| Your Christmas is Most Like: A Very Brady Christmas |
 For you, it's all about sharing times with family. Even if you all get a bit cheesy at times. |
Monday, December 03, 2007
Tori :) Will Be So Proud!!
Sunday, December 02, 2007
What Kind of Crappy Christmas Gift are YOU?
| You Are Socks! |
 Cozy and warm... but easily lost. You make a good puppet. |
Monday, November 12, 2007
I completely ripped this off from Nancy. It looked fun. If you want to rip it off from me (or Nancy ), feel free.
MOUTHOLOGY
Q-What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
MOUTHOLOGY
Q-What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
A-Del Taco. Try the strawberry shake...really!
Q-What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of it?
A-Tomatoes. Or ice cream. But not together.
Q-What are your favorite pizza toppings?
A-Ground beef, green peppers, and onions (preferably red onions)
TECHNOLOGY
Q-How many televisions are in your house?
A-Three, but one is in our son's room and used for games and DVDs (which are, of course, all approved by his over-protective mother.)
Q-What is your wallpaper on your computer?
A-Ummm...some stock photo that came with the computer, a picture of the Northern Lights (or Aurora Borealis) over a lake in Alaska.
CURRENTOLOGY
Q-Current mood?
A-Tired of school, tired of work; just tired. It is 10:21 p.m., after all!
Q-Currently listening to?
A-Billy Crystal accepting a comedy award on PBS.
FAVORITOLOGY
Q-Favorite number?
A-8. It's fun to write.
Q-Favorite season?
A-Fall.
BIOLOGY
Q-Are you right-handed or left-handed?
A-Right-handed.
Q-Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
A-No, but I fainted my junior year of high school. I'd been sick and was trying to go to school anyway.
Q-When was the last time you had a cavity?
A-Right at this very moment. Who said blogs aren't fabulous-you're experiencing history right now!
RANDOMOLOGY
Q-Is Napoleon Dynamite actually a good movie?
A-Of course! Gosh!
Q-What color do you think looks best on you?
A-Red.
Q-What is in your left pocket?
A-I'm not wearing a pocket. I'm in my nightie. Remember, It's 10: 25! Keep up!
Q-Have you ever saved someone's life?
A-Umm...no. Not that I'm aware of. Maybe my winning personality gave someone a reason to hang on one more day?
Q-Has anyone saved your life?
A-Jesus
Q-What do you want to be when you grow up?
A-I don't want to grow up. But I do want to be a teacher...I think.
Q-Could you live with roommates?
A-I have, but prefer not to. Too bad about that husband and those kids, eh? (KIDDING!!)
Q-What can you not wait to do?
A-Finish school. But I don't think I ever will.
Q-What's the last movie you saw?
A- The Cutting Edge
DAREOLOGY
Q-Would you never blog again for $50,ooo?
A-Ummm...YES! Where do I sign?
Q-Would you allow one of your pinky fingers to be chopped off for a million bucks?
A-No...what kind of sicko questionnaire is this?
LASTOLOGY
Q-Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
A-When yet another uninsured Arizona driver smashed into my car while it was parked outside my house.
Q-Last person who called you?
A-My friend Wendy!
Q-Last person you hugged?
A-My sweet husband.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Random Wednesday
"Animal Crackers and Cocoa to drink,
This is the finest of breakfasts, I think.
Animal crackers are okay, but those cinnamon-y alphabet cookies are even better with cocoa. I learned that poem in the first grade, I think.
Why does it feel so easy and natural to walk straight past another human being and not acknowledge them, both people keeping their eyes straight forward as though the other person isn't there? That doesn't seem natural to me, and I'm going to quit letting it happen. Just so you know.
I have slowly become a coffee snob. If it isn't "really good" coffee, I don't want any. How in the world did this happen? I'm a Michigan-raised, store-brand, generic prescription type of gal. I've found that I also like Earl Grey tea. It makes me feel content. I have no idea why.
My kids are fabulous. My son is becoming a brilliant musician and artist, while also being incredibly intelligent. My daughter sat at the table tonight adding and subtracting three-digit numbers (in the form of currency, like $8.32) in. her. head. Without the use of fingers, calculators, or paper to write a problem on.
My husband and I celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary on the 19th of this month. We are celebrating by going to Prescott, AZ for this coming weekend. I am excited!
I have started losing track of the many, many projects I have at work. I am interrupted at least 15-20 times per hour. I sit at the front desk, and act as the receptionist for our two companies, plus the administrative assistant for the accounting, scheduling, HR departments, as well as my boss, who is the practice manager. I feel like my head is going to spin around so much some day, it will just fall off and land gracefully on the carpet.
I have a cousin who is with YWAM, a youth ministry-missionary group. I only hear from him when they have financial problems. I don't have much to give, but I told him I'd pray for him and his family. They're adopting a little boy from Guatemala, and in the red tape involved, have gone through what they had saved. I doubt I'll hear from him again for at least a year. Maybe I'll be wrong. I'd like that, too.
I learned this evening (while typing this entry, in fact) that I prefer Wal-Mart brand Hot Chocolate to Swiss Miss. See-I'm still a Michigan girl! Whew!
I hope you've enjoyed this little trek through my thought processes. Have a pleasant tomorrow!
This is the finest of breakfasts, I think.
Animal crackers are okay, but those cinnamon-y alphabet cookies are even better with cocoa. I learned that poem in the first grade, I think.
Why does it feel so easy and natural to walk straight past another human being and not acknowledge them, both people keeping their eyes straight forward as though the other person isn't there? That doesn't seem natural to me, and I'm going to quit letting it happen. Just so you know.
I have slowly become a coffee snob. If it isn't "really good" coffee, I don't want any. How in the world did this happen? I'm a Michigan-raised, store-brand, generic prescription type of gal. I've found that I also like Earl Grey tea. It makes me feel content. I have no idea why.
My kids are fabulous. My son is becoming a brilliant musician and artist, while also being incredibly intelligent. My daughter sat at the table tonight adding and subtracting three-digit numbers (in the form of currency, like $8.32) in. her. head. Without the use of fingers, calculators, or paper to write a problem on.
My husband and I celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary on the 19th of this month. We are celebrating by going to Prescott, AZ for this coming weekend. I am excited!
I have started losing track of the many, many projects I have at work. I am interrupted at least 15-20 times per hour. I sit at the front desk, and act as the receptionist for our two companies, plus the administrative assistant for the accounting, scheduling, HR departments, as well as my boss, who is the practice manager. I feel like my head is going to spin around so much some day, it will just fall off and land gracefully on the carpet.
I have a cousin who is with YWAM, a youth ministry-missionary group. I only hear from him when they have financial problems. I don't have much to give, but I told him I'd pray for him and his family. They're adopting a little boy from Guatemala, and in the red tape involved, have gone through what they had saved. I doubt I'll hear from him again for at least a year. Maybe I'll be wrong. I'd like that, too.
I learned this evening (while typing this entry, in fact) that I prefer Wal-Mart brand Hot Chocolate to Swiss Miss. See-I'm still a Michigan girl! Whew!
I hope you've enjoyed this little trek through my thought processes. Have a pleasant tomorrow!
Monday, November 05, 2007
The Sound of Music
I was thinking the other day, while I was doing something mindless at work like stuffing envelopes, about music. There are some songs that immediately take me back to a particular time and place. Here are a few...
1. Tie a Yellow Ribbon by Tony Orlando & Dawn. I was 8 or 9 years old, maybe younger. I was in our family room/dining room (depending on what year it was) and I had my little portable, orange record player. I would play a little bit of the song, then pick up the needle and stop it, and write the words I remembered. I did this until I had all the lyrics written down.
2. Daybreak by Barry Manilow. My mom would get up with us in the morning, wake us up and fix our breakfast. Generally, this song was playing on the radio on the counter in the kitchen, on WTCM Radio from Traverse City, Michigan.
3. Brothers and Sisters of Mine, a hymn. I was at Senior High church camp, and Lester Ford was drawing the cover page for our camp log (kind of like a yearbook, only for camp). He was a great artist. We were sitting on the picnic table, under the big pine tree in the middle of the campground, with a bunch of other people.
4. America by Neil Diamond. In my friend Laura's living room, playing it over and over on her parents' big stereo, because we thought it was a cool song.
5. Forever in Blue Jeans, also by Neil Diamond. The sixth grade, at some class party or another. I thought he was singing Reverend Blue Jeans, and so did Tony Buffman. He was a kid who always tried to make everyone feel important and valued, even at his age.
6. Afternoon Delight, by someone whose name I can't recall. We were in our camper, in a campground somewhere in southern Michigan, near Ann Arbor. My sister drank lye when she was 3 years old, and for over a year we had to take her to Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan every other week to dilate her throat, which had to be replaced. During the winter we stayed with my aunt who lived near Ann Arbor; in the summer we camped. That was the campground where I learned to swim (there was a lake).
7. Kiss You All Over by Exile. There were a group of us who made it into the spelling bee, and we were in the back of the principal's van, headed back to school after the bee, when this came on the radio.
That's all I can think of now; though I know there are more. I'll share others in a different post.
1. Tie a Yellow Ribbon by Tony Orlando & Dawn. I was 8 or 9 years old, maybe younger. I was in our family room/dining room (depending on what year it was) and I had my little portable, orange record player. I would play a little bit of the song, then pick up the needle and stop it, and write the words I remembered. I did this until I had all the lyrics written down.
2. Daybreak by Barry Manilow. My mom would get up with us in the morning, wake us up and fix our breakfast. Generally, this song was playing on the radio on the counter in the kitchen, on WTCM Radio from Traverse City, Michigan.
3. Brothers and Sisters of Mine, a hymn. I was at Senior High church camp, and Lester Ford was drawing the cover page for our camp log (kind of like a yearbook, only for camp). He was a great artist. We were sitting on the picnic table, under the big pine tree in the middle of the campground, with a bunch of other people.
4. America by Neil Diamond. In my friend Laura's living room, playing it over and over on her parents' big stereo, because we thought it was a cool song.
5. Forever in Blue Jeans, also by Neil Diamond. The sixth grade, at some class party or another. I thought he was singing Reverend Blue Jeans, and so did Tony Buffman. He was a kid who always tried to make everyone feel important and valued, even at his age.
6. Afternoon Delight, by someone whose name I can't recall. We were in our camper, in a campground somewhere in southern Michigan, near Ann Arbor. My sister drank lye when she was 3 years old, and for over a year we had to take her to Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan every other week to dilate her throat, which had to be replaced. During the winter we stayed with my aunt who lived near Ann Arbor; in the summer we camped. That was the campground where I learned to swim (there was a lake).
7. Kiss You All Over by Exile. There were a group of us who made it into the spelling bee, and we were in the back of the principal's van, headed back to school after the bee, when this came on the radio.
That's all I can think of now; though I know there are more. I'll share others in a different post.
Friday, October 26, 2007
The ABC's of Me
A-Attached or single: Married...19 years next month! And people thought it wouldn't work out!
B-Best friend: Tony, Rhonda
C-Cake or pie: Pie. Blueberry, please.
D-Day of choice: Friday
E-Essential item: My laptop...what did we ever do without these things?
F-Favorite color: Depending on for what, Red, Pink, Burgundy, Blue, or Green.
G-Gummi bears or worms: neither...Kit Kat, please!
H-Hometown: Alden, Michigan
I-Indulgences: Ice cream and sleep.
J-January or July: January...but I live in Phoenix. If I move, probably July.
K-Kids: Two absolutely fabulous ones.
L-Life is incomplete without: the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
M-Marriage date: November 19th, 1988.
N-Number of siblings: two-a sister, Heidi; and a brother, Terry.
O-Oranges or apples: Oranges! One of the "happy fruits (pineapple is the other)!
P-Phobias or fears: Ferris Wheels.
P-Phobias or fears: Ferris Wheels.
Q-Quote I love: "Pull your pants up, turn your hat around, and get a job!"
R-Reason to smile: counting my blessings!
S-Season: Fall-no matter where I live.
U-Unknown fact about me: I love my flannel sheets!
V-Vegetarian or meat eater: Yes.
W-Worst habit: Stress.
X-X-rays or ultrasounds: Ultrasounds.
Y-Your favorite foods: Greek
Z-Zodiac: I don't do zodiac. I like giraffes.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
She
It was a dead-air kind of evening; one that wasn't hot and wasn't cold. There was no wind. She'd just come out of Wal-Mart with her two children in tow. God, how she hated Wal-Mart! Yes, the nausea-inducing lights, the football field size of the store, the clientèle who never seem to have mastered the art of pushing their carts on the RIGHT, or actually, any side rather than parking them diagonally in the middle of an aisle. But far more annoying than those problems came at the end of every trip to the store...the 20-minute long checkout line and the demand from some underpaid, overworked employee that she show them her receipt on her way out the door. She'd solved the receipt-at-the-door problem by having her son hand the receipt to the doorway dingbat. She'd managed to hang onto patience the entire 2 hours she was in the store, looking at every toy aisle imaginable and trying to help her children find what they wanted to buy with their birthday money. She'd found the yarn and knitting needles she needed.
All this after she'd spent a solid four hours with her husband and kids, cleaning the back yard. She was exhausted, her feet were killing her even though they sported sneakers, not heels. The cart full, the doorway dingbat satisfied that she hadn't stolen anything, she pushed the cart toward her car, which had been parked miraculously close to the entrance. And then, WHANG!! The cart stopped dead. Thinking she'd run over something, she attempted to back up. Nothing. She tried forward again...no dice. Sadly, she hadn't run over anything. No, the stupid electronic wheel lock had come on. She looked around...there was no yellow line, the traditional marking for such nonsense as locking carts. She was a mere 50 feet from the door. And then, her son saw it. "Look, mom! There's the line!"
And there it was. Maybe three feet long, and near the end of a dark alley on the side of the Wal-Mart store, mixed in with the traditional crosswalk lines, was a yellow line. The merest fragment of the usual thick, yellow line that borders the parking lot.
She lost it. She called information on her cell phone and got the phone number for the Wal-Mart she had just exited. She called the store, and when the poor soul who answers the phone, answered the phone, she heard "Guess What? I'm in your parking lot not more than 50 feet from your door and my cart locked up! I'm standing here in the middle of the road outside your store, trying to get to my car, which is not more than 20 feet away, and I can't, because your cart has locked up! It's bad enough that I have to have my cart searched and my receipt checked every time I leave your store, like some common criminal, and I can never find what I need in less than two hours, and now this! I am tired of being treated this way!"
After a puzzled moment, the poor soul's voice came back on. "Ma'am, I don't even know where you are."
"I'm RIGHT OUTSIDE your door! Not more than 50 feet away! And now I'm going to have to leave my minor children with my cart, go and get my car and block your drive while I load it up! They're just kids! It's dark outside! Can't you make your carts work a little further than 50 feet?"
"Ok. I'm sorry, ma'am. And you know what? Even we employees get searched every time we leave the store, so I know how you feel. I'm really sorry."
She took a breath. "Thank you, and I know it isn't your fault personally. I'm sorry I'm being a jerk."
"That's perfectly alright, ma'am. You have a good evening."
So she went to her car and backed it out of the space. Miraculously, there was no traffic. She drove to the kids, and got them in the car, then unloaded the cart into the trunk and was on her way. She got about a quarter of a mile down the road before she heard a still, small voice talking to her about patience and how people behave in public, especially in front of their children. She picked up her phone and dialed information again. Miraculously, there was an option for being connected with the last number searched for, so she pressed "1." The poor soul came on the phone, and she apologized profusely for her attitude when she called earlier. The poor soul was very gracious.
She ended the call and hung up, and then realized that all those miraculous happenings...weren't. God knew what was going to happen, and let it. He didn't do it because He loves to see people suffer. He didn't do it to punish anyone. His son Jesus took all the punishment that God ever would have had for us, no matter what we do or what future generations do, when he let himself be nailed to a cross and then rose from the dead three days later.
No, He let it happen, I believe, because we are here on Earth in order to learn. Perhaps we're here to learn how to live in heaven. I know I've got a lot to learn..."She" is me.
All this after she'd spent a solid four hours with her husband and kids, cleaning the back yard. She was exhausted, her feet were killing her even though they sported sneakers, not heels. The cart full, the doorway dingbat satisfied that she hadn't stolen anything, she pushed the cart toward her car, which had been parked miraculously close to the entrance. And then, WHANG!! The cart stopped dead. Thinking she'd run over something, she attempted to back up. Nothing. She tried forward again...no dice. Sadly, she hadn't run over anything. No, the stupid electronic wheel lock had come on. She looked around...there was no yellow line, the traditional marking for such nonsense as locking carts. She was a mere 50 feet from the door. And then, her son saw it. "Look, mom! There's the line!"
And there it was. Maybe three feet long, and near the end of a dark alley on the side of the Wal-Mart store, mixed in with the traditional crosswalk lines, was a yellow line. The merest fragment of the usual thick, yellow line that borders the parking lot.
She lost it. She called information on her cell phone and got the phone number for the Wal-Mart she had just exited. She called the store, and when the poor soul who answers the phone, answered the phone, she heard "Guess What? I'm in your parking lot not more than 50 feet from your door and my cart locked up! I'm standing here in the middle of the road outside your store, trying to get to my car, which is not more than 20 feet away, and I can't, because your cart has locked up! It's bad enough that I have to have my cart searched and my receipt checked every time I leave your store, like some common criminal, and I can never find what I need in less than two hours, and now this! I am tired of being treated this way!"
After a puzzled moment, the poor soul's voice came back on. "Ma'am, I don't even know where you are."
"I'm RIGHT OUTSIDE your door! Not more than 50 feet away! And now I'm going to have to leave my minor children with my cart, go and get my car and block your drive while I load it up! They're just kids! It's dark outside! Can't you make your carts work a little further than 50 feet?"
"Ok. I'm sorry, ma'am. And you know what? Even we employees get searched every time we leave the store, so I know how you feel. I'm really sorry."
She took a breath. "Thank you, and I know it isn't your fault personally. I'm sorry I'm being a jerk."
"That's perfectly alright, ma'am. You have a good evening."
So she went to her car and backed it out of the space. Miraculously, there was no traffic. She drove to the kids, and got them in the car, then unloaded the cart into the trunk and was on her way. She got about a quarter of a mile down the road before she heard a still, small voice talking to her about patience and how people behave in public, especially in front of their children. She picked up her phone and dialed information again. Miraculously, there was an option for being connected with the last number searched for, so she pressed "1." The poor soul came on the phone, and she apologized profusely for her attitude when she called earlier. The poor soul was very gracious.
She ended the call and hung up, and then realized that all those miraculous happenings...weren't. God knew what was going to happen, and let it. He didn't do it because He loves to see people suffer. He didn't do it to punish anyone. His son Jesus took all the punishment that God ever would have had for us, no matter what we do or what future generations do, when he let himself be nailed to a cross and then rose from the dead three days later.
No, He let it happen, I believe, because we are here on Earth in order to learn. Perhaps we're here to learn how to live in heaven. I know I've got a lot to learn..."She" is me.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Foley's Fire Eaters Finally Finish!
No, I'm not really eating fire. Ick. The title is a reference to a line in the famous and popular movie, "An Officer and A Gentleman," when the platoon (or whatever you call it) that Richard Gere's character is a part of, finally finishes basic training and is on their way to Pensacola to "get jets."
I, however, am done with my independent study class. I'd really like to know how these can be called "Independent Study." 'Cause I pretty much had a set syllabus of what I had to do. I didn't feel free to study butterflies, or wave frequency at Clearwater Beach on the Gulf of Mexico. No, I had to study what they told me (ha, ha).
I figured it out tonight, and I wrote 12 papers of at least 800 words. In 5 weeks. Actually, in 10 days, because I did all of my homework for this class on the weekends, around everything else that's happening in our lives (Tony's grandpa's cancer; the kids in a new school;everybody being sick because it's a new school year and hey, why not; my husband's fabulous book deal; church; choir; and, oh yeah...work.). And I am tired! My husband found me on our bed at 2 a.m. this morning, literally asleep on my laptop. He woke me up to tell me it may be time to put the computer away, and I was so startled that I was like, "I'm up! I'm up! Hang on!" Yeah, right. Then, he gently told me he was going to unplug my computer (because the cord was hanging across his side of the bed, and it of course has an internal battery, and it being 2 a.m. he wanted to go to sleep). I'm like, "Wait! Hold on! I don't want to lose this," at which point he patiently explained to my sleep-befuddled self that it wont' turn off the computer if he unplugs it; the computer has an internal battery. I swear, the poor man had no idea what he was getting into when he married me. I can be such a dork sometimes! :)
But, I am finished. And it is good. Now, I just have a meeting on 10/16 and classes start again 10/23. But for now, a break! From school, at least...
I, however, am done with my independent study class. I'd really like to know how these can be called "Independent Study." 'Cause I pretty much had a set syllabus of what I had to do. I didn't feel free to study butterflies, or wave frequency at Clearwater Beach on the Gulf of Mexico. No, I had to study what they told me (ha, ha).
I figured it out tonight, and I wrote 12 papers of at least 800 words. In 5 weeks. Actually, in 10 days, because I did all of my homework for this class on the weekends, around everything else that's happening in our lives (Tony's grandpa's cancer; the kids in a new school;everybody being sick because it's a new school year and hey, why not; my husband's fabulous book deal; church; choir; and, oh yeah...work.). And I am tired! My husband found me on our bed at 2 a.m. this morning, literally asleep on my laptop. He woke me up to tell me it may be time to put the computer away, and I was so startled that I was like, "I'm up! I'm up! Hang on!" Yeah, right. Then, he gently told me he was going to unplug my computer (because the cord was hanging across his side of the bed, and it of course has an internal battery, and it being 2 a.m. he wanted to go to sleep). I'm like, "Wait! Hold on! I don't want to lose this," at which point he patiently explained to my sleep-befuddled self that it wont' turn off the computer if he unplugs it; the computer has an internal battery. I swear, the poor man had no idea what he was getting into when he married me. I can be such a dork sometimes! :)
But, I am finished. And it is good. Now, I just have a meeting on 10/16 and classes start again 10/23. But for now, a break! From school, at least...
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Randomness
-Have you ever noticed how rude the world is becoming? We're hiring for a position at work, and we scheduled second interviews with three people. Second interview--that's a big deal, right?
Well, not apparently for this one lady, who didn't show up and didn't even call. I left her a message after she didn't show, asking her if I'd gotten the day wrong or if she wasn't interested in working with us. I asked her to call back. She didn't.
-Don't buy toys from MGA Entertainment/Rescue Pets. My daughter (8 yrs. old) did, and the little bone that they put the code on, so the kids can play online, got lost in the flurry. I tried to register without it (there's a website that apparently they can go and play on with the toy they bought), but I couldn't and the webpage said to contact myepets.com. I did, and after ingnoring my first two e-mails, I got irritated with them and sent a stronger e-mail. They wrote back with a form letter that said they had been having trouble accessing my e-mail...yeah...right. They also said in the form letter that the UPC code I gave them didn't match a toy that could go online, even though the web address and the things you can do on website are plastered all over the box. In yet another form letter. And then tonight, I got an e-mail from a person with a name, rather than MGA Customer Service, that matched almost exactly the letter they sent last night, stating they were "unable" to help. So, I e-mailed this information to them, and then they responded that they are "unable" [read, "don't give a crap"] to replace the code. I promised them I'd tell everyone I knew, and though I don't technically know all of you personally, I thought I'd pass it on. If you buy a Rescue Pet, guard the tiny paper bone with your life, because MGA Entertainment has no intention of being customer friendly.
-My kids and I are reading "Harriet the Spy" together. Great book.
-I have purchased Christmas presents for five people already. And it's technically still September. Woo-Hoo!
-I have been obsessed with thoughts about and curiosity with someone from my past for the past two weeks. The last time this happened, the person moved here. Hmm...
-I had my teeth cleaned today. I went in for 2 crowns, but all they could fit in was the cleaning. Next Thursday is crown day. I had a credit of $67, and my bill for today was $62! Woo-hoo again!
-The soundtrack from "Dirty Dancing" makes me happy. ;)
Well, not apparently for this one lady, who didn't show up and didn't even call. I left her a message after she didn't show, asking her if I'd gotten the day wrong or if she wasn't interested in working with us. I asked her to call back. She didn't.
-Don't buy toys from MGA Entertainment/Rescue Pets. My daughter (8 yrs. old) did, and the little bone that they put the code on, so the kids can play online, got lost in the flurry. I tried to register without it (there's a website that apparently they can go and play on with the toy they bought), but I couldn't and the webpage said to contact myepets.com. I did, and after ingnoring my first two e-mails, I got irritated with them and sent a stronger e-mail. They wrote back with a form letter that said they had been having trouble accessing my e-mail...yeah...right. They also said in the form letter that the UPC code I gave them didn't match a toy that could go online, even though the web address and the things you can do on website are plastered all over the box. In yet another form letter. And then tonight, I got an e-mail from a person with a name, rather than MGA Customer Service, that matched almost exactly the letter they sent last night, stating they were "unable" to help. So, I e-mailed this information to them, and then they responded that they are "unable" [read, "don't give a crap"] to replace the code. I promised them I'd tell everyone I knew, and though I don't technically know all of you personally, I thought I'd pass it on. If you buy a Rescue Pet, guard the tiny paper bone with your life, because MGA Entertainment has no intention of being customer friendly.
-My kids and I are reading "Harriet the Spy" together. Great book.
-I have purchased Christmas presents for five people already. And it's technically still September. Woo-Hoo!
-I have been obsessed with thoughts about and curiosity with someone from my past for the past two weeks. The last time this happened, the person moved here. Hmm...
-I had my teeth cleaned today. I went in for 2 crowns, but all they could fit in was the cleaning. Next Thursday is crown day. I had a credit of $67, and my bill for today was $62! Woo-hoo again!
-The soundtrack from "Dirty Dancing" makes me happy. ;)
Thursday, September 20, 2007
I was tagged by Jail Diet to do the following...List 5 things that certain people (who are not deserving of being your friend anyway) may consider to be "totally lame," but you are, despite the possible stigma, totally proud of. Own it. Tag 5 others:
1. I made the honor roll every marking period in the 12th grade.
2. You know those letters you get for sports in hight school? Well, I was the first member of my freshman class to be awarded a band letter, which we got by earning points for showing up for band camp at the end of summer, being on time, participating in try-outs for chairs, etc. The stupid thing is, the school wouldn't let us buy the regular jacket that you sew the letters on. No, we had to have cheap black and orange (our school colors) windbreakers. I still have mine.
3. I was captain of the flag squad my sophomore, junior, and senior years in high school. Yes, I was a "flaggot." And a darn good one, too!
4. I was President of my church youth group in 12th grade, too.
5. I made a fantastic apron and at least one really cool long 1970s-style dress (because it was the 1970s) as a member of our local 4H club. I got blue ribbons on them.
I tag Lauren and Tori, having very few blogfriends I am familiar enough with that they may not openly jeer at me in their blogs.
1. I made the honor roll every marking period in the 12th grade.
2. You know those letters you get for sports in hight school? Well, I was the first member of my freshman class to be awarded a band letter, which we got by earning points for showing up for band camp at the end of summer, being on time, participating in try-outs for chairs, etc. The stupid thing is, the school wouldn't let us buy the regular jacket that you sew the letters on. No, we had to have cheap black and orange (our school colors) windbreakers. I still have mine.
3. I was captain of the flag squad my sophomore, junior, and senior years in high school. Yes, I was a "flaggot." And a darn good one, too!
4. I was President of my church youth group in 12th grade, too.
5. I made a fantastic apron and at least one really cool long 1970s-style dress (because it was the 1970s) as a member of our local 4H club. I got blue ribbons on them.
I tag Lauren and Tori, having very few blogfriends I am familiar enough with that they may not openly jeer at me in their blogs.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Five Hours in the Penalty Box!
I'm not a real hockey fan. I just thought it appropriate for what happened today. I woke up this morning with a GINORMOUS neck/shoulder/headache.
I should've known it was coming. I've been dizzy for two days (well, three now), I've had chest pains a lot the past three weeks (I get those with anxiety-at least I hope that's all it is) and have been incredibly stressed out at work. So, Wham-o! Major, life-stopping, energy-sapping headache. For five hours. Couldn't look at light or hear sound. At all. Ugh. Happily, the kids had no school, and their awesome grandma took them canoeing up in Prescott. My fabulous husband got them up, dressed, and ready to go (though these days, they do much of that themselves). I laid there in bed, in agony. I called in to work, then went to sleep. I woke up at 11:00. Still couldn't move until noon.
I must get healthier. I've been hardly eating lunch, trying to keep up at work, and not sleeping enough, trying to be everything else I need to be and do homework.
I did go in to work at 1:30. At least it was something, I thought. My sweet boss called me into her office and told me that I need to let her know if I have too much to do. She knows she runs around like a headless chicken all the time, but doesn't want to make others sick because of it. This is good, because if one more person handed me something they just didn't want to deal with themselves, I was going to rip their arm off. Okay, probably not. But it was tempting.
I am so blessed to work there. But I do have to learn to say NO, or it won't be good any more. I am not a doormat, but I'm letting myself be one by saying yes to everyone who needs help. I also "take on" other people's feelings, and when my boss is stressed, I want to help her and I just figure I will somehow fit it all in. And more often than not, I do fit it in. But I end up hurting myself and my health. N-N-N-N....NO. I can do this. I must do this. Or I will drop over dead from a heart attack.
No.
No.
No.
I should've known it was coming. I've been dizzy for two days (well, three now), I've had chest pains a lot the past three weeks (I get those with anxiety-at least I hope that's all it is) and have been incredibly stressed out at work. So, Wham-o! Major, life-stopping, energy-sapping headache. For five hours. Couldn't look at light or hear sound. At all. Ugh. Happily, the kids had no school, and their awesome grandma took them canoeing up in Prescott. My fabulous husband got them up, dressed, and ready to go (though these days, they do much of that themselves). I laid there in bed, in agony. I called in to work, then went to sleep. I woke up at 11:00. Still couldn't move until noon.
I must get healthier. I've been hardly eating lunch, trying to keep up at work, and not sleeping enough, trying to be everything else I need to be and do homework.
I did go in to work at 1:30. At least it was something, I thought. My sweet boss called me into her office and told me that I need to let her know if I have too much to do. She knows she runs around like a headless chicken all the time, but doesn't want to make others sick because of it. This is good, because if one more person handed me something they just didn't want to deal with themselves, I was going to rip their arm off. Okay, probably not. But it was tempting.
I am so blessed to work there. But I do have to learn to say NO, or it won't be good any more. I am not a doormat, but I'm letting myself be one by saying yes to everyone who needs help. I also "take on" other people's feelings, and when my boss is stressed, I want to help her and I just figure I will somehow fit it all in. And more often than not, I do fit it in. But I end up hurting myself and my health. N-N-N-N....NO. I can do this. I must do this. Or I will drop over dead from a heart attack.
No.
No.
No.
Monday, September 17, 2007
And now, Deep Thoughts...by Penny
Have you ever noticed how little quiet is in the world? Media is everywhere; clock radio, TV, car radio, Ipod, CD collection. Different ways to make noise on each noisemaker; CD player/radio/alarm; CD/Stereo; TV/VCR/DVD/TiVo; multiple ring tones; on and on and on. I would love to just sit in a hammock or a rocking chair or lie in the grass and hear...nothing. Crickets, maybe. Bees buzzing by. Watch the clouds and think. Or--gasp!--read a book. In the quiet. With no music or alarm or phone or TV or radio commercial telling me I need to Get Down There Now!! Now!! Now!! and buy a Subaru...anywhere nearby. Quiet. Rest. Peace.
Just a thought...
Peace out...
Just a thought...
Peace out...
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Back to School
For me...not the kids. They've been back almost a month now. No, after a much-too-long break, I'm finally back into the swing of things. I say the break was much too long, because apparently I'm not really cut out for long breaks. The first time I attempted college, I went one year and then dropped out for what I thought were good reasons (the college was private, cost a whole lot, and I was in love and wanted to be with my boyfriend, who was leaving after that year). I didn't go back for 20 years.
This past June, I started a break that lasted until last week. And a few days before class started, I freaked out and was already trying to withdraw. I wasn't sure I should be spending this much money on a career that doesn't pay well (elementary education), my kids would need me, I really enjoyed not having to do anything academic for those couple months, I already have a good job that I love, and that has a fantastic 401K, etc.
But I took the class anyway. And as I started writing the two papers I had to turn in by Monday, I remembered...I am smart. I am a good student. And I can do this (I know, it sounds just like Stuart Smalley saying "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me-God, I love Al Franken!). Even though the education system is far from perfect, I can make a positive difference in the lives of those kids I teach.
Now, whether I'll remember all this all the way through the rest of my degree program--who knows. I'll try, and it certainly would be easier if I would!
This past June, I started a break that lasted until last week. And a few days before class started, I freaked out and was already trying to withdraw. I wasn't sure I should be spending this much money on a career that doesn't pay well (elementary education), my kids would need me, I really enjoyed not having to do anything academic for those couple months, I already have a good job that I love, and that has a fantastic 401K, etc.
But I took the class anyway. And as I started writing the two papers I had to turn in by Monday, I remembered...I am smart. I am a good student. And I can do this (I know, it sounds just like Stuart Smalley saying "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me-God, I love Al Franken!). Even though the education system is far from perfect, I can make a positive difference in the lives of those kids I teach.
Now, whether I'll remember all this all the way through the rest of my degree program--who knows. I'll try, and it certainly would be easier if I would!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Time Travel, Guilt-Ridden Thursday
I'm happily married with two kids, and sometimes, like today, I fantasize about what my life would have been like if I had married some of the other people I dated. I'm a hopeless romantic, who hopes for romance no matter what. Whether it's "smart" or not. And what is "smart" when dealing with romance, anyway? I mean clearly, there should be no abuse and it would be nice if both people were working and contributing both to the relationship and to society. But after that, I don't know that it's really possible to be smart about someone whom you love.
I know now that my husband and I happen to be deeply in love. This doesn't mean that he never does anything to irritate me, nor that I never irritate him. We've nearly divorced three or four times now, during the rough times. But I've discovered that at the core of my existence, there is this deep, basic (as in basal) love for my husband. But still, I daydream about being married to guys I used to date (those I felt deeply for, anyway): Lester Ford, Tim Fults, Danny Doneese. Yes-I am making these names up, but they represent real people who I don't want to hurt--or horrify.
I know life would probably be much the same as it is now. We would probably both work, we'd probably have kids. If I'd married Tim, as was my dream my senior year of high school, I may well have been a mousy, quiet, submissive, good little wife. The girl he married (we're good friends) is quite the opposite and they've been happily married almost as long as my husband and I. Tim ended up joining the military, and really, I doubt I could have lived like that. Don't get me wrong--those people sacrifice so much for our freedoms, and I appreciate and honor every single one of them. I just worry too much, and that's not what those guys need,.
Lester Ford really, really liked me. And he was SUCH an incredibly nice, cute, sweet, thoughtful, attentive (even though we were in high school and lived 70 miles apart), adorable, funny guy. The night we met, I walked into the retreat late, having had to play in the band at halftime at our football game. But when I walked in to campfire (literally, all the kids and staff at the retreat sitting around a fire in the rec hall fireplace, singing campfire songs), Lester stood up and motioned me over to sit by him. He introduced himself, "Hi, I'm Lester Ford--like the car." He told me I looked like Deborah VanValkenburgh, who played in Too Close for Comfort. If I remember right, we went for a walk after campfire (it was a Senior High kids' retreat, curfew was late). I know we walked down to the lake, and he kissed me. He was a good kisser, too! I remember that I couldn't believe that someone his age (he was all of two years older than me) could be interested in me. He would write me letters (we met at a fall church group retreat) and draw these incredibly beautiful, colorful pictures on the envelopes. Long, business-type envelopes with gorgeous drawings done in marker. He played guitar, and was very kind.
The trouble was, he was this wonderful, really wonderful guy. And sadly, really, REALLY sadly, I just didn't feel a whole lot of "spark" for him. Near the end of that school year, I was talking to my mom, telling her that he was great, fabulous, wonderful, and deserved better than a girl who didn't fall head over heels in love with him. She told me that if I felt that way, I really needed to let him know. So I did. And it was heart-wrenching, because I'm not kidding--he was a really wonderful guy and even though I didn't fall head-over-heels, I didn't want to hurt him.
At work the other day, three friends and I were talking. One of the friends has just started a relationship with a guy who adores her, after being burned by a two-or-three-or-four timer. She's amazed that this guy is absolutely besotted with her. My other friend said, "haven't you ever gone out with a guy who has a crush on you? It's fabulous!" It is fabulous. You feel like a queen. But because I'm me, I felt guilty that I wasn't feeling as much as he was, and I let him go. Sometimes, I wonder what it would've been like. Of course, he joined the military too. Maybe I chased guys there??
Danny was this annoying kid I met in the 6th grade. He played clarinet, like me. I thought he was weird. The only good thing about him (I thought then) was that he let me borrow his clarinet case to rest my bass clarinet on when I played it. We had a running joke--he let me borrow his case, and I told him I'd pay him the 2nd Tuesday of the week. In 8th grade, on a day when I was wearing my red/white/blue zip front sweater and standing by the big, putty-colored transformer box outside the middle school, Danny asked me to "go with him," which then meant to go steady. Of course, we didn't "go" many places, being in the 8th grade. He and I had every class together that year. He was my first (through 978th) French Kiss. The first kiss wasn't like that, but it soon developed into that. His family was very Baptist and very concerned about our relationship. They let us do things together (roller skating, birthday parties, one of us spending the day at the other's house occasionally), but on the last day of band camp, before the first day of 9th grade and high school, he broke up with me, saying that he still wanted to be friends. I was too shocked and hurt to respond properly (it really came out of nowhere, and I was way, WAY too clingy back then), so our friendship (which had developed in the 7th grade) never really righted itself.
I saw him at our 20th class reunion, with his pretty, sweet wife. Had I married him, I probably would have been very happy. But I'm also very happily married now, and I didn't have to join the Baptist church. :)
I guess it's okay to think, to dream, to make up "what-ifs." It bothers me that I do this, yet I haven't been able to quit it, nor have I ever cheated on my husband. So maybe it's a wash. At any rate, it gets me through days like today!
I know now that my husband and I happen to be deeply in love. This doesn't mean that he never does anything to irritate me, nor that I never irritate him. We've nearly divorced three or four times now, during the rough times. But I've discovered that at the core of my existence, there is this deep, basic (as in basal) love for my husband. But still, I daydream about being married to guys I used to date (those I felt deeply for, anyway): Lester Ford, Tim Fults, Danny Doneese. Yes-I am making these names up, but they represent real people who I don't want to hurt--or horrify.
I know life would probably be much the same as it is now. We would probably both work, we'd probably have kids. If I'd married Tim, as was my dream my senior year of high school, I may well have been a mousy, quiet, submissive, good little wife. The girl he married (we're good friends) is quite the opposite and they've been happily married almost as long as my husband and I. Tim ended up joining the military, and really, I doubt I could have lived like that. Don't get me wrong--those people sacrifice so much for our freedoms, and I appreciate and honor every single one of them. I just worry too much, and that's not what those guys need,.
Lester Ford really, really liked me. And he was SUCH an incredibly nice, cute, sweet, thoughtful, attentive (even though we were in high school and lived 70 miles apart), adorable, funny guy. The night we met, I walked into the retreat late, having had to play in the band at halftime at our football game. But when I walked in to campfire (literally, all the kids and staff at the retreat sitting around a fire in the rec hall fireplace, singing campfire songs), Lester stood up and motioned me over to sit by him. He introduced himself, "Hi, I'm Lester Ford--like the car." He told me I looked like Deborah VanValkenburgh, who played in Too Close for Comfort. If I remember right, we went for a walk after campfire (it was a Senior High kids' retreat, curfew was late). I know we walked down to the lake, and he kissed me. He was a good kisser, too! I remember that I couldn't believe that someone his age (he was all of two years older than me) could be interested in me. He would write me letters (we met at a fall church group retreat) and draw these incredibly beautiful, colorful pictures on the envelopes. Long, business-type envelopes with gorgeous drawings done in marker. He played guitar, and was very kind.
The trouble was, he was this wonderful, really wonderful guy. And sadly, really, REALLY sadly, I just didn't feel a whole lot of "spark" for him. Near the end of that school year, I was talking to my mom, telling her that he was great, fabulous, wonderful, and deserved better than a girl who didn't fall head over heels in love with him. She told me that if I felt that way, I really needed to let him know. So I did. And it was heart-wrenching, because I'm not kidding--he was a really wonderful guy and even though I didn't fall head-over-heels, I didn't want to hurt him.
At work the other day, three friends and I were talking. One of the friends has just started a relationship with a guy who adores her, after being burned by a two-or-three-or-four timer. She's amazed that this guy is absolutely besotted with her. My other friend said, "haven't you ever gone out with a guy who has a crush on you? It's fabulous!" It is fabulous. You feel like a queen. But because I'm me, I felt guilty that I wasn't feeling as much as he was, and I let him go. Sometimes, I wonder what it would've been like. Of course, he joined the military too. Maybe I chased guys there??
Danny was this annoying kid I met in the 6th grade. He played clarinet, like me. I thought he was weird. The only good thing about him (I thought then) was that he let me borrow his clarinet case to rest my bass clarinet on when I played it. We had a running joke--he let me borrow his case, and I told him I'd pay him the 2nd Tuesday of the week. In 8th grade, on a day when I was wearing my red/white/blue zip front sweater and standing by the big, putty-colored transformer box outside the middle school, Danny asked me to "go with him," which then meant to go steady. Of course, we didn't "go" many places, being in the 8th grade. He and I had every class together that year. He was my first (through 978th) French Kiss. The first kiss wasn't like that, but it soon developed into that. His family was very Baptist and very concerned about our relationship. They let us do things together (roller skating, birthday parties, one of us spending the day at the other's house occasionally), but on the last day of band camp, before the first day of 9th grade and high school, he broke up with me, saying that he still wanted to be friends. I was too shocked and hurt to respond properly (it really came out of nowhere, and I was way, WAY too clingy back then), so our friendship (which had developed in the 7th grade) never really righted itself.
I saw him at our 20th class reunion, with his pretty, sweet wife. Had I married him, I probably would have been very happy. But I'm also very happily married now, and I didn't have to join the Baptist church. :)
I guess it's okay to think, to dream, to make up "what-ifs." It bothers me that I do this, yet I haven't been able to quit it, nor have I ever cheated on my husband. So maybe it's a wash. At any rate, it gets me through days like today!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Tonight was instrument night at my son's school. We went, and as expected, he chose a clarinet. I'm honored...I played that for 12 years! But, like I said yesterday, it's Squidward from Spongebob Squarepants who should be honored...I think he's 9/10 of the reason Ben chose a clarinet!
The first class is tomorrow, and he's so excited. He opened the case about 50 times tonight, just to look at it. It's just a rental, but it makes him so happy! The program the school rents with is pretty cool; any and all rental money can go toward the purchase of a new instrument if/when he gets serious and decides this is for good. But, he can also change instruments if he wants, which is kind of nice, too. A clarinet and a saxophone are a lot alike, so he could change to that, or to drums, which I also think would be totally cool, or whatever. So it doesn't tie the parents into some huge expense they can't really afford, only to have El Kiddo quit 3 weeks into lessons.
I could swear this boy was just born yesterday...and already he's in fifth grade! How??
Monday, August 20, 2007
A Friend Lost, and a Squidward Wanna-Be
Today's post was a toss-up between faking something happy, or honestly writng something not so happy. Honesty won. It's really hard losing a friend. But I have lost one, apparently.
Weeks and weeks ago, after years of being Ruth's* friend, and after years of hearing her attitude and general outlook on life nose-dive to levels that, to me, were scary, I told Ruth that I cared a lot about her and wanted her to be well. I said that it might be a good idea to see her doctor about her depression and at least consider medication. I thought this was a good thing for me to do, because I'm her friend and I wanted to be honest. I thought I could do this, because she never hesitated to say what was on her mind about what I was doing, or about other friends or people in general. She openly criticized people all the time. And that was when she was doing well. But at this point, her e-mails were full of hate toward whoever she happened to be talking about. I prayed about it, because I didn't want to fly off the handle and be hurtful. And one day, I felt God telling me what to say to her.
The writing flowed out so easily I know I wasn't the only one involved-God was helping me know what to write. I sent it, and later that day, got a very short e-mail back, saying "Your concerns are noted!"
I didn't push it. I thanked her, and she continued to tell me about problems she was having with friends. I commented on it, and always got short e-mails; in one she even said she didn't care to discuss it (whatever we were talking about at the moment) anymore. But I hadn't brought it up-she had.
Then, I went to Las Vegas, the town where she lives, but with another friend because we had scheduled a girls get-away weekend months beforehand. I didn't tell Ruth I would be there, because I also have a relationship with the friend I took the trip with, and even though I agonized over whether to tell Ruth or not, I couldn't find a real way to do so. What could I have said..."Hi, my friend Amy* and I will be there, but we're going to try to check out all the casinos on the Strip (which, to my traveling companion literally meant walking through each one-not hanging out and gambling) and I know you hate casinos and hate the smoke. We're also going to hang out at the pool, which I know you hate as well. And we're going to be on Fremont Street, which scares the heck out of you. Wanna join us?"
See, I thought I was allowed to have more than one friend. I didn't realize I was supposed to check in with every one of my friends to make sure it was okay with them. But apparently I should have, becuase Ruth called while I was gone. My son answered the phone, and when Ruth asked if I was there, he said that no, I was coming home from Las Vegas. And I haven't heard word one from her since, despite a return phone call and several happy, here's-what's-new e-mails. I have a couple different friends who come to Phoenix for various things, and they don't call me every time they're here. I thought that was normal adult behavior-sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do.
So, anyway, I'm down one friend. She was in town this weekend, and of course I didn't hear from her. I'm sure I had to be punished for my trip, see. And that's okay, if if helps her feel better.
It's hard, but I'm still praying for her. Truthfully, I can't see what's going on in her world; it may be totally different from what I think. But it still sucks. I miss the happy her. And I hope she's okay.
On a happier note, tomorrow night is "Instrument Night" at my son's school, for the kids who want to be in the band. He's leaning heavily toward clarinet, like Squidward on Spongebob Squarepants. I'll let you know what kind of musician we have tomorrow!
*=not the real names.
Weeks and weeks ago, after years of being Ruth's* friend, and after years of hearing her attitude and general outlook on life nose-dive to levels that, to me, were scary, I told Ruth that I cared a lot about her and wanted her to be well. I said that it might be a good idea to see her doctor about her depression and at least consider medication. I thought this was a good thing for me to do, because I'm her friend and I wanted to be honest. I thought I could do this, because she never hesitated to say what was on her mind about what I was doing, or about other friends or people in general. She openly criticized people all the time. And that was when she was doing well. But at this point, her e-mails were full of hate toward whoever she happened to be talking about. I prayed about it, because I didn't want to fly off the handle and be hurtful. And one day, I felt God telling me what to say to her.
The writing flowed out so easily I know I wasn't the only one involved-God was helping me know what to write. I sent it, and later that day, got a very short e-mail back, saying "Your concerns are noted!"
I didn't push it. I thanked her, and she continued to tell me about problems she was having with friends. I commented on it, and always got short e-mails; in one she even said she didn't care to discuss it (whatever we were talking about at the moment) anymore. But I hadn't brought it up-she had.
Then, I went to Las Vegas, the town where she lives, but with another friend because we had scheduled a girls get-away weekend months beforehand. I didn't tell Ruth I would be there, because I also have a relationship with the friend I took the trip with, and even though I agonized over whether to tell Ruth or not, I couldn't find a real way to do so. What could I have said..."Hi, my friend Amy* and I will be there, but we're going to try to check out all the casinos on the Strip (which, to my traveling companion literally meant walking through each one-not hanging out and gambling) and I know you hate casinos and hate the smoke. We're also going to hang out at the pool, which I know you hate as well. And we're going to be on Fremont Street, which scares the heck out of you. Wanna join us?"
See, I thought I was allowed to have more than one friend. I didn't realize I was supposed to check in with every one of my friends to make sure it was okay with them. But apparently I should have, becuase Ruth called while I was gone. My son answered the phone, and when Ruth asked if I was there, he said that no, I was coming home from Las Vegas. And I haven't heard word one from her since, despite a return phone call and several happy, here's-what's-new e-mails. I have a couple different friends who come to Phoenix for various things, and they don't call me every time they're here. I thought that was normal adult behavior-sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do.
So, anyway, I'm down one friend. She was in town this weekend, and of course I didn't hear from her. I'm sure I had to be punished for my trip, see. And that's okay, if if helps her feel better.
It's hard, but I'm still praying for her. Truthfully, I can't see what's going on in her world; it may be totally different from what I think. But it still sucks. I miss the happy her. And I hope she's okay.
On a happier note, tomorrow night is "Instrument Night" at my son's school, for the kids who want to be in the band. He's leaning heavily toward clarinet, like Squidward on Spongebob Squarepants. I'll let you know what kind of musician we have tomorrow!
*=not the real names.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Vacation Pictures!
At Long Last...some pictures from our Mexico trip!
Mayan Resorts-
Our first day, we went to Mayan Resorts. Sounds odd, I know. See, I (the wimp) was driving as we entered Mexico, and at the border a man waved me over to the side, so I assumed I had to stop. After his 5-minute spiel, I don't know what possessed us to actually give him $20 for all the free stuff he promised us--including our $20 returned to us. We arrived here at 9:30 in the morning, and left (finally! Four salesmen and women later!!) at 12:30, with our $20 and a free bottle of tequila. It wasn't that good, either. Total time-share sales pitch...if you go, you only have to stop at the border when you see a dude in a uniform with a Stop (Alto, in Mexico) sign.
CEDO
This is a museum we visited on our second day in Mexico. It was about 1/4 mile, tops, from the beach house we rented. That's me, in the pink (the big one in the pink). My hair was a mess all week with the humidity. Normally it's curly, but in Mexico, next to the ocean...it was REALLY curly!
We're standing in front of a Fin Whale skeleton. This whale, sadly, beached itself in Rocky Point in 1985.
Hermit Crabs-
One of the neat things about Rocky Point is that low tide and high tide are very different. Early (5:00) Tuesday morning, I went out to the living room to look at the ocean, and the water had receded probably 150 feet from where it had been the night before. I immediately remembered the tsunami in the Indian Ocean, and promptly woke up my husband to ask him if we should worry about this. We decided to go back to sleep, and it was a good thing. The water being back that far is normal for Rocky Point, and when it recedes, there are sand bars all over the place near the shore. This picture is of hermit crabs, which were plentiful around the sand bar in front of our house. They're really cool! They hide in the shells (the white, long one above was named Jenny by our kids) and scuttle around in the sand when they want to. You can pick them up and they'll peek at you, but I've never seen one come all the way out of the shell. We found and played with (and put back in the water) several over the week.
The Beach toward Old Town, from in front of our house.
The cutest boy in the world, in the hole he dug.
The cutest girl in the world, playing "Trouble" with wet hair.
Parasailing--Aaaaaahhhhhh!
I can't wait to go again!!
Mayan Resorts-
Our first day, we went to Mayan Resorts. Sounds odd, I know. See, I (the wimp) was driving as we entered Mexico, and at the border a man waved me over to the side, so I assumed I had to stop. After his 5-minute spiel, I don't know what possessed us to actually give him $20 for all the free stuff he promised us--including our $20 returned to us. We arrived here at 9:30 in the morning, and left (finally! Four salesmen and women later!!) at 12:30, with our $20 and a free bottle of tequila. It wasn't that good, either. Total time-share sales pitch...if you go, you only have to stop at the border when you see a dude in a uniform with a Stop (Alto, in Mexico) sign.
CEDOThis is a museum we visited on our second day in Mexico. It was about 1/4 mile, tops, from the beach house we rented. That's me, in the pink (the big one in the pink). My hair was a mess all week with the humidity. Normally it's curly, but in Mexico, next to the ocean...it was REALLY curly!
We're standing in front of a Fin Whale skeleton. This whale, sadly, beached itself in Rocky Point in 1985.
Hermit Crabs-
One of the neat things about Rocky Point is that low tide and high tide are very different. Early (5:00) Tuesday morning, I went out to the living room to look at the ocean, and the water had receded probably 150 feet from where it had been the night before. I immediately remembered the tsunami in the Indian Ocean, and promptly woke up my husband to ask him if we should worry about this. We decided to go back to sleep, and it was a good thing. The water being back that far is normal for Rocky Point, and when it recedes, there are sand bars all over the place near the shore. This picture is of hermit crabs, which were plentiful around the sand bar in front of our house. They're really cool! They hide in the shells (the white, long one above was named Jenny by our kids) and scuttle around in the sand when they want to. You can pick them up and they'll peek at you, but I've never seen one come all the way out of the shell. We found and played with (and put back in the water) several over the week.
The Beach toward Old Town, from in front of our house.
The cutest boy in the world, in the hole he dug.
The cutest girl in the world, playing "Trouble" with wet hair.
Parasailing--Aaaaaahhhhhh!
I can't wait to go again!!
Sunday, August 12, 2007
5 Things Meme
I totally and completely stole this from Lauren, because it's been a LOOOOOONNNNNNNNGG day and I needed an idea for a post.
Five things I'd do if I were a millionaire
1. Pay off my house.
Five things I was doing 10 years ago
1. Being a mom for the first time...our son was 2 months old!
2. Working at American Indian Art Magazine.
3. Freaking out about being a mom.
4. Watching WAY more TV than I do now (hey, you gotta do something at all those night time feedings.
1. Being a mom for the first time...our son was 2 months old!
2. Working at American Indian Art Magazine.
3. Freaking out about being a mom.
4. Watching WAY more TV than I do now (hey, you gotta do something at all those night time feedings.
5. Buying our first car with air bags.
Five things on my to-do list today
1. Go to church.
2. Plan and pre-cook dinners for the week.
3. Go to bed by 10:00 (oops!)
4. Set alarm for 6:00 a.m. (ugh! I'm SO not a morning person) to get the kids up and ready for their first day of school tomorrow.
5. Nap (I did, sort of, while watching "Spanglish."
3. Go to bed by 10:00 (oops!)
4. Set alarm for 6:00 a.m. (ugh! I'm SO not a morning person) to get the kids up and ready for their first day of school tomorrow.
5. Nap (I did, sort of, while watching "Spanglish."
Five snacks I enjoy
1. Cheese Sticks
2. Applesauce cups
3. Cookies
4. Wintergreen Lifesavers
5. Ice Cream
2. Applesauce cups
3. Cookies
4. Wintergreen Lifesavers
5. Ice Cream
Five things I'd do if I were a millionaire
1. Pay off my house.
2. Pay off my parents house.
3. Go to either Mansfield, MO or DeSmet, SD to study Laura Ingalls Wilder in depth.
4. Pay off my cars.
5. Get my entire extended family together for a big, super-fun vacation.
]
3. Go to either Mansfield, MO or DeSmet, SD to study Laura Ingalls Wilder in depth.
4. Pay off my cars.
5. Get my entire extended family together for a big, super-fun vacation.
]
Five things I'd never wear again
1. Bell Bottoms
2. Those see-thru, colored (mine was purple) raincoats of the 80's...so HOT!
3. My band jacket
4. My "senior key" necklace that I thought was so important to have.
5. Leg Warmers (at least I don't think I would).
1. Bell Bottoms
2. Those see-thru, colored (mine was purple) raincoats of the 80's...so HOT!
3. My band jacket
4. My "senior key" necklace that I thought was so important to have.
5. Leg Warmers (at least I don't think I would).
Five favorite toys
1. Computer
2. iPod
3. My Kitchen Aid Mixer
4. Cell Phone
5. the TV in my room
1. Computer
2. iPod
3. My Kitchen Aid Mixer
4. Cell Phone
5. the TV in my room
Friday, August 10, 2007
We're Baaaaaaaaaack!
Hola! Como Estas!
A good time was had by all in Rocky Point.
BTW, a big THANK YOU (see--it's big!) goes to Kayelyn, who translated my "see you in a week" into Spanish. See the comments of the post before this for the correct lingo.
I learned a few things in Mexico. First, you don't have to pull over at the border at the first guy who waves you to the side of the road. Silly me, I was driving in a foreign country and thought I should do what he said, since I was at the border. Nope. He was selling time shares. But he didn't say that, he said there was a new hotel and they'd like to have people go see it and spread the word about it, so they were offering us a free breakfast, a bottle of tequila, and a sunset harbor cruise. Then, after his 5 minutes spiel, he says he needs $20 to guarantee we'll show up. We did show up, and it was indeed a lovely breakfast and a lovely resort. But it wasn't a hotel, it was one of several resorts run by Mayan Resorts, wherein you buy something that sounds remarkably like a time share. But they swear it's not one. Four hours later we left, having purchased NO timeshare, with a bottle of tequila and our $20 returned to us as promised, and only after having spoken to no less than four sales people. We didn't get the promised harbor cruise (surprise, surprise) because we didn't have a major credit card (we travel with our debit cards because we have one credit card that is empty and is STRICTLY for emergencies). This lovely company has "plants" all over Rocky Point, too; we were asked at least twice in old town Rocky Point the day we were there. They're friendly, they give you your money back, and we got the tequila (which is only okay, not fabulous, by the way).
Things improved a lot after that. We saw a marine museum with the enormous skeleton of a whale who sadly beached itself in Rocky Point in 1985. Right in front of our condo (100 yards, max) was The Ocean, or, rather; The Gulf of California. Whatever. It was awesome. We spent mucho time on the beach building castles and playing in the waves. On Wednesday we lost power for a little bit, so we decided it was the perfect time to go in to "Old Town" and do some shopping. We did that, and we also found a nice restaurant and bought our only meal out there. While we were there we also got a great recommendation for a place to go parasailing, so Thursday we went parasailing. When I say "we," I mean all of us--they actually let the kids go, and the kids wanted to go. It was awesome!! I would do it again in a heartbeat! We went in two tandem set-ups; Ben and I went first, then Tony and Julie. We ended up sitting, literally, in these harnesses so it felt very secure and safe. We also had life jackets on--serious ones! It was almost like when I fly in my dreams, except there was a 10-year old in front of me, smacking into me every now and again (it's harnesses strapped to a parachute, not a Cadillac). When we got off the boat afterward, we were walking to our car and saw dolphins in the harbor! I think there were two of them. They surfaced every once in awhile for at least 10 minutes, right in front of us. Well, we were on the shore, but still...very cool!
Every night I read my book, and we sat on the deck and watched the stars come out, and played games with the kids, and slept really, really well. The afternoons, from about 1:00 to 4:00, were really hot-over 100 degrees, with 100 percent humidity...ugh! I read a lot in the afternoons, and napped under the fantastic air conditioning vent that was directly over our bed. I got through my book 1.5 times...I love this story! It's just a romance novel, but it involves small towns and country music, too, and it's just happy and fun. It's one that I have kept for several years to re-read. It's called Small Town Girl, by LaVyrle Spencer. Totally dorky, but that's me!
I will hopefully have pictures to share in the near future. Right now they're all on my husband's laptop because we just got home today. Also, for you Good Mailers, I haven't forgotten you. I've just been busy prepping for the vaca and all.
It's good to be back!!
A good time was had by all in Rocky Point.
BTW, a big THANK YOU (see--it's big!) goes to Kayelyn, who translated my "see you in a week" into Spanish. See the comments of the post before this for the correct lingo.
I learned a few things in Mexico. First, you don't have to pull over at the border at the first guy who waves you to the side of the road. Silly me, I was driving in a foreign country and thought I should do what he said, since I was at the border. Nope. He was selling time shares. But he didn't say that, he said there was a new hotel and they'd like to have people go see it and spread the word about it, so they were offering us a free breakfast, a bottle of tequila, and a sunset harbor cruise. Then, after his 5 minutes spiel, he says he needs $20 to guarantee we'll show up. We did show up, and it was indeed a lovely breakfast and a lovely resort. But it wasn't a hotel, it was one of several resorts run by Mayan Resorts, wherein you buy something that sounds remarkably like a time share. But they swear it's not one. Four hours later we left, having purchased NO timeshare, with a bottle of tequila and our $20 returned to us as promised, and only after having spoken to no less than four sales people. We didn't get the promised harbor cruise (surprise, surprise) because we didn't have a major credit card (we travel with our debit cards because we have one credit card that is empty and is STRICTLY for emergencies). This lovely company has "plants" all over Rocky Point, too; we were asked at least twice in old town Rocky Point the day we were there. They're friendly, they give you your money back, and we got the tequila (which is only okay, not fabulous, by the way).
Things improved a lot after that. We saw a marine museum with the enormous skeleton of a whale who sadly beached itself in Rocky Point in 1985. Right in front of our condo (100 yards, max) was The Ocean, or, rather; The Gulf of California. Whatever. It was awesome. We spent mucho time on the beach building castles and playing in the waves. On Wednesday we lost power for a little bit, so we decided it was the perfect time to go in to "Old Town" and do some shopping. We did that, and we also found a nice restaurant and bought our only meal out there. While we were there we also got a great recommendation for a place to go parasailing, so Thursday we went parasailing. When I say "we," I mean all of us--they actually let the kids go, and the kids wanted to go. It was awesome!! I would do it again in a heartbeat! We went in two tandem set-ups; Ben and I went first, then Tony and Julie. We ended up sitting, literally, in these harnesses so it felt very secure and safe. We also had life jackets on--serious ones! It was almost like when I fly in my dreams, except there was a 10-year old in front of me, smacking into me every now and again (it's harnesses strapped to a parachute, not a Cadillac). When we got off the boat afterward, we were walking to our car and saw dolphins in the harbor! I think there were two of them. They surfaced every once in awhile for at least 10 minutes, right in front of us. Well, we were on the shore, but still...very cool!
Every night I read my book, and we sat on the deck and watched the stars come out, and played games with the kids, and slept really, really well. The afternoons, from about 1:00 to 4:00, were really hot-over 100 degrees, with 100 percent humidity...ugh! I read a lot in the afternoons, and napped under the fantastic air conditioning vent that was directly over our bed. I got through my book 1.5 times...I love this story! It's just a romance novel, but it involves small towns and country music, too, and it's just happy and fun. It's one that I have kept for several years to re-read. It's called Small Town Girl, by LaVyrle Spencer. Totally dorky, but that's me!
I will hopefully have pictures to share in the near future. Right now they're all on my husband's laptop because we just got home today. Also, for you Good Mailers, I haven't forgotten you. I've just been busy prepping for the vaca and all.
It's good to be back!!
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Adios Para un week
Yeah...sorry. I don't know the Spanish word that equates to "week." We're almost all packed and it's only 10:15-ish the night before! A record, for us.
Take care, all, and have a fabulous week! I'll miss you!
Take care, all, and have a fabulous week! I'll miss you!
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