Not much to report...

Nothing new on the home front other than my son will be having his hand xrayed today.

Here's a card I made for an animal challenge and also a simple 30th anniversary card I made for dh using Stampin' Up inks, papers and stamps (All About U set). The giraffe is also SU (In the Wild?).

Weekend update...

I'm pooped. We had a busy weekend. Fri. I had to food shop and make desserts for Sat. We went to a party for our friends' son who came back from Iraq. It was fun catching up with people from high school!! And it was great to see the Marine safely back home. He'll head out again in the spring.

I spent several hours at a workshop yesterday making Christmas cards. I couldn't fit them all in so here are a few. They weren't the usual easy cards. There was a lot of cutting but they came out nice. The one in the back on the left has a snowflake ornament hanging in a window. Not sure if you can tell by the photo. She came up with some beautiful designs, huh? I wish I could do that!!

Just a quick note...

Ds sounds SO much better. He called me after work and told me his bf told his ex off and said she was a jerk for doing what she did. He said he thought about it and hated feeling so awkward talking to my ds and valued their relationship.

"Oh yeah, and thanks for cashing my check, Mom"! (yep, he's feeling much better - thanks for your good thoughts).

Now if he could stop causing me grief now and then.......

Friday's Feast One Hundred Sixty Four

Appetizer
When was the last time you were surprised? On my birthday (sept.) when my son and his gf came to dinner. I thought he had to work. It was a nice surprise!

Soup
Fill in the blanks: My eyes are ________, but I wish they were __________. My eyes are brown, but I wish they were either blue or green.

Salad
If you were a Beanie Baby, what would you look like and what would your name be? I'd be Greta the Giraffe. I love giraffes and I'm tall!!

Main Course
Name two things you consistently do that you consider to be healthy habits. I drink only water (no soft drinks). I'm currently taking a yoga-pilates class.

Dessert
What brand of toothpaste are you using these days? Do you like it? Why or why not? I use Colgate. I used to be a Crest snob but I tried Colgate once while traveling because I left my Crest at home. I ended up liking it better!

Feeling a little better....

My ds is feeling better apparently. Maybe receiving his first paycheck helped!

He called me at work, during work, to ask if our bank was open after work. He just has no clue about these things. So I explained that Thurs. night is usually the bank's late night. Then I remembered that the grocery store has a branch. So I told him I'd take him there and then remembered the ex works there. He said he didn't care.

So I showed him how to detach and sign the check and he was smiling with the cash in his hand when we left. She was not working last night. Whew.

He did eat yesterday. Not a whole lot but some. He had a slice of pizza and some goldfish at work! LOL Then he came home last night with a Wendy's bag for the trash. Back to normal, I hope.

Poor baby...

Oh, my poor ds....I feel so bad for him. It was bad enough his gf broke up with him on Fri. but he found out yesterday that the reason was a lie. She likes his best friend.

I didn't think it affected boys like it does girls, but he's not eating. I keep telling him he'll get sick but he said I just didn't understand. His stomach will not tolerate much food right now. I got him to eat a little bit of mashed potatoes last night but that's it. This kid is way too skinny as it is. I hope he gets hungry soon. He is drinking lots of water.

He also hurt his knuckles from hitting cement. This is not like my ds either. He's not a fighter or a tough guy. He thought the knuckle was broken. I don't think it is since he has mobility but I'm not a nurse/dr. I'll give it another day or two unless he's in a lot of pain. Please think good thoughts for him.

A fall card I made for a challenge...

I used the scraps from my scrapbook I made a couple of weeks ago with Angela Moen from the Button Farm. I love the papers! I think I only used one of them here.

Feast One Hundred and Sixty Three

Appetizer
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you look forward to your birthday?

I guess I'd say maybe 6? I don't like people at work to know because I get embarrassed if they do a cake or gift. I like getting presents but I hate aging. And I don't have to have gifts. I tell my boys not to spend any money on me. I'd much rather have a hug or nice conversation. My dh surprised me this year with a cake the day after my bday because I crafted all day on the real day.

Soup
What is one word you don’t like the sound, spelling, or meaning of? Sorry, it's gross - Puke. I would much rather hear vomit, throw up, etc. I hate that word!

Salad
Do you wear sunglasses when you’re outside? If so, what does your current pair look like? Yes, I usually do. My eyes are very sensitive. I had this cool movie star pair but I left them at a cookout. So I just have the normal oval shape in a tortoise type frame. And a black oval pair in the other car.

Main Course
If you were to write a book, to whom would you dedicate it? Hmmm...I guess that would be my dh and boys.

Dessert
Name a beverage that you enjoy. I love Margaritas but they don't love me!! I have learned some control in my age, I think. Sometimes I still get carried away! LOL I pay dearly the next day.

Motherhood....

I have a beautiful kit from The Button Farm (side bar) that my son's gf gave me titled, Motherhood, A Work in Progress. I've been dying to get this album done so every time I come across a photo I love, I put it in the package so I don't forget. I found this one last night. It's my now 17 yo. who causes me so much grief. He looks like an angel.

Unfortunately I had to photo the photo with my Palm Pilot so it's not great (my techie helper with the scanner is out).

Let me point out, he's never been angel ... or should I say since he became a toddler. He was a great infant! Anyway, this child had stitches twice before he was two. He was always a monkey, climbing out of his car seat, high chair, crib, you name it.

I love this kid dearly and chuckle sometimes when I think of the things he's put me through. I just have to keep looking at photos like this....
how could you get mad at that face?!!




Well, I tried to post the finished album from The Button Farm site but it won't let me right click. If you go to the site, just look for Motherhood on the side bar. She is SO talented.

the Leaves....

I couldn't see the ponds on the way in this a.m. It was really foggy. But, ooooh, the leaves are getting pretty outside my office window! I'll have to try and take a photo when they are peak.

I hope to get to Maine during the next weekend or two which should be perfect for the foliage.

Not much to blog about today so I'll just *leaf* it at that! LOL

Musings....

What a gorgeous day out there! It's sunny, crisp and the leaves are a changin'! I was wishing I had a camera in the car this morning. On my way to work I pass three ponds. They were all so cool looking with the fog hanging right at the water. Gorgeous! Makes me thankful for where I live.

My dh and I had a really nice dinner last night for our anniversary. We went to a converted barn. It's very upscale and gorgeous inside.

We started with a crab dip appetizer and dh decided we needed another so he ordered the crab cake. We shared both and could have stopped there! They are known for their Angus beef so we both had filet mignon. It came with garlic mashed potatoes and butternut squash with maple syrup. It was scrumptious! Oh yeah, and I had a cosmopolitan and my dh had one of their micro brew beers. Then came dessert. I ordered the raspberry cheesecake. It had fresh raspberries on it and a chocolate crust -- to die for! My dh had a brownie sundae which were TWO homemade brownies and two scoops of a gourmet ice cream from Boston. Yum. It was really a nice night. I don't think we'll be going back soon. It was pretty expensive too!

30 Years

Wow, I cannot believe I have been married for 30 yrs. today. Of course, I was a child bride! I got married two weeks after my 18th birthday. Who would ever think we'd still be together? Weird, huh?!

We went out to dinner on Sat. night because my mom gave us a gift card. It was a casual dinner (Smokey Bones, one of my favs). Tonight we're going to a nice place in a converted barn. It's very elegant and expensive. I know, a barn doesn't sound so elegant but they did a great job and the views of the farm are gorgeous. We've tried to get in on a Fri. or Sat. night but they're always packed.

We've been toying with going on a cruise to celebrate but we don't want to do it in the fall, during hurricane season. We may wait until spring and go for it. It's really hard when you don't know if you'll have a job or not so that's another reason we are waiting.

DH said we could go to an island now for a long weekend and then go on a cruise but I said why spend the money. Let's just wait and go all out for the cruise! I've heard Royal Caribbean is the best. Anyone have experiences or opinions? Please leave them for me if you do!

Friday's Feast One Hundred Sixty Two

Appetizer
How are you today? On a scale of 1-10, I'd say a big fat zero. DS issues again.

Soup
Name 3 television shows you watch on a regular basis. Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy and ER.

Salad
What’s the scariest weather situation you’ve experienced? We had a tornado touch down a mile from us when we lived in MI. It was our first and we didn't know what to do being from the Northeast. We went to the basement and were petrified. It turned out fine but it was scary.

Someone else's post just reminded me about the Blizzard of '78. DH and I drove home through it and it took 2 hrs. to get home. The highways were all closed with people stranded in their cars or at work. They had emergency crews out delivering food to people. My dh and I lived in NH so the next morning we went skiing since we couldn't go back to MA to work.

Main Course
If you could wake up tomorrow morning in another country, where would you want to be? I'd say Australia, just about as far as I can get!!!

Dessert
What do you usually wear to sleep? sleep shorts and tank. I'm always hot at night.

A few more cards...

Here are the kids cards I made recently. I didn't think I took a photo!













and here's one I made for a stitch challenge on a yahoo group I belong to.

Taken from Jennifer O's Reflections post....

I brought these in today to show my coworker how little my youngest was when he started walking. He was only 9 1/2 months. It's a funny picture of his face. He had a weird mouth expression in this. I think maybe the colander just came off his head when I shot the photo.

This is my 17 yo. who just started driving...

Some of my Sat. workshop creations ...

The pumpkin item has a Hershey bar inside. I left two of my favorite projects behind and haven't heard from the rep. One was an adorable snowman diorama card and another was a cute Halloween card I made for ds & his gf. I hope they surface!

Almost through with the forties....

What a weekend! Fri. night we went out for a pre-birthday dinner. It wasn't so great. I wanted to go to Margaritas and dh thought it would be too crowded so we went to another local Mexican restaurant. It used to be great. Well, they put us in this little corner booth that was a weird place so we asked to be moved. They put us in a regular booth (the restaurant wasn't even crowded).

So....the margaritas came and they were practically clear, definitely not green. Took a sip and it was like pure alcohol. We told the waitress and she said they're all like that (we ordered Gold). She said they use lime juice, triple sec and tequila. I think they forgot the lime juice. She brought us some sweet & sour mix to add to it and we still couldn't drink them so we sent them back and got a beer. At least the food was good.

Saturday I started early (up til midnight fri. night). I had a 9 a.m. class that was 30 min. away. Had a blast at my Angela Moen (Button Farm on my side bar) class. We made a gorgeous stadium album but didn't finish. I still have a few pages to do but her directions are great so it's not a big deal. She has absolutely gorgeous kits to purchase. I was dying to get another but just couldn't spend the money. My son's girlfriend was there as a helper and it was great to see her.

Went to my SU workshop and had fun making 8 really nice holiday projects. I was exhausted when I got home at 10:45.

Last night my son and his gf (and my other son and his gf) surprised me by coming by for dinner and ice cream cake. And my mom was home from her trip too.

It was a nice weekend.

Friday's Feast One Hundred Sixty One

Appetizer
What is your favorite type of art? Don't really have a favorite art. I guess photography is what I like to look at. My boys are both photographers and love to experiment with lighting/color, etc.

Soup
When was the last time you got a free lunch (or breakfast or dinner)? Who paid for it? Hmmmmm...it's been a while. A friend tried to pay for my lunch over the summer to thank me for something but I didn't let her. Tonight my dh is buying me dinner!

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how emotional are you? I'm not that emotional on a daily basis. The only time I cry is when I see a sad movie or go to a wake/funeral. So I guess I'd say a 2?

Main Course
Approximately how long do you spend each day responding to emails? Oh boy, I do this all day for my job so I'm guessing 6 hours? It's not constant though.

Dessert
To what temperature do you usually set your home’s thermostat? My dh is in charge of this and I think he sets it to 68? If I'm too hot when the a/c is on or too cold when the heat is on, I manually adjust to my liking without him knowing! LOL

I hope this year goes by fast...

Not that I want to rush my son's life but I hate the worrying already. Last night he asked if he could be home around 9:30-10 with the car. Is said, Sure, but no later. 10:15 rolled around and my stomach started to churn. 10:40 rolled around. I finally called his cell, not wanting to scare him while driving but worried at the same time. His phone was either dead or had no service. So I sat there worrying and considered calling my cousin, the cop, if he didn't show up by 11. I thought he could help me search. I had visions of sirens and everything else in my head. So just about 11:00 he strolled in. He claims he asked for 10:30-11. Grrrrrrr....
My stomach is still killing me.

Oh, on the upside, he did get a job!!!!!!!!!! I hate to put more negative in but (and that's a big one! LOL), he was given the choice to start today or Friday. What do you think he chose?!!!!! Yep, he was busy with social obligations today. I hope this job works out. I'd love to end my ATM role....

End of the taxi driver role...

I feel a new chapter beginning in my life. I'm no longer the taxi driver for my ds. It makes me happy and sad at the same time.

I'm sad because it's the only time I can have quality conversations with him (as he's trapped in with me! LOL).

I'm thrilled that I can get into my pjs at 8:00 if I want to and not have to go back out to get him around 10:00. On the weekends, I'm happy I don't have to say no to a second beer or margarita or whatever, just because I may have to pick him up later (not that I constantly drink but when the occasion arises, I can have another!!).

He has an interview this afternoon. Please send positive thoughts our way! I'm tired of being the ATM....