Fun Week

We had fun having Brooklyn spend his spring break with us last week. I will post new pictures again later, but here is a picture from our spring bike ride....brr! It wasn't much like spring here, but we did venture out when I took Friday off and rode the local bike trail. We had fun, but sure had to bundle up!

Busy Week!

Whew, I have not posted all week. Brooklyn is here for his spring break. I have had to work, but today (Friday) I took off and we are spending the day together. I did get off early on Monday due to the storm, and we had a late start on Tuesday, so that was nice. Not much "spring" here this week to enjoy! But, we have had fun, and I will do a number of posts and strategically date them for next week when he goes home! I am not sure when that will be yet, but sometime this weekend. So, until my updates, here is a picture to ponder....

Crazy Weather

Yesterday----

76 degrees

Today----
Blizzard Warning

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

Jay Leno and the President

Did any of you watch President Obama on Jay Leno on Thursday night? We did. And, I just loved it. He was personable, witty and interesting.

I felt that his comment about bowling being like the special olympics was not made to disparage anyone. I think he was poking fun at himself. I know that it has been taken as a serious blunder, but come on, how many of us have said things like that, or worse? I have. And believe me, have had my foot in my mouth more times that I'd like to count.

At any rate, I felt the show to be positive and a connection to us, the people. And, guess what, he's human too! Let's give it a chance here!

I really enjoyed watching it and for some reason, I just felt proud. I could see that Jay Leno was really proud and excited to have the President on his show, too. It was just awesome for me. How about you?

Funky Friday

Ok, no more naming the days of the week for a while. I know, it's pretty corny! But, I am in somewhat of a funk today (Friday).

First, thanks to those who encouraged me on my post about weight loss. It is a long journey, and I will make it to my destination. The leader at WW told me, think where you'll be in a year. A YEAR? Come on! How about next week? Or at least in six months! Ha! I'll plug along, though.

Then today, I got this horoscope:

Friday, March 20 You really ought to try to put as much energy as possible into improving any practical aspects of your life that you can today. It might also be a good time to try to engage in some vigorous physical activity to get your energies going a bit. Just be aware that you might be prone to overdoing things right now, particularly when it comes to eating a little too much.

Right after reading it, here came one gal with a little container of "Cinnobabies"...tiny yummy cinnamon rolls. I am going to only eat a couple and hide the container and take it home. I did thank her, and will enjoy my treat of 2. Then, another gal comes in and says she ordered breakfast burritos AND cinnamon rolls today for a fund raiser for a christian teen concert coming to town. Yikes! It must be "food day"???? I will have to be very busy and not go near that end of the building! Ha!

On another note, I miss my Tina and Sophie who moved to Wyoming. I am used to having her around to talk to! And, go to garage sales with (in the spring) and have a latte with and run to Kmart with....and, and and!! :-( I miss all of my children so very much. I am noticing her being gone more right now because she has been here, close by for a couple years again, and I got to know her as an adult and it was nice. So, I'm kinda melancholy here with my three older kids all living their own grown up lives---what the heck? Who said they could grow up and be adults with their own lives, families and homes? I dont' think I gave them permission? Oh, ya, I guess I did! I wanted them to grow up and be the people that they are, and I am really proud of them! I just really, really miss them! All of them!

So, ya, I'm in a funk.

On one last note, I have been really trying to live up to my lenten promise to myself and be a better person. I have been trying so hard to see only the good and not dwell on bad in people. I have been trying to not do anything but treat others well. I have really been trying. I want to be a kind of person my grandmas, Elsie and Helen would be proud of. I also want to be a good friend to my wonderful friends. I want them to know how much I care for them. I feel that I fail some of my friends by not "listening" to what they are saying. I hear their words, but maybe not their heart. I need them to know even if I don't understand or seem to support them, that I truly do. I may not "get it" but I do love them, and hopefully will understand where they are coming from.

Wow, I guess writing this blog must truly be my therapy..sorry for rambling on!

So, enough of my funk. I will enjoy this wonderful spring weather..and HAPPY SPRING to all of you. Have a GREAT, WONDERFUL, NON-FUNKY weekend!

S-L-O-W but Sure

I attended my weight watchers meeting tonight (Thursday night) , and I lost 1.4 pounds this week. I get so disappointed because I lose such small increments. I mean geez. But, I have lost somthing every single week, so I do have that to feel ok (not great, but ok) about. I have stuck with my exercise plan of at least 5 days a week, and I have pretty much done some sort of exercise at least 6 days a week, and sometimes 7. So, I need to be proud of myself for that.

But.... I just wish I was already there. Already thin? Already in shape? Already wonderful? Yes, I wish I were already there.

Thursday Smursday

It's Thursday. I have nothing.

I got a new desk at work yesterday..yippee! I was pretty excited. This picture doesn't really give it justice, but it works so much better for the two computers and my tasks. I love it!

The gang from my old office came over and gave me a "desk warming party" yesterday. They brought drinks (sodas and frappucinos and teas), snacks and fun. It was so great having them here, I miss them SO MUCH! THANK YOU GANG!!!

Here is my horoscope today:
You should be happy to help out if anyone could use a helping hand today. But with everything you might find yourself having to deal with, just try to remember to stick to a healthy diet and exercise routine or you might find yourself starting to feel a little worn out. You could be open to making some really positive changes in these areas.

I am glad it isn't about money today. Every day it seems to be a gloomy money message!

Have a great day!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.
~Irish Blessing

Sammy Sighs

Hey, wow! I think its' spring.

Mom finally gave in and got out my volleyball. I love, love, love my ball! It was nice and warm out this weekend. Today (Sunday) was more windy than yesterday. But, it was still sunny as you can see by my picture.


I play "volley-soccer" with my ball:



I even gave in and let Sissy play some, because she misses playing with Sophie so much:



It was really fun, but Mom ended up putting the ball away because we were getting so tired and didn't want to quit playing.

Then, she made us take a dumb bath. But, anyway, I didn't care, because I had ever so much fun today. Then she put on my shiny blue tag on my collar that I got from Dr. Colleen the other day. I do feel proud to wear my collar, and really think my new tag is awesome. I just don't like wearing shirts, as you know. Mom has been taking me and Sissy on walks a lot now, too, since the weather has been nice. She made the walk longer, so we get pretty tired by the time we got home.

Here is a couple more "spring" pictures. I told Mom that the garage sure looks ratty and needs painted! Anyway, happy spring...for now...I know there's still some winter yet to be had, but this was great!

I got really thirsty playing ball.

Silly Sunny Sissy

I played with Sissy (Mom can't wait for "green" grass!)

Movie Night

I went to the movies on Thursday night with my friend, S, and another gal. We saw Slumdog Millionaire and it was good. It was really eye opening and interesting. I won't give too much information, but if you want to see a gut-wrenching, mind opening, thought provoking, good movie, see it! If you want to laugh and relax, it's not the right movie for you.

Have a great weekend!

Blogging?

I looked yesterday and I have written over 350 posts since my blogging debut. Wow! Who-da-thunk-it? I sure must talk a lot about nothing! I do enjoy blogging though, and I think I am going to continue on, and hopefully I may someday become enlightened and write about something interesting or exciting? Who knows?

I do enjoy the "blogging friends" I have met, and I think it would be so awesome to sometime meet them in person. In the meantime, we will be technologically connected!

Another Day...

I haven't thought of anything funny, smart, interesting or even dull to write about. I am feeling better, and thank you to your good wishes about my health. I just had a case of the "achys"...you know where EVERYTHING hurts, even your hair folicles and eye sockets? Yuk. I rested the day away on Tuesday, and the doggies were right there to rest with me, cuddle and just make me smile. I do feel better, my ears still are feeling a bit funny, and my head gets achy, but otherwise, today even the lower back is better. I am hoping that my day of rest fought off whatever bug was trying to attack me!

I was pretty busy yesterday at work, preparing a training and then helping with that training at the end of the day, causing me to rush to exercise class, which felt good. On Monday night, it just felt funny, I must have been starting to catch that darned bug. Then, Tuesday, of course, I missed it, so last night felt really good.

Then, home to hubby, where one of our great re-occurring conversations occurred. (And for each Ummmm....picture a lip curling up or nose wrinkling):

Me: What do you want for supper? Him: I don't care, I'm just hungry Me: How about spaghetti? Him: Ummm.... Me: goulash? Him: Ummmm.... Me: Want me to run get something Him: Ummmm.... Me: How about Chinese? Him: Chinese? That's all you ever want...chinese? Me: It's just a suggestion, we don't have many choices here...how about I just cook you a hamburger Him: Ummmm... Me: Want to just go out Him: No! I don't want to go anywhere Me: What are you hungry for? Him: I don't know, I'm just hungry Me thinking to self: You have sat here since 3:45 and it is now 6:15. If you were so hungry, why didn't you start something Me talking outloud: Well, we only have mexican, chinese or maybe a sandwich or burger to run get here Him: Hmmm.... Me: I am just making you a hamburger and fries and I'll make myself something else.

Geez, anyone else ever hear that crap? The only thing better is when I say what do you want? and he says "food". Yikes. Mind you, most days I do plan ahead, but in doubt, I set out hamburger to defrost, which was what I had done.

By the way, for me, I cooked mushrooms in a pan with butter flavored pam, and then cut up leftover steak with the mushrooms, and had asparagus...and a glass of wine...and not saying how big the glass was...ha. (He had already ate leftover steak for lunch.)

Sammy Sighs

Mom is not feeling very good today, so I am taking care of her. I can really help with my doggie kisses and cuddling. We got some snow on the ground today, so I dove off the porch head first and just ran as fast as I could. It's fluffy white snow. It's kinda cold out, especially compared to the warm days we just had. Well, back to taking care of mom....

Weekend Memories

Tina and Adam will have memories of the weekend to talk about in years to come. On the way to Alliance Friday night with the enclosed trailer (that took the last load up to Wyoming last weekend), Adam started having car troubles with Tina's 4-Runner. At almost 11 pm, she and her dad had to go get the trailer and Adam and bring them to Alliance. They go here at about 3 am! Then, the next day, bright and early, I made breakfast, they took care of a couple things and then they (hubby, Adam and Tina) had to load up the car trailer, and go get the 4-Runner and take it to a neighboring town here to a transmission place. Let's all pray it is nothing major!

The rest of the time was spent finishing up the last load, and taking care of a few things. It appears that they even got the house here rented, which is great since it hasn't sold yet. Everyone was pretty tired Saturday night!

This was dinner, at Adam's request on Saturday night:


Guess you can barely see the good old fashioned chicken gravy, but this was just the old fashioned fried chicken dinner, which was enjoyed by hubby, Tina, Adam and our friend very much...as I don't fry chicken very often...you know, the grilled chicken breast is how we usually have chicken any more! I made a german chocolate cake as well, which they had with ice cream! After their long day and showers, everyone (but me.. I stretched the night out, hoping to slow down the morning departure???) went to bed fairly early!

Watching them drive off Sunday morning to start this new journey was a little hard on this mama.

Sad Silly Sissy

Sissy is sad today, so I must keep her company.

Sophie moved to her new home in Wyoming with her mama, Tina, daddy Adam and her doggie brother Ruger, in the beautiful mountains, but so far away, today.

So long for now, Sophie...
we love you and we will REALLY miss you!

Have a good day, everyone!

Sammy Sighs-a Follow Up

Our visit to see Dr. Colleen went pretty good. I traveled in the car really great, and yep, Mental Pause Mama, Mom did ok starting the car! Hee Hee! This is a picture of me in the car.


Silly Sissy isn't such a good traveler, but Sophie loves to ride in the car! We all did pretty good. Guess what! Dr. Colleen found that I lost a little weight and that I am very "muscular". See, I told you I am buff! Whew!

Sammy Sighs

We are off today to see Dr. Colleen. Mom said that I need some shots and Silly Sissy needs one shot. I probably get more because I'm so tuff. I just hope Dr. Collen doesn't say anything about my weight. I'm not fat. I'm not. I'm just right. And, Silly Sissy doesn't travel good in the car like I do. So, that'll be really annoying.

I guess Sophie and Tina are going too, so Sophie will be all set before her big move this weekend. Mom said maybe even Crystal will ride along. That's good, then I can sit with Crystal and not be bothered with Spazzy Silly Sissy in the car.

I Have Issues...

Oh, my gosh. On Tuesday morning I went out and got into the car, and it wouldn't start. It is a 2007 Nissan and uses a "smart key" where you just push a button to start the car, after you press on the brake pedal. I tried and tried, but nothing. I finally called my husband, who said the smart key (fob) probably needed a new battery. He told me right where he knew he put the extra batteries. Hmm. NOT. After about 15 minutes of searching I did find the new battery, but not where he told me it would be. I changed out the battery. Nothing. The car merely sat there mocking me.

Finally, after several tries, exchanging batteries again, still nothing, only more mocking. So, I called my husband back, who said "what do you want me to do, I'm at work". Hmm...Ya, I just called to chat. NO, I didn't say that, I instead said that I thought maybe he had a suggestion. Then, we tested the car battery, which was fine. Finally I gave up and said if I didn't get it started I'd call someone or walk to work. No biggie. I messed with the key fob a while longer, and finally the car started. Off to work I went, plenty late. I was not in a happy mood, which was affecting my lenten promise of trying to be nice and all that jazz.

When I got to work, my friend, E, said "what, you can't start it with the key"? I said, ya, you can take the key out of the fob and start it but I wasn't sure how. So, being a guy, he went out and got the manual and found how to do that, in the case I would ever have this emergency again. To make things worse, my banana I brought to eat was freaky and I couldn't eat it...it had these hard lines right in the banana. Hard to explain, but freaky....anyway, that's not the story...

Regardless, I had no problems the rest of the day. I wasn't sure which battery had finally ended up in the fob, and then I concluded it may just be that the fob had been jiggled or didn't connect correctly or something.

After exercise class, I hopped happily into the car, and got ready to head home. The car just laughed at me. It refused to move. It would not start. Good Grief! So, I am thinking, ok, this is ridiculous. I had the other battery still with me, and my little tool to open the fob, so switched things around again and again. Our exercise instructor stopped by and asked if I needed help, to which I replied, no, that I just was having issues with my key and would call hubby if I needed anything.

I put the fob back together, and pressed on the brake and pushed the button and "waaa-laaa", off it went. Hmm. Then, and only then, I started thinking...hmmm.... I think I had been pressing on the gas, not the brake. UGH! What a dope. I am pretty sure that is what happened in the morning too. I probably just finally pushed the gas pedal out of habit for some reason the last time I got in and out of the car. OMG, I am such a mental paused crazed woman.

Driving home, I'm thinking, no one needs to know. I'll live with them not knowing and they can continue to believe it was fob problems. The smart key was just not being smart. That works for me.

But, me being me, I fessed up.

I do have issues.

Photo Mania

I have been trying to figure out my webcam on the one computer here at the office. We have been trying out "ichat" which makes you a bit nuts because you have to see yourself on the computer...yuk!

Anyway, I thought I'd try out taking my own photo with the webcam and see if I could update my staff photo. Oh, my gosh, it is a bit crazy, because it always looks like your eyes are looking down. So, then I tried to look up, but it looks like I'm gazing up into someone's eyes or something...uh, yuk. So, I guess I cannot get a photo where I am looking straight ahead. I did update my blog photo and staff photo with one of these, because it still was better than my old staff photo. I HATE PICTURES OF ME. But, in the fun of choosing one, I will share with you some of the "poses" I ended up with. Good grief!

Another special thing...

Last week, my friend, Joan (pr Jo-anne), stopped by with a little surprise... is this little bunny not cute? I love him and he brightens up my office and makes me happy (or should I say "hoppy"!!) (Ok, that was corny..I know.) She is such a sweetie, always doing little things that remind me that she is thinking of me. She is one of the most thoughtful people I know, and not because of these little surprises (which I LOVE) but because of the person that she is. I hope I can share some of the thoughtfulness and happiness and caring that she shares. Thank you, Joan!

Special Day for ME!

Wow! I was surprised and honored last week to be chosen to wear the "Coco" pearls. My friend, S, chose me and I was so overwhelmed.

This is the meaning behind the Coco:

Coco is an experiment in sharing. We hope the necklace will become greater than the sum of its links. It will become a symbol of reaching out to discover ourselves, sharing with one another, and enriching our school and community in the process.

*********

When we have the Coco, we are responsible for doing something for ourselves and others. Share with others "the necklace".

My friend, S, is part of the "Coco" group at her building. They do some really awesome projects. I was so proud to be wearing the Coco.

Thank you, S!

Sammy Sighs

Hey, hi there again. I just wanted to update you about my poor pitiful life. First of all, Sophie is moving to Wyoming in a week. So, she's living here with us (so is Tina) for one week until the move since they loaded up their whole house already, including all of Sophies toys and even her bed and crate. Poor Sophie must have thought something crazy was going on!

Anyway, Silly Sissy is just in heaven having Miss Sophie here because they are the bestest friends ever. I told Sissy last night I was going to name her Snoopy Sissy because she keeps going in their "room" and snooping around. Silly Sneaky Snoopy Sissy. That's her.

Last night Sophie and Tina went to bed and Sissy sat at the door crying... Sniffly Sissy.

Then, Dad told Sophie that she didn't need to move, she could just stay and live here wih us. Um....HEELLLLOOOO......EXCUSE me, no one asked my opinon and all I need is another silly girl around here. I have a hard enough time as it is. Not really, I do love Sophie, but I pretend not to. But, I also know she will be moving, no chance of me having to live with two girls anyway.

Today Mom and Tina took all of us out for a walk. I pretended to not want to go, but it was fun, and I showed those silly girls how it should be done. I walked real nice while they did their jumping bean walk and rabbit jumps. I did get in a bit of trouble for barking at two kids. I dont' think I should get in trouble because I was just protecting everyone! Geez.

But, anyway, I just wanted to tell you all my thoughts. Have a good day!

Love, Solemn Sammy