6 days till 43

It is a little weird to see the number 43. I usually don't feel old since I am married to someone slightly older, but I can say that this birthday, I am NOT in the best shape of my life. I have neglected myself since starting my semifulltimejob. I am bored of cooking when I get home since I cook for 6 hours and my feet are tired after standing on them half the day (ok, I know my Nurse friend is laughing at me, she is on her feet ALL DAY!!). I am bored with running, I am bored with walking, I am bored of lifting weights.

Bored bored bored

I checked out a new book from the library called Eat to Live

I don't think it will give me any info I don't know, but I am in need of massive motivation.

Don't read this wrong, my weight is holding steady and though I would LOVE to be about 5-10 lbs lighter, my jeans fit and I have banned yoga pants this holiday season.

Just needing a little oomph in my stoomph!!

I am ho hum on my birthday, too. I have pretty much either bought everything for people to wrap and give me or told them what I want. Historically, I am not a fan of surprises, but I wouldn't mind if there was one or two, even if it was just an evening out.

I do not need another surprise call about Youngest's teachers having to watch him all day for signs of a concussion after he bonked his head at gym. The goose egg on his forehead is NOT a good surprise. Nope, not on my birthday list.

I need a haircut in a big way but Daughter wants me to keep growing it out. Not sure what her agenda is, but I really need a trim!!

I think I am done complaining now. Just bored with it all. Don't need any major shakeups to get me going but I need a sign. Something, anything.

I think winning the Power Ball would put me in the right frame of mind :)

Rock on Friends,
Cat

Thanksgiving Day Eve

I have been a little over zealous about cleaning the house the last couple days. After painting Middle's room, I realized the rest of the house looked like a homeless camp. Though I wasn't ambitious enough to get more painting done (will do that Fri while Husband is at mooooreeeee basketball games...), I did make a HUGE effort to wipe down each and every surface with some lemon scented Spic and Span. I washed down walls, all the kitchen cabinets, appliances, doors, the kids. You name it, I think it came in contact with some Spic and Span.

And I have to say, it looks pretty darn good. And I should not wait 8 years to wipe down the kitchen cabinets. Gross.

There is some vacuuming left to do tomorrow (darn you fuzzy black dog!) and I will probably do some laundry, though I am hoping to get that done tonight. I am really excited for tomorrow, more than usual as it is supposed to be GORGEOUS here in Central OH. We cleaned off the front porch today so there should be some good times of sitting, drinking and watching the kids. Or just sitting and drinking, the kids can take care of themselves!!

My mom would be so proud to know I even put place mats on the table. This is monumental in our house as we use the kitchen table as a homework space and a place for the Sunday paper to sit until it is Trash Day.

I am most looking forward to seeing my Brother and his family. They are doing some really great things with their careers and I can't wait to hear about it. It is really fun when people you love take risks and are successful. Small business America, that's where it's at.

Of course I am excited about the food, too!! We are pretty simple when it comes to everything, but even corn seems to taste better on Thanksgiving. Turkey on the charcoal grill: forget about it. To die for!

It will all be over too quickly for me and then the reality of basketball tournaments and painting will invade my life once more. Poo.

But for one glorious day, I will be so Thankful that all I have to think about is good food and family. And hopefully lots of leftovers!!

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!!! Oh yeah, and GO BUCKS!!

Cat

Blue on Blue

As you know, Middle decided it was time to move out of his shared room and take a smaller room of his own. At first the only emotion that hit me was : oh shit, there goes my weekend!! Lots of painting and cleaning and moving furniture.

But as I stared this project early this morning, I had a lot of time (over 9 hours) to think about all kinds of things. Here are some in no particular order:
*I hate painting. I am a perfectionist and painting a house from the 80's is not good for someone seeking perfection.
*Why are we giving him the front room with the two windows to sneak out of??
*Next dog we get will not be black and it will not shed.
*A beer would taste good. Oh, it's only 9am, should wait a little bit....
*Thank god for my Iphone and the speakers my dad gave me.
*I need to work on my upper body strength

Then things took a turn towards the sad ( I was slowing down)
*This will be the room he graduates high school in.
*This will be the room he gets ready for Prom in.
*This will be the room he brings a girl into when we are out of town...
*Ok, scratch that previous comment..
*This will be the room he decides to be a Priest in.

You get the idea. Long day, lots of paint, music and fumes. Middle had a rough day of League Preview in basketball: only won one out of four games. Hard to tell how he is feeling as he retreated to his Xbox, but I imagine he is overwhelmed and disappointed.

I hope he sleeps well in his new room tonight. I know I am close to bed.

Here are some pics: Before: lots of peachy/off white

 Now it's Darby Blue! Only two walls, which is a pain in the arse to paint!

 Me, sad and exhausted, with Youngest's monkey that Middle has hijacked.

 I am not ready for Middle to grow up.

Tomorrow I have some paint to touch up, some furniture pieces to look for, and some cleaning and grocery shopping to do. I am ready for a 5 day weekend. All the walls and trim upstairs look like crap now that I did his room.

Crap.

Have a great rest of your weekend. Thanks for being interested in my ho hum life.

Cat

It's pizza week here!

I am thankful it is pizza week here this week. Each night, I will make a pep and half cheese pizza for the not so daring and then a whole pizza of some goodliness. This is what the pep (and I threw some left over breakfast sausage on it) and cheese looks like.

I got the crusts from Aldi, as well as the cheese and most everything else. Turned out pretty good. Here is the veggie version: onion, mushroom, alfredo sauce, black and green olives. YUM.
It is really tasty and I am hoping to have leftovers for breakfast.

In other news:
Husband took me to our VFW for drinks Fri night before we met our friends out for drinks. Every Fri night our VFW has a steak fry (it's not fried as I thought, but actually grilled!) and as I watched the one lone woman with her two small kids clean up, I could not help myself, I helped her clear all the dishes and helped in the kitchen.

Guess who is now a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Post 4931? You betcha, it's me. I am going to go in after work on Thursdays to help prep for the Friday Steak "fry".

And I got lots of free drinks which explains the shortened visit with our friends. For that , I apologize!

Tomorrow, Husband will march in our parade and we will be there to cheer him on. I met so many great people at his post Fri night and I am excited to see them all march. Please support your local Veteran's, their posts are dwindling because of lack of support.

Middle child has been gone all weekend with a friend and it is kind of hard for me to not see him all the time. Daughter has her friend (we call her our other daughter) here for the day, but it doesn't make up for Middle being gone. I guess we are at that age with him that he would rather be with friends than family. I suppose I should be grateful it didn't happen sooner!!

What are your kids asking for Christmas? Daughter wants ridiculously expensive stuff: what 15 year old wants TIFFANY jewelry??? I told her she is getting a 2 dollar charm bracelet from Michael's and she can put her Tiffany bobbles on that. The boys don't really know what they want. We are thinking of a Kindle Fire as a family gift. Middle will be on the road with basketball for the next two months, any good gift ideas for him?

I bought myself, oh check that, HUSBAND bought me a vintage looking eternity ring for my bday. It is faux diamonds but will be nice to wear to work instead of my nice jewelry (right now, I wear no jewelry and I feel weird without a ring on my left). I can't wait to get it. He has it so easy ; I buy it cheap, he wraps it.

I hope everyone is doing well. Thanksgiving will be here before we know it then Christmas. Any good ideas you have for tech nuts kids for Christmas, let me know. Youngest wants more book, god love him!

Have a good evening!
Cat