Robin's first weekend into her 6th decade...

Very lazy Sunday.....

I woke up feeling like doo doo for going on two weeks now.  My mother reminded me that I was feeling badly before they got here last Friday.  Guess I put it aside while everyone was here.  Slept terribly last night because of coughing.  When Robin went out for the TWO different (we are now multi state couponers ~ NC and SC) newspapers and their coupons, I asked her to get me some Nyquil.  Gonna try to sleep this thing off.  Plus we had a $1.50 off coupon.

While she was getting ready to go (by getting ready, I merely mean putting jeans on over her PJ bottoms) I went to the Weight Watchers website.  Something pink caught my eye.  I am not much of a sweet eater, but love all things pink.  Clicked recipe - "Strawberry Angel Cookies".  Sounded good to me.  They had chocolate chips in theirs.  I prefer raspberry to strawberry (only slightly, Straw - don't get all bent out of shape - stay that nice round triangle that you are) and white chocolate to chocolate chocolate (by far - can't apologize - sorry -  wait - taking that sorry back).

She got home with the papers and I saw where Sloppy Joe (Manwich) was on sale.  That is Robin's ultimate favorite comfort food.  I made the mistake of mentioning it.  "Why'd you have to tell me that?"  Two seconds later, "Now I want a Sloppy Joe!".  Five seconds later, "I'm going back to the store.  Want anything?"

15 minutes later she was home making Sloppy Joes.  I made an ecoli burger and had to throw it out.  It was 9:15. 

Then I made the cookies.  See if you can see which is which.  OK, the strawberry gives it away, no fair.  If you double click on the ones I made,  it looks like porous sunburned body parts.  Scrumptous!

Took a picture of Buddy and Robin on the couch because they look like they're kinda spooning.  She loved the cookies, BTW.  Took a little rat like bite and looked at it.  I was totally prepared to hear, "This tastes like vomit", but instead I got a, "These are delicious!".  This may be like the TJ Maxx trunks situation where she said she loved them in the store and then banished them to the guestroom because they were declared hideous. 

Took some pictures of things sprouting outside.  It's a very exciting time in the Hellman Frasier household because we have no idea what's what and what to expect.  (Hope we don't have to hire a gardener for the grounds.)  I'd forgotten what fun four seasons can be!  They say the spring and fall are the best around here. 

One of us is going to bake a chicken for dinner.  We have four of them, thanks to the sale at HT.

I swigged a bunch of Nyquil a couple hours ago and zonked out.  Love that stuff.

Now it's time try to catch a movie on the Chick Channel.  Happy Sunday!

Robin's 50th Birthday Weekend!!!

We had so much fun!!!!

My family arrived Friday night - Mom, Nelson, Jason, and his new girlfriend, Chelsea.  My mom had told me that we'd love her and she was right!  She's a tiny little thing and her suitcase was bigger than she is!  Their car was literally bulging with stuff. 

Ingrid (BFF since first grade) had written me all week that she and Butch were trying to make it down.  15 hour trip one way from Upstate New York.  Finally on Friday morning, she wrote that they had decided against it.  I totally understood.  Sat in the sun for an hour or so Friday afternoon and I thought about her email.  It also said something about having Robin around at 8:00 on Friday night because she was gonna call.   Wait a minute.  Have her around at 8:00?  That seemed suspicious, so I called her at work.  Got her boss.  "Ingrid's not in today!"  I KNEW IT!!!

So after my peeps got here on Friday, I told them that I knew Ingrid and Butch were on their way.  My mom kept telling me that she didn't think so.  The later it got, the less I believed it too.  When they didn't show up by the time we went to bed, I thought maybe the joke was on me.

Got up Saturday, Robin's birthday.  My mom and I must have sung Happy Birthday to her 50 times that day.  It annoyed Robin after the second time, so we were happy.  And we don't just sing regular Happy Birthday.  Oh no.  Our version is very loud, very opera-esque, and has a very very long last note.  It's not surprising that I came down with laryngitis.  Putzed around Hendersonville a little in the morning and afternoon.  My mother insisted that Robin get a haircut - LOL!  She really did.  Luckily, it turned out very well.  We dropped everyone off at home and my mom and I went to Harris Teeter to get the party favors, balloons, cake and dead flowers.  Got them and took them to the restaurant and met our friend, Tina.  She and her husband decorated the place for us.

Went home and got ready for the party.  Robin knew something was going on, but not the details.  Got to the restaurant around 7:15 and about 20 people were there.  Tina had ordered the food and the waitress was excellent.  Shortly thereafter, Jason had gone outside to smoke and came in with a note for me saying something about this place better serve Indian Pale Ale.  Then  in came Ingrid and Butch!  She was wearing a cute black jacket thing, jeans and red sparkly heels.  I told her she looked like Jackie O. meets Carrie Bradshaw.  Ingrid and my mom had not seen each other in about 27 years.  Ingrid spent A LOT of time at my house growing up.  I think it was great for them to see each other.  Ingrid has not aged at all.  I told my mom that no matter what, tell me that Ingrid has aged more than me.  My mother doesn't lie.  Never heard those words come out of her mouth. 

Several attempts were made to get Robin to drink.  Her friend Cody, with the long hair pictured above, got her to drink two mud slides.  Nice job, Cody!!  Robin claimed to wake up with a headache on Sunday.  Think she was just trying to act cool. 

The party ended and Ingrid and Butch came home with us for night caps.  They'd gotten a hotel room.  Begged them to stay with us, but they refused.  They came over the next day.  Robin showed off her coupon notebook, which is categorized.  They got a kick out of that and quizzed us.  "Which category would you find "Pam"?"   "Why misc., of course."  Robin had a wheelchair when she was in a cast and I love it.  So does my mother.  We took turns sitting and wheeling in it.  Jason and Chelsea went hiking in Dupont.  We hung out all day, then we all went out for Italian. 

Monday was a holiday and Ingrid and Butch didn't have to work.  Butch said they would leave after lunch with us and take two days to drive home.  Ingrid refused, wanting to get home Monday night, so they left early Monday morning.

I woke up with a fully blown cold on Monday, including laryngitis.  Sounded much worse than I felt, so we took off for Asheville with Mom and Nelson.  Aother very nice day.  We did, however, get lost on the way home.  My parents got Robin a GPS for her birthday, but ironically, Jason and Chelsea had taken it with them.  Stopped and got an ice cream and it occurred to me...ice cream with my dad on one Monday and ice cream with my mom the following Monday.  Awww.   (BTW, I am putting this out there right now...I am officially BOTFRATTIRMI with the diet.  And in case you can't figure it out, BOTFRATTIRMI means back on track for real and this time I really mean it.)

Yesterday, Jason and Chelsea went snow boarding, so it was just us old folks.  Went to Harris Teeter to get my check and to show off a little of my couponing skills to my mom.  Her enthusiam was a little underwhelming, I might add.  I don't think she was paying attention.  She did pay for it though.  Then we ate lunch out and went to Sam's.  I'd never been.  Nelson wanted to get us a membership and I resisted.  Until I saw the dog food.  Wet wasn't a big deal, but the dry dog food was $21.48 for a 50 pound bag.  I had just gotten the 17 pound bag at HT on sale from $15.99 to $13.99.  I had a $1.50 coupon which doubled, so I got it for $10.99.  And I thought that was good.  But 50 pounds for $21.48?  That was amazing!  THEN, Nelson came around the corner with some papers in his hand, one of which was a thing for $5.00 off the $21.48 dog food!!!!  I knew then and there that Sam and I would be friends for life. 50 pounds for $16.48!!!!   Allowed him to buy us a memebership.  He was grateful.

As she ordered Robin to get a haircut, my mother ordered us to get a Swiffer.  Got it, got home, and next thing I know, I hear, "Come here Kimi.  Time for your Swiffer lesson."  For real?!?  Gotta say, even with all these heathens, it does beat sweeping.  Yesterday was a good day - Sam's and Swiffer.  We'd each gotten a box of 64 Swiffer pads.  Hers literally wouldn't fit in the car this morning, so she had to leave it here.  Cha-ching.

BEGGED them to stay until tomorrow.  They couldn't.  My mother (Who's bossier?  Kay or Iris?) instructed me that I am not to leave the house today.  They left so I can rest.  Still have this damn cold.

We had a lot of fun with friends and family this past few days.  Robin and I are so touched that my family and Ingrid and Butch travelled so far for her birthday.  Lots of great memories.

OK, been at this long enough.  Time to go rest.  Or go to Sam's.

MINI FRASIER FAMILY REUNION!!!!!

What a great day!!!!

My dad and Mandy got here around 11 something.  They both looked so good, but I was especially surprised at how awesome my dad looks.   Especially after my mother warned me to be prepared, "Your father has probably aged a lot since the last time you saw him."  (Summer of 2003)

He is a charmer, that's for sure.  Having never met him before, Robin is now smitten.  They hit it off.

Mandy is a perfect little sister.  When my father asked, "Why do you have so many dogs?", Mandy asked him, "Why do you have ten cars?"  Touche!

Went to lunch and started talking about sex.  That's normal between sisters, but in front of your father?  Oddly enough, it didn't feel awkward.  (I know. It should have.)  Mandy told me when she first had sex with her husband and I didn't believe her.  So she got him on the phone.  Mind you, I have never spoken with him before. 

"Hi Babe!  Sup?"

"Hi Neil!  It's Kim, Mandy's sister."

"Oh hi Kim!  How are you?"

"Good, you?  Neil I have a question for ya.  When's the first time you and Mandy had sex?"

Without skipping a beat..."Hell!  I can't remember the last time we had sex."

I love him!!!

Then I said, "Here.  Say hello to Uncle Robin."  My father loved that!

We did a little shopping on Main Street.  Went in to "Mast General".  Mandy, Robin and I were looking at stuff and lost my dad.  He then caught up, took me aside and said, "Do you have a wind chime?"

"No."

"Would you like a wind chime?"

"Well HECK yeah!"

So he and I went to look at wind chimes.  

WARNING:  JOHN HARVEY FRASIER SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!

He said,  "Pick one out and whenever you see it or hear it, you'll think of me."

Lump in my throat ~~~ how sweet!  I will cherish this wind chime forever!

Went for ice cream, came home, visited some more, and they had to leave.  The visit was too short and too sweet but I promise we'll go see them before they leave TN at the end of April.  Promise Dad ~ I'll make the time.

I love you Dad and Mandy - thanks for everything!!!!

And Dad?  I told my mom that I told you that she said to be prepared because you may have aged a lot.  Got a "Kim Elizabeth!  You did not!"  She's mad - tee hee.

Oh and Robin gets a C for clever.  My dad is a reformed smoker.  Have been telling her for two days that he will lecture her to death about smoking.  What'd she do?  Slapped a patch on her arm right before they got here.

A whole bunch of randomness

The following will likely turn out to be a big snooze fest.

I've had bad neck and back pain for five days now.  Advil doesn't touch it.  The pain woke me up this morning and I couldn't go back to sleep.  Robin found some "ActivOn" in the medicine cabinet.  It actually feels better, but now I smell like an old man.  No offense to all the old men who read my blog.

To those who do not Facebook, I woke up to the song "Gloria" stuck in my head.  Googled the lyrics.  Love the line, "If everybody loves you, why isn't anybody calling?"  'Nuff said as to why it's stuck in my head.

Watched a little Dr. Oz today.  There's a thing called "forskolin" that I now must get.  Increases metabolism, helps menstrual cramps, reduces insomnia, and a bunch of other stuff. 

I had a very long overdue hair appointment today.  The girl, who is 20 years old and has very little hair experience and even less personality, did an amazing job!  Haven't been this happy with my hair color since living in Jacksonville and going to the same girl for over ten years.  When I moved to Miami, I went through probably six or seven stylists in the first two years.  Finally found someone decent, but I would literally be there for six hours.  How lucky for me to find a barely an adult hillbilly in NC right off the bat??  YEE HAAW!!!!  Robin insisted on going with me to get out of the house.  She rearranged the entire salon to make herself comfortable.  After three hours and 15 minutes, she kept telling the girl to just shave my head.

Went to Quizno's for lunch.  Had a BOGO coupon.  Good for us.  Had them hold the cheese and mayo.  (OK.  Just the mayo.)  Robin bitched the whole way there, saying, "I hate Quizno's".   Got her sub.  "This is the best sub I've ever had."   Honestly?  Sometimes it takes every fiber of my being to not scream, "SHUT THE EFF UP".   But instead, I smiled sweetly and said, "I'm so glad you like it, Sweetie."   

Robin is currently on the phone with Iris.  Iris is complaining of 87 degree weather in South Florida.  Robin is complaining about her leg hurting.  Blah blah blah.

Off work today and was supposed to be off tomorrow.  Was excited about that because the weather is about to turn gorgeous.  Delores asked me if I will work tomorrow.  NC schools have had so many snow days this year that they are making the kids go to school on Saturday.  Hence, the Saturday HT teeny bops will be in school.  Does NY do that?  FL?  I never heard of such a thing.

Speaking of work, I am officially off thin ice.  My drawer has been perfect for ten consecutive days.  Dealing with $8000-$9000 and about 150 customers per day, it's amazing that anyone can get a perfect drawer.   BTW, to anyone who coupons, HT is about to go nuts with super double coupons, then triple coupons.   I wouldn't buy basic groceries there, but when they have deals and great coupon deals, you can really save a ton.  I've not only seen it, but we've done it.  Such a feeling of satisfaction. 

My crazy family is coming to town in exactly one week!!!  Guess it's time to consider cleaning the guestroom.   

What else?

The phone just rang.  Was hoping so badly it would be something like this, "This is Delores from Harris Teeter.  Could you please tell Kim that she doesn't need to come in tomorrow afterall?  Thank you, Ma'am.  And please tell her that she's the best cashier ever."

No luck.  It was Iris.  Again.  I guess in their prior 14 conversations today, they forgot to discuss "Grey's Anatomy".  Oh and now Robin is giving her our White Trash Alfredo Sauce recipe.  Iris is making it tonight.  I guarantee this will not be their last conversation of the day.

Oh how I love you, Laughing Cow Cheese!

We just made the BEST dinner.  The picture above is off the internet, but ours was much much better.  We had some frozen shrimp that I'd taken out of the freezer this morning.  Robin peeled and sauteed them in butter and garlic.  Then we made a white trash Alfredo Sauce out of Laughing Cow cheese (6 blue cheese wedges, a cup of milk, some Parmesan cheese and a pinch of garlic salt and pepper.  And of course hot sause, cuz that's how I roll.  It goes on and in everything I make), melted the cheese over medium heat and threw the shrimp in there.  Served it over pasta and there you have it.  Cheap (cuz we bought the shrimp and Laughing Cow cheese on sale and got the pasta for free).  Easy.  And delicious!!!!!
My family is visiting soon.  We have a bunch of frozen shrimp in Iris and Joe's freezer.  Toss a little fresh parsley on top, serve it with a salad and maybe some type of garlic bread and this meal is good enough for company.

Is it possible that I'm not as funny as I think I am?

Yesterday I posted about Robin's disgusting deformed recently decasted leg.  Then I went to work.  Many times throughout my day yesterday I thought about all the responses I would have received when I got home.  I'd surely get a few "Gross" comments.  A couple, "Is there anything you won't take a picture of?" comments.  Several "LOL"s.  And many "likes".

Got home --- Nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.

Then I noticed a "funny" comment on my blog itself.  It appeared right after a follower from Ormond Beach logged on.  Thanks Mom.

Robin thinks the whole thing is hilarious.  She has asked me several times today, "Any responses?".  And she LOL when I tell her no.

Could it be I crossed the line with the pube covered chicken breast comment?  I tend to do that sometimes.  Cross the line, that is.  Or am I simply not as funny as I think I am?

Robin is cracking up at the thought of nobody responding to this blog too.   

Feeling the need to share, however, I must say - this blog comes with a warning.

Robin hasn't been able to shave her broken leg since 12/28/10. And it's very likely that she hadn't shaved in quite a while prior to that. Needless to say, she's a little hairy. Plus her leg has atrophied.


It's not pretty and this picture doesn't do it justice.

She just took off her boot and closely examined her leg. About two seconds later, she yelled, "OH MY GOD!!! My leg looks like a chicken breast covered in pubes!"

So glad I get to go to work today.

Since Robin's been couch bound, I have taken the opportunity to make our basement MY OWN!

She's been down here a few times to help me out with computer issues, but not in a while.  Yesterday I redid the "dog room".  I am missing a dog painting, one in a series of three, and I went crazy turning the garage upside down looking for it.  We still have a number of boxes that we haven't unpacked.  Most of the stuff will go in a spring garage sale, but I did find a number of beachy/cute things that I am certain Robin hid from me.

The first thing I found is the manatee picture hanging to the left in Photo #1.  She hid that very well.  It was in a flat Fed Ex box with a mirror.  Won't she just love hobbling down here to find it hanging right next to where she sits?!

The second thing I found was the manatee painting to the right in Photo #2.  That was hidden in the camping section of our garage.  She almost got away with it.

Notice the flowers in pots in Photo #3?  They were in a box labeled "Office".  I'm sure Robin hadn't counted on me looking in that one.

In Photo #4, above her (a-hem) tool box thing is a little pink shelf.  On it is a sampler that says, "The Sun is Always Shing Somewhere".  Sweet, isn't it?  Yeah, well that was squeezed in between books in a box labeled, "Robin's Books".  Shoulda been labeled "Robin's Books and Kim's Sampler that She's Been Looking for since August, Thank You Very Little".

The trunks in Photo #5 are something I'd found at TJ Maxx in Miami.  (Of course it was in Miami, because a)  I haven't been to a TJ Maxx since moving to NC, and b)  We had money to blow on things like that when living in Miami.)  I instantly fell in love with them.  Found Robin in the store, grabbed her and took her to the trunks.  "Aren't they great?"  "Yeah!  Get 'em!"  Got them home and she announced that they needed to go in the guest room because she hated them.  Think she used the word 'hideous'.  I recently found them hidden behind a dresser in the garage and covered with a tarp.

Photo #6.  Not much to say other than that is our Christmas/holiday room.  Just like to brag that we have a Christmas/holiday room.

I never did find the dog painting I was looking for, but I found so much more.  Cannot wait til she comes down here again to see what I've done with the place. 

Robin turns 50 this month.

I was just making quesadillas (remember all the cheese we bought?) for lunch.  Heard a "that's nice" from the living room.  Asked her what she'd said.

Her:  "Nothing."

Me:  "Well you said something.   What'd you say?"

Her:  "NOTHING!"

Me:  "TELL ME WHAT YOU SAID!"

Her:  "I just got an effing (cleaned up version) saying, "Old lonely seniors want to date you."

HAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

Then I received the following email from her a little later.....mind you, I was sitting right next to her.  A lot of our communication is via email even when we're in the same room.

{{{uh, why am I getting this and ads about lonely seniors wanting to date me



Are you over 50? It may seem like an obvious one, but a membership with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has a lot of discounts, coupons and benefits. For less than $2 a month you can get benefits like better rates for sponsored coverage on health, auto and homeowner’s insurance, tremendous deals on travel (airfare, car rental, hotels, cruises) and that’s just to name a few.


The AARP is also a heavy advocate in Washington, lobbying for members on the issues that matter to you most like healthcare, retirement and social security.


So if you’re not already a member, you might consider signing up here, where you can add a spouse for free. Here are some of the current membership rates:}}}

To which I responded, "Cuz u old".

Being the optimist that I am, I pointed out the fact that she will soon become a member of AARP and just think about all the discounts, coupons and benefits she'll be entitled to. 
 
Then I got the hell out of her way and went out and ran an errand.  Errand being getting her cigarettes.
 
While in my car, I started thinking.  50 years old.  AARP.  FIFTY YEARS OLD?  FIFTY?!
 
WHAT ABOUT ME?
 
I am with a 50 year old?  How did this happen?  I am waaaay too young to have a partner who's 50.  My life mate is about to be a member of AARP? 
 
I think of my mother as being 50.  I remember her 50th like it was just last year.  Got her an antique wheelchair.  We had a party when Nelson turned 50.  I have celebrated the big FIVE OH with many a friend. 
 
That's different.
 
I haven't really been too upset about any of my own milestone birthdays.  But this?  Robin turning 50? 
 
I should factor in the fact that she doesn't look her age at all.  She has excellent genes.  That's good.
 
She sure as hell doesn't act 50.  I guess that's good.
 
She doesn't dress like an old lady.  Au contraire.  Sheee dresses like a 12 year old skateboard dude.  I've often told her that if I wanted to be with a little boy, I'd be with a little boy.  (I know, there are laws.  Just making a point.)
 
But the fact remains.  Soon our mailbox will be stuffed with flyers and junk mail meant for the elderly.  Will I ever be able to look at her without seeing that old lady on Thursdays in my line squinting up at the screen, asking if I'd given her the senior discount?    Speaking of which, the other day someone told me she was a senior and asked me if I wanted to see her ID.  Had all I could do to not say, "No, that's OK.  I can see your face."
 
Back to Robin.  Other than the loss of a parent or a really close friend or relative or a serious illness, we have been through every bad thing as a couple that you can think of.  And we've survived.  So I suppose I can survive her turning 50.
 
We'll see.  I have until the 19th to decide whether or not I want to make a run for it.