Archive of Marcia's Musings May 28-June 3, 2001Sunday, June 3, 2001
6:00pmMy Fault!
I left something out but, in doing so, I presumed that you've figured it out for yourselves, right? Sure you have!! Oh, you haven't? Well, I presumed (don't want to use that other word cuz you know what that means!) that you figured out that I've been using the new toaster oven and, as a result, am here to tell you about it. Okay, so I successfully used the same method of removal for my bagels for hundreds of years-- okay, so that's a bit of an exaggeration but certainly for a number of years-- and have never even felt so much as a twinge of electricity. However, nevermore will I perhaps fall victim to the possible slip of a knife!!
There is one drawback to the toaster oven, I must confess: you have to use it as a broiler for bagels cuz you don't want the underside of a bagel to be toasted-- its supposed to stay soft and chewy, not hard and crunchy from being toasted. Broilers however, do tend to dry out the bagels a bit more but I can cope with it, I suppose-- particularly in view of the alternatives.
My father-in-law, in a brief conversation yesterday, suggested that I should've opted for the glove that is shock-proof and sold in most hardware stores. It certainly would've been cheaper but, as I explained to him, the bagel may not come out of the toaster in one piece given the type of grasp one would have with that kind of glove and his only comment was that, perhaps, I would have to learn to give a little on the shape so that I could have the convenience of picking it out with my hand. Good point but, I think I'll opt for the toaster oven-- Thanks again, M&B!!
**********
More to come-- the peddle-pushers that I took-in a few weeks ago need to be tweaked a bit. I adjusted for the waist loss but not for the width in the build of the peddle-pusher so, as a result, they're a little too long in the wrong place. I don't think they feel right and I want to get that fixed before I let too much time go by.
Brian swears he'll have the trip report up later and I'll keep on 'im til he does, okay? Okay, and I'll be back with more later, too!
That's fairly obvious, I know but I thought I'd say it, okay?
So after our usual Costco run, Brian and I both pretty much decided to take the day off from anything productive. I did try to go shopping-- I decided adjusting the peddle-pushers and just replace them but, there was an art-n-wine festival in my way to getting to the mall so I didn't go into it. I know-- I've probably lost a merit badge by not making a better effort to go shopping but I just didn't feel like fighting my way across town. I can wait and go one night after work or next weekend and I'll survive until then.
Brian did get the trip report and pictures up today-- that's a good thing. You can find them here and on my Meanderings page so go and enjoy!!
A short nap this afternoon and now we're busy preparing to grill some steaks and veg on the barbecue tonight-- nummy!!
Speaking of which, I believe the marinades are calling my name (yes, one for veg and one for meat).
Have a nice evening!
Saturday, June 2, 2001New 'Venture
Brian will have a trip report including pictures from our adventure today. We went to Mt. Diablo near Danville/Blackhawk and then went to the Blackhawk Automobile Museum. We had a wonderful day wandering around the mountain a little and then wandering around Blackhawk trying to find the museum. It was lots of fun 'venturing into the "wild" of Northern California-- we always have fun, no matter what we do. We stopped at about 3:30 for "lunch" so, yes, the dinner schedule will be a little messed up tonight. It was well worth it though-- watch this space for pictures. Some of the pictures he got of the cars have to be really cool. Of the American cars, my favorite was the Tucker, I don't know why I like the lines on that model but I do. A 1929 or 1931 Bentley were my next favorite vehicles and then, of course, there were the Mercedes Benzes!!
Fun day had by all-- you have a nice evening, too!
Friday, June 1, 2001It Happened Again!
This afternoon as I was sitting in my cubicle, one of the inside sales reps came by and looked at me, looked around my cubicle and said, "You haven't gotten any deliveries today, have you?" I looked at him quite quizzically and simply responded with "Nope-- what should I be looking for?" His response was, "Ah, nothing-- I don't want to spoil the surprise." Well, that just about did it right there, don'tcha think? Whatever the surprise was, it was seeming more and more like less of a surprise. I thought about it for a minute and started thinking about the field sales rep that he works with calling yesterday to talk about a client that we were working on and asking me which I building I sat in; later she wrote me an email asking if I was going to be in the office on Friday. Hmmm . . .
A little while later, one of the maintenance sales reps was in my office and we were talking. He and I both heard a commotion in the hallway-- Heather, one of the administrators was having to tell people to back-off-- "They're for Marcia!" Huh?? What was for Marcia? The maintenance sales rep looked at me and started grinning, "I believe you have flowers arriving!" and sure enough, there was a huge bouquet of the most beautiful Stargazer Lilies!!
WOW!!! I spent the next fifteen minutes trying to find the sales rep to thank her-- they were gorgeous and it was so very thoughtful!! She had written on the card: "Thank you for all your help" It is nice to be appreciated-- just when you think they don't notice, they do and it surprises the heck outta ya!! Eventually, I was able to speak with her to relay my gratitude; I also sent an email to her to thank her and copied her AVP (John) and District Manager as well as my director. I was really surprised and pleased to receive them-- WOW!!! Just kinda blows you away sometimes!!
Back At It
It being the bicycling thing, anyway. Between all of the activities of last week and weekend and then the heat, I haven't bicycled for a week. Man, between getting two less points to eat-- which is the whole premise behind losing weight on Weight Watchers-- and the stress I was feeling, I really needed to do it, too!! It helped me a lot, as usual and I even did a little extra time on it riding as much as 7 miles, all at a reasonable pace. I made one stop beside the traffic lights: I just had to pet this little Yorkshire Terrier that I saw-- he was soooo cute!!
Speaking of Gorgeous!!
Look at this rose!! This is one of the roses that I had sent to Brian the other day for our anniversary. He brought the bouquet home on Thursday since apparently it is hotter overnight at their office than it was in our apartment last night-- amazing, but true!! Anyway, there a few that have tilted downward but there are also a few that have opened up and they are gorgeous!!! Too cool!!! The bouquet that he brought me is still going pretty strong, too. The pink center flowers have gone to full bloom and there appears to be another group that are going to be opening soon-- can't wait cuz they are SOOO pretty!!
**********
I think that's all for me for tonight-- if I think of anything else, I'll drop back by to update you. Thanks a bunch for coming by and . . . as always, have a nice evening!
Thursday, May 31, 2001Another Month Comes to a Close
That's a scary thought, isn't it? Do you realize that it is less than seven months until Christmas?? Yeesh!! This is just too weird-- the time just seems to fly by and it is really quite annoying, ya know?
My monthly stats were down a little bit from last month but, ya know, there was a definite lack of webcrawlers going through my site-- a few less than normal. It seems like there were more countries and, as I've said before with being an anthropology project at some universities, I think the work is being passed down to the K-12 groups in rural America. Those stats seem to be up a bit so, as they say, "Welcome to Pennsylvania, Oregon, Minnesota and New York" to name a few of the school groups that are coming to visit. Always glad to have you coming by no matter what your location! Thanks for doing so and for the emails and comments that I receive-- always a pleasure to meet some new folks!
Scorcher
Yep, its another scorcher today-- its so hot, you wonder why you left work except for the fact that you have to go home some time!! Its almost 8pm as I type this and the reason for the lateness of my post is simply that its been too hot to sit at the computer before now to write. The temperatures are supposed to break during the night with a 20-30F difference in tomorrow's temperatures-- of course, that would be the weather-liar's predictions so who knows what is really going to happen.
When the temperatures get this hot, the cable goes out. So, for whatever reason, I'm watching DVDs with a fan between me and the television. Its better than sitting in direct view of the western setting sun, trust me!!
There'll be a light dinner at the Bilbrey Belfry this evening-- Brian doesn't like a heavy dinner during hot weather. Frankly, he doesn't usually get around to eating anything when its this hot until sometime around 10-- I can't eat that late so deli meat was bought this afternoon for sandwiches tonight.
I'll catch up with you tomorrow-- You have a nice evening!!
Wednesday, May 30, 2001
Later that Same EveningHappy Anniversary, Brian!!
There are some things I've never told you, my virtual friends. Things like I know the secret to a low-fat cake or that I know the secret to being happier than ever before in my entire life. One of them is apple sauce and the other is my husband, Brian-- I'm pretty sure you can figure out which is which secret.
Whenever I met someone and spent time with them, I found that we were always trying to change each other. The silly thing is that, until very much later in this lifetime, I didn't realize that I can't change anyone-- they can change themselves, I can change myself but that's all that can happen. Everything else is up to the individual. It took me awhile but I finally figured out and learned that you can't fix or change anyone so if someone even needed a button sewed on, I walked away-- I didn't want to deal with it. I didn't want to be the repairperson AGAIN.
Four years ago, if you would've told me that I would marry again, I would've told you to stop taking drugs and "Just Say No!". I had no intention of letting the "M" word enter my life, ever again. The only thing I wanted was to find someone who could be called "Mr. Right For Now"-- I didn't want or need a "Mr. Right Forever". Then, I met Brian . . .
Brian came to me like a thief in the night and stole my heart and my breath and my love all in one fell swoop. The smile on his face and the look in his eyes the first time we met told me everything I ever needed to know. Everything was right there for me and, I know, he sees that its all right here for him, too. It was like . . . Magic. Now that we've been married for the three happiest years of this lifetime, we both still have that look in our eyes.
I love you, sweetheart-- thanks for being my Mr. Right Forever.
HOT!!
Again with the hot weather here!! As I type this it is 99.5F and it feels every degree of it, too, lemme tell ya!! We're going out to dinner which we will hopefully linger over and then, there's the inevitable shopping trip for a toaster oven. Yes, that is the decision that's won out overall thanks to Dan and Shelley's influence-- something about paramedics and shock treatments. I don't know-- I suppose it works! ;>)
On that note, we're outta here-- have a nice evening!
As the Evening Progresses . . .
We "show off" our wedding anniversary gifts:
From me for Brian we have . . . one dozen (actually a baker's dozen) white long-stemmed roses delivered to his office. I haven't done that since I went to Colombia on business around Valentine's Day in 1997. As a result, I figured he was due to receive more-- no, the other arrangement that I had sent has long since disappeared.
From Brian for me we have . . . a foot spa!! Yes, he has definitely out-done himself in the romance department, hasn't he? It really works as a romance gift for me because he knows I hate when my feet get rough because I wear sandals all the time in the summer. Look at the inside of this puppy-- its got rollers and bubble jets under my feet!!
Brian also brought me a bouquet of flowers with a huge pink flower in the middle!! It is gorgeous and beautiful and fragrant!!
From Brian's folks (Thanks M&B!!!), we have the toaster oven!! This will definitely ensure that I'll be around for 30 or 40 more years which has always been my goal here anyway!!
Thanks again for another wonderful year, sweetie-- I love YOU!!
Have a nice evening, ya'll!!
Tuesday, May 29, 2001More of the Same
Today was not as busy as it has been but that's because three agreements were signed on Friday-- I did have one customer call and plead, almost literally, to make one more change to the document. Being the cooperative, helpful company that we are, we, of course, acquiesced and gave them the last requirement that they asked for on the agreement.
I'm drafting an addendum to the agreement that was signed a week or so ago with the customer that kept making more and more changes-- well, there's no way that I'm going to start over on a new agreement with them if I can piggy-back it onto the last document that was done. Technically, I can do that so I'm looking forward to finishing the draft on that tomorrow. Hopefully, we won't have to endure the rigors of the negotiation and renegotiation that we did with the main agreement!!
**********
Wanna know what's really annoying? Having the computer from "War Games" in the office!!!! There are times that I truly hate when Brian finds a new toy and this is definitely one of them!! <G>
**********
Stuff To Do!!
I've gotta pay a couple of bills tonight and I've gotta get some receipts together for reimbursement on our CA-Flex Benefits. The money is being held, supposedly, so hopefully, we can get it reimbursed!
Sorry this is so short but, you know how the saying goes. Gotta run!! Have a nice evening!!
Monday, May 28, 2001
Update at 5:15pmMemorial Day
The first year after my father died, I went up to spend the weekend with my mother (from Cincinnati where I was living at the time). We went to the cemetary to visit my dad's grave and found that there wasn't a flag on his burial site-- all of the others seemed to have them but not him. We marched into the office and demanded a flag for his gravesite. The office apologized and made a note in the file to include him on the list for next year-- they said they weren't aware that he was a veteran although that was one of the questions they asked when my folks bought the sites. The next year, my mom and I went to check the site and sure enough, his flag was there.
I remember that so clearly-- mom was so upset that he didn't get his flag. Its funny what sticks with you, isn't it? Karen, go check it, okay?
Wonderful Evening
But what else is new!! Whenever we go to Pat & Nathan's we have such fun chatting and eating and laughing and everything else. They have made a gorgeous improvement to their house by adding the master suite-- the bathroom is the same space that used to be their bedroom if that tells you anything!! It is beautifully finished even though the closet isn't quite finished yet-- the cabinets have been ordered but haven't arrived. WOW!! Definitely the times I wish we had a house!! Oh, well-- soon enough, I suppose!
Other Things
We hung the curtains during the afternoon and they look really nice in our bedroom!! There are times when Brian's height comes in handy and yesterday was definitely one of them-- I couldn't reach to hang the valance but, of course, he easily handled it.
The next thing I did was bake, believe it or not! Last week, Joanne Wier (who is the sister of Bob Wier from Grateful Dead fame) made a black cherry and apricot tart on her cooking show-- her's was made with butter and sugar and butter and lemon juice and butter (Jerry Garcia really died from a heart attack due to hardening of the arteries!!). Mine was made with a store-bought crust, fresh cherries and apricots and Splenda which is the new sugar substitute. I was a little apprehensive because I had no idea how it was going to taste-- it was GREAT!! Brian even said it more than a couple of times so that's pretty much the key indicator! She had served clotted cream on the side but, since that's not typically sold in the grocery stores here, I used Cool Whip and it was wonderful!! Definitely something I'll be making again!! (Yes, it is something I can eat on Weight Watchers and its about 3 points per serving.)
And Plans for Today?
Don't know-- this could be the anniversary surprise I've been waiting for the last couple of weeks. I thought we were going to go shopping for our anniversary gift(s) but, Brian says its a surprise-- now I'm baffled and you'll need to be for a few hours longer, too. Promise, I'll be back to update you, 'kay?
See ya!!
I told you I'd be back-- makes up for not posting last night now, doesn't it? I thought so!!
So here's my grand plan: as our anniversary celebration to each other, we're going to go away for a long weekend later this summer. Yeah, I've got a destination in mind-- just don't want to let it slip yet. Should be fun, however, and we're definitely looking forward to it.
Brian has stated that even though I've said that this should be our gift to each other, he's not going to let himself off the hook I've stuck his neck on because it was my idea. I told him that I'd give him full credit even if he didn't think of it first but he doesn't want that so, I guess we're back to he's not giving up.
Today we went in search of an anniversary gift but really couldn't find anything that struck our fancy. At first, we found a set of cow dinnerware that had everything from salad plates to cups-n-saucers but, it wasn't just cows-- the whole barnyard got in on the deal. Not what I had in mind, at all. Then, Brian found a toaster-- he's tired of seeing me stick a knife in our toaster trying to get the bagels out on Saturday and Sunday mornings. In my defense, I stick the knife in the bagel as opposed to touching the metal so I'm not likely to fry myself soon but, he may insist-- $70 for a toaster seems a bit steep, however so I vetoed the idea.
Now, I'm back to being "at a loss" in the anniversary department. Any ideas would be helpful.
I have no idea what tomorrow will be like at work-- should be interesting no matter what comes up. Brian's cooking dinner tonight-- Mexican food!! Nummy!!
Have a nice evening!
Current Musings
Return to 2001 Archives
Return to 2000 Archives
Return to 1999 Archives
All Content Copyright © 1999, 2000 Marcia L. Dykstra. All Rights Reserved.
