Math Should Be Eliminated from School

Damn. I try to subtract one little year. One little year. And get called out!

WHY did I ever allow her to take Math classes at school.

Forever - - when she was young the question, "Mommy, how old are you?" my response could be "26."

I liked 26. 26 was a good year for me. 26 was youthful. Nothing was hurting at 26. 26 was a year with good memories.

Like Dick Clark, I was stuck in that Fountain of Youth Time Warp which everyone searches for and only few can find...

...but then she started being able to add+ and subtract- then my life became a mess of explaining how I was getting younger as she was getting older.

Pretty soon, I was telling her that I was only 2 years old when I gave birth.

But when that didn't work, I started trying to shave years off my daughter's age.

Obviously, those math teachers succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. Because she has seen through my lousy attempt again.

Hit and Run

Recently, I was reading and laughing at my daughter's blog entry. (March 26, 2008) A commenter had the audacity to leave her horrible, poisonous thoughts on the blog. Typical of the anonymity (it's a big word-go look it up, Daisey) of the internet, this person seems to think they have the right to be nasty up close & personal. Usually, this individual would not bother me at all and I would disregard her bigoted, snippy, nasty comment.

But this time I won't.

• DAISEY'S COMMENT-I am sorry, my daughter-in-law drives a yellow car. Does this make her an “A-Hole” too? I can assure you she is not. How offensive!I really used to enjoy reading your blog as well as your mom’s but the both of you do nothing but complain, whine, call people names and make insinuations. your mom needs to be a mom and stop trying so hard to be your 20 year old friend. you both feed on negativity and it’s run its course..at least for me!

Who is whining here, Daisey? YOU ARE.

This is MY BLOG. Duh- I can complain, say, or DO anything I want here.

If you don't like it, don't read it. DON'T COME here. I don't go to places that I don't enjoy.

Real life is not positive all the time. Negativity does happen. I don't feel like I have to be positive on a place that is devoted entirely to me. MY BLOG. MY PLACE not yours!!!!!

I am not going to censor my blog for anybody or anyone. Especially you.

Obviously to me, it sounds like you are actually jealous of the relationship I have taken YEARS to attain with my daughter. I enjoy being her friend. I enjoy having a young state of mind.

YES. I am old. I am old enough to have a 22 year old daughter. That doesn't mean I have to act like an old woman or dress like one.

And I have friends of all ages and genders.

Don't even attempt to make definitive statements like that when you have never met me and don't know me.

How judgemental. How petty.

Go away. Stay away.

Be nasty someplace else.

Don't do it here.

Stop Already!

We. Have. 2. More. Feet. Of. Snow.

It can stop anytime. Please make it stop. This is not fun anymore. I want spring to be here so badly. Did somebody set off a nuclear winter and not tell me?

WTF?

Anyway, the painter is here and he is working speedily. I thinking I might be having an out of body experience from the paint fumes. He says he will get more than 1/2 done today and be here next Saturday to finish. He is fast. And good. The walls look great.

But the house looks like a tornado hit it. We had to take everything down off the walls and move everything. Mike, the painter, says that everything should dry within 2 hours. So by the time that Greg is done working tonight, it should be dry enough to move everything back.

Pretty Rings 'n Beads HERE

Hair Today, Here Tomorrow

Got my hair done. I'm pretty again!

This is the best shot of the whole thing long. I can never get hubby to put aside a few minutes to take a picture of me. So I have to end of doing it myself! Anyway - all actions by http://www.nobsphotosuccess.com/

We also stopped at Senor Froggy so Greg could have a burrito; Starbucks for a vanilla latte; the liquor store to pick up Kahlua; and a small travel bottle of vanilla Kahlua-which I immediately proceeded to add to my latte; I could get used to that!

Then to Fred Meyer to check out bedding-ugh. WallyWorld to pick up some things; and hubby could not resist Harbor Freight. While I had been getting my hair done, hubby-bubby went tool shopping and got an Ingersoll Rand impact wrench. "Whooo! Honey! Look what I got!" He was more excited than a little kid at Christmas.

He is also all agog about his plans for this revolutionary steering that he has developed and shot the plan to a friend who works at Tri-States Distributors. Supposedly, this is the neatest thing since canned corn. I have to listen to him talk about it night and day...and night and day. Bor-ing! I don't care. I don't understand his little do-hickey drawings...but I try to show the appropriate enthusiasm. (none?) Hopefully, he will get it done and marketed by the end of April. We'll see. I'll keep you posted.

About G's toe-the doctor removed the steel rod the other day. How 6 inches of anything could have been shoved up his toe, let alone his foot! Anyway, the toe is worse than ever now. G is in LOTS of pain; and the doctor is out until Tuesday. I hate doctors.

Consider This-

1/ I am going to try washing my clothes in Woolite because of brainwashing from a commercial. Am going to buy some tomorrow.

2/ Have stumbled upon a delicious thing. Starting with the bottom layer – angel food cake/ sliced bananas/ strawberry yogurt/ sliced strawberries/ whipped cream. Yummy delightful. Can’t talk – mouth full of deliciousness

3/Costco has two (or three) things I adore. Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Julienne Cut Tomatoes in 100% Pure Olive Oil & Herbs. (have to admit that I even eat them RAW sometimes) and Pasta Prima Grilled Chicken & Mozzarella Ravioli-I am sure glad they have those little sample carts set up in the food areas. And California Strawberries. Those things are humongous. I have never seen a red, juicy, delectable strawberry the size of the ones that we got there this year. Looks like a good year for fruit. Yum.

Enjoy the hilarious Cheetos commercials on YouTube. Chester has such a marvelous voice, now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz40z6O9qcY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSmGLfY0arE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X2qT7Ki29Y&feature=related

PS. My shoes came today ALREADY. I actually squealed when the UPS man gave them to me!

They fit my tootsies so well. Can't wait for spring to try them out.

Sadly, it snowed here again today. Looks like we have 4 more days of snow in the weather forecast. So sad. :(

Tripping

Looking back at these pictures, it was great to recall our recent (quick) trip. The mountains in North Dakota were quite beautiful.

My poor tired dog slept beside hubby for most of the trip. She woke up to have Wendy's bacon cheeseburgers when we rolled into the bigger towns; and would pry open an eye to lean over to give me a big doggie kiss every once in a while. Of course, we had to get double beds in every hotel-because Isabelle HAS to sleep on her own bed. The only hotel we were unable to get a double bed in, they comp'd us a suite & the bed was king-size. Guess who got to sleep inbetween me and the hubs?

While we were back in the mid-west, hubby had to tell everybody that he visited with that we were going to "shoot" for 2010 for the HotRod Power Tour. So that it would give some of the guys back there an incentive to get their vehicles road worthy and ready-to-go. His brother has a 1970 Boss 302 Mustang; his friend has a 1940 Willys; hubby thinks he might be taking our 1954 Ford Ratrod pickup...we'll see.

It seemed to me that Greg was the glue that held the group together back there. Most of them are off doing other things and haven't gotten together. Out here in the west, hubby is the GLUE that holds together a whole new group. Nobody goes to hangout at Joe's shop; (besides the fact that MY hubby has the coolest equipment around...) nobody goes to hang out at Bruce's house...they always come here. Gee. Just like when the baby was home and all her friends came here instead of going to their homes.

Also posting the strawberries we bought today at Costco. Yum. Quite sweet. I am making homemade angel food cake so we can eat it with them...Yesterday, I made homemade white bread. The smell wafted through the house and made it smell SO good.

Spring is still not here in our area. Even tho the snow is gradually leaving in town, we are still at the higher levels where the snow remains. I can only hope that the 3-4 feet left in the yard dissipates quickly.

Trying to cheer myself up, I checked again on classes by Sally Jean Alexander... http://www.sallyjean.com/2008Website/SJ2008SallyJeanset.html but the classes are always filled. I want to take the class in Portland, Oregon for beginners; Soldering For Virgins.

Need to get my nails done soon; have already scheduled for Thursday to get my hair re-done. And went ahead & ordered these shoes...Steve Madden's Black leather Kapture.

I'm such a shoe-whore.

North Dakota & Other things

While we were motoring through the large state of North Dakota, it started snowing. This snow was sudden but there were instantly a platoon of winter plowing equipment on the interstate. They had the road cleaned in no time. What a difference from the excuses that were offered in the state wherein we live. It was enjoyable driving in the snow when the road is cleared of slush and mess.

We also saw a migration of birds flying across the sky. I have never been fortunate enough to see something like this. As hubby looked up in the sky, a sudden darkness befell us during the middle of the day. The birds were flying in formation and there literally THOUSANDS of birds, all flying at a north eastern direction. It seemed like the whole sky was nothing but birds, birds & more birds. Amazing.

So I am glad that I am now home, but it always takes a couple of days to put things away, wash clothes, and clean out the vehicle. Home, Sweet Home.

On The Road Again

After staying in Billings, Montana at a very nice hotel and driving over 1600 miles, we got to Iowa. Two days of straight driving - ugh.

Visited my father, hubby's brother, friends & other relatives we were ready to leave after one day. It really IS true - you cannot go home.

After picking up some automotive parts in Wisconsin, we will go back home.
Home Sweet Home.

Ho Hum

It's that time of year, where the snow is melting - - but not fast enough; the rain is coming down; and it is slightly cool. Just a depressing time.

Greg ran into Spoky-Jo with Joe to see if they could talk to a guy that specializes in Mustangs.

Tonight, we have to go to get the oil changed in the truck for the trip. Hubby doesn't want to mess with the oil changes as it is so much cheaper (and cleaner-he doesn't get oily) for the automotive place to do it. So, while they are getting the oil changed, we can pick up necessities.

I made homemade croissants from scratch yesterday for dinner. Yum. That smelled delicious througout the house.

A painter came to give an estimate for painting the interior of the house. Hope he can do it before the kids come in June.

I made clocks & moon brushes. Am obsessed with Grandfather Clocks; and I am hoping that Greg's dad will give his to us some day soon.

Moons & Clocks

Weasely Rascal

Well, I promised a pic of the hubby on his "Lil' Rascal". He rented this for the weekend for only $75.00. Resting his foot while being able to enjoy touring his favorite automotive parts swap meet.

You will notice the two little wagons behind - which the guys strung together so they could haul parts. The massive trailer behind him is the junk they brought back. See? I told you that he bought more than he sold!

At the first of April is the big Swap Parts Meet in Portland, Oregon. I was so thoroughly bored being here by myself this past weekend, that I will endure the time with all the guys and go with them. They want to spend at least 4 days there, with 1 day there, and 1 day back. I might even get a little shopping in edgewise.

Today, we got up pretty early as bespoke the newly re-set clocks on daylight savings time. The sun shone directly into our faces this morning, so were unable to rest anymore - besides...there was this snippy little cat with an amputated tail sitting on our bed, miaowing loudly at us! Who can possibly stay asleep with that racket. I am seriously considering banishing him to the bathroom again. Duh. The cat. NOT the hubby!

So we popped in for our lattes, (too sweet on the Tiger Tail) and headed into CDA to return said Rascal. Once that was done, we picked up a replacement thermocoupler for the fireplace that AGAIN decided to break down & die.

Isabelle begged for Wendys. So off to the drive-thru for 5 bacon cheeseburgers. On the way home, we stopped at Rite-Aid to pick up some treats for Easter for the kids. (don't tell them!)

Stopped briefly at the post office to drop off the books that I am swapping.

• Total Swapped thus far - 158
• Total Listed on my Bookshelf- 47

Debbie & her daughter Shelby stopped by this afternoon. As Shelby has never seen the house, I invited them in; while Isabelle growled and guarded her house, I gave them a tour. Then showed them the Euro-trip pics! It was fun to relive it again through their eyes.

For dinner tonight, we had a barbecued chicken on a bed of long grain & wild rice.

Greg was able to unload all the stuff from the back of his truck today. Hopefully he can get the interior cleaned out soon! Men are such pigs.

*things to note to self:
-VZ messed up his FMLA paperwork yet again. It never fails to amaze me than anybody has phone service at all as fucked up as that company is.
-Kootenai Hospital sent us a bill, without explaining what it is for - Greg has not been to that hospital in over 17 years. So after being on hold for over 20 minutes, hubby left a message; which they failed to return. Incompetence reigns supreme.
-I can't find my Skecher's hiking boots anywhere. Have been getting them from Victoria's Secret for several years, but they discontinued them. Nowhere. WHY do companies discontinue our favorite things? Jeans/Bras/Shoes/Hair Products/etc.

This is as bad as Keds changing the proverbial shoe that launched their company - the boat shoe. I loved them. Used to get them in white all the time. Loved to wear them in summer. That great little blue tag on the back. Then KEDs discontinued that style. And came out with a duplicate but added padding in it. Ugh. Padding. I thought they were perfect without padding. Victoria's Secret discontinued my favorite bra. Levi's discontinued my favorite jeans. Ugh. Never get used to anything. Always keep pulling the carpet out from under the customer's feet!

I've Got a Head-Ack

Hubby came home from Seattle at 3AM on Monday morning. He called me at 2AM to wake me to tell me that he was only 1 hour away from home. Gee whiz. Wish he had just surprised me. After being talky-tammy until about 4AM-he was too keyed up to go to sleep. After having no sleep the night before, I was blotto.

So we slept until 9am. Then dragged our asses out of bed. I mean, literally. I rolled out of bed, and crawled to the nearest wall to pull myself up off the floor. Prying my eyelids open, which were caked with night time eye-goo, I stumbled down the stairs. Am still feel like I have a hang-over and it is 6PM. But with daylight savings time (yuck-don't even get me started whining about that!) it is still light outside. So discombobulated

After getting our morning coffee, we stopped at the Post office to mail books; then Greg dropped me off at home while he went to deliver parts he had bought. He TOLD me he profited about $500; but, honestly - I think he probably spent more than he made. The back of the pickup is loaded with crap. The interior of the truck looks like 8 monkeys lived in there for a week!

So we have to have it cleaned out. Ugh. And sanitized.

And my passenger seat was out of sync. Don't you just hate that? When somebody re-adjusts your seat and you can never get it back exactly the way you like it.

My poor, pitiful father (my mother died last year) has been writing me letters telling me how sad he is that she is gone. How lonely. Wants me to come visit. I haven't been back home in over 20 years. WHY would I want to go back to that frizz hair inducing state? Well, he hit upon it. He offered a bribe. So we might be planning on a (quick) trip back there. We shall see.

Greg is currently over in Spoky-Jo helping out a friend haul his car back as the clutch went out in it. Wish hubby wasn't so overtly friendly to lend a helping hand to losers all the time - somehow they are never around to return the favor. Not that I'm being uncharitable. It's just that after 25+ years of being married to him...I haven't seen too many people turn around to help him.

Bad Blogger (slapping hand) Bad!

Gee. I haven't blogged in 4-ever!

(I always feel like a teenager when I write "forever" that way...)

Anyway, I have been busy cleaning house, going to doctor's appointments, taking the pets into the vet for shots, cleaning house, -yes I know I repeated that twice- and doing the ADSR layouts. Plus, I have been voraciously reading as my paperbackswap.com books have been coming. Having mailed out over 140 books in 30 days, I can now use up my credits to swap lots of books! Yippee.

Go see our sister site - http://naughtyredheadknockouts.blogspot.com/ to view the layouts we have been doing for the Amazing Digi Scrappin' Race!

And to bring myself - and you - up to date on what has been happening around here lately that is of note...

1/Hubby popped his steel rod in his toe backwards - Gee, I didn't ever need to see THAT! - when he was putting on his pants while standing up and caught his toe in the hem of the jeans. So he spent a day on the couch, doused with LOTS of drugs.

2/Been IMing with the baby and we both almost peed our pants the other day when we were fooling around with acronyms... MFHBILSHDTP&PMPWROTFL My Face Hurts Because I Laughed So Hard Due to Peeing & Pooping My Pants While Rolling On The Floor Laughing or MTYGATITFWTADI - Matt Thinks You Guys Are Taking It Too Far With These Acronyms Damn It

3/Augustus cat was released from kitty-prison (i.e.-the bathroom) after he visited the doctor. Thus far, we have found no "new" accidents.

4/Isabelle spent Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday with Greg all day as he was getting ready with his auto parts to go for a swap-meet south of Seattle this weekend.

5/Greg rented a "Little Rascal" to get around on for the swap meet this weekend. I wanna get pics!

6/I am housebound because Greg took the Dodge pickup to Seattle this weekend; my car is buried behind a ton of snow in the garage; and I refuse to drive his Ford dually pickup.

7/Didn't sleep well last night as I cannot sleep alone. I do not know what I will do if he ever dies. Probably die too, of insomnia! Plus-the stupid, resident woodpecker began his tapping on our house early this morning. I'm gonna get me a gun to shoot him!