My "Memorial Day"...

George Downey, my dad, would have been 82 today, he left us in 1970 at a very young age of 42. He would have been proud and loved all of his offspring!!! For 12 years I shared my birthday cake with him, at the time "feeling a little jipped" ~ how I wish I could still be sharing my cake with Dad. We've been blessed with an amazing step father, and mom a wonderful husband. Hard to believe 40 years has past without him, makes "memorial day" even more meaningful.

Spending like there's no tomorrow!

Would you drop well over $400.00 at a Williams Sonoma store on condiments, spices, mixes, etc. without ever checking any prices, not watching the items being rung up (having NO clue on what items cost) then sign the bill without blinking an eye... we're NOT talking all-clad or any electric item...we're talking small package goods! I'm forever amazed at people's shopping trends...

When is it too young???

 I'm sure I'm going out on a limb, again.... But there is something about seeing a "little girl" getting a pedicure while I'm waiting (or another adult) because it's her turn... that just bugs me...I know they are paying customers - I know it's really not their fault... someone had to bring them to the salon ...  and I don't have a daughter, so maybe I have no business commenting... BUT - I'm forever amazed to see these squirts whose feet can't even reach the water being pampered.  My first pedicure was the day before I was married... by a professional that is, every time before that was a grandmother or my mother "painting our nails"... And the last time I had a pedicure, the "little girl" next to me, maybe all of 8 years young, was on her cell phone!!!!! 

Hop, Skip and a Jump...

One of the perks in working at a University is 1/2 day's on Fridays in the summer months... today is the first... out at 12:30 - just wonderful to get a "hop, skip and a jump" on the weekend. I know, many are closed ALL DAY FRIDAY in the summer, and yes, that would be great, but I'm grateful for what we have!!!

Working Relationships...

Working relationships. I've often reflected that I spend more time (40+) hours with people I work closely with, considerably more time than ANY family member in any given week. Through my seasoned years, I've had only a couple of working relationships that were "less than perfect"... I make it a point to work well with co-workers, the thoughts of going into an office and dreading the people I share office space with, lunch tables, traveling, etc. well, it's just horrifying, it would make me look for a new job. After all, isn't what makes going to work bearable the relationships we have with the people you work with... to me it is. Well, this is by far the greatest working relationship I've ever encountered. Di. I've said it to everyone who knows me, there is NOT a mean bone in this woman's small frame... genuine, honest, encouraging and what counts most to me is - a lot of fun... we make sure we do our share of laughing and I'm sure envious to many who work around us. Even though we have different roles with students, we are interchangeable and we'd stand in front of a moving freight train for each other. I'm forever grateful and feel truly blessed to work so closely with someone I have such respect for. Di is one of eight children, born in the Philippines, her family is her life, but so is her commitment to her career and the people she surrounds herself with. The balance factor is when it's a Sunday afternoon and knowing I have "another" full week of work ahead of me... to be something I look forward to! Thanks Di!

Mission Accomplished...

"I'm telling you Susan, we are NOT buying ANYTHING tonight," I need to sleep on it.  "I understand and totally agree"... test drive... he "jumped" behind the wheel, a stick? it's been a long time... comes back like riding a bike - 5th gear on the highway... "lovin it"  OK.... meet the sales guy at his desk... (you know, 12 desks along the wall)...  I love my husband, gets them down on the price... heals in the ground, I need to think about it until Monday... We get walked into the finance "guy"office... super nice man - banging numbers on his keyboard and saying nothing... Comes back with a figure... my husband "Wow, does sound good - I'll let you know on Monday"... he goes out the door, comes back with a piece of paper - knocks down the price considerably... my husband - OK, we'll take it... it's now ours! Deposit left, ours on Monday... we must have the word "sucker" written on both of our foreheads... I'm wiped, a few too many car salesmen the last few days... know what I mean???
PS... A Toyota Matrix...small (good for a tight parking lot on campus and good on gas)... also rather cute (to me)... I'm happy.

End of semester stress!

One of my LEAST favorite times on a college campus is the end of the semester, especially the Spring Semester... WAY TOO MUCH STRESS. Students, Faculty, Registrar, Commencement, etc - I've heard students "flipping out" when they find out "they are not graduating", I've seen security called to "escort them out"... this upset's faculty and it becomes a snowball effect. A certain amount of stress is normal...it's part of the college experience, we all have to deal with it, but it should not get the best of us! I've seen my son stressed this week, very focused on studying and his papers... I have to say I'm very proud of him...he's a rather low maintenance kid and seems to have it under control...finishing his Junior year, we don't have to deal with graduating (this year)...

Family Fued... New or Used Car!

Family Feud. Buy a new car (yes, we can ALL AGREE there is something VERY nice about a new car and driving it out of the showroom, no one else's "gump"... etc.) OR me saying, that's insane, we can get a good deal on a used car... We "usually" agree on big purchases, we have been "buttin' heads" this week...
And how can we complicate this... letting a 21 year old boy share his thoughts... I don't want a car payment...but yes, of course,  I'd love a new car. My husband does not want "someone else problems"... I'm positive there are "good" used cars out there. Today our son went to check out 2 cars... took both to a mechanic we trust (not an oxymoron in this situation)... he said a big NO to both... You see, if we purchase a "used" car, it's the one our son will drive... A LOT of family negotiation going on right now...  I'm really NOT a big car person, I want a safe and reliable car, my husband wants me to drive a new car, his is only a couple of years old and it's important to him (not to me) I'm VERY interested to see how this all pans out...

He's Comin' Home...

Summer. It's when the "fun begins". It's starts with coming home from college with ALL HIS STUFF... I love our son unconditionally... he brings great life and laughter into the house...BUT... I can do without the STUFF. Gearing myself up for sleepless nights, huge grocery bills, messy room ... but lot's of love, so it's all worth it - just takes a while to get back to that routine, again!  Happy Mother's Day!!! 

Oatmeal...

I'm trying it AGAIN...for the umpteenth time. Oatmeal. I'm approaching it with an open mind and keep asking Lesli for her tips... I'm forever amazed anyone can eat it EVERY morning for breakfast. I've read various studies that proved eating oatmeal reduces cholesterol (although luckily, my cholesterol is just fine). There is also an indication that people eating oatmeal for breakfast consumed fewer calories which is good for the waist line as well as the cardiovascular system. I've ONLY heard good reasons to eat this "muck"... I tried the little packages of instant, but they are NO healthy bargain. So, this week I made 5 baggies w/ 1/2 serving in each, bought fresh blueberries and made it at school... I actually ate the entire serving, and I was fine and not hungry until lunch at 1:00 PM... I've realized, if I don't like something, I don't buy it, make it or serve it! Not really fair, both Gene and Phil happen to like it, but they never get it from me... Just another "new" thing I'm trying "again"... it's not in the same category as goat cheese and green peppers (that I absolutely loath)... I love oatmeal cookies though, does that count???