Almost there...

Alexa worked diligently the week she had off from school painting every nook and cranny of her room. Then she spent a few days in Rochester attending a FBLA conference/ competition and I had the last minute, bright idea of surprising her and getting her floors redone.

Her bed came on Saturday and we're still working on finishing up two pieces of furniture and getting everything back in place. She has some wall art to put up and I made curtains out of a matching shower curtain that I still have to put up. Next comes a French memo board I have to finish. By time Lex's room is totally finished she'll be leaving for college!

Home Goods has become a new go to place for this room's decorations. Lex needs LOTS of storage, big surprise.This cute little drawer and basket set will probably have hair stuff in it.

These boxes nest inside each other and have a cute bow features and magnetic clasps.

Here is the French Memo Board. The board itself is done and tonigt I'm putting on the ribbon and the buttons.

These are the curtains, finished, but I still have to put up the brackets. Hope to have that done tomorrow!

Pretty and She Paints..,

In moment of weakness some years back, I promised Alexa that we would re-do her room when she got to high school. The one thing my daughter NEVER forgets is a promise of any kind that results in a gift. Fast forward to this year, her 16th and sophomore, and she's called in the promise.

Going with the pink, black, and white with a touch if green color scheme, Alexa has started painting. She did all the caulking of the nail holes including the sanding. Then she taped around the molding and has been painting the molding yesterday and today (with a break to go out lunch at Chipoltle with her friends). The samples you see on the wall include the pink and green she wants to use. I'm staying out of the way and she's doing a great job so far.

As you can see the rest of us have to live around her! All her furniture, save her bed, has been moved into the bedroom landing and the living room. Alexa is spending her nights sleeping in my craft room. The dog has been tethered downstairs in the family room so there is no chance of her getting into Alexa's room and I'm in charge of getting a hold of an electrian to remove the ancient intercom in her room that is spoiling her esthetic.

 

I'll post the 'after' photos once our DivaVinci is done!

Red Robin...

Having not much to do other than worry the past week, I decided to price and look for a used car to replace the one totalled. I found a cute 2010 red Toyota Corolla at a local dealership and we went over the weekend to take a look see. The scary part besides the fact that we were not planning on buying a car is that it was really easy to do and we have Alexa driving it to look forward to.

Lex turns 16 in about two weeks. She is looking forward to driving. Now this is a child that can't drive a bumper car, has no idea how to get to anywhere, and her idea of prime selling points when looking for a car is what color it is and how many cup holders it has.

Norm did the test drive with me as co-pilot and Lex in the back. When we pulled back into the dealership Alexa got behind the wheel to "see how it felt". She is so tiny the seat had to moved way forward and up! Then she looked down at the pedals and said, "Which one makes it go?" I swear, I'm not getting into a car with her until she's 35!

We ended up buying the car and will pick it up once I can see again, read - get my new glasses, about 10 days. I've never had a car of my own and Norm and I have never been a two car family so this will be a really new experience for all of us.The car will be used by me, Joyce and eventually (at 35 I'm hoping) Alexa, but I'm sure it will be referred to as "Mom's" car. Me, I think it will be my little Red Robin.



A Perfect Example...

My Blog title - What Was I Thinking...Life Happens while we are making other plans. That is a perfect example of my week. I am currently sitting in the recliner in the family room, uncomforatably as I write this. It was to be a no biggie week.Working at the store, ferrying Alexa around,in short, being at her beck and call and looking forward to Sharon's postings from CHA. I was planning on taking down the tree and other holiday decorations and cleaning up my room which has become loaded with stuff since the holidays. In short, same old same old, until Monday night.

The Other Plans: My mother-in-law hadn't had time to run her errands and hadn't been out of the house a lot so we planned that I would take her to her stores and we'd go out to dinner together. We were leaving Tops and heading home. As I pulled out of the parking lot on to Maple I was hit broadside by another car. I never saw it coming. I looked and never saw it coming. I thought I saw cars only in the distance and had plenty of time and I never saw it coming. Gruesome part short, pinned in car, couldn't move, had to be cut out of car and taken to ECMC. Good news - MIL only had facial contusions (where we think  my elbow connected with her face) and was able to walk away. Me, not so lucky. I spent three days in the hospital while they decided whether I needed any kind of surgery. NONE - YAY!!! and sent me home with a walker and a Physical Therapy appointment. My bottom line, health wise, is that I have some small breaks in the bones at the edges of my spine, nothing that needs treatment for and will heal on it's own, and a small tear/break of tendon and muscle with bone attached in my upper femur. Again, painful but nothing that needs treatment for except to heal on it/s own.

I can walk with a little assistance from the walker - just a little shaky when I first stand up, but sitting is a b*tch! Laying down is a b*tch! I have a black and blue bruise the size of Manhattan island on my left hip and butt. Thankfully and I say that with all sincerity and greatfullness; that is the worst. My only other complaint is that my glasses flew off during the crash and we couldn't find them. We think they landed on the ground when the firemen finally got me out of the car. Oh, and the car, totalled...

So I may be writing a bit more as my movements are a little restricted, although what I'm going to write about eludes me at the moment.  Just remember - Life happens when we're making other plans. This week, I'm thankfully, a living example.

2013...

Another year over another begun. I've never been a big fan of New Year's Eve celebrations. My mother-in-law calls me an old fuddy duddy, but I've never really gotten the point. I'm lousy with resolutions. I have the stick-to-it-ness of a knockoff post-it note. It's only taken me a half hour to write these first two sentences! So 2013, where to begin.

I'm not looking forward to more gray hair. I have a daughter who is turning 16 this year, in a little over a month to be exact. She is planning her 16th birthday party. She'd like us to rent a large suite in a downtown hotel (with an indoor pool, of course) so she can have a sleep over with 14 friends, at last count. Her father and I are not looking forward to this idea. Luckily, she is also considering dinner at Bravo with the same group of 14 girls. We are allowed to come, but we won't be allowed in the room. We have to eat in the main dining area. I'm not looking forward to the gray hair a 16 year old will bring.

Alexa is looking forward to her first smartphone - an iPhone to be exact. She is "the only one of my friends without a smartphone!" I'm looking forward to an increased cell phone bill. Alexa is also looking forward to getting her learner's permit and gasp, driving. I'm looking forward to cringing as she learns how to drive, uping my anxiety medication and my hair turning grayer than it already is. Lex will also be completing her sophomore year in high school, beginning her junior year and starting the search for colleges. I'm looking to sleepless nights, wondering how we're going to pay for college and more gray hair.

My husband is looking forward to the beginning of the baseball season as illustrated by his nightly watching of  the MLB network and our Christmas day Ken Burns Baseball marathon - all 10 innings plus updated extra innings, a good 10 + hours of baseball. By the way, pitchers and catchers report on February 14. I bet they don't have gray hair...

I have more things I'm not looking forward to - versus what I am looking forward to. I'm not looking forward to my hair getting grayer. I'm not looking forward to turning 60. It is a very sobering number. It is an old number. It's a number that fits the year 2013 very well. I'm superstitious about numbers. I'm not comfortable with odd numbers to begin with, but 2013 is just tempting fate as far as I'm concerned. 60 means I may have to break down and finally join AARP. They've been sending me membership info for over five years now and I think I'm going to have to finally succumb.

Lastly, I'm not looking forward to more senior moments. I'm having way too many already. I can't remember anything. I'll think of something then say it again two minutes later.  I'm also not looking forward to my hair getting grayer...

Happy Birthday to Me?...

Yes, it's my b'day so what am I doing, buying Alexa shoes with MY birthday discount! How do I get talked into these things?!? Here are Alexa's Toms and the comfortable 'spotchy' Danskos that I liked but Alexa - not much!

PS-not included were the Uggs she got also! Me, I got nutin' except lunch at Pizza Plant - live the white pizza!

Techno Aha! Moment...

Sharon, my boss mentioned that someone showed her how to blog from her phone so I had to figure it out. Success! I'm posting from my phone from bed! How cool is this?! Here is Abby patiently waiting for the lights to go out so she can take up all the space on the bed. Good night all, gosh I love technology!

Thelma and Louise, Part II...

If only we looked like Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon! Anyway, we're in the land of the Mouse and Harry Potter! I'm so excited, really looking forward to the Universal visit. We started out strong, driving from the airport directly to Disney's Hollywood Studios. I had missed the Rockin Roller Coaster on my last visit and I was anxious to try a new coaster. I really like coasters that are enclosed in buildings and in the dark. (What I can't see makes me less nervous...) Needless to say it was a great coaster and I could have easily gone on again, right away, but we had more to see and more to do. Barb's theory that the park would not be as crowded was spot on. Still there were more people than I had thought there would be, especially on Friday and Saturday.

The HEAT was my enemy the entire trip and I've decided if I ever get to go back to Disney and Universal it will absolutely be in the cooler months, that is if they have cooler months in Florida, do they?

We hit the Indiana Jones stunt show. We are such nerds! As we watch the beginning of the show that replicates the opening scene of the movie where Indy approaches the artifact he is planning on liberating from it's booby trap fiflled altar, both Barbara and I are imitating Harrison Ford's movements (same as the stunt man). We shake our shoulders, wiggle our fingers, measure out the sand, gingerly guestimate the weight in our little leather pouch and quickly tip the pouch and pick up the statue... Then we look at each other and laugh. We have spent way too much time watching this movie over and over again! Two minds that think alike! (great minds at that!)

We also went on the Star Wars ride and caught a "training" session of young Jedi warriors that was rudely interupted by none other than Darth Vader himself! The kids had done their training when Vader appeared with his Storm Troopers. Their instructor asked for a young Jedi to challenge Vader and defend the class -- no one stepped up! Where are the future Luke Skywalkers?!? Finally a hand went up and a young girl stepped forward. Yay girl power!! She used the moves she was taught and fought off Vader!

 Dad managed to get his Jedi daughter fighting off the Dark Lord! (too cute!)

We checked out several more rides and shows and decide to head out to the hotel several hours later to check in and get some food for the weekend . Tomorrow Harry Potter!!!!!

As Indy says to Marion, "It's not the years, it's the mileage.." Needless to say we were not the first ones at the park opening the exhibits. We tried, but 11:00 was our start time. Barb had warned me it was a bit of a walk to the HP exhibit, she wasn't kidding. We walked through...

 The lake area that separates the formal entrance to the park from the shopping and eating area of Universal. Jimmy Buffett's Margueritaville held my attention - can we say Pina Colada (later)...

 We also had to deal with the weather. It always rains in Florida, at least once a day.

 Past the shopping, over the lake, through the jungle/Mayan/Arabian village...

 Through Dr. Suess's world (so cute, especially if you had little ones). Past the Cat in the Hat...

Past some of the most creative interpretations of Suess's world

and finally, finally - Hogsmeade!

Bubble, bubble toil and trouble, something wicked this way comes!

I think I gave Barb a big sweaty hug! I was so excited. Hogwarts rises out of nowhere (it seems) and the village of Hogsmeade looks just like the movies!

The village was wonderful! Although I would have loved it if they could have replicated Gringotts Bank. For those of you who remember, it was very wobbly and Tower of Pisa looking to the max. How cool would that have been!

The ride itself is in Hogwarts Castle. It's a combination video images, props and holographic filmed introductions by Harry, Ron and Hermonie. You get strapped in and you're off! It's hard to describe. It's almost a combination motion simulator, roller coaster, action video - very cool, I loved, loved, loved, it!

In the village they had various shops that you could walk through that sold merchandise, like Honeydukes - the perfect place to buy your Jumping Chocolate Frogs and Berties Every Flavored Beans.

They also had several store fronts that were just that. Inside this window was a Quidditch set. All the various pieces were there except the golden snitch. I wonder where it got off to?!?!

Here we are with our Butterbeers and the castle in the background! Next up, Thelma and Louises' wild ride!



50 is the new 30 - NOT!!! Part I

I'm back from my trip to Orlando with my BFF and her family. What a weekend! We got off the plane and drove directly to DisneyWorld and hopped on the Rockin Roller Coaster. Talk about not wasting time! But I digress...

Barbara and I last visited DisneyWorld together approximately 23 years ago. Her Tom was just a baby and Barbara had a medical conference to attend in Orlando at one of the hotels just outside the park in what used to be Buena Vista Village. We flew from our separate homes, hooked up in Pittsburgh and then flew the rest of the way together.

We had a plan. I had one of those guide books that told you the best times and routes to make optimum use of your day and Disney. Well, we opened the park and we closed the park. We mapped out the quickest way to Space Mountain, our go-to ride and we ran when the gates opened so we wouldn't have to wait in line (this is pre Express Pass).  We did all the rides, ate at the German restaurant in Epcot, had drinks served to us in the lobby of the Grand Floridian while we listened to Gershwin being played on a baby grand piano and had our pictures taken with Mickey Mouse! It was wonderful!! However, we were spry 30 somethings back then.

Flash forward to today. We ain't 30 anymore! We're not even 50 anymore! We are creeping inexorably to the big 6-0 and I gotta tella, it's not the years it's the mileage...

We felt no need to open the parks or to close them. We purposely went AFTER school started so we wouldn't be swamped with kids and lines. For the most part this worked out just fine. But they got us in other ways, how do I say this...we're OLD!!

Barb had issues with rides that simulated motion, spun, or threw you around (what's left?) I had issues with the heat. I was game for any ride, except Tower of Terror (I hate drop rides), but I was willing to cowgirl up if Barb wanted to ride it (we didn't). The heat, the heat, the H-E-A-T!!! killed me! My body swelled up like a blow fish. My thick ankles got thicker, my totally straight hair got straighter, my hot flashes got hotter!! Barbara broke her ankle more than several years ago and she still has issues with it and we had to watch the walking. Basically, if the rides didn't kill us, our bodies took their best shot...

This is the entrance to Universal and Hogsmeade of the Harry Potter world. I loved it! I'm a big Harry Potter fan and the village, Hogwarts, the rides were phenomenal!! We ended up doing the ride twice.

I've got lots more photos and a few silly stories but I'm saving them for my next post. For today I want to wish my BFF, Barbara a very happy birthday! We both have birthdays this month, Barb in the front end and me on the back end. This trip was a birthday trip and half with my best friend! Thank you Barbara and Happy Birthday!!

It's a Dog's Life...

I'm going on a little trip next weekend with my BFF, Barbara to the land of the Mouse and Harry Potter!! I'm sooo... excited! So while I'm gone and to avoid posting anything annoying about my daughter I thought I'd post this Friday Funnies from the Inky Antics Blog. This post was several months ago but it made me laugh since I have the cocker spaniel (and rug) to prove it!

How many dogs does it take to change a light bulb?


Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned-out light bulb?

Border Collie: Just one. And then I'll replace any wiring that's not up to code.

Dachshund: You know I can't reach that stupid lamp!

Toy Poodle: I'll just blow in the Border Collie's ear and he'll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.

Rottweiler: Make me.

Shih-tzu: Puh-leeze, dah-ling. I have servants to take care of that...

Lab: Oh, me, me!!! Pleeeeeeze let ME change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Can I?

Malamute: Let the Border Collie do it. You can feed me while he's busy.

Jack Russell Terrier: I'll just pop it in while I'm bouncing off the walls and furniture.

German Shepherd: I'll change it as soon as I've led these people from the dark, checked to make sure I haven't missed any, and made just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one has tried to take advantage of the situation.

Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.

Doberman Pinscher: While it's dark, I'm going to sleep on the couch.

Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark.

Chihuahua: Yo quiero Taco Bulb.

Irish Wolfhound: Can somebody else do it? I've got a terrible hangover.

Pointer: I see it, there it is, there it is, right there!

Greyhound: It isn't moving. Who cares?

Australian Shepherd: First I'll put all the light bulbs in a little circle...

Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? That thing I just ate was a light bulb?

Schnauzer: Bark bark bark. Mom, the lightbulb is out...bark bark bark bark...MOM! I said the lightbulb is out! Bark bark bark bark bark...MOM!!! WHAT PART OF THAT DIDN'T YOU HEAR? I MEAN HELLO????

Hound: ZZZZZzzzz.   Love you Abigail...