Tragedy Once Again

The wife of one of the partners (I'll call him M and her F to protect their privacy) in Bob's department at the firm passed away unexpectedly this morning. All that is known is that M took F to the ER last night because she was having difficulty breathing. Then this morning he called to let his secretary know he wouldn't be in because his wife had passed away.

F was 42 years old and leaves behind two daughters and a son. I don't recall their exact ages, but are all pretty close to Olivia's age.

M...Our thoughts & prayers will be with you, the kids and the rest of the family during this extremely difficult time.

#512

I was looking through my blog entries this morning and noticed that my next post would be #512. Not an even number to celebrate or anything, but I couldn't believe how quickly they have added up. When I started blogging in June 2006, I didn't know that I would have much to say and some days I don't, but that's OK.

I enjoy my time in blogland and cherish the friends I have made in my blog travels. I want to thank my readers! Whether you are a commenter or a lurker, I appreciate each one of you!

Fun Day

Some of you may know that I have an uncle who was a youth pastor. (He now works at Cornerstone University). All my life he, my aunt, and three cousins have lived outside Wisconsin. Mostly in Michigan, but also in Kansas City, MO & Waukegan, IL. Even though we only saw these cousins a couple times per year we were pretty close and always had a great time with them. (When the weather was bad, we had a blast playing in the church gym and classrooms on visits to Michigan.) Well, this fall my cousin Jamie answered the Lord's call and took a position as children's pastor in Janesville, WI. Our family is so excited to have them closer to us.

Today my mom, grandma and I took a road trip to visit my cousin, his wife, and their four darling little girls. We had a great time with them as usual.

This is just the third time I have met his wife, but she is the sweetest, nicest thing. She has so much patience with those girls (6, 4, 23 months, and 6 weeks). I know I would be pulling my hair out...LOL!!

The picture is great-grandma (grandma to Jamie & me) holding our family's newest little darling.

Jamie, Denise & girls...I am so happy you guys listened to your calling and came "home" to Wisconsin. I love you all and can't wait to see you again soon! :)

Would you believe grandma is nearly 87? She's very proud of her age and no one ever believes her when she tells them how old she is! I hope I inherited those genes. :)

I have added a few other pictures from the day to my flickr account.

Wow, That's Service

After our last big snow storm or maybe the one before that (there have been too many to keep them all straight), our mailbox had a fight with one of the plows and the snowplow won! It won big time. The post was broken off right to the ground. After the snow we were able to pack enough snow around it to keep it up right and functional for a week or so. The snow melted so I spent a little money for a temporary fix that worked until our Sunday papers were delivered. Adding their weight to the mail/paper boxes brought it crashing down as did the wind a few days later. I had had it with trying to keep the box propped up in the bucket of sand. So I put our mail on hold -- went several times a week to pick it up.

Knowing we don't really have the proper tools to install a new post & box system properly, I decided to try to locate a local company who could handle this job. One look in the Yellow Pages (how late 1900s of me..lol) lead me in the right direction. They have a website so I began my search for the perfect mailbox. It was pricey, but I didn't want any old mailbox in front of my house. Yes, I am a mailbox snob...LOL! I found this one (in matte black)...


After I seeing that one, I called to inquire about a the price for installation & about how long it would be until the install could happen. I was told the install would be $85 and would take 1-3 weeks for what we ordered to come in a be installed. That was acceptable to us so VERY late Sunday night (more like Monday morning) I ordered.

I was prepared to keep waiting & thought if I hadn't heard anything from them after two weeks I would call just to check on the status of the order. Well, that call will not have to be made. I got a call from the installer yesterday before noon. Barely 36 hours after I placed the order, I had a call and a time the installer would be out. He arrived yesterday afternoon about 2:30 and worked in the rain for a little over two hours. Not only did he install the new post/box in a new area, but also dug out the old cement with broken off post and filled that hole with the dirt from the new hole he dug. He took the old stuff along with him and left the area in good condition.

It will be so nice to be able to walk out to the mailbox tomorrow to pick up my mail rather than having to hop in the car & drive across town to pick it up. I don't envy those of you who have to go pick up mail.

Thank you "Mahvelous" Mailboxes!!

Just for Carolynn :)

Here's a video of a Klement's Sausage Race. They take place during the sixth inning of every Milwaukee Brewers' home game.

Not Wasting Time

Bob hasn't been back from Vegas for a week yet, but he and the guys have booked their flight for an October trip. Think they like it there...LOL?!? They got a really good deal on airfare -- $227 including taxes & fees. The airfare for the March trip nearly twice that -- yikes! As long as the airline they booked with doesn't get added to the list of no longer flying airlines, it's a great deal. There is no reason to believe this airline will go under, but we never really know!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

My Brewers are off to a great start once again. They are 4-1 going into play today. Let's hope they can continue on this path during this long season! :)

Bob's Cubs on the other hand aren't playing so hot. They are 2-3 (one of those wins is thanks to a game blown by the Brewers.) For Bob's sake I hope they turn the season around, but I will not be rootin' for them against my Brewers! :)

My Ouch Update

Monday afternoon was my appointment with Dr. Sureddi for the cyst on my back. She could tell by looking that it was infected, wrote an Rx for an antibiotic, and sent me off with a surgeon's phone number (as expected).

Yesterday was my appointment with the surgeon, Dr Mittal. He lanced it to allow to drain the infection and to make sure it will heal properly. I will need to see him in 6 weeks for follow up and then possible removal. Since an infection recurrence is likely, I plan to have it removed at that time. I don't want to have to go through this again down the road because I didn't have the cyst removed.

Duel

I am so glad this show is back! I LOVE IT! :)

Happy Birthday...

to my niece! Hope you have a wonderful day!

Yes, we have a lot of birthdays from March 26 - April 3! :)

Happy Birthday

to my dear friend Renee who I haven't seen in ages! I miss you, girl!

Home Soon

Bob will be home later tonight & it will be so good to see him. I have missed that man! :)

See you at the airport in a few hours Bob & Kev!

Touching Story, Inspiring Family

Michelle over at Life with the Lyons Family posted about a family facing incredible struggles. They face these struggles with incredible faith in God. You read their story here and follow along at Confessions of a CF Husband*.

Tomorrow is April 1, and April is National Donate Life Month. Consider becoming a donor today.

*I have added a link to Confessions of a CF Husband to the Blogs I Adore listed on my sidebar.

Shoe Shopping

It's been a long time since I went shoe shopping when I wasn't looking for something for a specific occasion. But yesterday that kind of changed. I did need new everyday shoes. The only time I wear tennis shoes is when I work out. They just aren't me, but I do like comfortable shoes for everyday wear. The ones I have been wearing recently just weren't comfortable any more and the leather was beginning to crack. So I bit the bullet headed into Shoe Carnival and found the perfect pair. Of course with the buy one get one 50% off, I had to find a second pair. So that was my just for fun pair. I love them and this trip has rekindled my love for life size shoes. :) I think I am going back to Shoe Carnival today.

Oh, this could get ugly...LOL!!

Born This Day

1955 Reba McEntire
1970 Vince Vaughn* AND ME! :)
1981 Julia Stiles

*Still can't believe Vince is only 38 :). I always thought he was a slightly older man. He's one of my few celeb crushes, by the way. Strange one I know...LOL!

Packed & Ready to Go

Bob is leaving tomorrow morning for a guys trip to Vegas. I have his bag all packed and ready to go. I get nearly two days to myself since Olivia is still in Mississippi with my mom! I won't know what to do with all my free time...LOL!! :)

Happy Birthday

to my dear sister-in-law Renee! Hope you have a wonderful day, and Scott doesn't make you cook tonight! :)

What a Difference A Year Makes

One year ago today it was 80 degrees in my area. Today we are talking about yet another winter storm. This one is only supposed to be 2-3 inches, but earlier in the week it was looking like it would be another big one. Thank goodness it didn't follow that track! :) I love winter & snow, but we have had enough (more than enough) for this season. I am SO ready for spring!

Ouch!

I have a sebaceous cyst that has been on my back for years. It never really bothered me so my doctor didn't do anything with it. It would get a little larger, but always go back down. Well, now I wish I would have pushed for something to be done with it. It has flared up and is really bothering me.

I have an appointment with my doctor on Monday, but I know she will refer me to a surgeon for removal. That means I am looking at having to deal with this for at least two more weeks.

Many members of my family are prone to cysts. Both my mom & brother have had more than two removed -- this will be my second. The first was on the back of my leg about 2.5 years ago.

I know this is nothing serious, but it's location adds to the irritation. It's slightly to the right side of my spine RIGHT where a bra strap goes across it, and if I turn right...err...wrong the hooks give it a little poke. I've started wearing my favorite style of sports bra when I am not going anywhere important, but they just aren't as comfortable as a regular bra. I can't wait for this thing to be G-O-N-E!

So Sorry, Kev

Our friend, Kevin, did end up stuck in KC for an extra 24 hours due to the storm on Friday.

A few hours after he got home he found out his 14-year-old nephew had passed away. His nephew was autistic and had issues with seizures most of his life. He had numerous surgeries and tried many medications to control the seizures. Recently, they had been under control -- until Friday night while he slept. The medical examiner said he probably had the seizure around midnight -- shortly after mom & dad had checked on him before turning into bed themselves.

Please keep his family in your prayers. As you can imagine with a death so sudden and unexpected, they are taking this really hard. Pray memories of their time spent together will comfort them in this very difficult time.

Kev...we are here for you if you or your family need anything! Love you, buddy! :)

Sweet!

The Wisconsin Badgers are still alive in the NCAA tournament! They have made it to the Sweet Sixteen and will face Davidson on Friday! The other Wisconsin team, Marquette University, didn't do quite as well. They lost in second round competition on yesterday.

Still Coming Down

14.2 inches and counting...

We'll be moving to the second snowiest winter on record...

1885-1886: 109.8 inches
1897-1898: 94.2 inches
1959-1960: 93.3 inches
2007-2008: 84.5 inches (doesn't include snowfall from today which from what I last heard was just over 10 inches at the official location, Mitchell International Airport)

I say let's shatter that all time record. :)

Spring Snow

The first full day of spring has brought us what will most likely be our largest snowfall of the year. We are expecting up to 18 inches. The totals keep going up -- YIKES!! It's been snowing since around 6AM, and by noon totals were already near six inches!

My mom left with Olivia & my niece, Samantha, last night for Mississippi. She was planning on leaving this morning, but decided to get out of town before the snow. It's a good thing they did.

Our friend, Kevin, was supposed to fly back from Kansas City this afternoon, but since the airport has been closed since around 9AM he is stuck in KC for the night. (Hope you make it home in time for the Bucks' game tomorrow night, Kev. It's going to be a blast even if they stink! LOL!)

Updating at 6:20 PM: We are up to 12.6 inches with at least 4 more hours of snowfall to come.

Getting Back to Normal

Today was my last days of parties, and I am glad they are over. I am not used to having to be out of the house at a certain time every morning or having to take care of the house, family, bills, etc. while working. I know if it was a regular part of my life I would adapt, but I am extremely thankful to be able to be a SAHM and set my own schedule.

The Show

The Springsteen & the E Street Band show last night was GREAT! I had a good time; Bob had a GREAT time! :)

The show started over an hour late, and I thought the sound on the first two songs was horrible. It cleared up by the third song. The show went on for nearly 2.5 hours straight. No opening act, no breaks, just 2+ hours of music. Now, that's what I call a concert.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

A little boy at one of the parties today had on the best t-shirt. It had a little picture of a leprechaun on it. Next to that image were the words: "patrick was a saint i ain't"...LOL!!

Tonight is that Springsteen & E Street Band show I mentioned so many months ago. Bob is really excited! As for me, not so much excitement here. He is a much bigger Springsteen fan than I am.

How Long Should It Take?

We had an issue with our newspaper delivery Saturday morning. I tried calling to complain about the problem, but every time I called to try to talk to a HUMAN the automated system would disconnect me. That ticked me off a little more with each call. Instead of fooling around with the phone more, I sent off an email explaining the problem I was having with the phone system and the delivery.

By Monday afternoon, I had not heard back from them so I resent the email. Then tried calling again. I was able to talk to a HUMAN this time, and she took care of the delivery complaint, but not the credit for Saturday's paper. I sent another email yesterday afternoon inquiring about the credit for Saturday's paper. Still nothing.

I know they are receiving the emails because for every one I have sent I have gotten the canned response about being important part of their business and blah, blah, blah. I know their emails aren't being caught by my spam filters because I get all other emails from them -- including one today that says they charged our credit card for this month's payment. GRRRR!!

I am to going to the investors page to find the contact information for a real person so I can hopefully get a response. What happened to customer service?

Anniversary Wishes

Happy 29th Anniversary Dad & Carole! (Oops, should have posted this Monday!)

I know most divorces end up messy and with ex-spouses hating one another. My brother, Scott, and I are fortunate to have ended up with divorced parents who still like one another. Yes, it took some time for them to get to that point, but they did and get along better now than they ever did when they were married. We ended up with all kinds of bonus family members who loved us as if we were their own flesh & blood. For that, I will always be thankful!

Workin' Once Again

It's time once again for my annual two week stint back at McDonald's. Today were the first two of twelve parties. In past years, I only did one party per day, but have added a second party on a few of them this year.

I'll say it again: I have no desire to go back on a regular basis, but it is fun to get out and help for a couple weeks each year.

Inch by Inch

We are inching closer to that record -- another 3-6 of lake effect snow is supposed to fall tonight & tomorrow morning. Top 3 or 4 here we come...LOL!!

Our Number 4s

These men have a few things in common...

the Milwaukee Bucks' Sidney Moncrief

the Milwaukee Brewers' Paul Molitor*

the Green Bay Packers' Brett Favre

All have worn the number 4, all are among the greatest players to ever play for their respective teams, none of them will ever be forgotten!

The number 4 has left a lasting mark on Wisconsin!

*Confession time: When I was 12, I wanted to be Mrs. Paul Molitor when I grew up...LOL!

David Cook ROCKS

I think David Cook totally ROCKED Lionel Richie's Hello. This is by far my favorite performance of the season so far.



Inucbus also did a cover of this song at a concert a few years back, but in my opinion that doesn't touch this version. He & Michael are my favorite guys this season. I also like Danny! :)

Sad Sports Day

Tractor Watch is over. This morning Fox Sports & ESPN are reporting that Brett Favre has decided to retire. According to a local sports reporter, his agent has confirmed the retirement.

It is indeed a sad day in Titletown.

Brett, you will be missed on the field, but I know you will continue to do GREAT things off the field!!

Guess Who is Coming to Town

Johnny Depp :), Marion Cotillard and Christian Bale :) are going to be shooting "Public Enemies" in parts of Wisconsin. Public Enemies is a film about John Dillinger.

Winter's Beauty: The Sky

our sky at dusk today

77.7 and counting

We have gotten 77.7 inches of snow so far this season. An average year will bring us around 50. It doesn't look like we will break the season record of 100+ set in 1884, but even if the next two months are below average, we will break into the top three.

Tonight is supposed to bring us another 2-3 inches of the cold white stuff! :)

Here We Go Again

It's time to start the will he, won't he, when will he decide question again. Late last week the reports started because it has been more than 30 days since the last game.

Mark Murphy, the new Packers' president thinks he will be back.

My Oh My

Where has the week gone? I have been feeling a little under the weather this week and have neglected my blog. I feel like a cold is coming, but it just doesn't want to. This was supposed to be the week I started getting into shape for the triathlon. However, I decided against it because of sinus pain & pressure. Sinus trouble makes for unpleasant enough days without adding running into the mix.

Speaking of the triathlon, the sign-up opens tomorrow for the Chicagoland Danskin Tri. I will be signing up soon, but need to talk to Erin about signing up by age group or mixed age. I screwed that up last year, but I think it worked out well other than missing her crossing the finish line. :(

Awesome Commercial

This aired during the Daytona 500, and I think it was better than most (if not all) of the Super Bowl ads.

hehehe...

BAM!

Martha Stewart is kicking it up a notch! Did you see Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO) Inc. is bringing in a celebrity? Yep, it's true Martha's company has bought the rights to Emeril Lagasse's franchise of cookbooks, television shows and kitchen products from him for $50 ($45 million in cash and $5 million in stock). MSLO did not acquire Emeril's restaurants or corporate office.

I Did It

Therefore, I can complain. (I won't yet, but voting reserves the right to complain...LOL)

I went and exercised one of the greatest rights we have as Americans. The right to vote! I know many of you have already voted in your state's primaries, but those have haven't I urge you to get out and let your voice be heard.

Thee List

Here’s the Dancing with the Stars lineup...

• Kristi Yamaguchi (Olympic Gold Medal skater) and Mark Ballas
• Priscilla Presley (as if you don't know who she is...LOL)and Louis van Amstel
• Jason Taylor (NFL star) and Edyta Sliwinska
• Cristian de la Fuente (Actor) and Cheryl Burke
• Mario (R&B singer) and Karina Smirnoff (pictured above)
• Marlee Matlin )Oscar winner) and Fabian Sanchez
• Penn Jillette (Illusionist) and Kym Johnson
• Adam Carolla (TV and Radio Personality) and Julianne Hough
• Shannon Elizabeth (Actress) and Derek Hough
• Marissa Jaret Winokur (Actress) and Tony Dovolani
• Monica Seles (Former Tennis Champ) and Jonathan Roberts
• Steve Guttenberg (Actor) and Anna Trebunskaya
  

Makita...our husbands are going to be happy. They get to see Edyta's skimpy outfits! :)

Sniff, Sniff

The line-up for the sixth season of Dancing with the Stars will be announced later tonight. I just read that Maksim Chmerkovskiy will not be returning for this season, and his rep confirmed. :(

Radio personality Adam Corolla will be dancing with the winner of the last two seasons Julianne Hough. I have heard rumors of Florence Henderson, Kristi Yamaguchi, Marlee Matlin, and Pricilla Presley as possible contestants. We'll know shortly if those rumors were true or not.

(All Bob wants to know is if Edyta will be back! *giggle*)

The Full Bath

Here are the pictures of the bathroom I promised you all way back in, when was it, November.

before

after

I still don't care for the green counter, but it isn't as bad with this paint as it was with the green and white striped paper with gold and pink details. (UGH -- that paper is hideous.)

I usually use a darker hand towel but the usual ones were all in the towel hamper I didn't realize I had a back up on the towel rack until I edited the picture. The rugs and towels are a deep purple similar to the mat of the two florals. I am really happy with the way it turned out. I still want to paint the vanity & possibly do something about that counter, but for now it's a HUGE improvement.

I did end up finding and using most of the items from this post.

Poor Girl

Olivia got braces today on her upper teeth (the lower will come later on). The poor girl is in quite a bit of pain right now. We're treating the pain with Tylenol, and feeding her lots of soft foods and liquids. I think tomorrow will be mostly liquids. :( She is looking forward to Bob getting home because he's bringing her some Culver's Frozen Custard.

Postage Rate Increase

The price of mailing a letter is going up again. On May 12, it will cost us one penny more (42¢) to mail that letter. I am still trying to use up some 37 & 39 cent love & Christmas stamps from before the last two increases. If I do run out before May 12 (unlikely), I will be buying the Forever Stamp to bridge the gap -- then back to the Breast Cancer Semi-Postals!

Other rate increases set for May 12:
Postcard, 27 cents, up one cent.
Large envelope, 2 ounces, $1, up 3 cents.
Money Orders up to $500, $1.05, unchanged.
Certified mail, $2.70, up 5 cents.
First-class international letter to Canada or Mexico, 72 cents, up 3 cents.
First-class international letter to other countries, 94 cents, up 4 cents.

New rates for the shipping services (Express, Priority, Parcel Select and International) will be announced in March.

Menu Plan Monday #9

February 11 - February 17, 2008

Monday: Salads (sounds like a summer meal, but I just don't feel like cooking & am craving some feta, walnuts, and raspberry vinaigrette. I may even toss on some chicken.)

Tuesday: Chicken stir-fry

Wednesday: Pork chops, cauliflower, green beans

Thursday: Stuffed meatloaf (leaving out salami to keep fat content down), brown rice, and broccoli (Yep, it's here again. Maybe one of these weeks I will really make it...LOL!)

Friday: Cheese quesadillas

Saturday: Dine Out

Sunday: Leftovers or sandwiches

Grammy Awards

I love music, and each year I look forward to the Grammys. I like it mostly for the performances. There were some great ones last night, but this was by far my favorite...

Alicia is amazingly talented and one of my favorites!

The Big Dig Out

We ended up getting about 16 inches of snow here yesterday. It snowed for nearly 30 hours non-stop. I don't remember seeing anything quite like this storm in my life. I know there were some when I was about 8 or 9, but definitely not in recent years.

Our Groundhog is Crazy

Crazy or just wrong!! Our area groundhog, Winnie, "said" it would be an early spring.

We are approximately where the star (red dot) is on the map.

We are used to big storms, but not this big. It is not unusual for us to get just under a foot of snow during one storm, but conditions are perfect for us to get much higher totals this time. I am lovin' it.

No school for Olivia; no work for Bob! The malls are even closed -- it's got to be bad if they are closing malls! A recent check of the closings section of my favorite local news channel's website shows over 900 closings. The most I ever remember is around 400.

By the way, the little thunderstorm clouds mean we may be getting thundersnow!

Menu Plan Monday #8

Or is it Tuesday now? LOL!!

February 4 - February 10, 2008

Monday: Ham & cauliflower au gratin

Tuesday: Turkey hot dogs and whole wheat mac & cheese

Wednesday: Baked tilapia, couscous, and asparagus

Thursday: Stuffed meatloaf (leaving out salami to keep fat content down), brown rice, and broccoli (Never made this one when i posted it a couple weeks ago so I thought I would pull it to this week.)

Friday: Cheese quesadillas

Saturday: Dine Out

Sunday: Leftovers and/or sandwiches

All Glammed Up

Here's the shot Olivia took of Bob & I as we were about to head out the door to the black-tie gala on Saturday night. We should have had her take another shot -- Bob's eyes are only half open & I was saying something -- oops!

Happy Groundhog Day

Hehehe!! That crazy snowman!

February Already?

Where did January go?

February, when the days of winter seem endless and no amount of wistful recollecting can bring back any air of summer. ~ Shirley Jackson

My New Baby

My Razr has seen better days and it was time for my upgrade so I ordered this baby today. She should arrive sometime Tuesday!

New Look

My new banner is complete. I will be tweaking the colors of the titles, text, links, etc, but my new look is basically complete.

The images in the banner were taken by me in our yard last summer. I chose the colors because Valentine's Day will be here soon and the rose shots because it's bitterly cold here today.

Chevy

This is the only Chevy in my life that I am pleased with right now.

Chevy enjoying the warm sun on an extremely cold winter afternoon. This dog loves taking his naps in the sun.

The other one (my Blazer) is back at the mechanic for another problem.

Why is it when you start talking about paying a vehicle off you have trouble, and the day after you do pay off the vehicle you have trouble again? It's almost as if the car know and wants to be the center of attention again.

The Dress

Here is the best shot I could get of the dress. The true color is so hard to capture which must be why I cannot find it online.

The shot on the left is pretty close to capturing the true color that the black overlay gives to the overall dress color. On the right is the color of the satin. Pretty close to one of those hot 80s colors, isn't it?

Only In Milwaukee

We have some great things in Milwaukee, but we also have some things that are let's just say WEIRD! Well, this goes into the weird category! Love Happy Days and want to see The Fonz in Bronze? Well, you will be able to do that starting Labor Day weekend in Milwaukee. You can read all about it here.

My Oh My

Where has this week gone? I can't believe Thursday is about over already. It was a busy week with a lot of running. Not the kind of running (on the treadmill) I should be doing, but running none the less.

Next Saturday is our annual black tie gala. I was out shopping for a dress yesterday and am happy to say I found one relatively quickly. As usual, I can't find a picture of it online, but will take one to share. Because of the coloring it is really hard to photograph and get it to look like real life. I took a picture earlier & I looks like it is just a blueish green or greenish blue satin dress. When in reality, it is turquoise satin with sheer black over it which makes it look awesome. The color underneath I would never wear alone. It is so 1980s...LOL! I will try to get a better picture for you all to see.

Five for Fighting

When you have a moment, please visit whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com to watch a moving video. The band, Five for Fighting, is donating $0.40 to Autism Speaks for each time this video is viewed. The funding Autism Speaks receives goes toward research studies to help find a cure for Autism.

Note: As with all forwards I receive, I checked this out on snopes.com & it is real.

Monday Menu Plan #7

January 21 - January 28, 2007

Monday: Quesadillas

Tuesday: Baked Ziti, salad, and garlic bread

Wednesday: Chicken enchiladas and spanish rice

Thursday: Pork tenderloin, baked potatoes, and sugar snap peas

Friday: Stuffed meatloaf (leaving out salami to keep fat content down), brown rice, and broccoli,

Saturday: Dine Out

Sunday: Leftovers and/or sandwiches

Anthropologie

I just learned today that Anthropologie has finally come to Milwaukee. I knew one was coming and have been so excited for it to open. Well, I just read today was opening day. I didn't have time to go, but I plan to next week! Woohoo!

Coming Soon

I realized this morning that my blog is still dressed for Christmas while my house is not. So it's time to come up with a new look.

The Countdown Is On

Before we know it the NASCAR season will be in full force!!

Milwaukee Soldier Killed in Iraq

While we don't know this family personally, my thoughts today are with the family of a local serviceman who was killed in Iraq.

Army Pfc. Keith E. Lloyd, 26, died Saturday in Tal Afar, Iraq. He died of wounds sustained when his vehicle hit an IED.

Keith was a graduate of the high school in the town we live. Olivia said they observed a moment of silence during school today in honor of Keith.

Thank you to all the men & women in uniform & their families who make many sacrifices for our freedom.

Thank you Keith & thank you Lloyd family.

Road to the Super Bowl

goes through Green Bay.

Thank you, Giants! I was rootin' for you yesterday, but can't say I will be doing the same Sunday! :)

Menu Plan Monday #6

January 14 - January 20, 2007

Monday: Oven "Fried" Chicken Breasts, Sautéed Asparagus, Steamed Cauliflower

Tuesday: Chili Rubbed Flank Steak, Long Grain Rice, Corn

Wednesday: Chicken Orecchiette, Salad, Crusty Bread with Olive Oil and Parmesan Cheese for Dipping

Thursday: Crock Pot Beef Casserole, WW Egg Noodles, Seasoned Green Beans

Friday: Quesdillas

Saturday: Dine out

Sunday: Leftovers and/or sandwiches

Yes, I am recycling last week's meal plan. We ended up only having the quesdillas. Bob had chicken last weekend, then our favorite restaurant had his favorite chicken parm last week so he had to have it on Monday. Since we ate out Monday's meal, I was planning to move each meal down a day, but he had chicken again (on a salad this time) for lunch last Tuesday. Needless to say, he didn't want chicken for supper so I made a dish his mom used to make. There was so much leftover we had it again on Wednesday. Thursday I did not cook because I didn't feel like it after sitting on the side of the road for hours.

At least the grocery list for this week will be short!

Diagnosis: Fuel Pump

The garage we use to repair our vehicles called early this morning with their diagnosis and a quote on my car. It was the fuel pump and some related parts. Bob took the call and I can't remember what he said, but it wasn't a cheap repair! The diagnostics, parts, labor, and tax came to a little under $800. The repair was finished around 2:30 PM and is ready to be picked up. The garage is in walking distance, but I just don't feel like leaving the house today so I will pick it up in the morning.

I am thankful for competent, honest mechanics. Jerry and Chad are worth their weight on gold! Thanks guys!

My Week of Irony

The week of January 7, 2008 from here on out will be known as my week of irony.

I spent nearly 3 hours this afternoon sitting on the side of I-43 waiting for a tow truck to show up. While traveling north in a two lane construction zone with concrete barriers on each side, my car suddenly seemed like it didn't want to accelerate. I took my foot off the gas looked at the gages and everything looked fine. I put my foot back on the gas and it was OK for a moment, but returned. I again took my foot off the gas, checked gages, and pressed the pedal again. NOTHING! It is the worst feeling in the world to be on the interstate going 40 (and dropping) MPH while people behind you are going well over the posted limit of 55. Thankfully, I had enough speed left in my vehicle to get out of that two-laned construction area with no shoulder. However, I did not have enough speed to get completely over to the emergency shoulder. I was out of traffic, but it was still in a lane. At times there were cars, trucks, and semis just inches from my car. I could feel the car shake as semis went by. I don't think I have ever been so nervous in my life.

I called AAA, told them where I was and the situation. The woman I talked to supposedly called the sherriff's department to come before she called the towing company. Several squads went by during this time, but not a single one stopped to check on me. I sat in that situation for 40 minutes before a sheriff stopped. He was very nice, he moved an orange barrel out of the way and gave my car a push with his to get me out of traffic. I was a little more comfortable having a couple feet between my car and zipping the traffic. Another sheriff stopped about 30 minutes later just to make sure I was still OK.

AAA had given me a 2 hour window of when the tow truck would be there and said my call was flagged an EMERGENCY since I was sitting on the interstate. Well, that window came and went without a tow truck stopping. I called AAA back, explained my disgust with the service, and explained once again I was not in the safest situation. I am pretty sure I could have called any local towing company directly and gotten out of there in less than an hour. It's not like we were having bad weather, it was an unseasonable warm day with dry roads. The second person I spoke with put me on hold while she called the garage that was supposed to be coming. She told me the truck would be behind me in about five minutes. Well, it was more like ten. I suspect that driver had just gotten my info!

I called Bob as soon as it happened and he came to my rescue. Bob was able to park up in front of the barrels in a safer spot than I was, but it still wasn't a safe area for either of us to be walking. We waited in our separate cars and talk on our cell phones a lot. It was a HUGE comfort having him there. Since I broke down near his office, he brought me back to the office with him so he could get out something that needed to go out yesterday and pack up his stuff. I waited at the bar in the restaurant downstairs, had a much needed glass of wine, and nice conversation with a couple people there.

As William Shakespeare said, All's Well that Ends Well!

If you are still reading thank you, but you are probably waiting for the irony. Well, I opened the mail box, pulled out the mail, and what's on top? The AAA renewal statement. I am not sure I will be renewing after this experience. We have only used them two times in nine years. The first time was fine. They came as they said they would in the amount of time they said, but it was also a job we could find a neighbor to help with or buy a set of jumper cables. This time left a really bad impression of the service with me. I still had to pay for the tow truck to take my car any further than five miles. (My plan pays for the hook-up & first five miles.) At $80 over 8 years I don't think we are getting our money out of it. I am pretty sure one towing & a set of jumper cables would come in under $640.

The other irony isn't as scary or bad, but Tuesday before I talked about the Project Runway designer t-shirts and ordered one. Wednesday night the designer of the t-shirt I ordered got kicked off! :( It arrived today! I guess my shirt is a collector's item!...LOL!

Happy Birthday Erin

Hope you had a wonderful day. I am looking forward to the party on Sunday. Who says adults can't have a bowling birthday party? LOL!

Farlo Funzionare

Italian for make it work!

Those of you who are Project Runway fans know that line is used often on the show. I recently discovered you can purchase t-shirts designed by your favorite Project Runway designers. (Don't know where I have been...LOL!) It just so happens that my favorite t-shirt was also designed by my favorite PR designer!

designed by Season 4's Kevin (my favorite)

Runway fans: Who are your favorites?

REALLY Wacky!

If I told you it was 64 degrees, raining, hailing, thundering, lightening, and there is a tornado warning in the county with which we share our southern border, what month would you think it was? It's JANUARY -- this isn't supposed to happen this time of year!

A tornado has touched down in a county in northern Illinois. There are reports of injuries and pretty severe damage, but reports are early. There maybe more developing in Kenosha & Racine County.

I have taken some pictures, but am keeping a CLOSE eye on the weather as the path of the tornado producing storm takes could be right our direction.

I'm signing off now, but will update you as soon as I can. This is getting a little too close for comfort.

Menu Plan Monday #5

With the new year upon us, I have decided to get back into the habit of planning and posting my menu plan each Monday. I haven't been very good about planning since I posted my last Menu Plan Monday menu. Planning means fewer sandwiches and last minute runs to the store for some sort of meat that isn't frozen rock solid. It also means less eating out & healthier meals. It's time to PLAN again!!

January 7 - January 13, 2007

Monday: Oven "Fried" Chicken Breasts, Sautéed Asparagus, Steamed Cauliflower

Tuesday: Chili Rubbed Flank Steak, Long Grain Rice, Corn

Wednesday: Chicken Orecchiette, Salad, Crusty Bread with Olive Oil and Parmesan Cheese for Dipping

Thursday: Crock Pot Beef Casserole, WW Egg Noodles, Seasoned Green Beans

Friday: Quesdillas

Saturday: Dine out

Sunday: Leftovers and/or sandwiches

Breast Cancer: Dorothy Hamill

The 1976 Olympic ice skating champion has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is undergoing treatment. Her rep says her prognosis is favorable, but she will have to take some time off from skating.

source: people.com

The Other Boleyn Girl

I just found out today that The Other Boleyn Girl starring Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, and Eric Bana is coming to the big screen in February 2008! I read the book by Philippa Gregory about 3 years ago, and fell in love with this author immediately. I have since read read many of her books. This will definitely be on my list of movies to see.

New Flickr Photos

I have uploaded a few new pictures to my flickr account & hope to be adding more in the next few days. I still need to edit & organize, but they are ready for viewing.

taken during the snow storm on Friday, December 28

Happy New Year

May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions. -- Joey Adams

This made me chuckle & I just couldn't resist posting it!

Simple Things

While on my blog travels this morning a quote Shelbi has on her blog, Keeper of the Chocolates, caught my eye. I thought I would share it with you all.

Teach us to delight in simple things. -- Rudyard Kipling

I am constantly working to simplify my life & enjoy the simple things. I have made progress, but still need to work on making that a permanent change.

Mr. Boomer

enjoying today's snow

Chevy doesn't enjoy the snow so much. Boomer is outside watching Chevy while he sticks only his head out the doggy door to check out the weather conditions. I wish I could get a picture of him doing that, but when I move to get the camera Chevy follows.

Another Snow Storm

We have been hit by a major snow storm every weekend in the month of December, and this weekend is no exception. Snow is falling pretty heavily right now. We are supposed to get 6-8 inches of the wet, heavy stuff again. The trees are coated in a fresh coat of white, I don't have to leave the house, and I am loving it!

The first storm back in early December the City of Milwaukee did a horrible job of clearing the streets. Now with every major storm we have had since the news stations air a news conference with either the head of the DPW or a spokesman who tells the plan to clear the streets. Something tells me they didn't have these conferences before and they just went without airing.

The city where I live just stinks when it comes to clearing the streets. There have been times there probably wasn't even a plow down our streets. I bet the streets in front of the Mayor's house are clear. Remind me again why we pay sky high property taxes. I thought part of our tax dollars went to garbage pick up & snow plowing.

Droopy Tree

Here's that dry, droopy tree I was telling you about yesterday. Nothing like ornaments & lights resting on the floor. Not to mention the bare area between the drooping branches and the part that was still OK.





And it's the first tree on our street to sit curbside and wait to be mulched! :(

2007's Trees

I realized this morning that I hadn't posted pictures of our Christmas trees this year. Well, here they are...


The one on the left is the artificial we put in the family room. The tree on the right is in the living room and can you believe that is a real tree? (Sorry about the picture quality!) I have never seen a real tree shaped so "perfectly" and so full. It doesn't look so good today and will be coming down tomorrow. The branches just kept dropping further & further. There are ornaments & lights touching the floor. I'll take a picture before I start taking it down tomorrow so you all can get a laugh out of it as I have.

Merry Christmas...

from our house to yours! I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas Day surrounded by those you love.

Frenchy Bag: Pic & Grade

I'm so proud of Olivia! She got her graded purse back today! Her teacher wrote "very impressive work" on her project evaluation sheet. Olivia scored 98 out of 100 possible points. She lost a point each on cut edges lined up & notches, seams and other markings lined up. I suspect that is because of the one tiny spot on the side seam where the red contrasting band & the main panel don't line up perfectly, but heck I have seen worse in ready made items.

Here's a crop of the fabric so you can see the cute little buttons & dots. The lining is the opposite of the button fabric.

Not bad for a first timer, hey?

Another Sewer in the Family

When Olivia signed up for her classes last winter, she signed up for a clothing class. She has that class this term and just finished her first project. She made Amy Butler's Frenchy bag, and it turned out fabulous. In true Olivia fashion, she chose red, black & white fabrics!

She hasn't gotten it back from grading yet. As soon as she does, I will share a picture.

NFL Game or Jessica Simpson Show?

Was anyone else as sick of seeing shots of Tony Romo's new girl, Jessica Simpson, during the Eagles vs. Cowboys game? It drives me crazy when I am watching a sporting event, and we get bombarded by shots of the celebrities who are in the crowd.

News alert to networks: Fans tune in to see the event not the celebs in the stands!!

About My Christmas

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Both -- I prefer wrapping paper, but when a gift is an odd shape there is nothing better than wrapping it with a bit of tissue paper & putting it into a bag.

2. Real tree or artificial?
Both -- real in the living room & artificial in the family room.

3. When do you put your tree up?
The artificial goes up the Monday after Thanksgiving & the real usually goes up the first weekend in December.

4. When do you take the tree down?
Real one comes down sometime shortly after New Year's Day. The artificial is taken down by January 10.

5. Do you like egg nog?
NO!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
I was a teen, but the best gift would have to be the HUGE box of quilt pieces cut out of vintage fabrics & the quilt book my mom found with a book that had a quilt pattern that could use those pieces.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes, it's the Jim Shore set & I love it!

8. Hardest person to buy for?
Definitely my mother-in-law.

9. Easiest person to buy for?
My Mom, Bob & Olivia

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail, but I do send a few e-cards.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I'm going to invoke my Fifth Amendment Right on this one! ;)

12. Favorite Christmas movie?
Nester, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Unless sending it to Goodwill counts as recycling, I have never recycled a gift.

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Cookies!!

15. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Clear lights on both trees.

16. Favorite Christmas song?
O, Holy Night

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
We go to my parents on Christmas Day. Mom's for an early lunch & Dad's for dinner/dessert. When Bob's parents lived in town we spent Christmas Eve with them.

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Yes -- Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and the most famous reindeer of all Rudolph. (My least favorite Christmas song, by the way)

19. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
We open on Christmas morning, but will be starting a new tradition this year. I discovered it while reading traditions of many bloggers last year. We each will open one gift on Christmas Eve -- it will be new jammies to wear so we can be pretty in our new jammies for Christmas Morning pictures. :)

20. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Political Incorrectness Alert: That the word Christmas is being replaced by Holiday for nearly every Christmas tradition there is ie trees, lights, decorations, parties, etc.

21. Favorite ornament on the tree?
I would say right now it is the one I bought at the Holiday Folk Fair the day I ran in the 5K last month.

22. Favorite thing to eat for Christmas dinner?
Cookies -- oh wait, that says dinner...LOL! It depends if the menu has ham or turkey. If the menu calls for ham, then it is the cheesy potatoes. If the menu calls for turkey, it's the stuffing! YUM-O!

23. Do you decorate the outside of your house?
We usually do, but the cold and snow hit us much earlier and harder this year than usual so we never got them up.

24. Does Santa wrap his gifts or leave them upwrapped?
Santa wraps, but in different paper than I do! :)

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
To spend quality time with my family & friends. My dad's heart attack this year hit me really hard. Harder than I thought, I guess. I have had a hard time being excited about the preparations for Christmas Day. The gifts, the decorations, etc all go away, but relationships with those we love are what's really important. (I don't mean for that to sound preachy, sappy, cliche. That is honestly how I have felt about Christmas this year.)

Now tell me about your Christmas! If you are so inclined, copy & paste this and replace my answers with yours! If you do play along, let me know so I can stop by and read about your Christmas traditions, likes, dislikes, hopes, etc.

Breast Cancer Research Stamp

Since its introduction, the Breast Cancer Research Stamp has raised more than $55 million for breast cancer research putting it among the most successful commemorative stamps of all time.

Congress has passed legislation extending the Breast Cancer Research Stamp four more years, through 2011. The House of Representatives passed the bill on Tuesday, and the Senate followed the next night. The bill now awaits signature by President Bush.

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Representative William Lacy Clay (D-MO) spearheaded the effort extend the life of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp. Take a moment to say thank you to these CHAMPIONS!

Joss Stone

Have you heard Joss Stone's cover the the Nat King Cole classic L-O-V-E in the Channel commercials? It is AMAZING!

If you haven't heard it and would like to, you can listen to it on her myspace page. It can also be purchased from iTunes!!

I see a music theme developing this week!

Alicia Keys

from people.com: "I'm dating myself ... No, I'm serious. She's this beautiful woman ... her name is Alicia, I'm getting to know her better and taking her out. I'm taking her where she wants to go and she's learning new things. She's having a good time."

Now, Alicia has the right idea...LOL!! Can you "date" yourself when you're married? *snicker*

Answered Prayers

Our family is extremely thankful for your prayers. The SSA approved my dad's disibility! It's still going to be tight for a little while, but at least they will have some income.

Physically, my dad is doing well and continues to improve. Today was his last cardiac rehab session. He received a diploma that he now wants to frame and hang on the wall in his rec room. What a goof ball! :)

NFC North Champions

I sure didn't see this coming in the pre-season. I picked the Green Bay Packers to be 5-11 this season! I know that wasn't very optimistic, but we're the youngest team in the NFL even with a 38-year-old quarterback! ;) Good thing I am not the gambling type who would have put money on that pick...LOL!

Olivia's Words

Olivia called from her best friend's house this morning to say, "Thank you for letting me go to the concert. It was AMAZING!"

I could hear her BFF giggling in the background. They both had a good time and they were still giddy from the whole experience. My girlie & her friend were a bunch of giggle gooses! :)

Friendship

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. -- Elisabeth Foley

When Little Girls Grow Up...

they get chunky blonde hi-lites...

they may add a "funky" color...

and they go to their first concert! Olivia & her best friend are going to see the Jonas Brothers tomorrow night! The show they are going to is without Hannah Montana. I don't think the girls would have wanted to go it she was going to be part of the show.

Technological Upgrades

The weekend after Thanksgiving we upgraded from a 27 inch TV we bought in 1999 to a 42 inch LCD TV! Since the box on that TV was only standard definition not the wonderful HD, that meant a satellite upgrade was required too! Today was the day!The wonderful tech had to go through all that fresh snow we got last night & this morning. He did it without complaints or grumbles about the weather.

It's nice to have HD & DVR on one receiver in one room. The box in the living room will need to be upgraded at some point to get all the available HD channels, but we don't watch that one much so that can wait until the price of the HD & DVR combo boxes come down in price a bit more.

Back to the wonderful tech, would you believe he took off his snowy boots and slipped on a pair of Crocs to walk on our carpeting? How do I get Bob & Olivia to keep their wet and/or shoes off the carpeting...lol!

Round Two

We finished with round one overnight Saturday! Some areas of Milwaukee are still a mess, but Ole Mother Nature doesn't care. The snow has begun to fall again -- should be 2-4 inches by the time it is done tomorrow morning. Us lucky folks near Lake Michigan could get another 1-2 inches of lake effect accumulations!

I know someone who would like this forecast as long as she can stay in the house!

Thank You

Shelbi over at Keeper of the Chocolates have awarded me with the Rockin' Girl Blogger Award! She says I always have sweet things to say, but we all know she is the sweet one! :)

There are so many Rockin' Girl Bloggers out there that I don't even know who to name. Is it a cop out to name everyone listed in my sidebar? LOL! It probably is so I will name a few...

Carolynn (Your journal counts as a blog, right? LOL!) is the most amazing, inspirational woman I know. I am honored to call her friend!

Martha tells hilarious stories and loves to give "tours" of homes for sale in her area. She's tempting me to move to Minnesota. (Don't think you will turn me into a Vikings fan though...LOL!)

Mrs. Jones has wonderful decorating & organizing ideas! Need an idea and decorating plan for a party theme? She's your lady!

Frightful

Yep, we can use that word to describe the weather outside! Around noon today the snow began to fall! By about 4:30 about four inches had fallen, and sleet began to fall. The freezing rain began a little bit ago.

By about midnight the temps will rise enough that we will just have rain, and maybe even a thunderstorm.

Pretty strange weather day, wouldn't you say? That storm system is pretty huge so I am sure many of you are getting hit with it as well. Hope you are all safe and snuggled up at home!