25 years?

Yeah, 25 years, who would have thought. We only came for 2 years.....................
On December 6 1984, in a blinding snow storm that closed major airports on the East coast for several hours and with a 3 year old and a 6 year old in tow, I boarded a PanAm 747 jet at JFK. 12 1/2 hours and 8 time zones later, at 1624 hours on December 7 1984, we landed in a whole different world, a land that time forgot. The children grew up in this strange land, made friends they will never forget, visited foreign countries they will never get to again, experienced life that is difficult to explain to others, moved back to their birth country and are now grown adults with families of their own. 25 years later, my husband and I however are still here in the land that time forgot. WHY you may ask? The only answer I can give right now is that it's a job that pays better than a job in the USA, IF we could find a job in the USA right now. It pays the mortgage, car payment and drug prescriptions. It's warm in the winters compared to the snow and frigid temps at home in New Hampshire, it is better than trying to run 2 full households-one for me back home and one for DH here.
Do I like it here? NO, HELL NO, but like I wrote above, it's cheaper than trying to run 2 households and only getting to see my husband for 3-4 weeks a year. I have the internet, SparkPeople and my cross stitch to keep me busy.
We can't openly celebrate any non muslim holiday, I can't drive, women do not work in public, there is NO alcohol, NO pork, I have to wear a black coat like drape thing out in public but I do NOT COVER MY HEAD OR FACE. Before going on forever ranting I'll end that part here.

YAY, happy anniversary to me----NOT!

It's still overcast, VERY humid and cool here, if I didn't know any better, I'd say it was going to rain.

I finished a SanMan ornament last week, YAY me! I enjoyed stitching it too for a change. I started on a Wednesday and finished it on Friday

!

Thanksgiving came and went. We had Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes which I didn't eat, gravy (fat free home made), green beans with red peppers, expensive, imported sweet potatoes, home made from scratch cranberry sauce with REAL Ocean Spray cranberries, fruit salad, pumpkin pie, bread pudding, apple cobbler, spring rolls from my friend Maria. There were my husband's 2 co-workers, our friend and her 2 adult kids. It was good and we'll do it all over again for Christmas.

My Dad had a PET scan last week because his dr found a spot on his lung, they thought it was lung cancer but it isn't and he is clean!!! We are so happy about that.

My son is having a horrible, depressing time right now with his son and his ex-girlfriend. Even though he has his son most of the time, she is miserable to him and causing him great depression. He is having problems coping right now.

I'm still losing and gaining the same 4 pounds, nothing changes. 70 minutes of exercise a day, eating healthy and nothing.

Happy Anniversary

I got a lovely gift this morning but I won't post a picture of it. I just have to keep saying I love my cat, I love my cat, I love my cat. She must have known what day it was. That makes the 2nd gift in as many days. Last night it was a rather large gecko, this morning just in time for breakfast I got a bird and she was VERY animate about bringing it in side. She even gave nasty, mean growls to her brother letting him know that was HER breakfast.

So, will I be able to get home now because of this damn flu thing? Will flights to the USA be cancelled? This is just fucking fabulous!

Today's SparkPeople Day at a Glance calendar note says:
"Grow a garden. Watching plants grow and thrive under your care is a great exerience! Dig in with cheer, knowing you're beating stress, becoming more active, and surrounding your home with beauty."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TY!

Today is my oldest grandson's birthday, he is 9 years old! I can't believe he is 9! I was there when he was born, it was a bit traumatic, we almost lost him and his mom too but today he is a fine, sweet 9 year old! I have only been with him for 1 frikkin birthday and that really sucks. I hope he has a GREAT birthday! It's so depressing because I was HOME to celebrate his birthday 1 year ago today.



I don't know what happened when I logged in but it told me that my account didn't exist. No matter how many times I retyped my user name & password, it said the account didn't exist. I don't know if someone hacked it or what but I changed the password.

As much as I cry, bawl and hurt at this time of year for not being able to be home, I am glad I am not home right now. I would probably be sitting in the dark with no heat. A major ice storm hit New England and many are without power right now. I called my son in New Hampshire yesterday and they are fine. They have power but ALL the surrounding towns don't! Our daughter in Maine is fine too so that is a relief.

I finally got up the ambition to walk again yesterday. While DH was home for the holiday, I did't do much like I should have so now I have to make up for it. I found those 2 lbs I lost too so now I have to make them go away.

I have been stitching again, I am trying to finish up a 9 year old UFO Mill Hill bead kit. Hopefully I can finish before too much longer. This is what I did, starting picture is on the right, what I have done so far on the left:

Remember all those planes I talked about last month? The ones going over one after the other non stop? Well they are all back, picking up all those hajji's they dropped off last month. I hope they get every last one of them and get them the hell outta here so I can go out shopping.

Well, I'm off to do something creative.

A day that will live in Infamy

December 7, 1941. Today is the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, USA. My thoughts and prayers are with those and their families who lost loved ones that day.

Today is also the anniversary of when my 2 kids & I landed in the land that time forgot. Friday December 7, 1984, 24 years ago.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate today. I hope you have a wonderful day.

TODAY'S THE DAY!!!!!!!!

WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO! Today is my 1 year quit smoking anniversary! I made a year without starting back up! Yep, I'll be honest, between November 15 2007 & January 1 2008 I did sneak a smoke, but it wasn't even a whole cigarette, I didn't like the taste! I am VERY proud of myself! Hmmmmm, wish I could have cake, but I can't.

Another good walk today, it was warm this morning but I made my 1.27 miles. Couldn't get that extra 1/2, maybe later today.

YES, YOUR LANDING GEAR IS DOWN!

Ok, so we are on final approach path to the airport, the point where the landing gear comes down. I swear some of the recent arrivals left skid marks on my roof! I can read the numbers underneath the wings on some of the planes.
OMG DUCK, here comes another one, that shook the house. They haven't been this bad in ages.
Two more have gone over in the time it has taken me to write this, making a total of 5 arrivals in 6 minutes!

WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Jump, Jump, bounce bounce. My new passport is here and it is an AWESOME US PASSPORT TOO! I really love the updates they have done to it. I almost cried looking at each page and the quotes from the US Constitution on each page. The front and back inside covers are very nice as well having the Preamble to the Constitution on the front inside cover. It was issued by the US Department of State in the USA, no particular issue place, just THE USA! Ok, COME ON JUNE! I'm ready to go.

Happy 4th of July

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE OR WOULD LIKE TO CELEBRATE!

It's just me today, my kids are grown adults with lives of their own and they don't need mama hanging on. I have a small rack of PIG ribs and a small chicken breast marinating that I will grill later, some corn on the cob, a green salad and mixed vegetables. I cant' have potato or macaroni salad anymore so I guess that will be it. I forgot the watermelon the other day.

I might venture into town later to see what's happening there but for the most part it will be quiet.

The Yankees lost to Boston last night, it was a horrible game, hopefully they'll do better today.

Have a GREAT day no matter what you do today!

Guess I forgot to re set the clock for EDT.

Ramblings on Monday

Took Kitty #2 to vets. Poor Ms Roxie, the Vet confirmed she is 100% deaf, about 80% blind, she has 1 tooth and she has arthritis. Other than that she is doing well, he said there is no reason to put her down yet, just keep her comfortable. I'm just tired of her peeing all over the place.


I didn't cook for Mother's day, we went to the food court in the mall and I got a delicious Thai chicken wrap sandwich. It was good DH bought me a couple of patio table torch lights (not flashlights) the kind you put oil in to keep bugs away. I am going to take those home and see how they work.


I did call my mother, she is doing OK, has to go for a mammogram this week and see about having a tumorous cyst that she has had for years removed. I hope everything is OK.


My sister is single again, her divorce was final last week, after over 35 years of marriage. My niece has lost over 110 lbs after her gastric bypass surgery.


I did stitch a little bit yesterday on my Vee&Co patriotic biscornu. I am stitching it on 32 count Millennium blue linen with DMC variegated threads. The hard part about stitching this one is that I started it too close to the edge of the fabric and it won't fit all the way on the q-snap right and I can't stitch in hand.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's day to everyone who celebrates today.

I stitched on my Vee&Co patriotic biscornu Saturday night.

IT's hot.

I fixed hot & sour soup & tofu vegetable stir fry.

Another weekend in paradise

Another Weekend is here.
31.8C at 10:30AM

Didn't stitch yesterday

We went to the Turkish restaurant for our Anniversary dinner.

What's today again?

What's today? Is it a special day? Did I do something on this day a few years ago? HHHmmmmmmm, I'll have to wrack my brain to try and remember.

I didn't stitch yesterday

I made some slop in the pan for dinner.

It was hot here and it is again today.

HE'S FREE!!!!!!!

YAY YAY YAY, MY SON IS FREE!!!
Woooo hooooo, I am happy dancing in the desert! My son is off his 2 year probation and is going to try and get his driver's licence back!

A sad anniversary today

The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred in the United States over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of central Florida at 11:39 a.m. EST (16:39 UTC) on January 28 1986. The Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated 73 seconds into its flight after an O-ring seal in its right solid rocket booster failed at liftoff.
Do you remember where you were and what you were doing?
I was living on the otherside of the country from where I am now. I was watching tv and heard it announced. I was in total shock.

Happy Birthday to our daughter!

Today, January 20 is my daughter's 30th birthday and I can't be there to help her celebrate this milestone. I didn't even get around to sending flowers, what a bad mommy I am. I did order her subscriptions to 3 cross stitch magazines and hopefully I will be able to call her later. I feel so horrible about it too. She has had some special birthdays over the years, Superbowl Sundays, presidential inauguration day. I think she got a war for her 13th birthday- I do remember having to cancel that birthday party because the Gulf War started and we were living here at the time. I guess I'll have to search the net and find some kind of I'm sorry flowers to send.

And again today when I went to log into the blog, it was all in that squiggly chicken scratching that I can't find an English Translation button for. I would really love to know what prompted this all of a sudden! IT is getting VERY annoying.

It never did rain yesterday but it is sure so miserable and humid now and it's back up in the mid 80's again, so I guess Winter is over. The sky is still very cloudy and overcast though.

Last night I fixed a pot of Harry & David Wild Mushroom & Leek soup and it was GOOD! I added more fresh mushrooms, onions and little bits of cooked cut up chicken. We also had a sliced tomato, cucumber, mozzarella & onion plate. Looks like we'll be having soup leftovers tonight too. I'll have to put that soup mix on my list of stuff to get this summer.

Still haven't done anymore stitching. I hope I finish this SanMan project before Valentines' Day though.

Did I ever post the final pictures of my Name*Flakes that I gave as Christmas presents? I e-mailed a special friend on Tranquil Stitchers board and asked her if she had any time to make me a couple of tuck banners for the Name*Flakes that I stitched and she was such a sweetheart to make them for me at such short notice. This is how they turned out, both the girls LOVED them:

Well they do look better in person than they do in the pictures and they are straight, LOL Someday I hope to stitch my name and our last name.

November 17

I changed the back ground. I'd love to change it more but I don't know where everyone goes to get the fancy back grounds and such because they sure don't have that much of a selection here.
I stumbled a bit yesterday but I did NOT fall! I lit a cigarette, and put it out, it tasted nasty. I did that just to see if I would slip and I don't think I will. I have also gained weight and look horrible! I'm hungry a lot more often now, either that or it's because I have to take my pill with food twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. If I don't eat before I take it, I get really sick to my stomach.

I put my Thanksgiving decorations up today and I made my Thanksgiving menu the other day:
Turkey, probably cajuin spice injected
bread stuffing from scratch
sweet potatoes (Fresh, NOT canned)
mashed potatoes & gravy (cooked by J.)
fresh green beans sauted with red bell peppers
fresh fruit salad
cranberry relish (made from scratch)
chocolate cream pie
pumpkin pie
Edited to add:
shrimp cocktail for an appetizer
deviled eggs
J. is thinking of making a roast as well, I don't know why.
I might add shrimp cocktail to that menu. This and Christmas are the only meals I like to get formal for and that is because that is the way I grew up, with very formal holiday dinners.
I prefer pumpkin pie from scratch but they don't sell pumpkins here. This is also the time when I break out the eggnog to start the other holiday season off.

The past couple of days I have been sneezing like crazy and blowing my nose. It is getting really annoying, I don't know if it's the fall allergies acting up or the cat fur, the dust I've stirred up cleaning or just what.

I ordered 2 thanksgiving turkeys to be delivered to both of my kids, I hope they get there safely. I also orderd my DH's Christmas present today and my daughter's husband's presents.

Sept. 14

AAahhhhhh, it feels so good. After 3 days my house is CLEAN! All laundry is done, the bathrooms are clean, rugs washed, kitchen has been scrubbed down, floors cleaned, living room dusted, vacuumed and straightened up and a lovely smelling wax tart is burning. Too bad it won't stay this way for long.

Yesterday was my son's 26th birthday. I am so proud of him, he has come up from almost the bottom of the barrel of life and become a wonderful father and son. He has a great job he really likes and is very good at, he's off drugs and has gotten his life totaly turned around. I did get to call him since he took a personal day off work. He is excited that we are coming home for Christmas.

The contractors are starting to work on my yard at home for garage construction. I was told that equipment was dropped off the other day. I don't think it will be done by the time we get home in 29 days but hopefully it will be started.

I did get to stitch for a little while last night before Spot kitty decided he NEEDED to be held. This cat thinks he is a human baby and needs to be held like a baby when he wants to sleep and since he is my DH's baby and DH isn't home, I had to hold him. It was either pick him up and hold him or get 8 cat claws scraped down my leg. So I didn't get to stitch much.

DH is supposed to be home from his business trip today. It's also the start of the weekend here.

World Diabetes Day

Today is World Diabetes day and the color is blue. V posted a challange on my Cross Stitch Crazy board so I am posting here. There isn't a whole lot I can do in this country since I don't see any events or lit buildings listed. Both of my Maternal Uncles died from complications caused by diabetes and both my parents have it in some form or another. I am tested yearly.
Here is a link to learn more about today:
http://www.worlddiabetesday.org/

October 22

Here is a picture of the birthday presents my DH got me. I am a coffee addict and I collect coffee mugs.

4 more days at HOME in the US would have been REAL nice!

WOO HOO! I stitched last night! I put in a few stitches on my June blackwork project, it's still no where near done but a few stitches is better than none. I also stitched on a project while sitting waiting for our flight in Paris.
I got all my charts and kits entered into my stash database list so now I need to find someplace to put them. I may not be organized around the house, but I'm just anal about organizing my cross stitch stash.

The tv satellite still isn't working, too many trees have grown up around the house so the signal won't come in. DH put in a call to maintenence to come cut down the trees so we can watch the crappy tv shows. In the mean time we've watched a LOT of DVD's.

Happy Birthday to me

Woo Hoo, I'm 50 today. I don't feel any different. I did join AARP last month, hope I get to use it some.
My DH gave me the cutest coffee cup and "sandwich" tray to go with it and a little biscuit tin and a package with another coffee cup and some Barnies coffee. I could care less if we go out or not, I'm just not happy to be here and the less I go out, the happier I will be.

I got all my new cross stitch charts, floss and fabric all sorted and entered into my computer list, now I just need a whole new room to store it all in.

I've become addicted to some stupid internet games on iWon.com