A Swifter Stronger Beat

Super Bowl

2012-02-06T16:27:00.000-08:00

This was an interesting Super Bowl Sunday. I am happy the Giants won, not because I watched the game, but because that's who the Hubs was rooting for. Knowing I would be going to bed early, I didn't even turn the game on. The Hubs went to a neighbor's, where he could watch it in the garage while they shared cigars. Of course, I had to follow a Super Bowl tradition and made a big pot of chili for dinner before he left. We only ate about half of it, so the rest is in the freezer, just waiting for the next time he doesn't feel like cooking.

A Marshall for the Seniors

2012-02-05T16:09:00.000-08:00

I was happy to volunteer my services for the Senior Open that will be played at Indianwood Country Club this July. I was hoping for a nice job, but got the pleasant surprise this week that I am going to be a marshall. I don't know my exact assignment yet, but how bad can it be? I will likely be on the course with the players. Pretty neat!

A Sad Weekend

2012-01-28T13:50:00.000-08:00

An unexpected death in the family has had me going to funeral homes and funeral services, all the while fitting them in between previous committments. To make matters worse, the Hubs is on a fishing trip and I am braving these events on my own. Tonight I am sitting here alone, trying to figure out the meaning behind losing a 36 year old dynamo. I'm not getting any closer to understanding it, but maybe time will help.

A New Author

2012-01-22T15:48:00.000-08:00

My BFF has been trying to get me hooked on Janet Evanovich. I have read a few of her books, but told her I find them a bit "fluffy". She insists the Stephanie Plum series is one I would enjoy. In fact, she was so sure of this, she bought me the first book (One For The Money) for Christmas. I must admit, I have been enjoying it. Then yesterday I noticed an ad on TV for the movie, which will open this Friday. I have about 30 more pages to go, so I'd better get it finished. The Hubs is going on a fishing trip this weekend, and this may be a perfect time for the girls to catch a movie!

Back to Normal

2012-01-07T13:49:00.000-08:00

The Christmas decorations are finally all put away. It took me all day, and I'm sure the Hubs had an ulterior motive when he invited company over tonight, but I am done. Now I am ready to enjoy pizza and cards with our guests. And tomorrow I can do whatever I feel like. I will probably spend the day knitting, but I can't rule out a walk in this great weather.

Gratitude

2012-01-03T16:56:00.000-08:00

There is an old quote (forgive me if I can't remember the author at present) that goes something like, "If the only prayer you ever say is 'thank you', that will be enough". Now, maybe it's because I let the Hubs handle all the stresses of Christmas shopping, wrapping, etc., but I seem to have replaced my usual post-holiday coma with lots of pleasant memories. My house seems cozier, the neighbors friendlier, and my family more of a comfort than ever. I gladly went back to work this morning, ready to take on the new year. One of my resolutions will definitely be to take more time to smell the flowers.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T18:59:00.000-08:00

It's about 9PM on New Year's Eve. As has been my tradition for the past few years, I will be heading for bed soon. I know it speaks to my age, but at least I don't wake up with a hangover. With a large party to feed and entertain tomorrow, I think I am better off without the hangover.
Happy New Year to all!

Aunt Anna

2011-12-27T10:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we went to visit my aunt in the rehab center. At the age of 94, she recently took a fall and broke her arm. She will be in the rehab center for about 6 weeks, or until her arm gets strong enough for her to use the walker again. Then she will spend another 6 weeks in outpatient rehab, to increase her strength. We arrived yesterday just in time for her therapy session. We watched as she clipped pins to a rack, picked up foam cubes and put them in a container, pushed a weighted box back and forth across the table, and various other exercises. It is amazing to see her determination, even though we could tell her arm was hurting her. She was able to go to her son's home on Christmas day for dinner, and she is hopng to come to my house on New Year's. We hope she will be feeling well enough.

Stress Free Holidays

2011-12-26T11:01:00.000-08:00

This year the holidays have been especially fun. Maybe it's because I let the Hubs do all the planning and shopping. Really. Other than my family party, which will be coming up on New Years Day, I did absolutely nothing for the holidays. Oh, sure, we still went to a few parties. And, I attempted to help the girls make tamales (although they had just finished when I got there). And, the boys came over with their girlfirneds for Christmas Eve dinner. But, all the stresses I generally deal with are not around this year. Hopeully that's a sign of things to come in 2012.

It's the End of an Era

2011-11-27T08:57:00.001-08:00

I received an email from my friend Nancy today. She has organized our Myrtle Beach golf trip for over 20 years, but has decided to end the tradition. How sad! It leaves me and the Hubs wondering how we will spend our spring vacation next year. We are full of ideas, but can't put our fingers on an acceptable substitute just yet. We will have a lot to think about over the winter months.

What Timing!

2011-11-22T16:57:00.001-08:00

It's just about Thanksgiving. This is just the best time for....what? Great food? Good company? How about the hot water heater deciding it was time to give up the ghost? Yep, the Hubs went down to the basement today, to be sure the humidifier was working properly. Opened the door to the furnace room, and noticed the water all over the floor! And, of course, our heating and cooling people saw us coming. We paid the premium price for the luxury of not being out of hot water over the holiday weekend. They will be installing the new heater tomorrow morning. (Oh yeah, that also means the Hubs misses a day's pay.)

I'm Registered

2011-11-19T13:19:00.001-08:00

Something I have always wanted to do is to volunteer at a PGA event. I came close a couple years ago when the Ryder Cup was in town, but at the last minute things didn't work out. Next year the Senior Open is going to be held at Indianwood Country Club in Lake Orion. I filled out the form and mailed my payment today. Hopefully I am early enough to get my first choice of assignments, which would be a Marshall.

Babies And more

2011-11-13T15:50:00.001-08:00

I had a great time at my niece's baby shower yesterday. With only 6 weeks left til her due date, she looks just great. Of course, I am holding out for December 23rd, since that is the date I have in the pool. Oh yeah, and it had better be a boy. I'm not a gracious loser.
I had a nice visit with everyone. We just don't see each other often enough. And, it was nice to find out my other niece is expecting a girl. I started her baby blanket today. It is a beautiful pattern, and so far it's coming out nicely.

The Party

2011-10-31T17:06:00.000-07:00

It was a really fun party Saturday. Costumes were optional, but we knew most would be dressed for the occasion. Since the Hubs has been sitting around without much on his mind except his recent medical procedure, I think it affected his imagination.
He decided we should go dressed as an "upper and lower GI"

Fun Treats

2011-10-29T13:19:00.000-07:00

Halloween is just around the corner, and we are going to a party tonight. I got into a creative mood and made my hors d'ourves in Halloween style. I can't compete with my talented nieces when it comes to cooking blogs, but I think these came out pretty cute.

Cheese Ball Jack-O-Lantern

Snake-shaped Calzone

A Ticket With A Twist

2011-10-13T17:19:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago I was heading to Port Huron to have lunch with my sisters. Listening to an audiobook, as I usually do, I was happily cruising up Lapeer road. Then I saw the flashing lights behind me. Rats! A speeding ticket! The officer was quick to point out that he had let me off easy by only writing it for 5 mph over the limit, and that he had only given me a warning for not using my turn signal when I changed lanes. Nevertheless, it was 95 bucks I didn't need to spend, not to mention the 2 points on my record. I paid it the next day, and proceeded to put it out of my mind, assuring myself the three years it would take to clear my record would go by in no time.Today I got a letter from the Secretary of State telling me, based on my driving record, I have the opportunity to take a Basic Driver Improvement Course. If I do so prior to December 11, the points will not appear on my record, and the violation will not be reported to insurance companies. Of course, the fee for the course added to what the ticket already cost me may not be worth keeping a clean record. But, it sure beats waiting three years.

Great Golf

2011-10-10T18:35:00.000-07:00

The weather was so great this past weekend, I had to leave the Hubs at home to recouperate, while I went out to play golf. On Saturday we played in a benefit fund-raiser for the assistant pro at my home course. He has recently been diagnosed with cancer and the medical bills are piling up real fast. He spent his winters skiing, so his ski club and the golf club got together and had an outing. Now, a full course holds 144 players, but we couldn't say no to anyone, so we crammed in over 200 players. The round took nearly 7 hours, followed by dinner, prizes, and a silent auction. I registered at 8:30AM and didn't get back home until after 9PM! It was so much fun, and the weather was so great, I decided to join a couple of the girls on Sunday and play another 18. I was exhausted when I went back to work this morning. (It was worth it!)

Recovering

2011-10-06T17:48:00.000-07:00

The Hubs had some minor surgery yesterday. All went very well, and they let him go home last night instead of keeping him in the hospital. He was feeling pretty out of it at first, but this afternoon he seemed to get back to his old self. He decided he could really go for some homemade bread and cookies. Good thing I took the rest of the week off to be his nurse. I actually enjoyed spending the afternoon in the kitchen, and the house smells wonderful!

New Golf Equipment

2011-09-18T17:03:00.000-07:00

Today was so beautiful, I just had to go out and play golf. It gave me an opportunity to try out the new club I bought yesterday. The girls on my golf league chipped in and gave me a gift certificate in thanks for running the league. So, of course, I felt obliged to go to Carls yesterday, and do some shopping. I had been considering trying a hybred club, and they had them on sale. So, I tried a few and settled on a Taylor Made "rescue" club. And, of course, I saved so much on the club that I had to buy a new golf bag too. Today I tried them both out, and with the cooperation of the weather as well, I really enjoyed my afternoon.

From Weeds To Flowers

2011-09-12T17:15:00.000-07:00

I developed a bad habit of not weeding my gardens this year. I kept telling myself I would get to it when the front patio was finished. There was a significant weed growing in my front yard that began to look more and more like a rambing rosebush. Even after the patio was finished, I couldn't bring myself to pull it out. I can't figure out where it came from, but it may become one of the prettiest weeds I have ever cultivated. Tonight I transplanted it in front of a trellis that I couldn't ever get plants to climb on. Maybe the two will become friends. At any rate, now that it is in a place that I want it to grow, it can no longer be called a weed. Next spring should reveal whether it is, in fact, a rosebush.

Dealing With Homeland Security

2011-09-11T18:24:00.000-07:00

I played in a charity outing for the Disabled American Veterans yesterday. It was at Selfridge Golf Course. It was a real experience entering a government installation on the day before the anniversary of 9/11. Security was beefed up, and I was asked to pull over and register in the guard shack when I entered the base. I was standing in a line of 10 or so people, and was dealing with the red tape just fine, when a couple got in line behind me, with the woman raving at the top of her lungs about the actions of the senior guard at the entry gate. Apparently he had directed his coworker to do something, and that offended her. She complained at high volume about how things were going just fine until he opened his mouth. He overheard her, of course (everyone within a city block did, I swear) and said: "hey are you telling me how to do my job?". She yelled back: "well, apparently someone has to!"
The rest of us just stood there, trying very hard not to engage, and suddenly there were two uniformed (and armed) national guardsmen removing her from the line and taking her off to the side for a "discussion". Well, I was cleared just about that time,so I got out of there quickly. All I could think about was how stupid it was to get into it with federal security officials in this day and age. I didn't see either her or her husband at the golf outing. I suspect they never made it on to the base.
The outing was really fun, though. The weather cooperated beautifully, and we had a great time.

A Great Day At The Lake

2011-09-05T13:04:00.000-07:00

There are those who would argue that this Labor Day weekend was a real disappointment, weather-wise. We lucked out, though, when our friends decided Saturday would be the best day to get together.

It was 93 degrees by the time we left for their house on the lake. We headed straight for the water, and the girls spent the bulk of the afternoon floating, gabbing, and drinking pina coladas.

We topped that off with so many appetizers, I was sure I couldn't eat dinner. But the fried chicken and grilled sausages were more than I could resist. Forgive me, Weight Watchers.

This is the greatest way to bookend the summer...Memorial Day and Labor Day at Kay and Paul's!

The Finished Project

2011-08-23T16:52:00.000-07:00

Our new front patio and walkway are all done. And, may I say...they are beautiful! It is very hard to capture in pictures, but here is my best try....

First, there is the walkway from the driveway.

This is the view of our front door....

We paved over the old herb garden, and put the herbs in pots. Now I have room for a table and chairs (when I find one I like....and can afford).

The bricks cover the front steps and the porch...a real improvement from the poured concrete.

And, this one looks out from the front door....

I believe we are really going to enjoy this upgrade. Even if it means more to shovel in the winter.

My First Eagle!

2011-08-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

I know this may only appeal to the golfers out there, but I chipped one in for eagle on my golf league tonight. It was a weird round overall. I started playing very badly, and was 12 over par after the first four holes. The eagle came on the 5th hole, then I finished par-par-bogey-par. I was really geeked by the time I finished. I probably could have played nine more, if it wasn't getting dark. Instead, I went into the club house and bought a round of drinks for the girls.
A truly fun night!

They Finally Started

2011-08-08T17:02:00.000-07:00

OK...here we go...

I have been waiting for our contractor to start the front patio project ever since the snow melted in March. I had noticed the heave in the broken concrete walk and decided the time was right for the brick paver patio and walkway I have been dreaming about since we bought the house.

Today they broke up all the existing concrete and hauled it out to the street. They are regrading the front and then will fill it all in with brick pavers. I am really looking forward to the finished product. Then I will spend the rest of the season dividing hostas, and reworking the rest of the landscape. I am shopping for the perfect bistro table and chairs for the new patio, but I haven't found them yet. I had moved my herb garden into containers earlier. I plan to set them out in that area also. In the winter I can move them into the garage, and I should be able to harvest fresh herbs through the winter.

Fun at the Cottage

2011-08-07T15:19:00.001-07:00

This weekend we went to our friend Patt's cottage in Lewiston. We went with my BFF and her husband. Played golf on Saturday morning, but the rest of the weekend was spent just relaxing. The Hubs did some fishing. He caught a large small-mouthed bass. It was the largest he has ever caught, at about 15 inches.

The rest of us just layed around and enjoyed the great weather.

Tomorrow, it's back to work for me. It was a great vacation, and I am really rested. Let's see how long that lasts!

2011-08-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

We had a great canoe trip with the gang this year. The weather was spectacular, which made the trip down the river very enjoyable. We tubed, rather than canoeing, and the water was really refreshing on a hot day. After the rest of the gang went home on Sunday, we decided to stay around. We drove the west side of the peninsula from Mackinaw City down to Petoskey on Monday. It is an area that we haven't seen much on our many trips up north. As we exited the south side of Wilderness State Park, we encountered a Great Blue Heron that just wouldn't get off the road in front of us. We finally had to honk the horn to get him to fly away. Really unusual to get such a close look at one of those great birds.

From there, we continued through the Tunnel of Trees, which is really worth the drive if you have never done it before. We found the new casino in Petoskey, and spent the afternoon playing the slot machines. On Tuesday morning, we broke camp early (just before a thunder storm, luckily). Since we had been staying at the Jellystone Campground, we had to stop and say goodbye to Yogi

Then we went to Paula's Diner for breakfast. This is such a cute diner right at the Indian River exit on I75. It only seats about 50 people, but they have great food, and the biggest teapot collection I have ever seen. We stayed til the rain ended, then headed home.

I Can't Believe It's Been Since Easter

2011-07-25T16:50:00.000-07:00

It has been so long since I posted, and I must say I miss it. It's been a really busy summer so far. In addition to working more than I have in a long time, we had the In-laws and the Hubs' cousins in town for a visit. It was great fun seeing them all again. Now we are making preparations for our annual canoe trip, and a nice long vacation. I'm looking forward to sitting in a campsite somewhere reading a book for hours on end. Meanwhile, we are having brick pavers installed in our front yard. We are replacing the sidewalk, covering the front porch, and bricking the small area that I used as an herb garden. I transplanted all the herbs into containers that I will keep on the new "patio", along with a small table and chairs. I will post pictures as soon as they have finished.

Easter Sunday for Two

2011-04-24T08:24:00.001-07:00

This is a somewhat unusual Easter, in that the Hubs and I are all on our own. No one coming for dinner and nowhere special to go. It's been quite relaxing. We had a quiet breakfast, then he went fishing while I worked on my computer. We will go out and hit some golfballs in preparation for our upcoming trip to Myrtle Beach. Dinner will still be traditional (ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans), but in quantities for two. We each have a chocolate easter bunny for desert.

Back in Business

2011-04-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

I finally got my laptop back. Good as new! Well, better than new, actually. I now have Windows 7 operating system, and I must say it is taking some getting used to. I think I am really going to like it though. #1 son didn't bother reloading my Peggle games, because he said "You conquered them already, so what's the point?" I told him he was going to have to replace them with something else, because I don't consider the evening a complete success unless I can veg out over some brainless computer games. Meanwhile, there's always Freecell!

My Laptop is Sick!

2011-04-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

As I was trying to shut down my computer the other day, it froze up on me. No notice, and no apparent reason. So what did I do? Called #1 son, of course. He's been our "computer doctor" for a while now, and I knew he would figure it out. The next day, I got an email from him explaining that I had a corrupt file in the operating system. Sounds simple enough to a novice like me, but he further explained that he would need to offload all my data files, wipe the system, then rebuild it from scratch. Ouch! So, I am using the Hubs' desktop. Yeah I can keep up with emails, but I don't have anything to surf on while I watch TV anymore. Bummer!

Refreshing Change

2011-03-17T16:28:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been almost a month since I made an entry. I have been in such a rut (work, TV, sleep, work, TV, sleep, etc.) that I decided to go out and take advantage of the nice weather when I got home from work today. I walked for a couple miles, and I noticed two things. 1) the grass is already starting to get green (mother nature's nod to St. Patrick's Day, no doubt, and 2) walking outside is sure different from the treadmill! I had a real case of shin splints by the time I got home. It sure was a pleasant half-hour, though.

Getting Ready for Golf Season

2011-02-20T16:10:00.000-08:00

As the captain of my golf league, this is a busy time for me. We have 16 people on the league this year, so in addition to making sure all have sent their fees in to the organization, I put together the rotation for our 16 weeks of play. Then I circulated the roster to all so we know how to contact each other during the season. It is all very exciting, really, and makes me very anxious for the season to start. It is especially fun to do this on a day like today, while I watch the winter storm developing outside my window!

Modern Day Cleaning

2011-02-16T10:48:00.000-08:00

Spring cleaning involves so much more than closets and drawers these days. Since I am on vacation this week, I planned to get a jump on my spring cleaning. Today I spent several hours deleting old emails on my computer. After trashing over 500 of them, I hadn't even made it through 2009. They sure seemed important when I saved them. Oh well, I will continue when my eyes can focus again.
As an alternate, I began on an upstairs closet. It happens to be where I store old photos and slides. Now I am knee deep in sorting slides and preparing them to be converted to DVDs.
Life was sure easier before we became so electronic!

Flat Tires

2011-02-15T17:20:00.001-08:00

Yes, that's plural. I was supposed to spend Valentine's Day at a romantic dinner and concert. We were on our way when the Hubs hit a gigantic pothole on 14 mile. Instant flat tire! So, we pulled over and waited for AAA to send someone over to change it. While we were waiting, three more cars, with 4 flat tires total (one lost both his right tires...front and rear) pulled into the same parking lot we were in. It was a busy night for towing services. We ended up taking so long that we missed both our dinner and the show, and the tire store was closed by the time we reached it. So we went home.
Today we set out to get the tire fixed. We had traveled about 1/2 mile from the house when the spare went flat. So, we spent another hour waiting for a tow truck. When we finally got to the tire store, we discovered the original tire was completely destroyed (side blowout from the impact of the pothole), the rim of the spare was bent (but fixable) and the whole front end was out of line. Tomorrow I have to spend some time composing a serious letter to the Macomb County Road Commission.

Church Bells

2011-02-07T17:08:00.000-08:00

My new office allows me to look out a window. That is a real pleasure after working in the basement for over a year. But, I have found something even more delightful. I can hear the church bells from the nearby catholic church. I sit at my desk early in the morning and listen to the familiar westminster chimes, while sipping my first cup of coffee. They remind me of my childhood, when the bells of Precious Blood church were a part of every day. Amazing how such a simple thing can bring back so many memories.

The Pancake House

2011-02-06T13:07:00.000-08:00

This morning we indulged in one of our favorite guilty pleasures. We went to the Original Pancake House for breakfast. I may have mentioned it before, but this place has the best pecan waffle ever. Match that with a side of bacon, lots of hot coffee and the morning paper, and there is just about no better way to start the day. On the way home we did the weekly grocery shopping. Then I spent the rest of the day inside, catching up on paperwork and watching the Phoenix Open. A good start to a great day.

A Day Off

2011-02-02T15:58:00.000-08:00

This snowstorm was very strange for a number of reasons. First of all, I woke up last night to a thunder storm. In February?? Yeah, that was a first for me. The weatherman was calling it "thundersnow" this morning. Until I heard him say that, I was wondering if I had imagined the whole thing.
Then I didn't have to go to work today. This was the first "snowday" I have had in many years. I have always been the one who had to show up because I had subordinate staff depending on me to be at the office. Today, though, my boss thought it would be a wiser choice to just close the practice for the day. That is no small decision, since we see about 500 patients per day, but I appreciate his concern about people trying to travel in this weather.
So, I spent the day doing what I would normally do with "found time". I knitted, cleaned the house a bit, baked some blueberry muffins, and generally enjoyed myself. Tomorrow it's back to the office, but I sure am more relaxed than I would have been driving in this blizzard.

Taxes

2011-01-30T17:20:00.000-08:00

I spent this morning doing my income taxes. This is a time when my ultra-detailed approach to life really pays off. Not many people get a kick out of reading the tax guides like I do. There is something about getting everything sorted out and all the numbers in the right columns. Of course, it always helps when there is a good-sized refund on the way. (Yes, I know it's my own money, but I don't seem to hang on to it as well when it's readily available to me.)
My one big objection to filing taxes is the federal government's refusal to provide me a free e-file solution. They seem to feel this is something that should only be provided to low income filers, and the rest of us should pay a tax preparer or purchase some tax software. They don't seem to allow for the middle income geek like me who is too cheap to do anything but send in the paper forms with a 44 cent stamp. Yes, I can wait a few more days for that return. It's worth it to me.

A New Relative

2011-01-15T12:16:00.000-08:00

I have been home sick with a winter cold (OK, maybe the flu), so I spent some time this morning browsing a new blog called Nutfield Genealogy. This is a blog by a distant relative through the Flint line, who also lives in the Derry New Hampshire area, I believe. I was led to it by my niece, over the January 12, 2011 post that focused on the Uicker family home in Derry. It was intriguing reading about, and seeing the pictures of, the familiar home that was the hub of our summer visits to New Hampshire when I was a kid.
Her posts cover every topic imagineable, and I spent a couple hours just browsing, reading, and enjoying. It was so delightful, I decided to add her to my list of family blogs. Take a look and enjoy with me.

Money Laundering

2011-01-01T07:45:00.000-08:00

It hasn't taken too much financial wizadry to manage the economic times of the past couple years. But, I must admit to a growing list of potential expenses that gnaws at my subconscious mind. The king-sized mattress in the master bedroom is really showing signs of wear. The washer and dryer are 15 years old, and the refrigerator gets noisier every day. The cost of replacing any or all of these is more than I want to consider, but I know it's coming.
Today I started my new year very traditionally. The Hubs made chorizo and beans for breakfast, while I stripped the bed and started the weekly laundry. Before I sat down to a relaxing breakfast, I went to put the sheets in the dryer and discovered the washer had not drained. I reset the cycle to the spot where it should have drained and tried again. It seemed to work just fine, so I went back and enjoyed my breakfast. When I returned to check on the progress, I found the washer had indeed finished draining...onto the floor.
Oh well....we flipped the mattress yet another time, put the sheets in the dryer, and headed out to the appliance store. (Don't tell the refrigerator!)

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T16:53:00.000-08:00

We are coming to the end of another holiday season. Today is New Years Eve. I did have to go in to work for half the day. After I got home, we went out to an early dinner with our neighbors. I had a glass of wine with dinner, and after we got home, the Hubs went out to have a cigar. I'm sitting in front of the TV trying to figure out how to stay awake. And, it's only 8PM. I just can't hang like I used to!

Craziness

2010-12-22T16:19:00.000-08:00

What a week! And, it's only Wednesday.
We have been packing files for two days, and today we moved them to the new office. Yesterday, after we had finished the day, we had our company Christmas party. We just gathered on the lower level of our current building, and had dinner. We sang Christmas carols until we were hoarse, and generally had a great time. I was still pretty wired after an hour drive home, so I didn't sleep very well last night. Then this morning I got up early to get a head start on moving day. Needless to say, I had a raging migraine before noon.
I decided not to help the girls make tamales tonight, but to go to bed early. Tomorrow I have to stop at the fruit market and do some last-minute grocery shopping. Then Friday the boys will be over for dinner, complete with girlfriends. Christmas will probably be spent doing final preparations for the family party on Sunday, where we will enjoy the cmpany of about 40 immediate family members.
It's an exceptionally busy year, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

The Ribbon Cutting

2010-12-15T16:11:00.000-08:00

Today we had the official ribbon cutting ceremony at the new building. There were a few hundred people there. All kinds of officials from the tri-county area. This is a big deal for the city of Dearborn and Oakwood Hospital, but most of all for Midwest Medical. That's my boss on the right.

We will officially open on January 3rd, but the building is pretty much finished. We have our certificate of occupancy, so we will be moving in over the next couple weeks. It took me nearly that long to move into my house, and this is a 168,000 square foot facility! It sure was beautiful today, though. All decorated for Christmas.

Visiting With My Sis

2010-12-12T15:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I went to Mary Fran's for lunch. She is home now, and recovering every day from the stem cell transplant. Kate met us, and Mary Fran fixed us all a great lunch. We had Brie en Croute for a first course, then some chile with cornbread.

It was great fun just visiting. Her new immune system gets stronger every day. She still tires easily, but we shared a few hours together before it was time for her to nap again. I hope she feels strong enough to come to the family Christmas party, but I certainly understand if she has to skip this year.

Christmas Traditions

2010-12-07T17:21:00.001-08:00

I don't have a whole lot going on in my life other than work right now, so I am enjoying all the little traditions that go with Christmas. We went to a Christmas party with friends last weekend. Instead of exchanging gifts, we repeated something we did last year. After drawing names, we picked out a toy that reflected the personality of the person we chose. Then we donated all the gifts to Children's Miracle Network.
The night before, the Hubs and I drove all around the neighborhood we live in, and looked at the Christmas lights. We do this every year, but it never seems to lose its appeal for me.
Tonight I am watching A Charlie Brown Christmas for the umpteenth time. And, I'm sure I will catch Miracle on 34th Street and A Christmas Story before I'm done.

Oh Christmas Tree

2010-11-28T16:16:00.000-08:00

It has long been my tradition to put up my Christmas tree on Thanksgiving weekend. Today I am grateful for beautiful Christmas lights. After I finished decorating the tree, I spent a few hours sitting in front of it, addressing cards. It was a great way to get into the holiday spirit.

Oh, and I am grateful for artificial trees. I was never able to start the season so early when I put up real one.

A Great Thanksgiving Dinner

2010-11-25T16:16:00.000-08:00

I have to take this opportunity to plug one of my favorite restaurants. We just went to the Rochester Chop House for Thanksgiving dinner. It was wonderful. Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables, pumpkin pie, the whole nine yards. Now, I know what you're thinking....it just isn't Thanksgiving if you don't have leftovers. Well, they've got that covered too. For an additional $4.95, they sent us home with a plate of "leftovers" (another whole dinner, actually). So, we get to do it all over again tomorrow. Delicious!

Ornaments Galore

2010-11-23T16:25:00.001-08:00

Last night the Hubs and I went to Frankenmuth for dinner. Then we spent the night at the Bavarian Inn Lodge. It was just a quick get-a-way, but we had a chance to shop at Bronners this morning before we came home. What an incredible display of Christmas ornaments. They had everything you could imagine. I even saw one in the shape of the hat Aretha Franklin wore at the inauguration! I really wanted that one, but I wasn't willing to spend $43.00 for it. I ended up not buying anything. Sure was fun looking, though.

Dim Sum

2010-11-22T13:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we met my BFF and her husband for Dim Sum. For those who are unaware, Dim Sum (literally translated "hearts delight") involves sitting at a table while carts of appetizers are wheeled by. You select the ones that appeal to you. They are served 3-4 to a plate, and range from BBQ pork buns to chicken feet. We sip tea, and laugh and talk, while we eat WAY more than we should. But it is such great fun, I'm already looking forward to next time!

Time Off

2010-11-18T16:47:00.000-08:00

I have to be in Lansing for a conference tomorrow, but then I am taking a 4 day weekend. I am really looking forward to the time off. Things have been getting pretty crazy at work, and are about to get a whole lot crazier as we move into our last month in our current building.
Time off sounds pretty great right about now. Trouble is that I have a whole list of things I would like to accomplish, from cleaning the oven to addressing Christmas cards. I'm sure I will be ready to go back to work to rest up!

The Royal Announcement

2010-11-17T16:25:00.000-08:00

I am very excited about today's announcement that Prince William is engaged to Kate Middleton. I am a royal watcher from way back. Yes, I got up very early in the morning to watch all the pomp and circumstance around the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. If I can possibly manage it, I will do the same for this one. But, before that there will be much hype, and I will drink it all in. Starting with the fact that he gave her Diana's engagement ring. Now, no woman wants to wear another woman's ring...unless...it was his mother's. That is very romantic, in my book.

Cutting the Red Tape

2010-11-16T16:15:00.000-08:00

There is an old MASH episode in which Hawkeye learns the army has listed him as deceased. He spends the rest of the show trying to undo a simple clerical error, and getting buried in the paperwork involved. That is not too far fetched if you work in today's health care system.
Today I am grateful for the opportunity to help some people deal with the red tape. I spent a good portion of today working on two such issues. One was a pregnant woman whose Medicaid caseworker had signed her up for a program that only covers contraceptive management (a little too late, as it turns out). The other was a man with a dislocated shoulder and two very good insurances. Problem was that neither wanted to claim responsibility for being the primary carrier. And, when we straightened that out, they decided the injury must have occurred either on the job, or as the result of an accident (both of which would indicate someone else should pay the claim). Just to complicate matters, his disability insurance was bombarding him with forms the orthopaedic surgeon needed to fill out, so he could continue getting some sort of income while he heals. Don't even think of getting the government involved. Their attempts to streamline the system have only made matters worse.

Euchre Prizes

2010-11-14T15:14:00.000-08:00

I won a little money at Euchre last night. So, the Hubs and I went to breakfast at the Original Pancake House this morning. It's one of our favorite places, because they make a great pecan waffle, and their bacon is the best we've had anywhere. Then we went to Costco. I had to pick up some wine glasses that I saw at our neighbor's last night. I was guessing she had gotten them from Crate and Barrel, or some such place. But, she said she had picked them up at Costco. They were a steal too. I just had to get a set. They will look great on our holiday table.

Attitude Adjustment

2010-11-13T14:49:00.000-08:00

I have been in a blue funk for a while now. No clue why, but after several hundred games of Free Cell it became obvious I needed to do something. So today I decided to spend the rest of November adopting what Maya Angelou calls an "attitude of gratitude". I figure this Thanksgiving month is a good time to straighten my head out.
I started my day with a dentist appointment. Hmmm....well, my COBRA is still in effect. That hour of oral punishment only cost me $10.80 out-of-pocket. And, let's not forget the nitrous oxide (yes, I do take it even for cleanings - I'm that much of a weenie).
After the dentist, I worked in the yard, and cleaned up all the dying foliage. The hubs started on the Christmas lights, and we both enjoyed the mild weather. Tonight it's an evening with our neighbors, over several rousing games of Euchre. That includes the new couple who just bought the foreclosed house on our street. My thanks to them, for sure!

Halloween

2010-10-31T16:26:00.000-07:00

Halloween is always so much fun in our neighborhood. There are always plenty of kids, and they don't seem to mind posing for pictures.

They know there will always be candy at our house. And the adults don't mind stopping by either, cause they know there will always be a beer or two.

Some years it has been so warm we have sat outside the whole time, just visiting with everybody. This year, I thought it was a little chilly. The Hubs offered to bring our space heater out front so I would be more comfortable, but I decided to let the boys sit and enjoy their beer, while I stayed in the house where it was warmer.

Being Offline

2010-10-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned, we have been doing some painting. The real challenge has been the home office. This is a room with a large corner unit, with a computer desk, bookcases, etc. It is a real monster to move, so we have been putting off painting this room as long as we can.
Moving the furniture was bad enough, but that also means we had to unhook the computer. I didn't think too much of it, figuring I still had my laptop to fall back on. Surprise, we had to unhook the wireless router too. So, while I was able to play much solitaire, the internet was out.
And, since we have our computer and phones through our cable service, unhooking the computer also knocked out our phones. Other than our cell phones, we were completely "unplugged" from society!
Last night we were finally able to put the furniture back in place. That took a few hours of sorting through a mass of wires, figuring out what connected to what. Then we pushed the heavy units back to the wall. I told the hubs that we could wait to move the rest of the furniture until today. Of course, today we realized the phones still don't work. Ah well....

End of Season Golf

2010-10-17T16:12:00.000-07:00

I am always happy when I can golf in Michign in the fall. Today was a beautiful day, so despite all the work I have to do at home, I insisted that we get out to play 18 holes. I am pretty sure it will be the last round for the year. We played at the Springfield Oaks course. The colors are a little past peak now, but they were beautiful just the same. We had a great time (and I did manage to beat the Hubs by a few strokes...always a bonus!)

A Saturday at the Mall

2010-10-16T17:46:00.000-07:00

Today, I went shopping with my BFF. We are old pros at this, having been shopping buddies for some 45 years now. It always goes the same way. We meet about 10AM, make the rounds of our favorite stores, then stop at Hudson's (OK, Macy's) for lunch. It's important that we do that. I happen to love their Maurice salads, and the only time I get one is when I'm shopping with her. Over lunch we laugh and talk, share stories about what's going on in our lives, and catch up on our friends' lives as well. Then it's back to the stores. She loves to shop. But, she doesn't like spending too much money, so usually she shops for me. I end up leaving with all the bags, and she has the satisfaction of shopping all day. We are a great team!

Greektown Craziness

2010-10-11T16:43:00.000-07:00

We went to visit my sister yesterday. After spending a couple hours (and several games of Yahtzee), we decided Greektown sounded great for dinner on the way home. Unfortunately, our timing wasn't the best. The Lions game had just ended, and everyone was walking from Comerica Park down to Greektown to celebrate (the Lions won...still can't believe that!).
On top of that, there was some sort of "ghoul party" going on. I don't know if they were at the game, or just happened to arrive in Greektown at the same time, but everywhere we turned, there were people walking on the streets dressed like ghouls. It was kind of cool, as Halloween themes go, but there were people everywhere! We just had to hide out somewhere, so we ducked into the casino (convenient, huh?). We spent the next couple hours playing the slot machines. The good news...we won enough to pay for dinner at Pegasus, and still come home with some in our pockets.

Paint and Window Treatments

2010-10-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

When we moved into our brand new house, I decided some inexpensive mini-blinds were all we needed to cover the windows until we could afford something permanent. We also decided the upper floor didn't need the final coats of paint until we had more time and money. After all, it is just the two of us, and with a first floor master, why would we need to worry about the upstairs right away?
That was over 12 years ago, and the upstairs is still "builder's white". So I spent some time this weekend picking up paint for the house. While I was at it, I dragged the Hubs to the local Home Depot to order some roman shades for the windows in the den. He has pure sticker shock right now, but in a few weeks the house will have had a nice face lift. Can't wait to see it!

The Fishing Vest

2010-10-09T12:24:00.000-07:00

Our friends gave the Hubs a fishing vest for his birthday. He had not used it yet, so this morning he decided to go off fishing with his brand new vest (and a couple of good sized cigars).

He went to a local inland lake, where he has enjoyed much fishing in the past. When he got there, though, he noticed lots of duck hunters all poised and ready to begin their hunting. He sure got out of there fast!

Autumn Decorating

2010-10-07T16:49:00.000-07:00

My neighbors are all decorating their homes for Halloween. I really enjoy looking at the pumpkins, cornstalks, and big cardboard ghosts and cats when I drive down the street. Unfortunately, I have been working so man hours that I haven't even had time to hang some indian corn on the door or pull some weeds to make the yard look presentable. Oh well, maybe this weekend.

My Brave Sister

2010-10-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking a lot of my sister lately. After battling cancer for over 9 months, she has just received a stem cell transplant, in the hopes of extending her remission. The whole thing is pretty daunting from where I sit, so I can only imagine how it is for her. I do know that, while she has been taking everything pretty well in stride, this last step of the journey has really been a lot for her to handle. A badly timed cold has prevented me from going to see her, in her immune-compromised state, but I did talk to her by phone yesterday. She was very groggy, and said she had not slept well since she got to the hospital (new bed and all, she said). I know she will improve as time goes on, and she strengthens from the procedure. But, I can't help thinking every day how brave she must be to face all this.

Construction

2010-09-19T15:53:00.001-07:00

I'm really getting tired of the construction barrels. You'd think I've lived in Michigan long enough to have seen everything, but yesterday was a new one for me. I left for work at about 6AM (still dark) and took my usual route down Lapeer to the I75 entrance just below the Palace. Cruising along, listening to my book on CD, I didn't see anything that would indicate new construction. But, when I got on the entrance (I am now committed to get on the freeway, mind you), I discovered the southbound entrance was closed. Not a sign of this previously. So, I had no choice but to head north, go all the way up to Baldwin, then head south. For the rest of the trip, I berated myself for not seeing the sign that told me of the ramp closure.

Then Sara came in, sputtering. She comes the same way I do, and also was caught getting on the ramp, then seeing the southbound entrance closed. Unlike me, though, she decided to make her own rules (I guess you can do that when you're her age). She turned her car around, and drove back down the entrance ramp the wong way. All this in the rain. I'm glad there is no traffic at that hour on a Saturday morning.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2010-09-18T16:40:00.001-07:00

Today we went to a party at the home of one of the OPC drivers. The plan was to sit outside, but when we got there, it was pouring! No matter...once it let up enough to go out without getting soaked, we moved tables and chairs into the garage. We had a great time. And, after we had eaten our fill (and then some), it had cleared up quite a bit. Someone set up a beanbag game on the lawn (something like horseshoes, but the "ringer" was to get the beanbag into the hole in the target), and we spent the rest of the evening playing and talking over deserts and coffee. Never let rain stand in the way of a good party.

Old Standard

2010-09-17T17:41:00.001-07:00

There is nothing quite like a tried and true recipe. When I am called upon to bring a desert to a party, I find my mother's recipe for pineapple upside-down cake (called Pineapple Skillet Sponge in her old, blue cookbook) is always a big hit. So I made one this evening to take to the party the Hubs and I will be attending tomorrow. I am surprised how much I enjoyed it, even though I had a really hard day at work. The whole time I was putting it together, I remembered the countless times I would make desert in Mom's kitchen. It was always such fun. (Even the time I put 13 cups of shortening in the cake - a long story, but one that has survived those many years since I was in second grade). And, Mom's old classic recipe has come through again. They don't come out much prettier than this, if I do say so myself!

Arts and Apples

2010-09-12T17:29:00.000-07:00

Today the Hubs and I went to Arts and Apples in Rochester. The weather wasn't too great this morning, but about noon the sun came out and it was beautiful We sat out on the balcony at the Paint Creek Tavern and had a sandwich for lunch. Then we walked all around the art exhibits. It took us a few hours to see everything but it was so much fun. We both have aching knees this evening.

My Real Age

2010-09-06T07:45:00.000-07:00

Today I was invited to take the Real Age test, courtesy of Drs. Oz and Roizen. I was pleased to find that, although I am 60 chronologically, I have a real age of 49.2
It's great to be in the under 50 crowd again!

60 going on 30

2010-09-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

Today is my 60th birthday. I am now twice the age of the people I wasn't supposed to trust when I was a teenager! I'm still just a kid at heart, though. Yesterday, we went to our friends house on Hidden Lake. The weather wasn't great, so we stayed inside. We ate and talked, watched football, drank and laughed for hours. We might as well have been 8 teenagers sitting around a dorm room. Today we are going to the peach festival in Romeo. Tomorrow it's out to the golf course with our neighbors. Other than a few extra wrinkles, I don't feel a whole lot different than I always did.

A Great Excuse for a Great Dinner

2010-08-30T17:36:00.000-07:00

It seems like I'm always talking about dinner out at some great restaurant or another. The truth is that I just love going out to eat (have since I can remember). So, I use just about any reason I can think of to justify spending the money. This one was better than most. My BFF and I are celebrating our 60th birthdays this year. Since our birthdays are only 12 days apart, we always celebrate with dinner on the weekend between them. This year we went to Volare Ristorante in Wixom. What a great place! We had antipasti and wine to start, then enjoyed a great italian dinner. Of course, we both brought the Hubs along to pick up the check!

Lions Club Outing

2010-08-23T10:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we played in the Lathrup Village Lions Club golf outing for the second year. This is one of several fund raisers the Lions have each year, and we really enjoy playing in it. This year we ran into a couple of girls that used to play on the Friday night couples league we were part of. We haven't seen them in years, so it was great chatting with them.
We had a steak dinner after the outing, sitting with Peggy and Dick and catching up on the latest happenings in the family. I also was able to get my drive working at just the right time, which awarded me a little cash for the Longest Drive contest!

Golf and Visiting

2010-08-21T16:30:00.001-07:00

I took a few days off work this week, and the Hubs and I decided to play a little golf together. We finally played Verona Hills yesterday, and discovered it is a beautiful gem of a course. After all the years of driving past it, I'm glad we finally took the opportunity to play it. It will not be our last time. Since we knew we would be in the area, we planned to spend the night at my sister's. My BIL recently had a heart attack, and it was good to spend some time with them and see that he is on the mend. We had a wonderful dinner together last night, and breakfast this morning. Then we sat and visited while we watched the boats sail up the lakeshore. Very relaxing. We aeven saw a bald eagle who has been living in the area. Beautiful!

A Wet Canoe Trip

2010-08-09T16:49:00.000-07:00

It's been a week since we went camping with the group. Turns out, it rained the whole weekend. We didn't let it stop us, though. First thing Saturday morning, we launched the first set of adventurers. We had both canoes and kayaks on the long portion of the trip. Six hours overall. The rain didn't seem to bother them. I guess they figured they'd be getting plenty wet anyway.

After we sat around for a bit, it was time to launch the rafters.

Their trip was much shorter. About 2-3 hours. Then we went back upstream and met the first group at the halfway point. We brought them lunch.

We spent the rest of the weekend sitting around camp, dodging raindrops.

It was much fun, as it always is. Even Luis and Alesandro realized you're never too young to have fun camping.

I'm sure they will be canoeing before we know it.

It's About That Time Again

2010-07-28T17:24:00.000-07:00

The annual canoe trip is upon us again. Seems like lots of work to pack and unpack everything, but it is always worth it somehow. This year we will only be spending the weekend, instead of extending the trip on up through the UP and all. The Hubs laughs at me, because I have this packing down to a science. I keep a checklist on the computer, and print it out whenever we go camping. Then I just go down the list, throwing everything into plastic containers to take with us. Add the tent and a couple sleeping bags, and viola! We are ready to leave.

Recovery?

2010-07-19T18:04:00.000-07:00

Some great things have been happening in our neighborhood lately. Last week we learned that our neighbor Bob just landed a new job, after a year of being laid off. And, yes, it is auto-related (that's for all the skeptics out there). In the true spirit of an auto industry executive, he went right out and bought a new car!
The home that has been up for sale for nearly a year has now sold. It was a short-sale, but it sold just the same. We met the new neighbors a few days ago. Then, when I was out for my morning walk last weekend, I was stopped by a nice young couple asking about the forclosed house on the cul-de-sac. They told me it had just been listed the day before, and they were VERY interested (at that price, they should be).
Well, I hope they make a good bid, because there was plenty of traffic in and out of there over the past couple of days.
Then I got my 401K statement. Oh well, I'm still convinced the economy is improving.

Lots to do

2010-07-05T07:36:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking that I won't be able to take the standard week off this fall, so it will take some real planning to get the house in order for the holidays. That sounds like I am living way too far in the future, but I know the time will pass very quickly. I managed to finish cleaning the kitchen yesterday. I discovered my knees took the step ladder a whole lot easier at 30 than they do at 60! (And I mean years, not MPH)
Today I decided the kitchen was far too clean, and should be messed up a bit. So I made peach jam. Nothing like making jam to get a sticky mess all over the counters. It was fun and rewarding.
All in all, it was a busy weekend, but I feel like I accomplished a great deal. I still managed to get 36 holes of golf in as well, so don't feel too sorry for me.

No Water?

2010-07-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

I have been on a cleaning spree this weekend. Today, I needed to finish cleaning above the kitchen cabinets. That means plenty of hot water and degreaser. So, right after breakfast, the Hubs decided to get out of my way (like he often does when I get into a cleaning mood), and went fishing. I turned on the faucet at the kitchen sink, and nothing came out. Puzzled, I went through a checklist in my head. No storm, we paid our bill, and yes, there was water when he made breakfast and did the dishes. Upon calling the Hubs on his cell phone, I discovered he had turned off the water to change the filter at the water softener, and had forgotten to turn it back on. I was able to spend the morning cleaning after all. Whew!

Those Doggone Deer

2010-06-30T15:43:00.000-07:00

Every year we love to hang bags of impatiens on our garage. The Hubs loves the looks of the flowers, and he is the one who takes the tme to water and deadhead them every day.

We have been having lots of problems with deer eating the beautiful flowers in our garden. I have gotten used to tulips being gobbled up before they even bloom, and lillies being buds one day and sticks the next. This is the first year, though, that the deer have come right up and eaten out of the bags.

I keep threatening to buy one of those motion-sensitive sprinklers, but if the motion detectors on the flood lights don't deter them, I'm not sure a spray of water would do much more. This is really getting to be a problem.

Building Update

2010-06-29T16:03:00.001-07:00

Our meetings have increased to about 2 or 3 per week now. Construction Team, Move Team, and of course the Steering Committee, are keeping me pretty busy. Last week I was finally able to get inside the new building for my first look from the inside out. The internal walls are just going up, so it's still pretty hard to picture the finished product. Hard hat and all, I have to walk around with a blueprint in my hand to get a feel for where everything will be. I couldn't resist taking a picture out my future office window, though.

I made sure to get the construction sticker in the window to prove it was taken from the inside of the building. I have no office walls yet, mind you, but it looks like I am going to have quite a view. That's the Dearborn city hall across the street.
We will be starting business in this new location on January 3, 2011. That may seem like a long way away on the calendar, but it is just around the corner to me. I don't know how we are going to get it all done! So far, I am pretty pleased with the result I am seeing. It should be quite a place when we are finally up and running.

A Memorable Birthday Dinner

2010-06-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

I don't generally need an excuse to spend money. Morton's Steakhouse, though, has always been a little out of our league. So, when it came time to celebrate the Hubs' birthday, I decided to spring for it. It was a great evening. I must say they go out of their way to provide excellent service. When I made the reservation, I mentioned that it was a birthday celebration. Well...we were met at the door with "Happy Birthday's" from the staff. We were escorted to our table, which was laid out with menus personalized for the birthday boy. At that point, our picture was taken (I had the hostess take another one with my digital camera, just so I could post it here) and we were given a souvenier copy, signed by the whole staff.

Then we enjoyed one of the best steak dinners ever. After dinner, desert was on them. Finally, while we finished our coffee, our car was pulled up front, and it was waiting for us when we were ready to leave. I could learn to live like this!

Father's Day Golf

2010-06-22T16:20:00.001-07:00

It was a fun Father's Day for the Hubs. He got to play golf with #1 son for the first time.

I was allowed to come along for the ride (yeah, try to keep me away!) We played one of my favorite courses, The Majestic at Lake Walden. I make sure to play it at least once a year, and I always enjoy it. It was so much fun watching Dad and Son in the cart together. I even convinved them to let me take a picture. The only condition was that I let Son keep his hat on. He had been at a fund raiser for cancer the day before, and had his head shaved. He agreed to a Mohawk, since he was offered a contribution of $400 for it. "Totally worth it", he said.

A Blast From The Past

2010-06-07T16:56:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged for so long. I partly blame it on how busy I have been since I returned from vacation. But, let's face it, it is also because I have let my life become one giant yawn, from the time I leave for work at 6AM until I crawl into bed at 9PM and get ready to do it all over. So, the Memorial Day holiday was a refreshing change for me. We started by playing 18 holes of golf at some podunk course in South Lyon. Then we headed to our friends house on Silver Lake to relax for the rest of the day (this was Sunday, mind you, while the weather was still nice).

The real surprise of the weekend came between the golf course and Silver Lake. We were driving through downtown South Lyon, and decided we were hungry. So we stopped at the Lake Street Tavern for a burger. We had never been there before. The Hubs saw mushroom soup on the menu, and mentioned to the waitress that it sounded good. She said, "Oh, you would love it! Do you remember the Golden Mushroom? Same chef, same recipe!"

She didn't know the half of it. Both the Hubs and I used to LOVE the mushroom soup at Golden Mushroom, and were so disappointed when they closed their doors. I had just chalked it up as one of those "end of an era" events, convinced I would never taste such good mushroom soup again. Needless to say, we ordered a bowl with our hamburger. It was everything we remembered. I think I got a little whiplash from being slammed back 25 years!!

Thinking of Janet

2010-05-06T16:36:00.001-07:00

Last week our golf league lost our former captain, and good friend, Janet. She had continued to play for the past three years, even though cancer posed quite a battle for her. She began to have difficulty walking last year, and as we left the course on the last night of the season, she said she didn't know if she would be able to play this year. At the time it seemed she was more worried about her golf handicap than her physical handicap. But...that was Janet.
I was happy to step in as captain of the league, when I learned she had had surgery on her leg. We were so sure she would overcome it and return to play again. She died last Wednesday.
I got the word via email, while I was in Myrtle Beach. That last round I played was dedicated to her. I shot a 53 on the front nine. She must have been watching. I shot a 44 on the back.
Keep an eye on me this coming season, Janet.

A Wonderful Vacation

2010-04-30T07:25:00.001-07:00

I can't believe our vacation is about to come to an end. We have had a great time.

Golf was as enjoyable as the company...

Last night we went to our favorite german restaurant for the good food and entertainment. The accordion player is great fun to listen to,

and the food is always served with love.

But, I believe the best part is just walking the beautiful beach. It sure is a great change from winter in Michigan.

The Car Alarm

2010-04-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

We were having a little difficulty tolerating the high school kids that were staying at our hotel on Saturday. I chalked it up to the fact that we are now at the age when high school antics are no longer very funny to us (especially at midnight, or two in the morning). On Sunday morning, we sat with the group at breakfast and exchanges stories of how loud the kids were, and how the cops had to come to the hotel to put out the fire they had started with their fireworks on the beach, and calm things down.

On Sunday evening, we were hoping things would be calmer, but the kids had not returned home yet, so we weren't placing any bets. Sure enough, at 4AM a car alarm went off. It stopped after about 30 seconds, but then went off again 5 minutes later. Again it stopped after about 30 seconds, but when it went off a third time, the Hubs finally decided he'd had enough. He called the hotel operator and sternly asked if they were going to contact the person whose car alarm kept going off. The operator replied, "It's your car, sir. We were just about to call you". That got him out of bed very quickly. A quick inspection of his car let him know nothing was wrong, and he returned to the room scratching his head. Around 5:30AM, it went off again. Needless to say, when the group met for breakfast, we sure heard about how the car alarm had woken them at an ungodly hour. The Hubs sheepishly explained it was his car. At this point we still have no explanation (although we are glad it hasn't happened since).

Vacation

2010-04-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

One thing for sure, the last week at work was so busy, I could barely think straight, say nothing of blog. But we are on vacation now, and after two days away from the office, I am starting to feel my head clear. We stopped in Matthews NC on the way down here to Myrtle Beach, and had dinner with my cousin Leo and his wife and MIL. It was wonderful seeing them all. If we see each other once or twice every five years, it is a lot. So we spent most of the meal just catching up. I told him about Aunt Mary's passing, he told me his daughter is graduating from Law School....yada, yada. Great fun.

Here at the Myrtle, things are very wet so far. In all the years the group has been coming down here (over 25 so far), they have only been rained out once. Today makes the second time. Got to the course this morning amidst rain and lightening. They decided they would let us go out after a couple hours, but the forecast wasn't a heck of a lot better, and included hail among other things. So we decided to take a rain check. Now I am sitting in our hotel room, with nothing on the agenda for the rest of the day. There is so much wind outside, we can't even go from room to room without getting soaked. Think I will read a book.

Cougar Town

2010-04-15T16:49:00.000-07:00

Big doings in our neighborhood right now. We have apparently had a cougar sighting. Not confirmed, mind you, but the word is spreading like wildfire. We are getting stories of lots of geese noise, and howls of dogs in pain. One neighbor has lost two beagles, one of which came back this morning, the other is yet to be found. And several sightings of large "cat-like" creatures. I assume there is something to it, at least the Oakland County Sheriff is patrolling with spotlights. Short of Loch Ness, this is pretty exciting!

Spring Cleanup

2010-04-09T16:49:00.000-07:00

One job that convinces me Spring is here is trimming the shrubs. Since I have to get it done before they leaf out, it is always the first thing I do when I get out in the yard.

I love working in my yard, but I never feel as if I have enough time to devote to it, with the job and all. Maybe when I am retired, I can give it the attention I would like to. Meanwhile, I enjoy the time I can spend working on it.

The Great Tent Saga

2010-04-01T16:54:00.000-07:00

It all started last fall, when we decided our tent had served us very well over the past 20 or so years, and it was time to let it go. We figured if we got rid of it, it would force us to buy a new one. I had underestimated the Hubs love of surfing the internet. Before I knew it, he had bought a new tent, without even consulting me.
That's OK, I thought, because he had a pretty good idea what I was looking for. It didn't have the screened-in room in the front that I wanted, but it was a really good brand, and he had gotten a really good deal. So I didn't say anything. Then we went to Costco last weekend....
There it was, across the store, on display, hanging from the ceiling. The most beautiful Coleman tent I had seen in a long while.
The price was incredible, considering this is a 10 X 16 "condo", complete with screened-in front porch. I just had to have it! So, like any good wife, I nagged him until we left the store, and then all the way home. I think what finally did him in was when I told him we could have both. I mean, let's face it, we have no need for two tents. We rarely use even the one, which is why we had the last one for over 20 years!
I was overjoyed when he researched the possibility of returning the one he had bought. And, by Tuesday, he had accomplished that, and had gone back to Costco to get the one we saw.
What a guy!

The IRS

2010-03-25T17:27:00.000-07:00

I have only had a couple disagreements with the IRS in my lifetime, and so far, they have all gone my way. Imagine my surprise this past week when I checked my bank balance (part of my weekly, anal, bookkeeping exercises) and found a significantly higher balance than I expected. OK... I was expecting the IRS refund to be automatically deposited, but in a smaller amount.
So, today I spent a good deal of time on the phone with the IRS. Most of it was spent waiting for them to answer when I first called, but I get a lot of practice at that every day with the insurance companies. So, I'm pretty good at being patient.
It paid off. I came to learn that I had completely missed a new credit that was available this year. And, what was so amazing about it was that I had circled it in the instruction booklet when I first scanned the new changes for 2009. But, then I got so involved with my standard routine of filing (and of course there was my annual irritation over being charged to e-file, which always results in my stubbornly filling out the papers manually, and mailing them in) that I never went back to calculate the credit.
Looks like the Hubs and I will be going shopping this weekend. Or, maybe we can just use it to pay some bills. Yeah, right!

Beautiful Weather

2010-03-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

It sounds trite to talk about the weather, but OMG! Have we had such a beautiful March in recent memory? I'm having trouble keeping the staff in the office. Everyone wanted to go out for a walk today, it seems. When I got home, I strapped on the walking shoes and my ipod shuffle the kids gave me for Christmas. Once around the block in my neighborhood is about 1-1/2 miles. Just long enough to get in while the Hubs finishes dinner. I lead a good life!

Euchre Club

2010-03-16T16:30:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we hosted the Euchre club. It was a last minute change, since one of our neighbors lost her Mom and had to go to England for the funeral. So, I volunteered to take over as the host house for her. It's always such fun to get together with the neighbors, especially when we have been locked away all winter. That's the Hubs behind the bar, making sure everyone has something to drink.

Since St. Patrick's Day is coming, I decided to make mini reuben sandwiches for snacks. They went over very well. Of course I have some chips and cookies left over, and that isn't working well with our diets. Maybe I will take them to work and get someone else to eat them.

Golf, Golf, and more Golf

2010-03-15T16:29:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a while, partly because I have been battling a terrible cold, but also because I have been preparing for golf season. On March 6 we went to the golf show in Novi. That is always great fun. Hours of walking around looking at everything golf. Equiment, courses, driving ranges, putting greens, et al. It's a great way to get geeked up about the coming season.

I also decided to captain our girls league this season. That means getting in touch with all the league members to be sure all is in place and paid before we get started in April. Last week I joined several of the girls at the Minestrelli Heart Center at Beaumont to discuss the positive effects that exercise (including golf) can have on womens' hearts. And this coming weekend we have our annual Spring Kickoff. This year it is at Indianwood Country Club. They offered to let us play 9 holes if the weather continues to cooperate. I sure hope it does. I have always wanted to play that course.

Last but not least, the Hubs and I continue planning for our annual Myrtle Beach trip.

Oh yeah...and I'm going to work every day too. No wonder I caught a cold!

The Hubs' Diet

2010-02-28T06:52:00.000-08:00

It was a significant event in my childhoood when Dad went on his diet (I was around 12, as I recall). He wasn't about to be involved with all the choices and calculations, so he made a deal with Mom that he wouldn't eat anything she didn't give him. She did all the rest (that suited her mathematical/statistical nature as well). The real problem that I saw with this arrangement was that Dad was completely dependent on Mom for his food choices. Fine if you are always together, but there were times (like when Mom fell and broke her hip) that he had to fend for himself.

So, when the Hubs started working with a nutritionist recently, I decided to butt out as much as possible. As is his nature, he has jumped in with both feet. He is surfing nutritional websites to gather information, and is keeping a food diary that rivals even the statistics on one of our golf scorecards. Last night we went out to dinner, and it was he who decided we would split a steak and sweet potato, have a simple side salad, and asked the waitress to leave the bread off the table all together. Part of my "butt out" philosophy is not to ask him what he weighs, but I have lost 5 pounds already. I think it's working!

Anticipating Spring

2010-02-24T17:46:00.000-08:00

This may seem like a strange thing to be thinking about as it is snowing out, but I'm just sure it will be an early spring this year. Can't really put my finger on why, but I really feel it is around the corner. I am looking forward to so much this spring. Long walks outside (instead of on a treadmill), going to the golf dome (to prepare for the season), cleaning up the yard (getting it ready for flowers), and sitting on the deck or in the hottub on a mild evening. The Hubs and I are both seriously dieting right now, and awaiting our annual trip to Myrtle Beach. But, I can enjoy some beautiful spring nights before we leave this year, I'm sure.
Now, come on snow. Get outta here!

Comfort Food From the Past

2010-02-18T15:53:00.000-08:00

Every so often, the Hubs makes one of my favorite meals for dinner. Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. The tomato soup's for me (not liking tomatoes, he generally has chicken noodle). And, I gotta tell you, this meal reminds me of the traditional Friday night suppers we used to have after driving up to the lake. The cottage was always ice cold, and after Mom lit the DuoTherms (oil space heaters, for lack of a better description), she would make grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for supper. The hot soup would go down so good in that cold house.

I would also often have a screaming headache from the stress of leaving town on a Friday afternoon and spending three hours in the car (you would really have to know my family dynamic to understand). So, hot soup was especially comforting.

Tonight (after having a migraine earlier this week), it really took me back. I love to recall those old childhood memories.

Quinceanera

2010-02-14T08:54:00.000-08:00

I haven't been able to update the blog for awhile, because we have been having issues with Comcast. The Hubs finally got fed up and has them coming out tomorrow. Let's hope I can keep a connection long enough to post this entry...

We went to a Quinceanera Saturday for our friend's granddaughter. This is a fifteenth birthday celebration, and in the mexican community it represents her transition into womanhood. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner and an evening of dancing and pageantry. At one point, she was seated on the dance floor, and presented with all sorts of symbolic gifts from her various sponsors (a prayer book, scepter, tiara, bracelet, earrings, ring, and doll). Her stepfather then removed the slippers she was wearing and put a pair of "grown-up" dancing shoes on her. Then he danced with her, followed by her mother, and all her friends. I remember thinking how sore her feet would be in the morning, after dancing in those new shoes all night. Welcome to womanhood, Alexis!

Home Again

2010-01-31T15:28:00.000-08:00

The balance of the ride home was without incident. We limped along through Tennessee, and I was sure we would need to find another hotel room before the day was over. But when we reached the Kentucky border, the highway was suddenly plowed and salted. We went from 40 MPH to 70 MPH in a matter of minutes. It was smooth sailing from then on, and we got home about 8PM.

Today I spent most of my time unpacking, doing laundry, and paying bills. There's no place like home.

I'll Have A Little Drink With My Ice, Please

2010-01-29T16:57:00.000-08:00

The good weather couldn't last forever. Since the predicted rain threatened our golf game today, we decided to play it real smart, and leave for home a day early. We had heard that an ice storm was passing through southern Tennessee tonight, and we thought we would get north of it before it hit. Wrong! We caught the worst of it about 3:00 this afternoon, just north of Huntsville Alabama. By the time we stopped just south of Nashville, I was exhausted (I was driving).

Tomorrow morning we get to start all over again. Hopefully it won't take us too long to get to a state that knows how to deal with this kind of weather. Michigan has a lot going for it in that regard.