September | 2013 | No Whining Allowed

What We Did

September 30, 2013 at 6:21 AM (Around Our House, Family Life, Friends, Honey, The Ab-Cat)

I had a busy weekend. I know, I don’t say that often. Sometimes I am hard pressed to tell you what we did over the weekend. Because it is fresh in my mind, I’ma gonna tell you.

I believe I mentioned that Honey and I made sauce on Friday. There was a whole lot of activity over here before 9 in the morning! It was a good batch. Honey swears by these tomatoes. It’s the San Marzano brand and he is positive there is something about tomatoes from the land of his People.

His Mama? a young Mary Innocente? It actually looks more like I Love Lucy in the grape episode, without the red hair.

Oh yeah, liquid gold.

Care group dinner. The rest is safely in the freezer for another 10 meals or so!

Abby and I did a lot of work in her bedroom and bathroom in great anticipation of her room makeover that begins on Tuesday. Capri Patt is coming to help me paint her room and bathroom and hang up pictures. Her room was last painted around 10 years ago and it is her fond desire to bid adieu to all the BLUE. I had a fond desire to take down all of the posters and junk. Yes, I know I did not get a picture of all that. It was needed, let’s just say that.

I am glad we are painting before the carpet comes. I try to be careful but, you know, drips happen.

I have big plans to really redo Abby’s bathroom, but that is a project for another day. It will be a BIG job. Like ripping up the tile big. I am trying to sell Honey on the resale aspect of it all. When we built the house 16 years ago it was all about 4th grade Abby. She is now 24 and we think about moving and resale and such.

There were a lot of holes to patch. 10 years worth of holes. Plus, those poster things they swear will come off without any damage? Lies, all lies! Some even took off drywall patches, paint and all. That vertical blind will be thrown out with joy. It has been slowly losing it’s panels and breaking for years now. We found some CUTE new curtains at JC Penney that I think she is going to love. The verticals were never very easy for her at her angle.

There is still a lot of back and forth chat on Words With Friends with Capri Patt about the color of the walls and crown molding, that I see I have inconveniently cut out of every picture.

We are getting excited!!!!

3 Comments

Potent Quotable

September 29, 2013 at 5:04 AM (Potent Quotable)

I believe that you should gravitate to people who are doing productive and positive things with their lives.
Nadia Comaneci

“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.”
― Bruce Lee

You don’t actually do a project; you can only do action steps related to it. When enough of the right action steps have been taken, some situation will have been created that matches your initial picture of the outcome closely enough that you can call it "done.”
― David Allen, Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity

“Sometimes the biggest gain in productive energy will come from cleaning the cobwebs, dealing with old business, and clearing the desks—cutting loose debris that’s impeding forward motion.”
― David Allen,

F-List

September 27, 2013 at 6:05 AM (Around Our House, Confessions, Friends, Honey, Lists, Television, The Ab-Cat)

It’s Friday and I have the list.

I’m not going to lie, it’s all over the place.

How come you can clean your house week after week, and then ONE week you see ginormous spider webs? Could you not see them until they became a certain size? Do you have SUPER busy spiders? Are you going blind?

The Big Bang Theory was very funny last night. I am glad those guys are back!

I would like to see more of Sad Clown Stuart.

And less of Howard with his shirt up.

I don’t like his new haircut either.

But his storyline was HILARIOUS!

What is up with all the owl decor stuff in stores? Sheesh.

Of the five women listed in the genealogy of Christ, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary, which is your favorite?

I go back and forth between Rahab and Ruth.

They were both so brave. Well, they were all brave.

I am a little partial to Ruth because that was my Mother’s name.

I think a lot of owl decor is kind of creepy.

Honey and I are making spaghetti sauce today. Some for the freezer, some for our Caregroup kickoff tonight.

It will be nice to see everyone again 🙂

We ordered our carpeting yesterday!!!!!!!! It should for sure be installed in a month, maybe sooner!!!

SQUEAL!

But we are going to rip out our old carpet ourselves.

Opposite of squeal.

But we are paying to have them move our furniture the day of installation!!!

Re SQUEAL!!!

Best hundred and something bucks spent EVAH!

Capri Patt is coming to help me paint The Ab-Cat’s bedroom and bathroom on October first!!

Abby SQUEALED!!!!

We are excited to see how it all comes together!

I PROMISE i will take pictures!

Have a good weekend!

2 Comments

Got Cabbage

September 26, 2013 at 5:36 AM (Help Me Please, Honey)

Honey and I went to a nearby vegetable/fruit store on Tuesday evening to pick up some potatoes, mushrooms and garlic. Of course, we picked up a few other things that we didn’t realize we needed until we got there, as you do.

Once we came home, I began emptying the bags to put everything where it belonged. This was in the last bag and I said to Honey, “WOW, that’s a big head of cabbage, what are you going to make with that??”

He asked me what I was talking about and I pointed to the massive, dense head on the island. He said he didn’t buy a cabbage. I said we have a cabbage.

I guess someone missed one of their bags in the checkout transaction before ours, and Honey, ever so efficiently, grabbed it up.

The Sanders hot fudge sauce was not in the bag, I use it as a measurement to show you just how big the behemoth is.

Someone is missing the big, honking cabbage that they actually wanted.

Anyone have any good recipes for cabbage? Rabbits that need feeding? Lawn ornament?

Cabbage anyone?

5 Comments

Wednesday Hodgepodge

September 25, 2013 at 5:33 AM (Cats and Dog, Confessions, Honey, Mr. Linky Things, Muggins Q. Mouse, The Ab-Cat, What's On Your Nightstand)

Hi All, glad you stopped by! To join the Hodgepodgers, head on over to Joyce’s From This Side Of The Pond, they are a nice group!

1. What’s one thing that’s still the same about you as when you were young?

Funny you should ask, Mousey and I had a conversation this week about something that would fit the bill for this question! We were taking pictures of our kitty Halle Berry for instagram and Mousey said she had always liked cats, even when she was little. I know this to be true, she dressed in her kitty Halloween outfit all year long for YEARS, and her Beanie Baby kitties were loved nigh unto death.

I said that I too had always loved cats. I can remember being fascinated by them from the time I was very young. I confess here before God and the internet that I might have even hung around with one girl just to play with her cats. She was a strange girl for many reasons, but her family had a LOT of cats. The story I was relating to Mousey was from my late teens. I had a friend that thought I should collect something, be passionate about something. She asked what I liked and I thought for a minute and said I liked cats. She said NO, don’t say that, someone will think you are a crazy cat lady!!!!!

So for years I didn’t say it too loud. I always had them, and I always loved them, but I mostly kept it to myself. I am old now and I don’t care, so I will just put it out there:

I LIKE CATS!!!!!!!

Mama Mia

Halle Berry

and Lucy.

I need to bother them.

2. What’s more important-history or science? Why?

This feels like it could be a trick question! I feel they are both important. I agree with all of the “if we don’t know history we are doomed to repeat it” stuff, and I like history better than science, but I think science might have the upper hand here. The scientific discoveries have certainly improved our quality of life. I know my family has benefitted from medical science, and for that I am thankful!
3. Lima, kidney, string, garbanzo, black or pinto-your favorite bean?

Not a big bean girl, I will have to say string beans. We are having them tonight for dinner as a matter of fact!
4. What’s something people come to your town to do?

The first thing that came to mind was shop at Ikea. We do get a LOT of traffic from that store.
5. When was the last time you were in a meeting? Sum it up for us in five words or less.

The last time I was in a meeting was Saturday. We had a training session for the tutoring program that Abby and I help out with. It’s called ABCs in the D. D as in Detroit. My five words would be STUDENTS ARE COMING, GET READY!!!
6. What special event would you like a VIP pass to attend?

I am not a big event kind of girl so I will pick one for Honey. How about a pass to watch the Tigers the next time they are in the World Series? Or to see the Red Wings the next time they are going for the Stanley Cup?
7. What’s one piece of advice you’d give a writer?

Add a little humor. Everything is always better with a little humor.
8. Insert your own random thought here.

Speaking of humor, I started reading this yesterday. He is hilarious. I think I’m gonna like it.

Have a fine day.

9 Comments

Surprised!

September 23, 2013 at 5:29 AM (YouTube)

The Ab-Cat, Honey and I caught some of the Emmys last night. This was my very favorite part!

Potent Quotable

September 22, 2013 at 8:19 AM (Potent Quotable)

Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. ~Victor Hugo

You can tell more about a person by what he says about others than you can by what others say about him. ~Leo Aikman

Enjoy when you can, and endure when you must. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Carpet and Cameras and Such

September 20, 2013 at 9:07 AM (Around Our House, Confessions, Friends, Honey, Lists)

Hello my People! Thank you SO much for the birthday wishes! Hunk of honeys, one and all!

How about a Friday list on FRIDAY!!!

We received the carpet quote via e-lectronic mail. It was about as Honey had expected, which is good. We don’t want no stinkin’ surprises!

We did go out last evening to get a couple of comparison prices because it is Honey’s way. He is a comparison shopper, it is in his bones. We found out two things, one puts his mind at ease and one puts my mind at ease.

His mind first. The quote we received was very reasonable. Since we had not purchased carpet in years, we did not know what might be reasonable.

And second, and this is VERY important, I did not see any carpet that I liked better than the one Capri P and I chose!!!! Not even HALF as well!! That is always reassuring. I don’t like to live with the nagging suspicion that there were choices that I did not have the opportunity see and reject!

I will hopefully show you the choice within the month.

After comparison looking for carpet, we did some comparison looking for cameras. I just want something small that I can put in my purse. I have an awesome big camera that I love but I don’t love carrying it around, therefore I do not have pictures of anything outside our home.

Armed with the name of the one Capri Deb has, the Panasonic Lumix, DMC-Z519, and loves we did a little looking.

I know I will surprise you (not!) when I say I had some guidelines (rules) that seemed to appeal to me.

It has to be small, but not too small.

I prefer a little bump on the side for good gripping, some of those little squares look highly drop-able.

I found out that the bump usually means it has 2 batteries. I am ok with that.

There is a difference between a little bump and a big bump, which could render the camera too big to meet the qualifications of slipping it into my smallish purse.

You might be thinking I should get a bigger purse. I guarantee that I have WAY more guidelines (rules) for my purses than I do for the camera. We won’t go there.

I like a good zoom feature and quick auto focus.

Honey is weighing the options between the cord option and the Wi-Fi option for downloading pictures. Neither is a deal breaker for me, I defer to his judgment.

I am used to cords and the Wi-Fi feature seems a little like magic.

So we looked around and he is going to look some more on line. Like I said , comparison shopping for ALL options and price is his way.

I will let you know how it goes.

After examining all of your options, have a wonderful weekend!

3 Comments

Wednesday Hodgepodge

September 18, 2013 at 5:08 AM (Around Our House, Confessions, Family Life, Honey, Mr. Linky Things, Muggins Q. Mouse, The Ab-Cat)

Thanks for stopping by! Special thanks and a big Happy Birthday to our hostess with the most-ess, Joyce! Head on over to her blob and join the Hodgepodgers, it’s a fun group!

1. When did you last sing happy birthday to someone? When were you last sung to? Does that embarrass you or do you enjoy being the center of attention on your special day?
The last birthday we celebrated around here was Miss Mousey’s last month. I guess I was last sang to a year ago today! It doesn’t bother me if it is my family, but I do NOT like to be the center of attention somewhere else. It gives me hives. And I could possibly throw up.

2. Name a famous or ‘infamous’ person (living or deceased) who shares your birth day and month. Is that someone you’d like to meet in person if it were possible?

I share a birthday with our fearless leader from Wednesday Hodgepodge, Happy Birthday Joyce!!!!!!! I think I would very much like to meet her, we seem to have some things in common!
3. Someone hands you a box tied up in a lovely bow…what are you hoping to find inside?
I like things that people have made, especially if they are clever or useful. Something personal or a yummy treat!

I did just tell Honey today that I would like a little point and shoot camera to carry in my purse.

4. What can you guarantee about yourself?

I couldn’t think of an answer to this one so I took it to my family. Two of them said they could guarantee that I would ask them if they washed their hands, and the other could guarantee that I would have dessert after dinner! Thanks Guys!

I guess I will say that I can guarantee that I will never want to be in charge, do anything from a stage or jump out of a plane. Oh, and I guarantee that every time I leave Sam’s Club and walk through the tire department I will say “I hate that smell”.
5. Talking art and beautiful cities here…’The Last Supper’ in the Santa Maria della Grazie Abbey in Milan Italy or ‘The Mona Lisa’ in The Louvre, Paris…which would you most like to see up close and in person? Why?

I would choose The Last Supper for no other reason than Honey and I would like to go to Italy, land of his Mother’s People.
6. Your favorite dessert?

This question is WAY too hard! Favorite?? That is like being asked to choose your favorite child! I like to say that I am an equal opportunity dessert eater. I like my Aunt Phyllis’ pies, The Ab-Cat’s brownies, Mrs. Davis’ coconut pound cake, Outback’s Chocolate Thunder from Down Under. The very small tip of a titanic iceberg!
7. This coming weekend marks the official start of autumn (in the Northern hemisphere)…what is something you do to get ready for fall? What is one thing you’re looking forward to on your fall calendar? Spring or fall-which do you prefer?

There are lots of things I do to get ready for fall. Outside, I cut back all of the hosta, day lilies and grasses and pull all of the flowers and plants out of the pots and ground. Honey closes the pool and covers the pool pump and air conditioners with tarps. Inside, I put out a few fall decorations and switch my closet from summer to winter. I also wash the down alternative throws because I KNOW we are going to need them soon!

I like spring but I really love fall, I always have. Love the colors, love the cooler weather, makes me want to watch You’ve Got Mail”.
8. Insert your own random thought here.

One of my favorite lines from the above mentioned movie.

Joe Fox: Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms.

How cute is that?

Have a lovely fall day!

18 Comments

Stuff

September 17, 2013 at 6:31 AM (Around Our House, Family Life, Honey, Lists, The Ab-Cat, This and That, Trips)

I have a variety of unconnected things this morning.

The carpet measuring guy came yesterday and measured. Did you know they do not use a tape measurer anymore? It was a handy dandy little gizmo that shot a red dot on the adjacent wall and he wrote the measurement on his iPad and it made an architects plan of the inside of our house. Almost science fiction. I am out of touch.

The carpet bosses will call today with a quote. It will probably be a doozie. Bring it on Boss Man.

I feel like fall has officially arrived. I used the crock pot yesterday and that is a sure sign.

Plus I have been wearing a hoodie when Keelyody and I walk, and THIS morning I may break out the gloves. Especially for my right hand. The left hand seems ok.

I need to cut back our day lilies. They are beyond redemption and have passed into the territory of just plain ugly.

I am beginning to wonder if there is anyone in the world who truly loves Miley. Somebody help that girl.

I finally colored my hair yesterday.

I knew I had waited too long when Honey mentioned my grey. He doesn’t usually mention my hair. I was a little skunky.

I blame my parents. They were both grey very early. I had no choice.

Honey has hardly any grey. It will be interesting to see how this affects our children.

Speaking of Honey, he has been laboring long and hard to find us a place to stay on vacation in February. It has been a real chore. He FINALLY found a beautiful house for us. We are a little disappointed that it is not in the area of Florida that we usually stay in.

We are willing to try it though and see if we like the area.

Did I mention that The Ab-Cat is joining us this year???!!!

We sort of made her, because we like her.

Ok, I need to git. Have a productive Tuesday.

1 Comment

« Older entries

No Whining Allowed

What We Did

Potent Quotable

F-List

Got Cabbage

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Surprised!

Potent Quotable

Carpet and Cameras and Such

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Stuff

StatCounter

Archives

Blogroll

Pages

Categories