A little insight...

I AM a pretty happy camper 98% of the time
I WANT to be more organized
I HAVE the things in life that are important to me
I KEEP all my size 10 jeans, don't know why I torture myself  by keeping them, but I do...
I WISH I COULD just put on my big girl, ummmm, make that old lady panties and throw the damn things in the trash
I HATE high gas and food prices
I FEAR that the prosperous times for our country are over
I HEAR the fur kids snoring in their playpen right now...
I DON'T THINK I'll ever tire of my computer(s), my ongoing fascination for it hasn't waned at all...
I REGRET that I never got that horse, something I wanted desperately for years...  I don't want one anymore, just wish I would have made it happen in my 20's, or 30's
I LOVE being able to stay home, and not have a time schedule for anything
I AM NOT a phoney, I'm the genuine 100% real meal deal...
I DANCE really well, it doesn't seem to matter that I have no feet, I can boogie with the best of 'em, who woulda thunk it...
I SING to the M&M's, one of my faves, You Are My Sunshine - they look at me like I'm nuts...
I NEVER have a banana split anymore, but I should, I ADORE banana splits...
I RARELY watch prime time television, when I do it's usually FOX News
I CRY ... not so much anymore, one of the good things about post-menopause, not so hormonal...
I AM NOT ALWAYS tactful, I tend to stick my foot in my mouth with regularity...
I HATE THAT I procrastinate, but I understand now that I'm genetically predispositioned to it and don't beat myself up like I once did, and thanks to LC,  I have gotten lots better about it over the years
I'M CONFUSED ABOUT oil prices and record profits for the oil companies when they insist they aren't price gouging
I NEED to remember to take my vitamins everyday, I'm doing pretty good with that these days...  I also need to be better about making lists, since I'm forgetful in my old(er) age...
I SHOULD get all of my Thanksgiving and Christmas recipes posted again, so that all of you have them for the holidays, and I will...
I HOPE all of you enjoy my nonsense and I don't bore you to tears...

What the Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Oprah and Charlie Gibson have in common....

They are ALL on Jan's sh*t list this morning.  Well, as you know Oprah has been on it for some time but the rest of them are just now annoying the hell out of me!

Let's take The View first.  Both V and Hooterville gave up on it a long time ago, but oh no, not me.  I continued to watch it, even though that vapid little Elizabitch annoyed the beejus out of me, I found Joy's acerbic humor amusing,   I tolerated ole' Babs, and thought Sheri Shepherd was so-so.  I'm a Whoopie fan, thought she was fair and handled all the women pretty well.

I tuned in yesterday to watch them interview John McCain.  OMG, it was just horrid.  They weren't interviewing him, they were attacking him.  They were so negative toward him from the get-go, it was embarrassing to watch.  He handled them the best way he could, but they were relentless.  They, meaning Barbara and Joy.  To Sheri's credit, she just kind of sat there, and didn't do much, and of course that annoying little fly, Elizabeth, had her politically correct question to ask him.  Whoopi wasn't much better than the other two, especially with her little zinger about being afraid she would be a slave again, but it was just insulting to watch.  If that had been Obama  would they have done the same thing.  Of course not...  Shame, shame on them!

They brought out Cindy McCain later in the program, and snaps to her for putting Barbara in her place.  Bab's first question to her was, "Cindy, just exactly how many houses  do you have?"

And Cindy told her that it didn't matter how many houses they had, that she was proud of her husband and that he would do a good job running the country, and she was proud of her parents for working hard an creating such a good life for her.  Good for her, that shut the old woman up!  She just kind of sat there and blinked her eyes, she's obviously not used to anyone getting the best of her!!!!

Then there is Charlie Gibson, always my favorite news anchor, I liked his folksy delivery of the news, but I was totally, and I mean TOTALLY appalled by his interview with Sarah Palin.  Except that was no interview, it was like she was his prisoner of war, and he was interrogating her.  The man was in attack mode from the first sentence that came out of his mouth.  It may just backfire on him, though, middle America is not rallying behind the man.  George Stephanopolis interviewed Obama recently, and I might add, he did so wearing kid gloves.  Why did ABC honchos, who undoubtedly told the man exactly what to say and how to deliver it, allow such bias to happen???And remember, ladies, I'm a democrat, I have been my whole life, I come from a family of staunch democrats, but this  attack by Gibson has, in my opinion, has less to do with politics, than it has to do with trying to bring a woman to her knees.  He did NOT succeed!!!

Do I agree with everything McCain and Palin stand for.  Of course not, who ever agrees with everything on a politican's platform.  I'm a pretty liberal thinker, I'm pro-choice, I'm for gay rights, but I think that these candidates, even though they aren't, are respectful of other peoples views, something the "ladies" of The View obviously are not.  And Gibson, no more nightly news with him in this house, even Katie Couric would be better than this mouthpiece for the ABC brass.

Shame, shame, shame, on ALL of them!!!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

It's so hot in Heavensville, we're having just miserable wea-ther!!!  But hot or not, fur kids have to pee, so I roll out of the garage on Milly on a mid-aftermoon potty run with The M&M's  riding shotgun. I get to the end of the driveway, and realize something just doesn't sound right.  Milly is making a funny noise.  Now we ALL know about funny noises with our cars, but I've never had one on a golf cart.

I get off, and wouldn't ya know, Mildred has a flat tire.  Arughhhhhhhhh, it's totally flat, so I limp her back to the garage, with the tire leaving a rubber line all the way up the driveway, oh great, the neighbors are gonna love that...  The dogs look at me, like Mo-ooommmm, we hafta go, so thankfully Trish came to the rescue on The Zipper (her golf cart) and we were off to the fields.  That's probably where I got the darned flat anyway, going off road... 

Now that's a Kodak moment, I'm sure, me bouncing thru the fields on the little red golfcart, holding tight to my Yorkies so they don't fall off...   I'm sure my neighbors think I'm a nutcase.  Me, who in the old days, wouldn't dream of stepping foot out of the house without full makeup and big hair, now bounces thru the fields, au naturalle.  Ummm, I better clarify that, I don't mean I'm naked, geezy pete, that would be scary, I mean I go out and about in the neighborhood in yoga pants, an old t-shirt, no makeup and wild hair...

I'm a free spirit in my older age, and I like it, I really like it.....

Stella here, kinda gettin' her groove back.....

Stella hasn't got her groove back....

I'm workin' on it, just been a bit discombobulated since the big crash.  Here's a quick synopsis of what's going on in Heavensville.

• The M&M's continue their jail term.  Banished to a playpen by the side of my computer desk last week because of naughty behavior, we've all realized that life is a lot simpler with them beside me, lying on a soft cushion, all stretched out on their fuzzy throw instead of roaming all over the top of my desktop, stepping on my keyboard, me watching them like a hawk, lest they fall off. 
• I've discovered in the last few weeks that I really enjoy alternative grains. I'm eating couscous, bulgar, barley, and getting ready to try quinoa.  It's not bad, I've always been  a whole grains girl, I'm just taking it a step farther...
• I'm once again, "attempting" to let my hair grow longer.  I've done this, what, a hundred times in the last five years, and I always cave and cut it.  But I'm giving it yet another go...
• See what I mean, even with this post, still not back in the groove.  OMG, do you think my brain is befuddled FOREVER due to the trauma cause by the great crash of 2008...
• My new by-word - EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE!!!!

Must see tv - Shirley MacLaine is Coco Chanel

- Lifetime, Saturday September 13th, 8pm ET/PT

Any other Natalie Cole fans out there???

My all time favorite album is Natalie Cole's Unforgettable.  She released it seventeen years ago, and I still listen to it often. 

And since I loved that album so much, every time she released yet another album I bought it, hoping that it would be similar to Unforgettable, but none of them measured up, until now.

She was on The View this morning and she has a  new release, called Still Unforgettable.  She sang one of the tracks, Walkin' My Baby Back Home, a dubbed duo with her father, and it was wonderful, then I went to Amazon, and listened to clips of the other songs, and they, too are terrific!  Not quite as good as the original Unforgettable, but still better than anything else she's done since.

Here's the click,  if you want to link thru to Amazon to listen to some of the songs.  You have to scroll to the bottom of the page, and then you have the option to select PREVIEW ALL and listen to the whole list.  Her voice is pure honey...

Oh my...

White Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats with Candied Peanuts from David Leboviz, they're on Jan Can Cook. 

Here's the quick click...

What makes me happy...

• A phone call from the kids
• A quick hug from LC when he passes by me
• Yorkie kisses... rephrase, Yorkie ANYTHING, I love their look, their smell, their sweetness, their smallness, they're the best little fur kids!
• Coffee and a donut, ummm, make that two donuts, and a large coffee, cream, two Splendas and the morning paper at Donut Bank...
• A great episode of Y&R
• When I can actually figure out some techkie thing on the computer and understand it...
• A great book, one that's a page turner that I can't put down
• Cool breezes, crisp fall days, a visit to the orchard, blowing leaves, chili simmering on the stove, apple pie in the oven, the house smelling of cinnamon from the baking pie
• Rides on Milly, watching the dogs romp with London in Trisher's yard
• A great meal that I don't have to cook... 
• A hot bath, fresh sheets and a soft nightie
• An inbox filled with emails from my favorite people
• Most of all, home makes me happy.  I nestle in for days with my fur kids, my books, and of course my computer, and I'm a happy camper

That's some of the things that make me happy, now it's your turn, what makes you happy?

I received this in an email this evening, what a great idea!

CAR KEYS

PUT YOUR CAR KEYS BESIDE YOUR BED AT NIGHT.

First tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, your
Drs. Office, the check out Girl at the market, everyone you know.

Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you
come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of
this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and
requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain.

It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm
goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the
burglar rapist won't stick around... after a few seconds all the
neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there
and sure enough the criminal won't want that.

And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a
parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there....

This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe
it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

This would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where
you can't reach a phone.

36 years ago today....

I was in hard labor, I gave birth to the most wonderful child, John, at 2pm in the afternoon.

Happy Birthday Johnno - I know you are going to have a wonderful day!!!

Hugs from Mom...

Last night's scrapbooking project...

 

I had started building this scrapbooking page before the crash of 2008, the sweet little girl picking fleurs in her sundress is is Larkin, my friend Trish's adorable two year old granddaughter.

 

It was just a plain book, I added two initial pages, the trees and the sky, and then added layer after layer of elements to create the pages.  I took the background away from a picture of Larkin, so I ended up with just her body, added it and finally,  I used a Gaussian Blur to soften each element,  and this is the result.  I needed a break last night from all the not-so-fun stuff I've been doing, and this is te result...

I actually like this, yeah, I really do...

This has been the most bor-ing weekend...

I'm finally pretty well finished with all my mundane computer maintenance, hopefully my boring blogs as well.  Today was catch-up - house maintenance, grocery shopping, not exactly a fun, either.  I did however,  manage to post a recipe on Jan Can Cook that looks fantastic.  It's from Cooks Illustrated, Peach Crumble, it would be good with apples, too.

I'm going to make this for LC, the lite version, that is.

You might want to check it out, also - the way they make this, it should stay crispy instead of getting soggy like other crisp recipes sometimes do.

Here's the Quick Click...

There's always a rainbow....

It's been a really, really bad time reinstalling windows, trying to get everything loaded and working.  I've threatened to get into the Jack, even though I detest the taste of whiskey, and would have to go buy a bottle.  Yeah, it's been that bad.  Had it not been for Hooterville, I really would have thrown the computer in the yard.

Maggie has been a little imp all day.  She has bugged me relentlessly, bringing me toys, barking at me, I would give up and play for a bit with her, and then she would start it again.  It's so cool today, she apparently was just feeling her oats.

Finally, about 7pm, I gave up, took her and Mollie on Milly over to Trish's, rousted her out of her house in her jammies and a hoodie with London in tow, and turned the dogs loose to play.  OMG, you should all have seen them, they rolled and romped and played, and when both London and Mollie gave it up, Mags just kept going.

Finally, forty-five minutes later, darkness was fast approaching, I tried gathering up the dogs to come home, but Maggie would have no part of it.  She ran from me and from Trish, she would NOT let us catch her, despite me pleading with her, promising her din-din, tweeties, daddy, ANYTHING, but nope, she would just scamper away from us and run circles.

Trish finally lured her on the patio and managed to corral her.  Oh she was naughty, but oh it was such a blessing to see her with all that energy.

Fast forward an hour, Ryan and Lindsay had sent a box to LC and when he got home from work and opened it, there were two little cheerleader outfits in it for the M&M's, red for Alabama, Linds said.  I'll get them all dressed and take their picture for you.  Too funny for words, and definitely the rainbow that brightened my day.  I wish I could share my daughter-in-law with all of you, Lindsay is just the BEST!!!!!!

And how's the computer working? I'm doing okay, loading up all my programs now, still have a few bugs, but for the most part I'm up and running.  Hopefully I'll be back to my usual nonsense shortly.

G'nite all, I'm going to soak in the tub.....

I'm about ready to throw the computer in the yard....

How many days has it been now since the big crash.  Seems like YEARS!!!!!  I've been stuck in techkie hell trying to get everything back up and running since the Dell dude came yesterday.

I thought it would just take me a couple of hours - oh hahahahahaha, jokes on me.. Try a couple of days!

That's why I'm not around.

I'll be back soon, yeah, sure I will....

Another day, more problems....

I think I'm in some kind of crazy cycle, nothing is going right for me. I was up until 11pm trying to install Windoz, with no luck, then the wheels were turning so of course I couldn't sleep, so I was back up a 4am - still trying to make the stupid thing work, THEN I was on the phone with Dell Tech Support from 7:30 until 11am, with multiple technicians doing everything possible to get my computer to reinstall Windoz, they finally decided the problem was the harddrive, which Hooterville knew yesterday, and even me with my little birdbrain figured the same thing, but I guess they had to justify giving me a $100 harddrive by spending all those hours on the phone having different people making me do the same silly tasks over and over and over until I was about to scream, and then when this dippy woman FINALLY decided to give me a new harddrive, after asking me if my harddrive was hot. HOT???? That's when I really about lost it. Arughhhhhhhhhhhhh, but since I'm still under warranty they are sending out a little man to install a new harddrive within 3 business days... And of course they don't work on Saturday and that's the third business day so with my luck it will be Monday. I have other computers, so it's not a total washout, but I just want my main one up and running like normal...

But one technician from New Delhi named Dajis was very nice, and he's saving my telephone number and when he visits his sister in New Jersey I'm going to be the first person he calls. We talked for so long during all the booting and rebooting that we developed this weird friendship and he told me about how he hates his job and he used to teach but made no money and how the customers all scream at him because their computers are broke and they won't listen to what he tells them to do, and he doesn't know how much longer he can stand it and on and on and on. Geezy Pete, I have no idea why he told me this stuff, maybe I reminded him of his mother!!!

Ryan says I have an unhealthy relationship with my computer. Of course I disagree, my computer is my livelihood, it's what interests me at this stage of my life. He couldn't understand why I couldn't just walk away and forget it when it wouldn't work. Well maybe I do have an unhealthy relationship with it. At this point I am so frustrated that I could just throw the damned thing in the yard and be done with it, but of course that would accomplish nothing. So I wait for the little Dell dude to call me... He will, someday, when he's in the mood. *sigh*

But I'm sitting here with my external harddrive all backed up, thank goodness, and of course it's full now, because it's only 250 gigs, so I need a new one, I want a terrabite this time. This computer stuff just never stops for me, NEVER!!!!! It's those darned scrapbooking files, they are HUGE and take up so much room. And of course, both of my sons think I'm totally bat shit crazy, which I probably am, for wanting all this stuff, but it's what I DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I spend my days playing on the computer. And they should both be thrilled that I do, because at least I'm not driving them nuts bugging them all the time because I'm bored!! Well, actually I do call them a lot *blush* but it would be worse if I didn't have a computer to occupy my time. And thank God for Hooterville, because she can usually get me out of a jam, usually laughing hysterically, I might add, but I don't blame her, some of the technical messes I get myself into are just unreal!!!

Why am I telling you all of this, why am I rambling on and on and on, sorry guys, I know this is boring, just had to vent!!!!

Okay, I'm going to change into my jammies, eat dinner, and settle in with a book until Sarah Palin comes on the tube... And what did all of you think of Cindy McCain's yellow shirtdress last night? I thought it looked totally couture, but a bit over the top. Something about the way that collar was turned up. And it flounced out like she had petticoats on. Petticoats??? Now that's a blast from the past!! She kinda looked like an old Barbie doll. Tehehehehe, she did, didn't she? But she WAS having a really good hair day. I know, I know, what does her clothes and her hair have to do with politics. NOTHING, thank goodness, it's just GIRL STUFF!!!!!!!!!

Back tomorrow, it will be a better day, SURELY it will!!!!

The last 24 hours have NOT been fun….

I got up yesterday morning, my computer crashed!!!!!  Couldn’t get it to boot, FINALLY it did, so I spent entire day backing up files to the harddrive, because OF COURSE, I wasn’t backed up like I should have been.

Now I’m getting ready to reinstall wndows, that’s why no blogging, no time…

Thought you would all like to see Lisa Marie Presly’s tummy, OMG, she’s about to EXPLODE!!!!!  Those bebes must be due like, yesterday!

Hopefully, I’ll be back tomorrow – this is a royal pain i the patootie…  I’ve driven poor Hooterville NUTS!!!  Whatever would I do without her, though – the woman knows EVERYTHING about computers, she’s a wonder…

Me, not so much, I play with my little doodads, blog, surf, do I do the technical crap, of course not, then disaster strikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Poor pitiful me…

I’ve never heard of peanut butter cupcakes, have you?

I was intrigued with the fork crosshatches on the top of this recipe.  It eminds me of rolling balls of peanut butter cookie dough when the boys were little, and letting them take the fork, dip it in water first to keep it from sticking, and then marking the cookies. 

I posted this recipe over on Jan Can Cook, you might want to check it out, it looks wonderful.  Here’s the quick CLICK…

Peace ….

I’ve always been one to strive for peace, not necessarily happiness as a lot of people seem to do.  I’ve found through the years, that happiness is borne of peace.  Happiness is elusive, a few fleeting fragmented moments of time, but oh, when your soul is at peace, it’s lasting and it’s perfect.

I found it this morning.  It’s a warm, very breezy fall day in Heavensville.  Hubby is working, and I made myself a late breakfast, eggwhite omelet, freshly ground and brewed coffee, and a bowl of fresh peaches and yogurt.  I ate outside on the patio, with freshly cut herbs sprinkled on my omelet, and cherry tomatoes plucked from the vine, feeding the M&M’s bites of peaches as I ate. Afterwards I took them for their late morning potty run. I was sitting in the golf cart in the shade by the rocks, the fur kids were scampering in the grass, the wind was blowing in my face, the sun dappling thru the trees, a dove was cooing in the distance, and I was at peace.  Wonderful, blissful peace.

I have defining moments in my life when I remember such feelings.  The most binding ones were when the boys were born.  After both births, as I held those little red faced, ten fingered, ten toed baby boys in my arms, I have never felt such peace.  They were healthy, beautiful little babies, and it was the happiest moments of my life.

Not surprising, one of the other vivid memories is of home.  Hubby and I had been married a few years, the boys were small at the time, and we were visiting Mother.  It was a day not unlike today, a warm day with a brisk wind, and Mother had her windows open.  There is nothing like freshly laundered curtains billowing at the windows, and because she lived in a valley surrounded by trees, she always had great cross-thru ventilation, so it was a wonderful breeze.

Hubby had taken Mother and the boys somewhere, but I stayed behind.  I took a pillow from her bed, with the same pillowcase that I had slept on as a child, one she had made years before, and I laid down sideways on the foot of her bed, my head on that pillow, and my face to the window.

I’ll never forget that afternoon, the way the birds I remembered from my childhood were singing in the trees by my ditch, the sound of the tassel on her raised window shade as it flapped against the blind, and I went to sleep.

I’ve never slept as soundly, or as well as I did that afternoon, with the breeze blowing over my body, in the house where I grew up.  It was comfort, and it was warmth, and it was memories, and it was totally perfect.

I awoke refreshed, and I can still remember the imprint of her chenille bedspread on my arm.  It’s a much cherished memory, one that will stay with me always.

So when I have a peaceful moment, like I did today, I treasure it, and I remember other moments as well.  I hope you do, too.  It’s a wonderful thing.

~ jan

This is it, this is the pillowcase I slept on that long ago afternoon!!!  I have it saved in a drawer in the guest room.   A few years before Mother died, I was visiting her, and I told her I wanted it someday.  She went right then, found it in her drawer, and gave it to me. I seldom asked her for her things, and I’m sure she wanted to be sure I got it.  It used to be one of a pair, but she didn’t have other one, I was just glad that she had saved this

After I made this entry, I thought you might all like to see it, so I got it from the drawer and took this picture. Isn’t it wonderful?

I still have the pattern Mother used to make this, too.  This old case dates back to the late 40’s.

It’s made from a feedsack, and she appliqued the lady with the bonnet, and added a ruffle at the bottom. It’s so worn, and a bit yellowed from where many heads have lain,  as you can see, but I bet if I handwashed it, put it outside to dry, starched it a bit and ironed it, that it would be PERFECT to take a nap on again.  And what do I have for my boys to remember of their childhood?

Well, somewhere, stored away I still have their Ronald McDonald pillowcases…  I’m such a sentimental schmuck!

It’s those simple things, ladies…

The potato chips are a hit…

I’ve received several emails praising the potato chip recipe I posted on Tuesday.  It’s a big hit, ladies, if you haven’t made it, you’re missing out on a good one….

You can access it quickly HERE.

~ jan

An exciting morning, it’s going to be Sarah Palin…..

Huge news this morning, McCain’s camp just announced that he is running Sarah Palin for his veep. 

Time will tell what kind of candidate she will be, but you have to admit, McCain sure pulled a rabbit out of the hat with this one.  I bet Obama is scrambling over this news!  He just had the rug pulled out from under him.

I haven’t been this excited about politics in a long time.

She is 44 years old, had a Downs Syndrome baby just last spring.  No abortion for this woman governor of Alaska, she’s definitely pro-life.  A conservative,  mother of five, and a former 2nd place contestant in the Miss Alaska contest.  Hot damn, this election just caught fire!!!!!!

Lots of information about her on Wikipedia – here’s the quick click!