Time to Face the Music

So I guess I'm in the beginning of a mid-life crisis.

My baby, my last born, is 18 now. You know.. I thought I would handle it well. WRONGO! Every time I look at her I just feel forlorn. I'm watching her grow and getting prepared to start her life. I know it's a good thing & I am so incredibly proud of her, but at the same time, I just got her back and it hurts.

Maybe I should re-start my book, or go to school – it's either something productive or chop my hair off, buy a mustang and get a boyfriend (OK not the boyfriend)

 

Vicki

The Blizzard of Christmas 2009

I opened my eyes to hear the sharp sound of ice hitting the roof on the morn of Christmas Eve.   By mid day, the storm had hit.  Wind howled, snow fell left to right, and the street no longer existed, we seemed to be alone on our street. 
My husband had to leave to take Nick to work early, and it took only about 1/2 the trip for the storm to hit.  Leaving Nick at work, Gayle came home having mad as hell that Nick insisted, even though we were expecting the blizzard of the decade, to go to work and the phone rang.
Rob… on his way home ran off the road and into a ditch… a rescue mission was sent.  They got home, sans car, and the storm was white out.   
Finally about 2, Nick called, no business at Wal-Mart… worried to about getting home.. well we couldn’t go get him (white out – duh) so he had to wait until the storm lifted.  And it finally did and off Gayle went, along with Alissa, for a second set of eyes. 
Finally, they all got home and I was fully relieved. 
We ended up opening presents on Christmas Eve because for once in years we were all in the same place at the same time.
Fast Forward to Christmas Day:
Tried to get Robs car out, didn’t work: Here’s some pics

I’m Certifiable!

I finally got Red Cross/CPR certified today. It wasn't a hard class… mostly common sense, a few techniques.

The company I work for paid for my training, so it was nice. We had a lot of fun and I did enjoy. I think everyone should learn the basics.

Home made taco seasoning

2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt

A Slightly changed Ginger Molasses Cookie stolen from Paula Deen

This is Paula Deen's Ginger Cookies w/a little less sugar – and yes, of course, butter

¾ cup butter

¾ c sugar

1 large egg

¼ cup Molasses

2 c all purpose flour

2tsp baking soda

1tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

½ tsp cloves

½ tsp kosher salt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Heat oven to 350, line cookie sheets w/parchment paper

Cream butter and sugar in one bowl, add Molasses and egg and mix completely

Sift all other ingredients together and add slowly to wet – incorporating a little at a time.

Put a little sugar in a bowl – roll dough into 1 in alls then roll into sugar. Place about 1 in apart on cookie sheet and bake 12 – 14 minutes.

Enjoy!!

Decisions….

I have a decision to make at work and I really want to make sure I make the right decision.

Our office is divided into section that deal with different banks. I work for the section that deals directly with Chase. Well I have been offered to move to Barklays. The offer was made before and I decided against it due to some bad input I received from a couple of people, but now I don't know.

After being reoffered, I spoke to a couple others and they love it! My other concern was that if I take it, would that prevent me from being able to be considered to a better job? Well the supervisor said no… he'd never keep anyone from moving up.

I told him I'd let him know Monday – I am looking at rare to no bonuses, but the stress would be downgrades INCREDIBLY.

Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars

I found this recipe online. I LOVE THESE!

For Cake Base:

 2 sticks margarine (or butter if you want to indulge) -- softened

 1 and 1/4 cups brown sugar-- packed

 3 large eggs

 1 teaspoon ground ginger

 1 teaspoon vanilla

 1/4 teaspoon salt

 1 and 1/2 cups flour

 1/4 cup minced dried cranberries

 1/4 cup quality white chocolate -- coarsely chopped

 1/4 cup minced candied ginger

For Frosting:

 4 ounce cream cheese -- softened

 1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar

 2 Tablespoons butter -- softened

 1 teaspoon vanilla

For Frosting:

 4 ounce cream cheese -- softened

 1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar

 2 Tablespoons butter -- softened

 1 teaspoon vanilla

For Garnish:

 2 Tablespoons minced dried cranberries

 1/3 cup white chocolate chips (e.g. Ghiradelli or Guittard) – melted

Preheat oven to 350 and lightly grease a 9x13 pan.

Beat butter and sugar together for the cake base, and add eggs/vanilla beating until fluffy. Sift together flour, ginger, and salt and then add to the butter/sugar mixture beating well. Fold in the cranberries, chocolate and ginger. Spread thick batter in pan and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until light golden.

When cake is cooled, mix all frosting ingredients together and spread a thin layer over the cake. Immediately sprinkle with the minced cranberries. Then use a cake decorating bag of melted white chocolate with a tiny decorating tip (like the size used for writing on cakes) and drizzle the chocolate over the cake.

Cut this into bars immediately because the white chocolate hardens pretty fast and makes cake cutting messy

Happy Birthday 2009

Today I turn (gasp) 42 years old!!!

I never thought they could beat last year, but instead of 'theme-ing' the day, they trickled out gifts all day long!

It started this morning with a wonderful set of pajamas that fit me- after losing so much weight, all my jammies were too big. Then Alissa brought me a wonderful mother/daughter necklace, then Rob brought me "Christmas Sweater" by Glenn Beck – which I have been really wanting to read, Nick brought out Sons of Anarchy – the first season, then new wine glasses, cake… GOOD DAY.

Been counting my blesses all day long.

I am so thankful for my family, for my life… the good, the bad and the ugly of it!!

So Much Going On

So where did I leave off: Well, not meningitis, not thyroid but an anxiety disorder. Not too surprising, anxiety disorders are on both sides of the family.

The worst thing we have now is what's called a "spinal" or "lumbar" headache. Hurts when you sit up, better when you lay down, caffeine can help but not necessarily get rid of.

We have to go back to Dr tomorrow to see about those. She's taking Darvacet, but it's not really helping.

Sometimes I really need someone to talk to, but sadly the person NOT in the home that I have always been able to talk to doesn't want to talk to me and has always been sarcastic and mean when it comes to disorders like this.

Sadder yet, she hasn't even inquired Ali directly about how she's doing – but has left comments on other things on my FB.

 

I am feeling sad.

cool!

Ali's Lumbar puncture: way cool

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Wow - wild night

Have you ever had one of those times when you had an awful feeling? Like something seriously NOT GOOD is going to happen? I've had one for the past two days. It got pretty strong yesterday and Mom entered my mind – why? I don't know – but I called her. She tells me she has an appointment with her neurologist next week – she just decided it's been about a year, and she needs to see him. I figured that was it and that was the end of it.

That nagging feeling wouldn't go away, but figuring it was Mom, I pushed it aside. Even gave my daughter permission to go out for a late date with her new beau. I guess it would have been around 730 ish, she called to tell me she was having seizures. After talking with her date, I made the command decision to get her to hospital. He's drive her there and I'd meet them.

Well after a few minutes of panic because I couldn't find my blessed keys, and of course calling to have her Dad meet us there, off I went, praying the entire way that no one would panic, no one would get in an accident, no one would be pulled over .

I made it, Ali made it and we got her checked in, after a few minutes, Gayle got there too and we were all in the bthack awaiting a visit from the physician on duty.

Her seizures seemed to come on quickly and one right after another – but they were atypical. She was able to focus her eyes, she was able to keep her speech and her memory was unaffected. She did, however, have a killer headache. They seemed to come one whenever anyone messed with her head.

Anyway a long night of tests went forward. Drug test (no illegal drugs) pregnancy test (no baby) CAT scan (normal) Lumbar Puncture (for bacterial meningitis – again none and Ali was mad she couldn't watch) However… possibly viral meningitis or a reaction to regular meds or something she was around or ate.

Well… the good news is that we got to spend time with her new boyfriends and we like him.

Here we go again

So not cool. Here I thought we were all done with this H1N1 thing… thought Nick had already gone through a mild form of it but nooooooooooooooooooooo.

He's got it now. And it seems to have hit his chest – watching carefully for any signs of pneumonia.

Pray for us.

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

James 5:15-16

Aw Those Cotton Fields Back Home

I was tired today when I went to work.. but that's not surprising, I am ALWAYS tired on Mondays.

I work in a call in service center for Chase. We get calls from all around the country, and a sweet friendly voice is vitally important for the comfort level of our customers. By the time they call us, they are usually ticked off to begin with, very few are calling to just get info.

Three calls into the day, I can feel and hear my voice going… crap. After two hours I came home – I think it's because the cotton is blooming and every year that causes problem… so back onto allergy pills.

Ramblings of a Crazy Woman: Halloween Pizza Party

Ramblings of a Crazy Woman: Halloween Pizza Party

This Weekend is Oktoberfest

I have been stuck home with Alissa since Wednesday. I am going to work tomorrow and then, during the evening, I am going to OKTOBERFEST.

I know it sounds as if I don't care.. but I am tired of being home. Work is somewhere I have to be, but I need to get out and away too.

Anyway, hopefully Gayle will have tomorrow off and he can come with me… we can fight over who's the designated driver!!!

 

Good Night!!

My Take on: Roman Polanski

It was a few years back, one of the years Roman Polanski was nominated for an Emmy award, I found out he wasn't able to attend due to the fact he ran after his conviction of sex with a 13 year old. That so disgusted me I refused to watch any of his movies.

That isn't an easy thing, I mean the man is very talented. His movies have included "The Pianist" "China Town" as well as had cameos in several movies, but the fact is, Roman Polanski did something so deplorable I cannot in any way, shape, or form support him.

I realize he had a horrible life, I mean his mother died in a German Death Camp, he escaped the Warsaw Ghetto's, wandering around the countryside, staying with mostly Catholic Families wherever he could. After reuniting with his father after the end of WW2, he ended up in school, then acting in the 50's, ending up in Hollywood.

He started his Hollywood career with Rosemary's Baby and within a year, his young wife was murdered by the Manson Family. Even though there seemed to be no end to this rising star, we have to remember - here is a man with a whole lot of baggage.

In 1977, he was 43 years old, and he took an interest in a 13 year old girl. He talked her and her mother into allowing him to take photos of her, showing them photos he had published in the French Vogue. He actually took pictures of her a few times before the incident. The girl, according to her Grand Jury testimony, didn't trust him, but couldn't seem to get out of going with him for more pictures.

She was taken to a house she was unfamiliar with, plied with Champagne and a Quaalude. She wasn't feeling well (duh) and he took her into one of the rooms, where he proceeded to rape her. Let's get this straight, at 43 years old, he got a 13 year old girl
drunk and stoned. This man, who was close to 50, took this young girl in a bedroom and, even though she protested, proceeded to orally rape her, then vaginally rape her and then anally rape her. Even after being interrupted by someone else, he raped her again.

The man PLEADED GUILTY to a lesser charge of sex with a minor – I would image so the fullest of his crime wouldn't be known to the public. Let me repeat HE PLEAD GUILTY. His excuse of fearing the judge would throw out the plea deal and sentence him for a longer period of time for RAPE isn't valid. He RAN AWAY to avoid the sentence, not the charges. He is GUILTY.

And now, the Hollywood Elite thinks he has 'served his time' by living out his life outside of the country (the very country so many of these same people disrespect all the time) They act as if him paying off his victim in the early 90's was enough.

 

NO this is a land of laws. It matters little what the victim wants at this point. This man committed a crime, convicted of a lesser crime and ran off to keep from servicing his sentence. He deserves to spend the rest of his nasty life in prison, fighting off those who would do the same to him.

Sunday Sunday

Gayle and I both had today off. Kinda nice after not seeing one another often because of our schedules.

Anyway, we didn't do much because the MONSTER MILE was today (for those not "in-the-know" that would be the NASCAR race at Delaware. Always an exciting race! But this time… oh THIS TIME we got to watch one heck of an accident. It's amazing how Joey Logano walked away from this!

Very much enjoyed the day with my honey! I love you baby!

Just a saturday

Got my results back.. strange that even though it was good news (I passed the stone) the Doctor himself was the one who called. Very cool.

Went to the International festival today after work, it was alright, but there just wasn't a whole lot going on – though a LOT of food! Finally got my gyro though!!

Weary

I am quite aware that I have done this to myself. My health problems, for the most part, are due to my own foolishness – as a young woman and as an older woman.

Now, as I have been dealing with the repercussions of my own stupidity, I wonder how much more I'll have to face.

I have never liked telling people, "Oh I have this, I had that, this, happened to me, that happened to me…" Drives me crazy when people almost BRAG about their illnesses and diseases – and to be quite frank - growing up in my family it never seemed that anyone really cared anyway, so it's hard to move past that.

Now, today, one more thing hit my plate of crappy health issues. Nothing serious or long term, or should be anyway, but one more thing I have to keep in my mind as I live my daily life… and again I await test results… is it something big? Is it something small?

I grow weary.