As Mrs. Schmenkman likes to say, “I am busier than a one armed paper hanger.”
I think it will calm down a bit after today. I hope.
Honey Has a Dream
November 7, 2009 at 9:15 AM (Help Me Please, Honey, Whatever)
I told you about my dream yesterday.
Today, I’ll tell you about Honey’s dream.
He is dreaming of a pasta maker.
He keeps telling me that that he wants to get ME one for my birthday, or Chistmas,ect.
This is how he justifies getting something into our house that is a total want, as opposed to a need.
Now, you all know I don’t want a pasta maker. For any kind of holiday. For any kind of reason.
Maybe Santa will bring him a pasta maker for Christmas. And bring me something else. Something that I would like to have.
I’m all out of chai, I’m so lost without you….
November 2, 2009 at 7:31 AM (Confessions, Help Me Please, Whatever)
The Air Supply song has been running through my mind.
My large stash of chai, so thoughtfully found for me by Capri’s Patt and Deb, is gone, used up. Drank, drunk, drunken. I am back to the unworthy tea bag. Big sigh. Really big sigh.
I can’t see me lovin’ nobody but you, for all my liiife.
Someone help me, help me please
Is the answer up above
How can I ever tell them
This is not a puppy love
Don’t do me like that, don’t do me like that
What if I love you baby, don’t do me like that
Don’t do me like that, don’t do me like that
Someday I might need you baby, don’t do me like that
Show me the meaning of being lonely
Is this the feeling I need to walk with (tell me why)
Tell me why I can’t be there where you are
There’s something missing in my heart
Every night in my dreams
I see you. I feel you.
That is how I know you go on.
I will survive.
I have done it before. Barely. Here we go.
Scarecrow Brain
October 29, 2009 at 6:20 AM (Help Me Please, Honey, Whatever)
I asked Honey last night if he had any idea what I should post about. He was not helpful. He was watching some dumb baseball game. The World Series, or something like that.
Last week, I had a ton of ideas, but I had no time. This week, I have a bit more time and I am wishing that I had written some of those sparkling beauties down. My memory is faulty. To say the least.
I offer you an example.
Just today, I went to Sam’s Club. Because we were out of cream and cheese. I do remember the important things. I bought a few other staples, broasted chickens, lemon juice, kosher salt and apples. Only to return home and have Mousey ask, what do I do with all that lemon juice? Honey chimed in about the salt and apples.
The cooking show that we have been watching this year is called “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef” and Chef Anne Burrell is a fan of the kosher salt. Honey kept saying that we should try the kosher salt. Is kosher salt any different than regular salt? I do not know. So I bought him some. I said Honey, I bought you a little treat! Evidently I said the exact same thing when I brought home the last kosher salt.
I put the new kosher salt in the pantry next to the old kosher salt.
It taxes my brain to remember these things. On these types of days, I wish I could just do this.
Well, it’s not much of a post, but it’s all I can remember.
She’s Gone, I’d Better Learn How To Face It
October 10, 2009 at 8:51 AM (Around Our House, Help Me Please, Whatever)
Just a little Hall and Oates on a gloomy Saturday morning.
Our Windswept Pumpkin is gone. Hence the title of this post.
I was just beginning to love her, and make plans for her future. And name her.
I was leaning towards Patti. Patti Podner Pumpkin. Has a ring to it, don’t you think?
Our neighbor, about 5 houses up the street, stopped by and asked about her. Was she ours? I told him the Windswept Tale. He was so glad to have found her, evidently he had been in big trouble. His wife was mad at him for putting her out on such a blustery day. They take their Halloween seriously down there at their house. They have TWO of those giant, blow up thingys.
Everybodys high on consolation, everybodys trying to tell me what is right for me…. but it’s plain to see that they can’t comfort me. She’s gone.
Loves taken her toll on me, she’s gone.
So she’s gooooooone, oh oh oh oh I, I’d better learn how to face it.
They can never be what she WAS.To.MEeeeee. She’s gone.
I would NOT beg the devil to replace her.
She’s just gone. Goodbye Patti Podner Pumpkin. RIP.
Who’s THAT Girl?
September 1, 2009 at 7:38 AM (Confessions, Friends, Help Me Please, Whatever)
I was having a conversation with Capri Deb last week. We were discussing our blobs. We like to do that.
She was telling me about some of the posts she was planning to do and she had all these ideas! She always has loverly posts about her family, up North, her Grandson, her gardens, all the beautimous things she is making, cause she is a super talented girl who can make anything out of anything!
I have had days like that also. Minus the up North, the Grandson, and the super talented girl parts. The ideas just flow and before you know it, you have 5 posts in the can. Or in the drafts folder.
The creative juices are flowing, you have eyes to see everything in a humorous light, or something meaningful or wonderful or amazing has happened! There is so much to tell and pictures to share. Life is good!
And then some days, you have absolutely nothing to say. Not one little scrap of an idea. Can’t even craft a remotely interesting sentence. And you wonder, how have you ever written a post in your life? How have I managed to keep this blob going for the last year and a half? What have I ever talked about? I am the most boring person in the world. You are flat. No fizz, no punch, no meaning.
Why is that?
Who is that girl? Why does she come to ruin all the fun? I wish she would go home.
The Do-Over Day
August 14, 2009 at 5:05 PM (Family Life, Honey, Muggins Q. Mouse, Whatever)
Friday has been our last full day of Girls Week. 
The Guys will be home sometime on Saturday. We spent the day re-doing things that we had already done.
We tried to see “Julie and Julia” earlier in the week. But our schedule and Emagine’s schedule were two entirely separate things. We have semi tried almost every day, and today, after enduring hellacious construction traffic, we actually were there to buy tickets, when the salesgirl said there were only 15 seats left, and they were most likely not together. Emagine, why you do me like that??? Plus, we have the whole wheelchair business. And you know how those handicapped seats fill up because everyone likes all that extra leg room. I can only carry her so far.
We passed.
We were at Marshall’s yesterday, because we had to get dog food at Petsmart. You can’t just go to Petsmart when Marshall’s is in the same strip mall. It’s un-American.
Marshall’s had a darling ”Life is Good” shirt that I carried all around the store. I was mightily wrestling with myself for a couple of reasons. Reason #1. I bought a darling green “Life is Good” shirt in Virginia a couple of weeks ago for $14.99. Reason #2. I don’t need no stinkin’ shirt! I put it back on the rack.
BUT, I thought about it all last night. I even tried on the green shirt with jeans and a sweater, which is how I would wear it, when I got home. I discovered that most of the design is covered by the sweater, and you can’t get the full effect of the darling shirt. I would not wear it without a sweater, because HELLO, Michigan is very close to The Great White North! So my two reasons for going back today to get it were; #1. The shirt at Marshall’s better suits my plan. #2. It was $9.99, and I am all about saving Honey money!!! If Honey were here, his comment would be “please, stop saving me money”. I know, I have heard it before.
So we went back to Marshall’s.
The next do-over was really annoying. I had taken Mousey for her physical on Wednesday morning at 9:40, so she could hand in the paperwork saying she was fit to swim at 5:15 that evening. I have never said I was a plan ahead kind of girl. She made it, just simmer down now!
The next day, someone from the team called to tell me her form was rejected. It appears that our form said her last physical was over a year ago. Well, that was her last, last physical. I called the Dr’s office to find out what our options were. She said it was dated at the top for Wed. ‘09, and if she printed off another one, it would say the same thing. So I camped out waiting for the lady at the beginning of swim practice. I so helpfully showed her the correct date on the paper. She so unhelpfully showed me the line that the last, last physical date was on . Only that line, with the date 8-12-09, would satisfy them. She and the coach made me take my Mouse home, without her even putting one Mouse toe in the pool.
I called the Dr’s office back, again explained my dilemma, and asked her what she wanted to do. And bless her heart, she said she would change it and it would be waiting for me to pick it up. Which we did.
Finally, the last do-over was accomplished. I believe I mentioned that we are enjoying season one of “ER”. We flew through disc one and two. I felt that things were not quite as I remembered. Mark Greene’s marriage fell apart surprisingly fast. Susan Lewis’ relationship with Div deteriorated very choppily. The story of Nurse Hathaway and her fiance Tag was also vague. I knew there was more to it.
Last night, while watching disc three and four, The Ab-Cat said the same thing. She then had a novel idear! Turn the disc over. Bambo, that was it! So back to the library we went this afternoon to recheck out disc one and two, so we can turn those babies over and get the full story.
We were almost home when I innocently mentioned to the Girls to save their Arby’s straws, because Arby’s straws are excellent smoothie straws. That planted the smoothie seed, we then had to turn the van around, and head back the way we had just come, to go Krogering for some sherbet to make smoothies to go with our most excellent Arby’s straws.
I will have mine later. I did not want to waste the fact that I was not hungry. I’m sure they were not Schmenkman quality. She is the undisputed Queen.
It is now almost 5:00. There has been no nap, nor will there be. I am just hoping I can make it through Mousey’s movie choice tonight. It’s “You’ve Got Mail”, which is my favorite movie, ever. Except for “The Bourne Identity”. They are equal.
Mousey says she has never seen it. Which I find very hard to believe, as I stop and watch it whenever I come across it on TV. Surely she has been in there at least once!
I am looking forward to seeing my Guy’s tomorrow! I have missed them!
Have a great weekend. And no do-overs!
The Loafer’s Club
August 13, 2009 at 9:47 AM (Family Life, Friends, Honey, Muggins Q. Mouse, Our Boy, The Ab-Cat, Whatever)
Girls Week is going swell! We have been quite busy.
I have to work this morning, but after that minor inconvenience, I believe we are going to lunch at Bennigan’s. Our newly discovered, favorite restaurant. That we just heard filed for bankruptcy. We are so on the ball around here.
The Ab-Cat is craving a Monte Cristo, otherwise known as a deep fried heart attack with fries. The Boy ate my leftovers once and asked me what the heck that was? He said it was like a sandwich inside a doughnut. Which makes me think of Jim Gaffigan. We love Jim Gaffigan around here. Hot Pocket.
O.K., back on task. Mousey would like to order some yummy chicken wrap thing she had previously. That statement requires no meandering follow up.
Mousey’s swim schedule has put a decided crimp in our schedule. Or cramp, as the case may be. She has to be there at 5:15 and be picked up at 7:30, so that right there messes with any dinner plans we might make. I don’t like to eat dinner at 8. It interferes with my bedtime schedule. Eating at around 4 would be too much for Mouse. They don’t like vomit in the school pool. So, by default, lunch it is.
The television dvd of choice for Girls Week 2009 has been “ER”. We are thoroughly enjoying the exploits of County General, in Chicago.
Yesterday, some Gals came over to bead. There was a little teaching, a little stringing, and quite a few do overs going on. The Oreo Mom and I had a little class for Philly’s Mom and Tea4Grammy. Philly’s Mom wins for most do overs. Tea4Grammy needs an extended crimping class. The Oreo Mom was just banging the bracelets out! Keelyody came and brought snacks and watched. Cause she is a big old hunk of honey.
Hard at work.
The spoils.
We finally ate dinner when The Mouse came home at 7:30. Ab and I were starving, so we’ll not be doing that again. We had spaghetti with jar sauce. Which we probably have not had since the last time Honey was out of town. He would never in a million years eat jar sauce. Snobby Day-go.
We then settled in comfortably for an evening of quality TV. And ate ice cream, popcorn, and I believe Ab washed hers down with chips.
We are going to decide later how we will loaf this day away.
Goodbye, Pain in the Neck
August 8, 2009 at 12:17 AM (Friends, Whatever)
A while ago, I asked Keelyody, the walking buddy, if she could do me a massive favor. I needed help in picking out new glasses. Because I can’t see well enough to help myself. She said she would do that, because she is a very nice girl.
But, then I was sick, and then busy with the family reunion stuff, and then I was out of town. Twice. Finally, last week, both of our schedules were free, and off we went.
To help you understand part of my dilemma, I need to share an important fact. I hate the glasses I have now. They have been the most annoying glasses I have ever owned and worn for 2 years and 3 months.
When I shopped for these glasses 2 years ago, I was dismayed to discover that glasses were even smaller and more rectangular shaped than they had been the two years previous. As you have witnessed in previous pictures, I have worn some mighty big glasses in the past. I’m am not advocating a return to that heinous trend, but I would prefer to have lenses bigger than elongated Chiclets.
Because there was not really a choice, I got the small rectangular frames. Which were a horrible choice with my gradual bifocals. I had a razor thin line that I had to look through to read. And I had to tilt my head to unnatural angles to find that razor thin line. I must say it again. I hated those glasses.
When I went for my eye exam in May, at the place where Ford Motor Company prefers that we go, I told the person helping with the glasses selection part of the experience of my great hate for the previous pair. He, surprisingly, told me I needed to have a larger lens, something about at least a number 17. I thought that it would have been helpful for the person helping me 2 years ago to have told me this pertinent information. Looking at the plastic frames that I prefer, they had exactly one pair with this requirement. For $220.00.
I exercised my option to prefer to look elsewhere.
Keelyody and I were going to look several places, but I was pretty sure that we were going to end up at Sears. They had a sweet deal for 2 pair of glasses with bifocals for $350.00. But just before I left that morning, Honey gave me an ad for JC Penney, so we decided to check them out as well.
When we walked into Penney’s, the very helpful sales girl asked me what I was interested in. I launched into my spiel. When I said that I needed gradual bifocals, she said surely I didn’t have them with my current glasses? Because , evidently, she could tell already that they were not big enough to support more than a razor thin progressive. Fancy that, a knowledgeable professional.
When I asked for for a price, she did some figgerin’ and told me, two pair of glasses, one regular, one sun glass, both progressive bifocals for $208.00!!! JC Penney? You are my favorite people this week!
I went on Friday to pick them up. I had been praying that they would be right, because the whole thing seemed a little too good to be true. And in our experience, if it seems to good to be true, it usually is.
It wasn’t!!! I heart them! Here I am in the newbies.
I love the circles on the arms. But the part I love best, is no more oddly cocked head while reading. No more crick in my neck on the computer. It’s a good thing.
I even colored my hair tonight before Ab-Cat took these pictures. Because nothing says “I’m middle aged” like an inch of silvery grey roots.
I am ready for the paparazzi. I have always wanted to have a pair of big, cute, dark, prescription sunglasses. This was as big of frame as the knowledgeable professional at JC Penney would allow. I evidently have some sort of a freakish deviation in the spacing of my eyes. I am not complaining. Beggars can’t be choosers.
Keelyody and I both agreed that big, cute, dark sunglasses need a little bling on the arms. This fit the bill. Blingy, but not gaudy.
Thank you so much for your expert opinions Keelyody! I couldn’t have done it without you! Seriously, I couldn’t have seen, to do it without you!
Destination:Virginia, And Not in a Covered Wagon
July 30, 2009 at 4:24 AM (Friends, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Television, Trips, Whatever)
Seeing as how we didn’t do much in June, and August looks fairly empty, July has been a MADHOUSE!
To cap off the hectic month, Friday morning, the Michigan Capri’s (Deb and Patt and I) are heading down to Virginia to visit the 4th Capri, Mrs. Schmenkman. Aka Capri Lis. And this time, we are taking some daughters! Deb’s daughters, Steph and Jackie, and our Girls. Patt’s daughter could not work it out schedule wise. So no Erin
It will be a whirlwind weekend. But, a whirlwind chock full of all of the things that I love! Eating, shopping, talking and old friends!
I was thinking about all of the driving that I have been doing lately, and I have had a recurring thought.
Pa Ingalls would have been supremely envious of my van.
It is a great vehicle to travel in. And we all know how he loved to travel.
Now, I know that it might surprise you that I think about Pa Ingalls. But I do. I also think about Ma, Laura, Almanzo, Mary and occasionally Carrie. But not Grace. Oddly, I never think about Grace. Or Rose.
I think about The Ingalls Family regularly. I often wonder what they would think about this newfangled thing, or how that has fallen by the wayside. Mostly, I wonder what they would think about the life we now lead here in these United States, if they were plopped back here for the week. Wouldn’t that be an interesting conversation to overhear?
All that to say, wouldn’t it be funny to see The Ingalls’ driving across the prairie in my high top conversion van? With the comfy leather seats. Stopping at rest stops to pull out the old spider cooking thing to make up a batch of jonnycake or corn pone? Crossing rivers using bridges, instead of taking their lives in their hands. Putting their little tin cups in the cupholders. Watching “I Love Lucy” and “Laverne and Shirley” , “American Idol” and “STAR WARS” on the DVD and VCR!!!!!!! I have more thoughts about this. Perhaps I will save them for another time. You’re welcome.
Thinking about it amuses me enormously!
We’ll be back next week. I’m sure there will be something to tell you all about.
Enjoy the dregs of July. August is coming full speed ahead.
