Blog, Scrap or Sleep?

Chicken Soup: I shot the Sheriff

2009-02-22T13:07:00.000-08:00

This was shared by my dear friend Nance. I thought it was too good not to share :)

BY: Kathryn Wilken

I admit it -- I shot the traffic cop, but I had a good reason.

After I made the illegal right turn, his motorcycle zoomed into my rearview mirror. Dang! I pulled to the curb and meekly handed over my license and registration. He strolled behind the car. Turning, I regarded him through the back window as he wrote the citation. His helmet gleamed in the sunlight, white against the red and yellow leaves of the liquidambar trees. I reached into my bag, my hand closing around the comforting, shiny black object I was never without. Raising it above the seat, I fixed the helmet in my sights. With a steady hand, I snapped the shutter.

I was fulfilling my 2004 New Years resolution; to take at least one photo each day. Id made it this far, and I wasnt going to abandon the project. The police officer was my photo for November 3rd.

I'd made the resolution on New Years Eve. My new digital camera was still in the box because I was resistant to learning its baffling terminology -- JPEG, CCD, TTL, TIFF. Yet I knew I needed to join the Digital Age. I resolved to create a visual record of the coming year. How hard could it be to grab a snapshot each day?

I began carrying my camera everywhere, looking for beautiful or intriguing subjects. Each evening I downloaded that days photos and designated one as the official Photo of the Day. I subscribed to a photo-sharing website and posted my daily images -- landscapes, still lifes, abstracts -- to my home page.

After a few weeks, I told family and friends about my resolution. They thought it was a little weird, but most of them posed willingly or didnt get too mad if I caught them in a candid moment. I snapped photos of my friend Jean with her new Honda Element one day, operating her printing press another day. I captured my husband several times -- hiking, grilling steaks or reading the paper.

At first I was reluctant to approach strangers. No, make that terrified. But I wanted my collection to document the community as well as my own activities. One day in January, picketers were marching in front of the supermarket. When I grabbed the camera, it almost slid from my sweaty palms. I asked two workers to pose with their signs so that I could post their photo on my website. They exchanged an is-she-loony? look. My Photo of the Day explanation sounded lame even to me. Then one man said, Okay, were doing this to get our message across. Fire away.

It got easier each time. I took a picture of a Nordstrom saleswoman, a clerk at the Italian market, a knife-twirling chef at a Japanese restaurant. After a few months I started getting bossy: Hold your saxophone like this, I said to the jazz player, and turn to the left. But people didnt seem to mind, because I tried to learn something about each one. The man in the botanical garden who was polishing a benchs brass plaque said it was a memorial to his recently-deceased wife. The handsome couple running a Greek food stand at the Los Angeles County Fair told me theyd given up high-powered careers in order to pursue their dream of a nomadic life selling gyros and spanikopita.

Not everyone cooperated. One day at the dry cleaners, I asked the proprietress to pose by the moving clothes rack for a portrait. Oh, no! she said, blushing. Hair not good today! I switched off the camera.

Another time I was zooming in on a blueberry tart at the bakery (the gum-chewing clerk had shrugged an okay when Id asked permission) when the baker stormed out of the kitchen, toque aquiver and bushy eyebrows drawn together. What are you doing? he thundered. We serve a unique product here! I assured him I was not a spy from a rival bakery, but tucked my camera away nevertheless.

It was the only New Years resolution I ever kept. At the end of 2004, I had 366 photos on my website and printed in a book -- an indelible record of the year, and hard evidence that each day of our lives is unique. Photos of the Rosetta Stone in the British Museum and the towering monoliths of Stonehenge remind me of a trip to England. My nephew playing his senior percussion recital at Juilliard, a picnic overlooking the Grand Canyon, a smog-free day in downtown Los Angeles -- Id probably remember those events even without the photos.

Its the quiet domestic scenes I would have forgotten -- a kettle of French onion soup simmering on the stove, the redbud tree in bloom, a scattering of golden apricot leaves lying on a weathered bench. These photos, so mundane when I took them, have gained in value. They glow with a patina of nostalgia.

I have proof that nothing lasts. The orange grove where I picnicked with friends has since been plowed under for a housing development; the rusty motel sign on an Arizona back road was torn down soon after.

And family members look different today than they did arrayed on the front porch on Thanksgiving of 2004. The little boy coloring a starfish in one photo now wields a baseball bat instead of a purple crayon. The doll being clutched so lovingly by a little girl in another photo now sits neglected on a shelf. Life changes in such tiny twitches, you dont even notice them.

By the end of the year, my camera had become an extension of my arm. I could change white balance, turn off the pop-up flash and increase ISO without even looking. I changed too. Over the course of twelve months I gradually became family archivist, photojournalist, fine art photographer and portrait artist. And cop shooter. I never imagined I would do such a thing, but when youre desperate for a Photo of the Day, you take any opportunity life hands you.

My Favorite Things #2 ... Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose

2009-01-18T11:57:00.000-08:00

Friday Night Lights!!! We love, love LOVE this show!

The writing, the characters, and yes, dreamy, yummerific, Kyle Chandler! (okay, so I'm the one loving Kyle!)

From the cry of Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose before the game to the action on the field, which will remind us all of our high school football days, and thankfully are not the predictable win all the time endings we've come to expect from Hollywood writers, this show is one of those that fills your soul. You believe in the relationships, heck you may even envy the relationships - most of all, its REAL. Its gutty, believeable and makes you wish that t.v. executives would demand, writers would write, and allow actors to show their craft in quality productions like this show.

Thanks to DirecTV who showed the complete 3rd season, (woohoo without commercials!), I am recommending that the rest of you who don't have DirecTV, tune in on Friday Nights (hello, why on earth was this always scheduled on every other night except Friday nights?), and watch!! Tivo, DVR, tape or whatever - this is quality from the first moment to the final second.

And let me know what you think of Kyle too!

My Favorite Things #1

2009-01-14T19:17:00.000-08:00

So, I've decided to post about some of my favorite things in my life!

Today, I'm starting with with one of my favorite t.v. shows that I record every weekday. I used to record Dr. Phil, but the message got old, the guests were still stupid, and honestly, it was depressing! Then one day I was home and caught Ellen - oh my gosh! What an energy boost! I was so darn HAPPY when I watched her show. It was so nice to sit and smile, giggle and relax during a show and I actually felt good after watching it. Ellen is sheer joy to watch. So now I come home, sometimes stressed, sometimes not. But for 45 minutes I can watch Ellen (instead of the news) and my cheeks actually hurt from smiling to much. Ellen is good for you! Better than vitamins even!

The other day Ellen had Dr. Wayne Dyer on as a guest. He remarked on the 4 Virtues that he had written about in a book several years ago and I think they're very timely considering the state of the nation, world and planet. They are:

(1) Have a REVERENCE for all of life and show respect for all living beings. See the unfolding of God in them, rather than you sitting in judgment and tut-tutting about them.
(2) Live a natural sincerity meaning honesty as a human being - be true to yourself.

(3) Service for all of your life. Make an effort and get out there and spend your life doing something for others instead of thinking "what's in it for me". Instead of wanting to attract something to me, for me ask yourself what you can attract for someone else's life - how can you make a difference.

(4) Gentleness - extend kindness to others instead of passing judgment on them. The doors of life will not open if you are wanting something to satisfy your own ego, rather than a higher source.

Finally, if you have trouble relaxing before you sleep and spend those last few moments worrying about things you need to do, can't control, what's wrong, what you don't like or what you're missing out on out there - STOP.

Now take a deep breath and instead focus on how you want your life to look - the BIG picture - feel the power of POSITIVE thoughts and the calm that comes with it. These are the things we should be thinking about - not whether our 401k will take another hit. You know what - the stock market will fall, its going to happen and we can't control it. What we CAN control though is how we feel about it.

Next Tuesday our country takes steps in a new, positive direction. Imagine if we ALL had the positive thoughts to go along with it -- think of what we could achieve - awesome huh?

A New Year ... A New Cold

2009-01-10T11:08:00.000-08:00

So here we are - 10 days into the new year and I have a horrible cold. UGH. I'm missing an Eagle Court of Honor today because I'm sure the last thing they want is me sniffling and coughing my way thru their ceremony and food line! I dropped off Brian at the hall this morning and of course didn't realize (blaming it all on the Tylenol fog) that I dropped him there an hour early! whoops! Pays to read the fine print of the invitation ... must remember that next week! LOL!

Today is also the first Saturday that El has worked in ages. Feels a bit strange at this end, and I'm sure it must feel equally odd for him. Hopefully he'll have a good day though.

I think I'm going to curl up with my remote, kleenex and blankie and see if I can find some movies to watch today. I hate being sick!

Finally ... Brian drives!

2009-01-03T09:54:00.000-08:00

WOOHOO!!! As I type, Brian is out driving his car and getting a feel for it. He's been so nervous about driving again and getting a car for Christmas only seemed to make it worse. So El decided that today was the day he was getting our boy out there and behind the wheel. YAY!! And bonus, they made a quick side trip to Jamba Juice to grab me breakfast - I'm a happy Mom!

New sneakers!

2009-01-01T12:06:00.000-08:00

Brace yourself - I'm posting again! LOL!

Can I just say how much I LOVE new sneakers - especially when they're comfy! I bought 2 pairs the other day (love a sale) and now have a whitey white pair along with a pink & white pair. I think going to Ginger's retreat helped me find my "pink" side - woohoo!! I love New Balance sneakers cuz they're wider (like my feet) and they just feel good the moment you put them on. El was so excited to see me get new shoes - he insisted I wear them out of the store! I guess I held onto the Nike's for a little too long LOL

Happy New Year 2009!!!!

2009-01-01T11:46:00.000-08:00

Resolutions - who has some, who runs the other way from them? I used to make them (okay the same one) every year. Woohoo, having the lapband and losing 68 lbs this year has lightened that load (and me) and I no longer feel compelled to make the same resolution every New Years Eve of promising to lose weight, feel better, blah blah blah. I'm on the happy road and it feels great. Course, some days I would like to EAT, but I'm quickly reminded that its not a good idea anymore!

I would like to change other things. One is that I need to post on here more often so there's that resolution. The other is to brace myself and finally face up to the horror that is my scrapbook room and ultimately begin scrapping again. Yeah okay. Laugh if you want - heck I'm laughing with you! LOL! I have literally stayed out of the room because its just too horrific to go in there -- I think paper elves have drunken parties in there because its BAD! I know there's a floor ... heck, there's carpet. I just have to ummm find it! I have 1,434 projects to complete and have done NONE of them - this must change! LOL! So I'll report in each week with my progress - I'd post photos but I think it would scare people (plus the paper elves get annoyed)!

I hope everyone has a wonderful new year ... 2008 was a rough ride at the end and we just hope the economy improves. El's work has been hit hard as all automotive dealerships have been. His "team" is officially defunct as of today and tomorrow he finds out what team he'll be on for the immediate future. He's talked with other techs in the shop and no one is making any money like they did 6 months ago. But we are optimistic - we have our health, we're happy, we have looney tuney dogs that make us giggle, Brian has a very cute used new car (woohoo!) and maybe he'll even drive it one day! LOL Things are just gonna be GOOD and better this year!

Its the Happ-Happ-Happiest Season - at our house!

2008-12-08T09:19:00.000-08:00

Earlier this year, my co-worker offered our family a free air hockey table.
I jumped at it (much to El's utter dismay). We drove over there, trying not to calculate how much this was costing us in gas, picked it up (OMG, it was HUGE - turned out to be over 7 feet long - I mean HUGE as in it needed a name on the side - AIR HOCKEY ONE).

Driving home (with El muttering something about "his wife's compulsions to say 'yes' to everything without thinking"), we (well, he) realized that the only place it could "temporarily" live was our formal living room. Fast forward to Plan A - the boys would spring clean the garage and would put the table out there when they were done. Okay, we have a plan! (El was still muttering, but at least I could come out and play now), and I made a mental note to keep the door closed on my scrapbook room.

So kerplunk it went into place in my living room - with lots of help from the football star next door and El muttering something about Brian not getting enough of a work out with his video games!

Temporarily stored in the living room.

Uh-HUH. Sure.

6 months later (and Plan A having been long forgotten) I realized this month that I was not going to get a Christmas tree in the living room unless we had a pokey little tree sitting on top of Air Hockey One. This was so NOT an option since the cat food was already on the table, 345 boxes of Boy Scout popcorn were under the table, and finally, the one thing no family should be without - an Official Authenticated Nascar Used Tire Ice Chest was also sitting on the table (don't ask)... there was just simply no room for a Christmas tree branch on there!

So in one of my more inspired moments (tada) I mentioned to everyone I knew that regretfully we had to get rid of Air Hockey One. Such a deal I had for them ... and all I heard were crickets! So I called my SIL cuz I know she has friends who have compulsions like me ... and sure enough yesterday, her neighbors showed up and drove off with Air Hockey One in their truck bed. My living room is a living room again (hey there's a fireplace in there!) and I'm dreaming of Christmas trees and lights and stuff! Course, it looks like the Christmas tree will have to stand in the Nascar Tire Ice Chest, but its an improvement right?

Finally ... a new post!

2008-10-06T18:56:00.000-07:00

Well, hellooooo! I have no idea where the time goes, but one minute its June and the next, gulp, October!

I spent this past weekend in Vegas, well technically Henderson, but the slogan doesn't sound quite as catchy to say "what happens in Henderson, stays in Henderson" does it? LOL

Anyway, this was Ginger's big event - Inspiration Unlimited 2008! Now Ginger puts on the most awesome crops and classes I know of - she's just SO creative and fun! I remember walking into Ever After one day with Ginger and looking at the ribbon. I'm going "oh that's pretty" and just sorta, ya know, LOOKING at the ribbon. Ginger meanwhile is touching the ribbon - and then you see it - the LOOK, the gleam - and she goes "SEAWEED" and I'm going "seaweed?" and then its like watching a video game puzzle fast forward into place. Sure enough - that night she whips out a layout using this seaweed ribbon and makes Ariel's underwater home ... oh to have a creative brain like that! So she is the force that juggled all the craziness and pulled off one inspirational awesome weekend for over 125 scrappers!

ANYWAY ... going to Inspiration Unlimited was pretty much outside of my normal Scout/Nascar scrapping world. Prior to the event I was sorta worried about how I would do, but the closer it got, the more excited I got to challenge myself, to let myself go and try new things. Oh and I'm SO glad I did!

I also have to shout out to Nance & Monica - my dear island/pirate friends. Nance is a gem - I think we were sisters at some point and then someone in control of the world realized that we better not live in the same state otherwise we'd cause a LOT of trouble together! LOL Monica is such a sweetheart - I hope one day to have as much energy as she does, but I don't think it will ever happen! They decided to make a creative leap into Inspiration Unlimited too! Yay!!!!

For IU, the amazing Ginger rounded up some extraordinary talent!

First off Teresa Collins. I had heard about her for quite some time from several of the Divas, but honestly, can someone be THAT nice, THAT beautiful, THAT creative, and still be someone you want to be friends with? OH YESSSS! Teresa is just amazing! She is genuine and real ... and honestly, listening to her speak during her session had me in tears. I don't know if she realizes just how much she changed me this weekend - she made me realize how important scrapbooking is, how important it is to showcase everyday moments, how something that she creates, SHOULD be tweaked a bit so that your project reflects YOU - and how wonderfull fulfilling it can all be. She is such a positive force in the industry and I hope she continues to succeed and succeed big! I am a HUGE fan and will now be stalking, errrr, reading her blog everyday! That, and I need to set aside some $$ for her product lines! LOL!

Second - Janna Wilson, incredible designer and Fiskars representative. First off, Fiskars needs to build an entire line around this woman! She is Southern Chic personafied ... her project was so unlike anything I had ever thought of trying ... and I found it so creatively challenging (in my head), but yet the way she broke it down step-by-step, even dorky me, artiste o' the paint-by-numbers set, managed to make something beautiful! And then she gave us the supplies for the other project we never got to - generosity definitely was the trademark of this event, and Janna was no exception.

Third - Layle Koncar representing Scenic Route. She's a hoot! Its always great to start a class near the end of the day with the instructor saying "I'm a little punchy" ... booyah, this was gonna be fun! And it was - yet again, another project that I would never even think of tackling, but ended up loving and can't wait to finish.

I shared a table with Monica and Nance, and a lovely woman from Pennsylvania named Mindy. We all just laughed and enjoyed our day. Its so nice to have fun and then make a new friend on top of it. Monica, Nance and I didn't have enough hours because by the end of the day I was basically so far on empty it wasn't even funny! I swear our hotel room had to be the furthest point from anything and technically still be on hotel property - barely!

The Divas - Star, Susan and Dani were at the other end of the classroom (talk about feeling nervous - I really had to take a deep breath once I realized it and remind myself that I could "do this" without looking like a deer in headlights); Diva Kathy and her family were at the next table over from us - my security blanket! They were over-achievers in Layle's class - we were ummm slower! LOL. Diva Mo was one of Ginger's assistants the entire weekend so the Divas were very well represented. It was nice to have us together again ... I love them dearly and I hope they realize how important they are in my life - we cheer and support each other, share laughs and hugs, they are just awesome, powerful, strong women and I am just so blessed to know and love them (see, more tears!)

More later ...

Music Music... the blog has music

2008-07-19T20:02:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally figured out how to add music to my blog - yippee!!
Its still a work in progress but its just fun to hear tunes. Heck, maybe this will make me update more often! LOL!

Our Miss Molly Brat

2008-07-19T19:27:00.001-07:00

So this is Miss Molly after she broke her toe. Yup, her TOE. Everyone loved her bright pink collar and leash (so cute) so she got a bright pink bandage at her favorite vet's office and we toddled home. She was so grateful that she pooped in my recently detailed SUV. Sigh. Sometimes it just doesn't pay to get up in the morning!

Anyway, since cuteness works with this girl, we got over the poop episode (okay so it took a few days), but have to admit she did make a pretty darn adorable peg-legged pink ballerina.

The photo on the left is the 2nd pink bandaging. Molly tore off the first one. Actually, she shredded it. Harumph. That's when she got the lovely plastic "cone of silence" collar. Molly immediately got a hole in the bottom of the bandage on the left so El put a sock over it and then wrapped that with an Ace bandage. Aha, success! (We thought)

Yesterday, Molly, free for a few moments from the confines of the collar, managed to take the entire bandage and brace off (she brought it to me in her mouth) so once again she and I went driving back to the vet's office.

You know you've been there too many times when everyone grins when you walk in the door (and a faint cha-ching is heard from the cash register). "Hi Molly, oh Molly" ... yeah, Oh Molly is right.

She also decided that she had a new trick to debut at the vet's office - she flopped on her side and didn't/wouldn't get up. I have a petulant 7 month old toddler puppy ... and she is convinced that she is charge. After telling her, in my most "I'm the Mom" voice that she had to get up (she didn't), I dragged her across the floor by the leash - and yes, she let me drag her! All of the other owners with perfectly behaving pets thought Molly was a hoot ... brat yes. Hoot? Not so much!

So today we have a small bandage on her paw, she's LIVING in the collar thank you very much, and we wonder how on earth we're going to survive 5 more weeks of this adventure. And meanwhile the vet's office is now calling - heck, they probably missed my credit card being swiped thru their machine today!

Tim Russert, 1950-2008

2008-06-13T20:39:00.000-07:00

Tim Russert was one of those journalists who I totally adored.

You know how we become attached to the faces and voices we allow into our living room each night - the ones we trust to deliver good news and bad, the ones who comfort, make us smile, and make us THINK. They are people we'd love to have over for a BBQ or coffee because we feel as if we know them as if they are family because, after all, they're in our homes all the time and always by invitation. Tim Russert had that kind of impact on me.

I LOVED watching and listening to Tim on the Today Show while getting ready for work. He would be on and I would be late - simple as that! And with the primary, he's was on a LOT (and I was late a LOT!) His delight in the political process, his infamous white board (Florida, Florida, Florida!), his exhuberance, his joy, his unmitigated excitement with the way this country functioned (sometimes in a wonky fashion) - it all would come into my (our) living room in a big rush wrapped up with a smile and his "can you believe it?" How on earth does the election coverage get done the way it should without him being here? How do the important interviews that held nothing back - to either side - get done. Who will fill those huge shoes?

He died without warning and perhaps that is also why its hit me so personally. I lost my Dad without warning too also of a heart attack. I want time - time back instead of these sudden "he's gone" announcements. I hate it.

So here we sit at Father's Day weekend and the persistent "why why why" keeps going thru my head; the feeling that "this isn't happening, it isn't real". Of course there are no answers to the questions ... no great understanding of the "big picture" and all of it is painfully too real. One of the good guys is gone, and our lives are changed again.

You are missed by people you never met Mr. Russert; but you touched all of us. You made us care a little more, you made us pay attention, you made us question and listen. Thank you and Bless You.

THIRTY!!!! 30!!!! THIRRRRRTY!!!

2008-05-06T07:50:00.001-07:00

Pounds that is ... yup, its official, according to the all knowing scale I finally hit the THIRTY lbs gone mark today!

(We pause this blog for a moment of happy, happy, joy, joy happy dancing!)!!

Its been just over 4 months since my lapband surgery and can I just say I love it and the results! I had my second adjustment (fill) on Apr. 12th and since then I've been getting my head into the same game as my stomach - thankfully, most times they play nice in the sandbox! I can eat most things just fine. In fact, this Sunday we took Brian and his friend to Red Robin's ... its been ages since we've eaten out at home and I was just all set and drooly for their fish and chips. Well a few bites later, the band reminded me it was there and was firmly in charge. But I had leftovers! LOL!

THIRTY ... oh my gosh... I keep visualizing 30 lbs of potatoes and lugging them around Vons smiling that lunatic type smile saying "look at ME, look at THESE - 30 lbs of these are gone from me-woohoo" (course, then the store manager comes up and quietly asks me to put all his potatoes back where the belong thank you very much).

HAPPY HAPPY DAY!!! (everybody dance!)

Happy April!

2008-04-20T09:23:00.001-07:00

I know, I know, April is more than half over and I'm just getting here - I gotta work on improving my timing!

So Molly is enjoying her life in our home ... and she now has several nicknames as well. My friend Nance calls her Doll Face, we refer to her as Little Miss Pee Piddles, but this morning, I've pretty much decided that I like the name DESTRUCTOR because it just fits her only too well. Allow me to explain.

Last weekend we picked up 30 bags of mulch for our back hill along with some plants that we hope will grow and fill in the spaces (and hey its fun to pick out plants named chocolate!)

Anyway, we then put our smarty hats on and put up a fence we innocently (naively?) thought would keep her off the hill ... alas, not so much. She not only gets up on the hill, she runs back and forth gleefully enjoying puppyhood. Only when hearing MOLLY MOLLY yelled from the house does her little Doll Face head turn, the bell goes off and she remembers she's not supposed to be up there! Then, since she can't jump over the fence to get down (its scarey!), she merely runs thru it. So the cute little fence is a crumpled heap while Destructor is doing just fine!

Anyway, here's our gal, Molly, and the path of her destruction ...

This is Molly - and Mr. Hedgehog, one of many of Zeke's toys that she stole from him! Most pictures of Molly have her face hidden ... we think she does this on purpose so she can't be identified in a line-up!

Molly's mulching efforts on the patio ... notice the culprit isn't around!

This used to be a bed of 3-4 foot tall double-bearded irises ... now its Molly's playplen! The fence (the thing that bent and flat in places) apparently doesn't work! (BTW, if you click on the photo, you can see the damage up close like we do - sorta that IMAX experience!)

This is part of our vastly improved retaining wall hill in the back ... it would look much better if certain puppy paws would keep off (and again, no sign of the little vixen anywhere to be seen!)

Today we hope to get the victimized mulch bags off our patio and distributed into the front planters! And we think a trip to Petsmart may be in order so we can find a new Mr. Hedgehog!

So while I was out flinging in the Spring ....

2008-03-30T14:02:00.001-07:00

my boyz were out looking to add to our family! And they succeeded!

This was after El and Brian went to the big REI sale of used/returned gear and equipment (can you believe, they bought yet another tent? Yeah, neither could I!!) - but they have new water shoes, hiking boots, fleece hats & vests, socks (people return socks - how odd!) and even a wonderful laptop bag for Brian at school!

So then the boys decided to go out to Camarillo to the Scout Store and after that - well, the animal shelter is only just over THERE. So that was the first phone call (hey we're at the animal shelter - you're where? LOL). Alas, that didn't pan out and so they toddled over to Newbury Feed to check that out (this, I must confess, was MY idea so I guess I'm sort of to blame for the eventual result!). The owner of Newbury Feed runs out to the Bakersfield Animal Shelter and adopts the dogs, gets them spayed & neutered, and then puts them up for adoption in his store. He doesn't make money on this venture - he breaks even (if that), but since Bakersfield's Shelter is such a high-kill facility (70-75%), he is giving dogs a chance they wouldn't get :)

Anyway, El and Brian fell in love with "Molly" - a look alike to our Zeke. Then they found out that another family said they were coming back for her. So - they waited (and made back up plans). At the end of the day, the other family was a no show, and Molly was on her way to our house!

The other dogs (including her look alike big cousin Zeke) have taken to her really well. The cats - not so much! Max hissed at her this morning and she batted him in the face - so he's been pouting! Sabrina won't come out of my scrapbook room - totally disgusted with another female in the house! LOL!

Anyway, here's a picture of Molly enjoying her chew toy (on the couch no less!)

and here'a a pic of Molly with her look alike - our Zeke boy!

More photos to follow in the weeks ahead!

Trish

Spring fling crop was wonderful!

2008-03-30T13:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Ginger's first crop of the year - and it was FUN! Star, Dani and I had a fun day of creativeness and girly time and just can't believe how FAST time goes by when one is having fun! Wouldn't it be great if our workdays went by just as fast?

Speed aka Dani played with bling & glitter (and woohoo, shared a photo of her & Mike Piazza at Petco Stadium - thank you!!!), Star experimented with different techniques (lots of oohs and aahs from my side of the table!) and then started to work on one of Ginger's kits - the amazing Goofy book - its just so wickedly cute! I can't wait to see it finished - cuz then I'll work on mine!!

Thanks to Ginger and Ginger's Mom for a VERY enjoyable day away from it all! Mom - you did AWESOME before Ginger arrived (woohoo)!!! I still can't believe I won the big prize of the night - a Quickutz Revolution - its SOOO cute!!!! What a treat - and all thanks to the Diva Happy Dance and the extra good luck rub from Mom!

Trish

SINGING A HAPPY SONG!!!

2008-03-25T08:09:00.000-07:00

oh joy oh joy, oh wonderful happy joy joy!
Last night, totally on a fluke, we were able to sell our huge Suburban to a family that drove by, noticed the 'burb on the curb and said "hey wanna sell?" We are SO doing the happy dance. Let's face it, in the land of soon to be $4.00 a gallon gas, a 3/4 ton 'burb with a 454 wasn't going to sell and yet IT DID!!!
WOOHOO!!! And its the sale that keeps saving money - today I'm calling my insurance company and we don't have to renew the DMV registration... and hey, best yet, the mailman can now deliver our mail into our mailbox without having to get out of his Jeep (he umm was apparently irritated and wouldn't always close the mailbox), but now he can deliver (though probably not a snow & sleet type of dude!) and the mail will stay in the mailbox!
Yippee!

2008-03-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T15:52:00.000-07:00

El is creating Easter dinner as I type - boneless leg of lamb, veggies, mashed spuds ... and of course, mint sauce! Yummm... can't wait! We rushed to Pavilions this afternoon because I suddenly remembered I had no mint sauce - one just cannot have lamb without it - its a rule, numbered even. But that has been fixed and I'm calm. Of course, it wasn't my fault that the giant bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs jumped into our cart as I walked by them. It wasn't! I gasped and whoops, there they were! In the cart, all pretty ... now they're home and even prettier! Its my one weakness at Easter ... the one candy that makes me squeal with delight (an homage to Ginger) and makes me do the happy dance! Yes, candy can do that! Frightening how easily I'm amused isn't it?

I'm on vacation this week - YAHOO!!! (visual - another happy dance!) I was off on Friday so yesterday felt like Sunday and today feels like a really odd Monday - I sure hope that straightens out this week! LOL! Brian and I have nothing planned, especially as El has to work. Of course, work already called on Friday - good grief, they were only there for half-day, and they called! HELLOOOO - I'm on vacation! So it looks like I'll be perusing the caller ID all week.

Best part is that on Saturday, I'm going to Ginger's crop in Santa Clarita! (okay... everyone with me this time - happy dance! Hey I feel like Ellen with all this happy dancing!) This week I need to figure out what I want to make, create or just chat about! I had taken a break from Scout stuff, but now I'm way behind so I don't think that was such a great plan! I need to get the photos organized, paper set and then bring some back up cards to make (that will make me open the box from QVC that arrived the other day!). We have a new printer and I have a project in mind ... I need to print photos and see if I can actually move the project from my brain to actual production mode. That means breaking out the bind-it-all that is still in the box ... well I have a week so I should be able to do this right? (ha ha ha - yeah I'm laughing too!)

Hope you all have a lovely Easter day and a happy hoppy spring!
Trish :)

I got tagged!

2008-03-09T18:02:00.000-07:00

So I finally get around to reading blogs of my friends and whadya know, I got tagged by the one and only Ginger! How cool is that!! And there's rules!!!

* Link to your tagger and post these 3 rules on your blog.*
Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.* (Okay considering I have run of the mouth disease and share everything about me with everyone, I think I may have to dredge up oddball things from my youth -- mmm and then again maybe not!
Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog (course, if you're like me and don't know 7, then make it up as you go! LOL!)

1. I don't do horror films - last horror film I saw was Carrie and I only saw that cuz John Travolta was in it (and he actually had real hair then, not that helmet thing he has now).
2. I saw Saturday Night Fever 9 times at the theater ... okay so have I explained about the Travolta fetish in my youth yet? I tell ya, that is WEIRD!
3. My parents took me to horseback riding lessons at Pickwick Stables in Griffith Park when I was little. I always went just as far as the "trot" command because as soon as the horse trotted, I bounced out of the saddle, fell on my ass and refused, in tears, to get back on. This routine obviously had to be changed when I got my own horse in the late 1980's. Course, it took me a year to actually ride her - I told people I just had a REALLY big horse-dog!
4. When I was little I had to go to a French daycare ... I don't remember much except for the fact they had applesauce they would make you eat. To this day, I HATE applesauce with a passion.
5. I went to school in England for several months in 1971. Talk about culture shock. I was behind, called a yank and basically had a horrible time. My aunt would rescue me on a weekly basis. But I would love the opportunity to live thereit as an adult.
6. I'm actually starting to cook a little more, but get stumped with everyday stuff. But show me a crockpot and I'm your buddy!
7. To this day, I wish I would have gone to college.

okay not sure I know how to link you to other blogs but here is who I tag: Dani (speed!) speed's zone, Mo { got blog? } , Susan Creative Destination , Kathy L., my sister Marie (ha ha see what happens when you enter blogland!) Couch Clan Idaho ! and uhhhh I need to find some people with blogs! LOL!

I miss that 1 hour already!

2008-03-09T08:26:00.000-07:00

Well happy spring - the bunnies are hopping, the birds are chirping and I lost an hour of my Sunday! poo! I'll miss that hour tomorrow morning even more!

So last night El and I went on a date to a newer restaurant in town. Actually, it was the 5th restaurant we tried to get in and by the time we got there, a 30 minute wait no longer sounded unreasonable! Anyway, I've got no restriction at all with the band so basically I can eat whatever - so ummm I did. Brian was working a show at his school so we had some time to have an actual date.

So we went to Sutter's Mill - this is the new location in Simi. Years ago, we used to go to the one in Mission Hills on Sepulveda. Loved it. Not so much on the new place. At one point, I could actually hear Gordon Ramsey in my head reviewing the food ... from this I learned I watch too much t.v. and also that Gordon is right! Serving packaged salad like I get at Vons - bad idea. Worse idea is when they can't bother to even wash it to at least give the illusion that it was fresh. For $20 a plate, could they not find anything besides the plastic salad dressing container tilted on the bagged lettuce? Apparently not. Lemonade - ick. Nuff said. I had steak (angus per the menu), 3 shrimp and a stuffed baked potato. Best thing was the shrimp though sadly I'm positive they came frozen out of the box. I'm used to steak at home - with seasoning! Having a lump of meat without seasoning is well ... I don't get it. El had a rib-eye that he said wasn't seasoned either. We also noticed people around us using their salt & pepper shakers a lot so I don't think it was just us and Gordon Ramsey on our shoulder! LOL! So, $50 later we left and then wondered why we didn't go to our favorite local Red's BBQ (who have nothing to worry about from this restaurant).

Today we're going to plan a Saturday trip to Mexicali for I hope this month -- if not the beginning of April. I SO need to go back. Meanwhile, I'm going to plan out lunches this week and go shopping so I'm at least prepared at work. Gotta work the band in order for it to work! I still miss my lunch buddy, and I can see where I could fall into the traps of drive-thrus if I don't put the brakes on real quick. Fighting the battle of the food isn't ever going to be easy - even armed with a band - its a lot of in my head stuff (complete with arguing) so if I can just remove having to think about what to have each day, I think it will be easier.

I put in for vacation this past week at work - nothing planned, just some time off. First week is Brian's spring break at the end of this month and then the other week is when the boys are off at Scout Camp on Catalina Island. I figure I can be at Camp too - right here in the house and get some scrapping done (or not). Maybe meet a diva or two for coffee in the morning if schedule permits. Hey there's a plan!

Well, I guess I should try and organize the mess in the family room before the Atlanta race starts today. We have to go to Costco (coupon book expiring) and fill up the gas tank for the week (oh joy but thank you for the Costco gas station!) and Brian needs to do his laundry. Sundays - so much to do, and today an hour less to get it done in!

Getting to know me better!

2008-02-20T06:16:00.000-08:00

I read this questionnaire this morning on Ginger's blog (waving)...so since she "tagged me", I figured I better post it here! :)

1. What is your occupation? Secretary (Assistant) and Office Manager when the mood strikes to a law firm (yawn);
2. What color are your socks right now? socks?
3. What are you listening to right now? nothing - not even the birds are up!
4. What was the last thing that you ate? pizza for dinner
5. Can you drive a stick shift? yup, but haven't done it in years (remember when we had to pay extra for automatics!
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? uhhh ... one of the blues
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? my sister (who ticked me off)
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? She tagged me - but yup, I likes her alot!
9. How old are you today? 48!
10. Favorite drink? Vanilla Coke Zero - oh how I miss it! I'm still buying it even though I can't drink it! I'm telling myself that crystal light is just as good and better for me ... still working on that!
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? you have to ask? NASCAR baby!
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? yes, especially when Mom is coming to visit!
13. Pets? 2 dogs (1 aging chocolate Lab, Hershey; 1 very loving border collie mix Zeke; 2 black cats - Max and Sabrina
14. Favorite food? Mexican - but we are sadly lacking a great Mexican restaurant in Simi.
15. Last movie you watched? No Reservations with Catherine Zeta Jones. Very good - and not as fluffy as I thought it was.
16. Favorite Day of the year? hmmm... not sure. Any day I don't have to work is on the list!
17. What do you do to vent anger? Yell, cry, pout - and then I get really quiet.
18. What was your favorite toy as a child? Breyer horses - had a whole bunch of them before my sisters broke their legs
19. What is your favorite season? Spring
20. Hugs or kisses? Hugs
21. Cherry or Blueberry? neither! I agree with Ginger - strawberry or raspberry!
22. Do you want your friends to respond? yes
23. When was the last time you cried? in January - recovering from surgery and wondering what the heck I had done!
24. What is on the floor of your closet? stuff that should be tossed out!
25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? whoever reads the blog!
26. Favorite smells? freshly mowed grass in the morning, and flowers in a florist shop.
27. Who inspires you? lots of people
28. What are you afraid of? car accidents
29. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? cheese!
30. Favorite car? Lexus anything!
31. Favorite cat breed? your basic domestic shorthair - 2 of them are running around my house!
32. Number of keys on your key ring? about 6 along with too much other stuff - it bugs my hubby!
33. How many years at your current job? 27 years
34. Favorite day of the week? Friday absolutely!
35. How many states have you lived in? one
36. Do you think you're funny? yes - humor gets me thru pretty much anything!

Okay, and now you've been tagged too! If you have a blog, pay it forward and play! If not, just have fun with it!

Trish

Sleep?

2008-02-20T06:11:00.000-08:00

Well, true to the name of my blog, I'm having sleep issues. Today was yet another morning when I awoke at 5am and just couldn't get back to sleep. I'm sitting here watching dawn arrive (albeit a gloomy one) and so wishing I could just sleep for a bit longer. SIGH. The rest of the house, except for 1 dog and 1 cat are snoring ... Zeke thinks its time to play, and Max the cat is just being Max the cat and finding ways to irritate me even at this early hour.

Trish

where has the time gone?

2008-02-19T21:33:00.000-08:00

Yikes! Time has flown and sitting here watching American Idol tonight, I suddenly remembered "hey I have a blog"! Then I forgot my logon (a bad sign!) and then couldn't believe the last date - yikes yikes yikes!

Anyway ... first off the weight loss! Yay - how fun is it to say "loss"? woohoo!!! To date, I've lost 26 lbs (give or take a couple either way) and can't wait to get a fill this Saturday. Yeppers, we're heading to Mexico - land of way too many earthquakes lately (none on Saturday please!).

This will be my first fill in the lapband and I'm not sure what to expect - I just don't wanna look at the needle! LOL! I have enough trouble with blood getting drawn - I certainly don't wanna see something going IN! I'm hoping the fill will give me some restriction - right now I've recovered from the surgery (thanks to Michelle and Buffy for ears, hearts and shoulders that I leaned on a LOT during my bouts of insanity and panic attacks); felt great when I didn't have hunger (mistakenly thought "hey whadya know, this is easy"), and then sadly discovered the thing they call "bandster hell" ... ay yi yi - the hunger comes BACK - and I think its very annoyed to be ignored so long! LOL! Sadly, I can eat pretty much anything I want ... not a good thing, but most days I do okay. But I've hung in (I've read that lots of people gain back all the weight they lose post-surgery) and I'm patting myself on the shoulder that I'm swinging only a couple of pounds up and then down. Good job me! hee hee hee

Second -- NASCAR is back!!! Waving to Dani (wooohooo chica, its baaaackkkkk!!!). The boys have been very busy with scout stuff so I've been watching the races alone, and totally enjoying it! First off, ESPN is nowhere around and Fox is back in control - yay yay yay! I love the crew - they are the BEST! The boys are off to the California race this Sunday (yet another meet and greet with hubby's man-wife Jimmie Johnson!) and great seats as well. Hopefully it won't rain (egads, hadn't even considered that thought - they'd have to go back on Monday? Yeah, that would be a fun excuse to tell the school huh?) Dani and I are hoping Tony wins soon so he can cut his hair! By the way, check out the funny Toyota commercial - http://youtube.com/watch?v=FNgalNFZt-c Gotta say the hair looks good on Tony in that one!

Third -- Brian helped me clean out my scrapbook room ... oh my gosh ... so so so so much stuff and way too little a room for it all!! We set up crates like they do with Clean House all labeled and we just tossed like crazy. I'm donating quite a bit to our Troop fundraising garage sale - yeehaw it'll be out of the room! I still have to go thru all the magazines and idea books (have 3 crates of those -- goodness), but most will be trashed and recycled. It felt SO good to finally see under the desk and in all the boxes ... ay yi yi ... yet again, so much stuff! LOL!

We all worked in the front garden this Saturday morning - our yard made the house look like it was in foreclosure so we all went out (yes, even me, for the first time in at least 5 years) ... we hacked, cut, sweat and filled up 2 huge trash containers with weeds and dreck ... and there's still more to go! Yeah, it was bad, but at least now it looks somewhat improved. We would have done more but we had an Eagle Court of Honor to attend (congrats to our 51st Eagle Scout, Jonathan), and then had to run out to the Scout House in Camarillo. It was a really nice day out ... we'll have to do that again! LOL!

Trish :)

And so ... my journey officially begins

2007-11-15T19:44:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm here.

I'm standing near the start line. For those who are familiar with Nascar racing, the command to Start your Engines has just been shouted! Now to wait for the green flag!

I am officially scheduled for weight loss surgery at the end of December. I have researched methods of surgery, locations, doctors - you name it, I've checked it, read about it, printed it, memorized it and even dreamt about it. I have checked so many BMI calculators (and yup, you'll be happy to know they all say the same darn thing -- irritating things, should be banned); weighed myself on the mega scale I had to have - no getting around THAT number ... but I know that its the last time I'll see THAT number so off with its head!

SO with all that said and my humor a bit wonky but still firing ... I'm ready!

I admit that I wasn't quite so ready for the emotional roller coaster that picked me up! I came home on a total high from meeting my surgeon (who answered every question, had no ego, and just put me totally at ease) on Saturday, and I have been up and down to extremes ever since. As I told El tonight, I might have to to back on prozac for awhile in order to protect those around me! Ack!

Brian told me tonight he is so proud of me for making this decision ... my darling hubby is my rock. He just thinks it will be fabulous to have me next to him in bed instead of piles of laundry! Course, I may have to get some Downy perfume so he doesn't miss the laundry, but we'll cross that road when we get there!

To those who have listened to me lose my mind these last couple of days - thank you from the bottom of my fat little heart! I promise I'm going to get a handle on this ... but just knowing you're there is so unbelievably comforting. When I start to lose it, I think of all of you and what you all mean ... I am blessed to be surrounded by so much love.

Trish

Fires and the Winds - never a good mix

2007-10-22T12:55:00.000-07:00

The winds are unbelieveable and so many fires are going it seems no matter where you look there's smoke and ash.

My friend Marie's husband Tom is up flying his water dropping helicopter for L.A. County today - he was on the job until 2am this morning. How he flies in this wind, and then gets the water dropped right on the spot where its supposed to go is simply amazing. Meanwhile, my friend's mom's neighbor's house burned to the ground last night out in Canyon Country; thankfully her Mom's home was spared. Tom did a flyover and checked on it for her so she could rest easier too.

Meanwhile my friend Heidi is in escrow for a home that has now been ordered for voluntary evacuation. She says that maybe closing escrow now isn't such a good idea! Oh my.

For those in the area of these fires or for those who are fighting them or have loved ones fighting them - be safe.

So where did this month go to?

2007-10-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

So, I FINALLY check my blog and see my last post was October 4th.
Its now October 21st - how on earth did that happen?

I know I lost a lot of time simply because the charming kidney stones came back with a vengence, and I didn't want to do anything at all with anyone at any time! LOL Anyway, after a couple of lost weekends, I seem to be back to Trish's version of "normal" this weekend. And (woohoo) I've even had some diet vanilla coke (I know, I know, but geez, its diet coke and it calls me!) but I've learned to balance - have a diet coke, then crystal light to wash it thru those mean, stone-producing kidneys of mine! And thanks to some advice from my "island" friend Karen, I'm including a lot of orange juice. Acidic drinks are my friend! (grin)

So here's a quick rundown of what I would have posted about had I not resembled a pathetic mound on the couch ....

(Speed - this one is for you!) Talledega race ... only ABC could make this race boring and teamed with the COT, its turned into a virtual slumber fest. NASCAR needs to fix this. When Jr. got out of the car and said how bored he was (and he's driving), there's a problem. Ack. I did like the finish - Jeff is definitely on the fast track to a championship. Last weekend was the Lowe's race - Jimmie shoulda, woulda, but apparently couldn'ta! But Jeff, now in full Chase mode, won another race which brings him closer to another championship. He is, as they say, on fire! I read online today that Rusty Wallace is gone, gone, gone from the ABC booth so we'll see if that improves, but I really don't think he was "the" problem. Basically, ABC just needs to hire the Fox Nascar crew for the season and then it will be fixed! Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, bring back Darryl Waltrip boys!

(and now for the non-racing news!!)

Brian has found something at school to be excited about - working on the stagecraft crew! Oh my gosh - I think this is the most excited I've seen him about school in ages! This entire week he has gone to school at 7:15 (he prefers to drive with Dad in the mornings cuz he said he isn't late that way - harumph). Most days he is in class until 5pm, but this week his 8th & 9th stagecraft class didn't end until 9pm each night since they were in rehearsals for a play this weekend. I was very worried about the hours, and the balance of homework, etc., yet Brian just rose to the occasion. He had a blast, he was exhausted, and he loved every darn moment of it. He thinks the actors are totally cool, the crew is cool, everything is so darn cool! Well, except me most of the time! Brian's friends think I'm very cool which makes him question the sanity of his friends! LOL! They got the news last night after the final show that they have been asked to present the same play at a local middle school. Brian was asked to participate and is just thrilled.

The big eye opener this week was realizing that other parents simply don't think their child needs to eat - despite the child asking for dinner while having a similar school schedule and working until 9pm with Brian. Brian's friend's parents told their son "we're busy" so he wasn't going to get any food. What the heck is up with that? So, 3 days this week, I picked up dinner for him and Brian. I then found out the boy's parents were too "busy" to pick their son up at school at 9pm and expected him to walk home. He lives at the east end of Simi ... approx. 5-6 miles from the school. He didn't walk home - that is just unacceptable to me. The last time I drove him home, their car was in the driveway. Busy, busy, uh-huh sure.

(and now a little proud parent moment) Brian went to an "after show" dinner with his tech crew at Denny's. He wanted to be sure he had enough money to tip the waitress. He even called me to verify how much he should tip and said okay, he had enough. Yesterday, he told me that the waitress told him he was one of the nicest, most polite young men she had served (and that was before the tip!) I tell ya - you hope and hope that some of what you teach sticks ya know, and when you hear something like this, it fills up those reserve tanks that get depleted with all the "but Mom, you don't understand" arguments!

Grocery shopping - is anyone else noticing the prices? Yikes! It finally got me back into couponing this week and shopping the specials. So our fridge, freezer and cupboards are packed (and dare I say it - we even bought lots of healthy stuff) and hopefully I can keep up with boring coupons (it was a lot more fun when they would double them without all the restrictions - aah, those were the days!).

Moving out of state - yep, we're still thinking about it. The only thing we seem to lack is a firm destination at this point! We were so positive about Prescott, AZ, but now we wonder if making a living there is indeed feasible. I really hope so, as even with all the growth, its a place we really do love. I've been playing around online and re-checking Oregon as we both loved it up there. I have just decided to adopt this philosophy that when its time, we'll figure it out, make a trip to Prescott and check out employment areas. Until then though, we'll enjoy ourselves here.

I'm hoping to go to a crop on Nov. 3 with Ginger. Its close by and even though most of the divas can't go, it'll be a nice day out and I get to see Ginger, Ginger's Mom and Diva Kathy. Just knowing we can kick back, laugh and focus on scrapping for the day sounds great to me! Meanwhile, I'm planning yet another trip to the Ikea store after realizing that the current set up in my scrapbooking room isn't working and won't work. So, time to take stuff down and store it until we move, and time to put something in that will work. You know I think the money in scrapbooking is in organizational items - none of which seem to work for everyone or for very long so we buy more! (Okay, so maybe they're not used to scrappers having so much stuff!!!) Anyway, regroup and restart, that's my motto!

Have a great week everyone ... and hopefully I'll check back here a little more often!

It's Almost Here ...

2007-10-04T14:32:00.001-07:00

I admit it, totally and completely ... I'm SO excited about Sunday and the Nascar race from Talledega! woohoo!

Speed -- hey girl it's almost time!!! woohoo!

Life would be just perfect if ABC/ESPN weren't involved - what'd I'd give for Fox Sports to be broadcasting on Sunday.

Trish

New TV shows vs. New Video Game!

2007-09-25T19:11:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is, Day 2 of what is officially the new season of T.V.

All the new shows look great and "must see t.v." when they show the commercials. Then you sit down to watch them and wonder what on earth were these people thinking!

Monday evening was a great start though with the return of Heroes and Dancing with the Stars. Yes, DVR's are your friend (waving to Kathy out there) and this is the time of year it is used a LOT!

Tonight is Dancing with the Stars and Biggest Loser (I do believe in the weight loss fairy - she's just late is all) !

However, tonight was also the night Brian got to pick up his pre-ordered video game, Halo3. He bought it with Christmas money and made me go into the store with him as you had to be over 17 to buy it. The clerk didn't even ask how old he was, but Brian pointed to me and said "that's my Mom so its okay I get it." Love it :)

Anyway, he is giggling away as he shoots what can only be described as really ugly Travelocity gnomes on steriods who run amock and sound just like Ewoks on helium!

And this is, as they say, entertainment! I will say the graphics are wickedly cool, but I think my carpel tunnel and arthritis would give me fits if I went to battle against the killer gnomes (and ummm lost!)

Hope everyone has a nice, peaceful evening ... I get my t.v. back in 20 minutes!

Its Our Anniversary!

2007-09-20T09:35:00.001-07:00

Today is our 27th wedding anniversary! woohoo!

Today is that one day each year where we get to say "we made it another year". For all the naysayers and poopie-heads who said we were too young and we wouldn't last, not to mention several tacos short of a combo plate, we collectively blow a giant raspberry! Yup, we're damn proud of our little selves making it to this point! I can honestly say I love my hubby more than the day I married him - not because he's handsomer or weathered (or whatever the politically correct term is for older!), its because he's still the GUY - that one person for me. I am still, unashamedly, in love with him.

So here's to us and hopefully many more years of being "weathered" together.

My Boyz & An Evening with Friends

2007-09-19T20:25:00.000-07:00

I went out to dinner tonight with two of my dearest friends. We went to Johnny Carino's. For the record the food was very good, but we all though it was very odd that bruschetta was not on the menu.

I think we'd probably get together more often if our lives weren't so busy with family, schools, sports, etc. Yet, there's always this moment where I pause, take it all in and realize "oh hey, we made it happen - yay". And then of course, the evening races along. So, Lori and Jackie - this is for you :)

And since I have this photo thing sorta figured out, I'm putting a recent photo of my guys up. This was taken last month on Santa Rosa Island on a great Troop 605 Scout outing. Everyone on the trip had such a good time - lots of hiking, photo ops and great nature sites (including elk).

El's Winning Photo

2007-09-19T07:48:00.000-07:00

So here's the photo El took in Minnesota - I think its beautiful.

Tuesday musings

2007-09-18T12:43:00.000-07:00

Well, its Tuesday and I survived my atrocious packing job for the crop and actually completed some very basic layouts of an entire scouting event (its a 2006 event, but its sorta done). Now I just need to add the embellishments, titles, journaling ... oh dear... well, the photos are on the paper!

My hubby called me at the crop on Saturday to tell me that he had won a blue ribbon for photography at the scout event that day. He was SO cute and I have to say the photo IS beautiful (I'll have to remember to post it tonight). So now I get to make a layout of his photo and his ribbon! How fun! He always makes sure he takes a lot of photos of each event he goes to so that I have lots to keep me busy in the future!

True to form, I slept most of the day on Sunday. For the life of me I can't figure out why I'm so exhausted after a crop, but the day after strongly resembles a really sad hangover! Heidi and I managed to take the wrong freeway home ... so we saw much more of Riverside than a person should at 11:00 pm! I was home just before midnight though so that's about par for the course.

Weekend Plans - Finally Scrapping!

2007-09-14T22:28:00.000-07:00

What a LONG week at work - I'm so glad to see Friday evening! This week I had Boy Scout leaders training Wednesday night. Hubby told me the location had these nice padded chairs -- well, they did, but the only people seated in them were the people leading the class. The rest of us sat in hard, plastic, icky chairs and were bored out of our minds for over 2 1/2 hours. Why BSA hasn't put this class online is beyond me, but they surely need to. Thursday was Scout meeting night ... this is not the first time that Brian has opted to stay home while we go off to the meeting (something is seriously askew with that picture huh?). Anyway, El had his ASM duties and I had to take the minutes of the parent meeting ... and to top it all off we ended after the boys were done with their meeting! Funny in an odd sort of way!

Tonight I packed ... and packed for a crop tomorrow. I know I overpack, and I pack without any rhyme or reason - I may use, must use, won't use - what the heck, it all goes in the bag! I KNOW I need to purge stuff ... but its so overwhelming I don't even know where to start! Plus I keep convincing myself I'm going to use this stuff (at least I know I do have the photos in order to do just that - I just need to actually scrap at home)!

Thankfully, El has loaded my car, put air in my tires, the gas tank is full (gag, gulp, sputter at the gas pump - we're back in the $3.05 range again - sigh) and I'm ready to go. Heidi and I will hook up, grab Coffee Bean in the morning and hit the freeway down to Murietta ... yay!!! Honestly, you could point me in a direction with no stuff - as long as the Divas are gonna be there, I'm there! I'm so looking forward to seeing my dear friends and just spending the day laughing and just being in that wonderful moment - truly the best of times.

The Nascar race is Sunday ... I usually spend Sundays after crops in a vegetative state (okay... I'm really sleeping - but doesn't vegetative sound more pathetic than giant couch potato?) Anyway, I hope to stay awake for the race. It the first race in the chase - and our guy Jimmie is in the #1 spot. He starts in the 2nd row - so he's obviously got the speed and car. Afterwards, I'm sure the boys will again play with the NFL ticket thing and attempt to drive me crazy (this would be where I start sleeping!) At one point last week, 8 games were on the TV AT THE SAME TIME ... hello, this isn't the sports bar in Vegas, its our family room! LOL! Oh and competing for the same t.v. space will be the boys' new XBox game - Tiger Woods 2008. I had to leave the room tonight as they were creating characters ... they had the funniest looking players with big ears, eyebrows, funky pink skin - all 3 of us had the giggles! At least it made me go pack!

I ended up watching Holmes on Homes ... ohhhhh my goodness ... ya gotta see this man... I mean show! I swear he's worth moving to Canada and saying 'eh and aboot a lot of the time. Hubba hubba hunky man! He's an awesome contractor - one of those you hope you get when you have work done on your house but sadly usually don't get. Between him and Mike Rowe on Dirty Jobs, manly men have never looked so good (grin!)

Have a great weekend everyone ...
Trish

Going back to work :(

2007-09-03T18:59:00.000-07:00

Well, our vacation is officially ending - we are in the last few hours of relaxation before it all starts up again.

The boyz went to California Speedway yesterday to see the Nascar race - bonus was that their favorite driver (#48) won. They had a really good time, drank tons of water and tried to find shade where they could. Best of all was the Question & Answer session fundraiser meeting with Jimmie Johnson (#48) - it was in an air conditioned tent so that was nice for a bit too :) I enjoyed the race as well, but from the comfort of my new couch and with the A/C cranking!

Today has been easy, kickback, relaxing -- I'm so glad we took this time off. Its just been nice and I highly recommend it :)

Oh and speaking of recommendations - go see the Bourne Ultimatim - GREAT movie! What a fun way to spend a couple of hours.

For those that enjoy BBC programming on BBC America, check out Top Gear. There are 3 guys and they do the most hysterical comparisons of cars on this show and then do crazy stunts with them. Its truly funny and we are hooked ! Its very English and just good fun :)

Hope everyone has had a great holiday weekend :)
Trish

The most wonderful day of the year!

2007-08-29T18:24:00.001-07:00

First Day of School! Yippee!!!

Our son is a Jr. in High School this year and is actually thrilled to go back. We're glad he's going back too - the boy needs something to do! LOL!

I can remember my first days and being SO nervous every single time, though I started a lot of new schools in new areas and seemed to be that odd gal out. We're thankful that we've stayed in one place and been able to see our son's circle of friends grow each year. Now it looks like hug fest at the school each morning!

This morning we had to have our usual "first day of school" picture ... of course, the days of standing cutely in front of the house and smiling sweetly are way gone. Now, at 16 "photo time" is greeted with "aw come on Mom, I don't hafta" followed by the now customary "I'm NOT smiling" which in turned resorted to my husband standing behind me making funny comments which FINALLY made our son crack up laughing (ha ha, and I got the picture!). Yeesh, the things a Mom has to do! LOL! Of course, this success was short-lived as I was reduced yet again by a wave and "see ya later" instead of a hug goodbye :<

We eagerly both waited to hear about the first day - nothing beats the first day back report. I think its probably the one and only day where all you hear is great, all positive, moving forward, its gonna be a fabulous year news. Then you sit in dread for 9 months waiting for that report card to show up in June - oddly like giving birth to a piece of paper! Its also the one day in the year where our son gets to come home and present us with a pile of papers and say "ha ha you have homework" - I swear he lives for this day! He just sits and giggles which of course has us in giggles. Yes, the first day of school is really, really good!

VACATION!!!

2007-08-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, technically, hubster and I are on vacation since last Friday ... we haven't and aren't going anywhere, but boy its just nice to kick back, veg and not have to THINK.

We're taking care of errands (packing up and returning stuff to Dish Network - buh-bye Dish, hello Direct) and going back-to-school shopping which is SO easy with our boy. Basically take him into Kohl's, point him in the men's department and say "shop" ... couple of hours later, we're outta there and all done! Love it! Then hit the shoe store - 2 pairs, a sale and 2 coupons -- good stuff.

Today we bought a new reclining sofa & loveseat (okay, now you know where the EXCESS debt came in on the post below right? LOL) - but in my typical justifiable style, (a) I've hated our current couch since the day we put it in the house, (b) my doctor actually told me that he wants my legs up as much as possible (does this make it a write-off?) and (c) it was a SCREAMING good sale! So, we're excited because it gets delivered on Friday, its uber comfortable, really nice looking and soft microfiber as well. I also tell myself that if we HAD gone on vacation, we would have spent a lot more money than the couch and loveseat cost. And there you go - justifiable debt! Ta-da!!

Finally, to cap off this lovely Monday vacation day - I had a mammogram! Good Golly Miss Molly - its one thing to know one's "girls" are huge, its another thing when you actually see them splayed out on a plate and then bench-pressed in between a vise while a really nice gal tells ya "good job." I had visions of what they'd look like if I lost the amount of weight I'm supposed to lose -- not pretty at all! Still, the mammo is done and considering the Divas and I are going to 2 breast cancer fundraisers in the next 2 months, I was kinda proud of myself for finally following thru on getting it done. My "girls" would probably agree, but they're in recovery at the moment! LOL!

Hubby and son celebrated vacation and bought a new video game ... now I have my choice of aliens being shot at or endless football games that look remarkably real. I won't admit it, but at one point I forgot it was a game and almost cheered ... I am, lest we forget, a dork at heart!

Hope you have a great day :)
Trish

Excess

2007-08-27T19:21:00.000-07:00

EXCESS --- this word has been rolling around in my head lately. I even wake up at 2am pondering this word and how it affects me and my little family.

The definition online is listed as "the state or an instance of surpassing usual, proper, or specified limits", yet my definition came closer to "too much of something that makes one uncomfortable".

So starting with the obvious, EXCESS weight ... ugh ... definitely over the usual, proper or specified limits and most definitely, makes one (well, me) so uncomfortable. I know this is something I need to do something about, want to do something about, and yet fall into the same daily traps and end up saying "tomorrow". EXCESS sucks!

Then, to humor my Mom, EXCESS scrapbooking supplies.
Do you know how annoying it is to realize that Mom is right yet again? I reached EXCESS in this department many many months ago - we're into capsizing the Titanic at this point. This is where the definition changes to include "too much of something .... that also makes it impossible to function to create." I sit and ponder my desktop (all 3 inches that I can see of it) and wonder where all this stuff came from and what the heck I'm going to do with it! LOL! I have an entire room to scrap in and I can honestly say that NOTHING has come out of that room in at least a year. EXCESS sucks!

EXCESS computer time - nah, won't go there! LOL!

EXCESS debt. The other day on 2Peas there was a discussion in which the question posed was "are you in debt?" After the upteenth post of "nope, everything paid for except the mortgage", someone finally posted that anyone with excess debt (or in the case of that message board, ANY debt) wasn't about to admit it! How true how true! I was getting rather depressed up to that point, but then realized there were a lot of chickens out there like me (yay I have company - we're the ones that keep credit people employed, we keep this country functioning - I am proud! LOL!!) Am I the only one who reads how to get out of debt books and mutters "oh this isn't any fun?" I need to come up with a fun way to get out of debt (no no Mom, having a garage sale while wearing a clown costume while hawking my EXCESS scrapping supplies is NOT on the agenda!). Notice how EXCESS money isn't a problem.

EXCESS is still rolling around in my head ... so let me know if it rolls around in yours now :) (I know, you can thank me later - maybe when you wake up at 2am!)

Trish

another new color!

2007-07-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

for those following this BSS, by now you're probably saying "geez woman pick a color"! I'm trying!!!

Didn't like poopie green, decided after the car wash that I didn't like dots either. So now we have rose pink. That's better! I think I'm getting to that "happy Trish" zone ... but of course that just may be the mocha ice blended! LOL!

Woohoo - we're off to the airport!!

A new day - and a new design!

2007-07-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

So, I decided that brilliant poopie green was so not my color ... so today we have a new format here at BSS! I think its an improvement - and rearranging this blog certainly beats cleaning my house!

Saturday mornings - they are the BEST! Its quiet here this morning. Birds chirping, bees buzzing, my cats running and sliding across the floors! Its still that lovely cool before someone turns the furnace up to incinerate!

Our Scout Troop has 3 Eagle Projects in the works today and my hubby has run out to assist with one, my son has gone to another and I'm ummm... cleaning. Yeah... cleaning. Whoop dee doo - that held my attention for about 2 minutes and then I got bored! Try not to act so surprised!

Today we're off to LAX to pick up Mom and her playmate (boyfriend). On the way down we're stopping by Tito's Tacos because we have to! If you're ever in the Culver City area, RUN to Tito's - muy magnifico (2 years of Spanish class - I'm so proud!). Anyway, best tacos and burritos on the planet ... yummmmers! Tito's is for lunch tomorrow. Yup, hubby and I are planning ahead.

Tomorrow is NASCAR. Brickyard 400. We will be glued to the TV as this is one of our favorite races - and well, yes, if its Sunday, its NASCAR at our house! Big supporters of the Hendrick's boys - Jimmie and Jeff, and then we also like Tony Stewart as well. I'm really proud of NASCAR for having a tough policy of expected behavior from their participants - and the drivers that are held to its high standards. Screw up and you're out - its a dream career and for every one driver that screws up the deal, there's 10 more waiting in the wings to fill that spot.

I wish that the NFL, MLB and NBA would have stronger policies and enforce them. It seems there are very few players like Brett Favre and Cal Ripken Jr - players who love the game and remember that they are setting an example for young kids. I guess they are out there, but are overshadowed by the bad boys of the sport which is a real shame.

BTW, is anyone really that excited that Barry Bonds is going to break Hank Aaron's record considering the serious allegations of his steriod use? (No really, you can look just like Mr. Hulk naturally!!! HA!) Will he have an asterisk next to his name in the records book too like Roger Marris? One could only hope I suppose. Oh, and to make sure I include the "home team" ... yo Lakers - you traded the wrong guy. Should have kept Shaq and traded Kobe (its all about me) Bryant! What a tool!

Yup, on BSS, there are sport vents from this frustrated fan's point of view - see, a couch potato has an opinion! LOL! Course, those who know me well, know that I ALWAYS have an opinion! hee hee hee

Okay off to the car wash - hey its cleaning right?

And so it begins, my blog!

2007-07-27T19:43:00.000-07:00

Taking the suggestions of my friends, I'm setting up my first blog. Are blogs like cars? Does one get a new blog when this one is old? Geez... one sentence into this thing and I'm already pondering! I need to get out more!

So, I guess I should explain the title - I love to talk on the computer. I'm sure I'll have arthritis later in my fingers, but for right now - I love being able to open up, discuss anything and everything, laugh out loud at stories and just having that connection with friends across the country and world. Cool stuff!! I love chatting about our lives, kids, frustrations, successes with the Hula Divas and the Hula Hotties. They are amazing women and I'm so blessed to have them in my life - you all had me from the adhesive!

I'm a wife to a husband who I still look at 27 years into this gig called marriage and get that warm "is he for real" feeling. (And yes he is!) We have a 15 year old son (16 next month) - who is my other love of my life. He is a great kid - goofy and loving even with all the usual teen stuff. I try very hard to ignore his room - but some days I swear it moves and then I plead, beg and finally demand that it be cleaned!

My Mom (who wants me to write - see Mom, I'm writing!!!) now lives in San Antonio, Texas. Apparently Prescott, Arizona wasn't far enough away from me so she went further out. Sigh. I did notice Mom that you moved after we said we planned to move to Prescott too - I'm trying not to take it personally! LOL! My Dad passed away a few years ago - some days it still doesn't seem real, but it is. I think he'd like this blogging business - there would be a whole lot of places for him to proofread! LOL! (Let me tell you, nothing like a little pressure to get words spelled correctly!)

Actually, Mom has a boyfriend (that's the real reason she moved - at least that's what she tells me) and let me tell ya, adjusting to the fact, your parent has a new playmate can be emotional at times. Part of you just goes "ummm this is rather odd" and the other part realizes that "this is pretty darn cool, good for her". Basically, though, as long as Mom is happy, I'm happy :)

Okay... moving on ... I scrapbook. Hmm... well, I should clarify.

I buy scrapbook STUFF ... lots of scrapbook stuff (and don't tell my hubby, but even I think its too much stuff!).

I love love LOVE going to crops with my cropping group (waving to the Divas) - not much production per crop, but tons of laughs and giggles. They are the best :)

I love collecting stuff online (waving to the Hotties - each day is a laughfest).

Having groups of friends who embrace my OCD and totally understand the feeling of "having to have it all" is quite fun!

Okay so there it is - first entry. Good grief - my husband is going to look at this and have a flashback to letters he used to get from me when we were 15! Pages of I love you SOOOO much ... (grin). He wanted me to name my blog "blah,blah,blog,blog" ... funny guy!

Trish