Slug-A-Bed

Winter Storm in Southern California

2010-01-19T10:08:00.007-06:00

Yesterday we experienced a "winter storm" in southern California. This video was taken on the beach just to the right of our house.

If that video doesn't work try going here.

Beach House View 1-16-10

2010-01-17T14:32:00.005-06:00

Kevin Bob and Lucy on our balcony.
John Deere grooming the beach.

Dawn from my balcony.

Two jetski's heading out at dawn.

Go to facebook for more pictures.

The Lap of Luxury

2010-01-15T15:42:00.008-06:00

My private balcony. This is the view from my bed on the third floor!

View from the roof top deck.

Second story balcony.

Port of Long Beach with Uncle Jack, Bob and Glenn.

Glenn, Uncle Jack, Bruce and Cheryl.

Cheryl

Glenn and Uncle Jack.

Loren and Rhonda.

Loading and unloading containers onto and off of ships.

Cheryl, Glenn, Bonnie, Bob and Bruce.

I'm not a lap sitter by nature, but the lap of luxury is a VERY nice place to be. I am writing this while listening to the ocean waves, the sun is glistening off the water, temp is a perfect 75 degrees, doors to the balcony are open wide admitting a slight breeze.

I traveled to Long Beach California Wednesday morning with three of my sisters and our husbands. We settled in Wednesday night with a nice meal and then bought groceries. We relaxed with refreshments then called it a night.

Yesterday our Uncle Jack gave us a tour that highlighted the extremes of the area. We went to the upper deck of the port of Long Beach where we saw the large vessels being loaded and unloaded. We went to Farmer Johns, a meat packing plant that Bruce used to deliver to when he drove truck in this area, then through a poverty stricken area with many homeless on the streets. Within what seemed like only a few blocks we went through the garment district, then the jewelry district where every window was alight with sparkling jewels and the streets were full of people who looked like they could afford to buy them. What a contrast in the human condition. We also toured Hollywood and Beverly Hills before heading for home.

The freeways here are another sight to behold, they seem to take in humans of every condition and walk of life and blend them together, spinning some off to the right every so often. What I couldn't figure out is why all the tennis balls in the drains along the road. About every 15 feet there was a tennis ball laying in the gutters along the freeway. Perhaps one of the great questions of our time to which we may never know the answer.

We had burgers with Uncle Jack, Uncle Willis and Aunt Evy and their daughters and their daughters families and Uncle Garrit and Aunt Grace and their daughter Jonna. We ended up at Uncle Jacks to see Aunt Kay before they both went to our beach house to bring us home and take the grand tour. Half of us went to bed and the other half stayed up to watch an exquisite show. (My Luke says exquisite instead of explicit.)

Today everyone except my sister Bonnie and I went to Universal Studios. Bonnie and I are relaxing in our lovely beach house. I will be posting pictures and a description of our house (luxury's lap) in another post.

I think I may go sit out on my balcony with a book and a tomato beer. Another post soon hopefully.

Goin' to Kansas City, Kansas City here we come.

2009-11-19T11:22:00.017-06:00

Three of my sisters and I got to meet Ree in KC! Rhonda, Bonnie, Cheryl and I went, unfortunately our sister Lorri had to work.

On the way we ran into snow. The roads got so bad that I even suggested we pull off the road and miss seeing Ree (drastic measure). Thankfully Rhonda, our driver, persevered and we made it.

We also met her boy punks and her manly husband. Wow on the husband, he's gorgeous in person! I once mentioned in Ree's comment section that If I ever met them in person I was not the type to ogle her husbands butt. (Everyone ogles his butt on her site especially when she posts a picture of it in chaps.) I lied. I ogled.

It was also very nice in person. Can I say "I saw his butt in person?" I think I can. His voice is gravely and sexy, there is something extraordinary about his eyes. Let's just say he is a fine specimen.

The boys were adorable and entertaining. This looks like a sweet hug, it is actually a head-butt to the neck.

"Look what I found Dad."

Tossing his little brother over the wall. They got lots of laughs.

Ree looked awesome as always. Loved her outfit. We were in the second row. The interviewer asked us to write down questions for Ree. The lady skipped my question which was, "Have you waterboarded your children lately?" It was an inside joke Ree would have got because I asked a question involving waterboarding during one of Ree's question and answer posts. Anyway, Ree was sweet and funny. She sang. Then they awarded door prizes.

MM gazing adoringly at his wife as they get ready to give the prizes.

Cheryl won! Ree's oldest son presented her a wall hanging that said "Cowgirl Up". Ree gave us all a T-shirt and I got a hug when we finally got our books signed. Ree said she was glad to meet me!

He wanted that mic bad.

A helpful smack on the butt. He got a big laugh for that.

Practicing their mixed martial arts.

Being goofy and the crowd loved it.

My sister Bonnie found the cutest Limoges figurine of a basset hound. We let the boys look at it while they where waiting for their mom to finish signing books. They loved it and so did Ree when we gave it to her.

Ree announced that she will be publishing Black Heels to Tractor Wheels! I hope she does another book signing tour. We want to meet Mike next time.

It was worth the hours of waiting to finally meet Ree. We had a great time at the signing, and in KC in general. Lots of shopping.

Pond

2009-10-29T19:21:00.002-05:00

I think I am done with my pond for this year. I may do a little more planting next spring.

What I did on my summer vacation. by Slug-a-bed

2009-10-12T20:19:00.007-05:00

On our summer vacation my boys and I built a fort in our backyard.

It has a climbing wall, a swing and a rope ladder the boys can throw over the fence to let friends climb up from outside our yard. There is also a fireman's pole that we are not quite done installing. We have plans to add a door to the open end and we want to put two bunks that fold down inside so the boys can have friends over and sleep out there.

We had a cool zip line from the fort to the other side of the yard, but I had to take that out because it wasn't safe unless I was there to supervise and some of the neighbor boys were using it without permission. There was also the matter of a small head injury to one of my brother Johns girls, lacerations to one of my brother Don's girls and a possible fractured bone to Johns littlest girl. The bone injury actually happened on the trampoline. I gave the tramp to our backyard neighbors and gave the zip line to brother John.

I removed the tired plants in front of our house and put in new beds and plants, but the best summer/fall project is the new pond and waterfalls I have been building. The project is not 100% complete, but I wanted to show what I have done so far. It looked pretty with the fresh snow blanket this morning. This is the view from our den.

I plan to add a third smaller waterfall to the left of these falls.

I want to add some ornamental grasses too. I am trying to keep it natural looking.

I purchased my latest 'one true love' today. It is the most perfect weeping white pine.

Isn't it incredible? My sister Cheryl said I was crazy to buy such a crooked tree. I just fell in love with the character of this tree. It is still in it's pot because I am not sure where I should place it. Any suggestions? Also what should I do with that open area between the water falls, just below the top of the pine? Plant something? It can't be a tree because the tree roots could cause problems later.

I think the new water feature looks best at night.

That is what I did on my summer vacation. The end.

Too busy to blog.

2009-06-14T14:15:00.003-05:00

I'm baaaaa-aaaaack. You can't believe how busy I have been. I (with much, much, much help) prepared my old house to be sold, sold it, packed up all my earthly possessions, moved to a new house, unpacked most of our stuff (not all), had a new patio put in, are in the middle of having a fence put up, went shopping a couple of times for stuff needed in the new house, totally redid the planting beds in front of the new house, fixed the sprinkler system, am planning(with my boys) a fort to be built in the next two weeks and I am wondering how am I going to place the large boulders I will need for my pond and waterfalls (also in planning stages) after the fence is installed. Whew!
Other interesting things of note: Niece Shayla is living in a castle in England for the summer as part of a study abroad program. Niece Sarah is in Italy teaching the children of US military personnel.
So much going on and not enough time left in the day to blog. Last night Bruce and I sat down and relaxed together in the evening for the first time since we moved. I checked my email and found the following gem from Soupa-sista.

Judy got married and had 13 children. Her husband Ted died of cancer. She married again and she & Bob had 7 more children. Bob was killed in a car accident 12 years later. Judy *again* remarried.... and she & John had 5 more children. Judy finally died after having 25 children. Standing before her coffin, the preacher prayed for her. He thanked the Lord for this very loving woman and said, "Lord, they are finally together." Ethel leaned over and quietly asked her best friend Margaret, "Do you think he means her first, second, or third husband?" Margaret replied...."I think he means her legs, Ethel."

Hope your summer is going well, we love our new house. Luke is at the swimming pool about every minute it is open. Levi is with friends all the time, fishing or playing baseball.

I went on a date!

2009-04-27T17:51:00.003-05:00

We rarely leave our boys with a sitter. We either take them along or stay at home, but last Saturday Bruce and I decided we wanted to go out alone. Levi, age 12 and Luke, age 7 don't always get along (they fight verbally and physically to the point of driving me insane). I don't leave them home without supervision.

I called my brother John and SIL Marlys to see if they would watch the hooligans for us. They didn't answer any of their phones. Obviously they have caller ID and a good idea that we might be looking for a place to dump our kids.

We were all dressed up (I had even plucked the two long hairs that grow out of my chin mole) so we decided we'd try to leave them alone. We ordered huge amounts of pizza and chicken to be delivered, hoping they would gorge themselves and be so loaded up with carbs that they wouldn't have enough energy left to maim one another.

Bruce and I went out for steaks. We were surrounded by families with kids. Kids that were screaming, kids dripping blue ice cream on themselves and smearing it on their unsuspecting mothers back. We loved every minute of it. We smiled at the crying and fighting children and were so thankful that they weren't ours.

When we got home all was calm. Luke was sleeping in bed and Levi was calmly watching TV. I think Bruce and I might start having regular date nights.

Sister Cheryl's Cakes

2009-04-27T11:27:00.010-05:00

My sister Cheryl has gotten into decorating cakes.

She went to a cake decorating demonstration given by this guy.

He is a big deal on the Food Network. I didn't get his name.

Cheryl's son Justin lives in a group home with lots of others.

Cheryl made this birthday cake for Justin's house mate Char.

Notice the guy in the background who has edged his way into Char's moment of glory?

That's my nephew Justin. I think he was probably wanting a big chunk of that cake.

2009-04-16T11:19:00.003-05:00

Sister Bonnie made me aware of Susan Boyle's performance on Britian's Got Talent. Wow! Imagine the emotions this woman experienced. Bottle those and sell them, you'd become a billionaire. If you haven't heard her yet, check it out here. Go back and give Paul Potts another listen too. His voice also gave me goose bumps.

Sold!

2009-03-28T21:07:00.002-05:00

We sold our house today to a very nice couple. They have been looking for the right house for a couple of years. They shed tears when they heard we accepted their bid. Isn't that sweet? I'm glad it's going to someone who will appreciate it. We move June 1st.

We are going to live a short distance from the city pool/park. There are lots of boys for my kids to play with in that neighborhood also. They can't wait. We will be across the street from my parents. I called and told them to get some deadbolts installed on their doors and windows before June 1st. He he.

Now I get to plan a water feature garden for the new house. Time to get out the landscaping books and start dreaming.

2009-03-27T14:30:00.004-05:00

My very dear and lovely SIL Marlys sent these pictures in an email. Thanks for contributing Mar.

YOU'VE GOTTA LOVE THIS ONE.
THIS IS A CEILING MURAL IN A SMOKER'S LOUNGE.

There's another below

BATHROOM PAINTED FLOOR!!!
IMAGINE YOU ARE AT A PARTY .....
On the tenth floor of a hi-rise building.....
AND...
YOU HAVE TO VISIT THE BATHROOM...
You open the door...
NOW,
REMEMBER THE FLOOR IS JUST A PAINTED FLOOR !
KINDA TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY.....
DOESN'T IT?
Scroll sloooooooowly.

This is a picture of a public toilet in Houston :

Now that you've seen the outside view,
take a look at the inside view...

It's made entirely of one-way glass!

No one can see you from the outside, but when
you are inside it's like sitting in a clear glass box!
Now would you...

COULD YOU....???

Our first offer!

2009-03-26T12:30:00.004-05:00

I felt like my date ditched me at the dance. Brent who was interested in buying my house, traded houses with my neighbor Eric. But all is not lost, our realtor took another couple through our house last night and they loved it. My pond sold them. They made an offer last night! We have until Saturday to reply. Another couple will be coming through the house tonight. Also our school district has hired a new high school principal and she is a widow with two kids. I would love to have her look at my house. I think it could be a good fit for her family. A principal would need a nice back yard to relax in after a stressful day right? Or a jetted tub in the master bath?

2009-03-21T10:47:00.006-05:00

Eric, my neighbor with the nice eyes would like to buy this place which is owned by Brent.

Brent once dated my niece Shawn. Brent was shot in a hunting accident and lost one of his kidneys. My brother Rick bought the first acreage Brent owned. Brent's older brothers laughed at me when I wiped out on my brand new 10 speed.

Brent would like to buy my house.

And I would like to buy this house which belongs to Garald.

So my realtor needs to sell Eric's house which is across the street from my house, so Eric can buy Brent's house so Brent can buy my house so I can buy Garald's house. Garald wants to get the heck out of Dodge and is moving to the other side of the state. It's all kind of like the lady who swallowed the fly don't you think?

Open house results.

2009-03-21T00:09:00.003-05:00

We had our first potential buyers come to our open house Thursday evening. Seven couples came. Two may want to buy our house but, they need to sell their own homes first. One lady fell in love with the house but couldn't convince her husband who would like to build a new home.

Our realtor will continue showing our house and we will see what develops from here. He called today and before answering I had a feeling of fear that someone actually wanted to make an offer on our house. I am so conflicted. I will definitely miss this house if we move. I finally have everything done here with the help of my family... artwork on the walls, nail holes filled, doors painted, front porch railing installed, gardens established etc. Then I think of the house across the street from my parents home. It is 200 square feet larger than our house and has a den and 2ND bedroom upstairs as well as a full bathroom upstairs for the boys. It is close to my parents, swimming pool and lots of kids for the boys to play with. Like I said, I am conflicted. Our current house is perfect for me but the house in town is better for our family. Time to be unselfish I suppose.

Want to buy a house?

2009-03-15T19:30:00.008-05:00

Water feature garden in the back yard.

These are pictures of my house, the house we built 2 1/2 years ago.

The kitchen.

We made an offer on a house in town and our offer was accepted. We will move if we can sell our home. The house we bid on is larger than our current house and is near lots of neighborhood kids for my boys to play with. It is blocks from the swimming pool and the city park and it is across the street from my parents.

This is the tub surround in the master bath.
The tile job was done by my brother Rick, me, brother John and his wife Marlys.

However, this means I have to give up the house I designed and had my brother Rick build. That won't be easy. This house was literally made for me. If we don't sell I will not be sorry. If we do sell that will be good too.

Living room and entry.

Office.

Backyard garden.

This is the description the realtor used to describe our house:

Stunning is the perfect word to describe this home!! This home is a 1400 sq ft custom built Ranch style home. The workmanship is excellent and shows in the open floor plan and gorgeous Cherry woodwork and cabinets. This home is really indescribable and you need to see to really appreciate the beauty! The main floor consists of an open living, dining and kitchen. The kitchen has Cherry cabinetry which you will love and the dining room has patio doors to the deck--which has a awesome view. The master bedroom is huge with a gorgeous master bath right off of the bedroom. There is a main floor laundry with office and another 1/2 bath on the main floor. The basement boasts 2 bedrooms, bathroom and a large family room. Outdoor entertaining is made easy with the large patio and backyard and plan to spend many evenings relaxing by the gorgeous pond!! The home is located on a 1 acre lot on a hard surface road in the Rock River Bluff addition. Don't miss this one!!

So if you need a home in North West Iowa e-mail me. Open house is Thursday evening. I'll let you know how it goes.

Blood boiling rage and a turning point in my life.

2009-02-27T22:01:00.021-06:00

Tonight my twelve year old son Levi asked, "What is the angriest you have ever been."

Wanting to share a valuable life lesson that I had learned the hard way, I explained to him that when I was younger I had always been mild mannered and quite shy. I tried to avoid confrontation and anger to the point I could have been called a wimp, except one night when I was in high school...

I was one of the youngest in our sophomore class. My classmates had turned sixteen and were driving long before I was licenced to drive. My parents wanted me to contribute gas and a vehicle along with my friends so they allowed me take my dad's red farm truck to the edge of our small rural town as long as I promised to let my trusted friend Shelli drive it after we met up. We had great fun with that truck even though it wasn't the coolest vehicle dragging Main. One redeeming feature of the truck was the powerful spotlight mounted on its hood. We interrupted couples parking in secluded areas with that light and shined it into the cars of other kids driving up and down Main. Good times, good times.

One Friday night while cruising Main we heard that some older kids were having a party out by the river that runs through our town. The river had wooded areas laced with rugged dirt paths. There were small grassy clearings just perfect for parties.

We decided to put a little scare into the party goers. We went to the river and turned on the spotlight and speared its light through the smoke and trees as we approached. Thinking we were the police, under aged drinkers scattered into the trees like a herd of frantic deer chased by a mountain lion. It was awesome! Surprisingly, our humor was not enjoyed by those at the party. He he.

There was a large bonfire and music blaring from speakers mounted in the trunk of a car. A kid named Mark put live lightening bugs in his mouth and blew his cheeks out like Dizzy Gillespie, his cheeks glowed green! He was always a big attraction at river parties. However, we were feeling unappreciated because of our prank so we started back to town.

Dan and Greg, two seniors, wanted a ride into town. Dan opened Shelli's door and shoved her over until he was behind the wheel. He had been drinking. I gathered my weak courage and told him, "No, you can't drive. You can have a ride, but let Shelli drive."

He took off with Shelli and I and his friend Greg all telling him to stop. Dan was going too fast down the gravel road and and about a mile later he drove straight into a ditch and the front end of my dad's truck was crushed.

We were shaken up but no one was injured. We all sat silently for a second, I was angry and in disbelief, it had seemed like he had deliberately driven into the ditch. How was I going to explain this to my dad!

Unfortunately for Dan, I accidentally slammed my thumb in the door as I exited the truck and that triggered an emotion like I had never experienced before. It was a blood boiling rage, my blood literally felt scorching hot coursing through my veins. The heat rushed over my entire body! I came up out of the ditch as Dan came towards me around the back of the truck. He was stuttering and saying, "I, I don't know what happened."

I walked straight into him and slammed him hard with my forearms. He was laid out flat onto his back. I followed him down and started pounding my fists into him like that scene from The Christmas Story movie when Ralphie beats up the school bully. I confess I began spewing curse words just like Ralphie.

Shelli and Greg were stunned. First the accident, now shy, happy-go-lucky Lisa was acting like a person possessed. They eventually pulled me off and Dan ran back to the party to escape my fury.

A passerby saw the accident and called the police. An officer showed up and asked me what was going on. Like an idiot I told him that I had been driving. Dan had been drinking and I stupidly decided to protect him. The officer asked for my licence. I told him I didn't have it with me. He accepted this and took down my name. He didn't give me a ticket. We eventually got the truck out of the ditch with a wrecker and they let me drive it home.

I told my dad that I had driven the truck into the ditch. He was pretty reasonable about the whole thing and that made me feel even more guilty about the truck and my lies. The next day I told my brother Rick that Dan had wrecked the truck. Rick was a senior like Dan and Greg. He said, "You need to tell Dad the truth and maybe I need to teach Dan a lesson."

I mumbled, "You don't have to beat him up, I already did."

Rick questioned me and burst out laughing when I admitted that I had flattened Dan and pounded on him until he ran away. Rick thought this was hilarious.

I told my dad the truth later that day, he asked the police to change the accident report so Dan's insurance would cover the repair costs for his truck. Dan denied that he had been driving and the police said that I had lied once and how were they to know I wasn't lying now.

My dad was stuck with the cost of the repairs because of my lies. I vowed to be completely honest from that moment on, hence that night became a turning point in my life.

Do you remember the Nazareth song 'Hair of the Dog'? After that night my friends would sing it with the words changed a bit. Instead of singing, "Now you're messin' with a son of a b****."
They sang, "Now you're messin' with a daughter of Rich." (My dads name is Rich.)

My brother Rick thought that his little sister beating on his male classmate was great fun. He told all his buddies and they laughed at Dan's expense for weeks which was probably his greatest punishment. I do hope Dan learned as valuable a lesson as I did that night.

So Levi, always be honest, especially to the police and your dear sweet parents. Also if you slam your thumb in the door of your truck, go give someone a serious beat down. It will ease the pain in your thumb.

Cheryl's Panama Cruise

2009-02-24T20:38:00.004-06:00

Sister Cheryl and BIL Glenn traveled through the Panama Canal on Day 7 of their cruise.

They took a smaller boat to get a little closer to nature.

Costa Rica is next.

Cruise update.

2009-02-22T14:37:00.006-06:00

My sister Cheryl and her husband Glenn are still on their Panama Canal Cruise.

Day 4 was spent at Aruba.

Aruba was settled by the Dutch, hence the architecture you see here.

Day 5 was spent on Curacao.

These views are from their private balcony.

Towel art monkey.

This is what my BIL ate last night.

Grandmothers Beef Broth.

Hearts of Romaine Lettuce Nicoise

Vodka Style Graviox

Italian Meatloaf.

Veal Medallions.

Marshmallow Sundae.

Coconut Cream Pie

Cherries Jubilee.

Baby Cozyn - Birth Announcements - Pending Approval of Maidzilla

2009-02-20T21:24:00.005-06:00

Do you prefer
his pictures in
black and white
or do you like
the full color one?
I think I like the
black and white
best.

Cheryls Panama Cruise so far.

2009-02-19T18:55:00.006-06:00

My sister Cheryl and her husband Glenn are on a cruise ship heading for the Panama Canal. They have to pay as they go for Internet access on the ship so the email was short. She sent these pictures and said everything is going great.

On their private balcony. Is it called a balcony on a ship?

I wonder if Glenn will be entering any belly flop contests on this cruise. He and their son Jesse won that contest on their last cruise.

They have a suite on one of the upper decks.

This looks lovely. Oh, to have a good book and the view out these windows!

My Luke just asked, "Why are they there?"

I answered, "For fun."

Luke, "Without us?!!"

Baby Cozyn.

2009-02-06T12:26:00.006-06:00

We have a new baby in the family. His name is Cozyn.

He was born to Gina (Maidzilla) and Kelly on Jan. 29.

As you can see he is healthy and beautiful.

He does not enjoy flash pictures.

Can you imagine coming from that warm floaty womb out into the

cold world with flash bulbs penetrating through your eyelids?

I think I would frown too.

He is pictured here with Great Grandma V.O. (my Mom).

Understanding the Bailout Plan.

2009-02-04T13:19:00.009-06:00

(The Log Splitter sent this email. Thanks for contributing guys.)

It's important in life to reach out, to strive for greater achievements,

to go for that greener grass that is on the other side of the fence.

But one must also be careful.
Sometimes you can reach too far!

But when you find yourself over-extended and you're stuck in a situation

that you can't get out of, there is one thing you should always remember.......

Your Government.....
Is there to help you!!!

Final Hood Post!

2009-02-01T10:11:00.001-06:00

This is absolutely what I would do to Ree's hood at the Lodge. Have I said that before? Anyway, I would purchase a wooden onlay and have a faux painter match what was done to this medallion. I think it is gorgeous. It would look good with the cabinets and with the stainless steel. This faux treatment is called antique bronze.

I found this carved wood onlay at Osborn Wood. I don't know the exact dimensions of the lodge hood, but this one looks like it might work.

This is a rough mock up of what it could look like.

Is there a ten step program for hood decorating?

Third Anniversary.

2009-01-31T14:33:00.007-06:00

Three years ago today I learned that I had cancer. Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia to be exact. I am so thankful for my current good health.

The lovely Dr. Vinod takes excellent care of me. During my last visit he said the CML is completely under control and if I continue taking my medication there is no chance it will worsen.

Dr. Vinod is one of the most beautiful people I know. He is soft spoken, compassionate and caring. He is also brilliant, one of the heart specialist I saw said Dr. Vinod makes him feel like a country bumpkin because he is so intelligent and his behavior is incredibly well mannered and correct.

The nurses and office staff also love Vinod and the other doctors at the Hematology and Transplant Center. One of the nurses said working at the Center was like working with family because all the doctors insist on being addressed by their first names.

About eight years ago another brilliant doctor invented the drug that changed the life expectancy of CML patients from 3 to 5 years to an almost normal life expectancy. He is Dr. Brian Druker.

He has been featured on 60 Minutes and many other TV shows. He is 'the man' in the search for a cure for cancer. He researched the molecular and cellular changes CML caused and invented a drug to stop those changes, hence stopped the cancer from multiplying out of control. The drug he invented has saved thousands of lives and has been called the next best thing to a cure for cancer. The drug stops the effects of CML but doesn't get rid of it, so if I were to stop taking the chemo drug the CML would quickly take over again.

Dr. Druker is also a humble and lovely man. About 6 months after my diagnosis I sent him an email because the drug was not working as well as it should have for me and in addition to CML I have three other blood disorders. I asked if he could consult with Dr. Vinod about my case. He replied to my email! He asked that Dr. Vinod fax my records to him and together they went over my treatment. Dr. Druker said Dr. Vinod's decision to double my dosage was correct. I was never sent a bill for his help. He actually sees many patients in addition to his important research.

Why are people like Madonna or Brittany Spears idolized and make millions of dollars while brilliant doctors like mine go through life in relative obscurity? Something is very skewed in our society. OK, end of sermon.

Three years after my initial diagnosis words cannot sufficiently express how thankful I am for the blessings I have been given.

"Shay"

2009-01-29T13:11:00.005-06:00

This story was emailed to me by Soupa Sistah.

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended.

After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: 'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son? 'The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world an oportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story: Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning. '

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact...The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first! 'Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second! 'Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay' Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!' As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!' Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team. '

That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'. Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

The cowboy.

2009-01-27T06:51:00.007-06:00

One of my uncles from California sent this joke:

The Old Cowboy
You have lived to be 71 and know who you are...then along comes someone and blows it all to hell........

An old cowboy sat down at the Starbucks and ordered a cup of coffee. As he sat sipping his coffee, a young woman sat down next to him. She turned to the cowboy and asked, 'Are you a real cowboy?' He replied, 'Well, I've spent my whole life breaking colts, working cows, going to rodeos, fixing fences, pulling calves, bailing hay, doctoring calves, cleaning my barn, fixing flats, working on tractors, and feeding my dogs, so I guess I am a cowboy.'

She said, 'I'm a lesbian. I spend my whole day thinking about women. As soon as I get up in the morning, I think about women. When I shower, I think about women. When I watch TV, I think about women. I even think about women when I eat. It seems that everything makes me think of women.'

The two sat sipping in silence. A little while later, a man sat down on the other side of the old cowboy and asked, 'Are you a real cowboy?' He replied, 'Hell, I always thought I was, but I just found out that I'm a lesbian.'

Ree's Lodge, it's Cheryls fault.

2009-01-21T12:04:00.013-06:00

This is Ree's TV area at the Lodge. She asked for help in decorating this area so my sister Cheryl went to work.

Personally, I think Cheryl should get a life, hehehe, but I will humor her and post the changes she made to the TV area.

Doesn't this arrangement look awesome? I like that rug. I wish it was extended under the couch though.

Here it is with a bright red rug and the cow hide on the wall. I love it. Doesn't it look cozy and inviting?

Notice the photo is changed here. The two chairs that are matching should be positioned together, just like Cheryl has them. I also like the couch off the wall just that little bit.

WOW!!! I think this is perfect. Awesome work, I think I will give Sis C all the decorating tasks on this blog. She puts my puny efforts to shame. Welcome to the team. Shall we call her Cheryl Slug? Slug II? Slug Too?

My two nephews were part of the Inauguration!

2009-01-20T22:07:00.005-06:00

Today my nephew Jesse walked down Pennsylvania Avenue and waved to President Obama. He was one of a group from McCrossan Boys Ranch who took part in the Inaugural Parade. Sixteen students, eight staffers, seven draft horses, two saddle horses and a wagon made the trip to Washington, D.C. They walked/rode past the President just after 5 p.m.EST.

We were watching on CNN at my house. CNN went to commercial just before Jesse's group went by. We totally missed it! D'oh!

I believe Jesse is walking closest to the Presidents side, he is the tallest one. I pretty sure the First Lady was giving Jesse the thumbs up. He he he. I hope to get a report directly from Jess when he is back home.

He told his sister Shay they had to wake up at 1:00 a.m. this morning to prepare themselves and the horses for the parade.

My nephew Eric is also in D.C. today. He was part of the Iowa National Guard contingent that went to provide security.

Hopefully they were able to take some pictures and will let me post them here another day.

Back to the hood.

2009-01-16T23:42:00.004-06:00

I got an email from Ree at ThePioneerWoman.com this week. I do get to have a compassion child. She gave me instructions for getting started.

She also said she is going to use my idea for the pendant lights and has been searching for the right ones. The Texas Light Smith has one that might fit the bill or they will make custom lights to any specifications. Another option would be to use outdoor light pendants, Lowes has some that could work.

The piece of ornamental iron on the hood border came from The Wrought Iron Decor Store.

What about a large rustic metal clock on the hood?

This clock has an easel to hold it verticle. I Googled large wall clock to find these. Any suggestions?

My nephew is a winner!

2009-01-10T23:49:00.014-06:00

My nephew Mark makes me proud for many reasons. He is a very hard worker and a good provider for his family.

He loves his three boys.

He worked extra jobs to help his wife get a nursing degree after they were married and had children.

He's a volunteer firefighter.

When Mark was asked to help his small town with a fundraising project he went above and beyond the call of duty. They asked him to enter a contest, the winners of the contest would have their pictures made into a calendar.

I would guess that most of you have seen those hunky firefighter calendars right? Mark was not asked to do one of those. This is what Mark did for his small town.

He dressed as Tina Turner and sang one of her songs. (The 'man' playing the guitar is my niece Becky.)

Evidently Mark was not willing to lose any body hair for his town.

He had three different outfits courtesy of his tall girl cousins.

Guess what?! The little minx won! He was voted the best in the pageant!

He got to wear the tiara!

And the sash!

Here he is with all the other men that helped raise money for their town. Aren't they purty?

A man has to be very confident in his masculinity to do charity work in their town.

Mark and his little white muff even got to be the coveted December picture for the calendar! I am so proud!

He abandoned his family.

2009-01-06T01:41:00.005-06:00

About 20 years ago my studly boyfriend (now my husband) Bruce was taking me back to my parents home after a rousing night on the town with family members. My brother Don and his wife Josie were with us.

We crested a hill on my country road and saw that a neighboring house had flames licking along its roof line! It was a group home for the handicapped that was in the final stages of construction so thankfully it was not yet occupied. The group home was built on an existing farm place and was situated about 100 yards from the old farm house where I knew a family of four lived.

We went to the door of the farmers home, we knocked loudly and shouted, but no one came to the door. We went inside and I used their phone to dial 911. We were told by the dispatcher to wait inside by the phone in case the fire fighters needed to reach us. We talked and watched out the windows as the roof of the other house became fully engulfed in flames. Fire trucks soon came with their lights flashing. The volunteer firemen worked hard to contain the fire. They sprayed the house we were in to keep it from burning.

A few of our neighbors back then had protested that this group home was being built in our area. I explained this to our small party as we waited and I also mentioned that the farmer and his wife were not the type to be out at this time of the night. We must have watched too many episodes of Quincy because our imaginations took over and we began to wonder.... could someone have harmed the family then started the fire? We decided we must search the home in case the family had been hurt or incapacitated in some way by the alleged arsonist. We knocked, then opened a door and saw the farmer and his wife in their bed. We knocked again, but they still didn't move! My brother said loudly, "Wake up! The house is on fire!" The man jumped up from his bed, his eyes bugged halfway out of their sockets. He grabbed his boots and sprinted towards us. We flattened ourselves against the wall to avoid being trampled as the farmer flew past us and out of the house leaving his wife and his two children who were sleeping upstairs to fend for themselves.

The farmer soon realized it wasn't actually his house that was burning. He thanked us profusely saying they would have slept through the whole thing if we hadn't woken them up.

It was later determined that the fire was accidental, something with the electrical wiring. The house was rebuilt and is still functioning as a group home today.

The moral of the story: Help your wife and children out of the house if you think it is on fire or else your neighbors will forever describe the look of terror on your face as you ran from your home, abandoning your family to their fate. They will laugh and shake their heads as they re-tell the story many times over the years.

Or maybe the moral should be: Yelling, "The house is on fire!" is not necessarily the best way to awaken a deeply sleeping man when the house next door to his is burning.

Another moral possible: Lock your doors so over imaginative neighbors have to go to their own home a mile down the road to call for help when the house next door to yours is on fire.

Ree's hood again. It's Bonnies fault.

2009-01-04T21:56:00.009-06:00

Last hood post then I have two real posts planned. My sister Bonnie found this exquisite wooden hood border and I had to share it.

Is that about the most gorgeous kitchen you have ever seen? Notice the different counter tops used? And the rock wall? Gorgeous!

We think the Lodge kitchen area needs some curving lines. Right now everything is short straight lines. The hood doesn't need the fancy carving. Something simple would look better, but keep it curved. And it has corbels to tie in with the bar and laundry! I bet Mom and Pop cabinet makers could whip this out, stamp a large ranch brand in the center, distress it, stain it and have it installed in no time!

The wood border is from Woodlandfurniture.com. They don't list any prices on their site and you have to go through a interior designer to make a purchase.

This one is white tile to match the existing subway tile. It is from Southcypress.com.

What would you do if you had to make the 'hood' decision?

2009-01-02T17:07:00.003-06:00

I am still playing with ideas for Ree's Hood. What do you think? Maybe I should get a life of my own?

Ree's Lodge.

2008-12-30T17:05:00.032-06:00

Downloaded more pictures from Pioneer Woman. I actually had her permission this time. I found some borders that could be used on the hood in her Lodge kitchen area. I love this hood border, it's made of iron.

But I think it might be a little dark for the Lodge hood.

This is darkened copper, but I'm sure they would use whatever finish the buyer requests. They don't list any prices on their site, that always scares me.

This one is bright copper. These lovely metal borders can be purchased seperate from the hoods at the Texas Lightsmith.

Does copper clash with stainless? I'm not sure. I definately like this border though.

I found some cool tiles . These are 6"x6" engraved terracotta tiles. I'm afraid they could be pretty hard to keep clean so I probably wouldn't use them in a kitchen. Maybe another area of the Lodge?

They are from TerracottaCorp.com.

These tiles seem perfect for a Lodge/ranch.

They can be grouped together to form a herd running across the hood.

I found them at Linda Paul's Studio.

I like the horse tiles best and I think they would be easiest to clean. Let me know if you have a better idea for the hood. I will try to show what it would look like on The Lodge hood. I also like the windows with the stained glass panes. Keeps the windows from looking like dark holes. They could be back lit to give a warm glow at night. I also lowered the subway tile to line up with the refrigerator tops.

What do you think? Do you like the metal hood borders? Tile? Stain? Talk to me.

On a different subject, I bought these barstools online from Target. We like them alot. I think they could look nice in the Lodge.

P.S. I found a web site that makes tiles from your photos. It's called Tilepix. Ree could put her own wild horses on tile! I love that plan. It's less expensive too!

I used Ree's photo titled "Spirit", it seems perfect for a border. The mock-up is rough, but you can get the idea. She could make tiles of cowgirl pin-ups or the birds she loves to use in her blog banners. What fun!

My Favorite Salad Recipes

2008-12-23T12:18:00.010-06:00

This is my favorite fruit salad. I use fresh strawberries instead of pineapple, you have my permission to use either. A fruit salad with butter as an ingredient, you know it has to be good. Remember to add the pretzels just before serving or they will become soggy.

This tomato recipe is great for the end of the tomato growing season when you don't know what to do with all those tomatoes. Just keep throwing them into this mix, tastes awesome.

This one is a standard where I come from. Is it a standard in your area?

Normally I am not a huge fan of lettuce, but this salad tastes incredible! It doesn't keep well, but you won't have to worry about that because it's so good you won't have any leftovers.

This is my favorite vegetable salad ever, ever, ever, it tastes even better after sitting in the fridge overnight. Use fresh grated cheddar cheese if possible, it makes a difference. Enjoy!

Pioneer Woman Contest!

2008-12-22T14:40:00.003-06:00

Ree is giving away her own fancy camera for a prize at Pioneer Woman today. Good luck. You'll need lots of luck because I plan on winning this contest, thank you very much!

Blizzard

2008-12-21T14:51:00.011-06:00

Yesterday we had just a taste of a blizzard. The dog went out three steps and turned and came back in. I don't blame him. This is what my back yard looked like. I love 'big' weather!

I went out in this nasty weather to fully stock our food supply. But first I called my parents to check if they needed anything from the grocery store. I picked up the milk and eggs they requested and added some pickled herring. Dad loves pickled herring. (My seven siblings don't yet realize that I am slowly and systematically getting them all eliminated from our parents will. Don't tell, k?) About 30 minutes after I got home the sun was out and the blizzard was over. When I was a kid it seemed like a blizzard lasted at least four days. Kids today don't realize how easy they have it. When I was a kid I rode the bus uphill to school both ways!

Lodge kitchen from PW's place.

2008-12-16T22:43:00.033-06:00

This is the Lodge kitchen area from over at Pioneer Woman. I probably broke 1,100 copyright and/or infringement laws by downloading these. What the heck, take me to jail PW! I could use a break, catch up on my reading, maybe play a little cards with the other bad a$$ ladies.

I really hope she doesn't mind. I just had to try out some ideas I have been tossing around. I used Photoshop to make some changes.

I took the hanging lights from her inspiration room and put them into her kitchen. I though it needed something to break up all the lines going on above the refrigerators. Also I think it helps lose a little of the eyes and nose appearance of the windows and hood.

I went with stained wood on the bottom of the hood, kept it simple.

I would like to see some ornamentation on the hood though. Something metal with flowing lines for relief from all the straight lines in this area.

I would lose the side windows. I think they confuse the eye. (I heard someone on HGTV say that once and I've been waiting for an opportunity to use it. For a minute there it almost felt like I knew what I was talking about!)

Notice how the tile only reaches the fridge tops in this example? I'm glad she went higher, I think it ties everything together. I ditched all the windows here too. I don't like it. I think I would keep the windows above the refrigerators. Maybe put textured clear glass in the dark colored frames P-dub mentioned they had ordered. The textured glass would let light pass through while blocking out the beams, ceiling and skylights you can see beyond the openings. The windows in the inspiration room kinda sorta have the look of textured clear glass.

Maybe a couple of spot lights could be focused on the windows from behind at night to create a warm glow in the windows. This kind of stuff gets me all excited! If I have some time later, I will try to make an example showing the glass and dark window frames. I know, I know, if I was any kind of blogger at all I would have done that already and posted that picture now. I have been busy alright! The tax man cometh people! We have a pre-year-end tax appointment Thursday morning and I'm not ready! So get off my back! Just kidding. I must save my real ranting and raving for my husband who can't recall why he wrote a check to TXP for $1,137! Anyone know who or what TXP is? Anyone? Anyone?

Maybe cream colored stained glass like the background glass I used in this piece would look nice and blend in a little more with the wall color. What would you do with this area? Do you like the hanging lights? Or would they collect dust and grease? Give me more ideas and if I have time I may try them out tomorrow.

See ya later!

OK, so I couldn't sleep. I went ahead and added the cream colored stained glass and the dark frames. I like it! What do you think? I also blocked out the stainless refrigerators with stained wood. It looks warm and inviting, doesn't it? Oops, I left the side windows in. I'll be right back.

There. How's that? Do you like it better with or without the side windows? Now I think I like it better with them.

Here is a version with a light paint treatment on the hood band. It looks good, but I'm not sure it looks right surrounded by all the stained wood.

Keep the lights or lose the lights?

Here I tried to take the tile all the way up. Too much tile. Definately like the glass though. And the hanging lights.

This is what I would do. Final final final.

No bookwork today!

2008-12-13T10:43:00.011-06:00

I don't know if you've noticed, but posts have been sparse around here. Year end is just around the corner and I have been preparing for the tax man. Have I mentioned that I dislike working with numbers and being organized? Yeah, no fun for me. However, I am giving myself today off!

The boys have friends over. I hear screams and laughter coming from the basement. I don't have the guts to go down there and check on them. As long as I don't hear the words; blood, bleeding or broken, I will let them play unsupervised.

I believe I'll do a stained glass project. I haven't done stained glass work for a couple of years. I need to dig through the boxes in the storage room to find my equipment, then set up a space to work. I can't wait to dig in!

This is a piece I made for my sister Rhonda a few years ago, it is back for repair. I have had it laying around for a couple of years. Lucky for me she is not a complainer. It should be an easy fix, I just haven't gotten to it yet.

The two panels below are looking for a new home. I made them for my sister Cheryl, she had them mounted and back lit in the doors of her entertainment center. They looked quite lovely there if I do say so myself.
She tossed them aside in favor of a 50 inch plasma TV. Can you say, "Total disregard for beauty and art and a treasured memento of a dearly loved family member?" I kid, I am glad to have them back. I think they are my best work so far. I do need to find a new spot for them though. I may make a light box to put behind them. Or build some bookshelves/cabinets in my bedroom and use them as doors. Do you have any ideas?

My nephew is going to the Presidential Inauguration!

2008-12-07T16:20:00.024-06:00

My nephew Jesse will be going to the presidential inauguration with a large group of boys from the ranch where he works, what an honor! Jesse is a supervisor on a ranch that is dedicated to helping troubled boys. Kids at the ranch work with teams of horses, cattle, one bison and many other animals. They care for the animals and equipment while living at the ranch. Some of the older boys get to participate in rodeos, others drive and ride on hitches in parades. The ranch boys were selected to represent the State of South Dakota in the presidential inauguration parade!

Jesse married Christy this summer in a park at Spearfish, South Dakota. Christy counsels inmates in the state penitentiary to help them to conquer their addictions and return to public life as better people.

My SIL Josie and my niece Angela took the wedding pictures, I assisted by staging the shots and posing our subjects, I also edited some of the pictures using Photo Shop. The neat way to publish and group the shots comes from Jodi over at MCPActions. They are called “Magic Blog It Board” actions. She has a very informative blog. Her tutorials about Photo Shop are easy to follow and are packed with good info. I recently purchased her Portrait Actions and I love them!

Shiloh

2008-12-04T15:57:00.009-06:00

My boys have a new best friend. We adopted a three year old boy named Shiloh last Wednesday. We have been visiting the Humane Society, walking dogs and searching for the perfect companion for our family. I finally found Shiloh last week and he is nearly perfect. The people who had him before were forced to give him up by their landlord. They did an awesome job training him. He doesn't jump up, doesn't lick us unless we ask for kisses. He follows commands like a dream. Finally someone in this house obeys!
He is so calm, but loves to play. He gets his baseball and drops it at our feet, if we move away, he picks the ball up and drops it loudly at our feet again and again. I need to get my hands on a video camera. We throw the ball and Shiloh catches it in the air and puts it back in our lap.

He is a sweetheart and a gentleman. We are all in love with our new dog.

2008-12-02T12:51:00.010-06:00

These are my great nephews. Baby Dawson brings the number of living family members on my side to 73. That includes my parents, their 8 children and spouses, their children and spouses and their children. Does that make sense at all?

I have been madly cranking out picture Holiday greeting cards for the last week for both sides of my family.

I made this card for my MIL. That's me and my immediate family on the right. I may have removed a chin or two from my face and inches from other areas. I love Photo Shop.

These are my husbands paternal grandparents. This is their first ever photo greeting card. Grandpa and Grandma didn't have a portrait made this year so I made them one out of the photo below which was taken at my SIL's fall wedding.

I ditched the bride, no offence Dawn, and put Grandma and Grandpa side by side. Then I did a little work on Grandmas age lines. She loved the portrait and wanted cards made!

Can you tell I like black backgrounds?

2008-11-28T01:26:00.003-06:00

This lady appears on The Tonite Show. Please be aware that the content and language of this video is not appropriate for children. Play it at your own risk.

Incredible animal footage!

2008-11-26T08:44:00.001-06:00

Wow!

Pioneer Woman Contest!

2008-11-25T18:11:00.001-06:00

Go here to leave a comment and get registered to win a $250 gift cert. over at Pioneer Woman.

2008-11-24T19:56:00.007-06:00

Today I got some new toys to use in PhotoShop. Below are some before and after shots of Tielyr.

Can you see the difference?

My Husband is a lucky man!

2008-11-21T23:46:00.011-06:00

He's married to me! Ha, Ha, Ha.

Seriously, Bruce went trucking this evening (he drives an eighteen wheeler) and he took H2 along. (H1 is at a friends house overnight.) I used my time alone productively, I cranked my I-tunes loud and started cleaning the house. A half hour later Bruce called and said, "I've got a real problem here, you need to come right away. We are fine, just bring the pickup and a log chain, we are 5 miles east of town."

I could see red and blue flashing lights about 2 miles before I reached them. There were other vehicles stopped along the highway with their hazard lights flashing. It seems his trailer had come unhitched from the tractor while they were traveling at full speed down the road! The trailer brakes automatically locked up so it didn't travel too far. It had veered into the oncoming lane and came to rest on the opposite shoulder with the front part of the trailer leaning into the ditch. Thankfully no one had been driving in the oncoming lane. Gives me chills, thinking about the damage that trailer could have done to another vehicle. This incident could have ended so horribly.

The trailer was still upright, it took a little maneuvering to get it fully back onto the shoulder where Bruce was able to hook it onto the tractor. The only damage was a small air leak where an air hose coupler was loose! I taped it up, and he drove away! No damage! No citation from the nice police officers. Is that lucky or what? I'm really surprised he wasn't given some kind of ticket, I would have given him one if I were an officer.

Now I am the proud owner of the perfect burn if Bruce should ever talk about how awful women drivers are. "At least we don't lose our trailers while speeding down the highway!" I can't wait to use that one. He he he. Bring it on bad boy!

Erica's Card

2008-11-20T20:42:00.005-06:00

Made a card for my niece Erica. Hope she likes it.

If you send out photo cards, do you make them yourself? Where do you get them printed?

Jobs I've held.

2008-11-20T14:31:00.010-06:00

In high school a teacher told us that we would have an average of 8 career changes. I thought he was crazy. I thought I would do one thing and do it to the best of my abilities until I retired. I was the crazy one. Read on about the many diverse jobs I have held so far.

Baby sitter to many nieces and nephews.

Right out of high school I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. So, I got a job at a candy import company. I was the switchboard operator. I directed eleven incoming telephone lines. I try to keep things positive around here, but to be honest I must tell you my boss was a total jerk parading as an upright 'christian'. He would send girls aged 18 to 22 to do candy shows, getting them the cheapest rooms available in the seediest most dangerous parts of the city. He was not a nice man, he actually hit one lady. I left after nine months, I had a lot of fun with the other employees at that company though, nothing like a jerky boss to unite workers. Another good thing about that nasty first job was that it made every one after it seem lovely in comparison.

My next job was at a baseball cap factory. I applied the little button to the top of baseball caps, but that's not all I did, no siree. I also put those little round eyelets in the cap panels. We all know how important those eyelets are! That factory closed after I was there a little over a year and I decided it was time to get back to school.

I still was not 100% clear on what career I wanted to pursue. I had always been a timid sort and had little confidence in myself. I made a conscious decision to try the thing that frightened me most. (Face your fears head-on to eliminate them and become a stronger person is what I was thinking here.) I took a weekend class on computer programming. I had never touched a computer before so this was a huge scary step for me. Guess what, I liked it. I enrolled full time and got a degree in computer programming.

While attending college I worked at a bank and did their nightly processing work. A fun aspect of this job was watching the ATM monitor. I would see people doing the oddest things when they thought no one was watching. ATM users made rude gestures, mooned the camera, kissed the camera and kissed each other. Fun times.

After graduating I went to work for a company that developed, sold and maintained software for about 90 banks throughout the Midwest. My job was to customize programs when a bank wanted to do things a little differently than the norm. I also helped people when they ran into problems and needed help working their way out. It was fun to guide them through their rough spots. They were always very thankful and thought I was the bomb! This company was eventually bought by a larger company and they closed our office. I was offered a job by the new company but I couldn't leave my family and move to their office in Missouri. I can't be without my family!

Payroll specialist was my next title. I did the payrolls for many of the businesses in my small town. The bakery, factory, restaurant, veterinary office and many others. I also did bookkeeping work for a few businesses. Have I mentioned that I prefer to be creative and don't enjoy numbers much? I stuck it out for a couple of years before training a niece to take over.

I went back to school to become a massage therapist just like my older sister. It was a good fit. I had had my first child by then and could set my own hours, staying home with him most of the day. A bad car accident that did some damage to my neck and jaw made giving massages too painful for me to continue.

I helped my carpenter brother Rick part-time building spec houses.

My nephew Justin is profoundly mentally and physically handicapped. I was a licenced respite care provider for him until he turned 18.

My husband Bruce and I started a trucking company. We haul a liquid by-product from ethanol production plants. We deliver the liquid to cattle feeders. Cattle love to eat the stuff, its very nutritious and it's cheaper to feed than corn. I am the one who contacts the plants to procure the syrup we haul in our tanker trucks.

We quickly became too busy for my husband to continue feeding the cattle we had on our farm. I took over the cattle chores, while he drove one of our trucks 16 to 18 hours a day. I drove tractors, mixed and fed cattle feed, worked cattle(sorting, treating, loading, unloading), hauled manure, fixed machinery, basically did everything required to take care of cattle. I think this was my favorite job.

I have always done the bookkeeping for our farm and trucking business.

I was geared up (Get it? Trucks have lots of gears? Just ignore me and read on.) to start driving one of our 18 wheelers full time when I was diagnosed with cancer. I was driving the trucks with my husband in the passenger seat. Fun fact: People who want to practice driving a semi tractor trailer before taking their driving test need to have a learners permit. I had already taken and passed all the written tests required. However, the cancer treatments left me too tired to do much of anything, hence the name Slug-A-Bed. We sold the farm, I continue to do the bookwork for our growing trucking company and I stay at home with our two boys.

Last year I was a substitute teachers helper at my boys' elementary school. I worked in the special education room with mostly downs syndrome boys. I loved it but I became too fatigued and I ended up contracting every virus that thrives in the perfect conditions an elementary school provides, a side effect of my leukemia. Only when I get a normal childhood illness it sometimes morphs into a nastier version and I can suffer for months. Had to give up being a teachers helper.

So these are the jobs I have held. Wow, that is a long and diverse list.

Baby Sitter
Switchboard Operator
Factory Worker
Bank Employee
Computer Programmer
Payroll Processor
Bookkeeper
Massage Therapist
Respite Care Provider
Carpenters Helper
Cattle Feeder
Entrepreneur
Teachers Helper
Most importantly, I am a Circus Trainer/Mom to two wild boys!

What jobs have you had, what jobs are you training for?

Career Choices.

2008-11-19T13:26:00.019-06:00

If you were guaranteed to be successful, what would be your dream job?

I would choose to be a successful writer. Wait, I am a writer of this blog! Oh right, successful is the key word here. OK then, I'd like to be a landscape designer or a home stager, or a stained glass artist, or a...... I could go on forever with this.

What would you choose to be? A gondolier? A UPS truck driver? Marine biologist? Stay at home mom/dad? Circus trainer? In my opinion a circus trainer's about the same as SAHM/D - you train, feed and clean up after the little animals, then hope they perform well in public.

Or maybe you would like to be the person who puts the little button on the top of baseball caps? (Don't laugh, I did that for over a year and I was dang good at it too!)

Yes, Colby, dare to set your goals that high! You too could be a baseball cap button application specialist!

Or just maybe you would like to travel through time, back to the mid 1970 to join a Swedish dance band? (Thanks for the pictures John.)

Put a nice black skirt with these tops and they would make lovely bridal attendants! Baracudaz? Can you say misnomer?

Oh my sweet satin, what were they thinking? I don't even want to know the meaning behind their name. You just know the photographer told the guy in black to give his best 'sexy' pose. I tried that once in high school, it didn't work for me either!

If I had to pick one, I think I might feel most comfortable joining the Gert Jonnys.

Please share with me. Money, location, talent or circumstances that would otherwise hold you back don't matter here. What's your dream career?

I'm a winner! Not whiner, winner! Really!

2008-11-15T18:52:00.030-06:00

My youngest brother John works in marketing/design for a large company that produces dairy products. He needs to know who's who on the net as his job involves developing and maintaining his companies web presence.

A few months ago John told me about some popular bloggers including Ree Drummond and her very popular blog thepioneerwoman.com. You may have noticed her blog listed on the sidebar of this site. She is so popular she sometimes gets over 10,000 comments in a day! I have to use guilt, bribery and threats to get a measly 10 comments out of the people who read this blog.
** whispers - "Jerks" - under her breath. Then thinks to herself, "Maybe if I didn't call them names they would comment more often. Nah, that's not true 'cause I never call them names out loud." **

Anyway, I read her blog and I did what I normally do when I like something a lot, I immediately became addicted and got my sisters addicted as well.

Ree's keen sense of humor is evident throughout her entertaining and informative blog. She is a photographer and explains how to take professional shots, then gives tips on how to use Photo Shop to make your shots look their best. Some of you may know that I have been into photography since I was a kid, when I took pictures of my family members in all kinds of embarrassing costumes and poses. Previous to her instructions, I mainly used Photo Shop to add boogers and mono brows to my kids pictures and posted those pictures on the web as a punishment when they misbehaved. Ree posts pictures of the men on their ranch (who usually wear chaps). I love looking at pictures of men in chaps! You can't beat that. I guess you could beat that.....with a firm hand. *eyebrows wiggle up and down suggestively* I've pictured it in my mind many times as I looked at those cowboys' backsides! Te he he.

Ree is also an excellent cook and shares her butter-licious recipes with her readers. Many of you may remember that I have eaten food since I was a toddler. Small world right?

This is an interview Ree gave on CNN last year.

It must be a little surreal to see your boy picking his nose on CNN. I want to know what he says about it when he's 17 yrs old! He is too cute strutting his stuff in his briefs with one arm swinging like a pendulum! (Side note: Did you notice the Dow was at 13,450 on the ticker back then.)

I love her blog because it is fun and entertaining. Recently however, the posts on her blog were not fun at all. They were difficult to read, but I couldn't get enough of them. Ree's husband and daughters traveled to the Dominican Republic with a group of bloggers. They were taken there to see the work done by Compassion International, a non-profit group that assists children who are living in extreme poverty. This is the same type of group that you see in commercials asking for monthly donations. I am ashamed to admit that I usually shrug off those commercials and don't give them much thought. I have my own problems you know.

Below is an excerpt of a post by Brian Seay, a leader of the blogger group.

__________

The Girl Without a Smile
Today several of our bloggers met their sponsored children. This is easily one of my favorite days of any trip. There are always hugs, tears, presents, and lots and lots of love being passed around. Every time I have met one of our sponsor children I really pray that I will bond quickly with the child and deep down I just want them to be fun. I always want to play a little soccer, blow bubbles, hear them cackle when I tickle them, and see the same little child that is within my own children. And usually that’s exactly how it goes - and it’s just flat out fun.

Big Mama met her sponsored child, Anna, today and there were no smiles or laughs coming from this 6 year old girl. We first noticed it when Melanie was giving her a backpack full of goodies- no expression, none at all.

I led the group to visit Anna’s home to meet her mother and grandmother. It became evident very quickly why there was no smile - it’s because there was no hope. Poverty will do that to a Mom. Not knowing if you can feed your family will do that to a Dad.

We asked the mother how we could pray for her family and the Mom stoically answered that she would tell us but we need to know that she doesn’t believe that God will answer any of her prayers or dreams for her children. The silence from our team was overwhelming and the cruel reality of poverty was now firmly in our face. Wess Stafford, Compassion’s President, has often said that poverty is more than the lack of money - it’s the lack of hope.

This story does not have a great ending where we fixed all their problems before we walked out the door. We prayed and we believe that the church will continue to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of this family.

I stood with Melanie outside Anna’s home and watched as the pain of her sweet girl’s situation manifested itself in those big tears you cry when it really hurts. But the reality is that Compassion does a sponsorship program for this very reason. I know it is $32 a month to sponsor a child but you need to know that Melanie’s ministry to this family extends light years beyond the money she sends each month. Melanie is now one of the only people in Anna’s life that will consistently tell her she is loved and it’s ok to dream big dreams because God will hear her prayers. Melanie, and her family, now have the massive responsibility to write Anna and make sure she remembers someone is praying for her EVERY DAY. This sponsorship is not some marketing angle - it’s a real one to one relationship that can make a monumental difference in the life of a child AND a sponsor.

If you don’t currently sponsor a child (or don’t sponsor enough), go to Compassion’s site and do it now.

If you sponsor a child already, sit down and write your child today.

________________

Go here to see a picture of Anna - no child should ever be this sad or look this forlorn.

Ree's husband(Marlboro Man) wrote about meeting Anna's family too, he just about broke my heart. Please read his post here if you haven't already read it.

The posts from all the bloggers on the Compassion trip were touching. You can read them here.

After reading about the poverty and seeing pictures of the children and the conditions in which they live, Hooligan 1 (my eleven year old) asked if he could sponsor a child instead of receiving Christmas gifts from us this year. Proud moment for this mom!

During the time of the Compassion bloggers trip, Ree and Marlboro Man offered to cover the costs for one of their readers to become a sponsor to a young person in the DR who had graduated from the normal program and showed so much potential that Compassion was sending them to the local university to continue their education! I sent in my email, as I'm sure thousands of others did, expressing my desire to be the chosen sponsor. Alas, I was not the lucky reader chosen.

However, I received an email from Ree today! She said she loved my note and they would like to pay for me to be a sponsor to one of the children in the normal Compassion program! How awesome is that, H1 and I can write to our kids together! I am so excited and can't wait to get to know my Compassion child. This is perfect for me, I get to provide support and encouragement to a child, but I don't have to worry about that nasty discipline stuff. Merry Christmas to me! So I'm feeling like a winner for once in my life. ** jumps up and down on couch singing in a sing-song voice ** "I get to sponsor a child, I get to sponsor a child! I am a so-o-o cool!" OK, the boys are giving me the raised eyebrows/curled upper lip look that says "You are so NOT cool." I'll just climb down now.

Bison has Animal Magnetism!

2008-11-15T17:46:00.008-06:00

This was sent in an e-mail from my uncle in California.

Legal question:

Is this statutory rape???
Or is It just a moosedemeanor.....

Misc.

2008-11-13T12:13:00.005-06:00

My family and I have been dealing with the flu bug for the past week. I know many of you have desperately missed my beloved blog posts during my absence...NOT. I dare to dream.

Speaking of dreams, have you checked out despair.com yet? They are over on the side-bar there. In case you can't make out the words the first one says, "Destiny - You were meant for me. Perhaps as a punishment." The one with the sinking ship is, "Mistakes - It could be that the purpose of your life is only to serve as a warning to others." They make me laugh, go over there and check out the one on Challenges. I think I am going to have a calender made there.

Last night Maidzilla shared the following recipe with the family. I doubt it's good, but I'll post it to make her happy. Hehehe.

3 or 4 chicken breasts
1/4 cup water
Zesty Italian Seasoning Packet

Cook the above in a crockpot on low for 3 hours.

Mix:
8 oz. cream cheese
1 can cream chicken soup

Pour over the chicken and cook for 1 more hour.

Maidzilla served this over rice. She claims her entire family enjoyed it. They may have been intimidated into telling her that by the rolling pin she waves around constantly! I love to jab at her, she gives it back to me in spades!

The bridge.

2008-11-08T23:35:00.015-06:00

These pictures were taken near an old railroad bridge that is about a half mile from my house. Trains don't run through here anymore. Our small town developed the bridge and the area around it into some awesome bike paths and a campground along the river.

The two kids pictured above have been the focus of my last three posts. This little boy is not yet two years old and the little girl just turned two in Sept.! They were so well behaved and did everything we asked of them and more!

This is a beautiful walk or bike ride.

It's a great place to take pictures.

When I was in high school the trains no longer ran, but the tracks were still intact. A group of us would pack into a buddy's station wagon, get the tires aligned just right on the rails and cruise the railroad tracks. We would climb onto the roof of the car, no need to steer, we just let the car go and watched the trees and rivers go by. Others remember consuming pop and other beverages when cruising the rails. (There were no pesky police officers patroling the rails.) Good times, good times.

A few nights ago I got these shots of the setting sun from the bike path.

The following pictures were taken in a town about 24 miles from us. They did a similar thing with their old railroad bridge and surrounding area.

I love the architecture of their bridge piers. What a great way to recycle these old bridges.

Tielyr

2008-11-07T23:50:00.015-06:00

The camera loves this girl.

I think it is a mutual affection.

This little turkey just turned 2 last month!

I think she could be a professional model.

I asked her to raise her arms up high. This is what she did!

Is she too precious or what?!

Colby

2008-11-05T22:35:00.014-06:00

He has the most expressive face.

3

He isn't even 2 years old yet!

4

5

6

7

Adorable!

What do you think? Kinda cute? Which is your favorite?

Two kids, too cute!

2008-11-04T08:23:00.019-06:00

Yesterday my sister Cheryl and I took pictures of our great-niece Tielyr and great-nephew Colby.

The kids were amazing, they were so happy and did whatever we asked of them!

They were posing themselves and each other.

Today I will highlight only the shots they took together.

You won't believe the individual shots we got!

Can you imagine the conversation they are having?

How cute is that?!

Dawn's Family Take II

2008-11-01T16:16:00.019-05:00

My sister Cheryl and I took new family pictures for my niece Dawn.

Then we designed a holiday greeting card.

Brandon

Ross

Heath

Heath and Hooligan 2 with his missing teeth.

Three boys relaxing on a soft bed of leaves.

Harlan simulates gently falling leaves.

"Thanks alot, Dad."

"Hello Kitty."

"Hello Berries."

2008-10-31T23:06:00.019-05:00

This is Evan, he's my great nephew. Have you ever in your life seen eyes as sweet as these?

Wait, so you are telling me I wasn't supposed to put marker on my face and on the wall?

My big brother Payton made me do it. Yeah, that's my story. Look deeply into my eyes, could these eyes lie?

Mom, help!!!

Dawn and her family.

2008-10-31T12:02:00.013-05:00

My niece Dawn and her family took snapshots recently. I don't know what type of lighting they were under, but it was a horrible, nasty, unfriendly light!
She asked if I could make some changes in Photo Shop. And because she told me that I am her favorite aunt of all time, I said, "Of course, I will ease your troubles in any way I can, my dear niece."

These are the before shots.

The light bulbs they were under need to be taken outside and used for target practice!

This is after Photo Shop. I love Photo Shop.

Because her husband made a not so nice comment,

I added this one for Dawn.

Hooligan 2 lost both his front teeth this week. (Pictures to follow in another post.) Unless the tooth/teeth are missing from a darling six year old, I think a missing tooth automatically drops the IQ by about 30 points. Not true, I know, but that is how my mind processes a missing tooth. For instance, would you trust the advice of a Dr. that was missing a tooth?

My skinny 10 speed.

2008-10-28T11:35:00.013-05:00

Did I ever tell you the story of my very first major purchase? I didn't? Well, gather around friends, some one grab me a Diet Pepsi from the fridge.

I was around twelve years old and I had a sweaty wad of one dollar bills I had earned babysitting my dear nieces and nephews. I had been saving for months to get a brand spankin' new ten speed bike.

I went to Coast-to-Coast on Main Street and there she was.....bright yellow, with curled down racing handle bars. $98 slapped down on the worn wooden counter and she was mine. Everything about that bike was skinny, from the handle grips all the way to the tires. And the seat, oh man that seat was skinny and so very hard! Who was the sadistic a-hole that designed that bike seat and is he still laughing today when he thinks about the pain that he inflicted on young girls in the mid to late 1970's?

Unfortunately, that bike seat was only the beginning of the pain in store for my twelve year old self. It was a hot summer day, I spent the afternoon at the swimming pool, before joyfully speeding off to my sisters house across town. I was feeling the wind in my face, the ruffles on my one piece were flying behind me when my skinny front tire abruptly slammed down into the grate of a storm drain. I flew through the air, I may even have done a flip, that part is a little hazy. I remember that after sitting up to examine my bloody, gravel encrusted knees and palms, I surreptitiously glanced around to see if any one had witnessed my fall. To my everlasting horror, I saw the picture window in the house to my right was filled with laughing teenage boys vying for the best view of the freak show sitting in the gutter outside their house!

Those boys witnessing and enjoying my misery scarred much deeper than the fall itself. I quickly got up and rode carefully to my sisters and showered the gravel and road grime off my bruised body. Then I broke into my sisters liquor cabinet and drowned my pain in Jack Danial's Tennessee Sipping Whiskey. Thus started the downward spiral that is my life today.

True story, all but the whiskey and the downward spiral bit. I threw that in for dramatic effect. I don't think any of my sisters ever actually owned a liquor cabinet.

I do wish my twelve year old self had flipped those Maassen boys off! One of those boys is now over 50 years old and drives my kids school bus. I think I'll flip him the bird when he drops the boys off after school today! Just kidding....I think.

Have any of you embarrassed yourself in front of others? Care to share? Do you dare to share?

Reward!

2008-10-23T19:07:00.019-05:00

I have received so many reader comments that I believe a reward is in order. As payment for your wonderful participation, I will show you an intricately built, rock wall that I enjoyed looking at last Saturday.

See how the mason transitioned from the red squared off rocks to the rounder more natural looking river rocks. Oh dear, that nice young man is standing in the way. Maybe we can get a better look at the wall in the next shot.

"Um....excuse me, young man. Could you please step aside for just a sec? We are trying to look at that lovely rock hard wall in front of you."

"Yes, hi there. I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm trying to show these nice people that wall. Could you step aside?"

"It would only take a second........ummm..........hello?" Apparently he is going to turn his back and ignore us! I can't believe it, how rude!

My dear readers, I'm sorry I couldn't give you the reward that I intended, what a disappointment for us! I guess we will have come back another day to get a picture of how well built that hunk of wall is.

Punishment!

2008-10-22T14:44:00.019-05:00

Please start the video above then continue reading my post. Enjoy!

I live for reader comments. Some of my family members read my blog, but they don't comment. I have given them repeated guidance and warnings! Now they must be punished! *evil cackling laughter*

These pictures were made at the following website.

http://yearbookyourself.com/

It's very fun, be sure to empty your bladder before starting.

You can win a prize!

2008-10-21T09:20:00.007-05:00

I love to play with Photo Shop. These are some of the things I've done:

This is when I was angry with Hooligan 1.

This was when I was angry with myself.

I am giving to one of todays commenters, a morphed picture of their choice. Tonight I will choose one person from my (always extensive) list of comments. The winner will email me the photo to be changed. It can be a photo you want 'fixed' in some way, or one to be messed up! The changed photo's before and after will be posted here another day.

Good luck!

Engagement pictures.

2008-10-19T21:03:00.025-05:00

My sister Cheryl took engagement pictures of our niece Angela and her fiance Nate, on Saturday. Hooligan 1 and I assisted, I helped pose them and snapped candid shots while Cheryl took the primary pictures on her fancy shmancy camera. H1 carried the camera bags and provided shade for the couple when Cheryl asked him to. H1 also lightened the atmosphere by calling Nate a "Freakin' Beast" after he checked out Nate's muscles.

Cheryl took this one, it's one of my favorites. The first version is straight out of the camera.

I wasn't doing my job very well. She had that small white string on her sweater the entire time and I never noticed it.

I cropped so they are a little closer and the contrast, brightness etc. has been adjusted slightly.

Here I desaturated the colors a little, made her skin appear more porcelain-like. That's what I think it did anyway.

This time, totally black and white.
4.

This is even closer, I went with the porcelain look and faded the color along the edges.

This is the same as # 5, except I didn't fade the edge.
6.

Here I did the desaturation thing, took the string off of her sweater and the shine off his forehead. This is my favorite. I wish we would have gotten his hand on her tummy with her hand over his showing the all important engagement ring! We have it in other shots of this pose but their heads are not together in this lovely way. When posing them I told him to look closely into her ear, then both to close their eyes. Not nearly as romantic as it looks!

OK, so what do you think? Not about the couple, we all know they are freakin' gorgeous, blah, blah, blah...... What do you think about what I did to the different versions of the shot? It's all about me here people. So which do you prefer? Is there something you would have done differently?

Ladies, if I receive enough comments, I may add a full body shot of Nate without a shirt! I snuck a shot of him while he was changing, Cheryl made me do it!

This was when H1 called him a freakin' beast!

Seriously, they do make a gorgeous couple and they are both lovely people, inside as well as out.

Alice Smith on getting older.

2008-10-19T20:21:00.007-05:00

Have you ever been guilty of looking at others your own age and thinking, surely I can't look that old?

Well...you'll love this one...

My name is Alice Smith and I was sitting in the waiting room for my first appointment with a new dentist. I noticed his DDS diploma, which bore his full name. Suddenly, I remembered a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in my high school class some 30-odd years ago. Could he be the same guy that I had a secret crush on, way back then?

Upon seeing him, however, I quickly discarded any such thought. This balding, grey-haired man with the deeply lined face was way too old to have been my classmate. After he examined my teeth, I asked him if he had attended Morgan Park High School.

"Yes. Yes, I did. I'm a Mustang," He gleamed with pride.

"When did you graduate?" I asked.

He replied, "In 1975. Why do you ask?"

"You were in my class!", I exclaimed.

He looked at me closely. Then, that ugly, old, bald, wrinkled, fat-assed, grey-haired, decrepit, son-of-a-bitch asked, "What did you teach?"

Too cute and too rotten.

2008-10-17T15:57:00.010-05:00

Erica found this YouTube video. This kid is unbelievably cute! I love Blue Cross, they pay out over $7,000 a month for my medication alone!

The following commercial gets the message across!

The day I pushed Dad too far!

2008-10-16T21:12:00.017-05:00

In honor of my Dads 79th birthday on the 17th, I thought I would feature him on by blog. What a gift, eh? Happy birthday Dad!

My father was slow to anger, but if you made him mad, watch out! His face would turn red and the look in his eyes could burn a hole in you. That look was usually all it took to guarantee instant obedience from us kids. Once in a while, with my older brothers, words that are not appropriate for my blog would spew from his mouth. He rarely punished us physically, but one day I pushed him to his limit.

It was a lovely Saturday afternoon. The entire family was cleaning in the grove of trees north of our house. I was only five years old, but I helped by picking up small branches and carrying them to the burning pile. On one such trip to the pile I noticed an old metal rake head discarded in the tall grass. I picked it up but didn't know what to do with it. I knew it didn't belong on the burn pile. At about that time I realized I had to go to the bathroom.....I had to go bad. I spun around like a discus thrower a couple of times to build momentum, then let the heavy metal rake head fly! I didn't wait to see where it landed, but turned and ran towards the house to use the bathroom.

I heard my brother Rick cry out, but thought nothing of it. Probably just my oldest brother Don clubbing him in the head with a log or something. He he he, Don was always doing fun stuff like that to Rick! As I ran by, my Dad grabbed me and swung me up off the ground and high above his head. "Sonofabitch!", he always yelled it really fast like that and kept his lips pinched tight to his teeth, "Why did you do that?!"

I had been cheerfully running to the bathroom, the next thing I knew, I was seven feet in the air getting yelled at by an extremely angry man! I was so shocked and scared that I lost complete control of my full bladder! I can still distinctly remember watching the pee stream from the right inseam of my little red denim shorts down onto my Dad's head!

He put me down in a hurry! I don't remember much after that. I was told the rake head stuck into my brother Rick's shoulder. The big baby, letting a little five year old girl make him cry! He doesn't even have a scar, didn't need stitches either! While I have been mentally scarred for life!

I hope you never had to go through the trauma of having the pee scared out of you. But, if you have, please contact me. Maybe we could start a support group. "Hi, my name is Lisa, I'm 43 and I peed on my Dad's bald head."

Maidzilla!

2008-10-15T16:08:00.025-05:00

My niece Shawn died when she was only 29. Our close family felt her loss deeply. We still think of her often and we will miss her always. She left behind a devastated husband, Kelly, and four sons. The youngest boy was a premature newborn in intensive care.

Thousands of people who heard of my nieces death rallied around Kelly and the boys, offering emotional support and endless gifts. Many family members helped out by caring for the boys and doing house cleaning, laundry, meals etc.

We hoped Kelly could eventually find love again, someone to share his life, someone to ease his burdens.

He found Gina. She was only 20 years old and a (self described) spoiled daddy's girl with attitude. We were a bit sceptical at first, but she was just what their family needed. She was loving, but tough with the boys. The boys had grown a bit wild, as you can imagine. They were dealing with their moms sudden death and were lacking consistency. Gina had their family back on track in no time.

Incredibly, Gina became a close friend to Shawn's mom, my second-to-the-oldest sister. They spend a lot of time together. When my sister went with Gina to look at wedding rings, the person assisting them at the jewelry store asked if my sister was Gina's mom. My sister replied, "No, I'm her fiance's mother-in-law. The assistant got a very puzzled look on her face.

After they were married, she and Kelly had a beautiful baby girl and are expecting another baby soon. Gina recently went to her five year high school class reunion as a mother to five children, with a sixth baby on the way! That must have been some kind of record!

Gina took on housecleaning jobs in addition to taking care of her own new family. She came to clean for me when I was at my most fatigued. I called her "Maidzilla." Man, she was tough! I couldn't set down a beverage for fear she would yell at me for making a mess! Seriously, she did a very good job. (I do love to tease her! She is not quite as much of a spoiled daddy's girl, but still has way too much attitude!)

Gina's friendship was such a blessing to my sister. Many new wives in that situation would have wanted to distance Kelly from his first wife's family. My sister could have lost close contact with Kelly and her grandsons, in addition to the terrible loss of her daughter. Gina hasn't let that happen, if she and the kids are not at my sisters home visiting, they are talking on the phone or texting. She has also joined our large extended family without hesitation. Kelly, Gina and their kids are a treasured part of our family.

Tough Hombres!

Kelly and Gina had this picture of the boys taken, (their little girl wouldn't cooperate) when most of our family went on a vacation to the Black Hills this summer. The boys were told not to smile to make the photo look more authentic, they're happy kids normally.

The youngest boy, waiting for the bus on his first day of preschool, with his little sister.

Still patiently waiting!

A big brother joins to wait with him. Is that bus ever coming?

Finally!

Up the driveway and back to the house. Whew, who knew the bus would take so long! Think I'll have a snack, then a nice little nap.

The third cowboy.

Kelly and his little girl.

The Cowboy and the Diva Cowgirl.

The Confused Diva, hope those boys don't turn her into a spoiled brat like her mom!

Traditional Beef Stew

2008-10-14T17:21:00.005-05:00

I love to make a beef stew when the weather turns colder. This is my favorite stew recipe. Serve this with warm tea rolls. Yum!

Traditional Beef Stew

1 tablespoon cooking oil
2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 quart water
1/2 tablespoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 small onion, diced
2 potatoes, cut into 1 inch pieces
3 carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cup celery, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Heat large sauce pan to medium-high. Add oil and brown meat. Reduce heat to low, add water, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer 1 to 2 hours. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Thicken with a paste made of cornstarch and water. 6 to 8 servings.

What is your ultimate comfort food when the weather gets colder? If your weather doesn't get colder, can I come live with you in January and February?

Change for Niece 'E'

2008-10-13T07:51:00.009-05:00

Niece 'E' asked me to Photoshop some changes to her house. She knew what doors, siding, windows etc. she liked, she wanted me to put it all together.

Before.

After.

What do you think, will she like this? Do you like these changes? Do you have any ideas to share? The tree is staying, I left it out for purposes of illustration. I may put in some landscaping for her later.

Oh dear....the next picture accidentally uploaded from her camera onto my blog. How did that happen? Very cute picture of her husband and son to warm your heart on a cold Monday!

Fall colors in Minnesota!

2008-10-10T21:29:00.018-05:00

Mom, two sis-in-law and five sisters went on a Girls Weekend Out. We visited Sister 'C's Beautiful Daughter at college. Did some outlet mall shopping and took in the scenery.

Check out the beautiful fall colors!

The pictures were taken by my sister-in-law 'J'.

We were by the Mississippi river in Minnesota.

The colors were incredibly vibrant!

This is my favorite shot, straight up through the tree. I think I may have this one and the one that shows the river, printed and framed.

Flowers won't last much longer.

2008-10-08T11:48:00.011-05:00

This time of the year I like to take pictures of how things look and make plans for what I want to do next year.

Notice the screen of Emerald Green Arborvitae trees behind the garden? Like eyebrows on a face, the garden looked unfinished without them. They will fill in to form a solid screen about twelve to fifteen feet tall.

My goal is to have enough perenials so I won't need to plant annuals. I love the sweet potato vines though. I will continue to plant those each year.

The silver lace vine did well this year. I think I'll remove the trellis next year and let it grow along the ground. I like how it creeps between the rocks and other flowers.

More black-eyed-susans next year, they seem to bloom forever. More of the pincushion flower too, they are the lavender blue flowers just below the black-eyed-susans.

I will spread the feverfew around the garden. It is a bright little flower that blooms all season. Just needed to deadhead the brown blooms three or four times.

Need to enjoy it while I can, frost will be coming soon. It will look almost as nice with a coat of fresh white snow. Are you looking forward to snow?

Tomato Jam

2008-10-08T09:19:00.004-05:00

You didn't ask, but I will graciously give you the recipe for Tomato Jam anyway.

3 cups prepared tomatoes
1/4 cup lemon juice
4 1/2 cups sugar
1 box Sure Jell fruit pectin

Measure sugar and set aside. Scald, peel and chop tomatoes, cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Measure 3 cups of the prepared tomatoes into a 6 or 8 quart sauce pan. Add lemon juice and Sure Jell. Bring to a rolling boil. Stir in sugar. Boil hard for one minute. Put in hot jelly jars. Boil in a canner for 5 minutes.

I love to eat it on warm buttered toast. Mmmmm.

Sure Jell can usually be found near the boxed pudding mixes.

My childhood and that new kid.

2008-10-07T12:04:00.022-05:00

I was born a poor black child.

Just kidding, I stole that line from the movie "The Jerk".

I was the seventh child born to my dear parents. My parents loved me, my six siblings doted on me. Everything was warm, soft and cuddly in my world.

Then, just after my fourth birthday, the warm soft rug was ripped out from under me and I was dumped on my little fanny. I reached my arms up to my family and waited for one of my adoring siblings to help me up, but they had turned their backs on me. They were too busy cuddling and loving on some new baby.

The new kid turned out to be the real 'baby of the family', and he knew just what he was doing from the very beginning. He conveniently had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and was blue and near to death when he was born. He knew arriving that way would make him more precious to the rest of the family. OK, he was kinda cute.....in a blue sort of way.... I guess. How was I suppose to compete with this?

I was very shy as a child. I was also the biggest tomboy the world has seen, I played football with boys, without a shirt (weather permitting), until Mom came out and made me put one on.

By the time I was in fifth grade I definitely needed to keep my shirt on. However, I was adamant that I would never wear a bra, they were for pansy girly girls. I was a rough, tough manly girl. By the sixth grade I was finally forced to get a bra. I had fought a long hard battle, but my mom and older sisters won out, my first bra was a large B cup, no training bra could contain my hated over-abundance. Of course the little brother had to come along to the store. As I was being ruthlessly strapped into the torture device, he was peeking under the dressing room door. I couldn't even suffer this humiliation without him being cute and adorable.

Truth be told, he was a cute and adorable child, I loved him as much as everyone else. I never resented him at all.......until last night.

He is married to a lovely lady, who I call Supah Sistah. They have four lovely girls. He is a good dad, husband, cook, dresser, wine-maker, designer, brother and son. I have to end the sentence there, but I could go on and on singing his praises. Did I mention he just started a new batch of wine, about 60 bottles? I do enjoy sampling his wine, 2008 was a very good year for wine.

Supah Sistah is an RN, she runs the education department at their local hospital. She sometimes travels for her job, this week she is away at a conference. When she is gone, younger brother takes care of their home and four kids like it is no big deal. Last night he came home from work, fed the kids (and our parents and I) then he proceeded to can twenty quarts of salsa with Mom and I. He is going to can tomato jelly tonight. He has promised me a couple of jars.

If only he wasn't so darn likable. But finally, last night, I found something I do resent, it is his children. They are freaks of nature! They helped us when asked, were cute and entertaining as we ate together, and then, get this, they went off and entertained themselves quietly for the rest of the evening while we worked. What was that about! Where was the whining, the "I'm bored." or "Get me a drink" or "I'm hungry." The fighting? When they needed something they helped themselves, or the older girls helped the younger. My boys are great and I love them dearly, but they behave as wild undiciplined boys are wont to do.

Aren't they adorable?

TED.com - YouTube For Really Smart People

2008-10-05T18:33:00.011-05:00

TED.com gathers creative, extremely intellegent people and asks them to give the best speech of their lives or the best show of their lives in approximately 15 minutes.

These people are very smart. They make me feel very dumb. But, once in a while, even I can grasp what they are trying to get across. They are almost always entertaining as they fill their 15 minutes.

These were two presentations that I liked. If you want to expand your world, go to TED.com and explore.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/arthur_benjamin_does_mathemagic.html

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html>

Cowboy Sobriety Test.

2008-10-04T13:26:00.010-05:00

Little brother sent this to me.

Either someone set up a good joke, or these two should go dancing together. After he serves his time.

Sorry you had to see this.

2008-10-03T15:51:00.004-05:00

I gave him ample time. He has ignored my pleading and my strong warning. All I asked for was a simple comment. I would have been satisfied if he had left just one comment that said, "Yer dum." But, he couldn't be bothered.

He has lulled himself into a false sense of security because he lives 45 minutes away from the rest of the family, he thinks he has insulated himself from us. Think again, Designer Boy (youngest brother, baby of the family, graphic designer). With this blog, I CAN PROJECT ABUSE WORLD WIDE, SUCKA! (evil, cackling laughter)

Aren't you glad you suggested I start a blog? The power of the pen, I'm drunk on it! (more evil laughter). You've created this monster, now you must feed it. I want comments, and I want them NOW! Heads up to the rest of the family - It could be you next!

I'm sorry everyone has to see what I am going to show below, but I feel I must back up the promises I made in my previous warning.

Take THAT!

Umm, Designer Boy, can I still come to your house, swim and fish in your pond and sample your homemade wine?

Do you miss me?

2008-10-03T02:56:00.000-05:00

Sadly, I am currently on strike. I know you are reading my blog, but you don't leave comments for me. I live for your comments. I have threatened and I have begged. Going on strike is all I have left in my bag of tricks.

I have a really good post ready for you. It has embarrassing pictures of my youngest brother. To see it, all you have to do is leave me comments. It will only take 6 comments. Throw me a bone here.

P.S. Do you like my new layout?

My lovely pergola.

2008-09-30T20:09:00.002-05:00

A brand new pergola, yeah! I found it in the clearance area at Lowes, regular price $297, clearance price $74. SCORE! I do love a bargain! WoooHOOO!

It was perfect for our back patio. I got it home, put it up, used the stakes provided to secure it. I even added extra cement blocks to ensure it wouldn't be damaged by wind. It does get windy on top of our hill. Better safe than sorry, I always say.

I swagged back the mosquito netting on all four sides. Just lovely....(blissful sigh).....a grand sight to behold.

This is my pergola today. Not grand....fractured exposed skeleton .....broken and forlorn.........its carcass crumpled over the fence. It stood for less than one day before the wind took it from me. Why...why....was I too proud? Too pleased with my material gain? (solitary tear slowly slides down cheek, lands softly on keyboard.)

Hold on, hold on.......wait a minute. You there, guy with the horses, get out of my shot! I don't want to show beautiful horses right now. We're being sad over here. Move along please. Don't call out, "Nice night to be outside!" to me. And wipe that smile off your face!

OK, just ignore them. I know his horses are gorgeous with that setting sun on their rumps, but let's focus on the pergola. Pretend they are not over there, enjoying the beautiful fall evening, while we are here trying to deal with my loss. Let's recapture our feelings of sadness. Are you with me? Good.

This is what she looked like in all her glory.

Gone, but not forgotten.....(heavy sigh).

Actually not really gone, some one still has to go clean up that mess. Is that my job? Really? I'm grieving here people. Does no one care? No cleanup volunteers? (....waiting......patiently waiting.......) Did I mention that I have cancer? Three kinds of cancer? (Still no volunteers.......we hear only crickets.) OK, fine, I'll do it by myself! (Mumbles softly under breath, "Jerks.")

I think I will be posting again about my pergola. I have a vague plan to use the corner supports behind my water feature. Maybe I can fashion them into a trellis of sorts. Hmmmm......I think I'll go give The Carpenter a call....ask for some advice about this new project.

I trick a family member!

2008-09-30T08:36:00.002-05:00

The Carpenter (middle brother) now tells me to, "Look it up on YouTube." when I ask him for advice on projects.

See, The Carpenter has figured out that what I really want is for him to come to my house so I can then trick him into helping me with whatever project I'm working on. Last week I got him to help plant about 20 trees. Two years ago I got him to build me a house!

Alas... how cleverly he uses YouTube to outsmart me. Yesterday when I asked for advice on how to get rid of the weeds in my rock beds, he told me to check YouTube for this advice from Farmer Giles.

Love Farmer Giles. Love his accent, his clothes and his tip.

Then I got sidetracked and watched this:

And then I watched this: (Turn your volume down if you're at work.)

And then I watched this:

Then I got confused and disoriented, I forgot that my weeds needed killing and took a nap instead.

I'll call The Carpenter tomorrow and tell him I lost Internet access and I need him to come over to tell me how to get rid of the weeds. Do you think he'll fall for it? Do you think he might be reading this post right about now?

YouTube Videos I Enjoy.

2008-09-29T10:48:00.004-05:00

If you haven't heard Paul Pots sing Nessun Dorma, you really should give it a listen. The first time I listened to him sing I got goose bumps. It made the hair on my cankles stand straight up. He is performing on Britains Got Talent, their version of American Idol.

I prefer the judges for Britain's Got Talent over American Idols judges. What up, Yo, Yo, Yo, Dog, Yo, Yo know what I mean, Dog? I like Paula, but Randy, not so much. Simon is on both and I like him, he's honest if a bit harsh at times.

This one is funny.

What is your favorite, recent YouTube view? Please, share with me.

Hacked! (Yes, once again the evil (ANGELIC) hacker has struck!)

2008-09-28T20:41:00.002-05:00

The last post was written by an evil hacker (beautiful and passionate sister). I might agree with some (all) of the words written, but I want you to know it was ___ posted by me, Slug-A-Bed. (That will teach me to leave my blog signed in on her computer.) The password has (NOT,REPEAT NOT) been changed, don't(so) try it again Carehead (my lovely sister)! (OK, I WILL)

I was born on my(beloved) sister Carehead's 9th birthday. She tells me it was her worst (best in the world) birthday ever! She got no (a lot of) attention. Waaa, waaa, waaa (yeah, yeah, yet another yeah) . Maybe (For sure) she was the one who came up with my hated (beloved) middle name 'Jane'. Hmmm. Maybe she was paying me back for taking her birthday moment in the sun. Hmmm. It's all becoming clear (foggy) to me now.

In high school I was complaining (rejoicing) that I disliked (absolutely loved) my middle name, 'plain (ravishing) Jane'. I was (am) such an idiot (intellectual woman)! The very popular girl (Homecoming Queen) that I was complaining to was named Jayne. Of course her name had the 'y'. That makes it a totally different name right?

Anyway, now each year Carehead and I head for the city on our shared birthday. We get a free dessert at Applebee's. You would think they might become suspicious, both of us claiming the same birthday. No one has ever asked for proof.

My beautiful sister c

2008-09-28T19:31:00.002-05:00

My beautiful sister is everything I strive to be in a person. I was the best gift she could ever have as I was born on her birthday! I love you, sis!!

Payback!

2008-09-28T10:08:00.002-05:00

Hooligan 1 behaved very badly in a store yesterday. This post is all about getting even with my lively firstborn! Below you will see H1 in this years class picture. Nice looking kid if I may say so myself. Since this is my blog, I decide that, yes, I may say so.

The picture below, however, is the picture his friends will be receiving in an email later today. I do love Photoshop!

Hee, hee, hee. Check out those ears, that tooth, and the flattened head! I thought the monobrow was a nice touch. Take that kid! YES!!

Hooligan 2 is giggling uncontrollably looking over my shoulder at this picture.

All the books on disciplining children, (I've read them all) say you should be willing to take the same punishment you mete out to your children. So below is a before picture of me.

Now I am giving myself the same punishment I gave H1. I morphed myself into a hideous fat person. Check below for my after picture. How gross.

Check out that nose, the chins, and the thinning hair! Ha, ha, ha!

OK, as you probably guessed, I switched my before and after pictures. Now you know why I stay inside and blog. Don't want to scare people by going out in public. If you read my earlier post about scaring my neighbor, you now have a better understanding of my neighbors fear.

More family fun.

2008-09-28T00:03:00.002-05:00

My family and friends like to play a game that is a mix of Truth or Dare and Spin the Bottle.

Every one writes a 'dare' on a small piece of paper, it is folded and put into a hat. We spin a bottle that is in the center of the players. The person the bottle is pointing to when it stops spinning must pick a 'dare' out of the hat and perform the act described.

When writing the 'dares' you have to keep in mind that you might pick your own paper out of the hat. This keeps things from getting too carried away.

Dares we have used:

Put your head in the mailbox and sing, "We wish you a merry Christmas."

Hold hands with the person to your right until the next turn is over.

Give Grandma a hug.

Do the crabwalk.

Dunk your big toe in the toilet.

Kiss Grandpa's left foot.

Run ten steps into the snow in your bare feet.

Sing 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' as loudly as you can.

I love a stump.

2008-09-27T13:29:00.001-05:00

I have admitted to loving the tree below and no one has put me in a straight jacket. I'll go one step further and let's see what happens.

I love the rotting remains of a tree!

I even have it prominently displayed by the front door of my home!

I love the detail in its silvered carcass.

I use it for the desktop background on my computer.

Do normal people get excited about a tree, or a stump?

I fed my Mother-In-Law a worm!

2008-09-26T08:59:00.002-05:00

Is feeding an unsuspecting person a dead worm better than feeding them a live worm? Probably depends on the level of decomposition. Anyway, I fed my mother-in-law a dead worm.

We were to gather with The Big Guys extended family, probably around 30 people. I was asked to bring a cauliflower cheese soup to this 'soup and rolls' dinner. I merrily went about preparing it, using only the freshest vegetables. I was trying to impress the new MIL, who is an excellent cook..... and housekeeper....... and wife....... and shopper...... and gift giver..... and friend..... and... and.. and.

It's not pleasant to be a distant, very distant second in comparisons. If you are an unmarried young lady I give you this advice: Marry a man whose mother is a slovenly harridan. You will be golden in your husbands eyes forever. Seriously now, you probably don't want your future children to have a slovenly harridan for a grandmother. Don't take advice from me, we'll all be better off.

So I presented my carefully prepared soup to the group. MIL chose my soup over many other possibles, Grandpa G. (family patriarch) told me my soup was good! I was glowing inside! All was right in my little world.

Then, after she took a bite of my soup, to my everlasting horror, I saw my MIL delicately pull a small white worm from her mouth! Her eyes met mine, she calmly put the worm in her napkin and finished the bowl! She finished the bowl!

I was in shock, horrified and so very grateful she hadn't spit the worm out onto the center of the table while screaming that her daughter-in-law was a freaking idiot loser.

What happened next will live on in my mind as the moment, the moment when I knew that she liked me, she really, really liked me. She went and got another small portion of my worm infested soup! She ate it while making pleasant conversation with the people around her! Meanwhile, I did what I always do in times of pain, and in times of happiness, times of boredom, times of playfulness, times of peace, times of war. I ate. My hands were shaking, but I still managed to eat a delicious cinnamon roll prepared to perfection by my MIL.

Who knew that a little worm (probably hiding in the cauliflower that I had carefully washed), would create this bond with my MIL. Thanks little worm, in a strange twisted way you made my world a better place. After re-living this trauma, I think I'll go get some ice cream.

Look at what this woman found in her yard!

2008-09-25T15:58:00.002-05:00

I thought at first it was a hoax, but apparently this 'thing' is real! I want one in my yard!

Be sure to read the comments people left about the post, hilarious! "Mary wouldn't be quite so contrary if she had one of these!" From Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?

http://anovelwoman.blogspot.com/

Wet your pants family fun!

2008-09-25T04:39:00.002-05:00

If you have read some of my previous posts you will have noticed that I enjoy the pain and humiliation of others. I try to incorporate this enjoyment into the games we play when we gather for holidays.

The video scavenger hunt has been a perennial Thanksgiving favorite. It goes like this; you have all your gullible family members form teams, these teams do really dumb, embarrassing things all around our small town, and (this is the tricky part), you get them to video tape themselves doing it and then they bring their videos back and the entire family gets to view the videos. I know what you are thinking, "No family with an ounce of dignity or self respect would do this to themselves." I know! I know! But as luck would have it, my family has no pride, I'm so lucky that way! OK, my mom does have a little, but she's the only one.

We form teams of about 8 people, each team has to be able to pack themselves into a vehicle. With our large family we can usually form about 4 or 5 teams. Their are a few stick-in-the-mud types that don't play. We punish them by leaving the smallest children with them and they get stuck wiping noses and changing dirty diapers. They don't want to play, they must pay!

Each team is given the same list. They need to complete, with video proof, all the tasks listed and the team that completes the list quickest gets extra points. Let the hilarity ensue.

This is a partial list of the things I have convinced my family members to do over the years. Keep in mind the fact that we live in a small community where everyone knows everyone. It ramps up the humiliation factor.

Go to the post office. Form a line, hands over hearts, and say the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

One team member must go into the convenience store, get three squares of toilet paper from the bathroom, go to the front desk and ask the cashier, "How much for this?"

Go to the football field and one team member must kick a field goal. (A ball and stand are provided at the field.)

In relay fashion, while wearing the long blond wig, every team member must go down the 'big slide' at the elementary school. Handing off the wig like a baton. (The Barbie wigs were Halloween clearance items I found, every team got one.)

Go to the stop light(we only have one). One wig wearing team member must use the spray bottle and cloth provided to wash the windshields of passers-by until someone pays you for your work. Must be a non-family member that pays you.

One team member, wearing the wig, must run and touch all 4 traffic lights at the intersection of 14th and Main. (I can still see the young men sprinting across the streets with their long blond Barbie curls flying.)

Find a teacher that you liked and thank them for being a good teacher. Ask them for a word of wisdom. (The principal gave these words of wisdom to one of our teams, "Don't play leap-frog with a unicorn!")

Do the funniest thing you can think of that is legal and safe.

The last task is by far the best. One team mooned the camera. I believe they were disqualified because it's illegal - Indecent Exposure. Another team went to a man we know who has a long white beard, team members sat on his lap and told him what they wanted for Christmas (he was in his pajamas)! The best and most awe-inspiring was when a team went to the door of our towns scary, 'he may have bodies buried in the back yard but nobody really knows' guy. They brought him a piece of pumpkin pie and wished him a happy Thanksgiving! He was very appreciative and talked to them at the door while he ate the pie. Every small town has at least one of these people don't they?

We have witnessed sabotage, a team stole anther's wig and threw it up into a tree. Another team negligently left the keys in their vehicle while they raced to complete a task. My team took their keys. Hee, Hee. It was dang cold that night! Hee, Hee, Hee. "Hey, we could have taken the car too, you whiners!"

When we all get back we view the videos and wet our pants laughing. Other families in the area have started playing this game at their Thanksgiving parties. What have we started? The next generation of scary, crazy people for our small town? I guess every town has to have them!

Blondie

2008-09-23T08:37:00.002-05:00

My parents settled in a small farming community in Iowa which has a population of about 3,000. Most of my siblings and I still live nearby. I consider being part of a large family to be a precious gift. We are always getting together, sharing tons of laughter and some sorrows. On my side of the family I have 38 nieces and nephews, including the greats, with at least two more babies expected and also one wedding in the works. We have experienced tragedy twice as we have lost two nieces.

All of my family members are special people and have great stories, but today I would like to talk about my oldest brother's second child. I will call her Blondie. That is Blondie pictured below in color.

Our entire family gathers for all the major holidays and most minor ones, it is rare for a sibling to be absent at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Since we are a large group we try to rent a local community center with a gym and a kitchen. Kids (and adults) can run wild there, playing whatever games they can interest others in; basketball, volleyball, tag, hide and seek, cards or other table games. And we do all the expected holiday food of course. Holidays are a big deal for us.

My oldest brother Don lives the furthest away, about a 2 1/2 hour drive, but they make the trip 'back home' often. So, we were surprised in Dec. of '98 when Don and his family decided to stay at home and not travel down for Christmas. They explained that their lives had been too busy and they just wanted a quiet Christmas at home. My sister-in-law Josie had had a tubal pregnancy earlier in the year and along with that pregnancy had lost any chance to bear children. They were still saddened and reconciling themselves to the fact that their first child, Sarah,would be an only child.

Don is an electrician, Josie works as an RN at a hospital nearby. They both had the holiday weekend off from work. That Christmas Eve., the gifts had been wrapped and they had gone to bed, when for some reason Sarah brought a cordless phone and placed it near Josie in bed. Don and Josie are both notoriously deep sleepers. We have all heard their alarm sounding for what seems like hours, while they sleep on peacefully next to it.

Meanwhile, at the hospital where Josie worked, a woman had driven herself in, given birth to a healthy baby girl during the early morning hours and wanted to drive the 2 hours it took to get back home, before her family knew she was gone. She had kept her pregnancy a secret from everyone. She was divorced and a mom to three children from that marriage and didn't feel she could take care of another child. She asked the nurses to please help find a good home for her baby.

At that time, a baby left at a hospital was considered abandoned and she would be considered a criminal if she left without securing a home for this baby. She couldn't go through the courts and the child welfare system, as this could take weeks or months and would involve lots of paper work and contacts to her home. She was desperate to give the baby to a good family and get back to her life. The nurses immediately thought of Josie and how much she and Don wanted another child.

Social workers were contacted, the hospital attorney was consulted, then finally a nurse was granted permission to call Don and Josie, to see if they would be interested in adopting this precious baby!

When the phone rang at 4:00 AM, it was a miracle they were at home and that Josie woke up to answer the call. Don, Josie and Sarah were in shock, they were overjoyed! Of course they wanted the baby! An attorney who specialized in adoptions was needed to get the paperwork done immediately. Keep in mind this was 4:00 AM on Christmas morning! Josie left at least 20 messages on the answering machines of local attorneys, no reply. The hospital attorney could not help them as it would be considered a conflict of interest, but, he gave Josie the name of a friend who might be willing to help.

This attorney did answer his phone, but turned them down as he was leaving to join his family on vacation. 15 minutes later he called back and said he just couldn't get them off his mind and had to do his part to help with their Christmas miracle. He came to the hospital a couple of hours later with the papers required.

Don, Josie and Sarah were given a small room on the OB floor to get to know their tiny new family member who they named Hannah. The hospital and soon the entire city were buzzing with the story of the Miracle Christmas Baby, the story was told in the local newspapers. Baby gifts, many from complete strangers, were recieved. Most parents have 9 months to prepare themselves and their home for a baby. My brother and his wife needed everything; crib, clothing, diapers, formula, bottles and blankets.

The birth mom returned home and we assume her family never knew that she had given, on that early Christmas morning, the greatest gift that one human can give another. The gift of a child.

(I know I should have saved this story for Christmas, but if you'll remember, I have no self-control.)

Bovine Hair Styles

2008-09-22T07:31:00.002-05:00

A couple of years ago, when we lived on a farm, I was responsible for feeding up to 400 head of cattle. The Big Guy taught me everything I needed to know about cattle, except how they did their hair.

When you see them lined up at a feed bunk every day, you begin to realize they all have distinct faces and hairdo's, just like us humans.

Check out these steers at my sister C's farm. I cropped these photos, but no other changes were made.

_________

Aren't these curls too perfect! You know he

would be getting all the girls if he was capable.

(Steers are males that have been altered

so they are incapable of getting the girl,

if you know what I mean.)

Side view of curly top.

____________

He didn't take time to 'do' his hair today.

Reminds me of me. I'm tired too, honey.

_____________

Trying to hide in the back with that receding hairline?

____________

The Grunge look here. He had just eaten,
and I didn't give him time to clean up.

____________

Punk Rocker.

____________

This one brings to mind Micheal Jackson.

White face, over 'done' girly shaped nose.

____________

Don't you talk about Micheal that way!

I'll throw your white a** over that fence!

____________

These two use the same stylist.

____________

Ryan Seacrest?

____________

This guy thinks he's so superior. You know he spent hours in front of the mirror getting every hair in place like that! The arrogant prig!

____________

Hey, buddy. Just get out of bed?

Got cotton mouth? Water tank is over on your right.

No problem, glad to help.

____________

His stylist should have paid more attention when they covered 'sublety in highlighting' at beauty school.

____________

Wait a minute, this guy is checking my hair!

OK, OK, maybe I could have put a little more effort into my 'do'. But, we were only going to the farm! You don't have to be so critical man!

Playing at the Farm

2008-09-21T20:00:00.001-05:00

I took Hooligan 2 to the farm yesterday to play with some cousins. This was after a long day outside. Notice the filthy legs on that boy!

This cousin stood still for a few pictures.

The others were much too busy.

Do you prefer 'black and white' or color?

I think she is adorable either way!

I love the 'I've been playin' on the farm all day long' hair!

Whadda you lookin' at?

Hooligan 2, elementary art.

2008-09-19T23:48:00.002-05:00

This work of art is a self portrait of Hooligan 2
(1st grade). Some orthodontia may be in our future if that's what he sees in the mirror. What's with that third eye? And the two demented red ones?

Again with that mouth. Thankfully, this is not a self portrait. I titled it, 'Pippi Longstockings on Crack.'

This third one is from kindergarten (last year). It was of animals at the zoo.

That's a gun in his hand. Looks like I need to explain that nice boys don't 'pack heat' when they go to the zoo.

"The animals at the zoo aren't the kind of animals you shoot, honey. Actually, you are not allowed to shoot any animals. OK, fine, if a wild, feral beast is attacking us, you may shoot it with your air-soft gun. Put your eye protection on first though!"

At the bottom of the page he explains that the zoo animals are bols (bulls). He likes them because they bcus wyld (bucks wild). I didn't ask what those large, hairy things hanging down well past the hooves were.

Hooligan 1

2008-09-17T12:02:00.002-05:00

Hooligan 1 has been begging me to write a post about him. He doesn't realize what kind of danger he is inviting into his life.

I always wanted to be a mom. I love kids. I enjoy talking to them, playing with them. I'm not good with discipline though. Self-discipline, what's that?

We wanted a baby for a couple of years before I became pregnant with Hooligan 1. We were overjoyed when we learned we were expecting a girl. I gathered a closet full of frilly girl clothes.

After a brutal 24+ hour childbirth process that ended with a C-section, I was slowly coming out from anesthesia when I heard a nurse ask what we were going to name the baby. I opened my eyes and explained we were going to name her Regan. The Big Guy laughed from across the room where he was holding somebody's baby boy. He said, "She still thinks we had a girl."

The Big Guy was so proud, all my siblings had girls their first time out. He says he 'throws' only boys. I think 'throws' is an animal husbandry term he learned growing up on a farm. As long as he doesn't start applying animal husbandry terms to me, I'm OK with it.

Now girls are as dearly loved and cherished in my family as boys, but keep in mind that The Big Guy is well....big. I am also, shall we say, a woman of substance, yeah, that's what we'll say. So I had secretly been hoping to have a boy to inherit our size genes. 'Big' is not a description most girls want applied to them, unless you were describing their hair during that unfortunate period in the '80s.

I remember Hooligan 1 laying on the floor between The Big Guy and I when he was a baby. I said, "He is exactly what I have always wanted."

He called his pacifier a tee-tee. He made up his own language when he was little. I wish I had written down the words he made up. I remember water was glug.

We love him dearly. He is a true original. (I know every blogging momma in the universe says that about her children.) But Hooligan 1 is truly one of a kind.

At his 'Uncle T' and 'Aunt J's wedding he had almost everyone (over 300 guests) laughing so hard they cried. I know I did. When his 'Aunt D' gave a speech, he went up onto the stage in his little tux and pretended to hold a microphone. He imitated her to perfection. When she read a poem, he pretended to hold a paper and lip-synced reading it. When she started laughing at him, he clutched his little stomach and mimed her laughter. He would bend forward at the waist, then lean his head way back and kick one foot in the air. 'D' was laughing so hard she couldn't finish her speech for many minutes. Every time she would try, he would crack her up again. He was not even 4 years old.

He loved chickens for some reason. He named one of his hens Big Frank Morter Boy.

He had a pet calf when he was 7. He took a picture of her to school where the kids in his class named the calf Lucky. Meanwhile at home, Hooligan 2 and I named him Pie. The calf became 'Lucky as Pie'. I never saw a cuter sight than Hooligan 1 riding his bike up and down the driveway with that calf running beside him jumping and kicking her heels up high!

Two years ago, a bunch of us were watching fireworks. Hooligan 2 was whining and crying because he wanted to go home. This went on way, way too long. Why didn't someone make him stop? Oh wait.....was that my job? Anyway, my dad finally couldn't take it any longer. He set Hooligan 2 firmly down on his own lap and told him to, "Be quiet!" Without missing a beat, Hooligan 1 exclaimed, "Why Grandpa, I never knew you were such a warm, nurturing man!"

About the time he was 7, I became so very, very tired, I had about zero energy for my family, it was that silly cancer thing. A lack of discipline is not a good thing for children. Who knew? Well Hooligan 1 decided that since no one else was in charge of this family, he was taking the wheel. Guess what, a 7 year old in charge does not work. It doesn't work when he is 11 either. It's not totally his fault, but we have kinda run into the ditch as far as following the rules goes.

At the suggestion of his grade school principal, we had him go to a religion based, outdoors man style, discipline teachin' camp this summer. Hooligan 1 learned some valuable lessons about rules and consequences at the camp. He has made many positive changes since he got back.

But, I think it is about time an adult takes the wheel again. Anyone? Anyone? Oh.....that's right, I'm the adult. The Big Guy is still working 16 to 18 hours/day. We are interviewing drivers so we can hire another guy full-time to free up The Big Guy's time for our family.

Since I'm not as tired as I was before taking the lovely new drug Sprycel, I guess I'm ready to assume control. So scoot over kid, I'm taking over behind the wheel now. Oh, yes I am mister! I'm the boss around here! Let go of that wheel boy! I mean it! Right now! You heard me you little hooligan! Don't you give me that look!

Stern warning for my family.

2008-09-17T08:31:00.002-05:00

Thank you anonymous for your lovely comment. If you had left your name I could have exempted you from this warning.

I know many of you are reading this, but I need to see more comments.

Your comments don't have to be detailed. I just want to know if you enjoyed the post or not. You can write, "I read your pathetic little blog, it is dumb, dumb, dumb." Just write something.

If you people don't give me what I need, I am going to start writing about each and every one of you! You know I can, you know I will! There are so many pictures I could dig out and post here. Don't make me do it! LOL

BTW little brother 'J' was the one who suggested I start a blog. Regretting that now aren't you, 'foolish boy who let his sister put him in dresses and wigs and take pictures of him'? Hee, Hee, Hee.

If there are non-family members reading this, (Don't I wish! I always wanted to be popular. Dang it, why not me?) I would love to hear from you even more than my family. Unfortunately I don't have pictures of you in embarrassing situations. So I will just ask nicely, "Please leave a comment. Thank you."

I love you all. Thanks for coming. Now go write some comments!

I love my dad.

2008-09-16T19:42:00.002-05:00

I spent the day with family today. My dad was along. Dad was quite reserved when we were kids, he didn't talk much. He worked very hard, when he had free time it was usually spent reading. Dad has changed! He talks non-stop now. But I think his language skills have been damaged. Some wires have gotten crossed in his brain, that is my scientific medical diagnosis. These are snippets of conversations with Dad. Keep in mind that Dad often yells what he says.

Dad : "What was her name before she was married? Smith?"
Mom: "Right."
Dad: "She was a Wright?"

Slug-A-Bed: "Dad, have you ever read "Pride and Prejudice?"
Dad: "Fried presidents? I heard there was a president that was only 5' 2". He weighed less than 100 lbs. And one president had 15 children."
Mom: "Read your book."
Dad: "Eat a bun? I don't have a bun. Did someone bring buns?"
(Mom always makes sure he has a book along so the rest of us can get a word in while he reads.)

Slug-A-Bed: "The pickup The Big Guy wanted to buy was sold ."
Dad: "Where did he keep it?"
Slug-A-Bed: "He didn't have it, he wanted it."
Dad: "He WON it?!"

Dad: "I should make an appointment to see Dr. Scott."
Mom: "What kind of Dr. is Dr. Scott?"
Dad: "I don't know any Dr. Scott."

Slug-A-Bed: "'M' had some really good lemon and lime salsa."
Dad: "M had women, wine and salsa?"
(Why wasn't I invited, M? Oh, yeah..... I remember last time. I won't do that again. I promise.)

Elevator = Cultivator.
Double knit clothes = Government clothes.
Seventy or eighty acres = Sedentary acres. (Retirement community perhaps?)

Sister "M" emailed me these jokes, I think they fit nicely here.

Morris, an 82 year-old man, went to the doctor to get a physical. A few days later, the doctor saw Morris walking down the street with a gorgeous young woman on his arm. A couple of days later, the doctor spoke to Morris and said, 'You're really doing great, aren't you?' Morris replied, 'Just doing what you said, Doc: 'Get a hot mamma and be cheerful.'' The doctor said, 'I didn't say that. I said, 'You've got a heart murmur; be careful.'

This is my favorite.

A little old man shuffled slowly into an ice cream parlor and pulled himself slowly, painfully, up onto a stool. After catching his breath, he ordered a banana split. The waitress asked kindly, 'Crushed nuts?'
'No,' he replied, 'Arthritis.'

Sorry about that - cancer update

2008-09-16T00:50:00.002-05:00

In my header I said I wasn't going to post my every ache and pain. In my last post I referenced :

Bladder Infection
Sweating like a pot boiling over on a stove
Swollen Abdomen
Tender Tummy
Being Tired
Unexplained Weight Loss (Like that is a PROBLEM???)
Fibromyalgia
Waaa, Waaa, Waaa

Long story short, I had Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML). Normal white blood cell counts are 7,000 to 9,000. Mine was 189,000. Hospitalized for 4 days, went on a wonder drug called Gleevec.

This drug was FDA approved in 2001. Before this drug the life expectancy for people with CML was 3-5 miserable years. With Gleevec many people can live a normal life-span.

Gleevec usually has few side effects. Not so for me. I will not go into detail. I try to keep my promises. Lucky for me there are a couple of second generation drugs after Gleevec. I started on the one called Sprycel about 5 months ago. It is wonderful. CML is under control and the side effects are a lot better. There is a risk of developing drug resistance or the CML could mutate. But for now life is good. We do regular blood tests to monitor the blood counts, once a year we do a bone marrow check.

Interesting fact - Sprycel costs over $7,000/MONTH! Thank goodness for Blue Cross/Blue Shield. I can't believe that much has to be paid out each month to keep me alive. Actually it's a LOT more than that with all my tests and Dr. bills. Scary.

6 months after the CML, I had a chunk of skin cancer removed from my back. Dr. thinks she got it all. Have a skin check once a year. All is well.

7 months after CML, gall bladder removed.

8 months after CML, diagnosed with blood clotting disorders, Essential Thrombocythemia and JAK2 and another I don't know the name of. For now I take a baby aspirin every morning, we're good to go. ET is actually a form of cancer, my paternal grandmother had it, my maternal aunt has it. Dr.'s say it is NOT hereditary. My Oncologist/Hematologist tells me this is more of a threat to me than the CML is at this point.

Did I mention that we sold the farm during this time. I was responsible for all the packing and moving! Including farm machinery, tools and everything you accumulate living on a farm for 15 years! The Big Guy was working his usual 16 to 18 hours/day in the trucking business we had just started. We built a house, I was responsible for all decisions! Thank goodness for family.

I CAN NEVER THANK MY FAMILY ENOUGH FOR ALL THE HELP THEY GAVE, AND GAVE, AND GAVE, AND GAVE AND GAVE AND GAVE AND GAVE.

Long story even shorter: Turning 40 sucked.

Jan. 29, 2006, I think it's going to be bad news.

2008-09-15T15:04:00.001-05:00

It was a Sunday night. The Big Guy and I were sitting across from each other at the kitchen table. I told him I was going to our Doctor in the morning because I was developing a bladder infection. I warned him that I thought I had more wrong than just an infection, "I think I am going to hear bad news tomorrow so be prepared."

I had been losing a lot of weight, which was great, but my abdomen was getting larger and it was tender. When the boys and I would wrestle and rough-house, I would find myself protecting my tummy.

The night sweats were incredibly drenching and had started happening during the day as well. On Christmas day at the in-laws, I remember standing in the kitchen and sweat was coming off my head in a steady stream. I felt like a pot of water boiling over onto the stove. I stood outside to cool off. It didn't help, and believe me, Iowa in Dec. is COLD!

And I was so incredibly tired. It's hard to describe the bone deep kind of tired I had been feeling for the last couple of years.

When I look back now I am thinking, "How blind were you? You had every sign of cancer there is! Of course you were going to have bad news you loser!" But at the time I could almost explain everything away, the tiredness was due to my fibromyalgia, sweats were probably perimenopause, (I was 40 you know!), weight loss was because I was working hard outside with the cattle. The swollen abdomen was a little harder to explain. I thought it was probably a gastro-intestinal tumor.

Have you ever thought about what kind of cancer you would choose if you had to have cancer? I always thought I'd prefer to have some type of tumor. Cut the sucker out and get rid of it man! You can't get rid of your blood, I knew I didn't want that kind of cancer.

The next morning I went to our family Doc..... To be continued.