Sisters are Great But...

Last night we celebrated my sister-in-law, Julie's 40th birthday. My brother Ken and my sister Kathi put the evening together. We started at the Great Link's condo at Birch Bay for drinks and appetizers. Julie thought we were just having dinner, but as it turned out her sisters came from across the state to surprise her. We started at the condo and then had dinner at the new Beachwalk Restuarant at Birch Bay. Ken and Julie spent the night at the condo. Her sisters brought her a grass skirt, a coconut bra, reading glasses, icy hot and prunes. Nice. The sisters-in law brought a sexy nightie, bathrobe, slippers and a lounging outfit. Say what you will about sisters, I think in this case those in-laws may be better.
Happy 40th Julie!

I'm Back & Writing Book Reviews

While I was out I read two books. First, 'If I am Missing or Dead' by Janine Latus. I kept seeing this book at the library and decided to read it. It is a memoir written by a Janine, whose sister is killed by domestic violence. Quite frankly, I think she used her sister's story to write about her bad marriage. I am not minimizing her experience because it was horrible but she should have just written about that and left her sister out of it. I do not recommend this book. I had loved 'The Glass Castle' by Jeannette Wall so I thought I would read more memoirs. I'll keep trying.

Number two was 'Living in a Foreign Language' by Micheal Tucker. He and his wife starred in Law & Order (I've never watched it.) It is a story of them buying a house in Italy and living there part time. Since my hubby and I hope to live in Italy or England for a year (with his job we can do that) I thought this might be informative. It is an easy read but needed recipes to go with all the great food they were preparing and eating. I did learn that I need to get going on the language. It is really their biggest obstacle. I did get weary with his writing about wanting to associate with a different country because he didn't agree with US politics. Even if Hilary (whip up some tears) Clinton gets in office I am not going to be whining about moving to a different country. No one has it better than US citizens. He did a good job of describing the food and the scenery and I loved their trials with a stone house.

In Sickness and in Health

Questions the nurse asked me today:
Is anyone else at your house sick? Yes, sick of me being sick.
Are you irritable? More than you will ever know.
Are you coughing? Constantly
Do you have a sore throat? yes
Is your nose running? yes
Do you have the chills and sweats? yes, not to be confused with a hot flash.
Do you hurt? everywhere
Finally gave up and went to see Dr. Burden today. I have bronchitis, sinus infection and walking pneumonia. The good news is I don't have an ear infection but when she peered in she said, "but it looks like they hurt." That would be a yes.

Not really posting until it is over.

Feel the LOVE

I love Valentine's Day and it pretty much begins mid January for moi. This year even a bit earlier. My sweet friend Jerrie saw a little something at the TOM sale and bought it for me. :) She knew I'd love it and I do! Frames, My Mind's Eye paper and vinyl...well hello, what's not to love. So, tonight I put it together and got out a few other Valentine's Day goodies. No conversation hearts yet, I did look today while grocery shopping with my hubby. He drove. The one contact thing needs some time. Anywhoo, Valentine's Day is my favorite, we got married on February 12th, the 14th was a Sunday. I make a big deal out of Valentine's Day with my guys so watch for further posts. I loved it when I was teaching 5th grade, always made the boys supply the goodies for the party. Every subject that day had a Valentine theme. The girls loved it and I hope those boys learned something about treating a girl right.

The tiny heart frame on the windowsill has a picture of Fred at our wedding, he looks like he is either deeply in thought about how much he loves me or thinking that he could still make a runner. ;)

It's All About Meee!

Friday mornings I don't go to work at the museum and have a more leisurely morning. In the bathroom. Sometimes it is an extra 10 minutes, sometimes longer. It is my time to shave, exfoliate, moisturize, check out the graying hair (yes, it is taking over, but once again this Friday a.m. I have decided to let it go), I check my breasts and moles, I pluck my almost nonexistent eyebrows, evaluate my medicine cabinet, pedicure, manicures etc, etc. It all happens on a Friday morning. Do I look any different on Fridays, umm NO! But I feel better. This morning I nearly did it all and then evaluated my eyesight. I am nearsighted and have been since eighth grade however; with age I can not see close when I have my contacts in my eyes. So, I either wear glasses or contacts with reading glasses. This morning I decided to try something new. I am wearing one contact, the right, so I will try to use my right eye to see far, drive etc. and the left sans contact for reading. So, if you run into me today and my skin is glowing and my eyes are darting all over the place, it is because it is Friday morning. And because I still have that horrid cold making my skin either red or grey.
Products: My hubby stuffed my stocking with Oil of Olay products, face and body. Per my wish list per Christine's Book (see 'What I am Reading') nice!
Photo is in my bathroom at Christmas time.

A Fresh Start

I like the start of a new year, the fresh beginning. I have spent some time getting the calendars ready for home and for work. I like them because they are so clean, no writing or scratching out of mistakes, just a blank page. I bought my calendars at the Family Bookstore here in town. Yesterday my hubby worked on getting all of our well checks, Max's trip to Children's Hospital for a follow-up on the calendar for the year. It doesn't take long with a family for the calendar to fill up. I did not buy the FAMILY Calendar with columns this year. Sam pretty much keeps track of himself, Dan is in Kosovo running his own agenda. So, I trimmed the size of the family calendar. Karen's sister got a car, just didn't need so much room behind her(aka mini van) and that may be next here too. The guys are growing up and changes are a coming!