Wednesday Giggles

This week's giggles might be a "tad" sarcastic. Sarcasm could be my second language, but I work hard to rein it in.

That's all for today. Just a note that as today is Ash Wednesday, we are kicking off the lenten season, which leads up to the most important holiday in the Christian calender, the one the whole shebang hinges on. I hope you and I will spend the next few weeks growing into closer relationship with Jesus and reflecting on just what he did for us.

Saturday 9: Buttons & Bows

Linking up with Sam today for Saturday 9.  Please pay a visit to find others who are playing along or to join in the fun yourself.

Saturday 9: Buttons & Bows (1948)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
 
1) The lyrics extol the beauty of "rings and things and buttons and bows." When you're getting dressed, do you give much thought to accessorizing?  Not a lot beyond my watch and a pair of earrings. Once in a while I'll wear an extra ring or a necklace, but I'm not overly comfortable with wearing a lot of bling. 

2) Dinah Shore sings that she doesn't want to live where the cactus hurts her toes. Sam can sympathize, as she has a blister on one of her toes from where her winter boots rub. Do you have any aches and pains to report this morning?  Just the usual with my knee and hip. Some parts of getting older really stink.

3) Dinah was such a popular entertainer that people were surprised to learn she earned a degree in sociology from Vanderbilt University. What is something we'd be surprised to know about you?  I'm an open book. I can't think of any "secret" that's surprising.

4) Dinah's was the best selling version of this song, which was introduced by Bob Hope in the movie The Paleface. Hope had success early in his career as a song-and-dance man on Broadway. Are you better at telling jokes, singing or dancing?  I'm not great at either, but jokes definitely win out over singing and dancing (though when I was young and had a good knee I was pretty good at dancing).

5) Both Bob and Dinah donated their time to entertaining the troops in WWII. It was during a USO tour that Dinah met and fell in love with actor George Montgomery, who was serving in the Air Force. They were married for 20 years and had two children. Their daughter followed her parents into show business and became an actress. If a young person asked you for career advice, what would you tell them?  Figure out what you actually love to do and do that. Don't do something just because you are good at it or because it provides a living. And find balance between work and play.

6) Dinah was an avid golfer and even sponsored an LPGA tournament. She was also an excellent cook who hosted TV cooking segments. Which would you find more relaxing -- an afternoon on the golf course or in the kitchen?  Back in my younger days I'd have chosen golf, but these days I'm sure cooking would be more relaxing.

7) In 1948, the year this record was a hit, Scrabble was introduced. Do you prefer word games, card games, board games or jigsaw puzzles?  I enjoy all games, but I've learned recently (doing jigsaw puzzles with a resident) that I do NOT enjoy doing puzzles.

8) Also in 1948, LPs (33 1/3 rpm records) were introduced. Do you have any vinyl records in your home?  No. I finally gave the last of them to our son.
9) Random question -- Which of these would you consider the greatest insult: to be called boring, untrustworthy or stupid?  Untrustworthy. If people can't trust you, then you've got nothing else to offer anyone that they're going to want.

5 On a Friday

Oh man, it is cooooold this morning...14 degrees with a windchill of about 9. Yuck! Thank goodness spring is beginning to make herself felt and this isn't going to last long. One more freezing night and then sunshine and temps in the 40s all weekend. Even better because I'm off this weekend. Woohoo!

Not much has been going on around here...the slowness of these winter months, I guess. I'm not complaining. I love it.

So, here is a bit of fun, well, some questions, for a cold, February Friday.

1. Do you like, dislike, or pay no attention to the wind?  I can't say I have any strong feelings about it...unless I'm going somewhere and I'm dressed up with my hair done. Then I'm not crazy about it. Mostly it's just a part of life here in my part of the world. We've nearly always got a good breeze going if not out and out wind.

2. Do you have allergies or sinus made worse by the wind?  Well, I have allergies and yes, I suppose they are worse in the spring and fall when the wind blows the pollen and leaf stuff around.

3. Have you ever been caught in a big wind (not a hurricane or tornado)?  Yes. Many years ago when the kids were young, we were at our friends' home for New Year's Eve. We could hear the wind sounding worse and worse and we put on the news where they were predicting the weather would get pretty bad. We decided to come home early. I had to hang on to our daughter (she was only 3) because the wind knocked her right off her feet. 

At home we spent the entire night worrying. We could literally see the walls on one corner of the house moving when the wind blew. Tim stayed up all night. The kids slept with me and we pushed a big dresser in front of the window in case it blew in. We learned the next day that the wind speeds had reached 100 miles per hour.

And by the way, I've been through a tornado or two as well.

4. When was the last time you flew a kite?  When I was a kid? Maybe when my children were kids? I really don't remember. I guess I wasn't that excited about it.

5.Would you like to have the power of flight?  Sure. Why not?

Wednesday Giggles

I know you've all been waiting for it, so here it is without further ado...the Wednesday Giggles tribute to Valentines' Day.

Possibly the worst card ever.

This is your brain on love.

Men, take note!

February 15, candy hangover.

Jealousy, how to gauge a successful Valentine's Day.

I'm kind of tempted.

Say It, Don't Spray It

I know it's dark, but if you look closely at the

left, you can see the snow coming down. It's

also beginning to get foggy in a lot of places.

Hello, winter!

There isn't much going on today. I have to head into work at noon and work until 8:00. I'm hoping I can make it since winter has finally found us. Snow is coming down in huge, wet, icy flakes that's not only adding up quickly, but also making the roads slippery. It will depend on how much we get, if I am able to clear it off the car and the driveway enough to get out, and if they come along and plow our street. If it's only the 4 or so inches they were predicting last night I'll be fine. If it keeps coming down like it is now...I may have a problem.

Ahh....the weather just came on and they are now predicting about 8 inches. *sigh* Still holding out hope since the weather forecast isn't always right.

When I got to work yesterday I found that the State has been at the home all week for the annual inspection. It's such a nerve wracking time. Nobody knows exactly when they will show up. There is a 2-3 month window. Then when they are there they hover over everyone watching everything you do and they don't tell you anything about what they are seeing or thinking. They nit-pick the tiniest of things...things you didn't even know were a thing. Yesterday was supposed to be the last day. I hope so and that we will be back to normal and can breathe today.

Anyway, here are a few old questions just for a little Friday fun.

1. What did you most recently spray out of a can?  Air-freshener. The Poodle was tooting up a storm!

2. What's your favorite food (or food product) that is sprayed from a can?  I can't think of any food I eat that's sprayed from a can, but I do use PAM cooking spray a good bit. Does that count?

3. When did you last spray-paint something?  A couple of summers ago I spray-painted all the little statues I have in my flowerbeds and garden with a pretty creamy white. I probably need to do it again this year.

4. What's something that's NOT sprayed from a can, but would be pretty cool if it were?  Money!

5. What's conceptually the oddest thing sprayed from a can?  I've seen a few things I thought were kind of odd to be in a spray can....air, snow, and farts to name a few.

Sunday Stealing: Another Food Meme

I'm linking up with Bev and the thieves at Sunday Stealing today, but I have to tell you...you're killing me, Bev! All this thinking about food is not good for my resolve to eat healthier.

Food meme Stolen from Book Mama, who stole it from Jenefur.  

Thanks to The Gal Herself for the suggestion!

How do you like your eggs?  I like them "dippy." That's a southwestern PA term...kinda like instead of slippery, we say "slippy." Anyway, I like them that way if the person doing the cooking can leave the yolk dippy while not also leaving runny whites.

How do you take your coffee/tea:  I don't take coffee at all. I like my tea with some Truvia in it, especially if it's French vanilla Truvia.

Favorite breakfast foods:  Most of the time I eat last night's leftovers, but if I don't I'll usually have maple/brown sugar oatmeal and a low-fat yogurt. Once in a while eggs and toast will make the cut.

Peanut butter: smooth or crunchy?  Smooth. I like the taste of nuts, but have issues with the texture of nuts. I just can't eat them.

What kind of dressing on your salad?  Either Catalina or Sweet 'n Sour.

Coke or Pepsi?  Coke. Diet Coke. Another thing I need to learn to give up. You know they think there's a link between artificial sweeteners and Alzheimers and dementia?

You feel like cooking. What do you make?  It's hard to say. I like to cook and I cook all kinds of things. I like to experiment and try new things.
 
You’re feeling lazy. What do you make?  I call for Chinese take-out.

You’re feeling really lazy. What kind of pizza do you order?  Extra thin crust with mushrooms and green peppers.

Is there a food you refuse to eat?  Sushi, liver, eggplant, raw oysters, canned peas.

Favorite fruit & vegetable:  Pineapple and green beans.

Favorite junk food:  Potato chips. Just about any kind. I am all about the salty carbs.

Favorite between meal snack:  Chips.

Do you have any weird food habits:  I put sugar on tomatoes and cottage cheese and I like to fry my green beans in a little olive oil and garlic until they are browned. So...not really.

You’re on a diet. What food(s) do you fill up on?  Veggies, veggies, more veggies, low-fat yogurt, eggs, and lean meat.

How spicy do you order Indian/Thai?  I've only had Indian/Thai food a few times in my life and it wasn't really a favorite, but when it comes to spice I'm a middle of the road kind of girl. I like some heat, but not enough to blister my tongue and cause stomach ulcers.

The perfect nightcap?  Just a glass of wine.

Friday Thoughts

It's the last day of the longest, coldest, grayest, bleakest month of the year (at least that's how it plays out here in southwestern PA). It feels like it took two months to get to this point. This is the time of year when I envy all of you living in warm(er), sunny climates. Come summer, not so much. Ha!

Actual photos of me in winter. Ha!

Is everyone getting ready for some football? I have to work Sunday, but am done by 4:00 so I will be home to watch the Super Bowl. I'm a bit of a fair-weather football fan. My Steelers aren't in it, so I really couldn't care less who is playing or who wins. I'll be watching for the commercials, though. After a few disappointing years, it seems the advertisers have caught on that they need to up their game this year. There are several I've been hearing the buzz about and am looking forward to seeing...not the least of which is the one with Jason Mamoa in a bubble bath. *grin*

Did I ever show you the coloring book I got for my friend who is Jason's biggest fan girl? No? Well, allow me to correct that.

Kind of makes you want to break out the crayons, doesn't it? 

I received another letter from my biological father yesterday. Each one helps me know a little bit more about him and I find that I'm really beginning to look forward to meeting him this summer. Knowing that he is possibly an atheist or a skeptic at best, I decided to be upfront with him in my last letter and told him I am a devout Christian and shared the basics of my faith. He allowed that he may not believe, but that it would never stop him from having a relationship with me. I'm glad of that and hey, who knows? Maybe he'll hear or see something from me that will change his mind. I hope so.

Okay, before I get on with the day, here are some old Friday 5 questions I found.

1. Do you think you are treated differently because you are a man or woman?  I think so because we are different. I think what the question is actually getting at is whether or not I feel I've been discriminated against because I'm a woman. The answer to that is that I have, but only a handful of times in my entire life and not about anything significant. I am a woman and I expect to be treated as such. I still like a man to act like a gentleman and treat me like a lady.

2. Do men or women have it easier in our culture? Why do you think so? I think each has it easier about different things. We are different so that's as it should be for some things. Though I'd have to say that I think it's probably kind of tricky being a man in these post #metoo days. Men in the workplace must be nervous about everything they say or do these days.

3. Do you think girls are raised differently from boys? If so, in what ways?  Yes, I believe that in most cases they are...and again, they should be. Men should be manly and women should be womanly.  That doesn't mean a man can't do things like cook or enjoy musicals or that a woman can't fix a car or watch football. 

4. Do you think women should take men's last names when they marry? Why or why not?  Personally, yes...but I don't have any strong feelings about what other women should do. I do think it is a strong symbol of commitment.

5. Do you think a woman will be President of the United States in the near future?  I think we as a nation are ready to accept a woman...if only the parties could produce one that isn't a joke.

That's all for today. I've got lots I want to get done today. I'll see you tomorrow for the Saturday 9!

Living Life Again

Good morning! I have a noon start today so it's a slow start for me today. Loving that after today I have two days off before I have to work again. Can I just gush for a moment (again) about how much I am enjoying working part-time? I feel so much happier. My soul is lighter and freer than it's been in months.

I'm also able to schedule things ahead of time because I know when I will be working in advance. So far, I've signed us on to go to a gun bash with our daughter and her husband and for a class about paying off debt at the community college. It is good to feel like I have a life again.

There are some things I need to do this morning, but I don't want to skip posting so here are some questions I saw somewhere or another in the blogging world. 

1. Coffee or Tea?  I don't like coffee at all so it's tea or nothing. I don't often drink "plain" tea. I like flavored and herbal teas. My current favorite is a premium cinnamon flavor with French vanilla Truvia to sweeten it a bit.

2. Food or Dessert?  Food. I'm not big on sweets. I eat them, but just a little here and there. (Don't ask me about salty carbs.) I do, however, find myself craving favorite meals and even vegetables. I would choose a bowl of soup over a slice of cake any day.

3. Cook or Clean?  Cook. Hands down! I like the creative aspect of cooking. It's an art. Cleaning? Well, let's just say I'm no domestic goddess. 

4. Apples or Oranges?  I do like both, but apples are a lot more versatile. They are good in baked goods, hearty dishes, or as a snack with either cheese or chocolate peanut butter.

5. Bible App or Bible?  Bible.  Bible. I summed up the why in a post on an old blog.


That's it for now. I am off to get some things done before work. Have a blessed day, my friends!

Friday Thoughts

Now that the urge to change my job situation has taken root, I find it's really growing and I can't stop thinking about it. In a perfect world, I'll find another job completely and get the heck out of Dodge, so to speak. So far, I'm not finding anything I even want to apply for. This is kind of a crappy time of year to job hunt. 

In the meantime, I'm really kicking around the idea of dropping back to part-time, which would put me in the dementia unit all the time and while still technically under my boss's supervision, I'd rarely have to see her or interact with her. I need to talk to Tim, though, and do some number crunching to see if it would be feasible to basically cut my pay in half before I could approach my boss and see if she'd even allow me to do it...especially since I will have to give some nebulous reason about needing to be home more rather than the truth, that I simply can't stand working with her.

Anyway, on to some random, just-for-fun, questions I found on an apparently defunct site.

1. What is the best book you have ever read?  Other than the Bible, how does one choose the single best book they've ever read? I have several favorites...Little Women, Lottery, Northern Lights...to name just a couple. Why did you like it?  I tend to like books that grab you right from the beginning, have characters that feel real, and I love when the writer is very gifted in description and can paint a picture with words that makes you feel like you are right there.

2. What is your favorite kind of weather?  Sunny and 75 degrees. Why?  It's not too hot. It's not too cold. There's no snow/ice/rain/mud/wind/hail/or whatever to muck things up and ruin plans.

3. If you had $100,000, how would you spend it?  First, I'd pay the dang taxes on it. Then I'd pay off all our debt and I'd probably put what was left toward a new truck for Tim.

4. Did you ever meet a famous person?  I've "met" a few over the years. Bill Clinton, tons of Steeler football players, Cathy Rigby (Olympic gymnast in the 70's), quite a few Christian musicians, a few more politicians, and my personal favorite, Toby Keith.

5. Were you ever in a helicopter, limousine, racecar, hot-air balloon, submarine, horse-drawn carriage?  Yes, to helicopter, submarine, and horse-drawn carriage. The helicopter was years ago when my family lived in a wildlife preserve and were friends with some of the news guys from Pittsburgh. They used to land the helicopter in field every now and then and take us for rides. I've been in 2 submarines, both set up as museum exhibits and floating on top of the water. And I've been on many horse-drawn carriage rides, the most memorable being on the occasion of our first anniversary. We took a nighttime ride around downtown Orlando and Church Street Station. Lovely.

Enjoy your Friday....don't spend it all counting down to the weekend! I'm working the 12-8 shift today so will be heading to work in a couple of hours, then it's my weekend off. Hooray!

See you tomorrow for Saturday 9!