Rest In Peace Mom

"STERNBERG Shirley Sternberg, age 89, May 8, 2012, Mount Carmel East Hospital. Any family and or friends, please call 291-3040"

The above is how my sister found out our mother passed away.  She was in Columbus Ohio.  We have no
idea how or why she was there. She was such a tormented soul, but very resourceful when she needed to
be. 
My sister call the number and found out a few things about the last year of her life.  It was said, by a Chaplain,
she had an apartment, signed herself into a nursing home, then, and we don't know what period of time, she signed herself out, but by then she had lost her apartment, and wound up in a homeless shelter, until she could
get another apartment. (Sorry to say, that wasn't the first time she went to a homeless shelter.)
She had breast cancer that ate into her lungs.  At the end she was in Mt Carmel E Hospital, and after a losing battle she allowed the staff to administer morphine for the pain.  She passed in peace, the first she had in many
years. 
Our  whole story is way too long to write about at this time, but we have been estranged for many years, not due to anything on our part.  The one comfort for me, is the last time we spoke, the conversation went well.
After an endless attempt to reach her by phone, we got concerned, so we called the local non emergency police dept to do a "wellness check"  since she was elderly and lived alone.  She was so excited that we cared
enough to do that.  Her phone was turned off, she never heard it ring.  However, and there was always a "however",  the next day when we came home from work, there was a message from her, yelling, cussing
us out for "calling the police" on her.
That was the last time I tried to extend a daughter's hand of friendship to her.  I never allowed myself to think about her too much after that.  When she did cross my mind, I would push the thoughts out of my head.
That was, oh my, well over five years ago.
My tears, and yes, I cry for the pain she went through and I cry for what should have been rather than what was.
So, I now say to my mom, "Rest in peace mom, and as I say my final goodbye to you, I can also put my pain for and towards you to rest."

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

This is one of my favorites, thought I would drag it out of the archives.


5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE-received this in an email-Thanks Rhonda. You can also use cake mix- 10 tablespoons of mix to same amount of liquids.

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (MicroSafe)
Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well.
Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.EAT ! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

Blogging again

I have been thinking about blogging again, encouraged by my friend, Roberta, who seems to enjoy my emails.
Today is a good day to start.  It's pouring down rain, with intermittent strong winds and my body said, "enough with the naps" lol.  Daddy Long Legs, with Fred Astaire & Leslie Caron, playing on TCM.
Fred Astaire wasn't what one would call handsome, but he had grace and elegance, which in turn made him
a handsome figure.  Yep, nothing like an old movie on a rainy day.
There are things I could be doing around the house, but, noooo, not today, although my laundry has been in
the dryer for three days now. lol  I have been slapped with the lazy bug. 
My computer has been at neighbor's house over night for repair and has been fine tuned.  I am blessed with great neighbors. They help each other without hesitation.  I will blog about them later down the road.
Oh no, here come the thunder storms!
Poor Paco, he doesn't like the noise and has sprung into life, demanding his place on my lap for comfort.
                                        
I didn't get any further than that above and today is another day. 
Last night the winds and rains were so strong, thought they were going to bust through my windows.
As I sat here listening to the winds, I started to think about where in this mobile home would Paco and
I be safe.  No where!  After looking at some of the videos on the news, I came to the conclusion, if
it's my time, there is nothing I could do about it, so just relax and try not to think about it.
I did, however, close my blinds as if that could stop anything. lol
This tropical storm, Debby, has left a lot of destruction so far and isn't moving any where. Just staying in one place, flinging it's arms of winds like a child having a temper tantrum.
Gateway mobile home park in Port Richey is flooded and the only way in or out is by boat.
A mother dies, still holding onto her baby to keep it safe. Tornadoes, oh my, the gulf coast is being hit hard.
This is the first month of  hurricane season. The media has said this is a dress rehearsal for what's to come this season. Crap, I hope not.  It's 1:44PM, the rain has taken a break and we are expecting more thunder storms tonight.  "plenty more storms to go"  echoing through my head. 
As I look at the lake behind my house, the water that was so low and nearly dry, is high, thankfully, not flooded.
Look at me, started this about blogging again, turns out to end in a weather report.  Oh well, that's just me.

Mrs Browns Boys

If you have never seen Mrs Browns Boys on BBC, you have missed one of the funniest shows
around.  http://youtu.be/gw03JjYeoVo
Here is another sample, enjoy.  Laughter is great for the soul.
http://youtu.be/_wSpvnYYuU8

Update on Just Me

I lost my best friend since the last time I wrote in this blog.   Just to clarify that statement, no, he didn't run away or anything of that nature.  It was his time to say goodbye forever to life. 
My boy developed cancer in his mouth at the age of eighteen and short two months of turning nineteen I had
to have him put into that deep forever sleep.  That was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life!
I don't know if I'll ever stop crying when I think or talk about this, as I'm doing right now. 
I still miss him and at times I have to smile to myself when I think of his personality.  His smiles, anger, stubbornness and yes his vindictive ways! (yes, he could do things when he got upset with me! lol.)  He sure was a character!  I'm sure if he could have talked, he would have been one opinionated little boy.  Oh don't get me wrong, his expressions said everything he wanted to relate to me!
Oh, I'm so sorry, I seem to be repetitive, but hey, I'm old. lol
I promised myself not to get another little one, and I didn't for a short time.  Then I found myself looking on Craig's list just to see what was out there, only after visiting animal shelters in my area. 
I found Paco, a Chihuahua, age unknown, history unknown, but the expression in his eyes was saying "help me, I need a home" and yes, my aching heart melted. 
I drove in torrential rains to meet him.  Had to stop several times because I couldn't see.  When I saw him in person, I thought to myself, "oh hell, he's a lot older than what the post said, and yes he's small because he's too skinny", but the eyes, as we all know, are the windows into ones soul,  was still pleading with me.
So, yes, I took him home! That was over a year ago this past February.
He is by no means a replacement for my Tuffy Boy, but my second child that fills my heart with unconditional love, just as medicine helps ones body heal.  He really didn't have a name, they called him "baby" or their daughter called him, "Edwardo the Weirdo", I named him Paco and he seemed to like it because he responded to it very quickly.

A Day At Bradenton Beach

When we first got there the skies looked menacing, thought we might have to leave, but it cleared up. Look at the color of that water..it was wonderful.

This day was my sister's birthday, and she's sitting in her favorite chair, in her favorite place. The Beach, any beach!

These little guys are the "beggars", if you feed one, the all come.

They are experts in catching the food, some of them will fly right in front of you to catch your throws.

Florida

Well, tomorrow will be two weeks since we arrived in Florida. The villa was supposed to be painted and fixed before we got here.


Not only was it painted the same dull, flat color throughout, but it was also painted over dirt, and what my sister thought was "gray" corking around the baseboards, was nothing but pure dirt in bedded on the corking. The back porch was missing a screen and almost all of the others have holes in them. My screen was infested with ants, and although, I didn't think metal screen frames could rot, the one on my bedroom window was not only bent out of shape, but was infested with ants.


Along with that, I got eaten up by the "no see'em" bugs. My sister got an exterminator to come out first thing. I got something for my itching.


We have been working non stop, cleaning, painting, re-screening two and half doors, the landlady took mine to be replaced.


We took two days off to go to the beach. One day we went to Venice Beach and yesterday to Bradenton beach. I loved the latter. The water was so clear you can see the bottom as far as you can walk out there. The best part of it all, is you can park right up to it and don't have to drag your stuff too far.