God Bless Y'all this Sunday!!!

Dogs... OY!!!

Booper is the most affectionate dog we've ever known...

and he has the most expressive face!

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He is a pain in many ways but he also brings a lot of JOY!

No need for fake icicle decorations around our porch.
We've got the real deal.


I came home the other day to find this...



And then this.

I immediately assumed Taffy had done it because she will chew up pens and pencils if she finds them. It's a whole different ball game with a little dog!

This is where I had a panic attack and thought I should have just left the spots.

This is right at the door to our office.

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But, I kept at it.

And I got it all up!

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I also learned that it was not Taffy...

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IT WAS BOOPER!!!

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He had ink around his mouth and all over one of his legs!

And when the carpet dried...

There was this.

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#$&*#!!!

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I will attempt to clean it again today...

Go get some Spot Shot if I have to.

I did not post yesterday because I was running around town with appointments and shopping. I met with the RN Diabetes Counselor and then with a Dietitian. I have a better understanding of Pre-Diabetes now and am even more determined to make sure I do everything I can to keep from becoming Diabetic. I have a 50% chance... even if I do everything exactly right. I'd rather have better odds than that, but I'll take 'em.

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I had been very frustrated with the whole blood sugar thing. I would test after I worked out at night and be in the 90's (which is great). I would not eat or drink anything and then in the morning I would be in the 116 t0 126 range. How could that be? I had been staying away from sugar for a couple months and was avoiding carbs. Well, it turns out that your liver will make glucose and that is what mine has been doing. I thought it would just simply be a matter of diet. It is not.

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They don't know everything about diabetes. It is obvious that being overweight puts you at a higher risk of developing Type II Diabetes. Interestingly, they have found that many of those people that are diabetic that have gastric bypass are instantly no longer diabetic... before they've even lost a pound. They don't know why. Those that lose and then gain back often go back to being diabetic.

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I know someone that only had 15 pounds left from her last child that she could never get off that was diagnosed last year with pre-diabetes. She told me that she sees her diagnoses as a blessing now. She lost that 15 lbs and feels so much better than she did. She even sleeps better. I also know another gal that was diagnosed the month before me that is only a bit chubby. I always assumed that you had to be really super fat to get Type II Diabetes. Losing weight will increase my chances so I'll be hitting the gym more often.

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I hope y'all have a great weekend!!!

Thursday Thrills

Apparently, the tassel thingies on my snow boots are something to be attacked by my dogs.

"Oh Look!" they say...

"There are more of them!"

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Yes, I go outside in the snow in my pajamas.

"Are you kidding me? I don't want to go potty out here!"


While I stand around and wait...
and wait...
and wait...
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I look at the world around me.





I love how the snow looks like it has glitter in it.

She's sitting at my feet... in the snow... refusing to go.

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Shall we take bets on how long it will be before I find a present in the house?

Anyone out there teach their dog to use a cat box?

She is that size...

Mr. Macchiato already calls her, "Cat."

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We are not cat people.

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The spring on my garage door broke.

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We cannot even open it manually.

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I thought it was a blessing that it happened when our vehicles weren't in it...

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If they had been it would be fixed by now.

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Our trash can is trapped inside.

And we missed the trash last week...

I had to dig all the trash out and bag it... and drag it through my house to the curb.

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I'd say I'm pretty blessed if that is the extent of my woes today.

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My favorite coffee creamer this time of year is Peppermint Mocha.

The problem is that it is full of sugar.

I decided to make my own Peppermint Mocha this morning.

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It totally sucked.

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I'm still decorating for Christmas. You? The lights have slowed everything down and I've been busy too. Last night we had a fancy party to go to. We had blue martinis with some sort of LED light... plastic ice cube thing in them. They tasted awful but sure warmed up the insides quick. It was only 12 degrees with a sub zero windchill. Thank God they had valet parking! They had a live band, buffet, open bar and... we stayed one hour. It was a long hour. LOL!

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Then... we stopped at Blockbuster and rented, "Four Christmases." I fell asleep watching it.

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Isn't my life thrilling?

Stop

Yesterday I had to take Double Shot to the dentist for a root canal on one of his front teeth. While I was in San Diego at my Grandma's Memorial and Mr. Macchiato was in Ohio for his Grandma's funeral... Double Shot was messing around with his buddies and took and elbow to the teeth. I took him in to have it checked when I got home. The dentist thought we might have gotten lucky... Nope. A week later it changed color. So much for all that orthadonture. OY!!!

On our way home we were joking around and laughing. I was driving a tad fast. I came over a hill to a light that was yellow... I would have had to brake hard to stop so I sped up. I was dizzy yesterday and stopping like that might have made my head spin. Double Shot gave me a hard time about it and we laughed some more... that is until I caught sight of the red and blue lights flashing in my rear view mirror. I pulled over.

As the officer made his way to my window I dug around in my purse for my license wondering how bad this ticket was going to be... and how mad Mr. Macchiato was going to be about it. I smiled at him and he gave me a look that made me laugh nervously.

Police Officer: Do you have any idea why you are being pulled over?

Me: Ummm... the light back there? (more nervous laughter)

Police Officer: Is there anything funny about this?

Me: No Sir.. I just... we were just laughing and having fun... and I came up on the light fast...

Police Officer: You were a good ten yards behind the line when the light turned red and you sped up.

Me: Well, yeah... to get through it.

Police Officer: You want to give me a reason why I shouldn't give you a ticket?

Me: (more nervous laughter) Well... (staring at him thinking what the heck does he want me to say?)

Police Officer: What is so funny? You find this funny?

Me: No, I just don't know what you are wanting me to say.

Police Officer: Tell me why I shouldn't give you a ticket!

Me: What? I ran the light... you should give me a ticket.

Police Officer: (looking at me like I'm from Mars) You aren't making this easy. What is your driving record like?

Me: Good.

Police Officer: When was your last ticket?

Me: About seven years ago.

Police Officer: What was it for?

Me: I ran a red light.

Police Officer: (Throws his hands up in the air while shaking his head then he just looked at me for a moment) You've made this very hard. Look, I see you've got your son there. This would be a $160 fine and four points. I'm not going to give you the ticket... because you told me the truth. You need to be careful though, okay?

Me: Yes Sir. Thank you.

I then pulled over into the Conoco to get some gas. When I got back into the car I got a text.

Mr. Macchiato: Yo Hot Rod... way to set an example for our son!

Sigh. That last ticket I got right after we moved here. I was talking on the phone to my friend, Lisa, who had been with me when I got a ticket in Lucedale, Mississippi, on our way back from a Women's Retreat in Florida. We were blasting praise music and I was going 94 miles per hour. I ended up having to go to court here and I took Double Shot because we didn't know anyone I could leave him with. He had just turned 10. While we were listening to the other cases he asked me, "Mom, are you a criminal?"

I am grateful the officer did not give me the ticket. I did deserve one. This morning, as I've been thinking about it, I am reminded again of God's grace. How often in our lives do we not get what we deserve? It is much easier to focus on all that we perceive to be unfair in our lives... This morning I am grateful. I am grateful for a police officer that pulled me over and reminded me to pay attention and who reminded me that there are lessons in mercy and grace that are more powerful than just following the letter of the law.

UGH!!!

This picture pretty much says it all.

Why?

I just learned that a lady I go to church with passed away in her sleep last night. She was only in her 50's and healthy. She was teaching me sign language. She invited me to go to a ten week class with her on the end times at another church on Thursday nights that I really enjoyed. I've only known her 3 months...

I am shocked. I am feeling... very unsettled. So much death in such a short time...

Prayer Request

I receved an e-mail this morning from a regular commenter on my Uneducated Housewife blog. His wife had surgery in October and suffered a pulmonary embolism this week. She is expected to be in the hospital for at least a week. I've gotten to know them a little off blog through e-mail and am quite upset by this news. Please pray for the BLBeamer family and for healing for Mrs. BLBeamer.

Thank You!!!

Seasons

It's time to put away all the fall decorations and pull out the Christmas ones... The Christmas music is playing and... I'm having trouble getting into it which is unusual for me.

I miss my girls. I miss my girls a lot. This was the first Thanksgiving that we didn't have them with us since they were born. Chai Tea is with my mother-in-law in Ohio and Frappy went to Pennsylvania to spend Thanksgiving with Cuppa Joe's family. In fact, his sister is getting married today...

I guess we are in that inbetween stage. We still have Double Shot at home but our lives are slowly changing seasons. We are starting to show our age too. That is a bit disconcerting.

Sigh...

Black Friday.... ummmm... HECK NO!!!

I did get the office cleaned...

It's...ummm... been awhile...

I'm not doing something right with this new camera because a lot of my photos are coming out blurry. I am hoping to put a filing cabinet where the crate is... so I can tackle all the filing boxes that are now in the closet.

I had all the picture stuff out thinking I could get it all organized. It's too overwhelming. Maybe some other time... like after Double Shot graduates from college.

This room definitely needs some decorating... and furniture.

Our Thanksgiving was great!!!

(once the guests arrived... OY!)

We ate quite a bit, of course.

So we got up early to work it off with some hiking.

Hiking in the snow is so peaceful and it is so beautiful!

That is Sentinel Point and Mr. Macchiato has hiked to the top of it with his friend. It looks very pointy from far away.

We went with our friends and our sons who were born three days apart.

This hike was at a high elevation and we could see for miles.

Our destination... Pancake Rocks. LOL!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

"Mar Mar"

It's the Tuesday before Thanksgiving... If you are hosting family and/or friends in your home you may be starting to feel the pressure. I know I am. I love hosting the holidays at my house. That doesn't mean that it is easy for me to do so. The pay off is when everyone has arrived and we finally sit down together.

I meet with women from my church on Wednesday mornings. We are currently going through the book, Enjoying the Presence of God, by Jan Johnson. Several weeks ago the topic of Mary and Martha came up. That story has always annoyed me... Jesus had gone to the home of the two sisters and Mary sat at the feet of Jesus while Martha did all the work. Martha asked Jesus why he didn't care that Mary was not helping her and wanted him to rebuke her... instead she was rebuked.

I am a Martha. My love language is service. I am not as good with gifts or words. I try but... I show how I feel more through what I do.

That morning at the women's group someone joked about becoming a "Mar Mar," a combination or balance of both Mary and Martha. They had no way of knowing that "Mar Mar" is a term of endearment used by my family for me. I've been thinking about it a lot since then.

I have a habit of setting the expectations I have for myself too high. I especially do this around the holidays. I want everything perfect for my family. I want the house to be sparkling clean and filled with the smells of homemade food and goodies. I want those Norman Rockwell moments to be imprinted on all of our minds to be treasured throughout our lives. But...

There always comes that moment when I have to accept that my expectations will not be met. On Thanksgiving that usually means about 3-4 hours before our guests are to arrive. The process will have started the day before but I keep it to myself...until I blow Thanksgiving morning. I am usually running on very little sleep at that point and feeling resentful that while I stayed up late into the night making pies or cleaning the rest of my family was sleeping and then did not pop out of bed bright eyed and ready to help me with fabulous attitudes.

Unfortunately, that is a big part of what the family remembers. With both girls being gone this year my husband and son both expressed a desire for me to plan ahead better. That didn't go over well with me. Not. at. all.

In fact, I was curious to know when I was going to have a holiday where food was prepared for me while I watched football all day... Also remarking on the fact that that seems to be every weekend for them round these parts. Thanksgiving is really a couple days of SLAVING for those that do it, right?!?!?

I cried. They just do not understand.

I'm sure I'll have another fit before our guests arrive on Thanksgiving. It is worth it to me. I think about my Mom and my Grandmas and how they made all our holidays so special. I didn't know then, but I do know now... they did it because they loved all of us. It brings me so much joy when someone asks me if I'm going to make a certain dish or they tell me that they love coming to my house. I love how our home is filled with full bellies and lots of laughter. I love providing a place for those that don't enjoy hosting large meals like that.

So... how do I become a true "Mar Mar"? This Thanksgiving production is not going to prepare itself while I sit on the couch with my Bible and coffee. Jan Johnson presents many ideas in her book for ways to turn your heart toward God even while going about your daily tasks. She talks about "breath prayers," that are just short little prayers as you go along. I'm going to try to be Martha in action, but Mary at heart.

I'm Procrastinating...

Shocking! I know. I have not accomplished diddly squat today and it is already 4 pm. Well, that's not true. I finished all the Thanksgiving shopping. I'm pretty sure I have not forgotten anything. I hate shopping so I am glad to be done with it.

I took our little piglet, Taffy, to the groomer today. Mr. Macchiato called and asked me to bring her to his office after I picked her up. He wanted to show her to the ladies. Of course, he held her like a football while he tromped through the office and proclaimed that she was "my" dog. Yeah, right. Poor Benny was left in the car. He had gotten his nails trimmed and was offended that I didn't take him into the office too. Some of us went and looked out the window at him. He was sitting in the passenger seat and the look on his face was hilarious.

Taffy wasn't too fond of those bows and we didn't even make it home with them in.

She seems so much smaller, if that's possible.
She only weighs 9 lbs.

She's giving me the stink eye because I tried to put the bows back in.

Double Shot is on Thanksgiving Break...

except that doesn't apply to wrestling.

Ugh.

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See that crapazoid vacuum?

It is loaner from the vacuum shop.

It actually works well but...

NO ATTACHMENTS

and I neeeeeeed attachments.

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I love my vacuum. I burned up the motor. It's still under warranty so that's good. It is a Fuller (as in Fuller Brush Co.). I sure hope it is good as new when I get it back. This vacuum has been awesome. We had a Rainbow that I gave away. You read that right. I can't tell you how many times water was left sitting in it and what that smelled like. It worked awesome but I couldn't even dump the nasty water in the toilet because all the dog hair would clog it. So, I'd dump it in the yard and then have to pick up the nasty hair and throw it away. I like vacuums with bags, thank you very much!
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Nice socks Double Shot has on.

Methinks the main floor needs to be mopped.

What are the chances I'm going to get him up off that floor and busy cleaning something?

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Oh, how I make myself laugh sometimes...

Green Mountain Falls/Catamount Reservoir

Saturday, November 21, 2009

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There are really no words for the beauty... majesty... that we saw!

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This hike was 6 miles round trip with some steep climbing!

This is one part of the trail and my foot was completely buried with each step.

What an incredible pay off for a difficult hike!

Going down proved to be the most difficult part for me. It was steep and icy. OY.

We, of course, ended our hike with awesome food!

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We ate at a darling little place called, "The Pantry."

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That raisin bread was out of this world!!!
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Mr. Macchiato went for breakfast. Our friends had chicken friend steak and roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy on fat homemade bread (they are in their pictures so I didn't show them).

I went for a crab and avacado salad. YUM!!!

Musical Motivation

I'm one of those that has to have music on when I'm working on something. It sets the tone for me and keeps me moving. If you've read this blog for awhile you may already know that I often listen to Neil Diamond or Abba when I clean. Something about it just puts me in the clean zone. Yesterday I listened to Mozart all day. Today... today belongs to Skillet. And yes, I actually listen to Skillet even when my kids are not around. I do like them. I'm sorry. It is the latent head banger in me.



Rocking on and getting it done!!!

Reality

I didn't get very far in the office yesterday. It overwhelms me because I don't know what to do with all the stuff. We need a filing cabinet!!! I wanted a nice looking wood one but that's not going to happen until kids are out of college. If then. Have you seen how much those cost? YIKES!!! I decided that if I had to have a metal one I, at least, want it to be a black one. Metal filing cabinets are expensive too! I've been watching Craig's List but everytime I inquire about a black filing cabinet they are already gone. At office max you can get a four drawer one for $165 but it seems pretty flimsy. Sigh...


This was my corner of the office in November of last year. I wish I took pictures of the whole office that day. There's my little lap top... that died. Now Mr. Macchiato and I share the main computer. No fun.
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We moved my stuff to another part of the house. Double Shot had his computer in his room and we had a lock on it. We only let him on when we were home. Unfortunately, our son possesses some hacking skills we weren't aware of. We moved his computer and desk down to this spot at the beginning of the school year. The office has never recovered.

We had a storage unit that we decided to get rid of. Initially, all the boxes sat stacked in our garage until we needed it for the cars once it started snowing... which was the last day of summer this year, which is a CRIME! I put many of them in the spot I had cleared for the filing cabinet I want to buy... and just left them there.

This atrocity is obviously the closet. Those boxes are empty which is why they were thrown in like that. Just. Awful.

I managed to clear that wall yesterday. Funny thing... one of the boxes fell over and everything came tumbling out. It had a bunch of Frappy's homeschool work in it. There was a cursive tablet full of scripture she had written out and I flipped through it admiring her younger handwriting. Then... I came to a page where she wrote out how much she hated doing her school work in the basement and how she hoped everything would just rot down there. It made me laugh.

Shoving the stuff in the closet really isn't making this better. If Mr. Macchiato asks me to find some paperwork... Either I will jump off the nearest cliff... or he will be killed. That laundry basket precariously perched on top of that printer... is full of filing yet to be done... with phone books and empty boxes dumped on top of it all... Lord, help me!

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I CANNOT ORGANIZE THIS STUFF WITHOUT A FILING CABINET!!!

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So, I'm not even going to try.

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I would rather have shown before and after pictures. Before and during pictures are depressing.

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So, back to it.