TGIF & TW

Thank GOD It's Friday and The Weekend!
I accomplished what I wanted to today at work. Mostly. Really I would love to have it all sorted and filed, but that's for next week. Maybe. I had few interuptions, so got alot done. I am pleased with our enrollment numbers, they are the highest they have been in the past few years. So I celebrated!
After work I met up with Jackie and we hit the outlet mall. She is going on an Alaskan Cruise in few weeks. I am so jealous! Not only because she is going on the cruise, but because she is stopping in Sitka, Alaska. Sitka is home to my very first friend, Vaughn. Anyway, if I ever get to take an Alaskan cruise, it will have to include a stop in Sitka, just so I can see him.
Jackie was looking for a "little black dress" for dinner. We went to Coldwater Creek, where she didn't get a dress, but she got a few blouses and I got a few Tshirts, and a pretty white lace long sleeved shirt. Oh and a pair of earrings. Had to have those.
Then we browsed through Lane Bryant. Nothing there, although she did try on a black blouse and also a black dress, but they just weren't her. Vanity Fair yielded nothing for either of us. As did Bon Worth, Burlington Brands. I got a nice, grey, shawl necked sweater in Eddie Bauer. I wanted to buy one in every color, but I held back. Our last stop was Dress Barn, where Jackie finally hit the jackpot. She found a gorgeous black jacket and top with all kinds of silver blingy stuff all over it. She looked stunning in it! She also found the perfect little black dress. To celebrate success she also found a cute, red oriental style jacket. She's set. I told her she would come back with a new boyfriend she looked so good in her dresses!
I found a pair of jeans, another size smaller so I had to buy them because they fit so well! Next size will be out of fat girls jeans and into Ladies! WOOHOOO!
So now I'm home and beat. We had so much fun! Oh and the best part, I found dark chocolate malted milk balls at Harry and David's!
Tomorrow begins the Routine. Gametime routine. Saturday morning game films, Sunday play drawing and whatever "coachie things" coaches do. What will I do with all this free time? Decisions, Decisions.

:J

If You Give a Girl a Magazine

It was a rough day today. One of "those" days where I just wanted to get home, drink myself into bliss, drown in the pool or just walk on the beach and pretend I am a million miles away. You understand, we've all had one of those days.
Instead, with hubby nixing the beach tonite, I took a short nap. I woke up hungry, so I threw some of those nasty Stouffer's chicken enchilida's in the oven. I was being lazy and I should know better, and I have given them one last try. Sorry, but I'll buy my enchilidas from Schwann's from now on. After choking dinner down, I picked up my Country Home magazine that came in the mail today.
I love Country Home. All of my life I have dreamed of living in a Country Home. My friends used to say that I could find the most dilapidated house in a town, needing the most work and I would fall in love with it. Same with furniture, pictures, and "stuff". I just LOVE the look. Not victorian, not "country" just comfy, used, well loved.
So anyway, started reading Country Home, wishing I lived in rooms like those they show, and I came across an article about the Pecatonica Flea Market. Pecatonica (which btw, when we could spell and say that, we thought we were big time) is just an hour away from my hometown. Yeah that place, the place I wanna be when I have days like today. On to the story, reading the article about the flea market and this hip, new designer from DIY, Michele Beschen, and get to the part where she mentions stopping to pick up her mom and aunts in Savanna, IL before going to the flea market. WOW! My little ole 4,200 resident hometown, in an article in one of my favorite magazines! WOW! How cool is that! So I google her. I think I know who she is, at least I think I know her parents or her Aunts. Anyway, I need a new, creative blog to read, and I think I've found one! She inspires me! 12oo miles away, 10 years younger and she inspires me! Her show starts Sept 25th on DIY, I'll have to check her out!
It amazes me sometimes what these hobbies of mine bring to me.
And all it took was a bad day at work and trying to relax with a magazine.

:J

PS I know within minutes of reading this my much older sister will call or email and say "who are her parents." And we will spend at least a half hour discussing the family relationship/ancestry. My brother says it's our worst habit, that and staring at people in public. He hates when we do that. and yes Susie, you will know them.

Grub

Gotta love the football chowdown every fall. More food than we could ever eat. Yummy good, homemade food. MMMM!
So that was the end of my school day. This evening was the Annual football chowdown for our team. I went with Hubby as he is coaching this year. I told a friend of mine, that the rumors were finally true, I am sleeping with the football coach! LOL! Playing along she said, Which one? LOL!
I love seeing the kids, they change so much each year. They introduced their parents to us. It was fun.
They always let the seniors eat first, followed by the coaches, then the juniors, sophmores, and finally the freshmen get to clean up what's left. I looked for hubby to join him in line and he was already half through! Geez! So I got in line with one of the other coaches. OMG! The food! I had some yummy mexican type lasagne, garlic mashed taters (homemade) mac n cheese, again, homemade, a piece of fried chicken, and some very yummy, ultra delicious blueberry cream cheese bar thingy! OH I want that recipe!
It was fun seeing lots of old friends, catch up, and just hang out without having to work like we usually do. Alot of the boys didn't realize I was married to their coach, they are just used to seeing me at school.
Such a great group of kids, great group of coaches and just all around fun to be around. It's going to be a great year!

:J

Sweet 16!

I just survived my 16th first day of school! Wow! That just does not seem possible! It sounds like I should be ready for the rocker, but I have 14 more to go. As first days go, this one was pretty good!
I remember some of my first first days, I was in the PreK classroom where the goal for the first day is to get them off the bus and to the right classroom, get them to stop crying, get them to eat some breakfast, feed them lunch and get them all back on the right bus and home. That was a good first day!
First days now are quite different. This morning it was finding rooms for embarrassed Freshman and printing schedules for those who lost theirs since Friday. The Freshmen are so cute, they don't want to ask for help, but they do, but they don't. But I know the look and so I always ask, "Can I help you with something" of course 90% of them wanted to know where a certain class was, and it would be a new teacher. So I would just send them down the right hall and tell them "Look at the room numbers" The hall only has classrooms on one side, so I think they all made it.
This morning went really well. Well except for the two "big" teenagers who wanted to know if they could have a pass so they could "Go look around" That would be a NO!
So we watched them leave and they made a left turn and then another left turn that went around to the back of our campus. I beat feet over to the other side of the building and sure enough they were coming in the back gate. I snagged an AP and after a quick call on the radio to the Deans and APs and a bit of chase in and out of several gates, they were promptly told to leave the campus before they were arrested. Something in my instinct told me to watch them and make sure they left, I'm glad I did. They could have wandered all day all over our campus. Our campus is huge and spread out. No place for intruders we don't want on campus!
So first day went well. Our best first day. Let's hope this is an indication of the year to come!

:J

PS My blog header is courtesy of the 4 new blouses and two pair of capris I bought this weekend!

Check Out the Hang Ten Kit I just finished!

I actually put the finishing touches on it today! It's a present for my friend Lori and her girls. They go to the beach every 4th of July for a family reunion so I'm giving it to them to use for the beach album. I'm off to school, with 4 new outfits, I don't know what to wear! LOL!
:J

Tagged!

I've been tagged while I was away shopping. It must be kinda like when you miss a meeting and they put you in charge of some committee. LOL!
So I'm now tagging Michelle, Di, Shar, Wendy and Susie. Grab your Rockin Blogger girl tag and tag 5 more!

Yesterday was exhausting. We started out at Denny's for breakfast where our waitress soo sucked. Everyone was complaining! Oh well some days are that way! Then it was off to Unforgettable, where we picked up some scrap supplies. Then off to Kohl's where I got 4 blouses, two pair of capris and a bra for less then $100 with the sales and my scratch off ticket. Not bad considering I went in looking for nothing! All School clothes too!

Then it was off to Foley and Gigi's scrapbooking. I didn't buy a thing. She needs to get in some new supplies and soon or she'll be out of business!

Exhaustion had hit by then and I made my sister drive home. I caught a nap on the way! LOL!
We had mexican for dinner and vegged the rest of the night. Sorry to say, I stayed up til after midnite watching my Packer's skunk the Seahawks. Sorry to my NW Washington friends, but I have to say this. They didn't play Hasselback because two of the O lineman were out and they were worried about coverage for Matt. So if these same lineman get injured during the season, is Hasselback going to sit out then too? I am a fan of Mike Holgrem's, but I have to question is reasoning here. Preseason or not, you need to play your 1st string QB at least half the game. GO PACK!

My Hang Ten kit is coming along nicely. I'll post it when I finish as I am embellishing it a bit "making it my own". Can't wait to put pics on it too!

I'm off to do laundry, clean the pigsty a bit, and scrap! Don't forget to grab your tag!

:J

Saturday Morning Exhausted!

You would think that with it being Saturday morning I would wake up refreshed and ready to go. Not so this morning. I am so groggy that my thought processes are a bit jumbled. My eyes didn't even want to work, thank goodness for large type!
Susie arrived about 2:30, and came by my office to watch me work. She got to meet alot of the great friends I work with, and see the ones I talk about. I, of course would not introduce her to those people I talk about, they are not special enough to meet her. LOL!
We had a great evening after she let me go home and take my Friday afternoon power nap. I treated her to Shrimp Basket for dinner, but we had the fish, it's always so yummy! Of to Jo's where we both crossed the $50 mark and Susie spent about 3 dollars more than me. Usually it's me spending more, but then I have already dropped a hundred in there this week. Off to HL where our purchases were slim and none. In Michael's she showed me the bling tool that Elle demostrated at FGT. As soon as I get a coupon, that handy tool is mine! She found massive bling, so she was happy. Target produced another handy storage container for Susie, even tho I had told her at Jo's that they were half price! She never listens to me, I tried to save her money!
Exhausted, we ventured home. After checking blogs, she went to bed and I scrapped a bit waiting for Hubby to get home from his scrimmage. All went well for him, the boys showed some good plays and a few bad. But that's what scrimmages are for, and now they can tweak the boys and get them ready for the Friday Night Lights!
This morning we are of again. Scrapbook stores, shopping and more! Jules, Kip and Di sound like they are having fun. I hope Kip enjoyed her stay in my room. Well, I need to get moving. Have a wondermous day!

:J

It's Friday!

WHOOO HEEEE!
I guess now my question is, Is it May yet? LOL! Monday the kiddos come back so today is the last day to "get my sh-t together". And it almost is. Other than being put on "hold" by downtown in scheduling my HS students, I'm good to go.
I think my number one thing this year is going to be "Communication". So many snafus are caused by breakdown of communication. So I'll being saying everything loud and often.
Enough of that, I can make it through today, and I have a weekend to plan!
Older Sister Susie should be here when I get off work. Or let's put it this way, I'm getting off work when she gets here! DH is off to a football scrimmage in Ft. Walton, so we have the evening to ourselves. I think a trip to the Shrimp Basket is in order, followed by JoAnn's next door and HL three doors south. Doesn't it sound like heaven?
Tomorrow we will probably begin with breakfast at Denny's. Then as Citgo says, "Where will your next tank of gas take you?" (love those commercials) A few scrap stores to hit, who knows, we may end up exploring Mobile, I'm sure there's a few scrap stores there!
Ending on a positive note, a few things I am thankful for, even tho I seemed grumpy and unthankful most of the week.
Our new Computer Tech, Beth - She will lift the stress burden from our other tech, Mark, who is a dear, but very, very, very overworked. She has already given me some great advice on some of the reports I have and manipulating the data.
Our Staff - Really they are a good group and I love most of them like brothers and sisters. Every family has it's "one" and soon that cancer will be cured.
The big P - He is awesome! Hardworking, dedicated, motivating, really liking this new guy! A shot of chemo in the cancer!
My Hubby and boys - In just a few short minutes they put my life back in perspective. Love them.
Scrappin' - talk about something that takes it all away! Just let me rub some glue on chipboard, slap a piece of paper on it and nirvana sets in! Lovin' the August Hang Ten kit!
Weekends with Frogbreath - I may give my sister the shingles, but a weekend with her is my therapy. The only thing better is when we can get up with the Hilltop Girls.
Well, let's get this weekend started. I'm off to work! Later!

:J

Just When You Think Everything is Under Control

It usually isn't. It wasn't a bad day, it was just a weird day. One filled with little surprises, things I wasn't expecting. Here, there, everywhere. Gotta love surprises. I swore when I started this blog, I wasn't going to talk about work. But it's consumed me. So I'm talkin'. Those little things that make you go "Huh?"
Didn't even get my first cup of coffee poured, and the weirdness began. All the little "I needs" This is not the week to be demanding about "your needs". I just may tell you what I think you need.
Then there's the HS schedule. Did we prethink any of this out? Our teachers don't teach til 8 a.m. but the HS bell schedule runs beginning at 7:30. Did we think about this?
Six weeks ago when we planned the bell schedules we would add, we left out the one HS at the far north end of the county because, "No one from there will want to drive this far for three classes" Well you guessed it! Yes they do!
For six weeks the powers that be have been going back and forth on enrolling these kids as adults, or as HS. There's a difference ya know. So finally as I have all the principals calling wanting to know when these HS kids will have their schedules, my boss tells me to schedule them as HS. So today what do the powers that be say? You guessed it, make them adults!
Then there was our snake problem. My office is just inside the outside door. As I walk back into the school from the most enjoyable lunch, I am met by a hall mate who says, "have you seen the snake?" Apparently a snake crawled in the door, and went into the office across the hall from mine, and now they can't find said snake. They will know where it is if it comes crawling across my feet! When I left to come home, they still hadn't found the snake.
And then there were alot of little things, little fires, that waste an afternoon. It was one of those if it's not one thing, it's another days.
Dinner was good. I met my friend Chris for dinner at a little Italian place downtown. It was yummy and I even brought hubby a dinner for when he gets home.
When I got home, my Hang Ten kit was here, and it was gorgeous! You have to check out the HangTen PaperArts kits. HilltopMemories.com. I want to start it right now!
Also while your checkin' check out my much older sister's blog. Life has come full circle, I always wanted to be like her, now she wants to be like me! Anyway stop by and say HI! at http://oldersistersusie.blogspot.com/ Soon she will even much more older!
I'm off, I have to write a speech for tomorrow on my job and what I need people to do to help me make my job done right. Let's just hope I don't say what I really want to say! I think it would start with "There's a reason you people..........!"
:J

OY!

What a day! My eyes are like sandpaper, my fingers like jello. It won't be a long post, but I think I'll say a few things I wanted to say to people today but didn't.

1. "Failure on your daughter's part to plan, does not constitute an emergency on my part to give her transcripts to go to our competitor's school.

2. "Maybe if you did something besides stand outside your classroom and smoke cigarettes, you would have more students interested in your class"

3. "No I am not your secretary"

4. Go Ahead, leave! I was here when you came in this morning, and I'm obviously going to be here after you leave, but everyone will have their schedules, rosters, attendance and Curriculum Frameworks!" OH but the first three aren't YOUR job!

5. Marketing Plan? Perhaps if you would stay off the phone and do your job, we wouldn't need to Market!

6. "If you want to find that student's paperwork, YOU can dig through that pile, because I'm not finding it for you so you can correct a mistake YOU made."

And finally something I did say, "These are the most delicious grapes (muscadines)!" "You can leave the whole bucket!"

It's been a long day!
As they say, tomorrow is another day!

:J

Our Last Football Free Weekend

It wasn't exactally supposed to be football free, but it ended up that way. Because of this oppressive heat, our school district said no outdoor activities for the weekend. It cancelled alot of football stuff all over and gave me one last football free weekend with my hubby.
Friday night he had practice tho, indoors. It gave me a chance to run some errands before he got home. I ran to HL, Jo's and Sam's. I picked up some cool Bic markers at Sam's in 36 delicious colors. By the way, Kip will get a set too, as she guessed that Friday night was Green Bay's first game and Brett was playing. That's what made me so happy Friday.
Of course we couldn't see the game til today, Sunday, and we knew who won, GO PACK! But it was nice to watch the game. Brett played very little, but I feel better after watching Aaron Rodgers this weekend. He looked pretty good, and I'm confident he can lead the Pack into their next era of winning chanpionships. Friday was pretty uneventful other than that.
Saturday we did our last breakfast date for awhile. From now on our breakfast dates will probably be at midnite on Friday nights. We always go eat after the game. But anyway, after breakfast we came home and cleaned house. With both of us working it took less than two hours to clean. That was sure nice! I scrapped the rest of the day and Rick took it fairly easy reading and watching tv.
Saturday night was our big date to the Brad Paisley/Taylor Swift/Kelly Pickler/Jack Ingram concert. WOW! That was kick ass! It was an outdoor arena, a new one in the area. I loved it even tho it was unbearably hot even after the sun went down. We did have a bit of a breeze, which helped, but still way too hot. It was well worth it tho because the concert rocked! The girls' hair was melted but they still sang their hearts out. Jack Ingram and Brad Paisley both looked good drenched in sweat.
I am mad at myself for not taking my camera, not even my cell phone one! In P-cola, we can't take our camera in the Civic Center for concerts, so I didn't even bother taking it to the Wharf. Our seats were in the 20th row, and I could have gotten some great pics. Ah but I have the memories and will know better next time!
I woke up this morning totally exhausted from the concert. I did drink tons of water, but all that singing and dancing just wore me out. I took a nap after reading the paper, and then about 10:30 we headed out to run a few errands before it got too hot. I hit the huge 40% off sale at Jo's and still spent $100! I got quite a few Sizzix dies, some embossing powders, quote stickers and another of those handy storage units. Good thing Rick went to the car and didn't see the end total! LOL! I will probably go back one night too as I need to return one of the dies, I already had it!
After another nap, I scrapped all afternoon and most of the evening. I finished Jules' Friends book, except for adding the pictures, and I am 75% done with Di's Summer Fun album. I think I am going to give the Summer Fun album to my friend Lori. She and her family (3 sisters and a brother) gather their kids and go to the beach for a week every 4th of July. I know she takes lots of pictures and will probably like the album. She loves all the scrapbook stuff I do, but I haven't given her anything yet.
So that's my exciting weekend in a nutshell. Other than feeling a bit woozy, I'm ready for work tomorrow. I think I am drinking enough water, but feel dehydrated. So I'll increase my water intake tomorrow some more. And actually, I'm looking forward to weekends with football. Rick will be gone every night til 7, Thursday and Friday nights he'll be gone til midnite, Saturday mornings, Sunday afternoons, football. Just think of all the scrappin' I can get done!

I leave you with my top 10 Memories of the Summer, tagged by Kip. These are in no particular order.

1. Girl's weekend in Tarpon Springs & visiting Ruban Rouge
2. Fried Green Tomatos Crop
3. Birthday Crop at Citrus Hills
4. Brad Paisley and friends concert at the Wharf.
5. Sunday morning Breakfasts
6. Conference at St. Pete, every bit of it!
7. Cub's Baseball
8. The arrival of the new Principal.
9. Road trips with my sister.
10. Wednesday Potluck lunches

I tag Susie, Michelle and Dee!

:J

Hot Enough for Ya?

It's hot! Too hot! So hot that my car thermometer thingy said 99 degrees at 6:00 pm. They say the heat index is around 113. I really dislike August in Florida. It's almost like February in Wisconsin. Only one is hot as hell, and the other makes you think hell froze over.

Thankfully the scrimmage and chowdown was cancelled for tomorrow. But, it's going to be hot at the Brad Paisley concert as it is outdoors. I should say the Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Kelly Pickler, Jack Ingram concert. I guess that means I should just drink more. Water that is! LOL!

Poor football guys, they still can't go outside and hit each other in pads. Football players live for this you know. No one can hit without pads, you have to practice a few days without pads before you can put the pads on. So now they have had pads two days and still can't hit. They also have postponed the first game. They have to have enough hitting time in pads.

It's too hot to eat. I'm not really hungry, but a bit hungry. For ice cream, a nice cool salad, or a sub sandwich. Nothing cooked. Cooking in hot weather is just plain crazy. I remember my mom boiling potatoes on hot days. It just makes me hot thinking about it.

It's even too hot to swim. The pool water is like bath water. Guess who's son went to the beach today, as hot as it was. Yep, he's sunburnt and has a headache. Crazy kid. At least he is drinking water.

We did have a cool down this morning. A storm came through and dropped the temps about 20 degrees, it was nice and so breezy. But as soon as the storm passed, it got hot again. Too hot.

Stay cool.

:J

Back to School!

It was the first day back to school for our teachers. It was great to see them, I really do miss them sometimes. It's noisier, busier and not quite as peaceful as the summer has been, but I'm glad they are back.
We had a huge welcome back breakfast for them. Hardee's biscuits, fruit trays, Krispy Kreme donuts, danish, coffee and juice. They sent me to KK for the donuts. Our KK has just been redone and it was the first time I was there. WOW! It looked so nice. And those donuts, ohhh they smelled so good in the back of my Xplorer all the way to school. There were a dozen donuts left and they are hidden in the records vault. I have the key. heeheehee!
The rest of the morning was spent in meetings. Laying down the laws again meetings. We go through it every year. Lots of questions asked, lots of ideas shared, that was good. I just hope the sheriff can enforce the rules.
Some of you know DH is coaching football this year. Defensive Line at the HS. They were not allowed to practice today because of the heat. Two boys at another HS in the county passed out this morning. So now no one can practice. Today was supposed to be the first day in pads too. If you are a lineman, you live for first day in pads, you finally get to hit someone. They were disappointed, soooo disappointed.
Tomorrow is a happy day as I get off at 3:30, so I think I am heading to HL and Jo's. I wanna scrap this weekend, all weekend.
Speaking of scrappin', I was hoping to go to Creepover, but it's not happening. My football schedule is clear for the weekend before Halloween, but Creepover will be the week of the fair and I have to be here. POOP! I hope they don't have tooo much fun without me. But I know they will.
Such is life, my soul is still smiling tho, lovin' life.

:J

Everyone is Counting the Days!

Everyone is counting days it seems. Some are anxious for back to school, some are counting the days they can lounge around, enjoying a few last precious moments of freedom. I too am counting days. Not till school starts, school never ends for me since I work summers.

23 hours from right now, our teachers come back to work. It will be nice to see some most of them. It will be interesting to say the least. 23 hours.

In 72 hours I'll be in music heaven. Brad Paisley comes to town and we are going to see him!

92 days, 22 hours, 28 minutes and 30 seconds til the family reunion! WOOHOO! Love having the family here, love the beach house!

2 days, 21 hours, 57 minutes and 40 seconds and I will be a happy woman again. If you can tell me why, I have a present for you!
It has to do with BF and GBP!

:J

Oh What Feelings!

I am paying for this weekend, at least my body is. It was so much fun, I can't believe I stayed up late and got up early. Tried to crop alot and mostly did. I think the most exhausting thing tho was the gamut of emotions I have felt in the past 96 hours.
The excitement of the whole adventure. Packing the bags, driving, making connections, seeing AWESOME women, the food, the fun. It was an exciting time.
Mental fullness. I don't know what that emotion is called, but my brain is full. Full of new techniques I learned, new ideas, over stimulation from being in a room of so many AWESOME women. I am mentally full.
Satiated Appetite OMG! the food! I am so stuffed. I love that Linda and the girls cook for us. We are so spoiled. No catered food for us. YUMMO! It's not often I get a bowl of ice cream with chocolate, caramel, marshmallow creme and a cherry! Heaven. The Saturday night dinner good enough to make you slap your much older sister! OMG!
Empowering! I came away feeling like I can do anything! I'm looking forward to using my new knowledge to work. I wanted to skip work and go to HL for supplies. Oh wait, I want to do that any day! LOL!
Thankful I am so very blessed to get to do this most anytime I want. Most thankful for an understanding husband & family, that they know how much I need this. Thankful for so many AWESOME! women and the many lessons they teach me. Lessons like you never realize you are teaching, but I am learning. Thank you for being such AWESOME women. Thankful for a safe trip home and much good company, open arms to greet me at both ends of the trip.
Sad that the distance is so far between so many AWESOME women and great friends. New friends, old friends, so many great people.
Sad also that my son's friend's mom died. I'm sorry that someone so young should have to lose his mom with no warning. I hope he knows how much he was loved by her and she how much he and his friends loved her. Her home was always open to all the boys and they loved her for that.

So now life goes on, but it is weekends like these that teach me so much, if for nothing else the time to reflect and be grateful for all I do have. Nothing like a long car trip after a weekend with AWESOME women to do that for a soul. Back to work today and thankful for a fairly smooth day. Sometimes the routine of it all is good. Cannot believe it is August already.

:J

Home again, Home again, Jiggity Jig

I made it back to the Western gate about 8:30 cst. Wow! What a weekend! What amazing women! AMAZING! INSPIRING! Just freakin' awesome women!
I wish I could bring home just an tad of the talent in that room. AWESOME CLASS! Jules' classes never cease to amaze me! I just love all of them! The make and takes were fantastic! Somethings I have been wanting to learn for years!
More tomorrow, I'm beat and it's bedtime!

:J

On The Road Again!

Yep! I am! It's funny, I talk to my brother every week and usually one of us is on the road. This time it was me and he said I need to get help. He thinks I have a serious addiction. Yep, I probably do. But like I told him, I spent the first 40 doing what I was supposed to, the next 40 I'm doing what I want to!
We're in Tallahassee. Had a nice bathroom break at Scrapbook Market. We also had dinner with Kevin and Erica. Erica got the cutest bumblebee tattoo on her bottom. No I didnt take a picture! They came back to our hotel with us for awhile and now we are getting ready to sack out in bed. After a bathroom break in Ocala and one in Winter Park? We'll be in Sebring, hopefully long before dark!
Enjoy your weekend, I know I will mine!

:J

While the Cats are away, the Mice will play!

It's always me. I'm the good one, the responsible one. Everyone else has gone off to play and I'm holding the fort so they can.
It's quiet, no phones, no email, no walk-ins. Nothing but the rain trying to lull my drowsy head to sleep. The hum of the computer adding to the soft rain. I need an adrenaline rush, something to wake me up.
There's always tomorrow. Tomorrow when the good one walks that ragged edge of disaster and leaves not one, not two, not three, but several hours early. Just so I can hit the road of adventure to Sebring. That way I can wave at the cats as they return from Jax headed west on I-10 and I'll be heading east.
I mean if you are going to walk the walk, why not push it to the edge?

:J

Just a Little Busy Bee

Do you ever think your weekend isn't long enough? I do, every Monday morning. But when I stop and look back on everything I did, I got alot done.
Of course, Saturday I spent sleeping, mostly. I did have a nice dinner out with my hubby. It was a Books a Million and dinner date. Actually he goes to BOM, I go to HL next door. Then I drift in to BOM when I'm done and he'll buy me a magazine or two. This weekend they didn't have one I wanted, so we went back in HL and I got a new card magazine.
Sunday was lazy, but really it wasn't. I did laundry, cleaned my bedroom and bath. Scrapped a bit. I went to the Summer HS theater play at the Community College. It was awesome! Lois Lane stole the show from Superman. She has such talent and what a voice! Loved her. There was a girl who played another secretary role and she was very talented also! Another great voice. Superman was awesome, as was the mad professor. This Superman show was a musical so there was alot of singing and dancing. I'm telling everyone I know to go see it this weekend as it's playing again. Superman and Lois are from our school. Superman is going to USF, so my Tampa friends may get a chance to see him too this year!
I just couldn't get motivated today. Achy all day, we have rain moving in. I wish it would just downpour and get it over with! Most of our administrators left for Jacksonville today for a CTE
(Career & Technical Education) conference. The rest of them are in a two day workshop here. WOOHOOO! LOL! Not really, we have so much to do before registration begins Monday. It's hard to believe another school year is starting.
But not before one more trip to a Hilltop crop. Boy I need this too! I look foward to such fun! Hopefully I can cut out and leave early on Thursday to get to my sister's. We have to time our bathroom breaks just right so the right bathrooms will be open on our way to Sebring! To bad I can't cut out really early and we could leave Thursday afternoon! HMMMMM! Maybe I should call her and say be packed, just in case!
On the road again!

:J

I Can't Believe I Survived the Night!

I have to preface this with, if you are a CM scrapper, you may not want to read any further. I may offend you. Second, Thank God I'm a Hilltopper!
As my regular blog readers know we're trying to bring scrapbooking to the local fair. One of the girls helping to do this, and a member of the fair "family" has been a CM consultant for the past few years. To make a long story short, she invited me to an all night crop at her home.
I understand the concept of CM cropping. All scrapbooking should be "about the memory" "about the pictures" What I don't understand is the trying to slam as many pictures as you can onto pages without any "decoration".
I like "decoration". While you will probably never see any of my pages in CK, MM, SS or any of those other mags, I do think I scrap pretty well, some simple, some medium, and some gaudy. I guess it depends on the "picture" "the story" and the mood I'm in when I'm scrapping.
I sat next to a woman, who kept asking "what would you do with this page" Those of you who know me, know the big hole that is in my tongue from biting it all night. Putting your pictures on a blank page after rounding their corners and adding another piece of plain cs and a few stickers and journaling, does not a scrapper make. My sister would be proud of me because not once did I scream at the woman, "Just step out of your box"! 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Every piece of Cardstock, every picture, every color, she asked. I was polite, I made suggestions. I bit such a hole in my tongue.
Oh and the corner rounders, can I just say how a room full of corner rounders gets really annoying at about 3 a.m.? I wanted to grab them all and pitch them out the door!
I suppose this sounds like I didn't have a good time. Really overall, I did. The food was good. The hostess was very nice, very attentive. I did get alot of cards made, which I surpassed my goal there. But I missed my table mates. I missed facing the crowd, watching everything that was going on. I missed the games, the craziness that goes on, and the awesome food we always have. But I did step out of MY box!
Thankful for what I do have,

:J

What day is it?

Today has been many different days. I overslept. I only overslept by 12 minutes but it threw my delicately timed routine in an upheaval. So I was 3 minutes late to work. But most everyone else was later. It made me feel like I was there way early instead of late.
So went the day. I didn't want to wake up, couldn't get going once I got to work. So I drank coffee, didn't eat breakfast. So by 9:30 I was starving. Didn't help that one of my co workers had red beans and rice cooking in a crockpot down the hall.
Today was potluck day. We had decided on vegtables for lunch. Yummy! We had red beans and rice, collards, veggie casserole, field peas, potato salad, chocolate and watermelon. As always we stuffed ourselves. It's a good thing next week is the last potluck day. I think I have gained every once of my weight back that I had lost. Maybe we should do two potluck days next week. Just so I can savor the taste of real food before we go back to salads and Lean Cuisines. LOL!
Busy day work wise but lots accomplished, some stuff in limbo. I spent most of the afternoon counting numbers. Doing reports, I wonder does anyone really read reports? But I like the numbers part. Seeing how well we are doing our job.
Tonite was Scrapbooking at the Fair meeting. We finalized our judges, categories and "rules". 3 categories, Elementary, Middle/High, and Adult. Three places, $25, $15 and $10 in each category. Now to get the word out and hopefully people will enter! The Middle and High School students are also eligible for scholarships the fair gives out. So that's cool! I'm excited and feeling like we are opening up a whole new world. Does anyone else know of anyone who has Scrapbooking as a Fair category? I would love to hear how they do it!
Well that's it for me. TaTa.

:J

Are you ready for a Quickie!

I have been a neglectful blogger! For that I apologize. I just don't lead an exciting life.
I have been scrapping. I did a page of one of Rick's nieces and am halfway through one of my mom and her sister. I was going to do a crop challenge from one of the scrapsites I visit, but last night I had a headache, and tonite I got busy cooking. Not good excuses, but what the heck. I scrap for me anyway. I should have tried to post a few finished LOs as some of the challenges were from friends of mine, but it just didn't get done.
Went to Big Lots today after my meeting and on my way back to work. They had a bunch of acrylic stamps on sale cheap, but since getting home, I found out they are tough to peel off the sheet. HMMM! I may take them back this weekend. I guess you get what you pay for.
Friday night I am going to a local all night crop. Should be interesting as I know none of these girls very well. I do look forward to next week when I get to crop with most of the HT girls.
So that's my life right now in a nutshell. Cept work, where I am looking forward to the next few months. Should be interesting. To me at least.
That's it, you're bored and I'm sleepy. Night!

:J

News, Blues and Smooze

Yesterday was a great day for me. It was quiet at work, restful at home and a perfect start to the weekend. Old friends came by that I hadn't seen all summer, and there's a buzz at school that starts about now, anticipation of school starting.

First of all I have to mention the two summer custodian ladies who cleaned the windows on our side of the hallway. They also did the trophy cases. Those trophy cases haven't been cleaned in the four years I've been there! They dusted each glass shelf and every trophy! It just gleams! I didn't get their names, but I thanked them every time I walked by them. I may have to find some goodies for them!

Here are our world famous NAVY precision flying team, the Blue Angels! This is Blues on the Beach weekend. They did an airshow yesterday and will do one today, weather permitting. Only 4 of them got to fly yesterday as one of the pilots had sinus trouble. Seems to be going around here right now.

We won't go to the beach, we will go to the homecoming airshow in November with all the cousins that will be here for the family reunion that week. They are awesome if you ever get a chance to see them.

You can tell that the teachers know that it's about time for the schedules to be done for classes. It was like old home week yesterday. I got to see a few of my favorite people, including the newlyweds, Cheyana & JW. They just got back from their 5 week honeymoon trip in Europe. They backpacked most of it, staying in hostels and camping. They sure did alot! JW ran with the bulls in Spain (and got hurt, cracked two ribs and skinned up good, but okay now), they saw the Coliseum, Venice and Rome, and Spain. Chey said Spain was her favorite. They also said they must be getting old as the people in the hostels partied too late into the night for them! Ah yes kids that's the first sign!

I'm just glad they took this trip now while they are young, in-love, etc. How many of us dream of doing something like this and never do? I really admire them for taking off like this!

I'm so glad too that they took the plunge and got married. I helped Chey plan the first prom at our HS. Oh and the poinsettia sale! How could I forget how we financed the prom. Chey's classroom was a mass of poinsettias. So beautiful and we sold every one. Well the kids helped tooo!

I had adopted JW when he was a lonely, first year teacher here from Nebraska. He was so skinny and stayed so busy coaching and teaching that I worried about him and brought him leftovers. This was after he told me he would make a huge bowl of spaghetti on Sunday and eat on it all week! Poor kid! Now they are so happy together and such a cute couple! But what do I do with the leftovers?

JW is a CUBS Fan like me, I told him if the Cubs start losing now that he is home, his butt is going back to Europe on the next plane! GO CUBS!

Have to show you these tooo! Aren't the the cutest little pencil sharpeners? I found them at CVS while I was waiting for my sinus medicine. 3/99 cents! I think I will throw one in my scrapbag, one in my desk at work and one here at the house in the desk.

We can never find a pencil sharpener around here! Even my electric one has been put somewhere in all the computer desk shuffling we did. I wonder how long it took a little Chinee to put them together? And really how much could they have cost to make? Anyway they are cute and I had to have them!
Well, I guess house work is not going to quit calling me until I answer the call. I'm off to vacuum, do some laundry and UGH! Clean the bathroom. TaTA!
:J

Let See What I Can Say Without Being Dooced!

It has been such a good week! Well as good a week as you can have after spending the previous week on the beach. That little trip is just a small spot on my memory now. Darn, need to do that more often!
Finally connected with the new boss. We've had info to share, things to do. Also had our pre-registration meeting to go over our registration process with everyone involved. Some one said they would have to "check my schedule" to see if they could do something they were asked to do for that week. THAT didn't go over well. It was obvious this person was trying to get out of having to WORK with the rest of the TEAM. It was a good moment for alot of us!
I see alot of changes on our horizon. Most of them I think for the good. I'm sure I won't like them all, after all this isn't my perfect world is it? But I think I can live with the changes I won't like, in order to have the changes we do NEED. I look foward to the next few years.
Enough on that.
I have come to the point I come to every summer where I am starting to hate air conditioning. Stale air, cold, sometimes too cold. I am ready to open my windows again for fresh air. I want to be in my yard all day and not sweat like a pig. I know I have the pool, but not the same. I think what I really want is a trip north. I always get this way when back to school time comes around. Back to school up north means cooler temps, falling leaves and football!
Enough on that.
But speaking of football, how bout Michael Vick. Well when you play with fire you are going to get burned. If you own property, have an idea of what your tenants are doing on said property. I think they have something on him or he wouldn't have been arrested.
Enough on that.
No, not, I have to say this. If you live your life in the limelight and get paid millions to do what most people do for fun and free, you are a role model. Whether you want to be or not, you are. So if you are playing with fire, at least be man enough to tell the truth. "Yes I was, I know I shouldn't have, but I did." That is what defines a real man. Which brings me to why I brought this back up. It is just one more reason Brett Favre is the MAN! He was addicted to Vicodin, admitted it, went to rehab saying he'd come back better, and he did.
And that is " 'Nuff Said!"

:J

A New Week in my Life

Yep, I was going along good, blogging most every day last week, then yesterday I stopped. Did anyone notice? No one noticed I said Dr. Pepper can in the post I did about Rick's new coffee mug. It was a Mountain Dew can.
So another day dawns and I have the whole day to do what I want. Well, I have to clean the bathroom and cook dinner, but the rest of the day is mine, mine, mine! Yesterday was mine too! I eyebatted my way into two mags at BAM from hubby. We got home just in time for a huge deluge of rain so I cuddled up on the loveseat with the new mags, read and napped. What else does one do on a rainy day?
Even Patrick stayed with us until bedtime. Which if you don't have older kids, means it's time to go out and Par-tay! He spent all day with us, chillin' and then at 9:30 p.m. went to a friend's to "play video games" Uh-huh, right kid. I'm not 50 yet, my mind is not totally gone. I KNOW what y'all were doin'! But he is almost 21 (can you beleive that!) so it's all good. He only has a few short weeks til school starts again, working two jobs and school will put an end to the PAR-TAY!
I feel like I have been on vacation for weeks, oh wait, if you don't count the 6 hours I worked on Friday, I have been on vacation! LOL! I love this rested feeling. I have almost forgotten what stress feels like! Ah! the simple pleasures!

:J

As Promised, Top 5 Vacations

One of my favorite scrapsites, has posted a blog challenge of listing your favorite 5 vacations. Wow! That's a toughie for me. Anytime I can be on a vacation has to be my favorite time. But I can name a few from that list here. It should be my favorite 1o vacations, that would hit the tip of my vacation iceburg.

1. Number one has to be family reunion time. Whether it's in Wisconsin with the in-laws, West Virginia with my mother's side of the family, Illinois with my immediate family, or when everyone comes here and we rent a beach house, reunions are my favorite vacation. I love being with family, just hanging, taking pictures and listening to stories.

2. When you think of reunions, second best reunion type get togethers are girls weekends! I think girls weekends were introduced to me by my sister. She and a friend of hers came down here and the 3 of us rented a beach condo for a weekend. It was so nice to get away from all the testostrone in my house and be with the girls. Since then, girls weekends are a necessity, whether it's with my sister, my best friend Karen in Jax, or the HT girls. Girls weekends Rock!

3. Saints/Packers game in New Orleans with Rob & Steph. My hubby has been a life long Packers fan. Rob is a lifelong Saints fan. Rob & DH were stationed together in HS-11 and then we all made a transfer to Pcola for shore duty. When the Packers played the Saints in New Orleans one year we went "home" with Rob & Steph to attend the game. No kids. We had a blast. Touring NO, the game and eating every two hours. Not just eating, but eating cajun food! The best part, more Packer fans in the Superdome than Saints fans and cheering the Packers to victory!

4. My first cruise. May 2007. Determined to "experience it all" I did. Well all but the parasailing. That wasn't my fault tho, Linda and I were signed up but the boat broke down. But I did everything else on this scrapbooking cruise, including getting my hair braided, getting hypnotized and kissing Senor Frog! Such fun!

5. Going to Colorado with DH no kids. Okay so the wedding was cancelled. But we went anyway. Spent a day in Estes Park, saw relatives, and had fun without having to worry about anyone but ourselves.

Vacations are the best of times. So many new experiences, I loved watching the kids discover new things when they were little. So much of this America yet to see. Now that I have my passport, I will travel!

:J

Spending a Hot Summer Day

Patrick knows how to spend a hot summer afternoon. This is where I found him when I came home Friday afternoon. He cuddled up with his cat, Boots and a good book on the loveseat. He really is awake and reading. Isn't he just a handsome boy! I wish I could snuggle and cuddle him like I used to when he was little. Now I just get a hug and a "love ya mom".

We had a busy 24 hours while he passed the afternoon reading. Shortly after I took his picture, his Aunt Susie and Uncle Truman arrived. They were here to pick up their camper. Always generous to their nephews, they lent DS1, Daniel, their camper for the weekend while he was here.
Susie and I had to shop while we were together, it's just unAmerican if we don't. So we hit HL, JO's, Mike's and Target. Halfway through the HL visit, the hubbies called and said they were HUNGRY! So we met them at the Shrimp Basket for yummy dinner and went back to HL after. Of course I always spend more money than she does! I did find this cool container at Target. Actually, Susie, being the good sister she is, showed it to me. Great storage for my stamps! I can also buy another set and it will attach to the bottom of these and I can go on and on and build a tower! Great for crops! This one is about 6 x 10 and the bottom tier has two trays that divide it into six sections. But you don't have to use the trays. I'm hoping they will go on sale this week as they were in the "Back to College" section. But even at 6.99 they were a bargain!

When Felicia and Dan were here she left me a Thank You card for all the scrapsupplies I gave her. DH said she loved being in my room. She will have to come over another time when I can give her more stuff and tell her how to use it.

Today, we went over to my friend Jackie's. Jackie gave Susie a huge huge bookcase thingy that Susie is going to put in her scraproom. It will be really nice for her. I just didn't have room for it in my room, it was that big! I do need the storage tho! My scraproom is a MESS!
We also ran to Gigi's to see what scrapstuff she had. It was really busy in there, lots of beach vacationers in there. Gigi carries alot of local laser cuts and beachy stuff for that crowd. I didn't buy much tho!
All the shopping made me hungry so after Susie and Truman left, I scrounged in the cupboard for something to tie me over til dinner. I found plaintain chips I had forgotten I bought last comissary trip. YUMMY! Now I just can't eat the whole bag like I want to!

I'll post my answers to the blog challenge later. My 5 favorite vacations. What are yours?

:J

Cuppa Joe Anyone?

I certainly have enough to share! We can all drink out of the same mug! It's certainly big enough don't you think? DS1 brought this to Rick this week when they came to visit. Yes that's a regular size Dr. Pepper can next to it, along with a bottle of wine, just to give you an idea of how big it is.
Rick is known for his love of coffee, and that is probably about the right size cup for him. But with coffee in it, he would be hard pressed to drink out of it as it is HEAVY! I guess it was a display for advertising Harley coffee mugs and Daniel got a bargain on it. Wonder what I could get for it on Ebay? LOL! We are going to use it to collect change.

I thought the resort I stayed in had a cute way to mark their parking lot spaces. They really did go all out with the beachy tropical theme. I would stay there again if they "made" me!

Kip, Jules and I went to lunch at Caddy's on the beach. We were treated to a rather good singer while we ate lunch. Kinda reminds me of Kenny Chesney in 20 years. Sang as good also.

I told you my hotel thought of everything. This is the phone in my bathroom. I didn't have the chance to use it, thank goodness. That's a pet peeve of mine, talking to people while on the toilet. UGH! Just gross! And frogbreath does it to me all the time. We'll just be talking along and then I hear the toilet flush on her end of the phone. She knows it grosses me out too!

So, I'm home, glad to be here and I probably won't get to blog as much as I have this week. Normal life gets in the way ya know. But it was a blast while it lasted!

:J

More from the Beach

I thought that I loved my beaches where I live, but I am starting to really like the beaches here in St. Pete. Maybe because staying right here on the beach makes the beach life so convienent. I really don't get to the beach as much as I would like at home.
During one of my walks, I came across this castle someone built on the sand. Isn't it gorgeous!

 

Last night we drove to Ft. DeSoto to see 2005's Number One Beach. It was gorgeous! We walked til sunset and then turned around and walked back. Not a fast walk, just leisurely, picking up shells, letting the waves dance on our toes. Ahhh! the life! The closer it got to sunset, the more birds came around. I think this is a blue heron, or some kind of heron. He watched us and posed for several pictures before we both parted ways.

 

Last night's walk made me think about how I take my beach for granted. It's rare I take a break to just go walk the beach. A little sand between the toes can make all the world's stress disappear, and put everything back into perspective. Go be a tourist in your town. Appreciate your world. It will make a world of difference!

:J

A few more pics and another side of the story

I'm sure most of you saw this pic of me claiming my room with my sign on Jules blog.

 

But what you didn't see was what someone did when I wasn't there. They threw my sign on the floor! I'm sure it was an immature act of jealous rage! It made me feel so bad that in respect for my elders, I let the same person win at volleyball in the pool later.

 

E's famous potato salad, which Teri and I fought over.

 

E's delicious salad from my private dinner he fixed only for me and Jules.

 

What a time it was! Loved it!
:J

Fun in Paradise

Another blogger joins the web! The Ft. Lauderdale girls have a voice now in blogging! Here the other Hilltop girls check out Lauri's new blog! Welcome Lauri! The courtyard at the winery! I could dally here with a good book and a glass of wine all afternoon. It brought back memories of my childhood and spending summers playing under the grapevines that grew over our patio at home. Yes, my dad made wine from them too!

Swans that swim around the hotel. This scene is just a few feet from someone's (not mine!) patio here in the hotel. Just how cool is that? There are ducks too, but can you imagine swans????
Love this place! I Highly recommend it for a vacation getaway! Oh and also for important business meetings ;)

:J

Let's talk about E words

It was a day filled with E!

Of course E, Jules husband, a chef EXTORDNAIRE! I keep threating to kidnap him and take him home. But then I would weigh 400 lbs. He has cooked us the most fabulous meals.

EXCITEMENT My first trip to Ruban Rouge! What a store! I just love the way it is set up! Sooooo much neat stuff! I got away cheap really $108 and change. Of course I didn't know the Revolution was half price! I may have to go back for that tomorrow!

EXERCISE! Jules and I took on Kip and Linda in pool volleyball. Let's just say Linda & Kip were ahead when we finally gave up! We let them win.

EXCELLENT! Best Riesling wine I have ever tasted at the Castle Winery. Then the food from Mama's was delish! And the sunset cruise was EXTRORDINARY!
OH MY MY MY!

EXHAUSTED! It was an awesome day! So much laughter, good friends, sharing, growing, so much bonding! I don't want to leave! I'm so tired!

I'll post pictures later, my camera batteries went dead!

:J

Claiming It As My Own

 

Yep! The guest room at Jules' house is now mine! At least for the next few days anyway! I made this cute little sign so everyone would know, IT'S MY ROOM!
Ever since Jules & E have been searching, and now acquired, a new home, several of us have been asking which room is ours. I think Janet was the first to stay in "the room" but I'm making it official, at least for now, IT'S MY ROOM!
Looking forward to the next few days, seeing the girls, getting some girlfriend's bonding time in. Be careful if your ears are ringing, it may be you we're talking about! LOL!

:J

Happy 4th of July!

I hope your day is filled with Celebration and fireworks. I'll clean and bake this morning, pack this afternoon and then later this evening we will join some friends for a cookout.
We are lucky to live in the greatest nation in the world, able to celebrate the day any way we wish. I wonder if our Founding Fathers knew how great we would become when they started their rebellion 230 years ago. See a little rebelliousness can be a good thing!
Happy 4th!

:J

My Saturday Night with Big Joe

Yes, I think I have found love. Big Joe. He's on the Polka Show on the RFD channel. Yes it's Saturday night and Yes, I'm bored.
So Rick is sitting here flipping through the channels, he's bored too. He found Big Joe, and paused. Then flipped. "No!" I said "Turn it back!"
Do you know how long it's been since I've polka'd? I think I was 12. Before I found out it wasn't cool. Maybe Rick and I have polkaed once. Polka is big where he is from. They all polka there.
So here I sit, watching Big Joe and the old people in Minnesota polkaing? Am I even spelling that right? Old people in Minnesota aren't as good as polkaers as they once were.
They have a special TV offer from the "Polka Nuts" from Colorado. Two DVDs for $50! I wanted to order them. Rick said No with that look he gives me when he thinks I have absolutely lost my mind.
So then I'm sitting here listening and watching and surfing my blogs when I come across Kip's Blog and she has up this Lollapolooza head and it's dancing. The dancing is matching the music on the TV, the polka music, and I am dying laughing. So I show Rick. He's laughing. Then he gets serious and has second thoughts about my weeklong trip this week. HMMMMMM!
All this and no tequila. What a Saturday night!

:J

More Me

Just got back from a scrumptitous (sp) dinner with hubby. We hit our favorite local cheap seafood place, The Shrimp Basket. So yummy! I don't know why but we drove clear across town to go there. They have opened one closer to our house, but old habits are hard to break. We just went.
Worked out for me just fine tho, as it is next door to JoAnn's. I ran in there for a few sheets of patriotic paper for a project I'm working on. I thought I found some Jolee's embellies marked way down, but when I got home I saw that I paid $2.50 for them. I don't need them that bad, so I'm taking those back!
I have got to clean this house this weekend. It's picked up, but it needs cleaning! I think I just have toooo much stuff. I am way to attached to stuff. I'm sure I don't qualify as a pack rat, but a pack mouse, I may be. I'm ready to downsize. I started a bit in the scraproom today, cleaning out things that I don't use or have another machine that does the same thing. I'm going to give them to my son's fiancee, as she is a scrapper. They will be here from Louisiana next week, but I will be in St. Pete. Darn it! They hardly ever come home, and now I have to be gone!
No big plans for the weekend. I'm trying to win MontgomeryGentry tickets for Tuesday night. Not that I'm a huge fan, but it would be fun to go. They are giving them away every hour on the radio station. Cross your fingers!
Well I'm off!
Oh one last thing, CONGRATULATIONS TO WEST FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL for their 3RD CONSECUTIVE A in the School grade calculations. We got our grades today and another A! WFHS has only been in existence for 6 years. Not too shabby!
I think someone said we had the highest HS writing scores in the state! WOOHOO!
With that I'm done,
Happy day!

:J

Thoughts on the First Weekend of Summer!

Where do I start? Linda and her Hilltop Crew added another fantastic weekend to my memory! WOW! I just love them and wish we were soooo much closer in distance.

Linda never ceases to amaze me. She cooked us fabulous meals all weekend without a stove and sunday we got pancakes & sausage from her Tim Holtz kitchen! Just when I think she can't do anymore fantastic give aways, she piles the table. When I think I have seen all the best classes, Elle, Di and Jules come up with a few more! Michele & Dee are always the best customer service and friends a girl could have. And the table mates! OHHHH those BAD girls! I love them all!

It was so much fun having my sister, Susie with us. That would be "Jayne's Sister, Susie". All my life everyone has known me as Jayne, Susie's little sister. After this weekend she is now Susie, "Jayne's sister. Thanks Michele for the help on that!
But to me from this crop forward, Susie will be known to me as "frogbreath" LOL! She can explain that one!

One of my biggest thrills was having Michele's mom, Alice, tell me she reads my blog everyday! WOW! Really? I have such a boring life! Alice is a sweetie and I was glad to finally meet her. Michele is such a sweet person, now I know why!

It was such a great weekend all around. So much fun with such phenomenal women. They all continue to inspire me to be a better woman, each of them in their own way. I am so lucky to have such great people as friends!

I came home to more flowers blooming. Sorry no pictures as of yet, but maybe tomorrow. My pink hydrangea was blooming, as was the red hibiscus. The oleander is blooming for the first time in years. It's a beautiful red. Finally, my pink amarylis is also showing it's beautiful color.

I walked into work Tuesday morning to no air conditioning. Talk about hot! Even the fans didn't help. Thankfully, I was able to go to one of the other buildings to prepare for the retirement celebration and that building had air! Over the weekend a squirrel got caught in some wiring and burned out the chiller for our building. Poor Squirrel! But all is fixed now and the retirement celebration went off without a hitch. Our principal was surprised, and it was nice to see so many of his old friends show up to wish him well. I will sure miss him, and wish him many happy, safe roads to travel and hours of giggles as "Grandpy" becomes his main job.

So that should catch you up with little ole me. I need to get busy cleaning, unpacking and putting away all the "stuff" I brought home with me. Tons of cool scrap stuff, new stamps (I hit the sale bin at HL, got 6 new stamps!) and of course, more storage to put it in.

I'll try to be a better blogger this next week. That is until they send me to St. Pete for that conference that I really didn't want to go to, but they twisted my arm! The things I do for my job, seriously!
Have a wonderful summer day!

:J

Ah! The First Day of Summer!

The first day of summer! Who can believe how fast this year is flying by? The first day of summer signals fun, adventure and vacation. Which is exactly how I am going to celebrate it!

This morning I'm beginning an adventure with my sister. It's not our first, we've had many. But today we are packing up her camper and heading south. Our trip will include a few stops for bathroom breaks, and convienently the best bathrooms are located in scrapbooking stores! I'm so glad they keep such clean restrooms! LOL!

Our destination is Dover FL to meet up with the Hilltop girls at the birthday crop. It's my sister's first time meeting these wonderful ladies, and I hope she has as much fun as I do with them! Such a great group of women!

So I'm excited and nervous all at once. I'm driving and pulling the trailer. THAT should be fun. I just worry about parking it etc. and driving slow enough! I'm used to flying down the road.

Well it's time to get moving. I hope you find something special to do to celebrate your first day of summer today. Eat ice cream, drink lemonade, run through a sprinkler, pick flowers, have a picnic, go swimming, fishing or biking. Walk the beach, walk a trail or just walk your neighborhood and say hi to everyone! Celebrate your first day of summer!

:J

Humping Through the Week

I have stayed busy all week. Humping right along through work and here at home. I'll be gone all weekend, DS2 and FDIL will be here for the weekend for a friend's wedding. So I've been packing, cleaning and everything in between!
Tonite I leave for my sister's, and then tomorrow we head out to go to the Hilltop Birthday Crop. I'm all packed for that. I take kits to work on as there is so much going on that my ADD kicks in and my creativity kicks out! But it shall be fun no less. DH was so funny last night when I was packing. He said, "This is really more of a social thing right? Ya'll don't do much scrappin', one scraps and the others just socialize and say "Aw, that's purty!"" He's too funny. Of course we scrap dear. We are busy little scrappers the whole time!
And about that land I have for sale......
DH has assured me that the house will be clean when the kids get here Friday. As he says, "It will be so clean that Kevin will think you cleaned" Gee, if only it could be that way when I get home.
Last night I baked the Pioneer Woman's Texas Sheet Cake to take to today's Potluck Luncheon at work. I could hardly sleep in anticipation of eating it today! Yummy!
Well, speaking of that nasty four letter word, I must get going. The sooner I go, the sooner I can go, the sooner the party begins! I'll try to blog this weekend. We'll see!
Stay safe til I return.
:J

Another Wonderful Summer Weekend

 

Nothing says summer like an evening of balloons! This weekend was the Balloon Fest in Foley Alabama. Rick and I spent Saturday evening watching balloons take off and land. It was so relaxing watching these giants glide silently in to land.
These ballons are powered by propane. It was neat to watch them inflate the huge canopies. Each canopy costs 10 thousand dollars! Wow! The Baskets really are made of wicker too! We thought this one was going to hit the trees!

 

The balloon were from all over the south with most of them coming from Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. Now they didn't fly in from there, they took off and landed all in Alabama. But wouldn't it be cool to just get in your balloon and float a few states away! I wonder how far you could go in a half day?
Even tho the name of this one was Sunrise it sure looked pretty in the sunset!

 

We just stood and ate our fresh Kettle Popcorn and watched the balloons come in and out. Sooooo relaxing!

 

Sunday we had breakfast with friends, grocery shopped and then Rick mowed the lawn. Such is life when your boys are grown and living all over! Afterwards we imitated whales wallering in the pool for about an hour. Sooooo nice. I laid on my raft and watched a dragonfly perched high in a tree as he watched us! LOL!
Patrick came home in time for dinner and we grilled T-bones. I made mushrooms & onions for toppers, boiled some shrimp & corn for sides, and we were in heaven!
So my short week begins! 3 days of work and then I'm off to the "boonies" to camp and scrap!
Enjoy the day!

:J

Happy Father's Day Pa!

 

First of all I need to say no one will ever replace my Dad. No One. I miss him every day, every hour, Every minute. He is the mold for Dads that was broken the minute God was finished him. There will never be another like him. I love you Dad!

That said, now we'll talk about the man who runs a close second, my Pa, Wally. Wally is really my father in law, but in the past 15 years he has become my Pa. My husband says he was a tough dad. He didn't take any crap from anyone, from his kids, to city councilmen, to cops, or even the Priest at their local parish. Now he says his dad is just an old man trying to be nice and get into heaven.

I can't vouch for the time past the last 22 years I have known him. If he was as gruff as my hubby says, then I think he's wrong. Pa is a hard working, God loving, family first man. His love for his wife and family are undeniably one of his greatest characteristics. I know that part of the reason my husband dotes so much on me is because of the love Pa showed Ma all these 55+ years. Her and I both know we are Queens of the house, no matter how much we deny it!

Pa will give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. At 75 years old he delivers Meals on Wheels to the "old people". We call him the "Grand Poobah" as he is so involved with his church and the KCs that he has been honored many times by both. But he doesn't do all of this work for the accolades. He does it to be involved, to make the world a better place.

He loves all of his grandchildren from the littlest great grand to all the older grands. He has the patience of a saint, but when you've made him reach the end of that patience, he lets you know with his trademark "Enough Now!" I have learned to be a better parent from him.

Pa and I share a special banter. He loves to tease me, and I love to tease him back. Sometimes neither of us is sure the other isn't serious. But it's all in good fun and very much love! He always tells me, "If I didn't love you, I wouldn't tease you!" I love to rag him about the Packers, the Brewers and everything else in between. He teases me about still being a Bears fan after all these years I've been a Packer fan. But, I tell him right back "The only reason I became a Packer's fan, is to keep peace and harmony in the family and to stay in the will!"

I know he knows how much I love him and appreciate him. We talk on the phone at least once a week. I wish we were closer in mileage. I know we are close in heart.

So Happy Father's Day Pa!

Ahhhh! It's Friday!

Which means it's the weekend! The AP let me leave at 2:15 as it was only her and I left in the building other than the custodians. I had finshed my list of things to do, and cleaned my desk! "Go Home" she said. So I did!
I met Patrick pulling out of the neighborhood as I was pulling in, and signaled him to come back home. Today is Patrick's 20th Birthday! MY BABY is 20! His day didn't start so good, at 5:30ish a police officer knocked on the door to return his wallet to him. Apparently he had left it in the car and the car unlocked. They got all his tip money for the week, he wouldn't tell me how much, and his driver's license and military ID also a few gift cards he had in his wallet. The Military ID has his and hubby's ss# on it. So that has sent panic into our world. It's such a violating feeling. And a crappy way to begin your 20th birthday.
So when he came home I gave him a pair of new Reef Sandals and $50. I thought he was going to cry. Instead he told me what the metal piece in the bottom of my Reef Sandals is for, it's a bottle opener! I did not know that! I thought it was some kind of cool support for my arches. Dang, not only does my baby turning 20 make me feel old, but thinking that is cool support for my arches and not a bottle opener makes me feel real old and as my brother would say, "losing my cool". I just know my Reefs are comfy. Now I can open all the Coronas I want! He told me some pairs even have flasks in the heel. What will they think of next?
So Happiest of Birthdays to you my son, world-wise that you are!
:J

10 Things I Will Never

From Kip's Blog, another challenge. There are not too many things I won't do, so finding 10 may be hard!

1. I will never bungee jump.

2. I will never eat oatmeal.

3. I will never jump out of a perfectly good airplane.

4. I will never finish this list. Just can't think of anything else. What do you think I will never do?

:Jayne

Is It Thursday Already??

Wow! I do love these short work weeks! I can't believe that one week from today I am heading down to the Birthday Crop at Hilltop! I am a excited and also a bit nervous, as I'm taking my sister down to meet the girls! And I never know how either of them will behave! LOL!
It's been busy at work and lazy at home. I got my plane tickets etc for the Data Conference in St. Pete in July. I'm going down a few days early to hang with the girls before I have to learn all about Data. For the Hilltop girls reading this, I'll be there July 5th! WOOHOO!
Last night I watched "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" on HBO. Very good film! It is sad what our Government did to the Indians. That's fact, not a slanted film version. We took their lifestyle and heritage away from them, stripped them clean to adapt to our ways. Starved them to do it. Sad. If you get a chance to watch it, do. I remember reading the book in High School and liking it then.
No plans for tonite. Our welding teacher is bringing in more corn today! I'm getting half a bushel, so I know what we will eat for dinner! I could eat my weight in sweet corn!
Well that's my life!
Have a good day!
:J

My Weekend is Over! :(

Like all good things, my long luxurious weekend has come to an end. Tomorrow is back to work, back to putting out all those little fires that pop up when I'm gone (and when I'm there). But on the bright side, only 4 days to another weekend!
I spent the day finishing up odds and ends, laundry mostly. I even did Rick's laundry. For the record, we mostly do our own laundry. His is too nasty dirty to do with mine, he is afraid to wash some of my clothes, so we just do our own mostly. We're wierd, I know, but it works for us. I still need to iron the kitchen curtains and hang them back up. I guess I can still get that done.
Patrick was here for a few hours while I was home. So I baked a ham, cooked black-eyed peas and corn for dinner. I could have eaten my weight in the corn and peas! But I didn't. So that was good. Enough left to take some for lunch tomorrow. Yum! He stays so busy on the weekend with two jobs. I miss having him around so much. He said when school starts back he is getting an apartment with 3 other guys. I'm glad he has good friends, but I still worry!
I finished up a LO from the cruise pictures. I just noticed tho that the title looks crooked, so I guess I will have to fix that too. But here it is. It looks like we did everything on the cruise but scrapbook. But we did scrapbook, some.
When I got home Rick was surprised we even did scrapbook! Too funny!

 

Well let me go iron those curtains and clean the scraproom. It's amazing the work I can get done when there is nothing to watch on TV! Have a good week!

Your Weekend is Over, Not Mine!

Okay, I'm not trying to rub it in. But I am going to enjoy it! Just one more day. How many weekends have you had where you wished for one more day off? I know I have wanted many. I just wanted to stay home ONE more day. Well tomorrow is my day!
I worked last Monday which was supposed to be my first day off. But it was registration for summer school, so I went in like the dedicated person I am. After all, I put the schedules in the computer, so I have to be there! Since we work a 4 day, 10 hour day week, I got to take Friday off. Then tomorrow, Monday is my regular day off. Most everyone wanted Fridays off and the only way we could do the 4/10s is if someone wanted to work Friday. So let's think about this. Friday is normal go home early day, so if I take Monday off and work Friday, with hardly anyone there, I can get more done and get out early! Sign me up!
I got alot accomplished this weekend. Lots of much needed house cleaning. Of course I would need a month off and a gallon jar full of speed to get my house totally clean, like I would like to have it clean. But living with two guys, a long haired cat and a dog, my house will never stay clean. I love my dog, but I cuss his black hair everytime I clean! So in between goofing off a bit, I got most everything done, including the ceiling fans, windowsills and blinds. I cleaned the pantry a bit, throwing away microwave popcorn that was 2 years over date! I got ride of about 3 dozen magazines. Mostly Southern Living, I keep those for the recipes. So I tore out all the recipes I thought I might use and pitched the magazines. I'm sure my husband wishes I would get rid of some scrappin' magazines. Don't hold your breath dear!
After pitching, I scrubbed. My favorite thing to clean my floors with is this.
 
I discovered it my first trip to Key West. Alba was just finishing mopping her floors when we arrived. Her house smelled so good and fresh, I had to ask what she used. It was Mistolin, Gardenia scent. I usually don't like Gardenia scent, but now it's all I use on my floors! I guess when I go to South Florida in a few weeks I will have to look for some more. Usually I want to know here the scrap stores are, but this trip I need to know where to get Mistolin. This is my last bottle!
Yesterday while on a cleaning break, DH and I watched "A Night at the Museum" I really enjoyed it! Wouldn't it be awesome if that really did happen? I won't say what happened in case you have not seen the movie. If you haven't, you need too, it's good! Later I'm going to watch "Because I Said So" Rick didn't want to watch it, it's a chick flick.
And also in my spare time, I finished the mini book I made for FIL for Father's day. Since he doesn't read my blog, I can show you. Here's the cover,
 
and here is the rest of it! I sure hope he likes it! Not everyone in the family is in it. That kind of bothered me, but I don't have recent pictures of everyone because they haven't been able to come to the reunions. So maybe I'll have to do a second edition.
I think now I'm off to my movie, and to fold some clothes. Mostly towels, so that will be easy

TGIF!

And it's my four day weekend! WOOOHOOO!
I'm off this am to the LSS to see what they have new, and what's in the clearance room. Maybe a stop by Big Lots, Hobby Lobby and a few stores in between to see what inspires me.
I was showered with fresh veggies yesterday at work. Lori brought me fresh cucumbers and cherry tomatoes from her garden by the bay. Dale, our welding teacher, came 35 miles into town to bring me fresh sweet corn and black eyed peas from his farm. YUMMY! We had the corn last night for dinner! OMG GOOD! I could eat my weight in sweet corn. I think tonite I'll just make a huge salad, cook up the blackeyed peas, and some sweet corn and call it supper!
Well, I'm off to start my weekend! More later!

:J

Well Just a Few Things

My day was fairly uneventful really. I managed to keep my cool when I really wanted to strangle on old lady who came in my office with attitude first thing this morning. So maybe that was kinda eventful. Meanwhile, my friend who was standing beside me while all this was going on, yes my calm, cool, see the good in everyone, and save them all friend, was holding back even harder to not put her fist in the lady's face. Talk about a switching of personalities, we would have never thought I was the calm one and she the upset one. But it is done, and it is what is.
I want to welcome MARY to the blogging world. She is so hilarious, I love her perspective. She is a cropping buddy from the Hilltop Gang.
Another perspective I just love is THIS
Every month Mama writes a letter to her growing daughter. I love the way she writes, her view is not typical motherhood view. But I love that every month she shares her thoughts to her daughter, and us. I wish I had thought to do that with the boys. Oh well, maybe someday if there are ever grandchildren....
That's all I have today. Hopefully I will be back tomorrow, unless the big guy downtown calls me in to ask why I was the calm one and Becky was the upset one.