Zen Mum's Ramblings

3:18PM - Gotta love a man in a fedora with a whip!

Indiana Jones ROCKS!
EVEN 20 YEARS OLDER....HE HASN'T LOST HIS TOUCH! da da DA da...da DA da!

Current mood: giddy

7:42PM - Maybe

Ok....so maybe I will watch American Idol next year after all. Maybe.....

Current mood: indifferent

8:44PM

OK, So I am sitting here watching the American Idol finals and am so angry I had to walk away from it. So I don't spoil it for those across the pond that don't get to see it yet, I won't comment as to why, just that I am seriously done with Idol. Next year I will find something else to watch, like the paint peeling on my walls or Bubba cleaning himself.
On that note, I am turning off the TV! As my last duty for Idol, I will vote 4 times for David Cook.....1 for me, 1 for Greg, 1 for Rochelle and 1 for Merv. Not that after the judges smear tactics tonight it will do any good.
sigh..............

Current mood: disappointed

7:26PM - Favorite Song Lyrics

Today I cleaned the bathroom cupboards. I must admit that it really needed it. There was old hair shampoo, conditioner, nail polish and lotions still pushed way in the back from before Rochelle left for school in Liverpool. Last night I tried to get something out and everything landed on my feet.  It made me crazy, so I decided to clean and organize them today. I dug through our CD shelves for some music to clean by and came across an old  compilation CD with John Denver on it. I haven't listened to John Denver in many years, so I thought it would be fun. Takes me back to my hippy years a bit I have to admit. About half way through it, one of my all time favorite John Denver songs came on. I had totally forgotten it until today.....

For You
Just a look in your eyes again
Just to lay in your arms
Just to be the first one always there for you
Just to live in your laughter
Just to sing in your heart
Just to be everyone of your dreams come true

Just to sit by your window
Just to touch in the night
Just to offer a prayer each day for you
Just to long for your kisses
Just to dream of your sighs
Just to know that Id give my life for you

For you for the rest of my life
For you all the best of my life
For you alone, only for you

Just to wake up each morning
Just to you by my side
Just to know that you're never really far away
Just a reason for living
Just to say I adore
Just to know that you're here in my heart to stay

For you for the rest of my life
For you all the best of my life
For you alone, only for you

Just the words of a love song
Just the beat of my heart
Just the pledge of my life, my love, for you

Such a great song. So what are your favorite song lyrics?  Care to share?

Current mood: mellow

1:47PM - Spoiled, Unaprecciative Dog

Today I made Bubba a new bed cover and pillow. It is a lovely print of dogs on one side and a green fleece on the other side for when it is cold. His pillow is also reversible. I spent 4 hours working on it, measuring and sewing and ironing and pinning and more sewing. HE WON'T GO NEAR IT! He put his tail between his legs and would have no part of it. Pandy however, loves it and is sleeping on the pillow. Sigh! Maybe when Greg gets home tonight he can get him to use it. I refuse to put the old cover back on it is gross and no longer washable as it is falling apart.

Current mood: disappointed

6:23PM - Boy have we come a long way!

This was sent to me from a friend. I can't even imagine this kind of workplace. When we think we haven't gotten too far with women's rights. Read this and be thankful we have at least gotten further then this.

Current mood: grateful

Current music: American Idol horrible singers

8:50AM - Safe Landing

Rochelle made it home to England safe and sound and was VERY happy to see her hubby and kitty. Nothing else to report, but wanted everyone to know she made it.

Current mood: calm

5:28PM - CowDog

No dog should have to live with this humiliation!
But it is Funny!

Current mood: amused

4:53PM - New Computer and all is not right with the world

Today, thanks to other daughter Rose we have at least managed to get the internet working on the new Dell.
We have both computers set up side by side, let me tell you the "quick and easy Belkin Cable to move files - SUCKED! So looks as though I will be moving everything by hand. I predict WEEKS of file moving.
There are some neat things I have discovered with Vista, just by accident. But overall - IT SUCKS!
Wish me luck! Thanks to Rose for giving us 4 hours of her weekend so we could at least be connected to the internet.

Current mood: frustrated

5:36PM

For Rochelle and Merv - October 25, 2007

7:52PM - Just one word.....

VACATION!!!!

Current mood: cheerful

4:58PM - Happy Birthday Merv!

Merv,
We can't be there to personally tell you Happy Birthday, but we want you to know we are thinking of you.
We REALLY look forward to our upcoming visit and our first "family" vacation together to Rome.
So since we can't be there.....This is for you! Have Rochelle sing Happy Birthday to you from us!

Current mood: artistic

7:29PM - Cooking up a Storm

Today it felt like May not August. The weather was overcast and cloudy and only hit 69 degrees. What happened to summer?
Now that I have that rant out of the way, it did make a wonderful day to cook.
As you all know, from the time my mom went into the care facility/hospital 10 months prior to her passing, my dad was cooking for himself. During that time my mom was only home for about 2 1/2 weeks and her dementia was at a level you didn't leave her in the kitchen alone. Some very strange things occurred if you made that mistake. My dad had never cooked in his life. My mom spoiled him and never let him in the kitchen. He has a real love hate relationship with cooking. He loves to eat but hates to cook. And I have to say in all kindness. He really is bad at it.
This said, my brother John and I have been providing meals for my dad. We have purchased prepared heat and serve type meals for him from a place called "Meals are Ready", we have made extra and brought it to him, we have taken him out to eat. The "Meals are Ready" are pretty expensive and the smallest you can get is a prepackaged meal for 2. Which makes him sad when he opens it and there is only need to heat up one at a time. So, I decided to make him some homemade meals and take them to him the next time we go up for the weekend, all frozen and ready to heat in the microwave or cook in the oven. All including step by step heating instructions with suggestions for side dishes. His main dish would be easy to prepare and all he would need to do is add a salad or veggie.
Last night on the way home from work, I stopped at the dollar store (have I said how much I love the dollar store?)and got all kids of inexpensive food containers. Tonight when I got home I began cooking and cooked and cooked and cooked.
So far I have made:
2 individual meat loaves
2 individual Lasagnas
1 casserole of spinach stuffed rottini with chicken and white sauce
1 casserole of Cheese stuffed ravioli with marinara sauce and ground turkey
3 chicken pies
That is 9 meals. I will be making more on Saturday. I plan some lovely stew, maybe a couple stuffed chicken breasts and pork chops.
The last time I saw my mom at the hospital, I knew she had little time left. I promised her I would take care of my dad. I can't get there as often as I would like, but I can feed him. I know mom is smiling. She knew how much he hated to cook.

Current mood: productive

7:10PM - World Clock

This is very cool. Check out this link!
http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock.htm

Current mood: curious

8:50PM - Dipped a Chip In Honor of.....

Tonight Greg, Rose and I went to dinner at Acapulco. This was a dinner to celebrate Rose's new job (WAY over due, but she is a good stunt daughter and understood there has been lots going on lately) and to discuss the Bubba sitting plans for the UPCOMING RENO TRIP!!!!!!
We had yummy warm chips and salsa as we waited for our meal. Since we know how much Rochelle loves Mexican food, we offered a toast in her honor with chips and salsa! We know how much she misses good (American) Mexican food. It is too bad we can't bring her some when we come in September....but can you imagine explaining that to customs?
Ummmm....No....So this is the best I can do.....

Current mood: full

9:10PM - Everyone needs a little trackiness sometimes......

So in honor of my favorite pass time I ordered these today......




Maybe they will get here before the upcoming Reno trip. I could wear them in the casino while playing the slots!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!

OK...I think I have seriously lost my mind......But then who needs one when you have such lovely slippers?

Current mood: amused

8:05PM - You must have been a beautiful baby....

Current mood: nostalgic

5:10PM

OK, so today's update.
I got a potential good sized grant. I will get the final $$$$$ allocations on the follow up on Thursday. This is exciting as my team will be doing some ground breaking research into an untapped area. That is all I am going to say for now. But it is exciting.

Bubba had me up at 2:15 this morning. He wanted his bed with mom time (he usually has this in the mornings when Greg leaves for work) but he can't climb on the bed yet, so he sat at the gate at the door and whined. I finally got up and came out on the couch, then of course he went to sleep and I was wide awake, until about 5 when I needed to get up, THEN I started to doze. It will be an early night for me that is for sure.

Greg got hurt at work today. He had an accident with large stacks of merchandise falling on him and causing him to fall through the back of the truck and the loading dock. He ended up spending a goodly portion of the rest of the day at the hospital being X-rayed, poked and prodded. Luckily he has no broken bones, but some really deep tissue bruises and muscle strain.
So, he will be off a good part of this week on workers comp. I guess if there IS a bright spot, it is that he can now stay home for a couple days to nurse Bubba. My 2 men can mend together I guess. I am just happy he didn't break anything.

Current mood: distressed

3:24PM - Bubba surgery update

Today is day 2 after surgery for Bubba. He started his antibiotics today and is still very listless. He likes being fed ice chips and hand food. I think by the time he is well, he will be even more spoiled then he is.
Look at his big incision though...the other 2 aren't as large, but this one is right up there with being majorly gut cut. Poor Dog.

You will also notice he has a lovely pillow and a soft human like bed for his recovery. Poor dog....

Current mood: sore for my dog

3:18PM - Project Picture

We finished the fence project this weekend. We still have some washing of the new cement to do, when it is really dry and to plant the flowers I want to grow over the arbor, but the main work is done. Hurray!



You will notice that the ground slopped so each fence cut up the driveway had to be cut at an angle, then the gate had to be cut just right so it would open out onto a slopped driveway. DIY Challenges didn't get us down.

Current mood: accomplished