WHOOOO HOOOODIE HOOOO ! ! !
Let it be known
and
Hereby Announced....
That I have FINALLY lost
POUNDS!
Labels: Weight Loss
Wordless Wednesday ... cheep cheep...
Labels: WW
The Oldies Meme....
I've been tagged by Beckie, who is
A Child Of God, to do this meme. The object is to go through all your old posts and pick out one favorite in each category:
Funny,
Serious,
Ugly (or a Rant) and
About Me. So I've given it my best shot... and this is what I came up with.
So, for
Funny, I chose
Is This Weird? -- it's about one of my first experiences at Curves ... and my thoughts on that! But what I find the FUNNIEST now... looking back... is that the owner has become a GREAT friend, and I'm now WORKING for her! (and promoting those odd activities!) LOL!
On a more
Serious note, I found that I don't write about
SERIOUS things too often! Geeez... 388 posts and only about 5 that I would consider serious! And most of them were health issues! SO... I chose
THIS ... which is about as serious as I ever got without using my "rant" twice! And I really really
LIKE this post!
That brings us to my
Ugly Rant ... I really think it's a rather
PRETTY Rant ... I also think it's an
IMPORTANT Rant... and most of you never saw it... so it's definately worth sharing again!
And last ... and least... my
About Me post... which nearly allllllllll of my posts are about me! Honestly this has been depressing! Looking back over my blog I found out how boring I really am! But apparently y'all don't think so! I could surely use some "deeper" thoughts every now and then though! Soooo I went through my b'zillion meme's because they are all about ME -- but I didn't choose ANY of them. Nope... instead I went back... almost to the very beginning of my blog, and chose
this one. And now it's almost a year later... and I'm still here!
As per my norm, I will not "tag" anyone -- but if you care to go through and share your favorite oldies, please let me know as I'm sure I would enjoy them too!
Labels: meme's
AAAAAACK! They GOT Me!!!
Blogger got me! I signed OUT of my old blogger (which I never do!) so that I could help a friend with hers ... and when I went to sign back in ... well... you KNOW how it went - dontcha? Yep - wouldn't let me sign back in to OLD Blogger.... had to sign in to NEW Blogger. Sooooooo far though it doesn't look like they hurt me much! Just made a whole bunch of people anonymous in my comments! Grrrrr! I was sO determined to hold out.... Well... it's done now... I'll get over it! *shrug*
Celebrity Me!!!
I found this while visiting Barbara the other day... it looked like fun!Writer's Digest Forum 10/24/2006: You’re a celebrity and are able to make demands on what must be provided in your dressing room (Jennifer Lopez insists on white couches). What are your top five demands and why?1. All of my personal attendants (make-up artist, masseuse, etc...) MUST be male and of the Chippendale persuasion! Not that I want to touch - but I have a fine appreciation for eye candy!2. I definately want a hot tub with extra strong jets! I am an energetic performer and I need a place to reeeelax and unwind after my show! (and before my massage... and after my massage...)3. Vanilla Chai coffee. Always. Don't mess up!4. Squishy floors! The kind that gymnasts use to practice on! Firm enough to walk across, but really NICE on the feet! Yes... I want all my flooring to be made of that! (and heated from beneath) Of course, it should be done in a tasteful color -- a beige or light tan perhaps. I LIKE to go barefoot!5. A stone fireplace. Gas run please. I LOVE the fire - hate the mess! (should have a wide hearth so as not to melt the flooring)
Ohhhhhh this one was just tooooooo much fun! How neat to think of HOW SPOILED I would be ... if I had my way! As usual, I'll not tag anyone -- but DO feel free to express yourself in hedonistic way!
Just a FEW of the Heathens!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATHEW!!!
You really don't want to know the rest of the story!
(trust me!)
No Church This Morning.... *sigh*
No fun Church reports this morning folks... I'm sorry. (boy, you don't know HOW sorry I am!) We have FAR TOO MANY sinners around my house this morning! Me 'n God - We gotta straighten this situation out!!! (Hubby might have to help this time too!) Stay tuned til NEXT week when I'm sure I (and my family) will be back on the road to Salvation! 
Initially Speaking....
This really ISN'T a meme because it has absolutely NOTHING to do with ME other than using my first initial! But I found it the other day over at Hootin' Anni's and it looked like fun ... so...
Rules: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following. They must be REAL places, names, things. NOTHING made up! If you can’t think of anything, skip it. Try to use different answers if the person you're copying this from has the same 1st initial. You CAN’T use
your name for the boy/girl name question.
YOUR NAME: Melli -- I'll be using "M" ... naturally!1. Famous Athlete: Michael Jordan2. 4-letter word: More3. Street name: Mulberry St.4. Color: Melon5. Gifts/present: Money6. Vehicle: Mazda7. Tropical Location: Montego 8. College Major: Medicine9. Dairy Product: Milk10. Things in a Souvenir Shop: Mugs11. Boy Name: Marcus12. Girl Name: Marcella13. Movie Title: Moulin Rouge14. Alcohol: Merlot15. Occupation: Miller16. Flower: Magnolia17. Celebrity: Marilyn Monroe18. Magazine: Maxim19. U.S. City: Minneapolis20. Pro Sports Team: Mets21. Something Found in a kitchen: Microwave22. Reason for Being Late: MAJOR accident23. Something You Throw Away: moldy food24. Things You Shout: MURDER!!!25. Cartoon Character: Minnie Mouse
Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt - - Silver
Grab the Photo Hunt code.
Join the blogroll. Visit participants.
Please... Feel free to berate me for how BORING this post is!
(honestly... if you don't I'll never learn my lesson!)
Well... as usual, I forgot about the hunt until this morning! So I'm left to find something "silver" around the house! Well, I don't have silver jewelry. And I don't have my mother's old silver platters and candlestick holders... I don't have any of my own either... I don't really care for silver much as a matter of fact! LOL! Sooo... it was either the forks and spoons (which aren't REAL silver either)... the bathtub spigot... or this...
THIS came out looking the "neatest" ... so it's what ya get!
I'll try to be more interesting
NEXT WEEK!
Labels: Photo Hunt
Friday Feast #128
Appetizer
If you could take lessons to learn any musical instrument, which would you want to learn?There are two I would really like to learn -- piano, and guitar. I might be taking guitar lessons starting this summer! We'll see....
Soup
Have you ever mistaken a person for someone else?All the time! YOU try keeping 1200 students straight -- especially the 400 who have long straight blonde hair and blue eyes and all wear the same clothes! Individuality MY EYE! LOL! But... in the respect of which I know this question is MEANT... yes... I have... and I know I was embarassed about it - but I don't really remember who it was or what the details were. (apparently it wasn't worth stressing over in the overall scheme of things!)
Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how well do you keep secrets?
12.5!!! Ask ANYONE! I am the BEST secret keeper ever! If you tell me this is for my ears only, it ain't going ANYWHERE! And most of the time, even if you don't say it's a secret, I keep it to myself anyway. My husband calls it "lack of communication skills".... hmmmm...
Main Course
What's the closest you've ever been to a dangerous animal?Sadly, I guess it's probably been at the zoo or the circus. Not terribly close really. I would LOVE to have a pet LION! Ohhhhhhh in my wildest dreams! I am soooooo jealous of Deslily because she has done THIS...
Dessert
When was the last time you lost your patience?
You know... when you deal with student apathy it is very very hard not to lose your patience. I really have to CONCENTRATE on this EVERY time I teach. It doesn't do any GOOD to lose your patience with these kids... but it doesn't do much good NOT to either. When a child just doesn't care about their education it is heartbreaking. So, I'm sure the last time that I DID lose my patience was probably with a student who was being a biscuit-head... but I do try not to.
Labels: Friday Feast
Nearly Deep Thoughts...
We were having a discussion on a message board I belong to this morning concerning panhandlers and homeless people. It was suggested (as it always is when this topic comes up) that SOMEthing must be done to get them off the streets. And I think we all agree that in some area's they can be quite an annoyance! It was also suggested that "they have to WANT to work though". My response to this was that it's not always as easy as simply WANTING to work. These people are dirty. They have nowhere to shower. Yes... there ARE shelters... and most of them are FULL and turning people away by a certain time. The homeless also either have no clean clothes ... or if they DO have extra clothes they are not OFTEN clean. (if you have to choose between food or the laundromat, what are you going to pick?) And if they DO manage to have extra clean clothes, what are the chances that these clothes are also presentable to go for a job interview? Okay -- maybe for construction work! But even McDonalds isn't going to hire someone who comes in looking like a homeless person! Right? Who would?MY suggestion to this problem is a "mentor" program. Something where people who HAVE money (a little extra) and a desire to really HELP, could sort of "adopt" ONE homeless person, help clean them up, give them a place to shower (if not even a bed for a month or so), and really HELP them to get back on there feet again! I think this could really work. We all feel like we can't do ANYTHING to help this situation. The homeless population is so GREAT it's intimidating! We can donate to the soup kitchens and give them a meal... we can donate coats to be delivered to them in winter... but there are just soooooooo many of them, how could we EVER be expected to help them all? We can't. But WHAT IF we could just help one? Just one. Would YOU do it? Would you REALLY?Has anyone ever heard of a program like this going on anywhere? I haven't. But I really DO think it would be a GREAT idea! (and for the ones who are "too proud" ... and MANY of them are VERY proud ... to take "charity"... maybe it could be set up as a loan to be paid back when they ARE on their feet again) Please share your thoughts about this with me. What ideas do YOU have for helping the homeless situation in our country?
Wordless Wednesday ... in my yard...
Labels: WW
BOOT CAMP -- Week 2...
Week 2 actually started yesterday - but I didn't get my weigh-in until today! This past week I managed to realize all my goals EXCEPT I had hoped to get to Curves 5 times and I only made it 4. But that was a "personal" goal and not a required goal for the challenge, so I'm okay! I DID manage to drink a gallon of water every day this week -- and though I am TOLD that my body should be starting to get used to it, I am finding that I STILL feel bloated every day! Maybe by NEXT week that will go away. We'll see. I pedaled every day -- I had only put 5 times for my goal. And I used the gazelle 3 days! So exercise was fabulous this week! When I stepped on the scale I showed a 1.8 pound loss -- which I was THRILLED with because after having 2 cheeseburgers and CAKE and ICE CREAM on Hubby's birthday... I was thinking I would probably NOT lose anything! But I guess I really DID get enough exercise in to counteract even those drastic indiscretions! I hope next week goes as well... Mathew's birthday is Thursday! (this is killin' me... just killin' me!)
I Have NO Idea What This One's Called....
But I snatched it from Jennifer!10 Firsts1. First best friend - Little Lynn (cuz my older sister's best friend was Lynn also!)2. First car - 1968 Pontiac LeMans ... red with a black roof... clunker! (freebie)3. First love - Jeffrey ... we were 4 ... he loved me for my mothers cookies.4. First vacation - Hm. I don't remember, but I bet it was Florida! St. Petersburg.5. First job - Soda jerk at People's Drug Store.6. First piercing - my ears. ONLY piercing.7. First concert - LOL! Frank Zappa!8. First record/cd bought - Ugh... it would definately be a record! Um... The Monkees9. First real love - That would be Erich... I was 15... he was a jerk!10. First screen name - AMKDsMom9 Latest1. Latest alcoholic beverage - Uh yea... that would be WINE ... on New Years... 2. Latest car ride - Yesterday -- to the movies...3. Latest movie watched - Dreamgirls... yesterday (2nd movie this year! Whoo hoo!) (this year meaning the past 12 months -- not 2007!)4. Latest phone call made - Called Gail... to see if she was ready to go to the movies!5. Latest jacuzzi bath - UGH! Too long ago! I think LAST winter!6. Latest played cd - The Very Best of Rod Stewart7. Latest time you cried - It's been a while... a couple of months maybe.8. Latest meal - Homemade split pea soup and a roast turkey sandwich.9. Latest curse - I don't believe I've EVER been cursed ... or cast one either!8 Have You Ever1. Dated one of your best friends - Yes. And I married him too!2. Been arrested - yes. (a someday story)3. Fallen in love at first sight - Yea... 4 times. (my kids)4. Been in a TV program - Nope.5. Had your heart broken - And tossed on the gravel and run over with a steam roller! Idiot broke up with me ON MY BIRTHDAY!!! 6. Said you love someone without meaning it - No. I always mean it on SOME level.7. Made a prank phone call - *models her Queen of Prank Calls crown* (issued 1974)7 Things You Wear1. Shorts2. Tank Tops3. Jeans4. Sweats5. A watch6. Red Door7. Glasses... *sigh*6 Things You've Done Today1. Brushed my teeth 2. Showered3. Pedaled 1 hour4. Made homemade split pea soup5. Worked out6. 2 loads of laundry5 Favorite Things1. Good books (various)2. My bike3. My camera4. Sbarro's Spinach/Mushroom pizza5. GOOD coffee4 People I Can Tell Anything1. Gail2. Amanda3. Krysti4. Judi3 Choices1. Black or white? White
2. Summer or winter? Summer
3. Chocolate or chips? Chocolate
2 Things to do Before You Die1. Travel the WORLD2. Find MY church!1 Thing You Regret1. Not getting out to Colorado to see my brother and his home before he died.
No tags here! Just let me know if you do it! This was a fun one...
Labels: meme's
ALMOST a Snow Day!
Schools will be opening today2 hours late! YAY!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Soooooo today's little snow brought about memories of when the kids were small and we would have snow! They sure did enjoy the hill behind our house! We hadn't thought when we built this house about HOW MUCH fun that hill was going to be!
These were from a little storm back in 1994...
Krysti thought that was one WIIIIIIILD RIDE!
The Search Continues....
MORE CHURCH SHOPPING... This morning I tried out the Episcopal church up on the corner. My friend, Janie (who is also church shopping) and I decided on the 8:00 service this morning. This is definately NOT the one for me.The first thing that I noticed was that I (at age 49.4) was the youngest person in the church. Even Janie has me by a couple of years. But that would be okay IF everything else was right. Which it wasn't. I never thought that the "building" that church takes place in was of much importance. I mean you can gather people and praise the Lord ANYWHERE - right? I know this is true! But... I didn't realize that I DO want MY church to be a "comfortable" place. A place that "feels" like ... comfy. This church did not feel that way from the minute I walked in the door. The pews had gates on them. You had to open the gate and then close the gate before you could sit down on the pew. I've NEVER seen that before! And they were built like boxes... with a bench. This didn't feel "comfy".... I want to concentrate on praising the Lord and learning while I'm in church. I don't want to be squirming and fidgeting because the seat is hard and the back is too straight and I'm UNcomfortable. But I know this isn't often an issue because I have been in MANY churches --- and this one was just odd! Next... THIS Episcopal service had NO music. None. Not just no songs... but no entrance music, no exit music, no no no music... none. I defiantely need there to be music - with UPLIFTING spiritual songs! Songs of PRAISE, and songs of JOY! So this was a problem. But the BIGGEST problem was the Liturgy and the Sermon! NOTHING spoke to me. I didn't think the readings even made any SENSE today! Nobody tied them in to anything... they were just there... just words being read... and that's HOW they were read! No feeling... no flavor... no fun! I might have gone to sleep except that I was trying sO hard to find SOMETHING to take home with me! Then the sermon.... it was okay. But I had hoped it might tie all the rest of the parts together into a neat little package that was going to make this service "come to life" for me.... but it didn't. Instead of coming home feeling uplifted and "graced" ... today I came home feeling jipped. The search continues.... Labels: Churchy Stuff
Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt... Wild!
Grab the Photo Hunt code.
Join the blogroll. Visit participants.
I'm sure this is going to be a very FUN week... filled with lots of surprises! I'm looking forward to visiting and seeing what you all have to offer! I on the other hand have been so busy having a WILD week, that I didn't have a lot of time to put into finding something WILD ... luckily, something was dropped in my lap last night!
My boy took his kitty -- Missy - the BAD girl -- to get clippered yesterday. Due to his neglect (and the fact that she won't LET anyone ELSE brush her) Missy had become very matted and had lots of large knots in her fur. It was very unpleasant, I'm sure, for her ... and so she needed this.
Some of you will remember seeing pictures of our lovely little lady -- like this one...
See how beauuuuuutiful she is?
So, I'm sure you will agree with me, that this is one WILD haircut this poor kitty was given!!! Just LOOK! Oh this poor baby!
And on the COLDEST day of the year too! This NEXT picture pretty much sums up HER feelings about the whole thing!
MeeeeeOWWWWW!
I want my COAT back!
Oh.... and the boo boo on her shoulder? The pro's didn't do that! That was Mathew trying to get away with doing it himself. He thought he only "knicked" her.... turns out he put a pretty good gash in her! If you have a long haired cat, please don't EVER try to clip her yourself! OR... better yet -- just keep her WELL brushed so the need never arises!
Labels: Photo Hunt
It's the BIG ONE!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!!!
he's turning
TODAY!
And so I'm off now to create a celebration!
Friday Feast #127
Play Along?
AppetizerWhich television shows do you just refuse to miss?There is absolutely NOTHING on television these days that I consider to be worth my time. I have not watched television at all in at least 5 years. And honestly... I don't see me going back to it. Even the "good" shows have gotten ... trashy. But the last show that I was addicted to was ER... back in the early days.
SoupWho did you last speak to on the telephone?Amanda... she's out in Colorado right now.
SaladHow many pillows do you keep on your bed?
Just 4 (amazingly). We have a king size bed and hubby is a pillow freak! He usually has all of them!
Main CourseName one addition to your computer (software, hardware, etc.) that you'd love to have.Oh! I keep talking about getting that drawing tool -- the art pad... but I never do... I would love to have it though! (why didn't I think to ask for that for Christmas???) DessertWhat is your favorite foreign food?
Mmmm.... this is a HARD question... because I love a LOT of foreign food! The French have all those heavenly cream sauces... and the Italians have the best pasta ... and the Greeks with the whole feta and black olives - and olive oil! But right now I am really on a mexican food binge! So for the MOMENT I will say MEXICAN food! (but it really IS just a binge!) And I don't eat it nearly often enough - because it's ALL so darn fattening!
Labels: Friday Feast
Wordless Wednesday ... Thinking SPRING!
Labels: WW
HOOOO YAH!
UGH! Today began the BOOT CAMP six week challenge at Curves! It was challenging to me in more ways than one!
First... we've already discussed the water situation - right? Yes... today - on the day AFTER the report of the woman dieing from drinking too much water -- we start off our challenge with the formula of dividing your body weight in half, and drinking THAT MANY ounces of water per day! For me that is 115 ounces of water! Don't worry! This IS a doctor tested formula that has been used in NUMEROUS weight loss programs -- and it works! (so I hear) I really surprised myself with this one today - because I expected to have a REALLLLLY hard time, and I really didn't! I had already downed 64 ounces before I even went to work! So that left the whole afternoon to get down the OTHER half gallon! And I did -- I actually ended up drinking 128 ounces today! YAY me!!! ( I did have coffee this morning - and we have to drink "extra" water to make up for caffeine! ) So I did really really well!
The OTHER challenging part of my day today was WORK! Gooooodness me! We had @ 35 people signed up for the challenge BEFORE today... but when I showed up to work at 10:00 there were about 18 people in the place (which is a LOT for our Curves!) and Bonnie and Jodi were trying to get all the Boot Campers weighed and measured and make sure they had all their instructions ... so I jumped in to help out with that -- which was GREAT! I learned how to weigh and measure - properly - today, and I had a LOT of one on one with the members, answering questions and helping them out! PLUS I was in charge of taking everyone's picture to go on their file! It was GREAT! The time flew by and I had FUN! But the thing is, that because everyone was SO excited about the first day of Boot Camp and we were all bustling about doing our stuff ... well... it got the people who HADN'T signed up motivated! So we ended up signing up a BUNCH of new people for the Boot Camp that weren't on the original list! Now the BC doesn't COST anything extra - so this wasn't money making -- it was just ... INVIGORATING! LOL! It was really fun to "watch" how contagious the enthusiasm was!
Now, the bad part? We were SO busy, that by the time I clocked out, I had never remembered to get one of them to weigh and measure ME!!! Shoot! So I will have to get all that done tomorrow. It's okay - everyone has until Wednesday evening to get in and get started, so tomorrow works fine -- except that I DRANK all my water today! So I know I'll be THINNER already tomorrow! LOL! Riiiiiiiiiight!
Church Shopping...
So this morning I started Church Shopping. Yes... I told you - my TOP New Year's resolution is to tighten up my relationship with my Lord! I began my search today at the Methodist Church right in my neighborhood. I am a Catholic ... but for many reasons I do not wish to attend the Catholic church in my neighborhood. I was HOPING that the Methodist church would just be a perfect fit on the first try... and that would do it. But I think this IS going to take some shopping.
I very much enjoyed the Pastor this morning. She (yes! a woman!) spoke VERY much to my heart! Well, the service, and her sermon, and the whole thing was (imagine this) about re-affirming our Baptism! HOW appropriate was THAT for my first time back to church in... um... waaaaaay too many years!? I thought it was very appropriate! And it almost brought me to tears.
But the "whole" thing didn't fit. For one thing, I DID like this Pastor - but she's leaving for 2 months. Today was her last day. And there is no "permanent" replacement -- just a lot of different lay people and a few ministers tossed in. I think right now I NEED strong spiritual guidance and someone who will BE there. The other thing was that this morning I went to the "contemporary" service -- because I have a friend who goes to that service. But honestly, the music did NOT speak to me! I really think when it comes to church, I may be more of a traditional girl!
Now I would like to TRY the traditional service at this church -- but we have the whole Pastor thing going on. So... my friend suggested I try the Baptist church up on the corner ... but ... um... I've BEEN to Baptist services before... and... no. NOT to offend the Baptists - because the services that I've been to have been VERY well attended and quite lively! But just not what I'M looking for! So, then Debbie suggested the Episcopal church up near Curves. And across the street from that one is a Lutheran church, I believe. (not really sure on that!) Sooo... I guess I'm going to try a few of these. And if I don't find the "perfect fit" at any of them, then I'll head a little further up the road and try out the Catholic church in the next Parish! But I really would like to stay within my neighborhood...
The one thing that I've learned is that going back to church at 49 1/2 is a lot different than just going to church at 25! Back then I just went to "the" church and accepted whatever was offered! Now I'm actually in search of a "certain something" ... and it HAS to be RIGHT! And so I'll shop. And God will lead me to the right one -- and I'm sure that He will send me messages from EACH one -- as He did today!
Labels: Churchy Stuff
Silly Question Survey
I know this is called the Silly Question Survey -- but I really don't find these questions to be all that silly. A few are -- but most are pretty legit!
1.When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
Ohhhhh GEEZ I need a haircut!
2.How much cash do you have on you?
About $80...
3.What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR?
STORE... I need to go to the store.
4.Do you label yourself?
I do... but the labels change to suit my mood!
5.Bright or Dark Room?
BRIGHT!
6.Why is there always a missing question?
Because there's always a missing answer!
7.What does your watch look like?
8.What were you doing at midnight last night?
Reading... or I might have been snoring. I generally fall asleep in my book!
9.Where is your nearest 7-11?
About 4 1/2 miles from my front door.
10.What’s a word that you say a lot?
Well...
11.Who told you he/she loved you last?
Derek! How AMAZING is THAT???
12.Last furry thing you touched?
Jewlie... my dawg.
13.How many rolls of film do you need developed?
Absolutely ZERO. I can't even remember the last time I used film!
14.Favorite age you have been so far?
I'm thinking about 32... by then I had all my wee ones, and life was lookin' pretty darned good!
15.Your worst enemy?
Depression. But as long as I take my HAPPY pills, I'm fine!
16.What is your current desktop picture?
17.What was the last thing you said to someone?
I asked the hubs what he wants for dinner.
18.The last song you listened to?
Henry Mancini playing One For My Baby on piano.
19.What time of day were you born?
I don't remember the exact time but it was the middle of the night.
20.What do you do when vending machines steal your money?
Walk away. Grumble.
21.Do you consider yourself kind?
Most of the time. Sometimes I'm mearly tolerant.
22.What’s your life motto?
Live like you mean it!
23. Name three things you have with you at all times.
My head... (i hope), my curiosity, my voice.
24. Can you change the oil in a car?
I sure CAN! I just pull into that Valvoline place on corner and pass over $35!
25. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?
Wow! I used to write to my Aunt Wanda a couple of times a week... but since she died... I don't know... I wrote Amanda in the Army... and I wrote my brother too... but all of that ended about the same time... Do Christmas cards count? I sent out a few of them this year... never did get them all out... For an actual LETTER though, I think it would have to have been about 4 or 5 years! Haven't written to the editor of any newspapers for awhile... yea ... about 5 years probably! That is SAD! I used to write letters allllllll the time!
Labels: meme's
Just a Little Thought....
A haiku... for you... (not written by me!)
let me wear the day
well so when it reaches you
you will enjoy it
From Homegirls and Handgrenades
~ Sonia Sanchez
Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt - Technology
Grab the Photo Hunt code.
Join the blogroll. Visit participants.
Good gracious! I am NOT a Techie by any streeeeetch of the imagination! As a matter of fact, in MOST cases I hate modern technology! Well... at least of the electronic genre! So, I have to admit that I wasn't very excited about this weeks hunt, and I didn't put much effort out to find something fabulous! What you do get is probably the newest piece of technology that I have .... I'm pretty sure our family was the last family in the county to get them, but we've had them for about 2 years now. This one is not two years old -- it was new just a few months ago. I now present ... ta da ta da....
My Cell Phone.
This and my computer are the 2 pieces of
technology that I do NEVER want to have to
do without! It's amazing how fast we get
SPOILED!!!
Labels: Photo Hunt
Friday Feast #126
Play Along?
Appetizer
What comes to mind when you see the color orange?
Why, my naturally curly orange hair, of course!
Soup
Did you ever get in trouble while you were in school? If so, what was it for?
Skip skip skip to m'loo, Skip skip skip to m'loo
Skip skip skip to m'loo, Skip to m'loo my darlin'!
Salad
Which topping(s) make up your perfect pizza?
Mmmmm.... All vegies and extra cheese! I'm a firm believer that meat was never intended to go on pizza! Okay... well... a little chicken if we MUST... but my ALL TIME favorite is Black Olive and Mushrooms ... although Sbarro's Spinach Mushroom is miiiiiiiiiiiighty good!
Main Course
Do you believe in UFOs/aliens/etc.? Why or why not?
I definately DO believe that WE are not the only toys God plays with! I think He probably has at LEAST one more set somewhere! And probably more than that! It just doesn't make sense to me in this whole vaaaaaaast universe and beyond that we would be the only intelligent life. Now... do I think they have found us and come down here and kidnap our players and take them off for testing ... NO! And I have serious doubts that we will EVER find them! But it's fun to try I guess!
Dessert
What color is your bedspread/comforter/quilt?
Oh! THIS color ...
... minus the furball!
Labels: Friday Feast
Can you Guess?
Done!
Done!
Annnnnd DONE!
Except... one.
Wordless Wednesday ...
Labels: WW
Ohhhhhh WHAT Have I Done Now???
HOW do I get myself IN to these things??? The Curves where I work is starting a new "promo" next week! It's OUR version of a "Boot Camp" training. The exercise is not going to be a problem... everyone still works on their own thing - we will just have goals of stepping up our workouts a bit - which I've already done since the beginning of the year anyway. And everyone will still be doing their "own" diet thing - whether it's Weight Watchers, TOPS, NutriSystems, Atkins, WHATEVER ... I'll continue to just do my own thing. BUT... this is a HUGE but... we have to increase our water consumption. Now get this... I thought drinking 80 ounces a day was bad. And I RARELY get 80 ounces in me... I do pretty well with 60. But for this Boot Camp / 6 Week Challenge thing, we have to take our body weight (which for me is 231 pounds right now) and divide it in half. THAT is how many ounces of water we have to drink EACH and EVERY day for the next 6 weeks! For ME this means 115 ounces of water PER DAY! Are they INSANE??? I told my boss okay... but that I was very sorry that I'm going to have to QUIT my new job that I LOVE so much because I will be spending the next 6 weeks sitting on the pot drinking water! She laughed of course. But I am seriously WONDERING how the heck I'm supposed to live a life AND drink 115 ounces of water per day! Can this even BE done? That is like 14 bottles of water a day. Well guys... I really NEED some cheering now! And um... excuse me... but I need to go have a minute with my Coach... why wasn't He there to STOP me from signing that contract today? ... ... ...
Lord! Oh Lord? We need to talk!
Grumpy, Dopey, Doc, Sneezey, Bashful... and....
Remember this?....
And I wondered WHY only one of them grew? Well... I'm still wondering that! But LOOK what happend!
I'm calling her... Shorty!Or maybe Perky... or Pokey?(well she took her sweet time!)Or MAYBE...She might of been into Anni's Moonshine!I hear it stunts their growth!
Choosing A Path...
There's a song on the charts right now - by Lonestar - it's called Mountains. This has become a very favorite song of mine recently. It's a good reminder that life is not always MEANT to be easy and that sometimes God has a reason for making things tough. (or maybe He doesn't MAKE them tough... maybe He just allows them to BE tough...) At any rate... this song has become my new Mantra! Especially the chorus, which goes like this:
There are times in life when you gotta crawl,
Lose your grip, trip an' fall
When you can't lean on no-one else:
That's when you find yourself
I've been around an' I've noticed that,
Walkin's easy when the road is flat
Them danged ol' hills'll get you every time
Yeah, the good Lord gave us mountains,
So we could learn how to climb
These words are true. (as is usually the case with country music!) And if you talk to Lazy Daisy or Flip Flop Floozie, they will surely tell you that I like to CLIMB things. And I do. Usually I like to stick to statues and playground equipment. Ladders are okay... kinda boring. Mountains are a whole 'nother thing! Not that I'm not UP for the challenge ... I am! But today I'm wondering... and I'm asking God... when the mountain has twin peaks... (but with very different views from the top!) ... how do I know WHICH peak I'm supposed to conquer? I know that SOMEtimes God speaks to me through others... so others... have at it! I'm lookin' for some answers here!
Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt -- Memory
Grab the Photo Hunt code.
Join the blogroll. Visit participants.This one took me FOREVER to decide on! The problem with "memory" is EVERY photo you have is a memory! And every one that I thought significant enough to share here, I also thought, no... I should save that for a Monday Memory! I think I participate in too many meme's! Anyway... I decided to TAKE a picture of this...
Please DO *click* to enlarge...
You'll be able to see the DUST soooo much better that way!
Yes... I dO hate dusting this little shadowbox! It's a real pita! But this is filled with sO many memories. I won't tell about ALL of them -- I'll just mention a few really special ones! See the two spoons? The one that lays on it's side was MY spoon when I was a baby! And the one standing up is one that was first Amanda's - but I brought it back out for all my babies! (they used mine too!) The Hummel figurine is one I bought for my mother for Mother's Day when I was 11 years old. In MY memory it was also the first gift that I bought her using strictly my own money. (that may or may not be accurate - but it's what I remember!) The little train is pewter (which I LOVE and collect in many forms) and was purchased in Disney World when I took the children. (my children, by the way were NOT impressed with Disney World... but I was an am and will always be!) The cork under the Statue of Liberty? That was from the Christening of our home! And my very favorite thing in that whole box? Right next to the cork (on the right) is a stone. It's a plain ol' rock from out of our driveway. Derek found it when he was about 3 and brought it to me. He said it is shaped like a heart and he loved me! He was such a little CHARMER!!! Sooo... this box is full of memories... and it doesn't get in my way - so I WON'T be throwing IT away! And one day... I just might dust it!
Labels: Photo Hunt
Weighty Little Issues....
Oooooookay.... well... I've been on the doc's scale and the news is certainly not good. I have managed to gain a few pounds back ... but, in all honesty, I KNEW this was going to be the case. It doesn't help me like it any better... but it was no surprise. So... I gained 5 pounds over the holidays... but now I'm back on track! I'm eating right again, and exercising regularly! And these pounds are going to come off -- along with a whole LOT of their good buddies! I will be weighing on a weekly basis again too for awhile! Gotta keep myself accountable! Here's to 2007! It's gonna be a verrrrrrry good year!
Friday Feast ... # 125
Play Along?
Appetizer
Which celebrity (or celebrities) do you think will make headlines this year?
Goooooood grief. I can't even name a modern day celebrity! How sad is this? Ummmm... well... Britney's always in the news... I'm sure she'll do something dumb again! I really have NO idea... I can't even fake this one.
Soup
They say that good things come in small packages? What is something little that you think is great?
Oh goodness... how about a key?
(and I'll leave it at that because I can think of so MANY keys I'd like to have!)
Salad
Name a song that makes you want to dance.
LOL! Crocodile Rock - Elton John! This edition of Friday Feast is all about showing how OLD I am - right? Really I will dance to almost ANYTHING! And when it comes to dance music I like anything from Dean Martin to Grateful Dead to Trace Adkins to Sean Paul --- and anything inbetween! Honestly - is there music I WON'T dance to???
Main Course
What is your favorite font?
Comic Sans MS ... yea... I like that one! It's sweet, simple and everyone's computer can SEE it! I have lots of others that I like -- but I don't even mess around with fonts much anymore - because unless they're installed on YOUR computer, you won't know I've used it anyway!
Dessert
If you were to write a do-it-yourself article, what would it be about?
Oh it COULD be about losing weight I guess... but I'm not an expert... I just know how I do it. So maybe I would pick one area of crafting to write about! That would probably be a better choice. Maybe .... hmmmm.... Oh! I know -- I would write about refinishing a piece of furniture! Step by step.... that's always fun!
Labels: Friday Feast
Did You KNOW???
I've had a "topic" for blogging on my mind recently... and I try to keep a list of things when I think of them so I don't forget - but this one never made the list and kept slipping my feeble mind! Then yesterday (or maybe the day before), my GOOD friend, Anni (Hootin' Anni) made a comment in my blog and it SO reminded me that I wanted to blog this!
Here's the way it went. I posted my New Year's Resolutions... and Anni read them! Then she said that she totally understands me wanting to "declutter" - but that she would get rid of the "returnees" rather than the "stuff" -- because it would be the noise clutter that bothered her most. Then she said "But then again, knowing you, you thrive on "busy-ness". Hmmmm...
Now Anni and I have known each other for a good many years -- about 8 years I'm thinking... might be a little less... and we've been through A LOT together in those 8 years. And she does KNOW me pretty darned well! But... we don't live near each other, and we don't just pop in to one another's homes and chit chat of a day... we've only actually met in person ONCE... because she's one of my on-line friends. So she knows me HERE... and she's known me in several other on-line situations. (groups and message boards) She KNOWS my sense of adventure! She knows I love to travel and meet on-line friends! And she knows some things about me that the rest of you will NEVER know! BUT... she doesn't know that I DON'T thrive on busyness! I enjoy busyness from time to time -- both planned AND spontaneous! But I THRIVE on my quiet time alone. I am a person that NEEDs - physically NEEDs mOre "alone" time than any person really has a God given gift of! I ADORE my family! Make no mistake about it -- I absolutely ADORE them and will do anything in the world for them - and with them! But sometimes I need them to leave me ALONE! Really "alone". And of course, this doesn't happen too often... so I play hookey... so I can have some! And now Anni will know THIS about me. And the rest of you probably never suspected this either...
And I'll share ONE MORE secret about me too. You'll NEVER believe this, but I swear to you it's true! I am shy. LOL! But ONLY in big crowds. BUT... it can be a big crowd of allllllll my friends or entirely made up of people I know -- and I still close down and get shy! When I'm with a "small" group I'm fine. ( 3 or 4 is my favorite... I can handle up to about 6 ) Life of the party so to say! But put me in a large group and I just want to crawl off in a corner and hide! A real wall flower. And I always keep this to myself, actually feeling somewhat... um... maybe "ashamed"? about it... but it's really something that I WISH people knew! Because when I'm put in that situation, they seem to always think I'm "in a mood" and being a "snob" or "standoffish" -- and really I'm being SHY and wishing someone would come drag me out of it!!!
Sooooooo... this brings me to you. Share with me something that other people do NOT know about you! It can be something that just we bloggers would never guess -- or, like my shyness - something that even your BEST FRIEND would never guess! Just help us get to know "the REAL you"! I think this is one of those things that would be better in a "post" of your own -- but if you prefer to just leave it in my comments that's fine too. If you "blog this" ... please DO let me know!
About That NEW Job!
Oh my gosh! I am sO excited! This is a first -- I am actually posting from school! (that's NOT what I'm excited about!) I'm excited because I got a call from the owner of Curves today - Bonnie -- and ... this has been in the works since September ... I'm officially HIRED!!! YAY! That's why I'm SO excited! I have an appointment to go in there after school today and take care of the paperwork and all -- maybe even start training! I'll only get to work there 2 or 3 days a week.... that's all they give ANYbody! But at least the days that I AM working there I'm NOT working at school! And now I really WILL be able to workout and get PAID to do it! LOL! I am sooooo loving this!!! SO! This is the new job I had mentioned before Christmas! She had me fill out my application right before Christmas... it was an INVITATION to work for her -- so I knew this was happening! I am sooooo HAPPY!!! Can you tell? LOL!
Yea... I will still sub maybe 2 days a week -- cuz honestly, Curves pays even less pittance than subbing does! (but it's just a job that FITS me soooo well!!!) And at least my membership will be free now! That's a perk!
Of Hangovers and Resolutions...
And so we begin anew....
I might have chosen to begin 2007 without a hangover... considering the fact that it has been at least
15 years since my LAST hangover. (and I had apparently
wrongly assumed that
that one WAS my
LAST hangover) BUT... about the time I had my son pop the cork on my SECOND bottle of wine last night, I guess I was making a concious (if somewhat inebriated) choice to begin 2007
with a hangover. And so here I am. And if you choose to comment to whatever blithering verbage comes sneaking out of me, please speak softly. Thank you.
So... My intention today was to make some resolutions this year. But in all honesty, I didn't choose these resolutions as much as they have chosen me. And I really only have 3 of them. You may find it a bit strange, but I have really been "debating" with myself about which order to put these resolutions in... but maybe if I explain as I go... you'll see... (c'mon... you can not really expect me to speak coherently today...) Okay... here they are!
1. I want to tighten my relationship with God this year. (see? I debated putting this one second -- because my relationship with Him is already QUITE good ... but then I figured that He should ALWAYS come first no matter what, soooo... yea.) I have some very personal issues that I really NEED Him to be IN on this year... and I NEED to hear Him LOUD and CLEAR! So... this is the part of our relationship I want to tighten... I want to
reallllllly put my listening ears on... and I'm counting on Him to
really speak CLEARLY on these issues! (and if y'all wanna toss some prayers my way that my comprehension skills increase, you should certainly feel free!)
2. I definately intend (and am already resolved) to lose at least another 60 pounds this year. (see... I was thinking that since I'm pretty darned SURE of this one, maybe IT should be first... but it shouldn't -- because God has been my workout partner all last year... I guess I'll keep Him around for that too this year! Hey... He's a great partner -- always looks out for me - never lets me get hurt!) I haven't gotten on the scale yet -- but it's possible I MAY have to go back and re-lose about 4 or 5 of last years pounds! December was NOT a good month! (especially the last two weeks) In addition, fitness-wise, I want to spend more time working on my upper body this year. The lower half is doing really well... the upper half really needs a LOT of work! So those are my fitness goals.
3. This one has only become important to me recently -- and it's entirely due to the past year's living situation -- but
I have GOT to de-clutter my life! With six of us living here, I am finding that once "treasured" items are now becoming "hated clutter". For real! I am ready to just toss every useless little nic-nac I have laying around! I'm ready to toss books and teddy bears! I'm honestly ready to toss the pets and the family and the furniture and just live in an empty box! It's getting ugly... I hope I don't throw away anything that REALLY is important to me. I've done that in the past and then kick myself in the head for it later.... *sigh*
So there we have it. My New Year's Resolutions for 2007! And they are down in writing ... and they are on the web... for ALL of us to go back and look at in January 2008! Boy, if THIS doesn't make a body stick to their resolutions, I don't know what will! But then, the whole point of a resolution is to BE resolved to do it. Resolve sort of makes things happen!
Did you resolve to make any changes this year?
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Now... just for fun...
I found this over on Hootin' Anni's blog
and just couldn't resist to find out who I am!
POUNDS!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATHEW!!!
We were having a discussion on a message board I belong to this morning concerning panhandlers and homeless people. It was suggested (as it always is when this topic comes up) that SOMEthing must be done to get them off the streets. And I think we all agree that in some area's they can be quite an annoyance! 
See how beauuuuuutiful she is?
MeeeeeOWWWWW!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!!!
TODAY!
UGH! Today began the BOOT CAMP six week challenge at Curves! It was challenging to me in more ways than one!
My Cell Phone.
... minus the furball!
HOW do I get myself IN to these things??? The Curves where I work is starting a new "promo" next week! It's OUR version of a "Boot Camp" training. The exercise is not going to be a problem... everyone still works on their own thing - we will just have goals of stepping up our workouts a bit - which I've already done since the beginning of the year anyway. And everyone will still be doing their "own" diet thing - whether it's Weight Watchers, TOPS, NutriSystems, Atkins, WHATEVER ... I'll continue to just do my own thing. BUT... this is a HUGE but... we have to increase our water consumption. Now get this... I thought drinking 80 ounces a day was bad. And I RARELY get 80 ounces in me... I do pretty well with 60. But for this Boot Camp / 6 Week Challenge thing, we have to take our body weight (which for me is 231 pounds right now) and divide it in half. THAT is how many ounces of water we have to drink EACH and EVERY day for the next 6 weeks! For ME this means 115 ounces of water PER DAY! Are they INSANE??? I told my boss okay... but that I was very sorry that I'm going to have to QUIT my new job that I LOVE so much because I will be spending the next 6 weeks sitting on the pot drinking water! She laughed of course. But I am seriously WONDERING how the heck I'm supposed to live a life AND drink 115 ounces of water per day! Can this even BE done? That is like 14 bottles of water a day. Well guys... I really NEED some cheering now! And um... excuse me... but I need to go have a minute with my Coach... why wasn't He there to STOP me from signing that contract today? ... ... ... 
And I wondered WHY only one of them grew? 
Oooooookay.... well... I've been on the doc's scale and the news is certainly not good. I have managed to gain a few pounds back ... but, in all honesty, I KNEW this was going to be the case. It doesn't help me like it any better... but it was no surprise. So... I gained 5 pounds over the holidays... but now I'm back on track! I'm eating right again, and exercising regularly! And these pounds are going to come off -- along with a whole LOT of their good buddies! I will be weighing on a weekly basis again too for awhile! Gotta keep myself accountable! Here's to 2007! It's gonna be a verrrrrrry good year!
