i swear!

LOOKING FOR ME?

2008-10-31T11:09:00.003-07:00

I've relocated to a new blog, under my name. check me out HERE!

and with that, I am moving

2008-10-21T12:45:00.004-07:00

I GIGANTIC thank you to everyone who bought my book last week to help Kimberly. I am in awe of the love shown to others in need. Y'ALL ROCK!

Here's just one of the loads I took to the post office. :)

I made the paypal payment to her account last night. She's not going to be able to retire or anything, but every little bit helps. And maybe she'll find some comfort knowing how many people were, and are, thinking about her. Hang in there girl!!!

And that brings be to some business. Last week, before the whole benefit happened, I decided it was time to leave "i swear" for good. I needed a fresh, clean and less sweary place to talk about all the things I talk about. And a place I could link my site to without getting hate mail about all the cursing.

Here is my new home

I hope to see you there!

a little quickie

2008-10-17T12:04:00.003-07:00

don't even go there, you pervs, I'm just doing another quick twitter post.

first - don't forget about the Kimberly Benefit, which ends this Sunday. Really a good time to help someone out and still get something really cool in return. My $1.99 shipping special applies to this benefit, too, so I'm absorbing the balance of the actual shipping cost. How can you beat that?!

second - After Sunday, I'll be leaving "i swear" for my new less-sweary-but-still-all-me blog at michellemeisenbach.blogpot.com It's a whole new look, with more consistent posting, and stupid fun stuff to kill time. I'm diggin it. I've already posted something there that isn't here, so go check it out. I promise, I'll be a better blogger. Kid friendly almost!

and finally - well there is no finally honestly. Just waiting for the weekend to start. Scrapbooking JUST FOR FUN at Paper Vineyard with Kaelene tomorrow night. There are lots of spaces if you wanna come :) Then I'll working with Noah on school work and improving study habits. Getting him his THIRD backpack of the first quarter. Man, they sure do have you packing books in forth grade. Then finally (hey there is a finally!) cleaning the hamster cage. It's gonna be a mellow, hanging with the fam, kind of weekend. :)

as Ringo star says, and what is now my most favorite expression, PEACE AND LOVE, PEACE AND LOVE

atop my tv

2008-10-15T09:39:00.004-07:00

I used to have this big cursive, button embellished "M" on my TV, right below that clock. It had to find a new home when I got this fun vinyl phrase from Brenda over at Eye Candy. I don't think she has a site, contact Lisa for her phone number. anyway, I love it. Thanks Brenda! It's added a cool touch to my family room.

Since I put that up I've spent some time just looking at the collection of things that have found their home on my TV. I found myself surprised that's it's mostly stuff from my dad. The huge candlesticks were a Christmas present/housewarming gift from him years ago. I remember it was a combined gift because they were rather expensive and we've had a spending limit for adult gifts for years, and this far exceeded that limit. they mean a lot to me for some reason, although I've never really been able to vocalize why. It was such an indulgent purchase for our family. I mean they were a lot. I think Dad knew that I fell completely in love with them and that they would always have a honored place in our home. And they do. I still love them as much as that very first day.

Then there's the round slice of rock, bottom left of photo. I didn't fully know it at the time, but this would be the last thing he ever bought me. I'm fairly certain he knew it would be his last gift. Which makes it all the more important. We were strolling around downtown Auburn California at the local antique shops and locally owned boutiques during my super fast visit before my 20th high school reunion.

Our first stop was this rock store, common in northern cali, with all it's gold and other natural goodness. I'm not the type who buys these types of things. No real reason. I love to look at them but having rocks in my house, even as pretty as they can be, usually doesn't interest me. But this one caught my eye, and Dad noticed. We went back and forth about this silly rock, talking about what we 'saw' in it, toying with buying it, but where would it live, how it survive the trip home, much less the kids, when finally he just bought it for me. So him.

In it I saw a lake, a huge lake with almost no end. A lake that went past the out cluster of shore which separated the part you might swim in from the part that one might speed boat in - although this wasn't a boating type a lake, but still a fun lake, with no end.

He saw the ocean with its vast horizon line that, also, had no end.

He bought that rock for me in August, 2007, and died 5 months later. I've posted this poem before, but will again. It gave me so much conform those hard days of waiting at Hospice. Read it with the thought of this rock and tell me he didn't know something beyond the fact that he had cancer...

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side
spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and
starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty
and strength. I stand and watch her until at length
she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where
the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"

"Gone where?"

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in
mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and
she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her
destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the
moment when someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout: "Here she comes!"

And that is dying.

I don't mean to be a big bummer. We all deal with dying in our own way, and today mine is to talk about this. I think that's why I'm so touched by Kimberly's loss. My dad had been diagnosed with cancer and knew his time was short. He was able to, knowingly or not, leave something significant for me. Something I could always know we, at some level, had the same thoughts about. I hope she finds that one thing he husband was able to leave for her and that maybe it's something that lives on her TV. Something to remind her that this is not the end. Something she can look at, and smile.

my heart is warm

2008-10-14T12:03:00.007-07:00

Y'all are busting this, and my heart is warm. Keep going. Dig deep. We can be a ray of light during such a dark time for someone else. I might not know her, but that doesn't matter. I could be her.

every.
little.
bit.
helps.

benefit for Kimberly

2008-10-13T09:48:00.005-07:00

I don't have much time today, so I'm going to send you to cathy's blog and to tara's blog for the whole story.

Now here's what I'm going to do. Beyond my personal contribution, I am going to have a week long benefit for Kimberly. I don't have much to offer, but what I have, I'll give. If you buy the book this week I'll donate all my profits to Kimberly and her family.

there are absolutely no strings. You don't have to enter a code. You don't have to have read anyone's blog. all you have to do it buy the book. ALL retail sales will be included, whether they know about the benefit or not.

so if you were thinking of getting the book but were holding off for the right time, I'd say the right time is now. We have the power to help a sister in need. We can all make a difference.

m

p.s. OH YEA! As I said I'm in a time crunch today (dang real job) so I don't have time right now to update the paper therapy site with this benefit, but please rest assured that all sales will be tallied - starting now. I personally process all sales : ) so there's no chance of any sales being left off!

giveaway!

2008-10-09T08:55:00.002-07:00

Check out Cathy's Blog tdday for a Lifted giveaway!

GOOD LUCK!

another twitter type post

2008-10-06T19:31:00.005-07:00

1. This is super late - I'm a dork - but had a fantastic signing up in Glendale at Scrap Happy sisters. THOSE GIRLS ROCK! I'd hoped to have some pictures to show you of the contest they did but it finished long after I left and haven't gotten any emailed yet. I'll have to give them a call and check up on that. Anyway, it was an awesome event. I felt loved and was honored to be there. Thanks to all you came out!

2. I have a new ad up on Cathy's blog Go check it out - it's kinda fun. well fun for me anyway. Maybe I'll sell a book or two ;)

3. Check this super cool thing out. Lifted was reviewed at Scrapbook Update.com Great review. Love it when people get it.

4. Been crazy busy lately - with the real job. Not digging all that much, to be honest. Don't get me wrong, love (NEED) the paycheck, just wish I had more time to devote to blogging and the book.

5. I'm in the market for a sales rep. or reps if needed by region. Anyone interest or know anyone who might be please email me at michelle.papertherapy.com

6. have a couple signings coming up. I'll be in Tucson THIS Saturday at Pages in Progress from noon-2pm and then up in Flagstaff October 25 (that's 3 Saturdays) at About Memories and More from 2pm-4pm. Come by and see me! No purchase necessary LOL

7. Actually went out and got Halloween costumes already. First time not doing it days before and paying out the nose for overnight shipping. Kate's going to be a butterfly (thanks for the costume Beth - she loves it) Sarah is "bat girl" which is pretty much a batman costume in bright pink. I love it! an Noah is an army soldier.

8. Had my super talented friend Lisa take pictures of my kiddos this weekend. She's starting a photography business and couldn't wait to get her booked. I'm about dying waiting to see them (it's not like she's slow - it's only been 2 days!) I'm going to do a book for Peter for Christmas. I'm thrilled. Post a reply on Lisa's blog if you want to book her or have questions about her what she's up to. She's working on getting her site up and running. ***UPDATE: SNEAK PEAK IS UP ON LISA'S BLOG - WOO HOO!

9. and finally, a little picture, cuz everyone loves pictures. This is Noah. Gold panning in the North Fork, or the American River, or some other river in Northern California. He went to visit my Aunt and Uncle for a week while on break. He actually came home with real gold. We could buy a lollypop, maybe.

well that's about it. Sorry I've been so lame updating here. just crazy busy.

oh wordles!

2008-09-24T18:47:00.004-07:00

Here is my wordle : )
text taken from the Meet Michelle Page at Paper Therapy

That place is super fun! Check it out!
Wordle

Paper Vineyard Lifted Contest Pages

2008-09-18T22:41:00.003-07:00

Finally! Here are the pictures. It's taken me hours upon hours to get this done. I lost all this work - twice. I might kick someone in the face soon.

BUT ANYWAY, here we go. The contest at Paper Vineyard was killer. I have to admit, I was a teensy bit leary about what we might see, just cuz this was the first time we had a contest like this. But let me tell ya, these girl GOT THIS! Each page was amazing and so well thought out. They were so good we couldn't even pick a winner. We had to go to all the girls at the crop to vote for us. It was so cool to see what everyone came up with. I simply cannot wait to do this again! Thank you to Adriana and all the girls over at Paper Vineyard for a perfect night of fun and creativity!

So here we go........

MEET AMBER!!!

Amber took first place and as you can see she NAILED it. She won a signed copy of Lifted, which was cool because she didn't own it (yet!) Amber was fun to watch create her pages because she really got this concept. If you want someone to explain the concept of Lifting, just ask her! She's got it all figured out! I simply cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.

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MEET CINDY!!!

Cindy was our second winner and busted her butt getting there. She won this rockin' home decor plaque generously donated from the killer chicas down at Writing on the Wall. Thanks a ton to Tina and Kaelene! Cindy totally rocks and I can't wait to hang with her again, and I know I will. Especially because, even though she gets many, many offers, I'll be the one selected to have her as my adopted Mom!

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MEET HOLLIE!

Hollie is our 3rd winner and is pure sunshine wrapped up with blonde curls. Her prize was a $20.00 gift certificate to our hosting store, Paper Vineyard. If you ever get a chance to hang with Hollie (and her girls) take it! She is great fun and all smiles. And not those fake "get out of my face" smiles. Like real, honest-to-goodness, glad to be alive and talking to you smiles. OH! and ask her about the wedding she WON!

Now, on with the show! Original pages are on the left - Lifted Pages on the right!

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Here is our winner's layout. She really took the concept of the book and perfected it. I'm not lying when I tell you that when I saw this layout I had no idea what page was lifted. I think that's what this book is all about, taking a page and making IT YOURS! Side by Side it's easy to see - this Layout lift is spot on!

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There were two lifts from this one original. The first (middle) is a great example of taking one element, here an Embellishment, and expanding on it, making it a focal point all its own. The curve down the left of my page is lifted, and repeated, making it stand out with nothing else needed for interest. Also notice what this artist did with her photos. This is something I really love, especially when lifting from a page with only one photo. She grouped a series of pictures together, overlapping them. This visually replaces the single photo of the original, but allows for additional pictures.

The second lift (right) is by our third winner, Hollie. She lifted the flower Embellishment brilliantly, expanding on the flower's center. And as with the first lift, Hollie expanded on the curved accent. What I like about this lift is the color choice. My page was high contrast between the brown and printed paper. Hollie's, being a romantic wedding page, called for a lower contrast pallette, done perfectly here with white cardstock and a white backed printed paper.

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This Layout lift is easy to spot. It's the swirls on this page that I find very clever. The swirls on my page are part of the printed paper, an embellishment I added. Kaelene took the concept and location and ran with it, adding texture to her simple cardstock. And just in case you can't tell, the swirls were made with double sided sticker and flocking. If you haven't used this flock stuff, do! it's cool.

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A Color and Embellishment Lift going on here. The circle of brads is easy to spot, and really fun to do if you haven't tried it yet. But this is also a great example of an inverted color lift. Still brown, blue and green, just a different dominant color.

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Our second place winner, Cindy, really hit it with her Layout and Embellishment lift. Oh hey, it's a Color lift too, didn't notice that before. This really is a great example of not letting a change of product stop the process. She couldn't find the fancy cut paper I used as a make shift bracket around my photos, so she used a series of swirl embellishments, interlocked together, for the same effect. And take note people, she also couldn't find the Heidi Swapp clocks, so she made her own. Nothing was going to stop her from completing a beautiful layout!

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I have to admit, I've never really seen a Layout or Embellishment lift quite like this before. Nor have I ever thought to do one like this myself. That's going to change, though, as I'll be lifting pages for all my mini books from now on. This is simply GENIUS! You might not be able to see, but she added short journaling spots on the stems of the flowers - clever! And the layers of flowers and buttons is even more inspiring.

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I love this lift and it's a great example of how to lift the Color of a page, as well as a Layout. My lighter color pallette, being mostly white, red with a hint of hot pink is switched up in the lift with black and the focal color being the hot pink. This changed the entire feel of the page, which supported the "passion" title she chose to name her layout.

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This lift might be hard to see at first, but keep looking. It's a Layout and Embellishment lift through and through. I spoke with Sta in detail about this lift and she explained her thought process to me. Rather than using rows of flowers above and below the picture, Sta used postage stamp stickers. These stickers were larger than my flowers, and her photo smaller, so she overlapped them. Exactly the concept of this book! I also really like how to revised her "Sta" title. She didn't have the negative of this photo of her as a child, so adding stickers over it wouldn't have been a good idea. She she stacked the letters of her name, preserving the photo, but still lifting the title location.

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This is a Layout lift for sure, but in my opinion, it's a Photo lift as well. Both these photos have a similar feel about them and this clean and simply layout enhances that feeling. I love how she used the geometric sticker up the right side of the page, rather than the ribbon I used on the original.

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This is a great Layout lift - exactly the type of lift I do all the time. If you notice, she mirrored the single photo and the row of 3 photos, leaving the title in the same place at the original. Her pictures looked more natural in this position, a perfect example of adapting your layout to work for your photos.

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And that's all folks. A huge thanks for everyone who participated! Until next time - HAPPY LIFTING!!!

if you were wondering...

2008-09-18T09:37:00.007-07:00

no, I haven't forgotten the pictures of the contest....I can't get blogger to work right and save my work.

ERRR!!!!!!

So i just lost 2 hours of work on that blog entry and now I don't dare restart it because it doesn't seem to be saving my changes. It's telling me it's saving. It looks like it's saving. But when I close my draft then go back to work more it's back to what I had yesterday.

In the meantine wanted to let y'all know I'll be at a signing THIS SATURDAY out on the north west valley. The fun girls at Scrap Happy Sisters are having me out there from 2-4. SHOULD BE A BLAST! It's their birthday too so they have lots of fun things going on.

best 2:48 minutes you'll ever spend

2008-09-18T09:37:00.003-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5-TpSm1HDE

I love this. Loved every second. It is RICH with quality entertainment. Watch the background singers groove. And the lead singer's mouth, head bobs and dancing. Check how the chorus changes ever so slightly at each pass. I could watch this again and again.

BRILLIANT!

2008-09-17T01:44:00.023-07:00

talking to angels

2008-09-16T16:05:00.003-07:00

Every weekday morning is about the same, give or take some paniced moments and/or general grumpiness from at least one person in the clan. Okay grumpiness from, well, me. I wake up to Kate petting my arm. I then shower, make sure noah's up, get clothes for the girls, make breakfast and pack lunches. Noah leaves to his carpool. Peter brushes teeth. I brush hair - and sometimes even put in a clip or pony. Peter takes kate to daycare and I'm left with Sarah to get ready under semi-calm circumstances.

Today was exactly that. Pretty standard day, until I overheard Sarah talking to herself. She was behind me intense and focused, something rather rare for this bundle of energy. This is how it went.

"I have to call Grandpa"
......picks up phone...
"hello, grandpa? Are you still dead?"
......listening....
"you are? okay, well what are you doing?
......listening....
"okay, bye"

I know. adorable huh? I managed, somehow, not to cry.

.

2 very fun things!

2008-09-14T17:45:00.002-07:00

First, before I forget, we had a little "lifting" contest this weekend at the super cool scrapbook store Paper Vineyard. Had a BLAST!!! We actually took a bunch of great pictures which I'll post as soon as they are edited.

but WAY MORE COOL than that, my UBER BEAUTIFUL, both inside and out, neice Emily was a model on the Detroit News She's she gorgeous blondie. Peter and I will have aching faces tomorrow for all the smiling we're doing!!!

WAY TO GO EM!!!! We are so proud of you.

Just a couple random thoughts

2008-09-11T23:19:00.004-07:00

I've been thinking of making twitter my main blog cuz I can only handle that. So with that in mind I'll "twitter" some things here.

1. I'm officially sick of the non-recession. I'm sick of having no money. Sick of my friends having no money. And sick of everyone not being able to borrow any money. Let's get on with it already.

2. How about Peace for a change. I'm even over saying "one nation under God". How about "one Nation" "one continent" "ONE PLANET". How about having race, gender, nationality AND/or religions beliefs play NO PART is PEACE.

3. I have disturbed friends who have even more disturbed friends who took my blissfully niave mind to places today where should-be-unthinkable thoughts raced through my brain all day. Oh how I miss the last set of 'unthinkable' thoughts... and no, don't ask. I mean unless you don't want to ever sleep right again.

4. I really with I could go glom onto Cathy Z tomorrow at the scrapbook convention. Here's to getting my work done in time to get over there. and here's really to not looking like a complete nut job if I do get over there.

5. oh yeah! I'll be at Paper Vineyard for a quick Lifted Inspiration Class this Saturday from 4-5 and then at the crop the same night for fun, and to judge the lifted contest, from 5-11. Drop in and say HI!

6. ya know, it's like my children save up all their angst, anxiety, misdirected energy and overall bullheadedness during the day just for me. Like I like it when they spew it out all over me when I pick them up after work.

7. despite #6, this happens every single day. I look at Noah and think "oh my God, nothing could be cuter than this" then I look at Sarah and thing "oh my god, NOTHING could be cuter than this." Then I look at Kate and think, "OH MY GOD, NOTHING could be cuter than this," Then I look at Noah and think, "OH MY GOD, NOTHING could be cuter than THIS!" Then I look at sarah and think...........

8. Copy #7 but replace "nothing could be cuter than this" with "nothing could make me as happy as this"

9. copy #8 but replace "nothing could make me as happy as this" with "I couldn't love anyone more than this"

10. copy #8 but replace "I couldn't love anyone more than this" with "no one should be as luck to have you"

and there you have it. my twitter blog attempt. Sucky I know but all I can handle right now. Randon little fleeting thought that require no deep thought and zero pictures. Althought pictures are always good.

Book Signing - the first one!

2008-09-06T10:25:00.004-07:00

Hey y'all. I will be at Paper Vineyard doing my first "official" book signing today from 1-3pm. Please come see me. I'm incredibly nervous - won't lie. : )

Here's a map

wish me luck!

some new things going on

2008-09-03T22:22:00.005-07:00

I've been crazy busy over here. Doing things like:

REBUILDING MY WEBSITE

and

ADVERTISING THE BOOK (scroll down a bit on her site)

so hopefully that explains why I've been MIA for a while. oh and there's also the fact that my boss is completely over me being flighty and worthless, go figure, so I'm having to work my ass off during the day. crazy huh?

Oh and just wanted to post the ad picture here, you know, for giggles.

because I have no life...

2008-09-02T12:41:00.003-07:00

...and this was funny, and quick. Got this from Becky Too cute girl!

1. YOUR REAL NAME:
Michelle Meisenbach

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: {first 3 letters of real name plus izzle}
Micizzle

3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME:{fav color & fav animal}
Pink Turle

4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: {middle name & current street}
Lynn Carla Vista

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: {first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, first 3 letters of mom's maiden name}
MeiMiKoh

6. YOUR SUPERHERO NAME: {2nd fav color & favorite drink}
Green Diet

7. YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: {mother's middle name & father's middle name}
Ann Joseph

8. YOUR GOTH NAME: {black & the name of one of your pets}
Black Rascal

now go & do it! (:

a bit backwards

2008-08-18T18:53:00.004-07:00

OKay, I admit it, these are late. This is from the first day of school, 3 weeks ago. I was going to post them right away but then everyone was posting their back to school kiddos and these didn't look so cute. Now, nearly a month later, and up with posts about the Olympics, they seem to stand out. And really, this girl is too cute not to share.

Let's start this story with the matching shoes. This was purely on accident (really!). I bought my cute little mary jane's a couple months ago at Target. While back school shopping these were the only shoes that worked for her. It wasn't a hard sell, having shoes that matched mine.

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Good thing Peter doesn't read my blog, he'd be pissed that I posted a picture of him. But seriously, only if there was like little kittens or ducklings following them could this get cuter. In 30 years he'll understand.

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One of single coolest things about Sarah's first day of "big school" was that Katie, Sarah's Godmother, came down. She like a crazy talented, beautiful, over-achieving yet grounded person. She's in college, has like 4 jobs, or maybe 5 I can't count that high, and still came down just for this day. Paid for it all on her own too. We all simply love this girl.

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aawwwhh....
need I say more?

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If the close-up above wasn't cute enough for you then then one will stop your heart. This is what she did when we first got to the playground. Just stood there, waiting for the swing. At first I thought she was sad but she wasn't. She was just patiently waiting for an open swing. Of course, she was so far back, and so shy about the process, that once a swing was open another quicker boy got it. By the second day she caught on and I'm certain she gets the first swing available.

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end of day one. Only a lifetime to go, kiddo.

.

the pool, dude!

2008-08-12T20:41:00.003-07:00

We, like you (if you have a pool) have a pool dude. If you are lucky, (read: rich!) he comes every other week with test tubes and powders and fluids to make the pool sparkle. Much like my Mary Kay lady :) But if you are poor, and hot (not sexy hot, melty hot) like us you clean the pool yourself and only see the pool dude when there's a problem.

So you pretty much see the pool dude all the freaking time.

Whenever we have a pool issue Peter and I text about the Pool dude. What's the problem, why it happened, and - of course - how many digits this repair is going to cost. These converasation are, like so many of our conversations, via text messaging.

I got one of those texts today, let me share: "talked to the pool dude just now, said it's a million dollars and our pool is a waste of water and chlorine and energy and we should consider a slip and slide but he'll happily give us K-Y when he hands us the bill this time"

okay. maybe I'm projecting. It's true up to the comma, at least. Which brings me to the point of this post (yes, there's a point, no matter how dull) We've always talked about the pool dude at just that, "the pool dude" Just like the house painter is the "paint dude", the repair man is the "fix-it dude" and the plumber is the "shit dude" It's just how we talk. I never gave it much thought, until just now.

I'm sitting here wasting time on Peter's computer when a link on his favorites catches my eye. "The Pool Dude"........hummm........... I start thinking "wow peter really takes this 'dude' thing to the limit (remind me to kiss him)....but no...he didn't really do that...???...did he?"

It was the caps that gave it away. He wouldn't have capped each word. So I clicking on the link. Our pool dude was really The Pool Dude!!!

Maybe it's because I'm running on fumes and have had 4 beers, but that's damn funny! I want to be "the pool dude" in someone's life. Like, "oh hurry! we've got a creative scrapping emergency, Let's calling "THE LIFTED CHIC!" over to solve all our problems."

....or maybe it's the beer....

didn't only take pictures, I'm POSTING them. Go me.

2008-08-09T16:47:00.006-07:00

It's damn near impossible to say who had more fun. All the girls had a blast, but it was me who was beaming as much as anyone. Thank goodness no one else had a camera. Documenting my goofy face would have been too much.

The day was simply fantastic. Have lots of pics so here goes:

Sarah and Kate before their glam makeover.

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Some "during" shots. Seriously y'all, this Libby Lu place was so great. I will for sure be taking them back. which reminds me, I forgot to tip...will have to talk to a manager on Monday and get that taken care of. These girls were so wonderful. Even Katie, the 3 year old, got to take part. I think she loved it most.

Kaila's "mirror" shot and the beginning of her "punk" do

My girls both got the "Rockin" do. I had big time hair envy.

Meghan and Erin both got the "dazzling" up-do.

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The most beautiful girls in the world. I can hardly stand the cuteness.

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After the pampering at Libby's we went out to Peter Piper Pizaa for birthday cake and presents. Had like a speed birthday party as everyone was pretty tired and just wanted to go look at themselves in the mirror!

Huge thanks to Laurel and Beth for letting your girls share in the fun and giving sarah such wonderful gifts. Beth, the CD is already in my car! We (yes all us girls!) LOVE IT! Oh and extra thanks to Beth for letting me use her camera.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE SARAH! we love you bunches and bunches.

OH! and yes, Sarah did manage to cut her bangs again. Happened at school this time so at least I wasn't 'in charge'. No pictures as of yet but hope to soon. It's not nearly as bad as last time but it will need professional fixing, and possibly a funky new style. I think the child wants bangs, yes?

sarah turns 5

2008-08-08T11:37:00.003-07:00

Today is a fun day. My little girl turns 5 today. It's put me in a crazy fun mood. So much so that the office dog, which normally bugs the crap out of me, is even cute. Now THAT'S a good mood.

Per standard Michelle style I've waited till the last minute to plan anything. Even so, things have worked out. I'm taking mini cupcakes to her school at 2:15 for a quickie party there. Then at 4:00 I'm taking Sarah, Kate and 3 other girls up to Libby Lu for some girl time. Then we're all heading over to the tried and true and most wonderful place on this planet earth, Peter Piper Pizza.

I can't wait.

taggity tag

2008-08-07T12:29:00.004-07:00

You know I can't resist. Thanks Kaelene

Joys-
1. Listening to my kids giggle
2. knowing that my hubby thinks I'm funny and laughing with him
3. fresh strawberries, cool whip on just from the oven shortbread

Fears-
1. disappointing people
2. not selling the book
3. heights/falling

Goals-
1. find my scrapbook room (again)
2. stay in touch with my friends who keep moving away
3. learn how to french braid sarah's hair while she's still young enough to let me do it

Current obsessions-
1. see #3 in Joys
2. twitter
3. kindergarten hairdos

Random things about me-
1. I suck at kindergarten hairdos
2. I really do love my job, even though it seems I only complain about it.
3. I can be happy for days after someone says, "you made my day"

I'm going to do this one too - thanks Lorie

Have you ever...(if it is bold I have)

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given to a charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Held a lamb
25. Gone skinny dipping
26. Taken an ice cold bath
27. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
28. Seen a total eclipse
29. Ridden a roller coaster
30. Hit a home run
31. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
32. Adopted an accent for fun
33. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
34. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
35. Loved your job 90% of the time
36. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
37. Watched wild whales
38. Gone rock climbing
39. Gone on a walk on the beach
40. Gone sky diving
41. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
42. Bench-pressed your own weight
43. Milked a cow
44. Alphabetized your personal files
45. Worn a superhero costume
46. Sung karaoke
47. Lounged around in bed all day
48. Gone scuba diving
49. Kissed in the rain
50. Played in the mud
51. Gone to a drive-in theater
52. Done something you should regret
53. Visited the Great Wall of China
54. Started a business
55. Been in a movie
56. Gone without food for 3 days
57. Made cookies from scratch
58. Won first prize in a costume contest
59. Got flowers for no reason
60. Spoken more than one language fluently
61. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
62. Bounced a check
63. Read and understood your credit report
64. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
65. Called or written your Congress person
66. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
67. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
68. Helped an animal give birth
69. Been fired or laid off from a job
70. Won money
71. Broken a bone
72. Ridden a motorcycle
73. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
74. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
75. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
77. Had your picture in the newspaper
78. Read the Bible cover to cover
79. Changed some one's mind about something you care deeply about
80. Gone back to school
81. Changed your name
82. Eaten fried green tomatoes
83. Read The Iliad
84. Taught yourself an art from scratch
85. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
86. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
87. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
88. Been elected to public office
89. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
90. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
91. Dyed your hair
92. Rocked a baby to sleep
93. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
94. Raked your carpet
95. Worn a mood ring
96. Ridden a horse
97. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
98. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
99. Buried a child
100. Gone to a Broadway play
101. Been inside the pyramids
102. Shot a basketball into a basket
103. Danced at a disco
104. Played in a band
105. Shot a bird
106. Gone to an arboretum
107. Tutored someone
108. Ridden a train
109. Brought an old fad back into style
110. Eaten caviar
111. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
112. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
113. Published a book
114. Pieced a quilt
115. Lived in a historic place
116. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
117. Asked for a raise
118. Made a hole-in-one mini golfing
119. Gone deep sea fishing
120. Gone roller skating
121. Run a marathon
122. Learned to surf
123. Invented something
124. Flown first class
125. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury hotel
126. Sang a solo
127. Gone spelunking
128. Learned how to take a compliment
129. Written a love-story
130. Seen Michelangelo’s David
131. Had your portrait painted
132. Written a fan letter
133. Spent the night in something haunted
134. Ran away
135. Learned to juggle
136. Been a boss
137. Sat on a jury
138. Lied about your weight
139. Gone on a diet
140. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
141. Written a poem
142. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
143. Gotten food poisoning
144. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
145. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
146. Gone to the opera
147. Gotten a letter from someone famous
148. Worn knickers
149. Ridden in a limousine
150. Attended the Olympics
151. Can hula or waltz
152. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
153. Been stuck in an elevator
154. Had a revelatory dream
155. Thought you might crash in an airplane
156. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
157. Saved someone’s life
158. Eaten raw whale
159. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
160. Laughed till your side hurt
161. Straddled the equator
162. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
163. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
164. Sent a message in a bottle
165. Spent the night in a hostel
166. Been a cashier
167. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
168. Joined a union
169. Donated blood
170. Built a campfire
171. Kept a blog
172. Had hives
173. Worn custom made shoes or boots
174. Made a PowerPoint Presentation
175. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
176. Served at a soup kitchen
177. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
178. Known CPR
179. Gone fishing
180. Found a long lost friend
181. Voted for a contestant on American Idol or So You Think You Can Dance
182. Successfully convinced someone you were of a different nationality
183. Received a promotion
184. Movie-hopped (Gone to two movies in a theater and only paying for the first movie)
185. Planned a surprise party for someone
186. Beaten all levels of a video game
187. Driven more than 2,500 miles on a cross-country trip
188. Cried yourself to sleep
189. Stayed awake for more than 24 hours
190. Crossed a national border by car
191. Been to an island
192. Been completely out of debt (student loans, house, and all)
193. Read a book from the Twilight series
194. Traveled to Italy
195. Given birth
196. Found a bra that fits perfectly
197. Learned to meditate
198. Owned your dream car
199. Learned to love eating raw vegetables
200. Seen all 50 state

things are moving

2008-07-24T09:11:00.004-07:00

Lots has been going on over here - book wise. One big new thing is a book signing scheduled for 9.6.08. I've been working with the owner of Paper Vineyard on a 3 part series at her store. It consists of a signing, a class and a crop. I'm thrilled to have Lifted in her store!

This is the poster I made for for that event.

Next super big thing is I've decided to hire a sales rep. Peter and I talked about this in the beginning and decided against it, thinking I could handle it. But (and this will shock you) I can't! Even if I were a salesmen - which I'm not - I just don't have the time. So, I'm tickled to have Janna in my corner. She is having a huge event tonight putting manufacturers and store owners in the same room and I'll be there. Should be a ton of fun and great exposure. I'll try to get some pictures of this event, and Janna's cuteness, to post here. but no promises : )

So wish me luck. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous.

.

new stuff

2008-07-17T13:19:00.003-07:00

Just added another little fun thing to my blog. Okay maybe it's only fun for me but none the less, here it is. It's the "i heard" section and it's where I plan on posting the (positive) comments about the book. :) One perk about doing it all yourself is you don't have to post the bad stuff (although you are the only one who hears it all but aw well)

If you've read the book and want to comment just email me - or post here for that matter - and I'll post it in that section for all to see. And well for me to boost my ego, which we all know is so important to me!

I know I've got some great reviews in the comments section of some of the posts. thank you guys for that! They haven't gone unnoticed. I'll dig through those as well and move them to the new section. Cuz it's just fun to do that!

fireworks for old people

2008-07-14T15:54:00.001-07:00

This conversation took place on Saturday July 5th. I wish I could say it wasn't a typical exchange.

Me:
dude, it's 9:30 on the second night of a 3 day weekend and we are already in bed...................We are pathetic.

Peter:
We are old.

Me:
I'm not that old.

Peter:
Yes you are.

Remind me to kick his ass.

end of a great season

2008-07-12T17:32:00.003-07:00

The 9-10 year olds, 2008 Chandler American All star season has officially ended. The boys put on a good show against the undefeated Ahwatukee team. Final score 9-6. I am so proud to have been a part of this season. The kids were great as were the coaches. We look forward to next season.

Noah started at second base the first two games but was sluggish at the bat (with 5 strike outs - more than he all in the 17 regular season games) so came in as a sub in the later games. After lots of hard work, extra practices, and an all around go getter attitude he started at shortstop for the Semi final game. This is a huge accomplishment, one I hope he's able to look back at and be especially proud of. I know we are!!!

For those who have no idea where the shortstop is, Noah's the one at the right.

----------------------------------------

and a final look at the bobbles. They are officially retired and with their rightful owners.

alright alright

2008-07-11T21:07:00.005-07:00

here are some pics of what I've been up to with the allstar team. If I ever give anyone shit again for going overboard with their kid's event remind me of these little projects....I'll be sure to slap my own face.

Here are the infamous bobble heads. I'll try to get one up on the dug out at tomorrows SEMI FINAL game. :) They look really cool all lined up with head a'bobbin'. To give you an idea how big they are, the heads were printed out 8x12. The box they are in is one of those post office box things I get all the time when I have to pick up 2 months worth of mail. They stand at least 24" high. I love them more and more every time I look at them. Don't even ask how long they took to make or how much I spend. I've elected to not keep track.

I'll keep y'all posted with the outcome of the game. I know you'll be on pins and needles.

--------------------------------------------------

One thing about allstars is that everyone only knows like one or two players and parents. Pair that with daily meetings at practices and games and it starts to feel really funny really fast say, "yo hey you!" so I made these "picture rosters" for anyone who wants one. They are a 5x7 picture folded in half. On one side is each player's picture with their name and number. On the flip side are the coaches pictures and names, the schedule and the full roster in alphabetical order with the parent's names. It's a fancy ass cheat sheet is what it is. They've been a huge hit and now we all know eachother. And if we forget we just pull the our of our pocket. I also printed out an 8x0 for each family as a momento.

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and this is what the girls have been up to. Eating otter pops in the backyard happy as clams.

email conversation

2008-07-07T12:48:00.003-07:00

ME:
I covet manny’s phone. He has a program that speaks text messages to him. It’s the single coolest thing on the planet. Cooler than my bobble heads.

PETER:
IMPOSSIBLE!!!

ME:
And that, my dear husband, is why I love you.

PETER:
I am good, aren’t I……

ME:
And so modest.

PETER:
I know

it's bright, I know

2008-07-03T16:57:00.004-07:00

needed a change so I thought, hey, what better way to make friends and burn out their pupils but to change my blog to green, GREAT IDEA!

The pink will be back at some point, I'm sure, but I wanted to mess around with things cuz, well, it's like to bloggy thing to do. And we all know what a lemming I am.

If y'all haven't noticed, you can follow my OH SO ENTERTAINING tweets from right here. cool huh! Yes, I know, you couldn't wait for that change to happen. I do my best to please you people. (all 3 of you)

Next I'll do Angie's timeline tag deal cuz y'all know how I loooove mentioning completely random crap about myself. Really, who doesn't.

So off to dig deep into my brain to see if I remember anything from 20 years ago (or yesterday) that's legal to like post here.

this made me cry I laughed so hard

2008-06-25T09:58:00.003-07:00

Fifteen Ways to Maintain a [perceived?] Healthy Level of Insanity

1. At lunch time, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a hair dryer at passing cars.See if they slow down.

2. Page yourself over the intercom. Don't disguise your voice!

3. Every time someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that.

4. Put decaf in the office coffee maker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has gotten over their caffeine addictions, switch to espresso.

5. In the memo field of all your checks, write 'For Marijuana'.

6. Finish all your sentences with "...In Accordance With The Prophecy."

7. Skip down the hall rather than walk and see how many looks you get.

8. Order a diet water whenever you go out to eat. Keep a seriousface.

9. Specify that your drive-through order is 'To Go'.

10. Sing along at the Opera.

11. Put mosquito netting around your work area and play Tropical Sounds all day!

12. Five days in advance, tell your friends you can't attend their party because you have a headache.

13. When the money comes out of the ATM, scream excitedly, "I Won! I Won!"

14. When leaving the Zoo, start running towards the parking lot, yelling "Run For Your Lives! They're Loose!"

15. Tell your children over dinner, "Due to the economy, we are going to have to let one of you go."

I was busting a gut when Traci, the person who sent this to me, went skipping through the office. I fell off my chair.

I'm a lemming....

2008-06-23T16:14:00.003-07:00

and decided to twitter. Mainly becuase full blog with pictures scare me...and I have random thought race through my brain all the time. thought it might be funny to write them down.

IamMichelle Check me out. And if you twitter let me know and I'll following...being the lemming I am : )

lots going on

2008-06-11T20:50:00.006-07:00

Been super busy over here beyond the craziness of the book stuff. We're off to Cali tomorrow to get my Dad's stuff. I'm super excited about it - can't you tell? Me, the hubby and my bro are flying up (SIL is watching the kids - that's Junie-beeee!!!) thursday. We're packing up Friday and Saturday then the boys are hitting the road. I'm flying back Sunday. Pray that we find my Mom's jewelry. Dad stashed it somewhere and no one knows where. I'm fearful it's lost.

Okay enough of that sad crap. On to what we've been up to.

Peter rounded us all a couple weekends ago for a little overnight trip. We took the scenic route to Globe...took us 7 hours to get 70 miles out of town. We went past the 3 lakes, Canyon, Apache and Roosevelt, drove 22 miles on unpaved roads, and stayed the night in a little motel. It was pretty cool. I shot a ton of pictures, these are a few of my favorites. I'm finally starting to get a couple good shots of all 3 kids together. Love that.

Noah's Little League baseball season is over. We had a fantastic year. Had a sucky record (under 500) but they learned a TON and I think they all had a very good time. Noah has always been good but this year he came alive. He's just down right fun to watch. Well fun for those who actually like baseball, Like me and Peter. haha

We had great kids and super cool parents. We befriended another couple and have been hanging out with them outside of baseball. Always cool to have someone else to chill with.

Here are a couple shots Peter took of Noah pitching. He's a natural shortstop but holds his own on the mound too. Might be obvious (or maybe not) that these pictures are not of the same windup...but you get the picture.

We are waiting to hear if Noah made the All Star team. Won't lie, I really would love it if he did. But being so young (youngest of all the nominated players, I'm told) and having to cut the list in half (28 were nominated for 14 spots) I won't be surprised if they don't select him this year. That would be fine too. I'm really just missing baseball already. Like I said, it was a fun season.

Here's a couple more pics from the 10 mile an hour trip. Everyone likes a blooming cactus, right? Oh sure you do. And those kids. Of cute are them little shits!?!?!

Okay, I'll admit, you can barely see them but trust me. They are stinkin' KEY-YUTE!

i didn't barf

2008-06-04T11:15:00.002-07:00

Well here it is...the link to my tv Debut.

Me - not barfing.

I did a segment with Dan Davis at News Channel 3. My first time ever on tv, yah I know, hard to imagine huh I look so confident! (bwhaha!) It was fun. Scary and exciting. But fun. Glad I did it. Extra glad they asked.

I haven't eaten or slept since I got the news YESTERDAY about the segment. I'm pretty much ready for a meal and a nappy!

don't laugh at me too hard. It was pretty damn scary! :)

having a heart attack!!!

2008-06-03T22:13:00.002-07:00

If you happen to be up tomorrow (wednesday) at 8:45am and live in the valley check me out on News Channel 3 tomorrow!!! I am going to be interviewed by Tara Hitchcock about the book.

I am dying over here.

Dear Lord, Please help me not to barf on Live TV!
Amen.

BEST 6 MINUTES EVER

2008-05-27T10:01:00.005-07:00

BOY CAN DANCE

CHECK OUT THIS DUDE!

First 2 plus minutes are him dancing...rest is the judges...and its ALL good. It's 6 minutes you'll want to (and be able to) live again. :)

first of many

2008-05-26T16:27:00.006-07:00

I wasn't going to post this cuz well, it's kinda silly. Okay it's not silly to me (much) but to everyone else it's got to be down right mind numbing. None the less, here ya go. While everyone else is posting pics of their (high school) grads I thought I'd post our little graduate.

Sarah is a little grad herself...from being 4 in preschool. Not even kindergarten, preschool folks. Told ya it was silly : ) Still cool though. Her school gets really into it. Offical caps and gowns (that perfectly match the wall color. Wonder if they planned that. Can you even see her?? She doesn't have a floating her, for reals.)

_________________________________________________

There was a little glance into the day to day routine. Most was question and answer stuff like the recognizing letters, numbers and sybmols. They have a little song and dance-ish thing for the months of the year - this is what she's doing here.

_________________________________________________

The official handing of the diploma and gradulations from her teacher (who is FANTASIC I must say!)

_________________________________________________

Caught a cute moment while she was admiring her "diploma". Granted she's got no stinkin' clue what this all means but it's still damn cute!

I don't sound like it, I'm sure, but I really am quite proud of her. Off to Kinder next year. She's ready. Even if I'm not.

One Word

2008-05-21T20:01:00.004-07:00

i love this crap.

Answer the following with only one word.
1. Where is your cell phone? ....................purse
2. Your significant other?.......................funny
3. Your hair?....................................red
4. Your mother? .................................fair
5. Your father?..................................bold
6. Your favorite thing?..........................laughter
7. Your dream last night?........................scattered
8. Your favorite drink...........................diet
9. Your dream/goal?..............................evolving
10. The room you're in?..........................loud
11. Your children?...............................active
12. Your fear?...................................lonliness
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years...........here
14. Where were you last night?...................bed
15. What you're not?.............................thin
16. Muffins......................................blueberry
17. One of your wish list items?.................rockband
18. Where you grew up?...........................smallsville
19. What you read last...........................eclipse
20. What are you wearing?........................clothes
21. Your TV?.....................................paused
22. Your pets?...................................dead
23. Your computer? ..............................old
24. Your life?...................................busy
25. Your mood?...................................medicated
26. Missing someone?.............................always
27. Your car?....................................frumpy
28. Something you're not wearing?................bra
29. Favorite Store?..............................costco
30. Your summer?.................................undetermined
31. Like someone?................................many
32. Your favorite color?.........................all
33. Last time you laughed........................dinner
34. Last time you cried?.........................movie

Thanks Leslie This was fun. Some were easy. Most - not so much.

look what they did!

2008-05-19T18:24:00.003-07:00

wow...bummer. It's not nearly as impressive as it was in real life. Maybe the long ass list of sayings will give some indication on how my ROCKING friends pulled off another kick ass birthday yard attack!

It's such a cool tradition. One I don't think I'll ever get tired of (maybe cuz I just follow the leader (coughcoughbethandmaddycoughcough) and never really have to do the hard part...like organized it, or go to the store, or actually remember what day anyone's birthday lands on. None of that technical (super important) stuff like that.) I just participate in the actual attack. It's maximum pleasure with minimum mental energy spent. My kind of good time.

This year's theme was brought to you (well me) by the letter "m". Can't imagine why.

Maybe this has something to do with it. *smirk*

Here are (most) of the quotes, in random order. Some even I can't put out there for you people to read. I mean, I do have my limits ya know (BWHAHAHA okay THAT is funny!) I'll have you know, I know which ones are Maddy's and I have to tell you - SHE SWORE!! I'm so proud. It's not the F bomb, and she won't be going to hell (like me) but it's a start. Baby steps grasshopper baby steps.

1. you're worth every hour I spent cutting and taping these damn M's.
2. Beer me!
3. T-R-O-I-S; right?
4. I was thinking about "lifting" your birthday present but decided decorating your lawn more fun than jail.
5. At least you don't live in Kentucky.
6. Did you notice I changed my blog...and you cant' tell I like pink!
7. I don't think we've ever gotten to do this in the middle of the day before! It's kinda fun :)
8. My son is a baseball allstart...to me!
10. So, are you pregnant? hahaha slap me now.
11. Are you calling me FAT?
12. Would you say that you might be *slightly* obsessive?
13. I'll kick your butt on the Wii trampoline!
14. We all got "lifted" Can ya work on "tucked" next?
15. bow chicka bow wow
16. You're friends RAWK!
17. Smile like a donut!
18. Some of my best friends are hookers.
19. I'm a vanilla girl
20. Oh my hell
21. Do you feel the love!
22. Put santa away. Seriously.
23. Commas. Use'em and abuse'em.
24. My kids are cuter than yours.
25. crakalicious
26. kiss my a$$
27. Thank heavens for a Cricut.
28. Little girls are fun to hug, fress in pink, and do their hair.
29. Just between you and me...
30. I got this GREAT idea and 2 years later a book appeared!
31. It's up your ass...can ya feel it?
32. Christmas is over, freak!
33. I get you. I really, really get you!
34. Lift this!
35. Let's go to Outback tonight!
36. nice use of assage.
37. I love color, lots of color.
38. Welcome to my prison...er, living room.
39. Do I know you? Have you met my book?
40. You rock!
41. Love me...love my blog!!
42. My husband refuses to read my blog. Bastard.
43. Say hello to my little friend.
44. I have the best friends!
45. R they up your ass?
46. Bite me!
47. Lift this, Biotch
48. HOLA!!!
49. Peter likes pop rocks
50. Love you!
51. What makes your books so "lifted"
52. I'll sell you this M for 50 cents.
53. Michelle * making crack * marvelous * merry * majorily awesome * magical * may birthday * making crack
54. Can you watch my dog?
55. Not straight. Now stop calling me an overachieving perfectionist, dammit!
56. Do your spirits need to be "lifted"?
57. Thank you, Captain Obvious!
58. Would you say you have "scads" of books?
59. I just "lifted" 2 1/2 tons.
60. Merry Christmas! Greatest holiday EVER!
61. It's called SNOPES! Use it.
62. I'm at work but I can redesign your blog.
63. What? Sorry, I was lookin' at my blog.
64. Head Hooker :) (and I do mean head)
65. Yes I'll watch your kids.
66. I *heart* Edward
67. Will all the "lifted" jokes ever get old?
68. Just keep the drinks coming
69. The paint chips were easier
70. Happy Birthday!
71. Make the call, Really :)
72. You suck! No wait, you blow
73. Today's birthday has been brought to you by the letter... M
74. Little Miss "I'm not going to be able to do anything, no wait, I am and it will be amazing and I'm going to upstage all the rest of you!"
75. {M} whatever that means
76. The "m"'s are actually my subliminal way of trying to brainwash you to be Mormon.
77. This M is a forward. Pass it along to 10 friends now --- or you will die.
78. If I were you, I would have done them last minute :)
79. OKay -- Some of these are "lame" but you have to admit, some of them are Hee-larious
80. Have I said happy birthday yet?
81. I hope you know who did all the work -- beth :)
82. I need to talk to my cleaning lady...will you translate?
83. So totally hypothetical situation...I have a "friend" with a bubble on her taint...
84. Hey - whatever happened with the book?
85. M is for...MWAY
86. You drive!
87. It's my birthday and all I got were these stupid M's.
88. "I swear" but only on your birthday M'sm
89. The devine Miss M.

PHEW!!!

Y'all are crazy! And I love you!!! Thanks for making me feel so special!

did I ever post this pic?

2008-05-14T22:00:00.005-07:00

yes, it's official, I am the single laziest person on the planet. So lazy in fact that I'd rather ask if I've posted this picture rather than look it up myself. silly.

This pic was taken a while ago. Right before Easter I think. So it's not like I'm up to the second up to date with the photos. But, remember, I had a full CF card, so there's a lot of pictures to get up here. And, sadly for y'all, I'm going to space them out a bit rather than blow my wad with one massive post (oh yes I said that) and then never post again. Anyway, this is about as creative as I've been with photography lately. Pathetic huh? Even still, I like it. Sarah is such a happy girl and looking at her just makes me smile. Like even when I'm totally fed up with her not listeningness, I always smile when I see her on film (or pixels as the case may be)

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I like this one too. This is as good as I can 'did' her hair. Yep, two bobby pins in an X folks, those are my mad skillz. Jennifer AnistonISH bouncy 90's hair done up making my 4 year old look 22. Pretty sure that's going to bite me in the ass some day.

Let's get some pictures up in here

2008-05-13T20:00:00.007-07:00

I finally spent some time moving pictures around. Not really by choice, I pretty much HAD to do it. The need presented itself when I was, quite literally, deleting duds while the CF card was in my camera IN THE PEW AT CHURCH just before Noah's confirmation so I could get a shot of his big moment. How's that for preparation?

Anyway, however I got there, I got there. I've some pictures for your viewing pleasure (hahaha I love that expression)

Here's what you are looking at. Last week Noah made his confirmation and first Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. We were allowed to take pictures (yah, like try n'stop us) as long as we didn't leave our seats. We were right in front so I was able to get a few decent shots while abiding to that rule. I'm a such a good doobie.

Noah with Dylan, his confirmation sponsor. Two great human beings right there.

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The actual "confirmation" process which is pretty much laying of the hands and anointing with oils and some prayers. Not to make light of this sacrament, but after so much work and dedication part of me thinks we should all hollar out the candidate's name and say something rocking like, "Yo my christian peeps, this is the kick ass catholic little man, noah, give him a shout out, y'all" Not sure why I think this. It's not like I talk like that (will cept the kick ass and y'all parts) and I'm right there with being reverent in Church, but man, a little raise the roof might be cool. no?

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Taking the host which was 'dry and crispy'. Yep, pretty much dude. Eat it a couple hundred more time and you'll start to get it. maybe.

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And the cup. My personal favorite. Jury is out on what Noah thinks.

There you have it. Noah has the card to prove he's well on his way to being completely brainwashed, just like we like it.

conversation with Peter while I am admiring my new blog look

2008-05-12T11:40:00.002-07:00

Me: My blog rocks.
Him: Yes, dear.
Me: You've never even read my blog have you?
Him: I live your blog, why would I need to read it.
Me: Bastard.
Him: Well, am I wrong?
Me: Oh, you might be surprised.
Him: uh huh.
Me: Screw you.
.
.
.
Me: I am blogging this.
Him: You are proving my point.

bastard.

a new look

2008-05-10T08:40:00.001-07:00

I was super bored at work yesterday and since I can't update y'all with the official launch of the perfectly working website I thought I would give the blog a new little look. You know, while I was working. I'm such a wonderful employee.

Blogger has done a very nice job with new customization of their blog templates, so I messed around a bit. I might just make a new blog look my thing, rather than actually writing stuff and posting pictures. Oh I can feel your excitement about that idea. ha!!

bunches has gone on in the personal life department. When I stop being lazy (and overwhelmed) with all the pictures I have to sort I'll post some.

That's I all I have for now. Off to watch Noah play baseball :)

as much as I love his face, it's time for something

2008-04-08T22:33:00.000-07:00

ANYTHING, new.

I don't have much to say. k, that's a load of crap. I've got TONS to say, but can't really cuz "the" site isn't up and working right yet. But as soon as it is you better believe I'll be all up in your face!

If y'all are wondering what I've been up to, and I know you have(n't) it's been all about the book. I GOT IT!!!!! A week ago yesterday a semi with FIVE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY POUNDS - that's 2 1/2 TONS people - of lifted arrived at my door. crrrrazy!!! Been working on getting all the crap (and crap it is) figured out so I can PROPERLY handle this business.

My husband, the accountant, has laid down the law. NO MORE paying for stupid shit from the business account. Track all expenses. Keep receipts Keep receipts keep receipts (sense a pattern?) Don't do this. Can't do that. People go to jail over that. Our house in on the line. imPOtant shit - I tell ya.

So I've been a good little doobie and had even helped customize the P&L statement (don't even ask - no clue - I'm just regurgitating here) It's been kinda fun - I won't lie. I've developed invoices, and wholeaccount thingiamagigers, and something else that must have been important but has left my brain. All in all it's been very businessy over here. And you all know just how businessy I am. BAH!

So batten down the hatches. the book is here. it's like freaking real people. and I'm the hooker that's gotta sell'em!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOAH BEAR

2008-03-25T13:24:00.001-07:00

Today Noah is 9. I can hardly believe it. I know everyone says their children are miracles, and we all are right, but this (not so) little boy has truly changed my life. He's made me a better person. He's made me more thankful. He saved me from myself. All by just being.

So this post is just for you, Bear. Thanks babe, for being you. I hope you have a terrific day!!! To copy what my super smart and clever friends do, ere are NINE things that I adore about you - in on particular order.

1. You are super compassionate. Even as a little baby you cared when others were hurt or sad and would do your best to comfort them. You've already seen Mommy in some pretty sad places and you've always known exactly how and to comfort me. I truly believe this is your most valuable asset.

2. You have the best manners ever. Everyone compliments you about how gracious you are. I sometimes even get the credit for it. While I wish I could take that credit, I have to say that's just how you are. You actually care to be polite. I've helped, but you pretty much came out that way.

3. You try your best at everything you do. Even those things that don't come easily for you, you try. We've talked about this, I don't expect perfection from you. I just expect that you try, and you (pretty much always) do.

4. You love your sisters and include them in your life. No, wait, You LIKE your sisters. That's almost more important. You are prone to love them because you are related, it takes a decision on your part to like them and want to spend time with them. Next to Daddy, you will be the most important boy in their life. Some might worry about this, but I'm confident you won't have a problem living up to that role.

5. You prefer vanilla ice cream over any other flavor, just like me. Add caramel and we're in heaven. I can't wait until our next one-on-one Dairy Queen Trip.

6. You can throw a hard, straight, perfectly aimed ball from short stop to first base for the out! Who am I kidding? You can do pretty much anything on the baseball field!

7. You a major goodball, and proud of it! I love it when you and I goof off in the car, laughing our heads off!

8. You let me take pictures of you whenever I want. You sit for me while I test out photoshoot settings and only complain a little bit about it (and you don't charge me!)

9. You love everyone, and allow them to love you. You are always the kid everyone likes and wants to hang with but yet, you would never brag about that. If would never know by talking with you that you had a ton of friends. You have a way of making the person you are with feel like they are the most important person in the room. Funny thing is, you have no idea that you do that. Which makes it all the better.

WE LOVE YOU TO PIECES!!!

Say hello to my little friend

2008-03-23T00:04:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this oh so cute little guy doesn't live with me, but he should! Found him somewhere on etsy and saved his photo for this very post.

HAPPY EASTER MY PEEPS!

more equalnicity

2008-03-10T18:03:00.000-07:00

here's Noah...man how much I love him. This look...it's the look of him. This is the real him when he's not running around, flopping, throwing, screaming, tackleing, jumping, or rolling. Pure Noah. How one child can be so damn energetic and so compassionate is beyond me. Not that this picture displays either trait, but trust me, he's both.

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And here's the energy honed in on one thing. This pic is about a month old. I need to get a new one with this movement corrected. This was his "easy going doing it for the sportmanship" NYS league. Pretty laid back for a boy who's play 3 year previous but still great practice for the more intense kid-pitch league.

Noah's now is 'real' little league. Like Little League. We are very fortunate to have an amazing set of coaches who really know the game and how to teach it. our boy is so very coachable and is taking it all in like the sponge that he is. I'll have to have a series on this new and improved wind up. It's pretty damn cool.

And with that I feel all is equal in expressing-my-love-for-my-children-in-pictures blogging. I wonder who I'll favor next :)

super random crap

2008-03-06T15:52:00.000-07:00

So Noah's sitting on the floor at the coffee table diligently doing his spelling homework. I'm sitting right here at the computer dilignetly doing, well, not a damn thing, when I hear "BURP...oh...didn't see that one coming...excuse me" Didn't skip a beat. Didn't look up. Just went on writing out his words. Freaking cracked me up.

Of course, now that's he done it 5 times since it's not so cute. Gotta love almost-9-year-old-boy humor.

Here are some things I found on Etsy (while diligently doing nothing) that made me laugh.

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Found this in the "house warming gift section" Now I ask does this really say "hi, I'm your new neigher, nice to meet you" or does it say something like “thanks for moving in, dickhead”

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This was in the "wedding gift section"...yeah. thanks a lot...a gift card from target too good for ya? Does this really say congratulations to the bride and groom? Or “I’ll love you until I suck every last little drop of life out of you, leaving you a mere shell of your former self, dried up and hanging till someone flushes you down the toilet.”

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And this...really? why??? Are people really have problems with their produce catching a chill???

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And finally...anyone ever watch Southpark? okay if you haven't then nevermind. But if you did, doesn't think look like spanky and his gay lover on a stick???? Man, ruined popsickles for me forever.

And that's my random crap for the day!

tagged

2008-03-03T17:58:00.000-07:00

Kaelene tagged me. So here are seven things you may not know about me.

1. I love being tagged. Prolly cuz I get to talk about myself :)

2. I played the trumpet in high school. Was pretty good, too. I was all about music while in school. No, don't ask me to play now, couldn't do it, forgot everything.

3. I am crazy about boxes. Any shape or size or purpose (or lack thereof). I love them all. I tend not to by them, though. Ever. Really just out of fear that once I buy one I'll buy thousands and my house will be taken over by useless boxes, all too small to live in after spending all my money and they forclose on my house.

4. One of the things I love best about Peter is that he thinks I'm funny! Not only does he GET my jokes, but he laughs his ass off at them.

5. There was a (rather huge) part of me that never really thought I would finish the book. Always lingering in my mind - every second I worked on it - was that question on why I was pushing so hard. Why bother? cuz I wasn't going to actually get it done. I always wanted to, just didn't think I would really be able to. I've, quite honestly, never been more proud of myself for having done it.

6. While I playing pitcher and catcher for the high school fast pitch softball team (not at the same time) I am not terrified of catching, err missing, balls. I freaked out just the other day when trying to play catch with Noah. This is one I need to work on.

7. I can't stand taking showers. Love being clean. Just don't much like the process of getting there.

well that's it. suppose I need to tag 7 other people but Kaelene took them all LOL So I'll just tag the same ones she did :)

equal time

2008-02-25T22:07:00.001-07:00

She makes me just has happy :) Here are just 3 of her many faces. Our children are nothing if not animated.

"Yeah, I'm cute and I know it. Go ahead, try not to smile."

"oh wait, what's going on up there. Daddy telling me how cute I am?"

"yeah, I'm pretty much done with this now, Mom"

The boy is coming soon. Got the pics all picked out and everything :) But wouldn't want to use up all my bloggin ideas now would I? OH! and I scrapbooked the other day! There's another post. Go me! :)

just cuz

2008-02-19T22:38:00.001-07:00

she makes me happy...

NOT about the book

2008-02-17T22:10:00.000-07:00

Howdy! Hope y'all have had a good weekend. It's sunday night and I'm winding down, getting ready for bed, and trying to prepare myself for another work week. I'm pretty much killing time right now while peter finishes folding laundry and puts it all away, uncovering the bed. If I go in there now I'll have to help - so here I blog.

Had a great weekend and figured I'd come talk about it. I managed to get a lot done even while coping with the rebounding depression/anxiety that was probably more than obvious a couple posts ago. Peter and I hung out a lot, too, which is always fun. During a conversation about 'connecting' we (well probably me) decided we should read together again. Like with Harry Potter. My friend, Angie Angie, told me about a new book series out about a vampires. I think she even posted about it. Anyway, we hit Barnes and Noble for material for our newly founded book club.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer was our first selection. And a damn good one it was. I started right away and, well, finished today. I pretty much couldn't put it down. Peter hasn't even started yet. So much for buying 2 books so we could read at the same time! haha This is a great story and I'm anxious to read the next book, New Moon. I do feel like I've joined the rest of the free world with my love for a hansome young/not-so-young vampire named Edward.

When I wasn't reading, or at Costco, or playing with the kiddos, I was editing. But I promised this wouldn't be about that :)

Earily, I was feeling semi-cerebral, reading an entire book and all (we won't dwell on the fact that it's found in the youth section!) My brainiac mood was quickly dampened with our (well Peter's) Sunday night TV show selection - The new Night Rider. Kill me. Two freaking hours!!! Are you kidding me? But in an effort to continue our "togetherness" I hung out with him while it was on. I am terribly embarrassed to say I liked it. hahaha i feel dumber even admiting that. But it's true. I was entertaining. And heck, what's not entertaining about watching a tucked and taped, spray painted and hair plugged Hoff! That's good TV right there, yo.

it's coming

2008-02-15T22:31:00.000-07:00

it really is. promise.

What you see here is the final proof from the printer. Normally this is the very last step. But, being a little teeny (stupid ass) baby in this process I had mucho corrections from this proof - so we're doing it again. After this it's a digital proof and then TO PRINT!!!

I realize this is getting boring, talking of nothing else but this damn book. When you get bored with it, imagine you are Peter. That should take the sting away for at bit, at least.

I've loved many things in my life, but dang, how this tops the list. My husband is truly the love of my life. no doubt. My kids fill my heart to an unmeasurable amount of joy. Wouldn't trade them for anything. But this book. ahhh..this book. I've never loved an inanimate object as much as this book. I love it more and more with every glance. It makes my heart (literally) skip a beat when I think of it.

I pray y'all like it.....

it's been awhile

2008-02-12T22:13:00.000-07:00

Lots going on over here. Figured I'd give a little recap lest y'all think I only think about the book.

---the day---
Today is my 'emotional' day. That's what I call it. You know. The day that makes us want to kill our husbands. The day that makes are husbands wish we'd actually do it. The day that seems gloomy even when it's 70 degrees with a bright blue sky and a mild breeze from the east. The day when even hummingbirds piss you off.

that's today. And it seems like it will always be like this. Forever and ever I'll hate the smell of dryer sheets and heated up leftovers. Forever and ever I'll hate the phone, and email and even the net.

Every stinking month I have a day like this - NEVER THE SAME DAY - mind you. Can't be like 3 days before bitchy aunt flo comes. or 2 weeks after. NOOOOOOOO..it's complete random. You'd think I'd learn and not freak out every damn time. Nope. It's random enough that when my chest feels as though it's been sucked of all blood and oxygen that it still takes much too much time to figure out that it's because of soon to arrive company and NOT because I've lost it. PHEW!

Then tomorrow I'll wake up and everything will be fine. I'll apologize to Peter and the kids for being grumpy and we'll all go about our day...until the next day ;)

---the girl---
On to fun things. I've decided to teach Sarah how to bead. We all went to Michael's (even Peter!) and picked up her own tools and beads n'stuff. Haven't started yet but I'm totally excited. I've finall admitted (well with the help of my new friend Mr. Shrink!) that I've done a fair amount of neglecting when it comes to my middle baby doll.

Sarah was a little peanut while I was pregnant with Kate...and didn't get much of me. Then while I lost my mind NO ONE got much of me. Then she turned 3 and that age scares the crap out of me so I kept my distance. And now she's half way through 4 and I need to snap out of it. She's an amazing, funny, goofy child who constantly makes me smile. So it's my turn to make her smile some. I'll do my best to post pictures of her work :)

---kinder---
Speaking of Sarah, she's taking her 'assessment' for Kindergarten in a couple weeks. I'm pretty sure she isn't ready for kinder. You have to be a full 5 year old DEVELOPMENTALLY to be able to attend and, with being a late summer baby and all, I just don't think she's quite there. But we'll see. Won't break our hearts if she needs to wait. "The gift of Time" they call it. A concept I embrace.

---Lifted---
Got the proof back from the printer. I LOVE IT. I damn near put chocolate sauce on it and ate the damn thing. IT'S THAT YUMMY!!! We did have a crazy snaphooey (sp???) which meant a LOT of changes. The printer will get back with me tomorrow on if he'll make them or if I need to. Either way is fine but it will stall things about a week. My web guy FINALLY called me back and that's getting finished. Met with the bank for merchant services and got that hammered out. Need to meet with Fed EX, UPS and USPS this week to get rates. Need to finalize negotionations with fullfillment. AND THEN I NEED TO MARKET THIS THING :))) It'll get there. Be patient with me. It should be worth it!

---chores---
I'll leave you with this gem. Something y'all probably know, but in case you don't I'll do you this little service. Doing the dishes after 3 days is not only completely nasty but REALLY FREAKING HARD!!!

That's all for now!

3.7

2008-01-31T07:41:00.000-07:00

3.7? Doesn't look like a big number does it? But for me, today, it's a ginormous number. That's 3.7 GIG BAY-BEEEE. That's the size of the book, which I must add, WAS JUST UPLOADED TO THE PRINTER!!! Okay just might be a stretch as it actually took over 5 hours. But it's there. Ready to go. I will have the official, no more changes, this is it, GIT R DONE, proof on the 8th. Let's assume a couple days lost with final final final edit and 4 weeks for printing, a week shipping, where does that leave me? I think that puts me at having the book IN MY HANDS READY TO ***SELL*** Mid-March.

I could pee my pants!!!! I could die. I could have a heart attack. I AM hyperventilating and I think I did just pee a little.

Here's some picks. You've seen the front before but who cares. Yer seeing it again dang it. And it won't be the last time I'm sure!!! OOOHHH!! And the site will be working soon and taking pre-orders <---did I just say that!? hahaha

holy crap - this is really happening!! :)

totally, completely random thoughts

2008-01-28T22:04:00.000-07:00

Yo Yo Yo. Been forever (again) yeah. sorry bout that. I'd say it won't happen again but we all know I'd be lying my tail off huh?

Don't really have much to blog about. At least not much that's fun and exciting. Been busy (like everyone else) and just trying to keep my head above water. BUT I have had a couple random thoughts I thought I'd share:

* I love snopes.com. Super easy site to verify all that sillyness (and sometimes not so silly) email we tend to get. Verified an amber alert was false yesterday. This was cool for two reasons. One - and most important - the girl in the report wasn't actually missing. and Two - I didn't forward a fake email to my friends and cause them to be sad about the thought of this missing girl. And you know you would have been freaked! :) Silly but I always been kinda cool and super efficient when I check something out on there. Kinda how I used to feel when I'd find something (or purpose) in the old school card catalog in the library. Yes, I'm wacked.

* The Cold Stone by my house is closed. SADNESS! I won't say this will help the size of my ass as I'm sure I'll find another place to shove frozen goodness in my face, but still, nothing is like sweet cream and raspberries.

* well Mint Oreos gives cold stone a run for its money. Those pretty much kick sweet butt!!! Nearly made myself sick yesterday LOL

* Ever do something so often that you forget why you even started doing it? Of course you do. The one I just realized I do is my search for a murphy bed. I go on craigslist all the time searching for one. Have for years. (who knew one would be so hard to fine?!) I just went again I realized I don't need to anymore. I wanted one so I could have a queen size bed for when my dad stays here but still have room my the girl's little beds when he's not here. ugh. so much for that need.

* My book is back in the works. For reals this time. I hope to be able to overnight the CD to the printer this week. SCARY!!! I figure I have to get it done. The look on my dad's dying face when I told him the book was dedicated to him and mom was/is my motivation to get the damn thing finished. I can't remember the last time I saw his face light up like that. So that's great motivation. Well that and the printer calling, and my investor writing a check!! haha More on that soon!!!

eee gads, thought I had more to say. Guess not. Sorry this is kinda a downer post. Such is my life right now. As my dad always said, "this too shall pass"

DUDE!

2008-01-01T00:40:00.000-07:00

happy 2008!!!

Hanging with hubby on the dawn of the new year. Pretty cool. Here's to a couple things I've been thinking about for the new year. NOT resolutions, per say, but, well, thoughts. Not committing to actually doing all of them. But - at least - THINKING about them. (I say that knowing full well that I would just LOVE being to do everything all the time - I just know me - right? so nuff said!)

---Praying for Dick Clark. Dude, seriously, how did I miss his stroke? Saw him tonight for, I guess, the first time in forever and wow...not good. I don't mean any disrespect but it bums me out seeing him so not the ageless Dick Clark I grew up with.

---holding my own on Wii tennis. I've got High jump, skeet, bowling and archery down. Tennis has been tricking me up and peter like rocks at it (go figure - dude's never even held a racket!)

---Not becoming addicted to Red Bull and Vodka. that's some good shit there yo.

---FINISHING. THIS. DAMN. BOOK. seriously. are we ready to start shooting people over this thing. I have until the end of January to get it to the printer. If I don't...well someone's going down. That's all I gots to say.

---texting my high school friend Marnie who is so kick ass it's frightening. She doesn't even know I have this blog so I'm not kissing her ass. I've just missed her for like 20 freaking years and it's great being reconnected with her. I wish everyone could know her.

---scrapbooking for myself. for. my. damn. self. Not for the book, or project, or class. shit - not even for my kids. but for ME. and well then maybe for my kids. Cuz dems like killer cute!!!!

---getting back to life without my dad. being able to open my heart enough to truly feel his wisdom and strength. That goes for my mom too.

---on the same dad note - praying for his new wife, Melanie, who's having a very hard time with his passing. bless her heart. To getting to know her better and finding strength in each other.

---kid pitch baseball practices and games which start next week.

---getting the tree down.

---getting back to work after 11 days off. This is BY FAR going to be the hardest of all these things.

---letting my friends know how much I appreciate them.

---not slipping into the 'comfort' zone with my brother where we forget (or neglect) to tell each other every time we talk that we love one another. To remember we both need (want) to hear it and can't wait for some to die to say it.

---getting my disgusting carpets cleaned. dude, seriously, white carpets are WHACK.

k. bout it. Peter's out of the shower and I do believe I'll go play "would you rather" with him.

love you people. seriously. I say it, but not enough. Happy new Year!!!!!!! My life it SO MUCH better because of you.

I keep meaning to post...

2007-12-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

I really mean to come here and post crap. But once I sit down and actually open the page to start bloggin I realize that everything I have to say really is crap. haha And no one wants that right?

Or if you do, read on. And if you don't - well then screw you too!! HAHAHA NAHH.... joking - MERRY CHRISTMAS a day late.

------ This week has been pretty fun, so far. My boss closes the office between Christmas and New Year's so I've got 11 days off. I have the best boss EV-VER!

------ Started off the holidays with a bowling trip with the office. Nothing like whoopin it up with my fun co-workers and starting a bar tab at 2 in the afternoon! hahhaaa Partied it up like a RockStar! Which reminds, I have the best husband EV-VERRRR too!!! I'm pretty damn lucky.

------ Peter and I finished our shopping early, for us anyways. Early is like on the 20th (I can almost see Maddy twitching). So we had a couple days of NOT running around like freaks - which pretty much rocked. To top it off we even wrapped them early. And yeah, you guessed it, for us early is any day that ISN'T Christmas Eve. We wrapped them all on the 23rd. It was pretty much kick ass that we - err *I* - didn't have to stay up till 1:30am wrapping presents. I almost didn't know what to do with my self the night before Christmas.

------ Christmas rocks. It always does but this year I was scared. First one without Dad. I survived. We all did. I made Christmas dinner - an all time first in this house. I made one of our family favorites - Heart Attack Chicken (well it's real name is Chicken Surpreme but if you knew how it was made you'd understand why we changed it) Anyway, made it in honor of my Mom and Dad. I rocked it and no one had an actual heart attack (yet)

------ On to presents. This year we went with a family games theme. No, we don't usually do themed gift giving but this year Peter and I both felt we needed to really embrace (and force if need be) family time. With me half off my rocker cuz Dad the family unit has suffered - so time to put it back together. We got a Wii for the family room. This is the best gaming system ON THE FREAKING PLANET!!! Sarah - the 4 yo - and I can play the same game and neither wants to kill the other. How's that for perfect family time?

------ Peter knocked it out of the park as usual. I have a gold charm bracelet we started when we got serious. We've been buying charms but haven't had them put on. This year he had it all assembled and got a gaggle of new ones. As I was checking it out, finding the newbies (which included a cross, killer jointed turtle - my all time favorite animal, and a baby head for Kate) I found the center to be a computer. I thought it was to symbolize my work as a designer until Peter told me to turn it over. The back reads "BILL 1942-2007" Yeah, LOST IT. He was an Engineer and Computer Programmer. Fitting that it's the center charm. See why I said I have the best hubby ever?! BOO-YAHH!!! Now I can't wait to get one for my mom...thinking knitting needles or something.... :)

------ I rocked the house with my big gift for Peter. Managed to get FLOOR TICKETS to Blue Man Group. They are in Phx mid January for one show. He was pumped - and completely surprised. Yeah, I kick ass! hahaha

Well that's about it...pretty sure I'm only talking to myself at this point LOL. Oh wait - have I told you lately that I love you people!?!?! well I do. LOVE!

m

back to life

2007-12-17T16:09:00.000-07:00

I must join the land of the living.

Been a while since I posted. I know none of you are surprised. Been a hard couple weeks, but even so, been an exciting couple weeks.

thanks to all who were so supportive after the loss of my father. Thanks to Maddy, Shanna and beth (and Kaelene even though I cancelled) for bringing delicious dinner for the family. YUMMY! It was nice to not have to worry about that.

Had a great time up at Lisa's, But y'all already know about all that LOL

We have Noah's Christmas pagent tomorrow. Sarah and Kate's was last friday. Here are some pictures of that.

Sarah was Mary in the first Act.

Then both were snowmen. No pic of Sarah - not sure how that happened. They did the cutest little Christmas version of I'm a little teapot but changed it to "I'm a little snowman, short and fat. Here are my buttons, here is my hat." something something something...sarah's not here or I'd would ask her.

Then Sarah was a raindeer. The did the "hokey Pokey raindeer dance" Too cute!
I'm going back into the office truesdays, thursday and fridays. That started last week and it went pretty well.

At some point they all came out and sang some song and make a boat load of noise. It was a riot! Even if I didn't understand a single word :)

Not much else that's I guess I'll leave you with this goofy picture of Sarah.

not as seen on TV

2007-12-02T02:17:00.000-07:00

I've learned that death, like childbirth, is NOT as shown on TV.

No point in explaining in detail the differences, just know that just as you do no push out your first baby out in 2 pushes, you do not say goodbye to your loved ones then watch as they close their eyes and die.

The human body is an amazing thing and it takes much to break it down. Long after the spirit has left does the body give up the fight.

Okay, so obviously, my Dad's battle is over. He passed tonight (saturday) at 6:08 pm. After 3 intense days at Hospice and 2 before in the hospital, his body and mind surrendered to the cancer which infultrated his body.

I am almost energentic from the relief. Clearly, it has not hit me yet. I trust it will and reserve the right to completley crack. In the meantime, here's a writing that I read our first night at Hospice. I made sense then and comforts my heart now.

an excerpt from Gone from My Sight: The Dying Experience
by Barbara Karnes

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side
spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and
starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty
and strength. I stand and watch her until at length
she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where
the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"

"Gone where?"

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in
mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and
she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her
destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the
moment when someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout: "Here she comes!"

And that is dying.

I will miss my Daddy for the rest of my life. There will be many things about him that bring me peace, I'm sure, but for now I'm content with the knowledge that he's finally reunited with my Mom and that they are dancing together forever with all the knowledge of the universe.

bye bye daddy. I love you. Thank you - you taught me well. I will see you again, although hopefully not for a long long time.

super quick update

2007-11-29T11:04:00.001-07:00

Dad turn a turn for the worse with his pain and we all decided it was time for hospice. He's been moved to an in-patient facility (that is beautiful btw) the's between my brother and I. His wife flew and as did his brother and sister in law.

It won't be long.

We included him in all the decision making and he's fine with it. Surprisingly fine with it. He knows that he's going to die and he's "cool with that"...yes, that's a quote. I feel deep sadness but at the same time incredible relieve that he's accepted this. We are all finding comfort in eachother as we walk these final steps with him.

I did, however, make sure he knew that I expected him to do some friendly haunting of the kids. I reminded him that both Mom and Peter's mom teamed up and looked in on the kids after they passed, so they'd know how to do it. :)

Thank you for your continued love, support and prayers. I promise you, they are being felt!!!

I have no doubt that I will be fine through this. Wanna know why?? Cuz I have the FREAKING. BEST. FAMILY. AND. FRIENDS. A. GIRL. CAN. HAVE!!!

I love you people!

that time again

2007-11-26T22:37:00.000-07:00

to just pray.

or think.

or contemplate.

or meditated.

or send good thoughts.

or speak in tongues like some people say they can.

If you do any of those things, or something else that's like legal n'shit, please do. Cuz the daddy-o isn't good.

Spent the day in the ER with him. He's been here all week and was supposed to leave today. During an initially unrelated conversation with his Oncologist (that's a cancer doctor - and the convo wasn't supposed to be about his travel plans) I was advised to take him to the ER to have him cleared for travel. They ran a boat load of tests and determined that.........wait for it.......it's really freaking sick.

um. hello. we knew this.

So once we convinced the (very well meaning) docs that, no, we were NOT going into surgery for the piss-ant gall stones and that, no, we did NOT expect them to 'fix' him, I think everyone is on the same page. Which is - Get this man well enough to take a stinkin' 2 hour flight without freaking out and trying to open the door to get home while at 30,000 feet. I joke, but only kinda. Bless his heart, he's so confused that this is a possible scenario.

so they admitted him.

They are:
* Pumping him with IV fluids (his really REALLY dehydrated. like the kind of dry that after 5 words your mouth glues shut and your sound well...like your mouth is glued shut. Which, btw, isn't a combination of sounds anyone should have to hear. like ever.)
* Gave him a massive Vitamin K shot (um, what does that do? and what the hell food is Vit K in that I'm not eating but should be? Pretty sure that's not in Beth's brownies or Cold Stone)
* Giving him 2 units of Plasma (cuz he's low on oil I guess. Who knows why...But if you ask him it's because they had to stick him 3 times - well 5 times really till they got it right - and you end up with less blood when they keep drawing it - DUH!)
* and prolly something else that I can't remember cuz I'm freaking dog ass tired. I'll remember the minute I 'publish post'

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanyway. Pray for us. For my brother, Michael, especially please. He's (admittedly) about to crack. He had dad this week so had to deal with all the crap 24/7 (oh hell I used that phrase. I hate that phrase. Might as well say ASAP, or "andwhatnot" now) I'm doing a tad better but only cuz, well I dunno why. Maybe it's cuz I already spent a week in the fetal position about this. Or maybe cause I'm completely numb and only *think* I'm doing better. Maybe my brother is bloggin right now talking about how close to the edge I am.

okay, we're both ready to crack. So pray for us. And crack a joke if you see us. We could use a laugh.

Love you people. I really really do!!!

late, as usual.

2007-11-24T19:33:00.000-07:00

Was threatened to post...I guess y'all were sick of my phone :) I can't blame ya, phone envy is a bitch.

Anyway, here are 3 of the many, many things I'm thankful for.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, YO!

just a couple things

2007-11-05T16:33:00.000-07:00

So here's a couple little things that when added up, well, still add up to pretty much nothing. But what the heck. I'll share.

This is my new phone.

I cried for two days trying to get all the electronic goodness to work the way my old phone worked. But I finally got it and it's got to be one of the coolest things, like, ever.

I made a new phone dangle accessory thing for it last night. No picture of that. I realize that makes this post worthless, I've no choice :) I need to save something for my next list of nothingness.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is what keeps me from selling my children to the gypsies.

My kinda of cuteness. I choose to forget that only 10 minutes later they were both running around like insane children.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Oh yeah, remember

Sarah's GORGEOUS hair? Yeah...say goodbye.

.
.
.
.
.
.

Nothing like a Saturday morning that starts with plunging the toilet only to walk out of the bathroom to this:

Say hello to my little boy.
This was taken later that day, after the 'even out' haircut. I swear to God she loves it. I didn't cry (not cuz I didn't want to, but cuz I figured it really wasn't all that bad - all things considered. Remember, I'd just finish with their stupid toilet) I will admit that I damn near had a panic attack.

And this is as good as it gets :)

Okay, the girl is still dayum cute!!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

That's it for now. I'll leave you with the the happy little Pez Lamb sayin' goodbye

WOO HOO

2007-11-02T16:42:00.001-07:00

It's a new day and I've feeling better. The stresses of the week and been resolved and I'm looking forward to the weekend.

I've been ask to quit bitching and post some picks of the kids. Okay, well, no one bitched about my bitching but I was asked to post the chillins' - so here goes.

No explaination necessary, really. They are just damn cute kids. All dressed up for Halloween. You know the drill.

BLOODY HELL. THEY ARE STILL SIDEWAYS. Well turn your head...cuz I've got to leave and can't fix them right now. SORRY. I suck, I know! They are still rockin' cute - even if you need to see a chiropractor! :)

5 more minutes

2007-11-01T23:52:00.001-07:00

I only have 5 minutes until this crazy freaking day is over.

THANK GOD!!! between this book, and work, and this book, and life, and the book, and holidays, and work and work and work and work and the book and book and book, I'm 5 minutes from losing my mind.

Good thing I'll be asleep in 5 minutes....

I love you people. You know who you are.

OH!! and day 1 of the neilson thing...yeah...peter was right hahhaaaa

an overinflated sense of importance

2007-10-29T18:53:00.000-07:00

YOUR TV VIEWING NOW IS IN MY POWER!!!

okay, maybe not. But I've agreed to do a week of recording TV viewing in our house. We got 5 crisp one dollar bills for it. Peter's thrilled.

told you I liked surveys :)

have I mentioned lately

2007-10-26T18:06:00.000-07:00

how much I love Kerry Well I do. and I'm certain I don't mention it enough. Just as I don't mention it enough to any of my friends. But I do. LOTS.

I pretty much have kick ass friends. Killer chics who, I'm afraid to admit, I pretty much take advantage of and still act like they like me. Who could ask for more :) One day I'll be able to give back...and until then they just are patient with me.

anyway...why do I love Kerry more than normal today. cuz she made a survery specially for me. If that's not love I dunno what is....so here goes.

1. Candy corn or Indian corn?
ummm...gotta say candy...only cuz I've no freaking clue what Indian corn is.

2. What candy do you confiscate from your children because they are your favorites?
Reeces for sure. Then anything chocolate. At easter I steal all the malt balls, which is weird cuz they aren't normally my favority. Something about stealing whoppers from your kids makes them extra special yummy.

3. When you carve a pumpkin, do you use a spoon to get the guts out or your hand?
I go back and forth. I start with a spoon cuz I'm grossed out. Then say F it and dig right in. Then go back to the spoon to do hard scraping and cleanup.

4. Do you make teenagers say trick or treat before you give them candy? haha I pretty much do. I'll stand there and look at them...waiting...then I'll be all "hummm...got somethign to say???"
Or do you just give them the whole bowl hoping they won't target your house later? I give in eventually for this reason haha

5. What is your favorite costume? Could be yours or one of your kids. My favorite prolly was when Sarah was 2 and I made her a hula dancer girl...coconut bra and all. It freakin ROCKED!!!!!

6. What is your favorite fall time smell? sheesh..can't say I have one really. I grew up in high country where there is no real fall. goes from summer to damn snow overnight.

7. Tall skinny pumpkins or fat and round pumpkins? both. I've yet to meet a punkin I haven't loved.

8. Does anybody in your family say, "I got a rock." <-- Charlie Brown reference. Kill me now, but I like Charlie brown about as much as I like Mickey Mouse.

9. Do you really eat those funky peanut butter taffy things that come in the generic black or orange wrappers? oh HELL NO. those are actually meant to be EATEN?? the horror!!!

10. Have you ever run out of candy and started giving away anything else? bwhahaha yes. First halloween I ran out (or didn't even buy any - can't remember) and I gave away money. Like dimes and shit. It was pretty much my cheapest halloween yet. now I just turn out the damn lights. After 50 bucks at Costco I figure if they didn't come early enough the little turds can do without my crap.

tagged.

2007-10-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

Thanks Maddy, I did need to blog :)

I'll Tag: Kerry, Kaelene and Angie. (first time ever not tagging Beth...you okay Beth?? HAHHAHAA)

What is your spouses name? Peter
How long have you been together? 5 years
How long did you date? about a year
Who eats more? oh him. But I can pack it in.
Who said I love you first? Him
Who is taller? Him, 6 inches
Who sings better? we tie at zero skills
Who is smarter? Him, WAY smarter.
Whose temper is worse? We're pretty much tied. I get over it faster.
Who does the laundry? Him. praise the sweet lord Jesus too.
Who does the dishes? Me. aaaaalways me.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Him, if you're at the foot of the bed. Me as you lay in it :)
Who pays the bills? He pays the mortgage, I pay everything else.
Who mows the lawn? A team of highly skills men who I never seem to see, until it's time to pay the bill.
Who cooks dinner? Anyone else but us :) Sunday dinner is all Peter though.
Who drives when you are together? Him, Never me.
Who is more stubborn? Him. Big time.
Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? We both will admit it.
Whose parents do you see the most? Well seeing that we don't see dead people it's my Dad we see the most.
Who kissed who first? Pretty sure he kissed me first but I'm sure I wasn't fighting it. And no, I don't remember it exactly.
Who asked who out? We talked online for moooonths before finally meeting. I casually asked to get a drink before the official date. Then he FINALLY asked. Turns out he was out of the state most of the times we IM'd.
Who proposed? Him. Well he had Noah ask me if I wanted to make us a family. It was perfect.
Who is more sensitive? Oh holy hell, me. Like a million times over, me.
Who has more friends? I have more but he has most lasting friendships. His core group he's been friends will since grade school.
Who wears the pants in the family? We are evenly matched which is exactly how we both want it.

wedding

2007-10-04T17:20:00.000-07:00

Been a bad blogger. Not even gonna go into it :) In non loser news, My dad is getting married this saturday. :) My bro and I are leaving tomorrow to attend. It's actually pretty cool. I'm so happy he found love again after Mom.

Had a bit of a hard time figuring out a wedding gift. Hard to come up with something for a couple who has everything, and for a man who's dying. The chemo is kicking his ass so he's not feeling well enough to 'do' anything too exciting either. Do dying people ever feel great?? Prolly not.

Anyway, this is what I came up with (in addition to the scrapbook I'll naturally do for them) I like it. The out of focus image on the right is the compliment frame deal that will hold a wedding photo. Sorry I don't know how to take a good picture.

The phrase in the half circle says "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breathe away" Hope that's not too lame.

crazy~scary~cool

2007-09-10T17:14:00.000-07:00

Here's the cover.

Here's the cover. I'm scared for some reason to post it. It kinda feels like those dreams when you go to school and you realize your buck naked.

I feel exposed. But soon enough it'll be - HOPEFULLY - on the shelves. Even sooner, you SHOULD be able to go to PaperTherapy.com and preorder this maaaaasterpiece HAHA

This is me. My book. My baby. crazy huh?

i rock

2007-09-06T16:43:00.000-07:00

CHECK.
IT.
OUT.

I have a barcode.

aaaaand an ISBN NUMBER
ISBN 978-1-60461-517-3

:)))) IT'S LIKE ALL OFFICIAL!!! Now if only I could finish editing this beast :)

WHO WANTS TO SEE THE COVER????????

most boring post ever

2007-09-01T21:36:00.000-07:00

Had a ton scheduled for today. So much so that I wrote up a little checklist. Here it is:

To do today

7am
send cover picture to Costco

8am
work out

10am
breakfast and shower

10am
Call Kaelene to see if she wants to come over to either scrap or help with photoshoot

10am
Call Angie to make arrangements to get the pages.

11am
go to post office (write check-package CD)
mail dayna’s pictures
mail Heidi’s check
Get PO box for Paper Therapy

11:30
Go to Costco
Pick up picture
Get a ream of paper

11:30
Maybe go pick up Pages from Angie

noon
lunch and clean house up

1pm
Put girls down for a nap

2pm
get online and secure ISBN and UPC numbers

3pm
Clean fish tank
4pm
Go to fish store

4:00
set up photoshoot

5:00
shoot photos of revised layouts

And this is what I did:

7AM - 9PM NOTHING

HAHAH NAH. not really. I got a boat load done. My day went exactly like this :) Yes, I kept track. No, I don't usually do that. This is the very first time actually.

7am
send cover picture to Costco CHECK

8am
work out CHECK

9:30
breakfast CHECK
Email Angie about pages - CHECK, ANG TO ARRIVE AT 5:00

10am
Called Kaelene - NO ANSWER
Clean fish tank CHECK

11am
Shower CHECK

11:30
go to post office (write check-package CD) CHECK
mail dayna’s pictures CHECK
mail Heidi’s check CHECK
Get PO box for Paper Therapy CHECK

12:30
Get UPC Barcode CHECK
Get ISBN barcode UNcheck - website down
Call Kaelene - NO ANSWER

1:00
Go to Costco CHECK
Pick up picture CHECK
Get a ream of paper CHECK
eat lunch CHECK

1:30
NAPPY!!! TRIPLE WONDERFUL CHECKIDY CHECK CHECK

3:30
Get ISBN barcode UNcheck - website STILL down
Pick up house CHECK (yes Ang, that was picked up LOL)
Call Kaelene - CHECK!

4:30
Angie Arrives :)))
Sort pages for photoshoot CHECK

5:30
Set up for photoshoot CHECK

5:45
Test shot of first page KILL ME - THEY SUCK. CAN'T DO THIS AGAIN.

6:00
Tear down setup and have a nervous breakdown - IN FRONT OF ANGIE! BIG TIME CHECK

6:30
Go to Dinner with Angie, recharge, get cheered up, have a rocking steak, come up with another plan of attack for the stupid pictures. ANOTHER TRIPLE WONDERFUL CHECKIDY CHECK CHECK

7:30
Hang with the girls and Peter and watch him switch between 3 games CHECK

8:30
Rearrange the rock in the fish tank CHECK

9:00
Mess with the book cuz I haven't had enough CHECK

9:50
Get ISBN barcode - HORRARY site back up - CHECKITY CHECK

10:00
Blog the entire day while putting my 5 readers into a coma
BIG TIME CHECK-A-RAMA!!!!

GO NOW

2007-08-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

Went to see Mamma Mia on Friday. It was my present to Peter celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary. I have two words for you.

GO.
NOW.

I'll wait. But tickets. now...go! Shoo. What are you waiting for?

This was really THE - BEST - SHOW - EEEEEVERRRR. It's funny, exciting and brilliantly executed. The troupe that we saw at Gammage was amazing. It was a perfect night.

I dare anyone to go and not love this production. Yes, it's that good.

Noooooooooooo

2007-08-20T17:27:00.000-07:00

This post on Angie's Blog made my little heart skip a beat...and even caused an-ever-so-small flicker of baby-wants.

Me no want more babies.

But I gotta say, there aren't many things as cute as a baby sleeping on a man. Oh heck, a baby sleeping anywhere :)

Off to daycare, or the mall, or Peter Piper Pizza to rid my brain of these evil evil thoughts! ;)

feeling better

2007-08-18T19:51:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much (again) for the thoughts and prayers. Knowing y'all have my back gives me tremendous strength. tremendous strength! I love you for it.

On a completely unrealted and irrelevant note, Kerry don't lie Holy crap. Went to Target today and I could actually feel the skin on my arms melting. craziness. It's times like that I have to force myself to remember that Beth's weatherpixie dude whose name I can't remember wears T-shirts in December while everyone else is covered in snow. Two more months..only two more months.

One of these days I'll have a good picture of something that's actually mine...like the cover of the book!!! :)

results

2007-08-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

It's official. My dad has cancer on his pancreas and liver. damn.

damn damn damn.

So apparently not talking about it didn't make it not real. I think I really thought it might help. But no. Dude's been handed a death sentence.

I won't lie. I'm devastated. I could barf I'm so profoundly sad. pro-fucking-foundly sad. Literally. I'm like nauseous. It's a sadness I didn't know I could feel.

Something seems harder about this than when my Mom died. Maybe it's because that was 7 years ago and the pain has faded. But see, with my mom, on some level, it was a relief. I mean she was so SO sick for oh so long that she deserved some peace. Don't get me wrong, I miss her like crazy, it was just different.

This is just such a shock. My dad's been battling back since his flatlining episode in 2000. He's been kicking ass and taking names. All that to get cancer. And it's on his pancreas to boot. That's the like big mamma jamma cancers. ugh...

He's actually doing really well. He's somehow at peace with what's going on. He keeps saying, "No matter what happens it will be okay". And he's right. It will be. But damn, why do I have to be orphaned. Why don't my girls get to have any freaking grandparents. Not one. Noah has one grandma living, but shit, he should have SIX! (Y'all get the math on that one??? don't feel like drawing up a flow chart of my family *wink*)

Noah's the one that hurts me the most. He shouldn't have to suffer such a deep loss at 8. He should be able to continue building his friendship with grandpa. He'll feel the loss. He'll know what he's missing. And that, my friends, completely breaks my heart.

shit, okay. I'm okay....breathe....I have to tell you that there is some good news. The doctors were more optimistic than I expected them to be. Dad has already started the chemo prep stuff and averages indicate that he could be around for 1-2 years. This is AMAZING news. I was thinking 6 months at the max. Of course, it could always be that quick, but then it could be longer too.

So please bear with me while I take this ride with my dad. This ride that has only one ending. I am weak and I'll need you. I believe him when he says it will be okay. But right now, I can't even imagine...

stepping out!

2007-08-08T23:10:00.000-07:00

Okay, first, THANK YOU for like everything. Y'all rock. Seriously, I don't deserve you.

Next, I'm feeling better tonight. For a couple reasons, I'm thinking. Partly because I'm simply cried out (for now at least). I spent yesterday on the couch in the fetal position bawling and holding on the my favorite blanket. No, I'm not kidding. But I needed it (the PMS prolly didn't help matters) and I'm feeling like I can at least shower and be semi-productive.

But mainly I'm feeling better because I'm going to California this weekend. Flight leaves at 7:40 am tomorrow. Going to see my Dad for a bit before I head to up to the mountains for my 20 year high school reunion Saturday night. Scary! hahaha It'll be a long weekend with much driving but I'm looking forward to it. It'll be good to see everyone I grew up with...and even better to give my padre a humungous huge!

So while I've been gone for a while quietly licking my wounds, I'll be gone again partying it up. My dad and I have vowed to make this a fun trip. He's down right giddy with the restaurant choices he's got going on! I love him.

I'll leave you with an amazingly crappy pictures of the adorable "prayer flowers"

Kaelene brought over for me tonight. She told me, "every time you look at them know that we are praying for you" CRAP! so much for being cried out! But these are tears of hope! Love you guys!

See ya Monday!

just pray

2007-08-07T01:39:00.000-07:00

I can't talk about it yet - only because the fear of making it real - But if you pray, how however you communicate with a high power, if you would do that for my dad (and me and my bro) right now that would be great.

I won't lie - shit ain't good.

taking a break

2007-08-04T11:47:00.000-07:00

I've got too much going on. Wanted to let y'all know (all what? 5 of you HAHA) that I need to handle some stuff around here and need to not worry about posting.

I'll be back ... yes, that was an arnold voice :)

heaven for boys

2007-07-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

So this is heaven, for boys. Working with bricks, pounding hammer and chisel, mixing mortar, sporting protective eyewear, WITH GRANDPA. That last part being the most important. If *I* needed him to building steps for me I'd be shot down. but nope! Not when Grandpa asks. This boy is in hog heaven working on this project. I'm told he bugged dad for days ready to get to work (Dad explained when they were going to do but then, as it does, the plan changed and the project got pushed back)

I'm excited he's having a good time. I am, however, a bit melancholy that I can't sit like that anymore :) (who am I shitting? it's been like 20 years since I could do that!)

on the dock

2007-07-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

a random picture from the lake. Man did Kate love those dogs. OKay, well the little one at least. The big one was too cool to give a shit if Katie liked her or not.

And how did the world ever go'round before floaties?

.
.
.

nothing much else going on. Working like crazy. Doing a phone conference with my webmaster tonight (check the time - it'll be midnight where he is before we talk - crazy) Hopefully he sees my vision and I'll have minimal changes :)

Noah is off visiting grandpa for two weeks. So here's a pic of he and Sarah just for giggles. What a bunch of hams huh? Wonder if they've ever seen a camera before.

Anyway, it's funky now having him here. He's always been a joy of a child but now he's turning into a...I dunno...little man. It's fun just hangin with him...funky when I can't.

I cannot wait for Noah's teeth to quit dropping out so he holds him mouth normal again (will there ever be a 'normal' again?)

ouch-lost-HP5

2007-07-16T17:12:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd give a quick recap while I sit here with a numb face. I went to my oral surgeon this afternoon and had the final stage of my dental implant put in. Now I have an OH SO attractive metal rod sticking out of my gums. nasty huh? This process took 3 surgeries (yes I'm calling todays event a surgery even though it was more like a procedure - but I'm not getting out of mommy duties tonight from a mere procedure, so SURGERY it is!) anyway, 12 months, 3 surgeries, over a week off of work, and 3 grand.. And now I'm left with a little metal rod...nice! 2000 more bucks and I can have my dentist put on a real-fake tooth. Some people won't spend 5 grand on their ENTIRE mouth in their LIFETIME. but not me. Thanks mom and dad for the shitty teeth :)

I'm feeling better about my friend's passing. Thanks for all the well wishes. His memorial service/party was Saturday night. I got all gussied up to go then couldn't find the damn place. Not sure where the hell it was. But Dann would have thought it funny that I got lost...so I'm cool with it.

Thanks to Kaelene, Peter and I were able to go see Harry Potter 5 on Sunday. GO SEE THIS MOVIE! read the books. GET INTO THIS!!! I love this story. Love Harry and every single character - yes even Snape. Until now I was not ready for this story to end. I was the only person not excited about book 7 coming out. I will miss Harry. But then I figured this author crafted such a brilliant story that she'll be able to wrap it up in a way that will have me feeling satified that Harry is 'gone'. Now I'll be at Walmart at midnight (with a gun) picking up my copy.

That's about all that's going on. Pulling an all nighter tonight. Big job that HAS HAS HAS to be done in the morning. Which remindes me, I need to work. :)

crap

2007-07-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

remember this post? Well I just got a call that my friend, Dann, passed away last night. The cancer in his lungs, found only a few weeks ago, spread like wildfire throughout his body, his neck, and into his bones. His passing was quiet and swift and he was was calm. I am deeply saddened by this news as he was a long time friend and collegue for nearly 20 years.

Thank you, again, for all your thoughts and prayers. The family (and me) are grateful that this went fast and his suffering wasn't prolonged.

I got the call that shit was really bad on Monday. Dann's son left a message. A message I wasn't able to return. Not sure why, just couldn't call him. I wasn't ready to say goodbye. So now I'm beating myself up for not calling back, not going to see Dann. I pray he knows I was thinking of him and just how much adore (do I write adored now?) him. Anyway, I'll miss him. a lot.

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ETA - Noah has it figured out. He just came asking for something and saw me crying. Naturally, he asked what's wrong. Here's how it went.
Him: Mom, what's wrong?
Me: Oh. I just found out a friend of mine died.
Him: oh, how? heart attack?
Me: No honey, he had cancer.
Him: Oh ....pause....It's okay mom. He's right here. (motioning to the space to my left) He's right next to you.

well I suppose I should update

2007-07-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

I'm here. Back from the va-cay-cay. Everything now is nay-nay or cay-cay. It's my thing, this week. It started cuz my (super duper cute) niece is just a crack up. She does all sorts of crazy accents and impersonations all the time. She pretty much made me laugh the entire time I was on vacation. Anyway, there's this new (new to us) card game called "hand and foot" (quickly renamed a billion times to "hand/foot/mouth disease" or "tooth and nail" or "mitten and boot" you get the drift) And in it you make "canastas" which - naturally - she called "ca-nay-nays" and our white slang was born.

The main reason for our trip was for the family reunion. Everyone showed up on Saturday. It was pretty damn cool. I love Peter's family. Seeing everyone reminds me how lucky I am to have him (sheesh - easy on the sap michelle)

here's the chillins sporting the reunion shirts I designed in like 15 minutes - Peter 'forgot' the dealine for the art and I had to do it crazy fast. Like, he called in the morning "honey? can you get the art for the shirts to the printer by noon?" My reply, "honey...what art?" niiiiiice. But I think it turned out cute. Everyone seemed to like them. Bummer you can't see the front logo thing. It's kinda cute too.

aaaaaaaaayway, I'm back. Had a GREAT time. Didn't do a damn thing. Well, not true, I ate, and drank, and ate some more and played "hand and mouth" and "nertz". Ever played Nertz? It's like speed solataire. CRAZY FUN. but beware. If you play it with your young, brilliant and lightning fast - both in mind and hand - niece you WILL get your ass kicked. okay, back to the nothingness that I did. I didn't even jet ski. That's east SYYYDE water is chilly folks. My 85 degrees loving ass wasn't having any part of that shiat. So at the table I sat. and I love every lazy ass minute of it.

OH!! I also played the guitar hero or whatever game on their XBOX. COMPLETELY addicted. MUST. HAVE. ONE. If anyone has this game PLEASE let me know. I'll pay to play it. It's super freaking cool.

Here are some picture for your viewing pleasure! haha

Here's the view from the lake house. Pretty much the sun as it is everwhere. :) Really just proof that I did, in fact, leave. LOL

Sarah being the show-off that she is. Someone (peter probably) put Emily's bikini on her and she strutted around with it on. What a hammy, man I love her.

Noah and Sarah on the pontoon boat going out to watch the fireworks. We were on a rather big lake. It's shaped like a 4 leaf clover so there's LOTS of lake front property - which equals lots of houses - which equals LOTS of boats. I think everyone was on the lake for the show. It was a darn nice show too. Nothing like sitting on a boat, drinking a beer, floating with thousands of other people celebrating our country's birthday.

Kate with the craziest dog ever, Mocha. Katie just loved her. Everyone else, not so much haha. This picture was taken at nearly 10 at night. It gets dark there SUPER LATE. It's freaky. And REALLY hard for those of us who go crazy if our kids aren't down at 7:30. They were up so late it was bananas.

There should be more pictures later this week. Most on on Peter's computer cuz we were fancy like that. Then he took his laptop to OK with him, punk ass. So this is all eyezz gotz (yeah, sorry, no idea why I'm talking like this LOL)

Not much else going on. Pumping away on the book. Work is frantic, as usual. Kids are good. and I'm back at the gym...working off all that sitting, and eating, and drinking :)

finally, for the record, I want an ipod. Not cuz I really need one. Or would ever use it. But they just work nice. They feel nice and are well engineered. and y'all know how I can't resist a product that is smooth and works right (don't go there shanna. hooker!)

and a final, FINAL note - mostly to myself. Take a freaking photography class, would ya!?!?! Them some crappy skillz going on there. Light is your friend - LEARN ABOUT IT DAYUM!

peace out yo! Shell-nay-nay has left the building :)

i'd be rich

2007-06-27T20:30:00.000-07:00

This
is one of the things that makes me happy
VEEEERRRRRRRRRY HAPPY.

watch it. Listen to it. Check the pictures. and just TRY to be unhappy. It's impossible. go ahead, try it.

Lisa, I dare you!

Happy listening :)

feeling good

2007-06-26T16:13:00.000-07:00

Having a good day today. Nothing big, just a bunch of little things.

like:
got bunches of prayers for my friend - always warms my heart how generous people are with their love.
and:
Finally don't feel like I'm going to die after a week of working out.
and:
got new shoes that are killer comfy and semi-cute even.
and:
got my phone to sync again. THIS IS A BIG WOO HOO. Been un-synced with my calender for far too long.
and:
going on vacation in 3 days. Going to sit and read and jet ski and laugh and hopefully be able to work on the book a little bit (yes I know, but it must be done)
and:
Got a couple jobs out the door so coming back from said vacation won't be too horrible at work.
and:
webmaster is working on the site. Nothing to see yet but he says he'll having something when I get back.
and:
just feeling good. Making lifestyle changes, mind changes, happy changes, and is'all geood. :)

do you pray?

2007-06-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

if you do, would you shout one out for my dear friend and collegue, Dann? He's been very sick lately and it's looking like lung cancer. He's struggling with his fate and it's feared he has given up the fight.

Sorry for the bummer post. Please know I appreciate any thoughts and prayers you could send his way. He's an amazing person who could use a little boost right about now.

Peter says I have a good heart - I say I'm crazy!

2007-06-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

OKAY. this post WILL have spoilers. so if you haven't seen "Bridge to Terabithia" and want to - DON'T READ ANY FURTHER. You have been warned. I will say what happens.

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DON'T YELL AT ME FOR SPOILING THIS MOVIE!!!

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Bought this movie. Watched it. Liked it except the freaking ending. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????!??!??! She DIES?!!!?!

I know, blah blah blah, it's not about that. It's about bigger things. but shit. She's a cutie. she made a difference. and she's freaking dead. Pisses me off. I'm sad, still, just thinking about it.

Same with Pay it Forward and Untamed heart. Great movies but I will NOT watch either again. It's just too much for me. People die, I get that. I'm actually kinda okay with it in real life (go figure) but in movies, where things are FAKE and HAPPY and pretend, people shouldn't die. Everything is supposed to be happy and shiny and bright. The guy gets the girl. The good people live on. Everyone is happy! that's the rules! DAMMIT.

As with any new movie in this house, it gets played over and over and over again. Noah is watching it right now. I made him move to the Living room. I really don't want to watch again.... stupid huh? I called Peter about it. Told him I was still sad about this damn movie to which he replied, "I know honey, you have a good heart." Another reason I'll keep him around! :)

3 reasons

2007-06-16T22:51:00.000-07:00

Here are Peter's 3 reasons for loving every day of his life. His Children. They rock! HE rocks!!!

Happy Father's Day Babe!

who knew?

2007-06-13T15:43:00.000-07:00

Ice contains frozen water! Filtered even.

Seriously?

no. seriously. They have to put that there? No, I mean they probably HAVE to put that there. Some dumb ass probably sued Mickie D's for not clearly labeling what's a bag of ice. That or some crack ho bought a bag for 79 cents thinking she hit the mother load and died of pnemonia after trying to smoke water. er wait, frozen water. That or the FDA requiredsevery. single. thing. to be clearly labeled. Not matter the reason, it's freaking lame. But funny!

moving forward

2007-06-11T21:09:00.001-07:00

Pretty exciting news in the Paper Therapy world today. Found a webmaster. WOO HOO!!! This book thing looks like it really really is going to happen.

It's amazing to me how things are working out. Beyond y'all (my MAS friends) who have been my foundation during this project, I've been blessed to happen upon people who are as excited about this thing as I am. For taking over 2 years it's sure going fast.

So webdesign is moving. Business affairs are moving. Book compliation is moving. Memory Trends preparations are moving. I'm moving! It's really super duper exciting.

a little entertainment for ya

2007-06-10T09:33:00.001-07:00

Okay, a VERY little bit of entertainment.

Sorry for the bad image. You'd think I'd take some time and learn how to take a good photo. But no. That's too. obvious.

So can you read the directions? In case you can't, here's what it says to do.

"We've dealt you a winning hand - but how fast can you find it? Five cards below form this cross pattern {oh crap can't draw the cross - check out the pic} but here's the trick: Each card has to have a difrerent symbol. Sound easy? Time yourself and see how you rate."

So try it. How long does it take ya'll??? I'm embarrassed to say how long it too me, so I'll wait until some of you chime in :)

a lost photo

2007-06-05T18:40:00.001-07:00

I felt like blogging but don't really have anything funny or even remotely interesting to talk about so I starting digging through some pictures. Ya know, just cuz blogs with pictures are fun and don't require thoughful text.(that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.)

I found this one of Kate. It's semi-oldish, taken May 11, so like 25 days old. Or is it 24? or would it 26? how many days are in May?? I can never remember. Bloody Hell! I took it last month! there! phew...

So anyway, this is a newish thing for her. She finds any sort of fabric to use as a blanket. Here it's a napkin but sometimes is a shirt, or the stupid armrest cover thing I thought I would have thrown away forever ago but never seem to get the guts to actually toss it. Anyway, it's rarely an actual blanket. So she gets her blankie and whatever baby is handy and covers her up and pats her back. Just like they do for naptime at daycare.

Try and tell me it's not the cutest thing ever!?! Go ahead, try! Told ya! You can't do it, huh? LOVE HER! (*I* left off intentionally, just for 2KDawg)

cuteness from my brain

2007-05-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

This is what I did at !Shanna's house last friday.

I'm such a liar. Neither of these pages are from MY brain. I copied them. Both from Creating Keepsakes, I'm pretty sure (don't have the mags with me now)

Even though I didn't come up with them, they're still mine and I Love them! And I had a great time, as per usual, with my Mas girls!

Journaling for first one - Remember when - reads:

I remember when you wore a tuxedo for the second time
(First, when I married Peter, and again, here, at your Dad's wedding)

I remember how you insisted that you dress yourself.
(All but the cufflinks and cumber bun)

I remember who was making you smile so cute.
(Peter was tickling your neck and sides)

I remember where we were during these pictures.
(On the front lawn neas the "tree of life")

I remember what a blessing you are you just by being you.
(Something I won't ever forget!)

the second might be hard to see but the strip above the word "style" says "almost in" :)

the sky is not falling!

2007-05-21T15:43:00.001-07:00

I repeat, the sky is not falling. Nor is the end of the world near. All hell is not breaking loose. At least not in my little neck of the woods.

How do I know this, you ask? I know you're at the edge of your chair crazy with anticipation. I will relieve you of any further suspense.

Peter and I went shopping yesterday. We did A LOT of shopping. well. All lot of spending (on his part) anyway. Costco first, then Target. My two stores I USED to call my "hundred dollar stores" until I decided I'd be lucky (and pretty damn happy) to leave that place only a C-note down.

aaaaaanyway, we USED to have our routine of shopping with the kids in 100 degree heat down to the second. Not a moment wasted securing our purchases and buckling in the chillins. We must be out of practice after a long winter of perfect weather where the required get-in-the-car-as-fast-as-you-can-so-the-air-will-get-cold-quickly-so-we-don't-burst-into-flame techniques aren't necessary. I know we're out of practice because as we pulled into the garage I realized my purse wasn't with me.

Now, I won't say who (peter) was unloading the stuff (peter) from the cart or who's who's responsibility it was (peter) to make sure everything (peter) was out of there. No need to (peter) rub it in. Needless to say (okay maybe I let it slip a TEENY BIT) the purse wasn't with me.

Back to Target. This took exactly 18 hours and 23 minutes.
Back to where we parked. Which had the NOW EMPTY cart in front of the spot.
Back across the 100 acre parking lot to the store's entrance.

time stood still. Let me just explain my panic. I had my car keys and cheapo sunglasses. Other than that, everything was in my purse. I'd just cashed my last Bazzill check, so over 200 bucks cash was in there. My very expensive, practically a computer phone was in there. My 'get the most expensive blue tooth dealy' was in there. Two credit cards, bank card and ID were in there. OH! and killer D-backs tickets for this Saturday's game where in there. I guess when I write it out like that it's not my WHOLE life, but at the time, with the second ticking by like freaking molasses on a cold winter's day, it seemed like a boat load of stuff.

Time to face to music. It's gone, I just know it. No one could pass up the hundred dollar bills that I remembered I hadn't pushing in my wallet far enough so they were peeking out. The phone maybe. the tickets, maybe. But not 200 smackerooneys! Well someone DID pass it up. Someone, a young couple I'm told, turned it into the Target service counter. This couple didn't take a single thing. I'm pretty sure they didn't even peek in, as nothing seemed moved a bit (it's ordered chaos in there and I'd notice if someone straightened up LOL) Before you ask, no, they didn't leave their name, just my purse. I asked everyone at the counter, too. I wanted desperately to give them a reward. But nope. They just returned it and went about their day. How cool is that?!

So my faith in humanity is restored. Not that it really was all that tarnished. I don't tend to have The Chicken Little, sky is falling mentality. I don't buy into "gone are the good ole days" mind set. People are good. Always have been, always will be. There are a few bad ones, but for the most part, they rock. And I've got the 200 bucks, a kick ass phone and my blue tooth to prove it!

the list

2007-05-20T09:23:00.000-07:00

Here are all the sayings for my birthday heart, err, paint chip attack. They are in no order. I'm just pulling them out of the lead crystal vase they are proudly displayed in.

Most won't make any sense to anyone but the MAS girls. If you want an explanation let me know, I'll tell the story. Each one has one :) (and truth be told, I want to tell the story of every single one right now!)

Bite me!
Happy Birthday!

Happy day after your birthday!
So are you a crack maker or crack dealer?
I bet you thought we forgot!
We love your "colorful" language
Have you SEEN my keys?
Just trying to help you pick a wall color
Good thing Peter's peter is in the right place!
I swear! Hell yah!
Let's go to Outback tonight
Yummy: Peyton Manning

Is that your natural hair color?
Bloody hell! Another Bday!
Have a (diet) coke and a smile!
We're late since Shanna had to watch the Suns game...
Paint chips. Lots. Love them.
Are you calling me fat?
Happy Birthday!
"Michelle" doesn't really work with the name game. Michelle, Michelle do bichelle...that doesn't sound so hot
Are you feeling the birthday LOOVE?
Happy Birthday!
Thanks for making out lives more "colorful"
Woohoo! A winner!
Skankalicious
Michelle-bo-belle-fee-fi-what-the-hell-ever!
SUCKERTALK!!!!

CZ Stalker!!!
Don't put my baby to sleep!
Thanks for the dinner. Why don't you just drop it on the floor. (from me - I love them all but this might be my favorite...brings me right back to that oh so fun drop-food-on-the-floor-and-burst-into-tears moment)
Chomp Chomp Chunch
What about chocolate, peanut butter, coconut and macadamia nut crack?
Birthday. So delightful.
SCADS...that's all I have to say
My MAS friends are the bomb!

Seriously?
Surprise!
I have the best friends!
Blog Nazi says: You'd better blog about this
Yes, I can watch Kate!
If you were on Survivor, we would so vote for you!

We're late because Maddy & Sadie's unflexible feeding schedule...
Ice addict
We're late since Mike was in Wickenburg
Any duplicates yet
Ice Ice baby!
Slacker!
Sing it, Elton!
Did you REALLY think that we would forget about you?!?!?
Have fun. PLAY. (I know how much you hate that word)
Happy Birthday!
Is George Michael your Father Figure?
I would LICK Captain Jack cleeean!
Thanks for the sticks
I planned ahead & wrote mine a few at a time so my hand wouldn't hurt.
Have you lost your keys for the week yet?
You are lookin' fine!
You are a goddess!
Did you think we were *that* lame?
Is it your birthday???
Had birthday. Ate cake. Delightful.
You have very weird friends.
Quick!! Let's stop at Taco Bell!
Book? What book? *You're* writing a book? I had no idea.

We. Don't. Spoon!
Can you feeel the loooove toooo-niiight?
I swear...
We're late because one of Beth's kids had another sports event...
You kwow what I could use right now? Some ice chips :)
Bow Chicka Bow Wow

6 trips to Target and no skewers
*WINNER* Just kidding. there's nothing to win
(okay maybe I was wrong - THIS ONE is killer funny/clever/perfect/favorite!)
Don't you think we're Heee-larious?
S*L*A*C*K*E*R
(written on a super dark blue chip) Can you even read this?
Happy Birthday!
WHAT is that smell? sniff sniff smells like Easter Eggs
I've got CPS on my speed dial
HBTY haha! figure out what that means (and no, I haven't!)
HO!
Walk like an Egyptian...
Let's just call this color "dillweed"

PHEW!! that's every single one of them. After, of course, the front row of sticks that said H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y M I C H E L L E

Pretty clever huh? I love you girls!!! Thanks again!

not that y'all didn't already know

2007-05-18T08:56:00.000-07:00

I.
have.
the.
bestest.
friends.
E.V.E.R.

Pretty much knew it was coming. I mean, I realize it's 'wrong' to expect someone to do something for you birthday. But let's be real, we did Shanna's two days ago. It'd be almost mean to really stop at me :) And these people are too good to be cruel :)

Kerry, Beth, Maddy, and Shanna heart attacKed my house last night. This has become quite a wonderful tradition between us. Each birthday (and sometimes even 'fake' birthdays) we do something clever and personal and purely hysterical. Their idea for me - which *I* thought might be hard - because I'm SO hard to make fun of (bwhaha) was PAINT CHIPS! A spin off of when I painted my wall in the living room like a freaking jail cell. PERFECT!

These girls are GOOD!!!

They chipped in and got me a pedicure at a local spa. YUM!!! This is desparately needed. I won't even think about if *they* noticed it's needed. I'll just happily take and and get them tooties purdied up. :)

Then, to top it off. In reference to this debate Maddy gave me the two pairs of pants she was going to toss. SOOOOOOO FUNNY!!!

Have I mentioned that I love these girls!? seriously! I don't deserve you guys. Thanks for putting up with me and making me feel super duper special!

I'll post some of the sayings that are written on the paint chips. I'd do it now but I'm leaving them out there for a while longer. They make me happy. And I'm not too proud to show off my amazingly cute lawn.

LOVE YOU!

It's my berfday :)

2007-05-16T16:48:00.000-07:00

This is my Easter lamb pez dispenser that I 'stole' form the girls and who usually hangs out with me at my desk and waves HI! He makes me smile so I thought I'd share him on 'my' day.

Happy birthday to me!

(and yes...I'm shamlessly announcing that today is my birthday. I figure if I don't enbrace it now, I never will. 38 is a lotta years to try'n embrace. The little gasp followed by a bit GULP reminded me of how hard it is to embrace!)