Happy Anniversary, Baby!

Yesterday was our anniversary. We have been married for 26 years! Wow. I could never imagine when we first walked down that aisle, that this time would come. It was some nefarious date in the future that we always thought about..."I will grow old and enjoy many years with this person, we will grow together, we will be together forever, I will be with this person in 30 years."

We have seen our share of good times and bad. We have grown up together, and we have learned together. We have also done things separately. We have matured.

Spending the day together, goofing off, going for a lovely long walk in the park, it was a calm day. Nothing outrageous. Just being with each other. Holding hands, kissing. It was great.

I still love him. He still loves me.

I See London, I See France

I see someone's underpants!

Thursday & Friday were boring days. Get up, fix the hubby breakfast & lunch; re-schedule a dental appt on Friday as I ran into a huge accident that blocked a major highway. I was on the detour for 25 minutes so missed my appt-

I cleaned the house those days and when I had time, I worked on some necklaces.

But on Saturday, after Greg, the dog & I ran to get lattes, we stopped at the cubbie's house. Joanie wanted me to come over to spend the day, so after coming home briefly...Greg had to meet Joe here to get the sewer riser loaded, I went back to her home.

We worked on learning new techniques of jewelry and she showed me what she had done painting her house. Lovely reds & creams & browns. Very dramatic. Bruce left after working on his car to go up to the shop to help Greg clean it.

The guys were hungry down at the shop so we got sandwiches at KKJ's and ice & chips at the Cenex; we returned with more lattes to keep them company. After talking with Debbie at the latte stand, she indicated there was a Bluez Festival at Spirit Lake. So Joanie & I decided to talk the guys into going.

After consuming their lunches, we all retired to our respective homes to take showers. Then Joanie & Bruce came to pick us up. The music was loud & bluesy when we got there. We walked through down-town as they had roped it off. We were about to find comfortable spots to sit in the park, however, the guys decided to eat at the Mexican Restaurant as they were still hungry. We settled ourselves into a table that overlooked the band & the dancing in the street. Quite a few of the dancers had quite a little bit too much to drink thus far, and many were swaying like trees in the wind. One couple were gyrating together very close. In fact - the guy was litterally holding the girl up. This girl had attracted our attention as she had a nightgown-like top on that covered her nipples, but was sheer everywhere else. At the end of the song, the guy had twirled her so that her back was to the restaurant, and then he picked her up! Which caused her short, short jean skirt to elevate up over her ass.

Thus- revealing a very naked crotch! Another table next to ours had been watching and saw the same thing. A slight scream went up at that exact time from both tables. The men were just as shocked as the women. G-ross. Not something you want to see directly before eating!

Look! Look! See What I Got!

This came in the mail today! I was so excited to get it.
Now the trip seems so much more real.
And they came a month early! Woot!
Somehow, I feel like I am now a genuine United States citizen.
Even tho I already was...this makes it official!
Looking forward to filling all 28 pages with Visa stamps.
Gee. I wonder what people do when they run out of pages...get another passport?

My Puppy

My puppy is sick. She had a slight accident at our friends' house the other day. She has been generally sad...moping around and not her usual self. The hubby and I discussed it last night; the same symptoms as before-we suspected that she had another bladder infection.

I contacted our Veterinarian early this morning and rushed her into an 8:45AM appointment-along with the urine specimen in a Ziploc box that I had collected last night & stored in the refrigerator.

Sure enough, after checking her vitals & examining the sample, the doggie doc diagnosed another infection. We now have 3 weeks worth of pills that we are to dispense to her 3 times per day. Yep. That is 63 pills that I have to cram down her throat. Ucky-poo. NOT my favorite thing. She spits them up everytime. It is quite a fight between the two of us. She is determined not to take them. I am even more determined that she will swallow them.

Now, this is a dog that has toxic slobber. Her spit is more slippery than the Valdez Oil Spill; Grown men have slipped and fallen on her slobber in the middle of the Gobi Desert! And I have to open her mouth and stuff my whole hand down her throat! Even then, she usually manages to regurgitate the pill and we start all over again. The pill is hidden within a piece of cheese. Usually, I manage to close her mouth, and rub her softly along the throat while explaining quietly that these pills will make her feel better. But at the end of it all, I am left with a slimey, disgusting, smelly hand.

Oh, the joys of dog parenthood!

Good Vs. Gross

Gross Things That Happened This Week

1. A garter snake slithered past my hand when I was outside watering plants.
   
2. I found out I gained 12 pounds in the last month-via stepping onto the doctor’s scale (they always make you weigh more!)


3. Cleaning up spilt mayonnaise. Ugh. (don’t ask!)
   

Good Things That Happened This Week

1. Found a wonderful general MD this week. Even though he is over in Spoky-Jo, it was worth the 1 ½ hour drive!


2. Got some great diet pills from above doctor. Without insults, without snide remarks, altogether-a very compassionate doctor!


3. Found a great deal on an Igloo cooler at the Flea Market! Only $2 for a cooler that normally sells for $25. After a thorough cleaning with Soft Scrub Bleach, it is better than new looking!


4. Learned that my son had been promoted to Staff Sergeant! Yippee! We are so very proud of him. Next promotion… Brigadier General!


5. Lost 7 pounds after starting my diet program.


6. Finished a necklace for my father-in-law’s girlfriend-Bert!


7. Made a new necklace that came out fabulous.


8. Got a new TV from our friends (we had donated our old swamp cooler to them while it was intolerably hot this summer-they were so tickled to get it that they bought us the new TV we were going to get! plus we let them have about 20 truck loads of fill dirt from our property to made a pad-site for their new building)


9. Went shopping with my cubby-Joanie to the flea market.
10. It RAINED! As I am typing this right now, it is raining. Praise! We so desperately needed the rain.
    

Trapped!

The sub-contractors dug across our driveway today, so there was no way that Isabelle and I could go to the park to walk; They have dirt piled up everywhere. I just suppose we will have to walk twice as far tomorrow!

Matt came in for lunch today as he was working right out front, driving the water truck! We had forgotten to pick up lunch meat, so I gave him a peanut butter sandwich & strawberry jam with potato chips. The kid is so sensitive to foods and doesn't enjoy pickles with his sandwich. I was going to make GORP-Good Old Raisins & Peanuts (otherwise known as trailmix) but he doesn't like raisins! So I just threw some peanuts & chocolate candies into a bag for him and sent him off with a big bottle of water. He's like a puppy. Feed him and he keeps coming around.

Today I go back to the dentist at 3PM; hopefully I can convince him to pull the rest of my teeth and just give me dentures. I am so fed up with the pain that my teeth give me. Hubby is coming to get me as we are still unable to get out of the drive. Hopefully, they will have it cleaned up by the time we get back from running a few errands. Hubby has to get some "tools" at Harbor Freight~

Greg called said he had a flat tire on his work truck so he has to wait for the tire service to come to him-sounded like he is in the middle of nowhere so it will take a while to get to him.

Olga called me on my accents for the Spanish words that I used the other day. I was probably just rushing my blog entry and forgot to use them. So I fixed it. Thanks, Olga. Yes. We use that phrase here in the US; I believe everybody across the world is more alike that we know. I am a Caucasian American; However, I have English, Irish, Swedish, German & French ancestors. That I KNOW of...there's probably more stuck in there than that! So I am a mutt; a Heinz 57. But I feel like I have connections, relatives, everywhere. It will be so exciting to visit our daughter & son when we go in December as I will get to actually see some of the places where my distant relatives have been. Not that we are going directly to the towns they used to live within; but I will be able to see some of Germany, where I know for sure that my great-great-great-great Grandfather is from. It will be adventurous just being in the same country where he once lived.

After painting my toes, cleaning the floor, doing dishes & laundry...I will try to find some time to make more jewelry. Am also working on some miniature crazy quilt items.

Sunday Stuff & Misc

It was quite a challenge to wake up on Friday morning as Greg had a call-out on Thursday night. The phone rang at 3AM and I immediately thought it was bad news; totally forgetting he was "on-call" this weekend! I went to my dentist appointment early in the morning at 9:00AM - - he took x-rays, examined my teeth (of the teeth that are left) and listened to what I wanted. I have a return appointment on Tuesday afternoon to discuss what can be done. I went to Michaels & the BeadStore in CDA to pick up a few things to finish some pieces. Then coming home, the traffic was bumper-to-bumper! A drive home that usually takes me about 20 minutes; took me 45 minutes!

On Saturday, Greg went to Bruce's to help him set his poles for his pole building in his backyard. I met them down there and went with Joanie to take our Dichroic Glass class; It was fun, but not challenging. The shop bakes your jewelry for you; and all you do is assemble it. Here is a pic of the pendants I made.

There was a horrific car accident in A-town that took the life of a young girl and left her brother & sister in critical condition at the hospital. None of the kids 19, 17, 15 - were wearing seatbelts and the driver ran a stop sign straight into highway traffic where the speed limit is 65! The guys mistakenly thought we might have been involved and called Joanie & myself on the cellphone. They were quite panicked, but relieved to find out that we were OK.

However, Joanie & I saw the traffic to Dillywood & Farragut was backed up bumper to bumper; with cars stopped on the highway from Dillywood all the way to Interstate 90; I have never seen it quite that bad. Do they know that there are OTHER ways to get to the park? Other roads?

We drove by the Conoco (formerly the Texaco) on the corner on the way to Greg's call out Saturday night and saw that a mini-van had burnt completely to the ground which had been parked right next to the Conoco station. Half of the building had been scorched. My sympathies are with the new owners to have to deal with something so distressful directly after their purchase of the station!

Sunday morning, Earl was here early at 7AM to fix Joe's water truck; and woke us up. We had gotten in late last night as Greg had an emergency call out with VZ. We had to rush to Sandpoint to do a locate; then went grocery shopping afterwards. We got home at 12:30; to bed about 1:30.

Greg had problems with his back, and had to sit around for a while. We finally got going to get a latte at 12:30; walk at 1:30p. It was a beautiful cool day. Highs about 77 degrees F; Isabelle loved the walk. We found quite a bit of ephemera; a tie tack; a quarter; 4 different beer tops;

When we returned home; Greg watched his automotive shows and I worked on necklaces. Here are some new ones I made.

Hi Theresa! In answer to your question; it's a headboard & footboard; we still have the old mattress & boxsprings which is a softside waterbed. We have to get the OLD bed out of the loft first and it weighs a ton. I need to have a couple big guys with good backs haul it out; then install my new bed. It will be tomorrow or the next day before it's all done! Then I need to call the carpet cleaners to have the carpet cleaned before all the new stuff is installed. AND we need to pick up a new TV at Costco so we can watch TV in bed (Greg has to mount the flatscreen on the wall) These things take time!

What do they always say? Mañana, Mañana!

Can't Remember Squat!

I almost forgot again!

Today we get our bed! Yippee! I had to call Fed Ex and find out why it was not delivered as was scheduled yesterday. Well, they had our name listed incorrectly, so they couldn't call us. Plus, they didn't have a phone number for us listed on the delivery. Somebody once asked where I ordered it from...it was from eBay.

But I wanted to share Xashee's Layout she sent to me. Using designing-on-the-edge products. Thank you so much for sharing!

And also Layouts by Carla.

Thank you for sharing these great LOs!

Credits
stitching by Miss Vivi (Home sweet Home Kit) Eyelet ribbon by Pillowgirlscraps
Vintage frame by Designing on the Edge.
Fonts crykitty and FG Matilda

Whoops! Forgot Sunday

I totally forgot about Sunday. We went to the CDA Art On The Green; It was quite a bit of walking; then we found out that the other half was in the park. We only went to the exhibits on the NIC campus; But I wanted to share with you the huge sand castle that they had built *and were still building. It was quite a sight.


We got chicken sandwiches to eat, ice cream, and caramel popcorn. Yum. Oh, for shame! My poor dietary health. Oh well. You only live once!

The guys stood around talking while the girls went through all the booths. It was so neat. Talking to the exhibitors, learning their crafts, there were so many different accents and languages that I would have attended just for that alone!

Then while we were walking along some rude handicapped woman in a wheelchair hit it me in the butt, when I turned around expecting it to be my hubby who had touched my person...I looked behind me and down to see this woman being pushed by her husband; she said she didn't want to have to run into me with the wheelchair? I was so flustered, I just stepped out of their way. But they were BEHIND ME! They should have realized they would have to wait until they had a clear area, or go around. Just like non-handicapped people do when they are walking. Geesh. I didn't have eyes in the back of my head. Did she expect that she was Moses and parting the Red Sea? What a rude woman. I should have called security and complained. How did this woman know that maybe I had some physical problem that I didn't want to be touched, or hit! My butt still bears the bruise from her rude hand! I am of that old school where I don't raise a fuss or a stink. But I bet darn tootin' that if my daughter, Kelsey had been there, she would have told that nasty little woman where to get off!


And if you would like to go to the Neatest Site with great ideas...go here. It's addictive, & marvellous! Lots of talented artists sharing their creative juices. http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/newstuff.html and www.art-e-zine.com.uk

When I come across a website such as this, it's like Christmas. I want to make everything that they have listed there. Plus, I waste a lot of my computer time on sites such as this. I REALLY need to get some work done now.

Tomorrow is another dentist appointment. Wish me luck.

Fiillm Stripz Freebie

Wow. Finally. A time for freebies. Have you been waiting for them? So have I. Deciding to test a new file storage - http://www.box.net/! It seems to be working as I tested it and the file is OK.

Get Fiillm Stripz HERE.

Today is overcast and dreary. Humidity is very high. Hopefully, it will rain.

Matt Holman came by for lunch yesterday as he is working driving a watertruck for his dad's heavy equipment company. His parents are vacationing and Greg & I are his "faux-parents" while they are gone. Wow. Another son. He's a great kid, but has ADD (attention deficit disorder) which does not detract from his personality, but he sure does bounce from subject to subject.

Joanie called in the afternoon "Cubbie 2 to Cubbie 1-Come over and play!" Greg calls his friends "cubbies" as in...cub-mates. Friends. Anyway, Bruce & Joanie have never heard of this and Joanie is having so much fun with it. Bruce was mock-offended when he realized he was a "number"... Greg is Cubbie 3, Bruce is Cubbie 4.

We made rings! See?

Then on Saturday, we are taking a Dichroic glass class in downtown CDA. It will be fun!!!!! I'm learning so many new words. It's almost like a foreign language - but not. Findings, Faceted, Pendants, Cabochons, Cradles, Bails, Scrimp, Crimp, Jump Ring; my poor little brain can't hold anymore info within it!

Don't Wanna Be a Witch

What I did today:

1/Cooked 2 lbs bacon
2/Made hubby lunch
3/Ran to get latte
4/Called Utility company
5/Called Dept. of Environmental Quality
6/Called Sheriff's Dept
7/Called Highway Patrol Dept
8/Called friend for reference to doctor
9/Re-scheduled hubby’s chiro appt
10/Called to confirm dentist appt
11/Watered all plants outside
12/Picked up mail
13/Made a necklace
14/Packed boxes ready for shipping to the kidz
15/Made a LO for ADSR2
16/Made freebies & uploaded
17/Did 5 loads of laundry (including ALL dog bedding)
18/Washed dishes & put them away
19/Got house ready for window cleaners who are coming this PM
20/Picked up pinecones
21/Worked on walkways outside
22/Spread weed killer on lawn within circle driveway
23/Cleaned out hubby's work truck (ugh-all that garbage!)
24/Vacuumed
25/Made dinner; chicken sandwiches
27/Drank an Alaskan Amber Ale

I had a request for puppy pics!

Let me explain all the calls in re: #4-#7. I was being nice. At 7:00AM, I contacted Avista, who is the local Utility company that is installing natural gas along the highway in front of our home. This installation is being done by sub-contracted crews from out of state. Which is OK. BUT...they are creating massive amounts of dust.

Now. We are in a severe dry season here. We have not had rain for a long time. We are in a no-burn caution right now. The other day...about 20 acres burned down by town because someone threw out a cigarette! It's DRY!

So-these crews are digging...causing billows of dust to obliberate the highway & on-coming traffic. They worked on Saturday and it was HORRIBLE! Nobody to call on a Saturday to file a complaint.

When I contacted the Avista Manager for the project at 7AM, he said that he would talk to the crew. That's OK. I don't want to be a bitch (even tho my hubby thinks I want to be one sometimes!) But sometimes, being a bitch is the ONLY solution.

I waited until 11:30; Still nothing had been done. The crews were still working.

PLUS. I found out from the hubby that they have been welding, grinding & torching on the steel to connect it as they installed it. With no water trucks. It is a LAW that they are required to have a water truck on site. Not to mention...having a water truck to spray water would keep the dust down! Duh.

So I called the Sheriff's office who handed me off to the State Highway Patrol. And I talked with a WONDERFUL dispatcher named Mary...who actually got an emergnecy number at Avista and was told it would be handled ASAP; when I told Mary that I had already called Avista and talked to the manager there, nothing was done. Mary then called me back TWO TIMES! OMG! And let me know the status on what was happening.

I really AM going to write a commendation for her handling of this situation. My hubby later informed me that the State Patrol came rolling in; showed the workers a copy of the Law; ORDERED them to cease work until a on-site water truck is procured; and then the Department of Environmental Quality came by to inspect their site and shut them down. And warn them about a $10,000 fine if they continue. Finally. A response!

But, if the Avista Manager had handled all of this in the first place, it need not have happened. WHY do people persist in doing things illegally? In the wrong? Morally and legally?

When I explained this to some friends down at the latte shoppe, they all complained about it too. But they had never made any effort to call to complain about it. In other words, I was the only one that complained to a higher authority. I didn't want to do it. I was FORCED to do it. I dunno. I don't like being a bitch. Now they will blame me for their problems; when if they had done it correctly to begin with...they wouldn't have any problems. The squeaky wheel always gets the oil?

Never Saw a Camel I Didn't Like!

Yep. We were driving tonight through the neighborhood, when we just HAD to slam on the brakes. Spied this munching along the side of the road.

North Idaho Camel!

Can you believe this? I KNOW they are not native around here. So she must be an import. I'm assuming it's a SHE as I did not see any male "equipment" in evidence while snapping these shots.

She was the sweetest little thing...I thought she would start spitting at me, or braying...but she peered at us for a while, then went back to eating.

Earlier today, Joanie and I worked diligently on our beading...and I got these necklaces finished. I am just so darned proud of myself!

While relating a story about dancing, we both forgot the name of the host of the TV show, American Bandstand (Dick Clark) so we had to call the guys who were working up at the shop. Matt Holman answered the phone and I laughingly asked him if he knew who we were talking about. This 20 year old answered..."What's an American Bandstand?" Gee. How I date myself. I. Feel. So. Old.

Then after receiving our answer from somebody older than a teenager...we hung up. Then had totally forgotten what we needed the answer for! What a couple of old codgers! CRS-Can't Remember Squat!

We took a break at 3pm to pick up a delicious sandwich down at the deli in Little Town Market. (it's probably a miracle we remember the way to get back home!)

Then I came home after our lunch to go with hubby to get my nails done. Hubby even got a pedicure with me! Even tho his feet are SO sensitive "ack-don't touch my feet"! He sat there and let the girls massage, rub, and scrub until his footsies were pink & clean!

PS-Kelsey! We picked up Krispy Kreme 2 dozen donuts on the way home! Sticking my tongue out at you! La Di Dah! I got Krispy Kreme donuts and you don't!

Necklaces I have made in the last few days!

Positives Vs. Negatives

Negative- I broke a toenail on the clutch in the Mustang.
Positive-My puppy came with me to visit my friend. She got to visit her doggie friends!

Negative-I accidentally stepped into burning hot water when I was soaking my feet.
Positive-A kind young man suggested several things to help my cracked & bleeding feet when I visited the Super Supplement store the other day...

Negative-Verizon Customer Service Rep called (only after I filed an FCC complaint)

Positive - I got to carry on another rant & rave session because they messed up again. So I get to file ANOTHER FCC complaint! Woot!

Negative - Not being able to exercise yesterday

Positive-Spending the morning with Joanie, learning jewelry design; then hubby brought pizza over to share with Joanie & Chachie.

Negative-Kelsey will see her surprise necklace here!

Positive-Sharing a picture of Kelsey's new necklace I designed with everybody!

Negative-It was hot yesterday!

Positive-Got to spend 1/2 the day with my hubby in Spoky-Jo.

Negative-Having to wash the truck in Spoky-Jo

Positive-I walked the puppy dog while the hubby vacuumed, then we went through the touchless drive-thru wash!

Negative-Having to ask the clerk at Old Navy where the "wife-beater" t-shirts were located (how embarrassing) The t-shirts were for the son-in-law.

Positive-Finding some super cute shorts & sweaters for myself in the meantime!

Negative-Fat thighs

Positive-Purchasing Fit/Flops on-line and wearing them. I can already feel the difference!