Happy New Year!

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!)