It was 16 years ago today that I collapsed in gym class. A ruptured AVM in my cerebellum. I find it hard to swallow that one tiny detachment of vessels caused so much change in my life. Some for the good, some difficult to swallow. I am even more thankful to experience the gratitude that others have had in their own lives because of this one instance... It truly is a miracle from God.
Some of my life is better than before and the rough patches are smoothed out with love from friends and family. I couldn't be more grateful. It hardly seems fair for me to begrudge anything because of the differences.
So, I've been alive for 16 years! I should go out and celebrate a 16th birthday!!!
But I am off to go thank those who deserve my continuous gratitude!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
When I grow up
I want a sail boat.
I cannot sail by myself, you know. I choose not to fully understand every element so that I cannot be responsible for anything.
Except for maybe the food.......
(Do you see Tink helping me with the Carne Asada?)
We obviously sailed at sunset.... Can you see the moon?
We sailed completely by moonlight and radar. And shadows. And sound.
Monday, September 7, 2009
MPM 9-6-9-12
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Montreal
It was a QUICK trip, and a long trip. We were driving, driving, driving, and all of a sudden we were there... Okay, after 4 or so hours of driving, we checked into an adorable little bed and breakfast in Montreal! It was a B&B that was located in an old post office. It was actually the first Post Office in MOntreal, built a LONG time ago and had been abandoned (sold to) some nuns in the early 1900's. The previous owner worked for the current owner and told us stories of those nuns who would leave anonymous gifts at peoples' doorsteps and leave baskets of food and clothing on their front porch when they went to bed. Isn't that a delightful story? We had a nice suite with a view of the street. The terrace had a view of the city and the 'Mount' behind us. It was so cute and quaint with the views and the architecture, but quite weird to think that we were possibly staying in the sorting room and eating in the storage room!
We were so hungry after we arrived, we went to a little diner called 'Bercy's'
I ordered an iced tea that the doc and his dad told me it looked like a beer.
No other way to describe it! Then we walked all over the city, on the cobblestone streets, and Nicole told us over and over that she wanted 'to go back to the Post Office!' It was funny and cute!
We had a very French continental breakfast, oui, and left for the Botanical Gardens. They were beautiful! And seemingly endless! First there were gardens, then Japanese gardens called 'the garden of weedlessness', then zen gardens, etc.....
And finally we went to the Insectorium. I like that word. Insectorium.
It was beautiful! Well, as far as I could see, from the back seat!!!
Anyway, we went to the Olympic center
, a Mandarin buffet, toured downtown, went to the Basilica, Notre Dame and saw the light show! It was actually like a history lesson. They taught us all of the reasons the French came to Canada and started their own colonies and created the Notre Dame. It was actually an architectural masterpiece! And I have to say, it was beautiful!!! 
We checked out early in the morning (er, early as can be for some night owls!) and had breakfast at a cute little cafe down the street. It was like a Starbucks, but with a French name. The language barrier was very frustrating, but I managed to escape with a cafe au lait and a REAL elephant ear!
(I crave them all over again!) Nicolee had a croissant with mango juice instead of orange juice!
Back to the car, we drove through an old French-Canadian cemetery and the 'ritzy' communities while grandpa and Nicole played slap jack and war. Occasionally I would hear Nicole say, "Grandpa, you're disturbing me!" I'm not quite sure what that was all about! She gave up the card games and focused on finger weaving!
We stopped at the Upper Canada Village and saw a glimpse of colonial living in Canada! Very similar to farms and communities I've seen reenacted here in the states. But the doc got to milk a cow! That was a site!
We got back on the road, went through border patrol, and then we were back in the states. So, to end our little French-Canadian trip, we celebrated with some good ol' american cheeseburgers!
What a great trip!
(Now, if only I could get my house back in order!!!)
We were so hungry after we arrived, we went to a little diner called 'Bercy's'
I ordered an iced tea that the doc and his dad told me it looked like a beer.
No other way to describe it! Then we walked all over the city, on the cobblestone streets, and Nicole told us over and over that she wanted 'to go back to the Post Office!' It was funny and cute! We had a very French continental breakfast, oui, and left for the Botanical Gardens. They were beautiful! And seemingly endless! First there were gardens, then Japanese gardens called 'the garden of weedlessness', then zen gardens, etc.....
And finally we went to the Insectorium. I like that word. Insectorium.
It was beautiful! Well, as far as I could see, from the back seat!!!
Anyway, we went to the Olympic center
, a Mandarin buffet, toured downtown, went to the Basilica, Notre Dame and saw the light show! It was actually like a history lesson. They taught us all of the reasons the French came to Canada and started their own colonies and created the Notre Dame. It was actually an architectural masterpiece! And I have to say, it was beautiful!!! 
We checked out early in the morning (er, early as can be for some night owls!) and had breakfast at a cute little cafe down the street. It was like a Starbucks, but with a French name. The language barrier was very frustrating, but I managed to escape with a cafe au lait and a REAL elephant ear!
(I crave them all over again!) Nicolee had a croissant with mango juice instead of orange juice!Back to the car, we drove through an old French-Canadian cemetery and the 'ritzy' communities while grandpa and Nicole played slap jack and war. Occasionally I would hear Nicole say, "Grandpa, you're disturbing me!" I'm not quite sure what that was all about! She gave up the card games and focused on finger weaving!
We stopped at the Upper Canada Village and saw a glimpse of colonial living in Canada! Very similar to farms and communities I've seen reenacted here in the states. But the doc got to milk a cow! That was a site!
We got back on the road, went through border patrol, and then we were back in the states. So, to end our little French-Canadian trip, we celebrated with some good ol' american cheeseburgers!
What a great trip!
(Now, if only I could get my house back in order!!!)
Sunday, August 30, 2009
MPM 8-30-9-5
My last week before school starts.......
Did I tell you that my gorgeous crock pot (a gift from my mama) couldn't handle the pressure, gave 1 shooting spark, and DIED? It also popped the circuit, left a burn mark on my counter, and wants me to spend another $30 to replace it.... I am sad. That's it, just sad!!!
Sunday Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Monday Summer Squash Pasta Salad, grilled chicken
Tuesday Hamburgers
Wednesday Bruschetta Chicken
Thursday Polska ‘n veggies
Friday Ground Beef Stroganoff
Saturday Pine Valley Eggs
Stromboli, salad
Did I tell you that my gorgeous crock pot (a gift from my mama) couldn't handle the pressure, gave 1 shooting spark, and DIED? It also popped the circuit, left a burn mark on my counter, and wants me to spend another $30 to replace it.... I am sad. That's it, just sad!!!Sunday Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Monday Summer Squash Pasta Salad, grilled chicken
Tuesday Hamburgers
Wednesday Bruschetta Chicken
Thursday Polska ‘n veggies
Friday Ground Beef Stroganoff
Saturday Pine Valley Eggs
Stromboli, salad
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Menu for the Week... And more!
Sunday Chicken Tacos
Out to Ruby Tuesday's!
Monday Grilled Caesar Chicken Salad and Texas Toast
Tuesday Tamale Pie
Wednesday PDub’s steak and either salad or Caprese Salad
Thursday Hot Dogs and Hamburgers
Friday ????
Saturday ????
(Visit http://orgjunkie.com/ for more inspiration!!!)
Today is just Sunday. This is always the time I stay up waaay too late trying to finish all of the plans I had for the weekend!
And I slacked on the snacks of the week, but in retrospect, we had fresh fruit every single day this week! I LOVED it!!!
Friday night the doc and I enjoyed a (little bit) late anniversary dinner. GOOOOD Italian food!
The first wine I have loved, down to the last drop (gotta love those Italians), Fettuccine Alfredo, and a lemon tart.
All to celebrate 8 years of wedded bliss! Then we decided to go to the drive in! A double feature! GI Joe and Transformers 2! It was fun... And I stayed up waaaay past my 'bedtime!'
Saturday Nicole and I wanted to have a tea party. Instead it turned out to be a breakfast run for the whole gang at PAnera! (I brought it home) After brunch/lunch, we went to the park. A birthday party, swimming, the driving range, an art fair
, birthday cake, and live bagpipe music. All within 3 hours! WHEW!
Now it's Sunday. It's almost over, but it was a well-used day. Church, lunch, grocery shopping, clothes shopping, movie, out to dinner, scenic drive, ice cream at home, laundry, and baking.
Er, yes, baking! I can't bake, remember? Except for the open-and-insert-in-oven kind of baking! I turned 1 gallon of blueberries into pie filling, baked a pie crust and it turned out like this:
That's one whole pie and a LOT of filling! I invited the 'rents to make pancakes, waffles, tarts, crepes, whatever they can to use up this stuff! OH, and to EAT the pie, too!
Ooh, and I got to chat with one of my bestest friends! What a sweet way to end the day! So. Let the week begin, I will be well fueled with blueberries and humor.
Out to Ruby Tuesday's!
Monday Grilled Caesar Chicken Salad and Texas Toast
Tuesday Tamale Pie
Wednesday PDub’s steak and either salad or Caprese Salad
Thursday Hot Dogs and Hamburgers
Friday ????
Saturday ????
(Visit http://orgjunkie.com/ for more inspiration!!!)
Today is just Sunday. This is always the time I stay up waaay too late trying to finish all of the plans I had for the weekend!
And I slacked on the snacks of the week, but in retrospect, we had fresh fruit every single day this week! I LOVED it!!!
Friday night the doc and I enjoyed a (little bit) late anniversary dinner. GOOOOD Italian food!
The first wine I have loved, down to the last drop (gotta love those Italians), Fettuccine Alfredo, and a lemon tart.
All to celebrate 8 years of wedded bliss! Then we decided to go to the drive in! A double feature! GI Joe and Transformers 2! It was fun... And I stayed up waaaay past my 'bedtime!'
Saturday Nicole and I wanted to have a tea party. Instead it turned out to be a breakfast run for the whole gang at PAnera! (I brought it home) After brunch/lunch, we went to the park. A birthday party, swimming, the driving range, an art fair
, birthday cake, and live bagpipe music. All within 3 hours! WHEW! Now it's Sunday. It's almost over, but it was a well-used day. Church, lunch, grocery shopping, clothes shopping, movie, out to dinner, scenic drive, ice cream at home, laundry, and baking.
Er, yes, baking! I can't bake, remember? Except for the open-and-insert-in-oven kind of baking! I turned 1 gallon of blueberries into pie filling, baked a pie crust and it turned out like this:
That's one whole pie and a LOT of filling! I invited the 'rents to make pancakes, waffles, tarts, crepes, whatever they can to use up this stuff! OH, and to EAT the pie, too!Ooh, and I got to chat with one of my bestest friends! What a sweet way to end the day! So. Let the week begin, I will be well fueled with blueberries and humor.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
An anniversary, the snack of the day, the craft of the day... I'm sure there's more
No craft today, we had 'theatre night' instead... I'll explain.
After we eat.
Today I made 120 Quesadillas. It was supposed to be veggie quesadillas, but the shredded carrots had turned, and who likes carrots in their quesadillas anyway? If I were in charge of the menu, I would have added sliced bell peppers, or green chilies. Oh, how I love green chilies! (I love food, remember???)
Then I made 2 pans of cheese enchiladas! I sprinkled then with olives, cheddar cheese, and served 'em with sour cream and salsa. The kids loved 'em! Then it was on to theatre night. The performance was a collection of choreographed beach songs, but they were so CUTE! Every heard of Pineapple Princess? Oh, the kids were adorable in this song!
We went home (and Nicolee was still singing!!!)
(Dave and I had subs. And he had fudge. And I got daisies! I love daisies!)
Oh yeah,, and I went to the Farmer's Market on my lunch break and I came home with all of this treasure! And I have noticed that I have NO cash left after I visit the Farmer's MArket!
Oh yeah, and today is our 8 year anniversary!
After we eat.
Today I made 120 Quesadillas. It was supposed to be veggie quesadillas, but the shredded carrots had turned, and who likes carrots in their quesadillas anyway? If I were in charge of the menu, I would have added sliced bell peppers, or green chilies. Oh, how I love green chilies! (I love food, remember???) 
Then I made 2 pans of cheese enchiladas! I sprinkled then with olives, cheddar cheese, and served 'em with sour cream and salsa. The kids loved 'em! Then it was on to theatre night. The performance was a collection of choreographed beach songs, but they were so CUTE! Every heard of Pineapple Princess? Oh, the kids were adorable in this song! We went home (and Nicolee was still singing!!!)
(Dave and I had subs. And he had fudge. And I got daisies! I love daisies!)
Oh yeah,, and I went to the Farmer's Market on my lunch break and I came home with all of this treasure! And I have noticed that I have NO cash left after I visit the Farmer's MArket!
Oh yeah, and today is our 8 year anniversary!
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