Spring Cleaning

Now I'm sure the thought of those words send all you domestic ladies into a dither. -Thoughts of wiping down walls, -moving furniture around so you can sweep wall to wall, -Cleaning out the "junk closet" (wait, do other people even have them?), -Spit shining the silver and washing windows. Me? I just think that maybe for once my house will get completely cleaned in one week. I know, it sounds like my house must be full of dust bunnies and dingy windows, & honestly sometimes it is. What can I say I work full time, and live by Rt 23. The inside doesn't always get cleaned & those front windows with the lovely grime? Maybe this week...maybe. This past weekend, I decided that it is time for Spring Cleaning, & not necessarily house cleaning. Everything is getting cleaned out & organized. Finances - oh yes the dreaded cant live with it, cant live without it budget. Sadly it has gotten neglected the last few months. And then, last night I discovered that my computer has a nice little template on it to help me organize the budget. I was so excited I stayed up way to late figuring it out. That's the second thing that needs spring cleaned - or just discipline. Getting to bed at a normal hour & using time wisely. Next on the list is Meal Prep. I NEED to start planning my meals - healthy meals. Since I can tend to be an excuse-y-ish person, I will make some here: -I never did much cooking before I was married. I worked till 5, came home & mom normally had supper pretty much ready. So therefore I lack experience. (can i still claim that after 1 1/2 yrs of being married?) -Secondly my husband is lactose intolerant...no milk, cheese, sour cream, butter, cream cheese....(there is a kind of milk that he can have for when i need to use it in something) -Thirdly, my husband does not eat most vegetables. So instead of making corn every night, or just a vegetable for me, I sometimes skip it. I know, I know, how un-wifey of me. So aside from these excuses, I'm about to embark on a journy of healthy cooking. Anyone with ideas for me, please give! I'm accepting every idea that doesn't include liver & onions. :) And yes, also on my spring cleaning list is my house. Inside & outside. I dream of that perfect house, that never has clutter, never gets junk mail, no need for "storage" closets or better yet "junk closets". & little by little, room by room, my aim is to get there....before it needs to be called Summer Cleaning. Till next time You can find me with the bald headed guy. (Mr Clean, silly people! my husband's not bald!)

my dad....my hero

There is this unexplainable bond between a dad and his daughters....

at least there is with my dad and this particular daughter.

My dad has always been one of the strongest men I know.

He was my first knight in shining armor.

He held the hose and sprayed cold water on my foot when i dropped a brick on it. He asked me if I could wiggle my toes. I could, so he told me it's probably not broken and if I lay on the sofa a little bit, it will feel better soon.

He had the heaviest baseball bat I ever used. He used to hit balls out to my sisters in the evenings, and my goal was to one day be able to hit as far as he did. When I hit my first home run way out into center field, he was the first one I thought of.

He tried to tell me what x-rays are like the first time we thought I broke my ankle. (yes there were several times x-rays were needed.)

He grabbed me from the table and sat me in the sink of cold water, when hot gravy got spilled on me.

He took me to the ER when a dizzy spell and a conk on the head made me forget what I had done the last 2 days.

He taught me to parallel park, and apparently he taught me well. I passed my drivers test.

He went with me when I bought my car.

He has been there through sprains & strains & knee surgeries & heart issues. He taught me to explore, to figure things out, and to think for myself.

Yesterday my dad went for a stress test. They discovered that sometime in the recent past, my dad had a heart attack, and the left ventricle is only functioning at 17%.

So he is scheduled for a heart catherization, and more tests and doctor visits.

I wish I could rescue him like he has rescued me so many times.

I wish I could tell him to wiggle his toes and lie down a little and it will be OK.

But it doesn't work that way.

So, I'm putting my hero in the the capable hands of The Hero.

and it's all gonna be OK