GPO Update - aka Introducing Brandon Alexander

The GPO is not longer the GPO she is now the Mommy Amber.

We'll just call her MA. LOL

Introducing .... Brandon Alexander.

He was born Thursday April 24 at 11:36 AM. He weighs in at 6lbs 8oz and a 18 3/4 inches long. He has beautiful dark hair and is perfect in every way. Mommy is resting as comfortably as can be expected. Daddy is all smiles.

(but so are Grandma and Grandpa.)

She used to look like this 4 days ago.

But now she gave us this beautiful baby.

He's got good lungs.

And he's absolutely perfect.

Every party has a pooper and it might as well be you

Today is someone's birthday. A friend and I wanted to take said someone to lunch. I said to the someone this morning..."Happy Birthday someone. Friend and I would like to take you to lunch today." Someone said, "I'd really rather not. Thank you and all but I'd really rather not."

How would you take that?

Weather for Wednesday

I don't know why I came back to work after lunch. We should all take the rest of the day off.

Earth Day one Day Late

"Sometimes you have to act as if acting will make a difference, even when you can’t prove that it will."

I'm glad it's Earth Month now and not just Earth Day. I meant to post this yesterday but time got away from me. I found a really good article on the New York Times website. It's message is simple. WHY BOTHER? The main points of the article come back to the quote above. It's a thought provoking article. A little long, but that's just become standard for the NY Times hasn't it?

While I'd like to say we are "green" at my house, I'd be only giving a half picture. We have changed most of our lights over to high energy bulbs. We use reusable shopping bags. We reuse and recycle as much as possible. We use environmentally happy cleaning products. We grow our own veggies and freeze or can what we don't eat fresh. We buy locally and organic for many products. But then we drive vehicles that get awful gas mileage. We have looked at solar energy but haven't found a way to justify the price. We do a not so great job of reducing consumption. We are as much of the problem as the next person. But we are getting better. We try to incorporate one new "green" thing into our lifestyle every month.

And you? What one thing can you do that would make your household part of the solution? What do you do now that is environmentally friendly? Will you share? I'd love to know what you have done to "green up" your household.

"Sometimes you have to act as if acting will make a difference, even when you can’t prove that it will."

Economic Stimulus Payment Poll

Ok. Figured out how to do a poll. It's over there. ------->>>>

Now you can answer COMPLETELY anonymously. Y'all read the question. I know because I can see you.

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. I accomplished little to nothing at work today because the phone wouldn't quit ringing.
2. On Tuesday, I decided to lay off caffeine for a while after reading this article. On Wednesday morning I had to drop Son2 off at work at the burrito place which is right by Starbucks. So much for that idea.
3. We had Jimmy John's for lunch. I had a #6 and a pickle. It was good. :) It always makes me smile when I say their name. Not because of the #6 and the pickle but because it makes me think of Jr. and that makes me smile.
4. Families Helping Families is having their Gala this weekend. I REALLY want to go. But alas, we are on baby watch and I've been told I can't leave town. If you are within driving distance of Cedar Rapids and have an open social calendar tomorrow night, you should really go. Tell them I sent you. Or don't. They'll probably charge you double.
5. Somebody remind me to call Lamar next week about getting a discount on another billboard.
6. Tomorrow is Stamp Club at the Stamp Pushers house. Gotta get my fix.
7. Honda CRVs are stalking me.
8. It's supposed to be 75 on Sunday. Yippee!
9. I had another "everything is for a reason" moment this morning. It was one of those "a really not so good thing happened in someone's life but something completely perfect and life changing came out of it" kind of things. I like those moments.
10. GPO Update. I don't know why she hasn't had the baby yet. It could be any day. But I cancelled my trip out of town Tuesday-Thursday. That's why the baby hasn't made his appearance yet. Had I left town...he'd have shown up. Betting GPO wishes I'd left now. LOL

Yahoo's 25 Worst Rappers of All Time

I'm freakin dyin' here. Guess who number 1 is?

http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/listoftheday/2977/the-25-worst-rappers-of-all-time

Economic Stimulus Package

I am not going to stand on the soapbox and say that we did this once before in January 2003 and it didn't work then so why would it work now or talk about how the government is already operating at a the largest deficit ever so what program are they going to steal this $152 billion from. I'm not going to even stand there. So don't expect it.

Here is what I really want to know.

In all honesty....

What are you going to do with your check?

1. Spend it on something fun
2. Spend it on something we wouldn't buy otherwise
3. Spend it on stuff you'd buy anyway
4. Use it as a downpayment on a larger purchase
5. Save it
6. Put it towards debt

Love to see your answer. Comment anonymously if you like. I have my own theories. Just wondering if they are close to the truth or not.

Thoughts for Thursday

Why are there not more words that end in ‘age?
Why aren’t there more movies where the good guys don’t win?
Whose mom decided what words were curse words?
If Superman and Batman arm wrestled, who would win?
If it’s not all about the Hokey Pokey what is it really all about?
When you’ve lost your mind do you know you have?
If the birdhouse was made for starlings, who told the sparrows they could move in?

Nothing like the last minute

I just e-filed my taxes. I think I may cry. Good thing they take payments.

Does it irk anybody else to pay the taxes in and then look at what we are getting for our money? I think I'd rather pay huge local taxes to support the services I get here than to fund the government spending I have no control over. And yes, I know I theoretically have control through my vote but that's just a crock of snot.

Write this off to the ramblings of taxpayer who just filed their taxes and owes the IRS money.

Just sayin.

Happy Tuesday!

:)

That is all.

You may now go back to whatever cool thing you were doing before you were here.

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. I am having one of those days where if one more stupid thing happens I may just snap. I know you know what I mean because we've all had them. A ton of little things that just build because you can't let them slide off for whatever reason. The kind of day when the little men in the white coats could show up and you'd gladly go with them just for the quiet time and someone else to do the laundry and cook supper.
2. I have this odd desire to make granola or granola bars. It's the fault of these silly food blogs I've become addicted to. I sit here at lunch and eat my Amy's frozen dinners and drool over food blogs. I think I may make Joyful Abode's bars. They look pretty good. Or maybe these or these. See it's a conspiracy. The universe wants me to make granola.
3. Outstanding today's Siouxsie and the Banshees that I blew at you earlier, I'm on this odd folky kick this week. No clue why. Can't explain it. Please don't ask me to.
4. Son2 got a 2nd job this week. He's pretty cool that way. Ever been to Moe's? Go on Monday. They have a good burrito deal. Besides. They give you more chips and salsa than you can reasonably eat for lunch. And who can't use leftover chips and salsa?
5. Jr says Lucas is finally starting to be a little less colicy. They may finally get to sleep sometime this year!
6. Erin's birthday is Monday. That makes me sad.
7. I had a baja blast and a 7-layer burrito for lunch.
8. Willy still smells like skunk on his head. It's less pronounced and you can be in the same room with him again but he stinks still. I may have to make a trip to Petco today. Which reminds me. We need cat food.
9. Wonder if I can talk hubby or Son2 into going to see Horton Hears A Who this weekend.
10. GPO update: the upcoming arrival is measuring at 5# 13oz. (Ultrasounds still amaze me.)And she is making progress. Looks like we might get a baby this month! Another 5 days and she'll be past the day I thought she'd deliver. So that's a good thing!

Please note there was no mention of Sushi or Sake bombs in the above 10 things.

For Sale: POS Van

Stupid car.

I know the paint is coming off because it was a defective paint job that was recalled before I bought it. I know it sounds kind of funny when it runs. That noise is really common in that series of Voyagers. No one really knows why. Gas mileage isn't great. So what if the trunk doesn't open anymore. It's a fond memory of a daughter's ex-boyfriend that got mad and slammed it. It opens sometimes. You just have to stick your knee into it. At the moment it has a hole in the gas tank so you can't put more than 3 gallons in at a time. The part is only about $100 and I'm sure you know a good mechanic that has the time to put it in.

What's that? You don't want to whole car. How about just the new fuel pump that is only 2 weeks old and the $200 worth of tires that have less than 5000 miles on them. Interested now?

Stupid car.

I don't want a car payment though. I don't want to pay for full coverage insurance. I don't have the cash to buy a cheap car outright this month.

Stupid car.

Siouxsie and the Banshees Kiss Them For Me

Peek-a-Boo

I'm having a day. More to follow. In the meantime...enjoy a little Lalapalooza type flashback.

Thoughts for Thursday

It is the simple things of life that make living worthwhile, the sweet fundamental things such as love and duty, work and rest, and living close to nature.

-- Laura Ingalls Wilder

What are your fundamental things?

So this is how I spent my lunch break

It's Harmony's fault. Blame her. And I warn you now, if you do the test there are about 10 of those stupid "ACCEPT ME" offers at the end.

But it was kind of cool. I wonder which one I missed?




Am-I-Dumb.com - Dumb Test



Edited later to say:

Ok. I apologize. I just realized that the lovely banner above and my subsequent posting of it basically just called 96.7% of people dumb fools. I SOOO don't think that. None of you are fools. Except one of you. And you know who you are. LOL

Vanilla Ice

This morning as I was taking Son2 to work, "Under Pressure" came on the radio. The beginning stanza comes on and Son2 says, "are they seriously playing Ice Ice Baby on the Brew?" I pointed out they may have similar rifts in one place but that the song was definitely not the Vanilla Ice song he was expecting. Son2 says, "yeah I thought that was odd." Then says, "I remember when he as popular though. It lasted all of what, a month?" I think it may have been a little longer. ;)

Got me thinking about the where are they now stuff. If I watched VH1 reality shows I'd probably know but I don't.

But then the Vanilla Ice memories kicked in. Spanky's. The bowling alley pseudo dance floor. Casey's Top 40 countdown. I do wonder what happened to some of the people I knew then though.

What's your Vanilla Ice memory? And did you know he's still making new albums and touring? Who would've guessed?

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. I have a headache. Not a bad one. Just annoying more than anything.
2. I am looking forward to a Partylite spa party at my friend Sharon's house tomorrow. This is going to be a blast!
3. It is supposed to rain on Sunday. I feel bad for hubby. It's his only day off this week and it's supposed to rain.
4. The chickens are growing. And the more they grow the more they stink. Can't wait to move them to the front porch. Hopefully it will be warm enough this weekend.
5. Tonight is book club. Yeah, I know I said it was last week. And I even drove all the way out west and went into where it was supposed to be. But I was a week early. Me, early. Imagine that.
6. Saturday morning will be devoted to putting more seeds in the ground to grow green things. That and digging for more of the fence. I figure if I put the green things in the ground, I'll have more incentive to get the fence up before the bunnies find my sprouts.
7. I hit 1000 blog hits at some point in the last couple of weeks. Not sure how the heck that happened. You people must be pretty bored. LOL
8. Work is work. I have a to do list that is longer than is reasonable. I need a grant to fall out of the sky to fund the salary for another person. Either that or I need someone that will come work for pennies. Know anybody like that?
9. I was going to go through 10 random this week without mentioning that I wanted sushi. But I changed my mind. We found a sushi place near Sharon that's pretty darn good. Maybe tomorrow for lunch. :)
10. GPO Update: the baby is doing well. According to the most recent photo shoot all parts and organs are where they are supposed to be. He's gained a little but not much. He even has hair. Did you know that you can see hair on an ultrasound? It's pretty cool. GPO on the other hand... she's ready to be done being the GPO. I can imagine. She does look pretty uncomfortable lately.

The skunky ones are feeling left out

Sally (above) and Willy are feeling left out. So their skunky selves wanted to say hi. Or at least Sally did. Willy just wanted me to leave him alone. :)

Finally pictures of the puppy

This is Roxanne. She's almost 16 weeks old.

She likes to eat grass and dirt and sticks and leaves.

So she usually look like this.

There are green things in my yard

See that -- there are flowers growing in my yard. Anybody know what kind they are?

Blades of Green grass are starting to show themselves!

And those are buds on the lilac. YEAH!!!!

Spring may have finally sprung.