RTT

Ok, so H1N1 vaccines are in short supply. Now we find out too much hand sanitizer is not good for you? WTF?? Now what?

 -----------
 I have 2 big trips planned between Jan and March of 2010. The first one is to the Las Vegas area. I hope to spend most of the time site-seeing since I have never been to that part of the country. The second trip is to Hawaii. My daughter and her family are stationed in Honolulu for 2 years. Even though I am a nervous flyer, I am really excited about these plans. I wish they would invent that Star-Trek transporter thing (whatever it was called) so we wouldn’t have to fly.
--------------

 I always feel bad for telemarketer, they are just trying to do a job. But for shit sake, when I say no thank you and you just keep trying to convince me, YOU’RE PISSING ME OFF.

--------------
I love Mexican food, but why does it have to be so damned bad for you? When I was a kid I don’t think we even had Mexican restaurants in the Baltimore-Metro area.
--------------

 Don’t you just hate when your back itches and you can’t reach the exact spot of the itch?
---------------

 I think the housing market is starting to improve. My step-son and his wife just moved into a brand new house. It is a new development and the homes are nice and well landscaped. The development has sold out and the builder didn’t even have to lower his asking prices.
----------------

I watch the biggest loser every season. I just love the show. Even though I don’t have a weight problem and can’t relate to the contestants on that level, I have a great deal of respect for their commitment and determination. And just like any other reality show, there is always one person you just can’t stand. This season it’s Tracey. She is a back-stabbing, manipulating, pain in the Ass.
------------------

This is my favorite thing in my house right now.

For the queen of randomness, visit the Un-Mom

A visit to New England

Last week we were in New England.  Our first night in Maine, we went to the Cumberland County Fair.  Lots of food, games, rides and friendly people.  I have to say though, it was the first time I have ever been to a fair where, along with corn dogs, pizza, and fried dough, they were selling  hot chocolate, hats, scarves and gloves (it was chilly). 

Monday we went to Portland Headlight.  I had no idea it was a lighthouse, I thought it was a headlight factory.

The following day, we took a ride to Mount Washington New Hampshire.  Mount Washington is the site of the world's worst weather. Recorded wind speeeds have reached 231 mph.  You can check it out at http://www.mountwashington.org/  Yes, I admit it, I'm a weather geek.   

The road to the top of the mountain is steep, narrow, and has no guardrail. It was a beautiful ride up the mountain, but there was ice and snow at the top and we were only allowed to go to 4000 feet.  If you're afraid of heights, don't take the Auto-Road. 

Base of Mount Washington

This was starting up the mountain.  It really was a pretty ride.

This was the view at 4000 feet

Thanks Stewart, Amanda, David and Barbara for a great visit. 

Summer

It went by so fast.   The nights are getting cool, the days are getting shorter.  I know many people love the Fall, and I admit I do love the leaves changing, but I will miss the long, hot summer days. 

Ocean City is a popular vacation spot here in Maryland.  In the Summer the boardwalk is packed with vactioners, but this is what it looks like after Labor Day. 

Steamed Crabs ( and beer) - popular local cuisine in Maryland.  At the end of summer and into the beginning of Fall they tend to be bigger and fuller.

Thanks but NO

Recently a neighbor sent out an invitation to join a weekly Bible study group at her house.  The first thought that popped into my head was, only if Margharitas are included.  I will not say this though, instead I will politely decline the invitation.

Religion is something I have struggled with all of my life.   Growing up, we didn't go to Church on a weekly basis,only on Easter, and Christmas.  Maybe that's part of the reason I can't think God without thinking of Santa, and the Easter Bunny.   As I typed that last sentence, I  was looking out the window for a bolt of lightning to strike me as punishment for not believing.  What can I say, I'm conflicted.


Is there some supreme being out there?  I would like to believe, but logic says no.   I can't wrap my mind around it, I mean, how do you, without question, believe in something that you can't see?  It doesn't make sense.  Is it just me?

A very good year..

In the mid-Atlantic, this year has been great for gardeners. As a matter of fact, because of the amount of rain we've had, everything seems to be thriving. That being said, I am sick of zucchini, cantaloupe, peppers and tomatoes. Only 2 people live here so maybe we planted too much(six of each plant). What the hell was I thinking? Although my grandmom would have been proud of the amount of canning and freezing we have done this year, did I mention I am sick of tomatoes?



This is what 1 week of tomatoes and banana peppers looks like.




and 2 weeks of peppers.

Two questions

Life really boils down to 2 questions...







1. Should I get a dog....?

or....






2. Should I have children ?

Screwed

Earlier today I was watching a clip from an interview with Nadya Suleman, remember her? She was the woman that was not so kindly referred to as Octomom? Well, Nadya now says, "What was I thinking? I screwed up my life, I screwed up my kids lives. Now what am I going to do"? SERIOUSLY?? Is she the only one that didn't see that train coming?



Look, I have no right to be the judge of this woman's choices, you know glass houses and all that crap, but she already had 6 kids. Shouldn't she have known how much work it is to raise even one child? I just don't get it.

Small Town News

This is an article in the Somerset Herald, which is our small town newspaper. Obviously, a proofreader is not in the budget.

My life is just perfect

Life is Good. Just finished dinner, sitting in the sunroom, watching the sunset. My wine glass still half full(not for long though). What could be more perfect? How about if my neighbors could get their two yappy dogs to shut the fuck up? Yeah, that would be perfect.

Did I mention that my neighbors are my parents? Yep, they liked the neighborhood so much, that they bought the lot next to us and had a house built. Perfect.

Random Tuesday Thoughts

I am afraid of turning into my mother. I love her, but the older she gets the crazier she gets.

Sara Palin is an embarrassment. Her abrupt exit from office, and the rambling speech did not shine a positive light on women in politics.

In the past few years I have had trouble sleeping. I went to the doctor for a checkup today and happened to mention my sleep issues. Now I have a prescription for Ambien. I can't wait till it's bedtime just so I can see if it works. I am a little concerned about the side effects though, especially drowsiness AND diarrhea. Not a good combination.

Infomercials are always more appealing at 4am. I wonder how many Ped-Eggs, and Snuggies were bought between the hours of 1 and 5 am. Thankfully, I don't keep credit cards near the bed and I'm too damned lazy to get up and get them.

My husband is a better driver than I am. I think the reason for this is all the helpful pointers I give him while he drives. That must be it.

It's Tuesday, so click the link below and visit Keely, the Um Mom. She rocks.

OMG,what is that thing?

As I was reading my DIL's post ( http://piecemealpeople.blogspot.com/ ) this morning about a disgusting, gigantic, mutant bug that was lurking on her front porch last night, I was reminded of something that happened here a few weeks ago.



As I mentioned, we have my daughter's dog for a few months. When John took her outside to do her thing, look what she found in the grass. I think it is a crayfish. Yep its a shitty picture, but it was moving, and I had no interest in being close to it any longer than it took to get this one picture.

How the hell did it get in my yard? We are about 2 blocks from the river, so it probably came from there. I hope it made the journey alone.

Grandchildren

My Birthday Cake

In all the years I have known John, he has never ever made me a birthday cake. The first year we started dating, he did show up at my house the morning of my birthday with a twinkie with a candle. Corny maybe, but I thought it was cute.

So this year I asked him to bake me a cake. Happy Birthday to Me!!!!

My Grandmother Eva

This is my Grandmother Eva (or as my grandchildren called her, gramma, gramma,gramma) and the picture is from 1955. She just passed away December 28th, 2008, at the age of 98 (3 months shy of 99).

After she died, we had the daunting task of going through thousands (not an exaggeration) of pictures when we were putting together a slide show for her memorial service. I found this picture and fell in love with it. It was taken years before I was born and I never knew her like this. I never knew her with anything but white hair. She was less than 5 ft. tall,and as we got older, all 11 grandchildren measured their growth against her height. Getting taller than grandma was a milestone for all of us.

She was one of the kindest, most caring individuals I will probably ever know. She made each and every one of us feel loved and special. After each visit, when it was time to leave, she would hug and kiss you and say she loved you "a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck" ( as I write this I can hear her voice in my head and it makes me teary eyed). If I can succeed in being half as kind and caring as my grandmother, I will feel like I have accomplished a great deal.

My grandfather died in 1979, so she spent 30 years without him. After he died, she stayed active in the senior centers, played cards, etc... She loved to play games ,but most of all, she loved to win. Up to the end, she could still kick ass. Around 1980, she bought an RV and her and her sister would drive across country. She also dated. One day I went to my parents' house to visit and my grandmother happened to be there with a "gentleman friend". She pulled me aside, and asked me NOT to mention her age. Apparently, she had told this man she was 10 years younger than she actually was (she was 87 passing for 77). Too funny!!

I feel so blessed to have had her in my life. I will always miss you Grandmom.