Aaaahhhhh

No more tooth pain. I do however have two new fillings and apparently need 4 more. I cannot even tell you how astonished I am to know that I had 6 CAVITIES! I guess I am making up for lost time in the dental world....

The dentist was from India-Southern India to be exact. She gave me some great leads on authentic India Cuisine in the Joliet area...cannot wait to check them out. Always the food guru.

We have decided NOT to buy minivan at this point. We have no car payments right now and have decided to wait until summer to look again. In the meantime, we are going o go on "test driving" dates. We will test drive the best minivans we can find, then pick a great restaurant nearby to dine. No kids, new car smell, I am hooked.

You see, I am a closet car hound. I can usually tell you what make and model of car is in front of you depending on the tail lights. It is a strange hobby-but one I shared with my dad.

More to come...

Toothache

I have been ignoring a toothache for one week. Today I will see the dentist and probably be told that my old filling has given out. I have only one filling and have never worn braces and am fastidious about brushing and flossing. I do not mind my yearly teeth cleaning-but I am terrified of Novocaine. Wish me luck.

My holiday thus far has been great despite missing my famliy. My partner and I set a date for nuptials (June 18, 2010), our family escaped the dreaded 24 hour intestinal bug that the rest of the clan had and we are purchasing a new (used) minivan! Three children, two dogs and luggage in a sedan makes for bitter travel. AND we cannot rent an RV for every trip.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with my partner's youngest. We went to IKEA to buy a dresser for him (gift from santa) and then we had a nice lunch at Famous Dave's. It was great to have one on one time with him...we seem to be bonding.

Here's to a Happy New Year full of HOPE and NO MORE Dubbya. Whoo Hoo!!!

Keep the Faith

I have lost both my parents. This time of the year I am always reminded of my mom's death.

I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with them on a lake outside of Stillwater, MN where I was house sitting. My other siblings were with their families, brother in SC, MNMom in NYC, and Cheesecake Maven in Alabama.

I took my parents to a big new grocery store in Stillwater to shop for the holiday. Dad had never seen anything like it! The two of them were like kids in a candy store. Dad held up brussel sprouts still on the stalk and yelled for my mom to come and "take a look at this." I was laughing so hard at them-loving every minute of it. By the time we got out of the expensive gourmet section, I had to make them each put a few things back. We had picked up enough food to feed God's army.

Back at the lake house, Mom and I got ready to go to the midnight service at the local Methodist Church. She came in to the bathroom and looked at me in the mirror and told me how beautiful I am. I am crying as I write this because if you knew my mom, you know she was not one for handing out "pretty compliments." Then she asked me for some lipstick and proceeded to primp with me. I had no idea how special this memory would be.

We were getting on our coats and it felt like she was my shadow. I turned to ask her what was wrong and she only said that she hopes I am happy and then asked me if I thought all my siblings were happy. I assured her we were. Did she know on some unconscious level that her time was near?

The service was a beautiful candle ceremony with no sermon, just hymn singing. DELIGHTFUL. It snowed over night and on Christmas day. Mom and I walked the lake - it was frozen solid. She made instant friends with the kids next door playing hockey and commented on how much my nephews would be enjoying the ice and snow.

Dad and I played Mastermind (tricky for my dad since he is almost blind), snacked on smoked herring and crackers, and talked about the lake and the history of Stillwater. We had a nice Christmas Dinner at the Lumber Baron Hotel in Stillwater.

Mom and Dad left on December 26. That is the last time I hugged my mom. She died from an acute asthma attack, January 2, 1999 after being taken off life support.

I will always cherish that Christmas.
And Mom? I will always keep the faith.

Love Joy Thanks

I was out of the house this morning volunteering at my son's school. I came home and on the table....











I found this:











I love my schweetie, E.

Thank you to all who have posted a pic from their kitchen sink.

I have been decking the halls. I found my box of giant pinecones that Cheesecake Maven made for us one year and hung them from a piece of gingerbread trim my mom had found in trash heap years back. It is hanging above my patio doors. I think I may add some boughs of evergreen once we get the tree...

What is the view from you kitchen sink?

Below is a picture of the window sill behind my kitchen sink. I was wondering what is it that you look at everytime you are at your kitchen sink. Post a picture at your blog today!

The RV

As promised, I will tell you of the RV trip home for Thanksgiving.

First off, we picked it up on Wednesday at about 9am. Lots of paper work and the contract clearly read NO PETS. We were already planning on bringing both dogs with us-so we just kept quiet (and cleaned it very well). My partner's youngest son, who is 11 proceeded to open every cabinet and drawer and bounced on every bed and claimed his place above the driver's seat. He was up there when partner made a quick acceleration and he fell to the floor-we all laughed a lot.

We loaded the essentials, linens, toilet paper, hand sanitizer(the RV had been winterized-no water on board), food and water (for humans and pets). We also packed all the groceries for Thanksgiving, and of course two skateboards (which were never used but fit nicely in one of the storage compartments under the RV).

My partner drove all the way to Decorah (five hours). The boys (14, 11 ,6) watched movies and played cards, the dogs panted and slept. We parked the beast in the driveway of Cheesecake Mavens.

Nothing out of the ordinary happened-it was just a very comfortable 5 hour ride and one of the best ways to travel as a family. The boys thought it was a true adventure and I am just glad to have provided them with great memories.

We loaded the RV with more of my belongings on the way home. The entire "bedroom" in the rear of Rv was full to the roof. We saved around $200.00 renting the RV verses:
Uhaul trailer and a new hitch for my Subaru
2 cars plus gas - 3 boys, one in car seat do not fit in Subaru
3 nights hotel
3 nights boarding two dogs

We did have to "flush" the toilet with windshield washer fluid and empty the "crapper" at a Flying J. Very easy-my partner did it-hee hee.

I did drive for a bit on I-80 and as long as you remember to double check the big side mirror and the little inset one-you are fine.

We did get pulled over by the State Trooper. The speed limit for RV's in IL is 55 not the almost 70 we were going. No ticket and the trooper was very sweet.

I recommend RVing to all of you!

. Five names you go by:
a.) Ruth
b.) Ruthie
c.) Mom
d.) El Ruthaya
e.) Rootie Toot Toot

2. Three things you are wearing right now:
a.) Black yoga pants (because they are stretchy)
b.) Periwinkle microfleece jacket
c.) White tank top

3. Two things you want very badly at the moment:
a.) A second appraisal on my house to come in high!
b.) Another hot cup of coffee

4. Three people who will probably fill this out:
?????

5. Two things you did last night:
a.) made beautiful 6 point snowflakes and hung them in the window
b.) Cared for a sick partner (chicken soup and hot tea)

6. Two things you ate today:
a.) bluberry smoothie
b.) vanilla yogurt with granola

7. Two people you last talked to on the phone:
a.) realtor
b.) partner

8. Two things you are going to do tomorrow:
a.) walk
b.) bake cookies and breads for holday parties

9.) Two longest car rides:
a.) Decorah, IA to Washington DC
b.) Peoria Il to Channahon Il during a blizzard

10. Two of your favorite beverages:
a.) Red Wine
b.) Water

And More Thanksgiving Fun

MnMom told you all about Thanksgiving...so here I have posted the food pics and others from the weekend. ENJOY!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

FRUSTRATED

I wanted to post a video, but blogspot is not an option - I tried embeddng the video and that failed as well...so here is the link, please enjoy the video and I will continue trying to "Geeksquad" my way around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OINStsPwgQ4ted

P.S. Thank you oldest sis!!!

Jello Head

I drew the short straw yesterday and had to do the grocery shopping. I am usually very up for going to the store, should have known better. It went something like this:

I am in charge of the Green Bean Casserole (GBC) for Thanksgiving. I am a talented gourmet cook but my nieces and nephews claim that my GBC is the best (probably due to the fact that I double the amount of fried onions). Anyway, I was shopping for the ingredients for the the GBC and could not find the fried onions. Mind you, I was in the canned vegetable section and did grab two jars of Aunt Nellies pickled WHOLE beets-hands down the best pickled beet in a jar-just make sure you get WHOLE not sliced, they lose something the dissection-back to the story, I could NOT find the fried onions. I managed to find a helpful shelf stocker and he promptly took back to the canned vegetable isle and pointed to the fried onions-which were RIGHT NEXT to Aunt Nellie's pickled beets. I felt so stupid-but it gets better...
being a Jenkins and all I had to offer my "two cents worth" and told the stocker guy and another employee who came around the corner that they should really have an end cap with the all three GBC ingredients together since it is Thanksgiving. The two of them did an eye roll and promptly took me around the corner and said, "like this?"
"Oh, never mind," (Roseanna Roseanna Danna style) is all I said - and by the way I had grabbed two cans of green beans from this very end cap just moments before I could not find the fried onions...

Raising a Boy

I tell ya, I never imagined myself as a sports person. In fact I have always been into music, drama, art, and yes even marching band (still get goosebumps watching DCI).

I have a 6 year old boy...and he is all boy. I know more about Star Wars than I care to admit. I can hold my own against an impressive offensive line in two-hand touch football AND have to listen to endless stories about battles and imaginary sports games.

Also, if MG thinks that my flatulence is surprising then he has not been around a group of 6-8 year old boys in while. MY GOD! The burping, farting, and endless talking of those bodily functions is just not something I thought I would have to be subjected to daily.

On the flip side-my son is such a light. He dances, plays the drums, and put on plays. He also loves to dress up in different "costumes." I posted a few pics here to demonstrate. Enjoy and wish me luck here in testosteroneland...

How DO You Spell Relief? S-O-L-D

I sold my little house pictured above). I got enough in the sale to cover my mortgages, pay the realtor and then have a bit left over to pay off other debt. I AM SO LUCKY!

It was an emotional sale for me. The house is an 1875 Victorian Cottage in a GREAT neighborhood. It's brick and has a lovely front porch with a swing that glows the most brilliant yellow every fall.

I brought my only child home to this house. It was my sanctuary...my nest of creativity, joy, and relaxation. I will miss it.

I will not miss sitting next to frozen pipes in the winter with a blow dryer in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. Nor will I miss the mice that took shelter every fall in my mudroom. I will also not miss my "one butt kitchen."

I close on December 12th...everything is set. I just have to stop holding my breath.

Thank you Thank you Thank you

Thank you to all who have wished me a big welcome to blog-o-matic. I must say it is enjoyable to know that I can download the crazy crap in my head once in a while.

I am still trying to figure out how to get my scanner hooked up properly (thank you MG for the scanner, printer, computer, etc.). Once I have that figured out my sisters, MnMom and Cheesecake Maven will maybe want me to stop blogging.

My schweetie just brought me wine..mmm-my I am a lucky woman. I have posted a few pics of us and I will not go on and on about how much I am in love with him or how we met or the fact that I moved to a subdivision in a way western Chicago burb to be with him or tell you how gooshy we are together because MG and MnMom will make fun of me (again)...but I just have to say that I am so LUCKY AND HAPPY!!!! Hee hee hee hee...
as my schweetie would say, "Spread the Love, baby."

Notice what you notice and then ask why...

So the BIG 3 auto makers want a bailout?? Mmmmm...let's make a short list of those who might be able and are responsible for our current economic woes and see if we might be able to help them out...

1. Bush/Cheney
2. Private Contractors in Iraq. i.e. Halliburton, CICA, Blackwater
3. Mobile/Exxon - who reported HUGE profits in their fourth quarter

I hope that with new leadership comes innovative ideas for the auto industry that will create new jobs and clean up the environment...

What a mess to have to clean up.

Here I am

It is snowing outside, there is a nice pot of Thai Coconut Chicken Soup on the stovetop and there are two 6 year olds screaming at the top of their lungs while jumping from the top step to the bean bag at the bottom...so relaxing.

Gearing up for Thanksgiving...which this year will involve me, my 6 yr old and my boyfriend and his two teenagish boys taking an RV on the road. That's right-Griswolds look out!! Of course the boys are thrilled and already fighting over who gets to sleep over the cab. I will take lots of photos-promise.

In the meantime-here is a photo of the three boys under the giant silver jelly bean (Millenium Park, Chicago).

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Hello! Thank you all for encouraging me to begin blogging. I am not as crafty with scanners as my sibs (mnmom and cheesecake maven) and not nearly as witty...but I am the youngest and therefor have a leg up on them all the time.