Missing

OK this is the question of the day-AALA PAX-FFF

How come I know where my esophagus and corpus collosum are,
but can't find my passport,
or my glasses that I had on my face reading with, a short five hours ago!

I can locate an address, someone gives my while in the car,
but always loose my keys!

Why do I have to be ME?

SO you ask, what's up with the mommanator? Who else should she be!?

I would like to throw caution to the wind!
I would like to get in my car and just drive off and start a new life.
I would like to tell people off!
I would like to Not care about anyone else or just plain anyone.
I would like to Not care about money. Get nails done, hair coiffed amazingly bad-punk rock style,I haven't been bleach blond yet!!
I would like to go out and buy my RED jag or convertible mini cooper, or baby blue Aston Martin.
I would like a single story home in PERFECT repair.
I would like to get a message by a tastefully gorgeous Swedish masseuse- male of course.
I would like to go to a spa (the Blue Lagoon was nice) and have everything offered and Not give a damn how much it costs.
I would like for no-one to want me to do something for them.
I would like someone to change, launder and iron my sheets, remake the bed, spritz with lavender and tuck me in tonight.
I would like to say something sometimes and people not say-how do you know that, are you sure, turn on their heal and either go look on the computer or ask someone else in my ear shod.
I would like Not to feel much of the time that something of doom is gonna happen.
I would like to believe some of what I hear, see, etc.
I would like to be whistled at or someone say who is that?
I would like to sleep in late, have someone saunter in with fresh brewed coffee & breakfast on a silver tray.
I would like to feel like I did in the Spring of 1969.

these are not necessarily in want order & the list could go on forever
these are but a few to mention and on the uppermost of my mind.
I can't be having a midlife crisis- I am well past that age.
Heaven knows even with hitting the lottery some things are not attainable,
But at least I do have LOVE.

the Last hurrah

As some know I moved, but really didn't move last Aug/Sept then again in Dec.
Now this time I AM MOVING- as you also know Officeland I is moving to Officeland III-a glass building, however only some selected have the view from a window-not me of course-why give the old broad who is retiring a window!? Packing for the move has been something! The dust & dust mites might I say have been terrible! The smells that have evoked have been indescribable! The place too darn hot! Since we only have 1 window in the building that can open, we are left to opening doors of which there are some who scream when the doors are open-let em scream I say-they can put on their darn coats for all I care I cant breathe with my allergies, the smells and the heat- oops I complain too much!

The actual packing has been a mix of bitter sweat, as I am packing for the move and for retirement-have looked through things that have been my work for almost 20 years now at this office-thrown hard work just plain ole in the shredder- IS THAT ALL THERE IS?, IS THAT ALL THERE IS!

Some things even brought a tear or two to the mommanators eyes! BUT of course there were the tears of joy too remembering things associated with a memento or a gift or a card from a co-worker/friend. One I can specificaly remember is from a great friend who sent me this unbelievable "nurses" card along with a hand written poem-so special!

Then of course, there is the TRYING to get some actual work done in this mess, noise, heat and confusion! Yes they actually think we can work in this atmosphere! They took all the client files away, so we cant even look things up. That doesnt stop the phones from ringing or my wonderful co-workers giving me more things than I can get accomplished before I finally take that walk out the door to my next endeavor- as I close one door and open another to the next season of my life!
as I always say 'quityerbitchin at least yer in the race!' and of course my 'get over it already'.

Weekend in Lancaster

Well this past weekend I was celebrating my 38th year of marriage to the same guy! Yes people sometimes get married and are true to their vows. We have had our ups & downs, Spats, crying, laughter- we have had it all, but somehow have always worked IT out!

We have gone to Lancaster for the past couple of years, in a real nice Hotel! Well this year me(ya know the one getting older every minute) and my computer couldn't remember the name of the Hotel (the Revere Inn). Soo I registered with A Days Inn- what a fiasco that turned out to be. Lets put it this way it was probably one of the worst places I have stayed in in my entire life!
Of course it was prepaid, with no refunds! I would have forfeited the money, but with me being out of work for so long, I honestly couldn't afford to do that! It was supposed to be handicapped assessable- much of it was , but the game room, & indoor Pool were not! and of course the mommanator has already made an ADA violation report on that. Then let me say a few things about the weather! It was beautiful falling rain, sleet, hail, snow, ice all the way there. In NJ we hardly got any snow but it accumulated a foot up there in Lancaster! The Days Inn staff didn't think it necessary to clean sidewalks or driveways. However a foot of snow doesn't stop the clan from having a good time shopping & eating! And so we did -laugh, swim, shop and eat!
Happy Anniversary to the Mommanator & her Mountain Man

girls night out

This evening went with a few folks to Sandy Cove Maryland for a girls night out.
It involved a great meal of cod and/or chicken, vegetable mix, savory yellow rice,
salad with the most scrumptious raspberry dressing, bread and wonderful desserts.
I had a bit of oreo cookie pie and coconut custard pie! Was I full after that!

Then we saw a show: a couple sang a few tunes and then the main event was a ventriloquist-
she was unbelievable- I swear those dummies were talking and not her. She has done her thing all over the world- just returned from Japan. She did the funny part with her dummies-aka-peoploids then told an amazing story of her family. Mostly about her daughter who had a drug/alcohol problem and finally after many years went to a treatment program and it finally worked. She had us laughing one minute and crying the next!

The only thing which was a downer was the darn rain and driving in it. I have gone to this place another time and it rained then too!? Cant figure what that is all about-owell!

Party!

Well yesterday we had the first of several parties at Officeland I to "honor" the folks leaving us on the first wave of moves from Officeland I. The supervisors fed us with a grand variety of pizzas and the rest of us brought in Veggie Salads, Friut salads and deserts. We had the usual speeches from the supervisors complete with crying and gnashing of teeth!
One gal said "I AM JUST GOING TO MOVE" to Officeland II. I like them at Officeland I and have established relationships and I don't want to move. Well honey that isn't how the state works- you will be leaving to Officeland II if you want to continue to work!
We also had a video of past & present residents of Officeland I- we laughed allot at that, and were surprised how different everyone looked- some smaller, some larger, some with and without hair and surprisingly some of the older folk looked better now!
All in all it was a fun time reminiscing about the "Days of Officeland I-and the passing of time- like the sand in an hourglass"!
And of course no-one wanting to help clean-up.

March Maddness

This is gonna have a new meaning for me. As most of ya know I am retiring from wonderful state service the last day of april 2007! Well yesterday it struck me I have so much to do and so little time. I have to pack to go to the new building, yes I will leave some things behind-like state purchased books, files and the like.
I also have to pack the things I have to take home. I have to take said packed items home. Also, have to take the furniture thats mine home. Of course have to help the daughter and take her furniture/ wheelchairs home!
Along with bringing stuff back from Maryland to resume living in NJ-unpack that stuff!
The beginning of the week I happily found out I had more time to use than I thought-so have to get that time used up-see the smile on my face!
I also have an abundance of stuff left over from when I was on leave to get done, along with the stuff that has been given since I got back to work-OMY whats a gal to do? I will just have to pace myself! LOL
I think I should just ignore it and leave it to the next person, but if anyone knows me I cant do that!

tired

I am so tired from returning to work and trying to satisfy all those "wonderful" social/case managers that I hardly have the brain power or stamina to think let alone to type a blog!

HOWEVER- I watched 'Babel' this evening while resting in my luxurious new bed. Brad is starting to look much older, but thought he did a good job. Kate-well, does she do much badly! At first I found it a bit hard to follow with the 'subtitles' and three story lines. It looked so true to life in all the various scenes. I will have to look at the remainder of the Academy nominated flics I have ordered from Netflix to see if I agree that it should have been nominated for best Picture. I have been so lax in seeing movies at the theater this year,. I cant wait to see the Departed. Tomorrow eve is 'Little Miss Sunshine'

Guess I should be off to bed/sleep- tomorrow is another day at officeland where there are sooo many personalities to deal with. I am so glad I live so close to home so I can come home at lunch and lie on the sofa or bed and get a powernap!

Introducing

A new blogger would like your opinions- good or bad. Catch him on "No1Big Daddy"

Just thought I'd add a pic for your veiwing pleasure? Arizona cactus

Arizona Gals

Which one of these "ole"gals could possibly be a mommanator? They are sweet Nurses, every one a baby boomer! They are all 60ish you know the new 40. Some are retired from nursing, but 2 of them still work in nursing. One is a Wharton Graduate and has a different kind of funeral business(a theme funeral of all things). One works for Bristol-Myers-Squibb.

They all still like to party.

Iwould put anyone of them against a new graduate from just about any school!

that sky

went outside a few minutes ago just to get something out of my car
looked up and to my amazement saw a beautiful sky,
all decked out in the most brilliant stars I have seen in a long time

have I not been looking or were they just brighter?
isn't it supposed to rain or something tomorrow?
I must be mistaken, I thought I heard the news right!

were they put there especially for me to see this night?
it made me think of things like when I was a child,
when dad would say-now there's the big dipper and the little one too
do you see the seven sisters and Venus too in that southern sky.

Made me realise that parents teach us so many things,
those little insignificant things that we share with others,
like when I told one of my exchange students -look there's
venus-see the one which is shining so bright in the southern sky,
and he argued one can't see the planets with the naked eye
and I was happy to show him the news paper article the next day
"you can see Venus in the sky these nights-look to the southern sky if in NJ"

or when I took another exchange student out in the night
and she looked with amazement to the sky
and said-the sky is so beautiful-I never see the sky at night before
I wondered why her parents had let her come all the way from Japan
but she had never seen the sky at night before.

So I thank you God for sending me out on this night
just to look up at that beautiful sky to remember things
ever so insignificant, but none the less important to me.

Butterflies are Free

This is my first time adding a picture, Hopefully you will see the beauty of this butterfly as I do!
Couple of months back I went to Arizona, on a reunion trip with some of my Nursing School buddies. During the trip we went to a nature reserve, were lucky enough to go to this butterfly exhibit which was opening the following week!
These butterflies actually are Not free, they are enclosed in a climate controlled building with no predators except MAN. We had to go through seal lock doors in & out and actually were examined afterward to make sure we were not taking any home on our clothing!
What a beautiful exhibit! We saw some other butterflies than the typical Monarch we see around here.

Monday Morning

Well this has been a long day already! I have been awake since about 3:30am nursing a sick grandchild who finally went to sleep after having diarrhea and fever all day Sunday(the day of rest?) Alot of crying and I want my mommy!
Originally had planned to get my kitchen back in order correctly, after the move back in the house! Dont know if that will happen, but if the big guy is interested will probably forgo a morn of rest to get that kitchen done. He is up and atem- complaining all the way about this and that hurting, banging into things. -Gotta love him!
Have already read my email, the paper, looked at everybody's bloggs (not much new reading since 12midnight!)
Well thats it for now!

Anna Nicolle

I said I wasn't going to comment on the death of the beauty, however I guess I have to throw something in there.

Why did she die? How did she die?
My daughter and I have come up with a theory that we haven't heard on the news.
Could she have been trying to detox herself?
After all she had a new baby, a death of a loved son, the law suit, men trying to be the father of the baby and the list goes on!
She may have been trying to detox herself and went "cold turkey" which is real dangerous to the body. Can cause some of the symptoms she was reported to exhibit before her death. Yes it can cause cardiac symptoms, dysrythmias and sudden death!-she had no drugs in the stomach.
I guess we will never know, but it is another thought to throw in the mix.

gas tanks

Can anyone tell me why the gas tanks are not on the same side on every car!
You see I have about 4 cars I drive routinely. The state car (some of the state cars have tanks on opposite sides), my car, my hubby's car and my daughter's car. Then of course sometimes am asked to drive someone else's car because they are sick or whatever.
Then I have to get gas, which side of the car is the tank on! Invariably I drive to the wrong side of the gas pump! Not so much of a problem in NJ as we have folks who pump our gas(believe it or not) But then there are the other states. One gets out of the car and oops I did it again- have to get back in to pump my own gas!
Next problem I have encountered with this, is you drive to the gas station, which line is the lowest! Get the car on the right side etc. etc.
As Americans we pay a plenty for gas (not as much as foreign countries, but it makes a hole in ones pockets. Along with coming up with a more efficient- fuel saving car! Can't the car makers and pump makers make those darn gas tanks uniformly on one side or the other!

the Valentine

What is it anyway?
A card that shows you feelings so true?
Roses are red
violets are blue
sugar is sweet and so are you!
OR is it that feeling you
have had for someone for a long time that you cant explain!
OR that unexplainable warm glow that goes to your toes
when you just think of that special someone.
OR is it a dinner for two at an expensive restaurant
with champagyne, a favorite meal topped off with truffels and white chocolate mousse?
Or a gigantic bouquet of a dozen or two long stemmed red roses
in a perfent Wedgewood crystal vase?
Or is it just another day when people can actually
be nice to someone else for no reason at all?
Give them cards, chocolate candies in red heart shaped boxes,
smiles, a touch or illtimed kiss on the cheek?
OR is it a guy/gal going to the poorest of poor
in the city and ministering to them with a bit of food
or a blanket in this coldest part of the year?
WELL
to me it is any one of my four grandchildren coming up to me with a hug and a kiss and saying grandma "I LOVE YOU" for no reason.
or a co-worker/friend saying "mommanator thanks for what you do" and truly meaning it not that superficial stuff with a glance and a smile but a true heart felt thank you.
You see any day of the week can be valentines day not just on February 14th.

LOVE THE MOMMANATOR

How to prepare for a Mammogram-guys can read

Must write this for all my friends/family who have had mammograms or known someone who has! I found this in a book I am reading by Barbara Johnson a humorist
The Mammogram
This is an xray that has its own name because because no one wants to actually say the word "breast". Mammograms require your breasts to do gymnastics. If you have extremely agile breasts, you should be fine. Most breasts, however, pretty much hang around doing nothing in particular, so they are woefully unprepared. But youcan prepare for a mammogram right at home using these simple exercises.

Exercise 1. Refrigerate two bookends overnight. Lay one of your breasts (either will do) between the bookends and Smash the bookends together as hard as you can. Repeat this three times daily.
Exercise 2. Locate a pasta maker or old wringer washer. Feed the breast into the machineand start cranking. Repeat twice daily.
Exercise 3. (advanced only please): Situate yourself comfortably on you side on the garage floor. Place one of your breasts snugly behind the rear tire of the family van. When you give the signal, have your hubby slowly ease the car into reverse. Hold for five seconds. Repeat on other side.

History of Sacrifice

Yes folks this is from me and take it for what it is worth! A statement on Today.

The wars have taken many lives, but what are the nations fighting for?
Here is a listing of the American lives spent over the years:
Revolutionary-----------------25,324
Indian Wars-------------------6,125
War of 1812-------------------2260
Mexican-American War-------13,283
Civil War----------------------562,130
Spanish-American War--------2893
Philippines War-----------------4,273
World War I-------------------116,708
World War II------------------408,306
Korean War--------------------54,246
Vietnam War-------------------58,219
(per education world)
IRAQ
there have been 3,318 coalition deaths so far in the conflict with Iraq---
Americans-----------------3,065
Austrailians----------------2
Britons---------------------130
Bulgarians------------------13
Danes---------------------- 6
Dutch-----------------------2
Estonians-------------------2
Fijian-----------------------1
Hungarian------------------1
Italians---------------------32
Kazakh---------------------1
Latvians--------------------3
Poles-----------------------18
Romanians-----------------2
Salvadorans----------------5
Slovaks---------------------4
Spaniards-------------------1
Thai------------------------2
Ukrainians------------------18
(per 1-26-07 CNN count)

How many Iraqui?
per News Center article published 7-05 they aren't counted
(but the armed forces sends reports of same).
the Bookings Institute says as of 7-13-05 there have been an estimated 22-25,869 civilian casaulities (feeling that is a low estimate,) with probably more than 100,000 police, soldiers & insurgents deaths.
Not to mention the destruction of buildings,land & jobs. The maming, orphaning of citizens.

New Years Resolutions?

Yes we are at the beginning of February, however lets take stock of those darned resolutions.
I hardly made any cause 1. I was too sick to even think of any other than getting better, and 2. I hardly ever make any.
Why on the green earth do we resolve to do something that we haven't been able to do in the past? Because we are looking at fireworks, kissing our special someone or just a wee bit drunk? Or do we think about it for weeks and days Humm what shall I do different in the next year or years. Let's be honest we only do that for a couple of days/weeks at best!
With all of that said, I resolved to:
Be kinder, loose weight, be tollerant of others stupidities, and try to get my financial situation DONE before I retire.
How have I done in the month? Dont laugh, but I am kinder- I have to be or else no one would have helped me in the past month.! I would have had to get my own meals, done my own dressings and the list goes on! I lost weight with one surgical procedure 131/2 pounds to be exact, but haven't been on the scale since! I resolve to get weighed tomorrow and send a follow-up LOL. How in the world am I supposed to get my financial situation DONE before I retire on temp disability! What a joke!!, but am glad for it (did ya all know all states don't have temp disability? We are one the few. My daughter in Maryland has to pay every 2 weeks for hers if she is to get ill)-(there is one good thing about Jersey!)
Now to being tollerant of others stupidities-that has been easy so far, I haven't seen too many folks!
Now if ya have the ambition, let me know about your resolutions and how they are coming along.

ODE TO SNOW

Wintry glistening white stuff falling from the sky, only seen best thru a child's eye,
As old folk scream-'How am I gonna get that car cleaned off for work,
do I have to shovel that stuff,
they scraped the end of the driveway over,
should I call off from work,
do I have enough time?'

Children see flakes big and small,
a conundrum of color as it is prismed in light,
snowmen, forts, snowball fights,
mom & dad staying home to play with me ,all day and through the night
Hot chocolate, popcorn, snow angels, boots hats and fur-lined gloves galore,
Mommy take me out for some more

No dear she exclaims, my arthritis is hurting and my back is screaming
lets take a bath and explore a book or some music or
I'll start a fire, maybe we can toast marshmallows
and watch the birds we fed before,
I'll get a glass of wine and a cup of Hot Apple Cider for you,
and then we'll take a nap and dream of some more!

Then we can have snow cones as made in my youth
when the snow was over the roof and
I still had to drudge more than a mile,
just to go to a bus to get to school
to send me back as soon as there
cause the roads were too rough and we might slide in a rut,
with that OLD bus driver to get us back in an hour

with no-one at home,
we played in the snow, made snow angels, built forts & snow men,
had snow ball fights,
without our boots, hats and coats and fur-lined gloves and no one knew
cause when they returned we were completing our homework and had dinner on the stove
or praying for more of that
glistening white stuff falling from the sky.


That glistening white stuff falling from the sky. O MY
more of God's wonders right before my eye!
how did it become so white falling from our sky
of acid rain & factory dust from afar
that glistening white stuff falling from the sky!