Ya know how there are always people trying to tell us what to do?

... like for instance, there's now a group of bureaucrats that want to regulate portion sizes that are served to us in restaurants... like it's the restaurants' and fast food places' fault that we are increasingly becoming an increasingly fat society!!!

Well this young man found a solution. Check out The Monkey Chow Diaries. Perhaps government regulated 'People Chow' is not far behind, eh? (Sorry about his logo... I learned that's a no-no a while back while 'talking' to a bad driver!)

Well, here goes... 3 times and out!

There is a job I WILL do...

..probably (hopefully) when our Michigan days once again become shorter and grow colder. I will scan whatever oldest photos we were able to preserve after the flood of 1986 when the whole lower level of our home had 5 and a half feet of river in it.

Yesterday I read a quicky blurb in the newspaper about Dr. Volk's boat that he shared with patients and hospital staff until around 1971. It was actually a semi-v hulled houseboat although the newspaper referred to it as a pontoon. There is a difference.

This morning I put a load of laundry in the washing machine and then started looking for our old houseboat. Yes, we bought his old boat when we got tired of camping in a tent full of sand every summer. I found an old album with photos around the boat and during that timeframe but this photo was the best I could find to show the boat. Wasn't much into photographing back then and the husband was in his slide photo presentation phase. Alas! Slides didn't hold up as well as prints in the flood of '86!

Also found this sketch I drew of Frank as he was at the helm of our houseboat one day. It was one of our longer cruises and that's the only reason I was able to draw it. He was 'bound to the wheel' for an extended period of time... and even though he tried to get me to stop I was able to finish the drawing. Handsome fellow, wasn't he?

Anyway... a couple of hours later this morning... I remembered the laundry. It was going anywhere so I pulled it out of the washer and finally got half of the stuff into the dryer. It will be done eventually. I'm supposed to stay off my healing foot once in awhile anyway, right?

Speaking of broken bones, I actually answered OttO's Monday Madness today... and here it is:

1. I have broken five bones in my lifetime. (2 hairline fractures -both wrists - when I was just a very young mom with six small children and two ankles and a bone at the end of my little toe - all on the right foot - March of this year and still recovering.)
2. I have had to get zero I think stitches except for some stitches after birthing my first child.
3. The worst I've ever injured myself was when I broke my foot this year.
4. I've had to go to the Emergency room at least two timesfor myself but many many times with my kids.
5. On a scale of 1 (being the highest) to 10 (being the lowest), my pain tolerance is a 8 or 9 probably.

I'm Number TWO!!!... at...

...Monday Madness, May 15, 2006
Fill in the blanks...

1. If I could change ONE thing from this past weekend, it would be the weather... although sun DID shine part of the time.

2. One of my favorite recipes includes garlic... matter of fact MOST of my favorites have garlic in the recipes.

3. If things don't go as originally planned, I tend to wing it.

4. My daily routine is very eclectic.

5. The one television show I will probably miss, since the season is coming to an end, is Desperate Housewives.

6. I have a calendar hanging/sitting on my desk.

7. I'm really not very prompt about changing the calendar when the day/month changes.

Broken Foot Update...

...It takes two feet to drive a 'stick-shift' vehicle. I can drive my Ranger again! Doctor Mayne says my ankles and foot are healing well. I don't need to wear the boot around the house anymore but should still wear it when I'm out and about - walking in the great outdoors. Why? the foot will continue healing for another month yet... and I need to be very careful until then.

Today I drove into town to attend a little 'ice cream social' and 45th birthday celebration for my favorite Michigan legislator - Representative John Moolenaar. He has been my hero ever since he read my letter about an unfair situation that disrupted our family for a whole year during 2003. The situation concluded quickly once he knew about it.

This was the first time I've driven in two months and couldn't have been for a better cause.

Monday already?

Finally! I think the boot goes today. Haven't been able to drive myself anywhere for over 7 weeks now... pretty bad for somebody as impatient as I.

Even though she doesn't have much time for blogging, OttO still manages to offer us a bit of Monday Madness every week. Thank you, girl!! ...and a note for her fans... the remodeling project is almost done... and it's looking GREAT!

1. List three words that describe YOU. wise, persistent, independent

2. List three words that describe YOUR HOME. big, comfortable, paid for

3. List three words that describe YOUR TOWN. small, friendly, growing

4. List three words that describe YOUR STATE. lakes, farms, four seasons

Sleepy Time Girl...

...a very old song! I've been able to awaken by 8:00 am without an alarm clock for several years... because I don't want to 'sleep my life away.' During the last year I've actually been waking up even earlier most days - anywhere from 6:30 to 7:30 - so I really no longer worry about wasting the day sleeping. (It's a generational thing... or maybe family... or maybe both.)

This morning I woke up - put on my glasses so I could read the clock - and was shocked!!! It was 9:20 am! Unbelievable! I have a particular task to accomplish today and didn't want to waste any time whatsoever!

What happened? I don't know... all I do know is that my body seems to usually get what it needs - even if I'm not consciously taking care of myself. I think it really needed that good, long, deep sleep! I do remember spending time with Frank - in some sort of 'every day' situation - even though I can't for the life of me remember details! All I know is we discussed something.

The Walleye Festival/Community Rummage Sale was a smashing success! It was a first for yours truly... who always left town for the event in past years. I actually had a rummage sale! I actually enjoyed it... the variety of shoppers... doing something as part of the community... the camaradery with two daughters and a granddaughter working with me... and most of all..... people actually paid for stuff I didn't want anymore!!! I think it will happen again.

Speaking of sleep... Monday Madness had a couple of sleep-related items this week. It's a 'fill in the blanks' one, lots of fun... and easy! Thank you my lovely daughter, OttO. Here are my answers:

1. Sleeping in for me means sleeping until 10:00 am or later.

2. Staying up late means I don't go to bed until after midnight.

3. I probably spend more time playing Spider Solitaire than I would like should.

4. And I don't spend nearly enough time playing outdoors.

5. I have zero tolerance for people who think they know what is best for me better than I do... be they government, non-governmental organizations, or individuals.

6. I have a lot of patience when it comes to loved ones, creating websites, remodeling and redecorating my home.