Packin' Crazy

It has been a few days since my last post.  I know but I have been one crazy, packing woman.   I am either getting old or I have forgotten how tiring packing is.  I am worn out.  

I done posting for today.

                                 

                        

Oh, the things you will find

It's amazing all the stuff, or junk, you find when you start going through your attic, closets, and half-filled boxes when you are getting ready to move.  It has been a blast from the past for me.

I found my very first cell phone purchased in 2001.  I think everyone called them mobiles in 2001 (just only 13 years ago).  Cellphones used to be durable.  I dropped this one in the tub once and after one day it worked again.  I know my current smartphone would be toast if I dropped it in a tub full of water.

Other finds include two old Walkmans and a cd Walkman (purchased in 2001 as well).

Leaving

It's happened again.  We are moving.  We are leaving Allentown and moving to Salt Lake City.  It is the best thing for us.  Salt Lake City has a much better job market than the East coast right now and we need jobs.

As I've started to pack boxes, it's funny how this made me begin to think of all the things we have not done while we were here.  I definitely did not get into New York City as often as I wanted and I didn't visit my long list of museums.  

Honestly, life just gets in the way.  You work all week and on the weekend, you have to run around and do everything you didn't get to do during the week.  I guess you could argue that if I really wanted, I could have made it into the city more, which is true, but it's a pain.  

However, I do have an agenda of what I want to do before we leave.  I plan to visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  I am going to really miss Philadelphia Museum of Art.  I've seen some excellent exhibitions.  I'm also going to the Barnes Foundation and back to the tile works to pick up some tiles.  I am finally going to make reservations and go through Independence Hall.  As many times as I have been to Philadelphia, and as many times as I've tried, the Independence Hall tour has always been booked.  I hope by going during the week I will have better luck. 

We will also eat at our favorite restaurants before we leave and of course, eat cheesesteaks.  I know we will not be able to get good cheesesteaks in Utah.

I have a lot to do over the next few weeks so I better get planning.

Vital for retailers,
Alluring for shoppers,
Luxurious candies and chocolate for all.
Enticing pink and red lingerie,
Neatly packaged red roses.
Treasured gifts of diamonds,
Impassioned kisses.
Naughty thoughts by some,
Euphoric feelings,
Spellbinding love songs.

Devoted lovers,
A touching hug,
Yields of teddy bears and balloons.

Valentine's Day   

I took my last ORNEX tablets today and I am sad. I found an unopened dosage while I was cleaning out one of the bags I no longer use.  It was a found treasure.

Since this over the counter cold and flu remedy had pseudoephedrine in it, you had to show your I.D. every time you purchased it but this stuff worked.  Two blue caplets was all you needed to get well.  ORNEX could kill about any bug in your system.  ORNEX was expensive ($10 a box).  The pharmacies that carried ORNEX could not keep it on the shelf in the winter.  

It's a sad day because the manufacturer of ORNEX decided to stop producing this amazing drug.  Other medications with pseudoephedrine are not as affective. I have tried them.  Finding the ORNEX tablets this morning made my day.

I hope that the company that made it [I believe it was B.F. Ascher & Company, Inc.] will see a need to bring it back.  I sure hope so but I'm not putting any bets on it. Good-bye ORNEX.

I just knew it.  We only got 4 inches of snow and not the 8+ inches expected.   At least there is snow on the ground and it matches the cold weather.

I am very lucky that we have enough pre-teens who live on the surrounding streets that I usually don't have to worry about shoveling my walks.  This morning around 10 o'clock, Christen [he's shoveled our walks on and off for three years] showed up.  This kid is the best.  He shoveled the walk, the driveway, the walkway to the house, and the walkway that goes down the side of the house to the backyard.  He does a lot of work for $20 and I know he is always saving for something.  I know he has several brothers and sisters so if he wants something he has to save his own money.  I support any kid who is willing to get out and be responsible.

Everyone stay warm.

The snow is finally falling and the schools are closing early.  I guess Allentown is actually going to get snow this time around.  According to the blizzard map, the Lehigh Valley will get at least 8" of snow.  Finally!  If it's going to be cold,  I want some snow to go along with the cold.  It makes it seem like winter.




















I always have to laugh when the Lehigh Valley has a snow alert.  People seem to go crazy.  There is a run on grocery stores, and backup generators, and the schools are closed.  It's a snow alert and the valley might get snow.  Someone please explain this to me.

Yesterday, when I went to pick up a few groceries [about 4:30 p.m.], the roads were practically white from all the salt on the asphalt   I feel bad for the people who work for department of roads. It rained earlier this morning and now, they are going to have to re-salt the same roads as yesterday. They will probably have to work through the night as well.  I just hope they are paid for their overtime.

I am not trying to pick on the Lehigh Valley but everywhere I have lived has had its quirks.  Here, people who raise the windshield wipers on their car humor me.  It is actually very practical since so many people do not have garages to park their vehicles.  Consequently, the day after it snows, they do not have to struggle with getting the windshield wipers loose from the car.  However, it is still a funny sight.

I'm all for preparedness. The present storm is going to be bad so be prepared and safe.  

I love Simon's Cat as you can tell from my small collection.

Simon Toefield is a great artist/illustrator in England.  He post videos of Simon's Cat every few months and he posted a new film a few days ago.  The 2 - 4 minute shorts always make me laugh and smile. They without exception make my day.  Therefore, I am going to share with you Simon's Cat.

Enjoy (Of course, there is a commercial first).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te4wx4jtiEA&feature=em-subs_digest-segments-pop

New 

After thinking for about the name of my blog for a few days, I decided to rename my blog.  This is a blog is process so please be patient with me.

The new name "Sonya's just Sayin'" is a twist on the Southern phrase, "I'm just sayin."  I like the play on words and Red Sonya/Red Sonja is so over done.  Thus, this post is dedicated to Southern sayings.

I have to admit that the South has a lot of unique sayings and mannerisms.  I did not realize how different the South can be from the rest of the country till I left.  Of course, I had roommates that teased me and/or they would look at me strangely when I said something or did something they considered unusual.  All of my experiences came to a head [so to speak] when I was dating my future spouse.  Always the inquisitive one, he was always saying, "What did you just say?" or "Why are you doing [substitute an action here] that way?" As a joke, I  gave him this book the Christmas he came down to visit my parents.  It quite funny.

The most obvious Southern sayings are

            Hey - for hello

            Y'all - a group of more than two people

            Sugar - a kiss or hug to someone

            Do you want a Coke? Yeah.  What kind?  Get me a Grapico - Coke = any carbonated beverage                             

Before I go any further, I want to state that the following sayings are those I remember.  Every area of the south is different; thus, the sayings are all different.  The following are from central Alabama and many of them I say or remember my grandparents using.

Southern Sayings I  remember

            Bad Off - really need something or really sick

            Bubba - obnoxious good old boy

                        Hubba Bubba - most obnoxious good old boy there us (my dad's saying)

            Buggy - for a shopping cart

            Caddycorner - at an intersection something that is diagonal from you

            Cut the light - turn out the light

            Done - Finished "Are you done eatin'?"

            Eyes - Put the pot on the eye - the burners on the stove are know as eyes

            Fixin' - About to do something.  I'm Fixin to go to the Piggly Wiggly.

            Not about to - I am not going to do [insert action]

            Running around like a chicken's head cut off - don't know what they are doing

            Wore Out - Tired; Exhausted; This can be used for people or things.

           

I could really get customs.  The only ones I am going to mention are the next few.   Barbeque is a noun all over the south.  At a wedding, the groom gets his own cake known as a groom's cake which is always chocolate.  At a funeral, there is a funeral pillow given to the family.  (I don't know if this is still done, but we have quite a few in my father's attic from the passings of grandparents and other family members.)

Well, there you have it.  Anyone who wishes to submit more sayings please do so.  I would love to learn more unique phrases we Southerners use.