Thursday, December 22, 2005

Happy Holidays!



Merry Christmas to all of my fellow bloggers out there! If you don't celebrate Christmas, have a Happy Hanukkah, or a Merry Kwanza. If you do or don't celebrate any of the above, I wish you a Very Happy New Year!

My Jewish friends tell me that Hanukkah is really a relatively minor Jewish holiday, but it has expanded in this country due to the overwhelming Christmas/Santa Claus celebrations. Any way you look at this time of year, the holidays that are celebrated celebrate miracles and blessings of God. That is a good thing.

I will be back posting after Christmas. As I indicated previously, I will be posting about "Irreconcilable Differences..." and perhaps will have a limerick or two for you as well.

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Coming Soon...


Irreconcilable Differences

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Such Fun


It has been a tough couple of days for me, but I am finally beginning to feel back to normal! Yesterday morning, very early, I started a "prep" for a colonoscopy. A different prep than I have done before. The doctor keeps trying different preps to see if we can find one that doesn't keep me vomiting half the night before the procedure. He is going to have to look again!

Yesterday morning I had to take a couple of laxative tablets and then go to work as normal. There was nothing normal about work after 11:30 yesterday morning. Last night at 6:00 I started drinking the yucky stuff mixed in Gatorade... 8 ounces every 15 minutes. It should take about an hour, but it took me 1 1/2 hours. Then I was supposed to drink another 32 ounces of gatorade, 8 ounces every 15 minutes over the next hour. It took over 1 1/2 hours. I never got the last 4 ounces down before I started vomiting. I vomited off and on for the next two hours, and then again around midnight. And then, just for good measure, at 1:00 am I had another visit to the porcelain god.


Seeing as how the prep was supposed to cause things to evacuate my body from the other end, that took place as well. It becomes very futile to try to predetermine whether to sit or stand when things keep happening at the same time. You'd think with all of our ability to do fabulously wondrous scientific things, that someone, somewhere, would figure out a better plan. It's not like this was my first time around. If I remember correctly, this was my 7th colonoscopy. It's no better now that the first time.

I am grateful, however, that after the first test, every test has shown me to be free from the nasty cancerous polyps they found the first time around. But still, I think I would rather go through labor and have a baby at the end to make it worth the effort. With this all I get at the end is a report that I am still A-OK and a lot of bathroom cleaning. I guess things could be worse, and I shouldn't complain as long as a get a good report... I take that back. I should complain. Maybe then they will invent a better procedure!



Okay. If you haven't quit reading this post due to the subject, I will tell you that I did get a great nap out of it all and only lost one day's wages. Tonight, as I feel more with it, I will wrap some more Christmas and Hanukkah presents and try to have a yummy supper. Then I will light a fire in the fireplace (fake log... it isn't that cold!), turn on the light on the Christmas tree, sip some hot beverage, listen to Christmas music and maybe watch some TV. Tomorrow it is back to work.



Sunday, December 11, 2005

Where Did The Weekend Go?



This weekend is over, and I still have not completed what I wanted to get done this weekend. I would be in bed trying to get to sleep, but I am waiting for my bed sheets to finish drying in the dryer. This will not be a long post!




After I got back this morning (well is was actually after noon) from church and a quick breakfast at a local eatery, I did get to watch most of the Bucs game today and was thrilled to see them win this must-win game. I would love to see the Bucs and the Colts in the Superbowl. THAT would be quite a game!



The rest of the day I putzed around trying to get Christmas stuff organized and wrapped, I went to the grocery store, I brought my orchids inside because the temperature is going to drop into the 40s tonight, I sorted through and put away some laundry, I installed an updated firewall and virus protection on my computer, and the next thing I knew it was time for the 11:00 news! So here it is approaching midnight, and I am thinking...






Friday, December 09, 2005

Hi There!


Sorry... I know I have been a delinquent blogger. It's not that I have been too busy...




My shopping list is complete and checked twice. Everything is ready to wrap...




I do need to find a few more stocking stuffers...




We purchased some new lights for the tree this year and they are on the tree...




Tomorrow I will begin to decorate the tree, put up the rest of the Christmas decorations, and get some of the package wrapping done...




So, tonight I will share some Thanksgiving photos with you and write about whatever else comes to mind...


Obligatory annual Thanksgiving pose


Getting started with some oyster shucking


"JPR" of Lemming Fodder in a supervisory capacity


river view


Annie Oakley at target practice


"L" helping Matt by stirring the gravy


"L" with one of her yummy apple pies


Koko and Ally cuddling in a quiet moment


"L" taking a breather


Time out for some beverage of choice

Looking at these pictures, you might wonder why I have extra pictures of "L" and am lacking photos of some of the other participants of the feast. Actually the batteries on my camera quit on me, and I had to depend on other people for these photos. Bummer. I will try to do better for Christmas.

We did get some other pictures taken after we put up the Christmas tree the other day.


Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse...


Well, not exactly...








Bah Humbug

The cats are actually enjoying the tree... Scud looks upon it as his own private jungle from which he can spring at any wild roaming ankles that happen to go by. Koko just likes to nip at Scud as he scoots by in ankle-attack mode.

Hmmm... I think I am going to go to bed... not much on my mind tonight... perhaps tomorrow will bring some words of wisdom to mind.

Saturday, December 03, 2005

"Seasoning"



The Thanksgiving holidays were super with lots of family, friends and scrumptious food. "L" baked some yummy apple pies this year, and I did the pumpkin pies, cranberry sauce, green beans with tomatoes and bacon. (I will probably post the recipe sometime later this week along with some others) Son Matthew did the gravy as usual... always yummy! My sister helped out with the turkey and dressing, sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes. Friday night we did the usual seafood and campfire at Aunt Betty Ann's place on the river... lots of fresh oysters, stone crab claws (my very favorite seafood!), corn on the cob, and S'mores. I gained 6 pounds during the time period from Wednesday to Sunday. Yes, it was great!


This past week has been busy with catching up at work and preparing the house for the Christmas season. Today we got the tree and it is currently in the tree stand with water all ready for lights and ornaments. Tonight I will put up some more decorations around the house and get some floor cleaning done. Sort of spring cleaning in December... everything that has been overlooked previously during the year gets spruced up for Christmas.

Himself seems to be less grumpy than usual, so that is a plus. He is even tackling a yucky job... pulling up some old carpet and padding in Ally's room which also involves prying up the carpet tacking. We are not going to re-carpet that room... may do tile or something else.


This will probably be our last Christmas in this house which is a bit sad. The kids grew up here and don't remember Christmas anywhere else. No telling where we will be this time next year. So I intend to make this year as grand as I can... not with presents, but with enjoying the presence of all the family that gathers here. That is the best part!