Beefy Or Peachy

Well my sister's birthday was yesterday and of course the 4th is on Wednesday so we are going to go to Tucson Wednesday to celebrate both occasions. Since we are low on cash having just bought a new car the gift will have to be a token with an IOU for next month. We almost never get together to celebrate our birthday's on the day, it just never happens.

Today I did get some work done in the house and I didn't spend the day crying so that is good at least. I have done enough soul washing for a few lifetimes I think!

Well tonight we watched Hell's Kitchen and that is always an interesting event. Then some cards and now winding down for the night.

Have a good one everybody,
Aly

We finally used my free 30 dollar dinner out at the Keg Steakhouse tonight for my birthday. Once you eat their once you can sign up for their free birthday dinner which is a 9 oz lucious steak and a lobster tail! It is fantastic food and service so if you have time, take time to see if you have a Keg in your area.

On another note, today was my first day alone in along time and it didn't start out well. I felt a bit panicked early on in the day and just feeling the pangs of the lonliness. Hubby had to work an extra long day as his asst was out today on vacation and then he had to stop at Walmart for some protein drinks and other essentials.

I have finally figured out why our cat Jordan is so skittish about coming into our 'new' bedroom! It is because we bought a tower fan for it as we don't have a ceiling fan so he is all stressed out everytime he scampers by it. When he is not doing that, he is giving it dirty looks, lol. Someday we will get a digital camera and we will upload some of his antics to youtube I am sure! He is a character for sure.

Have a nice day tomorrow everyone. DON'T DRIVE DRUNK!!!!!

Peace and Love and Courage,
Aly 

Her love is like
an island in life's ocean,
vast and wide

A peaceful, quiet shelter
From the wind, the rain, the tide.
'Tis bound on the north by Hope,
By Patience on the West,
By tender Counsel on the South
And on the East by Rest.

Above it like a beacon light
Shine Faith, and Truth, and Prayer;
And thro' the changing scenes of life
I find a haven there.

--author unknown

Well while hubby was on one of his errands yesterday he managed to come home with lovely roses, an ever so romantic card, and a very good tasting heart shaped cake to celebrate Valentine's Day. When I am able I will have to surprise him one day with things as thoughtful and loving as he has given to me. Of course our cat Jordan has already tried to start eating the roses! I don't know what possesses this cat to try and eat flowers. Hubby hasn't been buying me any lately just because we usually end up hiding them and what good is that? I caught him in the act last night and raised my voice to him and so far he has left them alone. I am sure we will have to shut them in a closet somewhere when we leave the house, lol.

Do any other of you cat owners have this same problem???? 

Well since I still can't post pics on this blog I have posted them to my 'Beefy or Peachy Part II' blog. I suppose sometime soon I should just migrate to that one and not post to this one. It seems most folks still come here to visit me so I am trying to wait for everyone to add the other link to my Part II blog so I don't have to continue to do both.

Here is that link again: http://www.blogigo.co.uk/Beefy_Or_Peachy_Part_II

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day everyone. I meant to get this done yesterday but just didn't feel up to it.

Hugs,
Aly

Mood: To love and be loved is so grand
Listening to: My heart

At the touch of Love every one becomes a poet.
- Plato

 Love may not make the world go round, but I must admit that it makes the ride worthwhile.
- Sean Connery

 It's not the men in my life that count -- it's the life in my men.
- Mae West (1892-1980)

 Love is the enchanted dawn of every heart.
- Lamartine

 If music be the food of love, play on.
- Shakespeare

 I have great hopes that we shall love each other all our lives as much as if we had never married at all.
- Lord Byron

 The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.
- G. K. Chesterton

 One advantage of marriage, it seems to me, is that when you fall out of love with him, or he falls out of love with you, it keeps you together until maybe you fall in again.
- Judith Viorst

The gift wrapping is over
The cards are gone
Yet my heart continues
To sing this song

You are my blessing 
The love of my life
You are the reason
I have no strife

You bring me happiness
You bring me light
Your smile reflects
A joy so bright

The hours are filled 
With warm and caring
Each moment overflow
With heartfelt sharings

author unknown 

http://www.icq.com/img/friendship/static/card_16961_rs.swf

http://i.euniverse.com/funpages/cms_content/2529/4candles.swf

Well 2006 has come to an end and we have toasted in the New Year with egg nog and just a touch of brandy. Hubby fixed appetizers and cooked beef bourginon for dinner tonight and we played a few games of 63 and had a lot of fun. We could also see the fireworks from our dining room window at midnight so that was also pleasant. I got two kisses! One on EST as the clock ticked down in NYC and then here at midnight :). Lucky me!!!

Time to turn in as it is after 1 am and I am very tired. I hope this New Year treats everyone well especially with their health and plenty of love in their lives either from friends or spouses and families.

Peace to your Hearts,
Aly

Well I just wanted to post a short 'hello' to everyone as I just have not had the time to post a thing since company has arrived. My sister and aunt have still not been able to come up from Tucson as my aunt came down with some virus, however, my adopted aunt has been here and we have been doing something with her every day. Today we took her to Turf Paradise to watch the last four horse races, lol. What a hoot! We haven't been in so many years I forgot how to place a bet properly. Watching her and hubby was very entertaining I must say, grin. Maybe more fun then watching the horses race!!!

Well I do hope you are all enjoying this time with your families and or friends.  I will post again when I can.

Until then.....

May Peace and Joy follow Your Footsteps,
Aly 

Mood: good

Well hubby cooked a marvelous Christmas dinner and everyone of course ate a bit too much. We were too full for dessert after dinner. I was still too full 2 hours later but had a slice of chocolate cream pie. Now while it tasted good, I feel too full :(. I have to learn not to eat unless I'm reallllly hungry, even on a holiday as I hate being uncomfortable.

The gifts were wonderful this year and I think everyone is happy. Hubby bought me a new 21" flat panel monitor for my computer... it seems HUGE, lol. He also bought me a custom made bracelet 24ct white gold with beautiful gem stones! It is awesome. He bought me the new Queen concert that we saw last year featuring Paul Rogers and my gf bought me the Queen concert from Wembley hall in 1986, both awesome!  He went overboard for sure. 2 of his gifts haven't arrived yet so he'll be having an extended Christmas. He was happy with his new microsuede jacket, new razor, tie, wallet, DVD, new forged knives, and he will be happy with his new cookware set when it ever arrives, lol.

One of our friends bought us a gift certificate for the Outback Steakhouse for our anniversary coming up in 3 days. That will be nice to have after the expense of Christmas.

Jordan is now eating his Christmas Turkey. I ran out of steam so he will also be getting an extended Christmas present, lol. He is just happy everyone has gone home and he has his house and us all to himself again, grin.

Hugs to all,
Aly

A precious little girl, Heather, sings a song for her daddy serving in the war, "When are you coming home?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVFF98kNg8Q

Old family customs are nostalgic but sometimes not practical in this day and age. Try mixing some old traditions with new ones. If you want to be out and about on Christmas Eve, going out to see a holiday movie or play will serve that purpose and add some holiday cheer. Check in with the personnel at a local nursing home to get an idea of what residents will not have family in town. Pay them a visit and give them a small, useful gift, all in the spirit of Christmas.

Well I was up early today but had a terrible headache so I laid back down and cuddled with hubby and fell asleep until 2 this afternoon! I rose with such a start that I had slept so long and with so much still to do. Hubby was just going to let me sleep all day I guess, lol. Anyways, we started out to return and exchange a few items, then hubby went to do some errands and my gf and I went off to finish our shopping, well almost. Two items will be bought during the week before our company arrives. I just plain ran out of energy and trying to do all this with a really bad headache didn't work well.

We met up with hubby for lunch then he went to buy food for Christmas dinner and she and I hit two more stores. Well that really finished me off between the crazy drivers on the road and the messy and crowded stores, lol.

I said that's it, I can't take anymore, period. We came home and wrapped what we had left to wrap and sent my gf on her way so hubby and I could have a little time alone. He has to work 4 hours in the morning and then another friend of ours is coming over to spend Christmas Eve with us. We are going out to eat though tomorrow night. We might even play a little Texas Holdem for a little while, lol.

The stockings are hung, the decorating almost all done, and oh my I still haven't bought Jordan something. I guess I will have to do that tomorrow. He is all excited as he knows when I am getting the guest room fixed up my adopted aunt is coming to town and she is one of his favorite people, grin. She gives him treats and tells him how handsome he is and plays blankie with him so he's anxious for her arrival, smile.

Well the bed and hubby are calling me. Night all and to all a good night~

Aly 

Mood: good but tired

Well we made another run tonight and then settled in to hang wreaths and wall hangings and a cranberry swag etc on the walls. We put garland with lights wrapped around them to frame the pass thru between the dining room and the kitchen and that looks nice also. I think Santa would approve.

The gift giving and thinking of what others would like is more about the spirit of giving and sharing and about Jesus. It is such a pleasure to find a gift for someone you love that you think they will enjoy. It makes you smile inside and out. The music lifts our hearts to sing along as we drive around taking care of the errands that make this holiday all come together.

One of our friends is coming over Christmas Eve and spending that night with us and also Christmas day. Another friend is joining us later on in the day for our Christmas meal. Our families are mostly in different states and having their own gatherings and that part is hard to deal with, but we will see them later on in the year. The important part is their health and their love for their families.

Next weekend my sister and aunt will be up for the 4-day weekend, and also our adopted aunt if she can get out of Colorado, and we will celebrate bringing in the New Year and hopefully better communication and trust in our relationships. I will hope for the best and let God do the rest.

Our cat Jordan is exploring all the new decorations and I can only imagine what the place might look like in the morning.. sigh. He likes to check out every new thing that enters our domain. Whether or not the garland is still framing the pass thru in the morning, well that is up for grabs!

Peace and Love to your Hearts,
Aly

Well I am wide awake at 330 in the morning, sigh. Found a couple of nice things for hubby so he is finished except for stocking stuffers. We are going tomorrow to do that and will finish decorating and wrapping tomorrow. Hubby is shopping for our Christmas meal tomorrow also. So much to do. A list needs to be made at this point or something will be forgotten.

Our cat Jordan is always happy when I can't sleep at night so he gets more attention and more cuddle and kneading time in. Last night he got in the crook of my arm.. his head on my shoulder.. looking up at me and fell asleep like that, roflmao here. He even snored. He couldn't have been happier. His little ears were cold to the touch. He's not use to this cold weather either so he is cuddling up more. Oh geez, I haven't gotten him a toy yet for Christmas! I must do that, smile. He gives us many hours of laughter and attention and is deserving of a new toy.

Well I guess having coffee earlier tonight wasn't such a good idea but at the time I was cold and it sounded good and tasted good too.

Sweet dreams all,
Aly

Mood: good

Well we are going to brave the outside world of last minute shoppers to find the 'deals' just before Christmas. First off to a store to get hubby one more kind of major gift and then looking for my niece and for stocking stuffers. I'm sure many of those things will be marked down so that will be helpful.

We need a few more decorative things like garland and a few more flowers to put around but things are shaping up. My son also called to tell me they received their gift today and I was so relieved as they told me they most likely wouldn't get it until after Christmas and this was an item I ordered for both my sons in NOVEMBER!. Phew on that one, lol.

So I'm donning my warm sweater, taking some money, and away we will go!

Hugs and Peace to your Hearts,
Aly

As I sit here alone thinking about the New Year approaching, I began thinking about some of my 'bad habits' and the fact that some of those habits need to be 'exchanged' for good habits. Most of them relate to how I take care of myself emotionally and physically and a few how I interact with my family, and my darling hubby.

It is that time of year when one take's an inventory of oneself and if being truthful with oneself realizes the bad habits that have evolved and need changing. Making a resolution and not acting on it is useless. What motivates you? What motivates me? I am sure we all have different motivators in life and it doesn't matter what it is as long as it moves us to make the changes we need to become a better person.

I am a constant 'work in progress' and have many flaws in the way of being the kind of person I would like to be. I am really terrible about writing letters and sending cards to those I care about. I am so computer dependent I have given up on the conventional snail mail and many people still like getting the actual cards in the mail. I guess that is thoughtless on my part, or lazy.

I need to make an effort to meet some new people this year and get out of the house more often. I am too often alone. If I am not careful I will become a hermit at this rate! I need to get some physical therapy and join some healthy group of some sort as too much alone time is not good for me and sets me up for eating junk food when I'm bored and lonely. I so want to be healthier in whatever ways I can.

Well that is just the beginning of some of my thoughts about the New Year. Anyone else having these kinds of thoughts too?

Peace and Hugs,
Aly