I can remember being the top cookie seller when I was in girl scouts. My mom worked at a college and we would fill the wagons and take them throughout campus. I can also remember enjoying a peanut butter pattie on the tailgate of my dad’s truck with an icecold pepsi. Hmm. We must have sold them later in the year back then.

I plan to take one box to bible study tomorrow and one box to my husband’s office. The other box will go in the freezer and come out one at a time with an icecold (diet) coke.

Here’s hoping you enjoy a sweet childhood memory today…or at least a girl scout cookie

One cool thing he did was take a picture of my eye. He showed me what they look for and I learned that he has actually diagnosed a few malignant tumors via the “eye photo” of otherwise healthy patients.

He mentioned one patient who went to him just so her husband would quit hounding her. She had never needed glasses but her husband could not understand why she would not get checked out if they were paying for insurance. When she went, my doctor saw a malignant tumor in her eye. He referred her and she had the malignant melanoma removed. She lost her eye and now has  prosthetic but she saved her life. They can also see signs of diabetes and many more issues.

Luckily, for me, he said I had the best eyes he had seen today.

I am going for an eye exam today because my eyes have been really tired recently…so tired at times that they burn. I know it’s from working at a computer under flourescent lights for years but like to have them checked every few years. I’ve never needed glasses or contacts, however, a few years ago, I had the same issues and went for a check-up and they recommended that I wear reading glasses at the computer. I got some stylish readers that everyone says I “look smart” in but with them being readers, I can’t see someone standing 10 feet away. And of course, can’t walk, drive, etc with them on. They have offered relief in reading and sitting at the computer. So we’ll see what they say. I have noticed that my distance vision has declined. Among my family, I am known for being able to read the microwave clock time from the couch in the living room…or as our house is set up now, I can no longer read the small print on the preview channel on the living room tv from the kitchen table. Now, that’s a serious gauge, I know.

So, I need your feedback. I have chosen an eye doctor based on my personal network. The wife of the doctor I am seeing is one of my new freelance clients. When I called to establish my file and make the appointment (I’ve never been seen at this practice), they asked for my social security number. Am I just forgetting that I have done this with all other doctors’ offices? Or do they not need this? I can’t understand what they could possibly need it for. Or at least I can’t imagine a reason for which a different identifier will not suffice?? I told them I did not want to give the number and they said we could “handle that when I arrived”.

Anyone have experience with this?

On another note, I am in desparate need of four of these shower curtains from Wal-Mart as I have run out for my laundry room. They are $14.99 each so if your town has them, I will gladly re-imburse you. I have been to three stores so far and have not found them. I just bought these about one month ago at a Wal-Mart near my house but can not find anymore.

However, we managed to have a special dinner at home despite the project. We’re having steaks, bake potato and salad….a meal we never take the time to do for ourselves.

And we had a special table too. We even used our china! (Lenox solitaire white)

I must be completely truthful and tell you what is behind the table…

Yes, the laundry room is in the center of the kitchen and I still managed to cook dinner. That’s why C calls me “Super Wife”. Seriously.

And here’s the front door.

A while back, I began a long process of making over the laundry room. For those who have not been to our home, our laundry room is unique in that it used to be an enclosed porch without heating and air. In fact, it was the kind your grandmother may have stored pies on. Mine did.

Anyway, when I was looking at the house four years ago, the appraiser mis-calculated the square footage and it was not until I was under contract that I discovered the mistake and it was indeed smaller than had been quoted. 

Rather than breaking the contract, the seller ran an air duct to the enclosed porch increasing the square footage so the contract would be almost accurate.

This meant that I could move the washer and dryer out of the kitchen and into the porch/now laundry room. Here is what it looked like.

A few weeks ago, I decided to make it into “my space” by adding curtains. I knew I ultimately wanted to paint the brick white but thought one step at a time… After finally finding the right curtains (shower curtains) and hanging them, pinning them and having them hemmed, we decided it would make more sense to go ahead and paint the room before re-hanging the curtains rather than hanging them, taking them down and hanging a third time.

We began the painting process tonight (with no curtains hanging, of course). C primed the first wall tonight and I will be priming the rest tomorrow.  Here’s the progress so far.

Look for more updates as we progress. (Unless, I stroke out and die while he’s at work tomorrow).

2/14 Update: I have been plugging away on priming this room since 8am today. It’s now 3pm and I am finished. C should be able to paint the finish coat, ceiling and trim tonight and we can be finished probably before Monday. Yay!

Have you seen the purple bumper stickers that say “I love my wife”? I need one that says “I love my husband”. I am so thankful for finding him. It’s been interesting getting to know him over the past five years because in some ways he is very much like me (his ideals, traditional ways, beliefs, etc.) but in many other ways he is so different from me (the way he enjoys solitude Ie. his idea of fun is sitting in the woods at 6am listening to the turkeys waking up, his patience and calmness).

I am finding more and more that he balances me out. Together, we’re dynamite. I’ll never forget the toast the best man gave at my friend Becky’s wedding (in 2001, I think). He so eloquently said (and I won’t do it justice) that the bride and the groom are individually such great, strong people and also they fit together so well making a great pair when combined.

I hope that’s the way someone would describe us. Anyway, the real reason for this post is to give credit to my husband for being the man he is and to let you readers know just how lucky we all are to have blessings along the way.

Yesterday, I was having a terribly busy day and was completely rushed and overwhelmed. C called me mid-afternoon and said he was off early from work. Knowing I would have to rush home from work at 5pm to inhale dinner in order to be at church for my 6pm Bible Study, he asked if I wanted to meet somewhere for a quick dinner.

I told him no because I am really doing well on the diet front this week (well, not really a diet but just focusing on healthy foods and portions…that’s another blog). Anyway, I told him maybe we could just have a quick bite together at home and he said he would cook and have something ready for me. Note C is a very good cook, but I am just the one who normally cooks. We discussed our options and decided he would cook catfish fillets with a vegetable and salad.

Since he was going to bake it (with oil or butter, I’m sure) I told him just to thaw mine and I would put it on the George Foreman when I got home.

When I got home, dinner was ready, mine cooked on the foreman with no oil, but spices only….and his baked. Plates on the table…glasses fixed and green beans, and a salad. We had a nice dinner and I went to bible study, completely relaxed, completely slowed down and completely thankful.

Your blessing may not be in the form of a husband but it isn’t God good to give us what we need when we need it?

I’ve not had a chance to write lately with so much going on.  We really enjoyed the mother-daughter day with Mom on Saturday in celebration of her 60th birthday which is today!

I’m busy this week (even moreso than usual) in working on media for a high profile guest’s arrival at the college this week.  

I am excited about the upcoming birth of our new neice. She is the daughter of C’s brother and his wife. They have decided to withhold the name until she is born on (hopefully) March 8.  They have told family but not others so I will not reveal it here but let’s just say, it’s a pretty family name.

In reading some other blogs, I have decided that I must make monogrammed cookies for hospital treats. I’m thinking of making some like these but in pink of course. I’m using this Saturday (and Valentine’s Day) as a chance to practice with my “icing engraver”. Lol.

As you may know, I am in the provisional class of the local Junior Guild and at last night’s meeting, we discussed our project. Each year, the provisional class choses a project and we were presented with several ideas.

Of those, my favorite was a “book drive”. I had no idea the average age of the books in two local elementary schools is 18 years! One of our provisionals is a teacher at both of these schools and she shared this information. She said many books are even taped so they will not fall apart.

I don’t know if this will “win” as the provisional’s project but I sure hope so. If not, I hope people will be charged with collecting books on their own. Really, how many of you have children or know people with children who have many books that they quickly outgrow?!

So, call your local schools and ask them what types of books they can accept. They do have some basic guidelines but otherwise, you can start collecting your gently used books now.

On another note, I was pleased with the turnout at the Young Professionals Network Speed Networking event on Monday. As the YPN social chair, I coordinated the event with the help of other board members and our President who originally shared the concept.

It worked like this… Participants found a seat with either a red light or a green light. Next, they made sure they were paired with one person with the opposite traffic light. Once the time-keeper said to begin, each pair met for two minutes total. During the two minutes, each person introduced themselves to their partner. At the end of two minutes, the bell rang. Then, those with a green light moved to another table and those with a red light remained in their seat, receiving a new partner. Each time a new pair met, new introductions were made.

We had about 25 people attend and I feel like they all left with some great contacts. We had hoped this would be the beginning of a series of “Coffee & Contacts” speed networking events and now we know it will be.

On a final note, do any of you have special Valentine’s Day plans? If so, feel free to share ideas for an inexpensive date or meal at home.

The Nest offers some great ideas if you’re interested. Here’s a glimpse of their site.

 Ladies, this may be the best salsa ever! The peach is my favorite but pineapple is good too. It is always a crowd pleaser when I take it to gatherings. My friend used to always bring it when we would have appetizers together. When she changed jobs and no longer went to Washington, NC for work, I was devastated because that meant that she probably would not be buying it by the case any more. But…just like a great gal pal, she pulled through today with the link where it can be purchased online! So here it is for your shopping pleasure. Seriously, you will not be disappointed. Trust me on this one.

http://petalsandproduce.com/