Our neighborhood is pretty small. Mostly retired people who have lived in the same house for many years.
House #5 went up for sale yesterday. Yikes! We have lived here 5 years and Sharen & Dup 9 years in their house and this is the most houses for sale in all the years combined.
2 of the houses are retired people who have houses elsewhere and realized the cost of two homes is too much.
1 more is a man and his kids (lost his wife to cancer 2 yrs ago) and his job transferred him to Seattle. This house is only 2 doors down. The Realtors brought all kinds of furniture in yesterday for the staging. The house has really cute curb appeal. I got nosy and peeked in the windows when the sign went up to check out the staging inside. I think that would be a cool job!
I don't know about the other 2, but I pray that it's voluntary and not foreclosures.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
For Sale * Pet Included
Mike and I decided to sell the "Little Red Truck".
After Mike got it out from under the tarp he went about getting it cleaned up. That bugger started right up after sitting out all winter. It will be very sad to see it go.
Mike opens the glove box and finds a little surprise. Someone has built a nest. We think it probably was a mouse.
Thanks God the nest was empty and that was the only one found. The fella must of been drawn to all the paperwork that was stored in there. He seemed to chew enough of it.
After Mike got it out from under the tarp he went about getting it cleaned up. That bugger started right up after sitting out all winter. It will be very sad to see it go.
Mike opens the glove box and finds a little surprise. Someone has built a nest. We think it probably was a mouse.
Thanks God the nest was empty and that was the only one found. The fella must of been drawn to all the paperwork that was stored in there. He seemed to chew enough of it.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Some Days You Gotta Dance
I enjoy watching American Idol. Last week on disco week I was very excited to see the "old" disco singers. I got up off the couch and YES I started to dance around. (They don't call me the Dancing Queen for nothin). Mike walks in and caught me. I jumped about a foot and screamed. It's nice to know that if a burglar ever broke in I would be one of those who could scream.
So when the radio station was talking about American Idol, 2 days later, and started bashing the singers I got pissed. Come On People - It wasn't about Frieda Payne or KC getting old and singing off key it was about where you were when you first heard their songs and where that song put you back too. Do a little dance! Make a little Love! Get down tonight!
I was back in the Disco in West Dundee with the lighted floor wishing I was in the cage (Yes they had cages) dancing in my platform shoes and hip hugging bell bottoms not caring who was watching.
So when the radio station was talking about American Idol, 2 days later, and started bashing the singers I got pissed. Come On People - It wasn't about Frieda Payne or KC getting old and singing off key it was about where you were when you first heard their songs and where that song put you back too. Do a little dance! Make a little Love! Get down tonight!
I was back in the Disco in West Dundee with the lighted floor wishing I was in the cage (Yes they had cages) dancing in my platform shoes and hip hugging bell bottoms not caring who was watching.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Dead Deer
When Carrie and Matthew and I were in the lots behind the house digging up some more flowers we ran across a deer carcass. I mentioned to Carrie that the grandboys would love that.
Well Stacy and Dylan stopped by on the way home from the eye doctor (Dylan is getting glasses) the other night and I took Dylan back there to share our find. I was right he was fascinated with the skeleton. I took my camera and he had Stacy's.
Seems I wasn't getting close enough to get the full effect.
Here's my picture.
And here is a picture of Dylan showing me how I'm supposed to take the picture.
Well Stacy and Dylan stopped by on the way home from the eye doctor (Dylan is getting glasses) the other night and I took Dylan back there to share our find. I was right he was fascinated with the skeleton. I took my camera and he had Stacy's.
Seems I wasn't getting close enough to get the full effect.
Here's my picture.
And here is a picture of Dylan showing me how I'm supposed to take the picture.
Monday, April 20, 2009
No Longer Working
How do you say it?
I was fired, No - I got laid off, No - I got let go, No - My employment was terminated, No - The correct way to put it is according to my "letter of separation" is - I was involuntarily separated from the Company.
That happen to me on Thursday of last week. Friday is my day off, so today was my first official day of no longer working after 20 years there.
I don't know how a person is supposed to feel, but I'm good. I feel bad for the people who are still there. There was 26 people let go last week and come this morning the work was still there for someone else to do. A friend called me around 11:30 and said the place is like a tomb and NObody wants to be there. I know how that feels from the last layoffs and I feel bad for them. I loved working for the newspaper and Advertising especially. The paper is in trouble and that makes me very sad.
I left there with hugs from my Sales Reps and farewell e-mails from people from other papers that had heard the news. I felt the love and it felt good.
I don't have it in me to hold grudges or sabotage the work left, but I did check the voice mail this morning and my voice was still on my phone. I gave the stupid horses ass my passwords and everything and of course he did nothing.
So as a final farewell I went in and wiped out all the greetings for my phone and the Departments phones. I put them on there and it only seemed fitting that I be the one to take them off right? Then I turned around and changed the password that I gave him. It will take him weeks to figure out how to get into the phone system and then another week to add a greeting.
I was fired, No - I got laid off, No - I got let go, No - My employment was terminated, No - The correct way to put it is according to my "letter of separation" is - I was involuntarily separated from the Company.
That happen to me on Thursday of last week. Friday is my day off, so today was my first official day of no longer working after 20 years there.
I don't know how a person is supposed to feel, but I'm good. I feel bad for the people who are still there. There was 26 people let go last week and come this morning the work was still there for someone else to do. A friend called me around 11:30 and said the place is like a tomb and NObody wants to be there. I know how that feels from the last layoffs and I feel bad for them. I loved working for the newspaper and Advertising especially. The paper is in trouble and that makes me very sad.
I left there with hugs from my Sales Reps and farewell e-mails from people from other papers that had heard the news. I felt the love and it felt good.
I don't have it in me to hold grudges or sabotage the work left, but I did check the voice mail this morning and my voice was still on my phone. I gave the stupid horses ass my passwords and everything and of course he did nothing.
So as a final farewell I went in and wiped out all the greetings for my phone and the Departments phones. I put them on there and it only seemed fitting that I be the one to take them off right? Then I turned around and changed the password that I gave him. It will take him weeks to figure out how to get into the phone system and then another week to add a greeting.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Teaching the Teacher
Bryan and Mary came out for the weekend. I was glad for the distraction. I didn't have time to feel sorry for myself or time to think about what my immediate future might be. I also tempted them with a crock pot bacon wrapped pork loin dinner. I called Brian and he is not one to turn down a crock pot dinner, so he joined us too.(He stayed and watched the Blackhawks win with Mike)
Mary is a picture junky like me and has thousands of pictures that she has taken.
I offered to show her the simple things I learned in photoshop class.
I got her started on how to get her pictures into Photoshop editor and the first steps into cropping pictures and basic steps in using some of the tools and before I know it she is showing ME things that she found.
We had a really good time sitting there playing with Photoshop while Bryan finished dinner. I must admit I had to bring out my notes from class because I didn't remember some steps and if you don't follow in just the right order you are screwed.
I'm looking forward to see what she comes up with.
Mary is a picture junky like me and has thousands of pictures that she has taken.
I offered to show her the simple things I learned in photoshop class.
I got her started on how to get her pictures into Photoshop editor and the first steps into cropping pictures and basic steps in using some of the tools and before I know it she is showing ME things that she found.
We had a really good time sitting there playing with Photoshop while Bryan finished dinner. I must admit I had to bring out my notes from class because I didn't remember some steps and if you don't follow in just the right order you are screwed.
I'm looking forward to see what she comes up with.
Friday, April 17, 2009
This Years Quilt Show
Sharen and I head out for the quilt show right after dining at Randall's Pancake House for breakfast. Last year we sat on the ramp for River Rd for 30 minutes so this year Mike gave us directions from the back way and we zipped right in.
We have an agreement that one drives and the other pays for parking. My turn to pay the parking. $13.00 I swear it goes up each year. Sharen hit the bathrooms and I headed over to get in line for tickets. A lady stops me and hands me a free ticket - Her bus over bought. Sweet! She wouldn't give me one for Sharen though and all the tickets were gone by the time Sharen showed up. She had to pay.
The show this year was BIGger and more poeple. We couldn't wait to see what they would have new this year. The only thing that caught our eye was toothbrush rug making. Something that we both plan on checking out on the web.
These fruits made of felt and beads really looked good enough to eat. The only problem was the instruction book was in Japanese.
A few thing I noticed while walking around the show.
* There are few older ladies with long hair. Sharen and I had the longest by far.
* Most older ladies are overweight by leap and bounds
* When fat ladies walk they sway side to side
* 80% of old ladies wear glasses
* When old ladies get to a certain age they stop dying their hair
* There are actually some men that quilt
When my mind gets a grip around the fact that I will have copious amount of free time on my hands I need to make a WOW quilt like these.
We have an agreement that one drives and the other pays for parking. My turn to pay the parking. $13.00 I swear it goes up each year. Sharen hit the bathrooms and I headed over to get in line for tickets. A lady stops me and hands me a free ticket - Her bus over bought. Sweet! She wouldn't give me one for Sharen though and all the tickets were gone by the time Sharen showed up. She had to pay.
The show this year was BIGger and more poeple. We couldn't wait to see what they would have new this year. The only thing that caught our eye was toothbrush rug making. Something that we both plan on checking out on the web.
These fruits made of felt and beads really looked good enough to eat. The only problem was the instruction book was in Japanese.
A few thing I noticed while walking around the show.
* There are few older ladies with long hair. Sharen and I had the longest by far.
* Most older ladies are overweight by leap and bounds
* When fat ladies walk they sway side to side
* 80% of old ladies wear glasses
* When old ladies get to a certain age they stop dying their hair
* There are actually some men that quilt
When my mind gets a grip around the fact that I will have copious amount of free time on my hands I need to make a WOW quilt like these.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
My son Jon
Okay he's not my son.
We had a discussion on Easter whether the kids when they were little ever got me and Sharen confused. Our own kids never did, maybe because we were together so much.
Now my grandkids had a hard time with it. They confused me and Sharen all the time. So I think it's only fitting that Matt call me Grandma Karen. I did get scolded on Easter for saying that and not Aunt Karen. Too Bad!
Here is a picture of Jon after he won a tourney at Randall Oaks Golf Course.
Can you guess? Me or Sharen?
Okay that was pretty easy -
Happy Birthday Jon!!
We had a discussion on Easter whether the kids when they were little ever got me and Sharen confused. Our own kids never did, maybe because we were together so much.
Now my grandkids had a hard time with it. They confused me and Sharen all the time. So I think it's only fitting that Matt call me Grandma Karen. I did get scolded on Easter for saying that and not Aunt Karen. Too Bad!
Here is a picture of Jon after he won a tourney at Randall Oaks Golf Course.
Can you guess? Me or Sharen?
Okay that was pretty easy -
Happy Birthday Jon!!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Cleaning Lady
The furloughs have started here. I have the great pleasure of covering for the lady who's job it is is to close out the front desk and make the bank deposit.
I have to use her desk because the documents are password protected on her computer.
My BIG problem is her desk is FILTHY!!!!!
Before she left I actually got the nerve to ask her to clean it. I don't know if picking up papers constitutes cleaning to her, but Yuck on the dirt! I wish I could take a picture. Her desk is discussing. It reminds of that commercial on TV with the germs dancing on the phone handset.
Well I brought in cleaning supplies and today I'm cleaning her keyboard, her phone, the mouse, her tape dispenser (yes even that) and her stapler along with the top of her desk. I want to bring in a face mask it's that bad.
I have to use her desk because the documents are password protected on her computer.
My BIG problem is her desk is FILTHY!!!!!
Before she left I actually got the nerve to ask her to clean it. I don't know if picking up papers constitutes cleaning to her, but Yuck on the dirt! I wish I could take a picture. Her desk is discussing. It reminds of that commercial on TV with the germs dancing on the phone handset.
Well I brought in cleaning supplies and today I'm cleaning her keyboard, her phone, the mouse, her tape dispenser (yes even that) and her stapler along with the top of her desk. I want to bring in a face mask it's that bad.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Biggest Loser's Makeovers
I'm a big fan of this show, especailly the makeover show. Tomorrow.
Mike's mother is addicted to magazines. She gets 5 or 6 a week. She sends them home with Mike whenever he visits her. I usually don't read them all, but I do look to see which ones he brings. When I saw that "Good Housekeeping" had an article about the biggest loser - I'm like Yes, a behind the scenes peek!
Well, they had pictures of Ron, Helen, and Kristen's makeovers. WTF! They just showed the makeup and haircuts. They had their colored t-shirts on and weren't dressed into the new small clothes but really WTF!
Ron cleaned up real nice and the article was interesting.
Mike's mother is addicted to magazines. She gets 5 or 6 a week. She sends them home with Mike whenever he visits her. I usually don't read them all, but I do look to see which ones he brings. When I saw that "Good Housekeeping" had an article about the biggest loser - I'm like Yes, a behind the scenes peek!
Well, they had pictures of Ron, Helen, and Kristen's makeovers. WTF! They just showed the makeup and haircuts. They had their colored t-shirts on and weren't dressed into the new small clothes but really WTF!
Ron cleaned up real nice and the article was interesting.
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Masters
The phone rang this morning at 7:30. What? It's my day off people! It was Darlene my mother-in-law wanting to know my recipe. Turns out she really liked my deviled eggs.
Well that got me outa bed and off and running. The bed is stripped and the laundry is started - The dishwasher is loaded and running - On to cleaning the kitchen floor and bathrooms, got to get to the store for the Easter basket presents and food for the Easter "bring a dish". And I took a minute to let you readers know what i'm doing! I have to be finished by 3pm when the greatest game of golf will be starting on the most beautiful course anywhere... The Masters!!!
You only get one chance a year to see this so I'm planning on not missing a stroke today!
I would pick Augusta to be my "if only I could" golf course and my dream foursome would be (sorry Mike, Dup and Sharen) Tiger, Michael Jordan, and Mike Ditka.
We have a friend who's father-in-laws company had tickets and he would go each year and bring us back souvenirs.
So at 3:00 I will have my Masters golf shirt on. I may borrow Mike's Masters hat and for sure the Masters 18th hole flag will be flying as I tune into ESPN to watch.
Go Tiger!!!! Call me crazy, but I want him to win every tournament he plays in. LOVE HIM!
Well that got me outa bed and off and running. The bed is stripped and the laundry is started - The dishwasher is loaded and running - On to cleaning the kitchen floor and bathrooms, got to get to the store for the Easter basket presents and food for the Easter "bring a dish". And I took a minute to let you readers know what i'm doing! I have to be finished by 3pm when the greatest game of golf will be starting on the most beautiful course anywhere... The Masters!!!
You only get one chance a year to see this so I'm planning on not missing a stroke today!
I would pick Augusta to be my "if only I could" golf course and my dream foursome would be (sorry Mike, Dup and Sharen) Tiger, Michael Jordan, and Mike Ditka.
We have a friend who's father-in-laws company had tickets and he would go each year and bring us back souvenirs.
So at 3:00 I will have my Masters golf shirt on. I may borrow Mike's Masters hat and for sure the Masters 18th hole flag will be flying as I tune into ESPN to watch.
Go Tiger!!!! Call me crazy, but I want him to win every tournament he plays in. LOVE HIM!
Deviled Eggs
Apparently I can make deviled eggs.
Last weekend at the birthday parties I brought deviled eggs (I always have to make the eggs) and a new recipe I wanted to try for sausage bites (these would be better right outa the oven).
I'm in the kitchen heating up the bites and I hear "Karen what are you doing?"
I'm heating up these sausage bites"
"Oh I was hoping for your deviled eggs"
"They are in the frig"
I got them out and they were gone in less than 3 minutes. Darlene, my mother-in-law even liked them. So I told them my recipe (total surprise by everyone). I use Lite Miracle Whip (do NOT tell Kory, anybody he claims to hate Miracle Whip), a touch of mustard, and Lite Ranch Dressing, some salt and pepper. How much of each depends on how many eggs. It's as simple as that. Whip it like a bad stepchild and well-la perfect deviled eggs.
Last weekend at the birthday parties I brought deviled eggs (I always have to make the eggs) and a new recipe I wanted to try for sausage bites (these would be better right outa the oven).
I'm in the kitchen heating up the bites and I hear "Karen what are you doing?"
I'm heating up these sausage bites"
"Oh I was hoping for your deviled eggs"
"They are in the frig"
I got them out and they were gone in less than 3 minutes. Darlene, my mother-in-law even liked them. So I told them my recipe (total surprise by everyone). I use Lite Miracle Whip (do NOT tell Kory, anybody he claims to hate Miracle Whip), a touch of mustard, and Lite Ranch Dressing, some salt and pepper. How much of each depends on how many eggs. It's as simple as that. Whip it like a bad stepchild and well-la perfect deviled eggs.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
WOTM
For those of us in the know that means "Women of The Moose".
Mike and I have joined the Moose of Elgin. Yes - I am a Moosette.
I'm not sure what that entails besides $1.50 draft beers, but I'm looking forward to finding out how I can volunteer. We stopped out there last Friday for the Fish Fry and I know I want to help in the kitchen.
I'll never forget one of my favorite jobs, working in the kitchen at Ellis Middle School. I guess I wasn't that easy to forget either. Last Thursday, I sat in the bar with Michelle after bowling and 2 young fellows were discussing how they knew me. Turns out I'm the "Cool Cook" who juggled tater tots when they were going to Ellis.
Made me smile.
Mike and I have joined the Moose of Elgin. Yes - I am a Moosette.
I'm not sure what that entails besides $1.50 draft beers, but I'm looking forward to finding out how I can volunteer. We stopped out there last Friday for the Fish Fry and I know I want to help in the kitchen.
I'll never forget one of my favorite jobs, working in the kitchen at Ellis Middle School. I guess I wasn't that easy to forget either. Last Thursday, I sat in the bar with Michelle after bowling and 2 young fellows were discussing how they knew me. Turns out I'm the "Cool Cook" who juggled tater tots when they were going to Ellis.
Made me smile.
Monday, April 6, 2009
7 AND 4
This weekend was the birthday parties for Logan who is 7 and Kaylyn who turns 4. Logan was excited to get his blue bat bag and Kaylyn carried around her hula hoop.
But both were more interested in thier cakes..
Logan's was a plain yellow cake that had awesome icing. (Logan's words) and of course Mike had to get his little princess a dairy cream "princess cake".
But both were more interested in thier cakes..
Logan's was a plain yellow cake that had awesome icing. (Logan's words) and of course Mike had to get his little princess a dairy cream "princess cake".
Friday, April 3, 2009
I love Lilacs
Growing up we had lilac bushes in the back yard. Sharen and I would spend hours in those bushes making tracks with our trucks, swinging from the trunks, sharing secrets and just hiding from life.
When we moved into this house on Shady I was so excited that the neighbor had a large lilac bush right outside our front door. I love the smell of lilacs and Ray would let me take as much as I wanted. I would bring them into the house and put them in the same vase that Grandma Budney would use for her flowers on the farm in Antigo. Though I remember hers was used for mostly Peonies.
This is what they look like today after the wet and heavy snow of last weekend. My heart is broken.
When we moved into this house on Shady I was so excited that the neighbor had a large lilac bush right outside our front door. I love the smell of lilacs and Ray would let me take as much as I wanted. I would bring them into the house and put them in the same vase that Grandma Budney would use for her flowers on the farm in Antigo. Though I remember hers was used for mostly Peonies.
This is what they look like today after the wet and heavy snow of last weekend. My heart is broken.
Cake & Crap
YES!!! A new camera!
A few people had some nice things to say about Mike.Mike started here in 77' (groans from the crowd) thirty yrs is 79 you putz. Oh Yeah I started in 77 You must of been 79. DUH...
I was in the planning department - What Department did you start in Mike? HUH? This idiot did not even know what Mike was doing when he started there. You would think he would of checked on Mike past accomplishments, but NO it was all about Jerry. It took everything I had not to burst out laughing or better yet say something.
I'm beginning to count the days when he's done.
Mike got the biggest laugh when Femi, the city manager, was talking about Joan (10 yr anniversary and everyone loves her - including me) He told her she had a ways to go to get to where Mike is and Mike yells out. "Sucks to be You". That lighten the mood and all went well after that.
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