L'amore di vita!

We deserve cookies today.

The hubs went to take the Nissan in this morning for it's xx mileage maintenance, and it wouldn't start. Ok, maybe we waited too long for the maintenance(!). Pffft. 

AAA to the rescue. The hubs drove off happily. We needed a new battery. It's amazing to me that overnight the battery went dead. There was a little hesitation when I tried to start the car one day this week, but we figured we'd tell the auto shop during the xx mileage checkup and they could look into it. 

We've been having a terrible time finding a room darkening shade for our bedroom. We ordered all our curtains from Calico Corners last Oct, and we just now got the last shade in our bedroom installed today! This was the fourth attempt at a shade. 

We needed a room darkening shade, without question. The first one they made for us didn't darken...at all.  It was made of the bamboo slats with blackout fabric on the back.  So we tried a roller type blackout shade. The first shade was too wide and the installer couldn't even get it in the window. The second attempt was the same. Finally, today, the last and final attempt was made and it fit!  Looks great too, and it really blacks out nearly every bit of light.

So we deserve cookies today!

One vote counts.

Did you get out and vote today? 

I hope you're exercising this right, privilege, and responsibility! 

Every day on the news I see scads of corruption in other countries when it comes to their voting systems (for those that have one). So I am thankful that I can go and cast a vote and not have to worry about being taken out and having my wits beat out of me because someone in authority doesn't like what I'm doing.

Or worse, not having an election at all and consequently living with a dictatorship.

I proudly wear this sticker every year. (It's not your eyes...it's really out of focus. :)

Mom care.

I can't imagine what it would be like for my back to hurt all the time. My Mom has been experiencing this for awhile.

Every day the pain is there first thing in the morning. And lasts all day. It gets worse as the day wears on because she has to work at a job that requires using the lower back. By the time the work day is over and evening rolls around, it's difficult to walk. After 10 hours of being on her feet and bending over a shampoo bowl to wash hair (she's been doing hair for as long as I can remember), it really really hurts. Sometimes, so painful she can bearly walk.

I can't imagine the frustration of not getting any relief after seeing several back doctors, a hip doctor, a chiropractor, and several other specialists. One doctor said it was lupus. Another said it was all imagined pain. Another recommended seeing a pain-management specialist. Several said they couldn't figure it out.

But at last, one said "we can do something about it." 

So on Friday there was a spinal epidural. By Sunday she already felt better. For the first time in a long time she woke up without any pain.

YEA!!!!

She really doesn't like it when I take these kinds of sneaky shots. :) She's going into the doctor's office for the epidural.

On then on Sat we went out for breakfast in the city. Good stuff. See her nails? That's hair dye. For as long as I've know my Mom, she's had hair dye on her nails. Occupational mark for a hairdresser.

I hope it keeps feeling better and better, Mom.

Dear Blog. Hold on.

I've been in a rut with updating you, dear blog. But I love you dear blog and will get back on track soon.

Do not take is personally dear blog. I meant no disrespect. You are my faithful friend. My link to far away and close friends and family. You deserve better than this. Yes, you do.

I have lots to tell you dear blog. So hang in there.

Oh, since I'm stopping by today, may as well say Happy Halloween!

Hugs and kisses, dear blog. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo.

 

Happy Birthday C!!

One of our favorite people in the whole wide world - C - had a big bang birthday in Sep.

We headed over to KanPai Japanese Restaurant (C's fav). It's a great place where everyone gathers around a big table that has a huge (and really hot) grill in the middle, and the cook makes all the entrees right there in front of you on the grill all the while doing magical things with knives, eggs, FIRE, and other such things. I don't know how those chefs do it, but it's amazing. 

It's always great to hang out with by brother, my mom, C, and some of C's family.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY C!  We love you.

And here's a few of my favorite shots. Since we were inside the restaurant for most of the shots, and it was dark, I had to use flash. No getting around it. Most of you know I don't really like using flash, but I'm starting to get used to it. :)

Bestest friends.

The chef flaming it up.

Yummy chicken, shrimp, scallops, and steak.

Dipping bowls.

Singing happy birthday to the birthday girl, C!

A natural born musician.

They sang the birthday song with us.

The crew minus one - since I'm behind the camera.

Do you love the glasses? :)

Cute!

Double cute!

Don't mind my brother's face in this one. LOL.

Take-away party left overs.

Landscapes in a Truck

Last night we had the honor of going to a phenomenal reception that our condo sponsored, "Landscapes in a Truck" by photographer Shaun Irving.

The exhibit consisted of massive photographs taken during the artist's trip across Spain.

The photos measured up to eight feet wide in most cases. They were all taken with a "Cameratruck", the world's largest mobile camera that was built from a cargo area of a converted delivery truck. It uses military surplus lenses to project the image from outside the truck onto the inner wall of the truck onto giant sheets of photographic paper to capture the image.

Read more about it here.

Afterward we went to our BFF's :) house for a "fondue" night! It was fantastic. I'll post those photos later.

Little thoughts of retirement.

And I don't mean in terms of small. It's a big thing. Really big. 

I mean in terms of thinking about it a little. My job sponsors a three-day seminar for those eligible for retirement. And since I will be eligible next year, I attended. I have a fabulous retirement program, and because of it will be able to go out at an early age, if I'd like.

Not that I'm going to retire. Nope. I like my job and plan to hang around for awhile. And the longer I work, the higher retirement annuity I'll get. But the seminar offered a ton of excellent financial information, and went over all the benefits and such I'd have to consider going into retirement. 

I took the hubs with me. I think having the spouse attend is necessary, really. Although no one else's spouse did. But it really helped the hubs understand everything too. He flies through those financial calculations like a hot knife through soft butter.

Some things around my way..... :)

Family Time.

Our niece stopped for a visit yesterday, and it was so great to see her. 

She was in to visit a friend, and headed a little further south (it was more than an hour out of her way, truth be told :) to hang out. We love that she took the time to do that...we love you sweetie!

She brought with her one of our most favorite desserts in the whole wide world, a delicious buttery coffee cake made by her mom. It's a dangerous thing to have around because me and the hubs can't stop eating it. I've eaten three pieces of it...so far.

She left in the late afternoon to head to her friend's house. Had a great time. The hubs and I hug out at home the rest of the day, ate leftovers, watched a movie, ate coffee cake, surfed the net, and called it a day.