Bed Day something

I guess I am one of those not totally enamored with this bed. I am pretty sure we are going to keep it. It just doesn't seem like much of a bargain. I don't know if the pump mechanism is going to last the twenty years that it is supposedly guaranteed to. But it is a sliding scale guarantee. If it breaks 15 years into the 20-year guarantee, you only get 25% of your purchase price refunded. Something like that.

SO, if I write sleep number bed a whole bunch of times, then when someone does a search for the sleep number bed, my blog should come up on the search engine, right? Okay, sleep number bed, sleep number bed, sleep number bed. Let's see if it works!

On a scale of one to ten, I would probably give it a 6 or so. At least at this point. Maybe when I get it figured out, I will be happier with it. Not yet. I slept at 80 for most of the night (pretty firm) and I slept on my side, but I went back to sleep after Scott left and put it down to like 45 while on my back and it was okay. Maybe I just need to adjust it depending on which position I sleep in.

When you do something stupid...

and you want to laugh at someone else who did something more stupid than you, this is it.

I was in my twenties. I was not nearly as intelligent as I am now. I had gone to the gas station. Joshua, you know the one. At the northeast corner of Canoga and Oxnard. Well, I had just filled up my tank and, wanting to be the good driver, reached down to press the reset button on the mileage counter/trip meter. Being the type that thinks I can do two things at once, I did this as I had pulled out of the driveway from the gas station onto Canoga heading north. Well, lo and behold, what I didn't realize until it was too late, was that I had stuck my hand through the middle of the steering wheel to reset the trip meter while the wheel was turned to make my right turn. As I started to go, with my arm still stuck through the steering wheel, I quickly realized that it was either break my arm or bust a very hard right into the curb. I chose the latter. POP! goes my right front tire. Talk about feeling stupid. So I sheepishly put my car into reverse, backed up into the garage portion of the service station and asked them if they could change a tire. They had all seen what I had just done. They all turned my direction when they heard the loud sound my tire made as it slammed into the curb. I was laughing so hard I couldn't tell you what any of them said. That may be the dumbest thing I have ever done. Nah, I'm sure there were more stupid moments.

Oh yea, about that bed...

Well, Scott likes it. So I guess that's something. It's okay as far as I am concerned. I guess as long as HE is happy, right? ;-)
I think we will be keeping it. Dad loves his.

My cookbook

My cookbook is a notebook. A three ring binder that I bought when I copied all of my grandma's recipes from her cookbook. Then I added to it. And added some more. It is not organized. But what good cookbook is? I had little scraps of paper with recipes, pages printed off the internet, notepapers with recipes on them. All different shapes and sizes stuffed into the front pocket of the binder, until there was no more room left in that pocket. I have recipes from my grandma, a few from my great aunt, some from my Aunt Sandy, some from my sister. I keep on collecting. And I need to get the family favorites from Scott's side of the family from his 95-year old grandma. I got one recipe from his mom and I think she didn't want me to make it, because it didn't turn out right. Then, she told me how to revise it and it still didn't come out right. That was the no-bake cheesecake. He doesn't think I can make it now. It turned out okay, but not quite the same as his mom made it.

So one day, I got really inspired. I got out my three-hole punch and punched holes in the scraps and notepapers and internet printouts and I put them all in. So, at least they won't fall out now. Next step will be putting them in some order, so I don't have to flip through the whole book to get to something good. When I can't find something I need the recipe for, I just call my sister. She has hers all organized. Even if it is a recipe in a magazine, she knows where to find them all. So, someday I will continue the organization of my cookbook, but for now, I have to flip through. But when I flip through it, I get a smile on my face, because as I turn the pages, I see my Aunt Sandy's writing and my Grandma Aurlette's writing and others that have given me recipes. And I have good memories.

What I am not good at

I am sure there are plenty of things. But, for now, we will leave it at keeping my house clean and making chili. Okay, so, forget the clean house thing for now. I will deal with that later. So, it all boils down to the chili. (Pun intended.)

Scott doesn't like the way I make chili. Too much of this, too little of that. I just throw it all in the pot and let it cook for a while. No go. Well, I like it really tomatoey (is that a word?) and all the chili recipes I am finding don't have any tomatoes in them. So, that's a start. And no beans, either. They all seem to have beef broth and some have chicken broth. And, they all put the ingredients in in steps. First this set of spices, then this set of spices and so on. So, I found two recipes I am going to try. Found them on the chili.org site. They are both award-winning chili recipes. So, I will try. And if he doesn't like these, then I am going to hang up my chili hat and buy a can of Hormel. Got to go to the store today and get the ingredients. There's gonna be chili tonight!

Dead or Alive

Saw this quiz and thought you might enjoy. Will post answers tomorrow on comments.

Famous people. Are they dead or alive?

Jack Palance
Lauren Bacall
Martin Landau
Shelley Winters
Gene Wilder
Don Knotts
Kirk Douglas
Glenn Ford
Red Buttons
Maureen Stapleton

Sleep Number Bed Day 3

Dad needed a new mattress. His bed was shot. He had to lower the bed when Mom first got sick, so he could get her in and out of it. So, now, his bed was still on the floor. Well, he had enough. Time to get the bed fixed, so the frame could sit on it and time to get a new mattress. Well, the guy who fixed his bed told him about the sleep number bed, which has an air chamber in it, so you can adjust it. So, having studied this when Scott started complaining about our mattress a year ago, I showed him online what people had to say about it. They either love it or hate it. No middle ground. It's a pretty freakin' expensive mattress, so you better decide you like it when you fork out that much money. Well, after not convincing him when we looked at it online, he wanted to see it at the store. Didn't take him long to decide that this is what he wanted to do. We all tried it out. He wanted it. Scott asks the guy, "So, do you have a buy one get one free offer?" Well, no, but they do have 15% off the second one when you get two. So, we got one too. Scott's happy. My first night, I felt like I was in a hammock. I had it down too low. The second night, still too low. So, I decided to put it up even higher. Really firm. Like at 80 (out of 100). This seemed to work. I guess it is okay, since Scott likes his side softer and me, firmer. You can't do that on a regular mattress. Someone has to compromise. This way, we can have it the way we each like it. So, this will be night #4. We'll see what happens.

tiny blessings

So, a friend is having a baby tomorrow. Another in January and another in March. Babies everywhere! I am so happy for them. Got to see all the tiny little clothes and jammies and caps and things. So cute!!! I love babies. My own, other people's, it doesn't matter. They are adorable. Those tiny hands and bitty feet. When they stick out their little tiny tongues! Everything is so small! Yet perfect. God is amazing. Something so small and helpless, but perfectly formed. Tiny blessings from God. Every child is a precious gift. Pure innocence and peace. A whole lifetime ahead of them! Who knows what lies ahead. A complete, blank canvas. Sitting in the back pew the other day. Put a hand out to give Noah a high-five and he comes over and places his hand, ever so deliberately on top of yours. Then he pulls away and looks at you, with those perfect little brows furrowed. Watching. So serious. So adorable.

Jessica loves babies. Every time she sees a baby, her voice hits the high notes. "Oh! He's so CUTE! Can I touch him? Oh! Such a cute baby!" Just loves babies. All of them. She doesn't care what color, what race, how big or small. Loves 'em all. I told her about the baby coming on Wed. Hit the high notes. Wants to see him. Can't wait! Wants a hundred of her own someday. She's the only one with enough energy for that!

Can't wait to see these new babies. Don't need to hold 'em though. My sister holds the new babies. I love to look. Don't want to break 'em. I wait till they are sitting up, then I will hold them all day long. I have unknowingly hurt new mother's feelings because I didn't want to hold the new baby. This has happened more than once. My own, no problem. Others, I like to wait. It's funny, how people expect you to be a certain way and when you aren't, they get offended. I love the babies. And I can't wait for their arrival! But I will hold them when they are sturdy and not going to break. So looking forward to tomorrow!

Eternity

I was reading a blog today that made me sad. It reminded me of different passings in my life. I lost my mother a year and a half ago. That was difficult. We knew it was coming. She was not in good health. We also knew where she was going, that she would have a new body and she would be healthy and that made her passing much easier to bear. My father-in-law died two days after Jessica, my 5 1/2 year old was born. My husband still gets emotional. He loved his father so much and was devastated when he passed away. But, there again, we know we will see him again and he will be in a new body. Both of them died peacefully.

My friend's father died several years ago. He was an atheist all of his life. Denied that there was any existence of God. Wanted nothing to do with religion. Wanted to make money, left his wife for a new wife, lived a hard life. Lived life on his terms. Unfortunately for him, his death was not on his terms. He left this world shrieking and pulling at his hair. I shudder to think what he may have seen. I am thankful to God that I never will find out.

You see bumper stickers and such that say things about you being wrong and it being an eternity in hell. It's true. So what if there really is no God. I know there is, but what if? Okay, well, I led a better life because of my faith in God. I am a stronger person because of my faith in God. I know where I will be going because of my faith in God. But what about you? Do you believe there is a God? Do you know where you are going? What if I am right and you are not? This is eternity we are talking about. And that is permanent! The thought that people I love may not be going to Heaven because they did not choose God saddens me. There is no fence-riding on this one. If you do not CHOOSE God, then He will not allow you into Heaven. It is not whether or not you are bad or choose the devil. But if you are not on God's side, there is only one alternative. There is no gray area. Our society likes to soften everything, make it more palatable, more accepted. But God's Word is very clear. It is Him or eternal hell. No other choices. I hope and pray that those I love choose to go to heaven. It is Eternity. That is forever.

Lightbulb in my head...

May have come up with a good home based business. Will let you in on it when I figure it out. Maybe it'll work. Wish me luck!

Perspectives

I usually sit in the back row during church. Mainly because of the children. Rebekah going back and forth from kid's church into the sanctuary, going to get the kids for communion, etc. It all looks different from the back row. I was always a back rower in school. That was so nobody would be behind me and also so I could get away with more. I am not trying to get away with anything anymore, but it does give you an entirely different perspective being in the back. Sometimes people get emotional in church. For one reason or another. It doesn't matter why. But if you are in the back, you more readily notice them. You notice just about everything from the back row. Cues from the music team, people's reactions to the sermons, people's reactions to each other, whether or not the gift-bearers remember to bring up the gifts, checking that the doors are open in the back at the end of the service. The back rowers notice it all.

And sometimes you see people who are hurting and need some support. They usually sit near the back as well. When someone is hurting, my instinct is to go and try to comfort them. Some people like it, some don't. Most don't mind. They like it that someone cares. Like I said, it doesn't matter why and I rarely ask. Although many times people will open up and just want someone to talk to. I don't repeat it. It's nobody's business. But I think one of the reasons I will remain in the back row is for the people who need the comforting. That is one gift I am thankful that God has given me. The ability to sense when someone is hurting. Whether it is in church or somewhere else. Sometimes it is obvious, sometimes not so much, but if I am in the right place at the right time, it wasn't me, it was God. So, if you ever get emotional, or just need a shoulder to lean on or cry on, I will be there, because that is where I am led to be. In the back row.

POTD

My aunt! What a nice person! She sent cards to me, and also to Little Miss Jessica and Little Miss Rebekah and the girls felt like princesses! Cute little cut-out cards with kitties on them. How nice it is to get something in the mail other than junk mail and bills! Especially when I was just griping about that! Jessica was so excited she was almost yelling when she told her daddy about it last night. Every time I go to get the mail, I hope for something good, but don't really expect it. Well, this was so nice! So, to the best person of the day, thank you, thank you! You made our day! :-)

The Mall Part II

Well, here is the good news, I got pictures taken of the girls with Santa at the mall the other day. And they came out great. But, you all have to wait to see them, since they are going out in the Christmas cards! Now you have something to look forward to! And we got a little tiny box of see's candies at the mall yesterday and we each had one for dessert. Jessica had the raspberry creme sample that I got, Rebekah had a scotchmallow (and had more on her face than she started with), Scott had rum nougat (his all time favorite) and I had a walnut square (the best See's candy hands down). So, I guess the trip to the mall wasn't a complete loss. That guy just made me so mad yesterday! Oh, and we ran into Jess and Bekah's friends there (and my friend), so all were happy while we waited for Santa to get back from feeding the reindeer. And if Jess tells you she saw the REAL Santa, don't spoil the fun! She really did!

Piles and Piles of Paper!

So, how do all the rest of you do it? I mean, I am literally up to my eyeballs in junk mail! I don't have enough hours in my day to go through it all. To rip it up, to see if there is anything there I really need to look at. To peruse the catalogs. I just don't have the time. And when I put it aside because I have something else more pressing, I end up with enough junk mail to fit in a grocery store bag! I have mounds of paper and it is becoming a fire hazard. I don't know what all the rest of you do with it, but if you have any ideas, please share. My paper shredder is broken. When I turn it on, it will only pull one piece of paper through and then I have to turn it off and back on to put another piece through. I need a chipper. So I can put an entire day's worth of mail in at a time. Maybe in about six months I will catch up.

Any suggestions? Help!

The Mall

Okay, I need to gripe and complain. I went to the mall today. Ordinarily, the mall is not a bad place to be. Throw in two young girls who want to look at everything and it gets more interesting. Throw in all the Christmas decorations to look at and touch and it becomes even more so. I can handle all of that. What I cannot handle is the extra kiosks that are all over the main thruways and the pushy salespeople trying to pawn their wares to every person who walks by. They are so aggressive! This guy was selling fake snow. Add water and it turns into snow. Well, he wanted $24.95 per box. I told him I didn't have time, I didn't have the money to spend, etc. He tried to give some in a bag to Rebekah and then put the box in the bag so I would have to pay for it. Tried to get me to buy it for $18.00. Such a bargain! NO! Finally, I just said no! I don't have the money to spend on it. But it's only $18! NO! Then I had to take it out of Rebekah's hands and give it back to him. So she wasn't happy. Oh well, by then I was ticked! Doesn't make we want to go back to the mall!

From Jessica

Hi. You know what? You are like something I've never seen. Hey, I think you are pretty. Have a happy Christmas. This is me, Jessica. And I have a Barbie. I like you and you are cool. Hi Aunt Sandy. This is me, Jessica. Hi Joann. Hi Carsten. Hello everybody. I like you.

For Christmas I would like a wallet and a great big sled like Santa Claus's. And a toy reindeer. And more Barbie's. I would like a big bicycle.

Santa Claus has reindeer. He drives a sled and goes down chimneys. And he brings you toys if you're good and he brings you coal if you are naughty. Good bye. That's all, folks. I have a smile right now.

Makes her father proud

So, Rebekah was looking at her pants the other day. She finds a hole. Down there. She says, "Oh no, there's a hole in my pants. I better get some duct tape!"

Who knew she knew what duct tape was?

Some Princesses at Halloween

So, I finally got pictures developed! Over $100 worth! Yikes! Well, I figured since I spent so much money on them, I had better share the joy! So, a few pics from the Halloween season!
Aren't they cute? I think so!

Picnic fun!

Very puzzling...

So, the girls have been doing puzzles. We went to Toys r Us and got some puzzles. I got one - 1000 tiny pieces. A photomosaic of Mickey Mouse made out of scenes from Disney movies. The photos are about 1/3 inch by 1/2 inch and the pieces are like 3/4 inch square. Yikes! What was I thinking! Eventually, I will need to clear off my dining room table. Maybe I will just leave it up at Thanksgiving and people can work on it, if they want to. Who knows? There will only be ten people here. Anyway, so we also got puzzles for the girls. Jess got one with fairies on it. 100 pieces. It took her two days to do it, and she did it all on her own! She also got Spongebob, 100 pieces, and that didn't take as long. Rebekah got two puzzles. One with Clifford and one with Spongebob. 25 pieces. She will quietly go into the dining room, sit down and put her puzzles together. She put one together last night. It takes her no time at all now. She used to get frustrated trying to do them, but now, she knows if she keeps at it, she will get it and she doesn't give up so easily. She is learning to be patient. Jess had a hard time at first with the big one (100 pc). She wanted to get Rebekah's puzzles out, since she can do those in a matter of minutes. Not a challenge. 100 pieces is a challenge. And all the colors were pretty close, too. Not an easy one. They are both learning patience. And they have watched me putting together the big puzzle. So they are learning that not everything can be done quickly. Even for a grown-up. Good mental activity. The girls are learning more than just how to put the puzzles together and we are spending time together doing something fun. Even Hubby has joined in the fun. We have sat together on a few nights working on the puzzle. The background is very difficult! But we are sitting down as a family and enjoying each other's company. Lovin' it!