More of the Same Ol' Stuff

I haven't updated my blog in awhile, and I'm not going back to read what I've written before, so if I repeat myself, well...I'm old, get over it. ha.
We had a good weekend in some ways and bad in others. We saw two movies, Orphan (good if you like scary movies) and Ugly Truth (sort of a chick flick written for guys, who won't go see it, and the women who do won't like it, although..the woman behind us thought it was hilarious and laughed louder than anyone I've ever heard). I stuck with my diet. I'm down 19 lbs. I had been stuck for quite awhile, and now seem to be edging down again.
I dyed my hair red, because I felt like it. I think I like it, but I'm not sure yet.
I lost my calendar book, the one I carry in my purse with every appointment, address, phone numbers, etc in it, the one my life is planned on, the one I'd be lost without. I've searched everywhere, so it's gone. I bought another one, but haven't even attempted to start putting things back into it yet. I did call to make sure I didn't have a doctor's appt today, as I knew it was sometime in August. I lose things like this, and then I get mad at myself for not being more organized. Then I get organized for awhile, let it go, and lose something else important.
I told someone today I feel like I did when I used to have PMS, only I don't know what to call it when it's not PMS, it's menopause. She said you call it HELL. Sounds about right to me.
We signed up for a cruise with our townhome community for May of next year. About 20 couples are going. I'm going with my son on one in November. I'm looking forward to both of them. Also worried about the money they cost.
Well that's about it around here.

My Son's Living Room Sign

My son made this webcam to a sign in his living room. Leave him a message. He would love it.

Something about Saturday

My son came over today and rewired our satellite dish so our Tivo will quit giving us error messages. I made lunch and dinner. For lunch we had grilled salmon, asparagus, spinach, and a baked potato. For dinner, we had penne with marinara and turkey meatballs, with salad (and fresh tomatoes). I've lost eighteen pounds since May 13. I love going to the pool and exercising with my friends, and since I stopped taking the med that caused me problems with the sun, I can go twice a day. I walk, do push ups on the side, leg lifts, squats, "ride the bike" with the noodle, and do scissors. We also do a lot of arm exercises that I don't know how to describe.
My mother-in-law was here for ten days and left on Thursday. I took her to play cards at the senior center, and also took her on a driving tour of some of the historical sections in our city and neighboring areas. She seemed to enjoy it. My husband said she seemed much less negative this time. I relaxed and went about my daily activity, and she seemed fine with that.
My youngest son had an awesome idea for a book, and I'm hammering parts of it out in my head. I think I'll start soon trying to get a basic outline of the chapters done. I'm not ready to talk about it much yet. I also came up with a great title of another book I'd like to write. Who knows, I may stop procrastinating and do some writing again. It's been awhile.
I think this is the best I've felt in twenty years. I know the depression is better. I don't feel tired all the time like I used to. I'm eating better, healthier, and it's become more habit than effort. I'm still going to my OA meetings once or twice a week. I also started sponsoring a young girl in another country by email.
My friend came and cleaned my house yesterday. So now it's all clean at one time, which is a great feeling.
I don't know what I'll do for fitness in the winter when the pool closes. I'm did order a Richard Simmons DVD, but I'm also looking into fitness centers and joining an indoor pool nearby. I have to figure out something to keep my momentum going.

My Neighbors Like Me!

I wrote in a previous post that I had been going to an exercise class in our neighborhood pool in the mornings, but because of a medication I'm taking causing sun sensitivity, I had to stop going. I was really disappointed, because even though I know all the exercises and can do them alone in the evenings, it's SO much more fun to do them with the group.
One of the ladies told me at cards last night that if I'd come at 6 tonight, she would exercise with me. I went and ALL the women were there, and even three of their husbands! They didn't want me to exercise alone. Some of them even came after doing the water exercise this morning. I was blown away. I told them how grateful I am. We all did over an hour of exercise and had so much fun! They are all coming back tomorrow!
They also asked if anyone had plans for the 4th, and none of us did. We decided to all get together at the clubhouse/pool and grill Saturday. They said any family visiting was also welcome. So we can have a cookout and swim or whatever. I'm so HAPPY. :-)
I've spent most of my life isolating, and now I find out how much fun having friends can be!

Summer Stuff

Summer is going back so quickly. My mother-in-law is coming today for a ten day visit. I have an OA meeting this morning, and then I'm picking her up at the airport this afternoon. My husband has taken vacation for most of the days she will be here, but couldn't get off today. We booked ourselves for cards tonight and tomorrow. I hope she's not too tired from the trip. They have to have groups of four, so if she declines, it will mess up the numbers. My husband says I worry too much.
I've been exercising at the pool, and have gotten a bad sunburn, even with heavy 85 SPF sunscreen. I finally put two and two together and found out that one of my medications is the worst for sun sensitivity. Everyone kept saying my arms didn't look sunburned, but looked more like a chemical burn. So I guess that makes sense. I've been taking aspirin and putting on burn gel and it seems to be helping. One lady in our exercise class was stung by a wasp last week when it floated by. Ouch.
I'm still going to OA and have lost 12 pounds. That is the amount my doc wanted me to get off before I see him again in August, so he should be happy. I hope to lose quite a bit above that before then. I'm going on a cruise in November with my son and it would be nice to have lost enough to have to buy clothes that fit. :-)
I did buy a bathing suit in a smaller size, because I was afraid I wouldn't find any bathing suits in the fall to buy. It's cute and just seeing it in the closet makes me motivated.
My husband is losing from the fallout of my eating program, the way I'm cooking, etc. I admit I do feel resentful when he orders big fried dinners at restaurants at times though. He can cut back a little and still lose. It takes more effort for me.
My son and his finace are coming next weekend for the 4th. My daughter and the wee one are coming next week. My granddaughter is growing like a weed! I'll post a pic with this post.
A lady from OA said she uses the Biggest Loser cookbook and makes meals for her family--that they are simple ingredients and the kind of food people actually eat, not fancy fancy stuff. I think I may order one on payday and check it out. Although I do like the fact that my husband is now pretty much convinced that eating out is as cheap for two as cooking. I don't want to blow that idea by cooking a lot. :-)
Our favorite cheapo buffet here in town had a 78 rating when we went there last week. We didn't see it going in, and almost didn't see it going out as they had a potted plant in front of it. I have mixed feelings about that. On one hand, I don't think I'll die from a 78. I've seen some of the things they count off for, and they are stupid. I'd hate to see what most home kitchens would get rated. But then there is that big fear that you'll get food poisoning and have been warned. ha. But like I said--it's a cheap place to eat. Maybe they'll get their rating up soon.

Sanity in the Storm

What a week! I can't believe it's just Wednesday.
I went to an OA meeting Monday, and someone asked me where I grew up, and it got around to my grandmother, and I burst out crying. You know...one of those "Why am I crying? Where did this come from?" cries. They all just loved me through it and let me talk, although I didn't know what to say. I kept telling myself not to be embarrassed, it's ok to cry. When I came home, I didn't immediately want to stuff the feelings back down with food, which is a big thing with me. I've been working this program since May 13, and except for one insane day have been "abstinent" from overeating. I'm using a free program online to track my food called Nutrawatch, and I send it every evening to my sponsor. I go to meetings twice a week in person, and do some online meetings. I'm journaling...that's huge. And I read OA and AA books (AA is the same program. You just have to substitute "FOOD" for "ALCOHOL" and "Compulsive overeater" for "alcoholism". Same program. Same message. Same thing.
We went to play cards Monday night. We'd been playing about an hour (my team was losing big time) when the power went off and the hail started. At first it sounded like regular hail, which in Alabama is a common thing in spring and early summer. Then it started sounding like someone was throwing baseballs at the windows. People were running back into the closet. I wanted to see, but I was afraid to stand too near the windows. I tried a peek but it was raining in sheets and there was no visibility. When the hail stopped and the rain let up a bit, we came home. Of course, the power was off all night until 130PM yesterday. All our frig food thawed out. Our freezer food was ok though. I called the insurance to check the roof and told them about losing the food. They said they don't cover food unless the power is out 48 hours. Great.
Then I called the utilities and they said several telephone poles blew down on the street behind us. Our fence in the back also blew down, but it belongs to the association so it's not ours to fix.
Saturday I took our dog to the groomers and the girl was new...She cut him pretty badly on his tummy. When they called us to pick him up, my husband went, and said they said they "knicked" him. Well, it was deep and he was whimpering and shaking. We had to take him to the emergency vet, and he cleaned it up and glued it closed, put a collar on him and put him on antibiotics. We had this $128 bill....I thought we should take it by there and talk to the groomers about it. My husband, who is a wimp like me, said let it go. But I needed to feel like an adult with a spine, so I did some slow breathing and went. I was nice. They apologized. They said the girl who did the grooming cried when she saw what she had done. I told them even the vet said it was just an accident. I told them I don't want anyone grooming them again but the owner lady. They said fine. And I offered to let them give us the vet bill in free grooms. They agreed to that. So I left there feeling like I'd worn my big girl pants for the day.
I'm still going to the pool to walk. We were going to start an aerobics class in the pool yesterday but the storm messed that up. Maybe next week.
I've lost nine pounds. I feel so much calmer and saner. That's all folks.

New Daughter-in-Law to Be!

My youngest son is engaged! Here is a pic of the two of them together.



Here is the pic of the ring!

Moral Inventories

I'm still going to OA, and I have fifteen days of not overeating. It's a good thing, because I got the results of my physical and I'm pre-diabetic. The doctor has given me three months to lose twelve pounds. So far, so good.
I'm working through the twelve steps. I did my fourth step inventory and finished it last night. "Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves...." Mine took seventeen pages. I thought I knew everything I had ever done wrong until I started answering the questions and writing and boy...more stuff came to my mind. Well I held nothing back. Just wrote and wrote and wrote. Got it all out.
And I feel much better. I emailed it to the lady I asked to sponsor me.
There are OA meetings online now, but I also go to some about thirty miles away. My husband has gone with me a couple of times and is going with me tonight.
I got my hair cut, and I mean CUT. It's very short. My husband almost had a heart attack, but it took me like zero time to wash and dry it this morning. I'm not sure I love it, but I like it. And it will grow.

Well, that's all that's new around here. Same old, same old stuff.

What God Looks Like

Quick update: Have to make this quick because we have cards tonight.
So...the OA group is a 12 step group which means you come up with a version of a Higher Power you can live with. Well, I realized that when I say God in my head I get this picture of a stern taskmaster of judgement. A man, of course (Baptist, of course.)
So I thought, I've got to have a new image of God. And I didn't figure God would mind, since God is not really male or female. That's my belief, anyway. So I thought about it.
You'll like this. Now when I say "God" I think of Jessica Tandy in Fried Green Tomatoes. And I talk to her. I think God would be pleased. She's a nice lady to talk to.
As for me being a binge eater, I've been eating compulsively since I was eight. (Just ask my daughter.) I've been on EVERY diet imaginable. I even lost on some of them. But sooner or later, my food addiction (and it is) would rear it's ugly head and I'd gain it back and more besides.
I'm old. I don't care about losing weight and looking like a fashion model. I just want to be able to eat without it consuming my thoughts every minute of every day, and feeling so freaking guilty about what I'm eating. I want to get rid of baggage as much as pounds. Both would be nicer.

Short Update

Since I went off the low carb diet last fall, I have gained and my eating is out of control. Last week I went to an OA meeting. I used to go years ago when the kids were little, and I'm starting back.
I know for me, diets don't work long-term. I have to do something drastic. I'll let you all know how it goes. I haven't overeaten since last Wednesday. That's a big thing for me, the queen of binges.
We got a new printer. Ours konked out a few weeks ago. I didn't know how much I used the printer until I didn't have one. My son came over last night and installed the new one. We can use it wirelessly from both laptops. I'm always amazed by technology.
My granddaughter will soon be two. My husband and I were talking about it last night and we were both amazed it had been that long since she was born. Seems like just yesterday I had called him to come get me so we could rush off to the hospital. She is growing so fast and looks more and more like her mom did at that age every day.

Trekkies, Roses, and Diamonds

Yesterday we went to see Star Trek for my husband's birthday (last week) and he loved it. I'm not a trekkie but I have to admit it was a very good movie.

We went by the book store and met Elizabeth Bettina, the author of It Happened in Italy, a book about prisoner of war camps in Italy and how much better the Jews were treated there than in Germany. She signed a copy for me, noting it was the second book she'd ever signed in a bookstore. Of course, that is every writer's dream, to be sitting at the little table in the bookstore signing copies of your latest book. She was very nice, and gave us some of the stories behind the pictures in the book.

My son came by and brought me some roses for Mother's Day. They are beautiful flowers. My daughter sent me the funniest e-card. My youngest son will be calling later, I'm sure. He's a very late sleeper since he works the night shift.

Speaking of the youngest, he bought his girlfriend an engagement ring this week. He special ordered it, so it hasn't come into the local jewelry store yet, but since they had been looking at rings together, the proposal won't be a total surprise. However, she doesn't know he bought the ring. She wanted a certain look, and he found it in something he could afford. I'm happy for him. I like her a lot, and will be glad to have her as a daughter-in-law and future grandchildren's mother! (Yes, I'm getting ahead of myself.)


So to all you mom's out there, Happy Mother's Day. Kiss those babies.

Prostitutes and Frostys

Busy, busy week. Three family birthdays, two doctor's appointments including the ol' annual physical, consoling a friend, a ton of laundry I never got to over the weekend, and on it goes.

I made a decision to turn off my computer and television every morning so I could make myself get off my butt and clean my house. So how is that going? I get up, work hard for about thirty minutes, and then collapse on the couch with BOTH the computer and the television on, and argue with myself over how lazy I must be, why can't I get this done, etc. etc.

I only had the cleaning lady once before she had knee surgery, and I really want to get EVERYTHING here clean at one time like she did, but the part of me that used to be able to clean the house from top to bottom in one day seems to have gotten lost somewhere through the years.

My friend called to tell me that she's a horrible person and all the reasons why, and I consoled her telling her how she's awesome (and meant it) and how she should stop beating herself up. All the time I'm beating myself up about all the things I should have done this week but didn't because I have no willpower, instead of being glad for all I DID accomplish this week. I also realized my grandmother is talking in my head. For instance, I haven't put away the last load of laundry yet, although it is folded in the basket. My grandmother's voice in my head says, "You haven't DONE the laundry until it's put away."

Lightning hit our internet box last weekend, so instead of taking that as a gift from God to get me to clean my house, I start searching frantically for an unsecured connection in the neighborhood I can use until my son comes over to hook up the new box.

My friend was complaining about her house being so cluttered, and how a lady from her church reminded her that "God is a God of order." I told her if he loves prostitutes and tax collectors, he surely loves us in spite of our messy houses.
So I have the best of intentions, really. I just lack motivation or energy or gumption or something. I am so jealous of people who start projects and finish them.

The doctor says I have Roseacea, and gave me this fantastic stuff called Metrogel that, in less than a week, is helping take away the redness. I add that to give hope to anyone reading this with Roseacea. He also said I had lost five pounds since I was there a month ago. That is a miracle. As I was talking to my friend, she said, "Hold on...I'll have a large Frosty." She was in the drive-thru at Wendy's. All I could think of was going to get me a Frosty so I would feel better, too. But I had a piece of strawberry cake instead.

Look at My "NEW" Table!

My hubby moved my grandmother's table downstairs and it now takes one end of my kitchen. Everytime I look at it, I remember sitting at that table at my grandmother's house eating hot oatmeal with raisins. I'd love to add more vintage or vintage-look items to my kitchen as the budget permits. I really like the way it looks. I can see myself sitting there copying recipes or writing my short stories.

My son moved out into his apartment and I miss him something awful. I have to admit I enjoyed having someone here to fuss over and to cook for besides just me and hubby. I got up everyday and made his lunch. He said I'd have to come over to his apartment and make lunch for him everyday. ha. I hate empty nests. You get used to being needed for something and then you aren't anymore. (Honestly, I know that's not true, but that's how I feel today.) I miss my kids being little and running around while I made dinner.
I am making a strawberry cake today from a Paula Deen show. Here is the recipe:

Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

* 1 (18.25-ounce) box white cake mix
* 1 (3-ounce) box strawberry-flavored instant gelatin
* 1 (15-ounce) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed
* 4 large eggs
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* 1/4 cup water


Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
* 1/4 cup butter, softened
* 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
* 1 (10-ounce) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed
* 1/2 teaspoon strawberry extract
* 7 cups confectioners' sugar
* Freshly sliced strawberries, for garnish, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 2 (9-inch) round cake pans.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix and gelatin. Add pureed strawberries, eggs, oil, and water; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour into prepared pans, and bake for 20 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
For the frosting:

In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in 1/4 cup of the strawberry puree and the vanilla extract. (The rest of the puree is leftover but can be used in smoothies or on ice cream for a delicious treat.) Gradually add confectioners' sugar, beating until smooth.

Spread frosting in between layers and on top and sides of cake. Garnish with sliced fresh strawberries, if desired.

I am not going to make the strawberry icing exactly as it called for, as I couldn't find strawberry extract. I am just going to make cream cheese icing and add a bit of the strawberry puree and a couple of drops of red food coloring to pink it up.

Musical Chairs, Oz, and Cheerios

I've been paying homeowner's dues here since 2000, and it's only been in the last few months that I've actually taken part in any activities. I've never been in the pool, never used the tennis courts, never had family members use the playground. I did rent the clubhouse for my daughter's baby shower, but since I had to pay a fee to use it, I didn't look at that as a perk of my homeowner's dues, not really. So when we started playing cards at the clubhouse, I figured maybe I'm reaping some benefit of all those dollars.
Well, we had glass top tables and some pretty comfortable dining chairs, and that's what we've been using for cards. Our president decided that we really shouldn't be using those tables for our card-playing group, and she got WalMart card tables and folding chairs.
Well, I don't care what kind of table I sit at to play cards, but I'm pretty picky about what kind of chair I'm going to sit three hours straight in, and the new chairs suck. Some of the others figured that out pretty quickly, too, and so when we arrive to play, there was some musical chairs, or shifting of chairs. Last night our dear homeowner's president (drippy sarcasm there) announced that we must use the folding chairs and not the dining chairs, because the dining chairs are fragile. One lady immediately stood up to her and said she could not sit in the folding chairs because the seat was too short and they were uncomfortable. Pres lady said they are not shorter, etc..and on it went. So Pres lady leaves and chairs start moving all over the place. Seems no one wants her to tell them where they can sit. I can feel a fight coming on.
I don't like fights, and I don't like arguing, but I doubt this one can be avoided. I sat there last night thinking I probably won't get to play cards much longer, because I don't want to be there when the darts start flying. (Now as for me, I'm sitting there last night thinking what chair I can bring from home to avoid the whole question of which of the clubhouse chairs to use)
My question is, since I pay dues, and that means I own as much a chunk of those chairs as Pres lady, who is she to say what chairs we use. And if the dining chairs are fragile, what is she saving them for? Someone to rent the clubhouse only to have their guests dumped in the floor when the back breaks off the chair?
None of this may sound that interesting, but hey, it's the most excitement I've had around here in awhile.
So Dr Oz was on the View yesterday, saying we should all be prepared with food and water to be quarantined in our homes in case the Swine Flu gets out of control. My husband said he thought he'd run by the grocery and buy a little extra food to tuck away. He brings home three boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios and six cans of Mini Ravioli.
ha. I swear that's what he bought. And no milk for the cereal.
I figured out why I don't get much done in my house. It's because I'm addicted to tv and my computer. I decided to get up in the morning and check email, then turn off both until noon. I've managed to throw out three garbage bags of unwanted stuff and clean (and I mean CLEAN) two rooms, ceiling to floors and everything in between. And that's just yesterday and today.
At noon, I make lunch and watch All My Children. Then I get busy again. My house smells like Pine-sol. (NO, not the lemon kind!) I figure if I keep this up, I'll have the whole downstairs decluttered in two or three weeks. Now if I can just figure out how to keep my husband from going through the garbage bags. Maybe I can just distract him with some cheerios.

50's Chicks, Baby Chicks

I found this blog where a lady is living as if she is in 1955, dressing, using vintage appliances, avoiding all radio or television after 1955, etc. She's doing it for the whole year, and other than the posting on the computer (which her readers supported!) she's being authentic. I'm sure there will be a book forthcoming from this at some time, but I think it's a fascinating idea. For one thing, I recognize so many of the things she is using, the patterns she is sewing with, the vintage frig she bought, the dishes. She's the one who tipped me off to the rip off with lemon Pine-sol.

I think I would make a great fifties housewife. I like cooking, cleaning, laundry. I don't mind staying home all day. I like fifties television and cookbooks. I even think the clothes and hairstyles are so cute.

We drove out to see my dad the other day. He was having a good day and even recognized my husband by name. My step-mom was at church, so he was able to talk to us freely, and his number one topic was my mom. He asked about her several times, how she is, does she live alone, etc. My mom has said if my step-mom dies before he does, she will go out and marry him again. At first, we thought she was kidding, but she's repeated it so many times, we have concluded she's serious. And from the way he talked, he'd have her back in a heartbeat.

He also talked a lot about visiting his funeral plots and having all his arrangements in place. That worried me and I thought about that a lot after I got home. I hope he's not trying to tell us he hasn't got much longer, because he's been doing so much better lately.

He also said one of his hens hid her nest so they couldn't find the eggs, and has hatched ten baby chicks. He put her and her chicks up so they could stay warm, and seemed excited by them, but angry at her for hiding those eggs.

The spaghetti sauce I made the other day from my ex's ex's recipe had too much red pepper flakes in it. I should have known better when I read how much....But, we've decided with a few tweaks, it could be a very good sauce, so I'm not giving up on it yet.

I made a cheese strata to take to card playing yesterday. It turned out well.
I bought some cute chicken recipe cards and a big wooden roll-top recipe box, and I'm redoing my old recipes for it. I like handwritten recipes, and have kept a box for most of my married life, but my box got too full and was bulging. I'm having a good time remembering recipes, ones I received from old friends and boyfriends (One said, "This is my mom's chocolate cake and fudge icing recipe. She doesn't share it with anyone, so I had to beg her to email it to me. When you meet her, don't tell her I shared it with you or she will kill me.")

I have one dear recipe I got from a older Southern lady, handwritten. She was telling me how to make good fried okra. She began, "I fry my OKREY a little at a time." There is a recipe for brownies from my childhood playmate's mom. A recipe handwritten by my daughter when she was eleven or twelve called "Do-Do Cookies". My boys giggled all the time about that one, but loved those chocolate, oatmeal bites that looked like do-do. I'm having a lot of fun.

I have my grandmother's formica top table with the chrome band edging, and red and green flowers, and her icy green chrome chairs in my upstairs bedroom. I have decided to bring them down and use them. A few of the seats are split, and since I'd never find this green ice vinyl to cover them in that looks authentic, I'm thinking of clear tape, duct tape, something. Any ideas? I can put those chairs at the back, and maybe even make some skirts for the seats or something. I loved that table. It was always the one my grandma used. I should be using it instead of hiding it away in the attic.
I'll post a picture of it soon.

And Another Thing....

Another thing..this time about PINE-SOL. Both my grandmothers used Pine-Sol to clean their bathrooms, mop, and whatever else needed disinfecting in their homes. I grew up thinking Pine-Sol equals clean. I even know one woman who doesn't clean but just pours some Pine-Sol in her toilets when company is coming so they THINK she cleans. ha.
Well, I found out none of the scented Pine-Sol, including lemon which I switched to some years ago, have any pine oil in them, therefore having no disinfecting quality whatsoever. So it basically just takes the germs, mixes them around on the surface, and makes 'em smell like lemons.

Paper Towel Saga Part 2

Hi Kathy,

We appreciate your feedback about the change in the number of sheets in some of
our Bounty packages.

We try to keep our manufacturing costs as low as possible so we can offer our
Bounty towels at an affordable price. Sometimes, though, costs of ingredients
or packaging materials increase, and we're faced with a tough decision.

We can either raise the price of our towels, or we can change the amount in the
package, as we did in this case. I’ll share your comments with the rest of the
Bounty team.

Thanks for writing.

Barb
Bounty Team

Incredibly Shrinking Paper Towels

What the heck happened to my paper towels???!!! I've bought Brawny paper towels for years-- big, soft, fluffy rolls of Brawny. This week I went to the grocery and my Brawny rolls have shrunk by half, they should be called the Un-Brawny. I started looking at other brands, after years of being a Brawny customer, and you know what? They've shrunk, too. Scott towels are weasly looking rolls, Bounty is not bounty anymore but more like the 90 lb weakling at the beach. I was so frustrated, not just because I would have to buy two rolls now to do what one used to do, but because my soft, swiggisy rolls of paper towels now feel like skinny bricks.
So this tells you how small the circle of my life is. Other people are complaining about the stock market and I'm complaining about my paper towels. Not only am I complaining on my blog. I wrote the Brawny folks.

So I was talking to my friend, Dawn, and as she always jumps on my soapbox with me (what are friends for?) she started on washing machines. She said, "Don't you remember when you used to buy a washing machine or refrigerator and you knew you'd have that sucker 20 years or more until you finally just had to have a more modern-looking one. But that refrigerator would not die, oh no, it would still work just fine. With strong medal shelves (NO PLASTIC) and a solid sounding door. No more. Now they are hunk of junks that last five years tops, if you're lucky." With my refrigerator making this weird clunking every time the ice maker comes on, I thought maybe paper towels aren't going to be the worse thing I have to deal with...

Then I said it. I couldn't believe it when it came out of my mouth....."They just don't make things like they used to." And immediately I saw my grandmother saying it, my grandfather, my dad. Why is American junking down on what we sell? And why do I sound like old people?

TARGET is the DEVIL !!

I got into a tussel with Target. The store here had a sewing machine on display with a price of $49.99, a Singer. I thought it sounded too good to be true, so I got an employee to come check. He scanned it and said no, that's their regular price, and although they are out of them right now, they do have some more coming in, or he can check other nearby stores. I said, "That's not a sale price? Do I need a raincheck?" "No, that's our regular price for that machine."

Ok, sounded good to me. He checked the store in Huntsville, and they had two. He asked them to hold me one. (You know where this is going, don't you?) So I sent hubby by there after work, they ring it up, and it says $299. So they called the store here and then tell us that it's our store's closeout price, but they are not closing it out at their store, so it's three hundred bucks.

I was very upset, but hubby did not want to argue with them so he left. He did stop by the store here and let the manager know how upset I was, but all he said was he would find out why the employee told me that (don't think he believed us) but his hands were tied. I swore I'd never go to Target again, but of course I will. How can you NOT go to Target?

No, I didn't really need a new sewing machine, but my old one needs repairing (my daughter is using the embroidery machine) and I figured if I could get one for that price, it would be cheaper than a repair. It all worked out, as I ended up finding a great deal on one from Amazon and used my gift certificate, so it ended well, despite Target.

My son got the job he'd been interviewing for in Huntsville. He was concerned because his third interview didn't go as well as the first two, but he got an offer. He starts a week from Monday. He's so excited; he went out and bought a new razor. ha.

I made Madeleine's today. I even bought the little shell-shaped tin to make them in. Very good to eat, very bad for a diet. I was just trying out a batch so I could make them for our card players Monday night.



Tomorrow I'm making a big batch of spaghetti sauce by my ex's ex-wife's recipe. (Following that?) All the time we were married, which wasn't long, either time (married him twice, confused yet?) he raved about this sauce, best he'd ever had. So I got him to ask his daughter to ask her mom for the recipe for HIM (she wouldn't have given it to me) and I've had it ever since. I never tried it. Ran across the recipe this week when I was sorting through some old papers copying recipes for my recipe box, and I decided to try it. It has a lot of spices in it, so who knows how it will turn out. Nothing like experimenting on my hubby and son. Neither complains, as long as it's edible.

Home Again

My son and I arrived home last Friday after eight days on the road. We drove from Seattle down to Bakersfield, CA and then across Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee and then to Alabama. We went through California because this time of year, it's not easy to find all the roads open through the Rockies. We had to load the UHaul trailer. He had moved all of his heavy furniture into a storage unit, but had not packed any of his kitchen, baths, closets, etc, so had tons of boxes still to be loaded (and he lived on the third floor).
There were times both he and I were ready to give up. Taking the stairs that many times was killing us, we were both exhausted, and there seemed to be no end in sight. Add to that the fact that the landlord's husband came by while we were still loading the trailer to "inspect" the apartment. He kept walking around saying he "couldn't see the carpet because of the boxes." Well, duh. We finally convinced him to come back the next morning so we could have everything out.
My son had a huge deposit, so he's hoping he gets it all back. He was super careful with the apartment.
We figured out quickly on the road that we could not drive above 45-50 with the trailer before it began to fishtail all over the road, even though we did our best to distribute the weight on the wheels, and we put all the heavy weight on the hitch. So it was a long, slow trip.
We were exhausted when we got home, but it was a good trip. We saw the Grand Canyon, the Sequoias, Meteor Crater and The Mystery Spot. We had a long time to talk, and did very little arguing. He was a very easy person to travel with.
We had one bad motel experience (when he found a clean pillowcase over a bloody pillow!) and after that, we got a lot more careful about where we stayed. I came home even more of a germ-a-phobe than I was when I left.
When I got home, I had a new living room floor waiting. Yes, folks, after all that time of griping about hating my living room carpet, it's gone! I have a Trafficmaster Allure Oak floor, and I love it. The boy that helped my husband put it down said it was a horror to put down, though. I was hoping to get it throughout the house sooner or later, but I guess I'll have to be happy with the living room and hall for now. I really like it.
We are going to the Baptist church near our house for Sunday School and church. The lady who teaches my Sunday School class is also one of our neighbors and plays cards with us, as does her husband who is my husband's SS teacher. We have a big class, mostly women older than me, a truly senior class. Each week I go, I leave angry. This week, the lesson was about how to be saved and how there is only one way. I know how Baptist's believe, so I was not surprised by the lesson, even though I have broader ideas of God's mercy. But during class, they began to talk about Judaism, and how the Jews still take sacrifices to the temple every Sunday (what?), how there are a lot of stereotypes about Jews (then the Jew jokes came in, but only as an example of what we should not say, of course.....). Then they switched to Mexicans, Buddists, on and on. Basically how they feel uncomfortable around those foreign poor, misguided people who don't know the truth, or are different from us in other ways.
By the time class was over, I was exhausted, mostly because my emotions were raging and I kept my mouth shut. (I've seen people try to disagree with this teacher and it wasn't pretty.) I asked my husband if we could go home and just skip church, and we did. Then I came home and started wondering why it is that I seem all gung-ho on going to church when I start; then I always start finding things I don't like until I end up quitting completely. Of course, I figured the problem has to be with me, as nothing could possibly be wrong with the SS teacher, as everyone just loves her.
Then I tried to think last night where I feel comfortable with God and religion. It was standing underneath one of the Sequoias, looking into the Grand Canyon, watching a mother with her baby, holding a newborn puppy. That's when I feel God and when I feel closest to God. I don't feel him at all in that church building where we go. I can't seem to box up my image of God into a neat little package like they do at church. I feel "different" which is uncomfortable for me.
Ok, I used this post to vent, because this has been bugging me. Is it me? Is it them? My husband doesn't agree with everything they say, but has not problem going along. I am not good at going along with things I don't agree with.
Well, I'm glad to be home. My daughter and grandbaby are coming up next week. I can't wait to see them. So far, it's been a good year.