Hello..is this thing on? knock..knock..

Oh, yeah there you are. Quit hiding behind those snowbanks! It's been a'blowing like crazy here today. A perfect day for doing sweet bugger all. I managed to get the laundry done, but didn't get the "mending" done. Our clothes are falling apart. Buttons are missing from Gord's shirts, the hems on all my jeans are all falling apart, apparently the staples didn't hold. You always know when I have chosen to do the repairs the easy way: when the clothes are put in the dryer and you can hear "clicking noises"..that would be the staples! And if you don't hear the "clicking noises," you know it's time to get out the stapler! I seriously have to get out my Granny sewing kit, and poke all my fingers with a needle. By the time I am done, I look like someone who had just done some serious diabetes testing and lost, trying to find the right number.

I used to make my own clothes. Yes, you heard me. I used to buy patterns, buy the material, buy the thread and sit down in front of the old "singer"..and make my own clothes. I had one standard pair of pants I used for years. It didn't have a waist band, thus making it very easy. Invisible zippers were the rage back then, so if you had the attachment on your machine for that, you were in business! All you had to do was cut out the pattern, sew up the seams, and add the zipper in the centre of the back of your pants. Then you would finish it off with folding waistband and make a seam around it..along with the the hemming of the legs...and wahhhlaa...a new pair of pants for Saturday night!! Cord's were always my favorite, I must of made 9873 pairs of them. Later on when I moved to the city and had to wear skirts and dresses to work, I bought some very highly flammable material that did not fray to make my skirts. I had one pattern, and I made 9873 skirts in different colours for every day of the work week. I didn't make my blouses, because that required some skill. But, I do remember crocheting some very interesting vests to wear on top of them.

Just as I was writing this, I am amazed at how much times have changed. When I finally got my second or third serious office job after going to secretarial school in the city, how we as women were required to dress. The job I had at this time was a receptionist/typist/whatever. Women were required to wear dresses or skirts, no pants allowed! When suddenly we had a rebel in the midst of us. I still remember her name..Sheila Rosenblum. She was hired by the accounting department and from the day she started she was trouble....she had one big mouth!! I loved her.

She openly challenged management about the dress code. At this time, "pant suits" were all the rage, I had a few of them, but could not wear them to work. She told them that there was no reason a woman could not wear them to work. After all, the men in the department all wore pants!! She was a hoot. Management actually changed the policy, and we could wear pant suits to work. But not, pants and a sweater..it had to be to code..Gawwwwd.

Then, sweet little Sheila, got on their asses about smoking. (this was a long time ago friends)...Women in our office were not allowed to smoke, but the men were. So, I could be working next to Joe blow, and he could light up, but I couldn't. She make short work of that and took them to task. Two weeks later, we could all smoke in the office (not that was a good thing). she was way ahead of her time with women's rights and scared the livin bejesus out of them. She said her husband was a lawyer and he could sue our company if they didn't comply. I think she was blowing "smoke"...but she was one hell of a broad. I wonder where she is now?

I'm making short ribs for supper........yummers, it smells so good. But, I have never made this recipe before, so I will have report on it tom morrow. It involves, grape jelly, Heinz chili sauce, onions, rosemary, lemon, brown sugar, garlic and mustard. This will be served on rice, along with veggies.


We went to my brothers house for our Christmas get together last night. Finally, we were all well enough. It was so great seeing everyone again. I love me nieces to pieces. We had a great supper, ribs, shrimp, rice and salad. My SIL actually kept their tree up until we could all be together. But, my brother was not very sociable. I understand he has problems, but he seemed to be very angry at me. He pretty well ignored me when I came in, and went on during the evening to make snide remarks about my weight. I haven't gained or lost any weight, I'm not really overweight..I could loose 15 lbs, but I don't know what his agenda was. Maybe I haven't been there for him enough. I don't know how..he always seems so angry. He is pretty housebound in winter, because he has to use his "scooter" to get about. They have a van that gets him from place to place, but his life has changed forever, with his illness. I don't know how to handle it. I'm feeling I have not done enough, but I don't know what to do.

I will call him this weekend and try to get to the bottom of it.

So...enought for tonight

Bylonie...over and out.