Loni's Life

BFF and I got back from our short, but quite nice, post-Thanksgiving trip to the Bahamas.   I had her drop me off at my new house and go in with me as a safety in numbers thing; set the thermostat for some heat and then sent her onwards towards her home.   I went to see Mama for a little bit and pick up the important stuff that I would need for today at the office and chat a bit.  Then off to pick up Mocha from the Ex's place. Somehow, once parked at my old house, I managed to hit the panic button on my key fob which set the car horn going wild which in turn sent Mocha into hiding in the house.   So it took us a little bit to find her and then a bit to get her wrangled into her pet carrier (she was totally not pleased).   The Ex packed up her litter box and litter; I packed up her food.   I managed to grab one of her mousey ball toys.  Between the last set of stuff from Mama's and the carrier and other assorted belongings, my jeep was full;...

One of my Santiago teammates asked this morning how was my Thanksgiving? Well, in all honesty, it was a different Thanksgiving since my divorce was finalized; but it was still filled with the most important things ~ family, food, fun and giving thanks.  We started the day with buttermilk pancakes made from scratch with both of Mama's boys in house.. and an added bonus, Kyle was at home from Butler for the week to also dance in The Nutcracker with Chamberlain School of Performing Arts .   While the boys were playing games and catching up; and Mama was working on some quilting and resting her sore back; I was organizing stuff in what has been my room for the past 7 months to get it transported to my new home.  Along the way, there were episodes of Shaun the Sheep via Netflix. In the afternoon, Mama told the Boys that needed to be sure to call Granny and Grampa Jack.  I was like, my only remaining Grandma is nearly 100, there's a 5 hour time zone difference, a...

Mommy's been sunning, so I have too!

It's the first Thanksgiving in just over two decades that I haven't woken up to spend it with my now ex-husband.   No cinnamon rolls or rice krispie treats to start the day.   But in the next hour, I'll be sharing Thanksgiving breakfast pancakes with family.   While not related by blood or marriage, they are truly family.   They've seen me thru one of the most challenging and emotional years of my life. Their home is my home, literally.. well for the past seven months anyhow.   The boys have ended up sharing the youngest's room while I have been in the safe haven that is the eldest's room.   They are such great kids.. or rather young men... I am very blessed to have them in my life.   The eldest is always full of interesting chatter; and the youngest always makes me smile or laugh.   It's been a real treat and a blessing to be able to get to know them better.   Their Mama is my adopted mama.. even though by age-alone, she is only in th...

Happy Mocha Monday!   Cats love BOXES and Mocha is no exception... Mocha says "My box"

FFI 20111118 1. As you can see  I'm doing alright . 2.  A mini vacation is coming  soon! 3. I love to buy  quality  yarn . 4.  I have been blessed by the many  gift(s) of friendship .  5. What's up with that ?! 6.  It hurts when you get a paper cut on one of your  fingertips. 7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to being done with work for the week , tomorrow my plans include  packing  and Sunday, I want to  be done with packing !

It was a busy day at the new nest today.  The Locksmith re-keyed the locks.  The security company came and installed new pads and stuff for the alarm system.   Rooms To Go delivered the new living room and bedroom furniture.  Thanks to VPN, I was still able to get in nearly 8 hours of productive work today.   Big move is on Monday when we'll meld old with new in the new nest.

Happy Mocha Monday!

Sad or excited to be packing up stuff at my old house was the question posed by Mama Cheryl... and the answer is a little of both I guess.    I know I've found a great new place to re-build and to heal and to embark on a journey of re-discovery and growth... and for that it is exciting and a bit scary and almost overwhelming at times.    But then there are times that it's hard not to look back and feel sad for the loss.   I'm trying to listen to Mama Stacy's wisdom to keep looking forward... somedays it is harder than others.   With so many Mamas in my life and family and friends to see me through, I know I'll be ok.  

FFI 20111111 1. Turkey is not just for Thanksgiving . 2. I like pumpkin pie; but I love Boston Cream pie. 3. On and on and on we go around and around . 4. The last time I saw Mocha she was rolling in catnip . 5. Can you believe Christmas is only 42 days away?!?!! 6. I need a vacation (14 days and counting!). 7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner with family , tomorrow my plans include shopping and Sunday, I want to shop some more !

My Knit Picks Wishlist

There is a smoke detector chirping...so must pick up new batteries and recruit someone to fix it... See: Lesson learned.

Last Thursday, what I had intended to be a simple task of changing an AC filter during my lunch hour... turned into one of my dumbest moves of all time.    Ok, maybe that was just a little too much of Independent Me trying to be Self-Sufficient (I normally let the AC guy handle the filter change, except he was out of that filter size when he checked the system on Wed).     I had already decided to exit the attic as it was creepy and scary enough and I had been on the wrong side of the AC to change the filter anyhow.    I was making my way back to the attic exit when one of the cross boards snapped and I knew I was going to drop thru the floor (a 9-foot drop to ceramic tile).  The next thing  I knew I was calling Mama Cheryl to come pick me up and take me to the ER to get my head checked out. I obviously blacked out for a while and was in a daze... I left a trail of insulation pretty much all over the house; I had changed out of my pull...

Mama's chicadee is getting ready for a new nest.   I give thanks everyday for my family who has gotten me through this divorce business.   It's been a crazy spring/summer of highs and lows... mostly lows.   Mama Cheryl has been the quintessential Mama to nurture the chick when it was needed; to swoop in as a protector every now and then; to get the chick directed back towards independence.      It has truly been a blessing to have Mama C and her boys in my life ~ and especially so this summer.    The boys doubled up in the youngest's room so I could have the eldest's room.  The youngest can always bring smiles and laughs to my life.   We don't get to see enough of the eldest, but at 21 he's spreading his own wings a bit too.    It's been great to have not only Mama's home but BFF's home as options during this time so that I didn't have to rush finding a new home to call my own.   As it is, I fou...

No, not what you think.. in this new post-divorce life, I'm just working on me and not really dating...  but Tuesday nights after TOPS is usually a dinner date post meeting.  Mainly because the meeting is after work and I don't want to eat dinner right before weighing in and neither do most TOPS members.     For years, it has been Mama Cheryl and me; BFF when she is in town; and along the way some other TOPS pals.     Since our group has dwindled in attendance and historically I don't expect to see many new faces until the new year, it has been just Mama and me until recently.    We've taken to going to pick up Mama's youngest for a dinner date if his study schedule permits.   Even though we've usually just seen him on Sunday, it's nice to see him again on Tuesday night and make sure he gets a good meal since he just isn't doing well on the university meal plan.   Chili's is usually the destination of choice, but we've also had Red Lobst...

Oooooh... a new home and maybe a new kit to knit once the dust settles... go check out the giveaway!  Cafe Latte Cowl

Noble Knits has 6 ways to enter to win some Plymouth Yarn.   Go check it out !