Tex's Last Stand

Jingle Bells!!

2006-12-14T06:42:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas time!! I love Christmas. I love almost everything about it. I love to shop, put up lights, go visit everyone, take time off work, give gifts, cook food..... Yup, all of it. I hate when it's over, I don't like to take down my lights or my decorations. My house looks naked when I take all that stuff down, it's kinda sad.

I'm almost done with my shopping but not quite. I have no idea what to get my Mother. You'd think that I would know since we go everywhere together and shop together and stuff but I'm really stumped. Normally I get her some sort of furniture piece. Like a bookcase, or curio for her china and stuff. One year I got her a grandmother's ring with all the kids' birthstones in it. That was pretty cool. The ring had her own stone in the middle and then the 6 stones around it with the kids' names next to them. When I gave it to her I had her sit on the couch and put all the kids on the couch with her in the middle so I could take their picture. Then I told her that at that moment she was surrounded by her grandchildren and that no matter where she was that she could always be surrounded by them as long as she was wearing THIS! And then I whipped out the ring and showed her that her stone was in the middle, we all cried and it was great.

I like to try to find the perfect gift for everyone but if not then I'm happy with finding the perfect gift for at least one person on my list. This year it's just not happening. Maybe I have shopper's block or something.

I am more "ahead" than usual. The day after Christmas last year I was in Albertson's and managed to grab a few left over items that they had so technically I've been shopping for THIS Christmas since the day after Christmas LAST year. Not that I did a lot of shopping throughout the year but I did manage to score a few items here and there. I'm sure though that I'll be shopping until the Fat Man comes down the chimney but I'll stay out of his way if he'll stay outta mine.

Man! I'm not a good blogger!

2006-10-19T08:02:00.000-07:00

Why can't I get this thing updated more often? What's up with me??? Well let me catch up.

AUGUST

It was hot. Kids went back to school. That consisted of lots of outpouring of cash. School clothes, school pictures, book fairs, etc.

September

More school stuff. Dance class performs at the fall festival, that was fun to watch. Baby Girl was cute. I worked a lot this month.

October

I went back to working 5 days a week. I still go in at 6 am but I get off work at 3 instead of 5 so I'm loving that. Unfortunately this week I got sick. I've home in bed for 2 days. I've never slept so much in my life. I'm getting over it now. I have a whopper of a headache at the moment but otherwise I feel better.

We started working on a walkway for the front yard. It's going slow but it just can't be helped. Mr had to work last weekend so it didn't get finished on Saturday then it rained on Sunday and now the weather has turned cold. I think it's supposed to improve this weekend so maybe we can make some headway.

Otherwise everything is going OK. I'm still alive and kicking.

It's hot in Texas this week! Just like I like it.

2006-07-11T12:31:00.000-07:00

Yep, I enjoy the Texas heat. So much so that I'm now RED. It just can't be helped though. I was on call this past weekend and had to do the changes during our Sunday morning 1 am to 5 am changes. So I didn't get to sleep until around 4 and that makes for a lazy rest of the day after you've had a 5 hour nap. If you sleep too late you can't really get to bed very well that night, which makes it even MORE difficult to get up at 3:30 on Monday morning.

So, after arrising at around 9'is I got out the weedeater and made it around the house before the battery crapped out. I like the cordless, rechargeable kind cause they're lighter to carry around and I can keep it running. Unlike that gas one we have. Got that done and then ran over to a friend's house to pick up a purse. She is an Avon Lady. Spent a good hour or more yapping and gossipping. Back to the house where I donned my bathing suit and headed for my above ground, Wal-Mart back yard pool where I manage to spend about 3 hours of laziness. I'd lay on the float and bake on one side then flip to the other. Occasionally I'd slide off into the water to cool off and then climb back up. I'm sure that part looks especially attractive.

Anyway, I knew my skin was getting a bit on the tender side but I just couldn't give it up. It felt too good: the heat of the sun, the breeze, the cool water of the pool. But I'm not too bad. Today almost all the red is gone and I don't even think I'll peal!!!

Off to Boston!!

2006-06-06T06:41:00.000-07:00

Next week I head to Boston and I'm gettin excited about it. Not as excited as with DC and NYC cause that was with my Oldest but this is for Microsoft so that's pretty cool.

I'm going to Tech Ed! MS has a conference every year and it's a pretty big deal and there's lots to see and all kinds of freebies and new stuff to look at. This is the first year I've gotten to go and I'm going with a colleage that I've known for a long time and so I think it'll be fun. 6 days in Boston though could get a bit on the longish side. I think I'll be ready to come home on about day 4.

They have all kinds of seminars and there'll be booths set up for checking out the new stuff, they give lots of stuff away like bags and shirts and software, there are parties to go to and I hope there are lots of places to learn stuff and not just sales booths. I don't know if Bill Gates is going to speak, sometimes he does but I don't see him anywhere on the schedule this time so I'll be dissapointed but at least I'm not expecting him.

My colleague isn't the type to go out and do a whole lot but I'm hoping to talk him into some site seeing. If not, I'll go by myself. And I hope there's at least one free night so I can go to the movies. I think I want to see Da Vinci Code. The book was awesome!

I've never been to Boston except to land and drive to another town and then to catch a flight out. I know we get to go to Fenway Park because that's where the big Thursday Night Party is that they'll have. I'm not sure what the other extra curricular activities are though. I guess I should start trying to get it all planned out. I still have to see which seminars I'm going to attend. I haven't had time to look at that yet.

Freezer Flub!

2006-06-06T06:12:00.000-07:00

Well we had a little freezer incident yesterday. It might've not been such an impact if I didn't have almost a whole hog and a bunch of ice cream in there.

Last Oct we bought a pig, along with 3 other families, they he stayed at my cousin's place and we fed them out for slaughter. About 2 months ago we took them in for processing and we each got the equivalent of a whole hog.

Sunday I went to the grocery store and bought a few items and that included ice cream. I stored it all in my big, upright, deep freeze.

Yesterday I get everyone up and off to Grandma's and I head to work. The Mr beat me home and when he got there the alarm on the freezer was sounding. At some point during the morning's rush to get everyone out the door a child, and I don't know which one, got into the freezer and didn't get the door shut all the way. Apparently an ice cream box had shifted it's position and blocked the closing of the door. So it's not like the child left the door open intentionally but they just didn't realize that the door never shut all the way. 15 hours later we have mostly thawed meat and extremely thawed ice cream. Yay me.

So we get most of the mess cleaned up and I start calling family and friends. Want some meat that you have to cook in the next 2 days? My cousin told me to bring her some of it and she'd just cook it for me and then I can freeze it, like the sausage. My mom volunteered to cook the hams and ribs for me today as well. Then my cousin calls her Granny and her Granny said that as long as the sausage was still very cold then you could refreeze it. I'm not so sure about that but we'll see.

So, today when I get home I'll make some sausage patties and fry them up and freeze them. I'll brown some sausage for putting on pizzas and mixing with scrambled eggs. I'll cook some pork chops for supper. And eat the ribs my mom is cooking for me.

I had hoped my pig would last me further into the year but I guess it just wasn't meant to be. At least it won't all go to waste!

Wow! I didn't realize how long it's been!

2006-06-06T05:45:00.000-07:00

Well I guess time really DOES fly when you're having fun. Or when you're working yourself to death.. same difference. Or not.

So let me get all caught up.

I planted a garden! It's not a farm size garden or anything but since this is the first one I've ever planted I thought I'd stick with the basics. First thing is to till up the garden spot. Let me start by saying that is easier said than done. Tilling up ground that's never been tilled before and obviously doesn't WANT to be tilled up is hard work. I thought I was going to just stiffen up and not be able to move for 3 days afterward! But, after much toil and determination the garden was tilled and ready to be planted. Not so fast there buckaroo you have to make your rows first. So, OK, I put up some stakes and ran some strings so my rows would resemble rows and not a slinky snake and made rows. Then I planted, with the help of Mom and Baby Girl. We planted corn, okra, beans, watermelon, canteloupe, tomatoes (3 different kinds), cucumber, carrots, parsley, dill, jalepenos, squash and a few flowers. Everything is coming up, I've got squash that should be ready to pick in a few days, tomatoes on the vine, the melon plants have blumes and so do the cucumbers. My cousin has a garden and her's is way bushier and more healthy looking but she planted before I did so hopefully mine will catch up. Or at least yield more than just leaves.

New York and DC!! Yep, that's where I was last week. I may have written about it before but Oldest is in 7th grade and eligible for an annual trip that a few of the middle school teachers plan every year. They usually go to DC but this time they added NYC to the agenda. 8 adults and 51 (yes that's a 5 and a 1 .. in that order) kids. We had the best time! We saw the monuments, churches, tombs, landmarks, and everything else you could cram into 4 days spread over 2 major US cities. I love NYC. I wouldn't live there for all the Keith Urban's in Australia but I sure do love to visit there. The hustle and bustle is really a cool thing to watch. I could probably sit in the park or on a busy sidewalk and just watch all the people go by. Everybody seems to be in a hurry to get someplace and there are so many places to get to.

If you've never traveled with a group of 6th, 7th and 8th graders you are just plain missing out. Those kids had such a good time. They did really well at not fighting and fussing too. I think the adults whined more than the kids! We were hot and tired and sticky and feet hurt and hot....... and tired. But we took a gazillion pictures and laughed at the craziest things. We looked for celebrities but they hide out too well. We did see Rupert from the Helo Deli. If you've ever watched David Letterman then you know who Rupert is. He was sitting outside the deli and he was wearing a Texas Longhorns shirt! We thought that was perfect! So we all had a pic made with him. I'm sure he was glad to see our bus pull away from the curb, that poor man.

The highlights of my trip include: Old Glory, the originally US Flag at the American History museum. It was cool to see how they restored it and took care of it. The Tomb of the unknown Soldier. We watched them change the guard at the tomb and watched how the soldier guards it with his 21 steps, face the tomb for 21 seconds and then make another 21 steps. It was very poignant. Vietnam War Memorial Wall. I've been there before but we were there ON Memorial Day! Nothing can compare with something like that. There were crowds of people there paying their respects, bagpipes playing, taps on the trumpet, speeches and all kinds of military personnel. That was truly a once in a lifetime experience.

In NYC I guess my highlight would be having out pic taken in Times Square. It was night and the photographer did an awesome job of catching all the signs lit up behind us. It looks really good.

My oldest enjoyed the trip, he hung out with friends and I tried not to smother him. I think I did a good job. I think his fav thing was the NBC Studios tour. He thought that was pretty cool. And the Empire State Building. He was pretty nervous about looking down.

In a couple of years it'll be Youngest Boy's turn to go and I can't wait. The teachers that organize this thing are a blast to be around. We sing and play music on the bus and watch movies and the leader of the group picks on everyone. Nobody is immuned and he has a nickname for all the kids that just shows how much he pays attention to them. I hope he continues this tradition for many years to come.

The wonders of modern technology

2006-03-07T12:33:00.000-08:00

I just had to tell this story. I just got off the phone with my mom and she told me something my daughter did today.

My sister in law bought my mom a regular, corded phone because when the power goes off she’s without a working telephone because she only has a cordless. Well mom and I were talking yesterday and her cordless was dying so she hooked up her brand spanking new corded phone so we could continue to gab. Well this morning I dropped the kids off like normal. My daughter found the phone sitting next to the couch and, being the little girl that she is, decided she liked that phone and just HAD to use it. She decided to call her daddy. She picks up the receiver and looks at it, turning it around in her hand, looking it over. My mom is just sitting there watching this. Then my daughter says in a very thoughtful way, “hmmmm, how do you turn this on?”

I just cracked up even if it does make me feel old. My poor 8 yr old baby girl has never really had to use a regular telephone cause we’ve always had cordless ones. She’s a trip. When I tell my husband about this he’s going to blame it on her bit of blonde hair she still has.

A Wedding!

2006-02-28T05:59:00.000-08:00

No, not mine, silly. I've already told the Mr that when we get divorced I'll never do this again. No sirree. A guy that I work with got married. He sits right behind me and he's just a super duper kinda guy so I'm really happy for him.

I spent several hours making a card. I just couldn't figure out how I wanted it to look but I got inspiration from the Bible. Their wedding was done in pink and gold so I used vellum and stickers and such in those colors and I put a few versus in there from Genesis and then a couple in there from Psalms. The Genesis verses were about how God said Adam shouldn't be alone, put him in a deep sleep, took the rib and made woman. Adam declared that this was bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh, man would leave his mother and father and cleave only to his wife and together be one flesh. Obviously I'm paraphrasing all this. Anyway, I have a Dakes Bible and that's a really cool thing to have. They have all the verses in the middle and then they have all these cool notes and definitions on the side and underneath. Lot's of useful info there. So, in the footnotes about the aforementioned verses they say that "Woman wasn't taken from man's head to be lorded over by him, nor from his feet to be trampled on by him but from under his arm to be protected by him, from his side to be equal to him and from near his heart to be loved by him. " I thought that was so neat. I also put a verse from Psalms in there that says something along the lines of "God saved his inheritance for his annointed and that he would feed and forever lift up his people". That was kind of my prayer for them.

The cool thing about that was the brides's mom and stepdad got up and read Bible verses during the ceremony and the stepdad read the same verses from Genesis that I had in my card. I thought to myself "Touchdown!" I just hope she liked the card.

I also made for them a set of pillows. A seamstress I am not. However, their registry at Crate and Barrel had some pillows in it that I thought were "ok" but I could do better. So I set out last week on a search for some fabric. I walked into the fabric store and absolutely fell in love with some silky looking blue fabric with some sort of leaf on it. It kind of had this Japanese feel to the design and it was just stunning. I also bought some brown textured looking fabric to go with it. I think the blue and brown look are in and the pillows they had picked out were blue so I figured it'd be OK. So Friday night was spent sewing up pillows. I think they turned out OK and I had this great idea of how to package it all up for them.

My original thought was the old standby: a cardboard box. I thought that might get a little large because those two pillows were 18x18 inches. So I had a brilliant, if I do say so myself, idea: I'd put them in one of those space bags that you suck all the air out of and then they'd be small enough to put in a much easier to manage container, like a gift bag or something, and when she'd pull that gift out she'd have NO idea what she was looking at until she opened it up, seen the pillows puff out as if by magic and to top it all off they'd get to keep the innovative and useful space bag!! Well, that's all good but the dang material kind of wrinkles up when you do that. It's so shimery and shiny and delicate. The pillow still puffs out but it just doesn't look as crisp and new as it should. So, it was off to Wal-Mart to locate an equally clever idea: a storage container. I'm all about function you know. I'm just not all about compact, easy to wrap gift ideas. So I get a blue storage container even though it was bigger than I needed. It was the color that I liked. It was a kind of light blue that I thought would go with my pillows. I also picked up 2 pkgs of hangers and some storage bowls to fill up the empty space that my pillows were sure to not fill up. And an extra roll of wrapping paper because the roll I had previously purchased wasn't gonna cover that stupid container.

I got it home, wrapped it up, used my handy dandy bow maker to make a pretty gold bow to go on it and stepped back to admire my handy work. It looked like a 3 yr old had wrapped it. Oh well, you have to sometimes deal with what you've got and live with the results. I just hoped that what was IN the gift made up for how it looked.

So, purchased, made and wrapped........... and never once considered how I'd look dressed in a skirt, nice shirt and slip on shoes walking through the cold carring this gigantic, stupid storage container. At least I didn't have to look at me.

But the wedding was beautiful. It was a Catholic ceremony. They hand out programs when you walk through the door because they want you to always know how far you are from the end of the ceremony. Reading, praying, singing, vowing, more praying and singing and reading and well wishing, etc etc. But I'm here to say that when the bride stepped around the corner in full view of the groom, HE FELL APART!! It was so heart warming. It made me cry to watch him cry. How awesome is it when the groom cries at the first sight of his bride walking down the isle?!?! That, my friends, is why women cry at weddings.

His brother was the best man and at the reception he made a speech that was also just so incredibly sweet. He said that they had grown up in a military family. So their dad was always halfway around the world someplace so the groom was his father figure. When the brother was about 12 yrs old and just starting to get interested in girls, the groom took him aside for a little talk. He said to his brother "let's make a pact. Let's agree that we will alwasy treat women like little princesses". How cool is that for one brother to say to another?!?! And I believe he has always kept that pact. He's just a really nice guy with a wonderful outlook and zest for life. He's spent the last year working hard to get ready, not just his wedding, but for his marriage. He's met with his church leaders, been to counseling for young couples, etc. I firmly believe that this man is ready to be the husband that he should be and I think she's one lucky lady. I don't know her real well but they certainly looked in love. I hope she's as good to him as I think he's going to be to her. I pray all the blessings of God on them and it looks to me like He's already raining it down on them.

Talk about a hottie!!!

2006-02-17T18:52:00.000-08:00

WHEW!! I watched Seth Westscott run this race and I do have to say that he's absolutely gorgeous. His girlfriend is also a snowboard cross racer. Lucky her!

I have to say that the above pic doesn't do the man justice. He's much better looking in Torino this week on TV. :)

New Recipe

2006-02-17T18:37:00.000-08:00

I spoke of food earlier and, to be honest, I'm not very adventurous so I've been trying to branch out. Here's the latest that I tried and, I must admit, it was pretty good. I altered it by using Ragu sauce instead of the sauce she listed because I've made her sauce and didn't like it. However, this turned out pretty darned good. I'm not a big pasta eater so I could only eat a little of it. Anyway, good stuff!

The trip

2006-02-17T18:31:00.000-08:00

So I don't know if I posted much of anything about this trip me and my son are going to take. It's with a couple of teachers from the school even though it's not a school sponsored event. The teachers in question have been doing this for a lot of years. It's a 4 day trip to Washington DC and NY City. I'm very excited about it. We leave on Memorial day and come back that Thursday. I've been there before but my son has never been. We will make all the normal landmarks and all the fees and food are included in the price. In NY City we also get to sit in on the set of the NBC morning show and see a Radio City Music Hall show.

There will be a lot of walking involved and so I have to get us prepared for that. We need to get some good walking shoes and maybe put us some Dr Shoell's (or however you spell it) shoe insert things. Anway, I think we'll have a blast. I just pray for good weather and pray it's as amazing as I'd like it to be for us.

Speaking of shape...

2006-02-17T18:20:00.000-08:00

I want to lose 5 lbs by May. I think that's possible for most people but I seem to lack enough ambition on this particular subject to do myself much good. I also have a particular fondness for chocolate. Anyway, my cousin has lost 17 lbs in 5 weeks on the weightwatcher diet. I didn't know much about this diet program so I got the details from her. They let you have a certain number of points based on your weight. I'd be allowed 20 points per day. They even have the points posted on some ready made meals at the grocery store or you can buy your food from them I think. They also have regular food graded on the point system. You go once a week to a meeting and weigh yourself. You also get 35 points per week to float any way you want. For example, you can use an extra 5 points per day or you may want to use all 35 of them in one day or split them up any way you want.

I don't know that I could do that diet just because I'm such a picky eater. It's not that the food I eat is so bad for me. It's just that there's a limited amount of food I'll actually eat. Plus it's just hard for me to find any of those premade meals that I will eat. I just think they are nasty. The pizza that they show on their tv commercial looks like it's made out of plastic! How can anyone eat something that looks like that??!!?

I think I just need more excercise. The life I lead is very... I forget the word for it.. sedentary? Anyway, I don't get to move around much. At work I sit in front of a computer, I commute so far to work that I'm in the truck for 3.5 hours a day. I do have a health club membership but when I get home at 7 pm I only have time to get supper eaten and get the kids to bed before getting in bed myself. The club isn't open on Sunday so I have Friday and Saturday that I can work out. And I can always find an excuse not to go. Which is just stupid, by the way. Why am I paying for this stupid membership if I'm not using it? My mom and I joined together hoping we'd motivate each other but she's a bit passive and doesn't make me go.

I just need to get more motivated. I hoped that the trip that my son and I are taking in May would get me more into this thing but I guess not. I used to be a more challenging person when I was younger and I'm not sure when I got so ..... blase', un-ambitious, lazy even.

I think I need to work on my attitude.

Olympics

2006-02-17T18:10:00.000-08:00

Terry over at possumblog asked some questions about the olympics so I thought I'd comment here about them.

I've been trying to watch as much of it as I can. I don't get home until around 7pm during the week and I try to be asleep by 10 cause I get up at 3:30 in the stupid, blinking, damn morning so I can't stay up too late. Anyway, my opinion is mixed. I guess the summer olympics spoiled me. We had so many medals in those games that we couldn't count them all. In the winter olympics we seem to be faultering. Admittedly I haven't checked the medal count in the last few days but Apallo Ohno fell, Lisa Kildow fell, our men's figure skater did OK but it wasn't the performance some people expected, etc etc. I just think we haven't done as well. Bode Miller is blowing my mind with his disqualification and just plain crappy first attempt at a medal. I just hope we step up to the plate pretty soon and get us some more medals.

I think one of the cool stories of the week is Toby Dawson. I got teary eyed just watching his mom in the audience. She was so happy about his bronze medal and just hearing his story..... it was pretty touching.

I just checked the medal standings and we do have 6 gold medals and that's more gold than anyone else but we are only at a total of 10 medals and that's 3 less than Norway. So I guess we aren't too far behind but I just think with all the potential medal winners we had on our teams thaat we should be doing better.

I'm sure that if I strapped on a pair of skis or a snowboard or even a pair of ice skates I'd put all those people to shame. I bet I'd come home with the gold every time. I mean, what kind of shape are they in anyway?? They look like a bunch of stick figures out there. I, on the other hand, am in perfect shape. Perfectly round shape.

Soccer and Weather in Texas

2006-02-17T18:04:00.000-08:00

Well it's soccer season once more and that means cold weather. Yep, we've had the most unusual weather I've seen probably in my life. It's been warmer this year than ever. Yesterday it was 80 degrees and today it's 32. What's up with that?!?!? Well the answer is that our first soccer game (youngest boy is playing this season) is scheduled for 7:45 am tomorrow, that's why. The odds of me setting my alarm to get up and be there at pregram practice by 7:15 are slim to zilch! Now, coach says they wouldn't officially cancel the game until 7:30 so we should go ahead and show up even if they cancel it 15 minutes later but he's some kinda sicko if he thinks that's gonna happen. It's not supposed to start with the sleet and freezing rain until around midnight and the chances are only like 60% or something but I think I've officially decided the 1st game of the season is just plain cancelled.

UPDATE: They just called, it's 9 pm here, and let me know that the games for tomorrow are cancelled. I'm happy about that. :)

I almost forgot how to post something!

2006-02-16T05:55:00.000-08:00

Man! It's been forever since I've posted anything. I'm a slacker. Actually it's because work has been such a nightmare that I haven't had the opportunity to post anything. That's the only time I do any posting anyway so you can see how that would get in the way of things.

But, the holidays are behind us, including that lovely Valentine's day, and so the next thing we have to look forward to is Spring Break (I don't actually get one but the kids do, how nice for them :) and Easter. My kids are getting a bit big for the Easter Egg hunt though. Last year none of mine hunted them, they did the egg hiding. Or should I say "egg launching"? Instead of peacefully placing an egg in a bed of grass for a child to find my kids would send an egg sailing through the air as far as they could throw it. Needless to say we didn't find them all.

Anyway, I'll try to put something interesting in here today. I don't wanna work anyway.

2005-12-21T12:42:00.000-08:00

Well, this is our beautiful Christmas tree this year! I was so excited that it turned out so well. It has the pinecones on it that Oldest, Baby Girl and I picked up out of that guy's yard. It only has a few ornaments on it, some stips of ribbon weaved in and out here and there and all the white lights.

I hope your Christmas is amazing!!

It snowed once, it can snow again!!

2005-12-13T05:03:00.000-08:00

That's MY philosophy anyway. :) Last week we had snow, and some ice of course. You can't have snow in Texas without a healthy dose of ice to go with it. I was happy to see it coming down out there. I work in Dallas and have a long commute home so when I knew it was going to snow that day I stopped in our Allen location and worked from there. It's only an hour from the house, I don't have to hit the Dallas traffic and so it's just easier to get home from there when I know inclement weather is on its way. Plus I left as soon as it started sleeting so I didn't have to drive in the stuff.

I worked from home the rest of that day and all of the next day. It was great. I get a lot done when I work from home because I can deal with everything on my own timetable instead of being interrupted by the phone and the yahoo that comes to your desk and "hovers" until you acknowledge their presence.

The weekend was good but busy. It's that time of year and all so I like to get in the kitchen and play around with my cake decorating, bake cookies and work with my chocolate. I took a couple of cake decorating classes a couple of years ago and they were a lot of fun. But chocolate is my passion it seems.

I don't like cheesecake. I guess it tastes like something in has gone bad. It's got this tart taste that I don't particularly care for. However, I seen this great thing that one of the chefs on Food Network did and I wanted to give it a try. You buy an already made cheesecake. Use a melon baller or a mini ice cream scooper. The kind with the thumb handle on it so you can get the scoops nice and round. You scoop out balls of cheesecake and put them on a cookie sheet or something. Then put lollipop sticks in them. Put them in the fridge or freezer so they "set up" really good and firm and then dip them in melted chocolate. Then you can dip them into things like nuts, crushed graham crackers, sprinkles, coconut or whatever. Anyway, they were really good. Like I said, I don't care for cheesecake but anything dipped in chocolate has a better flavor. Plus I use and amaaaaaaaaaazing chocolate. It's made by Guitard. I have to buy it in Richardson but it's worth the trip if I have to come down on my day off. Normally I pass right by the store that sells it on my way to and from work so I can just stop off and get it.

So, I made that stuff and then I baked a turkey breast and homemade cornbread dressing. I don't normally make dressing because I don't know how but my mom came over and now I'm educated!! And it turned out INCREDIBLE!!

I also made some peppermint bark. This is melted white chocolate, smashed up candy canes, mix them up and spread it out thin onto a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. I stick it in the freezer for a few minutes to make it set up and then break it up like you would with peanut brittle. Again the Guitard chocolate is very creamy and tastes so good. I brought a tin of that to work with me.

Then there was the Cowboy game. We squeaked through another one. I swear I have more grey hair this season from their closer than close games. This coming up Redskins game will be a nailbiter for sure. The last time we met up with them we had it in the bag until the last few minutes of the game. Maybe that's why we ended up losing; cause we thought we had it in the bag. Hmmmmmmm.

The Survivor finale and reunion show was my next notable activity. I wanted Stephanie to win so naturally she didn't. I can't believe those idiots thought Dani played a better game than Stephanie did. It just blows my mind! Then on the reunion show she looked like she had on too much make-up and a botox treatment on her lips! It drives me crazy.

So that was my weekend. Now it's time to get ready for the holidays. Thursday at 5 pm starts my 2 week vacation!!! I have short timers disease now and don't wanna work but I'm making myself anyway. It makes the time pass faster. :)

Shopping!!

2005-11-30T04:50:00.000-08:00

Also known as Black Friday. I love this day of the year. It's a tradition for my cousin, my mom and myself to go shopping on this day. We don't let anyone else go with us cause they'd get in the way and slow us down. Usually they day starts at about 3:30, and we are at KB Toys by 4:15, standing outside the mall, freezing our butts off cause the rent-a-cop won't let us in the dang door. However, this year was a whole new ball game. There is no more KB Toys where we live but Wal-Mart (ahhhh my beloved Wal-Mart) stepped up to the plate and started their sale at 5 am. No more freezing our butts off :). We were there by 4:30.

So I normally make my list on Thanksgiving day but as previously mentioned I didn't get around to that. However, I had gotten the chance to look through the sales papers several times and had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to get. So when I walked into Wal-Mart there was my pallet of remote control jeeps and hummers just waiting for me to wait on the associate to cut the shrink wrap.

When we started this tradition several years ago the stores still hadn't gotten with the program of how to handle that many shoppers in one place at one time all wanting the same thing. Some of them STILL aren't handling it very well. But our Wal-Mart usually does a pretty good job of spreading the merchandise around the store, shrink wrapping the entire pallet and holding everyone off until the exact moment of shopping time. We have never (knock on wood) been the victims of a mad stampede, a vicious cabbage patch shopper or a police interrogation. However, I don't rule out this possibility on future shopping extravaganzas. It's very funny though to watch all the new people who're just amazed, confused and scared to death every year. They are constantly trying to get the goodies before the time arrives and are scolded by the employees, they are forever telling people that "this is my first time" and "man this is crazy" and "wow I can't believe I'm up this early just to shop". My favorite has to be "I'll never do this again, it's just nuts" because that means that particular dipwad won't be in my way next year.

We always work together, the three of us, to make sure that we each get the items we are going after. We talk about it before we get in the store, we communicate with our cell phones and we are never afraid to grab extras of a particularly good deal if we think one of us might like to have one of those too. We were done this year by 8:30 but we always end up going back to some stores just to see what's left or to get something we decided we wanted after all.

The trail for this year was Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Target, Sears, Mervyns, Wal-Mart, Big Lots, Burger King (we had to have breakfast, my hangover had eased up by then) and then back to Wal-Mart. Yes, we hit Wal-Mart 3 times. There are 2 of them within 8 miles of each other they are both fun to visit.

Luckily we weren't really after the electronics this year. The stores were offering some great deals but we just didn't need those things. It's a good thing too. The stores are learning to deal with the crowds but they aren't doing so good in the "stock enough supply to meet the demand" area. Hopefully they'll work on that next year.

Once I got home I unpacked the goodies to my closet and took a 4 hour nap. My hangover was gone by then.

Thanksgiving!

2005-11-29T10:33:00.000-08:00

Man I do love this time of year! Turkey and dressing is my all time favorite food but since I only have it twice a year I tend to forget that. My job is to make the ham because I haven't got much culinary skill. That's a good thing sometimes and this is one of those times. There's not much skill required to slap a ham in an inch of water inside a roaster, cover it with foil and stick it in the oven for 3 hours. That I can do. And I did.

So, ham done, pumpkin pie made the night before and I was off on my trip. Left the house with the kids and traveled the 5 minutes to my mom's house. The commute was a nightmare :). Had a great lunch and hung around for a while but man I was sleepy. So we went back home before the football game got started.

Watched the game. Cowboys lost. Pissed me off. Never did get a nap. Then we had company come over. This is significant because I should've been planning the great shopping trip for the next day. However, the couple and their kids that came over are just a lot of fun. The men went and got drinks. Normally I don't drink, which is why, 3 smirnoffs later, I was wishing I'd planned that shopping trip instead of enjoying the toasts of the season. I hit the sack at about 11 pm and when the alarm went off at 3:45 I was not in the best of shape.

Next: SHOPPING!!

The Boy finished camp!

2005-11-29T09:53:00.000-08:00

Well Youngest Boy got through camp OK, even though I didn't get to go up there on that Wednesday to see him since Granny was in the hospital.

He said he had a great time and even made a few new friends. There was some pranks going on at the camp and some of them weren't good. I think a window ended up getting broken and someone fell out of the boat. Other than that everyone did good and nobody parished.

He did, however, lose the disposable camera I sent with him but I don't think it would've made any difference if it made it home anyway. I don't think he took any pics!

Events

2005-11-29T05:01:00.000-08:00

Well it's been an eventful couple of weeks. My Granny passed, boy was at camp, Thanksgiving and shopping!!

Skillz and Cindy will remember that about 3 years ago my Granny had a stroke. Up to that point she had lived alone since my PawPaw passed away several years back and was a very independent and active woman. Well the stroke was severe enough to paralyze her on the right side. Therapy didn't improve the situation so she's been in the nursing home for about 3 years. She didn't like it but she did get accustomed to it and even made some new friends. She played bingo and dominos, joined in the sing a longs and had her hair and nails done quite often. There was a man named Benny, he was in the wheel chair. At lunch time he'd walk his chair over to the coffee pot and pour a cup of coffee and then carefully walk his chair over to her table and set it in front of her. She'd always thank him nicely and he'd go back to his table. Normally she only drank coffee for breakfast but when Benny would bring her a cup, she'd drink it. I never saw him do this for anyone else. The activities director's husband would come up and play dominos with them sometimes. He told my mom one time that Granny was such a sweet woman, always smiling and that his life was better for having known her.

She had 3 heart attacks in the last year but was still active from her wheel chair. On the 10th of this month they admitted her to the hospital again with chest pains. As it turned out she was dehydrated. She had been put on medication to increase her appetite because she just basically stopped eating. It didn't help much this time around. The hospital admission was on a Thursday and they kept giving her fluids but a urinary tract infection just wasn't helping matters. By Tuesday her kidneys had shut down and then it was just a matter of time.

I spent 3 nights in the hospital with her and was by her side when she passed. That was very difficult to watch her go through. The body does some pretty crazy things when its decided that its had enough of this old world. But her passing was comfortable for her and I talked to her until I knew she was no longer in the room with me. I didn't want her to be scared or feel like she was alone. The nurses left me and her alone while she started her walk with the Lord and when I knew she was with Him that was my time to mourn my loss even though I celebrated her new Life she was going to go live.

Then it was time to get down to business. I had phone calls to make, funeral homes to deal with and so on. I got a few hours of sleep and then made arrangements. The funeral was on the Monday before Thanksgiving it was an honor to speak at it. Usually one of 2 (or both sometimes) Preachers we know will officiate and everyone else just tries to make it through. But this time was different and I had some things to share. I wanted some of my memories to spark a few of their own and to celebrate her life. So I spoke about her and my PawPaw visiting his and her parents on the weekends when they were first married and had their kids. I shared about their simpler life and the way they lived it. I reminded them that every Sunday was like a mini family reunion because we always came to Granny's for lunch on Sundays. How my cousin and I practically lived at her house every summer. That the outhouse that was still used until I was about 10 stood straight until the time that a bunch of my cousins and I were in a car and it was taken out of park and the car rolled into it. After that it was still used (we had no other choice) but it leaned backwards a bit. I shared with everyone the different pieces of her time that each of my 3 children got. With the Oldest boy she'd get him early in the morning and they'd go hand in hand out to the pasture to count the cows. With Youngest boy she'd build garages for his cars out of dominos and fences for his animals out of popsicle sticks. And that Baby Girl spent hours at a time in her lap being read to from her favorite short story books.

I also told them about the time in August when I went to her to pray with her. I was worried about her being scared to die. I knew she'd go to Jesus. I just didn't want her to be afraid of the journey. So we talked and prayed, laughed and cried and I was glad to have had that talk with her.

She was an amazing woman. She was a blessing to my life and I will miss her.

Youngest Boy Goes Camping!!

2005-11-14T06:11:00.000-08:00

I don't think I've mentioned it before but every year the 5th graders at our elementary, and some others in the State of Texas too, go camping for the week. It's a week during the school year and they stay in cabins, go boating, do archery, hunt for fossils, go on trail hikes, etc. My Oldest went when he was in 5th and still talks about it to this day.

There's a museum with all kinds of stuffed dead animals they can look at, fossils from the area and cool stuff. They go on a bunch of nature hikes and look for wild life, identify plants, etc. They go out in flat bottom boats as well as canoes in a little harbor area. It's just a week of good outdoor fun.

There's a section of girls cabins and each of them have a bathroom There's a set of boys cabins and each of them, doesn't. They have a "community" shower/bathroom area. Poor little guys. There's a dining hall where they get fed 3 times a day and the meals are better than anything they ever see at the school, or so the kids have told me. In my opinion the school lunches probably wouldn't be hard to beat. But I digress.

So Youngest boy left out this morning for camp. He's very excited. He didn't want to go at first. He's told me since LAST school year that he wasn't going to go. However, I sat down with him and let him know that it's OK to go, the rest of us would make it through the week without him, he'd make it without us, he would be having way too much fun to even think about home too much, the food is great, all his friends would be there and he'd have the most amazing time. I recited that little speech quite often. His brother even talked to him about how much fun he had while he was there too. It was a family effort.

I don't really have to make it ALL week without him. I cheat. :) See, they have a cabin counselor in each cabin. This is the adult that makes sure they brush their teeth, sleep ON a bunk and not in the floor, light a fire in the fireplace if it gets cold and leads them around by the nose all week. The counselor also helps them put together a skit to perform on Thursday night. Sometimes parents go up to watch the skits. Not me, it's too dang late at night for that kind of thing and it takes me a few hours to get there! So I improvise by going up there on Wednesday. I show up at about lunch time and go to the dining hall because that's when I know I can catch them. Otherwise they could be out in the boats, hiking or whatever. So I pop in for a few minutes, make sure he's OK and get my hugs and kisses that will sustain me for the rest of the week. Then my mom and I go to Pizza Hut in the town that's close to the campgrounds and eat before heading back to our part of the world and pick up the other 2 kids from school.

When Oldest was going to camp he was pretty excited about going........... UNTIL the night before he was to leave. Then he informed me that "maybe it's not a good idea for me to go" with tears wavering in his little eyes. But I hugged him and loved him and let him know it was all going to be OK and that when I got there on Wednesday if he didn't want to stay I'd come and get him. On Tuesday night I had his dad, brother and sister pose for a picture that I printed out and took with me. I gave it to him when I got there and he could see that everyone was OK and waiting for him to come home. He was having the time of his life anyway and I couldn't have dragged him out of there with a tractor! His little brother DID cry though while he was gone. He missed his big bro one night (they shared a bedroom back then so they were always together and are really good friends) and I heard him crying. I went in and loved him and let him know that his brother would be back in a few days. I don't think he cried again but it just goes to show how much they do need each other.

The house will be mighty quiet this week. Youngest boy is CONSTANTLY making noise. ANY noise he can possibly make with his hands or his mouth ALL the time. We are forever having to tell him to be quiet. He's not really hyper, he's just noisy. I'll take solace in the knowledge that that poor counselor will have to figure out what to do with him this week. They better make sure they give him his medicine or they'll be calling me to come and get him cause he's scaring away all the wildlife!

Age old question: Allowed only in a safe place or don't allow it knowing they'll do it anyway?

2005-11-14T05:48:00.000-08:00

That's the question some people I know answered for themselves this weekend and they either made the wrong decision or just let too many people know about it.

I'm talking about teenagers and alcohol. I read about a parent up north somewhere who decided that it would be safer for them to have an after prom party (or after graduation, whatever it was) and allow the kids to bring their own booze. The dad sat at the door and took the keys. The rules were that if you showed up then you stayed the night. Period. No exceptions. However, the cops were called and he was busted for contributing to the delinquency of several minors. He said he did it because he knew that the kids were going to go out drinking that night anyway and he wanted them to be in a safe place where he'd KNOW that they weren't going to drink & drive therefore risking their very lives. I'm not sure whatever happened but I do believe he got off very lightly because the laws of the state weren't clear on the issue and they had no legal grounds to stand on.

The people that I know that had this issue this weekend were in a similar boat. I'm not sure if it was his idea or hers but they allowed the kids to drink on their property. The cops showed up and handed him 45 citations for contributing to the delinquency of a minor and every child there was handed minor in possession tickets. I'm really surprised they didn't put him in jail. That's a lot of citations! What's worse is that SHE works for the school! Well, she might not anymore, we'll see.

Anyway, I think it's a complicated matter. Currently my kids are 12, 10 and 8. They all think booze is nasty and I plan to foster that idea in them for as long as possible! I'm not a big drinker and neither is my husband. I'll go out to a club once a year or so and have a few. Sometimes I'll even buy a six pack of Smirnoff ice, drink one or half of one and the others will sit in my frig for 6 months until I throw it away. The Mr is the same way. But anyway, the older my kids get, and if they start hanging around with kids that think its cool, then I could be in trouble before I get them raised! So what do ya do in a situation like that?

Well, it's really hard to say and to judge for a lot of parents. On the one hand you want them in a safe place, no drinking and driving, if there's a "happening" then there's an adult around to take charge of the situation. But then again, you never know how alcohol is going to affect any particular kid. What if they are on medication you know nothing about and that they don't think will be a problem? What happens if they are all in the basement and you are upstairs to give them their space and be unobtrusive, a bunch of them really get drunk and there's a fight? Someone having sex? Someone getting raped? Someone binge drinking and getting alcohol poisoning? The list goes on and on. Sure, some things are controllable but some things are outside the boundaries of your control, like the medication issue.

Then again, can you sit back and do nothing when you KNOW beyond the shadow of a doubt that your kids and their friends are going to end up at a party devoid of any adults at all where all of the afore mentioned calamities could happen and there's REALLY nothing you can do about it cause you're not there??? Plus add the drinking and driving scenario into the mix and you've got a whole lotta misery that could happen. Oh they'll tell you they aren't going to do it but we all know better than that now don't we?

Sure, we all hope that the values and morals and pure fear of Mom and Dad's wrath will be instilled into your child and that they'd be the ones to come home before midnight on prom night squeaky clean and healthy and happy. But what are the odds??

Thursday 3!

2005-11-03T09:36:00.000-08:00

Well I haven't participated in one of these for while but I managed to sneak this one in today.

1) If you have a blog, why did you start it? If you don’t have one, do you think you might start one? Why or why not?

I have a blog because I like to talk. It doesn't matter if anyone wants to listen or not, I don't need an audience really. I enjoy putting my thoughts down on something and just kind of be able to tell my story every now and then. Plus it's a good place to vent every now and then when the need arises.

2) What blogs do you read most often?

I only really read 3 blogs. I'm a faithful Possumblog reader. I go back to that one several times a day. I can't really make a comment there because my firewall at work prevents it but never let there be any doubt that I'm an avid Terry fan. I also read skillzy's site. I've known him for several years and he is ever so entertaining. And finally I read up on Skinnydan once in a while. It's always important to learn about other cultures. I find some of his stories downright fascinating. All 3 of those guys are funny and I just like them a lot.

3) Finally, what do you consider to be the greatest strength(s) and most profound weakness(es) of blogging?

A strength would have to be sharing of opinions. Everyone has an opinion and sometimes you get forced into listening to those opinions that you don't really care to hear. So it's nice to have a choice. If someone is throwing something out there that I don't care to hear I can always move on. Not like when you're stuck in the elevator with some crackpot that's rather proud of their stupid thoughts for the day. Another strength would have to be just keeping up with other people and sharing their lives with them. I enjoy reading about how someone else might do something that I'm being faced into dealing with, how they raise their kids, where they get some of their information from. It's all quite helpful and when it's entertaining too, well, that's just a bonus.

A weakness has got to be the stupid spammer comments. I don't know how to deal with those yet but I'm going to figure it out. It's just annoying.

Mr's Ticket

2005-11-03T04:35:00.000-08:00

So I've recently written about the Mr and I trying to carpool together unsuccessfully. This is a story about how much more money carpooling could save beyond just the price of gas, wear & tear on your vehicle and moments spent in cozy togetherness.

I had reminded the Mr on Tuesday night that trash day was the next day. At our house you don't just take the trash out to the curb. You have to load the trash cans into the truck and drive them down to the end of the driveway. Well that was too much trouble on Tues night so he put it off until Wed morning.

I got the kids up and got everyone ready to go on Wed morning and we were off to Grandma's. The Mr was still getting ready and realized he had to get the trash together. We left, I dropped the kids off and started driving to town. I get into town and am being cautious of the speed limit and Mr passes me. I'm sure he felt he was running late because he had to take out the trash and hadn't set his alarm for earlier than normal to accomodate the trash day issue.

Now, it's only 35 mph through town but he is certainly exceeding that. He flashes his break lights at me to let me know it was him that had just left me in the dust. Well about that time a friendly city cop passes us going the other direction, slows down, whips it around and speeds by me. At that point you just kind of know, don't you? Well Mr knew too. I was repeating these words to myself as if Mr could hear me, "turn into the gas station, turn into the gas station, TURN INTO THE GAS STATION!!". But no, he didn't need gas that morning and besides, he knew he was busted. The light's came on and Mr is pulled over.

As I pass by them my first though should've been to pray for my husband because, you see, he has a warrant out for him about 2 counties away because of a speeding ticket he got about a gazillion years ago and apparently didn't pay for it. Well our county won't take him in because they aren't going to transport him that far just for a speeding violation, but you never know when they are going to change their minds. But that wasn't my first reaction anyway. Oh no, my first reaction was to roll around in my truck seat laughing my a$$ off and by golly that's just what I did. I was giggling like a fool. I repented later.

When Mr called me I was sure to point out that if he could get his rear in gear at the appropriate time to get out of work we could car pool together and I would've reminded him to slow his behind down while driving through town. Mr said he honestly didn't realize he was going that fast when the friendly officer caught him. Uhhhhhh, uh. The cop didn't seem to care and wrote out a promisory note for Mr to visit him again in a couple of weeks with some cash in hand.

Oh well, it's just money.

Almost halloween at my house

2005-11-01T09:28:00.000-08:00

Well the kids and I went to the great Wal-Mart store a few weeks ago and they picked out some Halloween finery. Baby girl picked out a Barbie Bride type creation. Oldest picked out a rubbery pumpkin face mask, scythe and a funny looking hat. Youngest boy picked out a Jason hockey mask that glows in the dark, some skeleton gloves and some pitchfork lookin thing. I had no idea what the boys were going to be and they didn't really have a plan either. They just liked those things and figured they could work with them. OK, whatever.

Baby girl tried hers on and then hung it in the closet. Oldest boy told Youngest boy that his hair looks funny when the elastic stretches over his hair so Youngest proceeded to cut the elastic to his satisfaction and then tie it back together to fit his head. Oldest boy wore his hat to school for his funny hat day (for which I had to pay a dollar to a charity for him to participate. Blood suckers!!). So they did get some use out of their stuff if only a little.

Saturday we were going to go trick or treating in the next town with my cousin and her little boy. He's 2. They had the coolest costume. It was a tractor. You push a button and it inflates. He stands in the middle and it has straps that go over his shoulders to hold it up. He's got the whole front of the tractor in front and then the back end in the back. So he has to stand sideways to reach a doorbell. It was cute! It even had a button to push that would make the headlights come on and it make tractor sounds. However........ my children informed me they weren't really interested in going. WHAT!?!?! Yep, it was true, they didn't want to go. Baby girl said her bridal gown, such as it was, didn't drag the ground so she thought it didn't fit. It went to her ankles for pete's sake!! Youngest couldn't find his mask and Oldest wasn't interested, he wanted to stay home. So we did.

On Monday night they had a thing on main street like they did last year where the shop owners would give out candy, have trolley rides, costume contests, etc. Well they didn't want to go to that either so we stayed home. Since I live in the boonies we don't have trick or treaters so my house was completely devoid of festivities. I was in bed by 8:30!

Carpooling

2005-11-01T09:01:00.000-08:00

Terry has written quite often about the downside of riding with his spouse with a few of the upsides thrown in. Well, I've discovered my own ups and downs.

The Mr's schedule changed to where he would be starting work at 4:45 am and getting out at 6:15 pm. Well as it happens those are the EXACT times I go through that town on my own way back and forth to work so why not figure out a way to save a little gas money and spend a little quality time with my man? Because he can't get this butt outta work on time, that's why!!!! Have mercy!

He was sort of opposed to the idea at first and I couldn't blame him. You see, he only drives 1 hour to work. It's only about 50 miles. While I, on the other hand, drive 80 miles to work and it takes me an hour and a half going and 2 hours coming back home. But the times lined up so perfectly we'd be foolish not to try SOMETHING to make it work. There was even a guy or two that he works with willing to ride with us. The Mr's issue was that it would never work out quite evenly because his truck would end up with more miles on it and use more gas money then he normally gets because there would be days that it would go 30 miles further than normal. However, we thought we'd offset that by letting the other 2 guys that were riding with us foot a lot of the gas bill since our trucks would be the ones doing the driving.

I drove the first week and it was just me and the Mr. The next week I had a few days off but the 2 days that I did work I drove the Mr's truck. During those first 2 weeks the Mr was NEVER out of there on time. So, instead of me getting home at 7 pm I was getting home at around 8! I'd have to sit in the parking lot until 6:30 or 6:45 waiting on him, drive to my mom's and get the kids and then go home. Normally I could get to my mom's and get home by 7:10. Well 8 pm just wasn't working so I threw that idea out until he could get more able to get out of work on time. The other 2 guys gave up on him too I think. I don't blame them.

Who knows, maybe the Mr planned it that way because he would rather ride alone. Wish granted!!

Thursday 3 is back!!

2005-09-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

Today’s topic--SELF IMPROVEMENT!

1) What one language would you most like to learn to speak, or at least understand?

I think I'd like to learn and/or understand Italian. I think it's a beautiful language and I'd love to visit there some day.

2) What one skill would you most like to learn?

I was originally going to say that I'd like to learn the skill of keeping my mouth shut but then I thought better of the idea. I usually think about keeping my mouth shut too but then I think better of THAT idea too. But I digress.

I think I'd like to learn to dance. I mean fun dancing, not ballet or clogging or anything. I'd like to really be able to go to a bar with a great dance floor and really cut a rug. I have rhythm and most of the time it's in synch with the song that's playing so I think I could do it. I just don't know the steps and don't seem to have time to learn.

3) What one character flaw would you most like to rid yourself of?

This would probably be right in line with that "keeping my mouth shut" skill I referred to earlier but I think I'll go with the procrastination flaw. I tend to get things started and then I procrastinate. I make up the excuse that I got it started and now I'm ......... waiting on something/someone, or I convince myself that it can wait or that I'm too busy. Like learning to dance. :

New York!!

2005-09-19T17:48:00.000-07:00

Well, I made it to New York from New Jersey but I'm here to tell you it was a tough day. I realize this doesn't suprise you after the time I've had thus far. I'm not a bit suprised either.

I started out this morning from New Jersey at 10:30 am on what was supposed to be a 2 hour trip. (insert Gilligan's Island song here) Up I-95 north I go and the next mark I'm looking for is I-295 south. However, I-95 splits off. My great and glorious Yahoo directions make no mention of such a split. So, making a quick decision I took the one I thought best. I took the right fork. So I'm continuing on and have at least 20 miles before I think I'm supposed to come up on my I-295 split which means I have 20 miles to sit and stew over whether or not I had made the right choice.

This would be a good time to mention the toll roads in New Jersey. I realize you have to have some money to make those roads so dang nice. But I'm here to tell you that $4.10 is just insane! Texas has potholes in their roads and we get around just fine! Ya'll need to learn to drive TRUCKS!

Then you get over in to New York and just to get across the George Washington suspension bridge is $6!! That's literally higway robbery. Stop the insanity people that bridge isn't long enough to justify 6 bucks a car!

So, as I was just mentioning.. I get to the George Washington bridge and hand the lady my 6 dollars. I ask her if this was the way to get to I-295 south. The only thing she would say to me was "I-95 North". I asked her twice. If I wasn't such a decent sort I'd have told her "Yes I realize I'm on I-95 north, you dimwit, thanks for saying so. Are you trying to tell me to stay on it and it'll get me to where I wanna go or are you refusing to give me directions???" But I just asked for my reciept (Yes, I started taking receipts when I started to realize how much this was costing me and I'll be sure to expense those when I get back!) and I went on my way.

Thankfully I seen the I-295 exit and discovered I HAD made the right decision and I was still on track.

So I get closer to Long Island. Or at least I suppose I was because that's where the Long Island Expressway is and that was in my directions. Well, that's where it came to a screeching halt. Traffic that is. Not going anywhere. So I start listening to the radio and apparently there is a tanker truck about 3 exit in front of me that had overturned spilling fuel onto the highway. Oh Great!! We moved only inches when we were able to move. At this point it was about 12:15 or so. I didn't get out of that and up to an exit until 4 pm. Yes I said 4!! I was in that car for 6 hours by the time I'd gotten to the office here in NY. Can you imagine?!?!? I'm am blessed tho. I know I am. I'm going to confess to you that I am. I had gum, I had a watered down coke and I had my book and my tylenol cold. I read my book and chewed my gum and popped my pills and I am still thanking God that I didn't have to go pee. However, he let me know that he'd been diligent enough when I did finally get to that exit becaues there was a Staples store right off the exit and I made a bee line to their potty!

There were some people that didn't make it that long tho and I do have to say it's unfair to a woman to be put in this particular situation. There were men that would hop out of their trucks (lots of delivery trucks on that road today) and stride over to the trees on the side of the road and relieve themselves. I don't blame then tho. I woulda done the same thing if I was a guy and had to go after that dang long.

I wish all the cops and people working those situation would think of us poor suckers sitting there with nowhere to go for that long. I'm sure they are hurrying to get those things cleared up but they were stuffing 5 lanes of traffic onto 1 off ramp. Maybe they shoulda bulldozed another trail through the median or something. That would've taken less time.

On to New Jersey!!

2005-09-17T17:55:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally got that other site done and I'm now in Burlington NJ. Hopefully this one will go MUCH smoother. I was certainly concerned when I got here and the keyboard and mouse gave no response but after some wire changing (how it worked in the first place I don't know) we are up and going. Right now I'm smack dab in the middle of installing Windows server 2003. It seems happy enought but this server had a corrupt registry before and kept blue screening and rebooting itself. Hopefully a brand spanking new registry will put an end to that crap. Or, with my luck as it's going this weekend, the stupid thing will blue screen like the last one and I'll be here all night again!!

Let's hope not.

Oh...

2005-09-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

And I forgot to mention that I woke up with a sore throat. The kind where you seem to have a raw spot in the top part of your throat and there's something there you can't swallow. No matter what you drink or how much of it you drink it won't go away. Hint: Tylenol Cold Severe Congestion doesn't do a thing for it!

Man! What a mess!

2005-09-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've posted anything in a month! All kinds of things going on. From birthdays to school stuff to traveling for work. I've been so busy I don't know what to do with myself.

I write to you today from cloudy, rainy Pennsylvania. I'm rebuilding their Windows 2000 server with 2003. The plan was to rebuild this one last night, drive to Burlington NJ and do theirs. Then drive to Jamesburg NJ and do theirs. Then drive to Melville NY and do theirs. Fly to Boston and do theirs and return home late Wed night. However, the last thing you want to see when you are reinstalling Windows server on a Domain Controller is the dreaded blue screen of death. Well I see it 3 times last night so today I'm starting all over. Hopefully I can finish this one in the next 8 hours and drive to NJ and get theirs done tonight. Wouldn't that be nice? Then my plans could stay the same and I could get home on time.

Well it just errored on me again. Things just don't look good.

The Prodigal Child Returns

2005-08-31T05:36:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a while but I'll try to keep my post to a minimum.

A couple of weeks ago my Granny had her 3rd heart attack. We didn't think she'd pull through this one but the 'Ol Gal fooled us all and is currently toodling around in her electric wheel chair back at the nursing home. Anyway, the Dr this time gave her a clot busting medication. They also gave her blood thinning medication. Combine those two elements and you get a LOT of bleeding. Any cut will bleed and any bruise will turn into a thing of nightmarish proportions. They had tried to start an IV in the back of her hand, they couldn't get a good vein and then it wouldn't stop bleeding. I stood next to her bed in the ER for over 5 hours and held bandages on her hand to get it to stop. Then when they moved her to ICU they banged it or something and it started all over again. Pissed me off. But, she was only on a ventilator for 2 days this round. I'm not a proponent of those things. But at least this time I talked the family into declining CPR and stuff. The last time she had a heart attack she was "confused" a bit for a few days afterward. This time it's much worse. She sees people and things that aren't there and imagines she can get up and walk around. I had them put a camera in her room at the hospital. That made me feel a little better. I understand that the heart attack has weakened her heart to the point that her brain probably doesn't get the amount of O2 that it needs but it's painful to watch. I keep telling the family that at some point they need to start considering that her quality of life isn't matching up with the hell that her poor little body goes through every time it starts to send her to Jesus and we pull her back. Personally, and I've said it before, I feel that if the only thing standing between me and Jesus is a machine........ TURN THE BLOODY THING OFF!!

After that saga I had a birthday party to put together. My youngest boy turned 10. We had the family over and I cooked Mexican food. That was a fun time and gave us all a chance to relax.

My daughter was recommended for the ACES program in school. I forget what that stands for but it's basically for kids that have excelled in one subject or another and so they give them an opportunity to learn more in that subject. I'm extremely proud of that. She likes school a lot and I hope this will continue to foster that in her. It's supposed to center around some exploration type study. They expressed that it's not the "gifted and talented" classes but hey, what do they know!?!?!?

Yesterday we got to head back to the ER. This time it was for Baby Girl. She fell while riding her bike and cut her chin so we went to see if she needed stitches. She did. 6 stitches and not a single tear. I was so proud of her. I also like the ER Dr. He recognized me when he walked in the door since I've spent so much dang time up there lately. LOL

Cindy and Harley want to come and live with me and I think that's a GREAT idea!! I need someone to help me pay my bills. Since I'm now having to pay so dang much for gasoline I may have to start doing without all the frivolous things in my life. Things like electricity, groceries, and the kid's school lunches will just have to be put on hold for a while. I'm sure the adjustment will be tough on everyone but it just can't be helped. I'm a commuter and drive 80 miles to work and doggonit I use a lot of gas in the course of a week. I'm sure everyone has the same problem I have: Their gas bill is probably as much or more as their truck payment just like me. As a matter of fact, has anyone ever seen the commercial about the man saying things like: I have a new house, I drive a brand new car............ then he's out mowing his yard on his riding lawn mower with a big smile plastered on his face and he's saying: I'm in debt up to my eyeballs, someone help me please. That's ME!! Just without the boobs. I was riding around last weekend on my riding lawnmower cutting the grass so that it doesn't overtake the home and I was thinking of my dire predicament and it made me grin to think that my life had been forever immortalized in a commercial like that. I think I should get some royalties off that or something. Maybe then the kids could keep eating lunch at school every day.

The house

2005-08-09T04:55:00.000-07:00

Here's a new pic of the house. I took it last night so it's a bit shadowy. My yard sure does look good though. i just need some more plants but I don't want to make it look all cluttered and urbanized or anything. I'm still lovin it though.

Pitiful Animal isn't she?

2005-08-09T04:44:00.000-07:00

I mean, seriously. She didn't even twitch when I took the picture and the flash went off. She looks like road kill for crying out loud. She's a pathetic beast that's for sure.

Wow @ the weather today

2005-08-08T14:49:00.000-07:00

Most people think of Oklahoma and North Texas as tornado alley. I used to live in a trailer house, my parents still do, and to be honest with you: I think it's tornado alley too! Our trailers sit right up next to some woods. Lots of trees. So, I've always comforted myself with the thought that the wind a twister would put off would bounce right off those trees and push the twister AWAY from our mobile type dwellings. Fanciful I know but whatever helps me sleep at night ya know.

Anyway, spring is usually our tornado time and it always makes me nervous. So do the summer storms that kick up. Much like the one we've had this afternoon. It's hot and muggy and the daytime heating is conducive to these types of storms and we expect them this time year. This one was a "tree bender" for sure. Lots of rain, lots of wind, thunder and lightening. I'm in a very large building today. Not a tall one, just a large one. About the size of a Sam's or two put together. It's a "raised floor" area. Meaning that most of the space in this building is dedicated to data centers and the floor floats a few feet above a concrete floor. Between the two floors is where they run a huge amount of wire. There are several companies, BIG companies, that house their servers here. The space is gorgeous as only a geek can attest to. Anyway, the place is built like Ft Knox. But as the storm raged with the clouds and the rain and the wind... the air conditioner kicked on and that bad boy sounded like a freight train! That's incidentally what a tornado sounds like. Why it sounded like this was beyond me because I was here all week last week and all day today and it never sounded like that. It made me check the windows more than once I promise ya.

More of the weekend

2005-08-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

The major theme for the rest of my weekend was pretty much: WORK. See, I'm on call. Have been since last Tuesday. So, when my phone gets a page, I get to jump. So far, blessedly, it's been quiet at night. It hasn't always been that way. Also, I had a site in NJ that was swapping out hard drives. They are getting upgrades, so the person on site swaps out the drives but I have to configure the RAID and restore all the data. I got that started on Saturday morning. Then I got some laundry done and kept an eye on my restore. It finished at 7:30 pm but at 9 pm I had to start something else. This time it was defragmenting some email stores. I kicked them off and let them be. Then went to sleep at about 11:30.

Up at 1 am. Why, you may ask? Well that's when our maintenance window is. We can freely reboot servers and do things during that time. This time is was setting up 2 SQL servers to see a newly added disk in a cluster. Anyway, it didn't start off good and it didn't end good either. I messed with it for about 2 hours and my remote software wouldn't work so I had to drive to work. That's an hour drive one way. So I left at 2:45, got down to there and messed with it some more. One could see it but the other one couldn't and I was at the end of my maintenance window. As well as my patience. So, I bailed out on it and went home at about 4:30. I checked on my email defrag and they were finished so I finalized all the settings and went to bed at about 6 am. Woke up a few times as the kids went in and out but otherwise slept until 10:45. I got up and made the attempt to be productive but you just tend to drag all day after one of those. I did eventually get out and mow all the yards. Thank God for riding lawnmowers!

I accidentally fell asleep at about 4:30 and woke up at 6 pm and so it was hard to fall asleep last night. Plus I sleep on the couch when I'm on call to keep the phone from waking up the Mr since he has to get up and go to work early too. Nice I know. I do try. Sometimes.

So, today I'm kind of bleary eyed. However, this is my last night to technically be the primary person on call. Tomorrow I start being secondary for a week but that just means that my primary has to answer the pages in a timely manner or then I get paged. Luckily, I'm secondary to someone who flawlessly does his job.

IKEA!!

2005-08-08T11:58:00.000-07:00

If you've ever BEEN to an IKEA you're either addicted to it or just in denial about being addicted to it. I'm sure everyone remembers my story about going there in January. Well OK, maybe you don't. Read the link at your leisure.

Anyway, they finally opened the one here in Frisco last Wednesday. They were giving away $2500 in IKEA gift cards to the first person in line as well as one of their PAONG chairs. So, some lady (No! It wasn't ME) showed up 10 days early. They gave her the chair on her first night so that she'd have something to sleep in. This lady has several kids so I guess she could use the furniture but DANG! I couldn't do it.

Anyway, up early on Friday, load up the kids, pick up grandma and away we go. An hour and a half later we are waltzing through the store. I like that place. I definitely will make it habit to go back. My youngest boy didn't go with us the last time but he went this time and loved it too. He and the other two were trying things out, hopping from one show room to another and creating their own shopping lists in their cute, little, no-money-having heads. They are sweet to go ahead and get started on their Christmas lists aren't they? :)

Their lunches aren't any good though. They have a cafeteria type thing in there and the kids were hungry so we stepped on in. They have a desert counter with 2 choices, some Daim Torte thing (whatever that is) and an apple cake (which I wouldn't touch for nuthin). Then there is the lunch stations. There are 3 of them but they all have the exact same thing: swedish meatballs, something red ( I have no idea what it was), fries, new potatoes boiled, and some mac N cheese. I DID try the meatballs. Honestly, I took a bite. Thought I was gonna spit on the floor and have to clean up a mess but I did try it at least. They were nasty. The Oldest boy loved them though. Oh, and they had a salad bar of which I didn't touch either. The rolls were hard as bricks. So, next time, we eat out!

Then it was back to shopping. I spent considerably less than last time. We have school clothes to buy ya know. So, it was off to Stonebriar mall. That place is huge too. Bought the kids 2 pairs of pants each and tops to match. Well, not Oldest, he can't seem to find pants he wants. He's bound and determined that he wants shorts. I can understand where he's coming from because he wore shorts almost all year last year. Even when it was cold outside. He would just wear a sweat jacket and a coat. However, as his mother and self appointed stick-in-the-mud in the house I have to at least make the attempt to push him in the direction of pants. I'm still trying.

I'm a little slow but here it is..

2005-08-04T08:22:00.000-07:00

OK, when Skillzy said I was "tagged" heck I thought he was talking about the fact that he'd been to my blog and read for the week so it was my turn to go to HIS and read posts. I was going to reply to his little "tag" that for his information I read his blog quite often, thank you very much. However, I decided to not respond, he's a little crazy after all and why stir the pot.

Then I realized I'm slow. See, I was reading Terry's blog this morning and noticed that he'd been "tagged" with a literary thing and that's when my little pea brain remember Skillzy getting tagged about some song list or another. So I rushed as quickly as my work related internet connection would carry me and, sure enough, he tagged me for the song list and here I've been ignoring it. So, here's the question and the answer:

list ten songs that you are currently digging … it doesn’t matter what genre they are from, whether they have words, or even if they’re no good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying right now. Post these instructions, the artists, and the ten songs in your blog. Then tag five other people to see what they’re listening to.

1. Gotta be something more - by Sugarland
2. Texas - By King George Strait himself
3. Bless the Broken Road - Rascal Flatts
4. Fast Cars and Freedom - Rascal Flatts
5. Picking Wild Flowers - Keith Anderson
6. Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy - Big n Rich
7. Redneck Woman - Grechen Wilson
8. Making Memories of Us - Keith Urben
9. Babygirl - Sugarland
10. I Didn't I Swear - West Of Nowhere

My choices are all Country because, of course, that's all I listen to. I like the strong vocals of some of them like the Sugarland songs and teh Rascal Flatts songs because I can sing along with them in the truck and they aren't so high pitched that I can't keep up. I like the funky beats and lyrics to the Keith Anderson, Grechen Wilson and Big N Rich songs. Keith Urban's is just good all the way around and isn't he just the sexiest thing on 2 feet?!!? West Of Nowhere is a new band, well new to the radio world, one of them is a friend of mine and I hope they make it big. They just released their fist album this year and they are getting some exposure but the bigger markets won't play them until they get on the charts. But how are they supposed to get on the charts if people can't hear their music because they aren't being played on the radio?!!? All that sounds kind of stupid to me. But whatever.

Anyway, I don't know enough bloggers to throw this question at but if I think of some that haven't been hit already I'll push it in their direction.

How 'bout them astronauts!!

2005-08-03T06:09:00.000-07:00

I'll say it again. WOW! Steve Robinson's space walk this morning was just amazing. I bet they're going to put the pictures he's been taking into a book and make millions. He pulled the gap fillers out like there was nothing to it. Seeing him hanging out on the end of that robotic arm, positioned below the orbiter like he was is a sight I'll never forget. I'm glad NASA is broadcasting this out so I can watch it in full instead of just picking up the highlights on the news. Forget government funding..... they need to put this out on DVD and sell copies!! They'd make a mint!

Steve Robinson is pretty funny too. I was waiting for him to break out in song... "I'm walkin on sunshine, whooooaaaaaaaaoooooooooo, I'm walking on sunshine, whooooooooaaaaaaaaaooooooo and don't feel good! Alright now, yeah don't it feel good!"

Seriously though, that had to be an awesome experience for Steve Robinson. Can you imagine having your feet tied down to a robotic arm, swinging out around the Discovery space shuttle, that far above the earth, with the emenseness of space all around you? I just wanted to clap my hands and squeal in delight for the rush I got just watching it. If I was a squealing type person that is. So I couldn't even manage to harness the feeling of what HE must've had going on even in my imagination.

It makes you proud to be an American to be watching this. Our guys are doing an excellent job of handling the procedures and the pressure that this mission must've placed on them. What an accomplishment! Thanks to NASA for sharing this with the rest of us.

Another busy, busy weekend

2005-08-01T13:42:00.000-07:00

This weekend was just cram packed with all kinds of work and "get r done's". Thursday night wasn't so productive though. I walked in the door from the garage, set my purse and laptop bag on the floor outside my bedroom door, walked over to my bed and crawled up on the end of it and lay face down. I kicked off my shoes and promptly fell asleep. The Mr woke me up at 9:30 so HE could lay down. I went and told the kids that bedtime was at 10 pm, be sure to brush, and I went back to bed and fell back to sleep without any problem at all. I woke up at 8:30 Friday morning. About 13 and 1/2 hours of sleep will do a girl wonders!

Up on Friday and out to mow. I love my yard. Some people may not like to mow the yard but (so far anyway) I'm enjoying it. I'd hate it if my riding lawn mower crapped out but, for now, we're gettin along just fine. I just putter around the yard soaking up the sunshine. If I wait 2 weeks between mowing it's a pain because the grass clogs up the mowing deck and I have to stop it every now and then, raise up the guard and yank out the clumps of grass. But, if I mow every week there's no problem at all. So, Friday I managed to get the back yard mowed and about 4 trips around the front yard before my nail appt at 1.

Hopped in the shower, cleaned off the sweat and grass, put on something comfy and the kids and I headed to see my favorite neighborhood nail lady. She's been doing my nails for about 4 years now I s'pose. I don't put tips on my nails. They irritate me and she only puts them on if I break one off completely and she doesn't want me to look funny by having one nail shorter than the others. So, she just puts acrylic over my real nails so I won't break them as often. Then it was off to Wal-Mart where I bought a few groceries, a few school clothes and a few school supplies. A little here and there and I should be ready by the time school starts on the 15th.

I don't really remember what I did Friday evening though. But, up on Saturday and headed to the tire place where I had them put on 2 new tires and align the front end so that I don't shimmy and shake every time I get up to 70 mph. That's a pain. While they were doing that my mom came and picked us up and we went to lunch at my favorite mexican food place. That's good eatin. Back, picked up the truck and headed home where I finished mowing the front yard and both side yards. I also mowed down the edge of part of the driveway. However, I believe I've realized that my enthusiasm for a pretty yard, and to not have the tall weeds and grass rub down the side of my truck when I'm driving down the driveway, has instilled in me my so far avoided case of poison ivy for the year. I'm highly allergic. If a leaf of that stuff just looks my way I'm covered from head to toe for 3 weeks and have to have a shot and a pill packet. I discovered my rash at about 7 am this morning and have already called the Dr's office to have them call in my pill packet. I get this every year, they're used to it.

Saturday night I had a hard time falling asleep. I'm not sure why, I just couldn't seem to nod off. I was sleepy, but it was allusive. So, I set my alarm for 7:30 because I just knew by 1 am that I might have trouble waking up. Sunday morning I woke up at the alarmed time but continued to lay there until 8:30. Then I got up, put a bookcase together and positioned it in the office to get the printers off the floor, went to my mom's to pick up my mail, went to Lowe's to get some mulch, came home and mulched the front flower bed so that it isn't half planted with plants and half planted with black weed barrier, then set out to put my birthday present together.

I've never drank so much water in all my life. I was putting together a metal framed gazebo with mosquito netting around it. And I did it all by myself. How, you may wonder, did little 'ol me get all 4 corners put together, then get the top frame on top of the cornered frame and then get the canvas and netting over it all? Verrrrrrrrrrrrrry carefully, that's how. Add to that a step ladder and a folding ladder and some well written instructions and several trips into the house for ice water. Whew!! It was slightly warm outside and all that's hard work. But triumph I did!! And it's a beautiful thing if I do say so myself. Me and Youngest boy were sitting out in it last night. I'd put 2 of my round lantern patio lights in there and we were zipped in from the bugs, a cool breeze was blowing and life was gooooooooooood. We may camp out on the patio this weekend. I think that'd be cool.

After gazebo building was done I had a chocolate ice cream cone and a Totino's pizza after I vegged out on the bed after my cooling shower. That managed to lower my body temp by several degrees. Then I helped baby girl make a mac 'n cheese masterpiece with her Real Meal Easy Bake Oven. Yick! Nasty lookin stuff I tell you. Then made the kids pick up all their stuff, take a bath and I was in bed by 10 pm. Again, at 12:30 I was laying there wondering WHY I couldn't go to sleep! I was exhausted, I was sleepy, the AC was blowing and feeling good. So I'm still bumfuzzled as to why I couldn't sleep. Therefore, when I woke up at 3:30 this morning, 10 minutes before the alarm went off, I was cussin. I need another 13 and 1/2 hour night of sleep!!

To ground or not to ground?

2005-07-28T08:03:00.000-07:00

Well, John Shannon, of NASA, is basically saying that the Bill guy didn't really say that they were grounding the fleet last night. However, I heard the statement and that's what I understood him to mean. This morning, before the meeting that's being televised right now, I was telling my coworkers that when Bill said they were grounded last night he was kind of hesitant to say so. Almost like there was no meeting and agreement on grounding anything and that maybe he was going out on a limb by himself or he had just made that decision in his head. However, he seems like the guy that COULD make such a decision but I'm sure it takes more than just him to decide such a thing.

Anyway, just my two cents on that. Looks like Bill and John need to get in the same room and discuss this. Although, I guess I'm kind of curious as to why John didn't watch the conference yesterday anyway. I don't work at NASA and I'm watching all the conferences I can. I'd figure they'd be all over that stuff since they DO work there. But I guess maybe he was in a meeting or sleeping or something.

So, are they going to ground the fleet for now or not? I guess we'll learn that in the near future. They are supposed to roll Atlantis out on the 3rd of August.

Pitch Maneuver!

2005-07-28T04:52:00.000-07:00

WOW! I just watched the video of the pitch manuever that Eileen Collins executed this morning prior to docking with the ISS. This is something that they've never done before but I can say that she looked like a pro at it. I just watched in awe as they flipped it over for the crew of the ISS to take pictures of the underbelly of the orbiter. That was certainly a sight to behold. They'll be playing that video on every news channel in the world for many days to come.

I'd like to know how the Discovery crew felt during that little acrobatic move. I bet they had to be elated. Or, were they apprehensive? I don't personally know what the risks of that move were. Here on earth you have winds and gravity to deal with. Could you imagine an F-16 flying through the air at 17,000 miles per hour (OK, not realistic but work with me here) and then doing a nose up rollover like that? Talk about slowing down fast, quick and in a hurry. But the shuttle is in orbit around the earth. There is no wind shear going on I would assume. Here on earth if you drive down the road at a snappy speed of 5 mph your hair is flying behind you. That's to say, if you have hair. But outside the earth they are moving at about 17,000 miles per hour, at least that's what I'm understanding, and yet they can strap on a space suit and go for a space walk! It's a good thing there are no bugs in space. Can you imagine what it'd feel like for a bug to hit your helmet shield at that speed?!?!?!

During the rollover they were only allowing 90 or so seconds for the ISS crew to take pictures of the under belly. Why couldn't they stay rolled over for longer than that? Inquiring minds want to know. Therefore, if you know anyone at NASA tell them to answer some of these questions for me will ya?

Maybe I need to start blogging for NASA so I can relay some of these things to the world. It's important to know the "bug on the windshield" affects of space I'd think. But that's just me.

Discovery Docks!

2005-07-28T04:37:00.000-07:00

This morning I got outta bed like a woman on fire! I was in a hurry to get to work, and for me that's an oddity. Normally I'd welcome any delay in getting to my homey little cubicle, like yesterday when an 18 wheeler was hanging off a bridge about 15 cars in front of me leaving me sitting in my truck for an hour playing solitaire on my cell phone. But not today! I was shoving the kids in the truck and moving fast. I wanted to get to work in time to see the space shuttle Discovery dock with the International Space Station. I barely made it but make it I did!

Last night I was very dissmayed to hear Bill (can't remember his last name) and Wayne Hale relay to us that they were grounded again because of another foam incident. I remember after Discovery lifted off that the video from the external tank was showing something flying down the side of the external tank but not coming into contact with the underbelly of the orbiter. I had hoped it was a bird or something but it just wasn't to be. It turned out to be a piece of foam. Bill said that it grounds the shuttle fleet until they can figure out what went wrong because this was came from someplace that they were NOT expecting to see foam come off from that area.

They were supposed to launch Atlantis on or about Sept 9th of this year but that's looking slim now sadly enough.

Houston, we have liftoff!!

2005-07-26T08:27:00.000-07:00

Wow! That was exciting! I've been watching NASA TV over the web since about 6:30 this morning. The modern marvel that is the internet.

I got to watch them strapping in the astronauts, testing the external hatch and all kinds of stuff. The goosebumply moments were when the different teams were announcing that they were "a go for launch" and when one of the guys on the ground were conveying to the crew that on behalf of the millions of people watching them today he wished them Godspeed and an enjoyable flight. Then Eileen Collins, the flight commander, relayed her good wishes for their flight as well. I got a huge lump in my throat and watery eyes. But I was at work so I had to take a few deep breaths and just watch the launch!

Another neat aspect was when they were testing the rudder and the directionals on the 3 jets on the back of the orbiter. You could see the pilot rotating them around and stuff. Then the engines lit and away it went.

I've never been to Cape Canaveral to watch a launch and I may never get there. But I almost think this was a better view anyway. When you're actually THERE you're 3 miles away and you don't get to see all the little things that make it so fascinating. Like after it launched and got into space you could see the orbiter release away from the external fuel tank. THAT was a really cool moment of live TV.

So, I hope everyone was as fortunate as me. If you weren't, I'm sure they'll be replaying the thing on NASA TV all day so watch it when you get home. Join the rest of the world in prayer for these astronauts to have a successful mission and a successful return flight to mother earth. May the angels sit on their wings until they are safely back on the ground and may God guide everyone involved so that they make wise decisions.

Speaking of blow up pools

2005-07-25T11:13:00.000-07:00

We've had our pool up for a month and a half or more now and we haven't hardly used it. That's sad because I put so much darn work into putting the stupid thing up! Anyway, we have one of the Wally World pools with the blue ring at that top. It's the big one so it takes 3 days to fill it up. So I keep letting the thing get green and then I have to go work hard to clean it back out. I just keep forgetting to check it and then I kept forgetting to vacuum it out and besides that takes forever because you have to go really slow.

But, the kids play in it some. Just not as much as last year. Plus, last year, the pool sat next to the front deck, this year there's no deck next to it so they can't cannonball into it. That's way more fun than jumping off the ladder. Oh well, only a month or so left to use it anyway. Then I'll drain it, fold it up, clean it up really good and cover it with a tarp that's weighed down. I have no place to store that big sucker.

The big city of AUSTIN!!

2005-07-20T20:09:00.000-07:00

Well OK it's Round Rock but if I said that everybody would say "huh??". So, RR is exactly 1 blink north of Austin. Dell Inc is located there and so am I until Friday! I'm down here for some training.

So the rental car sucks. I was set for an Intermediate car which means a cavalier or a cobalt. However, when I got there they didn't have one and I ended up with sucky neon. Which was made even more sucky by the lack of cruise control. What kind of company rents a car out to a woman who has to drive for 5 hours and doesn't give her cruise control?!?!?!!? Enterprise Rent A Car that's who. I didn't notice until I'd gotten on down the road and was going to set it. That literally drove me nuts all the way to Austin.

However, the hotel room more than made up for it. I'm in a Hampton Inn that's right across the street from Dell. The room is spacious, it has a frig and a microwave. The bathroom doesn't have a tub, it has a shower stall that almost tries to attempt to mimic granite or something like it and it has glass walls and door with a seat in it. Just like I have at home except the one at home is marble and I'll be paying on it for the rest of my natural born life. But I digress. The hotel room also has a HUGE king size bed with 6 very nice pillows. The headboard is just gorgeous. Two tone dark brown with a strip of what looks like leather in it. There is a table in front of the couch that looks like it has a big slab of stone on it. It's faux stone though. But it LOOKS very real and expensive. The bed is very comfy and they offer free internet. So, life in hotel exile is pretty sweeeeeeet.

I got to class this morning and they immediately gave me a handy dandy Dell backpack, Dell T-shirt, pen, pencil, notepad, highlighter and even those neon colored sticky tabs to bookmark pages with. They also gave me vouchers for breakfast and lunch. I had already eaten breakfast though. They also gave me a visitors badge that came with a lanyaird. (I don't know how to spell that word but you usually wear it around your neck with a badge clipped on the end of it) I get to keep that.

So, class starts and most of it I already know but I don't often get the opportunity to completely tear a server apart and then put it back together. So, that part was fun. However, since we were going to leave class 1 hour early for a tour of the manufacturing facility, I worked through lunch. They gave us a boxed lunch including a sandwich, cookies, banana and condiments so I didn't have to use my voucher then either. And, since my company allows $35 dollars a day for food allowance I figured I was gonna have a pretty snazzy supper. :)

Apparently a couple of the guys in class were severely misinformed about this class. They thought it was going to include waaaaaay more than it did. The part they wanted was the class that occurs on Thurs and Fri. But their company didn't send them down here for that long and these classes aren't free. So they got here last night, they leave tomorrow and it was a wasted trip for them. I thought that was sad. I'm sure they'll speak with their rep.

So, the tour was neat. It's not every day you get to see something like that. I'd describe it to you but then I'd get sued for disclosing their top secret computer building methods. I'll just stay out of jail, thank you.

So then I came back to the hotel and called the family to check in and then I went to Saltgrass Steak House for supper. They make a good sirloin steak there.

So, now it's just time to relax and watch a bit of TV before I sprawl out on this king size bed and wrap myself around all these pillows. Sleeping alone is cool for a while but I'm pretty sure that I'll be ready for some body contact by Friday.

Lunch Dilemmas and online Menus

2005-07-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

Where I work we always have a dilemma when it comes to lunch time. Some of us work Mon-Fri, some work Mon - Thurs, some of us work Tues - Fri..... anyway, needless to say Thursday is the best day for us all to go to lunch together. We generally wing it the rest of the time. There's one guy that brings his lunch quite often, I almost never bring mine, others are iffy and it's always hard to get 7 or so people to agree on what they'd like to eat on any given day. Some people don't like Mexican food, some won't eat Asian food and I don't eat... A LOT of things! I'm the pickiest one of the group. I do try to be flexible though. For example, sometimes we go to this chinese buffet. Now, I don't eat chinese food. I just don't touch the stuff. It's gross. One guy likes to put the heads of those little octipusses in his mouth and let the tenticles hang out and then make faces at me. He's a hoot! However, they serve some decent fruit there. For the sake of the group I'll pay the 10 bucks to go to the chinese buffet and eat watermelon, peaches, pineapple and the biscuits they fry up as donuts and sprinkle sugar on. However, they bite the bullet for me and go to my favorite Mexican food joint so I can indulge myself of their tacos and tortillas that I dip into my refried beans. Oh and the chips and salsa are mouth watering!

There is sometimes the occasional dilemma where everyone is sitting around going "What do you want?" "I dunno, what do you want?" Nobody wants to throw out the suggestions because they are afraid that someone else will say "Nahhhh, I don't really want to go there". Sometimes one of us will just say "Ya'll go ahead, I have errands to run". But, there are lots of places that have a large variety of salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes. Those places are usually good for me to grab a plate of chicken tenders and french fries. You just can't go wrong there. Well, most of the time anyway.

I do love the places that put their lunch menu on their website. Those places have saved me a lot of heartache. Who knew that a place called Rock Fish served dynamite chicken tenders? I certainly wouldn't have tried the place if I hadn't seen their menu online and knew I would be able to eat SOMETHING. As it turns out, that's now one of my favorite places to eat. Another place that servers gross stuff like coconut rice and black beans actually has a very nice personal pizza. The name is Spike's. I found their menu online too.

So, as a suggestion to any food joint newbie: If you have, or are thinking of having, any kind of food establishment, advertise your menu online! It can only help your business.

Another book review

2005-07-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

Well I just finished another Dan Brown book. It was called Deception Point. Pretty good read but a bit drawn out. I liked it though. It's about a woman belonging to the NRO.... they validate data to make sure it's authentic. Anyway, she's supposed to validate this discovery that NASA makes and ends up in all kinds of trouble. All kinds of conspiracies and "who done it" stuff. Pretty cool.

One lazy weekend!

2005-07-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

Well I had a very unproductive few days. I don't know about anyone else but I was totally lazy. I'm off on Fridays so I decided I'd get all my housework type stuff done asap so that I could spend as much time as possible doing absolutely nothing. The plan was quite effective I must say. I did more laundry in 2 days than I've done in 2 weeks! I not only did clothes, I even washed all the sheets and blankets off the beds. How's that for productivity, eh?

So I think I did something on Saturday. Maybe that's the day I made a run to Wal-Mart. I dunno. This might've also been the day that I went to the old house and cleaned some stuff up. Sunday.... well, that's a bit of a blur. I think it rained. Monday was the 4th! We watched a few fireworks off the front patio. We live far enough out in the boonies that people can shoot them off in their yard. We just watched. I took the day off on Tuesday to stretch out my nothingness and it was pretty much a lazy day too. I did make it to town and put some clothes in the dry cleaner's and we bought McDonald's for lunch.

I did get a bunch of TV watchin in over the weekend. I thought Dr 90210 was some kinda soap opera or something. Turns out its a sort of reality tv show where they follow these plastic surgeons around and watch surgeries. Pretty darn fascinating stuff I'd say. A friend of mine was thinking about having a tummy tuck done. I'd like to have one of those too. It might help the old baby having pouch look less pouch like. Anyway, I seen lots of those done on that show. Looks gross. There was this person that was born a boy but decided they'd rather be a girl. Guys have this .... bump, for lack of a better word, where their eyebrows are. Women's foreheads are more smoothed out. So they peeled this "chick's" head like a banana off the front a bit and sanded down the skull. Then pulled it back up and sewed it up. When archaeologists of the future dig that person up in 100 thousand years they're gonna be awefully confused.

I don't guess I've ever really thought of that until now, have you? We dig up stuff all the time and can only make guesses, educated or otherwise, as to how that person died, how old they were, when they died, what their lives were like. Granted, we document every blinkin thing we do now. Blogs are just one example. But still. If we dig up a person that had the body of a man, but maybe not ALL the body of a man, do we think they did gender changes in Egypt a gazillion years ago or do we just think this person had a deformity? Do we think they might've been some sort of glimpse into the "we came from monkeys" theory? It certainly stands to reason that we pull something out of the ground and make some absolute decision about it and never realize we are so incredibly wrong that it ain't even funny. (the "monkey" theory comes to mind here.) Anyway, something to think about.

But it was a pretty cool show. They did lipo and face lifts and boob jobs and so on. Tummy tucks look painful but I think I could do it.

I also watched Fire Me Please. Absolutely hilarious! I cracked up all the way through that show. To take a person and stick them in a job where they do all they can to get fired, only to have some sympathetic shop owner screw it all up by feeling sorry for the person or feel like they can mold them into the employee they'd like for them to be. It was a hoot! I wouldn't have been able to keep a straight face for nothin! Maybe that'd be my strategy, they'd think I was insane.

But, it was back to work today. That sucked but it just can't be helped ya know. I gotta earn a living until I win the lottery or a pot of gold drops from the sky. With my luck it'd just hit me on the head.

I'm a slacker

2005-06-29T06:06:00.000-07:00

Yep, that's me. I looked at my blog and discovered that I hadn't posted anthing in over a week! That's makes me a slacker.

So let's see, what's been going on in my world? Well, my oldest had a birthday this weekend so we had a party at the house. Just a friend of his and then the grandparents and cousins. We had burgers and hot dogs on the patio, swimming in the pool and ice cream and cake. So I guess I was pretty busy putting that together.

Work sucked last week. I'm here to tell you that I shoulda been born rich or, at the very least, inherited from a rich relative. I'm sick of this work life but I guess it's not gonna change until I win the lottery and I can't win it if I don't play it so I'm screwed all the way around.

Then my birthday was yesterday. However, I got my gift from the Mr and the kids on Monday. I got a Gazebo from Home Depot. It's the one with the screen around it so I can sit outside this summer without getting chewed to death by bugs. Then yesterday my mom gave me an outfit that I particularly liked and some flip flops (I love flip flops) and a purse with Tinkerbell on it. It's adorable. So, it was a good day and I was in bed by 9:15 so life was goooooooooooood.

So, you see, you didn't miss a thing. Now, if you really want something to think about you can meditate on the fact that my pool is as green as this font and I have to buy some aglaecide from Wal Mart today to make it blue and clean again for this weekend.

Dan Brown Book Reviews

2005-06-16T06:47:00.000-07:00

Has anyone else read The Da Vinci Code? What about Angels and Demons or The Digital Fortress? They are all Dan Brown books. I've read all three and I have to admit the man is one heck of a story teller. I've categorized the Code as pure blasphemy but otherwise it's an awesome read. Well OK I listened to it on DVD but the storyteller was quite good. Unlike others I've listened to.

Anyway, there's some controversy about the book for sure and I'm not talking about whether or not Tom Hanks should play the role of Robert Langdon in the movie. (Although I must say I'm looking forward to the move and am desperately hoping Tom doesn't ruin it for me. Not that he's not an awesome actor, I love the guy, but he's so well known that I don't know if I can forget that it's Tom Hanks. He better be convincing) But I digress. The book is very good. It moves along without stalling and the details are quite spectacular. You can certainly learn a lot about symbology and history by reading this book, if the facts are actually the FACTS as are claimed. I mean, the story is a fiction but the Louve exists as well as all the other places he notes in the book. Plus you have the added interest of learning what a lot of symbols stand for. I guess the thought that the Catholic church suppressed the importance of women in Christianity isn't far fetched. Nor is it out of question that the person sitting to the left of Christ in the Last Supper could, indeed, be a portrait of a woman. I certainly rushed to locate a a picture of the painting so I could see if it was feminine and I can certainly see where it is. However, I have to believe in my faith in the written word of God. I don't necessarily place all my belief in the written work of King James because I like to use a concordance when I think I need to learn the literal word that God put in a specific verse. Because, let's face it, the bible was re-written by man at a time when the royalty that commissioned it wasn't exactly someone I'd have a lot of respect for. So, the thought of Jesus marrying and having descendents is where I draw the line. God didn't tell me that happened and I believe that'd be a pretty important event in the life of Jesus.

After I read the Code and so enjoyed his style of writing I thought I'd read another. So I bought the Digital Fortress. Pretty darn fascinating even if it wasn't the blockbuster that the Code was. It revolves around the questionable activities of the NSA. It brings up some very important points. Where do we draw the line around our right to privacy? Some people say we have the right to total privacy, the government shouldn't be read by the government and they shouldn't be allowed to listen to our phone calls. Are these people with something to hide? Probably not all of them. Some people just believe in the land of the free. But are these the first people protesting on the steps of the White House because the FBI and CIA didn't stop the planes from hitting the towers before it happened? Are these the same people that argue that the people held at Gitmo should have the same rights of any POW but would also protest if one of those people were let out of there and then bombed an American Embassy and as "what'd you let them go for?" Well who knows. People are strange. But it certainly makes you wonder about things.

I've just finished one of his other books called Angels and Demons. Awesome book I must say. Again, it was another one that I just couldn't put down. This one involves our questions regarding the old debate of science and religion. It tells the story of some very smart people making very complicated scientific discoveries. Some of them do it with the idea that science can prove there is no God. Others do it to prove that science can prove that God does actually exist. It's kind of ironic because part of the story revolves around the process to elect a new pope after the death of one. The world just witnessed this and, due to the advances in media coverage, we learned quite a bit about it so it was good to be able to understand it in relation to the book. It's also about the ancient cult, The Illuminati. That topic was touched on in the first Tomb Raider movie. Do they still exist today? What is their role in our society, if they do exist? What was the Catholic church's role where they were concerned? This one also involved Robert Langdon like the Da Vinci Code did but he wasn't in the Digital Fortress. Just thought I'd mention that. I think Dan could probably make this one into a movie as well and do very good with it.

Dan's books are very thought provoking. Whether you agree with him or not the stories are riveting. I hope to see more books by him. That's always hard isn't it? Waiting for one of your favorite authors to write something else. So, keep up the good work Dan.

A Special Thursday Three

2005-06-16T06:35:00.000-07:00

1. Samantha for "Bewitched"--Elizabeth Montgomery or Nicole Kidman? [And since Marc was considerate of the girls amongst you in question 3 below, I would like to add -- Darrin: Dick York or Dick Sargent or Will Ferrell? Ed.]
I think the original Samantha takes the cake for me. Now, as a disclaimer, I have to say that I haven't seen the new movie but I have seen the advertisements for them so I have been able to form an opinion. Then again, most things are that way in that originals usually are better than imitations.

2. Favorite actor for Batman movies.
Hmmmm. Had to put a bit of thought into this one because I'm not the biggest Batman fan and, again, I haven't seen the new movie. So, I'd have to choose Michael Keaton. I think it's because he had the build, the dark hair (unlike Val Kilmer) and when he put on the tux you believed he was Bruce Wayne.

3. Favorite Star Wars "hottie" (if you could return to age 22 for one day) For the gals: Harrison Ford or Hayden Christenson (or Ewan McGregor? Samuel L. Jackson?? Yoda???) For the guys: Carrie Fisher or Natalie Portman?
Absolutely Harrison Ford. No question in my mind.

The Sand Bass Festival notes

2005-06-13T11:57:00.000-07:00

Personally, I've never been to the SBF but it looked fun in the commercials. The In Laws took the kids this weekend and they had a really good time. They rode rides and they played games and they ate junk food and just had a ball. The next day I called to inquire as to when they wanted me to come relieve them of the three bundles of joy and expense and was told there was a video that I just HAD to see.

Now, most people wouldn't cringe at such a thought but when it involves my 3 little people I tend to get nervous when I'm told "there is a video I just HAD to watch". That means that whatever they had done there was PROOF that they'd done it and I was going to be forced to watch and, therefore, render restitution or judgement.

However, in this case it was neither. Just bragging rights. You see, my Baby Girl is of an adventurous nature. That's part of what makes her MY Baby Girl. That plus she looks like me :D. But back to her adventurous nature. This is the child that wanted to ride every ride at Disney, even the ones they wouldn't LET her ride because she wasn't tall enough. That proceeded to tick her off immensely because she just couldn't understand this whole "height" issue people seem to be so hung up on. Forget the fact that she could FALL OUT AND PLUNGE TO HER DEATH. That didn't seem to bother her as much as being told she couldn't ride it! She's also the one that strapped herself into a harness and climbed the rock wall at the state fair. A feat her 2 older brothers couldn't accomplish. This time, the video in question, was of my little tootsie pop perched on top of the mechanical bull. Yes folks, she rode the bull. She didn't manage to conquer it but she stayed on for a while. It was adorable!! She smiled and waved and flung the hair and announced she was ready. They started her off slow and then picked up the pace. She hung on for a while. Then it got wild enough to throw her off. Which only made her want to do it again!

She also informed her Granny that the 14 yr old boy that helped her up onto the thing was cute and she was in loooooooooooove. Her Granny thought "great, not only are they gonna kill me for letting her ride but they're gonna really kill me when they found out I let her fall in looooove with the bull ride helper kid!"

We let her live. I'd have let her ride it too.

Weekend livin in the country!

2005-06-13T10:50:00.000-07:00

When I built this house I fell in love with the patio. However, I've not been able to sufficiently arrange it to where I could enjoy it to its maximum level. Well I spent the majority of my Saturday correcting that problem.

Last year the Mr spent a lot of money buying out Lowe's on some of their close out patio furniture. We ended up with a nice patio table and chairs, a lounger and the party bar with chairs. Oh, and the 2 matching umbrellas. Plus I have a grill and another round patio table. That's a lotta patio furniture to try to find a place for.

The kids were going over to the in-laws to spend the night and go to the Ardmore OK Sand Bass Festival (more on that later) and so me and the Mr would have the evening to ourselves. I just couldn't pass that up. So I cleaned off the patio, hosed it down and swept it off and proceeded to make arrangements for a great romantic evening. Well ok, even if it didn't turn out ROMANTIC it would at least be fun and relaxing. So, I set the round patio table up with a beautiful green linen tablecloth, linen napkins, white and gold plates, a candle in a very tall candle holder and a green plant. I set the party bar around in a corner with a lantern under it that lit up the whole table. I had 2 white paper lanterns so I hung one up near the table but not over it. (so the bugs that found the lantern wouldn't end up in my plate!) and I set the other white lantern behind a huge ceramic pot that overflows with plants. I then set candles in all the window sills and put hurricane shades over them so they wouldn't blow out.

Then I had a really cool idea. So I drug out the queen size mattress from the sleeper sofa, put a thick white mattress pad on it and covered it in white and black sheets and pillow cases. Dang my patio looked cool!!

I met him at the door (he worked on Saturday) with a slinky black outfit on and a cold glass of tea. I scooted him off to the shower so he wouldn't see the patio yet and I lit the tiki torches. They burned for a bit and then I spent the better part of 15 minutes blowing the black soot off the dang bed and table. (rolling my eyes) What the hell good are those things anyway?!?!!? So I blew them out! Stupid things.

I had cooked pepper steak and baked him a lemon cake and we had a nice walk after supper. Then we took advantage of the rest of what I'd created. Just laying there staring up at the stars is another good use of a back patio too. And the weather as phenomenal!

Texas has such beautiful weather!

2005-06-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

After reading skillz's and Terry's weather report I just couldn't resist needling them with a North Texas Weather Report of my own. I do believe we were sunny and 90 all weekend. :) As a matter of fact, I enjoyed patio sunbathing yesterday and am happy to report that I am sunburnt. Gotta love those Texas Junes.

New Monitor

2005-06-09T05:55:00.000-07:00

Well I'm happy to report that I bought a new monitor yesterday. Not than anybody but me cares. But it was a good deal so I couldn't pass it up and I needed a flat panel, so I splurged.

Fry's Electronics always has some great deals going on. I check their paper on Wednesdays, and Fridays when I think about it, especially when I'm looking for something. If I'm not in the market for something specific I usually try to stay away from that particular publication because it just makes me spend money I ain't got.

This time they were advertising a 17" flat panel for ........ get this........ $139!! Now of course there is the requisite rebate or two to deal with but that just comes with the technical territory. This one had a $110 in store rebate and a $100 mail in rebate. I jumped on it. Most 17" flat panels you see are at least $197 and on up.

I rearranged the office a few weeks ago and REALLY REALLY wished I had a flat panel because they are just so much more light weight and they take up faaaaarrrr less room. The desk I have is pulled away from the wall to accomodate my big 'ol honkin 17" CRT monitor so the back of it won't bang against my wall. Now I'll be able to push the desk back. :) Anyway, I was proud of my purchase.

Jail could prove tough if Jackson is convicted

2005-06-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

Boy if that isn't the understatment of the year! Could you imagine him in prison?!?! I don't think he'd make it if ya ask me.

Rest of the weekend

2005-06-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

Well Saturday was more strenuous than Friday was for me. I got started trying to build the spot where my pool is going to set. The plan, for those of you who haven't read what I've posted about this project, is to stack landscaping timbers 2 high, put down the weed barrier, put in sand and then set the pool on top. So, we had to have an arguement on Friday night about where to actually PUT this pool type area. Well, maybe "heated discussion" would be a better term to use. I was mostly unsure of where to put it although I had distinctive ideas of where I did NOT want to put it. I don't want to sit in my living room and stare out the back at a big blue pool instead of my beautiful pasture and trees. I also do not want to see that out my bedroom windows either. The Mr didn't want to extend his mowing requirements out too far either because he's decided there's already too much to mow as it is. But anyway, we finally decided where to put it and I mowed that patch on Friday night.

So, up Saturday morning and head out to buy a trailer load of sand before they close for the day. We got back and set out the timbers and started drilling the holes. Oldest boy and Baby girl helped quite a bit during this stage. Kids like to beat on things after all so they were quite instrumental in getting the rebar down in the holes and banged into the ground. We took a break in the afternoon and then Youngest boy and I went out to finish drilling the last 4 holes and he used a sledge hammer to bang in the rest of the rebar. He was quite proud of himself and I was proud of all of them for helping. Then it was time to lay the weed barrier and pile in the sand.

I knew I didn't have enough weed barrier left from my front yard project so I laid out what I did have and it covered about half of my square. So we (the kids and I) piled some sand on that. I also know that I don't have enough sand but I figured I could put enough on to cover the area where the pool itself is going to sit and then I can fill in the rest this coming weekend when I can go get more sand. I'd like to get the pool set up and start filling it so the water won't be so dad-blamed COLD when I want to get in it.

So, I get the initial part of my barrier covered but know I need more barrier. I went to Wal-Mart and got more but it was late on Saturday when I got that done. I figured I'd finish it up on Sunday.

However, that was not to be. Sunday was by far the laziest day I've probably ever had. Sure, I got some laundry done, I did go get the newspaper, but that's the extent of it. I was worthless. I sat in my room in the recliner and watched TV all day. I'm suprised I didn't give myself a headach with all that inactivity. Yep, I regret such slovenly behavior and I wish I'd done more towards getting that pool done or painting my patio table or sewing some pillows or something but since I can't turn back the clock then I guess I'll just have to work extra hard this week to get things done.

Tree Cuttin!

2005-06-06T07:12:00.000-07:00

Friday the in-laws called because they have a tree in their yard that needed to come down. That's when I learned the my dear hubby is more yellow than his daddy is. In the words of my hubby dearest "The man is crazy". This tree has its problems. As do most trees that you have a desire to do away with. It was termite infested at the base, about 30-40 feet tall, very few limbs but has a "poof" of limbs and leaves at the top. The trunk wasn't the biggest thing in the world but it'd probably take all of my arm length to reach around it. Anyway, it kinda halfway leans out over their in ground pool for crimeny sakes and there's just no easy way to get to the top of it. The Dad In Law borrowed a 32 foot ladder and we extended it up the trunk of this tree. With the bends and dog-legs in it the ladder didn't exactly sit flush agains the trunk; ANYWHERE. It kind of rested against two "knobs" on the tree and so they tied the ladder to the tree trunk in those two spots. Needless to say: it still moved. Moreso towards the top of course. Now the Mr was pretty brave, I mean, he DID climb up there to a certain point but refused to go any further. He managed to use an extended pole saw to cut off some limbs here and there. However, after some discussion (and believe me, there was about an hour's worth of discussion before anyone even went UP the ladder the first time) Dad In Law decided that he'd better go on up and cut at the trunk. Now, keep in mind that Dad In Law is about 67, tougher than nails, more firm in his Christian faith than any preacher I've ever met, and pretty darn fearless. So, up the ladder he goes, lickity split, no problem. He goes up higher than the Mr dared to go and just started cutting with the chainsaw. That's what I told them to do in the first place but nobody ever listens to me. I'm a woman after all ya know and what do I know about cutting down trees, right? So he starts cutting and I had told the Mr that if they would just tie a rope onto the top part that they were cutting off I would stand on the other side of the yard and pull it that direction so that it'd fall where we wanted it to and not into the pool. Well they just didn't think that'd work very well and they were just going to cut and see what happens. OK, whatever floats your boat. So, after they cut for a while and realize that the top isn't going to fall on it's own because it's hung in the branches of the surrounding trees they tie a rope on it. Novel idea don't you think? Anyway, they pull and tug and tug and pull and saw some more and finally end up with a chain and a come along to pull it down. It landed on the concrete beside the pool and I thought it busted through by the sound of the THUD! when it hit but it didn't. We finally got it to where the rest of the trunk could be chopped off in pieces and I had to go to my nail appointment so I missed out on all the manual labor of hauling it out of the back yard. I have my priorities straight ya know.

Mom In Law and I was giving the Mr a hard time about not climbing all the way up the ladder and his response was: Dad is crazy; or maybe he's just more firm in his faith than I am.

Boy did the Mom In Law and I jump on that like a duck on a June bug! My response was that maybe the Mr should fix that. Seems to me that if he sees that his daddy is so resolved in his faith that he'd see that as a shining example of how he himself should be. But that's just me, I'm a woman so what would I know about such things, right?

Busy Busy Week Last Week

2005-06-02T04:57:00.000-07:00

Well I'm finally getting around to posting something again. It's been a pretty busy week though. Last week was the last week of school for the kids. The Mr took them bike shopping for their perfect attendance for the year reward. The Youngest Boy passed everything and got $10 for his efforts. He'd have gotten $15 if he'd have snuck in an 80 somewhere. I don't know what Oldest's grades are because they haven't sent his report card yet. And Baby Girl netted a whopping $50 for her "'A' honor roll for the entire year" reward. She went through that like only a true daughter of mine could. We are both lovers of Wal-Mart.

So Friday I pick up some landscaping timbers to go around the spot where I'm going to put the pool. I've decided I'm going to stack them about 2 timbers high all the way around the pool, put down some weed barrier, put sand in the bottom of it and then put the pool on top of the sand. That way you can mow around it, the kids can get in and out of the pool without muddy feet and it would just look better. To keep the timbers where they need to be I'm drilling holes through them about 6 inches from each end so that I can stack them and stick a piece of rebar through the 2 to keep them in place. Drilling holes through those suckers is harder than they make it look on TV!! I've gotten 5 done and I only have 19 more to go. Someone pray for me please.

Saturday was a wash. Rained all day. Sunday was better. I'm working on getting the office room organized and the first order of business was painting a desk that we've had for a few years. It's a pretty big desk, no drawers or anything, just a top on a metal base. But on the top of it there's another piece that's a raised area. That's where we set the monitors for the computers. It'll fit 2 people pretty comfy. But it's not real wood so painting it has become a chore. Paint doesn't just stick to anything ya know. Therefore we sanded the hell out of it and now the paint sticks. I only had to scrape all my paint off once to figure that out but now it's a done deal and looks pretty good if I do say so myself. So the office is rearranged now and you can actually walk through it. Now if I could just get some shelves up on the wall I'd feel like I'd have actually accomplished something great.

Monday wasn't the sunny, hot Memorial Day we'd all hoped for but it wasn't all bad either. We had a cook out over at my mom's house. Chicken, burgers, hot dogs and kids all over the place. A good time was had by all.

Tuesday I took a vacation day because Granny was supposed to have the cataracs taken out of her eyes but the clinic where it was scheduled at called and said that she can't have it there. Apparently they have a policy that states that if a patient has had a heart attack within a certain period of time the procedure has to be done at a hospital. So, we'll have to reschedule. In the meantime, I had already gotten it into my head that I was off on that day for vacation and I just couldn't bring myself to go to work after they cancelled. So I stayed home and worked on my office room.

I also watched a fascinating episode of Oprah. She had guests on that helped women find their inner sexpot! I needed to be on that show! But anyway, did you know that people install stripper poles in their houses to enhance their sex lives? Who'da thunk it? How do you explain THAT to your kids I wonder!?!?!? You're practicing to be a fireman? You thought an extra floor-to-ceiling pole would help hold up the roof?? And what about people that come over to visit you? My bathroom is the more accessible one from the kitchen area so people tend to use that one when we have gatherings at the house. My granny sure would wonder why a fireman's pole was put up in my bedroom. I think it'd be cooler than heck to have one though. I think it would certainly bring a whole new aspect to foreplay!

Awards for the kids!

2005-05-24T14:59:00.000-07:00

Our school does awards for the elementary school kids and call them Koality Awards. It's a spin off the word Quality and their mascot is a Koala bear. It's really cute to watch them get awards. They give them for things like perfect attendence, Koality Kid, Koality Reader, Koality Math, Koality Worker and so on.

I'm proud to brag that all 3 of my kids had perfect attendence for the whole school year!!! Yaaay! My 6th grader is in the middle school and they had an awards thing on Friday and got an award. Today was the one for the elementary school. They even do drawings for bicycles. A boy and a girl get a bike and then they draw one more for a CD/Walkman. Neither of mine got the bike but they BOTH got a CD/Walkman so I was proud for them. Being able to go to school every single day for the whole year is a major accomplishment. Baby Girl did it in both Kindegarten and first grade. My oldest did it this year and year before last and then Youngest boy made it this year.

How do I do it you may ask. Well here's the motto: If you aren't puking and you don't have a fever, you ARE going to school.

To give credit where credit is due: I'm blessed. I know it, God knows it and my kids know it. I have 3 very healthy kids. I don't take it for granted and I pray over them every night before I go to sleep and I thank God for their continued health. He blesses me and them daily.

And then there was one.

2005-05-24T14:52:00.000-07:00

Saturday night Baby Girl spent the night at my brother and sister in law's house because my niece was having a slumber party. Her birthday was the next day so that night she had about 5 adolescent girls over to eat, party, make a mess, squeal and play in the water hose. Better them than me I say.

Oldest boy spent the night with his friend. That left Youngest Boy. He sure did feel left out. He tried to talk me into letting him spend the night with Grandma. However, Grandma lives next door to brother and sister in law. Well that wasn't going to work because he'd be right down there in the middle of all those squealing girls. He'd have loved that I'm sure but it just wasn't gonna happen. So we dropped off Oldest and headed to Wal-Mart. We bought the movie Bad News Bears, junk food, a pack of card games with Old Maid, Crazy Eights, War and Go Fish. We came home, put 2 twin mattresses on the folded out sofa bed popped in our movie and ate McDonald's in the living room. We even got up the next morning and ate cereal and chased it with an ice cream. He and I also walked down the driveway to get the Sunday paper.

We had a pretty good time together playing cards, pigging out, watchin TV and just hanging out. He thought that was more fun than going to Grandma's.

Dance Recital

2005-05-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

Baby Girl has been in dance class for about a year and a half now. The first year she decided to take the cheer class because of a one day cheer camp that she had taken. So she did the cheer class and a recital and it was so cute. Then, right after the cheer class, she changed her class to the tap class. So, Thursday night was dress rehearsal and Friday night was the recital.

During the dress rehearsal there was a girl that got up and was doing some sort of dancing thing but she didn't seem to know the routine. But, I kept thinking that maybe without her partners she COULDN'T do some of the steps. However, I can assure you, they didn't know the steps either! So, on recital night, they were THE most embarrassing routine I've ever seen. As it turns out, the dance studio didn't do their routine, they were a part of a high school group that assured them that they had a good routine to do. I bet they verify that next time.

Anyhow, Baby Girl and her group did the cutest routine to Step In Time, the chimney sweep song from Mary Poppins. They had on the knickers with suspenders, a white shirt, bow tie and cap to top it all off. She did most of the steps quite well and I was very proud.

Now she wants to try jazz. We'll see how it goes.

Ho dog No More!!

2005-05-23T11:30:00.000-07:00

So the health spa treatment was out and I took her to the cheaper place. The Mr wanted to know why on earth we were traveling 30 minutes away to take her to the vet when there was one in town just 10 minutes away. I said "$110". He understood.

At any rate, she is now a fixed woman! Does that keep her from trying to go visit poor little Paco down the driveway? NOOO! However, she can "visit" all she wants, he's firing into an empty canister.

Continuation of the Ho-Dog saga

2005-05-17T14:24:00.000-07:00

Last night I got home late because I had a Family Night to go to. I go in and the kids are getting in bed. Where is the Mr you might ask? Sitting on the back patio cause he's pissed at the dog.

Normally, I take the kids AND the dog to my mom's in the morning. While the kids are in school the dog hangs out at mom's house. Well that's not possible in her current state. So, I left her in the garage and mom went by after the kids got out of school and they let her out to run around and potty. However, that's a really long time to "hold it" and she pooped in the garage. Not a big deal, nobody faults her for that. But, the Mr is sure faulting her for chewing up a strap on his bowflex. Ooooooooooooh he was mad at her. It's ok, he'll get over it.

Anyway, so the dog was in bed, I never saw her after I got home. So, I go to bed.

At 2:45 am this morning I get woke up. There is a dog, on my back patio and he's BARKING!!! For the love of all that is pure and holy I was pissed. The Mr opened the door and ran him off but by then I was mad and it was hard to go back to sleep. So, THIS time when I mentioned to the Mr....... at about 4 this morning........ that we should just get her fixed, he didn't seem to mind a bit. I called a vet in Oklahoma and they do it for $70 and the vet that I normally take her to will do it for $180. Why the price descrepancy you might ask? Hell if I know. I'm going to call the OK vet and ask their procedure because the normal vet said they get her in the morning, she gets knocked out, they do the surgery, she's in recovery for a while and hooked up to some sort of machine that she seemed to think it was important to tell me about, and she gets a shot for the pain before she goes home in the evening. I'm pretty sure the OK vet might not cater to their whims like a health spa and that's why they are cheaper and that's why everyone else that I know takes their animals there for their shots and to get them fixed. We'll see which one I choose but I need to make that phone call before the poor dog spends her last days locked in a garage. The Mr might take matters into his own hands if she chews up something else!

She's a dog in heat!

2005-05-16T06:48:00.000-07:00

No, really, my dog is in heat.

She's a little over a year old, 60 lbs, yellow lab, very even temper, great with kids. Why shouldn't she have puppies right? Because, I DON'T WANT ANY!! That's why. However, little Paco down the road doesn't seem to care what I want. Neither does my lab, Ginger, for that matter. She's a little slut right now I'm tellin ya. She'd back up to a fence post right now.

Paco is the little chiwawa that lives in a house that's next to my driveway. Ok, I don't know that his name is Paco and I don't know how to spell chiwawa properly but I figure you get my meaning. Anyway, he's a tenacious little suiter that's for sure. We've chased him away several times. He has a healthy respect for my water hose at this point. Apparently he doesn't like to get wet but he's had a face full of water more than once this weekend. It's kinda funny. I'm crackin up right now but you just can't see it.

Paco isn't the only one interested in My Lady's Lovin. So far we've had a coyote in the back yard, Paco, a brown dog that came up through the pasture and 2 of Paco's friends. One of which is a short in the britches at HE is and one that is more her size. They are circling like VULTURES!! The little perverts!!

Now, laugh if you must at the thought of little Paco and 60 lbs of lab having puppies, we sure did. Labawawa's or chiladors would certainly be a site to behold. We thought of a canine resembling the dog on The Mask, I even speculated that it'd be the eqivalent of a canine platapus. Heck there'd be parts that just wouldn't know where to go!! Can you imagine a tiny dog with a labrador tail. Talk about the tail waggin the dog! Oh I was quite in stitches all weekend about it.

But don't understimate the power of amore'. We let her out yesterday and by the time we found Ginger she was laying in the grass with her Latino Lover trying to figure out which end was ........ closest.

She's not feeling so perky today though. She's spending the day locked up in the garage. The kids are going to go by after school and let her out to potty and such. I'm sure she'll have a fit of temper and chew up something to get back at my attempt to keep her waisteline thin.

The weekend

2005-05-16T06:07:00.000-07:00

My weekend was pretty good. I don't guess I could complain too much. If I did nobody would listen anyway so I'll just keep it to myself. Maybe.

Friday wasn't bad. Kids to school, work out at the gym, tan, back home to handle mundane stuff like bills and a load or two of laundry, lunch at my favorite mexican food place, on to my beloved Wal-Mart for groceries, back home to unload, back to town to pick up kids from school and then to the mall to have all 3 kids get a hair cut.

Saturday we slept a bit later, work out at the gym, get Baby Girl ready for her dance pictures. I went to her room to clean off her desk earlier in the day and hadn't noticed it. However, I went in later and discovered that she had started, at some point in the last few weeks, to CARVE HER NAME INTO THE BRAND NEW MAPLE DESK THAT'S BUILT INTO HER ROOM!!!!!! Do I seem a little upset to you?? Well, I certainly seemed a little upset to HER too believe me. I'm not sure what possesses little people to do things of this nature. I've hammered (well not literally, although at times it would seem that a hammer might help "drive" the issue home a bit more. Drive... hehe I crack me up) Anyway, I've hammered into my kids that you only write on paper. This was to dispell any confusion that might arise when they are standing next to a wall with a writing utensil in their hand or, perhaps, as they stand next to a piece of furniture. But I'm assuming that her confusion over carving her name into the wood top of her beautiful maple desk with a mechanical pencil stemmed from the word CARVE. Maybe it doesn't compare, in her mind anyway, to the word WRITE. Since I've never had to tell them that the ONLY thing they might need to carve on would be a TREE she just didn't understand. However, I have repeatedly expressed my desire that the desks should be taken care of and not ........... tore up. Maybe she just didn't tie the two together. But believe me, she does now.

So, after pictures we came home, then went BACK up there for another dance practice. Last week's practice went much better. This week she actually turned to me several times, put her hands out to the side palms up and shrugged her shoulders mouthing the words to me "I don't know where I'm supposed to be". Well that's a fine kettle of fish to be in isn't it? She's only been practicing this dance routine for the better part of a year, the recital is less than a week away and she "doesn't know where she's supposed to be". Oh well, at least I know that $24 a month is wasted on someone who looks REALLY cute in an outfit resembling a chimney sweep. However, it actually is an outfit that a little boy would've worn in jolly ol' England. The pants are knee breeches, or knickers, if you will with straps that go over the shoulders like suspenders. They are black with pin stripes. The shirt is just a plaine white shirt, there's a bow tie, and the hat like a cabby's hat. You know, small bill on the front, kinda poofy on top. Anyway, it's cute. Money well spent I'm sure.

Cooked on on the grill Saturday evening. I love my patio. I cooked out on Sunday too. Texas weather is being really good to us so far this year.

So anyway, weekend was pretty darned good!

Another Beautiful Day in Texas

2005-05-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

I figured out yesterday what I'd do if I won the lottery and didn't have to work anymore: I'd stay home.

Generally the weather in Texas swings to 2 extremes: Hot or Cold. However, there is a month or so at the beginning of summer and about 2 weeks at the end of summer that just can not be beat. Yesterday was one of those stellar days.

I actually took a day off yesterday because I had a comp day to take and knew that if I didn't take it now it'd be 2 weeks before I'd be able to. So, I got up, took the kids to school and came home. Then I proceeded to raise all the windows, watch Regis & Kelly, some HGTV, watered some plants, did a few loads of laundry and made my bed. I had also opened the 2 french doors that lead off of my living room out onto the back patio. There just wasn't a better place on earth to be sitting than on my couch as the breeze blew in through those 2 open doors. Then I walked out on to the back patio.

It was about 1:45 pm then. I looked around at the pasture, the trees, the blue skies and.... the lack of people. From my back patio you can't see anyone else. There is a hay barn waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay far away that you can barely see through the trees but that's it. Another important item of note is: nobody can see you either. That's when I proceeded into the house and put up my hair, grabbed my tanning oil and went back outside.

The saying "Location, location, location" comes to mind here because, let's face it, it really IS all about location when you think of your home. You may live in a gated community where you don't have to walk down the sidewalk to your neighbors house to borrow a cup of sugar. You can just lean out your kitchen window and knock on theirs and just pass the cup back and forth. Or, you can live in an apartment where you have no yard, no mowing to do and kids running around above your head at all hours of the night. You could also live in a house where you and the neighbor talk across your backyard fence with a cup of coffee in the morning. Not me. I live in a house where I can strip naked on my back patio and lay under the heat of the Texas sun and have no fear of a nosy neighbor staring at my big butt while I'm doing it! I'm still kicking myself for not doing that at 11 am because I had to leave at about 3 to pick up the kids from school and I still needed a shower. So I only got to enjoy my sunshine for all of 45 minutes. (I also turned the TV around so I could see it through the open patio doors so I was wathing HGTV while basking in the sun)

The moral of this story: Pick your home location carefully, win the lottery so you can enjoy it, clear the house of people occassionally so you can have some "me" time, and the best time to enjoy the sunshine is between the hours of 10 and 2!

Mother's Day!!

2005-05-09T07:17:00.000-07:00

My Mother's Day went quite well, thank you for asking.

Baby Girl came in bright and early at 7:30 to wake me up and wish me a Happy Mother's Day. She just couldn't contain it any longer. That's OK though, first thing in the morning lovins and sugars just can't be beat. She brought me her gifts. They were a picture of her taken by her teacher at school on Friday and a hand made paper tissue rose. Complete with a lime green stem and it even had leaves shaped on it. I was impressed. I had already known about the picture because when I went to pick her up from school on Friday one of her classmates was passing the pictures out to them. I seen some of them and the other kids were seated on a concrete block wall that was constructed around a tree that they planted on the school yard. However, Baby Girl doesn’t take normal sit-with-your-hands-folded-in-your-lap kind of pictures. Not MY little angel. She’s all posed and everything. She’s kind of sitting to the side, knee drawn up, hands on her knee with her head tilted toward her it. Her hair is flying in the wind to one side and she has the cutest little smile. She looks like a model.

So, it was time to go wake up her brothers cause she wanted to give me my OTHER present but Dad said they all had to be up first. Before she closed the bedroom door though, she said in a sweet little voice “Mom, you can stay in bed for as long as you like”. I thanked her for her benevolence and she shut the door. As I giggled about that the door flew back open because she had another announcement to make. “But Dad, you can get your lazy butt outta bed!” I cracked up. Dad, the poor man, said “Well, it sure ain’t FATHER’S day!”. I laughed even harder.

I took that opportunity to get out of bed. I had a breakfast date with the extended family ya know. The boys piled in and everyone was excited about giving me my gift. When Dad declared that it was time, Baby Girl dove under the bed like someone was after her to retrieve my gift. She handed it to Dad, who assured her that SHE could hand it to me because she asked first, so that he could tell me something first. It went something like this: “The kids picked this out themselves, it was their idea and they all 3 agreed on the item. They want you to know that they appreciate all of your time that you give to them and wanted to give you a little time back.” Then there was the passing of the gift and I got to open my box. It was a new watch. Not a Wal-Mart watch or a sports watch that is good to 200 feet ocean depth. But a REAL watch with real diamonds and no battery replacing. The no battery replacing is a good thing because I always take mine to Wal-Mart and they inevitably screw my watch up during the replacing. I think it’s beautiful and I appreciated it a lot.

Oldest boy ran to his room and brought me a gift he had made me. He’s been making these little fingerprint characters. He uses a pencil and runs it back and forth across a piece of paper until he gets enough in one spot. Then he presses his thumb down and gets the lead on it, then presses it on a paper and it makes his thumbprint. Then he draws them into characters like angels, harley riders, Abraham Lincoln and so on. So he’d brought me a piece of folded paper with 3 thumbprint characters on it an a poem inside. It said “For all the times you’ve washed and scrubbed my fingerprints away, I give you these to keep on Mother’s Day” It also had “PS Thanks for everything, I love you” at the bottom.

THAT’S when the tears came.

The rest of the day paled in comparison. Lunch at the feed trough otherwise knows as Golden Corral, give my mom her gift (I bought her a water fountain kit from Wal-Mart. She’s wanted some kind of water fountain for a long time), then off to the in-laws where the Mr gave his mom 2 flower pots (that’s what she wanted and these were really pretty. Mr picked them out himself), then home where Mr and I started laying out the plan for the back patio/outdoor kitchen area we hope to have in a few years, get kids ready for bed and fall in myself. A very nice day I must say.

Terry isn't the only luck one

2005-05-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

We didn't start out going to Golden Corral but that's sure where we ended up.

The women of my family decided to go out for breakfast with all the reasons we're mothers in tow. So we decided to go to IHOP. Well as luck and bad management would have it, you can't reserve seats on Mother's Day at IHOP so we decided to chance it anyway. I get up there and we have to be put on a waiting list and, by the looks of it, we'd have been waiting on the list for a while. So, my cousin suggested GC. So, off we went.

The line wasn't bad and the food wasn't bad and they DID redecorate the place. But that doesn't change the "feeding trough" feel of the place now does it? You have 150 people in there, some of which should've been told that they are supposed to wear properly fitted clothes that are clean when they go out to eat. It was Mother's Day after all. And all those people want to get in the same line at the same time and everyone has to TOUCH everything.

I think I'd like to drop a note in their suggestion box that, along with the plates and silverware they hand out, they should also give you rubber gloves when you walk in the door. I'd personally like to hang that sign that reads "If you remove your gloves before you exit the establishment we are permitted to shoot you".

Feeling Old

2005-05-03T09:11:00.000-07:00

Terry notes that his 12 yr old boy is studying things from when TERRY was 12 years old and a few bloggers were relating their tales of oldness feeling, so here's mine.

Yesterday I went to the fitness club to tan. There was a young man there waiting to get into one of the beds. I didn't know he didn't have an appointment but had just signed in to tan. I, on the other hand, had an appointment. Therefore, I should've come first. The young lady in one of the tanning beds works at the club. She got out of the bed and cleaned it and put the young man in that one. The lady who works the front desk wasn't too happy with this occurance because she's a stickler for the rules and the rules state that I should've gone in first because I had the appointment. I didn't mind though because the other bed was going to open up in a minute or too. Anyway, the young lady that works there told the stickler lady that she was very sorry for putting him in the bed first but she thought I was the boy's MOTHER!!! To bring this into perspective, you have to be 16 to even work out there much less tan. So he was at least 16. That would've made ME 16 if I was, indeed, his mom.

I've decided that I don't like that young lady very much.

Good quality family time

2005-05-02T05:37:00.000-07:00

Ever go shopping and then almost wish you could undo it? I kind of have that feeling. My mom and I went to a store that we've been to before and liked it. I still like it. Too much apparently. It's a Sam Moon's Trading Co store. It's basically run by a group of Asian folk and they have everything from purses, to jewely, hats, scarves, hair accessories, etc. Next door to them is an extension of their little dynasty and they sell luggage. And I'm always getting caught up in what their selling. I try to justify it by buying stuff for others. Usually around Christmas time. This round of excuses though involves upcoming children's birthdays and Mother's Day. Most of their stuff is very reasonably priced. Earrings for $3.50, watches for $10.50, some things for $1.00. So, you'd think I could get out of there for under a hundred bucks. Yeah, well, think again. I'd rather forget the whole expensive experience.

Saturday was an exciting day for the family. We got a DVR with our satellite service. I've discovered that, even though I might show up 15 minutes late for episode of Survivor, I'll never miss another second! I can REWIND it! Yep, I sure can. I can pause and rewind live TV. I can even skip the commercials! Holy Moly! I can ensure that I never miss an entire episode by recording it. I can tell that DVR that I want it to record every future episode of my beloved Survivor show no matter what channel it comes on and no matter what time it comes on. I don't know how they do it and I don't bloody care. I just know that I'm a much more relaxed person because of it! Now I don't have to rush home like my tailpipe is on fire. I don't have to rely on the Mr to get home before I do and start the VCR (because, let's face it, I've never learned how to program one of THOSE things) and I don't have to be upset about missing it and only being able to read about it on the internet the next day. I love modern technology!

Sunday was a good day. Me and Youngest boy went to Lowe's and to Wal-Mart and left the Mr getting soundly whipped by Baby Girl in a rousing game of Uno. Oldest spent the day in his room soaking up the newest technology craze that has brought satellite TV to the children's rooms. When we got back from the store, Youngest Boy and I joined in the card playing fun and proceeded to gang up on the Mr. Baby girl had touted the fun of making dear old dad draw 4, then 2, then 2 more, then 4 and on and on until he would collapse under the weight of such a large hand of cards. Therefore, Youngest Boy and I couldn't wait to try our luck at it. It was a blast. We attempted Skip Bo because I liked that game as a kid but didn't remember it being so blinkin complicated. Mr and I could do it but I'm afraid a 7 year old Baby Girl wouldn't like it at all. Then we played Yahtzee. That was fun and Baby Girl soundly whipped us all at that one. Youngest Boy gave up about 10 minutes into it so he wasn't much of a challenge for her. Although attempting to explain a large straight, a small straight and a full house to a 7 year old little girl presented quite the challenge for ME!

After playing card and dice games until 7:30 it was time to rush everyone through a bath and a snack before bed because we let things get away from us. I was standing outside at 9 pm watering my dang plants! Yep, we were running a bit late in our chores to say the least. But, quality family fun time is hard to come by these days so staying up late to give the plants a drink it certainly a small price to pay.

Terry's Mattress Fiasco

2005-04-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

Anyone that might read my blog probably reads Terry's too. Currently, I'm having problems posting things on his comment section and haven't figured out why. So, I have to comment HERE sometimes on things I see THERE while I'm at work because my firewall doesn't seem to like this comment section. Therefore I just have to suggest everyone read his Moron Project Update concerning his battle of the mattresses. I was at work when I read that and people thought I was nuts cause I just giggled for the rest of the day whenever I thought of it. Happy reading!

The NAME Thursday Three

2005-04-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

1. What does your name mean—any connection to what you do or who you are?

Well this certainly raised interesting thoughts. I did a google search on the meaning of my first name: Kristina. I get back the response that it's of Greek origin and it means "follower of Christ". Another site says it's Slavic and means Christ Bearer. Yet another site says it's the Lithuanian version of Christine or Christina, meaning Christian.

I think it says a lot about who I am. I consider myself to be what some would call a Prayer Warrior. In other words: I pray a lot. I pray for all kinds of things, at all kinds of times, in all kinds of ways. I figure it's better than talking to myself. :)
2. Any problems with your name? Do you wish it (either your surname or given name) was changed ?
My surname is quite unique. I'm a descendant from the McCoy family. You know, of the Hatfields and McCoys. The 2 clans that fought each other. But it's spelled quite weird. Caughey. It's pronounced by everyone in a number of ways but it's correct pronunciation is Coy. Growing up I always wanted to change it because nobody could pronounce it and I hated that. Now that I'm married and it's different and easier to pronounce I kinda miss the old name. It was interesting and had quite the history.
3. Were you named for someone? If so, whom?
Not that I know of.
AND, in order to satisfy Jim’s insatiable need to supply MORE than three questions--
4. Do you go by your first name, middle name, shortened form--(ex. Jim for James)--or by some made-up nickname?
I go by Tina instead of Kristina. My made up nickname is Mom/Mommy/Mama and the Momster. I'm quite proud of those nicknames. I worked hard to earn them.

Health Clubs

2005-04-28T09:02:00.000-07:00

Back when I was young and unpudgy, I joined a health club. I worked out like 6 days a week, walked around in sports bras in public and wore it well. I even wore a bikini to the beach that year. That fall I got pregnant and fat and lazy. So I never went back. However, when you join a health club and agree to pay $32 a month for 2 years......... they don't really care if you show up or not. They want their $32 a month.

Now, you'd think I would've learned from such an experience. Well, think again!

A couple of weeks ago a health club in town called me and in a boring, "I don't really wanna call you but my boss had this bright idea that it'd sell memberships" voice I was informed that I had "won" a free trial membership to the health club. They proceeded to ask me my name and stuff and schedule me for an appointment to come in and discuss my newly won prize. My first reaction was "Nope, I'm not getting roped into this mess." But, for some reason known only to God, I decided to check it out and I scheduled the appointment. They also said I could bring a friend and they'd get the same deal I got. So, I threw my mom under that sales bus and made her go with me.

Mom, you see, had a quadruple bypass about 14 months ago. She never underwent any physical therapy and I figured she could use some exercise. I also figured that if I needed to do this, I'd need a partner so I wouldn't get bored with it. I could also use her as an excuse as to why I needed to go. So, off we went.

The little helper guy was very helpful, as his description might imply. He was able to show us around: the pool, the machines, the tanning bed, the workout rooms, etc. It's not a Bally's or anything but it's a cool little facility. Not much to it. But certainly adequate.

Since I paid $32 a month for my previous membership and here it is 12 years later I figured they'd charge about $75 a month. Nope, I get the run of the place for a whopping $39 a month. Not too shabby. So, I bit the bullet and signed up for 16 months of physical torture or, at the very least, a monetary commitment. Besides, I'm tired of being pudgy.

Last night was our first workout. It went very well I must say. You get a personal trainer the first few times you come and then they are there whenever you need them thereafter. Beefcake guy was very helpful and quite funny as well. The machines aren't hard to operate and he let me have the remote control for the TV so I thought I did pretty well. We did 15 minutes on the stationary bike and then worked on the machines for 30 minutes. A nice well rounded routine.

Mom did good too. She skipped one machine because she didn't think her bum knee would handle it very well and I told her she was missing out because that one would give her a J Lo butt. The butterfly machine was the one I told her would give her big boobs. I think Beefcake thought I was insane.

All in all it was productive and I told mom she should feel empowered. I certainly did. I had told the children all about what I was doing and why. That way nobody would whine because mom was going to work out and not take them where they wanted to go or whatever. So, last night when I got home Youngest boy said the sweetest thing. Right out of the blue he said to me "Mom, I can even see the weight that you've lost". Awwwwwwwww!! Isn't he sweet?!?! I just went over and hugged him and told him what a sweetie he was for saying that to me. I didn't remind him, however, that the living room where I was standing was dark and that I'm now wondering if he may need glasses tho. No need to ruin the moment.

However, I ruined the whole affect. I hadn't eaten anything yet, by the time I got around to getting the kids in bed, the living room picked up and the dog in the house it was 9 pm. No time to fix myself something to eat and the Drumstick ice creams in the freezer were just a little to convenient. This one had vanilla ice cream with the caramel in the center. I guess I'll need to stop buying those so I won't be so tempted.

My Secret Lunch Date!

2005-04-26T05:44:00.000-07:00

WEll, OK, I haven't had my secret lunch date but I hope to today. Youngest boy and the entire 4th grade in our city are loading buses and joining the caravan to the Dallas Museum of Art. I work about a mile from there, or less, and will take the Dart train over there at around noon. I'm not gonna actually eat lunch with him but I will pop in and say howdy. I'll probably run into the gift shop and buy him something to remember his trip by. I can't stay long because I've organized a meeting at 1:30 and it's kinda sad to show up for your own meeting late so I'll have to hurry a bit but I think it'll work out fine.

I'm excited about it though. I don't get to go to many of their function that occur during the weekdays. Except their awards things they hold every six weeks. Those happen on Fridays so I get to go to those. Although, they have the last one of the year on a Wednesday because the kids get out of school for the summer on that Thursday. I'll have to take that day off and either work that Friday or just eat that day or something. I have a comp day coming to me so if I can hold off that long, I'll use it then. We'll see.

Weekend happenings

2005-04-25T12:23:00.000-07:00

Well I had a pretty good weekend. Nothing much to tell but for the 2 people that hit my site once a month they may need something to read so here goes.

Friday just didn't seem to last long enough. I got the kids off to school and then went over to the old house to try to get something accomplished. I decided I'd try the Mission Organization technique: Divide and Conquer. So, I got out several empty boxes, one for each room in the new house then started cleaning up the living room by placing items in their designated boxes. Using that strategy I was able to get part of the living room cleaned up. I also had a big outside trash can with big outside trash bags in it and am intent on using up plenty of those. I've decided that I'm not missing much of anything from the old house after 2 months without it so why the hell take it with me?!?!?

Then it was time to go to the health club. They had called earlier in the week and told me I had a free trail membership so I made an appointment. I could also take a guest so I took my mom. Now, going in I had already decided that I didn't need another monthly bill but something kept telling me that I needed to go, so I did. It's a pretty good setup. They have a good swimming pool, a nice clean bathroom area, roomy areas for the machines and so on. Plus they have tanning. I was thinking it'd cost in the area of $75 or up but it's actually on $40 a month so that wasn't so bad and I get access to everything they've got. I really wanted my mom to join because of her quadruple bypass surgery a year ago. She needs to be exercising regularly under some supervision. She agreed to do if I would so I got suckered into that extra bill anyway. We'll see how it works out. (No pun intended)

After a good UNhealthy meal at our favorite Mexican rest. it was time to have hot wax poured on my eyebrows and my flesh/hair ripped from my face. Having your brows done doesn't always seem like a good thing but I think my eyes are crooked so anything to help balance them out a bit is worth it. Then to get my nails done. This is an every 2 week ritual for me. I've been having my nails done for about 4 years now. They are my own nails but have acrylic over them so that I don't break them off constantly. I let them grow till they bug me and then I get them chopped down real short for a while. The polish stays on longer then on your bare nail and I like the funky colors. This, too, is worth the monthly bill. Besides, me and Ashley gossip like a couple of old ladies the whole time I'm there.

Then off to get the kids from school, quick trip to Lowe's and Wal-mart and then to home. Saturday was our last soccer games of the spring season. Oldest boy had his last weekend but Youngest boy had 2 this weekend. One was a make up game. That was the game he made his first goal!!! Man was I excited! He acted like he couldn't believe it went in. Both of his hands flew up and he held his head and then they all started high-fiving and the grin on his face was as big as Texas. I was so proud for him. They lost both games but we're used to that so no big deal. I'm still on cloud nine about the goal he made.
Then I went home and did something I haven't done in about 18 months. I sat down and read a book. I had been about 20 chapter into Dan Brown's book Digital Fortress (his books have a gazillion chapters) and I really wanted to just sit in the office in my recliner and read my book. So that's what I did. For about 5 hours. Man, that's livin!

Sunday was a bit busier. Up, laundry, laundry, laundry, get kids ready for soccer party, make grocery list, Mom & Father in law come over as I'm leaving, soccer party, Wal-Mart, home, unload groceries, laundry, chase kids to bath and bed, make our calendar for the week, make mine and Baby Girl's lunches for today and fall into bed myself.

That was my weekend in a nutshell. Hope next weekend drags out or something. Even my Youngest Boy remarked that this year is just flying by. He's only 9 so I told him to wait till he gets older. The years seem to fly by at a much faster rate and the weekends are almost non existent!

Spring edition of the Thursday Three

2005-04-21T07:09:00.000-07:00

1. Do you like to read one book at a time until you're finished, or multiple things at once?

I guess multiple things at once, depending on how you want to look at it. I like to get into a good book but when it's time to go sit in the home "Library" or "throne room" or whatever you call it in YOUR house... I like to read magazines or the paper. They're easier to put down so you can get back to your laundry, or dishes, or TV watchin.

2. Do you do your browsing at the library, or do you prefer going to retailers such as Barnes and Noble and glomming up free samples of the publishing arts, pretending you're actually going to buy something?
I haven't been to a library in about 6 years and I was only there to study for my Microsoft exams not to actually READ anything. I don't generally go to bookstores because I tend to buy oodles of books I don't read. I have to be looking for something specific to go to a bookstore. So, I generally pick up a book or magazine at Wal-Mart or Target.

3. Which do you prefer--hard cover, paperback, or online?
I prefer a good paperback. Hardcovers are more expensive so I only get one of those if the book it just off the presses and I can't wait for it to hit paper. Online is a pain in the butt. I have to agree with Terry: You're going to wander around the net. Besides it makes me sleepy to read that way. I'd rather curl up in the chair in the office or in the bed where I can have some peace and quiet and get comfy.
And a special bonus question (or else Jim has lost the ability to count):
4. What do you read most often?
I'm a sucker for a really well written SMUT novel. Yep. A good Judith McNaught book is definitely the way to escape this pain the ass world we live in. I've got her entire collection and have read them all many times. I'm also digging Dan Brown. He wrote nothing but pure blasphemy in the Da Vinci Code but it was still an intriguing story so now I'm reading his Digital Fortress. It's pretty interesting. Virginia Henley is also a good romance novelist. I've read her's many times too. I just can't seem to sit down and read informational books anymore. After working here for so many years my brain stops working on that level as soon as my feet hit the other side of the office door at 5 or 8 or 10 or whatever time I get to escape.

So much drama in our lives these days...

2005-04-19T05:46:00.000-07:00

Do you find that that's true? It's not just being busy all the time that strikes me as much as the DRAMA all the time. 10 years ago it wasn't like this. I think the last time I experienced drama like this was when I was in high school but back then it came in spurts. You remember how it was: Your best friend and whomever they were dating had a fight, but by the next day it was all blown over. A few days later you hear about a friend of a friend who got in trouble with the law, but within a day or 2 they had talked their way out of it or everyone forgot about it. These days I experience drama every day, with multiple people.

Friday my daughter's robot was due at school. The 2 banks involved in my home closing were in a pissing contest as to who was supposed to pay the first year of insurance. Saturday the Mr's Granny fell down the back door steps and broke her arm and her hip, Sunday she had surgery, Monday a friend of mine told me her husband had finally made his mind up that he wanted a separation, today her other friend is in the hospital to have both her breasts removed because of breast cancer.

Well, maybe its not so much "drama" but life in general. I used to be able to come home from work, maybe cook dinner or maybe not, sit and relax and watch some TV. These days I don't sit down until I'm getting ready to swing my feet up and into the bed. So maybe it just seems like drama because the "busy" part of life dramatizes things a bit more. It makes them stand out more because we seem to have less time to deal with it all.

Then you have people who make mountains out of mole hills. Drama is drawn to them like magnets and if they don't have any sticking to them at any given moment they just create it and VIOLA! Chaos is restored!

Oh well. It builds character I suppose.

Thursday 33333333333333!

2005-04-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

Here are the questions:
1. What names would you suggest for the offspring of --Denise Richards and Chuckie (the Wildman) Sheen; Britney Spears and that guy; and Prince Charles and Camilla, Dutchess of Cornwall, formerly styled Mrs. Andrew Parker-Bowles, née Camilla Shand?

Well these aren't people I keep up with much so here's my lame attempt at naming.
Denise and Chuckie Sheen could always name it Duckie if it's a girl. I mean, we gotta get out of the celebrity fruitfest the stars are having with these poor kids' names. For Brit and the Kev... I think they should consider auctioning the right to name their child on Ebay or something. Those 2 twits are going to saddle that kid with a name that will only bring it shame down the road. Just look at her good buddy Esther... I mean Madonna. My suggestion would be something unassuming like Mary or John. Just so it won't be too obvious which parents that poor kid is getting saddled with. Then there's Charles and Camilla. That's a mental picture I certainly could've lived without but now it's too late now so I'd have to say something arristocratic like Edward or Stephanie. Although they could name it Diana. Wouldn't THAT be a scandal!!!

2. The inspiration for the next set of names comes to us by way of resident peregrine-watcher Janis Gore from deep in the wilds of the Sportsman’s Paradise--to whit: what should be the names of the 3 (or 4) baby falcons born to San Francisco’s own George and Gracie? (You can click on the main website at UCSC and read all about them, or click here and see the most recent live image.)

Hmmmm to name a bird. How about Huey, Duey, Luey and Donald if there are 4.

3. Now, for the last one, I realize some of you have already made suggestions, but you’re just going to have to do it again. What is your suggestion for Dave Helton’s new baby horsey?

Well Terry's suggestion for a celeb's kid might be closer to a name for a horse: Colt 45. But my choice would be Cat. For the tractor buff that Dave seems to be. Plus it's short and sweet. Just like the baby.

Being on call isn't much fun

2005-04-12T04:51:00.000-07:00

I know they call it work for a reason, at least that's what my boss keeps telling me, but couldn't it be a little more fun? My job didn't USE to be this difficult so why does it have to be so difficult now? I just don't get it.

Take the on-call duties for example. Use to, when we were on call, the help desk was the only people that had our pager number and they got off work at 5. Hence, no after hours pages. Nowadays, we have a monitoring system that pages us at all hours of the night if a server's CPU spikes or too much memory is used. Trust me, at 2 am I couldn't care less if there's a CPU spike. It'll go down when that process gets done or I'll kill the process when I get to work in the morning.

We do a 2 week rotation. The Boss wants to make that a 1 week rotation and have a secondary on call person too. That way, TWO of us are getting woke up for stupid pages instead of just one. Wow! Why didn't I think of that??? ::rolling my eyes::

Also, we used to be able to tell people "Hey, we are rebooting this server at noon today, it'll be down for 10 minutes". Not anymore. Now, we have a maintenance window. Would you care to guess when that takes place? It's 1 am to 5 am on Sunday mornings. That's when my body thinks it should be sleeping so I'm confused as to why anyone would think that would be an acceptable time for a maintenance window. Why doesn't management think that people need to be told that the server is going to be down from say.... 1-5 Sunday AFTERNOON instead? I think that if someone is working during the hours of 1-5 on a Sunday afternoon they NEED someone to tell them to go get a life because they obviously lack one.

Besides, being on call for 2 weeks and having to put up with stupid crap like ill timed maintenance windows, pages at all hours and a lack of sleep makes Tex grumpy. Then everyone suffers so I don't know why they don't just do it MY way and save everyone some heartache.

I don't like Banks much these days..

2005-04-07T05:33:00.000-07:00

And it's not just because they take my money. That's usually the reason people don't like banks I suppose. Nope, this is because of the fiasco surrounding my home closing process, the fact that they can't seem to operate a telephone and now they've sent me back my house payment.

Last week I called the bank to get them to tell me my account number and the address to send the payment to. I did this because, at the time, I didn't have the little coupon with me that came in the closing package. I pay my bills online so the thought of licking an envelope wasn't very appealing. So I needed to set them up in my online banking/bill pay thingy and thought they could just tell me. Well, getting the acct # didn't seem to be a problem but transferring me to people just completely bumfuddled them. I was hung up on... not once.... not twice... but THREE times. Finally I gave up and cursed them for a bunch of idiots. I waited till I got home, got the coupon, entered their info and paid my house payment. All done, right? Yeah right.

So yesterday, a check came in the mail. It's a bit confusing so I'm going to have to call them again. The check was from me to the bank. Now, it's not even the check that my bank sent to them so I'm completely lost as to why I have this in my possession. There was a yellow post it note attached that reads "This is not due to use Thx". What the hell does that mean???? Does it mean my payment isn't due yet? The coupon said it was due April 1st. The envelope that the check came in was from the bank that has my house note so it's not like MY bank sent it back to me.

I'm hoping there's a perfectly reasonable explanation to all of this because if those morons have made my house payment late.... my very FIRST house payment mind you.... I'm gonna be pretty ticked at these folks. We'll see how it turns out.

The weekend in Texas

2005-04-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

Well it was good 3 days here in Texas. Friday, the weather was bad, it was kinda cool outside. However, up at 6:30, get kids up, take them to school, come home because the garage door fixing dude had to come fix the garage door. Every since we've moved into the house the garage door would have periodic fits of unopeningness. It would go up about 3 feet and then stop. We couldn't figure it out. It wasn't hanging on anything, and if you pushed the button to make it go down some and then push it again to make it go up, it would go all the way up without a hitch. Well, the Mr got the bright idea to have Oldest hold down the button that makes it go all the way up. That made it go up alright. It ripped the operator handle off the door!! So, garage door fixing dude had to pay us a little visit. So, he left and there I was in the very odd position of no place to go and the entire house all to myself. What was a girl to do??? Well, laundry of course, what were YOU thinkin?? So, I did some laundry and watched some TV and checked some email and then I went to Lowe's. I needed some potting soil and wanted to look around without being bombarded by questions from youngsters. Then it was off to pick up children from school, went to the garden type nursery to kill some time before Oldest's soccer practice. They have some pretty cool stuff out there and I managed to get out for only 20 bucks.

Then, while Oldest was in practice me and the two youngest went to Wal-Mart. Didn't get too much there, was just killin time really. Then pick up Oldest and kill more time until the Mr could meet us at my favorite mexican place. Garcias. Pretty good stuff.

Saturday was absolutely stunning. We were up again at 6:30 because Oldest had an 8 am soccer game. I thought it was going to be colder than crap so I wore under pants, undershirt, sweat pants and sweat shirt. I also had on a scarf, a coat and one of those bands that go around your head to keep your ears warm. Grandma even brought hot chocolate and we each had a blanket. By halftime I had managed to pull my arms into my sweatshirt and pull that undershirt off in a Hudini fashion and if I coulda figured out a way to come outta those underpants in the same way I would've! So I sweated out the last half and didn't drink any more hot chocolate.

Then off to home, where I promptly changed into a tank top and capri pants to start working in my yard. I levelled out the corner in front of the house, laid down my weed barrier, planted and mulched. I was fairly worn out by the time soccer game #2 came around at 3:30. However, it was a good game and the sunshine felt good. After the game we went home where I promptly appeared to try to burn down the house with the gas grill. Not to worry! It was just a bunch of grease and stuff in the burner area under the grates, nothing to see folks, please keep the line moving. The burgers were just a little flame broiled. After dinner was fixed we ate it on the back patio. I even put out the tablecloth, matching cups, plates, bowls and trays. The view off the patio is truly stunning at sunset and the burgers tasted extra good because of it.

Sunday dawned just as spectacular as Saturday but I laid in bed anyway. Mr worked so I didn't have him there picking on me about staying in bed all day and the kids were doing their own thing too so I just laid there. But, couldn't do that forever so I got up, did some laundry and other housework, and then laid out on the back patio for about an hour. The sun felt so good and the radio was on and I was lazy.

But, as life would have it, I couldn't lay there forever. So, I got up, got showered and we headed to soccer practice. This Sunday practice thing works well for me cause I usually don't get to go to practice because I get home so late. So, yesterday I went. It's at the high school track so while they are in the middle practicing Grandma and I can walk around the track. We did that for over an hour and managed to get in about 2 and 1/4 miles. Yes, my legs are killin me today!

Then it was back to Lowe's cause I needed more mulch and then to the In-Laws because she had a Crepe Mertle (or however you spell it) tree for me to dig up and take home to plant. So, we did that and went home, Mr brought pizza from Pizza Hut and the kids got ready for bed.

I went to bed at about 9:30 after slathering myself with lotion because as the night got later, I got redder! I'm a lobster in some parts and my face looks like a raccoon. If I met a pack of them in an alley they'd take me in as one of their own.

I went to bed and had just dozed off when work called at 10 pm. I tlked to them and told them what they should do and then I couldn't go back to sleep. I guess I dozed all night cause I'd wake up all the time and look at the clock. When it went off at 3:30 this morning I just wanted to be sick but I had to get up anyway. The boss isn't in today so it's certainly not a day for me to stay home. I reserve those day's for when he's in the office. :)

Mom the Referee

2005-03-28T09:39:00.000-08:00

I think my kids have spent too much time together. I also think Oldest is getting a bit too big for his britches.

The playstation 2 is in his room at the moment. Although this morning I threatened to start putting in in Youngest Boy's room for a week and then alternating between the two. Seems that Oldest doesn't like to share much. Which leaves Youngest Boy at odds to entertain himself. So, he likes to sit in there and either bug Oldest, or try to get Oldest to share the PS2. This makes Oldest cranky. Which leads to much mouthiness and, apparenlty, some name calling.

I don't like the word "stupid" much. Especially when applied as a characteristic of a person. That's not to say that there aren't stupid people in the world, there's actually an overabundance of them in my opinion. However, none of them live in my house. I just won't allow it. Therefore, my children weren't even allowed to SAY that word for many years. Once they got older and I felt they could apply the word in the way it should be used, I allowed it's restricted use. However, when they apply that word to their siblings my head spins around and lasers shoot out of my eyeballs.

That's what happened this morning when Youngest Boy tried to get Oldest to play with him. He had probably been trying to entice Oldest away from the PS2 for quite some time. When nothing worked he tried to talk Oldest into playing Truth or Dare. As bad as that sounds it's not what I would've thought. However, I'll have to emplore a creative way to get them out of that habit. Anyway, Oldest declined to play. Youngest Boy then said something like "I dare you to cancel your mission". Referring to the game Oldest was playing. Oldest then told Youngest Boy that he was stupid. Ok, I'll grant you that when someone declines to play and then you continue on like ya'll ARE playing isn't the wisest course of action but when you're desperate you tend to make stretches you wouldn't normally make.

Therefore, the Referee had to step in and make many threats and some tears flowed but everyone lived through it. Oldest is now holed up in his room playing his game and Youngest Boy is now in the living room playing with his GI Joe's while Baby Girl sits next to him very much interested in cartoon network. Everyone is happy and the laser scorch marks will come off the walls with soap, water and a little elbow grease I'm sure.

Easter Sunday

2005-03-28T09:25:00.000-08:00

Well Easter Sunday was a good day. A bit on the cold side but good nonetheless. We had it at my house this year since it's the bigger and we have a good pasture to hide eggs. Which meant that the majority of the cooking fell to me. Not a bad deal. We only had 18 people or so here. Not like Christmas or Thanksgiving so this was a good trial run.

I was able to back the cake on Friday and then on Saturday I cooked the brisket and pepper steak. I also decorated the cake that day. There's lots of things you can do early like set the tables, make the centerpieces, label the cups, organize your serving bowls, make the tea, bag some extra ice, and so on.

I like to set up a kids table. Some people think that it makes the kids feel "banished" from the adults but I set the table right next to the adults tables and I cover the kids table with craft paper and put out crayons. Then they can draw and color all over the table while they eat. They think it's cool and it keeps them at the table eating a bit longer because they don't feel like they are there just to eat cause that's boring when they'd rather be hunting eggs.

Speaking of eggs. I'm kind of a freak about it. When I was little those dang egg hunts just never lasted long enough. So, I tend to over buy my eggs. Which left us in a bit of a dilemma this year because my 3 decided they'd rather be hiders than hunters. So, if you add my 196 plastic eggs to those that were brought by everyone else you ended up with 300 eggs and a grand total of 4 kids hunting them. They were all under the age of 4. (the kids, not the eggs) Add that to the fact that Oldest interpreted "hide the eggs" to mean "fling them to kingdom come" and Youngest boy interpreted it as "pull up the grass, lay down the egg and cover it back up so nobody without an egg-detector can find it". Let's just say it was a long afternoon and there are still about 4 eggs out there waiting to be found. I'm just glad they aren't the real eggs and they aren't filled with money.

Mom came back for supper and we divied up the left overs, of which there were very few. By 8:30 I was firmly esconced in my bed, surround by pillows and floating in and out of an episode of Outdoor Kitchens on HGTV while enjoying the peace and quiet. By 9 I figured today would be a good day to take a vacation day. The kids are out of school and it's supposed to be about 74 degrees. I could've taken it tomorrow when it's going to 77 but then I'd have had to get up and take the kids to school so today was the much better day.

I don't plan on doing much. I am setting up a computer I bought from a friend at work, will wash those tablecloths and watch lots of TV. (If I can steal it from the kids, wish me luck).

Thursday 3!

2005-03-24T06:04:00.000-08:00

Yes, I've been neglecting the TT but hey, I'm a busy woman... well ... MOST of the time anyway. So, here's mine:

1) What is the one thing that you love MOST about Spring?
I think I like the warmer weather most. I get sick of all the cold weather and, here in the gorgeous state of Texas anyway, spring signals warmer weather where you can get outside and enjoy life. Besides, Texas weather patterns make everything either GREEN or BROWN, and our GREEN doesn't last very long so we have to enjoy it while we can!

2) ASIDE FROM POLLEN AND TORNADOES, what is the one thing that you love LEAST about Spring?

In the past it's always been the rain that I enjoy the least. I personally am not afflicted with allergies and Tornadoes are just part of the territory around here. But, my parents have THE most HORRIBLE driveway known to man. It's 1600 ft long, full of holes that would swallow up a small car and when those holes fill up with rain they are full for 3 freakin weeks!! And that's if it DOESN'T rain another drop during those 3 freakin weeks. The yards flood and you can't walk to the truck without rubber boots and it's just awful. Now that I've moved and can park on the concrete outside the garage I might not totally detest the rain as I have in the past. I still have to drive the kids to my moms but I don't actually have to get out. So, now it's the KIDS that have to wear the rubber boots. :)

3) Name your single most favorite song, movie, play, book, painting, sculpture, etc., etc., with “spring” as part of the title.

Well, I can't think of one with a title in it, it's too early in the morning for such mind bending thoughts, but my favorite spring time artwork has to be the flowers that my kids usually draw for me at Mother's Day. (Hey! It's still springtime then so I can use this :p) I have one that is their handprint, one that is a flower with a picture in the middle of it, etc etc. They are usually accompanied by a sweet, bring tears to your eyes kind of poem too.
I also have a favorite spring pasttime. My kids usually get me flowers from the yard, or side of the road, or wherever they happen to find them. (although I did have to drill into their heads that Grandma's rose bushes are off limits!) They usually include things like dandilions, buttercups, sunflowers, indian paintbrushes and any other kind of wildflower they happen to pass in the yard. I have 3 tiny crystal vases that work perfectly for such thoughts as those.

Dentist story

2005-03-17T05:53:00.000-08:00

Terry tells a way better dentist story than I do but his reminded me of mine. Or ours. Or whatever.

Anyway, last Thursday Baby Girl and I had our dentist appointments. It seems that Sugar Bites had invaded one of my teeth and 3 of hers. But since 2 of the teeth are on one side of her face and one tooth is on the other they can't do all 3 at the same time. So, that day we just did one of hers.

I schedule dentist appointments on Thursdays for 2 reasons: 1) the Mr is usually off that day and can take the kids and, therefore, it's not a necessity for me to take off work and 2) if it IS a necessity for me to take off work it's usually Survivor night and I'm, therefore, guaranteed to get home before it starts so I won't miss anything. It's a good deal all the way around I figure.

So I was on my way but didn't leave work in time to go all the way out to the house and get her (they were on spring break last week) and then get back to the dentist with us both. So, I had mentioned to the Mr earlier in the day that all that was a distinct probability and that he'd have to meet me up there with her. So, I started calling the house when I left work at 2 pm. No answer. I called his cell phone, it went to voice mail. So I kept calling. I figured that they were all outside, since it was such a beautiful day and all. I tried calling every few minutes with the same results. I even called my moms thinking that the Mr and the kids had gone to the old house to get some things, but no, that wasn't the case either. At one point I was even YELLING VERY LOUDLY INTO THE ANSWERING MACHINE hoping they'd hear me and answer it. To no avail. So, I called the dentist office to see if they were running late so that I'd have time to go get Babykins. How surprised I was when they informed me that they were ALREADY THERE!! I, therefore, informed the Mr that he is not allowed to EVER pester me about not answering MY cell phone when he couldn't even remember to carry HIS when he left the house!

So, Babykins was already back in the chair being prepped for gas. Her face is so tiny that the mask just doesn't fit right. But, with some well placed gauze all rolled up, it managed to fit well enough for her to feel good while still being able to see the tv mounted on the wall playing cartoons.

Dentist Man is quite the character. How he manages to actually count the teeth accurately while still counting out loud in this manner: 2, 6, 9, 24, 16, 8....... is just beyond me. But the kids think its funny and he honks loudly when he squeezes their nose so who am I to judge his strange perception of the new math?

Dentist Man swabbed on the numbing gel and waited a few minutes before giving her a shot in the gums. I watched her hands carefully. They were folded loosely on her tummy and never even once tensed up so I knew she wasn't feeling a thing. She's such a pro.

While he was drilling and filling on Babykins it was my turn to be prepped for gas. Now, let's not be confused: I'm the wimp. I want the gas turned up loud and proud and I wanna be as close to comatose as he'll let me get. Therefore, when she puts the mask on I begin to greedily suck the air in through my nose and out through my mouth. I don't wanna breathe back into the mask and fill it up with useless outbreath because it might interfere with the good gas that I'm about to try to suck back in through my nose. After a few breaths like that I was informed it wasn't turned on yet. OK, I'll just breathe normal then until he gets in here to turn up the juice.

My thoughts on the whole process is that if I feel a twinge but act like it's a spike being driven through my face he'll figure I'm feeling something and give me extra to shut me up. Which he does I suppose because I'm soon floating on a breeze and numb as a rock. Drill. Fill. Give her some oxygen to revive her and VOILA! Tooth is filled. Babykins has been sitting next to me with her eyes glued to the cartoons in MY room while all this is going on and she's cool as a cucumber. The assistant even said that if all their little patients were as good as her they'd be in business!

A little over $100 and we're out the door. Later that evening and the next day Baby Girl was complaining about her face hurting on that side a little. She said that when they put that gel stuff in there they scratched her gums. "Yep, sweetie, I'm sure they did. It'll stop being sore in a bit though". I'll let her live in blissful ignorance about that 6 inch needle they shove up your gums for as long as she can. No use worrying the bravest little patient on the planet.

Not a normal sighting on a hwy

2005-03-15T12:35:00.000-08:00

This story reminded me of one my cousin told me a couple of years ago.

She lives next door to a game farm. The guy that owns it has a lotta money and gets big game from New Zealand and puts on his farm. The rich guys from Dallas and around the country that don't wanna travel half way around the world can spend about 60 grand or so to come out and kill them. Real sport, eh? Anyway, one night she's driving down the 2 lane country road that dead ends right into the game farm. Her house sits right next to it. So anyway, she's headed home and it's dark. She drives a big, black, 4 wheel drive dually. She looks up and sees something coming towards her in the other lane. Now, it's far off and it's dark outside so she can't really see what it is, but as she gets closer she decides that it's a cow or something. She slows down. The "cow" keeps right on trotting and is getting closer in her headlights but is still in it's own lane. She slows down some more, no use creaming that thing all over her bumper if it decides to swerve. The "cow" is still a coming right along and it's getting bigger! She slows down to a crawl now, making sure nobody's coming up in behind her or anything, no headlights of any sort. So, she stops. As "it" gets closer my cousin realizes that it's certainly not a cow..... it's an ELK! And it runs right past her! Like it's the most normal thing in the world for it to be running down the road, staying in it's own lane like a nice beast and minding it's own business. There sits my cousin, in her big, black, Ford truck. Stopped in the middle of the road watching this ELK trotting away in the reflection of her break lights.

I just cracked up!

He's had several escape from down there. He's about 15 miles from city limits but he's had a few elk get all the way up to town before they were spotted. It hasn't happened in a looooong time though so I guess he's keeping a better eye on his fences. I like going down there to the area just to look around. He's got some pretty massive bull Elk in there with some big O racks on their heads. He's got zebra and deer and other stuff to but the bull elk are the most impressive things I've seen in there so far.

My new house is about 2 or 3 miles from there so if any more rogue beasties get in my area I'll snap some pictures and post 'em. Assuming, that is, that I'm not racing one down the highway or anything.

House signing is finally complete! I think

2005-03-10T05:01:00.000-08:00

I didn't post on this yet but last Friday we finally got to sign papers on the house. After some more foolery of course. It's not like they can make it easy or anything.

So our appointment was at 2 pm. As usual I had made my round of calls all morning to bankers and such and never got my calls returned so I waltzed in the title office at 2 pm like a naive little person, ready to sign my life away. Only to be told that the documents hadn't arrived yet. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but a bank/mortgage company that WANTS you to sign on the dotted line usually provides you with a dotted line of some sort to sign right? Right? Is that so much to ask? I didn't think so. So, again with the round of phone calls. While I'm calling HIM, he's calling the title company to tell them that the lawyers had the numbers wrong and that they are fixing them and the paperwork will be there in 45 minutes. However, the title company had a closing at 3 and couldn't get back to me by 4. Noooooooooo problem says HIM, that's plenty of time to get the docs emailed over, 4 it is.

So, off we go to the mom in law's house to hang out while we wait instead of going all the way out of town to the house to unload the 2 trees, 2 rose bushes, mulch, potting soil and storage building we'd gotten at Lowe's that morning. We hung out until time to go get the kids at school and then me and the mom in law did that. When I got back I called the title company, JUST in case, cause you never know. The paper work might've not arrived, or it got lost, or tiny martians might've snuck in and stole them. These things happen. Well, wouldn't you just know it, those pesky papers hadn't arrived yet AGAIN. So, back into the world of phone calls. This time I called the bank instead of HIS cell phone and told them what was going on. I said that I wanted to speak to a LIVE BODY, NOT a voice mail. So they get sweet, naive Kelly who informs me that HE is on the phone with a someone that is HIS boss and that he'll call me back. To which I reply "No, he won't. HE never calls me back and I want something done about this NOW". She puts me on hold and must've spoken to HIM cause she said "HE's calling you right now". So I hang up and he calls and says that the lawyers sent the paperwork via email 10 minutes ago. I called the title company and STILL they aren't there. So I finally get the lawyers and the title company together only to find out they were sending them to the WRONG EMAIL ADDRESS!

Then, to top off all that fiasco, they send the entire closing package instead of the 7 or 8 page modification (to modify it from a construction loan to a permanent loan) and they don't send her instructions on how to collect the money to get the escrow account started so she didn't know if I was supposed to pay that amount of it the bank had rolled it in. They were supposed to roll it in but I don't know who is supposed to pay for the survey so I might still have to pay something but I'm not sure how much. But, after all that crap, the papers are finally signed and I won't have to do anything else except make the payment and live happily ever after. FINALLY!

Ever run out of gas?

2005-03-10T04:49:00.000-08:00

And no I don't mean in your car.

About 2 days ago I asked the Mr to go out to the propane tank and check to see how much gas was left in it. His comment was "Ohhh it'll be OK. We haven't used up that 100 gallons already".

See, in our OLD house we had a 500 gal tank, this one is a 250. The reasoning behind this is because a NEW 500 gal tank would cost more to rent because their pricing has gone up. However, I didn't want to put the old tank over there just yet because the old house still needs heat and hot water to clean it up and work on it until I can sell it. So I just had them put the 250 gal tank at the new house and when I'm done at the old house I only have to pay so many times for them to set tanks and swap tanks and so on. So anyway, I think the Mr is used to having that larger tank and it lasting longer.

Therefore, last night at about 8 pm we realize we are out of propane. Uuuuuggggghhhhhh!!! I was not a happy camper. Neither was the Mr when he had to drive back to the old house to get the 2 portable electric heaters from the storage shed. The worst part of that little 10 minute trip is the driveway to the old house. It has pot holes big enough to swallow a small car and not even cough up a bumper. It's awful. Even the UPS man hates to drive down there and was sooooooooo very glad to see us move. So glad, in fact, that when he found out where the new house was he started dropping off our packages there before we even moved in!

But Mr got over it, seeing as how I TOLD him about this the other day. The house was well warmed by those little heaters and I didn't freeze my butt off while getting ready for work this morning. Although a shower would've been nice. (no hot water dontcha know)

A sad day for country music

2005-03-10T04:46:00.000-08:00

Chris will be sorely missed by country music fans all over the world. I didn't know him as a rodeo cowboy, although he did attend rodeo's in Denison where I live. But I did know his music and it was plain good stuff.

My heart goes out to his family. They are in my prayers.

And he scores!!!!

2005-03-07T06:29:00.000-08:00

Oldest made a goal!!! His team won their first soccer game of the season (this is game #3) and they won it 3 to zip. Oldest boy made the second goal and I was on my feet hollering and clapping and it was just a great moment.

My mom said I shoulda had my camera with me but there wouldn't have been any point in that cause I woulda still been hollerin and clappin not pointin and shootin.

Anyway, he was excited and just almost didn't know how to react when it went in. Then up went both hands and after a jump or two he was done celebrating. I was just so proud of him.

He also almost made a second goal but the ball bounced off the goalie's leg and didn't go in. But let the record show... the goalie didn't CATCH it... it bounced off his leg! So, a great attempt nevertheless for Oldest and an excited moment for me: MOM!

Their team had the parents more fired up than we've been all season. I even asked the group if they thought the referee could call us for excessive celebration. Although, it was all done in good taste, we never gloat or goad the other team. As a matter of fact, when it was over with, I went to one of the girls on the other team to let her know what a good game she played. I told her that I wanted her to know that all the parents on OUR team were talking about her in the stands and that she should be proud of the way she played. She wasn't afraid to jump right in the big middle of the boys and she went after the ball like she was supposed to and she played an agressive game. She seemed to be pleased with the praise and I was sure happy to give it.

No practice or ball games or dance class this week for my guys and little gal though.. Spring break and all ya know. I think I need 3 weeks vacation now instead of having to wait until 5 years of service is complete. I need 1 week for spring break, 1 week for summer activities and 1 week for Christmas. I think that would space me out enough to make it through the year without going completely insane.

Denise and Charlie are Splitting

2005-03-03T04:39:00.000-08:00

Not that I know them personally or anything. I just think it's sad. They made such a cute couple and after Charlie's past history with call girls, drugs and no telling what else..... I thought maybe this was his chance to really keep it together. Not that the breakup is HIS fault, I'm sure they both have their issues.

I'm a big fan of his show "Two and a Half Men". I laugh like a fool for the entire 30 minutes. I've seen the episode with Denise and their daughter Sam. It wasn't one of my favorites though because you lose that sense of "realness" because you know they're married in real life. Usually when you get really INto a show you tend to forget about "real" life for a while and just live in the moment of television-ness. But that's hard to do when you see the guy trying to pick up the girl in the cafe' and you know darn well they're married with a baby. If all that makes sense then I'm sure you're more awake than I am this morning.

Anyway, I just thought I'd comment on it. I wish them both all the luck in the world and hope, for the kids sake, that they can work it out. At the very least maybe they will focus on the fact that most divorces hurt the kids more than the parents and therefore make it as easy as possible for little Sam (and the unborn one). The worst thing parents can do in a divorce is use the children against the Ex and say things in front of the child that is best left between adults ya know.

Yet another housing delay...

2005-02-28T14:13:00.000-08:00

Well, the paper work is still delayed! However, since I'm actually living IN the house and the delay isn't costing me anything...... I don't really care much. The screw up was on the bank/mortgage company side so it's not my fault and they can't make me pay for it.

At the beginning of this whole fiasco.... a YEAR ago.... they had told me that a survey was done and another one would need to be done when the house was finished. I knew already that a survey had been done because I'm the one that showed it to them. It shows where the land is and it's shape and the longitude and latitude of the thing. Now they need one that says "X marks the spot where the house is". Of course, I didn't find all this out until........

Well, let me start with Wednesday. That's the day that I told the boss that I was taking off work on Thursday so I could close on the house. No problem. However, when I was on my way home, the mortgage co. and I were having an arguement about whether or not they could roll in the closing costs. 2 weeks ago they told me they could if I came in under budget enough to cover it. Which I did. I had paid for a couple of high priced items out of my own pocket but didn't claim them on the budget so that I could come in under. If I'd have thought they were going to make me pay the closing I would've claimed those items and then just put the money towards the closing. I told them that 2 weeks ago too. Hence the arguement. So, on my way home on Wednesday they told me that we wouldn't close on Thursday because they had to run it up the chain of command and get it approved to roll it in. OK, but I took off Thursday anyway because I already had it in my head that I wasn't going to have to get up at 3:30 am and I just couldn't back myself outta that!

Thursday was an OK day. The mortgage company called at 11 am and said "OK, we're rolling it in, we're closing on Fri at noon, be at the title company". So, I say "no problem, but I want to know exactly how much my house payment is going to be". They say "OK, we'll call you at about 3". Well 3 came and went and no phone call. Suprise, Suprise. So I called them until 5:30 and nobody called me back.

Friday, I start in on calling them at 8:30. I called all 3 banks involved and left messages throughout the morning to no avail. Finally at noon I waltz into the title company like I have a reason to be there, only to be informed that my appointment was cancelled because.......... you guessed it...... THE BANK DIDN'T HAVE THE SURVEY!!!!!!!!!!! Man! I coulda spit nails! And we ain't talkin the fingernail kinda nails.

So the next 30 minutes found me sitting in the title company parking lot making calls. While I was going up the chain of command myself, I get a voice mail from Mortgage Man. He apologizes up one side and down the other for not returning my calls, he was out all morning at a Dr appt with his pregnant wife who is due on Tuesday. However, he wanted to let me know that the both the bank and the mortgage company thought the OTHER one had provisioned the survey and in fact nobody did. Since it was their fault and not mine, they'd hold the interest as of the 24th, and it get the survey done, and it wouldn't cost me anything. He also told me how much my house payment would be and that turned out to be $100 less than it was when he spoke to me the week before about it. Therefore, I felt I could get over the fact that he didn't return my phone calls but I did let him know that I was pissed about that AND that I was done trying to accomodate them. From now on if they wanted those papers signed they could work around MY schedule. I'm off on Fridays. I also let him know that if I wasn't already living in the house and was having to wait on them that things would've gotten very ugly, very fast. But since I'm already in and it's not costing me anything I can afford to let them stew in their own stupid mistakes.

We're finally in the new house!!!! Yaaay!!

2005-02-21T05:59:00.000-08:00

Well, it's finally happened! The house is as complete as I could stand for it to be and we're moved/moving in!!

The paperwork was a bit on the delayed side because the builder had not made his final draw so we had to postpone the paperwork. I was dissapointed because I thought the bank would make me wait until the papers were signed before I could move in. However, they told me to "go ahead, knock yourself out. It's your house and you've been making interest payments on it, move in if you want". So that's exactly what we did! Well, we aren't done yet. The luxery of still having the old house in your possession and it sits on your parent's land is that you can take as much time as you want to move without someone breathing down your neck to get it outta their way.

So, Friday night was the first night in the new house. All we had was our matteresses at that point but that was OK. The kids all piled into the same room with their mattereses and the dog and slept all together. I knew that'd happen though cause when I was kid I didn't wanna sleep by MYself in a new house either. But by Saturday night they were completely OK with occupying their own domains. I think the child that shocked me the most was Middle Boy. He has always been afraid of the dark, didn't want the door closed, leave the bathroom door open with the light on kinda kid. He and Oldest have always shared a bedroom so even if Oldest got up to go to the bathroom or get a drink Middle boy would get up and come in there too so he wouldn't have to stay in the bedroom alone with no light on. So, on the second night, he stayed in his room ALONE!! Now, granted, the closet light was on and the door was open but we'll take what we can get. So LAST night he had his bedroom door shut (so the dog wouldn't get out because the dog sleeps with him.. they are attached at the hip) but the closet door was still cracked with the light on. But, that's progress.

The house is incredible. More stunning than I could've ever hoped for. I've always thought of myself as someone that COULD have a house like this but would never be able to manage it. I figured I'd always live in a trailer house, next door to my Mom, with junk cars in the driveway. Now here I am, in this beautiful home, my absolute dream house. I just hope I don't do anything to screw it up. I plan to pray extensively for the guidence of God to make sure I'm never so much as a day late on that payment and that no extenuating circumstance interfere with my ability to make that payment!

I'll have to post some more pictures soon so that I can show the colors in this house. My builder was really suprised because he's never had someone use the kind of color we did. Normally people just build the house with one or two colors throughout and then change them down the road when they get inspired but I just couldn't wait so there is definately some color goin on.

Anyway, I'll stop sounding like an infomircial. I'm just so happy I couldn't hold it all in. :) Maybe to put a lid on all that happiness I should try to remember how much more stuff there is to MOVE still! :(

Thursday Three is here!

2005-02-10T07:10:00.000-08:00

1) What was your first computer?

My fist computer was a Packard Bell that cost me about $2000. It only had a 1 GB hard drive and about 16 MB of RAM. For the first month and a half it was nothing but a glorified deck of cards. Solitaire was really the only thing I knew to do with it. UNTIL!!!! We got our first AOL CD in the mail offering us 15 free hours. The Mr loaded it up one night after I'd already gone to bed and was very happy to inform me the next morning that he'd discovered chat. Well it took us all of 3 days to burn that 15 hours and that was only because we had to work for a living and sleep the other 19 hours so we then devised ways around Microsoft's "30 days for free" program where we just created new ID's for 6 months.

2) What is the worst thing you ever encountered dealing with a computer? The threat of chat on a marriage. I've been through it twice now and although I'm a recovering chat addict and miss all my buds it's best to stay away from it I suppose. However, if I was a single person or had all the right planet alignment in my marriage it'd probably be OK.

3) What is your favorite piece of software? It's a simple Create - A - Card software from Hallmark. I love to make Greeting cards and other things like that and it's a very robust, simple to use product that serves my purposes quite well.

SPECIAL BONUS QUESTION!Our questions also said it would be nice if we could somehow work food into this. Given that he wanted to start a "Mac fight," whatever that is, let's ask this question:4) Big Mac or Whopper? Neither. I like the plain little single patty burger you get at McDonalds and the only thing I like on mine is mustard. But it has to be accompanied by some McDonalds french fries and a coke.

Super Bowl Party!!

2005-02-08T06:13:00.000-08:00

After our particularly pain in the ass of a weekend we settled in to watch the Super Bowl. The Mr isn't a sports fan, as a matter of fact he couldn't possibly care less. So he was off in the bedroom watching TV. I, on the other hand, was firmly entrenched in front of my big screen TV surrounded by kids rooting for the wrong team, my mom, my brother and his wife and kids.

Mom made chili and onion dip. I made fruit salad, salsa and had pistachios, chips, drinks and other stuff out for all to enjoy. The game was a lotta fun to watch but I thought I'd have to gag some kids. My boys have been eagles fans since the beginning of the season. The only reason I still let them live there is cause the law won't let me kick them out for such a reason but they are definitely on the verge of eviction if I ever find another good reason that the police won't object to! I mean seriously how can any red blooded Texan root for the Philadelphia Eagles. Their fans booed Santa Claus for crying out loud!!

Anyway, the team I wanted to win did and the team I wanted to lose did so I was able to sufficiently rub it in. And I took great pleasure in doing so. They'll never learn to not bet against me when it comes to football but that's OK, I like winning. :)

House Saga

2005-02-08T06:06:00.000-08:00

Then we have the ongoing saga of the house. We were hoping to be done last week but that was not to be. We had the propane tank set up on Friday but they couldn't turn on the gas because there was a leak. The builder called the plumber to come check the lines but he was outta town I think so we thought we'd just cap off the appliances and turn on the heat and hot water heater. The gas man had supposedly tested those lines and they were OK. So the builder capped off the other ones and called the gas man back out. No dice, there was still a leak so we'd have to wait until Monday.
The whole deal with that is that we wanted the heat on so the carpet would relax more and therefore stretch properly. But we had to wait until Monday so the plumber could find the leak, it was in the fireplace line by the way, and he found it so the heat is on and the carpet will be finished today!! Hooorayy!
The mantel will go in today, the hole will be cut in the countertop today for the cook top and tomorrow the insulation will be blown into the attic. After that the only thing left is some touch ups and we'll be ready!!
Then the appraiser can do his thing and then we can start moving some stuff in. Hopefully I'll be signing the final papers by Friday the 18th!!

Busy Busy Week

2005-02-08T05:43:00.000-08:00

Well this last week has been full of stress and issues and I'm glad things are back to semi-normal. Whatever that means.

Sunday, over a week ago now, I baked a cake in the shape of a heart for my mom and put it in the frig. Monday, I put the icing on it and wrote some words: Mom, Grandma and Best Friend. Tuesday, the plan was to get home from work and troop over to her house to surprise her with this cake because that was the day of her 1 year anniversary of her heart surgery. However, things didn't go quite as planned.

Instead, she called me at 3:35 am to tell me that the nursing home called to tell us that they'd had to take Granny to the ER because she was having some respiratory distress. Well it didn't take me long to throw on some clothes and pick up mom on the way out of the driveway and head over to the hospital. We got there at 4. They wouldn't let us see her so that threw up red flags and set off the warning bells for sure. The Dr came out to tell us that things were not good. Granny had suffered another heart attack. This is her second one in a little over a month. Her first one happened on Dec 22nd. The prognosis on this one was bad, they told us. They let us go back and they had her on a ventilator because she had fluid around her heart and on her lungs so she was in congestive heart failure.

Now, MY opinion on life support was expressed last month and as long as I don't think they are harming her in any way then I'll let my family have their way on this. HOWEVER, should it come down to it, and I think they are taking away her quality of life, we are going to have a serious conversation. My personal opinion is that if the only thing standing between me and Jesus is a machine......... TURN IF OFF!! Like NOW!! But, Granny's already expressed her desire to live as long as she can so I fully respect that wish. So, she stayed on the ventilator until Thursday.
That morning they had the intention of trying to remove the tube, but she has to pass a set of tests before they'll remove it. They wanted her to be able to take a deep breath, cough and so on. But she couldn't so they said they'd leave it in. They did stop the sedation medication tho so she was awake a little bit and could respond to commands. Well that evening we were all going in and out visiting her and my cousin said she'd reached up with her thumb to scratch her chin. I told her then that she'd pull that tube out. See, she's been in restraints since they had her in ER to keep her from messing with that tube so the nurse assured my cousin she wouldn't be able to reach it. I begged to differ. Hell's bells I watched her squirm around in that bed until she'd moved herself down in it. And sure enough, we hadn't been gone 5 minutes and she had reached up and pulled out her own ventilator tube! Then, according the nurse, she grinned from ear to ear. Yep, she's a heifer, that one. You gotta watch her.

So, they decided to leave the tube out since she was breathing on her own OK without the tube. Friday they moved her out of ICU and into her own room. Since then she's been doing ok physically. No more lung congestion, she's talking and eating but her heart is only operating at 20% so it's just a matter of time before another attack occurs.

She's a little confused though. I think she's having a bit of dementia. The brought her supper the other day and she was convinced the mashed potatoes had bones in it. She asked 10 times in 5 minutes what the food was on her plate. And this same woman that always wants someone to spend the night at the hospital with her told me it was OK for me to leave, she didn't mind being up there. The next day she said to me "Did you know I don't have a cook stove anymore?" She's been in a nursing home for 2 and 1/2 years!! Of course she doesn't have a cook stove! Then she kept asking about "people coming in and out of her house" and she wanted to know how many people were in the room with her. (she has one room mate in there) Anyway, I'm hoping that once she is back in the familiar surroundings of the nursing home that she'll come back around.