Archive for November 13-19, 2000Musings of My Mind
Sunday, November 19, 2000
Happy Anniversary, Karen & Ron!!
My sister, Karen, and her husband, Ron, have been married an umpteen-gazillion years today!! I remember their wedding but only vaguely because I was soooo terribly young at the time! ;>) Karen and Ron have two beautiful children, Faye Lynn and Matt. While Karen continues to teach, Ron has retired early from his job of 27 years (I think I've got that number right); he keeps bugging Karen to retire but she likes teaching too much (and she's too good at it!)! Congratulations and best wishes for many, many more years together!!
The Day's Activities
Well, let's see-- Brian went to Costco and I begged off. I went to the grocery store and he begged off. Then, together we went to Trader Joe's to finish off our gift baskets-- we've only got one more gift to get!!
After that, I ate lunch-- something chicken-y for me and chocolate for Brian (what else is new?) and then, I continued to put together the ornaments. I assembled approximately 50 ornaments today-- I've got a few more to go but hope to be done, easily, by Tuesday night at the latest. It'll be nice to get the boxes cleared out of the apartment!!
Tonight, however, I am taking "off" and watching television. I haven't done that in quite some time!!
More tomorrow, of course-- have a great evening!
Saturday, November 18, 2000Waffles, Part 2
On Friday, March 10, of this year, I told you, my faithful readers, about the near-death experience that my mother's waffle iron had when Brian first moved in with me. From that time, not very often but every couple of months, we've had waffles so, no, he didn't break it after all. He has learned to ask how long something has been around before submersing it in water which detracts from that "old dog, new tricks" thing-- it can be done!
Anyway, this morning, I decided to make waffles and hauled out the now-60 year old waffle iron. The plug is iffy at best and it seemed to take longer than normal to warm up today. When we finished breakfast, I turned and said to Brian, "I think we should look at getting a new waffle iron." He blinked his eyes at me a couple of times and said, "You mean the one that I nearly killed but did not?? You can't get rid of it-- it works perfectly, despite my best efforts!"*
Well, yes, even though it works (and it does make the most perfect waffles!), I'm a little concerned about it because of the sparks that happen in the outlet every time it is unplugged and, the fact that it is taking longer and longer to warm up. I'm going to offer it to my sisters as a sentimental thing but, if they don't want it, I'm going to sell it in a garage sale-- that is, if I can part with it cuz of the sentimentality of it all.
I started to shop for one online but he insisted that we go look at Macy's in-person cuz you really need to see them to choose. So, we now have a new Belgian waffle maker-- I like a thicker waffle and the new designs make waffles that are too thin for our taste. It has "plates" so that you can make waffles and then, remove the waffler and make pancakes on a griddle, or some kinda grid-like thing so that you can make something with funky stripes-- don't have a clue what that "design" is for!! With each of the plates removable, it makes this one is submersible so Brian doesn't have to worry about wrecking it this time.
*I have taken a bit of a dramatic license with his responses! ;>)
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Other activities today consisted of updating my sister's website journal and photo album-- I think they are having too much fun!!We also re-arranged the living room to accommodate the Christmas tree and fires in the fireplace which we are going to have later on tonight!!
I finished the last of the painting and am, as I write, spraying the clear acryllic on them to seal the paint. I'll be able to start assembling them tomorrow which will, of course, be too much fun!!
My mother-in-law called and we worked out the menu for Thanksgiving Day-- we're going to their place but, I'm thinking we're going to have to buy our own turkey cuz there won't be nearly enough left-overs to suit me, I'm sure. That is, afterall, the whole point of the day: Leftovers!!!
That said, I'm off-- have a good evening!
Friday, November 17, 2000Expected Highs
Its snowing in Michigan!! Or at least, since I didn't actually speak with my sister, Yahoo! weather says that it is snowing! Yee-Haw!! These are the days that I am really grateful to be living in California!! The "Expected High" in Grand Rapids, Michigan, today was 37F-- granted, our high was only 64F but ya know what?? We didn't have SNOW!!!! :>) :>)
Work Out
I actually made it to the gym three times this week! I almost didn't make it today cuz I kept telling myself on my way home last night that I didn't want to go and I wasn't going to go, etc. Then, when I got home, I started packing my bag for going to the gym-- I'm glad I did, too. I probably would've felt guilty the whole time if I hadn't gone. I'm only doing the treadmill-- that's really all I've got time for in the morning-- but that's better than not doing anything!
Realty Chat
The realty agent that we're going to use (cuz a friend recommended her) called this afternoon-- oh, yes, its going to be fun looking for a house, I can tell! She had soooo much good news and was sooooo happy to be working with us. Ya know, I sold real estate a lifetime or so ago and I don't remember ever having that much enthusiasm!! She knows we're not going to be serious until at least February but, since you do "need to lay ground work, its smart to start early" according to her. Oh, yes, this is going to be fun!!
Ornamental Art
I'm just about finished painting the last of the ornaments for the local projects-- it certainly won't be more than a day at most. I'm going to hold off one more weekend in hopes that Brian can go fishing with me next weekend-- hopefully!! So I'll be able to finish up those ornaments and put the last of them together. All together I should be finished by next weekend-- just in time to put up the Christmas Tree!! (Youch!! Did you hear that thump? That was Brian keeling over!!)
That's about it for tonight-- not quite so boring, eh? ;>)
Have a good evening!
Thursday, November 16, 2000What am I doing wrong?
How can I have so little activity happening in my life? Man, I hate this!! Okay, the "highlight" of my day was confirming that I have good taste in stuff and Brian agrees with me. Whoop-te-doo!! Don't spend all of that in one place, eh?
Let me tell you what I'm talking about: we are starting at the bare edges of looking for a house. I saw an ad for a 5-bedroom, 2-bath unit that had two of the 5 bedrooms and 1 bath in a separate building; it was listed for about $450K which seemed like it was low for that many bedrooms. The lay-out on that would be pretty cool for us: we could "work" out in the back house and have the main house for living in, i.e., a Great Room and guest bedroom and our Master Suite with walk-in closet, jacuzzi bath and bedroom.
Well, not quite! Actually "Whoa!!" would be a whole lot more accurate!! We didn't know there were homes in this kind of condition in Sunnyvale but we found one tonight!! This house was an eensy-weensy tiny (they said 1,600 square feet but I don't know how!!). The houses on either side of it were a car junkyard and a sofa-in-the-front yard kinda places. I'm also not certain it was stucco'd on the outside of the house or cracked . . . Brian said it was just cracked!!
Nope, we will keep on looking, thanks! No wonder it was soooo cheap!!!
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Speaking of couples agreeing, did you check out Barbara Thompson's site today? She had a burning question to ask and got several answers to it that were pretty interesting!On "Whose Line Is It Anyway" tonight, they've got Robin Williams coming on the show so, even though I'm about to dive into ornament painting again, I've got the timer set so I don't miss that! I'm sure its going to be hilarious!!
That's all for tonight, folks! Have a good one!
Wednesday, November 15, 2000Making Up For Lost Time
I believe I've mentioned before that I've never been to Yosemite National Park. I've lived in California nigh onto 13 years and have never been to one of the biggest and most heavily trafficked parks there is here. Of course, since Brian hates crowds and the only time we get time off is around holidays when there are a ton of people in a place like Yosemite, it is difficult to find a time when we can go someplace. However, we got lucky and got a room at Yosemite for two nights in February. I'm excited!! I didn't want anything too far into next year for reasons of other hopes and dreams to be realized so, if I can get to Yosemite in February, I'll be happy!! And, yes, we have winter clothes and boots and other "stay warm" gear to use when we get there. I'm really excited!!
Un-Negotiating
I mentioned yesteday that I un-negotiated a document. Let me explain un-negotiating-- its not a Marcia-ism so I'm not going to put it there. Let me just tell you, 'kay?
Un-negotiating happens when you finally get a document, review it, re-write the changes that need to happen, discuss it with the customer (end user) and then, wait for the lawyer to do his/her thing. Yesterday, I got a call from my director that, because the deal was possibly going to fall apart, we had to review the document again to make sure that the changes were "necessary". Well, obviously, it is not my idea of a good time to make unnecessary changes to a document but, I re-reviewed the agreement, rescinded all of the changes, printed it out, executed it and faxed it to the customer.
This morning, I received an email from them, accepting all of the changes that I had previously made to the document. I again printed it out, executed it and faxed it to the customer. At this point, whichever document comes back first is the document that will prevail. I swear, they are doing it to confuse me!! Lord knows, I am confused and a bit frustrated!!
I sent an email to my manager and the VP that was pushing us to rescind the changes to the first document letting them know that the document had been accepted and was approved for execution by them. It'd be nice if the left hand knew what the right hand was doing, wouldn't it? Yeesh!!
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On to the rest of the evening, "How To" night on PBS.
Have a good evening!!
Tuesday, November 14, 2000Believe it or not!!
I have nothing major to report-- I went to work, I worked, I negotiated, I un-negotiated (long story on that one)-- I did my job and left. No biggie!
I'm cooking dinner tonight-- Brian came home from work early (rare for him) because he didn't feel well. When I woke up this morning, I was feeling the effects of having worked out yesterday but, I've already got my bag packed for tomorrow morning's work-out. Can't stop me cuz of a little muscle pain-- not after the boredom of major pain with my back!!
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Guess that's all for tonight-- be good to each other and have a nice evening!
Monday, November 13, 2000Ch-Ch-Changes . . .
Ever since Brian and I have been together, we've always just sorta taken turns at cooking. When the book came up, I pulled up my apron straps and said, "Okay, I'll do the cooking and the dishes". For the last three nights, Brian has been doing the cooking. I'm not complaining because he is an excellent cook but, I've gotta get used to this all over again!! Its amazing how you can get used to patterns and then they change . . . that's one of the fun things about being married to him: nothing's ever the same the next time it comes up.
Weather Report?
It has turned very cold here in a matter of one day's time. Yesterday was soooo wonderfully autumnal but then, this morning, there was frost on my windshield! This morning when the alarm went off at 5:30am, instead of hitting the snooze bar twice for another 18 minutes, I got out of bed and was at my office's gym, working out by 5:49am! Aren't you proud of me?? I am!! I did the treadmill and the bicycle (but prefer a real bicycle). Its just so darn cold-- how did I think I was going to ride my bike to work?? ARGH!!! It was cold out this morning!! I'm going to try to do a work-out three mornings a week and then ride my bicycle on weekends . . . or go hiking with Brian. (I have to get used to planning things to do with him again-- a fun thing to get to do!!)
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I guess that's all for tonight-- I'm going to be doing some painting on the second round of Christmas ornaments. Other than that, nothing exciting.Have a good evening!
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