Say a Prayer for Aunt Bev

I received a phone call from my mom yesterday that my Aunt Bev has lung cancer and it doesn't look good.

They have been treating it as pneumonia for the past six months and finally she demanded that they take an x-ray. You would think that would have been the first thing they looked for. After all, she is in her 60's and has smoked since she was six or seven.

It is doctors like these that make our health care costs through the roof.

I know that she cannot use a mesothelioma lawyer, but she might need to protect others from this quack. He most certainly needs to stop "practicing".

In the 80's

This weekend is suppose to be our first weekend of summer weather. Now we had snow on Thursday and 80's on Saturday. Ahhhh New England you gotta love it. This is the reason why we are always sick in this house.

We go from winter coats to shorts in two days.

I will be thankful that we didn't have much snow and it didn't stick. I will also be thankful that I can finally put some shorts on. I don't know if the rest of the neighborhood will be thankful about that or not........

Just for Jason

Jason, I read your posts on facebook about your cigar habits. Although for the life of me I cannot figure out what the appeal is, I wanted to let you know about the Rocky Patel site that I just found.

Our neighbor Peep'in Tom used to smoke his cigars outside and we would have to close the windows. Oh well, I guess whatever makes you feel successful.

I asked your Dad if you smoke in front of his grandson, but he didn't know. Well?

I hope you enjoy the site and pass the information along to all your cigar buddies.

I'm Done

I am done being an adult. I hate making unpopular decisions even though I know it is the right thing to do. I hate going to work everyday, even though I really do enjoy my job. I hate for my paycheck to be spent before I even make it.

I hate not being able to spend money on fun and exciting things because I have a car payment, rent, and other necessary bills to pay. I want to take an entire paycheck and go clothes shopping. I want to eat whatever I and not feel like crap afterward, oh and not gain a pound in the process.

I want, I want, I want.........

The funny thing is bible study this week was about "not complaining". I guess it is not working for me.

No I am not ignoring you

In response to the email that I received from a loved one. I am not ignoring you, I am just thinking. I am thinking about many things, both positive and negative. Give me time to digest things and pray about the situation and I will let you know if Orlando vacation packages are in our future or not.

I will say this much..... This summer is going to be very busy. If it is half as busy as last summer or as his Spring Break, I am in a little bit of trouble.

Died and gone to

HEAVEN! Nashua now has an IHOP. This morning the family and I got up early and made the 30 minute drive back to the old neighborhood just so we could eat IHOP. As we were waiting for the restaurant to open (what kind of breakfast joint doesn't open until 7:00 a.m.) I started reminiscing about the last time I had eaten breakfast in a restaurant.

Would anyone like to take a guess at my answer?

I have not gone out to eat breakfast in over three years....... and the last time was at the IHOP in Springfield MA.

It was fantastic! CAL enjoyed himself so much he came home, went to bed and didn't wake up until 1:40 pm. The Hubby and I had quite the conversation about that.

Exercise at home

The hubby made an interesting comment the other day. He said that he felt he was losing weight because he had to constantly go up and down stairs during the day. Our new home has three levels, the basement, the living room - kitchen, and the bedrooms. The floors are joined by two sets of stairs that contain 13 steps in each. The hubby is up and down those stairs numerous times a day.

The business is in the basement and he has to make several trips down there and then the office is in the bedroom so each time he is taking both flights of stairs. Gosh, I feel like I need to start staying home so that I can get more exercise.

This method might be better than weight loss pills, but I doubt it. Frankly if I don't get off my duff and get exercising I am not going to have any summer clothes to wear. Those silly things shrunk again this winter.

In a daze!

I have something...... Not sure what that something is yet, but I definitely have something.

It could be a cold, it could be allergies. For the first time ever, I am treating it as allergies from the start. The problem is that I cannot handle allergy medicine. Either I am stuffed and my ears are plugged (have you ever tried to talk on the phone with plugged ears) or I am shaky and medicine heady. It is a no win situation.

I could not wait for my time to be up at work today. I had to make several phone calls and I felt sorry for the poor people on the other end.

My voice is irritating to listen too, I cannot imagine listening to me on a phone.

The Bridegrooms - Blog Tour

My latest book review is on a novel called The Bridegrooms, by Allison Pittman.

This book most certainly was not what I expected, although it was enjoyable. Vada Allenhouse finds herself in charge the mother of her three younger sisters, after her mother left the family when she was just eight years old. From that point on it was a topic that the children we not allowed to discuss with their father, Doc.

Her life changed forever when The Bridegrooms came to town. Now here is the funny part. The Bridegroom are a baseball team. Yes historical fiction and baseball all in one. This is not your average book.

The books details the lives of the four daughters and their quest to find a husband. Oh I long for the good old days when my only worry in life was to find a good man. I did that 18 years ago next month.

If you would like to enter my drawing for a free copy please, leave a comment saying you would like to be entered. I will place your name in a hat and announce the lucky winner on here. I will hold the drawing one week from the post date. It will be YOUR responsibility to contact me and provide a mailing address, I will only mail to a US address and the shipping will be free. Everyone is eligible to win, if I excluded friends and family it wouldn't be much of a contest. I will say that you are only eligible to win once a month. How is that?

This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah. They were also very kind in sending me an additional copy to use as my giveaway.


Don't forget to leave your request to be entered in my give-a-way in the comments.

Home early

I came home from work early today because I am pretty sure that someone hit me with a MACK truck when I was not looking.

I don't know whether to treat it as allergies, cold, or the flu. I think I am going to treat it all three ways and fly high this weekend.

I ache over my entire body. About the only problem that I don't have is acne. I won't be need the acnefree review today. I am sure the only reason I don't need it is because I have been unable to eat all those acne causing foods today.

The good news is that I am starving so we will have to see how dinner will sit.

Making a list

I have been making a list of items that we need to purchase for the new apartment. The rules are simple it has to be more than a want and we have to pay all the bills for the month and THEN purchase something from the list.

It keeps getting long and longer but not just because we are adding but we are not deleting. I need about a ton of gold coins to make a dent at this point.

We have large windows in this house and because we are so close to everyone else we need blinds. The blinds for this size windows are ridiculous. There are at least four windows that require these expensive blinds.

A grill, I am going to pitch a fit if we cannot make this purchase soon. A microwave, I thought I would go crazy without a microwave but honestly I really only need it for popcorn. Screen.... Screen? Yes we have a screened in porch that has a big hole in the screen. The landlord informed us before we even moved in that the screens were something former tenants have done and they will not be responsible for fixing them. I love this little (and I do mean little) deck it is going to be fantastic on a hot buggy night.

Summer camp for CAL. Wow I think I better stop now because this is just becoming too depressing.

Easy come...... Easy go!

This afternoon we actually saw the sun and it was warm enough to think about taking off the thermal underwear......... Now that I am home the clouds are rolling in and it is getting colder by the second.

I am tired and don't feel well but I am sure it is nothing that a little warm weather and sunshine couldn't fix. If we could just get a little warmth and sunshine life would be perfect.

A day to call my own.

Oh how I would love to just have a day to call my own. This weekend was so busy it was like there was no weekend at all.

Saturday we were suppose to attend Work day our church but it was just too darn cold, with all the global warming and all. We ended up grocery shopping and then to the church anyway to set up for Sunday and CAL had a teen event.

Sunday we had to be to the church early and stay late. It was almost 10 p.m. before we were done with our duties.

Then I had to be to work by 7 a.m. this morning. I feel like I live at church and it is causing me to have dark circles under my eyes. I am not accustom to this busy lifestyle.

Thankfully I was able to come home a few minutes early today and we don't have anything on the agenda tonight. Yea!

Forget Me Not - Blog Tour

My latest book review is on a novel called Forget me Not, by Vicki Hinze.

I enjoyed this Christian mystery from beginning to end. A mysterious women wakes up in the woods after being car jacked. She has lost her memory but a card with the Crossroads Crisis Center and the handwritten name of Susan is her only clue.

"Susan" arrives at the center only to learn that she is the spitting image of the owners dead wife Susan. Quickly it becomes clear that someone is out to kill her but the reasons why, remain locked up with her memory loss.

This book was a page turner and I would highly recommend it! It had a Christian theme from beginning to end.

If you would like to enter my drawing for a free copy please, leave a comment saying you would like to be entered. I will place your name in a hat and announce the lucky winner on here. I will hold the drawing one week from the post date. It will be YOUR responsibility to contact me and provide a mailing address, I will only mail to a US address and the shipping will be free. Everyone is eligible to win, if I excluded friends and family it wouldn't be much of a contest. I will say that you are only eligible to win once a month. How is that?

This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah. They were also very kind in sending me an additional copy to use as my giveaway.


Don't forget to leave your request to be entered in my give-a-way in the comments.

The Hubby is Goofy

I am sitting here blogging and talking to the husband. All of the sudden I hear snoring and turn to look at him. He is sitting at his computer, mouse in hand, fast asleep. I start to giggle and he then tries to pick up the conversation where we left off.

I give him a strange look and then inform him that we were talking about the best shampoo for thinning hair. He looked so confused. Honestly we were not talking about that but he cannot prove it one way or the other.

Long week at work

This week was one for the record books. We have a seminar coming up and I did a lot of the grunt work to make it happen. Several trips to Wal-mart and Sam's. I will be glad when the event is finally over, the only problem is that in two weeks there is another one and I am in charge of all the food for that one. This week was good preparation for the next, and I am very thankful to have this practice run.

I was able to get lots of good ideas and I would love to make a fantastic impression on the "main boss". While I am nervous, I think that I can handle the work and maybe prove that I am capable of being more than a grunt.

Wait....... I like being a grunt.......... Well maybe I could get more hours..............

Water Cooler Conversations

We don't have a water cooler at work but, the ladies do gather outside the cubbie walls to chat quite often.

The conversations vary and sometimes we push the envelope, considering we work at a church. Don't get me wrong these conversations would be considered tame on a regular work environment. The conversation today was about being sick and the sickest we have ever been in our entire lives.

I think I can say with certainty that the sickest I have ever been was after I started taking prescription prenatal vitamins. I was fine with the ones from the drug store but the prescription strength just put me over the edge. It was probably a good month before I thought about questioning them with the doctor.

Another Marathoner

WB might have a little competition the next time she decides to run a marathon.

Yesterday CAL wanted me to walk down to Cumberland Farms to their Chill Zone and get a drink with him. Just as we started to leave the house he challenged me to a "run". I took him up on it but told him it would have to be a jog and not necessarily a race.

I ran about two blocks and then we came to the main street and I didn't want anyone that I might know to see my pathetic running abilities (or lack there of).

After we purchased our drinks we decided to continue to the other side of town walking. We saw several people that we knew and took our time singing songs and having a blast mother - son style.

Then CAL thought he would give me another challenge. He asked if I could run about a half mile back to the house. I said that I would and started jogging. I made it the half mile but thought I was going to die before I could get home. CAL was several hundred feet ahead of me and kept yelling "Let's go". Just before I was sure I was going to collapse I used what I assumed was my final breath to scream "SHUT UP".

I wanted to go for another run tonight (because even though I thought I was going to die - it felt great) but shortly after arriving home today CAL lost his cookies. We are not going back to church and I don't think a run is on the schedule.

It's finally here

The new season of Deadliest Catch begins tonight at 9 p.m. I have no idea if I am going to be able to stay up that late because I am usually in bed reading at that point.

This season is going to be a tear jerker. Captain Phil will be missed and I am sure that it will be the topic of conversation on each show. I wish the captain had switched to electric cigarettes, he might have added a few more years to his life.

Captain Phil was not my favorite captain, however, I really like the Hillstrand brothers on the Time Bandit. They are always laughing and having a great time. You rarely see them upset, yelling and cursing. I am sure that they get the least amount of beeps!

The hubby has his class tonight so I really think watching this is going to be a possibility.

Tuesdays

I really am not a fan of Tuesdays. Work is boring on this day and I tend to become very stressed when I feel like I am not "earning" my paycheck. I think today might be a shopping day for me, that way I won't feel like I am must sitting around. I have several things to purchase for upcoming events and it will make the day go faster.

Summer to do list

Yesterday the three of us chose two things that we wanted to accomplish this summer.

The hubby immediately said that he wanted to see the ocean. Last year was a very difficult summer for us and he didn't make it. He had to think about his second activity.

CAL would like to climb Mt. Monadnock. I would love to do this again, but honestly I need to lose some serious weight before I could complete this climb. I think I better get off the couch, stop watching hours of Deadliest Catch, keep an eye on the lipozene reviews, and get in shape. This is a very aggressive goal. CAL's second item was to go to Niagara Falls with his dad. Last year we went during the week in New York with my mom. This would be a great vacation for this family - that has not had a vacation in years, but we will have to see.

I wanted to climb Pack Monadnock, which is much smaller than MT. This is probably more do-able but I will do my best to accomplish both mountains. The other thing on my list was to see the Isle of Shoals. Whenever we go to our favorite beach in New Hampshire you can see the Isles off in the distance and they look so inviting.

Relaxing Weekend

This past weekend is my favorite type. We didn't do a thing, and it felt fantastic. I held down the chair in the living room and watched a marathon of Deadliest Catch. I could watch that show for hours and this weekend I proved that.

There were several shows from Jan 2009 and it was really strange to know that a little more than a year later Captain Phil would no longer be with us.

Today it's back to work. I know that I only work part-time but it feels like I live at the church. Last night on the way home from Sunday service, CAL decided to start complaining about always being at the church - we had to stay late to take down chairs. Both the hubby and I made the decision that we can skip all future teen events. That went over like a lead balloon.

Windshield

I mentioned in my other post that I have to get a windshield repaired today. Shortly before we moved, the windshield in the Jeep broke. We were just driving down the road and hit a small bump and we heard it crack.

At first it was pretty small and we didn't really think much about it. It only took a few days before that tiny crack spread across the entire windshield.

The crack in the vehicle at work is pretty small, but they have to take the van on a long trip next Monday, and will be gone the entire week, so I have today to get the silly thing fixed, today. That task along with everything else is making me a little goofy. I really need to get my day going.

Oddly enough the boss states that it is not covered under our insurance. That sounds very strange, I think I would be looking at an infinity auto insurance review, if it were me.

Where is the hubby with my coffee? Every day he promises me I will get it sooner and every day 5:30 rolls around and I still don't have my coffee. I am going to fire that boy one of these days.

Must go shopping

I really have to set some money aside and purchase some summer/spring skirts. Corduroy is just not in style in the warmer weather.

The other day I had a wardrobe malfunction and didn't have any shoes to wear, so I decided to live dangerously. I wore my bright yellow Converse sneakers with a full length blue skirt. My shoes were the talk of the office. As a matter of fact I will be wearing said sneakers with my denim skirt today.

A co-worker actually talked me into bidding on a skirt on eBay. I really want the skirt but I am so afraid that it is going to be too short or not fit, I hope that someone outbids me and soon.

It's baaaacccckkk.

Break out the boots, the rain is back. It has been such a teasing spring here in New England. We had a couple nice days. I think one or two of them actually hit the 80 degree mark. Yesterday it was cloudy most of the day and a little chilly, and then today the rain arrived.

I know that the flowers, grass, trees, and ducks love this weather but honestly I am getting a little tired of all the rain.

The maintenance guys showed up with our screens yesterday. The hubby sent me an email at work that it was fantastic to have the windows open with the breeze blowing through. I was not able to enjoy that because it became fairly nippy by the time I got home.

I am looking forward to my window opening debut.

The next few weeks

are going to be so busy for me I just sit here at the computer overwhelmed when I know that I have to get going.

Today I have to run to Sam's to get prices for a seminar, pick up supplies for a banquet for tonight, get a windshield replaced in a vehicle, and then be a server at said banquet.

Next week I will spend most of the week preparing for the seminar. This is my first task like this and I am very thankful that I am not the one in charge, only a grunt.

Then on May 1st I will have another seminar and apparently I am the person in charge of most of the details for that little ditty. I will be in charge of set-up, clean-up, and the food.

I am really starting to settle into this job and I love doing this type of work. While I am overwhelmed, I am secretly enjoying it.

Grocery Shopping

I love to go grocery shopping with CAL. As a matter of fact, I let him come home a few minutes early today, so that we could stop and get a few things. He loves to go through the self checkout. My boy is a pro with the barcode scanner and I think he definitely has a future at a grocery store.

I personally do not like the self checkout because I just view them as taking away a job that a human could have. Support the human race and boycott the self checkouts. hahaha.

Walking distance

One of the many things I love about our new townhouse is that we live within walking distance to several restaurants, stores, and activities. The other night we decided to enjoy our "walking distance" advantages. The hubby and I went for a stroll while CAL payed with some buddies at our local park.

We passed three or four different ice cream establishments and didn't even stop, that would defeat the purpose of the walk, right?

There are still several interesting places in the oval that we have to try out, and there is a little market that is only a few blocks from the house that looks interesting. I hope this nice weather, that we have had for a few days, sticks around for the weekend.

Where is my coffee?

Yesterday I politely and calmly explained to the hubby that I needed my coffee a little earlier in the morning. I will not bore you with the TMI regarding this request/demand, but just take my word for it, I need my coffee earlier. It is now 5:14 a.m. and not only do I not have my coffee, I cannot even smell it brewing.

Honestly, what is wrong with him, he is up at 3:30 so you would think that he could have it made by now.

My husband is a praying man, he is up at 3:30 to read his bible and pray. I love that about him and it makes me feel safe and secure. He is so faithful about his routine. I hope he is praying about NC short term health insurance because that seems to be a source of stress for me lately. Oops that should read NH. I should be doing some praying of my own!

Actually I have been praying everyday before I leave to go to work, and it's working! My job is going much better and I am starting to settle in and not feel like I am going to be fired everyday.

I have to go yell and find my coffee...........

An Absence so Great - Blog Tour

My latest book review is on a novel called An Absence so Great by Jane Kirkpatrick.

I must be getting old, or very sheltered, or something of that nature because, I just don't understand Christian novels that have "worldly" themes. In this story set in early 1900's, Jessie Gaebele is running away from a bad relationship that has embarrassed both her and her family.

She is able to secure a job in a photography studio and starts to get back on her feet. Only later does she learn that the man she is running from is paying her room and board with the family she is staying with.

I did enjoy the majority of the story and loved the real photo's that she incorporated into the book. I also enjoyed the true to life details about the craft of photography.

I am sure that most of my readers will really enjoy this book and I would definitely recommend reading it. It is the second book in a series about Jessie Gaebele, but honestly I did not know that until after I had finished the book. It reads well all on it's own.

If you would like to enter my drawing for a free copy please, leave a comment saying you would like to be entered. I will place your name in a hat and announce the lucky winner on here. I will hold the drawing one week from the post date. It will be YOUR responsibility to contact me and provide a mailing address, I will only mail to a US address and the shipping will be free. Everyone is eligible to win, if I excluded friends and family it wouldn't be much of a contest. I will say that you are only eligible to win once a month. How is that?

This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah. They were also very kind in sending me an additional copy to use as my giveaway.


Don't forget to leave your request to be entered in my give-a-way in the comments.

I love to people watch

I love to sit and watch people. Tonight as the hubby and I sat on our screened in porch, we watched a couple load up the back of a pick-up truck. We commented to each other that they were moving and both started saying how much we love it here.

When the truck was loaded the female hopped in the back and was going to ride with the items. Both hubby and I started talking about how silly that was and all the bad things that could happen by doing such a goofy thing.

They started the truck and drove two parking spots and then backed in across the parking lot. Honestly folks both the hubby and I burst out laughing. We looked at each other and said "this must be an April fools joke". Nope I do believe they are definitely fools and they might have a birthday that falls in April, but this was no joke.

They could have walked the items to the new location much faster and easier than loading them into the back of a pick-up and then driving them there.

and the winner is........

MRS WHO!

If you would email me your address I will get the book out to you right away.

lukie at lukiesludicrouslore dot com

Congratulations!

I will be running another book tour with a give-away in the next few days.