Growing Pains

I used to love Kirk Cameron. My bedroom door used to be covered with his posters ripped from teen magazines. I had to put them on the back of my door so my dad couldn't see them. I used to have a VCR tape that had every episode from the first season of Growing Pains. I was thinking about that the other day, and wondered what happened to it. Of course, this led to me wanting to watch an episode of Growing Pains, so I got online. Spreety TV Online : Watch TV Shows Online Free had a bunch of episodes, so I watched a few to get a little Kirk Cameron fix.

He sure was cute.

What's Next?

My kids love Jon and Kate Plus Eight, especially Brandi. We were walking in wal-mart yesterday, and she asked me what the show is going to be called now.

I told her i didn't know.

She said, "probably Kate Plus Eight and Jon Plus Eight".

I said, "maybe".

She said,"no, that doesn't sound right. How about Kate Plus Eight and Jon Is Gone?".

The kid cracks me up.

God Bless The USA

This is the time of year when Americans become even more patriotic. Flags are flown outside of more homes, fireworks light up the sky, and families come together to grill out and enjoy each others company. I am having my family over on the third to celebrate. The kids will swim, the adults will cook, and then later that night, we are all going to watch the big fireworks display put on by a nearby town. Last Saturday we went and watched some fireworks, and they had a band do a concert before they began. The last song they sang, right before the fireworks began, was God Bless The USA. I have to tell you, that is probably my favorite patriotic song. My kids love it, too. Ryan asked if I could download it onto his mp3, so I tried to find it.

I came upon a really good deal at Amazon.com. I can download A Salute To America, which is an album of thirty patriotic songs played by 101 Strings Orchestra. I previewed God Bless The USA, and while it is not the same as the version on the radio, it was beautiful. Right now you can download all thirty songs for $1.89. I know the little picture above says $1.99, but I was just at the site, and it says $1.89. But you need to hurry though, because this offer is only good until July 3rd.

Who's Your Choice?

I love Food Network. I love reality shows. Put the two together, and I am hooked.

The Next Food Network Star began a few weeks ago, and up until last Sunday, I didn't really have a favorite. Then Melissa pulled off the best dish of the night, winning the cover of a magazine that I can not for the life of me remember the name of. I loved that she had ingredients she has never used before, tasted them, and made an awesome dish. I love her authenticity, how she is what she is. A little too perky sometimes? Sure.

But that's not always a bad thing.

If you're watching, who do you want to win?

Wedding Planning Made Easier

I never had a wedding. Junior and I were married at the courthouse. I know every girls dreams about her wedding day, and as much as I would love to someday have a "real" wedding, I don't know if I could handle all the preparations without losing my sanity. I went online searching for photographers and caterers, just to see what I would be up against, and came across this site that has all kinds of Los Angeles Wedding Services in one place. I could even search for services in my own town, too. The best part is that all I would have to do is enter information about the services I am looking for, and the professionals come to me. They will put in bids, and I can pick the one that best matches my needs. Just think of how much stress that relieves. No making phone calls or sending emails, and I would get the best deals, because the providers of wedding event services would be competing with each other for my business.

Maybe I'll plan a renewal of our wedding vows, complete with the walk down the aisle, for our twentieth wedding anniversary in six years. That's enough time to plan, right?

Testing Out The New Look

I have been playing around with the look over here, in anticipation of becoming a dot com. I figure a new URL deserves a new look.

I redid the header a little, and tried to get rid of all the black. I had it white for a little while, but didn't like how it looked. It was too, um, sterile? Make sense? They gray is a little easier to look at, at least in my opinion.

I also wanted to see how pictures will look, so you get to see a one of Boo that I just took.

Camera Critters ~ Five

Check out this scary looking turtle.
I took this at our local zoo.
I have, however, seen one like this in the real world.
I posted pictures of it on one of my first camera critters.

To participate, go here.

Running Slow

My computer has been running pretty slow lately. My son, the computer wizard, blames all the pictures I have on here. I blame it on all the videos he downloads. In reality, it is probably a combination of those two thing, plus a lot of other stuff. I need to use one of the top 3 registry cleaners to get rid of all the stuff I don't need. If that doesn't work, I will just give my computer to my brother so he can work his magic.

FarmVille?

Do you play FarmTown on facebook? We do.

Yesterday I received and invite to Farmville, which is basically the same game, just with different things to plant.

I am addicted to the first, and am sure I will be addicted to the new one.

Why do they have to make these games so much fun?

Oh, I know, so us moms have an excuse not to do housework! lol!

Elliptical Machines

I have tried all kinds of exercise equipment in the past. I have owned exercise bikes and treadmills, but have never used them for more than a month or two. A friend of mine had an elliptical machine, and I tried to use it. This was before my surgery, when I was vary top heavy, and I fell forward, and was stuck on the machine, parallel to the floor. My friend was laughing so hard it took her a couple of minutes to help me get off of it. Now that I am no longer as busty, I want to try it again. I was reading consumer reviews of elliptical machines and realized their are so many options out there. I am now on a mission to find one I can use easily.

Happy Birthday Alex!

We are going to Missy's house for Alex's birthday tonight. The kids can't wait.

Today is Alex's 12th birthday, so go to Missy's and wish him a big...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX!!!!!!

Someday, he is going to marry my Kasi, and then we will all be family.

How cool would that be?

Ryan Is Bored

It's summer vacation, and he has nothing to do. That's all I have been hearing the past week or so. I told him he could go outside and organize Junior's tools, and he thought that was a good idea until he saw how many tools Junior has. They are just thrown in buckets and totes, even though he has two different tool boxes. Ryan decided that until we have some Orlando Cabinets installed in the shed, he isn't touching the tools. He claims there is nowhere to put them all.

My mom called last night and asked us if we are allowed to put up a pool, because she found one on sale and wants to buy it for us. I told her we would have to ask the management company, and I am hoping they say we can. That would give the kids something to do every day besides bugging me. It would also be nice to be outside, and be cool at the same time. I have been writing about how much I miss having a pool, and really want to put one up. It's a twelve by thirty six, so it's not too big. Just perfect for the kids to hang out in. I am debating about whether I would allow Ryan and Kasi to watch Brandi if I am inside, but I really don't think I would. She is only seven, and it would only take a second for them to not be paying attention for something to happen to her.I don't want to take that chance.

I guess this means I get to enjoy the pool, too.

Don't Know

Last night, I noticed something weird. The little page rank checker on my toolbar said this blog is no longer ranked...a big N/A. Yesterday afternoon it was a 3. I checked using the checker tool, and it still says 3 on one, 2 on another, and N/A on another one. I don't know what to think. I checked on ppp, because they show rank, and it's still a 3. The last time I was dropped in rank, it showed up immediately. I don't know what's going on. Anyone else having issues?

What's An Electric Bike?

My dad used to love to ride a bike. He decided years ago to lose weight, so he bought a bicycle. He rode every evening, and lost a lot of weight. I remember riding with him a couple of times, and being exhausted by the time we got home. I was in elementary school, and riding for a few miles was a big deal. He took me farther than I was ever allowed to go on my own, and I enjoyed being asked to go with him.

Did you know that you can get an electric bike now? I will admit, when I first heard of these, I thought, "what's the point?". If you want something to ride that you don't have to pedal, then get a motorcycle. Then I read up on Electric Bikes and find them fascinating. They run on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and you can coast along, or assist by pedaling. I found it interesting that you can ride in the rain for short periods, but should avoid deep puddles and going long distances in the rain. These bikes are environmentally friendly, and are a great alternative to taking the car to the corner store. You can get a little exercise by pedaling along, and be kind to the environment at the same time.

I found the bike pictured at Premium Electric Bikes, and it's their Green Cruiser Electric Bike. It is made for children, or adults under 5 feet two inches tall. That would definitely be me. It sells for a discounted price, just like all their bikes. Oh, and they offer free shipping, which is great because I am all about saving money when I can.

If you are looking for an Electric Bicycle, Premium Electric Bikes is the first place you should look. It will most likely be the only place you check once you see their prices.

Relentless By Dean Koontz

I just started it, and am having a hard time putting it down. I want to read the whole thing in one seating, but that is impossible these days. So far it's pretty good.

I like that he has a kid in it, and that he is writing about a dog again. I love when he puts a dog in the story, especially extra special dogs. I can't wait to read how the story plays out.

Great Deal From Dish Network

I have cable.

I got a flier in my mail the other day informing me that my cable company may be filing for bankruptcy. This is after years of price increases that made no sense to me. In August, we are coming to the end of our twelve month deal, and we will have to decide whether or not we want to continue with them, or get a satellite.

I was checking out Dish Network deals, and right now they have an awesome deal going on, where you get free installation and over 100 channels, including HBO and Showtime for $9.99 a month for six months. That is way better than what I am paying now.

I think it might be time to make the switch from cable to satellite.

They're Up

I finally posted the river pictures on my picture blog. You can check them out here. You can tell the kids had a good time, and that was what we wanted. They have been bugging me every day since to go back. Hopefully one afternoon this week we will.

Confused

I am going to be completely honest with all of you. The recent buy outs and stuff related to big businesses leaves me a little confused. I don't understand how the government can give out money to companies, and those companies can use it for whatever reasons they want. I know there are so many other companies that can not keep their heads above water, and they aren't getting a cent. How is this fair?

I may not understand the politics behind all of this, but reading this Generational Equity article left me even more confused, if that is possible. I think I need to go back to high school and take political science class again. This time I would actually pay attention.

Do You Care?

Tonight is the big announcement on Jon and Kate plus 8.

Are they separating?

Getting divorced?

Working things out?

Do you care?

Kasi was watching an episode on demand the other day, and fast forwarding through all the parts that had Jon in them. When I asked what she was doing, she said he was boring, so she was skipping him.

I thought that was pretty funny!

Dream Vacation To China

I have seen a lot of pictures of China lately. A friend of mine went there last year, and another just adopted a baby from there. Both took the most amazing pictures, and now I want to see the sites for myself. I was curious about how much it would cost to go, and found Accor Hotels City Super Sale. I discovered that I could stay in Beijing for as little as about $35 USD per night. I think if I did end up there I would want to spend my money on other things besides a hotel. I know the Olympics were held in this city last year, and I would love to see where. I would want to see The Great Wall, and of course walk through all the museums. I am pretty sure there is a zoo, and you all know how much I love the zoo. We would probably spend an entire day there. My mouth is watering just thinking about the food we would find in the city. I bet true Chinese food tastes so much better than the Chinese food I know.

If you are planning a vacation, make sure you check and see if there is an Accor Hotel in the city you are visiting. If you book your stay online between June 23 and 29, you could save up to 60%. You just need to book for between July 10 and September 30, 2009.

So Many Pictures

I have so many pictures to post from the weekend. I am trying to get them cropped and ready, but it is taking me forever. I have the ones from the river ready to be uploaded, so hopefully at some point today I can get them on my picture blog.

This is a shot of Brandi with her Grandpa, aka my dad. We were on the boat, taking a cruise around the lake. I was on the boat with the girls, and Ryan went later. I was a little ticked when Ryan told me last night that he didn't wear a life jacket on the boat, and I told him he is NEVER to go out again without one. I know he's getting older, but still. If something happens, he needs to be safe.

Our Trip To The Landfill

Last week, Junior and I went to the landfill. We hadn't been in a while, and they had changed a few things. They build a whole new section, so that cars no longer have to go in with the big trucks. Unfortunately, we had some tree limbs and brush, so we had to go into the old part, and the part the receptionist sent us to, sent us somewhere else, and the person working that section sent us somewhere else. After all was said and done, we had visited every section of the landfill. It was a stinky tour, but I now know exactly where we need to go for next time. The only good thing was that we didn't have to be weighed like the big trucks. I am not sure what type of solid waste management software they use, but if it is as unorganized as the facility itself, they might run into some problems.

Junior's Gift From The Girls

Kasi and Brandi decided that Junior needed a log cabin for Father's Day, so they build one for him. It is made of Popsicle sticks. I "helped" a little with the roof, and then they painted it all pretty.
This is Kasi's side.

And this is Brandi's side.

They presented it to him in a shoebox that had grass and a river colored in the bottom.
Junior loved it, and the girls couldn't have been happier.

Our Luck

Here is how our luck runs. We buy a vehicle. We get the warranty that covers the car for so many miles or so many years. During the time the warranty is good, nothing goes wrong with the car. It runs smooth, no ticks or smoking. Then, the day after the warranty expires, everything goes wrong. I just happen to be married to someone who knows how to fix just about everything that can go wrong. The problem we run into is that sometimes the parts needed to fix it can be so expensive. That's when I look at Junior and tell him that we should have gotten the Extended Auto Warranty. But he believes that if we get the extended warranty, nothing will go wrong. I believe that it is better to be safe than sorry.

I told him to go to US Warranty Center and see what they have to offer. He could be sent to a company offering a warranty that matches his needs. They pre-screen the warranty companies, so you don't have to spend time doing research. They have already done it for you. They offer free quotes, and there is no obligation to buy anything.

One of my friends just learned the hard way that she should have gotten an extended warranty. She paid her car off a couple of months ago. She is out of work, and so is her fiance. On her way to the store last week, the motor in her car blew out. Now the car is sitting in her yard, and she has no way to get it fixed. If she had gotten an extended warranty, she might be driving that car right now. She told me that the next car she buys will be under warranty the entire time she drives it. She says the peace of mind that will come with knowing she is covered will make it worth the cost. I just wish I could get Junior to think the same way.

Camera Critters ~ Four

I look at him, and I think Hakuna Matata! (not sure it's spelled that way) We were able to feed this bad boy, and he drooled all over the kids hands. It was pretty disgusting, but they had fun. I just thank goodness for hand sanitizer.

To participate, go here.

Costa Rican Vacation

Most Americans remember where they were on 9/11. My Grandmother was in Costa Rica, and it took a long time for her to get a flight back to Florida. She was okay with that, though, because she was having a wonderful time on vacation. She was visiting with an old boyfriend. He was so happy to see her after so many years that he had a band waiting to greet her at the airport. I would love to go there and stay at one of the costa rica resorts, but I'm not sure I would want to get stuck there. I am not sure I would want to get stuck anywhere. Vacations are fun, but there's no place like home.

In The River

The kids were so excited this afternoon when I told them we were going to go play in the river. The one we used to go to is in NC, so we gassed up the van and headed out. After a pretty good drive, we get there only to discover that they now charge to get in. It's one of those boxes where you put the money in the envelope, and then hang half the ticket on your mirror. We didn't have any cash, and I wasn't about to leave my debit card in there. The kids were crushed, so Junior decided to try another place, somewhere he went when he was younger. Luckily, they still let you play there. The bad thing was that they also sell beer, and there were a bunch of people partying. We only stayed for about thirty minutes, but it was long enough for the kids to get wet...me, too...and cool off. Yes, I braved the stares and got in my bathing suit, and played in the water. I had a ball! Next time we will go back to the other place, now that we know we need to bring our five dollars.

Blu Frog Is The Way To Go

It seems like everyone is drinking one kind of energy drink or another. I will admit that I have shied away from them, mostly because I don't drink anything with caffeine. If I drink one 20 ounce bottle of soda with caffeine, I end up not being able to sleep that night. I think my body is just super sensitive to it.

Junior likes to drink energy drinks. His new shift has him getting up at 3am, and sometimes he finds himself needing a little pick me up on his way to work. These drinks are not cheap, and he is dropping a few dollars for each one. What I need to do is get some to keep at home, that way he can just grab one and go, and not even have to stop on his way to work.

I was lucky enough a few months ago to get a couple of BluFrog energy drinks to sample. I was brave and took a sip, just to see what it tasted like, and it was good. It had a citrus taste, kind of like a flat Mountain Dew. I let each of the kids get a sip, too, and they all liked it. Junior drank an entire can, and he liked it too.

That means it gets five thumbs up from my family.

Junior said he never had that crash that other energy drinks are known for, and it seemed to keep his energy level constant. I should probably mention that BluFrog energy drinks contain organic fruit juices, as well as vitamins and herbs. If you are going to drink energy drinks anyway, you may as well choose one that has natural ingredients.

Oh, and make sure and visit their website. They have an awesome contest going on, and it is super easy to enter to win one of five amazing prizes.

Headed To The River

We decided to take the kids down to the river to get a little wet. We haven't been in a couple of years, so hopefully it won't be too busy. I am taking my camera, so lots of pictures will be taken. I hope the kids have fun.

I'll be back later!

Still House Hunting

As most of you know, my mom is trying to buy a house. It seems every house she likes, there is some reason that it doesn't work out. The last two were foreclosures, and that seems to be a common thing these days. My mom likes to look online for houses, and then we drive around and look at them in person. When she finds one that she likes, she contacts her realtor, and they go and look at it. She has found some beautiful Studio City Homes, but doesn't really want to move out of state. Her realtor has been telling her a little about short sales, and it sounds like a great deal. In a nutshell, this is where the seller of the home shows their bank that they can no longer pay their mortgage, and instead of going through with a costly foreclosure, the bank agrees to settle for less than is owed on the house. It sounds to me like this benefits the buyer, who can get the house for a steal.

I hope my mom can get in on one of these deals.

Do You See What I See?

I have my first "big" red tomato. It is just about ready to be picked.

I am so happy that my veggies are growing and ripening.

I am looking forward to my peppers. That's the only veggie I haven't picked yet.

Hot Tub Dreams

Junior and I are already discussing how we are going to spend our tax return next year. That is the one time of year that we allow ourselves to make a big purchase. I was hoping that we would be buying a pool, but it doesn't look like we will be moving before then. I want a laptop, but that should only cost a few hundred dollars. Junior wants a little fishing boat, but he says this every year, but then when the time comes, he doesn't want to spend the money. I am trying to talk him into getting a portable spa. This would be perfect for us, and would be just as good as a pool. We could get one that sits six people, so we would all be able to enjoy it at the same time. We had a jacuzzi tub in a place we used to live, and it was so relaxing. I was bad about getting in it, turning the television on, and relaxing for an hour or two. It was especially nice when I was pregnant with Brandi. Nothing felt better than the jets shooting water on my aching back.

Now my goal is to find a cheap hot tub that we can afford. I just hope February comes quick.

The Girls Blog

My girls have been bugging me for a while to set them up a blog. Last night, I told them to decide on a name, and I would set one up for them. They chose a cute name, and I let them pick out a cute background, too. I made them a header, and it looks so good. Go over and tell them hello. It's called Mom's Girls. Too cute, right?

I'm Going To Win ~ Fingers Crossed

Do you want to win $10,000? I could do so many things with that much money. We could put a down payment on a house, which we desperately need, or we could buy a new car. Heck, we could get me some driving lessons so I can drive the new car. We could even stash some away for Christmas, and be able to but the kids everything on their lists this year. There are so many possibilities.

Or maybe you want to win a three day/two night vacation with $500 spending cash? I know I could use a vacation. I want to go to the beach somewhere. I want to worry only about sunscreening the kids and making sure they don't drown. If we can't find a beach, I'd settle for a hotel with a nice pool. I'll be happy anywhere I can swim.

I want to win, so I entered the Cash In On Summer Sweepstakes. It was so easy. I just went to ABCNEWS.com and filled out a simple form. They are giving away one grand prize of $10,000 and two runner up prizes of vacations to a location in the Continental US, including air transportation, $500 Choice Hotel gift card, and $500 spending cash. As much as I would love the grand prize, I really want the vacation, too.

I almost forgot to mention the other prizes. They are going to give Choice Hotels International gift bags to fifty random winners. These bags are filled with goodies from Choice Hotels and Good Morning America. As I've said, this GMA hotel promo is easy to enter. It took me about three minutes. You only have until June 26th to enter, so go do it now.

Oh Well

It seems the other people who put the offer in on the house my mom wanted heard about her interest in it, and upped their offer by $20,000.

That stinks.

Mom isn't going to make an offer, because she is convinced the other people would just up their offer again.

This just means we get to house hunt some more. I like driving around and peeking in windows.

Mini Vacation

Junior and I have been talking about taking a little mini vacation. Now that he is on a set schedule, we can go away for the weekend, and he won't have to take any time off. We live in South Carolina, and have been looking for place to go that are pretty close, because we don't want to spend too much of the weekend driving back and forth from wherever we decide to go. We found some wilmington nc vacation rentals that we are looking into. We would be close to the beach, so we wouldn't have to spend a lot of money on entertainment. We could enjoy the sun and sand for two days, and just have to worry about the cost of meals. Hopefully we can find the time in the next month or so to go.

So Humid

We just got back from therapy, and it is so yucky outside. Not only is it hot, it is also humid. The kind of humid that makes the air thick and hard to breathe. The storm clouds are rolling in as I type this, so I am sure we will be, once again, treated to some severe thunderstorms. Hopefully once they pass over, it will be a little cooler outside. The kids have been wanting to play outside, but it has been so hot that they go out and are back in within minutes, complaining about the heat. I wish we still had a pool...

New Rugs

I have an area rug in my kitchen under my table. It is made up of little squares, with squiggly lines in each square. The squares are black and different shades of gray. It's kind of hard to explain the details, but I love this rug. It is more contemporary than your average oriental rug, and I am sad to say that I may need to replace it soon. The corners have started curling up, and I am constantly tripping over them.

I want to replace it with a rug that has a similar "feel". I don't want something too fussy, or too old fashioned. I like the one pictured. I need a rug that has a lot of black in it, because it is going in my kitchen, and my kitchen is accented in black. I love the squiggly lines.

I have an area rug in my living room too, but that one is more traditional. It has the look of a real oriental rug, with the diamonds and earthy colors. I probably wouldn't have chosen it if I had a choice, but it was a gift, so I use it. Besides, it covers the stains in the carpet really well.

It's Been A While

Junior and I have therapy today. It's been a month since we have gone. Last session the therapist got sick and canceled, and since we go every two weeks now, it's been four weeks since we've been. I think Junior is doing great. Every since he dad moved his girlfriend into his house, he hasn't been in Home Depot at all, so Junior is less stressed. At least he's less stressed about his dad.

Now if we could just get him less stressed about money.

Going To Canada

One of my best friends lives in Canada. I have never met her, but she is like a sister to me. We met through blogging almost two years ago, and became instant friends. I am looking into canada ski vacations so that I can go visit her. She just went skiing recently with her son, and from the video I watched, it looked like they had a great time. I have never been skiing before, and am not sure if I am brave enough to try it. I would probably be the cheerleader for everyone else.

I want to be able to see her kids dance while I am there, too. I have seen so many videos of her daughter dancing, and she is amazingly talented. I wish my kids were interested in dancing. I recently want to a friend's son's recital, and I really enjoyed watching the kids dance. The little three year old girls were extremely cute. Hopefully I can find some Canada vacation packages that will allow me to spent a good amount of time there. I have other friends I would love to visit, too, so I probably need a couple of weeks up there.

I need to start saving for my trip now, and maybe in a couple of years I'll be on my way!

Banana Crumb Muffins

Junior brought home some bananas today. We only buy them when they are really ripe and marked down.

The girls and I decided that we would make some muffins. I found a recipe for banana crumb muffins, so we tried that. They came out pretty good, but would have tasted better if I hadn't forgotten to put the cinnamon in the crumb mix.

Fingers Crossed

My mom went and looked at the house today. She said it was nice, and that she would probably make an offer. It is a foreclosure, and needs a little work, but most of it is cosmetic. The carpet would need to be replaced, and the walls repainted. She said the kitchen was kind of small, and somewhere down the line she would look into Rochester remodeling to maybe make it a little bigger. They weren't sure if the pool filter worked, but she did get to look in the building out back. Apparently the previous owners were making it into a pool house because there was a toilet and shower already installed. The rest looked to her like it was used as a workshop, and she told me that Junior would be able to work on cars in there. Her realtor found out that the offer that was made on the house was for less than half of the appraised value. Did that make sense? The good news with that is that my mom can offer a little more than they did, and still get it for a steal. Her realtor warned that it could turn into a bidding war, but that's okay. If it's meant to be, my mom will get the house.

I really hope she does, because I will be over there every night swimming. It's good exercise, you know.

Another Loaf

I made another zucchini bread today, and remembered to take a picture of it. As you can see, Junior has already stolen a piece of it. He says it's just as good as the first one.

I picked my first cucumbers from the garden, and they are sliced and covered in italian dressing. They will make a yummy side to dinner tomorrow night.

Oh, and my big tomatoes are finally turning red!

Getting Organized

Ryan has spent the past few days organizing our shed. Junior has a million and two tools, and they were just thrown in there. Ryan has been going through them and putting them in tool chests. I don't think these tools have ever been so organized.

Ryan's energy has been rubbing off on me a little, and I have been cleaning up inside the house. My kitchen needs to be organized better, but I just don't know where to start. When we moved in, I couldn't unpack much because I had just had surgery. The kids tried to help, but most things just got stuck in the cabinets without much thought to organization. It's been almost a year, and I have left everything where the kids put them. I really need to take everything out of the cabinets, and start over.

The kitchen itself could use some updating, too. I would love new linoleum on the floor, and a new sink would be nice, too. Right now it has a tiny little sink that doesn't hold many dishes. I was looking at stainless steel sinks and found some that have a lower middle bar. It's called a "smart divide" sink, and it is designed to make it easier to wash cookie sheets and long pans. I wouldn't mind having one of those. I do a lot of baking, and it would make washing those dishes easier. If I was a little more "green" I would chose a granite sink made from environmentally friendly materials. Those do come in some pretty awesome colors. But, since this is a rental, I am sure the landlords will put in whatever is cheapest. When I finally get my own place, everything will be exactly what I want.

But for now, I need to start emptying the cabinets. Sounds like fun, right?

Hidden Treasure

I was at Walmart the other day.

A different Walmart, and they had my soda.

I bought a few bottles, and made a mental note to go back there when Junior gets paid to get some more.

Remember that episode of Seinfeld where Elaine needs a "sponge", and she buys every case when she finally finds a store that sells them?

That's who I feel like!

July 4th

The Fourth Of July is in a couple of weeks, and it falls on a Saturday this year. I am looking forward to grilling out, and spending time with my family. I love to decorate for every Holiday, and have a variety of flag themed decorations for July 4th.
I found these flag themed Tyvek Wristbands and I know the kids would love them. Well, the girls will. A few years ago we went to a carnival on the 4th, and they put these exact wristbands on the kids when we paid their admission. They got to ride all the rides as many times as they wanted, and they had a ball. They even had a mechanical bull, and each kid took a turn trying to stay on. When we got home that day, the girls didn't want to take their wristbands off. They thought they were too pretty. They will be excited to see I found the same ones.

Chicken

I took out some chicken tenders for supper tonight, and plan on cooking them on the grill. I want to do something different, though. I always do bbq chicken, and we love it, but it's getting boring. I want to try something new.

So tell me your favorite chicken recipe. It doesn't have to be a recipe that works on the grill, but I would prefer that. I hate using the over in the Summer.

Online Relationships

I blog. I know, you're shocked, right? I am actually finding myself blogging more and more every day. I am reading more, and commenting more. I mean, isn't that what it's all about? We write a post, hoping for comments. Hoping that someone has been through what we have written about, and that they can offer advice, or simply let us know that we're not alone.

When I started blogging, I had no idea that there was this whole blogging community that I was becoming a part of. If someone had told me three years ago that I would become best friends with women I had never met, I would have told them they were crazy. I never believed in bbw chat rooms, or finding love that way. Now I know it's true, that you can find love, or friends, anywhere, even online. Like I said, some of my best friends are women I have never met. Without blogging, I never would have met my Canadian friends, or my friends who live overseas. The computer brings us all closer together.

I hope to someday meet all my blog buddies in real life. I refer to these women by name when talking to my husband, and I no longer refer to them as blog friends.

They are just my friends.

Zucchini Bread

I picked my beautiful zucchini from my garden the other day, and decided to make zucchini bread. I have never done this before, and didn't have a recipe. I checked my cook books, and then hit the internet. Most of the recipes I found had basically the same ingredients, so I decided to go with a Paula Deen recipe.

It came out so yummy! The kids loved it, Junior loved it, and my mom loved it.

I have a feeling I will be making it again.

Oh, and we were at the grocery store today, and Junior found bulk pecans marked down from $6 a pack to $.99. I bought four packs, and am going to use them in the zucchini bread i am sure i will be baking all summer long.

A Watch For Father's Day

Father's Day is this Sunday. The kids have been busy making cards and gifts to give to their daddy on Sunday morning. I think they are planning to make him breakfast in bed, but we'll see. I'm hoping to be able to go out to breakfast.

The kids and I have been searching for the perfect gift to get Junior. I know he loves the things the kids make for him, but the kids love buying stuff for him, too. Most years it's something related to fishing, but this year I want to do something different. If I had the money, I would buy him a Rolex. I know, I know. It's not in my budget this year, but if it's in yours, you should check out www.bestoftime.com. They have authentic Rolex watches at discounted prices. They have both new and pre-owned watches, and all of them come with a three year warranty and free shipping.

Can you imagine Junior's face if I got him a Rolex? He would be floored. But, I am sure no matter what we end up getting him this year, he will love it. Maybe I can convince the kids he needs a laptop.

Oh wait, I want one of those.

Arctic Tale

Brandi convinced me to watch this with her the other night. She had seen it in school, and wanted me to see it, too. I am not that into documentaries, mostly because I hate seeing animals die. I know it's natures way, but it is still sad.

This movie is narrated by Queen Latifah who I just happen to really like. She is in Hairspray, and sings the most beautiful song while they are marching in the streets. Anyway, this movie follows the lives of Nanu, a polar bear cub, and Seela, a baby walrus. It was interesting to see what these animals have to endure just to survive. I don't want to spoil it for those wanting to watch it, but I cried when each animal lost someone close to them.

I would like to see a "behind the scenes" on how it was filmed, because they got pretty close sometimes. I would recommend this movie, but suggest having tissues close by.

Fleas

I am so glad we don't have cats inside this year. In the past, we have had horrible problems with fleas. We tried everything, but found that natural flea control remedies worked best. I just can't be bothered with any of it this year. Hopefully the outside cats will stay flea free on their own.

My Day Off

I enjoyed my day off today. I hung out with my girls and my mom, and we did nothing. Played some cards, watched a movie. Basically just chilled. I really needed it, and hopefully I am now ready to face another week.

Homemade Chinese Food

A couple of weeks ago, Junior decided he wanted to try making something with cabbage. In the past, the only thing we have ever made with cabbage was cole slaw. I say we, but it's really Junior who makes it. I don't care for any type of slaw, but the kids love his, and request it every time we have hot dogs. Anyway, Junior wanted to try frying it in a pan with some bacon and oil, salt and pepper. As soon as the cabbage hit the pan, it smelled like a Chinese restaurant had opened up in my kitchen. Instantly, my mouth was watering. It was really good. It tasted exactly like an egg roll, just without the outside wrapper. I told Junior the next time he made it, we would get some wrappers and try and make some egg rolls. I have made fried cheese wontons in the past, and they were delicious. The secret, I think, was using peanut oil to fry them.

I figure that if I am going to make egg rolls, I might as well attempt to make an entire Chinese dinner. I looked in our local grocery store for sauce mixes so I could make sesame chicken or chicken and broccoli. I couldn't find anything. They has dried mixes that required you to add a lot of soy sauce, but I don't think that is what I want. I want to find authentic sauces, or even recipes where I could make them from scratch. This led me to searching the internet.

I found a site where I could buy online groceries, specifically groceries from China. They have so many choices! I did find sauce mixes, and am excited to try them. They also had accessories to help cook, like bamboo steamers and assorted pots. I also found a section where you can find recipes, and they had a lemon and sesame chicken recipe I can't wait to try. I need to make my list of ingredients, and have them delivered to me. They have a $4.99 flat shipping rate, so I want to make sure I get everything I need.

My mouth is watering just thinking about the meal I am going to attempt to make.

Camera Critters ~ Three

I love this frog.
It doesn't look real, does it?
I think it looks like it's made of cement, like it should be sitting in my garden as a decoration, not hanging out on a tree branch at the zoo.
I wish I could remember what the "real" name was...next time I need to write these things down!
To participate, go here.

Looker Thinner Instantly

I am a big girl. I'm not too happy about it, but it's the truth. I wish I could be thinner, and have tried very hard to become so. I have been dieting for years, and have a tendency to lose and then regain the same forty or so pounds.

I have found a secret weapon, though, that can help me look a little thinner right now. It's the Slim n Lift, which can give me a great Body Shape. It can help smooth out the bumps and rolls that are not very flattering. Trust me when I say that I need all the help I can get.

When Kasi's Gone...

Brandi needs someone to play with. I'm not sure how she did it, but she convinced Ryan to let her give him a makeover. He had his hair brushed...

...and I think he even had a pedicure. He drew the line at the makeover. Brandi tried to get makeup in him, but he wouldn't give in.
I think I got suckered into a makeover when I am done here.
That should be interesting.

Taking A Personal Day

The kids have been out of school for a little more than a week. I don't enforce bedtimes during the summer, so they have been staying up late. Brandi has been staying up until midnight or later, and then sleeping until noon. Kasi and Ryan go to bed before her, which I find pretty amusing. I think it's because they like to get up earlier than me in the mornings, because that is the only time they get to use the computer. Once I get up I kick them off. It's not like I do it so I can check out free interracial chat rooms. I kick them off so I can get my work done. I am going to start scheduling myself a day off each week, because I am seriously getting burned out. There are days I don't feel like blogging at all. I don't want to get to the point where blogging becomes a chore, because I enjoy it too much. I like keeping family and friends informed about our day to day happenings.

Maybe I'll schedule my first day off for tomorrow. Oh, wait, that won't work. I have too much lined up for tomorrow.

Maybe Sunday will work better.

Or Monday.

Kasi's Castle And Shell

Kasi painted these two. I think they came out pretty good.
She is getting neater and neater every time she paints something.
I think I might get some houses to make a Christmas village and let her paint some.
That would be a nice Holiday keepsake.

Sleeping In The Tent

We are planning our camping trip for some time in July, depending on when Junior can get his vacation. We are trying to figure out what we still need to get, and one of the big things is an inflatable air mattress. I will sleep in a tent, but only if I am not sleeping on the ground. I want something soft to lay on at the end of the day.

Brandi's Shell And Castle

Brandi painted these today. I got them in a kit from Michael's.
Of course, they came with only four different colors of paint, so I had to give her some of mine.
Why do they even bother putting the paint in the kits, anyway?
They never give the kids good colors.

Free Templates

I love playing around with the look of my blogs. I like changing the colors and the pictures, but I don't know a thing about designing a template. I have to use Free Website Templates. All you have to do is pick the template you like, and they will email you a link to the one you chose.

Now I feel the need to make some changes around here.

Certified

I got a thing in my mailbox today informing me that there is a certified letter waiting for me at the post office.

My first thought was, this can't be good.

My second thought was, we are going to be evicted.

My third thought was, get a grip, dumb ass, and don't worry until you know what it is.

Now, the reason I though "eviction" is because of that stupid dog. We are up to resign our lease next month, and I hope they don't think we are troublemakers because of the fuss I made over the dog.

Turns out it has something to do with our van. Great big sigh of relief.

Great Customer Service

I have to tell you. There is nothing more frustrating than needed help with a product, and not being able to find the help you need. For example, a couple of years ago we bought a new television. It came with it's own remote, but I wanted to use the cable remote we had that you could program to control the television, VCR, DVD player, and the cable box. Unfortunately, I forgot where I put the booklet that told me how to program the remote.

I got online with the remote name and model number, and searched for the instruction manual. I looked forever, and never found what I was looking for. We ended up buying a new remote control.

Mosquito Magnet sells mosquito traps. They think highly of their customers, and have developed an easy to use website dedicated to mosquito magnet repair. They wanted to make it easy for their customers to get the support they need easily. I played around on the site, and I can honestly say that they have answers to any possible question you could ask. The site is easy to navigate, and the information is easy to read. I could tell this is a company who cares about their customers.

Local News

I was just listening to our local news channel, and they were doing a story about a toddler who drowned in the families swimming pool today. They started the story with, "the mother left the toddler unattended for a brief time while she was outside".

First question: who leaves a 20 month old unattended outside?

Second question: who leaves a 20 month old outside unattended BY A POOL????

Seriously, what the crap is wrong with people?

New Living Room Furniture

Our love seat has a new home at the county dump. I am one step closer to the new furniture I want. You all know already that I really want a sectional sofa. But I got to thinking last night that if I got a new sofa, I would want a new entertainment center. The one we have now is old, and kind of out of style. I was looking at Legends Furniture and found some gorgeous units. We don't have an HD television yet, so we would have to get one to match all the new furniture. I loved the units that had shelving all around. I have a lot of books that I like to display. I was also looking at home office furniture, because my desk is in the living room. Right now I use a simple desk with three drawers, and I want something similar, because I don't have a lot of room. Right now nothing in this room matches, so I want the new stuff to all have the same look.

This has nothing to do with the new living room furniture I am dreaming about, but I also found storage beds. These are the beds that have drawers underneath, so you don't have to worry about having dressers. As cramped as we are in this apartment, these beds would be a space saving dream. If i can't talk Junior into the new living room furniture, I plan on talking him into the beds.

Sigh Of Relief

Were any of you on facebook last night when farm town disappeared? I was, and I gotta tell you, I was a little ticked. All I could think about was how they did the same thing to scrabulous, or whatever it was, and it never came back. Luckily, when I got up this morning, farm town was back. I'm telling you...this game sucks you in. Maybe it would be a good thing if it did disappear for good.

I Need New Pool Cues, And A New Pool Table

We used to have a pool table. We had it set up in our basement at the old house, and the kids loved to play. We ended up having to buy kid sized pool cues for Brandi to use, because her little arms couldn't handle the full sized ones.

Our basement wasn't finished, but we had a nice set up around the pool table. I painted the walls a light purple, and we hung the chalk and pool sticks holder. There was enough room around it to play comfortably, and we had a lot of fun times down there. The kids got really good at calling which ball was going into which pocket, even though they never sunk them where they said they would. We had our own set of rules, and depending on which kids were playing, the rules would change. I always beat my husband, but I was never sure if he was letting me win, or if I was really better than him.

I really want to get another pool table when we get a bigger place. When that time comes, I am going to get all our accessories at PoolCueGuru.com. They have a huge selection of pool cues, cue cases, and table covers. They always have a clearance section, and if you know me at all, you know that is where I will be shopping. If you have a pool table and are looking for accessories, shopping today can get you 20% off your order.

I can't wait until I can start beating my husband at pool again.

Relentless

When I was in Walmart this afternoon, I noticed Dean Koontz has a new book out.

How did I not know this?

I must have it.

I have ever book he has written in the past, oh, twenty years.

It sounds like it's really good, too.

Now to find the $20 I need to make it mine.

I Need A Will

Junior and I do not have a will. I know we should, if only to make sure that my mom gets the kids if something happens to us. We don't own a house, or have any valuable possessions that we have to worry about losing. I am pretty sure that no one in this world would want my elephant collection. Well, maybe one of the girls will, but I doubt it. I do have my Grandmother's and my Mother's rings that I want the girls to have, but that's about it. It's kind of sad, actually, that we have nothing to leave our children.

I guess a positive could be that the kids won't have anything to fight over. I have heard so many horror stories about families being torn apart over the things loved ones have left behind. More people should look into estate administration, and Michael Baker can help with that. He specializes in elder law and estate planning. He can take care of the legal aspects of estate planning, and because he has a background in finance, he can work with accountants and insurance advisers to make the process a whole lot easier. I hope when our time comes, Junior and I can find someone like Michael Baker to look after our affairs.

I dread the day Juniors dad passes. I know he has a Will, but I also know that his brother and sister will fight over their dad's house. Junior says he wants no part of it, but I get the feeling that he might change his mind when the time comes. I mean, we paid that mortgage for six years. We should get something for that. I would be perfectly happy to never have anything to do with any of them ever again, but that's just me.

I Think I Need A Day Off

I think I might take tomorrow off from blogging. Heck, I might just let the kids have the computer for the day. I have been battling a headache all day, and this screen does nothing to help it go away. My eyes are crossing, yet I still sit her typing away. I think for the sake of my head, and vision, I will take a personal day tomorrow.

Now, if I could just take a personal day from being a mom....

My Sister's Pool

I have a sister who lives in New York. Her and her husband live in a gorgeous house, and last year they decided to put in a pool. They looked at a variety of pools online, but decided to go with custom pool designs that they picked out themselves. They hired a swimming pool contractor and worked on the plans for their pool.

They ended up getting a kidney shaped pool, but it was hard to put in because their back yard sloped. They had to build a retaining wall on the back side of the pool, and that was a lot of brickwork. They wanted to tie the bricks into the overall look of their yard, so they looked at landscaping designs before deciding on what kind of patio to put around the pool. I wish I had pictures of the finished product, because it came out beautiful. They have a circular patio with brickwork that leads from the house down to the pool. The pool itself is huge, and they have a diving board that the kids love. My kids have been bugging me to head up there for a vacation, just so they can swim in the pool. I will admit that that sounds like a wonderful idea.

Weeds

Did anyone else watch the season premiere tonight? What did you think?

I am interested in seeing what happens, but am getting kind of bored with it all. I think they need to do something a little more exciting, or I am going to get bored.

I was happy to see Californication is coming back soon. I love that show!

Ryan And Fire Ants

I grew up in New York. It wasn't until I was twenty two years old that I moved to South Carolina. A few summers after I moved, I went with my husband and son to the lake to go fishing. Ryan was a little over a year old at the time, and he was more interested in playing in the grass and dirt than fishing. I remember all of a sudden he started screaming, and when I looked over, I noticed he had sat down on an ant hill. I had never heard of red fire ants before, but thankfully Junior knew all abut them, and scooped Ryan up and headed for the water. I had no idea ants could be so mean. I ended up getting bit, too, and it was not fun. Poor Ryan was miserable the rest of the day. I am just glad he wasn't allergic to the bites.

Where's My Motivation

I am dragging this morning.

I can not get motivated to do anything. All I want to do is crawl back into bed and sleep for a couple of more hours.

However, I have posts to write, and kids to feed.

Maybe I'll take a nap later....

My Sister Is Moving

My sister is moving in a couple of weeks. In fact, I think the move is scheduled for Father's Day weekend. I know she looking into moving trucks to make things a little bit easier. I found this one company, ABF U-Pack Moving, that will drop off a trailer for you to load before the move, then they come and drive the trailer to your new home, and you get to unload it. The convenient thing about this is that you have three business days to load it, and then three business days to unload it. There's no rushing and stress about having to return a truck within twelve hours. This is one of my pregnant sisters, so she needs to be able to take things slow.

Camera Critters ~ Two

I wasn't going to post a cc over here today, but we went to the lake and I took this picture and just had to share it. Look at all those babies! These were only a few of the little ducks on the lake. Brandi wanted Junior to try and catch one so she could take it home. I wish we could have because they were adorable.

To participate, go here.

Sharpay Costumes

Our annual Halloween/Ryan's birthday party is coming up in four short months. I know you probably think that is a long time away, but it's really not when you have to get five Costumes together, and figure out ways to make this year's party better than last year's.

Ryan likes dressing up in the bloody scary costumes, but my girls like to look pretty. Brandi is going to go crazy over this Sharpay costume. Don't know who this is? Go watch any of the High School Musical movies. Don't have one? You can borrow one of ours. We have all three, and the girls watch them so often I know every word to each one.

Okay, so maybe I like the music and watch all by myself sometimes. Just don't tell anyone, okay?

Another Of Kasi's Creations

Here's another one of kasi's dresses.

She used turquoise fabric, with a gold ribbon around the neck, and a pink ribbon around the waist.

She uses color combinations I would never choose for myself, and they come out pretty cute.

She has been locked in her room since last night, making dress after dress.

I asked her to pick her favorite, and this was it.

Cabernet Tide

I am in love with this painting. It's called Caberbet Tide. I found it while looking at Ford Smith Art. It's not like me to find a painting that I absolutely love, but I can honestly say I love this one. I love the purple with the red. You can see the blue sky peeking through the pink clouds, and the strips of yellow make me believe it is sunset. It look threatening, yet peaceful, all at the same time. I know that doesn't make sense, so it's a good thing I am not an art critic. I just know what I like, and I can see this painting hanging in my living room.

My Fashion Designer

Kasi wants to be a fashion designer when she grows up.

She is constantly drawing and coloring dresses, and the other day she asked if I would buy her some fabric so she could make some dresses for Brandi's Barbie dolls.

Of course I said yes. Who am I to squash her dreams?

This is one of her first creations.

Pretty cute, right?

Losing Weight

I have been dieting since I was about thirteen years old. I was always on the heavy side, and my mom would always encourage me to lose weight. I would diet for a while and lose a little weight, but then once I started eating "normal" again, I would gain it all back. Unfortunately, this yo-yo trend has followed me into adulthood. I gained a lot of weight with each of my three pregnancies, and by the time I had Brandi, I was considered obese. I would put myself on diets, and I would lose weight. My problem has always been keeping it off. I hate to exercise, even though I feel better when I do. I know I have to do something different this time, because I have got to lose this weight for good.

I was reading about the Cookie Doctor and it's a pretty interesting diet. You eat six cookie meals a day, in place of breakfast, lunch, and snacks. They claim you could lose up to fifteen pounds a month. I could probably handle a diet where you get to eat six cookies a day. No exercise is required to lose the weight, but it is necessary to maintain your weight loss. I am at the point in my life where I have got to find a weight loss program that works for me. I think i might give this one a try.

Junior And Brandi

If you have been reading my blogs for any length of time, you know how much Brandi and Junior enjoy driving each other crazy. The bicker and pick at each other more like brother and sister than father and daughter. I have one rule, though, and that is that they can not use any "butt talk". You know, like butthole, or buttwipe, or anything like that.

Last night, they were going at it, like usual, and Junior called Brandi a buttwipe. Brandi knew she couldn't say it back, and she got so frustrated. I stepped in at this point and taught her the old, "I'm rubber and you're glue...whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you". For some reason she found this extremely funny, and could barely get it out because she was laughing so hard.

It's fun living in my house sometimes.

What Could Have Been

My fourteenth wedding anniversary is coming up in a couple of weeks. I can't believe it has been this long. It seems like it was only yesterday that we stood in the court house saying our "I do"'s. Sometimes I regret not having a big wedding, but Junior and I are planning to renew our vows for our twentieth anniversary in a few years, and I will have my "wedding" then. I am not one for being in the spotlight, but I know the kids will love being a part of the ceremony.

One of the things I missed the first time was picking out china patterns. I didn't have the fancy wedding, so I didn't get all the gifts that go with one. I saw no point in registering for the things I wanted, because no one was going to buy them for me. I missed getting to pick out the dinnerware and household items that would have fit perfectly with the decor of my first place. If I had picked out a china pattern, these Richard Ginori goblets would have matched that design perfectly. I am all about simplicity, and that is the vibe I get when I look at this goblet. It's just gorgeous, isn't it?

Veggies Galore

I am going to take you on a short little tour of my garden. Let's start with the roma tomatoes. Don't they look yummy! I can not wait until they are all red and juicy, ready to be eaten.

Here is one of the many zucchini growing. These are going to taste great on the grill!

And a picture of a cucumber. These are going to be delicious sliced up with some garlic and italian dressing.

I am proud of my little garden. I am just so impatient for things to be ripe.

Looking Stylish While Pregnant

My sister, Tami, is having a hard time finding jeans that fit. She is almost six months pregnant, and getting into that awkward "everything I wear looks funny" stage. She has been looking at maternity clothing but still can't find anything that she likes. I think she might just be a little to picky, but that's just my opinion. My other sister Colleen has been wearing the cutest maternity jeans, so I know there are clothes out there that would work for Tami. Her and Colleen have the same style, and usually like the same things, clothes included.

When my mother was pregnant all those years ago, she wore the awfullest looking clothes. I think the style at the time was huge billowy mu mu type dresses that did nothing to flatter her pregnant figure. I won't even discuss what passed for maternity wear on my grandparents. I am not looking forward to the day when my kids look at pictures of me when I was pregnant with them and laugh. But, I know it's coming, just like I know their kids will one day make fun of them.

My sisters should be happy that they can still look stylish while pregnant. I am sure if she shops a little more, she will find the perfect pair of jeans.

From A Seed

Remember all those vegetable seeds I planted and tended to so lovingly? Do you also remember how all of them, except the squash, died when I put them outside?

Well, here is a picture of my first squash. There are a bunch more, too. It seems the rain from the past few weeks has done wonders for my garden.

Isn't it beautiful?

My Dream

I am drooling right now.

I have tried to explain to you all the kind of outdoor kitchen I so desperately want. I was looking at fire magic outside kitchens and found the exact one that I see in my dreams. It has a huge grill, complete with burner. I can already taste the barbecue chicken with pineapple and corn on the cob that I will be grilling on there. It has drawers and outdoor kitchen cabinets for storing all my grill accessories. Do you see the sink? I love this option. It would allow me to clean as I go, or even to prepare the food right at the grill. Oh, and see the refrigerator? That is where I would keep my diet sodas, and maybe some juice boxes for the kids. Heck, I could even keep the food cold that is waiting to go one the grill.

Now we really need to use our imaginations, and picture an in ground on the other side of this kitchen. Imagine floating in the pool, smelling the food on the grill. I wish I could make this dream a reality, but the sad truth is that right now, I can't even afford a wading pool for the kids. But trust me. One day, I will have this grill. And a pool. And you will all be invited over for dinner.

I Need A Day Off

I am going insane.

I don't know how it happened, but lately I have too much to do, and there are not enough hours in one day to get it all done. Today I am not feeling too hot, and i wanted to just relax, but this computer keeps calling. So I get online, find more things to do, and the next thing I know, the day is gone again, and my eyes are crossing. My intention this morning was to take the day off. To not turn on the computer, or check for opps. Yet here is sit, doing the same thing I do every day.

I think tomorrow I really will take the day off.

I need it.