Back in MY House!

It too me a few days, but I finally made it back home. A successful shopping trip to IKEA and more than a few scrapstores delayed my immediate arrival back home, but that made the arrival all that much more sweeter. It feels so good to be here.
A few more pictures of the cruise, my lovable roomie, Val, during our lifesaving drill. Aren't the lifejackets becoming? I sure did feel safe in it tho, it had extras I hadn't seen on a lifevest. Val models hers so well.

 

Just a dish of fruit, devinely presented. After eating cruise food with all it's presentation, I don't think Macky D's will cut it any more for me. I was glad to hear my friend Kip, lost a pound while cruising! I don't think I gained any, all the walking we did helped with that! I do think I ate better! There were a few desserts I just couldn't resist, so I can't say I was totally good!

 

Cahoyoga Gardens was the most beautiful place we visited. Alot of their plants are the same as what we have here in Florida, but alot bigger. I loved this orchid and had never seen one like it. Another thought. Their cotton grows in tree form. A huge tree grows in 20 years. Why aren't we planting more of them? Their cotton tree was taller than many of the hundred year old oaks and 50 year old pines I see here. The cotton tree was enormous, provided much shade, and COTTON! What a beneficial tree!

 

Finally a picture of the Mardi Gras parade the last night at sea. This was taken over the promenade from the elevator balcony near our room. The parade was very colorful and alot of fun! I snapped picture after picture it was soooo pretty with all the dancers and entertainers. Very festive!

 

Going outside the US makes me really appreciate what we have here. We should take more pride in what we really take for granted. This really hit home for me when, in the middle of nowhere, men and women with machetes were clearing brush and weeds from the sides of the road in Jamaica. The mess could have been left to grow up and become unsightly, but it didn't. People took enough time to clear brush and weeds to make the roadsides look better. In my area of Florida, people don't do that, government doesn't even do it. Our roadsides look trashy with weed growth. I guess people are just too busy pursuing material gain, or "fun" stuff to take civic pride. I admire the "poor" Jamiacans for taking care of what they do have and being guardians of our earth.
I am glad to be home in the US, I have unpacked my suitcases, put things away and now am ready for a nap. I'll sleep well back on US soil, thanks to those who protect it for me.
:J

I'm Out of the Box!

Just a brief message and a few pictures. I am back on solid ground again after 5 days at sea. I'm still working on getting my land legs. I feel like I'm moving. But I did want to let everyone know I'm home safe and sound and back in my box.
I really did step out of me a few times. I tried a new dish. Can you guess what?

 

Escargot! And it was really, really good!
In Jamaica we trusted Hudson, our cabbie, with our lives and he took us to places not everyone gets to see. He took very good care of us and he took a few of us brave souls to the top of a mountain where I captured this picture of our ship. It was absolutely gorgeous up there. Jamaica is so different than anywhere I have ever been. Very much more 3rd world.

 

And finally, I crossed something off my "bucket list". Parasailing! Yes me, afraid of heights, I went parasailing. I LOVED IT! So peaceful, relaxing and exciting all at once! I felt so totally safe tho and not at all afraid of the 400+ feet I was up in the air, hanging by a knot in a rope!

 

I'm back in Florida, although not all the way home. I'm in Lakeland and in the morning I'm headed to Orlando to the IKEA store! We stopped here at one of our favorite scrapstores and I contributed much to the Lakeland economy. I'll post more tomorrow, but for now I'm beat!
It's good to be back in the USA!

:J

Craziness Continuing!

Well it's mostly packed. As soon as I get done here, I'll shower and finish packing. Then this afternoon it's load it up time and head on down the road.
I never thought all those years ago, when I was chasing three little boys all around, that I would ever get to do this. They were the center of my world, and they kept me so busy. I loved every minute of it. There were a few seconds here and there I didn't like, but I wouldn't have traded those years for anything.
I never thought the time would come that I would be free again to persue things for me. But it's here, and now I realize how fast the time with my boys at home went.
So now it's ME time, and I plan to use it wisely! I have plans for a parasailing excursion, spa time, swimming with the stingrays, soaking up some sun, reading a book and a few hours of scrapping with a few of my favorite people.
All too soon it will be back to the everyday life, but for now it's ME time. If I'm not here, don't worry, I'm having fun. I am taking Lula, the laptop, with me, so I may post, if I have time. If I'm not having too much fun with ME time!

:J

There are several things eating my brain cells by the second. Things I need to do, things I'm thinking about, just those things that cloud your thought process so you can't think straight.

The Cruise - Getting very excited about it, but so afraid I'm going to forget something. Trying not to take tooo much, but need plenty to keep me busy. Laptop or not? Not so much for internet, but for downloading pictures off my camera card. What scrapbooking stuff? Extras, other than class stuff? Last time I was too busy to scrap. This time we have more days at sea.

The Things to do List - Need to run to WM, need a waterproof camera, Mozzerella cheese(for dinner tonite), and probably a swimsuit coverup since I can't find mine. Also a good book. I'm thinking about Valerie Bertinelli's book. Maybe I can get hubby to BOM with me tonite.

The Things at School list - if I don't plan ahead there, and stay on top of things, I get so far behind. Yesterday I was falling behind so fast! Lots of changes coming up as we convert to credit hours. I hope I have enough brain cells left to absorb it all!

American Idol/DWTS - I think I have a crush on David Cook! I loved him last night singing "Billy Jean". Not only is he vocally talented, he switched that song around so artistically well. He is the most talented person on that show right now. I think he is the best at this level (top 10) of all the Idol seasons. He just blew me away last night. I find myself agreeing more and more with Simon on everything. That's scary.
Then on Dancing, why are cute girls also so talented? Kristy Y is so very above everyone else. It has to be her skating background. She is sooo pretty, so talented! And Jason Taylor, Yummy! Love those broad shoulders and that tiny waist, boy can he dance too! okay so it sounds like I have my top 2 there.

Changing the Creative Place - my main home project will be switching the craft room. Moving into a room twice the size of the one I am in now. Organizing better, purging, Our art teacher was glad to hear that, she's getting all my purgings! I'm already planning in my head, trying to decide what furniture I'll put in there. I think I am going to pull my desk out of the kitchen and put it in there. Kevin is done with my antique drop down table, so maybe I can bring that back from Tally for in the kitchen. That would save me having to buy a piece of furniture for in there. The one desk drawer would be perfect for holding my growing collection of punches.

So I have rattled on. Lots of prayers going on unceasingly also. My father in law will have surgery April 9th on his hand. Six weeks of very limited use, for a man who is constantly busy. My BFF, Karen, who found a lump in her breast and can't get in til April 7th to a Dr.., And it seems all my friends are starting to have parental health issues that come as parents age. So I'm keeping Barb, GA, Kathy G, Mike, Becky, and Sophia in my prayers too. My life would be different right now if I were having to deal with those issues. My FIL is just too stubborn to let us help.

So rambling is over. Have a great day and realize life's little blessings.

:J

It's Madness!

After work I headed back to Dillard's to return the blouses I bought Friday. I picked up another blouse and a sweater/cover for my dresses. Now I have to take one of those back. Darn I really liked the blouse too! It just didn't fit right. But this is it, I'm stopping the shopping madness!
I don't know why I tried this but I did. I asked for hubby's opinion on my dresses/shoulder coverup combos. This, I ask of a man who considers a Packer polo shirt dress up over his "normal" wear of Harley or Packer shirts. But in my madness, I asked. Well he liked the one cover with one dress and the other cover with the other dress. NOT the answer I was looking for!
I wanted to just bring one cover up on the cruise, and take the other back. Since the only place I would probably ever wear it again would be Prom chaperoning next year or a football banquet. He wanted to know why I couldn't just keep both. NOT what I wanted to do, but this is what I am going to do.
I'm taking both cover ups, with tags on, and I'm asking the girls. Whichever one doesn't get worn, will go back. Or if I wear them both, oh well, then I can say I took his advice! We won't even go into which dress he liked better. When I asked, he hesitated, and hesitated, like "how can I answer this without getting in trouble". He's so funny! I wish I could get him to go on a cruise, but after 22 years in the Navy, a cruise is the last thing he thinks about.
Speaking of coverups, I still haven't found my beach coverup. I know I had it in November when we were at the beach house. Where could it be now?????
Off to bed, another day tomorrow. I have a early morning meeting, UGH!

:J

BRRRRR! Monday!

Who left that northern gate open? We've had northern winds since yesterday and boy are they cold! Would someone please close that gate? I thought we had global warming going on? I sure didn't feel it yesterday or this morning. I think the ice age is coming!

I'm starting to panic. All the things I wanted to do or get before the cruise, alot still to be done with no time to do it. I have to be packed and ready to go Wednesday night so that as soon as I get off work on Thursday, we are on the road to my much older sister's house. Rick doesn't want me leaving my car there all week, so he's taking me. From her house we will drive to Ft. Meyers on Friday and then to Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday.
Tonite I am going to try to go to the mall to return some blouses I bought and don't like. Tomorrow after work is my hair cut, and Wednesday is packing night. I am mostly packed, but it will be all done packed by Wednesday.
Thursday morning I have a Dr. appt, and breakfast with my friend Jackie. She and I have been like two ships in the night, waving as we come and go. She's been in Savannah GA for St. Pat's, and then NC for a grandkids visit. So Thursday we will catch up before I begin my adventure!
Sometime in between all that, I have to get to the bank, Target and Kohl's. Maybe Penny's & Sears. I still haven't found a "new" bathing suit. Actually found one at Dillard's, but I didn't like the way it hung. The more I think about it tho, I may need the next smaller size. :)
A boring night last night, we watched TV as we were both tired from all the weekend activities. Okay, Rick as tired, I was just lazy. Actually I was researching some things to do in Orlando on the way back from the cruise. (IKEA and Scrapstores) IKEA is a definite, scrapstores a maybe.
Have you seen the FRED? I just may have to have one! I like that it sits easel style, out of the clutter that my desk becomes when I'm scrapping. Of course this is an after the cruise purchase. But I think I'll get it.
Okay it's time for me to get moving, moving. UGH! Don't want to go to work. I think next Monday I won't!!!
Be Wondermous!
:J

Happy Easter!

I know, I should change the Blog topper. But with everything else I am doing around here, it just didn't get done. SO HAPPY EASTER!
Our day will be a quiet one. DS3 will be over later, I think he is spending the day. DS2 is in Tallahassee, he's saving for his trip to Japan, so he's staying home. I will see him Friday on my way through. DS1 called last night to see what we were doing for Easter. I told him it would be low key not a huge dinner, but I was cooking ham. He thought I would be mad if he didn't come since he has to work, but I told him no, it's okay. So it will be a low key Easter for us.
Yesterday was another gorgeous day here for the most part. A few clouds in the afternoon, but no rain. I sat on the back deck and gave myself a pedicure. Hubby raked leaves and cleared fenceline. We had an early morning commissary run which resulted in buying too much candy. We did get a great bargain on our ham and a $4 off coupon! I ran into my friend Chris there too. It was good to see her. I also ran into an old friend while we were at breakfast. Erica used to teach at the HS, as a matter of fact she was one of Patrick's favorite teachers. She has been busy since leaving school, selling real estate and now she has just taken a job selling all those cutesy knick knacks to the mall stores and Hallmark stores. I can see her doing that! She is such a doll and so fun. We did the first prom at the HS together. We had as much fun as the kids!
Mostly I did alot of putzing. My darling husband did take time out to come in and rescue me from the gecko that had gotten inside and had taken up residence in the kitchen. I like geckos, they are cute. But not in my kitchen, on the counter, scaring me everytime I go for a glass of water. He was cute, but I don't like crawlies in my kitchen! DH safely released him onto the back deck, where he can poke his head in the window once in awhile to say hi and live on all the little buggies that crowd our porch light.
I'm off to read the paper. Any Cruisin' girls reading this need to print their sail pass! Less than a week to sail!

:J

Shopping Success!

After a brief walk in the yard to get some pictures of my blooming flowers for my MIL in the frozen tundra, I headed out for some shopping. I debated staying home, cleaning house, watching daytime tv and all those other fun things I don't usually do during a weekday. But then thought No, the best way to spend this day would be shopping. I can do those other things when hubby is home. But mall shopping? That's not a happening thing with him.
So off I went, first to Office Max to check out the cameras they had in their sale ad. Of course they were out of their cheapest one I wanted to look at. Couldn't guarantee me an order would be here by Thursday either. So I decided to head to the mall to Best Buy. They weren't even open yet! Neither was Dillard's! So what did I do to kill 15 minutes? STARBUCKS! Yummy, Peppermint Latte!
Then I headed back to Dillard's. Still not open, but I waited. I picked up a few tops on clearance, but they are going back. I just don't like how they look. So Dillard's was a bust. Unless you count the blouse I saw but will wait til it's on sale. $40 for a work blouse! Not this girl.
Over to Best Buy to peruse the cameras. They had one, I almost bought it, but the added price of the Memory Stick made me think I needed to recheck Office Max. So back to OM. Same camera, $10 cheaper, with a free 1GB Memory Stick. SOLD! So here's my new purse camera. What do you think? This one will stay in my purse, that way I am never without a camera.

 

But then I got to thinking. What if the Navy Base has one cheaper? Plus I would save the tax. (we don't pay tax on our purchases on base) So since I wanted to go to the base anyway, off I go. Checked out the cameras and felt good that I got the best deal already. They had the camera I bought, for $40 more! No memory stick free! So I was happy.
So feeling good about my bargain, I perused the shoes. I have really become a shoe hound in the past 5 years. I just don't understand what's gotten into me! But I needed a pair of black dressy shoes, I think these fit the bill! They will match both my dresses and are still flirty, casual enough to wear with my dressier capris! AND they were on SALE! Less than $20! I didn't know that til I got to the register. So that made me feel good about the See's candies I splurged on for Erica, my future DIL. I'll see her Friday on the way to the ship.

 

So all in all it was a good day. I talked to my sister, cleaned the living room, kitchen and spare bedroom. I got my suitcase out to start packing, and I COOKED dinner! Such a good day!
I hope your's was good too!

:J

It's a Three Day Weekend!!

Why is it? I could be sleeping in and I'm up already? I was up before hubby's alarm went off? But I did sleep ALL night without a potty break even! That's why I am up so early!
I know I was supposed to show up this morning with pictures of our girl's night out. Well, that's not happening. When I got to the Oar house, my camera wasn't in my purse. Nope, in my rush to get out of the house, and get the day over with so I could GET to the Oar House, I forgot it. So you are just going to have to be happy with the play by play. I'm off today to find a purseable camera.
As I was leaving work, Sheena, the AP (acts and looks like Miranda on Greys), says, "honey, help me get this stuff to my car" and since I was headed that way, I did. She says, "I'm so late for church"
"it's been such a rough day, I need to get to church"
I said, "Well Sheena, pray for me, because I ain't going to church tonite, I'm headed to the Oar House, for girl's night"
Sheena says, "you have one for me, and I'll pray one for you, cause after today we need both"
Deal. I love that woman!
We had a wonderful time watching the sunset go down over the bayou. The food was delish. I had the bacon cheeseburger. I know you are thinking "it's a seafood place, have seafood!" But their Cheeseburgers are to die for and I was craving one. That said it was just wonderful. Good music, good conversation and great drinks. I had the "Jezebel", it just seemed right for Sheena and I. She being in church as I'm sitting on the bayou, drinking. LOL! The Jezebel had rum, pineapple and pomogranite juice. So I was thinking healthy too! LOLOL!
We watched my friend, Linda's husband go out in their boat with a few friends of his. Without us! As we were leaving he called and they were headed back in. So Linda & I waited for him. Still no ride on the boat tho. Another day for that I guess. It was all fun with the girls, next time there will be pictures!
So today I guess I'm off to buy a camera. After I clean house of course. If I get that done, I have all weekend to play! Yeah right! I'm going to try to find a new swimsuit for the cruise. If not I have plenty of them to take. Of course they would be last year's style.
I hope you have a wondermous day. If not, I know where there's a few Jezebels with our names on them! LOL!
:J

I'm Back!

Not that my life has gotten any more exciting, but I've been busy! Not with exciting things, just things, everyday things, things we do. Things like cook, clean, create and watch TV. Don't we all do those things?
I'm not a traditional St. Patrick's day cook. I don't do corned beef, even on a good day. So for St. Patty's day I made ham and cabbage. One of my co-workers, Patton, gave me a huge cabbage from his garden. It was so deliciously sweet. I cut it up and used 3/4's of it to make this,

 

and the rest I used to make cole slaw from scratch. Yum YUM! Of course all that cabbage made life interesting around our house. Lots of unnecessary gas! But it's all good, we're family!
Did I tell you that all the St. Patrick's day cards I made for school sold out? Yes they did! I made 25 Easter cards this week and they sold out! In 45 minutes! Martha didn't even make it out of the building with them. Lori bought 7 of them, one for each of her three girls, and then one for each of her 4 sisters. Then she came to me yesterday and said, "I didn't buy one for my brother!" So against my best FSU judgement, since he's a gator fan, I made him this. It's a bad attempt at a gator egg, but then is there such a thing as a "good" gator egg?

 

Tonite is girl's night out. These are my "rowdier" friends, Linda, Barb & Debbie. We get together about once every couple months for dinner and general rowdiness. It's all in good fun. We need this once in awhile as usually we are pretty laid back, wives and moms. I'm hoping to get pictures as we are doing dinner on the waterside. I'll try to blog tomorrow.
Speaking of tomorrow, it's Good Friday! No work, sleeping in and reflecting.
Have a great day!

:J

A Boring Life

yep, and I'm leading it. I'll post when something exciting starts happening.

:J

It's ME!

Saw this on Cynthia's Blog. Hmmm, it's mostly me, I think. What do you think?

What Jayne Means

You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you. You never give up, and you will succeed... even if it takes you a hundred tries. You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

:J

It's SATURDAY!

TGIS! I'm off to a local crop. Going to try it out and see how it goes. I was going to spend most of the weekend making Easter cards anyway, so this will "make" me work on them. HA!
I will probably spend just as much time chatting as I do at other crops. I don't know many of these ladies, I don't think. So working will be a focus! LOL! It's a free crop, just bring a snack, and lunch is on your own. We are near the mall area, so lunch won't be a problem. Shopping might! Hopefully, I can keep from shopping during lunch.
It's supposed to be a gorgeous day out, a beach day. I think I'll put that on the agenda tomorrow. A walk on the beach sounds like a wonderful way to spend an hour or so tomorrow.
Well I need to hop in the shower. Hubby wants to take me to breakfast before I go to the crop. Y'all have a marvelous day.

:J

Who Didn't See This Coming?

My day was just a normal type, everyday work day. A good day, but still, a work day. When I got home I was tired of cooking. So I didn't. We went to Hubby's favorite fish & shrimp place, then to Books A Million. That's where we found this.

 

(insert contented sigh here) Everything Brett in one magazine. From high school to college, Atlanta Falcons to Green Bay, it's Brett. Did you know Brett wasn't always a Packer? He was on the Atlanta Falcons for one year. Green Bay traded their first round draft pick for him. Do you think Atlanta is kicking themselves for that trade? Who would have thought?
So as soon as I got home, I didn't even check email, blogs or boards, I settled in with Brett. And I cried. Again. I'm crazy, I know. Just hard to believe he's not going to play again. Such a good man too. And yes, hubby thought I was a lunatic too for crying. But, at least I'm past the sobbing stage. Sorry Aaron Rogers, those are shoes you just won't be able to fill. But the fans will still love you, if you play well. If not, well, they will just say, "he's just not Brett"
So I am getting over that. Really. And to help do that, da hubby and I are going to work on being "empty nesters. Rediscovering us, with out football & Brett. More without Brett than football. Football will always be a part of our lives. Spring practice starts in 3 weeks!
Tomorrow night we will begin our "rediscovering" journey, HERE!

 

:J

I've Been Busy!

Actually I've been working on this for about a month, off and on. I work that way sometimes. I work on it a bit, put it down, pick it up and finally I finished it.
It was mostly done, I just need to put pictures on it. Then I printed the pictures, but didn't glue them down. I just didn't know what I wanted to do to "finish" it.

Then, last night, while at the LSS, quite by accident, I found what I needed. I didn't know at the time it's what I wanted. I bought the bright yellow Stickles paint because the yellow was, yes, Green Bay Gold. I knew I would use it, someday.
Suddenly, after I had gotten home, put the paint away, and was doing something else, it came to me. It was just what I needed to finish Patrick's picture page.
I think it was just the touch.
I hope you like it too.

:J

All papers, buttons, most brads - Basic Grey Two Scoops
Fibers - Basic grey
Green Swirls - Grungeboard & Crackle Paint Tim Holtz
Yellow Swirls - Stickles Paint
Flowers - Prima

Wow! It's Wednesday!

My week is flying by! Time flies when you are having fun? I don't know about fun, but time sure is flying! It won't be long and it will be time to get on the big boat and go on the cruise.
I can't think of why the time is flying, but it sure is. The DST may be helping, but I am still having sleep troubles. I just don't want to get up in the morning at all. Yesterday I forced myself out of bed early, hoping it would help with me going to sleep at a decent hour. It did. But now it's 4:30 am and I am wide awake.
So what have I been up too? I took a trip to the LSS last night. They had some cute papers in new from Creative Imaginations. Beachy papers, girly papers and some black and whites. Of course I got them! Pretty paper ribbons to go with the girly beachy papers. Speaking of beachy, while I was there, we confirmed that I would be teaching at the two day crop in June. I'm going to do a beachy book, using Bo Bunny's BEACH book. Not sure what papers I'm using, but I'll find some. I'm excited about that! She also wants me to do another class, but not sure what yet. I get to come up with it. HMMMMMMM! Something beachy! The biggest, most hugest, most depressing downside to this is that it is the same weekend as the Hilltop crop. I thought they were two different weekends. Not so.
I won't type the curse words my mind is saying. I so love the HT crops. I hate missing a single one of them. Such a fun, fun, fun group of gals and soooooo talented! I love learning from them! But I had promised Sandra & Vicki I would do this for them months ago. Why can't I be two places at one time??? It won't happen again. I don't want to miss a HT crop! I need to find out if we are croppin' at Sebring, or if there's a Girls weekend in July (although July is booking up for me with vacation and a seminar I have to go to!) Such a wonderful life!
I am blessed to travel as much as I do. I love to go, go, go. I have great, fun people to travel with. Always much laughter, I guess it's reason to keep working like I do. So I can travel with my friends.
We watched American Idol last night. DH had tivo'd it so I could see it when I got home. Are you watching??? I think this is the most talented season yet. What a group! Checkeze! Goosebumps when he sang! Hmmm who should go home? Becky Lee or whatever her name is. She sang country last night, about a half a speed too fast. Simon said she was Dolly Parton on helium. I had just told DH that she sounded like Tanya Tucker on helium! Too funny. I like Checkeze, Amanda, the Irish girl, the rocker boy (geez it's too early to remember names), the guy from Australia, and the long blonde haired girl with the wide mouth. Tonite I need to memorize their names. This is terrible!
Lack of sleep could be the reason. I guess I'd better get ready for work. Have a wondermous day!

:J

Alpha's of Me!

A- Attached or single: Attached
B- Best Friend: Besides myself? Hubby
C- Cake or Pie: Triple Berry, Strawberry Rhubarb pie
D- Day of Choice: July 24, 2009
E- Essential Item (s): a Computer, a good book, a cell phone and family
F-Favorite type of music: everything, but mostly country
G- Gummy Bears or Worms: Bears, they have heads to bite off!
H- Hometown: Savanna IL
I- Indulgence(s): Travel
J- January or July: January, at least you can put more clothes on!
K- Kids: 3 Dan, Kevin & Patrick
L- Last movie: Don't go to movies
M- Marriage Date: October 18
N- Number of Siblings: 1 much older sister, 1 younger brother, 1/2 older brother, 1/2 older older sister
O- Oranges or Apples: Apple
P- Phobias or Fears: Too many to list
Q- Quote(s): The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary
R- Reason To Smile: I lead a blessed life
S- Season: Football
T- Tag Four: Susie, Jason, Sarah & Di
U- Unknown Fact About Me: I once had a job pumping gas.
V- vegetarian or meat eater: Meat!
W- Worst Habit: making conversations about me
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasounds-you can't hear a heartbeat on an Xray!
Y- Your Favorite Food: Food shared with family and friends
Z- Zodiac: Libra (which is why I am so WELL BALANCED!)

I love Weekends like these!

It was a gorgeous weekend here in our little piece of paradise. Today was beautiful, I wish I had a hundred days as pretty as today was. Just cool enough to be comfortable, just warm enough that the sunshine hitting your face made you smile.
My job was the bathrooms and finishing laundry. DH was lucky enough to get to do the outside work. He loves the outdoors. I do too, but the pollen from the trees doesn't like me. I miss being up north where the outdoors doesn't bother me. But every once in awhile I would take a break from my duties to make sure he was doing his. I even helped with a bit of the raking. A tiny bit of raking, I don't want to blister my delicate hands. (teehee)
I did pick some kumquats of the neighbors tree. I wish I knew what "assisted living" home she was in, I would take some kumquats to her. I miss Mickey on days like today. Usually we would pick kumquats, talk about the weather, and explore the flowers budding in our yards. I bet she misses her yard too.
As a reward for getting soooo much done in the house, I decided to take a break and run to Michaels. I'm so mad at myself! I went to get the new CARDS magazine, wanting to use my 40% off coupon on it. Well I got distracted when I got to the counter, helping a lady who kept dropping things, that I forgot to use my coupon! URGH! I never pay full price for CARDS, it's much to expensive! Oh well!
I found the Fiskars Finger Cutter knife thingy like mine. My much older sister has been coveting mine. So I grabbed one for her, and a few more, just in case! She's so lucky to have me for a sister. I didn't get her anything at the next stop tho, which was JoAnn's. There I just picked up a few things, a storage thing, some daubbers, and a pack of fantastix.
But when I got home guess who was goofing off?

 

Yep! Both of them. And don't they look like they both want to give me guff about it? Back to raking and protecting! Geez, goof offs! One shopping trip for me, and they take a break. It's not like they raked half an acre or anything.
Rick said as soon as he got the leaves bagged, some guy came by and picked them up. The man uses them for mulch in his garden.
While we goofed off I saw something under the deck! Look what is growing wild under my deck!

 

Well, they were in a pot on the deck at one time, but during someone's puppy stage, he ate the container. I thought the shamrocks were gone for good. I've had those shamrocks since I was in High School. Someone told me once that if your shamrocks bloomed for St. Patty's day, you would have a year of good luck. Hmmmm, luck's looking good here.
Hopefully the pink eye will be cleared up by then and you can see my green eyes. Or at least want to see them. Right now you can really see them, the red really accents them. I look like a Christmas tree. But it's getting better. Only the insides are red now.
So with that TMI, I'll get back to folding laundry. Seriously, how do two people generate so many loads of laundry?
Enjoy your day!
:J

Happy Saturday!!!

Those March winds are a blowing! It's been so windy here here past few days. I fell asleep last night and woke up this morning to the sound of the wind chimes playing. Maybe these winds will blow all of the leaves out of the trees and somewhere else so we don't have to rake them!
My eyes are some better this morning. But still itchy, burning and sore. UGH! URGH! I think this is the worse case I have every had of this stuff. Pink Eye...UGH! Thank goodness I don't wear contacts.
I'm sticking close to the house today. It's cold! 37 degrees when I got up! It's March!!!! I hope some of this coolness lasts the summer...fat chance! If I have to be this cold, I want some snow! Since it's cooler, it will be a good day to clean and play in the house. DH wants to "make some fire" outside, so he can do his thing and I'll do mine!
I hope your day is just as lovely!

:J

TGIF!

What a week it has been, what a week. I've gone and cried so much I gave myself Pink Eye. I took half the day off and went to the Doctor to confirm it. Got the drops, and now I'm back on the mend for sure.
Since the walk in clinic is right across the street from Kohls', I took it as an omen that I was supposed to shop. Why else would I have half a day off on a payday and be put at Kohls' doorstep? So I shopped a bit when I was done with the Doctor. I found a few blouses and two towels for the main bath. Still no swimsuit or sandals. That and a pedicure are all I need to be ready for the cruise.
Since I was on that side of town, I swung by the Easter Seals place to pick up the ornaments I had ordered before Christmas. Easter Seals always sells a Penscola icon ornament. This year was the Blue Angels and they sold out. I was put on a waiting list and they reordered. They just came in! I thought these would be perfect to send to Rick's family since they were all here for the Blue Angels Air show this year. Then during the Beach house reunion we had 3 days of private Blue Angels' airshows right out over the water in front of the house. It was awesome! So a perfect commemorative for everyone.

 

I did go to school for a few hours today. I had some paperwork I had to do. I have worked to hard to get caught up from my sick days a few weeks ago. I was not going to fall behind again! My friend, Kathy stopped by to give me something to cheer me up after my crying my eyes out week. Even tho it's Lent and I can't have chocolate til it's over, she said to stick this in the freezer til Easter morning. I'm telling ya, that's what friends are for!!! I love her.

 

Kathy was going to retire this year, but recently changed her mind and is going to stay at least another year. She isn't comfortable retiring with the economy the way it is. I'm happy she's not! She is a great person. I promised her I would do a scrapbook for her to put her grandkids in, since she was staying. I'm always telling her she needs to scrap since her grands are so adorable, but she says she'd rather pay me to do it. So this is our compromise!
Looks like a great start to the weekend!

:J

Getting Over It

I'm working on it. I'm putting on my big girl panties and dealing with it. Rick took my kleenex away, told me I couldn't watch ESPN 24/7, and I decided half way through the 2004 NFC Championship game rerun that I couldn't do this much longer.
So I shut it off. Life must go on. I'll be okay. Till Football starts back up....

So what have I been busiing myself with? I got a facial the other night. It was the best facial I have ever had. I got back to work yesterday and emailed all the girls I know to tell them to get to our school while this girl was still there. She is that good. I know the high cost of gas has a few of us cutting back on our "me" stuff. Check out your local vocational, technical school. They offer these same services for much less. This most wonderful facial only cost $10! It transforms you!

Tonite I'm going over to a friend's to work on St. Pat's/Easter cards. Another friend of mine is doing fundraisers to send one of her students on an Art Trip to India. I'm going to make some cards for her to sell. We are determined that this boy is going to India! That's what's on my agenda this weekend too. Making cards for Martha's student.

Okay, I have to get moving, I've talked to you, eaten my two scoops(of raisen bran, not paper) and now it's time to make my salad. Y'all have a good day!

:J

#4 in Your Program, #1 in Our Hearts, 4Ever Favre

I really don't know if I have the words to do this post the justice that the man deserves. Just not enough words for how much joy Brett has brought our family.
There are everyday people who do phenomenal things to make them heroes to those of us who lead everyday lives.
I think that's why Favre was so much our hero. He was always just an everyday guy. He made the game he played just what it is, a game. He played like a kid, with a giddiness that reminded us of everyday kids, playing sandlot ball and scoring that first touchdown in front of all your friends. I don't know if he ever thought he was our hero, he was just a kid playing a game he loves.
Brett played with a work ethic we may never see again. He prepared day in and day out for the game. He studied plays, he worked the weight room, he ate right and lived a good life. We need more people with a work ethic like his, nothing was ever handed to him. He worked for all he had. It never came as easy as he made it look.
Brett was a part of our lives for 17 years. My youngest son cannot remember another Green Bay QB playing. Every Sunday for 17 years we sat watching him just as we would watch one of our boys play. He was a topic of conversation at least once a week for 17 years. We laughed with him, we rejoiced with him, we hurt with him and we mourned with him. He was who you saw, and he is what he is. No airs, just a simple Mississippi boy playing a game. What a game he played.
I have no more words, I will miss watching him.
Time for another Kleenex,
:J

It Was a Dark & Stormy Night

Or so goes the storyline by Snoopy. We had storms most of the night. Not bad storms but lots of rain. The dog (Dakota, not Snoopy) had me up and down all night, so I didn't sleep real well. We need the rain tho so it's good to get it while we can.
Yesterday's visit with my friend, Mary Ann, got me thinking about the genealogy stuff again. I spent a few hours last night trying to research some more on the records my mom had. I keep hitting a dead end with my maternal great grandfather. We know he came in the USA as an infant in 1837 from Brunswick, Germany. We can't find where or with who. I found him on the 1880 census, but no further back. Same for his wife, but she was born in Ohio. It's a fun puzzle to try to solve, but may take a few late nights.
Today is another day, another dime day. Nothing huge on the agenda that I know of, but that could change once I walk into my office.
I did scrap a bit last night too. Put the pictures on my "LOVE" album I made with Two Scoops. I am loving it!
I am mostly finished with the scraproom cleaning, I like it, but not in love with it. Something probably needs to change, that or I just need a bigger room!

:J

It's Spring the Leaves are Falling!

I know you think I've lost my mind. But seriously, Live Oak, Red Oak and Water Oak leaves fall in the spring. So that's what they have been doing, falling like snow. These leaves aren't fun to make huges piles of to jump in either. They also don't smell at all good when they burn. So if you come rake my leaves now, I'll come rake yours in the fall. Deal?
Actually I don't rake leaves much at all. That's a job for the hubby and the boys. Oh that's right, no boys still here to rake, well one, but he'd have to get out of bed before 3. So hubby rakes all the leaves.
I busy myself with shopping. Lateley I'm pretty darn good at it. I took off yesterday and went back to Belks for some more of those bargain bras. I got two more so I am good on bras for awhile. Next was Bealls, where I racked up on sale stuff. TWO DRESSES! for dinner on the cruise, two pair of capris, a shirt, and a pair of $80 Shoes marked down to $10. You probably won't see them on the cruise tho, they are more for jeans, Timberland clogs, they are oh so marshmallowy soft!
I think if I find a pair of shoes for the dresses (both black polka dot, I was in a polka dot mood) and maybe a new swimsuit, I'm set! And I still have money!
Time to make potatoes for dinner. The roast in the crockpot is smelling done!
:J

Happy March!

Could it be that spring is here? My azaleas are beginning to bloom, the birds are singing happy songs, and winter coats are disappearing. Yep I think Spring may be here!
I'm off today for more shopping. Not much more, but heck why not do my part to boost our economy. Last night was fun. I didn't get all I wanted, but that was more that I was disappointed in things I saw in catalogs, when I saw them in person. (Thanks Coldwater C) But I did find some neat bargains in other stores.
Bath and Body Works, some little scented oils in Lilac. Nothing says spring to me like Lilac. Lilacs do not grow here at the Western gate. Now I can have the scent of lilacs that I had as a little girl. I miss that smell.
Wacoal bras. Beleive it or not, I got two Wacoal bras for $7.49 each! Marked down from $62! I have wanted to try these babies, but just couldn't bring myself to pay that much money. Not that the girls aren't important, but that's alot of moolah!
I tried them on briefly when I got home last night and yes they are all that and more. Belk's had them on their clearance rack if you are interested. Why? Because they are last season's styles. Seriously???? Like who is going to know? I can hear the Hilltop girls now at the next overnite crop, "yes there's Jayne, look at her bra, soooo last season!" HA!
I got a cute little hooded, zip up, grey sweatshirt for $5, a polo for $10 that I'll have embroidered with our work logo, a pair of capris & a shirt at 40% off for the cruise and something else that has gone out of my mind but a bargain! New panties!
So now I need some shoes. Hmmmm maybe I need to get dressed and go shopping again!
or head to the beach and work on these white white legs!
I hope your day is wondermous too!

TGFO!

Thank God Friday is OVER!
I just got home about an hour ago from a very long day. It wasn't supposed to be a long day, as my friend, Kathy, said first thing this morning, "I think it's going to be a quiet day." At 3:30 p.m., I told her NEVER to make that statement again.
The day started out peacefully, nicely, productively. After my morning check in with Kathy and my friend Viv, I set out to get alot of work done. And I did for about 2 hours. I got new students entered, schedules set, and was just sitting down to make new student folders, when I decided to call my friend, Jackie and finalized dinner/shopping plans for tonite. I stepped outside and while I chatted with Jackie, I see the Sheriff's helicopter circling and a bunch of cars at the HS next door.
"Geez Jackie, I don't know what's going on but there's tons of traffic and the police chopper over head."
"Oh I know what's going on," she says, "PFHS is on lockdown, there is a report of someone seeing someone with a gun on campus" "it's all over the tv and radio"
I guess I had been to busy to notice, because when I went inside and asked, it seemed almost everyone knew. Then came the onslaught of our parents wanting to check their kids out. It took 5 of us working 3 hours to keep up with the steady stream of parents checking out their children. I have mixed emotions about this and won't go into it here, but what a mess!
I understand their fear. There was a murder this past weekend that started over a girl, and ended up a student from one HS killing a kid from another HS. Long story short, the kid who is accused of the crime was let out on unrestricted bail. It has caused quite and uproar in our little city.
Finally the lockdown was over, no guns were found, and the kid who said he saw a kid with a gun admitted he lied about it! Can't wait to see the punishment for that prank! OMY!
So the good thing is we got our retro paycheck from our payraise this summer. Mine was a healthy chunk so I decided to go shopping with my friend Jackie. More on that later, but I got some cool bargains! I'm falling asleep, it's bedtime!
I hope you have a wondermous night/day!
:J

Pleasures to Share

There are great benefits to working where I do. If you like kids, it's a fun place to be, with sports, career academies, music and ART! I think every kid should have art. Not that I liked art class when I was in school. But it made me who I am today.
I was lucky. I had Art & Music all through elementary & middle school. In High School I had a choice and I didn't take either. But I did the journalism and yearbook, which is an art in itself.
But back to art, so many kids today do have the opportunity to have art and they should! Here's the latest thing our kids did in Art. If I would have had the Art teacher they have, I would have wanted ART everyday in school. If you see the picture of the butterfly girl, you can see a glimpse of our Art teacher in the background. She's also helping hang Spidey. She's so cute. Today she had on a longer, full skirt with woolie tights and a funky apron over it all. Such a cutie!
Well I've rattled long enough, here's their fantastic art. Saran Wrap and clear tape, they wrapped themselves to mold the shapes. Yes, the dog was one of the student's dog and he stood still to be wrapped.
Toooo AWESOME!

View Album

Get your own

Milk & Cookies, Other Goodies

Sometimes all it takes is a glass of milk and a handful or two of cookies. Life is good again. So finally, last night, I broke my lent. I could blame it on the fact that I am eating healthier. Very little fast food, no chocolate, no soda, and eating organic when I can. Not that I refuse to eat anything not organic, but if I can I eat organic. Especially if you are breaking Lent.
So while shopping Monday morning, I saw organic milk. Hmmmm. So I bought a half a gallon. Now I am hooked. I will probably never again buy anything else. It tastes like real milk, milk I remember from my childhood, fresh milk. Yummy!
But I had to balance something so good with something equally decadent. That's where the double chocolate fudge cookies came in. Balance that's what it's all about. The milk I got at WM. The cookies, Cracker Barrell. Well worth it.
Speaking of well worth it, my friend, Linda, at HilltopMemories is having a SALE! through March 9th. EVERYTHING in the store 30% off! Code red4cha08. Check it out!
And lastly a story about my baby boy. I get a phone call at work yesterday (he never calls me at work) and he asks, "what's this milk stuff in the fridge?"
"Milk?" I reply.
"I guess so, is it okay to drink?"
"Why not" I reply, "has it turned green or something?"
"No" he said, "but it's got a different bottle, I thought it was something special"
"baby, it's just organic milk"
"What's that mean?"
"it doesn't have wierd preservatives & additives, try it, you will like it, it tastes more like real milk."
"well what does real milk taste like?"
"Like milk Daddy & I used to drink when we were kids, like milk."
"okay, I will try it, but if I don't like it, I'm not going to finish drinking it"
"Pat, it's just milk, it's not wierd or anything, it will just be lacking all those wonderful chemicals you so love."
"Funny Mom"
I really threw him for a loop when I said, "It came from Jersey cows, not Holsteins"
"Huh? aren't all cows the same?"
Ah such a city child he is, we may have to kidnap him and take him back to cheesehead land. Funny, he never questions when the cookie packages change.

:J

PS after my little chocolate slide, I am returning to the no chocolate, fast food, or soda habits. Til Easter morning, when you will find me in sugar shock, passed out from too many Reese's peanut butter eggs.

Tuesday, Tormented Tuesday

I have been a Jordan Sparks fan from day one. I love her new video/song. It's a duet with Chris Brown. The emotion! I've felt this way before, most of us have, but for two kids so young to put such emotion into a song. OH MY! Check it out! Can you feel the torment of the hearts breaking?

Watched Raisin in the Sun last night, well most of it, I fell asleep in the beginning for about 20 minutes. Very good, verry, very good. Phylicia Rashad still has it. As does Audra Mcdonald, she's the girl that plays on "Private Practice". Of course it took over 1/2 the movie for DH and I to figure that out! Both very beautiful women. And Puff Daddy, he played that bad boy torment so well! Loved him and john Stamos as that Snake in the Grass one person welcoming committee. Tooo good. I hope it comes out on video!

So Raisin got me thinking about giving on, giving enough. Thinking I'm not doing enough to make my kids realize their dreams. I'm not giving them that Mama push, helping them make it happen. Maybe we need change around here, change that would start with me. I gotta think about this.
It just seems the world is kinda hopeless right now, the people chasing their dreams are stepping all over others. What happened to helping each other? I've been way to self centered. Time to make a change.
The Oscars the other night made me feel soooo old. Everyone who I've watched and admired over the years, gone. Not only gone from our world, but really until I saw them, gone from my mind. I loved the movies when I was growing up. I wanted to be an actress. I guess that thought made me feel old too, not realizing dreams.
Well rambled enough. It's rainy today, I hope we don't get storms like they say we might. Attendance was down yesterday at 3 of the high schools, ours included. There was a shooting this weekend, one HS student killed, one injured, one in jail on murder charges. Now there is fear of retaliation. So sad. So many lives that will never be the same. Who would have thought you would ever fear going to school, or sending your kids to school not knowing if they would come home in the afternoon? It's a tormented world we live in.

Quiet Sunday

It was such a gorgeous day for a drive. I didn't want to take the interstate, but a few backroads. DH won out tho and we took the interstate. Good thing, as we heard a bridge was closed because of the flooding water. So after a most delicious breakfast with Sis and BIL, we headed home.
Rick snoozed the rest of the afternoon away, while I caught up on mail, and snoozed a bit myself. Even the dog caught some shut eye with us. Now I'm just waiting for him to wake up so we can unload the car.
While we wait I will entertain you with pictures from our HS Art class. They made sculpture out of plastic bottles. Altered Art if you will. I lent them my heat gun to help with the projects as funding for art programs is not enough for everyone to have their own. It should be enough, but let's not get started on that. Every child should have Art, PE and Music in school,every other day, all year, every year, all 12 years. That's all I can say on that!
So our first sculpture is Mother Nature. Isn't she a golden beauty? I love her nest! The moss that makes up her accesories grows wild in the trees here. I know you yankees pay good money for it!

 

Ignore the crazy woman in the background, that's just Becky, one of my crazy co workers. She's a guidance counselor. Yes, we ask her to shape people's futures. But isn't this sea sculpture the best? I love the texture paint they used, it looks so real! I would put this in my house.

 

This fire breathing dragon is a bit scary, but someone put some great work into him. Remember these are bottles we throw away, coke bottles, water bottles, juice bottles. Now it's art!

 

Finally another of my faves, the penquin fishing for his dinner. Not a good picture of him, but it's cute how he has his fishing line hooked to a shrimp and a shrimp already in his bucket. Awesome work!

 

April, our Art Teacher is awesome! Our kids are too! They won Grand Champion at the Fair this summer for the High School division, and these great works of art weren't even in there! Please support art programs for kids. It's so important!
And keep our fellow blogging friend, Sophia, in your thoughts and prayers as she is going through alot with her mom's cancer right now.
:J

Is that Sunshine??

After 3 days and 8 inches of rain, I was amazed to see the sun this morning. Of course that didnt' stop me from sleeping in til well after 8 a.m.. And not going to bed til well after midnite may have had something to do with that. We were busy beavers yesterday!
We had fun croppin' in Dothan yesterday! Of course never as much fun as a Hilltop Crop. Not even close! But I got alot done. I finished my "Love" album, except for the pictures, I covered a notebook, made a few picture frames for my neices, and even did two pages...granted they were
6x6 pages, but pages no less! LOL! They had a really nice store and I was finally able to get my bind it all. We were talking to a group of the girls at our table about the Big Bite from Cropadile/MemoryKeepers. I ended up selling mine to a girl at the table for exactally what I paid for it, which is exactally what the Bind it all cost. I really have no need to punch holes in the middle of LO's, but I would love a Bind it All. So we are all happy!!!
I told quite a few of the girls about KNK & Hilltop, met a few girls from my area & Mobile so I told them about a few of the crops in that area too. One girl there is from the same area I grew up in, so that was neat.
Anyway it was a productive day and fun too.
We came home and crashed and even tho it's almost 9 a.m. my much older sister is still snoozing. I'm doing laundry and packing to go home. I think I am going to stay put for a few weeks. All the travel is wearing, and I miss da hubby!

:J

Saturday

After two days of meetings, I needed to shop! Thanks to my much older sister, I could shop! She picked me up at a Hardee's just off the interstate and off we went!
We stopped at her LSS where I got a few scrappy things, not many tho. Then off to Sam's Warehouse, where I picked up this huge scrappin bag full of goodies! Not that I needed the goodies, but I wanted the bag!

 

Didn't it come with way too much stuff? Since I wanted a green bag, I got fall colored embellies. I'll find a way to use them, or give them to the FDILs. I would have rather had the embellies that went with the purple or red bags, as those colors are more my style. But.....I had to match my Packers bag! Here's the bag empty, it's big! ABout twice the size of the Tote everyon has.

 

We also did Target. Her Target has a Starbucks inside it!!!! YUM! I only bought a CD there. Robert Plant/Alison Krause. Very jazzy, bluesy, funky!
Later in the evening, after a nap, we headed to a little local place for all you can eat seafood. What an indulgence! Yummy, Yummy! I had mostly crab legs and shrimp. Doesn't it look yummy!

 

Here's my happy plate when I was all done!

 

So today we are off to a crop, tomorrow I go home for a few weeks. Susie's side of the car is packed so I need to get moving!
Be creative!

:J

It's Friday!

Is it over? The rain that is! We had 5 inches here in Tallahassee. It rained all day and all night, steady. It was heck running from building to building during our meetings yesterday.
The rain didn't deter me from Dinner with my #2 son. I visited him at the restaurant he works at, ate dinner while he bartended. They weren't busy and I had a nice chat with him & a few of the girls he works with. Dinner was delicious! I had the grilled Salmon, totally yummy! I thought of taking a picture but the camera was in my room. I need a camera that fits on my purse!
Kevin was bragging up my cooking to the girls. He said he was craving something I made, but he couldn't remember what it was. I told him to remember, and then come home, I would fix it for him!
Today is another half day of meetings. Then I am off to meet up with that much older sister of mine. We'll shop and then tomorrow we'll crop at the AlabamaCropFest. Should be fun!!! Of course I will tell them about my two favorite companies, Hilltopmemories and KNK! Both have gotten alot of new neat product in if you haven't checked them out lately!
Well, I hear coffee calling my name......Have a wondermous day!
:J

Thursday Thoughts

Greetings from Tallahassee! I'm here for a work meeting for a few days. You know any meeting having to do with work just has to be fun! HA! But I will bear through it.
The trip over was interesting. I drove and my Principal talked. And I got a ticket. I couldn't get the cruise control set so I was driving with out it. I hate driving with out it, because if nothing is in front of me, I tend to go, go, go until something is. Well, I had creeped up to over 85 miles an hour. Mr. State Trooper was nice and gave me a ticket for only going 79. Thank you Mr. State Trooper! So anyway, a small price to pay for all the years I have driven, a little fast I may add, and never getting caught. Plus, now my first speeding ticket is over.
Since I had some down time after we got here, I finally downloaded the pictures from WR. Here are a few and I will try to post my album somewhere soon.
A few of my roomies, Jill & Jules, all tucked in for the night, and giggling like school girls. It was like a cozy little slumber party in our roon. We had 4 sets of bunkbeds in our roon.

 

Our scraproom was huge and everyone but me was a busy beaver. I just couldn't get my ADD in check to concentrate on scrappin'. So here are my tablemates, Jill, Jules, Kip, Sophia/Sonja, Kelly and others croppin' their hearts out.

 

Kip had her newest toy, her Flip camera, out and playing with it. Cute little gadget that makes movies. Of course some of her movies can't be shown to the public, but she had fun with the Flip. I may have to get one of those!

 

Diana had some neat classes this time. She taught the Tim Holtz book class and his mirror class too. They were both fun and we learned lots of techniquie stuff. Lots of fun! I just had to have a picture with her in case she is ever famous or something. She'll probably be famous for her freaky face thingys. She knows I just LOVE them! NOT!

 

Well, I'd better go check on the rest of the world. Have a wondermous day!

:J

Oh I did make it home!

I just realized that I never posted that I got home. Well! I made it here! But I'm packing to leave again this afternoon. This time for not so fun stuff, meetings in Tallahassee. But more fun this weekend as I'm meeting that much older sister of mine to go to another crop.
First the meetings, very boring stuff for most people. These have to do with new changes in our documentation of programs. Soon, "the rumor is" we will be a Technical college. Alot of this has to do with that. All in all, bureaucratic bs. But the boss says go, so off we go! I am looking forward to a nice quiet bed everynight and catching up on my zzzzz's.
Last night was enjoyable. Dh took a break in laying the floor to snuggle and watch Idol and Boston Legal with me. He can work on that floor tonite when I'm not here. I've not had enough hubby time this past week, so we needed that.
American Idol. For as much talent they say there is this year, I wasn't impressed with the guys. I liked Jason Castro, David (not Archaleta) and one other guy. I don't care for Noriega. I like the guy who has the bandana. Everyone else sounded to karaoke for me. We'll see how the girls do tonite!
Not a good day at work for me. It was a putting out fires day,, and at one point I was pretty po'd. I was jumped first thing in the morning after I got back to school from a meeting, and it went down hill from there. I finally left work after throwing my keys on my desk, missing, and hitting the computer monitor. So I left. That was after being told I couldn't use the meeting time from this morning to make up two hours I missed last week. Because that's playing favorites. Give me a break! Aren't we all adults?
So looking forward to getting away for a few days.
:J

I'm almost home!

We made it to Susie's about 8:30. It was rainy stormy from Tallahassee on. We did stop in Tallahassee and I showed her Fresh Market while we waited for Kevin to get done playing football with some buddies. Afterwards, he bought us dinner (a first!) at Cracker Barrell. It was funny because the restaurant he works at is closed on Sunday and we saw several of his "regulars" at Cracker Barrell. I'll see him again this week while I am in Tally for meetings later this week.
It was a long ride home! I'm exhausted from sooooo much fun. More tomorrow nite.
I'll hit the road for the last 2 1/2 hours in the morning, go straight to work and then finally be home tomorrow night about 6.
But worth every exhausting minute!

:J

Feelin' Stronger Everyday!

I actually "felt" like getting out of bed this am. It could be I'm actually on the downside of this mess or just the excitement of WR. I wish I could say I slept like a baby last night, but my dog didn't cooperate with that. He was up and down all night. He knows I am packing to go somewhere, he's just waiting to see if he gets to go.
I am all packed, I have to run by CVS and pick up some meds. I'm even going to try to put in a few hours at work. I can't wait to get to Winter Retreat. I know Linda's Chicken Soup will be the final cure to get over this mess. Campbell's just isn't cutting it.
I travel to my much older sister's house tonite and then we travel on to Oleno together tomorrow. With a few bathroom breaks, we'll be there in no time. We have found the scrapbook stores have the nicest bathrooms, so we tend to stop there for our potty breaks. LOL!
I am also hoping to see my middle son while we are in Tallahassee. Not that he has the cleanest bathroom....but it's good to see his smiling face!
Happy Valentine's day! I hope everyone is surrounded by love today and always.

:J

Another Flu day

It looks like I'm not going to work today either. I still have a fever, chills, headache and coughing. Although I will have to say, the Vicks on the feet works for me! I don't think I coughed all night. But that has changed this morning, coughing my fool head off again.
I've got to get over this, I want to go to WR!!!

:J

Thanks Patrick!

I love my youngest child, truly I do. But right now I am not liking him so much. Yesterday afternoon his flu hit me. Yes I have the coughing, fever, itchy eyes and ears. I was in bed by 7:00 last night. He was at work so I couldn't thank him for this.
His flu, and others who have had it, say it runs 3 days. All I have to say is I had better be better by Thursday. I have Winter Retreat this weekend, and I'm not missing it. I refuse to miss it. So all this achyness, coughing, and fever had better be gone.
I think I am going back to bed. Last night I put Vick's on my feet, took a dose of my "good" cough syrup (the one with codiene in it) and I slept like a baby. I woke up at 4 a.m., rolled over and went right back to sleep.
I hope you have a wonderful day!

:J

OH What a BEAUTIFUL MOOORRRRNING!!

Be grateful you really can't hear me sing. I love to sing, but have been told I can't. Well I could, but that was before all this ear/sinus trouble. That just messed me all up!
But on to better things. We had a gorgeous weekend all weekend! It was nice to open the windows, let the breezes blow and air out this winter funky house. Rick & Patrick got some yard work done. I did laundry, a WM run, and scrapped. In between all that I would sneak out to the deck and sit in the sun. Then when one of the guys would walk toward me with a rake or yard utensil. I would say "Oh! gotta go! heard the dryer buzz!"
As Pat's reward for working in the yard, I made Red Beans and Rice for him. He took a water break to come in and watch the preliminaries, the chopping of onions, green pepper and sausage. He says he was learning how to make it. We had a nice conversation while I cooked. I love it when he has a day off and spends it with us. But his daddy got jealous that he was spending too much time with me (or was it the not raking the yard) so he called him back outside. Later Patrick did eat two bowls of "Heaven in a Bowl" as he called it.
Scrappin' wise I am almost finished with two projects I'm working on. I spent most of yesterday/last night printing pictures for my Winter Retreat Project. This morning I put the finishing touches on another project, now I just have to print the pictures for that!
I'm off to hit the showers and head to work. I'd rather be home, airing out the house, sitting on the deck and letting the sunshine hit my face.
Have a wondermous day!
:J

Tagged Again!

I think I was tagged by two people with this, I think it was Di and Teri, So here it is.

One thing I won’t let my husband buy me......Are you crazy? He can buy me whatever he wants!
One thing I would love to have, but I probably will never have…More children.

One thing you will never find in my closet…A miniskirt.

One thing I would choose if I were having elective surgery...Belly removal!

One thing I love about my face…My Skin.

One thing that I love to do….......watch football

One thing I would like to change if I could.....rude people

One thing I would change as a mom......I'd make them work harder on their grades.

One thing I would do if I had unlimited money.....pay off my bills, my family's bills, and travel the country.

One thing I that I will not do again....help a certain ungrateful niece.

One thing that I would like to do....live closer to my in laws

One thing I could do without...GRITS!

One thing I love to smell....Babies

One thing I would do if I won the lottery.....Buy our school something they need.

One thing that infuriates me...people who don't want to pay to get into school sports.

One thing that I love about winter....SNOW!

One thing I love about scrapbooking....the people I meet.

One thing I am addicted to....it's a toss up between scrapbooking and football.

One thing I pray for…good health

One thing I wish I had...the body I had when I was seventeen, now that I know what I should do with it!

One thing I would do again, regardless of the pain...get that divorce from the ex!

One thing that I absolutely hate to do....enforce rules to adults.

One thing that is weird about me...I am very intuitive.

One thing that I need help on...saving money.

One thing I find most relaxing...a day at the beach.

One thing that could get me in trouble...Brett Favre showing up on my doorstep!

One thing that annoys me...people who think they are better than other people and people who waste their educational opportunities.

One thing I dread; therefore, don’t do very often...weigh myself.

Okay I tag Susie (who still hasn't posted my last challenge) Darla & Cindy in WA.

Friday Night Cravings

I'm sitting here at 10:38 p.m. on Friday night and I'm craving pink bubble gum. What makes you crave pink bubble gum? I'm typically not a bubble gum chewer. I'm more like a winter mint gum chewer. Bubble gum is a once in awhile thing for me, but not usually this late at night. HMMMMM.
It was another Big Biscuit day at work. I got my Cosmo Cricket TSV. Yummy! I think I will use it to do my childhood pictures. Cause I was such a cutie!
I also got my work ID badge today. How did I work all year without it? We MUST have it on a lanyard anytime we are in a school building. MUST DO THAT! I will have to find a cool lanyard for it. They just gave us a floppy ucky black one.
Good day at work today, Chaos at the Basketball game. Long story, it makes me crave pink bubble gum.

:J

Feeling Caught Up!

For the first time since August 1st, I can see the top of my desk at work. I am finally getting caught up. What a wonderful feeling! I am actually looking forward to going to work tomorrow. Of course the fact that it's Friday, payday and only one week til Winter Retreat may have something to do with that!
When I asked for Friday the 15th off, the big P said, "why do you have such a grin on your face? what are you up to? Is this one of those stamping things?" (he confuses scrapping with stamping) I just grinned and said, "if you only knew!" Of course he said I could have the day off. So all is good!
I am not liking this writer's strike. Where is my Grey's Anatomy?? My Brothers and Sisters? I need to see my shows! Thank goodness for American Idol or I wouldn't have anything to watch. Our TV hasn't even been on tonite!
My inlaws missed the big snowstorm, they only got half an inch. My brother on the other hand had about 15 inches, as did Rick's sister. But they are young enough to handle it. I was worried about my inlaws getting so much, even tho they have about a foot on the ground already. I miss snow.
Well I need to get a few things done soon.
Have a wondermous day! I won't be posting on Friday. I have to be in to work early and then afterwards is round two of the Basketball Tourney. I'll drag myself home about 10 Friday Night.

:J

TAGGED!!!

I was tagged by my friend Robin. She's in Idaho, shoveling snow. I'm here in Florida, complaining about how hot it is. But we're friends, I'd even shovel her snow for her!

A: The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.

B: Each player answers the questions about themselves.

C: At the end of the post, the player then tags 3 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.


10 Years Ago: I was a Pre K Teacher aide by day, going to school at night, and mom to three boys living at home!

Things on my to-do list today:

Since it's late as I type this,
1. Finish the dishes
2. Watch the news/weather
3. Go to bed!

What I would do if I were suddenly made a billionaire:
Give this house to my youngest son, send all of them through college whether they want to go or not, and move up north near my inlaws!

3 of my bad habits:
tuning people out

interupting

daydreaming

.

3 places I have lived:
1. Savanna, Illinois
2. Virginia Beach,VA
3. Jacksonville FL



5 jobs that I have had:
1. Pumper of gas
2. Camp Counselor
3. PreK Teacher's Aide
4. Reading Tutor
5. Cashier at a Grocery Store

5 Things people don't know about me:
(wow, this one is tough!)
1. I don't like wind.
2. I don't drink cereal milk.
3. I can't stand to see someone lick a knife.
4. I am a Nationally Certified Boy Scout Camp Director
5. I love Brett Favre & the Green Bay Packers! (okay a few of you may know that)
I tag:
1. My Much Older Sister (maybe she will update her blog for the first time in a month
2. Roz
3. Michele

Happy Fat Tuesday!

Parades, Beads and fun galore if you live where they celebrate Mardi Gras! We do here in our town and in Mobile, just west of us. I didn't take off work this year to partake in the festivities. So I'll be hard at it in my office while others are out celebrating. Have one for me!
I've been playing with a new website for me. Atomic Learning. It has all kinds of tutorials on many, many programs. I've been studying Blogger tutorials and have learned quite a bit. Our School district has a site license and made it available to teachers, students and parents. I love it! Next I'm going to learn Photoshop Elements. The tutorials are nice and only 2-3 minutes for each section so it holds my attention span, making it easy to pop in and watch one here and there.
Tonite is the first game of our District Basketball Tournament. It should be lots of fun and lots of hard work. But we should make alot of money for our basketball program.
Hilltop Memories has the classes up for Winter Retreat. Lots of great classes to chose from! Mine included! So if you have already registered for Winter Retreat, come sign up for your classes. If you haven't signed up for Winter Retreat, it's too late, she's sold out! You are going to miss all the fun and hilarity! Sorry!
:J

What a Game!

Wow! That was a a Super Bowl! I told hubby that as bad on my nerves than watching a Packer game. Back and forth, great defensive plays, great catches! The best part, the team I wanted to win, WON!
The Giant's have really improved through the season and deserved the win. There were two local boys on the team. Lawrence Tynes, the kicker, and Fred Robbins, who plays Defensive Tackle. Both contributed to the Giant's win.
Enough of football, the season is over and I'm a little sad about that as I always am, but soon begins what I call, "Scrappin' Season" as I will spend the next few month's traveling around with my scrappin' buddies, the Hilltop Memories Girls. We have lots of fun croppin' together. I can hardly wait for our Winter Retreat in two weeks!
Yesterday, my friend, Chris came over and we worked on her Cruise album. We did her cover (which looks awesome) and a few pages. She's going shopping this week for some more supplies, and is coming back this weekend to do a few more pages. I'll get pictures next week and post. This is Chris' first scrapbooking project but she is loving it!
This morning I am off for breakfast with my friend, Jackie. Then it's off to work where I have like a thousand edits to do for a state report. Lookin' forward to that! NOT! But it has to be done so I'll be busy all day.
Tomorrow begins basketball district tournaments. I'm working the gates but I hope to see some of the games. Busy Busy Busy.
Our weather is beautiful today in the mid 70's! Wow! I know my northern friends wish they were here. My in laws were due for 5 more inches of snow today. I would gladly trade them places! I miss snow!
Okay I'm off! Have a wondermous day!

:J

A Few Bits From Me

I'm here! Running late but here. It's been a relaxing morning here at our house. We slept in til 8 and have spent the last two and a half hours feeding animals, drinking coffee, reading the paper and talking about growing old. Hubby doesn't think I will get dementia & alzheimers, I think he is so wrong, given the family history.
But til then I will enjoy life to the fullest, so that maybe the things I do remember are good things. Hopefully I have a few years til I do get "old" so I'm not going to fret about all that. This was all brought on by reading this month's AARP magazine (his, not mine!) and a few articles in this morning's paper.
We had a great time at the banquet last night. I of course shed a few tears at the Senior video. The one that shows them growing from baby pictures to the funky middle school pictures to their senior picture. Alot of AWWWWWW moments. Of course too these are the boys who were freshmen during Patrick's senior year, so it's like the last of our "group" leaving. But we have great friend's whose son will be a senior next year. That will be the tear jerker moment for me as we have watched Jason grow since PreK.
There was other sadness as I found out my friend Elaine's mom had died two days after Christmas. I didn't know this until I asked how she was doing. I felt so bad. Especially since I had asked Bryan, her son how Christmas was and he said "good" right after we came back to school. URGH! TEENAGERS!! I guess I didn't ask the right question to get the right answer!
Tonite is the Super Bowl. Yes we will watch. I am pulling for the Giants, afterall, we (the Packers) should be there. I hope the commercials are good. It will be interesting to see if the 6 boys who told us last night, "Coach, we're coming to your house for SuperBowl" DH told them if they can find our house they are welcome. He doesn't think they will show. I say never underestimate the power of teenagers and computers. All they have to do is google him. LOL!
Okay, time to sweep floors and get moving around here. I have a friend coming over later to scrap and watch SB. Go Giants!

:J

Mornin' Ya'll

It's a late morning, but it is morning no less! It's a beautiful morning, sunny and cool. A great day for all the Mardi Gras festivities here at the Western Gate to the Sunshine state.
DH and I thought with the big parade last night downtown, that it would be a good night to go to dinner during the parade. Not so, every where we went had a long wait! We ended up at Moe's, a quickie burrito place, which was very good, but not what I was in the mood for.
We did find flooring to almost match the kitchen floor that was ruined in the refridgerator leak. I really like it and if I could afford it, we would redo the whole floor in it, but we can't so I will just have to like this section. It's a heart pine laminate. Can't wait to see it down!
DH will work on that while I clean house and plan my day. I'm off to a card class this afternoon, and this evening is the Football banquet. Tomorrow a friend is coming over to work on a cruise album she's making. And of course there's that football game that's on tomorrow night.
Have a wondermous day!
:J