I've written about our good friends the caterers, who do tailgate parties for the UofA during football season. They also belong to several networking clubs in the city to create more business opportunities for their company. Last night they hosted an open house at their kitchen and invited members of one of these networking clubs. We were also invited, as were members of their families. I have known this couple for about 10 years, as the company I used to work for, used them for catering events at least once a month, to feed over 800-1000 employees. Anyway, they had set up several stations of various cuisines, complete with decorations. There was an Asian inspired area with an oriental chicken salad, egg rolls, plum sauce, complete with spring rolls. A seafood area with salmon and shrimp; a polynesian style cheese, crudite, baked brie, crusty bread; a "man" area decorated in NASCAR paraphenelia featuring meatballs, wings, and nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, of course...what were you thinking?); a Mexican food area with nachos, mini-tamales, churros, quesadillas; a coffee bar; dessert table, and of course a bar...where you could mix your own drink, have a beer, some wine, or just plain do some shots! There was sooooo much food, at least 60-70 people at any given time. This couple is just the sweetest, most generous, fun-loving people I've come across.
TGIF...this has been the week from hell! I called in sick on Monday, felt like crap on Tues, Wed, Thurs, and today was no better. I'll have these coughing spells that seem to go on forever, and the tickle in my throat will not stop. I called my doctor on Wednesday to see if I could get in to see him, but when I spoke with his nurse, the only thing really bothering me is my cough. I don't have a fever, no headache, no runs, etc. A different kind of cough medicine was suggested and I tried it, although it contained high fructose corn syrup, and lasts 12 hours...so unfortunately, that first night I didn't sleep much because I just wasn't sleepy...at all! I took it early yesterday, and it may have helped, I don't know...I'm still coughing today. I refuse to be sick this weekend. Glen is battling a bout of diverticulitis, and a sinus infection that he won't ask for an antibiotic for because he just completed 10 days of a protocol for the diver...hopefully, it will help his sinus infection too.
We have tickets to a spring training game on Sunday, Indians vs Rockies. Its supposed to be a beautiful weekend. We also have the 4th Avenue Street Fair this weekend...a plethora of arts and crafts, food, music, etc., for the whole family. I haven't been in a number of years...just maybe...
Talk soon...
Friday, March 20, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Nana's & Happy Meals or Happy Nana's & Meals...
I've had so much going on in the last couple of weeks, heavy emotional loss, then I got sick. Truly, I believe that I got this cold for just being physically depleted. I was just sick in January of this year, and I almost never get sick!
My son Chris and his wife Christina have split up after 11 years of marriage. They have 3 kids, 10, 7, & 3...just babies. The really tragic thing, and I am ashamed to say, is that Chris has left his family. I know that they have struggled financially for much of their marriage, but I lay much of that blame on Chris. Where most men/fathers would be working 2-3 jobs to make ends meet, he worked only 1 job, barely making over minimum wage to support his family. I realize that it takes two to make a marriage work, as it takes 2 to let it fail. I have suggested counseling, for several years, to no avail. They, he, just won't. She is willing, he prefers to throw in the towel. I spoke with him 2 weeks ago, and I was very angry with him. I hung up on him because I did not want to say things I would regret. I did tell him the ball is in his court. We have not spoken since. I have visited the kids, and helped Christina clean the house, sort through stuff...she is a wreck, the kids are traumatized. She works part time so that she can have the time off with the kids, so she will have to get a full time job. Jobs are hard to come by these days. I don't know what will happen. Her mom is going through some serious health problems...diabetes has affected her sight, and she just had surgery to repair a detached retina. She can hardly help out with the kids. Chris is staying with my mom right now where he is cocooned in a safe world. What about his kids?? I just don't understand him, and I am shocked that this has happened. All part of the circle huh?
I did have my 4 year old granddaughter, Ailani, Carlos' daughter yesterday. She has been asking to come over and spend the night for several weeks. I told her that she could spend the night when she is 5 as I feel she is too young. But after spending the day with her yesterday, I believe she would be fine. We went to the park, she played on the slides, monkey bars, etc. We watched the ducks in the lake, and walked to the dog park. She said she wants to fish, but that she would throw the fish back in the water if she ever caught one! We went grocery shopping for a few things for the week, and she sat in the cart asking for me to hand her the stuff, and she sorted it in the cart for me. We had lunch at McDonald's. I got her a Happy Meal, but when it came time to eat the hamburger, she said she didn't like ketchup, so I tried to scrape it off. Then she said she didn't like mustard, I had already ordered it without pickles. What about some chicken McNuggets, yes...with ranch dressing. She ate it all...and even dipped her fries in it! Its time like these when I don't know their likes and dislikes that I feel like I've failed my grandkids. Aren't these little tidbits that a grandma should know? I've always said I'm not a traditional nana, and I'm not. I thought it was ok not to be "standard". Times are different from when my mom became a nana, and surely from my own nana who I still miss terribly. Anyway, after dinner, I took her home and she said, "I'm going to your house tomorrow, nana?" In a couple of weeks, sweetie, in a couple of weeks!
Glen has been sleeping on the couch for the last two nights because he wants me to sleep better knowing I won't be keeping him up. Translation: I'll sleep on the couch so I can get a good nights' sleep. I slept a good 12 hours last night. I still can't taste my food that well today, and its so frustrating...like why eat when I can't taste! We are going to dinner with Glen's sis and her DH today, The Melting Pot. Guess if Glen doesn't have my germs yet, he will by tonight. Love you, honey :)
Talk soon...
My son Chris and his wife Christina have split up after 11 years of marriage. They have 3 kids, 10, 7, & 3...just babies. The really tragic thing, and I am ashamed to say, is that Chris has left his family. I know that they have struggled financially for much of their marriage, but I lay much of that blame on Chris. Where most men/fathers would be working 2-3 jobs to make ends meet, he worked only 1 job, barely making over minimum wage to support his family. I realize that it takes two to make a marriage work, as it takes 2 to let it fail. I have suggested counseling, for several years, to no avail. They, he, just won't. She is willing, he prefers to throw in the towel. I spoke with him 2 weeks ago, and I was very angry with him. I hung up on him because I did not want to say things I would regret. I did tell him the ball is in his court. We have not spoken since. I have visited the kids, and helped Christina clean the house, sort through stuff...she is a wreck, the kids are traumatized. She works part time so that she can have the time off with the kids, so she will have to get a full time job. Jobs are hard to come by these days. I don't know what will happen. Her mom is going through some serious health problems...diabetes has affected her sight, and she just had surgery to repair a detached retina. She can hardly help out with the kids. Chris is staying with my mom right now where he is cocooned in a safe world. What about his kids?? I just don't understand him, and I am shocked that this has happened. All part of the circle huh?
I did have my 4 year old granddaughter, Ailani, Carlos' daughter yesterday. She has been asking to come over and spend the night for several weeks. I told her that she could spend the night when she is 5 as I feel she is too young. But after spending the day with her yesterday, I believe she would be fine. We went to the park, she played on the slides, monkey bars, etc. We watched the ducks in the lake, and walked to the dog park. She said she wants to fish, but that she would throw the fish back in the water if she ever caught one! We went grocery shopping for a few things for the week, and she sat in the cart asking for me to hand her the stuff, and she sorted it in the cart for me. We had lunch at McDonald's. I got her a Happy Meal, but when it came time to eat the hamburger, she said she didn't like ketchup, so I tried to scrape it off. Then she said she didn't like mustard, I had already ordered it without pickles. What about some chicken McNuggets, yes...with ranch dressing. She ate it all...and even dipped her fries in it! Its time like these when I don't know their likes and dislikes that I feel like I've failed my grandkids. Aren't these little tidbits that a grandma should know? I've always said I'm not a traditional nana, and I'm not. I thought it was ok not to be "standard". Times are different from when my mom became a nana, and surely from my own nana who I still miss terribly. Anyway, after dinner, I took her home and she said, "I'm going to your house tomorrow, nana?" In a couple of weeks, sweetie, in a couple of weeks!
Glen has been sleeping on the couch for the last two nights because he wants me to sleep better knowing I won't be keeping him up. Translation: I'll sleep on the couch so I can get a good nights' sleep. I slept a good 12 hours last night. I still can't taste my food that well today, and its so frustrating...like why eat when I can't taste! We are going to dinner with Glen's sis and her DH today, The Melting Pot. Guess if Glen doesn't have my germs yet, he will by tonight. Love you, honey :)
Talk soon...
Monday, March 2, 2009
Sunshine Abounds!
Time just seems to escape me...or I have a boring life! Take your pick. The weather here has been unseasonably warm, up to 10 degrees. We topped out at 91F last Monday. If you caught any of the Accenture Golf matches over the weekend the commentators were gushing over the weather. It was absolutely gorgeous! We also had the rode in town. I didn't think that was such a big deal, but I heard it is in one of the top 20 in the country with a purse of $400K! I've been once, didn't really do anything for me. It was enough...been there, done that.
We're planning our vacation for this year...Yosemite! We did Yellowstone last year, and while it was beautiful, we had some bad weather that cut into our hiking time, turned into hanging-out-at-the-lodge-eating-all-day time! We usually try to get away for our anniversary in May, before school lets out and the summer family vacations begin. We're planning some hikes, visiting the Sequoia's, and spend a day or two in Death Valley. It probably sounds like a strange mix, but we enjoy off the beaten path stuff! We were looking at some pictures and video on-line of Half Dome, and I don't think we'll be doing that hike! Glen doesn't do heights, and I don't think I am fit enough to do, much less do it by myself. What if I get to the top and can't get down? Besides, there aren't any bathrooms on the way up nor at the top! We tried to do Angel's Landing in Zion Canyon a couple of years ago, but we had just started hiking and it was quite steep and high! Hoping to get back there someday.
I took some pics of a hike in Sabino Canyon last week during a walk. I'll get those up soon...I just noticed the time and I have to work! Talk soon...
We're planning our vacation for this year...Yosemite! We did Yellowstone last year, and while it was beautiful, we had some bad weather that cut into our hiking time, turned into hanging-out-at-the-lodge-eating-all-day time! We usually try to get away for our anniversary in May, before school lets out and the summer family vacations begin. We're planning some hikes, visiting the Sequoia's, and spend a day or two in Death Valley. It probably sounds like a strange mix, but we enjoy off the beaten path stuff! We were looking at some pictures and video on-line of Half Dome, and I don't think we'll be doing that hike! Glen doesn't do heights, and I don't think I am fit enough to do, much less do it by myself. What if I get to the top and can't get down? Besides, there aren't any bathrooms on the way up nor at the top! We tried to do Angel's Landing in Zion Canyon a couple of years ago, but we had just started hiking and it was quite steep and high! Hoping to get back there someday.
I took some pics of a hike in Sabino Canyon last week during a walk. I'll get those up soon...I just noticed the time and I have to work! Talk soon...
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