My Pixie

The cousins weren't here, so it was a fairly quiet afternoon on Friday. Chilly, too, with some rain. Nice day to snuggle on the couch and watch a little Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies with Grandpa...he's not as cute, so he's not in this picture.



This is what we looked like at Thanksgiving dinner.


I love my little family more than I can possibly express here. And I'd almost bet - if I was a betting woman - that most of the folks who read this feel exactly the same way about their own families.

I spent a good chunk of today at meetings, but did manage to bake 3 different banana breads - one pineapple/macadamia nut/banana, one pineapple/banana, and one banana/pearsauce (instead of applesauce). They're gifts. They LOOK good, and I sure hope they turned out well. Might have to get a turkey out of the deep freeze before I bake many more!

My Chief watched some football, read his book, and put up our little tree and decorated it. The pictures I took turned out blurry, will attempt it again tomorrow, and will steady the camera.

Going to have a cup of tea, set up the coffee for tomorrow, and try to hit the rack earlier than usual - got all 3 of the little ones tomorrow, I think. Y'all have a fine evening, and thanks for stopping by!

This might not be good news for Yours Truly

12/10/2009, MIDNIGHT UPDATE (from Binyamin's trusty assistant): In a few hours, Binyamin will send out a letter to his friends and supporters about his condition and JWR's future. He has no intention of placing semi-private info on the JWR front page. We had orginally considered recording his words but soon realised it would be impossible, as he is too weak. So we are instead sending his note via e-mail to those who are subscribed to the daily JWR update. (To be added, please click here.).

Binyamin is afraid that his writing skills will fall short. I assured him that the message he wished to convey will come through loud and clear.

Here are seven columns for your reading pleasure: Victor Davis Hanson, Bob Tyrrell, Larry Elder, Dick Morris, Ann Coulter, Cal Thomas. and George Will.

Messages can be sent to schmooze@jewishworldreview.com

I do hope Binyamin gets well and strong soon. I miss him - and I don't even know him. His kindness and integrity come through in his work, though, and I wish him and his family and friends all the best during this time.

I get great pleasure from reading JewishWorldReview.com. I've learned SO much over the years since my friend 'Red' (now expatriate in Texas) sent me a link to the site. Seems a long time ago now... I use Binyamin's material almost daily to post links on this blog. Will keep you posted.

Got all three crumb-crunchers again today, then taking a friend to my favorite meeting. Busy day. Cloudy, might rain s'more. Glad I'm here for it. Thanks for stopping by!

A perfect Saturday morning...

I'm at Lovely Daughter's house. Been here since early this morning so they can go to eastern North Carolina and pick up a truck for Handsome Son-in-law so I can get my BroncoII back. They've never done a road trip alone together - and I am so envious! Well, except for the fact that I get to hang out with the Pixie all weekend, and the weather is particularly ugly for travel. They HOPE to get where they're going before kickoff of the SEC Championship game, as they are a family of Gator Fans. My kids will come home tomorrow, which should see better travel weather all around.

Anyway, I'm using her little netbook - which I adore, it's so cute - but keyboard is tiny and screen is VERY small compared to my desktop...so I'm making a lot of typos. My dyslexic fingers keep hitting enter 'up' when I want to hit 'shift.' Annoying. My Pixie is having some cereal for breakfast, and I need to get the laundry in the dryer.

As food for a rainy day thought, here's a a column by Rich Tucker about the Constitutional amendment that stands between BarryOCare and the destruction of medical "care" in our country. Are you a Tenther?

Y'all go have a terrific day now - just heard from my kids, they're almost to Florence, SC and it's stopped raining. In honour of the kids - and because I used to be one - here's something it took me nearly an hour to find - enjoy!



Thanks for stopping by!

Wakko Wednesday

I stayed out later than usual last night, though it was great fun and so rewarding. But I'm a little blah today, moving easy, with lots to do. Hanging out with the Pixie, cooking supper for her grandpa and parents, while she colours and watches Little Einsteins.

I loved this show when Lovely Daughter was a little girl.


The Schoolhouse Rock 30th Anniversary Edition is on my Christmas list.


I've been trying to remember the name of this show for months now. Solved! Just go to YouTube's search engine, enter Ben Vereen Children's Show and VOILA! Here it is!

Warms my heart...

Frugal Living

Here are some reader tips in a column by Sara Noel. We've made pumpkin seed snacks for years, but I never had the directions written down...and we washed them, which I see was NOT necessary.

Thomas Sowell has Part III on The 'Costs' of Medical Care. You can find Part I here and Part II here.

ADDED: Thomas Sowell's The 'Costs' of Medical Care, Part IV is here.

I am feeling low today. Overtired. Money...or lack thereof. Mostly overtired, I think. How do I tell someone who really needs my help that I am not physically capable of doing what she needs, and doing it well, along with my other duties...*sigh*

I think the Pixie and I will see if we can find something unhealthy for breakfast...like raisin toast, maybe... Might be more later, but I won't bet on it, cuz My Chief gets off work early today. Thanks for stopping by!

We are NOT alone...

Another day when I have little or no energy for political strife and the bullshirt that is the Present Administration. The Current Occupant and His Merry Band of Weasels disgust me almost to the point of paralysis.

It's a beautiful Monday to spend with my BEEootiful Pixie, not let that bunch of hooligans make my head hurt. It's ALWAYS good to spend time with the Pixie. Grandpa now has Mondays off, and he's spending this morning making the Pixie's Halloween costume. She's going to dress as a BEE, of course! Last year she was Tinkerbell. The pattern for this year's costume was a LOT more expensive than patterns I remember my mum buying when I was a kid, and it was ordered off the internet. Grandpa & I are doing a bit more finish to it than the directions call for (I was taught well, even if I'm only now using that part of my education), but I just tried it on her and it's adorable...which really isn't any surprise. She's the kind of girlie that could make a gunny sack or a brown paper bag look cute!

THEN, as a reminder that I'm not the only one who believes in this Great Nation the way I do, I found this article at JewishWorldReview.com. According to George Will's column, Michelle Bachman sounds like my kind of politician, a woman to be trusted with running my government with as little interference in the private sector as possible. ALMOST makes me wish I could move to Minnesota again...but that's not happening unless the Pixie's parents go!

Happy Birthday, Pixie!

Two years ago today, Lovely Daughter and Handsome Son-in-law presented me with the best gift ever...well, since Lovely Daughter was born, anyway.

Arrival of this little blond Pixie Bug has changed my life. As we get older, I think we forget how much fun Life can be, how simple we can keep it if we wish, and how fascinating things are when looked at through the eyes of a toddler.

I am truly grateful to have the opportunity to learn, again, what Life is all about.

Happy Birthday, Kaylee!!!

Honeymoon in increments

My Chief and I got married in February of 1985. He wasn't a Chief then. We dressed in our cleanest Levis and running shoes, said the proper words in front of a judge in Memphis, Tennessee, then spent our last $12 on a bottle of Asti and 2 packs of smokes. I took him back to the barracks at zero dark thirty and didn't see him again till the following Tuesday.

We decided some time later that instead of the one fancy blow-out honeymoon most brides insist upon, we'd take our honeymoon in bits, over time, with little regard to the time of year. It's been nearly 25 years now, and we are off on another bit of honeymoon. Living happily ever after, now and then...

This time, we're packing up the kids and the Pixie and heading for Damascus, Virginia. My Chief and kids will ride the Virginia Creeper Trail early on Saturday, and will try to catch the Gators game later. My Pixie and I will stroll around town enjoying each other's company and the truly AUTUMN weather!

Taking Monday off to rest from the trip, I hope to be back here Tuesday morning. Those of you who MUST contact me have my cell phone number. Y'all have a FINE weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

UPDATE: We're back, and I'm tired. LONG weekend, but worth every muscle spasm I'm having. The Pixie is well and truly potty trained, the kids had a good time blasting down the Creeper Trail, and Grandpa seems pretty happy, too. Glad we got home before dark. Cats are fed. Now I'm resting.

Headache

I have a headache. Not that you give a rip one way or the other, but it is MY blog...gotta go get the Pixie in a few minutes, don't feel like doing much at all, so here's a fun column I can't seem to read all of...lots of good things in the sidebar there, and if you have a spare moment, think about those within short distance of wildfires. I'd rather have a headache.

Anyway, here's Lori Borgman at JewishWorldReview.com, on RELAXING - which is highly overrated, in my opinion:

Every fall I love reading essays by people who wax poetic about the melancholy they experience as they close up their summer cottages and return to the city. But now I'm wondering what it is they do all summer.

My Pixie

Twenty-two months ago today, my BEEootiful Pixie was born, and our lives changed forever...again. See how tiny she was?

I am a happy Grandma Daycare, while Mama and Daddy go to work to earn the money so they can pay the rent on the place where she has her own room.

A few weeks back, we bought potty chairs, one for each house. Then I bought a couple dozen pairs of cotton training pants. This week, on Monday, we began in earnest to bring about the natural progression.

Today, we had no wet panties, no puddles on the floor to mop up, and used only two diapers - one for nap time, one for going home at the end of the day.

I am so proud. And a bit sad.

*sigh*

No more picture

I had a picture posted here that I received in my email - had to do with our upcoming descent into GMC (Government Medical Care). It was FUNNY. Posted quite nice, excellent likeness. But when I came back, picture was replaced by the numerical designation. When checked Google, the only reference was this blog, so I've taken it down till I can get a better copy or till something as funny comes along...though that ain't gonna be easy!

Changing and washing sheets, cleaning the bathroom, and cleaning up wet spots left by a cute lil blond Pixie has been my day so far. My Chief's taking his CDL test today, no idea when he'll be home, so I may have a Coke and something to eat while the Pixie naps, instead of doing up the dishes like I should. Sinus headache is hanging on, it's near 2 weeks now. Bleh.

Thanks for stopping by, y'all have a fine day from here on out, eh?

PS - the Pixie's Great Uncle's initials are GMC, but we don't hold that against him.

Just pics

Not inspired, not creative. So check out my Pixie a few days back,
when it was VERY hot outside...

Wednesday? How'd it get to be Wednesday?

I didn't post yesterday, and almost missed today. Internet service is dodgy at best, and I can't stay on long...and I have dozens of things to do that really are more pressing than posting links to the columns written by a man I think may be smarter than the entire population of Capitol Hill put together. Including the ones I kinda like.

Since I missed it yesterday, my link to Thomas Sowell, Part I, is his column at Townhall.com. The second part is today's column from JewishWorldReview.com. I used to read Townhall all the time, no idea why I don't still do so...well, yes, I do know - I have a ton of other things to get done and a Pixie to potty train. This stuff don't do itself, y'know?

There's been a lot of rain 'round these parts today...and yesterday...and even Monday. I like that it's not 110 in the shade, the cloud cover keeps it almost bearable, temperature-wise...but I think my hair must be getting curlier as I age, is that possible? I don't really wanna turn into Raggedy Ann or Shirley Temple. Really. And I don't like to futz with my hair, it's partly why I cut it off last year. May have to cut it again to keep it in line but I was hoping to make it to August...

One more quick thing...our plan to not become independently wealthy has had some serious assistance recently and is succeeding beyond our wildest dreams. The computer needs an overhaul and some new additions, as I mentioned previously. And I gotta have new tires on my ol truck so it doesn't qualify as a death machine. I don't wanna spend money on such an old wreck, about half of what I could sell it for, I think, but I don't have any other options that don't include being in debt. Which is like garlic to a vampire in this household. And we're going to help out Lovely Daughter so she can take a college course. Between them, she and her hubby make too much money to get financial assistance. Ain't that a kick in the head? Lower middle class who work for everything they have gets crapped on, while the "poverty-stricken" who drive snazzy new SUV's & have their nails done every week on welfare money get to attend school on my dime, too.

I'm glad to help my kids when I can, though, because it's not something I thought would ever happen. Ever. Makes me feel good, and useful, to be able to help.

Life Is Good.

And don't you forget it!

Karma

A few years back, My Chief (retired) bought a copy of Windows, while deployed for Uncle Sam's Yacht Club and Flying Circus, for ten bucks. It has served us well, and Gates never seemed to miss the money we weren't sending him. However, the time has come when more of some certain things are needed on the computer, and nothing can be loaded without a Windows update...which we can't get, because it's a pirate. Tomorrow, my loving husband is going out to buy us a 'new' computer with a registerable and updatable operating system. Won't that be nice???

Posting and reading and commenting may, once again - for a different reason - be spotty at best and severely delayed at worst. I'll still be checking in now and again, but this'll mean I can concentrate on hanging out with the Pixie, so it's certainly not a BAD thing. She is a lot of fun, and cuter'n Hell, too.

Have a FABulous day..or two!

Busy with the Pixie

Happy Monday! My BEEootiful Pixie is 21 months old today. *sigh* We're a bit distracted, so posting, commenting, and even my newspaper reading will be minimal, to say the least. Grandpa gets home shortly, but have errands to run then, if the weather holds.

We're distracted because we've begun the - hopefully short - process of potty training. So far, the potty has gotten wet one time! Perfectly normal, perfectly expected...perfectly awesome.

Happy Independence Day, Canada!

I tried to put this on the previous post, but Canada's day deserves a post of its own, in my opinion...and it's my blog, so that's whatcha get.

Happy Independence Day, Canada!

On July 1, 1867, with passage of the British North America Act, the Dominion of Canada was officially established as a self-governing entity within the British Empire. Two years later, Canada acquired the vast possessions of the Hudson's Bay Company, and within a decade the provinces of Manitoba and Prince Edward Island had joined the Canadian federation. In 1885, the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed, making mass settlement across the vast territory of Canada possible.

My own time in Canada (1968-1971) was spent in and around the town of Bow Island, Alberta. I love the prairies to this day, and miss them more than I can say, whether on the Canadian side of the border or not.

The Pixie and I are off to shop for groceries now, before the temperature hits 90 and before any thunderstorm that may dampen things a bit more. Y'all have a FINE day, and thanks so much for stopping by.

Did I mention I really like this guy?

And not just his cute self, of course, I like the way his mind works. Now, Stossel has his own blog, and I may be able to tear myself away from it for normal human interaction...in a couple hours.

I've also been to check out Grouchy Conservative Pundits - even though I'm only marginally conservative, I like they way those folks write. One of the Global Moderators is our friend SwampWoman, and one of the newbie registrants is an old buddy of mine from SoCal. Wow!

My blogroll continues to grow...
UPDATE! Another new one! On Paco's recommendation, go say howdy to Dan Collins at Piece of Work In Progress.

Here in NEFL, it's Hot as Hell with the blowers on, as my dad used to say - even at 8pm it was nearly +100F. Blech. Not sure when to expect relief - but hope it's in time for my birthday! Lovely Daughter, Handsome Son-in-law and BEEootiful Pixie came over to have Father's Day burgers & dogs with Daddy/ Grandpa. I let the other grownups do the outdoor part, I stayed inside with the Pixie and we arranged pickles, beans, and other assorted condiments in the comfort of the air conditioning. Oh, and we watched some Tigger & Pooh, while we waited for the ball game to come on. As the terrible writers at my school paper used to say, MUCH too often, "A good time was had by all." Pfft.

One more load of laundry to fold, then I'm off to bed. Thanks for stopping by!

Priorities

It's not quite 8am, it's almost 80 degrees outside...but seems to be less humid, so I'm out there with the Pixie while she entertains herself and I try to hem some jeans. Got a nice article to post later, so please come back by if you get the chance!

Anniversary Plans

The Chief (retired) and I got married 22 February 1985. Went to the courthouse on a Thursday afternoon and met with a judge, she did the honours, then we drank a bottle of Asti Spumanti and spent the night at my apartment in Memphis, took him back to base at zero-dark-thirty, and didn't see him again till Monday or Tuesday. We have taken our honeymoon in increments, weekends here and there to do something fun, interesting, different. Honeymoons for people that have been living together for over 3 years seemed a waste of money and effort, in my mind. I've much preferred our way, it's never OVER, this way. I flew to San Diego from Washington for the weekend once when the ship was in. Same with a trip to Hawai'i when the ship was there picking up the Tiger Cruise passengers. Came back to Florida in 2000 & spent a few days with him in the barracks while he was re-training on P-3's, before we transferred to Hawai'i.

In 2004 we left Maryland and spent 2 nights and 3 days in San Diego, so we could see a Padres game in their new ballpark. (I also went to 3 AA meetings where I first learned the basics about living life based on the principles of the 12 Steps.)That was how we celebrated 20 years of marriage. You'll notice that the DATE is FLEXIBLE! I was a NAVY WIFE, fercryinoutloud, flexibility is a requirement. Adjust and adapt. We celebrated 6 months worth of holiday dinners in a 4-day weekend (The ship was leaving the Monday after Thanksgiving) before USS Nimitz deployed on the Med cruise that later took it to San Diego. Flexibility, adjustability, adapatability is KEY to any successful Navy marriage, and we succeeded for 22 Navy Family years.

Next February will be 25 years of wedded bliss. Holy blinkin' cow, Batman! What to do, what to do. This week, we figured out what to do. One weekend in September we're going to Damascus, Virginia. We're taking the kids and grandkid, spending one whole day and 2 nights there in a lovely little bed and breakfast in the heart of one of my favorite towns. The kids and the Chief (retired) will ride bicycles down the Virginia Creeper Trail, while I hang out with the Pixie...if I want. Which I will.

Don't know if Handsome Son-in-law has seen "autumn" or mountains in his whole life, or been on a road trip further away than Tampa. THAT is going to change, if he's gonna be part of THIS family! I think (and I really really hope) he'll enjoy it, and I know Lovely Daughter will.

I love my life. I'm so glad I get to share these things with them.

Very tired now, think I'll hit the rack so I can be on top of it tomorrow when I pick up the Pixie. Y'all have a fine evening, please come again some time!