Random Photos

This is the Husband. He's happiest when he is on or near any body of water. Preferably one with decent fishing. Doesn't have to be though. He'll sit out there on the water for hours regardless.

I have NO clue why I took this picture. I used to love those flip flops though. Loved them until they fell completely apart. Ever had a pair of shoes like that? They just yell summer don't they.

This is Sally. She loves being anywhere that we are.

Here is the Husband on the boat again. I have A LOT of pictures just like it. :)

Hold on. More to come. I'm on a photo roll.

Random Photos

These photos were taken some time around 2004. Was looking for another photo and ran across them.

We used to have this cat. I can't remember the cat's name. We think she got carried off by a hawk. She disappeared out of the back yard one morning.

I think she was posing with the new boots. I have NO clue why the air compressor is in the living room.

I took this picture of the decals on the back of someone's SUV. Someday I'll get it as a tattoo. I'll probably be about 70. Or drunk in Hawaii. Either is reasonable.

This was the bounty from the garden one day. We really need to get out and plant the garden.

Hold on. There is more. Just couldn't fit them all in one post.

I Get Stuck In My Head

Sometimes I get stuck in my own head.

It's usually about this time of night. The time after the Babe is in bed. Husband asleep on the couch. The dogs have been let out and back in for the night. Too late to do laundry. Probably should be cleaning something. But haven't the energy. Nothing on TV that I really want to watch. Why do we keep cable anyway?

Need to head to bed but my brain doesn't agree. It won't turn off. It won't slow down. It's been this way as long as I can remember. Except of course when I used to used to take those meds that made me just pass out. Those didn't last long. Couldn't shake them the next morning. It's this time of night when I used to get my best work done. I'd work on whatever assignment I had for school. I'd scrapbook. I'd sew. I'd moderate on that forum I was an admin for. I'd work at the bar. I'd play darts. I'd do the accounting for my clients. And yes, it was all still accurate. :) But I used to always have something to DO.

Making plans for when and what. Sometimes for the next day. Next week. Next month. Sometimes for things in the distant future. Plans that will probably never come to fruition. But plans all the same. Planning vacations I don't have the money for. Researching odd topics. Stalking people on Facebook. At what point is it really stalking? Reading blogs. Doing a lot of nothing consequential. But keeping my brain busy.

But now a days I tend to just get stuck in my head. Playing things over and over. Not really second guessing. I don't tend to play "what if"s or "if only"s. I get stuck in scenarios. You see, planning and doing keep me from going crazy. They keep me from losing my mind. I have to make a conscious effort to keep my brain busy. Or the memories will tear me apart. They try to. A little at at time. And the anxiety then keeps my brain going faster. So I "do" to keep my brain from taking on ideas of its' own.

Sorry to be such a downer. But I'm stuck in my head. I'll try and be better tomorrow. I'll plan for it.

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. Tomorrow is graduation day for Jr. I will be the proudest mother in the room. Because I know what this means. I know what he has overcome to get here. And it wasn't just the accounting class he had such a hard time with last semester.
2. What do you think the guys on Imagination Movers wanted to be when they grew up?
3. Andy was the first child I ever babysat for. We shared a love of Sesame Street and Mr. Snuffleupagus. It was the coolest because only Big Bird and Andy and I knew that Snuffy was real. Andy was crushed the day in 1985 when the rest of Sesame Street could see Mr. Snuffleupagus. I wasn't real happy about it either.
4. I recently subscribed to Cooking Light. It is currently the only magazine coming to my house. Apparently Mother Earth News has divorced me. Not sure how that happened. And not sure why it took me this long to figure out that I wasn't getting it anymore. huh. I do however buy just about every copy of Real Simple from the store. I probably should subscribe.
   
5. I love that the Babe is pretty much done shopping at the grocery store as soon as we have been through the produce and bread aisles. Grab some juice from the freezer section and she is happy.
6. I hate that the Babe is pretty much done shopping as soon as we have been through the produce and bread aisles. It makes it hard to get the rest of the shopping done. It does however force you to shop the outside aisles of the grocery store.
7. It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
   
8. The toddler BAM is growing like a weed. He seems to have lost his baby face. He is starting to look like a little boy. I sure will miss the baby stage. But this stage sure is fun too!
9. I have always wanted to take a ride in a hot air balloon. I used to see them all the time when we lived in CR. Not so much here in Nebraska. Pretty rare actually.
10. My mom has purchased the coolest present for Hubby for his birthday. Which isn't until July. It's going to be really hard to keep it a secret until then. Because I SOOO want to tell him before then. And I want to give it to him before then. But I will not. Because he deserves a rocking birthday present.

And thus is just a small portion of all of the things flying through my head this Friday morning. And now I have to fly. I have a lunch meeting. At the Thai place. Sounds like torture doesn't it? lol

Be well friends.

I Need a Vacation

This week bites. And it's only Wednesday. I need an escape. So now my brain is stuck in "I need a Vacation" mode. Anywhere really. Just away from real life for a while. But this of course involves more disposable income. And we all know how well I've done with THAT lately. So in the meantime, I'll just listen to "I'm on vacation" music. Won't you join me?

This Too Shall Pass

Have I shared this already? This just amazes me. I'd love to be in the mind of the person that put this together. Oh how that mind must work.

Hope you enjoy it too. The message in the song isn't so bad either.

I Stole This

"Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air - explode softly - and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth - boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap, either - not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination." ~Robert Fulghum

Originally quoted by Kelle Hampton here in a very beautiful post that makes me want a vacation even more than I did this morning.

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. When I am at work, I have awful cell phone service. We are in a cell service "hole". Service is there but just barely. When it isn't receiving or sending text messages very well, I have a tendency to hold it in the air. Because, you know, that extra 2 feet really does make a difference. right? right.
2. I need a new iced tea flavor. I am bored with the ones I have. The passionfruit that was my favorite is no longer available. And I can only take Ginger Peach for so many days in a row. Anybody have any suggestions? Loose leaf tea, not bags. IMHO, Most of the bags taste like dust.
3. I find it hard to read web pages that are white written on black. And any color written on yellow. Don't know why. It just plays havoc on my eyes.
4. I need new glasses. But that requires cash that isn't already obligated to somewhere else. Besides, Hubby needs new spectacles worse than I do. He'll be getting his first.
5. I'm working on a 100 Things Life List. 100 things that I want to do in my life. And, no. It's isn't just places I want to go visit. However, winning unlimited mileage on American Airlines would help a lot in that direction. Or winning the lottery would work too. But we've seen how well I do with that.
6. John Lennon's final live performance was with Elton John onstage at Madison Square Garden in 1974. "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" was a song that they had co-wrote.
   
7. Interesting commentary. It's Not the Recession, You Just Suck Posted this on my facebook yesterday. It all got weird after that.
8. Mark Twain also wrote under the pseudonym of Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass.
9. I often have a hard time with the whole "I before E except after C and when pronounced as A" thing. I have to repeat that stupid phrase to myself at least twice a day. Just had to do it up above in weird. My fingers type wierd. But I know that isn't right. And spell check often reminds me of the same.
10. Elvis and I found a couple of days in the middle of the week that will work for us to meet halfway. It is no longer a "no one that can pee standing up" excursion. But it will be fun none the less.

Well that was a lame 10. But it's what I've got this week. Not much at all. My brain is fried. I think we'll do a picture post tomorrow. We'll see what we get. :)

Loves!

Photo Meme

Harmony in Motion tagged me for this:

Now the rules:
1) Go to your photo files, select the 8Th photo folder.
2) Select the 8Th photo in that folder.
3) Post that photo along with the story behind it.
4) Then challenge 8 blogging friends to do the same!

This photo is of my niece Ella. And she's 3 1/2 now so this is a few years old. She's just as cute now. But with more curls. :) And she's the Babe's best friend.

As we have well established, I don't tag people well. I wouldn't want to stress anybody out. :) So tag yourself and then link in the comments here and we'll send you some linky love.

Random Photos

Hello? Is there anybody in there?

This Made Me Laugh

Cheap GPS

stolen from here

Audience Participation

What is your favorite frozen entree kind of lunch option? Looking for new ones. Keep in mind that I don't eat meat. Except sushi of course. And I don't even want to think what that would be like in a frozen entree kind of thing. eww. Any suggestions?

It's Sunday Night and I Can't Sleep

I suppose technically it is Monday morning. whatever. Regardless, here you get a bonus ten. I'd write a whole blog about some random subject but my brain isn't working that way tonight.

1. We watched Short Circuit on Netflix via the Wii twice today. Reminds of when my brother used to watch it over and over and over and over and over and over. It isn't nearly as annoying when you haven't seen it in 20 years.
   
2. While I don't think I can bring myself to try all 100 things on the Vegan's 100 foods you should try list, I'm going to make an effort to try most of them.
3. I totally and completely bawled after finding and reading Kelle Hampton's blog this afternoon. Start with the "Start here" right at the top of the page. Seriously cried people. Need to cry? Read it. Don't want to cry? Better not read it. It's amazingly written. But it will make you cry. Unless of course you are way more mentally stable than I and then you never know. You'll probably just read it and say "oh. nice story." and move on with your day. But I doubt it.
   
4. I tried repeatedly but was never able to solve a Rubik's cube. My brain just doesn't work that way. I did however take one apart and put it back together to make it look like I had solved it.
5. Christmas 1975 or 1976 I asked for the Jaws Game. I got two. I distinctly remember having to stand in the longest line ever to return one at Target. I also remember how cool it was to have a whole $10 that I could spend in Target all by myself.
6. I have a hope chest that used to belong to my dad's mother. It's a beautiful Lane cedar chest. It is in my parents' bedroom. I'm not sure where the key is. I probably should clean it out one of these days. But it's been nearly 20 years since I opened it. I remember some of the things that are in it. Yes. definitely need to clean it out one of these days. All by myself. This could take a while.
7. I type fast enough that sometimes my fingers type whole words that I hadn't planned on in my head. I guess that they get bored and tired of waiting for my brain to catch up.
8. We had morel mushrooms for dinner tonight. And roasted broccoli. and the hubby had dead cow off the grill. I'd like to tell you that the morels were from our mushroom hunting adventure earlier today. But that didn't go so well. Short version: do not tell a 3 year old that she can go potty in the woods. It's a lost concept.
9. There is a golf tournament tomorrow to raise money for our foundation at work. It's amazing to me that I am helping run a golf tournament tomorrow. Further proof that my life is not where I ever pictured it.
10. We are out of gummy vitamins for the Babe.

I wonder if I'll ever run out of random things?

I'm thinking not.

Because I'm cool like that.

I'd say "nighty night. Don't let the bedbugs bite." But that assumes that anyone reading this is ready to go to bed and not reading it in the middle of the day at work when they really should be doing something else. (Pusher this means you.) Besides. I've seen bedbugs in real life now. And they totally creep me out. Just ask Kevin the bug guy. He'll vouch. I'm kind of over zealous that way. And not in a happy go lucky kind of excitement. More excitable.

Nighty night. Here's hoping the bedbugs stay far far away.

Stupid Girls

The Babe and I have been watching videos all night. Don't ask me how we got started on Pink but it kind of got out of hand. And then I had to start explaining too many things. "It's just pretend." was said one too many times. And now we are watching 1970's era Sesame Street.

But the video below was the favorite. We'll see how much of the pseudo life lesson she retained. :)

Happy 30th post in 30 days. We're on a roll I tell you!

10 Random Things for a Friday

29 posts in 29 days. I do believe that we have a new record. Not that I am going to go back and look but you can now anticipate 4 posts next month. Because that seems to be the way I roll. :) So here we go.... the last random 10 for April.

1. It's been a long month. My schedule for May isn't looking much better. In fact 1/2 the summer is already gone I think. Elvis and I were trying to find a weekend that we could get together 1/2 way and take the girls to the waterpark. We found ourselves talking about when school started again before we finally gave up. We'll try a weekday instead. Which means we need to be in front of our work calenders. And the two of us talking in the middle of the day is nearly impossible. So that won't happen anytime soon. What happened to when we just woke up in the morning, decided to go on an adventure and went?
2. Tomorrow is May Day. Did you make and give May baskets as a kid? We did. We filled them with popcorn, candy, trinkets, and flowers and hung them on the neighbors' doors. I wonder why no one does that any more?
3. I have a grant administration training all day today. Aren't you jealous?
4. An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
5. I once played an ostrich in the High School production of Peter Pan. I was a hobbit in the community theater production of the Hobbit when I was in 3rd grade. I was The Army in Ozma of Oz in junior high. I was a whole bunch of other things over the years. But that's all I can remember at the moment.
   
6. My most recent pattern obsession revolves around THIS FABRIC from Heather Bailey. But knowing how well and how often I sew, I should really just buy some and send it to Candice. I wonder what lovelies she'll create?
7. I have watched this video on You Tube about 20 times this week. It just has beautiful visuals. And a message I need to hear more often. Hula Seventy took the pictures. I love her blog to. She makes lists. I'm a list maker. I never complete the lists but I make them.
8. I do not like the Sponge Bob movie. At all. But I do like Sponge Bob. But I am getting rather sick of him. Isn't everybody? And he probably isn't really appropriate for a 3 year old. So we should probably give the movie back to the Pusher. We've only had it, what, 2 years?
9. Speaking of late things. I am so overdue on a CD that I borrowed from the library that they have charged me a lost item fee. Don't have much faith in me do they?
10. Did you like Flintstones vitamins when you were a kid? I didn't. The vitamins at our house now are the gummy kind. Both kid and adult. I know they are not the greatest and best for you but we remember to take them better. Or actually the Babe remembers.

Do you have any cool plans for the weekend? We are "having an adventure" on Sunday. But I have no clue what it will be. Better come up with something good though. The Babe has reminded me of said promised adventure something like 20 times in 2 days. I think she may be a tad bit looking forward to it.

Happy May Day a day early!

Trader Joe's Part 2

so this is what my glorious day care provider posted on my Facebook page tonight. and for what it's worth she was glorious before she told me this.

"just saw a commercial... Trader Joe's is coming to Omaha, somewhere around 102nd and Maple :)"
to which I replied..
"SHUT UP!! For REAL? I am so there.
I mean. How cool. Might have to check it out."

She is so much more gloriouser now. see. I made up another word.

So I've checked out the Trader Joe's site looking for confirmation. Nothing

Checked my email to see if they had answered me and said, "why yes, now that we know you will shop there, we will open one." Nothing.

So being the modern technology whiz that I am I googled it.

TRADER JOE'S IS COMING TO OMAHA!!!!

Apparently my blog earlier in the month and my email to them for the same was just the convincing they needed.

But get this......

They are opening JUST down the street from Whole Foods.


View Larger Map

Is that ballsy or what? Way to go Joe.

From the Mouth of the Babe

Sunday night at Panera. The Babe and I were having black bean soup, tea and a cobblestone pastry. And having "nice conversations." Because you see that is what you do at Panera. You "have coffee and tea and yummy things and sit in chairs and have nice conversations." We do this about once a month. Preferably on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon when it is quiet and no one cares that I brought a 3 year old to Panera. But anyway...

From the mouth of the Babe:

"Orange cows are my favorite."

"Where do you find those?" I ask.

"On the Idea Planet, Mom."

" How do you get to the Idea Planet?"

" You get there by climbing a rope and then ride the lawnmower and turn at the light and then make the bed. You have to eat broccoli and cake and peanut butter there. It's pretty good."

I love sitting in chairs and drinking tea at Panera.

This Makes Me Smile

This video makes me smile. I know you've already seen it. But you should watch it again. If you haven't seen it? You're welcome. :)

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. The Babe has asked for blueberry pie for dinner every day this week. I couldn't even tell you the last time I had blueberry pie. Decades maybe even. But she is convinced that she wants some. No clue where she heard about it. No idea where to even get one. Called around. None of the bakeries even make them this time of year. Hopefully she'll settle for Blueberry muffins. I know where to get those.
2. I have 7 cuts on the 8 fingers of my hands. I know this because I found them all earlier when I made a mad mess of the nail polish remover and got it all over said cuts. I have one that is still burning. :(
3. We are making artichoke cups at the Pusher's house tomorrow. It's under the ruse of having a Pampered Chef show. But you all really know it's just so we can make the artichoke cups again.
4. I need a beer. Preferably one with a Japanese label that comes with a side of sushi.
5. More people should listen to the disclaimer of "contact your tax advisor for information on how this applies to your particular situation". Preferably before they are already in over their heads.
6. There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.
7. I currently have 804 blog entries in my Google Reader feeder. I will probably read about 80 of them and delete the rest. May be time to clean the reader up. But that takes time. Which I choose to spend in other ways.
8. 42 is the number that has been drawn most often in the Powerball lottery game.
9. Baby BAM is 2 tomorrow. This means he now must be upgraded to the Toddler BAM. how the heck did this happen anyway? We are going to the bouncy place and then out for pizza. Anybody want to come with? Presents are not required.
10. I miss my grandma. Not sure why so more this week than others, but I've thought of her quite a bit lately. :( Happy thoughts though. Just miss her.

Well there you go ladies and gents. The random 10 for the 23rd of April. Spring weather is upon us. Stay away from the tornadoes.

Lottery Plays Part Tres

Let's just update you and let you know that the Powerball numbers tonight were not the same as the quick pick number the machine in podunk Nebraska picked for me.

I need a new get rich quick plan.

I Stole This

Completely hysterical. I have several friends that need a trip to Actualville. You know who you are.

Stolen from Cathy Zielske's Blog

OK People Listen Up

Remember back here when I gave you the chance to leave a comment and win crap off of my porch? Well you are slacking. I know you are watching. I see you. And you follow me. For whatever that is worth. So comment. Before Thursday night. Because on Friday, we are drawing. Or I'm drawing. Or maybe the Babe will draw. But if there are only 4 comments, I'll probably just feel bad and send one to everyone that commented. Because I really only have 3 friends anyway. And the new one. We'll count her too.

Please comment. You wouldn't want to see the pathetic emotionally fragile chick cry would you?

Mega Millions Part 2

I turned my voucher in for my free Mega Millions ticket. Apparently you could only get a quick pick. Which is totally not fair because I was TOTALLY prepared with my fortune cookie numbers in hand.

My numbers: 04 15 29 36 52 Mega Ball 20
The numbers drawn: 05 08 10 34 42 Mega Ball 25

Do you notice anything? I mean how totally cool is that? Proof. You get what you pay for.

I bought (actually forked up the buck for) tomorrow's Powerball. I bought it in the middle of nowhere at some cute little town Spit n Go. Or Go N Split or something like that. But it was in the middle of nowhere. And people always win in the middle of nowhere. So I think I'm good.

Will they make be go back to the middle of nowhere to claim my prize? I kind of hope so. The outdated Little Debbie will be well worth the return visit.

Remind me to delete this when I win. I'd hate to give bad press to the Lick and Get.

By the way. My numbers are 05 26 38 48 58 and Powerball 12 Go buy the same numbers. Then we can split the cash and get on TV and all that. What do you think? Everybody in?

THE DAN BAND

I realize I am way far behind on what is cool. Case in Point. The Dan Band. I am totally laughing my butt off. Too bad I can't laugh long enough to laugh the whole thing off. That's a lot of laughing. But you can't blame a gal for trying? Like them? Skip over to You Tube. Search "the dan band" then watch the Total Eclipse of the Heart song. Classic I tell you. Butt off laughing quality.

Mega Millions

I have a voucher for a free ticket for Mega Millions. Quick pick? or Random numbers chosen by you? Maybe just all of the 3s. So many options. So many numbers. Maybe I should go in on the ticket with 5 friends. Groups seem to win a lot. I've already shared my theory on fortune cookie numbers. Maybe I should go to Beijing Tokyo and have sushi for lunch so I can get a fortune cookie. Do you SEE the sacrifice I make to get the good lottery numbers? I promise to have a rocking giveaway on here if I win big in the lottery. Maybe a "first 100 people to comment get a free car" kind of thing. I'll have the money you know.

So how would you pick the numbers?

Blowin in the wind

Yeah. I seem to have been born in the wrong decade.

Leaving on a jet plane

So maybe I am having a Peter, Paul, and Mary moment. Just humor me. Or not. But you know you love them just as much as I do.

Puff The Magic Dragon

Can I just tell you how much I love youtube? But Seriously. What was Mary thinking when she put on this oufit that morning?

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. I don't wear makeup. I OWN it. I just don't wear it. Even moisturizer is something that I didn't give a thought to until I agreed to go to a Beauticontrol "party" at the Tasteful Pusher's house. And then I realized that I had reached "that age" when I should really start paying more attention to my skin. That and I paid so much for it I would be shamed if I didn't use it. Anyway, the whole no makeup thing, means that videos like this one baffle me. I mean, who watches this stuff? Apparently 3,867 people. Did I mention I sold Avon for a while?
2. The Babe and I had peanut butter sandwiches for supper twice this week. The Husband was NOT amused.
3. It's almost impossible to lick your elbow. Now that you've read that, 75% of you will try it.
4. I spent all day on Tuesday excited that there was a new GLEE that night. Is that pathetic or what.
5. You can now stream Netflix to your Wii. I'm not sure why that is important but the Husband thought that was cool. He is now watching the Spartacus series on the big TV instead of the computer. It's pretty graphic. I now wish that I'd maybe thought this through a little better.
   
6. Speaking of Movies. How is it that Avatar is still in theaters and still making good money but is releasing on DVD on April 22nd? Is this really good business?
7. Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. And my grandfather is rumored to have the original one in a box in the basement of his house. Not in the original box but in a cardboard kind of storage box. Don't get too excited.
   
8. Grandpa also has a pool table in the basement. I spent many a night in that basement playing pool. Even took a nap on it once. And if I still lived in the same city I'd be doing the same thing now. Playing pool. not the nap thing. My back wouldn't take a slate cot anymore I don't think.
   
9. I had something really cool happen at work this week. But I've been sworn to secrecy. So I can't tell you what it was.
10. My office mate and I went out for sushi twice this week. I used a Groupon that I had bought a while back for one of the trips. Which seemed like getting it for free. Even if it wasn't really. I then drank a $6.50 bottle of Japanese beer and negated the whole free sushi idea.

Bonus #11 -- I found a red stapler on Amazon.com. Now I just have to order another 13.00 worth of stuff to get the free but it takes forever shipping.

Tune in next week. Same Bat time. Same Bat channel.

In Honor of Counter # 9028

I'm pretty sure it is a mistake. But the counter says there have 9028 views of this here blog. Like I said. Pretty sure that number is off somehow. But in honor of the 9028th visitor, I'd like to have a giveaway.

So leave a comment. I'd like to hear how you got here in the first place. I've always wondered. And why on God's green earth do you keep coming back? Not that I mind or anything. I just wonder why anybody in their right mind wants to listen to me ramble.

Prizes to be random. And they'll probably come off my porch. Which could actually work out well for you. Because there is a lot of Partylite crap out there. And some Pampered Chef. And I think there is some Tastefully Simple in the cupboard. And I'm sure I have a dust bunny or two laying around. wow. The shipping on this could get pretty costly. might have to find some lighter stuff.

Comment away my pretties! And your little dog too. Unless of course you have a cat. I suppose they could leave one too.

Random Photos

These are the most recent pictures from my carpy camera phone.

This is the pagoda kind of thing that they have at Target. I want it for my back deck. The one we have is shot. It fell apart in a wind storm last spring. I need about $500. Anybody want to donate to the cause?

This is my friend Lea's dog. I want one like her soooo bad. An English Bulldog. I need $1000 - 1500. Anybody want to donate to the cause?

This is the playhouse at Menard's that I want to get and build for the Babe. I need about $3000. Anybody want to donate to the cause?

Anybody see a pattern here? I seem to take a lot of pictures of things I can't afford. I should probably work on that.

The Real Reason My Brain Won't Shut Off

I can't seem to slow my brain down today. obviously. The real reason? It doesn't want to deal with things today on any level. Why?

Today is Erin's 24th Birthday.

Enough said, right?

I Really Should Be Working

I really should be working but my brain never came back from lunch. I'll end up working Saturday but the rest of today is shot anyway. So you are getting a bunch of Random stuff today. aka. what is floating around in my brain.

• Anybody read a good book lately? I need a book that is "just for fun". One that I can put down 25 times in an hour to deal with the crisis of the moment. And then can pick it back up 2 days later without having to re-read the last 2 pages to remember what was going on.
• Hershey's kisses can fix just about anything.
• Diet Coke can fix even more than Hershey's kisses.
• I am in love with just about everything in this Etsy store. Maybe I should wear more jewelry.
  
• Maybe I should have more disposable income.
  
• I sing the chorus of "Clementine" to The Babe . She asked me the other day why "she is lost and gone forever." I answered her honestly and said that it was because she had drowned. The Babe then said, "maybe I should take those swimming lessons Mom. I don't want to be like Clementine."
• Most days I feel like I will never be out of debt. But we are knocking it out $50 at a time.
• The new information on credit card statements about how long it will take you to pay off the card if you only pay the minimum payment is kind of scary. Which means it is working. So that may be a good new law after all.
• I really like the Simply Limeade from Simply Orange Juice Company. It reminds me of spring. But usually makes me want a Pea Picker. Please pass the Vodka. Thank you very much.
• If you go to the Simply Orange Juice Company website you can listen to birds chirping. It might even make you think you are outside. But only if you close your eyes and open a window and grow some grass in your office.
• The spider plant in my office is dying because it desperately needs to be re-potted.
• I am tired of people that want something for nothing. Beggars can't be choosy right? Whoever wrote or said that must have been dealing with beggars from a different time and place.
• I often daydream about the alternate reality where I drove a VW bus and toured the country painting murals and sleeping wherever I decided to crash, eating whatever fresh stuff somebody let me pick from their garden, handing out flowers to everyone, and having a dog named Spot that found me. That would make me a gypsy right?
• My sister used to live in Jackson, Mississippi.
• We almost moved to Jackson, Tennessee. We moved to Council Bluffs, IA instead.
• None of the four stores that the Husband was offered a job at in July 2002 are still open. So I'm glad we didn't move to Jackson, TN. That store was hit by a tornado in 2004. Or maybe it was 2003.
• I wish I had a red stapler.
• There is a Cadbury caramel egg sitting on my desk that has been there since February.
• When I was teen something or other I had zebra finches. my mom hated them because they made a huge mess. One died. The other flew away one day when I had the brilliant idea to clean the cage outside.

My brain obviously won't shut off. I'll give you a break now though. Then you can let the last 19 some odd things sink in.

There will be a quiz later. hope you paid attention.

Taxes Suck But You Can Get Free Stuff

Did you know you can get FREE stuff on tax day. Which for those of you living under a rock (or not in the US) is tomorrow.

Tomorrow means a few things in my life:

• All of my tax clients except for one are done. That one needs to call me before tomorrow to get an extension filed. LV if you are reading this, CALL ME!
  
• I now have to find a new source of income seeing as how I don't have any more tax clients that need to pay me. Oh yeah. Except for that one.
• It is my niece Jonalee's birthday.
• I will get to mail in my taxes. Which I could have done weeks ago, but what is the fun in that?
• I have a $17 refund from the IRS. They'll keep it. But I'll be $17 closer to paying off the millions that I owe.
• I have a $438 refund from the State Dept of Revenue. They'll keep it. But I'll be nearly paid off with them.
• I am going to go get my FREE COFFEE from Starbucks

What FREE STUFF are you going to go get?

Did I Mention I Was Sick? Probably TMI

Yesterday made day 8 of the sickness. This is the stomach sickness. Not to be confused with the sickness that wasn't strep but sure felt like it (from 3 or 4 weeks ago) and not to be confused with the sinus infection sickness that the Dr said was causing the my coughing sickness that drove my office mates to make me go to said Dr. We should probably thank said Dr though because he gave me antibiotics that only cost $4.35. And THAT is the cheapest I've ever walked away from the Target Pharmacy. And the cough is getting better. So he was probably right. Even though my nose never ran and my throat never hurt.

Ok, now what was I talking about? Oh yeah. The stomach sickness. I've had it for 8 days. Almost everything (short of peanut butter crackers and Gatorade) almost everything that I ate was coming back up about 15 minutes later and I walked around nauseous most of the time. That stomach sickness. Well, Sunday I kept down mashed potatoes and cauliflower and yesterday afternoon I kept down a tuna sandwich from Subway. So I decided to try sushi today. Big jump. Yeah, I know. But it was good. so there. And it has stayed down. And it was good. And now I want more sushi. But that's usually true. Did I mention that I NEVER get sick?

And the point to all of this? Yeah. The point. 8 days of the sickness. And I only lost a pound. A lousy pound.

So what was the point of that?

My Plead to Trader Joe's

Dear Trader Joe's Powers That Be,

We need a Trader Joe's in Omaha. We are a pretty large metro area. I'm sure that more people than just me would jump ship from the mega grocery that is Whole Foods. We'd come shop at your happy smaller and happier establishment. With great joy. And lots of bucks. You see, I am out of dried pineapple. And dried Ranier Cherries. And you spinach salad mixes are to die for. And those awesome "A Fig Walks Into a Bar" bars. We are out of those too. The Babe ate them all. Because you see, she needs a Trader Joe's in Omaha too. So I can feed her healthy food that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. And so the people at Baker's don't look at us crosseyed and head cocked when we ask about sulfide free dried fruits and free range grass fed meat. (which by the way is sacrilege to ask for when you live in corn country) I might even eat meat again if you bring your store to somewhere near me. Doubtful. But I might. maybe. Ok, maybe not, but I'll buy it. Because there are carnivores that live at my house. And they need to eat too.

Thank you in advance.

Carolyn - (aka the one that can taste the sulfur in dried fruit)

Random Photos

The Lilacs are budding.

We are getting anywhere from 7 to 12 eggs a day. Want to buy a dozen eggs? $3 for white $4 for brown. The browns are bigger.

This is Jack. He doesn't like to have his picture taken. So this is a rare photo.

This is Son2's car after he crashed it. Everyone walked away so all is good.

See. Told you they were random. :)

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. I found the Burt's Bees. It was on my desk at work. :) Which is surprising that I found it at all on the desk because it looks like a file cabinet exploded in my office right now.
   
2. I am still sick. But walking around and somewhat functioning sick. So that is a move in the right direction. I do however still have an incredibly awful cough. Which my office mates have told me is getting worse. So they made me an appointment at the Dr. today at 2:00. Yippee skippy. Another $30 for them to tell me it is viral I'm sure.
3. Spent more than an hour yesterday trying to find something on the HUD website. It has to be one of THE worst websites. I know there is a TON of information but finding it can be impossible.
4. February 1965 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon. 1965 had a lot of odd things happen. The Husband was born in 1965. This may explain a lot.
   
5. My cousin is getting married June 13 in St Paul. I hate driving to Minnesota. Love being there and spending time there but I hate the drive.
6. I want to go to the zoo. I want to watch the monkeys. Maybe next weekend. Want to come with? We can make a day of it.
   
7. We are still swimming in Easter Candy. I have done a very good job of avoiding it. The Babe's first words of her morning EVERY morning this week have been, "Can I have candy? I'm not really hungry for breakfast but I think I have room for candy."
8. Last night's episode of Bones made me cry. It made me mad too. Did you watch it? Did it make you mad? Did you cry too? I saved it on the TiVo. Because I apparently think I may need to cry again. I still can't believe it. So not the way I saw that episode ending. Must move on. Because if I don't, I may start crying again. Over a TV show. How pathetic.
9. Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors. Bet you didn't know that did ya? Well there you go.
   
10. I just realized I don't have a picture of BAM in my office. huh. I should probably do something about that. He's two in 2 weeks. How is that even possible? It seems like only a few months ago that we were welcoming him into the world. And now he is going to be two. Wow.

I am full of useless information today. I could probably write another 10 without any problem. But I really must get back to real life.

Big sloppy kisses!

The Contents of My Purse

It's another of those stupid Meme things. Why are they called that anyway? Not sure why I'm even doing it except that I am switching purses anyway and it seemed like the thing to do. Considering that it is nearly 11:30 pm. We all know I should be in bed. Not switching my crap from one purse to another. But I bought this cool spring purse from Candice and I want to show it off. That and the corner of my mouth is cracked and I can't find the Burt's Bees in this mess in my purse. So here we go... Aren't you glad you tuned in?

• My awesome yellow wallet -- that I liked so much that I bought it in Green too. Which I can't find. we'll skip discussing what is in the wallet short of my Driver's license, debit card, and checkbook
• Coupon holder -- which desperately needs organized. And I forget to use every time I go to the store. I really should get back into the grocery game.
• The Spring/Summer 2010 Season's Best from Pampered Chef. -- Because you never know when you might need the recipe for Chipotle Chili Cornbread Bake.
• My glasses and a really ugly glass case. -- Which reminds me, I really need to get a new prescription
• Little Purple zipper thing -- holds all of those reward cards, medical insurance card and carppy stuff like that.
• 3 pack of Starbucks Via (Italian Roast) -- you can never be too far away from a good caffeine dose
• Clip full of business cards for work -- I'm putting them into the purple zipper thing so they quit getting so beat up
• Pill box for the crazy pills -- it's empty though
  
• Orange pen -- The pen is orange not the ink. An orange ink pen would be kind of cool though don't you think?
  
• Bunch of receipts that need thrown away -- how do I end up with so many of these?
• An R2D2 tattoo. -- I have no clue.
• Wet Nap -- I have a 3 year old
• Mini Luna Bar - I have a 3 year old
• Citrus Twist Tic Tacs -- My friend Wendy gave them to me. Do you think this was a hint?
• Pill Bottle with more crazy pills -- I should probably consolidate
• 2 more Wet Naps
• Travel Size Scope. -- In case Wendy was trying to tell me something
• OPI lipstick in Rosy Mistletoe -- they gave it to me free when I got a pedicure. Not a color I would EVER wear. Why did I keep it?
• Rolaids Soft Chews -- These are pretty cool if you haven't tried them.
  
• A roll of postcard stamps -- for mailing Pampered Chef invitations for all of the parties I haven't been good about booking
• Car keys
  
• Another key ring with 9 keys on it. --I know what 3 of them are for
• Roll of Rolaids with only 2 left -- In case I run out of the soft chews
• Flash drive -- no clue what is on it.
  
• McDonald's wet nap -- because apparently 3 wasn't enough
• Copy of the Babe's prescription card -- I can't find the original
• Travel size hand lotion from some hotel I stayed at -- because my hands are chronically dry and it smells really good
• Master keys for my job -- Putting them back in the purple thing
• A coin purse -- no clue why I bought it except that it was something like $5 and it was cute
• Roxanne's rabies tag -- I wondered where that went
• Sally's rabies tag - maybe that other one is Jack's?
• more receipts
• Envelope and voucher for mailing my IRS payment -- because I will be making them payments for the rest of my life
• about $5 in change
• 3 Chuck E. Cheese tokens - I have a 3 year old
• Collapsible Brush -- it has a mirror, which keeps the Babe entertained when I need to buy myself 5 minutes

So there you have it kids. The top 35 reasons why my purse weighs 24 pounds. Aren't you glad you stuck around this long?

I don't do tags. So tag yourself. Comment here that you dumped your purse too. And I'll send you some linky love. :)

Happy almost Friday!!

Where the heck did that Burt's Bees lip balm go? The corner of my mouth is falling off.

I Stole This

3 MEN GO INTO A MOTEL.
THE MAN BEHIND THE DESK SAID THE ROOM IS $30, SO EACH MAN PAID $10 AND WENT TO THE ROOM.

A WHILE LATER THE MAN BEHIND THE DESK REALIZED THE ROOM WAS ONLY $25, SO HE SENT THE BELLBOY TO THE 3 GUYS' ROOM WITH $5.

ON THE WAY, THE BELLBOY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPLIT $5 EVENLY BETWEEN 3 MEN, SO HE GAVE EACH MAN A $1 AND KEPT THE OTHER $2 FOR HIMSELF.

THIS MEANT THAT THE 3 MEN EACH PAID $9 FOR THE ROOM, WHICH IS A TOTAL OF $27, ADD THE $2 THAT THE BELLBOY KEPT = $29.

WHERE IS THE OTHER DOLLAR?

Stole it from Alice

Sleep is Overrated.

I just want it to be known that I HATE that the Husband can fall asleep anywhere at anytime. Not in a narcolepsy kind of way but in a "this is me laying down and I'll be going to sleep in a little while and now I want to tell you about something and" ... snore. The boy is OUT.

Me. I'm just about drop dead tired. And as soon as I get downstairs, I'm going to lay away for another 30 minutes to an hour with the brain that doesn't shut off.

I'd say on that note, "good night". But who are we kidding?

The Email Address Dilemma

Ok, Maybe not so much a dilemma (which makes it sound important) more just an issue of "now why the heck does she do that?"

I have way too many email addresses. Mostly because one will get completely spammed up and I abandon it. Some because I think I need them. And then there is the other one.

I used to have only one. It was cmmouse@someemailservicethatdoesn'texistanymorebecauseitgoteatenupbyyahoo.com. Don't use that one anymore because it got spammed up. On a COMPLETE whim I checked it here a minute ago. It is still active and still getting mail. I apparently haven't checked it since 2/6/2007. And since then it has accumulated 21,277 unread emails. Seriously. 21,277. But in the last week it has averaged less than 10 spam a day. Which is really pretty good when you consider the following:

Shortly after Erin disappeared I felt compelled to start another email address. I just couldn't deal with the missing daughter emails all of the time. I needed to be prepared mentally before I opened them. So I started a carolyn at helpfindachild one. that automatically forwards to the haveyouseenerin yahoo address. (see, two addresses at once) Then we set up the @helpfindachild address on the website with a link to "send info, ask for info, send your tips, media contact" and so on and so forth to feed to that helpfindachild address. And then spiders and bots and whatever the heck else that drives stupid spammers stuff got that address of the website and stole it and spammed it. So now people get emails from carolyn at helpfindachild that are SPAM. You know the kind. Viagra for sale, order this from Mexico, call your long lost hooker, etc etc etc. All of the email you HATE. And now it looks like it comes from me. :( So now I don't know what to do with that email. Except the fact that I know I have to keep it somehow because it is the address people have for media contacts and what not. stupid bots and spiders. :(

And then there is the candlesandbath @ verypopularaddresshosting.com. See, I used to sell candles for a well known direct sales company. And I sold bath products for what used to be a out in the middle of nowhere bath products company. And I thought I needed a cute email to support that biz. and then I used it for all of those things that say "give us your email so we can annoy you for the rest of your life and we'll sell your email to everybody else so they can do the same." And now THAT email address is FULL of spam. every day. not as much as the HFAC address but not a little bit either. Can't really ditch that address. Because. Ok. Not really sure why not but I'm sure there is a reason.

So. I started a "only a select few know it" gmail account. If you have it, count yourself queen or king for the day. Because I DON'T give it out to just anybody. I like that email address. No spam. It's great.

And my work email. Which is actually 2 mail addresses that funnel to one address. I'm stuck with that though.

So what is that? 7 email addresses? Holy Criminy Batman. That is a LOT of emails. So what do I do now? Because NOW I started this new Pampered Chef adventure/Venture and I really don't want to use my gmail address and the candlesandbath one would just be stupid because what does that have to do with cooking? and the helpfindachild address wouldn't be appropriate and is pretty much a lost cause to all of the spammers and bots. and that really only leaves me with the email address with 21,277 emails that need to be cleared and how do I explain to someone what cmmouse has to do with cooking? Oh yeah, NOTHING.

So now, here I sit. Now having written 1000 words about emails. An I still am no further to a solution than I was before. What do you do? What works? What should I NOT do? Does it really even matter? I can't be the only one with this problem. Why has email taken over my life? If it was 1987 again what would I be doing with my time instead?

Oh yeah, life goes on. Long after the thrill of emails is gonnnee.

I should have gone to bed a long time ago. Let's just write this one off to being awake too long.

No. I really do need a solution. So I turn it over to you my minions. What should I do?

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. My phone is an LG Voyager. It has a what I thought would be cool 2.0 Meg camera that is intended to take pictures and videos. POINTLESS! the pictures are dark. the videos are impossibly dark. tried to film the dogs and their "fighting" the other night. All you can see is the occasional blur of white as Rox goes flying across the room. The ONE feature on the phone I'd really like to have work and it is pointless.
2. Even though I don't eat meat, I am pretty damn good at preparing it. Case in point: the chuck eye steak on Tuesday night. Finally found "the right" marinade for the Hubby. Only took like 102 tries. Me? I'll stick with the roasted veggies. Which by the way, I am obsessed with lately. Roasted potatoes, roasted carrots, roasted broccoli, roasted cauliflower, you name it I'll try and roast it. And so far none have failed. Can't wait to go get the 1.99 a bunch asparagus at HyVee this weekend.
3. Elvis is moving this week. They got a new house and are moving out of the month to month rental that hasn't been updated since the 70's. No more living out of boxes. YEAH for them!
4. I need more "in real life" friends that live in town. This town. Not the one I used to live in. Not that I don't love the ones I have now. I just think they are getting sick of me. Poor things. But then again... I am a blast to be around. They should count themselves lucky!
   
5. The Babe went to bed reasonably well about 1/2 of the week. Which is much better than the last month so I will NOT complain. Still open to ideas from anyone that has them. How do you get a 3 1/2 year old to stay in bed with anything short of duct tape?
   
6. LOVING the warm weather. But apparently it is going to rain this weekend. figures.
7. I need to go to the dentist. It's been nearly 2 years. And I'm pretty sure there is a small cavity in the crater in one of the molars on the left side of my jaw. But this all requires cash. Maybe I should have taken on an extra tax client or two after all.
8. I think the fan may be going out in my laptop. It's running much hotter than usual and earlier it shut itself off after it got too warm. Glad it has that feature.
9. I have no clue what we are doing on Sunday for Easter. Well, we'll have the annual "find what the Easter Bunny hid in the back yard" adventure. Beyond that I haven't a clue.
10. Baseball season starts on Sunday! Ok. I admit. I really don't care about that. But it's been on the news so much today I felt like it was an obligatory comment.

I'll try and check in before the easter bunny ear eating frenzy. Kisses!

Today was DEFINITELY a Monday

Definitely. See. I spelled it correctly again! See how cool I am?

OK so today was definitely a Monday. And full of enough Monday carp that it should qualify as TWO Mondays. Does that mean I get a free pass next week?

The whole thing started with the Babe refusing to get ready to go. Flat out refused. I got her dressed after much "discussion". Then went into the bathroom to do something or other that I can't remember now. I think it was to brush my hair. But any way. I came out of the bathroom to find the same little 3 year old that I had just gotten dressed now naked as a jaybird. So the whole "discussion" about getting dressed started. all. over. again. All of this because she thought that we needed another home day. Which overall makes me feel good that the Babe wants to spend the day with me. Which I know won't be true for forever. But at 8:30 on a Monday morning when I should have already been at work, it was NOT quite so good.

So then I got to work. There is a two car spaces wide area of concrete jack hammered up in the driveway to the parking area. Jacked up and taped off with safety tape and cones but jacked up all the same. Went inside and asked about it. No one had any clue. Apparently somebody in an unmarked white truck just drove up and jacked it up. Taped it off and drove off.

Sounds ominous doesn't it? Ok, so not really. It's just concrete after all.

Called the sewer company. They said they have no idea. No work scheduled on our street. Called Digger's Hotline. They say that it is marked as "sewer work". So wouldn't you think that the sewer COMPANY would know that sewer work was being done? yeah, me too. I decided I was tired of dealing with it. Somebody would eventually come back to work on it. Then I got a phone call about 3 hours later. Apparently they were doing work. They just didn't know it.

Yes. I know. You just read this far and it's now apparent that it is non-climactic. lol

Ok, so anyway.... the phone rang off the hook all freakin' day. And then I get a call at about 2:00 wanting to know if somebody could meet with me in "about an hour". Wanted about 1/2 hour of my time. They got there at 3:15. When I walked him out I locked the door behind him. It was 4:30. So much for a 1/2 hour.

I got ZERO done today. Happy Monday.

So how was your Monday?

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. Chocolate only grows within 20 degrees of the equator. I learned that on the History Channel. Which is on in my house about 50% of the time the TV is on. Archaeologists found licorice in King Tut's tomb. See what you are missing by not watching the History channel? yeah I know. I'm just too lazy to get up and shut it off most of the time.
   
2. My friend Chris works for Prudential. Investments and Insurance he is. :) He did a new quote for us for Home, Auto, Life insurance. I do believe we are making the switch. Considering we have all 3 at the moment with 3 different companies it sure will make things easier. Need insurance? Let me know. I'll hook you up.
   
3. Pampered Chef really sells itself. It's kind of cool. Now if only I could get some more parties booked. Can you say part time income?
4. The greenhouse is up in the Baker's parking lot. This makes me VERY happy. Which reminds me, I still haven't ordered the chicks. I should probably get on that.
5. BAM stayed at our house last night. I LOVE being a grandma. It is so cool. Spoil them rotten and send them home. You should try it. It's pretty rockin.
6. The hubby fell asleep on the couch at 9:00 last night. He had just finished telling me the things he was going to do before he went to bed. lol. ZERO done.
7. I could actually park my car in the garage if I wanted to. I don't think that's been true since we moved in. I think I might try it tomorrow. But probably not. Because I'm sure Hubby had plans for something else to move into it. That's probably why he cleaned it out.
   
8. I've always wanted to travel to Europe and sleep in a hostel and sleep on a train. To fall sleep in one country and wake up in another. I think that should be on my list of things to do before I die. Do you have a bucket list? #1 on mine is to go get a passport. :)
   
9. Anne Rice has a video on I Am Second. Inspiring. I wish there was a group in Omaha. The whole movement is kind of cool. Movement that I really don't understand? The Tea Party stuff. Seriously? Aren't they just the republicans of the 80's revisited?
   
10. I wrote this on Thursday night. So I really kind of cheated. But "10 Random Things for a Friday that I wrote on Thursday Night" just doesn't seem right.

Kids. It's the downhill slide to the weekend. Are you doing anything fun? You should definitely fit fun into the next few days. You've earned it.

Hey spell check says I spelled "definitely" correctly. That's a first! Oh. Wait. That just made 11. Maybe I should expand this whole 10 thing. Nah. Too much pressure.

Toodles!

The Reason I Started This Blog in the First Place

Blogging was supposed to be a way for me to rant and rave and whine about all of the things that drive me to the edge of crazy. Thus the "lost sanity" part. I am pretty whacked most of the time. Good medication is the only thing between me and cracking this time of year.

The reason for the insanity? Bottom Line. Erin. And the fact that some mean person took her away from us. And now we don't know where she is. And it's been nearly 9 years. And not a day goes by that I don't feel like I could fall apart at any moment. And then I gather myself and look at all the blessings we do have. And then how I'd trade almost all of them to know where she is. It's an endless cycle I tell you. And there is truly no way that anyone can understand without living through it. So I seriously hope that you never understand.

Well a couple of weeks ago, we thought we were going to have a media opportunity that ended up falling through. But I asked the NCMEC if they could update Erin's age progression. And they did. And they sent it to me. And I tried to process it But I couldn't. Until tonight.

I remember feeling sorry for the families who had had age progressions done of their missing children. How when we first started hanging flyers all over the free world that I was at Wal-Mart and they posted Erin's poster on their board for me. I stood there in disbelief. How is it that it is MY kid that is up there? This isn't real. Can't be. Then I saw the kids with age progressions. I felt sorry for their parents. My daughter will be found way before we'll even think about an age progression. How sad for them. But it won't be us.

And now it is. We're on our third age progression actually. Kick in the head. This isn't supposed to be us. But it is. My friend Colleen Nick said it best I think. "No parent should have to watch their child grow up on a computer." It sucks I tell you. In ways I can't even explain.

But here it is. Erin, Age progressed to 24 years old. Is that even possible? She's almost 24. Doesn't seem possible. In my head she is still 15. And until I see her again I think that's the only face I'll see. Her at 15.

So what do you think? They used pics of Amber and Jimmy to age it. Those of you that know her. Do you think she'd look anything like this? Like I said. She is still 15 in my head. So I have a hard time seeing her as anything else.

Updated posters to follow. I think I just need to sit with the picture for a few more days. I'll put it together after that.

God, I miss her.

One More Thing for a Friday

11. I chopped my hair off. I am no longer a hippie. I am pretty sure I qualify for the Short Hair Mafia. I'll get somebody to take a picture tomorrow. Have I ever posted my pic on here? I'm not sure I have. hmmmm. Maybe we'll skip it. Only time will tell.

10 Random Things for a Friday

So here we go marching rattley bang.

1. Driving to CR can be accomplished through one viewing each of Princess and the Frog, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and most of Wall-E.
2. Trying to connect your Windows 7 laptop to your dad's wireless router and subsequently somehow setting up a new wireless network and then having to reprogram the router and reconnect all of the wireless devices in the house is NOT the best way to start a visit with your parents.
3. There is a virus going around that walks and talks like strep throat but is not strep throat. I was down for the count from Friday night to Tuesday. Went back to work on Wednesday. Still hurts to swallow and my left ear doesn't feel to happy either. But I haven't had a fever since Tuesday so I'm hoping the rest will go away soon. I'd be happy just to be able to swallow something that doesn't qualify as soft food.
   
4. I have a TON of new followers. New followers -- how did you find me? I don't mind one bit. Just wonder how you got here. lol
5. Somebody pointed out to me that lol looks like a man drowning. See the arms in the air? Now every time I type or read lol I can't help but think about a dying man.
6. I hate that my laptop has no 10 key pad. I need to find a wireless one.
7. We are ordering chicks this week. One of the breeds (amerucanas) we are ordering lays green and blue eggs. The Easter Egg chicken. How cool is that?
8. The Babe is 10 shades of excited about seeing her brothers this weekend. All 5 of them. I'm glad she gets to see the younger 3 as much as she does. I hope that never changes.
9. Clarabelle Cow is one of my favorite Disney characters. She needs more shows of her own.
10. I have my first real live Pampered Chef show on Saturday. Wish me lots of luck. I'll probably need it.

That's about it for today lovely ones. I have a full weekend plan but will do what I can to get on here and update soon. Pictures are in order I've been told. We'll see what we can come up with.

Smooches!

Scholar Ladies (Get An A On It)

This is an incredible video. Let's hear it for the kids at Hope School in Milwaukee!

March Music

if you go down there to the right you'll find the music player. I filled it full of Irish bands in honor of March. :) We'll get you those annoying green beer drinking songs later.

10 Random Things for a Friday

Don't have a heart attack. I'm posting. I know. It's been a while. And I'm sure you've missed me. But I'm sure you really haven't because I'm sure you're probably my friend on Facebook too. If not... go here. My Facebook page Because you should be. Because then you'd know I wasn't dead or holing up somewhere hiding from the world. So here are 10 things I haven't told you on Facebook. :)

1. I am at my wit's end with the Babe and bedtimes. Seriously. Unless YOU are in bed, she refuses to go to bed and/or go to sleep. And yes, I know I am the parent and what I say goes, but it's a battle EVERY night. On the rare occasion that she does fall asleep it is in the middle of the room in a pile of stuffed animals or books or toys. I'm open to any and all ideas that won't bring on visits from CPS.
2. I want this brush. I know it is $90 and I'll never spend that much money on ANY beauty product. But I've read several reviews on it. Just google. "Best hairbrush" and see what you get. It's like 5 of the first 10.
3. Neither Jack the Cat or Sally the Skunk Dog are too happy about the puppy. Oh that's right. I haven't posted in 11 weeks and you who aren't friends with me on Facebook have no CLUE we even had puppies. Roxanne had 3 puppies New Year's Eve. We have one left. I think she has a new home tomorrow. Which is good. Because Sally's little temper tantrums over the puppy are about as annoying as I can handle.
4. I haven't been to Cedar Rapids since Christmas. I think this may be a new record.
   
5. I took on ZERO new clients this tax season. It's been pretty quiet. Which is fine with me.
   
6. My love affair with direct sales has taken a new turn. I signed up last week to be a consultant with The Pampered Chef. Now this brings me full circle in the direct sales world. This was the first DS company I ever looked at signing with. Decided against it for some reason I can't remember. And now here I am with it once again. Let's see where it goes. :) Anybody want to book a show? lol
7. The vet visit last week cost me $160. And I didn't even buy any pet meds to bring home. Which reminds me... I need to go place an order with PetMeds.
8. I need a new spring purse. I need to get a hold of Candice and see if she can hook me up.
9. We REALLY want to buy a Wii. May just do so if this puppy sells tomorrow.
10. My laptop keyboard has 3 keys missing now. Thank you to the baby BAM.

Ok. Now I will make as many efforts as possible to not wait until the 17th of nowhere near this month to post again.

Hugs and big sloppy kisses!

"Little Drummer Boy", David Bowie and Bing Crosby

This is still my favorite Christmas song. I just wanted to remind you of that. Hope you enjoy it too.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

The Best Brownies EVER!

Just made THESE BROWNIES Thank you Smitten Kitchen. You know not what you do.

Snow Day Observations aka Blizzard 12/9/09

• It took Hubby more than 2 hours to dig us out. And that was only 1/2 the driveway and a path to the chickens. I tried to help but was pretty much useless considering the need to keep running in to see if the kids were awake yet. That and it was really cold.
• I need to get better cold weather gear. Starting with new mittens.
• Successfully avoided doing much other than laundry and dishes and picking up the living room 23 times.
• It is 7:00 pm and they still haven't plowed the new streets. wonder if that is city or county?
• I blew a hole in yet another on of Candice's Magic Slippers. Just goes to prove how often I wear them. I am now down to 2 matching pairs. And another 2 pairs of mismatched. But they rock matched or not.
• Playhouse Disney can only be watched for so many hours before you lose your mind. It's good that it only runs for so many hours in the day.
  
• the Babe and BAM are finally starting to play together. It's pretty cool.
• a 3rd cup of hot cocoa can make you "the best mom ever".
• the ears and tail from a lion costume can make for nearly an hour of entertainment for a 3 year old.
• Hubby's boot is longer than BAM's torso yet he tries to carry it around anyway
• Having a good friend that owns a snow removal company. I bet if I paid him he might even come earlier in the day. LOL
• a collapsible play tunnel from IKEA is a life saver.
• Make sure you have more butter in the freezer before you attempt to make cookies.
• Savor every minute of it. You only get so many snow days.
  

Christmas Tunes

So I suck at updating. Big surprise. Things should calm down at work soon so we'll see how I do then. :p

So as a kiss and make up gift, I'm posting the Christmas playlist today. :D Don't you love me now? 70 songs for your listening enjoyment. Maybe we can all be dragged into the Christmas spirit. Ok, so it's just me that goes along kicking and pouting. I'll work on that too. yeah right.

That said..... Happy Holiday Music to you.

Thanksgiving

The kids are coming here for Thanksgiving. I'm REALLY starting to look forward to it. I hope it goes better than the one in this song. And yes, I'm into stupid songs today. What of it?

Now if only I had a dining room table.

Dead Skunk

It's one of those days.

Catwoman, supergirl, pink bunny and... Chandler?

I'm not much on Halloween but this is still one of my favorite Friends episodes.

1:44 am

I stayed up until 1:44 am catching up on Glee on hulu.com

I'm going to regret this tomorrow.

10 Random Things for a Friday

1. It's still 2 minutes before midnight so this is still Friday. I had forgotten to do this again this week until I was looking at harmony's 10 random things and saw on her blog feed thing that I hadn't updated in 2 weeks. oops.
2. I really strongly dislike the show Sanctuary on SyFy. Yet it is saved on my Tivo EVERY week. Why the heck did SciFi change their name to SyFy anyway? Does anybody else find it incredibly annoying?
3. My dad gave us a new to us TiVo. We are supposed to be replacing ours so that now we can watch one show and record another. But we can't seem to find a "good time" to watch the things already on the current TiVo. And heaven forbid we might actually just pass on watching them.
4. I think I am going to take the Babe to Disney Live tomorrow. Not sure though.
5. There are large open spaces on my living room walls that are sorely lacking frames with the portraits we have had taken lately. I've paid for the portraits. Why the heck can't I seem to get the things on the walls?
   
6. There is a golf bag sitting right by the front door in my living room. Wishful thinking? No. My living room is a putting green don't you know?
7. Earlier tonight I had BAM and the Shih Tzu in the tub at the same time. You don't EVEN want to know what prefaced that.
8. The Cialis commercials freak me out. Not sure why. I think it is the warnings.
9. The drive from Ft Worth last Friday took me 12 1/2 hours. We obviously stopped several times. The Babe did amazingly well.
10. We are out of bread.

Loves loves!

10 Random Things for a Friday that didn't get written until Tuesday

Once again I have a poor neglected blog. Thank you friends for pointing that out. LOL

1. The Babe and I are going on a road trip next weekend.
2. I hate changing plans. It's frustrating.
3. We need to buy a carpet cleaner or rent a Rug Doctor some time in the near future. The brown living room carpet is looking a little too brown.
4. We are fighting bedtimes at our house. The Babe refuses to go to bed and stay in bed. Anybody have any ideas?
5. I learned yesterday how to "dial into" my work computer from my home laptop. Haven't decided yet if this is a good or a bad thing.
6. Our brush pile is in need of a good burn party. Anybody up for a fire and some spiked cider and/or hot cocoa?
7. Have you watched Glee? LOVING IT!! The rest of the new shows this season, not so much.
   
8. The truck needs some engine work. Good thing I know a great mechanic.
9. Baby BAM is still the size of a baby but is starting to act like a toddler. It is fun to watch.
   
10. Fall is my favorite season but I was far from ready for it to start. Did we ever even get a summer?