BLOWN away.

I don't even know who did this!!!!!!!
LOOK WHAT SOMEONE DID FOR US!!!!!!!!!!
I am speechless.



I also want to personally thank:

• Kathy of Mama's Losing It
• Angela of The Painted House
• Kori of My Life as a CFers Wife
• Nikki of Gourmet Mama
• Ronda of Ronda's Rants
• Tiffany & Heather of SITS

for giving our fundraiser major shoutouts this week!! In 4 days we have raised almost $200 because of you making the ripple larger!!!

I look at our fundraiser as a pebble. The idea was a pebble given to me by God. All I had to do was pick it up- and throw it.

He controls the ripple.

Thank you for being a part of the REALLY BIG RIPPLE God's creating!!!!

(If I missed a name- please tell me!!)

What I Did on My Birthday, among Other Things...

Well, we decided to see Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D!! It was VERY fun- and VERY 3D. This isn't your 80's 3D flick, people!! AND you get REAL PLASTIC glasses, not flimsy cardboard ones!! I highly recommend this movie (make sure your theatre is showing 3D) for just a fun ride!
So, first we went out for breakfast, then went to the movie, then went out for lunch- where I gourged myself on cheese-stuffed pasta and then got a piece of Opera Creme Cake to go, and then we went shopping at the antique store where I work (with my boss's generous birthday credit!) and bought this great, tolepainted, handcarved wooden bowl- HUGE- that I am now using for magazine storage.
I also got the Oreck cordless Zip Vac that I wanted and I got the CUTEST little french press coffee maker!!!



yeah- I was a happy birthday girl!!!






Hey!! Where are my font choices here?!?!?! I just realized that I can't change it to Verdana like I always do!!! :-?

AND, as a special birthday treat, our water heater decided to conk out on us. So while we have been awaiting the arrival of the new one (we use a tankless water heater, so we ordered one), I have been boiling hot water on the stove, feeling like QUITE the pioneer woman, and thanking the heavens that it's JULY not JANUARY.
My dear, sweet husband whom you are all so intent on helping me keep around is in the basement as I type installing the new one (I am actually typing this Wednesday night- love that scheduled post feature!). HOORAY!!! Hot shower tonight!!!
See why I need him?!?! He can do anything!!!!

I am so very glad today is Thursday. I have felt tired all week, and yesterday was a bit of a rough day at work. Started out slow and became quite manic!! Today is a day off.

Can I just thank you all out there again??? I am just so overwhelmed by the love I am receiving from this blogging community. You have made this birthday so special to me.
I love you all!!!!

Wow!!! I am feeling the LOVE!!!!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who has responded to my previous post about my fundraiser for my hubby and to the post that my bloggy friend, Kathy, put up.

Cookbook sales are definitely UP!!!
I have also gotten a lot of feedback about how people are going to share it "out there" for us to help spread the word.

This all means SOOOOO MUCH!!!!! We are so optimistic about getting him out there in October and getting him the treatment that he longs for- and for the results that we are hoping for.
I just can't thank all you people who I don't even know and you don't even know me, but you have such big hearts anyway.

I am without words to express what this means. I really am.

p.s. If anyone has bought a cookbook and hasn't received the link for it- please email me and let me know. My email has started acting up and sometimes a reply won't go through (I have it on an auto-reply for cookbook purchases)- and I certainly don't want anyone to not get their cookbook that they've ordered!!!!

Thanks!!!

Today Is My Birthday, nanananana!!!!!!

George and I are going out for breakfast, then to see a matinee, then off to where I work to pick out my $50 worth of merchandise that my boss gifts us with on our birthday (so fun!!!)! Then I get to go renew my car's plates. fun!! (not).

I have asked for- get this- an Oreck Cordless hand-held vacuum for my birthday.
It's what I really want!!

I am still undecided about what movie I want to see. It's a toss-up between X-Files and Get Smart. I also want to see Mama Mia, but we are hoping to see that with friends.
I'll let you know!!

Meanwhile... Happy Birthday to MEEEEE!!!!!!

nanny-nanny-boo-boo!

I will be posting about my trip soon- I promise!! I need to upload my pics and videos- will hopefully get to that Saturday or Sunday.
But let me tell you THIS. I called my sister yesterday, and she told me a funny story about my nephew from earlier that day:

She asked him if he loved his sister, Genesis, and he said "no".

So she asked him if he loved his daddy.

"no."

"Well, do you love your mommy?"

"no."

"Grandma?"

"no."

Well then who DO you love???"

"Aunt Gina".

I told you I was his FAVORITE AUNT!!!!

He LOOOVVVEES me!!!

Oh NOOOO!!!!!!!!

Hi everybody.
I am back from my trip- and it was great- and I will post about it soon. But I had to share this right now.
I have been back home for about 1/2 an hour.
I kissed my hubby, hugged my cat, looked at the mail, checked my email... and then decided to feed my fish. I realized that he was looking a little sad, and his bowl was in DIRE need of changing, so I commenced to change his water.
As I'm pouring the water out and attempting to catch the fish, he leaps into the tub.
When I try to catch him, he leaps DIRECTLY DOWN THE DRAIN!!!!!!!!!
We run to the basement and try to see if we can catch him at the sewer trap (it's an 120 year old house...) but no luck.
He's destined for an untimely death somewhere out there in sewerland.
I KILLED MY FISH, PEOPLE!!!!
His name was Finn. Perhaps it should have been Nemo?!?!?!
sigh.
Cross your fingers that he somehow makes it to the river.

By the time you read this...

I will be en route to visit my sister and my new niece (and bro-in-law and nephew!!). Just so you'll feel sorry for me- I had to leave my house at 3:00 a.m. this morning to drive to the airport to catch my 6:10 a.m. flight!!! YAWN!!!
I think I'll be spending the day with my new niece on the sofa taking a long nap!!

Pray for a safe journey for me!!

I will chit-chat with you when I get back!!

Shameless Promotion

I am going to be downright shameless here- because I am downright determined!!

As many of you know, my husband is in a fight for his life battling an early onset, aggressive form of prostate cancer. He was diagnosed at 50- he is now 57, PTL!!!!!
He has made HUGE lifestyle and dietary changes, leaning toward a more alternative approach, but still taking into consideration modern medicine. Right now he is on a hormone therapy treatment that is being quite beneficial.
We are striving to get him to an alternative treatment center out in California (www.issels.com).

In March, I launched a fundraiser to help us make this happen, as the treatment center is entirely an out-of-pocket, paid up-front expense. It is a huge leap of faith for us.
In a nutshell, I am selling a cookbook where I have compiled recipes from friends and family members, and selling it for $1.00.

Since March, we have raised over $15,000!!!!!

The goal I set for this fundraiser is $20,000. Our target date to get to the center is October.
We only need $5000 more to make this a reality!!!

Therefore, I am shamelessly promoting my fundraiser, because I have maxed out my friends and family who have probably maxed out their friends and family... so now I am turning to YOU. My dear blogging buddies. Asking you, begging you, PLEADING with you to please, please, please share my website with every single person you know. Blog about it if you are so inclined... anything you want to do to help us get the word out wider.

www.friendsofgeorge.com

Thank you.
And forgive me.
It's for my hubby.

GREAT Contest!!

Okay, there is this REALLY great contest going on at one of my favorite blogs. I like to pretend she is my best friend. She is a total student of epistemology- her posts just ooze of wisdom and knowledge. She is also a greyhound freak and tells crazy daycare stories like the one about the lesbians...
If I win this contest it will be a total fluke because I never win anything!
Hmmm... maybe I should post about this on myspace, too. Naw- that will make the odds worse. I think I'll just go take a shower instead. LOL!!!!
(p.s. I saw these great beige pants at Target that I really want, so I really hope I win!!!)

p.s. in case you can't figure it out- I was forced to use the words in blue in order to get another entry in a post.

Q & A

I'm being a total copy cat. Well, actually- I'm copying from a copy Kat... but like they say- there's nothing new under the sun anyway, so what the hey-who!!
Okay.
Here's the deal.
You can ask me ANYTHING you want, and I may or may not answer you. Or maybe I'll answer you but won't be 100% straight with you depending on the nosiness factor.
But the idea is to ASK ME QUESTIONS!! Then I will post answers (or whatever)!
Fun!!!
You do it, too!!!

An Amazing Pair of Shoes

Through an interesting way, I have "met" Vlodek and Danuta Tydor from Canada- two very caring, thoughtful people.
Danuta is an artist- a SHOE artist!
For that alone, we have to love her.

Look at this:

Don't you wish you could actually WEAR that?!?!

You can visit her other gorgeous creations at the Muse Gallery.

She is an amazing ceramics artist.

Do you think there's a purse to match??

How *I* Met MY Husband!!

My fellow blogger, Mama's Losin' It, whom I am constantly referring to anymore because she is a ridiculously fun read and gets my creative juices going for my own posts, since she spends SO MUCH time on her blog and gets to think them up FIRST (love ya, Kathy!!) had PROMISED us (even made us VOTE!) the wonderful story of how she met her husband, and then at the last second, bailed out on us because he didn't want her to share it. -sigh-
So she made up a cockaloony story you can read here. (Trust me, you still want to read it even though it is one big lie. Very funny. Almost believable. Especially the extra cheese part. But now I'm giving it away...!)

Anyway!!
I am going to share how I met MY husband.
And it's the truth.
And my husband doesn't mind me sharing, because he loves the story as much as me.
So there!

Okay, way back when I was young and oh, so naive, I was working at a frame shop.
(Yes, I was out of high school!!! I was over 18!! barely. ahem!)
Anyway.
I was working at a frame shop as a custom framer. I knew of a certain "Gunny George" that was friends with the owner, my boss, Curt. This Gunny George would come in pretty regularly to get Marine Corps memorabilia framed, because he was the area's Marine Recruiter. I, however, had never met him. I knew he was funny, because if something was brought up regarding him, it was always about something funny he had said or done. But I didn't give him much thought- why should I?? Plus, I had a long-time boyfriend, even though we were on the way out (long story there. don't even ask).
I distinctly remember the day that Curt read in the paper that Gunny George's wife had died- she had battled cancer for several years. She was only 32. I remember feeling soo sad when I heard that. They had 3 young children, and she was so young herself.
A few weeks later, Gunny George comes in with his children! Apparently, his oldest daughter had completed a cross stitch that they had come across while going through some things, and Gunny George decided that rather than sticking it in another pile, to get out of the house and go get it framed. They wanted to use the "Do-It-Yourself" room, and I was chosen to assist them.
I worked with them for several hours building the frame, mounting the cross stitch, and fitting it all together.
While I was in the back room, I overheard a discussion about trying to come up with someone that could come hang out with the kids while Gunny George went to a meeting out of town. His oldest was 14, but he just didn't want to leave them all alone- and they lived pretty far out in the country.
I heard his middle daughter say "Daddy, what about HER" meaning ME.
I chuckled, and then thought, "well, why not?? I'm not doing anything this evening, and I am the oldest of a total of 5 sisters. Surely I can handle 3 for one evening!!"
So, I volunteered, and after some intense questioning (not really- but sort of! after all, we had just spent several hours together, and were all enjoying each other's company) it was agreed upon. I would come out for dinner after work, and then I would take the kids bowling while he went to his meeting.
The kids and I had a GREAT time- really hit it off... I opened my big mouth and said "if you ever find yourself in a jam and need a hand, just let me know." Next day- he came into the gallery and said "Remember when you said if I was ever in a jam..."
Turns out, the woman that he and his wife had all picked out to move in as a live-in nanny bailed right after his wife passed away, leaving him in a huge lurch. He said to me "If you know of anyone who might be interested in helping out, even if she is in the mirror, we would really appreciate it." Not only was Gunny George the area (BIG area) Marine recruiter, but he was also struggling to keep his commuter service business running. He said that his kids were going to end up orphans at the rate he was going if he didn't get any help.
Well, that just killed me, people!!!
So, after a LOT of praying and crying and thinking and talking to my parents and friends... I told him I would move in as "nanny". That way, the kids would have someone at home to see them off in the morning, to greet them when they get home, and be there in the evenings when he had business to attend to...
Okay. Long story short....
Did you all see Sound of Music??
Just call me "Maria" and call George "Captain".

















17 years later- we're still in love!

(And Kathy, this photoshopping stuff is SO FUN!!! No wonder you can't stop!!!)

Look at my great posture, btw!!! George is kind of slouchy for a Marine. Straighten up, honey!! (I say that a lot around here)

Later.....
OHHH!!!! I forgot to add this important detail!!!!!!
My husband claims that he was framed, but I believe I was recruited.
You decide!!!

She's Got the Look! It's over.

Well, I just finished watching the final episode of TV Land's "She's Got the Look"- the show that chooses a woman over 35 to begin a career with a major modeling agency, and has "The Look".
My pick, Bahia did not win- but she sure came close!! She was final 3. She is 37 (me too!).
So beautiful!!!





















Tanya is the 45 year old, mother of 5 who was voted with "The Look"!
Congratulations, Tanya!! I hope I look that amazing at 45!!





















Now keep reading......!!!!!
And don't forget to comment!! :-D

You've come a long way, baby!

We love coffee. I mean, we really, really, REALLY love coffee. Strong, rich, gourmet, freshly brewed, ORGANIC, FREE TRADE coffee. We even have the Cuisinart Grind n' Brew so that we can fresh grind our own beans every day. Now, I have to digress a little here and explain to you that it hasn't always been so.

OHHHH, no.

When I married George, he drank- brace yourselves- INSTANT coffee.

Yes. I know.

Taster's Choice Instant Coffee.
Granted- it was easy. Pop the ol' mug of water in the microwave, stir in a heaping teaspoon of freeze-dried caffeinated convenience, and wahlah! INSTANT coffee.

After a few years of this, I convinced him that we needed to BREW our coffee.

So, we upgraded to Maxwell House coffee in the giant sized cans from Sam's Club.
Oh, the glorious smell of brewing coffee in the morning!
Over the years, we've upgraded our coffee makers- we even bought Gevalia coffee and got the free carafe... the whole 9 yards.
We even started to experiment with coffees outside the Maxwell House section...then bought a coffee grinder and starting experimenting with different beans...

Fast forward-
We are now total coffee snobs.

So in 17 years I have managed to transform my husband from a carefree INSTANT coffee drinker to an "is that an organic, free trade bean? Do you grind your own? Roast your own? GROW your own?!?!?!" coffee drinker.

Well, maybe we're not THAT bad- but close!

A ticket to fly!

I bought my airline ticket and I'm off to see my new famous niece next weekend!! Such a little Drama Queen!

Genesis Eve- you're about to meet your Favorite Aunt (c'est MOI!)!!

Payback hurts!

Yesterday I KICKED BUTT (okay, that's not very lady like.... I kicked derriere)!
I did my laundry, I juiced 2 days' worth of carrots for George, I mowed my grass, and I hosed down my 2 porches top to bottom!!
Today, I am totally paying for it.
All day at work, I could hardly move my right arm. I couldn't even cross my arms without making a little yelp in pain.
I am either lazing around turning into an atrophied jello jiggler, or I am practically killing myself doing 4 days worth of work in one!
(I do try to do my 20 grande plies while brushing my teeth on a regular basis, however. That's the extent of my workout program. Well, that and running to check my email several (like, 379) times a day- my office is on the 3rd floor, so that's what I call "stair climbing". I notice that my derriere has gone a tad south, thus the grande plies...ahem!)

More Reasons I Love My Husband...

• He tells me I'm beautiful every day- even when I'm really not.
• He likes to eat dinner in front of the TV, too- and lets me pick what we watch, without complaint!
• He will sit out on the back porch with me and drink morning coffee- even when it's chilly.
• He does the grocery shopping.
• He empties the dishwasher.
• He pets the stray cats, too.

Anyone out there struggling in your marriage?? Start a list. You'll be amazed at all the things you really do love about your husband... and it helps you overlook the things you don't love so much (we want our faults to be overlooked, too, don't we?).

Life is precious- let's appreciate it.

"The greatest gift we can give one another

is rapt attention to one another's existence."

--Sue Atchley Ebaugh

The day after...

In spite of the rain, crazy neighbors still came out in droves lighting various and sundry fireworks, firecrackers, and other dangerous recreational fire hazards on the street and all around us- I felt like we were being bombed. The sulphuric smoke was so strong outside that you could hardly see- let alone breathe!! I wish I had taken a picture of the light effects that were caused by the street lights penetrating through the thick haze. Very asterial (thanks, crossword puzzles).
We stayed in, party poopers that we are, and watched the final 4 episodes of Season 6 of 24 (thanks to Netflix!).
I kept stepping outside to ensure that my house had not caught on fire. Thankfully, we have a fire station a block away.

I hope everyone had a fun, safe 4th!

07.04.08

Well, it's pouring down rain here, so not a lot of fun and fireworks and bbq'ing and picnicing and dancing in the streets- but just the same, have a great Independence Day!!!

Thank you, brave men and women, who have gone before and are serving now, and have protected this great land from harm. We salute you!

Listen to the music!

Take time to listen to the lyrics of the song playing on my blog.
This song sums up my life and the journey my husband and I are on- and all that we have to hold onto.
I hope it touches you the way it does me- and gives you hope and comfort.
Enjoy!