Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Do you think the world became a more dangerous place on September 11, 2001 or did we just become more aware of the danger? How has your own life changed as a result of that day?

I feel more aware of the danger since that day and think it has always existed. My life has changed since that day...more patriotic and proud to be an American. 

2. Did you think your parents were too strict when you were growing up? How about in hindsight?

My parents had rules and expectations but not overly strict, you knew the consequences to your actions and weighed if it was worth breaking them. First time I was grounded was while visiting my friend in Dallas, we broke curfew and her Dad grounded us.....still laugh about it.

3. Share one random but candid fact about yourself.

I'm a lefty.

4. Would your nearest and dearest describe you as simple or far too complicated?

Simple with a bit of complication at times!

5. What is your favorite stadium or carnival food?

Hands down Cotton Candy....I know gross but I love it! 

6. Tornado, hurricane, earthquake...how many of these natural disasters have you experienced? Which event do you think would be the scariest?

A week ago I didn't' feel the earthquake though my daughter did. I was in California about 19 years ago and experienced one it was minor but still scared me. Sunday  Irene did  a number on Northern NJ where I was visiting. Still shocking to see the devastation on the news. I think they are all scary, you don't mess with Mother Nature. I would much rather experience none of the above again.

7. Labor Day weekend is approaching so a work related question seems appropriate. Growing up, did your parents assign you regular chores? Were you paid for doing those chores? If you're a parent do you assign chores to your own children? Why or why not?

I come from a family of 5 girls, we did our chores every Saturday the house and yard divided by 5! You woke at the crack of dawn to get first debs on the vacuum. No playing with friends until it's done, we received an allowance can't remember how much! My daughter has chores and receives an allowance.  I remember once when I was in HS and wanted to go to the movies with my friends and had zero money. I asked my Mom for movie money she said sure after you vacuum my car....but my friends are here in the driveway.....they watched and waited why I earned my 5 bucks! Won't want it any other way.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I had a wonderful with my sisters and their families.....the hurricane was an interesting twist in it all but luckily other than loss of power, no flooding in any of their homes and that is a blessing. My heart  goes out to all those effected by Irene's wrath....my thoughts and prayers are with all those touched by this storm. 

Can't believe tomorrow is the first of SEPTEMBER !! Enjoy the last of August all! 

Stop by Joyce at From This Side of the Pond for more Wednesday Hodgepodge. 

Katelyn and I hopped on one of these for a quick flight to NJ.....we are visiting my sisters, doing some tax free shopping and checking out some sites in NYC.

 Hopefully hurricane Irene will change coarse or Katelyn will have experienced in one week a earthquake and hurricane.

Have a great week and weekend see ya after the storm! 

Be safe!!

Twelve years ago at the piercing kiosk at the mall I made a bad call. Katelyn was five years old and we were getting her ears pierced. She was scared and instead of having one ear at a time done I had two girls pierce her ears at once. One ear piercing was really low and twelve years later it finally split resulting in what we refer to as her butt ear!

Butt ear no more.....Katelyn's earring hole split back in November, it looked like a butt crack.

We had to wait five months just to get an appointment with a plastic surgeon and another four months to get a surgery date. This minor procedure could not be fixed by a regular doctor or in the plastic surgeon office. Don't you think a little crazy glue and bam good as new. Heck no, surgical center $$$ surgeon cost $$$$$$ insurance covered NO! The price of vanity and accessories priceless! 

Twenty minutes or so later she was out and on our way. Several stitches and some sterile strips later in a couple months she can get it re-pierced. And my accessory girl once again will be wearing her favorite earrings and not have a naked butt ear!

Happy Friday all!

Today.....

I'm sporting a new do that I ♥

feeding my body a yummy protein shake

Picking this one up from the airport, 

after a quick visit to Utah.

I missed my baby so much!

What's your today like?

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Using what's in your frig right now what sort of meal would you be able to make for guests who are knocking at the front door this very minute?

Well not a hardy meal would be served....I have lots of eggs, cheese, yogurt and berries! I could whip up an omelet or a yummy protein shake! 


2. What is something about yourself that you hope will change but that probably never will?

Maybe my thinning hair or able to do a normal pushup instead of a girl one! 

3. What's something about yourself that you hope will never change?

The kind of friend I am....to others.


4. Do you usually send serious or funny greeting cards? Why?

Serious more than funny....depends on who I'm sending to.


5. Bird watching, shell gathering, or star gazing- your choice for whiling away the hours?

Shell gathering....listening to waves crashing....finding the perfect one!

6. Do you double or triple check things? If so, what?

Yes....if the door is locked, stove off, hair straightener off anything that could start a fire needs to be off and possibly unplugged! 


7. What's your favorite place for people watching?

The mall for sure, but the airport is pretty good too! I love people watching.....people are pretty interesting! 


8. Insert your own random thought here.

I love fall, it's my favorite season! But come on retail....is it really necessary to already have Halloween candy!! I love candy corn it's my weakness but mid August to start eating candy corn could be  a diet disaster. Damn you retail sabotager's !!




Stop by From This Side of The Pond and say hi to Joyce and other Hodgepodge ! 

Happy Saturday!!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. If you could work for any one government agency which would you choose and why?


I would say something in the Elderly and Aging sector, mostly because they need someone to look after their rights and be cared for. 

2. How difficult is it for you to forgive someone who refuses to apologize?


At first difficult and over time I just consider the source. Some people never see the wrong they do and will never change. So it's just best to realize they are who they are !

3. What is your favorite meatless supper?


Cheese Pizza....Chunky Salsa Wrap....we rarely go meatless in this house. Hubby is a big believer in balance of protein and carbs!

4. Wednesday August 10th is National Lazy Day...will you be celebrating? If so, tell us how so we can be lazy too.


I wish it was today....because its pouring rain and a perfect day to be lazy! I never plan on being lazy ....somedays it just happens. Maybe watch too much TV and play some cards.
(wrote this Tuesday) 

5. As a child did you have any special back to school traditions and if so, what were they? If you're a parent did you carry on those traditions with your own children?


None that I can remember, other than we always had a new outfit and shoes. School supplies and new lunch box. I loved the feeling of excitement and fear of the first day of school. For my daughter we do the same new clothes, supplies etc.. maybe a special breakfast and a little note in her lunch. Always a picture!

6. Write a summer tongue twister.
?????crickets......????? crickets.......?????

7. Would you be interested in observing a surgery or do you turn away when the nurse brings out the needle?

No way the sight of blood, wounds, flesh yikes I'm gagging thinking about it....needles I totally look away!


8. Insert your own random thought here.

Speaking of needles. Yesterday I took Katelyn to the dentist for X-rays and cleaning. Our dentist in Utah is my brother in law and he is awesome...the gentle painless kind. This place was so different than I'm use to not sure if I'd go back. Fist of all they don't use Nitrous Oxide that ended it for me! I need the gas to get the shot, I need the gas to have my teeth cleaned. I said to the lady why don't you have the gas here and she said we believe you should face your fears...WTF! Why when there's calming gas to ease my pain and fear! She said I will be hard press to find someone here that uses Nitrous! 
Do you need Nitrous when you have dental work? 


Joining Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond today for Hodgepodge come join the fun! 

Busted

My hubby has started riding is bike again adding to his already strict workout routine. You see his numbers for his cholesterol came back high, but that's another story.

While ridding his bike one early morning he was parked adjusting something on his bike when he felt eyes on him. You know the feeling when you feel like you are being watched. Out of the corner of his eye he saw him. A life size plastic Santa in the window of the house he stopped in front of. Santa startled him and when he got home he knew I'd love the story. You see I have issues with Christmas decorations still up in August. I don't mind lights that's hard to take down but wreaths and Santa's I have issues with, keeping them up is one thing but having them lit is another.

(Not the Santa but one like it)

I half didn't believe him, so we did a drive by later that night....I was all I wish I had my camera with me. So last night somewhere between 8:30 and 9 we went for a drive. I had my camera flash off and ready to go.  The house is on a busy rural road, but at that time of night on a Sunday it was deserted so we stop for a second it's not lit so we slowly but quickly drive on. At that very moment we pass a Sheriff and he turns around and lights come on, back up shows up! Holy He double tooth picks we are being pulled over......for what I'm thinking! I said to my hubby were you speeding No! So the officer pulls his car right up to us and ask us why we were stopped in the road in front of the house? When I say we stopped I mean it was a second if that. Seriously!

When we knew he was turning around, my hubby said we are going to be pulled over I said please don't tell him it's for a picture for my blog...I don't want to go there. So the officer shinning his bright light in our car wants to know why we are stopping. My hubby starts telling about his bike ride and seeing the Santa and me not believing and he was just driving me by to see. The officer quickly is like okay okay okay like I don't have time for this stupid story move on!  We laughed and laughed all the way home.

Seriously the trouble we have gotten into trying to take pictures here in rural WNY! It almost can't be done.

Now I want that Santa picture more than ever!!

Sunday in My City

When we moved here a year ago I was really confused about many differences of Western New York. Now after living here a year.....I'm still confused! Maybe it's because I've never lived rurally before. I know I'm semi rural because I have a Target 15 minutes away and not an hour.

One of the things that drives me crazy is people park on the grass, perfectly good driveways or streets to park on. But no they park on the front lawn. We live in what I consider a nice neighborhood and when we looked at this house two of their cars were parked on the grass in-between trees.

I stopped asking people why WNY's do certain things because they look at me like I have three heads.
In defense of people here or anywhere that park their cars on the grass...our grass here is not nice it's not smooth when you walk on it. It's probably a fancy relative of crab grass!

So why am I telling you about this parking issue I have....because we are now those people!

I know crazy right!! Our driveway is long and narrow. We have a teenage driver now and no where for her to park. So off the end of the drive she goes. In our defense it's temporary, we are getting bids to extend it and she is only parking there because I have almost back into her car way too many times.

That's whats going on in my city....Stop by Unknown Mami and visit more wonderful cities!

Friday Fragments...

Happy Friday!! 

*** Like all weeks this one went by so fast...But I feel like I got a lot done. All our back to school appointments are made...dentist, allergist, hair and eyebrows check check and check! 

***It finally rained this week...the grass is happy and I welcomed the break from watering. My garden looks bad, I really thought I'd be out there a lot. It's been to hot and humid and buggy. The black flies have been bad this summer. Their bites hurt, my poor legs are covered...so my garden has suffered. 

***I've been sucked into watching really crappy TV even though I have several books waiting to be read. Have you ever watched Toddlers and Tiaras? Omg hard to watch and hard not too....some of these little girls are such brats and their Mothers....train wrecks! Another is Millionaire Matchmaker sucked in so easy.....unbelievable people and some real A holes out there. Okay I know step away and pick up a book! 

*** Have you been watching Shark Week? Andy Samberg from Saturday Night Live is hosting....been pretty funny. Glad I had my beach trip before Shark week, not that I'm a big ocean swimmer but still! 

*** I have been loving my iphone app Instagram I call it Instacam just to piss Katelyn off. Been taking non stop pictures of absolutely nothing which also pisses her off! Like this one....

***I spent too much time this week in two separate car repair places....came home with life stories on 

both the managers of said places...not sure who needs friends worse them or me! Might get wings with them next week if they aren't too busy! 

Have a wonderful weekend!

 Stop by Mrs. 4444's at Half-Past Kissin Time,  Friday Fragments I bet she doesn't get sucked into watching crappy TV! 

Hello August...

I'm really glad to see you August...

I hope you bring cooler weather...

The count down to school starting...

School supplies stocked high in the stores...

The rush to finish all the fun things you said you'd do this summer...

Organizing and gearing up for the year ahead....

Oh the thought of fall around the corner....

Crisp mornings....light sweaters.....ahhh! 

I love August....

Black and Whites from our LBI trip...

Happy Wednesday!! 

Joining Lisa at The Long Road to China today for B&W Wednesday!