Thursday, March 29, 2007

Can't talk right now....

I was driving by a funeral home this morning like I do every day on my way to work. I saw a bunch of police cars and at least 6 police motorcyles lined up for a funeral. I always think about the poor family and all that but today I realized it was the little boy, Matty, who lost his fight with cancer at 7 yrs. I cried all the way to work. I don't do this too often so once I start, I can't stop.

Well, I got to work and thought I'd be ok but then my dh called. I saw a house fire on my way to my son's school. It was out but I know it was completely burned. The roof collapsed. My son was worried it was his friend who lived there. So my dh must have heard a news report. A 21 yr. old girl is missing and assumed dead. Her brother got out but they won't give his condition. I'm so sick over these young deaths. I just keep getting choked up so I can't talk. I dont' know what it is about crying (maybe that's why I don't do it very often) but I cannot talk, My voice doesn't work. I need to get back to work so that my mind can be off this for a bit.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Something that makes me smile....


Another photo challenge by Kathy M at SBA....

Got this for completing some training at work. It's a highlighter. Cute, huh?

Another boring post here.....

Since I really don't have much to post, I'll talk about my favorite color like Kathy M suggested.

I love, love, love greens in decorating and scrapping. It's mostly lime, celery and olive type greens. Why are colors usually described with foods?! I would only wear celery or lime, not olive.

I also love seafoam or teal (not sure what you call it), that light color that Stampin' Up calls Cool Caribbean. Ah, that's heaven to me. I wear this color and scrap with it but wouldn't use it in decorating (what am I thinking?! I totally forgot my porch is in this color and it's very soothing to me.)

Another color I love in decorating but would NEVER wear and hardly ever scrap with is a pale yellow.

And a color I would never wear, never decorate with and hardly ever scrap with is orange. I love when others use it...I just don't like to use it. I've made a few cards with it and loved them but it's just not my color.

Isn't it funny how we love colors for one thing but not another?

p.s. Nervous for my ds' root canal this afternoon.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Getting there....

Ok, I moved a ton of stuff upstairs and started to organize. I can't completely move until we get a bookshelf or two with cabinets below. I still need to bring more up. I have to figure out what to bring to stamp camp this weekend!

This is a busy week. Tomorrow I have to leave work early (yeah!) to take my son for his root canal. Thurs. night I have a hair appt. Fri. I'm off work but have to wait for the carpet installer, go to the podiatrist, food shopping, Lia Sophia party. Somewhere in there I have to pack. Maybe I'll try tonight for a bit.

I forgot to say that I normally have a salad every day for lunch. I vary it by putting turkey or roast beef or hard boiled egg or feta or avacado. You get the picture.

Anyway, today I didn't have time to make my salad because I took my son to school (not a quick ride), got in the driveway and he called my cell. He forgot his phone and asked if I could bring it. Ugh....I searched and searched his room and couldn't find it. Then I called it and kept hearing it under the covers. I patted the pillow case, the sheets, looked under the bed. I finally found it after 5 tries. It was between his bed and desk. Grrrrrrrrrr....

So I had a South Beach pasta meal today and I'm hungry already!!

Monday, March 26, 2007

Monday, Monday....

Well, my day started off ok until I got in the car. I got a phone call from someone I used to work with who is now in another dept. She told me that the little boy (7 yrs.) of someone who works with us passed away last night. I'm so sad about that.

Then I got here and all hell broke loose. Rooms were changed for a class and open house, the signs we made and threw away on Fri. had to be remade, etc. I hope it gets better. I'm here by myself today in the office. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

So this weekend I was supposed to participate in a cyber crop at SBA. Fri. night after I got settled around 9:00, I got a one page lo done. I was so tired, I decided to quit.

Sat. I was busy from the moment I got up, until I went to bed at midnight. I went grocery shopping, did my ds' taxes online, went to a great class, changed, went out to dinner with friends and zonked around midnight.

The class was great! Dani from Rubber Soul was so shy and very embarrassed when she was introduced as guest artist! We made 8 cards instead of the 4 that were advertised. She gave us a free set of Wordsworth stamps!! It was a great class.

Sunday I woke up, read the paper, brought all of my dining room boxes downstairs (ok, I won't bore you to death). By the end of the day, my dining room was put back together and we finally have a solution for the scrap/den room. We had to move the area rug to our family room and buy a smaller one so the furniture would work.

I did not stop until around 10:00 p.m. At that point, I decided not to play. My stuff is still in the basement but now I'm ready to move back upstairs. Whew!

Friday, March 23, 2007

Feast One Hundred & Thirty Six

Appetizer
Who is your favorite news anchor/reporter? Why? I don't really have a favorite. I don't watch a lot of t.v.

Soup
Name 3 foods that are currently in your freezer. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts; Slim-a-Bear sugarfree bars; everything bagels.

Salad
If you were to have the opportunity to name a new town or city, what would you call it? How about Serendipity which is my 2007 word? I like the sound of that.

Main Course
What will most likely be the next book you read? Not sure. I'm trying to read "The Monk Downstairs" but it hasn't happened yet.

Dessert
What's the first thing you notice about the opposite gender? Smile/teeth

my 3 Questions For Thursday...

Got this from Queen of Cute Shoes blog again! I know it's Friday but I thought I'd answer anyway!


1. What time do you usually get out of bed? Week days I'm always up at 5:55 a.m., weekends I'm usually up by 7 or 8:00, depending on when I went to bed.

2. What are 3 short term (in the next week or so) that you'd like to accomplish? I'd love to put my 1) dining room and 2)scrap room back together.

I'd also love to get organized for my Stamp Camp for next weekend!

3. If you had to buy 3 grocery items right now, what would they be and why?

Fat free half & half (I'm running low and can't live without)
Splenda (ditto)
Edy's Samoas ice cream (my 17 yo. loves this and can't live without!).

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Something that makes me happy....


Post-it Flags -- I love these things and don't know how I'd live without them. I put them in my magazines. I panic when I get low and buy another set for a back up!

What do you use as a marker for your magazines?

p.s. I keep forgetting to post - got my replacement drawer for the fridge (only $85 later).

Photo challenge #?


I've been putting this one off. I hate my hands!

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

a few more photos from challenge



my real transportation

my reading material at the moment

7 songs..... and tag 7 people....

Saw this on Stacy's blog, Exceedingly Mundane (NOT)! Thanks, Stacy!

List 7 songs that you are currently really really into, no matter what they are, and then tag 7 more people to do it.


I'm not tagging but here are some of my all time favs and new ones:
1. See the World by Gomez
2. Waiting for the World to Change by John Mayer
3. Better Together by Jack Johnson
4. Pete Yorn's new song (another I forget the name of)
5. Good is Good by Sheryl Crow
6. Other side of the World by KT Tunstall
7. Breathe by Anna Nalick

Old favorites
1. Respect by Aretha Franklin
2. Samba Pa Ti, a Santana instrumental (saw them once)
3. Change the World by Eric Clapton (saw him once - best concert ever!)
4. Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Iz K.
5. Wonderful World by Louie Armstrong
6. Mustang Sally by Mitch Rider (saw him in concert once)
7. Chain by Fleetwood Mac


I could go on and on. I could list 7 dance songs and 7 sad songs. What can I say? I love my music!! Let me know if you're doing it so I can check it out!

Edited to add: I've been thinking about this and came up with several that I just have to list!

Iris by Goo Goo Dolls
Push by Matchbox 20
Smooth by Santana
Sophisticated Lady by Lenny Kravitz
Best of What's Around by Dave Matthews (all time fav)

Whew! I feel a little better!

a few photos from Kathy M's challenge....





Mode of transportation (sometimes - and a rotten photo of me!!), something green, something I display, . More later!

Friday, March 16, 2007

Feast One Hundred & Thirty Five

Appetizer
Name two things that made you smile this week.

I finished two lo's that have been sitting a while. My son looked so young and I also laughed at his skinny elbow which was broken.

My oldest called me at work and mimicked my greeting. I said "Graduate School of Education" and he said, "Graduate School of Evan here".

Soup
Fill in the blank: Don't you hate it when? They call for a huge storm and you're counting on having the day off and you wake up to bare ground?!! I'm seriously hoping the storm moves in and they let us go early! It's spring break and it's dead around here.

Salad
When you can't go to sleep, what is your personal remedy to help yourself drift into Lullabyland?

I sometimes try to picture myself relaxing on a beach or hammock somewhere. Sometimes I plan out layouts or cards and other times I try to blank my mind out totally.


Main Course
What is something about which you've always wondered but have not yet found a good answer?

Why are smart people so stupid?!! (a lot of doc. students, Ph.D.'s, etc. have NO common sense).

Dessert
What is your favorite pasta dish? Pasta Rustica from Macaroni Grill or Pasta Rosa from my favorite local Italian restaurant.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

3 Questions For Thursday

Got this from The Queen of Cute Shoes....


1. What are three things that you have to do, but really don't want to do?

I have to relocate my scrap/stamp stuff back into my room. I also have to bring everything down for my china cabinets and rearrange them. I have to balance my checking (2 statements).

2. I get very bored with things when they are the same way for too long so I have to move them around. How often do you rearrange things (furniture, blog, desk or other places?

I don't do this very often. It takes me forever to decide where to put things so I just leave them when I finally like it the way they are!

3. Would you ever shave your head bald?? What if you were paid for it?!? Would you do it then?
NO, never. I'd be way too exposed!!!

Last night...

I didn't get a thing done. I went down to the basement (my temporary sb location) and my ds' band was practicing. It was a little loud but not too bad. I searched though my stash of cards to see if I could come up with a bday for my aunt, get well for a fellow SBA'er who is having surgery, my cousin's bday, my dh's aunt's bday, the list goes on. I have a lot of March/April birthdays. So I came up with one for each and thought I'd scrap G's "Secret Residents" (mice) page but didn't want the guys to think I was listening to them (there was a little cursing going on and they had no idea I was outside the room). So I went upstairs to see if I could get some ideas for Stamp Camp and fell asleep browsing through the SU catalog. What is wrong with me?! It was around 8:30!!! The guys came up after practice and caught me dozing. Maybe the time change is affecting me more than I thought?! 8-)

Here's the lo I did two nights ago. It's when G broke his arm before Christmas. It's not anything great or artsy but it's done. I am tired of stressing over how it looks!! Just simple and easy from now on.

p.s. I need to find my Un-Du to get that adhesive off his hospital bracelet!! It's boxed up somewhere.

My calendar...


This is about the best I can do for now. I'm at work and took a photo of my desktop Palm with my Palm for Kathy M's challenge.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Tuesday's Meme on Wednesday!

Got this from Queen of Cute Shoes blog (love that name!!):

1) Five Minutes to Yourself. How would you spend them, ideally?
I would love to spend that 5 minutes stamping.

2) Five dollars to spend right now. How would you spend it?
Hmmm....let me see.....maybe I'd buy something stamping or scrap related! Can you believe it?!! hehe

3) Five Items In Your House You Could Part With Right Now?
Television - We have so many old ones. I need a NEW one or two.
Crappy Artwork (I just put a ton in the dumpster we had during floor work)
The Carpet - Just got rid of this too!
My dining room table. I'd love a new one.
My old dryer - got a new washer a year ago and it's big. My little old dryer
can't keep up~!!

4) Five Items In My House You Could Absolutely Never Part With?
My Scrapbook armoire
My huge stash of stamping/scrapping stuff
My scrapbooks & favorite photos
My artwork from Hawaii and Aruba, and also my mil's art
My big comfy chair

5) Five Words You Love?
Fantastic
Delish
Sleep
Dinner
Werd (my son uses this as hey or cool or just about anything)

Very productive night!

Because my mom is away, things are a little more relaxed for me. My dh and I heated up leftover pizza (NOT SB, but I was lazy).

Then I made a male get well card for our friend who is about to have knee surgery, finished a layout that's been sitting for a while. It's titled, "All Wrapped Up for Christmas" thanks to one of my fellow SBA'ers! He broke his arm right before Christmas.

Anyway, then I got another lo together but decided to quit at 10:00. I went upstairs and finished my book! I was reading, "The Man of My Dreams" by Curtis Sittenfeld. It was funny but I didn't like the ending. I was reading along thinking what a great job this guy did writing about women's feelings and then discovered it was a woman named Curtis!!

I also took a few photos to catch up with Kathy M's photo challenge. Here's the front of my house. Notice the snow still on the ground? I think I'm one of the last houses in the neighborhood with snow!

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Spring has sprung!!

It is gorgeous outside! It's a little cloudy right now but temps are really nice (40's). It's supposed to get up to the 60's today.

I finally took a picture of the microwave I waited a month and a half for and have yet to use it!!! I think I'm a little bitter, wouldn't you say?! hehe

Monday, March 12, 2007

My sweet treat....


Here's the challenge that Kathy M gave....a sweet treat. This is all I can have this week. I'm clamping my jaws shut if I can't stick with the diet this week. I love Granny Smiths so it does make me feel like I'm having a nice dessert. Unfortunately I dropped it on the way out of the house so it has this nice bruise.

Oh, the old muscles ache!!

First I want to say that my microwave was installed last Thurs. I haven't even had the chance to open the door. My mom said it's working great!

We went to Maine for the weekend snowmobiling. My poor underexercised muscles ache! I was trying to keep up with the guys. I'm the only woman in our group who still wants to go. These guys fly! I was going as fast as I felt comfortable so they didn't have to wait too long. My dh was staying behind with me.

The trails were horrible near our friend's house. It was muddy and bare in spots but at least they fixed the bridge over the creek! Then it was really bumpy so you end up standing up so your back doesn't take the brunt of it. My arms, legs shoulders, back, etc. are sore. We did eventually get to some really nice trails but then had to drive back through the bumps and mud!! We went about 65 miles on Sat. I think we're done for the year. I'm hoping our friend emails some photos this week. My hubby only took one or two. There were some nice mountain views at one point. Sometimes we were just flying past some pretty views.

I have to tell you though, I was trying to calm my nerves so I was thinking about scrapping the trip and coming up with a list of favorites about snowmobiling and things I hate (like itchy helmet head, speeding up muddy hills). I guess I'm really a scrapbooking geek at heart! If I wasn't planning the layout in my head, I was singing the song by Gomez, See the World. It's the only way to relax when you're zooming through the woods at 30-40 mph!!

Friday, March 09, 2007

Feast One Hundred and Thirty Four

Appetizer
What is your usual bedtime? Do you like that, or would you rather it be different? Lately I've been going to bed around 10:30-11. I used to stay up to watch the 11 news but I tend to doze off so I've given up on that. Now I watch the 10:00 news and doze! I guess I'm happy with that.

Soup
When it comes to advice, do you give more or receive more? I definitely give more but only if it's asked for by others. The only exception is my 17 yo. son. I give, give, give, and wonder if he listens to any of it! LOL

Salad
Describe a memorable meal you've had. Well, this morning I had the best ever chocolate cookies for breakfast?!!! But seriously, my favorite meal is a nice juicy filet mignon with garlic mashed potatoes and green beans. Or Smokey Bones ribs & pulled pork with the same sides. I'm pretty easy!

Ok, I remember a really memorable meal now. My hubby and I were in Aruba for our anniversary and had dinner on the beach. It was gorgeous sitting there watching the sunset and the tropical drinks were flowing. The food was really good (I think?) but it wasn't all about the food. We did have a lot of good meals in Aruba though. They have that delicious Venezuelan beef!!!

Main Course
Name a work of fiction that affected the way you think about something. Can't come up with anything great here - how about "Running With Scissors", Augusten Burroughs. It made me realize that not all psychiatrists are sane!!

Dessert
What is your favorite type of fruit juice? I don't drink juice since it's not really on the South Beach diet (and you KNOW I follow that by the breakfast comment above!!). I guess it would be orange juice.

Thursday, March 08, 2007

My keys....


Since Kathy M asked, here's a photo of my key ring. My friend recently made this for me.

Nerve wracking day yesterday...

My credit card number was stolen. Two orders placed - one for $650 something at Overstock.com and another for $120 something at ancestry.com. They said they'd take care of it once the charges went through.

So we got a package in the mail addressed to someone not at my house. Called the company on the label and verified it was Overstock.com. They said it was a notebook computer.

So we started getting very suspicious thinking that someone we knew placed the order and were going to pick it up from my steps (they paid for overnight delivery). So I felt sick to my stomach all day. Called and found out the orderer was from Turkey. So I feel so much better. My card was canceled and the charges will come off.

We've been straight out trying to toss things in the house in the dumpster we had from the flooring mess. Tonight we are going to pick our carpet out for the hallway and bedroom. Tomorrow night I'll have to food shop and pack for ME. We are snowmobiling again this weekend. I need a rest!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Scrapping lately? NOT....


Here's my latest lo. It's just sitting there waiting to be scrapped! Other things have gotten in the way (dusting, rearranging furniture, etc.). Oh well....some day I'll get to it.

Getting there....

Here are a few photos of the new floors/paint. As you can see, there are still paint cans on the counter, things out of place, and not all pictures were hung back up yet. I'm VERY happy with the kitchen paint. The half bath is pretty nice. My bath (I forgot to take a photo) is really nice (IMHO). I love the new rug in my scrap space but my area to the right (you can't see) isn't complete. It's still in the basement!





Monday, March 05, 2007

Yipeeee...my lucky day!

Ok, I won't get my hopes up but dh called to say that BB installer calledl and will be coming on Thursday.

The guys are at my house and are painting my bathroom right now. I'm SO scared! We picked paint out last night. I can't even tell you how many times I've changed my mind. Biting my nails and waiting for a report!!!!

I took a few photos but didn't have time to upload. The floor looks nice and shiny now that I've busted my butt cleaning it. I still have to put the dining room back together (china cabinets, etc.). My scrap room is almost ready for me but dh doesn't want me to bring all my crap back upstairs! I asked what else I could do and he said throw it away!! Grrrrrr....he thinks I can live with whatever can fit into my armoire and 2 drawer file cabinet. NOT.

More updates later...

Saturday, March 03, 2007

Oh the sights you see....



Here are a couple of photos from the boys snowmobiling trip. You get to see such pretty sights!! We'll probably go again this coming weekend.

Still a mess...

It's going to take a long time to get this place back into shape! I started in my den/scrap room and wiped the walls down, vacuumed & dusted the furniture. My dh put felt pads on everything. Then we went shopping for area rugs. We didn't buy anything but we have some idea of what we want.

Tomorrow I get the pleasure of starting over in the dining room and then emptying out my master closet floor and also the hallway closet floor. My dh is ripping up carpet while he has the dumpster here. He is jamming in the a.m. and then coming home to do this so it'll be a long day for me!!

Here's a lousy photo of the family room with the furniture back but not really in place. Everything is just kind of in the approximate area until we can really vacuum and dust the whole thing. Then I can bring my plants and pictures back.



p.s. Got my third stove in today. We haven't seen any problems with it YET!! I was supposed to get a call from an installer on the microwave today - of course that didn't happen. They put some "emergency" company on it to take care of the back log. Hmmmmmmmm.....wonder how long it'll take!

Friday, March 02, 2007

Appliance update...

or just a small one. I will be receiving my THIRD stove tomorrow!!! Yipppeeee. I suppose I should be thrilled.

And Best Buy is working on an installer and I should have one by next week. Hmmmmm....that's only a month and a half later! Gee....I suppose I should be thrilled again. NOT.

I have to say I will NEVER buy another item from that store. If I feel strong, I'll head to the store this weekend to demand a full refund on the installation. I'm seriously afraid of losing control when I speak to them so that's why I haven't. I'm usually a calm person and this is not like me at all. I'm just so tired of being jerked around. I am woman, hear me roar!!!!!! hehe

Feast One Hundred & Thirty Three

Friday, March 02, 2007

Appetizer
What does the color pink make you think of? Bubblegum!

Soup
Name something you thought you had lost, but later found. I lost a pretty bracelet that my neighbor made (she does it as a business). I retraced my steps and couldn't find it. I finally gave up. Several weeks later I went back to the trophy place to pick up my plaques for work and it was sitting on the desk on the service bell!! They knew it belonged to one of their customers but didn't know which one so they thought they'd display it. I was so happy!

Salad
In 3 words, describe this past week. Dusty, dirty mess!! (I'm having hardwood floors installed).

Main Course
What are you obsessed with? Rubber Stamping.

Dessert
What kind of perfume or cologne do you like to wear? I like something light and not flowery like Bath & Body Works Passion fruit or Juniper Breeze (discontinued but I still have some!). I also wear DKNY Be Delicious.