Five for Friday - She Get it From Her Mama

Some people call their grandmothers: grandma, granny, nana, gigi, abuela.  I call mine Mama.

Mama, me, John, and Papa

Here are a list of five things I get from Mama:

1. My life.  Without my grandma, my mom would not exist and, therefore, neither would I.  Fact.
2. My clumsiness.  I am so clumsy I once tripped over (and as a result removed, ouch!) my younger cousin's catheter while I was visiting him in the hospital.  (We still talk and are on very good terms but some how the story usually gets brought up during every visit.)  Mama was just as bad though I don't think she had a story that could top mine.
3. My sweet tooth.  Everyone in my family, except for Mama and I, crave salt.  We on the the other hand always have sweets (be it candy, cookies, cake, pie, etc.) around.
4. My love of the kitchen.  I have so many memories of Mama being in the kitchen and me helping or just watching.  She was a fantastic cook.
5. My rice and bean recipe.  A staple for any Puerto Rican cook.  Mine comes from Mama.  I can remember many years ago writing down the directions as I watched her make it for me to learn.

I get these things and so many more from Mama so much so that I have previously been told I could never deny she was my grandma.  That's ok with me though because I would never want to.

I love you, Mama.

Mama

The nice card I came back to from my old co-workers.

Sorry for the radio silence.  Mama passed away a week ago today.  I got back into town two days ago but have also been feeling sick and not completely in the blogging mood.  Please bear with me if it takes me a few days to get back into the swing of things.

Dear 2013 - Mix-Up

Dear 2013,

I do not appreciate the mix-up this morning.  Instead of sleeping an extra hour (hour and half if you consider how many times I would have hit snooze) this morning I was up and at work for what I thought was an early morning webinar.  Why am I complaining to you/about you you wonder?  Simple.  I have been in the workforce participating in webinars since 2004 and have never confused a 1pm webinar for a 7am one.  That is, until you came along.

Resentfully,

Your caffeine dependent almost foe

Tasty Tuesday - Mayday

This poor cell phone picture captures my favorite food in the entire world.  Mayday pie from Missy's Pies.  No ice cream, no whipped cream, just a warm, gooey slice of Mayday pie. 

I am currently trying to determine how to recreate this in the form of a cookie. 

In the meantime, do yourself a favor and try it if you haven't.

I accept thanks in the form of flowers, presents, and pie - Mayday only of course.

Five for Friday - Snow!

1. I loved getting a surprise call at five o'clock this morning saying we were on a two hour delay because of the weather.
2. I also equally loved all of the unexpected beautiful snow.
3. I was not so thrilled to learn there was a layer of ice under the snow.
4. However, I am super excited that because of the delay I now work about a five and half hour day today.
5. My excitement with the snow does not come close to that of Roxy the Snowman.

Happy Friday!  Be safe!

Seven

Today my little pup is seven years old!  I can't believe it!  To think she's been sidekick and shadow for just about seven years (I got her when she was five weeks old) is unbelievable.  I know she's a puppy dog but I promise I love her like she's my child.  She is so sweet and polite and silly and gross and so much more all wrapped up in a 23 pound ball of fur. 

Can you spot the birthday girl?

Wordless Wednesday - Caffeinated

Dear 2013 - Yikes!

Dear 2013,

I appreciate that you're here and bring with you a clean slate but could you possibly stop having my face look like a twelve year old boys' basketball team? 

And in case you're wondering I prefer snow days, puppies, money (and the list goes on) to pimples.

Sincerely,

Your pizza faced non-friend

Monday 1-day Goal: Monthly Expenses

Clearly I'm still not back into my blogging stride after WEverb12.  Sorry about that.  But I did think of a Monday 1-day goal for today. 

I'm not sure what got me on this finances kick but I realized I don't know how much I spend each month on bills.  I venture to say I'm pretty good with money and am surprised I don't know even though I pay these bills every single month.  Well I refuse to not know any longer.  Today's goal is for me to get a better understanding of all of my monthly bills.  I'm not talking budget, at least not yet, so I'm not including things without a due date such as groceries, gas, etc.  I think I have an idea and will be really interest to see how far off, or close, I am.  I think this activity will also give me a better idea of how much money I have to "play" with each month on those other things, like the groceries and gas I mentioned but other things too. 

For some reason this activity makes me think:

Have a happy Monday!

Five for Friday - Thankful

I think this will be another recurring blog "segment".  In it I will list five things of the topic of my choosing.

Here are five things I'm thankful for this beautiful Friday afternoon.

1. I am thankful I get a weekend with my husband.  Weekends that we are both off are few and far between and add in the weekends we're not traveling and it's even less.
2. I am thankful for a boss who is great to work for a so supportive of me in all things.
3. I am thankful for redos and new starts.  I slept through the new year celebration this year so this weekend John and I will be redoing the countdown celebration so I can have a symbolic new start after a new year that hasn't been so hot eleven days in.
4. I am thankful for my little pup and the fact she is feeling better.  She had a seizure and was pretty several days ago throwing up about eight times and completely pitiful - part of the reason this year has not been great thus far.  It was awful to see.  I am so glad she's [mostly] back to her normal, silly, loveable yet gross self.
5. I am thankful I have a world of possibilities.  Knowing that I can be considered for other jobs because of my qualifications or choose to completely change my career path or field someday down the road just because I want to or really anything else that I can imagine from the big to the small being possible.  It may not always be easy but knowing that it's still a possibility is awesome.