Empressions

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #31

2012-02-02T14:36:00.000-05:00

I've never liked monkeys. I have a few theories as to why, but the bottom line is, they creep me out. I must admit, though, Monkey Island is pretty cool.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #30

2012-01-19T14:55:00.000-05:00

When I announced to my family that I was moving to Florida, the reactions were mixed (that's a nice way of saying some people were really awesome about it, and others were... well, let's just say less than awesome). Those who fell somewhere in the middle began to call me "gator bait" in an apparent attempt to dissuade me from leaving by implanting an irrational fear of death by alligator. I think I was supposed to believe that there were huge reptiles lurking in every Florida ditch just waiting for naïve midwestern girls to unwittingly provide them with a meal.

Since I moved here, I have done everything short of camping beside every puddle of water I find in order to see an alligator outside of a zoo-type setting. After seventeen years, the number of gators I've seen in the wild is still in the single digits. And a couple of those were dead.

A few days ago, however, Terri and I were biking through Starkey Park and we passed a man who was riding one-handed, flailing his free hand, and yelling something mostly inaudible at us. When we looked ahead, we saw another man standing next to his bike holding a camera and looking intently over the railing. We stopped, and there, maybe 15 feet from the trail, was a roughly 8-foot-long alligator soaking up the warm sun. The one time I didn't bring my regular digital camera. But I snapped a few shots with my phone, and this is one of them. Of course, I spent the rest of the ride inspecting every marshy area I saw in the hopes of finding another one. No luck. Next time, perhaps!

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #29

2011-11-11T09:59:00.001-05:00

Every so often I get to see these beautiful Sandhill Cranes while I'm out and about. They are rare in Florida, as only about 5,000 remain. This stately pair were seen while my friend and I were on a bike ride not long ago.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #28

2011-10-15T12:03:00.001-04:00

The first time I saw a group of these key deer I thought, "Wow, I've never seen so many fawns without any adult." Then I was informed that they were fully grown.

The closest I've been to one was about a month ago on a bike ride through Starkey Park. Of course, as soon as I got my camera ready, the deer slipped into ninja mode and left my photo completely devoid of wildlife. Luckily, my husband got a picture of this group of non-ninja key deer.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #27

2011-09-05T15:58:00.001-04:00

One of the first things I did when I moved to Florida was scurry to the ocean to find out what everyone was raving about. Terri took me to the nearest beach (Hudson Beach), and I stood there at the edge of the gulf completely overwhelmed with the vastness of the water and the beauty of the sky as we watched the sun disappear slowly behind the horizon. Since then I have seen innumerable sunsets over the gulf, each one just as breathtaking as the others. It just never gets old.

This photo was taken on July 4, 2011 at a neighborhood gathering. While it's not the clearest shot of the sun, I love the colors, the American flag, and the silhouetted boats in the river.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #26

2011-08-10T19:14:00.000-04:00

The gopher tortoise is currently a threatened species. Therefore, it was a treat to find one happily scavenging for leaves and grass when Terri and I were walking through Key Vista park the other day. He (she?) stopped, posed for a couple of pictures, then went back to gnawing on whatever plants had the misfortune of growing in his path. In fact, as he grazed, he wandered closer and closer to my feet. Very shortly after this last photo, I backed up several feet to avoid losing any appendages.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #25

2011-08-08T16:41:00.001-04:00

Anyone who knows me is aware that I'm not a fan of arthropods. The fact that I'm featuring them on my blog should tell you something about how cute these little guys are compared to other creatures of the same phylum.

Walk up to any unpopulated beach area around here, and you'll see dozens of tiny, previously unnoticed critters go scattering in all directions and then disappear into the sand. When you get closer, you'll see tiny holes everywhere. If you stand extremely still and be quiet, the fiddler crabs will slowly begin to emerge from their hiding spots. Make one move, and they will vanish again. It's free entertainment!

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #24

2011-08-04T15:20:00.000-04:00

I'm not a huge theme park person. I mean, they're OK, assuming the weather is perfect and the crowds are small, but that's an extremely rare occurrence. I'm also not a huge Disney fan. However, I must admit that the Disney people really know how to create an experience. The prices are far from cheap, but they do make sure you get your money's worth. And no one can walk away from Disney World without a few lasting memories.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #23

2011-07-27T13:16:00.001-04:00

Many years ago I stood on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico in Port Richey and noticed several houses on stilts out in the distance. I was fascinated at the idea that someone would build a house in the gulf, and I immediately wanted one. Still do, actually.

Turns out I can't have one. They cannot be sold, only passed down within a family. New ones cannot be built. And if existing stilt houses are ever destroyed, there are rules as to how much of the original structure must still be standing in order for rebuilding to occur. Luckily for me, my husband's family is friends with one of the owners, and they sometimes let us visit theirs when it's not in use.

It's all the fun of the beach with none of the sand. And with my impossibly fair skin, I greatly appreciate being able to hang out in the shade without having to leave the party.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #22

2011-07-25T23:21:00.000-04:00

I have always thought that Indian mounds were pretty amazing things. I never got the chance to see the Cahokia mounds near St. Louis when I was living there. Then I moved here and was surprised to find an Indian mound tucked neatly between two homes right next to the Pithlachascotee River. The mound sits peacefully beneath a canopy of live oak trees, and the stone staircase that ascends one side simply begs to be climbed (though the signs strictly forbid the activity). I pass the mound frequently, and no matter how many times I read the warnings, I still find myself longing to perch myself at the top. Alas, I begrudgingly refrain.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #21

2011-07-22T22:22:00.000-04:00

Florida is the land of candy-colored houses! This one is particularly festive. I am very tempted to build myself a house just so I can paint it crazy colors.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #20

2011-07-20T21:49:00.000-04:00

There is something about the way Spanish moss cascades over tree branches that is very peaceful. I've heard people complain about it before, but I find it to be beautiful and calming. It is also especially creepy on Halloween night, so I consider that an added bonus.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #19

2011-07-17T13:45:00.000-04:00

This.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #18

2011-07-16T15:30:00.001-04:00

About a year ago, I got to drive through the heart of the Everglades National Forest with my sister. I had been through the Everglades once before, but this time we took the long way so we could see more of the forest. We were hoping to see lots of wildlife, but we saw very little. Other than an alligator carcass and some buzzards, all we really saw were a whoooooole lot of bugs. Big bugs. Bugs that see cars coming and attack instead of fleeing. "Oh my God, did you see the size of that frog - no, wait, why does that frog have six legs" kind of bugs.

Yeah... not my favorite part of the trip.

However, I have to admit that the forest was breathtakingly beautiful. There are swamps, thick forests, and vast expanses of grassland dotted with random trees. Parts of it resembled the Serengeti. If only we had found a Florida panther! Perhaps next time.

I'm sure I'll visit the Everglades again (when I win the lottery, I'll pass through it on my way to my palatial estate in Key West).

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #17

2011-05-25T20:40:00.001-04:00

Because I can walk around my block and see this every night.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #16

2011-03-31T21:03:00.003-04:00

I. LOVE. THUNDERSTORMS.

The Tampa Bay area is known as the lightning capital of North America, and this morning it showed everyone exactly why. I woke up to the minutes-long rumble of constant thunder, and when I looked outside I saw one of the most impressive lightning displays that I've ever seen. Three or more strikes were hitting simultaneously all over the sky. It was breathtaking. Moments later we were pelted with hail and torrential downpours that lasted well into the late afternoon. The river came up over the seawall and halfway across the road before receding, and I expect it to be even higher tomorrow. Unfortunately, I didn't get any photos of the lightning, but this is a picture of the clouds forming over us yesterday afternoon. Just beautiful.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #15

2011-03-19T01:01:00.001-04:00

I am WAAAAAAAYYY behind on my posting!

Today I found myself walking the shores of Anclote Key, an island just off the mouth of the Anclote River. We searched for seashells, waded through gorgeous turquoise waters, and watched dolphins frolicking about between the boats. We didn't have time to climb the lighthouse this trip, but one day soon I plan to check it out!

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #14

2011-01-10T10:20:00.001-05:00

Today is a gorgeously rainy day here in Florida. I made my usual drive along the river this morning and saw a pair of pelicans napping on some pilings near the marina. I'd love to get a picture of them in flight, but I really liked seeing them having a little rest, too.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #13

2011-01-05T18:20:00.006-05:00

When I met Terri, she was living about a mile from me with her 7-year-old son and 18-year-old niece. Her son, Brandon, was a well-mannered and adorable little boy, and I loved him instantly. Over the years I have watched as he has gone through all manner of ups and downs while growing into a remarkable man. He is now 23 years old, happily married, and serving in the U.S. Navy. Today, after several months of serving in Afghanistan, Brandon's feet touched U.S. soil, and all of us who love him breathed a collective and ecstatic sigh of relief.

And, yes, that is a camouflage Santa hat. ☺

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #12

2010-12-18T15:07:00.002-05:00

Because this is where Santa vacations.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #11

2010-12-15T10:20:00.004-05:00

Because seriously, where else are you going to see this?

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #10

2010-12-10T13:24:00.004-05:00

Every Christmas season, the edges of Orange Lake in downtown New Port Richey are adorned with all sorts of art, or "lighted Christmas cards." The lake itself is beautiful enough with its fountain and tropical foliage, but I really love this added touch of Christmas cheer.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #9

2010-12-08T20:01:00.005-05:00

The River Lights Boat Parade is a Christmas event on the Pithlachascotee river in downtown New Port Richey. Aside from the obvious fun of twinkling lights and festive decorations, there is also a good-natured competition. Judges rate each boat on theme, number of lights, overall presentation, crew enthusiasm, etc. The winner of the parade gets to trailer their decorated boat as a float in the following week's street parade.

The picture above is my brother-in-law's boat in last year's parade. He did a Christmas Story movie theme, complete with Ralphie in his pink

bunny pajamas, the Christmas tree on top of the family car, kids in earflap hats, and the infamous leg lamp. The boat won first place!

This year's parade was even better. His boat was decorated as a gingerbread house. There was a 6' tall gingerbread man, a small gingerbread girl, five children dressed as dancing peppermints, and enough Christmas lights to send signals to the space station. Professional pictures are still to come, but here are a couple that I snapped myself.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #8

2010-12-03T13:21:00.003-05:00

The Ponce Inlet lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in Florida. While my sister and I didn't get to climb it, we drove out of our way just to see it, and we were glad we did. This picture was taken just after sunrise, and it was impossible to capture its striking beauty with a simple camera.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #7

2010-11-24T21:16:00.003-05:00

This beautiful osprey lives in a nest around the corner from my house, and he (she?) loves to perch on the limbs of a dead tree on the lot next door to ours. He is there almost every day. And if you look closely at his talons, you'll see a freshly caught fish.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #6

2010-11-21T23:04:00.003-05:00

All of this Florida love from me would be nonexistent were it not for Terri. She is the one who invited me here, gave me a place to stay (innumerable times), supported me throughout all of my stupid decisions, picked me up afterward, and helped me get back on the right path. And all without ever saying, "I told you so," though she easily could have. She has put up with me for 16 years through good times and bad, and I consider myself a better person for having her in my life.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #5

2010-11-20T17:19:00.003-05:00

When my sister and I were on our way to Key West this May, we happened upon some trees that made us both stop in our tracks. They have fern-like leaves and bright, reddish-orange flowers that are breathtakingly gorgeous. I'm not sure how I managed to live here this long without seeing them in bloom before, but they really knocked my socks off. I did a little searching and found that they are royal poinciana trees.

I want one.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #4

2010-11-19T20:30:00.003-05:00

I often tell people, "When I win the lottery, don't look for me in Key West." It's not because I won't be there, it's because I won't want anyone to find me.

My husband and I went to Key West for the first time in May, 2004, and I fell in love instantly. There is such a relaxed atmosphere that it almost feels like another world. We rented a scooter and puttered around the island to see the sights. We saw the buoy at the southernmost point (where I received a very sweet marriage proposal), went for a sail on the Schooner Western Union, walked Duval Street, visited the lighthouse, and so many other things that I honestly can't remember them all. At sunset we made our way to Mallory Square and enjoyed several street performers and some of the most gorgeous sunsets anyone could hope to experience.

This year I got to visit Key West again, this time with my sister. I'm so glad I got to share it with her, and I can't wait to go again! Come on, LOTTO!

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #3

2010-11-18T21:57:00.003-05:00

This great blue heron lives in a tree across the street from my house. I know this because one day my husband and I sat at the kitchen window and watched him (her?) painstakingly building his nest. His wingspan is quite impressive, and his iridescent bluish-grey feathers glisten in the sunlight.

He likes to visit the fishermen on the Pithlachascotee River near dawn and dusk, gracefully wandering along the seawall hoping for a handout. I assume he must get a few fish here and there, because he posed for this picture with no apparent fear.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #2

2010-11-17T23:41:00.002-05:00

I grew up next to the "Mighty Mississippi." Its power is awe-inspiring. So when I moved to Florida and found myself next to the serene Pithlachascotee River, I was mesmerized. The name is a little challenging, and some people shorten it to the "Cotee River," but I prefer its actual name. I think the nickname belies its beauty.

A canopy of Live Oak branches draped with Spanish Moss envelopes the lazy scenic bends, and the reflections of palms can be seen in the calm, sparkling blackwater river. I used to go out of my way to drive along the edge of it, and I would wonder how happy its neighbors must be to see it outside their front doors each day. Now, thanks to an interesting twist of fate, I am (almost) one of those people; I live one block away.

And, yes, I still drive the extra block every day just to look at the water.

101 Reasons Why I Love Florida: Reason #1

2010-11-16T15:33:00.001-05:00

Maybe it's because I grew up in a place where they were only seen in movies and TV shows, but the sight of a palm still instantly relaxes me. Even after 16 years of seeing them every single day, they are my favorite cliché.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Mandatory? Really?

2010-11-02T10:58:00.007-04:00

Today is election day. It's a midterm election, which usually doesn't get nearly the attention it's getting this year, but it's still the same thing as always. One side has power, the other side wants it, and we voters are being wooed, manipulated, poked, and prodded into backing certain candidates. There are red, white, and blue signs in every yard and public lot. Each candidate has commercials telling us that his/her opponent is a dishonest, cowardly, vermin-infested snake oil salesman with halitosis who wants to sleep with our mothers, drown our dogs, and kidnap our children. Okay, I may have taken a little bit of artistic license with that last bit. But I'm not that far off.

And as annoying as it is to get four calls from robots while my family is trying to eat dinner, I understand it. Get the message out there, woo those voters, and hope you get enough votes to be the next dishonest politician holding whatever office you seek. Kudos to you.

However, I do have a real problem with one thing. It's something along the lines of "Vote or Die." Yeah, "Diddy," I'm talking to you.

Don't take that to mean I'm a right wing voter, because you'd be dead wrong. I'm a common sense voter. I read up on the candidates. I look at their issue positions and whether or not their voting records agree with my views about what is best for my community, my state, and my country. I take the time to scour through and fill out a sample ballot and make sure I know who and what I'm voting for, no matter what ridiculous letter is after a candidate's name. I do my best to be an informed voter, as I think everyone should.

But more and more often lately I see comments from people saying that voting should be mandatory. That people should get out and vote no matter what they -

Wait, wait, wait... what was that again? Mandatory? Seriously? I have a problem with that.

First of all, this country is all about freedom. I don't care if Australia makes voting mandatory. That's their country. This is ours. We like CHOICES.

Second, there are a whole lot of people who have no idea what is going on. They don't know anything about the candidates. They don't understand the amendments. They have done no research. They vote a straight party ticket. They believe every attack ad they see. They vote D or R because their parents did, or because they didn't. They vote for the most attractive candidate. They vote based on gender, race, or shoe size.

When you vote, you are deciding who does and who does not get a job. If you were in charge of hiring someone at your place of business, you would interview the applicants. You would review their résumés, check their qualifications, ask their previous employers about their histories, etc. You would ask each applicant exactly why you should hire them. Would you base your decision on their race? On their gender? On their religion? On their sexual preference? Of course not. You'd be sued for discrimination. So why is it any different when you vote? You're choosing someone to work for you. Either choose wisely or don't choose at all.

Yes, everyone has the right to vote, but should they? I have the right to sue McDonalds for selling me soggy, half-cooked, ice cold french fries 5 times in a row, but that doesn't mean I should. I don't care if you're voting for R, D, L, I, G, or whatever party from which your candidate gets his/her funding. As long as you actually know WHY your chosen candidate is the best person for the job. If you cannot honestly and clearly answer that one question, then there's only one piece of election advice that I hope you follow:

Stay home.

Droid!

2010-09-15T21:23:00.001-04:00

My Blackberry bit the dust, so I went to the Verizon store to look at a new one. I looked around for a new one, but the only one with a full touch screen was the Storm 2, and it felt very cheesy.

Then I wandered over to the Droid counter. I was hooked in seconds.

I walked out shortly thereafter with the Samsung Fascinate in hand, and I have hardly put it down since.

I love new addictions. :)

Published with Blogger-droid v1.5.9

The Fugitive

2010-04-05T05:20:00.003-04:00

I have never committed a crime in my life.

Strike that - I did swipe a 40¢ candy bar when I was 10 or 11, for which I paid dearly. And once about 8 years ago I got a ticket for going 39 in a 30. That about sums up my life-long crime spree.

The other day I went to the drug store to pick up Easter stuff. While I was there I decided to pick up some cold medicine... you know, the stuff that actually works, not the placebo crap they leave out in the open for just anyone to buy. I told the pharmacist that I needed some generic-brand pseudoephedrine. I immediately felt exposed... like she was secretly memorizing my features for a future police lineup.

"Which one do you want?"

Hmmm... which one do I want? It would be really nice if I could take my time and read the packages to compare them, but since said packages are under Fort Knox security I had to settle for, "Um, what are my options?"

She began reading the package labels to me, but (presumably due to the sinus pressure in my head) all I heard was a voice not unlike the adults from the Peanuts cartoons. "Mwaaa mwaaa mwaaaaaa mwaa mwaaaaaa..."

Luckily, my friend Terri was with me. I turned to her blankly and said, "Which one do I want?"

She said, "Get the 12-hour kind so you don't have to take it as often."

I turned my still-blank expression back toward the pharmacist and muttered something vaguely related to 12 hours. Meanwhile, I was wondering if the glassy stare of a person suffering from crippling sinus pain looks anything like that of a meth-head.

She laid the package of crack - er... medicine on the counter and asked for my identification, which I presented. Then I entered my chicken-scratch signature into the keypad, all the while half expecting DEA to jump out from behind the counter and whisk me away.

So today when my husband asked me for one of the pills, there was a part of me that did not want to share them. I have been sick off and on for 2 months. If I run out of the meds too soon and have to go back for more, what then? Will I be upgraded from suspected cooker to suspected kingpin? I wonder if I'll be able to get cold meds in the prison infirmary.

Oh, and one day soon I'll have to tell you about the time Sears Credit (Citi) accused me of laundering money because I made two credit card payments in the same month. Yes, really.

Booster Shot

2010-03-31T09:32:00.002-04:00

I LOVE this one!

I often tell people that, “Life is full of bumps and chug-holes.” I often think of that as I drive over San Antonio streets. But the bumps and chug-holes of life, though they may pile up on us, are nothing compared to the victory we can gain through Jesus Christ as we use His Word to combat the upsets of life. For instance, Paul, bless his little ole heart said, “For I reckon (he was from Texas) that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Poor old Paul, he never had to go through what I’m going through. Oh, yeah? Read II Cor. 11:23-30…none of us have gone through what Paul went through, yet he counted all things but loss that he might win Christ, Phil. 3:8. You’ll probably hit some bumps and chug-holes today, but cheer up, things could be worse. (I cheered up and sure enough, things got worse. HUMBUG!) Just remember, Jesus is your source of every need supplied. Turn to Him in prayer and praise.
H.B. Taylor used to say, “Praising God in your blessings, extends them. Praising God in your miseries, quickly ends ‘em.”

Booster Shot

2010-03-16T15:24:00.002-04:00

My uncle sends these out (upon request) a few times a week. Sometimes I feel compelled to share them, as I do today.

---------- Forwarded message ----------

In the last few months I've buried a half dozen good friends. Over the last forty-six years I've buried over 200 people that I knew and loved. Those included a mother, father, grandmother, aunts and uncles and many church members that were faithful to me and the vision we share. All my life I've heard that "time" heals all wounds. That sounds good, but it's not Scriptural. The Bible says that there is only one healer, the Great Physician, Jesus. He uses time on occasion to heal the broken heart and wounded spirit, but mostly He heals through His Word. Ex. 15:26; Psa. 147:3; Prov. 3:7-8; Prov. 4:20-22; and the best verse is John 6:63. If you are grieving over anything today, let the Lord heal your mind and spirit through turning to the good book for comfort. Read
I Thess. 4:13-18 and let it give you peace of mind to know we shall meet those we love again in a higher dimension of life than we can imagine. luvu

Moving

2009-09-23T22:02:00.004-04:00

I have completely slacked on my blog lately. Keira has started preschool, Kaley and I are having lots of mornings alone together, and we're moving in a month! Closer to family and school, and it's a bigger house. This will be move #36 for me, which keeps me at more than one move per year throughout my life. Amazing.

I am thoroughly dreading packing, cleaning, packing, cleaning, painting, cleaning, unpacking, cleaning... well, you get the gist. If only I could clone myself so I could delegate to my clone.

I am, however, excited about getting to choose paint colors! This is something I've never done! I can't wait to see how everything looks after it's all finished! For now, though, back to packing.

I'm Walking To Fight Breast Cancer

2009-07-20T13:17:00.004-04:00

Dear Friends,

This year I have signed up to walk in the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and I'm hoping you'll support me. I know that there are a lot of breast cancer events out there, but Making Strides speaks to me because funds raised enable the American Cancer Society to help people stay well and get well from breast cancer, find cures, and empower people to fight back today. With your help, we can save lives.

They say that every donation makes a difference, and it really is true. I know that times are tighter than normal for many of us, but if you can spare even $5, it truly will make a difference. If everyone walking in Making Strides this year were able to raise just $5 more, we would raise an additional $3 million to fight breast cancer. Imagine what an incredible difference we could make together!

To support me in my efforts, please visit my personal page. If you're going to be in town, I'd love for you to join my team and walk with me. If not, please support my efforts with a donation of whatever amount you can spare.

As a little extra inspiration, I thought you might like to know a few of the ways your donation will help the American Cancer Society save lives every day:

More people in our community will have the information and tools they need to help prevent breast cancer or find it early.
More people with breast cancer will have a place to turn around the clock to help them through every step of their cancer journey whether it's a free ride to treatment, a place to stay, or just talking to someone who has "been there."
More progress will be made toward finding breast cancer's causes and cures. The American Cancer Society has played a role in nearly every major breast cancer breakthrough of the last century, which have led to the discovery of lifesaving breast cancer treatments like Tamoxifen and Herceptin. You will help us find more.
More women like our own mothers, daughters, sisters, and grandmothers will have access to lifesaving mammograms and treatment they need.

Each of us has our own reasons for caring about the fight against breast cancer … whatever your reasons, I hope you'll choose to make a difference by signing up to walk with me or making a donation online to support my effort. I'm so grateful to have great people like you in my life who care about breast cancer! Together we will make a difference, make history, and make strides.

Sincerely,

Christy Johnson

Name Recognition

2009-07-01T21:54:00.004-04:00

Randy has a problem recognizing people. He tends to connect one physical trait with a person, then every time he sees someone with that trait, he confuses the two. Every petite brunette is Eva Longoria. Every skinny woman with big lips is Angelina Jolie.

Tonight we were watching TV and there was a commercial with a quick cameo from a black guy wearing glasses. Randy asked, "Isn't that the guy from Benson?"

Me: "No."

Randy: "Are you sure?"

Me: "Yes."

Randy: "It looks like him. What was his name? Robert Goulet, right?"

Me: (laughing uncontrollably) "Robert Goulet?!"

Randy: "What's so funny? Isn't that his name?"

I grabbed my phone, did some quick navigation, and showed him. "THIS is Robert Goulet."

Randy: (laughing now) "What was Benson's name?"

Me: "Robert Guillaume."

Randy: "I was close."

Me: "Not even in the same ballpark."

Ugliest House in Town

2009-06-27T10:18:00.002-04:00

The picture really doesn't do this justice. Those are two completely different shades of blue, and neither coordinates with the lilac color in any way. Add to that the lovely lawn and driveway area. In person, this house hurts my head.

Debate

2009-04-28T20:59:00.002-04:00

My cousin and I compared our lists of the 5 worst country songs. Check it out.

Texts From Last Night

2009-04-27T21:47:00.002-04:00

My cousin sent me this site, and I am still laughing. Real or fake, these are funny.

www.textsfromlastnight.com

Double Punctuation Fail

2009-04-18T13:44:00.002-04:00

I'm not sure if these are supposed to be apostrophes or commas. Either way, they fail.

Creepiest Fake Hand. Ever.

2009-03-23T11:50:00.003-04:00

My friend Terri & I went for much needed pedicures the other day. When we were sitting at the counter drying our toes, we saw this horrific plastic hand. Just... awful.

Ouch.

2009-02-19T11:25:00.004-05:00

OK, I've been staring at my computer for days now thinking, "I should post something," but my brain won't release the information to me. I realized this morning that the problem just might be the headache that I've had for about 2 weeks now.

So, I thought, maybe someone out there has an idea how I can get rid of it. I've been having headaches since I was 5 years old (I'm almost 34... lots of headaches). I've tried over-the-counter meds, prescriptions, etc., and nada.

I usually get an average of 2 or 3 bad headaches a week. Had my eyes checked - not my eyes. Kept detailed logs for my doctors of when & how severely I get them - not hormonal, and no discernible pattern. Had a brain MRI - not a tumor (ha!) or anything else they could see. Saw an orthopedic surgeon - no visible cause.

I've tried Tylenol, which I'm completely convinced is some sort of complex placebo. Ibuprofen sometimes works, as long as I take massively unhealthy doses of it then sleep for about half an hour with an ice pack behind my neck (an option that I don't have while watching my kids). Aleve doesn't help. Prescription migraine meds don't help, and since my blood pressure is relatively low, there are a few meds that the doctor wouldn't try for fear that they might bottom out my BP altogether. They tried beta-blockers to prevent the headaches - no go. I have no allergies. Sinus meds don't help. Caffeine increase/decrease doesn't help.

Chiropractic adustments didn't work, plus I can't afford them, anyway. I haven't tried acupuncture, yet, though it's on my list of things to try when I have some money. Massage doesn't work. More/less sleep doesn't work.

So, the gist of it is, I have these awful headaches all the time with no apparent cause and no apparent cure. So I'm asking if anyone else has had this problem, found a cure, and feels like sharing it with me.

And if this doesn't make any sense, it's because my head hurts. lol

Too bad I didn't do this well when I was THERE.

2009-02-04T15:37:00.000-05:00

You paid attention during 100% of high school!

85-100% You must be an autodidact, because American high schools don't get scores that high! Good show, old chap!

Do you deserve your high school diploma?
Take More Quizzes

Paradise

2009-02-04T01:31:00.003-05:00

My sister Donna just came to Florida a few weeks ago. Tonight she sent me a link to view her pictures. As I was looking through them, I kept thinking to myself, "What on earth is she taking pictures of here?"

There were pictures of buildings, pictures of trees, pictures of passing birds, etc. Then it hit me: the pictures of buildings had crisp, bright colors and interesting statues in front. The pictures of trees were palm trees - something she doesn't get to see very often. The birds were seagulls, ducks, and other local birds.

It suddenly hit me that I take these things for granted sometimes. Here I am in this beautiful state, surrounded by palm trees, sea birds, sand, boats, and seemingly infinite stretches of ocean, and I rarely even stop to take it in.

This must stop.

Tomorrow, I'm going out in the frigid 50-degree weather (ha!), and I'm going to appreciate every inch of this subtropical paradise.

Homecoming

2009-01-16T00:39:00.005-05:00

After spending the last few years in Japan, my best friend's son came home last night. He's like another little brother to me. I've watched him grow up, and knowing that his feet had touched home soil and seeing him hug his family for the first time in a year, well, that made my year.

Standing next to us was a group of people waiting to welcome home a soldier from Iraq. At the front of this group was a little girl, maybe 5 years old, waiting to see her daddy for the first time in 18 months. Within seconds of his stepping off of the tram, his daughter's arms were wrapped around him as he approached the waiting, applauding crowd.

I've seen service men and women come home on TV a hundred times, and I'm always moved. Last night, though, I really felt it. It reminded me of one my favorite commercials. I think this is the closest that TV can get to how it really felt:

My Super Power

2009-01-09T01:12:00.000-05:00

What is Your Super-Secret ability? Your Result: Time Freezing You are the quiet, kind girl at school. You have a crazy, wild side but it is only shown to close ones (or when your very drunk). With your power, you can stop time for a little while. Also, with your power, you can freeze time to solve a problem.
Human Encyclopedia
See The Future
Super Strength
Mind Reading
Human Lie Detector
What is Your Super-Secret ability? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Best Gag Gift This Year!

2008-12-27T19:35:00.003-05:00

I've always felt like a bit of a black sheep, and now it's official! Got this from my sister for Christmas - laughed and laughed!

The Klutz Strikes Again

2008-12-18T22:10:00.006-05:00

Apparently, my subconscious mind decided that 9 months without an injury was long enough.

As I was emptying the trash can, a broken glass cut through the bag, then sliced across the top of my foot. A few hours, 2 stitches, and a tetanus shot later, I was back home from the hospital with a note from the nurse:

"Keep foot elevated. Patient has work excuse: No dishes, needs to have control of remote at all times, no cooking or cleaning for 7-10 days. ~The Nurse"

I love the nurse.

More Hats!

2008-11-20T16:35:00.008-05:00

Since my last post, we have 6 more hats in the gift bag, and more on the way! Laura passed along this great pattern:

http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/bevs-bumpy-hat.html

It works up very quickly, and has a great texture to it. Here's one in turquoise:

Baby Hats

2008-11-13T13:51:00.005-05:00

Thank you to everyone who has helped with this baby hat project! So far, just here in Florida, we have 26 hats to be donated to the hospital maternity ward, and we're still making more!

A couple of people I know don't crochet, but have offered to buy yarn for the project, which is greatly appreciated. If anyone else would like to donate yarn, please let me know.

Meanwhile, look at what we've got so far!

(That bag is 16x4x12 and about 2/3 full!)

Hawk

2008-11-02T23:45:00.002-05:00

I saw this bird sitting on the corner of my house the other day. Definitely looks like a hawk. I asked around, and the best answer I've gotten is from Wanda, who said it looks like a sharp shinned hawk. Sorry, no prize, other than possibly a half-eaten squirrel carcass.

In Memory of Sophie Sheppard

2008-10-21T02:01:00.008-04:00

My friend Laura and her husband Rob recently held a memorial service for their beloved daughter, Sophie. She spent only two days here on earth before going home to heaven.

Laura has decided to begin crocheting newborn and preemie hats to donate to the hospital where Sophie stayed. She said they were simply wonderful there, and she wants to help spread Sophie's love to other babies in some small way.

She asked me to join her on this project, and I have happily agreed. She found this pattern, and it looks like an easy project:

http://home.att.net/~susanBinKC/patterns.html?premcap.html

I will be donating whatever caps I make to the hospital where my daughters were born. I also agreed to pass the idea on to everyone I knew. I know that not everyone crochets, and not everyone has extra time, but feel free to forward this to anyone who you think might want to participate.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

2008-08-22T17:49:00.002-04:00

Why am I walking?

Today, there is more hope than ever for people facing breast cancer. However, there is much work to be done to find promising new treatments, increase awareness about the importance of mammograms, help all women get access to screenings and care, and connect those impacted by the disease with the information, day-to-day help, and emotional support they need to wage their battle against breast cancer.

I believe that hope for a world without breast cancer starts with me. That’s why I'm walking in the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event. Not only is this my opportunity to join my community to fight back against breast cancer, it is a way to inspire hope by raising funds and awareness to help those facing the disease and save more lives.

And you can be a part of it, too.

I have signed up to walk and hope you will join me in my effort by signing up to join my team or making a donation in support of my participation. Hope starts with us.

Click here to visit my page.

Ernie

2008-07-31T21:40:00.003-04:00

I am Ernie

Playful and childlike, I am everyone's favorite friend - even if my goofy antics get annoying at times.

I am usually feeling: Amused - I am very easily entertained

I am famous for: Always making people smile. From my silly songs to my wild pranks, I keep things fun.

How I life my life: With ease. Life is only difficult when my friends won't play with me!

What kind of person...

2008-06-01T01:51:00.002-04:00

What kind of person steals from babies? This little plastic car isn't much, but my girls love it. Correction - LOVED it. I sure hope whoever stole it has little ones who needed it.

Slave Labor

2008-05-10T23:40:00.000-04:00

My husband and daughters washed our car the other day. To the untrained eye, this picture simply looks like a man and his daughters washing a car. Look closely, however, and you'll see exactly which one of them is supervising the whole procedure and barking the orders:

The baby seems to be calling the shots, as usual.

Rhyme Time

2008-04-27T02:00:00.004-04:00

My 3-year-old is into rhyming a lot lately. When I least expect it, I'll hear, "Mommy, what rhymes with...", followed by whatever word pops into her head. I am to produce an acceptable rhyming word within a few seconds, or else she will rhyme it for me. Sometimes it's a real word, and sometimes it will just be the original word with a different beginning consonant.

For instance, here's an example:
"Mommy, what rhymes with couch?"
(pause)
"Souch!"

Tonight, we were on our way to the beach when she glanced over at the shiny green plastic pail and shovel that I bought for her yesterday.

"Mommy, what rhymes with bucket?"

Before I could answer through my chuckles, she did it for me - loudly, and with conviction.

It started with F.

Where have all the sippy cups gone?

2008-04-15T15:07:00.001-04:00

It's a good thing that my husband doesn't empty the trash when I ask him to. I never would have noticed this if it had fallen in.

Now I know why we're down to 2 sippy cups.

Babies

2008-04-01T23:51:00.008-04:00

A good friend of mine recently found out she's pregnant, and she and I have been discussing pros and cons of certain baby items. Since I still have one in diapers, I started jotting down notes about some of the things that I found most helpful over the last few years with my two little ones.

Here are some of the suggestions I came up with:

Baby Center

One of the very first things to do upon finding out about a pregnancy (or even while trying to conceive) is signing up on this web site. You will get weekly e-mails showing you the progression of the pregnancy, then after the baby is born you'll get e-mails about developmental milestones, etc. These are surprisingly informative, and I looked forward to getting each e-mail throughout both pregnancies. Even now I scour through them for tidbits! It costs nothing (always good), and it's a wealth of information on nearly any topic imagineable. There are articles from experts, posts from other parents, and forums where you can post your own questions and comments. In one site you can find suggestions, get opinions from experts and peers, and even shop for products. Of course, I always suggest comparison shopping, but this site is an excellent starting point.

One Step Ahead

This is a great place to find innovative products. Sometimes the prices are excellent, sometimes not, but you can almost always find things on this site that you can't find anywhere else.

Mommy's Helper

Another great site for unique and inventive products.

The Bapper

When you have a baby on the changing table, the last thing you want to be doing is fiddling around trying to find the powder. With this thing, it's not an issue, and it's especially helpful if you have high ceilings. If you're right-handed, you simply hang this from the ceiling just to the right of the changing table. Put wipes in the top and fill the bottom trays with diapers, powder, cream, nail clippers, and anything else you might need. It's retractable, so when you're done, you can push it up toward the ceiling and it's out of the way. When it's in use, it keeps everything readily accessible.

Fisher-Price Rainforest Peek-A-Boo Leaves Mobile

Ok, the name is a mouthful, but so is the list of reasons why every mom should have this thing. First there's the movement. It doesn't just spin around, but the leaves lift and lower while it does, and this causes the little animals to spin individually, as well. There's also a nightlight, which means that baby will have something engaging to look at even when it's dark in the room. There are four different sound buttons, three of which are sweet classical pieces (not twinkle twinkle or rock-a-bye baby), and the other is calming night sounds.

Now, anyone who has ever so much as babysat an infant for a few hours knows that coming into the room while baby's in the crib nearly guarantees that they'll cry to get out. I'd really like to shake the hand of the person who introduced the remote control on this thing. If the music stops and baby's not quite done gazing, simply click the remote (which is cleverly attached to a doorknob hook) and the mobile starts spinning again with baby none the wiser.

On top of all that, when the baby gets big enough to stand up, the mobile part comes off leaving a musical nightlight with the same remote-controlled soothing sounds. (You'll notice a theme here - I LOVE convertible stuff. Anything that grows with the baby will save money, time, and aggravation.)

Publix Baby Club

Of course, everyone doesn't live near a Publix grocery store, but many other stores have similar programs. The publix baby club sends coupons for all sorts of baby items, and you can save a bundle by planning ahead and shopping with coupons.

Dreft

Lots of people insists that you absoultely must, without exception, wash your baby's clothes and bedding in Dreft detergent. While I agree that it's best to avoid perfumes and dyes, most store brands and generics have "free and clear" versions of their laundry detergents - and they're cheaper.

Babies Throw Things

Babies love to throw things on the ground, and nothing delights a baby more than throwing something that belongs in their mouths, such as bottles and pacifiers. I found that a great way to deal with this is to visit the travel section at Target, buy a very small spray bottle with a cap or closure feature, and fill it with Listerine. When baby tosses the pacifier face-down on the ground, you'll have a mouth-friendly antiseptic handy without having to run to the (probably unwashed) public bathroom.

Also, most pacifiers have a way to attach themselves to a clip like this one that helps prevent dropping in the first place. And wrist rattles are another good preventative measure, too.

Strollers

For the last several years, stores have been pushing the "travel system" strollers - the stroller/infant seat combo sets. While the option of clipping the baby's car seat directly into the stroller sounds tempting, these tend to be bulky and difficult to maneuver. Trying to fit them into tight spaces (like store aisles) is tricky, and they are usually quite bulky when folded up. However, a 3-wheeled jogging stroller is maneuverable enough to operate one-handed, even when full of baby and gear. There's plenty of storage room on the bottom, too. It's just as lightweight as any other stroller, and it folds down smaller than a travel system. After using this thing, pushing a regular 4-wheel stroller feels like trying to drive a semi truck down a narrow alley with the wheels booted. No exaggeration. We have the Jeep model, but I'm sure most of them are basically the same - just make sure it has cup holders and a front wheel that swivels.

Car Seats

While I can't offer advice on which brand is the best, I can assure you that once you put that tiny little newborn into your car you will be woefully aware of how scary the roads really are. Statistics claim that 70% of children are not buckled in properly. I can't speak for the accuracy of that claim, but I do know that you'll want to make sure that yours is secure. In the interest of safety, there are places you can go in your neighborhood that will check your car seat installation for safety - and, most importantly, show you exactly what to do. Check out this site, type in your zip code, and it shows you where to go. A must-do.

Strangers

For some unknown reason, many people feel that they are entitled to rub the belly of a pregnant woman without her permission. As annoying as this breach of personal space can be, it's nothing compared to the sight of a stranger helping themselves to touching your child with their potentially germ-ridden hands. I'm not a germophobe for the most part. I believe some exposure to germs is imperative to building an immune system. But when it comes to newborns having contact with people whose hands may or may not have been washed since they last used the bathroom, I take a "better safe than sorry" approach and ALWAYS carry Purell (or its generic equivalent) with me when I have a small baby. Just in case.

Convertibles

No, not the cars. I mean grow-with-baby items. Like I mentioned earlier, when you have the option to do so, give serious consideration to convertible gear. For instance, instead of buying a regular crib, buy one that converts into a toddler bed (and maybe even into a headboard for a big-kid bed). Even if it doesn't seem like a huge amount of money saved, you'll save time and aggravation shopping for new beds in the future, especially when you figure out that you want to match a new bed to existing furniture. There's also the factor of your child's comfort. If you, like me, end up with an extremely routine-oriented child, minimizing the amount of change in their life will make your job much easier. It's a lot easier to get them used to a new setup than a whole new bed.

Bottles

There are several reasons I chose to use the Playtex drop-ins bottles. First, the style of the nipple makes it much easier for the baby to switch back & forth from breast feeding to bottles. Plus, the disposable liners make cleaning the bottles much easier and more effective. You can choose between latex or silicone nipples, and there are different options for shape and flow control. It's all interchangeable, so if you find that one style doesn't work, you can cheaply replace them with another option without having to buy new bottles.

Walkers

This "Mini Maestro" walker is excellent. It's sturdy, adjustable, and plays classical pieces instead of "Wheels On The Bus" or something equally nerve-wracking. The lights and sounds keep the baby interested, and the steering wheel portion is removable so baby can play with it elsewhere if you like. AND, it's another convertible item. When the child is too big for a walker, the seat comes out, the handle flips over, and it becomes a push toy - with lights and sounds. An excellent buy!

Diaper Disposal

Despite what the Diaper Genie people might insist, there is no such thing as a diaper pail that completely contains odors. I've used about 4 different brands, and the best one I found was the Safety 1st Simple Step. It has a foot pedal, which is great when you have one hand holding the baby and one holding a diaper. It doesn't require special bags, so you use a basic 13-gallon kitchen bag (much cheaper than special-order refills). There is also a compartment in the lid that allows you to insert a deodorizing disc if you like. I haven't actually used the discs, but I find if you empty the unit regularly and spray it with Lysol before putting in a new bag, it stays nice and clean.

Bath Seats

Ok, I'll start with the obligatory disclaimer: Never, never, NEVER leave your child unattended in the bathroom. That said, every mother needs an extra arm or two when trying to bathe a baby. Once the baby outgrows an infant tub, this seat clips securely on the side of the tub and gives your hands the freedom to grab the shampoo without dropping the baby. The only thing I don't like about this seat is that it holds water if you don't remove it after each use, but I remove mine & set it on its side so it drains nicely.

Q-Tips

These safety swabs are specially designed so that wiggly babies don't accidentally turn and cause damage to their ears while you're cleaning them.

Garage Sales

While there are some things that shouldn't be purchased second hand (like car seats, bike helmets, etc.), you might be surprised how many things you can pick up at garage sales for a fraction of what you might spend in stores. Babies who are showered with gifts often don't even get to use some of their stuff before they outgrow it. Somewhere in your area there is a woman who is desperate to get rid of some baby stuff that is taking up precious storage space in her house. Help a mommy out!

Baby Showers

I don't know many (if any) people who can resist buying tiny little newborn outfits. The problem is, babies grow. I know several people who emerged from their baby showers with enough newborn outfits to clothe the baby for 6 months - but the baby's only in the newborn size for a few weeks. To those of you planning showers: don't just send out invitations and set up some baby games. Take the extra time to talk with each attendee and ask them to buy a particular size of clothes (and keep organized notes in case there is any confusion). Also ask each attendee to bring one package of diapers (different sizes, of course). The mommy will be appreciating that baby shower for the whole first year.

Feet

2008-03-31T15:22:00.003-04:00

Yesterday evening, my 3-year-old daughter decided that she absolutely must use the potty - now. So I sent her in there, then headed to the kitchen to work on getting dinner ready. A few minutes later I heard her crying and saying something about her foot hurting.

I called to her and asked what was wrong. She said, "I think I stepped on something in the living room."

I asked my husband to check on her. He came out a second later muttering something relatively dismissive, such as "There's nothing wrong with your foot."

I should have known not to ask him to walk away from the television!

A minute or so later she began to cry again, so I decided to handle it myself. I walked in, sat on the edge of the tub, and asked her what was wrong.

Her: "My foot hurts!"

Me: "Where does it hurt?"

Her: "On the bottom." (pointing to the top)

Me: "That's the top. Does it hurt here (pointing to top) or here (pointing to bottom)?"

Her: "Both." (still whimpering)

Me: (inspecting both feet and seeing no sign of injury) "What does it feel like?"

Her: (pausing, furrowing her brow, and putting on her best pensive face) "Mommy, it feels like sparkles."

I spent the next few minutes trying not to laugh too much while I explained that her feet had gone to sleep and fielding questions about how that could happen when feet don't have eyes to close.

Plans

2008-03-17T13:45:00.005-04:00

Remember my post from Jan. 17 about not making plans? Apparently, I never learn. I started out my day with a few errands to run, and by 1:00pm I was sitting in my dining room bandaged and bruised. One would think running errands would be less treacherous.

First thing in the morning, I dressed and fed the girls, packed them into the car, and headed to the office for a quick task. We left about an hour later, and I called my friend to see if she would go with me to pay a couple of bills. If she could stay in the car with the kids for me, I could get done much more quickly. She agreed, and I picked her up.

We headed to the tax office, and all went smoothly. Then I stopped at the county utilities office to pay the water bill. After waiting a few minutes, I noticed they had a payment drop box, so I dropped in my payment and headed out the door, chuckling to myself that I had wasted time waiting when I could have been done & halfway home. As I was nearing my car, my left foot hit a crack in the sidewalk. Before I knew it, my knees hit the concrete, then my hands, then my chin, followed by an olympic-style somersault of sorts and a sideways dismount from the sidewalk into the space between my car and the one next to it.

Unfortunately, no applause.

Apparently, my abrupt disappearance from view coincided perfectly with my friend's turning to buckle her seat belt. When she turned back toward the front of the car, she marveled at how quickly I had vanished (thinking I had forgotten something and had gone back inside).

I landed with my feet in the air, right about level with the top of the hood. Since she was looking the opposite direction for me, she didn't notice my heels pointing at the sun. Finally, after I had convinced my aching knees that it was in their best interest to help me off the ground, I managed to pull myself up to a near-standing position. I looked through the windshield and saw my friend's face - completely stunned.

Now, there are no words that can accurately describe the look of disbelief that crawled across her face in slow-motion, but there is one phrase that comes as close as I can think of:

She looked at me like I had lobsters crawling out of my ears.

I've heard this phrase hundreds of times. I've even used it several times myself. But this was the absolute best demonstration of the concept that I have ever seen. Mouth open (slowly), brow furrowed (slowly), eyes glazed, hand reaching for the door handle...

I opened the car door and sat down to rest for a minute (and to continue the discussion with my knees). As the door opened, she asked me, "Did you fall?" (mouth still agape).

"Um, yeah."

She mentioned I should go tell them about the crack before someone broke a hip. Since negotiations with my knees were obviously at an impasse, I decided to drag them inside with me against their will.

How funny it must have been to the inhabitants of the office to see me walk in there with bloodied knees, scraped chin and hands, and hair and clothes covered with dirt and pebbles! They sent someone out with me to look at the sidewalk, and they retrieved a first aid kit to try to bandage my knees. With no sufficient bandages inside, they decided it was better to call 911 and let the paramedics fix my boo-boo.

A few awkward minutes later, the ambulance arrived, lights and sirens blazing, with a fire truck in tow. The paramedics emerged from the ambulance with a stretcher and bags of equipment. By now the humor had set in, and I was chuckling at the fanfare. One paramedic even joked that they might need to call a helicopter. They came in, took my information, cleaned my knees, bandaged them, and sent me on my merry way.

Of course, I called my husband to let him know how exciting my day was - much more exciting than his.

So here I am, battered and bruised, just from running errands. Tomorrow I get to find out whether my back and neck took any beating. I can hardly wait.

But, hey, what else was I going to do today?

Addiction

2008-03-13T14:18:00.008-04:00

I am fully aware that I have an addictive personality. Thankfully, I have managed to guide it toward (mostly) constructive and/or fun things instead of bad habits and substances. The only down side to this is that I rarely overcome any of these addictions, causing me to collect them en masse. Now I'm addicted to tons of stuff, and I'm running out of hours in the day.

I am currently battling addiction to the following:

Destination Truth - Anyone who has spoken to me recently knows that I am madly in love with this show. And with the host. I'll not elaborate, but my husband has told me he's glad I've finally found someone.
Google Earth - If I can't travel the world, at least I can pretend! This thing is amazing. If you haven't checked it out, it is a DEFINITE must-see. And with no jet lag.
Ghost Hunters - my fascination for the paranormal finally has a suitable outlet.
Blogger - Obviously, this goes without saying.
Google Reader - Goes right along with the blogger thing! (Thanks a lot, Laura!)
Jewelry and Sewing - In between chasing kids and all this geeky stuff, I'm generally either sitting at the sewing machine finding a way to make something out of something else, or I'm hovering over a work table finding new ways to decorate people.
Diet Dr. Pepper - This one has been following me for years. I just can't seem to shake it.

There are others that I've managed to beat, but I'm afraid to share them lest my pantry be suddenly and inexplicably filled with Keebler grasshopper cookies or wheat thins and salsa.

...oh, no...

Souther?

2008-03-10T19:53:00.004-04:00

My husband and I took the kids with us to the bookstore this evening. Behind the bookstore is a small retention pond next to which hundreds of huge white birds usually perch in the trees. It's really quite beautiful. This time, though, there were only a few dozen.

Me: "Wow, there aren't nearly as many birds as there usually are over there."
Him: "Maybe they flew south."
Me: "Honey, this IS south."
Him: "Maybe they flew souther."
Me: (assuming he couldn't possibly be serious) "Please tell me you're joking..."
Him: "What? It's a word."
Me: (long pause while pondering whether or not he was trying to make me crazy) "There is no such word as 'souther'."
Him: "Yes, there is."
Me: (beginning to realize he was serious) "You're actually physically hurting my head."
Him: "What??"
Me: "OUCH!"
Him: "Well, what am I supposed to say?"
Me: "Farther south, maybe?"
Him: "I'm using the adjective."
Me: "OUCH!!!!"

It just gets worse from there...

How Parenthood Has (and has not) Changed Me

2008-03-10T14:31:00.008-04:00

I had my first child a week before my 30th birthday. I'm also about the second youngest of all of my acquaintances. That means nearly everywhere I went (for about 10 years or so) I was the only one without kids.

I dealt with a lot of weird things during that time. Some people lashed out at me at work because I was able to work crazy hours that they couldn't work. Many quizzed me on my procreational plans. Some were condescending enough to repeatedly say things like, "You'll understand when you have kids." One co-worker even gave me a card for Mother's Day once that said, "Happy Puppy Mommy Day," and told me, "I know you don't have any real kids, but since you have a dog..."

It's true. I swear.

So, now, here I am nearing age 33, and suddenly I have two little ones 19 months apart. Yes, some things have changed for me:

I have almost completely stopped apologizing for the state of my house. Cleaning is WAY less important than building towers out of wooden blocks.
Showering is a luxury, and the only time each day that no one is tugging at my leg about anything (husband included).
Singing in said shower has changed from Luther Vandross to Sesame Street songs.
Shaving with anything other than an electric razor is reserved for special occasions.
Weight loss is more about health than vanity.
Protecting the house with a moat and a fire-breathing dragon sounds less crazy each day. I have perfected the art of worrying.
There are now two people who think I am one of the coolest (and funniest) people on Earth. For now, at least.
People who used to walk past me at family reunions without a second glance will now stop and ask me my opinion on child rearing techniques.
Sometimes I'll be loading the dishwasher and suddenly wake up and realize it was a dream. I never used to dream about chores before.
I talk to my mom a whole lot more than I used to.

But there are plenty of things that haven't changed:

I still find it unspeakably rude to take jabs at people for not being married or having kids when you think they should. I am very proud of myself for bypassing a few opportunities to smugly say to certain people, "You'd understand if you had more than one kid."
I still believe that a parent's time is more important to a family than money.
I still think it's ridiculous to spend as much on Christmas or Birthdays as you do on your house or car payment.
I still don't understand phrases like, "My kids won't let me...".
I still think a little child's belly laugh is the sweetest sound on the planet.

Silly Stuff

2008-03-06T23:01:00.006-05:00

Every week we have a local ad magazine delivered to our house which my husband diligently scours in search of... well, actually, I have no idea what he's hoping to find.

Anyway, reading the weekly classifieds is generally uneventful, so imagine my surprise when he emerged from the "library" carrying said booklet, wearing his best ear-to-ear grin, and giggling like a 12-year-old boy in health class.

He proudly proclaimed, "Look at the one I circled!"

I, half expecting to see a set of "truck nuts" for sale or some other such nonsense, had no better response than to stare blankly at the page.

Here's why:

I was kind enough to blot out their phone number.

Along the same lines, here are a couple of snapshots that I took myself.

On my way to a friend's house for breakfast one morning:

It was apparently quite hot for November.

And if anyone knows how to contact Alanis, feel free to let her know that THIS is the definition of irony:

That one is bad enough that I can't just boycott the company, I have to find out who their sign company is, as well.

Busy Day

2008-01-17T20:49:00.003-05:00

Every time I think I have my day all planned out, God reminds me that many of these things are not under my control.

Here was my planned itinerary:
- go to the bank
- buy bread & milk, then drop them off at home for the kids
- go to craft store to pick up matting for a picture
- dental appointment
- back home to put the kids down for their naps
- get the kids up, dressed, and ready to leave
- attend my niece's basketball game

It was a nice plan. Instead, here's how it went:

- up, showered
- dressed, checked e-mail
- noticed hives all over my 14-month-old's face, neck, shoulders, and arms, called doctor to make 3:15pm appointment
- left the kids with my mother-in-law while I ran errands
- arrived at store, bought bread & milk
- arrived at bank, made deposit
- drove home to drop off bread & milk, checked on the baby
- arrived at craft store, discovered matting wasn't in, headed for dentist's office
- called mother-in-law to check on baby, hives were getting worse, turned around to go home
- called pediatrician, moved appointment up to immediately
- drove home, picked up kids & mother-in-law
- called dentist's office to reschedule appointment
- took baby to doctor's office
- dropped them all off at home
- drove to drug store to pick up antihistamine
- came home, gave baby dose of medicine
- went to bridal shop with sister-in-law to look at veil & other wedding accessories
- came home, visited with sister-in-law, mother-in-law left
- got call from best friend, her nephew died
- mother-in-law arrived with her brother
- took uncle and 2-year-old to niece's basketball game (we won - yay)
- came home, gave baby another dose
- fed 2-year-old late dinner
- got 2-year-old ready for bed

I have GOT to stop making plans.

Christmas Cookies

2007-12-23T21:32:00.000-05:00

There is something in Christmas cookies that holds the universe together.

I came to this conclusion yesterday when I received a package from my family. Inside the box were dozens of gifts, but most importantly, a tin of my grandma's homemade chocolate coconut drops. She sends me some every year. One bite of that first cookie meant Christmas was really here.

I spend weeks before Christmas comes looking forward to all sorts of things: the tree, the lights, the looks on my daughters' faces when they see their presents, the movies, the music... everything just culminates in a grand event that is greater than the sum of its parts. But the one thing that really ties it all together is the melt-in-your-mouth experience of "Grandma Cookies".

Americans

2007-12-03T20:30:00.001-05:00

Theodore Roosevelt said it best (wow, was HE 100 years ahead of his time!):

"There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, I do not refer to naturalized Americans. Some of the very best Americans I have ever known were naturalized Americans, Americans born abroad. But a hyphenated American is not an American at all.

"This is just as true of the man who puts "native" before the hyphen as of the man who puts German or Irish or English or French before the hyphen..."

Even in this day & age we are asked to fill in our ethnic/racial heritage on nearly every form we fill out. I say, if you want racial equality, the best way to go about that is to remove race from the equation.

Look at the term "native-american". What does this term mean? Look up "native" in your nearest dictionary, provided you are one of the few people left who actually owns one. If not, here you go:

Simply put, the word "native" is from the Latin "nativus", meaning inborn or natural. That means if you were born in the United States, you are BY DEFINITION a native-american.
The only TRUE "african-american" is someone who has physically uprooted themselves from their NATIVE Africa (again, the place where they were born) and LEGALLY become an american citizen. Incidentally, when said person accepts US citizenship, the proper thing to do at that point would be to pledge allegiance to the country in which they have chosen to live. That would make them, simply, an AMERICAN.

I have ancestors from all over the world, but I don't check "other" on the forms, and I don't write in "french-irish-german-english-(etc., etc., etc.)-american. I check "native american" because I was born in this country, and I have a plan:

If we all REFUSE to be classified by race or ethnic heritage, then maybe we can eventually put this ridiculousness to rest once & for all. Maybe we can bring Dr. King's dream to fruition. Does anyone actually remember what he said??

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

That meant he wanted his children to live in a country where race wasn't a factor (negatively OR positively), not one where their race entitled them to break the law whenever they wanted and scream racism if they were punished accordingly. That wasn't what he was about.

So those of you out there who have the audacity to throw the good Dr. King's name out there whenever it suits your purpose, please take the time to first do your research and be sure that your opinion is properly aligned with his.

Meanwhile, those of you who agree with me, think about this: From this point forward, when you are asked to fill out your race, check "native-american" and leave it at that. If anyone questions it, explain to them the definition of the word native. And spread the word to everyone you know - send out e-mails, post blogs like this one, do whatever you think will get the word out there, and get others to do it, too. If we do this together, someone somewhere just might have no choice but to take notice.

I know it seems idealistic, but this country was founded on idealism to a certain degree. Let's stop dividing ourselves against each other. Let's remember that the phrase isn't "United we stand", the phrase is, "United we stand, divided we fall."

Ghosts

2007-11-27T23:48:00.002-05:00

Almost everyone has at least a small interest in the paranormal, whether they believe in ghosts/spirits or not. I have always found the topic fascinating, and a few personal experiences have, combined with the claims of others, caused me to be fairly sure that "haunting" is definitely possible. Probable, even.

I believe skepticism is an important part of the process. If you don't question the existence of spirits, then you're just not thinking. It's easy for some to look at the human body as purely physical, which would mean that natural death is the end of your existence. It's also easy for others to blindly believe in ghosts because it's fun and interesting, or because they ignore simple physical explanations for sounds, sights, and dreams. Either extreme is, in my opinion, a bit closed-minded.

Scientifically speaking, matter cannot be created, nor can it be destroyed. Therefore, natural death is simply a series of events through which our body matter changes form. Our minds and bodies are controlled by electrical impulses (energy), and it stands to reason that our energy could remain in movement after our natural death.

From a Christian standpoint, we believe that our bodies are vessels in which our souls reside on earth. We believe in an afterlife, which means we believe in spirits. The debate that comes into play is whether or not those spirits can walk among us - sometimes even interact with us.

In my opinion, the idea that causes many Christians to disavow any belief in ghosts is that heaven is a physical place. Because we live in a spatial world, our minds think along those lines, and we assume that we physically raise up and go to a kingdom in the sky. It is more likely, however, that heaven is a state of being - or another dimension.

In researching the concept of ghosts in the bible, I found a particularly interesting passage in 1 Samuel 28 that I had either overlooked previously or forgotten. In the chapter, Saul consulted a medium to communicate with Samuel's ghost, and it worked. This is not just scriptural proof of ghosts, but of interaction with them. There are several other verses, but this is one that stood out in my mind.

The reason for my rejuvenated interest in this concept is quite simple. My grandfather passed away this September, and some interesting things have happened since then that have caused me to do even more research.

A few days after he passed away, I stood alone at the foot of his grave. I spoke out loud to him, thanking him for the lessons he taught us all, telling him I hoped he had a good life, things like that. Near the end of my monologue, I said, "I really hope you can hear me." At that very moment, one monarch butterfly flew in from my left, circled around in front of me a few times, then flew off into the trees nearby. Something about this just stuck in my mind. It's not that I think HE is a butterfly, but possibly that he was showing me one to get my attention.

From that point forward, I noticed that at certain interesting times I would see a monarch butterfly. One showed up at a garage sale that my husband and I had (Grandpa LOVED garage sales), while we were discussing my grandparents, no less. One followed my mother-in-law and my daughters as they walked through the neighborhood about a week or two after that. Those are just a few examples, but that alone was not enough to make me sure that it had to do with him. It could, after all, be a wild coincidence.

But this last Saturday night, I was lying in bed trying in vain to sleep, and I found myself praying. Afterward, I found myself talking to Grandpa again, as if he were standing right there. I asked him to give me some kind of sign that he could hear me... to let me know that he is still with us, and that he checks in on Grandma.

Nothing.

So I went to sleep.

The next morning, when I went into my room for something, I noticed something small laying on the floor next to my bed. It was one puzzle piece. My grandpa would always sneak one piece out of the puzzle while we all toiled away at it. That way, when we were done, he would have the honor of placing the final piece. I have had a completed puzzle underneath my bed for at least 4 years now, but neither that puzzle nor anything else has come out from under there in close to a year. I cannot put any "logical" explanation on that puzzle piece other than something paranormal.

Paranormal activity is a documented fact. The word itself means "not understandable in terms of known scientific laws and phenomena". Therefore, anything that is currently not adherent to known science is considered "paranormal".

Personally, I've seen enough evidence. I believe in ghosts.