Baffled:

Yet again, by technology.  (Or is it just that I'm old and hampered when overwhelmed with too much "stuff" at once?)  I'm sitting in the chair, waiting to hear from The Husband.  I've got my cellphone, the cordless home phone, the tv remote and the iPad.  And when the phone rings I try to answer with the remote control or the iPad and can't figure why something is still ringing!

But, The Husband would be pleased - I was out driving in the lovely spring sunshine, looking at all the pretty flowering trees lining the streets and put in a cd that I really like and just cranked it up, bounced (just a teensy bit) in the car and thoroughly got into it.  (Must have looked completely ridiculous:  this old-grey-haired-lady-driving-the-conservative-pruis-sedately-down-the-road-with-the-music-blasting-through-the-sunroof-singing-along.  Yep, that was me.)

And I'm counting down the minutes - the plane lands in about 30, then it's only a few minutes to the car, a few minutes speeding down the road, a few minutes into the garage and then my hug deficit will begin to be satisfied!

Almost Whole Again!

Tomorrow The Husband will return!  I will feel like I'm complete again.  I've so totally missed him.

Took myself off to Cafe Rio - and even though it's tamale day I had a roast beef quesadilla.  Minus all the lettuce and trimmings, plus a few black beans.  And I'm still full after 7 hours!  I saw a several other people there eating alone (I always see other single-eaters) and even another lady there eating and reading, just like me.  Made me feel less conspicuous.

And it's a good thing I've done some eating out.  The Husband said he's tired of eating out and is ready to eat in.  I'll have to brush up on my somewhat mediocre cooking skills.

While I was talking to The Husband on my cellphone, the house phone rang and it was The Son.  So I put them both on speaker.  Just picture it:  I'm walking down to the basement to look for something for The Son, with the cellphone in one hand, the house phone in the other and I'm playing womaninthemiddle while they speak to each other.  One of those oddities of life that seem to occur quite frequently.

And that's strange, and oddity by definition would be something that is unusual in occurence wouldn't it?  So a frequent oddity would be basically an oxymoron, right?  (mediocre skill, frequent oddity - I'm just full of consistent contradictions!)

Still (or is it always) All About Food

Took myself out for lunner this afternoon.  (After the visit with the oral surgeon.  A molar has to come out. Have to wait for The Husband to be home to drive and supervise me....)  Really splurged on a yummy salmon salad (one of my very favorites) at Mimi's.  Rarely spend this much on me for food out.  But it was consolation eating.

Decided that when I'm old(er) I hope to have improvement in my hearing.  Sat in a booth next to three older (w-a-y older than me) ladies having a nice long lunch - like I do with a couple of my friends.  I learned so much about their lives.  And likes.  And dislikes.  I could have sat across the street at Paradise Bakery and still heard them.  One of the ladies was "holding court" if you get my drift.

I also decided that I hope to have such patient listener/friends.  And that means I should probably brush up on my own listening skills.

And my favorite part of book group?  The pie!


Lonesome

The Husband is gone to a conference.  I could have gone.  Would have gone it he'd been going anywhere fun.

While he's away,  I'll be catching up on some errands (not that I don't do them when he's here) and trying to keep myself busy.  One of the things to keep myself busy is to find someplace fun to eat every day.

Today's fun lunch was with a friend at a place I haven't been before.  The Blue Lemon.  Had an oriental chicken salad.

Got a chuckle out of The Husband when he told me on the phone last night that he got his jammies on as soon as he hit his hotel room after dinner.  I'm a good influence on him!

Forced myself to park in the middle of the garage.  Actually had to work hard at it.  Haven't ever been able to quite make the car in the middle before.  And it's weird.

Have to keep track of two phones at all times while he's gone.  Never know which phone he'll call on, or if he'll text.  But...this time I won't be having issues with the batteries in the home phones.  Have to wear pants with enough pockets to carry around the phones.






Munchie and Movie

Yesterday I had a craving for one of the deli salads from our favorite grocery.  So I ran over and not only bought the salad to satisfy my craving, but also got something out of the ordinary for The Husband's lunch.  After applying my salad to a plate, I closed up the container to save the rest for later and noticed the label said,"corn dog" $0.99.  Now I'm feeling guilty - I think that size container of salad runs about $3.50.  It was too late to go back to the store.  Wonder if I should head to confession? (Bless me for I have sinned, I ate something I really didn't pay for.)  (I did enjoy it, though!)

We headed to the movie today for the first time in a couple weeks.  Saw The Hunger Games.  I wasn't sure I wanted to see it, I had such a gut-level negative reaction to the book.  But The Husband wanted to see it, and he liked it.  Still don't like the basic premise.  Still not fond of the current trend of books / movies set in a dystopian society.  But, it was a movie that grabbed you from the first and didn't let go, even when / if you knew what was going to happen.  Now, I guess I really have to finish reading the other two books in the series.  I sure hope it ends well - I'm definitely in the "must have a happy ending" camp.




Is It My Age?

So....noticed that my body's dimensions have been changing a bit.  My weight is the same as it has been.  But all of a sudden:  my thighs are rubbing together!  How did that happen?  And can I have a "do over" and go back to how it was a couple weeks ago?

Loved this idea that I read earlier today:  "truth and peace - they are sisters."


Oops!

So tonight The Husband put some fish in the smoker outside on the grill.  It was an experiment, he hasn't done fish before.  The fish was supposed to smoke for 2 hours.

Then, he forgot.

For four hours.

Usually its me that is doing this kind of thing.  Causes all kind of hilarity at our house.  When we quit laughing about stuff like this, we're really in trouble.

(Thanks, My Love, for keeping me laughing, for helping me find some fun in life.)

Monday Morning's...

memories of yesterday:  and just the highlights...

Homemade french fries!  (haven't had those since I was a kid!)

Being surrounded by the three little neighbor girls - they make me feel so important and special with their attention!  (they promised to invite me along next time they go to Disneyland!)

Hugs all around - from grandchilluns, daughter-in-law and son, and Husband.

Watching The Husband excel (as He does in most everything) teaching a class.

My Aching Back....

Told The Husband I would have never made a good pioneer.  Can't even do a couple hours of yard work without getting blisters on my hands (yes, I wore gloves) and a really sore back.  It's sad.

Wondered if there was some actual use to be made of the thousands - I'm pretty sure it was literally thousands- of snail shells mixed amongst the leaves I was cleaning.  If I only had even a penny for each one I picked / raked up today.

We've thought for a couple years that our daffodils and a few tulips down in the stair well (we call it the amphitheater) were just gone.  Come to find out:  they were all under the winter debris that hadn't yet been cleaned up.  This is the earliest we've been able to get out there to clean.

It's been so warm we've slept with the window open the last few nights.  Makes me wonder if we're going  straight to 90 degrees in April and staying there until October.  Sigh....I'm so miserable in the heat.

Finally finished off the last of the Olive Garden gift cards we received.  Sad to see them go.  I had some stuffed chicken.  Left me stuffed.  Loved it.

Yay!! It's Friday!

And I don't really know why I say that - at this stage of life Fridays are not the joyous end to the work week like they used to be.

Most odd thing of today:  waking up at 4:30 and wondering where The Husband was...he was in on the couch with his iPad.  Couldn't sleep He said.  Hard for me to sleep when He's missing.

Best memory of yesterday:  wearing those pants I recently got at Kohls.  They fit well, feel good and only cost me $6.16 + tax.  One of my new favorites!

Best memory of today:  lunching with family and friend.  (Although the chile verde gave me some indigestion.  Too much food.)

Most welcome thing of the day:  The hug from The Husband.  I really do think I'm making up for all those growing up years when I received virtually nothing in the way of affection from my parents.  And you'd think after 40+ years I would have surpassed that need.  No way, no how, never gonna happen:  having enough hugs.

Most craved for food:  chocolate.  Haven't figured out yet why I seem to need it so much lately.  Does it go hand in hand with spring fever?

Best laugh of the day:  watching our friend sidle up to the corner of the doorframe and scratch his back - bear like - just like the Husband does.  Must be a guy thing.

Best purchase of the day:  the free book from Barnes and Noble Free Book Friday for my Nook.  I chuckle every time I receive a receipt for the purchase of $.00.  But...I suppose it's a good thing to have record of it should I need to have proof of purchase.  (And is it really a purchase when it was free?)



Bikes and Birds

Had my first bike outing of the year this morning.  Loved it.  Heard and responded in kind to the good morning song from the meadowlarks.  (Although I confess their song is much prettier than mine!)

And several hours later am still grateful for those padded bike capris!

As Sisters In Zion

I was reading about this hymn this morning.  I have loved this since I first heard it, particularly the words.

"The errand of angels is given to women;
And this is a gift that, as sisters, we claim:
To do whatsoever is gentle and human,
To cheer and to bless in humanity's name."

Not only is this a promise, but also an exhortation.  I fall so short, so many times.  I want to have the angels guide and accompany me;  to be gentle and be an instrument in the Savior's hands.

I find myself being, instead, selfish and brash; without the angels - even unkind.  There are no excuses.  So, I'll keep trying and hope that the angels (and other heavenly beings) don't give up on me.

It would help, though, if occasionally one of them would just reach down and put her hand over my mouth....

Wednesdays Wanderings

Today's post will be just a conglomeration of my thoughts - sort of stream of conscious, wide ranging thoughts just the way they occur to me.  (Not a very deep thinker....)

- Went to lunch yesterday with 9 other ladies.  Was very surprised to see all but one pay with cash.  Thought I was the only "old-school" payer these days.

- Stopped by a friend's, her front garden was a profusion of yellow and purple crocus welcoming the sun, saying "Yippee! It's spring!"

- Don't consider myself a rebel, but sometimes I almost wish I was....for instance when someone is driving really close behind me (oh, yes, there's that name for it "tailgating"!)  and I'm already going the speed limit.  Makes me want to s-l-o-w down as much as possible.

- We turned the bedroom side of the house furnace off the other day.  Loving the absence of it running.  Also the $ I think we're saving by not having it on.  Great time of year.

- Was grateful this morning that I walked with only one iPod earbud in.  Made it possible to hear the meadowlarks.  Haven't heard their song in awhile.  Grand way to start the day.

- Looking forward to tomorrow after we visit our friendly tax preparer.  The botheration will be the visit.  The reward will be the after, The Husband is proposing lunch out.  It will be tamale Thursday at Cafe Rio (and I still have some money left on a gift card!)  The best reward will be the lunch out with My Love.






Teeth

I've been thinking....if I hadn't come equipped with teeth and toenails, we could have been several thousand dollars richer.  (Could have had more shoes, more sweaters and a couple extra sparklies!)


Daylight Savings Time

As we trudge around our house setting the 10,000 clocks we seem to have to conform with DST, I'm reminded of this sentence that I saw:

Only a fool would believe that you can cut a foot off the top of a blanket, sew it onto the bottom and have a longer blanket.

Barely Noon

And I've already had a few thoughts:

Trying on clothes before purchasing is a good thing.  One thing I bought yesterday (the only non-tried-on item) had the wrong size tag on it.  Had to run it back to the store for the appropriate size.

My car is a totally different color when it is dirty.  Time for a car wash, I miss my pretty red!

A hybrid car must not be loud enough to warn people I'm coming - at least apparently not so they noticed as they walked smack in the middle of the road along the front of the strip mall.  They were enjoying their stroll as they meandered past three rows of parking spots to their own car while I barely idled along behind.  So very considerate of them.

Sunshine lifts my spirits. (Helps me be more tolerant of the inconsiderates.)

Loved this line I heard on the tv as I was curling my hair this morning.  The scenario:  she's ironing.  He walks up and asks what she's doing.  Ironing, what does it look like? Well, the iron is not plugged in so I didn't actually know what you were doing.  "Gosh...I hate technology!"

Wondering how it feels to have a pretty name - like Joy or Lillian or Grace or Emma or something supremely feminine that feels like flowers on ones lips.  For now, I'll be content with the endearment sometimes uttered by My Love: Principessa.  I almost feel like one when he says it.

It's best to wait for the checked-out-green-light to show before walking out of the library with your book.  Otherwise, you get beeped! and have to go back and have the anti-theft device de-activated.  At least I left them laughing.

I admire those who can have just one cookie.



Craving

Bought some lovely cinnamon raisin bread from our local bakery as a small gesture of thanks to our neighbor who loaned us his snowblower last week.  Drove around for a couple hours doing errands with it sitting in the car (the bakery was one of the first stops).   Now my car smells like fresh cinnamon bread. And I'm craving some fresh warm bread (with cold butter)!

Thought today as I was trying on the 105th pair of capris at the store, that I should keep a log of the interesting comments I hear wafting over the top of the dressing stall wall.  I guess I'm not the only one who thinks I'm too fat for something.  Or that I don't want my undies showing.  Or that the roll around my middle isn't becoming.  Or that something shouldn't fit so tightly that I can't bend over.  Or that I've chosen just the cutest thing, but aren't the sizes inconsistent?  At least today I didn't have a huge lunch before trying on those capris.  I might have been even more disappointed in the sizes.

My aura must have been inviting.  Today's friendly chat was from the lady next to me sizing up my serrano pepper purchasing.  Aren't they too hot?  What do you do with them?  Wouldn't you rather have jalapenos?  I love them fresh, then fried and put on a burger....and so forth.

And those fudge mint cookies we received as a Christmas gift that were (notice the "were") unopened in the cupboard.  The box reads:  best by 31 Mar 2012.  That's a lot of cookies to eat before they expire.  And no, I'm not planning to share.  But...if you stopped by for a visit I would offer you some.

"Smart" Phone

Been using a Google phone The Husband received for a Christmas bonus.  Lovely phone.  I totally under-utilize it.  I'm lucky to be able to make and receive calls.  (Although I love having Klondike on it for when I've neglected to take along a book! That's where the battery life goes....)

Today I managed to somehow call The Husband, then put the phone in my pocket.  Roughly 15 minutes or so later, I retrieve said phone from my pocket to call said Husband only to hear him whistling to get my attention as he's been stuck listening in my pocket all this time.  (Great mental picture:  The Husband inside my pocket!)

So, is it really a "smart" phone?  It must be in order to make up for the "dumb" owner/operator.  It wasn't even the proverbial "pocket dial."  Perhaps I should retrieve my previous dumb phone.  It was easier.

Hair

In the midst of a "bad hair life" I had a decent hair day.  Now, I didn't say great hair day or even good hair day.  Just a decent hair day.

I suppose the reason is because I didn't even poke my head out the door today - not even to run out to the mailbox (The Husband so kindly brought in the mail for me) or check the precipitation or feel our gale-force winds.

The disappointing thing is that no one got to see (and appreciate) me on a day when I felt a bit more comfortable with my hair's appearance.

So I ask - what good does a decent hair day do if no one sees it?

Kudos To Me, Way to Go!!

The lady at the grocery gave me some kudos today.

I use those "green" bags, the ones that aren't plastic or paper; the ones you buy for $.99 and then forget to take with you for awhile until you finally make it a habit.

The checker was bagging my groceries and mentioned how clean mine are.  In the course of the conversation I learned that most of the ones she fills for the customers are so soiled she doesn't really like to touch them with her bare hands.  They are so grimy she has a hard time thinking they really want to put their food in them.  They are so dirty....well, you get the drift.

And here I had been thinking it might be time to wash mine.  When I mentioned this, she laughed.

Who knew a Monday afternoon excursion to the grocery could leave me feeling (no, not cocky) pleased - not just with myself, but that someone else noticed something good about me and vocalized it.  Rare, indeed.

Friday Feeling

Woke up this morning to about 5 or 6 inches of fresh snow.  The Husband bounded out of bed ready to go use his John Deere to push it off our driveway.  And our neighbor's driveway (her husband is out of town again) and the across-the-street neighbors (where he also home teaches and where the husband is recovering from pretty extensive back surgery).

To his dismay, the battery in the John Deere was dead.  Even after using the other neighbor's charger, it was truly....dead.  The snow thrower is destined for KSL ads, it frustrates him because it only lightly tosses (yes, like a salad) the snow, doesn't throw it in any decent fashion, so it mostly ends up tossing the same stuff over and over.  Takes forever.

So, he borrowed same neighbor's snow thrower and did the first neighbor's driveway, the across-the-street neighbor's driveway, all the sidewalks remaining and our driveway.  With nary a complaint (except to want to bury the dead battery).  

Today I'm feeling mighty grateful for this thoughtful, kind-hearted, sweet-souled Man who has blessed my life for these 43 years.  

(And thanks, My Love, for the cuban sandwich at Cheesecake Factory.  Nummers!!)

No Longer For Walking

Our morning schedule was a bit more full than usual.  So we were up early, showered, breakfasted, hair done (mine that is) and getting dressed.  I pulled out one of my favorite pair of shoes.  Did a double take.  And then another one, this time with my mouth hanging open.

I'm not hard on shoes, I wear them for a long time.  And shoe styles / trends are not quite as quick to fade so I can get a couple extra years out of my shoes before I feel so completely fuddy-duddy that I discard them.  I've only had these shoes for about 8 or so years.  (They leave cute flower prints behind when I've trod through a soft surface - very fun!)

These favorites were literally falling apart.  The upper was separated from the sole all along the instep.  The soles were cracked completely through to the insole on both shoes.

The bad news:  these are no longer among my favorites! (The garbage can is "wearing" them!)

The good news:  I had a back-up pair.

More good news:  I have an actual excuse for finding a new pair of shoes.

The worry:  What on earth I walked in that caused the shoes to fall apart just sitting on my shelf.

The day's oddity:  We visited our friendly accountant/taxpreparer and it appears we are getting back just enough from the Federal to cover what we have to pay the State (with barely enough left for dinner out!).