"Ok Google

Yesterday I discovered the greatest thing!  I would imagine you have seen the commercials advertising "OK GOOGLE".  Since  I have a Samsung S5 phone I use that feature from time to time. Now for the cool part,  I can say "ok google how do you spell -------" and it tells me.  This just might change my life, literally adding minutes to each day.  :) No really!!!!!  Being extremely challenged in the spelling department there are several times a day that spell check can't even figure out what word I am looking for.   I will even search in the hard back Webster's with no luck.  Spelling words correctly is important to me and I work hard to get them correct.  I can spend quite a bit of time looking for the word I want only to end up substituting in another word that is easier to spell.  I just had to share this since I know there are other spelling challenged individuals out there looking for help.  At least two of my sons got the damaged spelling gene from me.  Those of you who take your gift of spelling for granted STOP IT!!!!!!  You are blessed.

A Happy, Healthy Me

A little over a year ago I made a decision to get serious about my health.  I didn't ever loose all the weight gained after the birth of my first son almost 29 years ago.  Wow time does fly.  My weight has gone up and down as I've tried various fad diets.  I would have some success but it was always short term.  These programs didn't help me change my bad habits or fit into my lifestyle.  Honestly the only real accomplishment was feeling like a failure.

My list of aches and pains was growing quite long.  I was also on medicine for high blood pressure and high cholesterol.  I would be out of breath just climbing a flight of stairs or taking a short walk.  I had very little flexibility so I was concerned about falling.  My weight had robbed me of a desired lifestyle.  It was time to take action and responsibility with my health and weight.  So for the next several blog post  I  will talk about this journey so far.  I am not at my goal but I am finally brave enough to share my success as well as failure.   So stay tuned if you are interested or just plain nosey (LOL).

To Much Multi Tasking

Facebook:It has been several hours since lunch time and I remember putting something in the microwave but not eating it.  I don't feel hungry though so what happened?  After a busy morning at home doing laundry and some cleaning I leave for the dentist and grocery shopping.  When I return  home I empty the car and put the groceries away.  Realizing it is lunch time I stick something in the microwave.  Once my counters are clear of groceries I take out some cottage cheese and tomatos and eat my lunch.  Then I go to my computer and upload some pictures of my homemade cards and fold the clothes I washed earlier, and it hits me I never ate the food in the microwave for lunch.  I also realize that I don't feel hungry.  After a few minutes I start to laugh remembering that I ate cottage cheese and tomato for lunch and totally forgot my other plan.  So do I eat it for dinner or try again tomorrow?  

'via Blog this'

Tribute to Hearing and Vision

Today is the first Christmas event of 2012.  Our Hearing and Vision team is having a luncheon.  This is an annual event that marks the end of another screening year.  Mom and I started doing screenings in 2001 and this will be the last year for us both as well as most of our team.  Over the years I have had the privilege of working with many wonderful ladies.  I know next September will be a bit sad not returning to the schools.  But just like a good book, to start a new chapter you have to turn the page and I am ready to start a new chapter.  I have a few ideas on what to do next but will have to see what I actually end up doing.  Thank you mom for being our team leader!  You did a great job setting up our schedule and working with the nurses to prepare the way for our team.  You were always diplomatic in solving issues.  Maybe politics is in your future, just kidding I wouldn't wish that on anyone.  Thank you to the other team members I have worked with over the years.  It was always a pleasure going to work.  We didn't have the petty drama often associated with working with a group of women.  Many memories were made some good and some not so good.  During our down time we had great conversation and solved many issues from politics to family life.  Best wishes to you all as you move on to other things.  Judy if you ever feel the need to carpool just text and I will gladly accompany you wherever you go.  Tere you were always worth waiting for.  Dorene I know I can share a cup of coffee with you anytime.  I love you all!!!!!

 

Laughing at Myself

Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself.  This was one of those mornings for me.  I decided my hair was ok so I didn't need to wash it and began my morning routine.  Since it is Saturday I wanted to give some false eyelashes a try.  After 2 hours of primping with my hair and eye makeup it was clear this was a very bad idea.  I looked and felt anything but pretty.  My eyes were red and puffy and it looked more like I had been in a fight instead of getting my "Kardashian" on.   So I jumped into the shower and started the whole process again.  Thirty minutes later I am ready for the day.  I look and feel like myself again.    Ever have one of those days?  Sometimes you just need to crawl back in bed and start again.

Waiting on Sandy

Tree that came down a few weeks ago

How do you prepare for Sandy also known as Frankenstorm?  From what I could tell the major prep began around Thursday.  The stores were stormed with crazed shoppers in search of water, batteries, flashlights,milk, bread and generators.  Lines at the gas stations were record setting.  I guess the big storm the end of June and first of July, where so many lost power is still fresh on peoples mind.

Generator house 

We cleaned out our 5gallen water jugs and refilled them with fresh water.  Outside we secured the deck furniture, mowed the grass and raked leaves.  We are also the new owners of a generator, power does go out around here fairly often.  We had to throw out all our refrigerator and freezer food after the last storm.  The lanterns have been gathered and put on our kitchen table easily accessible.  Cell phone batteries are charged and our pantry is stocked.  Now we wait.

So today is the day.  Oh no we woke up to no power. Rain is steady but not torrential and the wind is more of a breeze so why is the power already out?  This is definably not the start we had hoped for.  Glenn pulls the generator out of its box and decides breakfast out and a Home Depot run is in order.  Armed with a full tummy, extra gas (take that any way you want) and more extension cords we return  home to find the power back on.  Yea!!!  Glenn starts building some kind of structure outside for the generator and I iron, clean the kitchen and check Facebook, Twitter and local news.  We have both have our priority's LOL.

Everyone stay safe and enjoy some family time playing games and carving pumpkins.  I will write an up date later.  

Family Vacations

After a resent family vacation, I was reflecting on how our family vacations have evolved.  I became a Mrs. twenty seven years ago and started making family vacation memories with my husband.   Not counting our Honeymoon we took our first vacation a few months into our marriage.  We wanted to go to Australia and being short on money and cheep decided to go Air Force Space "A" or HOP.  With just the two of us who needed a plan.  Getting to Hawaii was easy and late every afternoon Glenn would call all the different bases to find an empty room for the night.  It was big on adventure on short on plans.  After several attempts to get a flight to Australia we gave up and just took the next plane we could (Japan).  This is still one of my favorite vacations.  It was a huge leap out of my comfort zone.  We road trains and subways having to come up with creative ways to find our stop since the signs were all Japanese writing not letters we could read.  We ordered food from pictures and prayed it was cooked not raw.  One time we ended up with enough food for 6 people.  What a great start to filling pages in our Family Vacation memory book.

When our first son was about 3 months old I found a special at a Marriott in Charleston SC.  Yes, we needed a romantic weekend get away.  LOL I didn't realize that an infant and romantic don't mix.  Our little bundle of joy started crying as we arrived at a nice seafood restaurant.  Our dinner was a success due to a grandmother who asked if she could walk the baby while we ate.  Thank God she was good at catching and not a kidnapper since I launched our little son at her.  Later at the Marriott there was a lot of screaming (hold on this is rated "G") it was our baby.  Finally around 5am we gave up and packed up our romantic weekend and went home.  :( 

Beach in Hawaii

Chincoteague wild ponies

Our next attempt was a few months later, now our child is a toddler.  I spent all day getting ready so we could leave as soon as Glenn got off work.  We head back to Charleston but camping this time.  We finally arrive at our campsite around 9 pm all is quiet except us and our excited toddler.  Once again after no sleep and a very awake little boy we pack up and go home.  I would have loved to here what the campers next to us had to say.  They probably thought it was a nightmare since they never saw us come or go. 

Durango Colo

Not to happy Indians

Our family became 5 and since there were more of them than us we finally got smart and took a more kid friendly approach.  State parks, Disneyland, amusement parks, zoos, lakes, beaches and family visits became our vacation spots.  Thanks to Nintendo (Game Boy) one for each, our car ride was more pleasant.  I would wrap small games, toys, puzzles and snacks to open when boredom set in.  We usually camped so they could expel energy running around and yelling without disturbing anyone else.  We made some great Family Vacation memories.

Yellowstone

Lake of The Ozarks

Now our sons are married so I have daughters on vacation.  It's nice not being the only one who needs more than 2 pairs of shoes.  We can do girl things like paint nails and change our clothes several times a day.  We don't have to do everything as a group but can do our own thing also.  It is definitely easier to relax now.

Nail drying dance

Bethany Beach

I look forward to the next chapter in Family Vacations with little ones back in the picture.  But this time I get to have all the fun with them and my kids get to do all the work.  Life is Good!