Now where is that toy department, It's around here somewhere

My mommy taught me how to shop, and I'm really good at it, too..

Date Night...

Since I was a teenager, I've always thought of Friday night as date night.  And with hubby's work schedule in recent years, they've been far and few between.  But that's all changed, and now we can go out again on Friday night.

Here we are last night, doesn't he look thrilled?  Do you think he even wants to date me??  I'm thinking by the looks of this picture, maybe not, he doesn't look very happy.   I,  however, was absolutely estatic to be  going out on Friday night!  We were supposed to double date with Rich and V, but they were grounded and couldn't go.

And how was my evening?  Well, we went to Deerhead, where I had a catfish sandwich that I "thought" I wanted, but I was drooling at everybody else scarfing down ooey gooey pizza.  So I decided right then and there that I want pizza for my birthday dinner next week.  Got that family, pizza, preferably John's homemade, which is the best pizza in the world, seriously, it is!

Then we went to the movies, saw Wall Street, Money Never Sleeps, which I thought hubby would enjoy, and he did.  However, yours truly thought it was the most gawdawful movie I've ever seen in my life.  All that Wall Street lingo, I was lost from the beginning.  But he's sat through enough chick flicks with me, that it didn't hurt me to watch this.  Compromise, remember.

And it was fun to get out, and he did tell me I looked nice and opened my car door for me, so all in all, it was an "okay" date.  I think I'll go out with him again, if he asks...

Retirement...

Hubby is retired now, yesterday was his last day working.  It sounds strange even saying it, and we're both still trying to absorb it all.  He says he doesn't feel retired, and I've been preparing for this for months now, but now that it's actually here, it's ummmm, interesting?

I've had a lot of advice from girlfriends.  My friend Mary said it best when she said "when they first retire, it's a dance, with you both trying to figure out the steps."  

Another friend suggested that we each have our own room and that the other doesn't enter without permission.  I mentioned this to LC, so he has been standing at the sunroom door, waving at me.  Somehow I don't think that's going to work.  But I've always been a pretty good dancer, I think I'll give that a try first.

I think our biggest challenge will be the difference in schedules and energy levels.  He gets up before dawn, goes like a bat outta hell until noon, eats lunch, then collapses in his recliner watching the Western Channel and napping.

I prefer to get up between seven and eight, be quiet for the next half hour or so, have my coffee and begin my day.  This morning he was cleaning out the dishwasher at 7am with the television blaring.  And although it was great that he did that, I would have rather him done it a bit later.  And so it begins. 

Retirement means compromising for both of us, kind of like when we were first married.  Well, not exactly, but you get my drift.  It will be interesting for awhile, then we will settle into a routine, I'm sure and get on with it.  The kids are thrilled that we can visit on weekends now, we're so happy that he doesn't have to work holidays, which means I don't have to cook that darned turkey anymore, we will go to their houses.

I was an only child, I made every holiday dinner all these years, so I'm more than ready to let the younger generation take over.  We're going to John and Deanna's next week.  They are happily planning it all out,  and I'm happily letting them.  I will just play with Abby and let them go for it.  And hubby, will he be relaxing? Of course not, he will be up before dawn, doing a major reorganization in John's garage.  He's absolutely thrilled to have a project.  And me, I'll be sleeping, hopfully until eight...

Yep, I'm looking forward to this rainy night, FINALLY, rain!!!!

Check out the threads…

Can you guess who bought her this outfit??? Of course you can, yep it was me, Grammie!

A girl is never to young to wear a bit of leopard you know.

Look at how long her hair is getting.  Is there going to be another redhead in our family, or is it the lighting.  I’m thinking red curls may be in our future…

Looking forward to Thanksgiving…

Especially this year, since hubby is retiring next week and won’t have to work thru the holidays. 

Like most of you, we stick to our family traditions, but we’ve decided to shake it up just a little bit this year and abandon Dear Abby’s Pecan Pie, which we have been making for the past thirty something years in favor of trying Pioneer Woman’s Pecan Pie.  That Pioneer Woman is totally awesome, so her pie must be good.

And we’re going to make the recipe I got from the LA Food Times for Banana Coconut Cream Pie with Coconut Crust, which is nectar of the gods, and has more calories than you want to think about.  It’s the crust that takes it to the next level, butter and coconut, why wouldn’t it be good.  But damn those calories, it’s Thanksgiving, I’m gonna eat it alllllll, girlfriends…

If you’re interested, here are the links -

Lawry’s Coconut Banana Cream Pie>>>

Pioneer Woman’s Pecan Pie, the pie that’ll make you cry>>>

Gobble, gobble Waddle, waddle… ~ jan

Wouldn't you kill for this closet!!!

Source:  Julie Mihaly

If I were brave…

This is so awesome, women living life to the fullest.  My friend, Martha Bowman is one of those women.  See her at 3:00 into the video.

Marie Osmond talking about her son’s death on Oprah…

If you missed seeing Marie Osmond on Oprah yesterday, you  missed the most moving, tragic, heartfelt television show I’ve ever seen.  She was talking about the death of her son, she was so honest and open and she’s  still so brokenhearted, it was really difficult to watch her talk about this and experience her pain, but it was so touching that she would open up and talk so honestly about this.  I hope that it was a healing experience for her.

I’ve been a fan of hers, always.  In the early 90’s, we were at the annual Toy Show in New York, it’s a big deal, all of big guns are there.  We had a booth just a few aisles away from the booth that was selling Marie’s dolls.  And one afternoon she came and worked in her booth, meeting people, talking about her dolls.  I stood in front of her booth and watched her all afternoon, so close to her that I could almost reach out and touch her.

She looked beautiful that day, I’ll never forget what she was wearing.  A  brown velvet blazer, a long brown paisley skirt and tall brown suede boots.  She was gracious and kind to all of the people, and her trademark laugh just rang through the building.

I’m including a link to parts of this show from Oprah’s site in case you missed it.  I had no idea that the quality of her voice was so good that she could sing opera flawlessly, but you will see what I mean when you hear her sing “Pie Jesu.”  And if you scroll down there are several video clips from the show that you can watch.

It was truly a once in a lifetime experience, by far the best hour I’ve ever spent watching Oprah.

Here’s the link>>>

I wish they had included more of the interview, so I went to YouTube and sure enough, there is lots more on their site than on the Oprah link.

Here’s the YouTube link>>>

If you watch this, ladies, get out your kleenex, this will tug at every mother’s heartstrings.

Call your children today, hug them if you can and tell them how much you love them.  Keep them close to your heart and be so grateful that you have them, I know I am.

~ jan

A giggle for you tonight….

My friend Marti sent this to me, it’s too good not so share.  Those of you who share my wicked sense of humor will love this… ~ jan

The Cat

Last Saturday night we were  dressed and ready to  go out to a Party . We turned on a night light, turned the answering machine on, covered our pet parakeet and put the cat in the backyard.

Because we knew we would be having a few drinks we phoned  a cab  company and requested a taxi. The taxi arrived and we opened the front door to leave the house.

As we walked out the door, the cat we had put out in the yard, scoots back into the house. We didn't want the cat shut in the house because she always tries to eat the bird.

My wife  goes on out to the taxi, while I went back inside to get the cat. The cat runs upstairs, with me in hot pursuit. Waiting in the cab, my wife doesn't want the driver to know that the house will be empty for the night. So, she explains to the taxi driver that I will be out soon, 'He's just going upstairs to say Goodbye to my mother.'

A few minutes later, I get into the cab. 'Sorry I took so long,' I said, as we drove away. 'That stupid bitch was hiding under the bed. I had to poke her ass with a coat hanger to get her to come out! She tried to take off, so I grabbed her by the neck. Then, I had to wrap her in a blanket to keep her from scratching me. But it worked! I hauled her fat ass downstairs and threw her out into the back yard! She better not shit in the vegetable garden again!'

The silence in the cab was deafening.

Wow, this was a long time coming…

Nisha and I have been friends forever it seems, since we were our twenties.  We both waited a long time for grandchildren, but now she has her Gabby, who is almost three months old and I have my Abby who is thirteen months today.  And no, we can’t keep their names straight, we both call them by the wrong names.

We met them for lunch, Lindsay and Abby came, too.  It’s so special when your friends are grammies too. It was such a good time…

Does anybody remember McDonald’s Cheddar Melt?

I saw a commercial today that McDonald’s is bringing back that icky McRib, yet again. That is the nastiest sandwich known to man, why they resurrect the tired old thing every few years is beyond me.

Back in the 90’s, they did have an awesome sandwich, the Cheddar Melt.  Remember that one?  It was a quarter beef patty with melted cheese and grilled onions on a rye bun, and it was awesome.  But do they ever bring it back? Nooooooooo.  And would I eat it if they did??? Yesssssssss.

I never eat fast food anymore, but you betcha I would hotfoot it over to Mickey D’s faster than a New York minute if it ever reappeared on their menu. 

Just in time for the holidays, a Cherpumple pie cake….

Yes, dear hearts, it’s a Cherpumple, it’s the dessert version of a turdurken (chicken stuffed into a duck, stuffed into a turkey) which we tried, at Ryan’s insisence, a few Thanksgivings ago.  I was not a fan.

The Cherpumple consists of a cherry, pumpkin and apple pie, all stacked on top of each other, baked into a three layer cake batter and frosted.  Sounds just horrid, doesn’t it, but it’s for real.  Here’s the video…

Can she really be this big?

Cuppycake walked all the way thru Costco yesterday holding onto Daddy’s hand.  Doesn’t seem possible that she’s old enough to do this…

I have a new camera, and I LOVE it!!!!

If any of you are in the market for a new camera this fall, this one is wonderful.  It’s the Canon SX30 IS – not a little camera, this one has substance, but still not so big that you can’t put it in a larger purse.  It has a brownie finder, as well as a LED screen, which is a must for me.  Hey I’m a product of the 50’s, I love view finders, and a grab bar on the side – the pictures I’m taking are so good, it’s the best camera I’ve ever owned.  It takes HD movies, too.

It’s 14.1 megapixels with a 35X zoom.  That’s not a typo, the zoom is 35X.  Amazing for a point and shoot.

Hooterville has been helping me set it up, I’m actually taking pictures, programming the settings, instead of putting it on automatic thanks to her help.  I’m not a photographer, but this camera makes it easy for anyone to take good pictures.  Click on the camera, it will link you to Amazon and you can read all about it. 

My friend, Trish, bought it first, and now my buddy Carlene has purchased it.  What a great camera this is…

Here’s the link to an online photo album of pictures I took at Ryan’s.  If you like horses, you might enjoy this.

~ jan

Williams-Sonoma Fall Forest Piecrust Cutters, Set of 4

 

Don’t you just love this set of piecrust cutters for Thanksgiving.  My mother always used a leaf from the yard and cut her own leaves for the top of pumpkin pies.  It’s such a nice memory.  These are just a bit more refined…

If you’re interested – here’s the link>>>

Donna Reed Show Theme Song

How about a blast from the past this morning...

Donna Reed Show Theme Song

So, I think I’ll fix a bit of breakfast…

I have a blueberry muffin in the freezer, I’ll just defrost it, oops, no microwave.

Okay, I’ll quickly poach an egg, nope, can’t do that either, no microwave.

But I did manage to brew more coffee without the pot overflowing.  But why didn’t all of the beans grind?  Some are still whole???

Okay, I’ll live with it…

Note to self:  Never again attempt to defrost a blueberry muffin in a paper cupcake liner in the toaster oven.  Without going into details, because dear hubby reads this blog, let’s just say that it wasn’t pretty, ladies….

Why me?

Life can be going along just fine, everything is smooth, no worries and then kaboom, it all goes to hell in a hand basket.  Here’s a recap of my last twenty-four hours -

• The microwave died, just totally blacked out.  Since it’s over the range, it’s pricey – $250 to fix a seven year old microwave or $400 to buy a new one.  Grrrrrr
  
• The fireplace quit working.  Hubby got it going, now it quit again this morning.
  
• The washer isn’t spinning clothes out, I pulled out a load this morning and they were soggy.
  
• Maggie upchucked in the floor, she’s fine now, who knows what that was about.
  

My can opener decided to quit opening cans, it’s in the trash.

My coffeepot overflowed for no apparent reason.

And that’s what’s going on in Heavensville this morning.  If bad things happen in three’s, then I’ve had more than my share.  Hope your Friday is better than mine!