It's Cyber Monday

Today has the dubious title all around the world as Cyber Monday.  This is the day most of us are supposed to be chained to our computer, spending thousands of dollars on Internet orders of wonderful and stupendous Christmas gifts, that supposedly are being offered at great deals not offered anywhere else.  OK, this is great, except that trying to get onto any Internet site this am is IMPOSSIBLE!!!!

I must not be the only one trying to get online today.  But unlike others I am not shopping, I am just passing time waiting for a better weather report to pass on to my hubby at work, so they can decide wither they are going to open or close.   With 60 mile an hour gusts, I am in favor of closing, but  that's just me, I am a wienie when it comes to bad weather.

Getting back to Christmas shopping, and I mean Christmas, not Xmas.  People, put the Christ back into Christmas and you might just start enjoying the season.  I saw on the news this morning that most people are going to spend between 600-800 dollars on Christmas presents this year.   Are they for REAL!!!  Who has that kind of money????  Not anyone I know.  I guess I am cheap, I am making my Christmas presents this year.  They don't have the flash and fancy bling that a store bought gift might have, but mine are made with love and care and I guess that is what makes them special to me.  I know that whoever receives one of my homemade gifts will appreciate them even more knowing that I was thinking of them when I made them.  I have a friend who is painting pictures for each of her children.  WOW....now there is a family heirloom in the making, not only will her children get to enjoy this gift, but it can be passed on through this generation and on to the coming generations where it will also be a cherished gift. 

That is what people used to do for Christmas.  They made special gifts for their loved ones and friends.  Nowadays, people say they don't have time to make something.  I say that they don't take the time to do it.  A gift doesn't need to be something elaborate, it can be something as simple as a batch of cookies (even if they are store bought) wrapped up in a pretty reusable basket or a gift of time spent over coffee and doughnuts at the local doughnut shop (you buying of course!)  See simple things, heartfelt things....This is what Christmas is all about.  So I am not shopping on Cyber Monday and I am not really going to be shopping for much this year.  Yes there is something I want that can't be made at home....but I think I'll have my hubby wait until after Christmas for the sales to get it for me.....I can wait. 

Christmas is about spending time with family and friends,  not waiting to see what you got under the tree.  I am not saying that I don't love to get a present, I do.   But I would rather sit down and talk with my mom, my good girlfriend (she knows who she is) bake with my daughters and spend quality time with my hubby then receive a gift.  Yes a gift may last until your next rummage sale.....but people are only here on earth for a short while and memories last forever. 

So until later read a book, make love and eat chocolate and call your mom, a friend, your hubby and arrange time to get together and spread some that real Christmas spirit.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is today, and today I will break my diet (what diet) and stuff myself with turkey (which is good for you) potatoes and gravy, stuffing, pie and anything else that is not nailed down.  It is a glorious day, when we are given free reign to indulge our inner glutton.  Tomorrow, I will suffer eaters remorse (kinda like buyers remorse, except your stomach really, really, really hurts) and probably won't eat all day (right). 
To everyone out there from my home to yours - Happy Thanksgiving!

It finally snowed!

I can't believe it, it snowed last night.  It is almost Thanksgiving (4 days away) and we had our first real snowfall.  It is beautiful out fluffy white, shiny and new.  I love the first snowfall, it is the ones that come after it I am not to keen about.

The first snowfall, brings to mind the holidays, sledding and all sorts of winter fun. But all to soon the reality of more snowfalls brings the slipping, sloshing, crashing and the mess melting snow brings and worst of all the cold.  Oh, you wonder about the crashing....that is the sound of the stupid car drivers who seem to forget how to drive on the snow the first time it is snowy and icy out.   

These are the same people that grew up in South Dakota and have driven on the ice and snow all their lives, but when that first snow hits they seem to forget their roots and drive like they have just moved here from Florida.  When it is slick out you don't drive 80 miles an hour on the streets, (yes, I am exaggerating) or slam on your brakes at the stop light.  Do these dunder heads remember this....nope, they don't and because of their mindlessness, they are being the cause of many accidents that wouldn't have happened if they would have remembered their driving smarts.

Hopefully, by the time I need to go out in this cold and snowy weather, the "Florida" drivers will have remembered that they are from South Dakota, and will be driving sane again.  One can only hope!

Until next time, read a book, make love and eat chocolate.

It was an ugh!!! day

Yesterday and today were perfectly awful days to have fibromyalgia.  It was cold, rainy and then it snowed.  So having said that This Is My Blog for today.  I'll endeavor to write a longer and more interesting blog on Friday.  So until later, read a book, make love and eat chocolate.

Yummy Peanut Butter

I Love peanut butter, especially crunchy.  I think I have always loved it, even when I was a small child.  It is sweet, filling and very versatile. 

You can eat it on crackers or between 2 pieces of any kind of bread you choose.  Peanut butter can go on a cookie, in between pieces of chocolate, use it to make candy and cookies and you can cook with it.  I was watching a cooking show the other night where the host went to different restaurants.  In this show they were comparing chili's made in different restaurants, one of the chef's said that their chili was the best because they put peanut butter in it ( not crunchy) and that made the taste really extreme.  The host was doubtful but after tasting it he said that it added an extra punch and was great.  Now you know that I just have to try it in my next batch of chicken chili.

I have eaten lots of things made with and from peanut butter.  But to be honest with you one of my favorite sandwiches is really kinda weird.  Yeah, I know I am kinda weird, but it is a great comfort food.
The recipe is:
Toast 2 pieces of white bread and spread with crunchy (not creamy) peanut butter immediately after it pops up.  In the meantime fry an egg just so the whites are cooked and the yolk is starting to cook.  Place egg on peanut butter and smooch the two slices together, till the yolk start to run a little out the sides.  Take a big bite and then tell me if it isn't the best sandwich you have ever sank you teeth into.   YUMMY!!  It is one of those comfort foods I can really crave sometimes.

Yep, peanut butter is one of my favorites, in fact I think I need a quick fix of some on a few crackers....so until later, read a book, make love and eat chocolate. (which really does go well with peanut butter)

TGIFS: Thank Goodness It's Finally Sunny

I crave sunshine.  I think one of the main reasons that I don't like winter as much as some is because of the shorter days, cloudiness and the lack of sunshine.  I don't like the short days we now have because of daylight savings time.

Who the heck decided we had to have daylight savings time anyway.  I don't like it.  I don't like to have it dark at 4:00 in the afternoon and dark at 6:00 in the morning. What IDIOT decided to do this!?!?!?!

I bet it has something to do with the light bulb industry.  They want us to burn more bulbs, so hence they lobbied to get the hours shortened in the winter so we would have lights on longer, which means that they burn out quicker, and then we have to buy more, which burn longer, burn out quicker and then we have to buy more bulbs...... It becomes a vicious circle in which the only winner is the light bulb manufactors. 

But I fooled them.  I went to the store and got those new florescent bulbs that burn longer.   HA, HA and HA!  Now let them make a profit on me.  I don't think so.  Score one for the little gal.

Yes, I know that this won't make a dent in their cash flow, but it does make me feel better, and besides I am also helping the environment by not using so much energy, which means that it must balance somehow with all of the other energy I waste (computer, cell phone, TV......) on other appliances.

So, if it ever comes to a vote....I will vote against daylight savings time.   A vote for the sun is a vote for  Mother Nature...and we all want to really keep her happy, so she won't send a hugh snow storm our way.

So until next time, read a book, make love, and eat chocolate..... and also buy new florescent bulbs and stick it to the Man!!! 

It can't be November, It's 74 degrees outside!

I am having trouble believing that it really is the 8th of November.  For the past three days the weather has been beautiful, sunny, warm (70's) and simply gorgeous out.  I have really enjoyed it, but I am waiting for the other shoe to fall.

I know that Mother Nature is somewhere on a warm and sultry beach, drinking a Mi Ti with one of those little pink umbrellas in it, when she will suddenly jump up and exclaim "Crap!  It was supposed to be snowing in Rapid City last week".  She will then grab her suitcase, jump on a passing cloud and start blowing her way up north to South Dakota.  Our nice weather will be a distant memory to take out and fondle as we fight our way through another round of 50 mile hour wind, rain. snow and a lot of grumpy and crabby people.


The last weather report I heard, according to the weatherman today, is that the bad weather, (AKA, a pissed off Mother Nature, who is mad because she had to quit playing and get back to work) is going to happen tomorrow.  I know that it was going to happen soon, but come on I'm totally spoiled by the great weather.  No pain, fibromyligia is keeping quiet, and I can get some things done.  Hopefully, the snow will come in quick and stop.  I don't mind bad weather if it is only for a day or two, but I love the sun and hate when bad weather drags on and on and on and on and on.....it just becomes redundant.

Well, all I have to say is keep warm, put the tea kettle on and stay inside if you can. 
Until next time, read a book, make love and eat chocolate.  (today might be a good time to make that chocolate run before it storms!!!)

I Think I Should Write a Book

I am thinking of writing a book.  But for the life of me I can't think of what kind to write. 

I could write a neck-bitter.  These kind of books seem to be in style right now, but when have you ever known me to be a slave to what everyone else is doing.  I love Scottish romances set back in the 1500's, but that would entail a LOT of research, and right now I am feeling kind of lazy.  OH, OH, I could write a tell all book about my life....but besides putting the reader to sleep,  it would probably read like....Kandis was born, she lived, paid taxes and then she passed.   Yep, there is a million seller for ya!  If I did write a book I probably should stick with something I know about.  Don't smirk.....I do know about a few things. 

One of the many things I am a kinda of expert on is family home daycare.  I could write a tell all book about that.  How it can be very rewarding field or how to start a family home daycare.  I could also write about the many funny things that can happen in a daycare, how kids love to spit out their food, write on walls with markers, kick you when they are angry or how parents go to the bar first then remember they owe you for 2 weeks of daycare.

It might be an interesting book.  But then again I don't think they can still burn people at the stake, which could happen if I really told the world what daycare is like..Not really I'm joking, in a semi-serious way.  I loved doing Family Home Daycare and I was really good at it.  I think there are good and bad providers just like there were good and bad daycare parents.  I was really lucky, I seemed to get mostly good parents but every now and then a bad one snuck in.  I think I could write a book about how to do a daycare, forms, advice, information and some funny quips thrown in for good measure.

Writing a  book could be fun, but it also would be a lot of hard work.  So I'm thinking about it.....possibly for a good long time......you never know when the world will need another good neck-biter book.  I think I had better do some more research and hit the library for a few more of those romance and neck-biter books.  You never can do too much research.

Until later, read a book, make love and eat chocolate.

What has happened to Halloween

What has happened to Halloween?  Good question.  Last night was October 31st, officially Halloween.  The night when ghouls, ghosts, witches, fairies, PAC man and other factious creatures come to life in our homes and spill out onto the streets of our towns and nation.  Even the President gave out Halloween treats. White House M & M's, cookies and dried fruit (You knew there would be something healthy in those treat bags).  He probably is really in on the Halloween festivities since he has two young daughters who are at the right age for trick or treating.  I wonder if the Secret Service Men have to go in costume.....they probably could go as the Men In Black, since they would only have to wear their black suit instead of their blue one.

The holiday has really changed since I was a child.  Now a days people are scared to send their children out by themselves.  It isn't safe, not with all the wackos and degenerates that are just waiting to catch an innocent kid in their grips.  It's too bad that a fun kid holiday should have to be so guarded, just to make sure that no one gets hurt.  Thank goodness that there are churches and city organizations that are willing to go the extra mile and provide fun and LOTS of candy for our trick or treaters. 

My hubby and I didn't stay at home last night (shame on us) but decided to take a drive around town just to see what was going on.  We took our police scanner hoping to maybe to hear something exciting going on during this Halloween.  We stayed out for probably hour and a half.  We did see some parents taking their kids around their neighborhoods and I did see very cute ghost with his little fairy sister running off some of the candy they had eaten earlier.  But not once, not once did we hear of an car egging, a house being toilet papered or anything that would construe Halloween mischief.  We did hear of a call in the Valley of three kids smashing a couple of their neighbors pumpkins on his porch.  But being the stupid kids they were the neighbor saw them, knew who they were and was reporting their names to the cops.  Well Duh!  Don't smash your neighbors pumpkins, or better yet if you just have to be destructive, buy one of your own, put it on your porch, sneak around and smash it.  Same thrill.....except you probably will end up cleaning the mess up, which is what I bet happened to those kids when the cops found them.

Times are a lot different now. Back when I was growing up  it was a lot safer to go out trick or treating.  Kids could go out by themselves, without their parent. My family lived  in a small town and everyone knew your family and your family knew everyone. You planned out your Halloween route weeks in advance.  You knew who gave out the best cookies, popcorn balls and treats. People gave out homemade treats and we loved them. You also knew which house to stay away from because that crabby old man lived there and he never gave out good treats, if he gave out any at all.

 My father was a reserve police officer, and loved to work Halloween.  He loved to catch kids egging cars and toilet papering houses or doing other mischief.  Why because he usually new the kid's parents and loved having to take the kids home and rat them out to their parents.  It didn't help that these kids were friends of mine and he knew them all.  He wasn't mean about it, he just said that this was how he pulled his Halloween pranks.  To be fair, he did warn all of us that he and others would be out and about, so we had all better be good and stay out of trouble.  Yeah right.  I did pull a few pranks, mostly innocent ones, but I did have a few friend (mostly guys) who really went above and beyond what they should have.  These few usually deserved to get caught and ended up cleaning up their tricks.  So the trickee usually had the last laugh instead of the tricker.

Yes, Halloween is a lot different today, which is too bad.  The world has gotten to be a very dangerous place.  But there are still a lot of us that are trying to make it a better and safer place for everyone.  Halloween isn't the same as it was but neither is the world.  Pretty soon, kids won't even have to leave their houses to go trick or treating, they'll be able to stay safe and warm, having their own party at home while their robot goes door to door for them.   Wow, that will sure save the feet of a lot of tired, shivering parents.  But it also could take away from the fun spirit of Halloween.  Maybe or maybe not.  Reports coming in from my kids and nieces, states that a spooky scary fun time was had by old and young alike last night.  So I guess no matter what, the spirit of Halloween just might persevere and continue on in this brave new world we find ourselves living in.

Until later, read a book, make love and eat chocolate.  (the only bad thing about growing old and not having grand kids yet, is that there aren't any Halloween baskets to raid, so no chocolate!!!)