tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91592282024-03-07T05:01:57.309-05:00OCDGRLA mom just trying to survive parenting, home improvements, and other such disasters. Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.comBlogger239125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-21792375899464559132014-03-12T20:10:00.001-04:002014-03-12T20:10:13.357-04:00Master Bedroom Updates The addition is rolling right along. I can't believe how fast it goes. The bedroom looks amazing. The contractors are doing such beautiful work. I can't believe it's for me.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifF47ZMaVvlDl9gPhbDCSnvmf-TFRM-VG6FYpCnZ4Kjtac4H9TDtWuJmkUL4vDQlgs8kuF5HfaHiZiezujxvzRMqIvDNGXBM6UsJTcF832d3klqgkVfVHdB0i8HBbboWo4EbV9/s640/blogger-image-134189992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifF47ZMaVvlDl9gPhbDCSnvmf-TFRM-VG6FYpCnZ4Kjtac4H9TDtWuJmkUL4vDQlgs8kuF5HfaHiZiezujxvzRMqIvDNGXBM6UsJTcF832d3klqgkVfVHdB0i8HBbboWo4EbV9/s640/blogger-image-134189992.jpg"></a> You can see the oak floors and my gorgous windows. Can't wait to feel the sun on a spring day.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUzUYrPOyR93qBrIhlxhWwhibn18RXV1_IsAdzyN24R7qkfrXYE7siCkXQqx2iszWYlg40It58saDFKlcnZKHqYJ2_CYrAsi7rkMgx_66gjvlzH75T4KIcvv9y8o_kvwzOhmj/s640/blogger-image--465370196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUzUYrPOyR93qBrIhlxhWwhibn18RXV1_IsAdzyN24R7qkfrXYE7siCkXQqx2iszWYlg40It58saDFKlcnZKHqYJ2_CYrAsi7rkMgx_66gjvlzH75T4KIcvv9y8o_kvwzOhmj/s640/blogger-image--465370196.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A peek into the walk in closet and you can see where I'll put my chair and reading light.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabxTfKFrzLXiaf2WQHLm1qpHbGJyRY6Z4ugDVasNabOKebWq0-0jj6cxPl43TXzfGvyFLjVmLjMBCJBCDG3CMEE-F54hG0fdQIl4Sme4HxwECZm_tV7awwFARwj85zkQsJ6hu/s640/blogger-image-1645157554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabxTfKFrzLXiaf2WQHLm1qpHbGJyRY6Z4ugDVasNabOKebWq0-0jj6cxPl43TXzfGvyFLjVmLjMBCJBCDG3CMEE-F54hG0fdQIl4Sme4HxwECZm_tV7awwFARwj85zkQsJ6hu/s640/blogger-image-1645157554.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> Can't wait to move in! That will kick off painting and redecorating my daughters bedrooms, so maybe I can.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-57430271534929571122013-01-03T19:35:00.001-05:002013-01-03T19:35:37.925-05:00Gotcha!Happy 11th birthday and 9th gotcha day!<br />
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgMkfgnF1AVwvxz2I3I20mmQr7AXy9fLXyjqsKPvL9dOMgRVXj-P8FIaEcXo5_t8x8ZKopFg9zJxW35aTToE74Co0aQGOmrjAHHzXECSTE2_kSNlNG-QFkWn5XuRM40WUxjzH/s640/blogger-image--999648424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgMkfgnF1AVwvxz2I3I20mmQr7AXy9fLXyjqsKPvL9dOMgRVXj-P8FIaEcXo5_t8x8ZKopFg9zJxW35aTToE74Co0aQGOmrjAHHzXECSTE2_kSNlNG-QFkWn5XuRM40WUxjzH/s640/blogger-image--999648424.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNpVhGhFsdxBH2ePt1n8zJVSYmdkyzJzKBSQuSxv1HtSknXCIGOtslV-1x6Dq-qN9LaBL4syiXM1HEH8VsWmrx6H9RIaTf7nvGxExC0MrOTIJb88HFLcjKz_APHdbioRbhylO/s640/blogger-image-1930680276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNpVhGhFsdxBH2ePt1n8zJVSYmdkyzJzKBSQuSxv1HtSknXCIGOtslV-1x6Dq-qN9LaBL4syiXM1HEH8VsWmrx6H9RIaTf7nvGxExC0MrOTIJb88HFLcjKz_APHdbioRbhylO/s640/blogger-image-1930680276.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6b1OzxWwBsO7Icx2L3ri5NjRMfe3sMRHExbeZAB2FAAwNDmNEvHvVSd8JEyGnnV3we6qvS58yC_nTo3W8t-Y8Sz2HLMor38RFqx1PhiNWmHEmOH9b9qeoBEEsvFiTisIxcfqH/s640/blogger-image-265564925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6b1OzxWwBsO7Icx2L3ri5NjRMfe3sMRHExbeZAB2FAAwNDmNEvHvVSd8JEyGnnV3we6qvS58yC_nTo3W8t-Y8Sz2HLMor38RFqx1PhiNWmHEmOH9b9qeoBEEsvFiTisIxcfqH/s640/blogger-image-265564925.jpg" /></a></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-81861476095147743622013-01-02T21:41:00.000-05:002013-01-02T21:41:15.588-05:00Beginnings On the eve of Anna's birthday, I have to stop and think. What time. What time was she born? Think Dana, what time? 4:11 am. What kind of mom can't remember that? An adoptive mom who wasn't there. I have read the medical notes a million times. I have seen it on her birth certificate. I have even posted it in her life book. But I wasn't there and can't for the life of me remember what I was doing on January 3, 2002. It was before facebook and my blog, so I have no record, and it bothers me.
I can remember what I was doing January 2, 2004. Anna moved into to our house, on her 2nd birthday. Her birthday was her Gotcha! day only I didn't know it. I knew she was adorable, I knew her life was chaos, I knew she needed support, structure, love, and patience, but I didn't know we would go on to later be able to adopt her. I knew it was her birthday and we had presents, and cake, and were so excited. We bought her a hobby horse, clothes, a stuffed doggie, to name just a few things. I remember what she was wearing, what we ate for dinner. I remember that day.
She has grown so fast, 9 birthdays to be exact. I remember all of them and I look forward to each and everyone of them! Happy Birthday Doodlebug!
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-68779917469931972922012-12-30T23:22:00.000-05:002012-12-30T23:22:32.142-05:00Home Sweet Home I have been organizing photos lately in an attempt to get control of the ever growing amount of digital images in my life. In doing so, I have also come into possession of many family photos. Old photos I have never seen. Photos of my family, of my life, of my old home. Photos that tell a tale of who I am and where I come from.
One of my favorite photos, is this photo of the home I grew up in.
Houses are so much more than wood and glass, they help shelter, comfort, and shape you. I feel like my old house lead me to love old things. It was filled with them, and I loved that. It made me appreciate gardening and landscaping from the beauty that surrounded it. It lead me to want cozy rooms, not big open spaces. It taught me to want a space that a family could spread out and grow in. Indeed, it taught me about who I was and what I wanted.
I work hard to make sure my house is all these things. Security, warmth, and a place to help shape my children. With every project, improvement, and dream, I strive to make this home all that my old home was to me.
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-27774570192845756302012-01-10T21:12:00.002-05:002012-01-10T21:21:22.620-05:002012Hard to believe I haven't happened by my beloved blog since 2009! I guess life came at me fast? I miss this old blog, and by gosh, if life isn't going to end in an epic disaster this year, I need to bring back my blog!<br /> I'm looking forward to 2012. It's a Disney year, first and foremost! We owe Ava a trip because she has no memory of our previous 2 trips. One she wasn't alive for, and the last trip she was a baby. Thats exciting. I get to see MICKEY this year. <br /> Second, I think we are financially better off and can be closer to planning our addition. More square footage. How can you go wrong? An extra bedroom, living room, and bathroom. Just what we need to spread out a bit!<br /> Finally, with snow shoes and kayak at my disposal, it looks like some fun is in store for me! Time to get in touch with my hobbies, which as luck would have it get me out doors and doing activity. Can not wait!!!<br /><br /> Welcome 2012. Welcome back blog!Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-30928390804338843462009-02-22T19:10:00.002-05:002009-02-22T19:23:22.315-05:00Mid Winter Muck OutWhen I am heading back to school ( work) after a break, I like to look back at what I did so that I feel like I accomplished something. Breaks are not really vacations. Someone asked me recently how vacation was going. Vacation from what? While on break, I try to get all errands run and things in my life current and straightened out so I can go back to work full time. <br /> So,what did we do this week? No crickets chirping here this time, here is the skinny:<br /><br />Monday: free bowling at the local lanes, and a doc appt for Anna<br /><br />Tuesday: Mid Winter Muck Out. Yes, caps here, it's practically an event. Mid Winter Much Out is when you go through closets, get rid of things that don't fit, shoes that are blown out, and then you go into the attic, get the next size up bins and tack stock so that on April break, you can do the Spring Sweep. That is when you move out heavy sweaters and move in the lighter clothes. Got to be ready for that event ( and don't confuse these with the Fall Fling when you gear up for re-entry to school). I spent an enrire morning on this, and feel good that it's done.<br /><br />Wednesday- Shopping in Albany, lunch with Sandi and Aunt Lila<br /><br />Thursday-catch up day, actually did housework and laundry<br /><br />Friday-Snow tubing and car repair day. Was supposed to be an inspection, but something happened and many service lights came on, turns out I had a broken axel, and now I have a passed inspection and new axel ( minus 400.00 in the bank)<br /><br />Saturday-Fire and Ice in Inlet. Skated, sledded, and ate at the Screaming Eagle. Didn't want to leave my beloved ADKs. <br /><br />Sunday-Cleaned house, put away laundry, and shoveled newest foot of snow off the roof to get ready for the next foot of snow due tonight into tomorrow.<br /><br /><br />Maybe, just maybe we will get a delay......or dare I dream snow day????Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-27931775504270886902009-02-19T19:37:00.002-05:002009-02-19T19:52:31.527-05:00This is WhyI often marvel at the amount of overweight people in the US. Myself included. According to the chart, I am 26 lbs overweight. I agree, by the way, because the weight that I am always trying to get down to is 20 lbs from where I am. I am a size 12, and I am forever trying to get to a size 10 ( haven't seen 10 since 2004/2005 before I got pregnant with Ava) I start the year off on weight watchers, every stinking year. I lose my fall and holiday weight. I typically lose 10 lbs before summer. Summer hits and I don't have to do WW because I am swimming, biking, hiking, walking the dog, and generally getting the exercise I need. I feel good, and look OK, but never quite where I want to be. Fall hits, I lose time, sit at my desk all day in school, and put that 10 lbs back on. So here I am again, on WW. I really need to break the cycle, but restaurants and companies are not making it easy. Take for instance Friendly's. We ate at one yesterday in the Albany area. I SHOULD have looked online before we went, but I wasn't quite sure where we would end up eating. I TRIED to make a good decision and eat decent. I got home, looked up what I had ( a wrap, of all things, hold the fries, I had coleslaw that I nibbled on), and man did I make a BAD decision. The wrap, without the fries it would have come with, was 29 WW points. Thats 1090 calories and 80 grams of fat. I should have spooned crisco out of the can and eaten it and I likely would have fared better. I blew it! ( Good thing Sandi and her mom shared the salad, it was also over 1000 cal and almost 60 grams of fat). How? Why? I recently made the same astonshing discoveries when I looked at Red Lobster's menu. Thankfully I had a plan when I ate there ( and skipped those desserts.......80 grams of fat, that is like a 2 day supply).<br /> Today, Miranda made a no bake Jello dessert mix. She opted to put them into cup cake papers, instead of the pie dish. We got what we thought were 12 servings, and they were not skimpy, they filled the cup cake papers. According to the package, a serving is 2 of the cup cake papers filled with the dessert, for a total of 380 calories 17 grams of fat. Are you freaking kidding me? We each had 1, for about 190 cal and 8.5 grams of fat. ( that 4 WW points, instead of 8). How did serving sizes get so large? What the HELL is Jello thinking? Are they trying to clog my arteries and kill me early? It no wonder when I go the mall and people watch so many people are heavy. You have to take notice, check things out, read labels. It would be NICE if companies and restaurants would help out and get a little healthier for people, but in the meantime, I am taking things into my own hands. <br /> On the bright side of things, my heaviest weight I have only seen once, 2 sizes larger then where I am now, and I have NOT been that size since the new millenium, 1999. I only own size 12's as my fat wardrobe, and when things get tight, off to WW I go. I would like to get rid of the 12's so when the 10's get tight, off to WW I go.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-35058990924159346822009-02-16T08:12:00.002-05:002009-02-16T08:20:27.392-05:00A February BreakI really envy those of you going South. I am sick of winter this year. I haven't felt this way towards winter in years. Enough already. PErhaps it's just everything else going on in my life, and my lack of time to play outside in the snow this year?<br /> Anyhoo, a long deserved break is here! Hurray! School was crazy this past 2 weeks. Kids doing stupid things, parents and teachers overreacting, and not enough of me to go around. We all just needed to clear out and start fresh next week. It's always this way in Feb. Cabin fever I guess, that, and mid year grades will do it.<br /> This week, south is not in the cards, but east is! Free bowling today at ADK Lanes ( thank you community ed), tomorrow I have to do some things for my parents, east to Albany Wednesday, and the rest of the week is unplanned. We need to sled or ice skate, scrap book, and maybe just a day to watch movies all day. It's not plam trees and beach parties, but it will be just the thing!<br /> A nice start to my week too, I didn't cook for 3 nights! Friday we went to my parents to do some thigns and picked up dinner, Saturday was date night ( Red Lobster.....yum-o), and last night Brian made pizza, all I had to do was cook sausage and shred cheese. That was easy. Tonight? corned beef in the crock pot and salt potatoes. Just as easy. <br /><br /> I'm off to get ready to bowl with the girls.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-78765994799189143642009-02-08T07:44:00.002-05:002009-02-08T07:53:39.834-05:00The 840The new road, the connector, the 840, whatever you want to call it, it makes my life much easier. A few years back, the Utica area finally got a connecting highway, quite like the 690 around the Schenectady area. Get on, go fast, shoot out in another area of the city. Yesterday, after I got home from an intervention at my parents house ( a whole different post......later), I had to grab lunch, all 3 kids, drop Miranda off in CLark Mills for dance, hop on the 840, shoot off to Vally Gym in NH for a birthday party, drop that kid off, back on the 840 to retrieve daughter number one, we then had to hit a store for some errands, back on the 840, pick up middle daughter from party, and over to Washington Mills for gas, car wash, and dinner pick up at Piggy Pats ( what? You think I am cooking after the week I have had......whole different post. Week from Hell. God Bless Piggy's! Long live the Pig). I finally arrived at home at 5:30. I was just thinking how funny it is that my car is a "Cross Country" Wagon. That pretty much describes most of my weekends. <br /><br /> I do thank the 840, without which I would have gone crazy yesterday.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-3318264140537125202009-01-27T16:38:00.002-05:002009-01-27T16:55:29.078-05:00Snow Night and Day and Afternoon?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyRssRcY4GhoeyiZl2bHkZPh-JtkYX7wWhjlex5rAlRMGcAwEMX_BI3c_5yQose8ZfQGYk2Gi2rFut8vgHE0XSa-eBSmWS2b1xiRPBKUjuo4A7CrcqZ85G1JielYaYy_1o3Hh/s1600-h/Snowflake+Bentley.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyRssRcY4GhoeyiZl2bHkZPh-JtkYX7wWhjlex5rAlRMGcAwEMX_BI3c_5yQose8ZfQGYk2Gi2rFut8vgHE0XSa-eBSmWS2b1xiRPBKUjuo4A7CrcqZ85G1JielYaYy_1o3Hh/s320/Snowflake+Bentley.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296095482023468690" /></a><br /> Well, I think we are going to get between 8-12 inches of snow in my Northern town tonight and all day tomorrow. Should be a school cancelling event. Not that I want it this week, it's Regents week, our kids are in the middle of English Regents ( a 2 day event, it gets thrown out if there's a snow day, can't retake till June). Tonight, we'll head to the village library, because if we are home tomorrow and can't go anywhere, you better have a fresh stack of new books for yourself and kiddos. Our tradition on snow days is egg salad, stop drop and read, and an afternoon movie date complete with popcorn. Sometimes we scrap book too, and I know I have laundry I could do ( I do laundry 5 times a week). The last snow day we had, we made snowflakes in honor of Snowflake Bently's work and story, painted them with shiny white paint and strung them on yarn for a winter banner. There's no telling what fun we could get into tomorrow. So, here's to snow.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-20927473553493199222009-01-11T14:50:00.002-05:002009-01-11T15:03:05.038-05:00Self SufficientI was thinking today all the things my husband and I do that I am sure other pay people to do. We installed the new furnace ( ok, he installed it). We go pick up load of the corn for it instead of having pellets delievered. We fixed the dishwasher this morning armed with a useless users guide ( it said if there was a clog to call a plumber). We took it apart and snaked it out, ran some main line cleaner in it and voila! Fixed. We do all our snow removal and roof raking (I just came in from cleaning snow off all the roofs. This old victorian has lots of porches that are lovely in the summer, but in the winter, hold lots of snow on them). We fixed the fridge last year. I googled the make and found out it had a desgin flaw, too many sealed drawere, no air flow, the bottom half froze things. Pulled out on drawer, put in a suction cupped temp guide to moitor, and again, voila! Fixed for the cost of the temp guage. <br /> A couple of weeks ago I was chaperoning a basketball game at school. Some guy had a dead battery and had asked countless people if they had jumper cables. Nobody had them.......except me. I went out in the cold, got the cables, pulled up next to the guy and as his kid help up his cell phone for light, we jumped his car. Came back in and everyone was astonished that I could help. Hello.....isn't anyone self sufficient anymore? I asked what everyone did for dead batterys.....they all said they had AAA. Well, so do I for roadside rescue, but for batterys and tires, I can fix those. My VP said " oh that's right, you grew up on a farm." I would have expected the guys to have jumper cables. I mean, we live in the north country. It's pretty country out here. <br /> I am glad I am self sufficient and that I have some basic skills. The guy whom I helped jump his car, his son goes to my school. I think he thought I was some kind of super hero for being armed and knowing how to use them. I am going to pass my skills on to my daughters. Miranda already likes to help in the kitchen and they love to help Brian on projects. I want them familiar with power tools, car maintenance, and just be able to help themselves.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-45694570426375252362009-01-04T23:52:00.003-05:002009-01-05T00:04:44.447-05:00Groovin'Having fun in 2009 means keeping current on my tunes and being able to groove to my MP3 player. Charged her up tonight, grabbed the dog, and despite the fact that the mercury said 10 degrees, headed out into the northern NY night. The moon was a half cresent, many homes still a glow with their christmas lights, the air brisk. Daisy was excited to be out in the snow, plowing through with her nose and whiskers. I was excited to finally have time to myself, to smell the air, walk in the crispness, and listen to my music. No matter what the day delievered, an evening outing such as this puts me in a good mood.<br /> When I got home, I decided my tunes were stale, so I headed out to my friend JP's site to see ( hear) what was new, followed a link to some DJ's site, and had to have what he was offering! OH baby, it was love. LOVE. Why is it gay men have the best taste in music? Please don't think I am stereotyping, it just so happens that the men I know that are gay listen to really great tunes, and the straight men I know are stuck in 80's rock, or country. I got a mix of the new Beyonce song that I love. Made me very happy. I really need to go to bed, as I head back to work tomorrow, but I can't stop listening to this mix. " If you liked it you should have put a ring on it, oh oh oh........"Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-20512004751536293252009-01-01T09:24:00.003-05:002009-01-01T09:43:33.249-05:002009 Should be FineThank god it's a new year. I am so done with the last one. 2008 had it's ups and downs, but overall was not our best. Between Celiac Disease diag, the price of gas driving up the cost of everything,and aging parents, 2008 was kind of stressful. 2009, I am sure wil have it's fair share of stress, as my parents have decided to move from their current home into a smaller place near hear so we can help them out ( driving, cleaning, etc....). It's the right things to do, don't get me wrong, but it will entail painting and cleaning up their current home to sell, and then the actual finding of a new place and moving. So there's that in 2009, 2009 will also bring 20 year school reunions for both Brian and myself, a wedding ( Traci and Mark), and a community musical that Miranda and I are going to try out for. <br /> I'll take the good with the bad, and have decided to schedule in some fun for 2009 to help even things out. My resolution this year is simply to have more fun! No specifics, no rules, just play more, laugh more, get into more trouble. To start things off, we are going bowling today. We wanted to play in the snow, but it's far too cold today to take the girls out to tube or sled ( currently -5 here, not including wind chill). Tomorow the girls and I are taking a ride to Syracuse to get Anna's birthday present, that should be fun, and I am going to plan a ski night at Woods Valley for Brian and I this month ( I love night skiing, love it love it love it........). We'll get a sitter and go, just the two of us. We'll close the mountain! ( ok, it's really a big hill to me, but just the same......)<br /><br />Whatever your resolution is, it should include some fun. Life's short, embrace the day, celebrate the new year, it should be just fine.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-761367099624625182008-12-22T06:34:00.001-05:002008-12-22T06:37:51.389-05:00Naughty or Nice<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQNMvcb4aCS_vYDvqJgSPgCmaIOtIqkKEAdAYD7oPtusdEuYY7q2sUL6goGXSMmvriwceZPyGrN02z90RIhD9yfQvvOeNP1QMxixcZlYjtBhJPtpLAAB0RVWq8Q3YbO_l66q6/s1600-h/Nice.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQNMvcb4aCS_vYDvqJgSPgCmaIOtIqkKEAdAYD7oPtusdEuYY7q2sUL6goGXSMmvriwceZPyGrN02z90RIhD9yfQvvOeNP1QMxixcZlYjtBhJPtpLAAB0RVWq8Q3YbO_l66q6/s320/Nice.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282577247170393666" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLa8Xjm05IKDV69rF4dzImth1dMrOftYM896O6z_iuOc9c1htKgTGPbf6K4Nd0yYHYevCDMBJ8re1UOegaNqM_k8yckIxaEHUjbgSG1WujP-4UZ6qcuXLRs2mX8Cmtng9azm-8/s1600-h/Naughty.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLa8Xjm05IKDV69rF4dzImth1dMrOftYM896O6z_iuOc9c1htKgTGPbf6K4Nd0yYHYevCDMBJ8re1UOegaNqM_k8yckIxaEHUjbgSG1WujP-4UZ6qcuXLRs2mX8Cmtng9azm-8/s320/Naughty.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282577243531236322" /></a><br /> The countdown is on in our house. 3 days..........they can hardly wait!Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-4911875579989471912008-12-21T07:44:00.002-05:002008-12-21T07:50:11.556-05:00Precious Moments in My Life<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9Or1yn1RxVXbxp0AI-PnJ7IHC8kQKkqK_KZQPq-6I-aJQuZHrOe3ce6Gze2J8VyS6a3oJe_XsLW8MBUT5H2FpKyB9fQOn42VUuOKFDq9XgktiRBB8cpjlz61eeWNdh5r_1iC/s1600-h/Snow+Angels.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9Or1yn1RxVXbxp0AI-PnJ7IHC8kQKkqK_KZQPq-6I-aJQuZHrOe3ce6Gze2J8VyS6a3oJe_XsLW8MBUT5H2FpKyB9fQOn42VUuOKFDq9XgktiRBB8cpjlz61eeWNdh5r_1iC/s320/Snow+Angels.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282224782367010754" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMp66MTJTAJYkU4g-6bCllJp-m-zo-SxG06mwD6VjvJbf5wArAO1ICnhBwjukMszQOE_BnVhGaCIyxC7b07etbcrK1VqJCvMOXVSssmR0JiE6-WfBv7aWccqOEW9K7afICwc0-/s1600-h/Puppy+Love.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMp66MTJTAJYkU4g-6bCllJp-m-zo-SxG06mwD6VjvJbf5wArAO1ICnhBwjukMszQOE_BnVhGaCIyxC7b07etbcrK1VqJCvMOXVSssmR0JiE6-WfBv7aWccqOEW9K7afICwc0-/s320/Puppy+Love.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282224775115372482" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQgI6IBqvAGxVVHt9LcBO46Nhe_a9QhyGXrQhOXmhvYLBwZ03A4k9mXNEjRZhP_VyrBbDQ_juZl2baXV9WmoFUbPJ5hZtfGPa_DKiX_aYfZCuny6vUS6XSAFsZBOnLKlvwwMp/s1600-h/Polar+Express+2.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQgI6IBqvAGxVVHt9LcBO46Nhe_a9QhyGXrQhOXmhvYLBwZ03A4k9mXNEjRZhP_VyrBbDQ_juZl2baXV9WmoFUbPJ5hZtfGPa_DKiX_aYfZCuny6vUS6XSAFsZBOnLKlvwwMp/s320/Polar+Express+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282224774803259522" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iV3IDqAqB86d1wDhDQ4PS5ye5AzjQGqoCFYTNXG1sqq7_kC7S7cBn9aEQI4q8SkBTFxFlJl-qe-uAtjaqj7kY65i9xGFYAkYxbuo_g0d7z2ZsWwk3sGmNkInWI3T16a2ipyB/s1600-h/+Deck+the+Halls+3.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iV3IDqAqB86d1wDhDQ4PS5ye5AzjQGqoCFYTNXG1sqq7_kC7S7cBn9aEQI4q8SkBTFxFlJl-qe-uAtjaqj7kY65i9xGFYAkYxbuo_g0d7z2ZsWwk3sGmNkInWI3T16a2ipyB/s320/+Deck+the+Halls+3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282224773366315762" /></a><br /> I did finally clean off the digi cam. Everything from our trip to North Carolina in May, the the Erie Canal Village in July, Lake Delta in August, Halloween, Nutcracker, and everything in between. I thought my dad used to take a lot of photos, I put him to shame! So here are some of my favorites to enjoy.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-27709750502800988112008-12-21T07:30:00.002-05:002008-12-21T07:42:15.896-05:00A Little R & RI admit it, I probally won't rest or relax, but just a break from the usual: <em>Get everyone up and ready, eat breakfast, get dressed, race to drop 3 little girls, with all the right things like lunches, clarinets, shoes, sneakers and home work off at 3 different places just to be to work by 7:30, race throught the work day sometimes without stopping for lunch or water, just to race home, get them off the bus, do home work, race to get them to activities, home at night, bathed and ready to do it all again </em>will be lovely. I needed a break. Kids at school have also reached pivital moment of mid year panic with grades as well as drama.<br /><br /> So far, I have done nothing big, but it has been lovely. Friday night, because I didn't have to race around, I cleaned 150 photos off digi cam, edited them, uploaded to snapfish, and got the right shots together for the annual calendar I make my parents. It was a huge undertaking, because of course you know me, I edit the photos to perfection. I am not so sure being able to preview photos is good if you are OCD, or is the editing features. I made 3 bathces of fidge too.<br /><br /> Saturday, again, a lovely day. Completed house work, made cookies, and went to my neighbor's house for an open house/make up show without kids ( she sells all natural health and beauty products.......I purchased a few things. I have been wanting to go all natural, wasn't sure which line to try and then I get invited to her party. Perfect!) Brian took the girls Christmas shooping, so I went out to get groceries all by myself! That alone was a gift. I made 3 different stops, accomplished everything on my list, and because he took them to dinner at Friendly's I had the night off in the kitchen. Woo Hoo!<br /><br /> Just these couple little things, and time to have accomplished a few things have made a major difference in my mood. Tomorrow, we are busting Kayanna out of the babysitters and going sledding and then to the mall ( am I crazy) to let her pick out a birthday gift. Looking forward to it!<br /><br />Embrace the day, enjoy the time off if you have it. Savor the little things no matter what.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-59298233021878290692008-12-01T23:27:00.002-05:002008-12-01T23:32:31.367-05:00Nutcracker 2008<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzpLmkXdLEXX5R9xr_YvVS_g__uL9esK9jTuw2SX-zRAVoJm-sllmslsZMP-DWUCt7WyUJe5xaPYP-vZshEUJe5PUeXbaocd_n5TZDL4P3HXYOnXKOjol3UWTIk-edKp7zD9j/s1600-h/Sugar+Plum+Tea.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzpLmkXdLEXX5R9xr_YvVS_g__uL9esK9jTuw2SX-zRAVoJm-sllmslsZMP-DWUCt7WyUJe5xaPYP-vZshEUJe5PUeXbaocd_n5TZDL4P3HXYOnXKOjol3UWTIk-edKp7zD9j/s320/Sugar+Plum+Tea.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275045945144477458" /></a><br /> The week Miranda has been waiting for has arrived, 4 performances of Nutcracker this week, along with rehearsal every night at the Stanley. She has worked hard since August in her role as Soldier this year. It's good action I tell you, and she already has her sights set on various roles for NEXT year. Can you stand her? I was outgoing, but she is driven!<br /> They already had a fundraiser Tea Party a few weekends ago, and she was asked to be in it. Here she is the soldier all the way over on the right. Looking forward to going to "dinnner and a show" this weekend to see her. If I haven't already said so 50 million times, I am both in awe of her, and proud of her. Ten-hut, my Soldier girl, break a leg.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-75381901074128564312008-11-15T08:06:00.002-05:002008-11-15T08:18:26.786-05:00Ice Ice BabyI was watching the Today show this AM, and saw a piece about the Arctic ice caps melting. Since 2006, a chunk of the ice cap the size equivelent of California has melted away. I don't understand how people don't get it? Why haven't more people sprang into action? I don't even really like science, but I can understand and see the impact. <br /> I continue on my quest daily to see what we can do differently. I have turned into the mad recycler, making sure there is nothing in our trash that is recyclable. I am not yet composting, that will have to wait till Brian builds me a bin out of scrap materials in his shop ( why would I build it out of anything else?), in the spring, but we are 100% on board with everything else. This week, on trash night, I assessed the garbage impact on our street. I have 5 people in my family, and I am proud to say we put out one wheelie cart of trash. 2 bags. We rock!<br /> My kWh fascination has gone to the next level. I check it daily. We are 15 days into the billing cycle, half way, and we used only 300 kWh so far this month. Last year, at this time, we turned in 1395 kWh for the month of November, I know we can beat that. LAST month, my all time low of 932 kWh......I mey beat that as well. Take that National Grid! We unhooked the dusk to dawn timer on that huge Mercury yard light. We put it on a switch for now, as I really DON't need my yard flooded with light, there is a street light at the end of my driveway. I taking it down all together in the Spring, as it is as ugly as anything that came out of the 70's and replacing it will two solar powered copper old fashioned looking lanterns on each side of the carriage house door. More more asthetic, and it will look tiemly with my 1850's carriage house. Good looking, and good for the environment and my electric bill. Ugly Betty Mercury.....your time has come.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-69653032845033052152008-11-08T07:05:00.002-05:002008-11-08T07:12:28.437-05:00Carbon NeutralI'm reading "Green Living for Dummies" ( can you stand it?) to try and see what else I can do to be better to the earth, to live in a less toxic home, and teach my daughters to use resources wisely. I am so relieved to find that I am carbon neutral. When we fired up the furnace, in the back of my mind I knew and understood that we are putting carbon back into the air as the smoke dissipates. I felt kind of bad about it. On one hand, it's not oil, but we're making more carbon. I was so happy and relieved that if you use biomass that gets replanted, the replanted biomass ( corn) used up carbon as it grows, negating what it burns off later. Carbon neutral. What a beautiful thing! Now I feel 100% good about what we are doing. I was sad to read only 3% of people in the US are heating with biomass. We still have a long way to come.<br /><br /> I'm energized by the election and am happy that he will support more than just "Drill baby drill". He will show us leadership away from the big biz that is oil. Thank god! AND after just one month of being really focused on my electric bill I just turned in the lowest kWh useage in 12 months. All I did was unplug stuff that used phantom power. It was that easy. I'm looking at more things we can do to conserve electricity now that my numbers went below 1000 kWh per month. <br /><br /> I'm off to drink my fair traded organic coffee made with a reuseable filter. Top of the morning to you........go GREEN!Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-27565659749030833852008-11-02T08:18:00.002-05:002008-11-02T08:30:15.967-05:00Living with Dana<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRbow8mZ-ps834QDYdNJqqOicuKVuHngI-UWFx6pWqULvCNFlwFuXVyiv8E4g3TKq1qjbI7IO9Ba5teo9Pr4x57edmMvwAXL1raGUQuk61S5MMfQvlMISupmHCA7C6MaMz43U/s1600-h/furnacestove.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 95px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRbow8mZ-ps834QDYdNJqqOicuKVuHngI-UWFx6pWqULvCNFlwFuXVyiv8E4g3TKq1qjbI7IO9Ba5teo9Pr4x57edmMvwAXL1raGUQuk61S5MMfQvlMISupmHCA7C6MaMz43U/s320/furnacestove.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264051827759331058" /></a><br /> I have been watching Life with Ed on the Green channel ( Discovery). My husband thinks I'm nuts I watch it so much, but I am interested in all the new technology and innovations there are out there to live gree, use less energy, and make a healthier home. I am all about this. Funny, my ancestors lived off the grid, drank from a drilled well, and made their own everything. Funny to me that it is the "trend" now. Whatever it is, I am glad to see people embracing it.<br /> I am feeling warmed now by our biomass furnace that went online yesterday. Brian has been working on instillation for the past month, ordering the parts, and getting it hooked up. We could have hired someone, but he insisted he could do it. Well, have at it. Do it he indeed did! He fired it up yesterday, adn I have forced hot air heat coming through my duct work powered by corn. The other good part, besides that fact that we did what we said we would do with our stimilus money and "got off oil" ( 600 gallons of oil per year no longer needed), is that my corn is from a local farmer in Cassville that dries and bags it for heating use. We supported local agriculture. Awesome! Took money from the disgusting oil companies reporting record revenue, and lined the pocket of a small family farm 30 min from my house. That is beautiful to me. No big bas guzzling trucks needed to bring the oil to my house 10 times a year either. We make "corn runs" with Brian's truck when we are going out that way naturally ( it's on the way to my folks house).<br /> This is just the first thing we are doing to be greener, and to use renewable forms of energy. We'd like to research solar and find ways to use it, replace our hot water tank with solar or on demand hot water, etc.....<br /><br /> I know I"m just one person trying to make a difference, but I will. "Never doubt that a small dedicated group of people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.<br /><br />Here is what we installed and are currently running, the Fahrenheit Endurance 50F Biomass Furnace/Stove.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-5522220195125082562008-10-10T07:38:00.002-04:002008-10-10T07:49:16.374-04:00I Hate Celiac DiseaseI wish I still had my "Hate Book" going, god, remember those things? What a great place to vent. I was reminded of mine yesterday when working with a girl at my school. Her and her BFF have a note book they pass back and forth. In this age of high tech, it made me smile to see something so simple alive and well.<br /> I wish I had my hate book because I would fill it daily with all thereasons I hate Celiac Disease. I hate it. I'm not even the one who has it and I hate it. I just realized this week that Ava can't play with Play Doh anymore, it's "secret ingredient" according to Hasbro is of course flour. I knew that, but wasn't thinking about it till Ava kept getting sick and I couldn't figure out what was glutening her. Freaking Play Doh! I had to order really expensive gluten free play doh to stock preschool with and a mat for her to play on so her safe play doh doesn't touch the poision play doh. Poision. That is what it is to her. Damages her insides, turnes her behaviorly into a monster. I can't believe what it does to her. Never in a million years would I imagine food could do this to a person.<br /> I hate that she will never be able to go get a "slice and a soda" after school when she is a teen. Our sports teams always do spaghetti dinners in the fall. It's a tradition at my school. If she is playing field hockey or soccer, something so fun and simple, will be a pain in the ass for her. I hate that we can't go to the Applebee's fund raiser this sunday for the girls cross country team. A simple pancake breakfast. Nope, not happening. I hate that we can't go out to eat, or grab something in a hurry. Everything has to be planned in advance. I can't run out of gluten free food, cause there's not much available locally. I hate that slumber parties will be different for her. I hate that when it's cupcake days at school for kids birthdays, she will have to bring her own. That sucks. Big time. I hate that she won't be able to buy lunch at school. There is hardly anything there she can safely have. And college. That's something I think about. The dinning hall. <br /><br /> Mostly I hate all the normal things she can't participate in. I hate that her risk of certain GI related cancers is very high for her. Gluten destroys villi and healthy stomach homeostasis, cheating on the diet is not an option for her. Keeping on it 100% of the time is really tiring. <br /><br />I hate it. I know it could be worse, but I still hate it. I told you I could fill a book.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-34169792325690129542008-10-04T05:28:00.003-04:002008-10-04T05:38:36.442-04:00I'm Aware Allright!Welcome October, my favorite month! Halloween Month! A day off this month for Columbus Day ( as screwed up as the history is)! Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Typically, I donate to our school fund raising for BCA month, and that's about it. This year, I feel I have kicked up my own personal awareness to a level I never really needed. I had my first baseline mammo. in September, just like I said I would. Sure enough, I get called back for more "views" they like to call it. Views my ass! Flattening the boob in question ( my left) to even flatter dimensions is now what I call a view. They told me they would take more photos and then see if I needed an ultra sound. Turns out there was a mass they could see in the original photos. They thought at first it was a lymph node. Who knew your breasts had those? Not me, but no surprises there, I never paid attention in science class. The extra photos get looked at, not a node. It's off to ultra soound. Again, who knew they would ultra sound my boob, I asked the tech. To which she replied "Who knew I would ultra sound boobs all day?" The Doc that read the images said likely just a cyst. They measured it and I have to go back in a few months to "follow up" I think that's code for more "views."<br /><br /> All in all, I was pretty calm. I surprised myself. I will not freak out over this, and I will diligently follow up. All in all the prodding, flattening, and "viewing" of my boobs didn't bother me too much. I like my boobs, always have, they are a feature of mine that I am at peace with. Perfect "C" cup ( after babies, used to be a "b"), not too flabby, still not saggy. I hope medicine never has to mess with them, and I have vowed to get them mammoed every year from now on. <br /><br />Happy Breast Cancer Awareness Month, from my boobs to yours.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-20777910465678861692008-09-27T06:26:00.003-04:002008-09-27T06:38:05.098-04:00Fall Weekend<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-Afe-n3j_Z72aDlCK_2nGNcvFkxzMRnFBertvaC9FReBlKwd3gKsKCEI_b-7BYC9NW1QHqD240qMMmb-uWeKWIHvvKkDbL_cYDJj8MK-33Z9qbzzLvBbjWdSvThXX9izLADN/s1600-h/remson2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-Afe-n3j_Z72aDlCK_2nGNcvFkxzMRnFBertvaC9FReBlKwd3gKsKCEI_b-7BYC9NW1QHqD240qMMmb-uWeKWIHvvKkDbL_cYDJj8MK-33Z9qbzzLvBbjWdSvThXX9izLADN/s320/remson2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250648191929992130" /></a><br /> It's is Barnfest weekend in my neck of the woods. We look forward to this old fashioned street craft fair each year in the Fall. It's kind of a tradition. It means you survived back to school and can embrace everything that is fall, Autumn, my favorite season. Autumn is stunning up here in the north country, I always feel sorry for people that don't live where the colors change. ADK girl through and through here. <br /> In addition to Barnfest, we have the typical 100 things going on. Anna has a soccer game, Miranda has both ballet and Nutcracker rehearsal, and Ava turns three this weekend. Go three. Three is not two. That has to be good. Need to make gluten free "Backyardigans" cake, and frosting, and of course do the usual weekend chores ( Saturday AM and I already have done 3 loads of laundry and got my groceries. I marvel at myself). Need to plan Girl Scout meeting this weekend, and an ice cream social for 200 kids ( school club that I advise is having a social for Freshmen, again, marveling at myself. How do I do all this?) Also need to clean the house for the family that is coming over. Just a typical fall weekend in my life.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-48147099330638866652008-09-17T10:15:00.002-04:002008-09-17T10:30:39.482-04:00Recently, in My WorldWow, you can tell school started up, as my posts have screeched to a halt. Well, I am home today with a sick kid. Ava was the first to succomb to the rampent germs of school. Poor thing. Fever, cough like a seal barking, stuffed up nose, the works. She was all wheezy in the middle of the night, so I wrapped her up and took her outside to get some cool, moist night air. She was able to get a few hours sleep after I did that and propped her up on the couch. It figures, though. Today I took half day off, and was leaving work at 11 to go have my mammogram done ( we get 1/2 day per school year to use for cancer screenings, isn't that awesome?). That would have given me some alone time at home before my appointment. Now, I am hoping Brian can get home early so I can still go.<br /> I did follow up on all my doctor appoints, and so far, everything checked out fine. My BP is 109/60 ( go me), my cholesterol is 146 ( sexy, ha?), and all my labs were normal. I had my yearly girly screen ( way overdue, a relief that that checked out), and since my monthly visitor is only about 2-3 times a year now, I had an ultrasound just to make sure it's due to peri-meno and not anything else. It's not, so I guess I am going out of business. I'm ok with that. I am 37, I am done birthing babies, so hasta la vista baby! ( I work with a woman who is 50 and still not, I think she's jealous). I have decided against any kind of hormone replacament, opted for a natural supplement, and will just ride it out naturally. Not a fan of pharmaceuticals, especially HRT's.<br /> In other health updates, day 43 of no flour and no sugar, and man oh man do I feel awesome! I am energized, my skin and hair are fabulous, and I really did need fabulous. I have lost 10 pounds rahter painlessly. All cravings have stopped and I am able to stick with my healthy eating plan. It's great not to be distracted by food. Incredible. I have stuck with my daily laps at school during the day and that goes a long way towards mental health and well being. I come home feeling like I have actually had a break, and am ready to hit my second shift of being a mom in a good mood. Which is the way it should be. My kids should get the best of me, not the worst. They deserve me to be strong and happy for them. <br /><br /> All in all, busy as everything is, we are off to a great start to the school year. This weekend, the "Farenheit Biomass Furnace" is up for installation! Our plans to be greener and get off oil as a heating fuel are on track!!!!!Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9159228.post-4498000978098587632008-09-08T05:39:00.002-04:002008-09-08T05:49:14.549-04:00My Kind of Weekend!I had one of those magic weekends where I accomplished everything on my list, plus had some fun! We went out to dinner Friday night, as is our tradition, first Friday after back to school. Kind of a sign we all survived! Friendly's is out as a restaurant choice, what a gluter nightmare that is, so it was off to our new fav, Piggy Pats <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBl3NTVv6tqTPbvrgEVa933OYCo6k97EmMq6RBctt3UNjrZ62Jps1R8NCOR6XdvikTsmMQYxhcqpUehEXvBNS6CbADiwEAQkz_J1qx2IMRhlT4PdwWLSBhQlO_eyl6PYl4wfi/s1600-h/Piggy.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBl3NTVv6tqTPbvrgEVa933OYCo6k97EmMq6RBctt3UNjrZ62Jps1R8NCOR6XdvikTsmMQYxhcqpUehEXvBNS6CbADiwEAQkz_J1qx2IMRhlT4PdwWLSBhQlO_eyl6PYl4wfi/s320/Piggy.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243584242010764066" /></a><br /><br /> Saturday, we had a cord of wood deliverd for our fireplace, so we made an assembly line and moved it into the backroom. Love that smell of it! I also did all my housework, scrap booked with the girls ( 3 pages), made spaghetti sauce, granola, and blondies. <br /><br /> Sunday, I finished 2 loads of laundry, put it away, went on a hike with the girls on the greenbelt trails, finished painting the pantry, helped close the pool, made lasagna, and even had time to polish my nails.<br /><br /> This week, however, activities start for the girls, soccer and ballet, so it's my last weekend of freedom. I did enjoy it!Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10162814346800254235noreply@blogger.com0