Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Talkin' Turkey


Happy Thanksgiving Eve (if I get this posted tonight).  I really should not be sitting here writing a post.  There’s floors to mop, people!  However, my partner who OFFERED to scrub them is asleep on the couch.  Hmp.  Did I mention it’s not even 8:30?  I thought for sure the noise from the vacuum cleaner would stir him, but not so much.  Also on tap, a delicious Cocoa Apple Cake to be made.  Ooh, I should totally write a post about that on my cooking blog!

Thanksgiving plans include a Granger get-together on Thursday at Jan and Keith’s house.  So excited that Libby was able to come home for a few weeks from Afghanistan!  I think she’s here for a few more days, and then once she goes back, will only be there a couple of more months.  Will feel much better when she’s home for good.  And I swear if she volunteers to go to some other war zone again, I’m gonna wring her neck!  Did I mention how proud I am of her?  So anyway, back to the plans… depending on the Black Friday ads, Erin and I are heading to Topeka some time mid to late Thursday afternoon to get started shopping.  Hoping to be home by 10:00 AM Friday or earlier (please please please) since I’m hosting the Bryson Thanksgiving here at noon on Saturday.  Especially since I haven’t started cooking anything for that dinner.  Well that’s not entirely true.  I baked a loaf of bread today to use in my dressing.  But sometime Friday when I’m not catching up on my sleep, I’ve got to bake a turkey and a ham.  And cook my potatoes and make my gravy.  And dressing.  That way on Saturday, it’s really just a matter of warming everything up without drying it out, and enjoying the day and the family.  And the wine.  And the Apple Pie.  Moonshine.  Yeehaw!  I made that yesterday, and I simmered the cider, juice and sugar for about an hour to concentrate the flavors.  Well Mr. Bryson, who considers himself a bit of a liquor connoisseur (and rightly so I guess) deemed it too sweet.  After adding another jug of apple juice and a jug of EverClear it’s pretty darn tasty.  But I have to remind myself it’s for SIPPING, not chugging. 

Since Erin and I are going shopping, and Brent is working Thursday and Friday, Carter will be spending Thursday night here with Papa.  Miss Chloe gets to go to Lyndon and stay with Grandma Gibby.  For some reason, no one wants to watch both of them alone.  I can’t imagine why!!!  I have to admit, sometimes it is a little easier with just one.  Like when I’m trying to get Chloe to take a nap or go to bed.  That’s pretty much a lost cause when big brother is around since 1) he doesn’t want her to sleep, and 2) she only wants to do whatever Carter is doing.  But If I’m trying to get something done (like today… cleaning house…) Carter does a pretty good job of entertaining Chloe.  Most of the time.  Except when he’s helping her find trouble.  Today, he happily showed her the door to the laundry chute.  Up until now, I’ve managed to keep it covered with stuff so she had no idea.  Stupid clean house.  I guess now if I’m missing anything, I’ll be in the basement checking the laundry pile.  I took the two strands of Halloween Lights down today (hey – I didn’t put them up till like Oct 28 or something, so I had to get my money’s worth) and Carter threw an absolute fit.  I told him I had to take them down so we could put up Christmas lights, to which he replied “I don’t want you to put up Christmas lights!”  When I whole heartedly agreed to NOT decorate for Christmas, he back tracked pretty darn fast.  Dang it. 

Ok – I really have to get something done so I’m not up all night.  Since I didn’t participate in the Daily Thankful FB posts, I’ll share with my readers what I’m most thankful for. 
 
I'm thankful I can still call my momma and visit, take her to the store, or just hang out at her house, listening to her stories, (sometimes more than once).  And believe me, I do not take any of that for granted.

I’m thankful that my daughter and her wonderful family live less than 7 miles from our house.  Watching my grandchildren grow up and being such a big part of their lives is more than I could ask for. 

I’m thankful to go to work every day to a job that I love.  After 30 years, it’s about time! 

I’m thankful to be married to a man who puts up with me, takes care of me, makes me laugh, and above all loves me more than I probably deserve. 

And it wouldn't be right not to mention how thankful I am for all of my friends who read this little blog, and still want to be my friend!!!  Sometimes I worry that I'm oversharing, but getting my thoughts out is my therapy, and you all know how much I love the attention it brings me!  haha!! 
 
And with that, I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving, full of love, family, and good food. 

 

 

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Over Sharing

Have I ever mentioned that this isn't my first blog?  When I left my job at Three Lakes Coop, I started reading a blog my friend Jill told me about.  Reading that blog led to more, and the next thing I knew, I was starting my own blog on a little site called Live Journal.  I blogged from Sept. 2006 to June of 2007.  I vowed to continue writing after I went back to work, but soon found out that was really difficult to do, considering I couldn't write anything about my job, and that was pretty much my life at the time.  When I decided to start back up, I chose to do so on blogger.  My old blog is still there, just hanging out, waiting for someone to comment or add to it.  I just checked on it, and there were 30 comments!  Of course, they were all spam.  Maybe someday I'll figure a way to import those posts into this blog (I did try, but no luck at the time) or maybe I'll just post a link to it for anyone who wants to relive my past.  Maybe.  Someday. 

The reason I brought all of this up is because lately on FB, everyone is posting lists of random facts about themselves, and it reminded me of the time I did a post revealing 100 things about myself.  At the time, all the bloggers were doing so, and I just had to jump on for the ride.  I thought it would be fun to share that list.  Keep in mind I wrote it 7 years ago, while unemployed, and before grandchildren.

Since all the cool kids are doin’ it,
I now present:

100 things about me




 
  1. I have a blog. (huh – if you’re reading this, I guess you already know that one)
  2. I love my husband, even if I don’t always like him.
  3. I miss my dad, a lot.
  4. I miss working. (don’t tell anyone, ok?)
  5. I procrastinate.
  6. I love to laugh.
  7. I’m shy.
  8. I will never be skinny.  
  9. My husband will never accept that I will never be skinny.
 10. I have ADHD. (self diagnosed, of course)
 11. I need to feel loved.
 12. I’m proud of my daughter.
 13. Even though I’m not an only child, growing up, I spent most of my time alone.
 14. The best part of my childhood was time spent playing in our barn.
 15. I like barns.
 16. I hate house cleaning, and it shows.
 17. I hate exercise, and it shows too.
 18. I can’t handle money. Actually, I love to handle money, it’s the saving I have a problem with.
 19. I love music so much, that it doesn’t matter that I can’t sing, I do it anyway.
 20. If I don’t know the words, I make them up.
 21. I have to be drunk to sing Karaoke.
 22. Mom likes me best.
 23. I’ve become obsessed with blogging – so much so that I dream about other bloggers.
 24. I always dream about my latest obsession.
 25. I was a band geek.
 26. I felt fat in high school, even though I only weighed 120 lbs.
 27. I can twirl.  The baton.  
 28. I still have my High School Twirling Outfit.
 29. I cannot fit into it.
 30. I am cold most of the time.
 31. Some days, I wear my jammies all day. Even if I’m not sick.
 32. I had an ectopic pregnancy, and didn’t know it until 3 days after the tube burst.
 33. I am lucky to be alive.
 34. I believe in God.
 35. I’m trying really hard to come up with insightful facts to share with you.
 36. I don’t like conflict.
 37. I’ve never smoked a cigarette. Of any kind. Including the illegal kind.
 38. I am not a goody two shoes.
 39. I am afraid of disappointing my family.
 40. If I didn’t have a reason to get up in the morning, I’d sleep all day.
 41. Often, that reason is that I don’t want GB to yell at me.
 42. I collect cookbooks.
 43. I’m smarter than I think.
 44. I used to worry that my daughter would be just like me.
 45. I don’t anymore.
 46. I am a tissue snob; I only buy Puffs Plus.
 47. I don’t follow-through with projects.
 48. I don’t have a favorite color.
 49. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with  being gay.
 50. I’m glad my daughter isn’t.
 51. I wish the title of this was 50 things about me.
 52. I belong to the 35th Division of the Kansas National Guard.
 53. I joined as the daughter of a member.
 54. My dad fought in WWII.
 55. When I was little, I couldn’t keep a secret.
 56. I can now, but it’s not easy.
 57. The easiest secrets to keep are about myself.
 58. It’s 5:30 and I have no idea what I’m fixing for supper.
 59. I get mad easily.
 60. I forgive and forget just as easily.
 61. I once hid my husband’s doo wop collection out of spite.  (see #59)
 62. I gave it back.  (see #60)
 63. I get giddy when someone leaves a comment on my blog.
 64. I really need to get a life.
 65. I’m collecting unemployment and I’m proud of it.  Suck it JB.
 66. I’ll be in deep shit when the unemployment runs out.
 67. My next job WILL BE the perfect job.
 68. I may never return to work.
 69. heh heh   My sister graduated from high school in 1969.
 70. I got arrested when I was 16 for using a fake ID to get into a disco.
 71. I only did it to meet guys – I wasn’t drinking beer.  I swear.
 72. I didn’t meet any guys.  Unless you count the cop.  And the judge.
 73. I now laugh about this incident, but the girl that was with me does not.
 74. I know how to shoot a gun.
 75. I’m starting to get into this list.
 76. I can only have one best friend at a time.
 77. Unless you count my daughter – in that case, I’ll always have two.
 78. My Chiefs boyfriend is Jared Allen
 79. If it wasn’t for my sister, I would have never met my husband.
 80. I never thanked her for that.
 81. I am not pretty, but my daughter, who looks just like me, is beautiful.
 82. We’re having breakfast for supper.
 83. I cook bacon in the oven, AND I make my own syrup.
 84. If I didn’t take Zoloft, I would cry all day long.

 85. Sometimes I cry anyway – just on the inside.
 86. My favorite movie of all time is Animal House.
 87. I use the drive thru at McDonalds so people won’t judge me.
 88. If I could throw up at-will, I might consider becoming bulimic.
 89. I won’t, because I want to live to see my grandkids.
 90. I ‘m sharing waaaay to much.
 91. I pick at scabs.  Can’t help myself.
 92. I scar easily.  
 93. I scare easily too.
 94. My Grandma Crook was da bomb.
 95. I burned the bacon.
 96. I’d rather sleep with my cat than my husband.  
 97. My husband snores; my cat does not.
 98. I am a good doggy grandma.
 99. I’m sad I’m almost done.
100. I’m not done sharing.
 
Well now, that was interesting!  Some of those things may or may not still be true.  And I may have still been a bit bitter about my last job,  Sorry JB.  (not that she reads this)   I kinda wish I would have sat down and written a new list BEFORE I read this old one.  Just to see how many things I might have repeated.  Oh well - too late for that!

Just for fun, here's a picture from back in the day too.  I think we were going out for our anniversary or a birthday or something. 

 
 
Hmm, I may have stumbled onto something with recycling old blog posts!  Don't worry - I promise I'll write something new soon.