Hump Day Hunks

It is a shitty week. So it is time for some eye candy, at least eye candy for me.

Tom Hiddleston

Mr.Costello, my number 1 manwhore!

Benedict Cumberbatch

Neil Byrne & Ryan Kelly

Richard Coyle

Bucket List

When you sit around your house all day taking care of people, your mind starts to wander.

When you hit 40 and you feel like you've done nothing with your life, your mind goes on vacation.

My mind wants to go a lot of places, but most aren't possible now.

I have started bucket list of places I want to go before I die.

Thousand Islands, NY: I want to explore all the gorgeous castles there.
Put In Bay, OH: I read a book set  in this town this year, and it looks like a place I'd love to visit.
Chicago, IL: My other mother (my online bff for the last 10 + years) lives there.
Blackwater Falls State Park, WV (I love waterfalls)
Natural Bridge in Virginia
I'd also love to see the New River Gorge Bridge in OH and the Y Bridge in Zanesville, OH
Tours of the Wineries in PA

If I would somehow manage to fall into buckets of cash....I'd add London to my list too.

Diary Of An Exhausted Caregiver

Here are a few random things I've learned in the last few years taking care of my parents. It is something everyone should have in the back of their heads, unless they have shittons of money and can afford a personal nurse or a great assisted living home.

1. Wiping adult bums is a lot more painful than a baby's backside.

2. Heath Insurance companies are all asshats.

3. Hospice is not fun and some of the nurses are damn annoying. (Other nurses and aids are angels)

4. Check your life at the door, you won't have one for awhile. (There will be times when you feel guilty for wishing you had one)

5. No one  seems to understand what you are going through.

6. Sleep is a thing of the past.

7. It is never easy to deal with a loved one saying that they should be dead, when all you want is more time.

8. Your house will never be clean.

9. Your nerves will be shot.

10. Respite from caregiving is often not an option.

That said....I hope that none of you have to go through this. Watching a loved one in their last days, no matter if it is days, weeks or months....is a terrible thing to do.

Cat Thursday

Orange Julius from Critter Country Animal Park

The Please Family

Camera Critters

I was at Critter Country for my birthday, so I thought I'd share a few pictures of the peacocks at the farm!

As always the peacocks were flirting with the chickens instead of the peahens, which means that they had likely already mated and the girls wanted nothing more to do with the guys!

Hump Day Hunks: Men I Wouldn't Mind Spending My Birthday With

These shouldn't come as any surprise to most of you...oh and Bill and Mike, you are included ;P

The 40th B-Day Playlist

Ready to roll it out, but not ready to share as I haven't burned it. Stopping at 24 songs because of formatting issues. I may add more when it comes time to burn them.

Elvis Costello - Man Out Of Time
The Moody Blues - You're Wildest Dreams
The Beatles - Think For Yourself
Gordon Lightfoot - Carefree Highway
Nick Lowe - The Rose Of England
Duran Duran - Electric Barbarella
Erasure - Sunday Girl
Celtic Thunder - Whisky In The Jar
Justin Hayward - The Way Of The World
Keri Noble - Look At Me
Lady Antebellum - American Honey
Manfred Mann - The Mighty Quinn
The Monkees - Sometime In The Morning
The Band Perry - If I Die Young
Steve Winwood - Back In The High Life
Herman's Hermits - You Won't Be Leaving
Donovan - Jennifer Juniper
Diana Krall - Narrow Daylight
Deni Bonet - Last Girl On Earth
Keith Harkin - Orange Moon
The Sweet - Little Willy
Byrne  & Kelly - No Man's Land
Mika - Popular Song
Josh Groban - Brave

Hump 'Day Hunks

Let's shake things up with some different hunks this week.

Vintage Pictures

Here are a few pictures of my dad that I found this week from way back in the day. (So far back that I wasn't even born yet!)

My Birthday Project

This is a big birthday coming up in about 2 weeks.

The big 4 0

Blech!

I want to make a playlist of some of the truly special songs that have played a part in my life so far and I want things to cross all the genres I've loved in my life.

There's a lot of music to go through, but I can guarantee you'll see these artists in the mix:

Elvis Costello
Duran Duran
Erasure
The Monkees
The Beatles
The Moody Blues
Celtic Thunder
Gordon Lightfoot
Lady Antebellum
Nick Lowe
Oingo Boingo

Here's hoping I get it done in time...and then I'll put it on my little ipod shuffle and enjoy.

Cat Thursday

Hump Day Hunks

All of the Celtic Thunder Lads

Ryan Kelly and Eric Bogle (songwriter)

Ryan Kelly = Swoon

This video speaks for itself

Its Hard Letting Go

My dad's days are winding down.

I can't believe I'm typing that.

My dad is a strong man. I think even now he is battling with God, who is knocking on the door telling him, his time is coming, but he's telling him no.

I don't think I've ever felt such pain. I can't even begin to imagine what my mom feels like. This is the man she's spent all her life with. They've been married 62 years. That's more than half of her life.

My brother had the audacity to say his children don't want to talk to her, because all she talks about is dad. What is there for her to talk about.

Life isn't full of "the happy" right now.

Any person that doesn't understand that, is pretty unfeeling. Any person that would say that to their mother who is already grieving, should be kicked in the seat of their pants.

I can't believe a son would act that way when it comes to a father that loves him dearly.

But that is a rant for another day.

Keep us in your prayers.

Hump Day Hunks

It has been a hard few weeks, I know I've been a bad blogger, but there was no way I can blog much with my dad's health the way it is.

So, to lighten things up...have some hunks!

OK....this is scary..I wonder if Justin knows he has a much younger doppelganger.

A Little Leave Of Absence

If you follow my facebook page, you'll know that dad's condition is worsening. They sent him home from the hospital on Wednesday, not because he was improving, but because there was nothing more that they could do.

My heart is breaking, to see my father that 2 weeks ago was so feisty and so full of it being brought low. My heart aches for my mother, who is slowly losing the man she has spent the last 62 years of her life with.

I told her I was jealous of her, because I'll never have someone love me the way that dad loves her. It is true love at its finest. We should all be so lucky. Even when things don't go right, love is always there.

Pray for us....

As Always The News Is About Dad

Dad has been in the hospital for a week. That's primarily why I've been an absentee blogger. I just don't have the time or the words anymore. He had a bad reaction to a medication and then he developed and infection and as always, a very low blood count.

I'm trying desperately to get my life in order. To find some semblance of sanity somewhere. So far, I'm having no luck.

I'm also trying a new diet.

Caregiving is fattening, especially when there's no way of getting out of the house. When I'm not home, my nephew is in charge, and when he's sleeping, I am. And when dad's in the hospital, we all worry. When I worry, I eat.

In the last 3 years, the weight I've gained is embarrassing. I'm not a lazy person. I'm always running around, but I'm a stress eater. I admit that. And I love potato chips.

I'm doing the whole protein shake thing right now. I'm hoping it can at least jump start my metabolism, which I think is a bit sluggish. Thanks for the wonky thyroids, from mom's side of the family.

The taste, is not so terrible, but not so great either, but it does seem to curb my hunger a bit.

And combine it with depression that has me sleeping at 8:30, well, at least I can't eat in my sleep.

Here's hoping things start to look up soon. Cos my nerves are shot.

Cat Thursday

Some more pics of Ifyouplease and Ifyoudon'tplease the two Siamese shorthairs that hang about our yard.

Always Remember

Sometimes Change Isn't Good

I ate Subway the other day, and I was left totally unimpressed.

When I was in college, about 20 years ago. (Yes, I am old) Subway was fairly new to our area and things were much more simple there. There weren't so many choices of bread and flatbread was unheard of. They had a little round bun for small appetites and for their breakfast options.

Yes, 20 years ago Subway did breakfast and it was 100 times better than the crap they are serving today. The bread was better too. You could go into the restaurant and smell it cooking.

They used to have a seafood sub too, which was really great. (And I don't even like seafood all that much)

Then you decided you wanted to compete with Quiznos and then things started going down hill. Sure I love my Italian Herbs and Cheese bread...but I don't need my subs toasted, and all the hot opinions for subs are lousy.

Oh and here's another tidbit. At one time there was a rib sandwich at Subway and it used to be great! At times it was even better than the McRib.

So yeah, you have loads of options and franchises, but Subway, the quality of you food makes me wonder why I didn't just go to McDonald's.

(I'd go to Panera...if we had one closer than 20 miles away)

It would be nice if sometimes the changes that are made didn't always make things worse.

Hump Day Hunks

Time for the hotties to take over the blog!

Why Buy Cat Toys?

Today is my little Smokey's 2nd birthday. I was at Hellmart...erm Walmart and I saw a cat pedestal and I really wanted to buy it, but I can't justify $35 bucks when there's so much to be done around the house this year.

That said, when I got home, Fedex delivered some of my father's medical supplies..and they came in some great kitty sized boxes...

Everyone was happy, including my wallet! The only cat that didn't play with the box, was of course, Smokey.

Hump Day Hunks

How can you not love this face?

And this one

My Little Cutie

He comes a running whenever I call

Hump Day Hunks!

It's hump day!

Let's be crazy..

Like Keith Harkin

And a bit silly like Benedict Cumberbatch

A Whole Lot Of Crazy

Dad wasn't feeling well last night so my after work relaxation was cut short. Thank god it was Cinco De Mayo, though. That helped take the edge off the week (that has only just begun...ARGH!)

Yay for Arbor Mist Sangria!

A bigger yay for my Mexican Lasagna recipe, which was awesome. Check out the recipe here.

Oh and after dad's not feeling good, he woke up around 2 a.m. and started fussing, so needless to say, no one really slept well last night.

Always fun at our house these days.

I'm trying to figure out how to request a vacation from my life, because I need one.

Oh and anyone want to help me bitch about gas prices in PA. If it weren't for Giant Eagle and KMart and the discounts on gas, I think I'd have to buy a horse, because owning a car is getting to be too expensive! The last time I passed a station, prices were around $3.83!

That really hits you were it hurts.

Guess I won't be doing much this summer, again.

To Do List

I really think I need to make a to do list that can be accomplished.

I have so much I need to get done and so much I need to get for the week ahead.

It totally sucks to not be able to do any shopping during the week, but my father's rather fragile mental state doesn't let that happen much.

They never told us how much caregiving becomes a prison to all parties involved.

It sucks the life out of you. I don't know if there is a minute in any day when I don't feel exhausted.

Of course, little things start to bring me joy, like hearing Your Wildest Dreams on while I was shopping at Giant Eagle today. It was impossible not to sing along. I haven't played The Moodies much lately. Mostly I've been listening to Celtic Thunder and Keith Harkin.

Let's hope I can get through tomorrow and get what I need to do done. I need to hit the grocery stores, Tractor Supply, Dollar General, Goodwill, KMart and the library, and all in about 3 hours.

At least Walmart isn't on that list. I'm not that kind of fool.

Wish me luck.

Cat Thursday

My newest friend...Ifyouplease aka Ferdinand...aka Sassy...the silly neighbors cat that likes our porch.