Happy Father's Day!

Well, it's that time again! Happy Father's Day to ALL you dads out there! I know I haven't been blogging much lately ('m going to do a bunch of catch up on my day off tomorrow!), and I don't have time today, either....I have to work in a few hours and I'm getting ready to go see Dad for an hour first :) ...but I just wanted to take a few moments to say that my dad is the best! (Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know your dad is great, but my dad is the BEST! He can beat up YOUR dad! ;) (Ok, maybe not lately with his back how it is!) Even though he will never see this, I want everyone else to know that he's fantabulous. From the time we're born, Dads are always there for us. (those of us who are lucky enough to have fantastic fathers.) At first it's the basic necessities of life-teaching us how to walk, helping us eat, encouraging us to say "dada," and on and on....but then we get older and our needing them doesn't just go away, does it? I know that if things progress as they normally do in this circle of life, that one day my dad won't be around, and I can't imagine how I'll feel on that day. So for now, while I can, I'm going to treasure my dad. I hope you treasure yours too. :)


Editing this on October 27, 2015 as I have just come across this blog (if you can call it that. A collection of a few posts scattered YEARS apart!)...but this one labeled Father's Day caught my eye.As I read through the post to the end--I can't imagine how I'll feel on that day--commented about one day having to lose my dad--those words are all too real to me and on my mind a great deal lately. We have essentially "lost" my dad a couple of times already since late July this year. He has been brought back around by paramedics and hospital staff a couple of times and --no matter what one particular doctor says--with my sister's help, thankfully, the first time. He has a very bad heart murmur--and has needed a valve replacement for quite some time. They haven't thought, up to this point, he was in good enough condition due to past necessary medications, etc. etc to handle surgery. After having to do a valvuoplasty (like angioplasty but inserting a balloon to hold the heart valve open instead) which only lasts 4-6 months, they now feel surgery is necessary.They had it scheduled for mid October--this month--then postponed upon finding several large blood clots in both lungs. They have recently rescheduled it for a week from today--Tuesday, November 3rd. While time is not promised to ANY of us--this is scary. My dad seems to be in good health other than this heart issue--so I hope and pray that this surgery goes well--& that he might be with us for several more years. I have many coworkers dealing with their own issues as well as familial issues as well--and I think of them also. Hoping for the best possible outcomes for all of us.

Hi Everyone....

I only just started this blog, and I'm already being lazy with it! Actually, there are a lot of good excuses (heh!).... but I just popped in to tell you that, while this isn't a "real" blog post (even though you're reading it!) ;) I'll be back soon. In fact, I have a folder on my computer entitled "blogs" where I keep links to some that I don't have on my page for whatever reason. In that folder, I just created a list for blogs that I plan to do very soon....I'm just waiting on some pictures! I hate doing boring blogs (like this one!) with no pictures included.

So, I have a little bit of an excuse for being up all night tonight and for be a lazy blogger today (great! two for one on excuses today--wooot!) I had an epidural injection (basically a cortisone shot for those of you who may not know) at 2:30 this afternoon. The doctor is trying to alleviate some of this back pain I've been having (the last week has been the most severe I've ever had over the last 3+ years), and though I did get the injection and all, I have to admit that I'm not feeling overly optimistic about it. I've had four injections in the past (the last probably a year ago, however) without much success. That said, I've had new pain since then (the left leg is numb a lot from nearly my hip to knee along the left side) and my midback is probably worse than the lower back right now, which is saying quite a lot. This is why we're trying another epidural at this point--if that much has changed, perhaps I will get some relief. I can only hope.

People in my life are probably tired of hearing about my back pain, but I tell ya what...it gets to a point where it kind of consumes you a bit and it's all you think about! I hope I get some relief just so THEY can have some relief! LOL! Really though...whining about it doesn't help, so I suppose I should just stop talking about it as much as I can, too. My family understands the whining and are very supportive, luckily for me! I will have a new MRI done soon as well, and that may shed a light on some of these new problems, so we can get something done about them instead of just wimping. :)

Oh yes....my actual excuse--I almost forgot! After I had the injection this afternoon (they sedate you as well), I came home and slept for several hours...so of course I haven't been tired tonight. I imagine when Craig gets up today (so I don't wake him up when I go up to bed...he gets up very early a lot of days anyway) I will go to bed until noon or so. I won't sleep as late as I do somedays (2 or 3pm if I've gone to bed from 7 to 9am or so) or I won't sleep again tomorrow night. Corey has a soccer game at 5:15 tonight and we (along with Mom & Dad, of course!) will go to that. I'm glad it's only about 1/2 mile up the road tomorrow as I don't feel like traveling. (no reason other than I drive five days for work and then we went to the Pain Clinic today, so I'm ready for a day off from driving!) :)

So anyway....I will get some pictures taken over the next few days and be back to blogging soon. In the meantime, I'm really enjoying reading all of yours! Love and Hugs, M.

Sunny Spring Stuff....

After I got done potting the plants, I cleaned up and filled a bird feeder I bought last year. It's just a cheapie, but I'm almost certain the birdies won't mind! :) I completely forgot how it used to hang (there is a loop in the top, but nothing to hang it with), but I'm just going to track down a piece of twine or something similar and get it hung up on a branch tomorrow afternoon. For now it's just sitting out on the side tray of the grill. Speaking of grilling, perhaps I will show you some pictures of THAT tomorrow....I am off Wednesday (today!), so I'm planning to grill some brats, burgers, and chicken breast -maybe make some sliced potato with onion and garlic in the oven, perhaps boil a little corn-on-the-cob, and there's an off chance I might doctor up some baked beans. Hmmm. Who knows, but I'll let you know in the next couple of days. I think it will sound a lot better later today when I'm more hungry.... :)

Flower pots

This is what I did about 3am yesterday. Now it's 2am the next day, and I'm blogging about it. :) (I can nearly see my family shaking their heads back and forth and can alllllllllmost read the little bubble above their heads that says "does that girl EVER sleep at NIGHT?) (answer: rarely). I will admit that my thumb is NOT very green. I have to wonder why that is! My mom can sew anything, plant anything (and it even grows!), crochet anything, blah blah...you get the idea! I would love to be more creative, as creativity IS a passion of mine--but I seem to be too....errrrr....lazy, I guess, is the word I was looking for! Well, ok...so it's not the word I was *looking* for, but if I'm going to be honest, it's the word I found! Back to the plants..... I planted two tubs, as you can see, with pots and flowers I bought at Walmart after work on Monday. There is a Mum in the middle of each one, and there are five Begonias around the outside. Now most of you reading this will have known that. I wouldn't have if I didn't have that little plastic label thingy to read (you know, the one they jab down ino the plant), so I thought I would post it for any other plant illiterates like myself! :) I have a few left over because I overestimated the size of my tubs (even though they were sitting right in front of me in the cart at the time), so I will probably make another basket or two and stick them somewhere outside. I love the dusty rose color of these Mums! I haven't ever seen that color before (though I probably wouldn't have noticed anyway...but that's a thought for another day!) and I know they sold out quickly at our store. I feel I've driven the point home now, but just in case.....I'm no gardener (though I'd like to be!), so I hope these poor lil' plants thrive! Any tips from my green-thumbed family would be appropriate and welcomed...... :)

I need to lift this weight off my shoulders....

....and my thighs, and my hiney, and my stomach......

I'm Fed up! and...if the scale is reading right ....and it must be, because none of my clothes from last summer fit me anymore.....I'm OVERfed up! Ugh. Why is weight such a huge issue for women in general and, more specifically, me??? I've struggled with it for most of my childhood and all of my adult life. I'm an emotional eater, that I do know is a contributing factor. It's not the only reason I'm a chunky monkey (totally not fair to call an ICE CREAM by that name!) or a fat cat or "big boned" (yeah, okkkkk ....that's what it is!) but I'm sure it is one good, solid reason. Much like me. Good...and solid.

Well, I decided today's the day. I quit smoking on January 22, 2007 after having smoked on and off for 16 years. For many different reasons, I'm very ashamed of that, but it is what it is at this point, and a little too late to go back and change things now! But, as usual, I digress. What I was going to say WAS.... so here I quit approximately a year and five months ago...and how does my body THANK me??? By packing on about 50 pounds. Nice. I knew to watch out for it, too, but .....*looks down* ...yep, it's still there. My good and kind Sis (waves atcha) recently sent me a bunch of information she had duplicates of (thanks, btw!). It's from Weight Watchers and while I'm not going to actually follow the program, I know I will find much of the information very useful. I know myself and I can't stick to a very strict diet or I'll just give up altogether. About 5 years ago I DID lose 50 pounds in about 4 months...simply by walking 2 miles a day (which isn't really an option just now, but I'm sure there are things I CAN do) and watching what I ate. I still had potato chips, just less. I had WHATEVER I wanted....just less. So...here goes. The plan is to simply eat better (more fruit instead of junk for snacks at work and the like....) and portion control. I don't plan on starving myself...I'm not aspiring to be a model,after all. ;) I really need to lose about 100 pounds for my body type, but I would like to have dealt with 50 by the end of Autumn...at least that will put me back where I was to begin with! The good news is, if I could quit smoking (and it's every bit as difficult as "they" say it is!) I can lose weight! For me it will probably take about the same amount of willpower, but I have faith that I CAN do it! Wish me luck, will ya? I don't wanna be a fat cat forever!!!! :) M.

I wanna talk about ME!

Well, I've finally gone and done it; I've created a blog! I'm sure it will take me a while to get into the swing of things, but I know it's going to be fun, too! First of all, I'm a night owl. I can stay UP until 7am, but good luck *getting* me up at 7am! You may have gathered that if you noticed the time of this post--it will be right around 2:45 am (oh, at least!) by the time I'm finished, so I'd best get started! In my defense, I was waiting for Corey to get home from the Milwaukee Brewer's game, and I met him and his teacher up the road at about 1am....so I would have been up anyway (as if I needed an excuse!). Even though most of you who will be reading this will know me, I thought I would make this first post easy on myself and write a little bit about ME, specifically. Toby Keith is the one who said it....."I wanna talk about meeeee!" :)

Basically, I'm a romantic and a dreamer. As far as the former, well, I just can't change that; as far as the latter, too much dreaming *can* be a bad thing, but if we can use our dreams to motivate us and at least point us toward our destinations--I think they can definitely be good for us as well! I love all things cute, beautiful and that just plain make me feel good. These include (but are farrrr from limited to!) my family, babies, lists (oh, I loveeee to make lists!), purple and sage green together, ROSES, puppies,a clear complexion!!!, shoes (I like them more than my wallet does!), my friends (both in "real" life and online),MUSIC!! (most all music--piano, pop, country, oldies, you name it!), B&B Works lotion, a tan in the summer (as if I could!), garlic-butter shrimp and steak on the grill (mmmmmmmm), watching my son's sporting events, HUGS, hazelnut candles, reading a new Nora Roberts or Debbie Macomber romance novel, pictures of serene locales that make me dream and think fanciful thoughts (like the one of Tuscany in my header), both the book and the 2005 film version of Pride and Prejudice, most anything that can make me laugh (one of those REAL laughs--you know what I mean!), front-porch swings, and *sincerely* kind and honest people. I know a lot of them and they know who they are. I could go on and on, and I *will* likely add more later, but that's enough about me for now! Oh, but one last thing--did I mention that I'm very talkative AND long winded?? *wink*