Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of year.  It was always my Mom's favorite holiday.  She and my Grandmother loved nothing more than entertaining and doing for people and Thanksgiving was always such a  wonderful time for them, which made it a wonderful time for all of us.  Every year, we were surrounded by friends and family.  One year, Mom had the idea to have all the Forneses, or as many as were available, to Grandmother's house for Thanksgiving.  How many people do that with their in-laws these days  LOL  But it was always such a great time and became a yearly tradition almost up until Mom passed away.  But every year was filled with joy and friendship and good food.

Through the years, so many different people came to our feast.  Everyone was family in one way or another. At least, that's the way everyone was made to feel and that's as it should be.  So many people that at one time or another sat around our table have gone on to be with the Lord:  Jim Reich, Doris Martino, Aunt Betty Jean, Aunt Fay,  Grandma Fornes,  Mom,  Grandmother.   There may be others I'm forgetting, but the point being that I'm blessed to have shared this time with them all.

Ah, well.  I see so many people posting things online that they are thankful for.  Yes, some are silly and funny but some are very heartfelt.  I think it's wonderful that people are doing it and I hope everyone remembers that this kind of feeling need not be for one day.  It can be whenever you want it to be.  I know, ironic that I should be saying this as up and down as I've been for the last few months.  But I AM thankful for so many things.

I'm thankful that in many ways my life is very good.  That i have a husband who doesn't call me crazy but says i make life interesting (very interesting at times lol)  That i have a job (not always thankful for the job but for the fact i have one).  That I'm still here on Earth because I have angels watching over me.  I'm  Thankful that there are many people in my life that can look past my surface and see into my soul.  I'm thankful for the people who don't look past my surface because they will help to build my strength and character.  Thankful for an amazing group of friends that I have.  There are so many that are out there that I don't see or talk to on a regular basis, but when I do it's like time hasn't really passed.  That's an amazing feeling because I know now that not everyone has that kind of connection with people.  And I am thankful for those in my life that have gone on before me, left me their legacy and taught me what I know.  Because of them, I can see who i want to be when I grow up!

This Thanksgiving, just take everything in...the sights, the smells, the food, the friends.  As I said once before, a good meal is not determined by what's on your table, but by who's sitting at it.  We never know what life holds for us.  The person sitting next to you may not be around, come this time next year.  But be thankful they're there now.  There will never be another Thanksgiving 2012 so make the most of it.

sticking to my path

feeling better after a few weeks of avoiding the internet chat sites where i have profiles and such.  However, i realize that as i start to feel better, i start creeping back to these sites and sitting at the computer for too long and wasting time with only frustration to show for it.  So, i gotta remember the purpose of what i'm doing is to get back to the real me, not encouraging the fake one online.

Sometimes all it takes is a phone call to pull me back into reality.  Even though my phone was dying last night, i talked to one of my best friends in the world for awhile.  i love those conversations where it seems like no time at all has passed.  And we did have to cut our call shorter than i'd like because my low battery kept signaling me, it was great to feel human again LOL  To know that i can carry on an actual conversation and that sometimes people really do need me...that was a good feeling.  i must find more of that!

song for the day

I love this song, I love this scene.  Actually it's about the only thing about the 2nd act of Sunday in the Park With George that i care for LOL  But the song has so many deep meanings and we can all relate to what's it's telling us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkW_VdxkzAY

recipe of the week

I found this recipe in one of my Mom's recipe boxes.  I don't ever remember her making this, but I know it's hers....definitely her handwriting!  We've had it a few times and really enjoyed it.  It's quick and easy and a pretty salad as well.  Enjoy!

Raw Broccoli Salad

   1 bunch broccoli
   1/2 - 2/3 cup chopped olives (I use stuffed green olives)
   4 hard boiled eggs, chopped
   1 onion, chopped (I get as mild an onion as possible)
   1/2 - 2/3 cup mayonnaise (enough to hold it all together)

Mix ingredients together and serve immediately or chill overnight in the fridge.

a good week

Overall, this was a pretty good week.  I had a few ups and downs but managed to survive everything.  Yippee!

Wednesday, Halloween, I came home early from work because we were incredibly slow and there wasn't much point in my hanging around that day.  Besides, I'd gotten in 7 good hours there anyhow.  Stopped by the store on the way home to get the ingredients for the pumpkin curry soup we really like.  Got home and took Squirt out for a nice long walk.  I wanted to get him out before all the crazies started appearing after the sun went down.  Well, when we got back, I realized I needed a nap so we crawled into bed to snuggle.  Squirt, apparently, wasn't as tired as I was and kept getting out of bed and back into bed and moving around.  Needless to say the nap wasn't quite what I'd hoped for.  But when I finally got out of bed, I felt under an immense pressure for some reason.  Had several texts asking about plans for the night and I just didn't know what to do.  What can i say, I'm not the most spontaneous person in the world.  Anyway, the night ended up being fun.  Erin came over to hang out, hadn't seen her in ages.  Then Charles joined us later on and we all sat out on the porch til it just got too cold.  All in all a good evening!

Friday night we'd had plans with our friend Tim, but that didn't pan out.  In the meantime, Butch and Jack were going out to begin the weekend of Butch's birthday celebrations.  So, we ended up going to Fatz Cafe with them for dinner.  I, personally, enjoyed it.  My food was good and I'll go back.  Got home and Michael went straight to bed, as he'd not slept at all the night before.  I wasn't too far behind him either.  In bed by 11:30 on a Friday night....getting old!!!

Worked yesterday then found out that a friend of ours had a heart attack the day before.  That was hard to deal with because Michael was out at a function and I was home alone.  I just got really upset over it, naturally, but it was just hard to be here at home by myself trying to process it all.  Things like that make me very reflective and that's not always the best thing for me, especially when i'm alone.  But, we learned later on that Bruce is doing much better, out of a coma and knows where he was.  That's a great sign considering that noone performed cpr and the emt's didn't get to him for about 15 minutes.  Needless to say I was praying hard.

And now i've been getting things ready for a late lunch/early dinner with Jason and Frankie.  We haven't seen them in a while and are very much looking forward to their visit this afternoon.

All in all, a good week.  Praise be!!

a very nice weekend

This weekend was just what i needed.  Got do relax alot and do somethings i hadn't done in a long time.  Yesterday, after the estate sale, i went to the gym and worked out.  After the month i had, it was nice to let some stress go with some good boxing training.  Punching is always a good release LOL

Then, i had to return a van to work, so after Michael came and picked me up, we went and did our early voting duty.  I really like the early voting thing because i know it's done and i don't have to stress over lines come election day.  Then we met some friends for dinner at Zali's Mongolian Grill.  It was both our first times going there.  We loved it.  I'd never been to one before and the food was excellent.  We will definitely go back there again.  Any takers?  ;)

Michael went with our friends to some haunted house/woods of terror kind of thing.  That's not really my cup of tea so i came home and watched a movie on Netflix with Squirt. And interesting B movie from the golden age of Hollywood called "The Search For Bridey Murphy"  It was actually an interesting story about past life regression starring Teresa Wright.  Based on an actual case, alot of the dialogue came from transcripts of actual events.  I enjoyed it and Squirt did too, when he wasn't under the blanket staying warm.

Then the boys came and picked me up and we headed out to Warehouse 29 for their Halloween festivities.  Michael and I rarely go out anymore, opting to spend our time at home and on the porch hanging out.  But it ended up being a great time and I saw lots of people I hadn't seen in a very long long time.  I have to admit I do not miss working there, but it's a fun place to visit from time to time!

Today, we both got massages so we'll be sore as hell tomorrow.  I got to run some errands and now we're going to head next door for dinner with our dear friend, Lois.  It's been a great weekend!

Saturday morning

Oh well, the estate sale i went to this morning was a bust.  Seems like they'd posted old pictures in their advertising and everything i was interested in was sold in the first sale they had a few weeks ago.  It's fine though.  I was glad i went.  I enjoy things like that and need to do more of them.

Another fall day here.  Doesn't look like the sun will be coming out.  Oh joy LOL  Gonna work out later this morning, but in the meantime i'm enjoying my coffee.

first day off

Today was my first day off since September 29th and it turned out to be a very nice day.  I almost didn't take it though.  Michael had to work today and I, honestly, was afraid of being here in the house by myself.  Not having a car at the moment, I tend to feel trapped when I'm here by myself.  Even though, chances are if I had a car I would've stayed home anyway, not having the option is very frustrating at times.

I did manage to get out of the house some.  Took Squirt for several walks.  He didn't like to stay out too long cause it's getting colder and so that made the walks shorter than normal. Also got to have lunch with Charles and Jared, which was nice.  I hadn't seen Jared in a while and since Charles just had some minor surgery, I'm glad it worked out that we could all get together.

The rest of the day I didn't do too much and I'm totally fine with that.  Actually, the highlight of my morning was polishing some silver.  That may sound odd as being a highlight, but for me it was.  That's something that I usually only do when I want things to look nice.  That means I'm feeling better, which is definitely a good thing for all concerned hehe.  I have alot of memories of doing things like polishing silver and other domestic things I did with my Grandmother, so I hold those things dear.  I'm glad I felt like doing it today!

time off social media

over the last 24 hours, i decided i needed to take some time away from social media sites and chat sites.  i feel like i was spreading myself very thing, trying to keep up with everything and everyone and that's near impossible to do.  Facebook, although a good tool for keeping up with people that are far away, does still have it's frustrations.  A lot of times, as i've stated before, people try to be cute and funny when responding to posts when they have no freakin clue as to the tone of the post.  The joke is more important to them than the substance of what is being said.

And also, i very easily get sucked into online life.  i don't have a phone that has internet on it, so when i put something on a website, i'm actually physically sitting at the computer.  And sometimes i'll look up and 4 hours have passed.  i live behind profiles that make me out to be something i'm not right now.  maybe they're things i wish i was or hope to be one day, but right now it's not the case.

So, i did delete alot of profiles.  i kept a few but updated to let people know that i'm just taking time off and will be back every now and then to check on things.  It's not that i don't care what's going on in peoples' lives, i just need to focus on the reality of my own.

Anyway, it feels like a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders.  i've done a 180 from where i was this time last night.  Normally, when Michael has a late night, i dread being home alone.  i usually get very depressed and lonely and i'm proud to say that didn't happen tonight.  i got up off my ass and did some straightening up.  did some cleaning.  and since noone was around, i did ALOT of singing!!  That's something i don't hardly every do, but it just happened so i let the notes flow hehe

Now, let's see what tomorrow holds!  Woohoo!

frustration with Facebook

I've had alot of frustration with people on Facebook lately.  I do realize that it's not anyone's fault but my own because i'm overly sensitive.  I know that alot of friends on there don't follow my every post and don't understand that tones that i'm using when i say things.  They make jokes and "witty" comments on my posts to be cute and funny and i get upset over it.  I usually end up deleting the post all together.  So I've decided not to post much on there anymore and use this venue to express myself.  It's safe cause noone reads it anyway LOL