Welcome back

It's been ages since I've blogged. I see my favorites haven't changed much. I'm still a fan of AMC's Mad Men and love to curl up with a hot cup of Mighty Leaf tea. I've been working for 2 years on my job and was promoted to marketing manager after 12 months. Daughter is still playing softball but for another travel team - farther away from home - so that makes things a bit more challenging when it comes to practices. And son has decided to give up baseball and devote his sporting interest to football. Tis the season!

I still find challenges in juggling "steady paycheck" work, "self-employment-folk want you to work for free" work and family. Working hard to carve out some me time without neglecting loved ones and obligations.

At a cook out last year, a good friend asked me what do I do for fun - for myself. I had to really think about it and replied, "well, I try to get my eyebrows threaded regularly". What a lame answer! I knew it was lame as soon as it came out. What kind of fun is that?! I'll have to give it more thought and see what I can come up with. Any suggestions???

Ouch!

My feet are throbbing. Taxing kids to and from games and practice and trips to the grocery store don't require that I dress up and slip into heels. Today we attended our baby cousin's dedication ceremony and I got fancied up. I wore a cream top with cream dress pants. I like these pants because the are long and very slimming. I have to wear 4 inch heels to keep them from dragging the floor. Well the time now is 12:05am and I took the shoes off at 8pm, why are my toes still throbbing?!?!

Who is this Man?!

The past few weeks have been very trying on our vehicles. I took hubby's car to get it inspected last month and it failed due to the brakes not operating properly. Hubby drives over 50 miles (one way) to and from work Monday - Friday. I knew there was an "issue" with his breaks, but had no idea of how serious it was until I drove it that day. I was at a stop light at a busy intersection and depressed the brakes. The car stopped. Suddenly, my foot kept going down, down, down until it was literally on the floor, then the car began to creep forward!! I PANICKED as the car slowly started to creep toward the intersection! Luckily the light changed! I called hubby and he explained that sometimes that happens and he has to pull the emergency brake and/or put the car in neutral when sitting at a traffic stop! (WHAT THE HECK?!?!) I could not believe that he had been driving the car in this condition for so long!

Well, as luck would have it, last week, the brakes on my car began scraping, grinding and screeching like a banchi. So I went to a local repair shop to get an assessment and they told me I needed new rotors and brake pads for both the front and back - the total bill? $650.00!!!

I informed hubby of this unexpected development and he matter of factly stated, "Oh, I can replace the brake pads. Mechanics always say you need new rotors, if the car is not shaking, your rotors are still good. The scraping and grinding is indication that you need new brake pads." This was all on Saturday morning.

So, Hubby went to the local auto supply store and purchased brake pads for both cars (all for under $200.00), and replaced them! The brakes on both cars are good as new!!! You could literally knock me over with a feather! How can I be married to a man for 13 years, a man who has NEVER volunteered to repair ANYTHING, then out of the blue he replaces brake pads on two cars in one weekend!? Who is this man!?!

Well after a few rousing rounds of "Hip-Hip-Hooray!" and "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow!", Hubby is THE MAN around the house! :-))

Then my admiration quickly turned to anger! How can you drive a car, risk your life and the life of our children, by driving a car that you could have repaired months ago!? :-((

After all was said and done, I'm proud that he stepped up and handled business! Hmmm, now about re-tileing the bathroom shower.......

Butterfinger update

There are two Butterfingers in the crisper drawer behind the romaine lettuce. :-|