happenings on my bad weather day

It’s been a good day. I’ve been rather lazy, but loving every minute of it. I changed from pj’s to sweats in the afternoon. Yesterday was my neighbor’s memorial service. It was tough. Both his daughters talked and his granddaughter had written a letter to her papa that her aunt read with her holding the letter---that was the saddest part. I had the hardest time writing his daughters a little note because my mind and heart were being flooded with memories. Simple little things like talking over the fence to each other about our kids, his grandkids, and our dogs. I remember once we called him from Sweetwater and asked him to go check to make sure we had turned off the water to the pool. I remember how much he loved his doggies. One dog had died of cancer and when he had found out she was sick, he came over and talked to me about it and he had gotten tears in his eyes talking about it.

When we got home, I was pretty tired and fell asleep watching What Happens in Vegas. Sometime after 9:00, I found out we weren’t having school. I had mixed feelings about it. I know, I know, that is crazy, but all I was thinking was missing a day off later when we have to use one of our bad weather days. I had hoped for just a 2 hour delay, but I’ve enjoyed my day. The ice didn’t melt in time for us to have a late start anyway. Hubby was here until after lunch.

My baby girl graduates in 3 months and 18 days!!! That is hard to believe. Now I must come to the realization that holidays will be totally different because she could be working on some holidays and j and k will be alternating Christmas and Thanksgiving at our house and k’s parents’ house. Hopefully, the kids can get on the same schedule for the holidays. I tend to worry early and over analyze certain situations---like Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year J & K & S will hopefully be here for Thanksgiving. I naturally would prefer Christmas, but J & K were here this past Christmas. Sooooo it’s K’s parents turn. I’m already thinking, “No one will be here on Christmas Day” My baby girl will be working. Hopefully, our friend B will still come over or else I shall be in utter despair. I’m thinking a few days after Dec. 25th, hubby, daughter, and I will drive to J & K’s house and we will celebrate Christmas then. It just makes me sad to think of family traditions changing and my kids getting even older and starting traditions of their own. So in December Hubby, don’t let me get too sad and if I get too touchy, grouchy, or unbelievably hard to live with, just wrap your arms around me and tell me you love me and that everything will be fine. To my friends--early warning---I’m anticipating sadness.

I’ve done better at the last couple of movies I’ve been to. The 1st movie with no flowing tears was Bridewars, and then Last Chance Harvey. They were both enjoyable and I would recommend them. Hubby did not see Bridewars--it was a girls’ outing.

A very sad movie I did see though was Slumdog Millioniare. This movie is nominated for several academy awards, rightfully so, I might add. It’s set in India and is about 2 orphan brothers. This movie is hard to watch, but has a story that needs to be told.

Each day I check Kelly's blog. Harper has been making progress every day, but today was a very special day for them. They got to hold her and feed her for the first time. It was so touching.

Weekend Wrap-up

It’s been a good weekend although there were a few moments that almost got me really depressed. First, I went to the movie, Gran Torino, and Clint Eastwood was an amazingly good ole codger. The movie was good, but it was filled with offensive racial slurs, but I guess that's what this movie is about. Clint played Walt Kowalski, an angry Korean War vet. This movie evolves around his personal struggles and the struggles of his Hmong neighbors. It has its flaws, but overall I would say it’s worth seeing. Kleenex warning though which happens to be like the 4th movie in a row where I cried. The first was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, 2nd Revolutionary Road (which I don’t recommend at all--it's a real downer!!), and 3rd Marley and Me. Biggest tears were at Marley and Me (which included some sobbing) and then Gran Torino.

My sweet baby girl, who is 4 months away from nursing school graduation, had an extremely tough day at work yesterday. One of the pediatric patients on her floor passed away. I can’t imagine being as strong as she is going to be in her job considering that while typing this I’m getting tears in my eyes. She will be an excellent nurse though and I’m crossing my fingers that she gets a job at Children’s Medical Center or Cook’s Children’s Hospital.

I’ve been eating better this week and I am feeling better. I’ve been loving the taste and texture of all the crunchy vegetables I’ve been eating. The food stand-outs for this week would be my newly discovered love for couscous (with lots of crunchy carrots, broccoli, red peppers, and a little finely chopped onion, lime juice and seasonings), whole grain tortilla roll-ups with cream cheese spread and finely chopped fresh vegetables, and spinach artichoke dip. I also had my 1st attempt at cooking with tofu. I did a stir-fry and it was pretty good. I liked that it was spicy and the veggies were crunchy. Hubby liked it and I really appreciate his support of my vegetarian lifestyle. I did make his favorite meatballs today in the crock pot. They are so easy to make.

Yummy Juicy Meatballs
1 bag of meatballs from Costco
1 32 oz jar grape jelly
2 jars of Heinz chili sauce

Combine grape jelly with 1 bottle of the chili sauce and warm in microwave to semi melt the jelly. Fill crock pot with meatballs and pour jelly mixture and other jar of chili sauce. Stir and cook on high for 3 hours and then reduce heat to low and cook for 4 more hours. It’s actually ready before then, but it gets better when it cooks all day. The big bag of meatballs doesn’t all fit in my crock pot so I keep some in the freezer. If you want them to cook faster, thaw the day before in your refrigerator. The meatballs are a family favorite especially at Christmas. They make the best sauce that it wonderful to dip bread into. Mmmmm! Almost makes me rethink being a vegetarian.

Secret Life of Bees

Why are people so cruel?
On Friday, Oct. 24th, hubby and I went to see Secret Life of Bees. I hadn't read the book so I can't compare the two, but I did love the movie. I cried. It made me sick when I saw the cruelty and prejudiceness of some people. I found it hard to understand how people could be so incredibly MEAN. I am thankful I was raised in a home of love and not of hate for others. My mama always told me to live by the golden rule, "Treat others as you want to be treated." I believe hate and prejudice are learned behaviors and parents should realize that children learn what they live. A verse from Proverbs 22:6 sums up what I believe: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Well, off my soapbox and on to the movie. I love Dakota Fanning and she played the part of Lily so well. What a difficult life Lily had lived, but she did not let the cruelty of her dad, T. Ray, become her downfall. Thankfully, she had Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson), a nanny and housekeeper, that showed her kindness and love. Queen Latifah played August, the eldest of 3 sisters and the primary beekeeper. I felt this was quite a different portrayal for her, and she played the part with strength and love. I say 5 stars. Go see it!! It has a message. One we need to be reminded of. That's all I got. How do you like that?