handyman debbie, assistant dave

A couple of weeks ago our reclining rocker broke. The wooden piece in the front that holds the springs came off on one side. I think I have it fixed. It took a little trouble getting some of the hardware off and then Dave had to help pull the piece of wood that had the springs attached so that it popped back in place. Then I put all the hardware back in place and nailed some nails in to keep the wooden piece from popping out again. I certainly hope it lasts for a while. Don't want to have to buy more furniture right now.

McMillan Family Get-Together

I was the oldest one at the get-together. I think my sister, Cindi is a close second. We met at Cindi and Mike's house in Grand Rapids. Actually Ken Morris, our step-father, was the oldest person there. But here are the "sisters".








Minky, Mike, Luke, Mark and Charly - fathers and their children.










Brett with mom on the right and Aunt Cindi on the left.










Cindi's son, Japhy and his beautiful wife, Jenna, who we found out is 8 weeks pregnant. Congratulations. Kari is sitting to the right.









Beautiful Lisa, Cindi's daughter, hold Charly, my active and lively 18 month old grand-daughter.



Check out Mindy's and Kari's blogs to see what we ate and more pictures.

dancing with the stars

I wish I could be on dancing with the stars. Well maybe not, but I do love watching the show. Probably because I imagine myself dancing like that. Note to self: Get video to help you learn to dance like or sign up for lessons.

Malarkeys, Westland, Michigan

Dave and I have been having bad experiences a restaurants. The food hasn't been the greatest, the service slow and unfriendly, and the facilities not as kept up as you would want to see at a restaurant that you are eating at.

But we took a chance on a new restaurant, at least new to us. Dave says that local, unfranchised restaurants are better, in his opinion. So we went to Malarkey's Irish Pub in Westland. We were served promptly and the waitress was friendly. She even offered her suggestions for what to have to eat that was good. I chose the hamburger, cooked medium rare. Dave chose the french dip. Both meals were excellent by our standards, which I think are fairly high. The waitress came back to the table a couple of times to refill our drinks and make sure that our food was okay. The manager stopped to ask also. Overall, the atmosphere was pleasant, with lots of TVs running. I would have liked a little more choice over the content that was running, but that is not always available and we weren't going to stay long to watch the sports events scheduled for that night.

We will definitely go back there and see if our first impression was the norm or if it was just a fluke.

big boy restaurant

Dave and I eat out at least once a week and I think I am going to start writing critiques of the places that we eat. We have definite ideas of what we like and how we like to be served. Also, I tend to look around and be aware of how the restaurant seems to be run, how it is managed. So I will be commenting on different places that we eat at and my impressions.

I haven't figured out if I am going to have a scoring process, but if I do, I will come back and score this restaurant.

The first is the Big Boy Restaurant in Fowlerville, MI. We stopped at this place on our way to Mt. Pleasant. We had gotten a late start because we had to turn around to go back to the house because we forgot our binoculars for the football game. I have fond memories of Frisch's Big Boy from when I was growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio. My dad knew Dave Frisch and at one time was offered a job as a manager at one of the restaurants, but Dad turned the job down.

We were seated immediately and the waitress that seated us asked for our drink order. When she brought that, she informed us who our waitress would be and that she would be with us shortly. This is actually a very cool thing because it shows me that the waitresses are willing to help each other out. We didn't have to wait long for our waitress to show up and we made our order. I ordered the fish sandwich, Dave ordered the big boy sandwich (minus all sauce and stuff), and we ordered an order of fries to share. The food was delivered in a timely manner. Dave's food was prepared correctly with no extra stuff on it. My fish sandwich was perfect also. The fries were just right. The waitress refilled our drinks without asking and before our original drinks were empty.

Now what impressed me is that this fish sandwich seemed to taste the same as the first fish sandwich that I ever ate at a Big Boy restaurant. How can that be? That had to be about 48 years ago. Incredible. I have had some bad experiences at Big Boy restaurants when they run out of their signature tarter sauce and have to use the Gordon's brand. The sandwich tastes awful. This was just right.

We ordered the pumpkin pie. We usually don't get dessert, but the pie was so tempting. I asked for extra whipped cream if at all possible. The pie was delicious, not store bought, possibly fresh pumpkin.

Overall, it was a very nice experience.

More reviews of restaurants to come soon. Thursday night we went to a local bar, Malarkeys in Westland, MI, so that will be the next review.

The other noteable things about our experience was that the bathrooms were clean.

children

The kids and I get together for our birthdays. We just added Brett to the tradition. The girls and I started it so that we would have a "reason" to go out to eat and spend time with each other.

I am so glad we added Brett this year. Because now it feels complete.



I think I must be the luckiest mother in the world. I have the world's best children. I am not even sure I deserve them. But I thank God for them every day.

If as spirits in heaven we choose who we are going to come to earth with, I think that the four of us must have done just that. I would be the mother and the three of them would be the children. When we all get together it is like we are soul mates or something. I always feel like there is no other place I would rather be than spending time with them. The laughter comes so much easier. The tears do too. It is like all my feelings are heightened when I am around the three of them. After spending time with them, I feel recharged and relaxed.

It has always been like that and I hope it is like that forever.

halloween

It was kind of fun last night. I made Dave go buy some candy. He did good. He bought two bags, one of sweet tarts and the other suckers. I put them all in a bowl. Then I turned on the porch light, got my Eastern Michigan sweatshirt and cap on and waited for the kids to show up.

Right on cue, they started coming to the door. Cute kids, large and small. I got a kick out of the older kids. They half-heartedly got dressed up, held out their pillow cases, and did a nice job of saying thank-you. They didn't even look sheepish that they were "too old" for this. Nope, they wanted candy and were just having a good time walking around asking for it.

The other cool thing was that I was standing on my porch, I looked south down the street and there was a lot of activity, kids and parents walking around, people chatting with each other, someone mowing their lawn. It looked friendly and peaceful. What a nice looking block of houses. Maybe that is why people were driving in from somewhere else and trick or treating on our street. Yes, they were. I noticed a car with a load of people. After they were done with the block, they opened their trunk and poured the bag(s) of candy into a container in their trunk. Hmm, they were amassing quite a stash.

Well, we ran out of candy fairly quick. Guess we will get 3 bags next year. I turned off the porch light and closed the blinds. No one came to the door after that.

Last year we went away for the evening, but I am glad we didn't this year. I enjoyed seeing all the kids and saying hi to the parents.

The rifleman

When there isn't anything good on TV in the evenings and Dave and I want to have something on while we are working on our computers, Dave finds the old classic TV shows. I love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show, and finally The Rifleman. I am enjoying watching these shows, but especially The Rifleman. I especially like the relationship between Lucas McCain and his son Mark. Lucas listens to his son, but yet is a stern disciplinarian. They have their differences and disagreements and sometimes Mark disobeys Lucas, but then they have a good sit down talk and they actually communicate their feelings and thoughts to each other. The story lines are weak, but they are just the vehicles to get across the themes of duty, honor, love, truth and justice. And that Mark McCain is one cute kid. Why didn't I have a crush on him when I was younger. I don't remember having a crush on him. I should have. I was about his age when the shows were on.

Football, falling and other fun things

Yesterday Dave and I went to the Eastern Michigan vs Western Michigan football game at Eastern. It was raining, but we hoped that it would quit by game time. The photographer that originally wanted to take pictures and we were counting on had something come up and would not be there, so I was going to take some pictures.

While walking down the steps of the bleachers to the field, I must have twisted my ankle, and I fell down hard on the steps. My back end hit the corner of the aluminum seat, so I have a pretty deep bruise on my hip. It will be pretty colors in a few days. My pants got wet from the steps and my ankle was a little achy, but after sitting for a bit, I was able to get up and go down to the field. What amazes me is that no one saw me or if they did, they chose not to come to help me. Granted there wasn't anybody near by, but I would have thought someone would have seen me. Oh well. Good thing I wasn't hurt real bad. I would have called Dave down from the press box to help me, but they had the music playing very, very loud. I did call him once I got the field and was able to get away from the speakers.

Well, I stayed on the field for the first half. The rain did clear up and I got a few good shots. Today I am a little achy, but not too bad. The game was good. Eastern won.

More later....going to Lansing to see baby Luke.

annoying neighbors

The "old guy" across the street has an "old woman" living with him. Right now - 8 p.m. at night, dark - she is trying to position a trailer that is attached to an old van that she sometimes drives. The van has a bad muffler. She has been positioning the trailer and van for 45 minutes now. All I hear is varoom, varoom, varoom. She inches forward, she inches backward, forward, backward, turn the wheel, forward again, now backward.....She is really irritating me.

emptying the dishwasher

I hate to empty the dishwasher. I don't really know why. I would rather wash the dirty dishes that are piling up (because the dishwasher is full with clean dishes) than put away the clean dishes. I am okay with puttting away the plates. The cups seem to be a little more of a problem for me. But I really get hung up at the silverware. I noticed that if I do one section at a time, first the plates, then the glasses, then the cups, I do better. But the silverware is a jumbled mess that just makes me want to go back to watching TV or reading my book. The spoons, forks, knives and spatulas are all jumbled together. It would be nice if there was a spot for each of those. All the spoons in one section of the silverware basket, all the forks in another. I did find that if I empty one section at a time that it works a little better for me. Does anyone else have this same problem?

crazy conure

I have a nightgown that has tiny snaps down the front. Riley the conure likes to chew on them until the come apart. He is really good at getting them unsnapped.

On another note, Riley likes a certain flower like seed that smells like licorce. A very pleasant smell.

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Sunday - My dad celebrated his 85th birthday on Thursday. I called to say happy birthday. Turns out he isn't having a happy birthday. Yesterday half of his electricity in his mobile home went out. The lot owners are telling him that he has to pay to get it fixed. The line somewhere between the meter (four units down) and Dad's unit is bad. The lines are buried with the other lines, cable and such. He was initially quoted a price of $6,000. Oh, my. This doesn't sound right to me. How come if you rent a lot from a mobile home park you have to pay for the cost of a line that is buried on the mobile home park's premises? He is going to have a lawyer look over his lease and get other quotes. I am going to call him sometime this week and see how things are going.

Update: I started this on Sunday and didn't finish it. I still have to call my dad. Reminder to self, call your dad.

not sure what to say

I got to sleep in a little bit this morning. Dave had to get up early to work for a couple of hours, but I was able to sleep until almost 9 a.m. Then I made us some breakfast, took a shower, and then slowly got dressed. I was out the door a few minutes after Dave. Dave was off to watch the EMU vs UofM football at Al's house. I declined, as I wanted to take this opportunity to do whatever I wanted to do.

My first stop was Krogers. I had purchased some lightbulbs for the ceiling fans, only to find out they were not the correct size, so I thought I would return them. I also had cans to return and needed some cooking oil, q-tips, and anti-diarrheal medication. (what a combination) So that is what I did. I had to get tough with another shopper in the U-scan line. She was going to get the next open spot, even though I had already been standing in line before her. Granted, I was on the other side of the sign, but the sign was in the center of the area where people stand. I didn't feel too bad about gently reminding her that I was next, since she was the one that was causing problems at the service desk and I had to wait for her to do her business there for a good 10 minutes.

I then headed for JCPenney's to purchase needed underwear, socks, and a couple shirts for Dave and I. Penney's was having another sale (do they ever not have a sale?) and I was able to get some good prices on the needed items.

Next stop, the library. I had been without a book to read for a couple of weeks. I have been too busy with setting up the work, setting up the website to work with Joomla, and trying to find time to relax. I got three books. We shall see if I read them. I have already read all the books in the mystery series that I had been involved in and I didn't see any new books in any of the other series of books by other authors that I usually read, so I guess I have to try another author or two and see if I can get interested in their series of books.

After the library, I stopped to get some KFC, since I have been having a craving for that and Dave doesn't like it. I went home and watched a Lifetime Movie. Lifetime Movies are pretty silly and it is hard to watch them with other people around, especially Dave. He always points out how ridiculous they are. Of course, I do the same when he tries to watch bigtime wrestling or something like that.

All in all, it was a nice day. I got a little bit of cleaning done and hope to get more done tomorrow.

huge child

Oh my, check out this 17 pound baby.

http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070926/ids_photos_ts/ra3291886192.jpg;_ylt=Ao7zbpjRYWQs8CXHuPJyjeyek3QF

allergies

I feel bad because I don't post very much. I think about it and then never have the time. I am going to try to post a couple more things today. Right now I want to complain, but don't want to actually complain to anyone specifically. I am having a bad day. For some reason I am having a horrible allergy attack. I have different kinds of allergies. Some are the sneezing and some are the asthma. But this one is the itchy nose. I mean itchy all over. Outside, inside and scratchy throat. If I am not careful, I will rub my nose raw and get an ugly scab on the top of my nose. I have done it before. I am trying to work and deal with this. I took an allergy pill, a benedryl, some cough medicine with codeine and have put an ice pack on my nose. Oh, and I sprayed the inside of my nose with Astelin. I still itch.

perfect salad

I think I made my perfect salad. At least perfect for me.

Crisp iceberg lettuce, cut up in small pieces.
Grated colby cheese
whole grain bread crumbs, toasted in skillet with butter
White wine vinaigrette, homemade (oil, white vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, salt)

Very tasty, yep, it was very tasty indeed.

Lazy Saturday

Well, I am having a slightly lazy Saturday. Dave is busy writing articles for Blue Ribbon YearBook and then he probably will have to start on his CD reviews for Living Blues. I left about 8:30 this morning to give blood. The Red Cross had been calling and calling me to see if I would give, as there is quite a blood shortage right now in the Detroit area. It seemed like it took forever to fill that pint and now I am feeling more weak that usual after giving blood. So I am just sitting around, reading a book, and intermittently popping up and doing a little bit of housework. I have cleaned the tub and sink in the bathroom, done 1 load of laundry and have two more to do. I want to put some nail polish on my nails and do some other little chores also. I am also feeling a little out of my element, since I have the website done and don't have too much more to do with that. I did want to set up a better photo gallery if I can.

Well, that's about it for now. More later maybe.

computer software

Dave has me working on a project for MAC Report Online. We want to change the website to a content management program. So I have installed Joomla and have been busy trying to configure and program it so that it is useful to our needs. For me this is fun (and frustrating sometimes) because the program is free, the addons and plugins are free, and I love taking software and figuring it out. We did pay for a template.

I feel like it is Christmas when I get new software to work with. This is even more exciting; there are all kinds of plugins, addons, etc to play with.

It is a work in progress, but you can watch the progress by going to www.macreportonline.com/Joomla


Comments, help, questions, constructive criticisms are welcome.

gross advertising

Watching TV and working on the laptop - commercial comes on for AllBran. It is a construction worker at a work site eating something from a bowl, walking around the job site. He is telling about how AllBran has really helped him. I don't think he uses any wording that describes the actual bowel process, just that he needed to be more regular. But behind him you see first a man pulling a huge iron girder out of a wall and then a dump truck dumping a load of bricks. How gross is that? Was that suppose to be sublimal?