I was ready to cross one simple thing off of my "To Do" list today - 'Send Birthday Card to Dad'. Easy, hardly worth writing it down - you would think! This is how it went:
1. Look for Dad's birthday card (see more on this on last blog entry) After 30 minutes give up.
2. Go out to buy another birthday card.
3. Stop for a breakfast taco.
4. Come back and decide to include a letter to my Dad in large print so he can read it.
5. Finagle letter to fit on one page - change font and margins a few times - finally get it right.
6. In letter I said I enclosed pictures of my camper so I needed to print pictures.
7. My little photo printer will print directly from my camera memory card, so I went looking for my camera with the memory card.
8. Found the camera and put the memory card into the photo printer.
9. Pressed "print" and blank paper came out.
10. I was out of printer ink and didn't have any more.
11. Decided to print the pictures on my regular printer from my Acer computer since it can upload pictures from that memory card without having to connect to my camera.
12. Went upstairs to find some photo paper for the regular printer.
13. Found a sheet and put it in my printer.
14. Pressed "print" - nothing happened because my Acer had never been set up to connect to my regular printer.
15. Started setting up my regular printer with my Acer but I didn't have a CD with the printer drivers.
16. Went on-line to find the right drivers.
17. Found the drivers and downloaded them.
18. Finally got my Acer set up with the regular printer.
19. It said to print a test page so I pressed print - and there went my photo paper!
20. Went upstairs to find another sheet of photo paper.
21. Put it in my printer and finally got the pictures, although they were all blue in color (good enough because my Dad is color-blind.
22. Went to get my address book. Why wasn't it where it was supposed to be??
23. Finally found address book and wrote address on envelope.
24. Looked for stamps in the desk.
25. Found a baggie full of stamps - all of differing denominations. What was the price of a first class stamp now?
26. Decided to look for my Forever stamps (which I was saving as an inheritance for my kids) so I didn't have to google the current price of a stamp.
27. Finally found 1 Forever stamp.
28. Put letter, pictures and card into envelope.
29. Forgot to include some money I always send.
30. Opened envelope to add money.
31. The envelope wouldn't stick again so started looking for Scotch tape.
32. Took everything out of my desk, but finally found it and re-sealed the envelope.
33. Was too late to put it in my mailbox for the mail person to take.
34. Drove to the post office to mail the card.
35. Picked up some take out dinner.
36. Came home and was going to cross one thing off of my "To Do" list.
37. Couldn't find my "To Do" list.
How do people have time to cross more than one thing off of their "To Do" list each day??
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
The Recession - Fighting Fairy Won't Leave My House
At first I laughed about it, then I started blaming it on getting older but finally I realized - there is something powerful living in my house. For lack of a better name, I call it "The Recession-Fighting Fairy". At first I think she was just visiting, but lately I'm convinced that she has moved in and it's really affecting my pocketbook.
Originally, it would be things like missing Christmas wrapping paper that I had bought on sale the year before - never to be seen again - or at least not seen until 2 years later at Easter. I had to replace it at regular price.
Then it became more prevalent; the Father's Day card I bought wouldn't show up until Thanksgiving and the Christmas cards I had stored would disappear until the 4th of July. So, of course I had to replace everything at the last minute at a higher cost.
As the recession got stronger, the R-F Fairy was more determined than ever to make me help shore up the economy with my duplicate purchases. Soon, gifts disappeared, to show up a year later after I had already purchased the same gift again. So, what was I supposed to do when I finally found the second "Happy 50th Anniversary Mum and Dad" when they were now celebrating 51 years?
The R-F Fairy has been relentless. My father's birthday is coming up and I know I've purchased a few Birthday Cards for him, but she has hid them from me. I did find the 2 Happy Father's Day cards and could possibly adapt them to say "Happy Father's BIRTH Day" card, but that seems tacky. I feel like I've more than done my part to get us out of the Recession since I'm now having to look for coins in my couch to replace my dad's lost birthday cards.
My only hope is that they say the Recession is over, thanks mostly to my re-spending. The R-F Fairy should finally be able feel proud about a job well done. Now, go away!
Originally, it would be things like missing Christmas wrapping paper that I had bought on sale the year before - never to be seen again - or at least not seen until 2 years later at Easter. I had to replace it at regular price.
Then it became more prevalent; the Father's Day card I bought wouldn't show up until Thanksgiving and the Christmas cards I had stored would disappear until the 4th of July. So, of course I had to replace everything at the last minute at a higher cost.
As the recession got stronger, the R-F Fairy was more determined than ever to make me help shore up the economy with my duplicate purchases. Soon, gifts disappeared, to show up a year later after I had already purchased the same gift again. So, what was I supposed to do when I finally found the second "Happy 50th Anniversary Mum and Dad" when they were now celebrating 51 years?
The R-F Fairy has been relentless. My father's birthday is coming up and I know I've purchased a few Birthday Cards for him, but she has hid them from me. I did find the 2 Happy Father's Day cards and could possibly adapt them to say "Happy Father's BIRTH Day" card, but that seems tacky. I feel like I've more than done my part to get us out of the Recession since I'm now having to look for coins in my couch to replace my dad's lost birthday cards.
My only hope is that they say the Recession is over, thanks mostly to my re-spending. The R-F Fairy should finally be able feel proud about a job well done. Now, go away!
Friday, September 18, 2009
House Cleaning Tips
I sometimes get behind in my house cleaning. Luckily I don't live alone. It's important to have someone else to blame when the house gets messy. Seymour, my dog, leaves a lot of things out - like his underwear, his mail, and his dirty dishes. OK, so maybe it's just his dirty dishes but it's hard to keep a house clean when you always have to pick up after another person - dog.
I've had to get creative with my cleaning so that if someone calls and says they are coming by, I have a 15 minute, 30 minute and 1 hour cleaning routine.
My 15 minute routine consists of -
1. Gathering everything that is laying around the downstairs rooms into large garbage bags and schlepping those bags out to the back of my pick-up truck;
2. Grabbing the electrostatic duster and doing a quick turn over the floors and furniture; then
3. Spraying vanilla spritz around the house
My 30 minute routine consists of -
1. Gathering everything that is laying around the downstairs rooms into large garbage bags and schlepping those bags out to the back of my pick-up truck;
2. Grabbing the electrostatic duster and doing a quick turn over the floors and furniture
3. Spraying vanilla spritz around the house, then
4. Checking email
My one hour routine consists of -
1. Gathering everything that is laying around the downstairs rooms into large garbage bags and schlepping those bags out to the back of my pick-up truck;
2. Grabbing the electrostatic duster and doing a quick turn over the floor and furniture
3. Spraying vanilla spritz around the house,
4. Checking email, then
5. Watching one episode of "Clean Sweep" on my TiVo
I really need an hour to get ready for company!
I've had to get creative with my cleaning so that if someone calls and says they are coming by, I have a 15 minute, 30 minute and 1 hour cleaning routine.
My 15 minute routine consists of -
1. Gathering everything that is laying around the downstairs rooms into large garbage bags and schlepping those bags out to the back of my pick-up truck;
2. Grabbing the electrostatic duster and doing a quick turn over the floors and furniture; then
3. Spraying vanilla spritz around the house
My 30 minute routine consists of -
1. Gathering everything that is laying around the downstairs rooms into large garbage bags and schlepping those bags out to the back of my pick-up truck;
2. Grabbing the electrostatic duster and doing a quick turn over the floors and furniture
3. Spraying vanilla spritz around the house, then
4. Checking email
My one hour routine consists of -
1. Gathering everything that is laying around the downstairs rooms into large garbage bags and schlepping those bags out to the back of my pick-up truck;
2. Grabbing the electrostatic duster and doing a quick turn over the floor and furniture
3. Spraying vanilla spritz around the house,
4. Checking email, then
5. Watching one episode of "Clean Sweep" on my TiVo
I really need an hour to get ready for company!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Remember What??
Next year is my high school class reunion. We haven't had one in 20 years so you can imagine (in fact you'll have to imagine since I'm not telling) how long it's been since I thought of opening my high school yearbook. Over the years my children have asked me what I was like in grade school and high school.
I remember grade school pretty well. I remember that I was a doofus - really. I did things like telling my teacher I knew how to do the Irish Jig and actually performing it in front of the whole school. I had no idea what I was doing but that didn't stop me. I also entered a talent show as a pianist - never had a lesson in my life - but I got up and solemnly played "Chop Sticks" (after a bumpy start trying to find the first note). I was a grade school cheer leader and was adamant that the rest of the squad was pointing to the wrong basket when we yelled "go, go, where, where, we want a basket over there". I continued to point to the basket we had been pointing to throughout the game until I was reminded, through gritted teeth by the squad leader, that they change baskets at half-time. You would have thought someone would have told me that a little sooner, like before the whole school thought I was a plant from the other team! So, those things I remember.
When asked about high school, I "remembered" that I was an outsider, didn't have many friends, and was pretty quiet. I did my work, was a member of the drill team, and I wasn't allowed to date until I was 16 - and then I couldn't go on a date in a car! Not a very exciting high school experience as I remembered it.
Then I found my old year book and started reading what people wrote about me. Here are some of the comments:
"To a very sweet and crazy girl I had the pleasure of meeting . . ." (I guess crazy and sweet balance themselves out)
"To the nuttiest and nicest junior I know. . ." (is this a good thing or was I really loony?)
"You're a really cute and sweet girl with a wonderful disposition and a really good sense of humor . . ." (finally I must have been funny in a sweet sort of way)
"To a real crazy little nut I'll always remember. . ." (what's with the 'nut' business?)
"Remember the talks we had walking down the halls. . ." (talks??)
"To a nice but very talkative girl . . ." ('but' talkative?)
"Don't forget the fun we had in . . Choir . . . French . . . Biology. . . History" (I'm starting to remember some giggling)
"Don't forget all the times you got me involved in your little schemes about parties. . ." (OK, some of this is coming back to me)
"Remember when I stayed at your house and your mother chased me around with a fly 'squasher'? . . ." (Why doesn't that surprise me?)
So, it appears that I was a fun, crazy, talkative, scheming nut in high school who had a mother that chased my friends around with a fly "squasher" - not much has changed! It should be an interesting reunion.
I remember grade school pretty well. I remember that I was a doofus - really. I did things like telling my teacher I knew how to do the Irish Jig and actually performing it in front of the whole school. I had no idea what I was doing but that didn't stop me. I also entered a talent show as a pianist - never had a lesson in my life - but I got up and solemnly played "Chop Sticks" (after a bumpy start trying to find the first note). I was a grade school cheer leader and was adamant that the rest of the squad was pointing to the wrong basket when we yelled "go, go, where, where, we want a basket over there". I continued to point to the basket we had been pointing to throughout the game until I was reminded, through gritted teeth by the squad leader, that they change baskets at half-time. You would have thought someone would have told me that a little sooner, like before the whole school thought I was a plant from the other team! So, those things I remember.
When asked about high school, I "remembered" that I was an outsider, didn't have many friends, and was pretty quiet. I did my work, was a member of the drill team, and I wasn't allowed to date until I was 16 - and then I couldn't go on a date in a car! Not a very exciting high school experience as I remembered it.
Then I found my old year book and started reading what people wrote about me. Here are some of the comments:
"To a very sweet and crazy girl I had the pleasure of meeting . . ." (I guess crazy and sweet balance themselves out)
"To the nuttiest and nicest junior I know. . ." (is this a good thing or was I really loony?)
"You're a really cute and sweet girl with a wonderful disposition and a really good sense of humor . . ." (finally I must have been funny in a sweet sort of way)
"To a real crazy little nut I'll always remember. . ." (what's with the 'nut' business?)
"Remember the talks we had walking down the halls. . ." (talks??)
"To a nice but very talkative girl . . ." ('but' talkative?)
"Don't forget the fun we had in . . Choir . . . French . . . Biology. . . History" (I'm starting to remember some giggling)
"Don't forget all the times you got me involved in your little schemes about parties. . ." (OK, some of this is coming back to me)
"Remember when I stayed at your house and your mother chased me around with a fly 'squasher'? . . ." (Why doesn't that surprise me?)
So, it appears that I was a fun, crazy, talkative, scheming nut in high school who had a mother that chased my friends around with a fly "squasher" - not much has changed! It should be an interesting reunion.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Oh my god . . .
Did I get your attention? I've been saying that to myself for the last hour - thanks to a fantastic meal I just finished. I was thinking about how many times I order a meal due to one ingredient. If I see capers or artichokes and the next words aren't kidney beans, liver or beets, I'll probably order it.
I have been disappointed once when I did this. I saw a wonderful pasta with artichoke hearts so of course ordered it. When it came, I couldn't find an artichoke heart anywhere. When I mentioned it to the wait person he nonchalantly said "we're out of artichokes". What???? They couldn't give me that bit of information a little sooner since it was one of the main parts of the description "pasta with artichoke hearts". I ate it (of course) but sighed in disappointment with every bite. I could hardly finish the plate.
The other thing I've noticed is that my last 2 great meals have either been in an airport or near an airport. I'm not sure if my taste buds are losing their taste or if the food in and around the airport has gotten better. It would probably be best if my taste buds were losing their ability to tell good food since I have to eat my own cooking.
But today, I stopped at a restaurant called Bertucci's across from the Providence airport because I was early for my flight. I often choose a restaurant based on how full the parking lot is (and I have been fooled by finding that the full parking lot belonged to all of the families and employees of the restaurant) but this time the restaurant was crowded. The menu was pages long and I finally found the lunch section. My eyes stopped on "Piccato with chicken, capers and lemon sauce over pasta" and immediately stopped reading. When my food came, cute little capers were sprinkled all over the chicken and spaghetti - I was in heaven. And I love the name capers - it makes me smile. Anyway, it didn't take me long to realize that it is almost impossible to eat capers and spaghetti on the same fork. Capers are about as big as 4 grains of pepper and just about always roll off a fork on the way to the mouth. It's not like you can "fork" a caper either. I did finally balance a few on my chicken and loved the salty taste. I'm not sure what a caper is - and I'm not sure I want to know, but I do love them. After "2 handing" my capers onto my fork and lowering my mouth to about 6 inches from the plate I managed to get quite a few of them into my oral cavity.
I began quietly (I hope) moaning as I finally finished most of my food. I'm sure it wasn't just the capers; in fact I think the real winner was the butter, but this meal had me saying "oh my god" over and over. As I got into the airport, I tried really hard not to moan out loud but sometimes it just slipped out. I noticed a couple looking back at me as I was licking my lips and moaning - semi-silently. I don't know what they were thinking but I hope it was better than the real reason for my pleasure.
Ahhh, love me some capers!!
I have been disappointed once when I did this. I saw a wonderful pasta with artichoke hearts so of course ordered it. When it came, I couldn't find an artichoke heart anywhere. When I mentioned it to the wait person he nonchalantly said "we're out of artichokes". What???? They couldn't give me that bit of information a little sooner since it was one of the main parts of the description "pasta with artichoke hearts". I ate it (of course) but sighed in disappointment with every bite. I could hardly finish the plate.
The other thing I've noticed is that my last 2 great meals have either been in an airport or near an airport. I'm not sure if my taste buds are losing their taste or if the food in and around the airport has gotten better. It would probably be best if my taste buds were losing their ability to tell good food since I have to eat my own cooking.
But today, I stopped at a restaurant called Bertucci's across from the Providence airport because I was early for my flight. I often choose a restaurant based on how full the parking lot is (and I have been fooled by finding that the full parking lot belonged to all of the families and employees of the restaurant) but this time the restaurant was crowded. The menu was pages long and I finally found the lunch section. My eyes stopped on "Piccato with chicken, capers and lemon sauce over pasta" and immediately stopped reading. When my food came, cute little capers were sprinkled all over the chicken and spaghetti - I was in heaven. And I love the name capers - it makes me smile. Anyway, it didn't take me long to realize that it is almost impossible to eat capers and spaghetti on the same fork. Capers are about as big as 4 grains of pepper and just about always roll off a fork on the way to the mouth. It's not like you can "fork" a caper either. I did finally balance a few on my chicken and loved the salty taste. I'm not sure what a caper is - and I'm not sure I want to know, but I do love them. After "2 handing" my capers onto my fork and lowering my mouth to about 6 inches from the plate I managed to get quite a few of them into my oral cavity.
I began quietly (I hope) moaning as I finally finished most of my food. I'm sure it wasn't just the capers; in fact I think the real winner was the butter, but this meal had me saying "oh my god" over and over. As I got into the airport, I tried really hard not to moan out loud but sometimes it just slipped out. I noticed a couple looking back at me as I was licking my lips and moaning - semi-silently. I don't know what they were thinking but I hope it was better than the real reason for my pleasure.
Ahhh, love me some capers!!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Money Saving Tips
I just got an email ad from Glade products. You know the ones, air fresheners, air sanitizers, insect repellents and plug-ins. In the middle of the ad for all of these products, they put a recipe for a refreshing watermelon salad. What? All I can think of is stinky stuff spraying everywhere over my salad. Ahhh, thanks but no thanks. Who in the world hired the person who pulled together that web page? It probably wasn't even a real recipe because they knew no one would have the stomach to download it.
Then I started thinking - what a good way to save money on food. It's like when you go to a restaurant and just as the meal is being served, someone at the table starts talking about vomit (and you know who you are). Now, I can eat almost anything, any time and anywhere but during that conversation, my brain said "Appetite gone, doggie bag, please".
Here's a money saving tip. Let's say you are having a party and don't have a lot of food out. The hungry group starts gathering around the buffet table. Instead of worrying if you'll have enough to feed them all, start talking about - diarrhea or the gross pimple you just popped. I guarantee you will have plenty of left-overs.
My favorite money saving tip is for mothers of babies . You know how much disposable diapers cost - outrageous! All you have to do to stretch that box of diapers is to buy a box of kitty litter. When you change your baby, add a cup or two of kitty litter to the diaper. That diaper will last for a day or two before you'll have to change them. In fact you can probably scoop out the clumps and use it another day or so. I don't know why no one has thought about that before? The other benefit of the kitty litter is that a young child can sit up by themselves if you position them just right - bigger base for balance.
My last money saving (and water saving) tip involves showering / laundry. I don't understand why more people don't shower with the clothes on? If you shower with your clothes on and bring one other piece of laundry into the shower with you - like a bed sheet or blanket, you will save water, save on laundry detergent and save time.
I know I should write a book on money saving tips - and someday I might - but I felt it was my duty during this downturn in the economy to share (for free) my useful and unique tips.
Really, you don't have to thank me!
Then I started thinking - what a good way to save money on food. It's like when you go to a restaurant and just as the meal is being served, someone at the table starts talking about vomit (and you know who you are). Now, I can eat almost anything, any time and anywhere but during that conversation, my brain said "Appetite gone, doggie bag, please".
Here's a money saving tip. Let's say you are having a party and don't have a lot of food out. The hungry group starts gathering around the buffet table. Instead of worrying if you'll have enough to feed them all, start talking about - diarrhea or the gross pimple you just popped. I guarantee you will have plenty of left-overs.
My favorite money saving tip is for mothers of babies . You know how much disposable diapers cost - outrageous! All you have to do to stretch that box of diapers is to buy a box of kitty litter. When you change your baby, add a cup or two of kitty litter to the diaper. That diaper will last for a day or two before you'll have to change them. In fact you can probably scoop out the clumps and use it another day or so. I don't know why no one has thought about that before? The other benefit of the kitty litter is that a young child can sit up by themselves if you position them just right - bigger base for balance.
My last money saving (and water saving) tip involves showering / laundry. I don't understand why more people don't shower with the clothes on? If you shower with your clothes on and bring one other piece of laundry into the shower with you - like a bed sheet or blanket, you will save water, save on laundry detergent and save time.
I know I should write a book on money saving tips - and someday I might - but I felt it was my duty during this downturn in the economy to share (for free) my useful and unique tips.
Really, you don't have to thank me!
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