provide for a child if I don't have a job.
I'm so very sad today.
C
Realized just this morning.
I can't provide for a child if I don't have a job.
I'm so very sad today.
C
Sunday, July 26, 2009
After a long time
I've decided to come back to blogger, although I've never really posted anything here, it has been a placeholder of sorts. I'm going to finally consolidate everything here. You know, I will have a lot of time on my hands I guess.
I was laid off last Tuesday 7/21/09. My dad's birthday.
This is going to be a long row to hoe.
Char
I was laid off last Tuesday 7/21/09. My dad's birthday.
This is going to be a long row to hoe.
Char
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Missing - from my spaces.live blog
Missing
Thursday, July 02, 2009, 7:01:18 AM
I've been missing here. I guess I wanted to give Shauna the time to be on the front page where she belongs. I still miss her terribly.
I started another blog - determined I was going to say the truth there. I never wrote another word there. Well I haven't yet anyway.
I do want to say this. I'm missing a friend today very much. I found this friend around two years ago today.... lost the friend a few months later, and I'm sorry I did. I miss you, friend.
Charlene
Thursday, July 02, 2009, 7:01:18 AM
I've been missing here. I guess I wanted to give Shauna the time to be on the front page where she belongs. I still miss her terribly.
I started another blog - determined I was going to say the truth there. I never wrote another word there. Well I haven't yet anyway.
I do want to say this. I'm missing a friend today very much. I found this friend around two years ago today.... lost the friend a few months later, and I'm sorry I did. I miss you, friend.
Charlene
Monday, March 16, 2009
My Angel Went to Heaven Today - from my spaces.live blog
Monday, March 16, 2009, 11:15:01 PM
Shauna is gone :'-(
She left us today around 4:30pm. She was very brave.
She went to heaven with lots of mommy's tears on her little head.
She had lost another pound, and had stopped eating this morning. It was time.
I know I won't feel like this forever, by my heart feels broken tonight.
Thanks to everyone for their thoughts, prayers, hugs and kisses.
Please give your pets an extra squeeze from Aunt CharChar tonight.
Char
Comments (1)
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Shauna I know - from my spaces.live blog
Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 10:07:30 PM
The Shauna I know.
There are so many things that I am going to miss about my little girl. I call her little… well she is now, but she was always the biggest of the bunch. She weighed over 14 lbs a year ago in May… now she weighs nine.
I am going to miss how she would come to bed each night and snuggle. She loved to climb up onto my hip once I got comfortable, or on my butt if I was laying on my tummy. She would knead for a few seconds an then stretch out and get comfy. I’m going to miss how she would love to get right up on the pillow and lick and chew your hair.
I will miss how she acted like a dog with her little mice. I would pull one out from the headboard of the bed, make sure my legs were safe, and ask her if she was going to get the mouse…. Then I would throw it into the living room and she would run after it, pick it up in her tiny mouth and carry it back to the bed to play some more.
I will miss her little meow, it sounds like reant-reant. It’s adorable.
I will miss her pretty, pretty face. A lot of people over the years have called her ugly, have said she looked like a burn victim, they have said lots of things, and I always say no… she’s unique and beautiful. She won my heart from the moment I saw her on my birthday over 10 years ago. Never mind the fact that she made me sneeze immediately, and when we got her home we found out that she had worms and dandruff and diarreah. LOL. We kept her and got her all patched up and she was part of the family.
Squeak didn’t think so though. Poor little Squeak got sick right after we brought her home. She pulled through though. We nursed Squeak back to health over three long months of IV fluids, antibiotics and tube feedings of ensure and Metamucil.
I will miss how Shauna came running when the can opener was going, and how she is the only one in the house who liked the tuna juice. I will miss sharing my hearts of palm with her. She thought that was the best treat in the world. I just dug a jar out tonight and fed her some. I think she was in heaven.
I don’t know what I’m going to do with the extra sink in the bathroom now. I almost cry when I walk in there. I am still keeping water in the sink, even though she hasn’t been in there in two months. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to just let the water drain.
All three of my girls have been here for me through a lot these past few years. There was many a night, I came home and cried on their shoulders.
I love Shauna dearly, and it’s getting so close to the end now. I just had to put a few more things down on paper.
Thanks to everyone for their thoughts, prayers, kind words and stories. It means so much to me.
Char
The Shauna I know.
There are so many things that I am going to miss about my little girl. I call her little… well she is now, but she was always the biggest of the bunch. She weighed over 14 lbs a year ago in May… now she weighs nine.
I am going to miss how she would come to bed each night and snuggle. She loved to climb up onto my hip once I got comfortable, or on my butt if I was laying on my tummy. She would knead for a few seconds an then stretch out and get comfy. I’m going to miss how she would love to get right up on the pillow and lick and chew your hair.
I will miss how she acted like a dog with her little mice. I would pull one out from the headboard of the bed, make sure my legs were safe, and ask her if she was going to get the mouse…. Then I would throw it into the living room and she would run after it, pick it up in her tiny mouth and carry it back to the bed to play some more.
I will miss her little meow, it sounds like reant-reant. It’s adorable.
I will miss her pretty, pretty face. A lot of people over the years have called her ugly, have said she looked like a burn victim, they have said lots of things, and I always say no… she’s unique and beautiful. She won my heart from the moment I saw her on my birthday over 10 years ago. Never mind the fact that she made me sneeze immediately, and when we got her home we found out that she had worms and dandruff and diarreah. LOL. We kept her and got her all patched up and she was part of the family.
Squeak didn’t think so though. Poor little Squeak got sick right after we brought her home. She pulled through though. We nursed Squeak back to health over three long months of IV fluids, antibiotics and tube feedings of ensure and Metamucil.
I will miss how Shauna came running when the can opener was going, and how she is the only one in the house who liked the tuna juice. I will miss sharing my hearts of palm with her. She thought that was the best treat in the world. I just dug a jar out tonight and fed her some. I think she was in heaven.
I don’t know what I’m going to do with the extra sink in the bathroom now. I almost cry when I walk in there. I am still keeping water in the sink, even though she hasn’t been in there in two months. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to just let the water drain.
All three of my girls have been here for me through a lot these past few years. There was many a night, I came home and cried on their shoulders.
I love Shauna dearly, and it’s getting so close to the end now. I just had to put a few more things down on paper.
Thanks to everyone for their thoughts, prayers, kind words and stories. It means so much to me.
Char
Monday, March 9, 2009
My baby girl (kitty) is very, very, very sick - from my spaces.live blog
My baby girl (kitty) is very, very, very sick
Monday, March 09, 2009, 9:19:27 PM
I am beside myself with grief and I just have to vent. One of my three kitties is very sick. I saw the Vet on Saturday and she says she will be gone within the next 1-4 weeks. She has lost 5 pounds in the last few months, 2.5 within the last month alone. Her anemia numbers went from 29 to 14 in two weeks.
They think she has cancer. I am preparing myself to say goodbye to her. I'm giving her lots of treats, and lots of brushing, her favorite things. She purrs like crazy, and she is still moving, though not very much. She has taken up residence on my husband's desk, and he has kindly moved his stuff to the kitchen bar so she can spread out. She comes down and lays in the kitchen with her head hanging over the water bowl and that's the extent of her movements for the last two months.
She was our greeter, if you were two feet tall or 6 feet tall, she would welcome you with meows and leg weaving. She was always in the middle of the action and she would come to check on the other two when they get into tussles.
She loved to hang out in my bathroom. She had her own sink in there, it's never been used for anything other than her water bowl (there are two). She would hang out with me in there and it was her lair. She hasn't been in there in quite a long time now.
I'm going to miss her when she's gone, all I can do is try to make the most of my time with her now.
C
Comments (1)
Monday, March 09, 2009, 9:19:27 PM
I am beside myself with grief and I just have to vent. One of my three kitties is very sick. I saw the Vet on Saturday and she says she will be gone within the next 1-4 weeks. She has lost 5 pounds in the last few months, 2.5 within the last month alone. Her anemia numbers went from 29 to 14 in two weeks.
They think she has cancer. I am preparing myself to say goodbye to her. I'm giving her lots of treats, and lots of brushing, her favorite things. She purrs like crazy, and she is still moving, though not very much. She has taken up residence on my husband's desk, and he has kindly moved his stuff to the kitchen bar so she can spread out. She comes down and lays in the kitchen with her head hanging over the water bowl and that's the extent of her movements for the last two months.
She was our greeter, if you were two feet tall or 6 feet tall, she would welcome you with meows and leg weaving. She was always in the middle of the action and she would come to check on the other two when they get into tussles.
She loved to hang out in my bathroom. She had her own sink in there, it's never been used for anything other than her water bowl (there are two). She would hang out with me in there and it was her lair. She hasn't been in there in quite a long time now.
I'm going to miss her when she's gone, all I can do is try to make the most of my time with her now.
C
Comments (1)
Sunday, February 15, 2009
A survey for those who are a little older... - from my spaces.live blog
A survey for those who are a little older...
Sunday, February 15, 2009, 3:43:00 PM
Tired of all of those surveys made up by high school kids?! "Have you ever kissed someone?'' "Missed someone?'' "Told someone you loved them?'' "Drank alcohol?"...49 questions for the people who are a little older:
What bill do you hate paying the most?
Car Insurance
Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
Raglan Road
What do you really want to be doing right now?
Playing Animal Crossing - City Folk
How many colleges did you attend?
One
Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
It matched the jeans and shoes I wanted to wear.
What are your thoughts on gas prices?
Highway Robbery
First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
Surprisingly, we didn’t set an alarm this morning.
Last thought before going to sleep last night?
Complete and utter bliss.
Do you miss being a child?
Sometimes.
What errand/chore do you despise?
Cleaning the kitchen
Get up early or sleep in?
Sleep in for sure
Favorite lunch meat?
Boars Head Deluxe Ham
What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?
Usually the only reason I set foot in Wal-Mart is to pick up a prescription
Beach or lake?
Beach
Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
Definitely not
Do you own property?
Yes
Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?
10 things I hate about you
Sopranos or Desperate Housewives?
Desperate Housewives
What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Julia Roberts
Have you ever crashed your vehicle?
Not this one, yet.
Ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
No, thank goodness.
Ring Tone?
Sunnyday
Do you have a teddy bear?
Eayp
Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
With bottled water on the side of the road
Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?
San Francisco
Do you go to church?
No, but I want to, never seem to make the time
At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or a new relationship?
Career
How old are you? ..
Today is the 8th… I’m thirty-mfrahdicfhhauud$%^&*()_
Do you have a "go to" person?
Hmmm. Yes. Several depending on the situation.
Best memory of your first love?
Walking through the neighborhood hand in hand
Best memory of current/last love?
Everyday we make wonderful memories
Are you where you want to be in life?
No, I have a few more things I want to do
Growing up, what was your favorite cartoon?
Tom & Jerry
What about you do you think has changed the most?
My attitude about life
Looking back at high school were they the best years of your life
Hell no
Are there times you still feel like a kid?
No
What was a “fad” you remember from your childhood?
Guess! Jeans
Did you ever have Troll dolls?
Maybe one or two
Did you have a pager?
Never
Where was the hang out spot when you were a teenager?
81st Street Beach
Were you the type of kid you would want your children/friends children to hang out with?
Yeah
Who and what do you think impacted your life the most?
My parents
Was there a teacher or authority figure that stood out for you?
Mr. DuBosq and Mr. Griffin
Do you tell stories that start with “when I was your age”?
Not yet, but I’m sure I will
Do you wish you stayed in contact with anyone?
Sometimes
When did you start feeling like you were getting old?
When I turned 30
Would you change any of it if you could?
No, because I wouldn’t be where/who I am today.
Charlene
Sunday, February 15, 2009, 3:43:00 PM
Tired of all of those surveys made up by high school kids?! "Have you ever kissed someone?'' "Missed someone?'' "Told someone you loved them?'' "Drank alcohol?"...49 questions for the people who are a little older:
What bill do you hate paying the most?
Car Insurance
Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
Raglan Road
What do you really want to be doing right now?
Playing Animal Crossing - City Folk
How many colleges did you attend?
One
Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
It matched the jeans and shoes I wanted to wear.
What are your thoughts on gas prices?
Highway Robbery
First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
Surprisingly, we didn’t set an alarm this morning.
Last thought before going to sleep last night?
Complete and utter bliss.
Do you miss being a child?
Sometimes.
What errand/chore do you despise?
Cleaning the kitchen
Get up early or sleep in?
Sleep in for sure
Favorite lunch meat?
Boars Head Deluxe Ham
What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?
Usually the only reason I set foot in Wal-Mart is to pick up a prescription
Beach or lake?
Beach
Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
Definitely not
Do you own property?
Yes
Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?
10 things I hate about you
Sopranos or Desperate Housewives?
Desperate Housewives
What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Julia Roberts
Have you ever crashed your vehicle?
Not this one, yet.
Ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purpose?
No, thank goodness.
Ring Tone?
Sunnyday
Do you have a teddy bear?
Eayp
Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
With bottled water on the side of the road
Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?
San Francisco
Do you go to church?
No, but I want to, never seem to make the time
At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or a new relationship?
Career
How old are you? ..
Today is the 8th… I’m thirty-mfrahdicfhhauud$%^&*()_
Do you have a "go to" person?
Hmmm. Yes. Several depending on the situation.
Best memory of your first love?
Walking through the neighborhood hand in hand
Best memory of current/last love?
Everyday we make wonderful memories
Are you where you want to be in life?
No, I have a few more things I want to do
Growing up, what was your favorite cartoon?
Tom & Jerry
What about you do you think has changed the most?
My attitude about life
Looking back at high school were they the best years of your life
Hell no
Are there times you still feel like a kid?
No
What was a “fad” you remember from your childhood?
Guess! Jeans
Did you ever have Troll dolls?
Maybe one or two
Did you have a pager?
Never
Where was the hang out spot when you were a teenager?
81st Street Beach
Were you the type of kid you would want your children/friends children to hang out with?
Yeah
Who and what do you think impacted your life the most?
My parents
Was there a teacher or authority figure that stood out for you?
Mr. DuBosq and Mr. Griffin
Do you tell stories that start with “when I was your age”?
Not yet, but I’m sure I will
Do you wish you stayed in contact with anyone?
Sometimes
When did you start feeling like you were getting old?
When I turned 30
Would you change any of it if you could?
No, because I wouldn’t be where/who I am today.
Charlene
Yeah, so ok. - from my spaces.live blog
Yeah, so ok.
Sunday, February 15, 2009, 3:37:47 PM
I am utterly annoyed right now.
I hope everyone that is going to the Daytona 500 today has a great time.
I won't be there.
C
Comments (0)
Sunday, February 15, 2009, 3:37:47 PM
I am utterly annoyed right now.
I hope everyone that is going to the Daytona 500 today has a great time.
I won't be there.
C
Comments (0)
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Let the party begin! - From spaces.live
February 08
Let the party begin!
The birthday festivites have officially started. I had a fabulous lunch at Siam Orchid (www.mysiamorchid.com ) today with a few gals from work, Flower-Sister, Mr. Gamer - her husband, pumpkin (their daughter) and peanut (the two week old nephew).
I got to hold pumpkin for an extended period of time, and I informed her mother that she would have to refill her with sugar 'cause I stole all she had with her .
Peanut was tiny and precious and as a bonus he didn't spit up on me.
Lunch was delish... I got the volcano chicken. And the salad. Love that place.
The company was WAY better though.
(happy sigh)
C
12:58 PM
Permalink
Life
Let the party begin!
The birthday festivites have officially started. I had a fabulous lunch at Siam Orchid (www.mysiamorchid.com ) today with a few gals from work, Flower-Sister, Mr. Gamer - her husband, pumpkin (their daughter) and peanut (the two week old nephew).
I got to hold pumpkin for an extended period of time, and I informed her mother that she would have to refill her with sugar 'cause I stole all she had with her .
Peanut was tiny and precious and as a bonus he didn't spit up on me.
Lunch was delish... I got the volcano chicken. And the salad. Love that place.
The company was WAY better though.
(happy sigh)
C
12:58 PM
Permalink
Life
Friday, January 9, 2009
Totally Random - from my spaces.live blog
Totally Random
Friday, January 09, 2009, 8:17:21 AM
Coincidence?
John has been going through some stuff from one of his TWO storage units. In one of the most recent boxes, he brought home a bottle of Joy dish soap. The same bottle that I bought at the store just two days before. The same brand that I buy whenever I go to the store and stand in front of all the dishsoap choices we have these days.
I think it is so funny we have SO much in common. Down to the dishsoap ;-)
When I was little….
When I was in Seventh grade I got my hair cut short – REALLY short. I hated it and thought I looked like a boy. I’d never had my hair cut short before, and I never have since. Sometimes I wonder how I’d look with short hair though… then I remember that awful haircut.
Random
Sneaky kids scare me.
Was I a sneaky kid?
Yeah.
Heh.
Comments (2)
Friday, January 09, 2009, 8:17:21 AM
Coincidence?
John has been going through some stuff from one of his TWO storage units. In one of the most recent boxes, he brought home a bottle of Joy dish soap. The same bottle that I bought at the store just two days before. The same brand that I buy whenever I go to the store and stand in front of all the dishsoap choices we have these days.
I think it is so funny we have SO much in common. Down to the dishsoap ;-)
When I was little….
When I was in Seventh grade I got my hair cut short – REALLY short. I hated it and thought I looked like a boy. I’d never had my hair cut short before, and I never have since. Sometimes I wonder how I’d look with short hair though… then I remember that awful haircut.
Random
Sneaky kids scare me.
Was I a sneaky kid?
Yeah.
Heh.
Comments (2)
Of a night out - from my spaces.live blog
Of a night out
Friday, January 09, 2009, 8:15:54 AM
Last night was a pretty spectacular night. Nothing extra fancy, or anything, it’s just that we had a nice night out. We went to Meg O’Malley’s, one of our favorite watering holes, to have a leisurely dinner and John had a few Stella’s. They have Stella Artois on draft here, and it is his very favorite beer. They also serve it in cold glasses, which doesn’t hurt at all. Our favorite Sissy*, Jen took care of us, and we ate at the bar.
I ordered the Parliament bean soup – which is only .18. It was delicious! I also ordered the clam strip appetizer, John ordered some wings and a crab and shrimp cake appetizer. I had coffee and water, and John had Stella.
Now we don’t go here for the food. Sure the food is tasty, and some of the menu items are Irish themed. (Except last night I noticed they had Cod Cobbler on the menu, and that totally grossed me out). No, we come here for the ambiance, and the camraderie, and from here on out, Mondays are going to be Meg nights. It wasn’t so packed you couldn’t hear yourself think, there was no live music. It was brilliant! The best part is that we actually talk to each other. We laugh and giggle and carry on, and Jen comes and checks on us and laughs with us. Last night I was watching a little floozy on the other side of the bar get schnockered on some kind of fruity drink, and I had a hankering for fruit punch, so Jen whipped some up for me. It was delicious!
We had a great night, and I look forward to going back again.
Comments (0)
Friday, January 09, 2009, 8:15:54 AM
Last night was a pretty spectacular night. Nothing extra fancy, or anything, it’s just that we had a nice night out. We went to Meg O’Malley’s, one of our favorite watering holes, to have a leisurely dinner and John had a few Stella’s. They have Stella Artois on draft here, and it is his very favorite beer. They also serve it in cold glasses, which doesn’t hurt at all. Our favorite Sissy*, Jen took care of us, and we ate at the bar.
I ordered the Parliament bean soup – which is only .18. It was delicious! I also ordered the clam strip appetizer, John ordered some wings and a crab and shrimp cake appetizer. I had coffee and water, and John had Stella.
Now we don’t go here for the food. Sure the food is tasty, and some of the menu items are Irish themed. (Except last night I noticed they had Cod Cobbler on the menu, and that totally grossed me out). No, we come here for the ambiance, and the camraderie, and from here on out, Mondays are going to be Meg nights. It wasn’t so packed you couldn’t hear yourself think, there was no live music. It was brilliant! The best part is that we actually talk to each other. We laugh and giggle and carry on, and Jen comes and checks on us and laughs with us. Last night I was watching a little floozy on the other side of the bar get schnockered on some kind of fruity drink, and I had a hankering for fruit punch, so Jen whipped some up for me. It was delicious!
We had a great night, and I look forward to going back again.
Comments (0)
Of New Beginnings - from my spaces.live blog
Of New Beginnings
Friday, January 09, 2009, 8:01:17 AM
So this survey materialized on facebook on about Dec 30, and I was just too lazy to do it there, so...
1) Was 2008 a good year for you?
2008 was the worst year ever for my work life, and the best year ever for my home life. How insane is that?
2) What was your favorite moment of the year?
My wedding day!
3) What was your least favorite moment of the year?
Any number of days spent walking on eggshells at work, one day in particular was a complete – full on – meltdown of someone I really respect and admire.
4) Where were you when 2008 began?
At home! Yeah!
5) Who were you with?
My husband to be.
6) Where will you be when 2008 ends?
I was in bed.
7) Who will you be with when 2008 ends?
I was with my wonderful husband.
8) Did you keep your new years resolution of 2008?
I didn’t make any resolutions. Why set yourself up for failure?
9) Do you have a new years resolution for 2009?
Nah. I have some goals, but no resolutions.
10) Did you fall in love in 2008?
I fell in love in 2007, and our love grew stronger in 2008.
11) If yes, with who?
John
12) If yes, do they know?
Oh yes..
13) Are you still in love with them?
More and more each day.
14) Do you regret it?
Absoulutely not!
15) Did you breakup with anyone in 2008?
Nope.
16) Did you make any new friends in 2008?
Definitely.
17) Who are your favorite new friends?
Kim & Terri.
18) What was your favorite month of 2008?
November – purely personal. It was a cluster-f**k of a month for work though.
19) Did you travel outside of USA in 2008?
Yes, we took a honeymoon cruise to Haiti, Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Mexico. We also went on a cruise to the Bahamas in April.
20) How many different places did you travel to in 2008?
Quite a few.
21) Did you lose anybody close to you in 2008?
Thank goodness, no.
22) Did you miss anybody in the past year?
Of course..
23) What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2008?
Batman: The Dark Knight.
24) What was your favorite song from 2008?
The Way I am – Ingrid Michaelson.
25) What was your favorite record(s) from 2008?
Hmmm I dunno.
26) How many concerts did you see in 2008?
1. Morrissey..
27) Did you have a favorite concert in 2008?
Well I only saw the one…
28) Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2008?
Yeah, I did.
29) Did you do a lot of drugs in 2008?
No.
30) How many people did you sleep with in 2008?
Only one.
31) Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Yes, on some days my behavior has been less than stellar.
33) What was the worst lie someone told you in 2008?
There was nothing so obviously bad and painful that it sticks out, thank goodness.
34) Did you treat somebody badly in 2008?
At work, I'm sure I did. Likely after they were assholes to me first.
35) Did somebody treat you badly in 2008?
Yes. Unbelievably so.
36) How much money did you spend in 2008?
Good grief, more than I should have.
37) What was your proudest moment of 2008?
Getting engaged on the beach at night.
38) What was your most embarrassing moment of 2008?
Hm, a spat at work.
39) If you could go back in time to any moment of 2008 and change something, what would it be?
I don’t want to change anything. It all happened for a reason..
40) What are your plans for 2009?
Striving to do the best I can at my job, my personal life.
Char
Comments (0)
Friday, January 09, 2009, 8:01:17 AM
So this survey materialized on facebook on about Dec 30, and I was just too lazy to do it there, so...
1) Was 2008 a good year for you?
2008 was the worst year ever for my work life, and the best year ever for my home life. How insane is that?
2) What was your favorite moment of the year?
My wedding day!
3) What was your least favorite moment of the year?
Any number of days spent walking on eggshells at work, one day in particular was a complete – full on – meltdown of someone I really respect and admire.
4) Where were you when 2008 began?
At home! Yeah!
5) Who were you with?
My husband to be.
6) Where will you be when 2008 ends?
I was in bed.
7) Who will you be with when 2008 ends?
I was with my wonderful husband.
8) Did you keep your new years resolution of 2008?
I didn’t make any resolutions. Why set yourself up for failure?
9) Do you have a new years resolution for 2009?
Nah. I have some goals, but no resolutions.
10) Did you fall in love in 2008?
I fell in love in 2007, and our love grew stronger in 2008.
11) If yes, with who?
John
12) If yes, do they know?
Oh yes..
13) Are you still in love with them?
More and more each day.
14) Do you regret it?
Absoulutely not!
15) Did you breakup with anyone in 2008?
Nope.
16) Did you make any new friends in 2008?
Definitely.
17) Who are your favorite new friends?
Kim & Terri.
18) What was your favorite month of 2008?
November – purely personal. It was a cluster-f**k of a month for work though.
19) Did you travel outside of USA in 2008?
Yes, we took a honeymoon cruise to Haiti, Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Mexico. We also went on a cruise to the Bahamas in April.
20) How many different places did you travel to in 2008?
Quite a few.
21) Did you lose anybody close to you in 2008?
Thank goodness, no.
22) Did you miss anybody in the past year?
Of course..
23) What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2008?
Batman: The Dark Knight.
24) What was your favorite song from 2008?
The Way I am – Ingrid Michaelson.
25) What was your favorite record(s) from 2008?
Hmmm I dunno.
26) How many concerts did you see in 2008?
1. Morrissey..
27) Did you have a favorite concert in 2008?
Well I only saw the one…
28) Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2008?
Yeah, I did.
29) Did you do a lot of drugs in 2008?
No.
30) How many people did you sleep with in 2008?
Only one.
31) Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Yes, on some days my behavior has been less than stellar.
33) What was the worst lie someone told you in 2008?
There was nothing so obviously bad and painful that it sticks out, thank goodness.
34) Did you treat somebody badly in 2008?
At work, I'm sure I did. Likely after they were assholes to me first.
35) Did somebody treat you badly in 2008?
Yes. Unbelievably so.
36) How much money did you spend in 2008?
Good grief, more than I should have.
37) What was your proudest moment of 2008?
Getting engaged on the beach at night.
38) What was your most embarrassing moment of 2008?
Hm, a spat at work.
39) If you could go back in time to any moment of 2008 and change something, what would it be?
I don’t want to change anything. It all happened for a reason..
40) What are your plans for 2009?
Striving to do the best I can at my job, my personal life.
Char
Comments (0)
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