Waiting On Jagr

Jaromir Jagr wants to play one more season in the NHL and then retire. He started out with the Pens in 1990 and was one half of the power house that got the Pens back to back Stanley Cups.

He's had his share of problems, but he's a Pen and I'd love to see him back on the ice in Pittsburgh for one more year.

I think I'd even find a way to get to a game if I could.

I crushed on him as well as Mario Lemieux throughout my high school years. (Back when Mr. Jagr had a pretty rad mullet)

He's still pretty easy on the eyes...and hopefully soon, he'll be wearing number 68 again for the Pens.

Another Crazy Day

I thought I would have gotten something done today, but that didn't really happen. What I did manage to do was buy the much needed AC for the kitchen, so the house is not quite the bake oven that it normally is.

Thanks go out to a very good friend that helped us out to get the AC. She knows who she is..and she knows we are deeply indebted to her.

It took about 2 hours to get everything sorted out and installed.

Anyone want to take a guess at how much cussing was done during those 120 minutes?

I imagine anyone who would say "A lot" would win the cookie!

But the AC is installed in the kitchen window and it's coolness is felt throughout the downstairs.

Can we get a woot for that? Especially since the temps are supposed to reach the upper 80s by my birthday.

I'm A Bit Behind

My b-day is on Saturday and for some reason, I haven't been able to make my yearly Birthday Mix. I  can why...but I'm sure most of you can figure out some reasons.

I hope I'll be able to sit down in the next few days and put something fun together so we can all celebrate through the music that I love.

This year I'm sure you'll see some different artists, because my taste in music is evolving yet again.

Oh and for those of you sending presents. (ha ha ha) send amazon gift cards...or barnes and noble...

Ah yes, the joys of getting older..

Missing Mondays

I haven't done a Missing Monday in a long while, but today mom and I were talking about something and it got me to thinking. I miss G. C. Murphy's.  I loved this store, especially the restaurant. There were Murphy's in Charleroi, Belle Vernon, Uniontown and Greensburg.

They made the best burgers and hot dogs around. Its funny, but the toasted hot dog bun is what got me thinking about this store. There aren't may places that toast up the hot dog bun like Murphy's used to do. Those were some good dogs!

The other thing that I loved at the cafeteria was the club sandwich. Why are there no good club sandwiches anymore?

Our Murphy's in town was big. It was on two floors. I loved going downstairs.

Here's a funny story. When I was a little girl I was in one of the Murphy's with my mom and dad. I can't remember if it was the Charleroi or the Belle Vernon store. It was summer because they had the kiddie pools out. And like the bad little girl I was, I was playing around them. Until the pool fell on my head!

That was the last time I ever played near those pools!

Top 5 Sundays!

This is a bookish meme from Larissa's Bookish Life. I've got so much posted on my book blog, I thought I'd do this meme over here, because I'm too stressed out to string any coherent sentences together about my life.

Top 5 Favorite Genres NOT UF or PNR!

(That is not urban fantasty or paranormal romance)

1. Chicklit: I love stuff like Confessions of a Shopaholic

2. Cozy mysteries: I'm all about mysteries that involve people who own bakeries and have loads of cats.

3. Historical fiction: Since I was in high school I've loved reading stories that tie in with history. I especially love books about the royal families of Europe.

4. Fantasy: I'm a huge Terry Pratchett fan, nuff said.

5. Regency Romance: This is my favorite historical romance period. These were the type of stories I started reading when I began my love with romance novels.

Camera Critters

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 Songs you'll be listening to this weekend

Zac Brown Band - Knee Deep
Lady Antebellum - Just A Kiss
Gordon Lightfoot - Race Among The Ruins
Dolly Parton - Backwoods Barbie
The Band Perry - You Lied

Three Bean Chili

I thought I'd share a recipe with you guys today. I made a totally awesome and not too spicy chili for my family yesterday.

Here's what you need.

1.5 lbs ground meat
A handful of frozen onion
A quarter of a med green pepper chopped
2 tablespoons of butter
2 cans tomato soup
1 jar (small) mild salsa
1 can of pinto, northern and light kidney beans drained

Toppings:
cheese and sour cream

Directions.

Place onions, green pepper and butter in the dutch oven.
When the onions are transluscent, add the ground meat and brown. If you want to season the meat with chili powder, now is the time. I also like to add a few sprinkles of Nature's Seasoning
Add soup and salsa.
When the sauce is seasoned to your liking add the beans and cook until heated through.

Serves 5-8

Another Crazy Day

Dad was back in the ER. They know us by name now. And I think he has frequent flier miles too

More constipation...fun fun...but he actually gave himself a panic attack, which is why he ended up there.

Not fun.

I took a vacation day today to destress.

I'll get back to you on how that worked out.

Right now, I'm too tired and nervous to do much of anything.

Another Dad Update

We've stopped giving dad the Coreg.

In 48 hours we've seen a huge change in his condition.

He's alert.

He's not coughing.

He's part of the living.

I'm not sure what doctor I want to punch right now, but I do know there is one that we owe an apology too. The one that wanted to take him off the crap a few months ago.

Let's hope his condition keeps getting better. I like to see my dad able to do things again. I told him, if he stays like this through Sunday, we go to church and thank god for his favors.

Its Sunday Cat Style

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

The Hospital Rant Continues

Further adventures with the crazy people at Mon Valley Hospital.

As if almost killing my dad wasn't enough.

When he was discharged from the ER he was given a new prescription for COREG at the dosage he had originally been on until his Benicar sent his potassium levels through the roof.

The ER doctor didn't write in the dosage properly...so he only received 6 pills to get him through the weekend.

We aren't even sure why he's on COREG, because he's always had low blood pressure...and now with the anemia, we aren't sure we want him to take that.

Can't wait to start talking to the doctor on Monday.

Oye vey

ARGH!!!

Dad got out of the hospital only to spend 7 hours in the ER because of a stupid mistake made by his PCP.

Not happy.

He could have died because of someone's bad call regarding his heart meds.

Not happy at all.

Now I really need alcohol!

Bad News

Dad is back in the hospital. He was having stomach pain last night and some potty issues. So off to the ER we went.

His anemia is back, and the doctor's seem to think that the "C" word may be involved but they can't find any indications of what kind. His lungs are the same. CT showed no tumors.

I just don't know.

I'm really scared right now and upset.

I will update everyone as soon as I hear.

Sad But True

Last week I paid for my dad's ER visit from April. I called the hospital and gave them my info over the phone. I've done this many times before, from my labs at the gyne. I've never had a problem doing that, UNTIL NOW!

When I pay anything with a debit card, it instantly goes through the system. So when Friday rolled around and I hadn't seen the charge on my account, I called back.

I didn't want my CC info floating around the hospital either.

The woman working in billing felt the info might have inadvertently been shredded, so I gave my info AGAIN!

That day around 2 o'clock, the charge showed up on my account.

Yay the bill had been paid.

But wait, it gets better.

Yesterday, I log into my bank account..and it was paid TWICE!

ARGH!

So I call the hospital, and this is what they tell me. Because it was paid and had some insurance dealings...I can't get the extra $50.00 refunded until they get their money from Highmark.

WTF!

I joked with my father that he should go to the ER so that my $50.00 would be put to good use. He didn't like that idea much. However he had a coughing spell today that had us thinking he might have taken me a bit too seriously.

Pass the alcohol please

Miss Callie Speaks

Hi! Many of you know that I am Miss Callie, just one part of the clowder of cats that have taken over her house.

Well today I'm taking over the blog, because Miss Andrea has pissed me off.

It isn't bad enough that she gives her attention to a few of the stray cats outside, but today she had the absolute audacity to put me in the cat carrier!

I think Mr. Raymond forgot to give it a dusting too, because it sure was stinky!

But that's not the worst of it. She took me outside and put me in the backseat of her car and took me to THE VET!!

Oh the unpleasantness!

He stuck needles in me! And put something up my bum!

That's just not nice!

But I had my revenge! When I got home, I went upstairs and made a big ole poop on her bedroom floor!

Take that Miss Andrea! That will teach you to take me to nasty places like that again!

I Wish I Had Something To Say

I'm truly fed up with things in my life right now. I don't have enough time in the day to get the things I want done. I've been trying to clean. I've been trying to get laundry done...I've been trying a lot of things, and I'm just getting nowhere.

I need time off.

Really. I do.

I just want some time for myself. I can't seem to get that one the weekend.

I truly hate my life...and I'm not fond of 80% of the people in it right now. I hate people that offer help but never follow through.

It is damn hard to keep house for 4 adults when 2 of them really can't do much to pitch in because of health issues. I feel like I'm working in a personal care home sometimes.

I see other people getting things done...and getting to do things, and frankly I'm jealous. Yet, I know if I left for any amount of time and something happened to either of my parents, I couldn't live with the guilt.

I'm damned if I do, and damned if I don't.

Somebody get me a strong drink

Coming Up For Air

I always start unbelievably hard cleaning projects in the evening. I don't know why, but I do. I think it is because I like to swear a lot.

The good thing about this is that the room I'm working on is the only room in the whole house with air conditioning. So at least I'm not drowning in my own sweat as I try to sort through the mess.

The thing is, our house is a decent size for 3 people. The fourth person...that didn't show up until much later, because it is my nephew...throws a spoke in the works.

There's so much stuff that needs to be done here and I'm wasting my time ranting about it...but if I don't, I think I will seriously explode from frustration.

The only good thing that will come out of this cleaning binge....is .....erm..well the room will be clean.

I truly hate when I decided to clean like this...I'm pretty sure something in my head is addled. That's why I start these projects when I do...

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 of your favorite songs from 2011 so far


1. Blake Shelton - Honey Bee  This is probably the cutest song ever.

2. Lady Antebellum - Just A Kiss This song makes me melt. Love it! Charles and Hillary have incredible voices!!

3. Duran Duran - Girl Panic  This sounds like vintage DD and its the 2nd single of their latest album.

4. Paul Simon - Rewrite: Brilliant tune by this genius songwriter.

5. Zac Brown Band - Colder Weather

Read This Book

I just finished reading Amanda Steven's The Restorer. OMG this was such an incredible book. My review is going to be posted sometime this month on Rex Robot Reviews.

Here's the book blurb: My name is Amelia Gray. I'm a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. In order to protect myself from the parasitic nature of the dead, I've always held fast to the rules passed down from my father. But now a haunted police detective has entered my world and everything is changing, including the rules that have always kept me safe.


It started with the discovery of a young woman's brutalized body in an old Charleston graveyard I've been hired to restore. The clues to the killer—and to his other victims—lie in the headstone symbolism that only I can interpret. Devlin needs my help, but his ghosts shadow his every move, feeding off his warmth, sustaining their presence with his energy. To warn him would be to invite them into my life. I've vowed to keep my distance, but the pull of his magnetism grows ever stronger even as the symbols lead me closer to the killer and to the gossamer veil that separates this world from the next.


Now go check this book out! You won't regret it!

I'm Melting!!!

OMG at 7 o'clock the thermometer at Rite Aid said 95.

Sweet bejeebus.

I think there is a puddle where I used to be.

One more day of this before we get any relief.

I need an air conditioner.

BADLY!

This almost makes me wish for that "S" word...

Note that I said almost!

Things I Like About Summer

1. Longer days: At least I feel like they are longer. It is amazing what some sunshine can do for your productivity, at least when it comes to housework!

2. Fruit festivals: The first one of the season is this weekend! Strawberries at Triple B Farms! Then blueberries and raspberries and peaches. Mmmm Mmmmm Nommy!

3. Visits to Critter Country Animal Park: This is one of my favorite reasonable afternoon past times. I have some pictures from Memorial Day that I have to get posted on Flickr soon. The peacocks at the park were quite fun.

4. Lots of great new books: I swear more authors release goodness over the summer. I have a Nook full of good things to read right now.

5. Butterflies: As soon as the thistle is in bloom, the butterflies start showing up. I love butterflies!

6. Roadtrips: I'm not sure I'm getting any this year, but small jaunts to not too far away places are always fun.

What do you love about summer?

Missing Mondays

I miss summer vacation. Not just a few days off of work but the long May to August we had when we were in high school. The time when all you had to do was kick back and read on the beach chair in the yard, or drive to the lake or the yearly trips to Erie or Lancaster. Mmm now I'm missing Good N' Plenty and their fabulous chicken.

~sigh~

Mind you, I don't miss high school one iota.

But I do miss vacations and days off for most holidays..and SNOW DAYS. OK, I don't want any snow days right now, but you get my point right?

I want some time off!

And while I'm at it...I'm missing a time when I didn't care about politics, because seeing all the repugnant canditates for 2012 is making me a bit sick to my stomach and putting me in an even bigger need for a vacation!!!

So what are you missing?

I Love To Hate You

I love my brother..

Most of the time.

He's done a lot to help me over the years.

However, right now I could cheerfully kill him.

Since December he has only managed to drive over twice. Once at Christmas and once in March. He hasn't come for Mother's Day and it doesn't look like he's coming for Father's Day either. But he can run around for his 3rd wife's family and he can drive to his daughter's house on a weekly basis.

But he can't take time out of his freaking schedule to visit his own parents.

His daughters are my age....and the daughter's from his second marriage are teenagers. They are going to be around to love for many years.

Mom and dad...not so many.

Dad's health is bad...mom's much the same.

Yet he can't freaking drive over to see them, unless there's something to do with his class?

Oh and in December I was promised help to get our house in better order. It is hard to keep this place tolerable with 4 people living in it, and two with health conditions that make them unable to do much.

Funny....I haven't seen the help either.

So this is me flipping my brother off. Because he's really pissed me off this time

It Has Been A Very Busy Day

I'm not sure if I got a lot done, but I did a lot of things today.

1 huge load of laundry was tackled, and I again cursed the nephew that never does his own. I don't mind dealing with my stuff and my parents stuff...but his gets on my nerves because he's 25 years old. He should do his own damn laundry!

Went to Target, The Dollar Tree, and Kohl's...bought snacks...fun stuff, father's day presents and other things for me!

At at Moe's Southwestern Grille. One word there: YUM!

Afterwards...went to the YMCA and got a workout in...and then started cleaning up.

Now I'm working on a CD review for my freelance job.

Tomorrow is church, more exercise and Walmart...cos Dad needs shorts for summer. 85 year old man + shorts = painful on the eyes, but if it makes him comfortable...I'll deal with it.

One day I'll get a vacation, right?

I hope you guys had a great Saturday!

Top 5 On Friday

Top 5 "Sunny" Songs

The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun

The Beatles - I'll Follow The Sun

Hmmm I'm sensing a pattern here....

The Monkees - Sunny Girlfriend

Army Of Lovers - Let The Sunshine In

Herman's Hermits - Sunshine Girl

Can you tell I love 60s music? So what are some of your favorite "sunny" songs?

No Rest For The Wicked

I guess I'm pretty wicked...the weekend is upon me and I have a buttload of stuff to get done. Mount Laundry has once again grown in my hallway hamper. Thank god for warm weather. I love to hang my clothes out on the line.

On top of that all there are the usual weekend tasks of grocery shopping and feeble attempts at cleaning.

Then there is the matter of making sure the dog gets his meds. It seems our little dog, J.J. has a bad case of brochitis. He also had a bad tooth. So today the poor little guy went to the vet. Got his distemper/parva shot too. He had a rough day.

Getting his pill in him...Not fun. I had to mask the first one in mashed potatoes. Not sure what it will be served up with in the morning.

I have one more review that needs written this weekend...along with a few that I requested from Ariel. I need to give the music a listen. I really miss listening to music because I want to. Thankfully some of the stuff I've got for review is really good.

The big question as always....will I get any "me" time in those 48 hours.

I'm betting no, unless you count being able to watch an episode of Doctor Who on Saturday, "me" time.

I'll stop whining now...and start hoping the weekend goes better than I think it will

The Weather Rant Part 2

The AC froze up at work today.

I had to shut the thing down for several hours so that the ice or whatever melted....so that I could get the temperature to something more comfortable. (less than 85 please)

It was three o'clock by the time the cool air returned to the metal box I work in.

By this time, my clothes were glued to my body in a not so comfortable manner.

I was happier than usual to get the hell out of the office.

Thank goodness tomorrow is supposed to be cooler. I like my temperatures in the 70s!