Well, to quote Detective Monk ...Here's what happened...
Before my surgery a year ago, my friend Jim brought me some salmon that he had caught on a fishing trip to Wisconsin. He said it was in a white grocery bag in the break room freezer. I grabbed the bag, took it home, looked inside, two packages wrapped in foil, I put it in my deep freeze.
I forgot about it pretty much. It would cross my mind but then I'd forget again. Vicki's cheesecakes would ebb and flow in there as would various bags of frozen veggies and meat. But the white bag stayed in the same spot.
Until last night. I decided I wanted salmon and remembered that there was salmon in the freezer. I took it out and untied the grocery bag. I opened the foil wrapper and saw.....
tamales. 2 dozen tamales, obviously hand made in the corn husks.
Where is my salmon? It's still here in the freezer in a white grocery bag.
Sent an email but so far nobody has claimed the tamales. So I'm looking for a recipe for sauce.
The last one I found said this :
9. Next, you now start unwrapping your tamale, this is usually a corn husk or a banana leaf. Unwrap it gently using a pair of thongs.
I think maybe I'll look for a different one...
Friday, June 8, 2018
Sunday, September 6, 2015
OMG! I'm 60!!!!
SIXTY!! I never dreamed I would be sixty years old. In all honesty, I'm almost 61 now, having sped through 2015 like a bat out of hell looking for a cactus flower. And what have I done?
I'm happy to report that I'm in fairly good health. I didn't get skinny, I didn't quit smoking, but on the other hand I didn't get arrested for throat-punching anyone, so I have that going for me.
I'm seriously thinking about starting to write my blog for "fun and profit" as they used to say. Usually, people will say they have no idea what to write about. I am just the opposite. I have tons of things that I would like to write about. The problem is...I don't know what people want to read about!
I don't do politics, so that is out of the question. Dieting is something with which I am very familiar, but I'm certainly no good at it, so that should be a no-no as well. Money? Ain't got none! Don't have a green thumb, except for my beloved orchids. But I only have 6 of those, so telling you how I water them once a week and ignore them the rest of the time would probably be PRET-ty boring. So...here I am.. trying to decide what to say to make someone tell a friend, "hey did you read Karen's blog today?"
I have talents I can write about. Painting and journaling and things like that. Would you want to read about those things every week? Would you like to see pictures of my journals and the things I have thrown in there just for fun?
I tell ya what...I'm going to post this today, and I am inviting you to please go to my blog and read it from the beginning. A lot of the stuff is old...from 6 years ago when I first started. But I am asking that you read, and make comments on what I have written and just let me know if you think this is something that you would look forward to reading every week. Not just you, but maybe you would repost on Facebook or tell a friend.
Can you do that for me? Thanks a whole bunch!!!!
I'll be waiting to hear from you. Don't wait too long, though. I AM 60, after all. *wink-wink*
Sunday, February 9, 2014
One happy moment at a time
Greetings from frozen Indiana. Can't believe it's February already. Time for my very least favorite holiday...Valentine's Day. Never has worked out great for me, so I usually choose to ignore it. Everything but the chocolate, of course, once it goes on sale at Kroger!
Woke up at 4:30 this morning for some reason. Made coffee, drank a couple of cups, then laid down on the couch and went back to sleep.
I dreamed that I was at work (although it wasn't really my work..you know how dreams are!) and my grandmother, Mema, who has been dead since 1995, came to me and told me that I was going to die tomorrow. (Not tomorrow, tomorrow, but tomorrow in the dream...at least I hope so!) She said I would die in the bathroom down the hall from my office. I won't bore you with too many details but let's just say I spent a lot of time in the dream looking for a bathroom without electricity! Eventually, an earthquake did me in, and I realized I had, indeed, passed on, as only she and my boss could see me. Just goes to show you can't escape your boss no matter what you do! Finally, thank God, I woke up.
But I am troubled. I have been seriously thinking about this dream, and have been wondering...what would I do if I really did know it was my last day on earth? I know that any day could be for any of us, but if we had warning. What would we do? What would I do? Go spend the money I put aside for bills? Probably. Go to the Golden Corral and eat everything in sight..definitely. Spend time with my daughter, absolutely!
In my dream, though, after the initial denial and running away from electrical things, and the bargaining, there came a point where I accepted what was happening, and turned to the "future" with hope and peace, and almost a sense of excitement. Seeing Mema again, well, that was a good sign, because I'm sure my Mema went to Heaven. I don't think she would have it in her to come collect me from my life only to deposit my soul at the gates of Hell! It really made me think about the afterlife..believing in God. I know a lot of the time I don't act like I should..and probably if you looked at my life you would laugh if someone told you I am a Christian. I am, but this isn't about that...
What would you do if you KNEW it was your last day to live? Nickelback did a song that has always made me think about it..
If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothin' stand in your way
Cause the hands of time are never on your side
Complete song and lyrics here.
But you know..I go through so much of my life thinking..oh, tomorrow I'll do the art I have always wanted to do. I'll paint that picture, I'll do that craft, I'll tell someone I love them, I'll tell someone I DON'T love them, I'll be happy...tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow.
This dream has made me realize...today is what counts. I am going to do something that makes me happy TODAY! Even if it's just cleaning off my art table to get it ready to paint something. That's what I'm going to do. Too much time is used working and being unhappy, and today could be the last day. I'm not saying sell everything and move up to the mountains to wait on the end of the world. But do something that makes you happy every single day! Maybe we could make the world a better place, one happy moment at a time!
What would YOU do?
Woke up at 4:30 this morning for some reason. Made coffee, drank a couple of cups, then laid down on the couch and went back to sleep.
I dreamed that I was at work (although it wasn't really my work..you know how dreams are!) and my grandmother, Mema, who has been dead since 1995, came to me and told me that I was going to die tomorrow. (Not tomorrow, tomorrow, but tomorrow in the dream...at least I hope so!) She said I would die in the bathroom down the hall from my office. I won't bore you with too many details but let's just say I spent a lot of time in the dream looking for a bathroom without electricity! Eventually, an earthquake did me in, and I realized I had, indeed, passed on, as only she and my boss could see me. Just goes to show you can't escape your boss no matter what you do! Finally, thank God, I woke up.
But I am troubled. I have been seriously thinking about this dream, and have been wondering...what would I do if I really did know it was my last day on earth? I know that any day could be for any of us, but if we had warning. What would we do? What would I do? Go spend the money I put aside for bills? Probably. Go to the Golden Corral and eat everything in sight..definitely. Spend time with my daughter, absolutely!
In my dream, though, after the initial denial and running away from electrical things, and the bargaining, there came a point where I accepted what was happening, and turned to the "future" with hope and peace, and almost a sense of excitement. Seeing Mema again, well, that was a good sign, because I'm sure my Mema went to Heaven. I don't think she would have it in her to come collect me from my life only to deposit my soul at the gates of Hell! It really made me think about the afterlife..believing in God. I know a lot of the time I don't act like I should..and probably if you looked at my life you would laugh if someone told you I am a Christian. I am, but this isn't about that...
What would you do if you KNEW it was your last day to live? Nickelback did a song that has always made me think about it..
If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothin' stand in your way
Cause the hands of time are never on your side
Complete song and lyrics here.
But you know..I go through so much of my life thinking..oh, tomorrow I'll do the art I have always wanted to do. I'll paint that picture, I'll do that craft, I'll tell someone I love them, I'll tell someone I DON'T love them, I'll be happy...tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow.
This dream has made me realize...today is what counts. I am going to do something that makes me happy TODAY! Even if it's just cleaning off my art table to get it ready to paint something. That's what I'm going to do. Too much time is used working and being unhappy, and today could be the last day. I'm not saying sell everything and move up to the mountains to wait on the end of the world. But do something that makes you happy every single day! Maybe we could make the world a better place, one happy moment at a time!
What would YOU do?
Thursday, January 23, 2014
I Care!!!
You know…Day after day things happen in our lives. Good,
bad..boring..indifferent…SSDD…one day after another the time goes by. All of a
sudden a year is gone. But if you look at my blog..apparently nothing has
happened to me since July of 2013!
This has made me wonder why I started writing a blog in the
first place. I used to fancy myself some kind of writer. Maybe I would
eventually write a book. Maybe I would write something that people would
re-post on Facebook. Maybe someone would
find me interesting. Lots of maybes…but
still I don’t write much. Why is this?
Some things, I suppose, are too personal to put out there
for all to see. There are things that are deliberately kept secret, and they
sure don’t need to be broadcast on the internet. I don’t know if this is just my issue or not,
but I read other people’s blogs and it’s obvious they write just for the joy of
writing. Some write very well, others…not
so well, but still entertaining. But I compare my writings to theirs and I seem
to be so boring!! And I ask myself…who cares about my cats and my decorations
and my car and all the other things that make up my mundane existence?
The answer is: I do! I care! And therein lies the problem with me
and my blog. I have been writing because I think people might want to read it.
What I should be doing is writing because I want to write.
I keep a little journal. It’s a 10 year journal and I have
pretty much faithfully written in it at least once a week since I got it in
January 2012. Not too bad considering. But it’s mostly just a record of daily “stuff”
with a few extra things thrown in. It’s a really nice journal. If you’re interested,
you can get it here: http://www.journal10.com/ My
daily entries mostly consist of: I
worked. I’m tired. I’m still not smoking. I still am not on my diet. I gained
weight. I lost weight. I smoked. Cold today. Hot today. Gas $3.50. Gas $3.99.
Gas $3.20. Rain, snow, sleet, hail, tornado, blizzard,etc. It’s like the old
Chinese restaurant menu. Choose one from Column A and one from Column B. This
is my day.
But what is IN that day? THAT’S the interesting stuff. The
things my mind comes up with on a daily basis. These are the roadmaps for
following my dreams. Being creative. Doing the things that I love doing.
Getting out from in front of the TV or computer long enough to actually DO
something creative. That’s the rub. Because I hadn’t realized that I shouldn’t
do creative stuff for others. I need to do it for myself. It makes me happy to
create and yet I get bogged down in the daily crap and only do it in small
bursts. People who create for a living do it because they love doing it..not to
make the money..but because they CAN!
Another thing I just realized is that people who are successful bloggers just assume that there are people who want to read what they have to say! **LIGHTBULB MOMENT!!**
Another thing I just realized is that people who are successful bloggers just assume that there are people who want to read what they have to say! **LIGHTBULB MOMENT!!**
This is the lesson of the day. I’m not trying to please my
mother, my boss, that future Mr Right, my art teacher, or any of my 271 friends
on Facebook and Pinterest. I am going to create to please myself, because I am
good at it, and it makes me happy. And I want to be happy!!
So hopefully there will be more blogs with my creations
pictured. No, not hopefully, there WILL be more blogs with my creations pictured. And if you like, please let me
know.
It will also make me happy to know you enjoy my blog.
Just sayin’!
Baby, it's colllllld outside!!!
Across the frozen tundra she went...wind whipping snow around sometimes making it hard to see...very little fuel..no coffee..not even water..scary creatures creeping up on either side and flying past..yet on she went...
A story of a great explorer of the Antarctic? nah...Karen B driving to work!! Be safe everyone!
A story of a great explorer of the Antarctic? nah...Karen B driving to work!! Be safe everyone!
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
7 months later
Sounds like a horror movie...where at the end and all the demons have been banished back to Hell and the house is all quiet..then...."7 MONTHS LATER..." the mom is doing laundry and the kids are playing Scrabble in the living room, and the floor opens up and sucks them all into another dimension just in time for dad to come home from work. "THE END"
Ok, don't know where that came from! I do know that in the past 7 months I haven't done much of anything to meet any of my goals I talked about before. I did drink enough wine to fill the chandelier. Here is proof of that..I DID have help, though..
So I guess at least I got that accomplished.
Maybe I should start blogging about crafts or recipes or something interesting, rather than blathering on about drinking habits and working. I can tell you that I gained back most of the weight that I lost, but I'm still 25 pounds ahead of the game so I'm starting over. I can tell you that I changed my hours at the grocery store so I have 2 weekend days now to waste instead of just one. I can tell you that I made mint juleps from real mint Friday night and I think I could become a whisky drinker with practice. But are those things you want to read about? hmmm...maybe.. I suppose there have been more mundane things blogged about over the years, so I really shouldn't worry but, despite outward appearances, I am a perfectionist. That's why I never get anything done!
Anyway, if anyone has any comments or if there's something you want me to write about, by all means, let me know. I'll do my best!
Is that a hole in the floor??????
Ok, don't know where that came from! I do know that in the past 7 months I haven't done much of anything to meet any of my goals I talked about before. I did drink enough wine to fill the chandelier. Here is proof of that..I DID have help, though..
So I guess at least I got that accomplished.
Maybe I should start blogging about crafts or recipes or something interesting, rather than blathering on about drinking habits and working. I can tell you that I gained back most of the weight that I lost, but I'm still 25 pounds ahead of the game so I'm starting over. I can tell you that I changed my hours at the grocery store so I have 2 weekend days now to waste instead of just one. I can tell you that I made mint juleps from real mint Friday night and I think I could become a whisky drinker with practice. But are those things you want to read about? hmmm...maybe.. I suppose there have been more mundane things blogged about over the years, so I really shouldn't worry but, despite outward appearances, I am a perfectionist. That's why I never get anything done!
Anyway, if anyone has any comments or if there's something you want me to write about, by all means, let me know. I'll do my best!
Is that a hole in the floor??????
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Indiana Weather
Crazy melancholy day today. Overcast, and in the 60's! I remember back in the olden days where every year on my birthday we'd have an ice storm or snow or something. But it's supposed to thunderstorm tonight, with possibility of 3 inches of rain. If that was snow it would be ...lets's see...3 inches rain multiplied by um...32 degrees divided by...never mind...it'd be a LOT of snow!
I love storms as long as no trees fall on my car or my house or anything, and the power stays on. I'm always afraid the power will go off and I won't have my backup alarm set and I'll be late for work. Need to go set my alarm right now...be right back..
Ok, that's better! :)
Can't think of much else to talk about except the weather right now, so I'll just post this picture that pretty much says it all and bid you a good night.
I love storms as long as no trees fall on my car or my house or anything, and the power stays on. I'm always afraid the power will go off and I won't have my backup alarm set and I'll be late for work. Need to go set my alarm right now...be right back..
Ok, that's better! :)
Can't think of much else to talk about except the weather right now, so I'll just post this picture that pretty much says it all and bid you a good night.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Happy Birthday to Meeeee!
Once again, my birthday has rolled around on the calendar...well, not quite...3 more days, but the party is tomorrow night. I'm totally psyched about it because I have a Christmas present to use! My daughter and her boyfriend bought me this awesome wine bottle chandelier. It holds 16 empty wine bottles. So everyone who comes is supposed to bring a bottle to contribute to the decor. I even got a silver sharpie so they can sign the bottom of the bottle they bring. Will post a picture when it's filled. Right now it's hanging cockeyed because it has 3 bottles in it. Need to level that sucker out!!
All day today I have been cleaning and putting things away. I should really have a party every month cause that way my house would be clean all the time! I even pulled down the cobwebs tonight. I usually forget that part of it.
I enjoy so much the getting ready for the party! I have shopped and chopped and stirred all evening. The pork roast is in the crock pot for pulled pork sandwiches, and I have chips and dip and cheese and crackers and yum and yum and yum! So much for my diet this weekend!
The main thing I enjoy of course is having my family and friends here. Most of my friends are like family so it's like one huge reunion. I always stress out over it before it starts. Will it be fun? Will someone get too drunk and get dramatic? Will that someone be ME???
But most of the time, it's just a gathering of people who care about each other to eat, drink, and be merry, and enjoy each other's company. And play kings...always kings!
I'll be 58 years old on Monday. I hope I'll be having a party when I'm 78 ...88... 108?? wow...well, I can dream, huh? Sure don't feel that old..
I just want to encourage you to have a gathering. Doesn't have to be drinking, or lots of food, or a big deal. Just get some friends together and have a good time. These days there are so many things to worry about. While it does no good to worry, it still happens. Having a get-together is a way to keep the wolf out the door for a while and just LIVE.
Do it! I think you'll be glad you did!!
All day today I have been cleaning and putting things away. I should really have a party every month cause that way my house would be clean all the time! I even pulled down the cobwebs tonight. I usually forget that part of it.
I enjoy so much the getting ready for the party! I have shopped and chopped and stirred all evening. The pork roast is in the crock pot for pulled pork sandwiches, and I have chips and dip and cheese and crackers and yum and yum and yum! So much for my diet this weekend!
The main thing I enjoy of course is having my family and friends here. Most of my friends are like family so it's like one huge reunion. I always stress out over it before it starts. Will it be fun? Will someone get too drunk and get dramatic? Will that someone be ME???
But most of the time, it's just a gathering of people who care about each other to eat, drink, and be merry, and enjoy each other's company. And play kings...always kings!
I'll be 58 years old on Monday. I hope I'll be having a party when I'm 78 ...88... 108?? wow...well, I can dream, huh? Sure don't feel that old..
I just want to encourage you to have a gathering. Doesn't have to be drinking, or lots of food, or a big deal. Just get some friends together and have a good time. These days there are so many things to worry about. While it does no good to worry, it still happens. Having a get-together is a way to keep the wolf out the door for a while and just LIVE.
Do it! I think you'll be glad you did!!
Monday, January 21, 2013
BRRRRRRR!
It's freezing here in Indiana today..supposed to get even colder. A good time for curling up on the couch with a hot toddy (or a hot TOMMY har har) and just watching the world go by.
Unfortunately, it's also a Monday, which meant going to work and freezing with only coffee to keep me warm. (Tommy is non-existent, in my life anyway. So that's a moot point.)
But the SKY! It was beautiful today on my way home. Once the sun finally got out of my eyes, there was blue sky with little white and gray puffy clouds, some which were sporting rainbow colors we always called "sun-dogs". As always when I see skies like that I think...I need to paint!!!
I would've taken a picture but I only had my cell phone with me and I'm notorious for taking very shaky and pretty much horrible pictures with that! But it is in my head, and will hopefully find its way into one of my paintings one of these days.
So instead of watching TV all night, I believe I will get out my paints and start re-learning the art. Never too late, right? 2013 is the year for following dreams.
Tommy will have to wait.
Unfortunately, it's also a Monday, which meant going to work and freezing with only coffee to keep me warm. (Tommy is non-existent, in my life anyway. So that's a moot point.)
But the SKY! It was beautiful today on my way home. Once the sun finally got out of my eyes, there was blue sky with little white and gray puffy clouds, some which were sporting rainbow colors we always called "sun-dogs". As always when I see skies like that I think...I need to paint!!!
I would've taken a picture but I only had my cell phone with me and I'm notorious for taking very shaky and pretty much horrible pictures with that! But it is in my head, and will hopefully find its way into one of my paintings one of these days.
So instead of watching TV all night, I believe I will get out my paints and start re-learning the art. Never too late, right? 2013 is the year for following dreams.
Tommy will have to wait.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
A year in the life....
Opening this blog tonight gave me a total and complete surprise. It has been a year and several days since I wrote anything. I know I've had stories to tell, but it seems that I felt maybe my life was not so interesting after all.
It wasn't really a new year's resolution (I didn't make any this year..waste of time..) but I think I have decided tonight that my life MIGHT be interesting to someone out there...so..I will try to do better!
2012...I don't think it was a good year for anyone. It seemed like it flew by with day after day of working my long time boring job, and working my other job 2 nights a week and Sundays. One day weekends suck, that's for sure. But I love my car and my house and having food to eat, so I do what I can to survive it without being bitter.
I think what I have learned most in the past year is to try to be positive about things. Since it does no good to be negative and worry I pretty much started walking away from the bad stuff. You know we all talk about doing that, and share things that are meant to make us keep positive, but when it comes down to the nitty gritty of life, it's really hard to do.
My brother told me about a book called "The Four Agreements". I read it several years ago, but I believe it has done a great deal to change my outlook on life. I won't go into detail, because it's something that you would need to read yourself. But I will list them here:
1. Be impeccable with your word
2. Don't take anything personally
3. Don't make assumptions
4. Always do your best
Some of the agreements seem very simplistic in the list, but there is more to them when you dig down. Just a suggestion... Not to say I'm perfect by any means...I'm just trying to do my best!
I went through a bit of an empty nest thing for a while. Lost 64 pounds, gained back 20, lost 5 more and am going down again. Quit smoking several times. Bit my fingernails down to nothing and watched hour upon hour of Monk reruns. This has been my life. I have set up a craft room that I have yet to craft in, still cannot get my bed feng shui'ed correctly, and don't sit on my front porch like I should.
I am happy to say that my daughter is happy with her man, and that makes me almost ecstatic. I am so thankful that he was brought into her life and they are making a life together. And no, I haven't met anyone special....yet!
So I'm happy living in my little house in the big hood, with my 3 cats who allow me to stay with them. I look to the future with what I call a "Scarlett O'Hara" attitude. I do what I can to make my life good today. And if I mess up or if it just turns out to be a shitty day, well...I use the words of Miss Scarlett...."after all, tomorrow IS another day!"
Make it a good one!
It wasn't really a new year's resolution (I didn't make any this year..waste of time..) but I think I have decided tonight that my life MIGHT be interesting to someone out there...so..I will try to do better!
2012...I don't think it was a good year for anyone. It seemed like it flew by with day after day of working my long time boring job, and working my other job 2 nights a week and Sundays. One day weekends suck, that's for sure. But I love my car and my house and having food to eat, so I do what I can to survive it without being bitter.
I think what I have learned most in the past year is to try to be positive about things. Since it does no good to be negative and worry I pretty much started walking away from the bad stuff. You know we all talk about doing that, and share things that are meant to make us keep positive, but when it comes down to the nitty gritty of life, it's really hard to do.
My brother told me about a book called "The Four Agreements". I read it several years ago, but I believe it has done a great deal to change my outlook on life. I won't go into detail, because it's something that you would need to read yourself. But I will list them here:
1. Be impeccable with your word
2. Don't take anything personally
3. Don't make assumptions
4. Always do your best
Some of the agreements seem very simplistic in the list, but there is more to them when you dig down. Just a suggestion... Not to say I'm perfect by any means...I'm just trying to do my best!
I went through a bit of an empty nest thing for a while. Lost 64 pounds, gained back 20, lost 5 more and am going down again. Quit smoking several times. Bit my fingernails down to nothing and watched hour upon hour of Monk reruns. This has been my life. I have set up a craft room that I have yet to craft in, still cannot get my bed feng shui'ed correctly, and don't sit on my front porch like I should.
I am happy to say that my daughter is happy with her man, and that makes me almost ecstatic. I am so thankful that he was brought into her life and they are making a life together. And no, I haven't met anyone special....yet!
So I'm happy living in my little house in the big hood, with my 3 cats who allow me to stay with them. I look to the future with what I call a "Scarlett O'Hara" attitude. I do what I can to make my life good today. And if I mess up or if it just turns out to be a shitty day, well...I use the words of Miss Scarlett...."after all, tomorrow IS another day!"
Make it a good one!
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