Flippin Out

My mind isn't working properly tonight, so, I will just post a few pictures ... because it's FRIDAY!

The Flipper is one of my grandsons.

(Sister LB gets credit for the photography)

Challenging Days Are Ahead ...

I don't know if I will ever get used to being the mother of adults. MARRIED ADULT with 3 children (one being almost 2 weeks old). MARRIED ADULT with 2 children and marital problems.

Last night, I got a phone call from son #2 telling me that "This is it. It's over this time. I can't take it anymore."

Shortly after 10 PM, in he walks with a laundry basket full of clothes, an overnight bag, a pillow and a blanket, and his alarm clock. My immediate thoughts, OH MY GOD ! He's my son and he's welcome in my home any time, but my life has potentially just taken on a drastic change.

I have lived alone for quite a few years .... this is going to take some getting used to !

Oh, and he says to me - "Mom, can I use the dryer? I have a job interview at 8 in the morning and my suit is wrinkled. I could have brought it to the cleaners but they wanted 20 bucks for one day service - and it's just a cheap suit! The shirt I just bought is wrinkled too." (Thank goodness for wash and wear polyester / wool blend suits - he's a mechanic, who doesn't usually wear anything but jeans and a t-shirt!) So, the dryer was used and the suit and shirt looked just fine. I actually had a proud Mommy moment - he had just left his home in a hurry and had a job interview the next morning, but he wanted to make sure that he looked presentable when he got there and made sure he brought the proper attire with him. By the way, he did look rather sharp this morning when he left - black suit, blue shirt, blue and black tie, dress shoes and dress socks even ! and HE COMBED HIS HAIR ! (He's been known to wear white athletic socks with a suit before).

Anyway, this post is rushed and not thought out real well - he is over in the other room and I don't want him to know that he is the subject (he doesn't even know I have a blog) - plus Grey's Anatomy is just about to come on .......

My mind is foggy, my emotions are all over the place and like I said, Challenging Days are Ahead...

Stay tuned - I hope to do better next time.

Weight Loss Wednesday

Back in September of 2006, I decided that enough was enough and the South Beach Diet became one of my closest friends. I am 5'10" and weighed 230 lbs. Today, when I got on the scales it said 200 lbs on the nose. So, my first goal has become a reality (WOO HOO). Starting today, the second goal is to lose another 20 lbs. That is still above what the statistics say I should weigh for my height, but who cares. 50 lbs total is good enough for me. So ....

Weight as of Today - 200 lbs.
Goal Weight - 180 lbs.

And adding a little exercise this time just might make the pounds drop a little easier !

What?

I was walking down the hall at work today, and a former co-worker (he's in a different department now) stopped me and asked "Is everything OK?" I pondered a minute, wondering why he was asking and answered "No, my feet hurt." He says, "No, is everything OK at home?" I was confused and said "What?" He says "You are wearing a shorter skirt today." Again, I was still confused and didn't really reply other than with a perplexed look. He says "you usually wear longer skirts where only your ankles show." And then he walked away.

I'm still asking myself "What?"

And speaking of your feet hurting ... Why is it that some shoe manufacturers heavily pad the heel part of your shoe and not all of it or at least the part closer to the toes. If you are wearing heels (and they aren't the 3 inch variety!), the brunt of your weight falls on the ball of your foot. When a good part of your day involves walking - your feet hurt midway into the 8 hour day. The balls of your feet burn and feel like they are on fire. And these aren't shoes of the cheap variety !

Flip Flops aren't proper office attire and well, tennis shoes aren't very stylish with a SHORTER SKIRT !

Just wondering?

Sanjaya on American Idol

What the hell was that ? What was he thinking?

That totally left me speechless ....

Update: How appropriate that this was in today's paper.

In Memory of A Friend

Dearest Jeannie,

You left this world way too soon.

You are now dancing with the angels and watching over me until we meet again.

Laura (Jeannie) Anderson

November 1, 1943 - March 26, 2006

To Those I Love and Those Who Love Me

While I am gone release me, let me go.

I have so many things to see and do.

You mustn't tie yourself to me with tears.

Be happy that we had so many beautiful years.

I gave to you my love. You can only guess

How much you gave to me in happiness.

I thank you for the love you each have shown.

But now it's time I traveled on alone.

To grieve for me a while if grieve you must.

Then let your grief be comforted by trust,

It's only a while that we must part,

To bless the memories within your heart.

I won't be far away, for life goes on,

So if you need me, call and I will come,

Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near.

And if you listen with your heart,

You'll hear all my love around you soft and clear,

And then when you must come this way alone,

I'll greet you with a smile and say ...

"Welcome Home"

Rest in Peace

I miss you

And The Answers Are ...

1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom? Bottom
2. How many states are there in the USA? (Don't laugh, some people really don't know) 50
3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty's torch? Right
4. What six colors are on the classic Campbell's soup label? Blue, Red, White, Yellow, Black & Gold
5. What two numbers on the telephone key pad don't have have letters by them? 1 and 0
6. When you walk, does your left arm swing with your right or left leg? (Don't you dare get up to see!) Right
7. How many matches are in a standard pack? 20
8. On the United States flag, is the top stripe red or white? Red
9. What is the lowest number on the FM radio dial? 88
10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise? Clockwise (North of the Equator)
11. Which way does a "No Smoking" sign's slash run? Towards Bottom Right
12. How many channels are there on a VHF TV dial? (think way back in time) 12 (no #1)
13. On which side of a woman's blouse are the buttons? Left
14. Which way do fans rotate? Clockwise as You Look at It
15. How many sides does a stop sign have? 8
16. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left side? Left
17. How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel? 5
18. How many sides are there on a standard pencil? 6
19. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who's missing? Bashful
20. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package? 8
21. On which playing card is the card maker's trademark? Ace of Spades
22. On which side of a Venetian (or mini) blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats? Left
23. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits? * and #
24. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip? 3
25. Does a merry-go-round turn counter or clockwise? Counter

So ... how observant are you?
Leave me a comment and let me know !!

A FUN QUIZ - I got 14

NO GETTING OUT OF YOUR CHAIR!
NO using anything on or in your desk or computer!

Can you beat 23 ?? (The average is 7). Write down your answers as you go.

REMEMBER - NO CHEATING !!! BE HONEST !!! That means no looking at your phone or anything on your desk ...

LET'S SEE JUST HOW OBSERVANT YOU REALLY ARE.

Are you ready? Here we go !

1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom?
2. How many states are there in the USA? (Don't laugh, some people really don't know)
3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty's torch?
4. What six colors are on the classic Campbell's soup label?
5. What two numbers on the telephone key pad don't have have letters by them?
6. When you walk, does your left arm swing with your right or left leg? (Don't you dare get up to see!)
7. How many matches are in a standard pack?
8. On the United States flag, is the top stripe red or white?
9. What is the lowest number on the FM radio dial?
10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?
11. Which way does a "No Smoking" sign's slash run?
12. How many channels are there on a VHF TV dial? (think way back in time)
13. On which side of a woman's blouse are the buttons?
14. Which way do fans rotate?
15. How many sides does a stop sign have?
16. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left side?
17. How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel?
18. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?
19. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who's missing?
20. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?
21. On which playing card is the card maker's trademark?
22. On which side of a Venetian (or mini) blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats?
23. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits?
24. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip?
25. Does a merry-go-round turn counter or clockwise?

Good Luck !

Answers to appear tomorrow ....

What A Difference A Few Days Makes

Princess Tori's Debut

Only minutes old

About an hour old

About 13 hours old

Still sleeping

Blogger won't let me download any more pictures !!!

It's A Girl !!

Tori Aleese
3/19/07
3:17 AM
9 lbs 5 oz
21 in.

More to follow later today! I am too tired to write much more right now !

Love,
Grandma

Hopefully You Don't Feel "Green" !

"Dance as if no one were watching, sing as if no one were listening, and live every day as if it were your last." - Irish Proverb

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Living Life As A Palindrome

Some 30 years ago (plus a little), I gave up my given birth name (McL*******,- YES, it is Irish) and starting Living My Life as a Palindrome (A palindrome is a word, phrase, number or other sequence of units that has the property of reading the same in either direction). NOTE: Bear with me, I don't know how to link yet !! Frontwards and Backwards, my last name is spelled the same way - *19, *20, #1, #1, *20, *19 - hopefully, you can figure out my "logic" on that one. It has been interesting that's for sure. When I got divorced, I kept the name, well, because it was easier and I didn't want to have to explain to my very, young boys why their last name was different than mine.

We would be at a medical facility, and from time to time, an announcement would come over the speaker (something like "Dr. So and so, please report to room whatever - STAT). They would ask me - why are they calling out our name? Do we have to go to room So and so?

Being at a sporting event was also full of questions. The announcer would from time to time (and quite often) announce the "stats" of the game. Again, it would be "Mommy, why is that man saying our name?"

They are grown now and I often wonder if their young kids ask them the same questions.

Today, being St. Patrick's Day eve and I truly have Irish blood, my choice of attire today (Friday casual at work) was a kelly green t-shirt that says:


Irish

Irish You Were Rich,
Irish You Were Cute,
Irish You Were Smart.


If you have started celebrating a little early, Please, be responsible and Don't Drink and Drive.

Gotta go and get the corned beef and cabbage ready to be cooked tomorrow.

Frustration ... Part 2

Today is the due date for grandchild # 5 and the day is almost over, here in VA and chances are I won't be getting any phone call before midnight and therefore, I AM FRUSTRATED still (just for different reasons ...).

I really am trying to be patient !!

AND I am so hoping that it's a girl !!

Frustration ...

I am frustrated !! I am brand new to blogging (posting, that is) and I have been struggling for weeks. Everyone's blogs look so good and mine is ... well, kinda boring. I don't know how to post a picture, I don't know how to link to someone else's blog (I see everyone doing it), etc. and it took an act of God almost to even find where this "so-called" blog was located after I created it !! I have so much to learn. Maybe, If I am real nice, my youngest sister (SJ) can help me out when I finally make the trip to CO in April to celebrate my birthday (which was in February, by the way)!

And, this is only the beginning ....