Day 156 ~ Easter 2013!

Easter Celebrations!

No Easter baskets this year! But I did get my wife some raisinets (which she loves), some class A Jelly beans and some chocolate malt candies, along with a note saying, "Happy Easter, Karen. He is Risen, He is Risen, indeed!"

Karen returned the favor by giving me a giant Hershey's Dark Chocolate Bar, which I will try NOT to eat in one sitting.  On my note she wrote, "For Jimmy, (meaning the giant chocolate bar) Happy Easter. Love, Karen."

The simple things in life are the best, don't you think?

Happy Easter!

See you tomorrow.

Day 155~ Helping out at a Medical Supply Store

Ring the Bell!

Being unemployed, I have some time on my hands. I ended up at Medical Supply store to help make deliveries in the local area. As I waited in the main part of the store, I saw this bell. Evidently  a customer is supposed to ring that if he needs help at the counter.

Do you know how hard it was for me NOT to ring the bell, just because it was there?

See you tomorrow.

Day 154 ~ Daniel Hits the Road, Jack!

Daniel with eyes on the road!

I took Daniel driving yesterday. He is long overdue for a license so we hit the road to practice. As we hit the road, I am happy to report that Daniel hit nothing!

hanging on for dear life...:)

Daniel is a very good driver for having such little practice. But that is gonna change! We go back out later this week.

Day 153 ~ Margaret sneaking up on me!

Margaret

I was sitting on the ottoman and Margaret came up from behind. I took this picture waste level so it is a miracle I actually got the picture because I couldn't see what I was shooting.  Just so you know, what Margaret is hiding behind is my back!

See you tomorrow.

Day 152 ~ A Drive Thru line!

About to order apple pies

A great and cheap snack is the McDonald's Apple pie. On my home I picked up two for one dollar. I ate one and saved the other for my honey! (that would be Karen, if you didn't know)

See you tomorrow.

Day 151 ~ Bow-ties!

Dinner!

The other day Daniel had a hankering for Bow-tie macaroni so I went to Shoprite and got these. He cooked it,  added cheese and was very happy!

See you tomorrow.

Day 150 ~ Waiting for Matthew

the view outside my car window

My son doesn't drive so I have to pick him up at work. This is what it looks like when I park my car and wait for him.  He washes dishes at an assisted living facility.

See you tomorrow.

Day 149 ~ A Hippo

hippopotamus 

A lot of times I like to study my school work in Sara's room because she is away at school and her room is nice and quiet. For some reason, she has this hippo on her desk. I thought I 'd take a picture of it.

See you tomorrow, sans Hippo.

Day 148 ~ A Banking Tradition

At TD Bank

When I was a kid I used to LOVE to go to the bank with my mom because they always gave out lollipops to parents with children.  I am glad to see that some banks still do that! ...now, which flavor should I choose....?

See you tomorrow!

Day 147 ~CHEESE

grilled cheese 'acooking!

Nothing says "Delicious" like a grilled cheese sandwich! I made this the other day!

What's your favorite snack?

See you tomorrow.

Day 146 ~ Jesus from Cuba!

Sacred heart of Jesus

This is a drawing that my mother-in-law's father drew (using colored pencils, of course) that use to hang in her house in Cuba when she was growing up.  It made it's way over to America and now resides in the house of her sister.  It is a traditional portrait of the Roman Catholic Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Nicely done!

See you tomorrow.

Day 145 ~ ME!!!!!!!!!

Me, me, me!

So What happens when I realize I forgot to upload a "daily phone pic?" I dig into the archives and pull out a photo I never intended to use. Here is a self-portrait as I sat in my wife's car, waiting for her to come back from a store.....Hope tomorrow's pic is better!

See you tomorrow!

Day 144 ~ Justin the Blur

Justin, doing a dance

So when I was taking a picture of something around the house for my daily phone pic blog, my son, Justin, said, "Take a picture of me." Not happy with just a simple portrait, he decided to do a dance while his brother, Daniel, looked on.  That is why Justin is blurry.

Here is the LIVE ACTION version of Justin doing his silly dance. Talented, ain't he?

See you tomorrow.

Day 143 ~ Irish Soda Bread

sitting in the basket in the check-out line at Shoprite

Yesterday was St. Patrick's day and, along with Corned beef and cabbage, is Irish Soda Bread. That is a bit too dry for me but Karen likes it. Yesterday, Karen wanted me to buy more but she likes it without the raisins.  They didn't have raisin-free ones but, after Karen went to work in the evening, I went back to the store and noticed they now DID have raisin-free soda bread. So I bought it.

on my dining room table

I left it on the table with this note.  I hope Karen enjoys it!

Happy St. Patty's day, everyone!

See you tomorrow.

Day 142 ~ Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Margaret, sleeping

 The lighting isn't that great but I saw Margaret resting by the computer chair and I had to take a picture.

Margaret, looking.

As soon as I approached her, she lifted her head to see what I wanted. When I just stood there, not giving her food or holding a leash, she put her head back down.

See you tomorrow.

Day 141 ~ Shepherd's Pie's acooking!

carrots awaiting boiling

 I know Corned beef and cabbage are very Irish and suitable for St. Patrick's Day but so is Shepherd's Pie.
Here are pics of that process.

potatoes in the pot

After they boil, Karen will mash them!

beef's cooking!

Here is the meat cooking with the carrots and some added peas...mushrooms will be added.

I'll let you know how it tastes!

See you tomorrow.

Day 140 ~ Remember Hostess

Old Hostess Depot

With news that Twinkies will be back in the market by Summer - read here for more details-thoughts went to my old job. Here is a picture of the depot where I used to work. This was taken by my fellow former employee  Tim, days after we were closed.  Looks lonely there with no trucks.

Good luck to the new owners of Twinkies!

Day 139 ~ Morning Prayer

Prayer book on stove

For my time of morning prayers, I use a book called the St. Philip's Prayer Manual.  I usually wake up before everyone else in the family so I have my quiet time in the kitchen. I usually place the book on the stove and use the spoon holder to prop open the book. This  makes it easier to cross myself, kneel, ect.  

opened to Morning Prayers

I like using the prayer book, not because I can't think of anything to say to God but what I read in this book (full of ancient prayers) has words that say things so much better than I can.  So I make these words my own and my heart goes up to God!

Any prayer requests? Let me know! 

See you tomorrow.

Day 138 ~ TSA Medical Evaluation

Where the Physical took place

As many of you know, I have applied to become a TSO (Transportation Security Officer) with the TSA.  Ever since late December, I have been going through different stages trying to get hired by them. I took their Computer Based Test, had an interview and filled out all sorts of 'paperwork" for a background check.  So far, so good. Yesterday, I went to get checked out to see if I pass medical requirements. 

important TSA paperwork

 These are the packets/papers I had to take with me.  The paper on the left was an extensive medical question-ere  the paper on the right was the appointment sheet, giving the place and time of the physical. The packet in the middle was for the clinic to open, not me!

Warning label

 As you can see ,they take this very seriously. If I had opened the packet, which contained their medical forms for them to fill out on me, plus a urine sample cup and maybe other things I didn't know about,-if I had opened it, I would have been disqualified as a candidate and no TSA job for me!

Medical packet

The packet had an instruction sheet on top, telling me not to drink coffee directly before the physical, not to listen to loud noise before the physical to drink plenty of water and get plenty of sleep. When I got there the nurse named Lisa took my blood pressure, tested my eyesight, my hearing and my ability to distinguish colors, besides taking the urine sample. Then I was off to see Dr. Bernstien, who shook my hand  upon meeting me (something I always liked when Doctors did) and he asked me Medical history questions and tested my ability to walk and bend.  

They are not allowed to tell me if I passed by TSA standards but I did ask how my health was and they said, "Fine." So, if the TSA agrees then I am one step closer to being hired! Well, at least, I hope so!

See you tomorrow.

Day 137 ~ A Little Bit of St. Pat's

A Glittering Shamrock

My wife loves to keep the house "in Theme" and since St. Patrick's day is coming up, she put up this small decoration in our dining room.  The best part of St. Pat's day is the corn beef and cabbage and Karen promises to also make a shepherd's pie! Yum!

See you tomorrow.

Day 136 ~ Taking my son to College

The College

I dropped Daniel off to college, like  do every Monday and Thursday and here is the view from my side window.

See you tomorow.

Day 135 ~ Approaching Good Friday

The Passion of Christ

As we come nearer to Good Friday and the whole Passion of Christ, I like to look at this statue which is in our dining room.

See you tomorrow.

Day 134 ~ Margaret's day out

An Anxious Margaret

Margaret was filthy so Karen and I took her for a bath at "Rub-a-dub dog wash," a self-service dog washing place. They had a big tub and all the things we needed to clean her up. We also had her nails clipped so she was looking good by the time we were finished.  So we decided she needed a clean color so we drove to Petsmart and I waited in the car with Margaret and Karen did the shopping. Margaret starred out the window the whole time, not happy until Karen returned. She likes for the pack to all be together.

Later today, we give her a haircut!

See you tomorrow.

Day 133 ~ My Window just before Dawn!

My backyard

So I took this picture outside of sliding door window. Yes, it's dark but that's because it was just about to be sunrise. Snow on the ground and my plastic bench blew over!

Through the Big Window

 A little brighter and you can see the snow on the ground. It's sticking to the grass but not the street.

through the small window

My car, all by its lonesome...Very pretty sight! Yes, I prefer summer to winter but winter sure is pretty.

See you tomorrow.

Day 132 ~ The Morning Dog Routine

Libby by the door

Every morning me and the dogs go through the same routine. I talk Margaret outside to "do her business" and Libby always waits by the door, wishing she were outside, too. But she has a bad back so we don't let her climb down the steps, plus when both dogs are out, Margaret likes to pounce on Libby, in a playful way of course.

Libby by an other door

 Then I go to the garage and get the food. Libby ALWAYS goes to the edge of the doorway, impatiently waiting to get the food. One time she got so excited that she fell down the stairs.

an eating frenzy

The both devour their food....

no stopping till they're done!

 ...but Libby eats faster.

Libby almost done

 Yum Yum

Margaret, the slower eater

Then after they eat they lie down for their morning nap. I guess it's tough being a dog.

See you tomorrow.

Day 131~ At Night, It's Dark!

Red Light Picture

 As I  was going to pick up Matthew from work, I realized how dark it was...and doesn't that deserve to be remembered in my Phone Pic blog?

Same Red light, different angle

I guess it's hard to hold the phone steady when you are anticipating the light to change at any second.

See you tomorrow.

Day 130 ~ A List of Names for the Mascot

The List on the Jr NYI Board

As I pointed out two day ago, there is a contest that you can participate in, trying to name the NEW Green Party Mascot. Well, at church, I posted a list so people could write down there guess and as I was standing there a little kid started to write "Nazi" and I am thinking, "Is he serious?" His mother was right there and said, "No, I think you mean this," and she wrote "Nazzy" which, of course, is a bit different, don't you think?

Ah, kids are so cute, especially when they don't spell well. :)

See you tomorrow.

Day 129 ~ Checking my Blood Pressure - Everyday

My blood pressure this morning

My blood pressure has been a bit on the high side so when I went to the VA Clinic for the very first time, they said they would mail me a Blood Pressure machine. It is simple to use.

relaxing, taking my BP

The nurse (named Patty) told me to take a deep breath first and then press the button and then breathe normally.  The deep breath relaxes you a bit.  I have started taking blood pressure meds and it did help in bringing it down which is good but I should lose weight and cut down on the salt and that would be a better way to control my BP.

My back up record

The machine records my stats each time I use it so I have to make sure no one else uses the machine. I have to bring the machine with me when I go back for a check up so Dr. Wong can read the results.  I make a written record on a notepad to back up what is in the machine.

See you tomorrow.

Day 128 ~ The NEW Green Party Mascot!

My Computer Screen

I took a picture of my new background on my computer. I asked my daughter to draw me a NEW mascot for my annual Green Party that I have for the kids at church. I paid her fair and square since she is a starving artist!

NAME ME!! 

 Here is the original image that she drew. I am running a contest to name my NEW Green Party Mascot. A five dollar gift card to WaWa....go ahead and check it out and you can enter the contest too even if I only know you from the interwebs. I can mail you the gift card or if you don't have a WaWa near you, I can make it a different convenience store card. Here's the link  Click here!!!! Hope you enter the contest!

I said, NAME ME!!!!

And this is the version without the blushiies.  Isn't my daughter, Sara, a great artist? Why don't you go to her web comic page and take a look at her work. Pageviews = money for Sara and I've already established that she is a starving artist. Click here for Sara's work.

See you tomorrow.