Pictures for the Montana Relatives

I'm posting these pictures for Randey's brother, Andrew (You punk! Hope you're enjoying your vacation!). Andrew is up in Montana, attending a family reunion. Hey, and listen, all you Montana relatives, I told Randey he should go. I swear I did. It's not my fault the summer is his busy season! (that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!). Anywho, Randey tells me that Andrew wanted us to post pictures of our house because "none of them have seen it" (except for Andy, Kathy, Kelly, Jeffrey, Arianna, Sherri, Ken, Donna and Wally, that is). Also, Randey's brother Bobby (Randey is 1 of 10 kids - WHEW!), is thinking about buying a shed, apparently, so I'm supposed to post a picture of our shed for his perusal. All these pictures were taken back in November, I believe - hence that beautiful white stuff on the ground.
Here's the front of the house and that's Jacob preparing his snowball. That red thing on the far right is the blow up Santa Sherri got me one year for my birthday. We didn't have him plugged in...looks kind of pitiful, huh?

Here's Jacob and Kaleb. This was shortly before they lured me back out and ambushed me with snowballs on the side of the house. I know this was taken before because I can assure you, they didn't look nearly as clean and dry after the ambush.
Here's Jacob coming out of the shed. Woo-hoo. Exciting stuff, huh?
And here's Kaleb...kind of looks like he just threw a snowball at his precious mother, doesn't it? I'm sure that's just the camera angle or something. Although that "duh" look on my face is fairly normal, I'm afraid. By the way Bobby, I was supposed to tell you we got the shed at Lowe's. I'm so thrilled to be able to bring this earth-shaking news to you.

Okay, so I hope all you in-laws are having a wonderful time at the reunion! I really wish Randey had gone. I know many of you think I keep him tied up in the basement, but it's simply not true. Don't believe a word Andrew tells you! lol

P.S. If you click on the word house, next to the word label, underneath this post, it will bring up other posts I've made specifically about the house itself. There's a picture of the whole house taken at night with the Christmas lights on. Click here http://grannyskywalker.blogspot.com/2007/06/is-it-really-still-6-months-until.html to go there directly.

Yet one more reason why I shouldn't own a telephone!

I am so frustrated right now. So frustrated. There has been what I think is a bill collector service calling my house for the past four days. They keep asking for someone named "Linda". There is no Linda at my house. There never has been. And unless Kaleb or Jacob start dating one or Randey throws me over for some bimbo named Linda, there probably never will be. (I say bimbo because what the heck would you expect me to call a little tramp that my husband would throw me over for?). However, this company doesn't seem to believe me when I say Linda doesn't live here. They give every indication that they think I am harboring Linda from their dripping fangs. Which, by the way, after dealing with them for the past four days, I think I would do if Linda, whoever the poor soul may be, did live with us - just to tick them off. And here's the real insult, as far as I'm concerned. This company calls my house...I answer and it's a recording telling me that "this is a very important phone call, please hold". If it's so freakin' important, how 'bout you get your annoying self on the phone NOW, buddy! When we first started getting these calls, I just hung up. I don't hold for people I don't even know. But they were so persistent. So I decided to hang in there one day and see just what on earth they were calling for. I assumed they were some sort of telemarketer and I was all prepared to bless them out for wasting my time with a stupid recording every other day. But nooooo. This wasn't a telemarketer. It was a bill collector. (I think, they never really said.) And it was for some chick named Linda. I kind of laughed at them. So much persistence for naught. Apparently, bill collector's don't like to be laughed at. Who knew? I tried to tell them that I didn't know a Linda, no Linda lived here. The woman got belligerent. Well. Here's the problem. I.Am.Menopausal. 'Nuff said, right? Words came out of my mouth that would make a sailor blush. I mean it. It was mortifying, in retrospect. Randey stood there with his mouth hanging open. Not so much because of the language I used. I think it was more how quickly my demeanor changed. It was fast. Really fast. Unbelievably fast. One minute, I was patiently telling this woman that Linda was no where on our horizon and/or involved in our world. The next second, I was cussing her like I had Tourette's Syndrome. And then I threw the phone. Hmmmm. Wow. Never say that coming. So....after many deep breaths, a quick visit to the freezer (for a fudgesicle and to stick my head in there to cool off), and trying to smooth that look of horror off of Randey's face, I regained my composure somewhat. The next day, they called again. I was ready. I was going to politely ask them to not call my house again. But they outwitted me...the whole phone call was a recording. Not the "hold on" recording, but a "this is so and so and if you're name is (pause) Linda (pause) Linda's last name (don't want to put it in my blog, for Pete's sake) please call this number immediately. It is very important that we talk to you". I was so disappointed not to have a human to talk to. I just hung up without writing down the number! Not to worry however! The next day, they called again. A human this time. I said my schpiel. He seemed to laugh a little. I don't think he believed me. I told him I would call the phone company to report them for harassing us if they didn't stop calling. He pretty much said, "do it". Okay. Well, they called again this very afternoon. Still determined to handle this myself because everyone knows how hard it is to deal with the phone company, right? - I answered. It was the "please hold" recording again. I held. And held. And held a little more. Then another recording came on to tell me that "all our operators are busy and we are unable to handle your call at this time". Say what? They called me! Well to heck with this! I decided to call the dreaded customer service number for the phone company. First...get the phone book. Next...spend 30 minutes looking through the phone book for a customer service number. Next...call a number that might be customer service. Then find out...it wasn't. Okay...get on computer. Go to phone company website. Look for customer service. Find it. Type in question. Find out it's the wrong kind of customer service. That one was for repairs only. Look for another link. Type something in search engine. Get a response and then a multiple choice answer (one of which was "would you like to send an e-mail"). Click on that one. Go nowhere. Start at the beginning. Pull hair out by the roots. Embrace your Tourette's like a long-lost friend. Give up. Sign on to Blog. Bore entire blogging community with your problem. Wait for husband to get home. With him driving, seek out World's Largest Margarita. Drink one...or twelve. Wait for the call to come again tomorrow. Hope for a human. Bore them with details of your drunken night.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my plan.

P.S. Guess this whole rant would tend to negate that sweet Nice Matters Award, huh? I knew I'd blow it, I just knew it! Sorry, Carmen, Jayne, Aunt Sandi.... Well, technically, Aunt Sandi already knew I was a nutcase so my bad attitude probably doesn't surprise her, does it, Aunt?

Nice Matters!

Boy, am I blushing. And feeling like a kid with her hand caught in the cookie jar or something. Somehow, someway, I have been given the Nice Matters Award by 3 different people (Carmen @ http://prettylady21.blogspot.com/, Jayne @ http://countrycottagechic.blogspot.com/ and my wonderful Aunt Sandi @ http://sandimcbride.blogspot.com/). Okay, guys, you can tell me the truth...you couldn't think of anybody else to give this to who hadn't already gotten it, right? Not to worry. That's cool. I'm still pretty darn happy about it. lol Seriously, though, it's a lovely award - both in thought and visually. Thank you so much Carmen, Jayne and Aunt Sandi.

For a little background, the Nice Matters Award is the idea of Genevieve at Bella-Enchanted. This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration.Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world.

In light of that, I have a few people I would like to pass this award on to...

Tea @ http://teaandmargaritas.blogspot.com/ because you are unfailingly pleasant and you have a beautiful blog that I so love to visit. (And yes...you are the best friend of that sweet obsession of mine that we call Elvis!).

Jodie @ http://jodieslifeinokinawa.blogspot.com/. Jodie is my daughter-in-law and she is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. I don't know that I've ever heard her say a truly harsh word about anybody. And that's pretty darn amazing when you know what all she's been through.

My new friend, Joan @ http://jcjourneys.blogspot.com/ because she is nice to talk to. Isn't that everyone's goal in life? Or shouldn't it be? To be nice to talk to...I'd be hard pressed to think up a higher complement.

And my friend Gabbie @http://www.thestampingqueen.com.au/justme/index.php. You know you're nice, girl. You don't need this award to tell you that, now do you? lol But you're gettin' it anyway!

Truthfully, I would give this award to everyone on my favorite blog list because you wouldn't be on there if I didn't think you were nice. Duh. If I haven't listed your name individually, it's because I'm pretty sure you've already gotten this award. Folks like Sophie, Kat, Teresa, Allison, Jennifer, Christine, Heather, Cheryl, Des, Annie, Beverly...the list goes on and on and on. If, however, anybody that is on my list has not received it, consider yourself SERVED! I can't even begin to tell you how much fun I have conversing with you guys....I love reading how you handle your daily lives. It is inspiring. Thanks for letting me peek.

Okay, now that I've been granted this award, all bets are off. Or rather, all "nice" is off...get your rearends in gear and vote in my pole over there on the left of my blog if you haven't done so already. See the previous post for powerless threat against those who fail to vote. Oh, I'm kidding....now that's you've called me nice, I can't very well threaten people, now can I? Fine. You don't have to vote. It's okay. I understand. No problem. Have a happy and really, really nice day! (And I do mean that!)

CAST YOUR VOTE AND BE COUNTED!!

Nah....I'm not talking politics. Geez. Think I'm lookin' to start a war here in Blogland? I'm talking about my pole (located on the left side of my blog). I'm just wondering what season is the most "popular". Right now, my money's on Autumn or Winter...but I think your votes may be somewhat influenced by the fact that it's about 343 degrees outside this week (in the states, anyway!). So get out there (and by out there, I mean "move your mouse pointer a little bit to the left and click on one of the 4 choices"!) and vote for your favorite season!

Failure to do so will result in harsh comments being left on your blogs. Okay, so that's an empty threat since there's no way to tell who voted and who didn't but I trust you'll let your conscience be your guide.

P.S. This is your conscience calling. Vote. Now. Thank you.

It's time for THE CHANGE...and for once, I'm not talking menopause.

It's only the middle of summer, isn't it? I'm sitting here at my computer, staring out the window, wishing like crazy I was looking at all the pretty colored leaves drifting down from the trees. (I was going to say "wishing I was looking at a view like this picture" but that would mean I've thrown my computer out the window and am posting to my blog while laying flat on my back). Instead, I'm watching the grass fry, the plants wilt and some little old lady stealing bricks out of my neighbors backyard. Hmm. I think that's my neighbors mother, actually. I hope so anyway. I don't know that I've heard stories of any elderly brick thieves in the neighborhood so I think I'll hold off on that call to 911. Besides, any old woman that can tote that many bricks at once could probably whup me...no point getting her all riled up, is there? Anywho, back to the topic at hand...fall. Or Autumn. Or That Blessed Season That Follows Summer. Whatever name you give it, it's the time of year that signals the beginning of the holidays. Well, that's what it means to me, anyway. The weather gets cooler, the leaves start turning colors, the days get just a little shorter. You start hearing of the Oklahoma Sooners victories on ESPN every Saturday evening. (Had to throw that in there for my fellow Okie's. All you Ohio people, I'm sorry. We'll always have Johnny Bench in common, though, right?) Can't you just smell the pumpkin pies baking? Okay, so if you were in my house during the fall, chances are you'd be smelling scented candles designed to smell like I've been baking my little heart out instead of the real thing, but lets not start splitting hairs now. Oh. I. Am. So. Ready. For. Fall. Anybody else feel this way?

My 100th Post!

I don't know if I should be pleased or embarrassed, but eitehr way, this will be my 100th post. Already. Boy, I sure do post a lot. What can I say? I have poor self-control when it comes to "expressing" myself! lol In "honor" of my 100th post, I'm going to do a list of "100 Things About Me". I've seen this on a couple of other blogs (Kat and Annie) so I thought I'd give it a shot, too. But I have to say...coming up with 100 things about myself is harder than I thought it'd be. (Who knew I would ever struggle for words?) So I guess I'll get to it and see if I come up with enough stuff to fill all the slots...here goes...brace yourselves....

1. I was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma back in 1963.
2. I have one sibling, a sister (Sherri).
3. Sherri cursed me with the nickname of "Sissy", apparently at or near the time of my birth. I've never forgiven her for it.
4. In addition to Oklahoma, I have lived in Delaware, Georgia, Japan, Alabama, New York, Mississippi, Montana, Florida and Texas.
5. I am exactly 1 year and 8 days younger than my sister.
6. My two youngest children are exactly 11 months and 9 days apart in ages.
7. I have 4 children.
8. Nicholas Wayne (born 1980)
9. Sherriann Desiree' (born 1987)
10. Randey Kaleb (born 1990)
11. Jacob Steed (born 1991)
12. I had a miscarriage on July 7, 1981. I didn't even know I was pregnant. Still broke my heart.
13. I am 6 days older than my husband, Randey. I hate those 6 days. Don't know why.
14. Randey is the romantic in our marriage.
15. I always get the date of our anniversary wrong. I have it in my head that it's the 21st, but it's the 20th. I think.
16. I played the tenor saxophone for about 2 weeks in 6th grade. Darn band lessons interfered with my social life...they were making us practice during recess. Please. Like that was going to work.
17. When I was 4 or 5 years old, the doctors told my parents that I had rheumatoid arthritis and would be in a wheel chair by the time I was 12. They were wrong. Thankfully.
18. I wanted to be a lawyer when I was in high school (I think I just like to argue, though, to tell you the truth. Seemed like a good vocation to do that).
19. I'm left-handed. But I can't use left-handed scissors. Go figure.
20. I have hazel eyes.
21. I fractured my ankle when I was 13. My daughter fractured hers in the same place when she was 13.
22. Can you believe I'm only up to number 22?
23. I gave birth to all three of my boys naturally...I had an epidural with my daughter. I highly recommend an epidural. Really. "Mother Earth" it all you want...but get the epidural.
24. Christmas is my favorite holiday (now there's a surprise, huh?).
25. I'm allergic to cats. But I love them. Especially kittens.
26. I loved to water ski when I was a kid.
27. I don't swim very well. Great incentive for staying up on the water skis.
28. I used to have very straight hair. The older I get, though, the curlier it gets.
29. Too much rain brings me down.
30. Too much sunshine and heat roasts my brain. Oh, wait a minute, that's the menopause, isn't it? (Come on - you KNEW I'd be sneaking in a menopause reference somewhere along the way, didn't you?)
31. I'm near-sighted. Not as near-sighted as my mom and my sister, but still near-sighted.
32. My husband is extremely far-sighted. A doctor once told us his far-sightedness and my near-sightedness might even out in our children and they might have perfect vision. Quack.
33. I'm afraid of spiders, snakes, rats and mice.
34. My favorite cake in the whole wide world is a Red Velvet cake. And nobody can make it like my Grandma McBride used to. Heaven on a cake plate, I kid you not. Ahhhhhhhh.
35. My favorite pie in the whole wide world is a cherry pie as made by my Grandma Steed.
36. My second favorite pie is called a Million Dollar Pie and it's so easy, even I can make it. Unfortunately, I can eat it even easier than I can make it which just doesn't help with that ever spreading arse I'm sportin'.
37. I'm generally a disaster in the kitchen. Don't like cooking, don't like cleaning up after cooking and I probably hold the record for the largest number of stove/oven fires without actually burning the house down.
38. I'm a crazy-scary Star Wars fan. (Another huge revelation, huh?)
39. I'm crazy about all things Harry Potter. (Yet one more big shock, no?)
40. I love and adore chocolate. I make near obscene moaning noises when I'm inside a Godiva store. I know. It shames me.
41. I love (most) Nicolas Cage movies. Probably because he reminds me of my oldest son. Very expressive face.
42. My sister and I are married to brothers. No. Not our own brothers. She and her husband (my husband's brother) have been married 28 years this month and my husband (her husband's brother) and I have been married over 18 years. People tend to hear banjo music when we try to explain our family tree (that's a vague...and disturbing... reference to the movie "Deliverance" for all of you under the age of 40).
43. I smoked for over 25 years. I quit almost 6 months ago, on Valentine's Day. Randey quit the next day. Yay!
44. I eat lemons...peel and all.
45. I don't eat seafood. Of any kind. Ever. At all.
46. I only drink iced tea unsweetened since my Grandma McBride passed away. No one makes sweet tea like she did.
47. I've driven from Oklahoma to Alabama, back to Oklahoma and up to Colorado, back to Oklahoma again and then all the way up to Plattsburgh, New York (close to the Canadian border) with just my 3 year old son for company. I was young and foolish. Obviously.
48. I would eat cake for breakfast every day of my life if I could (amazing how I think it's my metabolism that's keeping me chunky, huh?)
49. I don't make friends very easily.
50. I have a terribly, horribly hard time forgiving someone if I feel they've betrayed me. I'm working on that.
51. I wish I'd done this list on my 50th post instead of my 100th. Geez.
52. I hate to fly. It terrifies me. I used to fly often as a kid. I even flew in a little 4 seater plane from Oklahoma City to Mobile, Alabama. That was before my brain cells were fully developed. I was about 13. Do you know a 13 year old girl with fully developed brain cells? Liar. No, you don't.
53. I've been known to put up a Christmas tree on the last day of September. My children begged me not to open the living room curtains until after Thanksgiving that year. Kids. Always so worried about what others will think.
54. I don't do well working 8 hours a day in an office. I feel like I'm suffocating.
55. I once had a job at a cell phone company that I despised so much that I made my password in their computer system "fireme" in the hopes that someone from the home office would audit the passwords, discover my impertinence and well, ...fire me. They never did. I quit one year to the day after I started (had to work a year to earn the vacation time I had already taken!).
56. When I was 12 or 13 years old, I totally and completely loved Johnny Bench. Who, you ask? JOHNNY BENCH! He was the catcher for the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. He is, without a doubt in my mind, THE greatest catcher in baseball history. He was also born and raised in Oklahoma. I thought that made us soulmates. (Man, I really was wacky as a 13 year old, wasn't I?). Still, JB was one fine baseball player. Poetry in motion, that's for sure.
57. I can still name every player in the defensive lineup for the 1975-76 Cincinnati Reds. But I can't name one single pitcher.
58. My great-uncle (my father's father's brother) was a United States Congressman from the Great State of Oklahoma for 33 years (Tom Steed). Sounds cool, huh? but I never got to meet him.
59. I sometimes feel like I let my parents down by just being a housewife. I was supposed to do more, I think.
60. I can (and do) use a 10 key to balance my checkbook or do anything else with numbers, but using a calculator just throws me. Anybody know the difference between a 10 key and a calculator? It's subtle, but enough to mess me up. lol
61. I drink Coke, not Pepsi. And yes, there is a difference. Huge difference.
62. I love Dean Martin music - nothing sounds as good when I need to be soothed.
63. I love Dean Martin movies - remember the old Martin/Lewis ones? Models and Artists (or was it the other way around?)...I loved that one. But I loved Dino without Lewis, too. Anybody remember "Bells are Ringing"? That's a great, great movie.
64. I love Frank Sinatra's Christmas music. Fabulous.
65. I've always thought it would have been fun to go caroling at the holidays. I never did, though.
66. I signed up for church camp twice when I was a teenager. Twice my parents wouldn't let me go. Something about....the camp money having to go towards paying for a new window (one badly thrown softball and my church camp dream for that year was gone) and then having to fix the drywall in the hallway the next year (temper, temper...one shouldn't kick a wall when angry at one's sister. One should apparently just kick the sister. It's cheaper.)
67. I've kissed the Moose at McGuire's Irish Pub in Destin, Florida. And I'm not talking about kissing my granddaughter.
68. I've only been to two concerts in my whole entire life. The first one was a Prince concert. It was his Purple Rain tour...I saw him at the Superdome in New Orleans. It was awesome. The other concert was Rodney Crowell. We saw him in Montana. His singing was great. His opening act was freaky. That's all I'll say about that.
69. I have an embarrassingly weak stomach.
70. I can pick things up with my toes. And throw them.
71. Less than a month after 9/11, my husband and my oldest son deployed to an unknown location in the Middle East and were under communication blackout for 6 weeks. It was the longest 6 weeks of my life. Strangely, the fact that both of them went was the only thing that kept me from going completely insane. I knew they would take care of one another. And here's the part that always makes me cry when I think of it: My husband (Randey) worked with the aircraft ground crew, my son (Nick) was part of the air crew. My husband had to stand back and watch the boy he had raised from the age of 8 fly into his first combat mission. Literally. Randey and the rest of the ground crew stood on the side of the runway and saluted the aircraft as it flew away, carrying my baby into a war. Even though he couldn't get mail out at that time, Randey wrote it all down as they awaited the return of the plane. That note makes my heart ache to this day when I read it. Obviously, all was well with my baby on that mission and he and Randey came home to the U.S. of A. safe and sound. Thank God.
72. I love a Braum's limeade. (Those of you in Texas or Oklahoma will probably know what I'm talking about).
73. My favorite color is green.
74. My second favorite color is green.
75. My third favorite color is green. Just kidding. I like pink and yellow, too. But I LOVE green.
76. I have a skill that NO ONE else in my house has. I can change the toilet paper roll and the paper towel roll. I've tried to teach this skill to my children and my husband, but to no avail. Maybe one day they'll get the hang of it.
77. I love drinking hot cocoa with whipped cream while sitting by the fireplace with just the glow of the fire and Christmas lights to illuminate the evening.
78. My favorite quote is by Edmund Burke. It's "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing".
79. I believe that quote comes down to this: If you have the ability to fix a wrong, you have the responsibility to do so.
80. My second favorite quote is this: "I did the best I knew then. Now I know better". I believe this quote can be attributed to Maya Angelou and I may not have quoted it verbatim. But you get the idea. You can't beat yourself up over things you did in the past. Back then, you may not have been in possession of all the knowledge you have today.
81. I've learned that no matter how bad something may look, give it time. Nothing stays the same forever.
82. I can't stand talking on the phone. The phone should be for quick exchanges of information for the most part. I've blogged about this before. I'm such a jerk when it comes to phone calls.
83. Ive been bitten 3 times by dogs. Once when I was a kid. I ran from a German Shepherd. Dummy (me, not the dog). The 2nd time, my sister's dog was fighting with my dog (both were Chows). I yelled at my dog to stop, he did, I reached for his harness and that psycho-lunatic mutt that my sister called a pet bit clean through my hand. (It's not like I'm the only one that nutcase ever bit, either. No love lost for that dog, I'll admit). The 3rd time, my dad's dog had wandered under the table and decided to jump out and attack my dog who was on the other side of a glass door. (This was not a smart dog.) And the little beast bit my leg when he was making his sneak attack. Still...didn't hurt as much as my sister's devil dog did.
84. We survived Hurricane Ivan in 2004 in Florida. The hurricane wasn't easy. The aftermath was worse. No power for 9 days. In September. In Florida. Yeah...I felt a little like a spoiled rotten overly pampered American. But still. No A/C. In September. In Florida. Not pretty. Oh and by the way, MRE's? You know, the pre-packaged meals our brave military are eating out there in the field? Eeeeeewwwwww. Freakin' eeeeeeewwwww. That's one good thing to come out of that experience. It even further reinforced my love and admiration for our military!
85. I helped strip our roof of shingles after Hurricane Ivan (all the roofers were BOOKED!). Here's a tip: sliding on your butt because you're afraid to stand up will only get you little bitty tiny pieces of fiberglass embedded in your behind. And that hurts.)
86. I have a thing for lights. Like lamps and hanging light fixtures and chandeliers. I can't go to Lowe's or Home Depot without checking the light aisles for any sales. It's crazy. I've got extra lamps stashed in just about every closet in my house.
87. I think eating watermelon by the pool is a glorious feeling.
88. I can't believe I'm not at 100 yet. Good grief.
89. I'm a better mother to my younger children than I was to my older kids. I've learned more patience and have relaxed enough to laugh with my kids now.
90. I get really upset with people who don't vote in the national elections but then gripe about who gets elected. Get your butt out there and VOTE. (But I'm really, really bad about voting in local elections. Yeah, I know. I'm embarrassed by that shortcoming).
91. I love peeking into people's lives here in Blogland. It fascinates me.
92. I love sparkling water. Can't stand to drink tap water. Blah.
93. I'm lousy at math. And I used to be a bookkeeper. Yes, I really was good at it. No, I didn't like it. It's hard to dress up a 10 key to look pretty. And I never liked working around boring things...like spreadsheets and file cabinets and invoices. I've done it when I've had to, though.
94. I had no concept of racism until I was in the 5th grade. I hate that my innocence had to end. I've made a conscience effort to raise my children to know that race doesn't define a person, actions do. When will our society be done with this stupid fixation on color? On BOTH sides of the argument.
95. I feel like I've been typing this for a week. Who thought this up and why did I think it was a good idea?
96. I'm an Oklahoma Sooner fan (you're wondering why it took me so long to say that, aren't you, Charlotte? lol).
97. I wish every person in the world could and would watch the movies World Trade Center and American History X. I won't go into why. They'll speak for themselves once you've seen them.
98. I hardly ever wear jewelry. Except a watch when I leave the house. And my wedding band. I always wear that.
99. I love my husband more and more every day. And considering I was pretty fond of him over 18 years ago, I sometimes think my heart's going to burst every evening when we kiss goodnight. The love just keeps growing that much. And I am grateful.
100. I'm done, I'm done, I'm done. (Sad that I have to use that accomplishment as my 100th thing, isn't it?) I know that only the most foolhardy are still reading this list at this point and to you few souls, thanks for the interest. I can honestly say I won't be doing this again at post #200! lol
     

Does your dentist carry a large sickle like mine does?

I had to go back to the dentist this morning. Check out his picture. Handsome devil, isn't he? Although I think he looks kinda like an executioner, but that's probably just my imagination, huh? Anywho, last week as we were saying goodbye to Jodie and Moose at the airport, I was chewing gum just like I had good sense, when I felt something...strange. Like my Juicy Fruit had sprouted rocks or something. Upon investigation, I realized that I had lost a filling. A big, honkin' filling , at that. Well you can just imagine my joy. I darn near started flipping cartwheels right then and there, but managed to show restraint. Since this huge gaping hole in my tooth wasn't causing me as much pain as one might have thought, I put off calling the dentist. But then Randey very cleverly took me to eat BBQ after the movie last night. Note to self: one simply cannot eat brisket and cole slaw without opposing teeth healthy and happy enough to crush said items. So okay, Randey. Point taken. I called the dentist. He was happy to hear from me. Truly. He's just moved into a new building with all new gadgets and do-dads and I'm sure the mortgage on that puppy is mind-boggling. Luckily, I'm going to be able to help him out with a payment or two. How many teeth does a normal adult have? 32? Okay. So, at my current rate of payment for all this dental work, I figure I will have a mouth worth approximately $16,000.00 in no time at all. I mean honestly. The cap I'm having replaced on my front tooth (another victim of chewing gum - how stupid can I be?) is costing me $434.00 out of my pocket, after the insurance pays. The crown I apparently need on this back tooth since I chomped the filling right on out, is going to cost me $497.00 out of my pocket (gotta pay for that temp filling, too, don't ya' know). I was thinking about getting another tooth fixed, but came to realize that I simply don't want to shell out the big bucks anymore. How do people get their whole "smile" reworked without filing bankruptcy? Or am I just cheap? (Don't answer that). I offered my first born male child to the people at the dentist's office. (Sorry, Nick - had to do it, babe). I told them he was a good worker, a strong young man with an exceptionally happy disposition and an endless supply of tolerance for grungy jobs...in other words, I fudged the truth just a little. So sue me. I sold him down the river for naught, however. They seem to have enough first born male children already and declined my offer. They want money. How positively...rapacious. Yes, yes. That's the word. Or, to put it in plainer English, those cold hearted, blood sucking, greedy little weenies want all my money. And in exchange, they're offering me a bunch of capped and crowned teeth that don't even make me look like a movie-star when I smile. Ummmphh. You ask me? It hardly seems worth it.

It's My Mama's Birthday!

******Happy Birthday, Mom!******

The Bourne Ultimatum

*****UPDATE*****The movie was VERY good! If you like action, you NEED to see this one. I'd go see it again, I thought it was that good!

Randey and I are off to see The Bourne Ultimatum this evening. I'm pretty excited about that. I used to be a huge Ludlum fan. I think I read everything he wrote up through probably 1995 or so. My dad was a fan. I'd read the books once he was done with them. Later on, I decided that regular old mysteries without all the spy stuff was more my style. But, even though I don't read much of this kind of thing anymore, the Bourne movies have been good so far and this one is getting pretty good reviews, too. Can't wait to get that gi-normous coke and bucket of popcorn and settle in for the excitement. If I play my cards right, I might even get dinner out afterwards. : )

Friendship is an Art Form I have Yet to Master

Is it just me or was making friends and talking to people easier when you were a kid? I can remember way back when (or "back in the day" as it's called now), every day that wasn't a school day and the sun was shining, all the kids in the neighborhood would get together and just play and talk and laugh and fight and then laugh and talk and play and fight some more. Then, as we get older, we weren't as care free as we were before. The arguments got bigger, the playing got smaller and the laughter maybe just a little bit more refined (there were people out there to impress, after all). And then life takes you to other places, the talks get further and further apart, your interests change maybe and before you know it, you and your dear, dear friend are barely exchanging Christmas cards every year. I look back on all the friends I've had in the past and wonder how could I have let them go? There's my friend, Penny, whom I've only recently been in contact with again. We knew each other in junior high school, for Pete's sake. We were lunch time buddies. I figure I owe her about $6,794.75 in borrowed quarters from time spent at the Kerr Jr. High snack bar. I haven't talked to her in over 2 decades when I found her mom's name somewhere on the Internet and contacted her and she put me in touch with Penny (thank you Miss Charlotte!). How did I let that friendship go in the first place? And then there's my friend, Trish, who is also a distantly related cousin. I don't think I've seen her since 1987, the year my grandma passed away. Her life always seemed so perfect. Until tragedy struck. Her little 11 month old daughter was killed that year by a drunk driver. So, so, so sad. I spoke with her a few months after it had happened (I didn't know of it, until then). I will forever feel like I let her down because I just couldn't find the right words to say. If I knew then, what I know now, I would have just said "I'm sorry and I love you". Over and over and over again. But I felt too awkward and too inadequate and so I ended up just losing contact with her. Shameful, isn't it? Then there's my friend, Bobbie, from Wisconsin. We met in Plattsburgh, New York where our husbands were stationed (this was during my previous marriage). Bobbie was hilarious. She could really make me laugh. So why did I lose touch with her, too? What is it with me? Is it only with me or does this happen to other people, too? I'm 43 years old. Even my kids joke that I have one friend and one friend only and that's Susan. We (Susan and I mainly) laugh about it and say that having friends can be just too high maintenance. But I got to say...there are days that I'm so lonesome I could just...well, cry. I wish I could be in person as I am in Blogland. In Blogland, I'm upbeat with others, I'm straight forward with my ills and concerns and I'm eager to hear how others are doing. In real life, I feel awkward. Yes, that's the word. Awkward. I'm a housewife. I'm boring. I don't measure up to those around me. I don't have anything to offer except an opinion and how learned of an opinion could it be if I never get outside of my own little world? So I end up staying closed off. I tell my children that friendships are important, but I don't live by example with that one. I've...squandered...a great many friendships all because of reasons that don't seem to matter so much anymore. I often hear about people who are friends with people they knew back in 2nd grade. How do you do that? Can you teach me? Is it a gift you have and I don't? Or are you just nicer people? And why am I feeling so darn "retrospective" (or is is "introspective") today? Probably from the bad night last night, huh? Well, I'll be darned...it's that wicked menopause thing again, probably. Waking me up with night sweats and making me all blah today. Got to work on these mood swings. Really. Or maybe I should just work on my people skills. Or maybe I should not post on my blog unless I've had at least a good 7 hours of sleep. Or maybe I should just....stop while I'm ahead. This is getting too deep for even me to swim my way out of.

I'm a SCHMOOZER!

Once again, I may have proven what a dork I am. lol It wasn't until I was reading Teresa's blog at http://tpmom4ever.blogspot.com/ that I realized I had been given this award by Kat at http://justabeachkat.blogspot.com/. I mean, I knew that Kat had mentioned me as a good Schmoozer in her blog (because I read it every single day that I have access to a computer!), but I didn't get that she was "awarding" me for it. Pretty cool, though, isn't it? Even if I am too dense to know when I've been given something. Thanks, Kat! Sorry for being a little slow (I blame the menopause. Actually, as you already know, I tend to blame the menopause for everything. That's just how I roll these days!).

Be Careful What You Ask For!

Can anybody tell me what this is? Just kidding. I know what it is. This is the sewing machine I begged for...about 2 1/2 years ago. I just had to have it. It's nothing fancy, mind you. I knew I would probably only ever use it to sew a straight line. Maybe hem a curtain or make a tablecloth. Something very, very basic. I'm making huge progress with this machine, too! Last year (?), I took it out of the box. Woo-hoo! (Rolling right along). A few months ago, I took it out of the closet. (No stopping me now!). And, if I could only remember where I put the instruction manual, I would now probably make an attempt at threading a bobbin. Yeah, I know. I've got to learn to pace myself. I'll burn out if I keep it up like this. (wink, wink) Everytime I look at this machine and see how far I've come with it, I have to tell myself "Hey, slow down, little lady. What's your rush?".

A couple of weeks ago, I posted some pictures from last Christmas - hey, it's my blog, I can post when and what I want! - and I showed some stockings that I had "sewn" for my family. Jayne (@ http://countrycottagechic.blogspot.com/ ) commented that she thought I'd said I didn't know how to sew. Jayne! I wasn't lying. All those stockings came in a kit and the only sewing was by hand (and really, really messy up close!). Sewing on a machine is something I've only done sporadically over the years and usually with less than stellar results. But, since I've put this blasted machine out on a table where I have to look at it every day, I'm getting closer and closer to actually figuring out how to plug it in. Right now, I'm off to find the instruction manual. I know I put it somewhere safe, somewhere I wouldn't lose it, I'm pretty sure it's in a place close by....Oh well, wish me luck! If I don't sew my fingers together (provided I figure how to thread the machine first), I'll let you know how it goes.

The Haul

This is some of the stuff I bought when shopping with Jodie, my daughter-in-law. Hobby Lobby was having a ribbon sale so, naturally, I had to buy some for Christmas, right? And then Jo-Ann's Fabrics had a few items on sale so I had to stock up there and see that bright pink half sun in the upper left? My dad and Wendy bought that for me - it was marked 75% off at Jo-Ann's. I don't plan on leaving it that color, but I love the shape of it. It's actually a door topper - I'll probably put it up in the spare bedroom. Maybe. Or maybe I'll paint it bronze and use it downstairs. Who knows? First, before I do anything, I've got to go through this stuff and get it organized. That's the problem with power shopping - you shop so much so fast that you don't get time to put everything in it's place! And since most of this stuff belongs in the spare bedroom (aka The Scrapbook Room), and since Nick and Jodie were staying in that room, I was stashing stuff all over the house until I could put it away properly. As I lay in bed last night, I noticed the 5 rolls of Christmas gift wrap I'd stacked next to the armoire. (Tuesday Morning is having a really good sale on last years paper!) I think I may have even stuffed some bags under the stairs...wow...suddenly my shopping frenzy aftermath has turned into work! lol How'd that happen?