September 30, 2006

4:30 AM & I have insomnia!

It's is 4:30 AM & I have a MAJOR case of insomnia! I have been up & awake since 8 am YESTERDAY! For some reason, I just can NOT get my mind to shut off. UGH! I dread days like this. The crazy that I have been yawning since 8pm last night. It makes no sense to me what so ever when this happens. Luckily, it doesn't happen often.

This month was the 2nd anniversary of this blog. It went by & I didn't even realize it. I have been kind of busy though. We went to San Diego for nearly 5 days in the beginning of September. When we returned we planned & paid for our approaching trip to the midwest. We have deceided to fly afterall. The little one doesn't travel in the car very well. We are HOPING the plane ride will go better. I was glad to hear of the easing of the restrictions of liquids on the plane. We will see how long the easing of those restrictions stay in effect though. Needless to say, the relatives we will be visiting are excited to meet their youngest grandchild for the first time. Only one isn't aware of our visit due to problems with her memory. My Aunt will let her know of our visit a few days before we are due to show up there.

Recently my husband had a rare Friday off work. We went to the DMV to get my license changed to my married name. It only took us 5 1/2 years to accomplish that. My SS had been changed for a few years now but with a break in pregnancy, eye glasses that work, a rare day off so my husband could watch the kids AND that approaching trip...we FINALLY got it done. Since I wouldn't be able to board the plane without ID in my LEGAL name...NOT getting it done was no longer an option. FINALLY I AM RID OF MY EX-HUSBANDS LAST NAME! THANK GOODNESS! IT feels REALLY good too. Wouldn't you know that literally minutes after I got my ID, I went to a local hair cutting place & COMPLETELY changed my hairstyle. LOL! It is still long, but now I have bangs & long layers on the sides around my face. It is nice to no longer be suffering from "HF"...High Forehead. I feel like I look nearly 10 years younger. It was a mini-makeover you might say. Now I need to do something about my clothes....

If the family wasn't peacefully sleeping in their beds right now, I would be doing housework instead of being online. Since I have a tendency to get a bit loud while doing housework at times, here I am.

Oh, our San Diego trip....we had fun for the most part. We arrived Friday afternoon & went to Scripp's Aquarium before we checked into our hotel. Bob & Liz got to touch a Sea Urchin. We saw the typical aquarium animals. We also got to see VERY pregnant Sea Horses & 2 types of Sea Dragons. After that we checked into our hotel & ate dinner. The off to Old Town we went. We toured the Whaley House, a real haunted house, walked around Old Town & went back to the hotel.

The next day we got up early & spent MOST of the day at Coronado Beach. About 4pm the girls got a quick nap in while we drove down to Imperial Beach. There we walked to the end of the pier, saw a kid hook a sting ray on his line, watched the surfers & body boarders & hit a couple of gift shops. Then we returned to our hotel.

Sunday we spent the day at Balboa Park. While there we toured all of the houses of nations, the Japanese Friendship Garden, the Museum of Man & the botanical building. While at the garden we got to listen to the Spreckles Organ. We didn't even come CLOSE to seeing all there is to see at Balboa Park.It was very enjoyable though.

Monday we spent at Legoland California. The best part was Miniland. Past that...I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Spend your time & money at Sea World or Disneyland & you'll have a better time.

I am going to TRY & grab a nap before the kids & spouse wake up for the day.

September 21, 2006

Not so gloomy anymore

After I got done crying while writing my last post, I got the kids up, we all ate breakfast & I watched some TV while the girls played in the livingroom.

Next the youngest took a nap & I got to work on my kitchen. For 2 hours straight (I know because I timed it) I tossed, cleaned, sorted, put away & repeated the process over & over. At the moment, I have stacks of sorted magazines on the kitchen counter top awaiting my return. The counter tops are all dust free because I cleaned them. I can now see most of the top of the kitchen table & most of the three kitchen counter tops as well. Three bags of trash went out the door & the bookshelves (yes my kitchen has built-in book shelves) are neat & somewhat organized. Laundry is sorted & ready to be washed. My laundry room isn't large enough for sorting clothes in & is adjacent to my kitchen. THAT is why I have dirty clothes in my kitchen.At least NOW they are sorted & in laundry baskets.

Last night I loaded the dishwasher & shined my kitchen sinks as well as cleaning the counter top on which those magazines currently sit. The at least ONE of each magazine will be left out for my husband to see. HE subscribes to all these magazines, most of which get thumbed through & not looked at again. I plan to write a list of WHICH magazines we subscribe to & as they come due for renewal, we will decide TOGETHER which ones will not be renewed.

Last night, since it was garbage pick-up day today, I broke down as many boxes as I could & put them in the trash. For some reason, my husband & I can never seem to get on the same wave length at the same time when it comes to boxes, magazines & papers.Then they pile up & become monsters. I have HAD it & I HAVE to break that cycle. I want to take a sense of pride in my home, be able to keep it presentable & able for us to display our treasures instead of clutter.

Now, I need to bring this entry to a close & go back to those magazines again. I have to have enough space to make dinner. As for dinner, I FOUND my CROCK-POT today! It's too late to use it to prepare dinner tonight, but not for tomorrow night!

Darn season finale of grey's Anatomy!

I watched the rerun of the season finale of Grey's Anatomy last night. I had only seen parts of it the first time it was played. I KNEW that the dog "Doc" was put to sleeep but I didn't know why.

The scene where his three humans were in the vets office surrounding him with Doc awaiting his fate was too much for me. I broke down in tears crying like an idiot. My Scooter's last moments came flooding back. I could see him, feel him even smell him with those memories. It was almost as if it has happened all over again. I've been missing him anyaway & he's been on my mind. The first anniversary of his passing is just around the corner. I don't dwell on it, but my daughter will see a picture pop up on the computer and say "Mommy, I miss Scooter. I know you miss him too". She doesn't cry for him, she just simply states how she feels & then she's done with it. She does say that when her & her sister are older that then maybe we can get another dog. This morning I woke up with silent tears streaming down my face, thoughts of my dear, sweet Scoot on my mind. I KNOW he is in a better place without pain. I KNOW it was time but I can't help but keep from thinking " Maybe I put him to sleep too soon" I KNOW it was time, just as I KNEW it was time when I had to put our dog "O.J." down in 1994. I also remember second guessing myself for about 3 years afterward, but I don't remember crying like this almost a year after her passing. I guess my heart is still broken, I just didn't realize it.

This article about "Gnomey the garden gnome" did help bring a smile to my face. Sometimes the heavens just seem to know how to bring a little light into an emotinally gloomy day.

Man's Lost Gnome Attends Steelers Game
From Associated PressSeptember 20, 2006 10:01 PM EDT

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Allen Snyder's garden gnome is apparently out of jail and now traveling the country. The 14-inch tall red-and-white statue disappeared from Snyder's Morgantown yard in the spring, and Snyder has since received three letters claiming to have been written by "Gnomey."

The latest letter, which Snyder received this week, included photos of the gnome in the company of Steelers fans attending Pittsburgh's football home opener.

"You never took me to any games," the note said. The letter ended: "Have to go now. Boarding a plane. Now, finally, broadening my travels."
An earlier letter included a request for bail money and included what appeared to be booking photos of Gnomey and another of the gnome in the back seat of a police car.

Snyder has no idea who's pulling this prank but said his short list of suspects includes several gag-loving friends.

The plight of his gnome has gotten a lot of attention. Snyder says people are always asking if he's heard from Gnomey.

"I never thought it would go this far," he said.

The story has even caught the attention of officials at Travelocity, which uses a roaming gnome in the online travel agency's advertising.

"While we know that your dear friend, Gnomey, can never be replaced, we're sending the enclosed Roaming Gnome to keep you company in his absence," wrote Michelle Peluso, president and chief executive officer of Travelocity, based in Southlake, Texas. "Hopefully your friend will find his way out of trouble and back to your front yard soon, although we can't help but admire his sense of adventure and love of travel."

Information from: The Dominion Post, http://www.dominionpost.com
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September 14, 2006

Duane 'Dog' Chapman Arrested in Hawaii
By MARK NIESSE (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated PressSeptember 14, 2006 8:37 PM EDT
HONOLULU - TV reality star Duane "Dog" Chapman and two co-stars on his show were arrested Thursday in Hawaii on charges of illegal detention and conspiracy in the bounty hunters' capture three years ago of a cosmetics company heir.
Chapman, son Leland Chapman and associate Timothy Chapman were taken into custody and did not resist arrest, said Mark Hanohano, U.S. Marshal for the district of Hawaii. "It went down without incident," Hanohano said.
Mona K. Wood, a publicist for the star of the popular cable series "Dog The Bounty Hunter," said Chapman would be vindicated. "He arrests the bad guys - and he is definitely not one of them," she said.
The charges stem from Chapman's capture of Max Factor heir Andrew Luster on June 18, 2003, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, said Marshals spokeswoman Nikki Credic in Washington.
Chapman's capture of Luster, who had fled the country after being convicted of raping three women, catapulted the 53-year-old bounty hunter to fame and led to the reality series on A&E.
The three are being held in Honolulu. Bail has not been set. They will face an extradition hearing to Mexico under terms of treaties between the U.S. and Mexico, Credic said.
Chapman's son Leland, 29, and Timothy Chapman, 41, no relation, assist Chapman in exploits chronicled for the TV show around the Hawaiian Islands. The show focuses on Chapman's family as much as the bounty hunting, which generally involves tracking down bail jumpers, often creating emotional scenes with repentant captives.
Charges have been pending against the three since local police in Mexico arrested them shortly after they roped in Luster. They posted bail but never returned to Puerto Vallarta for their court hearing on July 15, 2003, Credic said.
Mexican authorities demanded that the Chapmans transfer Luster to Mexican police. Their refusal to do so led to their initial arrest.
A U.S. warrant for their arrest was signed by a federal judge in Honolulu on Wednesday.

September 06, 2006

Almost caught up & ready to go!



I think it was my Aunt that e-mailed this to me. All I know is that I cracked up when I read it.

It reminds me of a skit on the Man Show a few years back for a ficticious product called "Crack Spackel" That cracked me up as well.


Almost caught up refers to my Postcrossing activities.

This past week I mailed out BOTH of the photography books I contributed to & today I mailed out the creative notebook I contributed to. I still have to finish my "In the kitchen" handmade postcards & my matching photo/postcard round robin activites. Those won't be finished before we leave though.

Today I recieved a postcard from South Korea. That is very exciting for me. It is a first from that country. Hopefully my card from Jamacia will arrive soon as well.

In the mail I received the vacation planning kit I requested for our upcomming trip. There are even some coupons included for a couple of the sites we are planning to see! It will be so nice to escape this heat for a few days. Hopefully blogger will let me post photos of our trip when we get back!

The little one is getting teeth again & the oldest one got her ears pierced on Monday. She has been asking for the past few months & we have been able to discourage it. On Monday, she asked again & I told her it was going to hurt. She still wanted them pierced though. After she got the first one done, she didn't want the second one done anymore. Too bad, I wasn't going to pay $40 for ONE ear to be pierced! She screamed & cried but she got it done. After that we went for ice cream. After ice cream she asked to return to the store to tell the lady that pierced her ears sorry. I didn't suggest it, she just did it! She said "Lady, I'm sorry I screamed. Thank you for my earrings." For the record, the studs are now made with 14K gold instead of the stainless surgical steel ones they used when mine were pierced back about 1982.


!!NEWSFLASH!LIFELONG NAILBITER BREAKS THE HABIT!!
Also, it has taken nearly 37 years but I FINALLY have grown out my fingernails! I have been a habitual nail biter for as long as I can remember. I FINALLy have stopped snacking on my fingers & not only do I have natural nails, but they are 1/4 inch out past my fingertips! I even let the manicurist paint them...RED! My hubby LOVES it but I am still getting used to them. I have finally stopped accidentally scratching myself, my kids & my hubby with them. Only ONE broke off & that was a month ago so it is nearly as long as it's fellow nine nail siblings. I must admit that it feels good not to feel ashamed of my nasty, ragged looking fingers any longer.

In closing, I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I must go as I have many things that require my attention before bed tonight.