Weekly Winners

Hey, I'm early for a change!



I had to empty the china cabinet to move it, he jumped in so I trapped him for a photo op!

Pictures that were hung throughout the house..awaiting their fate!

Thats all I got for this week. Been a busy one!

Beginning of Renovations

Last night after dinner we started to take all of the pictures down from the walls in the living room, dining room, bathrooms and hallways. Then I went around and pulled about a thousand nails from the walls! Today the guy we hired is coming to start taking down the wallpaper and painting. It should take them about 4 days. Hopefully not longer than that! It will be nice to get the wallpaper down because I looks like crap in a couple of spots like here:



and here:




Anyway, we are just having them paint a neutral color, sort of a beige white because I have no clue what to do with the flooring yet.

Other renovations hopefully will include: New counter, sink cupboards and stove in the kitchen. New counters and sinks in both of the bathrooms. New flooring in the entryway and possibly new carpeting throughout. I want to try to do a lot of the stuff myself. I think installing a wood floor is not too hard to do.

I'm up for the challenge!

Hi Anxiety

We had the people that are doing out wallpaper removal over last night to get a deposit and drop off paint colors. I really just want a white or neutral color, only there's about 100 different whites to choose from! Good Lord. Kind of a tough decision but I will try not to over-think it! As long as the walls are not glaringly white, I will probably be happy with any one of them! Rich is no help because he'll like whatever I pick.

I did not sleep for beans last night. I have times of extreme anxiety and last night was one of them. It kept me from sleeping good and I did not have anything to take. I really need to get some xan-- or adav-- or something from the doctor next time I go. I did take some tylenol sinus earlier which seems to have a calming effect on me. Strange but true.

Chris was over last night. Marissa is out of town skiing with her dad and his family. Chris was going to go but after his shoulder broke, he decided to stay home rather than be bored there while everyone else is skiing. He ate dinner with us.

One of the managers in the area I work took a 4-month leave late last year under mysterious circumstances. No one knew or would say what was going on with her. Anyway, she came back a month ago and everything seemed to be normal. However, yesterday she was supposedly escorted out of the building by security for whatever reason. We were told that she was on leave, again. Oh well. Everyone is so secretive and we are absolutely dying to know what the hell is going on!!

Easter And A Free Car Wash

We had a very nice Easter. Everyone came and Jim made egg-drop soup to go along with the ham, cheesy potatoes and stuff. It was all very good and as usual I ate too much. I completely forgot to make the fugasa, which is an Italian Easter bread. This is the second time I've done that. It's terrible because my mom made it every year without fail, and her mom made it every year without fail. I guess the tradition stops with me, although I did make it last year.

Plus, no one even made hard boiled eggs. We really sucked at Easter this year!

Earlier in the day Rich took my car to the car wash. It was nice and sunshiny out so there was a line a few cars long. When he got up to the front and tried to pay for the wash, he was told that the woman in the line ahead of him already paid for it! He didn't get a chance to thank her she was gone so fast. She must have been doing her good deed for Easter Sunday. I told him he'll need to "pay it forward" someday.

Shauna is settling in her new apartment. She loves it. It seems strange to be empty nesters once again. I miss her being there but it's probably a good thing when we start renovating the house to have one less person dealing with the mess!

Rich's mom is turning 90 on the 1st of April. We are going to the nursing home this Sunday to celebrate. Hopefully the kids will be able to go, too. They haven't seen her in a very long time.

Today I am going to W@L Mart to order prescription sunglasses. I am tired of using those dorky clip on glasses and I lost them anyway!

Looking forward to sunny days!

Weekly Winners

Anniversary present.


Dolphins!


Lake Michigan on the navigation system.




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Damn Expensive Ham

We went to dinner at the local coney restaurant for our anniversary. I did not need anything fancy, just to not have to cook and clean up was good enough for me! Besides, I happen to love their particular greek salad dressing. It has beets in it!

Last night I met Karen for dinner. It had been 8 months since I last saw her. We go too long between visits but we're both busy. Her daughters are both in college now, though so maybe we can get together more often. We even talked about having dinner with the husbands, too.

Shauna is signing the lease for her apartment tomorrow and probably moving the majority of her stuff too. I wanted to help her but she does not want to wait until Saturday. She's excited so I can't say I blame her. Her boyfriend and a friend from work will be helping her.

I have a ton of stuff to do. We are having Easter dinner this year. I bought a 10 lb ham (damn those things are expensive!) and I have a lot of cleaning to do. We went out of town two weekends in a row so nothing much got done. You know, bathrooms, floors and all that fun stuff and I am feeling another cold coming on. Nice!

Through The Years

I can't remember when you weren't there
When I didn't care for anyone but you
I swear we've been through everything there is
Can't imagine anything we've missed
Can't imagine anything the two of us can't do

Through the years
You've never let me down
You turned my life around
The sweetest days I've found
I've found with you
Through the years
I've never been afraid
I've loved the life we've made
And I'm so glad I stayed
Right here with you
Through the years

I can't remember what I used to do
Who I trusted whom, I listened to before
I swear you've taught me everything I know
Can't imagine needing someone so
But through the years it seems to me
I need you more and more

Through the years
Through all the good and bad
I knew how much we had
I've always been so glad
To be with you
Through the years
It's better everyday
You've kissed my tears away
As long as it's okay
I'll stay with you
Through the years

Through the years
When everything went wrong
Together we were strong
I know that I belong
Right here with you
Through the years
I never had a doubt
We'd always work things out
I've learned what life's about
By loving you
Through the years

Through the years
You've never let me down
You turned my life around
The sweetest days I've found
I've found with you
Through the years
It's better everyday
You've kissed my tears away
As long as it's okay
I'll stay with you
Through the years



Happy Anniversary, baby!!

Weekly Winners

Upside down dresser.


Construction barrels on the navigation system map.


Parents.


Frozen Lake Michigan

Most boring entry ever

It's Saturday morning at 5:44 am. I never sleep in. I am a morning person and I especially love getting up early when I don't have to rush to get ready for work. I can enjoy my coffee, read blogs, do whatever at my own pace.

Last night we took my dad and Peggy out to dinner for his birthday. He's 76 years old. His birthday was actually on Wednesday and I never did call him. It was one of those situations where whenever I thought to call him was was busy at work and then when I wasn't busy, I forgot! I know..bad daughter!

This Wednesday it will be a year since my grandmother died.

Yesterday it was beautiful out. Sunny and in the 50's. It's not summer but it's a start. Spring is in 6 days and can't be soon enough for me!

Today we are going to take a drive out to the Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo. It's on the west side of the state by Lake Michigan. We may spend the night if we can find somewhere or we may just come home. We were originally going to go to a place in Indiana, about 5 hours drive but with gas being so freaking expensive we nixed that idea! Anyway, it should be fun.

Rich had the day off yesterday and Shauna took his truck and went to her old house to pick up her dresser. Next week she moves into her apartment. She's excited. She's got a pile of stuff in our living room. Her kitties, Wiggy and Stash have been locked up in her room for a few months now. I feel bad for them because they are tired of being locked up! Poor babies, one more week to go!

Weekly Winners

Uncle!!

Please can I go outside?

Bored during a long drive!

Poor thing couldn't hack the winter

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for my friends, old and new. There's Karen who is my oldest friend, or maybe I should say my most long term friend as she's actually 6 months younger than me. We've known each other since we were 7 years old and we are pretty proud of the fact that we have been friends for 43 years!

Then there's Marie, who I have been friends with for about 12 years. She is my very best friend in the world, or as I like to say my BFF! We usually get together every Saturday morning to have breakfast and, when the weather permits, walk a mile or so. I can tell her anything. She has shared my joys and sorrows over the years and I hers.

Then there is my work friends. Although we don't socialize after work, they still are friends in the sense that we talk about all sorts of stuff and care for each other.

I can't imagine a life without friends!

Shopping, spring and open houses!

Saturday Shauna and I went shopping for the things she needs for her apartment. We went to several different stores and she bought dishes, silverware, pots and pans, towels, utensils, baking stuff, a broom and dustpan. She had fun and it was neat to see her tastes in stuff. She still needs small appliances like toaster and microwave, but she's off to a good start!

We went to lunch at a place called LaShish. It used to be a very popular middle eastern cuisine restaurant. A few years ago the owner was charged with tax invasion and was under suspicion for funneling money to terrorists. We stopped eating there along with every one else and their business went down hill very fast. I always love the food, though and have missed eating there. When we decided to go have lunch we did not know that they would be closing their doors for good that night. It's too bad because it was a excellent restaurant at one time and now 350 more people are out of jobs. Shame, but I am glad I got the chicken schwarma salad and lentil soup one more time!

Sunday we looked a a few open houses that my brother is selling. Not that we are interested in buying one, but it's always fun to look at other peoples houses.

Today it is much warmer out and almost all of the snow is melted. It was also raining when I left work and we are supposed to get 2-4 inches of snow tonight. But it should melt pretty fast! It's March and spring is right around the corner. Plus daylight saving time starts next weekend. Woo hoo!!

Weekly Winners

Thru the glass table






Shopping!




Blurry Beads




Most comfortable shoes ever!





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