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