recaps of the last six weeks

14.  Photo enforced stop lights...

Are they a good idea or a bad idea?

I feel they are a good idea -- I say catch all those "RED LIGHT RUNNERS"!  They should also be catching all the "TEXTERS while Driving" too! 

That is how I felt... until I received a surprise TICKET in the mail.  For 75 BUCKS.  Actually I said, "75 F***ing BUCKS; ARE THEY F***ing NUTS?; IS THAT EVEN MY F***ING VEHICLE?"

And there you have it folks...

You can receive a TICKET in the mail and not even recall being in that photo enforced intersection.  Because the ticket arrived 4 weeks AFTER the dated incident. 

And so I requested a HEARING.  That's right, I get to waste an entire day in court fighting this stupid ticket.  Yes, I am fighting the ticket because CLEARLY there is a GLiTCH in someone's great photo enforced traffic light IDEA... what F***ING INTELLINGENT PERSON DID THIS???

I'll give you a hint at the GLiTCH... it's THREE LITTLE WORDS:

RIGHT.ON.RED

I turned RIGHT on a RED LIGHT. 

Photo 1:  license plate number. 
Yup.  It's mine.

Photo 2:  vehicle is stopped. 
brake lights are on.  PROOF.

Photo 3:  vehicle is in middle of intersection during red light. 
Right on Red.

And now...
As in 3 days ago, a NEW photo enforced traffic light was implemented about 1/4 mile away from our house.  It is the first light I approach upon leaving my home.  It is the last light I intersect upon returning to my home.  I pass through this lighted intersection at least 10 times per day.  I turn RIGHT ON RED at this intersection at least 6 of those 10 times per day.  So I am looking forward to receiving DAILY TICKETS in the mail for all my RIGHTS ON RED. 

I am going to be spending A LOT of time in Court.  So if you are missing my blog musings, please write to the Traffic Light Photo Enforcer, PO BOX 1189, Fort Worth, TX ... he will be glad to hear from you.

recaps of the last six weeks

13.  More of my favorite blessings:   BABY FEET !!

Booties, and Socks, and Tights.  Oh My!

recaps of the last six weeks

12.  Have you ever been to an event like this ...

WARRIORS FOR CHRIST ON BIKES

Bible-quoting Harley Riders! 

I had no idea.

Just like I had no idea there was a "Black Reunion" in Daytona Beach, Florida with 25,000++ blacks in attendance. 

Just like I had no idea there would be a large number - 80% - of gays/lesbians on an Aids Bicycle Ride Event. 

Just Saying.

I had no idea. 

Just like I had no idea there was a MOMMY MAFIA. 

recaps of the last six weeks

11.  Ruffled Bums are a few of my favorite things:

Chain email...

Chain email for women ONLY ...

This email was started by a woman like yourself,

in hopes of bringing relief to other tired and discontented women.

Unlike most chain emails, this one does NOT COST anything. 

Just send a copy of this email to five of your friends who are

equally discontented and tired.  Then bundle up your husband or

boyfriend, and send him to the woman's name who appears at

the top of the list, and add your name to the bottom of the list.

When your name comes to the top of the list, you will receive

16,877 MEN ...

and one of them is bound to be a helluva lot better than

the one you already have.

DO NOT BREAK THE CHAIN !!!!

HAVE FAITH !!!!

One woman who broke the chain got her own S.O.B. back.

On the other hand, a friend of mine has already received 184 men.

They buried her yesterday.  It took three undertakers to get the smile

off her face and two days to get her legs together so they could

close the coffin.

recaps of the last six weeks

10.  The "Lasts"
 
Documenting 2010 with the "last" photo taken of only two sisters.  The "last" time that there are only TWO girls.  Victoria and Petra together. 

From this day forward, there will be three sisters. 

recaps of the last six weeks

9.  Appointments have taken over my life.

Obgyn, Pediatrician, Dentist, Orthodontist, General Surgeon, Family Physician, Optometrist, Mammogramist, Podiatrist... I am kind of thanking God I don't have to visit a Proctologist.  Yet.  I suppose. 

My husband has been reminding me to make an appointment at an optometrist office.  I am not sure what his real motive is in bringing the subject up - recently, on a daily basis.  Our eldest daughter needs to visit one for this current year -- surely, that cannot be the reason for his daily watercooler chat regarding eyes.  And, really I am amazed at my husband's sudden on-going interest in optometry because he cannot recall any of my other one-sided conversations over the past six weeks. 

So, daughter #1 and I venture off to the "eye doctor" for a morning of dilation fun!! 

Sidenote: 

Surprise, Surprise... I am older than this doctor TOO !  Currently, I am older than all our doctors except my OB.  Seriously thinking about changing all doctors so that they are all older than me!  During my initial call, I need to ask how long these doctors have been practicing before I commit to an appointment.  This eye doctor probably graduated last May.  I am hoping he already passed his exams.

We had a few minutes of waiting time in the exam room.  We passed the time away by MEMORIZING the Eye Chart!  Yes, that's right.   I helped my daughter CHEAT on her eye exam.  

The eye doctor arrived and asked me to sit in the hotseat to demonstrate the proper way to read the chart without squinting, staring, or over-focusing.  No problem.  I have these letters memorized.  Plus, my Lasik is holding up well! 

Victoria passed with flying colors! 

But not me... OH NO... I need READING GLASSES.  The advanced-age eyewear.  Farsighted?  How can this be?  I was Nearsighted before... like I was considered legally blind for driving... with a 20/450 vision on a good day!  This conclusion was reached during my "demonstration", I was then sent for dilation, and reprimanded for memorizing the wrong chart!   What are there -- hidden cameras in the exam room?!

NO MORE READING FOR ME. 

PS These glasses make me dizzy.  I don't think they are working. 

PPS I have only worn them ONCE.

PPPS  I am really not reading anymore. 

recaps of the last six weeks

8.  Reading

I love to read... especially chic-books.  Previously, I read Kristin Hannah's True Colors and it was a good read.  So when I decided to start reading (instead of falling asleep) during my middle-of-the-night feedings...  I chose another book by Kristin Hannah; Firefly Lane.  Firefly reminds me of the early summer fun we had catching fireflies and putting them in jars to watch their evening glow.

Well, it was a good read...

Except for the fact that I prefer "Happily Ever After" endings... just saying... actually that's all I am saying.  Because hormonally-speaking, I prefer not to cry -- it gives me a headache at 3AM and a red, stuffy nose and swollen eyes and a raspy voice. 

So, if you are up for some hormonal-emotional-rollercoasting... I have a book for you.  Email me if you want the book and I'll send it along.  :+)

recaps of the last six weeks

7.  Rats 'n' Cats

Where did this one come from?
Actually, it came from the house with the horrendous, ugly, 1970s green paint job.  Not only do they need a painter, they need an exterminator. 

Thankfully, we were outdoors so the cats didn't make it into the house with their "trophy" -- instead they played in the yard; until my husband arrived home and freed the little critter (back to the house with the ugly green paint)

PS no critters, cats, mice, rats or people were harmed in filming this "rat'n'cat" gameshow. 

recaps of the last six weeks



My mother with the three girls at the Drive-In


6.  I.Love.This.Place

It is For Sale.  Somebody please buy it and keep it open.  Besides, who EVER gets an opportunity to buy a Drive-In?  Please, don't turn it into yet another vacant strip mall!!

Recently, we took the girls to the Drive-In.  A real Drive-In.  We were an obvious group of drive-in newbies. 

Or would it be:  Drive-in virgins? 

Yes, virgins, because our backseat was being used to hold carseats, coolers, outdoor chairs, and blankets.  Joking aside, we were definitely the ONLY other vehicle that had never been to the drive-in before.  All the other vehicles (except that other one) parked backwards.  And most vehicles were PICK-UPS.  We are definitely in TEXAS. 

Now Showing:
Toy Story 3 and Shrek Forever After

We parked near the concession stand and restrooms... because with little kids... that is where we needed to be.  Plus the concession stand had speakers (and FOOD).  I wanted to listen to the movie without turning on the car because with my luck, the car battery would die.  Unfortunately, the original drive-in speakers at each car park were long gone - just don't "hit" the posts that still exist. 

Although we came prepared with snacks, popcorn and bubbles at the drive-in was necessary!

Luckily, we weren't in the vehicle that had to be jumped - only one car battery died that evening. 

While the children watched the movie, ran around outside, and climbed from backseat to middleseat to front seat, I proposed buying a Pick-Up to my husband.  A Pick-Up for all our future Drive-In evenings.  He rolled his eyes while I dreamily crooned, "a pick-up for the drive-in; a pick-up for a haulin'; a pick-up for drivin' (get it?); a pick-up for..." and he didn't let me finish!

Since that didn't fly...

I proposed buying a "weekend home" so that we could frequent the Drive-In and the quaint town on weekends.  And you know what he said... "NO"!  Actually it was shouted.  And I quote verbatim, "YOU WANT TO PURCHASE A WEEKEND HOME THAT IS 25 MINUTES FROM OUR CURRENT HOME?"

"Why Not?" I ask.

"BECAUSE WE ARE ONLY 25 MINUTES FROM OUR FRONT DOOR... IT TAKES LONGER TO GET TO DALLAS... AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO DRIVE 25 MINUTES TO SPEND THE WEEKEND AWAY FROM HOME.  GO SPEND THE WEEKEND AT "L's" HOUSE.  THEY LIVE 20 MINUTES AWAY."

Since that didn't fly...

I offered a new suggestion, "Let's buy a weekend home in Dallas, then!"

PS  I think "he's" upset with me -- he has stopped talking -- and probably that includes listening!
PPS  I didn't even think about proposing to BUY the Drive-In... I think I'll do that tonight.  I'll let you know how that goes!  :+)

fourteen.years.it.has.been

REPEAT POST. 

2010 is my fourteen year hand anniversary

& I am on a personal-day-holiday.

i.lost.ONE.finger.or.TWO
definitely ONE. definitely the use of TWO.

it was not the best day of my life.

october.3.1996

i had a cut that resembled a papercut. not open. not deep. not threatening. until I came in contact with a person with strep throat. the strep infection invaded my cut via coughing or sneezing. it became staph infection. THE FLESH-EATING BACTERIA. GANGRENE.

for those of you who know: you can skip this post.

for those of you who don't know, here are some "clean" tips:

1. WASH YOUR HANDS
2. NEVER KISS A "BOO-BOO", EVER! (KISS NEXT TO IT, AROUND IT, ABOVE IT, BELOW  IT... NEVER, EVER ON IT!)
3. NEVER PUT YOUR FINGERS IN YOUR MOUTH AFTER A PAPERCUT OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF CUT!
4. PUT ON A BAND-AID. YES, EVEN ON A PAPERCUT!

6 months in and out of the hospital.
365 daily visits to a hand surgeon.
10 hand surgeries.
4 long years of constant doctor monitoring.
40 prescriptions for pain pills.
1200 codeine tablets. (not for sale)
1 prosthetic.
4 doctors.
1 special doctor who saved my life and my hand.
$1,000,000 dollars, at least.
1 conclusion: disability.
1 future possibility: more amputation.

THANK YOU, DR. BOB! AND 'NURSES' CARLA AND DEBBIE! You're my heroes!

recaps of the last six weeks

5.  Freezing Roma Tomatoes

If you had told me ten years ago that I would be freezing vegetables from my garden, I would have given you my "you're crazy" speech.  Me, freezing vegetables.  That's up there with canning.  And jamming.  And the big hell, no.  For example, I just don't do domestic!  Well, then, I fell in love and I wanted to emulate Mrs. Cleaver.  Without the dress and the pleasantries. 

I actually made time to perform this domestic duty and I declare I do feel like June!  I have amazed myself.  I documented this event with photos because it just may never happen again.  It may be a "once in lifetime" occurrence but at least I have "proof". 

My best, most fruitful tomato plant grew under the apple tree.  And into the apple tree.  And up the apple tree.  And to the top of the apple tree, nine feet tall!  It was our 2010 tomato tree. 

daily pickings of Roma tomatoes

After boiling tomatoes for a couple of minutes, place them in a bowl of ice water.

Peel the tomatoes

 

Tomato peelings

Upon peeling the tomatoes, place them on a cookie sheet and set in the freezer.  After an hour or more, place the frozen tomatoes into freezer bags and freeze.  Use the tomatoes in soups, stews, sauces, chilis... YUM!