Saturday, August 26, 2017

Where has summer gone?

Ok, I'm not exactly thrilled with it still being dark when the alarm goes off in the morning, but by the time I get to work, the sunrises are spectacular.  I have a ton of Instagram pics of the tree at the business next door to work, because it's between me and said sunrise!
January 2017
Last Monday....

So.  

Ummmm.  Yeah. 

How's it going?

I felt obligated to write a real post, since there has been too many in a row of linkups.  Not that there's anything wrong with them, I just hadn't done any free-style posts for quite some time. 

We've gotten a couple home-improvement projects done recently and another is on the short-list to be done.  For some reason, Randy thought it bothered me that our garbage disposal hasn't worked in 10+ years.  I personally don't recall caring, but he saw some Moens on clearance at Home Depot last weekend that had high reviews, so we went back & got one.  And of course while we're fighting with the old one to remove it, he found a reset button on it.  So that one probably still worked after all!  But too late.  We finally got it out & the new one installed and got the electrical hooked back up today.  

We also had an unexpected project with the fridge.  He noticed it didn't seem as cold as it should be, and discovered the freezer was all frosted up. We took everything out of the freezer, unfroze it and cleaned it all up.  Then he went online & found someone's hack on how to keep the drain from plugging up with ice.  So the fridge is good & cold again & some science projects have been removed from the freezer!

The next project is replacing the ceiling fan in the kitchen.  Now ~that~ I may have made a comment or two about wishing it was replaced.  The old one has a broken blade (it just fell off one night!  Of course I was home alone and scared the crap out of me!).  We've had the new one for quite some time, we just need to DO it. 

So, the shorter days & cooler nights can only mean one thing....Halloween is near!  
You know that I'm all about this time of year (shameless plug for my H'ween blog Maple Grove Cemetery).   I don't do a big fancy haunted house or anything, but I do have a decent sized cemetery in my front yard & a bus-load of skeletons that I have do stuff within the cemetery.  It's more humorous / spooky than it is scary / spooky. 
New thing for this year - a swing! 
Quick & easy to take a piece of scrap board & drill holes in the corners & thread some rope thru. 
This is Chuck - he's the cemetery mascot who stays out year-round & travels with me & does random stuff.   You can't see it here, but he's got googly eyes! 
 Also new for this year - I managed to scored one of the skeleton horses from Home Depot back in April.  I haven't looked recently, but I think it's pretty hit or miss catching them in stock.   I was really happy to find out they also carry a saddle & bridle for it! 

I've been doing a bit of shopping, too.  Some of the bigger chains (Walmart/Target/CVS/Walgreens, etc) around here don't have anything out, it's still back-to-school time because most Michigan school don't start back up until after Labor Day, but I've seen a little bit at the local greenhouse (really!) and places like Kirklands & TJ Maxx., but not a whole lot yet.  

Today was the launch of Yankee Candle Halloween collection.  I didn't go to the mall to see things in person, but I ordered a couple Boney Bunch pieces online.   Since this always happens the weekend before my birthday, Randy lets me buy what I want, then he doesn't have to worry about getting me a gift!!
   They had a really cute Clue-type theme going this year, so I was tempted by a couple pieces (I copied their pics off their website), just because they reminded me of Miss Angela's last dance season's production of Clue (check it out on my YouTube channel over on the right sidebar - look under my uploads.) 
Death by Chocolate - got her.   
 Head Chef - got him.  He cracks me up!  
  
Squad Car - this was the first thing I put in my shopping bag!
I was really tempted by Boney Holmes.  
Maybe if YC puts out some coupons, I'll go back & get him. 
Same with "A Little Party Never Killed Nobody"
I do believe this is a pretty big piece, and they're a pain in the butt to store & display. 
So maybe, maybe not. 

Well, I'm going to sign off with Jack for National Puppy Day!  
Are you looking forward to fall?
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Thursday, August 24, 2017

Skywatch Friday 8/24/17

Woooo, another eclipse post (sort of, kinda, almost)!  Here in SE Michigan, we only had about 78% coverage of the sun, so it basically got hazy.  

When I left to go to work that morning, this is what I saw from my back porch. 
 I love the clouds like that! 
 Look!  It's the tree at the business next door to where I work!  It's been a while, tree!  
I was really entertained with the "S" in the clouds.  
So, like I said, we didn't see much of the eclipse, but we did go outside and borrow a welding mask from the guys in the shop to look.  And one of the admin ladies brought in a cereal box viewer, which fascinated me, since I was wondering how something so simple would work, but it did!!
 
I tried to get a selfie with the sun (ignore my 14 chins from this angle!) and didn't notice until a couple days later when I uploaded my pictures onto my computer that there's a reflection of the sun on my upper lip!  

The XM 80's on 8 channel made me laugh.  When I first got in the car, Total Eclipse of the Heart was playing.  Then the very next song was New Moon on Monday!
At least my Monday started off with a laugh! 

I'm linking up over at SkyWatch Fridays, where I'm sure there will be some real eclipse photos!  But even if there's not, there will be awesomeness!
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Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Transforming Tuesday 8/22/17

Woot!  Check me out!
It's amazing that if you actually follow the plan correctly, it works!  I tracked every day and was down 2 lbs!  Imagine that.  And only went over the "healthy eating zone" twice!

So I'm just gonna keep on doing what I'm doing!  Which means not ignoring the alarm on my phone that goes off several times a day, reminding me to track!

Next Tuesday is my birthday!!
Birthday Bot dancing party beer celebrate GIF
Not sure when it's going to happen, but I've already informed the fam that I want to go to the Hard Rock Cafe in Detroit for dinner.  I'll scope out the menu before we go and see what they have.

Brief & to the point tonight - caio!

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Saturday, August 19, 2017

What up, Weekend?? 8/18/17

This is one week that I'm not sad to see be over!  There are only 3 of us in my department at work - Boss Lady (aka the owner of the company's sister), me & another peon.  And Peon #2 was on vacation this week, so I had to cover for her.  Which meant doing a lot of do-it-NOW / customer service / people-y things that I normally don't do (and very little of my own work) and also staying later (my hours are 7:30-3:30 and her's 9-6) so I split the difference & stayed until 5 each night. 

It was exhausting!

Really didn't think today was ever going to end!  On the plus side....each day, while at work,  I saw my FitBit notification pop up on my phone that I reached my steps goal!
 What's up, Wednesday?
As usual, I'm linking with with Miss Lindsay & crew to reflect on the positives in life from the past week. 

1.  Notifications that say "Overacheiver!" from Fitbit.
 funny lol laughing laugh minions GIF
2.  Extra hours at work = extra $$$!!

3.  Finding out that Home Depot carries a saddle & bridle for their skeleton horse. WOOT!  That just saved me a lot of work before Halloween! 

4.  Going kayaking for the first time last weekend!  My arms were dead for a couple days after, but it was so fun! 
5.  Going out for Thai tonight, since Randy knew I had a rough week.
Not even caring that I didn't count how many points were in that delicious 17 oz bottle of 5.5% alcohol Zombie Killer (cherry hard cider - mmmmmmm!)
6.  My eye exam tomorrow.  I hate admit that I really do need readers.  Getting old sucks!  But it'll be nice to SEE!

 7.  There just happen to be several stores that I know have Halloween stuff out already not far from the eye place!  It's in the middle of a nasty construction zone, so I would normally avoid venturing into that area but since I'll be there anyway.....
8.  Finally getting the fall dance schedule!  Miss Angela is really happy about that!

9.  Speaking of...she's doing well at her new job.  Seems perfectly appropriate that she works at a dance-wear place!  So far she hasn't put much of her paycheck back into the store.....

10.  My bed that is calling my name!!

Have a great week!  I'll have to do a post about the kayaking trip, just because it was so much fun!

 photo http---signatures.mylivesignature.com-54494-124-9BF74C716651145ECAC7EDD1AB729D6B_zpsxkuumtdq.png

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Transforming Tuesday x2

Woohoo - a 2 week checkin!  
So a co-worker brought in this ginormous zucchini into work.  It's easily bigger than my forearm!  I snagged it and made some mini-loaves of zucchini bread.  I got 10 mini-loaves out of that damn thing, so Mom got 2 and each of my sisters got 2.  I polished one off & the last 3 went in the freezer. 
Mmm. 
So this was in the stupid paper that gets tossed in my driveway each week.  Usually it goes straight into the recycle bin, but this headline caught my attention.  I didn't read the article, tho.  Personally, I go for what fits.  My mom is one of these people - she went & had a bra fitting and actually argued with the girls at the shop because what they measured isn't "the size she has always worn".  No matter that the correct size fit better!  I really don't think that there's any way you would be able to shop in multiple stores and always buy the same size.  Nothing is made the same!  And don't get me started on "lady tees".  WTF is up with those???  XL should fit ME, not my 110 lb daughter!

Moving on.  Weekend before last was my nephew's bridal shower (that sounds weird, but he was there with his lovely bride to be)  My sister Laurie & I have had these "special" outfits for months, waiting for this day!  We actually thought to wear them to the wedding itself, but it's pointless when the bridal party will be busy with photos & such.  We got to the hall first and went running across the parking lot, waving our arms when sister Linda (mom of the groom) pulled in.  She was dying laughing when she got out & commented that she didn't realize it was such a dressy occasion!
This mumu entertains me so much!  It's a lovely polyester bedspread and/or curtain material & one size fits all up to size 46!  Someone actually bought this in a store!!  I personally paid $4 for it at the Salvation Army, but that's besides the point. 
The neckline was a bit tight for both of us, but we had plenty of room elsewhere!
I made a recipe from Iowa Girl Eats.  If you need quick & easy gluten- or lactose-free recipes - this is where to go!  Anyhooo.  This is a sweet apple chicken sausage with apples, pasta & spinach.  I had a lot of hope for this, but I wasn't a huge fan of the apple chicken sausage.  Interesting, anyway.  And it made shit-tons of food!  Randy & I both decided that it would only be a once in a great while thing. 

It just occurred to me that I'm basically posting 2 different views of my activity & not the scale results.  I'll have to figure out something different for next week.   That's OK this week, since I must be PMSing, since I got on the scale altho I hadn't planned to and seeing a (non-unexpected) 1.2lb gain almost made me cry in the meeting room.  I know exactly what the problem is. Linda sent home a huge ass freakin' bag of M&Ms after the bridal shower and those are my Kryptonite!  I ate so many of those damn things that I've broken out like a teenager.  And apparently 40+ year old acne doesn't like to go away.  
 I totally got gypped on activity last Sunday, because I went kayaking for the first time and got one hell of a workout!  My arms & shoulders are still sore!  But my fitbit had been in a waterproof case & tossed into the nose of my kayak, so my steps to and from the car across a park and my swimming & such aren't shown here.  
Anyhoo, I'm going to cut this off now so I can hit the sack.  I'm beat!  The only other person in my department at work is on vacation, so I'm pulling in an extra hour & a half a day to cover for her.  So instead of leaving at 3:30 and missing most of the crappy traffic, I'm leaving at 5 - right smack in the middle of rush hour.  Ugh.  On the plus side, I've hit my 7000 steps before 4pm for the last 2 days!

Until later....
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Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Transforming Tuesday 8/1/17

Image result for august memes
It's my birthday month - hooray!

Carrying on smartly....I was pleasantly surprised to be down 2.8 lbs tonight!  And this is after a baby shower & 2 grad parties this weekend!

I actually think I did pretty well.  At the baby shower Saturday, I had fruit & a salad & an eggroll, but avoided the mostacolli and mac & cheese.  I had a small piece of cake, but scraped off most of the frosting.  At grad party #1 (Saturday): raw veggies, a broasted chicken leg, salad. OK, and some small cookies & M&Ms.  Skipped the cupcakes & pasta & potatoes, but I did have a Mike's Hard Lemonade.  Grad party #2 (Sunday) was not long after we'd gone out to breakfast, so I had a small taco salad because it just sounded SO good! and a slab of watermelon. We left as she was cutting the cake, and since I refused to pay $15 to get into the park when we didn't plan on staying long, Miss Angel & I parked at the corner and ended up walking about about 1/2 mile into the park.   Steps, baby!
I clearly didn't mow the lawn this week!
Damn Fitbit didn't sync this weekend, so I ended up with 5507 steps / 2.44 miles on Saturday and 8613 steps / 3.82 miles on Sunday for a total of  56195 steps / 24.93 miles for the week. 

Anyhoo, cutting this short - here's a shot of Rusty rolling around on my lap.  He used to be a barn cat, but now we only let him outside with a harness & leash on.  He'll eventually figure that out!  

 photo http---signatures.mylivesignature.com-54494-124-9BF74C716651145ECAC7EDD1AB729D6B_zpsxkuumtdq.png