it's finally here !

My encyclopedia of food values has arived ! I am thrilled to have this handy resource back in my hands because I do not want to guess when it comes to a loved ones health whether he has really had twenty grams of carbs for dinner or forty. Now if I can only get a doctor , dietition, or another medical person to give me exact numbers. I can cook and am not stupid so telling me that if he tells you what he likes to eat, for a small fee, you will make him a meal plan, doesn't cut it. How about I pay teh fee and you tell me how many grams ( or a range)of protein, carbs, caleries, fats and everything else he should be eating and I will use these numbers to figure out my own plan with fresh meats vegitables, and other nutricious foods that are so much better for him than the processed crap that you suggest I " heat up" for his meals. Perhaps you see "urging" people to eat this processed garbage as job security.... but I'm not buying it !

Just tired

These last few days have been rainy, which always puts me into nap mode. My middle school ( & High school too) chemistry teacher once explained that it had something to do with the ozone during a storm or something, but regardless of the reason,I have been tired. Add to this that this is the week which Mike has been forced on afternoon turn, OK he was not really forced but he was pushed to be trained to operate a machine and the operator works afternoon, so it was a if you want the OT that comes with cross training, you play by our rules kind of thing. Anyway so lets recap ( because otherwise I will loose my train of thought and start talking about who knows what) The weather is rainy and my schedule is upside down. OK now add to this that yesterday was my Mom's birthday and just happened to be the day that my nephew's boy scout troop was having a spaghetti dinner. Because I do not eat spaghetti and Mike's diet restricts it, we did not go but I did send and pay for Michael as to not hold back support. Anyway, Mom & Dad, and several other relatives went to this dinner and even though the scouts gave Mom her own small cake,I baked her her favorite, German chocolate and was planning on taking it to her house after the dinner where we could all celebrate after. Unfortunately, Michael's car had an issue ( thankfully all seems fine now) on his way from the dinner back to my parents house so this threw a wrench into our plans. In the end it all worked out though we didn't eat until later and were later getting home. Once home Mike had a couple messages from people who needed computer help so he had to touch base with them and we were late going to bed. This morning we had the yearly conference for Robby's speech evaluation so we were there before school. Then it was rush here and there, order sushi for lunch, pack mike's Dinner lunch and he headed to work. The kids got home from school, I fed them and then ran some errands before falling asleep for an hour that I shouldn't have. Now I should be getting ready for bed but am wide awake, which would be OK but Mike is working over . So this assures that i will be up half of the night then just fall asleep before Mike gets home and the kids get up for school, and then it will start all over. So tell me, does anyone know how to stop the world while they catch up on sleep ????????? If so please call me and if I don't answer.... I'm probably sleeping so leave a message .

Happy Birthday Mom !!!!!!!

In honor of Mom's 67th birthday,I found this picture. Happy Birthday Mom !( MOm is on the left)

Don't get it !

Yesterday evening as I drove home from an errand I heard on the radio about a local school who had a lock down . It seems that while checking lockers, the Police found that twenty some students ( grade 6 to 12) had marijuana in their lockers. As if this was not news worthy enough the real news was that these students only received ten days suspension. The DJ was commenting that this little slap on the wrist was ridiculous for possession of an illegal drug, not to mention on school property. Though I was amazed at such a light punishment I didn't think much of it until I got home to where my own teens were talking about the lock down at their schools.In talking to them I found out that yesterday was actually known as marijuana day(having no drug related experience, myself, I was amazed that there was such a day) and that it was customary for every public school ( at least in our area) to have a lock down while the local Police brought in drug sniffing dogs to check lockers and cars in the parking lot. "Did you guys know there was going to be a lock down ?" I asked to which the boys replied "yes". So, perhaps I am missing something here but if someone is addicted to or dealing marijuana and is told that at such and such a date their locker and car will be searched for it, would these people really be stupid enough to have said marijuana( or other illegal drug)in said locker or car ?Obviously these people were. Now don't get me wrong, I realize that doing drugs is not smart to begin with but come on.... this is a new level of stupidity ! According to my research ( OK talking to high school kids) on this day, for years, lock downs are a given, so these kids know it is coming. Is it just a big game to "try to fool the cop dog" ? or have these illegal drugs just fried the brain beyond reasonable thought ? Either way parents of other students in these schools are outraged( as would I be) and have filed a law suite against the school to force the ten day suspension to expulsion. Their premise is that other students should not be forced to be exposed to criminals ( possession is a criminal offense)in school. As a Mother of teens, I would have to say that I agree but more than that.... where are these parents????????? If I found any illegal substance in my child's possession, they would not be physically able to go back to school in ten days when I got done with them. I am amazed that other parents don't feel the same. Honestly I would love to be inside of these parents heads. Lets see.... first of all your into illegal activity and then you are arrogant enough about it to parade it around when you know you'll get caught.... Wow.... where did your stupidity come from ! Furthermore,as far as the ten day slap on the wrist........ makes me wonder if the principal has his own stash ! You know somethings I just don't get. Maybe I'm missing something but I just don't get it !

six weeks and a day post op........ I made it !!!!!!

I seen the doctor this morning and he said that everything looks great. He lifted all restrictions and encouraged me to slowly start to go back to normal activities. Slowly, I asked, How does a man deprived of food for forty two days( yes I counted the days)slowly start to eat ? Though he seemed amused by my analogy( either that or was grinning while trying to find a way to ship me off to a not so well liked colleague) I got no answer. What I decided to do was to pick the things that I have missed most and go back to them.Then I will just fit in other things as time allows. So I think that I will go home and cook dinner using some of my heavier pots and pans, lifting each all by myself. Then after dinner perhaps a little unrestricted alone time with Hubby followed by a long hot soak in a bubble bath... Yep life is getting good !

Happy tax day everyone !

Did you all file your taxes????? I E-filed yesterday... nothing like waiting till the end !

six weeks post surgery

Today is my six week post surgery date. Though I do not see the doctor until tomorrow, I anticipate him taking away all of my restrictions at my appointment. Though there have been moments , like when I was cooking potatoes to mash and Cindy left and Mike and Michael were looking at something on Michael's car, and the potatoes finished cooking and needed drained before water logging and I was all alone considering if I should just pick up the pan or not, it seemed like forever until I got to this six week mark . Now that it is here, however, it seems like it were such a short time. On my last visit ( four weeks ago) the Doctor asked if I was ( so far) glad that I had the procedure and honestly, though I can not say for sure until I see how normal daily life goes, I really do think that I am happy. Since Mike and I were very adamant about only having the uterus, which had attached itself to my abdominal wall, removed and even though it caused more work for the doctor, keeping everything else, I do not expect any day to day changes. If my expectations are true, I will be very happy with this decision. That being said,I just wanted to encourage my friends who find themselves putting off procedures, be it the same or different, to just go for it. I spent years avoiding this procedure and it only got worse. I remember laying in the hospital post op and thinking.... If only I had listened years ago. Oh well that is all under the bridge now. Come tomorrow I will move on and boy am I ready !

Dilema

Mike's blood work came back with his glucose elevated and I can't find my encyclopedia of food values to figure out what he should and shouldn't eat carb wise. Michael said that I lent it to the neighbor lady but I have no recollection of this ( Could this is his way of trying to get out of looking for it?)Now I am trying to decide whether to buy a new copy on E bay or keep looking. I know that if I buy a new one the old will show up. Oh what to do !

twitter anyone?

When I started this blog I knew very few, except for teenagers who were on face book or my space but since then many old people like me have joined the face book craze. Heck my Mom even has a face book page... now how creepy is that ? Anyway I am starting to feel pressure to either make a face book page in addition to my blog or abandon my blog for face book. I may consider making a face book in addition to but would really hate to give up my blog.Maybe it sounds stupid but I like my blog.It has become my little place a place where I can talk about my insignificant life. You know kind of rejoice in the good and cry about the bad.
I did however add twitter to my blog awhile back . I originally added it so that I could tweet via cell phone. Too bad that I never was able to successfully set this feature up.However Michael actually mentioned the other day that he had made a twitter account to keep in touch with some friends. Wow I thought in the universe of the young and old... we meet ! Anyway Michael is now following me on twitter and I will turn the task of setting up my twitter by phone to him. This being said, I will probably be tweeting regular soon so if anyone wants to follow me and/or invite me to follow you,you know how !!!!!

About that time

Months ago I booked a cruise for our families summer vacation but figured that I would wait for a good airline deal before booking our flight.Unfortunately the deal that I had hoped for has not come along and since I don't want to wait too long and not get a flight( one airline is already booked for the days we need)I think that it may be time to just bite the bullet and book. Besides if I don't get on the stick I will not be able to get doggy boarding either. so if anyone needs me...... I'll be scanning the Internet for flight deals .

Easter Baskets

Easter egg fun

Off to bed now !

The eggs have been dyed,the bread for dinner baked.The ham is defrosting, and the side dishes ready to make. The baskets are filled , on the table they wait. Thanks be to God, this Mom( aka cook, baker,cleaner of egg dye covered table,Easter bunny, and so on) is off to bed.
Happy Easter all !!!!




A look at the baskets before they are dug into

Ethical ???????

Lets just say that someone, anyone really, has a sixteen year old son who happens to have his driver's license . Lets also hypothetically say that said sixteen year old wants to get a job but has parents who want said teenager to wait until summer. Lets further imagine that these parents ( who really are the most wonderful people that you would want to meet)have agreed to pay for their child's expenses. ( including gas so that said child can drive to school)
OK now lets just say that the wonderful parents of said child decide that a gift card for a local gas station would be a wonderful gift that would fit awesomely, amongst candy into this child's Easter basket.
Would this be an ethical gift or would it be more of a gift to the parents and therefore be an unethical gift ?
Not that I am planning to put the Sheetz gift card,(that I already bought)into my sixteen year old's basket or anything but I was just wondering :-)

Finally , pictures from Cindy's phlebotomy graduation

Cindy receives her certificate


Cindy with her Phlebotomy certificate and her "Class Brain" certificate


The phlebotomy winter class of 2010




Cindy with her cheering section ( Photo taken by Cindy's friend ( who happens to be a boy) Mike)