New Year's Day Traditions and Superstitions

Happy New Year's Eve!

Whether you're planning to ring in the new year with friends at a big party or spend a quiet night at home with your family, there are (apparently) certain traditions that will bring you good fortune in 2009. Here's a list I found of New Year's Traditions and Superstitions.

WHAT TO DO ON NEW YEAR'S EVE
Make lots of noise at the stroke of midnight. Evil spirits attempt to come into the brand new year at this time - horns and whistles chase them away.

WHAT TO WEAR ON NEW YEAR'S EVE
Wear red underwear (tonight) on New Year's Eve to bring luck. And you might even get lucky, if you know what I mean. And I think you do. :)

WHAT TO EAT ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
Black-eyed peas and lentils eaten on New Year's Day are said the bring riches and safety to the coming year.

WHAT TO DO ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
The first words you hear in the minutes of the New Year will set the precedence for the entire year.

While you're partying, listen tonight from 8 to midnight for our Morning Drive New Year's Eve Party with myself and John Riley. We're pulling out all the party tunes!

Rockin' Out to Rock Band!

Let me ask you this .... am I the only one who stays up late playing "Rock Band" with other adult friends on a Monday night? That's what went down at my house last night and I was loving it!!! I felt cool and isn't that the point? You're supposed to feel like you're in a rock band when you're banging on those drums, strumming that guitar or belting out your best "Wanted Dead or Alive" over the mic. So if you haven't tried it ... and you don't have it .. find someone who does and express yourself! It's a great way to have some fun with, not only, your kids, but with friends and other family.

Early Wake-up Call

It was HARD to get up this morning. I mean, come on, for the past week I've been spoiled by having the luxury of sleeping in everyday. But now, after a wonderful Christmas with my family, it's back to work .. and that's not such a bad thing. Vacation is great .. with all it's laziness .. but getting back to a schedule makes my life right again. You know what I mean. I can only sit around the house in my pajamas for so long. I start to get that stir-crazy feeling if it's much longer. And now, we all get to look forward to 2009. A time to get reorganized, refocused and re-energized.

Don't Waste Your Time ... Happy Holidays

Over the weekend, we traveled up to the Chicago suburbs to celebrate Christmas #1 with my family. My three children were very excited because they got to open lots of presents early. Nana and Poppy, as usual, spoiled the kids and it was all fun and games. Literally. My son recieved the Spongebob Monopoly game and I think we played it four times. It was lots of fun and I won twice. :)

My husband and I were supposed to drive downtown Saturday for a fancy dinner with his brother and some friends but decided not to go because of the weather (BRRRR). Yeah, we're wimps. As a result, we stayed home and watched two movies. Two absolutely, awful movies!!!! So in the spirit of helping others this holiday season I want to advise you not to waste your time with "Tropic Thunder" or "Burn After Reading." I can't believe I actually sat through both of those movies in the same night. Four hours I'll never get back. Hopefully, I'll see some better movies over Christmas.

I hope you have a safe and happy holiday. I'll be out for a few days but will be back on the air Monday.

A Great Book To Share

There's nothing more entertaining than reading a great book ... and I found one. I was up way past my bedtime (11:30) last night because I couldn't put down Harlan Coben's new book, " Hold Tight." I would describe it as a thriller with lots of twists and turns. A great read. Hey, maybe even a great Christmas gift for someone.

Happy Holidays!

Being Thankful .. For Good Health.

On Thanksgiving, just before my family eats dinner, everyone sits around the table and lists off what they're thankful for. Well, for some reason, this Thanksgiving we didn't do it so I'm doing it now.

I'm thankful for .. my children, my husband, my friends, my job, my health. Uhh .. well my health hasn't been that GREAT this year. I got my tonsils out. (That was hell!!) I've been dealing with reflux forever. (It's driving me crazy!!!) And for the past five days, I haven't been able to move my head because I pulled a muscle in my neck.

Now, obviously there are many people who are far worse off than I am, but please allow my to express my frustration. For the past year, I haven't felt physically well. I compare the situation to my 10 year old van. Things are just starting to wear out. It seems like I've always got a doctors appointment scheduled or a prescription to fill or UGHHH ... this darn reflux.

Anyway, this latest neck injury left me incapacitated and in pain for days. I couldn't take care of my family, my home, or go about my everyday activities and it was incredibly frustrating. It also made me realize how much I take my body and health for granted on a day to day basis.

I sometimes tell the people who come to my fitness class that we should remember it is a privelege for us to move the way we do and without pain. Once I feel better, I'm going to think about that every day.

Confession of a Grocery Store Shopper

It's confession time.

I CAN'T STOP GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE!

I know it sounds strange. But ...

I CAN'T STOP GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE!

Here's what happens. I browse the daily newspapers and, inevitably, come across the grocery store circulars. All of them. So, I look and I see all kinds of sales that I feel I can't pass up. You know what I'm talking about. The 10 for $10 sales. Pies for $3.39 (only around the holidays), a bag of chips for $1.50 (prices are going up so I tell myself I better buy, buy, buy). It goes on and on and on. And for some reason, I can't ignore these sales. I even write down a list of all the sale items I want from each grocery store in town so I can strategically map out my plan for the week. My husband doesn't even know it's gotten this bad and he won't if he doesn't check the Visa bill. But here lies the problem. Like everyone else, we're trying to tighten the budget. Except our grocery budget isn't getting smaller. In fact, I think it's getting bigger.

I'm starting to think this is an addiction. Each time I walk out of the store, at least $50 poorer, I feel guilty and tell myself I won't go back for another week, but I always do.

My neighbors even joke that if there's a national emergency they're coming to my house because my pantry can feed an army for a month.

I guess I found one positive aspect to stocking up .. just don't tell my husband.

Battling Cold and Flu season

Now that cold and flu season is here .. you may be reaching for Airborne, the over-the counter supplement that has claimed to prevent and cure viral infections. But before you spend your money .. consider this .. in March the manufacturers of Airborne agreed, as part of a class action lawsuit, to refund more than 23 million dollars to consumers who had purchased the product in the past. While Airborne has made certain claims about its ability to boost immunity, there is no data to support these claims. I better send this article to my mom.

Just Four Cereals Are Good For Kids

My three children are constantly asking me to buy sugary cereals. Captain Crunch, Lucky Charms and Apple Jacks top the list. I told them, though, that I'm no longer buying this junk and I've kept to my promise. It's a good thing because I just came across an article that said Consumer Reports recently rated 27 cereals advertised to children and found most of them had a lot of room for improvement.

Only four - Cheerios, Kix, Life, and Honey Nut Cheerios, ranked very good.

In fact, in an international study, Consumer Reports found that several US cereals has more sugar and sodium than their counterparts in other participating countries.

Some helpful news .. now all I have to do is get my kids to eat the above cereal. So far, it hasn't gone so well.

Manic Mondays

Monday's are important in that they can set the tone for the whole week. So based on what happened this morning, it could get ugly.

As I was leaving for work today, I noticed the garage door was only halfway closed. I pressed the button. It went up a little and stopped. I pressed it again. It went down a little and stopped. UH OH!

There could only be one reason the garage didn't close last night .. something was in the way. The kids constantly leave skateboards and scooters around the garage but usually it doesn't cause the door to stop halfway. Nope. This time, our new van was in the way. It hadn't been pulled in the garage all the way so when the garage door came down it hit the rear end of the van. Crap! There was a big scratch down the back. Great!

We buy a new car, every ten years and we've only had Ruby (our name for the van) for 10 months. In that time, somebody has backed into us and now this. I wonder how much it'll cost. I wonder if we'll bother.

Have a great day!

New recipe - YUM

It's the same every Fall season. Once it starts to get colder, I start to crave certain types of foods and drinks. Chili is one of those foods and is on the menu this week. I also start to enjoy red wine again instead of the white wine I usually drink in the warmer months. And every year, about this time, I start to think about my mom's Shrimp Creole. Maybe it has to do with the cooler weather or maybe it has to do with warm fuzzy thoughts of sitting around our dinner table when I was young. Either way, it's delicious. I did make a few changes thanks to a similiar recipe on allrecipes.com (I add the cayenne pepper) but it's tastes just as great.

Shrimp Creole (YUM!)

1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1 celery rib, chopped
1 tsp. minced garlic
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 28 oz. can of (diced, crushed or a combo of both) tomatoes
1 8 oz can of tomato sauce
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (OPTIONAL – FOR A “KICK”)
Instant rice
Shrimp (I always use already cooked shrimp that’s thawed)

Put oil in pan. Sauté onion, pepper, celery, and garlic for about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, chili powder, sugar, and cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Add shrimp and cook until heated through. Serve over rice. I also serve a salad or peas. ENJOY!

Don't Skip Breakfast - Eat Bacon

If you're trying to lose weight, don't skip breakfast. A new Purdue University study found that overweight men who ate eggs and lean Canadian bacon in the morning had a greater sense of fullness throughout the day, compared to those who ate the extra protein at lunch or dinner. The doctor who headed up the research says, "This study is particularly unique in that it looked at the timing of the protein intake and reveals that when you consume more protein, it may be critical piece of equation.

IT'S JUST ANOTHER EXCUSE TO BRING ON THE BACON!!!

Where Did My Money Go????

Are you wondering where your money goes? You're not alone. According to a new survey by Visa, Americans are spending roughly $48 a week on ... who knows what? They can't remember. Let's see, coffee is a big one for me. I spend $1.59 a day on a medium Dunkin Donuts coffee. I consider this to be an essential part of my day so I'm not willing to cut back. Let's see ... that comes out to $7.95 a week. Then I spend $2 a week on lottery, roughly $10 for lunch. That's all I can remember. That only comes out to $20 a month.

So why is my bank account so empty? :)

False Sense of Security

I was cruising through the grocery store today ... checking for sales, manhandling the fruit and trying to decide if I needed more wine in the house when I came across the deli. That's when it hit me. Yep, we needed more ham. So, I asked for a half-pound of honey-baked ham. Normal enough, right? The man behind the counter bent over behind the display and began looking for the product I'd requested. He couldn't find any so he looked here and there and then pulled open the refrigerator door to see if he could find some inside. Yep, there it was.

By then, though, I didn't think I wanted the ham. Just before he'd opened the fridge, he put his carefully gloved wrist near his nose .... and wiped. GROSS!

So then the question came to mind. "When was the last time he'd actually changed his gloves?" Because, really the gloves are there to assure the consumer about cleanliness and food safety, right? Well, I was not feeling assured. Frankly, he could have had those now-grimy gloves on all morning ... while he was cleaning the machines, handling this and that and whatever. All I know was that I was standing there asking myself whether I had enough guts to ask him to change his gloves before he touched my ham.

I chickened out.

Instead, I cut my order short and just asked for a quarter pound of ham, thinking all along that it was going in the trash.

So am I the only person with this question? When a new customer approaches the counter and that worker has been completing other tasks, shouldn't they change their gloves. Okay I'll admit I'm a little germ-a-phobic ... when other people are touching my food.

Do you blame me?

Christmas shopping??? Already???

It's only September, but my kids have Christmas on the brain. My two boys have informed me that they've already started their Christmas lists. My oldest son, who informs me that his "list is long," has even written his first letter to Santa. He was hunched over his desk last night busily writing. I got a warm fuzzy feeling. I'm not sure why we're so early this year but that's okay. At least we haven't seen Christmas decorations at the stores yet. Or have we?

When Women Drink Too Much ......

So a friend of mine sent this funny article to me last week and I wanted to share. It's called "When Women Drink Too Much ... " For all the ladies out there, this will either bring back memories of younger days .. or from this past Friday (or from Las Vegas.) Here goes!!!

When Women Drink Too Much ...

1) We have absolutely no idea where are purse is located. (It happens every time.)

2) We believe that dancing with our arms overhead and wiggling our butt while yelling "Woo Hoo" is truly the sexiest dance move around. (Guilty)

3) In our last trip to the bathroom, we realize that we now look more like homeless hookers than the goddesses we were just four hours ago. (Nice mascara.)

4) We start crying and telling everyone we love them soooooo much.

5) We get extremely excited and jump up and down every time a great song plays because "OH MY GOD! I LOVE THIS SONG!!!" (Any Journey song.)

6) We take our shoes off because we believe it's their fault that we're having problems walking straight.

Back From Vegas

So, I made it back from Vegas but wasn't fortunate enough to see any celebrities while I was there. My friends and I spent hours by the pool, walked the Vegas strip and even hit a few nightclubs. (Tao - bad. Jet - good) It was tooooo crowded at Tao. (can you say fire hazard.) I did do a bit of dancing while at Jet, though. FUN!! The only problem in Vegas was that I was still not feeling that great. I had been dealing with a major sinus headache and it was hanging around while we were there. Overall, it was a very relaxing trip that allowed me to sit by the pool for hours and hours. Loved that!! I didn't even lose a lot of money. I played slots (always lose) and roulette (won a little).

Off To Vegas

It's that time of year again. I'm off on a girl's weekend to Las Vegas. This year we're taking a few extra days because we just didn't have enough time, last year, to do all that we wanted to do. Our big plans include sitting by the pool (alot), walking the strip to check out all the hotels, shopping, gambling and going to see a show. We've even got plans to hit some clubs. You know .. the clubs where all the celebrities hang out. Oh yeah .. I'm on star-watch this weekend. Hopefully, I'll bring back some good stories.

Enjoy your weekend. I know I will!

Promptcare .. Not So Prompt

We've only been back to school for two weeks and already we have a sick house. My oldest son has strep throat. I think I have strep throat. My other son had to go to Promptcare yesterday for a cut on his leg that won't heal. The word Promptcare, though, can be decieving. I thought it was supposed to be prompt care. Well, we got there at 10:30 am and left at 2:30 pm. CRAZY. We spent four hours at Promptcare, and I'm not rounding up. I guess this is how it works these days. His pediatrician was booked so it was our only option. 4 HOURS!! Luckily, my husband was able to work from home to watch my other son. I guess I'm just venting because there's not much I can do about it. Let me see .... hmmm .. there's got to be something positive about this situation. Oh yeah ... I got to read 4 magazines that I'd been meaning to get through. LOL

Try this recipe - Yummy and healthy

I planted another garden this year and it's doing okay. My zucchini plant rotted and my rhubarb has died off for the year but my tomatoes are still going strong. That means I can make this new recipe I found on allrecipes.com. It's a tomato, cucumber and red onion salad that's delicious. It's also healthy and proved to be a great side dish to a steak dinner we had on Saturday night.

Tomato, Cucumber, and Red Onion Salad (taken from allrecipes.com)

2 large cucumbers (seeded and sliced) (I used an english cucumber and didn't have to seed it.)
1/3 cup of red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon of white sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
3 large tomatoes, seeded and coarsley chopped (I used grape tomotoes and just halved them)
2/3 cup of coarsely chopped red onion
3 tablespoons of olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Optional ** You can also add in chopped fresh mint leaves or basil leaves (I used basil because it's growing in my garden.)

Directions: In a large bowl, toss together the cucumbers, vinegar, sugar and salt. Let stand at room temperature for an hour, stirring occasionally.

Add tomotoes, onion (mint or basil if you choose) and toss to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Enjoy!

Advantage of being an adult

I love being an adult because ...

I can go get an ice cream cone anytime I want.

That chocolate, dipped cone from Dairy Queen tasted great last night. :)

Musical Chairs

This past week has been a little crazy. I was on the radio but not on 93.3 The Drive. John Riley and I played a little musical chairs. Our company owns six radio stations so we've been helping out on a different station, 1470 WMBD-AM. It's a talk-radio format and it's been a nice change of pace but we've missed all of our listeners and all that great music. (Jeez ... give us more time to talk and we never shut up.)

Next week we're back on The Drive but life will change on another front. The lazy days of summer are over as the kids go back to school on Monday. Yup, it's time. Don't get me wrong. We've had a fabulous summer, traveling, hanging out and going to the pool. In fact, this was the first year I could actually sit in a lounge chair instead of being with the kids in the pool the whole time.

So now I'm gearing up for busier days. But I'm ready ... for soccer, hockey, piano lessons, PTO, back-to-school nights, my daughter's dance class, etc., etc., etc.

You get the drift.

We Made It - We Survived the Wisconson Dells

It's taken about a week to recover .. but we made it. We survived our first trip as a family to the Wisconsin Dells. We stayed at the Kalahari and spent about 10 hours at the water parks over 2 1/2 days. I have to say that what I enjoyed most was the Kalahari Surfari. It's set up so you can ride the "waves" on a boogie board or surf on a smaller-version surfboard. I did both and it was a blast. I only tried the surfing once as I was worried that if I tempted fate I would be sorry. I didn't want to come back with a broken wrist. Of course, the kids loved it, too. We played a little mini-golf and "mined" for rocks. We were all worn out when we returned home. Already, the kids are asking when we can go back.

Yeah .. maybe next year.

Wisconsin Dells .. Here We Come

The kids have begged and begged .. so we're finally doing it. We're traveling four hours north to immerse ourselves in water parks, arcades and whatever else the Wisconsin Dells has to offer.

I really don't mind. I'm kind of excited about going down those huge water slides. I'll be the one taking the kids up and down, up and down.My husband won't go down the big slides because he's afraid of throwing out his back. He'll be in the wave pool.

Friends have warned us that it's all a big tourist trap but the kids will love it and it's a few days a way. We'll let you know how it goes.

Enjoy your day and be happy.

Nancy has a BIG EGO?!

EGO - an inflated feeling of pride in your superiority

I'm feelin' pretty good about myself today. The guy at the cell phone store gave me a free charger yesterday .. because I'm so smokin' hot.

WHAT?

Well .. that's my version of the story.

Here's what happened. I had just finished teaching a fitness class so I was rather sweaty and smelly. BUT, I was dressed in my usual work-out attire .. short, shorts and a tight-fitting shirt.

At Verizon, you immediately check in on a computer when you arrive. Then you wait.

I did that and in the next moment a Verizon employee, who turned out to be the manager, walked by, hesitated and then asked me if everything was okay. I said yes and then proceeded to ask him a question about my phone. It hadn't been charging so I was trying to figure out why. He took my phone and charger and tried to figure out the problem. It turned out the charger was broken. So he found me a new one, opened it, had me sign a piece of paper and then said "Here you go."

WHAT? No charge?

I had my old charger forever so I went into the store expecting to pay for a new one. NOPE. He gave it to me for free.

WHY?

Well, it had to have been because I was so smokin' hot. Right? (EGO! EGO! EGO!)

YEP. That was my story and I was sticking to it.

As soon as I left the store, I even called my husband to tell him how smokin' hot his wife was. He chuckled.

Well .... why do you think this happened? It couldn't have been because he was being an effective manager and providing great customer service. Right?

NAH. I like the other story better.

Oh by the way, I also had three children with me in the store. They were eating and occasionally tossing grapes to one another. But it couldn't have been that he just wanted me in and out of that store ASAP. Right?

NAH. I like the other story better.

Now, of course, after actually talking and writing about this incident (and how I felt about it) ... I feel completely ridiculous.

Back From Vacation ... Back To The Real World

Usually when my family returns from a week-long trip I tell people that I need a "vacation" from my vacation. I'm always exhausted because we typically run, run, run trying to see all the sights and keeping the kids busy. Not this time. My husband and I, along with our three children, traveled to the Outer Banks of North Carolina last week. We went to the beach, swam in the pool, and played games with the kids. We visited a few tourist attractions but, overall, it was one of the most relaxing vacations I've ever had. I came back well-rested and ready to start my new life.

It was crazy around my house before we left for vacation. It seemed that we (me and the kids) were running ourselves ragged with our everyday activities. But it was stressing me out. I had high hopes for a slower summer but it wasn't happening.

Now that we're back and I've had time (a week) to reflect on what that stress was doing to my disposition, my new life will include less time running and more time enjoying the simple pleasures of summer. Frankly, I want to be lazy for the next month, until school starts. My kids want that, too.

So .. I'll see you at the pool. I'll be the one lounging in the deck chair.

"Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability." ~Sam Keen

Let Loose And Be A Kid Again

I want to be a kid again. Just for one night. I'll grab my glass jar and head outside at dusk. My eyes will scan the backyard. When I see the bug light up, I'll run over and carefully cup it in my palm. In the jar it goes. Then I'll do it again and again and again just like when I was a child. AH (sigh) ... those were the good times. When I think back at those hot summer nights I feel a sense of security and happiness that I must have also felt as a child. These days I want my three children to capture, not only, lots of fireflies but similiar memories. Sometimes, as an adult, it's hard to break away from all the exhausting responsiblities to enjoy the moment. Maybe I can help. I came across a great list in Woman's Day magazine and I wanted to share. It's called:

" 10 Ways To Be A Kid Again" (Woman's Day July 8, 2008)

1) Catch Fireflies
2) Camp in your backyard
3) Walk barefoot in the grass
4) Buy a treat from the ice cream man
5) Have a watermelon seed-spitting contest
6) See a movie at the drive-in (I didn't find any in the Peoria area. Visit driveinmovie.com for more details.)
7) Have a water balloon battle with your kids
8) Play hopscotch
9) Hula hoop or get on a pogo stick
10) Set up a lemonade stand with your kids

Enjoy your summer AND try to be a kid again, even if it's just for one night.

"Children make you want to start life over." - Muhammad Ali

I'm Exhausted!!!!

I need about a nap today.

Will is happen?

Probably not.

What's the rest of the story?

My friends call it strange. I've taken to reading the obituaries nearly every day. It's actually been happening for some time now and I'm not sure why. Years ago, I rarely give the obit page a second glance. I was always reading the newspaper to stay current on world, national and local affairs but was never interested in checking out the stories of those who recently passed.

As I've gotten older, though, I can't stop myself from reading about these people's lives. First, I do a quick glance of the pictures and if I see someone my age or younger I go on to read the full obituary. I look to see how hold they are, what they've done with their lives, and who they've left behind. Usually, though, I feel the stories of their lives are incomplete on the page. The question that remains is always the same. How did they die? It's usually not included and, for whatever reason, I want to know. I know it's probably none of my business but if you're going to put every other detail about this person's life out there than why not complete the story?

Am I the only one who does this?

Life Lessons

It was a great weekend. We traveled to Champaign to celebrate Father's Day with my husband's family. Dad's were honored with a lazy morning, a yummy breakfast, and a few fun presents. My sister-in-law and I then took the kids to the pool and let our hubby's get started on dinner. They enjoy cooking and planned a barbecued-rib dinner for their 79-year old father. Home-made cole slaw and potato salad were also on the menu. YUM!!! It was a fantastic day.

Also, this weekend, I learned a few life lessons..

# 1) I can no longer handle my liquor. If I drink any more than two glasses of wine, I'm out. I immediately fall asleep.

#2) Don't "rig-up" your bathing-suit. My top was a little big so, in an effort to tighten the bathing suit, I tied the straps behind my neck and then snapped the clips together. Not a good idea. As I was bending over, putting on sunscreen, the top came undone and as I stood up the top came down. I ended up flashing those "lucky" patrons of a Champaign Park District pool on Sunday.

Note to self: GET A NEW BATHING SUIT!!!!

No Longer A Pampered Camper

Overall, it was a successful weekend at Turkey Run State Park in Indiana. That's where we went with the kids and a few friends for a few days of hiking, fishing, canoeing and swimming. We got more than we bargained for, though, on Friday when heavy rain and a tornado warning came our way. We had to spend about an hour in the men's shower as there was only one storm shelter at the campground. After that, because it was raining so hard, we ran to the van and watched a movie. Finally, even though it was still pouring, we made it to the tent for a snooze. It was a bit damp but we made it through the night.

The next day was beautiful and that's when the real camping began. We hiked, swam, fished, enjoyed the kids and sat around the fire. What is it about sitting around a fire in the dark. I love it.

Anyway, if you're looking, Turkey Run is a great state park! There's lots to do for everyone. We're definitely going back.

Pampered Camper

It's going to be quite an adventure this weekend. My family of five will pack up the mini-van and head east to canoe, fish and camp in our first outing of the year. We typically get in 2 family camp-outs each year, one in the spring and one in the fall. (I can't handle summer camping. It's way too hot!) This weekend, we're going with a couple of people who've never pitched a tent before. Their husbands have camped, but the ladies have not so I imagine it will be an interesting couple of days.

I can promise there will be some pampered campers this weekend. That means we'll all be bringing items that probably shouldn't go on a campout. I think one family is even bringing a DVD player, not for the kids but for one mom who may need a break from nature in the afternoon. Hey. Don't judge. I have to give her credit for going on the trip, in fact, she's even agreed to go canoeing.

The weather is also shaping up to provide some excitement. The forecast includes possible thunderstorms, high winds and hail. Oh boy!

Enjoy your weekend.

Camping: the art of getting closer to nature while also staying relatively close to the nearest cold beverage, hot shower and flush toilet. -Unknown

Last Day of Freedom

Today is my last day of "freedom" for some time. Summer vacation officially begins for my four-year old as pre-school ends this afternoon. My 6-year old daughter is done tomorrow and my second-grader finishes up Tuesday morning. Even though I'll lose some "me" time, I'm looking forward to spending some time with the kids during the slower days of summer. We'll go to the pool, watch my son play baseball, and hit some balls at the Golf Learning Center in Peoria. Even though gas prices are sky-high we'll also do some traveling to visit family and friends. Yeah .. I'm looking forward to summer vacation. Ask me how I feel in about a month. :)

There is only one person who could ever make you happy, and that person is you.
David Burns, Intimate Connections

A Relaxing Night At Home

I can't wait for dinner tonight.

Like many people with children, we've been running every night with soccer, baseball, dance, piano and end-of-the year school stuff. We've been so busy that I can't remember the last time we sat down and had a dinner with healthy food. Last night, the kids had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The night before it was chicken patties out of the freezer. On the menu tonight will be "Alice Springs Chicken." It's my version of a dish from Outback Steakhouse. It's chicken with bacon, mushrooms and cheese melted on top. MMMMM. I'll make mashed potatoes, salad and peas. MMMM. I'm hungry already.

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. ~Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story

Mother of the Year

Just call me "Mother of the Year."

NOT!!!

I am horrified and embarrassed about an incident that happened last Friday.

Here's the story.

My oldest son (8) and daughter (6) were taking part in a lip-synch performance at school on Friday and I promised to be there. The problem was that it started at 1:00 pm and I couldn't be there right when it began. I teach a BodyPump fitness class from noon to 1:00 on Fridays. My daughter was very upset at this news because her class was performing first. I promised her that I would rush right over after class and, hopefully, I would get there in time. So class finishes up and I literally run from the fitness room to the car. I book over to the school and run from the parking lot into the gym. I see my husband and a friend and take a seat next to them on the bleachers. After about 10 minutes, something doesn't feel right and all of a sudden it dawns on me that my youngest son, Logan (4) is not there. I blurt out to my husband, "Where's Logan?"

OH MY GOD! I left Logan at the health club. Now, mind you, he was in the nursery so he was in the care of professionals. But still. I LEFT MY 4-YEAR OLD SON!!

I booked it out of the school gym and headed to the health club. Five minutes later, I gave Logan a big hug. He didn't even know that I had left the building but I felt so guilty.

To make matters worse, I missed my daughter's performance because I was too late and then I missed my oldest son's performance because I had to go back to the health club. Like I said, just call me "Mother of the Year." :)

"Mothers are all slightly insane." ~ J.D. Salinger

Gearing Up For A Get-Together

Spring in here and that means it's time to fire up the grill! We're having lots of friends and even more children over to our house this weekend for a cook-out. In fact, I think there will be 20 kids. They'll definitely outnumber the adults.

What this all means is that I'm in planning mode .. BIG TIME. It's something I love to do: invite people over to my house and put my husband to work. He's a patient man and doesn't complain when I get out of hand. And I do get a little out of hand. I've got a honey-do list for him that's getting quite long. But make no mistake, I have a list, too. Today, I'm staining our outdoor table and playset plus I have to go get supplies, clean the house, plant flowers, etc., etc, etc.

John Riley calls me "manic."

He's coming this weekend, too, so I may have some new pictures to post on Monday. Nothing too crazy but we'll see. :)

"It is better to have burnt and lost, then never to have barbecued at all" - William Shakespeare

Mother's Day Highlights

Okay .. this is a few days late but I had such a wonderful Mother's Day. Here are some highlights.

Slept in .. until 8 am (that's late for me)
Shared a huge breakfast with my family, including my mom, dad and mother-in;
Went to the Lakeview Museum and had fun with the kids
Saw Speed Racer with Bruce and the kids
Topped off the day with a burger, fries and ice cream at Culver's. YUM.

AAAHHHH. :)

Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love. ~Mildred B. Vermont

When Mommy's Your Name

Mother's Day is this Sunday so let's celebrate the women who've made a difference in our lives. John read this on the morning show today and I think many of you will relate.

Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day.


When Mommy's Your Name

- by Jacey Reynolds


The telephone's ringing, the TV is blaring.
Sister is crying' cause Brother's not sharing.
There's a spill on the carpet that no one will claim.
There's no time for sitting when Mommy's your name.

The laundry is folded but not put away.
The dishes you just washed are from yesterday.
Without any warning your relatives came.
There's no getting caught up when Mommy's your name.

You drive to the market, you drive to the school
You drive to the cleaners, you drive the carpool
You drive yourself crazy, it's really a shame.
There's no time for resting when Mommy's your name.

To your bedroom you sneak to find peace for a minute,
but your minute is over before you begin it.
Your little one finds you and thinks it's a game.
There's no time for hiding when Mommy's your name.

At night as you kneel to thank heaven above you,
An angel creeps in and says, "Mommy, I love you."
You may not know glory or fortune or fame,
but what does it matter when Mommy's your name?

What I Dread These Days!

I know I'm preaching to the choir but I just filled up "Betsy" my tired-old mini-van on Monday and (YIKES)$75 dollars later I was on my way. That one hurt. Usually, I'm pretty upbeat but today I'm going to tell you about a few things I'm irritated about.

#1 Going to the gas station
#2 Paying my Visa bill (it's HUGE)
#3 My husband's snoring (I slept like crap last night - even with ear plugs)
#4 Swimsuit season (It's fast approaching)
#5 I have to repeat my request at least three times to get my children to do anything I ask
#6 My messy garage

MORE TO COME

By the way, John is sitting right here telling me not to whine and that I have no right to complain about what he calls my "pampered" life. Stuff it Riley!!!

No Snacks for Baseball .. Yeah!

I kind of got my way.

NO SNACKS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR BASEBALL.

A couple of weeks ago, I was complaining and blogging about how I quite dislike having to bring snacks for my children's various soccer/baseball/hockey teams. First of all, I don't think they need the extra junk. Secondly, it's just another thing for me to remember as we rush out of the house.

Anyway, it turns out I'm a big wimp. I never said anything to the coaches about scrapping the snack schedule this season. I'll admit, I didn't want to be "that mom," and I don't like confrontation so I decided to just deal with the treats. Anyway, I'm now on the schedule to bring juice and snacks for our soccer teams.

Baseball is a different story though. Here's how it went down.

Again, I never said anything to the coach, who is also a friend and neighbor. So I went about my business and forgot about my complaints until yesterday when I spoke with the coach. He said something like "Why didn't you tell me about your blog and the snack issue." I was caught off guard. It turns out his wife (also a friend)read my blog and reported my complaints to him. We discussed it a bit more and he told me he decided to get rid of the snack schedule. I couldn't tell if he really agreed with me but he didn't seem to mind. He said only three parents signed up anyway and he'd probably have to pick up the slack.

He did send me away with parting words. He told me, basically, that if I wanted to see change than I can't just blog into oblivion and expect results. Point taken. Maybe next time I'll be "that mom," and speak up.

“What is a rebel? A man who says no”
Albert Camus

Cleaning Out the Dust Bunnies

The yearly ritual is underway in our house. We're cleaning out closets and I've started with my own. It's time to get rid of all those winter clothes I DID NOT wear this year. There are plenty so I've got a large pile forming outside the door of my bedroom. Even though I'm getting rid of plenty, there's still plenty I want to hold onto even though I shouldn't. I can't bear to get rid of that comfortable, yet ugly sweat suit that my aunt gave me years ago. It's huge on me, is the color of bone and my best friend has flat-out told me that I should never wear it again. So, of course, I folded it neatly and put it on the shelf in the back of my closet.

Do you have something you should, but won't get rid of? I swear my husband has shirts and pants in there that he hasn't worn in 10 years. He can't even fit in them anymore yet he won't take them to Goodwill. He's also told me that, under no circumstance, am I allowed to touch them. Fine.

It's Thursday. My favorite day. Have a great one!

"I think housework is the reason most women go to the office." ~Heloise Cruse

No More Snacks!!

Who: Parents whose children play soccer, baseball, softball, any sport.
What: Let's ditch the snack schedule.
Where: Everywhere
When: Immediately
Why: The kids don't need the sugar (especially before dinner). It's another thing for me to remember.

Okay .. this has been on my mind for several years now and I can't hold back. It's been common practice that at the beginning of a new season (soccer, hockey, baseball, etc) a snack schedule is put together by the coach/manager. Parents are given a specific date to bring a treat and all the team members are given one after practice or a game. It usually ends up being a sugary snack (guilty!) with way too many calories. With all the talk of obese and overweight children in our country, doesn't this send the wrong message? Can't our kids run around for an hour without needing a sugary reward?

Don't get me wrong, my three children now look forward to and expect a snack after practice and would be very upset with me if they knew I was calling for an end to the snack schedule. But I can't keep quiet any longer. THE KIDS JUST DON'T NEED IT, ESPECIALLY AT DINNER TIME! And frankly, it's kind of a hassle for me too. I have three children in soccer this year. All of them are in different leagues because of their ages. All of them will be at different fields. I'm not complaining. I love the fact that my kids want to be involved and I enjoy watching them play. All I'm saying is this is just another for me to remember(or forget) as we rush out the door.

Some would probably like to tell me to stop trying to spoil the fun while others may suggest that I simply tell my children that they can't have the snacks. Yeah, right. Imagine that scenario (argument) two times a week. Not pleasant.

So to all the coaches, managers and parents out there, I'm calling for change. Either get rid of the snack schedule or request that parents bring in a healthy treat. Better yet, send the kids off with a nice pat on the back.

Costco - Come to Central Illinois

I want a Costco in Peoria.

Costco is similiar to a Sam's Club in that it's a warehouse store that sells everything from vitamins to food to cleaning products to electronics to outdoor furniture. I visited a Costco in Orland Park, Illinois this past weekend while I was visiting my parents. I loved it. (Hey, I get excited about small things!)

I'm not a huge shopper in that I go out constantly and buy things but I love to stock up on items, especially food. My husband would say that it's a problem I have and that I'm currently working on correcting that problem.

Will a Costco change my life?

No.

But I'd love one to see one in central Illinois. I even sent a letter to the company telling them that I want a Costco in Peoria. You can also go to the website costco.com and make a similiar request.

Come on. Just do it .... for me!

Obsessed .. With the Lottery?

"I WILL WIN THE LOTTERY ... EVENTUALLY!"

I don't think it's any secret that I love playing the lottery. I talk about it on the radio, I think often about what I would do if I won, and I even organized a "Lottery Club" with my friends and family members. There are nine couples, including my parents, who give me money every two months to buy Mega Millions Lottery Tickets. We've been doing it for almost a year now and "NO" we haven't won anything substantial yet. A few dollars here .. a few dollars there. In fact, I've played the Illinois lottery since I was 18 and "NO" I've never really won anything at all.

WHY DO I PLAY THEN?

Some people would say that I'm wasting my money. Others would say that I'm not very smart. That's okay. They're entitled to their opinion. But they'll never be able to take away my ability to dream the American dream. And, hey, I'm not the only one living in LA LA land. Those jackpots get so monstrous because millions of people play. As I write this for all of you to read I realize how ridiculous it sounds. I know some of you want to tell me to "get real." To you I say "no." Why can't I dream? It's not like I'm spending all my money on the lottery. In fact, I spend $8 a month on lottery. That's it. I realize that having a huge bank account can't solve life's problems and won't make you happier. I'm already happy. But winning the lottery can sure as hell allow you to have a lot more fun and adventure!!!!

I bring this up only because for the last couple of days I've been obsessed with lottery winners. I've been searching online for success stories and I've found them. Just reading them makes me a little happier and little more hopeful that one day "I WILL WIN THE LOTTERY!" I can tell you the "Lottery Club" sure hopes so.

Okay, enough of LA LA land .. it's back to cleaning, folding and putting away laundry. Have a safe and happy weekend.

Where did Spring go?

I thought we'd turned the corner but I guess not. I think I heard the word "snow" muttered when the forecast came up today. NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

We had such wonderful last weekend but I guess we'll be stuck inside for the next several days. I even did some yard work last week and I can't wait to do more. Maybe next week.

Enjoy your day!

What is character?

The other day my 8-year old son threw candy wrappers on the floor of our van. I looked at him, tilted my head and said, "Lucas, what are you doing? Come on, throw your garbage away. It's important to do the right thing even when nobody is looking." He picked it up, shook his head in agreement and said "Yeah."

He knew what I was talking about because then he repeated a quote that I absolutely love. He said, "Yeah, mom, character is who you are and what you're doing, even when nobody else is looking." I looked at him curiously and asked him to repeat what he'd just said. He did and then told me he saw it on a poster in his school gymnasium.

LOVE IT!

"Character is who you are and what you're doing even when nobody else is looking."

It's something to live by.

Don't you think?

Have a happy day.

Magazine Mayhem

I am a sucker for a good deal .. especially when it comes to magazines. Currently, here are the magazines I recieve every month in the mail :

Good Housekeeping
Everyday With Rachael Ray
Cooking Light
Wonder
Taste of Home
O
Redbook
Better Homes and Gardens
Ladies Home Journal
Reader's Digest

I think that's it.

I know. It's crazy, isn't it? You probably think I pay hundreds of dollars for these subscribtions but I don't. Nope, I'm on a list somewhere. Next to my name it probably says, "SUCKER. She will buy any magazine subsciption you offer as long as you offer a great deal." That's not completely true. Just this week, I was offered a year subscription to "Woman's Day" for about $6. I didn't bite. Yet. :)

Have a wonderful spring break. Be safe and be happy.

By the way, I do recycle, passing my old magazines to friends and family or throwing them in our recyle bin at home.

How Wasteful Are You?

"Let's simplify our lives!"

That's what came out of my husband's mouth the other day as we were attempting to clean out our garage. We have so much crap in there. Stuff we do need and stuff we definitely DON'T need. So we threw out a few things but the garage is still crammed with bikes, a kiddie pool, slip and slides, camping gear, a rototiller that's never worked etc., etc. etc.

I have to admit,looking at all that stuff made me feel a little guilty. Wasteful, if you will. Did we really need all this stuff? Or course not. We wanted it so we bought it.

This very concept is what the "freegans" are all about: buy less and use only what you need. The "freegans" are part of a grassroots subculture that was featured on Oprah this past week. It involves people who want to live outside consumer society. They don't want to work, just to buy the next BIG thing. They feel the emphasis on buying the newest product and throwing away perfectly good "older" things is a waste of the world's resources. I can understand that concept, and am conscious about our environment, but I don't think I'd be willing to go to the extreme.

These people go garbage picking for food, all the time. It fascinated me that people were not embarrassed. I would be. I will say that the food they picked came from grocery stores and, besides being in the garbage seemed okay to eat. Much of it was boxed, canned or packaged food. But there was also fruit and veggies, tons of it, in fact. It truly showed me how much this country wastes. Astounding.

After watching the segment, I wasn't so grossed out, but I'm also not willing to change my ways and head over to Walmart or Kroger and start dumpster diving.

It was an interesting segment and made be think a bit more about how consumer driven this society is. Maybe it'll make you think, too. Check out Oprah.com and search for "freegan" and you can get more information.

Have a great day.

Definitely, Maybe is definitely a chick flick!!

My girlfriends and I are starting a new tradition, one that will allow me to finally start enjoying movies. Every few weeks (or every time a new chick flick comes out) we're going to get everyone together for a movie at the theater. It's the only way I actually get to watch a movie. Usually, at home, we watch a kids movie or I'm too tired and end of falling asleep on the couch.

Last night, my friend Patty and I went to see Definitely, Maybe. It starred Ryan Reynolds, Isla Fischer, Elizabeth Banks among others. I LOVED IT and realized how much I missed going to the movies. It was a romantic comedy but the story was told in a unique way, through the man's perspective. When I got to the theatre, I was bothered by something that had happened earlier in the day. By the time I walked out, I was smiling and had a totally different perspective. It was a nice break from reality.

I can't wait til the next one.

Have you seen any great movies? I'd love to hear about them.

"The best proof of love is trust." - Joyce Brothers

Skyrocketing Grocery Prices

My grocery bill is much bigger these days. Have you noticed how much prices at the store have gone up? Even at Walmart, where they brag about their rock-bottom prices, I've noticed that my favorite bread has gone up about 80 cents a loaf. YIKES!
Milk is still below three bucks a gallon but I'm wondering how long it will be before that changes. I'm trying to come up with ways to cut back.

Maybe I'll start clipping coupons. Yeah, I've tried that before but I always forget them at home.

Maybe I should stop buying so many potato chips. Nah.

Stock up. I do when there's a product on sale that I always use. (I have 10 jars of Ragu spaghetti sauce in my pantry. Hey! It was a $1 and I grew up on Ragu.)

I'm making a real effort to not waste leftovers and produce, which can go bad quite quickly.

Maybe I'll just stop eating so much. No, I like food too much .

There's no doubt the prices are crunching my budget so I'll come up with something.

Any ideas? Let me know.

Be healthy and happy.

Nancy

I'm a scofflaw!

I got pulled over by a police officer this morning.

I was driving to work when all of a sudden I noticed an officer had pulled up behind me at a stop light. I knew right away that he was going to pull me over. I knew it because he showed up out of nowhere. I wasn't speeding and my husband had just fixed a burned-out tail-light so I didn't know why. When the stop light changed to green I kept going and changed lanes. He then changed lanes and moments later his lights lit up the dark sky.

#@%!@#$!

Yeah, I think you know what came out of my mouth.

The police officer was VERY nice. He told me I had a headlight out and asked if he could see my license. "Sure," I said.

(Moments go by as I frantically search through my purse, which is filled with reciepts, various papers, etc.)

I can't find it. I tell him that I don't know where it is but I give him my insurance card. He takes down my info and goes back to his car.

#%@!#%$#@

A few moments go by before he comes back and gives me a ticket. He's very nice and tells me I have 24 hours to fix my broken headlight and go down to the Peoria Police Station to prove that it's fixed. If I do that I won't have to pay anything.

Believe it or not, I feel lucky. At least he didn't give me a ticket for NOT having my license.

By happy!

No more fun in my food.

No more fun in my food.

I miss my coffee. I miss my chocolate. I miss my pizza. I miss my spicy foods. UGH! I can't have any of those drinks/foods right now because I'm on a restricted diet.

It turns out I probably have reflux and it's causing irritation in my throat. As a result, it feels like I have a hairball back there and it's driving me CRAZY!!!!! I'm willing to do whatever it takes so I can feel normal again. I'm just hoping it works.

I don't know how long it'll last but I'm going to definitely miss my java jolt in the morning. I need it when I get up at 4:00 am. De-caffeinated tea is not going to cut it. Hopefully, I won't be too crabby with John. We'll see.

Enjoy your day!

Nancy

Never Forget A Birthday

At the start of every year, I always tell myself I'm going to be a better friend/wife/sister/daughter/niece etc. I make an attempt to be more thoughtful and less forgetful when it comes to special occasions like birthdays. While reading the latest Woman's Day magazine I came across a great way to "Never Forget A Birthday."

You'll need 1) a folder 2) sticky notes 3) birthday cards 4) rubber bands.

Make a list of people to whom you want to send birthday cards.
Buy a bunch of birthday cards.
Use the sticky notes to label the cards with the person's name.
File the cards by month, using the rubber bands.
Put them in the folder.
Glance at the folder each month, fill-out the cards and feel better about yourself.

Have a great day.

Having Fun in the Snow

Playing in the snow makes me feel like a kid again. So that's exactly what I did yesterday with my own children. I was out shoveling the driveway when I realized that my husband and I hadn't taken the kids sledding yet this year. At that moment, they were in playing video games. I felt so guilty. So, I ran in and asked if they wanted to come outside. In minutes they were bundled up with sleds in hand. Usually, I like to go to Detweiler Park to sled because of the big hill but there was no time on this day. So we walked a few houses down and found a small hill. I thought the kids would putter out after 15 minutes. Not so. They were out having a blast for almost an hour. Their fun was infectious. I couldn't help myself. I grabbed the sled .... walked back about 25 yards ... got my running start .. plopped belly first on the sled and whoosh .... right down the hill. Now that put a smile on my face. My kids thought it was kinda cool too.

Enjoy the snow.

No More Clapping

I've got my voice back which means there's no more clapping in my house. It all started during my tonsilectomy recovery. I could barely talk so when I wanted to get someone's attention I would clap forcefully. It worked for a couple of weeks. After hearing the clap, my husband and three children would look over at me to see what it was I needed. Okay. They would also laugh. I probably looked and sounded ridiculous.

As a result of having no voice, there was also no yelling. I wouldn't say that I yell a lot but, at times, a raised voice is the only effective tool I have when dealing with three children under the age of seven. I have to admit I liked not yelling. It's hard to explain but, for some reason, I felt empowered by my controlled voice. When things got crazy and the kids were crying or fighting about something I just waited until they were done and then asked quietly what was wrong. Usually, I would raise my voice and get angry. You know how it goes. So, even though I've got my voice back I'm going to try this new strategy. Does that mean I'll never yell again? Yeah, right. (sarcasm) But at least before I raise my voice I'll contemplate whether it's really worth it.

Happy Monday.

I'm Back

It's good to be back to work, although my voice was a bit rough those first two days. It's getting stronger by the day and hopefully, by next week it'll be back to normal. I'm kind of suprised nobody called to complain. Who knows. Maybe they did and I just don't know about it. After having two weeks off, it's taking me a couple of days to get back into the swing of things. Don't worry I'll be chattering it up very soon. You won't be able to shut me up.

You're responsible for making yourself happy.

I've Turned The Corner

There's good news to report. I think I've finally turned the corner. Don't get me wrong, I'm not ready to run a marathon, or even get on my exercise clothes, yet. But for the first time in 10 days I'm not in constant pain. I still don't have a strong voice so I'm not planning to return to the airwaves until Monday morning. It'll be good to be back.

I have to tell you that there's been a lot of TV watching going on at my house these past two weeks. In fact, I've averaged about 6-8 hours of TV watching a day. I know, pathetic, but it was the easiest way to fill the time and forget the pain. Here are a couple of things I've noticed:

1)There are a lot of commericials about food. As soon as I can really eat, I'm going nuts and ordering a pizza from the Hut, hitting Mickey D's drive-thru for a Big Mac and fries, cruising Taco Bell for a Supreme with sour cream, and ordering a family dinner from Kentucky Fried Chicken. I AM FLIPPIN' HUNGRY!!!!

2) There are some awful shows on the tube. Nonetheless, I managed to get sucked in. These were my new favs. I watched the finale of "The Real Housewives of Orange County. (I think I cried a little during this one. Hey! I was having an especially painful day.) "The Millionaire Matchmaker" is a new one. A matchmaker tries to find millionaire men companions. Not as crazy as it sounds. I put it on my TIVO. "Cashmere Mafia." Loved it! It focuses on four ultra- successful women in NYC. "Jon & Kate Plus 8." Two adults. Eight children (six of them 3 years old.) Adorable.

3)HGTV now officially has too many "witty" hosts who try to re-do people's homes. Did I say "witty?" I meant annoying.

I better wrap things up.

Enjoy your health.

It'll be a few more days ...

Boy .. we need to get that last entry out of our minds! I'm sorry for even telling you what was going on. Too much information, I know. I just couldn't help myself. .

So here we go ...

It'll be a couple of more days before I get back to work. I still can't talk very well and I'm hoping Friday will be the big day. By the way, as I write, John Riley just sent me an e-mail. Here's what it said. "Now you're milking it. Get your a** back to work." He clearly misses me.

Bruce went back to the office this week after working from home last week. He's done such a great job of doing it all, working plus taking care of me and the kids. What a great hubby! He's gone above and beyond.

Here's what I'm looking forward to the most when things get back to normal ... no pain, a hot cup of Starbuck's coffee, I can teach fitness classes again, pizza, spaghetti, a Chicago-style hot dog with fries, a Gyros sandwich, steak, a glass of wine, potatoe chips, etc., etc., etc. I think you get the drift.

I'm going to go eat my lemon sorbet now.

P.S. I can't believe I'm going to say this but, I'm sick of TV.

Make yourself happy.

The worst has happened.

The scabs are coming off! The SCABS ARE COMING OFF!! THE SCABS ARE COMING OFF!!!!!!!!
Ouch! Eeew! Disgusting! Yes. It's as painful and gross as it sounds.

When will I feel better?

It's day six and I'm not feeling any better. In fact, if it's possible I think I'm feeling worse. I can't talk, my ears ache and my throat still burns. I would have to say that this tonsilectomy recovery is perhaps, the worst pain I've endured in my adult life. "How can that be?" you ask. "You've had three babies, one without an epidural." All I can say is that labor lasted anywhere from 9 to 24 hours. I've been dealing with this now for six days (144 hours) with no break. Yeah, I'm whining. But I also realize this will be over (hopefully) in a few days. Several years ago my brother-in-law was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had to go through radiation. He could barely talk or swallow for months. He was in constant discomfort and pain. Another friend of our family was just diagnosed with mouth and tongue cancer. I can't imagine the pain she endures every day as she goes through intense chemo while trying to keep her family together. So while I sit here feeling sorry for myself, and I make no apologies for it, I realize this is just a bump in the road. Overall, I have good health and, for that, I'm truly thankful everyday.

P.S. The pain medication has lost it's luster. Instead of helping it just makes me sick.

The Day After .....

Thank goodness for pain medication!!! That is my one main thought a day after I got my tonsils clipped. Is it as bad as I thought? Yeah, it's about what I imagined. But I'm getting through it eating jello, pudding and soup and taking my paid medication every three to four hours. And my husband is waiting on me very nicely. I'm very lucky. Oh, and did I mention the paid medication.

Have a great day.

One More Day ....

I'm very anxious today. Who am I kidding. I've been anxious for the past several months, ever since I found out the date of my surgery. I'm getting my tonsils out tomorrow. I don't know if I'm relieved or not. I've gone online to try to find "good" tonsil stories but there aren't any. I've told everyone I know and some people I don't know that I'm having the surgery, in hopes of finding a nice person to tell me that my recovery won't be as bad as I imagine. That hasn't happened either. Everyone I tell looks at me the same way with that "Oh, I'm glad I'm not you" look. Cripes people. Will you please lie to me. Nope, they won't. Instead, I'm hearing things like "My cousin said her throat burned," and "The scabs come off on the fifth day." YIKES! Okay, I'm officially prepared for the worst. I'll have a burning, scabbed throat that'll hurt like hell.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Be happy.

It's Time to Party

I've been in party planning mode for the past couple of weeks. First, we had New Year's Eve at my house which included lots of food and games for the kids and adults. It turned out to be a pretty easy crowd to please and we had tons of fun. Three days later my daughter turned six. First of all, I can't believe she's six. It seems like just yesterday we rushed to the hospital and I delivered her in about an hour with no time for an epidural. (That's what I remember most about that birth. No drugs. Yikes!)Anyway, so I wanted to find a fun place to put together a birthday party for six little girls. We came across a great find. The Peoria Palace Roller Skating Rink is located on State Street in Mossville. It's right off Route 6 near Chillicothe. The kids had a blast, (I even got on my roller skates.) and it was very family friendly with games and lots of fun music. Workers bent over backwards to make sure we had everything we needed. They supply everything (drinks, ice cream, skate rental and even a pizza) except the cake. It was an easy party and, most importantly, my six year old enjoyed herself.

Have a great day and a healthy 2008.