Halloween Wishes...

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question: Will you be dressing up for Halloween tomorrow night? Are you dressing up for a party tonight or did you wear a costume to work today?

If it's not too cold out tomorrow night, I'll dress up. Either my 1950's poodle skirt and accessories or Glenda the Good Witch...we'll see!

Happy Friday!

Monday Miscellany

It was wonderful seeing my friend Deanna yesterday. We met at Mimi's Cafe and stayed quite awhile. We had alot of catching up to do! I learned one thing though...don't bring your husband with you when you meet up with girlfriends! Granted, he's known Deanna for 30 years too but still. Let me just say he dominated the conversation! I don't know if it's because he's retired now or what but he talked, and talked, and talked. Usually it doesn't bother me but yesterday it got on my last nerve. Trust me, he's staying home next time!

This is a picture of my sweet friend Deanna and I yesterday at Mimi's. I sure wish I knew how to scan pictures so I could post them here. I'd show you one of us in high school, or a picture of us when we went to Hawaii together when we were 19! Like I mentioned earlier, we share alot of life history together. Sooo, does anyone want to give me some e-a-s-y instructions on the art of scanning!?


I'm on Day 4 of my Special K diet and all is well. I changed it up a bit this morning though. I had a South Beach diet breakfast bar for breakfast instead of cereal. Really the breakfast bar is like cereal anyways. It's like eating a rice crispy bar but without the marshmallows. I'll have cereal for lunch and then a sensible dinner. I haven't noticed much difference on the scale but I'm giving it time. I'm not snacking, haven't had the usual Pepsi, and am not eating any of the Halloween candy that's floating around. I made cupcakes for my coworkers on Friday and Saturday and didn't even eat one and from the remarks I got, they were absolutely delicious. So come to think of it, I'm doing really really good so far.

Today will be spent studying for me. As a nurse, I have to earn continuing education units, 30 units every 2 years. I have to get my test in the mail by Friday, preferably sooner, so I'll be holed up in the house today. It's a priority at this point!

During study breaks, I'll be getting my little Halloween goodie bags ready for work. I work with the most amazing people and I like to show them my appreciation every now and then. Dialysis technicians are extremely hard working people yet the pay isn't so hot. Good techs make my job easier and luckily I work with alot of experienced, knowledgeable techs. I like to show them that I appreciate their efforts and they are always so thankful and appreciative of anything that is done for them. I think it's the little things that count.

I hope you have a great day today. This week will be lots of fun, yay for Halloween week!

Sunday Blessings

Today is going to be a blessed day. We are meeting my longtime friend Deanna for an early dinner. Deanna and I go way back and share alot of life history together. I can hardly wait to see her and spend some time with her.

Last night I met my friend Rebecca, a former coworker, for dinner. I loved working with Rebecca and have missed her terribly. We had such a great time catching up on each others lives over a nice, relaxing dinner. To say that I have been blessed with wonderful people in my life would be an understatement.

There are times when I feel lonely with my children not living at home anymore. There are times when I feel down because many of my friends have moved away, but when I really reflect on it, I know I'm feeling lonely or down because I'm not making an effort to connect with people. Keeping friendships alive is an effort. I have made a genuine effort over the last few years to keep friendships together, to nurture relationships with people that I care about, and in the end, I have been blessed every single time, over and over again.

Are you making an effort to nurture and grow relationships with the people in your life, be it at church, work, school, with neighborhood girlfriends, or even with blogging friends? If not, why not make the effort this week. I assure you, you will be the one blessed by it.

The Special K Diet...Have You Heard Of It?

Courtney and her roommates decided to go on the Special K diet this week. I had never heard of it so I asked them alot of questions because you know a woman who has put on 10 pounds due to menopause will try just about anything! In other words, I'm desperate! I really did think it was just another weight loss gimmick but now I'm not so sure. I decided to check it out for myself.

The girls told me you eat a serving of Special K cereal for breakfast, another serving for lunch, and then you each a normal meal for dinner. Sounds simple but I thought it was a version of the "all you can eat soup" diet or the "grapefruit" diet. Fad diets and certainly not legitimate. This may also be a fad diet but Kellogg is advertising it all over their cereal box like it's legit and Kellogg wouldn't lie would they!?! The written out instructions on the box are exactly like the girls explained: Special K twice a day and then one normal meal. Kellogg says the benefit of doing this is to drop a jean size in 2 weeks.

Well since we leave for Hawaii in 13 days, PERFECT! I decided to give it a try too. Only one problem, I hate cereal!

I packed up my lunch last night and toted it to work today, milk and all. Today was Day 1 and I could barely get through breakfast. Nothing is more gross to me than soggy cereal and to me, all cereal is soggy! By the time lunch rolled around, I was dreading it. The thought of more soggy cereal was starting to depress me. I decided to eat it plain. Let me just say that eating plain Special K cereal is like eating cardboard...but it's better than soggy cardboard! By the look on my face, a coworker knew I was in trouble and suggested I mix the cereal with some of her yogurt. Not bad I must say! Now I think we're on to something!

Tomorrow is Day 2 and my lunch is packed, this time yogurt and all. By the way, 3 of my coworkers were intrigued by this dieting approach too and decided to join me over the next 2 weeks. I hope Kellogg's promise is for real. I'd love to drop a jean size before Hawaii. Heck, at this point I'd like to drop anything I can!

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question: What is your favorite kind of soup?

Fall weather, soup weather has finally arrived in my little corner of the world. I'm a soup lover...especially potato cheese or a good vegetable soup.

Have a great weekend!

Yes, It's True...

As crazy as it sounds, I truly did leave...



and drive straight to...



But I had 2 really good reasons...


Blogging friends Bren and Darlene. The 3 of us were able to get together last year while I was in AZ for parents weekend and lucky for me, we were able to meet for dessert this year too! These women are not only blogging buddies, but they have become treasured friends. I am so thankful for the many relationships that have developed through blogging. I really didn't know what to expect when I started blogging but one thing is certain, I have been blessed by it.

Darlene and Bren, thank you for such an enjoyable evening. I love it when we get together, there's always laughter, great conversation, and delicious desserts! Hopefully it won't be another year before we see each other again!

*** Have you ever met a blogging buddy in real life? ***

Zapped Of Energy

It's after 10:00am and I'm still in my pajamas! Do you ever have days like this?

The past 5 days were busy, exciting, and definitely fun-filled so coming home to our quiet house, void of energetic, vibrant, college girls is a tad bit depressing. Plus the fact that we had to say good-by to our sweet Courtney. It'll take me a day or two to get re-adjusted to home.

We arrived in Phoenix late Thursday night and it was HOT. I still think Arizona never gets below 90 degrees, EVER, even though I've been told differently. Friday night a group of us went out to dinner at Oregano's. It's a fun, happening place and a favorite of the girls. Look at these beautiful girls. The nice thing is that they are just as sweet and smart as they are beautiful. They are an absolute pleasure to be around.

Courtney, Macey, Jordie, and Mackenzie

Saturday night was the ASU football game. Howard and I always enjoy going to the football game during parents weekend. I love seeing the kids with their parents and families and I love the support that the community shows to ASU football. Tempe really supports their hometown team. It was a really good game, close, but good. Thankfully ASU won!






Parents weekend is never short on shopping and this trip was no exception. We got some shopping time in on Friday and Saturday and I was even able to visit my favorite store...Hobby Lobby! I picked up a few Fall/Halloween goodies that I'll share with you soon.

Howard and I are lucky in that we were able to stay until Tuesday whereas most parents go home on Sunday. We love spending the extra time with Courtney and her roommates and even managed to get them together for one last dinner on Monday night. They had gone to classes and even worked that day but met us for a good-by dinner at P.F. Changs. Again, P.F. Changs did not disappoint.


I left straight from P.F. Changs and headed to Cheesecake Factory...no lie! More about that tomorrow!

A Little Rain and A Very Strange Dream

I woke up this morning to light drizzles and thinking about a really weird dream I was having. I love that I'm not at work today and can stay at home and enjoy the weather. We've been on the go for the last month and we're leaving again tomorrow. Being able to lounge around today is heaven. This weekend is Parents Weekend at Arizona State so we'll be leaving for AZ in the morning. Parents Weekend is always fun and we love attending the ASU football game on Saturday night. GO SUNDEVILS!


We're taking the motorhome this time and staying at an RV park that we've stayed at many times before. We're taking the RV so that Jake can go along with us. We boarded him last week while we were in Colorado and he did great but Courtney wants to see him and we're just used to taking him with us wherever we go.

This time last year we flew to AZ for Parents Weekend and boarded Jake at the kennel in the vet's office. We came home only to find out that he was having serious problems and needed surgery, or as was recommended, to be put to sleep. He had the spinal cord surgery but has been paralyzed in his hind legs since that time. The day I took him home from the doggy hospital I cried all the way home which was 3 hours away. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to express his bladder properly or care for him like he needed, and I was afraid that maybe we had done the wrong thing by him. I felt so overwhelmed. I really can't believe it's been one year already but we've all managed just fine and we absolutely did the right thing for Jake. He is one happy and loved little dog!

O.k....now about the dream. Do you ever have dreams that seem so vivid but when you wake up you can't remember them? We'll mine was vivid but I remember every detail.

I had been at work but came home, opened up the door, and found my husband on a sofa bed in the living room. I remember not thinking too much about it until the pretty, much younger, foreign speaking woman quickly jumped out of the same bed NAKED! Naked as a jay bird! I remember her beautiful figure! No cellulite on that husband stealer! I remember following my husband as he walked her to her car and knowing it was over. After 29 years it was over. Even in my dreams, adultery is a deal breaker!

I told Howard about the dream and the young, pretty foreign woman. He got a big smile on his face and said "I should be so lucky to have that kind of dream!" Yep, that's my man!

Back To The Grind

We had a fun time in Colorado but now it's back to the grind. We got home Wednesday night and it was back to work for me on Friday and Saturday. I went to a birthday party today and then it's work tomorrow and Tuesday. I seem to squish my work days together which is hard but the upside to that is it gives me more days off in a row to play.

The reason for going to Colorado was to celebrate my Mom's 70th birthday. It was nice for her to have her 3 daughters and 2 son-in-laws there for this special birthday (at least I hope it was nice for her!) We had asked her to pick a restaurant for dinner but she couldn't decide so we had to help her out a bit. She had never been to P.F. Changs, so P.F. Changs it was, and oh my was it good. We also had the best waiter who joked around with us alot and it just made the whole evening that much more fun.

Here are a few pictures from the evening...

My Mom and her 3 daughters


My sister Debbie, myself, and our cute waiter Chad


Sisters Kim, Debbie, and myself


Howard and I


The family, including Kim's longtime friend Robert (in the blue shirt)


My Mom and Step-dad Jim


With the exception of one rainy day, the weather was great. The trees were stunning with their yellow, orange, and reddish colored leaves and there was a crispness in the air that made it truly feel like Fall. Colorado in October is beautiful!

The four-letter word that Howard really really dislikes...S*N*O*W...made an appearance the day after we left and then again this weekend! Wow, that's cutting it close. If Howard ever finds out that snow season starts as early as October, I may never get him to move there!

Leaving...On A Jet Plane

We're heading to Colorado tomorrow to celebrate my Mom's birthday. It's been a whirlwind of a week with getting ready for this trip and having company as well. I'm looking forward to the time away and spending time with family. Also, Colorado is gorgeous this time of year.

Brandon and his friend Melissa will be leaving early in the morning. Melissa is a doll, so sweet and personable. Actually, come to find out, Brandon has been sorta kinda dating 2 girls named Melissa. Melissa #1 was originally the one coming home with him but cancelled out for whatever reason. He then invited Melissa #2. She is from New York originally but is now living in CA, going to school full-time and working full-time. They work together in the restaurant. What a nice girl and with a great head on her shoulders too. You can tell she likes Brandon but truth be told, he likes Melissa #1 better. Either way, you can tell this Melissa is a kind, loyal friend to Brandon and vice versa. Just 2 really nice kids!


We had a nice dinner out tonight with my sister Kim and her husband then we all had to head home to pack. I know we'll be spending the next 5 days with Kim but she didn't want Brandon to leave without seeing him and giving him a great big hug.



Family is such a blessing and the older I get, the more I appreciate mine! Sure, we all have our little quirks about us, but when push comes to shove, no one is there for you like family!

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question: I'm thinking about making bacon for breakfast this morning, we do have company after all. Do you use "real" bacon that you fry up in a pan or do you use the pre-cooked bacon? If you use the real bacon, can you cook that in the microwave? I've never tried cooking real bacon in the microwave before but I'm always looking for a shortcut.

I used to buy the pre-cooked bacon for the campouts (that's the only time we eat bacon) but my husband didn't like it. I'm now back to cooking the "real" stuff.

Happy Friday!

Sonja, The Cleaning Lady

I hear Sonja does a fantastic job but unfortunately there's no Sonja cleaning my house. I'm Sonja! I spent all day yesterday cleaning, organizing, and doing a little Fall/Halloween decorating. Having out of town company will do that to you. Actually, maybe I need company more often!

My son is coming home for a few days but he's bringing a friend...a female friend...a female friend who we haven't met yet. We need to leave a good impression don't you think...a clean house, a tidy guest room with clean sheets, a sparkly bathroom. Yep, we've been busy but I can't wait to see my handsome son. What a sweetheart he is!

We've also been busy getting ready for a trip on Saturday. My sisters/spouses and Howard and I are going to Colorado to celebrate my mom's 70th birthday. My mom is a beautiful woman, very fit and healthy and in no way does she look or act 70. My mom and step-dad Jim are great fun and are wonderful hosts so this trip will be amazing. All of us haven't been together like this in years. I can hardly wait!

The bills have been paid and paperwork organized, Jake got his immunizations up to date so he can be boarded while we're away, the house is clean, and even somewhat decorated, plus I worked 2 days this week. Life is good!

Now I just need to pack!