Category Archives: cars

Treasure Hunting

Posted on
1

In an effort to kill two birds with one shot (photo shot, that is) here is a picture of Katie’s new old car AND the first snow of the season.

I wish she would settle on a name for her car. I’m voting for Scarlet, but the jury’s still out. It’s just that it’s so much easier to throw out a name whilst talking about her car than saying “her car”. Which sounds better to you?

1. Katie’s car wears the snow as if it’s a mink coat; or
2. Scarlet wears the snow as if it’s a mink coat.

(Killing birds, mink coat – I hope PETA doesn’t read Jenster’s Musings.)

Anyway, Todd’s been a very busy boy. In recent months he has gotten into wood working and has been slowly amassing equipment. All those power tools need a place to live and not in the middle of the garage willy nilly. We have a double garage with two windows on one wall so he’s decided to make that side his workshop. Which is a great plan, except for the fact that we have several boxes neatly tucked along that wall. Boxes that were put there by the moving guys when we moved into the house nearly 6 years ago. So now he’s going through the boxes and making a throw away pile, a yard sale pile, a put away pile and an I have no idea so I’ll have to ask Jen pile. It’s turning into quite a treasure hunt!

One of the first treasures he came across was a bag with our Christmas stockings in it. Yes, folks. We’ve celebrated Christmas six times in this house and never once with stockings. Christmas 2012 is going to be awesome!

Look at what other treasures he found:

I used to collect music boxes and bought this one at the San Francisco Music Company on Pier 39 in San Francisco about 25 years ago. You pull the little cable car down to the bottom of the hill and it slowly goes up the street to “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”.

My two favorite stuffed animals ever. My grandparents gave me Winnie the Pooh when I was really little and I can’t even count how many times he had to be sewn up here or there. When I was in elementary school and we would be learning about fire safety I would lay in my bed at night and go over how I would get out of the house if there was a fire. My plan would always include grabbing Winnie. When I would start to imagine the fire and NOT getting Winnie out I would end up crying in my bed. I loved Winnie.

The other is the first stuffed animal Todd gave me. I called him LT – short for Little Todd. Cheesy, I know. What can I say? I was young and silly.

I have no idea where I got this. Really? A size 5?

My Grandmother’s jewelry box.

Because of my love for music boxes I was given this one when my grandfather passed away. It had been given to him and my grandmother for their 50th wedding anniversary by my other grandmother so it’s doubly special to me.

There were other goodies (and a ton of junk) that was found, but there are still a few more boxes to go through. I can’t wait to see what’s to be found next!

Ruby Deux

Posted on
3

As I mentioned HERE, Katie’s car (affectionately known as Ruby) has been in the shop. Actually, it’s been in the parking lot of the shop. They have been so kind to let us keep her car there until we could figure out our next move. Not only that, but they didn’t charge us a dime to look at the car in the first place. They will definitely be keeping our business for a long time.

We exhausted all of our options and finally determined today we just need to scrap it. I feel bad for her because she worked hard to save the money to buy Ruby and she only lasted three months. I feel just as bad for Nick, the kid she bought the car from. He feels responsible, but he had no way of knowing there was only so much left in Ruby. Buying an 18-year-old car is always a risk.

So tonight we worked a deal to get Katie a newer car. Funnily enough it’s another red Camry, but a ’97 instead of a ’93. The three of us piled into the car (which may or may not be named Ruby Deux) and took a test drive to the parking lot where Ruby’s been hanging out for the past few weeks. Katie and I cleaned her out while Todd went in to tell the guys a flat bed truck would be collecting the old car in the next day or two. Then we drove away and it was kind of sad.

Back to the dealer where we signed papers and wrote a check and then we came home where we figured out a payment plan for Katie. She’s a little bummed about not owning the car outright (that would be me who owns the car outright) but she’s thrilled to have a ride again.

And me? I’m thrilled to be able to comfortably climb into my car in the morning without having to try and squeeze in and then slide the seat back.

Post Birthday… uh… Post

Posted on
15

Thank you friends, both virtual and actual, for your birthday wishes. The day started out a little dreary (literally and figuratively) but cleared up nicely (only figuratively).

I have one of those very smart cars that tells you when something is wrong. Sunday my car warned me the pressure in two of the tires was low. So I rescheduled my dentist appointment for today and took my car to the dealer instead. It was nice to have 15 minutes of alone time to read in the waiting room.

After that I met my therapist friend, Cristie, at the Starbuck’s in Barnes and Noble. Her birthday was the day before mine so we shared a celebratory piece of carrot cake cheesecake, drank our very own mochas and exchanged gifts.

She gave me this hysterical calendar, two adorable bead angels (I’m sharing one with Katie), a couple Starbuck’s coupons (because she knows me so well) and a B&N gift card (again, because she knows me so well).

But better than these gifts was the time we spent together. I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately and I basically knew why, but she saw everything from a different perspective than I could and really helped me work through some of these issues. I love that woman!

On my way home I stopped off at my friend, Kris’ house just to chat. She only lives around the corner, but it seems our schedules (mostly mine) never match up. She only had about 15 minutes before she had to leave which worked out very well for me. If she’d had all the time in the world my 15 minutes would have stretched into an hour and 15 minutes or so. Still, we managed to pack in a nice visit.

When I got home I jumped in the shower to get ready for my “birthday date” with Todd. We went to have a nice dinner at the new Outback. A crisp glass of Riesling, coconut shrimp appetizer, Alice Springs Chicken and nice conversation. Very, very pleasant.

We stopped at the grocery store on the way home to pick up a cake. I chose a deliciously decadent Boston Chocolate Silk cake. A layer of spongy chocolate cake, a thick layer of a fluffy chocolate whipped cream filling, another layer of spongy chocolate cake, topped by a chocolate butter cream frosting. Yum!

Then I got to open my presents. Kris gave me a bottle of Italian wine. Real Italian wine from Italy. Looks like we’ll have to spare more than 15 minutes so we can enjoy a glass or two.

And then the gift from my family. Guitar Hero III!!! I so rock!!! It is so much fun! Next week when the kids go back to school I’m going to set aside four hours a day to practice so I can beat Taylor. Not really. Maybe an hour a day.

Since I didn’t make it to the dentist yesterday I went in this morning. I’m getting a crown next Monday so today’s appointment was to make the impression. I have a very sensitive gag reflex and impressions are the worst form of dental torture to me. The hygienist was great and I only sort of gagged one time. Whew!

Rhode Island Part II: The Wedding

Posted on
4

Sunday night I stayed in Glenn & Cristie’s room with Cristie while Glenn slept on a roll away bed in our room. Monday morning was another fabulous breakfast, a trip to the salon and getting ready for the wedding. The minister came to the B&B and we followed him to The Forty Steps where we met up with the photographer. Todd and I pulled double duty for the wedding. Not only were we the best man/matron of honor, we were also the bouncers. We stood at the top of the stairs after the wedding and kept people from walking down while the photographer took pictures.

As you can see it was a gorgeous day for a wedding. The wind was pretty fierce up top, but when we got down the steps it calmed a great deal.

After the wedding we went back to the B&B for a little while and then headed into town for dinner. We had reservations at a swanky restaurant, but ended up eating at The Red Parrot instead. It was casual and relaxed and delicious.

As usual, I took pictures of everyone’s meals, but I’m not going to post them. Not in the mood. Sorry.

When the meal was finished we headed back to the B&B, dropped the newlyweds off and then went for a drive. Here are a few photos of the surrounding area.

This is self explanatory

These were a lot of fun to watch. These guys were on what looked like a wide water ski and the parachutes pulled them over the water, sometimes pulling them twenty feet into the air. I wish it had been lighter outside so I could have gotten a better picture.

I thought this was a cool picture of lifeguard stands.

St. George’s School by sunset.

By the time it was dark I needed something resembling chocolate. After looking for an open coffee shop we ended up at Starbucks. I ordered a toffee almond bar to go with my White Chocolate Mocha, Todd ordered a piece of lemon cake to go with his funky kind of tea, and we kicked back there for a while. The music was good, the company was good, the food was good – what a great way to cap off a great day.

Tuesday morning found us with the usual mixed emotions we have after a get away. We thoroughly enjoyed our weekend. Hanging out with Glenn & Cristie; seeing the sights; relaxing in the B&B garden or a coffee shop; reconnecting as a husband and wife as opposed to a mom and dad. But at the same time the roles of mom and dad made us anxious to get home and see the kids.

So after a breakfast with the wedding couple we hit the road. The traffic was so much better coming home than it had been going up. We only had one glitch in the form of the biggest idiot I’ve ever had the displeasure of dealing with.

If you know the owner of this car, please feel free to kick him in the shins as hard as you can whilst wearing steel-toed shoes. (Please do not translate as a plea for someone to break his kneecaps or anything like that)

The speed limit was 55, we were in the fast lane going about 70 (as was everybody else in the fast lane), when the bonehead came zooming up behind us at an extremely high speed. Todd couldn’t get over because there were cars in the middle lane. He was going to speed up so he could get around them quicker, when the moron pulled over onto the shoulder as if to pass us. There was a cement barrier and not enough room.

That made Todd mad so he didn’t speed up any. Didn’t slow down any, either. When we were past the cars in the next lane he was about to pull over, but the boob shot in between us and the car in the next lane, weaving in and out of lanes in his effort to drive as fast as he possibly could.

Whatever. Todd pulled over into the middle lane and then the fool did one of the dumbest, most asinine things I’ve had the misfortune to witness. He jerked his car into our lane and slammed on his breaks. On the freeway. Apparently he was miffed that Todd hadn’t sped up to let him pass faster.

This miscreant who was in such a dadgum hurry slowed down to somewhere around 30 MPH. He’d speed up a little then slam on the breaks, causing the people behind us to have to slam on their breaks. The jackass was lucky he didn’t cause an accident.

There are no words to describe just how angry I was. Me, the nonviolent one, wanted nothing more than to slug the daylights out of the imbecile. Cars and trucks were whipping around us, honking their horns and gesturing angrily at the blockhead. And the schmuck wouldn’t let up. So I grabbed the camera and shot this picture. Then I flipped open the phone to call 911, but he saw me and zoomed off at the next exit. I like to think that wasn’t his planned route and he was frightened off by my quick and vengeful wit.

What a pitiful loser.

The rest of the ride home was quite nice. Except for sitting on the George Washington bridge in New York. But once we got past that it was clear sailing the rest of the way home.

And now you know the REST of the story.

Monday Fun

Posted on
18

Todd and Taylor are on their way to a Christian Youth Conference in Tennessee so this week is all about me and Katie. Today started out with a trip to the hospital for pre-admission. Exciting, isn’t it?

Katie sat in the waiting reading a magazine and listening to her iPod. I went back to have my blood drawn and when I walked out the nurse followed me. She was holding about 8 baggies with four tubes of blood in each one. Katie’s eyes got huge and when I sat down she said, “Was that all from you?”

After that we went to Handel’s – best ice cream place on the planet. I should have started this post by saying I’ve lost 6.5 pounds in the last two weeks on Weight Watchers. I’ve been so good, but I had a scoop of ice cream anyway. Chocoholic Peanut Butter Crunch. It was divine.

Then it was off to Bed, Bath and Beyond to make a return. We were two empty spaces away from a little Subaru and when we got out the Subaru’s alarm went off. We were nowhere near the car so I didn’t think we’d set it off. When we came back out I hit my little remote to unlock the doors and the Subaru alarm went back off. When I pressed the lock button it stopped. So Katie and I sat in our car for about 5 minutes hitting unlock and then lock and the alarm would go off each time I hit unlock and then stop when I hit lock. It was the funniest thing. In a way it was sad, though, that she and I found so much entertainment in the whole thing.

We finished off the afternoon by going to King of Prussia Mall. Hit a few stores and bought Katie clothes – because somewhere I already established that it’s fun buying the cute little clothes for her that I wish I could wear. I did buy myself a pair of fuzzy, hot pink, thong-type slippers, though, and the thought of wearing them this evening is thrilling.

Tomorrow is an outlet mall, a huge antique mall and the dermatologist’s. The real fun will start on Wednesday, however. The Philadelphia Art Museum and then Thursday we’ll go to New York City for two days.

I think after this week I’m going to be ready for a little R&R at the hospital.

Another Long, Rambling Post Much Ado About Nothing

Posted on
9

I have removed the comment verification feature because so many people are having problems posting. I’m hoping this will take care of that.

I had Katie unload dirty dishes from the dishwasher last night. I thought I had run it before I left for the doctor yesterday, but I discovered this morning I was wrong. She even said a couple times, “Are you sure these are clean?” To which she heard, “Yes! I’m sure! Now leave me alone so I can continue playing on my computer!” Maybe I should stop washing the dishes before loading the dishwasher so we’ll know for sure. Don’t worry, though. We’ll have used the dirty dishes and washed them before any of you will be coming for dinner. Promise.

It’s only 9:30 and already the outside temperature is 54. Nice. We’re having a lot of rain, too, which is fine because I can’t go anywhere today. The promise of spring and the rain makes me miss Arkansas. There’s always something about a particular region that makes it special and the pleasant thunderstorms of the South is one of the things I loved. Not the torrential downpours and tornado threats, but the good, drenching rain with the slow rumble of thunder in the distance. We had a ranch style house with a wonderful long porch along the front and a covered deck in the back. So when it was warm enough I would open the windows and let the fresh scents and the relaxing sound of the rain permeate the house. LOVED IT! While I’m very happy with our new house, it’s a Colonial and I can’t have opened windows if it’s raining. Oh well.

We’ve been invited by some neighbors to join the wine club they started last month. Todd and I aren’t big wine drinkers, but I do enjoy a glass now and then. Besides, the “meetings” include food. Good food. I’m sure I’ll be using all my Flex Points tonight at our first one. Also, these particular neighbors are just plain fun. I’m sure we’re going to have a great time. And no, not a drunken great time. Homey don’t play that.

I saw the White Russian yesterday (my oncologist) and I feel much better about everything than I have for quite some time. He was swamped, but he sat patiently while we discussed all the stuff that’s going on. While I’m nearly positive I’ve had a couple estrogen surges, there’s no proof. The only time my estrogen levels have been checked in the last long while has been while I was getting the Zoladex injections. So in order to have my ovaries removed I’d have to be tested for the BRCA gene. A person can’t just say, “I want genetic testing.” You have to go through counseling and they determine if you’re a good candidate. Because I have such a limited family history of cancer, I’m probably not a great candidate. It’s possible they won’t even test me. And I don’t want it anyway.

Because I have no breast tissue anymore there is no concern that estrogen will cause breast cancer. DUH! My chances of ovarian cancer are no higher than any other woman’s and I’m actually lucky in that I’m being followed closely. My tumor markers are checked every three months and if there’s ever a spike then I’ll have diagnostic testing. So even if my ovaries ARE working and I’m producing estrogen, it’s not a horrible thing for me. He’s going to keep an eye on my estrogen levels and if it turns out they are working, then I’ll maybe have them removed later. But it’s not the urgent matter I had been lead to believe. So I’m not going to be having any more surgery any time in the near future and what a relief that is!

He took a look at my blisters and said, “Oh. You have herpes.” Okay. That’s not really what he said. He said shingles, but you know, they’re part of the herpes family. Didn’t I say I thought it was a virus? Though it doesn’t present like classic shingles so he said it could be some other variation, but he’s certain it’s a virus. So now I’m on Valtrex, the same medicine in the genital herpes commercial. It makes me a little dizzy (dizzier than usual) so I had to forego my bible study this morning. :o (

Have you ever seen that old Cheech and Chong movie where the Middle Eastern guy is telling the hair dresser to “Take my hair piece”, but it sounds like he’s saying herpes and the hair dresser is saying, “No way, man. I don’t want your herpes.” “But I eenseest you take my harpese.” “I don’t want your herpes, man.” Yeah. Can you imagine how often I’ve heard this banter in the last 24 hours??

The White Russian was impressed with my boobs. From a very clinical standpoint, that is. And I proudly showed him the mole that used to be on my belly, but complained about the faint stretch marks that also made the transfer. I won’t be getting nipples until sometime in the fall and I almost blurted that Todd suggested I just use gumdrops, but thankfully stopped myself. I did tell the nurse who weighed me that I’d just started Weight Watchers and I was going to be a shadow of my former self the next time she weighed me. She was nice and feigned interest.

Sally and I really bonded yesterday. I love her. I think she loves me, too. Today is our one week anniversary. If I wasn’t so muddled I’d take her out to lunch.

What’s Going On

Posted on
5

This is just a quick update on things

Blisters/Rash – The steroid cream helps to dry them up, but it doesn’t keep new ones from popping up. I’m very tired of this. My winking pirate now looks like a diseased pirate who lost the tavern brawl. If you don’t know what my winking pirate is I’ll have to explain it in a later blog. For those of you with dirty minds, it’s not dirty. Anyhoo, I see the dermatologist next Tuesday, at which time I’ll get these annoying stitches removed. I’m starting to wonder if I have some strange virus or something since they keep popping up. They have to be gone by June. I can’t go to Hawaii all pock-riddled. I just can’t!

Girly Issues – I have no idea what’s going on here. My gynecologist finally got a hold of my oncologist who told her that I only need to have my ovaries removed if I’m positive for the BRCA gene. WHAT??? First of all, I’ve never been tested for the gene. Don’t really care to be as that information won’t do me any good and will either give Katie a false sense of security or a fear of something that may never happen. Second of all, HE’S the one that said I should have my ovaries removed. My gynecologist doesn’t think I actually had periods. She thinks they were just “episodes of bleeding due to changes in the uterine lining from the Tamoxifen”. Hogwash. I have no doubt that they were periods and that I was producing estrogen – my enemy. *sigh* I think the oncologist had me confused with someone else when he was talking to the gynecologist. I have a checkup with him tomorrow afternoon and I really hope to get this all settled at that time.

All these ologists are driving me nuts!

Weight Watchers – So far so good! A whole day and no mess ups! Wonder how much weight I’ve lost so far? LOL I haven’t been hungry today at all so that’s good. The only problem is all the peeing I have to do from all the water I’m drinking. I wonder if I can count running to the bathroom as exercise.

New Car – We’ve named her Sally. I love Sally. (Bessie who?) She’s just plain fun. I’m anxious for a real road trip. In fact, I’m excited about my trip to the doctor tomorrow. Not the actual appointment, but the drive there and back. If only I could have a White Chocolate Mocha to complete the experience.

Ode To Bessie

Posted on
7

Oh Bessie, my Bessie
Although for us you may be gone
Your memory, it still lives on
All the good times that we had
The countless fun trips and the bad

For many miles upon miles
You brought to us a thousand smiles
Delivering us with tender care
From over here to over there

Oh Bessie, my Bessie
Some of them were family trips
“Are we there yet” from children’s lips
Until the travel DVD
Then quiet reigned for you and me

Adventures with a friend or four
Laughing, crying and then some more
Secrets told within your frame
Secrets kept, no naming names

Oh Bessie, my Bessie
We said goodbye this Friday past
Who knew that it would be our last
We hadn’t planned to buy the car
But buy we did, so there you are

You sat alone, we drove away
I hadn’t expected to feel that way
Though my sadness didn’t get too far
‘cause I really like my brand new car

Todd and I planned to look at cars after having our taxes done Friday morning. Our 2006 tax year was much different than normal years due to moving and the company’s relocation package so we had no idea what we were looking at. Would we owe this year for the first time ever or would be getting something, anything back.

We were very pleased to find out we were getting a nice little chunk back. So instead of looking at new cars, we just bought one. I got that 2007 Saturn Outlook with the sunroof. The only concession I had to make was the color. Instead of the Ocean Mist I really liked I ended up with a navy metallic blue. I could have ordered exactly what I wanted, but that takes up to two months and I don’t think Bessie had that much in her. We were lucky to get what we got for her trade in.

I’m anxious for a pretty day and an excuse for a road trip. Doesn’t look like it will be in the next day or two, though.