Having a great time

 I am having a wonderful time with my grandson, although I have to say he has much more energy than me. My last week with Sharon, Remy and Ethan was terrific. I love that the kids love my dad and always want to see him so we headed to my dad's for a few days and that was great too. Remy is teething and has some stomach issues going on right now but we still managed to have a great time. We played and ran around and just plain had fun. Sharon and Remy went home on Wednesday and Ethan is staying till July 11. He has already worn out his Me-maw and pap so tomorrow we are going to a movie and going to stay in the air conditioning cause central Ohio has been a scorcher.  O well I am going to get off and try to get some rest. But I will leave you with a few photos.

Hodge Podge

1. What do the words 'freedom' and 'liberty' mean to you? Does your mind go more in the direction of not being persecuted or discriminated against or does it head in the direction of doing what you please?

Freedom and liberty mean America to me. I have many freedoms in this country I would not have in other countries including this blog.

2. Nathan's sponsors a hot dog eating contest every 4th of July. Last year over 40,000 people attended the event and almost 2 million watched it on TV. The winner ate over 60 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. How do you like your hot dogs?

Just ketchup for me. Heinz ketchup is best!

3. If you were going to enter an eating contest what would be on the menu?

Pizza or chocolate would be on my menu! Maybe both!

4. Do you run your house more as a dictatorship or a democracy?

definitely democracy. we talk about it then I usually do what I want or he does what he wants.

5. Where was your favorite summer place when you were a kid?

One of two places we used to go to a water park in Ohio called Holiday Sands.
I spent a big part of my childhood here in the summers. Sadly it is no longer there. Or  Kennywood park! Loved them both!

6. Do you have a guest room? Would you want to stay there?

My daughter and her family or my son and his family.

7. Next Wednesday America celebrates her independence. Do you have any special plans for the 4th of July? If you live outside the USA when and how does your country celebrate its own patriotic holiday?

I think my grandson and I are  going to go back to my dad's house cause hubby is working.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am having a wonderful time spending time with my daughter and grandsons. Remy the younger one is teething two year old molars and he is getting pukey.  But we are still having fun. He is fine then starts coughing because of allergies then it well you figured it out. My daughter and Remy are leaving tomorrow but older grandson Ethan staying until July 11 when I take him home and stay there a few days.

Anticipation

My daughter and grands are coming tonight. They will get on a plane on the west coast at 1pm which is 4pm our time. They will get here at 11pm our time which is 7 pm their time. I am so excited to see them!!!! I can't wait to hug and kiss all of them even my daughter as she complains "Mom!" She loves it she knows she does! One of my biggest prayers is that she and her family will move back east closer to home. I do get to see them several times a year but it is hard! My son lives in up state SC just moving back with his in-laws to start a new job and new future for his family. I haven't seen him in a while either. They do not have money to travel as much, and and with my financial situation now it is not easy.
Anyway, I will be a bundle of nerves all day while my daughter and her boys fly. But it will be so wonderful when they get here!

Wednesday Hodge Podge

1. Summer officially rolls in with the Hodgepodge this week, for those of us in the Northern hemisphere anyway. What song says summer 2012 to you?

I really do not have a favorite summer song. I do not listen to the radio much unless I am listening to classic rock. Then I like the Eagles, Queen, and that kind of music mostly. I also listen to Christian music  Mercy Me, Mandisa and Matthew West.

2. What's your favorite quintessential summer food?

I Love summer salads like potato salad, taco salad, and fruit salads. Yum!!

3. I've spent a lot of time traipsing up and down the NJ Turnpike in recent weeks. Did you know the rest areas on the turnpike are named after people who lived or worked in NJ? Clara Barton, Walt Whitman, James Fenimore Cooper, Molly Pitcher, Joyce Kilmer, Thomas Edison, and Gover Clevland just to name a few. Of those I listed, who would you most like to have known and why? 

I think Thomas Edison just because his invention changed the world.

4. At what age did you move out of your parent's house and what prompted the move? 

I moved out of my mom's house the week before I turned 18; because of a fight with my sister before school one morning and not getting along with my step-dad. I moved into my dad's where I stayed until I was 20. That year we went to a Christmas party and our designated driver was the drunkest of all so I spent the night in Kevin's apartment. When I got home my dad told me I could be grounded or move out. I moved out and in with Kevin. We got married in Sept of the next year and will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary this year.

5. What's more satisfying to you-saving time or saving money?

I am not sure. I never have time for anything or extra money. I guess I should like saving money since I am unemployed now.

6. Name something you think brings out the good in people. 

Crisis. We American's are great in a crisis, but we forget quickly.

7. This last question comes to you courtesy of Kathy over at Reflections...will you be taking a vacation or a staycation this summer? If so where will you go? If a staycation is on the calendar have you made any special plans to fill the time? 

Not actually this summer but in September for our anniversaries my hubby and I, and my cousin and her hubby (her hubby grew up with my hubby its how we met) are going to Punta Cana for our anniversaries. They will be married 31 years, us 30.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am very excited my daughter and grandsons are arriving tonight. My daughter and younger grandson Remy will be here till June 28. My oldest grandson Ethan, he is 6 is staying a while.

It's Hodge Podge time!!

 



1. In what way are you your own worst enemy?

I doubt myself about everything. Should I wear this does it make me look fat??  Should I eat this?? Can I pass this test?? Will I get a job?? I doubt my self about everything. I know I do it but I just continue...

2. Jacques Cousteau's birthday was Monday, June 11th...ever been scuba diving? Is that something you'd like to try? What's your favorite 'under the sea' creature? 

 

I would like to try but I am terrified. I am claustrophobic and I do not think I could breath right in the mask.. its the mask that scares me.

I did go snorkeling and I loved it we were in the Bahamas with a cruise and tried it. It was so much fun and beautiful! 

3. On a scale of 1-10, how comfortable are you in and around the water? (1=not at all, 10=very) Do you know how to swim and if so how and when did you learn? 

 

10, I love water!! I learned to swim when I was a child. My parents and other families used to go boating and had shelters on an island in the Allegheny River. My sister and I loved the water so my dad put life jackets on us and dropped us off the end of the dock. We were told to swim back to shore. We floated a while then swam. (My dad was just out of our site watching us all the time to make sure we were OK...we just did not know...so we did it.) and we have loved water ever since.

4. What's something you do to motivate yourself to tick an item off your to-do list?

5. What makes a good neighbor? Are you a good neighbor? 

 

Someone who minds their own business and is quiet..Sounds rough I know I am sorry. i think I am a good neighbor.

6. Who loads the dishwasher at your house? Is there a right way and a wrong way? 

 

My hubby and I both do...When he does there is his way when I do it there is my way but we don't fret about it as long as the dishes get clean.

7. You know it's summer when_________________________. 

The heat starts, I lived in SC so long it was just hot all the time. Now since I have been here it has been up to 88 degrees and I have not turned on the air yet. The humidity in the south is so thick it is like walking through pea soup. I don't feel it up here.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

Another thing I love about summer up north is lightening bugs/ fireflies whatever you call them. I love them!! I sat on my porch a few nights ago trying to take pictures most just looked dark one looked like a UFO. I found much better pictures on Google.

 

 

Weekend Wrap Up

I have decided to join a post of weekend wrap up for the summer while I have time off.

 

So my weekend was basically a lazy weekend until last night. Friday night I sat at home and watched TV. Saturday evening I looked out my bay window in the living room to find tons of lightning bugs flying around my yard. I love lightning bugs!! SO I took a few pictures that look more like UFOs than lightning bugs, but o well. I sat on my rocking chair on the back porch and off in the distance saw some fire works. 

My weekend ended last night after I got a sudden burst of energy and decided to clean the whole house. I ran the sweeper, cleaned the kitchen and then relaxed to my facebook games.....Our dog Tia who is 13 years old and on her last leg got sick on my clean carpet...the spot is all I will show but it was much worse...down the hall into the living room...YUCK!!

Until next time......

Its a Day by Day Thing

I guess you have noticed if you have read my blog for a while. My life is a day to day thing. As is all of ours. But my emotions seem to lead the way in my life, even in my career. I was awake till 4am this morning so when the alarm went off for church I did not hear it. I know it must have been something I needed to hear. So I will listen to the pod cast although that will not be as good because there will be no praise music before to praise my Lord and Savior. I am going to church women's study tonight and committing to going. It will be a challenge when Sharon and the boys are here but I will do my best.

I seem to get myself in a slump of depression; even when I know it is in the Lord's hands. I guess I am just a microwave person wanting my answers right now or else....Maybe that's one of the things the Lord is working on....

O well I am off to bible study...we will talk later...

haven't really felt it

I know I said I was ok with the not having a job and filing for unemployment but I guess I am not really. I have been bored. We have no money because we lost an income but I suppose I could find things around here to do. I am doing my school work and things I have to so around the house like dishes and laundry but....

I am going to church and Bible study tomorrow something I have not been able to do with this job... That will be good.

Good night for now...

Hodge Podge Time!!

1. How many students were in your high school graduating class? Did you know most, if not all of them?

 

There were 112 in my class and yes we knew everyone. The school is not even there now the town is a ghost town. It is sad really. I went to high school in Duquesne, PA. Where United States Steel thrived in the 70s the went belly up in late 80s and ruined the whole town. It never recovered from loosing the steel mill. It is sad really.

2. What was the last thing you photographed?

 

 My hubby and I drove North one day last week wanted to go to lake Erie in Ohio. Ended up in a port town called Port Clinton and took a few pictures posted them last week but here is one again.

This was the last one I took wanted the blue sky 

the moon is in the center.

3. Pickles-love 'em or loathe 'em? If it's love what's something you eat that needs a pickle?

 

LOATHE them can't stand the smell the taste anything!! Yuck and if I get a sandwich in a restaurant that has a pickle with pickle juice on my bread I can not eat it.

4. What's a stereotype you perpetuate without meaning to?

 

Gosh, sometimes I perpetuate the dumb blond stereo type and I hate it. But sometime I just do dumb things!!

5. Ever been horseback riding? If so, is it something you enjoy? If not, do you have any interest? Did you watch the Kentucky Derby? Will you be watching the last leg of the Triple Crown this weekend?

 

I have been horse riding once. I liked it don't know why I never did it again. I normally do not watch the horse races. But I loved the movie about Secretariat.

6. What's your favorite wedding movie?

 

At first I was mainly thinking about my best friends wedding cause I love Julia Roberts...But just know I remembered  My Big Fat Greek Wedding! O my goodness I love that movie cause it was so much my family growing up. Italian and Greek not to much difference in that way!

7. What is one 'tourist attraction' in the USA you'd like to see in person?

 

The Grand Canyon. I would love to see it.

I would also love to see the Statue of Liberty again. I saw it when I was 16 years old with my mom and my aunt, my sisters and cousins. We were supposed to be on the ferry to Liberty Island but instead we went to Stanton Island. That trip is a whole blog in itself....maybe a book... LOL But she did look breath taking standing there!

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

Well, It is official. I was terminated today for a job I was recruited to do and never got to do. They recruited me for my oncology experience and it was named oncology but it was not oncology. It was mainly heart stuff and I don't do that could not pass the test to do it so I was terminated. I do have options but I think I am going to call for unemployment tomorrow and wait until my grandson goes back home in July. my daughter and two grandsons are coming ever June 20 and older grandson Ethan staying until July 11.  I am ok with it all. My last blog will let you know why. it is all in God's hands!

All I can say right now is WOW!!

All I can say right now is WOW! I am stunned in a good way!


As you know I have been stressing about my job; wondering where I am going to work and stressing some more. I have cried myself home several times lately. I have been praying and reading the psalms and proverbs (should be daily but it is almost daily). Then after reading my Bible I have been stressing some more. I have stressed over the tests I have to take for this job; stressed over not having the right patients just stressing my self out! Well after my last encounter with the not so nice people at my work.
I stressed again. then thought to myself I am the one making me unhappy. So I posted this as my facebook status

Life is truly what you make it. When bad things happen or things you do not like or understand you can dwell in the bad and make yourself feel miserable or you can hand the situation over to God and put a smile on your face and go on. His plan is always much better than mine.

So, I choose to be happy! -

I meant it I really did. My hubby and I had a nice day trip to Lake Erie and I did not think about work at all.

OK so now the WOW part....... I was working last night and got a few spare minutes. Since I have to take the telemetry test again on Monday I was making flash cards and writing to study for the test and drum the stuff in my brain. There was a doctor at the nurse's station and the girls and he were talking and laughing so I decided to put my ear buds in my i-phone and listen to some music to block out the banter going on and just study the stuff. So I was listening to the random music....Tim McGraw...Mercy Me....Billy Joel...Matthew West.....Tim McGraw again....then Beth Moore came on. I heard her voice looked at my phone and hit the arrow for the next song. Something told me to listen to Beth Moore almost like a question in me that said "Wait what did she say???" So I went back to the Beth Moore study. It was her study on Esther. (I have this on my i-pod but did not realize it was on my phone I thought I only had music.) Anyhow she was talking about the dinner Queen Esther had with King Xeres, her husband and Hamon the aide to the king who talked him into signing a decree to kill all Jews on a certain day. Now Esther was a Jew herself. Her plan was to out Hamon to the king so the king could know how evil Hamon was and save her people. King Xeres told Esther she could have what ever she wanted for making such a wonderful feast for him and his aide up to 1/2 of his kingdom. (here's the good part!) But Esther realized it was not time. She had prayed about this as had her people and now was not the time to tell the king about this awful man. She waited for God!!!! She waited for HIS timing! She could have told the king how evil this man was and demand his head on a platter but it was not yet time for the king to see the evil this man had done. So she waited!! 

Ok folks I don't know about you but there is my WOW moment!! God told Esther to wait. I was listening to random music on my i phone not even knowing this study was on my phone and all the sudden in the middle of my random music I get a Bible study about waiting for God's timing! I think there was a message for me there!!!!!! After listening to the study I felt so peaceful and excited......then the next random song came on it was Sherry Baby by the Four Seasons, nothing special.  

I guess I got my answer about where I am going to work......God has a place for me.....he is getting it ready for me.....All I have to do is wait! I am not very good at that waiting thing but you know what God knows that too because He knows me and when I need it again He will either lead me where he wants me or........