.

Ernesto Cometh...

Ernesto is on his way. See him? He should arrive sometime during the night they say! I'm really looking forward to his rain!

posted by Melli at 3:11 PM | 3 comment(s)

An Age Old Problem...

I'm a little frustrated today... The temperature has dropped waaaaaay down in the neighborhood, and yesterday it was only 75 degrees out. A little overcast... a little breezy. GREAT day for a WALK! So on the way home from Curves I decided to give it a try. I parked the car at our corner market and had hoped to walk to the 4-way stop sign -- which is about a mile and a half. (would have been 3 miles round trip ... a nice "extra" to my day!) But I didn't make it to the 4 way. My right foot and ankle started giving me fits before the half-mile mark! But did I stop? Noooooooo... I went to the half-mile mark -- and THEN I turned around... had to get back to my car so I had the other half mile to go. So I ended up walking a full mile... and the rest of my body was soooooo willing to keep going... but my right foot just would NOT do it. And now today my foot and ankle are all sore and swollen. *sigh* It sucks! And I would LOVE to think that all I have to do is take it slow and I can work through this ... but I know from experience from about 5 years ago that I can't work through it. And if I try I'll end up with cortizone shots to my foot again... and I'm not EVEN going there! So this is very frustrating to me. I REALLY want to be able to WALK! Is that really too much to ask?

posted by Melli at 9:26 AM | 12 comment(s)

Wordless Wednesday #23

Labels: WW

posted by Melli at 6:17 AM | 36 comment(s)

Where I Come From... Part II

After this past week's Friday Feast, a couple of you asked to see my living room. Since I hadn't played in the Tour Of Homes, I decided to go ahead and put up these shots.

These were taken when we first redecorated and so the place looks REALLY nice! It's changed some since then -- when 2 kids moved home we had to shift some furniture and my computer desk now sits where the rocking chair is in the picture, and my stationary bike takes up a good part of the corner between the couches! But this shows you what it's SUPPOSED to look like! (and will again ... one day)

posted by Melli at 5:43 PM | 17 comment(s)

Sunday Funnies...

posted by Melli at 12:04 AM | 14 comment(s)

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt -- Blue...

Grab the Photo Hunt code.
Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

There were so many things that I could have picked for today's theme ... but THIS one caught my eye a few weeks ago and I decided then that IT would be honored today!


This is HALF of a set of bookends that my youngest daughter made for me when she was about 6 or 7 years old. My husband is always working in his wood shop - and she was always down there with him scavenging for scraps! So she made these for me ... and I have cherished them for about 10 years now! They sit on this little shelf in my living room - right next to me whenever I'm on the computer! I love them as much today as I did when she gave them to me. ... maybe even more! Right now she thinks I'm "silly" for saving these "junky things"... but sOMeday she's going to thank me! In case you're interested, here's a little pic of the "set".

Labels: Photo Hunt

posted by Melli at 12:04 AM | 34 comment(s)

Falling, falling, falling...

WHOOOO HOOOO!
Hooooody hoooo!

Went to the doctors scale today and it was MUCH more user friendly than the Curves scale was this week! Doc's scale says I've lost FIVE pounds the past two weeks!!! Yipppeeeee aiy oh kai YAY!!! I am finally OUT of the 240's! And I am 47 pounds DOWN!!! Whhooo hooo hooo!

I know how to celebrate the small stuff, don't I?

posted by Melli at 12:41 PM | 10 comment(s)

Friday Feast ~108 ...

Appetizer
If you could have a free subscription to any magazine, which one would you like to have?
National Geographic! It is SO expensive... and soooo good! Takes me everywhere in the world I want to go! And even places I don't "really" want to go!

Soup - Describe your living room (furnishings, colors, etc.).
Ahhhh! This is easy! My sister-in-law says walking into my living room is like walking into an American Flag! It's all red, white and blue -- blue/gray carpet, blue and white striped couches, red brick fireplace, Americana knick-knacks and decorations everywhere! One wall is painted navy blue - and the adjoining entryway is all navy blue. I also have a couple of antique flags on display.

Salad - What does the shape of a circle make you think of?
The sun? Well... that's what I thought of! My second thought was the tires on my truck... what does this SAY about me??? LOL!

Main Course - Name 3 things in your life that you consider to be absolute necessities.
Okay... I know you're looking for physical "things" and not spiritual things, so let me think... my home (or 'a' home), my car (we live in the country and a car is absolutely necessary!!!)... and as much as I'd LIKE to say my computer... I really feel I have to go with my phone instead. I need to be able to get ahold of emergency help if needed, and email just won't cut it!

Dessert - What was the last really funny movie you watched?
Oh boy... I don't watch movies much ... but my daughters and I did recently go see The Devil Wears Prada -- and I really enjoyed that one! It wasn't AS funny as I thought it would be... a little sadder than I thought -- but I did get some good laughs out it.

posted by Melli at 7:38 AM | 13 comment(s)

CURVES - Weights and Measures

It's that time of months again! I had my measurements at Curves today. I'm not terribly satisfied - but I'm not DISsatisfied either. I did move in the right direction -- just not as MUCH as I had hoped for! And some things that made me go hmmm... Well, first I'll give ya the numbers - and then maybe you'll see what I mean!

FOR THIS MONTH

Bust ... -0.25 inches
Waist ... -1.75 inches
Abdomen ... 0.00 inches
Hips ... +0.25 inches
Thighs ... -0.50 inches
Arms ... 0.00 inches

Weight ... - 1.20 pounds

This puts me at total loss for the month of 2.25 inches. I have lost a Grand Total of 14.00 inches since starting Curves. But look at today. HOW could I lose 1.75 inches off of my WAIST and NOT LOSE ANY off my abdomen? AND gain 1/4 on my hips??? HOW does a body DO that??? (comments are really not necessary ... I just think it's weird!) And I freaked when I had only lost 1.2 pounds -- but then I remembered that I had GAINED a pound from the NY trip, etc... so actually I've lost back that pound plus 1.2 more, for 2.2 pounds -- which still is not great -- but at least it's a loss. I go to the Drs. scale on Friday -- I'm hoping to lose TEN pounds BEFORE then!!! LOL! Hmmmm... just 48 hours... okay - I'm off to pedal now!!! And then maybe do some walking with Leslie Sansone... and then I'll jog around the block, swim a couple of miles, take the dog for a run, play a few games of tennis, row from here to Solomon's Island and back and run the Marine Corp Marathon, just for good measure!
OY! Repeat after me... slow and steady wins the race... slow and steady wins the race... slow and steady wins the race... I will not beat myself up... I will not beat myself up... I will NOT beat myself up... DO YOU HEAR ME DAISY??? I will NOT beat myself up!!!

posted by Melli at 12:14 PM | 17 comment(s)

Wordless Wednesday - Happy Birthday!

Barbara Eden turns 72 today!
Happy Birthday to my favorite Genie!

Labels: WW

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 28 comment(s)

MeMeology

I grabbed this meme from Mysterious Lady's blog awhile back, and have finally gotten around to filling it in. I did remove a few questions that I didn't think even needed to be asked.

What is your salad dressing of choice?
Hidden Valley Ranch LIGHT
What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
Arby's
What is your favorite sit down restaurant?
Solomon's Island Pier
What size tip do you leave at a restaurant?
At LEAST 20% ... if I'm very happy I've been known to double it!
What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
Cinnamon Toast Crunch breakfast cereal
Name three foods you detest above all others.
LIVER, hot peppers, calamari
What is your favorite dish to order in a Chinese restaurant?
Moo goo gai pan
What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Mushroom and Black Olive
What do you like to put on your toast?
Real butter
What is your favorite type of gum?
I don't really chew gum, but wintergreen if I must

TECH-OLOGY


Number of contacts in your cell phone?
38
Why aren't you in there?
Hm... I can usually find me without calling myself. But technically... my HOUSE phone is there - so I am!
Number of contacts in your email address book?
59 ... I just cleaned it out! :)
What is your wallpaper on your computer?
A photo I took of the Patuxent River and the beach area near our home.
What is your screensaver on your computer?
Photo slide show of family / friends.
How many land line phones do you have in your house?
One
How many televisions are in your house?
WAY too many! ... 5 ...
What kitchen appliance do you use the least?
Blender
What is the format of the radio station you listen to the most?
Format? You mean genre? Country.

BI-OLOGY


What do you consider to be your best physical attribute?
My hair
Are you right handed or left handed?
Right
Do you like your smile?
I don't hate my smile ... but I do have some smile issues...
Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
Yes. Oh... do you want to know what? Gallbladder, appendix, uterus, ovaries... Hey when you're done with them, get rid of them. It's all weight loss!
Do you prefer to read when you go to the bathroom?
Nope.
Which of your five senses do you think is keenest?
Probably smell... I'm pretty sensitive to odors.
When was the last time you had a cavity?
1969
What is the heaviest item you lift regularly?
??? The vacuum? Laundry? Not sure...
Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
Noooo...

MISC-OLOGY


If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
NO WAY! NO THANKS!
If you could change your first name, what would you change it to?
Oh wow! I can't imagine being another name... Ummm... Nope... I can't do it! I AM Melli... that is ME! Oh... well there -- I would LEGALLY change it to Melli! Melli is my nickname... but it's all I ever use.
How do you express your artistic side?
Oooo... in sO many different ways! I paint, write poetry, create web graphics and pages, photography, home decorating, sewing ... honestly I couldn't survive without artistic outlets!
What color do you think you look best in?
Well, I'm an 'autumn' so I look best in browns and golds and oranges and deep forrest greens... but those are not the colors I wear at all! Well, in winter I guess I do... some.
How long do you think you could last in a medium security prison?
Hm? You know something I don't? I could actually probably last a good long while. I'm very content with my own company and can entertain myself for long periods of time. And if they gave me a computer - heck I could last forever!
Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake?
I don't believe so.
If we weren’t bound by society’s conventions, do you have a relative you would make a pass at?
Not even!
How often do you go to church?
Whenever the Lord calls me!
Have you ever saved someone’s life?
Maybe. We'll never know for sure, but I grabbed a little guy out of the water when he was floundering once... don't know where his parent was, but they sure weren't watching him!
Has someone ever saved yours?
Maybe. I scared the heck out of a lifeguard at the beach one time. I had gone waaaaaaaaaaaay out in the ocean to the point they almost couldn't see me! And I wasn't paying any attention. They had to swim out and tell me to return! But if they hadn't, who KNOWS what might have happend? I was only about 9 or 10 years old!

DARE-OLOGY


For this last section, if you would do it for less or more money, indicate how much you WOULD do it for.


Would you walk naked for a half mile down a public street for $100,000?
Nope.
Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100?
Just a little kiss? Sure!
Would you have sex with a member of the same sex for $10,000?
Nope.
Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000?
No!
Would you never blog again for $50,000?
Maybe for a $5,000,000! My friends are valuable!
Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000?
No.
Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
I couln't if I wanted to
Would you, without fear of punishment, take a human life for $1,000,000?
Not for ANY amount EVER! (who wrote these questions?)
Would you shave your head and get your entire body waxed for $5,000?
Mmmmm... maybe...
Would you give up watching television for a year for $25,000?
ROFLMBO!!! I already gave up television - about 5 years ago! And I did it for FREE!!!

Labels: meme's

posted by Melli at 6:00 PM | 6 comment(s)

Six Flags America

Mathew, Amanda & Krysti on Superman
Today, 3 of my kids and I went to Six Flags America - for a day of mostly Roller Coasters! We did ride a couple of other things - but ... um... make that a few - 3 would be it though! Actually, normally a trip to Six Flags would really not even be news worthy for my blog... but today it sort of is! BECAUSE... when I started dieting one of my BIG GOALS was to BE ABLE to ride roller coasters again. The LAST time I was at Six Flags I could only ride ONE with the help of a seat belt extension - and I couldn't even SQUEEZE myself IN to ROAR - they would not have had to worry about harnesses or lap belts to keep me in if I had! Today I was able to ride ALL of the roller coasters -- and never needed a seatbelt extension for ANY of them. This was VERY exciting for me, because I truly AM a roller coaster enthusiast! I had hoped to buy the pictures of us actually riding the coasters - but none of them were taking pictures today -- just my luck! Here's a few more pictures!

Krysti and ME!
Our 2nd time on Superman and
we wanted the FRONT seat!

LOOK at the SIZE of this snowcone!
Mathew and I had eaten small ones (which were HUGE), but Amanda decided she wanted a large one! BOY were her eyes bigger than her stomach! She ended up throwing half of it away! LOL! Six Flags has THE BEST snowcones in all the world! I always get a green sour apple - every time! Today I had TWO!!! (at different times)

And last, but not least...

I just wanted you to see that Mathew DOES smile! LOL!
This was them on the Tower of Doom. I don't ride the TOD - because frankly, the first and last time I did ride it, my heart ended up in my throat, and my stomach dropped down to my toes... and it was just ugly all over the place!!! You can do whatever you like to me on a roller coaster -- but do NOT drop me from 250 feet - or however tall it is!

posted by Melli at 9:48 PM | 15 comment(s)

Sunday Funnies...

posted by Melli at 9:15 PM | 9 comment(s)

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt -- Youth

Grab the Photo Hunt code.
Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

SO... If I had a hard time picking ONE picture from my four children's lives for "silly" last week -- IMAGINE the dilemma I was in for YOUTH this week! I mean come on! ANY of the 40 million FABULOUS shots I have of ANY one of them would do! It was just tooooooo mind boggling! I opted for this...


ME! In all my youthful splendor!
And I do remember feeling like quite the floozie!
No flip-flops though! I was the BAREfoot floozie! LOL!

Oh... and by the way... in this picture I was AT my goal weight!

Labels: Photo Hunt

posted by Melli at 11:56 PM | 44 comment(s)

Blonde??? Or ... A Little Disoriented... still...

As if yesterday was not bad enough - yes - the passing out at Curves really DID happen! It was all due to having "forgotten" to take my anit-depressant for not one, but TWO nights in a row! (could also have something to do with why I was so weepy over photo trickery in the news??? Maybe... it still bothers me - but I'm not crying anymore.)

So anyway... On MONDAY I had called my friend Nata to have lunch. She couldn't - so we set it up for Friday instead - we would meet at the restaurant at noon. Well, then yesterday happend, and I'm trying to get my meds caught up - and I ended up sleeping in until 11:00 today - and then FORGOT our lunch date.

So at 12:30 I find a message on my answering machine... "Melli, this is Nata! I'm HERE! Where are you? I hope you're on your way...." OY! So I grab the phone, call her back - YES! I'm on my way! Sit tight! I run upstairs to change my clothes, realize my hair is a disaster and needs to be washed, stick it under the fawcette for a quick wash, change clothes and run out the door! I get out to the car and realize I don't have my glasses. Run back in to grab them off my desk. They're not there! Run UPstairs to grab them off my nightstand. They're not there! Now, where the heck ARE they? They're not on top of my head cuz I just washed my hair. I look all over the house - upstairs, downstairs, IN THE SHOWER, everywhere... nope - they are nowhere. Grrrr.

I drive to Deale withOUT my glasses... totally against all laws... local and state and of nature! I really can NOT see without my glasses! But I'm not ABOUT to miss lunch with Nata!!! I got there okay and we had a wOnderful time - the food and the service was horrible - but the company was good! The ice tea was good too! (that counts for something!)

So, when I got home I looked alllllll over the house AGAIN for my glasses. Tore apart my bed thinking maybe I fell asleep with them on... I was sure I hadn't -- but my options were running thin! Nope. They were NO WHERE! I gave up thinking they are right in front of my nose, I'm just not seeing them! I'll wait and someone else will spot them right away!

Mathew came home about 4:30 and I told him my dilemma. First he yelled at me for driving to Deale with no glasses.... Yea... by 19 or 20 it's okay for them to turn the table on us when WE act stupid - so that's okay! Then he went on a search and rescue for my glasses! He turned the whole house upsidedown looking... NO GLASSES.
I said "Boy... my glasses did NOT just get up and walk away." And honestly - I only EVER leave them in 3 places. My desk, my night stand, my head. We started thinking maybe Missy had gotten them and dragged them off -- so we're looking under couches, behind bookshelves, in places even MISSY couldn't possibly put them... still no glasses.

I finally decided that they just HAD to be upstairs somewhere. I remembered having them this morning and they didn't go missing until I was getting ready to drive... so they HAD to be here SOMEwhere! As I went back upstairs Mathew said "Mom, what pajamas were you wearing?" Well... I wasn't - I was wearing a t-shirt and shorts... but he said MAYBE the glasses came off when you took your shirt off! And sure enough. I went to the laundry, grabbed that t-shirt and shook it out - and out fell my glasses!

Good grief!
What a day!

posted by Melli at 4:24 PM | 7 comment(s)

Friday Feast #107

Appetizer
What color is your car?
I'm not sure what the "official" color is - but I call it Champaigne! (makes me feel like it's just a little better than it is!!! LOL!)

Soup
If you could wake up tomorrow with full training in another occupation and a job in that field, what would it be?
Probably to be a photographer -- for National Geographic!

Salad
How many times in your life have you had the flu (or something similar)?
I'm getting too old to remember! I know I've had it at least 3 times... the kind where you just WISH God would let you die! Thankfully, He does know best and just makes me suffer through it!

Main Course
What is something that has happened to you this week that you didn't expect?
I definately did NOT expect to pass out at Curves yesterday.... my own fault though... I forgot to take my medication and next thing I knew... PLOP! It wasn't fun!

Dessert
How old were you when you had your first kiss?
I think I was three. His name was Jeffrey and he loved me for my mother's cookies.

posted by Melli at 5:46 AM | 26 comment(s)

Draggin' Out My Soap Box....

Hmmm.... where to begin? Well, I guess at the beginning. One of my very good (invisible) friends lead me to THIS on our message board the other day. It is a video showing how the media "tricks" us sometimes by digitally doctoring their photo's to make us think things are BIGGER, BETTER (worse), whatever, than they really are. She titled it "Things That Make Me Go Hmmm..." ... but it did mOre than make ME go hmmm... for sOMe reason, this little item has ABSOLUTELY infuriated me.

I don't watch television... I rarely see a movie... and I don't watch the news either -- but it WAS the last to go from my agenda - as I really DO enjoy keeping up on what's going on in the world. So, I read the paper, Time, Newsweek... etc...

Now, here's the thing. When I first saw this I asked Hubby if he had ever seen it - and sure enough he had. Hubby watches TV religiously... he's seen every movie ... and he watches the news. So I asked him if this "bothered" him. And he admitted that it does ... a little. But... and he went on to make justification after justification for it. (THIS bothered me too! ... but I didn't say so... he's entitled to his opinion and if he were a blogging man I would allow him his time on my soap box!) But through our discussion, I ended up ALMOST in tears ... over something that I don't participate in! Now WHY is this? No... the tears were not from anything that Hubby said. They were from this very DEEP sadness that this situation gives me. I quit watching television because it became too violent, too raunchy, too sensational. I quit going to the movies for much the same reason. And I quit watching the news because they would take a story with (T H I S M U C H) content, find the WORST possible part of it and focus on (IT)... and disregard all other parts of the story as if no one would possibly care about (THAT STUFF).

So, here I am having this discussion with my Hubby ... and I'm almost in tears... and he says "Honey, WHAT's WRONG?" ... and I have to wonder... what IS wrong? WHAT am I feeling? And here it is... I "FEEL" that the last MORSEL of honesty in the world has just been RIPPED apart ... once more by the MEDIA! I've known for years that you can't believe anything they SAY... but I thought I could believe what I see. Now I find out that it's not just doctoring PICTURES... it's also using last months war footage to tell today's story... OR even BETTER YET ... STAGED war footage! And is it in the TABLOIDS??? No... it's coming from Reuters. It's coming across the wire services. It's on my local news. It's in my newspapers. And NOTHING is real anymore! And so I feel... betrayed. And that makes me very sad. And what makes me even sadder is that the world (all the people in it) stand by and say "it's okay"... it's just the way it IS these days, and toss out justifications for it. And so, how much worse will it get? Well... let's see... 40 years ago you weren't allowed to say the word "damn" on television, and Lucy and Ricky had to sleep in seperate beds... 30 years ago there were 7 words (only 7) that you weren't allowed to use on television and Love American Style taught us that it was okay to hop in and out of the sack with whomever we pleased... 20 years ago all but ONE of the words was now allowed, and nudity was okay as long as it wasn't full frontal nudity... Where are we TODAY? The "F" Bomb is dropped on a regular basis -- as a matter of fact, some movies seem to need it about every 5th word just to tell their story! Soooo.... if we can close our eyes to that... we can say "it's okay" (well, except for the radicals who want to take Road Runner off because there's too much violence) ... because that's just the way things ARE today... WHERE are we going to be in another 40 years? (and if I stay healthy, yea, I COULD still be here)... THIS ISN'T television DRAMA ... or COMEDY... this is the NEWS!!! This is SUPPOSED to be REAL!!! But NOTHING is real. If I'm feeling betrayed by the media TODAY, what am I going to be feeling like in 10 more years? Sorry... this in NOT okay. It makes me cry. Real tears.

Stepping down now. Go on about your day.
( i wonder what Dr. Andrew would say about this... hm... i think i just put myself on his couch... sigh...)

posted by Melli at 8:19 AM | 10 comment(s)

Wordless Wednesday ... # 21

Labels: WW

posted by Melli at 12:26 AM | 39 comment(s)

Ouch.

As I lay in bed this morning, a weeeee bit sore from yesterday's workout ... which I pushed quite a bit harder than I obviously should have... I was thinking about a certain piece of "exercise equipment" from long ago...


... I guess the concept was that it would just SHAKE the fat right off you! I dunno... what WERE they thinking? Of course, today we have Madonna's Power Plate that supposedly melts away poundage with the aid of vibration also... Okay! Well, if it didn't work in the 60's, I doubt it's any more effective today!

BUT! What brought this piece of equipment to MY mind this morning was my sore hips and butt! And I was thinking how if I had my sister's old machine I could get on it and get a nice little "massage" out of it... that would probably help a great deal! Amazingly, while looking for these pictures on line this morning, I found that the product IS still available today - in a newer version! AND that it is now promoted AS a massage belt! Same product... different purpose. Well... semi...


Ya gotta love this ad! A great way to RELAX and Exercise!? Since WHEN do the twain meet? I dunno... I've been exercising pretty regularly for the last 6 months... I've noticed NO relaxation involved. I wonder how many of these they sell? Not to worry... when I saw the price tag for them I decided that what I really want is one of ...


... THESE!
Size "Extra Muscle" please...

posted by Melli at 10:22 AM | 9 comment(s)

Flashbacks!

For lack of anything at all of value going through my pea sized brain this morning, I have decided to simply share these pictures... for no reason. Dennis and I at age 3 ... long long before we would ever meet! I sure wish he woulda shared that cake with me though...

posted by Melli at 10:24 AM | 14 comment(s)

Sunday Funnies

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 15 comment(s)

Left, do da Left, do da Left, Right, Left...

I got this in the mail the other day. My buddy, my pal, Lazy Daisy recommended her friend Leslie to me ... and so I wanted to meet her! Now, we all know, I've been doing Curves for 2.5 months, and I've been pedaling my bike -- for almost 6 months now! And I'm always lookin' for something else to mix it up! So, into my livingroom steps Leslie - with her 4 mile walk. She works up to a low impact jog. The 4 miles takes 45 minutes and is then followed by 15 minutes of floor exercises for overall body toning. GREAT program! After 6 months of STEADY exercising I can only make it HALF way through this! And then the next day my legs were tight as ... tight! Absolutely amazes me - because at Curves I jog in place the whole time I'm on the recovery boards... so how can THAT be LESS strenuous than WALKING in place? Hm? Well... needless to say this has me not only perplexed, but likewise determined. I am going to get through this whole workout! One of these days! LOL!

OH! By the way -- I am up to 20 minutes hula hooping now! And I have started doing it directly after my circuit workout instead of after my stretches. This way it keeps my cardio going for an extra 20 minutes too! YAY!

Okay... going to play with Leslie now! Seeeeeeya!

posted by Melli at 12:34 PM | 10 comment(s)

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt -- Funny

Grab the Photo Hunt code.
Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

You know... with FOUR grown children,
it is very difficult to go back and pick just
ONE funny picture ... but I did...


This is Derek at 3 years old.
He looooved to be a "bucket-head"...
Silly boy!

Labels: Photo Hunt

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 35 comment(s)

I KNEW IT!

I knew it, I knew it, I knEW it! Today was Weigh Day and I gained a pound! Whatever made me think I could celebrate birthdays, anniversaries AND visit New York without gaining??? Well really, I didn't! (didn't think it!) I knEW I had gained! At least it was only ONE pound! Sooooo... today I'm being MORE than good! I am ONLY eating the virtual bad foods at Carmen's party... In real life only GOOD food is passing my lips! Because NEXT weigh day I am going to be a LOSER! BANK on it!

posted by Melli at 2:33 PM | 4 comment(s)

Blog Warming Party!

Help Carmen celebrate her new look!

posted by Melli at 8:39 AM | 5 comment(s)

Friday Feast #106

Would you like to play?

Appetizer
Tell about a toy you remember from your childhood.
I had one of those magnetic letter boards. It was a gift from an elderly couple that lived down the street... a couple that I visited quite frequently. (adopted grand's so to speak!) I loved that letter board and Mr. Maloney (who I called Mr. Baloney) worked with me daily teaching me how to spell with it! The very first word I EVER learned to spell was e-l-e-p-h-a-n-t! (most kids would start with c-a-t ... but not me!)

Soup
If you could make one thing in the world absolutely free for everyone, what would it be?
Absolutely and without a doubt it would be Health Care! (and I would insist that it be compassionate health care!)

Salad
Approximately how many times per day do you think about your significant other?

Oh wow... several? Somewhere between 10 and 100? Well, let's break this down... there are 24 hours, and I'm awake for about 18 of them... I doubt that I think of him once every single hour... I do get busy with my day... so I would say maybe 12 times a day? I've never really thought about it ... and I suppose it varies from day to day. Some days I may only think of him 3 or 4 times... Let's say an average of 8! That sounds good... 8 times a day!

Main Course
What is something you believe in 100%?

God. No question. No doubt. Want something more interesting than that?
The right to life. Want something less political than that? The power of positive thinking!

Dessert
Name one thing you have done this week that you would consider a "good deed."
Oh... easy peasey! My son called me last night and asked if I could help out one of the gals he works with - she needs a babysitter this afternoon for a few hours. I said sure - no problem! I've never met her or her kids - all I know about them is one is 2 and the other is 6 - and they'll be at my house at 3:00! LOL!

posted by Melli at 6:22 AM | 14 comment(s)

How Sweet It IS!

Found this article in the Washington Post this morning... myself, I only have a mild hatred of this bridge - and most of IT was caused during the construction of the new span -- but I can bet a LOT of people are going to be entering this contest!!! ROFL!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Commuter's Revenge Will Be a Blast
Contest Winner Gets to Blow Up Part of Old Span

By Nick Miroff
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 10, 2006; Page A01

After all those traffic jams that caused all those missed ballgames, missed meetings, missed life, the commuter who faced the most frustration from the old Woodrow Wilson Bridge will have the chance to head to Alexandria this month and, in an officially sanctioned act of road rage, blow the sucker to bits.

Wilson Bridge project officials announced yesterday that they are holding a contest in which drivers can compete to see who suffered the most at the hands of the old span. The traffic loser turned contest winner will get to trigger explosive charges that will send a half-mile section of the old bridge crashing to the banks of the Potomac River at the stroke of midnight Aug. 24.

Photos
/metro A Bridge to Better Commutes
The opening of the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge tops off two difficult decades of community debate, Congressional-wrangling, consultant studies and blue-collar construction that many times seemed to be in serious trouble, before turning into a mega-project success story.
Panorama
Aerial View of Old and New Bridges
Alexandria Department firefighter Jack Hoffman watches over the old and new Woodrow Wilson bridges at a dedication ceremony for the new bridge on Thursday.
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"May it rest in pieces," reads the news release on the project's Web site, http://www.wilsonbridge.com , where bridge-loathing contestants are asked to fill out forms detailing how long they've commuted across the bridge and to describe their worst days.

Bridge officials said the contest, which is underway and ends Aug. 18, is a twisted tribute to the motorists who've long suffered in the backups that choke both approaches.

"This is a thank-you and a recognition for all the folks who have had to endure a miserable time getting across the old bridge," spokesman John Undeland said. "We want to involve the public and get the commuter who's had it the worst to be the triggerman -- or triggerwoman -- to bring down the bridge that has caused them so much woe."

Undeland said the contest is also a fun way to warn motorists and local residents of the demolition, which is scheduled for midnight because it will shut down Interstate 95 traffic for about 30 minutes and send shockwaves rumbling through the Alexandria neighborhoods closest to the site.

Undeland predicted that the controlled explosions shattering the steel girders that form the bridge's skeleton will have "the brightness of lightning" and sound "like a roll of thunder."

Commuters who wish to pay their last respects -- or hurl any final insults -- can watch from a public viewing area that will be set up a safe distance away on Washington Street.

Because the old bridge, which opened in 1961, is being dismantled in sections, only about a half-mile portion of the span over Alexandria's Jones Point Park will be leveled by the winning motorist. The concrete deck has been removed from that section, and the remaining structure is in the path of construction of the second half of the new bridge.

The first six-lane span of the new Wilson Bridge, part of the $2.4 billion project, opened this summer. A second six-lane span, which is expected to alleviate daily jams on both shores, is scheduled to open in summer 2008.

For many commuters, that's when the real celebration will begin. Even with the new bridge, getting to work remains dismal for motorists such as Jack E. Hay, who has been driving from Maryland to Virginia and back every day since 1982.

"If you accumulate all the years together, it's pretty tough," said Hay, who calculates that he has spent more than an hour each day stuck in traffic near the bridge. Add that up over 24 years, and Hay has lost about a year of his life to Wilson Bridge jams.

Hay said he is planning to enter the contest and thinks he has as good a shot as anyone. But even if he doesn't win, he will make the pilgrimage to watch the old span be blown up.

"It'll be fulfilling to see it go down," he said.

"Good riddance."

posted by Melli at 8:06 AM | 4 comment(s)

New York, New York... Part II

... continued from yesterday...

When we left Central Park we decided we wanted to go to the Statue of Liberty ... but we had no idea where it was, or how far away... we were finding "traveling" in the city to be the biggest adventure! But! Before we got too far away from this corner, I wanted to run over and see this fabulous globe that stands in front of Trump Tower ... well... ONE of the MANY Trump towers... ( i think this one was an office building )

For some reason I was mesmorized by this particular piece of artwork. Again... who knows why!? I've always been quite fond of globes in general... so maybe this was just a case of "size matters"... I dunno! Maybe this was Global Bling! Oooo... I think that's MY title for it!

It's EASY to get sidetracked in New York ... and we did. (remember we were in search of the Statue of Liberty) Katy-corner to this Trump ediface was the Time-Warner building. And inside the Time-Warner is a make-up store which I can not remember the name of, and Krysti just left... but she wanted to go there and replenish some supplies. The halls of Time-Warner are currently displaying some artwork -- don't know if this is always true or not - but right now they are. I LOVE art museums, and so this little "freebie" was great! But when we got done buying makeup and admiring art, we were all getting a little hungry so we decided we should eat before going to visit Lady Liberty! Now... I had a goal when we left Maryland ... I wanted a piece of NEW YORK PIZZA!!! But Krysti wanted to eat at the Hard Rock Cafe ... and I'm a sucker to give in to that girl. (sad... but true...) So now we had a new goal... we needed to find the Hard Rock Cafe! We asked a few people who didn't know, and were finally directed to the concierge down on ground level. We didn't find him, but we found someone who LOOKED like him & the lady he was talking to knew right where the Hard Rock was! YAY! (turns out it's smack dab in the middle of Times Square!) We could have walked, but feeling pressed for time we grabbed a cab! I swear cabs in NYC cost about HALF what they do in DC! (anybody else noticed this?) Also... cabbies are VERY helpful people! Holy cow - if ya need to know ANYTHING - ask a cabbie! They really do have the whole story! So ours dropped us about a block from the restaurant, pointed us in the right direction and off we went. On the way there we past this ... Bubba Gumps! I sooooo wanted to eat there! Ricky doesn't do seafood - so we stayed the course to Hard Rock, but when I go back to NYC I am going to eat at Bubba's! (and I'm going to get NY Pizza too!)

I do LOVE going to Hard Rock Cafe's ... they are thoroughly interesting no matter which one you visit! In THIS one I found this guitar - which was handmade by Bo Diddly back in 1943! I also got pictures of 2 songs handwritten - one by Jim Morrison of Doors fame, and the other by Jimi Hendrix! I knew my boy, Derek, would love to see those! (they don't show too well in 'small' - so I'm not displaying them) Ringo Starr's drums display nicely though! This is the very FIRST set of drums Ringo started with in Liverpool... and I couldn't help thinking how much HE would have LOVED to have Derek's drums back then! I also couldn't help thinking, Look how far he GOT with this set of drums ... and wondering if Derek will ever get anywhere NEAR that far!? Wouldn't that be SO cool??? Derek also writes songs and has started playing guitar now too ... I was teasing him last night that SOMEDAY his words will be hanging in the Hard Rock Cafe - next to his new black guitar! And his picture of course!!! *w*

So we left the Hard Rock, grabbed a cab and headed for the big green statue! I was SO excited!!! I have ALWAYS wanted to go see the Statue of Liberty! I asked the cabby if it would still be open -- but he wasn't sure (and honest about it) but he did say that if we couldn't get the ferry over to the statue, we could still get the Staten Island Ferry (which is free!) and we'd be able to at least ride past her. This is what ended up happening... and I don't mind telling you I WAS disappointed. I was kicking ourselves in the butt for having not gone straight to the statue BEFORE Central Park! Ggrrrrr... live and learn. It was about 7:30 and I don't know what time the last Ferry heads over to Liberty and Ellis Island. I DO know we will go back EARLY the next time we go! But we very much enjoyed the Staten Island Ferry! I couldn't believe the amount of people it holds -- and most of them are just people trying to get home from work - so they stay inside the boat and read their papers, make their lists, and talk on their cell phones... they leave the outer deck to us tourists and our cameras!

This was as close as we got! And I was SERIOUSLY wishing for a better camera! With a more powerful zoom I could have been right THERE! As it was, I was wishin' I was on that little boat right in front of her! It was also pretty foggy out ... didn't notice it IN the city -- but from out on the boat it was obvious.


And here is my required photo of the city from the ferry!
Ya gotta take one!
I think there's a law!
I don't know if you've noticed, but we had taken the TRAIN into the city, the BUS out to the park, and CABS a couple of times. We had also had the BUGGY RIDE in CP! So our original plan, when leaving the docks, was to ride the SUBWAY back to Times Square, grab a slice of NEW YORK PIZZA and then get our return train to Garden City. But! By this time it was about 8:45 and we were all DEAD TIRED! I told the kids that earlier in the day I would have loved the subway adventure... but that I was no longer UP for this! They agreed whole-heartedly! We took another cab back to the station, found our train and waved goodbye to Manhattan! It was definately a FUN day and I do SO want to go back and spend a LOT more time -- like a WEEK! I would love to just wander that city on foot and see everything that it has to offer, dine in MANY of it's establishments, and just be a tourist to the max!

I have to say that I found NOTHING not to like. Yes, the cabs are SCARY! Just close your eyes and trust your cabby! They do this all the time and they do it well! The busses are equally scary if not more so! I did not run into ONE rude person -- everyone I stopped to ask questions or directions was friendly and helpful! Sometimes MORE than helpful! Yes, you do get bumped and jostled on occassion walking down the street... and no people don't stop to say excuse me or I'm sorry... but having been there now, I realize that if they DID they'd never get where they were going! You'd spend all your time apologizing and excusing... it's just THAT crowded! I think people who LIVE there probably don't even notice it anymore... but I definately did not find myself thinking "oh, that was SO rude!" ... it's not rude... it's just different. I bet it's the same in Tokyo ... and no one complains about the Japanese! I found New York and New Yorkers to be absolutely FABULOUS! I LOVED that Big Apple!!! *crunch*

posted by Melli at 12:01 PM | 9 comment(s)

I HEART NEW YORK!!!

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please, I beg your mercy! I know... I said I would only be gone for ONE day... but the truth is, we left at here at 6:00 a.m. on Monday and walked back in the door at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday -- without sleeping anywhere in there. So, I was a weeeee little bit tired... maybe a tad cranky... and on top of it, had things to do today and just could not find time to blog! I know you all KNOW that nothing in my world could POSSIBLY be more important than YOU, so trust me when I say I feel really bad about not getting back here sooner! And I will be around to visit everyone again SOON! Now... for my trip!


We will not discuss the college tour ... as I really do not like to criticize things that other folks may have strong positive feelings for... so suffice it to say that Krysti and I were not as impressed as we feel we need to be, and she will continue shopping for a college that will suit her. (Damn shame as Amanda and I would LOVE her to go to school just outside NYC! What do you MEAN this isn't about US?)

When we finished at the school, we hopped on the train and headed into Manhattan, leaving our car behind in the "permit only" parking lot! (it wasn't quite that simple - but trust me - you only WANT the Readers Digest version!) Miraculously, the train deposited us directly at Penn Station where we discovered, much to our delight, a KMART! (whoo hoo! LOL!) Krysti, who wore a skirt to the school, and did NOT bring along a change of clothes, was in need of a CHEAP pair of pants... and Kmart filled that bill! From THERE we were finally able to begin our ADVENTURE!!! (and oh, we DID adventure!) While Krys was trying on pants, Ricky and I were picking the brains of various Kmart employees to find out 1) how far away we were from Central Park, 2) what would be the easiest way to get to there, 3) how much do busses COST in NYC? (it has been YEARS since I've used any public transporation other than the DC Metro Rail) So, we hopped the bus on 8th and TRIED to pay the 6 bucks (for 3 of us) with cash -- but that's a no no! NO MONEY ALLOWED!!! Only tokens or fare cards! (why didn't i knOw that?) So the driver very kindly explained that we would need to either go back to Penn Station to buy fare cards or token, UNLESS there happend to be someone on the bus who had enough on THEIR card and would scan it for us! DON'T you KNOW, someone stood up and said they had some EXTRA fare cards -- he sold us 3 $2 fare cards and off we went, down 8th street, with me wondering why in the HECK people complain about New Yorkers being so UNfriendly and rude??? Everyone I'd met was friendly, kind and courteous!


Okay... so we got to Central Park!

I was rather taken by the large gold statue adorning the entrance to the park (on the WEST side, I'm told)... but I didn't get to read about what the statue IS OF because ... well... that stuff would be BORING to teenagers. LOL! So... we scurried along into the park where Krysti found something totally UNboring to teenagers! A horse drawn buggy... that would just LOVE to give / sell us a ride! Having done this twice in San Antonio last year, it has kind of lost the big draw to me... but I am not a teenage girl visiting New York City WITH my boyfriend in tow... so what do I know? I know they would have had a much more ROMANTIC ride had "the mother" not been along! LOL! But they enjoyed it anyway! And I developed a few new brain wrinkles on this ride! I had NO idea that Central Park was AS BIG as it is! I mean, I knew it was BIG! I've seen it on TV, and I've read about it in books ... but I just don't think it strikes you until you SEE it... it's HUUUUUUUUGE! You could spend days in there! As a matter of fact, I'm not sure that another park is required in the entire state of New York! It was great fun! SO much going on! Artisans, and volley ball, and a little chess garden... so much you DON'T hear about on tv or in books! The famous Ice Skating Rink becomes an amusement park in Summer! I never knew that! Very neat! Thoroughly enjoyed the park! Did not go to the Zoo - but would sure like to go back and do that!

To be continued...
(sorry... it's 11:00 pm and I gotta get some real sleep!)
Tomorrow... I promise!

posted by Melli at 9:28 PM | 13 comment(s)

Away From My Desk...

Hi! This is Melli. I'm sorry... I'm away from my desk at the moment. We've gone to New York for the day to look at a college for Krysti. If you leave a message I'll get back to you as soon as I can! Thank you! And have a WONDERFUL day!

posted by Melli at 12:01 AM | 19 comment(s)

Blowin' In The Wind....

Hey TNC? THIS post is for YOU! I didn't want ya to think I was "just sayin' it" ... so here's a few of my wind chimes!


This is the very first one I got -- it was a housewarming gift from my sister a little over 19 years ago! I collect other puter things, so she just knew I would love a pewter wind chime - and she was right! It's not as shiney as it once was... but pewter just always looks good no matter what! I still love it.


Flip Flop Floozie oughta like this one! I'm a beach fanatic so this brought a little piece of the beach to my yard! It was so much better when the kids were small and we had a whole SANDBOX! But this will do for now... *sigh* ... until grandkids!


This one doubles up as a wind chime and a bird feeder! Can't beat that! It hangs from the monkeybars out in our playground along with another bird feeder and a suet feeder. Since the kids don't use the playground anymore, I figure the wildlife might as well!


This one is also out on the playground side of the house. These bushes aren't looking their best right now because of the intensely hot summer we've had, but usually the leaves are a really beautiful deep dark maroon-ish color and the bluebird just looks SO pretty amid that!


Bet you can guess that THIS one hangs in my kitchen - right over my sink. It's the newest one. (other than the one you just sent me) This one will live in my kitchen probably for the rest of this year, and then it will move outside to become garden whimsy and something else will move in to take it's place! That's the way the kitchen chime works!


One more pewter chime, and then I'll show you what I did with yours! This one I got 6 years ago for my birthday. The same time we got our black lab, Jewl. This one has moved around the house a few times... it was the kitchen chime for awhile, and then it was in my computer room, back when I had one... and now it hangs out in the livingroom with me. I love this chime almost as much as I love that puppy - and this one will never go outside. :)

Ta-da, TA-DA! This is the chime you sent me, and I thought that since I won it for a patriotic display, it should be PART of a patriotic display! And so it was given this most prestigious spot right under the flag in our front yard! To me it looks like it's standing sentry! And the flag holder had the hooks already there like it was just BEGGING for that chime to be there! T'was meant to be!

Thank you again TNC!
I hope NOW you know how much I treasure it!
And always will!

posted by Melli at 8:26 PM | 10 comment(s)