January is Gone & I Hope the Curse Went With It!

I can't believe it's already February! I guess with so many things going on, I just about skipped January. (I wish I could have skipped it!) Things have finally calmed down a bit, but I never expect it to last because the moment I let my guard down...WHAM!!! Hit with another mack truck. So, I suppose I should finish my "cursed" story or at least the "humbug holiday" part with this post. So we continue with Part 3, "The Curse Continues" or I Have Had Enough".

If you remember, in the last post, the curse took my car. In the first chapter, it was my computer. This is the culmination of the rest.

During the holiday season, it always seems that more people than usual pass away due to depression of the season, health problems due to the cold or various other circumstances. This holiday season, a period of about 2-3 weeks, 4 people I knew passed away. Three were guys I have known for some years, 2 my age & the other maybe 10 years older. I am 42. Two were from heart attacks & one died from falling on the ice & hitting his head. The fourth was my hubby's aunt, his father's (deceased for as long as I have known hubby) sister. She died from cancer. It was just found about a month or so before. She didn't really have many symptoms. She wasn't feeling well. Thought she had a bad cold & was constipated for longer than she should have waited. By the time she went to the doctor, she had stage 3 cancer of pretty much all digestive system. They wanted to do surgery but the organs were too far gone. She was finally put it hospice & passed a couple of days later. The Lord took her fairly quickly so I believe she didn't suffer too much. My daughter took it pretty badly because she stayed at her home many weekends as grandma lives there as well. Too many passings in such a short time...sigh.

This part can be considered curse/stupidity or blessing/luck. Maybe a little of both. A couple of weeks ago, my middle sister, who is 40, somehow ended up totalling her car, getting out of it with no damage to herself or others. She was drunk, doesn't know why she was in that area & says she woke to the car crashing. Apparently, another car was involved but the guy, who must've been drinking also, left before the police came. She was taken to jail & no one knew where she was until later that day. It happened at 6:30 in the morning. A friend of hers got her out in the early evening after we found out where she was & how much it would be. I thank God she wasn't killed or killed someone else. There is a whole story with this but I only mention this as part of the "fun" I have been going through since the end of '09. We also have a great aunt who my mother lives with that fell down while at the doctor's for a stress test. She tripped over some mops that were in the hall & broke the bone under her left eye in 4 places. So, she was in the hospital for a few days.

I think that's about it for the major stuff (for now anyway). So, if anyone wonders why I seem a bit pessimistic, I hope this gave you a little idea. lol.

Things have calmed down some & I have been busy as ever. I still have no sound on my computer. It looks like I need a new sound card. I will pick one up tomorrow (later) & hopefully that will take care of that problem. I love my 2005 Cobalt. So, does my daughter. Now she can take this car for her driving test to get her license. Soon another teenager on the road. (I will be praying the rosary constantly...lol) This car is very good on gas, too. So that helps a little with the financial situation that we're all in these days. Hubby & I are working. (even if we'd rather hit the big lottery) The weather here in Michigan hasn't been too bad this winter, yet. But, of course, they are calling for a good amount of snow Tuesday into Wednesday this week. But at least it's not like "Snowmageddon" that the east coast just had. Or it's not "supposed" to be...I shouldn't even think that! Put the thought right out of my mind before I jinx it!

I guess I have held you captive long enough. (those of you who have stayed this long) I hope you all have a wonderful, blessed week full of love & good things! Till we meet again...

Babushka Blowin' In the Wind,

Collette

(((HUGS)))

Snow is a 4 Letter Word

Image via Wikipedia

Well Hello Everyone! Sit right down & you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip...screeeeeccchhhhh! Oops! Wrong tape! LOL! And, I KNOW you would NOT love to hear me sing, but, uh, maybe some other time. Have to save my voice to yell at say good morning to the lovely children in the morning at school. (damn, monsters, that's what they are...grrr!) Now, now, ahem.
As you can see by the time that has passed, I have been avoiding very busy. School is in full swing & I'm back to my usual schedule of work, stopping to visit Babcua & picking up my daughter from school. After that, I either go back to Babcia's to do some things for her, make dinner, do laundry, etc. In the evening, the shows are back on their fall schedule with new episodes & some I just can not miss. Survivor is back on. Not sure who I like yet, but I can't stand that oil business guy, Russell! I know you do what you have to in the game, but he is a very mean & nasty little man. I watch "So You Think You Can Dance". The city tryout are finally finished. Now on to Las Vegas where they pick the top 20 for the show. I just love watching the choreographed dances. Last year, there wer a couple of dances that were just so powerful in their stories. One was about addiction & one about breast cancer that just made you feel as if you were going through it! Truly amazing! "Lie to Me" & "Fringe" are another 2 shows that I really like. They premiered last season & the stories are not like any other that have been on before. I hope they stay on for awhile. On Friday, I have to see "Dollhouse" with Eliza Dushku. The storyline is a pretty scary one that makes you wonder if this is or could be already happening. If you check any of these out, let me know what you think.*

Sometimes I think I watch a little too much tv. I watch the news a few times a day. I wonder if I should be watching it at all. The news is just so damn depressing around here. Crimes, financial problems, government screwing around with our lives...And now the worst of it, always around this time of year...I really can't even bear the thought or the mention of it...UGH. Ok, don't say you weren't warned & do NOT let the kids hear. SNOW! ARRRRGGGHHHHHH!!!!!! Yes, I know. I'm so sorry! They brought it up on the news the other day. I know it's unavoidable. But did they have to say it so soon? I can't afford to get a place to stay for the winter. Unless...Quirky? You live where it's warm, dontcha? HUH? Some of you live in much warmer climes. I would just love to meet all of you. Perfect time to visit my southern friends. And if anyone likes the cold & snow, come stay here. I would gladly trade until about the beginning of April.

There are only a few things to learn about living in Michigan, or specifically near Detroit. We call "soda", "pop". To show someone where we live, we put up our right hand, palm facing us & point to a spot somewhere between the knuckles of the thumb. Even though we are just across the bridge from Canada, we still make fun of them, eh? (ok, it's not PC but it's funny) This one is very important. When it snows, if someone shovels out a spot for their car of puts a chair in the spot, do not park there. Legally, they can't do that but no one complains. It's just supposed to be common courtesy (or something...lol) Not much except to have fun. There are a lot of bars & drink prices are cheap if you hit the little places that look like a dive. At one time, I believe it was during the '80's, Hamtramck was in the Guinness World Book of Records for most bars in an area. Hamtramck is 2.2 square miles. I don't know how many bars were open at the time, but there are still enough that you can walk to & get drunk & not need a ride home. You may need someone to roll you to your door but I can't say I've ever heard of a designated walker.

As usual, my post went off course from my original idea. It will just have to be my next post. Remind me though, because it was a very important one on body odor. NOT! LOL!

So, we'll chat soon. I'll invade your blogs. I may lurk. I may give some of my sought after wisdom. You never know.

And one last thing, when in Michigan, The Polish Muslims are a popular band, not a religious group!

GO RED WINGS!!!

Bundling up in my babushka until someone sends me to the tropics,

Collette

* Opinions & statements of tv shows are my own. I have not been paid or asked to do them by anyone.

I'd Like To Thank the Academy

Happy Monday Everyone! (yeah, yeah, grumble, grumble) My first order of business is to thank my dear friend, Chrissy @ http://ishouldabeenastripper.com/ for my very first blogging award. It is The Premier Meme Award.







The guidelines for the Premier Meme Award are to list 7 of your personality traits, as evidenced on your blog, & then to pass the award on to 7 other blogs with notable personality.


My list of traits are:

1. Family-oriented-One of the most important things to me is my family.


2. Fun-Just can't sit around & work all day-BORING!


3. Caring-I have a tendency to worry about others more than myself.


4. Intelligent-The Polish, blonde & female thing is just a cover...shhh!


5. Funny-There are times when I just bust out & hilarity ensues! (ok, so most of the time it's when I'm by myself...lol)


6. Giving-I would give you the shirt off my back (& anything else I have on because it's just too damn hot lately! So don't ask because me nekkid is not a pretty picture...lol!)


7. Emotional-I am usually pretty even-tempered but piss me off & Watch Out!




I have so many amazing blogs I read but here are a few that really get to me sometimes!


Ms. Quirky @ Musings of a Quirkyloon

Melissa @ Rock and Drool

Dana @ Life is Good

Chris @ Maugeritaville

Tiffany @ The Water Bottle

Sue @ Farvel Cargo

Margaret @ Nanny Goats in Panties



Thanks to them & quite of few others, my blogging abilities are being honed & perfected all the time. (time to get out the hip boots, it's getting pretty deep in here)

Image by wiccked via Flickr

Now since that is done, (finally, after hours of my internet acting up), I have some bad news for all of you. OK, it's not THAT bad. Sorry to worry you. I am leaving for vacation Tuesday morning. My hubby has 2 weeks off so we are driving to Massachusetts to stay with my cousins for about a week. They were here just over a week ago but now we're taking the fun there. They live in Westfield so it'll be about 11-12 hour drive from home. I'm near well surrounded on 3 sides by Detroit. I probably won't be able to get online, but I will ck twitter from my phone! My name is @rayvenne if anyone even cares...boohoo. I will miss reading all the blogs. So I will be busy reading when I get back.




We haven't been on a real vacation where we left town in quite a few years, so this will be nice. Besides, 2 weeks at home with the hubby would send me to the funny farm! Padded cell, here I come!


My babcia had me take her to the Polish Market here so I could take some kielbasa & other Michigan goodies with us. They have a Polish town near them but nothing is like Hamtramck. I am also taking Vernors ginger ale & Better Made potato chips. Only in Michigan, so anytime we visit family out of town or they come here, that's the "need to have" stuff!


I am pretty much finished packing. Tonight we have to go to my sister's house & trade my car for their minivan for the trip. My '96 Grand Marquis uses way too much gas & hubby's blazer is just not safe enough for that long of a drive. Then, on the road at 6am! I will be sleeping most of the time since it's a non-smoking vehicle. ARGH! Or else I would be pulling my hair out. Eventually, I would like to quit, but on my terms not because everyone wants me to. And of course, the more they bitch, the more I smoke. Maybe if they would just let it go, I'd get the state of mind to just do it. But, since hubby & some family members pick about it all the time, it just pisses me off.


Well, I'm not going to get into a smoking/non-smoking discussion here. It's a personal choice.


SO, that's about it for now. I will post when I get back & show some pics if I can figure out how to put more than the 2 I usually do!


Have a great week everyone!





Wearing the Babushka to keep the sweat from dripping down my face,


Collette

We Finally Made It!

Image by NoneOther... {Captured In Lights}... via Flickr

Happy Summer! I love it! It was 88 degrees today & will be at least 90 on Wednesday. Oh yeah, it's hot & humid & I sweat like a pig (or worse than one) but after the winter we had, I am not complaining.

This past winter was awful! It snowed every other day. By the time you dug yourself out, it was time to shovel again. At almost 42 (b'day in a few weeks), I have inherited my babcia's arthritis all over my body. When the cold hits these bones, it feels as if they are ripping apart. I don't think I can take many more winters in Michigan. Two more years till my DD graduates from high school (I don't even want to think about that!) & then we'll see what happens from there.

I am hoping to move somewhere warm & dry, if possible. The humidity bugs me too sometimes but I'll take that over blizzards anyday!

And speaking of bugs...no, I don't care much for them. I know the further south you go & the warmer it is, the bugs are a little bigger. Ok, they are gigantic! I would hate to fight a bug over my dinner. First, he would have to be invited. Then, of course, dress for dinner. It doesn't have to be black tie, but at least something to cover the um, well, breeding parts, I guess. Now, I'm sure they're not accustomed to using cutlery, so antenna or tentacles (ok, I spelled that right...whew!) will be acceptable. Using the face or tongue to slurp food off the plate or landing on top of it, will not!

At home, as they are much smaller than me, & if bugs bug me, they will be dealt with like the fly that bugged Obama on tv. Immediate execution! I will not tolerate them bothering me in my home, as that is trespassing & if PETA doesn't like it, too bad!

Now what was I talking about? Ah yes, heat! I know it will be hot & humid tomorrow & throughout the summer, but I will not complain after the winter we just had. (at least not for awhile...LOL)

Sporting a Babushka headband,

Collette