Date Night

I wondered what to write about today...I've been absent from the blog a couple of days...life it just gets in the way sometimes! Oh, last night hubby and I went on a date night, we try to do that every once in a while. We have been trying to go to the movies for about 3 weekends now and once he was tired, another time I was tired, another time, oh I don't know, we just could not get there. Last night when he got home I asked and he said yes! Yeah! I am a major Clint Eastwood fan, love his movies!!! So we went to see the new Clint flick, Gran Torino. It was WONDERFUL! I loved it. It was sad at the beginning and sad at the end. Yes I did cry at the end. But what a way to end! It was reported that this is Clint's last film that he will star in, what a waste. He really did play his part so well. Even hubby liked the movie. And he is a real critic. I finally made the right choice...Whoooo.hooooo. Now have a great rest of your weekend....
Tomorrow is the Super Bowl...my team isn't playing oh well, better luck next year Redskins!

Donuts.....

My hubby's favorite food in the world is donuts! He thinks they are a staple to each and every kitchen. Hubby has traveled all over the world with the US Navy (Go Navy!!) and knows where a pastry shop is in every port he has docked. The other sailors would tease that he ate the best meals ever in port. While they were looking for McDonald's or Pizza Hut, hubby had a loaf of bread and a hunk of cheese with a coffee and he was set! In the younger years of our marriage, Sunday morning would be met with donuts for breakfast. Either a trip the Krispe Kreme or Duncan Donuts. Our girls were even accustomed to getting up and seeing who could ride with Daddy for the Sunday ritual. As the years have passed, we have stopped the Sunday trip and now hubby visits 7-11 each morning on the way to work for his donut and cup of coffee. He is so predictable too, he gets two of the same donut, Bowtie. Eats one on the way to work and the second at 10:00 during a break. A donut break!! There was a time in the last couple of years that I fussed with him about the donut habit. But after this year of food allergies and not being able to eat much, I don't say too much now. For some reason he can still eat a Krispe Kreme donut...not allergic to that. So for now, enjoy the donuts but remember summer is coming and how do you look in your swimsuit?? Maybe it's time to lay off the donuts...huh....

Manners-Do you have them?

As I sit here tonight deciding on what to post, I want to tell you I am posting from my new and improved laptop! Yes, hubby is asleep so I took this opportunity to get online and post. I just finished talking to my basket friend who just chaired the last two years of our local basket convention. She has done an amazing job! I have chaired this event before and it is a huge undertaking! You go girl!!! Back to my thoughts..my friend was going through the evaluations of the event. You have the regular stuff...teacher materials are this or that, food is bland and even the teacher has her pets....but this year there was the cell phones were interrupting class, too many visitors, too many interruptions. I started to think about this, "Why are we so lax about our manners?" Have we all just gotten so comfortable with each other that we cannot use the manners that our parents taught us? When my girls were growing up, they had to say yes ma'am, no sir, please and thank you. Do not interrupt while others are talking. And now it's do not interrupt others while on your cell phone. If they decided they were not going to use their manners they did not get what they wanted. It was that simple. I remember my Mom insisting that my brothers, sister and I have manners. That is one of the best gifts my parents ever gave us! I honestly don't think that our friends are doing this on purpose, I think that we all just get comfortable with each other and we forget. Maybe that's not an acceptable excuse.
So the next time you are in a crowd or out with friends or even in with friends...don't forget what your parents taught you....use your manners. Everyone will notice and they will appreciate it.

Out with the old in with the new....

The other day I came home and what did I find...a new computer. The computer I work on is about 9 years old, needs to be updated...but I just haven't been ready to go thru the trouble of the update. When you have something old that is working, you get attached to it...it's hard to throw it to the side. Hubby and I have been on the search for a new computer we just haven't found the right one or the money for it. We have been to every store in the local area. Searched on line and just not made the purchase yet...until...Hubby got off early on Friday and went shopping. When I arrived, after grocery shopping what do I find on the dining room table??? My new computer! Yes I have a new bright and shiny laptop. It's pretty, it's fast, it's clean and it's not my old computer. Over the weekend, hubby has been on the new computer, watching over it like a new baby. Me, well I just cannot seem to get close. Hubby has a close watch...he is afraid we (daughter and I) will put a program on it...or add a picture to it or maybe we will upload a file....ohhh nooo.....I give him a few weeks and he will be over the newness...Like a child with a new pet. :) Maybe by then I will warm up to the new addition. It really is pretty and it really is fast, hubby is asleep now, maybe I can just take a look!!!!

Throw them dice.............

I have been playing Bunko for about 10 years...Bunko is a dice game. It's very simple, can be played while you talk, eat and drink! A friend invited me and we have been playing ever since. Friends have come and gone in our group over the years for various reasons. There are 4 of us that have been there from the start. We get together once a month at the hostess' house. We have so much fun...it's not really about the game..it's all about the fellowship with the ladies. A couple of our ladies are real story tellers and keep us in stitches! My sides always hurt when I get home from all the laughing. I am so grateful for these ladies. For the past 10 years they have been there for all the family ups and downs. That shows a real, true friend...I know they are there if I need them...I can just call..they would come running. Last night was Bunko night at SM's home. She had a nice lay out of goodies to eat. We got there at 8 and it was after 9 before we started throwing dice...we just could not stop catching up..that's the fun of it. I did win for the most Bunko's thrown last night...whooohooo!!! Can't wait til February!!!

The mind just ain't what it used to be....

I recently signed up for an online social network and I am receiving all kinds of "I want to be your friend" messages from all my high school buddies. When you are 18 and graduating from high school, you think "I will never forget my friends", well I have forgotten them, I am sorry and embarrassed to say. I finally resulted to getting out my high school yearbook and looking up my friends. Now I do remember the girl who ran around laughing with me in the halls of the high school. Or the guy that played on the football team. It's been a long time and with only 2 reunions, it's hard to remember them. I have enjoyed catching up with my old school buddies. At the time we thought they were the best times of our lives...only to move ahead in our life and realize every day is the best time of our lives!

Snow, Snow or not.......

As a child, I remember the threat of snow...waking up, immediately looking outside and seeing the whole world was white...what a great feeling to know that we had the day off from school, could go out and play in the snow all day. And we did, all four of us. My Mom (God love her!) would find all the gloves, mittens, hats, scarfs, coats and everything else she could find. She would dress us with lots of layers. We would go out play for a while, then back inside where it was warm, we would undress, hang all the wet clothes up. About an hour later we would want to go back out and again my Mom would help us dress in layers with new dry clothes and start this process all over again. We didn't have a house with a utility room or a place for the wet clothes so they would be hanging all around the living room or kitchen or where ever we could find. I always remember this. As my children grew and wanted to play in the very few snow storms we have here on the east coast, we too would have the wet clothes hanging all around waiting to dry. I do miss that. The whole reason for all this snow talk is that for the last 3 days we have been hearing of the great snow storm that was to hit us. The weather men have talked about it, we have talked about it and everyone has talked about it. So this morning I awoke with the anticipation of the snow. No snow. I heard that all the schools in the whole area are closed and the snow would be starting by 8:00am, no snow. As I worked through out the day, no snow. About noon I had to attend a training class I finally saw (literally) two snow flakes and that was it! WHAT DO YOU MEAN TWO SNOW FLAKES!!! I wanted to scream to the weather men...what happened to all that snow. I was so pumped up for snow and so excited and nothing. I felt just like I did as a child when I was expecting the snow in the morning and nothing. Really let down. I do think I might have to become a weather person...it's a job I think I could do! Really I know how unpredictable the weather can be and it is hard to tell exactly where the fronts are moving, but we need someone to blame! I am still hopeful for at least one more snow storm...and maybe a day off!

Congratulations to our new President, Mr. Obama...he has a hard road ahead!

I'm Back.....

My weaving weekend was a HUGE success! We arrived Thursday with the anticipation of seeing old friends and weaving, weaving, weaving...and that is exactly what happened. I made 2 baskets, a necklace and a broom. My hands are still aching! I did get to visit with all my old friends and that was truly the most exciting part of the four days. This year I was not "in charge" of anything and I sat back and just watched. This is the new Cindy...not taking on everything. I am one that will jump in with both feet and do any job that needs to be done. This year I didn't do that. It felt good and it felt sad...I am normally right in the middle of everything...and maybe that is who I am, but this year I was not. I normally do not make New Years resolutions and this year I made two...1-to weave more during this year and 2-to not be into everything. We all are busy and we should all pull our own weight in a job, an organization, in our family and every where. It's tough for me to remember that and not do it all. So with all that said...I vow to not volunteer to do it all! Back to my weekend, it was tons of fun, I am so excited to have been there, we had a great time and I do love the art of weaving! Thank goodness for my basket weaving friends!!

Basketweaving Weekend

I am frantically getting ready for my big basketweaving weekend. 150 weavers, 25 teachers in one hotel, all there with the same purpose...weaving and fellowship. We have such a great time. Going to an event each year always brings the anticipation of seeing old friends and meeting new ones. I started weaving in 2001 when hubby was at sea. I was immediately addicited to it. And the group of ladies (and a couple of men) I weave with welcomed me with open arms. They really are some of the best friends I have made. So this weekend will be tons of fun. Not much sleeping, sore fingers and lots of talking! My family always takes this opportunity to lounge around, eat out and not do anything while I am away. Then Sunday afternoon they run around like mad men to clean up. I am ok with this, as long as when I come home, no dishes in the sink!
Oh and almost forgot, snow...it usually snows a little (or a lot) during our trip. I am lucky that I only have to travel about 45 minutes to the hotel, many have to come much farther than that...some travel 8 hours or more. We always pray everyone arrives at the hotel before the big snow! Take care and I'll let you in on the big basket weekend when I return.

Spur of the moment

Has your hubby ever called and said "We are having guests tonight?" And it's 3:30 pm you are at work, will not get off until 4:30 pm and you haven't cleaned up anything??? Well that happened to me today. A friend of hubby's (a former co-worker) is in town for a few days, flew in, so no car yet, and no hotel room. Hubby invited him here to stay for a few days. So I ran home to clear off the bed in the basket room, which is completely a mess! Remember I am getting ready for my weaving convention this weekend and my tools and baskets and material is EVERYWHERE! I didn't have anything for dinner thawed out, let's eat out! Yes, let's. We did have a nice time at dinner. Hubby's friend is a really nice guy, very low maintenance kinda guy.
When we returned from dinner, I cleaned off the bed, threw on a clean set of sheets, showed him the bathroom and towels and he was set. Whew! Hubby and friend have been talking and entertaining themselves all night...wow, maybe friend should come over more often!!! :)

Procrastination

On Thursday I will be attending my yearly basket weaving convention. There will be 155 weavers, weaving for 4 days, what fun we are gonna have. I am so excited, I cannot wait! Every year we make a basket to swap with other weavers and every year I wait until 4 days before the convention to start my basket. Procrastination....It should be my middle name! When I was younger, I remember putting things off til the last minute...as I got older I was very good at getting things done way ahead of time. Especially when my girls were younger, hubby was at sea and there wasn't a lot of money to spare. I would plan out everything and everything would be done early. Now, as I have gotten older and the girls are older I have slipped back into that childhood trap of procrastination. It's just like Christmas gifts, we know it will be here every Dec. 25th and we always wait til the last minute to finalize our gifts. My mom is so good, she has everything planned out, she makes a list, she shops early, she is very organized...wish I had that gene! What makes us do that? Why do we or I put off things? Maybe I work better under stress? Maybe I just cannot wrap my mind around the activity until it's here? I don't know. But if I was going to may a New Year's resolution it would be to not procrastinate! Good luck with that! OH, by the way, I did make that basket yesterday and it looks beautiful if I do say so myself!

I'm so Proud of Hubby

Today was the commissioning of the newest US Navy Aircraft Carrier USS George H. W. Bush. What a great day for the US Navy and our city. It was really an amazing thing to watch...the two Bush President's, wives, families and all the men and women of the US Navy. How proud I felt just watching the whole ceremony. I wish I had been able to get out there on the pier and watch. President Bush spoke so amazing about his parents. And former President Bush's speech was great too. I teared up a number of times. At the end of the ceremony the crew of the carrier are given the orders to go on-board the ship and they start running while the band plays "Anchors Aweigh" and, of course, that made me cry too. I am such a cry-baby!!! Just ask hubby he will tell you so! I cry just watching the military homecomings on TV. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you why I am so proud of my man. Hubby works for a private company that restores World War II aircraft. They attend air shows, there is a museum and they perform fly-overs for special events. Well today was one of those special events. Hubby went out very early this morning to get one of the 1942 aircraft started and ready to fly over the USS Bush. What a joy it was to see it fly over while I was watching the ceremony. I immediately called hubby and said "You did a good job, she just flew over!" He replied "She didn't want to start this morning, was spitting and fussing...but I finally got her started." I was so proud of him at that moment. He is a retired Navy Chief so we have many ties to the Navy. And today he played a little part of the commissioning ceremony and that made me very proud. What a great day for the US Navy! Go Navy!!!

Hot Water Tank..isn't there hot water in there?

A couple of months ago I went to the garage and there it was a puddle of water right below the hot water tank. Hubby came out to investigate and sure enough the hot water tank was leaking. We ate a quick dinner and went right up to the local store to purchase a new bright and shiny tank. Hubby was investigating our options....50 or 40 gallons....a number of BTU's or something like that, only thing I was worried about... was the water going to be hot????
We made the purchase, came home and the next day hubby installed it and we had hot water...thank goodness. You would think the story ended there....not.....over the next couple of months I have repeatedly told hubby, "Can you turn the temp up on the tank, the water just never gets really hot." Finally after having 3 neighbors, 2 friends and an investigation on the web, hubby called for a maintenance man. Last Friday at 8:30 am, a really nice man came out, he unhooked everything and could not find the problem after 1 1/2 hours, the recommendation was a new tank. Now he tells hubby, "Here is a receipt, you will receive a call in the next 2-3 hours and our next level of warrenty workers will help you get your problem fixed." 2-3 HOURS...Did I tell you we had not gotten up early enough to shower? Did I tell you I had not even brushed my teeth? Did I tell you we didn't even have water for anything??? I was a mess. Hubby was running around grumbling after about a hour. I had about 1/2 a pitcher in the fridge of water, used that to brush my teeth, hubby too. Another hour went by and hubby was climbing the walls by this time, so he called the 1-800 number of the store, to hear a recording say "All our computers are down, please call back Monday." MONDAY....we don't have any water...MONDAY were they CRAZY...I was putting away a box of Christmas decorations and I noticed my truck backing up to the garage, hubby had finshed disconnecting the hot water tank and was throwing it in the back of the truck. And next thing I new he was leaving. ...Oh my gosh...If I had known anyone at that store I would have given them a courtesy call and had the meet him at the door! You know how upset men get when things just don't go their way...and hubby was ready to blow on someone! About 10 mintues after he left the 1-800 number customer service called....rest of the story is that hubby picked up the tank at the store, didn't get upset with anyone, brought it home, installed it and by 4:00pm we had hot runing water!!! You don't realize what you are missing until it's not working!!! Hubby is wonderful at things around the house, as long as it's going his way...but let something not go his way and wow he gets a bit miffed!!!!

And Baby Makes Three...

Today was the first day back to work since the holidays and it was a great way to start the new year. A co-worker was pregnant, due this week. This morning at 2:30am she woke when her water broke, she woke her 3 yr old son, and they drove to the hospital. It's about a 20-25 minute ride to the hospital. Mind you she was having contractions, they started at 5 minutes apart. As she drove, she called her mother to meet her at the ER to take the 3 yr old. She arrived at the hospital, they prepared her for the birth while the 3 yr old sat in the chair next to her and finally her mother arrived in time to whisk the 3 yr old out of the room. She pushed once or twice and out popped the cutest little peanut. 6-lbs 2 oz. and a head full of black hair. He really is a cutie. A couple of my co-workers and I went to see her at lunch time. Now the baby was about 10 hours old and he looked great and so did she! Super Mom if I say so!
I will never forget the birth of each of my daughters. I delivered each of them in under 4 hours, with no drugs...yes it hurt like heck! And I did that twice! I remember each time in the pictures I looked like I had been thru the mill...terrible and today my co-worker looked like she had just showered, done her make up and fixed her hair. Don't know how some people look so good at a time like that. I just do not have that gene...and I have a Grandmother (she's 85) and she looks beautiful and put together all the time. Wish I could figure that out, then maybe I would have extra time in the morning when getting ready..the hubby would love it if I could get out the door and ready for anything quicker!! One more thing...Happy Birthday little Boy!

Sunday...Basket Meeting

Did I tell you that I am a basket weaver? OK, go ahead and give me the "under water basket weaving" jokes..I can take them! OK now that that's over...I started weaving baskets about 8 years ago while the hubby was out to sea (he's now retired from the US Navy ! Go Navy!). Like I needed one more hobby, well I started weaving and was immediately addicted. Have you ever tried a hobby and it was you, that's how I feel about weaving. I just love it and tell anyone who will listen. So today was our monthly meeting. I update our website www.tidewaterbasketryguild.org and create our newsletter. I have a tendency to jump in with both feet when I join an organization and I did with this one. Later this month I will be attending our yearly convention. Imagine 155 weavers in two rooms weaving at the same time...we stay at a local hotel, eat, sleep and weave...that's all we do for three days. Basket weavers are the best people, they are all so welcoming, that's why I love these ladies and gentlemen so much. Yes, we have a few men that weave with us. If you ever get the chance to try out weaving...do it...open your mind to learning a craft that is hundreds of years old.

Movies

Went to see "Four Christmas's" tonight with girlfriends Lorie and Barbara. It was one of the funniest movies I have seen in a long time. If you get a chance to see it..go! It shows that all families are different. Remember you can pick you seat, you can pick you friends but you cannot pick your family, so love them anyway! And by the way, I have a wonderful family, I love each and every one of them!!!

Karaoke Night

Went to dinner tonight with the hubby...it was Mexican Night..Yeah! It's one of the few things hubby can eat (he has just developed food allergies, more about that later). Youngest daughter Amanda came to dinner with us, that was a treat. At 18 she spends more time away from us than with us, that's hard to take after all these years of shaping and molding her. Dinner was really nice, until....we were about to leave and started to hear this music, if that is what you could call it...It was Karaoke Night at the Mexican Restaurant. How come when I hear Karaoke Night, the Carrie Underwood sound alike is out sick? How come I can only hear the guy or girl that should only sing in the shower? I would have to be totally, falling down drunk to sing in front of anyone. I know I cannot sing, you would never catch me singing, Never! I sing Happy Birthday 4 times a year...for my hubby, my two daughters and my BFF, other than that you will not hear me sing.

Taking down the Christmas Decorations

I did it...I took down the decorations today. All of them in one day. Once you take them down it's so sad and so blah looking around the house. No snowmen, no Santa's, no trees...I'm sad just thinking about it. The decorations are packed away and in the garage, now it's hubby's turn to haul them out to the back garage and hoist them up in the attic. Do you remember when you only had 2 boxes of decorations? Now I'm up to about 17 boxes....wow where did it all come from? Years ago I started a Santa collection, then started with Snowmen..now I have so many of both that I really don't buy any unless they really impress me. Has to be something very different for me to purchase it now. I do love to receive them as gifts.Well in about 10 1/2 months I will ask hubby to pull everything back down from the garage and cart it all up to the house, put the boxes in the front garage and I will start the process all over again...unpack...decorate and then 5 weeks later we will be right back to today...packing away the decorations. It's big circle isn't it?

Welcome 2009

It's 2009 and I decided that I needed to blog...one of my New Year's resolutions.
I dislike resolutions, why, because it seems we break them as fast as we make them.
Maybe that's just me?

Welcome 2009....Life's Journey..it's going to be a great one!