Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Memorial Day Weekend

I had a fabulous weekend. Did lots of nothing and bits of things to make it a mostly relaxing productive weekend.

* GM was back in the hospital and didn't let me be with her. I realize that sounds wrong but it's true. Her blood pressure and heart rate would spike when I was there and she actually told to the Dr. to tell me to leave. When I called on Sat morning to see how she was doing and see if she wanted me to take her anything when I went to visit, she told the nurse that she didn't want me to come. Then she calls and leaves me messages telling me that she has been abandoned and no one goes to see her. They adjusted her meds and sent her home on Monday.

* Laundry day! Did too many loads! Did some maintenance cleaning to keep the house presentable. You can still visit just don't go to the bedrooms. Sat. was MIL bday and she was in the keys with my SIL who was camping in her RV for the weekend. Hubby and I drove down in the afternoon to join them for dinner. We went to a VERY nice restaurant and had fabulous food and a really nice time. We decided that we have to go back to the restaurant a ton of times because the menu had over 70 entrees to choose from. Needless to say I could not choose and the waitress did so for me. I almost forgot! I got my haircut. I basically told her I want it off my shoulder, you decide from there. Do whatever you want. It came out really cute. I'm happy. Maintenance free!

* Sunday's highlight was hanging out at a friends house after dinner with 3 other couples learning to play Poker. What fun! We all started by putting $5 in the pot to play, me and someone else ended up going in another $5 but it was lots of fun! We had a really good time and now I know how to play poker. Of course, I need my cheat sheet of what beats what but then I'm good.

* Monday I didn't leave the house! I did light cleaning and heavy organizing. I cleaned out the bottom cabinet in my bathroom and got rid of many expired meds and just organized the whole thing. You can find whatever you want there now! I also cleared off my night stand. I threw away a few things (ok, mostly old catalogs) and separated a few books to give to others to read and then re-stacked my 'to be read' piles. But at least it's dust free now and looks neater. I put away a bunch of photo albums that had been pulled out and never out back where they belong. As I did that I pulled out two photos that I will be using to place an 'ad' in the Media Guide for the school football team for 17. Next weekend I will work on the ad. Hubby was working in the office and made a dent in there. The shelves are clean and reorganized too. After dinner the boys watched the Netflix movie with us "Man of the Year" with Robin Williams. We all liked it. We laughed together. It was nice.

The boys were studying for finals all weekend so the whole weekend was interspersed with "quiz me on this!" which was fine. Forced hubby and I to take breaks and sit for a while.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

A Book Meme

Ok, so sue me; I stole this from fellow bloggers! Now, I'm not great with names and I'm not going to look anything up to verify it so, here goes...
If you choose to do (read: steal) the meme too, tell me in the comments so I can check out your answers on your blog.

A book that made you cry: "Bridges of Madison County" by ?? (the movie was horrible vs. the book)
A book that scared you: I don't read scary books...
A book that made you laugh: "Holidays on Ice" by David Sedaris

A book that disgusted you: ??? I guess I've blocked them out.
A book you loved in elementary school: "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White
A book you loved in junior high: Jane Eyre by Bronte
A book you loved in high school: "Rebecca" by Daphne Du Maurier
A book you hated in high school: "Moby Dick"
A book you loved in college: Didn't go to college but in this time frame I was reading trashy romance! and not so trashy Mary Stewart historical romances. Perfect for a single girl, living on her own, looking for love! ;)
A book that challenged your identity: "Dance of the Dissident Daughter" by Sue Monk Kidd

A series that you love: Now, Harry Potter; then "Little House"
Your favorite horror book: Frankenstein by Mary Shelly (I think)

Your favorite science fiction book: "Fahrenheit 451" by Bradbury
Your favorite fantasy book: Harry Potter series
Your favorite mystery book: "The DaVinci Code" by Brown
Your favorite graphic novel: Don't think I've read any, if I did they made no impression
Your favorite biography: Haven't read many as an adult but I enjoyed "ME" by Katherine Hepburn with I just finished
Your favorite "coming-of-age" book: "Are you there God, It's Me Margaret" by Judy Blume

Your favorite classic: "Pride and Prejudice"
Your favorite romance book: Then, "Mrs. Mike" by Freedman now, "Pride & Prejudice" the perfect love story! I love Darcy!
Favorite kids book: How kiddy? For little kids I love "Goodnight Moon", then "Charlotte's Web"

Favorite cookbook: I love cookbooks! Don't have a favorite! Lately, referring more to "Comida Criolla" only because I am trying to learn to cook Cuban food.
Your favorite book not on this list:
"The Shadow of the Wind" by CArlos Ruiz Zafon and "The Poisonwood Bible" by Kingsovler


This was hard. I had to think. I could barely remember what books I read in high school. That's sad, I mean it was just the other day. Oh, well. So, many good books out there! Now, I am reading " Bel Canto" by Ann Patchet. So far, so good.

Monday, May 21, 2007

Weekend stuffs

Randomness from the weekend...

* Finally saw my dad! Remember that I hadn't seen him since Christmas and he doesn't live that far away to justify it. I invited him over for dinner on Saturday and a couple of other friends I hadn't seen in a while. It was nice. I made Ropa Vieja for the second time- I've got it now. I think a good time was had by all. I certainly enjoyed myself. I love cooking for people!

* Went to an Indonesian restaurant with some girlfriends. YUMMY! I ordered this traditional rice dish. It was a scoop of rice in the middle and assorted scoops around it like a yummy chicken in coconut sauce, egg with curry, shredded beef, green beans and something else. It was all good. Others ordered the duck which I will get next time or maybe I'll get the fish. It was all good!

* Took 14 shopping with hubby. @&%#^*#%&$% He may not be label conscious but he didn't like this because it looked faded, he didn't like that because of the button, he didn't like ANY shirts if they had a stripe; only solid colors for him and only certain shades of certain colors. OMG! WAAAaay too complicated. Don't know how often I will do that.

* I cleaned. My house is presentable. I mean we dusted EVERYTHING and cleared off EVERY surface (ok, except one) That's a rarity. Just don't go into the bedrooms and there won't be any bloodshed.

*GM is back in the hospital. Her PTI levels were super high. This is because she is taking blood thinners and her weekly blood work came back abnormal so they sent her to the hospital and are monitoring her to see that it goes down. Today she is hallucinating again, insisting that some man came and took her out and dumped her in the hallway. She wants me to go see her without driving! When I go she gets furious that I am there and when I'm not there she calls me to say that I have abandoned her. Hopefully, the levels will normalize and she will go home soon.

* I saw the movie Dreamgirls on Friday. I loved it but I love most musicals. I thought Jennifer Hudson was awesome!

* I finished my book, well I won't go into that here because I 'll write a little review later.

* Laundry did enough laundry to last me a lifetime. The loads seemed to never end! Granted when I started the hampers were overflowing. But now every hamper is empty, all the throw rugs were washed, all the towels, all the sheets were done and changed. Everything is washed at least for 24 hours.

It was a very productive weekend.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

A slow week...

After last week being so busy, I was grateful for no scheduled events this week. I have been catching up on laundry and doing all sorts of cleaning and organizing at home. My list of things to do is like 3 pages long.

Now, I said scheduled events because of course there's life, getting in the way again.

GM is fed up with her ALF and wants to live on her own! I'm trying to ignore her but apparently she is enlisting the help of others to find her an efficiency. I am in denial and steadfastly trying to not address the issue.

17 fractured his nose. That sounds better than broke his nose, right? So, trip to the emergency room on Wed night to get it x-rayed and everything. Of course, this is the end of the world because he has THE spring game next Thursday and God forbid if he has to miss a practice. So behind his back, like any good mom, I emailed his coach and told him not to let him practice. he was surprised, he didn't know 17 had even been hit in the face. Well, duh, if he tells the adults then they won't let him do what he wants.

So much for a boring week. I'd really like just one. You know to see what it's like.

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Becoming a mom

When I told my grandfather I was pregnant +17 years ago, he sat smoking his cigar staring into space. My GM thought he hadn't heard and yelled at him "Did you hear her?! She said that they are going to have a baby!" He dramatically took the cigar out of his mouth slowly bringing it down and sighing as he exhaled he said, "You will never sleep well another day in your life." My GM was horrified at the comment and berated him, telling him you are supposed to congratulate the person not tell them something like that. But grandfather said, I have never lied to her before and I won't now. If she's happy that's fine, I'm happy but it's the truth she won't sleep again. Someone has to tell her.

He was right. I don't think I have ever slept as soundly again but I'm happy being a mom and would never have traded it for anything in the world.

SO, Happy Mother's Day to me and to all the others out there.

Friday, May 11, 2007

Week O' Culture

WOW, this was a packed week. But isn't it always that way? It's either feast or famine.
Starting with last Sunday I went to see The Lion King then Tuesday I went to the opera to see Anna Karenina, then Wednesday was the Athletic banquet for my sons' high school, then Thursday I went to the Botanical Gardens to see the Chihuly exhibit!

So, today Friday I'm tired!

I'm going home to put my feet up! yeah, right, that's wishful thinking. I'm sure the family will have me chauffeuring someone somewhere. But that's a good thing, I realize they have a life too!

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Mom

I left home when I was 18 and when I was 22 my mother passed away. Since we had lived apart, her in VA and me in FL for years, I was used to her not being right there all the time. But people always commented to me how I would call in an instant to tell her about something, and that was before cell phones. They would say "but that's long distance!" but it didn't matter to me or her. When I was short on cash, I'd even call collect, she never thought it was an emergency, she new it was just whatever.

It took me years to get over that. There were many times when I would pick up the phone to dial her number and then realize that she's not there. I still make the mental calls and talk to her on a regular basis. I act like she's still there and I wholeheartedly believe that she IS around. Naturally, I miss our conversations and sharing my children with her. She always looked forward to being a grandma. Many times I can play both sides of the conversation in my head. Maybe all this sounds nuts but it's working for me.

Today is the 20th Anniversary of her passing. Love ya mom! Wish you were here.

Monday, May 07, 2007

Musicals

Do you like musicals? I love musicals. I don't think I have seen one that I didn't like (OK, sue me, I'm not in love with CATS but I didn't hate it.)

So, Saturday I saw Evita, the movie with Madonna and Antonio Banderas- FABULOUS! LOVED IT!

Sunday I went to see The Lion King. It was the family Christmas present. Yes, I dragged 17 and 14; all four of us went with a friend of mine. The production was beautiful. What genius came up with the costuming of the animals, I don't know but WOW. The music was great. The production, the colors, the everything! I loved it and am so I glad we went.

Now, the boys...Hubby liked it. OK, the actual quote is "It wasn't bad." All three of them thought the second half was slow. 17 says he thinks he actually dozed for a few minutes. There was a scene with a bit of dancing (ballet/modern) and no singing at all and there were more ballads than in the first half. Hubby didn't like the Rafiki character (I think because she sang a lot in "African" and was obviously not understood by anyone) his favorite characters were Pumba and Timon. 14 was the most vocally against being dragged to the event but he thought the 'animals' were cool, at first he didn't realize they were all people with headdresses etc on. So, that impressed him. 17 didn't protest (knowing it was useless) basically just said the slow songs were too long, the rest was OK.

I drag my family once in a while to these types of events because well, I think I'm supposed to. It's not all about sports ya know! We've gone to the ballet, assorted plays and musicals and museums. I haven't taken them to the opera...hmmm....

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Wednesdays

Do you like Wednesdays? I don't. They are right after Monday on the yucky days list. It's not like anything horrible ever happened to me on a Wed but nothing really noteworthy ever happened on Wed either plus the whole middle of the week thing. You know the "over the hump day" stigma of Wednesday. They are just blah. Until a few weeks ago...

Two weeks ago today...it was a friend's birthday, my MIL was operated and successfully had a mass removed from her lung (which has since been tested and was negative!) and 17 ran and placed in the 4x400 District Track meet and his school actually won the District Meet and so they move on to Regionals. It was a good day not blah at all definitely noteworthy.

Lots of other things have been going on but I will blog about them later...tons of work...but had to blog to get back in the swing of things here...it had been too long.

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!