The Urge to Start Cooking Again

With the high temps we have been experiencing, I have not had any desire to cook. Not at all. Even with the A/C on, the thought of turning on the oven just did not appeal to me.

But now that the triple-digit temps have diminished, I am getting the itch to do some cooking, and have seen some new recipes that are calling to me. For example:

Nutella Swirl Banana Muffins at The Londoner blog look just plain yummy. Must try for a weekend breakfast soon.

Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookies on Lick the Bowl Good blog are a definite must. A cookie within a cookie; who can resist?

Bacon Double Cheeseburger Dip on Cooking With Mel blog. It might be an appetizer, but I'm thinking about making this for a light lunch or supper with a nice salad on the side. Bacon, burger, and cheese - - what's not to love?

I definitely intend to try these and a couple other recipes in the near future. And, of course, if they turn out well, they will be added to my recipe blog, Cookin' In the Kitchen with Dizzy.

So stay tuned for updates!

MUCH Better!

The heat wave seems to have broken somewhat.....temps are still hovering around 90 degrees, but considering the triple-digit temps and high humidity of the past couple of weeks? It almost feels downright balmy!  :)

Yesterday after work we went to Bloomington to return brother-in-law's tables, and while we were there, I treated Mr. Dizzy to supper to say "thank you" for all the help he gave me during the sale. I honestly could not have gotten it accomplished without him.We went to TGI Fridays, and it was fantastic! They have a special going on that is "2 for $10"....you get an entree, and either a starter or a dessert for that price. I had Parmesan-Spinach Flatbread, and an entree of Parmesan-Crusted Chicken with Spinach-Cheese Sauce and Tortellini. The Mr. had a Jack Daniels Cheeseburger and then Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie for dessert (which I of course had to try - - it's the law, right?). The service was great, and the food was incredible. We will definitely go again. 

There was so much food that I wound up taking half of it home, so guess what I'm having for supper tonight?  :-)  

Unfortunately, no Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie was left over - - *sigh* - - maybe next time.

Rude Awakening

Vacation is over. And MONDAY has hit, with a vengeance.

*sigh* 

It's rough coming back to work after a week off. And the kittykids? They certainly didn't seem too happy to see me and Mr. Dizzy leaving this morning. 

Now it's all a process of checking voicemail, cleanout out my e-mail Inbox, and getting back into the swing of things. I should be back into the groove by the end of the week. I hope.
One thing last week showed me though - - when me and Mr. Dizzy finally have the chance to retire, we will do just fine. We love just being with each other and spending time doing things together. Granted, we still go off and do our own things now and then, but it's SO nice to come back home, any time of the day, and find the other there waiting for them.

Someday....... it's such a nice thought!

Sunday

Finally got everything boxed up that was left over from the sale. There is really not very much left, not at all! But what is left will definitely benefit the sale next weekend to raise funds for By Grace Orphanage. Glad we can help out a bit with that.

All we need to do now is get the tables we borrowed back to their rightful owners, take my tubs of antiques back down to the basement, and put our tables back in storage. So not much left to do.

It has been great being off work this past week, in spite of being out in those terribly hot temps! But, all good things much come to an end, and tomorrow I will be back in the office and playing catch-up. I'm not really ready to go back!  :-) 

Now, time to go have some more fun with Mr. Dizzy and the kittykids.....need to enjoy the last of my vacation!

The Sale Is OVER!

The sale is finally over, and it was a HUGE success! Between the three families, we made over $1000 total! It was HOT, it was HUMID, it was STICKY, but it was very, very profitable.

But it's OVER. And that is a very good thing.

It really was a lot of fun, despite the miserable weather. We met some very nice people, and we also met some very weird ones. I'm talking total whack-jobs here. But that provided some comic relief!  :) 

Once we got things shut down and we were back in the cool A/C, it was time to tally up and settle up. We are all pretty happy with what we each made. Every little bit helps, especially in this economy!

We still have to go out and clear up everything and set the barn back to rights, and make sure the borrowed tables get back to the people they belong to. But, that will be worked on tomorrow, when it's supposed to be a bit cooler. Instead of triple-digit temps, it is supposed to be in the mid-80's, which will be a very welcome change.

We also have a good place for all our leftover rummage sale "stuff" to go! A friend and former co-worker is having a rummage sale next weekend, and all proceeds benefit an orphanage in Kenya that one of our student clubs helps out. So I am arranging to get everything over to his house; hopefully it will help them out. I'm happy to be able to do something for them.

Now it's time for a nice cool shower and a good night's sleep! And I'm sure the cats are ready also - - they usually sleep the day away, but the past 2 days? It's been way too interesting outside, and they have spent most of their time watching the comings and goings of all the cars and people! So we are all ready for some sleep.

 Goodnight.........*yawn*

Sale, Day 1

the first day of the sale is done! It was steaming hot! But very profitable. Haven't tallied up yet, but people flocked in and things were flying out the door! Let's see how Day 2 goes. Stay tuned.......

Getting Ready

We have been busy all day yesterday and today getting ready for the rummage sale - - yesterday moving everything up from the basement to the barn, setting up tables, and a bit of sorting. Today I have been emptying boxes and tubs and getting everything out onto tables.

We have a LOT of STUFF. Been working on it all afternoon and not done yet.

And, to make it worse, we are under an excessive heat warning until 7 PM Saturday. The only saving grace is that I am in the barn and not in direct sunlight, with 2 big doors open, a nice breeze coming through, and a fan on.

But it's still FREAKIN' HOT.

Fortunately, I have to make runs into the house occasionally to make signs, grab stickers or tape, or grab another bottle of water, so the A/C helps a bit.

If it is this unbearably hot the 2 days of the sale, we may wind up shutting down before the 3 PM closing time. Just have to wait and see.

Tuesday

We had a very "freaky" storm yesterday evening. It was bright and sunny outside at our house, when we suddenly hear an extremely loud boom of thunder. ??? Looked outside and the sun was shining brightly. Stepped out on the back porch and got pelted with raindrops! Looked to the East, and the sky was black, and a whole lot of lightning. Then the wind started - - FROM THE EAST, which is extremely unusual! The next thing we knew, the trees were blowing wildly and we were getting rain. Not a lot, but I'll take whatever we can get!

On another note - - For being on "vacation" I have really gotten a lot accomplished already, and it's only Tuesday! Got up early again today and was at the Gym by 6:30 AM. Walked out an hour later, went to Walmart and found the extra plant I needed, got home and got a bit of yard work done while it was still a little bit cooler. That didn't last long - - by 8:30 AM it was already starting to steam, so back inside I went. Kitchen and laundry room are cleaned, and also managed to fit in a bit of playtime with the kittykids. Even with me working and running around the house like a crazy woman, they seem to be pretty happy having me home.

Tonight when Mr. Dizzy gets off work we will be heading North to pick up tables and stuff for this weekend's sale. Since he's being so nice and helpful about all of this (the man has the patience of a saint)(he needs it, being married to me!) I will treat him to supper while we are out. Just because he's such a good boy.  :-)  We just may get this sale pulled together yet......and I am going to be very happy when it's done!

The forecast for the rest of this week, including our sale weekend, is temps  right up around the 100 degree mark. This is not going to be fun. But the barn has 2 big doors to open, and we have a fan to set up, so hopefully we will have enough of a breeze to make it tolerable. *keeping fingers crossed*

Time to wrap this post up....I hear the kittykids calling me to come play with them!  :)

Carmichael: "Come rub my belly, Mom!"

VA-CAY!!

This is the first day of my vacation! Time to rest, relax, have some fun. Right?

Nope. Not happening.

What have I been doing the first day of my vacation? Well, let's see - - this morning I got up and was at teh Gym at 6:30 for an hour work out. Then to Walmart to pick up a few plants to fill in a few dead spots from plants that have not survived the heat. Then potting said plants. Then inside, to clean how and do laundry.

Tomorrow? Lather, rinse, repeat. (Yes, including the Walmart run; ran short on plants)

Oh, and also keep on getting ready for the rummage sale this weekend. Tonight heading to a friend's house to pick up some tables to use. Tomorrow night heading up to Bloomington to pick up some more tables a family member is lending us, as well as tables and "stuff" from my friend who is going in on the sale with me.

And through all of this we are still in the middle of one helluva heat wave. In fact, for the sale this weekend? They are forecasting near-100 degree temps.

*sigh*

I am ready for a cool-down, any time now.

I DID IT!

I actually did it! I was able to complete NaBloPoMo for June! Yes, I actually managed to post ever single day. Wow - - I honestly was not sure I would be able to. But I did. Now let's see what July has to offer.....

I survived the lake yesterday. Yes, it was hot. Miserably so. Little to no breeze. Bugs. I had to spend quite a bit of time in the camper trying to cool down and let nausea pass. But I made it. And then, on the way home, we saw some storms building. And when we got home, there was water standing on the roads and we knew that we had finally gotten some much needed rain.

Then! Then! We got MORE rain. More, blessed rain. And thunder, lightning, the whole bit. Unfortunately, it was over way too soon. In fact, Mr. Dizzy said there was only about 1/3 inch in the rain gauge. Considering we are 7-10 inches below normal for the year, that hurts. Especially since we had a fairly dry summer last year, and little to no snow last winter.

Central Illinois is hurting, and hurting bad.

This next week they are calling for more high temps and no rain. In fact, they are saying we could get triple-digit temps again next weekend. This is not good, because that is when we have our Rummage Sale planned. At least we will be in the barn and not out in the sun. Keeping my fingers crossed thaat we will at least have a breeze......

NaBloPoMo June - Day 30 - It's HOT!

The Midwest is under a heat warning. The past two days temps have reached the triple digits, and it doesn't look like it intends to break any time soon.

Well, that might not be totally accurate. Yesterday it hit 102 degrees, and then an hour later we must have had a cold snap come through, because the temp dove all the way down to 99 degrees. Gee, time to dig out the sweaters, isn't it? (Not.)

Today looks to be another day of triple-digit temps. So what is going on with the Dizzy's today? Do I get to stay inside and be cool? Work on more crafts? Maybe cook something special for the Mister?

Of course not.

Today is the annual family gathering at the lake. Yes, the lake. Outside. Bugs, sun, and high temps and humidity.

I'm going, but I'm not exactly happy about it. I want to see a lot of the family, but I really am not relishing the idea of being miserable while I'm doing it. I'm not a real outdoorsy person....I don't go on the water, can't swim, and really am not real fond of bugs.

*sigh*

Wish me luck. And don't let me forget the sunscreen.

NaBloPoMo June - Day 29 - FINALLY!!

Got my meds. Finally! 

I talked with the nurse at the Doctor's office, and they had a 14 day supply of the Enjuvia they said I could have. Talked with CVS, and they still had the 30 days of Cenestin. (The two meds are interchangeable). So between the two, I now have six weeks of meds. A little breathing room, at least.


The Pharmacist at CVS told me she had checked directly with their vendor, and was told that they were hoping the manufacturing issues would be cleared up no later than October. Also, she said they still had 15 bottles of Cenestin to sell or dispose of, so she ordered a bottle of 100 to have on hand. Hopefully she will still have some at the end of six weeks when I need a refill.

But at least I have not completely run out. YET.

NaBloPoMo June - Day 28 - Meds (Again)

Okay, this is going to get ugly.

I posted about my HRT meds situation here and here, and was hoping that all would turn out well.

Well, it hasn't. And now I'm going ballistic.

When I got my prescription transferred over to CVS from Walgreen's, the pharmacy tech told me that they would fill the balance of my order for that month when I needed it, near the end of the month. I thought that was a bit strange, but figured it might have had something to do with the fact that I was a brand new CVS customer, and had never gotten prescriptions filled there before. She assured me - - she PROMISED me - - that she was going to take those 10 pills and put them back with my name on them so that they would be there for me when I needed them. She said she was going to do that "right now."

She PROMISED me.

She LIED.

Last night on my way home from a hair appointment, I went by CVS to get the balance of the prescription, since I was down to 3 pills. The young man checked records, shelves, everywhere.....no pills. Nothing with my name on them. And the other balance of the pills they had in stock previously? Gone. None left, including the 10 that were supposedly reserved and held back for me.

He called 2 other CVS stores, none of them have the pills in stock. Checking computer records, it shows that they are on "Hold" and that they cannot be reordered until September. He then checked my previous med, Cenestin, and said he had 30 of those in stock, but their status was also on "Hold" and could not be reordered until September.

I am NOT a happy camper here. I mean, what the hell is the deal? I know I can't be the only woman in the world who has to take the plant-derived HRT because my system doesn't tolerate the animal-derived version. I KNOW I'M NOT.

His only other suggestion was that I could "call around" and try to find it. Like I can spend the whole damn day at work calling pharmacies to try and find some of the pills, only to have to redo the whole thing again in another month? And keep having to transfer my prescription from pharmacy to pharmacy? That is just NOT going to happen.

This morning I called my Doctor and talked with her. She said they have some Enjuvia at their office, and I need to contact them tomorrow and see what we can work out. So at least I can have some pills for a short duration until we can come up with some sort of game plan.

This is not going to be fun.

NaBloPoMo June - Day 27 - Wednesday

Kind of a random day - - nothing terribly notable about it, just a "random" sort of day. So I guess this is going to be a "random" sort of post.

• This evening is the June Culinary Arts Dinner, and to go with a Summer theme, it is a Barbeque. The menu sounds fantastic: Smoked Pulled Pork, BBQ Chicken, Grilled Sausage and Peppers, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, Baked Beans, and Macaroni and Cheese. All food is prepared and presented by the Culinary Arts students, under direct tutelage of the Chefs. I made reservations for myself and Mr. Dizzy, who will be meeting me here at the College at 5:00.
• Immediately following dinner, Mr. Dizzy heads home and I head downtown to the salon to get my hair cut. Not trimmed - - CUT. I have hair to my shoulders, and love it at this length. However, my hair is VERY thick. Good ol' Italian hair....thick, and HOT. And we are under a heat advisory for the next week (well, it IS Summer, after all!). Today it will hit the mid-90's, tomorrow they are forecasting triple-digit temps. As in 100+. Hair is coming off, and staying shorter for the rest of the Summer season!
• I am in Week 4 of my online class, and my attention span is not what is should be. Too many distracting "ooh shiny!" moments. Such as last night....at the computer, my article summary called up on the monitor, textbook, article, and assignment directions spread out on the desk in front of me - - suddenly covered by big, fat, black kitty belly. Lil Dude decided that his belly was WAY more important than any piddly homework Mom was trying to do! No matter what I said, no matter what I did, he laid there, belly exposed, eyes imploring me to rub his belly...."It will make you feel better, Mom." Really it will!" You know, he was right. Homework got packed up and put away until this morning. Funny how work at my office is actually less distracting than kitty belly!

Hope everyone is prepared for the hot weather tomorrow. Stay inside where it is cool and safe if you possibly can. And be sure your animals are safe as well!

NaBloPoMo June - Day 26 - Survivor Car Show (part 2)

Once we got into St. Charles and found Pheasant Run, we got parked and started walking to the show entrance. Parking was across the street and a little ways down from the show, so it was a nice little walk - - got our blood pumping and got us woke up a bit. As we were waiting to cross the street to get to the show, we started chatting with a couple of elderly gentlemen waiting to cross also, about the show. They asked if we had ever attended before; we said no. They then asked if we had out admission tickets, and again the answer was no. One of the gentlemen told us it was $20 to get in, and asked if we had a Corvette (since the main show was the Bloomington Gold Corvette Show). We said no, and Mr. Dizzy started telling him about his "survivor" car and how we were on a "fact-finding mission" to scout out for next year's Survivor show.

What happened next really surprised us.....one of the gentlemen said they were Bloomington Gold club members, and they had been given 8 VIP passes each. They had shared a lot of them with family members and friends, but still had quite a few left that they knew would not get used since this was the last day of the show. He then asked his friend to give us a couple of them, effectively saving us $40 in entrance fees!

We were, in a word, amazed. Oh, and grateful. Very, very grateful. Sometimes something surprising and good happens and restores your faith in humankind.

The Survivor show was really nice! Lots of old, original cars, and lots of nice people. Actually, most car people are very nice, and a lot of fun to talk to. MOST of them, that is.....like anything else, you always run into one or two who you wish would just go away. But the majority ar good folks.

From what we saw at the Survivor show, Mr. Dizzy's car stands a very good chance of making it to the "Zenith" level, the top status a car can reach. The show next year is in Champaign, Illinois, MUCH closer to home. We are already making plans to get the car entered into the show, and are really looking forward to it!

We finally got on the road after a bite to eat at Boston Market, and then a quick trip to Trader Joe's (never been to one, can't wait to go back!) and made it back home just before 9:00 PM. After getting everything unloaded from the truck and in the house, it was a matter of unpacking just enough "stuff" to be able to get ready for work the next day, then off to bed with the "velcro kitty-kids" (yes, very clingy....apparently them missed us or something). After such a long, hot and tiring weekend, you would think we would fall asleep immediately, but that was not the case. The Mr. was still pumped up from the show and what he found out, and I still felt like I was riding in the truck.

So Monday was "zombie day" for both of us. But we survived.

All in all, it was a GREAT weekend! Just fun to get away and spend some time together.

NaBloPoMo June - Day 25 - Survivor Car Show

Mr. Dizzy and I spent the weekend in the Fox River Valley area so we could go to the Survivor Car Show at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois. The show, which is run in conjunction with the Bloomington Gold Corvette Show, highlights "survivor" cars - - cars which are originals, not restored or having major portions of the vehicle replace or upgraded. In fact, you lose points for perfection, which is actually kind of neat. They want to see cars that are as original as possible.

Mr. Dizzy has such a car....a year or so ago his Dad gave him his 1965 Pontiac Tempest, which he drove off the showroom floor on September 30, 1964. The car is in excellent condition, all original, with a little over 70,000 original miles on it. He would like to get it entered into the show next year, so this year was a "fact-finding" mission.

However, on our way up we stopped in Pontiac, Illinois at the Pontiac-Oakland Museum so that the Mr. could drop off a donation. While in town we had lunch at Lucy's Cup Cafe, which is a nice little place with GREAT food. Before leaving town I stopped at a resale shop there on the square, and scored a shirt, a purse, and a pair of sandals for just a little bit of nothing. A definite win!

We got to the Fox River Valley Saturday afternoon, and checked into our hotel room in Yorkville, which is about 17 miles from St. Charles. We decided to stay a bit outside of St. Charles, because with all the Bloomington Gold participants around (it's a huge show) hotel rooms were scarce AND extremely expensive. So in looking outside that area, well - - a Super 8 for $58/night seemed pretty good! The room was clean and quiet, so that's all that mattered.

Yorkville had some pretty good restaurant choices, and we settled on Maciano's for Italian. I had a Caprese sandwich, which was fresh-sliced tomatoes, discs of fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil leaves, served open-faced on on Italian roll, drizzled with garlic olive oil and heated in their pizza over until the bottom of the bread was crispy and the cheese was melted. OMG yummy.....Mr. Dizzy had a Calzone with pepperoni, Italian Sausage and cheese, with Marinara sauce on the side for dipping. He loved it.

Sunday morning started off a bit shaky with the clock radio alarm in our room not going off, so we woke up about a half-hour later than we wanted to. We scrambled around getting ready and pulling everything together, and finally got out of there (after reporting the faulty alarm to the front desk). Super 8 has a free breakfast, but we opted for the Dunkin' Donuts across the parking lot....grabbed a couple of doughnuts and some juice, and hit the road.

I will tell more about the weekend and the car show the next couple of posts. Lots to share!  :)

NaBloPoMo June - Day 24 - Home

We spent the weekend in the Fox River Valley area (Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, IL). Good weekend, but SO glad to be home. Now that things are in the house, and things for work tomorrow are found and ready to go, it's time for bed. The kitty-kids are being VERY demanding and "clingy" so we know it's best to do what they want.....I think they missed us.

It was a LONG, HOT weekend, but a good one. More tomorrow.

NaBloPoMo June - Day 23 - Contratulations!

My former daughter-in-law (aka The Daughter I Never Had) - - the one who just had the darling little Tyler, got married yesterday! She has a wonderful man in her life, who loves her, loves my grandsons, and treats them right. I am very happy for ALL of them!

Congratulations, Dawn and Kevin! Here is wishing you many, many happy years together!

NaBloPoMo June - Day 22 - Easter

No, not the religious holiday. Easter the bunny. And no, not the "Easter Bunny" either. Easter is a yard bunny, who just happens to live in our yard at the Mr. & Mrs. Dizzy homestead.

How did Easter get his name? Well, here's the story:

Back in April, on Easter weekend, Mr. Dizzy and I were busily mowing our 5 acres on that nice Saturday morning. Mr. Dizzy finished up in the big meadow with the large tradtor, which is a major portion of our acreage, and went inside briefly to take a short break. I continued on with the smaller Toro in the back yard.

Suddenly, I saw a smallish rabbit run away from where I was getting ready to mow. That scared me, because I did NOT want to run over a rabbit's nest and kill any babies! So, I immediately stopped mowing and turned off the tractor, went in the house and got Mr. Dizzy, and we started looking for the nest.

We found TWO of them. One I had already mowed over, but there were no rabbits in it, thank goodness! We think that is where the one I saw running must have been staying, and he beat big bunny feet getting out of the way before I went over it. *whew* .... close one.

We kept looking around where I had not mowed yet, and found the second rabbit nest, and inside was this tiny, itty-bitty bunny baby. He was laying there, really still, hiding. I am sure he was scared to death! But the strange part was, he stayed there while we knelt by him, talking softly to him, and even let us softly stroke him with a gloved finger. He did not even attempt to take off.

Well, Mr. Dizzy decided he needed to be moved so nothing happened to him. So, I went down to the basement and found a small box, which the Mr. started filling with fresh cut grass. He then picked up the little bunny, placed it in the grass-filled box, and shut the lid. The box was then placed on the back porch, safely away from the mowing, so I jumped back on the Toro and finished up that part of the yard. We then got the box and turned the baby loose.....and he immediately ran WAYYYYY back to the part of the yard behind the barn - - that Mr. Dizzy had not gotten mowed yet.

*sigh*

We really didn't expect him to go THAT direction and run THAT far. But he did.

SO - - here we go, with the box of grass, down behind the barn to find him. He was just laying there, and let us even pet him again. So Mr. Dizzy got him in the box a second time, and we hurried up to get the mowing finished. Once we were done, we opened the box and let the little guy go. He ran off happily and joined his other bunny friend.

SInce we had rescued him (twice) and it was Easter weekend, we decided to call him Easter.

Fast-forward to present day. The two yard bunnies are still here, and one is still quite a bit smaller than the other, and we believe that one is Easter. And the amazing thing? In the mornings, when Mr. Dizzy leaves the house to get to his truck and go to work, the smaller bunny is there, in the back yard, and just sits there watching him. Mr. Dizzy always makes a point of stopping and just talking to him, and the bunny just sits there, watching and listening to him.

And this happens almost every morning!

This little guy has also stopped and listened to me if I come outside and see him....he doesn't run away scared like the other bunny does. Having us around doesn't seem to bother him at all. I guess he knows we are the "good guys" and he has nothing to fear.

Kinda neat, actually.

NaBloPoMo June - Day 21 - Facebook Class

I taught a "Navigating Facebook" class last night. Interesting subject, and extremely hard to do. If you are on Facebook at all, you probably know why I say that - - they keep changing things, just randomly, all the time, just to frustrate the hell out of all of us.

So I warned everyone, right up front, that everything we convered, anything they learned, would more than likely be obsolete by the time they got back home. That got a bit of a chuckle out of them, but sadly is way too true.....

In fact, the handouts given to me to hand out and use in class? Were just recently downloaded and printed, and as I read through them, I could see things that already were different.

Facebook is a GREAT way to keep up with friends and family members. Facebook is TERRIBLE at trying to keep up with.....maybe someday they will get their act together and quit driving us crazy? Maybe?

Nope, I don't thing so either.

NaBloPoMo June - Day 20 - Random

Nothing really specific to write about today. It's been a hectic week, and my brain is scrambled. So this post will be scrambled also......

• It's hot out. EXTREMELY hot and humid. Clothes-stick-to-your-skin uncomfortable. So what does this place do? Cranks up the A/C to an extreme level, so that even though it is Hades-hotter-than-Hell outside, people are wearing jackets and running mini-space heaters in the offices. It's a bad sign when I open up my office door first thing in the morning and an Arctic blast of cold air rushes over me. A nice middle ground would be appreciated.....

• Working late tonight.....I was asked to lead a "Navigating Facebook" non-credit class this evening. Should be interesting - - the way Facebook can't seem to make up their minds and keep changing things on a minute-by-minute basis, everything they learn tonight will be obsolete by the time they get back home!

• Speaking of classes, I am taking an online class this summer as well. It's an 8-week course, and is pretty interesting. The main issue I have is that there are quite a few things in the way the course is set up. But, that could just be me; when you work with course design and development all day it tends to make one a tad bit "critical."

That's the "scramble" for today. Hopefully tomorrow my brain will be more on one track than it is today!

NaBloPoMo June - Day 19 - Yummmmmmm

I made a HUGE batch of Red Beans 'n' Rice for the office today.....sausage, onions, tomatoes, chunks of smoked sausage, all served with Jasmine Rice.....

The whole office smells amazing......can't wait for lunchtime!

NaBloPoMo June - Day 18 - A New Addition!

My former daughter-in-law (aka the daughter we never had) and her significant other had a baby boy yesterday. Tyler James made his appearance into the world Sunday evening. 7 pounds, 10 ounces of bouncing baby boy.

What makes this extra special is that it was Father's Day, and it was Momma Dawn's Birthday. I cannot imagine a better Father's Day present or Birthday present for the happy couple.

Welcome to the world, little one! SO happy to have you here with us!

NaBloPoMo June - Day 17 - Daddy's Day!

NaBloPoMo June - Day 16 - HOT day

Summer is definitely showing today! 88 degrees, humid, sunny, and unfortunately very, very dry. We need rain. We need it NOW. And we need quite a bit of it.

Mr. Dizzy and I have been working and planning a massive rummage sale for the weekend after the Fourth of July holiday. I have been spending lots of "quality time" in the basement, sorting and pricing items for the sale. I'm beginning to feel like a mushroom, being in the cool, underground cavern.....

So far we have an amazing amount of "stuff" for the sale. Mr. Dizzy has been hard at work cleaning out the barn so we will have a large space to set up all the tables. It's not just our things, but items from his parents, his brother's family, and a couple of friends of mine. It's going to be HUGE!

So if you are in Central Illinois the first weekend in July, specifically the are just North of Decatur, look for the bright pink signs and arrows pointing the way. I'm sure I have something you just can't live without.....  :)

NaBloPoMo June - Day 15 - Conference

Well, the conference is finished. The Keynote Speaker was a wonderful fellow, very nice, very personable, but as a speaker? Not very motivational. He is definitely a "policy" guy, and giving a report in a board room he would probably be in his element. But motivational? Sorry, the session was lacking.....but I'm sure a lot of folks in the audience got some good information out of it. Just not my cup of tea.

I did attend a session on social issue theater productions that was absolutely fantastic! The presenter was very dynamic, engaged her audience, and did a wonderful job. LOVED that session!

The lunch? Um - - probably better left unsaid. (Actually, it probably would have been better left uneaten. Yes, it was THAT bad.)

The problem with me attending this conference? I worked it for so many years, and have very strong feelings on how it should be run. But, since I am out of the loop, I have no say in things, nor do I want a say in anything! But it still bugs me to sit there and see the way some things are done, and know how different it used to be.

All in all, it's not a bad conference, but it could definitely use some changes in procedures. Just my humble opinion.

NaBloPoMo June - Day 14 - Diversity

This afternoon starts the Annual Diversity Conference at our College: "Serving the World Outside Our Door." Just got back from registering and picking up my "swag" - - 

The office I used to work in here was basically in charge of planning and running the conference. Since I have not worked in that office for the past 5 years, I am not directly involved in that anymore, so  I can actually attend it!

Even after 5 years, it feels really strange to be on this side of the Registration table.....

Looking forward to attending some good sessions tomorrow!

NaBloPoMo June - Day 13 - Meds

Well, CVS has the HRT med I need, in stock. At least for the moment. I will have the balance of my current month's prescription, at least. Next month? Anybody's guess.....

But, getting the med from CVS was not without its own hiccups. (Why should anything in my life ever be EASY? What fun would that be?)

I went into CVS and spoke with the lady I had talked to on the phone the day before. She had me speak with one of the pharmacists so that I could get my customer profile set up and they could request the presecription transfer from Walgreens. Everything was going along swimmingly, until it came time to hand over my insurance cards.....

I have 2 insurances - - mine through the College, and a secondary one through Mr. Dizzy's work (which is Caterpillar). I usually use Cat's prescription card, because the meds co-pay is normally a bit cheaper for me.

CVS can't use Cat insurance.

Me: "You don't accept Cat insurance?"

Pharmacist: "Cat doesn't accept US!"

*sigh*

So I turn over my College insurance card, and it was accepted with no problem. So now I may be paying a bit more for the meds, but at least I will HAVE them!

But do NOT even get me started on "Managed Health Care" and all the stupid rules, regulations and red tape. I get so damn sick and tired of jumping through hoops!

NaBloPoMo June - Day 12 - Meds Update

This is NOT going to be pretty. In fact, it is more than likely going to get pretty ugly before it's all over.

Last week, when Walgreens reported to me that they had a "temporary shortage" of my HRT med, they specifically told me that it "wasn't a manufacturer issue" and that it was just that they were "waiting on a delivery from their warehouses."

Well, they lied.

Last night, the Pharmacy Manager told me that it "was a manufacturer issue" and that they could not guarantee when, or even IF, they would be getting any more in.

Mind you, I have to take this med every day. EVERY. DAY.

*sigh*

I have been contacting other pharmacies, and have found one local CVS that still has it in stock. I am stopping there tonight after work and have them call Walgreens to get the balance of my prescription filled. And then since they still have some in stock, hopefully be able to keep getting it.

But, my Doctor's office is on notice that there is a very strong chance that I will be having to change over to something else, AGAIN, very soon. And my options are pretty narrow - - with my system having an extremely low tolerance of the animal-derived HRT meds, the plant-derived ones are few.

This is kinda scary. *keeping fingers crossed*

NaBloPoMo June - Day 11 - Monday.....

Mondays are "blah" days, mostly.

This Monday is no different.

Nothing major, actually, just stuff that I am having to deal with, which makes it a "blah" day.....

• Dealing with Walgreens, who keep shorting me on my prescription refills for my hormone replacement.....they may want to watch out for that, it could get dangerous!
• Dealing with our former doctor's office, who have repeatedly failed to get our medical records sent to our new doctor's office. Since JANUARY. Mine finally arrived at the new doctor's last week; Mr. Dizzy's still has not. Last we heard, they "couldn't find them back in their old records file room." They better hurry and locate them. It may get ugly (See the point above about homone replacement pills)
• Dealing with a Gym that for some reason has not been opening on Saturday mornings when they should be (8:00 AM), which pushes my workout time back, and with my hectic schedule, makes me have to cut my workout short. They better get back on track, or it may get ugly (Again, see the point above about hormone replacement pills)

I need to contact my Gyn doctor's office to let them know what is happening with Walgreens and the pills, I need to contact the Pharmacy Manager at Walgreens and discuss the situation with him (the clerk on Saturday could not, or maybe was unwilling to, give me a decent answer about the situation), will be asking him for the name and contact information for his Regional Rep, and will more than likely wind up having to contact Walgreens Corporate to discuss the matter.

Like I said, it may get ugly. It is NEVER a smart thing to mess with a woman's homones.

Stay tuned.....

NaBloPoMo June - Day 10 - Lazy Sunday

Things for a lazy Sunday - - 

• Sunshine outside and a light breeze blowing in the windows and doors
• Lazy gray Carmichael Kitty sleeping in the bay window sun
• Pot Roast in the crockpot making the house smell yummy (Roasted Veggies to be added soon)
• (Not so) Lil Dude padding through the house, panther-like, following me from room to room
• Curling up on the loveseat, with my textbook (summer class), reading with a kitty curled up and pressed against my leg

All part of a lovely weekend day......

NaBloPoMo June - Day 9 - Slug-a-bugs, Yo

Slug-a-bugs.

That is what I have in my house today....





Disgusting, isn't it?

(Think it's time I joined them for a nap!)

NaBloPoMo June - Day 8

Last night was a great night....met with "The Ladies" for dinner. And it was yummy!

"The Ladies" is a group of my classmates. Some of us have known each other since Kindergarten. Considering that we have been out of school for a  *cough*  couple of years  *cough*  that means a lot of history there!

Last night we met at one classmate's cabin on the lake of the small town we grew up in. It's a cute little place that she and her husband fixed up and decorated, and it's a fun place to meet. The setting is calm and peaceful, right on the lakefront, with a beautiful view of the water from the windows or the deck.

For dinner, Indian Tacos were on the menu. I had never had them, and was looking forward to trying them. In a word, they were AMAZING. The taco "shell" is actually Navajo Fry Bread, which then get the taco toppings put on them - - refried beans, taco meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, etc.

Yes. AMAZING.

So, of course I had to go online and find a recipe, because this is something that I definitely WILL be making for Dear Mr. Dizzy. Here is a link for the Navajo Fry Bread recipe, as well as a picture tutorial on Indian Tacos that I found on the Pioneer Woman's blog:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/10/indian-fry-bread-and-indian-tacos/ 

Once I fix them myself, I will definitely be posting the recipe on my Recipe Blog.

Give them a try. I bet you will love them, too!

NaBloPoMo June - Day 7 - Something New

The prompt question was "What is something you'd like to jump into if you had more time/money?"

Well, THAT'S an easy one.

I would jump right into retirement! But I would not just sit around and do nothing. Nope, no way. Retirement would give me more time to do more card-making, mini birdhouse painting, and other crafty "stuff." I would also sign up for sewing classes to learn more about my machine and how to do more than just hem or sew a straight seam.

I would be one very, very busy lady. And would love it.

But the economy the way it is today, retirement is a LONG, LONG way off.....*sigh*

Maybe someday.

NaBloPoMo June - Day 6 - New Projects

Today's prompt question was, "How do you feel about starting new projects?"

Um, well, okay I guess. I have had to do enough of them. And still am doing them.  :)

One new project I started a couple of years ago was taking online courses to complete my Mater Online Teacher (MOT) Certificate. I had never taken an online class before, and since I had just recently started working in my present job in the online field, figured it was about time to do so. Not only would I learn more about working in the online environment, I would be able to use my own experiences as an online student.

Last year I completed my MOT Certificate. Yay me! I am done with classes, online or otherwise. Right? RIGHT??

Wrong.

My supervisor found an online class titled "Supporting Students Online" and has talked me into taking it alnog with her.

*sigh*

Here I am, back in the saddle again, student-wise.

So, if I didn't deal with with starting new projects, I would have been in big trouble the past few years, and would continue to be, wouldn't I? Just sayin' is all.  :)

NaBloPoMo June - Day 5 - Jumping In

For June NaBloPoMo, BlogHer gives "writing prompts" to give bloggers ideas of what to write about. Since I am trying to get back into the swing of this blogging "thing" and having some issues with finding topics, I'm going to be using some of these. Thank you, BlogHer!

The topic posted today is, "What is something you recently jumped into?"

I don't know that this would be classified as "recent," but 5 years ago I decided to make a major job change. I was an Administrative Assistant to one of the Vice President's here at the College, and had been in the administrative clerical field for more than 30 years. But my real love was working with computers. I had completed my A.A.S. Degree in Computer Information Systems a few years before that, and used the knowledge gained there to enhance my job.

It was nice, but it was not what I wanted to do my entire life. However, with the job market the way it is, I just counted myself lucky to have a job, kept my hand in for learning the new programs that were coming out, and called it good.

Then the Online Support Specialist resigned, and the opening was posted. As I read the job description, something inside me woke up. This job - - THIS job - - is what I wanted to do. It was the field I wanted to be in. It was the type of work I wanted to do.

I was scared to death thinking of making a change this major. I fretted and worried and lost sleep thinking about it. I drove Mr. Dizzy CRAZY with all my nervousness! But, being the loving, supportive husband that he is, he told me, "Get off your ass and apply already! We both need to get some sleep!" (Actually, not exactly in those words, but you get the idea.....)

So I applied.And amazingly enough, I got it!

It was rough at first, switching over to a completely different line of work, but thankfully I had been at the College enough years to know who to ask for help, and what to ask for. I have been through four different supervisors in the past 5 years - - the first one temporary, then a Director, then a Dean when the Director left, and then another Director (who thankfully is still here). The current Director and I work together very well, and have taken the department in a completely different direction than the one it was heading in (and it is much better for the change).

If I had let my initial fears get the better of me and not applied, I would not have this amazing job, working with the most amazing people on campus. I am glad I allowed myself to "jump in" and take the chance!

NaBloPoMo June - Day 4 - Well, It's Started!

Today starts the beginning of a new semester. It will have its crazy, crackpot moments, I'm sure! Summer usually isn't as bad, but still has its ups and downs.

Here's keeping my fingers crossed that I make it through the day with my nails only halfway chewed down and most of the hair left on my head.

And if you think I'm just talking about the STUDENTS, well - - think again!  :-)

Wish me luck!

Update: It's been a ZOO, as expected!

NaBloPoMo June - Day 3 - New Semester

Extremely short post here - - it's really hard finding things to post about when I've been away so darn long! It'll get better.....really it will.....

Today is the "calm before the storm" since tomorrow starts the Summer Semester at work. The first week of any semester is usually extremely hectic and a bit crazy; even though Summer is usually smaller and not quite as crazy, it still has its moments. So it's good to be able to enjoy a day of peace and quiet before it all hits tomorrow morning.

I have been getting my "craft" on lately..... making cards, projects, and lots of other crafty "stuff". Hopefully during this NaBloPoMo month of June I will be able to post pictures of some of the things I've been making lately.

So stay tuned.....

NaBloPoMo June - Day 2 - Diamond Lil

I have decided this is my new motto (courtesy of Diamond Lil):

NaBloPoMo June - Day 1 - Gonna Try This.....

Well, I have not posted on the blog for a LONG time. Writing burn-out, I guess. That, and being extremely busy....life has been hectic at best.

So, what better way to try and unlock the writing muse than to participate in a challenge?

I have decided to *try* to participate in BlogHer's June NaBloPoMo. Maybe knowing that my blog is listed in this month's blogroll will make me feel more accountable to actually doing something on this site. Hopefully. The guilt alone will make me post *something* each day. (Raised Catholic. We know about guilt.)

So, keep posted this month, and wish me luck. Hopefully by the end of June my writing muse will look on me favorably again and I will start showing up here more often.

THIS Is Why.....

.....I can not have flowers in my home:


Courtesy of Lil Dude - - who gets INTO and UP ON everything.....

Lucky for him he's so cute and cuddly; that is the only thing saving him right now..... *sigh*

Happy Easter!

Hope your Easter is filled with lots of bright and shiny things!
Oh, and chocolate. LOTS and LOTS of chocolate.

Remember How Much I Hate Bullies?

You know how much I hate bullies. So after the big bruhaha invloving Rush Limbaugh this past week, you can probably tell that I am totally incensed. I HATE BULLIES. Especially a pompous windbag like Rush.

I have been wracking my brain, trying to come up with the words before putting pen to paper and giving my thoughts on this whole situation. But then, a friend of mine - - noted author Eileen Cook - - did just that. She put pen to paper, and out flowed the perfect words to describe how I feel about this whole mess.

I ask you to take a few moments of your time and read this post from Eileen. NO ONE could have put it better:

Just My Type (Eileen Cook) - "I am not a slut"- http://www.eileencook.com/blog/?p=3080

Your thoughts on the matter? Feel free to share with me!

The Start of a New Day.....

We live about a mile North of the city, just enough distance to wake up to this:

Lesson Learned.....

The first lesson learned for the new year.....

NEVER, EVER go shopping for new pillows on a windy day.

Found this out the hard way today, at Walmart. Purchased 2 new bed pillows for me and Mr. Dizzy, and put them in the cart with the rest of my groceries. Since it is WINDY and SNOWY and only 25 FREAKIN' DEGREES out today, stopped in the entry area, bundled up, and headed out the door. Barely got out the door when the wind gusted up (gusts are averaging around 40 MPH today) and there went the pillows. I was able to grab one and stop it from flying off out of the cart, but the other one? Well.....first it stopped under the wheel of a minivan that was stopped by the doors, then another gust of wind grabbed it again, and it was off down the aisle of the parking lot. A lady came up to me and said she would watch my cart for me if i wanted to go after it, and I agreed; but before I could take a step, the guy driving the minivan got out and ran after it, retrieving it for me. What an embarrassing thing.....

But, one thing positive about it - - it restored my faith in my fellow humans a bit. I mean, everyone could have just ignored the whole situation and left me to fend for myself, but two - - not one, but TWO - - total strangers came up and offered their help.

Maybe this is going to be a decent year after all. *fingers crossed*

Welcome, 2012!!

It's the start of a new year. And, as usual, I take this time to reflect on the past year and everything that happened.....and there has been a LOT, both good and bad:

~ The early part of 2011 found me going to the doctor with some "issues" that I was not sure of the cause - - heartburn, weight gain in my abdomen area, and other "female" things. After a series of tests, it was decided that the only way to find out was through surgery, and so a hysterectomy was scheduled for mid-June. This resulted in not only 8 weeks off work for recuperation, but also in a complete turn-around in how I was feeling - - ALL of the symptoms I had been experiencing previously disappeared. ALL of them. And, I feel wonderful! Even though it was difficult to go through, I am so glad I did it. The difference is like night and day!

~ In August, on my very first day back to work full-time following my surgery - - and just one week prior to the start of Fall Semester classes (and fall is always our "Nightmare Semester") - - my coworker went on medical leave due to a high-risk pregnancy. For the ENTIRE semester. This was an extremely difficult time, since I was still recovering from major surgery and my energy level was still very low.....but somehow I made it through the entire semester without her. This would NOT have been possible without the help of my two wonderful and capable student workers, Chris and Zach. Without them, there is NO way I could have done it, and I will be forever grateful to them! Chris has now graduated and gone on to a four-year university, but Zach is staying on for a few more semesters. And that is a very, very good thing.

~ In early February, we had to take one of our kitty-kids, Squeak, to the vet, because she had been acting a big strangely in a few way that were just not normal. Unfortunately, after quite a few tests, that there was signs of a malignancy, more than likely in her bone marrow, and there was really not much we could do except try to stem the symptoms and give her a few more months of "normal" life. It went well, and for the next six months she was happy and able to play with her two brother kitty-kids, as long as we made sure to give her medicine twice a day. We did this until mid-August, when her kidneys started shutting down, and we knew it was time. So on August 18th, we lost our dear baby girl. She is terribly missed, and this has left a giant hole in our lives. (In fact, I am tearing up now just trying to type this.) Fortunately, Carmichael and Lil Dude still have each other, so they are able to cope pretty well.....better than me and Mr. Dizzy have been able to. She was definitely "Daddy's Little Girl" and the Mister took it very hard when we lost her. At first we were pretty worried about Dude, since he came to us when he was only 6 weeks old, and immediately attached himself to her. So, the entire 2 years he has been with us, she has always been there with him - - playing, sleeping together, always with each other. But he has handled it well, thanks to big brother Carmichael. Goodbye, our dear little Squeaky Girl. You will always be in our hearts. Love you.....

~ The end of the year found my coworker and her husband successfully making it through her high-risk pregnancy, and are now the proud parents of a very sweet little baby girl! And even though there were times this semester when I felt - - was absolutely, 100% POSITIVE - - that I would NOT be able to make it through the entire semester, in the end it was all worth it. Congratulations, you two! I am very happy for both of you!

So 2011 is now ended and it is the first day of 2012. Out with the old and in with the new - - here's hoping for a GOOD, POSITIVE year for me, my family, and my dear friends.

Happy New Year!

Another Book.....

I have another book on my "Wish List" and intend to acquire it soon - -
"Unraveling Isobel" by Eileen Cook:

I have read other books by Eileen, and thoroughly enjoyed them all. She is an excellent author who never fails to catch and hold your attention when spinning her tales.

AND, having met Eileen at a book signing for her first book (Unpredictable - - another excellent read!), I can honestly say she is one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet!

So do me a favor - - check out "Unraveling Isobel" and while you're at it, check into her other books as well. I know you will not be disappointed!

Appreciate it! (And I know Eileen will appreciate it also!)

Merry Christmas to One and All

Remember, He IS the reason for the season......

Here is hoping this Christmas season finds you and yours happy and healthy. And, here is looking forward to a bright and wonderful 2012.

Need A Good Book to Read?

I may have just the book for you. The book is "The Feedstore Chronicles", authored by Travis Erwin, who also has a blog: "One Word, One Rung, One Day."

I have read Travis' blog for quite a while now, and really enjoyed his writing style. As he starting getting his stories published, I made a point of checking them out. They are wonderful stories, written in a style that makes them very easy reads. When I finish one, I come away feeling as if I had just had a nice visit with an old friend....yes, I like them that much!

His new book, The Feedstore Chronicles, is a story of Travis' "coming of age" while working at a feedstore in Texas. I am looking forward to getting and reading Travis' latest. I think you should do the same!

Congratulations on your publishing success so far, Travis. And here is wishing you many, many more of these successes in the coming years!

An Amazing Thanksgiving

You know, there really ARE good people in this world. Our family had a personal experience today that proves it.

Every year on Thanksgiving, Mr. Dizzy and I go down to my home town and spend the day with my Dad. And, instead of cooking Thanksgiving dinner, Dad likes going to the Round Table Restaurant in the next town over (about 20 minutes away). This year was no different, except for the way our meal ended.....

We had a great meal; Mr. Dizzy got the traditional dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, yams, etc. But Dad and I? Nope. We are totally non-traditional....we got Dad's favorite, BBQ Ribs. And believe me, they are totally yummy! But their meals are pretty big portions, so I asked the waitress for a leftovers box. When she brought me the boxes, she wished us a Happy Thanksgiving and told us, "You are all taken care of." She then walked off, leaving us sitting there just totally stunned. What did she mean by that? When she came back by, I asked her what she meant by that; she just smiled, and said again, "Have a Happy Thanksgiving."

Well, stunned is an understatement.

We were looking around the restaurant trying to figure out who would have done this. Mr. Dizzy noticed an Army Veteran sitting alone at the table behind us, and when he looked at him, the man gave a little smile and a wink. Mr. Dizzy just gave a small smile and a little nod, but said nothing to me or Dad.

As we got up from our table, the man got Dad's attention and said, "Thank you for your service, Sir." Dad and he chatted for just a few moments, and the man mentioned that his Dad had been a WWII Veteran also. Dad wished him a Happy Thanksgiving, and we left the restaurant.

When we got out to the parking lot, Mr. Dizzy told us what the man behind us had done when he caught his eye. So, we *think* he was the one who paid for our dinner.

So - - to the man who did this wonderful thing for us, I want to say "THANK YOU" for putting a smile on Dad's face that stayed there all day. Bless you, Sir, and I hope you had a VERY Happy Thanksgiving.

Bullyling (Part the Last)

What were all the affects from all the bullying and torment I had to endure over all those years? Well, let's see - -

It made me a very "closed" person, who was terribly afraid to trust anyone. This in turn led to many relationships suffering or ending because of it.

It made me be very self-conscious and afraid to try new things or do anything that would make anyone notice me in any way

It fueled my already low self-esteem.

It made me quick to take offense, and quick to lose my temper, if I feel I am being picked on or ridiculed in any way. Even if it is not meant that way.

These are problems I have worked on fixing, even to this day. Most times I can handle them, sometimes they get the best of me. It's tough.

BUT --

It also helped me see how NOT to treat people, how NOT to make people feel. I cannot stand seeing anyone being bullied, or tormented, or pushed around in ANY way. It brings back all those feelings from my own personal experiences with it, and the anger just seems to well back up. I want to stop whoever is doing it, and do whatever I can to help the person being picked on. Unfortunately, this wish to help people comes with its own set of issues - - it's amazing how much trouble you can get into just by wanting to be a good person and help others! But, it is a type of trouble I can deal with, and be able to look at myself in the mirror, and actually sleep at night. If I can help even one person overcome what they are going through, it is worth it.

I guess in the "big picture" of life, all the bullying, teasing and torment I went through while growing up made me a better person. I just wish there could have been an easier way of learning those lessons.

OH! And? The girls who made my life so much hell? I actually now get along with B, believe it or not. But J? I swore to not have anything to do with her, and I am sticking by that. I recently received a Friend Request from her on Facebook - - and deleted it. I know that like me, she has probably grown up and is a much different person. But after everything she put me through over all those years, I want nothing to do with her. That is just something SHE will have to live with, and hopefully learn the lesson.

OKAY - - enough about bullying. Now! Go out there, and treat people the way you yourself would want to be treated. And I will continue to do the same.

Bullying (Part 4)

The bullying and torment continued on through the rest of grade school. In 7th grade, my teacher (who was also the Mother Superior of that particular convent) decided that I had "the calling" and started talking to my parents about sending me to an all-girls Catholic High School, and then go on to become a Nun myself. Well, I did NOT want that, and told my parents so. But, she kept pushing and pushing, to the point where I was so miserable that they decided to pull me from the Catholic grade school and send me to the public Junior High for my 8th Grade year.

This? Made the Mother Superior livid. LIVID. She became very hateful toward me, and made the rest of the school year nearly unbearable; ridiculing me in front of the other students, condemning my parent's decision in front of the whole class, and more. The only thing that kept me going was the knowledge that I would soon be out of there and would never, EVER, have to see her again. (And? I didn't!) That school year could not come soon enough.

Then it was on to the Junior High, and a whole new set of issues....I did not know anyone there, and felt totally alone. I was already a very shy young girl, and I missed my friends, and I was so angry with my former teacher for making life so miserable that I had to leave them! So I was fair game for any school bullies in those halls, and they found me, with no problem.

There was one girl in particular (we will refer to her as "J") who decided that I was her target, and kept threatening me. She would torment, and threaten to "beat me up" and even went so far as to tell me I was to meet her after school so we could take care of things in a fight, which, of course, I did not show up for, hoping she would then realize that it was not going to happen. But this only fueled the situation; she kept on, saying that I was "chicken" and ridiculing me in front of others. I did my best to avoid her, but wasn't very successful.

Somehow I made it through that 8th grade year at Junior High, and on into my 9th grade (Freshman) year. This year also marked my Catholic School friends coming there. It was great to be there with them again! Also, it felt like now I had some "backup" and would not feel so along and "out there" by myself. It seemed to work; J stopped tormenting me so much. I hoped that it had ended, and for the rest of Junior High, it did. But, that was to change in Senior High.

During Sophomore year, there was still quite a bit of torment, but I just basically ignored it. This made some of them stop and leave me alone, but it seemed to make it a challenge for others.....

My Junior year, I had to share a locker with another student (we will call her "B") who was best friends with J. Believe me, neither of us was happy about it, but I was determined to make it work out, and show B that I was a decent person. I was also hopeful that this would, in turn, have her tell J this, and maybe I would finally get some peace. Unfortunately, this was not to be the case - -

My parents had bought me a really nice suede fringe jacket (those were SO "in" at that time). I wore it to school all the time, and just loved it! Well - - one day at the end of school, I went to my locker to get my jacket and head on home.....the jacket was gone. It was nowhere to be found. And, with it being wintertime, I had no coat to wear for the walk home. I went to the office, but no one had turned in my jacket. I went out to the parking lot to see if I could catch a ride home with someone, and the lot was basically empty. So I started walking home, as fast as I could, in the cold weather. Fortunately, we only lived a few blocks from the school, but it was a difficult walk home! I finally made it, and as soon as I got in the house (and thawed out), I told my Mom what had happened. I also told her what I thought the situation was - - I was sure B had taken the jacket, and probably was in it with J.

My parents talked to the principal, who basically said there was nothing we could do, since we had no "proof" that was what happened. Well - -considering that the only people who would know the combination would be me and B, who else could it have been? The one thing the principal did do for me, however, was move me to my own locker, at the other end of the building. That helped, but I was still pretty despondent - - I loved my fringe jacket, and no longer had it.

A few days later, I was walking downtown, and saw B and J coming around the corner. Just as I suspected, J had on my jacket! They saw me, turned around and ran back around the corner. As soon as I got home, I told my parents about it. I wanted them to talk to their parents, or the principal, or SOMEBODY, but they didn't want to make waves.....so J had my jacket, and I had a lot of anger that I had to swallow and try to deal with. For Christmas, my parents bought me another jacket, which while I did appreciate it, it did nothing to appease my anger. B and J were allowed to get away with doing that to me, with NO consequences! I did NOT understand that, and still don't to this day.

How did this all affect me? That comes next.....

To be continued

Bullying (part 3)

After the "talking wrong" incident, I became pretty withdrawn, but something inside me also became determined to prove myself in some way. Therefore, I basically threw myself into my schoolwork, determined to be good at something; to be able to do something "right." I basically excelled in my classwork, and became one of the top students in my class. Did I brag on it? No. I just still kept pretty quiet, still pretty scared to say much of anything. But I did do extremely well in class, and that was the basis for my second experience with ridicule...

There was another girl in my class who was an excellent student. In fact, she and I were pretty much tied for who was the top student in our second grade class. I didn't think much about it, but just kept on studying my little heart out and working hard to do the best I could. I wanted to be good at something, and schoolwork seemed to be the thing.

Our teacher had a practice that whenever we did written papers or quizzes in class, we would trade papers with the person behind us or beside us for grading. That girl sat behind me, and one day got my grammar and spelling paper for grading. Once they were all graded, they were handed in for the Nun to record our grades. And that is when it happened.....

The teacher - - the same teacher who had ridiculed the way I talked, mind you - - suddenly started telling the class about the horrible paper she had in her hands; it was my paper! She stated that everything was spelled wrong, and the grammar was terrible! She then started reading all the mistakes on the paper, and just tearing it - - and me - - totally apart.

I was in total shock. Everything she read - - every spelling error, every grammar mistake - - was NOT what I had written down! I was completely confused and embarrassed, and just sat there in tears while many of my classmates giggled at the whole situation. I tried to defend myself by saying those were not the answers I had put down, but she just got angrier at me and told me the proof was right there in her hands, and I should stop lying about it.

Right after that, we were dismissed for recess, but I was too upset to go out an play. I sat in the coat room and just hid out from everybody. I was just so confused - - I did not know what had happened, or what to think.

After recess, the teacher told the class that during the time we were gone she had taken a closer look at my paper, and had noticed something strange. She then had gotten the other girl and showed her what she had seen - - erasures on the paper. She told the class the other girl had admitted to erasing my answers and putting in wrong ones. Apparently she did this because she didn't want me getting a better grade than her.

The teacher asked both of us to come up to the front of the room, and made her apologize to me, which she did, and I said okay. But did I ever forget it? No way! And it made me even less want to be around anybody.

You may not think this qualifies as a case of bullying, but I say it is. This teacher seemed to take great pleasure in tearing into me, and I did nothing to deserve it. When you are small and feel helpless, and someone of authority is doing you wrong - - and you have no way of defending yourself - - yes, that definitely is bullying.

This situation made me realize at that very young age that I could not let my guard down and trust anyone. Other situations as I grew up and became an adult fortified that early lesson. And to this day, all these years later, those trust issues remain strong.

To be continued...

Bullying (part 2)

When you're a little kid, especially if you are as quiet and shy as I was back then (and anyone who knows me now would have a lot of trouble believing that I ever was), you tend to get picked on unmercifully. Yes, other kids can be really cruel. But what you usually do NOT expect is for a grown-up, one that you admire and look up to, to do it to you.

Let me preface this by saying that my Mom was born and raised in New York City. She lived there until she was 20, then married my Dad and moved to a small town in Central Illinois. Culture shock? You bet - - but that is a story for another time.

Admittedly, New Yorkers have quite an accent. I grew up hearing it. And, as little kids do, I really soaked it up. I talked just like them. And that was the basis for my first experience with ridicule.....

I went to a Catholic grade school. Back then, all the teachers were Nuns; the ones in the the full black and white garb. I was in awe of them, and more than a little scared. But they were my teachers, so I had to get used to them. And eventually, I did. And did pretty well, until one day.....

As I said, I talked the same way my Mom and her family did. I had heard it all my life, and I didn't know that anything was "wrong" or "different" about it. I just didn't notice those kinds of things. One day in class, I responded to a question the teacher had asked, and that's when it happened. I was made to come up to the front of the room, and stand there while the Nun took me to task and ridiculed me for the way I pronounced things. She did that to me, in front of everyone, while they all laughed and giggled at me. In fact, she even turned to the other students and asked them - - didn't they think I sounded funny? Then she made me go back to my desk. I had to sit there the rest of the day, with the other students turning around and looking at me, laughing and pointing at me. I was totally mortified, trying to figure out what I had done wrong; but more importantly, why it was wrong. My Mom talked that way, so how could it be wrong?

What this incident did was turn a very shy little girl, who was just trying to do her best in school and fit in, into an even more shy, timid, and scared little girl, who was afraid to ever speak up for any reason, for fear of being ridiculed again. It made me feel like something was wrong with ME; that for some reason, I was just not good enough - - not as good as the other kids, who were born and raised there and talked "right."

Looking back on it now, I can honestly say I consider this to definitely be a case of bullying. It's not just other "kids" that bully kids; it is even worse when it comes from an adult. Unfortunately, while that may have been the first case, it definitely wasn't the last...

To be continued....

Bullying (part 1)

Found this on Facebook....
(Thanks, Princess Free Zone)

A teacher in New York was teaching her class about bullying and gave them the following exercise to perform. She had the children take a piece of paper and told them to crumple it up, stamp on it and really mess it up but do not rip it. Then she had them unfold the paper, smooth it out and look at how scarred and dirty is was. She then told them to tell it they’re sorry. Now even though they said they were sorry and tried to fix the paper, she pointed out all the scars they left behind. And that those scars will never go away no matter how hard they tried to fix it. That is what happens when a child bully’s another child, they may say they’re sorry but the scars are there forever. The looks on the faces of the children in the classroom told her the message hit home.

When you were growing up, were you ever bullied? I was an extremely shy, awkward little girl, and got bullied unmercifully, by the nuns in the Catholic school I attended, the other kids - - you name it. After entering Junior High and High School, it just continued on. I got SO tired of being picked on and made the butt of practical jokes.

And what the above says is so true....now that I am "all grown up" and living a very good life, there are still times when something might happen, and it brings back those feelings I had when I was young. Yes, the scars still remain.

That teacher was right. And I sure wish she had been around when I was growing up.

(To be continued...)

Danger!

This is just SO Lil Dude.......



I'm just trying to figure out how they got into my house to take his picture?

Random

Ever laughed so hard you cried? Until your stomach hurt?

That was me this weekend.

We had friends come up from the St. Louis area to visit; hadn't seen them in a LONG time. These are the "warped, off-the-wall crazy" kind of friends that we all need to have in our life.

I laughed. The tears streaming down my face. The deep belly laughs that come from just letting go and having FUN.

I so needed that!

So a BIG "Thank You!" goes out to Dave, Pam and Joey for coming up and providing me that opportunity. I love you guys!

Hill Climbin'

No, we did not get on our hiking boots and head out into the open countryside. But we DID do a lot of walking. And sitting. And people watching.

Last Sunday we went to the Newport Hill Climb in Newport, Indiana. Newport is a small town, not too far from the Illinois/Indiana border. It's 2010 Census population was 515 residents. But during their 3-day Hill Climb event? The entire town is PACKED. The entire town is one giant flea market/vendor set-up/food trailers everywhere kind of place.

And a car show. A very big, very nice car show. And that's where Mr. Dizzy and I were mainly there for.

We brought over THIS beauty:


That is a 1965 Pontiac Tempest. Mr. Dizzy's father bought it brand new and drove it off the showroom floor on September 30, 1964. It was one of the first 1965 Pontiac's produced. His father has had it all these years, and has taken excellent care of it. It is ALL original. Nothing has been restored on the car - - NOTHING. Original paint even! The interior is immaculate. Everything about the car is in amazing condition. And, only 76,000 original miles.

Isn't it a beauty?

Newport is about a 2 hour drive from our house. Sunday morning we got up extremely early (3:45 AM? NOT fun) and trailered the car over for the show. I was looking forward to a fun day - - looking at the other cars in the show, meeting some nice new people, walking through the vendors, and of course watching the Hill Climb competition.....

We got over there, and it was FREEZING cold. I mean, seeing your breath/shivering uncontrollably/where the hell is my winter coat kind of freezing. And we were outside. At a car show. With no vendors open yet. And I could NOT stop shivering.......

I was ready to start walking back home. At least I would have worked up a sweat and gotten warm!

Finally, some of the vendors started opening up, and I was on a mission. Find a warm sweatshirt to put on over all my other clothes and add another layer under my coat, and some gloves. Found a sweatshirt vendor, and all he had left was either too small or way too large. Went for the too large (so now Mr. Dizzy has a new shirt to wear!) and finally found some lightweight gloves.

That helped considerably!

The day finally started warming up close to the Noon hour, to the point where I could unzip my coat and be halfway comfortable. But I could not get warm enough, even in the direct sun - - I had been chilled through to my bones! But in spite of this, it was a fun day.

Now, for the "Hill Climb" part of the day - -

Newport has one main attraction in it's small town borders - - a BIG FREAKIN' HILL:

(The photo does NOT do the Hill justice - - it is extremely steep!)

All these antique cars register to climb the hill. It's a class competition, and even though by today's standards the hill doesn't look that intimidating, you should try climbing it in a car that is only pulling 7 horsepower!

According to the Newport Hill Climb Website, the Climb has been going on yearly since 1909. It's a big 3-day event for the town. This is the third year we have gone, and we always have a great time.

If you ever get a chance, you should check out this event. It's really a lot of fun, and with it being so close to where we live, it's a nice little day trip to take.

It felt good to actually be able to get away from home and just spend a day doing something fun. I just hope next time it's just a tad bit warmer!

Back Into the Swing of Things

I need to start blogging again on a more consistent basis. Seriously.

I love to write. It's an outlet for me - - from the stresses of the daily routine. However, I have had NO desire to write lately, due mostly to things going on in life that have just knocked the energy out of me.......

~ Major abdominal surgery in June - I had VERY good intentions of blogging during the 8-week recovery at home, both on this blog and my recipe blog. How much did I write? Nothing. Zilch. Zero. No energy? Partly. No desire? Absolutely. (Same thing for reading. The stack of magazines? Still sitting there. My Kindle? Barely touched.)

~ Losing Squeak. Yes, she was a cat. Just an animal. Or so some people may think. But in reality? She was a FAMILY MEMBER. Daddy's little girl. And her passing left a great big hole in our lives. Hard to shake something like that. Still haven't. Not sure if, or when, we will. She was a pretty special kitty.

~ Work. My office is usually a frantic place. This semester it is doubly so, since my co-worker is going through a high-risk pregnancy and is on total bedrest in hospital for the duration. She is still able to work via online, so anything that can be done on the computer gets sent her way, and I handle all the face-to-face things here in the office. Considering this happened the first week I came back to work and was attempting full days, it's been draining to say the least. Going home and doing anything but collapsing in a heap on the couch the first few weeks was not an option. It's a bit better now, as the semester is well underway AND my energy level has gotten better. Still a ways to go yet though.....

ANYWAY.

All this has conspired against me. It's been rough.

However - - the past week or so I have been feeling the itch to do some writing again. I'm hoping by posting this, it will fan that little flame and get me going again. I have LOTS of things to write about. And I have a lot of recipes to post on my recipe blog. I need to get on it!

I am determined to finish out this year writing more. My stress level needs this as an outlet. Badly.

So you all have been warned. I'm back, and going to do my damndest to stay here.