Gottahaveonetoo

Looking good!

I did something I never do. Since I'm still over weight, I do what most over weight people do. I do not buy myself new clothes since I'm 'waiting' till I'm thinner to spend money. But on Tuesday I did a presentation (seminar) for a client. It is the second one in a week and I have another next week. I put on one of my suits and when I was sitting there looking at my shoes, I noticed the heel was damaged, the shoe looked a bit scuffed too. I looked in my lap and my best suit had a nice pull in the fabric. I looked at my blouse and realized even though it's in good shape, I've had this blouse about 12 years. hmmmm. I'm a VP of a company and my BEST suit is about 5 years old? scuffed damaged shoes? a 12 year old blouse? what the heck is wrong with me!!! So I went major shopping on my way home from the presentation. I bought so many work clothes, shoes, scarves, jewelry and a new pocketbook, I dont want to think about how much I spent. Then I went home and got rid of things in my closet that I dont wear or look bad on me. I'm out of town again now but when I go home this weekend, my shoes and drawers are next. I wore a new outfit today and got compliments on my clothes and my pocketbook. It must be noticable! I should have done this a while ago. I deserve it!

Dinner Auction Over

So we had the auction for the Italian North & South Dinner. We were the first item to be on the block. We thought, that stinks, the first never goes for much. People are just getting there feet wet and there are 11 items they were auctioning. Most were fancy dinners at fancy restaurants, one painting, and a couple of overnight trips plus dinner, or a day of golfing plus dinner. One that went for the most was a spanish dinner party for 20! So who knew if our little Taste of Italy dinner for 8 would do well. I was very happy! it went for $800. WOW, that was more than many others, only two were higher! So we have to make sure it is REALLY good! We sold it with a story. My friend Sally who is doing this with me thought it would be interesting to give some history on how I came across the recipes. Like how my 2 italian parents from Northern and Southern Italy met and came to America. In the blurb about the dinner in the program, some of what I wrote was there as part of the description, it said if you want to hear more you had to bid on the dinner. We've decided to make it into a real story. I will tell it (of course, it's my story) and Sally & Marte will be my 'grunges' as they so nicely put it. I do all the pre cooking, they do all the serving and cleaning. Not a problem, should be fun. Then gentleman who won the bid would like it after the 1st of the year, so we have a while. This should be fun!

A taste of Old World Italy- Nord e Sud

So my 2 friends and I decided to donate a dinner to be auctioned off for charity. So to make it fun we did a taste test date tonight. we cooked all the possible foods we were considering and narrowed it down to 'A Taste of Italy- North & South' After making so many italian dishes, we realized how different the north of Italy cuisine is from the south of Italy. So this should be interesting, part of the deal is whoever pays the highest for the dinner and buys it, not only gets a home cooked Italian dinner for 6, but the three of us get to serve it to them also

We will have appetizer
North- Peppers with Anchovie and South Shrimp Scampi

then the first 2 courses are 'poor man' dishes very inexpensive for their regions
North- Rice Milanese and South Muscles

Next 2 courses, made with things abundent in their regions
North- Pasta and Wine sauce and South Spaghetti and meatballs

A break with a nice fancy Anti Pasta (that both regions would have eaten)

then we show the real difference in North and South, both have a dish with the same name made totally different, Chicken Cacciatorre. Northern style and Southern style

Finally desert,
Some delicious home made Italian Tortoni

Girlie Girls

One day when Nikki was at my house and she went in her little pool, she wanted me to dry her hair, as we went upstairs to do that, she noticed my curlers. I asked if she wanted me to put them in her hair and she got very excited. So here are some big girl pictures of my girlie grandaughter. I always have so much fun with this kid. She's a little comedian!

How to make a long drive fun

While driving home from Dodge City with Jayme, Charles and Nikki, we found ways to make it fun. we also stopped and took some pictures. It was fun!

kitchen is done. Well actually some little things need finish in this picture, like the oven vent wasn't up yet but for the most part the kitchen is done.

Should you fix your deviated septum?

Well, I voted yes and on the 15th I had surgery. From what my doctor said, good thing I did. It turns out I had a few problems in there. The cartlidge between my nostrils was getting so thin from years of breathing on only one bent side that I was working toward a hole between my nostrils. Lovely. I also needed to have a hole repaired in one sinus that was created from pressure because of the strange shaped nasal passage, and I had to have bone removed that overgrew inside one side. Plus of course fix the deviation in my septum that was making both nostrils have maybe 10% opening left on either side. And I wonder why I had sinus headaches, constant sinus infections, problems breathing at night and bloody noses!

Well because of all the 'extra' junk, it's been 4 days and I'm still so very uncomfortable it sucks. I'm not in any pain, just every breath I take reminds me that I cannot breath, cannot blow my nose and can't sleep. The packing came out in about 24 hours and that was a huge relief, at least then I could swallow and eat like normal.

Try this, pinch you nose so closed not even a teeny tiny bit of air can pass, now hold it like that and try to swallow a sip of water, or try to chew your food without breathing. sucks don't it!

Anyway, the splints are huge and they will stay in my nose for about a week. They are very uncomfortable and itchy. And they dig a bit into my nose but I'll survive it. I just wish I could blow my nose. If I could get the junk out I could breath and the draining would stop. I can't even feel when it will drain out my nose since the stupid plastic splint goes almost to the opening. so yes, good ol cotton balls are shoved in my nose most of the day. I look gorgeous.

So let's recap my experience.

Jayme, look me to the surgery center, but they forgot to call her until afterI woke up and I asked if they called, I got A 'Oh, we are supposed to call her?" so once they did I finally got to go home, not long after she had to leave for a doctor appointment. I kept giving myself the magic pain killers, but that didnt stop the discomfort, though yes it did stop the pain. Jayme, Charles and the baby did come back later on that night and stay over. They brought me some soup from Jasons deli where they ate and it was so hard to swallow, but tasted good.

Maria also drove down late that night after work and stayed with me. She even put up with me and slept in my bed if I needed anything. Considering I didnt sleep more than 5 minutes at a time all night It was nice to have her there, even though she was sleeping.

The baby was sick so we had Jayme leave her with us the next day. Good thing for Maria. I think this was the first time Maria and Little Nicole had so much one on one time together. I know Nikki loved it. Maria babied us both and made us a yummy lunch. She even took me to get the packing out of my nose and I know that grossed her out. It had to, it grossed me out! She put up will ALL my complaining, and trust me, there was a lot of it. Then she had to leave and go back up to Manhattan.

Well Jayme wound up leaveing work a little early since I was useless watching Nicole. She was being a good girl as she always is, but lets face it. She is 2 years old and I was a grouchy uncomfortable grandma who couldn't breath or blow her nose and constantly wanted to cut my nose off. So Jayme, Charles and the baby stayed over again. Jayme cooked for us so that was nice that I didnt have to fend for myself.

Now it's friday and still the baby is sick too. I was feeling much better. I actually only woke up about 7 times during the night. So I had Jayme leave nikki with me. but since it was not an easy task, she left work early anyway and was home later in the afternoon.

Yesterday I chilled, I did get to see the baby for a little bit when Jayme & Charles took their dance lesson, but that was it. It's better that way since I'm cranky. Today I'm just hagging out. took another shower (it helps) and looking around the kitchen wishing I could do some work to it but afraid to breath in anything or overdo it and start bleeding again.

OH one more ANNOYING thing in all this. My upper teeth, the roof of my mouth and the bone between my lip and nose is still NUMB. Grrr! very annoying feeling and I look stupid when I try to smile. Not that I can since when I do the splints dig into my nose! I hope that feeling goes away FAST.

I have an appointment for tuesday to take out the splints. YEAH! I really think I'll be fine after that. Once I get the ok to blow my nose and all this foreign stuff is out I think life will be normal.

So that is my saga. Thought I'd share. So Should you get your deviated septum fixed? Probably yes, it's too soon on the healing road to make that decision for sure, but I can tell I will be breathing tons better even with all the crap in my nose and the stuffyness I have now, I can already tell a difference. It will be great when I'm healed.

Future musician

Nikki on her drums ... Wait. Gotta go pee!

Singing Beauty

If you know the disney Sleeping Beauty movie, you will know the song. 'Once Upon a Dream' well this is my 2 yr old granchild singing that very song. If you are unfamiliar with the words. She is singing " I know you, I walk with you once upon a dream" In the movie Prince Phillip is dancing with Princess Aurora, so she is dancing with her doll, just like in the movie. or at least SHE thinks so. Yes, she is adorable.