What a Week!

Really I have been pretty boring. Other than a few fun things thrown in here and there, I've been busy at the computer and tied to my desk. But I managed to throw in a few fun things.
Kevin & Erica were here last weekend for a friend's wedding. I thought they looked cute in their matching outfits. For God sakes boy, marry her! If your coordinating your clothes, you may has well be married! I've been married 22 years and I can't get the hubby to coordinate!

 

Erica & I did some retail therapy while she was here. It was fun having a girl to shop with! I found these cute everyday sandals at Beall's. Clarks, so they were a little pricey, but OMG! Like walking on air! I figured I can buy 10 pair of not so comfy $10 sandals or splurge and buy one pair I can wear forever.

 

This is the class display for Summer Scrapganza at our local LSS. These are the four classes I will be teaching that weekend. It's going to be a blast!

 

Teaching at Summer Scrapganza means I'll miss the Hilltop Memories Birthday Crop, which bums me out. I learn so much from those ladies and wouldn't be able to be where I am if it weren't for all of them. I can hardly wait for October, when I finally have time to go down to visit them.
We have a score of activities planned for today, lots of errands and yard work. I plan to scrap, so I guess those are hubby's plans! LOL!

It's True!

I am leading a boring life! I haven't adjusted to this morning schedule. I get up, that's not the problem. I just can't get all my stuff done in the morning before I leave. It's craziness!
It's summer registration week, and I'm feeling the pressure. While some people got long lunch breaks and gave themselves a pedicure (I'm not kidding!) I was decifering paperwork to enter in the computer. It was maddening!
So that has been my day the past two days and will continue to be my day on Friday. Then thank goodness it will be the weekend!
I'm off to find something relaxing to do.
:J

I'm here

Just busy! Boring busy.

:J

New Bat Time!

It looks like this week I will be on an early schedule. 7 (or whatever time I get there) til 3 (or 8 hours after I get there). Which makes me a happy camper! I love getting out early. Since we have no students this week, I get come and go early. Happy day!
Not to complain, but if we could have worked out that 4 day work week I would have been an estatic camper, but hey, it's all good in the long run. Two more days with the teachers and life will be good for a week. Then summer school starts.
So in adjustment, I'll probably blog in the evening. Since when I wake up, I want to get to work, so I can get home! or go shopping! or go to the beach! or whatever I want!
I'm ready to clean up my scrap desk/room. I have been a busy beaver in there. It's June! I have less than two weeks til the first crop. Less than 24 days till the big crop. That's the 4 classes in two days crop! Plus I have an itch to crop for me. Just me!
July brings vacation! Now that I have my plane tickets, bought them Friday, I'm sooo ready to go! I love having that carrot dangling in front of me. Something to look forward to.
Lori gave me a jump drive with pics of Savana's graduation & of the girls. It brightens my day to see her girls. They are so happy, so fun, so confident! I would show you, but out of respect for Lori, won't til I ask. She has some gorgeous girls. She said graduation day was a perfect day for them. Delaney's 5th grade graduation was in morning and then Savana's that night. She said just a perfect day!
Well, I'm off hoping to catch a FSU baseball winning score on the news. Go Noles!
:J

Good Morning!

The birds started singing about 5 a.m.. So I'm up, have been for a few hours now. Thanks to the birds. We have one that sits in the crepe myrtle outside our bedroom window and sings away. Beautiful song, but an hour too early for me!
Yesterday was a long day with lots put into it. We sat around for two hours just chatting. Finally decided to go to Denny's for breakfast.
At Denny's we ran into Kev's old HS GF, her son and husband. They were "the couple" for their class all through HS. Then when Kevin went to Tallahassee, they broke it off. They are still friends and had a nice chat.
From Denny's we headed to the Navy base for iPod shopping, or at least that was our ruse. We looked at iPods, Kevin wants a new one before they go to Japan. I think he should wait and get one there! So we came home iPodless, but with clothes, candles and pedicure stuff! At least Erica & I did! Kevin came home with Capt. Morgan, which was $4 cheaper than he can buy it for.
Erica & I did not have our fill of shopping so we headed to Hobby Lobby and Beall's. I found a gazing ball for the garden & a fern stand. Of course I can't go to HL without buying scrap stuff! Just a staz-on ink pad tho.
Beall's yielded a pair of Clark's on sale. Erica found a couple of beach cover ups. She's heading to Hawaii next week with her family to meet her sister from Japan. She's excited about that. In August, she & Kevin fly to Japan, where her sister lives. Kevin & Erica are both excited about that!
The evening was filled with dinner and more friends visiting. Kev's friend John & his wife stopped by to get Kev & Erica for a night of bowling. We are trying to convince John, who teaches English, to make the move to our HS. He teaches at his alma mater right now, but is frustrated. I think he'd be a good fit at our HS. We'll see in a few days when transfers go through. I'm hoping he will end up with us, he coaches football too.
I hear people stirring and I've promised biscuits & gravy for breakfast. Patrick will be over soon also. Then I think the kids are headed for the beach. Me? I'm going to relax in the pool and then take a nap!

Some Days Are Just Too Much for 24 Hours

Wow! It has been a busy 24 hours. Not sure if I can remember all that has happened, but I will sure try!
I left work early Thursday to go to graduation. It was awesome! It was amazing when the Superintendent rattled off our grads accomplishments, including over 2 million dollars in scholarships! We are blessed with an awesome group of kids, every year.
I then stayed for the next graduation. Where my friend Lori's daughter graduated. Here we have "Graduation week" 3 graduations a day for a week. Yes, there are that many High Schools in our county. 8 public High Schools and several private HS hold graduations at the Civic Center. Thank goodness, Savana was at the beginning at her schools graduate line. I only stayed to watch her walk across the stage and then left.
I came home grabbed a bite to eat, took a power nap and headed off to the Navy base for our Project Graduation. WHAT FUN! What great kids! If anyone has any doubt in the future of our world, they need to spend time with our grads! They get along so well. I say that every year, but they do! They are so well behaved, so well mannered, but sooooo much fun! They just get along so amazingly well! I wonder if it's because they only spend 4 years together, not all their lives.
I chaperoned in the bowling alley for 2 hours and the pool for two hours. Both places were full! Such a nice night for the pool, I almost wished I'd brought my suit.
But they got me, as good as they are, some little demon got me. After the hypnotist, a riot by the way, we gave away the door prizes. I had them fill out papers with their names. So I'm up front calling out names, giving out prizes, everything is moving along so great and I pull out a name and without even thinking, call out "Ben Dover" and it hit me! "oh no you didn't!" "Who did this too me??"
"I just can't believe Ya'll did this to me!" Yep, they got me with the old Bend Over. Later, one of DH's lineman who I tease back and forth with admitted to the deed. OH I was so embarrassed!
By the time the little darlings got on the bus at 5:30 a.m., I was ready for bed. I hit the hay about the time DH's alarm rang for him to get up. I slept til 10 and gave up and got up. I bought my plane ticket to go to the family reunion in July. Despite leaving from two different locations, DH and I will meet in Memphis and the rest of our flights are all together! I love when a plan works out!
I putzed around the house, straightening up as DS1 & fiance' and DS2 and his girlfriend were coming over. I thought DS2 & GF wouldn't get here til well after 5. He called about noonish and said they were just leaving Tallahassee. Cool! I could get a nap and then finish straightening. So I put on the relaxing CD, got my pillow, and was just laying down on the sofa for that nap when I noticed a someone walk through the yard. Two someones. Thinking it was DS1 and Felicia, I got back up. NO! It was Kevin and Erica! He called me as soon as he got off the interstate to say they were leaving, when really they were arriving!
Dan & Felicia arrived shortly after and we spent the afternoon chatting and catching up. Felicia and Erica when through my scrap giveaways and both went home with a nice sized stash of stuff.
DH arrived home and while Kev & Erica got ready for the wedding, we chatted with Dan & Felicia some more. Mostly about cars, mainly the Camaro Dan is rebuilding, but some about wedding plans. No date, but there are plans.......
Finally all the company went on their way, DH and I settled down for pizza and a movie. Juno, and if you haven't seen it, GET IT! Soo good. Now I'm off to bed. I hope I can sleep in a bit, but I doubt it.
It was a good 24 hours, with more to continue tomorrow. I am blessed.

Busiest Short Week!

It's the last week of school and a short week, which means there isn't enough time in the world! Lots to do, lots of places to be, and I think I will meet myself coming and going this week!
Started off yesterday with no power here at home. Someone had hit a power pole up on the main highway. I stayed here at the house for two hours with no power, then I gave up and went to school. I should have stayed home!
I spent all day yesterday working on a report for the P. I didn't finish it, so I'll go back to it today. On top of everyone handing in grades, end of year stuff, etc. Oh and I'm chair of the committee for the end of year bash on Tuesday!
Tonite is graduation, not only for our school, but a friend's daughter graduates from another school. Thank goodness the graduations are at the Civic Center, one right after the other! After the graduations, I'll head to the base to help chaperone Project Graduation. Yes another all nighter! It will be great fun with a DJ, hypnotist (no not me), swimming, bowling, and the gym.
Then tomorrow after I sleep in (I took the day off) Kev & Erica will be here for a friend's wedding. They will stay all weekend. WHEW!
So don't know how much I will post. But I'm around!

:J

Did You Know?

Today was my 500th Blog post! WOW! I didn't realize that until I was updating some things in my profile. 500 Ramblings! 500! Wow! I am really amazed that I have had that much to say!
Did 500 people listen? Who are you if you did?

Remember the Reason

Remember the reason for today. It's not about the bar-b-que, the relatives, going to the beach or just lazing around.
Today is to remember the ones who gave the the ultimate sacrifice for our country. They died defending our freedoms. It wasn't just that they served in the military, it wasn't just that they went to war for us. They died in battle. So you and I could live in America. They died.

Sunday Slipped By!

I didn't sleep in, I didn't mean to forget my computer. I just did! It's 5 p.m. and I'm just now getting on the computer for the first time today. I must be ill.
I got up 7ish, cooked breakfast and read the Sunday paper. By then it was time to get dressed for the beach, I needed to be at Linda's by 9. We wanted to beat the crowd to the beach. HA! That didn't happen.
It was crowded and stayed crowded the 3 hours we were there. The weather was nice, a bit hotter than last week, but still nice. The sand dollars were plentiful but small. The small children near us kept us entertained.
Linda moaned and groaned about wanting to be out on her boat. But she can't, her hubby is in Kansas. He's an insurance adjuster and has been gone six weeks working tornado damage in OK and KS. Then yesterday the hotel he has been staying in was hit by a tornado! But she misses going out on their boat. The beach will have to do, for now.
By the time I got home, it was time to go grocery shopping. While DH got his High & Tight, (haircut), I browsed the clothes in the exchange. I'm having trouble finding clothes. Not all Ladies XL fit me, and Women's are too big. So I guess I need to keep at this and lose 15 more pounds! But not if I keep cooking like this!

I snapped and cleaned the green beans Lori gave me. Bought some new potatoes, some ham and mixed them all together for a YUMMMMMMMMYYY dinner!
I also had a mess of collards, a mess, (yes that's what we call a pan of collards, a mess), So I cooked them up also. Throw in my South Florida Linda friend's famous corn bread. We thought we'd died and gone to southern cooking heaven! But that is not going to get me another size smaller! LOL!

I also found a new pair of lamps in the exchange while hubby was getting his hairs cut. That will teach him to let me shop alone! I'll have to get a picture of them. Now all I need is new curtains, I may like my living room again!
So four hours later I am done typing this post. It's off to the ironing board to starch the bathroom curtains.

Saturday Snapshots

Thunderboomers moved through last night, my flowers got a good soaking because of it. I love outside after a storm. Everything is cleaner and brighter. Even the sun seems to be shining brighter this morning.
I know the sun is supposed to warm us up into the 90's today! I think I will stay inside most of the day. I would like to run to the LSS. I may redo a page in the BEACH book. I'm just not liking how it turned out. I do like the new acrylic album I've started! It's lots of fun! I have 5 of 8 pages laid out. Then I will go back and bling it abit. I plan to spend alot of time scrappin' this weekend.
I leave you with a few snapshots of my cajun hibicus'. I think we have 5 of these babies now. I just love the colors. The brights are sooooo bright and the pastels are sooo soft.

 

This picture does not do this flower justice. It is the softest pink and reminds me of cotton candy.

 

I'm off to clean bathrooms. Dan & Felicia are stopping by with a SURPRISE for me. My mother's day present! Can't wait! I can't beleive he is going to be 28 this week. Heck I'm not 28, how can he be????

Friday Work Guilt!

I told myself all week that I was taking today off. But my work "voice" won the battle and I am going in to work. With the seniors graduating all next week. I need to get the senior grades in. Not that we have many seniors in our programs, far more juniors. But those grades are important to those few seniors.
So now I'm thinking I'll take Tuesday off. But there's a meeting that day, and I really need to be there for it. So who knows, I will probably go in then too. I really want a long, long weekend.
Grey's last night was very good. VERY GOOD. So I have to ask, who got the best kiss? Poor Sloan, he didn't even get a kiss. I would have chosen him. What a ending. I'm glad Meredith got whole again.
I had the best cooked squash last night, courtesy of Lori's husband's garden. It was yummy! I've got pictures of all the veggies, while post later I promise!
I'm scrappin' this weekend. I brought the beach book home because I am just not happy with one of the pages. So I'm going to redo that one. I think I am going to try an acrylic album this weekend too. I bought a book on them, took one class. I think I can do this now. I found some cute double sided paper, Little Yellow Bicycle, so that should make it easier, with double sided paper that is. We'll see what I come up with. And I'm going to work in the yard, and go to the beach, and cook a few big meals. Other than that it should be a quiet weekend. I like quiet.

America Got IT Right!

I truly thought David Archelata was going to win. The judges were so up on him, he sang so well last night and David Cook had such an off night. I was so hoping David Cook would win tho.
The whole show ROCKED! Cook with ZZ Top! OMY! Graham Nash with Brooke! I just loved the whole show! Gladys and her pips? I was rolling!
But when David Cook won, OMY!!!!!! I thought last year with Jordan was emotional. David Cook winning ROCKED!
I've already talked to my friend, Lori, Idol fiend that she is. She wanted David A to win. She thinks we need someone good like David A. Wholesome. But she loved David C too. She's still bringing me veggies from her garden tomorrow and she said Peyton (her daughter) was bringing me a surprise. Hmmmmmm, wonder what that girl is up too?
I going to go bask in the happiness! America, YOU GOT IT RIGHT!

Bonding with Boxes

NO,it's not something new we are trying here at the house to keep ourselves entertained. But it is keeping me busy at work.
Every year we gather the 5th year of records and box them up. Then a man comes to pick them up. He says his company microfiches them for the school. I dunno, I don't care, all I know is old records are moving out.
Before the man comes, we have to go through the records and take out all the unnecessary records. It becomes a tedious chore as WE (read I) have to shred the unnecessary ones. It's alot of shredding, alot of boxing and alot of records! Over the summer, this years records will take the place of the 5th year records in the file. Then the process will start all over again.
My life isn't always this boring. Just this week. Boring gives me a chance to get caught up on things like boxing up records.
Well my AI had an off night last night. But I'm not worried. Even if he doesn't get the Idol award, he will do well in the business. He has the appeal audiences are looking for. He appeals to more people than the other David. I bet if you had to be 18 to vote, the other David, David A, would not stand a chance. But it's not a big thing. David C has the staying power!
Well I'm off to breakfast with a friend. I hope your day is wondermous!

:J

It's Hot, Hot, Hot!

The dreaded weather has arrived! 90's today, which means our cool spring weather is probably gone til fall. It was good while it lasted. I'm glad we got the lawn finished while it was still cool.
I'm off this morning to the LSS, Unforgettable. I'm taking the beach book in, we'll see how they like it. I have to take it in, I keep adding and adding to it. I don't want it to be too long of a class! I can really add the embellies if it were my own. Which I will probably do once I get it back!
I think we know who is going to win Dancing with the Stars. The judges voiced their opinion last night. Kristi! She is the best dancer. We'll see.... American Idol on the other hand....the Battle of the Davids. I'm pulling for David Cook. He has entertainment value. David A is just blah, another good Disney act.
I talked with my much older sister last night. She is still having computer problems. Her laptop is not communicating with their new internet. I think she needs a new router. She is doing well and getting ready for her big trip north. I wish I were going with, but we go in July. I like to escape as much of the hottest weather that I can.
I hope you stay cool or stay warm depending on where you are. I hope you have a wondermous day!

Another Weekend Has Come and Gone

It's Monday! Why doesn't that thrill me? It was a great weekend, probably our last with really nice weather. I'll miss weekends like this one. We fit so much in to two days. None of it involved housework.
Saturday was a beach day. I headed out to Johnson's beach with Linda. After stops at WM, gas station and the convienence store we finally got there. It was gorgeous. I love that beach, Saturday was as crowded as I have ever seen it, and even then it was not crowded at all. But when you are used to seeing 100 yards between folks and it was down to 20-30 yards, I guess that's crowded. We stayed til about 4 and then came home. I could have stayed all evening.
Yesterday was busy with outside stuff. Staining drawer boxes, weeding, and mowing. Patrick was here most of the day, so he helped Rick alot with the pool. He said he had his own lawn to mow, so he didn't volunteer to do ours. I got most of the back done. The mower quit on me 4/5ths of the way done. I was on a roll too! That meant it was time to go scrap! I finished my dry erase board for the crop in June. While I worked on that, I watched the ACM awards. I was happy with most people who won.
We had a delicious dinner of shrimp, tater salad, broccoli salad and coleslaw. We ate til we were stuffed. I really think Patrick comes home for the food! LOL!
Well I have a few things to do before work. I made a Banana Split dessert to take to work. I can't wait to eat it! I even made real whipped cream for the topping. (I've never done that) Yummy!
I hope your day is wonderful!
See my new signature? I found it on my friend Teri's blog. Isn't it neat?

Sunny Sunday

I'm sitting on the lower back deck at my house and it's Mid May. I'm chilled. Temperature chilled. The weather has been unbelievably cool, I'm loving every minute.
I know that soon it will be unbearably hot and humid. The kind of weather that makes me long for the Midwest summers I grew up with. Where at least in the shade it's cool. Not so here in NW Florida, the humidity follows you everywhere. But weather like we are having this weekend is the reason we stay in Florida, and I'm thankful we are blessed with an abundance of it this year.
I spent yesterday at the beach, relaxing with my friend Linda. We didn't even discuss work once. Husbands we discussed quite often, and our boy children (we only have boy children, me 3, her 2) with much love. Mostly we relished in the beautiful day, the gentle breezes and brightly colored seagulls, who entertained us all day long. We stayed much longer than we intended, but not as long as we wanted. It was one of those days where I wanted to watch the sun go down from the spot I was sitting.
We also were lucky enough to get a call from our shrimp lady. Everyone in the area has a "shrimp lady". A local who keeps a rolodex full of customers to call when the shrimp is good and the boats are running. Our shrimp lady is Lin, and she had lots of shrimp. So this morning, I deheaded 10 pounds of fresh gulf shrimp. Six pounds went in the freezer and three pounds are waiting in the fridge, ready to become dinner this afternoon. YUM YUM!
It's another day much too nice to stay inside, and I'm glad my house looks clean enough that it doesn't need my immediate attention. I won't be traveling to the beach, my sunburned right hip is pleading for me not to. But that's where I'd love to be. But I will pay some attention to my yard today. Relishing in this gorgeous weather!
I hope your day is just as nice.

:J

TGIF!

Only a few more Fridays to go and school will be out! WOOOHOOO! That means summer, and summer means BEACH!
Beach is the theme for the Unforgettable Crop the weekend of June 26th. I've been asked to teach a few classes and this one will be the biggest endeavor! BEACH BOOK!

 

I'm not going reveal all the goodies inside, you can stop by Unforgettable on W. Spencer Field Rd in Pace to see that. But here is what you see when it's laying on your table! I will give you a few hints of what I've put inside! Driftwood, shells, beach glass, fence, ribbon, stamping, inking and lots of textures! We will have all the paper mostly precut, but not completely, you'll want to have that fun yourself! Closer to the crop I may post more inside pics, but for now, enjoy the mystery!
In downloading my camera for the BEACH book, I found a few other pics I've been meaning to share. My flowers for Mother's day from the Hubster. He sent them to my office and I cried when I got them. He spoils me much too much!

 

While on the cruise, my friend Kip taught us a unique message board project. I loved it! With her permission I'm going to adapt it for our Beach Crop. My friend Lori, couldn't wait til June, so she did up a quickie one in an hour at my office on afternoon. We did some fast talking when the big P showed up while she was creating! She made one for each of her four sisters for Mother's day. Not bad for a first time effort, non scrapper. She's one step closer to joining us on the dark side tho!

 

I hope you've enjoyed my treasures from my camera. Friday promises to be busy, we have football tonite. Oh what a tease, just one short game til August! It's all good tho! I hope our boys play well, play safe and win!

Have a wondermous day!

:J

I'm the Only Non David A Fan

I swear I think I am. He just doesn't do it for me. I don't think I would buy his CD, even tho he has a good voice, he just doesn't do it for me. I really don't think he is Idol material. America has had it wrong before.
Many other 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th place finishers have gone on to have great careers. I do see that for Syeshia. I think she is very marketable on many different levels. I see her in R and B, Broadway, Contemporary, Rap, Soul and definitely Top 40. I would have loved to see her do one of Jordan Sparks songs, but not her and David A do Jordan's duet with Chris Brown, No Air. Ewww, bad image there. Because of DA not Syeshia. If I had an Ipod, I would download her songs.
David Cook, now there is a boy I would pay money to see. I had goosebumps and tears when I heard him sing Roberta Flack's "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", which is one of my alltime favs. He is the most marketable of the three, on the hometown visit we saw fans of every age, shape, and size. David A's were all screaming teenies, and Syeshia had a mixed group too. David C is my American Idol. I will vote for him! I see longevity in both his and Syeshia's careers, but I just don't think David A will last. But I have been wrong before, we know I am no expert!
So the weekend is shaping up to be a nice one. We have bad weather moving through today, but tomorrow for the football game, clear skies and cooler weather. Saturday I'm heading for the beach for a few hours. It's supposed to be gorgeous! I have no other plans, skipping a few crops going on, both here in town and close by. Tho, I may stop in KnK, their crops are always awesome! GA goes out of her way to give us awesome prizes, the Design team has been hard at work on games and ideas for us. You should stop in and say hi and have some fun!

:J

I Survived!

I kept it a secret pretty much, even from my hubby, so if you knew about this before Sunday, feel privledged. I told him then! I was asked to speak on Scrapbooking. Yeah, little ole me. A girl at work, found out I scrapbooked, saw my work, and asked me to speak at her temple (she's jewish) about scrappin'.
I have to say I was soooo nervous. But in the end it was soooo fun! There were about 10 ladies in attendance for the evening. A good comfortable group, mostly women my age or a little older, so I gave them my spiel. Hi, I'm Jayne, and I'm addicted to scrapbooking..... I told them basic supplies, went over the Acid free rule....and showed them my pages and creations. I threw a few of my favorite places around, HT, KnK, Unforgettable. So hopefully they went home, got online and shopped! They laughed at my jokes and stories, fed me brownies, and are now going to meet once a month to scrapbook. Most of them are virgin scrappers, one veteran, but a very fun group of women! They made me laugh as much as I made them laugh, one asked me when I first got there, "is this Creative Memories?" and I laughed. They couldn't beleive I wasn't selling something. A very fun night, very fun! And they invited me back!
So I'm worn out! Off to bed til another day!
Keep my friends in Palm Bay, Daytona and that area in your thoughts, send them a rain dance. The fires there are horrible!

:J

Yes, I'm Still Alive!

It flows from so very boring to very busy, up and down, round about. Love this roller coaster I live on! Let's see, what's been going on with me.

Well I didn't chaperone the fan bus, not enough kids signed up. We were afraid of that since we also had a spring football game that night. Our Baseball team lost both it's games on Friday, which put them out of it for this year. The good news is that both of our great pitchers are only juniors and we have a very good team returning next year.

The spring intersquad game went very well on Friday night. DH's DLine looked strong. They were even missing one of their good players. He was out because he tore the muscle off the bone in regional weightlifting contest. He'll be back in the fall. I think we are in for a good season next year, we'll see how the jamboree goes on Friday night. It was really nice to just sit in the stands and watch a game. No ticket taking, no fussy parents, no half time run to the bank. I liked it so much, I may resign from my ticket gate duties!

The weekend was nice. My friend, Linda, and I spent Saturday morning at the beach picking up shells for an upcoming class I'm teaching in June. I wish I were down at St. Pete where I could get some spiral shells and a few of the pretty ones I saw down there. But I'm not, and the shells we found really match the paper I'm using perfectly! I think this weekend we are going to head to Ft. Morgan or Ft. Pickens and see what we can find there.

It's been busy getting everything ordered for the classes in June. It's all starting to come in and I am getting so excited! As soon as I get the projects complete, I'll post them. Two weekends of scrappin' fun! But no Hilltop crops for me. Overcommitted got to me! I will miss the girls from HT!

Mother's Day was quiet. Patrick came over and hung out, Daniel & Kevin called. Rick bought me roses, very pretty ones, I really need to get a pic posted. It was unbearably hot outside, so I stayed in.

Work has been unbearable. Someone got has their panties in a wad and it has all the staff upset, including the big P. I hope it ends soon. Only 11 more days of school with students. I love summers! Even tho I work, it's quiet, we do potluck lunches, it's almost vacationy! Still waiting to hear if we get to work four 10 hour days. It sure would save on gas if we could!

Well, I think that catches me up. Life goes on and on....

:J

Finally Friday!!!

Well, I'm not on a bus heading to State Baseball Regionals. We just didn't have enough student interest. That or they decided to carpool instead. So now I will worry about all of them until they are back home safe and sound on Sunday. I'm left back at the school, manning the office. Next week tho, after we win this round, I guarantee I'll be Sarasota bound!!!!!
I'm actually looking forward to some home time this weekend. My house sure needs me. It's been neglected for a few weeks, halls need mopping, EVERYTHING needs dusting. So I'll give that my attention. Not without a beach break tomorrow. Linda, Lori and I have beach time coming!
What about Grey's last night? I really think that the Chief and Miranda may be hiding something. Why else would he not want her to disclose who she slept with? or maybe he just wanted Adele to think they slept together. And poor Sloan, he's such a manwhore! LOL! I just love that show!
Well, I'm off. I have to get gas on the way to work today. There goes all my scrappin' allowance!

:J

MORNING!
I am getting to old to stay up til after 11:00 p.m. watching TV. We had Tivo'd AI and DWTS. I couldn't wait til today to watch. I didn't want to be the one standing in the hall at work, not knowing what happened last night on AI. Such important things we talk about.
I just hope that Jason Castro is finally gone. He soooo messed up last night. If any of the others go home tonite, it's a travesty! I am so over Jason, his dreads and his goofiness. He is Sanjaya all over again.
Lori and I are working on Memo boards tonite. She is making them for her sisters for Mother's day. Such a sweetie she is! Last night we sat with her and daughter Savana, at the Fair Banquet. Savana earned a $1000 scholarship, and Lori was the only one at our table to win a door prize. She won a Kodak Easyshare digital camera!
We also had 3 school board members at our table. One was Lori's cousin, one was my friend, Claudia, who was AP at the school I was at before the one I'm at now, and the other I think just sat with us because he wanted to sit with Jerry & Claudia.
So today should be busy. I have lots going on at school. We are still trying to fill that fan bus. Just a few more seats left.
I'm off to WM before work, how fun is that??

:J

On the Road Again!

It looks like I won't have a relaxing weekend at home after all. I don't know all the details yet, but it looks like I will chaperone the "fan bus" to the Regional Baseball tournament in Jacksonville. WOOOHOOOOOO!
The Sweet P, as I like to call our HS side principal, called yesterday to see if I were interested. I almost said, "oh hell yes!" but I restrained myself, and said "sure!". We leave Friday and come back Saturday. She said it was all dependent on whether or not they can sell a bus full of seats.
Hmmmm, let's see, do you think students will pay $65 to get out of school on a lovely spring Friday to go watch our team play in Regional Playoffs? It's a no brainer to me. Even the Asst. Sweet P is letting her daughter go. I think we could sell out more than one bus! I'll keep you posted on my travels. GO JAGS!
Of course I will take lots of flak from the football side of the house. They have their intersquad Red/Black game on Friday night, and sadly I'll miss it. But even DH said, given the choice, most of them would like to go to the baseball game. He said they probably won't even fault me if I miss football jamboree next week if we make it to the State Finals in Sarasota. That would be a first for our young HS, I don't want to miss that either.
So another busy week for me. Fair Banquet tonite, I have a friend coming over tomorrow night to work on Mother's day pressies, Thursday night is Grey's and trip prep, and Friday I'll be at the ball tournament. Time does fly when you are having fun!

:J

Monday, Monday, Monday

I guess I'm not a Sunday night sleeper. I was up and down half the night, and didn't want to get up this morning. Of course we slept in til well after 10 yesterday, so I'll bet that had something to do with it. But it's a new week, time to get it going, but not before I relive a few things from the weekend.
"The Scrapettes" were my neighbors at the crop, a very fun group of gals. Since the theme was Safari, they decorated their table with a coconut tree, complete with gorillas, coconuts and monkeys.

 

I am relishing my prizes. We all got a cute little tote filled with munchies, our t-shirt, and a few samples.

 

I won this cute little AMM album as a prize in the jungle call contest. Are you surprised that I was one of the ones who could holler the loudest???

 

My biggest prize was an AMM Computer tote. I have a Cricut computer tote, but I get teased when I take it on school trips. This will be nicer for school trips. It has tons of spaces inside, all kinds of nooks and cranies to store stuff. All I will need to do is throw my wallet in and I'll be ready to go!

 

It was a great weekend and I think I've recovered from it. To tell the truth, I am looking forward to going NOWHERE next weekend!

:J

I'm Home!

I had a great time in Mobile. I really did! But in reflection, I should have spent probably the same amount of money, gone to Tampa to the one day crop, and had fun with all my friends!
The hotel was expensive! $120 a night, and no free wireless! At a Marriott even! Can you believe that??? They didn't clean our room til 5 p.m., and that was only after asking twice to have it done. But it was clean and comfy and I'm glad we were splitting the room 3 ways!
The crop was fun, the theme was Scrapbook Safari. I have some cute pictures on my camera and one I have to scan. I was at a table with some very nice ladies, who weren't CM croppers. LOL! But they weren't was wild as my usual table mates either. They had some awesome door prizes and I won a few! I won the one I really wanted, a AMM Vituri Computer tote. I'll have to take a picture of that and post it. It's really cool with lots of pockets, and now maybe the guys won't tease me about my Cricut computer tote when we travel.
I took three classes, two of which were very good, one that, while I love the project, the class was unorganized, chaotic, and the instructor was not very good. But in the end, I had a pretty nice acrylic book, which is something I have been wanting to try.
I got to eat at some places I haven't eaten at in a while. Oh, yeah, for the high price of the crop & the hotel, there was no food included. We ate at Logan's, loved it. Macaroni Grill, try their new 3 Berry Tiramisu, YUM! and Morrison's! Which, once you get the concept of it, it's pretty cool.
I did splurge one morning at the hotel and have breakfast. I had a veggie omelet with mushrooms, onions, spinach, asparagus, tomatos and cheese. It was very, very good!
Okay, I'm off to unpack. I did get alot done, most of my BEACH book for the class I'm teaching, a Mother's day frame for one of the guys at work, and a few of my class projects. I'm a bit hungry, I need to find some breakfast too!

:J

Thursday Tidbits

It will be a quickie here. I'm packing to go to Mobile, have to run by the LSS, the bank, Office Depot and I think they want me to work a few hours today at school. Thank goodness I don't have to be there til 10!
I'm heading to Mobile this afternoon for a Scrapbooking "thingy" as my hubby calls it. He starts official spring football practice today, so he won't miss me at all!
I have to get moving. Will post from Mobile!

:J

Humping Through My Busy Boring Life

Well it is boring! But hectic! I am about to say STOP! to this craziness that has become my lifestyle. But not yet, let's see what next week brings.
Last night we went to another ball game. This time our Jags beat Tallahassee Godby 4-3. We were losing and I got up to use the ladies room which was on the other side of the field. While I was walking over there, I ran into my friend, Lori, and her girls. They couldn't find room on our side so they were sitting on the visitor side. While I was talking to them, we scored three runs. Now being the superstitious person I am, I HAD to stay on that side til we won! Good thing my hubby understands my wierdness. He was fine tho, sitting with his "coachie" friends.
Now we meet the team we beat last Thursday night again for regional Championship on Friday night. I am disappointed that I will not be in town for Friday night's regional Championship. Why?
Tomorrow night I leave for Mobile, AL. There's a big crop there and I'm going with some friends. Mobile isn't far, only an hour, but it's a very long, boring drive that seems like it takes hours.....and hours...and hours....it has gotten better since they put Eastern Shore Mall in on this side of the bay. It makes that last 20 minutes easier to bear.
So I'm a bit anxious about this crop. I know no one but Mary & Karen, the girls I'm going with. But with them it will be fun. We have pre Party tomorrow night and then two days of cropping. I have alot to do, so I'll be busy!
Then there's all the stuff I've got scheduled before I leave tomorrow. Haircut & facial tonite (ah heaven!) I need to run to Office Depot, Unforgettable and HL. Then there's work. OH! AND I have to PACK! Gotta run!!!!!!!!!
I hope all my HT friends have fun at their crop this weekend! I'll miss you!
:J

Morning!

It's a morning post from me! I've been blogging at night, but last night I was busy making a card, so I didn't blog. Here I am!
Okay, so you know I made a card last night. It's a graduation card for a friend's nephew. He graduates Georgia Tech this weekend. I know, I should have a picture, but I don't.
Chilly morning here for the end of April. 55 degrees! Chillier tonite as we head into our regional tournament in Baseball. I'll be sure to take a sweatshirt and my woolie blanket as I cheer them on. I am sooooo loving this weather!
I did figure out that my conference in July ends a day earlier than I thought. VERY GOOD thing! Why? you may ask? That means I can go with hubby, FIL and my favorite niece to the Green Bay Packers Shareholder meeting!!!!! I've never been to one. They are held in Lambeau Field, since there are so many of us shareholders. It will be fun and a wonderful way to kick off our vacation. DH was going to fly up a day early to go without me, but now I can meet him in WI and go!! WOOHOOO!
Down side is, we probably won't come home til Aug 3rd, which means I will miss another great HT crop, Fried Green Tomatoes. But we haven't bought our plane tickets yet, soooo who knows, my fingers may slip and I may come home early, flying in somewhere close to Sebring. We'll see.
I'm off to my world of data. I'm making a huge dent in filing, so I hope that continues today!

:J

What a Weekend!

It has been quite a weekend. So many things packed into 3 short days. I will probably ramble, so pull up a chair, a mug of something and read on.

The Grad Bash - Every year I say it, because every year it's true. We have the most fantastic kids! To get on a bus at 5 a.m., travel to Orlando, get off the bus, party all night at Universal Studios til 2 a.m., get back on the bus and come home by 8:30 a.m. the next day is a true test of character. Our kids are always the best, least troublesome, most appreciative, awesome kids, Every year. A most awesome time and I am always thrilled to be a part of it!

We had the nicest buses and bus driver this trip too. Vision Tours from Ocean Springs MS. The line was founded by an Optometrist who had a bad experience on a bus, so he bought some! WE had the best experience! Smooth ride, greatest driver! Scott chatted the whole time about his wife and girls, his parents, happy life! He realizes how blessed he is and shares. I hope his parents are proud of him, he is such a nice guy!

Sleep - It's sometimes overrated. I slept a bit on the bus, a few hours at home, and was up cleaning house by 1 p.m. on Saturday. I had a few draggy moments. Once early Friday night, and once Saturday at dinner with the hubby. Caffiene is a wonderful thing!

You're Gonna Miss This Moments -
* Remembering past Senior trips, some of those kids, especially our first Senior class, wishing Patrick were there this week with me all over again!
* Kevin being home today if only for a few hours. We went through the spare closet, giving him more of his things to take back with him. We came across a box of old videotapes of him playing baseball. THAT made me way too emotional. Him saying he didn't want his old Michael Jordan posters anymore. I'm just not ready to get rid of them!!! So a part of his growing up, his inspiration.
* Kevin did take his Webelos activity pin plaque with him. I was surprised at what he did/did not take.
* Realizing that none of the boys will make the family reunion this year. Work and other committments, they are adults now.
* Realizing we've had Kota 6 years now. It seems like yesterday when we got him!

Busy, Busy, Busy this weekend, cleaning, catching up, throwing away. I bagged up a huge garbage bag of clothes that have "outgrown" me. I guess that's a good thing, as they are too big for me! That felt good!
Rick finally put the molding down on the floors and the job is done! Does it have anything to do with spring football beginning this week? Knocking off the honey do list before he has no time!
My work last week planting is already beginning to show great results. The flowers are blooming everywhere and it looks really good! Pictures to follow another day.

Creating, I'm working a few projects at once, started the beach book, ordered the stuff for the noteboards, almost finished a graduation card. I've even got a mini book going on in my head!

What else? WFHS won their district ball game! Brett, the pitcher, pitched the whole game and we won 6-0! We've known Brett since Tball. It's so fun to watch someone grow like he has. He's the youngest of 3 boys, a great kid, awesome pitcher!!! The boys play Tuesday night was we host regionals!

I used my reusable grocery bags today at WM. I like em! Put my juice and milk in one bag and slung it over my shoulder to carry it out. Can't do that with a WM bag! It wasn't even heavy that way! If you don't have any reusable bags, you need some!
I've been thinking alot about what we use and throw away. Wayyy too much stuff. I love my bottled water, but, that's alot of wasted plastic! So I'm going to try harder. Use less, redo more, get rid of excess, Simplify!
Well I've rambled enough, I guess you know I am alive!

:J

Thursday? Already?

Wow! This week has flown by! It will be Saturday before I blog again probably. I may blog tonite, I may not. Busy, Busy days ahead.
I would like to go to the baseball game tonite, our HS is in the district championship. But the thought of sitting on the bleachers til 10 p.m. is not appealing to me. But I want to go.
Then I have to be back at school at 4 a.m. for the senior trip to Universal Studios in Orlando. It's such fun and I am a glutton for punishment. I've gone every year the seniors have gone. We get on the bus at 4 a.m., ride to Universal, with stops to potty and to eat, get off the bus, go into Universal, ride rides, party all evening til like midnite/1 a.m., get back on the bus, come home, getting back at 10 a.m. Saturday. Doesn't that sound fun? Don't you want to go with us?
Sunday, DS2 and his GF will be here for the day. I'm so glad to see them. Maybe, just maybe if the planets all align, his brothers will be here too.
I'm off, I have to run by WW before work.
Such a boring life I lead,
:J

Long Day, Short Post

Some days I think I should just stay home in bed. This morning was one of those days, my head kinda hurt, I was drowsy, and it was a beautiful day. But I sucked it up and went to work. I'm glad I did, but everyone at work was complaining about their head hurting. Must be going around!
I did take a few hours at lunch to make a few cards at a lunchtime card making class. It was great midday therapy! I don't have the cards here at home with me, so I'll have to get pictures tomorrow.
After work, I went to the District Ball game, our team won! Thursday is the championship game. I hope I can go, but I have to be back at school at 4 a.m. for the senior trip, so I don't know if I will! It was good to see baseball people. Some I hadn't seen in ages. I sat with my friends Sue & Greg, and MaryAnn. Greg was the only person I know that was as brokenhearted about Favre retiring as I was, well besides my favorite niece, Sarah. So I kept Greg entertained between innings by telling him about the new Cub's player, Fukudome. No kidding, I'm not making it up. I even had to call my brother last night and ask,"who is this fuking player?" I guess he is a multimillion dollar player from Japan. Mr. Baseball everything. Maybe my friend Linda has heard of him. Or at least Taylor, her son, has. They chant his name at Wrigley. Can you imagine? So Fukie, as I call him, is my new Favre.
Can you tell I'm tired, rambling? So I leave you with this, my first project for the June Unforgettable Crop. Reminisce papers, Kaiser Craft boards, and odds and ends. Unforgettable's owners loved it! So now I'm searching for beachy scrappy odds and ends. I have a BEACH book to design. OY! The things I get myself into! There's still room at the crop, if you want to come. But if you are a HT girl, you probably won't come with me. HT has a crop that weekend too. I'm trying not to think about that!

 

Nite all,
:J

Monday, It's Monday!

Mondays can sometimes be hard days. Hard to wake up, hard to go to work, hard at work, well you understand. Today was not as hard as some Mondays, but after being gone half of last week, I didn't expect an easy day! Actually it was a good Monday, as Mondays go.
I won't bore you with the 4 new inches of paperwork waiting on my desk. It took me most of the day, with it's many interuptions, to get it done but I did! But I do have to tell you about this.

 

My trash digging has paid off! I found this in the trash, with no countertop, broken drawers and rotting kickboard (that's the bottom). I talked to a friend of mine and we worked out a deal. I'm making him a folding frame for his wife for mother's day, and he would fix it. Well let me say, I got the better end of the deal. He made a new countertop, laminated it, the sides and bottom, fixed the drawers and WOW! I have the coolest counterheight cabinet for my scrappin stuff! The drawers will be perfect for inkpads, stamps, tools, whatever I can fit in there. The drawers are huge width wise. Not very deep tho. But how deep do I really need???
More pictures of the herbs. Don't ask me what they are, I know that the little woolie looking plant is woolie thyme.

 

I know that this is.............Parsley!

 

I think this is sage & oregano. If you know, let me know. I have the little tab thingys, they will tell me.

 

So that was my day in a nutshell. It was a good day, was yours?

:J

Another Busy Day in Paradise

I was up before dawn, had coffee and read the paper on the deck all by 7:30. I knew it was going to be another gorgeous day, I wanted to savor and be thankful for every minute of it! That's exactly what I did!
There's something about planting and having my hands in dirt that just does it for me. Even more so than paper and glue do. I like to plant, I don't always like to take care of, so I start every spring with good intentions. I fill my planters with oodles of flowers and about July, when it starts to get hot, I give up! But this year is starting out cooler, so maybe I will stick with it longer.
Here a pictures of my plantings this year, well some of them. I can't blog more than four pictures at a time.
I was excited to find a bottlebrush bush yesterday at the nursery. But I forgot to get it. So this morning, off I went and now it has a home! I love our little nursery down the street. They get the neatest plants. The guys (all 3 of them) know me and know I like different stuff. So they made sure to point this out to me. It attracks hummingbirds and butterflies. That's Dakota in the background. He thinks I should put the camera down and get his ball to play with him. He thinks anytime someone comes outside that they should play with him, first and foremost. Silly dog.

 

I plant most everything in pots. We don't have very good soil because our oak trees deplete all the good nutrients and water from our yard. We gave up on growing grass, so now we just mow the weeds because they are at least green. A collection of my pots full of flowers soon to bloom.

 

A few years back when we put our pool in, we built another deck a third of the way around the pool. Since it's visible from the street and a half a block away, I try to make it nice for the neighborhood. This year in the rail planters I've decided to go pink and purple. Petunias that is. I also added some viney pink & purple & white flowers to hang over too. Do you think I know all the names of these flowers? I don't! My jasmine has really taken off this year also. I hope it covers all that wood!

 

Out front we have a small circle of lilies with a whiskey barrel planter. The lilies are just starting to bloom. The planter stayed very damp last year and most of the flowers died. So this year I stuck all the leftovers there and we'll see what happens.

 

I didn't show you the herbs, the window box or the planter by the front door. The herbs will be a whole nother post, and the others will have to wait till they grow. They just look like seedlings now. Hopefully everything will survive and in a few weeks I'll have a yard full of blooms! Till then, I'll water and pray!
I hope you had a wonderful day like I did! 89 more days like this to go!

What a Beautiful Day!

I definitely have to thank the good Lord for this one! It was absolutely gorgeous here today! I think my mood reflected it. I got up early, raring to get things done, and everything went my way!
First thing up, I ran to the nursery for plants. I couldn't believe how chilly it was, and almost wished I'd worn a sweat shirt. There were sure alot of pretty flowers in stock and it took me over an hour to choose the ones I wanted to plant. Three flats and several pots later, I was done!
I got a whole flat of just herbs. All the basic ones, and a few exotic ones. Then I found a flat of perennials, mostly daisies of different varieties. I picked out two Cajun Hibiscus' to replace the ones we lost in the cold winter. A Big pot of yellow daisies already blooming. And finally, a flat of impatients and a V flower, not verbena, that the name escapes me right now.
I came home drove through the yard in front to unload and looked back where I'd driven to discover that I cracked our water pipe coming into the house. Luckily the hubby pulled up right behind me and was able to fix it before we lost too much water. I don't think I will be driving through that part of the yard again!
I was just getting my tools together to start planting, when friend Linda called. She wanted to go to Earth Day in the park and since her hubby was out of town, wanted me to go with. Such a deal! I wanted to go as they were giving out free recycle bins, reusable shopping bags, and light bulbs. So off we went. It was alot of fun and we saw lots of neat animals. I liked these two owls. Isn't the first one just beautiful? He was so tiny and petite too! I know I was supposed to get what kind of owl he was, but I didn't.

 

This big old owl just kept closing his eyes, like he didn't want to be there, just wanted to sleep. Funny ole owl!

 

After Earth Day, we hit a yard sale where I picked up 10 Garfield Treasury books for hubby, and a baboon beanie baby just because. Linda dropped me off and I resumed my flower planting. I still have one more flat to go, but we got alot done in the back. I even blew off the upper deck and swept the lower deck. We pulled weeds and cleaned up quite a bit. It was such a gorgeous day for working in the yard, I didn't even want to come in tonite well after dark!
A few weeks ago, I ordered 100 days like today. We've been blessed since then with about ten of them. 90 more to go, I'm counting, blessings!

:J

Honey!!! I'm Home!

It was so good to get back home, to my house, my family, my dog. While the campus of Santa Fe Community College was beautiful, it wasn't home. Cabot Lodge, was a nice place to visit, but it wasn't home. I'm home, I'm happy.
I was even invited to a private crop tomorrow, but I'm not going. I just want to be home. I think I'm going to plant flowers. I started tonite, by cleaning out the flower pots. Even discovered that my big hibiscus isn't dead like I thought it was. When I cleaned out all the leaves from around the base, there was a baby hibiscus! But I still lost 2 of my cajun hibiscus. I'm going to see about replacing them tomorrow at the nursery. Sounds like a busy day, and I even hope to get some scrapping in. We are getting some rain tonite, I hope it's gone tomorrow.
I hope everyone has a sunny day!

:J

Adventures in the Swamp and other Bear Stories

One's mind can only input information for so long before it overloads. Especially when the information is not clear and every time a question is asked, the informants answer "we don't know" or "we'll have to ask and get back to you". But we will move ahead towards the deadlines we gave you.
So have I learned anything? Yes, a few things. One being the department that leads me, makes me look VERY intelligent! And two, It doesn't matter your degree, if you are being fed garbage, you still can't sort it out to smell good. Bureaucracy. I LOVE IT!
So after a long day of meetings, we had an adventure. We had to find Ben Hill Griffin. Stadium that is. In our possession was a kidnapped Beanie Baby belonging to a Bama fan. (say that 3 times fast) None of the 4 of us were UF grads, only I had ever been to the stadium. I knew that at the stadium we would find a gator with his mouth open. A gator mouth big enough for a Beannie owned by a Bama fan. So off we went. We toured UF campus. It was a gorgeous afternoon. Finally, I, being the only female, said, STOP! I'll ask directions! At a Krispy Kreme, on the edge of campus, we stopped. I got directions, we found the stadium, found the gator, took the picture and even bought the Beannie bear his own UF beannie (UF baseball hat, just his size) by then we needed a nap!

 

Such an adventure, for us and the bear!
They are saying something about a horse tomorrow!
:J

Whizzing by Wednesday

Just a quick post, I'm off to Gainesville today for meetings. I'm taking the laptop along, so most posting tonite! I have exciting news!!!
Speaking of exciting, the May kit is up at KNK. I am so in love with it! Soft colors, yummy wood swirls. Stock up on those add ons too! OH MY! OH MY! Can't wait to play with this one!
See you from the Swamp!

:J

Just in Case

I may be frozen in the morning. Our temps are supposed to hit the 30's. Unheard of for this time of year in Florida. SO, I'm going to blog tonite. Just in case I am frozen.
I'm thankful for friends who let me vent. Who understand I want to be petty but I won't, because it's not the right thing to do. Friends who just listen and understand, I know what I should do, I know what I will do, it's just sometimes, I want to be petty too. I'm so thankful for friends, and people who see through pettiness for what it is. Thanks for reminding me I am better than that. Not that they read my blog, but I needed to thank them.
It must be meetings week in my world. A meeting today, a meeting tomorrow, and then 3 days of all day meetings. It will be good to come home, I will have all this stored up creative energy from being in meetings! Do you think I can scrap all weekend?
Okay, I have to get ready for tomorrow, pack up my scrap project to show the girls at Unforgettable, pack up my friend, Karen's lost shaker of salt from Grand Cayman. I'll see her tomorrow at the meeting. Sometime I need to pack for the 3 day meeting trip. I guess that's a Tuesday night job.
Have a warm Tuesday!
:J

Do I Really Live in Florida?

Brrrrr! It's chilly here! The temps dipped into the 40's last night. Need I remind you it is mid April. By now I am usually tan having been at the beach already, running around in Capris and sandals. Yesterday I was in jeans, sweats, socks and shoes. It's only going to get colder!
Al Gore, can I talk to you about this global warming idea you have? Have you been to Florida this week? I feel more like I am in Wisconsin than in Florida. Tonite they are talking 30's!
Don't get me wrong, I would rather be chilly, than hot! My theory is you can always put more clothes on, you can't take more clothes off. Only to a certain point, then you become the crazy lady who went to WM in your underwear or an outfit you shouldn't have been seen in public in. Face it, we've seen enough of those, I don't need to contribute to that! So the cooler temps can continue on, if the wind dies down.
Not much else going on in my life, my arthritis is flaring up. It's been years since I have had a flair up this bad. I hurt all over in my joints, am stiff and sore. It's been so long I forgot how bad it feels! I'll put a call in to my doctor in a bit and see what I can do. I'm much to young to feel this damn old!

:J

The Best Laid Plans

I set off this morning, Saturday, to go to a crop. Packed my bags, loaded the car, ran by Starbucks, and got to the church at 7:50. I thought the crop started at 8. It didn't, but I didn't know that. I waited 45 minutes, which for me is an exceptional time to wait. I'm not a waiter. So when no one showed well after 8:30, I left.
The weather looked yucky, stormy yucky, and I was having mama guilt for leaving my baby dog outside. I headed home. I unloaded the car, I started laundry, I cleaned the scraproom enough to be able to scrap. My baby dog didn't want to come in and keep me company, no, he wanted to stay outside. It was cloudy, cool, he wanted to lay out and watch the world. So I scrapped, he watched the world.
Mary called, "where are you?" So I told her about my morning and agreed to meet her for lunch. So I went to the crop and ate lunch. It was nice, they only had about 7 croppers, one had her Cricut Design Studio up on her laptop. So she showed me a few things on it. I think I am going to order it. I got out of there only spending $3.75.
I came home and worked on a class for our 3 day crop in June. I finished it tonite and am really pleased. I'll post a picture later this week, after I show the LSS owners. It's only fair they see it first! I only have 3 more projects to make for the two crops in June. I want to get the samples in the stores so they can start getting sign ups. Plus I have 4 projects for May I am doing. A graduation present, Mother's day cards for school, a Georgia Tech mini album for a Georgia Tech grad and a Mother's day project for one of the guys at school.
The Mother's day project is a trade out. I'm doing a LOVE frame for him to give his wife, with their family pictures, and he is redoing a cabinet for me. New laminate countertop and all. I think I am getting the better end of the bargain. The cabinet will go in the new scraproom to hold my inks and stamps.
This will also go in the new scraproom. My IKEA boxes.

 

I built them all myself! Every nail, every screw, all done by my little hands. DH said he was proud of me. He said he knew I could do it all by myself, he just didn't think I would. The next step will be painting/staining the outsides and deciding what to do with the front of the drawers. Alot of people have covered them with scrap paper, I'm not sure that's what I want to do. Any suggestions?
:J

Saturday!

I thought I'd better blog a bit before I take off for the day. I know, I know, I promised pictures of the shelves. I haven't taken them yet. No excuses.
I'm off today for some scrappin' NO pages. I'm going to finish up the class projects I started on the cruise. I lost focus in class there. Like I will have focus today, HA! But I'm hoping! I should stay home and clean house, Nah! What fun is that?
okay, so nuthin to say, I'm off!

:J

TGIF!

Just a quick blurb, today is an early day. But it's all good because it means early off too!
I finished my shelves last night while watching American Idol and Antiques Roadshow. WOOHOOO! I will post a picture of them later. Now I need to figure out how I am painting/staining them. I'm thinking about using a colored stain. I still haven't ruled out using Crackle Paint on the drawer parts.

American Idol. Okay, I was okay with seeing Michael Johns go home. Dreamweaver just didn't do it for me. I thought he sounded just like the record. Trust me I know the record, I played it over and over and over.
I really thought Carly was going, but I didn't want her to. Not sure who I would chose to go home next week.

Another day, another dime, I have to get earning. Have a wondermous day!

:J

It's Thursday Already!

A week ago right now, I was just finishing my cruise. Where did time go? Is it time to go again? I have the itch already. One week from today I will be sitting in the first day of a two day meeting. What fun is that?
Til then, I am playing with my cabinets. I put another together last night and was not having fun at all. I kept bending nails, and bending nails. I'm blaming it on the weather. Why not? Two days of perfect hammering and then I can nail anything straight? Only two more cabinets to go.
Maybe it was watching Idol gives back that made me hammer badly. That show made me angry. I dislike blatant begging. Lining up all the children and having them all give the sad look. Lying with statistics. People who talk about how poor they are while wearing gold chain out the yingyang. Please don't think I think we shouldn't contribute and help those who need help. I do, and I do contribute. I just don't like the purposeful heart tugging. Nuff said on that.
So tonite I'll watch AI and see who goes home. I can't pick this week. Some people had bad weeks, but are great entertainers. I think Brooke will go just because she isn't marketable. I really wish David Archulata would go. He has a great voice, but it's like watching Barry Manilow, no entertainment value for me at all.
I'm off to eat my cornflakes.

:J

If I Were a Carpenter

In one hour last night I finished two more of my cabinets! I didn't even bend one nail last night. The night before I bent two. Both times I did I heard my dad in my head, "Don't pound it in bent, take it out." That must be were I get my carpenter gene, from my dad. I'm having fun putting these together. Pics tomorrow!

I haven't decided what I will use to decorate them. I'm going to paint/stain the cabinets and then cover the fronts with paper or maybe crackle paint. I love the crackle paint!

I found another good find in the pitch pile at work. It's a cabinet with 8 slim drawers. The cabinet is about 4 feet wide by 2 1/2 feet deep, counter height. The drawers would be perfect for storing stamps & inks. I'll bring it home one night this week. All I need to do is put a top on it, as the top was part of a counter. I'm going to explore countertop prices for it. A good countertop would be a nice investment so I could use it for stamping and hammering and stuff.

I don't know what's gotten into me, I was up at 6 a.m. which isn't unusual, but I was up and cleaning house! I must be ill. Someone stop me!

Check out my new quote widget on the sidebar. I wish I new how to size these widgets, as this one is too big. You may have to click on the quote to read it all. I get a daily email from Foundation for a Better Living with a quote, but it's nice to get it here too. I hope you enjoy them and if you know how to solve the size thing, let me know!

I'm off to the showers and school. Busy, busy day, I hope yours is a good one!

:J

We had to pass through Orlando to get home from our cruise. Okay, we didn't have to, we WANTED to. We wanted to visit Susie's friend, Dottie, scour some scrap shops, and visit here.

 

I have wanted to visit IKEA ever since my sister came home from Germany 20 years ago with this huge shrunk that I thought was totally awesome. She always has cool stuff and I have yet to talk her out of that shrunk. But it's all good, as it's not something I really need, I just like it.
But we wanted to check out IKEA and see what goodies they had to offer. I decided I need a trip back there. I saw a dresser I want, a bed, and kitchen cabinets that would just make my life complete. But I settled this trip for these.

 

I got 3 more sets of different type drawers and three or four sets of these. So last night I sat down, plugged in last week's American Idol and all by self, in an hour, made these.

 

I'm so proud of myself! I think I'm going to sign up for Carpentry class!
Have a good day!

:J

Okay So Check THIS Out!

I'm trying to catch up on emails and blog reading and what better way to distract you from my nonblogging than T!M ! He has a great technique up using some of my all time favorite papers, Cosmo Cricket's Wanted! I've always loved these papers, even wish I could paper a room in them. But he's giving them away if you are lucky! Check it out!

:J