Zen Mum's Ramblings

Gotta love a man in a fedora with a whip!

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 22:23:01 GMT

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

Maybe

Thu, 22 May 2008 02:46:17 GMT

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

Wed, 21 May 2008 03:52:28 GMT

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..............

Favorite Song Lyrics

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:38:32 GMT

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?

Spoiled, Unaprecciative Dog

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:53:38 GMT

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.

Boy have we come a long way!

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:29:45 GMT

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.

Safe Landing

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:53:21 GMT

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.

CowDog

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 01:33:47 GMT

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

New Computer and all is not right with the world

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 23:56:37 GMT

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.

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 00:37:57 GMT

For Rochelle and Merv - October 25, 2007

Just one word.....

Sat, 15 Sep 2007 02:54:17 GMT

VACATION!!!!

Happy Birthday Merv!

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 00:03:07 GMT

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!

Cooking up a Storm

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 02:48:34 GMT

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.

World Clock

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 02:11:22 GMT

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

Dipped a Chip In Honor of.....

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 03:58:14 GMT

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.....

Everyone needs a little trackiness sometimes......

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 04:14:20 GMT

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?

You must have been a beautiful baby....

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 03:12:47 GMT

HAPPY 28TH BIRTHDAY ROCHELLE!

Oh....you must of been a beautiful baby...cause baby look at you now!!!!
I thought you could use a little embarrassment on your special day!
Hope you have a GREAT day! We love you!
Mom and Greg (Frankenbubba, Siggy and Pandy too!)

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:21:00 GMT

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.

Bubba surgery update

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 22:28:52 GMT

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....

Project Picture

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 22:21:24 GMT

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.

Travel Hell complete and....

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 15:11:31 GMT

I won't go into detail, I am sure Rochelle will post all about it when she gets some rest. Just wanted everyone to know she landed in London safe and sound, 24 hours after she left. She was exhausted and still had customs a train ride and all to get through before she could sleep. But, she made it, is home and in one piece. I didn't sleep much last night of course knowing she was so tired and such, I will be napping today.
My stomach is still not feeling the best, and I still have the sore throat. I feel like I have run a race and was trampled by buffalo, so I am glad I have one more day off to recover. I have no clue where I found the flu, but it sure found me. I would be happy to let it go find someone else now.
And lastly, my mom has pneumonia again. She is filling up with fluid from her congestive heart failure and kidney issues. I hope the care center caught it in time so she won't end up in the hospital again. She is being moved to a full dementia and care facility on Monday. The rehab care place can't handle her anymore. Even though she is so weak she can't walk on her own, she is becoming a wanderer and they don't have locked wards. Dementia is a cruel disease for both the patient and the family. Let me tell you. Although the trip back has been hell for Rochelle I am so glad she was here to see her grandma.

Rochelle's Travel Hell Update....

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 04:50:01 GMT

So, Rochelle got off right on time from PDX this morning. Had a lovely exit row seat and flew with little issue to Newark. She calls and is ready for the final trip to Merv. I am sealing with my cold and upset tummy and blissfully unaware until she calls at 8:30pm our time, that she HASN'T EVEN LEFT NEWARK YET! Poor thing, they were stuck on the tarmac for 4 hours and then bumped off the plane and told to go eat while they figure out how to fix some fuel thingy on the plane. The problem with this is that at this time of night, nothing is open. So she and all her fellow passengers have been without food since about 1pm and are just sitting there waiting, without even a cup of coffee. She is NOT a happy camper at this point, she LOVES flying so much as it is. NOT!
Interestingly a similar thing happened to Greg and me on our last trip. We were stuck on the tarmac at Heathrow for nearly 4 hours. It was hot and miserable. First class got a portable AC unit and all kinds of things to drink. We in steerage got nothing but a few sips of water about 3 1/2 hours into it. It made the rest of the trip horrible as the plane never did cool down completely and we had been sitting there so long before we ever took off. I know what she is dealing with. It isn't fun. But we eventually got home. The one plus for us was that we hadn't already been traveling for HOURS when it happened.
I have to tell you, the first time she called and I realized it was her, my heart turned over. All I could think was she was calling from the plane to say they had been taken over by terrorists. Why else would she call when she was supposed to be flying? Whew, gave my heart a jolt.
Anyway, I know she will get there eventually, I am just sorry the end of her trip has to be so long and miserable. Merv will be waiting for her at the other end and make it all better I am sure. But what a bummer!
I will update as I know more...

Exit Portland.....Enter London

Thu, 31 May 2007 14:05:51 GMT

I just got back from taking Rochelle to the airport. Bubba is not a happy dog. He was very sad when I came back without her. He put his tail between his legs and crawled under the dining room table. He won't come out. I know how he feels. This time it is especially hard to see her go, what with all my moms issues and all. But I am happy for her, knowing she is going back to the place she loves, and the man she loves. And, we will get to see her in September.
My stomach is upset today too. It actually has been for 2 days. Lots of heartburn and nausea. I think it could be the high levels of Thai and Mexican food we have eaten in the last 4 days. Combined with yesterdays heat. UGH! Back to regular eating again now.
It was a good trip all things considered. Rochelle got to see her grandparents, which was the reason she came at this time. I know it meant a lot to her grandpa that she made the effort to see her grandma. We also helped the Portland economy out to a great degree. Funny that she came with one partially empty suitcase and went back with 2 full to the brim:) That's my girl!!!!
Rochelle got to see some of her friends, and we always enjoy having the "kids" coming and going.
The house will seem very quiet for a few days until we get back into the regular routine. As Greg said the other day, he misses the sound of her singing in her room when she isn't here.
I go back to work tomorrow. I will probably do some e-mail and stuff from home today. I am really tired. I think a nap is in order first.

Shout Out!

Thu, 17 May 2007 02:33:38 GMT

All I have to say is I am DONE with American Idol. I will never watch it again.
Finished....Done...it is over!
That is all I have to say.

Wed, 16 May 2007 00:55:32 GMT

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