Nuttin honey....

You will be happy to know that tonight, I didn't fool around, risking sight and limb (power tools)....I went straight for dh's corkscrew. When I used it on the cranberry wine, the cork slid out easily, with no problem....this time however, it was an s.o.b. to get out. I guess all my prying and drilling had loosened it last time....but, not to worry! After three tries myself, and hysterics from Betsy, I sat the bottle on the floor, had her hold it with all her weight, and pulled like the dickens. After three tries it popped out! And let me say....the blackberry wine is much better than the cranberry. It's sweeter and you can really taste the fruit. You could taste the cranberry too, it was just a little tart. Of course I fixed that by mixing it with ginger ale. (wine connoisseurs across the country are passing out as they read this!)

Anyway, I've been sitting here waiting for dh to get home. He is "wining and dining" bigwigs from Johnson and Johnson tonight. So, as he salivates over some wonderful entree at a fancy schmancy restaurant, I feasted on the last of the leftover stuffing. Oooooh boy. What a dinner. Wee one had mac and cheese, while Betsy had a sub sandwich from the grocery store.

I don't know why but I keep looking at my teeth and running my tongue over them. Remember that old commercial for Pearl Drops Tooth Polish? "MMMMmmmmm, it's a great feeling!" Do they even make that stuff anymore? I miss that commercial. You know how they play old shows from years gone by (ala Nick at Night)? Well, I think they should do a show of old commercials from the 60's, 70's and 80's. I would watch that! Wee one pulled out an old vhs of Rudolph that I taped for Betsy when she was a baby. It had all the old commercials on it, and some of the local broadcasters from the late 80's. It was so fun to watch! I sang along with the old jingles and wee one was amazed that I knew all the tunes. It's funny how you forget those little things.

What are some of the things you remember that you wish they would bring back, or maybe a favorite commercial from the past? I remember wanting my mother to buy me Tickle deodorant. She eventually did, for gym class. I got the one with the pink top. Oh, and those body sprays....crud! What were they called? Someone help me remember! They were in cans, like the ones the "imposter" sprays are in now. (You know, "if you like Red Door, you'll love "Green Window"). I want to say the one I liked was a dark can with a blue butterfly on it. Okay, this is going to drive me nuts until I figure it out! Was it Body something? Image? It was probably early 80's that they were popular.

Okay, I'm off to bed....sweet dreams!

Woo Hoo! Good day at the dentist. Okay, it did hurt this time for some reason....but I only had ONE cavity, and it wasn't in the tooth that is sensitive! That one is sensitive because the gum has receeded a bit. I was horrified when she said that, thinking it might be from some periodontal disease but she said it comes with age and probably "trauma" from brushing too hard! LOL....I guess I had better settle down a bit! Oh, and when I went to pay....I had a credit from last time so NO CHARGE! Yippee! So what did I do to celebrate? Yup, I went shopping and blew quite a bit of money....but I am closer to being finished with my Christmas shopping.

Oh, and whilst at the store, I found my "winter scent"! Now, I know this is going to sound cheesy but, I have to thank Erica and all the ladies in Pine Valley because my new scent is....Enchantment! I saw it there and thought, "Hmmmm, I wonder what Erica Cane smells like...." Apparently she smells spicy....like her attitude. It's a very spicy, woodland scent, not too heavy but definately not light. I love it.

And so, that is my update for the day. Now I really have to start getting things together for the mil's visit. I'm only slightly beginning to panic....which is a good thing!

2 Days till d-day....

Yup, only two days till my mother in law arrives, and my household will go to pot. I always feel strange cleaning with company! I figure I can do two light cleanings while she is here....you know, a quick dusting and vacuuming while John takes her out for a while. And yes, I do always figure out when I will sneak some cleaning in if I have guests....so if you are planning a visit, you will know ahead of time that on at least two occasions, I'll kick you out to clean! LOL....
My sister and her husband are arriving the same day, only an hour after she does. So, we will pick her up at the airport, then have lunch at the little restaurant/bar whilst waiting for my family. My sister and her husband will be staying with my mom. You think my cleaning is crazy....she will just vacuum right around you while you are watching tv. She doesn't care if you are in the house or out! She will windex the tv while you are watching, Pledge the table while you run to the bathroom....and my personal favorite, yelling, "Don't walk in the kitchen, I just washed the floor!" as you are sliding across, arms flailing, while trying to refresh your drink. Yes, I have to say I learned from the best!
The weather has been quite nice this week. We are beginning to see the effects from the cold front, and the next seven days are looking good! With the exception of today, which is supposed to be 79, we are looking at mid 60's and a few days of rain....woohoo! Hey, at least it's something! I still can't get over the fact that it is December. I haven't even begun to shop for the girls. I am so behind! LOL....I just realized it isn't December yet. It's the 30th of November. I've got 16 hours and 38 minutes until December....whew! Just enough time to get my shopping done!
Okay, I've got to get ready for my appointment at the dentist....wish me luck! (I'll be thinking of you Julie, as I'm being scrrrrraped, poked and prodded! lol)

I can't believe it is already 11 am, and I've done basically NOTHING! Well, I have cleaned out my fridge and started to dust....but once again, I keep passing my computer, slowing down, checking my mail, then sitting here messing with my journal. I guess it's just nice to be able to sit down and not be interrupted every five minutes!

I called the dentist to see if I could get in, as it's been around 2 years since I've been there. I can't help it! I get all this work done, then I forget about it until I have a problem. I've never been one to keep up with an appointment every six months. I think I have some kind of "dental phobia". However, I am always sure to take wee one. I need to get Betsy in there, as well as John. Why is it that I put it off? I am meticulous about my dental hygine at home....always brushing and flossing, etc. I suppose I do this because I know I won't be stabbing at my gums with pointy objects....

I am actually cold today. I think I'm becoming a wimp. It's in the 60's for gosh sakes! I have sweat pants and a sweater on....and my fluffy pink slippers. It's supposed to get up to 78 for the next two days, as a warm front is coming through....then dipping back down into the 60's. I saw the weather forecast this morning and it is SNOWING HEAVILY back home in Indiana. I'm so depressed! I may have to go to the store and buy a can of snow spray and do all of my windows. Maybe I'll even get a can of flocking and do the trees outside. Wouldn't that be a hoot?!

Okay, enough of my lazing about....I must clean! I forgot to say that surprisingly, they had an appointment at the dentists office tomorrow morning at 10:30....oh joy. Alright I'm going. Now. Here I go....I'm walking away....riiiiightttt nowwwwww.....

School + Work = HAPPY SHERRY!!!!

I'm so in the Christmas spirit....can you tell? LOL.

We spent the entire day in St. Augustine, shopping and eating. I swear, over the past few days I've gained 4 pounds! I'm going to have to seriously diet when the holidays are over!

I didn't buy anything today. There really was nothing that I wanted. The weather was gorgeous....high 60's with a cool breeze off the water. The skies were a bright blue, with a smattering of clouds. The stores were all playing Christmas music, which was so pretty....except for the store playing "tropical" holiday music. You know, those drums they play in the Carribean? I told Betsy, "That's just WRONG!"

We ate at a little cafe and had the best hamburgers I had ever eaten. They were thick and cooked to absolute perfection. Afterward, the girls got "dots", they are little ice cream pebble looking things that are kept cool with dry ice. Very weird, definately a kid thing....and John and I got turtle sundaes....and yes, they were as decadent as they sound. I tell ya, I'm stuffed still, and it's after nine!

This week is going to be a busy one. My mother in law is coming in Thursday morning, and my sister and her husband are coming in an hour after that. Mil will be here for 5 days, sis for 9. It should be nice though. I'm looking forward to it.

Okay, I'm being distracted by Desperate Housewives....who in the world is going to be knocked off????

 

**Okay, I didn't figure they would kill off any of the main characters....but really, was that woman a "desperate housewife"? big sigh though....for a minute there I thought the frazzled mom was going to be gone....

The true story behind the wine....

Yes, it all sounded so cozy last night....me sitting at the computer, listening to jazz and sipping wine. Oh, but if you only knew what I had to go through to get to it....

I bought the wine, thinking it was a screw top....however, it was a cork. Being the ultra-classy lady I am, you would have thought I would have a corkscrew....however, my usual Arbor Mist wines don't call for them (nothing but the best for me! lol), so I needed to find another way to open my bottle, which was not the normal wide mouthed bottle, but had a 3 inch long neck that was half the diameter of a normal bottle of wine.

I decided to do a quick search online and typed in "how to open a wine bottle with no corkscrew". I got to a message board forum that offered a few suggestions. First there was the "try to break the vacuume seal between the cork and the bottle with something thin and it should slide out easily". Okay, that sounds simple enough. I'll just reach for my handy, dandy steak knife and shove it between the cork and the glass. It went in easily enough, however, it didn't do the job. As a matter of fact, it started chipping the mouth of the bottle, and wouldn't you know....I didn't put on my safety glasses. So, yes, I got pelted in the eye with a tiny glass projectile that bounced off my eyeball, into the pecan pie plate. After running to the bathroom to assess the damage (there was none, thankfully), I checked the pie. After three bites, I found nothing, and decided to continue trying to open the wine. 

The second suggestion was to "screw a drywall screw into the cork, then use pliers to pull it out. Be sure to grasp the bottle firmly between your thighs...." hmmmm, informative and titillating!  Out to the garage I went and got a screw and dh's drill....yes, I used a power tool....and in it went.I got the pliers, placed the bottle between my knees and pulled with all my might. However, the only thing I dislodged was the screw, and possibly my shoulder....

Suggestion number three was "use the corkscrew thingy on your swiss army knife, it works just fine". I was skeptical of this suggestion, but decided to give it a try. I went and asked dh if he had what I needed, and he did. I got the knife from his drawer, and took it to the kitchen. i wasn't sure it would work as 1.) by this time the cork was half way down the neck and 2.) I had pulled out several chunks of cork and didn't know if there was enough left to screw into. However, I was going to have that relaxing glass of wine if it killed me....so I screwed it in, gave a tug and....

It popped out!

You can only imagine my joy! So, I put the drill away, cleaned up the chunks of cork, grabbed a glass and headed for my computer. I did have a lovely evening, drinking wine by Christmas tree light and chatting with my friend, and doing some online shopping....guess what I bought?!

A plethora of pictures....and a Happy Thanksgiving....

And so another Thanksgiving comes to an end....

Wee one is asleep under the tree, dh is zonked out on the couch, and Betsy went to bed....I am sitting here with my cranberry wine, listening to the Holiday Jazz station on radio AOL, winding down from the days festivities....

We had a lovely dinner. My parents came over, as well as my grandmother and her longtime "friend".  We had wayyyyy too much food, and we all ate too much. It was delicious though. It is also my father's 69th birthday, and we had a little party for him. I got him the new Regis Philbin cd, and my mom got him the Gaither's Tribute to Jake Hess cd and vhs. So, after dinner, she put it in the vcr, and we all sat around, watching and listening to some good old gospel music. I have to say, it was quite a cozy setting! My dad started crying when the first song came on, and said how much he loved the tape. He has a hard time with his emotions due to this disease....but he loved everything, and even tried to sing along! He really enjoyed himself today, and I am thankful for that....

Speaking of being thankful, I have to say that I am so thankful for a lot of things. Food on our table, a roof over our heads, family to love and who loves me. Things we take for granted....the fact that I have clothes to complain about ironing, or a car to put that $2 per gallon gas in....when I see my father struggling to get through another day, it makes me so sad, yet thankful that he has had a long and happy life.  When I see my mother, exhausted mentally, physically and emotionally from taking care of dad, I am thankful that they have each other, and that we are here together, supporting one another.  Even in times of hardship, there are blessings....we just need to open our eyes and realize what we have. I am thankful for a Savior that loves us unconditionally, and makes all things possible. I think this verse says it all, and is what is foremost in my heart today....(thank you Erin for this reminder!)

In Phillipians it says, "Be joyful always, pray continuously, BE THANKFUL IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

And, of course, I am so very thankful for all of the wonderful friends I have met here in journal land. I have met so many spectacular, giving people who have truly enriched my life.  I feel like I know some of you better than my "in person" friends, and I am thankful that you have allowed me to become a part of your lives.

Happy Thanksgiving.....everyone!