Went to the pet store and bought some rabbit food for Amelia, plus a water bottle. I hope she 'gets' the idea of how to drink from it. Everything was going well...until around 6:30 last night.
"But I Just Wanted to Hold It!"
I was fixing dinner when something told me to go check on W, who was watching ICarly. S was downstairs playing a video game; K was at football. I walk into the living room, and the first thing which catches my eye is the cage door open.
"Where's the bunny?"
"I took him out of the cage and he runned away."
"Go get your sister. NOW!"
He ran to the stairs and yelled for her; I checked the four corners of the room. No sign of a tiny brown bunny. S arrives; I filled her in and instructed her to move all the furniture and find Amelia. I returned to the stove just in time to stop the mashed potatoes from boiling over.
I'm not kidding what happend next. We literally turned the living room upside down. The couch was overturned (we found several socks, small toys, and Monopoly money); the video cabinet moved; I located a working flashlight (rare in this house, lol!) and we shined it under every chair, behind the piano, under the TV, and the decorative tables. No sign of her.
We sat down and ate dinner, then extended the search to the other rooms. Still no sign. S even went downstairs and brought Lucky up, letting her sniff the towel she used to hold A, in hopes of Lucky 'miraculously' remember she's a hunting dog, and to find the animal. No; Lucky went to the front door and looked expectantly 'Aren't you going to take me for a walk' expression on her face, tongue hanging out and tail wagging furiously.
I suggested bringing in Oreo, and S looked at me disgustedly.
"He might kill her this time!"
So we put the house back together (K was home by this time) and I was sooooooo mad at my youngest, I was afraid to touch him. Yes, I lost my temper royally last night. There was no ice cream, no bedtime story. He was spanked and sent to bed after being threatened with another spanking if he didn't help with the cleanup (he did).
We put Lucky in the basement (after a short walk around the block) and set Amelia's food bowl on the floor. I went to bed with a sniffling W, and read the rest of No Price Too High. S went down the street to watch a movie at a friend's house.
Around 11:30, K poked his head in the bedroom.
"Bunny's been found! I made one last 'sweep' of the room before I turned out the lights, and she was under the green frog chair. I put her back in the cage."
Thank God!
So this morning, we told W, and hopefully got the message through his 5-yr-old brain that he is NOT to open the cage, or even LOOK at Amelia, unless S is with him!
I wonder how many gray hairs are in my head this morning?
Looking Ahead...
I probably won't post tomorrow; I have to be downtown at seven am for the Watemelon Festival. Spouse is bringing 'the grandkids' home with him tonight, to spend a week with us (Hopefully Aunt Molly won't be too grouchy this week, ha ha!)
Tomorrow night, the pool is having a free, 'Dive-In Movie'; they will have a gigantic blow up screen, and showing Madagascar 2. People can swim, sit on the deck, or lounge outside the fence. There is also free popcorn and drinks. Depending on the weather, we might take all five kids, or at least the little ones.
Today's To-Do LIst:
-Pick up my bookmarks
-Finish putting the house back in order (yes, there are still some 'dust bunnies' to dispose of)
-Pizza for dinner
Was I upset that Casey went home last night? Not really. Jordan and Jeff are cute to watch. I think BB could have waited another week or so before dissolving the cliques, though. And we DVR'd 'After Dark', to see who won HOH. Russell won; it came down to he and Jeff, and they made a deal. Both men were in PAIN! And Russ couldn't have dropped out without help; it turned out his shorts were tangled in the cord! He literally had to hang upside down and pull himself out of his shorts in order to get down. And then could barely walk. No word on whether or not anyone chose a 'graduation present'. I guess we'll find out on Sunday.
Have a good weekend and I'll be back either Sunday or Monday:)
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
New Pet and Good News:)
Currently Reading: Irresistible Forces was okay; I kept expecting other outcomes, but it kept me turning the pages. Passion's Promise was as enjoyable as I remembered; The Other Karen was interesting, yet confusing at times. And today I'll be reading No Price Too High.
First the good news:
Kenzie got her fourth glowing review!
" What a great read! Amber and Marc had fantastic chemistry and I loved Marc’s willingness to take his father to task for past sins while protecting his true love. The sex was hot, the story was fun and I cheered the romance on from the beginning."
Read the rest here: http://mistressbellaquickies.blogspot.com/
Now for the new pet:
We've had a rabbit living in the back yard for several weeks, and the other day we discovered she had babies!
Oreo (our 9-month-old kitten/cat) decided to take one of the little ones as a playmate. Remember; Oreo doesn't know he's a cat; he lets the rats 'beat up' on him when he gets too close to the cage? (Yes, it is still happening every once in a while...) Well, we discovered O 'curled up' in a corner of the front porch with his new 'playmate'. The bunny was simply cowering in the corner; O was licking it. When S and I approached to see what was going on, O looks up and meows proudly. S picks up the bunny, who immediately begins chirping.
We inspected the poor little thing; no blood, no evidence of bite marks or broken bones. And since it was after hours for either the vet or the local Wildlife guy, we found the old rat cage, put some bedding in the bottom, and put the bunny, along with a dish of water and several handfulls of grass/clover into it. The kids then went online to check for information.
Further inspection of the backyard revealed no evidence of the nest. Via internet sites, the bunny is over six weeks old, and has survived the night. S checked for anatomical features; we have a girl. 'Thumper' became 'Bunny', who has now been dubbed 'Amelia' (my suggestion of 'Thumpette' got an eye-roll, lol!)
And since twenty years ago, I helped my fiancee (aka The Idiot) raise Checkered Giants, S is hoping we will be able to keep this good-natured little girl bunny, even though the site says it is illegal. So we'll see what the Wildlife guy says today. Amelia is eating; she allows herself to be handled and petted. She is cute to watch as she burrows into the wood chips, or the empty Kleenex box in the cage, or the towel S wraps her in when she's being handled (ala Pinky in his early days, lol:). So come back tomorrow and find out what if we'll be allowed to keep her, or if she'll have to be released back into the wild.
I just hope we don't have another 'Simon' incident (see Kenzie's Place, Memorial Weekend).
Today's To-Do List:
-Laundry. After being dry every night for the past week, he made up for it. 'Nuff said.
-Finding W's immunization record; just discovered it's not where I remembered it last.
-Visit the MIL (and return three out of the four books I borrowed)
-Meatloaf for dinner
-Big Brother on TV
First the good news:
Kenzie got her fourth glowing review!
" What a great read! Amber and Marc had fantastic chemistry and I loved Marc’s willingness to take his father to task for past sins while protecting his true love. The sex was hot, the story was fun and I cheered the romance on from the beginning."
Read the rest here: http://mistressbellaquickies.blogspot.com/
Now for the new pet:
We've had a rabbit living in the back yard for several weeks, and the other day we discovered she had babies!
Oreo (our 9-month-old kitten/cat) decided to take one of the little ones as a playmate. Remember; Oreo doesn't know he's a cat; he lets the rats 'beat up' on him when he gets too close to the cage? (Yes, it is still happening every once in a while...) Well, we discovered O 'curled up' in a corner of the front porch with his new 'playmate'. The bunny was simply cowering in the corner; O was licking it. When S and I approached to see what was going on, O looks up and meows proudly. S picks up the bunny, who immediately begins chirping.
We inspected the poor little thing; no blood, no evidence of bite marks or broken bones. And since it was after hours for either the vet or the local Wildlife guy, we found the old rat cage, put some bedding in the bottom, and put the bunny, along with a dish of water and several handfulls of grass/clover into it. The kids then went online to check for information.
Further inspection of the backyard revealed no evidence of the nest. Via internet sites, the bunny is over six weeks old, and has survived the night. S checked for anatomical features; we have a girl. 'Thumper' became 'Bunny', who has now been dubbed 'Amelia' (my suggestion of 'Thumpette' got an eye-roll, lol!)
And since twenty years ago, I helped my fiancee (aka The Idiot) raise Checkered Giants, S is hoping we will be able to keep this good-natured little girl bunny, even though the site says it is illegal. So we'll see what the Wildlife guy says today. Amelia is eating; she allows herself to be handled and petted. She is cute to watch as she burrows into the wood chips, or the empty Kleenex box in the cage, or the towel S wraps her in when she's being handled (ala Pinky in his early days, lol:). So come back tomorrow and find out what if we'll be allowed to keep her, or if she'll have to be released back into the wild.
I just hope we don't have another 'Simon' incident (see Kenzie's Place, Memorial Weekend).
Today's To-Do List:
-Laundry. After being dry every night for the past week, he made up for it. 'Nuff said.
-Finding W's immunization record; just discovered it's not where I remembered it last.
-Visit the MIL (and return three out of the four books I borrowed)
-Meatloaf for dinner
-Big Brother on TV
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Random Wednesday Thoughts
I can't remember what I was going to blog about today! Blame the light insomnia attack last night.
Jesse is an ass. He put Casey on the block instead of Ronnie.
Happy birthday B!!! One of these days I'll find that poem I wrote for you and post it here, hahahahahaha....
Today's To-Do List:
-Order football pictures and T-shirts
-Pick up MIL's TV; it isn't working. Blown fuse again??
-Vacuum the floors
-Fix Chicken Cordon Bleu for dinner
-Watch last night's Law and Order: SVU episode
-Get some writing accomplished? It's been over a week since I've written anything new!
If my memory returns, I'll be back later. In the meantime, enjoy the blogs to the right and have a great day:)
Jesse is an ass. He put Casey on the block instead of Ronnie.
Happy birthday B!!! One of these days I'll find that poem I wrote for you and post it here, hahahahahaha....
Today's To-Do List:
-Order football pictures and T-shirts
-Pick up MIL's TV; it isn't working. Blown fuse again??
-Vacuum the floors
-Fix Chicken Cordon Bleu for dinner
-Watch last night's Law and Order: SVU episode
-Get some writing accomplished? It's been over a week since I've written anything new!
If my memory returns, I'll be back later. In the meantime, enjoy the blogs to the right and have a great day:)
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
I Think They Had Fun...
A friend of mine needed a sitter this past weekend, so little C joined us for a day at the fair. I think she and W enjoyed themselves...
Future firefighters?
The Dragon Coaster (W rode this twice; both times in the front seat!)
S rode the merry-go-round with them six times in a row!
If you look closely, you'll see W is 'driving' his big brother K.
S and C. Due to their line placement, the kids couldn't ride this at the same time, and C had no desire to attempt it again (she's a little shy).
This was W's favorite ride last year! I think he went down it only three times this year.
"This is awesome, Mom!"
"I'm in a cool car!"
We all rode the scrambler; you can just see W and C's heads. The second time, I took C on the scrambler while S and W went on the Tornado. Later, I bought three more tickets so I could go on the Tornado with S. And she discovered Mom likes to spin! In fact, she had to tell me to stop turning the wheel at one point; she was getting too dizzy.
I took this one because it struck me funny. This was posted on the kiddie train ride, and if you look closely, it says 'intoxicated persons not permitted' and 'Not recommended for pregnant people'.
Future firefighters?
The Dragon Coaster (W rode this twice; both times in the front seat!) 
S rode the merry-go-round with them six times in a row! 
If you look closely, you'll see W is 'driving' his big brother K. 
S and C. Due to their line placement, the kids couldn't ride this at the same time, and C had no desire to attempt it again (she's a little shy).
This was W's favorite ride last year! I think he went down it only three times this year.
"This is awesome, Mom!"
"I'm in a cool car!"
We all rode the scrambler; you can just see W and C's heads. The second time, I took C on the scrambler while S and W went on the Tornado. Later, I bought three more tickets so I could go on the Tornado with S. And she discovered Mom likes to spin! In fact, she had to tell me to stop turning the wheel at one point; she was getting too dizzy.
I took this one because it struck me funny. This was posted on the kiddie train ride, and if you look closely, it says 'intoxicated persons not permitted' and 'Not recommended for pregnant people'.
Reality Show Update:
Next Food Network Star judges had a tough decision Sunday night: Debbie the 'Soul to Seoul' chef or Jeffrey the 'Cooking without Borders' chef. I think Debbie's integrity problem caught up with her, and she was voted out. Like I said last week, I think Melissa has a shot at winning this thing.
Big Brother, on the other hand, is a no-brainer. If they don't get rid of Ronnie this week, they're going to regret it. We'll see what happens tonight at the Veto Challenge.
Patience Has Paid Off!
Remember my falling out with a friend last month? We met for coffee and all is well again!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Manic Monday
Currently Reading: Borrowed more books from nursing home: Passion's Promise and Irresistible Forces by Danielle Steele; The Other Karen by Velda Johnston; and No Price Too High by Madeleine A. Polland. E-book buying will resume next week:)
Where did July go? It's hard to believe this is the last week already! Aaaack! As I told W, schoolstarts in just 2 short weeks. We've got quite a bit of activity in these next couple of weeks.
School shopping: The teens don't need much, beyond a few notebooks, pens, and pencils, and Walmart is advertising $12 4G flash drives in various colors. I went ahead and bought my incoming freshman one. What color did she want? Black! (Tried to buy a red one for myself, but as hubby pointed out, I already have two; why would I want another one? Gee....backup perhaps? I still have lots of wips on disk or CD. And my others are only 2G. Just sayin'....)
The kindergartener...he's another shopping spree waiting to happen. Crayons, pencils, markers, folders, gym shoes, paper towels, kleenex, backpack, scissors, glue, own laptop or flash drive... (just kidding, but it probably won't be long!)
And of course, all three need clothes. Thank God the spouse is back to work!
Visiting Grandma: My mother went to Florida for two weeks and now would like a couple of days with her grandkids at the pool. Unfortunately, the senior has football conditioning every day, so he can't go. The others and I will go up next week for three days, and hopefully the weather will cooperate! My 'grandkids' might even be with us, and the trip coincides with their birthday, so who knows what surprises are in store next week?
Bill Paying: Always fun after the work schedule has settled down. I get to go through the stack and find the most current; call everyone and set up a payment schedule; and finally, inform the spouse so he doesn't mess it up by making his own agreements!
State Fair? I don't know if we'll manage to squeeze in a trip this year or not. Depends on my mother's health, and if she's up to taking myself, one teen, and three kids ages 7, 6, and 5. Or if I'm crazy enough to attempt it. I used to sneak off to it when the kids were in school (Fair Weather Day was always my favorite Theme Day; I got to meet the local weathermen from my favorite TV station.). Maybe things will work out and the kids and I can go up for a weekend? I want my deep fried cookie dough!
My Tour: I have two signings coming up: Watermelon Festival on Aug 1st and the Fish Fry in my former town on the 22nd. I've not been back to it since the first book was published, and very few of them know about Kenzie's success. Kenzie also has an interview on the 4th and a chat on the 6th. More info as it gets closer. I also have until the end of August to pay for RomantiCon, and either find a roommate or turn my room over someone else. I'm hoping for the former!
I'll post the county fair pics tomorrow. A great time was had by all, and yes the weather cooperated!
Today's To-Do List:
-Finish one last load of laundry
-Organize bills
-Pay MIL's Nursing Care fee
-Pay Watermelon Booth Rental fee
-Break down the pork chops purchased yesterday into two smaller packages! May fix chops for dinner...
Where did July go? It's hard to believe this is the last week already! Aaaack! As I told W, schoolstarts in just 2 short weeks. We've got quite a bit of activity in these next couple of weeks.
School shopping: The teens don't need much, beyond a few notebooks, pens, and pencils, and Walmart is advertising $12 4G flash drives in various colors. I went ahead and bought my incoming freshman one. What color did she want? Black! (Tried to buy a red one for myself, but as hubby pointed out, I already have two; why would I want another one? Gee....backup perhaps? I still have lots of wips on disk or CD. And my others are only 2G. Just sayin'....)
The kindergartener...he's another shopping spree waiting to happen. Crayons, pencils, markers, folders, gym shoes, paper towels, kleenex, backpack, scissors, glue, own laptop or flash drive... (just kidding, but it probably won't be long!)
And of course, all three need clothes. Thank God the spouse is back to work!
Visiting Grandma: My mother went to Florida for two weeks and now would like a couple of days with her grandkids at the pool. Unfortunately, the senior has football conditioning every day, so he can't go. The others and I will go up next week for three days, and hopefully the weather will cooperate! My 'grandkids' might even be with us, and the trip coincides with their birthday, so who knows what surprises are in store next week?
Bill Paying: Always fun after the work schedule has settled down. I get to go through the stack and find the most current; call everyone and set up a payment schedule; and finally, inform the spouse so he doesn't mess it up by making his own agreements!
State Fair? I don't know if we'll manage to squeeze in a trip this year or not. Depends on my mother's health, and if she's up to taking myself, one teen, and three kids ages 7, 6, and 5. Or if I'm crazy enough to attempt it. I used to sneak off to it when the kids were in school (Fair Weather Day was always my favorite Theme Day; I got to meet the local weathermen from my favorite TV station.). Maybe things will work out and the kids and I can go up for a weekend? I want my deep fried cookie dough!
My Tour: I have two signings coming up: Watermelon Festival on Aug 1st and the Fish Fry in my former town on the 22nd. I've not been back to it since the first book was published, and very few of them know about Kenzie's success. Kenzie also has an interview on the 4th and a chat on the 6th. More info as it gets closer. I also have until the end of August to pay for RomantiCon, and either find a roommate or turn my room over someone else. I'm hoping for the former!
I'll post the county fair pics tomorrow. A great time was had by all, and yes the weather cooperated!
Today's To-Do List:
-Finish one last load of laundry
-Organize bills
-Pay MIL's Nursing Care fee
-Pay Watermelon Booth Rental fee
-Break down the pork chops purchased yesterday into two smaller packages! May fix chops for dinner...
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Saturday's Stupid Saying
The fart of God. What does it mean?
With a remarkable sound.
English subtitle for dialogue in a Hong Kong kung fu movie
Rainy Saturday
I'm hoping the rain moves out so the kids can have a decent time at the fair today. One of my fondest memories of our 4-H fair occurred after a rain storm; the crowd was light, and the lines were short.
My Emeril recipe for Chicken Tetrazinni went over well last night at the football cookout; the only complaint I heard was from S, and only because "You put those nasty mushrooms in it!" I will be printing this out and making it again in another month or so! I tried to find my friend Carol's recipe, but now I can't find it anywhere. Maybe it wasn't hers; maybe it was an ArcaMax recipe that is buried somewhere in the thick stack of printed out recipes? I know I had it at either this Thanksgiving/Christmas season or last year's...oh well...this new recipe is just as yummy!
Still getting emails designed to put me on a guilt trip:
'Slots going fast!'
'Only two slots remaining!'
'Sold out!'
Big deal...Not gonna work on me; I couldn't afford it, so leave me alone! Do you know how much effort it takes to hit 'delete'? I'm so exhausted...
Special Treat
Spouse took me to the movies last night! I saw The Ugly Truth...hilarious! I laughed all the way through it! If you're in the mood for adult humor, I highly recommend it! Not for anyone squeamish about sexual innuendos or buzz words. It's as if they took a humorous romance e-book and turned it into a movie:) He saw Harry Potter, and since mine was finished first, I opted to join him for the last hour of HP and arrived in time for the hilarious scene where Ron's under the influence of the Love Potion ment for Harry.
Why was this such a special treat? It's rare that I go to the movies these days, except to see Star Trek or Harry Potter. And in the last two months, I've been three times. Either it's getting more affordable, or my kids are finally realizing 'Hey...we go all the time. Mom hasn't hardly seen anything!'
Or it's simply due to the fact we can leave all three home alone and know the 5-yr-old is in good hands?
Anyway, I'm off to read the blogs to the right. Enjoy your weekend and I'll be back on Monday!
With a remarkable sound.
English subtitle for dialogue in a Hong Kong kung fu movie
Rainy Saturday
I'm hoping the rain moves out so the kids can have a decent time at the fair today. One of my fondest memories of our 4-H fair occurred after a rain storm; the crowd was light, and the lines were short.
My Emeril recipe for Chicken Tetrazinni went over well last night at the football cookout; the only complaint I heard was from S, and only because "You put those nasty mushrooms in it!" I will be printing this out and making it again in another month or so! I tried to find my friend Carol's recipe, but now I can't find it anywhere. Maybe it wasn't hers; maybe it was an ArcaMax recipe that is buried somewhere in the thick stack of printed out recipes? I know I had it at either this Thanksgiving/Christmas season or last year's...oh well...this new recipe is just as yummy!
Still getting emails designed to put me on a guilt trip:
'Slots going fast!'
'Only two slots remaining!'
'Sold out!'
Big deal...Not gonna work on me; I couldn't afford it, so leave me alone! Do you know how much effort it takes to hit 'delete'? I'm so exhausted...
Special Treat
Spouse took me to the movies last night! I saw The Ugly Truth...hilarious! I laughed all the way through it! If you're in the mood for adult humor, I highly recommend it! Not for anyone squeamish about sexual innuendos or buzz words. It's as if they took a humorous romance e-book and turned it into a movie:) He saw Harry Potter, and since mine was finished first, I opted to join him for the last hour of HP and arrived in time for the hilarious scene where Ron's under the influence of the Love Potion ment for Harry.
Why was this such a special treat? It's rare that I go to the movies these days, except to see Star Trek or Harry Potter. And in the last two months, I've been three times. Either it's getting more affordable, or my kids are finally realizing 'Hey...we go all the time. Mom hasn't hardly seen anything!'
Or it's simply due to the fact we can leave all three home alone and know the 5-yr-old is in good hands?
Anyway, I'm off to read the blogs to the right. Enjoy your weekend and I'll be back on Monday!
Friday, July 24, 2009
TGIF!!!
Big Brother Update:
I knew Laura was going home, and yes, Ronnie has been caught in so many lies...he thinks he might be safe, but if the house is smart, they'll put him up for eviction (just to rattle his cage) and possibly back-door Russell. That's my prediction, anyways!
Am I The Only One?
Does this irritate anyone? You receive an email offer; you go the site and what they are offering, no matter how tantalizing or opportunity-wise, is out of your price range. You click off and go on your merry way.
Suddenly, every few hours there's another email, telling you this 'great offer' is going fast and you're going to miss out.
I don't know about you, but if I know I can't afford it, a barage of emails designed to make me think I'm being 'left out' is NOT going to make me beg, borrow, or steal the money in order to join in! It just makes me madder...if the money DOES become available, and it's something I really really want, I'll hang onto the original email until it's too late!
So quit bombarding me with marketing opportunities, marketing-guru-who-will-not-be-named-here!! I don't CARE if you're making millions; I don't CARE if you can share your secrets for only $999-2999; Drop the price to around $100 or less and we'll talk. Same goes for advertising for my books, ads in newspapers, or 'come to our book signing...only $2300 to join us and get the word out to millions of people!'
Come to my state; I can drive myself. Offer to put an ad in my state's newspapers; we'll see if the price comes down.
Okay; Off My Soapbox
Got a busy weekend ahead. I've offered to babysit a friend's 4-yr-old; we're going to my son's football camp cookout tonight; Kid's Day at the fair tomorrow, plus taking my shift parking cars (fundraiser for football). And on Sunday, she'll go to church with us. Why am I doing this? So my 5-yr-old will have a playmate for a few days, and to help out a friend. Besides...the rides will be more fun with a friend along!
Have a great weekend!
I knew Laura was going home, and yes, Ronnie has been caught in so many lies...he thinks he might be safe, but if the house is smart, they'll put him up for eviction (just to rattle his cage) and possibly back-door Russell. That's my prediction, anyways!
Am I The Only One?
Does this irritate anyone? You receive an email offer; you go the site and what they are offering, no matter how tantalizing or opportunity-wise, is out of your price range. You click off and go on your merry way.
Suddenly, every few hours there's another email, telling you this 'great offer' is going fast and you're going to miss out.
I don't know about you, but if I know I can't afford it, a barage of emails designed to make me think I'm being 'left out' is NOT going to make me beg, borrow, or steal the money in order to join in! It just makes me madder...if the money DOES become available, and it's something I really really want, I'll hang onto the original email until it's too late!
So quit bombarding me with marketing opportunities, marketing-guru-who-will-not-be-named-here!! I don't CARE if you're making millions; I don't CARE if you can share your secrets for only $999-2999; Drop the price to around $100 or less and we'll talk. Same goes for advertising for my books, ads in newspapers, or 'come to our book signing...only $2300 to join us and get the word out to millions of people!'
Come to my state; I can drive myself. Offer to put an ad in my state's newspapers; we'll see if the price comes down.
Okay; Off My Soapbox
Got a busy weekend ahead. I've offered to babysit a friend's 4-yr-old; we're going to my son's football camp cookout tonight; Kid's Day at the fair tomorrow, plus taking my shift parking cars (fundraiser for football). And on Sunday, she'll go to church with us. Why am I doing this? So my 5-yr-old will have a playmate for a few days, and to help out a friend. Besides...the rides will be more fun with a friend along!
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Thursday Chuckle
For My Facebook Friends:
Check out http://miawatts.blogspot.com and let me know your take on the subject. Personally, I like a man with hair on his chest. The rest...well, see for yourself!
Got this in an email yesterday. Enjoy:)
PHONES IN CHURCH ?????
A man in Topeka, Kansas decided to write a book about churches around the country. He started by flying to San Francisco and started working east from there.
Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and making notes
He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued with a sign, which read "Calls: $10,000 a minute.."
Seeking out the pastor he asked about the phone and the sign. The pastor answered that this golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to heaven and if he pays the price he can talk directly to GOD. The man thanked the pastor and continued on his way. As he continued to visit churches in Seattle, Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, and many cities and towns all around the United States, he found more phones, with the same sign, and the same answer from each pastor.
Finally, he arrived in Kentucky, upon entering a church in the beautiful Bluegrass region of Kentucky, behold - he saw the usual golden telephone. But THIS time, the sign read "Calls: 35 cents"
Fascinated, he asked to talk to the pastor, "Reverend, I have been in cities all across the country and in each church I have found this golden telephone and have been told it is a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to GOD, but in the other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute. Your sign reads only 35 cents a call. Why?"
The pastor, smiling broadly, replied, "Son, you're in Kentucky now ... You're in God's Country. It's a local call."
American by Birth - Kentuckian by the Grace of God.
And why Kentuckians do go barefoot: When you're in Kentucky you're on Holy ground!
Big Brother Eviction Night
Who will be going home? Jordan or Lori? I think Lori will. And next week, unless Ronnie does some serious bs-ing, it will be his turn.
Check out http://miawatts.blogspot.com and let me know your take on the subject. Personally, I like a man with hair on his chest. The rest...well, see for yourself!
Got this in an email yesterday. Enjoy:)
PHONES IN CHURCH ?????
A man in Topeka, Kansas decided to write a book about churches around the country. He started by flying to San Francisco and started working east from there.
Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and making notes
He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued with a sign, which read "Calls: $10,000 a minute.."
Seeking out the pastor he asked about the phone and the sign. The pastor answered that this golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to heaven and if he pays the price he can talk directly to GOD. The man thanked the pastor and continued on his way. As he continued to visit churches in Seattle, Dallas, St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, and many cities and towns all around the United States, he found more phones, with the same sign, and the same answer from each pastor.
Finally, he arrived in Kentucky, upon entering a church in the beautiful Bluegrass region of Kentucky, behold - he saw the usual golden telephone. But THIS time, the sign read "Calls: 35 cents"
Fascinated, he asked to talk to the pastor, "Reverend, I have been in cities all across the country and in each church I have found this golden telephone and have been told it is a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to GOD, but in the other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute. Your sign reads only 35 cents a call. Why?"
The pastor, smiling broadly, replied, "Son, you're in Kentucky now ... You're in God's Country. It's a local call."
American by Birth - Kentuckian by the Grace of God.
And why Kentuckians do go barefoot: When you're in Kentucky you're on Holy ground!
Big Brother Eviction Night
Who will be going home? Jordan or Lori? I think Lori will. And next week, unless Ronnie does some serious bs-ing, it will be his turn.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Have I been Pirated??
I put a Google Alert on Kenzie's name, so I wouldn't have to google her to learn of any reviews. But now I've noticed she's for sale on the Book Strand site as well as All Romance Books. I KNOW I only authorized the book to be sold on the Freya's Bower site...at least I'm 98% certain.
So....has she been hijacked? I guess I'll double-check my contract.
In other news, I got a request for the next three chapters of the latest Kenzie book. Why am I posting it here? Kenzie's not getting traffic and I am. And she posted yesterday, and I didn't have a blog topic. Plus I over-slept; it's raining; spouse is on his way home for an eye appointment, and I'm not getting paid for my work over the 4th of July. So forgive me; I'm slightly irritated at the moment.
For a cheerier post, go to Jamie Carie's blog and check out her TV interview in Dothan, Alabama:)
So....has she been hijacked? I guess I'll double-check my contract.
In other news, I got a request for the next three chapters of the latest Kenzie book. Why am I posting it here? Kenzie's not getting traffic and I am. And she posted yesterday, and I didn't have a blog topic. Plus I over-slept; it's raining; spouse is on his way home for an eye appointment, and I'm not getting paid for my work over the 4th of July. So forgive me; I'm slightly irritated at the moment.
For a cheerier post, go to Jamie Carie's blog and check out her TV interview in Dothan, Alabama:)
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
POV Problem...
I think I've pinpointed my POV issue.
While at the nursing home the other day, I borrowed two Danielle Steele books, Full Circle (read several years ago) and Mirror Image (not read until now). I began reading DS's books in college, with my first one being Remembrance. I've read nearly thirty of her books in the past 25 years, and started writing my own in 1985.
One of my problems with getting published is I tend to head-hop, which a glaring no-no to some publishers and editors. If you're not familiar with the concept, and I know my blogmates are, it's when the POV shifts every paragraph, rather than in scene breaks. But now I know where I got the idea.
DS does this! For the first time EVER, I read a book with my 'edit' cap on, and spotted many instances when she would start out in one POV, and halfway down the page, switch to being inside another character's head. I also spotted similarities in the way she would 'glide through time' in a single chapter, much like the same way I wrote the final chapter of Elicia's story.
So while it's nice to finally understand where I got my writing style, my voice is definitely NOT hers (unless you count the frequency in my use of the ellipsis, lol!).
I have several of her books in storage, although J has borrowed several and not returned. Some of the more memorable DS books are:
Remembrance
Passion's Promise
The Crossing
Full Circle
Family Album
Secrets
Wanderlust
Kaleidescope
Zoya
Star
Daddy
Message From Nam
No Greater Love (I made the unfortunate choice of trying to read this one immediately after the birth of my first child; it made me cry, so I had to wait several months before reading the rest of it!)
Lightening
Five Days in Paris
Those are the ones where the characters/plot jump into my mind just by reading the title. What about you? Have you discovered a certain author's writing style which influenced you?
Left Out of Yesterday's Post:
Where were you forty years ago yesterday?
In my grandmother's photo album, there were several pictures of my 3-yr-old self, standing in front of Grandma's TV. My stuffed green snake is draped over the cabinet, and I am 'posing'. I always thought Grandma was taking pictures of her adorable grandchild.
When she died in 1995, that album came out again, and I realized the pictures were really of the lunar landing. I just happened to be clowning around!
On The To-Do List for Today:
-Vacuum the floors
-Find my blue and white pj pants; they've mysteriously disappeared. I'm wondering if I accidentally tossed them down the laundry chute??
-Start cooking the chicken in the slow cooker and thaw the biscuit dough
-Write another two pages
-Drive K to football camp so I can have the van
-Leave instructions for S to finish dinner
-Laptop Society
-Pick up K from camp and drive him home.
-Bathe W (or send to shower with K)
Want to read a crazy dream? Go over to Kelly's blog. You're not gonna believe what came out of her brain last night!
While at the nursing home the other day, I borrowed two Danielle Steele books, Full Circle (read several years ago) and Mirror Image (not read until now). I began reading DS's books in college, with my first one being Remembrance. I've read nearly thirty of her books in the past 25 years, and started writing my own in 1985.
One of my problems with getting published is I tend to head-hop, which a glaring no-no to some publishers and editors. If you're not familiar with the concept, and I know my blogmates are, it's when the POV shifts every paragraph, rather than in scene breaks. But now I know where I got the idea.
DS does this! For the first time EVER, I read a book with my 'edit' cap on, and spotted many instances when she would start out in one POV, and halfway down the page, switch to being inside another character's head. I also spotted similarities in the way she would 'glide through time' in a single chapter, much like the same way I wrote the final chapter of Elicia's story.
So while it's nice to finally understand where I got my writing style, my voice is definitely NOT hers (unless you count the frequency in my use of the ellipsis, lol!).
I have several of her books in storage, although J has borrowed several and not returned. Some of the more memorable DS books are:
Remembrance
Passion's Promise
The Crossing
Full Circle
Family Album
Secrets
Wanderlust
Kaleidescope
Zoya
Star
Daddy
Message From Nam
No Greater Love (I made the unfortunate choice of trying to read this one immediately after the birth of my first child; it made me cry, so I had to wait several months before reading the rest of it!)
Lightening
Five Days in Paris
Those are the ones where the characters/plot jump into my mind just by reading the title. What about you? Have you discovered a certain author's writing style which influenced you?
Left Out of Yesterday's Post:
Where were you forty years ago yesterday?
In my grandmother's photo album, there were several pictures of my 3-yr-old self, standing in front of Grandma's TV. My stuffed green snake is draped over the cabinet, and I am 'posing'. I always thought Grandma was taking pictures of her adorable grandchild.
When she died in 1995, that album came out again, and I realized the pictures were really of the lunar landing. I just happened to be clowning around!
On The To-Do List for Today:
-Vacuum the floors
-Find my blue and white pj pants; they've mysteriously disappeared. I'm wondering if I accidentally tossed them down the laundry chute??
-Start cooking the chicken in the slow cooker and thaw the biscuit dough
-Write another two pages
-Drive K to football camp so I can have the van
-Leave instructions for S to finish dinner
-Laptop Society
-Pick up K from camp and drive him home.
-Bathe W (or send to shower with K)
Want to read a crazy dream? Go over to Kelly's blog. You're not gonna believe what came out of her brain last night!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Reality TV Recap
Reading Schedule Update: Hopefully it will resume this coming Friday! If so, I'll repost the books I'll be reading in the coming weeks.
Big Brother:
Ronnie won HOH and put up Jeff and Lori. He says he plans to back-door Russell; we'll see if it's just lip-service.
The luxury comp was hilarious! Some I got right; others I was dead wrong.
Next Food Network Star:
I knew Michael was the one booted last week, but thanks to reruns, I was able to watch it. He really sealed his fate when he said, "Crowds are my thing, not cameras...' and walked away with a split-second 'what the hell did I just say' moment! I think the solution to Michael's problem would be to put him in front of a live TV audience and hide the camera. He does well when the camera is not in his face! He would be a terrific 'Emeril Live'-type show...only with a hidden camera...just a thought Bob and Susie...
Jamika went last night. She has trouble keeping her emotions in check, and even when actors are having an 'off' day, they can't let it show.
So now it's down to Melissa, who has a fantastic chance of winning this thing; she's got a great personality and her food has won many challenges. She's also taking the judges' advice to heart and really working on her demo presentations.
Debbie, who would bring Korean Cusine. Unfortunately, she's been caught 'spinning'...in the first episode, she went over budget, but after making an executive decision, came back and announced they 'just barely came in under budget'. She forgot the cameras were rolling and the judges called her on it. Last night, she forgot to incorporate the capers, and when Bobby asked about them, she first said they were in the dressing, and then tried to deny she was even given them. Once again, the cameras caught it. So she has a slight integrity problem, but so far is the most relaxed doing the demos, even when problems are thrown at her.
Jeffrey. (I keep wanting to call him Eddie for whatever reason!) He's won multiple challenges, but has problems 'stepping out of his comfort zone'. He keeps talking about 'Food w/o Borders', but still everything he makes has a Mexican/Southwest feel to it. Even when Bobby took away his chilis and gave him Asian ingredients, he still whipped up an Asian dish with a Southwest flair. We'll see what happens next Sunday.
I'm also hooked on Eureka this summer! What are you watching?
Fair Update: Not setting up this year. Maybe next year...(sigh....)
Big Brother:
Ronnie won HOH and put up Jeff and Lori. He says he plans to back-door Russell; we'll see if it's just lip-service.
The luxury comp was hilarious! Some I got right; others I was dead wrong.
Next Food Network Star:
I knew Michael was the one booted last week, but thanks to reruns, I was able to watch it. He really sealed his fate when he said, "Crowds are my thing, not cameras...' and walked away with a split-second 'what the hell did I just say' moment! I think the solution to Michael's problem would be to put him in front of a live TV audience and hide the camera. He does well when the camera is not in his face! He would be a terrific 'Emeril Live'-type show...only with a hidden camera...just a thought Bob and Susie...
Jamika went last night. She has trouble keeping her emotions in check, and even when actors are having an 'off' day, they can't let it show.
So now it's down to Melissa, who has a fantastic chance of winning this thing; she's got a great personality and her food has won many challenges. She's also taking the judges' advice to heart and really working on her demo presentations.
Debbie, who would bring Korean Cusine. Unfortunately, she's been caught 'spinning'...in the first episode, she went over budget, but after making an executive decision, came back and announced they 'just barely came in under budget'. She forgot the cameras were rolling and the judges called her on it. Last night, she forgot to incorporate the capers, and when Bobby asked about them, she first said they were in the dressing, and then tried to deny she was even given them. Once again, the cameras caught it. So she has a slight integrity problem, but so far is the most relaxed doing the demos, even when problems are thrown at her.
Jeffrey. (I keep wanting to call him Eddie for whatever reason!) He's won multiple challenges, but has problems 'stepping out of his comfort zone'. He keeps talking about 'Food w/o Borders', but still everything he makes has a Mexican/Southwest feel to it. Even when Bobby took away his chilis and gave him Asian ingredients, he still whipped up an Asian dish with a Southwest flair. We'll see what happens next Sunday.
I'm also hooked on Eureka this summer! What are you watching?
Fair Update: Not setting up this year. Maybe next year...(sigh....)
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Saturday's Stupid Saying
You are invite to visit our restaurant where you can eat the Middle East Foods in a European ambulance.
in a hotel brochure, Ankara, Turkey
We had an issue with our satellite last week, and once the problem was fixed, they offered us three months of free HBO and Showtime. K was thrilled, and later that same day, the spouse announced we could now watch BiG Brother After Dark from midnight to three am.
D found the conversations Tuesday night rather interesting. I DVR'd it for Wednesday and Thursday and found it rather boring. I will NOT be tuning in anymore, except for maybe the first hour after the challenges. I will admit watching the reactions was interesting. But the other two hours were a complete waste of time.
And if Jordan doesn't quit playing with her hair, she'll be bald by the time the season's over. She puts it up; takes it down. Finger-combs it; she's constantly checking for split ends. I found myself fast-forwarding through any 'scene' with her in it.
Braden should have stayed; Chima should have been the first to go, imho. We'll see who Ronnie puts up next week and who ends up going home. Hopefully it will be Jesse.
Good News!
Found out I might be able to set up my booth at our county fair this week; I still have to discuss it with the family and contact the fair board by this afternoon:)
And if you missed it, click here for the other good news!
in a hotel brochure, Ankara, Turkey
We had an issue with our satellite last week, and once the problem was fixed, they offered us three months of free HBO and Showtime. K was thrilled, and later that same day, the spouse announced we could now watch BiG Brother After Dark from midnight to three am.
D found the conversations Tuesday night rather interesting. I DVR'd it for Wednesday and Thursday and found it rather boring. I will NOT be tuning in anymore, except for maybe the first hour after the challenges. I will admit watching the reactions was interesting. But the other two hours were a complete waste of time.
And if Jordan doesn't quit playing with her hair, she'll be bald by the time the season's over. She puts it up; takes it down. Finger-combs it; she's constantly checking for split ends. I found myself fast-forwarding through any 'scene' with her in it.
Braden should have stayed; Chima should have been the first to go, imho. We'll see who Ronnie puts up next week and who ends up going home. Hopefully it will be Jesse.
Good News!
Found out I might be able to set up my booth at our county fair this week; I still have to discuss it with the family and contact the fair board by this afternoon:)
And if you missed it, click here for the other good news!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Great News!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Just For Fun:)
Got this in an email last night. Play along if you like:)
Let's Play Family Feud. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE MY ANSWERS!!! Hitforward. Erase my answers and fill in your own answers. Forward to yourfriends and don't forget to send it back to me. Remember, you can't usethe same answers as the person whom sent it to you...
1. Name something you use in the shower? Washcloth
2. Name something a football player wears under his uniform? Jock Strap
3. Name something people hate to find on their windshield? Bird Poo
4. Name something a man might buy before a date? Condoms
5. What is another word for blemish? Pimple
6. What is something you cook in the microwave? Hot dogs
7. Piece of furniture people need help moving? Couch
8. Name a reason a younger man might like an older woman? Maturity
9. Name something a dog does that embarrasses its owner? Humping guests
10. Name a kind of test you cannot study for? EPT.
12. Name a phrase with the word home in it? Home Sweet Home
13. Name a sport where players lose teeth? Boxing
14. Name something a teacher can do to ruin a student's day? Excessive homework
15. Name a bird you wouldn't want to eat? Turkey Vulture
16. Name something a person wears even if it has a hole in it? Jeans
17. Name something that gets smaller the more you use it? Bar of soap (previous answer was bank account...#1 imho!)
Family News:
D started off to work yesterday, but the boss called an hour later and told him not to come in until today. Fortunately, he had only made it as far as Brazil, so it wasn't too hard on the gas tank to return home. He's on his way again, so here's hoping this job lasts until December! And I can start buying books again next week:)
Cindy Spencer Pape has a delicious new book out from EC, Exploring Ari. You can read two juicy excerpts on her blog and on Regina Carlysle's. Enjoy!
Let's Play Family Feud. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE MY ANSWERS!!! Hitforward. Erase my answers and fill in your own answers. Forward to yourfriends and don't forget to send it back to me. Remember, you can't usethe same answers as the person whom sent it to you...
1. Name something you use in the shower? Washcloth
2. Name something a football player wears under his uniform? Jock Strap
3. Name something people hate to find on their windshield? Bird Poo
4. Name something a man might buy before a date? Condoms
5. What is another word for blemish? Pimple
6. What is something you cook in the microwave? Hot dogs
7. Piece of furniture people need help moving? Couch
8. Name a reason a younger man might like an older woman? Maturity
9. Name something a dog does that embarrasses its owner? Humping guests
10. Name a kind of test you cannot study for? EPT.
12. Name a phrase with the word home in it? Home Sweet Home
13. Name a sport where players lose teeth? Boxing
14. Name something a teacher can do to ruin a student's day? Excessive homework
15. Name a bird you wouldn't want to eat? Turkey Vulture
16. Name something a person wears even if it has a hole in it? Jeans
17. Name something that gets smaller the more you use it? Bar of soap (previous answer was bank account...#1 imho!)
Family News:
D started off to work yesterday, but the boss called an hour later and told him not to come in until today. Fortunately, he had only made it as far as Brazil, so it wasn't too hard on the gas tank to return home. He's on his way again, so here's hoping this job lasts until December! And I can start buying books again next week:)
Cindy Spencer Pape has a delicious new book out from EC, Exploring Ari. You can read two juicy excerpts on her blog and on Regina Carlysle's. Enjoy!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Reunion Pics
Friday Night:
MS and B, two of our former basketball players.
J and S; I spent most of the evening with them, since they hadn't been at previous reunions.
LC and K; K had organized the 20th, but I hadn't interacted with her much five years earlier. And I'd not seen LC since graduation.
MS and B, two of our former basketball players.
J and S; I spent most of the evening with them, since they hadn't been at previous reunions.
LC and K; K had organized the 20th, but I hadn't interacted with her much five years earlier. And I'd not seen LC since graduation.Saturday Night:
LK and myself. L had taken me to the fall dance our senior year. I hadn't seen him since graduation either, and his wife and I got along well.
L-R: MW and his wife; B and his wife. B is my old bff, the one with twin daughters:) M was my dance partner for one song. Somewhere there's a picture of us...I can't find it anymore.
JC, F, and myself. JC is a nighttime DJ up in Indy, and knows a few of my favorite disc jockeys from my favorite radio stations. F organized this reunion and the 10th; he was also our class clown.
T and R, other good friends. T and I had several classes together, and was on the Homecoming Court. R asked me, "You haven't put me in any of your books, have you?" 
I couldn't end the evening without at least one picture of B and myself! Found out he's back in Indiana and is still doing well. Maybe now we'll keep in touch a little more often?
My main gripe about the evening? None of my old friends dance! And my 'date' cancelled on me; her babysitter bailed on her and she didn't have a backup. So I went alone, and while I enjoyed talking to everyone, I was really in the mood to dance. I'm just not comfortable joining in a group of people I barely know on the dance floor. I tried, but alas...some of the cliques are still in place.
LK and myself. L had taken me to the fall dance our senior year. I hadn't seen him since graduation either, and his wife and I got along well.
L-R: MW and his wife; B and his wife. B is my old bff, the one with twin daughters:) M was my dance partner for one song. Somewhere there's a picture of us...I can't find it anymore.
JC, F, and myself. JC is a nighttime DJ up in Indy, and knows a few of my favorite disc jockeys from my favorite radio stations. F organized this reunion and the 10th; he was also our class clown.
T and R, other good friends. T and I had several classes together, and was on the Homecoming Court. R asked me, "You haven't put me in any of your books, have you?""No, but the Blue Whale party made it into one."
"Oh lord...I'd forgotten about that one!"
I couldn't end the evening without at least one picture of B and myself! Found out he's back in Indiana and is still doing well. Maybe now we'll keep in touch a little more often?My main gripe about the evening? None of my old friends dance! And my 'date' cancelled on me; her babysitter bailed on her and she didn't have a backup. So I went alone, and while I enjoyed talking to everyone, I was really in the mood to dance. I'm just not comfortable joining in a group of people I barely know on the dance floor. I tried, but alas...some of the cliques are still in place.
I found it interesting that while I would go off and speak to others for an hour or so, B and I would find our way back to each other, or LK and his wife would find me. And when a group of us decided to migrate to a local bar after the country club kicked us out at midnight, only a handful of people showed up.
I guess we're getting old; we need our sleep! I went, but left after an hour.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
"Oooookaaaay...Who Are These People?"
That was my first thought when I walked into Preston's Friday night. Had five years changed us all that much? But a few moments later, I recognized one of the women from her Facebook profile. And while she and I were speaking, my old bff B walked in, saw me, and grabbed me in a hug. Everything was better after that!
Yes, we're all slightly grayer and hardly anyone is still a size ten anymore. And while the Friday gathering was fun, and I got to see several classmates I hadn't seen at previous reunions, I discovered a big problem.
I can't hear conversations in noisy bars!
I ended up spending the majority of my time smiling, nodding, and sipping my drink. When some words did make it into my ears, I was able to contribute a phrase or my own opinion. I guess I need either Bell Tones or learn to lip-read.
I'll post some pics tomorrow...I started typing and realized I'd forgotten to upload the pics first. Several comments have already been made on the photos I posted on Facebook, and there are talks of a mini-reunion this fall, and another one in five more years.
Another thing I found interesting: Several friends on Facebook hardly said five words to me all weekend....but yesterday I made a comment and soon everyone was laughing at my sense of humor! I may be quiet, but if something triggers my brain, I'm actually enjoyable to be around:)
Now I just need friends who DANCE!
More on this tomorrow. How was your weekend?
Yes, we're all slightly grayer and hardly anyone is still a size ten anymore. And while the Friday gathering was fun, and I got to see several classmates I hadn't seen at previous reunions, I discovered a big problem.
I can't hear conversations in noisy bars!
I ended up spending the majority of my time smiling, nodding, and sipping my drink. When some words did make it into my ears, I was able to contribute a phrase or my own opinion. I guess I need either Bell Tones or learn to lip-read.
I'll post some pics tomorrow...I started typing and realized I'd forgotten to upload the pics first. Several comments have already been made on the photos I posted on Facebook, and there are talks of a mini-reunion this fall, and another one in five more years.
Another thing I found interesting: Several friends on Facebook hardly said five words to me all weekend....but yesterday I made a comment and soon everyone was laughing at my sense of humor! I may be quiet, but if something triggers my brain, I'm actually enjoyable to be around:)
Now I just need friends who DANCE!
More on this tomorrow. How was your weekend?
Friday, July 10, 2009
Weekend and a Joke:)
I'm off for a weekend of fun and reminiscing with old friends! At the 10th reunion, it was all 'Look at me...I have a business card' and 'So what have YOU done with your degree?' I felt rather inferior because my husband was not happy about being dragged along to a gathering of people he didn't know, save for my bf B, and the fact that the only thing I'd accomplished was having given birth twice. (I did get compliments on the fact I didn't look as if I'd had a baby three weeks prior, and when it became obvious it was time to go home and feed my darling daughter, I actually had CLEAVAGE for the first time, ha ha! Again, husband was not amused.)
Five years ago, the 20th was a little better. I had one book published, so several people wanted their picture with me and another classmate, who had been named 'Dietician of the Year'. And more of the women were now stay-at-home moms like myself, so we had more in common. And B showed up with his second wife, and we razzed him about becoming a first-time dad in the coming months! I'm anxious to see him, and find out how life with twins are, and if he's survived this economic meltdown.
Tonight, we're meeting at an informal restaurant, and tomorrow at the country club, complete with DJ. I'm taking one of my old and dear friends that I've reconnected with in the past few months...on some level, I'm still scared no one will talk to me, and I wanted a guarrenteed dance partner, lol! And since no bookstores in town felt the desire to set up a signing, I'll take my stuff, but leave it in the car. The ones who have kept up with me via FaceBook know about my two other books, and the response has been overwhelmingly good:)
Big Brother aired last night, revealing an old high school twist, the cliques. I really didn't fit into any group; I was in band (flag corps and played drums); bff was the star basketball player; worked in the IMC (library); Mom was on staff; one of my good friends was an unwed mother; my prom date admitted he smoked pot occassionally; another one of my good friends was the valedictorian of our class. So I really couldn't be 'pidgeon-holed' into one group or another.
I'm also going with a clean memory card in my camera, so I'll have plenty of pictures to show off next week!
Now for the joke:
Got this in my email a few days ago, and really brightened my day! Enjoy:)
A contestant, Sally,on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?' had reached the final plateau.
If she answered the next question correctly, she would win $1,000,000. If she answered incorrectly, she would pocket only the $25,000 milestone money. And as she suspected the Million Dollar Question was no pushover.
It was, 'Which of the following species of birds does not build its own nest but instead lays its eggs in the nests of other birds?
Is it:
A) the condor
B) the buzzard
C) the cuckoo
D) the vulture
The woman was on the spot.. She did not know the answer.
She had used up her 50/50 Lifeline and her Ask the Audience Lifeline. All that remained was her Phone-a-Friend Lifeline. She hoped she would not have to use it because........ Her friend was, well, a blonde.
But she had no alternative. She called her friend and gave her the question and the four choices. The blonde responded unhesitatingly: 'That's easy. The answer is C: the cuckoo.'
The contestant had to make a decision and make it fast. She considered employing a reverse strategy and giving any answer except the one that her friend had given her. And considering her friend was a blonde that would seem to be the logical thing to do. But her friend had responded with such confidence, such certitude, that the contestant could not help but be convinced.
Crossing her fingers, the contestant said, 'C: The cuckoo.'
'Is that your final answer?'
'Yes, that is my final answer.'
'That answer is absolutely correct! You are now a millionaire!'
Three days later, the contestant hosted a party for her family and friends, including the blonde who had helped her win the million dollars.
'Jeni, I just do not know how to thank you', said the contestant. 'How did you happen to know the right answer?'
'Oh, come on,' said the blonde 'Everybody knows that cuckoos don't build nests. They live in clocks.'
Sally fainted.
Have a great weekend:)
Five years ago, the 20th was a little better. I had one book published, so several people wanted their picture with me and another classmate, who had been named 'Dietician of the Year'. And more of the women were now stay-at-home moms like myself, so we had more in common. And B showed up with his second wife, and we razzed him about becoming a first-time dad in the coming months! I'm anxious to see him, and find out how life with twins are, and if he's survived this economic meltdown.
Tonight, we're meeting at an informal restaurant, and tomorrow at the country club, complete with DJ. I'm taking one of my old and dear friends that I've reconnected with in the past few months...on some level, I'm still scared no one will talk to me, and I wanted a guarrenteed dance partner, lol! And since no bookstores in town felt the desire to set up a signing, I'll take my stuff, but leave it in the car. The ones who have kept up with me via FaceBook know about my two other books, and the response has been overwhelmingly good:)
Big Brother aired last night, revealing an old high school twist, the cliques. I really didn't fit into any group; I was in band (flag corps and played drums); bff was the star basketball player; worked in the IMC (library); Mom was on staff; one of my good friends was an unwed mother; my prom date admitted he smoked pot occassionally; another one of my good friends was the valedictorian of our class. So I really couldn't be 'pidgeon-holed' into one group or another.
I'm also going with a clean memory card in my camera, so I'll have plenty of pictures to show off next week!
Now for the joke:
Got this in my email a few days ago, and really brightened my day! Enjoy:)
A contestant, Sally,on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?' had reached the final plateau.
If she answered the next question correctly, she would win $1,000,000. If she answered incorrectly, she would pocket only the $25,000 milestone money. And as she suspected the Million Dollar Question was no pushover.
It was, 'Which of the following species of birds does not build its own nest but instead lays its eggs in the nests of other birds?
Is it:
A) the condor
B) the buzzard
C) the cuckoo
D) the vulture
The woman was on the spot.. She did not know the answer.
She had used up her 50/50 Lifeline and her Ask the Audience Lifeline. All that remained was her Phone-a-Friend Lifeline. She hoped she would not have to use it because........ Her friend was, well, a blonde.
But she had no alternative. She called her friend and gave her the question and the four choices. The blonde responded unhesitatingly: 'That's easy. The answer is C: the cuckoo.'
The contestant had to make a decision and make it fast. She considered employing a reverse strategy and giving any answer except the one that her friend had given her. And considering her friend was a blonde that would seem to be the logical thing to do. But her friend had responded with such confidence, such certitude, that the contestant could not help but be convinced.
Crossing her fingers, the contestant said, 'C: The cuckoo.'
'Is that your final answer?'
'Yes, that is my final answer.'
'That answer is absolutely correct! You are now a millionaire!'
Three days later, the contestant hosted a party for her family and friends, including the blonde who had helped her win the million dollars.
'Jeni, I just do not know how to thank you', said the contestant. 'How did you happen to know the right answer?'
'Oh, come on,' said the blonde 'Everybody knows that cuckoos don't build nests. They live in clocks.'
Sally fainted.
Have a great weekend:)
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Out of The Mouths of Babes...
The munchkins left yesterday, but not without a bit of humor!
Since I hadn't spent much time with them, I invited all three little ones to join me on my errands, and there was a mad scramble for shoes before piling into the van and making sure their seat belts were fastened.
1st stop, landlord's to pay the rent.
Miss Drama Queen: "Why don't you just drop it in the mail like my mama does?"
Me: "Because it's only two blocks away. Why waste a stamp?"
Mr. Energy: "That was too short! Do we hafta go home yet, Aunt Molly?"
Me (looking at 'low fuel' warning on dash): "Let's go to the gas station first."
Miss Drama Queen: "Yay! Can we get a snack?"
Me: "You just ate! Not right now."
(pouts all around)
Stop #2: Gas station. Uneventful, except for pouts as I made them wait in the van.
Stop #3: Downtown.
Me: "Who wants ice cream?"
Unanimous: "I DO!!!"
We enter, choose our flavors, and sit down.
Me: "I thought I'd give you a treat; Aunt Molly's been a little grouchy this week..."
W (interrupting): "Uh-huh."
MDQ and ME giggle.
Me: "You didn't have to agree with me..."
W: "Uh-huh!"
Mr. Energy falls off his stool, he's laughing so hard, causing his sister to explode with more giggles!
Stop #4: Fireworks store. Kids were thirsty, and B has an huge water cooler. We picked up some party poppers for later, and drove home.
Their mom arrived around 5:30 and now they want W to come spend a few days with them. We'll see if Daddy ever goes to work this year; maybe we can all go up and spend the weekend.
In the meantime, my schedule is getting back to normal, and I may even get to write again. I have to help D create a resume' for the first time; he has to have one on file with the unemployment office. We also got our 'football parents' newsletter in the mail, detailing the responsibilities of all football parents and fundraising efforts. It gave me a headache, since we're struggling to simply pay the utilities and prepare one kid for his Senior Year; the second for her Freshman Year, and the joys of entering Kindergarten for the third. We did sacrifice some food items so S's birthday could be celebrated, and hot dogs and hamburgers were the main sourse of meals last week with the 'grandkids' here. But no one complained, and hopefully next week will be better.
How's your summer going?
Since I hadn't spent much time with them, I invited all three little ones to join me on my errands, and there was a mad scramble for shoes before piling into the van and making sure their seat belts were fastened.
1st stop, landlord's to pay the rent.
Miss Drama Queen: "Why don't you just drop it in the mail like my mama does?"
Me: "Because it's only two blocks away. Why waste a stamp?"
Mr. Energy: "That was too short! Do we hafta go home yet, Aunt Molly?"
Me (looking at 'low fuel' warning on dash): "Let's go to the gas station first."
Miss Drama Queen: "Yay! Can we get a snack?"
Me: "You just ate! Not right now."
(pouts all around)
Stop #2: Gas station. Uneventful, except for pouts as I made them wait in the van.
Stop #3: Downtown.
Me: "Who wants ice cream?"
Unanimous: "I DO!!!"
We enter, choose our flavors, and sit down.
Me: "I thought I'd give you a treat; Aunt Molly's been a little grouchy this week..."
W (interrupting): "Uh-huh."
MDQ and ME giggle.
Me: "You didn't have to agree with me..."
W: "Uh-huh!"
Mr. Energy falls off his stool, he's laughing so hard, causing his sister to explode with more giggles!
Stop #4: Fireworks store. Kids were thirsty, and B has an huge water cooler. We picked up some party poppers for later, and drove home.
Their mom arrived around 5:30 and now they want W to come spend a few days with them. We'll see if Daddy ever goes to work this year; maybe we can all go up and spend the weekend.
In the meantime, my schedule is getting back to normal, and I may even get to write again. I have to help D create a resume' for the first time; he has to have one on file with the unemployment office. We also got our 'football parents' newsletter in the mail, detailing the responsibilities of all football parents and fundraising efforts. It gave me a headache, since we're struggling to simply pay the utilities and prepare one kid for his Senior Year; the second for her Freshman Year, and the joys of entering Kindergarten for the third. We did sacrifice some food items so S's birthday could be celebrated, and hot dogs and hamburgers were the main sourse of meals last week with the 'grandkids' here. But no one complained, and hopefully next week will be better.
How's your summer going?
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Last Week
Daughter's birthday cookie...she decided to spend the day at the store with me. She also earned $50 by being our walker, stock person, and providing this delicious cookie to snack on, lol!
Brandon, the manager, behind the counter...MY register! We actually shared both of them; just depended on who got there first!
A 'before' shot of various fountain fireworks.
We sold out of the smoke bombs (multi-colored display to the right) on the 3rd.
The 'after' shot of the fountain table! Taken around 1opm on the 4th.
My kids, K (pink shirt, Uncle Sam Hat) and S (red shirt) hard at work on the 3rd. Walkers were paid their choice of $7/hour in fireworks or $5/hour cash. S took the cash, K the fireworks!
4th of July: Stacey at the register. She gave up her day off to come help out in the afternoon and evening.
Brandon (left) and James (Stacey's SO) restocking the bottle rockets.
The crew after a looooooong day: Me, Brandon, Stacey, and James!
Currently Reading: Finished To Love A Hero last night! And it's another head-slap moment: Whyyyyyyy did I wait so long to read this book???? I loved it! In case you missed it, I labelled it a Recommended Read while only on chapter six!
Book buying is still on 'hold' until either I get paid or D goes back to work. I'm bummed...Mona's Babies In The Bargain sounds terrific too, and it's been at the top of my TBB list since January!
Thanks to everyone for their thoughts yesterday; we sent the kids to the pool and spent two hours getting the house back under control. J's arriving tonight to get A and J, and while I didn't get to spend too much time with them this week, I know they'll be back at Christmas. Hopefully Aunt Molly will have her hormonal self under control by then, ha ha!
Have a good day, and for a laugh, check out Kenzie's post:) Do YOU recognize the movie? Enjoy!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Lessons Learned
I've learned several things about myself over the past week.
-I cannot work 10am-midnight and still keep up with housework, blogging, or even e-mail;
-Going to bed at 2am causes me to sleep past 9am, something I've not done 1995;
-I have a rather annoying habit of helping myself to snack food which isn't even mine;
-Working eleven days straight has caused me to have anti-social tendancies and disorientation;
-Suddenly having a day off made me extremely irritable;
-I'm nicer to strangers than to my own family;
-Work kept my mind occupied during an e-mail 'fight' with a friend;
-When Molly doesn't check her e-mail for three days, cleaning out the inbox takes an hour or longer!
I'm trying to stay positive, but it's damn hard when the husband is still home in July; my reunion is coming up and I may have to borrow the money in order to attend; I can't afford to get promo items; I'm praying the company PAYS me before friday (this company has a LOUSY attitude toward workers...where else can a person work for eleven days straight w/o pay? If I don't get paid soon, I'm NOT paying for the fireworks I brought home!); and having to fight for computer time is making me want to throw everyone out of the house, or leave myself. The ONLY thing my husband has done while I've worked is the cooking. The front room looks as if it exploded, and I want to call my niece and tell her to come get the kids. But today is dollar day at the pool, and they are looking forward to going (case in point: It's 10am and the boys are already in their swimsuits! Pool doesn't even OPEN for 2 more hours!)
Yes, I'm grumpy, irritated beyond belief, and all I want to do right now is to lock myself in a room and cry my eyes out. And I can't even do that, since there are no locks on any doors in this house. Yesterday, I cried in the shower.
Contacted the woman who organized the author's showcase last year; we are NOT doing the State Fair, after all. Which means my signings are now down to six for the rest of the year. I need to contact Folletts and Borders about this weekend; maybe there's still time to squeeze one in. (And that's IF I get paid so I can afford book marks????)
On a lighter note, our storage was broken into over the weekend, but nothing taken. I don't know whether to be insulted or relieved, lol! See? I can still have a sense of humor about life!
Okay. Off to get another cup of coffee and to start cleaning up. Or maybe I'll finish Mona's book and wait until all the kids go to the pool this afternoon???
Sorry for the down mood; maybe things will be better tomorrow.
-I cannot work 10am-midnight and still keep up with housework, blogging, or even e-mail;
-Going to bed at 2am causes me to sleep past 9am, something I've not done 1995;
-I have a rather annoying habit of helping myself to snack food which isn't even mine;
-Working eleven days straight has caused me to have anti-social tendancies and disorientation;
-Suddenly having a day off made me extremely irritable;
-I'm nicer to strangers than to my own family;
-Work kept my mind occupied during an e-mail 'fight' with a friend;
-When Molly doesn't check her e-mail for three days, cleaning out the inbox takes an hour or longer!
I'm trying to stay positive, but it's damn hard when the husband is still home in July; my reunion is coming up and I may have to borrow the money in order to attend; I can't afford to get promo items; I'm praying the company PAYS me before friday (this company has a LOUSY attitude toward workers...where else can a person work for eleven days straight w/o pay? If I don't get paid soon, I'm NOT paying for the fireworks I brought home!); and having to fight for computer time is making me want to throw everyone out of the house, or leave myself. The ONLY thing my husband has done while I've worked is the cooking. The front room looks as if it exploded, and I want to call my niece and tell her to come get the kids. But today is dollar day at the pool, and they are looking forward to going (case in point: It's 10am and the boys are already in their swimsuits! Pool doesn't even OPEN for 2 more hours!)
Yes, I'm grumpy, irritated beyond belief, and all I want to do right now is to lock myself in a room and cry my eyes out. And I can't even do that, since there are no locks on any doors in this house. Yesterday, I cried in the shower.
Contacted the woman who organized the author's showcase last year; we are NOT doing the State Fair, after all. Which means my signings are now down to six for the rest of the year. I need to contact Folletts and Borders about this weekend; maybe there's still time to squeeze one in. (And that's IF I get paid so I can afford book marks????)
On a lighter note, our storage was broken into over the weekend, but nothing taken. I don't know whether to be insulted or relieved, lol! See? I can still have a sense of humor about life!
Okay. Off to get another cup of coffee and to start cleaning up. Or maybe I'll finish Mona's book and wait until all the kids go to the pool this afternoon???
Sorry for the down mood; maybe things will be better tomorrow.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Too Busy To Blog...
B's girlfriend of two years broke up with him yesterday. And as the Fourth is now four days away, we're going to be veeeeeeryyyyy busy until then. We spent yesterday pricing inventory in preparation for the rush, and discovered that not everything on display was labelled. So during any down time today, I'll have my pricing gun in hand, so I don't have to look up the stock number!
Okaaaayyy...what did that have to do with B's news? He's taking it hard. Yesterday we stayed busy, but apparently last night was rough, so I need to get over there ASAP so the guy can take a small break and 'crash', 'decompress'....whatever it's going to take to get through the grief/pain/hurt.
Scroll down for the good news of the week or click here. I'll be back after this madness is over! And have a safe and happy Independence Day!
Mona, I'll get back to To Love A Hero as soon as I can. And if the dittie muse strikes, I'll post it. Don't know what I'm talking about? Ms Mona Risk's third book, Babies In The Bargain releases on Friday. And so does Anny's Surpassing Pleasures. See there? Lots of holiday reading for everyone! I'll probably get to read again next week.....
Okaaaayyy...what did that have to do with B's news? He's taking it hard. Yesterday we stayed busy, but apparently last night was rough, so I need to get over there ASAP so the guy can take a small break and 'crash', 'decompress'....whatever it's going to take to get through the grief/pain/hurt.
Scroll down for the good news of the week or click here. I'll be back after this madness is over! And have a safe and happy Independence Day!
Mona, I'll get back to To Love A Hero as soon as I can. And if the dittie muse strikes, I'll post it. Don't know what I'm talking about? Ms Mona Risk's third book, Babies In The Bargain releases on Friday. And so does Anny's Surpassing Pleasures. See there? Lots of holiday reading for everyone! I'll probably get to read again next week.....
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