I've decided that taking a day off to do un fun stuff just is not worth it. I vow to only take days off when I can do something fun. I paid for being off yesterday, a price that isn't worth it unless the day off is fun.
Busy day today, Busy, Busy day. Just busy catching up, paperwork upon paperwork, it must multiply by the hundreds while I'm gone. But I did get mostly caught up, working through lunch.
I was surprised to find a pretty jar of canned hot peppers on my desk when I came in to work. I knew right away who they were from. My friend Linda, is a pepper fanatic. She's been growing peppers in her garden all summer. I'm glad I get to have a jar of her peppers, she loves them that much!

 

After work my friends, Sharon & Ann came over. We're planning some paper therapy, cardmaking in a few weeks. Then after the new year we are renting the clubhouse at the golf course for a weekend of paper therapy. Just going to hang out and scrap. Us and 13 of our friends, eat, drink & scrap. I wish I didn't have to wait til after the holidays.
So for now I'll settle with a few hours of paper therapy next weekend. It will be fun I know.
:J

Sticker Shock!

Since I'm getting over the shock of paying for my glasses today, here's a blog question thingy I got off Toni's blog. I keep telling my self I'm getting two pair of glasses, but my other self is saying yeah, but it was bogo. Yeah right.
Okay, to take my mind off this argument I've had all day. The questionaire.

1. What time did you get up this morning? 8:00 a.m.
2. Diamonds or pearls? Pearls! (I just got a new string!)
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? MamaMia
4. What is your favorite TV show? Grey's Anatomy
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? A Banana and yogurt
6. What is your middle name? Alison
7. What food do you dislike? Any hot breakfast cereal
8. What is your favorite CD at moment? Poets & Pirates, Kenny Chesney
9. What kind of car do you drive? An old Ford Explorer
10.Favorite sandwich? Pimento Loaf
11.What characteristic do you despise? People who think they are better than anyone
12.Favorite item of clothing? capris
13.If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Right now, Alaska
14.Favorite brand of clothing? anything comfortable
15.Where would you retire to? The beach in the winter and Wisconsin in the summer.
16.What was your most recent memorable birthday? They are all memorable
17.Favorite sport to watch? Green Bay Packer Football
18.Farthermost place you are sending this? n/a, since this is a blog post
19.Person you expect to send it back first? I dunno
20.When is your birthday? October
21.Are you a morning person or a night person? Probably morning, I get cranky when I'm tired!
22.What is your shoe size? 9
23.Pets? Dog - Dakota Cat - Boots
24.Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? I'm getting new glasses
25.What did you want to be when you were little? A ballerina and an airline stewardess and an actress.
26.How are you today? Good, getting over that sticker shock.
27.What is your favorite candy? Dark Chocolate
28.What is your favorite flower? Lilacs
29.What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? All of them!
30.What are you listening to right now? Dancing with the Stars
31.What was the last thing you ate? Half a bag of BBQ potato chips
32.Do you wish on stars? Yep!
33.If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Salmon
34.How is the weather right now? Hot and muggy
35.The first person you spoke to on the phone today? My Hubby
36.Favorite soft drink? Water
37.Favorite restaurant? Manny's Pizza
38.Real hair color? Brown
39.What was your favorite toy as a child? my bike
40.Summer or winter? Fall :)
41.Hugs or kisses? hugs
42.Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
43.Coffee or tea? Coffee
44.Do you want your friends to email you back? No, just blog it!
45.When was the last time you cried? Last week when I broke my favorite mixing bowl
46.What is under your bed? probably dog hair, and my prom dress (in a box)
47.What did you do last night? Watched the Packers play football on TV
48.What are you afraid of? losing people I love
49.Salty or sweet? Salty
50.How many keys on your key ring? 5
51.How many years at your current job? 4
52.Favorite day of the week? Sunday during football season
53.How many towns have you lived in? 6
54.Do you make friends easily? I don't think so

The weekend is over and so begins another week. Can I put the brakes on and slow things down just a bit? Our life lately seems quite busy and moving much too fast. This past week flew by and the weekend seems like just a blink! But alot was accomplished, both workwise and funwise.
A few pictures to share too. I took this one of my youngest son a few weeks ago. The spoiled puppy is our 75 lb. lab/chow mix who seems to think he's a lapdog. This is the only place he's allowed to be up on the furniture, and only when he's in a lap.

 

I made alot of progress in the scraproom, rearranging some things, cleaning up some things. We put the round oak table in the scraproom and I think I like it. The smaller area actually gives me more room to scrap, because I cleared out alot of clutter off the big table and only put the essentials on my smaller table. The big table is behind my round table, so it's accessible if I need more room. I can actually fit people in here now, if any one wants to come play!

 

Erica & I went to a workshop today and made these cards & a treat box. I messed the batty card on the right up with the stickles we were supposed to put on the ribbon, so when I got home I redid the ribbon. We had lots of fun, Erica loved learning how to stamp.

 

We got home just in time for the Packers game, which didn't go our way. Tis okay, is just one game. I'm still excited about the Varsity win Friday night.
Monday brings an eye appt. for me. It's time to get new glasses. I'd rather go to the dentist. I really don't like that bright light they use to look in your eyes. It gives me a horrible headache. But I'll endure, I need new glasses.
This week the new TV shows start. I'm looking forward to Grey's and Dancing with the Stars. Other than that, I can pass. Life is too short to sit so still, so long.
Enjoy!
:J

We Winned!

35-0! It was such a good night for our boys! It was just a great night for our school as a whole!
A group of seniors dressed & painted themselves up. They did sit-ups every time we scored, one sit up for every point. The different classes were there, each shouting their own graduation year. Those seniors were the loudest tho!
Here's a link to the photos http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=DP&Date=20080920&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=809200803&Ref=PH&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
I'm so happy for our boys, the first win in nearly 4 years (since our youngest graduated).
I'm off today to do some scrappin' with a couple of friends. I know it will be fun, they are a crazy couple of women.
:J

I Can Quit My Day Job!

I survived the challenge! I spotted the whole game. It was sooo much fun! I think I can make a career of this. LOL! NOT!
First of all the Dad that was announcing was a nervous wreck. It didn't help that he didn't know how to run the tape player. Okay, it wasn't a tape player it was a CD player. So we had no Star Spangled Banner.
The clock ref didn't stop feeding his face and climb in the booth until 30 seconds before the game started, and we were panicked. We thought we'd have to run the clock. We didn't know he was there. (This ref is my hubby's fav-or-rite ref, he's collecting the paycheck, that's it).
I kept telling the Dad that's it's just a JV game, it's okay if they don't all get their names announced. Varsity is when you get your name announced and pronounced right. (He was doing a fine job) and if you are on the visiting team, if we miss your name, oh well.
Three of the boys didn't have the right jersey on, or they weren't on the roster. That was crazy. But we worked it out at half time. We asked. A mom complained we weren't saying her son's name right. No it was printed on the roster wrong
My job was to tell him all the offensive stuff that was going on, watching the ball, all that. I got it right most of the time. I can now almost tell when they are passing the ball and when they will run the ball before the ball is snapped.
The Dad's wife kept calling him on his cellphone, telling him to announce the snack bar, the cheerleaders, to clean up after the game. He was getting ticked about it. I thought it was humorous. Men are so funny.
So this was really trial run. Tomorrow night is Varsity, we have to get everything right. Good thing I know most of those players and their numbers.
But the best thing? We won 35-0. Hubby has only lost one game as the JV defensive line coach in two years. I'm so proud of him! (and the boys!)
:J

Changing of the Plans

Okay someone switched the game plan and didn't tell me. Our game tonite is a home game. Not at the beautiful north end of the county, where the football field is next to the cow pasture and it reminds me of home. Darn! I was looking forward to that!
Instead I'll be here in town, surrounded by traffic and sirens. Tonite I'm spotting plays for the announcer, so it will be hectic, busy and I'll have to WATCH the game. No chit chat, no watching the hoochie mamas, football, strictly football. Nary a cow in the background.
I'm just hoping it stays cool. Our cool mornings have been loverly. This being a good thing as the air conditioning at work is out. O U T out. I am thanking God that it didn't go out in August. I am thanking God that it's cooled off so that at least the office is cool in the morning. The afternoons tho, when we get that sun on the south and west walls of my office, UGH! Sweatshop!!!!
So I'm off to the sweatshop. I hope you have a wonderful day!
:J

Happy Hump Day!

Time is just flying by for me! Too much to do and not enough time! It will get worse when next week starts and I want to sit in front of the TV and watch all the new shows.
We've had cool mornings the past two days. Please let this continue!!! It was down in the low 60's this morning. I am loving it! I want so badly to open the windows at night, but I know what that will do to my sinuses. It's going to be gorgeous tomorrow night for the JV game. We travel to the north end of the county and it's usually 10 degrees cooler there. I may have to take a sweatshirt. The cool weather is early for us this year, usually we don't get cool weather until the fair, which isn't for another month!
I'm off to enjoy the outside morning for a while before I have to go to work. Enjoy your day!

:J

Is It the Full Moon?

The past few days I knew something was up. I knew in the back of my mind there was a full moon. You can't sit in a football stadium two nights in a row with a clear sky and not know that. But I would have known even if I hadn't looked in the sky.

Saturday was wonderful. Stamptemberfest was a blast! A bunch of crazy fun ladies all day long, stampin' and creatin'. Ann was the best hostess, Sherri cooked some great food, and Sharon taught us some great techniques. It was a great paper therapy day for me!

Sunday is when I could tell the moon got full. I was putting away dishes and I dropped my favorite glass mixing bowl. My favorite much older sister had given me this bowl, many years ago, it came with a stand mixer which bit the dust long ago. The mixer was replaced, but the bowl stayed.
It was a great every day glass mixing bowl, just a bit on the heavy side, nothing fancy, clear, that was just perfect for 90% of the things I do in the kitchen. As soon as it dropped, it shattered into a million little pieces. DH came running to my rescue as he always does and started sweeping up all the pieces. It was then that all the memories of that bowl came flooding back to me and I just started a boohooing.
All the birthday cakes, cheeseballs, 7 layer salads, potato salads, fajita fixin's, fudge, peanut brittle and the like that we've made over the years. That ole' bowl served us well. It's been dressed up for a fancy table and dressed down as a garbage bowl when I'm doing a cooking marathon. Everyone should have a bowl that serves them so well. It wasn't as pretty as some of my other bowl, but it was always the first one I reached for because I knew I could count on it.
I'll probably never have a bowl as good as this one. I don't even know if I could find a bowl worthy enough to replace it. I'll miss that old glass bowl.

A sad day Sunday was for sure. In more ways than one, that ole full moon brought more craziness in our lives as the surf claimed the life of a friend. Chris was a new teacher at our school this year, a real dynamo who brightened a room just by being in it. He was a quick wit and already a real asset to our team.
While visiting the beach on Sunday he was caught in a riptide and pulled out. He was rescued and appeared to be fine, but was being taken to the hospital as a precaution. On the way, he went into cardiac arrest and died. Chris was 41.
We were shocked this morning as our principal made the rounds to tell us. Chris was such a bright spot in our lives for the few weeks he was in it. He was an inspiration to us as he quickly became one of the go getters on our faculty. I know I will miss his quick wit. Such a shock.
For him I will say to all who may ever visit a beach on the Gulf. Obey the flags. A red flag meaning dangerous surf was flying the day he went into the water. The waters are not as calm as they seem on top. Rip Current (undertow) is very dangerous. It will pull you out in a matter of moments. If you get caught, let it take you and then swim to the side out of it. But be safe and don't get in the water. We'll miss you Chris.

The Power of a Storm

Today Ike was 250 miles south of Pensacola, making it's way to Texas. It doesn't mean we avoided Ike's wrath. Here are a few pictures, the first from our newspaper, Pensacola News Journal.

Here are a few from my friend, Mary Ann. We usually have two to three foot surf. The bouys just of the beach were measuring 24 foot waves. The pier is a good 20 feet off the ground at least.
I hope you enjoy these pictures.



And finally one from my friend Lori's sister. Keep those in Texas in your thoughts.


More later, I just got home from a JV football game, we won! 28-20 in double overtime. I hope I have a voice in the morning!
:J

Do You Remember?

I remember the precise moment I learned about the planes crashing into the towers. We were unloading buses on a beautifully bright fall morning, the Blue Angels were practicing their loop de loops over our heads. Since we were only a mile from the base, unloading busses could be difficult as little 4 year old children are amazed by the Blues. They want to stop and watch, they don't care that they need to get into school, eat breakfast, and learn.
Someone came out of the building and said a plane crashed into the towers in New York. Suddenly the Blues were out of the sky and on the ground. It was eerily quiet.
By the time we unloaded the last bus, word came about the pentagon. Because we are a military town, we were extra worried. The chance that we knew someone working in the Pentagon was a good one. I wanted to go find my husband, get my children and go home.
Instead we spent the day keeping the children busy while keeping an eye on the news. And we prayed. We hugged them a little tighter, let them get away with a bit more, and prayed.
We still pray. For all our guys and gals defending our freedom all over the world, pray.

:J

Taking Advantage

I took advantage today, of it being hump day, of the dumpster set outside my door, of a slow down in paperwork. I cleaned out the records vault. I humped it all day long. I was one constant HOP (hour of power). And amazingly I feel pretty good about it.

I got to work this a.m. and outside the door nearest my office was a small dumpster. I walked in and the A.P. of the High school, and my friend, Lori, were cleaning out the office across the hall from me that has been being used for storage. So I asked if the dumpster was for anyone's use. I had to ask because sometimes the HS is possessive of their stuff.

I have been wanting to clean the vault for a few years. Two things stopped me, time and having to haul it sooooo far across campus to dump it. So I made the time and cleaned, and cleaned and cleaned. We could hold a dance party in the vault now, there is so much room. It felt so good despite how my back was hurting when I was finished. I just kept at it, I knew if I stopped, I'd quit. Now that I'm home and have rested, I don't feel as bad as I thought I would. We'll see how well I get out of bed in the am.

We've started getting the outer bands of Ike this afternoon. Outerband rain is like no other. It's a heavy, fast rain. It's usually over fairly quickly and as quickly as it started, it stops just as quick. I hope the football game Thursday and Friday night don't get rained out. Athough I wouldn't mind Friday night, it's quite a drive. But I'm going to hit a few scrap stores on the way to Friday night's game. Ones I never get to go to they are about an hour from the house.

I'm looking forward to Saturday's all day Stampin' Up party. It's at Ann's house and she is a riot! I would so love to bring her to a Hilltop Crop, she'd fit right in. For lunch we are having Deliciously Simple. I guess it's some kind of home food demonstration party type thing. Ricky, our favorite masseuse is supposed to be there too.

Well, I'd better hit the hay. Tomorrow is our auditor's previsit, the big audit is next month. I want to be bright and shiny in the morning. Good thing I got the vault cleaned!

:J

We have a victory!!! WOOOHOOOOO! My Packers won and looked good doing it. I am so happy for Aaron Rodgers, hopefully he can move out from under the shadow of the Legend that was #4. He looked so awesome tonite, and someday, just maybe someday, they will forget about the that other guy (you know, the traitor).
It was a big biscuit day as my friend Kip likes to call them. I got our new windfeather flags at work. It took me awhile to get them up, along with a trip back to the factory for a new pole, but it was worth it! They look so awesome.
My latest CTMH order came in and I love it! I ordered two card sets and some stamp pads. I'm using the cards kits to make cards for my co workers as gifts. I am going to give them a set of cards for Christmas. These will be quick and easy for me to do for that. The new catalog came with this order, and OMG! love alot of it too. I've been waiting for CTMH to come out with a stamp pad revolving case for their stamps and they must have read my mind. It's in the new catalog!
My new stamps came from Violette's that Jean picked up for me. I love them! Such cute little fall stamps. I need to get busy with them now too.
This isn't really my big biscuit, but my niece's. She got engaged Saturday night! I'm so excited for her. She deserves much happiness.
That's my day, it was a good one!
I hope you have a good day too!

:J

Morning Monday!

I am just going to have to resolve that I am an every other day blogger. Just can't seem to get here to blog every day, even with all the time I spend on the computer.
Even today I'm on a run, have to make lunch and get to work so I can get back home to watch my Packers play! GO PACK!

:J

How are these days getting by me still? I am not that busy of a person, that I can't post about my uninteresting life every day.

So Friday was a good day. It makes two days in a row that the elephant wasn't sitting on my chest the whole time I was at work. That in itself makes me a happy woman. I had to go pick up the windfeathers (feather flags) we had made to advertise for school. Last year the big P wanted ideas to help promote our school. I suggested the wind flags and he agreed. So I got put in charge of the project!
Our flags turned out awesome!

I also ordered our tickets to fly home for thanksgiving. I can hardly wait!!!! We're just going for the weekend and leaving the boys behind. Poor babies! We'll do our family thanksgiving the Sunday before. That way they can take all the leftovers home to eat while we are gone. After they do all the dishes of course!

Football last night was exciting. It was great too see old friends I hadn't seen all summer. Football is a sporting and social event at our school. There are as many people on the track surrounding the game as there are fans in the stands. Although the fans cheered our team on, it wasn't enough, they lost 20 - 28. But not without thrilling moments when our receivers returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.
Dh's D line played well, but penalties on offense killed us.

Today is house cleaning, tropics watching and Sam's club shopping. Hubby's idea not mine. Maybe he'll buy me something????
I hope your day is a great one!

How do these days get past me? It's not that I'm living the exciting life, that's for sure. Life is just passing by sooooo fast, too fast for me.
Interesting article in our local paper this morning. 56% of the people living here in my county a)don't like living here, and b) plan to move in the next 5 years. Interesting. We chose to live here, this is where DH's Naval career ended, and we could have moved back home (up nawth). But we had one son in HS, one in Middle and one in elementary. We had good friends, lived in a good area, and were living a good life. I don't know what's happened here the past few years, but it's not the same town we retired in. Too many Walmarts (6) as opposed to the two we had when we settled, too many convienence stores, too many fast food places, too many car lots, too many many stuff. Not enough gas stations or grocery stores.
They closed my Albertson's this week. Soon it will be a Publix and I'll be happier. I like Publix. I wouldn't buy my groceries there everyday, too expensive. But I have the commissary for that (grocery store on base). Maybe Publix will improve the quality of life here.
In general, life is good for us. We're not as active as we once were here. But I think that comes with age and we would slow down a bit anyway, no matter where we lived. Not that we are sedentary by any means.
Speaking of not being sedentary, football starts Friday night for us. Keep good thoughts going for our boys as they try to break their 2 year losing streak. DH says they look good and the coaches are nervous. He told me to come get his wallet and cellphone at halftime if they are winning. LOL!
Friday I'm booking our flights to Wisconsin for Thanksgiving. The boys are not happy about that! Of course they are more worried about food then they are us going. They love the food at Thanksgiving. But we decided we need to go back up there, probably as often as we can afford to. Hubby wants to help his dad do some things before winter. I just want to get in the country.
So life goes on and it's quality life, it is what it is, and only what you make it.
So I do, make it that is.
:J

No Profound Words Today

I blog hop alot. Probably more than I really should spend my time doing, but I do. If you aren't a blog hopper, try it. Just click a link on some one's blog and go where you've never gone. Then click on a link on that blog and so on and so on.
So where am I going with this?
I just read the neatest story about motherhood. It puts it in perspective for me. So rather than copy and paste the whole story, so someone can misconstrue that I wrote this, here's the link My Life is a Gumbo Pot . And thanks to Michele for the stepping stone to this blog.
Where's the best blog you've ever hopped too??

:J

Back to Life

I have virtually hidden out at my house. Other than Saturday when I went to Natalee's SU party or out to dinner that night with the hubby, I've been a recluse.
Now granted, Gustav had something to do with that, but I had something to do with it too.
I thought I would spend the weekend scrappin'. But I just didn't feel inspired. I have projects I want to do, but when I sit down to do them, it just seems hard. Making cards at the SU party was easy and fun. But when it comes to just playing in my own room. Blah!
Would you say I'm in a funk? My butt hurts from sitting so much, I'm not a sitter. I am bored with tv, bored with shopping, bored with the computer. I guess I AM in a funk.
I have been inspired to eat, and too cook. Of course none of what I want to eat or cook is good for me. LOL! I know one thing, I need to snap out of this. It just isn't me. At least I don't think it's me. Is it?
About Gustav, it's rained alot all day but we've only gotten 3 inches. We had some winds, gusting to about 45 miles per hour. We even had a bit of thunder this evening. All in all we seemed to have weathered Gustav well. Thank goodness he didn't turn into the monster storm they thought he was going to be. But now when we do get a monster storm, will all those people who evacuated this time be so quick to leave next time? Now we have Hanna & Ike. Can we have a weekend without a hurricane bothering us?
I did get my family reunion pictures uploaded for the family to download. It doesn't seem like that was only a month ago. My new blog head is another from the Mississippi River. I used to love the barges going up and down the river. As kids we would always try to get them to wave to us. Did you know they (the tugs) all have names? Barge companies often name them similarly like Dixie Rose and Dixie Lee, Delta Queen & River Queen. That way we could tell if they were from the same company. Did you know that they post the barge traffic in the newspaper where I'm from. They put the day, time and name of the tugs who went up and down the river. Am I rambling? Okay I'll go do the dishes...
:J

Stormy Monday Morn

We've had 30 different tornado warnings since Midnite in our area. The rains and blustery winds come and go, so we're still keeping one eye on the weather channel. We'll be fine, DH is sure they will have football practice this afternoon. I told him I didn't think so since we are under tornado watch til 4 p.m.. But coaches think that doesn't apply to them. Parents think it applies to their children tho, so the coaches may be the only ones there. Crazy coaches.
Prayers for the folks west of us.
:J

An Evening on the Coastline

It's the time of year that I always question our choice to live on the Gulf Coast. We become anxious, keeping one eye on the television as we go about our daily activities, never quite trusting weather predictions, wanting to see the evidence for ourselves.
As the crow flies, or a seagull, since we are so close, we are about 3 miles from the gulf. It's highly doubtful we'll ever see a storm surge reach our house. Our damage comes from winds, as it did when Ivan came ashore just 4 short years ago.
Our home is nestled amongst 12 century oaks. I remind myself that they have withstood many hurricanes. But I remember too well one we lost during Hurricane Opal, and how Ivan took some big arms off a few others.
This time we'll just see tropical storm weather. For those of you who have never experienced a tropical storm, think of a strong thunderstorm lasting several hours. But tho they are predicting that Gustav is going west, we still keep our eyes on the storm updates, careful the storm to stall or jig our way.
But mostly we go about our business. We still grilled BBQ ribs today, with potato salad and corn slaw. I did a few loads of laundry, played in the scraproom and took a nap. In some ways it's just like any other day, with a sense of carefulness.

:J

Middle of the Night Ramblings

Can I say at 10 p.m. this evening I was more than ready for bed? As soon as I crawled in bed, shut off the light and slept for 15 minutes, I was wide awake again? I didn't want to power nap!
I think it's tree frog mating season. The froggies, they are a croakin'. At first I thought it was the fire alarm at the elementary school next door. It chirps in a froggie sort of way. But no, every once in a great while the froggies would break rhythm (take a breath maybe?) and start in again. Droning. Certainly girl froggies can't find that romantic.
Then my foot started cramping. I know, eat more bananas. Or at least that's what I tell hubby & the boys when they have cramps. I think we over did it on our walk today. 2 miles in 94 degree heat did both of us in.
So I got up, made a glass of milk, cut a piece of sheet cake, and enjoyed that. But now I have heartburn. Or, an ulcer, which wouldn't surprise me given the stress at work lately. It's just a job, I know. But I take it seriously. Too seriously.
I've been blog hopping. Everyone's kiddo's are back to school. Mine is too. He actually is enjoying school this year. Now he tells me about school, what happens, what homework he has. For years it was, "it was okay". Then he would tell his dad everything. The last few days it's been the opposite, he tells me everything and when dad asks, "it was okay". Do you think he would let me take a first week of school picture? Hmmmm. Mom's on a mission.
I'm feeling a little disturbed about a spider that has disappeared from our back porch. The guys have been talking about this spider, his huge webs, his big, thick, tarantula looking hairy legs. So tonite while we were grilling, I asked where he was. "oh he was right here by the back door, but now he's gone". Okay then, where da hell is he?? Especially since my outdoorsy, camping since diapers, knows all things scientific, son didn't know what kind of spider he was... Where IS he?
So what's up with Gustav? Get in the gulf and decide what you are going to do! I have preparations to make! Places to go! We have food, water, batteries, flashlights and radio. As soon as I know I should, I'll do the other prep things, fill the water jugs, clean up the lawn furniture, fill the propane tanks, pack the car, and leave town. I just hate the waiting game.
I did get groceries, including stuff to make homemade cinnamon rolls. Essential during a hurricane. Why not? If I stay I may need beer. Okay Corona, Limeade, and 7up. I have the tequila. We may need a margarita or two, if I stay here.
If Gustav isn't coming to visit, I have my weekend all planned out. Well that is unless my middle son comes to visit. They are waiting to see what Gustav is going to do also. So if he doesn't come, and Gustav doesn't come, I want to scrap. Truly scrap. For me. So I will. After Saturday that is. Saturday I'm going to a friend's house to make cards. I sooo need paper therapy. Stress relief.
Okay, it's one a.m., I should try to sleep, I don't hear the horny frogs anymore. Let's hope it stays quiet.
:J

Groceries for Gustav

We made a decision late last night after watching the late news & weather. We need to prepare for Gustav. I have the easier part of the job. Making sure we have groceries to last awhile that don't need refrigeration. To my family that means goober sandwiches and fruit. To me, it means all the chips I can eat!
I think I could live on chips. Chips of any kind really, potato chips, corn chips, whole wheat chips, even those chips made of funky non chip food, like banana chips. Just give me something I can throw a handful of in my mouth, I can survive for days.
The guys will be doing the really fun prep, securing the yard stuff, hammering plywood over the windows, gassing up the propane tanks. We'll all be ready.
I'll be ready to scrap for a few days. My new Cosmo Cricket Christmas kit arrived from QVC yesterday. It's adorable! I have a few items I'll give as Christmas gifts from that kit.
Dear Hubby, noticing that I have had a rough week, took me to Chili's last night for dinner. It could be that his coachie friends even recognized I was having a stressful week, and told him to be extra nice. We had a nice evening, dinner was fabulous, the margarita was devine. Just what I've needed this week. I have a much better attitude this morning. We'll see if it can last more than 10 minutes after I get to work. Hopefully this clean up and chase down process of paperwork will stop soon.
Well I'm off to get some groceries, chips, chips and more chips!

:J

Watching Gustav

Yes, we all know he's down there. I think if he heads my way, I'm going to jump in the car, empty my bank account and see how far away from him I can get. When DH, who never leaves, calls and says he has power back, I'll turn around and come home.
Unless, of course, I find a nice outdoor restaurant. Then I'll finish my dinner, my drink and my sitting before I come back. Because really, that's what my soul is needing right now.

:J

Bazaar Busyness!

A few things I've made for my MIL's church bazaar. I used scraps of left over paper to make most of this stuff. Some of the Pocket Calendars were made with the FREE paper I got the other day at the back to school breakfast. I just bought a package of embellies to decorate. The two blue calendars with flowers are the K & Co. Blue Awning paper. Love that! I really don't do anything really fancy for them. They like to keep the price down to around a couple bucks.

I've only one more project I promised to do for the bazaar, then it's back to scrappin' for me!

:J

It's Raining Again!

About 3 a.m. I awoke to the sounds of rain pounding on the roof. It hasn't stopped since. The radio is talking about all the flash flooding around the county. We have school, but I know it will be a madhouse, people can't seem to leave their kids in school when it rains around here.
Yesterday was gorgeous, sunny skies. I stayed busy scrappin'. I got several pocket calendars done, and altered a few letters for Christmas. Nothing fancy at all. I was not in a fancy mood, I was in a get it done mood. I get that way sometimes.
I'm supposed to go to a card workshop tonite, we'll see how the weather is. Saturday I have a Stampin' Up party to go to also. That should be fun as their new catalog just came out.
I guess I'd better head to work. Maybe it will rain enough we'll get out of school, HA!

I'll post pictures of my stuff I made later, like tomorrow.

:J

Sunday, the Sun is Shining!

We awoke to sunshiney breezes this morning. Bright sunshine, few clouds in the sky. They (those weather forcasters) say we will have rain and thunderstorms this afternoon. We'll see.
The "eye" went farther north, inland than previouly predicted. That was good news for us, we didn't get the storm as expected. So much for that extra day off tomorrow.
So I got all I wanted too accomplished yesterday. I baked the cake, it was scrumptious! The burrito pie was perfect the comfort food for a rainy evening. Laundry is done, even the curtains in the scraproom! I scrapped a bit last night and will probably spend most of today doing the same.
The rains may come and the rains may go
But all is good.

:J

Saturday

It's dreary, breezy but no rain, yet. I'm ready to hunker in and spend the weekend. I've got 10 pounds of fresh shrimp to get ready to freeze (I should just cook them). I'm baking PW's Chocolate Sheet Cake. I've got my ingredients to make Burrito Pie for dinner. I've got Pickle & Pimento Loaf for sandwiches (been cravin' those), I've got the wine chillin'. I've got laundry going. I've got scrappin' to do. All I need is to switch the TV from the NFL channel to something more captivating and I'll be all ready for FAY! Come on over girl, it's going to be a day!

:J

Football & Fay on Friday

TGIF! or at least it was for me. The first week students are back is always hectic, not as hectic as registration week, but hectic none the less. I could not wait for 3:30 p.m. and when it was, I was outta there!
My first stop was Michael's. I had a coupon I had to use. My theory is if they give me the coupon and I don't use it, I won't get another. So I did. I ran into Target for a rain poncho, before heading to the game. I meant to go by Panera Bread and get one more Summer Salad before they took it off the menu, but I got in the wrong lane and missed the turn.
I got to the game in plenty of time and throughly enjoyed not having to run the ticket booths. I watched the game, and caught up with old friends and people I work with every day, but never see.
If I didn't know better I would have thought it was October, as Fay's gentle breezes have begun blowing in our area. No rain, but I am looking forward to a weekend full of it. Patrick and I stocked up on groceries at 5:30 a.m. this morning, before I went to work. The house is livably clean, so I plan to stay in my jammies all weekend, scrap, and maybe open a bottle of wine.
If you don't hear from me all weekend, don't worry. We've weathered worse storms remember Ivan?) we'll get through this one too.

:J

Waiting on Fay

From what I can tell, Fay has begun her trek to our end of Florida. She sure is making the rounds in Florida, isn't she? I'm kinda looking forward to a weekend full of rain. It will keep me in the house and out of trouble! HA!

I went for a haircut and facial after work tonite. The facial was so relaxing, I loved it. Then I tried to meet Rick and Pat for dinner after. We met at Denny's, and they were "closed temporarily" (I wonder if the cop car outside had anything to do with it). So then we went a few doors down to Waffle House (the Awful Waffle as we call it). We went in, sat down and no one came to take our order, or even say a word. Then when the girl stood right beside us stacking glasses and didn't even acknowledge us, we walked out. My friends who were on my first cruise may remember one of my favorite sayings..."There's a reason you people work........).

So we came home. Rick had a goober sandwich, (that nasty peanut butter/jelly stuff) and I had a ham sandwich. How exciting was that. But my hair looks good and my face is untensed.

So back to Fay. I'm praying for rain, rain all weekend, I'll scrap all weekend. But don't start raining til after 10:30 Friday night. Our boys have their big intersquad scrimmage & BBQ. Can't miss that! Go Jags!

:J

I can't believe it's been since Monday that I've blogged! I'm sorry! Life just gets too busy for me sometimes. I'm back to my normal late morning routine, so I should be a better blogger, I promise.

This is my first late morning of the school year. I've been getting to school at seven, or earlier, but registration is over now. I can go back to my normal routine, whatever that is. I don't have to be to work til 10, so I'll switch back to blogging in the morning. When my mind is clearer...LOL!

Last night I met my friend, Chris, at Panera Bread for dinner and then we went to see Mama Mia! Such a cute movie! I don't know what music I was listening to back in the 70's and 80's but it must not have been ABBA. I only recognized half the songs. But that didn't matter, it was a great movie, Meryl Steep was awesome in it. I really liked all the characters, they were all just a hoot! We laughed and laughed! It was great to spend some time with Chris. We both stay so busy, we just don't get together enough!

It looks like our weekend my be a little rainy thanks to TS Fay. A front is supposed to push her over our way. I won't mind a rainy day or two. That means I'd have to stay home and find something entertaining to do, like SCRAP! I just hope DH's football scrimmage does't get rained out Friday night. He's looking very forward to that, as are the boys.

What are your plans this weekend?

Survived!

I survived the first day of chaos known as, the students return! Unbelievable! It's great to have everyone back and we are bursting at the seams with enrollment.

I got to school at 7 and the first time I got to slow down enough to look at the clock it was after 11. Speaking of 11, I have been putting in 11 hour days since I came back from vacation. That makes that vacation just a distant memory! I think I need another vacation.

11 hour days means lots of comp time, I've got over a week of comp coming. Too bad I can't take it all at once! I still have about 7 hours left from last year that I never used. Just didn't have time to take it....LOL! I'm going to use it up this year tho, every single minute.

Being so busy made the day fly by, that is til the last 45 minutes. They seemed to take the longest to go by. Once they did tho, I was outta there! I made the mistake of going to Wally World. Craziness! Then when DH got home from football he said, "wanna go to Wally world?" NO! He went alone and even brought home rotisserie chicken for dinner. Not my fav, but at least I didn't have to cook!

So tomorrow should be my last long day. Then I'll be back to blogging in the morning and joining some of the morning posts on the message boards. I miss starting my day like that!

My new blog header is from my vacation so many weeks ago. It's a picture I took from the State Park in my hometown in Illinois. That's the Mississippi River below, looking into Iowa on the right and my hometown on the left. There are 3 barges passing each other under and near the bridge. In all my life I don't think I've ever seen two barges pass each other, let alone three! I thought it was so awesome, just wish the day would have been clearer. Even my brother was amazed at three barges. I love that old river!

Okay it's bedtime, and I haven't scrapped at all today....tomorrow, tomorrow, there's always tomorrow!

:J

South Florida Friends Welcome Here!

Too all my South Florida friends, if you need to run from hurricane Fay, I have shelter for you!

:J

Shopping Was a Success! (in more ways than one)

I'll cut to the chase and tell you, we found THE dress! Felicia had done her homework and her planner was full of dresses she wanted to try. Charged up with Starbucks, and ready to go, we were off!
The first store she tried on several dresses, and held back one. It reminded us of the dress in the movie "Enchanted". Not absolutely sure, and still armed with the pictures from the magazines, we were off to the next store. We drove over to where it should be, and it wasn't there. But...it gave the address to the new location, so off we went in another direction. There it was!
Since it was a new store, it was a beautiful shoppe. Felicia showed the clerk her planner and the two dresses she really wanted. They had them BOTH! She tried on the first one, a floor length with a shorter hem in front and virtually no train. When she walked out of the dressing room, we all knew we'd found the dress! Absolutely stunning! WOOHOO! I was so excited I forgot to take a picture! Her dress is very vintage looking, something I would have picked for my wedding if they would have had it. Since they are getting married on the beach and having the reception in a pavillion on the water, she didn't want anything with a long train that would snag. Can you see her face when she found the dress?

 

I had arrived a little early to where we were going to meet to begin this adventure, so I slipped into Pier One to look around and kill time. I should know better than that, I always end up buying in there. They had this cute little cabinet that I couldn't resist. They had it in white or blue. I chose the blue as white is just too plain for me, and I can always paint it, but not duplicate this blue. Not quite sure what I'm going to do with it, but it was just too cute to pass up! I also got some small blue rimmed drinking glasses that match my glasses I bought in St. Augustine. Now I can get rid of those nasty, small, plastic glasses. I despise plastic glasses! Patrick likes small glasses tho, so we've always had them around for him.

 

Felicia's dad was so funny. He kept calling us, wanting to know if we'd found the dress. He wanted so bad to come with us, but her mom said NO!, it was a girls day. Even Geni came home from Troy State to shop with us. It was such a fun day and I'm so glad Felicia let me join them!

:J

I'm Shopping for a Wedding Dress!

Not for me of course! It's for my oldest son's fiancee'! They became engaged a few weeks ago and have set a date! May 2nd, 09. Today, Felicia, her mom, her sis, Gen, and I are going shopping for dresses. I'm so excited about going. I never thought I would get to shop for a wedding dress, since I have 3 boys.
Felicia and Dan have also asked me to make the invitations. I guess today we will talk about what it is she is looking for there. I know Dan is your typical man, he doesn't care!
So that's my day in a nutshell, nothing else on the agenda. I'll take lots of pictures, Felicia is a scrapbooker too so I know she'll want them. I leave you with a pic of the lovely couple!

Paid in Scrapbook Paper & Pudding

Today, on top of everything else ongoing with getting ready for school, we had our salad bar lunch. It's put on by the Hospitality fund from both schools, but the HS PTSA helped serve. They decorated the cafeteria so cute too! Beth & I ordered and got all the food together, making the taco salads and green salads. The big P for the HS made a pasta salad.
We served chicken salad, tuna salad, pasta salad, green salad and taco salad with banana pudding for dessert! We had just enough for everyone. Except for the banana pudding, we have a ton of that left!
As we were cleaning up, the PTSA was doing a drawing for the table flowers. They used mason jars filled with red, orange, yellow and white flowers for decoration. These sat on one sheet of matching scrapbook paper that they had bought at Michaels, surrounded by candies, pens, pencils and note pads.
I was cleaning up the food table when my principal's number was called. He commented he would rather have the left over chicken salad. So I gave him the container. Even tho it's Beth & I's favorite and we were going to stash it for lunch tommorrow. After we got everything all cleaned up, the PTSA mom who had bought the paper said, "why don't you take that paper? can you use it?" Well DUH!
So I guess my good deed in giving up the chicken salad, was rewarded by getting some papers! How cool is that!!
Of course I had to stop when I went by the Big P's office and let him know I was happy I got the scrap paper! and of course, we have the tuna salad stashed for lunch tomorrow. Along with gallons of homemade banana pudding. Pudding anyone???
:J

What Day is It Really?

Since getting home from vacation, my life is just a hubbub of activity. Not exciting hubbub, but busy, busy. I wish I had a few of those hours back that I did nothing on vacation.

It is a bluster of activity at school, getting ready for the students to start on Monday. Schedules to post, teachers to inform, new teachers to orient, it's always constantly something. I did get a few hours peace this morning while all the teachers were in meetings. I spent that scheduling more students. Then I spend the afternoons reporting to the Big Cheese on where we are on enrollment.

Does it ever end? Tomorrow is Salad Bar lunch day, so I came home and made a HUGE crockpot full of taco meat for taco salad. Since Rick is still at football practice, I haven't had supper, and it's smellin' really deliciously mexican in here.

So many things upcoming in the next few months. Fair time, Big Audit, (all the same week) travel to Clearwater at the end of Oct, and then Creepover. I think I'll just collapse afterwards. I'm a big stresser, so I'll be stressed till Creepover, where I can just collapse and be happy, get paper therapy. First I have to get through this audit. I'm in charge of all the visiting team's arrangements, food, supplies, and entertainment. I stress about people coming to visit, everything has to be perfect, beyond perfect.

Please keep mojitos & margaritas coming, I think I just put in an IV drip of them, then maybe I can make it through this.

:J

I've Been Awarded!

It's called the WYLDE WOMEN award and the purpose of it is "to send love and acknowledgment to women who brighten your day, teach you new things and live their lives fully with generosity and joy".

The rules are:

You can give it to one or one hundred or any number in between - it's up to you.
Make sure you link to their site in your post.
Link back to Tammy's blog so that she can go to visit all these wonderful women, and
Remember the Purpose of the Award.

I am emmensely honored to receive this from Roz. She said way too many good things about me on her blog. She put me in company with people of which I am not worthy, Kip, Jules, and Deb. Lastly, Roz inspires me as a mom, a teacher of special babes, and an artist. Thanks Roz!

So I will follow the rules as best I can, I can't link to Tammy, so I hope she can find the people I list. I of course would list everyone Roz listed, as they inspire me too. And there's a few people who don't blog I would list. Like Gerri Ann & Barb from KnK, like my niece, Sarah, who, for as young as she is, she knows how to live life to the fullest! Love that girl!
Then there's the girl who should update her blog.....My much older sister, Susie, who taught me EVERYTHING I know about being a Wylde Woman, and who is much more artistically talented than me. I'm just more vocal, it's that middle child thing. She is my Wylde Woman.

Teri - Teri inspires me not only with her awesome talent, but her can do it ness! I truly believe there isn't anything she can't do! She too, knows how to live it up and have fun!

Darla - She says in her blog her optimism is forced, but I don't think so, I think she's naturally optimistic! Darla scraps for the right reasons, and I love her work! She inspires me the way she sticks to things and doesn't let the obstacles get in her way! Someday, I want to meet Darla IRL and spend some time hanging & scrappin' with her. I'm sure it will be a gut busting time!

Di - I love how Di is always going out of the box. She truly is one of the most creative people I know. I wish we were closer, because she is a person I'd love to learn more from, just not her freaky face people.....LOL!

Linda - Talk about a Wylde Woman! If you are looking for a truly awesome time at a crop go to one of Linda's at Hilltop, you will never be the same! Linda knows how to make sure everyone has a great time, from the beginner to the most experienced cropper. She has spoiled many of us to be able to crop anywhere else.

Michele - Michele is one of the most generous people I know. She brightens every crop I've been to with her, and she's always going somewhere, doing something. That living the life thing. Love her!

and last but not least, my favorite daily blog, only because she is such an adventurer, Suzanne, not a scrapbooker, but an author. Certainly one of the most creative, life lovin' & livin' people I know. How many of us is adventurous enough to move to the mountains, live in a 100 year old farmhouse while your home is being built, and start a farm? Her stories of her goats, chickens, dogs and life start my day with a smile. I think she must get up before dawn, because no matter when I get up, she's got a new post for the day!

Even tho I could make this list a few more people long, I have to leave some for others to award. All my friends are Wylde Women, it's great being at a point in my life that I can live it Wylde! If you're not livin' it Wylde, you're not livin!

Make it a good day!

:J

PICTURES!

I have to start off with this because I think it's my favorite of Sarah and I from the whole week. We couldn't find the a pitcher to make our Mambo Margarita's in so we compromised. And since we didn't have margarita glasses either, we compromised there too. When in the woods, Compromise!
 
Rick and I at the Shareholder's meeting. They had a locker set up for pictures and we bit in. This is before I got my luggage so I borrowed a t-shirt, (thanks Pa!) Don't we just look the touristy type?
 
Ben wanted s'mores from the minute we were done with dinner. He and I had a long discussion about making s'mores and how they really do taste better after dark. He wasn't quite convinced so he made one early. Then we waited til after dark. Just as we were putting our marshmallows on the sticks, the crickets chirped. I exclaimed, "hear that? it's the s'mores alarm! It's time!" This is his idea of the perfect marshmallow for s'mores. And he agreed, s'mores do taste better after dark!
 
Our last evening in Wisconsin we went to a lodge on Silver Lake for dinner. The beach and lake were covered with people enjoying a Saturday on the lake. I couldn't resist taking a picture of the kids on the dock slide. They had a black lab running around with them too, but he's blocked by the lady on the boat. It was the perfect Norman Rockwell summer evening on the lake. I miss that simple pleasure. Every child should get one summer evening on a lake, every child.
 
So that's my first four pictures. So many great memories made again in such a short span of time together. If we were together more, would the memories be as special? I think so, because we really are a fun group!

:J

Cherished Memories

Along with 30 or so fantastic old family pictures from Hubby's family, I was also able to update alot of family history. I added 300 names to my geneology tree. All of them of course from hubby's family.

My MIL was in possession of two family trees, chroniciling her family history on both her mother and father's side. I'd seen her mother's side book, but never her father's. It was wonderful to read because not only did it tell about all the Fesing family tree, it told about the huge family farm, where it is, who owns it now, etc. It is still in the family! (road trip!) I was lucky enough to be able to copy this book. It will be an excellent document for proving family history as our family grows.

Her mother's family book is a huge document, mostly researched by her cousin, Jane. It was from that that I was able to add so many names. Some branches of that family are 8 generations long! Ours is only 5 or 6. Rick remembers his grandmother speaking german.

DH's father's family is not so well documented. I do know his grandparents names who came to the states to settle in Wisconsin. They were two brothers. I think I am going to try to further research this side of his family.

I know you are probably looking for pictures still. I PROMISE it's the first thing I'll do tomorrow! I'll post the ones from my cameras, and I'll begin scanning the ones I brought home. The latest KnK kit will be perfect for Rick's grandfather's pictures. The theme last month was travel and he was a trolley car driver! Can't wait!

:J

Yep, It's True!

Yep, Brett's a Jet!
Ted's an Idiot! (we should have traded him!)
I'm still a Packer Fan.
I still love Brett.
I'm not nor will I be a Jets fan.
I will watch Brett, but not cheer for the Jets.
Food for thought: What if the Jets make it to the Superbowl and so do the Packers?

:J

Looking for Pictures?

Come back on Saturday. I'm just not going to get to it til then. I should, but I won't!
I have to tell you about my day. I was chugging along, plugging people & their schedules into the computer, I hear a BOOM and the lights flicker! Then I realize we are on our auxillary power and I have no computer screen. I step out of my office and outside, just in time to hear another boom and to see a light that was soooo bright I thought Jesus was coming. The wires on the pole out by the road are just a smokin'! Oh great!
The UPS hub is across the street from us and they are expanding/remodeling. Apparently one of the bucket trucks hit a line. I go back in as our tech, Mark says, "No computer for at least an hour and half AFTER we get power back. Oh great!
Just what I need during registration.
But I busied myself with filling and paperwork until lunch. Lunch was early because I had a 1 p.m. meeting. I usually don't eat til 1, but it was nice to eat early. I was one of the lucky ones who could eat. I had a salad, alot of people had food that had to be cooked in a microwave.
So at one of I go to the meeting. 8 of us, in an enclosed room with no air circulation. Debating hypothetical schedule solutions for NEXT year. I won't go into the boring details, but the meeting went on for 3 and a half hours. We did get power back at some point, but no air came on as it takes quite a few hours for the air handler to reboot. We also didn't settle much. Another meeting is forthcoming.
Back I go to finish scheduling, and I worked over a few hours to get done. I couldn't have gotten it done without the help of the two 70's music CDs that Lori had lent me earlier in the day. I put them in, cranked it up and jammed while I got all of today's students enrolled.
My DH is a doll, he took me to the Crab Trap where we had some great seafood and I had a Corona. Lori's girls were working. It was good to see them. Savana starts UWF soon. She's earned enough money this summer to live off campus with some girls.
Well, it's late, I've got dishes to do and clothes to put in the dryer.
I hope you day is wonderful!

:J

Wednesday?

Can the week be half over already? It's registration week for us and since I'm the only person putting things in the computer, you know how my last two days have been! ARGGHHHHH!!!!!
Of course everyone when they walk in my office sees what a Packer fan I am. And of course they all have to know what I think of the Favre drama. So I'll say this. The Pack will be good this year, with or without him. My only reservation with Aaron Rodgers is he's never stayed healthy all year. Favre we know plays through anything.
All the polls I've seen are 80% in favor of Brett returning. I could live with that. I could not live with him in Minnesota or Chicago. I could live with him in Tampa. Too all my Tampa friends, remember, I have first dibs!
So really, I just want the drama to be over. Brett's whining is unbecoming. He is being a crybaby, but I do think he deserves to have a chance to compete for the starting QB job. Let's face it Ted Thompson is going to pick who he wants anyway. And NO I do not like Ted. He's a snake in the grass.
So that being said, I'm off to the showers. I haven't scrapped, I haven't even been in the scraproom more than 5 minutes. Actually I can't scrap as my "tools" are in route, I shipped them home. Yes, I did scrap in WI.
Have a wondermous day!

I'm Home!!!

Luggage and all, minus my cell phone, we made it in about 4:30 p.m. today. It has been a long 12 hours, but worth every minute, every penny.
I left my cell phone in WI, I wasn't very awake at 4 a.m. when we left, and I guess this is payback for my comment on the way to the airport that we should win the "nothing left behind" award. I realized my cell phone was left right after we got to the airport.
Our flights were good, the layovers nice, and I guess it's good to be back home. I'll miss the wonderful weather we had, the humidity here hit us in the face immediately. We really need to go visit in January, to remember why it is we don't live there!
I've lots of catching up to do everywhere, so be patient if I don't blog right away. I also have Registration week for school, so twelve hour days will be a norm for a bit. Nothing like coming back and jumping right in!
Missed you all!

:J

Words From the Woods

It's been almost a week since I last blogged. I know, I know. I'm in the woods, where even the dial up is slower than life. I'm not complaining, it's wonderful here. I love the slowness of the day and when you are enjoying family, you want the days to be slow, if not stopped.
My luggage didn't get here the same day as me. It took a side trip to Detroit. Two days later, after I'd bought some things to wear, (oh no! a shopping trip?) it arrived on our doorstep.
I didn't get to wear my "Thanks 4 the Memories" shirt to the Shareholders meeting at Lambeau, but I certainly didn't let THAT stop me from going. We had a wonderful day there, and it was an awesome experience to be a part of. I was even part of filming a Citgo commercial that will air during the Packer games.
The reunion Saturday was great fun and I held my own with the relatives again. As if there were any doubt about that! Rick's cousin, Bobby John, made a comment how the older generation can really bake and the younger (ours) doesn't. HA! He has not lived that down yet. He will be besieged with Christmas cookies this year from several of us. We also discussed that the older generation is more servient than our generation, and we assured him that was something that was NOT going to change!
It was a day filled with much love and laughter, especially from our end of the get together.
Sarah and I have had long walks in the country, the flowers are gorgeous, the Sand Hill Cranes and deer have provided lots of company as have the rabbits and birds in abundance. I love it! We encountered a young Amish man riding a horse on our first walk and I think he was enamoured with Sarah! LOL! But then so was the 70+ year old man who offered to hold her grocery list at the store.
We shopped one day in Oshkosh, but I've yet to get into a scrapstore. That will happen tomorrow. We've been busy buying up the yummy veggies (Kolarobi?) and I found a handmade quilt at a yard sale for $20 that looks brand new. Of course you are asking where are all the pictures of these things? We're on dial up and I am not patient in that area. I promise to add pictures!
My four year old great niece, Anastasia, found out that four year olds do not have the corner on hissy fits. After she threw her umteenth hissy of the weekend, I threw one right back. She stopped, and looked, and stared, and finally remarked to her grandmother, "She looks silly!" and now she realizes how silly SHE looks. We all laughed at that lesson learned.
I'm off for a meeting at the church for the Christmas bazaar. I've made a few things for them and every week they meet to work on things so we are going. Tomorrow I head to my brother's in IL for an overnite visit, then it's back to the woods for a few more days. I probably won't blog, I'm not a patient dial up person. There are a few modern day conviences I've learned I can't live without. But the rest, I leave behind and spend the rest of my life here, in the woods.
:J

Oh This Isn't Lookin' Good!

I tried to check in for my flight from the hotel, and I couldn't. I tried the self help Kiosk at the airport, no luck. I go to the counter and my flight has been changed. All is okay now tho, although my flight may be a bit later arriving at Atlanta. Is okay, all will be well.
Last night we traveled to the Mandarin area of Jacksonville to visit Clark's seafood. A definite must try if you are ever in the Jax area. Out of the way on Julington Creek, it's a local place. Filled to the roof with stuffed animals of every kind, Clark's is one of those places where you spend all evening looking around and seeing something different each time you look.
The Jaguars protected us from overhead while we ate.
 
The seafood platter is just a dot on the menu compared to all they offer. Everything from seafood to steaks to hot dogs to kangaroo is offered. Yes they have a bit of the exotic on their menu. I ordered the seafood platter that included catfish, shrimp, scallops, frog legs, oyster, octopus, gator and shark bites all for less than $20! The Hair of the Jag was a delicious drink to go with. My counterparts, not as brave as I, enjoyed shrimp platters and catfish.
 
On the way out we were bid adeiu by these creatures.
 
I'm off on my adventure, hope to check in soon. Below is the BEACH Book!
:J

Sarah's Beach Book

It's not fancy, but I just LOVE how the Creative Imaginations Tidepools paper and embellies played into this book. The colors are so rich and seaworthy. I'll find out tomorrow if she likes it. And if she doesn't,,,,,,well, I know a few people who will take it off my hands. Sorry it's not cropped and prettied up. This is it. Enjoy!
:J
P.S. Sarah is the blonde with the little boy (her son) on the first page. The rest of the pictures are of our family at the beach reunion in November. She's Rick's niece and goddaughter. As is the dark haired girl with the two boys a few pages back. That's Jen, his other niece and goddaughter. Love them so much!

Internet Finally!

As much as I love the internet, and am totally in withdrawals when I don't have it, I just couldn't see paying $13 a day for it! Seriously, for what we have paid for these rooms, you would think internet would be free!
My room is comfy and the bathroom is very elegant. But I didn't even have a coffee pot in my room! We were told that coffee pots in the rooms were seasonal and they take them out in the summer! But we were able to request them. Now I have coffee too.
I broke down this evening and paid the $13 for internet. I wanted to check flights and email. Okay, I was nosy as to what all my blogging friends have been up to also!
And yes I know I have not posted the BEACH book. I was going to do that tonite, but the batteries in my camera are dead. But it's charging now. I PROMISE before I get on the plane, I'll post the book. So by noon Wednesday est, the book will be here.
On the excitement front, the meetings are boring, but informative. The beach is gorgeous, but we have to ride a shuttle to get there. My butt hurts from sitting.
The food we've eaten has been phenomenal! I bet I've gained 20 pounds! We found a Greek cafe where we've been eating breakfast, I've had Crispers! for lunch (LOVE that place!) We've had Sticky Fingers Ribs for dinner, YUM! Joe's Crab Shack YUM! oh and a place called Harry's, that had cajun/southern food. OMG YUM!
I want to take my bed and all my pillows with me. It's soooo comfy. I will make sure to take pictures, I promise. But it's late and I have to begin this meeting stuff at 8 a.m. again.
So it's nighty night time! I promise pictures, I promise!
Oh and for my Mojito drinkin' friends.... Parrot Bay Mojitos in the bottle (6 pack) OMY!!!!!
Till later,
:J

The Adventure Begins!

It's Saturday and in a bit I'm off for the beginning of the Adventure that will be my life the next two weeks. The first leg of the trip is boring meetings in Jacksonville, then it's off to Wisconsin for 10 days in the woods.
The upside to the boring meetings is my BFF lives in Jax. I've invited her to stay with me at the "resort & spa". She can hang at the pool while I am slowly dying of boredom. But watch out in the evening!
I will post pics of the BEACH book tonite, I promise!!!

:J

Thursday? It's only Thursday?

I'm wishing my life away, as my FIL says. I want the week to be over and the travel to begin! Even tho I have a ton of stuff to do before I take off for two weeks, I want to go now!
Last night I did take a break and met my friend, Linda, at the beach after work. Actually she met me as I broke speed limits to get there, LOL! We sat on the beach and watched all the tourists go home and the locals arrive. We were amazed at the older couples that came out after 5 to sit by the water, swim, read, eat dinner and relax. We watched the ghost crabs chase each other all over the dunes, and the sunset was one to write home about.
It was almost 8 p.m. when we left. I ordered a pizza from Rick & I's favorite beach place and headed home with that for supper. It was a very relaxing evening. One I'm sure I needed.
So today it's back to the saltmines. Lots to do there before I go since I will come back to first day of student registration. OY!
Have a wondermous day!

:J

Oh Brett!

Since everyone is asking, and I do mean everyone, I can't get anything done at work for all the interuptions about Brett. I guess I'll have to get up on the soapbox and give my opinion. Which in this forum is worth more than the cent and a half it is anywhere else.
Brett. Baby, what are you thinkin'? We all know you can still play ball. We all admire you for your tenacity on the field. We all think you are the greatest QB ever. But Brett, this crybaby stuff doesn't suit you.
The Pack doesn't want you? Come on. It's a football organization! A rather good one at that. You are now spoiling your and the Green Bay Packer's legacy with this he said/I said stuff. Seriously Brett.
YOU said you wanted to retire. The Packer nation cried with you during that seemingly sincere retirement cry fest. WE mourned. We've played all the scenerios of what the Pack will be like without you. We accepted that it may never be the same.
You gave us a heck of a run. One well worth the great dry spell we suffered through before you came to the pack and after Bart Starr. We loved every moment. We embraced you, we loved you, and still do. But you are acting like a brat. A big BRAT.
I know it must be hard for you the closer it gets to August. Because for every August, for as long as you can remember, it's been football season. Football runs through your veins. It is as much a part of you as every grey hair in your grizzly beard on that gorgeous face of yours. But Brett, it's time to change the routine.
You are an awesome QB. No doubt, no argument. But life goes on and time doesn't stand still. Move on. Not to another team. Not to sour grapes.
Move on. Move on to enjoying the things that have not stood still. Move on to enjoying your family, your farm, fishing & hunting, and driving the tractor. "Start looking through the front window of life instead of the rear view mirror." Your words, not mine.
Every August anyone who loves football gets that itch for the season to start, to be a part of the routine of football. Players itch to play, fans itch to watch. Brett, just scratch and move on. Keep the memories of the legacy you have earned the right too. Stay a Packer for life, again your words not mine, slow down, enjoy life. You've earned it.

Is It Over Already?

The weekend that is! Actually yesterday was a nice, productive, slow, relaxing day. Today, on the other hand has flown by! The blues got to fly today and the rain started just as their show ended. I'm glad they got that in.
I was up early in the day, had my coffee, read the paper, checked on my blogging friends. We did the comissary run, and a stop by the exchange. We were shopping for DH, but he didn't find anything. I scored 3 new tops and a pair of capris, and also an 80G portable hard drive. I have way too many pictures, if a scrapbooker can have too many, but too many for my little laptop. So all the pictures are on the portable HD now. Now I just need to be brave and push the delete button on all my pictures here on the laptop. I don't want to do that....will someone come do it for me?? Next step it to get all my geneology stuff moved to the porta HD.
So I'm back at the Exchange tomorrow, somehow I picked up a 3X blouse! Thank goodness I don't need that! I hope they have the same blouse in a much smaller size. I love the new fall colors that are coming out. The traditional Fall colors, oranges, yellows, blues and greens, browns are back! Thank goodness! I picked up a pair of brown capris, sunflower yellow top and a blouse in brown, yellow, blue and green. Those three pieces match so it will be good for travel, especially to the conference next week. The returning top is green's and browns, let's hope they have it.
I put some time in on that BEACH book too. I tried the new Creative Imaginations Sticky2 adhesives. It's a double sided patterned adhesive that you can use with flock, glitter, microbeads, etc. I cheated and used We R Memorykeepers glitter sheets on it. I love how it looks! I promise pics soon! I am so loving this book! Hmmmmm, Sarah doesn't know she's getting it....NO! I wouldn't do that!
Speaking of beach, no beach time this weekend for me. Darn! Yesterday was a wash...(get it?) with the rain, and today by the time we got all our "stuff" done, it was raining. So my plan is to wait til one afternoon this week to burn the 3 hours comp time I have left. I'll accrue soooo much in the next month anyway, it will take another year to burn it! So I should use it!
It's bedtime, I think I've covered everything, still no news on our stakeout last night, I'll email my resources tomorrow. Till then, be wondermous!

:J

Soaked Saturday

About the time the Airshow was supposed to start, the skies opened up. That was 10 hours ago, it hasn't really stopped since. So it would have been one of those days to just lay around in bed with a book. But you know me, I didn't do that.
I worked on the next BEACH book. This one is for Sarah, have I told you that. My dilemma is whether or not to put pictures in it for her. Otherwise, I'm almost done. I thought about giving her a CD with all my beach reunion pictures on it. I'm not sure if she has them or not. I'll post pictures of the book tomorrow. It's alot like the last one, but I changed a few things up. I love the Tidepools paper. SO Rich!
So laundry is done, house is clean (thanks Patrick!) and I've been scrappin'. Does life get any better?

:J

P.S. after I posted this DH came in locked all the doors, I thought he was going to bed. No! We had a squad car with it's lights on parked in front of our house. He didn't know what was going on, but said the cop would get on his loudspeaker and tell people to get back in their houses. He didn't see DH lurking in our backyard. But DH thought he'd better come in. The car stayed in front of our house for over an hour. After he left we went out and talked to our neighbor next door. He said there was also a squad car at the end of the street coming in of one of the main roads. That's all we could find out, nothing in the paper this am. So now I'm wondering what was going on. We have a small park around the corner from our house, maybe something there. A few questionable houses in the neighborhood too. Who knows? I'll let you know if I hear anything!

Wonderful Weekend!

It's a sunny, thunderbooming morning here. I'm hoping the thunder & it's impending storm clear off before noon when the Blues start their Air Show. Not that I'm going but I know thousands of tourists paid big money to come sit on the beach and watch them fly. We watch them every Tuesday, from just about any spot in Pensacola.
It's just a weekend here for me. I have to begin packing for my travels that begin next weekend. First I'll be in Jax for the MISAFOR/WEDDAC conference. Doesn't that sound fun? Then it's off to Wisconsin, for a family reunion and Packer's Shareholder meeting. Capped off with 10 days in the woods there, I'm getting excited!
But for this weekend, I need to get some groceries, do some shopping, and begin packing. I will have a few hours to play in the scraproom. Or at least I hope too. I also need a beach fix, but I'll go to the other beach, not the one where all the tourists are watching the Blues.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

:J

Don't Have a Heart Attack!

I'm posting a Layout! I love scrappin' the Heritage stuff the most. Love, Love the old pics. This was done with the KNK July Kit. I just loved this kit when I got it!! It's my favorite kit of their's of all time! There are quiet a few close seconds, but this I just loved! It features K & Company's newest line, Blue Awning, which I think is the best paper & embellies they have put out in a long time!!!!
 
The picture is of my Dad, Owen, and his baby brother, Ned. The picture was taken in 1914, but I figure it must have been late in 1914 because Dad would have been 3 in June, and he's a good sized three year old there. I have the original picture of this, it's in a 16 x 20 oval frame with a convex oval glass. I'll have to take a picture of it sometime to show you. It hangs in my scraproom and I'm surprised it's survived all these years without the glass breaking. It's one of the things that goes with me when I evacuate for a hurricane.
Anyway get your tail over to KNK and check these papers out!
So now on to my day. MEETINGS! I won't bore you with details but I had 3 two to three HOUR meetings today. YIKES! I put in overtime! What is the most frustrating to me is when the "great powers that be" in our state DOE, forge ahead with a plan but don't know how to tell us to do it. "We don't know how it's all going to work, but we are forging ahead and it will be in place in less than a year" or when we ask a question, "we don't have someone here to answer that" Well where are they?????
So it was meeting after meeting, and since I got out late, I didn't get to Hobby Lobby, and when I did get home I didn't go because I left my coupons at work. And it's a sin to me not to take that coupon!!!!
Tomorrow is another day. My friend, Linda, will be home from the Land of Oz (Kansas) and I'll pick her up from the airport. Oh happy day!
So we're off to see the wizard!

:J

Promised Pictures

I've been busy as a bee and promising pictures, so here are some. First, the pretty much empty, painted room. The only thing that didn't get moved out was the cabinet. We needed something to hold all our paint and tools!
 
Another view looking out toward the hallway. Boring I know.
 
Okay here is a finished corner. My cabinet, which is holding inks, stamps, and small containers of embellies. The IKEA boxes, holding all kind of embellies, tools, chipboard, and I don't even have them half full. I made them alllll by myself. I built them, stained them, sanded them, and polyurethaned them. ALL BY MY SELF!! My Prima flowers deck out the top and my vintage Lone Ranger Carnival Chalkware statue guards it all. The Lone Ranger was a thrift shop find 30 years ago for a quarter. Don't ya love him?
 
So as soon as I get more cleaned up, straightened up and ready for the public, I'll post more pictures!
P.S. sorry but due to the fact that I am not looking for canadien pharmacies, you have to do the verification thing when you comment. Sorry, I had too.

:J

All in the Name of Progress

First of all I have to tell you about my day, then I'll tell you about the toolbelt.
Why do people have to wear overpowering cologne? I like cologne as well as the next person, but when you reek? That's as bad as having B O in my opinion. Today someone was reeking of cologne. Now don't ask me how I know, but they smelled like a bad incense party. I had 70's flashbacks all day. Then...someone else must not have liked the smell either, I think they dumped a container of Baby Powder in their office. My sinus' were dying. If I didn't have 200+ survey edit errors to correct, I would have gone home. Then, when I was 12 errors from being finished, downtown called and said "Stop making corrections, we think the state has their edit filters messed up" I love my job, love my job, love my job. We do what we have to do,to be able to do what we want to do. That's my new mantra....
But luckily as soon as I left the building, my headache disappeared. I got home, finished polyurethaning (is that a word?) my IKEA boxes, and rearranged in the scraproom. It's coming together! I'm going to love my new boxes. I can get it organized. I'll be a scrappin' fool!
Pictures will follow soon I promise. Believe it or not I'm scrappin' in all this mess. With the family reunion just weeks away, I have a few gifts to finish. I can't show up empty handed can I?

Never Say Never

Not even one week ago, I made the comment that I NEVER wash my baseboards. I have too much to do to waste my precious time washing baseboards. Don't come to my house and look at my baseboards, because they are dirty. Yada, Yada, Yada.
Well, yesterday I washed the baseboards. Just in the newly expanded scraproom mind you, but still I washed the baseboards. I also scrubbed the floor. While I was at it, I dusted the windowsills. So if you come to my house, just look in the scraproom. It's the cleanest.
Cluttered, but clean. My hubby looked in as I was attempting to arrange things and said, "I thought you were going to have more room." Well, I do, I just have to find somewhere to put all this stuff. I have too much stuff. Way too much. So I'm going to become a scrappin' fool. Without buying anything, I'm going to scrap til it's gone. Yeah, just like I don't do baseboards. LOL!
I think this was the longest 3 day weekend in recent history for us. For once, we stayed home. We didn't even go to the fireworks, we had some here. They were cool fireworks too. Probably illegal in this state, okay I know they were. But they were cool!
I stained and varnished my IKEA drawers, yeah, been putting that off too. But no longer, they are almost done. 3 of them are done, 3 need one more coat of polyurethane. I can say I did them ALL BY MYSELF. I amaze even me. LOL!
We ate good this weekend too. Burgers, steak, Fried chicken, Bratwurst, tater salad, corn salad, mushrooms & onions, PW's Aussie crashed potatos, and a few brownie sundaes. YUMM! I think I've gained twenty pounds.
Okay, I've stayed up way to late watching "The Great Debaters" best flick I've seen in a long time. I learned alot. Denzel Washington is awesome, I wonder if Brett would mind sharing me with Denzel.
Speaking of Brett, he's NOT coming back. Don't believe the rumors. We did get our tickets to the Shareholders meeting. It will be fun to go, talk to the guys, give them my secret play strategies. So if you are in Lambeau Field, July 24th, I'll be the one taking over the team... LOL! I'm delirious, I need sleep!

:J

Saturday!

I love three day weekends!!!! I am hoping the gas crisis causes us to go to a four day work week. I would be in heaven! Love having 3 days off!
Yesterday was a lazy day, for me at least. I made potato salad, corn salad and brownies for our 4th of July dinner. Then I lazed around the rest of the day, doing laundry, reading and napping. Such is the life!
Our fireworks were great, although I think Patrick got a little miffed that Dad was lighting all of them. I think he thought he would get to play too. Dad's just ready to relinquish the pyrotechnic reins to anyone yet. Just like Christmas, Dad has to hand out the presents. It's a Dad thing.
But we had fun and Dad did let Patrick load the mortar and light the sparklers. LOL! I gave him a pack of firecrackers too. By then he was lighting them and tossing them in Dad's direction. KIDS!
Today we'll begin moving all the scrap stuff into the bigger scraproom. Rick painted it yesterday, Cozy Cottage, which is a light lemony yellow. I think I'm going to really like it. We also have to make a pool store trip, and sometime this weekend I need a commissary run. I just love three day weekends, so much time, so relaxing!
I hope your weekend is relaxing too!

:J