I Vant to Suck Your Blood

Twice a year our apprentice school holds a blood drive. Yesterday was one of those days - the day before Halloween!! (the other day is in the spring). I always try to donate = so I went in after lunch with one of my co-workers - we tried to see who can finish first - after accusing me of cheating (?) he won. The best part, I guess everyone knows, is the juice and cookies when you are done donating - all you want - I like the oatmeal ones with some orange juice.

As a special treat we also got a Halloween goody bag filled with the good candy ( chocolates):) - The apprentices really did a great job this year- I think everyone of them showed up to donate - it's one of those good things. At home, I had dinner with my mom - I was really tired so I got to bed early - my husband was getting ready to watch a football game. Thank you Lord for Your Grace.

Showers of Happiness

It was a beautiful Sunday morning so I made a pot of coffee and went on line. I'm a early riser (I go to bed early too) and I can blog during this time with no interruptions. When my husband got up he wanted to watch the news. After a while, I wanted to see what movie was playing for the Halloween weekend. I found Dracula, The Mummy and Frankenstein - the originals from the 30s'!! They are not very long movies, but I enjoyed them so much.

My mother and I had to go to a Baby Shower yesterday (a baby girl!!!) - so my husband drove us to my cousin - he stayed and watched the game with her husband and my cousin drove us along with her mother to the shower. We had a good time (for a baby shower). They served bloody marys or mimosa. We all had the mimosa - lunch was served buffet style - I got up as many times as I wanted (who doesn't like that?). We finally got home around 5:30 - my husband could watch the second half of the Jets (went on and on about disrupting his Sunday football). I read. Thank You Lord.

Fall Behind

Saturday cleaning is hard enough - but when it's raining I just want to lay around with a cup of tea and watch some how to show. I had the tea, but I had to get to some things or else (they wouldn't get done). So I straightened up, change the bed, got to the dishes. I love Windex - I use it on everything - so I did my windex thing and looked around - Not too bad...

My husband woke up a little early for a Saturday. Walking around like a caged bird or something... asking me what my plans for the day were... I told him I only had to go to supermarket... if he could take me and pick me up in an hour. He said he had to get a hair cut first--o.k. after the hair cut is good. So he left at 10Am and I went on with the house work, which was alot easier being alone. When he didn't get back by 2 I knew there would be no food shopping today.

He came back around 4 and I went down by my mom to get out of his way..my mom left her lotto numbers on the stairs with some money - asked if he'd go and play them for her..it was still raining. No problem - my mom and I ate around 5:30 and just spent some time together - finally I went downstairs to the basement to watch some t.v., tried doing a crossword and get some sleep - I heard my husband come in at 10 - but then I remembered the clock goes back tonight - so it was really 9.

All Dressed Up - No Where To Go

I had to be in at work early Friday - which is not a problem - I get to leave early. We can wear jeans and sneakers , so that was good. Is was just another day really - about 4 people took Friday off so it really went by fast. When I got home I wanted to order a pizza for dinner - but my mom told me she made minestrone with pork (she is a old home cook from the other side) Yumm....

So I made a big salad for my husband - brought his dinner upstairs and I ate with my mother. My husband had not come from work yet - he's usually here around 4pm. Friday is my moms' poker night with the girls, so we watched some T.V. until she left and then I settled in watching one of my favorite shows "What Not To Wear" - my daughter makes fun of me but I just enjoy watching them so much - I really only like to see what the 2 hosts (Stacey and Clinton) are wearing.

Dressing up and going out anywhere makes me happy. I've loved dressing up since the days of Twiggy and the Beatles, Carnaby Street in England, the Mod Look.... I've seen bell bottoms come, go and come back again - I like them!! My sister and my cousins, we were always into fashion, hair and make-up. To this day we can talk about hair while dancing the night away at a wedding - We make people laugh. I heard my husband come in at 9:30 - he went right upstairs - the dog ran up to get her treat - I stayed where I was. I thought I heard rain.

Who's At The Door?

Nothing was going to wake my husband up for work yesterday. Not even the threat of my staying home with him. So I had to let go and let God be God. I had to rememeber that I had no control over the situation or my husband and his drinking. So I got ready for work, walk the dog, clear up the place as good as I could and left. I wished my mom good luck, she was spending the day at Atlantic City with the senior group.

My daughter picked me up at 3PM from work - she needed me to watch the baby while she worked on her computer - she has 2 sites she maintains -one is I'm Not Obsessed.com and the other is celeb-diet.com . I just can't take my eyes off my granddaughter - she is my darling. My husband came downstairs and was trying to start a argument with me. I try very hard to stay away from him after 12 pm. It looked like he had picked up where he left off at the union meeting the night before.

Finally he left with the dog and I enjoyed my granddaughter until they left. I had dinner and stayed downstairs. He finally got back after 7PM and sat on the stoop and was challanging someone to come over and he'd take care of them - oh boy...after he went upstairs, someone came to the door and I answered it.

A woman was standing there, asking for my con ed bill to make sure I was not being cheated - are people crazy??? Was I crazy for opening the door?? I told her I shred all my bills after I pay them - OH?? Then I heard my husband yelling from upstairs, I told those people not to come over to this house!!! Oh Boy....the dog was barking and I closed the door. That's when I decided it was time to go to sleep. I let God be God.

Hump Day

I could not stop eating Wednesday. The school in the back had a meeting and ordered much to much food. So they brought us platters of bagels cream cheese, butter and jelly, muffins, danish and fruit. What a great pick me up!! Around 1PM they brought up platters of sandwiches, all kinds on all types of bread!!! How much can you eat? - Luckily the last Wednesday of each month is the quarterly meeting - so we had lots of people coming and going - and alot of them were hungry. Plenty for all. This is an election year, so we were busy addressing envelopes to the membership. I have to start going to work more comfortable to do this. I wear sneakers because I do alot of standing.

When I got home I found my husband and his partner leaving for the meeting. I pulled out the garbage cans because Thursday is pick up day. I had dinner with my mom and decided it was a good idea to sleep downstairs tonight. Meeting nights are never good.

No Chinese Food For You!

Tuesday is Chinese food day at work. I was voted into the job of taking everyones order and calling it in - collecting the money and putting food out in the kitchen ( everyone has a favorite seat). Yesterday my co-workers' daughter (who is going to be a nurse) informed us that she read a article that said chinese food causes ulcers!!!! Why??? Because it is cooked ahead and reheated over and over as needed and they use old frying oil way too long. This grows a germ or something and when eaten, some people develope ulcers and need antibiotics. - I get the white rice with my meal and so I wanted to know if it was only fried rice or what??? She will get back to me soon.

I gave everyone the bad news, but it seems no one cared and they wanted chinese anyway - it was Tuesday, wasn't it??? They informed me that we all have to die from something - I don't smoke, drink (too much), gamble (except for pools at work) so I figure, I'll go by Chinese - maybe I'll started smoking and drinking (if only there was a cure for the hangover - I hate that so much).

When I got home, my husband was not in a good mood. He waited an hour at the post office picking up my package...he has a long walk across town when he gets off the train in the morning (3 avenues)... lots of confusion red light, green light (this man was born in New York)... he really is comical going on and on about how hard he works. I tell him to be happy he is home and safe...Nooooo.... He is not happy until he goes through his pity party act. They want the job done, but they don't give him the right tools. The people who want the job done, don't know how to do the job.... trying to tell him how ha!!! On and on chomping on onion potato chips and drinking beer......He is soooo tired (go to sleep)...Finally he eats dinner...ends with a large glass of milk and lots of cookies ...Thank you, Jesus.

Did Someone Say Bingo?

I'm not crazy about Mondays, but I got myself to work anyway. I started to feel better the more I walked - it was still dark but slowly the day began to brighten up. When I got to work I found out that I had won the Sunday night baseball pool!!!! $100.00 - Wow - I could definitely deal with Mondays like this. I have to wait till all the games are played to get my winnings. This happy feeling lasted out the day.

It was pretty busy, every other Monday is a meeting night and so everyone was flying around preparing for their time to speak out. Phone calls, people bring their books up to date- collecting money - lots of confusion - I convinced my friend to walk at lunch time - love it - the day just flew by.

So I thought I'll make this a full week - I'll take off Halloween and go to the mall dressed up with my daughter and granddaughter. Not sure what I'll be wearing - I have to think about it. When I got home I found my husband in his plaid p.j's - not feeling so good. We had the left over chicken and pasta. I ate with my Mom downstairs - then she went off to play Bingo with her friends...It was a quite night. Thank you Lord for the peace, the pasta and the money.

Look Who's Cooking

I invited my sister, neice, my daughter, husband and baby to come over for dinner. Then I called my cousin's daughter who is working here as a NYC teacher in the Bronx. She is here from Canada on a teaching program - she will be teaching for at least 3 years. They all came over!!

We celebrated my mom's homecoming - and so I cooked. I made meatballs in sauce with tiny penne and chicken franchiese with roasted sweet and yellow potatoes ( someone has been watching Food Network) and of cource - a salad.

My husband got to see the Jets win - oh happy day...Everyone got here around 4pm and we had a very nice time catching up. It was a great Sunday - I was so happy to have them all around me. The dog was happy because these people drop plenty on the floor - she loves my meatballs.

We enjoyed tea and cake - singing Happy Birthday to my 13 year old neice. We got everything in......... I cleaned up and we settled to watch Something Gotta Give...good company... good food....good movie....good night...

Welcome Home

My mom finally got back yesterday!!! She was away for 3 weeks and 2 days - she went to visit her 2 sisters and family/friends in Europe. Her flight came in at 3PM - my husband took me to JFK/Delta arrivals terminal. It seems that Delta took over Alitalia and from the arrival board, they seem to be PARTNERS (that's the term used) with about 5 airlines including Air France - Huh, who would have thought.

I really missed my mom - she lives downstairs from us in her two family house. I visit her alot and so does my dog. When things get loud, she makes a beeline downstairs and scratches my moms door - its a safety haven for us both. My mom had a great time visiting her family and she said that the flight was very good - they kept feeding them - breakfast, lunch, snack....she was not hungry - she just wanted a cup of tea.

My husband told my mom that he missed her so much. My mom cooks for us each day - and I've been bringing in food each night while she 's been away. (I missed her too, she also does the laundry -do I have to tell you how tired I am) :) Anyway, she's back and everyone is happy, even the dog. What a blessing!!

Misery Loves Company

I decided to stay home Friday too, and make it a nice 4 day weekend. It rained most of the day til around 3pm, when suddenly the sun came out and the wind kicked in.

My daughter came over with the baby and spent the afternoon with me. Around 8 pm I went to dinner with my sister and two cousins - we celebrate each other's birthday going out to eat. It's always the birthday's girls choice and the other three share the bill. Last night we went to STOVE - it's an American-French place - we skipped the appetizers and ordered 2 cosmos and 2 glasses of wine). My cousins' husband came over after work = he and my husband were going to eat at a place called the Beer Garden - hamburgers and potato pancakes (and a beer or two).

We came back to my place after dinner to find my cousins' husband had fallen asleep on the couch. My husband was holding court at the kitchen table, smoking, drinking and rambling on to some one in his past. Not a very pretty sight, but everyone knows about him. On the kitchen table was a large empty bag of Burger King -I guess they decided to skip the garden and to go straight for the beer. We all said good night and I got ready for bed. My husband was not happy - he promised to throw out the computer in the morning - he did not want me sharing my journal with some guy in Hong Kong. (Did I say something about Hong Kong?) It's funny, but what he was saying did not bother me. I knew from experiance that he was more drunk than I could understand.

So as I watched and listened, it seemed more and more like a movie - I don't know how to explain it. Thank you Lord for my good friends and wonderful family = and a special blessing on your child(my husband) who you have left in my care.

Next Time Pastrami I Promise

I didn't go to work yesterday (I have about 8 vacation days left) - instead I went to the mall with my daughter and grandaughter. But first I had to run to the post office - there was a package there and I could not remember what I ordered - it's still in my trunk because I went straight to my daughters and wasn't sure if my husband was home yet when I finally got back later in the afternoon.

My little dolly is walking now, she wants to run around and is she fast!!! We went to Ben's for lunch - they have the best pastrami on rye and chicken soup - my daughter goes for the potato pancake with applesauce every time.

The sweet baby girl had the omelet kids meal. I had to get my son-in-law a 30th birthday gift, so my daughter suggested Century 21 - Great idea, i got him a gift certificate so he can get what ever he wants when he wants.

My daughter and her husband celebrate the same birthday in November - but she will be 30 next year. (How is that possible??) It turned out to be a lovely day - at one point, I had to take off my jacket. When I got home all was quite, I wished I had brought up the package from the post office - but now I was afraid to go get it because I might meet my husband coming in. I really have to stop ordering things over the internet - but I am so gung-ho in the morning - you know maybe I'll win the lotto today - I just get carried away. anyway, he came in a little while later and asked if I spent all day cooking - He saw the french fries and hot dog I bought him from Ben's.

What's wrong with pastrami and a potato pancake? Oh, boy...here we go. O.K. I'll get it next time -He went on and on and on- while munching on the fries and drinking his beer. You watch enough cooking shows - but you don't cook - he just kept on mumbling "I don't get it" - (I learned the hard way a long time ago not to answer such questions because this is a no win situation) He kept heating that hot dog and fries over and over again. Blah, Blah, Blah....Finally the ballgame came on. He informed me that the two places he has no interest in going to are Boston and St. Louis...whatever that means.

We went to Salem on Columbus Day weekend - it turned out to be a really long drive, but we ended up having a good time. Dear Lord, keep blessing us - thank you.

Rocky Road

Yesterday was our wedding anniversay. We were married 12 years ago at City Hall, it was a beautiful cool, crisp Tueday. My daughter was 16 soon to be 17. My husbands sister-in-law told us that 18 was a lucky number in the Jewish religion - she is Jewish, so she knows.

My mom treated all to a wedding dinner/reception at the Crab House in Long Island City(we were about 35 people in all) It was a very nice afternoon. We did not go on a honeymoon until the spring. Then we went away for a long weekend at Danbury Inn at Port Jefferson.

The Inn has lovely rooms and it's a really nice town with great shops and lots of good food. If you want, you can catch a ferry to Conn. I don't do boats but we had a very nice time anyway. We try to go back there once a year for lunch and just to spend an afternoon (honestly, we haven't been there in a while). So, anyway I got an Happy Anniversay wish and a kiss yesterday morning. We planned to stay home for dinner and go out special maybe Saturday- he likes steak and I like fish. The day at work was great - all the officers were out playing golf for the day.


Perfect!! So I caught up on all my work - cleared off my desk and enjoyed the rest of the day - at lunch we sat outside - it was so lovely. I ate a bag of M&M's - ahh...life is good. When I got home the dog was alone. Not a good sign. So I walked the dog and went throught the mail. I was just about to start eating dinner when I heard the front door open. My huband came in with Dunkin Donuts and a quart of Baskin Robbins ice cream - half cookies and cream and half rocky road. I love rocky road - it's one of my favorites - I'm also crazy about, since I was a little girl, cherry vanilla - tho, I never met a strawberry ice cream I didn't like either. Growing up on 2nd avenue in NYC I remember the Good Humor Vanilla Coconut on a stick - when I ever see it I get one - you don't see it around too much any more.

When I go to the mall with my daughter and granddaughter , we get the fancy ice creams - they are good too. My daughter likes shakes and so does my husband - me, I like ice cream on a sugar cone - (now they have sugar cone cups!!) Anyway, we had dinner and then he gave me his paycheck - been trying to get a rein on our bills. We got ready for the ballgame - do or die game - I had to dig really down in the ice cream carton, because the rocky road was on the bottom (who likes cookies and cream?). Got a big bowl of ice cream - I was very happy - so was my dog - she got to enjoy the last two spoonfuls I saved for her.

No More Secrets

I have been uncomfortable about this blog from the beginning. I never told my husband what I have been doing. He kept asking me, what are you doing on the computer at 4 AM? Oh, shopping for Christmas. Truth is, Christmas is all done ready to wrap and put under the tree. So yesterday I started slow, telling him I've started a journal, more like a diary about my life. He should have been a detective. The man can come up with more questions than anyone I know.

When he understood what I''ve been doing he left the room. About 5 minutes later he returned, to tell me he will probably have to sue me. I had to hold my breath because he can really make me laugh. He went on and on about how he will sue me and everyone involved (that includes all of you). I explained that I have a life and that is what I'm writing about, what I see, what I hear, what I feel, what I do.

I explain to him that he lives with me and so I have to include him, he is in my every day life, he is my husband. I reminded him how when he upsets me, he tells me to calm down, everything will be alright, I should understand because I am his wife? Suddenly - the sound of silence. He was not happy - but he could not think of anything to say. But I have to say that I feel so much better. It's out in the open - he knows what I'm doing in the morning. I'm thinking that now he won't give so much to write about. That's me believing that someday he won't want to drink anymore. It can happen.

Monday Morning Flu

I have to admit that I sometimes get the Monday Morning Blues when I have to get up to go to work. I even remember getting them during High School. You know the feeling... you just want to stay in bed and sleep just a little longer - convincing yourself it must be Saturday - not Monday.

After this weekend my husband had trouble getting up for work. His head was hurting, his stomach was upset, he told me he did not get enough sleep. I said maybe you have a hangover. He informed me that he never gets hangovers - that the truth is, he thinks he is coming down with the flu! Oh, right, I forgot - the Monday morning flu - not that again!! The poor thing got dressed and took the dog out and came back and got ready for work (he was not a happy camper - Thank God he's gotten the train ride under control). I had to go to work early yesterday to cover the person not coming in that morning. Which means I got to leave at 3:30 instead of 4:30. - Not bad - I was home by 4. When I got home, I found my husband in his Jets pajama, lying on the couch covered under a quilt, drinking a coke. There was a empty beer can on the counter - (but my husband always tells me that one does not count - so to keep the peace, I did not count it). Instead I gave him some chicken soup and crackers for dinner and I did not hear a peep out of him. He feel asleep and got up to watch the ballgame. Thank God for His favor.

Spring Cleaning

It was a beautiful Sunday morning. So I made a fresh pot of coffee and just enjoyed the quiet. Nice not to have a headache. I finally had my husband put up a towel rack in the bathroom. Our old one just fell apart, it was up for over 20 years. Then I changed the shower extention rod and put up a fresh liner and a sheer shower curtain. Most people do spring cleaning but I like to brighten things up at autumn - get ready for winter(which is my least favorite time).

Now I was in the swing, so I asked my huband to take down curtains in the dining room and living room. You know this started a argument - but I had to go with it- it was now or never. I put up lighter colored curtains so I can get the most sunshine I can til spring comes around. I like to do it before day light savings falls behind. I guess my husband thought he need a reward, so he took the dog out and I did not see him til after 4pm - Jets kickoff time.

He was not in a good state when he got back. He drank the rest of the afternoon and night. I went down to the basement and watch "What Not to Wear" there was a marathon going on!!! (God is good) I went to bed around 9pm and then around 9:30PM I heard the doorbell - Chinese Food Delivery - I guess he wanted some chicken chow mein.

Back to the Future - 1980's

The dog had a vet appointment at 10:30am. So my husband took her, for just a nail trimming and ear cleaning visit. Seems she has a bump on her upper arm that has to come off. I think I'll make the appointment for 2 weeks. Later that afternoon, my husband informed me that he will be writing a letter to the Radisson Hotel in Tampa, letting them know he will soon be interested in working there. He'd like to work in the maintance dept., he can run the whole hotel (he informed me) with his knowledge of H.V.A.C. and welding, air conditioning background - what ever needs to be done. A superivor positon would be great. They would have to let him know when this position opens and if he is ready, he will let them know.

I am looking at him trying not to show expression on my face. It's going to be a long afternoon.


We had a 80"s theme birthday party to go to that night at 7 pm. So i thought it would be a good idea to take a nap and I did. I already went to the supermarket and hung out a wash - so I took 45 minutes to lay down. I convinvced my huband to do the same. He asked me to wake him when I got up because he wanted to leave at 5:30pm for the party - Sure - I woke him up at 6pm. We got to the party at 7:15. We had a wonderful time, everyone did a great job dressing up. Lots of tunics and leggings - that's what i wore,(remember the 80's?)

There were Madonnas, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Idol, Rainbox Bright, Ghost Busters, Scarface, Crocker from Miami Vice (my husband), Tom Cruise in underwear, Flash Dance, Daisy Duke, Jason, and Pee Wee Herman. Lots of fun! Around 11:00 pm we started playing Beatles songs - we (the women) all got up and started singing and dancing along. The Beatles are such a comfort, such joy, each song has it's own memory locked in time -Most of us picked a Beatle song for our wedding theme. The Beatles connect us all forever - I've been blest with a wonderful family and darling friends. It was a good Saturday night. Thank you Lord.

You've Got Mail

Friday morning was a little colder than I thought it was going to be. This summer I started to walk to work when ever it is not raining hard. I hate to exercise and i like to eat and this summer I remembered how much I like to walk. When I was 13 my cousin and I would walk down to the Village every night after dinner (around 6pm) share a pack of cigaretts, buy a cherry coke at the Cock and Bull - try to look cool - and then walk like the wind to make it back home by 9 pm.


It all came back to me this summer - I'm a walker!!! It takes me about a hour to get to work - maybe longer if I start to daydream, and miss my turn. It was chilly yesterday, but so lovely.

Autumn is a favorite time of mine - tho, I have to admit I"m crazy about the summer. I left a post office slip on the kitchen table and asked my husband to please pick up the package for me after work. He gets home about 2 hours before me - he starts at 7 am. I have to tell you, I forgot what I ordered. I've discovered shopping on the internet - this could turn ugly - so I'm trying to calm myself and not look or buy anything. Trouble is, all the companies are now sending me specials via e-mail. What a temptation!

No one was home when I got there, not even the dog. So I ate my dinner - saved my husbands dinner on a plate, covered it with foil and put out the dogs dinner and started looking at the mail and putting away the laundry (believe it or not - i enjoy doing this stuff). They both came in around 6 pm and my husband had my package and his Friday night special in tote. I bought cordoroy jeans( beige) and a 2 piece pillow set for my rocking chair (sage) - which I'll try to get my husband to put together on Sunday - early - before football begins. I settled in the bedroom to watch "Law and Order CI" - love this show. Then I watched "Take Home Chef" (he goes to some beautiful kitchens!!) and "What Not to Wear" ( another favorite). I dozed off and was awoken by the noise in the kitchen - it was 10:30 pm and my husband was finally ready to eat dinner - not bad for a Friday the 13th night.

Meatballs, anyone?

Going back to work after a day off is always nice. The day goes by pretty fast just trying to clean off my desk. I'd love to work part-time, maybe 3 days a week. I've been telling myself I'll retire at 55... but that's coming at me real fast.

The truth is I can"t afford to retire. I've been working in this office for over 18 years, so I pretty much know what the day will be like. Like everyone else out there, I work with a cast of characters. An extended family - a home away from home. I feel safe there. On the way home yesterday, I picked up a meatball hero for my husband and what I thought was a grilled chicken hero for myself. My hero was filled with mozzarella, grilled chicken, roasted peppers and some kind of eggplant spread or maybe it was olive , fresh basil and garlic - wow! oh I forgot the sun-dried tomatoes. Don't get me wrong - I ate it all. It was messy and good!

Lots of clanking going on in the kitchen. My husband is mumbling to himself- he is still having trouble with the train. He likes his food very hot. So he is microwaving this poor meatball hero to a slow death. 15 seconds at a time!!! Again, and again and again. It's like a lab experiment. Then he takes a break to have a beer in the bathroom. He hasn't eaten yet. A hour later he starts the lab experiment again. 15 seconds at a time. You could not pay me to eat this meatball hero now. Finally at 8 pm watching the baseball game he eats. God is good.

Not Again

Yesterday I took a day off from work to spend with my daughter and new granddaughter. We had lunch and did some shopping. I had a wonderful time. When I got back home I heard that a small plane had crashed into a building in the City. I thought, that is where my husband is working. In a flash I was back to 9/11. He was working on 14 th Street that day and he had a disposable camera. He was able to take pictures of the towers on fire and coming down. What a sick feeling I had. He went down to ground zero on Thursday and again on Saturday to help. He was allowed in because he is a certified welder. Finally, he came home yesterday and told me that he was about 30 blocks away from yesterdays crash. We watched the news and found out it was a accident - terrible. After dinner, he layed down and asked me to wake him for the baseball game - I let him sleep.

Subway Saga

Been riding the trains, seems for a thousand years - pretty easy stuff. But not for my husband, he started a new job yesterday.
The train I told him to take turns out to be an express and goes right by his stop - big problem. He had to walk the station back and across town - Thank God it was a beautiful day! When he got home, he told me the story for three hours til he fell asleep.