Spring Break in review

• We started the week by taking Connie to her chamber treatment.  After dropping her off we spent three hours in the mall where the girls used up gift cards collected at Christmas and birthday times.  We enjoyed breakfast together, shopped, picked up Grandma and took her to a scheduled doctor's appointment.  We had planned on this being the norm all week long, but on Tuesday the wound clinic released Connie from the hyperbaric.  The chamber and the cast apparently wasn't doing anything and so the clinic doctor released her back to the Foot God.  She now will see him in a couple of weeks to determine the next course of action.  While everyone was down about this turn of events it freed us up to plan some spring break activities.

• Or so we thought....because Monday at noon the hubby appeared at the house with high fever and chills.  He literally spent the entire week in bed, only coming out for food and drink and two visits to the doctor.  The first visit he was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection and given an antibiotic and some cough medicine.  After two days of that he broke out with an ugly red rash all over his shoulders and back, which I thought might be shingles, but was instead a heat rash due to the fever finally breaking.  Hubby when sick just wants to be left alone and is a tad grouchy.  I have spent the entire week sleeping on our Aero bed in the Steelers room.  We hung close to home because we were concerned about his high fevers.  So much for planned activities.

• Monday evening I did sneak away to keep Kelly company while she ate a little dinner at E&E Stakeout Grill, a local favorite.  The girls and I had eaten on the way home from Connie's, but it is E&E and Kelly was buying so I sampled a few treats.

 

• Tuesday we hit a different mall while heading out to drop off some things to the hubby's work.  Madison used up more gift cards and Darcy talked me into several new outfits.  We brought home groceries and dinner for the sick patient.  Darcy then cleaned her room and organized her closet to accommodate the new wardrobe.  A miracle in itself...

• Wednesday Madison and Darcy decorated Easter cookies with the cute little cookie cutters that Kelly found, bought, and dropped off.  We had different colored carrots and bunnies all over the kitchen.

• Thursday Darcy had her hair cut.  Our hair dresser only works late on Thursdays and that happens to be the day that Darcy's sports games are played at school so it has been a long, long, long time since Darcy had her hair cut.  Because she wears it back in a ponytail we didn't realize how long her hair had grown.  She opted for a shorter style with side bangs.

• We saw the movie Mirror, Mirror, yesterday afternoon.  Quite delightful little flick, but then I'm a huge Julia Roberts fan and love most of what she does.  It was charming and funny, but a lot of the movie is shown in the trailer and it needed more.  I would have tweaked it a tad, but it was a fun outing.

• One of the fun purchases we made for the pool this year were these clips that go on the back of your lounge chair to hold your towel in place.  Darcy and I found them at the outlet store at 50% off.  Now we see them everywhere in cute little characters, but at full price. 

Weekly TV Rant

1. Anyone besides me think American Idol mentor Jimmy Iovine is a pompous ass?  I didn't care for his addition last year on the show and was sorry to see he was back this year.  That being said I have to admit he doesn't hold back or cater to the producers.  I like the mentors he has sitting with him this year as they have offered some constructive criticism.  Last night's mentor Stevie Nicks even made Iovine seem human.
2. Disappointed half my favorites didn't make it into the top 24 which just goes to show why I'm not a judge I guess.  Still I have my boy Phillip Phillips in it, and I've been won over by Colton and Elise.  I don't watch this show live so I haven't voted, but think I might have to start doing just that since all the contestants were darn good last night.
3. Whew!  This season's Survivor has had more wildness than any other.  Gone is Redemption Island.  Instead the contestants were divided into male/female and lived on the same island as "one world".  Which didn't last nearly long enough for me.  I hate when the producers shake up the entire concept, but I suppose they think it just isn't working.  I would like to see them follow through on something just once like when Stephanie was last girl standing on her tribe way, way back.  Who knows?  It might even be good television.
4. Thrilled to have seen karma take action last week with the appendicitis of Colton.  What a miserable, rotten human being.  Sure do wish just once in Survivor history the women would stand up and take control.  I'm not big on the whole integrity thing that someone always babbles on about each season, but after the tribal council where the men went although they hadn't lost, I was disappointed someone didn't pipe up and use the integrity card after listening to Colton spew his viciousness.
5. I started watching General Hospital again after Robin's death and the special guest appearances of Tristen Rogers and Emma Samms.  Apparently, the soap cleaned house and hired a new producer who is bringing back the sizzle and pop.  Yeah.  By giving Rogers and Samms the stupidest storyline for all of three days and bringing in the tired dual personality nonsense that gives soaps a bad name.  Oh, the work I could do on that show if given the chance...  Has anyone ever thought of letting the actors write their own storylines?
6. What was with the terror storyline in Body of Proof this week that is now a two-parter?  And could someone please tell me why writers have characters prick their fingers on tainted blood and then keep it a secret?  I'm telling you right now that if I'm ever exposed to tainted blood I'm going to be hollering and jumping up and down for help.
7. Anyone else ready for the end of Desperate Housewives?  Again, if I killed someone by saving someone's life I wouldn't bury the body and pretend it never happened.  Stupid storyline and instead of ending it it just keeps going and going.  I think it is taking away from the whole spoof of the show and we followers deserve more.
8. I'm behind on The Voice because I hate this part of the show.  What's the point?  If it is to narrow it down then why have that many in the beginning?  Don't understand why we get singers this far and then chuck them.  Sigh.
9. Enjoying Smash.  Good music.  Interesting stories.  A bit too much falling in and out of bed for me.  Can't we find some stronger women who don't give in to sexy men?  Thought the whole plot with the married folks just an after thought because sex sells.  Not needed.
10. I'm a secret What Not to Wear fan but I 'm getting tired of Stacy London's condescending tone when viewing the contestant's wardrobe.  Hello!  This is why I'm here in the first place.  I don't mind some humor, but hers is becoming downright mean and for what?  Television?  And then she can't understand why the contestant is annoyed the rest of the show.  And please let's revamp the show now and cut out the scenes where the contestant is sent out on his own to shop.  We know this is just nonsense now and that Stacy and Clinton are watching on hidden camera. 

Out of the mouths of my babes

Darcy:  "What are we going to do tomorrow?"

Me:  "I don't know.  I'm hoping your Dad will go to the clinic and see a doctor.  I feel like we have to take care of him first."

Darcy:  "He's feeling really sick."

Me:  "I know.  First Madison and now your dad.  And I'm not feeling so hot right now either.  My throat is a little sore."

Darcy:  "Great!  Looks like I'll be the last man standing."

Internet Learning

The other day's Yahoo lead story was 10 things you should always buy in bulk.  Since I had just spent the day with Darcy and her father on their weekly Sam's Club run this article was one that I thought I should read, and if it has interest for me, then I usually blog about it.

1.  Toilet Paper - The thinking behind this is that it doesn't have an expiration date and it is an item that is a necessity in any house.  The article suggests that you make sure you have room for it in your house, and there is where it gets a bit tricky for us.  We live in Florida, and the price of living in Florida (back in the day) means smaller housing.  While my good buddy Kelly use to dump her bulk items of paper products behind her couch that butted up against the wall, I don't have a set-up like that.  Our TP gets stored in the garage on top of suitcases, boxes, and various tools and large stored items.  That works fine as long as the citrus rats don't get stuck in the garage.  Apparently, toilet paper makes great nesting material.

2.  Bottled Beverages - While in Sam's on Saturday going around eating my fill of free hand outs for lunch I received a lecture on using water bottles.  Bad for the environment and certainly bad for humans as the plastic is deadly in all sorts of toxic forms.  The sweet lady was pushing a liquid vitamin which came with its own reusable bottle that normally sells on the website for $15, but "today comes free with the purchase".  While I passed on the liquid vitamin I did make my husband get water bottles.  Florida water, particularly our county, sucks in the tap variety; the government recently cut out using fluoride.  Bottled water is much more convenient in the packing of lunches, hustling out the door, and safer around the pool.  The price at Sam's is $3.98 for 32 bottles where I pay that same price for 24 bottles at our grocery.  A much better deal.  The article mentioned having to lug the things in and out of your car.  Perhaps that is the reason why hubby ignored my advice on and purchased only half of what I suggested.

3.  Diapers - Cheaper in bulk.  Always a necessity if you have little ones.  Since the ending of Darcy's lifeskills class baby project we no longer have need for this category so I moved on.

4.  Dog food & treats -  Only problem with buying in bulk for this is that there is an expiration date.  Sam's doesn't carry our brand of dog food, but I have checked out the treat section.  Once.  Just wondering where I would put that many treats in my house changed my mind as did the thought that my picky dog would in all likelihood hate the damn things and then what?

5.  Gum - Better price in the long run for those who can't live without the sweetness in the mouth.  I happen to be one of those people.  My issue with buying in bulk on this item, as with many items, is that I can only get one flavor.  I like variety.  I usually just buy my favorite, Orbitz bubble gum, and pay the higher price at the grocery.  Although, have you seen the price of gum lately?

6.  Laundry Detergent - Just like the toilet paper it is used daily and for the most part lasts a long time.  For me the storage problem arises again with the largeness of the containers.  While I have an area in my garage laundry room full of various sized holes for storing such items I don't have holes that big.  We used to store the container on the floor and refill a smaller container, but the hefting of the large container got old.  And with the use of coupons and sales I was able to get an equivalent price for a size that fit with my house.

7.  Meat -  Everyone I know who has a garage freezer buys meat in bulk.  Again, not one of those people.  My garage is one car and also doubles as my laundry room.  A freezer is not in the cards and thus bulk meat is not happening.  The article does mention how important it is to properly freeze the meat and to mark the date on it before sticking it in the cold.  Something to take heart when doing this in your regular freezer as well.  I cooked up extra sausage and hamburger and froze it along with two jars of homemade spaghetti sauce.  Hubby opened the freezer the very next day, got hit in the shin with something when it fell out the door, so he "cleaned" the freezer.  First things to go were the meat and sauce because he "didn't know how long it had been in there".

8.  Storage Items -  This too makes sense and I will add this to my list next time.  The one thing about using Sam's is knowing the price that I pay at Target because sometimes when on sale and with coupons the price there is actually cheaper than Sam's price.  This is probably one of those items that fall in that category so check it before you buy.

9.  Personal Care Items -  The article mentions soap and like the above paragraph I have to exam prices on that.  Buying other personal items are like the gum buying.  I like to switch shampoos and conditioners for variety and for my hair so getting stuck with a life-size bottle of the stuff doesn't allow for this.  Nor do these bottles usually fit in the holders in my shower.

10.  Paper Plates and Forks -  For BBQ season the article states!  Oh yes, and I have all of that fresh fish just waiting to be grilled!  We go through paper plates here at the same rate as we do the bottled water ever since I gave the job of dishes over to the girls.  While forks make sense for the season of BBQ we tend to use spoons here more for school lunches.

Out of the mouths of my babes

Me:  "Darcy, you only have a half day tomorrow.  I have grandma so Kelly is going to pick you up."

Darcy: "Is she going to watch me?"

Me:  "Watch you do what?"

Darcy:  "Who is going to stay with me?  Is she going to feed me?"

Me:  "What are you an animal at the zoo?"

Darcy:  "But tomorrow is a half day.  I won't have lunch.  I'll be STARVING."

Me:  "We just bought lunch meat.  You know how to make yourself a sandwich.  That's one of the things I taught you so that you could be self-reliant in situations such as this."

Darcy:  "Yeah, but what fun is that?"

Connie Foot Update

It has been over two months in the hyperbaric chamber and some days there appears to be progress and other days none.  Last week the possibility of amputating the leg was mentioned.  Any type of weight put on the wound hinders progress.  Unfortunately, the daily dose of hyperbaric oxygen requires walking up and down 15 stairs to and from Connie's condo.  To limit this pressure a cast was put on her foot.

The first cast went Tuesday of last week.  It was removed on Thursday, and apparently the wound still looked good, because the wound clinic re-caste the foot.  This cast will stay on a week.  While everyone would prefer Connie to stay off of the foot, the cast does allow weight so it protects the trip up and down the stairs.  She is finished with the IV medication, but is still on an oral antibiotic.  It seems to be a day to day or week to week basis on whether the diving will continue or not.  Another trip to the Foot God has been mentioned and so once the cast is off it looks like her next stop.

The NFL week in review

Can't let the last few days of NFL gossip pass me by.  Must....blog...

• New Orleans Saints - Wow!  Roger Goodell sent a message and it was a big one.  The 70's, 80's and even the 90's way of playing football is over.  Shape up or ship out.  Don't care that this is the way it has always been done.  That way is over.  I applaud his decision.  The coach and management knew what was going on and looked the other way.  After the Penn State debacle Goodell didn't want this situation to compare.  The Saints organization was told to put a stop to things in 2009 and they didn't.  A one year suspension from the game for Coach Payton.  A fine of $500,000 and two draft pick losses for the owners.  An 8 game suspension for the Saints General Manager.  More sanctions are sure to come for the players involved, but Goodell sent a message that the organization and coaches are held to a high standard from now on.
• Roger Goodell - That being said, Goodell's hands were tied and he has no one to blame but himself.  Faced with the concussions, dementia, and deaths of previous NFL players Goodell has made a name for himself in his "cleanin up" of the league, issuing fines and changing the way the game is played where no one knew which end was up.  Claiming that things were going to change has now made him realize that things are worse than he imagined and now he has no choice but to "clean" it all up.
• Drew Brees - Sigh.  He should look around the league.  Miami could use a quarterback.  He should also look inside himself.  Did he know?  Did he really want to win a Super Bowl that badly?  I like the guy.  I hope he hadn't a clue, but I seriously doubt that.
• Spygate vs. The Bounty - Now that the sanctions have been issued talk has turned to the lesser charge for the New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick.  The whining has begun, but I say no comparison.  Can't compare setting out to deliberately injure someone for payment to videotaping the opposite team's practices and hand signals.  I'm not a Patriot or Belichick fan, but that situation, and while I thought the Spygate punishment was a slap on the wrists, it doesn't begin to come near what the Saints have been doing for the past three years.  
• Take the Super Bowl away? - Huh?  That is one of the questions being tossed around, but seriously?  Can't even get into that any more than you could with Spygate.  I said then, and say now, put an asterisk by their names just like they plan to do with all the baseball records of all the steroid users.  Those Bowls are always going to be tainted now.
• But that is what players are suppose to do - Yep.  Defensive players are suppose to get to the quarterback and put a stop to him.  Yes, they get paid to do that.  Yes, that is the rule of the game.  But there are other rules in play too, and therein lies the issue.  You are not allowed to go after a person with the intention of permanently damaging him because someone is offering you quite a bit of cash under the table to do so.  I believe in this country that falls under conspiracy and battery.
• Hines Ward retires - So he will never have to wear another uniform of another team because the Pittsburgh Steelers are "the greatest organization".  Yes, I already wrote about this in a previous blog, but he is that great and deserves another mention.
• Peyton Manning - So John Elway smooth talked his way into Manning's ear and promised him what?  Can't believe Manning chose the Denver Broncos, but what do I know of his relationship with Elway?  I love Peyton Manning and cheered for the Colts because of him, but I won't cheer for the Broncos.  I hope Manning can still play because the game and the NFL needs him.  I just wish he hadn't succumbed to Elway.
• Tim Tebow - Poor Tebow.  Elway inherited him, never cared for the quarterback, and has now shipped him out of town for the aforementioned Manning.  Personally, when I heard that the Broncos were going after Manning I figured Tebow would welcome him with open arms and learn everything he could from him as the back-up quarterback.  I was actually hoping Manning would make Tebow great.  Maybe Elway was afraid of that too.
• And what was he thinking? - The Jets?  Elway did that on purpose.  He purposely picked the nastiest, most foul mouthed coach and sold Tebow to him like a slave on the block.  And then said he would want his daughter to marry Tebow?  Oh, please.  Watch your back Manning.  Elway loves that he is the King in Denver and he is hoping you will win and make him look even better, but if you usurp his throne he will not take it kindly.
• And what was he thinking? - The Jets?  I think Tebow picked them over his hometown Jaguars just to stick it to Elway.  Send me to that nutcase Rex Ryan thinking I can't handle his "f" this and "f" that?  Was this Tebow's way of raising his middle finger to Elway?  The Jets have more problems then the coach's filthy mouth and as a player I wouldn't go anywhere near that locker room.  I have a lot of worries for Tebow's future, and I like the kid.
• The Jets management - Seriously?  They didn't read the contract before agreeing to the trade?  And then wanted a do over?  Such a rookie mistake.  Hello?  Didn't I just say that this team has problems?  Obviously, they start at the top.  Tebow has his work cut out for him.

Missing him

I have only a vague memory of going to work with my father when we lived in Pennsylvania.  The memory is one of me playing with the water cooler.  The cups were those little white cone shaped cups and I was really thirsty and kept filling them up.

The man absolutely loved to be in front of the camera as much as he loved being behind the camera.  I've never met anyone since that can smile and pose as quickly as he did when a camera was pointed his way.

This picture is from an event I should one day blog about because it was a typical Russ story.  This is the access to the attic where we had birds living.  This picture, as you can see from my apple-doesn't- fall-far-from-the-tree writing on the photo, was the beginning as he went up to survey the scene.

 Doing what he loved best on his farm.  Always ready with a hook and a pole near any type of water.

And he was damn good at it!

I found him out here golfing in the back yard one day.  Just practicing some chipping.  Took his photo.  Right after this shot he then looked up and posed for me as usual.

He was a kind, funny, gentle, man with a loud booming voice and large chest that didn't really go with his demeanor.  He enjoyed people.  He enjoyed talking.  He enjoyed his occasional Manhattan.  I learned a lot from him, and hope that I keep his outlook on life.  Miss him.  Cheers Dad!

Hines Ward - Always a Steelers

This afternoon while at the foot clinic with Connie I got the word via Twitter that Hines Ward was holding a press conference to announce his retirement.  When I finally got home to see the conference in its entirety I bawled my head off.  Here is a guy who feels he can still play the game, who received interest from other NFL teams, and realized that despite all of that he could not in good conscience put on another uniform.  "...deep down inside my love wouldn't be there," Ward said.  He absolutely could not picture himself in anything other than black and gold and so he is retiring from the game of football.  Retiring so that he can always, for the rest of his life, be a Pittsburgh Steeler.  Unbelievable.

Just wish the NFL owners, organizations, coaches, players, fans, and Roger Goodell would pay attention to the words he had to say.  This is what football is for me.  This is what football once was all about.  The lack of this type of dedication and faith is why there was a lock out this past year.  Yes, yes, it is a business.  But who is to say that businesses can't be run with this type of loyalty?

Congratulations and thanks to Hines Ward for his decision, for his dedication, and for his love of the game and Steelers Nation.  I'm so thankful that I was able to see him play in person in Pittsburgh.  There is too few of him in the NFL today.

"The black and gold runs deep in me and I will remain a Steeler for life," said Ward.  Amen to that!

Pictures of our visit with the Wassons

The first day we headed to the beach so that we could walk along the shore and drop off Darcy at a birthday party.  When Scott started talking to every fisherman along the marina Robin, Kristen and I went looking for some liquid refreshments.

The beach day was a very nice one with a gentle breeze that warded off most of the heat.  And the liquid refreshments helped that too.

Kristen spent a lot of time with Elliot poolside.  While she did teach him to shake, she never quite got him where he liked to lounge in the pool.

We spent a day running Connie to her appointment and getting pedicures.  We kept trying to get a photo of all three of our toesies, but alas, I only captured mine.

The last night of their visit was spent fixing a clog in the air conditioning hose.  I had rigged it enough to last until Tom got home, and attempted to help him when he did get home, but decided his grouchiness was more up Scott's alley then my own.  The two of them rigged up a system with the hose, a towel, some duct tape, and a piece of piping.

My thoughts on that little system....but it did work in the end.  It also flooded our garage, but who is keeping track of that little mess?

This little guy showed up the morning they headed out.  He was searching for and eating lizards.  A delicacy in these parts of Florida.

Darcy's Science Project

This week in Darcy's Life-skills class she and her classmates have had to parent a "flour baby".  The point, of course, being that teen pregnancy is not easy STAY AWAY FROM PENISES.  Madison did the project last year only they had to carry an egg, which didn't really make sense to me since the teacher made it a hard boiled egg in case an egg would break in his room.  Sort of defeated the whole purpose, I thought, which is maybe what he thought since this year he switched it to a 5 lb. bag of flour.

The kids were to keep a journal.  They were to treat the flour as if it were a real baby; feeding it, bathing it, babysitting it, diapering it, etc.  While they were in class the babies would be in the science room in daycare, but the students were to bring in diaper bags with all the necessities to care for their children during lunch and breaks.  Unlike Madison's class, Darcy's class wholeheartedly embraced the whole assignment.  The weekend they were to get the flour pictures were texted of the babies that were born.  The babies had faces and clothes and diapers.  Darcy went through all of her doll stuff to make sure her son, Tommy, was outfitted accordingly.

Tommy went everywhere that Darcy went.  If Darcy had to be somewhere that wasn't a place for a baby then it was her responsibility to make sure Tommy had a sitter to watch over him.  Darcy took the assignment very seriously, as did Tommy's grandparents.  One night at midnight Grandpa Tom downloaded a video of a crying baby on his IPad and put it in Darcy's room so that she had to get up and feed Tommy.  Grandma Cara fed the baby in the mornings so that Darcy could get herself dressed and put together before school.

Me:  "Darcy, seriously, comb your hair!  You can't go to school looking like that."
Darcy:  (Tommy in her arms)  "That is a two handed job, and as you can see I don't have two hands at the moment!"

Even our company from Indiana got involved. 

Robin:  "Never put the baby next to a block of knives.  Look what can happen!"


Darcy:  "ROBIN!"

It is amazing how heavy a 5 lb. sack of flour becomes after holding it in your arms and bouncing around.  Much like - well - a newborn baby.  At one time or another all of us held little Tommy and took care of him.  Darcy was quite the little trooper staying on schedule with naps and feedings.  Only once did she not hear him crying at 4:00 AM.  Madison, Robin, and Kristen DID hear him.

The novelty began wearing thin about the fourth day, which was longer than I thought.  Darcy probably lasted longer than her classmates.  Some of them were over it after one day.  I think us being involved the whole way really gave her a perspective of what having a child is really like.  Hopefully she will STAY AWAY FROM PENISES for a very, very, very long time.  That's what I told her to tell her teacher if he asked what they learned from this assignment, but she looked at me and said, "Uh, yeah, not going to happen."

Baby Tommy sleeping.  Shhh....

Baby Angelica ready for the pool

Baby Tommy poolside

Fish fry...er...grill

Scott started his vacation out with a deep sea diving all day expedition.  He hopped aboard the huge catamaran and worked his butt off catching grey snapper, which he then had to filet when he returned.  He spent over an hour fileting the fish and had two left to do when a couple wandered by his spot on the marina and asked if they could take a turn fileting.  Turns out the man had been watching the boat crewmen filet the fish as they came off the boat and the man believed he could do it a better and more efficient way.  Scott wanted to know where the hell he had been an hour before, but he did allow the man the opportunity.

Tuesday night we decided to cook up the fish and have us a big old feast.  Everyone got involved.  Robin and I shopped for the sides and spices, heading to our local meat market for some added seafood....shrimp and jalapeno crab dip.

Tom was home early to ready the grill...with Elliot's help.

Inside the house Scott washed and cleaned the fish.

While Robin spiced it up with Kerrygold garlic and herb butter, cajun spices and blackened spices.

I made the side dishes.  We had long grain wild rice, green beans with almonds, broccoli spears, and roasted peppers and potatoes on the grill.  All smothered with....of course...

,,,my new stand-by - the Kerrygold butter.  The feast was a huge success with various drinks and key lime pie for dessert.  Afterwards we relaxed and Kelly told her finger story. (I've decided it should be its own book.)

Scott fished another day and my refrigerator is now full of delicious gray snapper.  I foresee plenty more of these types of poolside fish parties this spring and summer!

Don't cast stones

Robin and I were talking about facebook and getting reacquainted with high school classmates.  We started looking through some old photos I had and we told her daughter stories about the people in the pictures.  At one point we got to laughing at a picture of someone and how homely, nerdy, and pitiful they once looked.

Then we ran across this picture and decided we should shut the hell up:

The last time...

My friend from grade school and her husband and daughter have arrived this week for a visit.  In honor of this I went through photos of the the last time they visited me in Florida....

 I lived in my apartment then with my friend Kim.  All five of us squeezed into our two bedroom apartment.  They came and visited me at work and I gave Kristen some swim lessons.

We visited the beach

Where we built sandcastles

Then after Tom and I married and Robin had her son Kurt they all visited us in the house that we still are in today.  Kurt turned one while they were here so we had a big celebration.  My house doesn't look the same as it did back then...

But then neither does she...