Ahhh Thursday

I've almost made it through another week! Thank goodness. This week has been CRAZY around here with my doctor's appointment, ultrasounds and blood work...just part of my yearly physical, I'm not anticipating anything to be wrong! I work at my Church and it's just been insane this week! We have a couple of big events coming up next week that are adding just a little pressure to a already pressured job! I will persevere though! My lovely sister, Lisa and her husband Brian, called last night and are coming for a visit on Saturday...they live in Austin, about 3 hours from me. Brian will go back on Sunday and Lisa is staying through Wednesday. Not a lot of time to prepare myself for the "Lisa invasion" ...I tried warning Sammy the cat last night and he actually huffed at me and walked away. He has such a little personality! If you knew my sister, and some of you do, you understand it is a full blown invasion! I need time to prepare myself and the cat!

Today is another gorgeous blue sky day here in Texas! That's one of the things I love about Texas...wide open spaces, miles and miles of blue sky and clear, clean air. At least in the part of Texas I'm in. We had rain last night! Yea! For anyone whose lived in Texas you know how we rejoice over that! The thing is though, everything really is "bigger and better" in Texas. When it rains it doesn't just mist or sprinkle it RAINS! Thunder that shakes the walls of your house, lightning that lights up the sky for miles around, sometimes hail-that can literally be the size of a grapefruit-rarely but it has happened, winds-it's a deluge! Last night was no different! The house was a rockin but not in a good way! Sammy is afraid of "Mr. Thunder" and tends to hide under my arm. Of course it would rain since I washed my car yesterday! Isn't that always the way it goes? So my lawn has been watered, a little river went down the street washing away all the dust and leaves...everything is shiny, green and just seems to be awake with life! All good things!

Oh, I forgot to mention...when the "rains of Noah" where pouring out of the sky last night I looked out the kitchen window to see 3, THREE, geckos on the window screen! Scared the daylights out of me at first...thunder crashing and lightening striking to see these lizard things...I really enjoy storms, usually, but for some reason I was a little spooked last night and then to be confronted with those 3 guys...it had me yelp and jump backwards. Sammy, being the manly man cat that he is, got up on the counter and rammed his head against the window trying to get to the Geckos only to bounce of the glass and fall into the kitchen sink. Poor little guy, I think he gave himself a headache. Geckos are good things, they eat bugs, usually I think they're cute but last night in the dark of night they seemed way bigger than their 1-2 inches they usually are!

Well I need to get back to work, by noon the sun will be high in the sky and with the rain from last night the humidity will be up and I'll be wilty! Texas...you gotta love living here, it's definitely not for the faint hearted! Oh and the picture...NOT of Texas! I couldn't find one of scorched earth!

Let me give you a glimpse into my day today

Usually I'm a very happy go lucky person...I'm nice to most people, they're nice to me. I had my yearly physical today...joy of joys. I had to fast because they did blood work. My appointment is at 9 this morning; I get there, say hello to Charlotte the lady at the front desk. She asks for my insurance card just in case anything has changed from the last time, it hasn't. She ask how my Mom is. (Mom went to another doctor in the same group and Charlotte knew my Mom from other activities) This takes me back just a little because my Mom died almost 5 years ago and Charlotte knows that. She's looking at me with this expectant look on her face and says to me "Cat got your tongue?" I'm so floored that I just bluttered out "Mom's been dead 5 years now". Charlotte looks mortified, mumbles something about she remembers now...she was uncomfortable, I was uncomfortable but I kept telling her "it's okay, really it's fine..." "Don't worry about it, it's okay." I get called back to the doctor and she tells me she's going to do an EKG so I go in another room...told to take off my blouse and bra, put on the lovely paper gown but have it open down the front instead of the back...the nurse closes the door and I start to undress....I'm standing there-unrobed-and suddenly the door flys open, Charlotte wanted to again tell me how sorry she was about the comments on my Mom but she has the door wide open and there are 20-30 people out there! I have now flashed the entire doctor's office! Charlotte doesn't seem to see that I'm exposed to the entire office, and just keeps talking! I said to her...rather I shricked to her "Close the door!" which she took immediate offense too and closed the door but with herself on the other side. My blood pressure is now through the roof, I'm beat red all over and if I could faint...I would have. I finally get finished and I'm leaving, Charlotte won't look at me but everyone else is! One gentleman even said "nice rack you got there" to which I was so mortified I just mumbled thank you and left. He must have been in his 70's if he was a day.

Lemonade!

I so enjoyed my lemonade the other day that I made another batch! It can become addictive so you've been warned!

I got this recipe from a friend of mine in Raleigh...

Michelle's Lemonade

5 lemons

2 cups sugar

2 cups water

Combine the sugar and water in a sauce pan along with the rind of 4 lemons...don't get anly pulp, just the rind. Bring it to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer. Let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes to infuse with the lemons.

Juice the lemons and add to the syrup you just made. This is now your "Base" you add water and ice to taste. If you like it strong, add less water, weaker then add more water.

Cut lemon slices and add to the drink for a garnish.

For a stronger lemon flavor you can add 1/4 teaspoon (not a lot) of lemon extract or just add more of the rind when you make the syrup.

With the boiled rind...you can make candied fruit strips...just take out of the water, roll in sugar and you're done...sounds odd, I know, but the sharp bitter taste is gone and they are actually quite good!

I'M CRAZIER THAN NORMAL TODAY

I don't know what I did but apparently I blocked EVERYONE from commenting on the last post...sorry about that! I think I have it fixed now! Please forgive me, I love getting your comments! Apparently I was having a senior moment that I seem to have more and more frequently these days!

Another day

Ah...another Monday, another 100 degree day! I did try to do summer things this weekend to remind me of being a kid....I made homemade lemonade! That was delicious. I had ice cream...that was wonderful! I then decided to put my hair in pigtails and go to the store...that was interesting! I got several "looks" but especially when I decided to skip down the aisle! There was no one in the aisle, people at the ends but not in the aisle, and I caught a "funny bug" so I just went for it! It was very liberating! It had me giggling at myself and this cute little boy at the end of the aisle was jumping up and down trying to skip....it was really sweet! I was saying hello to everyone I passed, talking to little kids..having a good ole time. I checked out and started out the door to my car and was hit by a blast of 105 degree air that took my breath away! Man was it a record hot day Saturday! When I got home I cut up lemons, made a simple syrup and made lemonade...it was wonderful. The smell of citrus is very refreshing. I did as BJ suggested, pulled a chair up to my patio and watched the grass grow....still in my silly mood I skipped to the mailbox and was skipping back when my toe caught in a crack in the sidewalk and I went sliding into the front step! Owww!!! I pulled myself up, checked out my now torn pant leg and the skinned knee underneath! Now that's summer! Skinned knees! I had to laugh at myself because I did say I wanted to do something for summer! I need to be a little more specific next time!

Peanuts and Cracker Jacks

Peanuts and Cracker Jacks [Photo]Peanuts and Cracker Jacks were always a favorite when I was a kid....I LOVE caramel corn and to get the prize in the bottom of the box, that was way cool! Life was so much simpler when we were kids...summer vacation meant something! The endless days of summer! Now, summer just means no school zones to deal with, air conditioner bills and staying cool. When did I get this old? Today I am definitely feeling my age, can't really say why-maybe I'm feeling my bones today. Things are creaking and cracking and I'm making that sound my dad did when he got out of a chair..."ooiii" This has got to come to a screaching halt! What can I do today, that's just a summer thing, that will give me back that feeling of wonderment and freedom? My dad used to take us to Dairy Queen for a ice cream dipped in chocolate cone (I think that's why I'm making that sound when I get out of the chair...) I need to think of a non-food thing. Not a work thing like picking weeds...like skipping! Or Jump Rope...or do you remember that game "Red Rover, Red Rover send ..... on over" and you would all hold hands and try to keep that person from breaking through your line! I'll think of something! Any suggestions let me know!

WEDNESDAYS AND BUTT CLEAVAGE

Wednesday! My favorite weekday! I like the sound of the name "Wed" "Nes" "Day" and it has such a feeling of accomplishment to it! I've done half of my week's work, I'm half way to the weekend....I like Wednesdays.

Yesterday's plumbing issues are now in the past, thank goodness. The plumber came, he fixed, he left. I was so hoping to avoid the butt cleavage that seems to be part of the norm with repairmen around here but it was not to be...scruffy beard, red t-shirt that I could not read the saying on-it was too faded, black jeans, work boots (covered in something I don't want to even think about) a rather "fluffy" gentleman whose pants did not quite cover his belly and instead sat under his belly causing the infamous butt cleavage in the back. I had to laugh because he was exactly what I pictured in my mind would arrive on my doorstep! Not the 6 foot 3, dark haired, muscles rippling Greek God type...oh no, not for me! By yesterday afternoon all I wanted was to use my bathroom again. He "snaked" my drains but said the problem was on the City's end. By the time I got home from work last night the street at the end of my alley was torn up and City workers were frantically trying to cap a gizer of water! This morning, the workers are gone, the hole in the street is still there with cones all around it to keep you from driving in it. Upon waking, as nature normally calls, I tentatively pressed the flusher and held my breath-with the plunger in hand at the ready just in case! Eureka! No problems! I like it when things come together!

"Snaking" your drains...that just brings up all kinds of wierd thoughts. Why do they call it that? Who first thought of that? I picture this huge python slithering through my drains-now I have to look in the toliet before I can sit down! Wouldn't that be a wonderful place to be bitten!? throughout all of this Sammy sat in the hallway watching the drama unfold, he was very curious but the plumber had him aprehensive and he did what all cats do when they want to show you how uninterested in you they are...he took a bath!

So tonight I can actually take a shower, flush to my hearts content and have no plumbing issues or smells! I rose by anyother name is just a rose....ahh, I can breathe deeply again!

Happy Day!

Ah! what a wonderful organ the nose is! Don't you think so? I am a very smell oriented person...good smells like cookies baking make me happy, I'm affected by calming smells like lavender and Chamomile. Citrus gives me energy while Eucalyptus gives me a raging headache. So, imagine my reaction when my nose was affronted first thing this morning by what can only be described as a green fog that sapped all the oxygen from the room. I woke up coughing and I believe my first words were something like "Sammy! What did you eat?" Only to be given a equally disgusted look from Sammy, the cat, laying next to me telling me "It wasn't me Mom!, the one who smells it is the one who let it!" I stumble out of bed, seriously trying not to gag and follow my nose to the bathroom where I find that the toliet has decided to overflow during the night! Talk about disgusting! Luckily (if there is any luck in this story) it was mostly contained to the toliet bowl. So; I start my day with the hairs in my nose having been singed off and I can't keep any eyeliner on since my eyes won't stop watering! I Oh the joys of home ownership! Now I get to call a plumber out to deal with the situation, always an expensive proposition, and pray, pray that he wears pants that fit! I really don't think I could deal with any bottom clevage today!



I'm spraying room spray, trying to inhaling the pleasing smell of coffee and type while my eyes a still watering! Poor Sammy has to stay in the house and Cat's noses are way more powerful than humans! I'm sure I'll pay for that later; 1st for leaving him in the house (although I did close off the bathroom and tried to contain the smell) 2nd for referring to him as a cat and 3rd for blaming him for the smell! Children what can you do?

Monday morning, another day begins

Mondays! What promise they hold! I try to be happy about Mondays but I do find them a tad bit annoying. They do signal the end of the weekend and I have to be at work an hour earlier than the rest of the week. I feel sorry for Mondays, no one seems happy to have them around. Wednesdays are good days-they tell you the week is have done or you're halfway to the weekend. Plus I like the sound of Wednesday....it's Wed Nes Day-that's the only way I can remember to spell it. People like Fridays-everyone says "Thank God it's Friday!" no one says that about a poor Monday.

Have you noticed that when you say "good morning" to some people on a Monday they growl at you? The actually growl! Like a wild, feral animal! This morning I got a few "good mornings" one "what's good about it?" and 3 growls. I have decided if one more person growls at me I will respond with my best cat hiss! I'm now actually looking forward to the next "growler"! What reaction will my hissing get? Hopefully not a violent one! I refuse to have a bad day-I will overcome the growlers of this world-I will put a smile on their grouchy faces if it kills me! I must admit though, I am looking forward to the end of the day when I can head home, kiss the cat and lay like broccoli!

IN THE BEGINNING

My first post! I'm so excited! One of my friends turned me on to blogging. what to tell you? Hmmm--let's see, I'm in Texas-it's HOT, obviously!

There are a couple of things I've been pondering today:

1st) That there are only 86,400 seconds in a day-seems like it should be a higher number, but do the math, it's true. I'm trying to make every one of them count.

2nd) It always seems that people that ask your opinion really just want you to agree with theirs.

3rd) Who in the world decided that we should work 5 days and have off 2? That person should be dug up, shot and the put back!

4th) Have you noticed that when a cat falls over or gets scared they always sit down and start taking a bath-as if to say "I meant to do that...I'm so unimpressed with you that I bathe in front of you!"