Friday 55- Diets suck

Fit by fifty passed me by
At fifty-one I dare to try.

one,
two,
five,
eleven
A lot. to. go.

Panting,
Sweating,
Breathing,
Fun??

Frustration,
Inspiration.

Chocolate yes
Chocolate no.

Carbs good,
Carbs bad.

Diets suck.

Slow, steady wins the race,
Have to relax, keep a pace,
100 gone and see satisfaction on my face.


For more Friday 55 visit g-man

picture source

Justifiable Homicide Tuesday-Wednesday Edition-The husband vs the garage door opener

As I was too lazy to post yesterday and this is my meme I am posting it on a Wednesday. The question is what do I choose since I have several choices today. I did mention last week that the husband had a thing about the new garage door opener that drives me batty so perhaps I'll work with that one.

The garage door opener on my side of the garage died a year or so ago and it isn't a big deal except in the winter or when it is raining. If it was in the garage the kids were kind enough to open and close it for me. My parents had a used one and were going to install it but on closer inspection realized they didn't have all the parts, however if I bought a new one my dad would install it for me. Deal, so Dad and I went off to Home Depot and I bought one with his guidance. Basically Dad said buy "this one" and I did.

Dad starting to cut the hole in the ceiling, Mom assisting.

The installation wasn't too bad, it took the better part of a day and a half with Mom as his assistant and me sort of helping, but mostly getting coffee and lunch etc. I have few tools and if I have them never know where they are. My parents have learned this and came prepared. [Dad is a carpenter and has every tool you could imaginge] There were a few gliches however and several readjustments had to be made, the biggest was cutting a hole in the ceiling of the garage so the thingy that the door tracks along was higher up. Seems the "trigger" that tells the door when to stop closing was getting hit by the door itself and closing prematurely. Dad is very resourceful and the problem was solved.....why is this homicidal material....

Well seems the husband doesn't think I should use the garage door unless I am putting the car in the garage so he flips the switch that turns the power off to the unit. He doesn't want me to "wear" this one out... mind you the other was in the house when we bought it so who knows how old it was. We "debated" this back and forth and it all came to a head when I was coming home from work one morning and I get out of the car with a couple drinks from Starbucks, a bag of food from McDonalds and my purse, phone etc. I pressed the remote and nothing happens, hit it again and nothing happens....grr  I get out of the car and try the keypad, nothing. [isn't the keypad for when you forget your house keys or don't want to fumble with your keys?] I finally get in the house by calling him on my cell phone thereby waking him up and telling him to come and open the @#$%& door.... I had a few more words with him when he finally comes downstairs to go to work.....by the way I say..... not only were my hands full but it was raining cats and dogs and I can't get in the house with my new opener.....

The garage door has not been switched off since, and I am trying not to "abuse" the ease of the opener. And yeah my husband is bizarre sometimes.

How has your week been?

I Heart Bret Michaels [Celeb Apprentice Winner]

I know I can't believe I am saying it either, but after watching The Celebrity Apprentice I have changed my mind. Just a bit of back story: I have watched The Apprentice since its inception, years ago and have always enjoyed it. The backstabbing the personalities the tasks the whole thing.  Even the most egotistical man of all The Donald.

What makes the celebrity episodes better is that we all have preconcieved ideas about the celebrites and what they will be like and they  surprise me everytime. When I saw the list of who was going to be on this season I immediately knew I wanted Bret Michaels  off as soon as possible. I had seen enough of his Rock of Love to know what a sleeze he is. All those drunken, slutty girls who would do anything to get in bed with him, date .. whatever. It was gross, but like an accident hard to look away. I mean what man shaves his arm pits? He's not a body builder, fit perhaps but no Adonis. Anyway my mind was changed from just about the first episode. [for contestant list etc. go to web site]

Long story short Bret Michaels and Holly Robinson Peete were the two finalists. Both did well in the comptetion, Holly raising the most money ever but....... she was a coniving back stabbing manipulator.  Bret on the other hand was an all around good guy. He would help as a worker or be fair as a project manager. He was funny and endearing.

I know, I say it again he deserved to win. As much as I have compassion for Holly's charity [HollyRod Foundation] in support of Autism [her son has autism] but Bret lives with diabetus [no typo that is how he says it] and now his daughter is borderline.[couldn't find if he has his own foundation but here is a link] What could be more motivating than playing for a charity that affects your own health, he has been diabetic since age 6. [and we all know Bret has had his share of health problems lately]

I am sure most of the planet was watching the finale of Lost, but not me... I'm team Celeb Apprentice.

Saturday Awards Show

As usual I am late posting awards and I am sure I have forgotten one, and I appologize. Also as usual, casual dress is accepted even encouraged. I prefer the pagama and slipper look myself. So grab a coffee and relax, I promise it won't take as long as those award shows on tv.. I tried to get Jimmy Fallon to host but he was busy.

The first comes from Tamela at The Chatty Brunette. She has a new name for her blog but it is still the same fun site.

 

For this award I am suppose to list 10 things that I love. So here goes in no particular order, except the first one.

1. I love my daughters more than anything.. and my whole family whom I couldn't live with out.
2. Purses... I love purses. I save the best of the old ones but rarely reuse one..don't tell the previously mentioned husband.
3. Flowers, especially in my garden. I am going to work on that this summer.
4. TV, yep I like it all, drama, medical, reality and sci fi.
5. Movies, especially British comedies. The Full Monty, Saving Grace and Raising Ned Devine to name a few.
6. Concerts, I love to go to live shows. Lately we have been to some live stand up shows.
7. Travel, mostly been to the midwest these days but I like to visit cities and would love to do more over seas. What's the saying "Champagne taste on a beer budget"... oh well.
8. Food, unfortunately it likes me as well. Not met too many things I won't eat. 
9. Shoes, but not as much as purses. And not heels so much. Sneakers, flats, and flip flops are more my thing.
10. And last but not least my friends. all of them, near and far. In the computer and in RL.

I am to award this to 10 bloggers.. I'll do my best.

1. Cathy at Antsy Pants
2. Sassy Mom from Stacy's Randm Thoughts
3. Masshole Mommy
4. KaLynn from Kacklin' with KaLynn
5. Whispering Writer from Airing My Dirty Laundry, One Sock at a time

***********

Jingle gave me this award [actually I was allowed to pick from several]. I think all blogs deserve some bling. She is a great writer and I discovered reading all the Friday 55 posts.

There are no rules. :) So if you want some bling for your blog please help yourself.

***********

This fun award is from The Purse Blogger how awesome a blog name is that. If you were paying attention above, you know I love purses. There are rules for this one, I must tell you 5 CHARACTERS with whom I would choose to knock boots with. [as The Purse Blogger so eloquently said]

Russell Crowe as Cpt. Jack Aubrey-Master and Commander:The Far Side of the World 

 Russell Crowe as Maximus in Gladiator.

Russell Crowe as Terry Thorne in Proof of Life

Yes there is a theme here.. but I don't have a one track mind..

Robert Carlyle as Gaz in The Full Monty

Craig Ferguson as Matthew Stewart in Saving Grace

It is an ecclectic collection of characters, some are handsome and exciting, some not classically handsome but funny and others that you just care about by the end of the movie.

This award I pass onto

1. JP
2. Mimi at Living in France
3. A Day in the Life of a Surferwife
4. Stacie at Stacie's Madness
5. Lisa at Smell the Coffee Lisa

Now go visit all these great bloggers and follow them too.... I know where you all hang out. :-)

Friday 55

I am posting this via mobile blogger as I bike at the gym so please excuse any errors. I will add g-man's link when I get home.
*******
My life has led me
Down such paths,
Full of sorrow,
Lots of laughs.

All have taught me
Many things.
To take it all,
What my life brings.

With the ups
Comes the downs.
Many smiles
Mixed with frowns.

Walk with me
Let's choose these paths
And together explore
As we travel through, lifes grandeur.

For more Friday 55 go visit g-man

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Flashback Friday-Thursday Edition

_web savvy mom_ hosts a Friday meme called Flashback Friday. I always enjoy it and have meant to participate before but my scanner is very finicky and therefore have had no pictures to post. Gotta have pictures for a flashback and believe me you don't want to see what goes on inside my head during a flashback. [I hope she doesn't mind I'm posting early, but I have a blog ready for Friday too, so many memes so little time]

So here goes my first Flashback These are pictures of my youngest daughter. She was the consumate binky baby. She loved them from the minute she was born and I tease her that if we hadn't taken them away she would still have them. [she turns 16 this year] [sorry for the quality of the picture it is a picture of the picture]

She is fresh from a bath and we had been binky hunting under the bed and she HAD to hold them all. This is one of my favorite pictures.

I am not sure how old she is here, perhaps 14 or 15. By the color of her hair I would guess closer to 15. My point here is no matter how old they get they are still cute when they sleep. And the same adage applies, Never wake a sleeping teen!

This a current picture with her current hair color [sorry it's dark but the BB does only so much] The color is actually very pretty. Pink with a bit of orange underneath.

I hope you enjoyed my first Flashback Friday. Make sure to visit _web savvy mom_ on Fridays for her flashback and links to others.

Why is it that........ Part 5

.....the bottoms of yogurt cups, ice cream cups and the like have lots of grooves that make it hard to spoon out all the deliciousness?

....when it is raining cats and dogs I have left my raincoat in the car?

....I have been trying so hard to lose weight with exercise and diet and the scale shows minimal progress?

....I am so amazed at how beautiful and talented my daughters are with me as the mother? [self esteem issues much]

....the house gets "clean" only to be a disaster 2 days later?

....whenever I plan to work in the garden it rains?

....the only clean sheets we can find in the closet for our bed are flannel?

....I have a great blog idea I will never forget.........and I do?

So what have you got?

Birthday Pictures :-)

I want to thank everyone that came by and wished my daughter a Happy Birthday. Thank you for those that went by her blog and let well wishes and had a look around.
Enjoy the pictures.

 

 A most delicious cake from Gerardo's Italian Bakery.  

 Dr. Who's Tardis

Some of her presents

Blowing out the candles. I didn't realize I bought the ones that keep relighting. What a laugh.

Happy 21st Birthday ..... to my first born

Today is the 21st birthday of my oldest child. We struggled for a few years but eventually we had our baby. She has grown up to be such a wonderful young woman and I am proud to call her "mine". Please help to say Happy Birthday.....[she is also a blogger at Something About Nothing & Everything Else]

Happy Birthday,

Child of mine.

Twenty-one years old,

You've made our hearts shine.

I didn't know,

Until you were here

A love so deep

To our family so dear.

Into this world late,

By seventeen days to be exact

You didn't walk until seventeen months

Odd, but  true fact.

A funny child,

To all she smiles.

Are you my daddy?

We've had our trials.

My birthday wish

For you dear, today

Is for you to be happy

As your mother I pray.

You've grown up so beautiful

You make us proud

Another hope for your future

That no pain or hurt be allowed.

Life is an adventure

But mine never began

Until you were born,

Part of the grand plan.

Happy Birthday my oldest

On this day in May.

Please don't get any older,

Or my age you betray.

Friday 55 - First Love

It was,
Love at first taste.

Sitting before me,
Waiting to be embraced.

Finally, my mouth
Was well placed.

I couldn't turn,
From what now my eyes faced.

My veins pumped,
My heart chaste.

Slowly I touch it,
In my fingers was laced.

Never ignored,
Never disgraced.

Starbucks finally,
My lips it has graced.

Ahhhhhhh


For mor Friday 55 see g-man

I am a guest over at The Real World : Venus vs. Mars

It is exciting to be guest blogging today on The Real World : Venus vs Mars with Adam from Throwing Quarters. We are taking sides on how to handle the tough questions your children ask. Come and join in the debate, let us know what you think.

0450 and all is well....

I haven't felt well the last few days so subsiquently the gym hasn't been a top priority. I called out sick from work last night and as I usually do when I am not at work, woke up in the middle of the night. I watched a little tv, surfed the net for a bit and then decided, why not and went to the gym.

The gym is about  6 miles from my house via the back roads and I didn't pass one car the entire route, was kinda cool. There were a few people there which was good because I would have felt awkward if I was alone. I did my cardio on the bike for about 35 minutes and then did the weight machines. Today was "upper body" day and I didn't do all the sets but I am still not completely upto par. I figured at least I went.  I may just make this my day off routine... but I reserve the right to be lazy change my mind.

From there I went to Starbucks, and didn't hit a red light the entire way [other than getting cut off by some asshole driver] the day was going great. Has anyone tried the Starbucks popcorn? It is buttery with salt and pepper. As the barista said there is so much going on at the same time, it is delicious. Only 150 calories, 3g fat and 0g transfat. Each package is one ounce of satisfying yumminess.

I get home with arm loads of goodies, it is raining and the new garage door opener won't open.....that is next weeks Justifiable Homicide. [don't worry Mom it works]


So what were you doing at 0450 this morning.

Justifiable Homcide Tuesday-people

I know I am late with this today but I have had a busy morning. I am even forgoing sleep to satisfy all you readers waiting impatiently for my words of wisdom bullshit. I got out of work this morning at 0715 got a coffee at McDonald's, went to the dentist and got my tooth fixed [a filling fell out Saturday] and they were kind enough to do my cleaning at the same time. From there I drove to Worcester State College to pick up my daughter in the computer lab. While I waited for her to finish her project I bought tickets for us to see Keane [this is a post of the time we saw them last summer] in August. This will be our third time. Woooo Hoooo.

********

Now for the real purpose of this post, if the above wasn't homicidal enough, except for the ticket part. When I was growing up we moved around a lot, Dad was in the Air Force, and most of the places we lived were quite rural. As a result I always wanted to live in a place with a side walk in front of the house. To me that meant other kids and people around. It was usually just me and my sisters. Guess what, my dream came true... yippeee [note sarcasm].

My neighborhood is off a main road but it doesn't lead anywhere so there isn't much traffic and it is nice and quiet for the nocturnal life I lead. Awesome, except driving around can be a nightmare. People, and I don't mean just teens like in this Justifiable Homicide Tuesday-teenagers, walk in the middle of the street. Joggers, dog walkers, speed walkers and people pushing strollers. They just amble down the middle of the street oblivious of anything around them. The dogs see you coming and run out at you because the owner doesn't have the retractable lead tightened.

The soccer  moms pushing the all terrain strollers are so busy chatting they have no idea what is heading up the street at them. In some parts of the neighborhood there are sidewalks on BOTH sides of the street but noooooo, the road is better. They can walk 4 abreast in the street and take up the entire road.

The joggers have their ipods on and can't hear a thing... join a gym will yah. Same goes for the speed walkers. Case in point: I was coming home from work yesterday and about to pull into my street and there were two ladies, on the sidewalk believe it or not, but they were about to cross the street so I stopped to let them cross, did I get a nod for a thank you, a half hearted wave or nod, nope they ambled right onto the street with a I don't give a shit if that car is coming la de dah, isn't that flower pretty attitude. I am so tempted to give one these people a scare sometime but just my luck it will be the Chief of Police.

So what has pissed you off this week?

I spent my Mother's Day with Jimmy Fallon

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend, I know I did. It was relaxing as well as fun filled and special.

[click on any pictures for larger image]

It started on Saturday with a night out with my oldest daughter. She had some free tickets to see Jimmy Fallon at the Hanover Theater in Worcester. My review in no uncertain terms is, he is absolutely hysterical. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. I have recenty seen Eddie Izzard and Russell Brand and Jimmy was by far the funniest. In the others defense, they are all very different styles of comics and I did enjoy all of them, but Jimmy was belly laughs and tears he was so funny. An added bonus was the tickets were free for my daughter and the theater is only a few miles from home. The theater was a cinema years ago and then closed and stood vacant until 3 years ago when it was rehabbed into a theater for concerts, plays and the like. It is beautiful inside and a real gem for Worcester. We usually have to go into Boston for this caliber of celebrity show. I will be checking out the shows at the Hanover more carefully from now on.

It is Jimmy honest.

Sunday morning I was awake before everyone else as usual and it was a long while before I got my breakfast [thanks to husband finally getting up] and I enjoyed some bacon and eggs. The girls slept in a bit but  that is what Sunday is for. The youngest daughter painted me a lovely picture [if I ever get the scanner working I will post a copy]. She also cleaned and vacuumed my car which was a fab surprise. My car is like my exteneded purse and gets filled with junk quickly.

They may look like ocean bugs but they are scrumptious

The night before my husband ordered 8, yep 8 lobsters. He brought them home steamed and ready. They chilled overnight in the fridge and on Sunday we [mostly him] cleaned them and he made a delicious lobster salad. I had two rolls stuffed full for lunch and the husband and kids went to his mothers and had their own. I begged off  [not feeling tip top] and took a nap. I called my mother for a nice Mother's Day chat as well.

Believe me it looks better 'in person', it was all I could do to resist diving in with a fork.

BlackBerrys can only do so much....best thing ever put in a hotdog roll is lobster

It was a nice weekend even not feeling so great on Sunday. My daughters are the light of my life and are lovely young adults I grow more proud of every day. And in case you missed it yesterday I wrote a special Mother's Day poem.

I never knew..

 Neighbors Magnolia Tree

This is for my mother, me and all mothers. Happy Mother's Day

I never knew about true love,

Until I met you.

I never knew the depth of love,

Until I had you.

I never knew what my mom meant,

Until I loved you.

You my daughters taught me,

All about love as I know to be true

How the love of a mother is the best,

It's the deepest through and through.

Thank you for teaching me mom,

What I always really knew.

That motherhood is a reward,

And my mother is the greatest yes it's true.

Friday 55-The Colors of You

This is about my youngest daughter (15 3/4) who is being tried through her entire teen age years.
Some she brings on herself some is put upon her.....as her mother it can be painful for me too, to watch and participate. Any guesses as to what the colors are refering... I have mentioned it before.

***************

Red
Pink
Black
Blond
These are the colors of you.

Thoughtful
Happy
Sad
Gloomy
These are the moods of you.

Artistic
Musical
Friendly
Comical
These are the talents of you.

No matter where,
In this world you travel.

Follow your sounds and colors.

And remember your teens as a time of
Discovery,
Not pain.


For more 55 go see g-man

Why is it that..........Part 4

Why is it that.........

..... just when you lose your faith in mankind, someone turns your lost wallet in.. I didn't even realize I had lost it?

.... when you think you couldn't love you children more they do something really nice. [daughter is taking me to see Jimmy Fallon on Saturday night]

.... when you think you couldn't love your children more, one needs your help and support and wants a hug and advice?

.... when there are 3 techs at work it isn't busy?

.... "they" [the powers that be] insist on training the night in the morning when we are ready for bed?

.... on sunny days I need to sleep, but I have rainy days off.

.... I sweat my butt off at the gym but haven't lost weight for days.

That's all I've got... what about the rest of you??

I have all the answers .......... Part 4

It seems people are interested in my food favorites. Betty who blogs at Cut and Dry called me brave. I'm not sure about that, but thanks. Betty wanted to know what my favorite meal was and to name my favorite music. Little Ms Blogger from A Little Blog about Nothing not only wanted to know what my favorite meal was but my favorite bite. The meal is a tough one as it changes all the time, but lately it has been the crab and avacado salad at Haiku. The first bite is the best when you take a bit of the crab with the avacdo with some of the spring green. Heaven. They also make something called cruncy tuna that is a new favorite. It is tuna layered with almonds, jalepeno peppers and vanilla granola.

Mimi, another curious blogger at Living in France wanted to know what turned me into a foodie, a GOOD foodie. I'm not quite sure what that means cuz I think of foodies as having intellegent palates and know whats in stuff but I just eat and enjoy. I do like good food, but it's all relative ins't it. Some people [I know one] like tongue sandwiches but me........ not so much.

I got a few questions from Facebook and Julie asked who, living or dead, I would like to have lunch. That's a hard question, but I settled on, Kelly Jones because he is adorable and is the front man for my favorite band, Stereophonics. [answer to part 2 of your query Mimi] I would like to pick the brain of Richard Feynman who was not only a brilliant scientist but a funny man. Eddie Izzard and Russell Brand are both comedians that would be a lot of fun to have over for lunch.

Lastly,  for this week, Melissa B of The Scholatic Scribe asked me about working nights. How difficult is it, how do I coordinate with my family? After 10+ years on nights it just is now. I try to adjust to days when I have a night off but it seems I need a nap during the day. I don't usually get one but I try. On nights I work I tend to sleep a bit when I get home and then again before I go to work. It never seems enough and I feel jet lagged a lot of the time but it works for me and the family. The kids are understanding but I still seem to get interupted when I am sleeping. It is getting easier as they get older and having a daughter that can drive is a huge help. People ask why I don't go to days and in all honesty I don't want to. I like the freedom of having some day time to get things done and spending time with the kids during the summer and having a teen at home I think it is important to be around. Truthfully......sleep is basically over rated !!!!

See you next week for more answers.....

Experiment: Ice cube shot glasses

Hello, did you miss me? I took a few days off blogging and I am hopefully rejuvinated. I have a few new ideas and hopfully I didn't lose  you while I cogitated on them. I will continue with my usual witty posts as well. [I see you rolling your eyes]

Experiment
Introduction:

My daughter bought me an early Mother's Day Gift and I love it. She certainly knows me, but I am not sure that is a good thing in this case. You decide but if you think I am a bad role model, I don't want to hear about it. My daughter is almost 21 [in 14 days to be exact] so maybe she had alterior motives in buying me this gift.  What was it you ask? Shot glasses made of ice. How awesome is that? They are way fun and looked cool [no pun intended].  There were a few draw backs but with much experimentation I am sure we can perfect the glasses. Volunteers?

Materials:

• Kit shown.
• Bottled water [less bubbles? and husband insists]
• Alcoholic beverage of choice although most refreshment would work
• Time to enjoy [which I did not have]

picture source

Procedure:

I had to make a quick stop at the grocery store and while I grabbed snacks for the youngest sleepover so the oldest meandered over to Newbury Comics [my favorite store] and picked up the molds for the shot glasses. They were promptly filled and frozen and tried. Mine didn't look quite like the ones in the picture but they make like a bazillion before they get perfect ones for the pictures. The pictures to follow are of our first attempt.

It is hard to see from the pictures but there were nice ridges as shown in the first  picture but the pattern wasn't as "cut"

My husband warned me and was right, they leak quickly. The sides seem fairly thick but the bottoms melts through very fast. Other than wasting perfectly good liquor it could be fun, outside, on a hot day.

There was only one of the four left when I experimented [the kids had fun with two, not alcohol, and the husband used one for boubon] so I haven't got a lot of data for you but I think my assesment is fairly accurate.

True to what my husband said the glass did leak very quickly but it was fun to drink out of and the ice did cool the drink down quickly. My drink was a mixture of kahlua and vodka. It was yummy but messy.

A frost formed quickly on the shot glass and it leaked very quickly. Cheers

Conclusion:

I think the ice shot glasses are a lot of fun and have great potential. Some of the suggestions from the family to prevent the leaking, or at least control it somewhat are:

• 
  
  drink faster
• 
  
  keep the liquor [beverage of choice] in the freezer, or at least the fridge
• 
  
  after the glasses have frozen, pour a bit more water on the bottoms and allow to freeze again [as you all know the water "shrinks" after frozen so more room is made in the mold which allows for addition of morewater.
• 
  
  drink faster

I think it might be worth it to purchase another set of molds [$9.99] to allow for more extensive research and fun.

It has been a loooong time since I have done an experiment so forgive me if the format is wrong. I am pulling this out of the far recesses of my mind. One thing I am sure of is the conclusion....these glasses were a lot of fun and I a big thank you to my daughter. [she blogs at Somthing about nothing & Everything else ]