It was a flurry of activity at our place for the holidays. Everyone came home. The girls and their husbands we all here to celebrate together. They couldn't stay long as obligations such as rent and jobs take their priority these days. But wow, while they were here it was great. People were every where! Each room was filled with luggage or people or Christmas!
Presents were exchanged and everyone was pleased. The crowning glory of course was little miss and her entourage. Dora the explorer, the pony brigade, and oh what fun the advent calendar was! The Christmas morning surprise of her car was a highlight. I am not sure her father was very pleased as trying to get all the belongings and a car into their car for the trip home was quite a feat!
The best moments were spent talking and remembering and just being together. So many pictures were taken. Little miss waded in the pacific ocean for her first time ever and her beach girl genes were awakened from their sleep. She is a natural born Californian and will enjoy many many trips to the ocean. My ocean as she called it. There were tears as we left the shoreline, but promises to re-visit on warmer days ahead.
Our quarters were close, but no one seemed to mind. Next year they'll all be at the in-laws and we'll see them in "off days" as their in-laws did this year. It givesus ample time to have the house up and comfortable in two years for them all to come home again for Christmas, in a new home, with personal rooms for all. Plus a huge great room for fun and frolick!
31 December 2006
They came, we saw, they went home!
24 December 2006
Merry Christmas Every One!
This was a Christmas card I sent years ago. It is still one of my favorites. I wish you all that you wish, no matter what it is, have a great time with those you love!
19 December 2006
14 December 2006
And now for some glorious news!
If you haven't already heard Andrea has had her baby! Go there and see the most beautiful baby I've seen in a while!
Andrea has been my favorite Superhero for years now. She takes such wonderful photographs and writes the most amazing stories of the life around her. I love her and I am so glad this blessing has finally arrived for them. He is welcomed with open arms by many far and wide.
13 December 2006
Time is short, life is fleeting
Every year for several years I have linked to this Advent Calendar. Leslie Harpold is its creator. It is cool, and "webby" and creative and can always lift your spirits during the hustle and bustle of the holidays. It's something Leslie does because she can and she gets nothing but gratitude from all of us who enjoy it free of cost every year. I even go back and look at years past because they are so fun.
This year I began, as many of us did, to enjoy the daily updates. Then something strange happened. Hmmm. Saturday's not updating, neither is Sunday. Hmmmm. I missed Friday, maybe Leslie's having internet problems. Gah.
Well, today I began again in my quest for advent. Still nothing. Then a blurb at Not Martha about Leslie's death. What? I began a google search. How could this be? On the heels of the sad news of James and Kati and now this! There it was, friends, lots of them are offering their remembrances and piecing the story of her death together. She had been ill.
Emily mentions making a donation in Leslie's name at Modest Needs. I concur. Modest Needs is one of my favorite charities especially this time of year. I have been donating to them on and off for a few years and it always helps me remember that we are all in this together. It is the small acts of kindness shown, by people like Leslie, that bring sunshine into the lives of others. If you haven't yet dropped $20 in a donation pail, or even if you already have, do it again today. It'll make you feel better and is a great way to show Leslie that she made a difference. Make the donation in her memory, they'll let you do that.
So remember in a quick moment someone who makes you feel better, or loves you more than you'll ever know, or even an aquaintance over the net can be gone in an instant. Life is fleeting, make it count.
12 December 2006
Cool stuff to have on hand
I love stuff. Especially useful stuff. I have seen glass cloths everywhere. Microfiber has become the worlds biggest buzzword. They will replace papertowels someday I think, hope. I cannot remember ever voluntarily purchasing paper towels ever. Big waste of dinero for me, we've used them but the guilt factor is high when we do.
Now Method has packaged microfiber towels for sale in differing types for differing reasons. I have a stack of them and so should you!
They also have them available just for wood or everyday uses. They last at least 40 launderings, and can help you mop up even the most difficult of spills. Save a tree, man!
Ah, I love a warm bed. I got spoiled sleeping on a water bed most of my life. There is nothing better than climbing into a nice warm bed after a long day. However, since we bought the best mattress in the world, the only complaint I have is that it doesn't warm itself. I cringe with the thought of climbing into that ice cold bed! Eeeek! And I don't have one of those crazy, but loving, husbands that goes to bed and lays on my side five minutes before I do so it will be warm. No I don't. He does all kinds of other nice things but he has to draw the line somewhere. So what's a girl to do?
Buy one of these:
A heated mattress pad, it's a miracle of miracles. Now I can snuggle into my bed at night and it's warm and wonderful. The best part is that it is dual controlled so the husband, who for some reason, is always warm and toasty and can't stand the extra heat. Go figure?
The best thing is the savings it generates. You save on heating because the house doesn't need to be on high just before bed. If you outfit the whole house full of beds, everyone is toasty and you can leave the heat off at night. Program that thermostat to come on just before it's time to get up and everyone is happy. Not only the heating savings are possible, bu tthe doctor bills will be lower too. Leaving the heat on at night is directly correlated with wintertime colds. The heat is a breeding ground for all those germy germs that like to play in the wintertime.
Tidbits of information. What? I can't buy that. Of course not. But you can read them. One such as this: You know when you go to your favorite neato store? They always ask you if they can have your zip code. Oh very benign. "They're just checking to see where everyone comes from", you say to yourself, "maybe they'll build one in my town." Yes, it used to be that simple. Now, telemarketers are using that info, combined with your sales history to build a profile on you. You will begin to receive spam, mailers and all other kinds of "notices" to assisting in separatin gyou from your money. Think about it next time and decline, unless of course, it is for credit card verification needs.
See now that one didn't cost you anything!
What else? Well how about this:
I really like doll houses. But every one I've ever seen is flimsy or fragile. Well I watched this show on the home and garden network (the craziest show ever IMO) and B. Original made a dollhouse out of a bookcase. One of those small $29.00 bookcases at target or walmart or any other simple home store. 
It's cute, simple and sturdy. And think of the hours that small person will spend playing on their own! You'll be able to make some stuff of your own. Or maybe read a blog or two. heh.
My favorite item to have on hand? Carmex! This tiny little bottle can be found everywhere in my life. In my purse, in my little basket by the bathroom sink, in my car, in my husband's car, in my emergency kit. Why???? Well this little bottle,
is a cure all. It is specifically made to keep your lips soft and supple, but it works for all kinds of stuff. It is great if you have new shoes and need just a bit of lubricant on the back of your heal to keep from getting a blister. It also works if you have one of those creepy heel things, where your skin has gotten really dry, almost to the point of cracking. Put a glob on there and some socks overnight and you'll be amazed at how much better it is in the morning. It also has a SPF rating helping keep all that horrible sun damage that can occur when you're outside. Get some soon, you'll understand the addiction.
What stuff do you love?
10 December 2006
D is for Desmond
Okay this is so totally not in the Christams spirit, but I love it. Edward Gorey is an illustrator and writer who died in 2000. However, the Gashlycrumb Tiny's are still a draw to me. I had to do this test. Maybe you will too. My favoerite name is Desmond. So ecletic yet lasting at the same time. I could know and old man and a small child with the name and find it very fitting for each. So that's why I chose Desmond. What fun!
Which Gashlycrumb Tiny are you?
D is for Desmond thrown out of a sleigh.
Take this quiz!
Quizilla |
Join
| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code
01 December 2006
I needed food, or something warm this morning. So of course, my first choice was Starbucks. A venti hot chocolate is my favorite. A blueberry scone. And all is right with the world. Well, until I realize that is probably is not all that healthy. Sigh.
Scone. Not your Utah variety scone, not evenyour english variety. However, Starbucks, for a run of the mill mass produced scone, does okay. Better than most chain grocery bakers. And no real bakery, I've ever been in, makes them. Except of course, Con Pane in San Diego which I stated my love for in the past. In fact now that I think of it, will it be Con Pane or El Indio for lunch on the 23rd? I think we'll go by COn Pane first and then see what we can pick up at El Indios.heh.
But to my main point of this post. I saw the funniest thing this morning. A woman driving down the block coming toward me. I HAD to notice her. Why because her hair was glowing from inside her car. I was the prettiest shade of red. Not just auburn wow were you born with that hair red. No not all all. It was the Merry Christmas kind of red. You know like this,
or maybe even this,
The kind of red that makes you want to hug her. And, invite her to church. She add so much to the otherwise dull and boring same old calico dress group.
What made it all the more noticable was that she was driving this:
Yep a minivan. Gotta love her.
30 November 2006
At the close
Well, NaBloPoMo is coming to an end tonight. No more daily posts on demand. Not that I won't post daily or anything like that, but if today turns into tomorrow...
We are one day closer to Christmas. Only 25 days until my family is reunited for the holidays. I cannot say how much I am looking forward to that day! They are all coming from frozen tumdra in one way or another and I am hoping for a nice warm Christmas here so they can thaw out and have some fun. We will all only be together for two days as some are going and some are coming in the same few days. So we will be packed in like sardines while they're here but I don't think anyone will mind. Except of course, the cat. He owns the roost and will be very vocal that his space is out of order.
Look out Angus, the kids are coming and that includes Little Miss!
29 November 2006
Ooooo Oooooo Oooooo!
The LA Auto Show opens Friday! Wowzer, I didn't realize it was that time of year again! Lookingat the map of the show, they have MINI in a much better place this year. It's with the BMWs of course but this year we are front and center instead of behind the corner of BMW. And, drumroll please....... we're right next door to Maserati! Totally cool.
I know, it should be my husband who is so interested in cars. Not. He likes that you get in them, turn the key and they take you from here to there. And he also likes that his big truck has a V8. That's about it. Nope. It's the girls in the family that salivate at cars. In fact I have a great pic of #3 hugging a porsche. :-) The girl's got good taste. Not those little 924s, or 044s either. It's a Targa or nothing thankyouverymuch! So right now it's a 2007 VW Rabbit. Delivery expected in January.
Others cars I'm expecting to see are the concepts. I love to see what some design guys are thinking. They are out there type cars but some of them actually get to get made! I remember when we were at BYU a few years back, ahem, ahem, the design team at BYU won a contest. They had designed the Fiero. It was cool back then. So you never know what you'll see and who is going to get to design the next big thing.
I probably won't get to go until next week, in case you're going look for the crazy woman at the MINI exhibit. She will be smiling away. I'd own two of those cars if someone could explain to me how to drive two of them at once!
Still, I just love cars. I'd own a VW, a Porsche, more MINIs, a Lotus Elise, and an Audi TT. The Alfa Romeo isn't bad either. I have a son-in-law that wants a Viper. I can hardly wait!
28 November 2006
It all started with Akeelah
I love documentaries. I enjoy reading history. I enjoy hearing about the lives of people around me. Like the people watching thing, I enjoy learning about people and the interesting things they do. So when I saw the movie Akeelah and the bee I had to grab it and watch it.
I have already stated in a different post how much I loved that movie. It was well written and the cast was well rounded. I especially enjoyed Lawrence Fishburne's portrayal of the educator turned tutor. I recommended this movie to everyone and antone looking for a fee good movie to see. I even saw it for sale at Starbucks. huh.
I then stumbled upon another movie on spelling bees. It was the bee season. Not nearly as good as Akeelah but still an interesting movie. I don't recommend you runn out and rent it or anything like that. The movie was convoluted and the story didn't seem to be as much about the bee as it was the mental illness of the mom, that illness not having anything to do with spelling bees.
Then this morning while gluing and cutting and folding, I popped Spellbound into the dvd player. It is a documentary that follows eight (don't call me on it could be 7) National Spelling champion wannabes prior to the big bee. They give you a glimpse of their lives, and their bee style. It was overall a great way to spend a morning. It was a cross section of the students across the US. Each of their stories was different and compelling. You found yourself rooting for all of them. What I loved was the way it was explained to the students that there was 248 contestants and 247 of them would misspell a word. It didn't mean they weren't champions but the contest was designed to have one "champion". One person who spelled all of their words correctly. One by one they misspelled words. All but one of them. One of the kids gets to the final, final. I won't tell you the outcome.
As each goofed up, they were interviewed. There weren't a lot of tears, in fact some were elated they couldn't participate again and the books could be set aside. It seemed to be a good experience for the interviewees. The reasons for participating were varied and compelling. Immigrant families, smart kids looking for a place to fit in, and then your average ADHD child trying everyone's patience was a bit of comic relief.
Also was included a bit on past champions and they even had the very first spelling bee winner, Frank Neuhauser, in the documentary. Yes, he was very old.
Go rent it. It was very good. A great history lesson, a great people studying film, and there were winners, and one big winner.
27 November 2006
Ah the spending season is upon us!
I have spent the btter part of today shopping. The crowds have dwindled down from my vantage point. Actually there qasn't a crowd at all! I love online shopping, I can comparison shop til I drop and still find a great bargain here and there.
That's my problem. I take all the fun out of shopping for most everyone. Because, you know, I one of those people. The kind that has to make sure I have turned over every stone before I can make a purchase. I cannot, for the life of me, impulse buy! I wish I could, but I cannot. I will pick up something I just love, and then walk around with it, trying it out. Silly yes. But it has to speak to me before I can bring it home. Just ask the daughters. They have all told me I've ruined shopping for them. I always say, before you buy clothing, of some sort, launder it twice - in your mind, then if you still think it will be just the perfect item, buy it. I'm just that way. Most of the time, whatever I have my arms wrapped around will not make the cut and it will be set down somewhere it doesn't belong. (I make sure those stockers always have a job!)
Online shopping has been a thrill for me. I love being able to read others' reviews and comparison shop prices. It is the best. The thing I miss though, is the crowds. Not! I do miss the people watching. There is something in me that loves and even craves watching other people in public. People do the craziest things sometimes. And then others are filled with emotion, sad or ecstatic, pouty or angry. I don't even really want to hear the conversations between them. I just enjoy the various stages of emotion you witness in the lives of the strangers wrapped around you participating in the 'seriousness' that is holiday shopping.
I may have to go to the mall just to see people in action, now that most of my shopping is done.
26 November 2006
November 26th
Four more days of constant blogging! It has been quite a month of posts. I was determined to get a post done everyday and so far I'm on track.
November is the last month of birthdays for our immediate family. Each of my daughters were born 23 months apart. Planned each one to the minute almost! The first daughter arrived a week late or they would have all been 23 months and three days apart. #1 decided to wait a week to arrive just after Thanksgiving all those many years ago...
The big guy was working nightcrew, working midnight to 7 a.m. everyday except for the two days a week he worked 4 to one in the afternoon. Oh yeah and then once a week he had to fill in for another guy who worked until 11 p.m. His schedule was so thrown off he didn't know if it was night or day most of the time. I was a week overdue and very much feeling every extra day of pregnancy. I went to bed about 11:30, the big guy came in about 1 a.m. after a long day of putting cans on the shelf. He was due back at work at 4 a.m. and was really exhausted.
At about 2 a.m. my water broke. I thought I had wet the bed. I remember saying to myself "Great! it's come to this, I can't even get through the night without losing control of my bladder! Wonderful!" Then the water just kept leaking out of me. Duh! It's not what I thought! My water must have broken. I wake up the big guy who is thrilled to be awakened at this horrible hour after a half over of sleep. He said maybe we should call the hospital and see what they have to say. We call and they find out we're about an hours drive from them and they say well, you better just come on in. We drove the hours distance and arrived with very little else happening other than a constant leak of fluids.
Labor proceeds. well, not really. Every time I have a contraction this little person decides they're coming out through my throat. Not the expected path for this one! Not at all! And then after what seemed like eons of hours of labor they finally decide to let me in on the secret. Which secret is that? Well the one that you learn that you're really glad it's not a hundred years ago. Because, if that were the case, you and your baby aren't going to make it out alive. You don't dialate. Not one iota! Zip, nada, zilch dialation going on there! But boy oh boy you're really good at labor, it's the most intense labor we've seen in a while. Yessiree bob, you're going to have to wait to have this baby because we're going to deliver it c-section. Huh? How much longer? Well, we have to wait until the doctor/surgeon arrives and makes sure you're really not going to dialte. Hours, hours go by. Doctors come and go. One comes in and does an examination that is so painful, the big guy tells the nurse if he ever returns he'll die. Never saw that guy again.
Finally my wonderful, kind, super doctor shows up and lets me know the decision has been made to do the section. Unfortunately I'm going to have to wait another hour or so because we've got change of shifts coming up. He must've seen the sheer terror on my face. I couldn't take much more. There wasn't pain medication given back then as they didn't want to interfere with the possibility of surgery. All of this pain was really getting to me. I pleaded with him, please can we just do it now? How long could it really take? He asked for a conference and they decided to go for it.
In the rush the prep nurse nicked my very pregnant belly and I was bleeding. Well, my doc told her she'd never work on his team again. It was too risky, and I could end up with a nasty infection because of her carelessness. Ick. I didn't but I bet she was more careful from there on in prepping pregnant bellies. Everything was done in short order, I was wheeled into the delivery room and quickly heard the ever famous SLAM! of darkness. I woke up later the next day and was told I had given birth at 10:33 p.m. I had had a little girl! Yay! A little girl. I simply went back to sleep.
Later I woke up again and they brought this wonderful tiny little girl to me. She was perfect. November 26th became a day of infamy in our lives. It was quickly joined by Oct 17th, and Sept 14th, 23 months and then 23 months later. They were the best things that ever happened to me. Three wonderful daughters.
My husband and I always told them that we would live a sparse life. That we had been blessed with them, and we would need little else. I think they always thought it was a guilt trip. Nah. It was true. I can think of nothing better to keep forever.
25 November 2006
Oh My Goodness
We decided today was the day to get started decorating the house for the holidays. We begin each year with the outside lights. Well, this year, we wanted to do something different. Usually it is the same old red and green lights lining the house. They were getting a bit old and tired after years of use so we decided to go out and see what was new.
My suggestion was to go to Target. My favorite place to shop. Well, the big guy decided we would probably get our best deal at the evil empire. I didn't refuse, but knew it would only be a stop along our journey in the quest for the perfect lights. I was right. The place was crowded and already picked over. How is it that a store can be continually picked over? How many people go through that place in a days time? A lot I suppose.
So onto the latest and greatest hardware warehouse. You know the kind, the HUGE warehouse with all the do it yourself stuff for guys and ambitious gals. They guaranteed on TV that if you needed it they had it. Well, only if you want to decorate in blue or white this year. They had plenty of blue strings of lights. They had plenty of white strings of lights. Can we get a multi-colored string here? Not today. Everyone who wanted multi colored strings had already been there and bought them all. Onward and upward!
Next stop Target. The big guy says, "okay I'm already sick of the crowds. Go in and find the lights, I'll wait for you here." So I smiled and said I'd be back in a bit and went forth to find the perfect lights. Well, the perfect lights that I would drop some cash on that is. Why is it the year I find the perfect lights they're in short supply? You see, the lights are only in 15 foot strings. I need at least six strings at that length. How many boxes were available? 3 boxes. eh. So I opted for my last years favorite lights that I didn't buy half price after Christmas because I already spent more than I should have on other stuff last season. Like these ones. Only not those ones. The ones I got didn't have the crystalized look, just the pearlized look. And, they were only $6.99 a string of 25.
I also picked a a few stocking stuffers and new sock hooks to add the sons-in-law stockings to the mantles and I was done. The crowds weren't as bad as I thought they would be and my wait in line was only about four minutes. I count myself very lucky from what the news is reporting elsewhere in the general area.
We arrived home, did some quick yard work, and then hung the lights. Yay! I have the tree and the outdoor lights up. Yay. It's only November 25th! That is a fete for me, Usually I'm still hauling stuff out of the garage on the 23rd of December. It is so nice not working during this holiday season!
Except for the glass work I've been doing. I'm in a holiday show on December 5th and my new shop on the net will be open tomorrow! You can see how I've spent my days the past few weeks there! Go to www.3hipsisters.com and click away! Right now there are a few "we're contructing this site signs" but it will be up and running tomorrow!
24 November 2006
Stranger Than Fiction
I really like Will Farrell. I am not sure I like all of his movies, but man, who can forget Spartan Coasters? He's a funny guy, and usually is prepared to do just about anything for laughs. That said, we decided today to go to the movies.
I. Loved. Stranger Than Fiction. It was well worth the ticket price. At times I wondered if anyone else was getting the hidden humor because there is so much of it in the film. I love going to the movies to laugh. This movie doesn't disappoint. The fact that the main character is an IRS agent is enough to make you giggle. The cast, directing, filmography all worked so well together, I simply enjoyed the afternoon.
The supporting cast includes Emma Thompson, Queen Latifa, Dustin Hoffman! and Maggie Gyllenhaal. What's even more hilarious is they've added this great character played by Tom Hulce. For the longest moment I couldn't place him, who is that guy? Then I just kindof laughed, it's Amadeus! He was in one scene, but his role was so well defined, it was very believable that he would be employed by the IRS.
Emma Thompson. Wow. Usually she is so put together. The perfect English miss, or missus. Last year she wowed us in Love Actually, this year, her depressive, chain smoking state is incredible. To me it was quite a departure, and a pleasant one at that. She let you into her world of tortured writer, for a glimpse of the pressure, and really gain some insight and empathy for the process.
If you have an afternoon, and need to laugh, and then need to cry just a bit, this one's for you. It's worth the time and the money!
23 November 2006
Happy Thanksgiving!
All of you guys! Thank you for reading the daily drivvle I producce and taking time to comment on occasion. Thank you for enlarging my view of life and my neighborhood. Have a great day spent with family and loved ones. Remember, life is short for some, so make sure everyone you care about knows it.Never let them leave without telling them how important they are to you.
You are important to me. I appreciate you all. Now go eat some turkey!
22 November 2006
The Great and Spacious Building
I went there today.
IKEA!
I decided I needed to get a few items and I didn't want to enjoy the crowds of December on Friday. I knew my husband would hate going, so this morning I took off and went for a drive. I ended up in Costa Mesa at IKEA. I bought what I went to get and added a few extras.
Needs:
We needed a new table for media storage. We finally got rid of the BIG Gigantic TV that took up half of my living room, and opted for something more suited to the room. So I needed a table to hold the dvd player et al.
Furniture is something that, for me, does not have to be expensive. I can live with IKEA and be perfectly happy. Yes, there were more expensive tables, but hey, why spend more money on a table to hold 'stuff'? This one matches the decor and wood coloring throughout the house and I like it.
Other random purchases:
I bought a 'soap' dispenser at another famous Bed, Bath and Beyond type store and it doesn't work. I paid an outrageous amount of money for it and I was depressed when it wouldn't dispense the soap. It drove me crazy. So today when I saw this entire set for $9.99 I couldn't resist. The other dispenser has been replaced!
And then it seems at our house we never have enough forks! I looked around the kitchen stuff and found a randomly cheap set of flatware for $9.99. I could afford that too! So this is what also came home with me:
Needless to say, I really like going there. There were all kinds other stuff I wanted to buy, but I rationalized the spending and stopped there other than a good stack of napkins! I got in and out in less than an hour and was home by 1:30. It was a nice day all in all.
21 November 2006
New Blogger
Hmmmm. I keep getting notified that the "new" blogger is available. Do I want to upgrade? I'm not sure. Would it be just as easy to move it to wordpress or bloglines? I just don't know. I guess what I'd really like to do is upgrade and then imporve the looks around here.
Just need the time to do it all. I don't know how I blogged, baked and took care of the house for so long. I keep finding I don't have enough time to get all I want to do. Hmmmmm. Must be the holiday getting the pressure up.
Have you migrated your blogger account? Is it worth the trouble? Flickr works with it now I've read. That's good. Oh my, I
m running late. I swear there'll be a better post here tomorrow!
Update: Blogger Beta version doesn't play well with Haloscan commenting. I want that to work on my new versions, so I'm holding off changing anything until it does. Just an FYI for anyone who uses Haloscan!
20 November 2006
Nesting Boxes Tower
Read More......
19 November 2006
Glass, glass, everywhere glass!
I have spent every waking moment doing glass work lately. I've neglected everything else except possibly a couple of other craft items I'm doing for a show in December. I have until Dec 5th to get as much done as possible so as to have a large table filled with beautiful items to sell to the ladies of Los Alamitos, CA.
Things like this:
and this:
or even these:
I have also been working hard on getting a website put together to try and have a small store so my internet buddies can purchase items if they please. I'd love it if they'd tell their friends too!
It should be up before the end of the week. So on Thanksgiving day when you don't have anything else to do, come on over and take a look! ;-)
18 November 2006
Liquid Yellow??
I got a call from my #2 daughter last evening. She said they were talking with the 2 year old granddaughter (little Miss) about Christmas. After a bit of chattin git up they asked her what she would like to get for Christmas.
Her response: A Car.
"What would you do with a car?" "I go driving!" Big smile.
Maybe we should go ahead and get her one. Heck she's two and a half.
It will be perfect for her! Not saying I'm going to, but it sure is cute! And she'd have a car just like mine, except mine's blue!
17 November 2006
Nightwish
The big guy and I have discovered a new band we like. Nightwish is a band from Finland, I think. They have been around since 1996 so I guess we have just been asleep at the wheel. Their site alone is really great. I love the artwork, the band bios and the history of the band. The pictures are great!
We discovered them quite by accident. We rented and viewed (well, I was working on other stuff while viewing it, so I couldn't really tell you what it's about) the movie The Cave. I don't even know what it's rated. Sorry guys. At the end, during closing credits, a song by Nightwish is in the background.
The song is Nemo which translated means No one. Interesting. It is our favorite kind of music. Progressive rock. Heavy rock with orchestral parts thrown in. Of the six albums they've recorded, we currently own Once. We will be buying the others soon, as their music is great for driving to keep all the frustrations in check. heh. They fired their lead female vocalist last December. (Bands just can't seem to handle the success) They are on a talent search currently and are accepting cd sample in their quest to find a new singer. If my daughter wasn't pregnant I'd say she should give it a try as her voice is quite like their departed singers voice. Did I mention that she once recorded back up vocals on a cd because a guy heard her singing some Sarah McLachlan in a Best Buy once. She's good, but that's her story to tell.
If you're not a fan of progressive rock, or you don't know what it is, go to their site and listen a bit to the samples they have embedded in to the site. It's worth a try.
Words to Nemo:
Nemo (Once)
This is me for forever
One of the lost ones
The one without a name
Without an honest heart as compass
This is me for forever
One without a name
These lines the last endeavor
To find the missing lifeline
Oh how I wish
For soothing rain
All I wish is to dream again
My loving heart
Lost in the dark
For hope I`d give my everything
Oh how I wish
For soothing rain
Oh how I wish to dream again
Once and for all
And all for once
Nemo my name forevermore
My flower, withered between
The pages 2 and 3
The once and forever bloom gone with my sins
Walk the dark path
Sleep with angels
Call the past for help
Touch me with your love
And reveal to me my true name
Oh, how I wish...
Nemo sailing home
Nemo letting go
Oh, how i wish...
16 November 2006
Final Salute
This is not a photoshopped image. When I first looked at it I thought it must be. However, I found out it was a real event. Not for publicity, not for press, not even for the 'story'. It was a final goodbye. Do yourself a favor and take some time, when you are alone and can cry as tears will come, and read this piece brought to us by the The Rocky Mountain News. It is their tribute piece for Veteran's Day this year. It deserves a pulitzer. Jim Sheeler is the author of the piece accompanied by photos from Todd Heisler. The picture above was taken by Todd Heisler. There is video related to the story that is also worthy of your time.
Politics aside, this is worthy of all of us. It explains the sacrifice and honor related in serving with the United States Marine Corps. OOORAH! and Happy Birthday. Oh, and by the way, thank you for your 230 years of service.
15 November 2006
We have a theme!
He's sitting on one of the new plates I made. I love the white with the blue! It turned out great. I need to slump it so it isn't just a flat piece of glass on the table. Soon it will have a nice curve to it and will be able to be used for a plate or a candle or just about whatever you want.
Also, here's a peek at the ornament exchange project:
Now, don't you wish you were getting this in the mail? You can, I am selling them for $10 each, send me an email if you want one for your home! Read More......
14 November 2006
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
A reminder....5 days from today,
all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies
and you will start to receive sale calls.
YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS....
To prevent this,
call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222.
It is the National DO NOT CALL list.
It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5)
years.
HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS!
13 November 2006
The Holiday Buzz
*~*~*~*~See update at bottom of post*~*~*~*
Every One is abuzz with descriptions of Tord Boontje's holiday line for Target this year. Well, I had to go see for myself.
I was very pleased with the many good things to see. I love the holidays and I love the festive decor Target seems to find each year. The ornament displays are beautiful this year with the Boontje's display toppers all twinkling and snowy looking. I could stand and watch them for ours I think. Well, maybe not hours, but they do life the spirits a bit.
I looked and looked for the garland Kim was able to purchase. It had sold out already. I should have taken Megan's advice on that! However I did score the cling on vinyl window decorations! At $5.99 they are worth the price. You get 5 sheets of vinyl "stickers" that adhere to almost any surface. So if you are an apartment dweller and are short on windows, these will stick to your walls too! I can see a sugar plum fairy door already!
The dishes are so pretty and the candlabra centerpiece is really pretty! Tord Boontje has really captured the holiday "winter" theme very well!
Update: I forgot to mention that at the Target site there are some really cute "freebies"! There are items to download for children to decorate Boontje style! They also have add a count down to the holidays calendar widget to download!
12 November 2006
Back in the day...
When I was first introduced to blogging I had a great idea. I wanted to write vignettes of people I had met or who had made some kind of contribution through my eyes. I worked it around in my mind and turned it over and over and was convinced it was a great idea.
But like a lot of other things I couldn't just do it. I had to work it through my mind until it was perfect. There it sat in the background waiting to be completed and perfect. I went on to establish other blogs. Food Chronicles talks about my adventures and observations in the food world. Cooper Chronicles talks about life in general and my crazy world.
Still in the back of my mind was the original web page I wanted to do. I had set it aside thinking I had to have a dedicated place for it, it's own website, it's own everything. I made it too difficult for me to bring forth. I wanted to collect stories of people around me so they could be remembered. A place where memories gathered and stayed. We have this wonderful internet where things linger and stay, I wanted to use it for this project. If only, if only....
Well, I have finally decided that perfection never comes. The stories do however. And I must begin recording them somewhere, so blogger will be its home for now. I've chosen the name (actually I chose it all those many years ago) Earthbound Chronicles. That's where all the other chronicles started. Earthbound will tell stories of loved ones, of unknown individuals to me, of dear friends, and random strangers whose stories should be told. I'll begin, with a few of my own and add more along the way.
First, for my wanting niece, I'll write about my brother. The father she never got to know. He was real. He lived. He gave. Just because he is now a memory, doesn't mean he never existed. This page and his stories will bring life to those who read them.
Join me on this new journey to the past. And get to know some people you didn't know, but probably should have. Earthbound Chronicles is for everyone. If you have someone that needs to be remembered, send me an email!
11 November 2006
Novice glass workers' fingers
I stopped by the stained glass store and as soon as the lady saw my band-aid she offered the perfect glass breakers. I can happily say they are wonderful. I hopefully will not get myself cut like the one in the picture again.
Still, the glass is going well. In fact as soon as I'm done here, it's back to the glass. I tried an experiment yesterday and it didn't work out. I got huge bubble in the glass so it doesn't look like it should. That one goes in the try again pile. Sigh.
Read More......
10 November 2006
And the databank says.....
This is pretty cool. I never thought my name was so unique. But hey, I guess there is something unique about me! Read More......
Okay now for a few experiences
I'm going with this freedom thing a bit and stumbled upon a life experiences post at another NaBloPoMo participants blog. It is a pretty good list and should give a direction in which to go in the future. Well, that is if it's not too crazy.
LIFE EXPERIENCES MEME
Bold the ones you've done (my comments are in italics).
01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink. Watched as everyone else got drunk. That's way more fun, drunks can be pretty entertaining.
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain.
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive. Who needs a Ferrari when you own a MINI?
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid.
06. Held a tarantula.
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone. Sorry girls, full disclosure here
08. Said 'I love you' and meant it.
09. Hugged a tree.
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise.
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game.
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne.
24. Given more than you can afford to charity. Isn't that the point?
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment.
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can.
32. Held a lamb.
33. Seen a total eclipse.
34. Ridden a roller coaster.
35. Hit a home run.
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was watching.
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day.
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment.
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states Not even close!
41. Taken care of someone who was shit faced.
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country How about danced with a foreign stranger, visiting here? And kissed him too?
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your cds Is there any other way?
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party.
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days.
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice Does the Venetian count?
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an "expert"
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Gone to a movie by yourself.
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone Does childhood count?
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror.
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Created and named your own constellation of stars
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery I'm not quite that old ;-)
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived.
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds. I'd be happy with 30 right now.
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart.
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone.
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet Do kids' pets count?
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon helicoptered all over the top if it though
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours Oh Yeah.
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach Not sure it was actually "petting".
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and the Odyssey
135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream Soon!
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146: Dyed your hair
147: Been a DJ
148: Shaved your head
149: Caused a car accident
150: Saved someone's life My own
The list is big, I'm not sure it's that extensive though. There are things on it I'll never do like get a divorce. That's not happening. Or getting drunk on champagne; I was offered, even push a little at the sale of the bakery, champagne. I wasn't even tempted. Then there's the Dungeons and Dragons thing. Heh. No. Dr. Mario anyone?
There are some things I still want to do that aren't on the list like swim in the Great Barrier Reef, eat a meal on every continent, and go to Machu Pichu just because. So eveyone's list is different from others. It's what makes you, you. What will you add?
09 November 2006
Freeeeeeeeeeee!
I have been away from the bakery for a week now. I cannot express in words great enough the feeling of freedom that has slowly taken over my psyche. I have for a year been focused on keeping someone else's business alive. And, I enjoyed almost 100% of the time I spent there.
However, now it is time for me to focus on my own success. I have been told over and over again how determined I am. How I am like a shark that never stops swimming. Yet, I have not found an appropriate outlet for my aspirations, until now. Maybe I just needed to grow up.
I am at that second threshold in life, you know the one, the kids are grown and married. They're beginning to have families of their own. My home is emptier, yet not lonely. It is an old friend that I love. I love to sit here in the quiet and enjoy listening to the creaks and moans of the old place. I will miss it when we leave here. I just wish there was a way I could keep this one and have the other also. But then again, that would be greedy. I can only live in one house at a time and so there is really no need for two.
We will soon begin the next big adventure in our life. The acreage in Arizona is screaming to be built out. A home, a shed, a few "cabins" and a large gathering center. 10 acres of lavendar. It will be a working retirement for ourselves. My husband's career has been a career of giving, rarely taking, and because of his chosen vocation, it has barely kept a roof over our heads, and food on the table, and not a retirement account to speak of. So we now need to be inventive.
The lavendar farm will be the largest in our geographical location. We will have a yearly festival and we hope to be able to have a conference center and gathering location for family reunions. We have hopes that we can host continuing education retreats also. It will be a work in progress, the lavendar being first priority. I will also have the shed to do glass work and continue building that hobby into a sideline business also.
So here's to the future! Whatever it may hold.
08 November 2006
I know, I know, you've heard it all before
Many people don't seem to have aprobelm putting pictures of their children on the net. I see them all the time on blogs I love to read. Crafters especially share their work with the kiddlings as models or enjoying the crafts made by mom. I think it's great that they have loving families and are proud of their kids.
Then there's me. Miss Paranoid. I blog anonymously. My husband and children are referred to by number or nicknames. You have only seen a few pictures of relatives of mine on my blogs. I tend to stay at a distance from full disclosure. It's not that I don't want you to get to know me, not that at all. Except being the kind of person I am - a realist - and knowing what horrors lie beyond my world, my pollyanna persona, will not be exposed to the evil creeps for their own benefit.
Why are you needing to know this now? Well, a good crafter I love, love , love, has had her childrens pictures on the net since she began blogging. I am not providing a link to her site for you because she has asked for a bit of privacy right now. However, I must share this incident with you. She recently had a reader, of her blog, email her with a horrible link. The reader had come across my blogging crafter friends' childrens picture on an inappropriate site. They had taken the pictures of her darling babies, innocent and trusting and wonderful and had turned them into a creepy thing for creeps to enjoy.
I read and have had said to me that it is not really something to worry about. But folks this is not a snopes story. This blogger is real, her children are real, and her blog, as it was, was taken down and her childrens pictures removed. She has started blogging under a new blog name and is letting people know that she is not in favor of picture stealing or copyright theft at all.
So call me Chicken Little if you wish. But as far as your innocent loves, they are being stalked by the worst of all stalkers. Predators that are only concerned with their own gratification and greed. Please heed my warning and act accordingly, and use your own heart to make your decisions about your children and their images.
07 November 2006
Aack!
The power cord on my lovely Apple PowerBook G4 died last night. :-( I called Apple and they're sending me a new one. It will take 5-7 days. I live in the same state that they're mailing it from, so I assume they're mailing by Turtle Express. "When it absolutely positively is going to be free to the customer so whenever it seems to get there will be fine" method of shipping to get it to me. Sigh.
So I am working from the desktop in the other room. Which isn't such a bother, however, I have to be in that room to do everything and all my bookmarks and pictures and all that good stuff is on my laptop. Ick. The worst part of it was that I didn't notice there was a problem until the status bar said I was at 30% power and I went wait a minute. This is supposed to be plugged in, oh crud it is plugged in. What is wrong? Great! It isn't working. The Apple guy seemed to think this kind of problem happened all the time. Because he said, okay we'll send you one. Hmmmmm.
So my NaBloMoPo today is about my broken cord. How interesting for you! Not.
I will say the kiln is producing some really great things! I made a bunch of ornaments (well four at a time). I also was able to squeeze in some earrings. They are just little button earrings for pierced earrings, but they are so cute! I love them and would love to keep them all to myself. But seeing as I am now providing for my own support and the bakery has stopped giving me money in exchange for my life, I have to make these things to sell. Now I just have to be able to photograph them and put pretty pictures up of them and sell them. Yay!
I will be making earrings, (clip on ones too for those of you who don't like more holes in your head than are already there), and some plates for sale. Neato! I also thought about putting them on Etsy, which I may do, but they'll also be available here because you have to be a joiner to use Etsy and some of you may not want to do that. So I will go take a pic or two and put it up here later. That camera is going to pay for itself too!
Update: The power cord came today! Yay! I knew if I was in the same state it wouldn't take long!
06 November 2006
Grounded flower
It brought to mind the words: There is beauty all around....
Some other flora and fauna:
Go ahead and click on each one. They are so much better at full size. What a great camera! Read More......
05 November 2006
Soundtrack to your life
I picked this up at RTGs site and because it's a great Sunday morning activity, you should give it a try. Now follow the directions and see what music soundtracks you. I am surprised certain songs didn't get played and cracked up at some of the possibilities. Let me know if I should listen to your soundtrack!
IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
So, here’s how it works:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that’s playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don’t lie and try to pretend you’re cool…
Opening Credits: Turn of a Friendly Card, Alan Parsons Project
Waking Up: I Believe, Diamond Rio
First Day At School: Bed of Roses Soundtrack,
Falling In Love: Do You Believe in Magic, Lovin' Spoonful
Fight Song: Summer in the City, Lovin Spoonful (really)
Breaking Up: Simple Lies, Endo
Prom: Mr. Wendell, Arrested Development
Life: Do You Close Your Eyes, Rainbow
Mental Breakdown: Inside Us All, Creed
Driving: Have a Cigar, Pink Floyd
Flashback: Bring Me to Life, Evanescence
Wedding: My Heart is Lost to You, Brooks and Dunn
Birth of Child: I Wanna Be Sedated, The Ramones
Final Battle: No Place that Far, Sara Evans
Death Scene: December, Collective Soul
Funeral Song: Hopelessly Helpless, Crosby, Stills and Nash
End Credits: The Lucky One, Alison Krauss
04 November 2006
A day out with the camera
Now if you want to see photos of what I ate, go to the food blog!
Read More......
03 November 2006
The end is near!
We are nearing the end of the political season. I am ready for it to be over. Go vote next Tuesday people. Exercise your right to be a U.S. citizen.
With all the campaign promises made and broken over the years this headline got my attention: POLITICAL AD SPENDING NEARS $2 BILLION DOLLAR MARK Can you imagine? (AdAge daily email alerts brought me this one.)
Boy howdy it did. Imagine what $2 billion could do to cure all the ills that have been promised over the years. It could do a lot to house the homeless, to correct an incongruency in prescription drugs costs to the poor, could help get a real alternative energy plan going and all sorts of other things that need assistance.
Maybe the solution to the political season is to have them send the money to the specific cause they're talking about. Then have the reports published on how the money was put to use. The best results could give us a litmus test on how dedicated the people really are to "changing the face of America".
Does someone else have a better idea?
Note: I am not this simple. Complex things pass through my head constantly. It's just not worth the energy to expound upon them as so many others do. It doesn't change anything, just adds warmth to our ever growing global warming problem as I see it. And to think, if I just would choose to vote for candidate x, she would stop global warming. hmmmmm.
02 November 2006
Snowflake try
This is my first try at a snowflake. I like the look of it, but I need to work on the process a bit more. What I didn't realize was how much the heat would "shrink" the glass. I need to remember that glass goes from a solid to a liquid and then back to a solid. When I wrap my brain around that... I'll get better results.
Well, today will be spent doing a few more experiments. I'll show you my losses, but the good ones will have to wait until December when the ornaments are sent to the recipients! Fun.
Hey it is all about the fun. ;-)
Footnote: It is really creeping me out that in the background of that photo the table looks so dirty. It's not bad, the white stuff is the dust from the kiln wash. Yes, though, I'll admit there is some sort of other stuff there. Ugh. Maybe a reshoot is in order. Read More......
01 November 2006
Shopping
Yesterday, we took one of those days. We started out at the new Crate and Barrel in our area. I had been wanting to go and yesterday the stars aligned and we were both available. The new store was a lot like the other stores I'd been in and I mentioned that it was nice the outlet store was so close to me so I wouldn't have to spend too much on stuff I could get there.
We moved to the furniture gallery. Sitting on a beautiful leather sofa, we chatted for a bit. Many, many sales people tried to get us to move with suggestions of assistance, but it was to no avail. We toured the second floor and found some nice things and ideas.
One of the ideas were the pineneedle trees shown above. They were pretty little trees cratively made by someone else. Hot glued needles on a cone. Hmmmm. Could this be done ourselves? Yeah. MOre than likely we could do this. Now we had to decide if it was something we'd want to do. So a snapped a quick pic and it went into the memory bin for another day.
All over the first floor were ornament inspirations. One of the coolest things they have available is the ornament tree.
These were ones that were part of their decor. I love the loopy look of it and would love to own one of them. It holds ten ornaments and would look so cute as a centerpiece. However, I can't see spending $49.95 on one right now. I'd rather have one of these instead. Priorities people!
I did buy a few small ornaments and a nutmeg grater. I couldn't be at C&B and not get a food related item, now could I? We then drove over to a place to grab lunch called The Hat. Pastrami sandwiches all around! The place was filled with construction workers! I even mentioned to sis that I'd never seen so many in one place! It was good food and a fun day was had.
I look forward to more o f these kinds of days.
Read More......
