Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
If Wendy Starts to Vacuum
I just had an, "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie", afternoon. If you've never read this cute children's story you should.
Here is the Wendy version of the story -
After vacuuming the floor, I need to empty it. The kitchen trash can was full, of course, so I pulled out the bag, dumped the vacuum cannister contents, and headed out the door. While walking to the trash can, I notice Charlie has flies bothering him, so I spray him with some bug repellent. Charlie hates the bug repellent and tries to rub it off on his carpet. I notice the carpet is dirty and so I start to sweep it. While sweeping the carpet I notice the entire carport is dirty. I decide that the hose is the tool for this job. While walking through the yard to fetch the hose, the flies seem to be coming from the area in the yard Charlie uses as a bathroom. All the piles were picked up earlier, but it still smells bad over there. I get the hose and start spraying down the stink. While standing there with the hose I decide to go ahead and water the rest of the grass on that side of the house. I gradually find myself in the back of the house spraying off the trampoline. Charlie barks, and I remember the carport so I head back to spray it down. Spraying down the steps to the door I look up and notice the exterior of the house is dirty. I spray it off. All the dirty water lands on my washing machine and dryer. Luckily I have it covered with a clear plastic shower curtain. So, I take off the shower curtain, and put it in the washing machine. Not wanting to wash it alone, I throw in a few other items. Ok, back to the carport. It is now wet, and muddy. I pick up the broom again and begin to sweep. I sweep all the gook into the yard and put the broom away. I really need to rake up the big stuff from the carport that is now in the yard. The rake is usually right next to the broom, but is missing. I commence looking for my missing rake. All the while Charlie is looking for a dry place to lie down, but at least the flies are gone. It occurs to me to look in the shed for the rake. I need the key to shed, so I go in the kitchen to get it. There I see the trash can, without a bag, and the vacuum waiting to be put away, and remember what started this crazy afternoon. I found the rake in the shed, but decided to leave it there, and go back to the kitchen and finish what I started. The raking can wait for another day.
I am sure there needs to be a paragraph break or two in that narative, but I if you read it straight through, without a pause, you will have a better feeling of how the experience went for me.
I just looked at my feet. They are pretty dirty from all that playing in the water. I am going to go take a shower. Wonder what adventures await in there ...
Here is the Wendy version of the story -
After vacuuming the floor, I need to empty it. The kitchen trash can was full, of course, so I pulled out the bag, dumped the vacuum cannister contents, and headed out the door. While walking to the trash can, I notice Charlie has flies bothering him, so I spray him with some bug repellent. Charlie hates the bug repellent and tries to rub it off on his carpet. I notice the carpet is dirty and so I start to sweep it. While sweeping the carpet I notice the entire carport is dirty. I decide that the hose is the tool for this job. While walking through the yard to fetch the hose, the flies seem to be coming from the area in the yard Charlie uses as a bathroom. All the piles were picked up earlier, but it still smells bad over there. I get the hose and start spraying down the stink. While standing there with the hose I decide to go ahead and water the rest of the grass on that side of the house. I gradually find myself in the back of the house spraying off the trampoline. Charlie barks, and I remember the carport so I head back to spray it down. Spraying down the steps to the door I look up and notice the exterior of the house is dirty. I spray it off. All the dirty water lands on my washing machine and dryer. Luckily I have it covered with a clear plastic shower curtain. So, I take off the shower curtain, and put it in the washing machine. Not wanting to wash it alone, I throw in a few other items. Ok, back to the carport. It is now wet, and muddy. I pick up the broom again and begin to sweep. I sweep all the gook into the yard and put the broom away. I really need to rake up the big stuff from the carport that is now in the yard. The rake is usually right next to the broom, but is missing. I commence looking for my missing rake. All the while Charlie is looking for a dry place to lie down, but at least the flies are gone. It occurs to me to look in the shed for the rake. I need the key to shed, so I go in the kitchen to get it. There I see the trash can, without a bag, and the vacuum waiting to be put away, and remember what started this crazy afternoon. I found the rake in the shed, but decided to leave it there, and go back to the kitchen and finish what I started. The raking can wait for another day.
I am sure there needs to be a paragraph break or two in that narative, but I if you read it straight through, without a pause, you will have a better feeling of how the experience went for me.
I just looked at my feet. They are pretty dirty from all that playing in the water. I am going to go take a shower. Wonder what adventures await in there ...
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Of Slugs and Sluggishness
The best way I can describe how I am feeling today is sluggish. I've been feeling kind of yucky, with a slight fever, no big deal, just enough to take the wind out of my sails. The last week went by so fast, my head is still spinning. It was a good week, with lots of things accomplished. The weekend has been pleasant. I spent most of Saturday out shopping with Ryker and Quincie. Ryker needed a suit. Prom is next week, graduation in a month, then off to BYUH. The passing of time is freaking me out. I want to scream "stop!" and hold on to each passing moment just a little longer.
I'd like to go back and live the last 18 years over again. It was just so much fun, I want to do it again. I've been on an awesome roller coaster and now as the ride starts to slow, I just want to get back in line and do it again. I love our life now, it wasn't better then, or better now, it's all been great. I love being a mom, and I especially love being a mom to Ryker and Quincie. They are the best kids ever. They don't fight and argue with each other. I have never heard them yell unkind things at each other and they have never been in a physical fight. They are both obedient and respectful. They are good, kind, smart, interesting, and fun people. I am blessed to be their mom.
I have a long list of things to do in the next few days, weeks, and months. Graduation is in a month. Between now and then there is prom, a graduation party, and my mom comes to visit. I haven't seen my mom in a couple of years. We are all so excited! I want to have that week while she is here as free as possible to do fun stuff. I need to mail out the graduation announcements and party invitations. That didn't happen today like I had planned. I've been doing my imitation of a slug all day - moving slowly with my only motivation to move at all being the quest for food.
Work is really busy right now and I am very thankful for that. I have been learning lots of new things, which is both exciting, and frustrating. It will be nice when these new skills are old hat and the work comes easier. My brain has been stretching lately, and that's a good thing.
We are planning to move when our lease is up in August. We need a different house. We need a fenced yard for the dogs to play in, a garage for Carl's truck and tools, at least one more bathroom, and some personal space for me. Right now my office is the corner between the back door and the kitchen table. It's a nice little corner, but it is hard to shut my office door and concentrate. It's a little too soon to start seriously looking, but the thought of moving is ever present and colors many of my daily choices. For example, the yard ....
I want to leave it looking nice, but I am not going to plant any more flowers or vegetables directly in the ground. My latest tomato experiment is in a big pot that will easily come with us. It has a nice cluster of green tomatoes that should be ripe in another week or so. I've given up on the slugs. They win. Let them eat my marigolds. I just can't imagine marigold leaves being that tasty, but then again, I am only a slug in attitude, not in appetite.
I'd like to go back and live the last 18 years over again. It was just so much fun, I want to do it again. I've been on an awesome roller coaster and now as the ride starts to slow, I just want to get back in line and do it again. I love our life now, it wasn't better then, or better now, it's all been great. I love being a mom, and I especially love being a mom to Ryker and Quincie. They are the best kids ever. They don't fight and argue with each other. I have never heard them yell unkind things at each other and they have never been in a physical fight. They are both obedient and respectful. They are good, kind, smart, interesting, and fun people. I am blessed to be their mom.
I have a long list of things to do in the next few days, weeks, and months. Graduation is in a month. Between now and then there is prom, a graduation party, and my mom comes to visit. I haven't seen my mom in a couple of years. We are all so excited! I want to have that week while she is here as free as possible to do fun stuff. I need to mail out the graduation announcements and party invitations. That didn't happen today like I had planned. I've been doing my imitation of a slug all day - moving slowly with my only motivation to move at all being the quest for food.
Work is really busy right now and I am very thankful for that. I have been learning lots of new things, which is both exciting, and frustrating. It will be nice when these new skills are old hat and the work comes easier. My brain has been stretching lately, and that's a good thing.
We are planning to move when our lease is up in August. We need a different house. We need a fenced yard for the dogs to play in, a garage for Carl's truck and tools, at least one more bathroom, and some personal space for me. Right now my office is the corner between the back door and the kitchen table. It's a nice little corner, but it is hard to shut my office door and concentrate. It's a little too soon to start seriously looking, but the thought of moving is ever present and colors many of my daily choices. For example, the yard ....
I want to leave it looking nice, but I am not going to plant any more flowers or vegetables directly in the ground. My latest tomato experiment is in a big pot that will easily come with us. It has a nice cluster of green tomatoes that should be ripe in another week or so. I've given up on the slugs. They win. Let them eat my marigolds. I just can't imagine marigold leaves being that tasty, but then again, I am only a slug in attitude, not in appetite.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Girlie Stuff
A few months ago I started ordering things from Avon to support my cousin Mandy in Colorado. I am not a big make up user so I decided to order stuff that I would purchase from Wal Mart, like shower gel and lip balm. They ship for free, even to Hawaii! I love to get packages, so what the heck?
I discovered they have great lip gloss. This stuff is awesome! It isn't sticky, it tastes great, and comes in a ton of colors. I bought one with my first order and then several more for Quincie and I. I like the lighter colors better, like Mirage, Tickled Pink, and Clear.
I have always had sensitive skin. I like to joke that I have delicate Princess skin, but really what it means is that stuff designed to make you soft and pretty makes me red and itchy. I have tried so many moisturizers over the years, all with the same sad affect, yucky looking and feeling skin. I don't want to have old wrinkly skin. I figure at 40 my youthful skin is on borrowed time and I should probably find a moisturizer that works for me and start using it. At Mandy's suggestion, I gave the Anew line from Avon a try. I was pleasantly surprised. In one use I could feel a difference in the smoothness of my skin. It's good stuff. I have figured out that I am most sensitive to products with sunscreen in them, so I use the night cream during the day as well. I know I should use sunscreen, but I haven't found one yet that doesn't do unpleasant things to my skin.
I decided to become a representative. Now I get all this great stuff at a discount, and I get to share the fun. If I make a few dollars along the way, that's an awesome bonus! I won't spam my friends and family, and I won't go knocking on the doors of strangers. You can go to my website and order or you can contact me directly. If you register on my site you can choose to receive emails about sales, etc. They offer great specials in those emails, so if you don't mind a little girlie stuff in your inbox, sign up.
Seriously, check out the Glazewear lip gloss, it rocks!
I discovered they have great lip gloss. This stuff is awesome! It isn't sticky, it tastes great, and comes in a ton of colors. I bought one with my first order and then several more for Quincie and I. I like the lighter colors better, like Mirage, Tickled Pink, and Clear.
I have always had sensitive skin. I like to joke that I have delicate Princess skin, but really what it means is that stuff designed to make you soft and pretty makes me red and itchy. I have tried so many moisturizers over the years, all with the same sad affect, yucky looking and feeling skin. I don't want to have old wrinkly skin. I figure at 40 my youthful skin is on borrowed time and I should probably find a moisturizer that works for me and start using it. At Mandy's suggestion, I gave the Anew line from Avon a try. I was pleasantly surprised. In one use I could feel a difference in the smoothness of my skin. It's good stuff. I have figured out that I am most sensitive to products with sunscreen in them, so I use the night cream during the day as well. I know I should use sunscreen, but I haven't found one yet that doesn't do unpleasant things to my skin.
I decided to become a representative. Now I get all this great stuff at a discount, and I get to share the fun. If I make a few dollars along the way, that's an awesome bonus! I won't spam my friends and family, and I won't go knocking on the doors of strangers. You can go to my website and order or you can contact me directly. If you register on my site you can choose to receive emails about sales, etc. They offer great specials in those emails, so if you don't mind a little girlie stuff in your inbox, sign up.
Seriously, check out the Glazewear lip gloss, it rocks!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Dogs + Beach = True Love
One afternoon Carl says, "Come on, let's take the dogs to the beach." The kids and the dogs jumped in the back of the truck, and off we went, to the beach park about 5 minutes from our house.
Chester does not travel well. He gets motion sickness, even in the back of a truck. This trip was no exception, he threw up. Crazy, a dog that can't go for a 5 min ride without losing his lunch. I sure hope he out grows it.
Once we got to the beach they were in heaven! Charlie is well acquainted with the ocean, but not Chester. Chester was so funny. He kept rolling in the sand. Once he was wet from the ocean he tried to roll in the sand to dry off. He looked like a piece of fried chicken, drenched, dredged, and ready to cook. He's such a lovable little dork.
This photo is of Charlie out in the water. He is amazing! Carl threw a tennis ball out into the water and he took off like a shot. He dove in and didn't slow down a bit. He swims almost as fast as he runs. It doesn't matter how far you throw the ball, he swims out there and gets it, over and over and over again. Sometimes he rides a wave back in. A body surfing dog is awesome! I will try to catch some photos of that next time we go.
When Charlie isn't swimming to get the ball, he is trying to bury it in the sand. He digs and digs, throwing sand everywhere between his back legs. In his crazy frantic digging the ball gets flung out of the hole, causing him to go chasing after it. It's very fun to watch.
Aren't those clouds amazing? It is almost sunset so they have taken on a pink glow.
Life doesn't get any better than this.
Chester does not travel well. He gets motion sickness, even in the back of a truck. This trip was no exception, he threw up. Crazy, a dog that can't go for a 5 min ride without losing his lunch. I sure hope he out grows it.
Once we got to the beach they were in heaven! Charlie is well acquainted with the ocean, but not Chester. Chester was so funny. He kept rolling in the sand. Once he was wet from the ocean he tried to roll in the sand to dry off. He looked like a piece of fried chicken, drenched, dredged, and ready to cook. He's such a lovable little dork.
This photo is of Charlie out in the water. He is amazing! Carl threw a tennis ball out into the water and he took off like a shot. He dove in and didn't slow down a bit. He swims almost as fast as he runs. It doesn't matter how far you throw the ball, he swims out there and gets it, over and over and over again. Sometimes he rides a wave back in. A body surfing dog is awesome! I will try to catch some photos of that next time we go.
When Charlie isn't swimming to get the ball, he is trying to bury it in the sand. He digs and digs, throwing sand everywhere between his back legs. In his crazy frantic digging the ball gets flung out of the hole, causing him to go chasing after it. It's very fun to watch.
Aren't those clouds amazing? It is almost sunset so they have taken on a pink glow.
Life doesn't get any better than this.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Multicultural Dining
I am sure this has happened to you before. You are driving around with a group of friends or family trying to decide what to eat. Everyone is hungry, but the ideas are all over the place. There is no consensus amongst the group. Someone shouts out, "Mexican", "No, Chinese", another says, "Italian", "How about breakfast?". Of course the most irritating individual says, "None of those, but I don't know what I want."
Just last week I realized the solution. There is a place that is quick, easy, and even affordable, where you can make everyone happy, except maybe Miss I Don't Know. I have been eating there for years, and you probably have been too.
Jack in the Box has it all - Mexican, Italian, Chinese, 24 hour breakfast, shakes, smoothies, and even boring old burgers. Last week I drove away with tacos, mozzarella sticks with zesty marinara, and the best egg rolls, all for under $10. Now tell me, how do you beat that?
Just last week I realized the solution. There is a place that is quick, easy, and even affordable, where you can make everyone happy, except maybe Miss I Don't Know. I have been eating there for years, and you probably have been too.
Jack in the Box has it all - Mexican, Italian, Chinese, 24 hour breakfast, shakes, smoothies, and even boring old burgers. Last week I drove away with tacos, mozzarella sticks with zesty marinara, and the best egg rolls, all for under $10. Now tell me, how do you beat that?
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Happy Birthday Gmail
I love all things Google. I wasn't a gmail user on day one, but I was within the first year of it's existence. I have my fellow techno gadget freak brother, Rik to thank for the invitation. Back then Gmail invites were as hard to come by as Grand Central ones are today. As a self-employed, office of one, Google has made my life easier on many levels. It all started with Gmail, and just keeps getting better. It seems as if the features I wish for often appear soon after wishing for them. I love their April Fool's Day jokes. I still lament that back dated emails was a joke.
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