What is a monkeybox?

When I was a little girl, we had a pet monkey named Amanda. My Dad worked in the produce business, so each night he brought home that days culls in a big box - spotty cucumbers, pithy apples, limp celery, moldy oranges and the like. We called it a monkeybox. It was really just trash, but my Mom would take each piece of fruit and trim it, pare it and cut it up to make a beautiful fruit platter for Amanda. Even though it was deemed trash by one, it still had life left in it and was good for the purpose we needed it. That's how I live my life - thrifting, yard saling, looking for another's trash to be my treasure.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

2009 - A Year in Review

It's that time of the year when I look back to the Year that Was...2009. Honestly, this year hasn't one of the best. It hasn't been all bad, mind you. but, it hasn't been all good either.

January started the year off with a BANG or rather a POP when the Ice Storm hit and the power went out for three days. No heat, no hot water, no cooking, no lights, a whole lotta nothing. No leaving the house, no clean clothes, no hot food, no coffee. Nadda. Zich. A whole lotta nuttin'.

Nearly a year later, there is still destruction in the woods, along the roadways and in the pastures. Not a day goes by that someone doesn't mention the "Ice Storm".


February brought job changes for The Breadman. Lots more travelling, more hours and less money. Boo! Hiss!


April brought the shocking news that the once-little boy that I had babysat for twelve years had died. He was 30, but he will always be a little boy in my mind. The last time I saw him was at his sister's wedding. He was drinking a beer and I scolded him for drinking when he was only a littler boy! He said, "Shara, I am a full grown man now!" He said it so funny. I will always remember his saying it just that way.

May took our little family on a trip to Branson. Not far away from home but a world away in term of things to do and things to see.

Hey! Finally some Good Stuff! Maybe the year is looking up. Oh no, I'm sorry - the best is yet to come!

June brought me a two night private getaway in a swanky $15,000.00 a night room here. My first stay in the hospital (except giving birth, of course). My first surgery. My second surgery. The Bean's first night at home with Mom being there. Lots of firsts. One Gall Bladder Gone and $15,000.00 in debt. (That's a George Strait tune, I think.....)


In July, our favorite local Chinese restaurant closed it's doors due to the sucky economy. I am extremely picky about my food and this was one of the very few places where I loved the food. And, now it is only a faint memory. Oh, Pan Fried Chicken and Crab Rangoon, how I miss thee......

August only means one thing - my birthday. 43. Yeech.

September only means one thing. The Bean turned 14 which is practically going off to college age. *Sigh*. I'll be a Grandma before I know it!



December meant I got to bring out all my wonderful Christmas goodies, only to have to box them all up again in the very same month.

So, that brings us to New Year's Eve. The end of another year. The beginning of a New Year. Maybe this will be a good year. Don'

Don't get me wrong - this year wasn't all that bad. There was just enough crappy stuff thrown in to make it seem like a bummer of a year. But, everyone I know and love is happy and relatively healthy, so I am very happy for that!

Tomorrow - the Thrifting Year in Review! Yippeee!

3 comments:

  1. 2010 has got to be better for you guys! When you sum it up month by month, it doesn't look all that rosy. Hope 2010 is glittery, fun and healthy!(and lets throw in some big bags of cash)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hope 2010 is a muc better year for you and everyone for that matter:) Happy new year

    ReplyDelete
  3. glad i found your blog. and glad i'm not the only one with fat cats.

    ReplyDelete

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