Checking in ... LOL.

I really really really am trying to blog more. Problem is, not a lot goes on 'round here (besides the usual Wrecking Crew drama) to blog about.

I'm not a big book reader any more, nor do I travel, cook, mountain climb, or doer of much else that might be blog-worthy for that matter.

I'm a nerd ... so, ya'll are stuck with Star Trek and the occasional musings of a good mother in law on a bad day blogs.

Aren't you lucky?

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The highlight of my week seems to be the crafts I've been working on. I finished a purse the other day. It's made from a plastic canvas purse form I found on sale at the craft and sewing store just a half mile from me. They're moving to a new location and most everything is marked down by at least fifty percent. At least the things I tend to buy, lol. So that's good news on my budget. Bad news is they're moving to a new location about ten miles away. No more quick stops on the way to the grocery store.

I know I still owe pictures of some of the stuff I've made. I'm trying to gather a few more completed crafts before I dig out the digital camera.

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I just switched my cell phone plan over to an unlimited service. It's nice to not have to worry about how many minutes I'm using on calls or texts now. So, if you have my cell phone number, feel free to text (or call) to your heart's content.

But it figures that as soon as I switched over, Married Son informs me that within a few months he'll be adding me to the company cell phone service. Another tax deduction as his company grows, lol.

I use Net10, so there's no monthly contract to be stuck with ... but it'll mean switching phone numbers (and phone) again. And his contracted service has so many limitations. I also don't get those dead-zones he does with his cell. Heck, he can't get a strong signal when he's here at the house.

While I appreciate his providing me a phone, I'd rather just keep my service with its all around better service!

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Well, that's about it. Boring ... boring ... boring. And I'm loving the break from the drama and stress.

WARNING ... STAR TREK CONTENT!

So, Amy ... I've done a bit more research. LOL. Had to, Gizmo asked me to figure out our budget for the International Convention (IC). I have a correction to make .. it's in Memphis, not Nashville!

With that in mind, we'll have to figure out our route, and if we'll be close at all to Indiana in any way. If not, I'll have to steal the van from Gizmo and do a day trip to Indiana! Soon. Very soon!

Let's start with the official website, where I gathered most of my information ... LOL ... You may want to show this to Bob. Or not ... he may want to go if he's that big of a Trekkie.

http://www.ic2012.com/

So, there'll be a lot going on in Memphis. Meetings, lectures, food, and shopping ... the last two being those I'm looking forward to the most. I know, ME like shopping, who knew? Actually ... this is shopping at Quarks for Trek items ... what girl doesn't want to shop at Quarks?

Of course, I'll have to do some shopping first. There's a formal Marine dinner. Not the long sequined gowns of the USMC Marine Dinner but STARFLEET Marines (SFMC) dress attire (uniforms). This is a definite case of "I don't have a thing to wear". My old TOS uniform shirt ain't gonna cut it.

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I did manage to make a few Star Trek themed things lately. Photos to follow. One is a cell phone case that looks like a TOS communicator, the other is a card/cash case with the ST Command insignia. I've already got three orders from shipmates (chapter members, lol) for a cell phone case, a card case ... and can I make a passport case (easy peasy). All made of plastic canvas.

I was having trouble designing a purse that'll look like a TOS tricorder. I think I finally figured it out.

I was showing Gizmo the drawing I have for the purse (bag for the guys, LOL) when he came up with a great idea. Make the instructions up for them and sell them for a buck or two each at the IC. And include patterns for the cell phone case and card/cash and passport cases. Damn good idea!!

Judging the responses I've had so far just from my own shipmates, they will be a huge hit.

Hey, any way to make a buck, right?? I'll need all the money I can get for Quarks anyway.

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Oh oh, gotta scoot. Gadget just knocked on my door ... "Chows on, Mom" ... BBQ chicken here I come!!!

April 15 ...

So, now that I'm finally back to being a tax payer after so many years of unemployment, I'm happy to say my taxes have finally been filed. I'll be getting a big fat nothing back from the feds, and a whopping four bucks back from the state.

I know ... don't spend it all in one place!!

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Got a call from my friend Chicken yesterday. What's with him? Telling me how I should feel, or worse, what I should be doing. There sure as hell ain't no ring from him on my finger (and even if there was ... ) and I don't remember asking for his opinion.

It started off with some idle chit-chat that turned into him asking if I'd grown out my hair yet. That "short hair on an overweight woman is unbecoming. I don't like it, grow it out." Jackass ... ah well, I'll just make sure that my hair is freshly trimmed just before our next Trekkie event!!

I had mentioned my ever present dream of the empty nest only to be told I'll hate it when it happens. That I'll hate living alone, it's miserable to be alone. Excuse me? First of all, living alone isn't being alone ... and besides, just because he hates living alone doesn't mean I won't enjoy the hell out of it. Grrrrr.

Then he starts bitching that our Star Trek meetings are just too far away for him to attend, and that I, as the XO of the Chapter, need to move the meeting to where it's closer to him. Hell no! Our meeting places were calculated for the central most location to ALL of the members. That he moves frequently AND so far away isn't MY problem.

I won't even get into him asking if Gizmo would have room in the van for him for our trip down to Tennessee for the Trekkie Convention in August. No way in hell that'll happen. Gizmo can't handle him for a two hour meeting, let alone a nine hour drive one way ... and four days in Tennessee!! Oh, and he wanted to bunk with us at the hotel (free of charge, of course). Ummmm, nope!! I haven't warned Gizmo yet of this part of the conversation. I'm sure Chicken will be calling Gizmo to beg for a ride down.

Forty something year old men are not pretty when they throw childish temper tantrums when not getting their way.

Thankfully I shared the "code" with Gadget ... the make-an-excuse-to-get-me-off-the-phone code. As a family we've used it since I was a little kid and I'm happy to keep this one tradition going. She "performed" well and I was off the phone with Chicken before I could say something stupid - like grow up, the world doesn't revolve around you Mister.

The older I get the more intolerant I am of fools.

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Ah well, such is the life of a person who doesn't get out of the house much. LOL.

Time to go take a quick shower, gather up the crafts I want to do tonight and go watch the conclusion of ABCs "Titanic" mini-series.

Friday the 13th.

And here I am again, swearing my ears are bleeding. It's Gadget (formerly known  as DIL2, lol) ... she's been here for two days now and hasn't shut up once.

I knew she was coming over on Wednesday so I shut myself in my room to work on some craft projects in the hopes of at least a few hours of quiet. Nope. She knocks on my door not fifteen minutes after she gets here with a box in her hand. "Mom can you help me figure this out?" It's a freaking ovulation prediction kit and she's asking ME? There's things I just don't wanna know about their relationship ... this being one of them. But no ... she doesn't know what topics to avoid or when to shut up.

The motor-mouthing might not be so bad but she's told me some things a dozen or more times. Twice was bad enough, but a dozen times (and that is no exaggeration folks).

Add that she's making herself a little too much "at home" and I'm ready for a padded cell. It's bad enough my sons knock on the door when I'm showering so they can make a quick pit stop ... she's doing it now, too. ONLY .. she doesn't close the bathroom door (letting out my precious warmth from the shower) and she talks the entire freaking time she's piddling.

It's enough to wish the drain monster would come and take me away.

Gawd knows Calgon ain't doing it.

Right now she's in bugging DIL. I'm loving the few minutes of silence.

The real sad thing is, as much as I do like her, I'd like her a whole lot more if she'd just STFU on occasion. Oh, and that ovulation kit ... that's just TMI ...

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So, DIL2 will forever be known as Gadget. I've also come up with a new name for Single Son, since he won't be single for too much longer. His new nickname is Gizmo. Perfect ... he's a gizmo geek (on top of being a Star Trek Nerd), and it was a nickname he had back in elementary school thanks to the Gizmo backpack he carried daily. So ... Gadget and Gizmo. Cute, eh?

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As I mentioned in my last blog entry, the car is dead ... and gone. I had to go out to the mechanics to clean 'er out on Monday. I did get a little emotional over parting ways, but not so much that I actually cried or anything. Like I've done with other cars I've had to part with.

Married Son was home for Easter. We went over to my mom's to pick up the title of the car to turn it over to Volunteers of America. He tells Mom that he and Gizmo are going to buy me a car for Christmas. Nothing fancy, but a good reliable car. Until then, it's borrow a vehicle until Gizmo decides what sort of car he wants. And he's taking his time figuring it out. Grrrrr.

I told the boys that if they buy me a car for Christmas, then they're exempt from all gift giving occasions for the next five years. Married Son laughed "but Mom, you know how I love to give you gag gifts so don't expect me to follow that request to the letter".

Great! I already have a cane (florescent orange), a jumbo remote, jumbo playing cards, over the hill cane ... what more can he give me? Don't ask ... I don't have a jumbo calculator yet.

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I talked to my Mom today. She's saying that Daddy is very unsteady on his feet anymore. That and he needs to stop every few feet to rest. She has to hold onto him for even a trip to the bathroom. Trips out of the house (expect for doctors appointments) just don't happen anymore, she's too afraid he's going to fall on the four short steps that lead from the house into the garage.

And that's always a good possibility. He's fallen getting into bed, getting out of the shower, walking to the kitchen ... and more. She can't lift him, so she has to call 911. They're on a first name basis now.

Mom and Aunt Silly are going next week to check out the nursing home nearby. Mom really doesn't want to consider this, but she knows that he's just way too much for her anymore. I asked if my moving in would help, she said no ... he's way too much for me to handle if he falls.

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No news on the Alien front. I only hear from her when the Loser is out of the house. When she kicks him out, or he moves out, is the only time I hear from her. Usually for "can I borrow twenty bucks" or "can you sit for the day" ... otherwise ... he really doesn't want her talking to her family. Isolation ... and she doesn't see that he's isolating her from us. Jerk wonders WHY no one in the family likes him ... got an hour, bud, I'll tell you!!

Not much I can do about it. She's an adult and made her choices.

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Well, time to go get ready for my monthly Star Trek meeting tonight. We're meeting at a new location. Logan's Roadhouse. I'm armed with coupons and hungry ...

She's Dead, Jim ...

Sorry, couldn't resist (ya know, resistance really is futile) ...

It's my car, my beloved Sable. Dead. Can't be revived ... well, technically can be revived, but at a cost of just over twice what she's worth. Not something I care to invest in.

I'll miss her.

We have decided to donate her to "Volunteers of America", where they'll work miracles on her, and sell her afterwards. They say the donation of a car, on average, can feed and house a family of three for a few months.

Makes losing her so much easier to bear when I know she'll help someone else.

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So ... now what? What will Lisa drive? After lengthy discussions with Single Son we've decided that instead of buying me a new car we'll buy him the new car, I'll use his van. It makes sense. I don't drive that often anymore, where he drives at least thirty-five miles a day, at least six days a week. Get him the new vehicle, something economic on gas. I'll use the van, a gas hog, until such time I find a little car I like and can afford. If he needs the van for anything, then I will use his car.

Now, I know you may be thinking "but that was YOUR car, you need to have your own car, girl" ... I agree. However, as I'm undecided as to what type of car I really want next it makes sense this way until I am fully employed and able to make payments (or save for a used car).

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I haven't been able to come up with a cute nickname for Single Son's girlfriend, so I'll just be calling her DIL2. Real imaginative, eh? But it works.

I thought she was going to come home with Single Son tonight (that's usually how it works - here on certain days, at her sisters house where she lives on others) ... so I decided I had better eat early. It's not that I wouldn't cook for them both on occasion, but I am on a tight budget and if I cook one meal for two extra people that's two less meals for me. I might not mind if I had more money, but dammit, I'm not cooking for you if you don't bring some groceries with you to replace what you've removed from MY pantry.

It's not Single Son, it's DIL2 in this case. "Hey Mom, what do you want for dinner?" should be an offer to BRING and cook the meal. Not go through my cupboard to see what we can "scratch up" for dinner. It's happened a few times now, enough for me to bring it up to Single Son.

It may say McDonald on my driver's license ... but I sure don't see the Golden Arches sitting outside my front window!

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Speaking of food ... at a garage sale a few weeks ago I bought this:

It's an Xpress Redi, Set, Go grill.  I paid a whole three bucks for it. I love it!!!! I seldom use the stove or oven anymore. It's so easy when cooking for one.

Tonight I made some odd concoction. It tasted great, BUT it was a tad on the hot side. Who am I kidding?? Three hours later my tongue still is numb from the jalapenos! Three alarm cuisine at it's finest. LOL!

I took 2 soft tortilla shell, spread a heaping spoonful of Hellagood "buffalo wing" spread on each, placed both bologna and pepperoni slices, onion AND a bit too generous helping of jalapeno (at least ten slices on each) and rolled 'em up. Then I popped the two roll-ups into the Xpress. Four minutes later,  the best grilled bologna sandwiches ever. Hotter than hell, but ohhhhhh so good!!

I've made everything from pancakes to Chicken Cordon Bleu, pizza, grilled tuna and more on this thing.

About the only time I need the stove or oven is to heat up soups, or when I bake biscuits. Although, I'm sure I could actually cook biscuits in it, too.

What I really really like is that the one tray in the picture, the double tray ... it's big enough for a serving sized meal, but not too big that I make (and eat) too much food!! Portion control at it's easiest.

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Not a lot else going on 'round here, other than some crafting I've been doing. I won't post pics just yet, I'll save that for a later date when I have a few of my projects done. All I will say, at this point, it's all Star Trek crafts I've been working on. Hehehe ...

I know, I'm such a geek!