Friends That Have Gone

I had a friend from college that passed away at the beginning of 2016. She was only 5 years older than myself.

At the time, we hadn't been speaking in several years. We didn't share the same political views and things got very nasty a few times.

I have always felt bad about this situation, because the break in our friendship came from a lot of, I don't want to say misunderstanding, but rather of not understanding.

It was at the time my dad was starting to get sick, which was after my grandmother had passed away. I couldn't go out a lot and I had to do most of the cooking then, as my mother's sight was failing. She didn't understand. Also, I hate Kings, which seemed to be her restaurant of choice for meetups.

I made a political post on Facebook one day, and she blew up on me, and said I hated her mother and then she deleted her account and was never heard from again, by me.

I was totally befuddled.

I found out her mother passed away in 2013, but I didn't learn that until much latter. I didn't learn Mary had passed until last year.

Every time I drive by Monongahela Cemetery I think of her. I wonder what happened because I don't have contact with any of her family members.

It is so sad that our friendship had to end the way it did.

I can only hope wherever she is now, that she's at peace.

Missing My Dewey

Its been one year since my Dewey crossed the rainbow bridge. I miss this cat every day. She was my little girl and I loved her so much.

Will Someone Explain This To Me

Since the Grand Jury report has been released there has been so much said about the Catholic Church and the sexual abuse by priests that was covered up for years.

This is what I need explained.

How did parents not notify authorities. I mean who did they go to that allowed the hierarchy in the church to sent priests to rehab. WTF rehab for pedophilia? Is this really a thing?

Did our police not go after these guys?

I just don't understand.

I grew up Catholic.

Two of my parish priests were on that list.

I'm angry at a lot of things involving this. I'm angry with the church for the culture that allowed this to happen. Seriously, priests need to be able to marry. It would foster normal relationships with clergy.  How can you take marriage advice etc from a man that's never been married?

I'm angry that someone justice wasn't served for decades...probably more than that.

I just don't understand. If my child was harmed, I'd go kicking and screaming after them.

Murphy's Law When Company's Coming

We're all familiar with Murphy's Law, right?

Anything that can go wrong will?

Well my brother is coming for a short visit tomorrow, which I'm all for, because it means I get to go to the Covered Bridge Festival for a little bit.

However, it means I really have to clean my house, cos well, he's persnickety.

So how does Murphy's Law fit in?

It means the cats will puke on the carpet every chance they get.

Dust will appear where everywhere.

Clutter will appear everywhere.

Most of the stuff I need to do couldn't be done in advance because well..the kitties. So tonight I'll be scrambling and I'll be tired as hell when I wake up tomorrow.

Sharing Recipes

Sometimes I feel really sad that I have no one in my family to share recipes with. I didn't start cooking until I was in my 30s, because my mom didn't like anyone touching her old Tappan range. (Oh how I loved that big ole monster)

I quickly inherited her love for cooking. (Though I have a strong hatred for cleanup) But there are no family members to pass down recipes to anymore.

Its just like holiday cookies.

When my father was alive, cookies brought him so much joy. In his last year of life, if I couldn't bake them, I had to buy them. It didn't matter what kind they were, he wanted cookies!

Now that he's gone, a batch of cookies don't seem to get eaten.

I have no motivation for cookies.

I have no one that will say, I love what you made, can I have the recipe. I really does make me sad sometimes, especially as I love trying new things.

The World Is Too Connected

I'm pretty sure when current events and lifestyles become a part of history, it will say that we were too connected, but not connected enough.

We have social media that allows us to see things from all over the world in real time. We can spread our views in seconds.

We can share the good and the bad and the downright awful.

We can share knowledge and stupidity at record speeds.

We show the world our best and ultimately our worst.

Social media causes depression, because well...the grass is always greener and when we see those greener pastures everyday and our pastures look a bit brown, well, it isn't all that fun.

It allows for bullying 24/7....or in the case of our current POS POTUS at least at 3 am.

And while we're at it, so much of everything has to be about making money. Now don't get me wrong, I still dream of the day one of my cats finally goes viral and gets fame and fortune, so that they can buy their own kibble.

But god when your blog is so bogged down with ads that you can't find the content it becomes maddening.

Case in point the food blog where I found this recipe for Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins

INGREDIENTS

MUFFIN:

• 1 tablespoon pumpkin spice
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin (pure pumpkin puree)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

CREAM CHEESE SWIRL:

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Place paper baking cups into muffin pan. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, pumpkin spice, baking soda and salt until well combined. Set aside.
3. In large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, sugar and brown sugar.
4. Beat in eggs, vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Slowly whisk in the flour mixture, until there are no lumps. Fill muffin tins 3/4 full.
5. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add in sugar, egg yolk and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.
6. Top each muffin with about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese mixture and use a toothpick to swirl it into the batter. This will not look smooth, but it will bake up much prettier. (You can see exactly how I did this in the video above.)
7. Bake muffins for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. I liked these best at room temperature or even slightly chilled! Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

The Weekend From Hell

OK, its not been to awful, but when the bad shit happens, it really happens.

I went to Critter Country for the first time, but they closed early cos the mama wolf decided to sneak out of her enclosure. Not to worry, there was a double enclosure, but mama was apparently bored and didn't want to go back in.

Watched Doctor Strange. I found a lot of similarities with this character and Doctor Who, at least in the story and in the special effects. Also Benedict Cumberbatch is still fabulous. Also Doctor Strange and Sherlock seem to be very similar characters, just in different worlds

Oh I chipped my back molar on popcorn while watching the movie. Yeah. This is how Murphy's Law gets me, especially after I spent some money on clothes, which I really needed. I can't afford an implant, root canal or anything like that. I don't have dental insurance, just medical.

Was making spaghetti sauce to freeze out of the bazillion tomatoes and I spilled half a pot of water on the floor, uh twice.

My floor is clean.

I am a walking disaster today. I should have stayed in bed.

I swear I'm never leaving my house

Yesterday I went outside to pull some weeds.

Big mistake.

I mentioned on Facebook that I think every bug on Shady Ave bit me in that short span of 5 minutes.

Today I think it might have been every bug in Charleroi.

Seriously, I have about 7 bites and I'm monitoring on because the last time I got a spider bite, I ended up at Med Express with Cellulitis and was on antibiotics for 2 weeks.

Not fun.

So suffice to say, today I want to lock myself in a building, far away from biting insects.

Friday Is My Funday

I'm taking a vacation day on Friday, which also coincides with my sister having the day off. (hopefully)

If that's the case, I get to go somewhere fun on Friday.

I don't care were it is. I just want to go somewhere, that isn't Belle Vernon or a random grocery store, cos I'm sick of grocery shopping, because its so darn hot I don't want to cook.

Actually, I don't want to do much of anything right now, except find someplace with really good air conditioning and maybe hibernate until fall. The heat is making me absolutely miserable and when it isn't hot its storming.

GRRR

Things That Make You Feel Old

There's enough focus on youth in this country that I started to feel old when I hit 30. I'm 44 now and I really feel like an old crone.

Most of the shows I grew up watching are now being aired on stations like Antenna TV and Me TV.

My favorite bands are being played on oldies stations. Yes, yesterday I heard Duran Duran on The Pickle and then The Human League and Blondie.

One of my high school friends has a child in his senior year of high school and another a junior.

ARGH!

Romance novel heroines are usually only 26 years old.

Current music starts to sound like noise.

None of your favorite bands are really recording new music, they are just touring to play their greatest hits.

Staying up to watch the news or late night talk shows makes you really tired in the morning.

I am now going to go take my multi vitamin.

OK so I Watched Infinity Wars

Its funny, I've only been watching Marvel movies these days. There haven't been any pixar movies that have interested me lately.

So, I rented Infinity Wars yesterday and watched it late last night.

First of all, so much prettiness in one movie. I think anyone can watch this movie and have someone to drool over.

First of all...

Ironman/Dr. Strange = OMG awesomeness.

Not enough Groot for me.

I loved the idea of having all the Marvel Universe in the film, but truth be told it took a lot away from the movie because for me it just moved all over the place

And the ending...

Meh.

I don't like cliffhangers in books, I like them even less in movies.

So the movie is full of action.

It is full of eye candy for everyone.

But it is also lacking, because of all the other good stuff.

Grrr, is all I can say

Time's Been Getting Away From Me

It's been 2 weeks since I blogged last. Yikes!

With all the stuff going on with my mom and her Doctor I've been more than a bit aggravated.

Last week, I spent 4 days back and forth trying to get her insulin prescription filled, which is absolutely nuts. It took about 8 cancelled scripts before they got it correct.

That doesn't speak well for that office. However I at least know that when all is said and done. I'm not the crazy one and neither is the pharmacy.

Oye vey.

This week isn't much better, but I'm hanging in there.

I started a book last week. Right there that should tell you there is something wrong. Its a 371 page book. That's something that may take me a few days to read.

I'm still not finished.

Its a spoof on gothic novels with a touch of romance, vampires and time travel.  Its well written, but for some reason for me, it is dragging. Really really dragging.

There's nothing worse than being bogged down by a book that you aren't sure you like, but you've invested so much time in that you have to finish it.

 Seriously, this book has drained my kindle battery so much it is nuts.

Thank god for paper books because I've had to put that one down so many times.

head desk

Doctor's Piss Me Off

My mother had her blood work done last week, which is all well and good. Well, Thursday the doctor's office called and asked for me, even though mom answered the phone.

They proceeded to tell me that most of her numbers were good, but her renal numbers were up and had the doctor talk to us about dialysis.

Now this upset me, but it was the doctor that my mother doesn't see that read her blood work and we were told mom's doctor would call on Monday.

Well no call came yesterday.

Also I found her paper work from her June blood work and the numbers weren't much different. She has also been on an antibiotic for a month for oral thrush..which can affect creatinine and BUN numbers.

I'd like to take that doctor and beat her with a stick, because she gave mom palpitations all weekend.

I'm Done With Summer

I'm sick of hearing the word "vacation."

I haven't had one since well before my father got sick and he'll be gone 4 years this Nov. I'm sick of other people whining that they can't go on vacation.

Look, I know I can't go. I have responsibilities to my mom and to my kitties. I also don't have any money or anyone to share the expenses of even a weekend trip.

I also have shingles that fell off my roof.

Sometimes you have to just suck it up and deal with it.

I've been dealing with it.

Its making me a little bit bitter, but I'm dealing with it. As long as I get a coffee or so from Perked Up Cafe or Starbucks, I'm ok.

I can always look at pictures of Cape May or Atlantic City or Boldt Castle or Put In Bay...or even Erie.

It won't make it better, but it will remind me that its out there.

Blooms in my yard

Stress, I Have It

I mentioned last week that Friday the 13th bit me in the butt. Well it didn't give up on Monday. I had a chunk of shingles come off my roof and they are hanging out in my drain right now.

So I'm waiting to see how much this is going to cost me.

I'm trying desperately to get bills paid off right now.

The whole Mokey situation from the beginning of the year has thrown my finances off.

I had plans to get a new storm door and dining set this year.

Oh well, that isn't happening. Probably not

Now I'm waiting to see when the guy can come and look at the roof.

Like Tom Petty said, the waiting is the hardest part.

Friday The 13th Bit Me In The Butt

We usually joke about bad things happening on Friday the 13th.

Nothing usually happens though.

Not so today.

A normal work day was disrupted by having to run to the bank in the middle of the day for my boss, and rushing back so that I could take our driver to the garage so that he could pick up one of the tractor trailers that was finished being serviced.

GAH!

Then no end of the day banking that usually shortens my work day by 15 minutes.

Oh and when I went to do laundry, my machine crapped out on me. I had to rewash my clothes, and submit a ticket for a refund, making it take over 2 hours to get everything done.

Oh and one of the cats decided to pull half a roll of paper towel on the floor to use as bedding.

Its been a long day and now all I want to do is sleep or at least curl up with a book and forget about the world around me for awhile.

My New Bucket List Place

Ok, so I've been reading Beverly Lewis' The Ebb Tide, which is a sweet little work of Amish fiction, and the vast majority of the book is set in Cape May, NJ.

I've not been a huge traveler in my life, but there are several places I'd love to see someday, Boldt Castle in the Thousand Islands in NY is one of them. After reading this book, I'm adding Cape May to my list.

I started Googling Cape May last night and I started drooling. I have to admit, I love what I've seen of the Jersey Shore. I've been to Atlantic City a few times for Moody Blues concerts, and anyone that knows me, knows my love for that city, but Cape May! OMG so beautiful!

Lighthouses and Victorian architecture! Absolutely stunning.

I just want to go and take loads of pictures, and sit in the sand and stare at the ocean. Oh and I probably want to drink some pretty girly cocktails!

Its about twenty minutes south of Atlantic City and very near to Stone Harbor.

~sigh~

Now I'm thinking of the Stone Harbor Grill which keeps on popping up in my Facebook feed with photos of their gorgeous food.

Now I have something new to dream about.

Behold My Mug Collection

I have to admit. I love crazy mugs. I seem to be picking them up wherever I go these days.

Marvin is an old favorite. I've had him for years, as he's one of my favorite cartoon characters.

I have to say that takes me back to the 90s when the Disney Stores and the WB stores where in all the cool malls.

Are there any cool malls left?

The donut mug came from Big Lots. The 2 coffee time mugs are recent acquisitions from the Dollar Tree and Rite Aid's dollar section.

Yeah. I love mugs.

A Lot!

Greek Frappe

I used to read a mystery series with a Greek wanna be PI, who was very similar to Stephanie Plum for those of you that read Janet Evanovich.

Sofie always drank Frappes in these books and today I found a recipe for this coffee drink.

Its not like the stuff at Starbucks!

Its made with instant coffee!

I did not know this!

That is until the author posted a video with the recipe for the frappe, done by a very hunky Greek dude.

Eye candy and coffee. Really, you can't get much better than that.

If you're interested in how to make them, click this linky

Now I have to get some Nescafe stat, because this is the perfect drink for this kind of weather, right up there with using the keurig and brewing over ice cream!