Home Sweet Home & Worn Out!

All in all it was a good trip!  Long drive time today.  We left the Orlando area about 10am made a few eating stops and gassed up here and there and I've just now sat down in my own home! 

I am upset with myself for not being able to meet Angie, Shelly & Martha.  I know I would have had a great time, more fun than I did with the FIL!  (Borrrrrrrrrrrrring)  I am kicking myself!  I have read Shelly's entry and Angie's and Martha's too......now I wanna have fun.  (I'm so ashamed of myself!)

A resolution?  Next time I take a trip to Florida I will have my OWN fun.  Not just be there for "family" and "their" schedule.

Jack I'm glad to see you got the cookies, I'm so sorry for forgetting to send the milk too.  Darnnit!

I can hardly wait to put my tired body in my bed on my heating pad!  Oh my aching back!  Updates soon!

Until next year...........y'all stay safe!

I'm HERE!

Hi gang.....

After driving 95 mph (isn't that what that blue sign means?) on I-95S, I was actually an hour ahead of schedule - woo hoo.  We left around 12:30am.  I tossed a pill in Tom so he would sleep and be ready to take over when I became tired.  HA!

I stopped a couple of times to stretch and let the cool wind wake me up.  Sundrop and 4 cups of coffee and good to go.  Finally at 7:30am I had had it.  We were in our favorite stopping place - Kingsland GA, when I pulled into a hotel parking lot (I figured it was "safe") and took a 30 minute nap. 

Grabbed some breakfast and was off again.  It wasn't until we gassed up at the I-10 / I-75 area that Tom and I switched seats.  I was 10 hours and tired but wired! 

Allison, I blew the horn at you when I got to the Ocala exit - about 11:30am...hope you heard me LOL!

My FIL lives off of Hwy 52 near Hwy 19 which runs parallel to the Gulf and right at the crossroads of 52 and I-75 was where the tornado was of Monday.  Messy!

The "guests" - Tom's dad, Tom's baby brother, his girlfriend and her daughter, Tom's sister, her daughter & hubby and 18 month old son. .....all in a 2 bedroom house.   Let me tell ya, it's quite loud when they're all together!  We all hugged and kissed and opened presents.  Then before dinner we headed to Hudson Beach to Sam's Beach Bar for a before dinner toddy.  It was COLD.  I'm serious!  I left NC it was 70 ---- I hit FLA and BAM! 58!  Something seriously wrong with this picture.  It was still a bit cloudy but not bad.  I picked up a new T-shirt at the bar and took pics of the great-nephew.

Lasagne was the dinner specialty thanks to my BIL --- (he DOES love me!)  I had sent subliminal messages about making it...he makes the best, and YES it's better than my Tom's.

DEEEELish!

And the desserts - homemade Tiramisu, we brought cookies (yes, John, yours should be there on Friday) and fudge, a Juniors cheesecake that my Mom ordered for Tom (we froze it and brought it here for the Yanks to enjoy).  Yummmz!

Yes, I came prepared - 2 cases of Sundrop!

Poor Tom....he stuffed himself sick!  Had to have a shotof Pepto!

Here's a kicker - Dad says "you've got to be tired, why don't you go ahead to bed?"  We're sleeping on an air mattress in the middle of the den floor.  It's 11pm, they're watching KONG (the new, bloody gorey one).  Then Dad starts emptying the dishwasher...............

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

Did I miss something?  Didn't they say "I know you're tired you should get to sleep" ??????

.....................12pm I was ready to take my tired ass to the local hotel or over to Andrea's.

Anywho,

Today (Wednesday) we hit some stores in the area - great sales at Bealls (a FL store that I LOVE).  Tom found 2 jackets 60% off, several Guy Harvey T's for $12, Miss T got a couple of Tinkerbell shirts and I got a cool pocket book.  I do LOVE that store and I love going in the Outlets too.  Now tomorrow I'm going ALONE cause today I didn't even get to go to the Ladies dept or housewares....can't shop with men and kids around.

I've gotta check the weather and see which day would be best to hit Busch Gardens for the day.

Right now I just wanna chill and relax. 

Then it's off to Nokomis to meet up with some Sista's on Saturday - sooooooo looking forward to that!

Well 10-4 good buddies, I'm off to veg!!!!

Love, hugs n kisses!
Sharon

Merry Christmas & I'm Outta Here!

 Thank you my J-land family for a wonderful 2006!  I have met some wonderful people in this journey this year.  You know who you are.  I wish for each of you Peace, Love and Prosperity in the upcoming 2007!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I will be checking in on you while I'm away and I'll try to keep this journal updated.  I have some cute pictures from last night and today that I will try to share with you once I'm settled in at Hounds Tooth Lane!  That should be a wild place when we get there Tuesday afternoon! 

  As for us, we spent today in POURING rain!  and at my parents house for a large lunch complete with presents.  My daughter & nephew were a hoot!  A bunch of silly kids - that makes the Christmas season extra special.  It's not about the presents under the tree, but the gift of life, especially the one in a lowly manger some 2000+ years ago.  I am thankful that God chose to give to us that special night.  I am thankful for my family no matter how dysfunctional!! LOL!!!  Wouldn't have it any other way.

 My father was forced to have a sober Christmas this year - the ABC people wouldn't sell him any booze.  What tipped them off???  His walker and his obvious difficulty in walking (since he just had hip replacement surgery in Nov) - they asked if he was on pain meds and when he said YES, they said NO LOL!!!!!  Miracles happen!

OK......I'll be on the road.  Wish us safe travels! 

LOVE YOU ALL!

Christmas Eve

  I must be a grinch......I'm trying to watch "A Christmas Story" with TnT and I just can't get into it.   They're at the point where the LEG LAMP comes out of the box.  geeeesh....

     Anywho,

Nanny's meal went well.  Lots and LOTS of food.  I took a couple of pictures and some video.

                                 

When we got home, I decided that we should open our gifts.  Tara has been gracious this year, accepting that she had only 2 gifts under the tree.  Little did she know that the big red box in the back with no name tag was hers.

I told her the only way we were gonna know who's it was was to open it and she offered to be the one.

                              

5 shirts, Bratz Diamonds DVD, Cheetah Girls 2 CD, Narnia DVD & a Pirates/Carribbean CD.  Oh the look on her face!  She was really going to be content with the Disney on Ice and the trip to Florida and the Battleship game.  Isn't she the best?!!

                            

Tom and I go low key.....I bought him Polo Double Black and Miss T got him a Errol Flynn DVD (Robin Hood); they bought me 2 pair of earrings and Clinique Happy perfume.  I also stuck a travel iron under there for myself, you know the rule:  One for them one for me!

  Tomorrow we're having lunch and gifts with my Mom & StepDad at their home.  Should be nice.....

 OK it's almost time to shower off and get in the bed.   Santa is due here early morning and I don't want to risk being awake and having him pass us up!

               

Hope your stockings are hung with care - wouldn't want them falling and breaking the stuff that's in em.  Nite!

 

I've just gained 10 LBS!!!

OMG.......Miss T and I went to the grocery store to pick up goodies.  You know the kind, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, raisins, dates, coconut (no I don't grate my own like Nanny does), butter, cheese etc.

First thing she & I did was make  a cheese ball.  Using cream cheese and cheddar cheese, some onion & worcheshire sauce mixed well & formed into a ball and rolled in pecans.

Next was "Haystacks" with the peanuts, chinese noodles and butterscotch.  Something was amiss with the chips cause they didn't want to melt right.  It came out OK.

Next we made FUDGE!  One with and one without pecans.

(Have I mentioned that I like PECANS??)

Then I made about 6 dozen cookies "Hungry Boy Cookies".  That's where the raisins and dates come in.  This recipe has everything in it but the kitchen sink!  Plus you have to mix it by hand!  (Jack - I'm sending you a dozen)

I am POOOOOPED!

Hungry Boy Cookies:

1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
2 sticks butter - soft
Cream these together.  Add 2 eggs (room temp).
Mix well.
Add 2 c s/r flour.  Mix well.

In a LARGE bowl combine:
1 c coconut flakes
3/4 c chopped dates
1 c chopped pecans
1 c raisins
2 c rice krispies
2 c raw oatmeal
1 - 6oz butterscotch chips

Mix this into the flour/sugar mixture by hand until well combined.  Drop by tsp onto cookie sheet and bake 10-12 minutes at 325.  Remove from sheet immediately onto wire rack and cool.

ENJOY!

This morning I got something in my eye while I was in the shower.  Actually the something was shampoo and not just the suds either.  I tried to keep my eye shut and not touch it for as long as possible.  It hurt like a mutha.....then rinse rinse rinse, wipe, wipe, wipe......nothing!  It felt like an eyelash was in there.  All day it has bothered me.  Still does. 

Tom was out last night.....didn't come in till 8am today - got "caught up" at the bar with some ner do wells and spent the night on someone's couch without a phone call.  Needless to say I didn't get much sleep and my neck is killing me.  So now that I'm officially 10 lbs heavier from all this baking, and super tired, I'M OFF TO BED!

Nite nite all......love to each of you.

 

CHRISTIANS

I thought that this fit well during this season.  Enjoy!

Christians - By Maya Angelou



When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say.. "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say.. "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow!


Share this with somebody who already has this understanding, as reinforcement. But more importantly, share this with those who do not have a clear understanding of what it means to be a Christian, so that the myth that Christians think they are "perfect" or "better than others"can be dispelled.

Plans for Christmas

Tis Christmas Friday!! 

It's hard to believe it's here!  It will be nice having a couple of days (weekend) to prepare for our celebrations.

 

My Nanny always wants her family at her house Christmas Eve.  We oblige.  She goes all out with decorations.  7 trees, garland everywhere.  I shall take pictures....I even think I will video this year.  Little Mr Man (Chase) will be so cute this year...18 months what a sweet age.  Miss T will be the little boss, as usual.

 

Nanny is fixin Veggie Soup.....I warned my SIL, she said "well, should we fill in with some appetizers?" and I replied that I thought she'd never ask!  LOL!  I know, I know, but geesh, I like to nosh.  Sausage balls, cheese balls, finger stuff.

 

I'd like to take some time Saturday to bake cookies and the Black Russian Cake.  Finish up some laundry for the trip.  I have already packed my suitcase, just need the "essentials" and we're good to go.

 

Tom will probably want to go to Midnight Mass (I'm NOT Catholic), which is what we did last year.  It was a nice program. 

I think it does him good to show up in church.  We used to go most every Sunday.......wonder what changed?

 

We'll get home in time to hit the hay and give Santa his cue to come on in.

Christmas Day we'll have lunch with my Mom, StepDad, Brother, SIL, little brother etc.....fried turkey, ham and the fixin's.  Lots of presents and hopefully some "cha-ching" for after Christmas shopping.  Love that part!  Especially since most things are on sale and I can get TWICE AS MUCH!!!!   Plus traveling to FL I'll have some cash. 

 

After lunch we'll mingle and waller around with our big fat bellies from overeating LOL.   Open gifts and ooooh and ahhhhh at the kids.  My plans are to take a long nap (6pm-midnight) and then get everyone into the family truckster and head south.  I should be blowing my horn at the Ocala exit about 11am at the most (Hi Allison). 

 

We'll get to Tom's Dads house in time for lunch and hugs and kisses and gifts.  His sister, her daughter, husband and baby will be there.  Hopefully his baby sis and her hubby will still be there as well.  (They come in on Fri or Sat and spend a couple of days.)  I hope Tom's brother has LASAGNE made for me (hint, hint)!!!

 

I'm looking forward to a vacation........I'm hoping for a stress free time, full of fun and laughter.  I'm probably repeating myself from a previous entry.  So sorry.

 
(OK someone tell me why AOL won't let these post at normal size???)

...Sharon

Tuesday Toodles

Good Tuesday to ya!  Thought I'd share some pics from Tom's NY trip.  He was only there for a short few days - not a lot of time for sightseeing and photographs.

Today was the Christmas party at Miss T's school, tomorrow is a half day and then "winter break", I mean, let's get politically correct.  Today she has a small "snack time" at dance.  Their vacation gets cut short now...didn't it used to be a good 2.5 weeks just a few years ago??

 Luckily, our work load slows down the week between Christmas and New Year's so we've been "saving" a few vacation days to take and we will close the office that week.  Whew!  Coworker is heading to Buffalo to meet the boyfriend's family.....I'm heading to Florida.  Talk about extremes!  Bossman isn't sure yet what he's going to do...it won't be a "family" vacation I'm sure.  There's been plenty of those this year.  Besides, he and wifey are still on opposite sides of the marriage.  I just wish they'd go ahead and get the big "D"...sounds bad, but, hey, spend a few in my shoes here will ya?!  Look, she's just not one of "us", she's way out there.

             

Anywho,

I had dinner with my good friend Sha last night.  She is a computer guru and a nurse, so it can't hurt to have her as a friend.  It was nice.  The we strolled over to the Walmart....did you know they have a 4 disc boxed set of Garth Brooks for $15???  Wow!  She picked it up...I'm tempted to.

                

I think I'm looking forward to my trip.  The first couple of days will be OK, hanging out with the FIL and SIL, BIL, kids etc.  Of course I'll hit Bealls (!!) for shopping if Santa is good to me.  My friend Andrea will most likely have the week off too, so we'll hang and chill.  Maybe I'll take a chair one afternoon over to Hudson Beach and just veg out.

                

Then (and this is the most exciting part) I'm hoping to be meeting up with some J-lander's later in the week!!  How exciting.  We've kinda pinpointed a date and place....just waiting for confirmation!  This will be totally awesome!

  SOUTH WEST FLORIDA WATCH OUT!!!!

Just nosing around....

Up a bit late this evening nosing around in some journals.  Finally got in!  I hope that none of us in J-land HAD to go shopping this weekend.  If you did, you probably ran into what I did....bumper to bumper traffic!  And all I had to go out for was to meet the Nutcracker's for costume returns.  As it turned out I was there from 8:45am until 1pm!!! helping check in the items and return the deposit checks.

I was quite ill as I drove home (17 miles) just because....because I could be (you're a mean one MRS GRINCH).  Miss T had a party to go to at 5pm but I was refusing to take her.  Mr Man was gonna have to be on duty, for crying out loud, I'm busy all week while he sits home!......don't get me started.

Anywho, I came home with Pizza for me and Miss T, then I laid down for a nap......ahhhhhhhh.  They went to the party.  I called my Nanny when I woke up, said "let's go get dinner and the gang" so we took off to meet TnT.  Applebee's was the choice, boy were they packed!!

Nanny has decided to make veggie soup for Christmas Eve (???) so she "wanted" not "needed" new soup bowls, ones with handles like coffee mugs.  9 of them.  Must mean someone's not eating soup cause there's MORE THAN 9 OF US!!! and that's not counting the 2 little grand's.

Whatever!

Tara wants to make her recipe from cooking school for Nachos.  They're actually very good and I think it will make a nice compliment to

VEGGIE SOUP.

I'm going to make a Black Russian Cake.  Yummmeeeeee.  And maybe some fudge....some with nuts and some without.

Tom usually makes Lasagne or Ziti for me.  Don't think he will this year since Mom is making a ham and a fried turkey.  Plus I always request Lasagne from Tom's baby brother...so hopefully it will be ready when we get to FLA.

We will be leaving at ZERO Hundred hours on Dec 26th and heading SOUTH for FLA!  I'll take a nap (I'm good at those) from about 6pm until midnight, get up and get the gang buckled in.  Grab my coffee and GO.  Tara is looking forward toseeing Grandpa Frank and others.  I'll be glad to see my pal Andrea and hopefully hook up with Shelly and Martha!!!!! 

Today I spent a lovely day (yes it was....65 degrees) sipping coffee and hanging my Nanny's net lights.  Went over to my Mom's and began a Gingerbread house.  Never made one before.  She and Tara will finish it after school on Monday.  Then I'm back home to perch in front of my handy dandy ironing board for about 2 hours.  Lots to catch up on now that Nutcracker is done.  Even Miss T cleaned up in her room.

Tom watched in horror as his NY Football Giants gave away another game.  I wonder if they just don't like being in the limelight???????

G'night all!  Sleep well.

Just Friggin Lovely!

Thank you AOHell.....I have NOT been able to COMMENT in my favorite journals today. 

 

HUMP DAY!!!

  

Tis the season!  Everybody seems to be getting testy, on edge.  It is apparent here at work and at home.  Bossman is "somewhere out there", glazed over and not with it.  Co-worker is her usual "flakey" self and now Mr Man is all bent out of shape over the shooting of an 18 year old by a cop.

The story is everywhere, but you can read it best in our local fish wrap www.starnewsonline.com .  A grand jury indicted the cop on 2nd degree murder, now they are saying "ooops, we made a mistake".  Oh joy.  How do you make a mistake like this??  Guess it's gonna be a rule that it is ok to shoot people through a door just because you're a cop and **it happens.

 

Christmas is so close.....can you feel it?  Yes, we've been playing seasonal tunes since Thanksgiving.  Yes, I've gotten most of my house decorated and I've even 97% finished my shopping.  I wasn't really in the mood to decorate.  It becomes such a chore.  And I know I shouldn't feel that way about it.  Where is my spirit this year?  Hmmmm, guess I'm just getting anxious about our trip to Tampa.  Roxy I'll see ya at Jilly's!!

 

I always have a moment of saddness during Christmas, usually on the 24th late in the evening.  That's when I'll go outside and gaze up at the stars in the silence.  It is then that I can feel many different emotions.  First is the awe of the night, the anticipation of Santa's arrival, the miracle of the birth of Jesus.   The stars seem especially bright and happy.  The night is so still and quiet and beautiful and it feels good.

 yay Missie!!

Then I am saddened by memories of Christmas past, kinda like Scrooge.  I don't like to hear the song "I'll be home for Christmas" because it is what my Dad used to tell us, then he wouldn't show up.  And when he did, there was always an excuse, he was "tired" (drunk).  A lot of let downs at Christmas from him.  It still happens.  I don't make plans with him.  As a matter of fact about 4 years ago I invited him to spend the night on Christmas Eve.  He stayed up all night and was beligerant, drank my booze - booze that I had been given as a gift just that year.  I was ILL!  Beyond ILL.  I said things to him that Christmas day that I should have never said on such a special occassion.  We didn't speak for probably 6 - 8 months. 

 ty LJ!!

I had told him in the past that I would not have him acting that way in my home or around my kid.  How horrible for her if she would have realized her grandpa was sloshed!  She knew I was mad at him and I just explained that he had done something & that he didn't ask for permission.  Gee thanks Dad.

We tried it again the next year and he was OK.  Behaved.  The next 2 years he has had surgery and not been able to come up.  Fine with me, this was NOT a tradition I wanted to start.  

   

My Papa isn't around anymore either.  I always look around at where he wasthe last year he was with us and wonder if that's where he'd be sitting again.  The answer is the same --- yes.  (S'cuse me, tears...)  Each year he'd buy coconuts and drainthem, then we'd grate the meat for Nanny to make homemade pies and cakes.  He'd always save me some of the chunks to eat since I didn't eat the pies or cakes.  He would always say "don't buy me nothing".....we didn't listen. 

Tom will be missing his Mother......yesterday was the 9th anniversary of her death.  Duh, THAT'S why he's acting funny and I didn't even realize it till I just wrote it down!

Geepers, this is NOT what I started out to write about, LOL!

  snagged from Teri