Little did I know when I started this blog that the title would expand, requiring me to ask this question of so many new situations in my life....

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Cats....

Does anyone want an aging, but sweet, overweight, spoiled black cat? I'll pack her up and ship her to you. She's driving me crazy. I am not a cat person. Never was. This cat is my daughter's -- the daughter who moved to North Carolina and now has four new cats. Why doesn't my daughter have this cat, you ask? I dunno. I ask myself the same thing -- often.

This cat -- let's call her Cassie, this cat goes from window to window, door to door howling to go outside. I let her out. She eats grass. Wants back in. I let her in. She throws up. What the heck! Today J got tired of her following him around meowing so he opened the door, let her dart out, told me not to let her back in because she was out for good! Then he left for his wargamming club.

A couple of hours later I started hearing these meows outside. I closed my ears. I opened the blinds on the French doors in the bedroom while I changed the sheets. There was Cassie -- looking in, meowing. I ignored her. I went in another bedroom and....there was Cassie, meowing at the window. I ignored her. I went in the bathroom. From under the window I hear that damn cat meowing and jumping, trying to get to the bathroom window. I ingored her. (But by this time I was getting really pissed off.) Finally, I sat down in the new room to read the paper and, you guessed it, there she was, going from window to window. I ignored her. Until she started clawing the screens to get inside. The brand new screens.

She won. She's back inside -- howling to go back outside. Again I ask. Anyone want a old, obnoxious, (but sweet), fat black cat? One of us has got to go and it doesn't look like it's going to be her.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Insurance money, soup, Jews, king cakes, and Mardi Gras beads....

My life is consumed with all the above. Yesterday, the lovely insurance lady we are working with to recover our Gustav losses called to tell me a $$ amount for our check had been approved and that the check was in the mail (so to speak). This was after she'd left many, many messages on the home phone and both J's and my cell phones that she needed us to call with more info for one particular item. Nothing could move forward, she said, until we provided her with this info. All weekend we searched for this needed info. And....lo and behold, before we could forward it to her, she calls and, apparently, it's not needed anymore. Same thing happened with the second set of papers she wanted us to fill out itemizing (again) every single thing that was destroyed. After hours of attempting to write tiny enough to fit everything into the teeny tiny lines on the second set of paper (and have it somewhat legible), she calls and says she won't be needing the second set after all. The first set will do just fine, she says. Oh, I say, fine -- just pay no attention to the 27 pages that will probably be arriving at your desk today or tomorrow -- duplicating what you already had. Breathe.

Also, she told me yesterday, four or five days after the loss check arrives, we should be getting instructions on how to make an attempt to recover our depreciation. That should be fun.

Moving on to the more mundane things of life....It was chilly yesterday, one of those days where the high temp was at 3 am and drops during the day. A perfect day for soup. I don't know why, but my vegetable soup rarely tastes the same twice. (Could it be because I frequently experiment with the spices and liquids?) Yesterday, the soup was quite good. Today, with spaghetti added, it should be even better. It's still chilly outside. I'm caught up on most of what I need to do so I plan to spend part of the afternoon with a bowl of soup and the Jews of Sitka, Alaska. I'm about finished with the book and I've gotta tell you, I'm a bit surprised with where it seems to be going. I didn't expect it. It may still surprise me but, we'll see.

Well, since much of this post seems to have taken a bitching whinning tone, let me quickly mention another problem with living where I do (in addition to the weather and the hurricanes and the politics and....). You can never seem to stop celebrating something or other! I mean, come on now, Christmas is finally over. New Year's has come and gone. Enough already. Let's have a few days to relax and breathe again. But....nooooOOOOoooo. As soon as the Christmas decorations go away -- Mardi Gras decorations appear. And the frickin' king cakes. Now, I ask you, how can you fit a slice (or two) of praline cream cheese (or even raspberry) king cake into NutriSystem's plan? Personally. I think NeutriSystem needs to make a few adjustments. Loosen up a little....

Friday, January 23, 2009

Friday Funnies....

My son sent this to me and by Mississippi I was laughing out loud. I'm not sure if it will be funny to anyone not living in the South, but I hope it gives you a smile or two.



GOTTA LOVE THE SOUTH!


Tennessee

The owner of a golf course was confused about paying an invoice, so he decided to ask his secretary for some mathematical help. He called her into his office and said, 'You graduated from the University of Tennessee and I need some help. If I were to give you $20,000, minus 14%, how much would you take off?'

The secretary thought a moment, and then replied, 'Everything but my earrings.'

Alabama

A group of Alabama friends went deer hunting and paired off in twos for the day. That night, one of the hunters returned alone, staggering under the weight of an eight-point buck. 'Where's Henry?' the others asked.

'Henry had a stroke of some kind. He's a couple of miles back up the trail,' the successful hunter replied.

'You left Henry laying out there and carried the deer back?' they inquired.

'A tough call,' nodded the hunter. 'But I figured no one is going to steal Henry!'

Texas ;

The Sheriff pulled up next to the guy unloading garbage out of his pick-up into the ditch. The Sheriff asked, 'Why are you dumping garbage in the ditch? Don't you see that sign right over your head'. 'Yep', he replied. 'That's why I dumpin it here, cause it says 'Fine For Dumping Garbage'.

Louisiana

A senior at LSU was overheard saying... 'When the end of the world comes, I hope to be in Louisiana .' When asked why, he replied he'd rather be in Louisiana because everything happens in Louisiana 20 years later than in the rest of the civilized world.

Mississippi

The young man from Mississippi came running into the store and said to his buddy, 'Bubba, somebody just stole your pickup truck from the parking lot!'

Bubba replied, 'Did you see who it was?'

The young man answered, 'I couldn't tell, but I got his license number.'

Georgia


A Georgia State trooper pulled over a pickup on I-75. The trooper asked, 'Got any I.D.?'

The driver replied, 'Bout whut?'

North Carolina

A man in North Carolina had a flat tire, pulled off on the side of the road, and proceeded to put a bouquet of flowers in front of the car and one behind it.

Then he got back in the car to wait. A passerby studied the scene as he drove by and was so curious he turned around and went back. He asked the fellow what the problem was..

The man replied, 'I have a flat tire.'

The passerby asked, 'But what's with the flowers?'

The man responded, 'When you break down they tell you to put flares in the front and flares in the back. Hey, it don't make no sense to me neither.'

And this from South Carolina

'You can say what you want about the South, but I ain't never heard of anyone wanting to retire to the North!'

other than Bill Peters

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Finally settled on a book....

I've been in a reading mood but couldn't settle on a book, but (for the second time) I started Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Poicemen's Union", and this time it captured my attention. In all truthfulness, I think the only reason I didn't stick with it on my first try was because so much was going on that I couldn't concentrate on much of anything. This time around I find myself with that familiar feeling of looking forward to finishing my work so I can escape into the world of whatever book I'm reading, in this case -- Sitka, Alaska. Feels good. Feels normal.

And....yesterday (because it was supposed to be the last of the chilly days we've been having for a while) I thawed the HoneyBaked ham bone and made a ten bean soup. Lots of soup. J really like it, but I prefer veggie soup. I made a Weight Watchers version of corn bread that was pretty good to go along with it. J just called saying he'd had Chinese for lunch and just wanted soup for supper, so....no meal planning or cooking for me today. More time for Sitka....

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

This was so funny....

to me, at least. I don't know how I missed it but I didn't hear it until yesterday.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96778345

"Some Truth To An Irish O'Bama?
by Scott Simon


Weekend Edition Saturday, November 8, 2008 ยท There is no apostrophe in Obama, as in O'Leary or O'Hara.

But a small village in Ireland claims the president-elect is a descendant.

Moneygall, a town of 300 on the road between Dublin and Limerick, says that Barack Obama's great, great, great grandfather was born there and hopes for an onslaught of American tourism.

During the campaign, Obama did tell an Irish interviewer that he looked forward to going there and having a pint. There are two pubs in Moneygall, as opposed to the two per address they have in Chicago.

A welcome song has already been written: "O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara, there's no one as Irish as Barack Obama."

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The countdown has begun!

Not long now. I'm surprised how excited I am. Okay. The pomp and ceremony, the telling of the stories and the flying of the flag always get to me, but this is something special. Whatever it is that's floating around in the air....I need it and it seems much of the country needs it.

God's blessings, protection, and grace on our new president and his family.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Burrrr....

It's cold down here in the swamps. The temps dipped into the 20's last night and will return there tonight. The weatherpeople have been warning us about it all week. In fact, I think they started talking about it last week. I've never lived in a place that gets so excited about the weather. But, then again, around these parts, the weather, and the Gulf, bear watching. So we'll get all excited and make soup and chili and wear our few winter clothes before it warms up again.

I'm in a reading mood but I can't seem to find a book in my waiting to be read pile that interests me. See. Another reason why I need a Kindle. I found some more bargains online yesterday. Actually, I saw them in a catalog and then went online to look some more and then buy. Don't you love those first-of-the-year clearances? I've learned very quickly that we're going to need insulated window coverings for the new French doors in the bedroom. I've got heavy drapes that work for winter but the bedspread that goes with them in way to heavy for the summers down here -- it's really too heavy for the winters but who knew that before odering? So....I found some insulated curtains that I hope will go with the bedspread I use in the summers (actually I use it most of the year). I also bought a coverlet to coordinate with the summer bedspread so in case the color of the new curtains is not exactly right, maybe the coverlet will blend the colors -- or whatever it should do. I'm no decorator. I just hope it works. All were on clearance. :)

That's about it. Except....I cannot wait until inauguration day, how about you?

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Diets, music, and piggin' out....

So....once again I've decided to try and shed several unwanted pounds. I'm letting more and more of them creep up/on, and I just don't feel good about it. Weight Watchers online works well for me but I want to get a jump-start, so yesterday I ordered from NutriSystem. I did NutriSystem years ago when I was working and it worked really well. Of course, I was busy running around taxing the kids to and fro -- not to mention working two parttime jobs. That helped. Actually it hurt before NuriSystem because I didn't have time to plan, cook, and eat, so drive-thrus became my really good friends. NutriSystem might not have been the tastiest but it was there and pretty much ready to eat. All I had to do was hand them money each week in exchange for a sack full of food.

Truth be told, I've tried NutriSystem two times since and didn't stick with it. I just couldn't get psyched enough to be able to stomach the dinners. I was fine with the breakfasts and lunches -- not the dinners. So....since I'm so familiar with their food selections by now (Sigh!) I have a plan of attack. I just ordered breakfasts and lunches. I'll use Weight Watchers' recipes for dinner. We'll see if that works. Fingers crossed.

As for the music, I ordered something from Amazon that qualified me for $5 worth of free music downloads. I offered it to the kids when they were here but didn't get any takers so I started using it before the Jan. 31 expiration date. I ordered Sleepy Tigers by xoxoPanda (I think), and a couple of songs from Alison Krauss. Now if I get my iPod to sync with the desk top computer I'll be in good shape. My laptop is still sitting there -- needing to be worked on.

Now, here comes the really sad part of this post. Sad because I do this to myself every time before I start seriously dieting. Just before officially going on a diet, I pig out. So sad -- not to mention stupid. All it does is make for an extra pound or two. You'd think I'd learn, but....nope. Here's my problem, every time I get something from my freezer I see that casserole of dressing left from Christmas. So....since I'm starting my diet soon, I figured it's a good time to thaw, heat, and eat that fattening dish. And that's just what will happen tonight. I have some chicken breasts maranading, a pot full of peas simmering on the stove, and some yam patties thawing. That along with some Sister Schubert's rolls will be dinner. I think I'll put a WW's coke cake in the oven. Maybe then I won't feel so guilty.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Creaks in the night....

Last night my house woke me up two times with its creaking. I heard it even with the bedside fan I keep on all night for white noise. My house has always been noisy but since the tree fell on it the noises are different. Before, we'd swear we heard people moving around, turning on the water or whatever. But now we hear more house noises. I see more cracks above doors and, little by little, the doors in the back of the house are sticking when you try to close them. That's where the tree hit -- the back of the house. A couple of contractors who were giving bids mentioned that the whole house was jarred when the tree hit. I just hope that this is as bad as it gets and no bigger, badder problems are in the offing. Oh, well.

BTW, does anyone have a Kindle from Amazon or know anyone who has one? I'm so tempted to get my name on the list for one (they're backordered), but we so don't need to be spending that kind of money for that kind of thing (a non-necessity). That money could go to getting my laptop fixed or getting double cell shades for the new windows or retiling the back bath or.... Somebody tell me not to get one. I wasn't interesting when I first saw them, but now that I'm finding more time for reading I'm thinking more and more about them. It would be easy to get the exact book I want and there wouldn't be that stack of read paper backs to get rid of. Here I go justifying buying one. I'm in trouble.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

It's a dangerous time of the year for me....

I don't know why, but for some reason at this time of year I need to buy something. Anything. It's not like I haven't been buying stuff the last few months preparing for Christmas -- and was so glad to be finished with that. And it's not like I want to buy some big expensive something. Nope. I just feel the need to buy trivial things: earrings, shoes, odds and ends.

That's why when the urge hit yesterday I went online and went shopping. I was determined, and I actually found a good bargain on rugs from The Company Store. The rugs were on clearance -- $18.00 each (plus @5 shipping). My first (and second) color choices were already gone, but I was able to make the colors left work. Now I'm fine. No need to purchase anything else. :) Now if I can just keep that attitude until King Cake season ends.

Thursday, January 08, 2009

And....I thought I was through with all the decorating....

But now the King Cakes are everywhere. And Mardi Gras music is popping up in stores and on the radio. Yep. As I was digging out Christmas decorations I had to move my Mardi Gras tree. "Oh, no!" I thought to myself. "There is no way I'll be decorating for Mardi Gras this year." If the kids hadn't been coming and J hadn't pressed me to get a tree up, I would probably have let Christmas mosey on by. But, by Christmas Eve we had most of the familiar stuff placed around and about, and I must say it was kind of nice -- especially after being at the beach for the holiday last year without the the usual trappings around the condo.

While putting away some of the Christmas decorations, I had to move the huge gaudily beautiful Mardi Gras bowl I got in New Orleans. Okay, I said to myself. I'll put you out in due time. So....when the mood hits, my home will be sporting flashes of the beloved purple and gold -- and beads -- and feathers -- and masks. (So classy.) I'll post pictures when (if) my laptop gets fixed. I'm pulling for the Geek Squad.

To celebrate my decision I think I'll stop by Gambino's for the first King Cake of the season. Praline or raspberry (with cream cheese, of course)?

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Alone time!

Yesterday was my first alone day. I guess that's what you'd call it. 95% of everything involving the move into the new part of the house is done. (At least I think it's done. It's surprising how in that short span of time since Labor Day I've managed to forget where things actually belong and accept the odd placement of furniture and stuff all around the house.)

Anywhoo....back on point. The new room is pretty much done, the holidays are over, the kids are gone, and J's back at work. So, now, I actually have time to myself. No to-do list waiting from dawn till dusk. Oh, there's still the usual daily stuff, but not the unending tasks that have consumed my days and a big part of my nights. There's still stuff to be done -- tear down the part of the old fence that's still standing/leaning, clear away lots of crap that we pulled to one side of the yard and then covered with those lovely blue tarps until we can deal with it, have some grading done on the yard near the patio, remove the inches of leaves from the front flower beds, new toilet for back bath, window coverings for all the windows in the new room.... I could keep going, but you probably get the message. The fact that we can feel a sense of accomplishment with so much left to be done shows how much there was to do in the first place. (Does that make any sense?)

The insurance company sent several papers for us to make a list of our lost contents -- this was after we sent them a list and a CD with varifying pictures. I guess they didn't like our original list. I don't know why because we sent it on the original set of papers they'd given us. So, now we get to re-do the whole thing. I should start that today. Yep. I should.

Monday, January 05, 2009

J's working!

Yeah!

The commute is close to an hour each way. Boo!

The job's something he wants to do. Yeah!

The actual work situation could be a bit, ummmm, difficult. Boo!

Paid insurance (medical, dental, and vision). Yeah!

Some travel may be involved. (This is half Yeah! and half Boo! because the travel would be to Tuscaloosa where my brother lives.)

When he interviewed, J. really liked the president of the company. Yeah!

After the actual offer, while working out the details, J.'s feelings are somewhat more cautious. Boo!

After accepting the job offer J was very, very anxious. We're not sure how to take this (could it be a sign?). We wonder because he changes jobs often and it usually doesn't effect him. Yeah!? Boo!?

He still has a couple of possibilities floating out there so if this job doesn't work out, there could be a better one. Yeah!

This job might not work out and the possibilities might not materialize. Boo!

We'll just have to wait and see if the yeahs or boos win.

Oh, have I mentioned that that damn Leeds house has rented? We were standing in a check-out line at WalMart when J's phone rang and it was the agent calling to say there was a woman in the office ready to sign a lease. We had to decide right then and there -- at WalMart. We said yes. Now....we've already had to carpet one room $$$, and have the heating system checked out $$$. The appliances are old so who knows how long they will last. I do so hope this isn't one of those blessings that bite you(us) in the butt. We just have to wait and see, I guess.

That's about all the news that is the news from down here in the swamps -- where, when you walk outside, you feel as if you're wearing a damp wool blanket. Yucky! Yucky!