Six Word Saturday

I'm finally starting to feel better!

Seven more days to Gina's wedding!!

I had to do two today!  

Make that three!  hehehe


Want to try your own Six Word Saturday? Go see Cate at Show My Face and link up!

Dear So and So

Ah, it's Friday again (I'm writing this on Thursday evening, but all day long I thought it was Friday) and Friday means Dear So and So!  Go visit Kat at 3 Bedroom Bungalow To Let In Crazytown.  She's the genius who dreamed up Dear So and So.  It's a great way to get shit off your chest say stuff you want to say to people but are too polite to do so.   So here's mine.

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Dear House guest,
You know I love you, but it's really time for you to get the fuck out of my house go back to Oregon.  I'm sure your mother misses you and that bi-polar brat of yours your darling 2 year old daughter.  It was (ahem) wonderful to see you and I'm sure I'll miss you when you're gone  (OK, even I'm not buying that)  (SATURDAY!!!  doing cartwheels)


Happy to be getting her peace and quiet again,
"Mimi"


ps.  and thank you for this GD cold that I can't seem to shake.  I'll be sending you a bill for my cold medicine you helped yourself to and all the missing tips I lost this week .  and all the yogurt your brat ate that was supposed to be my breakfast.

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Dear John,
I really do miss you since I haven't seen you since last Tuesday.  I know I've been too sick to make the drive to your house, since you're too stubborn to come here when my youngest in residence.  But that's your problem.  You say you are coming here "to take care of me".  We shall see, since you can't cook to save your life.  I see a lot of take out and food delivery in our very near future.


Love you lots!
Joanie

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Dear Bosses at my job,
Thank you for being understanding when I leave early every day because I really still feel like crap.  And thank you for not forcing me to go to the doctor since I don't have insurance right now, and I really don't want to pay $200 for my doc to tell me I have a cold. (duh!)


Swearing she'll be better soon,
Joanie

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Dear Gina and Gene (aka Eugina),
EIGHT MORE DAYS!!!!!!!  The wedding is in eight more days!!!!  I can't wait to party and have a great time on Daddy Dearest's dime (or $15,000)!!  I'm so happy for the two of you I could just burst!!!


Hoping she's the best mother-in-law ever,
Mom

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Dear Kimmy at work,
I'm so sorry, dear, but you really are too stupid to be a shift leader.  The fact that you were able to take over my station today at work so I could go home because Jess was selfish and took away your good station for herself before I got to work, was just me being nice.  My fault.  I'm sorry I even told you to finish up the shift at my station.  Trust me.  I won't be doing that again.  Besides, anyone who has 2 children and still insists on being called Kimmy (by people other than your parents and siblings) should not in charge of anything.


Still in charge,
Joan

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Dear Dani,
OH.  MY.  GOD.  'Smores turnovers are to die for!!!  I'm so glad I only had one though.  Any more would send my glucose levels through the roof!!!!  And dinner was really good tonight.  Thanks for making it so I could hide in my room for a while.


Love,
Mutti

Spin Cycle: Books!!

Even though I just did a reading challenge update, I saw that Jen, at Sprite's Keeper has brought back a favorite of mine.... The Spin Cycle!  This week's spin is about books.  What we're reading now, what are our favorite books and authors.  

Here's my spin.

I just finished Stieg Larsson's Millenium trilogy, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest.  I listened to these books in my car.  I loved them!!!  I was rooting for Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist throughout the books!  I'm sad that Stieg Larsson has passed away and we won't get to enjoy any more wonderful books from this gifted author.

The Pond is a wonderfully spooky book!   "A small boy drowns in a Pennsylvania pond, enters the ranks of the ghostly and seemingly returns decades later to haunt the family indirectly responsible for his demise." ~KIrkus Reviews   Although this story is strictly fiction, the idea for the book is based on an actual event that occurred many years ago in the Reading, Pennsylvania area.  You may have to get this book from Amazon, and it is available for Kindle!

Right now I'm reading False Dawn, the third of the Jake Lassiter series by Paul Levine.  Jake Lassiter is a former pro football player, turned attorney-at-law in Miami, Florida.  In the course of his job, Jake manages to find himself in the middle of murders and intrigue.  I like the subtle humor in these books too!

If you like beach books, you can't go wrong with any or all of Elin Hilderbrand's books!  All of Elin's books take place on Nantucket, and each story is unique.  The first book of Elin's that I read was Barefoot, about a woman going through chemotherapy for lung cancer and how her summer on Nantucket affects those around her, including her sister and her friend, as well as her husband and children.  I loved this book!  My favorite was The Blue Bistro about a woman working in a restaurant over one summer on Nantucket.  Maybe it's because I also work in a restaurant, I wanted to work here!!  If I did, I could have taken the rest of the year off!  All of Elin's books are wonderful!  I'm waiting for her newest novel, Silver Girl to be delivered to my Kindle any day now!

This is my new very favorite author, Sarah Pekkanen!  Her first book, The Opposite Of Me, I read in less than 3 days!  I haven't done that in years!  She was recommended by Jennifer Weiner (another favorite of mine!)  and I'm so glad she did!  The Opposite Of Me is the story of twins and how different they really are!  Not long after I read it,  her second novel came out, Skipping A Beat.  This one was equally enjoyable! Skipping A Beat is about a married couple whose lives are completely changed when the husband suffers cardiac arrest and he dies for several minutes.  Even Oprah says to pick up this book!  Sarah just finished her third novel, but I have to be patient, because it won't hit the book store until April 2012! 

So there are my recommendations for reading this summer!  Enjoy!

Random Tuesday Thoughts: so not ready for grandkids edition

I'm so glad Stacy took over Random Tuesday Thoughts.  I enjoy reading what others have to say and sometimes it's fun to just put down lots of randomness on "paper" (so to speak).


My daughter's friend is visiting from Oregon (the real Oregon, not Vodkamom's Oregon).  With her 2 year old daughter.  It's been interesting, to say the least.  My house is not baby-proofed.  I haven't had to worry about that stuff for quite a few years now.  I guess it's good practice for when I have grandchildren of my own.  But this kid is driving me up the friggin' wall!  I think God makes kids really cute so you don't strangle them.


Three times I caught Lillian scooping all the dry cat food into the cats' water bowl.  The last time I threatened to make her eat it.  She was making cereal for the cats.  


She keeps taking my Longaberger baskets and trying to stand in them. If she breaks them, Mommy will be replacing them.   


She keeps finding Sharpie markers.  That alone scares the crap out of me!  I have no idea where she's finding them.  


She has eaten all of my yogurt. Tell Mommy to buy your own yogurt. 


I retaliated.  I ate her Apple Jacks.


Oh.  She did give me something, quite unselfishly, I might add.  She gave me her friggin' cold!  Mommy brought her here with full-blown bronchitis and a fever.  I've been hacking up lungs since Thursday and missed 2 days of work, so far.  And Mommy keeps taking my Dayquil/Nyquil because she's sick too.


I have no idea when they are leaving.  She hasn't made her reservations yet.  I hope it's soon.  


Hack, hack.  Ah-choo!  

Reading Challenge Updates

I'm in the middle of 3 reading challenges for this year.  I'm making some progress, especially since I'm down with a lousy cold and I'm home trying to get well.  I seem to have lots of time to get some reading done!

I have a general reading challenge, called The Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2011. The Book Vixen is hosting this challenge! Click on the link to check her out!  I'm keeping track of the books I've finished here. Outdo Yourself Challenge.  So far, I have 29 books listed on this challenge. My hope is to read 100 books this year (I read 65 in 2010)  I'm not sure if I can get to 100, but I'm sure going to try! 

This next challenge is a James Patterson Reading Challenge.  It goes from September 1, 2010 to August 31, 2011.  I have to say I have read  far more James Patterson books than I have listed on my challenge.  Yvonne at Socrates Book Review is hosting this one!  The thing I like about reading James Patterson is he also introduces you to new writers.  At least one writer that I know of, Andrew Gross,  has gone on to write fabulous books on his own!  I just finished reading Gross's The Blue Zone and it was great!!  Couldn't put it down!  Anyway, I'm halfway through the JP Challenge, having read 8 of the 16 books I have listed.  Check them out by clicking on the link!

And last, but not least, I have the Nicholas Sparks Reading Challenge.  This challenge is also hosted by The Book Vixen.  Until I started reading these books, I never read a Nicholas Sparks book, or seen any of his movies.  I'm not a big Romance book fan, but these aren't like the romance novels I've read in the past.  I thought I'd do my best to see if I could read all of the 16 books Nicholas Sparks has written.  I have finished 5 of them.  To be honest, I've been listening to these on audio, in my car.  My list of all his books, and the ones I"ve finished, crossed out, can be found here.  I've discovered that I do like his books! 


In the past year, I have discovered many new writers (and some old favorites) that I really enjoy reading!   You can Google them to see what they've written.  I'm listing them below.  Please check them out!


Sarah Pekkanen
Maryann McFadden
Tamera Lawrence
John Grisham
Claire Cook
Amy Hatvany
Paul Levine
Lisa Scottoline
Janet Evanovich
Tess Gerritsen
Andrew Gross
Elin Hilderbrand
Stieg Larsson
Patricia Cornwell
Sue Grafton
and so many more that I have yet to discover!


So, what authors do you love?

Dear So and So

Dear Dear So and So,


I'm back!  Did you miss me?  


Trying to get back on the Bloggy Wagon,
Joanie

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Dear Dani,

Congratulations on finishing hairdressing school, and in record time!  I hope you do well on your exam, get your license and find a job quickly!

Love you!

Proud Mama (and former hairstylist herself!)

Joanie

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Dear Former Co-workers,

I'm VERY happy that some of you no longer work with me.  For the most part, you were lazy, inconsiderate and did little more than complain that you were too busy or not busy enough.  Those other restaurants can have you.  And because you work at those other places, I will no longer frequent those establishments.  I had enough of you when you worked here.

Good riddance,

Joanie

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Dear Friends,
If you like Dear So and So, and want to give it a try, just pop over to Kat's Place at Three Bedroom Bungalow, hook up with her Linky and add your own!  It's a great way to blow off steam, and you can read lots of other letters!

Love,

Joanie

True Confessions

I saw this article on Facebook by a new author that I plan to read in the next few weeks.  Her name is Amy Hatvany and her newly published book is called Best Kept Secret.  (you should read it!)


Anyway, on Facebook today, she put up a link about signs you might be drinking too much.  It's a short article, and one I easily could have written myself.  Here it is if you're interested. (with permission)


My story is slightly different, but the basis is very similar.


Back in December 2004, I caught my husband cheating.  He left at the end of January 2005 "to figure things out" and by that he meant "start a new life with a younger woman with no kids, a clean house, a slim body".  He told me he was living with his brother.  He was not.


My oldest child was away at college.  My son was in high school and my younger daughter was in 8th grade.  My son had a job but no car, so I had to pick him up from work.  


I "needed" alcohol to be able to get into that bed alone every night, the bed I shared with my husband for 23 years.  I'd wait until all the kids were in for the night before I'd start drinking.(sign #1, watching the clock. also rule #2, making rules)


I'd consume a magnum bottle of Merlot every night.  That's the big bottle they have in restaurants when they serve wine by the glass.  Or I'd down half a bottle of Captain Morgan with my Diet Coke with Lime.  I'd pour the rum right into the soda can so the kids wouldn't know I was drinking. (they knew) (rule #3, sneaking)


When I was good and drunk, I'd go to bed.  I have no idea how I functioned, but the doors were locked, lights were out, coffee ready for the next day, I woke up in my pajamas, in my bed.  A few times I had no recollection of doing these things.  I NEVER EVER intentionally got in the car and drove!!!


One time I started drinking early in the evening.  When it was time to get coffee ready for the next day, I realized I was out of coffee.  I can't wake up after a bender and not have coffee!!  My son had his driver's permit, so I had him drive me to the grocery store to get the coffee.  I wasn't drunk, but I had 2 glasses of wine and didn't want to take any chances.  I thought I was being quite clever!  I learned the next day that if we had gotten into an accident,  I'd have been arrested for drunk driving (or something like that) because my son was driving with someone was was NOT a responsible driver!  So don't do that!!!!


I did this every single night for about 3 months.  The funny thing is, I was going to therapy once a week.  I told my therapist what I was doing.  He was concerned that I was developing a drinking problem.  I told him that was not true!  I was doing this very deliberately!  I could stop whenever I wanted!  I needed this to be able to go to sleep.  Sigh.  So in denial.


What finally made me stop was this.  I was going to my therapy session on my day off.  I had drunk a large bottle of wine the night before, as usual.  One of my tires was getting low, so I stopped at a gas station to put air in my tires.  When I got out of my car, I bent over to fill the tire and I nearly fell over!  GASP!!!  I WAS STILL DRUNK AND I DIDN'T KNOW IT UNTIL THEN!  That scared the hell out of me!  I still had enough alcohol in me that I had lost my balance.  


I told myself that I had to get a grip and stop the drinking.  And I did.  That day.


I didn't have any alcohol for at least a year after that.  Now I can have a drink or two and be okay.  There are times, however, if I have a bottle of rum or tequila in the house I tend to have 1 or 2 drinks a night until the bottle is gone.  So I rarely keep any in the house.  Besides, with the diabetes, I shouldn't be drinking anyway. 


I have gotten past my ex-husband's cheating and leaving me.  I can even be in their company and be fine.  If you saw us, you'd think we were friends (trust me, we're not.  Maybe my girls get their acting talent from me after all!)  Suffice it to say if (or I'd like to think when) their marriage breaks up (oh yeah, he married her shortly after the divorce was final... no one went to the wedding), I will celebrate!!


Even 4 years of dealing with John's battle with Lymphoma has not driven me to drink.  My drug of choice now seems to be food, and junk food at that.


Today I'm happy.  My kids all finished with school.  They are living their own lives.  My oldest is getting married in a month.  And hopefully, at John next doctor appointment ( a few days after the wedding) we'll find out that the cancer hasn't returned.  We have our fingers crossed.  If not, then we begin the next battle to get rid of it.  And I'll do it without booze to help me.

Random Tuesday Thoughts

Geez!  I haven't done a Random Tuesday in ages!  I guess since Keely decided to go on Random Tuesday Sabbatical!  Happy to see Stacy has taken up the banner and is running with it!


The countdown to the wedding has begun!  Twenty-five more days!  I have my dress, my shoes, my bag, a cute new do.  Now if only I could lose 50 lbs in a hurry.  


My youngest child graduates from hairdressing school this Thursday.  I don't think there is any kind of real big ceremony.   She'll be coming home on Friday and will go to the beach with her friend's family on Saturday for a week, but then she heads back to Pittsburgh to get ready for her State Board exam and to find a JOB!


Things are settling down a bit at work.  Lots of new faces.  One VERY annoying new server who is pushy and is a liar (no way in hell did you make $115 last Saturday when your sales were about the same as mine and we stood around with nothing to do for a good portion of the shift).  His days are numbered.  I just wish that number would come up soon.


I still haven't mailed a postcard to Captain Dumbass.  I will, though!  I promise!


I was informed last night that Gina and her future mother-in-law are coming up to my house on June 15 for my dress fitting. (Jane is doing the alterations on my dress)  I thought I was driving to Delaware for the fitting.  Shit.  Now I have to clean my house.


The weather keeps jumping around.  First it's hot, then it's pleasant and warm, then the nights are chilly, now it's going to get hot again.  And with it comes the severe thunderstorms and chances of tornadoes (yep!  even in Pennsylvania!)  I used to worry that the high winds on these storms would knock over a tree onto my house.  But I need a new roof and now I keep hoping it WILL fall on my house!  I can pay the deductible!


I think I'm randomed out.  Now go visit Stacy @ Stacy Uncorked and leave your random link with her!

Six Word Saturday

Four more weeks until the wedding!!!

My daughter, Gina's wedding, that is!  This year just flew by!   And in 4 short weeks, July 2 to be exact, my favorite future son-in-law will officially become my favorite son-in-law!  Yes, I will blog about it and yes, there will be pictures!  Can't wait!!!

Want to try your own Six Word Saturday? Go see Cate at Show My Face and link up!