Hi ya'll,
Wednesday is almost at a close.
My poor husband has been in bed all day with flu-like symptoms. An unhappy camper to say the least. If he's not doing better by tomorrow he's getting taken to the doctor. The chicken soup and Jello haven't helped at all but at least they are staying in his system. I know he's really sick when he isn't even interested in having sushi for dinner... just the thought of dinner made him turn a little green. I'm hoping he's feeling better tomorrow. After sleeping all day, he's conked out again. It's not very often that I'm the one awake and he's asleep before 10:30pm. We will see how he feels in the morning.
Other than playing nurse, my latest challenge is a baking one. Friends, Kim & Malcolm get these fabulous chocolate chip cookies from a deli in N.J. near Cherry Hill. Malcolm is giving me the task of trying to replicate them. I have to admit they are the best tasting chocolate chip/macadamia nut cookie I have ever tasted. Moist, chewy, not too sweet, absolutely perfect. I've been scouring the Internet looking at cookie recipes to see what might give me comparable results. Next week I plan to try baking some and invite the neighbourhood over for taste testing. You don't think I'm going to test this out alone do you? No way! Better on someone elses' hips than mine. Anyone with a recipe or idea on how to get a very 'soft' texture to a chocolate chip cookie is welcome to forward it to me. I think it probably needs an extra egg or yolk in the batter and more butter than a regular recipe. If I can get it to taste as good as the one from the deli I think Malcolm will adopt me.... or turn me into his personal chef. Either way I love a good baking challenge and this is it!
July 1st, tomorrow, is Canada Day! I am going to celebrate with a few friends by dining out for Indian food. I think Marshall planned to get sick so he wouldn't have to eat Indian food with me. (kidding) Since there isn't really a big party in the USA for Canada Day (and I can't imagine why there isn't?) I expect I'll have to make my own fun. Maybe I'll teach my swimming students to sing "Oh, Canada" tomorrow in their lessons. Back stroke & singing national anthems from different countries could catch on.... or not? Should I get them to learn the old lyrics or the new? In English or in French? Leave it to Canada to have a totally confusing anthem where they change the lyrics and the language just to keep everyone on their toes.
Oh Canada.... everybody sing!
Wear red & white on July 1st even if you don't know the words to the song
xox
m
Day Lily!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
A new week....
Hi,
It's Monday morning. I took the weekend off from blogging. Since it's not a revenue generator I'm not inclined to work that hard at it, yet.
The weekend was hot & steamy here in Yardley... the weather was that way too. Ha, gotcha!
Marshall got his Aurora car back from his mom. She gets her new car tomorrow... everybody is happy.
His new issue is with his pilots licence. His USA licence is based on him having received his original licence in Canada. When he moved back to the US he upgraded his licence to an 'instrument rating', still based on this Canadian issued pilots licence. The FAA has mandated that the paper licences have to be converted to plastic cards (why this is important I have no idea since the plastic cards are the same thing, except for a picture... not of the pilot, but of the Wright Brothers.... do I look like an Orville or a Wilbur?)
We went down to the FSDO office in Philly almost 2 months ago. I had to get my licence home address changed, Marshall to get the new plastic version of his. My new card showed up in 3 weeks, Marshall's life became hell. Since his licence is based on an original Canadian licence, and he doesn't have a current 'Canadian' physical to go with the 'Canadian' licence, then he is not 'current' on his licence.... making him 'expired'? He got an extension on his licence & has been studying to get his commercial licence since he sort of has to start again to get a USA pilots licence. He figures he might as well upgrade his rating. Today he went to get another extension so that he can plan to get his commercial ticket, only to be told that he'll need a current Canadian medical to get the extension.... are you all still with me on this? I know it's confusing. Even the FAA people don't have a handle on this.
As luck would have it... and this is slightly off topic, but bear with me..... at lunch with my girlfriends a few weeks ago we were joined by this guy who was eaves-dropping on our conversation at the Indian restaurant. He's a retired commercial pilot, looking to pick up chicks. Any way, none of us were available but he was looking for company and we chatted for a while with him. The following week I'm back at the same restaurant (it's my official haunt for Indian cuisine) and low & behold, Nick, my pilot buddy, is there too. I start telling him about Marshall's licencing problems and he gives me a name of a doctor in New Jersey that does Canadian medical pilot examinations.... I keep it just in case. Is this scary or what? It's a small, small world.
Now Marshall is having to arrange a medical to cover off his Canadian licence, keep it current until he can get his US commercial licence done and not have to deal with the fact that his licence was from Canada originally... at least that's the plan so far.
Whew, this blogging is exhausting.
Me? I'm fine and staying out of the heat outside.
Have a cool day where ever you are
xox
m
It's Monday morning. I took the weekend off from blogging. Since it's not a revenue generator I'm not inclined to work that hard at it, yet.
The weekend was hot & steamy here in Yardley... the weather was that way too. Ha, gotcha!
Marshall got his Aurora car back from his mom. She gets her new car tomorrow... everybody is happy.
His new issue is with his pilots licence. His USA licence is based on him having received his original licence in Canada. When he moved back to the US he upgraded his licence to an 'instrument rating', still based on this Canadian issued pilots licence. The FAA has mandated that the paper licences have to be converted to plastic cards (why this is important I have no idea since the plastic cards are the same thing, except for a picture... not of the pilot, but of the Wright Brothers.... do I look like an Orville or a Wilbur?)
We went down to the FSDO office in Philly almost 2 months ago. I had to get my licence home address changed, Marshall to get the new plastic version of his. My new card showed up in 3 weeks, Marshall's life became hell. Since his licence is based on an original Canadian licence, and he doesn't have a current 'Canadian' physical to go with the 'Canadian' licence, then he is not 'current' on his licence.... making him 'expired'? He got an extension on his licence & has been studying to get his commercial licence since he sort of has to start again to get a USA pilots licence. He figures he might as well upgrade his rating. Today he went to get another extension so that he can plan to get his commercial ticket, only to be told that he'll need a current Canadian medical to get the extension.... are you all still with me on this? I know it's confusing. Even the FAA people don't have a handle on this.
As luck would have it... and this is slightly off topic, but bear with me..... at lunch with my girlfriends a few weeks ago we were joined by this guy who was eaves-dropping on our conversation at the Indian restaurant. He's a retired commercial pilot, looking to pick up chicks. Any way, none of us were available but he was looking for company and we chatted for a while with him. The following week I'm back at the same restaurant (it's my official haunt for Indian cuisine) and low & behold, Nick, my pilot buddy, is there too. I start telling him about Marshall's licencing problems and he gives me a name of a doctor in New Jersey that does Canadian medical pilot examinations.... I keep it just in case. Is this scary or what? It's a small, small world.
Now Marshall is having to arrange a medical to cover off his Canadian licence, keep it current until he can get his US commercial licence done and not have to deal with the fact that his licence was from Canada originally... at least that's the plan so far.
Whew, this blogging is exhausting.
Me? I'm fine and staying out of the heat outside.
Have a cool day where ever you are
xox
m
Thursday, June 24, 2010
4 followers
my blog attendees continues to grow by leaps & bounds... I'm up to 4 followers now.
Today's excitement revolved around the sale of the Bonneville. We received the cheque and I threw it in the bank. Then I sent the registration papers, US post over night, to the buyer, AJ. Saturday we plan to meet him in Baltimore to hand him over the car... we're getting close to closing this deal. Marshall's mother is bringing back his Aurora to him on Sunday. She has bought herself a new Malibu... are you still following all this?
When all is said & done:
-the Bonneville will be AJ's in Virginia
-the Malibu will be with Arlene up in New Jersey
-the Aurora will be back in our garage in Pennsylvania
I will have had enough of car issues to last me the rest of the year, if not longer. Car juggling, at its best, is not for me.
On a totally different topic, I'm on the hunt for a new dentist. The one that was recommended to us last year moved to Boston two days ago. The office he was working out of never sent a notice that he was leaving the practice. The way I found out was when I showed up for my appointment yesterday, and not only did I have a new hygienist, but there was a new dentist too. Did they think I wouldn't notice the switch? How stupid is that? I got my teeth cleaned (wanna see?), skipped the dental check-up (the new guy looked and sounded like a total looser) and high-tailed it out of there. Once I find a new dentist I'll go back to get my x-rays & records and start again... what a pain. Marshall didn't really like them at that office either so we're both moving on. Anyone have a great dental office near us in Yardley to recommend. I'd prefer one that has nice hygienists, gives out free floss and keeps their employees around longer than 18 months at a time. Is that too much to ask for?
As for the 'roses' part..... mine are in full bloom even with 95° temperatures outside.
xox
m
Today's excitement revolved around the sale of the Bonneville. We received the cheque and I threw it in the bank. Then I sent the registration papers, US post over night, to the buyer, AJ. Saturday we plan to meet him in Baltimore to hand him over the car... we're getting close to closing this deal. Marshall's mother is bringing back his Aurora to him on Sunday. She has bought herself a new Malibu... are you still following all this?
When all is said & done:
-the Bonneville will be AJ's in Virginia
-the Malibu will be with Arlene up in New Jersey
-the Aurora will be back in our garage in Pennsylvania
I will have had enough of car issues to last me the rest of the year, if not longer. Car juggling, at its best, is not for me.
On a totally different topic, I'm on the hunt for a new dentist. The one that was recommended to us last year moved to Boston two days ago. The office he was working out of never sent a notice that he was leaving the practice. The way I found out was when I showed up for my appointment yesterday, and not only did I have a new hygienist, but there was a new dentist too. Did they think I wouldn't notice the switch? How stupid is that? I got my teeth cleaned (wanna see?), skipped the dental check-up (the new guy looked and sounded like a total looser) and high-tailed it out of there. Once I find a new dentist I'll go back to get my x-rays & records and start again... what a pain. Marshall didn't really like them at that office either so we're both moving on. Anyone have a great dental office near us in Yardley to recommend. I'd prefer one that has nice hygienists, gives out free floss and keeps their employees around longer than 18 months at a time. Is that too much to ask for?
As for the 'roses' part..... mine are in full bloom even with 95° temperatures outside.
xox
m
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
why the name?
Good morning....
you have asked and I shall tell..... why the name "white tornado" for my blog? That is Marshall's pet name for me. He thinks I whirl around all day, getting stuff done (mostly cleaned) like a white tornado. I suppose it looks that way to him. Mostly I feel like a worker ant that never gets the job finished. There is always more sand to move out of the nest.
I'm thrilled to see that I'm up to 3 followers. Thanks! This gives me hope that someone is bothering to listen to my rants and raves. Crazy people aren't really crazy, they just want someone to listen to them. They should blog, it clears the mind and soothes the soul. Is there a way to send out the blog to followers or do I just have to wait for people to find me? Being petite I know it's all too easy to get lost in the shuffle. I'd like to thank Joel O for being my first official follower. He's happy to be a "first" for something in my life. So cute!
It's sounding like Marshall may have found a buyer for the Bonneville. Now we just have to drive it down to Baltimore and meet up with the buyer, AJ, once his cheque arrives and is deposited. AJ has been a little off the wall about this whole transaction but maybe it will all work out. The last time we sold a car (in Fort Wayne), the buyer, Max, came and picked it up for his daughter, paid us and left... only to call the following week wanting to give us back the car because the air conditioning died. Okay, that's fair. Marshall gave him back his money (less a re-stocking fee). We had the AC fixed, then put it back on the market. Max called back a week later again, wanting to buy the car back, again... oy vey! It was funny when all was said and done but I learned that selling used cars is a crazy business and it's why used car salesmen are so bananas. It would make me nuts to have that job too.
It's time to get my act in gear for the day ahead. Swimming lessons, dentist appointment, dinner... lots to do.
bye from Yardley, PA
xox
m
you have asked and I shall tell..... why the name "white tornado" for my blog? That is Marshall's pet name for me. He thinks I whirl around all day, getting stuff done (mostly cleaned) like a white tornado. I suppose it looks that way to him. Mostly I feel like a worker ant that never gets the job finished. There is always more sand to move out of the nest.
I'm thrilled to see that I'm up to 3 followers. Thanks! This gives me hope that someone is bothering to listen to my rants and raves. Crazy people aren't really crazy, they just want someone to listen to them. They should blog, it clears the mind and soothes the soul. Is there a way to send out the blog to followers or do I just have to wait for people to find me? Being petite I know it's all too easy to get lost in the shuffle. I'd like to thank Joel O for being my first official follower. He's happy to be a "first" for something in my life. So cute!
It's sounding like Marshall may have found a buyer for the Bonneville. Now we just have to drive it down to Baltimore and meet up with the buyer, AJ, once his cheque arrives and is deposited. AJ has been a little off the wall about this whole transaction but maybe it will all work out. The last time we sold a car (in Fort Wayne), the buyer, Max, came and picked it up for his daughter, paid us and left... only to call the following week wanting to give us back the car because the air conditioning died. Okay, that's fair. Marshall gave him back his money (less a re-stocking fee). We had the AC fixed, then put it back on the market. Max called back a week later again, wanting to buy the car back, again... oy vey! It was funny when all was said and done but I learned that selling used cars is a crazy business and it's why used car salesmen are so bananas. It would make me nuts to have that job too.
It's time to get my act in gear for the day ahead. Swimming lessons, dentist appointment, dinner... lots to do.
bye from Yardley, PA
xox
m
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Day #2
I still haven't found my voice yet with this blogging thing, but it is only day #2.
News of note....
Marshall may have found a buyer for the old Bonneville that we are trying to get rid of. This guy, named "A.J." is a real card from Virginia and has been calling, e-mailing and texting Marshall for a week now. Marshall offered to fly him up here (any excuse to use the plane) so he can pick up the car and drive it back to Richmond. Great idea, except A.J. has never flown in his whole life. I imagine him taking one look at Marshall's little plane and calling off the whole deal.... he sounds a little off the wall in agreeing to this Marshall Plan. We'll see if this transpires.
Swimming lessons are completely array. School is over, camp hasn't started yet and mothers are scrambling for things to keep their kids out of trouble with.
"No, thanks, I really don't want to be in the water for 8 hours a day with your children..." Somehow they see swimming lessons as an alternative to babysitting. I don't think so.
The pond. Clear and relatively clean so far. We need to install a new UV light bulb to help keep the algae at bay but the fish sure are happy little swimmers right now. My new pond guru, Rich had me mucking it out 2 weeks ago and refilling it with new water so we shall see how long this lasts. Maybe I will conquer the sucker this summer and not end up ripping it out. We did loose a few fish over the winter. I think that was just the end of their life cycle and nothing more drastic. I like to think their deaths were 'natural' as opposed to 'suicidal' because their home was not livable.
Time to go teach. I'm off like a herd of turtles
xox
m
News of note....
Marshall may have found a buyer for the old Bonneville that we are trying to get rid of. This guy, named "A.J." is a real card from Virginia and has been calling, e-mailing and texting Marshall for a week now. Marshall offered to fly him up here (any excuse to use the plane) so he can pick up the car and drive it back to Richmond. Great idea, except A.J. has never flown in his whole life. I imagine him taking one look at Marshall's little plane and calling off the whole deal.... he sounds a little off the wall in agreeing to this Marshall Plan. We'll see if this transpires.
Swimming lessons are completely array. School is over, camp hasn't started yet and mothers are scrambling for things to keep their kids out of trouble with.
"No, thanks, I really don't want to be in the water for 8 hours a day with your children..." Somehow they see swimming lessons as an alternative to babysitting. I don't think so.
The pond. Clear and relatively clean so far. We need to install a new UV light bulb to help keep the algae at bay but the fish sure are happy little swimmers right now. My new pond guru, Rich had me mucking it out 2 weeks ago and refilling it with new water so we shall see how long this lasts. Maybe I will conquer the sucker this summer and not end up ripping it out. We did loose a few fish over the winter. I think that was just the end of their life cycle and nothing more drastic. I like to think their deaths were 'natural' as opposed to 'suicidal' because their home was not livable.
Time to go teach. I'm off like a herd of turtles
xox
m
Monday, June 21, 2010
Ta-Da!
Today is Day #1.
Everyone keeps telling me I should "post a Blog". What the hell is that? I send e-mails regularly and keep important people in my life as up-to-date as I can. But blog? Why?
I suppose that it will make me more user-friendly but will it get read, who knows?
Last weekend I attended Liberty Swing in New Brunswick, NJ. It's a west coast dance event that attracts great dancers from all over the world. I had fun but felt that my ability to dance has certainly lagged in the last year. It was wonderful seeing and spending time with friends from Canada that came down for the event. Now if I could only remember half of what I tried to learn at the workshops or figure out the lifts & drops that Barry Jones showed Julie & Russ how to do. He made them look so easy. Julie flew up into the air like a cheer leader when Barry did them with her. Russ had a bit more of a challenge getting Julie off the ground. Not that she suddenly became a lead weight, but Russ has some practicing to do. I was commandeered as the official videograph and became privy to the dance secrets of how they look so darn good at the professional level... it's the old joke "how do you get to Carnegie Hall?" practice, practice, practice.
Okay we'll see who makes the effort to find this blog & read it. More to come.
xox
m
Everyone keeps telling me I should "post a Blog". What the hell is that? I send e-mails regularly and keep important people in my life as up-to-date as I can. But blog? Why?
I suppose that it will make me more user-friendly but will it get read, who knows?
Last weekend I attended Liberty Swing in New Brunswick, NJ. It's a west coast dance event that attracts great dancers from all over the world. I had fun but felt that my ability to dance has certainly lagged in the last year. It was wonderful seeing and spending time with friends from Canada that came down for the event. Now if I could only remember half of what I tried to learn at the workshops or figure out the lifts & drops that Barry Jones showed Julie & Russ how to do. He made them look so easy. Julie flew up into the air like a cheer leader when Barry did them with her. Russ had a bit more of a challenge getting Julie off the ground. Not that she suddenly became a lead weight, but Russ has some practicing to do. I was commandeered as the official videograph and became privy to the dance secrets of how they look so darn good at the professional level... it's the old joke "how do you get to Carnegie Hall?" practice, practice, practice.
Okay we'll see who makes the effort to find this blog & read it. More to come.
xox
m
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