Sandwich

I helped B. get to work on time this evening by offering to finish making his sandwich. He gladly accepted, giving me specific instructions about what to include or leave off. I dutifully made it...carefully slicing cheese very thinly and ensuring the correct meat to cheese ratio. And then, I cut it in half. I knew the minute the knife touched the bread that he did not need or want his sandwich cut in half...but I couldn't help it. I was already 'in-cutting-mode'....so I kept going. My thumbprint was on the bread when I finished - so I flipped it upside down on the plate and hoped he wouldn't notice the dent. He didn't.

But of course, he commented 'Mom, I haven't cut my sandwiches in half since I was 4'. I said 'I can't help it - it's habit'....he was less than amused. Oh well. He'll live.

He eats sandwiches a lot lately 'cuz he's very particular about what he eats. I pointed out Lean Cuisines and Stouffer's frozen items in the freezer; salad fixings in the fridge; etc. He opted for his usual - a sandwich - which is mainly because he allows himself only about 5 minutes to eat before he has to leave for work - and he wasn't even dressed for work yet when he started making the sandwich. Argh! Makes me crazy but I'm learning to just let it be.....

H. is at a friend's birthday dinner celebration. So, I did the unthinkable and made myself steel cut oats for dinner - including extra to have ready for breakfast tomorrow. I went to lunch with a friend today and we splurged and had sushi! I was stuffed and decided that was pretty much my full amount of Weight Watcher points for the day - so oatmeal is a good idea. It's high in fiber, which lowers the points. It was good. I'm stuffed again. J. had leftover chicken and rice from a couple nights ago. So we're 'done'. I like oatmeal..especially Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut Oats. They are so 'hearty'. Not 'soupy' at all. I love them!

Yes, I'm doing Weight Watchers. No, I won't tell you how it's going...but it is going. Little by little and that's half the battle. It is slow going to lose what's been gained. But that's ok. I'm on a good path and it's starting to work. I do feel a lot better (already) and know it's 'cuz I'm not eating as much sugar and other junk.

Vacation will start on Friday and end Wednesday next week. I have to work at least two days to get board stuff ready. We splurged and got FOUR tickets to Wicked (yes, AGAIN) and we're ALL going into San Fran next Wednesday to see the show and have a nice lunch. The kids are 'on board' and all my raving about the show has apparently convinced them they will have a good time. I know they will - we will enjoy it! I can't wait 'cuz it is an absolutely fantastically magical show.

It's after 8 and I will turn into a pumpkin in 45 minutes - so I'd better head upstairs to sand blast my face clean (just kidding) and get warm and toasty in bed. It's only 52 degrees outside - of course, it's a(nother) cold front 'cuz we spent a couple hundred $$ over the weekend and planted our beautiful garden...hope they make it. It rained this morning! I went out to water the patio pots and they were soaked! If I'd known it had rained, I could have slept in another 5 minutes. Oh well. I have been 'sleeping in' the past few mornings - until close to six. I'm slowly getting used to not leaving the house until after 7 - and am learning to not feel 'late'. I'm not late. I'm just not as early as usual...but I need the sleep.

Can't wait for six days IN A ROW of sleeping in! And even on the two days I will work next week, I have no intention of getting there before 8.

Spring Break is almost here!! YEAH!

Break

The only thing making the thought of returning to work after 5 days off tolerable is to know that Spring Break starts on Friday, April 2nd! OFF for 10 full days - sort of. If you don't count the one or two days I will need to work to prepare for the board meeting that follows Spring Break.

At least next weekend will be another 'long' weekend - Friday, Monday & Tuesday off FOR SURE....hopefully followed by at least 1/2 of Thursday and another Friday off! Something to look forward to....and something to get me through the busy four days ahead.

We did a lot of work outside - especially J. who really gets down on his hands and knees and weeds and digs and plants! We have added soil and manure to the flower beds and planted. Also planted lettuce, squash, tomatoes. Tomorrow, I'll finish planting some herbs and the last of the annuals. It's looking pretty out there again - weed free and things blooming. J.'s tulips are beautiful and the freesias are too.

It was great to be off. Never fired up my laptop once....back to the trenches tomorrow, though.

Earth Hour

We are sitting in a dark house. Not a single light on. Just computer screen(s) and a TV.

Did you sit in the dark for an hour this evening to join tens of millions of other people in the world who did this today?

Check out the before/after pictures from around the world:

http://www.myearthhour.org/

AMT

More posts in draft stage (including some pictures from our trip to SF on Thursday)...but I have to state for the record:

Alternative Minimum Tax, I loathe you!

We are paying FIVE TIMES what we paid last year. It's not like I'm not aware we will usually/almost always end up writing a ginormous check to the IRS & State of California every year. But this year's checks will be more than FIVE TIMES what we paid last year.

DARN IT!

Makes me really glad I didn't splurge on the totally unnecessary but oh-so-pretty bauble I found at Macy's on our anniversary. 'Cuz if I had purchased it, I'd be marching myself back attempting to return it right about now.

We are going on a strict budget for the next few months to replenish our savings after I write these checks. Makes me sick.

On a good note, I'm thankful we are both gainfully employed with a warm home, clothes and food.....and glad we do have the savings to pay the tax man. I know we are blessed - and I thank God for that every single day. Twice - at least.

I stop my rant and return you to our regularly scheduled programming.

Twenty

Twenty years ago this morning, I was awake early - up before the sun. I was visiting with the mother of the bride over coffee.

Twenty years ago this morning, I was anticipating the arrival of my sisters and niece and matron of honor. Looking at the dress hanging from the ceiling on a plant hook and still not quite believing the dress was mine and this day was really, truly happening.

Twenty years ago this morning was the most important day of my life up to that point. And even still, it remains on my life's top 5.

Twenty years ago this morning, I knew my life was changing forever. I felt happy. And exhilarated. And a teeny bit nervous.

Twenty years ago this afternoon, I got over my weird inability to never have a good smile when photographed.

Twenty years ago this afternoon, I literally beamed in every shot. I was glowing. And floating. I smiled gladly and often and never once had that slightly 'nervous' smile I'd always had in most every other photograph I'd ever been in.

Twenty years ago today, smiling became easy....because smiling came from inside from that point forward. Not something I had to 'try' to do. It just happened - almost instantaneously. Happiness ensued.

Twenty years ago today, we were thinking ahead to all the 'what if's' of our newly married life. 'In 10 years, we'll be..... . In 20 years, we'll be.... .' We're at that place now - 20 years forward with exactly what we expected - one kid in college, another still in high school. We're almost 50 and 61 years old - and here we are, exactly where we'd predicted we'd be. It's not like we didn't plan it - but yowza, it's a wee bit more complicated then we imagined.

Twenty years ago today, I married the man of my dreams. The man I knew was destined to be the father of my children and my life-mate within minutes of meeting him on a blind date.

Twenty years ago today, exactly 18 months from the date of our first date, I married J.

It's gone by so quickly......and I can't wait for the next 20+ years. Hopefully, in 20 years, we will both be happily retired and have no adult children living in our home. We will enjoy Sunday dinners with our kids and their kids - and long vacations, sleeping in every day, spending long, dreamy days with each other just 'hanging out'.

Happy Anniversary, J. I love you - and I'm taking you to the Orpheum Theatre in San Fran tonight to see Wicked. I'd kidnap you and stay at the St. Francis with you but you're not getting any younger (ha ha) and you need to get your eyes checked at 8:30AM Friday AND take B.'s car to get smog checked so I can mail in the registration payment.

It's a hectic, somewhat 'average' life we lead - with our lists of things that must be done - but I wouldn't have it any other way. We'll spend the day in the city with some shopping and meals and enjoy an awesome show and head home to our own bed.

Probably better 'cuz the part I never imagined 20 years ago was how we would hesitate to leave our not-quite 17 year old son 'home alone' for one night. We sort of glossed over that part of the 'what if' scenario, now, didn't we?

Ahhh....such is life. Such is our life.....

I don't think either of us would it any other way.

Twenty years ago today, I said 'I do'. And so did he. And we lived happily ever after.

Meanderings

I did not finish the taxes. In fact, I didn't really even start on the taxes. Just couldn't get into doing it - it's something I have to find the 'mood' to do. Good thing I'm off Wed-Fri this week and Wed is a 'home alone' day - plenty of time to grab the ginormous folder labeled '2009 Taxes' and get 'er done. I did watch New Moon several times....sort of lost count. I only saw it once in the theater and was totally enjoying listening to the music more carefully the 2nd, 3rd and 4th time through....which will only make me enjoy the soundtrack on my iPod even more. I am obsessed. I admit it....there's no explanation for it. I just loved the books and the movies are awesome also.

I awoke this morning with a bad headache which is doubly horrible because today is massively crammed with meetings. Lots of meetings. Tomorrow is the same. But then, I'm OFF for three days - plus two days of the weekend - so five entire days of NO WORK.

Unless you count yard work, laundry, doing the taxes, etc. as work.

Let's not and say we did, 'kay?

Happy Monday. I'm going to take a Mars bar with me for my afternoon slump....every thing's better when you know you have a Mars bar available.

Mars!

As if today wasn't great enough - being a sunny Saturday and all - my trip to WalMart resulted in me seeing Mars Bars at the check out stand. My all time favorite candy bar has been re-introduced in 2010!! YEAH! I resisted the urge to buy cases and cases of them - and bought a half dozen instead. I just ate one....it was delectable. So glad they are back because they are one of the best candy bars EVER!

New Moon in five minutes. Taxes in ten. No nap today. Having too much fun in the sun to sleep.

Bought tomato and squash plants too - so have some planting to do!