5 Question Friday

Many thanks to Mama M for yet another fun 5Q Friday!  Clickety the cute button below to visit her blog! 



1. Do you sing karaoke? If so, what is your go to song?

Ooh-haven't sung karaoke in MANY years.  I think the last time was around 1990, or 91.  It had just come out and become very popular right after I met Tool Time, and it was a Friday Happy Hour-stay all night at the bar-kind of thing.  Ouch, I'm dragging up some scary memories :)  

2. What is your favorite coffee drink?
At home, I use fat free half & half, and a Caramel Splenda Stick.  I am very spoiled-Tool Time brings me my cup of joe every morning before I get up.  I'm a slow mover in the morning, so 2 cups are a must!  If I'm out and spending ridiculous money for my joe-it's usually a skinny latte in hazelnut, or vanilla. 

3. If you could choose your own name, what would it be?
Probably something mainstream, like Mary, Anne, or Catherine.  I don't mind my name-I just dislike the fact that people constantly call me Leah, or Lay.  Do you see an "A" in L-E-I-G-H?  I see the valid spelling-pronunciation thing with Lay, but really, who would name a kid Lay?? 

4. Were you ever bullied?
Yes, in Junior high.  A very large girl took offense because I would not tell her my grades. They were BAD, and I was embarrased.  Shame on me-she unloaded alot of her big onto my small in the bathroom, and we both ended up in the principals office.  Once again-digging up scary memories!!! LOL!

5. How often do you eat fast food?
Don't hate me for being honest, but if I eat fast food 3x a year-that is alot!  Not that I'm all healthy and organic-I just try to stay away from it.  However, I will confess that if I have the slightest bit of a queazy tummy (usually from one too many the night before), McDonald's is my new best friend. 

Is it too late to apologize to my parents??

My father is deceased, but my mother is alive.  Perhaps it is not too late to call her and apologize for all the horrible, rotten things I did in high school.  I was no angel.  I'm sure I apologized at the time of my busting-my mother could work a good guilt trip.  Maybe I need to repent further, because I just got my first call from the vice principals office.  There is a reason I call my beautiful daughter "Payback". 

Apparently, she snuck a pair of jeans into school, and changed when she got there.  The school has a "no denim" policy.  The principal caught her, and she fessed up.  Oh......Payback. 

Now in all honesty, I'm laughing-this is a minor offense.  My son, Middle Man, is having some problems with kids teasing him, and although Payback "hates him", she did say she wanted to know who teasing him.  When I heard the vice principal say she had Payback in the office-I honestly thought she used some of her black belt skills on some poor kid.  Thank God for small favors.....

And Mother-really, I'm sorry!!

An Open Letter To Florida Residents

Dear Fellow Florida Residents, Snowbirds, and even some Visitors,

The saying goes that when you move to Florida, your blood thins and you just can't stand the cold.  Well, I'm here to tell you that your blood does not thin just from moving south, but a nice presciption of Coumadin might do the trick.  Point: your blood is just as thick as it always was. 

I have been here since 1986, I moved here from New York.  What?  You moved here from the somewhere up North, too?  So many transplants in Sunny Florida these days!  Now I know it has been a "cold" winter here-there have been days when we've woken up to temps in the 30's.  But it always warms up a bit-even on the coldest of days.  Yes, our winter has lasted longer this year than in the past few years.  I, for one, really enjoy the break from the constant heat and humidity.  Okay, so it's not clear skies today-is that really a reason to get depressed????  You know full well that the sun will be shining tomorrow, maybe even this afternooon.  Point: QUIT COMPLAINING!  You survived just fine up North for xxx years, through many a brutal winter.  You can survive a few days/weeks of cooler temps down here.  Get over it people-is the grass still green, or snow covered?  Are the leaves on the trees, or are the trees bare?  We live in a tropical paradise-and if you can't take a change in climate, then you need to head further south. 

In closing,  I will fully admit that I dislike all the heat-I will be the first to complain about sweating, and big humidity hair.  You have my permission to get all soapbox-y on me when the time comes.

Best,
Leigh

Daddy Daughter Dance

I have a feeling that this may be the last year that Payback wants to go to the Daddy Daughter Dance. She is 14 now, she is the oldest girl in her Indian Princess Tribe-all the others are under 10 except for one, who is 12. Wow, how my girl has grown. She is officially an inch taller than me (wah!!), she has legs a mile long. I *know* that we are lucky that she hasn't started to pull away from us yet-afterall, she is My Payback, and I had already cut a few ties at her age. I am a blessed woman to have such a beautiful daughter, and I still wonder exactly what I did right in order to deserve her.

P.S. Honorable Mention to Chester, the ugly Pug sitting on the couch. He's ugly and not too smart, but we love him.

The Apple Didn't Fall Far Enough....

First, I love my husband.  Really, I do.  He drives me nuts, but I do love the man. 
Second,  I have great inlaws.  They are wonderful people who have given us the world. 

However....while I've kinda known this for long time, it was confirmed today.  My husband is his mother's son.  Let me explain why this is not a good thing, Martha. 

Today, I joined Tool Time, his 2 brothers and future sister-in-law at the Inlaws house to do a major cleaning overhaul.  The Inlaws are in their 80's, she's got dementia, but he's still got all of his wits.  They are both in good health, although they take in excess of 34 pills a day between them both. (!!!!)  It was a family decision to do this overhaul without Mother Inlaw there-would have freaked her out. 

Anyway, I show up about 3 hours late because I was Taxi-Mom. Tool Time had just finished the fridge, and was starting on the spice cabinet.  Mother Inlaw was once a great cook, so she had LOTS of spices.  Some were from 1990.  Some were so old, we actually saved them because Sister Inlaw (who was absent from this fun event) collects antiques, and wouldn't that look nice in her kitchen???   The thing that scared me was the comments from Tool Time.  If I heard "Don't throw that spice away-it might still be good." one more time, I was going to stuff him into the spice cabinet and deadbolt it.  Even Young Brother Inlaw-who is a professional chef-told him dried spices only last a short while, they do go rancid.  But still, he wanted them saved......

He went out to get us all lunch.  Guess where the spices went. 

On to the Tupperware drawer-or lack of Tupperware bottoms drawer.  More of the same.  Yeah. 

My husband is a pack rat, just like his mother.  "Just save it, you might need it someday."  I love you honey, but you married a pitcher!! 

DISCLOSURE:  Cleaning the Inlaws house was not the highlight of my life, it was quite the opposite.  However, I am grateful that we were able to help them out. 

My 1st Five Question Friday

Okay, if you are on my page, you KNOW I did not come up with this myself-I copied it and Mc Linky'd it!! (But I'm glad you are here) If you haven't copied and pasted just as I did yet-click the cute little button and join the fun!



1. Have you ever hit an animal with your vehicle?Yes!! We had just bought a VW Passat, and for the first few weeks, I must have hit a squirrel every day!!! Then one morning I hit a raccoon, and the streak ended there!

2. When you see a string on your clothes do you pull it off or cut if off?
Yes, to both!! If I can pull with out doing more damage, I pull. If not, it's getting cut.

3. Did you have your own room or share a room when you were young?
Had my own room-I am the youngest of 6, so I was a bit spoiled :). However, in my defense-my closest sister is 8 years older, and most of my sibs were adults when I was born.

4. Would you rather wear the same thing for the rest of your life or eat the same thing for the rest of your life?
Ooh, that is a tough one! Hhhmmm....I love to shop, and I'm a picky eater, so I guess I have to say eat the same thing for the rest of my life. Just gotta make sure it's something I like!!

5. What was your favorite TV show as a child?
Happy Days, and Laverne & Shirley. Tuesday night on ABC, 8 and 8:30. I was glued.


Now, I will see if I can add this McLinky thing. I'm new to this blogging stuff, I'm old and NOT a computer geek, so if I get it right, please take a second and clap for me! Thanks! xoxox

Cannot Live Without!! (for the moment)

YUMMY!! These are 100 calories of chocolatey deliciousness!

My nails have never been happier!

This book has changed my life, and my household.

Why Valentine's Day Is No More

Do you see that little cutie? That would be my youngest child, that would be the G-man. It was 8 years ago on Valentine's day that my family was blessed with this perfect baby boy. He is why we don't celebrate the coming of the cupid any longer in our home-his birthday takes precedence. Now, it is the child's birthday and it should be all about him, but I haven't seen a chocolate or flower since 2002. I think Tool Time was just about sick of hearing about that, so this year he stepped up and bought me a beautiful orchid-love them because they are no/low maintenance.




He done good. Thanks, hon! And thank you even more for being a great dad and husband. As much as I love the orchid, the very best Valentine gift is my son. Happy Birthday, G-man. You stink, and I love you!!

The Queen of Random

I got to work this morning and the new Asst. Manager-AKA Gulliver, was there with his nice new work duds, and shiny new shoes. Back pedal just a tad-I work at The Vitamin Shoppe, and (shocker) we sell vitamins and generally try to promote health and fitness. Gullivers meal for the shift-Burger King hash browns, 2 cheesy wraps (??), girl scout cookies, a whole sleeve of Cheddar Pringles, and to healthy it all up-a green apple. To throw some sugar on top, he claims to be a personal trainer while he is not at The VitShoppe. Nice.
Being a trainer myself-I've got some issues with this. Just sayin'.
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I am very proud of my daughter, My Payback, for making the lacrosse team at school. She really enjoys it, and I am beyond delighted that she is finally involved in something at school. However, it is an expensive sport. We just bought a new stickhead for (shudder) $105. Attach that baby to the old stick, and off she goes. Yeah....NO. She needs a new stick with a bend in it. (Gimme the old one, I'll bend it!) Off I go to the store to price the new stick- I've got 2 options $20, or $90. Um, Hello, where is the happy medium???? She got the cheap stick, and she will like it!
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My husband, Tool Time, finally replaced the light over the staircase. No more tripping over sleeping dogs for me!! Thanks, honey, for your timely response to that request!
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Hats off to the Frugalistas I Follow

I think it was in July that I saw a spot on the news about a fruglista who teaches the not so frugal how to save a buck or two. Long boring story short, I found her website, and have now become a frugalista myself. I get big thrills out of "click here" and off we go to a page offering $1 off of whatever product it is.

Anywho-now that I'm getting all bloggy and stuff, I figured I better learn how to do the "click here" thing for myself. Hhhmmmm, lets see if it works. To meet my favorite frugalista, click here

Cue the Jeopardy theme.....

Did it work? Did I do it?

So I have a newfound appreciation for the many who take the time to find these coupons, and then take more time to go the painstaking process of posting the links. I cannot begin to imagine the time that goes into those websites, and I take my hat off to these girls for doing it. YOU ROCK, FRUGALISTAS!

Okay-I gotta post this now so I can see if the linky thingy really works....
More jeopardy music.....

I sink so low on Thursday nights.

Seriously. I have been glued to the television every Thursday night since Grey's Anatomy came on. I worked in hospitals for years-why was is not as McDreamy/McSteamy as Seattle Grace???

"Housewife say what?" Oh,ladies of the OC, I just can't get enough. The funny thing is that when I start talking about the show, more and more women come crawling out of the woodwork to join the conversation. And they are the last ones I'd expect to watch. Who knew??

DVR is set and ready-I'll be watching again and again while I iron!!

For My Girls

This one is for all girlfriends. It came to me today, and just struck a (good) nerve. A few moments later, I had a great chat with one of the GymGirls. Sometimes it is soooo nice to know that we are not alone in being imperfect.

A Poem About Our Girlfriends

Someone will always be prettier.
Someone will always be smarter.
Some of their houses will be bigger.
Some will drive a better car.
Their children will do better in school.
And their husband will fix more things around the house.
So let it go, and love you and your circumstances.
Think about it!
The richest woman you know, she's got the car, the house, the clothes~she might be lonely.
So, love who you are.
Look in the mirror in the morning and smile and say,
"I am too blessed to be Stressed and too Annointed to be Dissappointed!"
"Winners make things happen~~Losers let things happen."
Be Blessed ladies, and pass this on to another woman.
"To the world you might be one person, to me you are special."