tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211654442024-03-13T10:45:59.870-07:00ItsMeCissy"I could not, at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. Life was meant to be lived. Curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life." --Eleanor Rooseveltitsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.comBlogger245125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-47301693762388530282016-01-01T10:26:00.002-08:002016-01-01T10:26:31.677-08:00Happy New Year, Happy 2016!Wishing you a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year.itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-84393961479093832382015-09-23T16:33:00.000-07:002015-09-24T10:24:43.748-07:00What a Difference a Year MakesLast year on my birthday we were in Albion, near Mendocino, California. This year we live in Portland, Oregon! Back then I had no idea that we would be making such a drastic change in our lives. I'm thankful to be open to new adventures at this stage of my life. Happy Birthday to me!itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-35929867780440838012014-09-26T15:07:00.000-07:002014-09-26T15:07:45.412-07:00Happy Birthday to Me!All I asked the Universe for on my 60th birthday (Sept 23rd) was rain. It began raining at 2:30am and all the next day. Here we are standing on our wet private deck at the Albion River Inn, in Albion, CA. It's nice when the Universe listens.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2oP6dxm1Es8/VCXjL48tZAI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/WrslWsluQQ0/s1600/9_23_14%2BHappy%2B60th%2BBirthday%2Bto%2Bme.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2oP6dxm1Es8/VCXjL48tZAI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/WrslWsluQQ0/s400/9_23_14%2BHappy%2B60th%2BBirthday%2Bto%2Bme.jpg" /></a><br />
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itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-87929184315732935752014-09-20T15:48:00.001-07:002014-09-20T15:50:24.673-07:00Space Jam CupcakesI promise not to make a practice of sharing photos of ALL the cakes and cupcakes I bake so just indulge me on this one. I received a request from a little guy turning 11 for chocolate cupcakes. His favorite color was red and he wanted a "Space Jam" movie decoration theme. After giving up trying to find ANYTHING Space Jam-related in the stores or online, I decided to make my own cupcake picks (I also realized why no one else volunteered to take this order.) I found a Warner Bros website that allowed you to copy small posters from the movie --- they retain the copyright of course --- and I found the perfect logo picture. So I copied 24 of them in color, glued a long toothpick to the back of each and inserted one into each cupcake. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ezH6vY5W_8/VB4DoWsJ6bI/AAAAAAAAAJo/5KOehjUbLmM/s1600/Space%2BJam%2Bcupcakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ezH6vY5W_8/VB4DoWsJ6bI/AAAAAAAAAJo/5KOehjUbLmM/s400/Space%2BJam%2Bcupcakes.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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I guess I should be happy the younger generation even remembers this classic 1996 movie and I hope he was pleased with the result.<br />
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itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-71758570736424419492014-09-01T10:06:00.001-07:002014-09-01T10:07:13.857-07:00Plotting KittensLike Blogger friend Randy said "When they're close enough to whisper, you know they're plotting something."<br />
This picture was too cute not to share again. They are certainly getting bigger. <br />
Happy Labor Day everyone!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ws78jZ94ols/VASnCl_pwvI/AAAAAAAAAJY/kdB9NghWec4/s1600/Plotting%2Bkittens.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ws78jZ94ols/VASnCl_pwvI/AAAAAAAAAJY/kdB9NghWec4/s320/Plotting%2Bkittens.jpg" /></a><br />
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itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-17013076449247141512014-08-29T11:25:00.000-07:002014-08-29T11:25:05.548-07:00"Frozen" Cupcake Dress As you may or may not know, I am a volunteer baker for an organization called "Birthday Cakes 4 Free." We bake cakes, cupcakes, etc., for financially and socially disadvantaged kids and seniors. I always seem to get assigned the "girlie-girl" Princess requests. Never having been a girlie-girl myself, it's been hard to relate to this mindset (I even hated the color pink for most of my life). <br />
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Anyway, here is my latest "cake," made entirely of cupcakes. Happy Friday my friends!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r4g_vamlICE/VADE5Y7fKXI/AAAAAAAAAJI/K9yQ6s9zWHQ/s1600/Frozen%2Bcupcake%2Bdress.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r4g_vamlICE/VADE5Y7fKXI/AAAAAAAAAJI/K9yQ6s9zWHQ/s320/Frozen%2Bcupcake%2Bdress.jpg" /></a><br />
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itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-82227564645645028902014-08-03T15:57:00.000-07:002014-08-03T15:57:21.067-07:00Coffee Owls<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hdk2hEAbCGI/U969uzNjWkI/AAAAAAAAAI4/s0kCbNynE7A/s1600/Coffee+Owls.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hdk2hEAbCGI/U969uzNjWkI/AAAAAAAAAI4/s0kCbNynE7A/s400/Coffee+Owls.jpg" /></a><br />
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<b>Kinda how I started my day...guess which one was me.</b> <br />
(yes, I know Espresso is spelled wrong)<br />
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itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-29244740818332438052014-08-01T08:08:00.000-07:002014-08-01T08:10:21.469-07:00If Van Gough had visited Disneyland<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bwAZRTyXjbo/U9utQql7m-I/AAAAAAAAAIo/IQM8PKizWEg/s1600/Van+Gough.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bwAZRTyXjbo/U9utQql7m-I/AAAAAAAAAIo/IQM8PKizWEg/s320/Van+Gough.jpg" /></a><br />
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I have this on my Facebook page and thought I'd share here. Van Gough is my favorite artist and this is funny.<br />
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itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-37713188968125981772014-07-24T17:04:00.001-07:002014-07-24T17:27:44.123-07:00Christmas CountdownOnly 153 more days til Christmas! So don't go around saying you were never told.itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-88933220856701101732014-07-15T14:36:00.000-07:002014-07-16T07:14:18.299-07:00Ready or not.........I'm baaaaaaack!Where do I start? I know, how about some pictures?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9PUlD9JZ2G4/U8WWJ5znAqI/AAAAAAAAAHY/Jz3uLbGvaVs/s1600/Oregon,+October+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9PUlD9JZ2G4/U8WWJ5znAqI/AAAAAAAAAHY/Jz3uLbGvaVs/s320/Oregon,+October+2013.jpg" /></a><br />
This first picture is our trip to Oregon last October. We visited a pumpkin patch with my niece, her husband, and 2 year old son.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C41JmHBQ024/U8WWUO0uuFI/AAAAAAAAAHg/RumC3ZfgTkM/s1600/Thanksgiving+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C41JmHBQ024/U8WWUO0uuFI/AAAAAAAAAHg/RumC3ZfgTkM/s320/Thanksgiving+2013.jpg" /></a><br />
Thanksgiving 2013 with my husband and Mother-in-Law<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yKgIo311fNs/U8WWXNnmadI/AAAAAAAAAHo/R-I2pmHHTPs/s1600/Christmas+Gingerbread+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yKgIo311fNs/U8WWXNnmadI/AAAAAAAAAHo/R-I2pmHHTPs/s320/Christmas+Gingerbread+2013.jpg" /></a><br />
Some Christmas 2013 gingerbread cookies I made<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E18m68MW3tA/U8WWbqe5A4I/AAAAAAAAAHw/9wFiC7HGqi4/s1600/More+time+for+craft+hobbies.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E18m68MW3tA/U8WWbqe5A4I/AAAAAAAAAHw/9wFiC7HGqi4/s320/More+time+for+craft+hobbies.jpg" /><br />
In the New Year, I made time to get back into crafting. This is a wreath I made out of seashells.<br />
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</a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wN4s7EpWW_E/U8WWglXwhKI/AAAAAAAAAH4/QuXRWlFfC88/s1600/Going+under+the+Golden+Gate+Bridge,+May+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wN4s7EpWW_E/U8WWglXwhKI/AAAAAAAAAH4/QuXRWlFfC88/s320/Going+under+the+Golden+Gate+Bridge,+May+2014.jpg" /><br />
In May 2014, we cruised to Alaska again but this time went under the SF Golden Gate Bridge. It was breathtaking!<br />
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</a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WkMK79mPDys/U8WWlA5i-aI/AAAAAAAAAIA/MA5U8cSx-VI/s1600/Glacier+Bay,+Alaska,+May+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WkMK79mPDys/U8WWlA5i-aI/AAAAAAAAAIA/MA5U8cSx-VI/s320/Glacier+Bay,+Alaska,+May+2014.jpg" /></a><br />
and it was COLD in Glacier Bay, Alaska!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yi-ZWzxdknQ/U8WWqJTiKaI/AAAAAAAAAII/wS01U9vB514/s1600/We+grow+matching+beards.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yi-ZWzxdknQ/U8WWqJTiKaI/AAAAAAAAAII/wS01U9vB514/s320/We+grow+matching+beards.jpg" /></a><br />
Just for fun, we get "ducked" and grow matching beards (btw I hate Duck Dynasty!)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-baPA191gVvo/U8WWwxVQiQI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/SHRm3otTWM0/s1600/The+newest+member+of+our+human+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-baPA191gVvo/U8WWwxVQiQI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/SHRm3otTWM0/s320/The+newest+member+of+our+human+family.jpg" /><br />
We welcomed the newest member of our family on June 6, 2014 (brother to the 2 year old in my first picture)<br />
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</a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x-2wBlUwtA0/U8WW0pwxHtI/AAAAAAAAAIY/o3i2ZfkuHOw/s1600/The+two+newest+members+of+our+fur+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x-2wBlUwtA0/U8WW0pwxHtI/AAAAAAAAAIY/o3i2ZfkuHOw/s320/The+two+newest+members+of+our+fur+family.jpg" /></a><br />
Then welcome the two newest members of our furbaby family, Murray & Moses (Phoebe G would have approved I think)<br />
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In the time between, I'm still baking, worked on a local political campaign (we won!!!) and had jury duty. There's lots more but that's basically what I've been up to, thanks for leaving the light on for me. How about you guys?<br />
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itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-43288781828457333152014-04-10T09:02:00.002-07:002014-04-10T09:02:41.408-07:00Coming Back Soon!Haven't had much to write about since -ack- November 2013?!* Many things have happened since then so stay tuned (f anyone is reading any more)...itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-69840947034363766602013-11-28T10:16:00.000-08:002013-11-28T10:16:16.050-08:00Happy Thanksgiving!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AqsVEyuuL84/UpeIMWgmR7I/AAAAAAAAAGw/GuvSghxjjkg/s1600/11104544433_2ee4f335e1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AqsVEyuuL84/UpeIMWgmR7I/AAAAAAAAAGw/GuvSghxjjkg/s320/11104544433_2ee4f335e1.jpg" /></a></div>Gobble, gobble, gobble!<br />
itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-73804364456145643232013-11-09T11:46:00.000-08:002013-11-09T13:48:03.641-08:00Rainbow Bridge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zr6i7NCsJmE/Un6tQXf46HI/AAAAAAAAAGg/EDhBOCLttxk/s1600/1395979_555165487899596_410208479_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zr6i7NCsJmE/Un6tQXf46HI/AAAAAAAAAGg/EDhBOCLttxk/s320/1395979_555165487899596_410208479_n.jpg" /></a></div>Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. <br />
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.<br />
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All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. <br />
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. <br />
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You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. <br />
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Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... <br />
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Author unknown...<br />
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<b>My precious Phoebe G passed away last night at 8:09. I was fortunate enough to be by her side when she took her last breath. She died quietly and peacefully on my bed on her "bankey" surrounded by love.<br />
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itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-20781473727931129472013-11-05T15:42:00.001-08:002013-11-05T15:44:31.398-08:00Phoebe "G"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nGryLtV0pBc/UnmB6H3YNrI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/ivv59Ehms9Q/s1600/4774016601_53196f9389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nGryLtV0pBc/UnmB6H3YNrI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/ivv59Ehms9Q/s320/4774016601_53196f9389.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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I woke up last Thursday knowing that it would be the last day with our eldest kitty cat, Phoebe G. Only a few months shy of 19 years, she has filled our lives with so much love, laughter, and joy, I could never have imagined life without her. It was an agonizing decision but we made The Appointment and waited for the dreaded day.<br />
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Phoebe adopted us -I should say adopted Mr. itsme- at the animal shelter in Nov 1996 by licking his face all over when he took her out of her cage; apparently it was love at first sight for her. The Vet said she was about a year and a half old and was a "tortoise shell." She was very pretty: black, white, and gold all over and quite hefty then. She and her twin sister (who we didn't know about until we were leaving) had been surrendered by a family 5 weeks prior. The reason the previous owners gave for giving her up was that she "was ugly." Have you EVER heard of something so ridiculous? They had been named "Little" and "Tiny." Really creative names and proof to me that they never deserved her in the first place.<br />
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We brought her to her new home -found out she gets car sick- introduced her to our Siamese cat "Rainbo" (named by a neighbor child, don't blame me) and they became fast friends until Rainbo died in 2004. Poor Phoebe G mourned for a long time and we eventually rescued two other cats -Samantha & Violet- to keep her company and they have been living happily ever-after.<br />
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While waiting for The Appointment, I heard about a Vet who makes house calls specifically for the purpose of euthanasia. We didn't want her last moments to be filled with the trauma of a car ride - and car sickness - so we made an appointment with him. He talked to us about what was going on and suggested that it might not be her time after all. In addition to her blindness and deafness, it sounded to him like she had dementia (kitty Alzheimers), which was the cause of the constant blood-curdling yowling and agitation. He thought she was experiencing high anxiety and it was her way of trying to get some kind of control over her situation. It made sense to me. He suggested we take a few days to reconsider and recommended a homeopathic called Rescue Remedy that is made up of the essences of certain flowers that are known to calm dogs, cats, horses, birds and even people during stressful times.<br />
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Long story short: Phoebe G is still with us and is doing much, much better. She still yowls and has #2 accidents once in a while (thankfully still uses the cat box to pee) but now that we know she's not in physical pain, we can calm her by holding her so she knows she's not alone. Another Appointment Day will come, maybe soon, but I'm so grateful for such a wonderful and caring Vet who gave us a little more time with her. <br />
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Anyone wondering what the "G" in Phoebe G stands for? Her story goes that the first time she heard Kenny G (we have all his Christmas CDs, nothing else) she was so smitten and added the "G" to be like him. Our version is that she was always so vocal that we were always saying "Phoebe! Gee(z), be quiet!" She's sticking to her version.<br />
itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-40608228340113391222013-10-31T09:58:00.000-07:002013-11-05T15:48:10.162-08:00Happy Halloween!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-viyRn-hYj7Y/UnKMBbc_oYI/AAAAAAAAAGA/J7CKi3srr3Y/s1600/1380202_539138082835670_641106719_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-viyRn-hYj7Y/UnKMBbc_oYI/AAAAAAAAAGA/J7CKi3srr3Y/s400/1380202_539138082835670_641106719_n.jpg" /></a></div>itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-87303150321005679592013-08-18T08:04:00.001-07:002013-08-18T08:04:54.317-07:00Easy Like Sunday MorningThis is my kind of Sunday morning: fog and a little drizzle outside, three kitties fed and curled up sleeping, a damn good cup of coffee on my right and us starting the day slow. It's been a busy week and all we have going on today is some friends coming for dinner. We're going to celebrate a birthday and a going away to college.<br />
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Mr. itsme is doing his famous BBQ ribs (smoked 12 hours) and a kale salad. I have the hard part: baked potatoes and dessert. I made a chocolate bundt cake with chocolate icing and some vanilla bean ice cream to go along with it. I love doing elaborate dinner parties, but sometimes these nice underwhelming get togethers are better.<br />
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Summer is winding down and I'm ready for fall - and yes - the holidays. My brother sent me a picture from Costco yesterday, they have the Christmas stuff out already!!!itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-68137767918112953982013-08-12T15:46:00.000-07:002013-08-12T15:46:43.005-07:00This One's for PamHas it really been 5 months since my last blog post? Whew, time sure flies when you're retired. RETIRED you say? With all that time to do whatever your little heart desires? I'm here to tell you that retirement is tiring; how did I get anything done while working? <br />
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Before I finally decided to hang up library life at the end of December 2012, I started making lists about 6 months before (nah, I don't believe in Bucket Lists). I was going to give myself 3 months to sleep in, be lazy, be sloth-like, stop shaving my legs, go make-up free (for me that meant no mascara), throw out my travel mug and alarm clock, write more (ahh, best laid plans), etc. <br />
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Another list was about what I was going to get done: clean out household files & get financial affairs in order, clean out the pantry, my personal library, clean closets, and make a list of all computer passwords and keep them in one place. It seems the list was all about cleaning, decluttering and organizing.<br />
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My third list was about all the voluteering I was going to have time to do, thankfully this list has been a real source of joy and satisfaction. I'll be sharing more since I'm now back to blogging. Ya hear that Pam?<br />
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Check in and tell me how you are, all two of you. I've missed you. Take care.itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-52755193192823180902013-03-31T10:28:00.001-07:002013-03-31T10:28:40.377-07:00Hoppy Easter!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xznZ_AOvWHo/UVhx5WRvR5I/AAAAAAAAAFg/KPi9lFOl0PU/s1600/Hoppy+Easter+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xznZ_AOvWHo/UVhx5WRvR5I/AAAAAAAAAFg/KPi9lFOl0PU/s320/Hoppy+Easter+2013.jpg" /></a><br />
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No Easter baskets full of candy this year, just one big basket filled with homemade sugar cookies (whole wheat). Wishing you all a very Happy Easter!itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-25585694359954473102013-02-27T15:55:00.000-08:002013-03-03T07:26:37.193-08:00I'm Taking a Much Needed Break From FacebookIs there life after facebook? I'm not sure but I'm going to attempt to find out. On Friday, March 1st, I am going to deactivate my account. It has been said that your facebook account never goes away (and I find that hella creepy) but you can take a "Facebreak."<br />
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Why? For one thing I want to be more productive. I'm hoping to get more reading, writing, and painting done. I think this break time will be a good thing for me and my creativity, or as I'm calling it "Ending the Buzz." It's good to do that once in a while in order to reconnect with yourself and the world around you. I haven't done it in quite a while and I have to say (crossing my fingers), I'm looking forward to it.<br />
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I originally -and begrudgingly- got on facebook to stay in touch with my nieces, nephews, and other family members, and to share photos. Isn't that sad! When did we stop sharing photos with each other via email or snail mail, or *gasp* in person? Personal interactions with family members and friends have fallen by the way side because people are too ‘busy’ with work and other stuff, YET, we find time to upload photos to facebook? It just doesn’t make much sense to me anymore. <br />
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Facebook has become sort of a substitute for real relationships. It has actually changed my way of thinking because sometimes I've forgetten there are other ways to communicate. I miss the days when family or friends would actually call or we'd sit and have coffee -also known as "Face Time"- to catch up on our lives. Also, the anxiety and stress that I get from being on facebook just isn’t worth it any more. If someone “unfriends” me it's like a major blow to my self-esteem and I'd like to know why, but apparently facebook protocol says "you aren't supposed to ask." Recently, a most beloved niece blocked me from her facebook page because my comments/opinions were too personal and were upsetting to her and her facebook friends. After a week of much high drama, I decided to let it go (aka fuck it) but to be perfectly honest, I'm still feeling quite hurt from it all. Unfortunately, I don't believe our relationship will ever be the same. <br />
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I decided that it was time to take a break from the crazy making. When something takes up that much of my time, energy, and emotions in such a negative way, I have to stop doing it. I need to take a step back and work on nurturing and deepening the friendships I have with those who <b>really do </b>want to be my friend.<br />
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So dear blog readers (all two of you), I'll most likely be blogging more so check back often and tell me what you think. Ahhh, I'm beginning to feel at peace already.<br />
itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-57264905672170849932013-02-14T10:56:00.000-08:002013-02-14T10:56:03.360-08:00Happy Valentine's Day!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kz-KgusqM5U/UR0zDU9kRQI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/w9lvzWT5ngE/s1600/539455_430613450354801_1609251205_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kz-KgusqM5U/UR0zDU9kRQI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/w9lvzWT5ngE/s320/539455_430613450354801_1609251205_n.jpg" /></a><br />
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I made these for you!<br />
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itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-31008061912308558442013-02-11T15:05:00.000-08:002013-02-11T15:05:14.660-08:00Today is Going to be EpicTo borrow a line from the current Quaker Oats commercial "Today is going to be epic," I have to confess that I'm not normally a Polly Anna personality type (more like Eyeore to be perfectly honest) but that little boy riding his bike to the top of the mountain and throwing his fists into the air is how I feel nowadays. Yes indeedy, retirement is good.<br />
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I've been keeping busy: lots more time for my volunteer baking for Birthday Cakes 4 Free, taking a watercolor class through my local adult education - here's my first decent picture - and being the youngest in the class by at least 15 years, makes me subject to all kinds of advice about the Golden Years. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b2VNRwjnEz8/URlxDb380SI/AAAAAAAAAFA/dSzW7-0VS_8/s1600/My%2Bfirst%2Bocean%2Bwatercolor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b2VNRwjnEz8/URlxDb380SI/AAAAAAAAAFA/dSzW7-0VS_8/s400/My%2Bfirst%2Bocean%2Bwatercolor.jpg" /></a></div><br />
We've been RVing more, spent a week camping at the beach recently (hence my ocean watercolor). I've even signed us up for an 8-day RV trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the hot air balloon festival in October. We are staying up a little later at night and sleeping a little longer in the morning - once I get the cats trained to eat later than 4am that is. I get to enjoy my first morning cuppa with my Best Friend and Retirement Partner in Crime, Mr. itsme, instead of gulping it down during the commute to work - poor suckers! We've been planning and cooking wonderful meals together, going places we've always meant to go (we even have a To Go list on the fridge to help us remember). Do you know how liberating it is to shop for groceries during the week? Or doing the laundry on Tuesdays instead of Sunday afternoon? Stupid little things, I know...<br />
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So, thanks to a little motivational kick in the butt from our good friend lightly, I'm back. I'll admit to too much time on Facebook lately so I'll try and write more here (how do you find time for both Randy?) More about Birthday Cakes 4 Free next time ... with pictures! itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-45557350204441106802013-01-02T15:52:00.001-08:002013-01-02T15:52:27.379-08:00Happy 2013Happy New Year! I'll be blogging more in 2013, hope everyone is well and doing fine.itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-3443190960652392032012-10-09T07:56:00.000-07:002012-10-09T07:56:11.935-07:00Obama/Romney DebateWhy so much focus on who was the better debater? It was one night. Have we really become a nation so feeble minded that our vote is cast to the candidate that performs the best on television? Simple research will demonstrate where the candidates stand on the issues important to you plus you can view their accomplishments or failures in office. For me, this is the route I take prior to any election; it would be irresponsible if I allowed any news network, poll or pundit's comments to influence my decision. It is laughable that in this age of instant information how many prefer to be spoon fed and rely on surface observation to render such an important decision as who will lead us during the next four years.<br />
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Romney’s performance was definitely the stronger of the two but I’m not worried. It's the first one where you can lay out your plans. I think Obama was smart to let Romney play all his cards on purpose; it's also the best way to combat your opponent. Let them have the first round so that they will be over confident, then use the information you gather against them. It's smarter than giving away all of your information in the beginning for them to use against you. Debate "performance" doesn't mean squat unless you're not really interested in the issues. I'll take Obama's substance over Romney's "performance" any day of the week. <br />
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That being said, Mitt Romney should pick a lie and stick to it. Is he the guy who wants to end Medicare or the guy who wants to spend more money on Medicare? Is he the guy who wants to control my vagina or the one who believes that government shouldn’t be making healthcare decisions? Is he the guy who thinks that 47% of Americans are victims or the guy who thinks that tax cuts for the wealthy are a bad idea? Is he the guy who wants to work on day one with Democrats in Congress or the guy who on day one wants to reverse everything the Democrats accomplished? Is he the guy who likes Big Bird or the guy who will fire Big Bird?<br />
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Romney wins October 3rd <br />
Obama wins November 6<br />
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itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-86118064592592617222012-07-21T12:28:00.001-07:002012-07-21T12:28:44.719-07:00Mary JoSomeone I've never met but felt I got to know through her blog has passed away. I only know her first name, Mary Jo, and that when she began her blog she was 56 years old and had just been diagnosed with Stage 3 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. Mary Jo started her blog "Put on your big girl pants and just get on with it" on October 19, 2010 with the hope of sharing her journey and experiences while fighting the disease. <br />
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Her story touched me personally because my Mother was a two-time breast cancer survivor and that dark cloud of breast cancer now hovers over me and many of the young women in my family due to genetics. Reading about Mary Jo's treatment -the highs and the lows- was inspiring to me. The unending support she received from family and friends was touching and makes me wish I could tell her husband Ron, especially, how much Mary Jo's blog has meant to me. She put up a good fight.<br />
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Her blog is still <a href="http://putonyourbiggirlpants.blogspot.com/">there</a> along with the comments from family, friends, and strangers like me. Mary Jo was a brave, brave soul, her last blog post was June 15, 2011, she passed away on March 17, 2012.<br />
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Thank you Mary Jo.itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165444.post-53318127715268800892012-07-02T09:18:00.001-07:002012-07-02T16:19:45.801-07:00Ignorance or Hypocrisy?<br />
A dear family member for whom I have enormous love and respect, posted an anti-Obama sentiment on her Facebook page recently - which is her right, it’s her Facebook page. Those of you who faithfully follow my blog (all 2 of you) know that I just cannot keep my mouth shut when it comes to politics, so I posted a comment wondering how any woman or person of color could ever vote for a Republican.<br />
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One of her “friends,” obviously a young and proud Republican woman, replied to my comment using the words from the Helen Ready song “I am Woman” to bash President Obama. I’m guessing this friend was born after the early 70’s and I’m sure thought she was being quite clever by quoting the words “I am woman, hear me roar…” from the song written for the early Women’s Liberation Movement, a movement I was very much a part of in 1972, at the impressionable age of 18.<br />
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The Women’s Liberation Movement challenged the prevailing notion that women were supposed to spend their entire lives engaged in housework and raising children. It demanded equal pay for women in the workplace, publicly funded child care, and the legalization of abortion. It challenged sexist stereotypes of women and the ideal of the traditional nuclear family, which often tied women to abusive or oppressive relationships. While the Ozzie and Harriet myth of the nuclear family—with a male breadwinner and stay-at-home mom—never really existed for many working-class Americans (certainly not in my home growing up), the women’s liberation movement forever altered people’s ideas about the role of women in society. Ironically, this same movement today has allowed many women the choice to be stay-at-home mothers (if they can afford it) without the stigma of being seen as lazy or leeching off their hard-working husbands.<br />
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It makes me angry that these young neo-conservative women are so ignorant of the fight that went on before they were born and the rights that they take for granted today. Do these young hypocrites really want to turn back the clock to reverse all of the gains that women have made in the past forty years? Would they truly be willing to give up what would be necessary to restore the so-called Republican “Family Values” agenda, because to accomplish that we’d have to restore the cult of virginity and the double standard, ban birth control, restrict divorce, kick women out of decent jobs, force unwed pregnant women to put their babies up for adoption, and make out-of-wedlock children legal nonpersons.<br />
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The Republican “War on Women” is very real, from wanting to cut nearly a billion dollars of food and other aid to low-income pregnant women, mothers, babies, and kids, to a spending bill that also takes aim at elderly poor women (two-thirds of the elderly poor are women) that cuts funding for employment services, meals, and housing for senior citizens. Is this what these young female neocons want? <br />
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Ignorance or hypocrisy: which is worse?<br />itsmecissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03316752712956633027noreply@blogger.com4