Little Things

Tomorrow is September 1st. It's also a holiday, Labor Day. Tomorrow I will do the little things which mean alot when you're having company. Fresh Sheets for the bed, fresh towels for the bath, a new shower curtain and bath mat for the bathroom are awaiting my visitor. I will find a few books or magazines to leave by the bedside. I will get out the tablecloth for the dining room table. Find the appropriate placemats and napkins, and hope that the cat stays off the table. On Tuesday someone is coming to help me clean the rest of the house. I plan on making the patio inviting by washing the outside of the sliding door where water has made streaks running down. I will also wash the glass top table and make sure the chairs are clean. It may be nice to have breakfast out there. Something I don't usually do.
All of the perfume bottles on my vanity will be dusted one by one so that they will sparkle. Any other little touches I come upon or decide to do will help create a welcoming feeling. Can's wait to see the place when everything's done.

A Lazy Day Today

It's a lazy day today. I awoke early but couldn't get into gear until 10:00am when I took my shower. I went to 11:30am mass at the local parish. I always enjoy being there. Their ending hymn is the same as the ending hymn in my Mother's parish. It's the one wishing safety to our fighting men and women on the land, in the air, and on the sea. I found that interesting that this church has started singing that song.
After church I stopped for gas. It was very crowded. I think everyone else had the same idea at the same time that I did. After getting gas, I went to a local bookstore to buy 2 magazines which tell what's happening in the city. They had a book sale, so I bought Mom a book for Christmas and got another half price which my book club will be reading this month. I also had a 30% off coupon which I applied to my purchase. The only way I'll buy books from now on is if they are on sale. I also use the county library system which saves money. You sometimes have to be put on a waiting list to get the book you want. I have 2 books from the library now, "Big Russ and Me" by Tim Russert and "The Soprano State" by Ingle and McClure. I had to wait for both books and the later has to be returned in two weeks. So, I guess that's the next book on my list to read.
The rest of this afternoon will be spent ironing. I have a weeks worth of outfits to iron. (Oh, how I HATE to iron!) But, I will bite the bullet and get it over with today. So, here's to ironing out ALL the wrinkles.

Wish I Knew

Today is going by quickly. I treated myself to a pedicure this morning and then went to a local linen store to buy a blanket for my bed. I stopped in a local restaurant afterwards and bought 2 round trip tickets to NYC. I'm having a house guest next week and she expressed an interest in seeing The Big Apple. I wish I had known sooner that she wanted to do that. I would have told her to extend her stay for 2 days and we could have gone to a matinee. It's kind of hard getting tickets for what we'd like to see at this point and there is no bus after the evening show which we'd need to get back home again. Oh, well, maybe the next time.

We Were Surprised!

My return from the shore was earlier today. There are always many emails to check and today was the day to pay bills which are due in the beginning of the month. I visited a friend tonight. We caught up on each others news and watched a DVD. Now I'm watching the 11:00 news.
Earlier this morning, my family and I sat by the t.v. anxiously awaiting the announcement of who John McCain's running mate would be. We were very surprised by his choice. None of us had ever heard of her. I'm not sure it was a good choice. Geraldine Ferraro didn't help Mondale win. I wonder if Ms. Palin can help John McCain win? I don't think she's ready to step in for the commander -in-chief at this point. Maybe down the road some time in the future. I do like Barack Obama's choice of a running mate. I've always liked Joe Biden. I wish he were on the top of the ticket instead of the VP choice. This election is going to be interesting to say the least. I still don't know who to vote for but I am leaning in one direction more than the other. Actually, I can't wait until the whole thing is over on November 5th.

The Weekend

This weekend starts today for me. I'm going to the shore to visit family. It's the Labor Day weekend. The unofficial end of the summer season. The weather is going to be good. I hope to start my exercise regiment again this weekend. I'll be walking every day. I look forward to a relaxing time with my family.

Working Again

Yea! I have a job again. I took a year off which I desperately needed. I'm now psyched about going back to work. I will be a substitute teacher in the town I live in. It's something I've done before. I had a career in education. The children in this town are really nice kids. For the most part, it was a pleasure working with them. The adults, from teachers to secretaries to custodians to administrators have also been a pleasure to work with. Of course, the "pay off" is pay day. It'll help me pay bills and enable me to put a little away in a savings account. Then when that rainy day comes, I'll have some money in the bank. I'm looking forward to a good year. Can't wait for the first pay check!

A Crystal Ball

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if there was such a thing as a crystal ball which could foretell the future? I wonder if it would be foretelling things which would be fixed in time or if one would have the power to effect changes in the future? If you didn't like what was predicted you could still do something about it. That would be the only type of crystal ball I'd want to foretell my future. Like Scrooge asked the ghost of Christmas to Come. " Are these the things that will be or are they the things that might be?" Remember how that story turned out? If it gave us the ability to make things better or turn them around I'd be all for it.

Gift Shopping

Today I started my Christmas shopping. I also bought an anniversary gift and a birthday gift. I went back to the gift shop I visited last week and bought several of the things I had seen when I went there. My sister and brother-in-law both have a birthday in September. I have 2 beautiful wine stoppers, a bottle of wine and a glass ice bucket to give them as a gift. What do you buy for someone who has everything? I have another beautiful wine stopper and a bottle of Merlot for my brother and sister-in-law. Their anniversay is Sept. 14th. My mother needs pretty coasters. I bought some which have a lighthouse motif. I'm saving them for Christmas. She lives by the sea you see. I also got a few other beautiful things which I have wrapped as gifts, but right now I have no idea who I'll give them too. If I need a gift in the future, I'll be ready!

Unofficial End of Summer

The weekend went quickly, as usual. The week ahead starts out busily, but the end of the week is free. The unofficial end of the summer is near, Labor Day weekend. The traffic going to the shore should not be as busy after the holiday weekend. I love the "off season" at the shore. I look forward to visiting frequently.

The Magic of Technology

For the first time in a long time, it will be easier to get somewhere I've never been to before. I've learned how to program a GPS. A friend and I will use it for a trip to a HS reunion in September. I saw one in action last week when I went with another friend to a baby shower in unfamiliar territory. I was quite impressed with how it got us there and back. I'd like to know who invented this device. They must be a genius! It's so much easier than trying to read directions while you're driving, or trying to read a map. Sometimes you're lucky enough to have someone along for the trip so they can act as a navigator when you have directions to read. That doesn't happen often. Not all people are good navigators either. So, I'm relieved that we'll get there with no trouble along the way. If we get lost we can always press "Home" and get back home again.

The Charm of A Small Town

Today, a friend and I went into the small town of Clinton. She had notified me that the local bookstore was looking for someone to work part time. I dropped my resume off at the store and we went to the restaurant next door and had lunch. After lunch we went up and down one side of the street looking in the little shops. They are all special places to shop. I found several gifts which I'll give to friends as housewarming gifts. In a store which sells childrens things I found a miniature tea set which would be a nice gift to give my three year old great niece when I visit in the fall. I asked my sister-in-law if she's had a tea party with the child yet. She replied that they'll wait for me to come because I'm more the tea party type. I loved my tea set when I was a child it was blue willow china and matched my mother's tea set. I used my tea set when Mom had her cup of tea. The stores in this town have unique things in them. The sales people are very friendly. It's an experience to just look in the windows and browse. The day was beautiful. It was warm but not humid. Visiting this quiet, charming town was a nice way to spend a late summer afternoon.

I'm Over It

What a good night's sleep won't do! I'm over feeling tired and stressed. I made sure that the bedroom door was closed when I went to bed last night. Sandy could not get in 3 hours later to walk all over me. I had an uninterrupted sleep. I went to 8:00am mass this morning around the corner from where I live. By the time I got home I realized that I felt much better.
In about 40 minutes I'm leaving to meet a friend. We have a baby shower to attend. It will take place outside by a lake. It should be lovely because the weather forecast is good.

The Light Classical Station

The music sounds so lovely on the Light Classical station tonight. I'd love to be in the presence of people when they're playing music like this. It's so much MORE in person. I have a goal which I need to remind myself of every day. I WILL get a player piano before I depart from this good world. How will I accomplish that? That is the question. First of all, I'm going to work at least 2 days a week if I can. I'll save what I can. Hopefully, it won't take too long to raise the money I'll need. Actually, I'd rather have a new player piano than a new car. It will be far more entertaining and once it's purchased, it won't cost me money every day like a car would while it's eating up gas. Therefore, the little red Cougar has to last for a few more years.
I'd better post signs around in strategic places in my home to remind me to "Save, save, save". I already have a picture of the piano I want hanging on my refridgerator. What is it they say? "Where there's a will, there's a way"? I hope to find the way.

Sweeping Too Hard

There's something missing? I wonder what it could be? I'm too tired to go out and about tonight. There is plenty to do at home if the mood strikes me. I will probably quilt a bit before I say "Good Night". I think that I'm lonely. which doesn't happen very often. I think that this type of lonliness can only be cured by family or very close friends who one knows very well. I'd like company, but I'm too tired to entertain. I think I've been "sweeping too hard" lately. All I'm doing is raising dust! Right now I don't want to be on the go. I want a quiet evening with good friends or family at home. Maybe a glass of wine and good conversation. An evening where everyone pitches in to help and I'm not left to clean up by myself. (Something I did do on my birthday) I don't have a desire to play with the game crowd.
Do I sound stressed? I guess I am. Maybe exercise would help, but I'm too tired! I'm thinking that my family takes me for granted. (I sound like my mother now)
I love my family but I'd like them to "do" for me for a change. I'm wearing out. Maybe a good night's sleep will help me feel better in the morning. We'll see.

The Quilt's On The Hoop

The white on white quilt is back on the hoop. It's about a third of the way completed. There's still much left to do on the Queen size quilt. I'm planning on working on it when I watch tv or listen to music.
When Sandy was a kitten he would sit on top of the quilt when it was on the round hoop. He's so heavy now that he'd either rip the quilt or break the hoop if he sat on it. I'm hoping that the hoop will just collapse and not break completely. That, needless to say, would be inconvenient. I hope that I can get another third of the quilt done this year. Times awasting! What's been quilted looks wonderful. I'm anxious to see it either on a bed or on a quilt stand.

There Will Be Music Again

My friends came today and reconnected the stereo system. There will be music from the set again! The radio, the tape deck, the cd player and the record player will sing again. I especially missed using them during the holidays. They will be here again before we know it. While they were here, they showed me how to program my GPS. I'm making a trip to the airport to pick up a friend. I know I'll find my way home again.

Preparation

The other day, I mapped out on my calendar, the activities for each day when my friend from Savannah, GA is here. I even wrote in the dinner menu for each day. That way I can have all my shopping done before she comes and not have to waste time at the grocery store. The week is going to go quickly. She arrives on a Thursday and leaves the following Wednesday. The weekend between her arrival and departure is when we have our class reunion from high school. We're both looking forward to it. I'm thankful that I don't have to go alone this time. Five years ago I went to the cocktail party, the dinner dance and the house party afterwards without an escort. Everything worked out fine and I'm glad that I went, but once is enough when it comes to going alone. Especially when you hadn't seen those people in 40 years. I'm hoping that everyone in this smaller party will be just as friendly as they were five years ago. After the last reunion, I was invited to join a book group by one of my former classmates. Wouldn't it be nice to be invited to do something else by someone we meet at this reunion. I always feel that you can't have too many friends. This may be our last class reunion. It's only my second. I've reconcilled with what I didn't like about high school. It's about time, wouldn't you say?

Appreciation

Tomorrow will be a busy day. I will shop for a baby gift for the shower I will attend on Sunday. After lunch, two friends are coming over to do some minor repairs for me. I have one thing which I'd like them to do which wasn't on the list. I realized when I was out yesterday that I need my smoke alarm replaced. I purchased a new one and hopefully, it is exactly the type I need to replace the broken alarm. I hope that it's no BIG DEAL to replace it. It'll save me paying a handyman if my friends can replace it. I bought 2 bottles of wine today. One is red and the other is a white wine. I'll let them decide who goes home with which bottle when they're finished tomorrow. I hope that everything I need to have done gets accomplished tomorrow. I'll be most appreciative.

Why Do They Do It?

Why do they do it? That's my question. The sorrow I feel for Elizabeth brings back to me the feeling of sorrow, disappointment, mistrust, and all other kinds of emotional feelings that I myself felt when someone I loved cheated on me. If they could feel what you will feel afterwards, they may think twice about straying. I'm disappointed in her husband. He is not the same in my eyes. I no longer see him as the "good, honest, sincere" politician I once saw him as. May God give her strength and him as well. I hope that their marriage survives and that his indiscretions are ended for good. Help their children and their family get through all of this.

Rest and Relaxation

Life has been so hectic for the past few days. What I want and what I need is rest and relaxation. Tomorrow is another doctor appointment. There are errands to run. I'll have my place cleaned. An active pace every day is not to my liking. Some days it's just good to be able to relax. There are still things you can do while you relax. Catching up on reading or crafts is always enjoyable. Listening to music or playing an instrument is also relaxing. I hope that in the next few days I'll be able to unwind and get some rest.

Happy Birthday To Me

Today is my birthday. It was a very nice day. My family was here. We had a nice pasta lunch together with salad and garlic bread. A chocolate birthday cake was dessert. I made a wish and blew out all the candles. Hope my wish comes true. The company has gone, all but Mom. I still have a bit of cleanup to finish. I need to empty the dishwasher and put in the rest of the dessert dishes. I'll do that before the night is over. It was a nice celebration.

Another Bouquet

When I arrived home this noon from picking my Mother up at her home, I was pleasantly surprised with a bouquet of flowers sitting on my doorstep. My good friends Bill and Susan sent them to me for my birthday which is tomorrow. The bouquet is a mixed bouquet. It has several beautiful flowers in in like the yellow rose and the purple irises. It is in a clear round vase which has birthday candles painted on the sides of it. Sandy was attracted to the baby's breath, but refrained from removing and chewing it. I love to be surprised with flowers. It always makes my day. Thank you to my dear friends for remembering me on my birthday.

The Gang Was Here Today

The Mah Jongg gang was here today. We played from 11:00am until 4:00pm. I didn't win one game but did come close a few times. I tried hands which I never tried before. Everyone had a good time.
I received 3 more birthday cards today. One contained a gift which I was pleased to get.
Tomorrow I'll go pick up Mom and bring her here for a few days. My brother and sister will come over on Saturday.
Next week some friends are sending their hubbies over to fix a few things here. I need the stereo system reconnected. It's been disconnected since last October when the new floor was laid. They'll program my GPS for me. They'll replace a broken toilet seat and loosen a wing nut on my quilt stand so that I can use the stand again. Lucky for me, one of the men is a house guest of the other and he likes to help people by fixing things. By coming here one day, they won't be needing to find something else entertaining to do. My two friends will be taking art classes all week. I'm grateful for the help I'll be getting.

Shut The Cat Out

I finally realized that I can shut Sandy out of the bedroom tonight. I moved his litter box from the master bathroom to another spot. He won't need access to the bedroom. I may get a good night sleep tonight. Usually I'm sleeping for about three hours when I hear a meow and all of a sudden have a very heavy cat sitting on my torso. He wants to be petted. He wants me to get up and to keep him company. Well tonight he'll be meowing at the door and won't be walking all over me. I'm thankful for that.

Spic and Span

The chores are done. Now I'm just waiting for the guests to arrive tomorrow. Everything is "Spic and Span". The only thing I've reserved for doing tomorrow is vacuuming the wing chair that the cat is sitting in. If I do it today, it'll only need to be done again tomorrow anyway. My guests will arrive at 11:00 am to play Mah Jongg. I hope that I can win a couple of games tomorrow. It's always a lot of fun to play.

Who Will It Be?

I wonder who our next president will be? I think that it'll all depend on who each candidate chooses for a vice presidential candidate. At least as far as I'm concerned. We don't have much of a choice really. Maybe eveyone who is not pleased with both candidates should write in the name of someone they'd prefer to have sit in the oval office. Right now I can't picture myself voting for either candidate for various reasons. I'd like to know why they each are waiting so long to announce who their VP will be. I realize that it's all about THEM, but give us some hope that the second in command may be to our liking.

Birthday Weekend

A busy weekend is ahead. I'm bringing Mom to my home for the weekend. My brother and sister will come on Saturday for my birthday. I'm not cooking so we'd better get "take out".
Hopefully, I'll be able to quilt for a couple of hours sometime during the weekend. I'm going to be only one week away from giving the guilt as a gift. I do need to finish it. On Sunday I'm reading at the 10:30 am mass at my church. I'm hoping that I can get in a couple of hours of quilting on Sunday also. In any case, it will be a nice weekend. Mom is still good company and still has her sense of humor. We always find a lot to talk about. Having her here will mean a little less running around for me this weekend. After all, I'm no spring chicken either.

A Bouquet of Carnations

After complaining yesterday about having to go to so many doctor appointments, I was pleasantly surprised with a bouquet of pink carnations after I had my annual mamogram today. She made my day. I think the reason for the flowers was in honor of their opening a new office. I'm not sure, though. I know that it's not because I have a birthday this Saturday. I have the birthday cards I've received on the piano. I'll celebrate with part of my family this weekend. I already have one of my birthday gifts. It's a lime green golf cart for when I play in the fall and decide to walk the course instead of riding.
Sandy gave the bouquet of flowers a lot of attention. I had to put them where he wouldn't chew on them or knock over the vase of water and flowers. Right now they're in the sink in the kitchen. At least I can enjoy them when I'm in that room. I should have named Sandy, Ferdinand since he likes flowers so much. Tomorrow it's another doctor visit. I'm sure I couldn't be so lucky as to receive another bouquet of flowers. I'm happy I received this one.

Too Many Doctor Visits

All of my doctor appointments have been scheduled. I'll be done with the pesty meetings in November. The older you get the more doctor appointments you seem to have. Are they all necessary? That's my question. Some could be phone conferences instead of office visits in my opinion. Taking care of an aged parent adds to the doctor visits. You have yours AND theirs. I never thought I'd say it but I'm sick of doctor's visits. I am healthy. I'm thankful for that.