Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Ash Wednesday

Today begins Lent. I'm feeling out of touch actually with church. Fr. Jack has been on a sabatical and won't return until Holy Week. It still doesn't feel like family at church and I'm still sitting in the pew (which is why it still doesn't feel like family, I know, I know.) I think I will spend this Lent reflecting on that. We used to have fun at work with everyone giving something up - even the non-Catholics got in on it. No one even mentions religion much at work anymore. So - I am looking forward to a bit of time off from work and spending some time with my family.

With that said, we went to Robbie's game on Monday - they lost - but he did get 10 of the 12 points. And he passed the ball alot - giving everyone a chance but most times they just threw the ball back at him. At least it looked as if he had fun.

We were supposed to go to Ann Arbor on Sunday to see the twins on their birthday - but - the weather was so bad we couldn't go. We got as far as Freeland to go pick up Pat's parents and we couldn't see the road for all the snow. So we called Joanna and Robin and Caroline and Jesse and invited the whole gang over for dinner at our house. Since we were all planning on going to Ann Arbor we knew everyone could come. I called Javier and asked him if he wanted to come over and make pizza with Nana - he said OKAY. When he got here I let him put the sauce on and then all the pepperoni - I told him to give a piece to Robbie and that he could have one too - just as he got it in his mouth Robbie said, "This is HOT!" Javier made the worst face but wouldn't spit it out - we gave him a drink real quick. When I looked at the package it said it had Tobasco sauce in it! I never even knew they made it hot! Well Javier had enough of Nana and ran to his Mom. But I eventually lured him back throwing cheese on the pizza and he wanted to do that too.

Well, so much for 1:00 am ravings. ME

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Quick Trip

Well - the Polenta was a hit at WW - except for Gracie who wouldn't try it because it sounded like Placenta. You go Gracie. The day was so beautiful we drove to Oscoda as soon as I got home. We played Keno - Lost at Keno - ate dinner - Pat got the biggest wet burrito we've ever seen and I had a yummy salmon salad.

Then back home and to bed early - which is why we are sitting in the bead room at 2:45 am!

I love my new camera. I've been taking it to Robbie and Sheala's sporting events. It really captures good images and you can even put it on speed picture taking and hold the button down and it takes picture after picture real fast. It's fun.

We drove to Ithaca to watch Robbie play this week - it was fun - he got 10 out of the 13 points. He had to sit the bench for awhile because he had 3 fouls - the coach told him to go in and "Don't touch anyone" Soon he was back on the bench and the coach said "It was like a dollar on the floor wasn't it? You just had to foul!" He went in at the end and he seemed to have such a good time this week.

We have the twins party today - we're supposed to get snow but I think we are going anyway. We haven't seen the twins since they came home and we really don't want to miss it. And I think Ayva and Javier are coming too - that will be great fun.

Pat bought a new atlas this week and he is having fun reading all the maps in it.

Later.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Connie

After a divorce many years ago in the family the term sister-in-law doesn't apply anymore. But Aunt does and Mother of our nieces does. And friend always applied. Connie died this week after a long illness. I have lots of good memories of her.

When Pat and I first started dating I was overwhelmed with a new family to get to know. But Connie immediately became a friend. Our children are a few years apart - enough to have her go through all the stages of motherhood just before I did - it was very comforting to have her give me such good advice over the years.

One time, she was at our house for a party and Joanna was about 4, she thought she could go home with Aunt Connie, well, her bag was packed and waiting by the door. She was crushed when she realized she had to stay with boring Mom and Dad.

Our nieces are loving and compassionate women. Certainly some of the reason for that is because of their mother. We will miss her.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Whiners

Yeah - you know who you are - "I'm hungry" "This is hard" "I don't have enough to eat" Well - if some of you wouldn't drink your points you would be having enough to eat!!!!! Actually, I think ww is going well for most of us. It's just a couple of those friends of mine that need a kick in the buttola.

This got me through the last ww - Pat loves it too - so I try to have it on hand all the time in the freezer.

Graham Cracker light crust
12 oz cool whip
1/2 cup peanut butter
FF chocolate syrup

Mix half the cool whip with the peanut butter - put in crust, top with rest of cool whip and drizzle (just a little bit) of syrup over it - freeze. Cut into 8 pieces. 4 points each. YUMMY snack each night. I look forward to it.

Graciela asked for Strawberry Pie recipe - here it is:

1 graham cracker pie crust
1 6 0z pkg. low-cal strawberry Jello
6 c. fresh strawberries
1 c. diet strawberry soda
1 tsp. cornstarch

Mix soda, Jello and cornstarch in saucepan and heat until it begins to boil. Remove from heat and chill until slightly thick. Mix strawberries into chilled Jello mixture. Pour into pie crust. Top with low-cal topping (Cool Whip). Makes 6 servings. I don't have the points figured out and I gotta tell you - I'm upstairs and my points finder is downstairs and well - that's probably why I'm in ww!!! Someone help me with this one!!!!

Vegetable Soup

This weekend I made vegetable soup. I put in zucchini, yellow squash, carrots, onions, kale, 2 cans of tomatoes and cabbage. 2 low sodium boxes of vegetable broth. Lots of Mrs. Dash, oregano, pepper, and maybe a little too much Cajun seasoning (my nose runs when I eat the soup).

For dinner I add some of my frozen shredded chicken for 2 points but for lunch I eat it for 0 points without the chicken.

Okay - that's it for tonight - ME

Friday, February 13, 2009

Weight Watchers Starts Today

Weight Watchers starts today at City Hall. We have been trying to get it back at work for a long time. So every Friday we will be meeting at lunch time and hopefully I will be as successful as I was last time I did this.

Work has been very busy lately - I'm trying to go paperless for payroll and it is a huge change. Today starts all the divisions except Patrol - that is going to have to wait until the end of March. So I sent the printjob to print out the Patrol time sheets and the stupid new copier/printer/fax/and probably fix your dinner machine decided to copy 3 sets - so much for going paperless! There is no confidentiality with that machine - you can make a copy - walk away and someone else comes to make a copy and they get a copy of your stuff, too!!! GGGGRRRR..... I hate machines.

The Oneida outlet in Birch Run is going out of business - I really am going to miss that store - Pat and I went out there this week and bought some knives and they had a display piece for sale that is so cool - it is to display silverware in lots of different slots - I bought it and we'll pick it up when they call us - of course - I'm not sure where the thing is going to go - but one side will be for silverware and the other side will be for beads. Yeah! Organization here we come!

Saturday, February 7, 2009

The Shack



Go to the Shack Book Website

From Jean Marie, to Bill and Amy, to Pat, to ME - a book so thought provoking and so healing I just have to share with you. First - I think it is the first book Pat has read since he read Centennial when we first were married - so that is a miracle in itself. Thank you Bill. (Fran - don't even think of buying it!!!!)

My favorite quote from the book is when Papa is talking to Mack about Grace:

"Mack, just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn't mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don't ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors." Wm. Paul Young, The Shack

The Mom Song


OH MY GOODNESS - our friend, Rod, sent this to us - you have to watch it! It is so good.