Jul
19
2009
I think I mentioned previously that I had gone to a weight loss clinic with my daughter in an attempt to lose at least some of the weight I’ve gained over the years. If my scale is correct, I have lost 12 lbs. so far. I big gain (make that loss) for me in oh so many ways!
Now I’ve decided to also begin writing more seriously in the hopes that I can bring in a few more dollars while doing something I already do on a daily basis - just doing it with more focus. I joined Associated Content and submitted my first article today. Of course, like they say to do so often, I stayed with what I know. My first article is about cooking chicken - different ideas for cooking chicken that I came up with while caring for my mother. I figured others might enjoy having a few new ideas for using chicken that they got on sale without having to always make the same thing again and again.
There are other things I can write about as well, I know. Some related to cooking, some related to saving money, others related to my life experiences. I think I’ll enjoy it once I get into it more. Plus, they have a special now where you get paid a bonus if you publish five articles or ten articles by July 31. Every penny helps these days.
I think I’ll go weigh myself and see if I’ve lost any more weight. It was fun seeing that when I stood on the scale, it actually registered my weight instead of exceeding the scale’s limits (sadly, that was a fact for quite a while). I may even write about that! Wish me luck.
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Jul
14
2009
I’m really late getting back on here. I need to be more diligent in writing. But, I got a call this morning for a job that I could have started today, but agreed to start tomorrow (needed to do laundry, etc). Today has come and gone and there will be no starting this job in the morning. Apparently, their website went down and they can’t start me until it’s back up and running. Either the database is web-based or they use the same server for their DB as they do for their web page. I was in their web page today and it opened just fine, so I’m not sure what the problem is. It was a case of “we’ll call you when we’re ready”. So, I honestly have no idea what’s going to happen.
Now, assuming this does come through, I’ll be happy because it pays $2/hr more than the job I interviewed for last week and didn’t get. It’s strictly data entry, entering client data (whether or not that includes orders and the like, I don’t yet know). I also don’t know if it’s a short term or a long term assignment, but I’m still up for it. I need some extra income.
Need to get my nails re-done (oh, yeah - had my nails done two weeks ago) and trimmed so that I don’t make as many keying errors as I’m making right now. I like having nails - I don’t bite the fake ones. And, they look better than chewed up fingertips. Plus, I can tap my fingers like a fiend now!! I LOVE that!!! (Ah, the simple pleasures of life!!)
Went to a “wash and fold” laundry today to make sure I had clean clothes for tomorrow. Paid more than it’s worth; yet in another way, it IS worth it because it got done. So, I might just do that again next time since I hate going downstairs while the bridge troll is guarding the premises (yes, I’m talking about my downstairs neighbor). It’s just so annoying to be questioned and watched by someone who doesn’t have any more right to be there than I do. Hello? I have a key to the basement!!! That pretty much means if you hear a key in the door, it’s someone who’s allowed to be there!!! Grrrr.
That’s all for today. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far.
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Jun
30
2009
Last week, I decided I needed to make some changes, however minimal they might seem to others. I decided to get my nails done. I haven’t had tips in over a year and a half since my income dropped and I couldn’t afford to maintain them. But, I was growing tired of my short, stubby fingers and their even shorter bitten nails. I just wanted nails again and the only way I didn’t bite them was when I had tips.
I went to Wal-Mart to pick up my prescriptions and walked past a new nail salon. On my way out to the car, I checked their prices and learned that they were cheaper than any I had seen before, so after putting my purchases in the car, I came back in and put my name on the list for a full set of nails.
When I was done, I had sports length tips with PURPLE nail polish and fine-brush art on each of the ring fingers. Actually, more lavender than purple, but a color I had long wanted to try, but hadn’t. I had always stayed with deep blood reds and burgundies because they were more traditional. I was afraid to try something out of the ordinary. But, this time, I went with what I wanted. And, I’m glad. I like them. But, I do think I’ll go back to the darker red the next time. The purple seems out of place with my skin tone, but I’m still glad I did it. It satisfied my desire and I again have nails!! I can tap my fingers on the table top! WOOHOO!!!
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Jun
22
2009
I can’t believe Monday is already gone and it’s past midnight. I didn’t even sleep most of the day. I was up early (for me) even though I was still awake at 2AM. It just seemed to pass so quickly.I did go out to get something to eat tonight with Debra, but that wasn’t until 10PM because she had fallen asleep. Tom was in Philly at a fundraiser for a friend’s sister who has cancer. So, it wasn’t like I had so much to do that I lost track of time. Yet - I did.
Tomorrow, I have to go to the hospital and take Deb’s financial paperwork to their billing office as well as initiating my own for my ER visit back in April or May. I am so far behind in so many areas of my life, yet I’m finding it so hard to get anything done. I just don’t have the “oomph”, the desire, the motivation, whatever you might call it, to accomplish things that are sitting in front of me screaming at me to get them done. I just don’t know how to get past it. It’s like an impenetrable wall of emotional blah-ness. I hate it.
Anyway, I didn’t want to just skip this entry. I don’t have a lot to say. Been watching Food Channel for a few hours now while doing Facebook and Farm Town, answering this and that email. Love Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, but they’re never on often for me. Yet, Iron Chef, Showdown and some sort of Food Channel Challenge always seems to be on. I just don’t like them as much and rarely watch them (although, Showdown is the best of the three). Right now, UnWrapped with Marc Summers, formerly of Nickelodeon, is on. I can live without that, too, but once in a while, it’s interesting.
Anyway, I’m done. Can’t think of anything else to talk about. Have a good night. I hope to have more creative thoughts later.
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Jun
21
2009
You’d think so, really, given that we’ve had rain virtually every day for well over a week. Pretty soon, we’re going to develop a rain forest (which I think is cool, but others might frown upon). The sun finally came out a couple hours ago and a little on Thursday or Friday (can’t remember which; they all run together).
Regardless, it’s kept us from the ungodly heat we can sometimes get this time of year. Of course, now that I’ve said that, the steamroller will come in with its oppressive heat and humidity (the humidity is up, but without the heat, it’s not as bad) and we’ll all wish it were winter again. That’s how it usually goes.
My daughter has decided she wants a new car. She’s had her first car for two years now. It’s really a nice little car. Runs great, good on gas, the perfect first car. But, she thinks it’s too small for her. I’m not sure why she wants something bigger, but she does. First it was a PT Cruiser. Then some other kind of car I never heard of. Now it’s a Kia Soul. She was looking at used cars, which is the way to go, I think. Now she wants something new off the showroom floor. $13000+ for this one. I’ll admit it’s cute. And, I think Kias aren’t bad cars; not with the degree of warranty they offer. But, she’s still working part time and has no benefits. I really don’t think it’s wise for her to jump into that much debt in her current situation. Especially since she claims she can’t afford to help with rent or utilities here even though I don’t have a job myself. But, even if that weren’t the case, I think she is mistaken to consider it. I really do.
Spent most of yesterday with my friend Tom. It was nice; it’s been a long time, not counting going to Cape Cod, since we’ve just hung out together all day. We went for coffee, then lunch at a local Irish pub in town. Sat around his house watching TV for a while and then went to the movies. We looked up the Roger Ebert reviews on a few movies and decided on The Hangover based on his good review. Well…..personally, I don’t think it came close to living up to Mr. Ebert’s declaration that there was a laugh in every line of dialogue. There were things I smiled about, plenty to see without getting bored, but it just wasn’t that funny. Of course, maybe he’s more into sophomoric humor than I am. He kept comparing the one actor to John Belushi in his “breakout” hit Animal House. I thought Animal House was dumb back in the day, so I guess I’m not so much changed now. That’s not to say it wasn’t entertaining. I’ve certainly seen worse. But, I certainly never expected to see full frontal male nudity in an R rated picture or scenes during the credits that showed oral sex and a fully-erect penis. That was just not quite right. There were younger kids in the audience (with adults) who simply didn’t need to see that. The naked man…well, let’s just say he might as well have been a woman since he was so small his “maleness” was virtually invisible. But, the latter shots; no question what we were viewing. None whatsoever!! A lot of scenes in the movie were impossible to comprehend - how DOES one take a full-sized tiger into Caesar’s Palace without being seen? Yet, our protagonists managed to do just that.
Despite all that, it was a nice diversion. We stopped for a late dinner at a local diner and then came home. I had a good time just hanging out. It was a nice change to my normal boring routine.
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Jun
16
2009
We decided we needed to get away a couple of weekends ago. My daughter said if we could wait until this past weekend, she wanted to go with us. So, we waited…..and she did. We left just after noon on Friday and arrived around 10PM (we hit traffic in Connecticut and Rhode Island). It was rainy most of the way and much, much cooler when we got there than it was in New Jersey when we left. I was thrilled!
Saturday turned out to be beautiful - bright, sunny, and not hot! Deb and I did the town, going from shop to shop. She discovered gelato and a pet shop that sold trinkets and collectibles designed like or for pets that also gave a portion of the proceeds to help animals. She bought a gift for a friend that she saw there. She bought herself a little dress in another shop, gifts for her boyfriend and another friend in yet another shop and for her boyfriend’s grandmother in another one on Monday morning just before we left. Meal prices there are quite high, so she and I hit a burger stand on the main drag for lunch on Sunday and a creperie on Saturday for breakfast whose prices were reasonable. Our B&B offered continental breakfast, but unless you like boiled eggs, there really wasn’t any protein offered. I can’t do straight carbs without regretting it at some point.
Both of my ankles and my back hurt on Saturday, so I had to stop every so many feet in order to continue. I felt bad and couldn’t understand why my ankles were acting up since I hadn’t missed any of my meds. I took some Aleve hoping I’d feel better. On Sunday, I felt really good, but Deb ended up sick, so we didn’t get out to check other things out like I’d wanted to do, but Tom and I went to the Truro winery and I went through the wine-tasting. Found a wine I liked and bought a bottle, plus got a glass I could keep. That night, we went to Michael Shay’s restaurant for dinner. Tom and I had fried scallops and a twice baked potato and Deb had London broil and the same potato. All meals came with the salad bar. It was one of our more reasonably priced restaurant meals.
We also learned that the little Caribbean/Venezuelan food place we’d discovered had moved to a new location and had become a full-fledged sit-down restaurant with a bar. I stopped there with my daughter and quickly learned that their drinks were more than $10 a piece!! We did go back for dinner, but somehow, between lunch and dinner, the drink prices jumped another $.50. I was disappointed. Although what I got was delicious, I didn’t think it was worth the price I paid. Nor were any of the items we’d grown to look forward to previously on the new menu. Very disappointed, yet glad they’ve succeeded so well.
After checking out on Monday, Deb and I made one last pass through town since she’d been sick the day before. That set off Tom and his raging anxieties about getting home. But, I knew we’d be OK. He just didn’t have faith. I ended up sending some locally made fudge and salt water taffy to my son, his fiancée and his three kids from there and Deb got a few last minute trinkets before she left as well.It may just be that we were meant to leave later because when we finally hit New Jersey, they had just gotten over a horrific storm that dumped 3″ of hail (literally - it looked like it had snowed!) and knocked down trees all over. There were still trees laying across the slow lane of the Garden State Parkway right after the first toll. Crews hadn’t even arrived to clean it up yet - that’s how close behind the storm we’d arrived. So, if we’d left when Tom was hyperventilating, we might just have been caught in that thing. Things often work for a reason, I’ve noticed.
Anyway, I am so very glad I got to go away for the weekend. I really didn’t want to come home yet, but am looking forward to going back. We’re thinking about some time in September.
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Jun
09
2009
Yes, that’s right - I was awakened by a storm this morning (apparently covering a good portion of the Northeastern Seaboard) that was more wicked than anything I can remember. Lightning bolt after lightning bolt, no breaks in between, rolling thunder, numerous close strikes (fire sirens and police sirens after one of them). It was amazing and frightening.
I have always been afraid of thunder and lightning, but have been able to maintain as I got older. Of course, living in Utah for 17 years helped since the storms were much milder out there (I assume the mountains keep them from building strength). I used to get hysterical when storms would come through. I’d cry, I’d run to my mother (who would try to pretend she was afraid so I’d “‘tect” her); as I got older, I’d pull the covers over my head and pray for the storm to be taken away, please, so I wouldn’t be afraid. I hated being caught out in them. I couldn’t even drive - I’d pull over until it passed.
I got caught in one once after a softball game with my office team. We could see the wall of rain coming in, hear it approach. We all got in our cars and called the game off allowing whoever was ahead to win. I started driving home when a huge bolt of lightning hit the road in front of me, the thunder so instantaneous that there was no separation in sight and sound. My car shook from the sound waves. It scared the holy hell out of me. I pulled into the front yard of someone my mother knew on that road and waited it out. The rain was coming down so hard, you couldn’t see more than 20 feet ahead. So, I just sat and waited for it to end.
What I didn’t know was that back home, the new firehouse was being built. The men were putting the A-frame roof joists up when a small twister, generated from this same storm, dropped down into the center of the cinderblock building. It sucked the walls in and the men and roof framework came tumbling down. Fortunately, their injuries were minor, but it shook my parents up because they knew I was out in it somewhere. My dad decided to go looking for me.
So, I’m sitting in Frances’ front yard just waiting for the storm to get done so I can get back on the road and go home, when I see a very familiar car drive past. Because I wasn’t where they knew I’d gone, and he couldn’t hear me honking my horn because of the storm’s noise, I decided I needed to follow my father so he’d know where I was. I caught up to him at the high school where we’d been playing ball and pulled up next to him. I told him where I’d been parked and immediately got a lecture on not sitting under trees during a storm like this. But, he left and I followed him home. That’s when he told me about the firehouse, which was why they were afraid for me.
Needless to say, the firehouse got built, better supports were added to the side walls (they’d failed to put them in before), and no more storms of that nature came around while I was living there. But, it did nothing to quell my fears of these kinds of storms. I can’t imagine living where tornadoes are prevalent - I’d probably be locked away by now!Anyway, this storm today was pretty wild. I don’t usually wake up if they start after I’m asleep, but this one sure got me. Initially, I was fine. They usually blow through and are short-lived. But, this one lingered and lingered, bolt after bolt of lightning overlapping one another, thunder crashing all around like waves in a tempestuous sea. I literally found myself curling up onto a ball on my bed just waiting for it to end. It had exceeded my comfort level that had taken years to acquire.
They say we’re due for more storms this evening. I’m not looking forward to it. Not at all.
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Jun
08
2009
Well, the day is wrapping itself up. Deb bought an AC/DC inverter for our trip this weekend so she can use her laptop in the car. I went to Cracker Barrel for dinner with Tom. Steve will take Tiki for the weekend, so Tom’s dad will be feeding the other two cats while we’re gone.
I just realized a bit ago that the interview I rescheduled for Friday will have to be rescheduled again since I won’t be here. How embarrassing. Doesn’t look good at their end, either. I just didn’t feel well today, so I didn’t go. Hard to be top notch when you feel like crap.
The thunderstorms we were supposed to have never materialized - we got a lot of gray, ugly clouds, a noticeable increase in humidity, but no rainfall. Hope it rains sometime - the uptick in humidity only makes the heat index that much worse! But, it will be much cooler on Cape Cod, so I am definitely looking forward to this weekend. Made the reservations today with a B&B that overlooks the bay. The rooms also have free Wifi, so when we’re not exploring, we still have things to do (or restaurants to look up, whatever). There’s a piano bar in our B&B and we’re right on the main drag, so we don’t have far to hit the shops or the wharf or anything. There’s an African restaurant we’re looking forward to trying as well as a little carryout whose owners are from Venezuela. I hope they’re still there.
I’m going to turn on the television now and see what’s out there worth watching. I really don’t turn it on all day, but just at night and rarely, if ever, watch the four main networks. But, it’s about now that I begin to grow tired of playing online, so now is when I look for an alternative. I finished reading the one book I was reading - it was actually good, although I think it kind of fizzled at the end. Not a bad ending, more of a NON-ending. A new beginning with no continuation. I hope there’s a follow-up novel about that. I grew to like the characters. The title is “The Inn at Lake Devine.” Based on a true event and built on from there. I have a couple more books waiting to be read. I hope I enjoy them as much. I’ll probably take them with me just in case.
All I need to do now is my laundry so I have clean outfits to take this weekend. Things that aren’t just my bumming around clothes. I want to look halfway decent, without being dressed up. But, I want to look like I give a damn. Hard to explain, but also hard for me to really get into since I’m no petite little thing any more. Get all my meds together so I don’t have to miss any doses from forgetting them. I’ll be glad to be there. That’s all I can say. It will be nice to not have to worry about anything for a couple days - to just purely enjoy something for a while.
Happy Monday!!
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Jun
07
2009
Sitting here, eating my Ben & Jerry’s Coffee Heath Crunch ice cream and Coke Zero, watching some show called Dexter that is just too weird for me, knowing that tomorrow I have to go for another temp interview and somehow get a resume printed out before I go. I’ll probably send it to Kinko’s and pick it up on the way.
Today, Deb and her boyfriend moved most of the stuff out of the shed into the basement and, of course, Miss “nobody does anything without my knowledge or approval” decided she had to suddenly take an interest in all sorts of things in the basement just so she could see what was going on. Just this week she accused my daughter of leaving the lights on last weekend when she was washing clothes. That would be fine if my daughter had actually WASHED clothes downstairs. But, she hasn’t in months because of this person. She lives in a fantasy world of her own making - she believes her own lies. I can’t wait until she moves - good God, I hope she moves!!
Anyway, Mom’s cedar chest and other things are now stored in the basement (after all, she has her stuff all throughout the basement, but threw a fit when she learned I might put stuff down there - we BOTH rent this place. It isn’t hers exclusively!) I was invited to join my landlords and their son for dinner, so I did. We ordered Chinese and my leftovers are in the fridge. Then Deb called and asked if I wanted anything from Wawa. I’ve been craving frozen custard for a few days, but opted for some kind of coffee ice cream instead. The Ben & Jerry’s is what she brought me. OMG - it is good - dangerously good!!! The kind of good that if I didn’t care about cost, I’d be buying this way too often!
Anyway, it’s almost midnight and I’ll be signing off until tomorrow. Oh yeah, one thing I did do over the weekend was to download the newest AVG free antivirus to protect my new computer. I had some weird page pop up that wouldn’t let me close it. It wanted me to download some anti-virus or anti-trojan thing. I decided to assume the worst, shut down my browser entirely and then downloaded the AVG. I already know AVG and trust it. That’s all. Have a great night. Until tomorrow.
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Jun
06
2009
It was a very nice day today. Not quite as hot as they’d predicted, I didn’t think, with poofy clouds floating about. I had been invited to a block party and pig roast being sponsored by the Methodist Church in Mantua. I was supposed to meet a cousin I had just found because of Facebook, someone who had information on the Wilkins family that would help me go back beyond my grandfather’s grandfather. But, I really hate going to events like that by myself, even though I was supposed to meet this cousin. I don’t know if it’s a type of social anxiety or social phobia, but I really wanted someone with me.
Well, my daughter stayed with her boyfriend and my guy friend went to an open house he’d been invited to in Philly. That’s when he said that he wanted to go eat before the open house, so I ended up going to dinner with him. We went to On The Border. He was in the mood for Mexican again, but somewhere we either had never gone or hadn’t been to in a while. It had been years since we were there, so we really enjoyed it.
Their sangria was delicious as were our meals. I had a cheesy chicken melt taco platter with rice and beans and he had a “create your own” triple combo that included a chile relleno (his new favorite thing to try wherever we go). We also had the beef empanadas for an appetizer along with the chips and salsa they automatically served. Between us, with drinks, meals and appetizer, we paid a little over $19 each, which isn’t bad at all. And, I have leftovers to enjoy as well.
I brought my last load of clothes up from the basement before we left - still have more to do this coming week after Chloe’s bout of bodily ejections all over everything. I did four loads on Thursday and Friday, drying the last load late last night. I still have another comforter and sheets to wash along with any newly dirty clothes this coming week. I need to get it all done before we go to Cape Cod on Friday. I am so looking forward to that weekend. I need some time away without having to be concerned about cats or neighbors or anything else.
I interviewed for a job yesterday with a temp agency. It would be nice if I got it. At this point, I don’t even mind that it doesn’t pay a lot, as long as I’m working and building up my unemployment again. If I’m chosen, the job will last until October, which will be nice. I also have an interview on Monday with another agency. It sure would be nice to be working again, even if part-time. I admit that I enjoy not working. My last job was so stressful, I never wanted to be in a job like that again….or any other job for a while. But, now I’m ready. I could enjoy a change in scenery now.
That’s it for another day. I’ll have more to say tomorrow, I’m sure.
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