It's Hump Night!

I wish! Actually I'm alone in my hotel room blogging, waiting for our exciting meetings to start tomorrow. So the only thing I'll be doing tonite is sleeping..
This morning I had a nice surprise when I let the dog out for his morning run. A few years ago I planted a clementis vine beside our pool deck, next to our patio. This morning it bloomed!!! It looks like it will bloom a few more days as it has several buds on it also.

 

A few coworkers are with me on this trip and we went to one of the guys houses to pick him up. Once we got there, we didn't want to leave!!! Henry lives on the bay and this is his view from his living room deck. He can watch the Blue Angels fly from several rooms in his house.

 

This morning there was a sailing regatta going on, can you see the sails?? In the background are the builings out on Pensacola Beach. We seriously didn't want to leave. I think all of us could have just spent the afternoon with an adult concoction in hand, watching the boats sail by.

 

Here's another picture from his house. His original house was totally destroyed by Hurricane Ivan. His new one sits on stilts. I volunteered to house sit anytime he needs a housesitter! I told him I wouldn't even have wild parties. I'd just sit on the deck and while the day away. Couldn't you??

It's not been a week!!

Almost, but not quite. I'm sorry. I'm just not a good daily blogger. Of course you know I lead a boring daily life.
The weekend was dreary, but that didn't stop Sharon, Ann and I from making a quick trek over to Alabama to Gigi's. The trip was worth it, She had in the new Graphic 45papers Fashionisa, Transatlantique and the child's paper. Had to have them!
Sunday was more of the dreariness, but I did get the guys shirts for the wedding, which is only two weeks away!!! They are wearing the linen cuban shirts and khaki pants. The ones I found were white with a Khaki stripe down each side. Rick's shirt is a little different, since he's not in the wedding party technically.
I also got my dress, it's off white with big poppies on it. I also found a little cream colored
crocheted jacket to match. Just in case it's breezy that evening on the beach.
Work had been just that. Tedious, getting ready for the end of the year reporting. I leave tomorrow for 3 days of meetings in Tallahassee again. How fun! Hopefully we'll be gack early on Friday!!!
Speaking of the saltmines...it's time to go!

Bad Blogging

Truly, I lead a boring life. So not much to say, but I will.
The last couple of days I've had the spring allergy sinus headache. I've been eating antihistimines and tylenol. That dulls it for awhile but it roars back with a vengence after awhile. Today, I had an appointment for facial and I almost didn't go. But the girl who does my facials is phenomenal and soon she'll have enough facials done that she won't be able to do any more (she's at our vo tech school). But I went anyway and I'm sooooo glad I did!
Truan did wonders and cleared my sinus headache all away! I didn't tell her about my sinus pressure, I really think she felt it. She really concentrated on my sinus area, by the time she was done, I had quit hurting. So AWESOME! I quick booked another facial for in a few weeks. I have to take advantage of a good facialist when we get one! I told her she had a true gift and tipped her tremendously!
Still trying to talk the Big P into adding Massage Therapy into our curriculum so I can take advantage of that too!
The super came by to visit our school too. He came to congratulate our high school's first ever National Merit Scholar finalist! HOw awesome is that? Our high school has only been around 7 years.
About 5 minutes after the super made the big announcement, I heard the girl in the main office (next to me) just a hollaring and carrying on like she was panicked. Nothing rattles her, so I had to go see what was wrong. Apparently a piece of "paper" was sticking out from under a cabinet in her office. She used her shoe to pull it out from under the table. It wasn't a piece of paper but one of those glue mouse pads that the county had put down to catch some mice. It had done it's job because there was a live mouse stuck to it! Ann couldn't get her shoe off the pad or off her foot. She was freaking! She finally got her shoe off and then we got her shoe off the pad. Finally the custodian came and took the mouse pad away.
It was our laugh of the week.
So maybe life isn't so boring...sometimes it just feels that way.

The Weekend was Just Ducky!

I took off Thursday afternoon for a visit in Orange Park with one of my oldest and dearest friends. I love visiting Karen, her house is so relaxing and peaceful. No one to take care of but us. It leaves us to our merry whim, whatever we want to do that day we do.
I'm an early riser, so every morning I could be found on her back porch with my morning coffee, watching the wildlife that habitate the canal she lives on.
The first morning Mama duck brought her three babies to meet me. She came right up to the screen door, just a squaking away! I found out that she expects bread every morning. So I gave her some. She kept a watchful eye out while her babies ate, then she had some too.

 

Daddy Duck wasn't far behind. He stayed further out in the yard, keeping his eyes open for the resident hawk of the canal. It took both of them to keep their babies safe from the hawk

 

This bird, an egret I think, would never come up in the yard to eat. I think he preferred fish and frogs which I wasn't serving.

 

The geese stayed on the other side also. They sure honked and honked tho. I thought they wanted food, because when they came by there was no more. But I put bread pieces all the way out to the waters edge trying to lure them closer, but they'd have none of that.

 

We also had a sand hill crane encounter on our way to the IKEA Store in Orlando. Right in the middle of Interstate 4, across 4 lanes of traffic, like they owned the world, trotted a pair of sand hill cranes. We came within inches of hitting them and they didn't even seemed fazed. Sorry, I didn't get a picture of that. I was too busy putting myself back togehter after that near encounter. It was unbelievable to me that they just walked across I-4 right in the middle of rush hour downtown traffic.
It's back to work this morning for me. Do I have to?

MY Spring Break starts!

It's been a tradition that my longest BFF and I spend spring break together. We've been to the Keys, had slumber parties with her sister from Michigan, and many shopping adventures. Not once has anyone had to use bail money for us. But there was a trip where the virgin Mary sighed as we danced in the garden below her.
This year's break will be just as memorable. I'm off this afternoon for 4 days of shopping and fun. Flea markets in Daytona, IKEA in Orlando and perhaps a shop or two in Micanopy or High Springs. Get the bail money ready! You never know with us!

Spring Break Starts!

For my good friend, Kip, spring break is over. I'm sorry Kip. I know you had a great break, tending your farm, breaking eggs and such. My break is beginning.
But I'll be joining you tomorrow at work. I'm working my spring break. Since I work twelve months instead of the typical school year, I have the option of working most breaks. Except Christmas break, I have to take that one off. But since I do that, I can take off most anytime I want. I like that. I'd rather work all summer, when it's hot & muggy and take off when the days are cooler and nice. It looks like we'll get to work 4 day work weeks this summer. I'm looking forward to that!
I spent most of the weekend here at the house. I cleaned most of the day yesterday. I took a few hours off to go to a Tastefully Simple party. Have you ever tried their stuff? Most of it is pretty good! They had a chocolate cheeseball that was, in a word, DEVINE! I ordered the mix for that. They also had a spicy black bean dip, all you did was add water, and it was so yummy. I ordered 2 of those. It was great to see Ann, Natalie and Sharon. I haven't seen them in awhile.
I've been making some mini books for a friend. She has a party every year in honor of her friend, who died of cancer. She calls it her Girlfriends Party. So I'm making a few books for her. Here's one I've finished. The pages inside are decorated also.

 

That's my weekend in a moment. I'm hoping the week flies by, Thursday I'm heading out to Jax to visit my BFF. Get the bail money ready!

Suffering from Frigid Cold

You would think living where I do in April, I would be warm. I am, most days, most of the time. But it's the time of year that I suffer from frigid cold.

Every morning I wake up expecting to open my closet and pick a beautiful, bright colored spring outfit to wear to work. Then it hits me, I have to prepare for the frigid cold. So I look at the brown, the black, the dreary, heavy, wintery clothes I've grown tired of wearing.

I don't adhere to the strict unwritten fashion law about not wearing short sleeves, or white before Easter. I live in the south after all. I'm almost 50, and don't care what others think about my outfits. I wear dark, dreary, heavy winter clothes so I can survive the day in our building.

It's not just me, it's all my hallway mates. While the rest of the building is comfortable in the recently turned on air conditioning, our side of the building is in the frozen tundra. We run heaters, dress in long johns and drink more coffee so that we can pick up the cup to warm our hands.

Our air system is ancient, they say the problem is just that, a problem and it can't be fixed. We've tried closing the ducts to our offices, it doesn't seem to help. We've tried taping the ducts shut, the artic blast just blows the tape off.

So we freeze, wear dreary winter clothes, wipe our runny noses and suffer from sinus problems. I think I may move north. It is probably warmer now.

We Had You Going!

April Fool's!

Mixed Emotions

Hubby just came home with news of a job opportunity. It would put us further north, closer to his parents. Not sure what to think.........

Hump Day Again!

Has a week already passed? So it's true time flies when you are having fun! Sorry I didn't blog while in South Florida. When you are going to bed at 2 a.m. and hitting the ground running, there's just not time!
We had such a fantastic time. That much fun should not be legal. Okay, maybe it isn't in a few states. Gerri Ann, Sonia and Barb really know how to put on a great crop. They truly outdid themselves with food, fun and decorations. The room was truly transformed into a 50's diner atmosphere complete with giant soda glass with real Bubblys.
Gerri Ann's son, Robert kept all the women charmed. We had tickets and when our number was drawn, Robert popped the balloon to reveal our prize. He was a great balloom popper and prize giver! Robert thanks!
As always our drive to and fro was a tad long, but broken up by a few fantastic shopping opportunities. Scrappy Papers in Lake City is a must stop for anyone traveling I-75 just south of I-10. She is about a quarter mile east of the interstate on the right hand side. I am amazed that she always remembers us and is so delightful to chat with. She always wants to know where we are going to scrap and we always want to take her with us! She has such a wide variety of things, from papers to stamps, ribbons & trinkets, paints & glitters and everything in between! She's one of my all time favorite stores. Not only for her product, but her personality.
I'm off to work. Have a great day!

Over the Hump and Hitting the Road

It's Wednesday evening. It's been an uphill climb. But really life is good for me despite coming home with a raging headache on Tuesday. Weather fronts and rain, pollen, sinus...it all adds up. Headache. It was there again today, but it was a dull ache. Everyone was complaining.
Really I have no complaints. I have two friends with husbands battling cancer. A son with a boss who's dad is battling cancer, but it has Kevin upset too. A former colleague with a brain tumor...so really, my little headache is nothing.
I managed to get through a presentation I had to give at the faculty meeting. It was on the new race/ethnicity questions we have to ask students when they enroll. Please don't get me started. Let's just say I have job security for a few more months with over 700 forms to key in and file.
We had no students today, so that was nice. I got alot done. Big P wasn't there either. He had sinus surgery. So we took up a collection and got him all his favorite junk food and a singing, rapping bunny to cheer him up.
I came home tonite and packed for the crop this weekend. I am so ready to get there! I've never been this packed this early before. I leave tomorrow after work, usually I have to come home and pack the car, but hubby did that tonite! I so love him! WOO HOO!
Now if I could just snap my fingers and get that nine hour drive over. Maybe it won't seem so long if we make good potty breaks. If you know any good potty stops that I don't already know between here and Bonita Springs, let me know please. Good bathrooms are hard to find. There's one at Scrappy Papers in Lake City, Griffin's in Ocala is pretty clean, and then I forsee one somewhere between Ocala and Bonita, just don't know where. Coming back we are leaving Sunday night and spending the night somewhere along the way. So if you know any good sleep stops near scrap stores, that info would be good too. Scrappers just can't stay anywhere you know! I can't wait to see all the girls!
Okay, so tomorrow is an early get up day, get off day, I LOVE THOSE! off to bed!
See you soon!

Monday Blows By

I began the day by oversleeping about 20 minutes. Not a big deal usually, but it usually takes me a bit longer to get ready Monday morning. I hurried my way through, grabbed a quick lunch (like I get to eat lunch) and sped off to work. I got there just in time.
The day moved along rather quickly, before I knew it, it was 2:30. I was off work and onto bigger and better things. I fixed leftover burrito pie for dinner, (better the second day), chatted with my friend, Linda, while they picked up leaves. Then it was off to Beall's, Hobby Lobby and my friend, Sharon's, to pick up my Stampin' Up order that came in. Home again, home again, jiggity jig. Missions all accomplished!
With time to spare we watched DWTS, and I finished the invites for Felicia's bridal shower. Here they are. The wedding colors are red & ivory. Her flowers will be red & ivory roses. When I saw this embossing die, I knew that it would make beautiful shower invites!

 

Now it's off to bed. I'm wishing the week away so I can meet all the girls in Bonita Springs for the KnK Sock Hop Crop! Hurry Friday!

My Car Got Washed!

I've been begging my son for weeks to wash my car. I know, I know, I could run it through the car wash. Usually I do that, but it's been a time thing. I don't have time going to work, and until last week, it was dark coming home.
Saturday morning my car got washed. It seems that when Hubby went out to get the paper, someone had egged both of our cars. I blamed it on his senior football players, they do things like that ya know. He blamed it on Patrick's wild ATO buddies. Frat kids do things like that you know. But does it really matter? My car got washed!

TGIF!

We had a great evening last night with Dan & Felicia. We met at Macaroni Grill for dinner, and it was wonderful! Felicia and I talked about the upcoming wedding. The guys talked about cars and engines. Some things never change.
I'm going to make the invites for Felicia's bridal shower. I showed her and idea I had and she loved it! Very simple and elegant.
This morning I'm off to Adobe Photoshop training. I've got a coffee cake in the oven to share with the teachers (friends of mine). It smells so good!!! After the workshop I hope to get caught up on all the paperwork (finally) that's been clogging my desk all week. I think a good solid hour of uninterrupted work will knock it off.
It's supposed to be a beautiful weekend. I may hit the arts festival in Fairhope. Other than that, I'll find something to do!

Tomorrow is Friday!

The week is buzzing by. I've been very busy at work, catching up from last week's hiatus. I've decided I'm only working two days on spring break. So I want to be all caught up by then!
Last night I left the guys at home after dinner and ran an errand. When I came back into the neighborhood and around the curve to where I can see the house, my heart stopped! In front of my house was the big red fire truck. Panic! As I drove closer, I could see them walking around the house across the cul de sac. A bit of relief, but concern, as they have a family of 5 kids.
My worry was for naught. Rick said he thought they were burning leaves and someone called on them for leaving them unattended. We have someone in the neighborhood who does that. Which is odd because this neighbor is always outside, day and night.
Anyway, and exciting night somewhat in our quiet little neighborhood!
Can I just say I was surprised at the Idol results last night. I didnt' expect Alexis to go home this early in the competition.
Have a wondermous day!

Odds & Ends and In Betweens

I was a bad blogger I know. But hang with me, I'm getting back into the swing of it after being on another fantastic cruise with the Hilltop Girls. Many were missed, most were toasted and of course you know we talked about all of you! LOL!
We played a new game with Linda called Left, Center, Right. I came home and ordered 5 of them off the internet. It's a dice game, I can see many family gatherings spent playing this.
I was doing my lunchtime wellness walk yesterday, Monday, when my cell phone rang. It was my middle son, Kevin. He made idle chit chat, but something in his voice told me he was dying to tell me something. After answering his normal questions, I finally asked, "what's up with you?" He again tried to act normal but I was insistant that he was up to something. He kept asking me where I was. I'd answer, each time getting more specific. Finally he just said, "I know you aren't in our office because people are coming in here looking for you and leaving you messages and piling your desk with paperwork." I said, "Where are you??" and he then burst and told me, "your office".
I ran up the stairs to my office. Sure enough he was there with Erica. They were in town to see his friend John's new baby. Such a nice surprise! They wanted to take me to lunch, but I couldn't leave long enough to make it enjoyable. Next time!
Okay, not much of a blog today, but I'm sleepy. See you tomorrow!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

At our house, since we have a Patrick, St. Patrick's day is special. Patrick will decide what we'll eat for dinner. Patrick gets a present. It's Patrick's day, kind of like a birthday and Christmas. It's his day!
I've been busy getting back into the reality of life after a wonderful cruise with the Hilltop Girls. It should be against the law to have so much fun in so few days. I'll blog more about that later.
Til then, here's some St. Patrick day cards I've made the past few days. I will be a better blogger, I promise!

 

 

 

 

All My Bags Are Packed

I'm ready to go! The legs are shaved, the toes painted, the swimsuits packed, I'm outta here! See you in a week!
Yes, I'll be careful. Yes, I'll have fun! Yes, I wish you were going too! See ya! I'll toast you!

 

Winter Retreat Alabama Style Day Two

What a difference a day made! Saturday was warm and sunny. It was a perfect day to just laze around on the porch and watch the world go by. We were enthralled with the calves and the foal. I ran around the yard taking pictures of the wild daffodils growing all over the property. It was an exceptional last day of February.
Here are some daffodils on Saturday. Aren't they bright and sunny? Almost radiant!

 

What a difference a day makes! Here are some more daffodils in the same yard a day later. They say March that comes in like a lion will go out like a lamb. We awoke to blowing snow and I could hardly stand to stay outside to take a picture of the daffodils in the snow. The wind was blowing the snow sideways and it was bitter cold! Can you see the snow around the daffodils? While it blew hard, it didn't stay on the ground long.

 

I took this picture out of the kitchen window. Poor horse! All alone in the field in the snow, blowing cold. All of the other horses were huddled with the cows in the field across the street. This horse just kept eating away, as if nothing was bothering him. My brother in law said he was probably the second boy horse of the herd and that they would keep him away from the baby and it's father, as daddy may not like the other boy horse getting close. I know there was one horse that momma kept chasing away from her baby!

 

This tree was away from the house and more out in the open than some of the other trees, so it held onto some snow.

 

I know, I know, it's not much snow. But we enjoyed it while we watched "Mama Mia" again (Susie's first time, Rick's second, my third time) and also Appaloosa. Appaloosa was alright, but I won't go out and buy it! We loved Mama Mia tho! The cold and snow put a damper on our activities for the day, and the lack of heat in the house did too. So after the movies were over, we packed up and headed back home. It was 58 degrees when we arrived home and I had peeled of numerous jackets and long sleeves at various points in the drive.
As always, a great time at Grandma Jessie's old house. We love that place!

Winter Retreat Alabama Style Day One

While I still like to tent camp and would if the opportunity presented itself on a pretty weekend, our idea of camping is now visiting my sister and her husband at the house he grew up in. It's one of those old clapboard houses with a huge porch that sits out in the middle of no where on a country road. It's peaceful and relaxing and when my blood pressure gets up, it's a good place to go to get it back down.
Actually day one was Friday night when we arrived well past 8 p.m.. There wasn't much to do but unpack the car, get reaquainted with the place and watch a little tv. So that we did, until it was time to go to bed and get rested for the next day's adventure.
When I crawled out of bed, Susie was already in the kitchen, cooking sausage for her famous sausage gravy and biscuits. It is so yummy, I don't know why she doesn't cook more often, she's a good cook. We love using the old cast iron pots and pans that are up at the old homeplace.

 

Our adventures after breakfast included a trip to town to get something to cook for supper. We went to town with full intention of buying either steaks or pork chops, baked taters and other dinner things. While we were in Piggly Wiggly, I found my favorite red beans, Blue Runner Creamed Creole Red Beans. I bought out the store and volunteered to make red beans and rice for dinner. Susie, never one to turn down someone else cooking, agreed that it was a great idea!
During a drive through the town we discovered a little antique store that looked like it was just begging to be explored. So we did. We spent about an hour looking through the shelves and at the furniture. This shop was a true treasure as his prices seemed reasonable and he had some beautiful pieces. I wanted to take home a few of the dressers he had, but it wasn't in the budget this trip. He also had a great little piece of Roseville pottery that I loved, but I left it there and told myself if it was there next trip, it was mine! I did find a few dresser scarves, an old candy dish missing it's lid that would be good for pens and pencils in the scraproom, and a Dutch cook book I couldn't live without. I love all the detail work in the dresser scarves.

 

All that antiquing tired us out so it was home to sit on the front porch and enjoy the beautiful day. It was close to 70 degrees and a light breeze was blowing on the corner of the porch that always catches a great breeze, even in the summer. We watched the cows and calves make their way around the field eating as they went.
We also watched the baby foal on it's second day of life, prance around the field with momma close behind. The foal stuck pretty close to mama, except when he did get a rebellious whim and take off on a short gallop. Mama was quick to rein him in and keep him safe from the other horses and people(me) trying to get to close to her baby.

 

After a few hours of watching the animals, and a scrumptious meal of red beans, sausage and rice, on of the brothers in law arrived with his son and grandson to hunt some wild hogs. Wild hogs are quite troublesome in the farming community, tearing through and eating crops and gardens. His grandson was so excited about his first hog hunt. They settled in the shooting house in the field behind the house. We could watch from the porch down over the field so we did. The hogs came in just after dark and not long after we watched the shots ring out. We knew they had gotten at least one, and waited for some one to come up with the okay to go down and help. The grandson finally came up with the news that he'd gotten his first hog with his first shot! We all went down to see and also to help track on that got away. We looked for him til our spotlights went out but never did find him. All in all they got three pigs. Here's the grandson with his first one! The son got the second one and grandson got the third. Actually he got the first and second, all with one shot.
The days adventures had tired me out, and a cold windy night moved in. We settled in under the comforters for a winters nap in a house with no heat anxious for the next day's adventures!

Fat Tuesday!

It's Mardi Gras season and I haven't even indulged! Well, I've been indulging I guess, but not in typical Mardi Gras fashion. I've been too busy for the parades, red beans and rice, and debauchery. I've been a busy girl, getting ready to go on a three week whirlwind trip.
I'll be in Tallahassee this week for work, then the weekend I'm going to visit my sister in Alabama. I'll be home for 4 days to pack and get ready for the Hilltop Memories 2009 Cruise! Wooo hooo! Then I'll be gone for that for almost a week! Geez, I hope my leave forms are all approved!
Yesterday I had a fun and inspiring day with Marianne Walker from Copic. She gave us a wealth of information on all things Copic and some nice goodies in our bag. Check them out! Don't you love that wide marker? See the skinny little black pen, that's an atyou Spica pen, and if you love glitter, that's your pen!!
It's not like gel pens, it has tiny bits of glass in the ink. It's soo cool! I want the whole set!

 

I had a great day not only learning, but meeting people. The day was sponsored by a local online store that I didn't even know existed, Flourishes. I was so excited to learn about them! Lots of neat goodies in their store, and they design their own stamps. I'll be shopping with them for sure! They had sponsored an all weekend Stamping retreat, (again, didn't know about it). It sounded like all the ladies had loads of fun!
I met quite a few new people and a few old friends, including a girl I'd been introduced to last time I was home visiting my brother! He had introduced me to a lady at breakfast one morning, saying, "she's a scrapbooker like you" actually she's a stamper, but it's all good. Yesterday she walked by me and I thought "gosh,she looks familiar" at first, I actually thought she was an art teacher from one of the elementary schools. Then later she came up and introduced her self saying "I'm Karen W, and I'm from NW IL." My radar went up and I said, "Where in IL?" and she went on to say it was a small town on the Mississippi River and that we'd probably never heard of it. I asked her to repeat her name and she said it again. I said you're from Savanna! She was so surprised I knew and I asked if she knew my brother, she did and then we both realized we'd met! Talk about old home week!
When I went to dinner with her and a few of her hotel mates that evening, I met a girl from Punta Gorda, Kathy W, who know my KnK friends, GerriAnn and Barb!!! Talk about a small world!
You never know who you are going to meet in this world. In the end I had a great time and ended up with this.
Wanna learn how to use your Copics?? I can teach you!

 

Week Beginnings

First of all, thank you all on your posts about my shoes. I guess I need to go shoe shopping more often! For those of you who asked, they are made by Union Bay and I got them at Kohls'. You can get them here.
Sadly, the sandals, all three pair, that came home with them are going back. They aren't as comfortable as they are cute. With sandals, I need comfortable. So back they will go and I have another pair in mind. I guess I just can't wear cheap sandals.
I had a great day stamping yesterday with my friends, Cathy and Sharon. We had wine and tried a fabulous new dip from velveeta. A new twist on the old rotel and velveeta dip. It has several of my favorite foods in it. I don't have the picture uploaded, but I'll post the recipe.
Cheesy Bacon Dip
1 pound Velveeta, cubed in one inch cubes
4 oz. Cream Cheese, cubed
8 slices of bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
1 can of rotel
1 bag of fresh spinach (10 ounce size)

Throw it all in a microwavable bowl and cook until the cheese is melted, stirring every couple of minutes. I think it took about 4 or 5 minutes. Okay so that's not how Velveeta said to do it, but you're getting the down and dirty version from me.
They also said to use half a box of frozen chopped spinach, thawed. Seriously? What do I do with the other half of a thawed box of spinach. Just use the fresh, it's better for you! We ate that with Tostitos scoops and drank a bottle of Berringer's White Merlot. So good!

Today I ran to TarGET. Okay I drove, but I went. Before I left I said to my darling son, "I'm going to TarGET, need anything?" He said he needed legos. He has always told me he needs legos. I think legos were his first word right after mama. His first sentence was "Mama,legos". I told him he didn't need legos he was almost 22 years old and too grown for legos.
So off I go to TarGET! I find the Mama Mia dvd for $10, I find Jillian's Workout for Wii, and I find legos. Not just any legos, Star Wars Droid legos. I got them. Gosh new sandals and new legos in two days. The child is going to think he's welcome to live here forever...

Okay off to bed. In the morning, I'm heading to a Copic Marker Instruction class. Yes folks, I'm learning how to color. Not just learning to color, but I'll be certified to color when I'm done. Actually, certified to teach coloring. Sounds fun doesn't it? Pray and hope I pass!

Saturday Shoes

Another sunny morning has greeted me, and although it's a bit chilly, it promises to warm up and be a beautiful day!
I've a few friends coming over later for a Stampin' Up! party, so how can it get any better than this?
Did you ever have Saturday shoes when you were growing up? Maybe they weren't for just Saturday, but play shoes. When you slipped them on they were so comfy and relaxing? Shoes like that would just change your entire frame of mind, they just sighed, "Ahhhhh!"

I remember having different pairs of play shoes throughout my growing years. Just basic tennis shoes, I'm sure mine were keds. I remember a red pair that I wore out. My feet grew too big for them, and soon they were replaced by a pair of stiff new shoes that weren't quite as comfy as those old ones.
The summer that I was allowed to ride my bike to the pool alone for the first time, I had a pair of brown sandals. Nothing fancy, brown sandals with some brass rings on them. I see sandals almost like them almost every year, but never quite the same sandal. I wore those sandals out too. I remember they showed my tan line on my feet. I was so proud of that tan line. I think I was in 4th grade that year. Just starting to care about things like tan lines.

Yesterday, during Friday retail therapy, I found my newest pair of Saturday shoes. They screamed my name and told me to put an outfit back on the rack that I'd already chosen. We argued over the 3 pair of sandals I already had in my cart. In the end we both won, as the Saturday shoes were in the cart with the three pair of sandals.

 

I know of the four pair of footwear I brought home yesterday, which will be the most loved and worn. They slip right on my feet, enveloping them in an AHHHHHH! of comfort. Most importantly, they take me back to those carefree childhood Saturdays, were my biggest worry was where to play today.

Sunny Thursday

After a dreary, grey and somewhat rainy day yesterday, it was good to see the sun come out this morning. It's a bit cooler, or maybe it just isn't as muggy as it has been. We have cold winds coming through and tonite it's back down to the 30's. Snuggle weather!!!!
I've been consumed with Idol the past few nights and I picked two of the 3 keepers. I really thought Tatiana would stay, despite her drama, she has a great voice. I picked Alexis Grace and Danny Golkey. I can't remember the other guys name right now, but I'm glad he made it through too. Maybe they will pick up Tatiana as a second choice later. I think she's been on some good meds this week, she's a lot less dramatic.
I feel like I am back to my life revolving around TV, and I don't like that. But I love my shows, Brothers & Sisters, Antiques Roadshow, Idol and Greys/Private Practice. It's hard to fit in Wii workouts around them, but I am.
I need to get moving around here, off to work. Budget meeting this afternoon, we'll see how we'll be saving money.

One Long Monday

I almost overslept. Thanks to the dog who was up and down all night and wouldn't settle down. Finally, about 5 a.m. he decided to sleep so I got two and a half hours good sleep before I bolted out of bed.
It was a problem solving day. Can't find this student's schedule? Why is this student here? Have you seen paperwork for this one? All day long.
The highlight of the day was when the HS secretary and I were comparing Valentine's days and our weekend. While we were talking about all the loving things our husbands do for us on a daily basis, one of the office assistants said, "is the the same Coach S I had for football?" When I told him yes, and that really he's just a big teddy bear, he shook his head and told me that no, it couldn't be the same man that shows up at football practice. LOL!
It seemed the last 2 hours of the day drug along, but then the last 10 minutes zoomed by.
Once I got home and ate supper, I fell asleep watching Antiques Roadshow. I love that show! It's my dream to take in some of this old junk I have laying around here and them telling me it's worth a fortune! But I probably wouldn't part with it, since most of this junk is from my parents and grandparents. But if just one of those garage sale things were worht alot? Sold!
Finished my Wii workout, now I'm done blogging, now it's off to bed!
Toodles!

Springy Sunday

I know two posts in one day! What a shock!
I had to change the blog heading and get something springy there. I chose my Carolina Jasmine that grows on the east side of our upper pool deck. It's blooming like crazy right now! I only wish it were a bit warmer so I could open the windows and smell it. I love that smell! I'm glad my sister isn't here tho, she's very, very allergic to it. Thankfully, I'm not! This is the first year in the three years I've had it that it's bloomed this crazy!
I also had to share the goodies we did this afternoon at Natalee's Stampin' Up party. Most everything was made with the new Celebrations catalog stuff. My multi-talented friend, Sharon designed everything.
So first is my favorite card. A good all around card I can use for anything. I love the colors. I love the new punch we used to do the scalloped lace edge. We also used the new texture plates to put the dots. I was used to using the embossing folders so I was trying to make sure my small dots would be going out. I didn't realize the Big Dots were on that underside. But I like the big dots!

 

Next, another nice card. I always need Congrats cards for when I hear good news. This makes a perfect one!

 

Finally I loved doing this! It's a candy bar holder. When you untie the bow and pull the ribbon up, a Hershey bar pops up! I'm going to give it to my special someone....the hubby! Sharon, Natalee, Ann and I are going to make 75 of these as dinner favors for the upcoming Wings of Hope Fundraiser dinner. Wings of Hope was started by Natalee after her daughter, Ashlyn had leukemia a few years ago. Wings helps local families whose children have blood diseases. Ashlyn, by the way, is a cute 8 year old, who kept us entertained this afternoon while she did cards with us.
I'm having a Stampin' Up party next Saturday at one. Come on over! We'll have a blast. Sharon always has the greatest projects for us to do! If you want to come and spend the weekend, We have a Copic Marker Certification Class here on Monday. You can go with us! Just bring your air mattress!

 

Really, That Groundhog Saw His Shadow?

Maybe up north. But down here in the Panhandle, Spring is everywhere! It's warmed up, the flowers are blooming,and everything is getting greener!
Seriously. My azalea's are blooming, as are the Jasmine. The daffodils (the one wild one I have) bloomed last week. The rains this weekend are already greening everything up. It's been warm and muggy.
If my Lachow is any indicator, the way he's shedding all that thick, black fur, summer is just around the corner! I have black dog hair everywhere! It seems like we vacuum one room and two hours later it needs it again. Thank goodness I ordered more vacuum bags off of the internet yesterday!
I'm enjoying the warm weather. I'd take 6 more months of this weather until it gets hot. But we know that's not going to happen. It will be sweltering before we know it.
I'm off to a friend's house for a Stampin' Up party. I'm having one next week, you're all invited!! Come on over! Maybe I'll post the cards we make here later! Til then!

Rainy Day Blessings

Usually I run around here 90 to nothing. Going here, going there, doing this and that. But today is a home day. A peaceful, do almost nothing home day.
I do have a house to clean, but since we're all here at home together, it won't take long working together. After that, I can play in the scraproom with my new inchie stamps (yes Di, I bought two more packs). I can play with the dominoes and make some more pendants, I can clean up all the valentine stuff, since making those are over. I can rearrange and reconfigure and purge.
I think I'll make burrito pie for dinner, such a romantic meal. I don't need valentine's day to know love. I have a husband who kisses me hello and good bye. Who tells me he loves me first thing in the morning and last thing at night. He gets my coffee, does dishes, and tolerates my "moods". Tolerating my moods is sometimes his biggest act of love, LOL! I don't need flowers, candy, balloons or fancy dinners. This guy takes me to the scrapstores and let's me indulge things he knows I don't need and may not ever use. He lets me travel to all kinds of places with the girls and never says a word. He's there when I'm sick, or just need "a day". I don't need valentine spoiling, I'm spoiled everyday.
So on this rainy day, when we're "stuck" here together, Happy Valentine's Day Hubby!
And Happy Valentines Day too all of you too!

I've made Valentines

My friends at school know I like to make cards. Of course my friends let me know that they'd love to make Valentines for their loved ones. So here's a sampling of the ones I made. Several are for grandchildren. It was fun making a prissy one for a granddaughter, a few were for daughters, one for a son, and one for a hubby.
Speaking of Hubbys, I guess I'd better make one for mine now. Tomorrow night!
Most of the stamping is Stampin' Up! A the "I love you, I love you, I love you" heart is Close to My Heart. and one is an Inkadinkadoo inchie stamp that Diana turned me on to. All papers are Stampin' Up, except for the brown hearty paper, it's Basic grey!
So spread some love on Valentine's Day. Tell everyone you love that you love them! Love you!!!

Free Fun Stuff

Di posted a cool link on her blog, so I'm going to post it for you. It's to Lisa' Volrath's countdown to Valentine's day. She's giving free images. All you have to do is post a link and download your free art! I love the vintage valentines she has.
Here's the link

Happy Hump Day!

 

I haven't blogged because I've been a busy little beaver. In the past week or so, I've made two valentine albums, and 3 cards. This is the album I've made for Daniel and Felicia, my oldest son and his girlfriend. I used Little Yellow Bicycle Love Letters 6 x6 Paper, which I got at the new scrapbook store here in town, Scraphappy. While I was at Winter Retreat, Linda at Hilltop Memories had the matching chipboard album. So I had to get that from her! I've already given this to Dan & Felicia, all the boys were home Sunday for Lasagne, a perfect time to give their albums to them. Felicia is a scrapper, so she loved it, well they both did, but you know how guys are! Felicia took it to work yesterday and now two of her co workers want to learn how to scrap!
Other than scrapping, I've not been excitingly busy. I'm in that weekday routine, work, cook, go to bed. I'm counting the days until the cruise, again with Hilltop and a bunch of the girls from KnK So I know it's going to be one fantastically fun cruise!!!!
I've got to get into the morning routine now. Have a wondermous day!

Sunday Sentiments

I thought I'd better blog before it's Thursday again and I haven't blogged. It was a beautiful day today, in the 70's. I'd take a year of days like today. Lazy but productive.
I baked 4 loaves of banana bread this afternoon. My house smells so yummy. I put cinnamon in my banana bread, so it's got this banana/walnut/cinnamon smell going on. Lasagne sauce has cooked all day on the stove, so those smells are lingering in too, but not as strong.
I have a window or two open, airing some of the yuck out of the house. As always, it's nice to listen to the neighborhood kids play too.
I finished two valentine albums for the boys. All three will be here in a few minutes to have lasagne and salad.
I must cut short. The boys are walking in now!

Old Cartoons and Memories

Tonite we were channel surfing, looking for something to watch in between Who Wants to be a Millionaire and Grey's Anatomy. We really couldn't find anything to satisfy all three of us. Nothing was looking good on the usual channels and since football is over, there's not really any sports to watch.
We got into some of the channels we don't usually watch, finally settling on Boomerang, a kid's channel. We found the old MGM cartoons and spent the next hour watching them. There was the one on planting the Victory Garden, where the little mole eats it as fast as the farmer bear plants it. Then the one about the Bears that are forest rangers, trying to catch the little flame that's trying to start a forest fire. Another was about the little skunk stealing all the bear's cherries and every time he'd try to get the back, skunk would raise his tail in threat and get to keep the cherries.
I lounged on the couch, in my jammies, curled up with my blanket. I almost went all the way back. Back to those days when I was a child doing the same thing. All I lacked was my dad lounging all over the other end of the couch and I could almost feel his arm around me as I snuggled in the crook of it.
My dad was a jokester. He loved good fun humor. Even tho the old cartoons were also violent and full of adult innuendos, we had no idea what was really happening. They were so funny to us.
I miss those days. We didn't have a cartoon channel, but would get up very early on Saturday just to watch cartoons all morning. In the afternoon when we would get home from school we'd have an hour of cartoons, followed by Batman. My dad would watch Batman with us and read the word bubbles when the fights broke out.
I was missing that tonite.

Winter Retreat

If you asked most 30, 40, 50, and even 60 year old women if they would like to go camping in the woods, in a primitive unheated cabin, with no indoor shower, no indoor bathroom, no tv, no internet in 20-30 degree weather in January, most would tell you NO WAY! But every January about Super bowl time, 40-50 women of those ages gather from all parts of the southeast at a small, but gorgeous state park to spend three days together in those conditions. Here's a cabin, in case you're thinking I'm kidding. Yes, that's a screen door, and yes, it was the only door.

 

Why would a group of women gather together to sleep in conditions such as this, huddled under every blanket they could find to sleep under? Yep, that's your bed!

 

Well,they get together because of this woman, the speechless one to the left. This is Linda, and Linda puts on the most wonderful scrapbooking crops on this earth. She gathers us together, feeds us, comforts us, praises us, listens to all our drama, makes us feel like we are the most special people on earth. All the while we do what we want, when we want, go to sleep when we want, go on adventures when we want, and scrap in between all that.

 

Why is Linda speechless you ask? Well 40 of her friends, friends she has brought together and created a sisterhood, created a scrapbook of their memories of Linda. She was speechless! The only time most of us have ever seen her speechless! Linda has created a haven for us, for the few days we are with her, we are coddled and taken care of by her and her wonderful crew. Most people don't ever know how much they are loved until their funeral when they can't hear it. We wanted Linda to remember forever how much she is loved. She gives much love to all of us, so it's only natural karma that she gets it all back tenfold. Many, many more good times and blessings ahead for you Linda!
Lastly, the class I took put on by Di. I love Di's classes, I always learn something really neat and fun. Diana is also getting me over my freaky faces fear. Yes, I confess, I'm starting to like some of them.
In Di's class we used old dominos and scrabble tiles to create these awesome pendants. I won't tell you all the secrets of them, so that you can take Di's class sometime and learn. But I will tell you they were fun and easy to make. Di always inspires me and we were brainstorming other tiles we could make. I may have made that step into jewelry making. The one I said I'd never take!

 

Too much fun to put in one post, so I'll do another soon. I always say tomorrow, but that never happens so let's leave it at soon!
Send good thoughts and prayers to my friend Kip, who got sick over the weekend with a migrane (Kip, I think Linda is right, it may be the smoke, I've had a headache since but not as bad as yours)
Also good thoughts & prayers for the most fantastic chef I know, Jule's hubby, E. He spoils us with his wonderful cooking whenever we visit. My friend Kelsey, who is traveling to take care of her mom going in for her 8th cancer operation in 10 years. And finally, last but not least, my friend Kathy and her husband, Dan, while they are in Jacksonville going through tests for Dan's kidney transplant.
More soon, I promise!

Projects from My World

I thought before I take of for another weekend of creating, I'd better show you what I worked on last time. These are two of the projects. I will post pictures of the other project later this week.
The first project is a small notebook for my purse. I use it to make lists, write down ideas and addresses. I keep track of supplies there or things I want to buy if I run across it in my travels. You never know what I'll have written in there. But it stays in my purse. I'm sorry it's a bit blurry.
After that are the first 3 months of my 12 month journal I've been working on. Most of my friends are doing a picture a day for a year. That's way too much for me. So I figure I can do a bit every month. Like 12 things a month. That's 3 things a week. I think my life is exciting enough for three things a week. I hope you like it.
The papers, 3 ring book and alot of the accessories for it are from 7 gypsies "Savannah" line. I love this line, plus it's the name of my hometown, if you drop the "h". The metal circles are Tim Holtz. I love his stuff!!! Look for more of his trinkets in my other months. The Stamps are Fancy Pants. I bought the calendar set a few years ago, knowing I'd use it someday! I'm so glad I did!
Enjoy, hopefully I can put a big dent in April/May and June this weekend. And I'm going to sort a gallon bag full of buttons by color. Won't that be fun?

Well it's Almost Saturday!

In a few minutes I'll go to bed. In a few minutes it will be Saturday! Because it's Saturday, I have a surprise 40th birthday party to go to. It's really going to be a surprise because her birthday isn't til March! But our friend is so quick to pick up things that she would know we were up to something if we tried to plan something near her birthday.
I had to run some errands after work for the party. We're doing a Western theme, with bandanas and daisies. I'm in charge of drinks. Everyone thinks that's perfect for me. Why? But I'll take care of that in the morning.
I went tonite to get the stuff to wrap her birthday presents. Daisies, monarch butterflies and twine. One of the other girls has some red checked paper we're going to use. I got all that at HL. Except the twine. I have that here at the house.
I went to Michael's just to see what they had that I couldn't live without. Not much. Lots of new stuff, but I don't need it. Not yet. I want to see what the LSS's come out with from Winter CHA. I like to support my local LSS.
I went to Michael's because it was next door to TarGET! as we of german heritage say. I went to TarGET because my friend Kathy had a water bottle at work today that looked really cool. She got it at Target' as she is more prissy, ya know, tar gey!
Kathy knew about the water bottle because Joe, one of the guys at work had one.
Since we are on a "save the earth" kick here and at school, I've decided to try to cut back on drinking bottled water. I mean I have filter! All I need is a cup to keep it cold, that I can see through. Because I am funny about seeing the bottom of my glass and that it's clean. So I went to TarGET for a $10 water bottle.
I never go to TarGET, not that I don't like it, it's just on that side of town that I don't go to because there is too much traffic.
So I explored TarGET. I shouldn't have done that. First of all, I totally missed the $1 bins. I meant to go there. I saw a cute mailbox at the crop last weekend that someone had altered from the $1 bin. I am still kicking myself. I also totally missed the workout clothes. New workout clothes are my gift to me for being so faithful and losing 10 pounds on Wii. But I didn't even get them.
But I found Woolrich twin flannel sheets on clearance for $10. Those will keep me toasty warm next week at Winter Retreat. I found 4 towels on clearance to match the ones in Patrick's bathroom. Happy, Beachy colored towels. They match his PINK tiled bathroom. So let's see, sheets, towels, water bottle, $43!!!! But the sheets and towels on clearance justified the $10 (choke) water bottle right?
I'm rambling, really rambling. It's Saturday, I'm going to bed.

Random Things

I noticed on Ali Edwards Blog that she posted 16 Random Things. So here's mine.

1. Since beginning Wii Fit 28 days ago, my Wii Fit age has ranged from 32 to 71. I personally like the 32.

2. I really do like wearing wool sweaters.

3. Almonds really curb my midday hunger. I could almost not eat lunch.

4. My husband is really great, he's done the dinner dishes every night for a week.

5. As much as I enjoyed the few months we had alone with no children at home. I am really enjoying having the youngest one home again.

6. I think I could live on soup.

7. How big can dust bunnies really grow?

8. $5 mukluks from Kohl's are the greatest! I'm loving my red ones in this cold weather.

9. I am lucky! I won here and here in the past two months!

10. I can jog for 5 minutes on the Wii Fit!

11. I love cold weather in Florida. It really does remind me why I don't want to live back up north!

12. That son that lives at home? He cracks me up everyday!

13. I'm loving that new show, "Lie to Me". How interesting.....

14. I'm loving American Idol already. Next week, Florida.

15. Six degrees of separation....The Reverend who gave the opening prayer at the Inaugaration luncheon..Dr. Black? Used to be our Navy Chaplain. Awesome Guy!

16. I'm looking forward to camping at Winter Retreat with the Hilltop girls. 30 degrees in rustic cabins, now that's my kind of fun!

How's that for random?

Middle of the Week

It's bitter cold here, in the 20s, with windchill in the minus zeros. UGH! This is not why I live in Florida!
Sorry for not posting, this cold is kicking my hiney. I have no energy, once I get home from work, I'm done. Today, it's moved into my sinus'. Ugh! I'm over this!
I had a blast at the weekend beach scrapbooking retreat. Always a good time.
I'll try to post more later. Truly I will.

Friday!!!!!!

How do I always get from Tuesday to Friday in a snap? Gosh Wednesday and Thursday are always blurs to me. I don't know why, they just do.
I'm all packed for the weekend scrapping at the beach. This is my second crop in a row that I have not packed one single picture. Not one. I have plenty of things I want to do. If I need pictures, I'll print them there. But truly, I'd don't think I will.
I have to come back in town Saturday night for the football banquet. Can't miss that. You can tell I wasn't on the planning committee this year or we wouldn't have it this weekend! It will be sad tho, as all of hubby's DLine are seniors. We'll miss them.
Work has been just work. Same stuff, different day. Meetings on processes, you know you can't just tell people how to do something. You have to put it in writing, and every scenerio has to be explored. We have had 10 meetings on the process of withdrawing a student. How hard is it? I guess some people have to justify their job by having a meeting. Please just let me have the time, so I can do my job!
Can you tell I need a weekend at the beach scrapping?? And I've only worked three days this week!!! So ready for this long weekend.
I'll miss my Wii tho. I'll get home and hubby will have broken all my Wii records. But it's not a contest, just ask him!
I'll have the computer with me, so I'll check in on all of you. Have a great weekend and stay warm!!

Tuesday Tellings

I think I've finally broke my fever. I'm feeling much better today and can actually function without a blanket wrapped around me or feeling chilled. But I've stayed home from work just be sure and to build up some energy. My chest still feels congested, but I think that will have to work itself out. Everyone I've talked to felt rotten for 5 days. This is day 5.

On a positive note. Mii on Wii Fit is going well. I've lost 8 pounds, but more importantly, I'm still up off the sofa and doing something. Except for the past few days, I exersise every night. Last night I did a bit of step aerobics and balance, but Sunday I didn't do anything but the basic body test. I am jogging in place for 5 minutes now, I'm doing a half hour of step aerobics, a half hour of yoga, and a half hour of strength and balance training. As you can imagine with me and hubby doing this much, it takes up alot of tv time. Yeah!

I love the instant feedback the Wii Fit gives. I know my weight and BMI soon after signing in. I know if my times on my aerobics and balance tests have improved over the day before. I know if my yoga stances are better or worse. It's amazing that the Wii can tell this by Mii using the balance board.

I have to tell you about Sunday. I felt like doodoo. Really doodoo. I could barely get off the sofa, I felt so weak. But I got up and did the basic body test, weighing in, and doing two balance tests that are typically easy. I usually have a Wii Fit age around 43 which is younger than I am. But Sunday night in my weakened state I was 71! I felt 71! It was amazing to me because my balance tests were off, but not by much. My weight was down as was my BMI. But I was 71!

So besides the weight loss, I can feel some firmness in my muscles. I can see the difference in how my clothes fit already. I can feel that the exercises have gotten easier for me to do, meaning my muscles and balance are getting better. My downfall continues to be anything I have to do one legged. But, I've improved there already too. Just not as well as I would like.

I'll keep you posted on my progress, but won't obsess about it. I can see that being under 200 pounds is now a reality for me. I plan to take this down as far as I can, and hope they come up with Wii Fit II!

Monday Morning

I've decided to give my body one more day of rest with this cold/flu stuff I have going on. I feel like such a slug, doing absolutely nothing. But I know it's what my body needs most. Orange Juice, Chicken soup and rest. I don't really have a fever, I'm not really stuffy. I'm just achey and chest congested.
So by that, you know I really didn't have a great weekend. Rick even did the grocery shopping alone. And he did a great job! He only bought one item not on the list, Chili Cheese Fritos, but I'll give him that for doing the shopping! Plus he did a great job helping get all the Christmas stuff taken down and put in the attic. Even HRH Patrick helped!
So between the flu/cold and my thumb, I'm feeling pretty worthless. Here's a picture of my thumb. It's such a pretty color of black and blue. Those heavy fireproof file cabinets can really do a number. I'm so happy I didn't let the F bomb out. I wanted too!

 

And, since I haven't posted any scrap stuff in awhile, here's my quick and easy card I did for my cousin, Carole, who underwent a masectomy last week. Her hubby is a beekeeper and she loves bees. And the news was good, they got everything!

 

I'm off for more rest. I'm going to run a few loads of wash and make some homemade chicken soup. Other than that, I'm worthless. I hope you have a wondermous day!

S A TUR DAY!

Yes I have that Bay City Rollers song in my head. So now you should too! Please don't thank me.
I fully intended to post with pictures today, but I can't find my camera cord. I can't dig for it anywhere because my thumb hurts. Friday afternoon I slammed it in the file cabinet door. Not just any file cabinet, one of the big, heavy, fireproof file cabinets. Yes, I almost said an F bomb, right there in school. But I didn't, I caught it and said Fudge! I don't think I broke it, but I do think I'll have serious nail damage. It's that pretty indigo ink blue color that's almost black. Right down where the nail meets the thumb, where the new nail grows. Now you know why I almost said the F bomb.
On top of that, I'm getting the crud. I still don't think I have it as bad as my friend, Sharon, or my much older sister, Susie, but I feel like it's coming. We all got it last week from our friend, Ann. Thanks Ann! Susie and Sharon sound much, much worse than me. Sharon went to the Dr. yesterday and Susie said she's going Monday if she doesn't feel better.
So today I cracked the whip and we got all the Christmas taken care of and put away except the outside lights. It rained all day so those will get taken down later. I don't do the outside lights anyway, so I'm not worried. Now if I get sick at least I won't have to worry about when Christmas is taken down.
Tomorrow is grocery day, and good thing, as the cat has no dry food and the freezer is bare. It hasn't been this bare since Hurricane Ivan. We pretty much ate everything in it over the holidays and tonite I threw away a couple of mystery packages....in the morning I'll wipe it all down good before we go grocery shopping. Assuming of course I can breathe.
So, I'm off to put some vick's on my feet, take some tylenol and go to bed. Have a good day and cover your mouth when you cough!

TGIF!

I've made it through the first week back, but not without casualty. I think I'm getting a chest cold. My lungs feel full of mud, my throat is a teeny bit scratchy, and my head feels like there's an expanding balloon in it. I know, I should stay home, but I'm not.
Hopefully this won't get in the way of getting the house back in order, taking the tree down, etc.
Well those Gators got lucky again. Good for them I guess. Lots of penalties in the game and good defense played by both teams. Also, ole Brett is up to his tricks. He's taking a bit of time to decide whether or not he should come back. I can tell him now. Stay Home! Sorry Baby, your playing days are over, don't be a hanger oner.
Of to work, the sooner I get there, the sooner I get home. I have Microsoft Access training today, so that should a nice break up.
Have a wondermous day!

Random Wierdness

So let's see last I posted it was Sunday. I was enjoying one last day before going back to work. Is it Spring Break yet??
Monday was CPR/AED training. Yes, now I can save your life, if you are choking or having a heart attack. If I have my rubber gloves and mouth protection with me. That's more to protect you than me. Lord knows if you are dying of a heart attack you wouldn't want to catch my cold too. Except right now I don't have a cold. Of course if you are passed out, it won't matter. I'd have to save you, without your permission. Seriously, everyone should know how to do this. If you don't, go get trained.
Tuesday was the first day with students back. Lots of new students, busy day. I stayed so busy that I didn't get into any trouble and I didn't get lunch. Thank goodness for roasted almonds. Oh, the chocolate, chocolate chip muffin for breakfast before all heck broke loose helped too.
I did an hour and 45 minutes on the Wii Fit to make up for that muffin. I'm loving the Wii Fit. I can see a difference in my endurance already. Still can't do those one legged yoga things. My ankles are just too weak. But I can kick butt in a quite a few poses. But I have to tell on my hubby. He kicks butt on the yoga move called "Dance". Think figure skater with one leg up over their back to the top of their head. Yep, he's pretty good at that one. Me? Can't even get to ten seconds. I think that's a picture that needs to go on the team video.
So today is Wednesday. Thank goodness it's hump day. I can't go into details, but just thank goodness. I asked my principal for a segway today. He said to order two.
I think I'm going to take my doctor's advice and get that bottle of wine.

Where Did the Week Go?

Last I realized it was Wednesday, and I had a bunch a days of vacation ahead of me. Now it's Sunday and tomorrow is back to work day. So what have I done the past few days?
Well, Thursday I made chili, Southwestern Chili for our Crop on Saturday. I waited for my sister to get here. We did the mandatory trip to Hobby Lobby. All I bought was a bee. I needed a bee embellishment for a card I'm making for my cousin. She loves bees. We tried to go by the new scrapstore, but she was closed.
So Friday was fun day. Susie and I met up with Sharon & Ann to go scrapshopping. We covered 5 stores and over a hundred miles in 7 hours. LOL! We started at the new scrapstore, where we all bought stuff. I bought some prima flowers. Like I needed more of them! Then we went to Unforgettable in Pace, I bought some BG Eva paper, I think I'll make some Valentines with it. Then it was off to Crestview to A Scrap in Time. We spent the longest time in there, she has soooo much stuff. I won the prize for spending the most, but she was having a sale so we got some good bargains. Then it was off to Ft. Walton Beach to visit Croppin' Corner. They were celebrating their one year anniversary already and she's come along way with the store. She's cleaned out alot of the clutter and gotten in some really new cool things.
We'd worked up an appetite by then so a trip to Moe's was in order. I was the only one who had eaten at Moe's before so everyone was surprised at how much food you get. Very yummy! It's Mexican food and you get chips and salsa plus I had a huge burrito that would feed a small starving family. I didn't need supper later that night!
A.C. Moore was our next and final stop. Can't even remember now what I bought! Isn't that terrible? It didn't matter, we had sooo much fun all day and some of us earned new nicknames, right Sneezy and Stinky? Ann had to get back to set up for Crop for Hope so we got her home in plenty of time.
Crop for Hope was Saturday at the fairgrounds. Lots of fun, prizes and scrappin' got done! Ann made some kind of whiskey slush stuff that was really good, citrusy flavored. I was invited to two private crops coming up. One I won't miss for sure as we are renting a beach house and the other I'm not too sure if I'll be able to fit in. It poured rain while we were scrappin and laughin' so it was a great day to be in with the girls, having fun. I saw lots of friends I hadn't seen in awhile and we had 10 crockpots full of soup. I tried the Chicken Gumbo (yummy), Baked Potato Soup (Soooo yummy!) and Paula Deen's Tastes Like Lasagne Soup. That was the best one I'd tried! I think I'll make it here at the house.
I worked on a "Jingle" book that my friend gave me for secret santa last year. It was fun and I still have two pages to do to finish. Everyone was laughing at me because I brought my rolly desk chair and was rolling all over to talk to people.
Well, rambled enough again. I hope you had a good weekend too. I'm off to relax one more day!