vamom7678

Hello May

2007-05-01T18:37:00.000-05:00

What happened to April. Guess I'm on Flickr so much that I totally ignored this. Not sure I have the time or want to do this...busy next couple of months...fun, but busy. So I may just have to put this aside for a while.

Scattered

2007-03-08T13:02:00.000-05:00

My family that is. I'm here in northern VA, but the rest of my family is all over the place. 78 is in California and has been for a while now. 76 is in London for 4 days, she is so excited about it. DH is in Daytona for bike week with his friend Bill.They left here in the snow and drove over night and got there at 7am to sun and 60 degrees. I have rquested a few of those warm degrees to be sent here. It is a little lonely here. I went to a meeting this morning and dinner tonight with a nursing friend, then lunch tomorrow with another girl, so I am keeping occupied. The snow should start melting tomorrow, then hopefully that will be all for the year :-)
The bike was loaded before the snow started....

Frozen in......

2007-02-16T20:47:00.000-05:00

DH got home from California Tuesday night, walked into the house just as the TV announced that all the airports in the area were closed.....whew! It did snow some that day( less than 2") and I shoveled the driveway.

During the night we got about 4" of sleet,snowy ice, fun, fun, fun. DH HAD to go into work and said he would shovel the driveway when he got home. I got up and tried to start the snow blower. Knowing now what I know....I will never use the blower again. I wasted so much time and energy getting very little accomplished. In the mean time, the temps were dropping. By the time DH got home from work, the driveway was frozen and unable to be blown or shoveled. It has been that way now for 3 days. I have tried several times to chop it, salt it, what ever...it's not going away until the temps rise.

I'm ready for spring time......

February projects and fun

2007-02-08T22:04:00.000-05:00

February project.....after selling the roll top desk , the next step was to paint the study...painting a white ceiling white...that falls into the real fun group. The ceiling is done, did the trim and bookcases today....a word that comes to mind is sore, very sore.Legs, back and arms....

I'll do the walls tomorrow. DH gets to do the windows this week-end. I hate doing windows.It will look good once it is done. In the mean time all the books and "stuff" is in the living room and dining room, which means 3 rooms are messy.

February fun....76 and I went to Lets Dish last night, it was a lot of fun and we made some pretty good entrees. Will just need a salad and a veggie, maybe some crusty bread to make a meal. I did this before and made 4 things...this time I made 8 items and I think we both got about 10-12 meals out of it. The session was full, which makes it a lot of fun.They serve coffee and tea, with cookies and scones that they bake while you are there.

February posting

2007-02-05T20:31:00.000-05:00

Guess I should post here everynow and then too. I'm doing a lot more with Flickr and all the different groups over there.

Spent Sunday afternoon at 76's place watching the Super Bowl, last year I was in LA with 78. I enjoyed this game more, and the outcome too. Got to sit next to Miller last night, what a fun litle dog he is...

Very cold here today, was in the teens most of the day and colder again tomorrow. I'll be out in the elements tomorrow, but hopefully not for long.

End of 1 beginning of 2

2007-01-31T20:35:00.000-05:00

Ok....I finished January 26things and I also completed my first month of 365 photos . I need to be a little more focused and "thing" oriented until the flowers bloom :-)February will be red and full of hearts...I think I have a theme for myself...I enjoyed the 26 things, it will happen again in March.

So we'll end with a picture of a tulip taken at the farmers market in Manhattan Beach CA, which gave me a plethora of wonderful photos.......

I was doing so well......

2007-01-24T23:29:00.000-05:00

and then today , while I was walking to the store. I looked over my right shoulder and what did I see?!?!?!?!?

I have absolutly no will power when it comes to chocolate, none. I picked out a few of my favorites and then bought a box of the Orange Krispie things.....I came back to the hotel and walked for 45 minutes on the treadmill. I tried to make it for an hour, but couldn't do it....

In LA

2007-01-23T19:36:00.000-05:00

We're here, and have been for 2 days...Nice weather, sunny, 70's,but it is January. It snowed the day we left the east coast.I would have liked to have seen the first snow fall.

I'm pretty much on my own this week, which is really no different that being on the other coast.

I went to the beach today, and they had a farmers market there...I was in 7th heaven!!!!! I was there over and hour taking pictures and just taking it all in. I'll have my own transportation on Thursday and will venture more into downtown. Everyone here is amazed that I would even consider the bus, they said it would take almost 2 hours to get there, and the taxis are way to expensive to do that. I guess I didn't realize that being at the airport is like being in the toolies. I'm Ok with it though. They have a great fittness center here and I'm working out more.

Manhattan Beach

Surfer Man

I was so happy to see this sign on the day I was there

Area fruit....

Time to say something

2007-01-19T21:12:00.000-05:00

I can't beleive I did 2 months of posting....where did all of that stuff come from? I guess I could think up enought stuff to say everyday, but then again, maybe I couldn't or some people might get upset with what I might write down....

Leaving in 2 day for CA. I'll have a lot of time to my self but after touring around HK by myself, Los Angeles will be a cake walk. 78 is taking next Friday off, so at least one day I'll have someone to talk to while I'm out there, the rest of the time it will be me talking to me. DH will be in meetings and will have some late nights also.It will be a nice change for picture taking though. There is nothing left here to take pictures of. It needs to snow so it will look different.But it need to wait till I get back.

I am enjoying the Flickr thingy that 76 and her husband got me for Christmas more than I thought I would. There are so many groups to post pictures to and lot of ideas for places to go and take pictures.

Continuing the attack on the house. Thought I had the rolltop desk sold, but they haven't gotten back to me yet, then the next thing in the couch..one piece at a time.....

Hard for me to believe that it has been one year since I quit my job. I haven't been sorry that I did it. But I do miss the interactions with people.Being an extrovert it is hard to have days where there is no one to talk to unless I go out and make it happen.I have joined some groups and gotten somewhat active, so we'll see how that goes this year.

So, this is a post and I cleaned out the cob webs. Maybe I'll post more next week in LA......

2007-01-13T20:48:00.000-05:00

Here it is Saturday night. I just watched the Colts win their game against the Ravens...the kicker won the game for the team. All of the points were from the kicker, but they won, so they continue in the playoffs.

DH has gone to the BMWBMW holiday party with his friend Bill, good for him to get away and have fun with others.....

I'm sitting here watching The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill Great pictures of San Francisco, a little along the line of March of the Penquins, so tissues may be needed.....I liked it,not sure he would.

Continuing to take photos for 365 and 26things. Somedays there are things to take pictures of and somedays I really have to look for them. I had to look for this one..... I titled it "Motivation"

One more week and then a trip to CA is on the books...looking forward to that and new scenery

Cut down all the trees and put up a parking lot......

2007-01-09T21:41:00.000-05:00

I actually thought of this song when I saw this today.

I had gone to a meeting this morning and the speaker was someone from the Audubon society. Talked about to have more natural plants in the yard, more native plants, less invasive ground cover, such as ivy and kudzu. Then he talked about trees and where the birds live and how some dead trees are needed for them to live in and eat the bugs out of...it really was an interesting talk.

Then I leave and drive around to get some pictures for the way to many groups that I have signed up for to post photos , anyway...I drive down this one road and see this big red machine picking up trees and putting them in a shredder, I think I took about 50 pictures and then the yellow machine comes around with more trees, they are clearing a plot of land to build 3 million dollar plus homes....

It was just interesting to see and then think about what I had just heard .

I went back a few hours later and the pile was much smaller, you can see the shredder in this picture.

Where is winter?

2007-01-07T20:23:00.000-05:00

I know, I know, I'll be eating those words in a few weeks..but it has been a warm week-end.

We got up at 4:30 AM and went to watch a 100 year old school house moved down the street. It was pretty neat to see. However I think we could have gone at 7ish and seen the same thing with a little more sleep.

I am posting pictures here I also have another site, but somehow can't get it to work with this...it is linked to a gmail acct which I don't really use.
I've been looking around at different places to get pictures, one place I went was the animal shelter. Not recommended unless you have a heart of stone...I barely made it back to the car without crying...so sad.

Hard to believe the first week of 2007 has zoomed by. I wonder if a photo a day will make it go buy faster??????

Where I am.....

2007-01-04T21:19:00.000-05:00

Most of the year I'll be doing this. It is not easy to find things to take pictures of during this season, unless we get some snow.....things are starting to bloom again and it's only the beginning of January.

01-01-07

2007-01-01T19:37:00.000-05:00

I almost forgot to write in this one today...need to finish up this Holidailies thing and be done with it...no more blogging for a while. I'll be posting pictures, but not everyday.

We chose to go into DC today and go to the viewing of President Gerald Fords casket. No photography was allowed , so I did not take the camera in. It was raining anyway.Ford was the Commander in Chief when we were in the Navy, and we had also seen him at the commissioning of the USS Nimitz.

I have 2 other blogs that I will be using, trying to figure out which one I will continue with....

Starting tomorrow.....

2006-12-31T21:09:00.000-05:00

365 Days of Photos aka A photo-a-day project

Year Sum Up Meme

2006-12-31T15:57:00.000-05:00

Yet another meme done on the road. This will be the last post for a while on this blog. I'll be posting pictures in 2007 and not as much chat...some, but not as much. These past 2 months have been fun, but sometimes not so much fun.Once I get the pictures going I will post on where they are....

Happy New Year to all my readers...you know who you are :-)

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
Took a 16 hour plane ride out of the country

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?Yes I did and yes I will

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No

5. What countries did you visit?.
Hong Kong, China.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Motivation to exercise more, run a few more 5K's and the time and energy to complete more house projects

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 2006, I flew 16 hours to Hong Kong and was there for 10 day...I'll never forget that

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Deciding to quit a job that I had been at for 16.5 years

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not keeping ALL of the weight off that I lost with WW

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No

11 What was the best thing you bought?
A $300 green leather jacket for $35

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
78's engagement

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Nothing comes to mind......maybe Tom Cruise or Paris Hilton :-)

14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage on home

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to Hong Kong to visit 78 and staying at HK Disney, being on the streets of HK by myself.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
Nothing in particular

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a. happier or sadder
b. thinner or fatter
c. richer or poorer?

Much happier,same,same

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercising and reading

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Playing on the computer

20. How will you be spending/did you spend Christmas?
With 76 and 78 and their SO's and soon to be new members of our family

21. Did you fall in love in 2006?
Been in love with the same person for 32 years

20. How many one-night stands?.
none.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
West Wing

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No

24. What was the best book you read?
Several books by Jodi Picoult

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Trans Siberian Orchestra

26. What did you want and get?
Happiness and love for 76 and 78. Both now have that.

27. What did you want and not get?
I have everything that I need. Want and need are two different things.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
"CARS"

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Probably went out to dinner....forever 29

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?.
Finishing more "thing's" in the house

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
I bought very few new clothes in 2006.

32. What kept you sane?
Quitting my job and having the chance to travel with my SO

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
See #13

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
All the political mud slinging during the fall elections. Nobody is perfect!

35. Who did you miss?
Robbie, the nurse that quit after I did and moved to LA

36. Who was the best new person you met?
The women in the Navy Wives Club..all neat women.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
When it comes time to end something, just end it and don't look back!

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"I've had the time of my life"

They blew it!

2006-12-30T19:46:00.000-05:00

Pretty neat with the game in the Panthers Stadium. We were on a club level and got to check out all of the area that were there...pretty cool.

The game was a typical Navy Football game. They should have gone for the field goal at one point, but tried for the touchdown and didn't make it...so they lost the game by 1 point. Sad.

The downtown Charlotte area is very nice, great restaurants and several sports venues there. We'll probably come back here again, even when we move to TN.

Go Navy!!!

2006-12-29T16:47:00.000-05:00

We are here !!!

Should be a fun week-end. Left VA @ 7AM,got here around 1pm, not a bad drive, very light traffic.Had lunch at Sonny's BBQ. Our hotel is about 6 miles from the stadium.

We went into the city and saw the street festival, pep rally is later tonight, probably won't go back in for that. Lots of Navy and Gold in the area.
The stadium is home to the NC Panther's and looks neat, but much smaller than UT's in Knoxville. Great weather today...in the 60's.
Should be nice tomorrow too.

We'll just relax tonight and hit the ground early in the moning. Tailgate starts @ 10am and the game starts @ 1pm.

Who we really are....

2006-12-28T17:14:00.000-05:00

The house looks like a house again. Not many Christmas decorations still out. We left the out side stuff up and will take that down next week.

I talked with a friend of mine in Wisconsin today. She was President and I was VP in the band-boosters when our kids were in high school. ( that was a life time ago) We were talking about a Christmas card and newsletter that we had both gotten from the band director and how it didn't seem like her. Then she said that she didn't know who I was either , after she had read my blog where I had listed 10 things about me that people didn't know. That was pretty funny to me, but those were things I guess I really never talked about. So how many other people have things that we may not know anything about ? that might surprise us? I have a few other things, but I probably will never put those out there, some things are better left unsaid,or listed.

Photo archives

2006-12-27T20:55:00.000-05:00

I think I take to many pictures. I'm trying to archive all of my pictures from 2006. I've combined a lot of them and will put them on an external hard-drive, so I will have more room on my laptop. It takes forever to down load them....

Next year I'll do better.

However, I have committed to several photo things..so we'll have to see how over extended I have made myself.

I'm not sure I'll sign up again for a blog a day...this is a lot of work to even think of anything to say.

No more sweets!!!

2006-12-26T19:33:00.000-05:00

I think I gained 30 lbs over the holidays....Not really but, we did have a lot of sweets in the house and I have no will power when it comes to that. I'll have to really cut back on the calories the next 2 weeks just to weigh in @ WW in January.

Everyone's gone, so it's just DH and I in the house. He wants to open up any candy that has not been opened. He just got into the peppermint ice cream that wasn't' eaten over the week-end...There is 1/2 gal. and I'm not an ice cream fan, so who will eat all of that....I will have to get rid of it, soon. I told him to save some of the candy for the coming week-end, that will work for a while.

Merry Christmas Time?

2006-12-25T21:40:00.000-05:00

The Christmas dinner question was " Does it seem like Christmas?" and the response from all was "NO". "Why" I asked. It has been warm, no snow, can shop online for presents, (meaning no interaction with people in the malls), Christmas items are out right after Halloween...all very good replies.

I tried to get into the spirit. I went to several functions during the day, when things were decorated for Christmas, I went to the White House, I played Christmas music.Went to a garden shop and walked through rows of Christmas flowers and decorations.....just didn't work for me and I'm not sure why.

It was so wonderful to have everyone at our house this Christmas. Presents were opened, breakfast was had. Then we went to a movie. Rainy day, but great to all be together.

Fun having a dog in the house , I think we all enjoyed that.

Everyone leaves tomorrow and then the down slide to the new year.

Hope all the Holidailies had a great Christmas.

Everyone is here!

2006-12-24T23:19:00.000-05:00

Everyone was here today!!! 78, her fiancé and his parents made the trip back into DC to see the White House and have an adult beverage at Old Ebbit Grill. A little cooler today, but sunny.

76 her husband and grand-dog came over for dinner and to spend the night. This will be the first time she has not really slept in her room for Christmas...and that's OK.

Santa will come tonight and fill the stockings.....and tomorrow is Christmas....Merry to all!

The gift of a day...

2006-12-23T23:16:00.000-05:00

Company in town and pouring down rain...not a good combination. Weather forecast was for rain most of the week-end.

However this morning we got up to sunshine and it was an absolutely beautiful day. Sunny, not to cold. Light jacket weather. We showed Washington DC to people who had never seen it before. How fun is that to show someone something that is so taken for granted?

We were able to drive in and find places to park along the way. We walked up the steps to the Lincoln Memorial and looked out over the Reflection Pool at the Washington Monument.
Then we walked over to the Korean Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial Wall, those two always put a tear or two in my eyes. Next was the Einstein Statue. Then on to the Mall. Taking pictures along the way. We parked and walked to the Christmas tree in front of the Capitol, the we went to Union Station and had lunch.Next was the Roosevelt Memorial around the Tidal Basin, and the sun was going down. Again it was a lovely day and in the 60's. It wasn't until we were home and talking that we realized we had not driven by the White House.

I have to add, incase you have not noticed, that I do not take these things for granted and am truly in awe when I am in DC and see these monuments. A lot of people who live and work in this area do not go into DC very often.

A day in Washington DC, 62 degrees and sunny, on December 23, is really a gift.

Let the fun begin...

2006-12-22T20:30:00.000-05:00

It was a rainy day, but that is better than snow and everyone was here by 10:00 AM.

Nice to meet people I don't know. I think 78 had some concerns, but everything is fine. The future in-laws are very nice, down home type people. Very easy to talk to.We went to the Air and Space museum today, DH gave one of his tours...he was a docent there for 2 years, I think he enjoyed talking about the planes again.

76 will drive to Richmond in the AM to visit her mother-in -law for a Christmas brunch, the worry will be there , as it is suppose to rain, hopefully it will be sunny when they return.

A trip to DC may happen tomorrow if the weather gets better......

Doesn't seem like Friday and it really doesn't seem like Christmas time yet, not sure what that will take....maybe Santa.

No time for a Headache!

2006-12-21T21:15:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning with a major migraine. I've had these headaches for 27 years now. They never get any easier to handle...and this is not the time to have one either. I took some medication that just put me in a happy place for a while and it's taken me most of the day to get through it.

I bought some cookies...yes bought , not home made, but these were gourmet cookies ...and took them to the doctors office, where I worked for the man for 16 1/2 years...not necessary for some people, but was for me..to show that I am still a nice person and an employee he should have tried to keep. Wished them happy holidays and the best in '07.

Company comes tomorrow, 78 and her fiancé come in to Dulles at 6am, the future in-laws come into National at 9 am. Looking forward to everyone being here and people being in the house to talk to. Everything is ready,quiches made, fruit cut up, rooms are cleaned.

I hope I'm done with grocery shopping, but I know that won't be the case and I'll be back at Wegman's before Christmas, I'd love to take a bet on that one.

Oh, the Dancing Santa box, it's been around for about 32 years now. When you wind it up Santa dances, it is wound with care though, and it still works...our must have at Christmas time!

Fruit in the mail....

2006-12-20T21:36:00.000-05:00

I received a gift in the mail today. The box was laying on the driveway near the garage door. Heavy and awkward to carry , I brought it into the house. I opened the outer box and noticed a sweet fruity smell. The corner of the box was a little wet..not a good sign. When I opened the box, it looked like it had exploded inside. Apples and pears. Most of the pears were all mushy. The pulp was all over the apples. I was able to salvage about 6 of the apples. How sad, and what a waste both of food and money. It weighed about 12 lbs, so I know it wasn't cheap to send UPS. My sister also got the same gift, she had 3 times the amount that I did. This did not come from a name brand company that ships fruit, that is wrapped in tissue and nestled in shredded paper. This looked like a box that was purchased at a school function or a grocery store and just put in a box and mailed...no thought was put into the fact that it would be tossed around. This was our Christmas gift from my baby sister.

Christmas Sadness

2006-12-19T20:55:00.000-05:00

I mailed out our Christmas cards this morning. This afternoon we got a card from a friend of ours that used to fly jets in the Navy with DH. His wife had a brain tumor last year and died in February this year. We didn't know until tonight. In their card I told them we missed seeing them at Homecoming in October and to have a Happy 2007. He's been dealing with this all year, and knew that some people did not know about her death. We sent off an email and gave him our condolences, nothing else to be done.Just puts things in perspective. We have another couple that both lost parents this year, he lost his mother and she lost both parents. Our thougths and prayers go out this Christmas season to both of them.

On a happier note. I went into DC today and did a tour of the White House.
Saw all the holiday decorations and the Christmas tree that is in the White House. The Red room, Green room, and Blue room. It was all beautiful.I walked out the front door and looked out on Pennsylvania Ave. Loads of history, and just to cool .To bad you can't take pictures on the tour.... I would have taken lots.

Christmas meme

2006-12-18T08:42:00.000-05:00

I'll be busy today, so here is something I did in the car on the ride back from TN:

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate....not a fan of the nog

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa puts unwrapped toys under the tree. This was an issue when we first started doing Santa. He doesn't have time to wrap presents. Just throws them in the bag and he's off on his sleigh.DH put a wrapped present under the tree when the girls were little and the From: was from Santa....76 picked up on that right away.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? House white/Tree colored

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No

6. What is your favorite holiday dish. Nothing specific. Home made "Nut and Bolts" make me think of the holidays. I like a Breakfast Casserole for Christmas morning.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Can remember daddy coming home Christmas morning from working the previous 24 hours as a firefighter and smelling like wet smokey wood. I"ll never forget that smell.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Was about 10 years old. I'm 9 and 11 years older than my youngest brother and sister, so there was a baby in the house for a long time, and no reason not to believe. My mom was glad when I stopped , because then I was able to be more help for her during the holidays.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? I didn't grow up that way, but DH did. So we'd let 76 and 78 open a gift...it was always pajamas to wear that night.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Ornaments colleted over the years. Plastic candy canes that have been put on the tree for 32 years.

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? Love it when I don't have to go anywhere and don't have to worry about other family members being out in it.

12. Can you ice skate? Yep.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I like a picture of me when I was little that 78 did and a painting with a poem that 76 did for me. I do love the camera I got for Christmas last year .

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Being with family

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? No real favorite.....home made cookies work for me

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? We put the stocking outside the bedroom door for Santa to fill. I grew up without a chimney and this is what I did as a child. It also gave the parents a little longer to sleep, because you could wake up and see what was in your stocking first.

17. What tops your tree? an Angel

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Giving to others who expect nothing

19. What is your favorite Christmas song? Noel

20. Candy canes? I can take them or leave them...one during the season is enough

21. Favorite Christmas movie? The Christmas Story

22. What do you leave for Santa? Nothing currently..used to be Milk and Cookies. Never really did that reindeer thing

A. Fixing Bikes. There were years when things did have to be put together .

B. Popcorn: Not for Christmas, not on the tree

C. Caroling Door to Door: I did this when we lived in CT, and when we first moved to VA

D. Wearing Santa Hats in Public: I might , but probably not

E. Wreaths: I like them on the front door, but with our current door we can't put one up :-(

F: Outdoor Displays: Lights on the bushes by the door, sometimes other lights in the yard in the shape of a tree, not every year

Christmas meme borrowed from :msflutterbye's

On the road again.......

2006-12-17T08:45:00.000-05:00

The dad is feeling some better. Still taking liquids only. Will probably be in the hospital longer than he thought, but hopefully will be home for Christmas. It has been a nice visit, but I am ready to go home.Lots of thoughts in my head...that's where they will stay.

We drove around some at night time. Very pretty here. Lots of light trees on the top of buildings all over town,
and you can see them from lots of places...for such a large city, it seems very small townish...I'm ready for that, and can see myself here in a few years.

Back on the road today. 7 hours ahead and the holidays in Northern VA.

Family

2006-12-16T08:32:00.000-05:00

Family is something most people really take for granted, until something happens......

Seeing my dad in the hospital was not an easy thing. My mom was in the hospital about a year and a half ago and that was not easy, but the dad is a different thing. I guess we never think anything is going to happen to them, and when it does , it's a tough pill to swallow. I guess being "the nurse" doesn't make it any easier either. It has been 3 days since the surgery and he is on a liquid diet, wants to eat, but also has the nausea from the pain medication....he is trying though...it will take time. He doesn't want to wait, but understands that he must.

Dinner last night with my sister and her husband and my niece and nephew. Today, DH and brother-in-law will put in new garage door opener that daddy has layed out in his garage.He didn't want them to do it, but it will happend anyway.

I'd like to take some pictures. Last time I was here I got some of my better pictures. I'll also be running around with my sister and niece.....hmmmmm....enought said :-)

ahhhhhh

2006-12-15T15:52:00.000-05:00

Arrived at Knoxville....eerrr....Krystal at 1pm......one cheese and one regular !!!

Down to Tennessee

2006-12-15T05:31:00.000-05:00

We're on the road today, going to Knoxville. My dad had surgery on Wednesday. He's doing well. Still in the hospital and should be going home on Monday. Felt the need to travel down to see him before Christmas. I'll also see my mom and two of my four siblings.....Luckily the weather is nice, no rain and no threat of snow....we drive all the way through VA and into TN on the edge of the mountains, snow would not be a good thing. We may do a quick trip to Pigeon Forge...then again we may rethink that, due to the crowds. One thing I do know...a Krystal hamburger will be had :-)

Let's hope the hotel has internet access.

Holidailies recipe swap

2006-12-14T09:53:00.000-05:00

I haven't used any of the prompts before now, but this one seemed like a fun one to do. VAMOM's 76 actually gave me this recipe just a few days ago, she had seen it on TV and we changed the ingredients a little

Sugar Cookies with Dried Cranberries and Pecans

(8-ounce) roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough ..let come to room temp to soften
1/2 cup chopped Pecans, (or what ever nuts you want to use)
1/2 cup dried cranberries,( or what ever dried fruit you want to use)
1 (11-ounce) bag white chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 .
Open sugar cookie log and press into a rectangle on cutting board. Add fruit and nuts, press into dough and then re-shape into a log. I put it back in the refrig to harden up a little. Slice into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Transfer cookies to a baking sheet.

Bake 7 to 11 minutes, until golden around the edges. Transfer to wire racks to cool .

While cookies are baking, melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler or bowl over simmering water.

When cookies are cool, dip bottom half of cookies into melted white chocolate and place on waxed to cool. You could also use milk chocolate or semi -sweet

Enjoy

Searching for the "J" ornament

2006-12-13T17:20:00.000-05:00

Last year I bought some initial ornaments for us..... B,C,E,C, and R.They were silver with little sparkly stones in them, like diamonds, but not. I got them at a nursery and went back there several weeks ago to see if by chance they had a "J" . Need this to go with the R. They knew what I was talking about, they might have some in the back, haven't gotten everything out,lots of inventory,blah,blah, blah. Last Sunday I went back,gave my name ,phone # and the letter "J" as a reminder. I got a call this morning, they had found a "J", it was silver.,.yayayayay! Drive down to the nursery , gave them my name and they bring out a "J" that someone in kindergarten could have made. It was about 5" tall, cut out of cardboard and sprinkled with silver glitter :-0

I thanked them and said this didn't even come close, another lady said she did know what I was talking about and she took the paper with my name and phone #, said they still had more things in storage. So until I get that ornament, I'll hold off on putting the others on the tree......however I did buy this today.
...so now the "J" has an ornament on the tree.

Scattered Thoughts

2006-12-12T17:02:00.000-05:00

12-12-06 We're almost half way through the days till Christmas. I feel very scattered.I need to put it all together, but the pieces aren't fitting.

I have lists all over the house about what needs to be done. I don't feel particually stressed, just not as in control as I should be, or that I want to be. The Christmas tree is up, not decorated, but drinking water like crazy..which is a good thing.

Had a fun time yesterday making cookies and going into DC to see the trees. Spoke with Vamom's 78 in CA, she bought her wedding dress yesterday....I haven't even seen what it looks like...how do I feel about that? Just kind of slipped right in there....My dad's having major surgery tomorrow, he's 76, he'll be fine, he has to be. I'll be making the 7+ hour drive down on Friday for the week-end, to see him and my mom. This fits into the puzzle somehow. I just wasn't planning on a trip to Tennessee . The sands are slipping through the hour glass ..... Hair appt,office party,mammogram ( always high on the list of fun things to do),and I'm on a list to get to do a tour of the White House next week. I'm not really complaining about any of this and I know everything will be fine.

I think I just need to take it one day at a time and go from there. This is the way I am.

Cookies, Dogs and DC

2006-12-11T22:06:00.000-05:00

Vamom's 76 came over today and we made Christmas cookies. I thought it went fast, we were very organized. We both had the dough made ahead, so it was like an assembly line. She made cookies for people at work. I made cookies for us :-)

The grand-dog came with her...he was so good and what a hoot. He chased away the squirrels on the deck. I think they were very surprised when Miller came out the back door after them. When we went back to their house he was exhausted, just plopped on the couch and closed his eyes. I don't think he sat still for 5 minutes the entire time he was here.

Then 76 and I went into DC to see the trees, this took the place of a trip to NYC. It was a beautiful evening. Not really cold, not crowded while we were there, although it was getting more crowded by the time we left. It has been a few years since I 've been down there to see the tree. This is the one on the Ellipse with all the state trees around it. Very pretty. We also had a yummy dinner in DC too......
Nice to spend the day with my favorite daughter in VA :-)

Pictures and the "EYE"

2006-12-10T19:48:00.000-05:00

I pretty much take pictures now all the time. Not saying I'm a great picture taker, but some of the ones I have taken aren't to bad.

The pictures we took last night at the party and before we left home turned up out of focus and not really good. This was taken with DH's new camera. Not really his fault, more reading is being done as I type. But I know the feeling of taking pictures and then downloading them, only to have them look like crap..you can't retake some pictures.

Then there is the " Eye of the Photographer" thing. Everyone that takes pictures for fun and hobby knows what they are looking at. It might not be what others see or will see, but you know what and why you are taking the picture.. Currently I am taking pictures of "color" . Red ,green ( not related to Christmas),blue and white,etc. Yesterday, while looking at Christmas trees ,I was snapping away, and saw this picture and took it. DH saw someone look at me like I was crazy to take this photo

What I saw was "white", not really an easy color to find out there....except for the obvious...snow....I'm looking for pictures that are not the obvious. Here are a few examples of other colors, like red and green, not related to Christmas:

Tree Hunting

2006-12-09T12:26:00.000-05:00

So we set out at cold AM this morning to go get the Christmas tree...brrrr..it really was nippy. Took the saw,axe and gloves. Out to a cut your own tree farm. Then we passed a lot with pre-cut trees and found one we liked. Yay, no freezing our noopers off and looking for the perfect tree to chop down. Got it home, DH got it into the stand and into the house...letting rest and get used to being indoors before we put lights on it tomorrow and will decorate it during the week.

This afternoon we'll go help a friend ,(whose husband injured both heels, had surgery and cannot get around,) get her tree and help her get it into her house. They can take it from there.

Then we have a really nice Christmas party to go to tonight at Mount Vernon. It is my brothers office party and he has invited us to it for the past 3 years. It is a lovely party and actually the nicest one we have gone to for the past 3 years.

Blogging early today.Pictures tomorrow from the party

Now I know why....

2006-12-08T13:40:00.000-05:00

Just kinda been in a mood the past week or so. Wasn't sure why. Plenty of time to shop, cook, clean and decorate the house.Looking forward to all the company in the house. But something just hasn't been right . Well today while wrapping gifts to take home and playing Christmas music I now know why.

I don't get to go to New York City this year.

I really enjoyed going and seeing the tree and all the hustle bustle in NYC. I've always gone with VAMOM's 78, but this year we won't be going :-(

I understand why, I'm a big girl you know. I've thought about going up by myself, but I'm not really sure I'm that adventurous, plus that's not really all that much fun.I walk around the house and talk to myself. I think people would look at me funny if I walked around New York City and talked to myself. DH would go, but that would be like going by myself and dragging him around....not fun. I like to go and stand in Times Square at night and just look...he walks through and looks. So I'd rather not go at all than do that.

Last year was fun, we rode the train up, had a list of places to see and eat at that we had found online. We spent the night at a funky little hotel.Had tea, cupcakes and shopped. Fun,fun, fun. So glad we took the time and stayed the extra day.Such fun memories.

Oh well, at least my birthday wishes for the past several years have come true, both 76 and 78 , now have someone to love and who loves them.

...and now that I know why...I'll get over it.

Nuts and Bolts and Woody and God

2006-12-07T18:29:00.000-05:00

I guess most people call it "Party Mix" , but I grew up calling it Nuts and Bolts. It has the Chex cereal in it, although I have made it with Crispix before. The difference is I also put Cheerios in it, and the thinnest pretzels I can find. I make a lot and give it out to friend and family...makes me think of when I was little, it is so much better than the stuff you can buy all year.

While I was decorating the house today, I saw lots of birds out the kitchen window. The cardinal must have sat on the bird feeder for a good 15 minutes,time enough for me to get the zoom lens on.
The female was in the tree beneath the deck..

Then while I was snapping away, I saw "Woody" This bird is huge. Luckily I did have the zoom lens on and was able to get a decent picture.

I played Christmas music and danced around the house to the Charlie Brown Christmas song......it was snowing in Tennessee today....

Oh yeah, and God answered my question today too......

A Ladies Luncheon......flash back to the 70's

2006-12-06T16:45:00.000-05:00

I went to a Christmas luncheon and ornament exchange today with the Naval Officers Spouse Club. What a nice group of women. I'm one of the younger ones there. One of the girls was a former Navy Nurse, so we had lots in common. The majority were in their early 60's. It was probably one of the nicest groups I have ever been with. No uppity people, just funny and real. I really haven't had the time , up till now, to do things with a Navy group.

It took 3 of us to open a bottle of wine, it was a weird cork screw, I opened it after futzing with it for about 15 minutes, but there were 3 of us working on it, a nurse, an educator and a double engineering major.....what a hoot!

The lunch was a hot chicken casserole with chow mien noodles on top,( a recipe I know I got in the 70's) a cranberry relish mold, that everyone was crazy about and pumpkin bread. It was delish!!! Coffee and cookies were the dessert. The setting was also beautiful. But just so different from some of the things I've been to where all the silver and crystal is out.

The ornament exchange was the cut throat kind where you get to steal one that you see if you like it, I had one I liked and someone took it, but that was ok...I don't need another ornament. The one I took to exchange was popular and got taken a few times.....

They have several things planned for this month and one is a White House tour. I'm going to try and make that if I can.

One thing that makes this group so different than any other that I belong to or associate with is that at some point in our lives we lived the same way. Our spouses were in the Navy and were gone for periods of time, and we were not able to get in touch with them easily. No computers, emails, cell phones. Just snail mail, or the occasional phone call, patched from the ship.

All in all a nice day and makes me want to decorate the house...tomorrow.

30 years ago on Santa's Lap

2006-12-05T16:39:00.000-05:00

A baby's first Christmas..there is only one.

What a fun time we had.

I was 25 years old, had been married for 2 years and I had a little girl to keep me company while her daddy was flying jets off an aircraft carrier. He was home the day she was born, just flew off the carrier that day. He left again when she was 3 weeks old, came back home when she was 3 months old. He was home for her first Christmas. Then left again when she was 4 1/2 months old and came back home again when she was almost a year old.It was just the two of us and looking back, I have to say how did I do all that?

30 years ago was a life time for me, but I do remember the first Christmas, the first ornaments and the first time she saw Santa.

Holiday Music and Winning!!!

2006-12-04T16:18:00.000-05:00

The prompt today was about Holiday Music. I like it in the stores when I'm shopping. I like most all of the religious songs you sing in church. I was in the choir when I was Jr High and High school, so I know the words to all of those. In the days of the dinosaur you could sing those songs in schools too. But we won't go there. I'm not fond of the chipmunk songs, or the running over grandma song either. I like most of the "soft " Christmas songs, that's funny considering what I'm about to say....

In the car , my most favorite is Trans-Siberian Orchestra , cranked up high. We saw them in concert last year and loved it.It was really an awesome concert. We were going to go again this year but will be out of town.

On another note VAMOM's 76 was a winner in NaBloPoMo. How exciting for her.

Zoomy Week-end and Babble

2006-12-03T14:07:00.000-05:00

First week-end in December and zoom...it's gone. Got the candles in the windows, some lights on the deck. Put some greens around the front door , so the outside the house looks festive.

Went out to dinner last night with a motorcycle friend of DH and met his wife. Most of his friends that he rides with,have wives that don't socialize with their husbands friends, plus I am the only one of them that ride on the back of the bike with the husband. This couple was really nice and we had a great time out. I wish we had more friends to go out with...sadly we don't.

Plan to just stay put today, gather what has been bought and box it up to mail out. With a possible trip to TN, I'll be taking those packages down instead of mailing. Somehow I just can't get the energy up to wrap the presents. Maybe it's to early,or not cold enough. Maybe just a little snow would help...not to much...I don't know.

DH want so go to the movies..We have 2 sitting on the table that we have not watched. I really don't want to go anywhere today. I think I'll win this one :-)

I think I've gotten this trip to TN in the back of my mind and can't get it out. Daddy will becoming home from the hospital probably 5 days before Christmas, I spoke with my sister today, she brought up the issue of her family being gone right after Christmas and how the baby brother is going to have to step up to the plate here....he can, the question is will he. My mom doesn't drive and daddy will not be able to for a while.I'll also be out of town the Friday after Christmas until New Years Eve. I'm already thinking of going back down there in January too.

Ok enough said, think I'll light a Christmas smell candle and think happy thoughts.

I did it , I did it....I did it

2006-12-02T12:01:00.000-05:00

I must have worked for 3 hours last night trying to get the NaBloPoMo elf, and the Holidailies buttons uploaded to my blog. I just couldn't do it. Then for some reason,something clicked. I uploaded them to PictureTrail and they have a URL thingy and I cut and pasted and it worked yayayayayay. You all just don't know how happy I am to have done this.....I have a simple brain in this head and none of this makes sense to me......I'm a nurse not a computer person, I have really come a long way with it. There used to be many fights over folders and files....I'm enjoying this, but I wanted to add some bells and whistles like everyone else :-)

Found out today that my dad has to have surgery. Found a polyp on his colon, it is benign, which is a good thing, but he has surgery on Dec 13th. I may try and go down that week-end . Luckily I have a brother and sister that live in Knoxville and they will be able to help. I told daddy that I'd try and come down before Christmas.....My mom doesn't drive and daddy will be out of commision for a while....I don't mind driving down to TN, I just will have to keep and eye on the weather...there are mountains on the way down....not a fun thing in bad weather.

Holidailies is here!!!

2006-12-01T13:54:00.000-05:00

Today is the first day of Holidailies.
I use my blog just to write about what is going on today....sometimes tomorrow too. I just finished one month of writing online, so we'll see if I can keep it going. Everything that needs to be said about me is on the side bar, so I'll not bore you with that.This is still a learning thing for me. I just figured out how to put a calendar on. I'd love to put a little sign of Holidailies on here, but don't know how..I'm working on it though.

Three weeks from today, I'll have a house full of people. I'm excited about that and hope that the weather will work for everyone that is flying, including my daughter and her fiance and his family. That is the only bad thing about traveling during the winter, is the weather.

I love this wreath,
however I have a feeling that vamom's 76 and 78 and will not share that feeling.

Present in a Blue Box with White Ribbon

2006-11-30T11:00:00.000-05:00

Today marks the 30 days of NaPloBoMo and 32 years of my marriage.

We've had 2 children, 2 dogs, 5 houses, 11 motorcycles, 18 cars. Currently there are still 2 children with one son-in-law and one more of those in July 2007, there is one grand-dog, 2 motorcycles, 2 cars and 1 truck.

As with life there have been good times and not so good times, just with life and not with the marriage. I think we give and take evenly and allow each other to be their own person.

As for the Blue Box and the White Ribbon........

One Day More

2006-11-29T20:47:00.000-05:00

Reminds me of the song from Les Misérables .....

Anyway, still sore from the marathon day in DC.yesterday.

It was the nicest of the past 3 days ,sunny and warm,and I'm glad I went in. Posted some pictures on Flickr of the animals at the zoo. Not to many comments and I didn't put the names of the Panda's ..shoot me...I did get them uploaded and I'm posting today, but I don't really have the energy right now to do to much more.

Plummer comes tomorrow, we went to pick up DH's truck tonight, new bumper on the back and he is a happy camper. Tomorrow is the last day of November and this blog month.....now the question is, am I going to do this in Dec?!?!?!?

A day at the Zoo

2006-11-28T19:22:00.000-05:00

Got up at 6:30 took the Metro in to DC and spent the entire day there. The pandas were so cute! This picture made me think of the ying and yang thing. He was asleep, it was about 9am.

I spent about 4 hours total at the zoo and took a lot of pictures.Then I went to Union Station,the Capitol,Lincoln Memorial.To tired to post much more than this.Feet are sore, lots of walking. I hope to get some pictures up on Flickr soon.....

Monday and 3 more days...

2006-11-27T13:20:00.000-05:00

Going onto the Randomizer
I see that a lot of the blogs are not "current" . This past week-end could have been a tough one if you were on the road, in the air, or shopping . Makes you wonder how many are still in the running. Will there be a tally of how many started, when did most drop out and who will win what prizes? Guess only Fussy will know and tell.

There are a lot of blogs that really make you go "Hmmmm" , some are hilarious, lots of people have medical issues, more than you would think have children with Autism. Some have beautiful pictures and links to other sites that have filled up my favorites list. It has been interesting reading other blogs and commenting on some that have held my attention. All in all I think this has been fun.

Plummer dude came out today. He takes the paper work back to the office and then another plummer dude will call and set up a time for the digger and fixer men to come out and do the job. This may be a week out before anything happens.Interesting side note is that they do not...DO NOT...guarantee the work from the site fix out to the yard. From site fix to the house they do, so if the yard fills up with water...it's not their problem.Let's hope that doesn't happen, especially with winter coming the next 3 months.

A Major Leak!!!

2006-11-26T11:34:00.000-05:00

We, meaning I, noticed a little bit of water in the basement Thanksgiving evening. Just little drips, but it was from the main valve coming into the house, in other words, water under pressure...not a good thing.Wiped it up and put a bucket under it. We called a plumber, not as an emergency, but to have them come out since it was the main pipe. DH tried to tighten it a little.....don't do that.......the fitting is plastic, one of the ones that has broken in other houses and flooded them.....eek. I am kind of in a panic mode, I think I hear running water all the time.

Looks like we will have some digging going on this coming week. They will come back out on Monday and give us an estimate, (like we're suppose to shop around for this), just do it before it really starts leaking. The drips have increased, so I'm a little concerned every time we leave the house, and I hear things all the time when the house it quiet...I just want it fixed!!! Soon and before all the Holiday things start.

I called them again this morning. I think the drips are dripping faster, kind of, maybe, anyway I told the girl that when they come out on Monday, it needs to be in the "we're going to do it mode" and not the "hmm, this needs to be done and we can do it Thursday mode" It would be nice to get this done without it being a true emergency which falls into another $$$ level.

Motorcycle Day....and 5 more days to go

2006-11-25T20:08:00.000-05:00

There is still one more day to the week-end yayayayyy.

We went on a motorcycle ride to West VA, Harpers Ferry

,and Charlestown,( we did not play).
The photo is for Robbie a nurse I worked with who loved this place.

Then we went to Tuscarora Mill
a really neat place to eat,and the food was nummy. After lunch we went into this little bakery we split a pecan bar and one coffee.
we are so cheap it's not even funny. It had some neat photo opportunities though and smelled wonderful.
Just a fun day. No stress, no rushing around. Back roads were empty . Was a little nippy, but I had a heated vest on, so I was toasty.

Then I spoke with Vamom's 76 today. She pointed out the Holidailies and noted the "portal "thingy, ( what ever that is) then there is the
Holidailies at Home thingy, so I'm not really sure about that one....I think I need to read more about it. I noted that you can post a minimum of 50 words or one photograph to the Holidailies. Maybe I could do the photo thing and be into the habit for January.....decisions, decisions. Five more days left in November.

What have I done?

2006-11-24T20:02:00.000-05:00

Before I answer that, how cute is this little purse? A lady in line at Sears let me take this picture and yes I took the camera to the mall, and I did take a few pix of the madness. Just thought this was really cute. She said it was a gift bag a few years ago from Bath and Body. Just cute!

I guess I've enjoyed this month of nablopomo so much that now I've signed up for Holidailies
and, (this one I really can't believe I did), I've signed up for this . I've even started a new blog
for this one, I'm not sure even how to do some of this..so it will be a learning lesson too.

I am excited about the 365 days of pictures. I don't have to post it everyday, just take a picture everyday. and upload them several times a week..I can do that, right? I don't have a lot going on in 2007 , do I? Right... my mothers 75th birthday, 2 nephews graduation, 3 weddings, one of which is VAMOM's 78, a trip to CA and UT in August , 2 motorcycle events that I know of, (this will change), reunion with nursing school buds, that I am in charge of planning.Bikerman also wants to plan a vacation somewhere, sometime, when we're not really busy...so I can take a picture a day and post them to this site, can't I? We'll see.

I even started another Photo Blog on the Blogger Beta site...just want to check it out before I move everything. I'm not a fan of Beta anything, they have a tendency to have problems in the beginning, so after it is more stable I may switch over. However this may be where I post the best of the best......Up date here...the beta site sux big time.SO glad I did not switch this one over...I don't think anyone that did, or has started a beta one is happy.So I may move that one over here....

A Thankful Day

2006-11-23T13:08:00.000-05:00

I guess we all need to think about what we are thankful for and what we have.There are always those that are less fortunate than we are. I'm thankful that my husband has been cancer free for the past 4 years. I'm also thankful that both of my daughters have found someone to love and someone that loves them.That all of my friends and family that have been through chemo this year are doing well.

Hope everyone has a Happy and Thankful day....

Look at this......

One of Santa's reindeer was resting in the back yard this morning.....getting ready for the big day.

The day before....

2006-11-22T16:15:00.000-05:00

Heads Up.......

The average Thanksgiving meal contains around 3,000 calories and 229 grams of fat. Yikes!

This was on Hungry Girl this morning...did I need to see this? But then again,it's only one day. I love all the foods relating to Thanksgiving day, except cranberry sauce. Not a big fan of that. I like cranberry juice, and if there is a cranberry spread on a sandwich I might be ok with that. Maybe it's because I grew up with that jellied canned stuff, but I don't like homemade sauce either.

I have made my pie and baked the squash already today, everything else can wait till tomorrow. Its just the 2 of us, should be a quiet day. I"ll worry about 76 being on the road tomorrow going to NC, and hopefully 78 will make it to WI later this evening to be with her future in-laws.

Went out today after seeing an area with a lot of Bluebirds, but by the time I got there they were all gone, guess I thought they would wait on me. Anyway, got this picture of a tree trunk that I thought was pretty neat.

I think they're all down!!!!

2006-11-21T18:37:00.000-05:00

Here are some before and after pictures taken over the past month...while yes they are lovely with all the colors, I'm glad that they are all down and out of the yard.....I've blown and raked the leaves at least 3 times a week for the past month...Now the grass needs to be cut, but is way to wet from the last rain and it's suppose to rain again this week-end.
These show the front upper right of the yard.....

This is a view out the back door with and without leaves, such a different view. I only have to blow off the deck for these leaves, most just go into the woods.

Day 20...10 more to go!!!

2006-11-20T17:11:00.000-05:00

I think the time has gone fairly quickly. But then again November and December always seem to zip by to me.

Spent the day shopping, in real time and on the web. I hopefully have found the dress to wear to 78's wedding in July, not a small feat, looking for a dress to wear in July in November. But then again, I'll do anything to avoid having to wear a MOB dress. Most of those dresses seem to have beads and glitter, just not sure why. I thought all of the attention was to be on the bride. They also seem to be to dressy for a beach wedding, but then again that is my opinion. BTW, this is not a link to actual dresses being considered.

I also bought Christmas gifts for some of the family. I thought Monday might be quieter at the mall and it was to a point, but it is already a little crazy . I'm really looking forward to the holidays this year, especially since I have more time off.

Amazing Photography

2006-11-19T10:41:00.000-05:00

We went into DC yesterday to see the Nature's Best Photography Exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History.
It is amazing to see these photos and read the stories of the people that did these pictures. The closest thing I have to any of these might be the flying needle picture. Seeing these did make me want to go out and shoot some more pictures like this. I may have to make a trip to the Washington zoo here soon. I have a neighbor that moved not to far away and she has tons of bluebirds in her yard. I may try that in a week or so also, feeling the need to do this!!!!

Who reads your blog?

2006-11-18T08:05:00.000-05:00

I spent last night watching a movie and having dinner with my husband. While doing these activities I clicked on the randomiser and just clicked away. Found some interesting ones, funny ones, sad ones, and everything in between. What was interesting was the number of blogs that no comments. A lot asked questions, one even offered to do FREE headers for the first 3 people to blog on her site.....all but Blogger....other wise I would have said yes. She had one taker.....
So of the thousand plus bloggers doing the NaBloPoMo how many have no comments or answers to their questions after 17 days? I did make some comments on a few that I found interesting. There was a blog on toast written on 11/16.....I loved it!

So what is the answer to my question? Who reads and comments on your blog? I have 76 and 78 that will occasionally comment. I was reviewed by Holly. I get the spammer, which I delete. Otherwise there are very few others. We'll see if I get any answers :-)

I went to the mall yesterday to take some pictures. I've decided to take pictures of neon and I thought I might fine something there in one of the little stores, well guess what...I can't take pictures in the mall and BTW, there is no neon in the mall..they don't allow it !!!!!!Guess I'll have to hit the bars.

How cool is this?!?!?!?!?

2006-11-17T17:30:00.000-05:00

Remember day #15 when I made a list of my favorite web sites? Well one of them was this . Today I got this in the mail to use free and I just have to Buzz about it...how cool is that!!!!!This retails for almost $100.00

This is much better than the free coffee maker. That was neat...this is cool!

I've belonged to Buzz for maybe a year, so it doesn't happen right away, but how cool...Happy VAMOM7678!!!!

This grosses me out!

2006-11-16T13:40:00.000-05:00

OK this is really gross to me.

NBC4 did a story on the 5pm news about it yesterday evening.....showing all of this "ick"

I do not have pierced ears, I think I am the only one in the world who doesn't, but then again that's OK...the "hole" thing really grosses me out and this makes me queasy....I'm a nurse. I worked in surgery and loved it, but this....oogly!!

76 and 78 have pierced ears, but I didn't take them, my sister did..I can't even watch it being done. I know why. I had a traumatic viewing of this in nursing school, friends using an ice cube and an 18 gauge needle to do it....I can still remember watching while everyone was piercing each others ears and I knew there was no way in he** that I was going to have that done to me.....

We had a patient come into the office one time that had a tear, her child had pulled on her hoop earring and ripped her ear, I was so grossed out, I had to leave the room after I apologized to the pt.

A photo of my unpierced left ear...the right one is not pierced either!

15.2 I have been reviewed!!!

2006-11-15T16:08:00.000-05:00

Holly has reviewed the V's...and not Rashenbo . Thanks for the review and comments. Not sure why I look familiar to you, I've had several blogs, but this is the only one that has made it this far. Maybe next year more will offer to review and kudos to all that are doing it this year. I like seeing all the "stats"
And as promised a pansy picture. Planted these last week to put some color outside the kitchen window.....

Day 15 Web Sites

2006-11-15T09:17:00.000-05:00

I really feel this is a cop-out, but since everyone seems to continue making lists and before the numbers get to high,thought I would list 15 of my most favorite web sites. Enjoy!

This is an early post, suppose to be sunny and warmer today...rain tomorrow. Lots to do today. May try and post later with a photo. I will post later with a picture...

Weight Watchers
Dotties Weight Loss Zone
Sparks People
Hungry Girl
Buzz agent
My Survey
Road Food
Zillow
This is Broken
Tiny House
Freebies Forum
My Bargain Buddy
Daily Candy
The List
Trip Gas Price

Reviewing the Blogs and Crap happens

2006-11-14T18:28:00.000-05:00

Rashenbo is reviewing all of the blogs that are doing NaPloBoMo
...OMG!!! I cannot imagine reading or looking at every blog doing this. It would be like reading the entire WEB. The V's will be reviewed this week...yes I am following it, so how lame is that? That being said I think I am addicted to the randomizer . There have been a lot of really good ones out there. So yeah, I look at a lot of the blogs too.

Bikerman had a bad day at work only made worse by the fact that someone ran into the back of his truck while he was sitting in a line of traffic at a 3 way stop.He was 6 cars back from the sign. EEK! Hard to believe she didn't see him. Apparently she was not paying attention. There is some cosmetic damage done to the rear bumper.We will have to wait until daylight to see if it is worse than it is. The truck is pretty new, so he is going to have the damage appraised and see if there is any damage to the frame.There is also something poking through the rear bumper...not a good thing :-(

This is a photo of the Ridgeline and the reason it was purchased.He is not real happy right now.....

The 13th Daily Blog

2006-11-13T17:13:00.000-05:00

Today continues to be gray and dreary. I took this picture at 4pm with my new camera lens . Nice! Takes great pictures in low light, and it is a really neat size. This is a Christmas present, but I wanted to use it now. This may be changed to an Anniversary gift, since that date is before Christmas.

I started my day having breakfast with another NaBloPoMoer .Glad she called last night to remind me, otherwise I would have forgotten.

Then I helped a friend who moved 2 1/2 months ago, work on unpacking some boxes.She is totally overwhelmed. Her husband fell last week and shattered both heels .He will be unable to put ANY weight on his feet for at least 6 months. This will have a big impact their lives, since he does so much around the house. DH and I will go back over tonight and hang some shades and a few pictures. I think if we do a little at a time to help this will be a good thing. They are both very nice people and this will be hard to have others do things for them.
Let's hope the sun will come out tomorrow......

Sunday Day #12

2006-11-12T17:25:00.000-05:00

Following on the heels of a beautiful Saturday, today is quite the opposite.Poopy day, rainy and cold. Great day for chili ,watching football on TV, and putting day #12 of NaBloPlMo online.

Trying to get up the nerve to post the before and after photos of my weight loss , so it can show why I belong to the National Weight Control Registry . Looking through the photos, there are not a lot of full body pictures , most are just face shots and I am behind people...funny how we do that. Like it will make a difference.It certainly did to me at the time. I actually lost over 30 lbs , but have maintained the total of 30 lb weigh loss. So here are the photos and the face says it all. The first one was taken Spring 02 and the second one was taken Jan 06, (I was sitting on a motorcycle)

I started WW June 02, made goal Dec 02, and Lifetime, Jan 03. It is not a diet, it's a life style change.

#11 on 11/11

2006-11-11T19:17:00.000-05:00

What a beautiful day today was for November. Sunny and warm.
Bikerman and I wanted to go on a motorcycle ride since it was sooooo nice. I had signed up to donate blood this morning at 9:30, and figured we'd be on the road for the ride around 10ish..nope I was sitting in the chair at 10, then we were outta there! after some slight fluid intake and a nummy.

We left Oakton and headed out to The Plains for lunch . Sounds good right? Well while zooming along the back roads of Middleburg I started feeling like ca-ca. Headache, light headed, nauseated...not a good feeling when wearing a full face helmet. Deep breathing. Happy thoughts , anything to make it go away. Wishing we had brought a bottle of water, I finally had to have bikerman pull over in a school parking lot in the shade, take off the helmet,and jacket and just lie down. I think it was a combination of lowering my blood volume, heat, and probably some dehydration. After laying there for a few minutes and cooling down, I felt a lot better, and we continued on our ride. We made it to The Plains and had lunch at the Rail Stop, and while we were eating the proprietor walked in...He is a resident of The Plains and one-time co-owner of the Rail Stop. Though he sold his interest in the business 2 1/2 years ago he continues to take his meals here, as often as five times a week when he's not off playing another character.
..how cool was that!?!?!?! He really looked good.

We finished the ride and came home and finished some chores we both needed to do.

I was surprised at how crappy I have felt the rest of the day though. I kept going, but I really have had to push myself. It really takes a lot to make me stop and lay down for a few minutes, but this has done it. Glad there is another day of the week-end.

Day #10 is special.....

2006-11-10T10:29:00.000-05:00

Day #10 should be special, so this entry will be about 10 things people may or may not know about me..

10... I was Home Coming Queen in the 8th grade
9... I was in the movie "All the Way Home" with Robert Preston and Patricia Neal
8... I was president of my junior class in Nursing School
7... I dated a guy in college who was president of the inter-fraternity council and went to all those parties at all the fraternities.
6... I flew back seat in a Navy jet and 36 hours later had a collapsed lung , that kept me in a Navy hospital for over 6 weeks.
5... My husband asked me 3 times to marry him before I decided to marry him.
4... I was going to be a Home Economics teacher, if I didn't become a nurse.
3... I had never seen a pine cone on a tree or carved a pumpkin until I was married.
2... I have a difficult time spending money
1... I have belonged to the National Weight Loss Registry for 3 years.

Happy Birthday to VAMOM's 78.

2006-11-09T09:44:00.000-05:00

This time 28 years ago I was having my second c-section. Wanted a girl the entire 9 month and luckily God listened. Looking back there were definitely times we were candidates for the Dr Phil show, bad mommy vs PITA toddler, but we made it through. Pretty pink glasses to wear. The mom going into an intermediate teacher, after school and telling her that the daughter will do anything necessary to bring up the grade on a test that she took and "THOUGHT" she failed, only to find out the next day that she made an A. Sitting on the bed going through flash cards to learn Latin in HS. Calling long distance to Tennessee to wake her up for classes in college. Being lucky enough to have her graduate and then come back to the area to work, only to have to move to the west coast 3 years later.

She has a job, working for the
"mouse" and loves it. She had the opportunity to go to
"Hong Kong" for her job in March this year and let me, someone who had never been out of the USA, come over and visit for 10 days. How unbelievably cool that was.
She is working on her own webpage and the best of all is getting married to a wonderful guy in 2007.

I hope one day they will be on this side of the Mississippi........

Trying to Link

2006-11-08T15:58:00.000-05:00

Along with the daily posting and pictures, I have been working for the past 3 days on trying to put a link to my site. If you look back I've listed places and things, but I have no links. I've cut and pasted so many things to see if it would work. I know there is a "key" on the site to add them, but somehow it hasn't worked for me. So last night while the TV was chatting about the election, I kept practicing.

Tonight I will be going to the FFX Government building for a presentation by
Roadfood. Looking forward to seeing this. DH and I have tried to be better at eating at more local establishments while we are on the road instead of chains. This can be both a good and bad experience. (check out that link...yayayaya)

Yucky day here in VA, gray and drizzly, suppose to clear and be nicer the rest of the week. Went through some of my summer photos and found one that I liked, to post today.This was taken in Utah in August.Really beautiful part of the country.We'll be going back there in August again for the
Utah Small Sat Conference

I'm on a roll now :-)

A sunny picture for my gray day......

Happy Election Day

2006-11-07T15:40:00.000-05:00

Hope everyone out there in blog land voted today.If you didn't you need to ask yourself why and then think about what if you could not vote at all, or had no choise of your own. (Ok, off soap box) At this point I fall into the group that just wants it to be over. It has been a very nasty and verbal campaign. I voted last Saturday at the county government center. DH was going to be out of town, so I decided to vote with him, absentee. First time I had ever done that. I always just go to the voting place, this was so much easier though.

Dinner tonight with a former co-worked.One of the few I have left in this area. Most have moved or not kept in touch. She is a really nice girl, pregnant with her second child and also quit working shortly after I did. The difference is she has a son with autism and spends a lot of time with him.

I hope to work learning how to put a link on the blog....still have a simple mind and nothing is working for me...but I'll keep trying.

Making photos....and I'm on the list!

2006-11-06T16:26:00.000-05:00

I love taking pictures. I don't love HAVING to take a picture. Because then they are not really what you want to take pictures of. I have 2 more weeks to go, and we have already picked the one that will be enlarged, so the things I'm taking pitures of now have nothing to do with anything. I'm having to look for things to photograph. These are drops of water...

My blog is now on the list for NaBloPoMo....yayayay..it's the little things for me that matter.

Back from the beach......

2006-11-05T16:33:00.000-05:00

Nice trip to the beach in MD. Think we like VA Beach better. I know it is November, but this place was dead!!!! Maybe it is because we used to live in VA Beach and have gone down there more. Still it was fun. Made the week-end go by all to fast.

Day #4....off to the beach!

2006-11-04T09:31:00.000-05:00

Leaving this AM for the beach for a day...will be a bit nippy, but a nice change of pace for us.

Had a fun time yesterday afternoon in DC with the daughter. We both enjoy food and cooking so we went to The Metropolitain Cooking Show in DC. The crowds were light for Friday, everyone will be going in today and tomorrow to see Paula Deans boys. But is was so nice not to have to fight the crowds. Then we had dinner at Zaytinya
probably one of my most favorite restaurants in the area.

The picture is of VAMOM and 76...funny thing about this picture is we both actually have long hair.

...and the winning photo is

2006-11-03T10:17:00.000-05:00

So last night in the photography class we..the group...chose which picture is the chosen one out of all the photos taken over the past 6 weeks. I've been pretty pleased with most of the ones I took. The one picked at least has some meaning to me. We have to enlarge and mat the photo for our last class.This picture was taken at the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles CA. I took in on a trip in early October with daughter #1 to go see daughter #2. It did turn out to be a neat photo.The person in the photo is daughter # 1.

I also found out last night that one of the girls in my class is the daughter of Micky Dolenz,of the Monkeys. She is a really sweet girl and takes excellent photos.I thought she looked like someone I knew from the first class, and she just let is slip out last night.Pretty cool!

Mixed Emotions

2006-11-02T13:16:00.000-05:00

I am so ready for all the leaves to be off the trees. I have raked and blowed leaves for about 3 weeks now and there isn't an end any time soon. We basically live in the woods and while most of the 4 seasons it is lovely,including the fall, the leaves are over whelming.

I have also been going through some Christmas things to get a little better organized for the holidays. I found this little momento in one of the boxes. I think I have kept everything the girls ever did, I probably have their first poopy diaper somewhere ( just kidding) Here is a little someting that is about 25 years old and the little girl just turned 30 in August.

2006-11-01T14:11:00.000-05:00

OK, so today is #1 on the posting for 30 days...we'll see how this works out. This picture was the only one I liked for class this week, nothing seemed to look good in "My Eyes" I'll keep on snapping away and hope to include a new pix along with blog during these upcoming days....

Boo

2006-10-31T13:02:00.000-05:00

Forgot to put this in the blog...will need to practice this in the coming month.....

End of October

2006-10-31T12:48:00.000-05:00

10-31-06
Thought I'd make a post today, and hopefully will do 30 days of blogging after this one. Got the info from another site that I frequent about blogging for 30 days

Busy fall, taking a photo class and learning new things. Has been a fun year not working , might be more interesting than fun. I think the extro-vert in me misses the job and talking to people. I have accomplished a lot with the house and will continue with this project a little more before Christmas and kick it up a notch after the first of the year.

Happy Halloween

Mother Nature

2006-07-10T21:18:00.000-05:00

How cute, a mother deer and her fawn. I saw the baby early last week and just saw the 2 of them out in the woods today. I don't think it is very old, and the mom was just laying there keeping an eye the little one

2006-07-10T21:14:00.000-05:00

The baby

2006-07-10T21:13:00.000-05:00

Mother and baby...in the woods

2006-07-05T18:21:00.000-05:00

Green bean bundles...I forgot to take a picture of the stuffed tomatoes...and they are gone yum!

2006-07-05T18:20:00.000-05:00

Zuchinni and Yellow squash on a bed of caramelized onions, with basil and garlic infused evoo.

2006-07-05T18:18:00.000-05:00

Fruit cobbler, blueberries, cherries, peaches and raspberries

2006-07-05T18:17:00.000-05:00

Fresh veggies from the farmers market

Farmers Market and Betty Crocker

2006-07-05T18:01:00.000-05:00

Going to the farmers market just brings out the Betty Crocker in me. I bought some yummy fresh blueberries, raspberrys, peaches and cherries and made a fruit cobbler.. I could eat the entire thing myself. Then I made a zuchinni and yellow squash dish, stuffed tomatoes, and these green bean bundles...oh so yummy, and healthy....well maybe not all the cobbler is , it does have butter in it, mmmmm!
I played around with them, , and made them mine!

vamom7678

2006-06-28T15:17:00.000-05:00

Rain is gone , sun is out. Nice to go to the farmers market this
morning. The fruit looked so yummy, had to buy the strawberries. I wish I could take a picture of how they smelled

2006-06-28T15:15:00.000-05:00

The last of the summer strawberries. They smelled soooo good.

2006-06-28T15:14:00.000-05:00

Cherries and Blueberries. Vienna farmers market.

2006-06-26T11:59:00.000-05:00

The Red Window

vamom7678

2006-06-24T12:20:00.000-05:00

It seems that everyone is having a hard time getting to this site, or blog, or whatever...so this may be short lived.

2006-06-23T17:26:00.000-05:00

The first of the tomatoes..

Say it and it might be done.....

2006-06-23T17:25:00.000-05:00

I've had one of these blogs before , earlier in the year, and just never shared it with anyone. Wanted to see how it would go and how I would do with it. Now I've decided to go ahead and put one out there for others to see and to share.Pictures will follow and words will be shared....so here goes