I am pissed the fuck off!

The state of Connecticut sucks big fat ass!!  They are going to tax the shit out of EVERYTHING starting tomorrow.
Shopping at a thrift store for clothes cause you are poor? Taxed!
Taking your precious pup once a couple months to get her hair trimmed? Taxed!
Need a mani or a pedi cause you are stressed about life? Taxed!

They changed the tax brackets so as the year moves along, you get paid less and less because the state will want more and more.
Then they will dry fuck you in January because they lowered the tax credit from $500 to $300.

Can you tell I am a bit angry?
There was all this talk about how the state had to talk about approving all this stuff..blah blah blah. I guess they did. Fuckers!

I am sooo mad!!

I was going to talk about cooking and cleaning in the summer months but that aint gonna happen today. I am going to get up and change and go to the gym. I need to work out my aggressions!!

Yesterday was a good day

Ocean Beach June 2011

*277* Yesterday Natalie and I had a good day. We went to the nutritionist, the gym for an hour, the beach and then to cheap dinner. I got a slight sunburn even though I wore SPF 5000! It is better today but I will be staying inside. I have cleaning to do. The air conditioner was leaking yesterday and I am hoping that Fred fixed it. I am thinking making the cats jumped on it and loosened it or something. I hope cause I dont have the money for a new one.

Look at my broccoli plant!! I have never grown broccoli before. It is so exciting to me. We love it and I am growing it. *smile*
I do not have much to talk about today. It is hot. My stupid ass as a sunburn. I have stuff to clean. I have plants to water. And I have to give the dogs a bath. Ho Hum.
 We will go to the gym tomorrow. I do not want to over do it since it has been awhile. I was able to do the 10 mins of the stair climber and I did a couple of the circuit machines. I want so go slowly. We are going to push each other to go every other day because we need the exercise and the muscle building. So Natalie and I are jumping back on the exercise wagon. Progress will be reported!

Now I will finish my coffee and tend to the dishes.....

Vacation time

What are YOUR July 4th plans?

*277*

Fred is on vacation until July 5th. I get him all to myself for more than a week! I have to share him with the girls and his friends but I get to spend some good quality time with him. We do not have money to actually take a vacation. He was supposed to go (me too) to Puerto Rico for a friend`s daughters 15th birthday party but at the last minute, we were denied. I guess the guy did not have enough money for everybody. I am a pessimist and I saw this coming last year when we were invited.
It is okay...there is stuff we have to do, we can do, and we can ignore for the whole week. I am going to start back up at the gym tomorrow morning.  He is working at his friend`s shop for the week to make some extra pocket money, and we have cleaning projects and such around the house to be done.  It is too bad his holiday ends on July 5h. Sailfest is the following weekend and he is going to miss it. By the time he gets out of work on Saturday, the fireworks will be over and the crowds will have died down. Maybe he will have Friday off and we can go get a fried dough. *drool* Fried dough with sugar and cinnamon...sooooo gooooood!

 I woke up feeling kinda crappy. My lower right side hurts but not immensely so do not freak out! I have been dealing with cramps in the mid month lately. Like ovulation cramps I would think. But I have never had them before. This is like the third month that it has happened. And my periods are awful..worse than usual. I am keeping an eye. I should make an appointment for gyno anyway. I way past due on my yearly pap and I am also due for another breast smoosh. Do they even do them anymore? I read someplace that the government decided that women did not need yearly mammograms.  Anyhoo..He will probably say that it is normal for you..blah blah blah. I am feeling crappy though. Like I could really go back to bed.
We shall see...I promised Fred spaghetti sauce with sausage and meatballs for dinner.

Gardening and shit like that

I have probably already used this but oh well

*277*

I just came home from doing some stuff for myself. I went to the Salvation army and spent $15 on a pair of summer pants and 5 shirts. Lots of color!! I got a hot pink one too. WooHoo!
Then I went to the community garden. I picked the last of the arugula. I also left one to go to seed. I have some new bibb lettuce growing but I had some to  harvest too. Something is getting at my Thai basil. I do not know what.  Everything else is growing wonderfully! It is going to be a bumper crop of tomatoes this year, i can feel it. I am going to go out to East Lyme this coming week and buy some more tomato plants.
There were strawberries to pick also from the area where the plum tree is. All the plums are teeny tiny right now. They are for anyone to pick but you cant be a hog about it.

I think I am going to do burgers on the grill tonite. I am tired. I was up late late late last night with Fred (and that is all i am gonna say! LOL)
 I took pics of the garden and I will post those tomorrow. My broccoli has a floret! I just do not know when to pick it.  Need to research.
Bye for now.

Rainy Days and Collard Greens and cop cars

*276*

It is raining today and it is going to rain for the next 3 days. Yuck. I am going to cook today. Collard greens, baked mac and cheese and deli hot dogs on buns. Fred said, *what about fried chicken?* eh..just not in the mood for that. The greens will be enough work.
  That new/old laptop is already giving me fucking trouble. I think the internet card INSIDE the computer must have died or wiggled loose (like when someone would just toss the computer on the bed..not naming names). It worked fine and then i passed it off to Natalie and it would not or could not pick up any wifi signal from anywhere.  I will have the dude that messed with it before take a look. Hopefully it wont cost alot. I am very very disappointed. I was all high on the fact that I had that second computer and now it is just sitting there. Damn.
 Chelsea is getting depressed. She has no job and she has anxiety about calling Unemployment. (she did most of the info on the computer but they need additional stuff over the phone).  She is tired and she did not feel good at all yesterday. But I refuse to do her shit for her. I think that is a little bit of the reason why she is being all crybaby like. She is pissed that I wont do it. She is 22yr old. She can do it. How am I any different? I never filed for unemployment or food stamps so I have no clue what is involved either. Yeah, she is going to file for food stamps too. They will be for her and it will help out with the groceries.
I am staying strong people! I have put my foot down!

So I am going to cook today and clean the kitchen top to bottom like I did the two bathrooms yesterday. I do not know where this nesting crap is coming from.
Oh, I had to go to the gym today and pay my yearly maintenance fee. I forgot they take it out in June so the payment bounced when they went to take it. I had to money today to pay for it. That is why I was not going to the gym. Now we can step it up. Natalie is ready! LOL
I seem to just be blabbing away at nothing. I think it is the rain and the excitement of yesterday.
First off, the people behind us were having an all day party yesterday. I think it was for graduation. They BLASTED music all day from 10am-7pm. And the shit was pointed at our house!  Then at 10pm I got a text from my neighbor. *Do you see the police cars?* So my nosy ass had to go downstairs to investigate. Three police cars and one undercover car. They arrested the Son at the shit house across the street. He is already on probation. He was popped for obstructing justice, assault of a police officer, and drug paraphernalia...Enjoy your summer vacation in prison..biotch!
Then all of us neighbors stood around and gossiped for another half hour. I love it!

Okay, must go and wash up some dishes and get the pot of ham shanks brewing on the stove.

Tumblr, dirty bathrooms, 1st day of Summer and humidity

*276*

Phew! I just finished cleaning both bathrooms (full ones) in the house. They needed a thorough top to bottom cleaning and I decided today was the day. It took me about hour and a half total. It does not help that it is as humid as all get out today. I will take it instead of snow though.
 I have to mention something cool that happened. I have a new/used laptop. Fred`s bestie bought a new Macbook pro for his young teenage daughter (eye roll) because she was bored with this one. Then he gave me this one!! It is a Dell with 2 gigs. It is run with Linux instead of Windows. He is going to call his geek to get the administrative password that is on it so we can download programs for it like antivirus and yahoo messenger...etc. I am beyond thrilled. So this segues into the fact that I started a Tumblr. You can see it on the upper right had side of this blog. There is a link to click on. I may not use it at all or I might have dueling blogs going on. Who knows? I like it because you can find all sorts of strange and different things on there that people post.   BUT do not worry! I will not abandon this. This is my diary, so to speak. And you all read my pages when I am not looking. hehe
I am going to go jump in the clean shower now.

Hanging bottle garden

This is Part One.

This is Part two.

I heard about this before and I totally want to give it a try. I am going to start saving my bottles now. I will use my window in the kitchen or the back patio side door with is fully windowed. I would plant herb and I do not know what else. I guess I will do some research on what people actually grow.
If you are interested, you can check out the website, Urban farm. 

Father`s Day 2011

Natalie, Chelsea, and Fred  Jan. 2010

*277*
What a difference a year makes...that belly on Fred is completely gone.
I did some yard work after I posted. I cut some hostas back because they were blocking walking paths. I pulled up some spiderwort (it is all over the fucking place!) and I pulled some weeds. The sun is hot and it is a teensy bit humid. I have learned that I have to be careful with the skin cancer. So even though I have sun screen on, I do not stay out there too long.
 Tomorrow is Father`s Day. We bought him a goofy t-shirt and we are going to make him a nice meal (really meals..breakfast, Lunch and dinner). I am going to make a big pan of brownies, beef ribs, and Italian rice salad. I do not know if I have ever shared this with you. This is something a friend of Fred`s made for him once. Super easy to make. I usually eyeball this recipe so you have to add or delete to you taste. If you like alot of shrimp, add more. If you do not like alot of cucumbers, use only one.

Italian shrimp salad

Ingredients:

1 box of Orzo, cooked to al dente
2 lbs of cleaned, cooked, peeled, medium sized shrimp (more or less to your taste
2 cucumbers, peeled, seeds removed, and sliced into thin  half moons
1 small red onion, sliced thinly
2 cloves of garlic, minced
Juice of one lemon, rind of same one lemon
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon dried Oregano
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 lb cubed Feta cheese

Directions:
Follow instructions on the box of pasta for cooking directions. Drain orzo, put in Large bowl and toss with a tablespoon of olive oil. This prevents it from sticking together.
Add onion, garlic, oregano, shrimp, salt and pepper into the bowl of Orzo. Mix. In a small bowl, mix together lemon juice, lemon rind, olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. Whisk until combined. (I sometimes add a big of red pepper flakes to give it a kick).  Pour dressing into bowl of salad. Mix thoroughly.
Last step is to cut the feta into cubes. Sprinkle on top and delicately mix it into the salad. Do not over mix or the feta will crumble.
Cover with plastic wrap or put in covered container and let is sit in fridge for 3 hours or overnight. The more it is left to marinate, the better.
This is a light salad. If you want more dressing for your salad, add more.
You will really enjoy this. It is a refreshing summer treat!

So Fred has to work this weekend..bummer! He is hoping to get off tomorrow because work is not that busy..but things can change in an instant..so we shall see. He will most likely be taking food to work with him. 
He really doesnt care..except for the food! LOL

Being Pretty

*277*

I used to be pretty. Now I am not talking shit about myself in a depressive, oh woe is me kinda way. I am being honest. I used to be a pretty girl. I thought I looked like dog shit. I thought I was always fat even though I was painfully thin at some points (having no car and having to walk everywhere did that).  Some of us age wonderfully, others do not. I have been told that I look younger than I am. That I could not possibly have a 22 year old kid. Oh, look..you dont have any wrinkles or age spots.
 I do not see what they see, and half the time I think they are blowing smoke up my ass.  I have two things going for me. Genetics and Fat. Fat does not wrinkle and the women in my family age gracefully. I am thankful for that.
Why am I talking about this?
When I gained all the extra extra weight from the back surgery and quitting smoking..none of my clothing fit me, except for like one pair of pants and a few t-shirts. I refused to buy new clothing! NOPE! So I walked around like a fat, homeless person. That is an oxymoron.
One day I went to the Salvation Army and saw how I could buy really nice clothes for practically nothing and my attitude changed. After 22 years of being a Mother on this Earth, I decided that it was time for ME to look good. I always sacrificed for the kids and looked like hell doing it. Not anymore.
So I have been dressing nicer. My bum around clothes are actually nicer then my nice clothes back before I started doing this. I decided that I did not care what size I was..I was not going to be afraid of color or being ostentatious.  If I liked it and it fit me (and it wasn't too fucking young for me)..I was gonna wear it!
I go to the hairdresser. I have been taking better care of my skin.
But I am still fat. I still look in that mirror and I am fatty fatty 2 by 4. Now, I have accomplished a few things since this started. I am not afraid of the bathtub anymore. I can put my shoes. I can paint my toenails. I can fit behind the fridge door. These things were what drove me to lose some weight and inches. But I want to be pretty.
I know I cannot make magic happen..this was the face I was born with and my nose just keeps growing. Don`t you hate that, by the way? As your age, your nose and your ears continue to grow. I have my Mother`s nose. My Mother stares back at me from the mirror sometimes. Yup.
Yeah, this may read like I am making fun of myself but no, it is not.
I am just mad at myself for assuming I was an ugly ass all those years when I really was`nt. And now it is too late.

What do you do on a Thursday?

*277* <---Whatever I am doing, is working!
Nothing to do on Thursdays really. It is the day before pay day so there is usually not any money. I have $9. I am not going to spend that money today. I want to show that I can actually have money leftover from the week before! I know it is not a huge amount but it is a start. So I have no grand plans to go shopping....
It is not going to be very warm today so I was thinking of transplanting my Iris plants. I have not done it in years because of my back, so they are neglected. It seems my whole yard is considered neglected. I have many many hostas in my yard because they are lush and lovely. I know there are some that need to be dug up because they are overwhelming some areas. My young neighbor next door, who is a gardener, told me that my yard was THICK and I kind of took that as a slam. Like you got too much shit in your yard and I would never do that..blah blah blah. I guess my yard is supposed to be minimalist like hers.*side eye*
Of course, now all I think about is how she does not like my yard. Why do I do that shit to myself? I know, my neighbors across the street know and my family knows that I cannot keep up with the yard like I used to. It is not crazy weedy or anything. It just has BIG showy plants all over the place. You can hide behind stuff with a lawn chair and no one would know you are there. I like it like that.
Pffft! To her and my thickness...

My mouth was doing well until yesterday. I had to go in to have my stitches taken out. This bitty assistant/hygenist is the same one that was there for my procedure. She poked, she brushed hard, and she made me swish with Listerine afterward. I had to take a Vicodin when I got home. I am better today. Still in pain but do not need a V.  My gum is red, raw, and bloody but that is what is expected and he said I am healing wonderfully. I have to be more aggressive in my cleaning to toughen up my gums. So there will be blood. Lots and lots of blood. I spit so much out of the sink last night..it scared me a little.
I will do it to save my teeth.

Okay..one more cuppa coffee and then out in the yard to water and dig.

Garden update

Front bed

*277*

Nice cool day today. I went and picked weeds, transplanted some beets, and picked some veggies. I thought I would share the beds progress so far. Broccoli is getting really big in the far left corner of this bed.

Second bed.

 

Lots of tomatoes in this bed. I also have basil growing nice and large. There is an eggplant also growing. Everything is doing exceedingly well.

Husk Cherry Tomatoes

This is an unusal tomato plant called a Husk cherry tomato. It is kind of like a tomatillo. Here is information on it. I had never heard of it and Chelsea gave me one to plant. It is growing really well. I have to read up on it to find out when I know I can harvest.
I have three other heirloom tomatoes growing also. I love my funky weird looking tomatoes. LOL

 

 

Thai Basil

This is Thai Basil. I bought it at a fancy plant sale last month. There are three plants growing and doing very well. I have learned that it has a licorice taste and smell. I will have to look up some recipes for it.

 

This is a form of dark bell pepper plant. I think it was called Black Beauty but I also think I might be wrong. I guess we will have to wait and see. I found a stray tomato plant growing in the beds. I have no idea if it was from last year or came with the compost. I dug it up and gave it a better place to grow. We shall see what happens.

I harvested Bibb lettuce, Arugula, sugar snap peas and radishes today.

Pickled Sweet Vidalia Onions

 

Pop!
That is the best sound to a canner. That means that you did your job right, your product is sealed, and nobody is gonna get sick in December when they open and eat your canned product.
I just finished putting up Pickled Sweet Vidalia Onions. I love Vidalias but you can only get them for so long before they are out of season. You can read about them here on the Official Vidalia Onion Website. I love them all kinds of ways, especially pickled. They taste great on a grilled burger. So this year I decided to try pickling some to save for later in the year when I cannot get anymore. You can pickle them for the fridge anytime with some vinegar, salt, sugar and a bit of spice. Leave in the fridge for a couple days and you will be ready to use at your next cookout. We like to eat burgers alot so this will be a treat for us and for you.
Get out your water bath canner, canning jars, collars and new lids. Do not forget your canning funnel and your jar lifter too. Do you have your rags? Okay, I think we are ready to begin.

Pickled Sweet Vidalia Onions

Ingredients:
8 large Vidalia Onions, Peeled and sliced thin in circles
1 cup Pickling Salt
1 cup sugar
6 cups white vinegar
2 T horseradish
6 garlic scapes
1 large jalapeno, cut into slices

Directions:

This is an overnight adventure so the only ingredients you need right now are your onions and salt. You can find the pickling salt at any big box store that carries canning supplies. It does not cost much at all and it keeps well in the cabinet until you need it again.

Peel and slice your onions into thin circles. You want to put them all in a large pot. Add 1 cup of pickling salt and fill with COLD water to the top. I put this on the back burner of the stove (no heat) with a lid on and forgot about it. In the morning, after you have washed and sterilized your jars, lids, and collars...you can pour the onions in a strainer and rinse. I rinsed thoroughly. Over rinse. You want to wash away all the salt.

Fill your water bath canner (make sure it is clean.) with water up to that upper bump in the pan (not the tippity top). Put the lid on and heat on high. You want to get a boil and it is going to take a while. It is also a good idea to have a tea kettle filled with water heating up too. This is just in case there is not enough water in the pan. When you put your jars in the canner, you want them to be covered with water. You can spread a dish towel(s) out on the counter and put your jars out for filling.

Those long green things are garlic scapes. When you grow garlic, these grow up and you have to cut them off otherwise they will flower and the garlic will stop growing. They are really tasty. I use them to make a nice garlicy pesto with walnuts. You will not need the whole scape. You want the bumpy end to go in the jar, push it down some and cut off the end near the top of the jar.
In a large pot,  combine 1 cup sugar, 6 cups white vinegar, and 2 Tabs of horseradish (I use prepared in a jar). Heat on medium and get a nice simmer for 15 minutes.

Put a scape in the jar and then pack near the top with onions. Slide on slice of jalapeno into the side of the jar. I like to do that so you (and others) can see it.

You are going to want to fill your jars using a ladle and a canning funnel. Fill the jars to 1/2 inch from top. You need that amount of air clearance. Make sure to use a clean damp cloth to wipe the outside of the jars clean. Then top with a lid and screw a collar on tight but not super tight.
You will put them in the canning rack and into the canner when the water is boiling. You are going to time it for 10 minutes. Then you lift the jars out (Careful! HOT!) and place them on a dish towel. Do not have the jars touching each other.  Now walk away and wait for the sound....

When they start to cool, you may hear them pop. That means they are sealed. If you press on the tops and they do not move, they are sealed. If they move up and down, they are not sealed. You can put unsealed ones in fridge to eat right away. They can last about 2 weeks in the fridge. I use a Sharpie marker to right the date and what I made on top of the lid.
If it seals well, store in cool dark place (like your pantry/cabinet) and it is good up to a year.. I have eaten things after a year and they are still good too.
This recipe can make 5-6 pint jars.

Enjoy!

Onions and Doctor Who

The Doctor and Rose

*278*

I have my canning supplies out and I bought some more Vidalia`s. I am doing it today and I am going to take pictures so that you can all see the pretty pretty onions. That is what I am going to do after I get off this idiot box. After the onions are done...I will creep upstairs and immerse myself into some Doctor Who on Netflix. I had never watched before. Chelsea watched every current episodes of all the seasons. *Not the seasons from 20 years ago* There are over 60 episodes and some of them are 1 hour long. At first I was resistant because I thought it was just weird but I think she and Natalie wanted me to watch it so we would have a common bond again. This is Chelsea`s way of extending the olive branch. So I watched a bit of the current season on BBC America.
Once I got the Roku up in the bedroom, I started to watch all the episodes of the past seasons. Last night I finished Season 1 (the end of the Doctor that I knew) and on to a transformed Doctor and Season 2. You would have to watch this weirdness for yourself to understand it..believe me. I really dislike the episodes that have the Daleks. They annoy me.
Okay, I am sorry..I am talking about something that you have no idea about.

Oh Fred has the day off today and I am happy about that...he will not be happy about the Doctor.

I am alive!

Milo messing with my miniatures

*279*

So far so good with the dental surgery. They numbed me to the hilt so that I would not feel anything. This is a good thing because he was being very aggressive with cleaning the teeth down to the roots. I only had the lower right quad (side) done this time. I have Vicodin to take for it. I do not have to take it all the time but one half in the morning and another half at night. I wait to see if I can deal with just Advil but not yet. The pain is getting much better though. I do not think I will need to take antibiotics. Today I get to swish! ROFL
 It is a gorgeously cold and cloudy day. Remember when I hated it because it was like that for days and days on end? Well, we had a mini heat wave (just in time for my surgery) so I am glad that fans and air conditioners can be turned off now.
 I have a butt load of dishes to do this morning. A moody 22 year old in my company (Pffft!) and a bunch of Vidalia onions that need to be pickled. The hormonal one is already starting shit and I told her NOT to piss on my parade today..I am in a good mood. I hope she does not think I am taking her anyplace today because her attitude already ruined her chances. (Pffft!!)

I am off to get some errands done this morning also. It is a gorgeous day!

Cleaning my Teef!

 

Ghost Teeth by Tiffany Liu

*278*

Tomorrow I am getting a flap procedure done with my gums.  My appointment is at 10am. I have been cleaning most of the day because that is what I do when I am nervous. Fred put the big air conditioner in the living room window so I will be comfortable tomorrow...going to be in the 90s for the rest of the week.
I found out my aftercare list by myself. I called the office this morning to see if they would give me a heads up and they did not want to tell me. I just wanted to know if I needed to be on any special food diet or if they were going to give me pain meds or not. Geez!

Flap procedure aftercare consists of not eating four hours afterward and then only eating soft or liquid foods for 2-3 (3-4) days. I saw three websites that told me different times. No soda, no straws, no carbonated drinks. Nothing too hot or too cold. Nothing crunchy at all. Then there is the issue of pain meds and bleeding. I cannot swish or spit. I have to let the stuff dribble out of my mouth. Attractive!
I have to sleep with a few cushions under my head so that the bleeding can heal quicker. It is a clusterfuck, I tell you!
So tonight I am eating Chinese food. I have not had really bad for you chinese food in quite awhile. I am not listening to Chelsea. She will try to get me to change my mind and get Thai (which I cannot afford) because she doesn't want Chinese. Guess what chicky? It aint always about YOU! I want shrimp toast and egg foo young. Yummy!

I may or may not be on the computer tomorrow. It matters on how badly this shit hurts afterward and if my daughters will care for me while Fred is at work. I may send out a S.O.S. beacon on Facebook.

Wish me luck! Hopefully it will work and my teeth wont be all jacked up afterward

My Sunday in PicturesI

Cacti outside. Hanging baskets watered

I cleaned the front porch. I swept it, tossed any crap, put my cacti outside, and watered the flowers.

Potato babies planted

I went to the store and picked up some potting soil. I dragged my barrel near the front where the sun is and planted the potato babies.

Giant bottle neck gourd plant watered..doing good.

I watered in the garden since it did not rain in the past day.

Snowpeas

Some of the snowpeas did not climb my string contraption so I gave them a bit of help.

SURVIVE!!

I saved this cherry tomato plant for my mailman. He kept putting it off day after day. I warned him that if it started to kick it, I was gonna plant it. This is my first year using one of those topsy turvy knock offs. We shall see!

Ahh! Shade

This is where I rested my ass for a bit after Fred mowed the lawn. Anyone want a rusted, never fucking used, pink  girls bike??

I can never remember the name of this stuff

I have two pots of these on either side of the stairs. Same kind of light. One is BIG and one is squat short. I think I should switch spots and see if that makes a difference.

shhh

After I was done, I came inside to a nice quiet house. I like it when people leave or go take a nap. I get some time to myself to reflect. Reflect means play zuma blitz.

So that has been my day so far and it is 4pm already. I think we are having burgers on the grill for dinner. Yummy!

My stomach is growing again

He looks thrilled!

*278*

   I sit here...waiting for the egg guy. He is late. He usually sends an email stating that he will be delivering on Sunday and if you need anything, you can let him know. I emailed him yesterday that I need two dozen (again) this week. No email back and it is past 9am and no eggs. Sniff Sniff. I hope he is okay.

   Back to the gym on Monday and this time I mean it. Natalie is either with me or she isnt. If it is beautiful out like it is today,  I might just take a walk. But I am doing it. All the work on my abs is going away. I am starting to look rounded again. Okay, I have always been rounded but my clothes were fitting better! Now they are not. So it is back to working out. My feet are fine. Nothing to be afraid of! Right?
 I am gonna get it going again and no bullshitting.  Go! Go! Go!

Side note: I am having that gum surgery on Wednesday so that might interfere with the rest of the week of exercising..I am just saying.

Natalie is tired of being overweight and has told me so. She wants to eat better and exercise more at the gym and other things. So I have a willing partner again. Now we need to get Fred to start going to the gym again too.
That will be tricky.

What have I been doing?

My dad. Revere Beach, Mass 1940s

*278* <----I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! Just die! (the scale)

I have not been on the computer much for the past few days because it has been gorgeous outside and I had shit to do.  I FINALLY bought a seasonal beach pass to out local sandy destination, Ocean Beach. For the past couple years, I just could not afford it. It is $50 for a resident sticker to be able to drive in and park anytime you want. The parking rates are so fucking high..$14 just for a weekday, $25 for a holiday, even $5 for the evening. So this sticker will pay for itself. Fred and I love to play miniature golf. On a hot evening, we can go to the cooler beach and play golf. Perfect date night! hehehe I can drop the kids off or on really fucking hot days, I can slap on a bathing suit (and extra large t-shirt), SPF 2000 sunblock, and jump in myself. I used to be the jelly fish looker-outer. I would brush them away and the kids could swim carefree. Those days are gone! I can relax in the sand. I need to get one of those chairs with the umbrellas attached.

  I planted purple and dark pink impatiens in the cone shaped planters hanging from the porch. I also put some morning glory seeds in there. We will see how that turns out. My herbs are doing well. I have to go to the community garden today with Chelsea to see how our veggies are growing. I am going to miss all those free veggies! Damn!
As I said before, she has been fired and more has happened since then but I wont talk about it right now..it is like a twist and turning novel. When I know more and I feel I can talk about it, I will. So for now, Chelsea is still laid off. I have gotten her an application to be a teacher`s aide next year. There are two elementary school within short walking distance to our house, so I hope she gets to go to one of those. It is a cut in pay but it is a job. She will be able to collect unemployment and she will even be eligible for food stamps. She wants to help out where she can until she gets paid again. I am going to pay the $25 for her fingerprinting for the job. I hope she gets it.

  I made eggrolls for my friend A last night. I was going to make fried rice but I was tired from running around with the girls all day. We went to some yard sales and a school bazaar. We then went to lunch and then to Borders (i did not buy anything..I am strong).  We came home and I caught up on Dr. Who by watching an episode I needed to watch to understand the episode that I am going to watch today. Are you confused? So am I. LOL

That is about it for me. I have been just running around, getting things done. That is what a mother does...

This should be put on the fridge!

 

I StumbleUponed this and I just had to share. It might be old but I have never seen it!

HOW TO TICK PEOPLE OFF

1. Leave the copy machine set to reduce 200%, extra dark, 17 inch paper, 99 copies.
2. In the memo field of all your checks, write "for sexual favors."
3. Specify that your drive-through order is "TO-GO."
4. If you have a glass eye, tap on it occasionally with your pen while talking to others.
5. Stomp on little plastic ketchup packets.
6. Insist on keeping your car windshield wipers running in all weather conditions "to keep them tuned up."
7. Reply to everything someone says with "that's what you think."
8. Practice making fax and modem noises.
9. Highlight irrelevant information in scientific papers and "cc" them to your boss.
10. Make beeping noises when a large person backs up.
11. Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with prophesy."
12. Signal that a conversation is over by clamping your hands over your ears and grimacing.
13. Disassemble your pen and "accidentally" flip the ink cartridge across the room.
14. Holler random numbers while someone is counting.
15. Adjust the tint on your TV so that all the people are green, and insist to others that you "like it that way."
16. Staple pages in the middle of the page.
17. Publicly investigate just how slowly you can make a croaking noise.
18. Honk and wave to strangers.
19. Decline to be seated at a restaurant, and simply eat their complimentary mints at the cash register.
20. TYPE IN UPPERCASE.
21. type only in lowercase.
22. dont use any punctuation either
23. Buy a large quantity of orange traffic cones and reroute whole streets.
24. Repeat the following conversation a dozen times.
    "DO YOU HEAR THAT?"
    "What?"
    "Never mind, it's gone now."
25. As much as possible, skip rather than walk.
26. Try playing the William Tell Overture by tapping on the bottom of your chin. When nearly done, announce "No, wait, I messed it up," and repeat.
27. Ask people what gender they are.
28. While making presentations, occasionally bob your head like a parakeet.
29. Sit in your front yard pointing a hair dryer at passing cars to see if they slow down.
30. Sing along at the opera.
31. Go to a poetry recital and ask why each poem doesn't rhyme.
32. Ask your co-workers mysterious questions and then scribble their answers in a notebook. Mutter something about "psychological profiles."

Your Welcome..Have a nice night!

 

Canning and being Lonely

*278*

I have been thinking about what I am going to can this year. Do you know I still have not canned those damn Vidalia onions? I must buy some more tomorrow and get some jars to replace the one I have given away.
 The most I ever do is strawberry jam and bread/butter pickles. Last year I did some pickled jalapeno because we had so many. I want to pickle and can some practical things that will last us throughout the winter. I must get a move on with the strawberries. I have to put the bags in the freezer in the basement otherwise Chelsea uses them in her smoothies! LOL
If you have any ideas, please feel free to give me some. I was thinking of doing something with corn too. I have a pressure cooker so I can can anything.

 Fred has been working his full time job and then helping a friend get his car detailing business off the ground. The guy never really paid him for the past 2 years but whenever we needed something, he would help. Like car repairs, money for Christmas, etc. Now that he has mucho steady cars from the local dealerships and his guy`s father is going to join in (he is an expert in buffing)..the dude had to make a plan. He is going to pay Fred, his father, and his brother to work at the shop. Fred can only do his days off, and two hours at night when he gets off of work. The pay will start next Friday. I am so happy that he is finally getting paid for all the help and we can really use the extra cash. I am just going to be so incredibly lonely. My girls are growing up and they really do not want to spend time with their Mom. They want to spend time with friends. That is how it goes in life. So I have been alone alot and now I will be even more isolated.
I have my online friends and a couple RL friends but that just isnt enough. They have their lives to lead. My very very close friend A is planning on moving to Missouri in a year. I will most likely never see her again. I am good at hiding it but I am sad.
What am I supposed to do? I do not have alot of energy so that nixes me getting a job, going to school, or actively volunteering. I have volunteered before and they did not like that I could not work the amount they wanted. 
I do not want to be like my Mom. Sitting at home reading and watching tv. Well basically, that is me. Just throw in a computer!
I wish I could get back into my dollhouses and minis but I cannot. I need money to do what I want to do. I have not shopped a mini or components in a long time. I have not stepped foot in AC Moore in over a year and I used to go in there every Friday. I had to give up that because I did not have the extra money.
I am just whining now I know. Stop it!

Be Positive Heidi!
I could go to the damn gym and work on thinning down the flab.
I could work in the yard and make it pretty (oh i forgot, no energy to really do that)...Let me explain something. When I feel good, I could clean the house and cook a great meal or I could work in the yard for two hours, and make a nice bbq for dinner in the evening. The problem with that is the next two days are spent in bed or on the couch recuperating. This is my existence. I have gotten used to it mostly but days like this when I am so bored i could scream...I wish I was not sick so I could go walk on the beach (skin cancer) or who knows!

I am just sad that I will lose my friend to money. Might as well phone in the sex too. :(

The progression of a friendship: My friend Z

New London CT waterfront

*278*

  We met in the 2nd grade. She was a skinny olive skinned girl with mixed race hair. She was skiddish and sometimes smelled like piss but she was my friend. We used to get into so much stuff that I am surprised we never got killed or got our asses beat. We used to hang out on the railroad tracks. Yup. We almost got hit by a train once too. We were stupid. Z got hold of some cigarettes and that was the first time we smoked was on those railroad tracks. We never got caught, which I am shocked about.
She was the youngest of 9 (i think) siblings. She was light skinned. I think her father was mixed race and her mother was just light skinned. She had a French last name. She was a trip. Whenever anyone would ask her what she was.. "What are you?" She would say she was American. hehehe and this was in the 70s.
 For some reason, she was sent to California the end of our Freshman year to live with her sisters. I was so upset. The only ones living in her big house was her Father (who worked 3rd shift), an older brother, and two older sisters that were really not old enough to take care of her. So I guess that is why she went. The summer of our Senior year, she came back. Her Father had passed away. The one sister and one brother were still living in the big house. She was different! She had boobs and she became pretty.  And she got an attitude to match. She used to be my equal. My confidant. Now she came back talking Valley and acting bourgeois. Things did eventually change between us and we became friends again.
 We both went to hair dressing school after graduation. She was there when I told my Mom I was pregnant with Chelsea. I was there when she was pregnant with her child. We went out to the clubs when we were 21. We used to go out to dinner and order Mussels with linguine at this place cause it was the cheapest thing on the menu. We would switch off who would pay. It was a real friendship. Then she left. I did not hear from her for years.
 She contacted me or I contacted her (i do not remember). She wanted us to go to dinner and catch up. This was about the time my Mom was really sick and I was really sick (but did not know what was wrong). I was not the skinny mini I once was. Of course Z was able to put on a bikini months after giving birth so she was a rail.
It was an awkward dinner.  She kept name dropping that her husband (she got fucking married!) knew this politician and that politician. She had a fancy car and fancy clothes. But low and behold..she forgot her credit card. The poor fat chick (me) had to pay for both our dinners. After that, I was ready to go home. I did not talk to her again until our 20th high school reunion was coming up. She wanted me to go with her. I did not want to at all. NO!
She did not want to go to see who was there and catch up with old friends. She wanted to go to show how good she looked, how much money she had, etc. She actually told me that it was her motivation! She wondered who got Fat so we could make fun! I said..Well, I got fat. And I am not going.
She sent me this long letter that I only read half of (tossed it in recycle bin) about how I am a bitch, and I hurt her feelings, blah blah blah.
She is on Facebook and she did try to friend me but I declined. I am done. I am still fat bitch! I do not have a ton of money bitch! I do not have lots of gold and fancy clothes bitch! But I have my man of 25 years and I have my family. That is all I need.

So you see, not all friendships were meant to last forever.