Just Checking In!

Hello! It's been awhile I know! So much going on but just thought I would pop on and say hey!! Hope all is well with all of my readers, which I probably have almost lost by this point. I do seriously miss keeping up with my blog! I do ave a good excuse though, LOL. Well if you could call any excuse a good excuse.

I have been so busy with the job and it doesn't really afford me the time to keep up, BUT WORSE THAN THAT.....I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. Ewww, I'll have to post about what led up to the diagnosis, but for now I will tell you that I now have my bi-pap machine in hand and it is seriously my new BFF! I am sleeping so well all through the night. I still, at times, want to nap during the day. Like I took one both yesterday and today, but the respiratory therapist says it takes the body time to heal and I will feel like that. However, I am not the bone-tired, come home from work, plop on the couch and sleep for 2 hours tired that I was. I wake up feeling refreshed and have no problems with my drive to work. It seriously was getting to the point that I was nearly falling asleep on the way home from work, and having to pull over to take a small nap. That happened 3 times and I knew I was in trouble and either going to get killed or kill someone. So anyhow, things are good. I woke up today and cleaned the house, did the floors in the kitchen and bathroom, scrubbed the kitchen, ironed the new curtains for my living room, ...... LOL. Things I have not had the energy for in months. I'm comin' back people!!

Still not decorated for Christmas and debated about not putting up a tree at all, but to me, that is just the height of laziness in my case, and I will get it up. Travis will be coming home from college this week and I want to have the house decorated by the time he gets home.

Speaking of Travis in college, he is just rockin! He has a 3.4 GPA and with the caliber of his classes, we couldn't be more pleased! He will be working at Marion General Hospital while he is home and also spending New Years in Florida. Should be a good break for him.

John is doing good. Deep in the throes of home renovations. I'll have to post some pics. We are adding on a bathroom. John also had the house sided and replaced the windows. It looks great. Thanks honey!

Well that is it for me now. Give me a comment if you stop by! I would love to hear from you!!

Hello Blog World!

Well it has been awhile hasn't it? Jeez I don't even know where to begin! I'll start with the good stuff! Travis is in college at Miami University and is doing fantastic! He loves college. John and I went down this weekend and seeing him so focussed and goal oriented was just amazing. I mean seriously, I can't believe it is my son. He was so NOT that in high school. Grades came easily to him. Now he has to work at it but does so willingly! John and I were both just amazed. I know I said that but I can't think of another word.....amazed......thats it......

I started a new job in August working for the Battelle Corporation in Columbus and I love it. I'm working for my old boss from WorkMED, Deb, and that has just been a pleasure. The whole office is fun. I work for the Health Services Department and am the medical records custodian and senior office assistant. I have to say it is nice to have a job that is basically over at 5. I leave without a ton of stuff on my mind of things I have to accomplish, knowing there is no way humanly possible I could do it. This is more laid back, easy going, and the people are great! They are sending me to Utah......in January. OK I know, it will be chilly and I'm wondering why it can't be Key West, but whatever, LOL! I do have a commute of nearly an hour each way but so far it has not bothered me at all.

One thing though......I'm sick! I have the cold from hell! It sucks!! I can't breathe and keep coughing. I'm tired, and whatever, blah blah blah. I know you are all probably going through it as well. I hope it doesn't hang on for long. I'm so ready for it to leave me!

John is doing well. Same old same old. We have been doing some camping and that is always fun. John loves to camp! I love the campfires he builds, so it works, LOL!

Well thats about it for us. Hoping all is well for everyone!!

Have a GREAT DAY!!

CHANGES.......

So yet again I have been gone for some time! I don't know why really, because I do have a lot to write about. I think I really just haven't felt like writing about it all. Sooooo where to begin.....

I quit my job at OSI. I know, right??? Can you believe it?? Phew, after 6 years I decided to call it quits. I have a new job that I start on Monday with the Battelle Corporation in West Jefferson Ohio. When I say the job literally just landed in my lap, IT DID!! To be honest, I have been contemplating working outside the house for awhile now. With Travis going away to school (next week, OMG!!), and not in high school anymore, my social life will be in the toilet, LOL. His school functions WERE my social functions. Take that component out....and all I have is this boring life. I'm a transplant here in Waldo, and working from home does not lend itself to making new friends much. Sooooo, like I said I had been contemplating getting a job outside the house. One day my phone rang and it was Deb Cardlin, my boss at WorkMED in Youngstown, Ohio. We parted ways in 1999. She left WorkMED and moved to California. I left WorkMED and worked from home after a brief stint at Microsys Computing, (and dear Lord, I HATED THAT JOB AT MICROSYS)!!

Fast forward 10 years. I had heard Deb lived down in this area but was unable to get ahold of her. Anyway, one sunny day in June my phone rings and it is her. Her exact words to me were, I have a job that has your name all over it. I will be working for their Health Services Dept. It is a very complex job and to be honest, I know some, but not all so what I'll be doing will have to remain a mystery to everyone for awhile. I do know that I'll, be administrating physicals, drug screens, background checks, vaccinations, etc. It took awhile to make the decision to leave OSI, but seeing as they are offshoring alot of the work and alot is going to speech, and they are reorganizing quite a bit, I felt like the writing might be on the wall. Seems like middle management is the most expendable. That coupled with the fact that I truly loved working with Deb at WorkMED made the decision for me. The ONLY drawback, and one that has me extremely worried.....there is a commute, a commute of 40 minutes! Holy SH*T, what am I thinking??? I go from a commute across the hall to a commute on major freeways of 40 minutes. But when I weighed the pros versus the cons, everything pointed to go!!

Leaving OSI was bittersweet. I have made a lot of good friends there. I love, love, love my team. They are some of the greatest people. I think they were all in complete shock when i told them. It was a well kept secret, and I had to keep it for a long time while I went through a background check of my own. They are all nervous because of the changes that have been happening, but I truly think they will be fine. Lots are keeping in touch so far which has been great!! Gotta love facebook for that!!

Anyway, I start this new journey in my life on Monday. Next week will be a week full of firsts for me, with Travis leaving for college on Thursday, along with this new job, and me commuting to work. Please keep us in your thoughts! My biggest fear, by far, is dropping my son off at college the day before his 19th birthday, and pulling away. Ewwwww, I get poopy tummy just thinking about it. What happened to that sweet little baby I had 19 years ago? He's a man and it's time for him to make his own way, starting at Miami University. I'm so proud of my baby!

Well that's about it for us! I'll be back to more posting soon. I have been keeping up with all the blogs I follow and it is great to see all that is going on with all of you!!

Friday Night Observation......

Men with dirty, disgusting, skanky feet and disgustingly long toenails should never, EVER, EVER wear sandals to a restaurant, when nice people (like me) are trying to enjoy a meal. OK, that's all I'm really going to say about that........ Gotta go and try to clear the vision that has been etched into my brain forever!

Hello!!

Hey there everyone! Hope you are all well. I am back from a long and much-needed hiatus from blogging. I missed it though!! Tried to keep up with the blogs I follow though so I haven't completely lost touch!!

I am really bummed though! I had hoped to share some pictures with you and for some reason I cannot get them off of my camera and on to the computer. Whateva! I will figure it out and post some soon.

Sooooo, what's been going on with me you ask? Ok maybe you didn't ask, but I'm going to tell anyhow. We just got back from a weeklong vacation. We started out on Friday the 17th driving north to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We were there to celebrate my father's 80th birthday. My sister has a home on Lake Michigan, so 21 of us made the treck at one point or another, and it was wonderful celebrating in true "Moose" fashion. Moose is my dad's nickname, and he LOVES to party!! While there, we went to Mackinaw City, Travis and his friend Austin went to Mackinaw Island, we met up with a girl I work with who lives about 1/2 hour from my sister. I know, right???? Who lives up in the U.P.??? We also visited the town of Petoskey, which is just a quaint little seaside town. Besides that, we spent alot of evenings down by the beach where we built fires and, yes I must admit, downed refreshments.....

We left Michigan on Wednesday and drove 8 hours home. Did a few loads of laundry till 1 a.m. and then woke up early to leave for another 10 hour trip South to South Carolina. OMG YES, we are NUTS! John's son recently had a baby and we have been dying to see him, and so, well no time like the present right? We got there in time to meet them for dinner and see the precious little guy, along with John's granddaughter Madison and his son and daughter-in-law. Basically we just hung out while there, and ate way too much. It was a wonderful visit! John and Taylor are awesome hosts and ahhhh, what I wouldn't give to snuggle on that little baby again!!

So I definitely gained weight while on vacation, which actually sucks because I DID NOT NEED TO GAIN WEIGHT!! So I'm on a diet. Struggling but I'm workin it the best I can. Please keep me in your thoughts, because I really need to watch right now!! I swear to God I have no willpower.

There are some other things going on personally that I will talk about later this week, but for now I want to keep those to myself. Actually just till tomorrow, when I tell the people I have to tell and then I can tell the world! Good things......

Poor Jackson Gepperheimer was in the kennel for 10 days, bless his sweet little heart!! He was so darn happy to see us, and I could not wait to see his little self! He has been gettin lots of love and scritchin today!

We are T minus 4-weeks and counting till Travis leaves for school. I can't believe it is here already, and I really need to get busy and start getting stuff together!

Well that's about all I can think of for now! Hope you all have a wonderful day. I have missed the blogosphere. It's good to be back!!

Hey Everyone!! Updates ~

Well Jeesh, it has been awhile and for that I apologize! It's just, well, I didn't have much to say. Dear God, I didn't have much to say? I must be coming down with something.....let me check my temp....

Actually it has been quiet around here. Travis spent the week up at his dad's in Youngstown. I bit the bullet and let him drive up there. It was a nail-biting 3 hours but the fact is, he has been a little down since graduating and I think he needed the change of scenery. He did well and sounds like he has had a great week visiting family and friends from his old school. He will be back tomorrow and then we have a couple weeks till vacation, and then after that, a few weeks till he leaves for school. Crazy. This summer is going to go so fast!

The big news.....John's son had a baby boy on 6/16, Davis John. He is so precious! I can't wait to get my hands on him! I'll have to post some pictures. He is a big boy, so alert. He doesn't look like a newborn. Now John is chomping at the bit to make a road trip to South Carolina so we can see the little guy, and his son and DIL and Davis' big sister Madison.

Work has been crazy. My boss was let go at the beginning of the month so there have been lots of changes and uncertainty in our department. The higher-ups are doing their best to ease our minds with regards to our own jobs, and we are doing our best to ease the minds of our teams, but it does seem as though the mood has changed so to speak. Everyone seems a little down, or a little cautious maybe?

Tonight we are going to the G&R, Waldo's famous restaurant for Fried Bologna Sandwiches. LOL it is our claim to fame! Anyway, we are meeting some friends down there. I'm really looking forward to it. I have been in a funk so maybe this will get me out of it!

OHHHH and we got a new car!!!! Long story. I had leased a Mercury Milan 3 years ago and the lease was up. So we either had to buy that car (which I wanted to do) or get a new one. Of course the sales men make buying a new one sound so great. We ended up doing that, and I got a new Mercury Milan Premier. It has all the bells an whistles. However, they did not close out our lease before selling us the new car and so now we are fighting about a $1547 bill we were slapped with on the lease for mileage. Had we known this we would have just bought the other one. So we are disputing that but who knows. We feel they should have settled up on the old lease first so we knew exactly what we were looking at. Not sell us a new car and then say, Ohhhh by the way, you owe us $1547.....

At any rate, I love my new car. Leather seats, moon roof, it is white but kinda opaque. It has Sync, hands free phone that works from my cell phone. It has climate control too which I really like. I loved my old Milan and this one is great too! I just think they are a great car!

Well that's about it for us. Hope you all are doing well!! Have a GREAT WEEKEND!

Tuesday's at the Table

Carmelized Onion and Garlic Chicken

Today's TATT recipe is kind of a mixture of a couple recipes I found on the internet and combined. In an effort to eat more healthy, I have been trying alot of recipes with chicken lately and for some reason, boneless skinless thighs have caught my attention. I don't really like chicken all that much, but for some reason, boneless skinless thighs on the grill taste wonderful. Well I'm bored of that already, LOL. So I tried this and it was delish!!

I used 1 and 1/2 package of boneless skinless thighs.

2 T olive oil

2 large onions sliced

4 cloves garlic minced, or throw some already chopped garlic in there.

1/3 C of brown sugar

2 T. white wine vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Put 2 T of olive oil in a frying pan and put the onions and garlic in. Cook, stirring for 10 minutes or until soft. Stir in sugar and vinegar and cook for an additional 6-7 minutes.

While that is cooking, spray a baking dish with Pam. Put your chicken in the baking dish and salt and pepper to taste. Spread the onion mixture over the top of the chicken and bake for 20-25 minutes. Cover loosely with foil if the onions are getting too dark towards the end of the cooking time. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!!

Stop over to visit Cole at All The Small Stuff for more Tuesday's at the Table recipes.