Owner: My Life | My Opinions | My Blog URL:http://keepingtrackoftheinsanity.blogspot.com Join Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2007 10:54:23 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: My life and the world around me as I see it. Site statistics:Click here
New Year Resolutions... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I will take more time to blog... :o)Having said that - I thought it would be fun to participate in the flickr 365 - you post a picture each and every day of the year. I know, it's already the 4th so I'm behind. But I believe that it's more the "spirit" of 365 that I will honor - not literally posting a picture a day. That's just crazy. Who has the time for that?I will stick to my diet as long as Minou sticks to hers....Not that I'm on a particular diet - I just decided that I'm going to give up most of the junk I eat....and you know what? I've actually lost some weight. Minimal effort required, that's the part I like the best. I may even start exercising again on a regular basis - right now I just don't have the time or inclination - but who knows what tomorrow will bring. (And Minou has been a good girl - she's looking trimmer these days, I don't think Ali has been sneaking her as much people food as he used too.I will find humor in the little things my husband does to make Read more:New Year
, Resolutions
We bought a House!! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Congratulations to us! We finally invested in property - I know it's kind of small, and we'll probably have a rodent or ant problem - but it's a house, and it's OURS!When we first got it, there were a few repairs to be made - okay - it was a real fixer upper. But after some creative spackle and paint applications - it looks nice a cozy! There's even a fire in the fire place!!The lot is rather small - the edges of the house almost meet the property lines - but it looks like we've got good neighbors. One appears to be a military man and the other...well, I think he's a bit of a snowbird. Probably spends his winters here and then disappears.So, Merry Christmas to us!! Read more:House
Um, not what I really wanted... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Okay - there was this commercial (you may have seen it) that showed several different people opening gifts for the holidays - each reaction was similar ...conveying that the recipient was less than thrilled with the item they received.So - having seen this, Timbo said (in his I'm deaf and won't admit it whisper) "Hey! They should have had the twins in that commercial. I've never seen them like a gift unless it was a gift card."And that is precicely what the commercial was selling - gift cards. At the end, each of the unhappy gift recipients turned their frowns upside down as they opened a brand spankin' new gift card.Being the Squirrels that we are - when it was time for our gift swap we dedicated the pictures in not-so-fond memory of the twins.This muggs for you! Read more:wanted
eh - Yeah, I know... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 So this whole "Blog More" resolution appears to have gone down the toilet. Not that it was intentional - I've been crazy at work so getting on a computer when I get home to write something witty and bright just does NOT appeal to me.That and Ali has connected the computer to his new "Mega-TV" making it impossible for him to be on the computer and watch TV too - so he just helps himself to my laptop during the day. I get home and the poor thing has a dead battery. Nice. I really must teach him where the plug is and how it works.Add that to the fact that I am exhausted and you get blog silence for two weeks. I hope things will level out and I'll be more myself again. Poor Ali has to deal with me at home - sometimes I wonder what he thinks when it's either Mega-bitch or Zombie Melissa that comes through the door. From the looks of it, it's going to be Zombie Melissa tonight.So I've got this "To-Do" list (or pile) at work that is about 12 pages long (0r 12 inches deep) - and an intric
Simple yet homey... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I spent the better part of the weekend cleaning out the kitchen. I got rid of old pots and pans that had been hanging around waiting to rust into nothingness. I gave away old stemware that I rarely use and cleaned out my Tupperware. I was ruthless, anything without a matching lid or container went the way of the Dodo.I reorganized the pantry, dish cabinets, cutlery drawers and spice racks. I made room for my new mixer and got rid of the old 12 cup coffee machine in favor of the new, more sleek 4 cup model. I cleaned out the laundry room and got rid of those "almost gone but not quite" bottles of cleaning products - that one last use just wasn't going to happen and they had to go!So - now my kitchen is clutter free. It looks kind of stark in my opinion. I like that the surfaces are free and clear, ready to be put to use in making an apple pie or baking bread. The new organization puts frequently used items right at my finger tips and those special instruments hidden from sight until th Read more:Simple
, Simple yet
Merry Christmas!! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I have time and I don't really know what to do with myself - last night I picked up the last gift that I needed to get, did the holiday grocery shopping and finished up any loose errands that were still to be done.Today is only the 23rd. Sure, I have to finish cleaning the house - scrub the bathroom and do the laundry - but I did that last weekend for the cookie party so it's not as bad as it could be... not that I'm complaining.The mail came today and in it was a wonderful surprise. Andrea and Jeff sent us a Christmas
card. I didn't send out cards this year - I didn't have time to do them well and decided to not do them at all if I couldn't make a decent effort.So I guess I'll just blog our 2006 family letter - Here Goes!2006 finds us all healthy and well. We've been working hard (so what's new) and have had the opportunity to have friends stay with us this year. Andrea stayed through the spring and into the summer and Melina stayed with us through the summer and fall. We're Read more:Merry
, Merry Christmas
And The Winner Is... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Every year I get some really ... erm... unique Christmas cards from friends. Kathy Rules has kept us in stiches for the last few years - but this year there is a new winner in town...All the way from our neighbors to the north - Andrea has sent the best holiday card of 2006... The text reads:Dear Santa,Here's some milk and cookies for you. I helped Mommy make the cookies.Love,SuzieP.S. Daddy says to tell you to keep out of the liquor cabinet this year, and to flush the @#*! toilet. He didn't like the present you left last year.
I know... I know... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I haven't written in a while - it's hard to catch up once you're behind. 1 day turns into 3 days and before you know it ~ WHAMMO ~ it's been over a week, and nothing.Life has been busy.I'm sure this time of year that happens to a lot of people.So, in the interest of time, both mine and yours, here's the CLiff Notes:After the television fiasco, Ali has been educated in the proper holiday gift one gives ones wife - he has admitted that the television was for him, but surprisingly is still clinging to some dilusion that I am loving having it. Where he would get that idea, I have NO clue... IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME DROOLING OVER THE NOW 40" FACE OF TOM WELLING ON SMALLVILE....nothing. *sigh* Note to self: stop being so transparent in your celebrity crushes.Operation Morale has found a web site that will enable EVERYONE to communicate and send thank you notes/gifts to soldiers stationed in "hot zones". Visit www.anysoldier.com I COMMAND YOU! The 4th Annual Cookie Swap has conclude
Holy Cannoli! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Your Personality IsGuardian (SJ)You are sensible, down to earth, and goal oriented.Bottom line, you are good at playing by the rules.You tend to be dominant - and you are a natural leader.You are interested in rules and order. Morals are important to you.A hard worker, you give your all at whatever you do.You're very serious, and people often tell you to lighten up.In love, you tend to take things carefully and slowly.At work, you are suited to almost any career - but you excel in leadership positions.With others, you tend to be polite and formal.As far as looks go, you are traditionally attractive. You take good care of yourself.On weekends, you tend to like to do organized activities. In fact, you often organize them!The Three Question Personality TestSo, let's see...here's what it SHOULD say:Your Personality IsGuardian (SJ)You are sensible, down to earth, and goal oriented. People often check your pulse to see if you're still alive - unless you've had your triple espresso latte
..and he said Merry Christmas. Right. To Who? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 So Ali came home tonight with a new TV. Not just any TV an HD/LCD/Flat Screen/40"/Huge TV-asaurus. That's right. My husband made the executive decision to spend $2000 on a television "because they offered no interest till 2010 on new accounts so I only put $800 on the credit card, then $50 a month until it's paid off."Groan.And then he had the audacity to say "MerryChristmas
"...to ME.Right
, like he bought it for me. I could tell how sincere he was when he kept exclaiming "I can't wait to watch a game on this!" with childish delight as he was setting it up in THE BEDROOM.That's right folks - I now have a TV as bright as the sun in my bedroom. I don't anticipate sleeping any time soon. I don't anticiapte much of anything else either. Great. Merry Freaking Christmas.How can men be so, utterly and completely, clueless? Did he really think that he was getting a gift I would enjoy? Granted I do watch a few favorite TV shows and enjoy an occasional DVD. But HD? 40"?This is not-so-surpr
T.V. ... What T.V.? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I know I've said this before - but Ali is sooo cute!He's made a big production of not being "into" Christmas this year. He's been macho-macho man of late and it's been really annoying.He bought the T.V. and said "Merry Christmas" to me...you all have read how ticked off I was...But then...Last night I was looking in the bedroom closet for a messenger bag that I know I have "some where" when I happened upon what I thought was one of my hidden shopping bags gone "astray". I had already done most of my wrapping so I thought it was empty - and it wasn't. In fact, it wasn't even mine - it was Ali's. As I pulled the shopping bag toward me - I discovered what it was hiding. My dear sweet Macho husband has purchased a new kitty bed for Minou and he actually hid it in the closet so she wouldn't see it and ruin the surprise!Say it with me folks.. "awwwwww"Now it looks like I've got a mixer to return... :o)
almost 2 weeks... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 So, I guess the cosmic equivalent to shooting yourself in the foot is to delcair to do something more and whammo, you'll suddenly have just enough time to brush your teeth in the morning and rush out the door. Forget about a quick blog or two. Then when you're home it's cook dinner - eat dinner - do the dishes if you feel like it or set them out and hope the cat licks them clean - ready for bed - sleep fast and start all over.Not that it's all that dramatic. I'm just that lazy.What have we been up to over the last 12 days? Not much. I've been working. Ali's been working. Minou's been lazing about in the sparse rays of sunshine that squeeze through the living room drapes.Same-o Same-o.Big news on the Utah front. My cousin Sara had a baby. Her name is Lacey Katherine and she's absolutely beautiful. Sara J. and Frankie are beaming parents - Frankie of the male-grin variety - like he birthed a near 10lb human - kudos to Sara J!!!!My cousin (to some extent I am unaware of, maybe 3
A few short things cuz I have a cold and don't really feel like being blogtastic... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Just you watch - someone will try this with the Chicken Dance and we'll all be doomed!Oh the Joy of being unexpectedly joyful. I found this link in one of my commonly read blogs, joyunexpected.com so I thought I'd pass it along. It's wicked funny.Miracles come in the smallest packages. Next time you think your life is too hard, just think about how hard it has been for this little person, from day one.Oh Tom, you played well for nearly 3 years and fumbled in the final quarter. Read more:things
Germ Watch: Day Two 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Sick bed Originally uploaded by Misa Gracie. So this is where I spent all day yesterday and where I assume I'll be today. Maybe I'll switch it up and move to the bedroom - I know, I'm wild that way.I haven't been able to sleep much tonight - just can't get my nose to cooperate. If only it would decide which nostril it wants the cement stored in, then we'd be friends again - right now, we're not on the best terms.I just checked out the Nyquil box and discovered that it expired back in December (you wouldn't think this would make much of a difference, but I guess it does. I have the sleepless night to prove it = so I've switched to a combination of Theraflu and Halls.My tongue feels like it's been covered with used shag carpet from about 1973. mmmm**I am so bored I can't even imagine what I'm going to be doing today - I've already exhausted my pay-per-view and netflix resources. Maybe I'll see what's available on iTunes now...this flu is going to drive me bananana's.
In Case You Were Wondering... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 This is why I don't blog on Thursdays....if you want to join me tune in at 8:00pm on the CW... and don't forget to stick around for some of this......and I know it makes me a greedy, greedy girl because I have this snuggled up next to me...
Must've been a buck-twenty at the very least... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 So I'm driving to work this morning and the traffic seems to be much heavier than it usually is. I chalk this up to the fact that it snowed an inch or so last night and there are still some flurries floating around.It's school vacation week around these parts, so traffic hasn't been very bad all week and this little bit wasn't enough to make me complain.Then I saw the flashing lights of several emergency vehicles. I counted two fire trucks, an ambulance, 3 police cruisers, a truck from the power company and tow truck.Ruh-roh Shaggy, somethings not right!As I made my way through the debris and various emergency response officials standing around - I made mental note of what must have been one hell of an accident.To my surprise, it was a single vehicle (a Ford Explorer) of mass destruction.(annoying announcer voice)The Vehicle that Would Not Stop.(/annoying announcer voice)This VTWNS aparently was driving north on rte 145 from Winthrop to Revere. For some reason (maybe ice, maybe vod Read more:least
, twenty
You Can Blame Meg for This 1970-01-01 00:59:59 This is something that Meg put up on her MySpace - since I don't really update my page there very often, I put it here. It was kind of fun coming up with questions that I think everyone should know, but probably not very many do. Good Luck!Create your own Friend Quiz hereSPOILER ALERT: If you're intersted in taking the quiz above do not proceed until after. If you've already taken this and want to know more, join me on the flip side....So since I think that most people agree they want to know what the actual answers are, and this test site doesn't clue us in to this fact, I'm putting them here.1. I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. And the answer is yes.2. I have never been white water rafting thought I grew up a short distance from the great Colorado River.3. I will have 32 candles on my next cake and the fire marshal standing over my shoulder.4. I could sleep through a plane crash, but if I hear the ticking of a clock before I fall asleep, forget it - I might as well get up and Read more:Blame
Warning: Winthrop is a hot bed of germs! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Sunday Morning Originally uploaded by Misa Gracie. Stay Away! Beware!So I got a call from Jackie yesterday saying that she was unable to make our lunch date today because she was sick. She didn't want to get the rest of us sick - specially little Charlie.So, since I haven't seen her since Christmas I thought that it woluld be nice to pop in and bring a little cheer to her.uh-yeahI forgot about the whole "getting sick" bit and now I've got some sort of flu bug doing a jig in my sinus. Great thing it's a long weekend... Read more:hot bed
, Winthrop
Happy Valentines Day 1970-01-01 00:59:59 HappyValentines
Day Originally uploaded by Misa Gracie. Ali and I went to "The Coach Grill" in Wayland last night. It's a nice place and the food was fantastic. He had the Filet and I had the Salmon - both superb. The best part was that they brought this fresh baked french boule bread to the table. Warm and yummy!Ali wasn't able to finish his steak (after the Clams Atlantic appetizer which was enormous I can understand him being so full) and we asked if we could have it wrapped up - the nice waitress included a whole new loaf of bread with it. It was very kind of her.She also snapped this picture for us before we left - and if you look closely at my neck you'll see what Ali got me for Valentines day.He's so wonderful!!
Banana: The lost files 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Okay - I've deleted the video of Hannah and her funny little hair ritual to see if I can manage to edit the 6 second videos into one full video...We'll see how it goes. I'm not promising that this will be a quick process so thank you for your patience. Read more:files
OMG! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 What will the world do without her?...and how many people on "TrimSpa" will now realize that using medication - any medication - to lose weight leads to severe health issues. That, and being addicted to various prescription/illegal drugs is bad.I feel sorry for her poor baby - not even 6 months old and she's lost her only parent. Wonder if this will make that DNA test to determine paternity mandatory......it's sad.
Where did all these nerves come from? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 It's official, my mother-in-law is coming. I don't know exactly when - but it looks like it will be the first part of March. She'll be here for a few months. I'm nervous. I don't really know what she's expecting to find here. Ali and I have been married for 7 years and I've never really thought about what she would have wanted to find in her only sons wife. Every mother has expectations of the woman that marries her son. What could she be expecting?I know that our cultures are at odds - her being from a predominantly Muslim country where women don't typically work, men bring home the money and tell the women how to spend it. I don't think she would have pictured a 'career' woman as the right wife for her son.Ali tells me stories of how she and his sisters practically waited on him hand and foot - the spoiled brat actually asked them to bring him coffee and change the channel of the TV for him. When we got married we discussed the expectations we had for each other - he's k Read more:nerves
I've missed so much... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I don't know where the time has gone.I remember reading Love You Forever to Whisper as she cuddled in my lap. She had recently painted both her fingers, toes and the kitchen floor black with my nail polish. That's what you get for napping with a toddler in the house.I remember driving home from the hospital with a brand spankin' new Destany in the car seat in the back. It was snowy out and I actually pulled over to the side of the road so that traffic behind me could pass - I was driving about 10 mph and though I didn't want things to back up into Fresno, I wasn't going to risk going any faster. I remember holding a sleepy Alicia as we looked into the bassinett of her sleeping new little sister Hannah. Meg and I were there for Thanksgiving that year and got to meet our new niece in person. I was unsuccessful in my attempts to smuggle them both out in my suitcase. Maybe that was for the best though. The last time I saw them, Alicia looked at me and asked who I was. She didn't k
Just Call Me A Geek.. 1970-01-01 00:59:59 There is this little "trick" that I have seen and deeply envied on other blogs and webjournals. These bloggers were mystically and magically able to write with abandon, showing no fear of having an extremely heavy post on their page to frighten off new readers and weigh down former entries. They possessed a magic widgett that allowed readers to jump from a mere paragraph to the full blown text.WITHOUT ever leaving the page.They could play blogger "peek-a-boo" at will.I was jealous.Notice how I, so clever as I am, used the term WAS? That isn't a typo or wishful thinking. If you want to know how I got from Green with Envy to Tickled Pink...follow me to the flip side...It's pretty on this side isn't it? Yes it is, and I think the weather is warmer too!Anyway - on with my geekness...I found this wonderful miracle worker who posts custom widget fix-its for the new Blogger (formerly BloggerBETA)on his website and you can find him via gooleDOTcom at hackosphereDOTcom but I digress. I spent Read more:Geek
I used to write. 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Now I blog.Maybe they are the same to some, but not to me. I get carried away with all the blog extras. Links Galore. Pictures to Dazzle. Words, that's where I'm not so picky.So I thought, since it's snowing outside I would write about it. Question is, what's so interesting about snow? What is something that you haven't read before?I know! I'll enthrall you with a memory. Trudged up from the depths of the nearly forgotten. Snow. Hmmm. AhYes, I remember now. I learned a very valuable lesson while up to my ears in snow. I think I was 5 or 6 years old and my brother Greg and I, along with two neighbor children were building a secret snow fort. In reality not much more than a simple tunnel through a giant snow mound, but to us it was spectacular.The light had a blue tinge as it filtered in from the bright sky above. We had burrowed into the mound of snow near the front of my Grandmother's house. My older brother and I had been working, alongside our neighboring counterparts
A Scene from my life at 4:45pm 1970-01-01 00:59:59 “I thought you knew we were having trouble.”“I apologize for the trouble, but no one called to let me know about it.”“But why was there someone here?”“There wasn’t anyone there because I haven’t sent anyone over.”“I thought I saw someone hear earlier.”“The person you saw was there for something completely different. You would need a type of repair that he is not qualified for.”“Why didn’t you send someone to fix our problem then?”“Because I didn’t know about the trouble.”“Well, why didn’t you know?”“Because you never told me.”“Oh”The End
A bit touched.. 1970-01-01 00:59:59 That phrase could mean I'm a bit crazy - or I'm overly emotional - or some combination of the two... I'll let you decide.Right now I'm awestruck.There are celebrity bloggers like Rosie's Blog where you read their posts because you admire them or despise them - I'm not commenting on where you're coming from and why - just that you know the persons name because they are, in fact, a Hollywood celebrity.Then there are celebrity blogs like Go Fug Yourself or The Superficial where you read about the celebrities you love to hate and how they're vying for the spotlight because they are Hollywood celebrities.Then there are the true celebrity bloggers like Tales From My Tiny Kingdom or Joy Unexpected or Oh The Joys or..well there's too many to list..I have a few favorites that I've listed in my link list and they, in turn, have link lists that I use to get to other sites like Waiter Rant, Dad Gone Mad and Rocker Mom... These people are Blog Celebrities. They have readers all over the w
It's all Melina's fault.. 2007-03-02 22:50:00 that's what I said then - that's what I said now... So go ahead, check it out and then fill out your own version. It's an interesting angle on the same-ole-same-ole personality quiz. Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™ Read more:Melina
Just Desserts... 2007-03-01 19:26:00 (All characters in this story are purely fictional *cough* and any resemblance they may show to any actual, factual people is pure coincidence *cough*. The actions, events and sequence of events that comprise this story are completely fabricated *cough* and should they, in any way, resemble actions, events or sequences of events in any actual persons life, it is a mere coincidence *cough*. Thank you.)Meet Callandra and Marlene, they are sisters; they are not actual twins though. Callandra is the eldest, several years older than Marlene. They, however, spend way too much time together and are commonly referred to by as, The Twins. As such, that is how they will be represented in my, purely fictional, story *cough*.The Twins have these awkward standards for friendship. They treat their friends according to a complicated and largely unkown, caste system. If your net worth is greater than theirs – you are in the A Group. If your net worth is less than theirs BUT! you possess skills that
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