tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183313002024-03-13T19:19:52.060-07:00Amused and Abused...mood swings and musings from a life on the ledge.Life lessons, cultural commentary, recipes and random clutter.Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.comBlogger347125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-75583371903828836332011-02-05T13:09:00.000-08:002011-02-05T13:43:21.104-08:00Mourning the Loss of the Never-WasToday I am in mourning, yet I'm not completely sure what I am mourning for. Loss, certainly. But a loss that is hard to define.Most of you know that my Mom, Stacie, is not my biological mother. Stacie is the mother of my heart and soul, but another woman gave birth to me. And for the first years of my life, that woman, Judi, was my mother. When I was a child, she left me in the care of my father Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-10257397609359105022011-01-26T22:28:00.000-08:002011-01-26T23:09:40.825-08:00Things I Have Been Thinking About TodayHow 'artisanal' can the new ravioli at Olive Garden really be? It's a chain restaurant. I bet the ravioli isn't even handmade. I really hope the murder-suicide of the Mesquite councilwoman and her husband wasn't really over a false $96.40 travel expense. I hope that people remember the couple for all the good they did instead of the tragic end.Chipotle Bacon Brittle sounded like a science Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-77583935207166983432011-01-04T15:32:00.000-08:002011-01-04T16:06:19.232-08:00Paging Dr. wwwMy mom is a doctor, did you know that? No, she never spent a day in medical school, but apparently through the power of Google she has the ability to diagnose and treat disease.Now we all know that moms have to play doctor occasionally. They are the ones to Bactine and Band-Aid our skinned knees, they are the ones to rub Vick's on our chests and dose us with terrible tasting cough syrup when we Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-87246777203112864742011-01-01T08:20:00.000-08:002011-01-01T09:23:45.062-08:00It's a New Dawn, It's a New Day, It's a New Life, and I'm Feeling GoodHappy New Year Everyone!It's kind of funny, isn't it, how January first brings with it the promise of better things, better times, a new broom sweeping clean, etc, etc? That's a lot of pressure for one day, especially one that was proceeded by a night of heavy drinking. But I'll go with that flow because it seems appropriate that we should have a 'fresh start' day and why not 1/1/11?For those of Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-20311103385695716892010-08-03T07:30:00.000-07:002010-08-03T07:43:12.785-07:00Glitzy Kitsch is now open!Okay, the Glitzy Kitsch store is now open. But consider it a "soft" opening because not everything is on there yet. For two reasons really. One, it takes a long time to list each item, at least for me. I'm still learning what works and how to do it, etc. The other reason is that there are two schools of Etsy, and that is either re-listing frequently or adding new items frequently. I have decided Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-33634047134368134062010-07-28T12:20:00.000-07:002010-07-28T12:34:21.894-07:00AmigurumiAmigurumi (ah-mee-goo-roo-mee)- it is the Japanese art of crocheting little stuffed things. A lot of times it's dolls or animals, but I have taken to making food (hmm, surprise, huh) and other inatimate objects.So why would someone want to buy these things from me? I'm not sure, except they are cute and fun. They really serve no functional purpose. But who cares, I'm having fun making them and I Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-88910576020719234162010-07-22T07:49:00.000-07:002010-07-22T08:01:48.405-07:00Ups and Downs and Really DownsSo here is how the last week has gone.Graminator is doing better, after I took her off some of the medication that as prescribed for her. It was an anti-seizure medication that they give as a precaution to all brain injured people. She didn't have any seizures but the medication was turning her into a walking vegetable. Seriously, if I had continued it for the full month as prescribed, I don't Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-90462818227904241232010-07-14T09:52:00.000-07:002010-07-14T10:16:24.719-07:00Viva la France!Today, in honor of Bastille Day, Glitter City Sweets introduces a new line of French pastries.French macarons - a crispy almond meringue shell that yields to a chewy interior and sandwiched with rich, flavorful buttercream. So yummy. Available in Vanilla, Chocolate, Pomegranate and Rose - yes, rose, and trust me the incredible texture of the macaron combined with the unique flavor or roses is Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-55316957466043998212010-07-12T23:21:00.000-07:002010-07-12T23:40:08.625-07:00An Esteemed Graduate?Blanca graduated from Kinderpuppy today. It's a basic obedience class where she learned sit, stay, come, lie down, leave it, touch and some socialization with other dogs and people. She won a prize for being best behaved on a leash. She got a certificate and a little ribbon.All of this makes me laugh because just a few hours before class, she brought me a present. It was a bottle of black dye Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-44365567410085849612010-07-07T08:03:00.000-07:002010-07-07T08:45:30.857-07:00Walk a Mile in My Flip-FlopsSo the Graminator had to be hospitalized with a subdural hematoma (okay, it was actually an epdiural hematoma, but since most people are familiar with the 'subdural' phrase, let's not get too technical, okay?The hematoma is a bleeding in the brain. When our brains get older, they become a lot like a walnut in a shell. When young. the walnut is nice and plump and meaty and fills the whole shell. Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-79276638370179709922010-07-05T11:16:00.000-07:002010-07-05T11:50:48.436-07:00Spilling GutsI know it's been a while since I have blogged, claiming the excuse that am too 'busy' but I realized that without writing I have all of this stuff built up that I need to purge from my soul. So let's play, catch up, okay?The Graminator just got home from the hospital. After noticing a bit of unsteadiness and inability to swallow correctly, her doctor told us to take her to the ER, suspecting a Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-51325630470787662292010-04-20T07:23:00.001-07:002010-04-20T07:48:37.475-07:00FebruaryFebruary was a short month that was jam packed. I had lots of orders for valentine's Day, including a rather elaborate box that was intended for a young man to ask out a young lady for a Valentine's Day dinner. It was a treasure box. I embellished a beautiful box with pearls and sequins and lace and a picture of the young couple and I lined it with silk tulle. Then inside was a series of heart Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-73627434025743819842010-04-11T10:39:00.000-07:002010-04-11T10:51:54.713-07:00She Has Returned!!!!Dear Loyal Readers,Please forgive the long extended absence. It was not intentional but it happened none the less. I do apologize, it has been a roller coaster couple of months but I shall endeavor to resume the daily writing. In the meantime I shall catch you up, and we will go chronologically.Starting the week I abandoned you, Loyal Readers, there was a special cast and crew screening of "You Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-65340619630398011282010-01-20T08:00:00.000-08:002010-01-20T08:46:46.301-08:00I'm In Love With A Dead GuyAt least that's what my Mom says. I have been reading the works of Dalton Trumbo lately and she might be right.For those that don't know, Trumbo was on of the "Hollywood Ten", a group of writer's who were blacklisted in the 1940's and 1950's for being suspected communists. A victim of the McCarthy era politics, Trumbo was imprisoned, impoverished and scorned for belonging to a political party he Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-90055892697279032602010-01-18T08:49:00.000-08:002010-01-18T09:05:41.213-08:00Week TwoDespite a challenging week (have you ever made 150 cupcakes without eating even one? I can now say that I have!) where I fell way short of my exercise goals, I lost a respectable two pounds. But I know I could have done better and am redoubling my efforts this week.I think probably the most important thing for me is to remember that when you don't do as well as you want or you 'fall off the wagonShaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-83377285273788711502010-01-14T08:29:00.001-08:002010-01-14T08:56:02.128-08:00Best Popcorn Maker. Ever.I like popcorn. But when you are eating healthier, you have to watch popcorn for its hidden dangers. Like movie theater popcorn that has a zillion calories and it topped with buttery flavored oil. Or even microwave popcorn with its cancer agent butter flavor. But for me, hot air popcorn was not an option. Hot air popcorn always tasted stale and yucky to me. But now that it has been discovered Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-39641434931759984592010-01-12T08:23:00.000-08:002010-01-12T09:05:06.164-08:00If It Quacks Like A DuckThen it must be...duck fat fries.Duck fat fries have been around a while at the fancy restaurants but while I have heard how superb they are, I haven't gotten to eat one. There are restaurants in Las Vegas that serve them but most are pricy places on the strip that are a bit beyond my budget. But for Christmas I asked for a few gourmet ingredients so that I could play with them in my own cooking.Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-44424508974009515862010-01-11T14:20:00.000-08:002010-01-11T14:54:34.587-08:00Week One RecapBecause Maura is inspiring me with her honesty, I'm posting my "diet log" for last week. I was at or under my calorie goal every day (except Sunday which is my "Free Day") I walked a mile each day four days last week. I wanted it to be six days but I'm not beating myself up over it. New week, new goal of at least 5 days - I'm still hoping for six but will be okay with five. This is aerobic Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-8470443735252489802010-01-08T08:31:00.000-08:002010-01-08T08:43:11.289-08:00Words to Live ByI think too much. Way too much. Some days I wish I could just turn my brain off. And a lot of that thinking is negative, like why 'friends' don't answer emails or about disagreements that happened years ago. I dwell and obsess and make myself miserable. I know it's a flaw, but have a hard time not doing it (I'd love resolution in all areas of my life but that just ain't gonna happen.)So when I Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-74914798738750700022010-01-07T08:20:00.000-08:002010-01-07T09:18:11.769-08:00Doesn't Taste Like Diet FoodLast night I made a delicious (and low calorie) meal. So delicious, it was difficult to believe it was low calorie. When I first start watching what I eat, the first thing I do is crave what I shouldn't have. Like bar food. As you know, Chan and I have indulged in 'Grease-Fest" at our local bar many times and pigged out on the various deep fat fried foods. So it's not surprising that when I Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-4114596007188334872010-01-06T08:27:00.000-08:002010-01-06T09:10:54.437-08:00InspirationSo we are on day three of the new lifestyle. I won't call it a 'diet' because it's actually a long term behavior modification plan. I haven't felt too deprived yet and I have instituted my exercise regimen of walking a mile a day (this will increase as I build strength and stamina.)Maura and Chan have also started their lifestyle changes. Maura is blogging her common sense diet. And if I know Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-51554475197459945122010-01-04T08:30:00.000-08:002010-01-04T08:58:00.408-08:00Losing WeightAlmost every woman I know resolves to lose weight each new year (and periodically throughout the year.) This is true no matter what size or shape she is already. Maybe it's because of the unrealistic fashion icons but even skinny girls think they need to lose weight.Well, that's certainly true at our house. My mom wants to lose 10 pounds because she is heavier than she has been in a long time. Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-42042064811406758702010-01-01T09:23:00.000-08:002010-01-01T09:51:12.621-08:00My Life ResolvedHappy New Year everyone! I'm not sure if 2010 will be better than 2009 since I woke to extreme intestinal distress, which I hope is not a metaphor for 'this year will be S#%T' (hopefully it's more like 'don't eat assorted leftovers at one in the morning.)I did terrible on my 2009 resolutions, having done so well on my 2008 resolutions. So maybe the lesson is to make resolutions that aren't aboutShaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-42708709564711098682009-12-30T08:07:00.000-08:002009-12-31T08:01:00.358-08:002009 The Year In ReviewHow do you describe 2009? It was a year where everything happened and nothing happened. Strange, huh?We started and ended the year with a crappy economy. The 'change' that the new Obama administration promised amounted to very little actual change. Now I'm not entirely blaming President Obama, anyone with half a brain knew he couldn't fix everything at once, but I am a little upset about the Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18331300.post-63885653727633457382009-12-26T23:11:00.000-08:002009-12-26T23:16:25.688-08:00Favorite Christmas MemoryI have lots of Christmas memories and I hold each one dear in my heart. My family is my blessing and for them I am grateful. This year I have chosen to hold onto and remember forever - me and The Graminator singing loudly (and most decidedly off key) "Meet Me in St. Louis" on Christmas Eve. I don't know how such a silly little thing can mean so much. Bless you Judy Garland.Shaehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05245380226796583088noreply@blogger.com3