Clarification. . . . .

I know that I'm always saying that I love the change of seasons. I love the snow. I do love the change of seasons and the snow, but I DON'T love the inversion that comes with cold and no snow. i like the snow because if we keep having a storm blow through we don't end up with air we can chew. I've included on this post some pictures that have one thing in common. . . . . . .sunshine, or memories we made in sunshine. I miss blue skies, I need to see blue skies, I'm tired of taking a wide sweep around my car because I don't want to rub against her and leave the filth of humanity on my jeans. I think this is what is referred to as the "winter doldrums" I have a few passes on my 10-punch tanning pass. I may go and see if I can fake my brain into thinking that it's observed sunshine. Wish me luck.

Sunshine thru the window of my "green room"

Lazy days of summer, just me and Benny

This fat chick is me. . . . . soaking in

some rays in Chicago in 2009.

I can almost feel the warmth on my cheeks

and the tops of my feet. . . . .ah

Mr Bryson eating ice cream this last summer

A BBQ with Boyds siblings
BBQ's are generally in the summertime.

Boyd hiding in the geraniums at

a winery in California last spring.

Can you feel the sun. . . . . .ummmmm

Boyd and I in Chicago, the sun on

our face and the wind

in our hair. Yeah

Alex and Viv on the lawn last Spring.

Alex and Milo blowing bubbles,

does anything say sunshine like

a bottle of bubbles?

2010 Reads
I decided to keep track of all the books I read this year. I might have left off 2-3. I didn't think about it until close to the end of January. But here's a list my books.

Under the Dome
The Traveler **
The Last Anniversary
North River **
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
The Book Thief **
Open (Biography-Andre Aggasi)
Broken for you
Night over water
The Key to Rebeccah
The Cradle **
The Shanghai Girls **
Shutter island
Major Pettigrews Last Stand **
Hollywood Moon
Blockade Billy - Morality
Sarah's Key **
Baseball Box Prophesy
Memoirs of a Geisha (actually listened to this on CD)
Songs Without Words **
The Heretics Daughter **
That Old Cape Magic
The Red Scarf
Molokai
Hawaii
The Lost Symbol
Shades of Milk and Honey **
Water for Elephants **
Peace like a River **
Fat Man's Daughter (couldn't finish- approx. 100 pages read)
Riding Lessons
Murder on the Cliffs
The Girl who Chased the Moon **
Prayers for sale **
The Body in the Sleigh
The Scarpetta Factor
Long Division (couldn't finish approx. 100 pages read)
The Sugar Queen **
Garden Spells **
Driven (Biography Larry Miller)
The Secrets Sisters Keep **
While My Sister Sleeps
Breathless
Full Dark, No Stars **
Odd Thomas **
Brother Odd

The ones that I've ** are books I would recommend.

There was a time I only read biographies.

There was a time I only read female authors.

My dream job would be to work for a publishing house and

read/edit books for a living. I've made a resolution for

the coming year to read more of "The Classics" and

less of the "light fluff"

This is so random

I have so many
random pictures that
I'm posting. There's no
rhyme or reason........

This is me out on
the deck making a
snow angel.
This was on
November 24th (I think)

I came to work this morning
and this gingerbread house was
sitting at my desk.

It was a mystery as to where
it came from.

This is Mr. Isaac dressed up
on Halloween (I told you
these were random)
as a Tornado. . . . his favorite
current obsession.

I'm not sure which snow
storm this was.
I love the lights
on my deck covered
with snow.

This is the turkey we
rotisseried on Thanksgiving
Day.

This should be
with the above mentioned
snow angel. . . . . that was before
this is after.

My oh my. This little lovely
came to be last night.
(December 12, 2010)
My daughter-in-law's
step-mother (is that
perfectly clear)
Sharlene,
made it.
She sculpted the face,
she made the dress,
she assemble all
the fabulous parts,
she's (Sharlene) amazing.
She has more talent in
her hangnails than I have
ever dreamed of wanting
to have.
I've was envious of the one
she made Mandi, but now
I have one of my own.

She is still sitting on my
kitchen table, I'm looking for
a box to store her in.

I haven't named her yet.
I'm thinking of. . . . .
Wait for it
Wait for it. . . . . . .
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Minnie
(not sure yet)

This is just another view
of the gingerbread house.
It turned out that a splicer
that I work with has
viewed the "stash" of candy
I have at my desk/bookshelf.
I think he feels sorry for
me and wasn't sure what
to bring me to make sure
I'm in a good mood when he
calls with changes on
workprints etc.
So make a gingerbread house
with 27 kinds of candy on it
and give to the old broad.

I warned you about
the random-ness of this post.
This is Boyd at the fryer and the grill,
on Thanksgiving Day.
He was frying (2) turkey breasts
and cooking a turkey on the
grill (refer to above picture)
He's the BOMB

Another view of the
turkey going down. . . . . .

Down, down into the hot grease.
if you haven't had a
deep-fried turkey. . . . . . . they're the BEST

Finally. . . . . . . .
This is Mr. Alex as Batman
for Halloween.
Thank you for bearing
with me and this
crazy post.
It's sort of how
my life is . . . . . .
a little confusing unless
you live it, then it
make perfect sense.

Lunch with the ladies

This is the Ever-lovely Tami

These pictures are all over the place.
For a Christmas Luncheon,
a few of the ladies get together
to eat and enjoy each others
company. We have a fun gift
exchange (with a game involved)
A few of our peeps who have
retired come if they can get
away from all their retired fun.

This is our sweet Sherry.
She is retired
can you tell by her smile!! She's at home
watching her grand-daughter and
generally have a great life. It was so
good to see you Girlie Girl.

This is me with Marilee.
She's our "Hottie-Hottie-Boom-Ba-Wattie"
Ha Ha. . . . inside joke!

Here's Joni and Amber
These two are pair. . . . . a pair of what is the question??

There was lots of fun to be had.

Smiles from Kathy.

This is K-K-K-Kathy
She's sort of retired, but
contracted back
for her fabulous skills!!

Karen. . . . . Or should I say Chesty La-Rue
(can you say cleavage!!)
When she's in the crowd, fun will follow.

Joni, she's a sly-dog!!!
This is a girl who
loves to have fun.
She couldn't keep
her gift, everyone
wanted to trade for
whatever she had.

Here's Jillie,
She looks serious. . . . . . she is. . . .
a serious hand-bag and pen collector,
and perfume aficionado.

Here's DeAnne,
she's NOT retired

but soooo wants to be.
She's praying for a
good-bye package
when we merge.
But, aren't we all.

This is our Brave Becky.
She only has (1) more
treatment for the BIG C.
She's retired, and always
has this smile on her face
even with many
chemo treatments under
her belt.
And. . . . . . .she's managed
to keep her hair.
She is always terrific. We all
keep a little prayer in
our hearts for her return
to health.

Here's Amber, a smile always!!
She has a million little crafty
ideas floating around
in her head. She would
rather be home making
cookies, decorating a cake
and playing with her kidlets
but comes to work
because they pay her!!

It was a fun lunch. I work in the same
building as most of these girls
but so often I only see them
in the bathroom!!
Work is more than a job,
it's an inconvenience, but
where would we be if we didn't
have great friends at work
to make it bearable.

Um. . . . . . spicy

We went to the Cinegrill of Saturday night with the Lloyds and the Galbisos. It was DE-LISH, as usual. I always get the Hot Italian Sausage Sandwich, but I was torn between the salad or the soup. Well, did you know they have what is known as "the splash" and it gives you a small sample of both. Doesn't get much better. Mandi laughed and told Boyd, "I love watching you eat here. . . . . I've never seen anyone eat that much is a single sitting" It's true. He started with 2-3 pieces of cheese bread and sauce to dip it. Then a corned beef sandwich (not shy on the meat in this bad-boy) and an order of spaghetti. It's an amazing amount of food, but he eats it all. . . . there's not even a smidge of anything left on his plate. It's quite impressive! Harmony had experimented with a pumpkin cheesecake recipe, she had little balls of cheesecake dipped in a scrumptious layer of chocolate. They were delicious, and creamy, and fattening, and yummy, and addictive, and I brought some home for later. (I actually ate one before my meal came) It was a great evening. Harmony lost her voice so she was all quiet, but Isaac made up for it :-)

At the carwash. . . . . . .

I just took Alice thru the car wash by my work.
It cost me $6.00.
That was the cheapest option.
(automatic – where you don’t get out of car)
It was kind of pathetic..
It consisted of:
A foam-up
A flappy wash
A “spot-free” rinse.
That was it.
When I got to the office parking
lot, got out to lock my car
and go in the building. . . . .
there was still foam on the door.
Is is me, or is that too much to
pay for a rather pitiful car wash.
It is a necessary evil.
Who is going to hook up a
hose at home in this weather?
Who likes to brush by their car
only to get salt and road-muck on
your clothes? Not me I say.
Boyd washed my car on Saturday
using the hand wand, that was only
$2.50, but he’s a maniac and
doesn’t mind the bitter cold and wet.
Me, not so much.

I'm just saying. . . . . . .

Open letter to who ever want’s to read.
Last night was delicious. Boyd scheduled a couples massage.
After I arrived home from work we changed and headed to the Massage Salon.

It was amazing. We stopped to get a bite to eat then went home for a soak.

It is just the way I like it. The air was so cold, you could bite it.

I love that feeling of putting your teeth together and sucking i

n a mouthful of cold air that has a definite taste of winter to it.

I’m a little excited for the storm tonight.

I love watching the snow pile up.

I like watching vehicles try to get up

the street I live on. (it's steep and I know it

shouldn't provide me with any sort

of pleasure because Boyd usually

has to go out and help them

dig out - but it's still enjoyable.

I've seen a school bus come down

my street SIDEWAYS!

it's exhilarating!)

I love the sort of "magic pink" glow

the air has when there is snow on the ground.

I can’t remember ever having a “blizzard warning” in the 35+ years
I’ve lived up here.

It makes me want to hunker down and watch the weather from the
safety of my kitchen with a warm bowl of soup, some crusty bread and some hot cocoa with whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top.

Good Luck everyone driving home
this afternoon.