The Picture of Contentment

Peaches . . . on catnip.

Notice the big smile!

Invasion

First, there came the scout flakes.

Then, the colonist ships arrived.

Then, the Mothership landed.

ABC tagged by P

A - Available or single: Happily Married
B - Best friends: S and P!
C - Cake or pie: BROWNIES! (duh!)
D - Drink of choice: Water (yep. . . always! Ha ha)
E - Essential item you use everyday: lots and lots of soap
F - Favorite color: navy blue, but burgundy is almost up there
G- Gummy bears or worms: Bears!
H - Hometown: Stow
I- Indulgence: Chocolate chip cookies hot from the oven and a big glass of milk
J - January or February: February, this year at least! Birthdays and heart cookies!
K - Kids & names: Same as P here, no kids, but some names!
L- Life is incomplete without? Dogs and books. (Okay, and George, too.)
M- Marriage date: September 17
N- Number of siblings: 1
O- Oranges or apples: Oranges most of the time – Apples in the fall (again, right on P!)
P- Phobias or fears: Staircases. I’m not kidding.
Q- Fave quote: The one at the top of this blog.
R - Reasons to smile: Too many to mention! That’s what this blog is all about!
S - Season: Fall
T - Tag: B and M
U - Unknown fact about me: Unknown to some – I want to be a computer animator when I grow up.
V- Vegetable you don't like: Turnip greens. Does that count?
W - Worst habit: Not eating fish.
X - Xrays: Oh my . . . teeth, back, lungs . . . what haven’t I had x-rayed?
Y - Your fave food: Kibbie!
Z- Zodiac sign: Cancer

Sunday Science Hour

As S and I were leaving the restaurant after breakfast Sunday morning, we found some dry ice in the parking lot. It had apparently been used for a delivery and had beed discarded.

We took it, of course. How could we resist?

It provided a good hour of science fun in our kitchen.

Baby Nikki

A favorite picture of my Nikki girl taken on Christmas Eve.

A Belated Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all!

Once again, I was holding out until I upload my holiday pictures for a new post (these things MUST happen in order, after all!), but I figured I'd better post something so I don't lose any faithful readers.

Faithful readers? Hello . . . Hello?

A Lovely, Snowy, Christmassy Weekend

I’m back at work today after a wonderful four-day weekend. I took last Thursday and Friday off to spend time doing Christmassy things and get some random stuff done.

It was so nice.

On Thursday we woke up to heavy snow. I managed to get myself out of bed and out the door for my follow-up chest x-ray (to make sure none of the pneumonia from a month ago remains). Nikki was excited that I was home, and she insisted on going with me, despite my warnings that if my x-ray took a long time, she’d be cold in the car. She didn’t care, and there was no way she was staying home. So, off we went in the snow. Roads were snow-covered but manageable, but visibility came and went with the wind. Large flakes were falling with a vengeance when I parked and went into the lab, and as I signed in, I was struck with the view from the open and airy reception area: a winter wonderland through enormous windows spanning the front of the building. Christmas music was playing softly, the waiting room was empty, and I wondered for a moment if it was actually pleasant working there at that moment. My x-ray only took 15 minutes, so Nikki was spared the chill. When I left, the snow had slowed to a very light flurry, so I stopped somewhere on my way home to pick up a couple Christmas gifts. It was a blizzard again by the time I left, so I thought I’d better quit while I was ahead and turn for home. When I got closer to my house, the snow was lighter again, and I ran a bunch more errands. The whole time, Nikki and I listened to Christmas music . . . and I sang along.

Later, I turned the tree lights on, listened to Christmas music, and worked on Christmas cards. Our afternoon trip to the vet was less adventurous for Nikki and me, as it had stopped snowing altogether by then, but Nikki was very happy to return home from that particular trip. The snow started up again when it was time for S and me to go to dinner with some family, but it was worth the drive.

Friday, I spent a fun day Christmas shopping with my sister-in-law and got several things crossed off my gift list. S and I went to dinner with my brother, and then we visited with him at his fine apartment. Saturday, after having nothing but difficulty finding online the gifts I decided to get for our niece and nephew, I took a quick trip to Toys R Us. It was amazing how fast I was in and out of there. The store was PACKED with Christmas toy shoppers, many yelling over the din on their cell phones, “Was it the red one with the ‘mystic speeder’ or the one with the ‘deluxe dragon mobile’?” I went in knowing exactly what I wanted, and that helped me get out of there in less than an hour. After that, I headed off with my family to visit some friends for a delicious meal and happy company.

Sunday, it was pancakes for breakfast and Thai for lunch, then I got a massage (ahhhhh . . .) and we went grocery shopping. George found one of his Christmas gifts and was angry when I told him he had to wait until Christmas to play with it.

Really, the only thing I have left is the wrapping. I save it up so I can put on A Christmas Story or Christmas Vacation and wrap all the gifts at once. I’m sure George will be helping me.

Thanks to the long weekend, I’m feeling relaxed and settled for Christmas. Each evening I can go home to our warm and cozy house, light the tree, and put on Christmas carols. George can take up his favorite spot under the tree where he is the picture of Christmas peace, a soft kitty lit dimly by the white lights on the branches above him, snoozing away.

Right now, though, I’m back at work watching the minute hand and remembering how wonderful it was to not be here!

Thank You Ohio!

Here's something I'm thankful for...

Starting December 7, "all enclosed public spaces and workplaces" will be smoke free!

Having just been through a bout with pneumonia most likely brought on by four hours spent in a cigarette-smoke-filled room back in mid-October (I should have known better, but it seemed like an important function at the time, and it was the only way to be there), I couldn't be happier about the passage of Issue 5. Thankfully, before I was house-bound for a week and a half, including election day, I voted absentee, and Issue 5 was The Issue for me. The fact that it passed makes me think that there are plenty of people in Ohio like me who are just sick of cigarette smoke altogether. We wanted this, and now we finally have it. We just needed a chance to make it happen.

It's like Christmas came early this year. No more choosing places based on how smoky they are. No more turning down invitations because going would make me miserable. No more picking clothes based on how smoky my destination will be. Hallelujah - it's a new freedom!

Now . . . I can go anywhere . . .

Happy Halloween from Peaches!

(Picture by Mom!)

I Want To Live in an LL Bean Catalog

Where no one goes to work.
They just go sledding.
And hiking.
And ice skating.
And wear comfy flannel pajamas and fleece pullovers.
And big bulky sweaters.
And there is always a hot cup of cocoa waiting.
And puppies. Fluffy sleepy puppies.
And every day is Christmas Eve.